As I drove my blue Buick into the garage. I saw that a yellow Oldsmobile was ___21___ too close to my space. I had to drive back and forth to get my car into the ___22___ space. That left ___23___ enough room to open the door. Then one day I arrived home___24___, and just as I turned off the engine, the yellow Oldsmobile entered its space — too close to my car, ___25___. At last I had a chance to meet the driver. My patience had ___26___ and I shouted at her, “Can’t you see you’re not___27___ me enough space? Park father over.” Banging(猛推) open her door into ___28___, the driver shouted back: “Make me!” ___29___ this she stepped out of the garage. Still, each time she got home first, she parked too close to my ___30___. Then one day, I thought, “What can I do?” I soon found ___31___. The next day the woman ___32___ a note on her windshield(挡风玻璃):
Dear Yellow Oldsmobile,
I’m sorry my mistress(女主人) shouted at yours the other day. She’s been sorry about it. I know it because she doesn’t sing anymore while ___33___. It wasn’t like her to scream ___34___. Fact is, she’d just got bad news and was taking it out on you two. I ___35___ you and your mistress will ___36___ her.
Your neighbor,
Blue Buick
When I went to the___37___ the next morning, the Oldsmobile was gone, but there was a note on my windshield:
Dear Blue Buick,
My mistress is sorry, too. She parked so___38___ because she just learned to drive. We will park much farther over after this. I’m glad we can be___39___ now.
Your neighbor,
Yellow Oldsmobile
After that, whenever Blue Buick ___40___ Yellow Oldsmobile on the road, their drivers waved cheerfully and smiled.
21. A. driven B. parked C. stopped D. stayed
22. A. complete B. close C. narrow D. fixed
23. A. quite B. nearly C. seldom D. hardly
24. A. hurriedly B. first C. finally D. timely
25. A. as usual B. as planned C. as well D. as yet
26. A. run into B. run about C. run out D. run off
27. A. keeping B. saving C. offering D. leaving
28. A. mine B. hers C. itself D. ours
29. A. For B. With C. From D. Upon
30. A. room B. area C. front D. side
31. A. an instruction B. a result C. an answer D. a chance
32. A. put B. wrote C. sent D. discovered
33. A. working B. driving C. returning D. cooking
34. A. on end B. so long C. like that D. any more
35. A. hope B. know C. suppose D. suggest
36. A. comfort B. help C. forgive D. please
37. A. office B. flat C. place D. garage
38. A. crazily B. eagerly C. noisily D. early
39. A. neighbors B. friends C. drivers D. writers
40. A. followed B. passed C. found D. greeted
On Sundays my father always wore that gray apron(围裙)—the one with the race cars all over it. The ritual (老规矩) began. breakfast when Dad always announced, “Go ahead everyone. I’ll the dishes!” For the next hour Dad did the dishes, singing ballads (歌谣) like “I Had a Hat When I Came in.” and “Who Put the Chow in Mrs. Marphy’s Chowder?”
I suppose it was for a boy’s father to wear an apron—even one with race cars— I never thought much of it until the day that Dad broke with tradition. It was the last Sunday in August. As we home slowly from church together, my father seemed very . “Tommy,” he said letting my name roll off his . “There comes a time in every boy’s when he must take on responsibilities. It’s time you a greater role in the family. From now on, I want you to the dishes on Sunday morning, so your mother and I can work the crossword puzzle (纵横字谜) together.”
“The dishes!?” I in surprise.
“Anything wrong with taking over the dishes, son?” father said.
I started to say something about a man’s or woman’s work, but I knew immediately that my protests (抗议) would be .
I didn’t taste a bit of that morning. Dad seemed joyful as he described an American game.[]
At the end of the meal, my father , “Let’s go to read the paper, honey.” “Aren’t you doing the dishes?” my 51 asked surprisedly. Father smiled and said, “your oldest son has to fill the position.”
“I want you to have this apron on, Tommy. It’ll keep your clothes from getting .” And before I could go against it, he had put the thing on me. “Thanks, Son. Your mother and I this.”
With that he disappeared into the Sunday paper. I looked at the dishes. I could see my dad reaching for the dishes. He was always happy to help the family. My anger soon flew off and I began to sing.
