In a world where comparisons happen non-stop, it is difficult to look outside yourself and to ever be 46 with who you are. There’s always someone who’s a bit 47 . The only solution is to reach 48 and measure against what Warren Buffett calls your own inner yardstick. There is no more 49 measure for comparison than who your were yesterday, last week or last decade, when you were at your 50 .
Nothing useful ever comes from comparison to others. Either you see yourself as better than someone and you get 51 , or you see someone else as better than you and you feel like all your hard work is for 52 . It is a fool’s game. Not one of us is exactly 53 . The only direct and honest comparison is 54 yourself. Everything else is apples to oranges.
My opinion is that you are only 55 to compare yourself to someone else if their life 56 is the same as your own. Good luck finding that 57 . And one thing is for sure. No matter how hard you work and how dedicated（埋头苦干的）you are, there will always be someone who can run a little faster, jump a little higher, score a little better or look a little nicer in a swimsuit. And if there’s not, you can 58 someone is coming up fast 59 you. So how can you always win in life? Become your best 60 .
Having an image of your most recent past limits is the perfect thing to 61 you to the next level. If you ran 7 flights of stairs yesterday, then do 8 today. Who 62 if the guy next to you did 15? It doesn’t make a bit of 63 . You are a more 64 person today than you were yesterday. Your own 65 is all you need.
A．patient B．strict C．content D．concerned
A．stronger B．better C．lazier D．wiser
A．inside B．out C．for D．up
A．accurate B．useful C．careful D．powerful
A．end B．best C．convenience D．side
A．satisfied B．busy C．inspired D．lazy
A．nothing B．fun C．sure D．success
A．equal B．unique C．alike D．common
A．within B．by C．for D．of
A．instructed B．allowed C．directed D．suggested
A．situation B．position C．occasion D．accommodation
A．game B．match C．friend D．enemy
A．conclude B．bet C．announce D．declare
A．before B．beside C．below D．behind
A．assistant B．competitor C．coach D．teacher
A．contribute B．expose C．push D．devote
A．cares B．says C．wonders D．asks
A．effort B．sense C．difference D．change
A．successful B．happy C．lucky D．fit
A．benefit B．progress C．habit D．result
Mike has loved flying since he was small. When he was three years old, his dad took him to an air show. Mike loved the sounds of the plane and he 31 of becoming an airplane pilot(飞行员) some day. As Mike grew up, he learned as 32 as he could about flying. He wanted to go to flying school 33 university. He kept on 34 his parents about it all the time. At that time, pilot training was very 35 . Mike’s parents couldn’t afford it.
Later Mike became a salesman. He hoped to get lots of money for flying school. He traveled36 America for his factory. He liked to travel, 37 by plane. To save money, he usually stayed in cheap hotels.
One morning, Mike 38 to Atlanta. On the plane, after breakfast, he went to 39 . Some time later, he woke up. The two men beside him were talking in a 40 voice. When Mike heard the word “hijack(劫持)”, he nearly 41 out of his seat, but he pretended(假装) he was still 42 . He listened when the two men talked. Mike quickly learned what was43 . They planned to hijack the plane to Cuba. This made Mike very 44 . He knew he had to stop them before they began their 45 .
Mike pretended to use the washroom. On the way he met a hostess(空姐) and told her about the coming 46 . A moment later, the passengers were told that there was something wrong with the plane. Soon the plane landed at the 47 airport.
The two men received a 48 when they saw twenty police officers were 49 them at the airport.
Later Mike was given free flying training as a reward. 50 he became a pilot and flew happily ever since. Now his story is well known in the United States.
A．spoke B．heard C．dreamed D．thought
A．little B．much C．easily D．quickly
A．as well as B．such as C．because of D．instead of
A．warning B．talking C．asking D．complaining
A．expensive B．cheap C．difficult D．enjoyable
A．along B．towards C．through D．around
A．never B．widely C．except D．especially
A．flew B．came C．moved D．drove
A．work B．sleep C．rest D．bed
A．loud B．nervous C．low D．serious
A．ran B．walked C．jumped D．dropped
A．awake B．asleep C．quiet D．careless
A．saying B．changing C．discussing D．happening
A．sad B．angry C．painful D．careful
A．plan B．story C．challenge D．accident
A．danger B．trouble C．flying D．training
A．safest B．biggest C．nearest D．farthest
A．surprise B．welcome C．message D．present
A．looking for B．waiting for C．asking for D．talking about
A．So B．Since C．Though D．Then
Some years ago the captain of a ship was very interested 36 medicine. He always 37 medical books to sea and liked to talk about different diseases. One day a lazy sailor on his ship pretended 38 ill. He lay on his bunk（铺位） and groaned as if he 39 very sick. The captain came to see him and was very pleased to have a patient to 40 . He told the man to rest for a few days and 41 the other sailors do his work. Three days later 42 sailor pretended that he had 43 with his chest. 44 the captain looked in his medical books and told the “sick” man 45.
