When our restaurant business failed, we headed north in a camping truck to Texas, hoping to have a “fresh start”.
At the of Palo Duro Canyon (峡谷) State Park, I a job advertisement hiring park hosts. The position offered a , permanent campsite in the park, and , the hosts served as a link between the park’s guests and the rangers (护林人). It was the perfect solution: a rent-free place to reorganize our lives. We entered the park and I made an for the following day.
The park was , so it took us some time to find an available site. That evening, as we finished our dinner, my wife saw two large skunks (臭鼬) walking toward our table. We climbed onto the table and, for the next four hours, waited for them to our camp.
Having survived that night, we were that everything else would be all right. The next day we met with the people who ran the park. They explained our and gave us a beautiful campsite.
That evening, , we learned about the canyon . They were strong and cold, rocking our little camping truck violently, and we lay in the dark until the winds died away.
the weeks that followed, we learned to survive in our truck and the little money my wife by substitute teaching. Building a successful business and then losing it had left very little time for building a successful . For a time after our business I thought I might lose my family as well.
Living in the tiny with no television, we sat close together reading and talking. One evening, standing under a jeweled sky, I found myself for all the hardships. We had walked the trails and climbed the canyon walls. We had become a family!
A．back B．edge C．centre D．entrance
A．sponsored B．published C．noticed D．answered
A．safe B．free C．convenient D．beautiful
A．in return B．in time C．in short D．in turn
A．attempt B．agreement C．appeal D．appointment
A．crowded B．dangerous C．ideal D．quiet
A．repeatedly B．immediately C．eventually D．calmly
A．attack B．leave C．pass D．search
A．satisfied B．determined C．confident D．aware
A．responsibilities B．requirements C．circumstances D．conditions
A．moreover B．therefore C．meanwhile D．however
A．winds B．snows C．woods D．trails
A．shaking B．quarrelling C．mourning D．aching
A．After B．Between C．During D．Beyond
A．give away B．hand out C．live on D．put aside
A．borrowed B．earned C．posted D．raised
A．business B．career C．family D．image
A．started B．failed C．expanded D．declined
A．truck B．park C．house D．camp
A．desperate B．ready C．suitable D．thankful
Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list __16__ in our past that we felt __17__ of, regretted, or incomplete about and read our lists aloud.
This seemed like a very __18__ process, but there’ s always some __19__ soul in the crowd who will volunteer. The instructor then __20__ that we find ways to __21__ people, or take some action to right any wrong doings. I was seriously wondering how this could ever __22__ my communication.
Then the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story: “Making my _23__, I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town. There was a Sheriff __24__ of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a __25__ on him.
After drinking a few beers, we climbed the tall water tank in the middle of the town, and wrote on the tank in bright red paint: Sheriff Brown is a sob.(畜生). The next day, almost the whole town saw our glorious __26__. Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had us in his office. My friends told the truth but I lied. No one __27__ found out.”
“Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name __28__ on my list. I didn’t even know if he was still __29__. Last weekend, I dialed the information in my hometown and found there was a Roger Brown still listed. I tried his number. After a few __30__, I heard, “Hello?” I said, “Sheriff Brown?” Paused. “Yes.” “Well, this is Jimmy Calkins.”
“And I want you to know that I did it？”Paused. “I knew it!” he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a __31__ discussion. His closing words were: “Jimmy, I always felt bad for you __32__ your buddies got it off their chest, but you were carrying it __33___ all these years. I want to thank you for calling me...for your sake.”
Jimmy inspired me to __34__ all 101 items on my list within two years, and I always remember what I learned from the course: It’s never too late to __35__ the past wrong doings.
A．something B．anything C．somebody D．anybody
A．ashamed B．afraid C．sure D．proud
A．private B．secret C．interesting D．funny
A．foolish B．polite C．simple D．brave
A．expected B．suggested C．ordered D．demanded
A．connect with B．depend on C．make apologise to D．get along with
A．improve B．continue C．realize D．keep
A．notes B．list C．plan D．stories
A．any B．most C．none D．all
A．part B．game C．trick D．record
A．view B．sign C．attention D．remark
A．also B．even C．still D．ever
A．appears B．considers C．presents D．remembers
A．angry B．happy C．doubtful D．alive
A．words B．rings C．repeats D．calls
A．cold B．plain C．nervous D．lively
A．in case B．so long as C．unless D．because
A．around B．out C．on D．away
A．build up B．make up C．clear up D．give up
A．regret B．forgive C．right D．punish
That night, Joe came back home very late, pulling his heavy legs, obviously tired．He then sat down by the window, 1 his head．
Hearing her husband back, Kay 2 out of the kitchen, but to her 3 , Joe sat still,
without 4 ．Usually, when he came back, he would greet her with a kiss or a hug．Immediately Kay 5 something unusual．She went over to Joe and asked, “Tell me, my dear, any 6 news?”
