School was over and I was both mentally and physically tired, I sat at the very front of the bus because of 1 to get home．Sitting at the front makes you 2 out like a shiny coin in a pile of dull pennies．
Janie, the driver, tries to break the uncomfortable atmosphere by striking the match of 3 ．
I try to mind my manners and 4 listen, but usually I am too busy thinking about my day．On this day, however, her conversation was worth listening 10．
"My father’s sick," she said to no one in 5 ．I could see the anxiety and fear in her eyes．With a sudden change of attitude and interest, I asked, "What’s wrong with him?"
With her eyes wet and her voice tight from 6 the tears, she responded, "Heart trouble．" Her eyes 7 as she continued．"I’ve already lost my mum, so I don’t think I can 8 losing him．”
I couldn’t respond．I was 9 ．My heart ached for her．I sat on [he old, smelly seat thinking of the great 10 my own mother was thrown into when my father died．
I saw how hard it was, and still is, for her．I wouldn’t like anyone to go through that．Suddenly I realized Janie wasn’t only a bus driver．That was just her job．She had a _ 11_ world of family and concerns too．I had never thought of her as anything but a driver．I suddenly felt very 12 ．I realized I had only thought of people as 13 as what their purposes were in my life．I paid no attention to Janie because she was a bus driver．1 had judged her by her job and regarded her as unimportant．
For all I know, I’m just another person in someone else’s world, and may not even be important．I should not have been so selfish and self-centered．Everyone 14 a place to go to, people to see and appointments to 15 ．Understanding people is an art．
1． A．determination B．decision C．attempt D．anxiety
2． A．make B．stand C．think D．find
3． A．topic B．message C．discussion D．conversation
4． A．devotedly B．carelessly C．politely D．sincerely
5． A．common B．silence C．particular D．surprise
6． A．avoiding B．clearing C．keeping D．fighting
7． A．widened B．closed C．lowered D．opened
8． A．mind B．regret C．bear D．miss
9． A．angry B．interested C．curious D．shocked
10．A．pain B．pity C．disappointment D．mercy
11 A．dark B．narrow C．whole D．bright
12．A．selfish B．confused C．worried D．sad
13．A．long B．much C．far D．well
14．A．takes B．has C．finds D．needs
15．A．stay B．remain C．keep D．put
In a world where comparisons happen non-stop, it is difficult to look outside yourself and to ever be 36 with who you are. There’s always someone who’s a bit 37 . The only solution is to reach 38 and measure against what Warren Buffett calls your own inner yardstick. There is no more 39 measure for comparison than who your were yesterday, last week or last decade, when you were at your 40 .
Nothing useful ever comes from comparison to others. Either you see yourself as better than someone and you get 41 , or you see someone else as better than you and you feel like all your hard work is for 42 . It is a fool’s game. Not one of us is exactly 43 . The only direct and honest comparison is 44 yourself. Everything else is apples to oranges.
My opinion is that you are only 45 to compare yourself to someone else if their life46 is the same as your own. Good luck finding that 47 . And one thing is for sure. No matter how hard you work and how dedicated you are, there will always be someone who can run a little faster, jump a little higher, score a little better or look a little nicer in a swimsuit. And if there’s not, you can 48 someone is coming up fast 49 you. So how can you always win in life? Become your best 50 .
Having an image of your most recent past limits is the perfect thing to 51 you to the next level. If you ran 7 flights of stairs yesterday, then do 8 today. Who 52 if the guy next to you did 15? It doesn’t make a bit of 53 . You are a more 54 person today than you were yesterday. Your own 55 is all you need.
A．patient B．strict C．content D．concerned
A．stronger B．better C．lazier D．wiser
A．inside B．out C．for D．up
A．accurate B．useful C．careful D．powerful
A．end B．best C．convenience D．side
A．satisfied B．busy C．inspired D．lazy
A．nothing B．fun C．sure D．success
A．equal B．unique C．alike D．common
A．within B．by C．for D．of
A．instructed B．allowed C．directed D．suggested
A．situation B．position C．occasion D．accommodation
A．game B．match C．friend D．enemy
A．conclude B．bet C．announce D．declare
A．before B．beside C．below D．behind
A．assistant B．competitor C．coach D．teacher
A．contribute B．expose C．push D．devote
A．cares B．says C．wonders D．asks
A．effort B．sense C．difference D．change
A．successful B．happy C．lucky D．fit
A．benefit B．progress C．habit D．result
I pulled into the driveway of my Mum’s house and saw my two-year-old daughter’s smiling face staring out the window at me. Vanessa had stayed with her grandma for a week, while her mommy, Georgia ,was in hospital36 complications(并发症) in her second pregnancy. Vanessa, who missed her room and toys,37 awaited the arrival of daddy to pick her up and take her to see her mother. After the visit we’d go home where I had a surprise for her.
