A strong wind was blowing hard, thunder was rumbling, and lightning flashed across the dark sky. Rain was 36 down; it looked as if heaven had been broken open.
Gleams of light appeared from windows of 37 houses, shining like jewels in all the dark.
A 38 woman dressed in rags and trembling with cold was 39 on a lonely road, while the merciless rain was 40 her without pause. She knocked at the door, and a 41 answered it. She begged him to let her stay a while 42 . The boy then let her into the sitting room and 43 her sitting by the fire.
The woman 44 old and tired under the bright electric light, 45 she was only in her early thirties. She sat 46 for a moment, and then her eyes began to look about the 47 . When her wandering eyes rested on the picture of a young man, she 48 up, looking thunderstruck. Just then, the boy came with his 49 . The man at once recognized the woman as his 50 . They had 51 touch with each other during the war, and he thought he had lost her forever.
52 words needed to be spoken, They embraced each other 53 the boy stared at them, puzzled.
The storm was over and the sky cleared. Feeling very 54 , the couple stood face to face with their child between them, watching the rain as it gradually 55 .
A．pouring B．falling C．dropping D．flooding
A．poor B．black C．faraway D．nearby
A．rich B．beautiful C．poor D．ugly
A．crying B．wandering C．struggling D．wondering
A．striking B．hitting C．flowing D．beating
A．boy B．girl C．woman D．man
A．out B．near C．outside D．inside
A．made B．left C．asked D．told
A．became B．showed C．appeared D．sounded
A．so B．and C．however D．though
A．straight B．thirsty C．hungry D．still
A．room B．house C．picture D．fire
A．picked B．stood C．came D．looked
A．father B．mother C．friend D．brother
A．wife B．sister C．mother D．girlfriend
A．kept B．got C．made D．lost
A．Much B．Many C．No D．Not
A．as B．while C．when D．since
A．disappointed B．sorry C．happy D．sad
A．began B．stopped C．ended D．wanted
A little boy almost thought of himself as the most unfortunate child in the world because a disease made his leg lame. He ____ played with his classmates. When the teacher asked him to answer questions, he always ____ his head without a word.
One ____ the boy's father asked for some saplings (树苗) from the neighbor. He wanted the ____ to plant a sapling each person in front of the house. The father said, “Whose sapling grows best, I will buy him or her a favorite ____.” Seeing his brothers and sisters watering the trees, however, the boy had an idea. He hoped that the tree he planted would ____ soon. So, after watering it once or twice，he never ____ it.
A few days later, when the little boy went to see his tree again, he was ____ to find that it didn't wilt (枯萎) but grew some fresh leaves. ____ the trees of his brothers and sisters, his tree was even greener. His father kept his ____， bought the little boy his favorite gift and said that from the tree he planted, he would become an outstanding ____ when he grew up.
Since then, the little boy slowly became ____. One night, he lay on the bed but could not sleep. Then he got up and came to the ____. To his surprise, his ____ was splashing something onto his tree.____， he understood—his father had been ____ fertilizing his small tree!
He returned to his room，____ running down.
____ passed. The little boy didn't become a botanist, but he was elected President of the United States. His name was Franklin Roosevelt.
Love is the ____ nourishment (营养) of life. ____ it is just a drop of clear water, it can still help the tree of life thrive (茁壮成长)．
A．bravely B．seldom C．freely D．always
A．raised B．nodded C．lowered D．knocked
A．spring B．moment C．winter D．week
A．neighbors B．friends C．children D．boys
A．sapling B．tree C．gift D．toy
A．die B．grow C．break D．survive
A．led to B．attended to C．belonged to D．objected to
A．pleased B．upset C．worried D．surprised
A．Compared with B．Similar to C．Connected to D．Popular with
A．request B．schedule C．promise D．secret
A．president B．botanist C．artist D．researcher
A．smart B．desperate C．optimistic D．practical
A．field B．courtyard C．park D．farm
A．brother B．sister C．father D．neighbor
A．All of a sudden B．For a moment C．In time D．From then on
A．busily B．quietly C．cautiously D．secretly
A．water B．tears C．sweat D．rain
A．Hours B．Months C．Decades D．Centuries
A．last B．only C．least D．best
A．Even if B．Now that C．If only D．What if
I drove to a local supermarket the other day. My shopping list was and my wallet was light. Still, I needed to get a week’s worth of groceries for my family. I parked my car, looked down at my list, and hoped I could it all.
