Stop wasting your time on the wrong mountain
I have two friends who are backpackers. There is a portion of New York’s Adirondack Mountains called the High Peaks region. It is made up of 46 mountains with a___1____ of over 4,000 feet.
The Adirondack Mountain Club gives special honor and a patch to 2 who climbs all 46 mountains. My two friends decided to go for this 3 . It took them several years to accomplish it.
My friends had climbed 10 of the mountains. The left one was the farthest, 4 much effort. A hiking trail led past the base of the mountain, 5 from that point they were on their own.
Early one morning they left their 6 and walked 5 miles on the hiking trail to the base of a 7 of mountains. One of the mountains in this chain was the last one they 8 for their patch.
When they reached the base of the mountain chain they 9 that they had left their compass and map back in the camp. 10 returning to the camp, they decided to go on without them.
For hours they 11 uphill suffering heat and black flies. Finally, late in the afternoon they 12 themselves on the top of a mountain. They were tired but 13 .
The excitement was short-lived however. When they 14 the valley, they saw another higher mountain. They had climbed the 15 hill! It was too late that weekend to correct their 16 . They had to wait another 4 months to climb the right mountain.
This story 17 that often in life we make effort toward a 18 but without the right map and personal compass it is easy to get 19 .
Knowing your life purpose gives you a 20 personal map and compass. And that makes sure you are always climbing the right mountain.
1. A. length B. height C. width D. depth
2. A. something B. someone C. anything D. anyone
3. A. fame B. award C. medal D. gift
4. A. requiring B. making C. wasting D. paying
5. A. and B. even C. so D. but
6. A. village B. house C. camp D. cottage
7. A. series B. lot C. chain D. kind
8. A. needed B. prepared C. looked D. hunted
9. A. understood B. thought C. forgot D. discovered
10. A. Instead B. Rather than C. In case of D. In spite of
11. A. rushed B. rolled C. walked D. ran
12. A. relaxed B. congratulated C. enjoyed D. found
13. A. excited B. surprised C. disappointed D. puzzled
13. A. looked for B. looked across C. looked on D. looked through
15. A. high B. right C. wrong D. small
16. A. direction B. wrong C. decision D. error
17. A. provides B. brings C. offers D. proves
18. A. choice B. goal C. promise D. result
19. A. hurt B. separated C. lost D. bothered
20. A. beautiful B. famous C. expensive D. powerful
Dash of Hope
"Dash" is a symbol which represents every day we've spent alive on earth. Therefore, how you spend your "dash" is important.
Recently I 36 about a little girl named Hope. After learning more about her life, I couldn't help but feel it was not by 37 , nor happenstance(意外事件), that she had been named "Hope". The strong feeling of sympathy and generosity 38 in her young heart made a lasting impression on me and countless others. 39 I never had the opportunity to meet her, I wish I had. It seems as though she was wise beyond her tender years and very, very special.
Hope was a twelve-year-old girl who was 40 a "wish" in early December 2010 by the "Make-A-Wish" Foundation after being 41 that she had a rare type of bone cancer. However, when she found out that more than 150 42 in her area were waiting for their wishes to be achieved , she unselfishly used her wish to 43 that those children have their wishes granted. She also asked that it be done 44 January 16, 2011. Unfortunately, however, the organization informed her that her 45 request could not be granted as the funds were simply 46 . They calculated that they would need to raise more than one 47 dollars in thirty days in order to grant her wish. 48 , but not discouraged, she turned her disappointment into an enthusiasm that inspired caring 49 to take up helping grant the wishes of the other children, and eventually 50 as well. Newspaper columnists and reporters for radio and TV stations 51 the story of this caring young girl who had 52 the hearts of so many and as word spread, the community was challenged. Committees were fanned and schools, corporations and various organizations assisted in 53 money to help make Hope's dream come true.
Her efforts were not in vain as they continue to help others, not only 54 , but spiritually and emotionally as well. At the gathering to celebrate her life, "A Celebration of Hope" on January 16, 2011 , the 55 was made that they had indeed received donations totaling more than one million dollars. Her wish had been granted!
