I grew up poor — living with six brothers, three sisters and my mother. We had little money, but plenty of love and 36 . I was happy and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still 37 a dream.
My dream was 38 . By the time I was sixteen, I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour baseball and 39 anything that moved on the field. I was also 40 : my high school coach was John, who not only 41 me, but also taught me how to believe in myself. He 42 me the difference between having a dream and showing conviction (信念). One particular incident with coach John changed my life forever.
A friend 43 me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket — money for a new bike, new clothes and the 44 of savings for a house for my mother. Then I realized I would have to 45 up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell John I wouldn’t be playing.
When I told John, he was as 46 as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” he said, “Your 47 days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.” I stood before him with my head 48 , trying to think of the words that would 49 to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his 50 in me.
“Well,” he asked, “is $3.5 an hour the 51 of a dream?”
That simple question made 52 to me the difference between 53 something right now and having a goal. I devoted myself in sports that summer and 54 the year I was chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and 55 a $ 20,000 contract（合同）. Later, I bought my mother the house of my dream!
A．attention B．time C．patience D．fashion
A．bring B．continue C．make D．afford
A．athletics B．music C．business D．money
A．kick B．play C．hit D．pass
A．right B．popular C．lucky D．confident
A．believed in B．relied on C．called on D．dealt with
A．gave B．taught C．brought D．asked
A．called B．advised C．applied D．recommended
A．aim B．idea C．start D．purpose
A．keep B．end C．give D．pick
A．happy B．mad C．frightened D．excited
A．living B．working C．playing D．dreaming
A．moving B．hanging C．shaking D．nodding
A．express B．announce C．apologise D．explain
A．belief B．pride C．fear D．disappointment
A．length B．price C．power D．spirit
A．clear B．direct C．straight D．attractive
A．wanting B．changing C．dreaming D．enjoying
A．by B．for C．beyond D．within
A．paid B．found C．offered D．presented
Elizabeth Clay decided to go home and spend the holiday with her parents. The next day she drove her old car home along the road. 36 she found she got a flat tire（轮胎）. The 22-year-old student 37 to stop her car by the side of the road in the winter night and opened the trunk. No spare tire.
At this time, a car 38 . Paul and Diane told Clay to 39 them to a service station near their 40 . They arrived to see that it had no suitable tires to 41 with her car. “Follow us home,” said Paul.
The couple called around to find a tire. No 42 . They decided to let her use their own car. “Here,” Paul said, handing Clay a set of keys, “Take our car. We won’t be using it over the holiday.”
Clay was 43 . “But I’m going all the way to South Carolina, and I’ll be gone for two weeks.” she 44 them.
“We know,” Paul said. “We’ll be 45 when you get back. Here’s our number if you need to 46 us.”
Unable to believe her eyes, Clay watched as the 47 put her luggage into their car and then sent her off. Two weeks later she 48 to find her old car cleaned inside and out with three new tires and the radio 49 .
“Thank you so much,” she said. “How much do I owe you?” “Oh, no,” Paul said, “we don’t want any money. It’s our 50 .” Clay realized that while it might have been their pleasure, it was now her duty to pass on their “do unto others” spirit.
A．Suddenly B．Finally C．Immediately D．Fortunately
A．liked B．wanted C．allowed D．managed
A．passed B．stopped C．went D．started
A．help B．push C．take D．follow
A．garage B．house C．shop D．hotel
A．agree B．come C．go D．deal
A．problem B．message C．success D．luck
A．interested B．worried C．suprised D．sad
A．persuaded B．advised C．reminded D．promised
A．happy B．here C．away D．busy
A．get in touch with B．keep in touch with C．be in touch with D．put in touch with
A．repairmen B．cleaners C．friends D．couple
A．shocked B．happened C．returned D．came
A．done B．repaired C．tied D．rebuilt
A．wish B．job C．duty D．pleasure
At the beginning of this century, medical scientists made an interesting discovery; we are built not just of flesh and blood but also of time. They were able to show that we all have "a body clock" 36 us, which controls the rise and fall of our body energies, 37 us different from one day to the next.
