A Leap 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 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, she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift constantly. She often sees double and can’t how far away things are.
When she was little, her mom that even though she couldn’t see , she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the right away and gymnastics became her favorite.
Though learning gymnastics has been more for her than for some of her tournaments, she has never quit. She doesn’t let her stop her from doing anything that she wants to.
She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest 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 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 for anyone because it’s four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t fall the beam. In fact, she got an 8.1 out of 10---- her highest score yet.
Lola doesn’t want to be differently from the other girls on her team. At the competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision . She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her attitude.
Lola never thinks about . She is presently at Level 7 while the highest is Level 10 in gymnastics. Her is to reach Level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to pass down what she’s learned to other kids she grew up.
Lola is of all her hard work and success. She says it’s helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics, too. Her 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．different 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
One afternoon I toured an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was looking forward to a quiet 21 of the splendid artwork.
A young 22 viewing the paintings ahead of me 23 nonstop between themselves. I watched them a moment and decided the lady was doing all the talking. I admired the man’s 24 for putting up with her 25 stream of words. 26 by their noise, I moved on.
I met them several times as I moved 27 the various rooms of art. Each time I heard her continuous flow of words, I moved away 28 .
I was standing at the counter of the museum gift shop making a 29 when the couple approached the 30 . Before they left, the man 31 into his pocket and pulled out a white object. He 32 it into a long stick and then 33 his way into the coatroom to get his wife’s jacket.
“He’s a 34 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 35 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 36 . He sees a lot. More than you and I do,” the clerk said. “His wife 37 each painting so he can see it in his head.”
I learned something about patience, 38 and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without 39 and the courage of a husband who would not 40 blindness to change his life. And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away, their arms intertwined.
A．view B．touch C．wander D．stare
A．lady B．couple C．man D．clerk
A．yelled B．argued C．screamed D．chatted
A．attempt B．independence C．patience D．wisdom
A．constant B．vivid C．casual D．vague
A．Adopted B．Adapted C．Disturbed D．Conducted
A．from B．to C．towards D．through
A．anxiously B．quickly C．urgently D．sensibly
A．comment B．purchase C．decision D．profit
A．exit B．entrance C．front D．queue
A．plugged B．reached C．held D．bent
A．lengthened B．made C．brought D．broadened
A．led B．found C．tapped D．forced
A．generous B．rough C．smart D．brave
A．wherever B．whatever C．whenever D．whichever
A．unique B．silly C．equal D．wrong
A．decorates B．draws C．shows D．describes
A．kindness B．pride C．courage D．enthusiasm
A．sight B．support C．expectation D．confidence
A．get B．allow C．hope D．cause
完形填空(共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分)
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Jame’s New Bicycle
James shook his money box again. Nothing! He carefully 21 the coins that lay on the bed . $24. 52 was all that he had. The bicycle he wanted was at least $90! 22 on earth was he going to get the 23 of the money?
He knew that his friends all had bicycles. It was 24 to hang around with people when you were the only one without wheels. He thought about what he could do. There was no 25 asking his parents, for he knew they had no money to 26 .
There was only one way to get money, and that was to 27 it. He would have to find a job. 28 who would hire him and what could he do? He decided to ask Mr. Clay for advice ,who usually had 29 on most things.
“Well, you can start right here, ”said Mr. Clay. “My windows need cleaning and my car needs washing. ”
That was the 30 of James’ s odd-job（零工） business. For three months he worked every day after finishing his homework. He was amazed by the 31 of jobs that people found for him to do. He took dogs and babies for walks, cleared out cupboards, and mended books. He lost count of the 32 of cars he washed and windows he cleaned, but the 33 increased and he knew that he would soon have 34 for the bicycle he longed for.
The day 35 came when James counted his money and found $94.32. He 36 no time and went down to the shop to pick up the bicycle he wanted. He rode 37 home, looking forward to showing his new bicycle to his friends. It had been hard 38 for the money, but James knew that he valued his bicycle far more 39 he had bought it with his own money. He had 40 what he thought was impossible, and that was worth even than the bicycle.
