It is three in the morning on a Tuesday, and I’m walking toward table eighteen, the one I call home. I pass the waiters, give a brief nod to the and take my seat. I the “usual,” water and peanut butter pie. Yes, I’m at an all-night diner.
I start to take out my books, full well that I will be on the same page of Socrates that I’ve been on for the better part of the semester. Of course, it’s —for my group that is. I wait for the empty chairs around me to be .
Just as the Muzak songs start to repeat themselves, Shana and Jenny walk in. I am with the usual big hugs and smiles. , the diner stops being a twenty-for-hour restaurant with bad service and becomes my place—my home the prisonlike dorm room. For the next couple of hours, we will joke about people we know, talk about books, reflect on the meaning of life, quote movies and new private jokes. Table number eighteen is our home.
During my senior year of college, I started going to the diner for a temporary escape from a dorm room that felt like it was closing in on me. Not to the phones, the stereo and the computer. How could anyone seriously to have good study habits? Some friends of mine told me about the place; they went there to study, and they really liked it.
So I tried it. It felt remarkably freeing. I start going there every night (except weekends, of course), and, believe me it was not because the pies were great either. Maybe it would force me to open my books and my would improve. Right? Well….
But that’s not the . I mean, anyone who has gone to college knows that it’s not only about forcing yourself to wake up at 7:45 A.M. (after you had gone to sleep two hours earlier) to listen to a professor spoon-feeding you information the significance of the Battle of Hastings. It is about finding a little haven where you can create what will be the most important thing in your life—yourself. At a school of thirty-five thousand people, I found a small place that was as to me as my Social Security number.
Through laughter, tears, learning, growing and the free ice cream, we found a sanctuary. A place where we could be ourselves.
A．friends B．strangers C．regulars D．waiters
A．make B．take C．bring D．order
A．remembering B．knowing C．deciding D．learning
A．stuck B．focused . C．fixed D．turned
A．certain B．early C．late D．clear
A．washed B．cleaned C．filled D．covered
A．armed B．satisfied C．occupied D．greeted
A．Finally B．Suddenly C．Actually D．Particularly
A．away from B．similar to C．apart from D．close to
A．create B．play C．write D．hear
A．inner B．outer C．warmer D．smaller
A．answer B．talk C．mention D．mend
A．choose B．determine C．pretend D．expect
A．pretty B．that C．too D．rather
A．health B．friendship C．conditions D．grades
A．place B．benefit C．point D．view
A．relate B．requiring C．reflecting D．regarding
A．also B．still C． more D．even
A．available B．beneficial C．familiar D．encouraging
A．special B．occasional C．unusual D．natural
It’s certain that the following tale is a nice example that can teach us a good lesson. One day, a young man 16 begged from door to door along the street. 17 an old wallet in hand, he was asking for a few coins to buy something to eat. He kept complaining about his bad 18 and kept wondering why those who had so much money were never 19 and were always desiring more.
“As for me, if I had only enough to eat and to wear, I would not want anything more."
Just at that moment Goddess Fortune 20 the beggar among the crowd and approached him, greeting, “Hi, young man, I have wished to 21 you for a long time. If you open your wallet, I will pour my gold into it. But keep in mind that I will do that only on this 22 : All that falls into the wallet will be pure gold belonging to you; but every piece falling upon the ground 23 become dust, worth nothing. Are you clear?”
“I see. Now I’m ready. ” said the beggar with confidence.
“Then you should 24 ! It’s obvious that your wallet is a/an 25 one, so don’t load it too heavily,” said the Goddess Fortune.
The excited beggar could hardly 26 to have gold. He quickly opened his wallet, and a 27 of yellow coins was poured into it. The wallet became heavier and heavier.
“Is that enough? Isn’t it cracking? Will your wallet strong enough for more?” warned the Goddess.
“Never 28 .It’s still strong enough now” replied the beggar firmly.
The wallet was filled with so many coins that the beggar’s handsbegan to 29 . “Ah, if only the golden stream would 30 forever! Just a little more,” said the beggar, “ 31 just a handful or two.”
“There! It’s full. The wallet will 32 .” warned the Goddess again, but the beggar insisted, “ I know it will 33a little more, just a little more.”
One more piece was added and the wallet split. The 34 fell upon the ground and became dust. The greedy beggar had now 35 but his broken wallet.
