A Wonderful Christmas Gift
Ann and her mother had lived in a small cottage as long as Ann could ．
Christmas was so close．Ann wished she could get a new with lace as a wonderful Christmas gift．But Ann did not want to ask her Mom for a new dress．She knew how hard her mom worked to both ends meet．Maybe she could make a —maybe Santa Claus would come…
It was not just gift that Ann．It was her mother．Nowadays she was working overtime and looked and worn out．
The days passed and soon it was Christmas Eve．Ann went to bed with a heart．She knew that there would be gifts for her．
Ring…．Ring…Ann jumped，hearing alarm．
She suddenly remembered it’s Christmas day．Without much hope she looked there were any gifts for her．Wonder of wonders! There lay a beautiful packet with a red ribbon．
Ann opened the package．It was a pretty frock with attractive lace．The material was soft and silky the hard material of the dresses she usually wore．
She checked the gift carefully to who gave her the frock．Suddenly a small piece of paper fell out．Ann started to read the note．
“Dear Ann，
This frock is gifted to you for being a good girl．Hope you continue to do good things and help your mother．
Yours，
Santa Claus”
Ann felt that there was something about this note．She the note carefully. Then it struck her．She realized this is her mother's．Her mother had worked overtime to money to buy this expensive sift．Ann was happy beyond ．She knew that she is the girl to have such a wonderful mother as a wonderful Christmas gift.
A．remember B．imagine C．think D．speak
A．packet B．hat C．doll D．dress
A．earn B．make C．put D．get
A．promise B．decision C．plan D．wish
A．worried B．discouraged C．ashamed D．surprised
A．happy B．energetic C．pale D．miserable
A．1ight B．heavy C．tired D．cheering
A．few B．some C．no D．any
A．if B．though C．as D．because
A．attached B．tied C．packed D．carried
A．patiently B．calmly C．excitedly D．quietly
A．1ike B．unlike C．dislike D．1ikely
A．point out B．bring out C．hand out D．find out
A．carelessly B．nervously C．eagerly D．disappointedly
A．familiar B．similar C．strange D．unique
A．1ooked into B．made use of C．wrote down D．took away
A．dress B．handwriting C．note D．packet
A．offer B．win C．spend D．save
A．reach B．praise C．words D．power
A．best B．poorest C．greatest D．luckiest
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（躲避）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
It was a cold, wet day on June 6, when 14-year-old Wasana arrived at school. Waiting outside his classroom for his classmates to arrive, Wasana aimlessly at the pouring rain. Then his fell upon the hill that rose at the back of the classroom.
He noticed huge amounts of rainwater down the hill, and water was also bubbling at the base of a large rock on the hill. For a few , Wasana looked at the water, wondering __it looked so familiar.
Then it him – the scene was surprisingly to the pictures he was shown during Disaster Management classes. a disaster was about to happen, Wasana waved at students, shouting “Run, run, don’t stay here! The rocks on the hill are going to on us!”
All the students and teachers ran to the open area that had been as an emergency gathering point. , they heard screams as the huge rock rolled down the hill, bringing sand, rock and mud. There was they could do as they watched the earth bury an entire school block.
Thanks to Wasana’s quick action and sharp , no one was hurt in the incident. The landslide two classrooms and caused heavy damage to six . “The financial damage is nothing compared to would have happened had there been children in the classrooms,” says the schoolmaster.
Wasana later received a Gold Star from the Foundation for Civilian Bravery, Sri Lanka. at the incident, he says, “I feel disaster management are important for everyone. We’ll never know when the will come in handy.”
A．stared B．nodded C．shouted D．pointed
A．thoughts B．eyes C．words D．voices
A．pulling B．jumping C．sliding D．flowing
A．times B．minutes C．hours D．periods
A．how B．where C．why D．when
A．hit B．drove C．pushed D．stopped
A．strange B．rare C．terrible D．similar
A．Rejecting B．Fearing C．Scaring D．Avoiding
A．angrily B．sadly C．excitedly D．wildly
A．beat B．move C．fall D．dive
A．put away B．set aside C．brought forth D．taken apart
A．Just then B．In short C．In good time D．As a result
A．something B．much C．anything D．little
A．discovery B．movement C．observation D．idea
A．destroyed B．tore C．injured D．overcame
A．another B．other C．others D．ones
A．those B．which C．that D．what
A．Looking back B．Looking around C．Looking through D．Looking forward
A．exhibitions B．lessons C．units D．examinations
A．concept B．image C．knowledge D．situation
As a general rule, all forms of activity lead to boredom when they are performed on a routine(常规)basis. As a matter of fact, we can see this at work in people of all . For example, on Christmas morning, children are excited about with their new toys. But their soon wears off and by January those toys can be found put away in the basement. The world is full of stamp albums and unfinished models, each standing as a monument to someone’s interest. When parents bring home a pet, their child bathes it and brushes its fur. Within a short time, however, the of caring for the animal is handed over to the parents. Adolescents enter high school with great but are soon looking forward to . The same is true of the young adults going to college. And then, how many , who now complain (抱怨) about the long drives to work, drove for hours at a time when they first their driver’s license (执照)? Before people retire, they usually to do a lot of things, which they never had to do while working. But after retirement , the golfing, the fishing, the reading and all of the other pastimes become as boring as the jobs they . And , like the child in January, they go searching for new .
