A Leap（跳跃）to Honor
Leaping on a narrow balance beam（平衡木） is not easy. But Lola Walter, a 13-year-old gymnast, is an expert at it.
To perfect her skills, Lola 36 for four hours a day, five days a week. At the state championships in March, she finished seventh out of 16 girls.
That’s especially impressive, 37 she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift constantly. She often sees double and can’t _38 how far away things are.
When she was little, her mom 39 that even though she couldn’t see 40 , she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the 41 right away and gymnastics became her favorite.
Though learning gymnastics has been more 42 for her than for some of her tournaments, she has never quit. She doesn’t let her _43 stop her from doing anything that she wants to.
She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest 44_ is the balance beam. Because she has double vision, she often sees two beams. She must use her sense of touch to help her during her routine. Sometimes she even closes her eyes. “You have to 45_ your mind that it’ll take you where you want to go,” says Lola.
To be a top-level gymnast, one must be brave. The beam is probably the most 46 for anyone because it’s four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t fall 47 the beam. In fact, she got an 8.1 out of 10---- her highest score yet.
Lola doesn’t want to be 48 differently from the other girls on her team. At the competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision _49 _. She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her _50 attitude.
Lola never thinks about 51__. She is presently at level 7 while the highest is level 10 in gymnastics. Her 52 is to reach level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to pass down what she’s learned to other kids 53 she grew up.
Lola is 54 of all her hard work and success. She says it’s helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics, too. Her 55 for others is “just believe yourself”.
A．runs B．teaches C．trains D．dances
A．since B．unless C．after D．though
A．tell B．guess C．assume D．predict
A．suspected B．remembered C．imagined D．noticed
A．deeply B．well C．ahead D．closely
A．task B．sport C．event D．show
A．boring B．enjoyable C．difficult D．unsatisfactory
A．talent B．quality C．nature D．condition
A．doubt B．advantage C．challenge D．program
A．examine B．express C．open D．trust
A．fearful B．harmful C．unfair D．inconvenient
A．to B．on C．off D．against
A．greeted B．treated C．served D．paid
A．pains B．stresses C．injuries D．problems
A．positive B．friendly C．flexible D．caution
A．defending B．quitting C．winning D．bargaining
A．standard B．range C．view D．goal
A．until B．as C．when D．before
A．proud B．tired C．ashamed D．confident
A．plan B．advice C．reward D．Responsibility
It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80’s came to the hospital. I heard him saying to the nurse that he was in a hurry for an appointment (约会) at 9:30.
The nurse had him take a __1__in the waiting area, __2__him it would be at least 40 minutes __3__ someone would be able to see him. I saw him __4__ his watch and decided, since I was __5__busy—my patient didn't __6__ at the appointed hours, I would examine his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment.
The gentleman said no and told me that he __7__ to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his __8__. He told me that she had been __9__ for a while and that she had a special disease. I asked if she would be __10__ if he was a bit late. He replied that she __11__ knew who he was, that she had not been able to __12__ him for five years now. I was __13__， and asked him. “And you __14__ go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are？”
He smiled and said, “She doesn't know me, but I know who she is.” I had to hold back __15__ as he left.
Now I __16__ that in marriages, true love is __17__ of all that is. The happiest people don't __18__ have the best of everything; they just __19__ the best of everything they have. __20__ isn't about how to live through the storm, but how to dance in the rain.
A．breath B．test C．seat D．break
A．persuading B．promising C．understanding D．telling
A．if B．before C．since D．after
A．taking off B．fixing C．looking at D．winding
A．very B．also C．seldom D．not
A．turn up B．show off C．come on D．go away
A．needed B．forgot C．agreed D．happened
A．daughter B．wife C．mother D．sister
A．late B．well C．around D．there
A．lonely B．worried C．doubtful D．hungry
A．so far B．neither C．no longer D．already
A．recognize B．answer C．believe D．expect
A．moved B．disappointed C．surprised D．satisfied
A．only B．then C．thus D．still
A．curiosity B．tears C．words D．judgment
A．realize B．suggest C．hope D．prove
A．agreement B．expression C．acceptance D．exhibition
A．necessarily B．completely C．naturally D．frequently
A．learn B．make C．favor D．try
A．Adventure B．Beauty C．Trust D．Life
完型填空（共15小题，每小题1分，满分15分）
School was over and I felt quite tired. I sat at the very 1 of the crowded bus because of my anxiety to get home. Sitting there makes me 2 out like a shiny coin in a pile of dull pennies.
