I have always been an independent person, but I have come to know that being independent does not mean refusing help. I may still be 16 with asking for help, but I try to accept. Furthermore, I will even 17 help and when my offers are refused, I am 18 willing to walk away. And all these changes came from a disaster on an island.
Sometimes a person’s independence is a 19 of pride, daring, stubbornness and luck. I used to be too 20 since I was little. I was once a traveler who never asked for 21 , choosing instead to struggle with maps and signs until I found my way.
Then one day on the island of Koh Phangan, in Thailand, everything 22 . I was swimming in the ocean with Sean, my fiancé, when he was 23 by a box jellyfish(箱型水母). He 24 within three minutes, 25 years old. Yet when onlookers and travelers asked if I wanted 25 , stubborn pride and force of habit 26 me accepting. But two young Israeli women stayed. 27 my protest(反对), they were with me even when the police tried to cover up the 28 of Sean’s death. It was listed as drunk drowning to avoid hurting the 29 industry. The Israeli women 30 have walked away. 31 , without even telling me, they 32 their schedule rather than leave me behind.
33 I didn’t realize it at that time, I would not have 34 the disaster without these great women. Actually, the person who needs help the most is usually the last person to ask for it. I have learned 35 is better than refusing because it not only helps you walk out of trouble, but also helps you know the real meaning of life.
A．struggling B．dealing C．confused D．satisfied
A．offer B．accept C．seek D．desire
A．occasionally B．frequently C．usually D．seldom
A．range B．symbol C．way D．mix
A．money B．equipment C．directions D．suggestions
A．happened B．messed C．changed D．disappeared
A．attacked B．caught C．followed D．impressed
A．sunk B．died C．failed D．recovered
A．company B．advice C．comfort D．evidence
A．kept B．prevented C．denied D．suggested
A．In spite of B．In case of C．In terms of D．As a result
A．proof B．news C．fact D．cause
A．medicine B．entertainment C．fishing D．tourism
A．could B．need C．should D．must
A．Therefore B．Otherwise C．Instead D．Besides
A．delayed B．made C．considered D．threw
A．When B．While C．Because D．If
A．survived B．experienced C．avoided D．suffered
A．refusing B．accepting C．giving D．begging
One summer evening I was sitting by the open window, reading a good but rather frightening mystery story. After a time it was too dark for me to read easily, so I put my book down and turned on the light.
I was just about to draw the 36 as well when I heard a loud cry “Help! Help! ” It37 to come from the trees at the end of the garden. I looked out but it was too38 to see anything clearly. So I decided to go out and have a look in the garden, just39 someone was in 40 . I took the torch and picked up a strong walking stick, 41 that this might come to be useful, too. 42 with these, I went out into the garden. 43 I heard the cry. There was no 44 that it came from the trees at the end of the garden.
“Who’s there?” I 45 as I walked, rather46 , down the path that 47 to the trees. But there was no48 . With the help of my torch I 49 the whole of that part of the garden and the lower50 of the trees. There was no sign of anybody or anything. I came to the ___51___ that someone was playing a rather silly joke on me.
___52 feeling rather puzzled, I went back to the house and 53 away the torch and the stick. I had just sat down when I was startled by the cry of “ Help! Help! ”, this time from54 my shoulder. I dropped my book and climbed up. There, sitting 55 of the mantelpiece ( 壁炉 ), was a parrot!
A．gun B．picture C．curtains D．car
A．seemed B．looked C．sounded D．proved
A．far B．distant C．dark D．black
A．as if B．even though C．on time D．in case
A．difficult B．power C．trouble D．ease
A．thinking B．wishing C．demanding D．requesting
A．Supplied B．Loaded C．Armed D．Decorated
A．Again and again B．Now and then C．From time to time D．Once again
A．wonder B．doubt C．problem D．question
A．spoke out B．called out C．got out D．said out
A．seriously B．nervously C．curiously D．hurriedly
A．led B．went C．passed D．joined
A．person B．body C．answer D．voice
A．studied B．searched C．tested D．examined
A．roots B．branches C．leaves D．bushes
A．beginning B．end C．conclusion D．introduction
A．But B．Yet C．Already D．Still
A．put B．took C．threw D．cleared
A．far off B．down below C．left to D．right behind
A．on top B．at the foot C．inside D．Outside
I fell in love with Yosemite National Park the first time I saw it, when I was 13. My parents took us there for camping. On the way out, I asked them to wait while I ran up to E1 Capitan, a ___16___ rock of 3,300 feet straight up. I touched that giant rock and knew ___17___ I wanted to climb it. That has been my life’s passion (钟爱) ever since--- ___18___ the rocks and mountains of Yosemite. I’ve long made Yosemite my ___19___.
