Long long ago, there was a small village． This village had a 1 tradition． At the beginning of every year, any boy who had reached the age of majority （the state of legally being an adult） was given land and money to build a home． The boy had to 2 his home before winter． If his home failed to endure the cold weather in winter, the villagers could not 3 him in any way．
One 4 , Paul and Marc reached their majority． They 5 their land and money and decided to search nearby villages for ideas on building their homes． In each village, they found the nicest 6 and talked to the owners． Each owner gladly offered 7 ．
After Marc saw several homes, he 8 the best ideas and went back to his own land． Paul, 9 , continued collecting more ideas． Soon he had so many great ideas that he began to 10 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, 11 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 12 it later． Paul enjoyed all the beautiful homes and 13 with home owners． The first snow came and Paul, realizing he was running out of time, 14 back to his land． He built the best home he could in the time he had, but it was 15 ． The first winter storm destroyed his home and he froze to 16 ． The villagers mourned for him．
Marc 17 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, 18 a family, and lived a happy, content life．
We all build and improve our own mental homes． It’s 19 and fun for us to search for ideas from other mental home owners, but we only improve our own mental home if we actually 20 the best ideas．
A．strange B．hopeful C．literary D．cultural
A．find B．make C．complete D．buy
A．help B．encourage C．scold D．persuade
A．winter B．summer C．autumn D．spring
A．exchanged B．received C．recognized D．advice
A．girls B．jobs C．houses D．presents
A．rooms B．drinks C．attention D．advice
A．expected B．gathered C．created D．understood
A．similarly B．finally C．however D．furthermore
A．forget B．believe C．replace D．doubt
A．because B．although C．but D．so
A．repair B．rebuild C．sell D．improve
A．conversations B．achievements C．struggles D．arguments
A．drove B．rushed C．flew D．moved
A．weak B．funny C．small D．amazing
A．blindness B．death C．sadness D．illness
A．experienced B．loved C．survived D．spent
A．brought B．earned C．contacted D．raised
A．slow B．easy C．dangerous D．special
A．realize B．bring C．collect D．apply
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 36 teaching it to you. If, when I speak to you, I 37 the same things thousand and one times, do not 38 me, listen to me. When you were small, I had to read to you thousand and one times the same story 39 you got to sleep. When I do not want to have a 40 , neither shame me nor scold me. Remember when I had to chase you with thousand excuses I 41 , in order that you wanted to bathe. When you see my 42 little about new technologies, give me the necessary time and do not look at me with your mocking(嘲弄) smile. I taught you 43 to do so many things: to eat good, to dress well, to confront life…. When at some moment I lose the memory or the 44 of our conversation, let me have the necessary time to remember, and if I cannot do it, do not become nervous, as the most important thing is not our conversation but surely to be with you and to have you 45 to me.
If ever I do not want to eat, do not force me. I know well 46 I need to and when not. When my 47 legs do not allow me to walk, give me your 48 , the same way I did when you gave your first 49 . And when someday I say to you that I do not want to 50 any more ---- that I want to rest forever, do not get ___51__. Someday you will understand.
Try to understand that my age is not lived but survived. Some day you will discover that, despite my mistakes, I always wanted the 52 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 me 53 you. You must be next to me, try to understand me and to help me as I did it when you 54 living. Help me to walk, help me to end my way with love and 55 . I will pay you by a smile and by the immense love I have had always for you.
I love you, Son
Your father
A．paid B．spent C．cost D．took
A．praise B．think C．repeat D．criticize
A．interrupt B．disturb C．look D．avoid
A．when B．after C．since D．until
A．rest B．word C．shower D．sleep
A．discovered B．invented C．noticed D．assumed
A．knowing B．fearing C．enjoying D．consulting
A．what B．when C．how D．why
A．news B．attitude C．material D．thread
A．talking B．listening C．responding D．appealing
A．where B．how C．that D．when
A．tired B．short C．long D．strong
A．leg B．ear C．hand D．mind
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．excuse D．patience
Once upon a time there were two brothers who lived near each other. One day, they had a ___36___ because of some small things. And neither was willing to ___37___ each other.
