When I was fifteen, I announced to my English class that I was going to write my own books. Half the students smiled unkindly, 36 nearly fell out of their chairs laughing. “Don’t be 37 , only geniuses can become writers,” the English teacher said, “And you are getting a D this term.” I was so ashamed I burst into 38 . That night I wrote a short sad poem about broken dreams and mailed it to the newspaper. To my 39 , they published it and sent me two dollars. I was a published and paid writer. I showed my teacher and fellow students. They laughed, “Just plain dumb luck,” the teacher said. I 40 success. I’d sold the first thing I’d 41 written. That was more than any of them had done and if it was just dumb luck that was fine with me.
During the next two years I sold dozens of poems and letters. By the time I graduated from high school, I had scrapbooks (剪贴簿) 42 my published works. I never 43 my writing to my teachers, friends or my family 44 because they were dream killers.
I had four children at the time. 45 the children slept, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote what I felt. It took nine months. I chose a 46 and mailed it. A month later I received a contract, an advance on payments, and a request to start 47 another book. Crying Wind, became a best seller, was translated into fifteen languages and sold worldwide. My first book also became 48 reading in native American schools in Canada.
The 49 year I ever had as a writer I earned two dollars. In my best year I earned 36,000 dollars. People ask what college I 50 , what degrees I had and what qualifications I have to be a writer. The answer is: “None.” I just write. I’m not a genius. I use an electric typewriter that I paid a hundred and twenty nine dollars 51 six years ago. I do all the housework and 52 my writing in a few minutes here and there. I’ve written eight books. To all those who dream of writing, I’m shouting at you: “Yes, you can. Don’t listen to them.” I don’t write right 53 I’ve succeeded. Writing is 54 , it’s fun and anyone can do it. 55 , a little dumb luck doesn’t hurt.
A．other B．others C．the other D．the rest
A．silly B．curious C．excited D．depressed
A．laughter B．tears C．song D．cheers
A．puzzlement B．disappointment C．expectation D．astonishment
A．tasted B．met C．accepted D．considered
A．yet B．never C．even D．ever
A．crowdedwith B．filled with C．combined with D．linked with
A．remembered B．concluded C．mentioned D．described
A．again B．instead C．still D．merely
A．Though C．Until D．While
A．writer B．reporter C．publisher D．manager
A．working on B．going on C．turning on D．putting on
A．requested B．required C．demanded D．reminded
A．busiest B．worse C．worst D．highest
A．attended B．took C．admitted D．participated
A．out B．to C．by D．for
A．keep B．fit C．save D．hold
A．or B．so C．and D．but
A．easy B．hard C．convenient D．practical
A．On the contrary B．Of course C．As a result D．In this way
One afternoon, I arrived home late from school. While I was chatting to my grandmother about my busy day, my sister us, wanting to know if we, too, could smell burning.
As my parents were overseas, the thought of a terrified us and we quickly checked every room in the house. the kitchen, I could see a glowing light and hear a roaring sound. To my , the stove was on fire and smoke was blowing out of the window. I yelled to my sister and grandmother to the house. My sister grabbed the to call the fire brigade (消防队) and, together with the dog, we ran away from the house.
While we waited for help, a lady and her young daughter ran towards us to if we were hurt. She had noticed smoke coming from our window and had already the fire brigade. She hugged us and was very delighted to see us .
She led us to her car where we waited the fire was put out. She also helped us answer questions so the police could start their investigations.
Once the lady was that some order had been restored, she apologized for being to stay longer, as she had to take her daughter to a dance performance. She to return later to check in on us.
I was completely for words. This kind lady had gone out of her to make sure we were safe and now she was sorry about leaving us. We thanked her very much and her not to any further.
Hours later, we were allowed back into the house. It was about midnight when the doorbell rang. To my disbelief, it was the from earlier at the door.
, in all the commotion（混乱）, I didn’t ask her where she lived so my family hasn’t been able to thank her properly for her thoughtful actions that day.
