Although in 1947 we were still very new to the atomic age, we knew about mushroom clouds. A huge crack (裂缝) spread across the library wall upstairs, sending teachers and __31__ screaming down the hall.
Had a new world war started? Palefaced, our young science teacher quickly__32__us for a fire drill. We huddled (卷缩) in little groups on the beach side of the school grounds and__33__the spreading cloud darken the bright spring sky.
Rumors flew every which way，__34__two hours would pass before we got the full story. One rumor we heard was that the Texas City Monsanto Chemical plant had__35__； children whose parents__36__there began to cry.
I__37__—that was where my father was working that day.
The school bell called us back inside, and we were dismissed (解散) to__38__our way home the best way we could. I'd walked a quarter of the threemile trip to my home__39__a car horn frightened me to__40__. My Uncle Barney__41__alongside me in his old Ford. The instant I saw him, I knew my father__42__. Otherwise, Papa would have__43__for me himself.
As if in slow motion from a great distance, Uncle Barney motioned for me to__44__. Numb with grief, I crawled into the back__45__. I barely took notice of the man sitting there, and didn't recognize him until he__46__me. When Papa put his strong arms around me, I forgot for a moment that Cherokees aren't supposed to__47__.
Many of my fellow students lost their__48__in the explosion. Tragedy would one day come to our__49__， as it inevitably (不可避免地) comes to all, but one day Texas City blew up, it miraculously (奇迹般地) passed us by. Because he lost his keys on that April morning, as he explained, my father lived for__50__32 years—we were to have a second lifetime forever.
A．headmaster B．students C．workers D．books
A．organized B．ordered C．made D．asked
A．heard B．smelled C．watched D．felt
A．when B．as C．as if D．although
A．blown up B．been closed C．been opened D．been on fire
A．lived B．worked C．studied D．visited
A．smiled B．frightened C．froze D．worried
A．make B．feel C．push D．find
A．when B．while C．as D．for
A．decision B．attention C．feeling D．expression
A．pulled up B．pulled out C．pulled in D．pulled off
A．was there B．was here C．was gone D．was alone
A．gone B．come C．left D．stopped
A．get off B．get over C．get through D．get in
A．seat B．chair C．stool D．bag
A．looked at B．helped C．reached for D．called on
A．cry B．laugh C．excite D．shout
A．teachers B．relatives C．friends D．parents
A．class B．family C．school D．house
A．other B．others C．another D．the other
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 21 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, she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift（移动） constantly. She often sees double and can’t how far away things are.
When she was little, her mom that even though she couldn’t see , she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the right away and gymnastics became her favorite.
Though learning gymnastics has been more for her than for some of her teammates, she has never quit. She doesn’t let her stop her from doing anything that she wants to.
She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest 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 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 most for anyone because it’s four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t fal the beam. In fact, she got an 8.1 out of 10—her highest score yet.
Lola doesn’t want to be differently from the other girls on her team. At competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision . She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her attitude.
Lola never thinks about . She is presently at level 7 while the highest is level 10 in gymnastics. Her is to reach level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to pass down what she’s learned to other kids she grows up.
Lola is of all her hard work and success. She says it’s helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics too. Her for others is “just believe in 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．deeply B．well C．ahead D．closely
A．task B．sport C．event D．show
A．boring B．enjoyable C．difficult D．satisfactory
A．talent B．quality C．nature D．condition
A．doubt B．advantage C．challenge D．progress
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．cautious
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
After 28years, my wife is still the one who owns my heart, because of one single, powerful moment when I realized our love began.
After several dates, we knew our feelings ran deep. What Mary I had enough to give. And what was missing in my life, she had plenty to . One evening she called . She wanted to come over and see me. I was because our dates were usually planned. She asked for to my place, but instead of replying, I asked where she was. She was using a payphone outside our favorite .
With more persistence(坚持),she again. I offered the name of the main street－but with no further detail. Sensing the awkwardness of the moment, she the call. Fear settled over me. I was of two things; (1) I had made her angry; (2) she would try to find out where I lived.
