A few months earlier I had been painting two portraits for each of my parents．I'd planned to give them the portraits as Christmas gifts．This would be a 36 for everyone，as I had not studied 37 ．
While painting one day, I was surprised by a knock on the door. Quickly having put all my 38 materials out of sight, I opened the 39 . To my astonishment, my father came in .
Immediately I wanted to show him the paintings, but I was 40 to destroy his Christmas surprise. Yet something 41 me to share the gifts with him. After making him promise to keep it secret, I 42 he keep his eyes closed until I had the portraits set on easels(画架). “Okay, Daddy. Now you can 43 !”
He appeared dazed at first. Finally , he said, “I don’t believe it. The eyes are so 44 that they follow you everywhere—and look how 45 your mother is. Will you let me have them 46 ?”
Excited with his response, I happily volunteered to 47 them to the frame shop the next day. Several weeks passed. Then one night the 48 rang—my father had a stroke(中风). He died the next day, and it seemed all 49 escaped from the life of my mother and me .
I finally remembered to 50 about the framed portraits. I was surprised when the shopkeeper told me my father had visited the shop, 51 for the framing and had them gift-wrapped.
52 we had lost our loved people, everyone gathered on Christmas Day making an effort to be 53 . As I looked into my mother’s sad eyes and unsmiling face, I decided to give her Daddy’s and my 54 . After she saw it, with a wide smile, she quickly said, “I knew Daddy would be with us on Christmas Day!”
I glanced at the gift card written in my father’s 55 . “ Mother—Our daughter reminded me why I am so blessed. I’ll be always looking at you.—Daddy.”
A．comfort B．success C．chance D．surprise
A．art B．music C．dance D．literature
A．1istening B．painting C．writing D．reading
A．window B．drawer C．door D．bag
A．reluctant B．sorry C．content D．eager
A．forbade B．forced C．advised D．encouraged
A．suggested B．insisted C．required D．ordered
A．look B．taste C．sing D．go
A．big B．bright C．real D．clear
A．honest B．old C．shy D．beautiful
A．hung B．framed C．signed D．sold
A．drive B．see C．drop D．leave
A．bell B．clock C．phone D．whistle
A．anxiety B．pain C．trouble D．joy
A．worry B．call C．care D．talk
A．paid B．waited C．stayed D．prepared
A．In case B．As soon as C．Even though D．Now that
A．sad B．cheerful C．quiet D．calm
A．heart B．secret C．advice D．gift
A．words B．saying C．handwriting D．1etters
I was at the post office early that morning, hoping to be in and out in a short while．Yet, I 36 myself standing in a queue that went all the way into the hallway．I had never seen so many people there on a weekday．It seemed someone might have made an announcement, welcoming customers to carry as many37 as they could and bring them in when I needed to have my own package 38 ．The queue moved very slowly．My patience ran out and I got 39 ．The longer it took, the angrier I became．When I got to the counter finally, I finished my 40 quickly and briefly, and then walked past the queue that was now extending past the front door．
"Excuse me," I said, trying not to be too pushy．Several people had to move 41 to make room for me to get to the 42 ．
I stepped out, complaining about the 43 conditions．Thinking I was going to be late for my dentist appointment, I headed into the parking lot．
A woman was coming across the lot in my 44 ．She was walking with determination, and each step sounded very heavy．I 45 that she looked as if she could breathe fire．It stopped me in my tracks．I46 _ myself and it wasn't pretty．Had I looked like that? Her body language said that she was having a _47 day．My anger melted away．I wished I could wrap her in a hug but I was a 48 ．So I did what I could in a minute 49 she hurried past me－I smiled．In a second everything changed．She was astonished, then somewhat 50 ．Then her face softened and her shoulders 51 ．I saw her take a deep breath．Her pace slowed and she smiled back at me as we passed each other．
I continued to smile all the way to my _52 ．Wow, it's amazing what a simple smile can do．
From then on, I became aware of people's 53 and my own, the way we show our feelings．Now I use that _54 every day to let it 55 me that when facing the world, I can try a smile．
A．found B．helped C．troubled D．enjoyed
A．things B．packages C．chances D．dollars
A．lifted B．cashed C．weighed D．carried
A．pleased B．disappointed C．delighted D．annoyed
A．business B．choice C．situation D．attitude
A．away B．about C．along D．aside
A．counter B．cashier C．exit D．entrance
A．weather B．service C．work D．shopping
A．satisfaction B．decision C．direction D．imagination
A．announced B．discovered C．proved D．noticed
A．trusted B．recognized C．hid D．persuaded
A．rough B．bright C．big D．nice
A．gentleman B．stranger C．customer D．passenger
A．until B．though C．before D．since
A．attracted B．frightened C．cheered D．confused
A．trembled B．raised C．relaxed D．tightened
A．car B．office C．home D．doctor
A．appearances B．reactions C．behaviors D．expressions
A．treatment B．awareness C．conclusion D．achievement
A．remind B．show C．give D．tell
One day I visited an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was expecting a quiet 36 of the splendid artwork.
