One dark stormy night, an elderly couple hurried into a hotel and asked whether they could be 36 for the night, “I’m very sorry,” the clerk on night shift said politely, “we are all 37 tonight. 38 ,you could stay in my room if you don’t mind. I’m 39 ,so I’ll be here.” The young man gave the sincere advice.
The elderly couple accepted his 40 with gratitude. They apologized for the 41 they had caused him. The next day, the rain stopped and it 42 . When the old gentleman went to pay his bill, the same clerk said, “The room you and your wife stayed in is not a proper 43 room in this hotel, so you don’t need to pay.”
The old gentleman nodded in 44 : “You are an employee that every boss in the hotel business would dream of . Perhaps someday I’ll build a hotel for you.” The clerk was 45 but, deciding that the guest must have been 46 , he gave the remark 47 thought.
Two years later, the young man received a letter from the old gentleman, in which he 48 the experience of that dark stormy night. The letter also 49 a formal invitation, asking that young man to pay a visit.
At a street corner in Manhattan, the young man met his 50 guest. The old gentleman, pointing to a magnificent new building 51 over the crossroads, “Look, that is the hotel I 52 to build for you. I hope you will 53 it for me .Remember what I said then? Well, I was 54 about it.”
The young man stammered, “But…will there be any 55 , sir? Why do you choose me? And who are you?”
“My name is William Aster.” This building was none other than the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, a symbol of supreme status and honor in New York.
A．put up B．put away C．stay up D．set up
A．preserved B．conserved C．booked D．occupied
A．Meanwhile B．Moreover C．Otherwise D．However
A．on duty B．on display C．on stage D．on hand
A．service B．view C．offer D．invitation
A．Instruction B．consideration C．Inconvenience D．interruption
A．cleared away B．picked out C．cleaned up D．cleared up
A．living B．double C．admirable D．luxury
A．appreciation B．admiration C．surprise D．excitement
A．excite B．skeptical C．annoyed D．respectful
A．lacking B．covering C．joking D．cheating
A．not more B．no more C．some D．another
A．described B．stated C．recited D．recalled
A．swapped B．included C．attached D．added
A．former B．original C．formal D．primitive
A．displaying B．towering C．flying D．hovering
A．determined B．promised C．tended D．intended
A．get B．keep C．manage D．make
A．sensitive B．concerned C．curious D．serious
A．Scene B．situation C．condition D．occasion
My husband and I only have one car． So after work I always walk to his office and wait for him to drive mc home．
One day, while I was waiting for him, a beautiful Cadillac near me．Honestly, the driver was probably the prettiest woman I had ever seen outside of a movie screen． Her eyes were as blue as the sea, and she had like an even row of pearls． Minutes later, a man came out of the building and walked over to her． They kissed and drove off．
Sitting there, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, I wanted to cry． It is so that some people have it all．
The next week I saw her again, and after that it became almost to see her． I would wonder if she and her husband ate out a lot and where they went． I wanted her to the car so I could see her in full length． Did she wear classy, high-heeled shoes?
A few weeks, I was waiting in my usual spot and the lady's husband came over to their car．He opened the door． Slowly the pretty woman walked around to the passenger side— on a walking cane． She one leg with her hands and then the other one; she had a prosthetic（假肢） on her left leg and a brace （文架） on her right one．
When my husband arrived I told him about what had happened． He said he knew her husband and that, when the lady was 12 years old, she had been in a car that got stuck on the railroad tracks． Both her parents were killed．The rail company made a large with her because the crossing had no ; that is why she owned such a nice car．
For weeks I had this woman and her way of life． Now I realize how lucky I am．When you meet a person who seems to be much better off than you don't be appearances．
A．rang up B．sped up C．went up D．pulled up
A．cars B．hairs C． teeth D．fingers
A．unfair B．lonely C．surprising D．touching
A．strange B．boring C．stressful D．routine
A．stay away from B．get out of C．look out of D．pick up
A．putting B．turning C．leaning D．carrying
A．skipped B．patted C．pressed D．lifted
A．limited B．left C．knocked D．trapped
A．arrangement B．fortune C．settlement D．contract
A．signals B．stations C．pedestrians D．announcement
A．ignored B．envied C．respected D．understood
A．prevented B．limited C．blocked D．fooled
From my second grade on, there was one event I feared every year: the piano recital(独奏演唱会). A recital I had to practice a boring piece of music and perform before strangers. Each year I would ask my father if I could skip the recital “just this once”. And each year he would shake his head, saying something about building and working toward a goal.
