Over the years, thanks to my life’s obstacles(障碍), I understood the meaning of faith and the strong will to survive. It was Hurricane Ike that made me fully____ the beauty of our strength and a human’s motivation to ____.
Mom had a two-week ____ in summer. While we enjoyed our holiday in Southeast Texas, we didn’t realize the fact that Ike ____ cause months and likely years of “labor”. By September 7th, the “eyes of Texas” were watching Hurricane Ike more ____, making the typical mad rush for last-minute hurricane ____. Two days later, both oil and ice were in ____ demand.
In the early hours of September 11th, some neighbors were planning to ____the storm in their homes, ____ others were making final preparations to get away. At first, we decided to stay. But that afternoon, the Houston-Galveston area would be on the more ____ side of the storm. Mom and I packed some of our most ____ belongings in the car and ____ the East Texas town of Lufkin.
As Ike pushed farther inland, we ____power in Lufkin. On Sunday, our next-door neighbor told us via cell phone that our ____ had remained well. Our hopes could not have been ____. But a few hours later, the neighbors reported that our brick chimney had ____, and it was sitting on our living room, ____ a hole in the roof between two skylights (天窗).
We wouldn’t be allowed to return home ____ September 17th. I climbed upstairs, and looked toward the hole in the roof which showed a beautiful blue sky.
Without hesitation, I shouted, “Wow! A third skylight!”
My neighbors could not believe I was making jokes ____ crying, but ____ is always good medicine. It was with that joke that I knew, given time, everything would be okay.
A．observe B．appreciate C．explore D．improve
A．work B．apologize C．recover D．change
A．vacation B．journey C．meeting D．schedule
A．must B．might C．should D．would
A．closely B．constantly C．warningly D．differently
A．adventure B．equipment C．supplies D．reports
A．basic B．high C．pure D．neat
A．get through B．put away C．test out D．suffer from
A．since B．when C．until D．while
A．dangerous B．abundant C．peaceful D．awesome
A．available B．concrete C．prized D．potential
A．set out B．headed for C．settled down D．watched out
A．provided B．reduced C．produced D．lost
A．garden B．house C．pool D．yard
A．clearer B．wilder C．lower D．higher
A．passed B．stood C．gone D．followed
A．leaving B．digging C．filling D．kicking
A．by B．before C．until D．after
A．in spite of B．instead of C．apart from D．in terms of
A．faith B．will C．strength D．laughter
It was pouring outside. We all stood there26 , some patiently , others annoyed27 nature messed up (弄糟) their hurried day . I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens28 away the dirt and dust of the world.
“Mom, let’s run through the rain,” a girl’s voice 29 me.
“No, honey. We’ll wait until it 30 down a bit,” Mom replied.
The young girl waited about another minute and31 : “Mom, let’s run through the rain.”
“We’ll get wet if we do,” Mom said.
“No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,” the young girl said as she32 her Mom’s arm.
“This morning? 33 did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”
“Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said,” If God can get us through this, he can get us through 34 .”
The entire crowd turned 35 . Mom paused and thought for a moment about 36 she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being 37 . But then we heard, “Honey, you are 38 . Let’s run through the rain. If we get wet, maybe we just need washing,” Mom said. Then 39 they ran.
We all stood 40 , smiling and laughing as they ran past the cars. Yes, they got wet. But they were 41 by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the 42 to their cars. Circumstances (境况) or people can take away your material possessions, and they can even take away your 43 . But no one can ever take away your precious 44 . So, don’t forget to make time and take the 45 to make memories every day! I hope you still take the time to run through the rain.
A．talking B．waiting C．complaining D．expecting
A．as if B．even if C．because D．when
A．taking B．putting C．driving D．washing
A．caught B．broke C．impressed D．called
A．slows B．comes C．pushes D．calms
A．asked B．repeated C．required D．added
A．pulled B．touched C．waved D．felt
A．Why B．How C．When D．Where
A．the rain B．the disease C．anything D．something
A．still B．silent C．serious D．angry
A．what B．how C．whether D．if
A．dishonest B．silly C．daring D．forgetful
A．right B．wrong C．stupid D．clever
A．off B．along C．on D．over
A．sighing B．joking C．discussing D．watching
A．followed B．guided C．respected D．praised
A．time B．way C．same D．best
A．house B．money C．health D．time
A．children B．memories C．courage D．experience
A．possibilities B．risk C．opportunities D．challenge
My husband hasn’t stopped laughing about the thing that happened to me. It’s 26 now but it wasn’t that time.
