Children find meanings in their old family tales.
When Stephen Guyer’s three children were growing up, he told them stories about how his grandfather, a banker, 21 all in the 1930s, but did not lose sight of what he valued most. In one of the darkest times 22 his strong-minded grandfather was nearly 23 , he loaded his family into the car and 24 them to see family members in Canada with a 25 ,“there are more important things in life than money. ”
The 26 took on a new meaning recently when Mr. Guyer downsized to a 27 house from a more expensive and comfortable one. He was 28 that his children, a daughter, 15, and twins, 22, would be upset. To his surprise, they weren’t. 29 , their reaction echoed （共鸣） their great-grandfather’s. What they 30 was how warm the people were in the house and how 31 of their heart was accessible.
Many parents are finding family stories have surprising power to help children 32 hard times. Storytelling experts say the phenomenon reflects a growing 33 in telling tales, evidenced by a rise in a storytelling events and festivals.
A university 34 of 65 families with children aged from 14 to 16 found kids’ ability to 35 parents’ stories was linked to a lower rate of anger and anxiety. The 36 is telling the stories in a way children can 37 . We’re not talking here about the kind of story that 38 , “When I was a kid, I walked to school every day uphill both ways, barefoot in the snow. ” Instead, we should choose a story suited to the child’s 39 , and make eye contact （接触） to create “a personal experience”,. We don’t have to tell children 40 they should take from the story and what the moral is. ”
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A．missed B．lost C．forgot D．ignored
A．when B．while C．how D．why
A．friendless B．worthless C．penniless D．homeless
A．hope B．promise C．suggestion D．belief
A．tale B．agreement C．arrangement D．report
A．large B．small C．new D．grand
A．surprised B．annoyed C．disappointed D．worried
A．Therefore B．Besides C．Instead D．Otherwise
A．talked about B．cared about C．wrote about D．heard about
A．much B．many C．little D．few
A．beyond B．over C．behind D．through
A．argument B．skill C．interest D．anxiety
A．study B．design C．committee D．staff
A．provide B．retell C．support D．refuse
A．trouble B．gift C．fact D．trick
A．perform B．write C．hear D．question
A．means B．ends C．begins D．proves
A．needs B．activities C．judgments D．habits
A．that B．what C．which D．whom
The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane（杖，手杖） made her way carefully up the steps. She 36 the driver and, using her hands to feel the 37 of the seats, walked down and found the 38 which the driver had told her was empty. Then she settled in.
It had been a year since Mary, 34, 39 a medical misdiagnosis (误诊), was suddenly thrown into a world of 40 . Mark, her husband, was an Air Force officer and he loved Mary with all his heart. He 41 her how to rely on her other 42 , specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and 43 to adapt herself to the new environment. He helped her befriend（友好对待） the bus drivers who could 44 for her, and save her a seat.
45 , Mary decided that she was ready to try the 46 on her own. Monday morning, she said good-bye and for the first time, they went their 47 ways.
On Friday morning, Mary took the bus to work as usual. As she was 48 the bus, the driver said, “Boy, I 49 envy you.” Mary had no 50 what the driver was talking about, and asked, “What do you 51 ?”
The driver answered, “You know, every morning for the 52 week, a fine-looking gentleman53 a military uniform has been standing across the corner 54 you as you get off the bus. He 55 you cross the street safely and he watches until you enter your office building. You are one lucky lady.”
Tears of gratitude poured down Mary’s cheeks.
A．thanked B．asked C．discovered D．paid
A．location B．shape C．size D．cost
A．ticket B．bus C．seat D．bag
A．according to B．instead of C．thanks to D．due to
A．anger B．darkness C．happiness D．light
A．asked B．encouraged C．taught D．praised
A．feelings B．sights C．senses D．abilities
A．how B．when C．where D．who
A．make out B．watch out C．find out D．work out
A．Finally B．Luckily C．However D．Besides
A．visit B．trip C．bus D．work
A．opposite B．separate C．difficult D．usual
A．getting on B．getting in C．getting off D．getting up
A．must B．may C．will D．do
A．idea B．opinion C．way D．thought
A．want B．mean C．say D．suggest
A．next B．old C．past D．following
A．by B．on C．with D．in
A．searching B．watching C．calling D．noticing
A．looks out B．takes up C．believes in D．makes sure
A school teacher decided to let her class play a game. The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few 16 . Each tomato will be given a name of a person that the child 17 , so the number of tomatoes that a child will put in the plastic bag will depend on the number of people the child hates.
