I firmly believe in the power of forgiveness and I have got a lot of pleasure from it.
Last year, I was at the traffic lights on my way to work when my car was hit from behind. After , a flustered (惊慌失措的) young man admitted it was his and apologized to me again and again. After that, he why he had not been “in the moment” while driving. He told me that his had just run out and promised to pay for the damage to my car later. I could his real stress, and as he gave me his details and promised to find a way to pay, I tried to him and told him not to worry too much.
When I got to work, my urged me to contact my insurance（保险） company and chase the young man for compensatory（赔款） payment immediately，as I wasn’t with him and knew nothing about his work or family. The same thing happened when I told my sister what had happened and she firmly told me not to let him get away it. She knew that I only had a small amount of money in the bank and was that I would not chase the young man for payment.
With everyone pressuring me to ask for payment, I was unsure about what to do. I finally decided to a small second-hand car. After about four months, it was coming up to Christmas and I started to think about how this young man might be feeling, waiting for me to “sting ” him, so I finally made a and sent him this note:
“ Hi Joe,
A few months ago you the back of my car. I have managed to pick another car, so I have been able to get around. I want to let you know that I am not going to _ any payment from you. If in future you could help else out, that would be great.”
After sending it, I felt that a great weight had finally been lifted from my shoulders. It wasn’t until then that I _ _the act of _ could make one feel happier.
A．playing B．waiting C．hearing D．watching
A．coming over B．pulling over C．going over D．taking over
A．fault B．mistake C．shortcoming D．error
A．determined B．repeated C．admitted D．explained
A．strength B．resource C．oil D．money
A．sense B．touch C．feel D．smell
A．believe B．comfort C．criticize D．guide
A．neighbors B．families C．colleagues D．schoolmates
A．content B．disappointed C．concerned D．familiar
A．with B．from C．of D．off
A．worried B．interested C．thrilled D．embarrassed
A．place B．buy C．repair D．book
A．quiet B．puzzling C．nervous D．frightened
A．contract B．promise C．document D．decision
A．destroyed B．touched C．beat D．hit
A．off B．up C．out D．on
A．find B．seek C．receive D．keep
A．somebody B．nobody C．anybody D．everybody
A．recognized B．realized C．learned D．hoped
A．giving B．warning C．forgiving D．appreciating
I break off a piece of candy and take pleasure in its sweet outside and the bitter, dark chocolate inside, thinking of my own life. Being raised by a single parent was a bitter-sweet 36 , which gave me motivation and ambition.
There were several years that have left a(n)37 bitter taste in my mouth —those when my mother married a man and moved my sister, Emily, and me several states away from our hometown. The first few months were38 : baseball games, family trips to the mall, dinners and movies together. Then things changed. Baseball became too expensive, and trips to the mall were39 by days Emily and I spent isolated (孤立的) in our rooms under our stepfather’s 40 . Moreover, screaming matches between him and our mother always 41 dinner. We spent five years living in a family that had42 a war zone. Emily and I almost grew used to this situation . Then one evening, after another argument had erupted , we left home. I was 14, my sister 11, and we were43 .A friend of my mother let us stay with her.
Instead of focusing on our economic instability, my mother selflessly pushed me to struggle for success. She wanted me to lead a more44 life than hers. She worked long hours every night to pay her bills. 45 , she would find time to read and play with Emily and me. Mom taught me the46 of perseverance (坚持不懈) and education. We finally settled in Texas. And now, writing this essay with my favorite candy close at hand, I realize my family and I are at the best points of our lives. I haven’t let the trying times stop me from making47 , both academically and personally. I know that a bitter environment can provide good learning experiences, and that success, even more than candy, is the sweetest treat of all.
A．behavior B．habit C．activity D．experience
A．hardly B．extremely C．potentially D．Gently
A．sweet B．bitter C．boring D．terrible
A．concerned B．associated C．accompanied D．replaced
A．sympathy B．reminder C．orders D．requests
A．separated B．interrupted C．harmed D．Adjusted
A．turned into B．turned up C．turned down D．turned on
A．homeless B．lucky C．educated D．wealthy
A．interesting B．comfortable C．simple D．typical
A．Instead B．Otherwise C．Meanwhile D．Therefore
A．value B．cost C．price D．theme
A．emotions B．expectations C．fortunes D．achievements
A businessman had been on a long flight between meetings. After a while, a calm voice said, “We shall not be serving the drinks at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence(漩涡). Please be 1 your seat belt is fastened.”
