It’s a sad and familiar voice that we often hear in big cities: “Can you spare some change?”
Usually, when faced with that particular , I have feelings of guilt if I pass by giving a coin or two.
I had that feeling in Venice while on a tour of Italy’s famous sites in 2006. I had taken refuge from the in a quiet café. Outside, there was an old woman kneeling on the hard, ancient paving stones, .
Steady of tourists were walking past her. A young backpacker stood away from the crowd, drinking in the vistas（景观、景色）, but I noticed the young traveler was also the old woman.
A tourist group walked along the street, the woman and walked on. group of tourists arrived and walked past the old lady. The backpacker watched everybody else went on their way, focused on the around them. Then, I was preparing to leave when I caught sight of the backpacker stepping forward and some money in the woman’s cup. He did this somewhat just before the arrival of another tourist group. As I , the leader of the group stopped and put some money in the cup. Having been shown the way, other tourists followed suit and some more coins to the cup.
His work done, the young man walked over to the old beggar-woman, patted her on the shoulder and said, “I hope that a little.”
I don’t know if the woman understood his English or what had just happened, but I did.
I placed some money in the woman’s cup and continued my travels, after witnessing such a act of kindness.
A．sound B．question C．excuse D．command
A．beyond B．after C．without D．before
A．many times B．some times C．only once D．once again
A．crowds B．families C．streets D．signs
A．singing B．crying C．begging D．trembling
A．streams B．packs C．masses D．groups
A．simply B．seemingly C．similarly D．specially
A．showing B．following C．checking D．observing
A．glanced at B．laughed at C．rushed at D．stared at
A．One B．More C．Another D．Other
A．if B．since C．because D．as
A．stones B．sights C．signs D．tourists
A．lending B．borrowing C．placing D．taking
A．accidentally B．successfully C．purposefully D．cheerfully
A．watched B．shown C．understood D．walked
A．changed B．charged C．found D．added
A．measures B．helps C．explains D．matters
A．recognized B．caught C．realized D．figured
A．pleasant B．annoyed C．disappointed D．light-hearted
A．beautiful B．smart C．pure D．happy
Recently, researchers in the US have carried out a study on laughing, one of the most natural characteristics of human behavior.
Jo-Anne Bachorowsky, a psychology professor at Vandebilt University,36 a team of researchers who 37 a total of 11 short videos to 97 young adult volunteers in the US. They found that the participants produced a 38 of sounds when they laughed,39 grunts(呼噜声) and snorts(哼声).
The researchers found that some of the 40 were dependent 41 gender(性别). Men laughed with grunts and snorts more often than women, 42 women’s 43 was more song-like.
They also found that people’s laughter could change, 44 who they were with at the time. Whether they were with a man or a woman and 45 person was a friend or a 46 both played a part in laughter.
The researchers found that women’s laughter was very high with a 47 pitch(音高) when they were with male strangers. And women taking 48 in the study laughed more often when they were with a male friend than when they were with a(n)49 friend or a male stranger. But men laughed more freely with friends of either sex than with strangers of either sex.
Scientists believe that the 50 consumed in laughing 100 times is 51 to 15 minutes on an exercise bike. Another52 of laughter is53 it improves our mental health. Laughter reduces our levels of stress. It also helps us 54 serious illness.
55 ,we think laughter can make us feel good.
A．got B．led C．undertook D．worked
A．returned B．provided C．showed D．read
A．part B．case C．bit D．range
A．including B．containing C．having D．possessing
A．ways B．differences C．studies D．columns
A．on B．of C．with D．from
A．that B．when C．while D．how
A．cry B．sound C．voice D．laughter
A．depending on B．to depend on C．depend on D．depended on
A．other B．the other C．another D．others
A．passers-by B．relative C．stranger D．teacher
A．same B．similar C．various D．changeable
A．action B．part C．exercise D．duty
A．male B．young C．old D．female
A．food B．energy C．pressure D．memory
A．short B．easy C．equal D．good
A．way B．content C．intention D．benefit
A．why B．that C．how D．because
A．fight B．remove C．break D．deal
A．All along B．All the same C．In summary D．After all
Mr. Flower was well-known around for growing the best flowers of the year and his four glass-houses were taken good care of. These glass-houses were close to a public path, which was always used ___36__ children and young people walking to and from __37__. Boys of about thirteen years of age, especially, were often tempted（尝试） to throw a stone or two at one of Mr. Flower’s __38_ . They managed to resist the temptation(抵制诱惑) when Mr. Flower was around, but the temptation often seemed to be too __39__ when Mr. Flower was __40__ to be seen. For this reason, Mr. Flower did his best to be __41__ his glass-houses at the beginning and end of the school days.