A.heard B.thought C.cared D.talked
A.coincidence B.independence C.convenience D.intelligence
A.lost B.carried C.expected D.housed
A.Until B.Unless C.Though D.If
A.expressed B.offered C.made D.sent
A.recognized B.informed C.reminded D.understood
A.children B.citizens C.villagers D.relatives
A.suggest B.ask C.arrange D.order
A.for B.to C.on D.by
A.final B.formal C.simple D.noble
A.unbearable B.unbelievable C.unavailable D.uncomfortable
A.thousand B.hundred C.million D.billion
A.Disappointed B.Surprised C.Worried D.Embarrassed
A.committees B.individuals C.corporations D.organizations
A.theirs B.ours C.hers D.yours
A.wrote B.read C.broadcast D.shared
A.touched B.examined C.won D.opened
A.finding B.spending C.raising D.borrowing
A.perfectly B.physically C.healthily D.thankfully
My First Trip in the United States
I still remember my first day in the U. S. very clearly. My friend was waiting for me when my plane 36 at Kennedy Airport at three o’clock in the afternoon. The weather was very 37 and it was snowing, but I was too excited to 38 . From the airport, my friend and I took a taxi to my 39 .On the way, I saw the skyline of Manhattan for the 40 time and I looked in surprise at the famous skyscrapers(摩天大楼) and their man-made 41 . 42 me unpack at the hotel, my friend left and promised to return the next day.
43 my friend had left, I went to a 44 near the hotel to get something 45 . Since I couldn’t speak a single word of English, I couldn’t tell the 46 what I wanted. I was very worried and started to make some 47 ,but he didn’t understand me. Finally, I ordered the 48 thing as the man at the next table was 49 . After dinner, I started to walk along Broadway 50 I came to Times Square with its theatres, neon lights, and crowds of people. I did not feel tired, so I 51 to walk around the city. I wanted to see 52 on my first day, although I knew it was impossible.
When I returned to the hotel, I couldn’t fall asleep, lay 53 and thought about New York. It was a very big and amazing city with many high-rise buildings and streams of cars, and full of 54 and busy people. I also decided right then that I had to learn to 55 .
A.took off B.landed C.dropped D.reached
A.hot B.warm C.cold D.cool
A.look B.listen C.enjoy D.mind
A.home B.hotel C.office D.school
A.first B.one C.last D.only
A.satellites B.lakes C.beauty D.parks
A.Helped B.Helping C.Had helped D.Being helped
A.Before long B.Shortly after C.Soon D.Then
A.restaurant B.shop C.supermarket D.pub
A.to drink B.to read C.to eat D.to listen
A.boss B.cook C.waiter D.waitress
A.voices B.suggestions C.sounds D.gestures
A.similar B.different C.same D.right
A.looking B.ordering C.picking D.eating
A.until B.when C.before D.after
A.tired B.stopped C.determined D.continued
A.anything B.everything C.something D.some things
A.asleep B.awake C.afraid D.alive
A.noise B.voices C.streets D.places
A.drive a car B.cook meals C.teach Chinese D.speak English
The famous British inventor George Stephenson was born in 1781 and died in 1848. One of his__16__important inventions was the train. He _17__his first train when he was forty-four years old. When he was experimenting with the __18__engine on the train, he met with __19__from the government, the newspapers and the gentlemen in the country. They said that the noise and the smoke would __20__ cows, horses and sheep, that the _21__ would burst or that the hot coals from it would __22_ their houses. At that time, __23__people believed what they said.
George Stephenson __24__the people that the train could go on small _25_, could pull carriages __26_goods and passengers and there was __27__to them. It was a very __28__ matter for him to __29__ them believe. However, after _30_, he was able to do it; and the first train that __31__by Stephenson himself __32_ what he had said.
The first day _33_the people along the way _34_the noises of the train __35__ and saw it running quickly to them, they ran back home as quickly as they could and closed their doors tightly, for they thought it a genius(妖怪).They did not dare to come out until it had passed.
A.very B.a lot C.most D.much
A.made B.bought C.introduced D.did
A.electrical B.soil C.steam D.oil
A.success B.troubles C.people D.pleasure
A.kill B.buy C.interest D.take away
A.smoke B.noise C.driver D.engine
A.pull down B.blow away C.set fire to D.pass
A.most B.few C.only a few D.the rich
A.said B.spoke C.told D.warned
A.roads B.rivers C.steam D.rails
A.short of B.full of C.empty of D.without
A.no great danger B.dangerous C.a lot of danger D.few danger
A.easy B.difficult C.pleasant D.light
A.get B.cause C.make D.force
A.sometime B.some time C.a few times D.sometimes
A.was sold B.was driven C.was pulled D.helped
A.believed B.seemed C.sensed D.proved
A.of B.when C.while D.for
A.caught sight of B.listened to C.heard D.thought
A.nearby B.in the distance C.on the far D.from the distance
Since my family were not going to be helpful, I decided I would look for one all by myself and not tell them about it till I’d got one.
