I grew up poor-living with six brothers, three sisters and my mother. We had little money, but plenty of love and attention. I was and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still a dream.
My dream was . By the time I was sixteen, I could throw a ninety-mile-per- hour baseball and anything that moved on the field. I was also : my high school coach was John, who not only me, but also taught me how to believe in myself. He me the difference between having a dream and showing conviction(信念). One particular incident with coach John changed my life forever.
A friend me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket — money for a new bike, new clothes and the of savings for a house for my mother. Then I realized I would have to up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell John I wouldn’t be playing.
When I told John, he was as as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,”he said,“Your days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.”I stood before him with my head , trying to think of the that would explain to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his in me.
“Well,”he asked,“is $ 3.5 an hour the price of a dream?”
That simple question made to me the difference between something right now and having a goal. I myself in sports that summer and the year I was drafted(选拔) by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and a $ 20,000 contract. Later, I bought my mother the house of my dream!
A．happy B．polite C．shy D．honest
A．bring B．afford C．make D．occupy
A．athletics B．music C．business D．money
A．kick B．play C．pass D．hit
A．right B．popular C．lucky D．confident
A．believed in B．relied on C．called on D．dealt with
A．gave B．taught C．brought D．asked
A．called B．advised C．applied D．recommended
A．aim B．idea C．start D．purpose
A．keep B．end C．give D．pick
A．mad B．excited C．frightened D．shameful
A．living B．playing C．working D．dreaming
A．moving B．nodding C．shaking D．hanging
A．questions B．excuses C．words D．ways
A．belief B．pride C．helplessness D．disappointment
A．direct B．clear C．straight D．bare
A．wanting B．changing C．dreaming D．enjoying
A．devoted B．engaged C．applied D．contributed
A．by B．for C．beyond D．within
A．paid B．found C．offered D．presented
Yesterday afternoon John and I were walking along the road when we heard someone shout. “ _!” He called out several more times __we could find him. He was in the lake, and there was a small boat nearby. At we knew he had fallen from the boat and couldn’t swim ___enough to reach it or to get to shore. As we ran toward the lake I saw him _ , and I was sure that he had drowned. But after a moment his head again.
Quickly John took off his shoes, into the water, and started swimming toward the man. He reached him just as the man was down again. He was enough to stretch out his hand and try to catch of the man’s clothing or his hair before he sank. But the man out his arms, caught John the neck and began to him down under the water. John fought to his head above the water, and at the same time
to swim toward the boat, pulling the man with him.
I also jumped into the water to help, the boat with one hand and swimming with the . The man looked dead, with his heart weakly. We did what we _ to save him. At last we succeeded.
A．Save B．Dangerous C．God D．Help
A．before B．when C．since D．as
A．first B．last C．once D．well
A．quick B．fast C．far D．well
A．sink B．swim C．fall D．float
A．nodded B．missed C．dropped D．appeared
A．jumped B．rushed C．running D．setting
A．dangerous B．drowning C．danger D．drowned
A．falling B．going C．dropping D．getting
A．close B．brave C．strong D．clever
A．something B．out C．the hand D．hold
A．took B．set C．got D．reached
A．on B．with C．around D．by
A．drive B．push C．draw D．make
A．let B．remain C．keep D．have
A．managed B．failed C．tried D．continued
A．got B．swam C．going D．holding
A．side B．boat C．man D．other
A．jumping B．knocking C．beating D．setting
A．had B．could C．might D．would
He was driving home one cold evening on a country road when he saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road. He stopped to give her a ____. “Why don't you wait in the car where it is warm, Madam? It won't take me long.” He said, “____，my name is Joe.”
She had a flat tire. Joe crawled under the car and changed the tire. But he got dirty and his hands hurt. She couldn't thank him ____ and asked him how much she ____ him. He told her that if she really wanted to ____ him back, the next time she saw someone in ____ of help, she could give that person the ____ he needed, and Joe added, “And think of me.”
She drove off with gratefulness. A few miles ____ the road the lady saw a small ____. She went in. The waitress who was nearly eight months pregnant, ____ her with a sweet smile. The old lady ____ how someone like her who seemed so poor could be so genuinely happy and how she could ____ her enthusiasm in her work in such inconvenient conditions. Then Joe's words ____ her. After the lady finished her meal, the waitress went to get her ____ from a hundreddollar bill. ____， the lady stepped right out of the door.
When the waitress came back, she noticed a note on the table, ____ “I'm helping you because someone once helped me. If you really want to pay me back, here is ____ you can do—Do not let the chain of love ____ with you.”
The waitress went home that night with the ____ tip and what the lady had written. With the baby ____ next month, she and her husband needed money. She knew how worried her husband was and as he lay sleeping next to her, she whispered, “Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Joe.”
