Tom was a middle-aged leather trader whose repeated failure in career
made him a depressed man, often complaining that others had been playing tricks on him. One day he told his wife he was so 16 with the city that he had to leave.
So his family moved to 17 city. It was in the evening of aweekend when Tom and his wife were busy 18 up their new home
19 the light suddenly went out. So they had to 20 work. Tom was regretful to have forgotten bringing along candles and had to wait 21 in a low mood. Just then he heard slight, hesitant knocks on his door that sounded clear in the 22 night.
“Who’s it?” he wondered, since Tom had no 23 in the new city.
And this was the moment he especially disliked being disturbed. 24 , he went reluctantly to the door and opened it impatiently. At the door was a little girl, shyly asking, “Sir, do you have 25 ? I’m your neighbor.” “No,” answered Tom in anger and shut the door violently. “What a nuisance!” he complained over it with his wife. “No sooner had we settled down 26 the neighbor came to 27 things.” After a while, the door was knocked 28 . He opened it and found the same girl outside. But this time she was holding two candles, saying, “My grandma told me the new neighbor downstairs might need candles. She 29 me here to give you these.” Tom was very 30 by what he saw. When he became fully aware, he said, “Thank you and your 31 . God bless you!”
At that moment he suddenly realized what caused his 32 in life. It
was his 33 and harshness(刻薄)with other people. The person who had cheated him in life was 34 nobody else but himself, for he had fallen for his unsympathetic 35 .
A．inspired B．satisfied C．disappointed D．encouraged
A．the other B．other C．every D．another
A．looking B．turning C．cleaning D．ending
A．where B．that C．why D．when
A．continue B．start C．quit D．change
A．helplessly B．happily C．patiently D．hopefully
A．quiet B．dark C．noisy D．crowded
A．acquaintance B．stranger C．consultant D．adolescent
A．So B．Though C．However D．In case
A．lights B．candles C．tricks D．failures
A．when B．that C．while D．than
A．lend B．sell C．purchase D．borrow
A．suddenly B．again C．too D．constantly
A．suggested B．forbade C．sent D．forced
A．frightened B．pleased C．puzzled D．surprised
A．grandma B．mother C．father D．brother
A．failure B．success C．dissatisfaction D．determination
A．apology B．coldness C．responsibility D．concept
A．in reality B．in particular C．in all D．in general
A．brain B．mind C．thought D．idea
Even though it was only October, my students were already whispering about Christmas Plans. With each day passing, everyone became more __1___ waiting for the final school bell. Upon its ___2___ everyone would run for their coats and go home, everyone except David.
David was a small boy in ragged clothes. I had often ___3___ what kind of home life David had, and what kind of mother could send her son to school dressed so __4__ for the cold winter months, without a coat, boots, or gloves. But something made David __5___. I can still remember he was always _6__ a smile and willing to help. He always __7__ after school to straighten chairs and mop the floor. We never talked much. He ___8___ just simply smile and ask what else he could do, then thank me for letting him stay and slowly __9__ home.
Weeks passed and the __10__ over the coming Christmas grew into restlessness until the last day of __11__ before the holiday break. I smiled in __12__ as the last of them hurried out the door. Turning around I saw David __13__ standing by my desk.
“ I have something for you,” he said and __14__ from behind his back a small box __15__ it to me, he said anxiously, “open it.” I took the box from him, thanked him and slowly unwrapped it. I lifted the lid and to my __16__ saw nothing. I looked at David’s smiling face and back into the box and said, “The box is nice, David, but it’s __17__.”
“Oh no it isn’t,” said David. “It’s full of love. My mum told me before she died that love was something you couldn’t see or touch unless you know it’s there.”
Tears filled my eyes__18__ I looked at the proud dirty face that I had rarely given __19__ to. After that Christmas, David and I became good friends and I never forgot the meaning __20__ the little empty box set on my desk.
A．anxious B．courageous C．serious D．cautious
A．warning B．ringing C．calling D．yelling
A．scolded B．wondered C．realized D．learned
A．modestly B．naturally C．inaccurately D．inappropriately
A．popular B．upset C．special D．funny
A．expressing B．delivering C．wearing D．sharing
A．practiced B．wandered C．studied D．stayed
A．would B．should C．might D．could
A．aim at B．turn to C．put off D．head for
A．argument B．excitement C．movement D．judgment
A．school B．year C．education D．program
A．relief B．return C．vain D．control
A．weakly B．sadly C．quietly D．helplessly
A．searched B．found C．raised D．pulled
A．holding B．handing C．sending D．leaving
A．delight B．expectation C．appreciation D．surprise
A．cheap B．empty C．useless D．improper
A．as B．until C．because D．though
A．advice B．support C．attention D．command
A．from B．behind C．over D．towards
This is a part from US President Barack Obama’s speech on May 14 at Bamard College in New York.
