I grew up poor---living in the housing projects (住房) with six brothers, three sisters, a varying assortment (各式各样东西的混合) of foster kids (养子), my father, and a wonderful mother, Scarlette Hunley. We had little money and few worldly goods, but plenty of love and attention. I was 36 and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still 37 a dream.
My dream was 38 . By the time I was sixteen, I could crush a baseball, and hit anything that moved on the baseball field. I was also 39 : My high school coach Jarvis, who not only believed in me, but taught me how to believe in myself. He 40 me the difference between having a dream and showing conviction (信念). One particular incident with Coach Jarvis changed my life forever.
It was the summer between my junior and senior years, and a friend 41 me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket—cash for dates with girls, certainly, money for a new bike and new clothes, and the start of savings for a 42 for my mother. The prospect of a summer job was attractive and interesting, and I wanted to jump at the opportunity. Then I realized I would have to 43 summer baseball to handle 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 44 as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work，” he said. “Your 45 days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.”
I stood before him with my head hanging, trying to think of the words that would explain to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his 46 to me.
“How much are you going to make at this job, son?” He demanded. “3.5 dollars an hour.” I replied. “Well,” he asked, “Is $3.5 an hour the price of a dream?”
That question, the plainness of it, laid bare for me the difference between wanting something right now and having a goal. I dedicated myself to sports that summer and with the year I was hired by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and was 47 a $20,000 contract. I signed with the Denver Broncos in 1998 for $1.7 million, and bought my mother the house of my dreams.
A．happy B．polite C．shy D．honest
A．live B．afford C．make D．need
A．athletics B．music C．business D．money
A．right B．popular C．lucky D．confident
A．persuaded B．taught C．brought D．asked
A．sent B．advised C．gave D．recommended
A．ticket B．car C．house D．job
A．give in B．give up C．give away D．give off
A．disappointed B．mad C．frightened D．shameful
A．living B．playing C．working D．learning
A．sadness B．regret C．hopelessness D．disappointment
A．paid B．got C．offered D．presented
I climbed the stairs slowly, carrying a big suitcase, my father following with two more. By the time I got to the third floor, I was ___1___ and at the same time feeling lonely. Worse still, Dad ___2___ a step and fell, sending my new suitcases ___3___ down the stairs. “Damn!” he screamed, his face turning red. I knew ___4___ was ahead. Whenever Dad’s face turns red, ___5___.
How could I ever ___6___ him to finish unloading the car ___7___ screaming at me and making a scene in front of the other girls, girls I would have to spend the ___8___ of the year with? Doors were opening and faces peering out(探出), as Dad walked ___9___ close behind. I felt it in my bones that my college life was getting off to a(n) ___10___ start.
“__11___ the room, quickly,” I thought. “Get him into a chair and calmed down.” But ___12___, would there be a chair in Room 316? Or would it be a(n) ___13___ room?
___14___ I turned the key in the lock and ___15___ the door open, with Dad ___16___ complaining(抱怨) about a hurting knee or something. I put my head in, expecting the ___17___. But to my ___18___, the room wasn’t empty at all! It had furniture, curtains, a TV, and seven paintings on the walls.
And there on a well-made bed sat Amy, my new ___19___, dressed neatly, greeting me with a nod, she said in a soft voice, “Hi, you must be Cori.” Then, she ___20___ the music and looked over at ___21___, “And of course, you’re Mr. Faber,” she said ___22___. “Would you like a glass of iced tea?” Dad’s face turned decidedly ___23___ before he could bring out a “yes”.
I knew ___24___ that Amy and I would be ___25___ and my first year of college would be a success.
1. A. helpless B. lazy C. anxious D. tired
2. A. took B. minded C. missed D. picked
3. A. rolling B. passing C. dropping D. turning
4. A. suffering B. difficulty C. trouble D. danger
5. A. go ahead B. look out C. hold on D. give up
6. A. lead B. help C. encourage D. get
7. A. after B. without C. while D. besides
8. A. best B. beginning C. end D. rest
9. A. with difficulty B. in a hurry C. with firm steps D. in wonder
10. A. fresh B. in a hurry C. bad D. unfair
11. A. Search B. Find C. Enter D. Book
12. A. in fact B. by chance C. once more D. then again
13. A. small B. empty C. new D. neat
14. A. Finally B. Meanwhile C. Sooner or later D. At the moment
15. A. knocked B. forced C. pushed D. tried
16. A. yet B. only C. even D. still
17. A. worst B. chair C. best D. tea
18. A. regret B. disappointment C. surprise D. knowledge
19. A. roommate B. classmate C. neighbour D. companion
20. A. turned on B. turned down C. played D. enjoyed
21. A. Dad B. me C. the door D. the floor
22. A. questioning B. wondering C. smiling D. guessing
23. A. red B. less pale C. less red D. pale
24. A. soon B. there C. later D. then
25. A. sisters B. friends C. students D. fellows
My Experience in a Free School
At first I couldn’t believe it! There were no ___1___ in rows; no bells rang; no one had to go to ___2___. Although we all lived 搃n? ___3___ made us go to bed at a certain time; there was no 搇ights out?
