Education from My Father
My memories of my father are slim because he was so sick in the last years of his life. But there are 32 that I am often reminded of and which may have had some bearing on my love of 33 .
When I was small I was somewhat 34 of lightning and thunder. My father explained it. The explanation was in 35 that a child could understand but was basically correct. I gained a better 36 later, but I didn’t have to unlearn anything.
What he said was that there was electricity in the clouds 37 it traveled to the ground like a spark. When it traveled 38 the air it made the air so hot that it 39 . Then there was nothing where the air had been and the air all around rushed in to 40 the space. He clapped his hands together very loud, 41 to be the air rushing in, and said that makes the thunder. When I hear thunder, I can still hear that 42 .
He explained why if it was cloudy in the winter the night was warmer than if it was 43 . It was one of those nights when the sky was full of stars: no moon, no town lights. But there were more stars than you could 44 and they had color too. He said that if there were no clouds, we had no blankets and were 45 to the universe. Our warmth was going to 46 the whole universe. When there were clouds, they were like blankets and we were not exposed to the universe. I 47 feel on the edge of space on a very clear night.
I am sure there were many other lessons that I 48 but no longer remember. What I did 49 , in general, was that there were explanations and that the more I understood them, the more comfortable the world was to live in. I was not taught that there were 50 but that there was understanding if you looked for it. This may be why I have always been 51 in science.
A．others B．few C．some D．all
A．science B．nature C．weather D．universe
A．sure B．fond C．tired D．afraid
A．depth B．words C．gestures D．data
A．understanding B．knowledge C．command D．confidence
A．but B．and C．for D．or
A．above B．to C．along D．through
A．shone B．burned C．expanded D．broke
A．fill B．make C．avoid D．break
A．trying B．proving C．hoping D．pretending
A．clap B．remark C．voice D．crash
A．cold B．bright C．clear D．foggy
A．explore B．foresee C．imagine D．identify
A．committed B．exposed C．related D．led
A．heat B．protect C．extend D．light
A．ever B．also C．even D．still
A．selected B．arranged C．absorbed D．delivered
A．consider B．promise C．explain D．learn
A．memories B．blankets C．mysteries D．thunders
A．engaged B．interested C．successful D．skillful
Angela at the age of 11years old was badly ill and she was attacked by a rare disease influencing her nerve system(神经系统). She was unable to and her movement was limited (限制) in other ways as well．The doctors did not hold much of her recovering from this illness. They said she would the rest of her life in a wheelchair. They also said that few were able to come back to their level after suffering from this disease. However, the little girl was . There, lying in her hospital bed, she that she was going to be walking again someday.
Angela was moved to a(an) hospital in San Francisco, where she could get better after the illness．All the treatments(治疗)that could be used to her disease were . The doctors praised her, she never once thought of giving up. They taught her about seeing herself walking. If it would do else, it would at least give her hope and something optimistic(乐观的)in the long waking hours in her bed. Angela worked as hard as possible in physical treatment，and in exercise periods. Also she worked hard when she lay there, herself moving，moving, moving!
One day， she was trying，with all her determination, to imagine her legs moving again，it seemed as though something happened: the bed moved! it began to move around the room! She out, “Look what I'm doing! Look! Look! I can do it! I moved! I moved!”
Of course，at this very moment everyone else in the hospital was crying aloud and running for .Everything started to .People felt that the floor moved back and forth a bit like being on a boat on gentle waves(浪)．You see，it was the San Francisco earthquake．Angela didn’t know that．Instead，she felt that she did it.
And now only a few years later, she’s back in school, on her own . No wheelchair, no sticks to help her. You see, anyone who can shake the earth can a little disease, can’t they?