However, it was not always possible for him to be on guard at these times. Mr. Flower had tried __42__ to prevent the damage to his glass; but nothing that he had done had been__43__. He had been to the school to complain(抱怨) to the headmaster, but this had not done any__44__. He had hidden in the bushes（灌木丛）and __45__ those boys that threw stones __46__ his garden, but the boys could run __47__ faster than he, and they even __48__ at him at a distance. He had even walked along the path and picked up all those __49__ that he could find so that the boys would have nothing to __50__, but they soon found others, or threw lumps of earth instead.
Then just as he had given __51__ hope of winning the battle, a truly wonderful __52_ came up to him. He set up a large notice board made of good strong wood, some meters away from the glass-houses __53__ it could be clearly seen from the path. On the board he painted the __54__ : DO NOT THROW AT THIS NOTICE. After this, Mr. Flower had no __55__ . The boys were much more tempted to throw stones at the notice board than at the glass-houses.
A．to B．by C．of D．with
A．factory B．office C．school D．work
A．bed-rooms B．living-room C．reading-room D．glass-houses
A．strong B．weak C．limited D．strange
A．impossible B．unable C．possible D．somewhere
A．far away from B．in or close to C．into or out of D．at or out
A．in no way B．in a way C．in the way D．in many ways
A．successful B．cheerful C．wonderful D．careful
A．harm B．wrong C．good D．wonder
A．watched B．walked to C．waited for D．run after
A．towards B．over C．out of D．into
A．many B．much C．more D．lots of
A．laughed B．looked C．called D．surprised
A．earth B．sticks C．stones D．branches
A．pick up B．catch C．play with D．throw
A．in B．off C．out D．up
A．idea B．friend C．guest D．word
A．where B．there where C．on which D．there
A．announcement B．words C．sentences D．message
A．peaceful times B．further trouble C．more happiness D．questions
There was once a boy called Mario who loved to have loads of friends. He always 31 off how many friends he had at school. One day his grandfather said to him, “Mario, I 32 you a big bag of popcorn that you don’t have as many friends as you think. I’m sure many of them are nothing more than companions.”
Mario 33 the bet without hesitation. However, he wasn’t sure how to test 34 his schoolmates were real friends or not, so he asked his grandfather. The old man answered, “Wait a minute.” Then the old man left, 35 soon as though carrying something in his hands, but Mario could see 36 there.
“Take it. It’s a very special chair because it’s invisible (看不见). It’s rather 37 to sit on it, but if you take it to school and 38 to sit on it, you’ll activate (激活)its magic and you’ll be able to 39 who your real friends are. ”
Mario, brave and determined, took the 40 and set off for school. At break time he asked everyone to form a(n) 41 , and he put himself in the middle, with his chair. Having difficulty seeing it, Mario tried to sit on it and 42 straight onto his backside. Everyone around him had a pretty good laugh.
“Wait！Let me try again,” Mario said. But again, he missed the seat, 43 more surprised looks and a few catcalls (尖叫，喝倒彩). Mario didn’t 44 and kept trying to sit on the magic chair. But he kept falling onto the ground…until，45 he tried again but didn’t fall. Looking around, Mario saw three of his best friends 46 him up. Meanwhile, many others he had 47 as friends had done nothing but make 48 of him.
And there, the show 49 to an end. Mario understood that true friends were those who 50 for him, and not just the companions that happened to be passing by. And someone who took joy in his misfortunes (不幸) was even less of a friend.
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Nowadays, any traveler might be treated as a terrorist(恐怖分子) by the immigration(入境) officers in the USA.We returned from Iraq and landed safely. My heart 16 when I was asked to the back room by the immigration officer. My 17, with his very American last name, had no trouble at all. In fact, I am 18 American born and raised, but they weren’t quite ready to let me in yet. The only reason was 19 they thought my name looked like the one of 20 who’s on their wanted list(通缉令) and I had to wait till they checked me out 21 Washington.
