The Hand
Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a fun assignment to draw a
picture of ___36____ for which they were thankful.
Most of the class might be _37___ economically disadvantaged, but still many would __38___ the holidays with turkeys and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the ___39___ of most of her students’ art. And they were.
But Douglas made a(n) __40___ kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher’s true child of misery,__41_____ and unhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess the pain Douglas felt ___42___those sad eyes.
Yes, his picture was different. When__43____ to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a____44____. Nothing else. Just a empty hand.
His abstract image captured the _45_____ of his classmates, Whose hand could it be ? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers__46_____ turkeys. Another suggested a police officer, because the police protect and __47____ people. And so the discussion went ------ until the teacher ___48__ forgot the young artist himself.
__49____ the children had gone on to other assignments, she_50_____ at Douglas’ desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was. The little boy looked away and murmured, “It’s yours, teacher.”
She recalled the __51___ she had taken his hand and walked with him here and there, as she had other student. How _52_____ had she said, “Take your hand, Douglas, we’ll go outside.” Or, “Let me show you how to hold your pencil.” Or, “Let’s do this together.” Douglas was most ____53__ for his teacher’s hand.
Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work.
In fact, people __54___ not always say “thanks”. But they will remember the hand that ____55___ .
A．anything B．something C．nothing D．everything
A．suggested B．affected C．encouraged D．considered
A．celebrate B．share C．like D．avoid
A．purposes B．subjects C．motivations D．examples
A．good B．encouraging C．different D．exciting
A．merry B．naughty C．weak D．lively
A．behind B．beside C．before D．around
A．ordered B．asked C．forced D．persuaded
A．gift B．person C．hand D．wonder
A．thought B．description C．respect D．imagination
A．raise B．need C．buy D．sell
A．look at B．care for C．take away D．drive off
A．always B．almost C．usually D．therefore
A．Before B．Now that C．Since D．When
A．stared B．aimed C．paused D．glanced
A．chances B．forms C．ways D．times
A．seldom B．often C．soon D．much
A．thankful B．calm C．pleased D．comfortable
A．could B．must C．should D．might
A．move on B．stick above C．reaches out D．help out
When I was twelve years old. I went with my dad to his work—a car showroom. I was 21 around carelessly and saw a poor woman with a child beside her 22 outside the showroom. I saw that she was crying and went inside to tell my 23 . He went out and 24 the woman to come into the showroom. He offered her some water and then asked her what was 25 .
The woman said that her husband had died and she didn’t have anyone else in her family who could 26 her. she did some manual(体力的) labor to earn some money to 27 her daughter but she was sick for the last three days and was 28 to go to work. Now she didn’t have a grain of food to eat. While she was telling this story to my father, she was unable to 29 her emotions（情绪）and started crying again. My father and I were deeply 30 by her story.
We got some food for her and her baby. My father then took them to the nearest hospital for her baby to be 31 as she did not seem to be very well. On the way, we32 her a 5kg-bag of wheat from the market. My father gave her some money before we left. The lady was so 33 .
It is eight years later, 34 that event is still very 35in my mind. My father’s 36 to this woman moved me 37 and since then, I have decided to try and walk a similar path and serve others. I’m 38 to see so many other people in this world are also ready to help others when they meet people 39 . They have 40 to walk a service path also.
A．showing B．walking C．driving D．working
A．reading B．joking C．reporting D．standing
A．boss B．father C．leader D．teacher
A．asked B．begged C．expected D．encouraged
A．funny B．special C．wrong D．strange
A．help B．meet C．teach D．remember
A．get tired of B．take care of C．join in D．be fond of
A．glad B．proud C．unable D．unwilling
A．prove B．improve C．understand D．control
A．moved B．frightened C．satisfied D．surprised
A．calmed B．taught C．watched D．treated
A．sold B．showed C．bought D．cooked
A．grateful B．trustful C．hopeful D．successful
A．or B．but C．unless D．so
A．weak B．similar C．fresh D．possible
A．promise B．suggestion C．patience D．kindness
A．greatly B．simply C．nearly D．finally
A．free B．foolish C．happy D．careful
A．at present B．at peace C．in general D．in difficulty
A．invited B．chosen C．forced D．allowed
When my twin sons, Chad and Brad, were born, I was concerned about everything. Five years later, our little girl, Becky 1 our family. I wanted everybody to be healthy and happy. I worked hard to see that they were.
