In a small village, there lived a potter (陶工) who had a donkey. Every day his donkey would carry soil from the field to his house. the field was quite far off, the potter would under a tree midway, his donkey nearby.
One day, the potter to take the rope with which he tied the donkey every day. When he reached the , he thought, “How do I tie this donkey today? He might if I sleep.” The potter decided to lie down holding the donkey’s while sleeping.
But this way, neither the donkey nor the potter was able to take a rest. A saint (圣人), who to be passing by, saw the potter holding on to the donkey’s ears. When the potter told the saint what the was, the saint said: “Take the donkey to the place where you tie him every day. to tie him using an imaginary rope. I you he won’t run away.” The potter did what the saint had said.
He left the donkey and went to take a nap. When he woke up, to his and relief, he found the donkey standing in the place.
Soon the potter prepared to leave for . But the donkey did not . “What is wrong with this donkey?!” the potter in frustration.
, the potter saw the wise saint again. He ran up to the saint and told him about the donkey’s behavior. The saint said: “You tied up the donkey, but did you untie him? Go and pretend to untie the rope.” The potter the saint’s advice.
Now the donkey was ready to leave for home. The potter understood that his donkey was a bonded (被束缚的) donkey. The potter thanked the wise saint and went home with his donkey.
A．Though B．Unless C．Because D．While
A．stand B．rest C．sing D．dance
A．training B．walking C．feeding D．tying
A．forgot B．decided C．stopped D．agreed
A．stone B．tree C．bridge D．house
A．walk around B．lie down C．run away D．make noises
A．ears B．nose C．legs D．tail
A．failed B．tried C．happened D．managed
A．animal B．problem C．place D．result
A．Learn B．Consider C．Wish D．Pretend
A．promise B．believe C．warn D．remind
A．anger B．surprise C．regret D．disappointment
A．similar B．special C．same D．wrong
A．home B．field C．factory D．village
A．stand B．move C．run D．understand
A．laughed B．cheered C．replied D．cried
A．Strangely B．Luckily C．Finally D．Unfortunately
A．funny B．foolish C．common D．strange
A．offered B．followed C．refused D．recognized
A．sadly B．bravely C．seriously D．happily
My Teacher in the School of Life
I spent the opening day of school this year at DeMatha Catholic High School in much the same way I spent the first day of classes36 30 years ago; I sat in Dr Charles E. Offutt’s British literature class, listening to him 37 what his seniors would learn and get them excited about the journey they would 38 . I’m the principal (校长) of the school now , but for a few minutes I was back in 1975,39 what the future held.
I have been learning from Dr Offutt for 30 of the 51 years he had been teaching at DeMatha. He not only taught me to think, he40 me, as much by example as41 , that it was my moral duty to do so and to serve 42 .
Neither of us could know how our 43 would develop over the years. When I first came back to DeMatha to teach English. I worked for Dr Offutt, the then department chair. After several years, I was 44 department chair, and our relationship changed45 . I thought that it might be 46 chairing the department, since all of my former English teachers were still there, but Dr Offutt 47 me throughout. He knew when to give me48 about curriculum, texts and personnel, and when to let me design my own course.
In 1997, I needed his advice about leaving DeMatha to become principal at another school. If he had asked me to stay at DeMatha, I might have.49 , he encouraged me to seize the new50 .
Five years ago, I became the 51 of DeMatha. Once again, Dr Offutt was there for me, letting me know that I could 52 on him as I tried to fill such big shoes. I’ve learned from him that great teachers have a (n)53 wealth of lessons to teach. 54 his students don’t know it yet, I know how 55 they are; I’m still one of them.
A．mostly B．exactly C．only D．simply
A．explain B．predict C．speak D．teach
A．keep B．achieve C．choose D．take
A．preparing B．discovering C．wondering D．realizing
A．assisted B．reminded C．advised D．convinced
A．words B．action C．explanation D．models
A．the others B．everyone C．others D．anyone
A．relationship B．position C．situation D．condition
A．pointed B．named C．given D．taken
A．already B．yet C．still D．again
A．foolish B．surprising C．uncertain D．challenging
A．promoted B．accepted C．supported D．welcomed
A．advice B．information C．notice D．thought
A．Otherwise B．Therefore C．Furthermore D．Instead
A．choice B．opportunity C．occupation D．possibility
A．teacher B．principal C．officer D．clerk
A．live B．look C．depend D．take
A．rich B．little C．valuable D．endless
A．Once B．Even if C．Unless D．Until
A．fortunate B．curious C．innocent D．satisfied
One Christmas Eve, my husband made his way home from work. 36 , he worked the entire day but let his stuff go 37 so that they could be with their families.
