On a trip to California，my family stopped for lunch.As we walked toward the entrance to the restaurant，a man，with a____beard and dirty hair，jumped up from a bench outside the restaurant and opened the door for us.Regardless of his____，he greeted us in a friendly way.
Once inside，my daughters whispered，“Mom，he ____.”After we ordered our lunch，I explained，telling the kids to look___the dirt.We then watched other customers approach the restaurant but many____him.Seeing this rudeness truly upset me.The day I became a mother，I had determined to set a good____to my children.Yet sometimes when things didn’t go right，being a good example was ____.When our meal arrived，I realized I had left the carsick pills in the truck.With the windiest trip ahead，the kids needed them，so I____myself from the meal and went to get them.
Just then，the “doorman” was opening the door for a couple.They rushed past him without even acknowledging his____.Letting them in first，I said a loud “thank you” to him as I____.
When I returned，we talked a bit.He said he was not allowed inside____he purchased food.I went back and told my family his____.Then I asked our waitress to add one soup and sandwich.The kids looked____as we had already eaten，but when I said the order was for the “doorman”，they smiled.When it was time to____ our trip，I found the “doorman” enjoying his meal.Upon seeing me，he stood up and thanked me heartily.He then____ out his hand for a handshake and I gratefully accepted.I suddenly____the tears in his eyes—tears of gratitude (感激)．What happened next drew great astonishment：I gave the “doorman” a____.He pulled away，with tears____down his face.
Back in truck，I fell into deep thought.While we can’t choose many things in life，we can choose when to show gratitude.I said thanks to a man who had____held open a door for me，and also said thanks for that ___ to teach my children by example.
A．clean B．messy C．pretty D．bright
A．service B．appearance C．state D．attitude
A．smokes B．smiles C．sighs D．smells
A．beyond B．over C．around D．into
A．hated B．ignored C．missed D．refused
A．target B．rule C．record D．example
A．stressful B．accessible C．awkward D．tough
A．excused B．refreshed C．prevented D．forgave
A．company B．presence C．challenge D．attack
A．quitted B．marched C．exited D．approached
A．before B．unless C．though D．since
A．story B．deed C．desire D．demand
A．concerned B．excited C．puzzled D．bored
A．make B．start C．take D．continue
A．reached B．washed C．raised D．waved
A．watched B．inspected C．witnessed D．noticed
A．hug B．nod C．lift D．strike
A．slipping B．rolling C．rushing D．breaking
A．firmly B．constantly C．simply D．politely
A．journey B．wisdom C．opportunity D．community
I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And otherwise assigned（指定）a seat by the teacher, I always
to sit at the back of the classroom.
All this after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy
because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the
to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “
for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give a try.
Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the of it! When I first started
the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much
what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get
and take a shot at the wrong direction—which made me feel really stupid.
, I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to
on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn’t
“just yet”.
I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive
in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the
— friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!
With my self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from
in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself,
raising my hand— even when I sometimes wasn’t and not 100 percent
I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.
A. as B. until C. unless D. though
A. hoped B. Agreed C. meant D. chose
A. continued B. changed C. settled D. started
A. idea B. plan C.belief D. saying
A. right B. chance C. ability D.patience
A. going B. looking C. cheering D. applying
A. point B. half C. restD. basis
A. enjoying B. preparing C. attending D. watching
A. less B. later C. worse D. further
A. committed B. motivated C. embarrassed D. Confused
A. Interestingly B. Fortunately C. Obviously D. hopefully
A. focus B. act C. rely D. try
A. want B. do C. support D. know
A. steps B. orders C. rules D. games
A. roles B. part C. mind D. value
A. process B. operation C. movement D. situation
A. expressed B. improved C. preserved D. recognized
A. dreaming B. playing C. relaxing D. hiding
A. by B. for C. with D. to
A. luckyB. happy C. sure D. satisfied
When I was small, my mom used to give the family a funny special treat from time to time.
One evening, my mom a plate of eggs, sausage and very burnt toast in front of my dad. But my dad just took his toast,
at my mom and asked me how my
at school had been. ①I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember
him put butter and jelly (果冻甜品）on that toast. He ate it up as usual, every single bite！
After dinner, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for the toasts. And I will never
what he said, "Honey，I love burned toasts."
