The turning point of my life was my decision to give up a promising business career and study music. My parents, although sharing my love of music, didn’t __36__ it as a profession. My grandfather, having taught music for years at college and, though much __37__, earned merely enough to support his family. As a result of this _38___in the family, I went to college -----quite __39__, for although I loved my violin and spent most of my spare time practicing, I had many other _40___. Before my graduation from Columbia, I felt _41___my duty to leave college and take a job. Aside from the satisfaction of being able to ___42__the family, money is all I got out of it. My only ambition was to save enough to _43___ the job and go to Europe to study __44___. I used to get up at dawn to practice_45__ I left for “downtown “to work. . I continued to make money, and _46__, bit by bit, accumulated enough to enable me to ___47_.
The situation of my family improved, and my help was _48___necessary, so I resigned from my __49__and, feeling like a man released from jail, sailed for _50___. I stayed four years, worked harder than I had ever dreamed of working before and _51___every minute of it. I was a _52__man and I was doing what I__53__ to do and what I was meant to do. If I had stayed in business, I might be a quite wealthy man today, __54__ I wouldn’t have made a success of living . I would have _55__all those that money can never buy.
Money is a wonderful thing, but it is possible to pay too high price on it.
A．receive B．accept C．refuse D．keep
A．respected B．hated C．doubted D．scolded
A．excuse B．chance C．promise D．example
A．happily B．sadly C．hopelessly D．nervously
A．interests B．pities C．experiments D．problems
A．this B．that C．it D．one
A．question B．help C．warn D．visit
A．give up B．give in C．go on D．throw away
A．computer B．law C．history D．music
A．after B．in case C．before D．the moment
A．firstly B．finally C．generally D．lately
A．go back B．go home C．go abroad D．go down
A．no longer B．of course C．in fact D．much too
A．position B．college C．home D．friends
A．Asia B．Europe C．Africa D．North America
A．wasted B．lost C．forgot D．enjoyed
A．native B．free C．wise D．weak
A．repeated B．offered C．loved D．signed
A．so B．and C．but D．for
A．missed B．gained C．achieved D．won
Adventure is in my blood. And I had been considering how I was going to celebrate my high school graduation. I didn’t just want a small __21___ in the backyard. I started thinking about doing a solo ___22___ somewhere out of the ordinary. I took out ___23___ and drew the 1,500-mile route along which I would be ___24___ from the northernmost point in Norway to the southernmost section of Sweden. When I ___25___ my plans with my dad, he ___ 26___ as I thought he would. Because I get my adventurous ___27___ from him, he was all for it.
I had only been away from my ___28___ three days now, but there was an inner ___29___ going on inside of me. Part of me was homesick and doubting whether I ___30___ could make it. The other part of me was ready to ___31___ to myself and my family that I could do it by myself.
On the road, I met another ___32___ who was quite a bit older than I was. He had started his journey ___33___ by bike at the southern part of Norway and had just finished. I could tell he had a great sense of ___34___. It encouraged me not to ___35___.
As I listened to my ___36___ artists on my MP4 player, I pedaled (踩踏板) with my feet. There was ___37___ around me for miles. ___38___, that wasn’t entirely true. There were mosquitoes--- millions of them. My arms were so dotted with ___39___ that they looked like a topographical map (地形图). But, however ___40___ it would be, nothing could stop my advance towards the destination. As you know, adventure is in my blood.
