The Blind Boy
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a 11 which said: I am blind, please help. There were only a few 12 in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his 13 and dropped them into the hat. He 14 took the sign, turned it around and wrote some words. He 15 the sign so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to 16 . A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.
That afternoon the man who had 17 the sign came to see how things were. The boy 18 his footsteps and asked, “Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?”
The man said: “I only wrote the truth. I said what you said in a different way, though.” What he had written was: “Today is a (n) 19 day and I cannot see it.”
Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?
Of course both sign simply said the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so 20 that they were not blind.
Should we be surprised that the second sign was more 21 ?
Be thankful for what you have. When life gives you 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1,000 reasons to 22 . Face your past without regret(后悔). 23 your present with confidence(自信). Prepare for the 24 without fear. Keep the faith（信念）and 25 the fear.
A．cover B．sign C．board D．note
A．cashes B．treasures C．pennies D．coins
A．pocket B．can C．backpack D．case
A．still B．then C．already D．yet
A．put on B．put out C．put off D．put back
A．mix up B．show up C．fill up D．make up
A．changed B．prepared C．supported D．reached
A．realized B．recognized C．felt D．discovered
A．average B．successful C．harmonious D．beautiful
A．happy B．disappointed C．lucky D．strange
A．effective B．brave C．surprising D．scientific
A．smile B．exist C．survive D．prove
A．Look into B．Search for C．Deal with D．Depend on
A．tomorrow B．adventure C．future D．sunrise
A．preserve B．charge C．keep D．drop
Ｍy second father
My father died when I was five. It was hard on us all. My brother, who is eight years older than me, began to __36____my mother and me. He made sure the trash was taken out and the yard mowed. He did this _37____ without being told to do so.
Because of my father’s death, my mother was __38___ to get a full time job. My brother, __39____ , would get me up for school and make me __40____ . On our way to school, he would play games with me. He made every__41___to make me happy and he succeeded __42____.
When we arrived home from school, we were__43____for about half an hour until mom was home from work. He would__44____something for supper, and have everything ready for mom __45___she could start cooking. After that, we would go outside and have some __46___. This was my brother’s time to be a(n)___47___ , enjoying himself in the games.
It was a Saturday in June a couple years later. My mother and I were at the store when I __48____ they had the Father’s Day cards out. Feeling __49___, I asked my mother why they hadn’t Brother’s Day cards. She smiled and said, “You’re right.___50___ your brother has been a father to you. Go and__51____ a card.”
So I did, and on Father’s Day, my mother and I _52__ my brother down and gave him the card.
As he read it, I saw the tears __53____ in his eyes. I heard my mom’s __54____ trembling as she said, “Son, your father is proud of you, seeing that he___55___ a good man. We love you, and thank you.”
A．look out B．watch over C．care about D．depend on
A．carefully B．smoothly C．quickly D．willingly
A．prepared B．allowed C．forced D．accepted
A．therefore B．though C．otherwise D．however
A．supper B．meal C．breakfast D．lunch
A．method B．effect C．way D．effort
A．as usual B．every time C．once again D．as well
A．independent B．asleep C．alone D．free
A．cut B．cook C．find D．wash
A．unless B．before C．when D．so
A．rest B．fun C．adventure D．practice
A．kid B．adult C．friend D．brother
A．heard B．noticed C．felt D．thought
A．interested B．excited C．disappointed D．hurt
A．No wonder B．In all C．Above all D．Without doubt
A．take out B．pick out C．ask for D．check out
A．led B．signed C．sat D．required
A．filling B．forming C．floating D．piling
A．hand B．laughter C．body D．voice
A．raised B．turned C．taught D．promised
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分。满分20分）
This was an unforgettable and wonderful experience. It happened about three years ago and it has had a 26 effect on me. I would like to show respect here for the two men I do not know27 but whose actions gave a new28 to the words—kind and generous.
I was walking down a busy street on a cold, windy day in early 29 . A homeless man, probably about 60 and without wearing any shoes, was30 for change on a street corner.
