We often talk about ourselves as if we have permanent genetic defects （缺陷） that can never be changed．“I’m impatient．” “I’m always behind．” “I always put things 21 !” You’ve surely heard them．Maybe you’ve used them to describe 22 ．
These comments may come from stories about us that have been 23 for years—often from 24 childhood．These stories may have no 25 in fact．But they can set low expectations for us．As a child, my mother said to me, “Marshall, you have no mechanical （操作机械的） skills, and you will never have any mechanical skills for the rest of your life．” How did these expectations 26 my development? I was never 27 to work on cars or be around 28 ．When I was 18, I took the US Army’s Mechanical Aptitude Test．My scores were in the bottom for the entire nation!
Six years later, 29 , I was at California University, working on my doctor’s degree．One of my professors, Dr．Bob Tannbaum, asked me to write down things I did well and things I couldn’t do．On the positive side, I 30 down, “research, writing, analysis, and speaking．” On the 31 side, I wrote, “I have no mechanical skills．”
Bob asked me how I knew I had no mechanical skills．I explained my life 32 and told him about my 33 performance on the Army test．Bob then asked, “ 34 is it that you can solve 35 mathematical problems, but you can’t solve simple mechanical problems?”
Suddenly I realized that I didn’t 36 from some sort of genetic defect．I was just living out expectations that I had chosen to 37 ．At that point, it wasn’t just my family and friends who had been 38 my belief that I was mechanically hopeless．And it wasn’t just the Army test, either．I was the one who kept telling myself, “You can’t do this!” I realized that as long as I kept saying that, it was going to remain true． 39 , if we don’t treat ourselves as if we have incurable genetic defects, we can do well in almost 40 we choose．
A．away B．off C．up D．down
A．them B．myself C．yourself D．others
A．said B．spoken C．spread D．repeated
A．as long as B．as far back as C．as well as D．as much as
A．basis B．plot C．cause D．meaning
A．lead B．improve C．affect D．change
A．encouraged B．demanded C．hoped D．agreed
A．means B．tools C．facilities D．hammers
A．therefore B．somehow C．instead D．however
A．settled B．turned C．took D．got
A．passive B．active C．negative D．subjective
A．experiences B．trips C．roads D．paths
A．unexpected B．poor C．excellent D．average
A．When B．What C．How D．Why
A．complex B．advanced C．common D．primary
A．arise B．separate C．suffer D．come
A．believe B．suspect C．adopt D．receive
A．weakening B．strengthening C．abandoning D．accepting
A．As a result B．At the same time C．In addition D．On the contrary
A．anything B．something C．nothing D．all
We had moved from Cairo to Mt. Vernon, Illinois, away from my grandmother when I was eight years old. I missed her 36 . I was told I was her favorite grandchild; she was my favorite granny. Mother must have sensed my 37 , for she would take my little brother and me back to visit my Granny on occasions.
She didn’t live in a big house or have expensive things, but I never 38 it; I just knew she loved me and I loved her back.
We had lived, for a time, next door to her 39 my father was away during World War II.
Granny had never had very much in the way of 40 or material things. But it was the little things she gave me that had always 41 . Things like letting me dip my fingers in the sugar bowl or the coffee she let me drink from her 42_. She allowed me to sit on top of her kitchen table to enjoy those privileges.
She also had a vinegar bottle that sat high on a shelf that was 43 , in my eyes; I asked if I could have it someday. It was given to me in a box after her 44 . She remembered in her last days; love is like that.
She didn’t have much; 45 did we. But she did something for my brother and me. I will always remember she 46 her pennies in a glass jar. I am sure Granny could have used those pennies herself 47 she saved them to give us when we came to 48 her.
I don’t remember how much we 49 on our visits, nor was the 50 important. It was the idea that she remembered us, and cared about us, when we were away from her.
Those 51 , of when I was a child, still give me 52 feelings now. I often wonder, after all those years, when I am lucky enough to find a 53 lying on the ground 54 , if it could possibly be Granny tossing me pennies from 55 .
A．suddenly B．unfortunately C．terribly D．properly
A．longing B．tasting C．dissatisfying D．worrying
A．found B．saw C．remarked D．minded
A．while B．if C．unless D．though
A．house B．car C．money D．possession
A．gone B．mattered C．saved D．respected
A．jar B．glass C．bottle D．cup
A．beautiful B．expensive C．heavy D．big
A．birthday B．death C．accident D．change
A．so B．and C．neither D．however
A．hid B．discovered C．saved D．liked
A．since B．or C．because D．but
A．visit B．invite C．help D．comfort
A．spent B．wasted C．collected D．counted
A．penny B．time C．money D．amount
A．memories B．adventures C．friendships D．achievements
A．bright B．warm C．sad D．interesting
A．bottle B．jar C．table D．penny
A．anywhere B．nowhere C．somewhere D．everywhere
A．hell B．heaven C．God D．sky
Bare foot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by in the park. She never tried to 36 . She never said a word. Many people passed, 37 never did one person stop.
