Five months after my husband Steve died, I woke up one morning to the maddening sound of a leaking faucet(水龙头). I knew it needed repairs badly, but it
All our
But how could such a good man have his life cut short so suddenly! I had been so sad and angry that I completely
I got a workman named Ahmed. Entering the house, he stopped before a picture of Steve and me. "Doesn't your husband
"He died months ago. When he was alive, he did all the repair jobs
He did a(n)
By fixing a faucet, Ahmed mended my soul. Although I would sure carry the pain of
hurt
puzzled
cost
disappointed
separate
shared
spiritual
social
active
boring
careless
practical
attracting
sheltering
driving
prohibiting
ignored
hated
cleaned
missed
come up with
face up with
look forward to
step away from
begin
check
like
find
gratefully
firmly
bravely
wonderfully
strangely
innocently
painfully
sympathetically
terrible
excellent
important
dangerous
loss
failure
fear
regret
friendship
devotion
kindness
justice
I believe the best heroes are often the ones who haven’t been publicly recognized. They’re someone’s hero just by living their life as 36, not necessarily struggling for anything particular outside of survival. They’re everyday ordinary people.
37, my greatest hero without doubt isn’t a famous person or someone who has a rags-to-riches (白手起家的) story. In fact, this person isn’t a 38 at all, but a heroine: my mother, who has been my greatest source of inspiration(鼓舞).
A brief glance (一瞥) into this 39 woman’s life makes it clear. My mother was married to a man who drank like a fish almost every day. As Mother 40 to us later in life, she simply didn’t want us to be 41 by my father. So, one day she packed her seven kids into an old wagon (马车), and headed back down south to Montgomery, Alabama.
At five foot three, she was a black lady with a small figure, with no college education. She did whatever she had to do to 42 as a single(单身的) parent and to successfully 43 all her children to adulthood.
By high school I had started to 44 my mother had achieved something 45 as a single parent. Then, when I was seventeen years old, I signed up(报名) for the Marine Corps. The day I 46 for basic training, my mother told me, a very thin and nervous black kid, four 47 words: “Just do your best.” That 48 may be a cliché (套话), but coming from her , it has given me a lifetime of powerful inspiration.
I’ve had my 49 of ups and downs in my life. Whenever meeting with any difficulty, I would 50 to myself, “If Mother overcame her challenges, I have no 51 not to do the same.” 52 I grew, I admired her for what she had achieved.
I graduated from community college with highest 53, and now I’m a student at Columbia University. Every step of the 54, I’ve been encouraged by the inspiration of my mother — my heroine. I’ve never 55. I’ve tried to do my best.
A.much B.usual C.well D.active
A.Indeed B.Otherwise C.Therefore D.Altogether
A.hero B.model C.heroine D.example
A.educated B.famous C.generous D.unusual
A.explained B.replied C.devoted D.responded
A.employed B.fooled C.influenced D.missed
A.escape B.survive C.hide D.recover
A.raise B.add C.enrich D.attract
A.believe B.imagine C.determine D.realize
A.exciting B.interesting C.tiring D.amazing
A.waited B.returned C.left D.came
A.honest B.simple C.useless D.extra
A.answer B.praise C.expression D.encouragement
A.movement B.experiences C.origin D.advantage
A.think B.lie C.react D.object
A.demand B.ability C.cause D.excuse
A.As B.Though C.Unless D.Before
A.honors B.flame C.pressure D.purpose
A.escape B.danger C.way D.hope
A.appeared B.stopped C.knocked D.glanced
The Hand
Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class fun work to draw a picture of36 for which they were thankful.
Most of the class might be37 to be economically(经济上) poor, but still many would38 a big holiday dinner with turkeys and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the 39 of most of her students’ art. And they really were.
But Douglas made a 40 kind of picture, for Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher’s true child of pity and love,41 and unhappy. As other children played at break, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess the pain Douglas felt42 those sad eyes.
Yes, his picture was different. When he was 43 to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a44 ---nothing else. Just an empty hand.
