Now you’re a fool for helping. “I don’t want to get involved” seems to have become a national motto. One summer I was driving from my hometown of Tahoe City, California to New Orleans, Louisiana. In the middle of the desert, I passed a young man standing by the roadside. He had his out and held a gas can in his other hand. I drove right by him. There was a time you’d be called a jerk (混蛋) for passing by somebody .
Several days later I was still about the hitchhiker (搭便车的人), about how I didn’t even lift my foot the accelerator (加速踏板) for him. “Does anyone stop any more?” I wondered. I recalled Blanche DuBois’s famous line—”I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” Was that these days? One way to test this would be for a person to journey the US without any money, just on the good will of others. What would happen? Would he find food, shelter and support?
The idea intrigued (激起兴趣) me.
The week I 37, I realized that I had never done something truly crazy. I decided to really do it: travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic without a penny. I would only accept of rides, food and places to sleep. For six weeks I hitched 82 rides and covered 4,223 miles across 14 states. I was treated kindly I went. I was by people’s readiness to help a stranger.
In Oregon, a house painter named Mike the cold weather and asked if I had a coat. I didn’t, so he gave me a big green army-style jacket. A lumber-mill worker in Michigan named Tim invited me to a dinner with his family in their shabby house. Then he offered me a tent. I refused, but Tim insisted, packing it into my bag himself. I found people were generally compassionate. Hearing I had no money and would take none, people bought me food or with them whatever they happened to have. Those who had the to give often gave the most.
I’m to all the people I met for their rides, their food, their shelter and their gifts. My faith in ordinary folks was . I was proud to live in a country where people were still willing to help. In spite of everything, you can still depend on the of strangers.
A．thumb B．finger C．foot D．hand
A．that B．where C．which D．when
A．in danger B．in need C．in trouble D．in favor
A．worrying B．considering C．bringing D．thinking
A．off B．on C．away D．from
A．interesting B．possible C．necessary D．important
A．across B．through C．in D．over
A．basing B．relying C．insisting D．relating
A．seemed B．got C．became D．turned
A．But B．So C．And D．Howeve
A．jobs B．supplies C．helps D．offers
A．nowhere B．everywhere C．anywhere D．somewhere
A．frightened B．annoyed C．disappointed D．amazed
A．noted B．saw C．felt D．sensed
A．simple B．rich C．delicious D．interesting
A．supplied B．offered C．shared D．provided
A．fewest B．most C．least D．best
A．careful B．grateful C．hopeful D．helpful
A．created B．reminded C．renewed D．returned
A．kindness B．happiness C．fairness D．brightness
Mr. Jones had always wanted to make a trip into the middle of Africa to shoot wild animals. 36 first he had no enough money, and then he was married. His wife had not wanted him to37 her. At last his wife38 to the trip if he allowed her to go, too.
“But it will be very uncomfortable,” Mr. Jones39 her, “ It will be very hot and we shall live in a tent, and it40 be dangerous. ”“I don’t care,” said his wife, “I want to go with you.” So they bought a big tent, camp beds, a refrigerator which did not need41 and many other things which would make the trip 42, and went off to the middle of Africa.
The first morning, 43 Mr. Jones took his gun and left the tent, he 44 his wife a bell and explained to her , “If you fall in 45 and you need me , 46 this bell and I’ll come at once.”
After a few minutes, he heard the bell and returned47 to the tent. “What’s the matter?” he asked.“48 ” said his wife, “I was only49 the bell.” Mr. Jones went off, but after a quarter of an hour, the bell rang again .
Mr. Jones hurried back to the tent, but his wife said, “I’m50 . I was cleaning our tent, and I knocked the bell over by mistake.” Mr. Jones returned to his 51 , but soon he heard the52 once more. This time, when he got back to his 53 , the tent was burning and Mrs. Jones was lying on the ground, with 54 running from a big cut on her shoulder. “That’s better!” said Mrs. Jones. “This time the bell had been used55 !”