So when the day came, every 18 brought some tomatoes. Some had two; some three while some up to five tomatoes. The teacher then told the children to 19 with them the tomatoes in the plastic 20 wherever they go.
Days after days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the 21 smell let out by the rotten tomatoes. Besides, those having more tomatoes had to carry 22 bags. After 1 week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended.
The teacher asked: “How did you 23 while carrying the tomatoes with you for 1 24 ?”
The children let out their frustrations and started 25 of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and 26 tomatoes wherever they go.
Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the 27 .
“This is exactly the 28 when you carry your hatred(憎恨) for somebody inside your heart. The unpleasant smell of hatred will pollute your 29 and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten tomatoes for just 1 week, can you imagine what is it like to have the smell of hatred in your heart for your lifetime?”
So 30 others is that best attitude to take!
A．potatoes B．peaches C．apples D．tomatoes
A．likes B．wants C．knows D．hates
A．boy B．child C．girl D．baby
A．carry B．watch C．eat D．enjoy
A．box B．bag C．bowl D．bottle
A．uncertain B．unhealthy C．unpleasant D．unimportant
A．heavier B．larger C．better D．dirtier
A．feel B．survive C．manage D．know
A．month B．year C．fortnight D．week
A．thinking B．complaining C．approving D．dreaming
A．tasty B．bitter C．smelly D．salty
A．food B．bag C．game D．story
A．advice B．situation C．information D．notice
A．hands B．schoolbags C．mouth D．heart
A．forgiving B．understanding C．knowing D．admiring
People often say that the Englishman’s home is his castle. In this sense they mean that the home is very important and 21 . Most people in Britain live in houses 22 flats, and many people own their homes. This means that they can make them individual(个人的); they can23 them and change them in any way they 24 . In a crowded city the individual knows that he or she has a private spacewhich is 25 for himself or herself and for invited friends.
People usually like to 26 their space. Are you sitting now in your home or in a beach or a train? If you are on the beach you may have spread your27 around you; on the train you may have28 your coat or small bag on the seat beside you; in a library you may have one corner or chair which is your own.
Once I was traveling on a 29 to London. I was in a section for four people and there was a table between us. The man on the opposite side to me had his briefcase on the table. There was no 30 on my side of the table at all. I was made rather 31 . I thought he thought that he owned the 32 table. I took various papers out of my bag and put them on 33 ! When I did this he stiffened and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. I had 34 his space ! A few minutes later I took my papers off his case in order to read them. He 35 moved his case to his side of the table. ( Of course , it is possible that he just wanted to be helpful to me !
A．helpful B．personal C．necessary D．useful
A．rather than B．as well as C．as a result of D．or rather
A．buy B．leave C．paint D．offer
A．make B．clear C．like D．prepare
A．only B．already C．ever D．even
A．marked B．decide C．choose D．keep
A．towels B．sands C．papers D．flags
A．found B．given C．put D．stored
A．plane B．train C．way D．street
A．matter B．weight C．light D．space
A．angry B．hurt C．fearful D．busy
A．right B．only C．small D．whole
A．the table B．his case C．the seat D．his side
A．invaded B．shut C．separated D．shared
A．hesitatingly B．immediately C．slowly D．calmly
Many years ago when the world was a simpler place there lived a shoemaker. He used __16__ silk and soft leather(皮革) to make the greatest shoes. Colorful shoes lined the shelves of his store.
One little girl, Rachel, often looked through the _17__ into the store. One day while Rachel was looking again, the shoemaker __18__ at her side. “Well, dear, which shoes would you take?” he said, smiling.
Rachel was __19__ as she hadn’t noticed the little man. “Oh! I …I was just __20__,” Rachel said. “I can’t afford them and I would never take anything that doesn't belong to me.”
