选编(十七)
Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list ___1___ in our past that we felt ___2___ of, regretted, or incomplete about and read our lists aloud.
This seemed like a very ___3___ process, but there’ s always some ___4___soul in the crowd who will volunteer. The instructor then ___5___ that we find ways to ___6___ people, or take some action to right any wrong doings. I was seriously wondering how this could ever ___7___ my communication.
Then the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story: “Making my ___8___, I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town. There was a Sheriff ___9___ of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a ___10___ on him.
After drinking a few beers, we climbed the tall water tank in the middle of the town, and wrote on the tank in bright red paint: Sheriff Brown is a s.o.b.(畜生). The next day, almost the whole town saw our glorious ___11___. Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had us in his office. My friends told the truth but I lied. No one ___12___ found out.”
“Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name ___13___ on my list. I didn’t even know if he was still ___14___. Last weekend, I dialed the information in my hometown and found there was a Roger Brown still listed. I tried his number. After a few ___15___, I heard, “Hello?” I said, “Sheriff Brown?” Paused. “Yes.” “Well, this is Jimmy Calkins.”
“And I want you to know that I did it?”Paused. “I knew it!” he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a ___16___ discussion. His closing words were: “Jimmy, I always felt bad for you ___17___ your buddies got it off their chest, but you were carrying it ___18___ all these years. I want to thank you for calling me...for your sake.”
Jimmy inspired me to ___19___ all 101 items on my list within two years, and I always remember what I learned from the course: It’s never too late to ___20___the past wrongdoings.
1. A. something B. anything C. somebody D. anybody
2. A. ashamed B. afraid C. sure D. proud
3. A. private B. secret C. interesting D. funny
4. A. foolish B. polite C. simple D. brave
5. A. expected B. suggested C. ordered D. demanded
6. A. connect with B. depend on C. make apologize to D. get along with
7. A. improve B. continue C. realize D. keep
8. A. notes B. list C. plan D. stories
9. A. any B. most C. none D. all
10. A. part B. game C. trick D. record
11. A. view B. sign C. attention D. remark
12. A. also B. even C. still D. ever
13. A. appears B. considers C. presents D. remembers
14. A. angry B. happy C. doubtful D. alive
15. A. words B. rings C. repeats D. calls
16. A. cold B. plain C. nervous D. lively
17. A. in case B. so long as C. unless D. because
18. A. around B. out C. on D. away
19. A. build up B. make up C. clear up D. give up
20. A. regret B. forgive C. right D. punish
Recently divorced(离婚), I had no job and was on my way downtown to go the rounds of the employment offices despite the great 36 . My old umbrella was broken, and I could not 37 another one.
I sat down in the streetcar — and there against the seat was a beautiful silk 38 with a silver handle inlaid (镶嵌) with gold. I had 39 seen anything so lovely.
I 40 the handle and saw a 41 . I got off the streetcar and 42 opened the umbrella to protect myself. Then I searched a 43 book for the name on the umbrella and found it. I called and a lady answered.
Yes, she said in 44 , that was her umbrella, which her parents, now dead, had given her for a birthday present. 45 , she added, it had been stolen at school (she was a teacher) more than a year before.
She was so excited that I 46 I was 47 a job and went directly to her house. She took the umbrella, her 48 filled with tears.
I refused the 49 she gave me. We talked for a while, and I must have given her my address. I don’t remember.
The next six months were 50 . I was able to obtain 51 here and there. l reached the lowest point in my 52 . Unless a miracle happened, I would be homeless in January, foodless, jobless.
Christmas Eve came. No money to buy my daughter a gift. I was sobbing (抽泣) in the cold little kitchen 53 the doorbell rang and my daughter Peggy ran to answer it. He was a postman, and his arms were 54 of parcels. “This is a mistake” I said, but he read the name on the parcels and there were for me.
Peggy and I sat on the floor and opened them. I looked for the name of the sender. It was the teacher. The address was 55 “California”, where she had moved.
A.cloud B.rain C.wind D.snow
A.search B.catch C.afford D.sell
A.raincoat B.seat C.book D.umbrella
A.never B.ever C.almost D.nearly
A.concluded B.examined C.learned D.helped
A.name B.address C.card D.demand
A.deliberately B.specially C.sadly D.thankfully
A.technology B.engine C.telephone D.medicine
A.anger B.surprise C.danger D.sorrow
A.And B.But C.So D.Or
A.forgot B.remembered C.indicated D.decided
A.applied for B.watching for C.asking for D.looking for
A.face B.nose C.eyes D.ear
A.reward B.prize C.present D.umbrella
A.freezing B.surprising C.shocking D.struggling
A.failures B.successes C.jobs D.wages
A.heart B.favor C.work D.life
A.as B.while C.when D.then
A.proud B.full C.careful D.glad
A.simply B.directly C.finally D.nearly
Insomecountries, peopleeatriceeveryday. 36 they eat it two or three times a day,for breakfast, lunch and supper. They can 37 it, fry (煎) it or 38 itinto ricenoodles. Theyusuallyeatit 39 meat, fish and vegetables.
