“All men are created equal” is one idea that nearly every American would agree upon. 36 they sometimes betray the idea in their daily lives, they have a deep faith 37 in some fundamental way no one is born superior to anyone else.
In the early years of American history, because titles of nobility(贵族) were forbidden, no 38 class system developed in the United States. Firmly believing that being born into a lower class would not 39 them from success and they would have a better chance in America, thousands of immigrants 40 to leave the European societies, where their 41 in life was determined 42 by the social class into which they were born. It was because the dreams of many of there immigrants were 43 in their new country, though there might be 44 in some situations, that Americans came to believe in equality of opportunity.
Americans do not mean that everyone should be 45 equal when they say they believe in equality of opportunity. 46 , they do mean that each person should have an equal chance for success. Abraham Lincoln once said, “We wish to 47 the humblest(最微贱的) man an equal chance to get rich with everybody else. When one starts poor, free society is 48 that he knows he can 49 his condition.”
However, competition is the price to be 50 for his equality of opportunity. Americans match their energy and intelligence against that of others in a competitive contest for success, because they believe competition 51 the best in any person. Indeed, the pressure of competition causes an American to be 52 , but it also places a constant emotional stress on him. In fact, in a society that gives so much 53 to those “winners”, 54 does not compete successfully for whatever reason never 55 into it as well as those who do.
A．Since B．As C．Although D．Because
A．what B．that C．as D．which
A．normal B．moral C．formal D．general
A．benefit B．prevent C．save D．limit
A．forced B．required C．chose D．looked forward
A．place B．meaning C．function D．purpose
A．slightly B．largely C．originally D．publicly
A．come true B．ruined C．succeeded D．realized
A．excitements B．expectations C．exceptions D．disappointments
A．really B．totally C．actually D．truly
A．Besides B．Meanwhile C．Moreover D．Instead
A．allow B．encourage C．approve D．share
A．so B．the one C．such D．as
A．enjoy B．better C．maintain D．stand
A．paid B．asked C．cared D．sought
A．gives out B．comes out C．brings out D．stands out
A．exhausted B．energetic C．realistic D．effective
A．honor B．pressure C．happiness D．burden
A．anyone B．who C．one D．whoever
A．enters B．fits C．falls D．matches
The day before Mother’s Day, Mrs. Berry asked her students to make a card for their mothers. She passed out paper and pieces of cloth.
Mary looked for a while at the blue cloth and began to cut it. Then she her paper in half and began writing. When Mary finally looked at the message the teacher gave on the paper, she noticed something else. She felt her grow hot---she hadn’t heard that anyone who didn’t have a mother could make one for a grandmother or an aunt.
As her teacher to her, Mary tried covering her card with her arm, but Mrs. Berry gently lifted it so that she could it. Mary sat , waiting for her to say something, but she saw a roll down Mrs. Berry’s face. She had never made Mrs. Berry so .
When school was over, Mary until all the other kids left so that she could apologize . “I’m sorry for not listening. I’ll make another card you want. I’ll do it at home and it tomorrow.”
“ are you talking about?” asked Mrs. Berry.
“My Mother’s Day card. I know you’re sad because I didn’t do it .”
“Mary, that was the card in the whole class. It was so that it made me cry. ”
Mary was so that she ran out of the classroom.
When her father came home from work that night, Mary to give him the card early .
On the front of the card was a of Mary’s father, with a blue piece of cloth cut like his hair. Inside the card she had written:
Dear Dad,
I know you work really hard to be both a and a father. I want to thank you and you a Happy Mother’s Day!
Love
Mary
When her dad read the card he started , just like Mrs Berry did.
