Four brothers left home for college, and they became successful doctors and lawyers. Some years later, they _ after having dinner together. They discussed the __ they gave their elderly mother who lived far away in another city. The first said, “I had a _ house built for Mama.” The second said, “I had my Mercedes-Benz dealer（经销商）send a _ to her.” The third said, “I built a beautiful _ for Mama.” The fourth said, “You know _ Mama loved reading poems and you know she can’t read anymore because she can’t _ very well. I met a _ who had a parrot（鹦鹉）that can recite many poems. It took him 12 years to _ it to speak and he earns his living by renting it out. I had to pay him $100,000 a year for twenty years, _ it is worth it.” On hearing that, the other brothers were_ by his good thought.
After the holidays their mother _ her thank-you notes, which read: “Milton, the house you built is so huge. I only live in one room, but I have to _ the whole house. It’s a tiring job. Thanks anyway.”
“Marvin, I am too old to _ . I stay home and have my foods delivered, so I’ll _ use the car. The_ was good, although not practical. Thanks.”
“Michael, you gave me an expensive building for 50 people to_ plays or watch movies in it, but all my friends are dead. I’ve almost _ my hearing and I’m nearly blind. I won’t use it. Thank you all the same.”
“Dearest Melvin, you were the_ son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken tasted so _ . I liked it very much. Thank you.”
A．fought B．talked C．studied D．slept
A．gifts B．chances C．wishes D．challenges
A．warm B．big C．safe D．lonely
A．book B．bike C．car D．bag
A．station B．museum C．library D．theater
A．what B．how C．why D．when
A．listen B．feel C．see D．walk
A．nurse B．writer C．businessman D．lawyer
A．protect B．beat C．raise D．teach
A．but B．so C．unless D．although
A．treated B．impressed C．threatened D．hurt
A．sent out B．put up C．took out D．picked up
A．sell B．borrow C．clean D．visit
A．learn B．work C．exercise D．travel
A．never B．often C．regularly D．sometimes
A．future B．hobby C．idea D．program
A．create B．enjoy C．bring D．record
A．lost B．admired C．remained D．discovered
A．same B．last C．next D．only
A．strange B．unpleasant C．bitter D．delicious
I remember one Thanksgiving when our family had no money and no food, and someone came knocking on our door. A man was __36_____ there with a huge box of food, a giant turkey and even some ___37___to cook it in. I couldn’t ___38_____it. My dad demanded, “Who are you? Where are you from?” The stranger announced, “I’m here because a friend of yours knows you’re in need and that you wouldn’t accept ___39_____help, so I’ve brought this for you. Have a great Thanksgiving.” My father said, “No, no, we ___40_____ accept this.” The stranger replied, “You don’t have ___41_____” , closed the door and left.
Obviously that experience had a profound impact（深刻影响）on my life. I ____42____myself that someday I would do well enough financially ___43____ I could do the same thing for other people. By the time I was eighteen I had created my Thanksgiving ritual（习惯）. I would go out __44_____ and buy enough food for one or two __45_____. Then I would dress like a delivery boy, go to the ____46____ neighborhood and just knock on a ___47_____ . I always ___48_____ a note that explained my Thanksgiving experience ____49____a kid. The note said, “All that I ask __50______is that you take good enough care of __51_____ so that someday you can do the same thing for someone else.” I have received more from this annual ritual than I have from any amount of ___52_____ I’ve ever earned.
Years ago I was in New York City with my new wife during Thanksgiving. She was sad because we were not with our family. ___53____she would be home decorating the house for Christmas, but we were ___54_____ in a hotel room. When I told her what I always did on Thanksgiving, she got excited.
We packed enough food for seven families for thirty days and went to buildings where half a dozen people lived in one room with no electricity and no heat in winter surrounded by rats, cockroaches（蟑螂）and the smell of urine（尿）. It was both an ___55______realization that people lived in this way and a truly fulfilling experience to make even a small difference.
A．speaking B．standing C．looking D．shouting
A．meat B．vegetables C．pans D．firewood
A．believe B．accept C．help D．refuse
A．direct B．some C．our D．any
A．may not B．needn’t C．can’t D．daren’t
A．any money B．a choice C．food D．a turkey
A．permitted B．promised C．asked D．said
A．when B．so that C．even if D．as if
A．driving B．playing C．offering D．shopping
A．people B．children C．families D．days
A．nearest B．farthest C．largest D．poorest
A．house B．door C．window D．gate
A．concluded B．included C．wrote D．took
A．like B．with C．as D．to
A．in return B．later C．in future D．for
A．others B．yourself C．your family D．the presents
A．warmth B．thanks C．money D．encouragement
A．Unfortunately B．Obviously C．Normally D．Gradually
A．stuck B．excited C．free D．delighted
A．exciting B．astonishing C．encouraging D．Outstanding
US first lady Michelle Obama ranked the world’s most powerful woman in Forbes magazine’s 2010 listing published on October 6.