He drove down the street and made the 38 towards our home. On one side of the road, an old man stood, drenched to the bone (被雨淋得湿透了), with his hand 39 . The rain had been 40 heavily that day. My husband stopped, and asked him where he was 41 . He wanted to go about five miles past our home, but my husband still told him to 42 . My husband chatted with him, drove 43 our house and took him home for his Christmas Eve. 44 turned out that this poor man was what we now 45 as a “slow learner” and the only job he could get to 46 him and his elderly mother was at the bakery near where my husband worked. He worked from 5 a.m. until 1 o’clock in the 47 . Not only that, but that poor man had been standing there trying to get a ride on Christmas Eve for about 5 hours 48 my husband picked him up. 49 else would give him a ride because they didn’t want to get their seats 50 .
Over the years my husband 51 to give him a ride home whenever he saw him trying to get a ride. When he passed 52 , my husband went to his funeral. 53 my husband didn’t know his family, they knew of him. Even his twin sister who 54 in the state of Washington knew who my husband was and everyone thanked him for his 55 toward one who had so little.
An act of kindness can make another person’s day, or even their life.
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When I was a teenager I volunteered to work at the water station at a 10,000m race. My job was to 36 water to the runners. I remember being so 37 to see all the different kinds of people who passed by and grabbed a cup of water. Some ran past, some walked past and a few wheeled past. I saw so many types of people doing it. I thought maybe I could do it too! So the next year I 38 up for the race.
That first 10,000m race was quite an 39 . I jogged, I walked, I jogged and I walked. 40 , I didn’t know if I could finish. Then came a defining (决定性) 41 .
At one point near the end, a 70-year-old man ran past me, very, very fast, and I felt 42 because I was 50 years younger than he but I couldn’t even keep up with him. I felt 43 for a second.
But then I 44 something. He was running his race and I was running mine. He had 45 abilities, experience, training and goals for himself. I had mine. Remember my 46 was only to finish.
After a minute, it 47 me that this was a lesson I could draw from. I learned something about myself in that moment. I turned my embarrassment into 48 .
I 49 that I would not give up on running races. In fact, I would run even more races and I would learn how to train and prepare 50 and one day I would be one of those 70-year-old persons who were still running. As I crossed the finish line, I was proud of my 51 .
In life we all have those moments where we 52 ourselves to others. It’s only 53 . Don’t allow those moments to 54 you. Turn them into motivation and let them inspire you. With the proper preparation and training, you can improve your result to 55 anything you want in life.
A．bring out B．pass out C．take out D．pick out
A．excited B．worried C．concerned D．anxious
A．gave B．made C．signed D．dressed
A．achievement B．encouragement C．instruction D．experience
A．At times B．In time C．In all D．After all
A．victory B．decision C．moment D．conclusion
A．embarrassed B．annoyed C．moved D．thrilled
A．relaxed B．defeated C．puzzled D．inspired
A．realized B．lost C．noticed D．remembered
A．special B．evident C．common D．different
A．motto B．plan C．goal D．direction
A．worried B．hit C．reached D．hurt
A．attraction B．devotion C．inspiration D．expectation
A．hoped B．promised C．decided D．suggested
A．slightly B．hardly C．clearly D．properly
A．excitement B．accomplishment C．movement D．judgment
A．introduce B．relate C．present D．compare
A．important B．natural C．strange D．ridiculous
A．weaken B．wound C．amuse D．cheer
A．reserve B．deliver C．achieve D．abandon
When I was young, I belonged to a club that did community service work. There was one specific event that was unusual for me. I spent three or four hours handing out warm dinner to the homeless out in the streets. After that I went to a homeless shelter not far from the Bay Bridge.
I was in high school and at the time my sister was too young to __36__. She wanted to help, __37__she made four or five dozen chocolate chip cookies for me to __38__ and hand out to people. When getting to the homeless shelter __39__ passed out the remaining meals. __40__, I began making sandwiches and __41__ them with the crowd. I had the containers with my __42__ cookies in them and began to __43__, offering them to anyone near me.
