One day I decided to quit．I quitted my job, my relationship, my spirituality. I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the 36 to have one last talk with God． "Can you give me one good 37 not to quit?" His answer surprised me．
"Look around． Do you see the fern（蕨类植物） and the bamboo? When I planted their seeds, I took good care of them．The fern quickly grew from the earth． 38 nothing came from the bamboo seed． During the following three years, the fern grew more plentiful． And 39 , nothing came from the bamboo seed． But I did not quit on the bamboo． Then in the fifth year a 40 sprout（新芽） emerged from the earth． Compared to the fern it was 41 small and insignificant． But just 6 months later the bamboo 42 to over 100 feet tall． It had spent the five years growing 43 ． Those roots made it strong and gave it 44 it needed to survive． I wouldn’t give any of my creations a challenge it could not 45 ．”
He said to me． "All this time you have been struggling, you have 46 been growing roots． I would not quit on the bamboo． 47 will I ever quit on you． Don't 48 yourself with others．The bamboo had a different 49 from the fern． Yet they both make the forest beautiful． Your time will 50 ． You will rise high! "
"How high should I rise?" I asked．
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked 51 ．
"As high as it can?" I 52 ．
"Yes," He said． "Give me glory 53 rising as high as you can．"
I left the forest and bring back this story． I hope it can help you see that God will never 54 on you． Never regret a day in your life． Good days give you happiness． Bad days give you 55 ． Both are necessary to life．
A．farm B．heaven C．bushes D．woods
A．reason B．sense C．response D．explanation
A．Even B．Instead C．Yet D．Rather
A．again B．always C．ever D．often
A．thin B．tiny C．weak D．short
A．largely B．entirely C．seemingly D．probably
A．raised B．provided C．rose D．produced
A．fruits B．leaves C．seeds D． roots
A．which B．where C．how D．what
A．present B．explore C．handle D．offer
A．particularly B．actually C．merely D．obviously
A．Either B．So C．Neither D．As
A．furnish B．associate C． connect D．compare
A．purpose B．recognition C． credit D．possibility
A．go B．come C．get D．leave
A．in nature B．in exchange C．in respect D．in turn
A．questioned B．required C．requested D．remarked
A．from B．with C．by D．for
A．cut up B．give up C．break up D．pick up
A．experiences B．strengths C．awards D．ambitions
Two men, both seriously ill, were in the same hospital room. One man was allowed to 46 in his bed for an hour each afternoon for treatment. His 47 was next to the room's only window. The other man 48 spend all his time flat on his back. Every 49 when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he 50 pass the time by describing(描述) to his 51 all the things he could see outside the window. The window overlooked（远眺） a 52 with a lovely lake. Ducks played on the water while children 53 their model boats. Young lovers walked 54 among flowers. As the man by the window described all this beautifully, the other man would close his eyes and 55 the scene.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the 56 body of the man by the window, who had died 57 in his sleep. She was sad and 58 the hospital attendants (服务员) to take the body away. 59 it seemed appropriate (合适的), the other man asked if he could 60 next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch（调换）, and after 61 he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly and painfully, he sat up to take his 62 look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the 63 of seeing it for himself. He strained (紧张地) to slowly turn to 64 the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have forced his dead roommate to 65 those wonderful things outside this window. The nurse answered that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.”
A．stand up B．lie down C．sit up D．sit down
A．room B．table C．seat D．bed
A．had to B．would rather C．prefer to D．rather than
A．morning B．evening C．afternoon D．dawn
A．will B．would C．should D．might
A．nurse B．workmate C．roommate D．doctor
A．park B．street C．farm D．field
A．played B．made C．started D．sailed
A．face to face B．shoulder to shoulder C．arm in arm D．back to back
A．describe B．tell C．hear D．imagine
A．strong B．warm C．sick D．lifeless
A．peacefully B．sadly C．secretly D．completely
A．looked B．found C．called D．saw
A．Before B．As soon as C．Although D．As far as
A．changed B．sit C．be moved D．be taken
A．making sure B．depending on C．making up D．accounting for
A．next B．first C．last D．another
A．surprise B．feeling C．try D．joy
A．look out B．look at C．glare at D．stare at
A．remember B．describe C．write D．talk
Have you ever tried to draw a straight line, only to find it turns out all wrong? Or, wanted to show 36 at a party but the song you’d practised so many times suddenly 37 more difficult?
