Cars are very popular in America. When the kids are fourteen years old, they dream of having their own ____1___. Many students take a part-time job after school to ___2___ a car. In most places ____3___ people learn to drive in high school. They have to take a ___4____ test to get a license. Learning to drive and getting a driver’s ___5___ may be one of the most exciting things in their lives. For many, that piece of paper is an important symbol(象征)that they are now grown-ups.
Americans seem to love their cars almost more than anything else. People almost never go to see a doctor when they are ____6_____. But they will take ____7____ cars to a “hospital” at the smallest sign of a problem. At weekends, people ___8___ most of the time in washing and waxing(打蜡) their cars. For some families it is not enough to have ___9___ car. They often have two or even three. Husbands need a car to go to work. Housewives need a car to go shopping or to take the children to school or ___10____ activities.
A．cars B．computers C．bikes D．houses
A．borrow B．buy C．lend D．sell
A．old B．tall C．strong D．young
A．language B．listening C．driving D．body
A．address B．book C．license D．name
A．sick B．healthy C．pleased D．angry
A．his B．her C．your D．their
A．cost B．take C．spend D．pay
A．no B．one C．some D．several
A．other B．another C．one D．else
I once had a teacher whose husband died of heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her __36___ understanding with students. __37___ the late afternoon sunlight came shinning in and the class was nearly __38___, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her __39___and sat down there.
With a gentle look of reflection(反思) on her face, she paused and said, “Class is over. I would like to 40 with all of you, a thought that is __41___to class, but which I feel is very __42___.”
“Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love and give of ourselves. __43___of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be __44___at any moment. Perhaps this is the Power’s way of telling us that we must make the __45___of every single day.”
Her eyes were __46___ to water, but she went on, “So I would like you all to make me a __47___.From now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to __48___. It could be the __49___of the breeze (微风)slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it __50___gently to the ground.
“Please look for these things, and ___51__them. It is the __52___things that we are put here on earth to enjoy. We must make it important to notice them, for at __53___it can all be taken away.” The class was completely __54___. We all picked up our books and walked out of the room silently. That __55___, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester.
Remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
A．close B．deep C．sad D．limited
A．With B．For C．As D．Once
A．over B．out C．off D．away
A．classroom B．desk C．computer D．sofa
A．share B．doubt C．wonder D．talk
A．unlikely B．unfair C．unnoticed D．unrelated
A．funny B．modern C．important D．embarrassing
A．None B．All C．Each D．Neither
A．put away B．thrown away C．taken away D．given away
A．most B．worst C．lowest D．least
A．stopping B．beginning C．continuing D．ending
A．promise B．prediction C．principle D．rule
A．play B．notice C．spread D．smell
A．voice B．noise C．sound D．scream
A．knocks B．pours C．reaches D．falls
A．provide B．appreciate C．hide D．follow
A．generous B．great C．little D．formal
A．any time B．a time C．no time D．some time
A．crowded B．worried C．quiet D．excited
A．morning B．night C．noon D．Afternoon
Lightning flashed through the darkness over Sibson’s bedroom skylight（天窗）.Sibson was shaken by a clap of thunder ____21___ he knew what was happening. The storm had moved directly _____22____ his two-story wooden house. Then he heard the smoke alarm beeping.
Sibson rushed down the stairs barefoot to 23 ; he opened the door to the basement（地下室）, and flames 24 out. Sibson ran back upstairs to call 911 from his bedroom. “I felt 25 because the room had a separate outdoor stairway,” he explains.
But the phone didn’t work, and when he tried to go down the outdoor stairway, he was 26 by a wall of flames. Sibson realized he was trapped（困住）.
Sibson’s house was three kilometers 27 the main road and was so well hidden by trees that he knew calling for help would be 28 .
Up a hill nearby lived Sibson’s neighbor, Huggons. He was lying in bed when something like a smoke alarm 29 his ears. He jumped out of bed, took his 30 and flashlight, and headed down the hillside toward the 31 . That was when he saw the rolling heavy smoke.
Huggons dialed 911, and the operator warned him not to 32 the house. But Huggons said, “There is no way I am going to listen to Sibson 33 and die in that fire.”
“Anyone there?” Huggons called out. Then he heard “Help! I’m trapped!” coming from the second floor balcony（阳台）. He entered the house, but soon had to run back to catch his 34 .
After one more 35 inside the house, Huggons gave up and 36 around back.
The wind parted the smoke just 37 for him to catch sight of Sibson. But there was no way to get to him. He 38 the flashlight into the woods and noticed a ladder. He took it over to the balcony and 39 Sibson down just as the second floor of the house fell off.
Sibson is still 40 when he tells the story. “ I was alone that night,” he says. “Then I heard the most beautiful sound in my life. It was Huggons.”
A．before B．while C．since D．until
A．on B．in C．through D．over
A．hide B．wait C．check D．escape
A．moved B．gave C．went D．exploded
A．safe B．worried C．glad D．tired
A．burned B．stopped C．shocked D．covered
A．beside B．off C．across D．along
A．limited B．false C．fruitless D．regretful
A．struck B．missed C．touched D．passed
A．coat B．key C．basin D．phone
A．noise B．road C．smoke D．danger
A．search B．enter C．leave D．damage
A．call B．roll C．scream D．sigh
A．breath B．attention C．ladder D．flashlight
A．stay B．chance C．thought D．attempt
A．climbed B．circled C．looked D．jumped
A．clear B．open C．enough D．fit
A．led B．put C．drove D．shone
A．persuaded B．kicked C．pulled D．forced
A．nervous B．surprised C．proud D．thankful
The concept of solitude (独处) in the digital world is almost non-existent. In the world of digital technology, e-mail, social networking and online video games, information is meant to be____36___. Solitude can be hard to discover ___37____it has been given up. In this respect, new technologies have ___38____our culture.