A．informed B．interrupted C．introduced D．interviewed
A．fire B．thief C．storm D．robber
A．Going B．Coming C．Nearing D．Closing
A．delight B．amazement C．disappointment D．horror
A．get out of B．get back to C．get through D．get into
A．phone B．stick C．water tap D．loudspeaker
A．excitedly B．anxiously C．tiredly D．hardly
A．watch B．understand C．check D．ensure
A．met B．investigated C．declared D．alerted
A．terrified B．alone C．together D．safe
A．unless B．although C．until D．since
A．reported B．convinced C．warned D．disturbed
A．unable B．uncertain C．inconvenient D．impossible
A．promised B．decided C．refused D．expected
A．unknown B．puzzled C．beaten D．lost
A．house B．way C．trouble D．mind
A．insisted B．ordered C．urged D．suggested
A．live B．step C．explore D．delay
A．fireman B．policeman C．lady D．daughter
A．Undoubtedly B．Unfortunately C．Unlikely D．Unimportantly
A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching ______kids dashing out from between parked cars and______ when he thought he saw something.
As his car passed, one child appeared, and a brick____into the Jag's side door. He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the ____from where the brick had been thrown.
He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car, ____, "What was that all about and who are you? What are you doing?" Building up a head of steam, he went on "That's a new car and that brick you threw is gonna ____a lot of money. Why did you do it?"
"Please, Mister, please, I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do!" pleaded the youngster.
"It's my brother," he said. "He rolled____the curb (路边) and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't____him up.
____, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too ____ for me."
____beyond words, the driver tried to ____the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and____the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay.
"Thank you, sir. And God bless you," the ____child said to him. The man then watched the little boy push his brother to the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long walk back to his Jaguar... a long, slow walk. He never did ____ the side door. He kept the dent(凹痕) to ____him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your ____.
Life whispers in your ___and speaks to your heart. Sometimes, when you don't have the time to____... Life throws a brick at your head.
It's your choice: Listen to the whispers of your soul or wait for the ____!
A．in B．for C．up D．of
A．speed up B．moved off C．slowed down D．drew off
A．smashed B．threw C．rushed D．attacked
A．street B．house C．car D．spot
A．speaking B．shouting C．talking D．saying
A．cost B．take C．spend D．pay
A．off B．about C．on D．into
A．rise B．lift C．put D．drag
A．calling B．yelling C．sobbing D．shouting
A．heavy B．tall C．weak D．difficult
A．moved B．surprised C．annoyed D．persuaded
A．spit B．swallow C．vomit D．digest
A．scratched B．applied C．wiped D．drafted
A．grateful B．sorrowful C．naughty D．lovely
A．decorate B．repair C．crash D．remove
A．remind B．warn C．sense D．detect
A．understanding B．approval C．sympathy D．attention
A．spirit B．soul C．ghost D．memory
A．think B．feel C．look D．listen
A．moment B．idea C．brick D．chance
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填人空白处的
最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Last night I wrote an article for the school newspaper that described how I feel right now in honest terms．I emailed it to our wonderful ，and after she it, she asked a very good question：“Do you want the school body，including our senior class and the teaching to read this?”
That question pretty much my thoughts．I’m not a very person；I tend to let only a few friends know what’s going on in my life．I suppose that’s my personality says the opposite to itself, because I’m also an honest person ．
Being honest is ．It involves taking risks-huge risks-and putting on the edge． to someone can be the hardest thing for you in the world and either lead to the hurt of feeling or friendships．During the course of my life，I've experienced ．
In positive ways，being honest can be a ．Pretending is not only difficult， it’s very tiring．Last year， I discovered that I could be open with two people whom I was already good friends with，the load on my shoulders felt much ．Telling someone your feelings is scary；trusting someone your heart and soul is hard．Of course，putting one’s feelings into for the general population to read is also rather frightening．
A．editor B．coach C．e-pal D．supervisor
A．deleted B．read C．forwarded D．reserved
A．entire B．junior C．main D．key
A．member B．clerk C．staff D．fellow
A．agreed B．controlled C．supported D．matched
A．easygoing B．shy C．optimistic D．open
A．exactly B．rarely C．roughly D．usually
A．how B．what C．where D．When
A．exciting B．simple C．boring D．difficult
A．everybody B．yourself C．somebody D．myself
A．Showing off B．Opening up C．Getting down D．Looking up
A．unreliable B．weaker C．permanent D．stronger
A．either B．neither C．both D．nothing
A．burden B．dream C．goal D．release
A．but B．while C．also D．meanwhile
A．in which B．when C．during which D．which
A．heavier B．unpredictable C．1ighter D．unbearable
A．miserable B．secret C．strong D．joyful
A．by B．via C．with D．beyond
A．reality B．use C．practice D．print
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填人空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
My father was a self-taught mandolin player. He was one of the best string players in our town. He could not read music, but if he heard a a few times, he could play it.