Last Friday, after doing all the family shopping in town, I 27 a rest before catching the train, so I bought a 28 and some chocolate and went to the station coffee shop that was a cheap, self-service place with long 29 to sit at. I put my heavy bag down on the floor, put the newspaper and chocolate on the table to 30 a place and went to get a cup of coffee.
When I came back with the coffee, there was someone in the 31 seat. It was one of those 32 young man, with dark glasses and torn clothes, and hair colored bright 33 at the front, not so unusual these days. What did 34 me was he’d started to eat my chocolate! Naturally, I was annoyed. However, to avoid trouble—then really I was rather uneasy about him—I just35 down at the front page of the newspaper, tasted my coffee, and took a bit of chocolate. The boy looked at me 36 . then he took another piece of my chocolate. I could hardly 37 it. Still I didn’t want to start an argument. When he took a38 piece , I felt more 39 than annoyed. I thought, “ Well, I shall have the last piece.” And I 40 it.
The boy gave me a 41 look, and then stood up. As he left, he shouted out, “This woman is mad!” Everyone42 . That really made me feel silly, but it was43 when I finished my coffee and got ready to leave. My face went red—as red as his hair when I44 I’d made a mistake. It wasn’t my chocolate he’d been taking. There was mine, unopened, just under my 45 .
A．serious B．wonderful C．funny D．exciting
A．enjoyed B．took C．had D．wanted
A．cake B．newspaper C．magazine D．bag
A．chairs B．tables C．benches D．beds
A．order B．find C．keep D．visit
A．very B．same C．free D．next
A．wild-looked B．wild-looking C．good-looking D．good-looked
A．red B．black C．brown D．white
A．interest B．surprise C．frighten D．hurt
A．looked B．lay C．sat D．put
A．eagerly B．friendly C．closely D．shyly
A．believe B．hear C．notice D．stop
A．last B．big C．single D．third
A．angry B．lucky C．happy D．curious
A．covered B．threw C．got D．wrapped
A．strange B．exhausting C．nervous D．pleasant
A．agreed B．promised C．stared D．followed
A．better B．worse C．later D．easier
A．wondered B．realized C．decided D．recognized
A．bags B．clothes C．book D．newspaper
When I settled in Chicago，my new city seemed so big and unfriendly. Then I had a 26 problem and had to go to hospital for a27 examination.
It seemed a small 28 compared to the one I was about to face ,but things started to go 29 right from the beginning , Not having a car or 30 the city, I was depending on a couple of buses to get me from A to B. 31 I’d left myself plenty of time, soon it was 32 I was going to be late, as I had mistakenly boarded a bus that was taking me in the33 direction.
I 34 the bus and stood on the pavement not knowing what to do. I looked into the eyes of a 35 , who was trying to get past me. 36 , instead of moving on ,she stopped to ask if I was 37 . After I explained my 38 to her, she pointed to a bus stop across the street , where a bus would take me back into the city to my 39 . Sitting there waiting, I felt 40 that someone had been willing to help . 41 , hearing a horn （喇叭） nearby, I looked up to see a car with my new friend42 at me to get in, She had returned to offer me a43 to the hospital.
Such unexpected44 from a passer-by was a lovely gift to receive. As I climbed out of the car at the hospital and turned to thank her, she smiled and told me not to lose 45 , for all things are possible.
A．physical B．traveling C．social D．housing
A．scientific B．final C．previous D．thorough
A．chance B．challenge C．success D．error
A．wrong B．easy C．fast D．ahead
A．leaving B．visiting C．knowing D．appreciating
A．Although B．Since C．Unless D．Once
A．strange B．necessary C．obvious D．important
A．same B．right C．general D．opposite
A．looked at B．waited for C．got off D．ran into
A．driver B．friend C．stranger D．gentleman
A．Especially B．Surprisingly C．Probably D．Normally
A．nervous B．excited C．OK D．dangerous
A．idea B．motivation C．excuse D．situation
A．appointment B．apartment C．direction D．station
A．afraid B．grateful C．certain D．disappointed
A．Thus B．Then C． Perhaps D．Surely
A．staring B．laughing C．waving D．shouting
A．lift B．suggestion C．bike D．guidebook
A．results B．news C．kindness D．appearance
A．power B．faith C．touch D．support
An old man found a sparrow with a broken wing. He brought it home and nursed it back to26 . Afterwards, though it could fly, the sparrow 27 to leave the house. The old man`s wife asked her husband to get rid of the bird as it was 28 the house.But he wouldn`t listen.