One morning, there was a knock at door of the elder brother. He 38 _ it and found a man standing beside the door. “I’m a carpenter(木匠). I’m 39__ a few days’ work. Perhaps you would have a few small jobs I could help with.”
“Yes,” said the elder brother. “I do have a job for you. ___40___ at that farm across the small river. It is my younger brother’s. We had a quarrel, so I won’t like to see his place or his __41___ any more. I want you to build me a 8-foot ___42___.”
The man said, “I think I understand the situation. Don’t worry. I’ll be able to do a job that makes you __43__.” So the elder brother was very glad and left for the town nearby.
In the evening, the carpenter had just ___44___ his job when the elder brother returned. But he was __45___ to find, instead of a fence, before him, stood a __46____, which went from one side of the river ___47__ the other! On the other __48____ of bridge, was his younger brother.
“Do you know the name of the bridge?” The carpenter asked.
“No,” the elder brother was __49___.
“OK, I can tell you. Its name is understanding and __50___,” the carpenter smiled.
Suddenly they began to understand ___51___. Surely, between two brothers there should be a bridge rather than a _52____. Standing on the bridge, they _53___ each other’s hands with ____54__ in their eyes.
“Could you stay another few days? I’ve a lot of other work for you,” said the elder brother. “I’d love to ___55___ on,” the carpenter said. “But I have many more bridges to build.”
A．meeting B．question C．decision D．quarrel
A．forgive B．like C．speak D．believe
A．got B．opened C．shut D．left
A．looking for B．looking at C．looking on D．looking up
A．See B．Watch C．Observe D．Look
A．house B．face C．farm D．eyes
A．wall B．fence C．road D．bridge
A．excited B．pleased C．moved D．surprised
A．begun B．done C．finished D．continued
A．surprised B．happy C．anxious D．sad
A．house B．bridge C．fence D．river
A．to B．between C．across D．till
A．end B．side C．field D．stage
A．disappointed B．puzzled C．amazed D．worried
A．love B．hate C．joy D．anger
A．everything B．nothing C．anything D．something
A．river B．fence C．farm D．wall
A．brought B．took C．held D．clapped
A．smiles B．tears C．anger D．sadness
A．leave B．get C．stay D．work
Once an Arab was traveling in the desert. When the sun went down in the west, he stopped and _36_ his tent then, made a fire and have a _37_ meal. When night fell, he_38_ down to sleep.
He had_39_ fallen asleep when he felt a soft _40_ on his elbow(手肘). He woke up to find that his camel had put his head inside the tent. The camel said: “Would you please let me keep my head in the tent to get warm? It is so cold outside. I will not take up too much 41 .”
The Arab was a 42 man, “All right, do as you 43 .” he said. Then he turned on his_44_ and went back to sleep.
It wasn’t long 45 he felt a push on his shoulder. It was the camel again. “Dear master,” the camel said, “my head is quite warm now, but my neck is still cold. Do you mind 46 I keep it inside the tent, too?”
“ _47_ .” the man said. But this time he felt a bit 48 , as camel had such a long neck.
No sooner had he shut his eyes 49 he got a harder push in his side. This time the camel said, “will you please allow me to bring my front legs inside and warm then a little?”
The Arab_ 50_ over to one side of the tent. He made _51_ as small as he could. It was not _52_ comfortable, and sleep was now out of 53 .Soon after that the camel gave his a rough push and said, “The tent is too small for the two of us. 54 , my two hind legs are still left in the cold. It is only_55_ that you should leave the tent wholly to me.” And with that, the camel kicked the poor man out.
