When you’re a preteen, a huge problem might be that you just have to have a new rock-rap CD, 1 your parents won’t give you the money for it. I thought life was so 2 when things like this happened-----until September 11, 2001.
I was in P.E. when the planes hit the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. As soon as I got home and for weeks before, I saw the disaster 3 on TV. Seeing the innocent people running for their 4 as the debris(瓦砾) started coming down the fire and smoke rose out of the 5 brought tears to my eyes. I couldn’t help imagining what the people on the 6 and in the buildings were thinking and going through, not 7 what was going on. I admired the courage of the firefighters who rushed in and risked their own lives to 8 others. It tore my heart apart to watch the 9 looks on the faces of so many people who didn’t know if their loved ones were dead or alive while 10 in all the debris.
Then it 11 me: All my life I had thought mainly of myself. I had it easy in life and had been taking it all for granted.
A feeling of coldness 12 down my back, and I cried just thinking of the possibility that it could have easily 13 to my family. My mom or dad could have been killed like that, and I would never, ever see them again. I began to evaluate what a real 14 in life was.
This disaster 15 me that awful things can happen to anyone at any time. Now when my mom or dad or sister go somewhere, even if it’s just 16 the store, I try to remember to tell them that I love them because I know there is a 17 that I may never tell them that 18 .
Not getting a new CD is not going to 19 my life. I can live with those kinds of problems. But losing someone I love would 20 make my life miserable.
9/11 showed me just what I am.
A．or B．so C．but D．for
A．unfair B．uncomfortable C．unbelievable D．uncertain
A．happen B．occur C．strike D．unfold
A．lives B．families C．houses D．friends
A．curtains B．buildings C．gates D．bedrooms
A．seats B．planes C．corners D．streets
A．believing B．thinking C．caring D．knowing
A．join B．save C．meet D．calm
A．puzzled B．severe C．dirty D．desperate
A．hidden B．found C．trapped D．placed
A．hit B．surprised C．rewarded D．told
A．cooled B．dropped C．ran D．passed
A．happened B．compared C．related D．turned
A．relationship B．problem C．need D．fate
A．persuaded B．reminded C．taught D．informed
A．to B．in C．at D．on
A．story B．doubt C．chance D．plan
A．ever B．once C．enough D．again
A．end B．save C．spare D．break
A．rather B．truly C．probably D．frequently
At the time my son was born in 1956, I shared a hospital room with a young woman who bore a boy on the same day. Partly because my parents 46a shop selling flowers, the room was soon 47 with the lovely scent of roses.
As the seventh floral arrangement was 48 , I was beginning to feel 49 , for no flowers had arrived for my roommate, Ann. She sat on the edge of her bed and leaned forward to admire the 50 bouquet. She was a pretty young woman, yet there was something about her large, brown eyes that made me think she had known too much 51 , too much sadness for one so young. I had the feeling she had always had to admire someone else’ 52 .
“I’m enjoying every 53 of this”, she said as though she had read my 54 and was trying to reassure me. “Wasn’t I the lucky one to get you for a 55 ？”
I still felt uncomfortable, however. 56 there were some magic button I could push to 57 the sadness in her eyes. Well, I thought, at least,I can see that she has some flowers. When my mother and father came to see me that day, I asked them to send 58 some.
The flowers arrived just 59 Ann and I were finishing supper.
“More flowers for you,” she said, 60 .
“No, not this time,” I said, looking at the 61 “These are for you.”
Ann stared at the blossoms a long time, not saying anything. She ran her 62 across the pale blue bouquets and 63 touched each of the sweet roses as though trying to engrave（刻画） them on her64 .
“How can I ever thank you” she said softly.
I was almost embarrassed. It was such a little 65 on my part.
A．attended B．owed C．absorbed D．owned
A．full B．filled C．crowd D．involved
A．brought out B．brought up C．brought down D．brought in
A．convenient B．enjoyable C．attractive D．uncomfortable
A．newest B．last C．latest D．largest
A．struggling B．admiring C．delighting D．thrilling
A．bouquets B．shops C．family D．money
A．minute B．day C．week D．month
A．ideas B．opinions C．thoughts D．dreams
A．friend B．sister C．roommate D．colleague
A．Before long B．Long before C．If only D．Only if
A．take apart B．take away C．take out D．take in
A．her B．him C．them D．us
A．when B．while C．as D．before
A．wondering B．assisting C．laughing D．explaining
A．basket B．floor C．window D．card
A．mouth B．fingers C．face D．eyes
A．delightedly B．instantly C．curiously D．lightly
A．friendship B．memory C．feeling D．description
A．sympathy B．kindness C．emotion D．mercy
It’s certain that the following tale is a nice example that can teach us a good lesson. One day, a young man 36 begged from door to door along the street. 37 an old wallet in hand, he was asking for a few coins to buy something to eat. He kept complaining about his bad38 and kept wondering why those who had so much money were never 39 and were always desiring more.
