Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list __16__ in our past that we felt __17__ of, regretted, or incomplete about and read our lists aloud.
This seemed like a very __18__ process, but there’ s always some __19__ soul in the crowd who will volunteer. The instructor then __20__ that we find ways to __21__ people, or take some action to right any wrong doings. I was seriously wondering how this could ever __22__ my communication.
Then the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story: “Making my _23__, I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town. There was a Sheriff __24__ of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a __25__ on him.
After drinking a few beers, we climbed the tall water tank in the middle of the town, and wrote on the tank in bright red paint: Sheriff Brown is a sob.(畜生). The next day, almost the whole town saw our glorious __26__. Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had us in his office. My friends told the truth but I lied. No one __27__ found out.”
“Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name __28__ on my list. I didn’t even know if he was still __29__. Last weekend, I dialed the information in my hometown and found there was a Roger Brown still listed. I tried his number. After a few __30__, I heard, “Hello?” I said, “Sheriff Brown?” Paused. “Yes.” “Well, this is Jimmy Calkins.”
“And I want you to know that I did it？”Paused. “I knew it!” he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a __31__ discussion. His closing words were: “Jimmy, I always felt bad for you __32__ your buddies got it off their chest, but you were carrying it __33___ all these years. I want to thank you for calling me...for your sake.”
Jimmy inspired me to __34__ all 101 items on my list within two years, and I always remember what I learned from the course: It’s never too late to __35__ the past wrong doings.
A．something B．anything C．somebody D．anybody
A．ashamed B．afraid C．sure D．proud
A．private B．secret C．interesting D．funny
A．foolish B．polite C．simple D．brave
A．expected B．suggested C．ordered D．demanded
A．connect with B．depend on C．make apologise to D．get along with
A．improve B．continue C．realize D．keep
A．notes B．list C．plan D．stories
A．any B．most C．none D．all
A．part B．game C．trick D．record
A．view B．sign C．attention D．remark
A．also B．even C．still D．ever
A．appears B．considers C．presents D．remembers
A．angry B．happy C．doubtful D．alive
A．words B．rings C．repeats D．calls
A．cold B．plain C．nervous D．lively
A．in case B．so long as C．unless D．because
A．around B．out C．on D．away
A．build up B．make up C．clear up D．give up
A．regret B．forgive C．right D．punish
Three packs of cigarettes were lying there on the pavement. I went down from Shubentsov’s office doorstep, picked them up and pocketed them. Later, in a bar, when I opened the first pack, I found – to my – the twenty cigarettes were there.
I’m still at the bar, telephone in one and the cigarettes in the other. I’m dialing Shubentsov, who told me to call the moment I felt the urge to . I feel it, feel it even than I felt Shubentsov’s healing energy. That’s saying something, since Shubentsov is known around the world for smokers of their nasty habit, using a method. He sent his healing energy from his fingertips, he tells me – something he picked up from another man in Russia. “I help you for free,” he told me in his muddy accent. “Just call me .”
I went to see Shubentsov. I think it’s time to because I’m getting old, and I can’t keep doing this to myself. But here’s the real problem. I should quit, but like a lot of you with the same habit, I really don’t want to.
Smoking has been very good to me. Cigarettes have never let me down, never abandoned me on , desperate nights. Smoking my head, helps me . Smoking has started conversations, driven away annoying people. Smoking helps me celebrate victories, get over losses, comfort the comfortless. It also chases away the mosquitoes.
I will . Soon, my body and my mind are demanding that , daily.
I claim to smoke for pleasure, but I realise that slowly I’m losing control of this close, special friend. I that. I realise it’s not just a “habit”. I’m .
So here I am, attempting to again, at Shubentsov’s place. I’ve tried all the other quitting techniques . Anytime the urge to smoke , he said, just call him immediately and he’ll help. The funny thing is, I realise that I’m not phoning him to stop me from lighting up. I’m phoning him so I can. If I call, I’ll have done my part. Then I can smoke this cigarette. Besides, I know that at 9.30 on a Friday night, I’ll get the answering machine. I do. “The office is open from ten to four. Call me back then. This machine does not take messages.”
I put the phone down and I can honestly say I’m . You see, it’s not Shubentsov’s fault or anyone else’s fault that I’m still . It’s mine.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to smoke this cigarette. Whether I’ll really enjoy it, though, is another story.
A．sadness B．disappointment C．inspiration D．delight
A．pack B．hand C．pocket D．bar
A．smoke B．talk C．drink D．dial
A．weaker B．faster C．stronger D．harder
A．accusing B．helping C．developing D．curing
A．popular B．mysterious C．frightening D．dangerous
A．whenever B．whatever C．however D．whichever
A．start B．continue C．stop D．keep
A．struggling B．beating C．hitting D．playing
A．lovely B．friendly C．lonely D．daily
A．destroys B．hurts C．cuts D．clears
A．breathe B．smile C．see D．think
A．begin B．quit C．report D．study
A．hate B．love C．ignore D．miss
A．ill B．excited C．addicted D．fascinated
A．give in B．give up C．give off D．give away
A．available B．alike C．abnormal D．additional
A．strikes B．attacks C．indicates D．continues
A．disappointed B．unhappy C．satisfied D．relieved
A．living B．working C．smoking D．smiling
The new science of spending comes to a surprising conclusion. How we use our money may_______ as much or more than how much we’ve got it.
Money spent on experiences, rather than material goods, _______ more happiness.
Imagine that you wake up tomorrow morning to _____ $1 million under your bed .What would you do______that cash?
The money will probably make you think about one thing ______ all else— yourself. A large amount of research reveals that money______our selfish sides. We will______much on what that money can do for us alone. Perhaps you are imagining buying a faster car, or even a new house.
