Immediately I got up and dressed, I stuck my violin under my jacket and went out into the streets to try my . I wandered about for an hour, looking for a likely , feeling as though I were about to commit a crime. Then I at last under a bridge near the station and decided to have a try.
I felt tense and . It was the first time, after all. I drew the violin from under the jacket like a gun. It was here, in Southampton, with trains rattling overhead, that I was about to myself. One moment I was part of the hurrying crowds, the next I stood apart, my back to the wall, my hat on the before me, the violin under my chin.
The first notes I played were loud and raw, like a declaration of protest, then they settled down and began to run more _ and to stay more or less in tune. To my ,I was neither arrested nor told to shut up. Indeed, nobody took any at all. Then an old man, without stopping at all, dropped a penny into my as though getting rid of some guilty evidence.
I worked the streets of Southampton for several days, gradually obtaining the truth of the by trial and error. It was not a good thing, for instance, to let the hat fill up with money---the sight could a kind-hearted man; nor was it wise to it completely, which could also confuse him, giving him no hint as to where to his money. Placing a couple of pennies in the hat to start the thing going soon became a practice and I made sure, between tunes, to take off most of the earnings, but always leaving two behind.
Old were most generous, and so were women with children, shop girls and barmaids. As for men, heavy drinkers were always willing listeners and so were big guys with muscles. But a man with an expensive hat, briefcase or dog: respectable types were the least of all. Except for retired army officers, who would shout "Why aren't you , young man?" and then would over-tip to cover up their confusion.
A．violin B．art C．skill D．luck
A．station B．spot C．street D．bridge
A．played B．wandered C．stopped D．sat
A．nervous B．excited C．lost D．strange
A．shame B．show C．damage D．declare
A．wall B．bridge C．pavement D．road
A．smoothly B．slowly C．angrily D．roughly
A．excitement B．sorrow C．astonishment D．surprise
A．money B．pity C．notice D．rest
A．hat B．pocket C．hand D．bag
A．people B．trade C．performance D．music
A．encourage B．help C．support D．discourage
A．fill B．empty C．tear D．hide
A．make B．get C．drop D．earn
A．modern B．regular C．timely D．economic
A．pennies B．dollars C．pounds D．euros
A．workers B．teachers C．doctors D．ladies
A．never B．often C．always D．sometimes
A．generous B．comfortable C．handsome D．selfish
A．playing B．working C．cheating D．shopping
We all have storms through our lives. But we have no right to make everyone else suffer with our own 31 .
The carpenter I 32 to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a(n) 33 first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his truck 34 to start.
While I drove him home, he sat in stony35 .
On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused 36 at a small tree, 37 tips of the branches with both hands.
When opening the door, he underwent a(n) 38 transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles, and he 39 his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.
The next day my 40 drove me to ask him about what I had seen. “Oh, that’s my trouble tree,” he replied. “I know I can’t 41 having troubles on the job, but the troubles don’t 42 to the house with my family. So I just 43 them up on the tree. Then in the morning I pick them up again.”
“ 44 thing is,” he smiled, “when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren’t nearly as 45 as I remember the night before.”
Putting 46 around our problems is a really good idea --- it prevents our difficulties from spilling over onto loved people, who can’t do anything about our problems. Why47 them if they can’t help us?
So, plant yourself a trouble tree outside and use it 48 you come home. Be grateful that you have loved ones to go home to 49 your loved one is simply your beloved dog. And when you picked up your troubles on the way each morning, be 50 that they’re not as heavy as they were the night before.
A．unhappiness B．mistakes C．helplessness D．carelessness
A．informed B．hired C．trusted D．recommended
A．enjoyable B．smooth C．rough D．dull
A．intended B．desired C．hesitated D．refused
A．amazement B．astonishment C．embarrassment D．silence
A．regularly B．unusually C．briefly D．directly
A．cutting B．damaging C．watching D．touching
A．exciting B．amazing C．confusing D．annoying
A．hugged B．greeted C．thanked D．waved
A．preference B．sufferings C．curiosity D．doubt
A．avoid B．consider C．continue D．stand
A．lack B．belong C．exist D．stay
A．set B．throw C．give D．hang
A．Sad B．Terrible C．Funny D．Ridiculous
A．many B．few C．good D．light
A．defence B．boundaries C．sympathy D．secret
A．burden B．equip C．expose D．entertain
A．however B．whenever C．wherever D．whatever
A．so long as B．now that C．even if D．in case
A．shameful B．proud C．astonished D．grateful
Eye See You
Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others. -- Jonathan Swift
I walked into a wild third-grade classroom. Music was playing _36_, children were under tables applying make-up, kids were throwing a football indoors, and students were _37_ wherever they could find _38_. I was a mid-year _39_. The previous _40_ said he could no longer manage these children and _41_ without notice during the holiday break.