As I the door, I saw a man with kind eyes and a gentle . He said he was collecting for a local food bank that helped to the hungry in my area. He handed me a second shopping list of things they could use and asked me to if I could. I smiled back, took the and walked into the store. I really wanted to help, but wasn’t sure if I could this time.
I walked through the store, picking up vegetables, soup, spaghetti, bread, milk, cereal, macaroni, bananas, and a dozen other things. I slowly each item off my list until I was done. When I looked down at my full cart I again if I even had enough to pay for it all. Then, as I put my own list back into my pocket, I saw the food list under it. I smiled and decided to trust my heart.
With the food bank in mind, I went over and two of the biggest boxes of rice the store had and put them in my cart. It took six dollars out of my wallet to pay for them, my heart felt six times larger when I did. And when everything was , I had just enough to pay for it all.
It so little to make our world a better place. A few dollars can help to fill a child’s belly(肚子). A smile and hug can help to a hurting heart. An encouraging word can inspire someone else to live and to love. A random of kindness can change another’s day and life. It is up to us, . If we can a few dollars on rice , then we can share a love that will last forever.
A．short B．long C．frequent D．heavy
A．offer B．exchange C．afford D．accept
A．approached B．painted C．cleaned D．left
A．attitude B．manner C．smile D．anger
A．share B．train C．protect D．feed
A．help B．write C．advertise D．search
A．name B．project C．list D．budget
A．signed B．marked C．rid D．separated
A．wandered B．wondered C．fancied D．amazed
A．store B．cart C．nutrition D．bank
A．picked out B．lifted up C．picked up D．folded up
A．other B．others C．more D．another
A．so B．but C．and D．since
A．ordered B．totaled C．replaced D．packed
A．takes B．spends C．pays D．wastes
A．hungry B．adequate C．anxious D．full
A．cure B．treat C．heal D．recover
A．ability B．allowance C．appreciation D．act
A．although B．though C．yet D．still
A．save B．rescue C．accumulate D．reserve
There were a young couple who led a very happy life. The only thing they worried about was whether their would last forever.
One day, they heard a wise man had , who could solve all kinds of . So they visited him and told him their source of . The wise man told them, “ Travel around the and seek a couple who are happy. When finding such a couple , ask them for a piece of cloth from the man’s , then keep it with you, and you always remain happy.”
The couple began their . They visited many countries, cities, towns and villages didn’t find what they were looking for.
One day they a shepherd in the desert, who was grazing (放牧) his sheep when his wife and child came along. The shepherd his wife and gently patted the child. The wife laid a mat and they started to eat contentedly. The came to ask them, “ Are you the happiest couple?”
The shepherd and his wife replied, “ Nobody is unhappier than the king. ” The young couple immediately they were the happiest couple and a piece of the shepherd’s shirt. The shepherd said, “ If I give you a piece of cloth, I’ll be without any clothes since I just one”.
The young couple at once understood it was too to find perfect happiness anywhere in the world. They to the wise man and related all that had taken place.
The wise man laughed and said, “ Did you learn something from it?”
The young couple replied, “Yes, after this trip we have learnt in this world is perfectly happy. In order to be happy, we should be thankful and with whatever we have.”
A．life B．happiness C．business D．health
A．agreed B．died C．disappeared D．come
A．problems B．fights C．arguments D．puzzles
A．joy B．anger C．worry D．interest
A．town B．city C．country D．world
A．perfectly B．seldom C．quickly D．never
A．mat B．shirt C．coat D．sweater
A．tradition B．experiment C．journey D．conversation
A．but B．so C．or D．and
A．called on B．looked for C．saw off D．came across
A．followed B．persuaded C．greeted D．praised
A．wife B．child C．couple D．king
A．proved B．realized C．admitted D．imagined
A．paid for B．asked for C．hoped for D．cared for
A．kept B．allowed C．adjusted D．left
A．buy B．know C．own D．like
A．difficult B．convenient C．expensive D．important
A．shouted B．returned C．explained D．applied
A．everybody B．anybody C．nobody D．somebody
A．contented B．upset C．careful D．greedy
I did very badly at school. My headmaster thought I was and when I was 14 he said, “You’re never going to be but a failure.”
