I was a single parent of four small children, working at a low-paid job. Money was always not enough, but we had a 36 over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and if not a lot, always 37 . Not knowing we were poor, my kids (孩子们) just thought I was 38 . I’ve always been glad about that.
It was Christmas time, and although there wasn’t enough 39 for a lot of gifts, we planned to hold a family party. And the big 40 for the kids was the fun of Christmas 41 .
They planned weeks ahead of time, asking 42 what they wanted for Christmas. Luckily, I had saved $120 for them to buy 43 .
The big 44 arrived. I gave each kid a twenty-dollar bill and 45 them to look for gifts of about four dollars each. Then everyone scattered(散开). We had two hours to shop; then we would 46 again at the “Santa’s Workshop”.
Driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits, 47 my younger daughter, Ginger, who was unusually 48 . She had only one small, flat bag with a few candies — fifty-cent candies! I was so angry, but I didn’t say anything 49 we got home. I called her into my bedroom and closed the door, ready to be 50 again. This is what she told me.
“I was looking 51 , thinking of what to buy, and I 52 to read the little cards on the ‘Giving Trees.’ One was for a little girl, four years old, and all she 53 for Christmas was a doll(玩具娃娃). So I took the card off the tree and 54 the doll for her. We have so much and she doesn’t have anything.”
I never felt so 55 as I did that day.
A．roof B．hat C．sky D．star
A．little B．less C．enough D．more
A．busy B．serious C．strict D．kind
A．effort B．room C．time D．money
A．improvement B．problem C．surprise D．excitement
A．shopping B．travelling C．parties D．greetings
A．the other B．each other C．one by one D．every other one
A．toys B．clothes C．presents D．bills
A．day B．chance C．cheque D．tree
A．forced B．reminded C．invited D．begged
A．draw B．stay C．move D．meet
A．including B．besides C．except D．regarding
A．quiet B．excited C．happy D．ashamed
A．since B．after C．while D．until
A．happy B．angry C．joyful D．glad
A．out B．over C．forward D．around
A．forgot B．stopped C．failed D．hated
A．wanted B．did C．got D．played
A．made B．searched C．bought D．fetched
A．painful B．rich C．disappointed D．angry
I learned how to accept life as it is from my father . 41 , he did not teach me acceptance when he was strong and healthy, but rather when he was 42 and ill.
My father was 43 a strong man who loved being active, but a terrible illness 44 all that away. Now he can no longer walk, and he must sit quietly in a chair all day. Even talking is45 . One night, I went to visit him with my sisters. We started 46 about life, and I told them about one of my 47 . I said that we must very often give things up 48 we grow --- our youth, our beauty, our friends --- but it always 49 that after we give something up, we gain something new in its place. Then suddenly my father 50 up. He said, “But, Peter, I gave up 51 ! What did I gain?” I thought and thought, but I couldn’t think of anything to say. 52 , he answered his own question: “I 53 the love of my family,” I looked at my sisters and saw tears in their eyes, along with hope and thankfulness.
I was also 54 by his words. After that, when I began to feel irritated (愤怒的) at someone, I 55 remember his words and become 56 . If he could replace his great pain with a feeling of love for others, then I should be 57 to give up my small irritations. In this 58 , I learned the power of acceptance from my father.
Sometimes I 59 what other things I could have learned from him if I had listened more carefully when I was a boy. For now, though, I am grateful for this one 60 .
A．Afterwards B．Therefore C．However D．Meanwhile
A．tired B．weak C．poor D．slow
A．already B．still C．only D．once
A．took B．threw C．sent D．put
A．impossible B．difficult C．violence D．Hopeless
A．worrying B．caring C．talking D．asking
A．decisions B．experiences C．devotion D．beliefs
A．as B．since C．before D．till
A．suggests B．promises C．seems D．requires
A．spoke B．turned C．proved D．opened
A．something B．anything C．nothing D．everything
A．Surprisingly B．Immediately C．Naturally D．Certainly
A．had B．accepted C．gained D．enjoyed
A．touched B．amazed C．attracted D．warned
A．should B．could C．would D．might
A．quiet B．calm C．relaxed D．happy
A．ready B．likely C．free D．able
A．case B．form C．tip D．way
A．recognize B．wonder C．know D．guess
A．award B．gift C．lesson D．word
Shopping for clothes is not the same experience for a man as it is for a woman. A man goes shopping 36 he needs something. His purpose is settled and decided in 37 . He knows what he wants, and his goal is to find it and 38 it. All men 39 walk into a shop and ask the shop assistant for what they want. If the shop has it in stock(库存), the deal can be done and 40 is completed in less than five minutes, with hardly any chat to everyone’s 41 .