A．cleaned B．covered C．counted D．checked
A．How B．Why C．Who D．What
A．amount B．part C．sum D．rest
A．brave B．hard C．smart D．unfair
A．point B．reason C．result D．right
A．split B．spend C．spare D．save
A．borrow B．earn C．raise D．collect
A．Or B．So C．For D．But
A．decisions B．experience C．opinions D．knowledge
A．beginning B．introduction C．requirement D．opening
A．similarity B．quality C．suitability D．variety
A．brand B．number C．size D．type
A．effort B．pressure C．money D．trouble
A．all B．enough C．much D．some
A．finally B．instantly C．normally D．regularly
A．gave B．left C．took D．wasted
A．patiently B．proudly C．silently D．tiredly
A．applying B．asking C．looking D．working
A．since B．if C．than D．though
A．deserved B．benefited C．achieved D．learned
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A young man was ready to graduate from
college. For months he had 16a sports car in a 17 showroom, and knowing his father 18 afford it, he told him that was 19 he wanted. 20 Graduation Day approached, he waited for the news21 that his father had bought the car. On the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his 22 study. He handed him a beautiful box. 23 , but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened it 24 found a lovely Bible, with the young man’s name on it. 25 , he shouted to his father and said, “ With all your 26 you give me a Bible?” He then stormed out of the house, leaving the 27 ,
Many years passed. The young man was successful in both business and his family, but 28 his father was old, he intended to go back see him. He 29 him since that graduation day. 30 he could make the arrangements, he received a telegram telling his father had passed away, and he needed to take 31 possessions from his father. When he arrived at his father’s house, sudden sadness and 32 filled his heart. He saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag（标签）with the dealer’s name, 33 dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the 34 “PAID IN FULL.”
How many time do we miss blessing because they are not packaged as we 35 ? Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
A．owned B．driven C．admired D．seen
A．model’s B．manager’s C．businessman’s D．dealer’s
A．must B．could C．should D．would
A．which B．all what C．all D．why
A．As B．with C．For D．Along
A．quietly B．patiently C．politely D．anxiously
A．previous B．personal C．private D．professional
A．Curious B．Serious C．Amused D．Concerned
A．Luckily B．Happily C．Carefully D．Angrily
A．money B．cost C．income D．charge
A．car B．college C．Bible D．box
A．to realize B．realized C．realizing D．having realized
A．hadn’t seen B．didn’t see C．hasn’t seen D．wasn’t seen
A．When B．Before C．Until D．After
A．up B．in C．on D．over
A．regret B．happiness C．excitement D．promise
A．a same B．the same C．same D．the same as
A．sentences B．words C．talks D．phrases
A．expected B．respected C．regretted D．repeated
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
Some people who find themselves unable to solve a problem react by just giving up. But it is not good to 36 problems by giving up or make excuses for 37 . You may be sure that all young people 38 the same difficult process that you are going through: meeting new situations, developing new skills, and testing their abilities.
If you are unhappy about something, face it. Try to 39 the problem in a few words, so that you will know exactly what you are 40 . Then see if you can “put you finger” on the 41 of your unhappiness.
In many cases, we only “think” there is no 42 to a particular problem. But often we can 43 the problem and achieve the goal by making a direct 44 .
For example, a boy wanted to be a debater(辩论家). When he tried for the debating team as a 45 , the coach thought he was 46 . He was shy; he had a high-pitched voice and his posture(姿态) was poor. Although he was given little hope of success, he took 47 of every 48 to debate. He studied from successful speakers and 49 his own weakness and assets. Then he 50 many hours learning all the facts on the topics for the debate, and worked at developing good posture and at speaking clearly. In his junior year, he made the school 51 team, and in his senior year, he was on the winning team in his state. He 52 his goal because he had made a direct attack on his problem.
53 direct attack is often the best way to face problems, we have to be 54 in judging situations and sometimes it is necessary to 55 the goal. So it is important to study the situation and make a wise decision about what to do.
A．escape B．notice C．clear up D．dismiss
A．success B．failure C．change D．himself
A．go through B．experienced C．escape from D．give up
A．say B．state C．find D．solve
A．dealt with B．up to C．escaping D．up against
A．cause B．purpose C．point D．statement
A．way B．solution C．method D．hope
A．give up B．think of C．consider D．overcome
A．attack B．method C．change D．catch
A．director B．instructor C．adviser D．freshman (新人)
A．hopeful B．great C．hopeless D．grateful
A．use B．advantage C．value D．effect
A．minute B．opportunity C．effort D．other
B．thought up C．made up D．gave in
A．cost B．found C．spent D．wasted
A．speaking B．successful C．debating D．member
A．gave up B．escaped C．caught D．achieved
A．Although B．Since C．Because D．However
A．false B．realistic C．hopeful D．valuable
A．give up B．change C．attack D．strike
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从下列各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
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