A lesson in caring
It was a cold evening. My daughter and I were walking up Broadway. I didn’t notice a guy sitting inside a cardboard box. But Nora 36 . She wasn’t even four, but she 37 at my coat and said, “That man’s cold. Daddy, can we take him home?”
I don’t remember my 38 . But I do remember a sudden 39 feeling inside me. I had always been delighted at how much my daughter noticed in her 40 , whether it was 41 flying or children playing. But now she was noticing 42 and beggary.
A few days later, I saw an article in the newspaper about volunteers who picked up a food package from a nearby school on a Sunday morning and 43 it to an elderly person. It was quick and easy. I signed us up. Nora was 44 about it. She could understand the importance of food, so she could easily see how 45 our job was. When Sunday came, she was ready, but I had to 46 myself to leave the house to fetch the food package. On my way to the school, I fought an urge (强烈愿望) to turn 47 . The Sunday paper and coffee were waiting for me at home. Why do this? 48 , we phoned the elderly person we’d been appointed. She 49 us right over.
The building was in a bad state. Facing us was a silver-haired woman in an old dress. She took the package and asked us to come in. Nora ran inside. I unwillingly followed. 50 inside, I saw that the department belonged to someone poor. Our hostess showed us some photos. Nora played and when it came time to say goodbye, we three hugged. I walked home 51 .
Professionals call such a(n) 52 “a volunteer opportunity”. They are opportunities and I’ve come to see. Where else but as volunteers do you have the opportunity to do something 53 that’s good for others as well as for yourself? Nora and I regularly serve meals to needy people and 54 clothes for the homeless. Yet, as I’ve 55 her grow over these past four years, I still wonder—which of us has benefited more?
A．did B．was C．has D．had
A．pulled B．replaced C．waved D．aimed
A．debate B．reply C．explanation D．expression
A．general B．funny C．heavy D．magical
A．web B．dream C．castle D．world
A．insects B．animals C．plants D．birds
A．coldness B．illness C．suffering D．appearance
A．sent B．returned C．devoted D．posted
A．concerned B．sorry C．worried D．excited
A．creative B．valuable C．shocking D．simple
A．warn B．stop C．allow D．push
A．back B．away C．up D．out
A．Therefore B．But C．Anyhow D．Also
A．requested B．promised C．invited D．helped
A．Although B．Once C．Because D．Though
A．in tears B．in surprise C．in reality D．in disappointment
A．stay B．visit C．reception D．challenge
A．fair B．famous C．difficult D．enjoyable
A．collect B．make C．order D．design
A．let B．made C．watched D．affected
The letter was a great disappointment to me. It was from Holy Cross, the only school I really wanted to 41 . I scanned the page, “…. We had a great applicant pool this year. …We can’t offer spaces to 42 … and place you on our waiting list.”
“What does it say, honey?” my dad asked, his voice full of 43 for me.
“I didn’t get in, but I’m on the waiting list.”
“Well, at least it isn’t 44 ,” he said brightly.
“Yeah, but 45 , I don’t want to be on the waiting list; I want to be 46 . No one gets in off the waiting list. It’s a way of saying ‘Thanks for 47 ’.”
“Then let’s go out there and tell them so.”
“That sounds 48 , dad.” I said sadly, “It doesn’t work.”
Upset and annoyed, I 49 myself in my room. However，my father’s advice kept 50 in my head. I thought about it for a few days, finally coming to the 51 that he was right. And the next day I seated myself across from Mr. Luis Soto, my admissions officer.
“What can I do for you, Nacie?” he asked pleasantly.
“Well, sir, I am here to tell you that I love this school and would love a 52 to be here. I just wanted to tell you how much going here would 53 to me—it is my only dream college— and that I would use my time here to the best 54 . I wanted to let you know that if you gave me a chance and reconsidered my application, you wouldn’t 55 it.” The words had poured out 56 I could stop them or check their desperate tone.
Mr. Soto looked me over for a minute before he smiled broadly.
“OK, that is the kind of thing we love to hear. Congratulations, you’re in.”
It was so 57 and I asked, “I’m sorry?”
“We want people in the class who want to be here, who will 58 the best of this education. I’m glad you came to talk 59 to me. I’m happy to offer you a position in the Class of 2009.”