“As for me, if I had only enough to eat and to wear, I would not want anything more."
Just at that moment Goddess Fortune 40 the beggar among the crowd and approached him, greeting, “Hi, young man, I have wished to 41 you for a long time. If you open your wallet, I will pour my gold into it. But keep in mind that I will do that only on this 42 : All that falls into the wallet will be pure gold belonging to you; but every piece falling upon the ground43 become dust, worth nothing. Are you clear?”
“I see. Now I’m ready. ” said the beggar with confidence.
“Then you should 44 ! It’s obvious that your wallet is a/an 45 one, so don’t load it too heavily,” said the Goddess Fortune.
The excited beggar could hardly 46 to have gold. He quickly opened his wallet, and a 47 of yellow coins was poured into it. The wallet became heavier and heavier.
“Is that enough? Isn’t it cracking? Will your wallet strong enough for more?” warned the Goddess.
“Never 48 .It’s still strong enough now” replied the beggar firmly.
The wallet was filled with so many coins that the beggar’s handsbegan to 49 . “Ah, if only the golden stream would 50 forever! Just a little more,” said the beggar, “ 51 just a handful or two.”
“There! It’s full. The wallet will 52 .” warned the Goddess again, but the beggar insisted, “ I know it will 53a little more, just a little more.”
One more piece was added and the wallet split. The 54 fell upon the ground and became dust. The greedy beggar had now 55 but his broken wallet.
A．in debt B．in rags C．in danger D．in trouble
A．Picking B．Gathering C．Winning D．Holding
A．clothes B．wallet C．fortune D．chance
A．relaxed B．disappointed C．worried D．satisfied
A．admitted B．seized C．realized D．spotted
A．help B．forgive C．praise D．comfort
A．occasion B．condition C．situation D．suggestion
A．shall B．would C．should D．might
A．look down B．look after C．look up D．look out
A．small B．worn C．empty D．full
A．stand B．think C．breathe D．wait
A．stream B．piece C．pair D．variety
A．ask B．request C．insist D．fear
A．spread B．shake C．loose D．close
A．pour B．end C．dry D．freeze
A．take B．lend C．add D．send
A．flow B．change C．disappear D．burst
A．attract B．hold C．include D．permit
A．present B．food C．treasure D．metal
A．nothing B．anything C．everything D．something
One morning Raman, a true master of the art of archery(箭术), invited his favorite student to watch a display of his skill. The student had 36 this more than a hundred times before, but he still obeyed his 37 .
Together, they went into a nearby wood and reached a tall 38 . Raman picked a rose flower and 39 it on one of the branches of the tree. He 40 opened his bag and took out three objects: his 41 , an arrow and a white handkerchief.
Raman stood one hundred paces from the spot where he had placed the 42 . Facing his target, he 43 his student to blindfold(蒙住眼睛) him with the handkerchief. The student did as his teacher 44 .
“How often have you seen me practice the sport of archery?” Raman asked him 45 .
“Every day,” replied his student. “And you have 46 managed to hit the rose from three hundred paces away.”
With his eyes covered by the 47 , Raman placed his feet firmly on the ground and 48 the bowstring(弓弦) with all his strength. Aiming at the rose on the 49 , he let the arrow fly. The arrow whistled through the air, 50 it did not even hit the tree, missing the target by a few meters.
“Did I 51 it?” said Raman, removing the handkerchief from his eyes.
“No, you missed 52 ,” replied the student. “I thought you were going to 53 me the power of thought and your ability to perform magic.”
“I have 54 taught you the most important lesson about the power of thought.” replied Raman. “When you 55 something, concentrate only on that: No one will ever hit a target they cannot see.”
A．thought B．seen C．heard D．felt
A．teacher B．boss C．father D．monitor
A．wall B．tree C．pole D．house
A．buried B．educated C．signed D．placed
A．first B．now C．then D．finally
A．bow B．hammer C．apple D．knife
A．arrow B．shoe C．flower D．bag
A．advised B．expected C．encouraged D．asked
A．planned B．imagined C．requested D．promised
A．angrily B．calmly C．disappointedly D．sadly
A．never B．almost C．always D．also
A．cloth B．handkerchief C．paper D．leaf
A．drew back B．brought up C．held back D．took off
A．ground B．branch C．tip D．root
A．and B．for C．so D．but
A．touch B．learn C．miss D．hit
A．completely B．suddenly C．quickly D．carefully
A．show B．give C．offer D．lend
A．again B．even C．just D．seldom
A．buy B．find C．notice D．want
That holiday morning I didn’t have to attend school. Usually, on holidays, Mother 36 me to sleep in. And I would certainly take full advantage of it. On this particular morning, ___37___,I felt like getting up early.