A young 37 viewing the paintings ahead of me 38 nonstop between themselves. I watched them a moment and decided the lady was doing all the talking. I admired the man's 39 for putting up with her 40 stream of words. 41 by their noise, I moved on.
I met them several times as I moved 42 the various rooms of art. Each time I heard her continuous flow of words, I moved away 43 .
I was standing at the counter of the museum gift shop making a 44 when the couple approached the 45 .Before they left, the man 46 into his pocket and pulled out a white object. He 47 it into a long stick and then 48 his way into the coatroom to get his wife's jacket.
“He's a 49 man.” the clerk at the counter said. “Most of us would give up if we were blinded at such a young age. During his recovery, he made a promise his life wouldn't change. So, as before, he and his wife come in 50 there is a new art show.”
“But what does he get out of the art?” I asked. “He can't see.”
“Can't see! You're 51 . He sees a lot. More than you and I do,” the clerk said. “His wife 52 each painting so he can see it in his head.”
I learned something about patience, 53 and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without 54 and the courage of a husband who would not 55 blindness to change his life. And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away, their arms intertwined.
A．view B．touch C．wander D．scenery
A．lady B．man C．couple D．clerk
A．yelled B．argued C．screamed D．chatted
A．attempt B．patience C．wisdom D．independence
A．vivid B．constant C．casual D．exciting
A．Adopted B．Adapted C．Conducted D．Disturbed
A．towards B．to C．through D．from
A．anxiously B．slowly C．quickly D．sensibly
A．comment B．decision C．purchase D．profit
A．entrance B．queue C．front D．exit
A．plugged B．reached C．held D．bent
A．lengthened B．made C．brought D．broadened
A．led B．found C．forced D．tapped
A．brave B．rough C．smart D．generous
A．wherever B．whatever C．whenever D．whichever
A．wrong B．silly C．equal D．unique
A．describes B．draws C．shows D．decorates
A．kindness B．courage C．enthusiasm D．pride
A．support B．expectation C．sight D．confidence
A．allow B．hope C．get D．cause
English was always my favorite subject. In my freshman year of high school, I could write a killer composition. In my second year, my 36 allowed me to give spelling tests to the class. I had wonderful 37 of my junior year. Mrs. Alexander38 me to sit at her desk and take over the class when she had to leave the room. Only my senior English class was 39 , as we had a teacher right out of college who expected college-level work. Every student received a “C” or “D” grade the first quarter. 40 English was still my subject.
I graduated from high school, 41 early and had children. Confident about my English, I often helped my kids with their English homework. And I 42 long articles and beautiful poetry as a columnist for a newspaper. Fifteen years later, I went to college, and because I had been an "A" student, I remained an ‘‘A” student. I 43 up to my own expectations.
Yesterday, I 44 my high school report cards when I was reading old papers. That bundle of report cards 45 back the old days. I remembered sitting in my advisor's office，explaining that I had always excelled at English, and 46 that I did not deserve a “D” from that 47 teacher of my senior year. The advisor was sympathetic but unable to change a (an) 48
Reading 49 my old report cards revealed something else too. I wanted to tore them or hide them. I was not an ‘‘A” student in high school English！Somehow, I had 50 myself of this，when the grades clearly reflected an 51 student with an occasional “ A ” or ‘‘ B” but mostly “C” s.
Had I lived up to those grades and 52 myself according to those letters，I would have never confidently sought my writing 53 . Had I believed in my early grades instead of myself，I would have allowed my fear of 54 to defeat my enthusiasm and damage my creativity. 55 ，I viewed my younger self as an “A” English student, except for that undeserved “D”.
A．monitor B．headmaster C．classmate D．teacher
A．impressions B．thoughts C．inspirations D．memories
A．approved B．appointed C．expected D．urged
A．flexible B．creative C．disappointing D．controversial
A．So B．But C．And D．Or
A．married B．worked C．succeeded D．progressed
A．wrote B．edited C．read D．copied
A．added B．lived C．grew D．went
A．counted B．remembered C．approached D．discovered
A．brought B．turned C．held D．kept
A．reporting B．guaranteeing C．complaining D．recommending
A．impolite B．impatient C．inexperienced D．independent
A．grade B．figure C．paper D．entry
A．out B．through C．from D．into
A．warned B．reminded C．informed D．convinced
A．average B．enthusiastic C．outstanding D．awkward
A．considered B．defined C．reflected D．described
A．goal B．dream C．career D．enterprise
A．change B．risk C．stress D．failure
A．Otherwise B．Besides C．Instead D．Still
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意， 然后从各题所给的四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
An old man had three children, all boys. When they had grown up, he called them together and told them that he was very __36__ and no longer able to provide, __37__ for himself .He ordered them to go out and bring him food and clothing.
