Tears clouded my eyes as I stood in our washing room, holding Brett’s jeans and full of burn holes.
Tired and defeated, I 36 to the floor. The clothes were just one more thing Brett had 37 . He often got almost everything in the house out of 38 . Many windows in our house needed repair due to his breaking 39 to steal money when he chose to live on the street. Yet none of this could compare to the emotional 40 Brett had done to our once quiet home.
Brett came to live with us when he was 12 years old. During the next few years I had dealt with Brett as 41 as possible, but inside I was shouting. “I don’t want him in my house another day, Lord! I just can’t 42 him!” Having wiped my tears, I continued 43 him as before.
When Brett was nearly 18, he landed again in Juvenile Hall(少管所). After that, my husband and I had to send Brett to a boarding school for helping 44 teens.
At the 45 ceremony, each graduate held a white rose to give to the person who had 46 the most to him or her. Brett spoke 47 to his parents and then spoke to me, “You did so much. You were always there, no matter 48 . My mom and dad, I was their kid. But you, 49 troubled enough by me, always 50 me such love. And I want you to know I love you for it.” 51 , I stood as Brett placed the white rose i
n my hand and hugged me 52 .
At that moment, tears 53 in my eyes again, this time not for disappointment but for 54 . Although I had struggled with silent 55 toward my stepson, Brett had seen only my actions. Love is action. We may not always have positive feelings about certain people in our lives, but we can love them.
A．sat B．sank C．bent D．dropped
A．ruined B．lost C．torn D．broken
A．danger B．place C．trouble D．order
A．off B．in C．up D．away
A．pain B．injury C．damage D．harm
A．patiently B．willingly C．strictly D．rudely
A．forgive B．educate C．stand D．control
A．parenting B．pardoning C．comforting D．feeding
A．lazy B．troublesome C．disappointing D．careless
A．opening B．official C．victory D．graduation
A．afforded B．meant C．supplied D．owed
A．lovingly B．sadly C．proudly D．nervously
A．where B．how C．what D．who
A．unless B．although C．because D．when
A．cost B．lent C．taught D．showed
A．Astonished B．Puzzled C．Encouraged D．Interested
A．surely B．roughly C．tightly D．fiercely
A．fell B．flowed C．moved D．gathered
A．pity B．happiness C．luck D．success
A．love B．anxiety C．anger D．care
I was born without legs, so I have to wear ones to walk or use a wheelchair. I was fine. I fought off every physical challenge in my life. I went to work, drove and lived on my own. I climbed stairs and buses by myself. However, one year ago, someone came into my life and showed me that there were more to face. His name is Joseph and he is my . He doesn’t that I was born without legs. Instead, he does want me to feed him, carry him and comfort him.
Anyone who has had a baby may know how much equipment it needs to take care of the baby. It turns out that being a parent without needs more equipment, At least, I need to equip my wheelchair a basket. When I put my baby in the basket, I can push him from room to room. It is a highly effective and cheap way and Joseph finds it fun.
, I try taking Joseph outside by using a baby belt and strapping(捆) him on my chest, but Joseph often blocks my , which makes it very difficult to go on. I manage to do it, it is more by than judgment. When a baby , often the most effective way is to comfort it by walking around with it. However, I can’t do that , because it takes too long for me to get to Joseph in my wheelchair. Sometimes, when I only stand upright on my hands, Joseph holds out his arms for a . He doesn’t understand that if there’s nothing for me to myself, I can’t safely hold him. His trust that I can look after him gives me more courage.
I have just his first birthday. I’m very for him to grow up and start walking, so that we can go outside together more easily. Let the challenges keep . We’ll be and fine.
A．beneficial B．artificial C．social D．official
A．put on B．called on C．turned on D．got on
A．challenges B．performances C．disabilities D．accidents
A．pet B．friend C．son D．husband
A．think B．know C．mind D．speak
A．legs B．arms C．hands D．fingers
A．about B．with C．on D．to
A．Occasionally B．Generally C．Jokingly D．Treasonably
A．sun B．nose C．idea D．view
A．Because B．Unless C．Although D．Otherwise
A．luck B．time C．money D．space
A．smiles B．sleeps C． signs D．cries
A．quickly B．endlessly C．sincerely D．selflessly
A．snack B．kiss C．movie D．hug
A．amuse B．balance C．introduce D．behave
A．seldom B．never C．Sometimes D．always
A．celebrated B．congratulated C．remembered D．communicated
A．bad B．eager C．famous D．late
A．dancing B．walking C．building D．coming
A．careful B．optimistic C．humorous D．helpful
A businesswoman got into a taxi in midtown. As it was the rush hour and she was in a to catch a train, she a quick way to reach it. “ I have been a taxi driver for 15 years ! ” the driver said . “ You don’t think I know the best way to go?”
