Some years ago I was offered a writing assignment that would require three months of travel through Europe．I had been abroad a couple of times， 36 I could hardly claim to know my way around the continent．Moreover， my 37 of foreign languages was 38 to a little college French．
I 39 ．How would I，unable to speak the language and totally 40 with local geography or transportation systems， 41 interviews and do research? It seemed 42 ，and with much regret I sat down to write a letter begging 43 ．Halfway through，a thought ran through my mind：you can’t learn if you don’t 44 ．So I accepted the assignment.
There were some bad news. But by the time I had 45 the trip I was an experienced 46 ．And ever since，I have never hesitated to 47 for even the most remote places，without guides or even 48 bookings，confident that somehow I will 49 .
The point is that the new，the 50 ，is almost by definition scary．But each time you try 51 ，you learn，and as the learning piles up，the world 52 to you.
I’ve 53 to ski at 40，and flown up the Rhine River in a balloon．And I know I’ll go on doing such things．It’s not because I’m 54 or more daring than others. I’m not. But I’ll accept anxiety as another name for 55 and I believe I can accomplish wonders．
A．though B．and C．but D．since
A．knowledge B．view C．target D．experience
A．forced B．limited C．reduced D．increased
A．left B．doubted C．paused D．hesitated
A．get up B．put up C．set up D．cheer up
A．impossible B．possible C．easy D．disturbing
A．away B．down C．off D．for
A．ask B．try C．practice D．accept
A．finished B．started C．reserved D．cancelled
A．traveler B．reporter C．writer D．thinker
A．take B．head C．make D．change
A．careful B．free C．professional D．advanced
A．lose B．win C．manage D．remember
A．different B．same C．old D．bad
A．nothing B．something C．anything D．everything
A．sticks B．comes C．opens D．drinks
A．learned B．hoped C．forgotten D．attempted
A．weaker B．braver C．worse D．luckier
A．trouble B．failure C．victory D．challenge
Dear son,
The day that you see me old and I am already not in good health, have patience and try to understand me.
If I get dirty when eating, if I can not dress, have patience and remember the hours I spent 1 it to you. If, when I speak to you, I 2 the same things thousand and one times, do not3 me, listen to me. When you were small, I had to read to you thousand and one times the same story until you got to sleep. When I do not want to have a4 , neither shame me nor scold me. Remember when I had to chase（追逐） you with thousand excuses I 5 , in order that you wanted to bathe. When you see my 6 little about new technologies, give me the necessary time and do not look at me with your mocking( 嘲弄 ) smile. I taught you how to do so many things: to eat good, to dress well, to confront life（面对生活）….
When at some moment I lose the 7 , let me have the necessary time to remember. When my8 legs do not allow me to walk, give me your hands, the same way I did when you gave your first 9 . And when someday I say to you that I do not want to10 any more ---- that I want to rest forever, do not get 11 . Someday you will understand.
Try to understand that my age is not lived but survived. Some day you will discover that, despite（尽管） my mistakes, I always wanted the 12 thing for you and that I tried to prepare the way for you. You must not feel sad, angry or impotent( 无可奈何 ) for seeing me13 you. You must be next to me, try to understand me and to help me as I did it when you14 living. Help me to walk, help me to end my way with love and 15 .
I love you, Son.
Your father
A．giving B．teaching C．coming D．pointing
A．praise B．think C．repeat D．blame
A．interrupt（打断） B．disturb（打扰） C．look D．avoid
A．rest B．word C．bath D．sleep
A．discovered B．invented C．noticed D．suspected
A．knowing B．fearing C．enjoying D．lacking
A．sight B．heart C．way D．memory
A．tired B．short C．long D．strong
A．step B．pace C．laugh D．cry
A．talk B．live C．write D．sleep
A．careful B．interested C．calm D．angry
A．last B．first C．best D．most
A．near B．behind C．below D．against
A．made B．started C．earned D．found
A．mercy B．care C．optimism D．patience
Long ago there was a poor farmer in Russia. He had been very__1__with everything he had. However，when he found his elder brother was_2__than him，he felt disappointed. So he__3_hard about how he could also be richer. Finally he got an idea. He started to spend less money on food and clothes to__4__some money to buy more land. Once he had enough money，he started__5_for land.
He__6__that on the neighboring land，there were some nomads (游牧民) living there. He bought some gifts and went to__7__their head. He presented the gifts to the head and told him the__8__of his visit. The head welcomed him，accepted the gifts and agreed to his_9__to get the land. The head told him that he could have the land__10__giving him anything. He can take as much land as he could__11__by walking through the land before sunset (日落)．He should start in the morning and whatever distance he could travel during the__12_，he could have it.
