I’d been 16 for six days and was already prepared to deal with failure.
I remember that, when my mum me that morning, her voice wasn’t as screaming as it usually was. She had been for more than one hour getting everything ready, and I could feel she was me at the same time.
I stayed in bed for a few minutes. I was to leave its warmth and to face the suffering that I’d rather let myself forget for the past months. Finally, I dragged myself .
The first thing I thought of after getting up was to . I went to the kitchen and prepared a breakfast that was fairly , but was still too big for my appetite(食欲，胃口) that day. I kept telling myself that I eat. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this wasn’t a(n) day. Besides maybe it would me a little. But I doubted it. I left the kitchen because even the made me feel sick.
I finished getting ready and tried to settle down. It didn’t , so I decided that my mum and I should go. We had time, so I thought we could practise parking. I , with the wheel hitting the pavement(人行道). After that, the little bit of confidence I had was . I tried two more times, but did not improve much. Then we went towards the driving site (地点).
I waited twenty minutes---just enough time to make myself believe that I was going to fail. Then, finally, it was my . I wasn’t sure of myself at all. I just wanted to get it over and make sure that I had to come back next Thursday.
The first thing I had to do was parking, which I did quite well. The that came with it hit me like a wave. The rest of the test went well and I passed it.
The of my mum made her face softer. I knew her worry was gone and she was happy for me.
A．woke B．cried C．told D．shouted
A．up B．over C．out D．in
A．smiling at B．looking at C．worrying about D．talking with
A．sad B．eager C．willing D．unwilling
A．convenience B．comfort C．quiet D．friendship
A．into bed B．onto bed C．out of bed D．in bed
A．work B．rest C．drink D．eat
A．small B．large C．delicious D．good
A．might B．could C．hated D．should
A．ordinary B．necessary C．lucky D．important
A．like B．hurt C．stop D．calm
A．milk B．smells C．smoke D．bread
A．work B．do C．calm D．use
A．no B．plenty of C．little D．a little
A．cried B．succeeded C．failed D．left
A．back B．greater C．there D．gone
A．start B．office C．test D．race
A．try B．turn C．car D．chance
A．happiness B．Confidence C．pride D．disappointment
A．tears B．lines C．smiles D．eyes
It’s a small gas station that has snacks, drinks, cigarettes, and candies. The young man behind the counter knows his by name and what they normally want to buy. He treats children and adults with equal . He reads science fiction behind the counter when business is .
One day, three people rushed in and grabbed food off the shelves as fast as they could, not intending to pay for it. He hit the “panic button”, then went over the counter and the front door. It was obvious that they were homeless, and equally obvious that they couldn’t go with their illgotten gains. They the food and simply crowded together in panic—knowing the police were the way.
Imagine what they must have felt like when they were told they didn't have to steal even if they were that . “We have food in the back, expired (到期) but still to eat. If you need food, you have some.”
They were told to what they had dropped and put it back, and then asked to straighten out the mess. They were doing just that the police arrived. The officers were told the situation was under control and the police were no longer .
This wasn't what they had . They were being treated as human beings who could right the wrong they'd done. Shocked, they quickly followed orders to take turns and use the restroom to clean up.
Soon three people walked out with all the their arms could hold. They were that if they needed to come back again they were to ask and not just grab.
And then the young man went back to read until the next customer came in. He would be the person in the
world to claim he was a hero. But he gave the three people something they were in desperate need of—a small amount of selfrespect and a little bit of .
A．friends B．neighbors C．customers D．passengers
A．respect B．pride C．wisdom D．privilege
A．slow B．busy C．heavy D．swift
A．bravely B．reasonably C．hardly D．obviously
A．opened B．locked C．closed D．broke
A．nowhere B．somewhere C．anywhere D．everywhere
A．hid B．lifted C．swallowed D．dropped
A．in B．on C．off D．by
A．anxious B．cautious C．courageous D．hungry
A．safe B．easy C．sweet D．unique
A．must B．can C．should D．need
A．hold up B．hand out C．picks up D．hand in
A．when B．after C．before D．since
A．popular B．necessary C．reliable D．important
A．wanted B．desired C．expected D．admired
A．dirtier B．cleaner C．cleverer D．quicker
A．money B．cigarettes C．drinks D．food
A．reminded B．warned C．ordered D．persuaded
A．first B．last C．best D．worst
A．worry B．advice C．hope D．education
The Town of Pressure and the Town of Pleasure were neighbors but had nothing in common. People built walls to influence from the other town.
In Pressure, tried to be the very best. When women gave birth, they would compete（竞争） to have the baby with the cry. There was competition in every side of life. Because was the index (指数) of success, people were busy making money, with for relaxation. Some young people couldn’t stand it and resorted to drink or drugs to escape.
, over in Pleasure, the motto was “As long as you like it, do it.” People grew up without and do anything they liked. Children played computer games day and night. At school, teachers didn’t whether students appear or not. Workers might sit around the office drinking coffee and doing nothing. rules, nobody worried about losing their jobs. It was that is of great importance. No one had the thought of moving , either for themselves or for the town. The computers they used were models from Pressure.