One recent Sunday I stood in church, video camera in hand, and my 68-year-old father play the piano in his very first recital.
My father had longed to play music since childhood, but his family was poor and couldn’t lessons. He could have gone on regretting it, too many of us do. But he wasn’t stuck in the past. When he retired three years ago, he his church music director to take him as .
For a moment after my father sat down at the keyboard, he stared down at his fingers. Has he forgotten the ? I worried. But then came the beautiful melody (旋律). And I he had been doing what music teachers always stress: the notes and pretend the others aren’t there.
“I’m of him for starting something new at his age,” I said to my son Jeff.
“Yeah, and doing it so ,” Jeff added.
With his first recital, my father taught me more about self-confidence and the life goal than all the words he used those 30-plus years ago.
A．reflected B．meant C．explained D．proved
A．self-confidence B．self-control C．self-defense D．self-discipline
A．kept B．sent C．watched D．felt
A．miss B．afford C．select D．understand
A．as B．once C．if D．while
A．allowed B．invited C．inspired D．persuaded
A．a teacher B．an old man C．a student D．a singer
A．words B．videos C．notes D．lessons
A．predicted B．realized C．imagined D．insisted
A．pass over B．turn up C．bring in D．concentrate on
A．ashamed B．aware C．tired D．proud
A．nicely B．anxiously C．casually D．frequently
“When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.”
As we live through life, we tend to get caught up in our individual world, our problems — our life. When we our world to include others in a meaningful way, by making a difference in their life, we increase our experience at the same time.
Think back on a time when someone made a difference in your life.
Here is one of mine: I was going to college, working part-time, and just getting by financially. Standing in line at a local supermarket, I a woman in the same line, thinking that she was not very attractive. As I was , I discovered that I did not have enough money to pay; without , that same woman I had been judging offered to the difference. It wasn’t , but what that person did made a lasting impression on me. She was a beautiful, caring soul who was willing to help a stranger in a(an) situation. That happened over forty years ago and I remember it as as if it was yesterday.
Other examples are the numerous times I have had people smile at me, which my day. I've often wondered if it was because I was smiling, which I to do all the time, or because they were smiling to be , which encouraged me to smile as well. It has probably been some of both. In case, that simple gesture (a smile) makes a difference in my day.
There are ways to make a significant difference in another's life. The question is: Are we doing it? It does not anything, but it does require some effort on our part. I have found that as I do this consistently, the go far beyond the energy required to do the deed. Looking for ways to brighten another person's day raises our vibration(共鸣),and when we act on it, we the other person to raise their vibration as well — it is to each other.
Make a difference in someone's life today, and doing so every day. Today is a perfect time to start! If you are already doing so. bravo!
A．rebuild B．establish C．expand D．develop
A．direct B．minor C．remarkable D．positive
A．thoroughly B．smoothly C．barely D．actually
A．observed B．witnessed C．inspected D．accompanied
A．hanging out B．checking out C．setting out D．working out
A．expectation B．hesitation C．assumption D．intention
A．deal with B．take in C．make up D．cut down
A．much B．enough C．little D．awful
A．urgent B．absurd C．hopeless D．embarrassing
A．roughly B．clearly C．correctly D．dimly
A．brightens B．ruins C．begins D．influences
A．undertook B．tried C．promised D．failed
A．dynamic B．appealing C．friendly D．merciful
A．neither B．either C．no D．another
A．limited B．vital C．necessary D．countless
A．deserve B．charge C．determine D．cost
A．efforts B．achievements C．returns D．consequences
A．assist B．remind C．permit D．persuade
A．similar B．beneficial C．fundamental D．appropriate
A．admit B．prefer C．recommend D．consider
I still remember it was in the winter of 1990 that, together with the help of my older sister, I down my wishes for Christmas onto a piece of paper. How I wished on Christmas Eve my grandest wish would be and placed under the Christmas tree — a puppy. When we were done, our wish-lists were collected by our parents with the promise to be to Santa's hard- working helpers.
The next day, our parents sat us down in the living-room, with expressions on their faces. As it , they had seen our wishes, now wanting to talk to us about one wish — the puppy. For a moment, I held my breath, but was when they told us that they weren't against a puppy. What they against was putting it under the Christmas tree. That was not a good idea.