The farmer became very__13__when he heard this offer. Now he could have lots of__14__without paying anything. He came_15_the next morning and started running，not walking，__16__he could cover the largest area. To reach his goal，he neither ate food，nor drank water，nor had any rest. He just continued__17__.Without eating，or drinking，or resting he just got very__18__.When he came back to the head in the evening，he__19__right on the spot. Sadly his son buried him in a piece of land about 6 x 4 feet.
Don’t be greedy (贪婪的) or you will__20__everything finally.
A．careful B．pleased C．bored D．busy
A．healthier B．stronger C．richer D．cleverer
A．thought B．learned C．tried D．worked
A．borrow B．spend C．make D．save
A．waiting B．looking C．preparing D．caring
A．explained B．hoped C．noticed D．guessed
A．see B．follow C．help D．cheat
A．chance B．result C．condition D．purpose
A．promise B．request C．suggestion D．order
A．for B．by C．without D．before
A．cover B．farm C．buy D．have
A．year B．month C．week D．day
A．interested B．sad C．happy D．calm
A．land B．crop C．experience D．knowledge
A．quietly B．early C．finally D．suddenly
A．so that B．even if C．because D．whether
A．dreaming B．walking C．speaking D．running
A．nervous B．excited C．tired D．worried
A．refused B．died C．appeared D．rested
A．lose B．face C．change D．defeat
Sarah came running in. She shouted happily, "Look what I ____36_____." She put a snake skin on the newspaper I was reading and it came so suddenly that it caused me to ____37_____. "Mom, look! Isn't it ____38_____?" said my seven-year-old daughter. I ____39_____ the snake skin and thought that it really wasn't pretty. Everything children see ____40_____is full of beauty in their eyes; they see only ____41_____ and excellence in the world until educated.
"____42_____ did the snake do this?" Sarah asked. I tried to seize the ____43_____ to teach my children that there was almost always something beyond the obvious. I wanted to tell them that there was something else going on ____44_____ what they saw in front of them. "Snakes shed (蜕) their skin because they need to renew themselves," I ____45_____.
"Why do they have to renew themselves?" Sarah asked.
My son Robert laughed and said, "Because they don't ____46_____ what they are and they want to be someone else." I politely ignored him and said that by shedding skins, we could ____47_____ the hidden reality.
"We often need to shed our skin, those coatings that we ____48_____ ourselves with," I said to my children, who listened very ____49_____, with their eyes wide open. "This snake ____50_____ needs this skin. It is probably too hard for him, or he probably doesn't think he looks as ____51_____in it as he once did. It's like buying a new ____52_____."
I'm sure this explanation will not ____53_____ the naturalists. But Sarah was getting to understand that renewal is part of ____54_____. She should learn from it what we need to keep and what we need to ____55_____.
A．made B．seized C．caught D．found
A．think B．jump C．run D．struggle
A．interesting B．smooth C．beautiful D．colorful
A．stared at B．took off C．referred to D．brought back
A．by accident B．over and over again C．in the future D．for the first time
A．honesty B．difference C．value D．fear
A．Where B．Why C．How D．When
A．information B．possibility C．opportunity D．question
A．besides B．for C．without D．around
A．talked B．explained C．whispered D．shouted
A．keep B．want C．need D．like
A．see B．guess C．ignore D．remember
A．keep B．store C．cover D．improve
A．properly B．attentively C．sadly D．angrily
A．once more B．at times C．right now D．no longer
A．nice B．healthy C．strong D．big
A．hat B．watch C．suit D．home
A．move B．satisfy C．correct D．defeat
A．experience B．achievement C．progress D．competition
A．throw out B．hope for C．find out D．throw away
Long long ago, there was a small village. This village had a 36 tradition. At the beginning of every year, any boy who had reached the age of 18 was given land and money to build a home. The boy had to 37 his home before winter. If his home failed to endure the cold weather in winter, the villagers could not 38 him in any way.
One 39 , Paul and Marc reached their 18. They 40 their land and money and decided to search nearby villages for ideas on building their homes. In each village, they found the nicest 41 and talked to the owners. Each owner gladly offered 42 .
After Marc saw several homes, he 43 the best ideas and went back to his own land. Paul, 44 , continued collecting more ideas. Soon he had so many great ideas that he began to 45 some of them. But he always believed he could find even better ideas in the next village.