As the kids grew older, I worried about headaches, throat infections and many other common childhood illnesses．I didn’t like it when the boys spent time “warming the bench (板凳)” during Little League football games. I worried about Becky when she 2 the ball while playing softball．Before long, the teen years were upon us. I stayed up late at night waiting for the boys to return home．Many times the 3 crossed my mind that I would call the police if they weren’t home on time. 4 , they always arrived home safe and sound before I had to take such 5 .
“Please don't ever call the police,” one of the boys said when I 6 him after a late arrival. The day the boys moved away to college was a(n) 7 day indeed. I worried about their being able to take care of themselves. Would they starve?
A few months after the boys left college, our 8 rang in the middle of the night. It startled (惊醒) us when we looked at the clock．It was 3 o’clock in the morning. “Something must be wrong,” I shouted to my husband, Roy, as we both jumped up．We ran to the door, opened it, and there stood a police officer.
“You need to call your sons,” he 9 announced. I picked up the telephone, but unfortunately, it was 10 . A line outside had been accidentally cut. Roy and I jumped into the car and 11 to the nearest telephone．My stomach ached．My husband was 12 so badly that he could hardly dial the number.
On the first 13 , Chad answered the telephone. “What's wrong?” Roy shouted into the receiver (听筒). “We were worried about you,” Chad told him. “We’ve been trying to call you all night, but you didn’t 14 .We called the police and asked them to go and check on you.”
For the first time in their lives, the boys were worried about us. And they were the ones who 15 had to call the police.
A．completed B．visited C．tested D．appreciated
A．hit B．threw C．got D．missed
A．plan B．advice C．worry D．thought
A．Strangely B．Probably C．Luckily D．Hopefully
A．worries B．places C．measures D．telephones
A．threatened B．told C．surprised D．reminded
A．nice B．embarrassing C．happy D．sad
A．phone B．clock C．alarm D．doorbell
A．seriously B．carefully C．anxiously D．kindly
A．gone B．useless C．dead D．shortened
A．rushed B．headed C．went D．moved
A．looking B．shaking C．suffering D．seeing
A．night B．arrival C．try D．ring
A．talk B．answer C．wake D．care
A．frequently B．suddenly C．actually D．rarely
Christmas roses
It was the afternoon of December 24, the day before Christmas, and as the newest doctor in our office, I 36 to wok. The only thing that brightened my day was the beautifully 37 Christmas tree in our waiting room and a gift sent to me by my38 --- a dozen red roses.
Then a woman came in with an infant (婴儿).39 she explained that her husband was a prisoner and was my next 40 . She told me she wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in prison and that he had never seen his son. She 41 me to let the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as long as possible 42 I called him for his appointment. Since my schedule wasn’t full, I 43 .
A short time later, her husband 44 ---with two armed 45 as an escort ( 护卫 ). The woman’s tired face 46 up like our little Christmas tree when her husband took a 47 beside her. I kept peeking out to watch them laugh, cry and 48 with their child.
After almost an hour, I called the 49 back to the operatory. The patient seemed like a gentle and humble（谦逊的）man. I wondered what he possibly could have done to be 50 under such conditions. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible.
At the end I wished him a Merry Christmas --- a difficult thing to say to a man 51 back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He said he felt 52 by the fact he hadn’t been able to get his wife anything for Christmas. On 53 this , I was inspired with a wonderful idea.
I’ll never forget the look on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful 54 . I’m not sure who 55 the most joy --- the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this special moment.
A．needed B．used C．had D．ought
A．dressed B．decorated C．cut D．planted
A．classmate B．boss C．parent D．boyfriend
A．Nervously B．Eagerly C．Curiously D．Carefully
A．colleague B．patient C．student D．customer
A．begged B．ordered C．asked D．invited
A．when B．until C．after D．before
A．smiled B．hesitated C．agreed D．refused
A．escaped B．arrived C．cried D．quarreled
A．soldiers B．judges C．lawyers D．guards
A．went B．lit C．took D．brought
A．seat B．rest C．ride D．look
A．joy B．water C．food D．possessions
A．prisoner B．nurse C．doctor D．woman
A．awarded B．punished C．caught D．held
A．brought B．gone C．headed D．returned
A．saddened B．excited C．surprised D．pleased
A．seeing B．hearing C．remembering D．learning
A．tree B．clothes C．roses D．necklace
A．enjoyed B．suffered C．benefited D．experienced
The young couple had another quarrel. They were sitting silently when the landlady(女房东) came in and asked, “You don’t 36 the house any more?” He kept silent and she 37 shook her head.