The ___4___ thing was that practically all the students went to class, ___5___ very few people stayed up late at night. Only the new people stayed up or ___6___ class. The new ones always went wild ___7___, but this never lasted long. The ___8___ took some getting used to. Our teachers treated us like ___9___; never did we have to ___10___ “stand up”, “sit down”, “speak out”. I don’t ___11___ one student who didn’t try his best.
The subjects were the same as those in ___12___ school, but what a difference in the approach(方式)! For example, in botany(植物学) we had ___13___ classes in the spring or fall, but instead we ___14___ two gardens, a vegetable garden and a flower garden. ___15___ in winter we each studied a few ___16___ things about what we had grown. In math the students built three different kinds of storerooms ?small ones ___17___, but usable. They did this instead of having lessons in the classroom. They really had a ___18___ time too, designing everything, drawing the blueprints, ___19___ the angles(角度) and so on. I didn’t take ___20___. I can’t stand it! Besides, I could do the basic things with numbers. That’s ___21___!
___22___ I think I am a ___23___ person for having gone to the school. I can read and write as well as anyone else my age, and I can think better. That’s probably a real big ___24___ between the free school and regular school ?the amount of ___25___.
1. A. desks B. lights C. students D. buildings
2. A. home B. bed C. class D. work
3. A. anybody B. nobody C. teachers D. parents
4. A. sad B. last C. good D. strange
5. A. and B. but C. so D. yet
6. A. attended B. took C. missed D. studied
7. A. from then on B. at first C. once more D. just then
8. A. freedom B. habit C. time D. people
9. A. workers B. pupils C. gardeners D. grown-ups
10. A. understand B. study C. play D. say
11. A. hear from B. feel like C. think about D. know of
12. A. night B. regular C. small D. real
13. A. all B. short C. no D. indoor
14. A. planted B. studied C. drew D. toured
15. A. Still B. Then C. Yet D. Next
16. A. wild B. successful C. usual D. particular
17. A. as well B. after a whileC. of course D. as a result
18. A. funny B. great C. convenient D. thoughtful
19. A. looking out B. taking out C. finding out D. figuring out
20. A. math B. care C. botany D. notice
21. A. dull B. interesting C. enough D. dangerous
22. A. On the whole B. Once again C. Sooner or later D. After a while
23. A. careful B. better C. busier D. lovely
24. A. problem B. chance C. difference D. change
25. A. reading B. gardening C. teaching D. thinking
People of Burlington are being disturbed by the sound of bells. Four students from Burlington College of Higher Education are in the bell tower of the ___1___ have made up their minds to ___2___ the bells nonstop for two weeks as a protest (抗议) against heavy trucks which run ___3___ through the narrow High Street.
“They not only make it ___4___ to sleep at night, but they are ___5___ damage to our houses and shops of historical ___6___,” said John Norris, one of the protesters.
“__7___ we must have these noisy trucks on the roads,” said Jean Lacey, a biology student. “Why don’t they build a new road that goes ___8___ the town? Burlington isn’t much more than a ___9___ village. Its streets were never ___10___ for heavy traffic.”
Harry Fields also studying ___11___ said they wanted to make as much ___12___ as possible to force the ___13___ to realise what every body was having to ___14___. “Most of them don’t ___15___ here anyway,” he said, “They come in for meetings and that, and the Town Hall is soundproof(隔音), ___16___ they probably don’t ___17___ the noise all that much. It’s high time they realized the ___18___.”
The fourth student, Liza Vernum, said she thought the public were ___19___ on their side, and even if they weren’t they soon would be.
___20___ asked if they were ___21___ that the police might come to ___22___ them.
“Not really,” she said, “Actually we are ___23___ bell-ringers. I mean we are assistant bell-ringers for the church. There is no ___24___ against practising.”
I ___25___ the church with the sound of the bells ringing in my ears.
