I break off a piece of candy and take pleasure in its sweet outside and the bitter, dark chocolate inside, thinking of my own life. Being raised by a single parent was a bitter-sweet 36 , which gave me motivation and ambition.
There were several years that have left a(n) 37 bitter taste in my mouth —those when my mother married a man and moved my sister, Emily, and me several states away from our hometown. The first few months were 38 : baseball games, family trips to the mall, dinners and movies together. Then things changed. Baseball became too expensive, and trips to the mall were 39 by days Emily and I spent isolated (孤立的) in our rooms under our stepfather’s 40 . Moreover, screaming matches between him and our mother always 41 dinner. We spent five years living in a family that had 42 a war zone. Emily and I almost grew used to this situation . Then one evening, after another argument had erupted , we left home. I was 14, my sister 11, and we were 43 .A friend of my mother let us stay with her.
Instead of focusing on our economic instability, my mother selflessly pushed me to struggle for success. She wanted me to lead a more 44 life than hers. She worked long hours every night to pay her bills. 45 , she would find time to read and play with Emily and me. Mom taught me the 46 of perseverance (坚持不懈) and education. We finally settled in Texas. And now, writing this essay with my favorite candy close at hand, I realize my family and I are at the best points of our lives. I haven’t let the trying times stop me from making 47 , both academically and personally. I know that a bitter environment can provide good learning experiences, and that success, even more than candy, is the sweetest treat of all.
A．behavior B．habit C．activity D．experience
A．hardly B．extremely C．potentially D．Gently
A．sweet B．bitter C．boring D．terrible
A．concerned B．associated C．accompanied D．replaced
A．sympathy B．reminder C．orders D．requests
A．separated B．interrupted C．harmed D．Adjusted
A．turned into B．turned up C．turned down D．turned on
A．homeless B．lucky C．educated D．wealthy
A．interesting B．comfortable C．simple D．typical
A．Instead B．Otherwise C．Meanwhile D．Therefore
A．value B．cost C．price D．theme
A．emotions B．expectations C．fortunes D．achievements
Although in 1947 we were still very new to the atomic age, we knew about mushroom clouds. A huge crack (裂缝) spread across the library wall upstairs, sending teachers and __31__ screaming down the hall.
Had a new world war started? Palefaced, our young science teacher quickly__32__us for a fire drill. We huddled (卷缩) in little groups on the beach side of the school grounds and__33__the spreading cloud darken the bright spring sky.
Rumors flew every which way，__34__two hours would pass before we got the full story. One rumor we heard was that the Texas City Monsanto Chemical plant had__35__； children whose parents__36__there began to cry.
I__37__—that was where my father was working that day.
The school bell called us back inside, and we were dismissed (解散) to__38__our way home the best way we could. I'd walked a quarter of the threemile trip to my home__39__a car horn frightened me to__40__. My Uncle Barney__41__alongside me in his old Ford. The instant I saw him, I knew my father__42__. Otherwise, Papa would have__43__for me himself.
As if in slow motion from a great distance, Uncle Barney motioned for me to__44__. Numb with grief, I crawled into the back__45__. I barely took notice of the man sitting there, and didn't recognize him until he__46__me. When Papa put his strong arms around me, I forgot for a moment that Cherokees aren't supposed to__47__.
Many of my fellow students lost their__48__in the explosion. Tragedy would one day come to our__49__， as it inevitably (不可避免地) comes to all, but one day Texas City blew up, it miraculously (奇迹般地) passed us by. Because he lost his keys on that April morning, as he explained, my father lived for__50__32 years—we were to have a second lifetime forever.
