I am a team leader in an insurance company. We are going through a lot of changes right now, which is 36 much stress for all of us.
A few weeks ago I was having a day so 37 that I even doubted if I had the ability to do this challenging work, and was about ready to change to a less stressful job 38 . Something happened that day to change my way of 39 and I am so appreciative of this young lady. I want to let her know that the small act 40 .
On the top of my cubicle (工作隔间) I have a small collection of lighthouses (灯塔) to let people know where I am sitting 41 my team members have to find me for emergencies.
That day I came into the office and was about to get the day 42 when Crystal came over. I asked if she needed anything. And she said, “I 43 you something.” I looked at her with a 44 look and said, “Well, thank you, but why 45 you buy me anything?” I had never spoke to this young lady 46 . She said, “Every day I stand up and look across the 47 and see your lighthouses. Then I feel I am not alone and I encourage myself that there are always 48 things in life. I saw this on the way to work and thought 49 would like it. I wish it would have the same 50 as your lighthouses do.” In her hand she had a small globe with a lighthouse and a ship on it. I gave her a hug and 51 her. I don’t think she knows how much that small act of 52 changed my day: I remained 53 the rest of the day.
For anyone that reads this, I hope you remember, no matter what the 54 is, you could change someone’s day, 55 even his views on life.
A．preventing B．reducing C．causing D．suffering
A．funny B．nice C．bad D．dull
A．everywhere B．elsewhere C．anywhere D．nowhere
A．working B．behaving C．speaking D．thinking
A．broke my heart B．touched my heart C．lost my heart D．tore my heart
A．in case B．so that C．as if D．even though
A．ended B．started C．changed D．avoided
A．borrowed B．lent C．sold D．bought
A．delighted B．puzzled C．thankful D．worried
A．might B．dare C．could D．would
A．before B．then C．since D．after
A．dorm B．office C．ship D．tower
A．bright B．challenging C．bad D．stressful
A．colleagues B．leaders C．you D．I
A．opinion B．cause C．expectation D．effect
A．praised B．thanked C．scolded D．refused
A．justice B．courage C．kindness D．tolerance
A．careful B．encouraged C．tired D．alone
A．present B．work C．act D．intention
A．so B．for C．or D．nor
Lightning flashed through the darkness over Sibson’s bedroom skylight（天窗）.Sibson was shaken by a clap of thunder ____21___ he knew what was happening. The storm had moved directly _____22____ his two-story wooden house. Then he heard the smoke alarm beeping.
Sibson rushed down the stairs barefoot to 23 ; he opened the door to the basement（地下室）, and flames 24 out. Sibson ran back upstairs to call 911 from his bedroom. “I felt 25 because the room had a separate outdoor stairway,” he explains.
But the phone didn’t work, and when he tried to go down the outdoor stairway, he was 26 by a wall of flames. Sibson realized he was trapped（困住）.
Sibson’s house was three kilometers 27 the main road and was so well hidden by trees that he knew calling for help would be 28 .
Up a hill nearby lived Sibson’s neighbor, Huggons. He was lying in bed when something like a smoke alarm 29 his ears. He jumped out of bed, took his 30 and flashlight, and headed down the hillside toward the 31 . That was when he saw the rolling heavy smoke.
Huggons dialed 911, and the operator warned him not to 32 the house. But Huggons said, “There is no way I am going to listen to Sibson 33 and die in that fire.”
“Anyone there?” Huggons called out. Then he heard “Help! I’m trapped!” coming from the second floor balcony（阳台）. He entered the house, but soon had to run back to catch his 34 .
After one more 35 inside the house, Huggons gave up and 36 around back.
The wind parted the smoke just 37 for him to catch sight of Sibson. But there was no way to get to him. He 38 the flashlight into the woods and noticed a ladder. He took it over to the balcony and 39 Sibson down just as the second floor of the house fell off.
Sibson is still 40 when he tells the story. “ I was alone that night,” he says. “Then I heard the most beautiful sound in my life. It was Huggons.”