The whole experience taught me a lesson: if you truly want something, never, ever 60 .
A．attend B．study C．admit D．visit
A．everyone B．anyone C．someone D．no one
A．trust B．pity C．anxiety D．curiosity
A．admission B．imagination C．restriction D．rejection
A．ever B．again C．also D．still
A．recognized B．received C．accepted D．permitted
A．writing B．trying C．replying D．waiting
A．lame B．reasonable C．painful D．practical
A．enjoyed B．comforted C．stayed D．buried
A．saying B．ringing C．showing D．reminding
A．point B．conclusion C．agreement D．arrangement
A．chance B．motivation C．degree D．change
A．refer B．turn C．mean D．stick
A．contribution B．condition C．advantage D．result
A．suspect B．disappoint C．refuse D．regret
A．as B．when C．until D．before
A．unbelievable B．unforgettable C．unbearable D．favorable
A．take B．get C．make D．receive
A．patiently B．openly C．carefully D．calmly
A．get through B．give up C．keep on D．try out
The Best Holiday
I was unbelievably proud of my nine-year-old daughter. Emily 41 to buy a mountain bike. She’d been saving her pocket money all year, 42 doing small jobs to earn extra money.
By Thanksgiving, she had collected only $49. I said, “You 43 have your pick from my bicycle 44 .” “Thanks, Daddy. But your bikes are so old.” She was right. All my girls’ bikes were 1950’s models, not the kind a kid today would 45 choose.
As Christmas 46 near, Emily and I went bike shopping. As we left one store, she __47 a Salvation Army volunteer standing next to a big pot. “Can we give something, Daddy?” she asked. “Sorry, I’m out of 48 .”
Throughout December, Emily continued to 49 hard. Then one day, she made a __50 announcement. “You know all the money I’ve been saving?” she said hesitantly. “I’m going to give it to the poor people.” So one cold morning before Christmas, Emily handed her total savings of $ 58 to a volunteer who was really very 51 .
52 by Emily’s selflessness, I decided to contribute 53 of my old bicycles to a car dealer who was collecting used bikes for poor children.54 I selected a shiny model from my collection, however, it seemed as if a second bike took on a glow (发光). Should I contribute two? No, one would be enough. But I couldn’t 55 the feeling that I should give a second bike. When I later 56 the bikes, the car dealer said, “You’re making two kids very __57 , sir. Here are your tickets. For each bicycle contributed, we’re 58 away one chance to win a girls’ mountain bike.”
Why wasn’t I surprised when that second ticket proved to be the 59 ? I like to think it was God’s way of 60 a little girl for a sacrifice beyond her years－while giving her dad a lesson in the process.
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When I began married life more than 17 years ago, I weighed 118 pounds. After having two children, and years of ____21____ eating, I weighed 180 pounds. I was unhappy. I considered going on a ____22____, so I gathered information about it.
I ____23____ the South Beach Diet and how well it was ____24____ for some people in our area. I looked it up online and ____25____ for it. Even though I knew my husband loved me no matter how I ____26____ or how much I weighed. I decided that it would be a wonderful ____27____ for my husband to come home and see a new ____28_____, so I kept my South Beach experience a ____29____ from him. Later he left home for a two-week business trip.
I was surprised at all the ____30____ I could eat. It was great to have breakfast, ____31____ and dinner. The food was difficult to eat at first ____32____ I usually didn’t like such food. This made the daily menus hard, ____33____ I overcame (克服) the challenge.
The first two weeks there really ____34____ me change the way I thought about ____35____. It wasn’t chocolate or cheese or candy I ____36____, but fruit! Before my husband’s return, my children and I were amazed at how quickly the ____37____ was lost.
When my husband returned, I had ____38_____more than 30 pounds. When I saw my husband’s reaction at the airport I thought it was worth every minute on the diet! I have ____39_____ to lose weight and I am now less than 10 pounds from my final ____40____. I feel better than I have in years and I’m enjoying life much more!
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My chance came at last. Our school was going to hold a sports meet. I knew what it 41 to me so I got up very early to prepare for it. I 42 running and jumping. When I was 43 , I reminded myself of my promise and went on.