Some of the young take drugs because of the of their lives. Then, people in the two towns began asking themselves, “What is for?” But, just before life in the two towns completely , there came a saint – Mr. Reason. He went from door to door, talking with people and giving advice. People in Pressure learnt to be with what they had, while people in Pleasure began to make plans. They the walls between them and built a road to connect the two. The towns’ people came to realize the truth—there is no distant space between Pressure and Pleasure if they don’t go to extremes(极端).
A．connect B．keep C．keep out D．protect
A．everyone B．anyone C．nobody D．somebody
A．saddest B．easiest C．loudest D．poorest
A．health B．joy C．children D．wealth
A．rarely B．always C．hardly D．sometimes
A．much time B．no reason C．many reasons D．no time
A．Meanwhile B．Otherwise C．Unfortunately D．Similarly
A．pleasure B．pressure C．work D．happiness
A．must B．need C．could D．should
A．know B．find C．recognize D．care
A．in the morning B．in the evening C．all day long D．in the afternoon
A．Without B．With C．Referring to D．According to
A．money B．time C．pleasure D．pressure
A．backward B．forward C．about D．away
A．the old B．the new C．the best D．the same
A．anxiousness B．homelessness C．happiness D．meaninglessness
A．pressure B．life C．pleasure D．money
A．improved B．failed C．succeeded D．lived
A．satisfied B．surprised C．patient D．angry
A．put up B．put down C．pulled down D．set up
The Town of Pressure and the Town of Pleasure were neighbors but had nothing in common. People built walls to influence from the other town.
In Pressure, tried to be the very best. When women gave birth, they would compete（竞争） to have the baby with the cry. There was competition in every side of life. Because was the index (指数) of success, people were busy making money, with for relaxation. Some young people couldn’t stand it and resorted to drink or drugs to escape.
, over in Pleasure, the motto was “As long as you like it, do it.” People grew up without and do anything they liked. Children played computer games day and night. At school, teachers didn’t whether students appear or not. Workers might sit around the office drinking coffee and doing nothing. rules, nobody worried about losing their jobs. It was that is of great importance. No one had the thought of moving , either for themselves or for the town. The computers they used were models from Pressure.
Some of the young take drugs because of the of their lives. Then, people in the two towns began asking themselves, “What is for?” But, just before life in the two towns completely , there came a saint – Mr. Reason. He went from door to door, talking with people and giving advice. People in Pressure learnt to be with what they had, while people in Pleasure began to make plans. They the walls between them and built a road to connect the two. The towns’ people came to realize the truth—there is no distant space between Pressure and Pleasure if they don’t go to extremes(极端).
A．connect B．keep C．keep out D．protect
A．everyone B．anyone C．nobody D．somebody
A．saddest B．easiest C．loudest D．poorest
A．health B．joy C．children D．wealth
A．rarely B．always C．hardly D．sometimes
A．much time B．no reason C．many reasons D．no time
A．Meanwhile B．Otherwise C．Unfortunately D．Similarly
A．pleasure B．pressure C．work D．happiness
A．must B．need C．could D．should
A．know B．find C．recognize D．care
A．in the morning B．in the evening C．all day long D．in the afternoon
A．Without B．With C．Referring to D．According to
A．money B．time C．pleasure D．pressure
A．backward B．forward C．about D．away
A．the old B．the new C．the best D．the same
A．anxiousness B．homelessness C．happiness D．meaninglessness
A．pressure B．life C．pleasure D．money
A．improved B．failed C．succeeded D．lived
A．satisfied B．surprised C．patient D．angry
A．put up B．put down C．pulled down D．set up
I learned how to accept life as it is from my father. , he did not teach me acceptance when he was strong and healthy, but rather when he was and ill.
My father was once a strong man who loved being active, but a terrible illness all that away. Now he can no longer walk, and he must sit quietly in a chair all day. Even talking is . One night, I went to visit him with my sisters. We started talking about life, and I told them about one of my . I said that we must very often give things up we grow — our youth, our beauty, and our friends — but it always that after we give something up, we gain something new in its place. Then suddenly my father up. He said, “But, Peter, I gave up ! What did I gain?” I thought and thought, but I couldn't think of anything to say. , he answered his own question: “I gained the love of my family,” I looked at my sisters and saw tears in their eyes, along with hope and thankfulness.
I was also by his words. After that，when I began to feel irritated（愤怒的）at someone, I remember his words and become calm. If he could replace his great pain with a feeling of love for others, then I should be to give up my small irritations. In this way, I learned the power of acceptance from my father.
Sometimes I what other things I could have learned from him if I had listened more carefully when I was a boy. For now, though, I am grateful for this one .
A．Afterwards B．Therefore C．However D．Besides
A．tired B．poor C．weak D．slow
A．took B．threw C．sent D．put
A．impossible B．difficult C．hopeful D．hopeless
A．decisions B．experiences C．suggestions D．beliefs
A．as B．since C．before D．till
A．seems B．promises C．suggests D．requires
A．cheered B．turned C．spoke D．opened
A．something B．everything C．nothing D．anything
A．Surprisingly B．Immediately C．Naturally D．Certainly
A．moved B．amazed C．attracted D．warned
A．should B．could C．would D．might
A．ready B．able C．free D．likely
A．doubt B．wonder C．know D．guess
A．prize B．word C．experience D．gift
Each spring brings a new blossom（开花） 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 had to 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 (打赌）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．obvious B．temporary C．unfinished D．last
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(移植）