Kraft Foods CEO Irene Rosenfeld.second . American talk show host Oprah Winfrey was third. German Prime Minister Angela Merkel was the fourth most powerful woman，
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rounded out (使圆满) the top five.
This year Forbesthe way it ranked women. It is now supposedly
less on wealth and power but more on influence.
“They influenced， sometimes billions of people，” said Moira Forbes， vice president and publisher of Forbes Woman.
Forbes said Obama topped the list this year “she has made the office of first lady her own” while remaining popular.
“She’s also effective： In response to her Let’s Move！campaignchildhood obesity(肥胖)， companies
Coca-Cola， Kellogg and General Mills have agreed to cut the calorie conte
nt of their foods by 2015，” Forbes said.
When I was young， my father used to grow carnations (康乃馨).His carnations were red， pink and white. Everyone who saw them admired them for their beauty.
He took care of them with so much love and 36 . Every day he came home from work， he went straight to see them. He 37 watching them every day. We the kids did too. But he used to tell us， “No one should touch my flowers.”
One day my younger sister， who loved my dad very much， had wanted to help him and she 38 the carnations from their stems (枝干) one by one and arranged them 39 . She believed that he would be very 40 to see them that way.
When mom and I realized what my sister had done， we became completely hopeless. However， my sister had no idea why no one showed her any appreciation. When my dad arrived he went， 41 ， straight 
to see the flowers. When he saw his flowers lying on the floor like dead animals， he was 42 at first. He looked towards the street， to see if it was any of the 43 children who could have done it. Then he entered the living room and looked at mom in silence.
Finally mom， who always taught us to 44 no matter what， looked at dad and said： “We have no bad neighbors in our area”. Then with a nice tone she continued： “No outsider did this great job， only your lovely daughter Clémence.” My dad’s face changed into 45 and then he said： “Do I have a better 46 than my lovely daughter？” My younger sister smiled and 47 dad tightly.
A．devotion B．spirits C．gratitude D．expectation
A．hated B．approved C．enjoyed D．committed
A．divided B．watered C．cut D．cleaned
A．by the window B．in the vase C．on the desk D．on the floor
A．surprised B．pleased C．disappointed D．worried
A．as usual B．at first C．as well D．at last
A．frightened B．relieved C．disappointed D．shocked
A．enemies’ B．friends’ C．families’ D．neighbors’
A．say the truth B．behave ourselves C．follow the rules D．keep secret
A．sadness B．smiles C．anger D．depression
A．kid B．flower C．helper D．gift
A．hugged B．kissed C．grasped D．patted
After six months of living in New Zealand, I realized one thing. Despite my 36 for greater contact with local students, 37 I initiated(开始) the contact, it wouldn’t happen. Local students are not interested in contacts with the international students, because they regard us as shy, 38 and sometimes snobby （势利的） people. Of course we know that’s not true. I want to change their opinions.
After 39 the problem, I put on my “confidence mask” each morning and walked around with a smile on my face. I chatted with people whenever I had the chance. I showed that I was not afraid to 40 them, and that I was worthy of being a friend.
A side-effect of my 41 confidence was that my emotions occasionally broke down Only in the 42 of my room, where no one could see, would I reveal my real emotions. All the rejections, funny looks, and 43 behind my back calling me a weirdo（古怪的人） melted into tears. Once that was done, I would put on my confidence mask once again and start a new day.
It finally worked My name became known throughout the school as I appeared to be 44 and active. Slowly, I discovered that I no longer needed to put on my confidence mask. I had real friends. Instead of dragging myself to school and 45 to be happy, I was truly happy. I could not believe it when I was elected to the student government as Deputy Head boy----the first international student to receive the title.
From my 46in New Zealand, I believe one thing will always be true: If you try your best to reach your goals, you’ll achieve your 47 dreams.
A．desire B．invitation C．devotion D．effort
A．if B．otherwise C．unless D．once
A．energetic B．considerate C．free D．dull
A．getting B．realizing C．solving D．making
A．get up with B．put up with C．open up to D．look forward to
A．accepted B．proved C．elected D．forced
A．public B．privacy C．possession D．protection
A．laughing B．talking C．acting D．walking
A．minded B．talented C．humorous D．enthusiastic
A．looking B．helping C．pretending D．treating
A．experience B．trouble C．travel D．struggle
A．great B．impossible C．hopeful D．reasonable
Dear Xiaohua:
I’m very glad to receive your letter. From your letter, I know you have showngreat interest in inventing new things. That’s great. As for how to be an inventor, there is no quick answer to
.
Coming from different cultures and having different backgrounds, inventors do not seem to have much common. But creative thinking,
is greatly valued, is perhaps the basic skill an inventor should have. In order to explore new possibilities, you will have to learn to break
from old thought patterns. When you get stuck, try to look at the problem in
many ways as possible. Each new
may improve your understanding.
More importantly, always keep it in your mind success is no accident. It is the result of a long process of trial and error. Above all, the main task for you is to study hard and try to learn more knowledge. This, of course, will lay a solid foundation.
Hope your future invention will make a difference.
Good luck.
Yours,
Wang Li