Things of Value
Our area was just a few miles from the largest wildfire in Colorado’s history. We were on “evacuation alert (疏散警报)”. If we got the 1 to evacuate, we would have to leave immediately.
We 2 suitcases with some clothes and set them by the door. We didn’t 3 these things were valuable, but time was. We moved the computers, with which I wrote for newspapers and made a 4 . We took family pictures off the 5 and packed them in boxes. These were truly valuable and could not be replaced.
Then we took a hard look at all that 6 . There was a lamp that belonged to my great grandmother. It was a 7 to my family. And there was the piano my wife 8 to play when she was a little girl. Not of great 9 in itself, but another family connection. It was impractical to move everything from our home and store them for an indefinite (无限的) time. Some important items would have to stay behind.
The thought of 10 something passed down from our families saddened me deeply, 11 I’d never been much attached to things. It’s about what they 12 —family and love. They each had a(n) 13 to tell, and some of them spoke in the 14 of our parents and grandparents.
The fire 15 reached our home. We were lucky. And though I felt grateful that all was 16 , I also realized just how fortunate I had been 17 . I saw just how rich my life had been.
Someone 18 said, “There are people so poor that the only thing they have is money.” And now I 19 I was indeed rich. I was rich in family, rich in memories, rich in everything that really 20 to me. I am wealthier than I ever believed possible.
It took a fire to teach me, I wonder if there is any other kind of wealth worth seeking.
A．answer B．task C．chance D．call
A．packed B．bought C．searched D．sold
A．worry B．think C．care D．doubt
A．mark B．sign C．living D．plan
A．albums B．ceilings C．windows D．walls
A．left B．remained C．burnt D．unmoved
A．connection B．present C．symbol D．treasure
A．forgot B．agreed C．learned D．refused
A．quality B．taste C．sense D．value
A．knocking out B．leaving behind C．giving away D．picking out
A．even though B．unless C．but D．or
A．contained B．included C．represented D．gathered
A．idea B．lie C．right D．story
A．sounds B．speeds C．voices D．feelings
A．once B．never C．seldom D．finally
A．spared B．returned C．stopped D．found
A．at last B．in return C．in another way D．at most
A．curiously B．accidentally C．coldly D．wisely
A．knew B．promised C．announced D．thanked
A．affects B．matters C．helps D．desires
I never know how well Mother could keep a trust until I was going through her things after she died. I discovered something I had _ forgotten, something that happened to me as a child.
One night, as I lay in bed _ _ my sister and I had said our prayers, I recalled the events of the day and how_ _ I had behaved towards Mother. “I must make things right before going to sleep,” I thought.
Quickly I _ _out of bed and picked up a pencil and paper, then tiptoed (踮着脚，蹑手蹑脚) into the hall. The __ from the living room shone dimly (昏暗地). I knew Mother was downstairs mending socks.
I quickly _ _ a note asking Mother to forgive me for being so _ _. I didn’t want my brothers and sisters to know our _ _ so I added a postscript (附言，补充): “Please don’t let anyone see this.” Then I quietly moved _ _ my parents’ bedroom and put the letter under Mother’s pillow.
The next morning, when I __ my bed after breakfast, I unexpectedly _ _ a note under my pillow. Mother wrote that she loved me and _ _ me.
This became my_ __ of apologizing whenever I talked back or disobeyed. Mother always left a note, but she never _our under-the-pillow messages in front of the family. Even when we were _ __, she never mentioned them when we brothers and sister recalled our childhood.
When Mother __, I had to go through her personal belongings. In her desk was a bundle (捆，包) of notes tied with a faded ribbon (布条). On top was a message in her handwriting. It read, “In the event of my death, please _ _ these.”
I _ __ the packet and glanced at the handwriting on the bottom. To my surprise, I _54_ my childish writing, “P.S. Please don’t let anyone see this. Love, Edie.”
I gently placed the unopened bundle in the _ __ along with other things for the rubbish burner. “Lord,” I prayed, “make me like my mother.”
