When I was 17，I read a quote that went something like：“If you live each day as if it were your last，someday you’ll most certainly be right” It made a deep 1 on me, and since then, for the past 33 years，I have 2 in the mirror every morning and asked myself：“If today were the last day of my life， 3 I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a 4 ，I know I need to change something．
Remembering that I’ll be 5 soon is the most important tool I’ve ever known to help me make the big 6 in life because almost everything falls away in the face of death， 7 only what is truly important.
About a year ago I was 8 with cancer. My doctor even advised me to go home and get my affairs 9 order，which is a doctor’s way of telling people to prepare to die．I 10 with that diagnosis all day． 11 ，at last an advanced test showed that it was a very rare cancer that is 12 with surgery．I had the surgery and I’m fine now.
13 wants to die．Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all 14 ．No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be，because death is very likely the single best invention of 15 ．It is life's change agent. It clears out the old to 16 for the new．Right now the new is you．But someday not too 17 from now，you will gradually become the old and be cleared away．Sorry to be so dramatic，but it is quite true.
Your time is 18 ，so don’t waste it living someone else’s 1ife．Don’t be 19 by dogma (教条) —which is living with the results of other people’s thinking．Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner 20 ．And most importantly，have the courage to follow your heart.
A．joke B．curse C．decision D．impression
A．looked B．seen C．found D．1ost
A．might B．should C．would D．could
A．hurry B．1ine C．row D．moment
A．successful B．dead C．rich D．frustrated
A．choices B．fortune C．impressions D．apologies
A．proving B．confirming C．leaving D．telling
A．treated B．cured C．diagnosed D．round
A．on B．for C．at D．in
A．met B．1ived C．did D．got
A．But B．However C．Therefore D．So
A．incurable B．fatal C．curable D．changeable
A．No one B．Someone C．Anyone D．Everyone
A．want B．avoid C．escape D．share
A．destination B．science C．1ife D．disease
A．make up B．make way C．make our D．make for
A．distant B．long C．short D．away
A．enough B．rare C．limited D．1ost
A．wasted B．cheated C．excited D．trapped
A．love B．voice C．direction D．confusion
If you are a modern art lover, you should be sure to drop by the Saatchi Gallery during your visit to London. The original gallery was by Charles Saatchi, a British art collector for founding the Saatchi and Saatchi advertising agency with his brother. It moved from its old in St. John’s Wood to its new home in County Hall near the Thames in the spring of 2003.
Anyone who has heard in the past of the often shocking but always inspiring works on at the Saatchi Gallery will not be when visiting the gallery’s new location. Along with the of new British artists, the gallery still the works of Damien Hirst, the Chapman brothers, and Tracy Emin in its permanent .
Of the artworks, one can see in the Saatchi Gallery, Hirst’s works are probably the most . Hirst’s work first made headlines in the early 1990s when he art from dead animals.
Along with Hirst, the Chapman brothers, Dinos and Jake, also a certain amount of their fame to the Saatchi Gallery. It was through Saatchi these two brothers came to public attention. At the gallery, visitors can see the brothers’vision of Hell, made from 30, 000 plastic toy soldiers.
Another artist featured at the gallery who has grabbed with her art is Tracy Emin. In 1998, Emin gave to argument when she sold her messy, unmade bed to Saatchi as a work of art My Bed at ￡150, 000.
Are any of these works really art? That is a question you will have to answer for when you visit the Saatchi Gallery. Charles Saatchi himself says, “I don’t have any ground rules for art. Sometimes you look and don’t feel very with it—but that doesn’t tell you very much. It doesn’t reveal much about the quality of the work.”
A．repaired B．opened C．built D．rented
A．keen B．suitable C．eager D．famous
A．location B．history C．city D．society
A．concerts B．reports C．rumors D．advice
A．store B．board C．display D．sale
A．addicted B．interested C．disappointed D．worried
A．business B．story C．exhibits D．tradition
A．produces B．publishes C．revises D．includes
A．collection B．station C．memory D．basement
A．ready-made B．well-known C．well-prepared D．easy-going
A．copied B．created C．invented D．discovered
A．devote B．suggest C．bring D．owe
A．when B．why C．that D．while
A．headlines B．position C．advantages D．occupations
A．way B．rise C．anxiety D．hope
A．adapted B．written C．referred D．titled
A．yourself B．it C．them D．one
A．praising B．judging C．appreciating D．studying
A．surprised B．confused C．comfortable D．acceptable
A．necessarily B．exactly C．completely D．likely
Challenges and tough experiences can help you find out who you really are.
