Growing roots
When l was growing up, I had an old neighbor named Dr. Gibbs. He didn't look like any doctor I'd 36 known. When Dr. Gibbs wasn't 37 lives, he was planting trees.
The good doctor had some interesting theories 38 planting trees. He believed in "No pains，no gains". He never 39 his new trees，which was 40 many people. Once I 41 why. He answered that watering plants spoiled them, and that if you water them, each following tree generation will grow 42 . So you have to make things 43 for them. He talked about how watering trees 44 shallow roots，and how trees that weren't watered had to grow deep roots in 45 of water. I took him to mean that deep roots were to be 46 . I planted a couple of trees a few years back and I took good care of them. Two years of devotion has 47 trees that expect to be waited on hand and foot. Whenever a cold wind blows, they 48 and tremble their branches. Funny things about those trees of Dr. Gibbs'. The lack of water seemed to 49 them in ways comfort and ease never 50 .
I used to pray for my sons that their lives will be 51 . But lately I've been thinking that it's time to change my 52 . I know my children are going to meet 53 ，and I'm praying they will be strong. The prayer for comfort is 54 met. What we need to do is to pray for deep roots，so when the winds blow, we won't be 55 away.
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As our exams were over, my friends and I went to a fast food restaurant. We hamburgers and Coca Colar at the counter. When our came, I started walking towards an empty table. By bad luck, my purse strap(带子) got on a chair and the tray(托盘) that I was holding slipped my hands and went flying in the air. The tray, and its contents, on a man who was just about to a bite of his sandwich. I stared, greatly , as the drinks soaked(浸湿) his white shirt.
Then I my eyes and prepared myself for his burst of . Instead, he said “It’s OK” to me before he disappeared into washroom.
Still shaky and unsure to do next, my friends and I went to a table and sat there, trying our best to look . A moment later, the man came out of the washroom and our table. My heart almost stopped . I though he was going to ask for my father’ s and call him.
To my surprise, he merely smiled at us, handed us some cash and said, “ yourself new hamburgers.” He then walked without even finishing his food.
He could have made what was already an uncomfortable situation worse, he chose a different way and gave us a reason to believe that there is still in this world. I’ll never his actions.
A．made B．ordered C．arranged D．demanded
A．food B．turn C．bill D．menu
A．fixed B．cut C．tied D．caught
A．out B．by C．in D．from
A．knocked B．fell C．stood D．hung
A．taste B．take C．swallow D．chew
A．discouraged B．disappointed C．shocked D．annoyed
A．rolled B．rubbed C．narrowed D．closed
A．bitterness B．anxiety C．anger D．sorrow
A．satisfy B．comfort C．encourage D．praise
A．what B．how C．who D．which
A．mild B．honest C．calm D．modest
A．approached B．pushed C．drew D．laid
A．breaking B．sinking C．trembling D．beating
A．help B．position C．number D．job
A．Prepare B．Buy C．Find D．Cook
A．away B．on C．around D．up
A．so B．since C．although D．but
A．kindness B．happiness C．politeness D．brightness
A．refuse B．forget C．oppose D．ignore
A lady wanted a birthday gift from her husband. For many months she had liked a beautiful , and knowing her husband could it, she told him that was all she wanted. On the morning of the , her husband told her how he was to have such a good wife, and how much he loved her. He her a beautiful gift package (纸盒). She opened it and a Bible. , she raised her voice and said to her husband, “With all your money, you give me a Bible?” She was so that she left him.
Many years passed and the lady was very in business. She owned two large companies. She her husband was very old, and thought perhaps she should go to him. But before she could, she a letter telling her that he had died, and gave all of his possessions (财产) to her. She needed to come back and things.
When she arrived at his house, sadness her heart. She saw the still new , just as she had left it years before. With , she opened it and began to turn the pages. A ring from the Bible to the floor and a could be seen. She picked it up and found it was the ring she wanted in those days. And on the card was the date of her birth, and the words “LOVE U ALWAYS”.
your gift is not packaged the way you want it, it’s because it is better packaged the way it is! Always appreciate little things; they usually lead you to bigger things! The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched for they must be felt with the .
A．watch B．ring C．coat D．box
A．afford B．like C．design D．guess
A．holiday B．performance C．birthday D．meeting
A．proud B．kind C．sorry D．brave
A．lent B．asked C．gave D．moved
A．carried B．found C．missed D．held
A．Politely B．Lightly C．Patiently D．Angrily
A．calm B．upset C．grateful D．careless
A．failing B．lonely C．successful D．poor
A．wondered B．hoped C．realized D．explained
A．visit B．understand C．catch D．help
A．passed B．wrote C．sent D．received
A．take care of B．pay for C．look for D．give away
A．covered B．broke C．left D．filled
A．car B．Bible C．letter D．table
A．smiles B．laughter C．tears D．interests
A．hid B．dropped C．disappeared D．made
A．book B．pen C．flower D．card
A．If B．But C．Although D．So
A．hand B．eye C．face D．heart
Laziness is a state of inaction. It is something that you do, not something that you are. Being lazy means you have no to do anything. This is obvious but the mistake that many people make is themselves as someone who is lazy.