A．long B．just C．never D．often
A．before B．after C．until D．since
A．well B．politely C．happily D．badly
A．jumped B．fell C．moved D．slipped (溜走)
A．moon B．light C．needle D．thread
A．found B．sent C．wrote D．took
A．lazy B．late C．careless D．naughty
A．mistake B．business C．relation D．love
A．out of B．around C．into D．behind
A．searched B．left C．made D．went to
A．wrote B．left C．found D．gave
A．missed B．understood C．supported D．forgave
A．way B．secret C．favorite D．trick
A．spoke about B．passed round C．gave out D．read aloud
A．happy B．curious C．grown D．interested
A．went away B．passed away C．die away D．break away
A．destroy B．keep C．hide D．read
A．picked up B．handed in C．looked through D．turned over
A．recognized B．lost C．realized D．liked
A．drawer B．wastebasket C．bedroom D．bookshelf
If your father never says to you “I love you” when you are a child, it to be more and more difficult for him to say the words as he grows ．
I do not hearing the words from my father when I was growing up． , I could not recall （回忆） when I had said those words to him either．
One day, I decided to the ice and make the first ．So in our next phone conversation I gathered all my and let out the words in a low voice, “Dad… I love you!”
There was a at the other end and he awkwardly , “Well, same back at you!”
I was unexpectedly and my voice was raised, “Dad, I know you love me, and I know when you are ready, you will say what you want to say．”
Fifteen minutes later my mother called and asked, “Paul, is everything okay?”
A few weeks later, Dad our phone conversation with the words, “Paul, I love you．” I was so moved that tears were rolling down my cheeks as I finally “ ” the love．As I sat there in tears I realized that this moment had taken our father-and-son relationship to a new ．Shortly afterwards, my father narrowly death following heart surgery（外科手术）．Many times , I have if I had not taken the first step and Dad not the surgery, I would have never “heard” the love．
A．works out B．breaks out C．comes out D．turns out
A．wiser B．busier C．weaker D．older
A．remember B．enjoy C．mind D．regret
A．Truthfully B．Fortunately C．Naturally D．Obviously
A．only B．last C．once D．first
A．melt B．break C．strike D．build
A．complaint B．promise C．move D．impression
A．strength B．ideas C．words D．attention
A．sigh B．silence C．voice D．cry
A．refused B．shouted C．replied D．explained
A．touched B．frightened C．shocked D．annoyed
A．excitedly B．nervously C．willingly D．sadly
A．continued B．checked C．concluded D．interrupted
A．accepted B．expected C．learned D．heard
A．quiet B．difficult C．special D．different
A．level B．idea C．world D．end
A．managed B．escaped C．avoided D．faced
A．then B．ago C．before D．since
A．realized B．found C．doubted D．wondered
A．challenged B．experienced C．survived D．received
I know I should have told the headmaster at the time. That was my real .
He had gone out of the study for some , leaving me alone. In his absence. I looked to see was on his desk. In the was a small piece of paper on which were written the “English Writing Prize 1949．History Is a Series of Biographies （人物传记）”.
A（n） boy would have avoided（避免） looking at the title as soon as he saw the . I did not. The subject of the English Writing Prize was kept a until the start of the exam so I could not reading it.
When the headmaster , I was looking out of the window.
I should have told him what had then. It would have been so to say: “I’m sorry, but I the title for the English Writing Prize on your desk. You’ll have to it.”
The chance passed and I did not it. I sat the exam the next day and I won. I didn’t to cheat, but it was still cheating anyway.
That was thirty-eight years when I was fifteen. I have never told anyone about it before, have I tried to explain to myself why not.
The obvious explanation is that I could not admit（承认） I had seen the title admitting that I had been looking at the things on his desk. there must have been more behind it. Whatever it was, it has become a good example of how a little mistake can trap （使陷入） you in a more serious moral corner （道德困境）.
