When I was fifteen, I announced to my English class that I was going to write my own books. Half the students smiled , and even worse, the rest nearly fell out of their chairs laughing. “Don’t be . Only geniuses can become writers.” the English teacher said, “And you are getting a D this term.” I was so that I burst into tears. That night I wrote a short poem about broken dreams and mailed it to the newspaper. To my , they published it and sent me two dollars. I was a published and paid writer. I showed my teacher and fellow students. They laughed, “Just plain dumb luck,” the teacher said. I tasted ; I’d sold the first thing I’d ever written. That was more than any of them had done and if it was just dumb luck, that was fine with me.
During the next two years, I sold dozens of poems and letters. By the time I graduated from high school, I had scrapbooks (剪贴簿) with my published works. I never my writing to my teachers, friends or my family again because they were dream .
I had four children at the time. While the children slept, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote what I felt. It took nine months. I chose a and mailed it. A month later I received a contract, an advance on payments, and a request to start another book. Crying Wind, which became a best seller, was translated into fifteen languages and sold worldwide. My first book also became required in native American schools in Canada.
In the year I ever had as a writer I earned two dollars. In my best year I earned 36,000 dollars. People ask what college I , what degrees I have and what qualifications I have to be a writer. The answer is: “None.” I just write. I’m not a genius. I use an electric typewriter that I paid a hundred and twenty nine dollars for six years ago. I do all the housework and fit my writing in a few minutes here and there. I’ve written eight books. To all those who dream of writing, I’m shouting at you: “Yes, you can. Don’t listen to them.” I don’t write right but I’ve succeeded. Writing is ; it’s fun and anyone can do it. Of course, a little dumb luck doesn’t hurt.
A.unkindly B.happily C.willingly D.crazily
A.curious B.depressed C.excited D.silly
A.unlucky B.ashamed C.moved D.unconfident
A.sad B.innocent C.disappointing D.puzzling
A.puzzlement B.expectation C.astonishment D.disappointment
A.coldness B.failure C.success D.prejudice
A.furnished B.linked C.combined D.filled
A.remembered B.concluded C.described D.mentioned
A.killers B.makers C.designers D.creators
A.writer B.reporter C.publisher D.manager
A.working on B.going on C.turning on D.putting on
A.writing B.reading C.selling D.buying
A.busiest B.unluckiest C.worst D.highest
A.worked B.attended C.admitted D.participated
A.easy B.hard C.convenient D.practical
There at a secondhand clothing store in Northampton Mass, my l4-year-old son, John, and I noticed the coat. While the other coats drooped (低垂), this one looked as if it were 41 itself up. The coat was beautifully made, with a Fifth Avenue label and an42 price of $28, which was popular just then with 43 , but could cost several hundred dollars new. John tried it on and the44 was perfect.
John45 the coat to school the next day and came home with a big smile. “Did the kids like your coat?” I asked. “They loved it,” he said, 46 folding it over the back of a chair and smoothing it flat. Over the next few weeks, a 47came over John. Agreement replaced contrariness (作对) and 48 discussion replaced fierce argument. He became more mannerly and49 , eager to please. He would generously lend his younger brother his tapes and lecture him 50 his behavior. When I mentioned this 51 to his teacher and wondered what caused the changes, she said laughing. “It 52 be his coat!” Another teacher told him she was giving him a good mark not only because he had earned 53 but because she liked his coat. At the library, we ran 54 a friend. “Could this be John?” he asked surprisingly, 55 John’s new height, appreciating the cut of his coat and holding out his hand, one gentleman to another.
John and I both know we should never 56 a person’s clothes for the real person within them. 57 , there is something to be said for wearing a standard of excellence for the world to see and for 58 what is on the inside with what is on the outside.
For John, it is a time when it is as easy to try on different59 to life as it is to try on a coat. The whole world, the whole future is stretched out ahead, a vast landscape 60 all the doors are open. And he could picture himself walking through those doors wearing his wonderful, magical coat.
