Inspiration
“Mama, when I grow up, I’m going to be one of those!” I said this after seeing the Capital Dancing Company perform when I was three. It was the first time that my __36__ took on a vivid form and acted as something important to start my training. As I grew older and was __37__ to more, my interests in the world of dance __38__ varied but that little girl’s dream of someday becoming a __39__ in the company never left me. In the summer of 2005 when I was 18, I received the phone call which made that dream a __40__; I became a member of the company __41__ back to 1925.
As I look back on that day now, it surely __42__ any sense of reality. I believe I stayed in a state of pleasant disbelief __43__ I was halfway through rehearsals (排练) on my first day. I never actually __44__ to get the job. After being offered the position, I was completely __45__. I remember shaking with excitement.
Though I was absolutely thrilled with the change, it did not come without its fair share of __46__. Through the strict rehearsal period of dancing six days a week, I found it vital to __47__ up the material fast with every last bit of concentration. It is that extreme __48__ to detail (细节) and stress on practice that set us __49__. To then follow those high-energy rehearsals __50__ a busy show schedule of up to five performances a day, I discovered a new __51__ of the words “hard work.” What I thought were my physical __52__ were pushed much further than I thought __53__. I learned to make each performance better than the last.
Today, when I look at the unbelievable company that I have the great __54__ of being a part of, not only as a member, but as a dance captain, I see a __55__ that has inspired not only generations of little girls but a splendid company that continues to develop and grow-and inspires people every day to follow their dreams.
A．hobby B．plan C．dream D．word
A．rarely B．certainly C．probably D．consistently
A．director B．trainer C．leader D．dancer
A．symbol B．memory C．truth D．reality
A．bouncing B．dating C．turning D．tracking
A．lacks B．adds C．makes D．brings
A．while B．since C．until D．when
A．Cared B．Expected C．Asked D．Decided
A．motivated B．relaxed C．convinced D．astonished
A．challenges B．profits C．advantages D．adventures
A．put B．mix C．build D．pick
A．Attention B．association C．attraction D．adaptation
A．apart B．aside C．off D．back
A．over B．by C．with D．beyond
A．function B．meaning C．expression D．usage
A．boundaries B．problems C．barriers D．efforts
A．necessary B．perfect C．proper D．possible
A．talent B．honor C．potential D．responsibility
A．victory B．trend C．tradition D．desire
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，选出空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Tips to keep a hearty conversation flowing
On holidays we typically gather with our nearest and dearest. But 36 can be made, maintained and broken through the ways we talk to our loved _37___, according to Deborah Tannen, a George-town University professor in linguistics（语言学）. She has suggestions as to how we can 38 communications at our festival dinner tables. Let’s take a look.
＊A round dinning table is best for promoting a 39 conversation because
everyone 40 each other.
＊Avoid _41_ grandparents at the ends of a rectangular(长方形的) table, even though it is the traditional place of __42__. Elderly people may feel lonely there if they are unable to hear or keep __43__ a conversation.
＊__44__ prefer to face each other and make eye contact when they talk. In contrast, men tend to look around at other things. “Guys may be more 45 keeping gazing on the TV,” says Tannen. “They’ll still be _46__, though.”
＊Be aware that people have different ways of talking. Each person has a different __47__ of tone, rhyme, timing and how _48__ of a pause is normal in a conversation. Watch for people who seem left __49__. If you feel you are doing all the talking, hold back to give others a50 .If you feel you aren’t getting a chance to speak, try pushing yourself to start 51 .
＊People sometimes get upset on big festivals _52 they stay too long in the apartment. Some families find that gatherings go more __53__ if they plan for some fun _54___. So why not get a breath of fresh air? Going to a park for a walk or taking a trip to the zoo may be more__55__ than just sitting around inside.
