In the dining room of my grandfather’s house stood a massive grandfather clock. Meals in that dining room were a time for three 36 to become one. The table was always spread with 37 containing love as the main ingredient (成分). And that grandfather clock stood like an old family friend, watching over the 38 that was a part of our lives.
As a child, the old clock fascinated me. I 39 and listened to it during meals. Even more wonderful to me was my grandfather’s ritual (老习惯). He wound (上发条) that clock with a(n) 40 key carefully each day. I remember watching 41 my grandfather took the key from his pocket and opened the hidden door in the clock. He inserted the key and wound — not too much, nor too 42 . He never let that clock wind down and 43 . He showed us grandchildren how to open the door and let us each take 44 winding the key.
After my grandfather died, it was days after the funeral 45 I remembered the clock! The tears 46 freely when I entered the dining room. The clock stood there quiet.
Some time later, my grandmother gave me the key. The old house was 47 . No laughter over the dinner table, no ticking or chiming of the 48 — all was still. I took the key in my shaking hand and 49 the clock door. All of a sudden, I was a 50 again, watching my grandfather with his silver-white hair and blue eyes. He was there, 51 at me, at the secret of the clock's magic, at the key that held so much power.
I stood there, 52 in thought for a long time. Then slowly and 53 I inserted the key and wound the clock. It sprang to life. Tick-tock, tick-tock, life and chimes were breathed into the dining room, into the house and into my 54 . With the movement of the hands of the clock, my grandfather 55 again.
A．persons B．generations C．families D．stages
A．water B．soup C．rice D．food
A．embarrassment B．sorrow C．laughter D．depression
A．sang B．laughed C．ate D．watched
A．big B．special C．black D．ugly
A．since B．unless C．as D．until
A．little B．fast C．high D．hard
A．talk B．run C．break D．stop
A．turns B．trouble C．pains D．action
A．once B．when C．before D．that
A．exposed B．flowed C．expressed D．spread
A．cold B．different C．quiet D．full
A．table B．house C．door D．clock
A．locked B．opened C．turned D．closed
A．man B．father C．child D．god
A．winking B．shouting C．glaring D．glancing
A．lost B．lived C．missed D．interrupted
A．nervously B．excitedly C．steadily D．carefully
A．account B．heart C．anxiety D．pocket
A．died B．disappeared C．lived D．smiled
I used to be a very self-centered person, but in the past two years I have really changed. I have started to think about other people__36__I think about myself. I am happy that I am becoming a__37__person.
I think my __38__started when I was at Palomar College. At first, I just wanted to get my__39__and be left alone. I thought I was smarter than everyone else, so I hardly ever__40__ to anyone in my classes. By the end of my first semester, I was really__41__. It seemed as if everyone but me had made friends and was having fun. So tried a(n) __42__. I started asking people around me how they were doing, and if they were having trouble I__43__ to help. That was really a big__44__for me. By the end of the year, I had several new friends, and two of__45__are still my best friends today.
A bigger cause of my new__46__, however, came when I took a part-time job at a Vista Nursing Home. One old lady there who had Alzheimer’s disease became my__47__ . Every time I came into her room, she was so __48__ because she thought I was her daughter. Her real daughter never__49__her, so I took her place. She let me __50__that making others feel good made me feel good, too. When she died, I was__51__, but I was very grateful to her.
I think I am a much__52__ person today than I used to be, and I hope I will not__53__ these experiences. They have __54__ me to care about other people more than about myself. I __55__who I am today, and I could not say that a few years ago.
A．since B．before C．or D．unless
A．famous B．simple C．different D．skilled
A．education B．career C．tour D．change
A．balance B．homework C．degree D．interest
A．talked B．wrote C．lied D．reported
A．careful B．lonely C．curious D．guilty
A．argument B．game C．experiment D．defence
A．dared B．offered C．hesitated D．happened
A．dream B．problem C．duty D．step
A．us B．which C．them D．whom
A．attitude B．hobby C．hope D．luck
A．friend B．partner C．guide D．guest
A．polite B．happy C．strange D．confident
A．bothered B．answered C．visited D．trusted
A．explain B．guess C．declare D．see
A．homeless B．heartbroken C．bad-tempered D．hopeless
A．quieter B．busier C．better D．richer
A．forget B．face C．improve D．analyze
A．forced B．preferred C．ordered D．taught
A．miss B．like C．wonder D．expect
If you want to learn a new language, the very first thing to think about is why. Do you need it for a ___36___reason, such as your job or your studies?___37____ perhaps you’re interested in the ___38____ , films or music of a different country and you know how much it will help to have a ___39____ of the language.