After five years of jobs, I fell in love with a very nice middle-class girl. It was the best that could have happened to me. I I wanted to do something positive (积极地) with my life because I wanted to prove to that what people said about me was . Especially her mother, who had said to me, “Let’s it, you’ve failed at everything you’ve ever done.” So I tried hard with my and went to college. My first novel while I was at college.
After college I taught during the in high schools and attended evening classes at London University, where I got a in history. I became a lecturer at a college and was thinking of that job to write full time I was offered a part-time job at Leeds University. I began to feel of myself — here was a working-class boy who’d school early, now teaching at the university.
My writing career (职业) took off when I discovered my own style. Now I’m rich and , have been on TV, and met lots of film stars. what does it mean? I wish all the people that have put me down had : “I believe in you. You’ll succeed.”
A．bright B．simple C．useless D．hopeful
A．anything B．something C．everything D．nothing
A．low B．poor C．good D．useful
A．support B．happiness C．surprise D．thing
A．agreed B．decided C．planned D．told
A．me B．them C．her D．it
A．wrong B．right C．stupid D．faulty
A．see B．know C．face D．understand
A．experiment B．practice C．writing D．composition
A．came on B．came in C．came out D．came back
A．day B．night C．month D．year
A．graduation B．pass C．degree D．success
A．giving in B．giving back C．giving out D．giving up
A．while B．if C．when D．or
A．shy B．proud C．happy D．surprised
A．left B．attended C．changed D．graduated
A．tired B．calm C．nervous D．famous
A．And B．But C．However D．Well
A．just B．exactly C．so D．very
A．praised B．said C．answered D．advised
“A” for Attitude
English was always my favorite subject. In my freshman year of high school, I could write a killer composition. In my second year, my teacher me to give spelling tests to the class. I had a time of my junior year. Mrs Alexander me to sit at her desk and take over the class when she had to leave the room. Only my senior English class was , as we had a teacher right out of college who expected work. Every student received a "C" or "D" grade the first quarter. But English was still my favorite subject.
I graduated from high school, early and had children. about my English, I often helped my kids with their English homework. And I wrote long articles and beautiful poetry as a columnist for a newspaper. Fifteen years later, I went to college, and because I had been an "A" student, I remained an "A" student. I up to my own expectations.
Yesterday, I my high school report cards when I was reading old papers. That bundle of report cards back the old days. I remembered sitting in my advisor's office, explaining that I had always be at English, and recommending that I did not deserve a '"D" from that inexperienced teacher of my senior year. The advisor was but unable to change a(an) . Reading through my old report cards revealed something else too. I wanted to them or hide them. I was not an "A" student in high school English! Somehow, I had myself of this, when the grades clearly reflected an average student with an "A" or "B" but mostly "C” S.
Had I lived up to those grades and myself according to those letters, I would have never confidently sought my writing career. Had I my early grades instead of myself, I would have allowed my fear of failure to enthusiasm and damage my creativity. Instead, I my younger self as an "A" English student, except for that undeserved "D".
A．scolded B．allowed C．ordered D．reminded
A．bad B．complex C．terrible D．wonderful
A．approved B．appointed C．expected D．urged
A．flexible B．creative C．disappointing D．controversial
A．college-level B．based C．difficult D．easy
A．married B．worked C．succeeded D．progressed
A．Sad B．Confident C．Anxious D．Curious
A．added B．lived C．grew D．went
A．counted B．remembered C．approached D．discovered
A．brought B．turned C．held D．kept
A．nervous B．good C．poor D．terrible
A．impolite B．impatient C．inexperienced D．sympathetic
A．grade B．figure C．paper D．entry
A．tear B．fire C．cry D．escape
A．warned B．reminded C．informed D．convinced
A．average B．enthusiastic C．outstanding D．occasional
A．considered B．denied C．reflected D．described
A．abandoned B．given C．believed in D．doubted
A．change B．risk C．defeat D．reminded
A．looked B．viewed C．sang D．criticized