A BMW car 31 on the other side of the street and an executive（主管）who was perfectly dressed stepped out of the car. He was probably about 32 years old. He was wearing a blue business suit with a deep red silk tie. He walked33 across the street and over to the homeless man. Without saying anything, he first gave him a lot of34 and then he sat down and took off his gloves（手套）, beautiful black leather shoes and his black dress socks. Then he 35 them to the homeless man. The homeless man took them and stared with a/an 36 mouth.
As he drove off, I couldn’t 37 thinking that it was probably the first time he had 38 the pedal（踏板）of that top-brand BMW car with a39 foot! I stood there and the looks of40 appeared on my face and the homeless man’s.
Two men of about the same age, 41 very different lives had met and the one who was42 in materials had offered 43 than his shoes. He had left his BMW car and 44 down from his high position. He lifted up the other man when he offered respect, 45 and real generosity.
A．strong B．bad C．light D．slow
A．officially B．personally C．similarly D．generally
A．benefit B．attitude C．meaning D．award
A．spring B．Summer C．autumn D．winter
A．searching B．making C．blaming D．begging
A．called up B．broke up C．pulled up D．sped up
A．40 B．50 C．60 D．70
A．directly B．usually C．unwillingly D．fluently
A．money B．water C．sand D．oil
A．posted B．handed C．kicked D．threw
A．closed B．full C．open D．empty
A．stand B．delay C．forget D．help
A．bended B．cut C．repaired D．pressed
A．relaxed B．large C．bare D．single
A．excitement B．astonishment C．sadness D．pride
A．but B．or C．and D．before
A．successful B．careful C．useful D．helpful
A．rather B．more C．other D．better
A．broken B．fell C．stepped D．rolled
A．surprise B．disappointment C．anxiety D．kindness
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
My husband and I insisted that our children were old enough to clean their rooms and make their beds. But they thought 41 . My complaints, even self-justified shouting, were always landing on 42_ ears. Very often a whole hour’s scolding would end with their 43 into tears, I felt very frustrated (沮丧的).I realized I needed to 44 my method of “mothering”.
One day when they were at school, I spent some time 45 their rooms. On their desks, in plain __46 , I left the cards: “Dear Bill (the other card was 47 to Sarah), your room was messy this morning and I’m sure you like it clean. Love, the Room Fairy.” 48 arriving back, the children were __49 excited to receive the little note from the Room Fairy. The next day, their rooms were fairly tidy. Sure enough, there was another note from the Room Fairy ___50 for them, thanking them for their nice “gift” of a clean room and 51 asking them to play a certain violin 52 . Each day, thank--you notes would be written differently to keep the ideas 53 .
Sometimes the Room Fairy would propose a little 54 : “If you can finish your homework and __55 your lessons before dinner, I’ d like to watch a particular television program with you tonight.” Sometimes some colored markers or other little items would be left in 56 of well done jobs the day___57 .
58 I can’t remember how long “the Room Fairy” continued leaving her love notes. When they were age appropriate, we used various versions of Post-Its(贴条). The bathroom mirror became the 59 centre of our home. Appointments, notices about visiting relatives, lesson schedules, and changes in plans could be posted.
We all benefited from and 60 the idea of sharing reminders and daily details of life through notes. I believe the true advantage of the Room Fairy notes survives in our frequent and enjoyable communication.
A．differently B．gratefully C．doubtfully D．hopefully
A．side B．deaf C．neither D．either
A．crying B．breaking C．bursting D．bumping
A．adjust B．adopt C．access D．addict
A．clearing B．tidying C．emptying D．searching
A．distance B．words C．speech D．sight
A．sent B．read C．delivered D．addressed
A．As B．At C．In D．Upon
A．more than B．rather than C．no more than D．other than
A．asking B．waiting C．praying D．expecting
A．politely B．happily C．gently D．toughly
A．music B．song C．piece D．tone
A．respectable B．uninteresting C．incredible D．fresh
A．challenge B．question C．suggestion D．advice
A．go with B．look up C．go over D．look into
A．response B．answer C．praise D．honor
A．ahead B．before C．over D．ago
A．Actually B．Even so C．Even if D．Though
A．life B．main C．memory D．reminder
A．learned B．appreciated C．shared D．thanked
You are near the front line of a battle. Around you shells （炮弹）are exploding; people are shooting from a house behind you. What are you doing there? You aren’t a soldier. You aren’t 36 carrying a gun. You’re standing in front of a 37 and you’re telling the TV 38 what is happening.