I raced to my car and drove to the place I thought Mary had called from. Maybe she was having dinner or waiting to see if I would . When I arrived, she wasn’t there. There were no cellphones in 1984, so my best was to drive back and call her. She wasn’t at home. Panic had now the fear. I walked outside to see if Mary was trying to find me.
She found me quickly replaced panic. When she saw me and the apartment building where I lived with my parents, I knew she why I didn’t want her to come.
Mary had a(n) house. She came from affluence (富裕) and I came from a two-bedroom apartment. I thought if she discovered my secret it would end the .
She rushed toward me with the kindest smile I had ever seen. Without any , she told me what was that she loved me, not where I lived, She we could share a life together, and if that happened, our home would always be a beautiful place to live.
At that moment, love arrived and my heart her forever. Holding onto this memory is a good reminder on the days when we forget about love’s beautiful grace.
A．cared B．preferred C．refused D．lacked
A．support B．offer C．try D．select
A．unfriendly B．unexpectedly C．unnaturally D．unhappily
A．interested B．encouraged C．worried D．surprised
A．directions B．opinions C．forgiveness D．permission
A．restaurant B．store C．park D．club
A．smiled B．asked C．walked D．sat
A．developed B．planned C．ended D．repeated
A．glad B．lucky C．angry D．afraid
A．drive B．like C．come D．find
A．option B．wish C．guess D．intention
A．released B．changed C．formed D．replaced
A．Concern B．Shame C．Curiosity D．Sadness
A．Wondered B．believed C．understood D．predicted
A．ordinary B．shabby C．beautiful D．traditional
A．relationship B．conversation C．requirement D．discussion
A．recognition B．expectation C．consideration D．disappointment
A．happened B．mattered C．depended D．faced
A．hoped B．allowed C．doubted D．argued
A．led to B．compared to C．belonged to D．objected to
There is a fine line between a parent who is active and open-minded and one that doesn’t know when to let go（放手）. As my daughter, Nicole, prepares to leave home for college, I’m discovering how hard it is to stay on the side of this line. When I hold the apron strings（围裙带） connecting us, Nicole, eager to independence, tries to loosen my grasp. What results is a (an) mother-daughter, push-me, pull-you kind of tango.
For the past two years, it’s gone like this:
Mother’s question: “Have you thought of taking an advanced class（大学预备课程）so that you can earn college credit?”
Daughter’s 0 : “No, I’m not interested in that.”
……
Two months ago, she was to a great university. However, I was still the mother having a time letting go. The night before the introductory meeting of the university, I had read the course catalog carefully and courses which I thought looked good. We met on the campus the next afternoon, and Nicole’s face with excitement. “I have had my entire schedule figured out,” she said. “Already?” I was astonished, she should have discussed it with me. I examined the schedule. Nicole hadn’t taken a (an) one of the courses I had suggested. Every course she had chosen suited her interests. Just then I saw a mature, capable young woman with a mind and the ability to shape her future. She no longer needed her mother every decision she made. I felt proud, though still a bit .
I the lessons carefully. Nicole has struggled to learn over the past 18 years: , sympathy, and hard work. There have been a few holes along the way. , she is well-equipped and eager to the future. The next step, I recognized, was mine to take: giving my daughter and myself the we both needed.
A．left B．right C．either D．each
A．onto B．up C．back D．out
A．keep B．refuse C．taste D．bear
A．awkward B．relaxing C．lively D．beautiful
A．comment B．word C．concept D．response
A．received B．invited C．treated D．accepted
A．good B．great C．hard D．easy
A．taken B．underlined C．offered D．emphasized
A．lit up B．built up C．turned up D．made up
A．imagining B．thinking C．hoping D．adding
A．only B．just C．even D．single
A．mostly B．hardly C．exactly D．slightly
A．sharp B．normal C．different D．typical
A．encouraging B．evaluating C．disagreeing D．agreeing
A．anxious B．excited C．sad D．tense
A．reviewed B．observed C．checked D．studied
A．competence B．honesty C．confidence D．responsibility
A．Therefore B．Instead C．Still D．Besides
A．determine B．embrace C．discover D．control
A．character B．strength C．relief D．independence
In 2012, I had just recovered from a serious illness when I received an invitation to a writer’s conference in Orlando, Florida. My family persuaded me that a(n) might be just what the doctor ordered, so off I .