Some people do not eat some kind of 40 . Muslins, for example, do not eat pork, and Hindus do not eat beef.
TheJapaneseeatalotoffish. Japan isanisland andits 41 goalloverthePacificlooking for fishto 42 . The Japanese sometimes eat uncooked fish, and they also eat a lot of rice.
In 43 such as Britain, Australia and the United States, the most important food is 44 or potatoes. People there usually make their bread from wheat flour. They 45 potatoes in different ways. They can boil them,fry them and roast (烤) them.
In Africa, maize (玉米) is the most important food. 46 rice and wheat, maize is a kind of cereal (谷物). African people make the maize 47 flour. From this flour they make 48 kinds of bread and cakes. Many Africans are very 49 and they can’t afford to eat much 50 with their cereal.
Cereals are a very important kind of food 51 we also need plenty of vegetables and lots of fresh 52 .
Some people eat 53 fruit and vegetables. They do not eat meat or fish or 54 that comes from animals. They eat only food from 55 . Some people say that food from plants is better for us than meat.
A.Sometimes B.Sometime C.Some time D.Some times
A.drink B.eat C.have D.boil
A.make B.turn C.change D.eat
A.as B.like C.with D.together
A.apples B.fish C.meat D.vegetables
A.trains B.planes C.fishing boats D.life boats
A.buy B.weigh C.hold D.catch
A.the world B.countries C.the east D.developing countries
A.bread B.cake C.flour D.vegetables
A.take B.eat C.make D.cook
A.Like B.As C.Being D.With
A.of B.from C.into D.up to
A.the same B.different C.every D.each
A.rich B.poor C.strong D.weak
A.meat B.maize C.flour D.bread
A.so B.as C.because D.but
A.rice B.cakes C.fruit D.potatoes
A.not only B.only C.besides D.except
A.something B.anything C.pork D.beef
A.plants B.apples C.pigs D.fish
“Where is the bus? Why is it always late?” I asked myself. I was going to be late ___36___ the manager wasn’t going to be pleased. “Thank God, here it is!” The bus came round the corner and I got on. Ten minutes later I was walking into the ___37___ where I work. “Twenty-five past nine. I ___38___ the manager doesn’t notice.” But I was not ___39___.
“Smith!” shouted the manager. “Late again. What’s your ___40___ this time?” “I am afraid the bus was late, Mr. Brown.” “___41___ up earlier tomorrow! Anyway, go to your place at the counter. We’ll be opening in a few minutes.”
My first customer was a pretty girl wearing a red dress. ___42___ her was a young man of about 25. He seemed very ___43___, and every few seconds he looked towards the main entrance. The girl drew some money and ___44___ about opening an account(帐户). I gave her necessary ___45___ and she went out. ___46___, I noticed a tall man by the door, carrying something ___47___ with brown paper. Turning to my next customer, I was frightened to see a gun sticking out of his coat. The next moment a loud noise ___48___ my ears. Everything went black. I was falling… It seemed to be a long time ___49___ I opened my eyes and I found myself in bed! ___50___ shaking from the memory of this terrible dream, I got dressed and ran out of the house. ___51___, the bus wasn’t on time, and I got to the bank at 9:25.
“Smith!” the manager cried out in a voice like thunder. “___52___ of your excuses! Start work at once!” To my ___53___, the first customer was a girl ___54___ a red dress and behind her stood a man carrying something wrapped in brown paper. The ___55___! Sometimes life is full of coincidences (巧合)!
A.as B.but C.and D.or
A.hotel B.shop C.bank D.restaurant
A.believe B.think C.guess D.hope
A.lucky B.happy C.sorry D.angry
A.excuse B.idea C.cause D.answer
A.Hurry B.Set C.Catch D.Get
A.Before B.Behind C.Beyond D.Against
A.nervous B.shy C.calm D.angry
A.cared B.talked C.asked D.worried
A.information B.offer C.introduction D.support
A.Again B.Then C.Thus D.However
A.hidden B.filled C.decorated D.covered
A.took B.closed C.filled D.came
A.before B.after C.when D.that
A.Even B.Still C.Just D.Ever
A.As usual B.For one thing C.In fact D.In general
A.Less B.Plenty C.More D.None
A.pleasure B.surprise C.joy D.regret
A.of B.with C.on D.in
A.dream B.story C.affair D.incident
Armed with two over-packed suitcases, we arrived at the airport just in time for my flight. As I watched her unload my luggage, I could see the 36_ in her eyes. One last hug and a final good-bye, and I would be on my way to a new life 37 .“ You’d better go or you’ll miss your flight,” she said.