A．And B．But C．For D．Although
A．leave B．miss C．marry D．care
A．allowed B．promised C．satisfied D．agreed
A．told B．advised C．persuaded D．warned
A．may B．must C．can’t D．shall
A．money B．electricity C．force D．power
A．different B．comfortable C．perfect D．interesting
A．while B．until C．before D．after
A．gave B．sent C．lent D．bought
A．hurry B．surprise C．safety D．danger
A．hit B．knock C．beat D．ring
A．again B．back C．quickly D．finally
A．Something B．Nothing C．No D．None
A．ringing B．trying C．using D．testing
A．happy B．sorry C．tired D．all right
A．wife B．tent C．trip D．hunting
A．cry B．shot C．bell D．shout
A．garden B．house C．camp D．office
A．water B．tears C．blood D．sweat
A．correctly B．wrongly C．frequently D．carefully
I remember one Thanksgiving when our family had no money and no food, and someone came knocking on our door. A man was __36_____ there with a huge box of food, a giant turkey and even some ___37___to cook it in. I couldn’t ___38_____it. My dad demanded, “Who are you? Where are you from?” The stranger announced, “I’m here because a friend of yours knows you’re in need and that you wouldn’t accept ___39_____help, so I’ve brought this for you. Have a great Thanksgiving.” My father said, “No, no, we ___40_____ accept this.” The stranger replied, “You don’t have ___41_____” , closed the door and left.
Obviously that experience had a profound impact（深刻影响）on my life. I ____42____myself that someday I would do well enough financially ___43____ I could do the same thing for other people. By the time I was eighteen I had created my Thanksgiving ritual（习惯）. I would go out __44_____ and buy enough food for one or two __45_____. Then I would dress like a delivery boy, go to the ____46____ neighborhood and just knock on a ___47_____ . I always ___48_____ a note that explained my Thanksgiving experience ____49____a kid. The note said, “All that I ask __50______is that you take good enough care of __51_____ so that someday you can do the same thing for someone else.” I have received more from this annual ritual than I have from any amount of ___52_____ I’ve ever earned.
Years ago I was in New York City with my new wife during Thanksgiving. She was sad because we were not with our family. ___53____she would be home decorating the house for Christmas, but we were ___54_____ in a hotel room. When I told her what I always did on Thanksgiving, she got excited.
We packed enough food for seven families for thirty days and went to buildings where half a dozen people lived in one room with no electricity and no heat in winter surrounded by rats, cockroaches（蟑螂）and the smell of urine（尿）. It was both an ___55______realization that people lived in this way and a truly fulfilling experience to make even a small difference.
A．speaking B．standing C．looking D．shouting
A．meat B．vegetables C．pans D．firewood
A．believe B．accept C．help D．refuse
A．direct B．some C．our D．any
A．may not B．needn’t C．can’t D．daren’t
A．any money B．a choice C．food D．a turkey
A．permitted B．promised C．asked D．said
A．when B．so that C．even if D．as if
A．driving B．playing C．offering D．shopping
A．people B．children C．families D．days
A．nearest B．farthest C．largest D．poorest
A．house B．door C．window D．gate
A．concluded B．included C．wrote D．took
A．like B．with C．as D．to
A．in return B．later C．in future D．for
A．others B．yourself C．your family D．the presents
A．warmth B．thanks C．money D．encouragement
A．Unfortunately B．Obviously C．Normally D．Gradually
A．stuck B．excited C．free D．delighted
A．exciting B．astonishing C．encouraging D．Outstanding
US first lady Michelle Obama ranked the world’s most powerful woman in Forbes magazine’s 2010 listing published on October 6.
Kraft Foods CEO Irene Rosenfeld.second . American talk show host Oprah Winfrey was third. German Prime Minister Angela Merkel was the fourth most powerful woman，
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rounded out (使圆满) the top five.
This year Forbesthe way it ranked women. It is now supposedly
less on wealth and power but more on influence.
“They influenced， sometimes billions of people，” said Moira Forbes， vice president and publisher of Forbes Woman.