A．before B．while C．since D．until
A．on B．in C．through D．over
A．hide B．wait C．check D．escape
A．moved B．gave C．went D．exploded
A．safe B．worried C．glad D．tired
A．burned B．stopped C．shocked D．covered
A．beside B．off C．across D．along
A．limited B．false C．fruitless D．regretful
A．struck B．missed C．touched D．passed
A．coat B．key C．basin D．phone
A．noise B．road C．smoke D．danger
A．search B．enter C．leave D．damage
A．call B．roll C．scream D．sigh
A．breath B．attention C．ladder D．flashlight
A．stay B．chance C．thought D．attempt
A．climbed B．circled C．looked D．jumped
A．clear B．open C．enough D．fit
A．led B．put C．drove D．shone
A．persuaded B．kicked C．pulled D．forced
A．nervous B．surprised C．proud D．thankful
The concept of solitude (独处) in the digital world is almost non-existent. In the world of digital technology, e-mail, social networking and online video games, information is meant to be____36___. Solitude can be hard to discover ___37____it has been given up. In this respect, new technologies have ___38____our culture.
The desire to be connected has brought solitude to a(n) ___39____as we’ve known it. People have become so ___40____in the world of networks and connections that one can often be contacted ____41___they’d rather not be. Today we can talk, text, e-mail, chat and blog (写博客), not only from our ___42____, but from our mobile phones as well.
Most developed nations have become ___43____on digital technology simply because they’ve grown accustomed to it, and at this point not ___44____it would make them an outsider. ___45____, many jobs and careers require people to be ___46____. From this point of view, technology has changed the culture of work. Being reachable might feel like a ___47____to those who may not want to be able to be contacted at all times.
I suppose the positive side is that solitude is still possible for anyone who ___48____wants it. Computers can be shut ___49____and mobile phones can be turned off. The ability to be “connected”and “ on”has many ___50____, as well as disadvantages. Travelers have ended up ___51____on mountains, and mobile phones have saved countless lives. They can also make people feel ___52____and forced to answer unwanted calls or___53____to unwanted texts.
Attitudes towards our connectedness as a society ___54____ across generations. Some find today’s technology a gift. Others consider it a curse. Regardless of anyone’s view on the subject, it’s hard to imagine what life would be like ___55____daily advancements in technology.
A．updated B．received C．shared D．collected
A．though B．until C．once D．before
A．respected B．shaped C．ignored D．preserved
A．edge B．stage C．end D．balance
A．sensitive B．intelligent C．considerate D．reachable
A．even if B．only if C．as if D．if only
A．media B．computers C．databases D．monitors
A．bent B．hard C．keen D．dependent
A．finding B．using C．protecting D．changing
A．Also B．Instead C．Otherwise D．Somehow
A．connected B．trained C．recommended D．interested
A．pleasure B．benefit C．burden D．disappointment
A．slightly B．hardly C．merely D．really
A．out B．down C．up D．in
A．aspects B．weaknesses C．advantages D．exceptions
A．hidden B．lost C．relaxed D．deserted
A．trapped B．excited C．confused D．amused
A．turn B．submit C．object D．reply
A．vary B．arise C．spread D．exist
A．beyond B．within C．despite D．without
When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student(优等生), I believed I could 1 tough（=hard） subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he 2 in class.
When I took the first exam, I was 3 to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper, 4 English was my best subject. I went to reason with Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained5 .
I decided to try harder, although I didn't know what that 6 because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I 7 with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn't change his 8 .
One more test before the final exam. One more 9 to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts(加倍努力) and, for the first time, 10 the meaning of the word "thorough"（彻底的）.But my 11 did no good and everything 12 as before.
The last hurdle（障碍）was the final. No matter what 13 I got, it wouldn't cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the 14 goodbye.
I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even 15 myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I'd have 16 with a test.
A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into Professor Jayne's office. He 17 to be expecting me. "If I gave you the As you 18 , you wouldn't continue to work as hard."
I stared at him, 19 that his analysis and strategy（策略）were correct. I had worked my head 20 , as I had never done before.
I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I've always remembered Professor Jayne's lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.
