Listening to your heart
Do you ever wish you had a road map for living? If only someone could 1 show us a way to go, a direction to take, we wouldn’t feel so 2 of which path to pursue. We think that, with only a little 3 , we’ll surely end up in the right place.
4 on a regular flight from Detroit to Tri-City Airport must have felt a little more than 5 during the flight attendant’s greeting as their flight started. She 6 the passengers and stated that the destination would be Midland. A few concerned passengers 7 her, so the flight attendant, obviously not familiar with the area, 8 herself by saying that they would be 9 in “Tri-City” and Bay City.
Chuckles rippled along the aisle as she 10 tried again. This time she informed passengers that the destination would be Saginaw. Now 11 broke out.
At that point, an authoritative voice came over the intercom (对讲机) and 12 her. “I’m your pilot, folks,” he said. “Don’t 13 — I know where we’re going.”
It’s nice when someone knows the 14 . And there is wisdom in seeking help when necessary. Other people can be valuable. 15 we cannot always depend on others for the 16 answers for living our lives. In the end, nobody can point us to all the best 17 for life’s problems; nobody else can 18 us to the path that is just right for us. We find that way ourselves. We find the way by 19 . Listening to our hearts — for the direction we need is almost always there, deep within.
So if you feel a bit lost, don’t worry. This may be a 20 time to listen. And remember — your pilot knows where you’re going.
1. A. irregularly B. occasionally C. practically D. basically
2. A. proud B. tired C. unsure D. ashamed
3. A. guidance B. encouragement C. comfort D. determination
4. A. Customers B. Pilots C. Attendants D. Passengers
5. A. happy B. lost C. nervous D. excited
6. A. thanked B. examined C. welcomed D. entertained
7. A. reminded B. informed C. warned D. threatened
8. A. relaxed B. behaved C. enjoyed D. corrected
9. A. stopping B. landing C. flying D. traveling
10. A. shyly B. impatiently C. bravely D. actively
11. A. protest B. complaint C. argument D. laughter
12. A. rescued B. blamed C. praised D. defended
13. A. fight B. worry C. quarrel D. concern
13. A. flight B. skill C. way D. problem
15. A. So B. And C. Besides D. But
16. A. immediate B. important C. simple D. short
17. A. solutions B. reasons C. explanations D. accounts
18. A. direct B. force C. forbid D. tempt
19. A. speaking B. following C. listening D. asking
20. A. hard B. spare C. necessary D. perfect
All of us can give others a hand as long as we are willing to do so. Actually, there are some people doing kind things all the time. Spreading kindness, one good deed at a time, is Karla Gibson’s mission. “I wish everyone could join me. There are so many ____ things going on in the world; I mean every day,” said Karla.
Karla had the ____ and sense of duty in December of 2013.The single mother of three said she tended to get down around the holidays, so she ____ to do something to cheer others up. She started a Facebook page and ____ her good deeds each day, from feeding the homeless to giving Easter gifts to the incarcerated (囚犯). She hoped to ____ others.
“We have to do something. Our ____ can make a difference in someone’s day. You ____ know when someone might be having their worst day, and then something like buying them a coffee can change their whole attitude,” Karla ____.
Karla’s greatest ____ so far had to do with coffee. On September 27th, Karla’s birthday, she went to her local Starbucks and gave the ____ $127 to pay for other people’s drinks. She sat at the end of the drive-thru holding a ____ that read, “Have a great day.” She ended up ____ about 23 customers. “It was really fun. It was ____ one of the best birthdays ever,” she said. Her kindness that day didn’t go ____. One couple was so grateful that they surprised her with flowers and balloons to show their ___.
Karla’s acts of kindness have become a ____ affair. Her two sons are always ____ others. “Sometimes I’ll ask Kyle, ‘So, did you do anything extra nice today?’ and he’s like ‘Somebody ____ something in the hallway and I picked it up’ or ‘I held the door for someone’, that kind of thing,” said Karla.
It’s because of Mom that the boys think it’s ____ to give a hand to others. “I think it’s a great idea of hers. It’s always nice to help someone out ____ they really need it,” said Karla’s 15-year-old son Chad.
