Mrs. Green was over seventies, but she still drove her old car like a woman half her age. She loved driving very fast, and was proud of the that she had never, in her thirty-five years of driving, been punished a driving offence(犯规, 犯法).
Then one day she nearly her record. A police car her, and the policeman in it saw her a red light without stopping. Of course, she was stopped. It seemed that she would be punished. When Mrs. Green came up to the , he looked at her seriously and said that she was old to drive a car, and that the why she had not stopped at the red was most probably that her eyes had become weak old age, so that she had simply not seen it.
When the judge had finished what he was , Mrs. Green opened the big handbag she was and took out her sewing. Without saying a word, she a needle with a very small eye, and threaded it at her first attempt.
When she had done this, she took the thread out of the needle again and handed the needle and the thread to the judge, saying, “Now it is your . I suppose you drive a car, and that you are quite sure about your own eyesight. ”
The judge took the and tried to thread it. After half a dozen tries, he had still not succeeded. The case against Mrs. Green was , and her record unbroken.
A．fact B．action C．skill D．age
A．about B．on C．to D．for
A．kept B．won C．missed D．lost
A．watched B．chased C．followed D．stopped
A．pass B．go C．run D．rush
A．sure B．able C．certain D．like
A．police B．judge C．officer D．captain
A．so B．very C．too D．quite
A．cause B．reason C．matter D．trouble
A．light B．lamp C．sign D．one
A．with B．because C．for D．of
A．speaking B．saying C．talking D．telling
A．holding B．getting C．carrying D．bringing
A．took B．brought C．picked D．chose
A．almost B．hardly C．successfully D．successful
A．both B．all C．neither D．either
A．time B．turn C．chance D．job
A．thread B．glasses C．needles D．needle
A．dismissed B．passed C．settled D．studied
A．was B．kept C．seemed D．remained
When high school started, Becky and I became best friends. We 36 many interests and quickly became inseparable. When high school ended, we both cried 37 we would attend different colleges.
Our first term of university life was 38 . Our telephone bill and e-mails were incredibly long. In the second term I found some new friends with whom I felt very 39 and I could 40 out my feelings. I was eager to share my new friends with Becky.
When Becky finally visited me at my school, we were excited. __41__, something unexpected happened when I 42 her to my new friends. Her eyes grew dark and I could see the 43 within them. My new friends tried to share their friendship, but Becky seemed 44 to accept it. I didn’t understand 45 the people I love most couldn’t love each other.
Becky 46 . I knew she was not happy. I thought long about __47__ happened. At last, I found the answer. Becky saw me with my new friends and 48 that we no longer shared the same experiences. She saw all the fun I was having 49 her and wished she could a part of it.
I wrote a letter to Becky 50 she’s always my best friend. I told her everyone had many friends, who were indeed life’s greatest 51 . Becky wrote me back soon. She was in 52 and felt sorry about what she had done.
I think Becky and I both learn an important lesson from it. 53 can influence our friendship and change the experiences we’ve shared. We are now walking on two different paths of 54 . While new friends are special and exciting, old friends are always there, 55 to share their heart and soul, no matter how far apart.
A．shared B．developed C．protected D．showed
A．while B．unless C．although D．because
A．explicit B．striking C．tough D．normal
A．anxious B．strange C．familiar D．comfortable
A．figure B．pour C．pick D．hold
A．Therefore B．Thus C．Besides D．However
A．admitted B．mentioned C．introduced D．referred
A．concern B．hurt C．curiosity D．doubt
A．unwilling B．cautious C．ashamed D．thrilled
A．how B．whether C．that D．why
A．started B．left C．remained D．stared
A．that B．how C．what D．Which
A．wondered B．regretted C．promised D．proved
A．for B．from C．across D．without
A．recognized B．predicting C．explaining D．assuming
A．achievement B．spirit C．gift D．sign
A．sympathy B．surprise C．agreement D．disappointment
A．Nothing B．Anything C．Something D．Everything
A．happiness B．life C．research D．success
A．choosing B．demanding C．planning D．waiting
A great many people are disappointed because of unrealistic expectations.