“Well, I have to say that things are not in our 7 ．It seems that I have no 8 to defeat my opponent (对手)．He’s much more 9 , for he’s been holding the position for nearly four years, and people think he’s done a10 job．Many signs show that he’s in the 11．”
“Oh, really? But I still believe you have our own 12 ．You’re in your forties at the best age for a man．You’re new, so people have reasons to 13 you to do better．So let’s go to the voters and tell hem, ‘Give Joe Hart a chance, and he’ll show you who’s your better 14”
Their next three weeks were spent 15 different neighborhoods, going to all kinds of parties, and making speeches at universities and gatherings．Even Judy and Julie, their small children, went from door to door, 16 their “Please vote for our daddy, Joe Hart!”
The night before the 17 vote, the whole Hart family were too 18 to fall asleep．The moment before the final result was declared, their 19 were brought to their mouths, but at last they all 20 and burst into tears．
Joe Hart became head judge of the state of Texas, USA．
A．lifting B．raising C．hanging D．combing
A．walked B．looked C．kept D．stole
A．anger B．joy C．surprise D．disappointment
A．hope B．movement C．patience D．smile
A．said B．sensed C．told D．did
A．lucky B．exciting C．new D．bad
A．favor B．way C．place D．sight
A．time B．thought C．chance D．wish
A．interesting B．experienced C．lovely D．fit
A．good B．poor C．beautiful D．funny
A．success B．office C．lead D．government
A．people B．reasons C．rights D．advantages
A．force B．expect C．order D．ask
A．choice B．friend C．leader D．person
A．helping B．visiting C．inviting D．traveling
A．answering B．repeating C．showing D．offering
A．final B．next C．first D．close
A．eager B．sorry C．anxious D．happy
A．breaths B．worries C．tongues D．hearts
A．left B．arrived C．laughed D．jumped
The young boy and his father sat quietly watching the snow fall on a snowy Saturday afternoon.
“Dad, my friend told me that every snowflake is 36 . But they look all the same to me. How can we tell?” the child asked.
Dad felt it was his 37 to give a more satisfying answer. “Son, snowflakes are like people. We are each 38 in a very special way. We can test it right now,” he said.
The child stood up, put out his hands, and 39 as snowflakes landed on his gloves. “These snowflakes are all different on my gloves, but those in the yard look the same. Together they are even more_ 40 and striking. Then if people are like snowflakes, why don't they 41 ?”
“Choice,”Dad said. "Their choices 42 them what they are.”
“ 43 choice is a bad thing?” the boy asked.
“Oh, no. Only when we choose the44 things.”
“How do we tell right from wrong?" the child asked.
Dad was given the chance to build upon the foundation of his son's 45 . He reached down and began to 46 with the snow. He 47 the snow into two sides, three large snowballs on one side and several smaller ones on the other.
“Which side did the right thing?” he asked the boy.
The child looked at both sides but48 answer. Then Dad placed the three larger snowballs on top of each other.
“It’ s a snowman! The side49 made me snowman!” the boy replied with 50
Yes, all these people came together and recognized how special each of them was, so they joined in a(n)51 to build up mankind,” Dad said.
The child then stood up and 52 an arm full of the smaller snowballs. One by one he began to throw them at the other small piles of snow. He said,”This is what happens when people can't work together. They have a(n) 53 .”
Dad was shocked. He stood up, lifted the boy and 54 him tightly, whispering to him, “I hope that your world will learn to work and live together. I hope you will make the right 55
and learn to build the best snowman ever.”