The woman tried to explain that she hadn’t to annoy him, but the driver kept . She finally realized that he was too annoyed to be , so she changed her .“ You know, you are right,” she told him. “ It must seem for me not to think you know the best way the city.”
, the driver glanced at his in the rearview mirror, turned down the street she wanted and got her to the train on time. “ He didn’t say another word the rest of the ride,” she said, “ I got out and paid him. Then he thanked me.”
When you find yourself with people like the taxi driver, you will always try to your idea. It can lead to longer arguments, lose job chances or marriage. I have discovered one simple extremely unlikely method that can prevent the disagreement or other difficult situations from57 in a disaster.
The is to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and look for the in what that person is saying. Find a way to , and the result may surprise you.
A．hurry B．rush C．moment D．way
A．chose B．made C．found D．suggested
A．jokingly B．angrily C．anxiously D．curiously
A．supposed B．expected C．meant D．decided
A．apologizing B．driving C．asking D．shouting
A．reasonable B．thoughtful C．normal D．practical
A．road B．mind C．direction D．manner
A．strange B．wrong C．terrible D．stupid
A．across B．in C．through D．along
A．Surprised B．Worried C．Annoyed D．Disappointed
A．rider B．speaker C．helper D．comer
A．until B．after C．because D．since
A．satisfied B．concerned C．crowded D．faced
A．give up B．turn down C．stick to D．point to
A．combine B．destroy C．suffer D．divide
A．and B．that C．but D．though
A．lying B．resulting C．setting D．leading
A．problem B．importance C．key D．reply
A．fact B．meaning C．expression D．truth
A．agree B．argue C．explain D．escape
When I was a teenager, whatever my mother asked me to do was immediately followed by my complaining, "I can't." , very few tasks that I set out to finish were completed.
One evening, my mother me into the study where she was reading an article in the TV Guide. On the cover was a(n) of Marlo Thomas, a famous actress now starring in one of my favorite shows.
"I want you to read this article," Mother began. "It's about Marlo Thomas. She how a simple poem that she was forced to learn by her father her life. She went from saying, "I can't" to "I !" According to this article, she was able to rebuild her life, and finally her career, by learning the principles in the poem."
I took the small magazine from Mother and looked down at the pages. Beside her photo was the poem my mother had ; a simple poem entitled, "I Can."
"I want you to learn that by heart," Mother said.
"Mum," I said. "I can't learn that poem. It's too ."
"It's not too long and yes, you can learn it. I want you to know it by this time tomorrow."
I turned and made my way back to my bedroom with the magazine loosely inmy small right hand. With a heavy heart, I sat on my bed and began my .
"Can't is a word that is enemy to ambition（雄心）," I began. I the line until it held inmy heart. I the process until the following evening, when I said the poem aloud from my memory that has continued to be my motto.
Ms. Thomas did not know me, but her story changed my life.
Saying, "I can," helped me to survive the worst moments of my life. Saying "I can" me to finish things I would have otherwise seen as out of my .
A．Before long B．In addition C．As a result D．Aside from
A．ever B．never C．even D．still
A．took B．pulled C．locked D．called
A．example B．photo C．passage D．introduction
A．hopes B．tells C．reports D．admits
A．changed B．helped C．improved D．saved
A．will B．must C．can D．may
A．found out B．left for C．made up D．spoken of
A．article B．story C．poem D．actress
A．difficult B．long C．boring D．meaningless
A．perfectly B．quickly C．constantly D．slowly
A．caught B．placed C．touched D．held
A．homework B．task C．activity D．plan
A．repeated B．remarked C．liked D．analysed
A．hard B．fast C．firm D．close
A．finished B．continued C．studied D．stopped
A．proudly B．softly C．slowly D．luckily
A．mainly B．partly C．forever D．only
A．allowed B．caused C．forced D．encouraged
A．mind B．business C．life D．reach
Nine years ago around Christmas, I was on a Captiva Island beach at sunrise. I crouched (蹲) low there and was lost in the false hope of finding a treasure larger than the small on the shore.