But studies show that______goods often fail to deliver _______ happiness. Fortunately, our ongoing research _______many ways to get more happiness from every dollar you spend. Changing how you spend money can increase your happiness.
But making these_______ needs to challenge some of our ideas of spending. It’s hard not to _______buying a house as a wise investment. But research shows it brings very little happiness. A study in the United States found that homeowners, on average, were no happier than_______.
So, working hard to save money for a house might not be such a good idea _______ it means spending less time with your families and friends. And dozens of studies show that people get more happiness from buying _______ than material things. Experimental purchases—such as trips, concerts and special meals –are more ______connected to our sense of self.
And experiences come with one more_______. They tend to bring us_______to other people, but more often, material things are enjoyed _______.So social contacts are important to _______ mental and physical health.
A．present B．matter C．appear D．equal
A．leads to B．breaks out C．holds on D．brings along
A．keep B．own C．discover D．count
A．to B．with C．about D．for
A．above B．below C．before D．after
A．shows B．explains C．proves D．designs
A．depend B．concentrate C．take D．look
A．mental B．material C．beautiful D．clever
A．outgoing B．lasting C．willing D．exciting
A．invites B．offers C．prefers D．follows
A．changes B．plans C．decisions D．mistakes
A．know B．view C．dream D．judge
A．buyers B．sellers C．builders D．renters
A．if B．how C．unless D．though
A．houses B．cars C．experiences D．health
A．clearly B．hardly C．generally D．deeply
A．advantage B．conclusion C．purpose D．identity
A．familiar B．close C．proper D．native
A．completely B．worldwide C．secretly D．alone
A．gain B．damage C．improve D．Build
Over years, I've been teaching kids about a simple but powerful concept-the ant philosophy(哲学)．They have an amazing four-part philosophy．First, ants never ．If they're headed somewhere and you try to stop them, they'll look for another ．Second, ants think about winter and summer．That’s an important You can't be so naïve(幼稚的)as to think summer will last forever．So ants are gathering in their winter in the middle of summer．Think ahead．The third part is that ants think summer all winter．During the winter, they themselves, "This won't last long; we'll soon be out of here．" They can't to get out．Last, how much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All that it can．What a great philosophy to have—the ant philosophy: never give up, look ahead, stay and do all you can．
A．escape B．return C．quit D．advance
A．ant B．way C．war D．cave
A．attitude B．plan C．opinion D．policy
A．straw B．fruit C．clothing D．food
A．remind B．warn C．enjoy D．teach
A．expect B．offer C．wait D．manage
A．recently B．possibly C．largely D．generally
A．considerate B．active C．energetic D．positive
A farmer carelessly lost an expensive gold watch in the barn(谷仓) on the farm．So he put a(n) on the gate of the farm: whoever finds the gold watch will be rewarded 100 dollars．
Facing the temptation(诱惑) of the handsome , people tried their best to look for it everywhere.
However, the grain was like a hill along with lots of straw, so if they wanted to find the gold watch, it would
be like for a needle in the ocean．
So they gave up one by one．Only a small boy in shabby clothes kept looking for it in the grain．He was to find the gold watch and let his parents, brothers and sisters have a(n) meal. It was late, and the boy was also tired. He was lying in the straw to have when he heard a strange "tick-tock"．
He held his breath and listened attentively．It was quieter in the barn while "tick-tock" sounded clearly．The boy the sound, found the gold watch in the depths of the grain and finally got the 100 dotes．
Like the gold watch in the barn, has existed around us and spread in every comer of life．Only when we are and firmly look for it can we find it．
A．advertisement B．order C．notice D．letter
A．reward B．present C．award D．profit
A．surrounded B．piled C．lined D．located
A．catching B．fighting C．sending D．fishing
A．nervous B．ready C．eager D．willing
A．early B．full C．free D．small
A．look B．drink C．thought D．rest
A．immediately B．suddenly C．eventually D．fortunately
A．followed B．heard C．forgot D．made
A．hidden B．stored C．buried D．thrown
A．hick B．success C．confidence D．courage
A．hungry B．confident C．relaxed D．calm
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a ____ which said: “I am blind, please help.” There were only a few ___ in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his __ and dropped them into the hat. He ____ took the sign, turned it around and wrote some words. He ____ the sign ____ everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to ____. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.
That afternoon the man who had ____ the sign came to see ____ things were. The boy ____ his footsteps and asked, “Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?”
The man said, “I only wrote the truth. I said what you said in a different way, ____ .” What he had written was: “Today is a(n) ____ day and I cannot see it.”
Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?
____ both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so ____ that they were not blind.
Should we be surprised that the second sign was more ____ ?
Be thankful for what you have. ____ life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to ____. Face your past without regret. __ ___ your present with confidence (自信). Prepare for the ____ without fear. Keep the faith and ____ the fear.
A．cover B．sign C．board D．note
A．cashes B．treasures C．pennies D．coins
A．pocket B．can C．backpack D．case
A．still B．then C．already D．yet
A．put on B．put out C．put off D．put back
A．in case B．now that C．so that D．as though
A．mix up B．show up C．fill up D．make up
A．changed B．prepared C．supported D．reached
A．what B．why C．where D．how
A．realized B．recognized C．felt D．discovered
A．though B．but C．yet D．still
A．averag B．successful C．harmonious D．beautiful
A．After all B．In the long term C．Of course D．As a matter of fact
A．happy B．disappointed C．lucky D．strange
A．effective B．brave C．surprising D．scientific
A．Once B．When C．While D．Because
A．smile B．exist C．survive D．prove
A．Look into B．Search for C．Deal with D．Depend on
A．tomorrow B．adventure C．future D．sunrise
A．preserve B．charge C．skip D．drop