A．speak B．watch C．smell D．walk
A．breath B．hope C．position D．power
A．lose B．spend C．share D．bring
A．usual B．exact C．local D．low
A．careless B．fearless C．harmless D．selfless
A．introduced B．wondered C．dreamed D．requested
A．language B．experiment C．performance D．recovery
A．needed B．conquered C．guided D．viewed
A．or B．but C．though D．for
A．admitting B．imagining C．suggesting D．considering
A．nothing B．anything C．something D．everything
A．mirroring B．streaming C．picturing D．cornering
A．until B．after C．before D．while
A．annoying B．frightening C．disappointing D．surprising
A．cried B．pointed C．spoke D．read
A．distance B．order C．shelter D．space
A．shake B．escape C．return D．avoid
A．stupid B．certain C．sorry D．comfortable
A．hands B．eyes C．legs D．arms
A．develop B．treat C．catch D．beat
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
I was hard at work on a museum project when the client(客户) suddenly canceled it. In January, my __ told me I was no longer needed. I had just $1,000 in savings.
I one interview after searching the Internet for architecture jobs, but came of it. Finally, I took a job as a in a restaurant. I knew I’d have to find a place to live that less than the $500 a month I was paying.
I went to see a bedroom for rent. The landlord(房东) me $500 for it, but he said I could have it for $350 if he maintained control of the closet for storage, I told him later,“I don’t want the bedroom, I’m interested in the closet” I suggested that I pay $150 a month for it. He thought I was .
The closet measured just 5.5 feet 14 feet. With my experience, I was I could make it into a great living space. I it for three days. I measured old pieces of wood that people donated. It was like putting together a .
In March, I moved in. It was a legal rental. The landlord a door so I’d have access to a kitchen and bathroom, which I with three other tenants(租客). I had a mini-fridge, a microwave, and a storage bin for dry goods. I a loft(阁楼) for my bed, TV, and DVD player.
On my website, I’ve posted of my new home, and that’s some freelance(自由职业的) design work. A few more and I’ll be able to afford a new place. That’s definitely a(an) thing: My girlfriend, Susan, and I are engaged, and once we’re married next March, I’m sure I’ll leave my little closet .
But now I know that I don’t need much to live well.
A．teacher B．officer C．doctor D．boss
A．ordered B．acquired C．watched D．prepared
A．nothing B．something C．anything D．everything
A．worker B．player C．waiter D．student
A．cost B．earned C．saved D．spent
A．proved B．charged C．named D．called
A．and B．so C．or D．but
A．joking B．quarreling C．bargaining D．talking
A．to B．for C．by D．on
A．negative B．confident C．afraid D．curious
A．mended B．painted C．covered D．designed
A．secret B．problem C．puzzle D．game
A．cut out B．cut off C．cut up D．cut in
A．worked B．studied C．played D．shared
A．took B．made C．drew D．imagined
A．pictures B．desks C．windows D．books
A．brought out B．brought up C．brought in D．brought down
A．chances B．jobs C．items D．gifts
A．unique B．challenging C．genuine D．excellent
A．behind B．forward C．ahead D．upside
The other day I decided to come home early because it was such a beautiful day. The were outside playing in my apartment complex (公寓大楼) and the ice cream truck was whistling its tune. As I slowly to avoid an accident, I noticed a little boy at the ice cream truck. He didn’t get anything and he walked away with a look on his face. I asked the ice cream seller what happened and he said the little boy had no . I had no cash on me so I drove to my building and went upstairs to some cash. When I found it, the ice cream seller was waiting but the little boy had .
I went in the I thought he might have gone and I saw a getting out of her vehicle. I asked her if she had a little boy and she said yes. She then told me that she and her son had gone to the grocery store the day before and had ice cream but she did not have enough money to buy .
She quickly went into the to get her son, and when she several minutes later, I realized that he was not the little boy I had seen. This boy was a bit older and his sister came out with him. I took them both to the truck and let them out what they wanted.
I told the mom it was not the same boy I was talking about. I myself to the mother properly and my baby-sitting services free of charge if she ever needed them. 1 couldn't find the original boy but 1 hope he gets some ice cream soon.