A．surprise B．hand C．sympathy D．glance
A．Just in case B．As you wish C．For one thing D．By the way
A．enough B．right C．straight D．extra
A．charged B．provided C．owed D．offered
A．pay B．bring C．put D．hold
A．honor B．favor C．need D．possession
A．guidance B．assistance C．acquaintance D．consequence
A．down B．off C．beside D．beyond
A．bank B．grocery C．gas station D．restaurant
A．introduced B．greeted C．identified D．spotted
A．thought B．suspected C．wondered D．questioned
A．taste B．measure C．remain D．maintain
A．struck B．moved C．obtained D．reminded
A．tip B．change C．order D．service
A．Moreover B．Otherwise C．However D．Eventually
A．writing B．showing C．going D．saying
A．how B．which C．what D．whether
A．combine B．end C．disagree D．deal
A．honest B．generous C．modest D．graceful
A．due B．ready C．born D．likely
I climbed the stairs slowly, carrying a big suitcase, my father following with two more. By the time I got to the third floor, I was tired and at the same time feeling lonely. Worse still, Dad a step and fell, sending my new suitcases down the stairs. “Damn!” he screamed, his face turning red. I knew was ahead. Whenever Dad's face turns red, !
How could I ever him to finish unloading the car screaming at me and making a scene in front of the other girls, girls I would have to spend the of the year with? Doors were opening and faces peering out (探出), as Dad walked close behind. I felt it in my bones that my college life was getting off to a(n) start.
“ the room quickly,” I thought. “Get him into a chair and calmed down.” But then again, would there be a chair in Room 316? Or would it be a(n) room?
I turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open, with Dad complaining about a hurting knee or something. I put my head in, expecting the . But to my , the room wasn’t empty at all! It had furniture, curtains, a TV, and even paintings on the walls.
And there on a well-made bed sat Amy, my new , dressed neatly. Greeting me with a nod, she said in a soft voice, “Hi, you must be Cori.” Then, she the music and looked over at Dad. “And of course, you’re Mr. Faber,” she said, . “Would you like a glass of iced tea?” Dad’s face turned decidedly before he could bring out a “yes”.
I knew then that Amy and I would be and my first year of college would be a success.
A．took B．minded C．missed D．picked
A．rooling B．passing C．dropping D．turning
A．suffering B．difficulty C．troubled D．danger
A．go head B．look out C．hold on D．give up
A．lead B．help C．encourage D．get
A．after B．without C．while D．besides
A．best B．beginning C．end D．rest
A．with difficulty B．in a hurry C．with firm steps D．in wonder
A．fresh B．late C．bad D．unfair
A．Search B．Find C．enter D．Book
A．small B．empty C．new D．neat
A．Finally B．Meanwhile C．Sooner or later D．At the moment
A．yet B．only C．even D．still
A．worst B．chair C．best D．tea
A．regret B．disappointment C．surprise D．knowledge
A．roommate B．classmate C．neighbour D．companion
A．turned on B．turned down C．played D．enjoyed
A．questioning B．wondering C．smiling D．guessing
A．red B．less pal C．less red D．pale
A．sisters B．friends C．students D．fellows
After years of experience, Brenda was faced with a challenge in Sunday School. However, she just didn’t know how to it in a good way. She had never been asked to teach a child quite like Cindy!
Cindy, you see, was . She came from a broken home. And although she was really
, she thought she was so bad that she could not be successful. , Cindy needed care, and most of all, Cindy needed love! There just had to be a way of her. Day after day, Brenda would pray for Cindy, yet Sunday would come and go and she saw , if any, change.
Then one day Brenda asked Cindy if she could a role in a Christmas programme the children were to do. Cindy’s answer was, “Don’t you think you can find someone better than me?”
“Better than you?” came Brenda’s . “What makes you think there is better than you?”
“Well, I’ve been asked to do anything before because I’m not good. I won’t get the part and then everyone will be mad at me for messing up（弄糟）their ,” came Cindy’s answer.
“Oh, Cindy,” said Brenda in a voice. “I am so that you think that, but you are so wrong. Don’t you realize how you are?”
“No,” a reply in a low voice because Cindy was now in .
“But Cindy, in my eyes, you are special and you can also do somethin g well like others,” Brenda said.
“Really? Do you think so really? Thank you, Miss Brenda! Nobody has believed in me like you. I’ll have a try,” said Cindy as she a hug from her teacher for the first time!
A．share with B．deal with C．do with D．go with
A．average B．naughty C．different D．ordinary
A．clever B．foolish C．lovely D．friendly
A．In return B．In turn C．In all D．In fact
A．stopping B．keeping C．helping D．knowing
A．much B．little C．some D．few
A．study B．like C．replace D．play
A．asking B．beginning C．planning D．learning
A．reply B．noise C．sound D．problem
A．no one B．anyone C．none D．everyone
A．ever B．often C．always D．never
A．good B．bad C．right D．poor
A．environment B．programme C．invention D．homework
A．gentle B．high C．loud D．clear
A．glad B．lucky C．proud D．sorry
A．happy B．sad C．valuable D．beautiful
A．said B．came C．received D．went
A．silence B．troubles C．public D．tears
A．Then B．But C．As D．Because
A．refused B．expected C．received D．separated
---Have you paid ? What’s my share of the bill?
---____.It wasn’t very much.
A．Don’t worry about it. B．It’s my share. C．None of your bisiness. D．It’s up to you.