Long long ago, there was a small village. This village had a 36 tradition. At the beginning of every year, any boy who had reached the age of 18 was given land and money to build a home. The boy had to 37 his home before winter. If his home failed to endure the cold weather in winter, the villagers could not 38 him in any way.
One 39 , Paul and Marc reached their 18. They 40 their land and money and decided to search nearby villages for ideas on building their homes. In each village, they found the nicest 41 and talked to the owners. Each owner gladly offered 42 .
After Marc saw several homes, he 43 the best ideas and went back to his own land. Paul, 44 , continued collecting more ideas. Soon he had so many great ideas that he began to 45 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, 46 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 47 it later. Paul enjoyed all the beautiful homes and 48 with home owners. The first snow came and Paul, realizing he was running out of time, 49 back to his land. He built the best home he could in the time he had, but it was 50 . The first winter storm destroyed his home and he froze to 51 . The villagers mourned for him.
Marc 52 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, 53 a family, and lived a happy, content life.
We all build and improve our own mental homes. It’s 54 and fun for us to search for ideas from other mental home owners, but we only improve our own mental home if we actually 55 the best ideas.
A．hopeful B．strange C．literary D．cultural
A．find B．make C．buy D．complete
A．encourage B．help C．scold D．persuade
A．winter B．summer C．spring ` D．autumn
A．received B．exchanged C．recognized D．advised
A．girls B．jobs C．presents D．houses
A．rooms B．drinks C．advice D．attention
A．gathered B．expected C．created D．understood
A．similarly B．finally C．furthermore D．however
A．believe B．forget C．replace D．doubt
A．because B．although C．so D．but
A．repair B．rebuild C．improve D．sell
A．achievements B．conversations C．struggles D．arguments
A．rushed B．drove C．flew D．moved
A．funny B．weak C．small D．amazing
A．death B．blindness C．sadness D．illness
A．experienced B．loved C．spent D．survived
A．brought B．earned C．raised D．contacted
A．easy B．slow C．dangerous D．special
A．realize B．bring C．apply D．collect
Friends are very important in our everyday life. Everyone needs friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh, and do things with. , sometimes we need to be alone. We don’t always want people . But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend.
No two people are . Friends sometimes don’t get on well. That doesn’t mean that they no longer like each other. Most of the time they will and become friends again.
Sometimes friends move away. Then we feel very . We miss them very much, but we can call them and write to them. And we can new friends. It is encouraging to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them.
There’s more good news for people who have friends. They live longer than people who don’t. Why? Friends can make us feel happy. Being happy helps you well. If someone cares about you, you take care of yourself.
A．Hardly B．Nearly C．Suddenly D．Certainly
A．alone B．away C．all over D．around
A．friendly B．kind C．just the same D．quite different
A．make up B．run away C．get around D．set off
A．angry B．sad C．happy D．alone
A．search B．contact C．make D．know
A．stay B．match C．think D．organize
A．less B．better C．little D．lot
One evening, long after most people had gone to bed, a friend of mine and I happily home through the street. We had been to a music-hall and about the people we had seen and heard in it.
“The show him a star overnight, ” said my friend about one of them. “He was completely before. And now thousands of people him gifts and letters. ” “I thought him quite good, ” I said , “ but not thousands of letters . As a matter of , one of his songs gave me a shock. It was too noisy. ” “What was that?” my friend asked me, “ it to me .” I began to sing. “Do be quiet. You will give everybody a shock and them up for miles , besides, there will be a policeman us. ” My friend gave me a surprised look.
“Never mind. I don’t care. What is the matter?” I said and went on singing the top of my voice .
Suddenly there came a policeman, in front of me , his notebook . “ , sir ,” he said , “You have a very good voice , if I say so . Who taught you singing? I’d very much to find someone who can give my daughter singing lessons. Would you be to tell me your name and address? Then my wife and I would you and we could discuss it .”
A．went B．was coming C．was making our way D．had lost our way
A．calm B．crowded C．silence D．quiet
A．were thinking B．were talking C．knew D．were discussing
A．called B．turned C．named D．made
A．famous B．forgotten C．stranger D．unknown
A．show B．write C．send D．brought
A．worthy B．worth C．received D．accepted
A．fact B．facts C．a fact D．the fact
A．Read B．Sing C．Say D．Tell
A．call B．pick C．wake D．join
A．long B．out C．around D．in
A．observing B．after C．besides D．in front of
A．with B．on C．in D．at
A．stood B．going C．standing D．walking
A．closing B．closed C．open D．gone
A．Wait a minute B．Stop singing C．I’m sorry D．Excuse me
A．may B．like C．must D．don’t
A．liked B．wanted C．like D．eager
A．brave B．kind enough C．willing D．honest
A．try B．drop in C．invite D．visit
Half a year before graduation from college, my son began to seek a job. the financial crisis, fewer companies would like to new staff. My son targeted a company that was to hire only one person there were more than twenty people filling their resumes.
After the interview, there would only be 3 who could enter the final round, which would later one person to be employed. Everything seemed to go quite and my son passed the first round and entered the final round in a week.
On the day of the final interview, my son and other two arrived at the interview place on time, the test. Unexpectedly, the interview was unbelievably . The interviewer only said to them,
“All of you are very super. Please go home and wait for our . We will tell you the in 3 days. Good luck to all of you!” On the morning of the third day, my son received a text from the company shortly after breakfast that he was not employed. We all felt very .