A.turning B.holding C.showing D.hanging
A.unreasonable B.unbearable C.unbelievable D.unfair
A.teenagers B.adults C.women D.men
A.color B.price C.style D.fit
A.sent B.carried C.brought D.wore
A.casually B.comfortably C.carefully D.quickly
A.happiness B.change C.smile D.matter
A.reasoned B.heated C.wild D.strong
A.considerate B.handsome C.hopeful D.curious
A.of B.on C.in D.at
A.incident B.accident C.affair D.event
A.can B.must C.will D.should
A.this B.them C.it D.one
A.down B.with C.into D.after
A.looking up at B.looking down on C.putting up with D.coming up with
A.change B.mistake C.trade D.turn
A.However B.Moreover C.Therefore D.Besides
A.attaching B.joining C.relating D.matching
A.mean B.methods C.approaches D.measures
A.where B.why C.how D.when
A couple of years ago, I went to a lady’s house to buy some vitamins. Upon entering the house, I 36 that there was an electronic keyboard on a stand, leaning 37 the wall. Being a piano music lover and 38 , I asked, if the woman played. She nodded and added that she had been 39 lessons at age 54! I told her that it was very 40 that she was pursuing (追求) her passion(热情)to play the piano.
Then she asked me 41 question. “I have been playing for 8 years now,” I answered.
“Then you must play a song for me before you leave,” she 42 .I thought she was joking and I simply smiled. At the end of the deal of the vitamins, she 43 me of our musical “44 _”. She then showed me to an old upright piano in the living room,45 asked me to play a song for her. I thought46 and decided to play David Lantz’s “Return to the Heart”, since she had so much passion for 47 ,and it was my soul-searching song.
I played the song to the best of my ability, and with my emotions 48 into it as possible. She loved it. 49 I was about to step out of the door, I heard a weak voice calling out, “Young man!”
I turned around. And there was an old lady 50 one little step at a time with the help of another woman. “I wanted to come out to 51 you for the beautiful song that you played. I have been very sick, and it’s very hard for me to 52 my bed, but your music made me feel good ”she said. With that, she turned around and walked 53 back to her room.
I was deeply 54 by her appreciation and felt a deeper understanding for the song. It served its purpose beautifully, returning to one’s 55 for peace and joy.
A.observed B.watched C.noticed D.caught
A.on B.at C.over D.against
A.player B.teacher C.composer D.starter
A.giving B.attending C.teaching D.reviewing
A.interesting B.wonderful C.moved D.impressive
A.another B.a different C.the same D.other
A.advised B.ordered C.demanded D.requested
A.warned B.reminded C.asked D.required
A.course B.task C.discussion D.deal
A.and B.but C.as a result D.what’s more
A.for the moment B.at the moment C.for a moment D.at a moment
A.music B.songs C.the piano D.vitamins
A.dropping B.falling C.pouring D.running
A.Since B.As C.While D.Because
A.taking B.making C.having D.giving
A.thank B.praise C.admire D.owe
A.get on B.get up C.get off D.get down
A.quietly B.calmly C.happily D.slowly
A.shocked B.touched C.delighted D.disturbed
A.world B.heart C.brains D.dreams
Learning to Accept
I learned how to accept life as it is from my father.21_,he did not teach me acceptance when he was strong and healthy,but rather when he was 22 and ill.
My father was23 a strong man who loved being active, but a terrible illness 24 all that away.Now he can no longer walk and he must sit quietly in a chair all day. Even talking is 25 . One night, I went to visit him with my sisters. We started26 about life,and I told them about one of my 27 . I said that we must very often give things up28 we grow—our youth, our beauty, our friends---but it always 29 that after we give something up,we gain something new in its place. Then suddenly my father 30 up. He said, “But, Peter,I gave up31 ! What did I gain?” I thought and thought, but I could not think of anything to say. 32 , he answered his own question: “I 33 the love of my family.” I looked at my sisters and saw tears in their eyes,along with hope and thankfulness.
I was also 34 by his words. After that, when I began to feel irritated(恼怒的)at someone, I 35 remember his words and become36 . If he could replace his great pain with a feeling of love for others, then I should be 37 to give up my small irritations. In this 38 ,I learned the power of acceptance from my father.
Sometimes I39 what other things I could have learned from him if I had listened more carefully when I was a boy. For now, though, I am grateful for this one40 .
A.Afterwards B.Therefore C.However D.Meanwhile
A.tired B.weak C.poor D.slowly
A.already B.still C.only D.once
A.took B.threw C.sent D.put
A.impossible B.difficult C.stressful D.hopeless
A.worrying B.caring C.talking D.asking
A.decisions B.experiences C.ambitions D.beliefs
A.as B.since C.before D.till
A.suggests B.promises C.seems D.requires
A.spoke B.turned C.summed D.opened
A.something B.anything C.nothing D.everything
A.Surprisingly B.Immediately C.Naturally D.Certainly
A.had B.accepted C.gained D.enjoyed
A.touched B.astonished C.attracted D.warned
A.should B.could C.would D.might
A.quiet B.calm C.relaxed D.happy
A.ready B.likely C.free D.able
A.case B.form C.method D.way
A.doubt B.wonder C.know D.guess
A.award B.gift C.lesson D.word
There are many ways to keep kids of all ages physically fit besides sports.