It’s all in a day’s work for a war reporter, and it can be very 39 . In the first two years of the 40 in former Yugoslavia（前南斯拉夫), 28 reporters and photographers were killed. Hundreds more were 41 .
What kind of people put themselves in danger to 42 pictures to our TV screens and 43 to our newspapers? Why do they do it ?
“I think it’s every young journalist’s 44 to be a foreign reporter,” says Michael Nicholson, “that’s 45 you find the excitement. So when the first opportunity comes, you take it 46 it is a war.”
But there are moments of 47 . Jeremy Bowen says, “Yes, when you’re lying on the ground and bullets（子弹）are flying 48 your ears, you think: ‘What am I doing here? I’m not going to do this again.’ But that feeling 49 after a while and when the next war starts, you’ll be 50 .”
“None of us believes that we’re going to 51 ” adds Michael. But he always 52 a lucky charm（护身符）with him. It was given to him by his wife for his first war. It’s a card which says “Take care of yourself.” Does he ever think about dying? “Oh, 53 , and every time it happens you look to the sky and say to God, ‘If you get me out of this, I 54 I’ll never do it again.’ You can almost hear God 55 , because you know he doesn’t believe you .”
A．really B．simply C．merely D．even
A．battlefield B．crowd C．camera D．house
A．directors B．producers C．actors D．viewers
A．depressing B．disappointing C．dangerous D．endangered
A．life B．stay C．war D．fight
A．buried B．defeated C．wounded D．beaten
A．take B．bring C．make D．show
A．Stories B．scenes C．passages D．contents
A．faith B．nightmare C．dream D．duty
A．how B．why C．where D．because
A．even if B．as if C．even so D．ever since
A．fear B．surprise C．sadness D．shame
A．past B．into C．through D．around
A．occurs B．returns C．goes D．continues
A．away B．out C．home D．there
A．die B．leave C．remain D．escape
A．wears B．carries C．hangs D．holds
A．seldom B．never C．many times D．some time
A．consider B．promise C．guess D．accept
A．screaming B．laughing C．crying D．whispering
The English translations of the names of traditional Chinese dishes on menus(菜单) across the country have caused public discussion about the precision(准确) of the translations.
Since more and more foreigners come to China every day, many restaurants around China are providing English translations of their menus. They want to make it easier for foreigners to order Chinese dishes when they travel. Some restaurants also hope that the translations will increase foreigners’ knowledge of Chinese cuisine(烹饪).
But an article in China Youth Daily says the English menu translations haven’t live up to public expectation（期望）. It argues most of the English names of Chinese dishes lack the cultural meaning and attraction of the dishes they describe. Instead, the translations only provide a list of each dish’s ingredients（配方）, the article notes. For example, one English name of a Chinese dish appears as “stir-fried mutton slice with Chinese onion and green scallion(葱爆羊肉)”.
Because the English translation focuses only on the ingredients, it fails to describe the dish’s rich cultural meaning and charm(魅力). The dish’s beautiful Chinese name, “Fo Tiao Qiang(佛跳墙)”, has a story behind it. Buddhist monks (和尚) are required to eat vegetables only , but they can’t resist(忍住)the delicious dish. So they jump over the temple walls to get a taste of the dish.
The article suggests that translators provide more beautiful translations of the names of Chinese dishes. It also notes a more vivid(生动的) English translation is very important to provide international visitors with a better understanding of Chinese cuisine.
Why do many restaurants provide English translations of their menu ?
A．Because they want to show their ingredients in dishes. B．Because the public expect them to do so. C．Because Chinese dishes are popular. D．Because it is convenient for foreigners to order food.
A．They are too long to remember. B．Many of them are not correct. C．They lack cultural meaning and attraction. D．They are difficult to learn.
A．Monks can jump high. B．Monks lived a poor life. C．Old China had little meat for people. D．The dish attracted many people because it’s delicious.