It was Christmas 1961. I was teaching in a small town where my twenty-seven third graders eagerly 36 the great day of gift-giving in advance.
Each day the children produced some new 37 — strings of popcorn, handmade trinkets, and German bell. Through it all she remained alone, 38 from a distance, seemingly miles away. I wondered what 39 happen to this quiet child, once so happy, now suddenly so withdrawn. I hoped the festivities would 40 her. But nothing did. The students made the fried marbles（油炸玻璃弹子）and competed with one anther to bring the 41 ones.
The day of gift-giving finally came. We cheered over our handiwork as the presents were 42 . All along, she sat quietly watching. To see her smile, I had made a special bag for her. She opened it so slowly and carefully. I waited but she 43 . I had not passed through the wall of isolation she had 44 around herself.
After school I sat down in a chair, hardly 45 of what was happening, when she came to me with outstretched hands, bearing a small white box, and slightly soiled, 46 it had been held many times by 47 , childish hands. She said nothing. “For me?” I asked. She said not a word, but 48 her head. I took the box and cautiously opened it. There inside, glistening green, a fried marble 49 from a golden chain. Then I looked into that eight-year-old 50 and saw the question in her dark brown eyes. In a flash I knew — she had 51 it for her mother, who had died just three weeks before and would never hold her or brush her hair or 52 her childish joys or sorrows.
I meant it when I whispered, “Oh, Maria, it is so beautiful. Your mother would 53 it.” Neither of us could stop the 54 . She threw herself into my arms and we wept together. And for that brief moment I became her mother, for she had given me the greatest 55 of all: her trust and love.
A．prepared B．reserved C．expected D．waited
A．fancies B．impressions C．wonders D．possessions
A．looking B．playing C．searching D．watching
A．would B．should C．must D．needed
A．attend to B．appeal to C．listen to D．object to
A．prettiest B．wisest C．heaviest D．naughtiest
A．transformed B．informed C．exchanged D．deserted
A．gave away B．threw away C．carried away D．turned away
A．built B．adjusted C．offered D．filled
A．afraid B．aware C．content D．fond
A．when B．while C．as though D．even if
A．untouched B．unknown C．unwashed D．unpacked
A．nodded B．raised C．dropped D．turned
A．protected B．hung C．held D．escaped
A．face B．cheek C．hair D．forehead
A．bought B．exchanged C．made D．stole
A．appreciate B．enjoy C．communicate D．share
A．love B．benefit C．dislike D．need
A．laugh B．excitement C．tears D．description
A．joy B．identity C．contribution D．gift
With time flying, people become aged. Then many people even in their middle age often start to notice that their memory and mental clarity are not what they used to be. We suddenly can’t remember we put the keys just a moment ago, or an old friend’s name, or the name of an old band we used to love. As the brain , we refer to these occurrences as "senior moments". seemingly innocent, this loss of mental focus can potentially have a(n) effect on our social and well-being.
Neuroscientists,experts who study the nervous system, are increasingly showing that there’s actually a lot that can be done. It out that the brain needs exercise in much the same way our muscles do, and the right mental can significantly improve our basic cognitive(认知) . Thinking is basically a of making connections in the brain. To a certain extent, our ability to in making the connections that drive intelligence is inherited(继承). , because these connections are made through effort and practice, scientists believe that intelligence can expand and wave mental effort.
Now, a new Web-based company has taken a step and developed the first "brain training program" designed to actually help people improve and their mental sharpness.
The Web-based program you to systematically improve your memory and attention skills. The program keeps a(n) of your progress and provides detailed feedback(反馈) your performance and improvement. Most importantly, it changes and improves the games you play to up the strengths you are developing-much like a(n) exercise routine which requires you to increase resistance and vary your muscle use.
A．where B．when C．that D．why
A．improves B．fades C．recovers D．falls
A．If B．Unless C．Once D．While
A．irregular B．limited C．damaging D．positive
A．personal B．psychological C．mental D．physical
A．turns B．finds C．points D．figures
A．connection B．responses C．workouts D．associations
A．style B．functions C．circumstances D．atmosphere
A．steps B．condition C．consequences D．process
A．insist B．believe C．succeed D．fail
A．Therefore B．Moreover C．Otherwise D．However
A．according to B．regardless of C．apart from D．instead of
A．back B．further C．aside D．around
A．regain B．reflect C．review D．respond
A．suggests B．makes C．hurries D．allows
A．hold B．record C．order D．pace
A．to B．with C．for D．about
A．irregularly B．habitually C．constantly D．unusually
A．carry B．put C．build D．take
A．risky B．effective C．meaningless D．familiar
A thing happened me last Sunday. It was such a beautiful day I drove to go for a look in the country.