44 the time came nearer, I felt quite 45 . On the first day I came fourth in the 1500m 46 but I was far from 47 because what I wanted most was the highlight of the sports meeting—250x8 relay race. I would run the last leg for my team.
With a shot, the race began. All the students were 48 for their team. The competition was so 49 that I began to feel nervous. Before my turn came, my team was 50 the others. Even worse, I almost dropped the stick when I was trying to 51 it.
52 after that, there was nothing in my mind except to run as fast as possible. Just when I was approaching the finish line, my legs 53 . Then my promise came to mind again and 54 me to go on. To my surprise, I was the first to 55 the finish line!
56 , I had proved to myself and those who had often laughed at me that I am not 57 at all! My classmates greeted me warmly and I hugged them tightly. I had won the prize as well as their 58 .
From the sports meeting, I learnt that sometimes things are not so difficult as they 59 to be. Just try your best without fear and you might be surprised at the 60 .
A．mattered B．held C．meant D．brought
A．exercised B．practiced C．chose D．tried
A．tired B．upset C．lazy D．happy
A．For B．By C．With D．As
A．confident B．worried C．proud D．nervous
A．run B．jump C．race D．match
A．happy B．sad C．excited D．pleased
A．heading B．racing C．cheering D．shouting
A．difficult B．close C．heated D．near
A．running before B．leading C．falling behind D．catching up with
A．fetch B．hold C．pass D．take
A．Then B．But C．Thus D．Even
A．gave in B．gave out C．gave up D．gave away
A．had B．made C．let D．got
A．draw B．cut C．cross D．catch
A．At last B．After all C．Above all D．As a result
A．bad B．weak C．slow D．strong
A．congratulations B．respect C．support D．pride
A．seem B．hope C．look D．expect
A．beginning B．place C．result D．time
On receiving my learner driver license a couple of months ago, I started driving lessons straight away. In New Zealand, the __33__driving age is 15.
However it wasn’t __34__ two days ago that Dad finally allowed me to drive on the motorway. Our __35__ was Orewa, a seaside town about 60 kilometers away from my home in Auckland. That morning I __36__ sure I had enough to drink and went to the toilet (厕所) about three times __37__ we left. I thought I was totally __38__ for the journey, but nothing could have prepared me for my family’s __39__. "Relax! Don’t hold the steering wheel(方向盘) so __40__. The car is going zigzag (弯弯曲曲的)," called a nervous voice from the __41__. "Speed up. 70km/h isn’t fast enough. You are holding up the traffic," another voice ordered from the seat next to mine.
How __42__ ! My parents were really starting to get on my nerves. To satisfy them I sped up and within a second, an angry voice began to yell again. "Stop! __43__! Are you crazy? ” Everything did not go fine until I pulled off the motorway and drove into the city, __44__ the speed limit was only 50km/h.
My family seemed relieved (放心的) and __45__ telling me what to do. They all looked out of the windows and enjoyed the scenery . __46__, that silence didn’t last very long. My mum suddenly cried out, "Look at those birds above us. __47__ they lovely?"
How did she expect me to look up in the __49__? As the driver I had to __48__ . Who knows what would have happened if I had taken my eyes off the __50__? Four hours later we drove home. This time the journey was much __51__ than before as everyone else __52__ fast asleep. So, I just took my time and enjoyed the drive.
A．oldest B．youngest C．best D．worst
A．until B．unless C．after D．when
A．destination B．home C．city D．aim
A．thought B．decided C．kept D．made
A．when B．since C．before D．as
A．disappointed B．prepared C．excited D．upset
A．praises B．encouragements C．complaints D．cries
A．tightly B．lightly C．loosely D．happily
A．front sear B．back seat C．top seat D．empty seat
A．interesting B．moving C．puzzling D．annoying
A．Get out B．Move on C．Slow down D．Speed up
A．where B．while C．which D．why
A．began B．stopped C．continued D．forgot
A．Luckily B．Probably C．Warmly D．Sadly
A．Can’t B．Don’t C．Aren’t D．Won’t
A．air B．water C．ground D．woods
A．see B．concentrate C．check D．care
A．bird B．dog C．road D．car
A．easier B．flatter C．harder D．lower
A．felt B．began C．fell D．kept