They taught us that an animal was not a gift that belonged to the same as our toys. Animals were creatures with that we should decide to have one, and it would be a(n) to our family. An animal a lot of responsibilities. It wasn’t anything one bought out of a mood. An animal could not be exchanged or when we didn't feel like it. An animal wasn’t a toy. An animal was a family member that needed lots of love and attention. An animal was not a , but a family decision. A serious decision. And a big decision.
, my parents share my love for animals, so the decision came reasonably . After our grandparents had given their up for taking care of the dog, while we were on future vacations, the answer was yes. Yes, we would get a puppy.
The following days and weeks, there was only one : our new family member! Yes, a family member, because animals have their rights. They are not simply food or gifts. We humans must attend, love and protect them.
A．left B．got C．set D．pulled
A．rejected B．declined C．challenged D．fulfilled
A．given away B．passed on C．taken on D．put up
A．dangerous B．curious C．serious D．mysterious
A．turned out B．taken out C．run out D．held out
A．in peace B．in order C．in particular D．in return
A．pardoned B．frightened C．inspired D．relieved
A．protested B．objected C．opposed D．resisted
A．patiently B．hurriedly C．anxiously D．roughly
A．arrangement B．routine C．schedule D．category
A．feelings B．secrets C．stains D．sufferings
A．convenience B．facility C．extension D．heritage
A．signed B．meant C．attained D．guaranteed
A．put forward B．put up C．put aside D．put off
A．native B．original C．responsible D．precious
A．riddle B．gift C．servant D．victim
A．Negatively B．Ridiculously C．Particularly D．Luckily
A．difficult B．easy C．contradictory D．concrete
A．thumbs B．toes C．noses D．eyes
A．theme B．argument C．prejudice D．topic
“I wouldn’t buy that woman a Mother’s Day card, even if my life depended upon it,” said the woman standing by the card shelf at Wal-Mart. I looked up and saw a(n) of total complaint and dislike.
Having been at a Florida orphanage at age four, I never knew what it felt like to have a mother or a father. Never once had I received a hug or a kiss from my parents. That part of my life is a total .
She looked up, saw me looking at her and angrily, “Just what are you looking at, you fool?”
“Sorry Ma’am. I never had a mother, and I was by your words.” I reached over and picked up a nice-looking , opened it and began to read, “Thank you for being my mother.”
“Do you think your mother would like that card? Mine would, I think,” I said.
“Do you know what it is like to be at for years, and never be told that you are loved?” she asked.
“My mother didn’t me, let alone shout. She just took me to the orphanage where I stayed until I grew up,” I replied.
“Don’t you her?” she asked.
“Oh, I can’t. She’s my mother. Being a mother is a position to be , even if she is not a very nice person,” I told her. The woman stood there her head.
I looked down at the floor and said, “I know your mother might have done a lot of things that you. It appears as if you hate her. But I can tell you this from my that disliking her, or even hating her, feels nowhere near as as never having known a mother at all—good or bad. At least, you feel . For me, it’s all just a large blank of loneliness inside my heart, and that’s I’ll feel until I die.”
The woman stood there for a moment. , she reached out, took the card from my hand, smelled it, and placed it in her cart.
After she left, I a nice card for my mother. I took it home, it, and placed it with the other Mother and Father’s Days cards bought all these years, each marked “Address Unknown”.
A．idea B．appearance C．expression D．impression
A．deserted B．lost C．reserved D．rescued
A．dark B．pain C．misfortune D．blank
A．requested B．considered C．screamed D．refused
A．relieved B．annoyed C．disappointed D．shocked
A．cart B．card C．book D．magazine
A．simply B．largely C．originally D．basically
A．shouted B．glared C．laughed D．pointed
A．set aside B．leave behind C．care about D．know about
A．miss B．love C．accuse D．hate
A．depended B．obeyed C．respected D．observed
A．shaking B．dropping C．raising D．nodding
A．hurt B．blamed C．disturbed D．punished
A．conscience B．efforts C．experiences D．nature
A．fragile B．lonely C．hateful D．anxious
A．anything B．everything C．nothing D．something
A．whether B．how C．where D．why
A．Cheerfully B．Eagerly C．Hesitantly D．Seriously
A．picked out B．packed up C．brought out D．took up
A．mended B．exposed C．addressed D．signed