A．party B．meeting C．conversation D．lecture
A．flight B．interview C．performance D．trip
A．instructions B．maps C．magazines D．newspapers
A．walking B．flying C．biking D．running
A．compared B．shared C．prepared D．changed
A．agreed B．sighed C．left D．cried
A．stories B．spirits C．skills D．hobbies
A．hotel B．school C．home D．office
A．battle B．activity C．request D．discussion
A．certainly B．really C．usually D．reasonably
A．turn B．reply C．prove D．adapt
A．driver B．jogger C．bicyclist D．pilot
A．alone B．slowly C．patiently D．worriedly
A．humour B．direction C．balance D．satisfaction
A．calm down B．break down C．speed up D．give up
A．favourite B．personal C．professional D．successful
A．nobody B．everybody C．anything D．everything
A．Firstly B．Actually C．Eventually D．Fortunately
A．wounds B．cuts C．bites D．dots
A．boring B．confusing C．complex D．difficult
In 1982, Steven Callahan was crossing the Atlantic alone in his sailboat when it struck something and sank．He got into a life boat, but his supplies were 21 ．His chances of surviving were small． 22 when three fishermen found him 76 days later, he was alive —much 23 than he was when he started, but alive．
His 24 of how he survived is fascinating．His cleverness —how he 25 to catch fish, how he evaporated（蒸发） sea water to 26 fresh water—is very interesting．
But the thing that 27 my eye was how he managed to keep himself going when all hope seemed lost, and there seemed no 28 in continuing the struggle．He was starved and 29 worn-out．Giving up would have seemed the only possible choice．
When people 30 these kinds of circumstances, they do something with their minds that gives them the courage to keep going．Many people in 31 desperate circumstances 32 in or go mad．Something the survivors do with their thoughts helps them find the courage to carry on 33 difficulties．
"I tell myself I can 34 it," wrote Callahan in his book．-Compared to what others have been through, I'm fortunate．I tell myself these things over and over,35 up courage．．．"
I wrote that down after 1 read it．It 36 me as something important．And I've told myself the same thing when my own goals seemed 37 off or when my problems seemed too terrible．And every time I've said it, I have always come back to my 38 ．
The truth is,our circumstances are only bad 39 to something better.But others have been though the much worse,that is,in comparison with what others have been through,you’re fortunate.Tell this to yourself over sad over again,and it will help you 40 though the rough situations with a little more courage.
A．full B．rich C．few D．enough
A．And B．Yet C．Still D．Thus
A．thinner B．stronger C．worse D．healthier
A．attitude B．assumption C．instruction D．account
A．assisted B．tended C．managed D．intended
A．make B．absorb C．select D．replace
A．attacked B．caught C．froze D．cheated
A．operation B．taste C．message D．point
A．firmly B．completely C．hardly D．generally
A．deal B．defend C．survive D．observe
A．similarly B．differently C．gradually D．commonly
A．pull B．take C．break D．give
A．for the lack of B．in the face of C．in exchange for D．as a result of
A．handle B．carry C．follow D．inspect
A．rolling B．using C．building D．making
A．defeated B．recommended C．introduced D．struck
A．far B．long C．ever D．even
A．feelings B．senses C．ideas D．influences
A．related B．measured C．contributed D．compared
A．see B．cut C．get D．think
In a world where comparisons happen non-stop, it is difficult to look outside yourself and to ever be 36 with who you are. There’s always someone who’s a bit 37 . The only solution is to reach 38 and measure against what Warren Buffett calls your own inner yardstick. There is no more 39 measure for comparison than who your were yesterday, last week or last decade, when you were at your 40 .
Nothing useful ever comes from comparison to others. Either you see yourself as better than someone and you get 41 , or you see someone else as better than you and you feel like all your hard work is for 42 . It is a fool’s game. Not one of us is exactly 43 . The only direct and honest comparison is 44 yourself. Everything else is apples to oranges.
My opinion is that you are only 45 to compare yourself to someone else if their life46 is the same as your own. Good luck finding that 47 . And one thing is for sure. No matter how hard you work and how dedicated you are, there will always be someone who can run a little faster, jump a little higher, score a little better or look a little nicer in a swimsuit. And if there’s not, you can 48 someone is coming up fast 49 you. So how can you always win in life? Become your best 50 .
Having an image of your most recent past limits is the perfect thing to 51 you to the next level. If you ran 7 flights of stairs yesterday, then do 8 today. Who 52 if the guy next to you did 15? It doesn’t make a bit of 53 . You are a more 54 person today than you were yesterday. Your own 55 is all you need.
