A man lived at the foot of a hill. For a long time, he heard of tales of the other side of the hill—stories of rich land, weather and beautiful scenery.
One day, he was life in his home town and thought it was to improve it, so he packed his bags, left his home and started climbing the hill, to live a better life.
The climb was very .The man had to stop to rest many times. At some , the hill was very steep (陡峭的) indeed, and he almost wanted to . But his dream of a better life him going.
One afternoon, the man came to another steep part of the hill. And at the top stood some thick plants. The same had happened to him many times before. this time it was a little hard to get over it, he surely was able to do it.
, the man was too tired after all those days of and pushing through high plants. He was that he still had no results to show, no fruit to enjoy. He just didn’t want to any more. He said to himself, “Maybe life on the other side of the hill is not like what the told. My old home isn’t that anyway.” He finally made his decision, and set off for home.
Actually the man didn’t know that he climbed over that slope (斜坡), he could see the other side of the hill and all he had heard about that place was . The man had already done the hard part, but he to stop trying when things were going to get much better.
A．bad B．hot C．perfect D．cold
A．interested in B．bored of C．surprised at D．nervous about
A．easy B．necessary C．simple D．right
A．wishing B．beginning C．refusing D．helping
A．astonishing B．interesting C．tiring D．attractive
A．afternoons B．days C．points D．corners
A．get up B．give up C．sit down D．run away
A．stopped B．asked C．noticed D．kept
A．trouble B．steep C．dream D．illness
A．If B．Because C．When D．Although
A．Luckily B．However C．Or D．So
A．running B．playing C．climbing D．waiting
A．happy B．angry C．excited D．charged
A．try B．help C．escape D．learn
A．films B．books C．tales D．lessons
A．strange B．terrible C．useless D．dangerous
A．looked around B．turned around C．went on D．slowed down
A．as if B．so that C．as long as D．as well as
A．false B．true C．funny D．important
A．prepared B．agreed C．chose D．failed
Diane Ray was completely self-centered and very spoilt. Her parents gave her 36 she wanted, knowing that she would throw a temper tantrum(耍小孩脾气)if they did not. She would scream and kick and 37 on the floor drumming her heels. Her parents always 38 .
That was why she was alone on the 39 , wearing an expensive swimsuit. It has taken a massive tantrum to 40 her parents to buy it. They were back at the beach-house, 41 from the tantrum she had thrown when they told her that it was too dangerous to go diving 42 . “Dangerous?” she had said. “You just don’t want me to have 43 . I’m going and if you try to stop me, I’ll scream.”
“What are you doing ?” a voice asked. Diane jumped. She did not know that the man was there 44 he spoke .
“I’m going diving, ” she answered.
“You shouldn’t swim that day, ” the man 45 . “There is a storm coming up.”
“You should mind your own 46 !” Diane replied and walked into the gentle waves.
“If you go out there you’ll be 47 ,” the man called after her. She did not bother to reply.
Diane slipped into the water and dived 48 until white caps began rolling in and it became harder to 49 against the current (水流). Saltwater hit against her face, making it 50 to breathe. Oh, why had she not listened to advice.
Panicking, she began to 51 . Then, just as it seemed as if she would slip beneath the surface, she heard a 52 voice. “Hold on ! I’m coming.” With 53 , she saw the old man rowing an ancient-looking boat towards her. “I hope you’ve learned a lesson. You put us both in 54 , ” he shouted angrily, as he dragged her over the side of the 55 . Gratefully, Diane thanked him and ran towards the beach-house.
A．either B．neither C．nothing D．everything
A．jump B．lie C．spin D．sleep
A．set out B．set in C．gave in D．gave out
A．beach B．bed C．floor D．ship
A．allow B．warn C．get D．prefer
A．changing B．recovering C．appearing D．traveling
A．alone B．away C．again D．aside
A．time B．money C．food D．fun
A．when B．until C．after D．once
A．decided B．intended C．advised D．repeated
A．business B．swimsuit C．friends D．parents
A．angry B．sorry C．confused D．excited
A．nervously B．sadly C．shyly D．happily
A．rise B．swim C．stop D．row
A．difficult B．easy C．comfortable D．suitable
A．speak B．sing C．sniff D．scream
A．calm B．frightening C．beautiful D．disgusting
A．regret B．relief C．interest D．ease
A．power B．safety C．danger D．thought
A．house B．wave C．beach D．boat
I used to believe in the American Dream, which meant a job, a mortgage (按揭), credit cards, success. I wanted it and worked toward it like everyone else, all of us 36 chasing the same thing.