Lazy people are often seen as useless. , are they really being lazy or are they acting lazy? There is a huge difference between saying you are lazy sometimes and you are a lazy person. One is suggesting that your laziness is while the other suggests that it’s permanent. This is the myth of laziness. People who are lazy aren’t lazy; they are people who are temporarily acting that way.
So what causes a person to be inactive? The answer is a lack of goals. If you give someone a good enough to do something, he will do it. People who don’t seem to do anything just haven’t found a good enough reason to do something. Lazy students don’t study because they don’t see the in studying. For example, if you are too lazy to clean out the garage, would someone a gun to your head help you take action? The reason can be positive or negative it’s strong enough to induce(引起) action.
To motivate someone who is lazy, what you need to do is to help him find enough to work towards a certain goal.
A．motivation B．question C．promotion D．courage
A．agreeing B．denying C．identifying D．refusing
A．Otherwise B．Besides C．However D．Therefore
A．correct B．false C．temporary D．inspirational
A．simply B．occasionally C．often D．hardly
A．excuse B．gift C．chance D．purpose
A．point B．success C．situation D．difficulty
A．dropping B．pointing C．shooting D．hiding
A．as long as B．as soon as C．so that D．in case
A．reasons B．money C．energy D．Confidence
“It is never too late and you are never too old to start something new!” says Englishtown Ellen Rema. Ellen began to learn English at the age of 50, and in just a few years, she has made progress!
Ellen chose to study at Englishtown because no evening classes were in the German countryside where she lives. At Englishtown, she joins classes online and speaks with live native English-speaking teacher.
In 2010, Ellen began with the first level of Englishtown and quickly . “I spent hours and hours studying,” she said “Maybe I wanted too much in a short time. I finished all my after 2 years and studying English isn’t all about hard work. It should also be ! I really like the online conversation classrooms, in which I can learn so much about other cultures and traditions. I am open for all .”
Ellen has been able to her English to use by visiting England five times! “I am very thankful to Englishtown because most of the English I know now was learned here,” Ellen says. “My life has with Englishtown.”
A．professor B．friend C．student D．reporter
A．amazing B．challenging C．discouraging D．disturbing
A．satisfied B．offered C．attended D．represented
A．conversation B．composition C．listening D．reading
A．dropped B．brushed C．awarded D．progressed
A．channels B．schedules C．courses D．papers
A．fun B．waster C．weakness D．wonder
A．measures B．topics C．timetables D．fashions
A．take B．set C．make D．put
A．ruined B．started C．changed D．Turned
Now you’re a fool for helping. “I don’t want to get ” seems to have become a national motto. One summer I was driving from my hometown of Tahoe City, California to New Orleans, Louisiana. In the middle of the desert, I passed a young man standing by the roadside. He had his thumb and held a gas can in his other hand. I drove right by him. There was a time when you’d be called a jerk (混蛋) for passing by somebody _ ___ .
Several days later I was still _ _ about the hitchhiker (搭便车的人), about how I didn’t even lift my foot _ _ the accelerator (加速踏板) for him. “Does anyone stop any more?” I wondered. I Blanche DuBois’s famous line—”I have always depended on the kindness of .” Was that possible these days? One way to this would be for a person to journey across the US without any money, just ___ _ on the good will of others. What would happen? Would he find food, shelter and support?
The idea intrigued (激起兴趣) me.
The week I turned 37, I realized that I had never done something truly crazy. ___ _ I decided to really do it: travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic without a penny. I would only accept ___ of rides, food and places to sleep. For six weeks I hitched 82 rides and covered 4,223 miles across 14 states. I was treated kindly everywhere I went. I was ___ _ by people’s readiness to help a stranger.
In Oregon, a house painter named Mike ___ _ the cold weather and asked if I had a coat. I didn’t, so he gave me a big green army-style jacket. A lumber-mill worker in Michigan named Tim invited me to a(n) _ _ _ _ dinner with his family in their shabby house. Then he offered me a tent. I , but Tim insisted, packing it into my bag himself. I found people were generally compassionate. Hearing I had no money and would take none, people bought me food or ___ _ with them whatever they happened to have. Those who had the _ _ _ _ to give often gave the most.
I’m ___ _ to all the people I met for their rides, their food, their shelter and their gifts. My faith in ordinary folks was ___ _. I am proud to live in a country where people are still willing to help. Now about the hitchhiker I met the other day, I am feeling __ _ that I did not stop to take him along .
A．involved B．crazy C．blamed D．rejected
A．away B．in C．over D．out
A．in danger B．in need C．in action D．in favor
A．worrying B．considering C．concerning D．thinking
A．off B．on C．away D．from
A．concluded B．recalled C．polished D．submitted
A．strangers B．relatives C．friends D．colleagues
A．guide B．test C．handle D．conduct
A．basing B．relying C．insisting D．relating
A．But B．So C．And D．However
A．jobs B．supplies C．helps D．offers
A．frightened B．annoyed C．disappointed D．amazed
A．noted B．saw C．felt D．sensed
A．simple B．rich C．awesome D．interesting
A．understood B．refused C．paused D．disobeyed
A．supplied B．offered C．shared D．provided
A．grandest B．most C．least D．best
A．careful B．grateful C．hopeful D．helpful
A．created B．reminded C．renewed D．returned
A．guilty B．sceptical C．delighted D．shallow