A．similar B．different C．freezing D．special
A．challenge B．trouble C．responsibility D．position
A．private B．associated C．unique D．isolated
A．inspected B．watched C．glanced D．glared
A．beautiful B．effective C．comfortable D．significant
A．get along B．take care C．cheer up D．break up
A．remain B．appear C．become D．make
A．Though B．However C．So D．While
A．exact B．coincident C．fortunate D．wrong
A．interest B．concern C．worry D．faith
A．communicate B．work C．mix D．relate
A．separated B．divided C．distinguished D．parted
A．couldn' t B．shouldn' t C．wouldn' t D．needn' t
A．that B．what C．how D．when
A．disappointment B．frustration C．enthusiasm D．humour
A．power B．effort C．organization D．attempt
A．gathered B．sorted C．threw D．formed
A．war B．debate C．agreement D．negotiation
A．trembled B．swung C．pulled D．held
A．steps B．turns C．choices D．points
When I was about twelve years old, my mother told us that we would not be ___1___ Christmas gifts for lack of money．I felt sad and thought, “What would I say when the other kids asked what I’d ___2___?” Then，three women ___3___ at our house with gifts for all of us．For me they bought a doll．I would no longer have to be ___4___ when I returned to school．
Years later, when I stood in the kitchen of my new house, thinking how I wanted to make my ___5___ Christmas special and memorable there, I ___6___ remembered the women’s visit．I decided that I wanted to create the same feeling of ___7___ for as many children as I could possibly ____8__．
So I ___9__ a plan and gathered forty people from my company to help．We gathered about 125 orphans （孤儿） at the Christmas party．For every child, we wrapped colorful packages filled with toys, clothes, and school supplies, each with a child’s name．We wanted all of them to know they were ___10__．Before I called out their names and handed them their gifts, I ___11__ them that they couldn’t open their presents until every child had come forward．Finally the __12___ they had been waiting for came as I called out, “One, two, three．Open your presents!” As the children opened their packages, their faces beamed and their bright smiles ___13__ up the room．The __14___ in the room was obvious, and it wasn’t just about toys．It was a feeling---the feeling I knew from that Christmas so long ago when the women came to visit．I wasn’t forgotten．Somebody still remembered me．I know I___15___．
A．sending B．receiving C．making D．exchanging
A．found B．prepared C．got D．expected
A．broke in B．settled down C．showed up D．turned off
A．puzzled B．embarrassed C．worried D．relieved
A．present B．first C．recent D．previous
A．hardly B．suddenly C．regularly D．occasionally
A．strength B．sadness C．importance D．safety
A．know B．reach C．remember D．mention
A．kept up with B．caught up with C．came up with D．put up with
A．fine B．special C．helpful D．normal
A．reminded B．waited C．convinced D．promised
A．chance B．gift C．moment D．reward
A．lit B．took C．burned D．cheered
A．atmosphere B．sympathy C．calmness D．joy
A．matter B．wonder C．doubt D．suppose
For many people today, reading is no longer relaxation. To keep up their work they must read letters, reports, trade publications, interoffice communications, not to mention newspapers and magazines: a never-ending flood of words.
In 16a job or advancing in one, the ability to read and comprehend 17 can mean the difference between success and failure. Yet the unfortunate fact is that most of us are 18__ readers. Most of us develop poor reading 19 at an early age, and never get over them. The main deficiency（缺乏） 20in the actual stuff of language itself — words. Taken individually, words have little meaning until they are strung together into phrases, sentences and paragraphs. 21 , however, the untrained reader does not read groups of words. He laboriously reads one word at a time, often regressing（退回） to 22 words or passages. Regression, the tendency to look back over what you have just read, is a common bad habit in reading.
Another habit which 23 down the speed of reading is vocalization — sounding each word either orally or mentally as one reads.
To overcome these bad habits, some reading clinics use a device called an 24 , which moves a bar (or curtain) down the page at a predetermined（预先确定的） speed．The bar is set at a slightly faster rate 25 the reader finds comfortable, in order to “stretch” him. The device forces the reader to read fast, 26 word-by-word reading, regression and sub-vocalization（默读）practically impossible.
At first 27 is sacrificed for speed．But when you learn to read ideas and concepts, you will not only read faster, but your understanding will 28 . Many people have found their reading skill greatly improved after some training. 29 Charlie Au, a business manager, for instance, his reading rate was a reasonably good 172 words a minute before the training, now it is an excellent 182 words a minute. He is delighted that how he can 30 through a lot more reading material in a short period of time.
A．applying B．doing C．offering D．getting
A．quickly B．easily C．roughly D．decidedly
A．good B．curious C．poor D．urgent
A．training B．habits C．situations D．custom
A．lies B．combines C．touches D．involves
A．Hopefully B．Actually C．Logically D．Unfortunately
A．reuse B．reread C．rewrite D．recite
A．scales B．cuts C．slows D．measures
A．accelerator B．actor C．loudspeaker D．observer
A．then B．as C．beyond D．than
A．having B．leading C．making D．indicating
A．meaning B．comprehension C．vocalization D．regression
A．arise B．reduce C．improve D．worsen
A．Like B．Take C．Make D．Consider
A．master B．make C．finish D．get