The other sailors were very 46 because they had 47 work to do. The patients had the best food and laughed at their friends when the captain was not 48 .49 the mate（大副）decided to punish the sick men and mixed up some soap, soot（烟灰）, glue and other unpleasant things. Then he got 50 from the captain to give his new medicine to the “sick” men. When they tasted the medicine, they really did feel ill. It was 51horrible that one of the patients jumped out of his bunk, ran up on deck and climbed the 52 mast（桅杆）on the ship. The captain 53 that the men had tried 54 him. So he made them 55 very hard for the rest of the ship on the sea.
A．on B．for C．at D．in
A．fetched B．carried C．had D．got
A．be B．was C．to be D．being
A．will be B．were C．is D．should be
A．look for B．look in C．look back D．look after
A．got B．took C．sent D．made
A．other B．the other C．another D．other’s
A．something wrong B．wrong something C．anything wrong D．wrong anything
A．Before long B．Once more C．Suddenly D．Certainly
A．to drink some water B．to eat something C．to have a rest D．to do more work
A．pleased B．sorry C．angry D．surprised
A．more B．much C．lots of D．little
A．out B．at home C．present D．appear
A．agreement B．permission C．permit D．promise
A．very B．much C．so D．quite
A．highest B．high C．higher D．very high
A．heard B．heard of C．realized D．guessed
A．cheating B．cheat C．cheated D．to cheat
A．worked B．to work C．work D．working
Mary was seven years old. Her parents recently moved to a new town, and so Mary was going to a 36 school, which was a few kilometers from the house they lived in now. A school bus going around picked up 37 every morning and brought them back to their 38 every afternoon, and as both of Mary’s parents 39 to go to work, she always went on this bus.
Mary’s parents always 40 their alarm clock for seven o’clock so that none of them would be 41 . But one morning the alarm 42 to go off, and it was not until a quarter past eight that Mary’s mother suddenly 43 , looked at the clock and said, “What’s ever happened to that clock?” and then44 into Mary’s room to wake her up.
“I’m sorry, dear,” she said, “ 45 you’ll have to wash and dress very quickly, have an even 46 breakfast and then I’ll 47 you to school on my way to the office.”
“But how can you find the 48, Mum?” Mary said, “You’ve been to school only once.”
“Yes,” her mother answered, “but you’ve done the 49 several times now on the bus, so you can be my guide to get there, can’t you?”
“Oh, yes,” said Mary, “I suppose so.” She washed, and 50 and had a quick breakfast, and then they set off. Mary told her mother to turn each time they came to a place she 51 .In this way she made her mother drive round most of the town 52 they got to her school. When they arrived, her mother saw that it was not really very far from her house.
“Why ever did you make me go such a long way round, Mary, instead of the most 53 way?” her mother asked her.
“Well, Mum,” answered Mary, “it was because I didn’t know 54 else to get here. That’s the way our bus always goes to 55 the other children to school.
A．big B．nice C．different D．distant
A．pupils B．teachers C．parents D．passengers
A．offices B．towns C．classrooms D．homes
A．seemed B．had C．refused D．used
A．found B．set C．cleaned D．fixed
A．late B．ready C．lazy D．asleep
A．started B．stopped C．failed D．continued
A．stood up B．stayed up C．put up D．woke up
A．rushed B．stepped C．escaped D．jumped
A．but B．and C．so D．then
A．later B．quicker C．easier D．heavier
A．bring B．fetch C．leave D．drive
A．truth B．bus C．way D．guide
A．homework B．shopping C．trip D．reading
A．rose B．dressed C．move D．showed
A．wondered B．realized C．recognized D．designed
A．unless B．after C．if D．before
A．comfortable B．helpful C．important D．direct
A．how B．when C．what D．which
A．look for B．pick up C．drop by D．deal with
Mother always said I was born to swim. I was 41 at the amazing fact. If this was true, then why was I afraid of water? I went to swim every summer, but I made 42 progress. I was worried and blamed myself several times. When I watched people swimming 43 , how I wished I had learnt to swim!