About 15 years ago I started seeing a lot of ___20___, like toilet paper, beer cans, and empty boxes, around the area. It’s ___21___ me why visitors started respecting the place ___22___ and treated such a beautiful home-like place this way.
I tried ___23___ trash(垃圾)myself, but the job was too big. I would ___24___an hour or two on the job, only to find the area trashed all over again weeks later. Finally, I got so ___25__ it that I decided something had to change.
As a rock-climbing guide, I knew ___26___about organizing any big event. But in 2004, together with some climbers, I set a date for a ___27___. On that day, more than 300 people ___28___. Over three days we collected about 6,000 pounds of trash. It was amazing how much we were able to ___29___. I couldn’t believe the ___30___ we made ---the park looked clean!
Each year volunteers come for the cleanup from everywhere. In 2007 alone, 2,945 people picked up 42,330 pounds of trash and ___31___ 132 miles of roadway.
I often hear people ___32___ about their surroundings. If you are one of them, I would say the only way to change things is by ___33___ rather than complaining. We need to teach by ___34___. You can’t blame others ___35___ you start with yourself.
A．distant B．huge C．narrow D．loose
A．immediately B．finally C．gradually D．recently
A．imagining B．painting C．describing D．climbing
A．garden B．home C．lab D．palace
A．material B．resources C．waste D．goods
A．beyond B．against C．over D．within
A．more B．most C．less D．least
A．throwing away B．picking up C．breaking down D．digging out
A．kill B．save C．wait D．spend
A．satisfied with B．delighted in C．tired of D．used to
A．something B．anything C．everything D．nothing
A．cleanup B．party C．picnic D．concert
A．dropped out B．showed up C．looked around D．called back
A．demand B．receive C．accomplish D．overcome
A．plan B．visit C．contact D．difference
A．crossed B．measured C．covered D．designed
A．talk B．complain C．argue D．quarrel
A．doing B．thinking C．questioning D．watching
A．method B．explanation C．example D．research
A．although B．if C．when D．useless
I was reading a notice at the entrance to my college dormitory, when a girl came up to me and said, “Do you _26_ a quarter? I’m one short of putting my laundry(刚洗好的衣物) in the dryer(烘干机). ”
I _27_ to think about it for a few seconds and considered whether I’d be _28_ to give a quarter away. I found myself _29_ her, thinking about why she didn’t _30_ four quarters down from her room with her, as if she had _31_ to be one short so she could ask someone else for it. (Later I knew _32_ that was not the case.)
But I didn’t have any reason to _33_her. Then I responded, “Yeah, I think I have the only one,” though fully _34_ that I had three. “Here you go,” I said with a smile. “Thanks,” she responded, _35_ that she could have clean clothes to wear the next morning.
A few moments later the girl _36_ and gave a dollar bill to me. “Why are you giving this to me?” I asked, _37_. “Oh, because you were kind to me, so I’m just giving back the _38_.”
It’s just a dollar, but I felt it was _39_. More so because I hadn’t given that quarter with such nice _40_, the way she gave that dollar to me. I felt like it was the first time I ever _41_ something greater in return for something so_42_ that I had given. I saw the power of kindness and generosity in a _43_way.
I thought it was so worth giving that quarter away. Giving and _44_ don’t usually happen hand-in-hand, _45_ when it does, like it did this time, it makes one think about why generosity is so powerful in the first place.
A．lose B．have C．find D．pay
A．stopped B．agreed C．tried D．continued
A．anxious B．satisfied C．willing D．quick
A．disliking B．loving C．trusting D．judging
A．borrow B．collect C．fetch D．bring
A．needed B．prepared C．managed D．planned
A．actually B．obviously C．strangely D．possibly
A．help B．refuse C．believe D．doubt
A．ashamed B．aware C．uncertain D．concerned
A．hoping B．worrying C．choosing D．mentioning
A．left B．finished C．called D．returned
A．excited B．surprised C．angry D．embarrassed
A．benefit B．change C．favour D．interest
A．valuable B．enough C．attractive D．reasonable
A．results B．thoughts C．memories D．manners
A．met B．provided C．saw D．received
A．expensive B．important C．small D．difficult
A．short B．new C．normal D．strange
A．getting B．rejecting C．supporting D．appreciating
A．then B．or C．but D．thus
Many years ago I drove a taxi for extra money mainly from the downtown to the 36 , beside the Greenwood Racetrack..