Most people learn best using a variety of ___40____, but traditional classes are an ideal（理想的）start for many people. They___41__an environment where you can practice under the __42___ of someone who’s good at the language. We all lead ___43___ lives and learning a language takes __44___. You will have more success if you study regularly, so try to develop a ___45___. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t got long. Becoming fluent in a language will take years, but learning to get by takes __46__.
Many people start learning a language and soon give up. “I’m too __47___, ” they say. Yes, children do learn languages more __48___ than adults, but research has shown that you can learn a language at any ___49___. And learning is good for the health of your brain, too. I’ve also heard people ___50___ about the mistakes they make when ___51___. Well, relax and laugh about your mistakes __52____ you’re much less likely to make them again.
Learning a new language is never ___53___. But with some work and devotion, you’ll make progress. And you’ll be __54___ by the positive reaction of some people when you say just a few words in ___55___ own language. Good luck!
A．technical B．political C．practical D．physical
A．After B．So C．Though D．Or
A．literature B．transport C．agriculture D．medicine
A．view B．knowledge C．form D．database
A．paintings B．regulations C．methods D．computers
A．protect B．change C．respect D．provide
A．control B．command C．guidance D．pressure
A．busy B．happy C．simple D．normal
A．courage B．time C．energy D．place
A．theory B．business C．routine D．project
A．some risks B．a lot less C．some notes D．a lot more
A．old B．nervous C．weak D．tired
A．closely B．quickly C．privately D．quietly
A．age B．speed C．distance D．school
A．worry B．hesitate C．think D．quarrel
A．singing B．working C．bargaining D．learning
A．if B．and C．but D．before
A．tiresome B．hard C．interesting D．easy
A．blamed B．amazed C．interrupted D．informed
A．their B．his C．our D．your
A Leap（跳跃）to Honor
Leaping on a narrow balance beam（平衡木） is not easy. But Lola Walter, a 13-year-old gymnast, is an expert at it.
To perfect her skills, Lola 36 for four hours a day, five days a week. At the state championships in March, she finished seventh out of 16 girls.
That’s especially impressive, 37 she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift constantly. She often sees double and can’t _38 how far away things are.
When she was little, her mom39 that even though she couldn’t see 40 , she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the 41 right away and gymnastics became her favorite.
Though learning gymnastics has been more 42 for her than for some of her tournaments, she has never quit. She doesn’t let her _43 stop her from doing anything that she wants to.
She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest 44_ is the balance beam. Because she has double vision, she often sees two beams. She must use her sense of touch to help her during her routine. Sometimes she even closes her eyes. “You have to 45_ your mind that it’ll take you where you want to go,” says Lola.
To be a top-level gymnast, one must be brave. The beam is probably the most46 for anyone because it’s four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t fall 47 the beam. In fact, she got an 8.1 out of 10---- her highest score yet.
Lola doesn’t want to be 48 differently from the other girls on her team. At the competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision _49 _. She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her _50 attitude.
Lola never thinks about 51__. She is presently at level 7 while the highest is level 10 in gymnastics. Her52 is to reach level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to pass down what she’s learned to other kids53 she grew up.
Lola is 54 of all her hard work and success. She says it’s helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics, too. Her 55 for others is “just believe yourself”.
A．runs B．teaches C．trains D．dances
A．since B．unless C．after D．though
A．tell B．guess C．assume D．predict
A．suspected B．remembered C．imagined D．noticed
A．deeply B．well C．ahead D．closely
A．task B．sport C．event D．show
A．boring B．enjoyable C．difficult D．unsatisfactory
A．talent B．quality C．nature D．condition
A．doubt B．advantage C．challenge D．program
A．examine B．express C．open D．trust
A．fearful B．harmful C．unfair D．inconvenient
A．to B．on C．off D．against
A．greeted B．treated C．served D．paid
A．pains B．stresses C．injuries D．problems
A．positive B．friendly C．flexible D．caution
A．defending B．quitting C．winning D．bargaining
A．standard B．range C．view D．goal
A．until B．as C．when D．before
A．proud B．tired C．ashamed D．confident
A．plan B．advice C．reward D．Responsibility
Michael GreenBerg is a very popular New Yorker. He is not famous in sports or the arts, But people in the streets 36 him, especially those who are 37 .
For those people, he is "Gloves" GreenBerg. How did he get that 38 ?