Vanessa and I spent an hour with Georgia and then 38 home.
I got Vanessa out of her snowsuit, 39 on the sofa and sat beside her. “Vanessa, you know you’re going to have a new brother or sister soon.”
“I know, Daddy. Mommy’s bringing it home with her.”
“That’s right .”I smiled. “well, the baby is going to need a 40 to sleep in. I hope you don’t mind, but I put your cradle in the new baby’s room.”
“Where will I sleep, Daddy?”
“ Follow me.” I led her down the hall to her room. “I have a 41 for you.”
When Vanessa turned the corner and screamed with pleasure. “It’s a bed ,Daddy! My very own bed!” She 42 up and down on the mattress with 43 happiness on her face.
“ I guess this means I’m growing up,” said Vanessa.
First beds are first milestones. For the first time we are free to get out of bed without 44 someone lift us from our cradles. We are trusted to handle the freedom with respect and are expected to45 new rules. First days of school, first loves, firsts jobs，first homes or apartments, first child；they’re all 46in life. Each comes with47 and responsibilities and it all starts with the first bed..
A．instead of B．as to C．due to D．regardless of
A．anxiously B．surprisingly C．purposely D．especially
A．stayed B．headed C．missed D．left
A．bent B．lay C．settled D．sighed
A．camp B．basket C．house D．cradle
A．prize B．surprise C．word D．promise
A．bounced B．turned C．climbed D．laughed
A．pure B．little C．exact D．sudden
A．joining in B．giving in C．sending for D．waiting for
A．build B．ignore C．follow D．break
A．obstacles B．memories C．scenes D．milestones
A．sorrow B．joys C．interest D．pride
A boy lost his arms in an accident and had to depend on hisbrother for almost everything. His younger brother became his 1 , never leaving him alone for years. Except for writing with his 2 , he was completely unable to do anything in his life.
One night, his brother accompanied him into the 3 and went back to wait. But being so tired, his younger brother fell 4 , leaving him in the toilet for two hours. As the two brothersgrew 5 , they had different opinions about many things and often 6 . His brother wanted to 7 from him to live his own life. Knowing this, he was heart-broken and didn't know whatto do.
A similar misfortune happened to a girl. One night her 8 , who suffered from mental illness,9 . So her father went out looking for her mother, leavingher alone at home. She tried to 10 a meal for her parents, but only to overturn the stove, resulting in a 11 , whichtook her hands away.
Thoughher elder sister, who was studying in another city, showed her 12 to help her, she made up her mind to be completely 13 . And she made it.
One day, the boy and the girl were both 14 to appear on a television interview program. They both were askedto 15 something on a piece of paper with their toes. The boy wrote: My brother's arms are my arms; while the girl wrote: Broken wings, flying hearts.
A．volunteer B．bodyguard C．servant D．shadow
A．feet B．hands C．toes D．arms
A．kitchen B．bedroom C．toilet D．study
A．asleep B．ill C．awake D．silent
A．older B．taller C．stronger D．healthier
A．fought B．talked C．quarreled D．discussed
A．learn B．keep C．hear D．separate
A．father B．mother C．brother D．sister
A．died B．disappeared C．cried D．failed
A．buy B．change C．eat D．prepare
A．fire B．joke C．fall D．meal
A．anxiety B．willingness C．contribution D．respect
A．relaxed B．disabled C．energetic D．independent
A．made B．invited C．ordered D．tricked
A．write B．draw C．imagine D．read
Nick was not the kind of boy I had expected to spend my summer with. I was hoping to have a 36 this summer before my busy senior year, but my mother asked me to do her a 37. One of her colleagues needed a full-time 38 . “You planned to volunteer at the local hospital, why not volunteer to 39 to Nick instead?” Then she told me that this six-year-old boy was not a 40 child.