One year, through a series of unhappy events, it all fell 37 . I found myself homeless and alone. I had my truck and $ 56. I 38 the countryside for some place I could rent for the 39 possible amount. I came upon a shabby house four miles up a winding mountain road 40 the Potomac River in West Virginia. It was 41 , full of broken glass and rubbish. I found the owner, rented it, and 42a corner to camp in.
The locals knew nothing about me, 43 slowly, they started teaching me the 44 of being a neighbor. They dropped off blankets, candles, and tools, and began 45 around to chat. They started to teach me a belief in a 46 American Dream—not the one of individual achievement but of 47 .
What I had believed in, all those things I thought were 48 for a civilized life, were nonexistent in this place. 49 on the mountain, my most valuable possessions were my 50 with my neighbors.
Four years later, I moved back into 51 . I saw many people were having a really hard time, 52 their jobs and homes. I managed to rent a big enough house to 53a handful of people. There are four of us now in the house, but over time I’ve had nine people come in and move on to other places. We’d all be in 54 if we hadn’t banded together.
The American Dream I believe in now is a shared one. It’s not so much about what I can get for myself; it’s about 55 we can all get by together.
A．separately B．equally C．violently D．naturally
A．off B．apart C．over D．out
A．crossed B．left C．toured D．searched
A．fullest B．largest C．fairest D．cheapest
A．at B．through C．over D．round
A．occupied B．abandoned C．emptied D．robbed
A．turned B．approached C．cleared D．cut
A．but B．although C．otherwise D．for
A．benefit B．lesson C．nature D．art
A．sticking B．looking C．swinging D．turning
A．wild B．real C．different D．remote
A．neighborliness B．happiness C．friendliness D．kindness
A．unique B．expensive C．rare D．necessary
A．Up B．Down C．Deep D．Along
A．cooperation B．relationships C．satisfaction D．appointments
A．reality B．society C．town D．life
A．creating B．losing C．quitting D．offering
A．put in B．turn in C．take in D．get in
A．yards B．shelters C．camps D．cottages
A．when B．what C．whether D．how
I used to be a very self-centered person, but in the past two years I have really changed. I have started to think about other people__36__I think about myself. I am happy that I am becoming a__37__person.
I think my __38__started when I was at Palomar College. At first, I just wanted to get my__39__and be left alone. I thought I was smarter than everyone else, so I hardly ever__40__ to anyone in my classes. By the end of my first semester, I was really__41__. It seemed as if everyone but me had made friends and was having fun. So tried a(n) __42__. I started asking people around me how they were doing, and if they were having trouble I__43__ to help. That was really a big__44__for me. By the end of the year, I had several new friends, and two of__45__are still my best friends today.
A bigger cause of my new__46__, however, came when I took a part-time job at a Vista Nursing Home. One old lady there who had Alzheimer’s disease became my__47__ . Every time I came into her room, she was so __48__ because she thought I was her daughter. Her real daughter never__49__her, so I took her place. She let me __50__that making others feel good made me feel good, too. When she died, I was__51__, but I was very grateful to her.
I think I am a much__52__ person today than I used to be, and I hope I will not__53__ these experiences. They have __54__ me to care about other people more than about myself. I __55__who I am today, and I could not say that a few years ago.
A．since B．before C．or D．unless
A．famous B．simple C．different D．skilled
A．education B．career C．tour D．change
A．balance B．homework C．degree D．interest
A．talked B．wrote C．lied D．reported
A．careful B．lonely C．curious D．guilty
A．argument B．game C．experiment D．defence
A．dared B．offered C．hesitated D．happened
A．dream B．problem C．duty D．step
A．us B．which C．them D．whom
A．attitude B．hobby C．hope D．luck
A．friend B．partner C．guide D．guest
A．polite B．happy C．strange D．confident
A．bothered B．answered C．visited D．trusted
A．explain B．guess C．declare D．see
A．homeless B．heartbroken C．bad-tempered D．hopeless
A．quieter B．busier C．better D．richer
A．forget B．face C．improve D．analyze
A．forced B．preferred C．ordered D．taught
A．miss B．like C．wonder D．expect
If you want to learn a new language, the very first thing to think about is why. Do you need it for a ___36___reason, such as your job or your studies?___37____ perhaps you’re interested in the ___38____ , films or music of a different country and you know how much it will help to have a ___39____ of the language.