The shoemaker said, “I meant to give you a pair as a(n) __21__ .” Rachel stared at the shoemaker. A small pointed(尖尖的) ear could be seen underneath(在…底下) his hat. The guy __22__ Rachel’s curious gaze(凝视) and fixed his hat tightly over his ear _23__.
“Why don't you wear a pair of your own beautiful shoes?” Rachel questioned him, smiling.
“I am always working and have no need of __24__ shoes,” he explained.
Rachel’s smile __25__. “I have no need of good shoes either,” Rachel said in a sad voice and limped (一瘸一拐地走) away.
A few days later, Rachel was walking past the shoe shop when the shoemaker waved her into the shop. Looking around, Rachel said, “You have every color of the rainbow here.”
The shoemaker said, “They are the colors of the rainbow, Rachel.” __26__ a drawer(抽屉), he took out the most beautiful pair of shoes Rachel had ever seen. The shoemaker placed the shoes onto her feet. “Take a __27__, Rachel,” he said.
“I …I can’t,” Rachel said with a tear.
“Yes, Rachel, you can,” the shoemaker __28__.
Rachel stood up staight. Deliberately(小心翼翼地) she took a __29__, followed by another and another. “I can do it. I can do it,” she said, walking easily across the floor, not limping at all.
The shoemaker laughed __30__ and said, “I told you they were magic shoes…”
A．wonderful B．professional C．personal D．skillful
A．floor B．window C．wall D．corner
A．quit B．appeared C．fell D．hid
A．excited B．confused C．interested D．surprised
A．searching B．moving C．waving D．looking
A．collection B．present C．solution D．exchange
A．noticed B．guided C．remembered D．accepted
A．exactly B．quickly C．happily D．kindly
A．clean B．large C．new D．fine
A．disappeared B．wondered C．advanced D．improved
A．Repairing B．Making C．Designing D．Opening
A．rest B．breath C．bath D．walk
A．complained B．questioned C．encouraged D．appreciated
A．step B．smile C．risk D．seat
A．carefully B．heartily C．directly D．quietly
The Price of a Dream
I grew up poor, living with my wonderful mother.We had little money but plenty of love and attention. I was 36 and energetic.I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still 37a dream.
My dream was to be a sportsman. 38 I was sixteen, I had started playing baseball. I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour fastball and hit anything that moved on the football field. I was also 39 . My high-school coach was Ollie Jarvis, who not only believed in me, but taught me 40 to believe in myself.He 41 me the difference between having a dream and realizing the dream.One particular 42 with Coach Jarvis changed my life forever.
It was the summer between my junior and senior years, and a friend recommended (推荐) me for a summer job.This meant a chance for money in my pocket—money for a new bike and new clothes, and the 43 of savings for a house for my mother.Then I realized I would have to 44 summer baseball to deal with the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell Coach Jarvis I wouldn’t be playing.
When I told Coach Jarvis, he was as 45 as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” he said. “Your playing days are limited.You can’t 46 to waste them.” I stood before him with my head hanging, trying to think of the 47 that would explain 48 him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his 49in me.
“How much are you going to make at this job, son?” he asked. “Three twenty-five an hour,” I replied.
“Well,” he asked, “is $3.25 an hour the 50 of a dream?”
That simple question made it 51 to me the difference between 52 something right now and following a dream.I 53 myself to sports that summer, and within the year I was 54 by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and was 55a $20,000 contract.In 2000, I bought my mother the house of my dream!
A．happy B．polite C．shy D．honest
A．lose B．have C．make D．need
A．By the time B．The time C．At one time D．At a time
A．right B．popular C．lucky D．confident
A．how B．why C．when D．whether
A．gave B．taught C．brought D．asked
A．accident B．matter C．problem D．experience
A．aim B．idea C．start D．purpose
A．keep up B．put up C．give up D．pick up
A．mad B．happy C．frightened D．shameful
A．adopt B．afford C．affect D．effect
A．answers B．excuses C．words D．ways
A．for B．to C．on D．in
A．sadness B．regret C．hopelessness D．disappointment
A．source B．prize C．price D．allowance
A．direct B．clear C．clean D．straight
A．wanting B．changing C．dreaming D．choosing
A．provided B．devoted C．headed D．imagined
A．worked B．mentioned C．fired D．hired
A．paid B．got C．offered D．signed