Later that night, I went to kiss daddy good night and I asked him he really liked his toasts burned. He
me in his arms and said, "Your mommy worked very hard today and she is really
. And besides, a bit of burnt toast never
anyone!"
Life is full of imperfect things. Nobody is either. I'm not the best at anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries (周年纪念）just like everyone else, but I have
something important over the years. We need to accept each other's
. We need to tolerate each other's differences. These two things are the keys to
a healthy, growing and lasting relationship.
This rule any relationship-friends, family, workmates, the people you meet on the bus.
is the basis of everything, whether between a husband and wife，a parent and child or just between two friends.
Don't put the key to your in someone else's pocket.
it in your own. And don't get
if the toast gets burnt. Remember, burnt toast never hurt anyone. ② It's the kind thoughts that
, and the people with those kind thoughts who make life worth living.
A. dropped B. threw C. carried D. placed
A. laughed B. stared C. smiled D. shouted
A. score B. action C. homework D. day
A. finding B. watching C. spying D. recording
A. burning B. making C. having D. eating
A. forgive B. miss C. forget D. lose
A. how B. whether C. what D. when
A. took B. brought C. hid D. carried
A. careless B. tired C. helpful D. angry
A. influence B. kill C. hurtD. defeat
A. believable B. practical C. worthwhile D. perfect
A. learned B. remembered C. researched D. studied
A. gifts B. faults C. similarities D. ideas
A. discovering B. creating C. opening D. deciding
A. accounts for B. applies for C. goes for D. pays for
A. Discussing B. Competing C. Admiring D. Understanding
A. happiness B. future C. life D. confidence
A. Keep B. Lock C. Make D. Feel
A. excited B. impressed C. proud D. upset
A. succeed B. puzzle C. matter D. balance
When Alice started to cycle home from Jenny’s house, she wasn’t nervous. She was certainly not afraid of the dark. __, it was only a 15-minute ride home. But halfway there, she began to wish that she hadn’t been so __
_.
As she rounded a sharp bend, it suddenly ____ cold — very cold. Alice’s breath became puffs of white cloud and her legs were so cold that it became hard to ride.
With her heart beating fast, she struggled so hard to move ___ that she didn’t hear the car which suddenly appeared beside her. She stopped by the road. The big black car also __
__. Slowly, the passenger-window began to slide down. Alice held her breath. In the soft light inside the car, something __
__. Then, the light brightened and Alice was staring at a sweet, grey-haired old lady. “Hello, dear,” said the old lady. “I need __
__. I’m afraid I’m lost. I need to find the nearest airport. I must be there in the next five minutes.”
“Airport? You ____ are lost,” Alice said. “You need to go back five kilometers __
__ you reach the T-junction. Turn left and __
__ for about another 10 kilometers to the main highway. From there, just follow the __
__ to the airport. But I’m afraid there’s no __
__ you’ll get there in five minutes!”
“Thank you very much, dear,” replied the old lady. “Don’t worry — I’ll ____ in time.”
The ____ moved up and the car started off. A little way ahead, it __
_ and with headlights flashing, it drove past Alice. But then, something __
__ happened. The car began changing. First, its color __
__from black to silvery-grey. Then, the wheels began disappearing, but the car continued to move forward, __
_ just above the ground. As the car __
_ into the dark sky, the big red tail-lights grew larger and larger and glowed more and more brightly. With a faint whistling __
_, the car was gone in seconds, leaving Alice shaking her head in disbelief…
A However B Besides C Therefore D Otherwise
A brave B excited C curious D stubborn
A fell B seemed C proved D grew
A aside B around C forward D backward
A arrived B stopped C stayed D started
A gathered B existed C dropped D moved
A help B gas C rest D water
A necessarily B normally C basically D certainly
A if B until C unless D as
A drive B walk C follow D march
A address B signs C notices D guidance
A doubt B room C time D way
A have it B get it C make it D finish it
A door B window C headlight D wheel
A passed B rushed C turned D continued
A strange B sensitive C imaginable D horrible
A developed B appeared C spread D faded
A rolling B floating C drawing D flashing
A pointed B returned C broke D rose
A tune B voice C sound D tone
The Monkey with the Wooden Apples
There once was a happy monkey in the jungle. He was wandering all days, eating delicious fruit when hungry and when tired. One day he came upon a house, where he saw a bowl of the most beautiful
. He took one in each hand and ran back into the forest.
