Back in the fifteenth century in Nuremberg lived a family with eighteen children. They were so poor that two children, who wanted to pursue their talent for 26 knew their father would never be 27 able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.
So they tossed (掷) a coin. Albrecht Durer, the younger, 28 the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous 29 and for the next four years, financed his brother, who did so well that his works were even better than those of most of his 30 . By the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn 31 fees by drawing for wealthy people. When the young artist returned home, at dinner he drank a 32 to his beloved brother for the years of 33 that had enabled him to fulfill his 34 .He said, “Albert, my blessed brother, now it is your 35 to go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you.”
With tears in his eyes, Albert held his hands close to his right cheek and said, “No, brother, I cannot go. Look... look what four years in the mines have done to my 36 !The bones in every finger have been 37 at least once. Lately I have been suffering from arthritis (关节炎) so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a 38 to return your toast, much less make delicate （细腻的）lines with a pen or a brush. No, brother..., for me it is too 39 .”
Deeply moved, Albrecht painstakingly drew his brother’s 40 hands with palms（手掌） together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing 41 “Hands”, to which the entire world immediately opened their hearts and later they 42 it “ the Praying Hands”.
The next time when you see a copy of that 43 creation, take a second look. Let it be your 44 , if you still need one, that no one ever makes it 45 !
A．assistance B．art C．science D．dreaming
A．fundamentally B．frequently C．financially D．flexibly
A．won B．lost C．ended D．started
A．mountains B．oceans C．deserts D．mines
A．classmates B．colleagues C．professors D．brothers
A．convenient B．considerable C．considerate D．confident
A．beer B．drink C．drop D．toast
A．selfish donation B．no education C．hard work D．rich experience
A．attempt B．ambition C．appointment D．assessment
A．turn B．dream C．kindness D．hope
A．health B．body C．mind D．hands
A．injured B．strengthened C．sharpened D．used
A．knife B．spoon C．glass D．pen
A．urgent B．unnecessary C．messy D．late
A．overused B．dark C．wide D．fragile,
A．seriously B．simply C．carefully D．gently
A．sold B．bought C．found D．renamed
A．longing B．touching C．challenging D．disturbing
A．reminder B．aid C．guide D．coach
A．along B．aside C．alone D．aware
One dark stormy night, an elderly couple hurried into a hotel and asked whether they could be 36 for the night, “I’m very sorry,” the clerk on night shift said politely, “we are all 37 tonight. 38 ,you could stay in my room if you don’t mind. I’m39 ,so I’ll be here.” The young man gave the sincere advice.
The elderly couple accepted his 40 with gratitude. They apologized for the 41 they had caused him. The next day, the rain stopped and it 42 . When the old gentleman went to pay his bill, the same clerk said, “The room you and your wife stayed in is not a proper 43 room in this hotel, so you don’t need to pay.”
The old gentleman nodded in 44 : “You are an employee that every boss in the hotel business would dream of . Perhaps someday I’ll build a hotel for you.” The clerk was 45 but, deciding that the guest must have been46 , he gave the remark 47 thought.
Two years later, the young man received a letter from the old gentleman, in which he 48 the experience of that dark stormy night. The letter also 49 a formal invitation, asking that young man to pay a visit.
At a street corner in Manhattan, the young man met his 50 guest. The old gentleman, pointing to a magnificent new building 51 over the crossroads, “Look, that is the hotel I 52 to build for you. I hope you will 53 it for me .Remember what I said then? Well, I was 54 about it.”
The young man stammered, “But…will there be any 55 , sir? Why do you choose me? And who are you?”
“My name is William Aster.” This building was none other than the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, a symbol of supreme status and honor in New York.
A．put up B．put away C．stay up D．set up
A．preserved B．conserved C．booked D．occupied
A．Meanwhile B．Moreover C．Otherwise D．However
A．on duty B．on display C．on stage D．on hand
A．service B．view C．offer D．invitation
A．Instruction B．consideration C．Inconvenience D．interruption
A．cleared away B．picked out C．cleaned up D．cleared up
A．living B．double C．admirable D．luxury
A．appreciation B．admiration C．surprise D．excitement
A．excited B．skeptical C．annoyed D．respectful
A．lacking B．covering C．joking D．cheating
A．not more B．no more C．some D．another
A．described B．stated C．recited D．recalled
A．swapped B．included C．attached D．added
A．former B．original C．formal D．primitive
A．displaying B．towering C．flying D．hovering
A．determined B．promised C．tended D．intended
A．get B．keep C．manage D．make
A．sensitive B．concerned C．curious D．serious
A．Scene B．situation C．condition D．Occasion
The students at Sandy’s high school were badly shaken by the news that a classmate had 11 himself. On the suicide note was written: “It’s hard to 12 when nobody cares if you die.”
