That day I was later for school, so Mom offered me a 36 . I sat beside her in our car, daydreaming about my 37 . I’d be graduating from high school in a few months. I’d leave high school behind and do whatever I wanted. What 38 I do? Go to college? Or get a job in an office where I could 39 my way up?
Mom interrupted my thoughts.“Kassandra, do you 40 that?’’She asked just as we were 41 the railroad tracks. She stopped the car on the other side and 42 the window. “It looks like a child.’’ 43 ,I saw a small boy walking by himeself. The warning lights on the train tracks flashed 44 .The boy stayed where he was right in the middle of the 45 .The whistle sounded. There’s no 46 that train can stop in time!The boy jumped up and down and 47 at the engineer.
I took off running. My shoes flopped(松动) against my feet as I 48 , so I kicked them off. I ran faster. Stones crunched(发出刺耳的碎裂声) and flew under my 49 feet. The ground shook. God, let me get to him! The train was almost on top of him. I 50 the boy in my arms. Keep running! But something 51
me. I fell backward, away from the train. I pulled the boy with me onto safe ground. The train barreled(高速行驶)past. The noise was 52 . The wheels were so close that I could have reached out and touched one.
Once the train was out of 53 , I stood up. Mom ran up and hugged me. “Kassandra, I didn’t think you were going to 54 it !’’
I got ready for bed that night 55 looking forward to school the next day. I wanted to enjoy every moment in life.
A．help B．favor C．hand D．ride
A．love B．future C．job D．university
A．would B．should C．could D．might
A．walk B．struggle C．feel D．work
A．see B．hear C．watch D．find
A．passing B．repairing C．crossing D．building
A．brought down B．rolled out C．pointed out D．looked out
A．At length B．Frankly speaking C．After all D．Sure enough
A．red B．yellow C．green D．black
A．streets B．train C．tracks D．roads
A．possibility B．problem C．way D．doubt
A．shot B．waved C．shouted D．laughed
A．ran B．drove C．thought D．walked
A．big B．bare C．fast D．quick
A．drew B．held C．led D．caught
A．attracted B．knocked C．struck D．pushed
A．deafening B．sounding C．exciting D．loud
A．fashion B．mind C．sight D．date
A．fetch B．do C．make D．get
A．thus B．already C．never D．still
“Hi, Mom, happy fiftieth birthday!” I heard my son, Brian, say as as if he were sitting next to me. he wasn’t.Brian was on the USS Kitty Hawk on maneuvers (大规模演习) between our U.S. shore and the Persian Gulf.
My party-loving friend, Denise, had me out for a quiet fiftieth birthday celebration dinner. When we at the restaurant, I scanned (扫视) the sea of , but didn’t recognize anybody.
A wave of washed over me, and tears welled in my eyes when I heard Brian in my head. “Hi, Mom, happy fiftieth birthday.” “What’s wrong?” Denise asked when she saw me dabbing (轻轻擦) at my .
“I think I’ve had too much wine. I keep Brian wish me a happy birthday,” I said. She gave me a(n) smile. “Our table is ready,” she said, leading me toward the stairs.
I’d hardly sat down in the chair of honor when a entered the room, carrying a sheet of cake. The firefighter the cake on the table in front of me so I could the fifty blazing candles. Once again I heard Brian speak, “Mom, be sure to me a piece of cake.” This time he very far away, but it seemed that he was just in front of me. I in my chair. Was I losing my mind?
“I’ll have some as soon as I get this helmet (头盔) ,” the firefighter said. Every drop of blood in my veins flowed to my feet. He his uniform and quickly pulled the helmet from his head.
“Brian!”
“Hi Mom. Happy fiftieth birthday!”
A．hardly B．impossibly C．clearly D．loudly
A．So B．Then C．And D．But
A．somewhere B．anywhere C．everywhere D．nowhere
A．sent B．supported C．provided D．invited
A．got B．reached C．arrived D．came
A．smiles B．voices C．faces D．dishes
A．happiness B．sadness C．anger D．disappointment
A．at present B．no more C．at once D．once again
A．eyes B．nose C．ears D．fingers
A．seeing B．saying C．listening D．hearing
A．relaxing B．exciting C．understanding D．surprising
A．fireman B．firewomen C．waiter D．waitress
A．pulled B．set C．pushed D．kept
A．light up B．add up C．take away D．blow out
A．save B．buy C．make D．bring
A．Shouted B．sounded C．laughed D．cried
A．calmed B．turned C．froze D．thought
A．rest B．cake C．paper D．bread[
A．off B．away C．down D．on
A．carried away B．packed up C．put on D．took off
As I held my father’s hands one night, I couldn’t help but notice their calluses(老茧）and roughness. His hands tell the story of his life as a , including all his struggles.