A．in debt B．in rags C．in danger D．in trouble
A．Picking B．Gathering C．Winning D．Holding
A．clothes B．wallet C．fortune D．chance
A．relaxed B．disappointed C．worried D．satisfied
A．admitted B．seized C．realized D．spotted
A．help B．forgive C．praise D．comfort
A．occasion B．condition C．situation D．suggestion
A．shall B．would C．should D．might
A．look down B．look after C．look up D．look out
A．small B．worn C．empty D．full
A．stand B．think C．breathe D．wait
A．stream B．piece C．pair D．variety
A．ask B．request C．insist D．fear
A．spread B．shake C．loose D．close
A．pour B．end C．dry D．freeze
A．take B．lend C．add D．send
A．flow B．change C．disappear D．burst
A．attract B．hold C．include D．permit
A．present B．food C．treasure D．metal
A．nothing B．anything C．everything D．something
I live in a big city with a lot of homeless(无家可归的) people. Luckily there’re small ways of helping them and you needn’t have a lot of 31 . One way to help is to buy their monthly magazine. By doing this one day, I got to 32a young homeless man. He was often 33 the magazine at the train station.
He was a poor farmer from another country. After a while, I discovered that his 34 was close to mine. It 35__ that we were born in the same month.
I met him last year shortly 36 his birthday, and after congratulating(祝贺) him, without thinking, I asked if he had had a good day. He 37 and said that he hadn’t really celebrated(庆祝). I felt so 38__.
I just couldn’t help(情不自禁) thinking of this nice, young man being 39 on his 25th birthday with no presents, no cake, nothing! So I went home and looked in my yarn(毛线) basket. 40 for me, I had enough yarn left. I set to work and knitted(编织) a 41 for the young man. The yarn had become a little dirty 42 I didn’t knit very often. Then I washed the yarn so the scarf(围巾) would be clean when he got it.
I met him on my own birthday as I was going shopping. I had 43 to meet him so I had carried the scarf and a piece of my own birthday 44 around with me. He was very happy with these gifts and so was I. The 45in his eyes was the best present he could have given me!
|
One dark stormy night, an elderly couple hurried into a hotel and asked whether they could be put up for the night. “I’ m very 31 ,” the clerk(职员) on night shift（值晚班） said politely, “we are all 32 tonight. But you could stay in my room if you don’t 33 . As I’m on duty, I’ll be staying up in the office anyway,” The young man gave the 34 _ advice.
The elderly couple 35 his offer with gratitude(感激). They 36 for the inconvenience(不便) they had caused him. The next day, the rain stopped and it cleared up. When the old gentleman went to pay his 37 , the clerk behind the counter was that same helpful young man. “The room you and your wife stayed in is not a proper guest room in this hotel, 38 you don’t need to pay,” said the clerk, with the same friendly smile.
The old gentleman nodded in 39 , “You are an employee that every boss in the hotel business would 40 . Perhaps 41 I’ll build a hotel for you. ” The clerk was surprised but, deciding that the guest must have been joking, he gave the words no more 42 .
Two years later, the young man received a registered letter(挂号信) from the old gentleman, in which he 43 the experience of that dark stormy night. The letter also enclosed（附上） a formal 44 and a round-trip air ticket to New York, asking the young man to pay a visit.
At a street comer in Manhattan, the young man met his 45 guest. The old gentleman, pointing to a beautiful new 46 towering over(耸立) the crossroads, said, “Look, that is the hotel I 47 to build for you. I hope you will manage it for me. Remember what I said then? Well, I was serious about it.”
“But…will there be any conditions, sir? Why do you choose me? And who are you?”
“My name is William Aster. There’s not any condition. 48 I told you before, you are the best employee…!”
This building was 49 the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Starting business in 1931, this hotel has been a symbol of honor in the city of New York. The young man who became its first 50 was George Boldt, the man who turned Waldorf into one of the best hotels in the world.