A．fault B．plan C．grade D．luck
A．course B．reason C．example D．vacation
A．this B．which C．what D．that
A．drawer B．middle C．corner D．box
A．names B．words C．ideas D．messages
A．Handsome B．honest C．friendly D．active
A．desk B．book C．paper D．answer
A．question B．key C．note D．secret
A．practise B．consider C．help D．forget
A． returned B．stayed C．disappeared D．went
A．happened B．remained C．existed D．continued
A．tiring B．easy C．important D．difficult
A．made B．gave C．set D．saw
A．say B．defend C．change D．correct
A．take B．have C．lose D．find
A．remember B．mean C．learn D．pretend
A．ago B．past C．then D．before
A．either B．never C．nor D．so
A．without B．besides C．through D．by
A．But B．Though C．Otherwise D．Therefore
John，an academically excellent young man，went to apply for a management position in a big company. The director did the last .
The director asked，“Who paid for your school fees?” John answered，“My did. When I was young，my father . ”Then he continued，“ was your mother?” John answered，“My mother worked as a cleaner. ”Hearing this, the director asked John to his hands. John reached out his hands that were and perfect. The director said，“I have a .When you go home，clean your mother’s hands and see me tomorrow.”
John felt but did it. His tears fell he cleaned his mother’s hands. He noticed for the first time that her hands were so . Also John that it was this pair of hands that washed clothes every day to him. After cleaning his mother’s hands，John washed all the remaining clothes for her.
Next day，John went to the director’s office. Tears in eyes，John was asked to his feelings. “Now I know what is . Without my mother，there wouldn’t be the me today. By helping my mother，I see how it is to get something done. I have also come to know the value of family relationship.”
The director smiled，“This is what I am .I want a person who can appreciate the help of others，a person who knows the sufferings of others and a person who put money as his only goal in life. You are hired.”
A．farewell B．job C．interview D．try
A．tutors B．father C．parents D．mother
A．died away B．passed away C．died out D．passed by
A．What B．How C．Who D．Where
A．carpet B．floor C．clothes D．window
A．turn B．show C．wave D．shake
A．clumsy B．dirty C．strong D．smooth
A．request B．question C．wish D．choice
A．embarrassed B．frightened C．confused D．inspired
A．before B．as C．since D．until
A．slim B．warm C．soft D．rough
A．realized B．believed C．insisted D．wondered
A．sacrifice B．serve C．satisfy D．support
A．modestly B．secretly C．quietly D．gently
A．improve B．describe C．awaken D．hide
A．appreciation B．cooperation C．qualification D．communication
A．wealthy B．famous C．successful D．humorous
A．firm B．exciting C．crazy D．tough
A．looking through B．looking for C．looking at D．looking into
A．shan’t B．needn’t C．won’t D．can’t
Mrs. Ball had a son. His name was Mick. She ____ him very much and as he was not a __2 __ child, she was always ____ that he might be ill, ____ she used to take him to see the best ____ in the town four times a year to be looked ____.
During one of these ____, the doctor gave Mick all kinds of tests and then said to him, “Have you had any ____ with your nose or ears recently?” Mick ____ for a second and then answered, “Yes, I ____.”
Mrs. Ball was very ____. “But I’m sure you have ____ told me that, Mick!” She said worriedly. “Oh, really?” Said the doctor ____. “And what trouble have you with your nose and ears, my boy?” “Well,” answered Mick, “I always have trouble with them when I’m ____ my sweater off, because the ____ is very tight.”
A．loved B．hated C．missed D．cared
A．rich B．clever C．strong D．happy
A．afraid B．surprised C．glad D．sure
A．which B．for C．but D．so
A．player B．teacher C．doctor D．lawyer
A．round B．over C．for D．after
A．talks B．years C．visits D．stays
A．answer B．thing C．word D．trouble
A．waited B．thought C．stood D．looked
A．did B．will C．have D．do
A．excited B．interested C．pleased D．surprised
A．already B．just C．never D．always
A．angrily B．seriously C．happily D．carefully
A．turning B．taking C．keeping D．putting
A．collar B．nose C．mouth D．ear