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
In 1990 a report was published about what the earth might be like 20 years from then on. The report was a result of a three-year 36 .
According to the report, the picture of the earth in the year 2010 is not a 37 one. The world will be more 38 because the population will continue to grow . The population could be 39 6 300 million, almost 2 115 million more than in 1985 .More people would move into cities, especially cities in 40 countries . Cities like Cairo and Jakarta probably would 41 have 15 million by then .
Food production will 42 , but not enough to feed all the people . Farmers will grow 90% more food than they did in 1985, 43 most of the increase would be in countries that
44 produce enough food for their people . Little increase is 45 in South Asia, Africa and the Middle East . Poor farming ways are46 large areas of crop land, changing farms into deserts . More farmland is 47 as cities become larger and more houses are built . 48 will get worse as industrial countries burn more coal and oil .Many of the world’s 49 could disappear as more and more trees are cut down . Energy will continue to be a serious problem . The experts say their picture of the earth for the year 2010 50 . They only carried out the situation that 51 today . By changing the situation, by 52 the problems, the picture can be changed . There is 53 time for the nations of the world to work 54 a plan of action . But they warned that 55 too long to make decisions would greatly reduce the chances of success .
A．learning B．project C．notice D．study
A．pleased B．pleasant C．safe D．blue
A．dangerous B．beautiful C．crowded D．terrible
A．no more than B．as many as C．as much as D．as large as
A．developing B．developed C．big D．mountainous
A．none B．each C．all D．neither
A．insist B．reduce C．increase D．continue
A．so B．but C．or D．however
A．already B．hardly C．partly D．never
A．wanted B．lacked C．founded D．expected
A．destroying B．protecting C．disturbing D．interrupting
A．saved B．lost C．discovered D．used
A．Air pollution B．Water pollution C．Some diseases D．All farmland
A．Animals B．plants C．forests D．people
A．must be true B．will come true C．can’t be true D．may be wrong
A．settling B．working at C．answering D．dealing
A．no B．still C．less D．plenty of
A．about B．in C．out D．for
A．working B．suggesting C．spending D．waiting
Roy died at an old age with many memories. His life was full of both good and bad memories, but he 26 to remember mostly the good. The bad memories that broke his heart and that he 27 with friends, involved the big war－World War II. So many things about his war experience he remembered 28 great detail.
Roy survived the attack on Normandy－he was part of the second wave that landed. He29 with him the memories of water mixed with the blood of fallen soldiers. He experienced30 , sweat, blood, fire and salt water just to get to the beach. In terror-filled moments that would forever change his life and the history of our world, his life was robbed of innocence（天真） 31 the realities of war engulfed（吞噬）him.
Not too many months later, he found himself cold and 32 . Close to being completely33 from air supplies（供给）because of the weather, Roy and his fellows hung on to what little hope they could have. Then Christmas morning came, the weather cleared long enough for supplies to be 34 and word to spread that other troops would soon be there.
Many of the young men who began with Roy did not make it home 35 . They gave their lives to fighting against the Nazi. Those who did survive would never be the same. Many of them were the most patriotic（爱国的）people you would 36 meet, but most of them 37 war. They had experienced it. They knew its final realities－things got blown up while people were killed, and robbed of their beloved ones.
It is Memorial Day in the United States today. We all pray for an end for the world’s need for young men and young women to be placed in harm’s way. We also need to remember those who paid the huge 38 of wars－costs not counted in dollars, but in lost lives, broken hearts, forgotten innocence, broken families, and terrible memories. And as we remember to 39 those who paid this awful price, we also remember in hopes to see an end to war itself.
Please, in their honor, don’t forget their sacrifices（牺牲）. Please, for our world’s sake, don’t forget to pray for 40 .
A．refused B．chose C．promised D．planned
A．shared B．lost C．fought D．valued
A．at B．in C．for D．with
A．took B．got C．brought D．carried
A．fear B．disappointment C．excitement D．courage
A．but B．as C．since D．so
A．sad B．lonely C．wounded D．hungry
A．cut off B．kept away C．left behind D．put down
A．taken B．sent C．dropped D．shipped
A．healthy B．strong C．alive D．safe
A．never B．ever C．already D．yet
A．hated B．liked C．experienced D．missed
A．money B．efforts C．attention D．costs
A．find B．help C．honor D．understand
A．luck B．life C．peace D．happiness
Signs can sometimes be seen at the entrance of a house, expressing that a tramp（流浪汉）has passed. This special sign-language is frequently50 by tramps to inform their 51 whether the host of a certain house is friendly or unfriendly, and to52 them the trouble of making unnecessary calls.
Quite53 one day, I came across a real tramp. He was such a rare sight these days that I stood some distance away and watched him. He was dressed just as a tramp should be in, old worn trousers, and a jacket many sizes too big for him. On his head there was a battered old hat and his boots were so old and worn; they were almost coming into pieces.
