Once my mother told me a story that in Africa, when an antelope (羚羊) wakes up every morning, the first thing it thinks about is, “I must be 36 to run faster than the fastest lion, or I will be killed.” 37 , a lion wakes from his dream. The first thing the lion thinks about is, “I must be able to catch the 38 antelope, or I will starve to 39 .” So almost simultaneously(同时地), the antelope and the lion get up and start running toward the 40 sun.
This is 41 : full of chances and challenges. Whether you are an antelope or a lion, you must go 42 when the sun rises. For students, it is just the same. If we don’t study hard, sooner or later, we will 43 the other students. At first I didn’t know what the word “exam” 44 . Later, I knew an exam was a kind of 45 . In competitions, there are always winners and 46 . As I grew up, I got to know competition well. In one’s life, there must be competitions, so people can 47 .
Each time I saw children playing games and heard their 48 , I wished I were that age again. 49 , I remembered my parents’ words: You must work very hard for a good future. So I 50 my pen and began to study hard again.
I was still not sure what competition 51 meant. One day, I was 52_in an English-speaking competition. When I went to the stage, I saw other students looking at me kindly. Suddenly I 53 what competition was. It is not as cruel as my teacher and parents told me. In fact, competition is the 54 : it is kind and necessary.
I learned a lot from realizing this 55 . Now I understand better about the world. Competition is important for us all.
A．able B．willing C．ready D．eager
A．On the contrary B．At the same time C．In other words D．In the first place
A．fastest B．weakest C．slowest D．strongest
A．death B．survival C．disease D．suffering
A．sinking B．setting C．shining D．rising
A．rule B．life C．study D．exam
A．over B．through C．ahead D．beyond
A．fall behind B．pass by C．catch up D．hold back
A．felt B．meant C．referred D．doubted
A．victory B．defeat C．process D．competition
A．competitor B．players C．losers D．failures
A．improve B．conclude C．acquire D．handle
A．crying B．laughter C．whisper D．delight
A．However B．Therefore C．Besides D．Otherwise
A．put up B．brought up C．made up D．picked up
A．commonly B．simply C．obviously D．really
A．succeeding B．participating C．taking D．getting
A．doubted B．acknowledged C．knew D．admitted
A．tough B．important C．content D．opposite
A．experience B．knowledge C．fact D．consequence
It was pouring outside. We all stood there , some patiently；others annoyed nature messed up their hurried day. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens away the dirt and dust of the world.
“Mom, let’s run through the rain,” a girl’s voice me.
“No, honey. We’ll wait until it down a bit,” Mom replied.
The young girl waited about another minute and : “Mom, let’s run through the rain.”
“We’ll get wet if we do,” Mom said.
“No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,” the young girl said as she her Mom’s arm.
“This morning? did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”
“Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, he can get us through .’”
The entire crowd turned . Mom paused and thought for a moment about she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. then, we heard, “Honey, you are . Let’s run through the rain. If we get wet, maybe we just need washing,” Mom said. Then they ran.
We all stood , smiling and laughing as they ran past the cars. Yes, they got wet. But they were by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the to their cars. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, and they can even take away your . But no one can take away your precious . So, don’t forget to make time and take the to make memories every day! I hope you still take the time to run through the rain.
A．talking B．waiting C．complaining D．expecting
A．as if B．even if C．because D．that
A．taking B．putting C．driving D．washing
A．caught B．broke C．impressed D．called
A．keeps B．comes C．pushes D．slows
A．asked B．repeated C．required D．added
A．pulled B．touched C．waved D．felt
A．Why B．How C．When D．Where
A．rain B．disease C．anything D．something
A．still B．angry C．serious D．silent
A．what B．how C．whether D．if
A．However B．But C．After D．Though
A．stupid B．wrong C．right D．clever
A．off B．along C．on D．over
A．sighing B．joking C．discussing D．watching
A．followed B．guided C．respected D．praised
A．time B．way C．same D．best
A．house B．money C．health D．time
A．children B．experience C．courage D．memories
A．possibilities B．opportunities C．risk D．challenge
Waiting for the airplane to take off, I was happy to get a seat by myself. Just then, an air hostess came up to me and asked, “Would you mind your seat? A couple would like to sit together.” The only available(有空的)seat was next to a girl with her arms in casts(石膏绷带), a black-and-blue face, and a sad expression. “I am not going to sit there,” I thought immediately. But a soft voice spoke, “She needs help.” Finally, I to move to that seat.