… My last piece of advice – this is simple, but perhaps most important: 36. Nothing worthwhile is easy. No one of achievement has avoided failure – sometimes catastrophic failures. But they keep at it. They learn from mistakes. They don’t 37.
When I first arrived on this 38, I was with little money, fewer options. But it was here that I tried to find my place in this world. I knew I wanted to make a difference, but it was 39 how in fact I’d go about it. But I wanted to do my part to 40 a better world.
So even as I worked after graduation in a few 41 jobs here in New York, even as I went from motley (鱼龙混杂的)apartment to motley apartment, I 42.
… And I wish I could say that this perseverance came from some innate (天生的)toughness in me. But the truth is, it was 43. I got it from 44 the people who raised me. I grew up as the son of a single mom who struggled to put herself through 45 and make ends meet. She had a marriage that fell apart; 46 went on food stamps at one point to help us 47. But she didn’t quit. And she earned her degree, and made sure that 48 scholarships and hard work, my sister and I earned 49.
And 50, I met a woman who was assigned to advise me on my first summer job at a law firm. And she gave me such good advice that I married her. And Michelle and I gave everything we had to balance our careers and a 51 family. We made that marriage work.
… So 52 it’s starting a business, or running for office, or 53 an amazing family, remember that making your 54 on the world is hard. It takes patience. It takes commitment. It comes with plenty of 55 and it comes with plenty of failures.
A．compete B．persevere C．struggle D．preservation
A．rest B．decline C．quit D．regret
A．campus B．downtown C．farm D．country
A．confident B．uncertain C．ambitious D．proud
A．shape B．instruct C．organize D．lead
A．amazing B．disturbing C．meaningful D．unsatisfactory
A．reached out B．put out C．gave out D．made out
A．presented B．structured C．learned D．created
A．copying B．detecting C．persuading D．watching
A．life B．work C．school D．business
A．yet B．even C．still D．also
A．get by B．come by C．get along D．come along
A．during B．through C．across D．over
A．mine B．us C．ours D．hers
A．for the time being B．long before C．up to now D．later on
A．young B．poor C．weak D．strong
A．as if B．if C．whether D．unless
A．rising B．raising C．arousing D．arising
A．view B．stay C．remark D．mark
A．goals B．advantages C．shortcomings D．setbacks
After a long day at school, I walked home with my heavy schoolbag. Sleepy and 1 , I threw my things on the sofa and picked something from the 2 to eat. I passed by the living room and wished I could watch TV, but I knew my 3 would take me the whole night. I took my schoolbag and went 4 to my room. I tried to understand chemistry and 5 sleepiness at the same time. I tried to keep my eyes 6 and I wanted something to cheer me up.
Later, I 7 the sound of the front door opening. And I waited for it—the sound of my mom singing. Though she sang off-key(跑调), 8 made me excited that she was here. I ran down to 9 my mom. We hugged each other and talked for a while. I like it when my mom was happy. Her 10 seemed to flow down to me and I got the strength to 11 the stress (压力) again.
Sometimes, I wonder how my mom can still be 12 after coming back from work. Every weekday, she wakes up 13 in the morning to go to work and spends all hour on the bus before getting downtown. At a 14 factory, she works standing for the whole day and draws patterns(图案) for clothes over and over. After work, my mom at times gets stuck(被困) in 15 for two hours on her way back home. When I 16 my school life with her work life, I should not be the one to 17 . At least I have some interesting things to do at school, but one mistake at work can cost my mom her job. I 18 that my mom has a positive (积极的) attitude and lives her life with a joyous heart, which encourages me to do my work well, 19 there may be difficulties. Seeing her happy makes me feel 20 , too.