Marc began building his home. He had several false starts, 46 his home gradually rose from his land. By fall, Marc had finished his home. It wasn't perfect, but it was strong and he could 47 it later. Paul enjoyed all the beautiful homes and 48 with home owners. The first snow came and Paul, realizing he was running out of time, 49 back to his land. He built the best home he could in the time he had, but it was 50 . The first winter storm destroyed his home and he froze to 51 . The villagers mourned for him.
Marc 52 the winter. Each year, Marc searched for other good ideas he could use to make his own home look better. He became a leader in the village, 53a family, and lived a happy, content life.
We all build and improve our own mental homes. It’s 54 and fun for us to search for ideas from other mental home owners, but we only improve our own mental home if we actually 55 the best ideas.
A．hopeful B．strange C．literary D．cultural
A．find B．make C．buy D．complete
A．encourage B．help C．scold D．persuade
A．winter B．summer C．spring ` D．autumn
A．received B．exchanged C．recognized D．advised
A．girls B．jobs C．presents D．houses
A．rooms B．drinks C．advice D．attention
A．gathered B．expected C．created D．understood
A．similarly B．finally C．furthermore D．however
A．believe B．forget C．replace D．doubt
A．because B．although C．so D．but
A．repair B．rebuild C．improve D．sell
A．achievements B．conversations C．struggles D．arguments
A．rushed B．drove C．flew D．moved
A．funny B．weak C．small D．amazing
A．death B．blindness C．sadness D．illness
A．experienced B．loved C．spent D．survived
A．brought B．earned C．raised D．contacted
A．easy B．slow C．dangerous D．special
A．realize B．bring C．apply D．collect
There are many kinds of friends. Some are always 36 you, but don't understand you. Some say only a few words to you, but understand you. Many people will step in your life, but only 37 friends leave footprints (脚印).
I shall always recall (回忆) the autumn and the girl with the 38 . She will always bring back the friendship between us. I know she will always be my best friend.
It was the golden season. I could see the yellow leaves 39 on the cool 40 . In such a season, I liked walking alone in the leaves, 41 to the sound of them.
Autumn is a 42 season and life is uninteresting. The free days always get me 43 . But one day, the sound of a violin 44 into my ears like a stream (小溪) flowing in the mountains. I was so surprised that I jumped to see what it was. A young girl, standing in the wind, was 45 in playing her violin.
I had 46 seen her before. The music was so nice that I listened quietly. Lost in the music, I didn't know that I had been 47 there for so long but my existence (存在) did not seem to disturb her.
Leaves were still falling. Every day she played the violin in the corner of the building 48 I went downstairs to watch her performance. I was the only listener. The autumn seemed no longer lonely and life became 49 . 50 we didn't know each other, I thought we were already good friends. I believe she also loved me.
Autumn was nearly over. One day, when I was listening carefully, the sound suddenly 51 . To my astonishment (惊讶), the girl came over to me.
“You must like violin.” she said.
“Yes. And you play very well. Why did you stop?” I asked.
Suddenly, a 52 expression appeared on her face and I could feel something unusual.
“I came here to see my grandmother, but now I must leave. I once played very badly. It was your listening every day that 53 me.” she said.
“In fact, it was your playing 54 gave me a meaningful autumn,” I answered, “Let's be friends.”
The girl smiled, and so did I.
I never heard her play again in my life. I no longer went downstairs to listen like before. Only thick leaves were left behind. But I will always remember the fine figure (身影) of the girl. She is like a55 —so short, so bright, like a shooting star giving off so much light that it makes the autumn beautiful.
A．with B．for C．against D．to
A．good B．true C．new D．old
A．sound B．song C．play D．violin
A．shaking B．hanging C．falling D．floating
A．wind B．snow C．air D．rain
A．watching B．listening C．seeing D．hearing
A．lively B．lovely C．harvest D．lonely
A．up B．off C．down D．over
A．flowed B．grew C．entered D．ran
A．lost B．active C．busy D．interested
A．once B．never C．often D．usually
A．waiting B．stopping C．standing D．hearing
A．because B．so C．when D．but
A．interesting B．moving C．encouraging D．exciting
A．But B．However C．Even D．Though
A．stopped B．began C．gone D．changed
A．happy B．sad C．strange D．surprised
A．surprised B．excited C．encouraged D．interested
A．that B．which C．it D．who
A．song B．dream C．fire D．sister