The girl smiled at me as I sat down. She was named Kathy. She had been in a car accident and now was on her way for .
When the snack and juice arrived, it did not take me long to that Kathy would not be able to herself. I considered to feed her but hesitated, as it seemed too to offer a service to a complete . But then I realized that Kathy’s need was more than my discomfort. I offered to help her eat, and although she was uncomfortable to accept at first, she did as I expected.
We became closer and closer in a short period of time. By the end of the five-hour trip, my heart , and the was really better spent than if I had just sat by myself.
I was very glad I had sat next to Kathy and fed her. Love and care sometimes flow beyond human borders and remove the fears that keep us . When we offer to serve a stranger, we grow to live in a more rewarding world.（287 words）
A．Losing B．changing C．taking D．buying
A．decided B．wanted C．regretted D．promised
A．business B．travel C．pleasure D．treatment
A．Remember B．say C．realize D．recognize
A．eat B．feed C．choose D．support
A．offering B．needing C．stopping D．trying
A．far B．impolite C．close D．fast
A．girl B．neighbor C．passenger D．stranger
A．Unusual B．direct C．important D．shameful
A．had warmed B．had jumped C．had broken D．had cheered
A．life B．money C．time D．energy
A．upset B．independent C．silent D．separate
Just off La Rambla Street in Barcelona, I skimmed through The Saints (圣人) of Spain in a bookstore. It would be a good read for the home. At that moment, I couldn’t help thinking of my own personal saint, the angel who’d my trip.
It was the first time for me to travel abroad and I called it a “spiritual journey”. I hadn’t a hotel before setting out I thought I could find a cheap one when I arrived. , it turned out to be a(n) .
I knew Spanish, but the quick, sad of each hotel owner’s head was easily understood — no room at the hotel. The sun had just gone down below the horizon (地平线)，I didn’t know what to do and began to . Just then, an old man came with a hat covering his white hair. He asked me if I needed any help. I supposed maybe he the worried look on my face.
After explaining why I was there, he asked me to him. At first, I whether the stranger did that out of kindness. However, considering my situation, I had no other choice but to him. I walked behind him and passed through a narrow, dark side street. Finally he rang the bell on a door. “You will stay here,” he said. “It is a place.”
He was . My room was huge —with a bed, a desk and even a bath. I wanted to him, but he’d gone away. “This man can be trusted,” I thought.
Now , at the , I felt a tap (轻拍) on my shoulder. It was him ! So he was . “I want to thank you. What’s your name ? ” I said.
“Raphael,” he said. “You’re very welcome.” With that, he went away into the crowd on La Rambla. “He was not an angel but just a kind ,” I thought.
On the planet, I turned to a page in The Saints of Spain by chance. “Raphael,” it read, “is known as the supporter of travellers. He helps guide spiritual journeys.” Yes, he does.
A．train B．boat C．flight D．bus
A．saved B．recorded C．disturbed D．described
A．cleaned B．run C．booked D．left
A．because B．unless C．until D．though
A．At least B．After all C．In all D．In fact
A．warning B．error C．example D．tale
A．little B．some C．old D．only
A．change B．shake C．memory D．thought
A．speak B．rest C．worry D．imagine
A．near B．back C．out D．again
A．remembered B．noticed C．misunderstood D．enjoyed
A．inform B．tolerate C．follow D．defend
A．explained B．doubted C．discussed D．argued
A．look for B．laugh at C．wait for D．believe in
A．dark B．secret C．safe D．good
A．tired B．confused C．right D．independent
A．visit B．invite C．challenge D．thank
A．shop B．hotel C．bookstore D．school
A．real B．active C．selfish D．rude
A．Traveler B．stranger C．adult D．Worker
Childhood curiosity can last a lifetime and I learned this from my son, Bill. When he was very young, I often took him to the . He loved to read and often needed to the books he’d read in order to borrow more books.Oneunintended of his nonstop reading habits was that he even at the dinner table. His mother, Mary, and I did our best to him that, on certain social , reading while dining with others was not a good thing.