His picture brought out the heated 45 of his classmates. Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer because farmers46 turkeys. Another suggested a police officer’s because the police protect and47 people. And so the discussion went --- until the teacher 48 forgot the young artist.
49 the children had gone on to do other work, she50 Douglas’ desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was. The little boy looked away and said in a very low voice, “It’s yours, teacher.”
She recalled the51 when she had taken his hand and walked with him here and there and how52 she had said, “Take your hand, Douglas, and we’ll go outside.” or “Let me show you how to hold your pencil.” or “Let’s do this together.” Douglas was most 53 for his teacher’s hand.
Brushing aside tears, she went on with her work.
In fact, people54 not always say “Thanks”. But they would remember the hand that55 .
A.anything B.something C.nothing D.everything
A.suggested B.imagined C.encouraged D.thought
A.have B.share C.prefer D.ask
A.homework B.subjects C.classes D.thoughts
A.good B.encouraging C.different D.exciting
A.merry B.naughty C.weak D.lively
A.behind B.beside C.before D.around
A.ordered B.told C.forced D.spoken
A.gift B.person C.hand D.wonder
A.thought B.laughter C.eyes D.discussion
A.keep B.need C.buy D.sell
A.look at B.care for C.take away D.drive off
A.always B.almost C.usually D.therefore
A.Before B.Because C.Since D.When
A.looked at B.pointed at C.turned to D.looked to
A.chances B.forms C.ways D.times
A.seldom B.often C.soon D.much
A.thankful B.calm C.pleased D.comfortable
A.could B.must C.should D.might
A.moved on B.went out C.helped out D.reached out
Our three-year-old daughter Becky wanted a dog. But we were too busy to buy one. One day, Becky ran in, shouting, “Mom! Come to see my dog!” Her face was red with 36 .
I followed her to the bush and found a 37 ! He was hurt. Seeing me, he stood up 38 ! I could see his teeth! God! My mouth felt dry. “Don’t be afraid. That’s Mom. She 39 you, too.” Becky said. Then he became friendly. It was40 !
I 41 to find my husband and told him about the wolf. We should have42 the wolf, but Becky loved him. Besides, he was gentle(温柔的) to Becky. So we called the vet finally.
Becky named the wolf (狼) Ralph , 43 she carried food to him every day. Later, Ralph got well. They played together in the daytime. At night, Ralph would return to the mountains. Sometimes he 44 but came back several days later.
On Becky’s first day of school, we could see Ralph’s 45 . After the school bus left, Ralph lay by the side of the road and 46 . When Becky returned, he got happy again. This 47 throughout Becky’s school years.
Twelve 48 passed.
One day we heard that a she-wolf was killed. The other wolf was hurt and ran away. We were 49 about Ralph. That night, Ralph returned with a wound (伤). Fifteen-year-old Becky held his head and 50 him. We hope he could come through. However, he 51 .
Becky cried. I noticed something strange in the bush — two little yellow eyes! Ralph’s 52 ! Before he died, Ralph 53 his child to us! He knew he would be54 here, as he had been. Ralph, Ralph... I was 55 .
“Don’t be afraid, little ... Ralphie. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.”