A．demands B．relationships C．victories D．mistakes
A．ones B．those C．others D．them
A． bother B．delay C． damage D．improve
A．lively B．short C． calm D．dull
A．scolds B．blames C．faces D．annoys
A．checking B．hiding C．seating D．hurting
A．pity B．sorrow C．intelligence D．honor
A．up with B．off C． away from D． out of
A．Grown-ups B．Men C．People D．Women
A．surprised B．relaxed C．encouraged D．upset
A．thinking B．doubting C．listening D．looking
A．matter B．sense C．direction D．point
A． often B． long C． soon D． far
A． out B． behind C． over D． off
A．reward B．gift C．hand D．chance
A．until B．if C．though D．since
A．naturally B．coldly C．quickly D．smoothly
A．indoors B．outside C．inside D．everywhere
A．abstract B．bitter C．enjoyable D．cruel
Anna Douglas was 72 years old when she started writing her newspaper column. She had been a school teacher before she retired, but she needed to keep 1 . She was even willing to work without pay. She then offered her 2 to a business that helped other businesses find jobs for old people. Every day she 3 other old folk like her, by talking with them, she 4 two things. Old people had abilities that were not 5 . But old people also had some 6 . She found a new purpose for herself then.
Through the years, she 7 to write stories about people for national magazines. There was now a new 8 : Old people like herself. She began to write a newspaper column called “Sixty Plus”, which was about 9 old. She writes about the problems of old people, especially their problems with being 10 . Anna Douglas uses her11 ability to see the truth behind a problem. She understands 12 problems begin. For example, one of her 13 said that his grandchildren 14 the houses as soon as he came to visit. Mrs. Douglas 15 some ways for him to understand his grandchildren.
A．free B．rich C．powerful D．busy
A．services B．money C．students D．books
A．observed B．met C．comforted D．answered
A．enjoyed B．followed C．recognized D．demanded
A．studied B．agreed C．gave D．used
A．mistakes B．problems C．questions D．characters
A．had B．ought C．was D．used
A．subject B．life C．way D．plan
A．getting B．respecting C．employing D．supporting
A．unknown B．refused C．misunderstood D．discouraged
A．thinking B．working C．reading D．leading
A．that B．when C．whether D．why
A．visitors B．readers C．listeners D．friends
A．got B．entered C．left D．passed
A．suggested B．chose C．invented D．imagined
The greatest source of inspiration for me has always been my father. Though he’s been gone for 17 years, his 21 still resonate（产生共鸣）. He taught me how to run my own race in life. But the most inspiring thing he taught me was to 22 .
One incident is 23in my mind. It happened when I was a teenager. My sister and I weren’t very fond of a so-called friend of 24 . Dad was a very generous man, and as he’d done with so many people, he’d given this fellow great help. But when he asked for a favor 25 , the guy didn’t deliver.
Dad’s outlook（人生观）on most things was “Live and let live.” In this case, however, his calmness 26 Terre and me, and we let him know it.
“How can you be nice to that man?” we said to him. “You’ve been so kind to him, and he’s not being kind back. Why would you want to give him the time of day again?”
My father shrugged（耸肩）and said to us, “I do not bend my back with 27 . ”
I didn’t get it at first, but over the years I came to understand the 28 . Holding a grudge（怨恨）doesn’t 29 the person you’re angry with, but it changes you. It makes you heavier and gives you more weight to drag around.
After my father died in 1991, a (n) 30 came from a fellow I’d had a quarrel with years before to 31 his sympathy. He wrote: “I thought I’d tell you how sorry I am 32 the loss of your father. I know he 33 the world to you. I just wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts. ”
Much moved, I wrote back. I thanked him for his 34 . And then, because he’d 35
our disagreement, I recalled Dad’s inspiring words. “I am my father’s daughter,” I wrote. “And like him, I do not bend my back with yesterday.”
A．lectures B．suggestions C．lessons D．pictures
A．forgive B．persuade C．forget D．excuse
A．vital B．obvious C．visual D．vivid
A．sister’s B．mine C．father's D．mother’s
A．in return B．in turn C．by return D．by turn
A．relaxed B．moved C．interrupted D．bothered
A．anger B．disappointment C．worry D．yesterday
A．reason B．word C．philosophy D．sentence
A．change B．hurt C．upset D．disturb
A．news B．letter C．message D．information
A．explain B．express C．produce D．present
A．in B．with C．about D．at
A．showed B．represented C．equaled D．meant
A．kindness B．sympathy C．understanding D．consideration
A．referred B．mentioned C．reminded D．retold
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出能填入相应空白处的最佳选项。
It was 4 o’clock in the morning, when I received the phone call.
“This is the emergency room calling and your son was just 1in with severe burns on his face, neck and arms. We’ve called for a (n) 2 and are going to fly him to the burn unit in Seattle.”
