Don’t Wait Until Flowers Fade
Each spring brings a new blossom of wildflowers in the ditches (路沟) along the highway I travel daily to work.
There is one blue flower that has always my eye. I’ve noticed that it blooms only in the morning hours, and the afternoon sun is too warm it. Every day for approximately two weeks, I see those beautiful .
This spring, I started a wildflower garden in our yard. I can look out of the window while doing the dishes and see the flowers. I’ve often thought that those lovely blue flowers from the ditch would look in that bed alongside wildflowers.
Everyday I drove the flowers thinking, “I’ll stop on my way home and dig them.” “Gee, I don’t want to get my good clothes ...” Whatever the reason, I never stopped to dig them. My husband gave me a folding shovel(铁锹) one year to be used for that purpose.
One day on my way home from work, I was to see that the highway department had moved the ditches and the pretty blue flowers were gone. I thought to myself, “Way to go, you too long. You it when you first saw them blooming this spring.”
A week ago we were shocked and saddened to learn that my oldest sister-in-law has a terminal brain tumor(脑瘤晚期). She is 20 years older than my husband and , because of age and distance, we haven’t been as as we all would have liked.
I couldn’t help but see the between the pretty blue flowers and the between my husband’s sister and us. I do believe that God has given us some time left to plant some valuable that will bloom every year for us.
And yes, if I see the blue flowers again, you can bet I'll stop and them to my wildflower garden
A．sweet B．interesting C．different D．particular
A．fascinated B．struck C．caught D．charm
A．for B．to C．with D．on
A．plants B．flowers C．ones D．wilds
A．open B．main hall C．front D．kitchen
A．great B．well C．horrible D．ugly
A．many B．various C．other D．colorful
A．passed B．past C．pass D．pasted
A．damaged B．ready C．dirty D．smelly
A．ever B．once C．never D．even
A．expressed B．temporary C．unfinished D．permanent
A．annoying B．saddened C．interested D．helpless
A．wasted B．ignored C．thought D．waited
A．would have done B．need have done C．should have done D．muse have done
A．unconsciously B．fortunately C．unfortunately D．consciously
A．close B．closely C．closed D．near
A．connection B．difference C．meaning D．significance
A．friendship B．relationship C．support D．relative
A．trees B．memories C．species D．roses
A．dig B．rescue C．transmit D．transplant
A certain student passed all his examinations. Then he went to college to 16 his studies. There he wrote down his 17 for a course (课程) in English, but after the first 18 , he didn’t go to it any more.
The English lecturer 19 this student was always absent (缺席的) and thought he had 20 another course, so he was 21 when he saw the boy’s name on the list of students who wanted to take the English 22 at the end of this year.
The lecturer had 23 a difficult paper, which followed his 24 closely, and he was eager (热切的) to see 25 this student would answer the questions. He 26 the boy’s answers would be very bad, but when they 27 him and he examined them 28 , he was able to find only one small mistake in them. As this surprised him greatly, he 29 the paper repeatedly but still couldn’t find more than one mistake, so he 30 for the student to question him about it.
When he came and sat down, the lecturer asked him, “I 31 you came to my first lecture and you’ve been absent from all the others. But I’ve examined your 32 carefully and I’ve found only one small mistake in it. I’m curious (好奇的) to know your 33 .”
“I’m very 34 about that mistake,” answered the student. “After the examination, I 35 what I should have done. I would not have made that mistake if I had not been confused by your first lecture.”
A．enjoyed B．kept C．examined D．did
A．cared B．called C．looked D．sent
A．promise B．know C．advise D．guess
A．paper B．lessons C．notebook D．exercises
A．wisdom B．experience C．explanation D．method
A．glad B．proud C．content D．sorry
A．understood B．realized C．remembered D．suffered
After spending a weekend away with my adult son, I was so impressed by his generous heart that I sent him this letter.
Dear son,
I want to thank you for teaching me a very valuable lesson in life by the great example you 31 . When we were eating at that cafe in Boston and a person who had 32 his hamburger didn’t have enough money to pay for it, without 33 , you went over and 34 the extra $2 into his hand.
When we were leaving, you 35 threw a five-cent coin onto the pavement and said something like, “Some kid will really enjoy 36 this.”
Last week, a young man 37 me in the line at a petrol station didn’t have 38 money to pay for his petrol. I asked the money collector, “How much 39 is he?” She told me he had meant to put $15 of petrol in his car 40 he had been looking at the wrong gauge (计量表) and had put in 15 41 , which came to a little over $20. That is an easy mistake as both gauges run fast.
Something made me think of you and 42 you did that night at the cafe in Boston. I handed the man $6. He was so 43 and said, “But why would you do this for me?” I just smiled as I thought of you.
Thank you, son, for teaching me that “it’s 44 to give than to receive”. Now when I see a five-cent coin on the 45 and want to pick it up, I think of you and leave it there, just in case some kid will get a kick out of finding it.
Love always, Mum.
A．followed B．gave C．set D．took
A．ordered B．booked C．offered D．bought
A．hesitation B．doubt C．permission D．difficulty
A．spread B．put C．threw D．loaded[
A．again B．already C．only D．also
A．finding B．accepting C．looking for D．pointing at
A．behind B．beyond C．ahead of D．next to[
A．much B．some C．any D．enough
A．far B．long C．short D．high
A．and B．but C．so D．while
A．kilometers B．kilograms C．pounds D．litres
A．what B．which C．how D．that
A．excited B．surprised C．interested D．encouraged
B．better C．faster D．worse
A．comer B．mud C．ground D．carpet
Ann，a mother of 3 children, is a warm-hearted social worker and she has done a lot to help people 36 . The family’s dinner conversation often turns to local poor families, and she 37 tries her best to seek help for them. This year, Ann 38 that Santa Claus would make a special 39 to a young unemployed mother named Ashley, who was 40 two sons by herself.