The monkey tried to eat them, but hurt his teeth. The apples were made of wood, but they were beautiful, and when the other monkeys them, he held onto them even tighter.
The monkey admired his new possessions proudly as he wandered the jungle. They glistened (闪亮) red in the , and seemed perfect to him. He became so attached to them that he didn't even notice his
at first.
A fruit tree reminded him, but he felt the apples in his hands. He couldn't bear to set them down to reach for the fruit. In fact, he couldn't, either, if he was to defend his apples. This proud, but less happy monkey continued to walk along the forest trails.
The apples became , and the poor little monkey thought about leaving them behind. He was tired and hungry; he couldn't climb trees or collect fruit with his hands
. What if he just let go? Letting go of such
things seemed crazy, but what else could he do? He was so tired. Seeing the next fruit tree and smelling its fruit, the monkey stopped. He
the wooden apples and reached up for his meal. He was happy again.
Like that little monkey, we carry things that seem too valuable. Letting go off them seems crazy. But
: only with open hands can we receive something else.
A. walking B. shouting C. resting D. crying
A. bananas B. pears C. stones D. apples
A. pinked B. carried C. saw D. enjoyed
A. rain B. sun C. shade D. wind
A. appearance B. hunger C. danger D. home
A. stop B. look C. relax D. breathe
A. heavier B. larger C. taller D. cheaper
A. full B. dirty C. wet D. flat
A. expensive B. delicious C. strange D. valuable
A. finished B. dropped C. sold D. passed
A. always B. seldom C. never D. sometimes
A. copy B. write C. remember D. hope
I tend to accept any idea put forward by experts on TV. One day, a sociologist proposed that the society has been consuming modern humans little by little. For fear that I would become a victim of the consumer society, I
hurried to a bicycle shop in my neighborhood.
the shopkeeper Mr. Johnson was selling me the bicycle, he said, “This is the best thing you
have done. Life has become hopelessly
. A bicycle is simple, and it brings to you
things: fresh air, sunshine and exercise.” I agreed. Happy as a child, I got on the bicycle and headed out onto the streets. After some time, I
at the other end of the town. I was
that this simple vehicle could let me
long distances in a fairly short time. But how
did I really go?
Since I hated to be , I went back to Mr. Johnson and asked him to
an odometer (里程表) on my bicycle. He agreed, but
, “An odometer without a speedometer (速度计) is like a
without a knife.” I admitted he was right and in a few minutes, the two devices (装置) were
to the handlebars of my bicycle. “What about a horn?” he then asked. “Look, this horn is no larger than a matchbox and has many
.” Attracted by these functions, I bought the horn.
“You can’t leave the back part ,” noted Mr. Johnson. He fixed a metal box with buttons
the seat, and said, “Is there anything better than this oven when you feel
on your way? I can give you a special discount.” I was not strong enough to
the offer.
“I congratulate you once more; this is the best thing you could have done,” said Mr. Johnson in the end.
A. adult B. human C. consumer D. bachelor
A. eventually B. immediately C. reluctantly D. gratefully
A. Although B. Because C. As D. Unless
A. would B. should C. must D. could
A. boring B. complicated C. stressful D. tough
A. natural B. mysterious C. complex D. unique
A. gave up B. broke down C. calmed down D. ended up
A. amazed B. amused C. confused D. concerned
A. march B. drive C. cover D. measure
A. far B. long C. fast D. deep
A. unreliable B. impractical C. unprepared D. inaccurate
A. fix B. check C. repair D. lay
A. swore B. added C. replied D. concluded
A. pencil B. fork C. box D. cake
A. distributed B. converted C. applied D. attached
A. shapes B. sizes C. functions D. models
A. loose B. blank C. bare D. incomplete
A. beside B. before C. below D. behind
A. sick B. hungry C. hot D. thirsty
A. consider B. withdraw C. make D. resist