Nick was a lovely little boy who suffered from many disorders. Normal day-care centres would not 41 him. As a baby, he had serious ear infections which left him with equilibrium（平衡）problems.He couldn’t 42 or run properly. I was 43 if I was to take the job when my mother 44 , “Don’t you want to be a nurse in the future? I doubt if you even have the 45 .”
Then I told her I was 46 for the job.
The day started at 7:00 a.m. Nick was my wake-up call! With so much energy and very little 47 , he was quite a mix.
At the park, when he saw all the other children play on the jungle gym and swings, the boy’s face 48 up—How he wished he belonged to the group of his age! You would think it would be 49 to get a child to go down a slide. Believe me, it wasn’t! It took him a lot of time. But with patience and support. Nick took one step up the slide each day. We worked together to face his 50 and gradually he got closer to taking the slide of his life.
Halfway through the summer, he 51 it to the top of the slide. With my arms holding him tightly, we flew down the slide! I waited for his 52 . After realizing that he was safe and sound, he gave me a big 53 and asked, “May I go down again alone?”
I had never been happier in my life when I saw this little child climb the ladder and enjoy what other children 54 for granted.
This 55 child taught me that being a nurse means respect, kindness and patience.
A．relaxation B．course C．project D．grade
A．service B．business C．favour D．trade
A．waitress B．nurse C．guard D．guide
A．protect B．assist C．comfort D．attend
A．naughty B．normal C．clever D．happy
A．admit B．receive C．adopt D．accept
A．walk B．play C．stand D．speak
A．wondering B．hesitating C．questioning D．doubting
A．suggested B．argued C．commented D．challenged
A．energy B．faith C．courage D．time
A．ready B．sorry C．grateful D．eager
A．awareness B．knowledge C．balance D．control
A．delighted B．cheered C．shut D．lit
A．demanding B．interesting C．simple D．flexible
A．worries B．fears C．chances D．situations
A．made B．got C．managed D．climbed
A．laughter B．answer C．reaction D．greeting
A．clap B．kiss C．welcome D．surprise
A．play B．do C．enjoy D．take
A．special B．smart C．lucky D．miserable
A long time ago, there was an emperor(皇帝). One day he told his horseman that if he could ride on his horse and 26 as much land area as he liked, he would give him the area of land he had covered. 27 enough, the horseman quickly jumped onto his horse and 28 as fast as possible to cover as much land area as he could. He 29 riding and riding, whipping the horse to go as fast as possible. Even when he was 30 or tired, he did not stop 31 he wanted to cover as much area as possible. When he at last covered a large amount of land, he was exhausted and was32 . Then he asked himself, “Why did I33 myself so hard to cover so much land area? Now I am dying and I only 34 a very small area to 35 myself.”
The above story is 36 to the journey of our 37 . We push ourselves very hard every day to make more 38 , to gain power or recognition. We neglect(疏忽，忘记) our 39 , time with our family and to appreciate(欣赏) the surrounding 40 and the things we love to do. One day 41 we look back, we will 42 that we don’t really need that much, 43 then we cannot turn back time for what we have 44 .
Life is not about making money. Life is definitely(肯定地) not about work! Work is only 45 to keep us living so as to enjoy the beauty and pleasures of life.
A．use B．cover C．work D．get
A．Good B．Strange C．Sure D．Interesting
A．rode B．ran C．expanded D．struggled
A．kept on B．asked for C．gave up D．succeeded in
A．sad B．excited C．confused D．hungry
A．but B．so C．because D．if
A．sleeping B．arguing C．dying D．smiling
A．push B．make C．destroy D．prove
A．need B．have C．find D．show
A．live B．bury C．support D．sleep
A．useful B．certain C．similar D．special
A．future B．past C．history D．life
A．friends B．progress C．discoveries D．money
A．health B．career C．honor D．freedom
A．things B．condition C．people D．beauty
A．before B．when C．unless D．since
A．realize B．regret C．apologize D．explain
A．or B．until C．however D．but
A．saved B．missed C．reduced D．won
A．possible B．probable C．necessary D．suitable