Walking up to a department store’s cloth counter, a(n) 1 young woman said, “I want to buy this material for a new dress. How much does it cost?”
“Only one 2 per yard,” replied the smirking (自鸣得意的) male clerk.
Not to be taken back by the funny words, the woman said,” That’s fine! I’ll take ten yards.”
With 3 written all over his face, the clerk 4 measured out and wrapped the cloth, then held it out teasingly, 5 forward to receive his “ 6”.
The woman got the package quickly from the clerk and pointed to a little old man standing beside her. “Grandpa will pay the bill instead of me,” she 7 .
He was no doubt disappointed. But in the course of living, many people are 8 when others do not 9 their expectations. In order to be happy, some expectations must be dropped. These three particular 10 and unhealthy expectations are some of the main causes:
1. Expect too much 11 .When others say, “Thank you,” or in any way to show their gratitude, be happy. It is a gift!
2. Expect others to make you happy. They simply cannot do that. Make yourself happy and 12 your joy with others.
3. Expect not to be 13 . At times, people will simply not come through for you in the way you need. 14 them and move on.
Get rid of these three unrealistic expectations and you can begin to expect more 15 right away!
A．tricky B．attractive C．ugly D．generous
A．kiss B．pay C．dollar D．cent
A．happiness B．enjoyment C．expectation D．courage
A．hurriedly B．slowly C．patiently D．curiously
A．setting B．sitting C．leaning D．taking
A．reward B．payment C．bonus D．money
A．smiled B．begged C．waved D．thought
A．encouraged B．disappointed C．annoyed D．surprised
A．live up to B．go against C．go without D．hope for
A．reasonable B．proper C．unimportant D．unrealistic
A．profit B．kiss C．appreciation D．disappointment
A．spare B．share C．make D．control
A．put down B．let down C．taken down D．thrown down
A．Forgive B．Punish C．Blame D．Praise
A．happiness B．encouragement C．excitement D．pride
Failing doesn’t make a failure. True failures are those who don’t learn from their 1 .
Smart persons not only learn from their own mistakes—they pay 2 to the mistakes of others, equate error with opportunity, and learn valuable 3 as well, as this story illustrates (说明).
A lion, a fox, and a wild pig went 4 for rabbits together. By the end of the day, they had a large pile of rabbits to 5 .
The lion said to the wild pig, “Pig, you divide the rabbits up among the three of us in a 6 that you think is fair.” The pig divided the rabbits up into three 7 piles, and said to the lion, “There we are. One 8 for each of us. How’s that?” The lion 9 sprang at the wild pig and 10 him.
Then, the lion threw all the rabbits into one big pile again.
He 11 to the fox. “Well now, Mr. Fox, why don’t you 12 the rabbits between the two of us in a way that you think is fair?”
The fox walked over to the pile of rabbits, took the 13 one for himself, and left the rest in a big pile. “This rabbit is for me, Mr. Lion, and that big pile is for you.” said the fox.
At that point, the lion laughed, “Where did you learn to divide so 14 , Mr. Fox?” And Mr. Fox replied, “The wild pig 15 me.”
A．teachers B．mistakes C．failures D．experiences
A．respect B．tribute C．court D．attention
A．experience B．skills C．lessons D．service
A．hunting B．searching C．hiking D．fishing
A．share B．eat C．attack D．enjoy
A．case B．situation C．mood D．way
A．same B．equal C．big D．different
A．rabbit B． animal C．pile D．group
A．gradually B．curiously C．immediately D．seriously
A．killed B．punished C．praised D．sold
A．came B．ran C．returned D．turned
A．part B．divide C．raise D．separate
A．unfairly B．fairly C．hurriedly D．badly
A．informed B．told C．reminded D．taught
The Pecan Thief
When I was six years old, I was visiting my grandfather's farm in Kansas. Grandpa had sent me into the 36 to gather pecans for us to enjoy later.
Pecan picking was really 37 work and my little basket was only half full. I wasn't about to 38 Grandpa down. Just then something caught my 39 . A large brown squirrel was a few feet away. I watched as he picked up a pecan, hurried to a tree and 40in a large hole in the trunk. A moment later the squirrel 41 out and climbed down to the ground to pick up another nut. Once again, he took the pecan back to his hiding place.
