When I was a little girl, I found love in a box all because of a class assignment. On a Friday night I 36 at the dinner table, “My teacher said we have to bring a box, a special box, for our valentines on Monday”.
Mother said, “We’ll see,” and she continued eating.
What did “We’ll see” mean? I had to have that box, 37 my second grade Valentine’s Day would be a disaster. Maybe they didn’t love me enough to help me with my 38 .
All Saturday I waited 39 and with Sunday arriving, my concern increased. However, I 40 that an enquiry about the box would 41 anger or loud voices, for in my house children only asked once. More than that 42 trouble.
Late Sunday afternoon, my father called me into the kitchen. The table was covered with different kinds of colorful 43 . A (n) 44 shoebox rested on top of it. 45 flooded through me when Daddy said, “Let’s get started 46 your project.”
In the next hour my father 47 the shoebox into an impressive valentine box. Colorful paper covered the ugly cardboard with red hearts 48 to what I considered all the right places. He sang while he worked. When he finished, he was so delighted that a 49 smile spread across his face. “What do you think of that?” he asked.
I answered him with a hug.
But inside, 50 danced all the way to my heart. It was the first time that my father had devoted so much 51 to me, for his world consisted only of work.
The holiday party arrived, and my classmates put cards and presents into the valentine boxes. Laughter filled our classroom until dismissal time 52 .
On the way home, I held out my valentine box for the world to 53 . The love that filled it meant more to me than all the valentines inside.
The valentine box became a symbol of his love that 54 through decades of other Valentine’s Days. My father gave me other gifts through the years, but none 55 compared with the love I felt within the limits of the old, empty shoebox.
A．announced B．appeared C．served D．sat
A．and B．but C．or D．so
A．design B．plan C．idea D．project
A．sadly B．anxiously C．disappointedly D．patiently
A．found B．realized C．knew D．imagined
A．start B．cause C．mark D．produce
A．invited B．took C．saved D．had
A．boxes B．gifts C．paper D．food
A．new B．big C．attractive D．empty
A．Relaxation B．Relief C．Cheer D．Calm
A．by B．at C．in D．on
A．folded B．packed C．changed D．pressed
A．joined B．attached C．linked D．connected
A．slight B．brief C．broad D．confident
A．joy B．fun C．interest D．amusement
A．money B．time C．support D．hope
A．reached B．set C．spent D．came
A．accept B．respect C．admire D．recognize
A．carried B．kept C．spread D．lasted
A．ever B．even C．yet D．still
A funny story circulated recently about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. Doyle clearly told of a time when he climbed into a in Paris. Before he could
a word, the driver turned to him and asked, “Where can I
you, Mr. Doyle?”
Doyle was . He asked the driver if he had ever seen him before.
“No, sir,” the driver responded. “I have seen you before.” Then he
: “This morning’s paper had a story about you being on
in Marseilles. This is the taxi stand where people who return from Marseilles always arrive. Your
color tells me you have been on vacation. The
spot on your right index finger suggests to me that you are a writer. Your clothing is very English, and not French.
up all those pieces of information, I
that you are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.”
“This is truly amazing!” the writer with excitement. “You are very like my
creation, Sherlock Holmes!”
“There’s one other thing,” the driver said.
“What’s that?”
“Your is on the front of your suitcase.”
Perhaps the was no master detective, but he was observant! He paid attention and paying attention is an important part of living
.
Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of . A life lived to the full is lived from moment to moment,
from milestone to milestone. It is more of a series of days in which we truly pay attention, than a few
events along the way.
Pay attention to the things of life, to people, to events, to your senses, even to the ordinary. Your life will never beauty. By making the most of the moments, you make the most of the years.
A. train B. taxi C. bus D. plane
A. write B. hear C. say D. read
A. take B. meet C. wait D. leave
A. pleased B. scared C. disappointed D. surprised
A. justB. never C. ever D. always
A. admittedB. started C. explained D. remembered
A. business B. dutyC. holiday D. work
A. skinB. hair C. clothes D. shoes
A. blood B. dirt C. mud D. ink
A. MakingB. Taking C. Putting D. Adding
A. concludedB. realized C. imagined D. expected
A. sighedB. screamed C. whispered D. roared
A. mentalB. physicalC. fictional D. psychological
A. licenseB. address C. resumeD. name
A. driverB. writer C. detectiveD. waiter
A. wellB. fully C. happily D. peacefully
A. stages B. steps C. periods D. moments
A. more than B. less than C. rather than D. other than
A. small B. major C. personal D. social
A. lack B. create C. appreciate D. enjoy
Recently, a couple in New Zealand were forbidden from naming their baby son 4Real. EvenNew Zealand has quite free rules about
children, names beginning with a
are not allowed. They decided to call him Superman
.
