In January 1986 I saw a show about cartooning called “Funny Business” on TV. I had always wanted to be a __36__but never knew how. So I wrote to the host of the_37_, cartoonist Jack Cassady, asking for advice on entering the profession(职业).
Two weeks later I got a (n) __38__letter from Jack, answering my questions about materials and process(过程). He also __39__ me not to get discouraged if I was refused__40__. He said the cartoon samples（样本） I sent him were good and worthy of publication（出版）.
I got very __41__, finally understanding how the whole process__42__. I sent my best cartoons to Playboy and New Yorker, ___43___ the magazines rejected（拒绝）me immediately. Discouraged, I put my art supplies in the box and__44__to forget all about cartooning.
To my__45__, in June 1987 I got another letter from Jack, although I hadn’t even__46__ him for the former advice. Here’s what he said:
Dear Scott,
I was reviewing my “Funny Business” mail file when I again came__47__ your letter and your cartoons. I remember answering you letter.
I’m writing to encourage you to submit(提交) your ideas to various publications again. I hope you have __48__ done so and are making progress and having some__49__ too. Sometimes encouragement in the funny business is hard to come by. That’s__50__ I am encouraging you to hang in there and keep drawing.
I wish you good luck.
Sincerely,
Jack
I was deeply__51__because Jack had nothing to gain—including my thanks. I acted on his__52__, took out my art supplies and inked the sample strips(漫画连载) that__53__ became Dilbert.
I feel__54__that I wouldn’t have tried cartooning again if Jack hadn’t sent the second letter. As Dilbert became more successful I came to __55__ Jack’s simple act of kindness.
A．singer B．writer C．actor D．cartoonist
A．show B．television C．wedding D．party
A．surprising B．encouraging C．shocking D．disappointing
A．allowed B．suggested C．insisted D．warned
A．at first B．first of all C．at last D．in the end
A．confused B．anxious C．excited D．enthusiastic
A．performed B．advanced C．behaved D．worked
A．but B．so C．and D．though
A．concluded B．persuaded C．decided D．thought
A．disappointment B．surprise C．sorrow(悲伤) D．satisfaction
A．asked B．hoped C．wished D．thanked
A．across B．over C．off D．through
A．still B．ever C．already D．yet
A．trouble B．fun C．difficulty D．problem
A．what B．which C．how D．why
A．touched B．interested C．shocked D．influenced
A．warning B．encouragement C．advice D．view
A．surprisingly B．finally C．constantly D．freely
A．concerned B．uneasy C．worried D．certain
A．understand B．honor C．appreciate D．respect
Thomas Edison tried two thousand different materials to make the light bulb. When none worked successfully, his assistant , “All our work is in vain. We have learned nothing.”
Thomas Edison replied very , “Oh, we have come a long way and we have a lot. We now know that there are two thousand materials which we cannot use to make a good light bulb.”
If you learn from your mistakes, then you are . If you learn from someone else’s mistakes, then you are a talent. Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines daily and failure is nothing more than a few small repeated daily.
How the above lines are! Success takes time. We’ll make mistakes if we do things in too much of a hurry. When we do not practice disciplines in life, we don’t build enough confidence to new and challenging tasks which are important and matter in life. Our confidence what we think of ourselves and whether we believe in ourselves. We are all born with exceptional qualities, but only a few really their true potentials and make efforts in life, and the others just lead a(n) life. Do you want to be exceptional?
Success is a fruit which everyone wants to eat, but it is not found everywhere and no one can it without serious efforts.
Those who want to succeed will find a way; those who don’t will find a(n) !
Success depends on , and without it we will end in failure.
When you are , please enjoy it and give your hand to others who want to accomplish something.
A．celebrated B．complained C．explained D．answered
A．confidently B．madly C．carelessly D．angrily
A．remembered B．refused C．learned D．ordered
A．healthy B．enthusiastic C．intelligent D．generous
A．shown B．prevented C．recorded D．practiced
A．errors B．machines C．jobs D．steps
A．common B．strange C．familiar D．true
A．keep B．attempt C．give D．see
A．depends on B．sets aside C．turns down D．sets up
A．own B．realize C．provide D．research
A．active B．hard C．rich D．average
A．achieve B．watch C．offer D．recognize
A．story B．excuse C．key D．plan
A．preparation B．influence C．life D．generation
A．powerful B．wonderful C．successful D．hopeful
My son was born 12 weeks premature(早产的）．When he was born, the doctors told me that he had only 12 % chance of ．And if he did survive，there was a 99％chance that he would have serious health problems. They said he would be in the hospital for a lifetime. But they would never ，even if there was only a little hope.
