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
One day a rich man was invited to dinner at the home of one of his friends. He did not know what to 36 the wine, meat and chicken he had just bought. Certainly he could not 37 them to the servant. Then he had 38 idea. He called up the servant and 39 to him.
"I'll be away for the whole evening, and I'll leave you to look after the house. In the cupboard there are two bottles filled with 40 . Be careful about it. You'll be killed if you take even a 41 of it. There is also some meat and chicken in the cupboard. Take care of them". 42 these words the rich man left the home.
43 the master turned his back, the servant opened the cupboard and began to enjoy all the nice things in it. He 44 the two bottles and ate up the meat, the chicken and 45 he found in the cupboard. He was 46 and soon fell 47 .
At mid-night the rich man returned home. He looked into the cupboard and to his great 48 , all the wine and food were 49 . He was mad with 50 and called the servant up.
"Oh, Master," the servant began to say 51 the rich man could open his mouth; "while you were away, the neighbor's black cat stole into our kitchen and ate up every things in the cupboard. I know you would be angry with me. I was so 52 that I drank the two bottles of poison to kill 53 “there were tears in the servant's eyes.”Oh, Master," he continued, "Please don't get angry with a 54 _ man. I'll soon be dead.
The rich man, of course, did not 55a word of his story. But again, he could do nothing about it.
A．make B．put into C．deal with D．do with
A．buy B．cook C．leave D．bring
A．some B．an C．the D．no
A．said B．told C．spoke D．talked
A．water B．oil C．wine D．poison
A．piece B．drop C．lot D．bottle
A．At B．On C．With D．Hearing
A．Before B．While C．Hardly when D．As soon as
A．broke B．emptied C．removed D．cleaned
A．that B．what C．something D．everything else
A．satisfied B．excited C．worried D．disappointed
A．sleep B．asleep C．sleepy D．sleeping
A．surprising B．surprise C．surprised D．joy
A．gone B．left C．missed D．disappeared
A．tears B．scene C．anger D．a smile
A．when B．after C．as D．before
A．afraid B．sad C．anxious D．sure
A．the cat B．the man C．myself D．the neighbor
A．dead B．dying C．living D．wounded
A．say B．hear C．believe D．listen to
When I was in my early twenties, I moved away from my home state of Wisconsin to attend graduate school. I chose to go to the University Of Arizona in Tucson and 36 there. Upon landing in early June, I was shocked by the lack of 37 and the burning desert heat. After less than two days in that 38 I called my parent to question whether I had made the 39 choice and to announce that I was 40 considering coming home. My father, in a calm and 41 voice, indicated that I always had a 42 . I could always come home and be welcome there. But in fact, we both 43 I wouldn’t come home at the time. Needless to say, I chose to 44 .
Many years have passed. My father’s 45 words remain with me. Knowing that I can always 46 , I’ve been able to 47 several challenging situations -unemployment, divorce and even the 48 of my only son. I have also used these words in many cases where others need to know that someone 49 and that they do have a choice.
Whether 50 is earthly, spiritual, or some sense of calm, knowing that we can come home will be just enough to 51 us on our way.
It 52 me, in a way, of the prodigal son（回头的浪子） who found 53 and love upon returning home. While we don’t have to be like him and hit bottom in life, it is good to know that we can wander and experience pains and 54in life but we still have a home where love, support and comfort 55 .
A．flew B．drove C．walked D．cycled
A．blue B．yellow C．brown D．green
A．family B．refuge C．environment D．desert
A．new B．right C．last D．difficult
A．naturally B．fortunately C．obviously D．seriously
A．gentle B．weak C．supportive D．pleasant
A．choice B．dream C．friend D．request
A．pretended B．expected C．knew D．forgot
A．graduate B．regret C．return D．continue
A．surprising B．encouraging C．interesting D．moving
A．wander outside B．hang around C．come home D．move away
A．face up to B．get away with C．make sure of D．look out for
A．return B．growth C．arrival D．loss
A．worries B．cares C．leaves D．stays
A．health B．marriage C．church D．home
A．help B．stop C．protect D．teach
A．informs B．reminds C．warns D．rids
A．comfort B．interest C．food D．money
A．regrets B．complaints C．sufferings D．pleasures
A．survive B．exist C．fall D．disappear
Recently I had completely changed my views about life after a talk with one of my friends. He told me despite being 31 , he was happy and 32 that it was because of something he saw in Thailand.
A few years ago he was 33 feeling sad and was touring Thailand. He said right in front of his very eyes, he saw a mother34 her child's right hand with a knife. The helpless 35in the mother's eyes and the scream of the36 four-year-old child still remained in his mind.
The37 mother made the child handicapped (disabled) 38 he could go out on the streets to beg. 39 by the scene, he dropped a small piece of bread he was eating.
And almost at once, several children 40 around this small piece of bread covered with sand, 41 bits from one another. It was the42 reaction of hunger. He then went to the nearest bakery and bought every single loaf of bread. 43 he gave out the bread to the children (mostly handicapped), he 44 cheers and bows from these 45 children. For the first time in his life, he understood 46 people could give up their 47 for a loaf of bread. He came to 48 how fortunate he was to be able to have a sound body, have a job, have a family, have the chance to 49 about food that didn't taste good, and have the many things that these people in front of him 50 dreamed of having. Perhaps life wasn't bad at all.