As the businessman looked around in the aircraft, it became obvious that many passengers were becoming a bit 2 . Later, the voice said, “We are so sorry that we are unable 3 the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us.”
Lightning 4 the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a _ 5 moving around on an ocean. One moment the airplane was 6 on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash. All the passengers were upset and scared. Some were praying. The future seemed terrible and many were wondering if they would 7 it through the storm.
Then, he suddenly saw a little girl. Obviously the storm meant 8 to her. She was reading a book and everything within her small world was 9 and orderly. Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would 10 again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her 11 . All the adults were scared half to __12___, but the great child wasn’t afraid at all.
The businessman could hardly believe his eyes. When the plane finally 13 its destination, he asked why she had not been afraid. The child replied, “Because my Daddy’s the pilot, and he’s flying the plane to take me home.”
There are many kinds of storms that 14 us physically, mentally and financially. And many storms can easily and quickly darken our skies and 15 out planes into uncontrollable movement.
Let us remember: Our Father is the pilot. He is in control and taking us home. So don’t worry!
A．quick B．sure C．true D．worried
A．excited B．curious C．happy D．nervous
A．to serve B．to take C．to finish D．to produce
A．broke out B．lit up C．came across D．gave off
A．bird B．boat C．plane D．person
A．lifted B．squeezed C．knocked D．dropped
A．make B．get C．carry D．finish
A．something B．anything C．everything D．nothing
A．funny B．easy C．moving D．calm
A．lie B．read C．play D．smile
A．book B．world C．story D．body
A．death B．cry C．smile D．madness
A．came B．arrived C．got D．reached
A．wound B．warn C．trouble D．kill
A．reduce B．throw C．make D．destroy
The house next door had been empty for so long that we had quite forgotten what it was to have neighbors. One day, __36__, a great furniture lorry drew up near our front gate and a short time, all kinds of furniture were __37__ on the pavement. A small car arrived, out of which came seven people , a man a woman and five children of __38__ ages. The children rushed out and began laughing__39__ as the whole family moved into the house. Windows were __40__ open; furniture was put into__41__; and little faces looked curiously at us over the fence and disappeared. It was our first__42__ to the Robinsons.
Though we became firm__43__ with our neighbors, we often had causes to be made angry by them. Our garden became an unsafe place: little boys __44__up as cowboys or Indians would jump up from somewhere, __45__wooden guns at us and __46__ us to put up our hands. Sometimes our lives were __47__; at others, we were killed with a __48__ “Bang, Bang!”. Even more dangerous were the arrows that occasionally came sailing __49__ the garden fence.
But we did not __50__ go in fear for our lives. The Robinsons were friendly and helpful and when we left for our holidays, we knew we had nothing to fear __51__our neighbors were around. We understood what it was like to have __52__ in the long, dull winter evening __53__ Mr Robinson would __54__ in for a cup of tea and chat; or when Mr. Robinson would __55__ over the fence and talk endlessly with father about gardening problems.
A．so B．but C．however D．therefore
A．unloaded B．loaded C．moved D．bought
A．the same B．various C．same D．young
A．delightedly B．angrily C．sadly D．friendly
A．forced B．broken C．kicked D．pushed
A．interview B．introduction C．arrangement D．management
A．strangers B．enemies C．friends D．relatives
A．pretending B．looking C．dressing D．making
A．put B．take C．throw D．point
A．lead B．order C．ask D．make
A．wasted B．saved C．devoted D．spared
A．fast B．soft C．sharp D．slow
A．in B．on C．over D．under
A．always B．often C．even D．then
A．though B．unless C．so long as D．even if
A．cheers B．fun C．discussion D．company
A．as B．when C．while D．since
A．drop B．jump C．slip D．break
A．fall B．swim C．lean D．lie
The old woman was wandering in the shop. She was ____36 ___; her clothes were torn; she gave off a strong _____37____ of alcohol (酒精) and cigarettes; most of her teeth were ______38__. The image of a miserable person(可怜人) _____39____ before me.