Janie, the driver , tries to break the uncomfortable atmosphere by striking the match of conversation . I tried to mind my manners and3 listen, but usually I am too busy thinking about my day. On this day,4 , her conversation was worth listening to.
“My father’s sick,” she said to no one in 5 ,I could see the anxiety and fear in her eyes. “What’s wrong with him?” I asked. With her eyes wet and her voice tight from 6 the tears, she answered, “Heart trouble.” Her eyes 7 as she continued. “I have already lost my mum, so I don’t think I can stand losing him.”
I was 8 . My heart ached for her. And this reminded me of the great 9 that my own mother was thrown into when her father died. I saw how hard it was, and still is, for her. I wouldn’t like anyone to10 that.
Suddenly I realized Janie wasn’t only a bus driver. That was just her job. She had a whole world of 11 and concerns, too. I suddenly felt very selfish. I realized I had only thought of people as 12 as what their purposes were in my life. I paid no attention to Janie 13 she was a bus driver. I had14 her by her job and brushed her off as unimportant.
For all I know, I’m just another person in someone else’s world, and may not even be 15 . I should not have been so selfish and self-centered. Everyone has places to go, people to see and appointment to keep. Understanding people is an art.
A．front B．end C．side D．middle
A．find B．take C．stand D．think
A．politely B．slightly C．carelessly D．partly
A．however B．therefore C．instead D．otherwise
A．surprise B．particular C．silence D．purpose
A．fighting B．turning C．clearing D．protecting
A．opened B．shone C．closed D．lowered
A．recognized B．worried C．shocked D．excited
A．victory B．pain C．respect D．disappointment
A．pick up B．work out C．go through D．get down
A．family B．factory C．school D．friend
A．far B．long C．much D．well
A．while B．because C．though D．until
A．criticized B．received C．considered D．judged
A．happy B．wise C．useful D．important
完型填空。从题后所给的A.B.C.D四个选项中选出符合题意的最佳选项。
Long ago there was a poor farmer in Russia. He had been very 1__ with everything he had. However, when he found his elder brother was __2__ than him, he felt disappointed. So he 3__ hard about how he could also be richer. Finally he got an idea. He started to spend less money on food and clothes to __4___ some money to buy more land. Once he had enough money, he started __5_for land.
He6__ that on the neighboring land, there were some nomads living there. He bought some gifts and went to ___7_ their head. He presented the gifts to the head and told him the 8__ of his visit. The head welcomed him, accepted the gifts and agreed to his 9_ to get the land. The head told him that he could have the land _10__ giving him anything. He can take as much land as he could _11 by walking through the land before sunset. He should start in the morning and whatever distance he could travel during the 12_____, he could have it.
The farmer became very 13___when he heard this offer. Now he could have lots of _14__ without paying anything. He came __15 the next morning and started running, not walking, 16_ he could cover the largest area. To reach his goal, he neither ate food, nor drank water, nor had any rest. He just continued___17_. Without eating, or drinking, or resting he just got very 18__.When he came back to the head in the evening, he 19__ right on the spot. Sadly his son buried him in a piece of land about 6×4feet.
Don’t be greedy or you will __20 everything finally.
A．careful B．pleased C．bored D．busy
A．healthier B．stronger C．richer D．cleverer
A．thought B．learned C．tried D．worked
A．borrow B．spend C．make D．save
A．waiting B．looking C．preparing D．caring
A．explained B．hoped C．noticed D．guessed
A．see B．follow C．help D．cheat
A．chance B．result C．condition D．purpose
A．promise B．request C．suggestion D．order
A．for B．by C．without D．before
A．cover B．farm C．buy D．have
A．year B．month C．week D．day
A．interested B．sad C．happy D．calm
A．land B．crop C．experience D．knowledge
A．quietly B．early C．finally D．suddenly
A．so that B．even if C．because D．whether
A．dreaming B．walking C．speaking D．running
A．nervous B．excited C．tired D．worried
A．refused B．died C．appeared D．rested
A．lose B．face C．change D．defeat
A．ever B．only C．still D．just
完形填空（共小20题；每小题1分，满分20分）
When I was a boy, every holiday that I had seemed wonderful. My 1 took me by train or by car to a hotel by the 2 . All day, I seem to remember, I 3 on the sands with strange 4 children. We made houses and gardens, and 5 the tide (潮汐) destroy (破坏, 毁坏) them. When the tide went out, we 6 over the rocks and looked down at the fish in the rock-pools.