If your child is a natural athlete or ___1____ lover, he or she is probably already active and __2___ easy to get moving. But if, like me, you are the parent of a junior sofa potato, complete with a(n) __3____ controller in one hand and a bag of potato chips in the other, you know what it is like to have your ___4__ to go outside to play met with, at best, silence or at worst, cry and ___5___.
If logic, threats and lectures on health don’t work, turn to __6___: trick him or her into liking by making it into fun. __7____ enjoyment, not pressure or physical fitness or anything that seems to be “good for you”. That is where the dancing and nature walks ___8____. Health experts say that the answer to the question, “Which type of exercise is best for my child?” is “Whichever one he or she likes best.” It doesn’t have to be swimming or soccer or gymnastics. ____9___ play, especially with the rest of the family, will ___10___ the body’s requirements for regular aerobic movement (有氧运动) just well, and won’t ever seem like exercising.
___11____, if nature is an interest, walk vigorously around finding every leaf, insect, and _12___ print in the park. If rock radio is the station of choice, ___13____ to the music. Get the family members playing catch, touch football together. Organize a(n) __14____ science group to walk around your neighborhood and pick your rubbish. Make every trip to the pool an excuse for playing games in the water together.
Remember that the goal is to set a pattern for lifelong fitness. And if you don’t make it _15___, kids are never going to keep it up.
A.music B.art C.sports D.literature
A.presently B.relatively C.eventually D.feasibly
A.air-conditioner B.cooking stove C.electrical-appliance D.video-game
A.advice B.account C.education D.promise
A.protest B.approve C.accuse D.propose
A.treatment B.philosophy C.democracy D.psychology
A.Reduce B.Abandon C.Emphasize D.Response
A.give in B.come in C.result in D.believe in
A.Active B.Fair C.Passive D.Rough
A.grasp B.outline C.explain D.satisfy
A.For example B.By contrast C.In proportion D.At most
A.criminal B.animal C.finger D.color
A.listen B.adjust C.move D.attend
A.military B.environment C.economic D.political
A.enjoyment B.regulation C.strictness D.discipline
My 8-year-old son, Kevin, has made friends with some boys in the neighborhood. He has been 36 with them after school. My wife,Qugen, and I are __37__ he has other kids to be with and we have __38__ and encouraged him to play with his friends. We also want Kevin to learn __39__,so we have asked him to tell us __40__ he's going and to come home at a specified time.
The __41__ started when Kevin didn't come home on time. On one occasion,I asked Kevin to be back at 6 pm. By 6:30,I needed to go __42__ him. I found him at a friend's house,and he looked __43__ that he couldn't continue playing. After we came home,I sat Kevin down for a talk about the __44__ of keeping his word. I told him I was not worried about him arriving a few __45__ late,but after half an hour,I’m going to be 46 . He told me he understood.
The next day,I came home from work at about 6:30 p.m. and Qugen asked me to go and get Kevin __47__ she said he should be back home at 6. I walked to his friend's house and a look of __48__ appeared on Kevin's face when he came to the door.
At __49__,Qugen and I spoke to Kevin about why he didn't come home on time again. He said he just wanted to _ 50__ playing. This was __51__,so Qugen and I decided to ground(罚不准出门)him for a week. This __52_ no playing with his friends.
For the next week,whenever his friends came to ask for Kevin,we let him _53__ to them that he was grounded. We felt this would help him be responsible for his __54__.
As a __55__,I believe one of the most important things we can teach our kids is self-responsibility and that actions have consequences.
A.studying B.playing C.chatting D.quarreling
A.glad B.lucky C.worried D.sure
A.made B.allowed C.trained D.forced
A.amusements B.communication C.honesty D.responsibility
A.when B.why C.where D.whenever
A.changes B.conflicts C.worries D.problems
A.looking for B.picking up C.waiting for D.calling up
A.angry B.nervous C.disappointed D.ashamed
A.quality B.importance C.stories D.ways
A.hours B.minutes C.days D.times
A.satisfied B.shocked C.surprised D.concerned
A.if B.unless C.because D.so
A.guilt B.disappointment C.excitement D.hatred
A.home B.school C.work D.office
A.finish B.keep C.learn D.stop
A.impossible B.impolite C.unacceptable D.unbelievable
A.meant B.suggested C.showed D.implied
A.reply B.apologize C.tell D.explain
A.decisions B.words C.actions D.friends
A.teacher B.parent C.writer D.professor