A.encouragement B.entertainment C.agreement D.excitement
A.dog B.fox C.wolf D.tiger
A.lovely B.finally C.suddenly D.patiently
A.hurts B.loves C.kills D.hates
A.wonderful B.unhappy C.unbelievable D.normal
A.prepared B.rushed C.pretended D.wanted
A.loved B.found C.damaged D.killed
A.and B.but C.so D.or
A.disappeared B.turned C.passed D.came
A.sadness B.dream C.understanding D.anger
A.slept B.left C.sang D.waited
A.stopped B.joined C.lived D.continued
A.days B.weeks C.months D.years
A.surprised B.puzzled C.worried D.careful
A.comforted B.beat C.washed D.amused
A.succeeded B.died C.cried D.woke
A.mother B.father C.wife D.child
A.posted B.brought C.sold D.threw
A.safe B.happy C.warm D.friendly
A.confused B.disappointed C.moved D.frightened
Today, as in every other day of the year, more than 3,000 US adolescents (少年) will smoke their first cigarette on their way to becoming regular smokers as adults.During their lifetime, it can be __1__ that of these 3,000 about 23 will be murdered, 30 will die in traffic __2__, and nearly 750 will be killed by a smokingrelated disease.The number of deaths __3__ by cigarette smoking outweigh all other factors, whether __4__ or involuntary, as a cause of death.Since the late 1970s, when daily smoking among high school seniors __5__ 30%, smoking rates among __6__ have declined.While the decline is impressive, several important issues must be __7__.First, in the past several years, smoking rates among youth have __8__ very little.Second, in the late 1970s, smoking among __9__ high school seniors exceeded(超过) that among female by nearly 10%.The statistic is reversing.Third, several recent studies have __10__ that high school dropouts(辍学者)have excessively __11__ smoking rate, as much as 75%.Finally, though significant declines in adolescent smoking have __12__ in the past decade, no definite __13__ for the decline to exist.Within this context, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) began its current __14__ to take the most effective measures to __15__ smoking level among youth.
A.inferred B.believed C.expected D.hoped
A.peaks B.accidents C.problems D.jams
A.damaged B.caused C.led D.made
A.happy B.healthy C.voluntary D.crazy
A.had B.totaled C.got D.reached
A.youth B.students C.girls D.boys
A.raised B.lifted C.asked D.questioned
A.grown B.changed C.risen D.declined
A.old B.male C.young D.female
A.insisted B.indicated C.denied D.wondered
A.large B.small C.high D.low
A.sunk B.set C.produced D.occurred
A.reasons B.causes C.ways D.results
A.survey B.study C.figure D.effort
A.stop B.reduce C.forbid D.limit
According to a recent report, some once-hot majors like English, Computer and Law for Chinese students entering college have now fallen out of favor. The reason is that more graduates studying in those fields end up 1 .
This year, a sample of 500,000 college 2 from 2009 were surveyed and 220,000 questionnaires were received back for the 2010 report. Among the 3
majors, Law graduates had the most difficulty finding jobs, with the 4
unemployment rate(比率) of 17.7% of all the majors in 2009. English majors had the highest 5 of the unemployed for three years, with 15,700 graduates still out of work.
“Such majors as Computer, English and Law were the most 6 ones for Beijing students entering universities in 2005, but now these graduates are in a tight corner,” said Ba ran, a senior counselor(顾问)at a well-known company. Ba said that the expansion(扩大)of college enrollment(注册)for those hot majors five years ago has 7 an over-supply in the market, making it harder for those graduates to find jobs.
On the other side, engineering graduates majoring in Geological Engineering, Ship and Marine Engineering are 8 most in the job market. Engineering majors are more practical in professional skills and work experience, which are favored by many 9 . The graduates are thus armed with a competitive 10 in the cruel job market.
The report 11 a system should be set up against majors with a high risk of 12 . Undergraduates studying Law or English are encouraged to change their 13 or obtain a second degree. For some colleges and provinces with 14 employment rates, the report advised a(n) 15 in enrollment numbers or even a temporary (暂时的) stop in enrolling students.
A.useless B.jobless C.reliable D.grateful
A.partner B.graduates C.professors D.guidance
A.unpromising B.favorable C.generous D.educated
A.quickest B.slowest C.highest D.lowest
A.rate B.number C.problem D.supply
A.famous B.risky C.practical D.popular
A.received B.encouraged C.stopped D.caused
A.ignored B.enrolled C.favored D.surveyed
A.employers B.professors C.reporters D.researchers
A.situation B.advantage C.skill D.major
A.ignored B.devoted C.suggested D.questioned
A.insurance B.disaster C.over-supply D.unemployment
A.favors B.jobs C.majors D.schools
A.low B.high C.rising D.falling
A.end B.remove C.cut D.increase