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
It was New Year’s Night. An aged man was standing at a window. He had already sixty of the stages leading to it, and he had brought from his journey nothing but errors and remorse.
The days of his appeared like dreams before him, and he recalled the moment when his father placed him at the entrance of the two roads.—one leading to a peaceful, sunny place, with flowers, fruits and resounding with soft, sweet songs ; the other leading to a deep, dark cave, which was endless.
He looked towards the sky and cried , “ Oh, my youth, return! Oh ,my , place me once more at the entrance to life, and I ’ll the better way!” But both his father and the days of his youth had passed away.
The clock in the high church tower struck and the sound made him remember his early love for him. They had taught him and prayed to God for his good. But he chose the wrong way. His darkened eyes were full of , and with a despairing effort , he burst out a cry, “Come back, my early days! Come back!”
And his youth did return, for all this was only a which he had on New Year’s Night.
Those who still linger on the of life, hesitating to choose the bright road, remember that when years pass away and your stumble on the dark mountains, you will cry bitterly, but in vain, “Oh , my youth, return! Oh , give me back my early days! ”
A．brought B．passed C．paid D．took
A．youth B．age C．work D．future
A．happy B．serious C．dangerous D．terrible
A．placed B．smiled C．covered D．put
A．painfully B．carefully C．faithfully D．terribly
A．mother B．father C．sister D．brother
A．talk B．write C．advise D．choose
A．sisters’ B．parents’ C．teachers’ D．brothers’
A．jobs B．talks C．tears D．clothes
A．story B．dream C．chance D．joke
A．entrance B．building C．street D．way
A．teeth B．hands C．heads D．feet
A single mother and her daughter living in my community are two of the most unfriendly people I have ever come across in my life. They are totally , mixing with nobody. As they drive past neighbors they keep their eyes looking away and make no sign of other people. The only fame they have is making a nuisance (讨厌的人) of themselves to the local police station by music played too loud, dogs barking more than once a day and any other little .
Upon moving into this neighborhood, I was of these two but decided I would make up my own mind. This proved quite a to me as more than once either the mother or the daughter would knock on my door and blast (猛烈抨击 ) me with some or other. I answered politely and made sure I as they went past my place and also made the effort now and then to make a kind about their garden or pets.
Time passed and in October, as part of the Kindness Rock Give, Maureen and I decided to place a kindness rock in their garden. Their remained unchanged, however, and I continued to be as friendly as possible. During the Easter give, we decided once again to these two unhappy ladies to our list and a packet of cookies on their gate. Imagine my when two days later they at my gate and jokingly said they were hanging their Christmas stocking on their gate, and they brought me a bunch of（一束）flowers!
So, my fellow gifters, do not give up on your random（随机的）gifts of kindness. You may never just what this to others, nor how many broken or hearted people you may just change a simple act of kindness.
A．protected B．depressed C．separated D．worried
A．helping B．greeting C．hating D．blaming
A．accepting B．requesting C．reporting D．refusing
A．events B．mistakes C．accidents D．affairs
A．informed B．warned C．reminded D．told
A．challenge B．success C．failure D．chance
A．quarrels B．opinions C．explanations D．complaints
A．seldom B．never C．always D．sometimes
A．waved B．stared C．noticed D．laughed
A．change B．smile C．gesture D．remark
A．smile B．attitude C．decision D．anger
A．add B．lead C．refuse D．include
A．shared B．saved C．left D．threw
A．fear B．anxiety C．surprise D．doubt
A．whispered B．stopped C．shouted D．lay
A．imagining B．watching C．considering D．recalling
A．admit B．regret C．know D．doubt
A．refers B．means C．relates D．donates
A．kind B．willing C．hard D．weak
A．to B．for C．by D．with
The Spring Festival marks the first day of a new year, so the first meal is rather important. People from the North and the South have different about the foods they eat on this day. In Northern China, people eat Jiaozi. The word Jiaozi in Chinese means the and the beginning of time. According to historical , in the past people from the North and the South both ate Jiaozi on Chinese New Year’s Day. Perhaps the areas in Southern China more rice than those in Northern China, southern people slowly to eat many other kinds of food on New Year’s Day. , the most common foods for the first are noodles, New Year Cake and Tangyuan. The noodle long life. The New Year Cake is called Niangao in Chinese, which the hope of improvement in year after year. Tangyuan is a symbol of according to the Chinese.
To a New Year visit to relatives and friends is an important activity during the Spring Festival. People also send cards to a New Year’s greeting. What children love most is to set off firecrackers. , as the pace of life is becoming faster and faster, people have new ways to celebrate the Chinese traditional New Year. For example, many people no longer send out greeting cards. , they use short messages or emails. Also to travel during the New Year holidays has come into .