I didn't think he would live until the day I had to go back home without my ．A nurse took me to my son's room when I was the hospital.“He hasn't been able to open his eyes yet"，the told me. I spoke to him with tears. To my great ，he opened his eyes! I was so ．！My baby heard my voice and was trying to me!
My son began to prove the doctors were ．When he was 6 weeks old，he finally left the hospital.
But he had a lot of trouble learning how to breathe on his own. I remember he once stopped and turned grey after eating. I turned to the doctors and they made him again. he also had difficulty with ．The doctors had to leave a tube placed in his stomach he could get enough food.
When my little baby was 3 months old，he was so 35 at that time---he was only 5 pounds in weight. The doctors got the out last year because he could eat without it and now he is a 5-year-old healthy boy.
I will never forget how his life is and how many people fought to save him. I am forever for what the doctors did. I really believe that it was that saved my baby's life. So never hope！
A．surviving B．recovering C．succeeding D．escaping
A．get back B．give up C．give in D．get up
A．brother B．husband C．baby D．parent
A．visiting B．calling C．approaching D．leaving
A．doctor B．nurse C．cleaner D．reporter
A．surprise B．disappointment C．knowledge D．sadness
A．curious B．interested C．excited D．satisfied
A．hurt B．see C．influence D．touch
A．right B．wise C．serious D．wrong
A．hardly B．never C．still D．seldom
A．jumping B．walking C．moving D．breathing
A．alive B．active C．dead D．powerful
A．eating B．sleeping C．standing D．sitting
A．if B．as C．so D．after
A．strong B．thin C．tall D．clever
A．bag B．tube C．food D．metal
A．wonderful B．short C．strong D．valuable
A．regretful B．hateful C．thankful D．fearful
A．hope B．encouragement C．money D．bravery
A．forget B．find C．get D．lose
When I was about to go back home, it was dark. In order to get home as soon as possible, I hired a taxi. The car was along the road, now well-lit, now sank in darkness. I broke the on purpose, that the driver might be too tired to drive. “When do you go back home in the evening?” “9 o’clock. I’ll go after this trip.”
“Then when do you come out in the morning?” I another question.
“9 o’clock, too. And I go home for lunch and dinner, just as if I worked at an office.” His easiness surprised me, because every time I ride in a taxi, what I hear from are only complaints. They complain that they work , that it is to earn money, that they are bullied (欺侮) by the policeman, or that the corporation leaders are seated, , and enjoy the of others’ work. It seems that they have a grievance (不满意) against everything. But this driver told me, “I find it to be a section chief as I was before. I don’t like management work. I like driving, just for . It’s that I drive without a passenger. So I can earn two or three thousand Yuan a month with ease. Any ? Yes, I never follow an empty taxi. If it goes , I go northward. If it goes along the highway, I turn into a street. In this way I always get customers.
His words showed his satisfaction with his life and the pride he in his job. Such feelings are so among people nowadays as oxygen in high mountains. As an ancient saying , “Neither joy in material gains nor grieve over personal setbacks (挫折).” How many people nowadays can show high ideals by simple living and go far with a calm mind? I couldn’t help feeling curious when I found such a state of mind in a stranger on a cold winter night.
A．running B．flying C．driving D．Walking.
A．silence. B．stillness C．calmness. D．quietness
A．in order B．for fear C．in case. D．on condition.
A．threw out B．gave up C．let off D．set off
A．driver B．passenger C．taxi D．radio
A．need B．should C．must D．have to
A．from morning till afternoon B．from dawn till dark C．from night till morning D．from morning till night
A．hard B．impossible C．possible D．easy
A．busy B．lazily C．lazy D．busily
A．gains B．fruits C．results D．achievements
A．excited B．exciting C．tiring D．tired
A．work B．pleasure C．interest D．money
A．fortunate B．wise C．unfortunate D．likely
A．hardly B．often C．seldom D．usually
A．secret B．method C．trick D．skill
A．eastward B．westward C．southward D．northward
A．lonely B．narrow C．wide D．empty
A．kept B．had C．took D．made
A．much B．little C．rare D．common
A．goes B．talks C．says D．suggests
My class and I visited Chris Care Center in Phoenix, Arizona to comfort the old people who needed a little cheering up during the holiday season.