A．Until B．During C．Before D．After
A．keep up B．take care of C．look for D．turn over
A．important B．natural C．strange D．exciting
A．but B．so C．because D．when
A．rushed B．hurried C．walked D．danced
A．happy B．angry C．sad D．mad
A．eyes B．tongue C．ears D．hands
A．death B．school C．work D．life
A．made B．played C．did D．carried
A．do B．buy C．break D．set
A．smiled B．laughed C．whispered D．screamed
A．game B．joy C．job D．feeling
A．turned down B．turned to C．turned up D．turned off
A．breakfast B．lunch C．supper D．juice
A．ordered B．announced C．demanded D．chatted
A．brother B．sister C．mother D．friend
A．started B．gone C．managed D．offered
A．cold B．warm C．dry D．wet
A．hate B．scold C．appreciate D．require
A．up B．down C．out D．on
It was in my high school science class. I was doing a task in front of the classroom with my favorite shirt on.
A came, “Nice shirt,” I smiled from ear to ear. Then another voice said, “That shirt belonged to my dad. Greg’s mother works for my family. We were going to that shirt away, but gave it to her .”I was speechless. I wanted to hide.
I the shirt in the back of the closet and told my mum what had happened. She then dialed her , “I will no longer work for your family,” she told him. That night, Mom told my dad that she couldn’t clean anymore; she knew her life’s was something greater.
The next morning she with the personnel manager at the Board of Education. He told her that without a proper education she could not teach. So mom decided to a university.
After the first year in college, she went back to the personnel manager. He said, “You are __ , aren’t you? I think I have a for you as a teacher’s assistant. This opportunity deals with children who are mentally challenged with little or no chance of .” Mom accepted the opportunity very .
For almost five years, as a teacher’s assistant, she saw teacher after teacher give up on the children and quit, feeling . Then one day, the personnel manager and the principal __ _ in her classroom. The principal said, “We have watched how you the children and how they communicate with you and admire your hard – working over the last five years. We are all in agreement that you be the teacher of this class.”
My mom spent more than 20 years there. her career, she was voted Teacher of the Year. All of this came about because of the comment made in the classroom that day. Mom showed me how to handle situations and never give up.
A．noise B．voice C．sound D．tune
A．get B．take C．carry D．throw
A．otherwise B．anyhow C．instead D．actually
A．settled B．pushed C．stored D．stuck
A．teacher B．employer C．director D．adviser
A．purpose B．encouragement C．achievement D．victory
A．went B．met C．worked D．stayed
A．visit B．continue C．attend D．prepare
A．serious B．fortunate C．careful D．responsible
A．career B．duty C．position D．part
A．learning B．judging C．obeying D．imagining
A．patiently B．eagerly C．successfully D．skillfully
A．upset B．frightened C．guilty D．ashamed
A．looked up B．went up C．took up D．showed up
A．believe B．protect C．treat D．receive
A．spirit B．intention C．action D．attempt
A．must B．would C．might D．should
A．At B．During C．On D．With
A．worthless B．thoughtless C．hopeless D．helpless
A．challenging B．different C．dangerous D．strange
I used to be a very self-centered person, but in the past two years I have really changed. I have started to think about other people I think about myself. I am happy that I am becoming a person.
I think my started when I was at Palomar College. At first, I just wanted to get my and be left alone. I thought I was smarter than everyone else, so I hardly ever to anyone in my classes. By the end of my first semester, I was really . It seemed as if everyone but me had made friends and was having fun. So tried a(n) . I started asking people around me how they were doing, and if they were having trouble I could to help. That was really a big for me. By the end of the year, I had several new friends, and two of are still my best friends today.
A bigger cause of my new , however, came when I took a part-time job at a Vista Nursing Home. One old lady there who had Alzheimer’s disease became my . Every time I came into her room, she was because she thought I was her daughter. Her real daughter never her, so I took her place. She let me that making others feel good make me feel good, too, when she died, I was , but I was very grateful to her.
I think I am a much person today than I used to be, and I hope I will not these experiences. They have me to care about other people more than about myself. I who I am today, and I could not say that a few years ago.