About 2 years ago, I was in one of my first taekwondo (跆拳道) championships (锦标赛). I was very in myself My opponent (对手) was skinny. The thoughts in my head were something like "She's so of course you'll win". As the match started, my opponent's true came out. She came straight at me and landed a head kick on me, three points in the first five seconds. I was so shocked, and forgot everything my coach said. I was kicking , in hopes of not losing. But hit me. I lost 21-5.1 had never lost before. I was afraid of the girl, and to me, her name was with defeat.
The experience lasted with me. I worked and trained harder than before. I listened to my wholeheartedly and made sure I was not overconfident. The following year, I the same girl once again at the state championships. I was But with encouragement from my coach, I some confidence. When the fight started, I did not panic like the previous match but listened to my coach's . His voice me around the ring (拳击场), attacking at key moments. The main thought in my head was not about winning or losing, doing my best. Eventually, I won. My hard work, and listening to my coach all . My opponent had the skinny figure, but did not frighten me anymore.
From this experience, I learned not to let confidence overshadow reality. It is important to_ the fact that there are people better than you. But with this idea in mind, you can work hard to become that person mat is better. This experience also taught me not to judge others based on their .
A．competing B．struggling C．playing D．quarrelling
A．proud B．confident C．content D．ashamed
A．young B．tiny C．strong D．ugly
A．expression B．sense C．personality D．figure
A．taking B．catching C．reaching D．scoring
A．surprised B．panicked C．tired D．excited
A．angrily B．bravely C．blindly D．cautiously
A．reality B．courage C．imagination D．memory
A．filled B．associated C．mixed D．compared
A．coach B．teammate C．opponent D．judge
A．recognized B．faced C．admired D．reminded
A．afraid B．courageous C．delighted D．alone
A．lacked B．borrowed C．developed D．remembered
A．judgment B．praise C．encouragement D．advice
A．showed B．forced C．kept D．directed
A．but B．or C．so D．and
A．paid back B．called off C．called back D．paid off
A．different B．same C．rare D．common
A．oppose B．ignore C．receive D．accept
A．appearances B．words C．description D．behavior
Predictions of many robots in industry have yet come true. For ten years or more, manufacturers of big robots have explained how their machines can make industry more competitive and productive. The maker for robots is oversupplied now, and the driving force of the robotics revolution is to be with the maker of machines that handle a few kilos at most.
"Heavy-robot manufacturers are in some difficulty finding customers. They are offering big just to get in the door. There has been a growth everywhere in the numbers of robots, so we admit we are either deceiving or that the market is slowly growing，" said John Reekie, chairman of Colen Robotics. "The following things must hap-pen the robotics revolution to occur. We must achieve widespread robot literacy. there has been a computer program, there must be a robot literacy program. ，some kind of artificial intelligence needs to be ”
Colen makes educational robots and machine tools. It is small with companies like ASEA or Fujitsu Fanuc. But Colen with others in departments in universities such as Surrey, Manchester, and Dur-ham possesses an advantage the giants. The big companies sell very expensive to businesses with expert knowledge in automation. The companies make robots for teaching people, and now they have realized that there is a need for small， robots that they can meet.
The little companies either bring their educational machines an industrial standard or design from the start. One technique that they all adopt is to choose (18） components where possible. The major cost of making their models is the electronics, which will fall in price. There is scope for reductions in mechanical costs. The use of standard parts，which are easily replaced, should give these robots a mechanical life of something in the order of five years.