Glen, a teacher, realized this was a 13 moment about the importance of making people feel
14 . He asked his class to imagine they were about to 15 and to write a note “telling someone how and why you 16 him or her.”
Sandy, who had a 17 relationship with her mother, decided to write her mother. Her letter 18 “We’ve had some 19 times and I haven’t always been a very good 20 ,but I know I’m lucky to have you in my life. You’re the 21 person I’ve ever known, And even when I disagree with you, I never 22 you love me and want what’s best for me. Thanks for not 23 up on me”.
When her mom read the note, she cried and hugged Sandy 24 but said little.
The next morning, Sandy found a25 on her mirror: “Dearest Sandy, I want you to know being your mother is ,by far, the most important thing in my life. 26 I got your note, I thought I had lost your love and 27 . I felt like such a failure. I intended to28 it all last night. Your note saved my 29 .”
Be careful not to underestimate the 30 of expressed appreciation. It won’t always save a life, but it will always make someone’s life better.
A．sacrificed B． defeated C． abandoned D． killed
A． live B． imagine C． struggle D． think
A． sad B． final C． teachable D． great
A． ashamed B． valued C． excited D． scared
A． die B． fail C． retire D． survive
A．miss B． hate C． admire D． appreciate
A． close B．casual C．bad D．personal
A． read B． wrote C． spoke D． told
A． free B． delightful C． usual D． rough
A． daughter B． student C． friend D． trainer
A． best B． wisest C． luckiest D． gentlest
A． trust B． doubt C． consider D． predict
A． taking B． going C． giving D． looking
A． coldly B． hesitantly C． shyly D． tightly
A． note B． gift C． notice D． reminder
A． Since B． Until C． Though D． When
A． confidence B． courage C． respect D． heart
A． end B． make C． get D． fall
A． life B． time C． money D． honor
A． push B． price C． meaning D． power
My husband used to be a workaholic(工作狂)．Nothing seemed to be more __16__ to him than his work，not even his family.
He usually __17__at 6 o’clock，and our __18__ and I were still asleep then，and then left __19__ having breakfast.I asked him to have breakfast __20__，but he said it’s a waste of __21__.I didn’t know what kept him so__22__.He even couldn’t finish all his work in the office.He came back at ten at night.However，I never expected that he would give me a kiss.__23__he got home，he would start to__24__.The kids had already been in bed，of course.
“Mom，where is Dad？Why I __25__ see him？”the kids often asked.
“Well，Dad has to work.He is busy，”I always__26__like this.As time went by，they didn’t ask where their dad was again.Perhaps they had__27__that they had a dad.However，the situation changed several months ago.
Jenny，our daughter，suddenly became__28__.I sent her to the hospital.The__29__told me that she was seriously ill and that she was calling__30__all the time.Tears burst into my eyes when I__31__that.I finally called my __32__and told him about that.Half an hour later，he came to the hospital and held Jenny’s little hands.
He__33__another job two weeks later.
“I just wanted to make as much__34__as possible for you and our kids.But now，I just want to__35__as much time as possible with you and the kids，”he said and that’s what he is doing now.
A．possible B．interesting C．important D．relaxing
A．sat down B．got up C．stoop up D．came up
A．kids B．pets C．neighbors D．parents
A．on B．with C．without D．after
A．in the office B．on the way C．in school D．at home
A． money B．time C．energy D．food
A．tired B．busy C．fast D．excited
A．As soon as B．In the end C．Long before D．Long after
A．eat B．sleep C．work D．write
A．often B．never C．sometimes D．cheated
A．shouted B．asked C．replied D．cheated
A．thought B．forgotten C．ignored D．minded
A．fine B．worse C．ill D．angry
A．teacher B．boss C．officer D．doctor
A．mom B．sir C．dad D．madam
A．noticed B．realized C．heard D．felt
A．mother B．child C．brother D．husband
A． received B．lost C． changed D．found
A．money B．happiness C．value D．laughter
A．spend B．make C．set D．steal
Evelyn Glennie was the first lady of solo percussion in Scotland. In an interview, she recalled how she became a percussion soloist (打击乐器独奏演员) in spite of her disability.