The three brothers __38 __ , and after a very long while they came to a large__39__. They decided that once they got across they would __40__. The eldest told the youngest to take the middle road, and the second to go to the right, __41__ he himself would go to the left. Then, in a year’s time, they would __42__ to the same spot.
So they parted, and at the end of a year, as __43__, they found their way back to the riverside. The eldest asked the youngest what he had gotten during his travels, and the boy __44__: I have nothing but a __45__ . If you look into it, you can see all over the country, no matter how far away.”
When asked __46__ what he had gotten, the second brother replied : “Only a pair of sandals that are so full of __47__ that if one puts them on one can walk at once to any place in the country in one step.”
Then the eldest himself, said: “ I , __48__ , have obtained but little, a kind of medicine, that is all. But let us look into the mirror and see how father __49__.”
The youngest __50__ his mirror, and they all looked into it and saw that their father was already __51__.Then the elder said: “Let us __52__ home and see what we can do,” So the second brought out his sandals, and all three placed their feet inside them and , __53__ , they reached their father’s grave. Then the eldest took the__54__ out of his bag, and poured it over the grave. At once their father __55__, as if nothing had been the matter with him.
Now which of these three sons has performed the best?
A．old B．tired C．active D．unusual
A．merely B．even C．already D．ever
A．took down B．grew up C．set out D．turned around
A．plain B．temple C．mountain D．river
A．settle B．speed C．bathe D．separate
A．but B．although C．while D．if
A．refer B．return C．owe D．contribute
A．agreed B．tested C．proved D．called
A．rose B．replied C．aimed D．added
A．map B．rule C．mirror D．telescope
A．in doubt B．in store C．in time D．in turn
A．happiness B．time C．energy D．power
A．however B．therefore C．too D．anyway
A．came out B．got on C．made up D．broke down
A．produced B．fetched C．hid D．received
A．dead B．rich C．strong D．sick
A．call B．ride C．hurry D．drive
A．suddenly B．instead C．slowly D．immediately
A．fish B．medicine C．money D．wine
A．got up B．built up C．joined in D．passed away
After the birth of my second child, I got a job at a restaurant. Having worked with an experienced 16 for a few days. I was 17 to wait tables on my own. All went 18 that first week. When Saturday night came, I was luckily 19 the tables not far from the kitchen. 20 , I still felt it a little hard to carry the heavy trays(托盘).
Before I knew it, the 21 was full of people. I moved slowly, 22 every step. I remember how 23 I was when I saw the tray stand near the tables; it looked different from the one I was 24 on. It had nice handles, which made it 25 to move around. I was pleased with everything and began to 26 I was a natural at this job.
Then, an old man came to me and said, “Excuse me, dear, my wife and I loved 27 you work. It seems your tray stand has been very 28 to you, but we are getting ready to 29 now, and my wife needs her 30 back.”
At first his 31 did not get across. “What was he talking about!” Then, I got it. I had set my trays on his wife’s orthopedic walker(助步器). I stood frozen as ice, but my face was 32 . I wanted to get into a hole and 33 .
Since then, I have learned from many mistakes such as the one I just34 . I have learned to be more 35 and not to be too sure of myself.
A．manager B．assistant C．cook D．waitress
A．promised B．invited C．advised D．allowed
A．well B．quickly C．safely D．wrong
A．left B．shown C．brought D．given
A．However B．Therefore C．Otherwise D．Finally
A．kitchen B．street C．restaurant D．table
A．taking B．changing C．minding D．saving
A．angry B．happy C．sad D．calm
A．fixed B．trained C．loaded D．waited
A．slower B．lighter C．quieter D．easier
A．believe B．agree C．regret D．pretend
A．letting B．making C．watching D．having
A．useful B．familiar C．unusual D．interesting
A．rest B．order C．eat D．leave
A．bag B．tray C．walker D．coat
A．message B．praise C．idea D．need
A．cold B．full of joy C．pale D．on fire
A．lie B．defend C．hide D．stay
A．repeated B．discovered C．corrected D．described
A．patient B．careful C．honest D．practical