“I’ll 38 you,” I replied, and with those words I 39 . By the time I reached the customs, I was 40 . While boarding the plane I was still crying. I did not have the41 to put my bag in the overhead locker, so I put it on the 42 seat next to mine.
Born just fifteen months apart, we not only looked alike, we were alike. We both had that same mix of 43 and fear of all things unknown to us. One sunny summer day I was playing outside when she came 44 to me and said, “ Want to come to the attic(阁楼)?” The answer was always “ 45 ”. We were frightened of the attic but also 46 by its smells and sounds. Together we would get through masses of dust and look through a lot of boxes _47 we found what we needed.
The plane shook 48 and my bag fell onto the floor. My aspirin, hairbrush and some other things were 49 on the floor. I _50 over to gather them up when I saw a(an) _51 little book in the middle of my belongings. It was a diary.
Immediately I 52 my sister’s handwriting. “Hi, Sis. What a day it has been today. You let me know that you are moving abroad…” Only _53 did I realize that my sister had been 54 a diary for the past month.
I read about my sister’s comings and goings during the flight. Even though a large ocean 55 us, at some point it felt like she was actually there.
A.honesty B.concern C.sadness D.satisfaction
A.abroad B.home C.again D.along
A.remember B.remind C.miss D.think of
A.was out B.was off C.left off D.left out
A.smiling B.thinking C.sighing D.sobbing
A.courage B.energy C.idea D.spirit
A.full B.big C.black D.empty
A.curiosity B.anxiety C.sympathy D.worry
A.about B.across C.down D.up
A.No B.Yes C.Sorry D.Certain
A.surprised B.bored C.attracted D.interested
A.until B.unless C.though D.since
A.hardly B.slightly C.weakly D.heavily
A.spread B.put C. pulled D.pushed
A.turned B.lay C.bent D.looked
A.similar B.unfamiliar C.important D.unimportant
A.knew B.saw C.observed D.recognized
A.when B.that C.then D.this
A.keeping B.writing C.using D.making
A.faced B.separated C.surrounded D.blocked
More than 26 million Americans took part in the Vietnam (越南)War. More than 58,000 of them21 ; over 300,000 were 22 , and nearly 2300 were missing and thought dead. Improved23 services saved many soldiers with serious 24 that in earlier wars would have been fatal(致命的). More than 600 Americans were prisoners of war (POWs).Some POWs spent six years or even25 in North Vietnamese prisons.
One of the26 things of the war has been the fate of its veterans(退伍军人).The 27 of soldiers from the Vietnam War was not 28 celebrated. Americans 29 them with stony silence.
The public's 30 reaction made many veterans angry and 31 them. They had32 a life-and-death struggle, obeying orders for their country's national33 .In the book Born on the Fourth of July (1976).Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic expressed his 34 over their not being supported.
"I didn’t want to 35 it at first---people went against us when we were putting our 36 on the frontline for our country……How could they do this to us? Many of us wouldn't be coming back……"
Thousands of Vietnam veterans turned to drugs or37 to kick the drug habits they had developed 38 the war. Many others had trouble in finding jobs or 39 down and starting families. Between 250,000 and 350,000 homeless Americans--nearly one third of thetotal 40 Vietnam veterans.
A.returned B.died C.fled D.gave up
A.killed B.caught C.wounded D.praised
A.medical B.army C.government D.Social
A.wounds B.illnesses C.situations D.feelings
A.so B.longer C.less D.more
A.best B.greatest C.saddest D.interesting
A.order B.return C.victory D.news
A.serious B.carefully C.immediately D.warmly
A.blamed B.hired C.met D.welcomed
A.warm B.cold C.coldy D.unexpected
A.discouraged B.encouraged C.comforted D.astonished
A.seen B.faced C.finished D.viewed
A.future B.fate C.interests D.base
A.gladness B.angry C.surprise D.pain
A.say B.believe C.describe D.write
A.lives B.time C.love D.youth
A.failed B.began C.managed D.hoped
A.for B.before C.after D.during
A.falling B.settling C.putting D.lying
A.was B.were C.are D.is