A．since B．before C．or D．unless
A．famous B．simple C．different D．skilled
A．education B．career C．tour D．change
A．balance B．homework C．degree D．interest
A．talked B．wrote C．lied D．reported
A．careful B．lonely C．curious D．guilty
A．argument B．game C．experiment D．defence
A．dare B．offer C．hesitate D．happen
A．dream B．problem C．duty D．step
A．us B．which C．them D．whom
A．attitude B．hobby C．hope D．luck
A．friend B．partner C．guide D．guest
A．polite B．happy C．strange D．confident
A．bothered B．answered C．visited D．trusted
A．explain B．guess C．declare D．see
A．homeless B．heartbroken C．bad-tempered D．hopeless
A．quieter B．busier C．better D．richer
A．forget B．face C．improve D．analyze
A．forced B．preferred C．ordered D．taught
A．miss B．like C．wonder D．expect
On my first visit to India with my husband, we met a really nice woman named Uma on the plane. Talking with her made the long flight much faster.
When we arrived. we learned that our bags had not made the trip with our plane. As we were filling out the luggage forms, we couldn't help noticing the mountain of unclaimed baggage in a corner. Would we see our belongings again? This was not a good beginning of our 6-week trip.
It was now 4 am Saturday morning. The officials had told us there was no in checking to see if our bags had arrived until Monday. What should we do next? we stood there wondering, Uma came over. Learning of our , she said. "Our driver will soon be here to me up. Come home with me."
We entered the steamy early scene outside. Lots of people were waiting for their loved ones. calling their names and them into warm hugs as they reconnected. minutes, Uma said, "There's our car!" We piled into the small car, already with family members who had come to Uma home.
At the house, Uma's family took us in we had known one another for a long time. They fed us delicious Indian meals, took us on of their city and brought us to their favorite temples. On morning. their driver brought us to the airport, where we were happy to find our bags, and sound.
What a gift Uma's was! In my very first moments on Indian soil. I learned an unforgettable lesson about the warm, generous of the Indian people. Uma had begun achain reaction that we did our best to on wherever we went.
A．go ahead B．go by C．go up D．go through
A．anyhow B．somehow C．anyway D．however
A．missing B．losing C．gone D．stolen
A．seldom B．forever C．even D．ever
A．trouble B．problem C．point D．use
A．Before B．After C．As D．Since
A．situation B．condition C．suggestion D．conclusion
A．call B．pick C．get D．bring
A．morning B．afternoon C．night D．evening
A．putting B．turning C．collecting D．gathering
A．For B．By C．Within D．During
A．covered B．crowded C．compared D．charged
A．see B．bring C．send D．welcome
A．even though B．as if C．in case D．now that
A．tours B．journeys C．voyages D．travels
A．Friday B．Saturday C．Monday D．Sunday
A．quiet B．good C．heavy D．safe
A．kindness B．politeness C．bravery D．carefulness
A．action B．spirit C．state D．deed
A．depend B．put C．pass D．turn
When we think of green buildings, we tend to think of new ones-the kind of modern, solar-paneled masterpieces that make the covers of architecture magazines．But the US has more than 100 million existing homes, and it would be incredibly to tear them all down and them with greener versions．
An enormous amount of energy and resources went into the construction of those houses．And it would take an average of 65 years for the carbon emissions (排放) from a(an) ___ energy-efficient (节能) home to make up for the lost by destroying an old one．
So in the broadest sense, the greenest home is the one that has already been built．But at the same time, half of US carbon emissions come from heating, cooling and powering our , offices and other buildings．"You can't deal with climate without dealing with existing buildings," says Richard Moe, the president of the National Trust．
With some exceptions, the oldest homes tend to be the energy-efficient．Houses built before 1939 use about 50% more energy per square foot than those built after 2000, mainly due to the tiny cracks and gaps that over time and let in more outside .
,there are a vast number of relatively simple changes that can green older homes, from ones like Lincoln's Cottage to your own postwar home．And efficiency upgrades (升级) can save more than just the earth; they can help property owners from rising power .
A．terrible B．wasteful C．wonderful D．useful
A．put B．build C．replace D．take
A．reduced B．increased C．used D．destroyed
A．old B．fashionable C．new D．beautiful
A．magazines B．trees C．materials D．resources
A．nearly B．hardly C．rarely D．mostly
A．libraries B．schools C．homes D．stores
A．improvement B．appearance C．stability D．change
A．most B．really C．very D．least
A．expand B．narrow C．strengthen D．weaken
A．dust B．air C．smoke D．water
A．Oppositely B．Unfortunately C．Fortunately D．Frankly
A．historic B．worthless C．ordinary D．meaningless
A．charge B．protect C．punish D．warn
A．prices B．costs C．businesses D．bargains