Forbes said Obama topped the list this year “she has made the office of first lady her own” while remaining popular.
“She’s also effective： In response to her Let’s Move！campaignchildhood obesity(肥胖)， companies
Coca-Cola， Kellogg and General Mills have agreed to cut the calorie conte
nt of their foods by 2015，” Forbes said.
When I was young， my father used to grow carnations (康乃馨).His carnations were red， pink and white. Everyone who saw them admired them for their beauty.
He took care of them with so much love and 36 . Every day he came home from work， he went straight to see them. He 37 watching them every day. We the kids did too. But he used to tell us， “No one should touch my flowers.”
One day my younger sister， who loved my dad very much， had wanted to help him and she 38 the carnations from their stems (枝干) one by one and arranged them 39 . She believed that he would be very 40 to see them that way.
When mom and I realized what my sister had done， we became completely hopeless. However， my sister had no idea why no one showed her any appreciation. When my dad arrived he went， 41 ， straight 
to see the flowers. When he saw his flowers lying on the floor like dead animals， he was 42 at first. He looked towards the street， to see if it was any of the 43 children who could have done it. Then he entered the living room and looked at mom in silence.
Finally mom， who always taught us to 44 no matter what， looked at dad and said： “We have no bad neighbors in our area”. Then with a nice tone she continued： “No outsider did this great job， only your lovely daughter Clémence.” My dad’s face changed into 45 and then he said： “Do I have a better 46 than my lovely daughter？” My younger sister smiled and 47 dad tightly.
A．devotion B．spirits C．gratitude D．expectation
A．hated B．approved C．enjoyed D．committed
A．divided B．watered C．cut D．cleaned
A．by the window B．in the vase C．on the desk D．on the floor
A．surprised B．pleased C．disappointed D．worried
A．as usual B．at first C．as well D．at last
A．frightened B．relieved C．disappointed D．shocked
A．enemies’ B．friends’ C．families’ D．neighbors’
A．say the truth B．behave ourselves C．follow the rules D．keep secret
A．sadness B．smiles C．anger D．depression
A．kid B．flower C．helper D．gift
A．hugged B．kissed C．grasped D．patted
After six months of living in New Zealand, I realized one thing. Despite my 36 for greater contact with local students, 37 I initiated(开始) the contact, it wouldn’t happen. Local students are not interested in contacts with the international students, because they regard us as shy, 38 and sometimes snobby （势利的） people. Of course we know that’s not true. I want to change their opinions.
After 39 the problem, I put on my “confidence mask” each morning and walked around with a smile on my face. I chatted with people whenever I had the chance. I showed that I was not afraid to 40 them, and that I was worthy of being a friend.
A side-effect of my 41 confidence was that my emotions occasionally broke down Only in the 42 of my room, where no one could see, would I reveal my real emotions. All the rejections, funny looks, and 43 behind my back calling me a weirdo（古怪的人） melted into tears. Once that was done, I would put on my confidence mask once again and start a new day.
It finally worked My name became known throughout the school as I appeared to be 44 and active. Slowly, I discovered that I no longer needed to put on my confidence mask. I had real friends. Instead of dragging myself to school and 45 to be happy, I was truly happy. I could not believe it when I was elected to the student government as Deputy Head boy----the first international student to receive the title.
From my 46in New Zealand, I believe one thing will always be true: If you try your best to reach your goals, you’ll achieve your 47 dreams.
A．desire B．invitation C．devotion D．effort
A．if B．otherwise C．unless D．once
A．energetic B．considerate C．free D．dull
A．getting B．realizing C．solving D．making
A．get up with B．put up with C．open up to D．look forward to
A．accepted B．proved C．elected D．forced
A．public B．privacy C．possession D．protection
A．laughing B．talking C．acting D．walking
A．minded B．talented C．humorous D．enthusiastic
A．looking B．helping C．pretending D．treating
A．experience B．trouble C．travel D．struggle
A．great B．impossible C．hopeful D．reasonable