I __44__an old gentleman and said, “sir, would you like a cookie?” He stopped and turned around, __45__and said, “What did you say? Did you call me sir?” I told him I __46__, and his eyes __47__ a little bit and he said, “No one has __48__ called me sir.” So he was __49__ taken aback(意外). It struck me.
I explained I had been raised that__50__color and social status, everyone deserved respect. It __51__me to think that just because he was homeless, no one__52__ him the honor. It broke my heart, and I __53__. I just didn’t understand__54__ no one ever called him sir. I had never thought that anyone was below me because I wasn’t raised that way. Every __55__ person deserves to be treated with dignity. Ye
ars later, I still carry that memory and the lessons it taught me. Sometimes, what we take for granted can really make a difference in someone’s life.
How have you made a difference to others? How have others made a difference to you?
A．participate B．decide C．choose D．go
A．however B．but C．yet D．so
A．bring B．fetch C．collect D．take
A．I B．you C．she D．we
A．First B．Next C．Third D．Finally
A．shared B．gave C．helped D．assisted
A．classmate’s B．schoolmate’s C．sister’s D．family’s
A．walk around B．knock around C．come around D．stand around
A．went B．came C．approached D．met
B．stared at me with difficulty C．glared at me in anger D．looked at me right in the eye
A．had B．called C．did D．do
A．watered B．cried C．tore D．dropped
A．already B．ever C．still D．yet
A．differently B．normally C．completely D．exactly
A．in spite B．regardless of C．concerned about D．for fear of
A．strengthened B．saddened C．frightened D．pleased
A．handed B．afforded C．provided D．supplied
A．had no choice but to cry B．couldn’t help to cry C．had no right to cry D．couldn’t help but cry
A．what B．when C．whether D．why
A．single B．poor C．ordinary D．normal
The young couple had another quarrel. They were sitting silently when the landlady came in and asked, “You don’t 31 the house any more?” He kept silent and she 32 shook her head.
The landlady began 33 the house. After looking around, the landlady screamed, “See how you have 34 my house? The walls are full of nails! How could I rent it to others?”
She began looking around her 35 room. Four years ago on the wedding night, he felt deeply 36 to her, saying, “I feel so sorry to you for 37 you live in this small room. In the future I will buy our own big house.”
This tiny room has two nails on the wall next to the door, one for her bag and the other 38 . At that time, she threw all her stuff such as her bag and umbrella on the 39 once she entered the room, staring at the whole 40 and feeling terribly upset. Then he began 41 more nails into the wall. There were three nails on the left, on which 42 his clothes yesterday and four on the right used to 43 their wedding photo frame.
The landlady started to pull the nails out with a tool. After the nails were 44 , the walls were left with countless holes. Suddenly, she felt heartbroken as if she were 45 nonstop through these holes.
She 46 to her feet and exclaimed, “Stop removing the nails! We will rent the house 47 we buy our own!” He gazed at her surprised, and then turned round, tears over his cheek.
She 48 realized that marriage was like a wall and that all 49 and “cold wars” were like the nails on the wall. 50 , when they were removed, only a wall with holes would remain. But if all the nails were still in their own places, the wall was still complete and reliable.
A．like B．clean C．rent D．keep
A．simply B．barely C．coldly D．proudly
A．observing B．examining C．watching D．spotting
A．shared B．ruined C．kept D．decorated
A．familiar B．dirty C．empty D．bright
A．devoted B．attached C．optimistic D．guilty
A．leaving B．having C．asking D．getting
A．clothes B．pictures C．umbrellas D．hats
A．floor B．wall C．ceiling D．door
A．trouble B．mess C．confusion D．order
A．putting B．striking C．driving D．beating
A．hung B．fastened C．dropped D．swung
A．connect B．fix C．hang D．put
A．replaced B．separated C．unfastened D．removed
A．crying B．aching C．bleeding D．disturbing
A．jumped B．held C．stuck D．got
A．if B．unless C．as D．until
A．especially B．eventually C．fortunately D．sadly
A．chaos B．troubles C．quarrels D．challenges
A．Therefore B．Besides C．Thus D．However