A．headmaster B．students C．workers D．books
A．organized B．ordered C．made D．asked
A．heard B．smelled C．watched D．felt
A．when B．as C．as if D．although
A．blown up B．been closed C．been opened D．been on fire
A．lived B．worked C．studied D．visited
A．smiled B．frightened C．froze D．worried
A．make B．feel C．push D．find
A．when B．while C．as D．for
A．decision B．attention C．feeling D．expression
A．pulled up B．pulled out C．pulled in D．pulled off
A．was there B．was here C．was gone D．was alone
A．gone B．come C．left D．stopped
A．get off B．get over C．get through D．get in
A．seat B．chair C．stool D．bag
A．looked at B．helped C．reached for D．called on
A．cry B．laugh C．excite D．shout
A．teachers B．relatives C．friends D．parents
A．class B．family C．school D．house
A．other B．others C．another D．the other
Unchangeable Love
One day I visited an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting．I was expecting a quiet view of the splendid 36 ．
A young 37 viewing the paintings ahead of me38 nonstop between themselves．I watched them a moment and __39___ the lady was doing all the talking．I admired the man's 40 for putting up with her 41 stream of words． 42 by their noise, I moved on．
I met them several times as I moved through the various rooms of art．Each time I heard her constant flow of words, I moved away 43 ．
I was standing at the counter of the museum gift shop making a 44 when the couple approached the 45 ．Before they left, the man 46 into his pocket and pulled out a white object．He 47 it into a long stick and then tapped his way into the 48 to get his wife's jacket．
"He's a 49 man．" the clerk at the counter said．"Most of us would give up if we were blinded at such a young age．During his recovery, he made a promise his life wouldn't change．
So, as before, he and his wife come in 50 there is a new art show．"
"But what does he get out of the art?" I asked．"He can't see．"
"Can't see! You're 51 ．He sees a lot．More than you and I do," the clerk said．"His wife52 each painting so he can see it in his head．"
I learned something about patience, 53 and love that day．I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without __54_ and the courage of a husband who would not 55 blindness to change his life．And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away, hand in hand．
A．vases B．statues C．paintings D．scenery
A．lady B．couple C．man D．clerk
A．chatted B．argued C．discussed D．spoke
A．found B．finding C．to find D．find
A．knowledge B．confidence C．wisdom D．patience
A．interesting B．boring C．continuous D．funny
A．Interested B．Discouraged C．Surprised D．Interrupted
A．quickly B．seriously C．anxiously D．angrily
A．comment B．decision C．purchase D．list
A．entrance B．exit C．front D．queue
A．reached B．held C．put D．turned
A．made B．lengthened C．brought D．changed
A．shop B．counter C．hall D．coatroom
A．brave B．kind C．rough D．blind
A．wherever B．whatever C．whichever D．whenever
A．silly B．wrong C．humorous D．unique
A．describes B．draws C．shows D．tells
A．curiosity B．pride C．enthusiasm D．courage
A．expectation B．support C．sight D．hesitation
A．get B．hope C．allow D．stop
I always think my spoken English is so poor that I can’t communicate with
native English speakers well. So after going to the college, I take as 36 English lessons as I can. 37 I am free, I go to English corners and 38 English lessons and lectures. To my surprise, I can understand most of 39 of the professors who come from Canada, and the USA. However, I haven’t had more 40 to talk to them in English.
Although I 41 English articles out aloud every day, I am not sure if I can make myself 42 by native English speakers. How I hope I can talk to 43 English speakers for a while. I went to the English 44 as usual last night. Surprisingly, there were three foreigners sitting there. There , however, were several Chinese students around them, too. “I must not 45 this chance,” I said to myself.
“Hi, nice to meet you.” I 46 to one of them.
“Nice to meet you too.” He put out his hand. We 47 hands, what a warm hand! Then I 48 myself to him. When I told him that I had 49 English by myself for three years, he said that it was 50 and my English was so good. His words gave me a lot of51 . At that time he hadn’t had dinner. He asked us if it was rude or52 to talk to us while he was eating (a) 53 . We, said we didn’t54 that, only
if he was 55 to talk to us. He smiled and began to eat his supper.
A．much B．many C．some D．most
A．As long as B．As much as C．As far as D．As soon as
A．learn B．make C．take D．hold
A．lectures B．ideas C．opinions D．suggestions
A．energy B．courage C．time D．chances
A．talk B．speak C．see D．read
A．recognized B．understood C．heard D．realized
A．many B．nice C．native D．local
A．corner B．wall C．house D．club
A．miss B．catch C．get D．pass
A．laughed B．cried C．shouted D．smiled
A．joined B．put C．waved D．shook
A．explained B．introduced C．said D．told
A．used B．wrote C．learnt D．taught
A．impossible B．possible C．unacceptable D．unbelievable
A．encouragement B．surprise C． responsibility D．glory
A．polite B．impolite C．friendly D．lovely
A．lunch B．breakfast C．meal D．rice
A．care B．like C．love D．enjoy
A．anxious B．likely C．willing D．able
Miss Lovely began to work in our office last year. She thought she was 36 and hardly talked with us . Her house was a little far from our company and she had to go to work 37 every day.