1. A. college B. village C. town D. church
2. A. change B. repair C. ring D. shake
3. A. now and then B. day and night C. up and down D. over and over
4. A. terrible B. difficult C. uncomfortable D. unreasonable
5. A. doing B. raising C. putting D. producing
6. A. scene B. period C. interest D. sense
7. A. If B. Although C. When D. Unless
8. A. to B. through C. over D. round
9. A. pretty B. quiet C. large D. modern
10. A. tested B. meant C. kept D. used
11. A. well B. hard C. biology D. education
12. A. effort B. time C. trouble D. noise
13. A. townspeople B. other students C. government officials D. truck drivers
14. A. stand B. accept C. know D. share
15. A. shop B. live C. come D. study
16. A. but B. so C. or D. for
17. A. notice B. mention C. fear D. control
18. A. event B. loss C. action D. problem
19. A. hardly B. unwillingly C. mostly D. usually
20. A. I B. We C. She D. They
21. A. surprised B. afraid C. pleased D. determined
22. A. seize B. fight C. search D. stop
23. A. proper B. experienced C. hopeful D. serious
24. A. point B. cause C. need D. law
25. A. left B. found C. reached D. passed
Ella Fant was a middle-aged lady who lived with her only son John in a small house. She 26John very much. In her 27he couldn't do anything 28. Every morning she would give him breakfast 29bed and bring him the papers to 30 . It isn't really true that he was too 31to work-in fact he had tried a few 32. First of all he was a window-cleaner and in his first week he managed to 33at least six windows. Then he 34a bus conductor and on his second 35a passenger stole his bag with all the fare (车费) collected. He 36lost his job as a postman 37he sent off all the letters when he should have taken them to people's houses. It seemed that there was 38suitable work for him. So he 39to join the army. Mrs. Fant was so 40about this that she told the 41to all her neighbours. “My John is going to be a soldier,” she said， “He is going to be the best soldier there 42was, I can tell you!”
Then the great day came 43he was to march past the palace in the parade (接受检阅的队伍). His 44mother travelled to the city early in the morning to be sure of getting a good 45in the crowd.
The parade was full of sound and colour. But when John and his 46came in sight some of the people watching 47laughing at the one who couldn't keep pace with the others as they marched along.
But Ella Fant , who was filled with 48, shouted at the top of her voice, “Look at 49 ! They're all out of 50except my John! Isn't he the best!”
26. A. depended on B. waited on C. trusted D. loved
27. A. hope B. eyes C. head D. beliefs
28. A. wrong B. great C. good D. strange
29. A. to B. at C. in D. by
30. A. check B. read C. keep D. sign
31. A. lazy B. young C. weak D. shy
32. A. ones B. years C. tasks D. jobs
33. A. rub B. drop C. break D. clean
34. A. followed B. metC. became D. found
35. A. day B. try C. route D. chance
36. A. thus B. even C. once D. only
37. A. even if B. so that C. because D. though
38. A. some B. such C. less D. no
39. A. began B. promised C. managed D. decided
40. A. excited B. worried C. anxious D. curious
41. A. incident B. change C. news D. matter
42. A. yet B. ever C. never D. just
43. A. where B. since C. when D. till
44. A. proud B. kind C. strict D. lucky
45. A. time B. position C. experience D. impression
46. A. neighbours B. army officer C. mother D. fellow soldiers
47. A. couldn't help B. shouldn't burst out C. stopped D. kept
48. A. sadness B. happiness C. surprise D. regret
49. A. them B. those C. that D. him
50. A. sight B. order C. mind D. step
What an exciting day it was for Jennifer and Valerie! They had been friends since Grade Three and had 41many of their high school experience. Now they were driving together to their final high school event. Today was42 day at Lamar High School. 43 they were close friends, they were different in many ways. Jennifer was a fairly 44 student while Valerie did just enough to get by and was mainly 45 in a good social life.
“Isn't it46 that we're all finished?”said Valerie. “I'm really looking forward to having a good time this summer.”
“ 47 be nice,” Jennifer replied, “I'm afraid I'm going to have to work most of the summer to help pay for my college expenses.”
Jennifer's parents had only a small48 and she had made up her mind to have an occupation in which she could afford all the things her49 could not.
Valerie,50 , came from a fairly well-to-do family. She had little desire to work hard for51she had always taken for granted.
“I really don't want to go to college for a while,” she 52 .
“My uncle runs a restaurant in the Bahamas and he has53 me to spend a year there as a waitress. That should give me plenty of 54for the beach.”
“It seems55I'll really be going different ways now”, thought Jennifer.
41. A. learned B. obtained C. remembered D. shared
42. A. exam B. sports C. graduation D. working
43. A. If B. Because C. Although D. When
44. A. diligent B. polite C. active D. favorite
45. A. specialized B. relieved C. envied D. interested
46. A. certain B. great C. unfortunate D. annoying
47. A. Can B. Shall C. Must D. Need
48. A. income B. problem C. family D. differance
49. A. teachers B. parents C. friends D. relatives
50. A. in fact B. in a way C. as a result D. on the other hand
51. A. what B. whom C. that D. these
52. A. admitted B. complained C. invited D. screamed
53. A. helped B. assured C. proposed D. promised
54. A. peace B. work C. energy D. time
55. A. I B. we C. she D. they