She stopped and asked me for_____40_____. I gave her some change and invited her to lunch. She ______41____, so we went across the street to an outdoor cafe. The waitress was _____42____ by the presence of this woman and didn't want to serve us, but _____43____ herself. The old woman had the lunch so _____44____ that the food disappeared almost as soon as it arrived.
When we were ready to leave, I was feeling pretty _____45____ about myself and then she asked for a _____46____. It was then that I had to face all the _____47____ bias (偏见) I had for this woman. I gave her a passing type of hug (应付差事的拥抱), ______48___ I immediately felt shame. She ______49___ me for lunch and began to leave.
I stood there for a moment and _____50____ I had failed to give this woman the one thing that ____51_____ nothing —love. I caught up with her and asked if I could give her a _____52____ hug and she agreed. I got past the strong smell and gave her the best hug I've ever given to _____53___ .Now I saw a big smile on her face and it lit my path as we ____54____.
The lesson I learned was that if you're going to _____55___, then give it your all and get it right the first time.
A．brave B．shy C．attractive D．dirty
A．sense B．skill C．smell D．message
A．staying B．missing C．growing D．shaking
A．appeared B．fell C．changed D．existed
A．advice B．gifts C．greetings D．money
A．doubted B．agreed C．escaped D．refused
A．moved B．questioned C．shocked D．frightened
A．allowed B．forced C．warned D．admired
A．quickly B．hardly C．freely D．easily
A．funny B．cold C．strange D．good
A．cigarette B．hug C．coffee D．smile
A．serious B．mentioned C．false D．hidden
A．but B．so C．though D．because
A．praised B．paid C．thanked D．returned
A．realized B．dreamt C．forgot D．wondered
A．cost B．lost C．deserved D．earned
A．friendly B．real C．special D．popular
A．myself B．her C．anyone D．nobody
A．separated B．met C．rested D．stood
A．take B．experience C．charge D．give
Several years ago, we moved into the apartment where we live now. When my friends helped me move in, the downstairs neighbors began to 36 about the noise. I could do 37 about it. After all, noises are unavoidable(不可避免的).How can anyone move in 38 .
Still 39 ,the complaints continued on a daily basis—well after the first day. We walked “too loudly”down the stairs, we laughed too often, we opened and closed the door too many times…They had many 40 to complain.
Nobody can stand the endless complaints and quarrels. I soon learned that they had 41 the last few families who lived above them by the same way. So I had the information I needed and I tried to 42 every situation carefully.
I tried to walk in 43 to avoid any possible noises. Whenever they called 44 came to the door with a complaint, no matter how unreasonable, I simply listened. From their confused expressions, I could imagine that they had never expected to get a 45 attitude from me.
Of course, it was hard to keep calm but my sister and I 46 . I told my sister that we were going to be pleasant and 47 them to change their attitude to neighbors. I explained to her that they probably felt 48 in their lives because they are common people. 49 , they were always looking for a 50 to show their power so that nobody could look down upon them. I continued smiling and greeting them as I saw them, much to their 51 .On more than one occasion(不止一次), I ended up 52 them. They thanked me before they left.
Unexpectedly, the next time I saw them, they all smiled and 53 friendly. We had a short but pleasant 54 . Ever since then, they’ve been very pleasant neighbors, and we’ve become good 55 .
A．worry B．talk C．care D．complain
A．everything B．nothing C．something D．anything
A．quietly B．quickly C．suddenly D．slowly
A．angrier B．less C．better D．worse
A．purposes B．times C．reasons D．persons
A．come across B．driven off C．knocked into D．taken in
A．treat B．allow C．keep D．accept
A．fashion B．trouble C．doubt D．peace
A．but B．so C．or D．as
A．funny B．positive C．gentle D．satisfying
A．continued B．decided C．began D．stopped
A．order B．ask C．forbid D．encourage
A．stupid B．powerless C．unfortunate D．dangerous
A．Besides B．Therefore C．Otherwise D．However
A．task B．chance C．challenge D．job
A．surprise B．worry C．taste D．expect
A．frustrating B．annoying C．helping D．joining
A．sounded B．felt C．phoned D．looked
A．discussion B．quarrel C．conversation D．journey
A．friends B．workmates C．partners D．classmates