As soon as I walked in the room, I realized why he _42_. I sat down _43_ in my chair and began reading their _44_ softly. After each name, I _45_, asking God to help me understand that child. I then nailed a _46_ to the wall next to the chalkboard and began _47_ my name and a reading assignment on the board. I then asked each child to come to me, and tell me their names and what they wanted to learn. It was a _48_ task, because only two children there wanted to learn something! Rules were _49_, boundaries established, parents contacted. But the mirror saved the day -- no, the year! Unbeknownst(不知的) to the children, the mirror allowed me to see their every _50_ while I was writing on the board. They soon became _51_ as to how I knew who was misbehaving while I was writing on the board. When one student finally asked me, I told him I had a special teacher’s eye in the back of my head that my hair _52_. At first they did not believe me. _53_ they did begin to exhibit better behavior, especially while I wrote on the board, thinking I had magical _54_. I never told them differently. Why _55_ a good thing?
A．softly B．clearly C．loudly D．peacefully
A．speaking B．laughing C．standing D．dancing
A．space B．music C．partner D．joke
A．representative B．replacement C．reference D．reward
A．teacher B．headmaster C．director D．leader
A．retired B．remained C．resigned D．returned
A．went B．came C．left D．disappeared
A．angrily B．restlessly C．indifferently D．quietly
A．names B．faces C．figures D．minds
A．prepared B．prayed C．protected D．preferred
A．board B．mirror C．cross D．picture
A．noting B．copying C．writing D．drawing
A．difficult B．different C．distant D．direct
A．dated B．written C．worked D．set
A．make B．move C．matter D．mind
A．pleased B．puzzled C．known D．worried
A．covered B．hooked C．hung D．displayed
A．So B．However C．And D．But
A．view B．scene C．eyes D．vision
A．mix up B．bring up C．mess up D．burn up
The findings come ___36___ a study of nearly 1,000 US people that looked at diet, calorie intake and body mass index (BMI) - a measure of obesity.___37___ is found that those who ate chocolate a few times a week were, on ___38___, slimmer than those ___39___ ate it occasionally. Even though chocolate is loaded with calories, it contains ingredients（材料）that may favour weight loss ___40___ than fat synthesis, scientists believe.___41___ boosting calorie intake, regular chocolate consumption was related to lower BMI in the study, ___42___ is published in Archives of Internal Medicine. The link remained even when other factors, like how ___43___ exercise individuals did, were taken into ___44___.And it appears it is how often you eat chocolate that is important, rather than how much of it you eat. The ___45___ found no link with quantity consumed.
___46___ to the researchers, there is only one chance in a hundred that their findings could be explained by chance alone. Lead author Dr Beatrice Golomb, from the University of California at San Diego, said: "Our findings appear to add to a body of information suggesting that the composition of calories, not just the number of them, matters for determining their ultimate impact on weight."This is not the first time scientists ___47___ that chocolate may be healthy for us. Other studies have claimed chocolate may be good for the heart. Consumption of certain types of chocolate has been linked to some favourable changes in blood pressure, insulin（胰岛素）sensitivity and cholesterol（胆固醇）level. And chocolate, ___48___ dark chocolate, does contain antioxidants（抗氧化剂）which can help to mop up harmful free radicals - unstable chemicals that can damage our cells.
Dr Golomb and her team believe that antioxidant compounds, called catechins（儿茶素）, can improve lean muscle mass and reduce weight ___49___ studies in rodents would suggest this might be so. Mice ___50___ for 15 days with epicatechin (present in dark chocolate) had improved exercise performance and observable changes to their muscle composition.They say clinical trials are now needed in humans to see ___51___ this is the case.
But before you reach ___52___ a chocolate bar, there are still lots of unanswered questions. And in the absence of conclusive evidence, experts advise caution.While there's no harm in allowing yourself a treat like ___53___ now and again, eating too much might be harmful because it often ___54___ a lot of sugar and fat too.And if you are looking to change your diet, you are ___55___ to benefit most from eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.
A．to B．in C．from D．with
A．As B．It C．Which D．What
A．whole B．average C．general D．short
A．who B．that C．which D．why
A．other B．rather C．less D．more
A．Though B．Even if C．when D．Despite
A．that B．which C．where D．when
A．much B．often C．long D．many
A．thoughts B．mind C．account D．effect
A．news B．report C．study D．book
A．According B．Based C．Reply D．Response
A．had suggested B．suggested C．have suggested D．suggest
A．specially B．particularly C．luckily D．unfortunately
A．at least B．at most C．in fact D．by accident
A．feeding B．fed C．to feed D．feed
A．if B．what C．why D．that
A．out B．for C．with D．into
A．noodles B．chocolate C．rice D．nuts
A．includes B．takes C．absorbs D．contains
A．probable B．possible C．likely D．about
Always Changing
Mark is leaving, and I’m feeling kind of sad.