In nightfall that day, my son suddenly told me on the phone, “Dad, I have been employed!” Greatly surprised, I could not wait to ask him, “What’s the whole ?” My son told me that he received another text saying that he was employed. Actually the first text sent to my son was also of the test in the interview. Three men received the same text this morning and only my son’s was “Thank you” while the others said “Goodbye”.
Only then did I know that my son’s “hope” in that way. That is, when you feel disappointed, do not to say “thank you” to the one who disappoints you. Saying “thank you” shows respect for others’ work and shows your grand . Therefore, while under the same condition, you will get the upper hand in terms of compared with others!
A．As to B．Due to C．Instead of D．Contrary to
A．promote B．train C．employ D．discover
A．encouraged B．allowed C．supposed D．intended
A．while B．since C．though D．if
A．meet B．attract C．decide D．represent
A．slowly B．smoothly C．secretly D．silently
A．members B．students C．friends D．candidates
A．waiting for B．watching over C．thinking about D．looking into
A．formal B．simple C．funny D．strange
A．information B．notice C．order D．return
A．result B．choice C．mark D．idea
A．annoyed B．puzzled C．disappointed D．shocked
A．doubtfully B．excitedly C．calmly D．worriedly
A．matter B．cause C．conclusion D．interview
A．middle B．ending C．part D．course
A．way B．reply C．problem D．question
A．changed B．grew C．came D．developed
A．expect B．forget C．dislike D．regret
A．generosity B．curiosity C．dignity D．personality
A．abilities B．strengths C．challenges D．opportunities
Recently，I flew to Las Vegas to attend a meeting. As we were about to arrive，the pilot announced with apology that there would be a slight before setting down. High desert winds had the airport to close all but one runway. He said that we would be the city for a few minutes waiting to . We were also told to remain in our seats meanwhile（同时） with our seat belts fastened there might be a few bumps(颠簸)．Well，that few minutes turned into about four—five minutes，including a ride that would make a roller coaster(过山车) by comparison（比较起来）.
The movement was so fierce(猛烈的) that several passengers felt and had to use airsickness（晕机） bags. As you might guess，that’s not good thing to have happen in a(n) space because it only to increase the discomfort of the situation. 
About twenty minutes into the adventure，the entire airplane became very.
There was now a sense of anxiety and fear that could be noticed．Every passenger simply held on for dear life …except one. A was having a good time! With each bump of the__ ___he would let out a giggle(咯咯的笑)of delight. As I observed this，I that he didn’t know he was supposed to be afraid and worried about his .He neither thought about the past nor about the future .Those are what we grown—ups have learned from.He was the ride because had not yet been taught to fear it. Having understood this，I took a deep breath and back into my seat，pretending（假装） I was on a roller coaster. I smiled for the rest of the flight. I even to giggle once or twice ,much to the chagrin(懊恼)of the man sitting next to me holding the airsickness bag.
A．mistake B．delay(延期) C．change D．wind
A．forced B．warned C．swept D．reminded
A．watching B．visiting C．circling D．crossing
A．arrive B．enter C．stop D．land
A．if B．though C．because D．while
A．light B．pale C．difficult D．quick
A．sick B．nervous C．a ngry D．afraid
A．empty B．narrow C．secret D．open
A．happens B．continues C．fails D．serves
A．quiet B．hot C．dirty D．crowded
A．partly B．gradually C．shortly(立刻) D．clearly
A．pilot B．baby C．guard D．man
A．seats B．passengers C．flight D．airplane
A．realized B．hoped C．agreed D．insisted
A．health B．safety C．joy D．wealth
A．teachers B． books C．experience D．friends
A．learning B．taking C．missing D．enjoying
A．sat B．jumped C．went D．rode
A．nearly B．finally C．really D．suddenly
A．attempted B．managed C．wanted D．decided
Most glasses help people see better, but a new invention from Japan may soon improve language skills and language barriers instead.
High-tech Company NEC has a device that it says will users to communicate with people of different.
Shaped like a pair of eyeglasses without the lenses(镜片), the computer-assisted Tele Scouter would a picture-forming device to present almost real-time translations directly onto the retina（视网膜）. The text, provided through voice recognition and programs, would effectively provide movie-like “subtitles” (字幕)during a conversation between two people the glasses.
“You can keep the flowing,” NEC market development official Takayuki Omino told reporters at Tokyo exposition the device was on display. “This could also be used for talks with secret information,” says Omino, that there would be no need for translators.
Each user’s words would be by microphone, translated, and be instantly for conversation partners in visual texts and as audio delivered through headphones.
Users can still see their conversation partner’s face because the text is onto only part of the retina—the first time such technology is used in a commercial product, according to NEC.
The company plans to put the Tele Scouter in Japan in November next year, at the beginning without the translation mode.
A．cut off B．cut up C．cut in D．cut down
A．come across B．come up with C．come through D．come down
A．allow B．promise C．force D．leave
A．backgrounds B．cultures C．languages D．customs
A．so B．or C．but D．while
A．admit B．adopt C．agree D．adapt
A．designer’s B．translator’s C．producer’s D．user’s
A．instantly B．strangely C．suddenly D．slowly
A．admission B．translation C．preparation D．permission
A．bearing B．carrying C．wearing D．taking
A．discussion B．argument C．conversation D．translation
A．where B．which C．why D．how
A．connected B．satisfied C．joined D．covered
A．stating B．noticing C．realizing D．criticizing
A．spoken B．imagined C．written D．expected
A．made up B．picked up C．turned up D．brought up
A．agreeable B．acceptable C．believable D．available
A．either B．neither C．none D．both
A．placed B．got C．passed D．knocked
A．therefore B．although C．however D．While