A．sorry B．happy C．anxious D．lucky
A．advertised B．decided C．booked D．taken
A．mind B．bother C．trouble D．complain
A．bad B．valuable(贵重的) C．beautiful D．sincere(真诚的)
A．accepted B．thanked C．refused D．weighed
A．affected B．prepared C．balanced D．apologized(道歉)
A．service B．house C．food D．bill
A．but B．however C．so D．yet
A．comfort B．gratitude C．surprise D．silence
A．give up B．dream of C．devote to D．fight for
A．any time B．another day C．the other day D．some day
A．guidance B．thought C．freedom D．argument
A．called on B．called at C．called for D．called up
A．invitation B．check C．card D．letter
A．old B．interesting C．former D．new
A．house B．building C．room D．park
A．wanted B．agreed C．promised D．liked
A．Since B．Once C．If D．Though
A．just B．only C．anyhow D．finally
A．professor B．manager C．waiter D．president
Some years ago I was offered a writing assignment that would require three months of travel through Europe．I had been abroad a couple of times， 36 I could hardly claim to know my way around the continent．Moreover， my 37 of foreign languages was 38 to a little college French．
I 39 ．How would I，unable to speak the language and totally 40 with local geography or transportation systems， 41 interviews and do research? It seemed 42 ，and with much regret I sat down to write a letter begging 43 ．Halfway through，a thought ran through my mind：you can’t learn if you don’t 44 ．So I accepted the assignment.
There were some bad news. But by the time I had 45 the trip I was an experienced46 ．And ever since，I have never hesitated to 47 for even the most remote places，without guides or even 48 bookings，confident that somehow I will 49 .
The point is that the new，the 50 ，is almost by definition scary．But each time you try51 ，you learn，and as the learning piles up，the world 52 to you.
I’ve 53 to ski at 40，and flown up the Rhine River in a balloon．And I know I’ll go on doing such things．It’s not because I’m 54 or more daring than others. I’m not. But I’ll accept anxiety as another name for 55 and I believe I can accomplish wonders．
A．though B．and C．but D．since
A．knowledge B．view C．target D．experience
A．forced B．limited C．reduced D．increased
A．left B．doubted C．paused D．hesitated
A．get up B．put up C．set up D．cheer up
A．impossible B．possible C．easy D．disturbing
A．away B．down C．off D．for
A．ask B．try C．practice D．accept
A．finished B．started C．reserved D．cancelled
A．traveler B．reporter C．writer D．thinker
A．take B．head C．make D．change
A．careful B．free C．professional D．advanced
A．lose B．win C．manage D．remember
A．different B．same C．old D．bad
A．nothing B．something C．anything D．everything
A．sticks B．comes C．opens D．drinks
A．learned B．hoped C．forgotten D．attempted
A．weaker B．braver C．worse D．luckier
A．trouble B．failure C．victory D．challenge
I must tell you about the most terrible dream I had the other night. Actually， it wasn't a dream， it was 21 of a nightmare. You know I don't believe in the super natural： ghosts， witchcraft（魔法）and all 22， but what happened was so 23 that I'm actually beginning to 24 there must be some truth in it. It was a 25 night， with the wind howling and the thunder crashing but finally I 26 to get to sleep. What happened next was really 27 . There， at the end of the bed， stood a dark figure. I'm not exaggerating（夸张）—— 28 I could really see it. It was dark in the room， of course， but I saw the 29 of the figure clearly. I know not all ghosts are 30， but this one looked really terrifying. Then it spoke. At 31， it made some sounds； it was moaning（呻吟）， as if in 32 . You can imagine by this time I was trembling 33 . Hiding under the blankets， I was 34 from head to foot. What terrified me was the thought that the thing might 35 me. I knew if it did， I would 36 . It kept on making strange sounds which now sounded more like 37 or spells. Was it some kind of witch， sent to 38 its magic on me， I wondered. Then it 39 into the wall. How I fell asleep again is still a 40 to me. What do you make of it all？ You know I was never superstitious but now I'm not sure.
A．more B．less C．much D．many
A．those B．these C．that D．this
A．real B．strange C．terrible D．actual
A．doubt B．guess C．expect D．believe
A．wonderful B．terrible C．normal D．special
A．tried B．attempted C．managed D．began
A．interesting B．amusing C．frightening D．exciting
A．strictly B．personally C．generally D．honestly
A．sign B．outline C．appearance D．expression
A．serious B．supernatural C．nervous D．dangerous
A．most B．least C．best D．worst
A．pain B．attack C．danger D．risk
A．slightly B．shamefully C．violently D．silently
A．moving B．waving C．cooling D．shaking
A．touch B．affect C．stick D．find
A．jump B．scream C．die D．escape
A．whisper B．murmur C．witchcraft D．curses
A．make B．work C．give D．offer
A．turned B．disappeared C．hurried D．escaped
A．nightmare B．mystery C．dream D．Secre