I've had both these 38 .As a Senior 3 student, I have to 39 many exams. Each time I enter one thinking “I 40 fail this time.” , I get a low mark.
But don't be surprised --- it's not 41 we don't try, or do enough preparation, or take it 42 . On the contrary, it is because we put ourselves under too much 43 . It is thinking ‘I must…’ that makes us taste the terrible flavor of 44 .
We often 45 to our friends, “Don't be too hard 46 yourself!”. But when we 47 our own goals, we may not listen to our own advice.
In doing so, we are making our path to success increasingly difficult.
So why not 48 thiscrazypursuit(追求)togetthebest? Just face the problem 49 before you with a calm mind, enjoy the hard work and you will succeed.
In my opinion, 50a calm state of mind is a skill for life. For people who want to succeed, 51 this is a very important lesson.
So 52 time when you're trying to draw a straight line or 53 a performance, tell yourself, “If I can just do it better than last time, it's a 54 . ”
Keep a calm state of mind, and you will be happy 55 you succeed or fail.
A．up B．off C．out D．in
A．assumes B．appears C．listens D．becomes
A．experiences B．chances C．times D．reviews
A．finish B．measure C．take D．join
A．shouldn't B．may C．can't D．haven't
A．why B．since C．when D．because
A．necessarily B．seriously C．personally D．sharply
A．care B．power C．pressure D．attention
A．exams B．difficulty C．marks D．failure
A．say B．speak C．tell D．talk
A．off B．on C．to D．for
A．share B．achieve C．weigh D．set
A．throw away B．get away C．take away D．let away
A．waiting B．sitting C．lying D．laying
A．staying B．keeping C．remaining D．making
A．trying B．realizing C．using D．training
A．last B．what C．next D．high
A．put on B．play on C．give on D．show on
A．success B．task C．lesson D．trial
A．if B．either C．neither D．whether
It was a cold winter’s night when I stopped for gas on my way home from work. I was tired and had a slight 36 .
I worked in a 37 doctor’s office and this was one of those days when the unexpected happened, making the schedule run 38 than usual. It seemed I was going to be late 39 home and my husband, being the 40 person, would be ready to pronounce me late once again. Maybe 41 I hurried, I could still make it home.
I was heading inside to 42 for my gas when I noticed an older couple at the counter. I heard them asking for 43 to the local hospital. It was the same hospital that I had just 44a few minutes ago.
The young man at the counter was trying to be 45in explaining how to get there, with two other people making 46 . One of them was 47 trying to give them a whole different route back. It was then that I walked over to the couple and said, “Would you like to follow me to the 48 ?”
A look of 49 crossed the woman’s face.
“I’m going right by there,” I said, which wasn’t a(an) 50 since I had just made up my mind to do 51 that.
I got in my car and began the journey back. I was trying to watch to be sure they were right 52 me. It took only fifteen minutes to get there as rush hour traffic was beginning to 53 . I felt better than I had all day and my headache was nearly gone.
Later, as I arrived home, my husband 54 , “So you aren’t ever late any more.”
I said, “Sometimes it’s 55 to be late.”
A．break B．fever C．cold D．headache
A．foreign B．common C．busy D．noisy
A．earlier B．later C．easier D．simpler
A．getting B．cooking C．calling D．working
A．tough B．punctual C．generous D．careful
A．as B．since C．while D．if
A．pay B．change C．wait D．search
A．opinions B．trouble C．directions D．money
A．reached B．visited C．called D．left
A．skilled B．helpful C．experienced D．active
A．comments B．promises C．jokes D．offers
A．only B．still C．even D．ever
A．station B．office C．hospital D．hotel
A．panic B．relief C．sadness D．peace
A．duty B．fact C．reason D．lie
A．partly B．properly C．exactly D．perfectly
A．across B．before C．beside D．behind
A．go up B．die down C．speed up D．turn down
A．teased B．shouted C．burst D．laughed
A．possible B．special C．good D．safe
My husband Mike hated Christmas. He didn’t hate the true meaning of ___36___, but the commercial aspects (方面) of it. Knowing he felt this ____37__, I decided one year to__38__the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so on. I reached for something __39_just for Mike. The idea came in an unusual way.
Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was____40__at the junior level at the school he attended and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match___41____a team sponsored（资助） by a church.
These youngsters from the church, dressed in shoes so____42___that shoestrings(鞋带) seemed to be the only thing holding them together,___43_____our son’s team were in their beautiful new wrestling shoes.
As the match began, I was___44___to see that the other team was wrestling without a helmet(头盔) designed to___45____a wrestler’s head. They clearly could not____46___ them. Well, our son’s team ended up defeating them and took every weight class. But as the other team ____47__up from the mat(垫子), they walked around with a sense of pride that couldn’t admit___48____.
Mike, seated beside me, shook his head___49___, “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot of potential(潜力), but___50___like this could take the heart right out of them.” Mike loved__51____and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball. That’s when the __52____for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and ___53____some wrestling helmets and shoes and sent them to the church.
On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his____54___from me. His smile was the____55___ thing about Christmas that year.
A．the gift B．an envelope C．the wrestling D．Christmas
A．way B．joy C．music D．fear
A．buy B．avoid C．wear D．give
A．beautiful B．expensive C．special D．new
A．wrestling B．weightlifting C．shooting D．boxing
A．at B．against C．for D．on
A．big B．small C．worn D．cheap
A．because B．if C．so D．while
A．frightened B．disappointed C．pleased D．surprised
A．cover B．surround C．protect D．hide
A．carry B．afford C．design D．expect
A．got B．dressed C．turned D．cheered
A．defeat B．evidence C．charge D．mistake
A．gently B．sadly C．nervously D．gladly
A．running B．winning C．losing D．shaking
A．workmates B．parents C．friends D．kids
A．invitation B．idea C．care D．money
A．return B．sold C．bought D．left
A．gift B．warning C．praise D．love
A．brightest B．funniest C．ugliest D．darkest
Four brothers left home for college, and they became successful doctors and lawyers. Some years later, they 16 after having dinner together. They discussed the 17 they gave their elderly mother who lived far away in another city. The first said, “I had a18 house built for Mama.” The second said, “I had my Mercedes-Benz dealer（经销商）send a19 to her.” The third said, “I built a beautiful 20 for Mama.” The fourth said, “You know 21 Mama loved reading poems and you know she can’t read anymore because she can’t 22 very well. I met a 23 who had a parrot（鹦鹉）that can recite many poems. It took him 12 years to 24 it to speak and he earns his living by renting it out. I had to pay him $100,000 a year for twenty years, 25 it is worth it.” On hearing that, the other brothers were 26 by his good thought.
After the holidays their mother 27 her thank-you notes, which read:
“Milton, the house you built is so huge. I only live in one room, but I have to 28 the whole house. It’s a tiring job. Thanks anyway.”
“Marvin, I am too old to 29 . I stay home and have my foods delivered, so I’ll30 use the car. The 31 was good, although not practical. Thanks.”
“Michael, you gave me an expensive building for 50 people to32 plays or watch movies in it, but all my friends are dead. I’ve almost 33 my hearing and I’m nearly blind. I won’t use it. Thank you all the same.”
“Dearest Melvin, you were the 34 son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken tasted so 35 . I liked it very much. Thank you.”
A．fought B．talked C．studied D．slept
A．gifts B．chances C．wishes D．challenges
A．warm B．big C．safe D．lonely
A．book B．bike C．car D．bag
A．station B．museum C．library D．theater
A．what B．how C．why D．when
A．listen B．feel C．see D．walk
A．nurse B．writer C．businessman D．lawyer
A．protect B．beat C．raise D．teach
A．but B．so C．unless D．although
A．treated B．impressed C．threatened D．hurt
A．sent out B．put up C．took out D．picked up
A．sell B．borrow C．clean D．visit
A．learn B．work C．exercise D．travel
A．never B．often C．regularly D．sometimes
A．future B．hobby C．idea D．program
A．create B．enjoy C．bring D．record
A．lost B．admired C．remained D．discovered
A．same B．last C．next D．only
A．strange B．unpleasant C．bitter D．delicious