Forty-three years seems like a long time to remember a mere acquaintance(相识). I have forgotten the of an old lady who was on my paper route when I was a twelve-year-old boy. Yet it seems like just yesterday that she taught me a lesson in .
One afternoon, a friend and I were rocks onto the roof of the old lady’s house to observe how the rocks to missiles(导弹；发射物) as they rolled to the roof’s edge and shot out into the yard like comets(彗星)falling from the sky. I found myself a perfectly smooth and threw it out. The stone was too smooth, however, it from my hand as I let it go and headed straight for a small on the old lady’s back porch(门廊). We knew we were in and ran away as fast as we could.
I was too of getting caught that first night. However, a few days later. I was sure that I hadn’t been discovered, I started to feel for her misfortune. She still greeted me with a smile but I was no longer to feel in her presence.
I made up my mind that I would my paper delivery money, and in three weeks I had seven dollars. I put the money in an envelope with a note that I was sorry for breaking her window and hoped that the seven dollars would the cost for repairing it.
I waited until it was dark, then put the envelope through the letter slot in her door.
The next day, I the old lady her paper and was able to the warm smile that I was receiving from her. She thanked me for the paper and said, “Here, I have something for you.” It was a bag of cookies. I thanked her and ate the cookies as I continued my way.
After several cookies, I an envelope and pulled it out. When I opened the envelope, I was very . Inside was the seven dollars and a short note that said, “I’m of you.”
A．name B．story C．life D．experience
A．friendship B．forgiveness C．courage D．patience
A．removing B．lifting C．putting D．throwing
A．changed B．flew C．connected D．devoted
A．doll B．glass C．stone D．branch
A．disappeared B．moved C．slipped D．came
A．building B．house C．room D．window
A．trouble B．silence C．failure D．freedom
A．certain B．scared C．aware D．fond
A．grateful B．sensitive C．calm D．guilty(有罪的)
A．as usual B．for sure C．on purpose D．at least
A．hopeless B．strange C．comfortable D．funny
A．spend B．save C．give D．hide
A．explaining B．instructing C．persuading D．declaring
A．spare B．contain C．charge D．cover
A．bought B．awarded C．handed D．owed
A．require B．receive C．return D．repeat
A．folded B．felt C．replaced D．ignored
A．cautious(谨慎的) B．pleased C．surprised D．nervous
A．happy B．proud C．confident D．afraid
It was a cool spring evening in Melbourne, Australia. I drove to my boxing gym for a Friday night training session. After up, I started training. Then I noticed a tall and slim young man walking through the doors.There was something about him that caught my .
Before long, I realized that he might have a mental illness. Having volunteered for mental illness support groups, I really his problems when I looked at him.
He paid for the session, put on a pair of gloves and then started hitting the punchingbags. I watched him from a and wanted to help him to punch straighter andbetter. Then I felt it was best to leave that up to the trainer who was watching him.
After a few seconds of punching the bag, he stopped and started staring at the . The trainer went up to him and to help him. It was almost like he woke up from a dream. He eye contact with the ceiling at once.
Then the bell rang and it was the end of the round. rounds we are required to do five pushups (俯卧撑), all the boys that were training that night did five pushups. He to complete his five pushups. The bell sounded again and the next round began. He punched the bags for a few seconds and then he . This time he was staring at the walls which were decorated with boxing posters.
It was clear to me that he could not for long.
When I finished training, I decided to go up to him and offer him my help. I held the bag for him and asked him to punch. He the bag a few times and then stopped again.
I smiled at him and asked, “Do you like boxing?”
He replied with a very shy on his face, “Yes, boxing is alright.”
What else could I dothan this man and his willingness to give it a go? Most people put self-imposed (自我强加的) on their lives and stop themselves from having a go. I kept thinking about this man while admiring him for even turning up to a boxing gym, let alone training at what appeared to be his .
There are many lessons to learn from this man. What I admired about this man was that he had a go! That is what ordinariness from greatness.
So what will you have a go at?