The first two there were for persons requiring help in taking care of themselves. We sang for them. They loved our sweet songs and the flowers that we left with them.
As we were on the third floor for old people with Alzheimer (老年痴呆症), most of them off at the walls or floor. However, one lady my eye. She was sitting by the door, in a wheelchair, singing songs to herself. They weren’t the songs that we were singing, at least they didn’t like that. As we got with each festive song, she did as well. The louder we got, the louder she got. she was singing, she was also out to us with her hands and body. I knew that I should have gone over to her, but I thought that my were to my students. People who worked at the care center could to her, I thought. Just when I stopped feeling about not giving her the attention she needed, one of my students, Justin, showed me what the holiday season is really about.
Justin also the same lady. The difference between us is that he on her needs, but I didn’t. During the last song, “Silent Night,” Justin walked over to her and held her hand. He looked this aged lady in her and with his actions said, “You are important, and I will take my to let you know that.”
This tired, elderly lady stopped singing and held his hand. Then she touched his cheek with the other hand. Tears began to fall down her face. No can completely describe that touching moment...
It a boy to teach me, a man, about kindness and love. Justin’s example of a complete, selfless attitude toward another was a that I will never forget. He was the teacher that day, and I consider myself to have witnessed his lesson.
A．floors B．buildings C．rooms D．groups
A．beautifully B．shyly C．madly D．bravely
A．singing B．meeting C．gathering D．dancing
A．shut B．stared C．paid D．glared
A．looked B．hurt C．escaped D．caught
A．appear B．hear C．sound D．feel
A．faster B．nearer C．louder D．higher
A．Because B．Though C．Since D．As
A．moving B．reaching C．coming D．spreading
A．interests B．abilities C．responsibilities D．feelings
A．speak B．object C．attend D．compare
A．guilty B．sure C．afraid D．scary
A．feared B．noticed C．helped D．avoided
A．called B．acted C．insisted D．kept
A．tears B．hands C．face D．eyes源:
A．body B．flower C．time D．cheek
A．songs B．poems C．expressions D．words
A．made B．wasted C．caused D．took
A．lesson B．message C．activity D．class
A．clever B．lucky C．right D．foolish
You Did More Than Carry My books
Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with a baseball bat and several other things. Mark down and helped the boy pick up these articles. they were going the same way, he helped to carry some of them for him. As they walked, Mark the boy’s name was Bill. He video games, baseball and history, but he was having with his other subjects and that he had just broken with his girlfriend.
They arrived at Bill’s home first and Mark was in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed with a few laughs and some shared small talk, and then Mark went home. They to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, and then both ended up from the same high school. Just three weeks before , Bill asked Mark if they talk.
Bill him of the day years ago when they had first met. “Do you wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill. “You see, I 4 out my locker because I didn’t want to leave a mess anyone else. I had planned to run away and I was going home to my things. But after we spent some time together and laughing, I realized that I had done that, I would have a new friend and missed all the fun we would have together. So you see, Mark, when you picked up my books that day, you did a lot more. You my life.”
A．fell B．sat C．lay D．knelt
A．Although B．Since C．After D．Until
A．discovered B．realized C．said D．decided
A．played B．loved C．tried D．made
A．questions B．ideas C．trouble D．doubt
A．up B．out C．off D．away
A．called B．helped C．invited D．allowed
A．peacefully B．willingly C．freely D．pleasantly
A．continued B．agreed C．forced D．offered
A．graduation B．movement C．separation D．vacation
A．would B．should C．could D．must
A．demanded B．reminded C．removed D．asked
A．ever B．usually C．even D．never
A．checked B．took C．cleaned D．put
A．over B．into C．with D．for
A．find B．pick C．pack D．hold
A．talking B．playing C．reading D．watching
A．before B．if C．while D．as
A．forgotten B．passed C．left D．lost
A．helped B．recovered C．improved D．changed