One summer, I remember, a drought (旱灾）hit Ontario, turning it into a desert. On one of those hot mornings I was picking sweet corn with my dad to fill the last from the grocery store. Fifty dozen was all we needed, which took twenty minutes. That morning, however, the process didn’t quickly. After forty minutes of aimlessly walking in the field, we needed twenty dozen. I was completely frustrated and . Dropping the basket heavily, I declared, “If the store wants its last twenty dozen, they can pick it themselves.” Dad , “Just think, my little girl, only ten dozen left for each of us and then we’re .” Such is Dad—whatever problem he , he never gives up.
, the disastrous (灾难性的) effects of the drought were felt all over our county. It was a challenging time for everyone, Dad remained optimistic. He to be grateful for other things like good health and food on our plates. Only then did I truly begin to Dad and his faith that guided us through the hard times.
Dad is also a living example of real . From dawn to dusk, he works countless hours to our family. He always puts our happiness his own, and never fails to cheer me on at my sports games his exhaustion after long days. His loving and selfless nature has inspired me to become more sympathetic (同情心的) and putting others first.
Dad, the life I have learned from you will stay with me forever. You are my father, teacher, friend and, most importantly, my hero.
A．teacher B．gardener C．farmer D．grocer
A．stormy B．lively C．disappearing D．burning
A．order B．form C．gap D．position
A．repeatedly B．normally C．finally D．really
A．go B．begin C．occur D．change
A．yet B．still C．even D．nearly
A．surprised B．nervous C．angry D．frightened
A．apologized B．cried C．complained D．laughed
A．lost B．done C．gone D．touched
A．meets with B．brings up C．works out D．thinks about
A．Thankfully B．Hopefully C．Unfortunately D．Strangely
A．or B．for C．so D．but
A．happened B．seemed C．continued D．aimed
A．face B．appreciate C．examine D．question
A．love B．pride C．friendship D．honesty
A．support B．settle C．start D．impress
A．after B．before C．beside D．under
A．in spite of B．in terms of C．in control of D．in place of
A．careful B．regretful C．considerate D．humorous
A．history B．motto C．patterns D．lessons
For several years, we lived at the end of a long Texas country road. Every evening when I was away from home on business, my little boy would ask permission of his mother to take his black and his daddy’s walking stick, to make the half-mile from the house to the fence which the beginning of the dirty driveway.
One day, I was busy with my business and was for about an hour, completely forgetting about the little boy down the road who might be for his daddy.
On my way home, the rain was so thick that I could not ten feet in front of me. All I could was finishing my journey and getting out of the rain. , the downpour began to abate(减弱). It was only a drizzle(细雨) by the time my car turned the last and approached the final street between me and a warm home and nice meal.
, I caught sight of my little boy, who was an umbrella in one hand, a walking stick in the other, and was wearing the biggest and most beautiful smile ever to lighten the of a little boy.
As I stopped the car and the door, he ran into my arms and held me long and hard. He was wet and with cold, but he never the rain, nor the hour-long wait. He simply said, “Daddy, I missed you. I am so glad you are home.”
Last year, we to a wonderful new home provided for a special season in our lives. We no longer have a long country road. , I have never forgotten the rainy day and the little boy and his black dog. Often, perhaps a thousand times, that has occurred in my mind. all events in our lives, it happens once, and must be treasured.
A．bag B．dog C．umbrella D．toy
A．journey B．flight C．effort D．ride
A．discovered B．explained C．marked D．described
A．controlled B．trained C．delayed D．bothered
A．hopeful B．grateful C．careful D．faithful
A．waiting B．sending C．searching D．calling
A．drive B．see C．feel D．hear
A．stick to B．think of C．pick up D．hold on
A．In fact B．In surprise C．At once D．At last
A．moment B．corner C．street D．way
A．All of a sudden B．Believe it or not C．To my pleasure D．For seconds
A．holding B．taking C．folding D．carrying
A．body B．head C．face D．hand
A．closed B．locked C．knocked D．opened
A．worrying B．nervous C．trembling D．anxious
A．noticed B．doubted C．judged D．mentioned
A．moved B．turned C．returned D．traveled
A．Therefore B．Besides C．Otherwise D．However
A．time B．scene C．act D．sight
A．With B．For C．Like D．Among
Growing older is unavoidable while growing up is optional. These words have been passed on in the loving __ of Rose.