A．cut B．took C．folded D．spread
A．heart B．hands C．face D．body
A．ran B．jumped C．walked D．did
A．catch B．leave C．read D．place
A．still B．alone C．up D．down
A．tear B．hair C．smile D．spot
A．happy B．upset C．satisfied D．glad
A．waited B．worked C．stood D．sat
A．because B．until C．unless D．if
A．take B．hold C．bring D．catch
A．Who B．That C．What D．Which
A．right B．quickly C．wrong D．carefully
A．worst B．best C．favorite D．simplest
A．sweet B．wild C．useful D．hard
A．regretful B．happy C．brave D．rude
A．seemed B．refused C．decided D．promised
A．recording B．drawing C．discovery D．writing
A．teacher B．sister C．aunt D．mommy
A．hope B．wish C．want D．congratulate
A．crying B．joking C．worrying D．laughing
One Saturday, I got a phone call about electrical problems.Since I am not an electrician, I quickly that the woman on the line had the wrong number.The woman on the phone sounded extremely as her electricity wasn’t working. Her tried to replace a wall switch(开关), but now some of their lights wouldn’t be on, and the heat had .
The woman thought she was an electrician who had done work for her in the past.I had just recently changed my and she got me instead.I’m not an electrician but I do work with .
I her that she had the wrong number, and I didn’t know what her old electrician changed his number to.She , and we said goodbye.After I hung up the phone I thought I could help her so I dialed back and found out she was just one town over.
When I got to her house, I told her I would help her, but I would not any money.This confused(使迷惑)her and she asked I would bother if I wasn’t getting paid. I told her it was an act of and to “pay it forward”. The couple, who were both retired, seemed and said they had never met anyone like me.
Her husband had fixed the switch which was causing a short(短路).After I was done, they thanked me and tried to give me some . I told them I wouldn’t accept anything, and that the best would be to find someone else to help out. I said that if they can’t find someone else to repay then just be extra nice to each other. They were both unbelievably happy that I to solve their electrical problems quickly, but I think I was even at the opportunity to help them.
A．noticed B．imagined C．believed D．realized
A．anxious B．excited C．nervous D．curious
A．son B．husband C．brother D．father
A．shown off B．paid off C．shut off D．taken off
A．introducing B．calling C．expecting D．searching
A．mind B．address C．cellphone D．number
A．organization B．electricity C．education D．construction
A．encouraged B．blamed C．taught D．told
A．apologized B．laughed C．shouted D．nodded
A．maybe B．anyway C．otherwise D．indeed
A．provide B．receive C．offer D．accept
A．when B．whether C．why D．how
A．honesty B．kindness C．courage D．friendship
A．encouraged B．delighted C．interested D．surprised
A．wrong B．necessary C．proper D．valuable
A．candy B．praise C．money D．gift
A．decision B．requirement C．reply D．payment
A．also B．ever C．just D．even
A．decided B．succeeded C．managed D．promised
A．better B．happier C．easier D．stronger
Wallet Back
This is a story about a learning experience that had a big effect on the way I live my life．The ______in the story did not give me tests or even grade me on my work．I was taught by one of the most effective______ of teaching，one that only people with lots of love can do．
“My wallet! Where is it?” were my first words______I found my wallet was missing．I ______ my memory for a few good seconds, then realized that I had left my precious wallet in the library’s public ______ ! Because the library was now ______, I had to wait until the next morning to look for it．When I got there the next day, all I found was a clean restroom．This was the first time I could remember ever______to see a clean restroom．As I walked out，I looked at myself in the mirror and shook my head at the ______ fool in front of me．
I politely ______ the librarian at the front desk and asked her if a wallet had been found in the restroom yesterday．“No．”That was that．I walked off with a sense of ______．
I ______what I would do if I had found a wallet with sixty dollars，a phone card and other irreplaceable ______things．Finally，I ______ accepted the fact that my wallet was gone．
A week later，I received a ______ in the mail．It was my wallet! And most ______，nothing was missing! But there was a letter folded up in one of the wallet pocket that had not been there before．I slowly unfolded the letter，which ______something like this:
When we continue to help people around，we will live in a larger and more rewarding world．
This person didn’t even leave a return address．So I couldn’t ______ whoever it was．But from that day on，I ______ myself that l will follow this ______ and help others and make them as ______as I was when I opened that parcel!