On the way back home, my stopped. It was out of gas on a road far from a town! I decided to walk until I found someone could sell some gas. I had walked almost a mile 7 I finally found a house near the __ _. I was glad to see it because it was getting dark.
I knocked at the door and a little old lady with long white hair . She said, “I’ve been _ __for you here for a long time. Come in. is almost ready.”
“But I only came for some gas,” I answered. I couldn’t what she was talking about.
“Oh, Alfred! Gas? You tea,” said she.
I quickly that my car was out of , but she didn’t seem to listen to me. She just kept me Alfred and talking about how long it had been she had seen me. She was acting very strangely and I wanted to leave. As soon as she went to get tea, I went out of the house as fast as I .
Fortunately（幸运地）, there was another house down the road and I was able to buy the gas I needed. When I told the man about my he said, “Oh, that’s Miss Emily. She lives by herself in that big house. She’s strange(奇怪的), but she wouldn’t anybody. She is still waiting for the man she was going to marry thirty years ago. The day before their wedding he left home and never came back because of the war.”
A．happy B．strange C．common D．bad
A．on B．in C．upon D．to
A．and B．so C．but D．that
A．car B．bus C．bike D．truck
A．narrow B．lonely C．crowded D．busy
A．what B．whom C．who D．how
A．before B．after C．while D．as
A．street B．path C．way D．road
A．came B．answered C．opened D．appeared
A．asking B．looking C．calling D．waiting
A．Gas B．Coffee C．Tea D．Lunch
A．consider B．understand C．accept D．think
A．like B．love C．used to like D．liking
A．answered B．explained C．refused D．promised
A．gas B．tea C．strength D．energy
A．calling B．call C．to call D．called
A．until B．before C．since D．when
A．could B．can C．would D．wanted
A．accident B．incident C．experience D．surprise
A．hit B．injury C．hurt D．frighten
I was recently invited to dinner by a friend. During the meal, the manager of the restaurant came and said that our meal was free. He stood there at me and he seemed a little to me but I couldn’t quite remember him. I asked him if he knew me. He laughed and said I had probably him, but that I’d changed his life. My friend was quite and asked him how I’d done this.
He said that twelve years ago he a stress（压力）management（管理）class that I was giving. I asked the group what their greatest was and most of them, including him, said it was their bosses.
He said I listened and then took a chair and placed it in the center of the room. I on the chair for a few moments and then I everyone to come and do the same. I wanted them to look at the room from up there. After everyone had done it, I asked the group to how the room looked different when they changed their perspective（角度）.
Then I asked them to their bosses. Was this the same person who had seen their good and hired them? Did they remember how happy they were to be for the job? But how did these wonderful people become terrible bosses?
He said I looked at him and asked if he had said thank you to his boss for the to earn a living. He answered he hadn’t. Then I asked him why he hadn’t tried being to his boss.
He told us his changed that night. He went back to work the next day with a thank-you card to his boss. He said I’d him to look at life from different perspectives and express thanks.
A．over B．out C．back D．on
A．glaring B．smiling C．knocking D．shouting
A．similar B．attractive C．strange D．familiar
A．Immediately B．Suddenly C．Finally D．Firstly
A．disliked B．forgotten C．known D．ignored
A．anxious B．curious C．happy D．calm
A．missed B．attended C．prepared D．heard
A．stress B．hero C．liking D．trouble
A．regretfully B．disappointedly C．carefully D．doubtfully
A．stood B．lay C．sat D．rested
A．invited B．forced C．stopped D．warned
A．work on B． look into C．think about D．fill out
A．remember B．dislike C．consider D．respect
A．personalities B．qualities C．experiences D．looks
A．chosen B．meant C．refused D．forgiven
A．still B．actually C．ever D．never
A．right B．solution C．opportunity D．ability
A．grateful B．polite C．friendly D．gentle
A．job B．life C．luck D．company
A．ordered B．allowed C．persuaded D．taught
I arrived late one night, on a business trip, and had dinner in a restaurant. As I was finishing my meal, an old couple came in to dine. They were holding hands and had smiles on their faces. Shortly after I ended a 20-year , I still had pain in my heart and I was at the love they show for one another. As a result, when I paid my bill I gave the waiter another $50 to pay the couple’s bill and then left without them.
