Mardy, a special education teacher, wanted to build a playground for kids with disabilities. She knew it wouldn’t long to arouse（引起）interest in the project. But she expected that a third of the town would their sleeves to bring her vision to life!
“A lot of learning comes through play,” said Mardy, “But my students (with special needs) are too often left out because playgrounds will stop wheelchairs dead in their tracks.”
The city committee to mark out a piece of land for the playground.
The Kiwanis Club came through with $7,000 and that’s the grassroots movement really got started. Soon small businesses were giving some money. The local Pieper Foundation to donate half of the remaining $170,000 balance.
Finally Mardy a considerable sum of money that could the construction materials. And what Mardy was 500 volunteers work six 12-hour days.
On the first day of the construction, a lot of people came. Two women heard about the on the way to work and took the day to help. A couple drove the tool truck. Families brought pieces of wood for the fence and bricks for walkways.
“It was truly a(n) week, you know,” said Mardy very proudly. with construction experience became organizers. Those who could power tools formed a separate group. One team served donated from local churches, and another organized activities for children of volunteers.
Today the playground is one of most 3 destination in the area. There’s a rocking ship, a climbing wall, high and low rings, and monkey bars. All children play shoulder to shoulder on the same playground having whether they are able-bodied or disabled. It’s what Mardy imagined. You’ll love it.
A．release B．update C．take D．spare
A．always B．never C．even D．still
A．roll up B．bring up C．keep off D．cut off
A．dishonest B．disabled C．unpleasant D．unknown
A．reasonable B．convenient C．suitable D．traditional
A．failed B．agreed C．demanded D．expected
A．why B．where C．what D．when
A．refused B．demanded C．offered D．required
A．spent B．made C．raised D．saved
A．distribute B．cover C．import D．cost
A．needed B．predicted C．implied D．committed
A．business B．discussion C．experience D．project
A．away B．out C．off D．down
A．interesting B．attracting C．inviting D．amazing
A．Youths B．Children C．Volunteers D．Students
A．afford B．operate C．carry D．donate
A．meals B．fruits C．coffee D．water
A．complex B．casual C．permanent D．popular
A．fun B．money C．materials D．tracks
A．exactly B．accurately C．properly D．barely
When I was a little girl, I found love in a box all because of a class assignment. On a Friday night I 36 at dinner table, “My teacher said we have to bring a box, a special box, for our valentines (情人节) on Monday”.
Mother said, “We’ll see,” and she continued eating.
What did “We’ll see” mean? I had to have that box 37 my second grade Valentine’s Day would be a disaster. Maybe they didn’t love me enough to help me with my 38 .
All Saturday I waited 39 and with Sunday arriving, my concern increased, but I 40 an enquiry（询问）about the box might 41 anger or loud voice, for in my house children only asked once. More than that 42 trouble.
Late Sunday afternoon, my father called me into the kitchen. The table was covered with colorful 43 of different kinds. A (n) 44 shoebox rested on top of it. 45 flooded through me when Daddy said, “Let’s get started 46 your project.”
In the next hour my father 47 the shoebox into impressive valentine box. Colorful paper covered the ugly cardboard with red hearts 48 to what I considered all the right places. He sang while he worked. When he finished, he was so delighted that a 49 smile spread over his face. “What do you think of that?” he asked.I answered him with a hug.
But inside, 50 danced all the way to my heart. It was the first time that my father devoted so much 51 to me, for his world consisted of work only.
The holiday party arrived, and my classmates put cards, and presents into the valentine boxes. Laughter filled our classroom until dismissal time 52 .
On the way home, I held out my valentine box for the world to 53 . The love that filled it meant more to me than all the valentines inside. The valentine box became a symbol of his love that 54 through decades of other Valentine’s Days. He gave me other gifts through the years, but none 55 compared with the love I felt within the limits of the old, empty shoebox.
A．appeared B．announced C．served D．sat
A．and B．however C．so D．or
A．design B．project C．plan D．idea
A．sadly B．disappointedly C．anxiously D．patiently
A．knew B．found C．realized D．imagined
A．start B．mark C．cause D．produce
A．took B．invited C．saved D．had
A．boxes B．paper C．gifts D．food
A．new B．big C．empty D．attractive
A．Relief B．Relaxation C．Cheer D．Calm
A．by B．at C．on D．in
A．folded B．changed C．packed D．pressed
A．attached B．joined C．linked D．connected
A．slight B．broad C．brief D．confident
A．fun B．joy C．interest D．amusement
A．money B．support C．time D．hope
A．reached B．set C．came D．spent
A．accept B．admire C．respect D．recognize
A．carried B．kept C．spread D．lasted
A．even B．yet C．still D．ever
The first day of university our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a 11 ,little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that 12 her entire being.