On the first day of school our professor challenged us to get to know someone, so I __ to find a little old lady looking at me with a smile. She said， "Hi,handsome! My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a _? " I laughed and _ responded, then followed a giant squeeze. “_ are you in college at such an innocent age?” I asked. "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of kids..." I was __ what it was that motivated her to be taking on this _ at her age. “ I always dreamed of having a college education and now I _ it!” Later, we became friends.
Rose became a campus celebrity and she easily made friends _ she went. On one _ Rose was invited to speak at our football banquet. Her prepared cards dropped before she _ the speech. A little _ , she simply _ her throat and began," We do not stop playing _ we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are certain secrets to stay _ , being happy and achieving success. You've got to have a dream. When you _ your dreams, you die.”…
At the end of the year Rose finished her college education. One week after graduation Rose died _ in her sleep. Over two thousand college students _ her funeral in honor of the wonderful woman who taught by __ that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
Anybody can grow older, which doesn't _ any talent or ability. The key is to grow up by always finding opportunities in change.
A．care B． memory C． need D． want
A．turned up B． turned over C． turned around D． turned away
A．hug B． kiss C． hand D． gift
A．annoyingly B． impatiently C． absently D． enthusiastically
A．Who B． Why C． How D． When
A．curious B． positive C． obvious D． convinced
A．risk B． opportunity C． challenge D． invitation
A．like B． take C． hold D． make
A．however B． whenever C． wherever D． whatever
A． stage B． occasion C． time D． event
A． remembered B． continued C． delivered D． wrote
A． delighted B． embarrassed C． fascinated D． frightened
A． cleared B． checked C． cleaned D． treated
A． until B． before C． when D． because
A． energetic B． young C． alive D． healthy
A． lose B． realize C． pursue D． obtain
A． secretly B． sadly C． peacefully D． bitterly
A．joined B． ignored C． cancelled D． attended
A．example B． directions C． speech D． personality
A． gain B． explore C． take D． appeal
America’s Beauty Is in Its Diversity
America is built on the idea of freedom, and there is no exception for Muslim women. I the freedom of religion and speech. But mostly, I believe it’s OK to be , and to stand up for who and what you are. So I believe in wearing the hijab.
The hijab is a religious head covering, like a scarf. I am Muslim, and keeping my head covered is a of maturity（成熟）and respect toward my and to Allah’s will. , I also like to wear it to be different. I don’t usually like to do what everyone else is doing. I want to be a(n) , not just part of the crowd. But when I first wore it, I was also afraid of the that I’d get at school.
I on my own that sixth grade was the I should start wearing the hijab. I was about what the kids would say or even do to me. I thought they might make fun of me, or be scared of me and my headscarf. Kids at that age usually like to be all the same, and there’s little or no of differences.
On the first day of school, I put all those thoughts behind my back and walked in with my head held high. I was holding my breath a little, but I was also proud to be a Muslim, proud to be wearing the hijab, proud to be different.
I was about everything I thought the kids would say or even do to me. I actually met a lot of people because of wearing my head covering. Most of the kids would come and ask me questions — — about the hijab and why I wore it.
I did hear some kid was making fun of me, there was one girl—she wasn’t even in my class, and we never really talked much–and she spoke me, and I wasn’t even there! I made a lot of new friends that year, friends that I still have until this very day, five years later.
Yes, I’m different, but everyone is different here, in one way or another. This is the of America.
A．believe in B．stick to C．carry out D．push for
A．independent B．free C．sensitive D．different
A．signal B．sign C．reminder D．cause
A．religion B．country C．parents D．status
A．In a word B．In general C．To be exact D．To be honest
A．princess B．heroine C．individual D．adult
A．praise B．punishment C．reaction D．reflection
A．hoped B．expected C．realized D．decided
A．time B．chance C．case D．occasion
A．disappointed B．scared C．enthusiastic D．angry
A．still B．already C．even D．ever
A．show off B．pull off C．pick up D．put up
A．rejection B．ignorance C．awareness D．acceptance
A．negative B．optimistic C．serious D．strange
A．often B．inside C．only D．outside
A．concerned B．particular C．wrong D．convinced
A．respectfully B．cautiously C．suspiciously D．critically
A．and B．so C．but D．or
A．in terms of B．in front of C．in charge of D．in favor of
A．significance B．beauty C．value D．power