But the man himself looked cheerful as if he had not a54 in the world. He rubbed his nose with his forefinger, 55 a funny turn, laid a small parcel 56 the front gate, and began57 a sign made by a former caller. Although the sign was meaningless to me, it must have been 58 , for the tramp’s face lit up with satisfaction. He entered the front gate59 and rang the bell. When the door opened, I saw him raise his hat60 couldn’t hear his words. The61 was very short indeed, for no sooner had he spoken a few words than the door closed fiercely in his face.
I felt62 for him as he walked sadly out of the house. But just as quickly, his face lit up again and he moved quickly towards the gate. There he stopped, looked at the sign, and shook his head seriously as if he had made a bad mistake.63 deeply into his pockets, he produced a piece of chalk, rubbed out the existing sign and made a new one in its place. He stared at it for a moment smiling to himself, then gathered his belongings, pushed back his hat and began walking towards the next house at an unhurried 64 , whistling as he went along.
A．employed B．made C．taken D．put up
A．coaches B．classmates C．fellows D．friends
A．share B．save C．give D．urge
A．in a way B．by mistake C．by the way D．by chance
A．success B．care C．failure D．responsibility
A．gave B．launched C．set D．made
A．by B．to C．in D．behind
A．drawing B．kissing C．correcting D．studying
A．sad B．strange C．funny D．exciting
A．confidently B．innocently C．consequently D．consciously
A．and B．but C．however D．therefore
A．conversation B．introduction C．argument D．greeting
A．happy B．frightened C．capable D．sorry
A．Digging B．Stealing C．Putting D．Looking
A．step B．position C．pace D．situation
I stopped to watch my little girl busy playing in her room. In one hand was a plastic36 ; in the other a toy broom. I listened as she was speaking to her make-believe(假装) little friend and I’ll never forget the words she said, even though it was imagined.
She said, “Suzie’s in the corner because she’s not been very 37 . She didn’t listen to a38 I said or do the things she should.” In the 39 I saw her baby doll all dressed in lace and pink. It was 40 she’d been put to sit alone and 41 .
My daughter 42 her “conversation”, as I sat down on the floor. She said, “I’m all fed up. I just don’t know 43 to do with her any more. She cries whenever I have to work and wants to play games, too. She never 44 me do the things that I just have to do. She tries to help me with the dishes, but her arms just cannot 45 . And she doesn’t know how to fold towels. I don’t have the 46 to teach. I have a lot of work to do and a big house to keep clean. I don’t have the time to sit and play — 47 what I mean?”
And that day I thought a lot about making some 48in my life, as I listened to her words that 49 me like a knife. I hadn’t been paying enough attention to what I hold most 50 . I’d been caught up in responsibilities that increased 51 years.
But now my 52 has changed, because, in my heart, I realize that I’ve seen the world in a different light through my little darling’s eyes. So, let the cobwebs（蜘蛛网） 53 the corners and the dust bunny rabbit rule the floor. I’m not going to worry about keeping up with them 54 .
I’m going to fill the house with 55 of a child and her mother, for we are granted only one childhood, and we will never get another.
A．table B．camera C．hammer D．phone
A．gentle B．happy C．good D．helpful
A．story B．word C．joke D．sentence
A．corner B．bed C．room D．box
A．possible B．clear C．common D．unusual
A．recover B．pretend C．think D．regret
A．continued B．stopped C．repeated D．interrupted
A．what B．whether C．why D．how
A．has B．helps C．makes D．lets
A．reach B．settle C．arrive D．handle
A．ability B．duty C．energy D．reason
A．mind B．see C．feel D．learn
A．influences B．changes C．plans D．troubles
A．cut B．hurt C．broke D．harmed
A．clever B．heavy C．dear D．lovely
A．over B．after C．for D．during
A．purpose B．principle C．destination D．attitude
A．have B．manage C．make D．stop
A．either B．any more C．neither D．anywhere
A．conversations B．messages C．imaginations D．memories
Face adversity(逆境 )with a smile
I told my friend Graham that I often cycle the two miles from my house to the town centre but unfortunately there is a big hill on the route．He 36 , "You mean fortunately." He explained that I should be glad of the 37 exercise that the hill provided.
My 38 to the hill has now changed．I used to 39 as I approached it but now I tell myself the following．This hill will exercise my heart and lungs．It will help me to 40 and get fit．It will mean that I live longer．This hill is my friend． 41 , I have a smile of 42 as I reach the top of the hill.
Problems are there to be faced and 43 ．We cannot achieve anything with a/an 44 life．Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to 45 an University degree．She wrote, "Character cannot be 46 in ease and quiet．Only through 47 of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved."
One of the main 48 of success in life is our attitude towards adversity．At times we all face hardships, problems, accidents and difficulties． 49 we cannot choose the adversity, we can choose our attitude towards it.
Douglas Bader was 21 when in 1931 he had both legs amputated(截肢)following a flying accident．He was 50 to fly again and went on to become one of the leading flying aces．He was a/an 51 to others during the war．He said, "Don't listen to anyone who tells you that you can't do this or that．That's nonsense． 52 your mind, you'll never 53 crutches(拐杖)or a stick, then have a go at everything．Go to school, join in all the games you can．Go 54 you want to．But never, never let them 55 you that things are too difficult or impossible."
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