The landlady began 38 the house. After looking around, the landlady screamed, “See how you have 39 my house? The walls are full of nails(铁钉)! How could I rent it to others?”
She began looking around her 40 room. Four years ago on the wedding night, he felt deeply 41 to her, saying, “I feel so sorry to you for 42 you live in this small room. In the future I will buy our own big house.”
This tiny room has two nails on the wall next to the door, one for her bag and the other 43 . At that time, she threw all her stuff(填充物)such as her bag and umbrella on the 44 once she entered the room, staring at the whole 45 and feeling terribly upset. Then he began 46 more nails into the wall. There were three nails on the left, on which 47 his clothes yesterday and four on the right used to 48 their wedding photo frame.
The landlady started to pull the nails out with a tool. After the nails were 49 , the walls were left with countless holes. Suddenly, she felt heartbroken as if she were 50 nonstop through these holes.
She 51 to her feet and exclaimed, “Stop removing the nails! We will rent the house 52 we buy our own!” He gazed at her surprised, and then turned round, tears over his cheek.
She 53 realized that marriage was like a wall and that all 54 and “cold wars” were like the nails on the wall. 55 , when they were removed, only a wall with holes would remain. But if all the nails were still in their own places, the wall was still complete and reliable.
A．like B．clean C．rent D．keep
A．simply B．barely C．coldly D．proudly
A．observing B．examining C．watching D．spotting
A．shared B．ruined C．kept D．decorated
A．familiar B．dirty C．empty D．bright
A．devoted B．attached C．optimistic D．guilty
A．leaving B．having C．asking D．getting
A．clothes B．pictures C．umbrellas D．hats
A．floor B．wall C．ceiling D．door
A．trouble B．mess C．confusion D．order
A．putting B．striking C．driving D．beating
A．hung B．fastened C．dropped D．swung
A．connect B．fix C．hang D．put
A．replaced B．separated C．unfastened D．removed
A．crying B．aching C．bleeding D．disturbing
A．jumped B．held C．stuck D．got
A．if B．unless C．as D．until
A．especially B．eventually C．fortunately D．sadly
A．chaos(混乱) B．troubles C．quarrels D．challenges
A．Therefore B．Besides C．Thus D．However
When we read books we seem to enter a new world. This new world can be similar to the one we are living in, or it can be very__50__. Some stories are toldas ifthey were true. Real people who live in a __51__world do real things; in other words, the stories are about people just like us doing what we do. Other stories, such as the Harry Potter books, are not__52__. They are characters and creatures that are very different from us and do things that would beimpossiblefor us.
But there is more to books and writing than this. If we think about it, even realistic writing is only__53__. How can we tell the difference between what is real and what is not real? For example, when we read about Harry Potter, wedo seem to learn something about the real world. And when Harry studies magic at Hogwarts, he also learns more about his real life than__54__. Reading, like writing, is an action. It is a way ofthinking. When we read or write something, we do much more than simple look at words on a page. We use our__55__, which is real, and our imagination, which is real in a different way, to make the words come to life in our minds.
Both realism and fantasy (幻想)usethe imagination and the “magic” of reading and writing to make us think. When we readsomethingrealistic, we have to __56__ that the people we are reading about are just like us, even though we__57__that we are real and they arenot. It sounds__58__, but it works. When we read, we fill in missing information and__59__the causes and effects of what a character does. We help the writer by__60__that what we read is like real life. __61__, we are writing the book, too.
Most of us probably don’t think about what is going on in our__62__ when we are reading. We pick up a book and loseourselvesin a good story, eager to find out what will __63__ next. Knowing how we feelwhenwe read can help us become better __64__, and it will help us discover more about the real magic of books.
A．different B．possible C．important D．necessary
A．common B．usual C．normal D．certain
A．instructive B．realistic C．reasonable D．moral
A．planned B．thinkable C．designed D．imagined
A．magic B．lessons C．dreams D．experience
A．grammar B．knowledge C．skill D．words
A．recall B．ensure C．imagine D．understand
A．hope B．find C．learn D．know
A．terrible B．dangerous C．serious D．strange
A．think about B．talk of C．learn from D．forget about
A．guessing B．telling C．pretending D．promising
A．In a way B．As usual C．On the contrary D．By the way
A．society B．minds C．life D．world
A．appear B．argue C．happen D．develop
A．writers B．fans C．professionals D．readers