Not so 42 anymore, I thought. I dashed over to the tree and looked into the hole. It was 43 with pecans! Golden pecans were right there for taking. This was my 44 . Handful by handful, I scooped all of those pecans into my basket. Now it was full! I was so 45 of myself. I couldn't wait to show Grandpa all the pecans. 46 , I ran back and shouted, “Look at all the pecans!” He looked into the basket and said, “Well, well, how did you find so many ? ” I told him how I'd 47 the squirrel and taken the pecans from his hiding place.
Grandpa congratulated me on how smart I'd been in observing the squirrel and his habits. Then he did something that 48 me. He handed the basket back to me and put his arm gently 49 my shoulders.
“That squirrel worked very hard to gather his winter 50 of food, ” he said. “Now that all of his pecans are gone, don't you think that little squirrel will 51 the cold winter? ”
“I didn't think about that,” I said.
“I know, ” Grandpa said. “But a good man should never take 52 of someone else's hard work.”
Suddenly I felt a bit 53 . The image of the starving squirrel wouldn't 54 my mind. There was only one thing I could do. I carried the basket back to the tree and poured all the nuts into the hole.
I didn't eat any pecans that night, but I had something much more filling—the 55 of knowing I had done just the right thing.
A．woods B．rooms C．holes D．roads
A．dirty B．hard C．light D．easy
A．settle B．let C．have D．keep
A．sweater B．basket C．hand D．eye
A．joined B．lived C．disappeared D．discovered
A．held B．jumped C．stood D．found
A．secret B．strange C．anxious D．patient
A．filled B．covered C．rebuilt D．decorated
A．time B．choice C．achievement D．chance
A．afraid B．ashamed C．proud D．careful
A．Otherwise B．However C．Therefore D．Besides
A．followed B．driven C．protected D．caught
A．annoyed B．satisfied C．delighted D．surprised
A．off B．beside C．around D．over
A．cost B．supply C．support D．preparation
A．escape B．spend C．flee D．survive
A．place B．notice C．charge D．advantage
A．unconfident B．guilty C．embarrassed D．nervous
A．leave B．open C．cross D．occupy
A．inspiration B．expectation C．satisfaction D．impression
One day while sitting in the boat fishing, I noticed a field mouse on the river bank. He ran out of his 21 , ran around a bit and then ran back. I thought of the 22 of this mouse. His life is spent running around, 23 , following his nose. He runs here, runs there, turns in circles, but never really sees much beyond his 24 . He is trying to 25 his way to successful living, which is finding a little 26 , so that he can carry on for the rest of his life, frightened.
A few minutes later I looked up and noticed an osprey (鱼鹰) 27 high in the sky. This keen-eyed hunter with a 28 view of the river was simply waiting for the best time to catch his food. The 29 creature flew up toward a nest at the top of one of the tallest trees.
It is the osprey not the field mouse that 30 our human potential (潜能). I don’t know about you, but it is 31 for me to decide which creature I want to learn from. I want to 32, to see the big picture, to climb higher, go farther, dive deeper, and 33 more. I want my soul enlarged and my heart inspired. I want to 34 running about following my nose and instead I want to find new strength, fresh 35 , clear vision and courage. I want to be more like the osprey and less like the field mouse, for to live like the field mouse is to ruin my potential.
A．boat B．hole C．yard D．box
A．friend B．appearance C．food D．existence
A．frightened B．excited C．surprised D．pleased
A．eyes B．nose C．head D．legs
A．lose B．find C．smell D．give
A．time B．room C．treasure D．food
A．hanging B．running C．flying D．staying
A．short B．full C．different D．first
A．interesting B．frightening C．boring D．amazing
A．needs B．models C．follows D．strikes
A．difficult B．strange C．easy D．special
A．play B．rest C．relax D．explore
A．get B．experience C．forget D．control
A．continue B．stop C．enjoy D．practise
A．thinking B．air C．news D．water