A．built B．made C．put up D．set
A．simple B．rich C．excellent D．ordinary
A．laid B．lay C．lied D．went
A．seldom B．not C．almost D．hardly
A．touch B．beat C．kick D．bite
A．place B．tent C．room D．blanket
A．hard-hearted B．kind-hearted C．absent-mined D．careless
A．please B．willing C．are like D．want
A．light B．head C．arm D．side
A．after B．before C．since D．then
A．whether B．as C．that D．if
A．Yes, of course B．No, not at all C．Don’t, please D．No, you can
A．crowded B．comfortable C．warmer D．narrower
A．than B．then C．when D．after
A．went B．walked C．climbed D．moved
A．the tent. B．himself C．room D．ground
A．very B．much C．a bit D．a little
A．question B．the question C．quite possible D．possibility
A．Except B．Besides C．After all D．But
A．fair B．wrong C．satisfied D．right
Growing roots
When l was growing up, I had an old neighbor named Dr. Gibbs. He didn't look like any doctor I'd 36 known. When Dr. Gibbs wasn't 37 lives, he was planting trees.
The good doctor had some interesting theories 38 planting trees. He believed in "No pains，no gains". He never 39 his new trees，which was 40 many people. Once I 41 why. He answered that watering plants spoiled them, and that if you water them, each following tree generation will grow 42 . So you have to make things 43 for them. He talked about how watering trees 44 shallow roots，and how trees that weren't watered had to grow deep roots in 45 of water. I took him to mean that deep roots were to be 46 . I planted a couple of trees a few years back and I took good care of them. Two years of devotion has 47 trees that expect to be waited on hand and foot. Whenever a cold wind blows, they 48 and tremble their branches. Funny things about those trees of Dr. Gibbs'. The lack of water seemed to 49 them in ways comfort and ease never 50 .
I used to pray for my sons that their lives will be 51 . But lately I've been thinking that it's time to change my 52 . I know my children are going to meet 53 ，and I'm praying they will be strong. The prayer for comfort is 54 met. What we need to do is to pray for deep roots，so when the winds blow, we won't be 55 away.
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At the age of seven, I went to see my grandma in Warwick and spent the summer with her. One day I went to a general store with a 34 full of what Grandma needed.
“Excuse me, I need to 35 these,” I said .
“So ? I’m not your 36 ! You should get yourself a basket and start filling,” Miss Bee, the owner of the store, said 37 without smiling. “If you’re 38 you’ll be home by sunset.” Sunset was five hours away. 39 , the store was a puzzle, and I wasn’t sure if I would make it.
I visited Miss Bee several times a week that 40 . One afternoon when I watched her adding 35 cents instead of 29 for a can of beans, I 41 her immediately. Though being caught overcharging , she didn’t seem 42 , and she just fixed the price.
All summer long I was always tricked by Miss Bee. No sooner had I memorized the soda’s location on the shelf than she rearranged the shelves and made me 43 it all over again. But by summer’s end the 44 trip that had once taken me an hour was done in 15 minutes.
The morning I was to return to Brooklyn, I stepped in to get a bottle of water.
“What did you 45 this summer?” she said.
“That you’re so mean!” I whispered.
To my 46 , Miss Bee laughed. “When you get older, you’ll be glad our paths crossed!”
Glad I met Miss Bee ? No!
Until one day my daughter came to me with homework 47 . “It’s too hard,” she said. “Could you finish it for me?”
“If I do it for you, how will you ever learn to do it yourself?” Suddenly, I was 48 at that general store where Miss Bee had really taught me something all those years ago.
A．bag B．bottle C．list D．can
A．buy B．read C．borrow D．sell
A．daughter B．servant C．master D．teacher
A．honestly B．quietly C．coldly D．quietly
A．busy B．stupid C．lucky D．popular
A．However B．Besides C．Therefore D．Also
A．year B．summer C．autumn D．term
A．supported B．attracted C．corrected D．remembered
A．excited B．unfriendly C．moved D．uncomfortable
A．hunt for B．step onto C．learn about D．care for
A．school B．shopping C．business D．sightseeing
A．eat B．earn C．forget D．learn
A．shame B．delight C．surprise D．regret
A．signs B．troubles C．scores D．rules
A．out B．ahead C．around D．back