Arriving in the Sunshine State was rather tiring, but I to catch a taxi to my and settle in. Next morning, I took another to the shopping center to buy a few souvenirs. I went to a cafe to have lunch, but all the tables were . Then I heard a friendly voice saying, “You can my table.”
I gratefully sat down with the lady and we had a happy lunch together. As the drew to a close, she asked how long I would be in Orlando. I had already told her that I hadn’t a car, and hadn’t realized how taking taxis would be. After a while she said, “My dear, don’t use any more taxi. I’m retired and it would be my pleasure to you wherever you wish.” I told her that I couldn’t put her to that . but she brushed aside my protests(反对). She asked me where I was and next morning she was waiting at my apartment at the time to take me to Disney World. She spent some time with me before leaving me to alone. At the end of the day, she to take me back to my accommodation. I offered her money, she refused to take any.
I’ll never forget that wonderful lady who, through her , filled my brief holiday in Florida with wonderful memories.
A．holiday B．ceremony C．operation D．experiment
A．kept B．went C．dropped D．knocked
A．intended B．promised C．managed D．deserved
A．hospital B．company C．accommodation D．university
A．bus B．truck C．train D．taxi
A．Instead B．First C．Later D．Once
A．classified B．occupied C．decorated D．painted
A．share B．reserve C．set D．possess
A．old B．poor C．innocent D．stubborn
A．journey B．meal C．speech D．interview
A．donated B．repaired C．hired D．guided
A．convenient B．worthwhile C．unfortunate D．expensive
A．inspire B．entertain C．call D．drive
A．business B．argument C．trouble D．challenge
A．working B．staying C．moving D．shopping
A．appointed B．limited C．favourite D．regular
A．digest B．explore C．perform D．calculate
A．forgot B．refused C．returned D．preferred
A．so B．and C．but D．owed
A．confidence B．dignity C．curiosity D．kindness
On my first day in a college classroom, I felt like an overgrown child returning to civilization after having been lost in the forest for thirty years. There I sat, — enough to be a father to most of the students in the room, unconfident enough to be their baby brother. We were crowded elbow (肘部) to elbow, listening to a who looked even younger than the students. I felt uncomfortable and out of place as the professor carefully what she expected us to learn. As I listened, I couldn’t help but of my own oldest daughter who was now beginning her first year in , just like me. I remembered how hard I had tried to help build self-confidence in her and my other children. So why did I suddenly feel like a scared myself? When I walked out of that classroom, I had serious about my ability to make it college. Not until late that night did my thinking . It was a long-distance from my daughter, my fellow college freshman, that did the trick (起作用). She spoke on the phone about the doubts, worries and anxieties she was . She was certain that she’d never at college. How her worries sounded. In my most confident parental , I said, “Doing your best is all the world .” The next day in class, those words still repeated in my head. When the professor raised a for the class, nobody, including me, to answer. When I looked around at the and uncertainty on the young faces in that room, I knew what I had to do: my best. That’s all the world asks. So I raised my hand, and the professor called my name. I spoke.
A．big B．tall C．old D．strong
A．and B．so C．or D．yet
A．professor B．teacher C．lecturer D．instructor
A．showed B．explained C．designed D．offered
A．think B．speak C．talk D．hear
A．school B．office C．classroom D．college
A．father B．parent C．child D．son
A．fears B．doubts C．opinions D．ideas
A．over B．on C．with D．through
A．stop B．turn C．change D．continue
A．call B．talk C．report D．discussion
A．obtaining B．gaining C．experiencing D．feeling
A．fail B．succeed C．win D．pass
A．common B．ordinary C．regular D．familiar
A．sound B．whisper C．word D．voice
A．hopes B．asks C．wants D．expects
A．request B．problem C．question D．demand
A．dared B．preferred C．tried D．prepared
A．sorrow B．joy C．fear D．anger
A．exactly B．roughly C．gradually D．certainly