The desire to be connected has brought solitude to a(n) ___39____as we’ve known it. People have become so ___40____in the world of networks and connections that one can often be contacted ____41___they’d rather not be. Today we can talk, text, e-mail, chat and blog (写博客), not only from our ___42____, but from our mobile phones as well.
Most developed nations have become ___43____on digital technology simply because they’ve grown accustomed to it, and at this point not ___44____it would make them an outsider. ___45____, many jobs and careers require people to be ___46____. From this point of view, technology has changed the culture of work. Being reachable might feel like a ___47____to those who may not want to be able to be contacted at all times.
I suppose the positive side is that solitude is still possible for anyone who ___48____wants it. Computers can be shut ___49____and mobile phones can be turned off. The ability to be “connected”and “ on”has many ___50____, as well as disadvantages. Travelers have ended up ___51____on mountains, and mobile phones have saved countless lives. They can also make people feel ___52____and forced to answer unwanted calls or___53____to unwanted texts.
Attitudes towards our connectedness as a society ___54____ across generations. Some find today’s technology a gift. Others consider it a curse. Regardless of anyone’s view on the subject, it’s hard to imagine what life would be like ___55____daily advancements in technology.
A．updated B．received C．shared D．collected
A．though B．until C．once D．before
A．respected B．shaped C．ignored D．preserved
A．edge B．stage C．end D．balance
A．sensitive B．intelligent C．considerate D．reachable
A．even if B．only if C．as if D．if only
A．media B．computers C．databases D．monitors
A．bent B．hard C．keen D．dependent
A．finding B．using C．protecting D．changing
A．Also B．Instead C．Otherwise D．Somehow
A．connected B．trained C．recommended D．interested
A．pleasure B．benefit C．burden D．disappointment
A．slightly B．hardly C．merely D．really
A．out B．down C．up D．in
A．aspects B．weaknesses C．advantages D．exceptions
A．hidden B．lost C．relaxed D．deserted
A．trapped B．excited C．confused D．amused
A．turn B．submit C．object D．reply
A．vary B．arise C．spread D．exist
A．beyond B．within C．despite D．without
When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student(优等生), I believed I could 1 tough（=hard） subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he 2 in class.
When I took the first exam, I was 3 to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper, 4 English was my best subject. I went to reason with Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained5 .
I decided to try harder, although I didn't know what that 6 because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I 7 with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn't change his 8 .
One more test before the final exam. One more 9 to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts(加倍努力) and, for the first time, 10 the meaning of the word "thorough"（彻底的）.But my 11 did no good and everything 12 as before.
The last hurdle（障碍）was the final. No matter what 13 I got, it wouldn't cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the 14 goodbye.
I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even 15 myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I'd have 16 with a test.
A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into Professor Jayne's office. He 17 to be expecting me. "If I gave you the As you 18 , you wouldn't continue to work as hard."
I stared at him, 19 that his analysis and strategy（策略）were correct. I had worked my head 20 , as I had never done before.
I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I've always remembered Professor Jayne's lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.
A．take B．discuss C．cover D．get
A．found B．presented C．exchanged D．obtained
A．shocked B．worried C．scared D．anxious
A．but B．so C．for D．or
A．unchanged B．unpleasant C．unfriendly D．unmoved
A．reflected B．meant C．improved D．affected
A．quarreled B．reasoned C．bargained D．chatted
A．attitude B．mind C．plan D．view
A．choice B．step C．chance D．measure
A．memorized B．considered C．accepted D．learned
A．ambition B．confidence C．effort D．method
A．stayed B．went C．worked D．changed
A．grade B．answer C．lesson D．comment
A．scholarship B．course C．degree D．subject
A．helped B．favored C．treated D．relaxed
A．fun B．luck C．problems D．tricks
A．happened B．proved C．pretended D．seemed
A．valued B．imagined C．expected D．welcomed
A．remembering B．guessing C．supposing D．realizing
A．out B．over C．on D．off
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried ___1___ for hours as the farmer tried to think out ___2___ to do. Finally, he decided the animal was ___3___, and the well needed to be ___4___ up anyway; it just wasn’t ___5___ it to save the donkey. He invited all his ___6___ to come over and help him. They all grabbed（握起）a shovel（铁锹）and began to shovel ___7___ into the well. At first, the donkey ___8___ what was happening and cried horribly(惊恐的,害怕的). Then, to everyone’s ___9___ he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked ___10___ the well. He was surprised at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. As the farmer’s neighbours ___11___to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would ___12__ it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily ran off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. If you want to get out of the well, the ___13___ is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone（垫脚石）. We can get out of the ___14___ wells just by not stopping, never ___15___! Shake it off and take a step up.
A．sadly B．happily C．excitedly D．fiercely
A．how B．what C．that D．which
A．painful B．old C．rare D．powerful
A．drowned B．solved C．covered D．emptied
A．important B．possible C．necessary D．worth
A．neighbours B．relatives C．friends D．family
A．dust B．dirt C．waste D．soil
A．doubted B．recognized C．realized D．admitted
A．sorrow B．joy C．fear D．amazement
A．down B．around C．through D．over
A．pretended B．continued C．stopped D．determined
A．wash B．blow C．wipe D．shake
A．trick B．trap C．trouble D．tradition
A．longest B．largest C．deepest D．widest
A．having fun B．watching over C．giving up D．dying out