He looks like any otner Businessman, wearing a suit and carrying a Briefcase (公文箱). But he's 39 _. His Briefcase always has some gloves。
In winter,Mr.GreenBerg does not 40 like other New Yorkers,who look at the sidewalk and 41 the street.He looks around at 42 .He stops when he 43 someone with no gloves.He gives them a pair and then he 44 ,looking for more people with cold 45 .
On winter days,Mr.GreenBerg 46 gloves.During the rest of the year,he 47 gloves.People who have heard aBout him 48 him gloves,and he has many in his apartment.
Mr. GreenBerg 49 doing this 21 years ago. Now, many poor New Yorkers know him and 50 his Behavior. But people who don't know him are sometimes 51 him. They don't realize that he just wants to make them 52 .
It runs in the 53 .Michael's father always helped the poor as he Believed it made everyone happier. Michael GreenBerg feels the 54 .A pair of gloves may Be a 55 thing,But it can make a Big difference in winter.
A．know aBout B．learn from C．cheer for D．look after
A．old B．Busy C．kind D．poor
A．ioB B．name C．chance D．message
A．calm B．different C．crazy D．curious
A．act B．sound C．feel D．dress
A．cross over B．drive along C．hurry down D．keep off
A．cars B．people C．street numBers D．traffic lights
A．helps B．chooses C．greets D．sees
A．holds up B．hangs out C．moves on D．turns around
A．hands B．ears C．faces D．eyes
A．searches for B．stores up C．gives away D．puts on
A．Borrows B．sells C．returns D．Buys
A．call B．send C．lend D．show
A．delayed B．rememBered C．Began D．enjoyed
A．understand B．dislike C．study D．excuse
A．sorry for B．satisfied with C．proud of D．surprised By
A．smart B．rich C．special D．happy
A．city B．family C．neighBorhood D．company
A．honor B．pain C．same D．cold
A．small B．useful C．delightful D．comforting
As a saying goes, when life gives you lemons, then make lemonade. But how is delicious lemonade made from sour lemons?
Singer-actor Yu Haoming knows how. He’s 36__ difficulties by returning to the stage. After a 37___ left him scarred, the 25-year-old man 38___ for the first time on Hunan TV’s New Year Concert on Dec. 31, 2012.
His comeback captured (吸引) audiences’ 39___. They went to his Weibo page and left messages such as, “You’ve taught me what toughness means.” and “I’m 40___ of your courage. You moved me to tears by taking off your mask and 41___ onward in confidence. ”
Only Yu himself knew how 42 __it was to stand on his feet again after disaster 43 __When his career as a handsome Super Boy singer and 44 actor took off, Yu got seriously burnt. He was hurt in 2010 when an explosive scene in the TV drama I Have a Date With Spring went wrong 45__ His wounds became worse because of delayed 46___ .
The bums were far more than just wounds and pain for Yu. “You can’t 47___ what kind of sufferings he’s been through and how hard he’s been working to get well，” said his father on the singer’s blog.
His recovery has been long and difficult. Some people might have 48 __during such a process, but Yu has 49 _ not to. He says he still has his dreams.
__ 50 medicine, checkups and therapy (治疗）exercises, he plays the piano a bit every day, reads books about acting and learns English.
The idiom, “ 51__ bitten, twice shy”，doesn’t really apply to him. In August he restarted to film his 52__ in the drama，although he admitted that fears still haunted (萦绕) him sometimes.
“Why should I let the experience stop me going after my 53___ ?” he told the Southern Metropolis Entertainment Weekly in early December.
How did Yu make lemonade? “Life gave me the 54___ gift, and I’ve just got to get on with it and turn difficulties into 55 , ’’ he told the magazine.
A．won B．overcome C．realized D．left
A．mistake B．blow C．fire D．scene
A．sang B．showed C．practiced D．tried
A．praises B．thoughts C．messages D．hearts
A．aware B．afraid C．proud D．short
A．walking B．marching C．living D．touring
A．terrible B．strong C．harmful D．hard
A．beat B．crashed C．struggled D．struck
A．promising B．confident C．simple D．reliable
A．unexpectedly B．fiercely C．completely D．surprisingly
A．protection B．examination C．treatment D．performance
A．feel B．imagine C．understand D．believe
A．broken down B．given away C．pulled through D．died away
A．hoped B．managed C．intended D．decided
A．Instead of B．Except for C．Apart from D．Regardless of
A．Unless B．Until C．While D．Once
A．part B．appearance C．play D．talent
A．happiness B．careers C．dreams D．success
A．meaningful B．unusual C．valuable D．rewarding
A．abilities B．realities C．actions D．opportunities