For a man, slight problems may begin when the shop doesn’t have what he wants. In that 42 , the salesman tries to sell something else—he 43 the nearest to the article required. A good salesman brings out such a substitute(替代品) 44 , and he may say, “I know this jacket is not the style you want, sir, but would you like to try it for size? It 45 to be the color you mentioned.” Few men have 46 with this treatment, and the usual response is “This is the right color and may be the right size, but I shouldn’t be 47 my time and yours by trying it on.”
For a woman, buying clothes is always done in the 48 way. Her shopping is not often 49 on need. She has never fully decided what she wants, and she is only “having a look round”. She is always 50 to persuasion, willing to try on any number of things. Deep in her mind is the thought of finding something that 51 thinks suits her. Most women have an excellent sense of value and are always on the look-out for the unexpected 52 . Faced with a roomful dresses, a woman may easily spend an hour going from one rail to another 53 selecting the dress she wants to try on. It is a tiresome process, but apparently a(n) 54 one. Most dress shops provide chairs for the waiting 55 .
A．until B．unless C．because D．while
A．detail B．advance C．hurry D．mind
A．try B．choose C．buy D．want
A．simply B．immediately C．soon D．quickly
A．finally B．constantly C．normally D．often
A．confidence B．satisfaction C．amusement D．surprise
A．time B．event C．case D．condition
A．offers B．gives C．sells D．delivers
A．carefully B．attentively C．actively D．skillfully
A．happens B．occurs C．comes D．gets
A．experience B．interest C．expectation D．patience
A．losing B．spending C．wasting D．giving away
A．same B．opposite C．clever D．similar
A．based B．relied C．done D．related
A．happy B．ready C．close D．open
A．nobody B．somebody C．anybody D．everybody
A．deal B．bargain C．surprise D．luck
A．before B．after C．as D．by
A．exhausting B．boring C．enjoyable D．graceful
A．customers B．assistants C．husbands D．wives
A certain good woman one day said something that hurt her best friend of many years. She regretted it immediately and would have done anything to have taken the words back. So she went to an older, wiser woman in the village and 21 advice.
Listening to her, the older woman 22 the younger woman’s distress and knew she must help her. She also knew she could 23 ease her pain, but she could teach.
Then, she said. “There are 24 things you need to do. The first is extremely difficult. Tonight, Take your best 25 pillows and open a small hole in each one. Then, 26 the sun rises, you must put a single feather on the doorstep of each house in town. When you are through, 27 to me. If you’ve done the first thing 28, I’ll tell you the second.”
The young woman hurried home to prepare for her chore, 29 the pillows were very 30 to her and very expensive.
All night long, she went from doorstep to doorstep. Her fingers were 31. The wind was so sharp that it caused her eyes to water, but she ran on through the 32 streets, 33 there was something she could do to put things 34 the way they once were. Finally she placed the last feather on the steps of the last house. Just as the sun rose, she returned to the older woman.
She was exhausted but 35 ,thinking that her efforts would be rewarded.
“Now,” said the wise woman, “Go back and 36 your pillows. Then everything will be as it was before.”
The young woman was stunned, “You know that’s impossible! The wind 37 each feather as fast as I placed them on the doorsteps! You didn’t say I had to get them back! If this is the second 38, then things will never be the same.”
“That’s true,” said the older woman. “Never forget. Each of your words is like a feather in the wind. Once 39, no amount of effort, 40 how heartfelt or sincere, can ever return them to your mouth. Choose your words well and guard them most of all in the presence of those you love.”