While attending a conference, I returned to my hotel room late one evening. The overhead light outside my door was burned out and I had finding the keyhole. When I to open the door, I around the wall for a light switch. I found a plate where a switch was installed... but no switch!
Not discouraged easily, I remembered a lamp by the bed when I deposited my luggage in the day. I found the bed in the and then the lamp, but when I switched it on, nothing ! I thought that perhaps if I opened the curtains I might be able to use whatever light comes in from the to find another lamp. So I my way slowly across the room to the curtains and... no drawstring（拉绳）! I finally stumbled（跌跌撞撞地走）around I found a desk lamp which actually !
That evening I discovered in a whole new way just how dark the world be and how necessary light is! But even more necessary than light is the light that shines from people --the light of and faith. Because, for many people, the world is a dark and place. For someone today just may be stumbling in discouragement or sadness or fear and in of some light. So let your light shine. Whatever light you may be a beacon（灯塔） of hope and encouragement. And if you feel that your light is a candle in a forest remember -- there isn’t enough darkness in all the world to the light of one small candle.
A．confidence B．respect C．admiration D．difficulty
A．managed B．failed C．wished D．meant
A．touched B．felt C．sensed D．looked
A．already B．never C．still D．once
A．equipping B．producing C．noticing D．removing
A．later B．earlier C．lower D．upper
A．light B．dark C．room D．corner
A．happened B．operated C．fired D．developed
A．machine B．street C．room D．car
A．wound B．forced C．made D．lost
A．after B．until C．while D．since
A．helped B．affected C．worked D．inspired
A．can B．shall C．will D．must
A．mental B．psychological C．electrical D．physical
A．existence B．love C．truth D．wisdom
A．lonely B．colorful C．friendly D．complex
A．short B．favor C．face D．need
A．make B．offer C．take D．contribute
A．not more than B．other than C．no more than D．rather than
A．putout B．giveout C．getover D．setup
There was once a group of young people searching everywhere for happiness but what they got was only annoyance, grief and misery.
So they Socrates for advice on where happiness . But giving any answers, Socrates asked them to help with building a first. The group of guys had to the task, laying aside their own business of seeking happiness. It took them a long time to cut down a tall tree, gouging out (挖空) the center. Through painstaking effort, they made a canoe out of the tree. They launched the canoe into a river, and then together in it, singing with .
Socrates asked, “My children, do you have happiness now?” They answered in chorus: “We be happier!” Socrates , “That’s it! you are too busy pursuing something to notice anything bitter, happiness will occur.”
From the story I got to know that happiness hides behind every tiny thing that you are involved in, and that you may only get pleasure through work and creativity.
We may have to pain in our daily life and in the process of happiness. Sometimes we tend to look for happiness in things, like a new car, clothes, etc. True long term happiness, however, comes from within our and spirit. So why not turn suffering into life, and tears into the light in your heart? Only in this way can we make it through and find true happiness.
So my dear friends, just remember happiness is a state of mind and a matter of , and I you all a life of happiness.
A．led to B．stuck to C．belonged to D．turned to
A．hold B．lay C．stood D．laid
A．apart from B．other than C．instead of D．in case of
A．boat B．room C．bridge D．hospital
A．set down B．set about C．set out D．set up
A．run B．stood C．rowed D．made
A．sadness B．joy C．appointment D．hope
A．mustn’t B．shouldn’t C．needn’t D．couldn’t
A．explained B．said C．announced D．added
A．Unless B．Whenever C．Until D．However
A．never B．always C．ever D．seldom
A．careful B．limit C．hard D．effective
A．experience B．escape C．appreciate D．delay
A．seeking B．searching C．creating D．improving
A．spiritual B．good C．fresh D．material
A．body B．brain C．soul D．heart
A．blaming B．praising C．criticizing D．accusing
A．turn B．put C．divide D．draw
A．time B．energy C．fact D．choice
A．promise B．wish C．take D．demand