In many countries around the world,names for children are becoming more popular. In Britain, you can call a child almost
you like. The only restrictions on parents
to offensive(冒犯的) words such as swear words.
parents choose names which come from
culture. For example, there have been six boys named Gandalf
the character in the Lord of the Rings(指环王) novels and films.
, names related to sport are fairly common –
1984, 36 children have been called Arsenal(阿森纳) after the football team. Other parents like to
names, or combine names to make their own
names, a method demonstrated (证实的) by Jordan, the British model,
recently invented the name Tiaamii for her daughter by
names Thea and Amy (the two grandmothers).
Some names which were previouslyas old-fashioned have
popular again, but the most popular names are not the strange
. The top names are fairly
, for example, Jack, Charlie and Thomas for boys and Grace, Ruby and Jessica for girls.
A．when B．though C．in D．for
A．calling B．raising C．naming D．educating
A．number B．mark C．letter D．sign
A．however B．instead C．thus D．too
A．unusual B．outstanding C．common D．famous
A．everything B．something C．nothing D．anything
A．relate B．to relate C．relating D．related
A．Many of B．Some C．A great many of D．Much
A．current B．mysterious C．popular D．present
A．for B．afterC．by D．like
A．Equally B．Whereas C．Indeed D．However
A．in B．since C．after D．till
A．make up B．make for C．make use of D．make out
A．well–known B．double C．fantastic D．unique
A．who B．which C．that D．who that
A．changingB．separating C．combining D．dividing
A．thought of B．thought about C．thought D．thought over
A．formed B．sounded C．become D．developed
A．ones B．personalities C．characters D．varieties
A．convenient B．traditional C．classic D．contemporary
From the time I lined up my dolls on the sofa in playschool, I wanted to be a teacher. “Open your books,” I would my teddy bear and dolls. Then I would teach them whatever new things I had just at school.
For me, dream was one thing, and was quite another. My family was too poor to my tuition. Finally, with others’help, I attended a state university. However, I needed more money to pay for my other expenses, so I found a part-time job, test tubes in the science department. At then I believed that every dirty test tube I washed meant I was one step closer to my .
When working as a substitute (代替) teacher in the local area, I learned they were planning to the biology teacher I had substituted for. I was sure the was meant for me. However, the principal (校长) said, “You’re too . This last teacher had a lot of discipline problems because of his age. We want someone older － with more .”
I cried all the way to work, disappointed and . Suddenly, a stranger who I met by chance asked me what had happened. I told him how much I wanted to and how upset I was to be because of my age. Then I also shared some of my thoughts with him. He me, “Never lose heart. I believe you can make it.” The next morning my phone rang. It was the principal calling to offer me the position. I was totally and asked him why. He explained, “You made quite an impression on the chairman of our Board of Directors. He that you should have this position.” A few weeks later, I stood by the door of my classroom, welcoming my on their first day of school. When they were settled, I said with a smile, “Open your books.”
A．persuade B．instruct C．calm D．congratulate
A．delightedly B．angrily C．jealously D．disappointedly
A．found B．changed C．learned D．undertaken
A．advice B．interest C．time D．schooling
A．forget B．ignore C．cover D．plan
A．almost B．still C．hardly D．suddenly
A．decorating B．producing C．collecting D．cleaning
A．house B．dream C．job D．school
A．punish B．accept C．praise D．replace
A．position B．scholarship C．experiment D．result
A．busy B．impatient C．young D．strange
A．adventure B．experience C．confidence D．independence
A．sorrowful B．comfortable C．nervous D．tired
A．travel B．study C．teach D．sing
A．called on B．looked after C．brought up D．turned down
A．promised B．ordered C．thanked D．comforted
A．math B．biology C．English D．Chinese
A．confused B．upset C．anxious D．selfish
A．complained B．informed C．recommended D．regretted
A．students B．parents C．teachers D．friends
The 100th Running Shoe Keychain
When I was in Grade 6, I joined the cross country running club. I hated running but______ because my friends were in the club. I worked hard but no matter how hard I trained, I ______ came in the last. After yet another meet where I came in last, I told my coach that I was going to ______. I couldn’t run. I hated running and all I was doing was pulling the ______ down. I don’t remember his words, but I do remember he ______to let me quit. I remember feeling that he believed in me even though I didn’t believe in myself. I kept ______and participating in the meets. He never gave up on me. Instead, he always encouraged me to keep going, and told me that I could do it.