A．good B．bad C．new D．casual
A．commitment B．appointment C．preference D．success
A．managed B．agreed C．hesitated D．decided
A．did B．mentioned C．shared D．missed
A．greet B．inspire C．introduce D．remember
A．kindness B．happiness C．stories D．sadness
A．still B．often C．never D．even
A．whispered B．explained C．reported D．replied
A．surprise B．challenge C．concern D．moment
A．cashier B．customer C．beggar D．secretary
A．mark B．sign C．symbol D．flag
A．paying for B．picking up C．paying off D．picking out
A．occasionally B．usually C．probably D．hardly
A．unoccupied B．unnoticed C．unorganized D．unquestioned
A．wisdom B．existence C．generosity D．appreciation
A．society B．love C．holiday D．family
A．encouraging B．inviting C．helping D．affecting
A．dropped B．bought C．found D．stole
A．strange B．lucky C．cool D．funny
A．after B．though C．unless D．when
July 6, 1994 was a day of nightmare (噩梦) that I’ll never forget. That afternoon when I was making up my in a dressing tent at the moment, I suddenly heard someone run past shouting, “Fire!” Fire was what we circus (马戏团) people most , for there was a large audience in the tent, including many children. I rushed towards the tent with a water but I could do nothing with it since the tent was burning too high and the flames spreading .
In the burning tent was a of panic: People rushed towards the exits, and some even jumped twelve feet from the top rows of the grandstand to the ground . Some people, after , tried to reenter to help their relations or friends. Yet it was for them to get through the crowd, instead, they blocked the . I fought at one exit, shouting at the top of my voice, “Go on! Keep !” At every exit, circus people were doing the same thing. In the midst (中间) of this scene, the kept on playing the tent was on fire overhead.
City fire equipment finally arrived and the fire. All the circus people were _ though some were injured or burned during the rescue . The audience, however, were not that . In a panic, they all tried to use the regular through which they had _ the tent. As a result, 168 people had died in the —the worst circus disaster in .
A．face B．body C．dress D．story
A．defended B．feared C．fought D．destroyed
A．recorder B．container C．overcoat D．camera
A．lately B．tightly C．quickly D．suddenly
A．sense B．scene C．stage D．section
A．outside B．outdoors C．inside D．indoors
A．coming out B．taking out C．going out D．walking out
A．necessary B．successful C．natural D．impossible
A．road B．lane C．way D．street
A．moving B．sitting C．crying D．standing
A．dancers B．musicians C．painters D．firemen
A．when B．unless C．until D．because
A．picked out B．worked out C．broke out D．put out
A．safe B．busy C．tired D．nervous
A．practice B．preparation C．work D．performance
A．patient B．lucky C．hopeless D．pleased
A．entrances B．exits C．gates D．doors
A．left B．arrived C．escaped D．entered
A．fight B．tent C．fire D．water
A．history B．summer C．season D．movement
Diane Ray was completely self-centred and very spoilt（惯坏的） . Her parents gave her she wanted , knowing that she would throw a temper tantrum (耍小孩脾气) , if they did not . She would scream and kick and on the floor drumming her heels . Her parents always .
That was why she was alone on the , wearing an expensive swimsuit . It had taken a massive tantrum to her parents to buy it . They were back at the beach-house , from the tantrum she had thrown when they told her that it was too dangerous to go diving . “ Dangerous ? ” she had said . “ You just don’t want me to have . I’m going and if you try to stop me , I’ll scream . ”
“ What are you doing ? ” a voice asked . Diane jumped . She did not know that the man was there he spoke .
“ I’m going diving , ” she answered .
“ You shouldn’t swim today , ” the man “ There is a storm coming up . ”
“ You should mind your own ! ” Diane replied and walked into the gentle waves .
“ If you go out there , you’ll be , ” the man called after her . She did not bother to reply .
Diane slipped into the water and dived until white caps began rolling in and it became harder to against the current (水流) . Saltwater hit against her face , making it to breathe . Oh , why had she not listened to advice ?
Panicking , she began to . Then, just as it seemed as if she would slip beneath the surface , she heard a voice . “ Hold on ! I’m coming. ” With , she saw the old man rowing an ancient-looking boat towards her . “ I hope you’ve learned a lesson. You put us both in , ” he shouted angrily , as he dragged her over the side of the . Gratefully, Diane thanked him and ran towards the beach-house.
A．either B．neither C．nothing D．everything
A．jump B．lie C．spin D．sleep
A．set out B．set in C．gave in D．gave out
A．beach B．bed C．floor D．ship
A．allow B．warn C．get D．prefer
A．changing B．recovering C．appearing D．traveling
A．alone B．away C．again D．aside
A．time B．money C．food D．fun
A．when B．until C．after D．once
A．decided B．intended C．advised D．repeated
A．business B．swimsuit C．friends D．parents
A．angry B．sorry C．confused D．excited
A．nervously B．sadly C．shyly D．happily
A．rise B．swim C．stop D．row
A．difficult B．easy C．comfortable D．suitable
A．speak B．sing C．sniff D．scream
A．calm B．frightening C．beautiful D．disgusting
A．regret B．relief C．interest D．ease
A．power B．safety C．danger D．thought
A．house B．wave C．beach D．boat
It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago.The old man’s beard was glazed by winter’s frost while he waited. He was waiting for a across the river. The wait seemed so that his body became numb and stiff. He watched as several horsemen rounded the bend.