I stood by my window overlooking the ___38___, having nothing better to do. But as it turned out, I was soon to learn about something ___39___ in life.
As I watched several people go by, get into their cars and go off, I ___40___ an old man on a bicycle with a bucket on its ___41___ and a basket rags and bottles on its back-carriage. He ___42___ from one car to another, washing and cleaning them. From the water on the ground, it seemed that he had already ___43___ washing and cleaning about a dozen or more cars. He must have begun to work quite early in the morning.
Several thoughts ___44___my mind as I watched him work. He wasn’t well-dressed. He had on a pair of shorts and a(n) ___45___ T-shirt. The bicycle he rode was not by any means the kind modern ___46___would want to be seen riding on. But he seemed___47___ with life. There he was, working hard at his small business, ___48___ at passers-by and stopping to chat now and then ___49___ elderly men and women on their way to the market nearby.
There was a noticeable touch of___50___ in the way he seemed to be doing things— ___51___the windscreen (挡风玻璃), then standing back to admire it; scrubbing (擦净) the wheels and ___52___, standing back to see what they look like after the scrub.
It was a ___53___ to learn, I felt. At no age need one have to beg for a ___54___if one has good health and is willing to work hard. For a while I felt ___55__ of myself. Young as I am—just sixteen, and there was this old man who must have been usefully engaged perhaps before the sun appeared above the horizon.
A．forces B．allows C．causes D．forbids
A．otherwise B．therefore C．however D．besides
A．parking lot B．bus stop C．school D．market
A．interesting B．surprising C．awful D．useful
A．noticed B．recognized C．called D．assisted
A．back B．handle C．wheel D．seat
A．searched B．left C．moved D．wandered
A．stopped B．started C．intended D．finished
A．crossed B．slipped C．disturbed D．inspired
A．attractive B．shiny C．simple D．expensive
A．repairmen B．businessmen C．drivers D．cyclists
A．busy B．content C．careful D．bored
A．waving B．looking C．laughing D．pointing
A．about B．for C．with D．like
A．worry B．respect C．sympathy D．pride
A．cleaning B．fixing C．replacing D．covering
A．still B．yet C．again D．soon
A．lesson B．subject C．skill D．fact
A．business B．living C．success D．right
A．tired B．doubtful C．fearful D．ashamed
When I woke next morning, I was dying of 36 .I seemed to have a hole instead of a 37 I dressed quickly and hurried down to the dinning-room. It was a big room with six tall windows and the ugliest wallpaper（背景墙） I had ever seen ! 38 , I had been told the hotel was not beautiful but that you were better 39 there than in any other hotel; and that was 40 I wanted just then.
The waiter came hurrying up. Before I came downstairs I had prepared 41 carefully for what I must 42. I had looked three times in my dictionary to make sure 43 “breakfast” really meant “breakfast”. I had tried to get the right 44 and I had stood in the front of a mirror and twisted my mouth until it ached.
The waiter asked me 45 I could not understand, but I spoke only my one prepared word “breakfast”. He looked at me in a46 way, so I repeated it, still he did not understand. It was 47 that English people didn’t understand their language. The waiter 48 his head and went away, but he came back in a minute and brought a tray with tea, bread and butter--- enough to feed a small army--- and went away. But I was hungry, and I left 49. When the waiter came back I thought his face showed a little 50, but you can never 51 what a waiter’s face really shows. In another minute he brought 52 tray with some bacon(熏肉) and some eggs. He 53 have misunderstood me , but I thought it was no use explaining to people who don’t understand their own language , so I just set to work on the bacon and eggs, wondering whether I could possibly clear that plate.
Well, I finished the bacon and eggs. I got up and made my way slowly to my room-----at least five pound 54 . I never believed until then that any meal could55 me, but on that day I met my Waterloo(滑铁卢).
A．hunger B．cold C．anger D．illness
A．stone B．head C．breast D．stomach
A．Therefore B．Otherwise C．So D．However
A．received B．fed C．cared D．eating
A．just B．what C．that D．why
A．English B．meal C．questions D．myself
A．speak B．answer C．say D．explain
A．that B．about C．of D．to
A．pronunciation B．meaning C．form D．spelling
A．whether B．something C．when D．what
A．surprised B．friendly C．puzzled D．touched
A．unbelievable B．true C．thought D．a pity
A．much B．a little C．nothing D．empty
A．pleasure B．surprise C．pride D．satisfaction
A．tell B．guess C．design D．express
A．other B．another C．more D．me
A．should B．might C．would D．must
A．lighter B．heavier C．weightier D．more
A．hurt B．fat C．defeat D．please