Every summer the teachers at his school give the students a reading list, and there was a contest to see who could read the most books. He was so , and he always wanted to win. And he often . But the main reason why he read so obsessively (着迷地) was that he was so . He didn’t just want to learn about things. He wanted to learn about everything.
We helped his curiosity in every way. an unfamiliar word came up in conversation, we’d turn to the , looking up the word, and reading the definition aloud. Thus my son came to realize that if you have a question, the exists somewhere. All you have to do is it.
Bill remains as much of a today as when he was a child, and he seems to everything he reads. He’s often to share what he’s learned with the next person he meets. He reads at the dinner table, though — which is a good thing because the books he’s attracted to now are increasingly unappetizing (引不起食欲的): The Eradication of Infectious Diseases, Mosquitoes, Malaria & Man, and Rats, Lice, and History.
A．school B．office C．library D．museum
A．return B．store C．talk D．pick
A．advantage B．discovery C．explanation D．consequence
A．play B．read C．study D．laugh
A．convince B．promise C．inform D．advise
A．issues B．services C．occasions D．duties
A．could B．would C．should D．might
A．sincere B．crazy C．positive D．competitive
A．went B．failed C．did D．proved
A．curious B．confident C．diligent D．excellent
A．simple B．past C．any D．some
A．protect B．develop C．examine D．follow
A．Until B．If C．Though D．Because
A．teacher B．newspaper C．partner D．dictionary
A．person B．book C．answer D．matter
A．find B．use C．tell D．ask
A．speaker B．reader C．maker D．user
A．imagine B．believe C．create D．remember
A．eager B．afraid C．careful D．sure
A．now and again B．at all time C．no longer D．just now
Four brothers left home for college, and they became successful doctors and lawyers. Some years later, they _ after having dinner together. They discussed the __ they gave their elderly mother who lived far away in another city. The first said, “I had a _ house built for Mama.” The second said, “I had my Mercedes-Benz dealer（经销商）send a _ to her.” The third said, “I built a beautiful _ for Mama.” The fourth said, “You know _ Mama loved reading poems and you know she can’t read anymore because she can’t _ very well. I met a _ who had a parrot（鹦鹉）that can recite many poems. It took him 12 years to _ it to speak and he earns his living by renting it out. I had to pay him $100,000 a year for twenty years, _ it is worth it.” On hearing that, the other brothers were_ by his good thought.
After the holidays their mother _ her thank-you notes, which read: “Milton, the house you built is so huge. I only live in one room, but I have to _ the whole house. It’s a tiring job. Thanks anyway.”
“Marvin, I am too old to _ . I stay home and have my foods delivered, so I’ll _ use the car. The_ was good, although not practical. Thanks.”
“Michael, you gave me an expensive building for 50 people to_ plays or watch movies in it, but all my friends are dead. I’ve almost _ my hearing and I’m nearly blind. I won’t use it. Thank you all the same.”
“Dearest Melvin, you were the_ son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken tasted so _ . I liked it very much. Thank you.”
A．fought B．talked C．studied D．slept
A．gifts B．chances C．wishes D．challenges
A．warm B．big C．safe D．lonely
A．book B．bike C．car D．bag
A．station B．museum C．library D．theater
A．what B．how C．why D．when
A．listen B．feel C．see D．walk
A．nurse B．writer C．businessman D．lawyer
A．protect B．beat C．raise D．teach
A．but B．so C．unless D．although
A．treated B．impressed C．threatened D．hurt
A．sent out B．put up C．took out D．picked up
A．sell B．borrow C．clean D．visit
A．learn B．work C．exercise D．travel
A．never B．often C．regularly D．sometimes
A．future B．hobby C．idea D．program
A．create B．enjoy C．bring D．record
A．lost B．admired C．remained D．discovered
A．same B．last C．next D．only
A．strange B．unpleasant C．bitter D．delicious