He let the first one without an effort to get his attention. Then another, and another. Finally, as the last rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue, the old man caught the rider’s and said, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side?”
Stopping his horse, the rider , “Sure.” Seeing the old man was to lift his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman got down and helped the old man onto the horse.
The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination. As they neared the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman’s caused him to ask,“Sir, I noticed that you let several other riders go by without making a(n) to get a ride. Then I came up and you asked me for a ride. I’m curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait and ask the last rider. I had refused and left you there?”
The old man himself slowly down from the horse, looked at the rider straight in the eyes and replied, “I’ve been here for some time. I think I know people pretty good.” He continued, “I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no for my situation. It would have been even to ask them for a ride. But when in your eyes, kindness and compassion were . I knew, , that your gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity to give me help in my time of need.”
Those heart-warming touched the horseman deeply.“I’m most grateful for what you have said,” he told the old man. “May I never get busy in my own affairs that I fail to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.
A．drive B．horse C．ride D．bridge
A．urgent B．freezing C．careless D．endless
A．quickly B．anxiously C．luckily D．eventually
A．come over B．get off C．pass by D．take off
A．hand B．horse C．eye D．leg
A．rejected B．hesitated C．replied D．continued
A．afraid B．eager C．unable D．sorry
A．honesty B．courage C．enthusiasm D．curiosity
A．choice B．stop C．effort D．contribution
A．immediately B．hurriedly C．friendly D．strongly
A．What about B．What if C．How come D．If only
A．lowered B．dropped C．located D．climbed
A．in B．out C．around D．beyond
A．concern B．bitterness C．chance D．interest
A．confused B．helpful C．meaningful D．pointless
A．representative B．evident C．reliable D．important
A．then and there B．for a moment C．all of a sudden D．sooner or later
A．thoughts B．complaints C．movements D．comments
A．too B．so C．very D．not
A．aim at B．respond to C．bring up D．ask for
I used to watch her from my kitchen window. She seemed so as she muscled her way through the crowd of boys on the playground. The school was the street from our home and I would often the kids as they played during breaks.
I remember the first day I saw her playing basketball. I watched in as she ran circles around the other kids. She managed to shoot jump shots just their heads and into the net. The boys always tried to stop her but nobody could.
I began to notice her at other times, basketball in hand, playing alone. She would practice dribbling（运球）and shooting over and over again, sometimes dark. One day I asked her why she practiced so much. She looked me in eyes and without a moment of she said, “I want to go to college. The only way I can go is if I get a scholarship. I like basketball. I that if I were good enough, I would get a scholarship. I am going to play college basketball. I want to be the best. My told me if the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.” Then she smiled and ran towards the court to repeat the routine.
Well, I had to admit that she was . I watched her through those junior high years and into high school. Every week, she led her school team to victory.
One day in her senior year, I saw her sitting in the grass, head in arms. I walked across the street and sat down in the cool grass beside her. I asked what was wrong. “Oh, nothing,” came a soft reply. “I am just too .” The coaches told her that at 5’5” she would probably get to play for a top ranked team— much less offered a scholarship — so she should stop dreaming about college.
She was heartbroken and I felt my own throat tighten as I her disappointment. I asked her if she had talked to her dad about it yet.
She her head from her hands and told me that her father said those were wrong. They just did not understand the of a dream. He told her that if she really wanted to play for a good college and if she truly wanted a scholarship, nothing could stop her except one thing — her own . He told her again, “If the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.”
The next year, as she and her team went to the Northern California Championship game, she was seen by a college basketball coach. She was indeed offered a , and admitted to the college team. She was going to get the college education that she had of and worked toward for all those years.
It’s true: If the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.
A．small B．strong C．tall D．fat
A．in B．along C．beside D．across
A．see B．observe C．notice D．watch
A．terror B．satisfaction C．wonder D．disappointment
A．on B．over C．by D．with
A．until B．in C．after D．before
A．hesitation B．silence C．rest D．relief
A．wondered B．decided C．suspected D．declared
A．Mom B．coach C．Daddy D．teacher
A．determined B．enthusiastic C．optimistic D．smart
A．Quietly B．Secretly C．Impatiently D．Briefly
A．young B．slow C．short D．weak
A．soon B．never C．later D．afterwards
A．recognized B．judged C．sensed D．understood
A．turned B．lowered C．shook D．lifted
A．coaches B．statements C．players D．facts
A．key B．role C．truth D．power
A．performance B．idea C．attitude D．ability
A．reward B．hand C．scholarship D．job
A．talked B．dreamed C．thought D．heard