The idea of "a body clock" should not be too 38 since the lives of most living things are controlled by the 24 hour night-and-day cycle. We feel 39 and fall asleep at night and become 40 and energetic during the day. If the 24 hour-cycle is disturbed, most people experience unpleasant 41 . For example, people who are not 42 to working at night can find that 43 of sleep causes them to 44 badly at work. 45 the daily cycle of sleeping and waking, we also have other cycles which last longer than one day. Most of us would 46 that we feel good on some days and not so good on others ; sometimes our ideas seem to flow and at other times, they 47 do not exist.
A．inside B．around C．between D．on
A．showing B．treating C．making D．changing
A．difficult B．exciting C．surprising D．interesting
A．dull B．tired C．dreamy D．peaceful
A．regular B．excited C．lively D．clear
A．moments B．feelings C．senses D．effects
A．prevented B．allowed C．expected D．used
A．miss B．none C．lack D．need
A．perform B．show C．manage D．control
A．With B．As well as C．Except D．Rather than
A．agree B．believe C．realize D．allow
A．just B．only C．still D．yet
I truly hope that at the end of this short essay(短文) you will know how to learn English.
I was born in Somalia, and Italian is my mother tongue. 31 enough, soon after I arrived in London when I was 17, I was admitted to a sixth-form college. I found caring (体贴的) teachers there, who 32 taught me English. This, I think, was a(n) 33 factor(因素) that encouraged me to learn the language. The most important thing, 34, is to work hard. So those of you who don’t have such good teachers should not 35. When I was in London, I 36 myself to English learning as I 37 to go to university very much. Mastering the language was the only 38 to achieve my goal.
Now I have 39 my master’s degree from Oxford University. Looking back, I 40 I was quite innocent (天真的),for I never imagined learning English was going to be so much 41. The more fluent I become, the 42 the language became. One can master it only 43 years of tireless efforts(努力).
Some basic 44 which I would give to people who are interested in learning the language are:
1. Buy a good dictionary. 45 English learners use their dictionaries all the time.
2.46 English newspapers. Don’t forget to 47 the new words in your dictionary.
3. Listen to the radio 48 watching TV as listening to the radio helps you more.
4. Talk, talk and talk to 49 at anytime and anywhere.
And even though at times it may be embarrassing(尴尬的) to make 50，you will finally correct them and remember them. Soon you will start to become fluent.
A．Luckily B．Strangely C．Badly D．Honestly
A．excitedly B．unhappily C．patiently D．hurriedly
A．old B．important C．new D．wise
A．for example B．however C．therefore D．what’s more
A．fall behind B．show up C．go away D．lose heart
A．devoted B．introduced C．compared D．limited
A．refused B．pretended C．wanted D．entertained
A．reason B．problem C．advice D．way
A．missed B．completed C．shown D．learned
A．realize B．hope C．doubt D．lie
A．fear B．fun C．money D．work
A．smaller B．stranger C．harder D．nicer
A．before B．beside C．through D．without
A．tips B．aims C．things D．choices
A．Careless B．Funny C．Busy D．Successful
A．Remember B．Read C．Sell D．Create
A．replace B．combine C．look D．check
A．such as B．because of C．instead of D．as a result of
A．anyone B．nobody C．something D．anything
A．troubles B．mistakes C．jokes D．friends
I have spent years of my life traveling all over the world. When I arrive in a new country or city, usually I am very 36 and go to bed early. For this 37 my first day or night in any new place is always quiet and very 38 happens. 39 my first night in Algeciras was very different. This night was very40 and unusual.
At that time 41 in Southern Spain was a dirty and42 looked-after city. I arrived late in the evening by 43 . As soon as I got off the boat, I went to look for a 44 . I found a small hotel not far from the boat.