A．lifting B．running C．warming D．going
A．heart B．attention C．breath D．imagination
A．experienced B．mentioned C．overcame D．understood
A．distance B．box C．poster D．screen
A．still B．even C．also D．ever
A．bags B．walls C．ceiling D．trainer
A．offered B．promised C．seemed D．planned
A．made B．broke C．kept D．avoided
A．Before B．Through C．During D．Between
A．for B．but C．or D．so
A．struggled B．preferred C．refused D．decided
A．slowed B．stopped C．continued D．hesitated
A．stand B．stay C．concentrate D．remember
A．hit B．felt C．grasped D．watched
A．view B．look C．sight D．scene
A．accept B．appreciate C．motivate D．notice
A．targets B．burdens C．limitations D．minds
A．worst B．fullest C．greatest D．hardest
A．really B．hardly C．merely D．nearly
A．prevents B．protects C．transforms D．separates
My husband and I insisted that our children were old enough to clean their rooms and make their beds. But they thought . My complaints, even self-justified shouting, were always landing on ears. Very often a whole hour’s scolding would end with their into tears, I felt very frustrated. I realized I needed to my method of “mothering”.
One day when they were at school, I spent some time their rooms. On their desks, in plain , I left the cards: “Dear Bill (the other card was to Sarah), your room was messy this morning and I’m sure you like it clean. Love, the Room Fairy.” arriving back, the children were excited to receive the little note from the Room Fairy. The next day, their rooms were fairly tidy. Sure enough, there was another note from the Room Fairy __ for them, thanking them for their nice “gift” of a clean room and asking them to play a certain violin . Each day, thank--you notes would be written differently to keep the ideas .
Sometimes the Room Fairy would propose a little : “If you can finish your homework and your lessons before dinner, I’ d like to watch a particular television program with you tonight.” Sometimes some colored markers or other little items would be left in of well done jobs the day .
I can’t remember how long “the Room Fairy” continued leaving her love notes. When they were age appropriate, we used various versions of Post-Its(贴条). The bathroom mirror became the centre of our home. Appointments, notices about visiting relatives, lesson schedules, and changes in plans could be posted.
We all benefited from and the idea of sharing reminders and daily details of life through notes. I believe the true advantage of the Room Fairy notes survives in our frequent and enjoyable communication.
A．indifferently B．gratefully C．doubtfully D．otherwise
A．side B．deaf C．neither D．either
A．crying B．breaking C．bursting D．bumping
A．adjust B．adopt C．access D．addict
A．clearing B．tidying C．emptying D．searching
A．distance B．words C．speech D．sight
A．sent B．read C．delivered D．addressed
A．As B．At C．In D．Upon
A．more than B．rather than C．no more than D．other than
A．asking B．waiting C．praying D．expecting
A．politely B．happily C．gently D．toughly
A．music B．song C．piece D．tone
A．respectable B．uninteresting C．incredible D．fresh
A．challenge B．question C．suggestion D．advice
A．go with B．look up C．go over D．look into
A．response B．answer C．praise D．honor
A．ahead B．before C．over D．ago
A．Actually B．Even so C．Even if D．Though
A．life B．main C．memory D．reminder
A．learned B．appreciated C．shared D．thanked
Joe Simpson and Simon Yates were the first people to climb the West Face of the Siula Grande in the Andes mountains. They reached the top ______, but on their way back conditions were very ______. Joe fell and broke his leg. They both knew that if Simon _____ alone, he would probably get back ______. But Simon decided to risk his ______ and try to lower Joe down the mountain on a rope.
As they ______ down, the weather got worse. Then another ______ occurred. They couldn’t see or hear each other and, ______, Simon lowered his friend over the edge of a precipice(绝壁). It was ______ for Joe to climb back or for Simon to pull him up. Joe’s ______ was pulling Simon slowly towards the precipice. ______, after more than an hour in the dark and the icy cold, Simon had to ______. In tears, he cut the rope. Joe ______ into a large crevasse(裂缝)in the ice below. He had no food or water and he was in terrible pain. He couldn’t walk, but he ______ to get out of the crevasse and started to ______ towards their camp, nearly ten kilometers ____.
Simon had ______ the camp at the foot of the mountain. He thought that Joe must be _____, but he didn’t want to leave ______. Three days later, in the middle of the night, he heard Joe’s voice. He couldn’t ______ it. Joe was there, a few meters from their tent, still alive.
A．hurriedly B．carefully C．successfully D．early
A．difficult B．similar C．special D．normal
A．climbed B．worked C．rested D．continued
A．unwillingly B．safely C．slowly D．regretfully
A．fortune B．time C．health D．life
A．lay B．settled C．went D．looked
A．damage B．storm C．change D．trouble
A．by mistake B．by chance C．by choice D．by luck
A．unnecessary B．practical C．important D．impossible
A．height B．weight C．strength D．equipment
A．Finally B．Patiently C．Surely D．Quickly
A．stand back B．take a rest C．hold on D．make a decision
A．jumped B．fell C．escaped D．backed
A．managed B．planned C．waited D．hoped
A．run B．skate C．move D．march
A．around B．away C．above D．along
A．headed for B．traveled to C．left for D．returned to
A．dead B．hurt C．weak D．late
A．secretly B．tiredly C．immediately D．anxiously
A．find B．believe C．make D．accept
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
It was a cold winter's night when I stopped for gas on my way home from work. I was tired and had a slight ____.