A．small B．educational C．big D．business
A．claimed B．called C．thought D．told
A．to B．with C．over D．in
A．money B．discounts C．prices D．costs
A．exciting B．encouraging C．satisfying D．disappointing
A．ourselves B．customers C．companies D．us
A．to B．for C．in D．with
A．As if B．Even though C．Just as D．Although
A．custom B．literacy C．poem D．tradition
A．However B．Finally C．Whereas D．Because
A．capable B．possible C．probable D．available
A．compared B．comparing C．contrasted D．contrasting
A．than B．above C．over D．from
A．took B．robots C．machines D．electronics
A．other B．big C．little D．robot
A．expensive B．artificial C．educational D．low-cost
A．up to B．on C．in D．about
A．mechanical B．standard C．cheap D．small
A．much B．many C．both D．some
A．more B．less C．no D．least
I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And otherwise assigned a seat by the teacher, I always to sit at the back of the classroom.
All this after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “ for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give it a try.
Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the of it! When I first started the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get and take a shot at the wrong direction—which made me feel really stupid. , I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not to be too hard on myself for the things I didn’t “just yet”.
I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the --friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!
With my self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from “ “in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself, raising my hand—even when I sometimes wasn’t 100 percent I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.
A．as B．until C．unless D．though
A．hoped B．agreed C．meant D．chose
A．continued B．changed C．settled D．started
A．idea B．plan C．belief D．saying
A．right B．chance C．ability D．patience
A．going B．looking C．cheering D．applying
A．point B．half C．rest D．basis
A．enjoying B．preparing C．attending D．watching
A．less B．later C．worse D．further
A．committed B．motivated C．embarrassed D．confused
A．Interestingly B．Fortunately C．Obviously D．Hopefully
A．focus B．act C．rely D．try
A．want B．do C．support D．know
A．steps B．orders C．rules D．games
A．role B．part C．mind D．value
A．process B．operation C．movement D．situation
A．expressed B．improved C．preserved D．recognized
A．dreaming B．playing C．relaxing D．hiding
A．by B．for C．with D．To
A．lucky B．happy C．sure D．Satisfied
It was a cold evening. My daughter and I were walking up Broadway. I didn’t notice a guy sitting inside a cardboard box. But Nora . She wasn’t even four, but she at my coat and said, “That man’s cold. Daddy, can we take him home?”
I don’t remember my . But I do remember a sudden feeling inside me. I had always been pleased at how much my daughter noticed in her , whether it was flying or children playing. But now she was noticing and beggary.
A few days later, I saw an article in the newspaper about volunteers who picked up a food package from a nearby school on a Sunday morning and it to an elderly person. It was quick and easy. I signed us up(登记参加). Nora was about it. She could understand the importance of food, so she could easily see how our job was. When Sunday came, she was ready, but I had to myself to leave the house to fetch the food package. On my way to the school, I fought an urge (强烈愿望) to turn . The Sunday paper and coffee were waiting for me at home. Why to do this? , we phoned the elderly person we’d been appointed. She us right over.
The building was in a bad state. Facing us was a silver-haired woman in an old dress. She took the package and asked us to come in. Nora ran inside. I unwillingly followed. inside, I saw that the department belonged to someone poor. Our hostess showed us some photos. Nora played and when it came time to say goodbye, we three hugged. I walked home .
Experts call such a(n) “a volunteer opportunity”. They are opportunities and I’ve come to see. Where else but as volunteers do you have the opportunity to do something that’s good for others as well as for yourself? Nora and I regularly serve meals to needy people and clothes for the homeless. Yet, as I’ve her grow over these past four years, I still wonder—which of us has benefited more?
A．did B．was C．has D．had
A．pulled B．replaced C．waved D．aimed
A．argument B．reply C．explanation D．expression
A．general B．funny C．heavy D．happy
A．web B．dream C．castle D．world
A．insects B．animals C．plants D．birds
A．coldness B．illness C．suffering D．appearance
A．sent B．returned C．devoted D．posted
A．frightened B．sorry C．worried D．excited
A．creative B．valuable C．shocking D．simple
A．warn B．stop C．allow D．push
A．back B．away C．up D．out
A．Therefore B．But C．Anyhow D．Also
A．requested B．promised C．invited D．helped
A．Although B．Once C．Because D．Though
A．in tears B．in surprise C．in reality D．in disappointment
A．stay B．visit C．reception D．challenge
A．fair B．famous C．difficult D．enjoyable
A．collect B．dress C．order D．design
A．let B．made C．watched D．affected