The story of how I learnt to swim is dramatic. One summer afternoon, my 44 and I went to the swimming pool to swim. While he was 45 his clothes, I was wandering along the bank of the pool. Suddenly I heard a voice, “ 46 !” and then came a big noise and 47 splashes(溅水). Just when I was 48 the swimmer’s skills, I slipped into the pool! I was so afraid that I 49 at once! But the water kept coming towards me and I 50 lots of it. I was moving upside down and trying to reach the 51 . I was struggling very hard to keep my head 52 the water. A(n) 53 was like a hundred years to me. To my surprise, I was able to keep the style! Just then, my father saw me and he seemed to be 54 . He then said, “Calm down, just 55 your arms and legs like this. Right!” And I56 it! I finally learnt to swim! You can’t imagine how happy I was and I wanted to 57 for joy!
From this experience I learnt that one’s power is 58 . Sometimes you could show that power in an emergency. If you believe that, you will discover the power 59 within yourself and achieve your goals. And one has to stay calm when it’s 60 . To calm down helps you to think clearly and make the best decision.
A．satisfied B．easy C．surprised D．happy
A．a little B．little C．much D．rapid
A．freely B．easily C．slowly D．hardly
A．coach B．friend C．brother D．father
A．changing B．buying C．washing D．drying
A．Turn away B．Hurry up C．Look out D．Look ahead
A．dirty B．strong C．ugly D．beautiful
A．studying B．admiring C．avoiding D．seeing
A．shouted B．sank C．swam D．dived
A．felt B．covered C．fought D．drank
A．swimmer B．base C．bank D．stick
A．above B．from C．under D．at
A．year B．day C．hour D．minute
A．shocked B．excited C．moved D．inspired
A．drop B．wave C．help D．move
A．dropped B．got C．fetched D．worked
A．jump B．cry C．swim D．run
A．strange B．endless C．unexpected D．unlimited
A．laying B．lying C．going D．starting
A．easy B．interesting C．dangerous D．complete
I ran into a stranger as he passed by. “I’m so sorry!” was my reply. Then he said, “Excuse me too. I wasn’t 36 watching for you.” We were very polite, this stranger and I. Then we went 37 our way after saying goodbye.
But at38 , a different story is told. How we treat our loved ones, young and old. Later in the kitchen, as I 39 the meal, my daughter walked up to me, very still. When I turned, I40 knocked her down. “Get out of the way!” I shouted with a frown (皱眉). She stepped away silently, with her little heart 41 . I didn’t realize how rudely I had spoken.
That night, when I lay 42in bed, God’s quiet voice spoke to me and said, “While43 with a stranger, you are calm and polite, but with those you love, you are quick to excite. Go to look around on the kitchen floor, you’ll find some flowers there by the 44 . Those are the flowers she brought for you. She 45 them herself — pink, yellow, and your favorite blue. She stood there quietly and you never saw the 46in her eyes.”
By this time, I felt sad and small and now my own tears began to fall. I quietly went and knelt (跪) by her 47 . “Wake up, my dear,” I said. “Are these the flowers you picked up for me?” She smiled, “I found them out by the tree, I 48 them in a napkin（纸巾）, just for you. I knew you’d like them, especially the49 .” I said, “I am so sorry that I missed them today. And I 50 have fussed (大惊小怪) at you that way. ”
And she whispered, “Mommy, that’s OK… I still love you51 .” I hugged her and said, “I love you, too and I love the flowers.”
Do you know that: if you die tomorrow, the 52 you are working for could easily replace you in a matter of days. But the family you leave 53 will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into our 54 than into our families--- an unwise investment (投资) indeed.
Remember that 55 =" (F)ATHER" + (A)ND + (M)OTHER + (I ) + (L)OVE + (Y)OU.
A．ever B．even C．just D．right
A．to B．in C．on D．for
A．school B．work C．home D．office
A．cooked B．had C．ate D．took
A．already B．hardly C．rudely D．nearly
A．lost B．missed C．beaten D．broken
A．asleep B．awake C．afraid D．alive
A．dealing B．meeting C．going D．talking
A．floor B．kitchen C．window D．door
A．grew B．bought C．picked D．fetched
A．tears B．expressions C．smiles D．joy
A．desk B．bed C．body D．knees
A．wrapped B．covered C．put D．help
A．pink B．yellow C．blue D．black
A．needn’t B．shouldn’t C．mustn’t D．can’t
A．indeed B．besides C．anything D．anyway
A．company B．country C．place D．state
A．for B．with C．behind D．to
A．books B．loss C．meal D．work
A．RESPECT B．WARMTH C．FAMILY D．FRIEND