A．heavy B．busy C．hungry D．unlucky
A．classroom B．kitchen C．bedroom D．apartment
A．dream B．supper C．homework D．experience
A．downstairs B．outside C．upstairs D．inside
A．break B．put C．get D．fight
A．opening B．opened C．open D．closing
A．felt B．listened C．raised D．heard
A．which B．that C．it D．but
A．look B．greet C．said to D．help
A．need B．idea C．faith D．energy
A．face B．change C．accept D．1eave
A．creative B．sensitive C．competitive D．positive
A．early B．soon C．fast D．1ate
A．furniture B．shoe C．car D．clothing
A．chat B．traffic C．duty D．task
A．replace B．exchange C．decorate D．compare
A．complain B．decide C．study D．play
A．achieve B．notice C．admire D．improve
A．however B．though C．despite D．at least
A．good B．skillful C．successful D．important
Monty Roberts owns a horse ranch（牧马场） in San Ysidro. He told us his story. As a senior, he was asked to write a 36 about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.
That night he wrote a seven-page paper 37 his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great 38 and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the 39 of all the buildings.
He put his heart into the 40 and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that 41 , ‘See me after class.’
The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, ‘Why did I 42 an F?’
The teacher said, ‘This is an 43 dream for a young boy like you. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. There’s no 44 you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, ‘If you will 45 this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’”
The boy went home and 46 it. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, ‘Look, son, you have to 47 your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very 48 decision for you.’
Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the 49 paper, making no changes at all. He stated, ‘You can keep the F and I’ll keep my 50 .’
Monty now owned a 200-acre ranch. He had 51 his plan for a 4,000-square-foot house.
Two summers ago that same school teacher brought 30 kids to camp out on his ranch for a week. When leaving, he said 52 , ‘Look, Monty. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream 53 . During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. 54 , you had enough perseverance not to give up on yours.’”
Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. 55 your heart, no matter what.
A．paper B．composition C．passage D．notice
A．reaching B．achieving C．continuing D．describing
A．excitement B．detail C．demand D．spirit
A．relation B．advantage C．location D．meaning
A．project B．work C．house D．painting
A．informed B．read C．wrote D．reflected
A．recognize B．own C．receive D．admit
A．unbearable B．unbelievable C．unrealistic D．unusual
A．need B．way C．doubt D．time
A．see B．retell C．discuss D．rewrite
A．thought about B．cared about C．set about D．talked about
A．keep up B．show up C．sweep up D．make up
A．unique B．wrong C．wise D．important
A．same B．final C．correct D．suitable
A．promise B．grade C．dream D．word
A．put forward B．carried out C．taken up D．sped up
A．constantly B．strongly C．guiltily D．delightedly
A．catcher B．seeker C．dreamer D．stealer
A．Gradually B．Personally C．Strictly D．Fortunately
A．Follow B．Guide C．Arrange D．Concentrate
There was once a boy who was very rich and clever but nothing could make him feel happy. He had almost everything a boy could ever want, so he was only _36_ in the most rare things. One day his parents bought him a very strange _37_. When the boy went to see his reflection (映像) in it, he looked very_38_. He tried smiling, _39_ his reflection continued with its sad expression.
_40_, the boy went off to buy sweets and lots of toys. He came home as happy as he could be, but he _41_ looked sad in that mirror.
“What a(n) _42_ mirror! It’s the first time I’ve seen a mirror that didn’t _43_ properly!”
That afternoon he went out to buy some toys and on his way he saw a little girl who was _44_. The boy went over to see what had __45_ to her. The little girl said that she couldn’t find her parents. Together the two children set off _46_ them. As the little girl wouldn’t stop crying, the boy spent all of his money buying her sweets to _47_ her up. After much walking, they _48_ her parents who were looking for her, very worried.
Then the boy said _49_ to the family. When seeing the time, he _50_ to head for home, without toys and without _51_. In his room, to his great surprise, he found a(n) _52_ face in the mirror. And so he understood the _53_ of that mirror. The mirror could only reflect the _54_ feelings of its owner. He felt really happy at having _55_ that little girl.
A．interested B．confident C．skilled D．rich
A．book B．mirror C．sweet D．toy
A．shy B．sad C．excited D．beautiful
A．for B．or C．but D．and
A．Proud B．Hungry C．Satisfied D．Surprised
A．already B．once C．still D．never
A．nice B．terrible C．big D．expensive
A．work B．move C．change D．appear
A．studying B．playing C．sleeping D．crying
A．devoted B．referred C．happened D．turned
A．in need of B．in search of C．in honor of D．in charge of
A．put B．bring C．dress D．cheer
A．found B．recognized C．left D．accepted
A．no B．hello C．sorry D．goodbye
A．decided B．agreed C．pretended D．refused
A．effort B．hope C．doubt D．money
A．red B．dark C．angry D．happy
A．meaning B．mystery C．game D．reason
A．general B．strange C．true D．good
A．introduced B．helped C．invited D．saved