You probably don’t know Mark, but you might be lucky enough 36 someone just like him. He’s been the heart and soul of the office for a couple of years combining 37 professional skills with a sweet and gentle nature.
And now he’s moving on to an exciting new professional 38 . It sounds like it could be the chance of a lifetime, and we’re 39 for him. But that doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye to him.
Life has a way of throwing these curve(曲线)balls 40 us. Just when we start to get comfortable with a person, a place or a situation, something comes along to 41 the recipe.
Our ability to cope with change 42 to a great degree, our peace, happiness and contentment in life.
But how do we do that? A friend of mine is fond of reminding us that“survivability depends upon 43 .”And then there’s Chris the California surf-rat, who once told me that the answer to life’s problems can be 44 in four words:“Go with the flow.”
I’m not exactly sure , but I think Chris was saying that life is a series of 45 —both good and bad . No matter how excellent your skill , there will always be life-influencing factors over which you have no 46 . The truly successful person expects the unexpected, and is prepared to 47 adjustments should the need arise-as it almost 48 does.
That doesn't mean you don't keep trying to make all your 49 come true．It just means that when things come up that aren't 50 in your plan，you work around them—and then you move on。
“Change，indeed，is painful， 51 ever needful，”said philosopher Thomas Carlyle．“And if memory has its force and worth，so also has 52 .”
we're going to miss Mark. But rather than stay on the 53 of our parting，we'll focus on our hopes for a brighter future－for him，and for us．And then we'll go out and 54
everything we can to make that future happen．55 our plans change--again.
A．know B．greet C．imagine D．recognize
A．extra B．good C．correct D．precise
A．agreement B．destination C．experience D．opportunity
A．pleased B．pity C．anxious D．curious
A．on B．with C．at D．in
A．provide B．use C．change D．try
A．produce B．determine C．protect D．preserve
A．habit B．communication C．belief D．adaptability
A．summed up B．held up C．made up D．put up
A．accidents B．records C．events D．problems
A．difference B．control C．power D．trouble
A．take B．have C．get D．make
A．always B．never C．already D．seldom
A．decisions B．promises C．dreams D．solutions
A．eventually B．exactly C．immediately D．surprisingly
A．yet B．also C．even D．still
A．future B．parting C．attempt D．hope
A．complaint B．attention C．sadness D．sympathy
A．do B．demand C．face D．seize
A．Until B．Before C．If D．After
Butterfly’s wings
One day a small opening appeared on a cocoon（茧）, a man sat and watched for the butterfly for several hours as it was struggling to __36__ its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten __37__ it could and it could go no further. So the man decided to __38__ the butterfly: he took a pair of scissors and __39__ the remaining part of the cocoon. The butterfly then __40__ easily.
But it has a swollen（肿胀的）body and __41__ wings. The man continued to __42__ the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the __43__ would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would __44__ the time span(跨度). Neither happened! __45__, the butterfly spent the rest of its life __46__ around with a swollen body and small, shriveled（褶皱的）wings. It __47__ was able to fly. What the man did in his __48__ and haste（匆忙）did no good to the butterfly. He didn’t know the __49__ cocoon and the struggle __50__ for the butterfly to get through the tiny __51__ were the natural way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings __52__ it would be ready for flight once it achieved its __53__ from the cocoon.
Sometimes the __54__ is exactly what we need in our life. If we are allowed to go through our life without any __55__, it would not be a good thing to us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.
A．build B．force C．form D．destroy
A．as far as B．as long as C．as soon as D．as quick as
A．seize B．leave C．bring D．help
A．took off B．made up C．cut off D．picked up
A．spread over B．came out C．stayed in D．flew away
A．hard B．strong C．small D．large
A．watch B．look for C．look after D．follow
A．butterfly B．wings C．cocoon D．scissors
A．disappear B．enlarge C．lose D．shorten
A．Luckily B．Probably C．In all D．In fact
A．crawling B．approaching C．running D．wandering
A．ever B．seldom C．always D．never
A．fear B．kindness C．evil D．confidence
A．restricting B．loose C．soft D．little
A．prepared B．wanted C．allowed D．required
A．place B．room C．opening D．space
A．even if B．otherwise C．when D．so that
A．life B．course C．progress D．freedom
A．courage B．struggle C．wisdom D．strength
A．fun B．friends C．difficulty D．achievement