I had seen an agency (中介) 16in a local newspaper. I rushed out of the house in search of it. I was wildly 17 , and nervous as if I were going on the stage. 18 the place quite easily, I ran breathlessly through a door which 19 “Enter without knocking, if you please.”
The simple atmosphere of the office 20 me. The woman looked carefully at me for a while through her glasses, and then 21 me in a low voice. I answered softly. 22 , I started to feel rather hopeless. She wondered 23 I was looking for this sort of job. I felt even more 24 when she told me that it would be 25 to get a job without experience. I26 whether I ought to leave, when the 27 on her desk rang. I heard her say, “As a matter of fact, I’ve got someone in the office at this very moment who might 28 .” She wrote down a 29 , and held it out to me, saying , “Ring up this lady. She wants a cook immediately. In fact, you would have to start tomorrow by 30a dinner for ten people.”
“Oh yes,” I said. I have never cooked for more than four people in my life. I 31 her again and again, and rushed out to the 32 telephone-box. I collected my thoughts, took a deep 33 , and rang the number. I said 34 that I was just what she was looking for.
All things are difficult before they are 35 , so I spent the next few hours reading cook books.
A.advertised B.appeared C.reported D.published
A.encouraged B.disappointed C.excited D.surprised
A.Searching B.Finding C.Seeing D.Learning
A.said B.answered C.spoke D.wrote
A.astonished B.worried C.calmed D.pleased
A.informed B.questioned C.answered D.read
A.All of a sudden B.In fact C.Sooner or later D.In no time
A.how B.why C.when D.where
A.hopeless B.worried C.fearless D.frightened
A.impossible B.difficult C.important D.necessary
A.asked B.wondered C.questioned D.thought
A.bell B.clock C.radio D.telephone
A.go B.like C.suit D.determine
A.name B.address C.number D.note
A.serving B.cooking C.offering D.buying
A.saw B.phoned C.thanked D.wrote
A.home B.office C.nearest D.faraway
A.sight B.glance C.rest D.breath
A.nervously B.confidently C.hurriedly D.anxiously
A.light B.visible C.easy D.certain
Roberta appeared on the stage. She took a deep breath and began to 36 . Now she was Portia, a strong–willed 37 in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. The theater was filled with people. She was speaking with a power she had never before experienced, the words flowing 38 form her.
39 , Roberta had never acted in her life before the audition (选拔试演). She 40 being in front of other people. She was very 41 at school. She had never thought she was good enough at anything to 42 much attention. She stayed mostly to herself, making 43 friends. She had excellent grades, 44 she always thought that something was missing.
Two weeks before the audition, Roberta’s mother had heard about it and 45 her to join in.
“I can’t think of anyone else better suited to 46 the part. Remember all the plays you used to act out for us?”
Her mother wouldn’t let the 47 drop. “You’re just a little scared (害怕) .Everyone gets scared. You know you 48 do it. The trick is to look past the 49 to find the love of what you’re doing.’’
So Roberta had made an appointment (预约) with the head of the Drama Club. She had read the play and found herself excited by the 50 of speaking such rich words. In secret she practiced Portia’s part, 51 the lines by repeating them over and over. It wasn’t hard; she 52 every minute of it. Every time she spoke the words, she had a new 53 of the lines, as if Shakespeare had written Portia on many levels.
On the day of the audition, she 54 two of Portia’s famous speeches for the auditors. When she had finished, the head of the Drama Club announced the 55 was hers.
A.sing B.dance C.speak D.report
A.member B.actress C.player D.character
A.weakly B.rapidly C.smoothly D.slowly
A.At first B.In fact C.After all D.In all
A.hated B.enjoyed C.appreciated D.regretted
A.honest B.shy C.polite D.patient
A.avoid B.focus C.pay D.attract
A.few B.a few C.several D.many
A.or B.so C.for D.but
A.forced B.requested C.encouraged D.reminded
A.accept B.play C.offer D.learn
A.role B.matter C.interest D.grade
A.can B.must C.may D.should
A.anger B.pain C.sadness D.fear
A.purpose B.way C.idea D.importance
A.memorizing B.organizing C.checking D.improving
A.disliked B.loved C.expected D.bore
A.consideration B.description C.selection D.understanding
A.practiced B.planned C.performed D.delivered
A.part B.play C.speech D.position