A．in poor health B．on a diet C．in debt D．out of work
A．mentioned B．recalled C．explained D．insisted
A．certainly B．absolutely C．seriously D．really
A．took off B．cut off C．put out D．put off
A．impression B．appearance C．expression D．anger
A．unbelievable B．troublesome C．terrified D．painful
A．angry B．upset C．crazy D．hopeless
A．unless B．in case C．so that D．because
A．Puzzled B．Shocked C．Wondered D．Attracted
A．turned B．looked C．sat D．gathered
A．offering B．taking C．sharing D．giving
A．natural B．physical C．mental D．emotional
A．Since B．Until C．As D．If
A．accepted B．received C．heard D．rejected
A．unfortunate B．polite C．energetic D．greedy
A．whom B．what C．when D．how
A．honor B．identity C．dignity D．belief
A．think of B．conclude C．realize D．recognize
A．argue B．comment C．complain D．decide
A．even B．never C．ever D．hardly
Hope in my arms
Last year, I was invited to participate in a carnival for Tuesday’s Child, an organization that helps children with AIDS.
All the children that had gathered at one particular room could 36a square on a piece of cloth. Later the squares would be sewn(缝) together to37a quilt. The quilt would be38 to a man who had devoted his life to the39 and would soon be 40 .
The kids were given paints in bright colors and asked to paint something that would make the quilt41 . As I looked around at all the squares, I saw pink hearts, blue clouds, orange sunrises and red flowers. The pictures were all bright and42 . All 43 one.
One boy was painting a heart, but it was dark and lifeless. It44 the bright colors that his fellow artists had used.I asked why. He told me that he was very 45 and so was his mom. He said that his sickness was not ever going to get better and neither was his mom’s. He looked 46 into my eyes and said, “There is no hope in my life.”
I told him I was sorry and I could understand why he had made his heart a dark color. I told him that 47 we couldn’t make him better, we can give48 , which can really help when you are feeling sad. I told him that if he would like, I would be 49 to give him one so he could see what I meant.50 , he crawled into my lap. I thought my own heart would burst for this sweet little boy.
He sat there for a long time. Finally he51 down to finish his coloring.
As I was getting ready to52 home, I felt a tug (猛拽) on my jacket. Standing there was the little boy,53 . He said, “My heart is changing54 . It is getting brighter. I think those hugs really do55 .”
On my way home I felt my own heart. It too had changed to a brighter color.
A．find B．paint C．cut D．draw
A．fold B．become C．spread D．make
A．presented B．sold C．lent D．thrown
A．education B．country C．organization D．neighborhood
A．dying B．coming C．visiting D．retiring
A．beautiful B．strong C．new D．comfortable
A．empty B．puzzling C．confusing D．inspiring
A．without B．besides C．except D．beside
A．needed B．lacked C．contained D．showed
A．curious B．disappointed C．angry D．sick
A．forward B．still C．straight D．even
A．so that B．as long as C．even though D．as though
A．hugs B．smiles C．prizes D．lessons
A．sorry B．happy C．eager D．relaxed
A．Suddenly B．Quickly C．Unwillingly D．Slowly
A．slowed B．jumped C．slipped D．fell
A．leave B．stay C．head D．arrive
A．smiling B．crying C．dancing D．glaring
A．shape B．color C．weight D．form
A．fit B．hurt C．fail D．work
Alone in the light at the dining room table, surrounded by a nearly dark house, I sat in tears.
Finally, I 36 in getting both kids to bed. As a new single 37 , I had to be both Mommy and Daddy to my two little children.
With full rights of my children, I 38 to give them a normal and comfortable home life. I 39 a happy face for them.
I rose slowly, trying not to 40 even the least sound which might start them up 41 . I tiptoed(蹑手蹑脚地走) out of their room, 42 the door part way, and went downstairs.
And loneliness(孤独). I 43 as thought I were at the bottom(底部) of a great sea of loneliness. It all 44 together and I was at once lost. I sat there, 45 crying.
Just then, a pair of little 46 went around my middle and a little face looked up at me. I looked down into my five-year-old son’s 47 face.
I was shy to be 48 crying by my son. “I’m sorry. Ethan, I didn’t know you were still awake.” I don’t know why, but so many people 49 when they cry and I was no exception. “I didn’t 50 to cry. I’m just a little 51 tonight.”
“It’s ok, Daddy. It’s okay to cry; you’re just 52 .”
I couldn’t express(表达) how happy he made me, this little boy, who was simple, gave me 53 to cry. He seemed to be saying that I didn’t have to always be 54 , and that sometimes it was possible to allow myself to feel weak and let out my 55 .
A．succeeded B．escaped C．failed D．helped
A．mother B．worker C．parent D．stepfather
A．followed B．grew C．joined D．tried
A．put on B．took on C．put down D．took in
A．fill B．stop C．make D．end
A．over B．again C．once D．already
A．locked B．fixed C．opened D．closed
A．felt B．thought C．fell D．woke
A．went B．afforded C．came D．agreed
A．loudly B．hardly C．widely D．silently
A．arms B．legs C．hands D．eyes
A．pleased B．helpful C．excited D．angry
A．moved B．seen C．heard D．touched
A．explain B．complain C．apologize D．wonder
A．want B．mean C．appear D．prefer
A．worried B．special C．tired D．sad
A．a person B．a male C．terrific D．nervous
A．decision B．interest C．right D．truth
A．experienced B．strong C．single D．able
A．ideas B．secrets C．words D．feelings