The next day my business meeting two hours before the flight back to Houston. So I had enough time left to enter the restaurant to dine . After I had been , the waiter, from the night before, came up to my table . She can’t wait to tell me what happened after I last night: when the old couple were that another guest had paid for them, they asked whom it was. The waiter said that she had never me before, and told them what I told her, “I just wanted to repay for the true love that they were showing.” Feeling surprised , they , and paid the bills for another two young couples saying “Love begets (产生) love”. I with delight and said “ That’s nice”. Then I read the menu and my meal.
When my dinner was and I intended to pay, my waiter was to be found. I had to walk over to the Hostess Stand and that I needed to pay for my meal and hurry to the . She said that my had paid for me just to repay the joy that I brought to the faces of the elderly couple and the amazement of the two young couples.
A．bitter B．lovely C．standard D．stressful
A．job B．date C．marriage D．journey
A．amazed B．angry C．confused D．sad
A．comparing B．encountering C．recognizing D．greeting
A．lasted B．started C．ended D．held
A．again B．either C．instead D．altogether
A．seated B．served C．dressed D．focused
A．anxiously B．crazily C．hopefully D．quickly
A．arrived B．left C．slept D．escaped
A．comforted B．reminded C．warned D．told
A．charged B．appreciated C．seen D．helped
A．you B．me C．her D．them
A．looked around B．turned up C．went over D．dressed up
A．believed B．admitted C．smiled D．shook
A．booked B．ordered C．paid D．finished
A．full B．over C．cold D．available
A．somewhere B．anywhere C．nowhere D．everywhere
A．protested B．explained C．declared D．remarked
A．hotel B．office C．airport D．station
A．waiter B．boss C．hostess D．friend
When I was six years old, my parents and I were in London for a one-month vacation. One day when my mother and I were down Oxford Street, I felt too to walk any more, so I asked my mother to take the subway.
At first, she to take it because she said the weather was very and it was better to walk. I started . She told me to stop immediately, but I didn’t pay attention to what she was . For about an hour, I didn’t stop crying. My mother became very with me. I didn’t stop. I just ran away from her. I ran as as I could.
The street was really crowded, so she couldn’t me. Then, I entered one of the biggest shops. There was a coffee house on the second floor. I went , sat in a chair, and started crying again. All of the people in the coffee shop came around me. They were to me, but I didn’t understand English at all. After that, they the police station, and a policeman came to the coffee shop. He tried to talk to me, but I just crying. Then he took the small bag that I was , opened it and found my hotel address and number. When he phoned the hotel, my answered the phone.
In the end, the policeman took me to the . My father was standing in front of the hotel door. He talked to the policeman, and then he asked me what had and where my mother was. I told him everything, and I also told him that I was that my mother was very angry with me.
When my mother came back, she was crying. But when she saw me, she hugged me and kissed me. She talked to my father about everything. of them told me not to do anything like that in the future because maybe one day I wouldn’t find anyone to help me. They wouldn’t forgive（原谅） me if I did it again.
A．running B．walking C．visiting D．driving
A．tired B．mad C．happy D．sad
A．agreed B．refused C．suggested D．managed
A．horrible B．windy C．nice D．cold
A．talking B．laughing C．singing D．crying
A．hearing B．regarding C．thinking D．saying
A．angry B．strict C．satisfied D．familiar
A．excitedly B．slowly C．quickly D．carelessly
A．search B．educate C．forgive D．follow
A．outside B．inside C．upon D．down
A．advising B．talking C．listening D．coming
A．called B．remembered C．measured D．left
A．stopped B．preferred C．regretted D．continued
A．catching B．carrying C．gaining D．buying
A．serial B．lucky C．phone D．license
A．mother B．guide C．father D．waiter
A．hotel B．shop C．street D．station
A．forgotten B．happened C．damaged D．lost
A．worried B．concerned C．afraid D．angry
A．None B．Either C．Neither D．Both