A man ran slowly along the waves my direction. When he came near me, he slowed to a walk. I didn’t him until he was almost standing over me. Too young to be of strangers, I got on my feet and looked at him. It was then that I saw what was in his , a beautiful bright cream-colored shell, the kind of thing that I was looking for. He smiled as I stared in , and then, to my shock, he handed it to me. I held it before me like a diamond, not my eyes.
“I think you will like it,” he said, and then continued his down the beach.I do not his voice, his clothes or even his face, I do still have the shell, and the greatest lesson I’ve ever . Now the shell sits on my bedside table, not as as it was, but it is still there, a reminder that there is in the world.
That man saved my belief in the kindness of people, and he saved my belief that one can find what means something in life. I see my shell every day, and I know that I can bad days because there are good things in my life. In the end, all that we have is we have done for others. The shell is to me, as important as another man who returned to the plane to me my lost jacket.
I know that a difference in someone’s life, no matter how big or small, is what truly matters, and that it is worth all the treasure in the world.
A．shell B．frog C．fish D．diamond
A．to B．in C．through D．for
A．recognize B．know C．follow D．notice
A．tired B．fond C．shy D．proud
A．clothes B．coat C．hand D．bag
A．despair B．fear C．disappointment D．amazement
A．formally B．calmly C．hopefully D．carefully
A．imagining B．believing C．thinking D．presenting
A．run B．walk C．ride D．drive
A．respect B．realize C．remember D．remind
A．but B．or C．unless D．so
A．accepted B．taken C．learned D．received
A．dirty B．hard C．bright D．soft
A．noisy B．wise C．quiet D．stupid
A．equality B．kindness C．bravery D．honesty
A．get through B．get down C．turn down D．turn off
A．what B．how C．where D．why
A．necessary B．important C．valuable D．essential
A．sell B．give C．remove D．buy
A．telling B．getting C．doing D．making
Alexander the Great was the great Macedonian(马其顿)Emperor．As a young man he once himself a famous horse with his extraordinary power of observation and wisdom．
One day，his father，King Philip，received a horse as a(n) ．Together with some of his men as well as the prince，the King with him his new horse out on a wide plain to ．But they soon found that the horse was very ．It kicked and shouted loudly so that no one could get on its back．The King was and gave orders for to be taken back at once．But the prince，Alexander，was sorry to 48 this．
“It’s a pity to such a fine horse just because man is brave enough to get on it，”said he．
“Your are brave，”said the King，feeling that his son without thinking．“But are you brave enough to do that?’’
The young man went up to the nervous animal，took the bridle(缰绳)and turned its to the sun．He did so because he had that the horse was afraid of its own shadow kept moving upon the ground before his eyes．
With its face to the sun，the horse could no longer see the shadow．It soon became ．The young man patted it and by and by he jumped upon its back．Then it se at a great speed with the brave prince holding on．It ran farther and farther into the plain till at last it became tired and A1exander rode it back．
The horse was thus given to the brave man．For many years it fought battle after battle together with him．One day in a fierce battle，both of them got seriously ．The horse struggled to carry Alexander on its back and ran home．Then it died． his horse，Alexander had a city built and named the city Bucephalus，which was the name of his horse．
A．brought B．gave C．declared D．won
A．honor B．prize C．present D．reward
A．rode B．pulled C．took D．had
A．ride B．drive C．feed D．run
A．ridiculous B．nervous C．strong D．wild
A．happy B．angry C．curious D．satisfied
A．it B．him C．her D．this
A．find B．do C．hear D．say
A．deliver B．kill C．release D．1ose
A．a B．one C．such D．no
A．actions B．words C．comments D．conclusions
A．told B．spoke C．chatted D．talked
A．head B．side C．body D．tail
A．consulted B．expected C．observed D．predicted
A．who B．as C．which D．it
A．curious B．exhausted C．quiet D．excited
A．fiercely B．firmly C．tightly D．gently
A．off B．up C．aside D．about
A．harmed B．burned C．wounded D．damaged
A．In favor of B．In memory of C．In face of D．In terms of