A．asked about B．asked for C．asked to D．ask around
A．witnessed B．touched C．guessed D．sensed
A．ever B．almost C．never D．seldom
A．one B．two C．three D．four
A．feather B．leather C．woolen D．cotton
A．when B．after C．as D．before
A．come back B．go back C．put back D．draw back
A．promptly B．absolutely C．completely D．unfortunately
A．so as to B．even though C．now that D．in spite of
A．hard B．rare C．nice D．
A．freezing B．freezingly C．froze D．frozen
A．brightened B．widened C．darkened D．broadened
A．amazing B．lucky C．thankful D．surprising
A．on B．up C．off D．back
A．tired B．relieved C．grateful D．nervous
A．refill B．get C．purchase D．seek
A．blew up B．blew on C．blew away D．blew over
A．requirement B．situation C．consequence D．circumstance
A．speak B．spoken C．speaking D．being spoken
A．however B．whatever C．although D．regardless
My parents operated a small restaurant in Seattle．It was open twenty-four hours a day, six days a week．And my first real job，when I was six years old，was 36 the diners’ shoes．My father had done it when he was young，so he taught me 37 to do it efficiently，telling me to 38 to re-shine the shoes if the customer wasn’t 39 .
Working in the restaurant was a cause of great 40 because I was also working for the good of the family．But my father 41 that I had to meet certain standards to be part of the team．I 42_ to be punctual(守时的)，hard-working，and polite to the 43 ．
I was 44 paid for the work I did at the restaurant．One day I made the mistake of advising Dad that he 45 give me $10 a week．He said，“OK．How about you paying me for three meals a day you have here? And 46 the times you bring in your friends for free soft drinks?” He 47 I owed him about $40 a week．
I remember returning to Seattle after being 48 in the US Army for about two years．I had just been promoted to Captain at that time．And full of pride，I walked into my parents’ restaurant，but the 49 thing Dad said was，“How about your 50 up tonight?” I couldn’t 51 my ears! I am an officer in the Army! But it didn’t52 as far as Dad was concerned，I was just 53_ member of the team．I reached for the mop(拖把)．Working for Dad has taught me the devotion to a _54 is above all．It has nothing to do with 55 that team is involved in a family restaurant or the US Army．
A．cleaning B．shining C．removing D．keeping
A．why B．what C．when D．how
A．offer B．refuse C．love D．learn
A．interested B．annoyed C．relaxed D．satisfied
A．fun B．pride C．trouble D．effort
A．got it right B．kept it a rule C．made it clear D．took it for granted
A．had B．tended C．hated D．managed
A．family B．workers C．customers D．friends
A．never B．always C．seldom D．ever
A．must B．should C．might D．could
A．at B．before C．around D．for
A．worked out B．found out C．put out D．thought out
A．alone B．away C．outside D．off
A．usual B．last C．next D．first
A．washing B．taking C．cleaning D．moving
A．ignore B．follow C．believe D．understand
A．happen B．care C．go D．matter
A．no B．other C．some D．another
A．team B．family C．leader D．restaurant
A．why B．whether C．when D．how
One day a famous speaker gave a speech to a crowd of people. He held up a 36 bill. He asked, “Who would like this $20 bill ? ” Hands were 37 . Then he said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you, but first let me do this.” He began to crumple（弄皱）the 38 . He then asked the audience, “ 39 still wants it ?” Still the hands went40 in the air.
“ What 41 I do this? ” He asked, and he42 it on the ground, and started to step on it. He 43 it up. Now the bill was44 and crumpled. “ Now who still wants it?” Still the hands went up.
“My friends,” He continued, “You have all45a good lesson . No matter 46 I did to the money, you still wanted it because the bill did not lose its47 . It was still worth $20. Many times in our 48 , we are dropped, crumpled, and stepped on, because we sometimes 49 wrong decisions, or we may 50 with something we do not 51 .When that happens, we feel depressed and think we are 52 . But in fact no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. The worth of our life comes not 53 what we do or whom we know, but in who we are! Don’t forget ‘the worth of a thing does not depend on its outside 54 , but on its inner value.’ This is the 55 of life.
A．20 dollar B．20 dollars C．20-dollars D．20-dollar.
A．risen B．put C．raised D．held
A．bill B．paper C．cash D．change
A．Somebody B．Nobody C．Anybody D．You
A．up B．down C．above D．around
A．should B．can C．if D．whether
A．threw B．dropped C．fell D．put
A．showed B．lifted C．brought D．picked
A．good B．clean C．large D．dirty
A．given B．learned C．taught D．taken
A．that B．how C．what D．why
A．value B．price C．effect D．part
A．studies B．work C．fields D．lives
A．do B．make C．give D．take
A．meet B．deal C．talk D．get
A．like B．hope C．wish D．expect
A．worthless B．weak C．poor D．careless
A．from B．in C．about D．at
A．beauty B．face C．looks D．impression
A．lesson B．truth C．saying D．story