A．take B．discuss C．cover D．get
A．found B．presented C．exchanged D．obtained
A．shocked B．worried C．scared D．anxious
A．but B．so C．for D．or
A．unchanged B．unpleasant C．unfriendly D．unmoved
A．reflected B．meant C．improved D．affected
A．quarreled B．reasoned C．bargained D．chatted
A．attitude B．mind C．plan D．view
A．choice B．step C．chance D．measure
A．memorized B．considered C．accepted D．learned
A．ambition B．confidence C．effort D．method
A．stayed B．went C．worked D．changed
A．grade B．answer C．lesson D．comment
A．scholarship B．course C．degree D．subject
A．helped B．favored C．treated D．relaxed
A．fun B．luck C．problems D．tricks
A．happened B．proved C．pretended D．seemed
A．valued B．imagined C．expected D．welcomed
A．remembering B．guessing C．supposing D．realizing
A．out B．over C．on D．off
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried ___1___ for hours as the farmer tried to think out ___2___ to do. Finally, he decided the animal was ___3___, and the well needed to be ___4___ up anyway; it just wasn’t ___5___ it to save the donkey. He invited all his ___6___ to come over and help him. They all grabbed（握起）a shovel（铁锹）and began to shovel ___7___ into the well. At first, the donkey ___8___ what was happening and cried horribly(惊恐的,害怕的). Then, to everyone’s ___9___ he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked ___10___ the well. He was surprised at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. As the farmer’s neighbours ___11___to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would ___12__ it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily ran off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. If you want to get out of the well, the ___13___ is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone（垫脚石）. We can get out of the ___14___ wells just by not stopping, never ___15___! Shake it off and take a step up.
A．sadly B．happily C．excitedly D．fiercely
A．how B．what C．that D．which
A．painful B．old C．rare D．powerful
A．drowned B．solved C．covered D．emptied
A．important B．possible C．necessary D．worth
A．neighbours B．relatives C．friends D．family
A．dust B．dirt C．waste D．soil
A．doubted B．recognized C．realized D．admitted
A．sorrow B．joy C．fear D．amazement
A．down B．around C．through D．over
A．pretended B．continued C．stopped D．determined
A．wash B．blow C．wipe D．shake
A．trick B．trap C．trouble D．tradition
A．longest B．largest C．deepest D．widest
A．having fun B．watching over C．giving up D．dying out
I could have easily gone through life without getting to know one of the most romantic feelings---love for a dog. For at least ten years my 1 had been suggesting that we get a dog. There were several reasons why the2 came up. We had noticed that, on our block, couples with no children as a rule3 one large or two small dogs. So we got one puppy (小狗)4 we too had no children.
He flew into the house with the 5 of a Formula 1 (一级方程式赛车). In several minutes he ran over all the house,6 from my shoulder onto the bed, and ended up in the7 , where my wife washed him with8 care. From that day on, the invisible（看不见的） 9 for the love of the new member of our household began at my home.
He seemed to10 that at once. Most of the meals that my wife had11 for him with greater care than those for me—he didn’t12 look at them.
Every evening I went out walking with him. I could not know who was walking whom13 one evening, when, tired from work, I14 the walk. The dog was very angry and dragged me out.
Last night our dog pulled me by the ear with his teeth,15 me up in my dream, and dragged me into the kitchen to make me turn off the16 which had disturbed his sleep. I meekly（乖乖地）17 that I had forgotten to turn off the light, but that was not18 . He looked at me like a teacher at a pupil who repeatedly makes19 .
Now we finally know who’s the20 at home, and for twenty years we had seriously argued whether it was my wife or I.
A．wife B．son C．husband D．daughter
A．promise B．chance C．idea D．trouble
A．kept B．rose C．carried D．invited
A．if B．unless C．since D．before
A．speed B．shape C．cost D．race
A．climbed B．jumped C．covered D．stopped
A．yard B．street C．kitchen D．bathroom
A．friendly B．motherly C．natural D．personal
A．signal B．work C．war D．truth
A．doubt B．understand C．deserve D．inspect
A．reached B．searched C．looked D．prepared
A．even B．still C．ever D．yet
A．while B．because C．until D．as
A．gave in B．gave up C．gave away D．gave out
A．broke B．woke C．picked D．packed
A．water B．heater C．cooker D．light
A．hoped B．considered C．admitted D．decided
A．enough B．good C．bad D．true
A．plans B．mistakes C．faces D．decisions
A．boss B．member C．adult D．child