Occasionally, Dad get out his mandolin and play for the family. We three children would often sing along.
Dad loved to play the mandolin for his family. He knew we enjoyed singing and hearing him play. He was like that. If he could give pleasure to others, he would, his family. He was always there, his time and efforts to see that his family had enough in their life. I had to into a man and have children of my own I realized how much he had sacrificed.
I joined the United States Air Force in January of 1962. Whenever I came home leave, I would ask Dad to play the mandolin. Nobody played the mandolin like my father. He could your soul with the tones that came out of that old mandolin. He seemed to when he was playing. You could see his in his ability to play so well for his family.
In August of 1993 my father was with inoperable lung cancer. He chose not to receive chemotherapy treatments so that he could live out the rest of his life in . About a week before his death, we asked Dad if he would play the mandolin for us. He but said "okay”. He knew it would probably be the last time he would play for us. He tuned up the old mandolin and played a few notes. When I looked around, there was not a eye in the family. We saw before us a quiet humble man with a (n) strength that comes from knowing God, and with him in one's life. Dad would never play the mandolin for us again. We felt at the time that he wouldn't have enough strength to play, and that makes the of that day even stronger. Dad was doing he had done all his life, giving. Sick he was, he was still pleasing others. Dad sure could play that Mandolin!
A．performance B．instrument C．tool D．tube
A．music B．note C．tune D．rhythm
A．might B．would C．could D．should
A．eventually B．especially C．specifically D．occasionally
A．spending B．contributing C．sacrificing D．wasting
A．change B．get C．bring D．mature
A．until B．after C．before D．while
A．off B．for C．at D．on
A．touch B．knock C．hit D．grasp
A．fade B．wake C．improve D．shine
A．pride B．appreciation C．gratitude D．satisfaction
A．suspected B．confirmed C．labeled D．diagnosed
A．comfort B．relief C．dignity D．peace
A．sprang B．rose C．decided D．hesitated
A．dry B．bright C．wet D．gloomy
A．outer B．inner C．outside D．inside
A．working B．contacting C．living D．communicating
A．memory B．impression C．phenomenon D．reminder
A．something B．anything C．everything D．nothing
A．although B．as C．when D．while
When hard times came, the depression settled over my soul. The park bench was __ __ as I sat down to read beneath an old willow tree. A young boy out of breath__ __ me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted (倾斜的) down, saying in great ____ ____， “Look what I found！”
In his hand was a flower, and what a ___ ___ sight, with its petals (花瓣) all worn — not enough rain, or too little light. __ ___ him to take his flower and go off to play, I ____ ___ a small smile and then shifted away. But instead of ____ ___, he sat next to my ___ ____ and placed the flower to his nose and declared with surprise, “It surely smells pretty and it's beautiful, too. That's why I __ ____ it; here, it's for you.”
The flower before me was dying or dead. But I knew I must____ ____ it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and ____ ____，“Just what I need.” But instead of placing the flower in my hand, he ___ ____ it midair without reason. It was then that I ____ ____ for the very first time the boy was ____ ___.
I heard my voice shake, tears shone like the sun ____ ____ I thanked him for picking the very best one. He smiled, and then ran off to play, __ ___ of the effect he'd had on my day.
I sat there and ____ ____ how he managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my____ ____？Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true ___ ____.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see, the problem was not connected with the world; the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed (发誓) to see __ __, and appreciate every second that's mine.
A．faded B．unoccupied C． worn D． untidy
A．overlooked B．approached C． understood D． stopped
A．excitement B．sorrow C． trouble D． panic
A．unique B．rough C． bothering D． pitiful
A．Expecting B．Demanding C． Persuading D． Inviting
A．played B．adjusted C． forced D． delivered
A．declining B．accepting C． refusing D． quitting
A．side B．way C． shoulder D． direction
A．spotted B．pulled C． sold D． picked
A．bring B．fetch C． take D． smell
A．shouted B．whispered C． listened D． replied
A．seized B．held C． caught D． grasped
A．convinced B．explored C． noticed D． refused
A．strange B．blind C．deaf D． unimaginable
A．once B．after C． as D． since
A．unaware B． ashamed C． regretful D． regardless
A．doubted B．felt C． found D． wondered
A．embarrassment B．adventure C．discouragement D．effort
A．sense B．sight C． hearing D． ability
A．beauty B．comfort C． fantasy D．love