The simplest way to say it is this: I believe in my mother. My ____ began when I was just a kid. I ____ becoming a doctor.
My mother was a domestic. Through her work, she observed that ____ people spent a lot more time reading than they ____ watching television. She announced that my brother and I ____ watch two to three pre-selected TV programs during the week. With our free time, we had to read two books each from the Detroit Public Library and ____ to her written book reports. She would mark them up with check marks and highlights. Years later we realized her marks were a ____. My mother was illiterate.
When I entered high school I was a(n) ____, but not for long. I wanted the fancy clothes. I wanted to ____ the guys. I went from being an A-student to a B-student to a C-student. One night my mother came home and I ____ about not having enough Italian knit shirts. She said, "Okay, I'll give you all the money make this week scrubbing floors and cleaning bathrooms, and you can buy food for ____ and pay the bills. With everything ____ , you can have all the Italian knit shirts you want. "I was very ____ with that arrangement but once I got through allocating money, there was ____ left. I realized my mother was a financial genius to be able to ____ our heads and any kind of food on the table, and to live a better life. I also realized that ____ satisfaction wasn't going to get me anywhere. Success required intellectual preparation. I went back to my ____ and became an A-student again, and eventually I ____ my dream and I became a doctor.
My story is really my mother's story -- a woman with ____ formal education or property who used her position as a parent to change the lives of many people around. There is no job ____ than parenting. This is what I believe in.
A.belief B.work C.education D.promise
A.majored in B.got used to C.dreamed of D.got tired of
A.lazy B.easy-going C.successful D.reliable
A.cost B.paid C.took D.did
A.could only B.could not C.must not D.should often
A.read B.present C.teach D.explain
A.joke B.means C.tool D.trick
A.A-student B.B-student C.C-student D.D-student
A.get rid of B.hang out with C.break away from D.keep in touch with
A.worried B.thought C.complained D.heard
A.your brother B.yourself C.your sister D.the family
A.left over B.put off C.used up D.carried out
A.angry B.pleased C.disappointed D.bored
A.anything B.everything C.something D.nothing
A.put an idea into B.give an impression on C.keep a roof over D.have eyes in the back of
A.immediate B.great C.much D.last
A.guys B.mother C.studies D.play
A.made B.fulfilled C.changed D.tried
A.little B.much C.few D.high
A.more interesting B.1ess important C.more important D.less interesting
My husband and I both work at home. We have four children, so the times when I am 36 in the house are few. Like many work-at-home moms, when I do get a 37 to be by myself, I fill that time with more 38 , whether it’s related to my career or taking care of the housework. Most of the time, I don’t mind. 39 , I wanted this job as wife and mother, and I knew from the start that it often 40 putting others’ needs before my own. But, other times, I can’t help but feel a little 41 because I seldom had any plans for myself, and everyone knew it. My life 42 on my family, but they seldom appreciated this, which often 43 me a lot.
One day, when the kids were at school, I 44 for the movie theater-alone, I’d 45 been to the movies alone before, so I was a little nervous. Would I look pitiful going to the theater by myself? Was I being ridiculous(荒唐可笑) by seeing a movie 46 so much work waited for me at home? I 47 myself to swallow these 48 and bought myself a ticket. And then I walked into the theater with my 49 held high and enjoyed every minute of the movie. I laughed and felt my good spirits 50 for a couple of hours, I was 51 wife or mother. I was just myself.
From that point on, I 52 that Fridays would be mine, 53 for a couple of hours. Some Fridays, I head to(前往) the beach with a good book. Other Fridays, I go shopping, 54 up a little fast food or some clothes just for myself. I really 55 my Fridays after a long week of caring of my family.
A.busy B.alone C.tense D.brave
A.chance B.way C.purpose D.fortune
A.fun B.fear C.work D.love
A.So far B.From then on C.As a result D.After all
A.practiced B.advised C.meant D.considered
A.happy B.excited C.angry D.nervous
A.centred B.insisted C.depended D.knocked
A.moved B.bothered C.amused D.scared
A.applied B.waited C.longed D.headed
A.ever B.also C.never D.instead
A.if B.when C.unless D.until
A.forced B.allowed C.ordered D.taught
A.answers B.efforts C.thoughts D.results
A.hands B.head C.legs D.ticket
A.leave B.happen C.return D.weaken
A.everybody’s B.somebody’s C.anybody’s D.nobody’s
A.expressed B.declared C.agreed D.decided
A.at least B.at last C.in all D.in time
A.making B.picking C.taking D.bringing
A.come up with B.break away from C.look forward to D.pay attention to
“All men are created equal” is one idea that nearly every American would agree upon. 36 they sometimes betray the idea in their daily lives, they have a deep faith 37 in some fundamental way no one is born superior to anyone else.