I worked in a ____ doctor's office and this was one of those days when the unexpected happened，making the schedule run __ than usual. It seemed I was going to be late ____ home and my husband，being the ____ person，would be ready to pronounce me late once again. Maybe ____ I hurried，I could still make it home.
I was heading inside to ____ for my gas when I noticed an older couple at the counter. I heard them asking for ____ to the local hospital. It was the same hospital that I had just ___ a few minutes ago.
The young man at the counter was trying to be ___ in explaining how to get there，with two other people making ____.One of them was ____ trying to give them a whole different route back. It was then that I walked over to the couple and said，“Would you like to follow me to the ____？”
A look of ____ crossed the woman's face.
“I'm going right by there，” I said，which wasn't a ____ since I had just made up my mind to do ____ that.
I got in my car and began the journey back. I was trying to watch to be sure they were right ____ me. It took only fifteen minutes to get there as rush hour traffic was beginning to ____.I felt better than I had all day and my headache was nearly gone.
Later，as I arrived home，my husband ____，“So you aren't ever late any more.”
I said，“Sometimes it's ___ to be late.”
A．break B．fever C．cold D．headache
A．foreign B．common C．busy D．noisy
A．earlier B．later C．easier D．simpler
A．getting B．cooking C．calling D．working
A．tough B．punctual C．generous D．careful
A．as B．since C．while D．if
A．pay B．change C．wait D．search
A．opinions B．trouble C．directions D．money
A．reached B．visited C．observed D．left
A．skilled B．helpful C．experienced D．active
A．comments B．promises C．jokes D．noises
A．only B．still C．even D．ever
A．station B．office C．hospital D．hotel
A．panic B．relief C．sadness D．peace
A．duty B．fact C．reason D．lie
A．partly B．properly C．exactly D．perfectly
A．across B．before C．beside D．behind
A．go up B．die down C．speed up D．turn down
A．teased B．shouted C．burst D．laughed
A．possible B．special C．good D．safe
The school was across the street from our home and I would often watch the kids as they played during the break. She seemed so small as she pushed her way the crowd of boys on the playground. She from them all.
I began to notice her at other times, basketball in hand, playing . She would practice dribbling (运球) and shooting over and over again, sometimes until . One day I asked her she practiced so much. She looked in my eyes and without a moment of hesitation she said, “I want to go to college. The only way I can is if I get a scholarship, I am going to play college basketball. I want to be . My Daddy told me if the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.”
Well, I had to give it in to her—she was . One day, I saw her sitting in the grass, head in her arms. I walked toward her and quietly asked what was “Oh, nothing,” came a soft reply. “I am just too short.” The coach told her that at her height she would probably get to play for a top ranked team, offered a scholarship. So she stop dreaming about college.
She was and I sensed her disappointment. I asked her if she had talked to her dad about it yet. She told me that her father said those coaches were wrong. They just did not the power of a dream. He told her she really wanted to play for a good college, if she truly wanted a scholarship, could stop her except one thing — her own attitude. He told her again, “If the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.”
The next year, as she and her team went to the Northern California Championship game, she was seen by a college recruiter (招聘人员). She was indeed offered a . She was going to get the college education that she had and worked toward it for all those years.
A．through B．across C．over D．into
A．brought out B．showed out C．stood out D．worked out
A．only B．lonely C．simply D．alone
A．dark B．dawn C．midnight D．daybreak
A．how B．when C．why D．what
A．worriedly B．shyly C．quietly D．directly
A．go B．meet C．enter D．attend
A．worse B．better C．the best D．the worst
A．determined B．encouraged C．fixed D．fascinated
A．covered B．enclosed C．dropped D．buried
A．the affair B．wrong with C．the thing D．the matter
A．ever B．even C．once D．never
A．far more B．much less C．more less D．many more
A．should B．must C．can D．may
A．overjoyed B．moved C．embarrassed D．heartbroken
A．understand B．experience C．learn D．believe
A．even if B．as if C．that if D．only if
A．anything B．nothing C．something D．everything
A．prize B．medal C．scholarship D．position
A．dreamed of B．relied on C．thought of D．looked forward