One day while her husband was asleep, the woman 29 the sparrow, took it far away from the house,and let it go,warning it never to 30 . The old man missed his friend and hoped it would come back, 31 it never did. Then one day,several weeks later,he was walking past an old house when he heard a 32 sound.He looked up and there was the 33 , sitting on the gate.The sparrow gave the old man a gold 34 it had found in the house.
The old man did not 35 much about money,but his wife was 36 when she saw the coin,and made up her mind to get more from the sparrow. 37 ,early the next morning she slipped out of her house and made her 38 to the old house.When she saw the sparrow she39 it to return.
“If you have found 40 __,bring it along and I`ll spend it all on you.”she promised.
The sparrow brought her an old 41 with the help of its friends.The basket was 42 but the woman did not wait to find out what was in it.She grabbed it and ran, 43 that the sparrow would follow and take up residence(住所）in her house again.
The moment she reached home,she 44 the basket,expecting it to be filled to the eaves(屋檐）with gold and silver.Instead,out 45 dozens of sparrows.
The woman spent the rest of her life trying to drive the sparrows out.
A．danger B．life C．health D．help
A．refused B．decided C．managed D．failed
A．cleaning B．sweeping C．building D．dirtying
A．fed B．noticed C．caught D．killed
A．return B．fly C．stay D．cry
A．and B．if C．but D．until
A．strange B．sweet C．loud D．familiar
A．cat B．sparrow C．basket D．stick
A．coin B．watch C．ring D．cup
A．bring B．take C．care D．put
A．afraid B．sad C．nervous D．excited
A．However B．Therefore C．Instead D．Luckily
A．way B．mark C．picture D．sign
A．forbade B．forced C．begged D．helped
A．food B．treasure C．rooms D．plant
A．bowl B．box C．chair D．basket
A．covered B．empty C．big D．small
A．pleased B．afraid C．anxious D．hopeful
A．laid B．broke C．hid D．opened
A．walked B．ran C．flew D．jumped
The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read beneath an old willow tree. Not 36 with life, I was down. A young boy out of breath 37 me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted(倾斜的) down, 38 with great excitement,“Look what I found!”
In his hand was a flower, and what a 39 sight, with is petals(花瓣) all worn—not enough rain, or too little light. 40 him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I 41
a small smile and then shifted away. But instead of 42 he sat next to my side and placed the flower to his nose and declared with 43 ,“It surely smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too. That’s why I 44 it; here, it’s for you.”
The flower before me was dying or dead. But I knew Imust45___it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and 46 , “Just what I need.”But instead of placing the flower in my hand, he 47 it mid-air without reason. It was then that I 48
for the very first time the boy was 49 .
I heard my voice shake, tears shone like the sun 50 I thanked him for picking the very best one. He smiled, and then ran off to play, 51 of the effect he’d had on my day.
I sat there and 52 how he managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my self-indulged(放纵的) 53 ? Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true 54 .
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see, the problem was not connected with the world; the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see__55___, and appreciate every second that’s mine.
A．excited B．inspired C．satisfied D．disappointed
A．approached B．overlooked C．understood D．talked
A．telling B．saying C．informing D．talking
A．unique B．rough C．bothering D．pitiful
A．Wanting B．Demanding C．Persuading D．Inviting
A．played B．adjusted C．forced D．delivered
A．declining B．accepting C．panicking D．quitting
A．surprise B．embarrassment C．sympathy D．sorrow
A．took B．pulled C．sold D．picked
A．bring B．fetch C．take D．smell
A．announced B．replied C．declared D．whispered
A．grasped B．held C．caught D．seized
A．convinced B．confirmed C．noticed D．refused
A．strange B．blind C．deaf D．unimaginable
A．once B．after C．as D．since
A．unaware B．unbelievable C．regretful D．regardless
A．doubted B．felt C．found D．wondered
A．embarrassmet B．depression C．pleasure D．effort
A．sense B．hearing C．sight D．ability
A．beauty B．disability C．fantasy D．wonder