Each time a taxi drove up to the station, many kids would run along the 37 . One 38 kid would open the passenger door and say, “ 39 , sir.” The passenger would always say thanks and give the kid a 40 . It was a routine that everybody knew.
One day I noticed a boy, who was 41 than most of them but was pushed away by even the smallest kid. He never pushed back. 42 , he would even step aside when others pushed forward. But he never 43 .
Then as I was 44 to the sidewalk, all the other kids were running after a taxi 45 mine. They didn’t notice mine.
The boy saw me and walked toward my taxi. As I pulled up I made sure that I stopped in a 46 with the passenger door right beside him. He 47 the passenger door and said, “Good luck at the track, sir.”
48 , the man did not tip him a quarter. Instead he 49 , “Get out of my way!” He pushed him aside so 50 that the boy fell down and was badly hurt. I got out of my car quickly, 51 find that the man disappeared in the crowd.
So I looked for the kid. I decided to give him $20 for all his 52 . But he was far up ahead, walking out of the station 53 . 54 , I never saw him again. I’d like to find him and tell him that if only he had stuck around a little longer I would have given him a whole $20.
I learned an important lesson from the boy. When things seem so 55 that you are ready to give up, that is the time when things are most likely to turn around for you.
A．school B．station C．office D．hospital
A．sidewalk B．way C．track D．step
A．strong B．tall C．lucky D．active
A．Stop B．Welcome C．Help D．Good luck
A．smile B．tip C．hug D．prize
A．short B．bigger C．weaker D．smarter
A．Instead B．In general C．In total D．In case
A．gave in B．gave away C．gave up D．gave off
A．pushing up B．speeding up C．keeping up D．pulling up
A．above B．beside C．in front of D．over
A．position B．car C．tree D．situation
A．closed B．opened C．kicked D．knocked
A．Therefore B．So C．However D．Then
A．smiled B．wept C．advised D．shouted
A．hard B．softly C．sweetly D．slowly
A．and to B．but to C．only to D．so as to
A．strength B．efforts C．courage D．work
A．nervously B．anxiously C．madly D．silently
A．So far B．From then on C．Once more D．Just then
A．unavoidable B．poor C．hopeless D．challenging
It’s only after three weeks into a new job that I made a serious mistake. My boss called it “extremely embarrassing” in a company-wide e-mail — which, 31 , he wrote because he felt he needed to explain that what I did was something 32 in the company should ever do.
I wish I 33 give a good excuse for what I did. At the very least, I wish I could explain it somehow — 34 it on youth, inexperience or ignorance. Unfortunately, I’m 35 , experienced and I know better.
36 I work with some very kind and compassionate(富于同情心的) people. For the past couple of days many of them have taken time to 37 by my desk and offer comfort, encouragement and support. Some have shared with me similar 38 they have made. Evidently I’m not the only “ 39 ” person here.
One of the exchanges I had this week was with Lois, the much-honored, much-respected professional who 40 the desk right next to mine. Lois was completely 41 about her work, and to be honest I was a little nervous about how she would 42 to such an extremely embarrassing incident.
As I expected, Lois didn’t pass over the 43 when she saw me the next day. She mentioned it directly, 44 with empathetic consideration. She listened to my 45 . Just as I was ready to express my regrets, she brought my self-pity partly to a(n) 46 .
“It happened”, she said, “There’s nothing you can do to 47 that. It happened. But it’s over now. It’s 48 . It’s in the past. You need to let it go, and move on.” And with that she returned her 49 to her work, as if to say, “We’re done here.”
I beat myself up for weeks. At such times I need to remember those 50 words: It’s over. It’s done. Let it go. And mostly, move on.
A．by the way B．in the way C．on the way D．to the way
A．someone B．anyone C．no one D．the one
A．should B．might C．will D．could
A．fix B．blame C．rely D．put
A．outgoing B．old C．cheerful D．energetic
A．Thankfully B．Naturally C．Generally D．Hopefully
A．work B．stop C．watch D．sit
A．decisions B．troubles C．attempts D．mistakes
A．annoying B．confusing C．embarrassing D．puzzling
A．repairs B．wants C．works D．occupies
A．mad B．serious C．curious D．hopeful
A．react B．agree C．turn D．object
A．issue B．outcome C．criterion D．message
A．for B．therefore C． but D．otherwise
A．challenge B．imagination C．conclusion D．explanation
A．order B．key C．end D．process
A．forget B．ruin C．prevent D．change
A．broken B．done C．lost D．kept
A．attention B．skill C．patience D．interest
A．sweet B．pleasant C．meaningful D．colorful