A．words B．habits C．meanings D．stories
A．usual B．unforgettable C．common D．special
A．seldom B．usually C．always D．hardly
A．end B．future C．result D．effect
A．reasons B．records C．notes D．stories
A．as long as B．though C．when D．because
A．caused B．took C．produced D．brought
A．understood B．knew C．made D．began
A．Besides B．Therefore C．Consequently D．Usually
A．subject B．title C．program D．meal
A．symbolizes B．reveals C．shows D．indicates
A．transports B．represents C．fetches D．takes
A．health B．family C．life D．work
A．reunion B．luck C．happiness D．harmony
A．do B．pay C．get D．carry
A．expres B．describe C．establish D．define
A．Luckily B．Unfortunately C．However D．Besides
A．given away B．made out C．got into D．taken up
A．Instead B．Fortunately C．Moreover D．Furthermore
A．fashion B．effect C．sight D．Power
A few years ago, I was in New York City to advise two large banks on the secret to success in business. Once I had a with my taxi driver, Tony. Tony was from India. He had studied to be a marine (海洋的) biologist,but couldn't get a job in that field here. "I like driving a taxi now," he said. " I have hoped to do better than just ."Like many people, Tony thought that being self-reliant (自力更生的) meant asking for help. But we need to nurture (养护) relationships in order to our goals.
Tony liked to chat with his but he didn't want to bother (打扰) them. I advised him to give it a . And he did. Not only did his customers take his taxi more often, but they him to their friends. Soon he had a long list of regulars and buy his own car, then a second. He had to a friend to help with the overflow.
Each of us contains of greatness, which can be expressed in ways, from starting a business to the next generation of leaders. Life is all about finding that seed and nurturing it to its growth. I know it's possible, because I am a living .
I'm the son of a steelworker and a cleaning woman. My dad would come home, his hands hurt and , and said, "I don't want this for you, Keith. You need a great ."
Although my father didn't know the CEO of his company, he wasn't afraid to introduce himself and ask for his advice. The CEO liked his and helped me get a scholarship at one of the best schools in the country. I went on to Yale University and Harvard Business School. Soon I was the youngest chief marketing officer in the Fortune 500. I learned at a young age that the secret to success the power of relationships.
A．report B．Conversation C．suggestion D．meeting
A．whole B．correct C．proper D．poor
A．But B．Since C．Because D．So
A．getting over B．getting up C．getting through D．getting by
A．never B．always C．often D．usually
A．find B．fail C．miss D．achieve
A．family B．leader C．customers D．friends
A．try B．drive C．talk D．word
A．Suggested B．introduced C．talked D．told
A．was able to B．Need C．ought to D．had better
A．make B．let C．hire D．order
A．plants B．seeds C．origins D．members
A．little B．few C．much D．countless
A．Bringing B．creating C．raising D．taking
A．Empty B．full C．huge D．small
A．Person B．coach C．product D．proof
A．dirty B．clean C．beautiful D．good
A．work B．Family C．Education D．university
A．Honesty B．feeling C．expression D．courage
A．leads to B．lies in C．sticks to D．reminds to
Elizabeth Clay decided to go home and spend the holiday with her parents. The next day she drove her old car home along the road. she found she got a flat. The 22-year-old student to stop her car by the side of the road in the winter night and opened the trunk. No tire.
At this time, a car . Paul and Diane told Clay to them to a service station near their . They arrived to see that it had no suitable tires to with her car. "Follow us home," said Paul.
The couple called around to find a tire. No . They decided to let her use their own car. "Here," Paul said, handing Clay a of keys, "Take our car. We be using it over the holiday."
Clay was . "But I'm going all the way to South Carolina, and I'll be gone for two weeks," she them.
"We know," Paul said. "We 'll be when you get back. Here's our number if you need to us."
Unable to believe her eyes, Clay watched as the put her luggage into their car and then her off. Two weeks later she to find her old car cleaned inside and out with three new tires and the radio .
"Thank you so much," she said. "How much do I you?" "Oh, no," Paul said, "We don't want any money . It's our ." Clay realized that while it might have been their pleasure , it was now her duty to pass on their "do unto others "spirit.
A．Suddenly B．Finally C．Immediately D．Fortunately
A．afforded B．wanted C．allowed D．managed
A．spare B．free C．full D．empty
A．passed B．stopped C．paused D．started
A．help B．push C．take D．follow
A．garage B．house C．shop D．hotel
A．agree B．match C．go D．deal
A．way B．message C．success D．luck
A．set B．number C．pair D．chain
A．can't B．shouldn't C．mustn't D．won't
A．satisfied B．worried C．astonished D．disturbed
A．persuaded B．advised C．reminded D．promised
A．happy B．here C．away D．busy
A．get in touch with B．keep in touch with C．be in touch with D．put in touch with
A．repairmen B．cleaner C．friends D．couple
A．sent B．shook C．watched D．drove
A．shocked B．happened C．returned D．came
A．loaded B．fixed C．tied D．rebuilt
A．owe B．lend C．give D．offer
A．wish B．job C．duty D．pleasure