This hotel looked 45 and untidy from the outside. But I was very tired and did not know my 46 around the city of Algeciras. And so I decided to stay in this 47 hotel on the quay(码头). I also decided to stay in this hotel for another 48 . The moon was full and it was a clear, 49 night. From the hotel I could 50 the sea. I could see the huge rock of Gibraltar in the bright moonlight.
The hotel had a narrow 51 and no name. When I went through this doorway, I had to climb up narrow and dark stairs to the first floor. I 52 a small cupboard with a desk in front of it. This was the hotel office.
An untidy and tired woman was sitting beside the 53 . When I said I wanted a room for the night, she took me 54 some more stairs to a room on the second floor. Inside this room the landlord was sitting playing cards with some friends. He was 55 his game of cards and I was simply a nuisance(讨厌的人). He looked at me when the woman told him that I wanted a room. Then he said, Room Five, and turned back to his game of cards.
A．frightened B．excited C．tired D．satisfied
A．choice B．reason C．aim D．journey
A．much B．little C．few D．many
A．So B．Because C．And D．But
A．ordinary B．common C．forgetful D．strange
A．Gibraltar B．Algeciras C．Madrid D．New Delhi
A．badly B．well C．wrongly D．good
A．bus B．boat C．plane D．train
A．guide B．driver C．hotel D．dinner
A．clean B．dirty C．beautiful D．interesting
A．friend B．address C．charge D．way
A．small B．large C．expensive D．funny-looking
A．reason B．person C．memory D．sight-seeing
A．dark B．cloudy C．bright D．sunny
A．look down at B．praise C．study D．forget
A．bedroom B．doorway C．stairs D．bulletin-board
A．came to B．picked up C．painted D．escaped from
A．cupboard B．office C．desk D．doorway
A．over B．down C．up D．under
A．tired of B．enjoying C．throwing D．buying
I have spent years of my life traveling all over the world. When I arrive in a new country or city, usually I am very 36 and go to bed early. For this 37 my first day or night in any new place is always quiet and very 38 happens. 39 my first night in Algeciras was very different. This night was very40 and unusual.
At that time 41 in Southern Spain was a dirty and42 looked-after city. I arrived late in the evening by 43 . As soon as I got off the boat, I went to look for a 44 . I found a small hotel not far from the boat.
This hotel looked 45 and untidy from the outside. But I was very tired and did not know my 46 around the city of Algeciras. And so I decided to stay in this 47 hotel on the quay(码头). I also decided to stay in this hotel for another 48 . The moon was full and it was a clear, 49 night. From the hotel I could 50 the sea. I could see the huge rock of Gibraltar in the bright moonlight.
The hotel had a narrow 51 and no name. When I went through this doorway, I had to climb up narrow and dark stairs to the first floor. I 52 a small cupboard with a desk in front of it. This was the hotel office.
An untidy and tired woman was sitting beside the 53 . When I said I wanted a room for the night, she took me 54 some more stairs to a room on the second floor. Inside this room the landlord was sitting playing cards with some friends. He was 55 his game of cards and I was simply a nuisance(讨厌的人). He looked at me when the woman told him that I wanted a room. Then he said, Room Five, and turned back to his game of cards.
A．frightened B．excited C．tired D．satisfied
A．choice B．reason C．aim D．journey
A．much B．little C．few D．many
A．So B．Because C．And D．But
A．ordinary B．common C．forgetful D．strange
A．Gibraltar B．Algeciras C．Madrid D．New Delhi
A．badly B．well C．wrongly D．good
A．bus B．boat C．plane D．train
A．guide B．driver C．hotel D．dinner
A．clean B．dirty C．beautiful D．interesting
A．friend B．address C．charge D．way
A．small B．large C．expensive D．funny-looking
A．reason B．person C．memory D．sight-seeing
A．dark B．cloudy C．bright D．sunny
A．look down at B．praise C．study D．forget
A．bedroom B．doorway C．stairs D．bulletin-board
A．came to B．picked up C．painted D．escaped from
A．cupboard B．office C．desk D．doorway
A．over B．down C．up D．under
A．tired of B．enjoying C．throwing D．buying