One Sunday morning, the family were joyfully having breakfast 41 the phone rang, saying that the aid she had requested for Ashley had 42 . No Santa Claus, no presents, nothing. On hearing the news, Ann noticed the 43 disappear from her children's faces.
Kinzie, t
he youngest one, 44 down from her chair and ran out of the kitchen room. In a matter of 45 , she returned carrying her piggy bank and began to 46 the coins over and over again, $3.30 in total. “Mom,” she shook her head 47 , “I know it's not much. But maybe this will buy a 48 for the children.” Then suddenly everyone was reaching into their pockets and 49 their purses. Immediately the money –- coins and bills 50 on the table. On Christmas Eve, Ann as well as Kinzie drove to Ashley’s house. After Ann wished the 51 woman a merry Christmas, she began to unload the gifts from the car, 52 them to Ashley one by one and told her the whole story.
Ashley was moved to tears 53 the words: Kinzie opened not only her piggy bank but also her 54 , and my children as well as I myself would be able to do something 55 for someone else in need.
|
A couple of years ago, I went to a lady’s house to buy some vitamins. Upon entering the house, I 36 that there was an electronic keyboard on a stand, leaning 37 the wall. Being a piano music lover and 38 , I asked, if the woman played. She nodded and added that she had been
39 lessons at age 54! I told her that it was very 40 that she was pursuing （追求） her passion（热情）to play the piano. . .
Then she asked me 41 question. “I have been playing for 8 years now,” I answered.
“Then you must play a song for me before you leave,” she 42 .I thought she was joking and I simply smiled. At the end of the deal of the vitamins, she 43 me of our musical “44 _”. She then showed me to an old upright piano in the living room,45 asked me to play a song for her. I thought46 and decided to play David Lantz’s “Return to the Heart”, since 
she had so much passion for 47 ,and it was my soul-searching song.
I played the song to the best of my ability, and with my emotions 48 into it as possible. She loved it. 49 I was about to step out of the door, I heard a weak voice ca
lling out, “Young man!”
I turned around. And there was an old lady 50 one little ste
p at a time with the help of another woman. “I wanted to come out to 51 you for the beautiful song that you played. I have been very sick, and it’s very hard for me to 52 my bed, but your music made me feel good ”she said. With that, she turned around and walked 53 back to her room.
I was deeply 54 by her appreciation and felt a deeper understanding for the song. It served its purpose beautifully, returning to one’s 55 for peace and joy.
A．observed B．watched C．noticed D．caught
A．on B．at C．over D．against
A．player B．teacher C．composer D．starter
A．giving C．teaching D．reviewing
A．interesting B．wonderful C．moved D．impressive
A．another B．a different C．the same D．other
A．advised B．ordered C．demanded D．requested
A．warned B．reminded C．asked D．required
A．course B．task C．discussion D．deal
A．and B．but C．as a result D．what’s more
A．for the moment B．at the moment C．for a moment D．at a moment
A．music B．songs C．the piano D．vitamins
A．dropping B．falling C．pouring D．running
A．Since B．As C．While D．Because
A．taking B．making C．having D．giving
A．thank B．praise C．admire D．owe
A．get on B．get up C．get off D．get down
A．quietly B．calmly C．happily D．slowly
A．shocked B．touched C．delighted D．disturbed
A．world B．heart C．brains D．dreams
It was an unforgettable experience. By the time we made it to the 36 , my hands were wet. I37 he would remember everything I had taught him over and over again.38 he stopped and asked, “So, Mom, how do you like my39 ?”
I must admit that his performance was40 . He had both hands on the wheel. His eyes never left the highway and his handling was far better than I’d ever imagined it would be,41 it still needed improving.
Several42 ago, I was teaching him to ride his bike. We started 43 . The third grade primary school student was44 that his training wheels were taken off. Of course it was a long evening. He45 several times but always got up quickly and kept46 until he mastered riding.
Viewing the47 , I guess it really wasn’t about him driving. It was about him48 ---gaining more and more independence; not 49 me so much anymore.
He will be a(n)50 in high school this fall. This will truly be a 51 year for both of us. He’s ready to have one of the best years of his young life and I will have (a) complete mental52 . For this is probably the last year that my baby will be at home on a(n) 53 basis.
After this school year, he’ll go to college and then into the real world. Things all happen so54 .
Now I see the time has just arrived for him to perform what he’s learned.
So, I guess you could say his driving lessons are lessons for me too. Yes, I’m being 55 that it’s his time to drive through life’s green lights and move towards his future as smoothly and skillfully as possible.
A．club B．park C．pool D．road
A．knew B．hoped C．guessed D．thought
A．Eventually B．Suddenly C．Mysteriously D．Curiously
A．riding B．driving C．shooting D．swimming
A．terrible B．just so so C．good D．perfect
A．as B．for C．and D．though
A．years B．months C．weeks D．days
A．at dawn B．in the morning C．at noon D．before dark
A．worried B．scared C．excited D．surprised
A．fell B．quitted C．hesitated D．escaped
A．moving B．trying C．struggling D．weeping
A．past B．progress C．situation D．success
A．thinking B．learning C．insisting D．growing
A．disobeying B．embarrassing C．needing D．depending
A．junior B．senior C．athlete D．journalist
A．hard B．short C．fruitful D．memorable
A．blank B．relaxation C．breakdown D．disability
A．annual B．regular C．voluntary D．unpredictable
A．similarly B．unfavorably C．quickly D．unforgettably
A．taught B．reminded C．rewarded D．comforted