The next day I decided to go back to the 38 , curious if the little girl would still be there. Right in the very 39 as she was yesterday, she sat with the 40 look in her eyes.41 I began walking towards her, I could see the back of the little girl’s dress indicated a disability. I guessed maybe that was the42 the people just passed by and made no effort to help. But I wanted to help her, so I 43 to let her know it was OK. I sat down beside her and 44with a simple “hello”.
The little girl was 45 and replied a “hi” in a low voice. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me and said, “Because I’m 46. ” I immediately said, “That you are!”and smiled. The little girl acted 47sadder, and she said, “I know.”
“Little girl,” I said, “you 48me of a sweet angel.” She looked at me and smiled. Slowly she stood to her 49 , and said, “Really?”
“Yes, dear, you’re50 a little guardian angel (守护神) sent to watch over (守护) all those people walking by.”
She51 her head “yes”. Then she spread her wings and said, “I am. I’m your guardian angel.” I was52 by what I was seeing. She continued to say, “Because you think of someone other than (而不是) yourself, my job here is done.” Immediately, I also53to my feet and said, “Wait, so why did54 stop to help an angel?” She looked at me and smiled, “You’re the only one who could see me, and you 55 an angel in your heart.”
A．work B．help C．study D．speak
A．and B．but C．unless D．nor
A．park B．school C．home D．garden
A．street B．time C．place D．room
A．happiest B．poorest C．richest D．saddest
A．Before B．As C．Since D．Until
A．excuse B．plan C．reason D．hope
A．smiled B．offered C．refused D．devoted
A．closed B．ended C．left D．opened
A．pleased B．shocked C．worried D．excited
A．necessary B．important C．different D．positive
A．even B．ever C．rather D．never
A．tell B．warn C．ask D．remind
A．arms B．feet C．legs D．shoes
A．like B．with C．for D．by
A．shook B．moved C．nodded D．turned
A．interested B．surprised C．satisfied D．tired
A．stood B．ran C．jumped D．swam
A．someone B．anyone C．no one D．everyone
A．recite B．forgive C．forget D．believe
I learned about life from an ant farm. When I was seven years old, my family tried to __1__ an ant farm at home. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box, and then we brought some ants from the backyard and placed them into the __2__ home.
Shortly after the new __3__ were dropped into the glass structure, they got to work making tunnels. I was amazed that each one knew __4__ what to do. After hours of staring, I realized that the ants had particular given jobs. With my mom’s help, I kept a journal of what happened each day and __5__ the ants. My favorite was the biggest, Cinderella. I drew a picture of her in my journal, which I still have.
On day five a disaster __6__ the ant farm. While I was __7__ the ants, I had put my face so close to the structure that I accidentally tipped it over, __8__ in all the tunnels. Although the ants __9__ their earthquake, one by one they began to die. I was __10__ as I watched them give up their tunnel-building to carry the bodies to a corner of the farm. My mother reported that the ants were dying of “frustration”—feeling annoyed and impatient as they couldn’t control the situation. They simply could not __11__ the reality that their tunnels had been destroyed. Cinderella was the last to die; she did so while carrying a dead ant on her back.
Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, __12__ it taught me much more. __13__ the years, I came to realize the ants were a study in the benefits of __14__. Working together, they were able to create a(n) __15__ world for themselves. I also learned that they should be __16__ for their hard work. Day in and day out, each labored at their task. The ant farm demonstrated that teamwork and perseverance are indeed two key __17__ to success. But there was an even larger lesson that I did not __18__ until recently: Disaster is a natural part of life, and must be __19__. Unlike the ants, humans cannot give up when they face __20__. Unlike the ants, we have to realize that if a tunnel caves in, we just have to build another.