Seattle was 350 miles from his college, so we knew immediately this was 3 .
The doctor described the accident, which caused the burns. At 6 am, our son and his friends decided to barbecue hamburgers. When they 4 the charcoal (木炭), it burst into flames because they had sprayed (喷洒) too much gasoline (petrol). The flames 5 my son’s shirt tail and shot from his waist to his head.
6 , one of the boys was quick-minded, grasped my son, and rolled him on the grass. While it saved his life, it was not in 7 to save him from severe burns and the terrible scars (伤疤). So, he had to return to college with scars.
When I was a child, my mother told my sister, who had a 10-inch, very 8 scar on her arm. “Ann, if you ignore the scar, other people will ignore it. It doesn’t mean they won’t 9 it, but it means it will not matter to them if it doesn’t matter to you.”
I 10 this wisdom (智慧) on to my son. He took my advice to 11 and returned to school with his head held high — glad he was alive.
By the end of the six-month waiting period, he decided that the scars did not matter, so he made the 12 to give up any plastic surgery (外科手术).
We all have “scars” that 13 people to keep away from us. And we spend a lot of time thinking that if only we looked differently, or dressed differently, people would like us better.
But you see, people will only judge you by your looks, or your clothes, if you are judging yourself by these same 14 standards(标准). Put your imperfections out of your 15 and concentrate (集中) on what you value within yourself, and your beauty will shine through.
A．brought B．given C．turned D．shown
A．doctor B．hospital C．helicopter D．ambulance
A．serious B．terrible C．dangerous D．important
A．got B．lit C．burned D．moved
A．took B．held C．caught D．attracted
A．Personally B．Technically C．Sadly D．Fortunately
A．shape B．place C．fact D．time
A．nervous B．formal C．obvious D．amusing
A．admit B．notice C．hate D．hide
A．passed B．kept C．handed D．sent
A．life B．heart C．consideration D．practice
A．mistake B．survey C．decision D．instruction
A．invite B．cause C．allow D．impress
A．false B．strict C．similar D．amusing
A．head B．heart C．sight D．mind
Once I went to a railway station near New York. I 36 to take the night train there. 37 of people were pushing into the 38 train. I found a railway official and asked him if I could get a place in a sleeping car, 39 he said sharply, “No, you can’t. The train is full. Don’t 40 me any more.”
I was very 41 indeed. I said to the friend who was with me, “ he talked to me like this 42 he doesn’t know that I am a famous writer. If he knew…But before I could 43 my sentence my friend said, “Don’t be 44 . How could that help you? Whoever you are, there are no 45 seats on the train.” I was 46 he was wrong, so I went up to the same official again and told him that I was Mark Twain. But all he said, “I told you not to trouble me any more.”
Just then I 47 a young porter in a sleeping car looking at me, He whispered something to the train conductor, and that conductor came over to me and said very 48 , “ Can I help you, sir?” “ I 49 do.” I answered.
The porter took out boxes and we got on to the train. When the porter saw we were comfortably 50 in our places, he said, “Now. Is there anything you want, sir? Because you can have whatever you 51 .”
After the porter had gone, my friend looked 52 . He said. “I am 53 sorry I said those things to you just now…” Just then the porter came again and said. “ Oh. Sir, I 54 you immediately”. “Really?” I said happily, “of course”, he said. “I recognized you the 55 I saw you and told the conductor that you are Mr Smith, the mayor of New York City.”
A．managed B．failed C．used D．happened
A．Some B．Most C．Crowds D．Many
A．night B．busy C．full D．leaving
A．but B．and C．though D．where
A．ask B．trouble C．follow D．strike
A．nervous B．uneasy C．hurt D．busy
A．as if B．since C．suppose D．because
A．complete B．continue C．make D．speak
A．upset B．sad C．foolish D．discouraged
A．more B．enough C．our D．empty
A．wondering B．sure C．told D．thinking
A．met B．noticed C．remembered D．knew
A．loudly B．calmly C．politely D．slowly
A．can B．shall C．certainly D．must
A．seating B．settled C．sleeping D．drinking
A．take B．bring C．like D．buy
A．surprised B．ashamed C．sorrowful D．anxious
A．awfully B．much C．more D．too much
A．admired B．realized C．recognized D．respected
A．moments B．while C．minute D．soon