A．cats B．kids C．dogs D．students
A．walked B．ran C．climbed D．drove
A．puzzled B．curious C．disappointed D．delighted
A．excuse B．money C．parents D．friends
A．still B．anxiously C．doubtfully D．nervously
A．left B．appeared C．cried D．escaped
A．station B．line C．sight D．direction
A．woman B．girl C．granny D．conductor
A．chosen B．ordered C．wanted D．eaten
A．it B．ones C．them D．those
A．house B．shop C．truck D．market
A．disappeared B．returned C．waited D．stayed
A．lost B．strange C．short D．same
A．look B．pick C．speak D．make
A．never B．seldom C．often D．ever
A．explained B．admitted C．devoted D．introduced
A．denied B．resigned C．offered D．operated
A．somewhere B．everywhere C．anywhere D．nowhere
阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
A group of frogs was traveling through the woods and two of them fell into a pit(坑). All the other frogs gathered around it and watched as the two frogs tried to jump out. The pit was very deep and it looked as if there was no way , so they started yelling at the two frogs to . "The pit is too deep. You will die," they said together. When the frogs kept trying, the crowd yelled . After a while, one of the frogs believed what the others were saying, and fell down and .
But , the second frog kept jumping hard the negative remarks of those that kept yelling at her to accept the and just die. Finally, with one big leap, she it out of the pit!
In fact, the second frog was and unable to hear what the others had been saying. She thought they had been her on the entire time they were yelling! What she had considered as encouragement her to try harder and succeed. And that made all the !
With a positive and being deaf to others' opinions, the second frog reached her goals by using such as encouragement, instead of being by others like the first frog, who failed to develop her to struggle for survival. , when we overcome others' criticism or comments, we can do anything we set our minds to, just as the second frog did.
A．away B．out C．on D．over
A．give up B．give out C．drop out D．drop in
A．lost B．missed C．trapped D．tired
A．higher B．louder C．clearer D．bigger
A．died B．stopped C．rested D．watched
A．obviously B．disappointingly C．undoubtedly D．amazingly
A．besides B．for C．despite D．except
A．problem B．life C．chance D．fate
A．made B．jumped C．took D．saved
A．dumb B．deaf C．lame D．blind
A．calling B．holding C．cheering D．pushing
A．mistakenly B．Brightly C．roughly D．perfectly
A．let B．attracted C．inspired D．kept
A．result B．difference C．achievement D．progress
A．expression B．Emotion C．soul D．attitude
A．possibility B．certainty C．cruelty D．negativity
A．influenced B．threatened C．suspected D．advised
A．energy B．spirit C．potential D．mood
A．However B．Thus C．Finally D．Actually
A．surprising B．annoying C．discouraging D．confusing
A young woman was driving alone through the country. It dark and raining. Suddenly she saw an old woman by the side of the road, holding her hand out as if she a lift.
“I can’t her out in this weather,” the woman said to herself , so she stopped the car and opened the door.
“Do you want a lift?” she asked, the old woman nodded and the car. After a while she said to the old woman, “Have you for a long time?” The old woman shook her head. “Strange,” the young woman. She tried again, “Bad weather for the time year,” she said. The old woman nodded. Although the driver tried some more , the lady said except for a nod of the or something else .
Then the young woman the lady’s hands. They were very large and with thick hair. Suddenly she knew the lady was a ! She stopped the car. “I can’t see that mirror ,” she said, “Would you mind cleaning it for me?” The lady nodded and opened the door.
As soon as the lady was the car, the woman drove off quickly. When she got to the next village, she . She found that the old lady had left a handbag behind. She picked it up and opened it . She gave out a deep breath. the bag was a gun!
A．was getting B．did C．was doing D．was coming
A．liked B．asked C．had D．needed
A．throw B．leave C．make D．let
A．took in B．get off C．climbed into D．went to
A．lain B．kept C．sat D．waited
A．thought B．said C．spoke D．talked
A．out B．off C．in D．of
A．nothing B．anything C．something D．everything
A．hand B．head C．face D．eye
A．searched B．knew C．saw D．looked
A．boy B．girl C．woman D．man
A．quickly B．clearly C．carefully D．slowly
A．on B．out of C．into D．in
A．feared B．slept C．stood D．stopped
A．On B．Out of C．Inside D．Outside