A．principle B．habit C．weaker D．power
A．parties B．races C．countries D．ages
A．working B．living C．playing D．going
A．confidence B．interest C．anxiety D．sorrow
A．same B．extra C．funny D．expensive
A．well-organized B．colorfully-printed C．newly- collected D．half-filled
A．broad B．passing C．different D．main
A．silently B．impatiently C．gladly D．worriedly
A．promise B．burden C．right D．game
A．courage B．calmness C．confusion D．excitement
A．graduation B．independence C．responsibility D．success
A．children B．students C．adults D．retirees
A．carefully B．eagerly C．nervously D．bravely
A．required B．obtained C．noticed D．discovered
A．need B．learn C．start D．plan
A．great B．strong C．difficult D．correct
A．time B．money C．skills D．knowledge
A．only B．well C．even D．soon.
A．lost B．chose C．left D．quit
A．pets B．toys C．friends D．colleagues
I often recall those good old days. At that time life was relatively simpler, and people were much more and gentler. Recently, to my surprise, I got the opportunity to experience that same warmth that I thought had from the fast-moving world.
I was out shopping the other day with my husband, two daughters and one . It was a burning hot day, and we were all visibly tired and hungry. We entered a restaurant, looking for some and comfort. To our disappointment, all the tables were and no one seemed in a hurry to . We waited, tired and . After quite some time, one table was vacated(空出), but that could only two of us. My daughter made me sit along with her father, while she and my other daughter alongside. My granddaughter sat on my as we looked all around us, waiting for another table to be soon.
At the next table, two young girls were sitting at a table for four and enjoying their meal. We decided to move to their table, they were finished with their lunch. Since the girls had just got their , I knew it would be a wait. As we were deciding on what to eat, one of the girls got up and their table to us. She said they would move to our table so that my family could sit together.
We were very appreciative of their kind . We thanked them and moved to their table. The girls quickly their plates and glasses and went to sit at our table.
That day, I to myself there still were some kind, civil and helpful youngsters in this non-caring world, and my faith in humanity(人道) was .
A．friendly B．generous C．careful D．sensitive
A．prevent B．removed C．lost D．disappeared
A．niece B．granddaughter C．nephew D．son
A．tea B．food C．fruit D．vegetable
A．fixed B．covered C．occupied D．set
A．start B．wait C．give up D．get up
A．impatient B．nervous C．awkward D．embarrassed
A．serve B．seat C．lay D．hold
A．sat B．followed C．stood D．watched
A．shoulder B．feet C．lap D．table
A．blank B．free C．available D．clean
A．unless B．once C．before D．until
A．order B．bill C．note D．menu
A．long B．short C．boring D．exciting
A．left B．pushed C．shared D．offered
A．treat B．expression C．movement D．gesture
A．personally B．properly C．publicly D．sincerely
A．picked up B．raised up C．put up D．given up
A．turned B．came C．thought D．pointed
A．lost B．rebuilt C．found D．shaken
I lived in an orphanage(孤儿院）when I was 8. A gentleman came and taught us how to do woodworking projects.
I remember my first project ---a small table. I was so of it that I looked upon it as if I had created a(n) . It had taken me six weeks to it. I could hardly wait to give it to Mother Winters as a . She was the head mistress of our orphanage, who was always with us.
As the tables were not dry, the man told us to wait a few days. But I was just so and happy that I couldn’t wait. I dashed out like a carrying my table.
When I was it in the dormitory, Mother Winters entered. She walked over to the table. Running her hand it, she noticed that it was still wet.
“Were you to bring this home?” she asked.
“No, ma’ma,”I with my head down.
She ordered me to throw the table out and so I did. After she left, I opened the door to get it back. There was stuck all over. I brushed and cried.
I hid the table in my closet and never it. After cleaning up, I gave the table to Mother Henderson, my houseparent(宿管员), thinking that she would it away.
Thirty years later at a reunion, I that Mother Henderson was living nearby, so I drove up to see her. As I was about to leave, she asked me to come down to her to get something. I followed her into a dark corner. She picked something up. she turned around, I could see that she was holding a little table.
Mother Henderson still kept the little table!
Today, I look at that table with bitter-sweet memories but full of to Mother Henderson, who kept it for an orphan who tried very hard to himself.
A．tired B．ashamed C．proud D．aware
A．award B．wonder C．record D．product
A．design B．invent C．paint D．complete
A．gift B．reward C．prize D．souvenir
A．satisfied B．strict C．patient D．angry
A．upset B．amazed C．confident D．excited
A．thief B．hero C．sword D．flash
A．drying B．observing C．admiring D．hiding
A．into B．across C．above D．after
A．supposed B．embarrassed C．encouraged D．determined
A．agreed B．sighed C．whispered D．argued
A．dirt B．glue C．paint D．wood
A．removed B．touched C．shook D．split
A．put B．give C．take D．throw
A．learned B．expected C．remembered D．recommended
A．bathroom B．balcony C．basement D．bedroom
A．curiously B．unwillingly C．doubtfully D．worriedly
A．Before B．Since C．As D．Until
A．admiration B．gratitude C．sympathy D．regret
A．adapt B．study C．pretend D．please