Time passed 22. One hour, one hour and a half…I could not wait any longer and 23 my cellphone out to call the friend I had planned to meet that evening. An officer 24 over. “No Phone!” he said, “For all we know you could be calling terrorists and giving them 25.”
Oh, my! I was just a university professor. I had no 26 but to put my phone away. My husband and I were getting hungry and 27. I wanted to cry, to 28 onto a chair and shout: “I am but an American professor!”
After two hours in the back room, without explanation and 29, I was allowed to go after he gave me a piece of paper with a(n) 30 on it and told me I could write to the department if I wasn’t 31 with the treatment. He also 32 that nothing could stop it from happening again.
I shared my experience with my friends and the 33 was I should change my name. But name is personal, like the town you were born in.
Even though I had a troublesome experience at the airport, which made me realize being American could ever be so 34, like my father, I’ll keep the 35.
A．ached B．beat C．sank D．rose
A．son B．daughter C．friend D．husband
A．still B．also C．already D．never
A．that B．because C．why D．whether
A．everyone B．anyone C．someone D．all
A．with B．to C．through D．of
A．quickly B．carefully C．dangerously D．slowly
A．put B．pulled C．used D．caught
A．went B．came C．cried D．rushed
A．news B．truth C．information D．reply
A．response B．voice C．choice D．face
A．silent B．tired C．comfortable D．clear
A．sit B．run C．jump D．lie
A．expressions B．words C．thanks D．apologies
A．address B．name C．number D．map
A．sad B．disappointed C．happy D．angry
A．added B．spoke C．talked D．argued
A．advice B．result C．way D．agreement
A．easy B．long C．hard D．high
A．experience B．name C．story D．passport
friend of mine met with an accident driving in darkness. His legs were so hurt that he couldn’t move. What was the36 was he found himself unable to ask for help — his mobile phone went out of 37 as a result of exhausted (用尽的)battery. Nothing could be done but to 38in cold wilderness. It was 8 hours later that day broke, and then the 39 of the rescue.
It is almost 40 that he could stand the horror in the darkness for so long. Even more surprising was his 41 : "First of all I checked up my 42 conditions and found myself not in mortal （致命的）danger. As there was no 43 to call for help ,I leaned back in my seat trying my best to keep the wound from44 .In this way I dozed （打盹）off ."
His story put an end to my regret for the 45 of an exploration adventure that happened last year. A group of young men46 to explore a mountain cave and got lost . 47 to find a way out in the dark cave they were frightened and ran anxiously without a sense of48 .Finally they fell dead in fear and exhaustion（筋疲力尽）.According to the 49 people that found them, the place where they got lost was only about 10 meters away from the 50 of the cave. If they stayed on the spot when they lost their way and tried to 51 themselves, they would probably sense a faint light glimmering （闪烁）not far away .
Don’t you think that you can compare it with 52 itself? When you meet with obstacles （障碍）in life and work ,you are lost in darkness. 53 you it’s unclear yet and you needn’t put up struggle 54 . It seems to be a negative （消极的）attitude, 55a person who can afford to do so must have foresight as well as a great courage in the first place
A．hopeless B．worst C．more D．best
A．service B．way C．order D．Work
A．cry B．lie C．wait D．Sleep
A．delay B．success C．team D．Arrival
A．untrue B．unimaginable C．true D．Useless
A．plan B．decision C．explanation D．Excuse
A．physical B．mental C．working D．Medical
A．method B．way C．tools D．Strength
A．rotting B．spreading C．hurting D．Bleeding
A．loss B．failure C．disappointment D．Sadness
A．had B．managed C．tried D．Planned
A．Willing B．Unable C．Determined D．Deciding
A．hearing B．sight C．feeling D．Direction
A．rescue B．village C．local D．Brave
A．end B．top C．opening D．Side
A．save B．help C．stop D．Calm
A．adventure B．work C．life D．Mankind
A．Mind B．Watch C．Imagine D．Warn
A．really B．immediately C．carefully D．Hopefully
A．and B．so C．but D．while