In those days the 7 seemed to shine always brightly 8 the water was always warm. Sometimes we left the beach and walked in the country, 9 ruined (毁灭的) houses and dark woods and climbing trees. There were 10in one’s pockets or good places where one could 11 ice-creams. Each day seemed a life-time.
Although I am now thirty-five years old, my idea of a good 12 is much the same as it was. I 13 like the sun and warm sand and the sound of _14 beating the rocks. I no longer wish to 15 any sand house or sand garden, and I dislike sweets. 16 , I love the sea and often feel sand running through my fingers.
Sometimes I 17 what my ideal (理想的) holiday will be like when I am 18 . All I want to do then, perhaps, will be to lie in bed, reading books about 19 who make houses and gardens with sands, who watch the incoming tide, who make 20 sick on too many ices...
A．teacher B．parents C．nurse D．doctor
A．sea B．lake C．mountain D．forest
A．played B．slept C．sat D．stood
A．moved B．excited C．worried D．nervous
A．made B．brought C．watched D．heard
A．rolled B．jumped C．turned D．climbed
A．light B．sun C．moon D．lamp
A．and B．yet C．but D．or
A．exploring B．examining C．repairing D．measuring
A．sweets B．sand C．ice-creams D．money
A．make B．sell C．buy D．offer
A．house B．holiday C．garden D．tide
A．hardly B．almost C．still D．perhaps
A．waves B．water C．hands D．birds
A．destroy B．fix C．use D．build
A．But B．However C．Or D．Yet
A．wonder B．feel C．understand D．believe
A．strong B．weak C．young D．old
A．children B．boys C．girls D．grown-ups
A．herself B．himself C．itself D．themselves
完形填空 (共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从41—55各题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Never Save Something Beautiful for That Special Day
Years ago I was talking with a classmate in Sydney. At the time his wife had just passed away not too long ago. He told me while going through her things, he found a silk scarf _1 in a designer store when they had traveled to New York City. The scarf was beautiful, with elegant _2 , and a high price tag still hanging. His wife begrudged wearing it; she was _3 it for a special day.
He _4 at that moment; I didn’t say anything either. After a long pause he said: “Never save something beautiful for that special day. Each _5 day is a special day.”
Whenever I _6 what he had said, I would put down the things I was doing to grab a novel, turn on the music and lie down on the couch to _7 some time for myself. I would appreciate the glorious scenery of the Tanshui River through a French window, _8 the dust gathered on the glass. I would take my wife out to _9 , not thinking what to do with the meal already cooked. Life should be the experience we truly cherish, not days we just have to endure.
One time I shared the above conversation with a lady. When I saw her again, she told me that she no longer _10 the beautiful china in a cabinet. She had thought to save them for a special day, only to discover that it never _11 came. “Future”, “someday” are not contained in her _12 any more. If there are things that are pleasant or make her complacent, she wants to hear or see them now.
We often hope to gather with old friends, but always say, “let’s find a(n) _13 .” We often want to hug our grown children, but always wait for the appropriate moment. We often want to write to our spouses to express our strong affection or to show our deep admiration, but always tell ourselves that there is no need to _14 . In fact, each morning when we open our eyes, we should tell ourselves that this is a special day. Each day, each minute is so incredibly _15 .
A．bought B．left C．produced D．sought
A．quality B．design C．material D．trend
A．protecting B．saving C．admiring D．paying
A．stopped B．continued C．responded D．repeated
A．living B．working C．fortunate D．busy
A．mentioned B．noticed C．remembered D．recognized
A．seize B．spend C．lose D．enjoy
A．noticing B．remembering C．ignoring D．watching
A．nature B．dinner C．society D．entertainment
A．kept B．sold C．needed D．cleaned
A．actually B．fairly C．immediately D．slowly
A．memory B．story C．mind D．vocabulary
A．challenge B．opportunity C．advantage D．benefit
A．wait B．hurry C．give D．expect
A．valuable B．worthless C．hard D．easy