She said, “Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?” I laughed and enthusiastically 13 , “Of course you may!” and she gave me a giant 14 . “Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?” I asked.
She 15 replied, “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids…”
“No seriously,” I asked. I was 16 what may have motivated her to be taking on this 17 at her age.
“I always dreamed of having a 18 and now I’m getting one!” she told me.
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she 19 made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she enjoyed the attention bestowed upon her from the other 20 . She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I’ll never forget what she taught us. “We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow 21 because we stop playing.
There are only four 22 to staying young, being happy and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your 23 ,you die.
Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or 24 . The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in 25 . Have no regrets.”
A．strong B．beautiful C．wrinkled D．charming
A．surrounded with B．lit up C．covered D．showed off
A．responded B．announced C．agreed D．allowed
A．kiss B．squeeze（紧抱） C．smile D．arm
A．seriously B．happily C．jokingly D．hopefully
A．curious B．eager C．unsure D．doubtful
A．career B．degree C．hobby D．challenge
A．college education B．rich husband C．good job D．happy family
A．frequently B．seldom C．easily D．often
A．elderly B．people C．friends D．students
A．mature B．weak C．relaxed D．old
A．notes B．suggestions C．secrets D．requirements
A．courage B．dreams C．confidence D．friends
A．ability B．time C．money D．effort
A．university B．hope C．trial D．change
One day my 5-year-old daughter, Mini, ran to the window crying: “A Cabuliwallah! A Cabuliwallah（从喀布尔来的水果商贩）!” In the street below was a Cbuliwallah,1 slowly along. Mini called him loudly but when he looked at her，she ran away, 2 . Shortly after this, the two became friends. They started to 3 together, laughing and talking. Mini’s new friend would give her sweets and nuts, 4 the little money he had on her.The Cabuliwallah, called Rahmum, would joke: “Well, little one, when are you going to the father-in-law’s house?” Mini did not understand this and was 5 .
One morning, I heard noise in the street, and saw Rahmum being led 6 by the police. There were bloodstains on his clothes. I gathered that a neighbor had 7 Rahmum money for a shawl (披肩)but had falsely 8 having bought it, and that in the course of the quarrel Rahmum had struck him. On a charge of murderous attack, Rahmum was 9 to jail.
Time passed, and he was not remembered. Mini grew up and we were making 10 for her wedding. I was sitting in my study when someone entered. It was Rahmum, 11 from prison.12 recognizable now, he asked to see Mini and said that all those years ago she had 13 him of his own daughter in Kabul. It was his belief that Mini was still the same. He had 14 her running to him calling “Cabuliwallah!”. He had imagined that they would laugh and talk together. In fact, he had brought her,15 in paper, a few nuts and grapes. The two were 16 but Mini had grown up. She now understood the meaning of the word “father-in-law,” and when he made this joke once more she was 17 in the face at the question. He could not revive(还原) their old friendship.
When Rahmum left, I gave him a bank note, saying:“Go back to your own daughter, and 18 the happiness of your meeting bring good fortune to my child! ”
Having made this present, I had to 19 the electric lights and the military band I had 20 for the wedding and the ladies in the house were disappointed. But to me the wedding feast was all the brighter for the thought that in a distant land a long-lost father met again with his child.
A．running B．passing C．driving D．taking
A．scared B．excited C．interested D．disappointed
A．put out B．set out C．take out D．hang out
A．paying B．spending C．offering D．wasting
A．angry B．joyful C．puzzled D．upset
A．away B．down C．in D．out
A．lent B．stolen C．borrowed D．owed
A．admitted B．denied C．declined D．refused
A．abused B．taken C．sentenced D．accused
A．appointments B．jokes C．plans D．arrangements
A．released B．escaped C．come D．removed
A．Immediately B．Hardly C．Directly D．Instantly
A．thought B．approved C．reminded D．informed
A．observed B．seen C．spotted D．pictured
A．picked up B．wrapped up C．brought up D．held up
A．reunited B．connected C．joined D．combined
A．blue B．pink C．red D．pale
A．must B．should C．can D．may
A．give up B．give off C．give in D．give out
A．designed B．made C．intended D．expected
When I was twelve years old, my father took me to see Zig Zigler. I remember sitting in that dark hall listening to Mr. Zigler 41 everyone’s spirits up to the ceiling. I 42 there feeling like I could do anything. When we got to the car, I turned to my father and said, “Dad, I want to 43 people feel like that.” My father asked me what I meant. “I want to be a motivational speaker just like Mr. Zigler,” I replied. A (An) 44 was born.