Of course, she had to spend a lot of 38 on this, She decided to have her own car, and began to 39 how to drive two months ago . Now she was able to drive, but had to 40 a license before she could buy a car. It took her a week to 41 the traffic regulations. She was sure she would 42 the examinations.
It was finally time for her to take the examinations yesterday. Miss Lovely didn’t come to work. We 43 she would drive her new car to our company this morning. But to our44 she came here by taxi and didn’t tell anybody about it. None of us asked her the 45 but her face clearly showed she had 46 in the exams.
This afternoon one of our workmates told us 47 had happened to the girl when she was 48. Yesterday the chief examiner had asked her some questions, but she could answer only a 49 .For example,“Would you run over a man or a dog if you see them both in the middle of the 50 ?”
“Of course I’d run over the dog ,sir”, Miss Lovely answered without51 .
“I’m sorry to tell you, Miss Lovely,”the examiner shook his52 and said ,“you have to take the examination again!”
“I don’t think my answers were 53 ,sir”the girl said in a hurry.“I54 run over a man, you know!”
“Ｉagree with your 55, Miss Lovely,”the chief examiner said with a smile,“but why not brake（刹车）？”
A．old B．foolish C．clever D．kind
A．by taxi B．by train C．on foot D．by plane
A．time B．money C．energy D．room
A．teach B．plan C．operate D．learn
A．find B．apply for C．look for D．make
A．learn B．forget C．teach D．break
A．take B．prepare C．explain D．pass
A．surprise B．joy C． anger D．pleasure
A．name B．reason C． rule D．notice
A．believed B．heard C．found D．failed
A．why B．how C．what D．when
A．ill B．alone C．in D．out
A．few B．several C．all D．lot
A．room B．playground C．hospital D．road
A．asking B．thinking C．discussing D．advising
A．foot B．nose C．ears D．head
A．wrong B．correct C．right D．true
A．can B．needn’t C．can’t D．need
A．car B．opinion C．fact D．purpose
I recently overheard something that surprised me. I heard that people who win the lottery (彩票) are__21_for about 3 weeks. And then they go back to their__22__state of being before they won the money.I__23__that they would have been happy for a much longer time.
The reason for this is that__24__we try to change how we feel by using something outside of ourselves，like winning the lottery，or getting a new car or house，it never__25__.The resulting feelings of happiness are often fleeting (飞逝的)．We cannot__26__them for very long.In some way，it may be a good thing.It reminds us that happiness really does come from within and is__27__to us at any moment.True happiness has__28__to do with what is happening outside；it is an inside job.Happiness is a__29__.
We can make the decision to be happy for one day，when we__30__in the morning，every morning.We can find something that brings us great __31__，like sitting outside in the garden under an old tree and__32__the birds sing，or watching the dog or cat play，and just__33__the moment.It is our__34__state and we need only allow it in.At any moment，we can__35__，take a deep breath，and remember who we really are，and why we came here，and that truly is to__36__joy and the aliveness of being.
“Happiness is like a butterfly which，when run after，is always __37__our reach，but，if you will sit down___38__，may fall upon you，” said Nathaniel Hawthorne，an American novelist.So，today，no matter what is going on in your own__39__，stop and take a few moments to breathe deeply and just__40__to be happy，whatever that means to you.
A．clever B．lucky C．happy D．cautious
A．previous B．unusual C．constant D．positive
A．concluded B．suspected C．promised D．thought
A．anyhow B．anytime C．anywhere D．anyway
A．changes B．forms C．works D．appears
A．keep B．control C．blame D．guide
A．available B．consistent C．sensitive D．similar
A．much B．little C．some D．enough
A．choice B．chance C．result D．reward
A．wake up B．look up C．turn up D．stand up
A．success B．surprise C．pleasure D．worry
A．making B．helping C．listening to D．calling on
A．waste B．spend C．save D．enjoy
A．natural B．common C．accurate D．special
A．stay B．stop C．leave D．arrive
A．discover B．present C．experience D．accept
A．beyond B．within C．through D．against
A．noisily B．silently C．carefully D．quietly
A．mind B．heart C．life D．body
A．pretend B．decide C．agree D．hesitate