A．get B．buy C．run D．find
A．empty B．new C．strange D．distant
A．guests B．settlers C．friends D．members
A．probably B．roughly C．exactly D．normally
A．named B．trained C．compared D．measured
A．affected B．struck C．kicked D．beat
A．removing B．teaching C．observing D．collecting
A．turning B．rushing C．filling D．caving
A．experienced B．predicted C．faced D．survived
A．annoyed B．horrified C．moved D．thrilled
A．reflect B．ignore C．confirm D．stand
A．and B．but C．so D．or
A．In B．For C．From D．Over
A．teamwork B．devotion C．responsibility D．organization
A．relaxing B．amusing C．moving D．amazing
A．supported B．inspired C．admired D．admitted
A．certificates B．approaches C．ingredients D．circumstances
A．give B．realize C．take D．adopt
A．accepted B．suffered C．achieved D．managed
A．challenges B．barriers C．pressure D．disappointment
When someone takes shoes to a shop to be mended, he is given a ticket with a number on it. Then, 21 his shoes are ready, he goes back to the shop, gives the ticket to the shoemaker, gets his shoes and 22 for them.
One day Mrs. Smith gave her husband a 23 of her shoes which needed mending and asked him to 24 them to the shop. Mr. Smith did so, and put the 25 for them in his pocket.
He went back four days 26 to get the shoes, 27 when he went into the shop, he was not able to find his ticket 28 ,and the shoemaker did not want to give him the 29 until he got the ticket.
“How do I know that the shoes are 30 unless you give me the ticket?” he said. “If I give them to you now, somebody 31 may come into my shop with the ticket tomorrow, and then I shall not be able to give him the shoes.”
Mrs. Smith needed the shoes very much, so her husband 32 for a moment and then went out to his 33 , which was at the side of the road 34 the shop. He 35 the door, and whistled（耳语）to his wife’s small 36 , which was sitting on the back seat. Then he went back into the shop and 37 it, “Get the shoes!” The dog began to 38 around the shop, and soon it found Mrs. Smith’s shoes and brought them to Mr. Smith one after the 39 .
“That should prove（证明）that they are my wife’s.” Mr. Smith said.
The shoemaker 40 and then he gave the shoes to Mr. Smith.
A．before B．when C．since D．unless
A．cares B．looks C．pays D．waits
A．pair B．set C．kind D．piece
A．show B．change C．lead D．take
A．bill B．paper C．ticket D．list
A．late B．later C．ago D．long
A．but B．because C．and D．or
A．everywhere B．anywhere C．nowhere D．somewhere
A．return B．idea C．shoes D．answer
A．what B．whose C．where D．yours
A．else B．some C．every D．all
A．worried B．cried C．thought D．hoped
A．train B．bus C．boat D．car
A．inside B．outside C．up D．round
A．opened B．closed C．broke D．built
A．clock B．dog C．cat D．hen
A．said to B．replied C．answered D．talked
A．hear B．taste C．smell D．see
A．each B．once C．any D．other
A．surprised B．frightened C．cried out D．laughed
The other day, I happened to meet someone I hadn’t seen for many years. I couldn’t believe the change in him. In fact, he didn’t even seem like the 21 person.
When I first knew Bill , back in 22 , he was one of the most carefree（无忧无虑）people I had ever 23 . He was always ready to have a party. He thought 24 of going out for beer at three o’clock in the morning or driving 15 miles to see an old 25 he really liked.
Bill and I were in the same class in college, and 26 was never dull when he was 27 . With him there was one wild 28 after another. Sometimes I wonder how we 29 to study for our exams.
Last week I was in Houston on business and I ran into Bill in the bar at the hotel. 30 , I wasn’t even sure it was 31 . Was this short-haired businessman really the same person? I wasn’t really sure until I came near him but it indeed was Bill. Now he works for a bank. He 32 most of the evening about his job, his new car and his house. How he had changed! Back when we were in college, the 33 thing Bill cared about were possessions(财富). Now they seemed to be his main 34 .Although I have changed quite a bit myself, somehow I never 35 Bill changing so much. My image of him 36 the one I had formed 37 the time when we were college students together.
I suppose it’s 38 to expect people to remain the same, especially 39 I have changed so much myself. But I must say that I enjoyed the old Bill much more than the new Bill. Maybe he 40 the same way about me.
A．proper B．usual C．same D．right
A．childhood B．the army C．his thirties D．college
A．considered B．met C．supposed D．expected
A．most B．much C．nothing D．none
A．movie B．hospital C．man D．country
A．learning B．life C．work D．fun
A．in B．out C．around D．away
A．joke B．mistake C．chance D．adventure
A．managed B．continued C．decided D．hoped
A．First of all B．At first C．Now and then D．All the time
A．that B．him C．there D．us
A．thought B．spent C．argued D．talked
A．first B．next C．last D．only
A．interest B．event C．subject D．problem
A．forgot B．minded C．imagined D．liked
A．remained B．reminded C．suggested D．became
A．since B．from C．at D．till
A．unnecessary B．foolish C．common D．unusually
A．because B．that C．how D．when
A．discovered B．acted C．looked D．felt