“Early on I decided not to allow the 26 of others to stop me from becoming a musician. I grew up on a farm in northeast Scotland and began 27 piano lessons when I was eight. The older I got, the more my passion (酷爱) for music grew. But I also began to gradually lose my 28 .Doctors concluded that the nerve damage was the 29 and by age twelve, I was completely deaf. But my love for music never
30 me.”
“My 31 was to become a percussion soloist, even though there were none at that time. To perform, I 32 to ‘hear’ music differently from others. I play in my stocking feet and can 33 the pitch of a note (音调高低) by the vibrations (振动) I feel through my body and through my 34 .My entire sound world exists by making use of almost every 35 that I have.”
“I was 36 to be assessed as a musician, not as a deaf musician, and I applied to the famous Royal Academy of Music in London. No other deaf student had 37 this before and some teachers 38 my admission. Based on my performance, I was
39 admitted and went on to 40 with the academy’s highest honours.”
“After that, I established myself as the first fulltime solo percussionist. I
41 and arranged a lot of musical compositions since 42 had been written specially for solo percussionists.”
“I have been a soloist for over ten years. 43 the doctor thought I was totally deaf, it didn’t 44 that my passion couldn’t be realized. I would encourage people not to allow themselves to be 45 by others. Follow your passion; follow your heart. They will lead you to the place you want to go.”
A．conditions B．opinions C．actions D．recommendations
A．enjoying B．choosing C．taking D．giving
A．sight B．hearing C．touch D．taste
A．evidence B．result C．excuse D．cause
A．left B．excited C．accompanied D．disappointed
A．purpose B．decision C．promise D．goal
A．turned B．learned C．used D．ought
A．tell B．see C．hear D．smell
A．carefulness B．movement C．imagination D．experience
A．sense B．effort C．feeling D．idea
A．dissatisfied B．astonished C．determined D．discouraged
A．done B．accepted C．advised D．admitted
A．supported B．followed C．required D．opposed
A．usually B．finally C．possibly D．hopefully
A．study B．research C．graduate D．progress
A．wrote B．translated C．copied D．read
A．enough B．some C．many D．few
A．However B．Although C．When D．Since
A．mean B．seem C．conclude D．say
A．directed B．guided C．taught D．limited
Several weeks ago, my friend advised us to sell some of our things which we will not use any more. I thought it was a good chance to 46 my 7-year-old son’s room and 47 some toys that were no longer suitable for him to play with. We 48 that all the money we got from selling the toys would be his money.
The night before the 49 , we loaded up the truck with toys and a little bike that was too 50 for him. In the yard he 51 the bike for the last time and then happily put it onto the truck. This little bike had at least two previous owners as far as we 52 . It wasn’t in the best 53 and was certainly not new, but the tires were 54 good.
We put a price of $10 on it, but it didn’t sell. So, after the sale was 55 , my friend put it on the sidewalk with a sign that 56 “FREE BIKE”. Within five minutes her doorbell rang. A little boy was 57 there. In poor English he asked whether the bike was 58 free. She said yes and that he could have it for 59 . He smiled, got on the bike and rode away.
Later that evening when I told my son how much money he had made at the sale, he was very 60 , shouting happily. He asked about a few of his things, wondering 61 they had been sold. When he asked about the bike, I told him about the little boy and that made him 62 . He was much happier than when I told him how much he had 63 . He was so happy to 64 that someone else would make good 65 of that little bike!
A．clean B．check C．display D．design
A．look for B．go through C．show off D．deal with
A．refused B．agreed C．wrote D．lied
A．trip B．show C．sale D．decision
A．weak B．small C．new D．thin
A．rode B．found C．watched D．felt
A．doubted B．knew C．told D．thought
A．time B．chance C．place D．shape
A．also B．never C．still D．hardly
A．ahead B．on C．near D．over
A．said B．repeated C．copied D．expressed
A．jumping B．standing C．walking D．shouting
A．barely B．usually C．really D．always
A．something B．anything C．everything D．nothing
A．calm B．scared C．excited D．disappointed
A．when B．if C．why D．how
A．smile B．worry C．leave D．cry
A．enjoyed B．lost C．bought D．made
A．hear B．understand C．remember D．think
A．interest B．money C．use D．price