Most people learn best using a variety of ___40____, but traditional classes are an ideal（理想的）start for many people. They___41__an environment where you can practice under the __42___ of someone who’s good at the language. We all lead ___43___ lives and learning a language takes __44___. You will have more success if you study regularly, so try to develop a ___45___. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t got long. Becoming fluent in a language will take years, but learning to get by takes __46__.
Many people start learning a language and soon give up. “I’m too __47___, ” they say. Yes, children do learn languages more __48___ than adults, but research has shown that you can learn a language at any ___49___. And learning is good for the health of your brain, too. I’ve also heard people ___50___ about the mistakes they make when ___51___. Well, relax and laugh about your mistakes __52____ you’re much less likely to make them again.
Learning a new language is never ___53___. But with some work and devotion, you’ll make progress. And you’ll be __54___ by the positive reaction of some people when you say just a few words in ___55___ own language. Good luck!
A．technical B．political C．practical D．physical
A．After B．So C．Though D．Or
A．literature B．transport C．agriculture D．medicine
A．view B．knowledge C．form D．database
A．paintings B．regulations C．methods D．computers
A．protect B．change C．respect D．provide
A．control B．command C．guidance D．pressure
A．busy B．happy C．simple D．normal
A．courage B．time C．energy D．place
A．theory B．business C．routine D．project
A．some risks B．a lot less C．some notes D．a lot more
A．old B．nervous C．weak D．tired
A．closely B．quickly C．privately D．quietly
A．age B．speed C．distance D．school
A．worry B．hesitate C．think D．quarrel
A．singing B．working C．bargaining D．learning
A．if B．and C．but D．before
A．tiresome B．hard C．interesting D．easy
A．blamed B．amazed C．interrupted D．informed
A．their B．his C．our D．your
A Leap（跳跃）to Honor
Leaping on a narrow balance beam（平衡木） is not easy. But Lola Walter, a 13-year-old gymnast, is an expert at it.
To perfect her skills, Lola 36 for four hours a day, five days a week. At the state championships in March, she finished seventh out of 16 girls.
That’s especially impressive, 37 she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift constantly. She often sees double and can’t _38 how far away things are.
When she was little, her mom39 that even though she couldn’t see 40 , she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the 41 right away and gymnastics became her favorite.
Though learning gymnastics has been more 42 for her than for some of her tournaments, she has never quit. She doesn’t let her _43 stop her from doing anything that she wants to.
She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest 44_ is the balance beam. Because she has double vision, she often sees two beams. She must use her sense of touch to help her during her routine. Sometimes she even closes her eyes. “You have to 45_ your mind that it’ll take you where you want to go,” says Lola.
To be a top-level gymnast, one must be brave. The beam is probably the most46 for anyone because it’s four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t fall 47 the beam. In fact, she got an 8.1 out of 10---- her highest score yet.
Lola doesn’t want to be 48 differently from the other girls on her team. At the competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision _49 _. She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her _50 attitude.
Lola never thinks about 51__. She is presently at level 7 while the highest is level 10 in gymnastics. Her52 is to reach level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to pass down what she’s learned to other kids53 she grew up.
Lola is 54 of all her hard work and success. She says it’s helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics, too. Her 55 for others is “just believe yourself”.
A．runs B．teaches C．trains D．dances
A．since B．unless C．after D．though
A．tell B．guess C．assume D．predict
A．suspected B．remembered C．imagined D．noticed
A．deeply B．well C．ahead D．closely
A．task B．sport C．event D．show
A．boring B．enjoyable C．difficult D．unsatisfactory
A．talent B．quality C．nature D．condition
A．doubt B．advantage C．challenge D．program
A．examine B．express C．open D．trust
A．fearful B．harmful C．unfair D．inconvenient
A．to B．on C．off D．against
A．greeted B．treated C．served D．paid
A．pains B．stresses C．injuries D．problems
A．positive B．friendly C．flexible D．caution
A．defending B．quitting C．winning D．bargaining
A．standard B．range C．view D．goal
A．until B．as C．when D．before
A．proud B．tired C．ashamed D．confident
A．plan B．advice C．reward D．Responsibility