A．patient B．strict C．content D．concerned
A．stronger B．better C．lazier D．wiser
A．inside B．out C．for D．up
A．accurate B．useful C．careful D．powerful
A．end B．best C．convenience D．side
A．satisfied B．busy C．inspired D．lazy
A．nothing B．fun C．sure D．success
A．equal B．unique C．alike D．common
A．within B．by C．for D．of
A．instructed B．allowed C．directed D．suggested
A．situation B．position C．occasion D．accommodation
A．game B．match C．friend D．enemy
A．conclude B．bet C．announce D．declare
A．before B．beside C．below D．behind
A．assistant B．competitor C．coach D．teacher
A．contribute B．expose C．push D．devote
A．cares B．says C．wonders D．asks
A．effort B．sense C．difference D．change
A．successful B．happy C．lucky D．fit
A．benefit B．progress C．habit D．result
I pulled into the driveway of my Mum’s house and saw my two-year-old daughter’s smiling face staring out the window at me. Vanessa had stayed with her grandma for a week, while her mommy, Georgia ,was in hospital36 complications(并发症) in her second pregnancy. Vanessa, who missed her room and toys,37 awaited the arrival of daddy to pick her up and take her to see her mother. After the visit we’d go home where I had a surprise for her.
Vanessa and I spent an hour with Georgia and then 38 home.
I got Vanessa out of her snowsuit, 39 on the sofa and sat beside her. “Vanessa, you know you’re going to have a new brother or sister soon.”
“I know, Daddy. Mommy’s bringing it home with her.”
“That’s right .”I smiled. “well, the baby is going to need a 40 to sleep in. I hope you don’t mind, but I put your cradle in the new baby’s room.”
“Where will I sleep, Daddy?”
“ Follow me.” I led her down the hall to her room. “I have a 41 for you.”
When Vanessa turned the corner and screamed with pleasure. “It’s a bed ,Daddy! My very own bed!” She 42 up and down on the mattress with 43 happiness on her face.
“ I guess this means I’m growing up,” said Vanessa.
First beds are first milestones. For the first time we are free to get out of bed without 44 someone lift us from our cradles. We are trusted to handle the freedom with respect and are expected to45 new rules. First days of school, first loves, firsts jobs，first homes or apartments, first child；they’re all 46in life. Each comes with47 and responsibilities and it all starts with the first bed..
A．instead of B．as to C．due to D．regardless of
A．anxiously B．surprisingly C．purposely D．especially
A．stayed B．headed C．missed D．left
A．bent B．lay C．settled D．sighed
A．camp B．basket C．house D．cradle
A．prize B．surprise C．word D．promise
A．bounced B．turned C．climbed D．laughed
A．pure B．little C．exact D．sudden
A．joining in B．giving in C．sending for D．waiting for
A．build B．ignore C．follow D．break
A．obstacles B．memories C．scenes D．milestones
A．sorrow B．joys C．interest D．pride
A boy lost his arms in an accident and had to depend on hisbrother for almost everything. His younger brother became his 1 , never leaving him alone for years. Except for writing with his 2 , he was completely unable to do anything in his life.
One night, his brother accompanied him into the 3 and went back to wait. But being so tired, his younger brother fell 4 , leaving him in the toilet for two hours. As the two brothersgrew 5 , they had different opinions about many things and often 6 . His brother wanted to 7 from him to live his own life. Knowing this, he was heart-broken and didn't know whatto do.
A similar misfortune happened to a girl. One night her 8 , who suffered from mental illness,9 . So her father went out looking for her mother, leavingher alone at home. She tried to 10 a meal for her parents, but only to overturn the stove, resulting in a 11 , whichtook her hands away.
Thoughher elder sister, who was studying in another city, showed her 12 to help her, she made up her mind to be completely 13 . And she made it.
One day, the boy and the girl were both 14 to appear on a television interview program. They both were askedto 15 something on a piece of paper with their toes. The boy wrote: My brother's arms are my arms; while the girl wrote: Broken wings, flying hearts.
A．volunteer B．bodyguard C．servant D．shadow
A．feet B．hands C．toes D．arms
A．kitchen B．bedroom C．toilet D．study
A．asleep B．ill C．awake D．silent
A．older B．taller C．stronger D．healthier
A．fought B．talked C．quarreled D．discussed
A．learn B．keep C．hear D．separate
A．father B．mother C．brother D．sister
A．died B．disappeared C．cried D．failed
A．buy B．change C．eat D．prepare
A．fire B．joke C．fall D．meal
A．anxiety B．willingness C．contribution D．respect
A．relaxed B．disabled C．energetic D．independent
A．made B．invited C．ordered D．tricked
A．write B．draw C．imagine D．read