Recently, I began seeking my dream of motivating others. 45 a four-year relationship with Fortune 100 Company 46 as a sales-trainer and ending as a regional sales manager, I left the company at the height of my 47 . Many people were surprised that I would leave after earning a six-figure income. And they asked why I would risk everything for a dream.
I made my 48 to start my own company and leave my secure position after 49 a regional sales meeting. The vice-president of our company delivered a speech that changed my life. He asked us, “If a god would offer you three wishes, what would they be?” After giving us a (an) 50 to write down the three wishes, he then asked us, “Why do you need a 51 ?” I would never forget the power I felt at that moment. I realized that 52 I accomplished in the past had prepared me for this moment. I was ready and didn’t need a god’s help to become a motivational speaker. A motivational speaker was born.
Having made that decision, I was immediately 53 . One week after I handed in my notice (辞职信), my husband was laid off from his job, and now we had no 54 . But I held fast to my dream. The wonder really began to happen. In a short time my husband found a better job. And I was able to book several 55 engagements with new customers. I discovered the incredible power of dreams.
A．rise B．blow C．put D．raise
A．left B．came C．arrived D．slipped
A．get B．hope C．make D．cheer
A．idea B．dream C．girl D．speaker
A．After B．Before C．Because D．While
A．beginning B．working C．acting D．regarding
A．life B．love C．income D．career
A．plan B．promise C．decision D．mind
A．attending B．joining C．entering D．holding
A．day B．minute C．week D．hour
A．help B．job C．god D．company
A．everything B．anything C．nothing D．something
A．examined B．searched C．checked D．tested
A．help B．harm C．income D．money
A．selling B．speaking C．writing D．listening
“Forgiveness is the sweetest revenge.” I saw this wonderful old saying again in a book recently. It got me thinking about all the times that I have been 31 to forgive others in my life and all the joy that it has brought me. One 32 stands out particularly well.
I was a young boy at a summer camp. I was having a great time and 33___ everything about it except for another young boy of my age. To say we didn’t
34 would be a statement that made the situation less serious than it really was. We spent most of the week irritating, insulting (侮辱), and picking on each other.
35 finally came to a fight on the next to last day of camp. We got into a fist fight which I lost. 36 older boys broke it up before I was hurt too much. I spent the rest of the day alone, refusing to speak andlost in my own 37 .
The next day my spirits were 38 when Mom brought the boys in our cabin some of her delicious homemade 39 . I was enjoying a few slices of it when I saw the other boy sitting by himself at the bottom of the steps outside. He seemed very 40 right then. I am not sure what moved me to do so, but I took my pizza down and 41 it with him. It made all the anger and pain inside me 42 . We became friends after that. I never got into another fist fight either. I had found out that sharing and forgiving were much more fun and a lot less painful.
Forgiveness is 43 the sweetest revenge. It can turn an enemy into a friend. It can 44a heart from the chains of anger, hatred, and pain. It can open a soul to the sweetness of love and joy once again. May your life always be 45 of sweet forgiveness.
A．disappointed B．satisfied C．unwilling D．able
A．memory B．lesson C．incident D．week
A．struggling B．exploring C．enjoying D．remembering
A．get across B．get along C．hold on D．hold up
A．Thoughts B．Words C．Friends D．Conflicts
A．Surprisingly B．Thankfully C．Unexpectedly D．Regretfully
A．fight B．regret C．luck D．anger
A．sunk B．broken C．lifted D．shown
A．pizza B．hamburger C．pie D．sandwich
A．angry B．proud C．ashamed D．lonely
A．presented B．shared C．distributed D．divided
A．go away B．go on C．crowd in D．build up
A．nearly B．merely C．truly D．hardly
A．keep B．cure C．comfort D．free
A．full B．aware C．confident D．certain