Then the final meet came, a huge ______ with less than two hundred students running. We learned that not only the first 20 students ______ the line would win an award, but also the first 100 would be given a running shoe keychain as encouragement. We set off and I quickly______behind. I didn’t stop and kept running. My friends who_____me encouraged me to keep running. When I passed the_____, finally, and received the 100th keychain, there were still students behind me. For the first time, I was not the_____one! I remember how excited I felt and how my friends felt happy for me.
The following week there was a school gathering. We were all called up in front of the school. The coach shared that we were high_____at the meet, and almost everyone on the team came home with_____. I felt ashamed, for I was the one who didn’t win an award. I only came in the 100th place and didn’t______ his praise. Then he came behind me, put his hands on my shoulders and told the school he was _____of me because I never gave up and because of that, I pulled from last ______to the middle of the race--which was an unbelievable personal ______. He spoke on how we all ______one another and how well we worked together, ______we all were racing alone.
I still keep that keychain, which tells me never to give up and always work with others. It doesn’t matter if you are the first; what matters is doing your best.
A．obeyed B．joined C．agreed D．practised
A．constantly B．approximately C．personally D．absolutely
A．fall B．lose C．rest D．quit
A．score B．coach C．team D．record
A．regretted B．forbade C．refused D．hesitated
A．begging B．applying C．failing D．training
A．affair B．success C．amount D．honour
A．to B．beyond C．over D．across
A．followed B．fell C．left D．kept
A．helped B．inspired C．passed D．supported
A．field B．line C．test D．match
A．least B．last C．quickest D．farthest
A．spots B．speeds C．quality D．chance
A．presents B．keychains C．wishes D．awards
A．believe B．value C．deserve D．request
A．aware B．proud C．capable D．sure
A．place B．number C．race D．minute
A．matter B．ambition C．victory D．opinion
A．encouraged B．introduced C．proved D．attracted
A．as if B．in case C．as long as D．even though
Everybody has a choice .I believe that I always have a choice. No matter what I'm doing and what is happening to me. I used to write my books, typing on a keyboard, ____now I can no longer _____ my hand. Today I am sitting at my computer, speaking these words through a microphone. In 2008, I was diagnosed with ALS, a(n) _ ____ disease, which would weaken and finally ______every important muscle in my body. That is to say, I will be _____ unable to move, to speak, and finally, to______. Only largely depending upon others could I live. I was lost and felt everything around me become dull.
I was ____ to give up writing completely and remained _ __ all day long. In the ____, some of my friends and ralatives came to ____ me. However, It wasn’t long _ ____I became lonely again, wondering the meaning of life. Sometimes I came up with the _____ that I’d better end my life because I couldn’t ____ the complex(复杂的) expressions on my family’s faces. I became depressed, doubtful and _____. Then one day as I was wheeling myself along a nearby street, I found an old guy in dirty clothes with no legs ___ in the street. I was shocked and woke up at once. I was more ____ than him. I have thousands of ____ to live on. When he came to me begging, I was so inspired and offered all that was in my purse. From then on I _____ to go through the process of learning to use voice recognition software. Old woman ____I was, I wrote more now than ever.
Every day now I have a ____ on not only whether I will live, but how I will live. I can choose to see it as an invitation—an opportunity to learn who I really am.
A．and B．so C．but D．until
A．lift B．control C．remove D．wash
A．curable B．unknown C．common D．terrible
A．destroy B．rebuild C．cancel D．remove
A．hardly B．actually C．gradually D．totally
A．communicate B．behave C．breathe D．die
A．determined B．forced C．encouraged D．advised
A．positive B．disabled C．dependent D．silent
A．beginning B．end C．evening D．hospital
A．guide B．admire C．entertain D．comfort
A．since B．when C．until D．before
A．opinion B．idea C．imagination D．choice
A．understand B．guess C．forgive D．bear
A．hopeless B．adventurous C．disabled D．impolite
A．sleeping B．begging C．singing D．dancing
A．unlucky B．miserable C．confident D．fortunate
A．chances B．excuses C．reasons D．purposes
A．managed B．continued C．intended D．stopped
A．but B．though C．even if D．that
A．way B．method C．thought D．choice