In the early years of American history, because titles of nobility(贵族) were forbidden, no 38 class system developed in the United States. Firmly believing that being born into a lower class would not 39 them from success and they would have a better chance in America, thousands of immigrants 40 to leave the European societies, where their 41 in life was determined 42 by the social class into which they were born. It was because the dreams of many of there immigrants were 43 in their new country, though there might be 44 in some situations, that Americans came to believe in equality of opportunity.
Americans do not mean that everyone should be 45 equal when they say they believe in equality of opportunity. 46 , they do mean that each person should have an equal chance for success. Abraham Lincoln once said, “We wish to 47 the humblest(最微贱的) man an equal chance to get rich with everybody else. When one starts poor, free society is 48 that he knows he can 49 his condition.”
However, competition is the price to be 50 for his equality of opportunity. Americans match their energy and intelligence against that of others in a competitive contest for success, because they believe competition 51 the best in any person. Indeed, the pressure of competition causes an American to be 52 , but it also places a constant emotional stress on him. In fact, in a society that gives so much 53 to those “winners”, 54 does not compete successfully for whatever reason never 55 into it as well as those who do.
A.Since B.As C.Although D.Because
A.what B.that C.as D.which
A.normal B.moral C.formal D.general
A.benefit B.prevent C.save D.limit
A.forced B.required C.chose D.looked forward
A.place B.meaning C.function D.purpose
A.slightly B.largely C.originally D.publicly
A.come true B.ruined C.succeeded D.realized
A.excitements B.expectations C.exceptions D.disappointments
A.really B.totally C.actually D.truly
A.Besides B.Meanwhile C.Moreover D.Instead
A.allow B.encourage C.approve D.share
A.so B.the one C.such D.as
A.enjoy B.better C.maintain D.stand
A.paid B.asked C.cared D.sought
A.gives out B.comes out C.brings out D.stands out
A.exhausted B.energetic C.realistic D.effective
A.honor B.pressure C.happiness D.burden
A.anyone B.who C.one D.whoever
A.enters B.fits C.falls D.matches
Steve, a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic parents, was failing. Surprisingly, he could read. 21 his good reading skills, Steve had been failing since first grade. Steve was a big boy, yet, he went unnoticed... 22 Miss White.
Miss White was a smiling, beautiful, young lady. For the first time in his 23 life, Steve couldn’t take his eyes off his teacher; yet, 24 he failed. In the middle of the first term, the entire seventh grade was 25 for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests, and 26 to dream of other things, as the day passed slowly. One day, Miss White’s 27 voice broke into his daydreams. “Steve!” Startled (吓了一跳), he 28 to look at her. “Pay attention!” She began to 29 the test results. “You all did pretty well,” she told the class, “ 30 one boy, and it breaks my 31 to tell you this, but...” She hesitated, pinning Steve to his seat with a sharp 32 . “... The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!”
After that, Steve still 33 do his homework. “Just try it,” Miss White said one day. “Steve! Please! I care about you!” Wow! Suddenly, Steve got it! Someone cared about him? Someone, so beautiful and perfect, cared about him! Steve went home from school, 34 , that afternoon.
The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in, all sparkle and smiles! Immediately, she gave a 35 on the weekend homework. Steve was the first to 36 his paper. With a look of 37 , Miss White took his paper. Steve walked back to his desk, his heart beating strongly within his chest.
Miss White’s face was in total 38 ! Suddenly, her face broke into a bright smile. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just 39 his first test! From that moment 40 was the same for Steve.
A.In honor of B.In spite of C.In addition to D.In case of
A.to B.before C.until D.upon
A.rich B.young C.fresh D.simple
A.still B.even C.also D.forever
A.observed B.corrected C.selected D.tested
A.struggled B.agreed C.continued D.declared
A.cheerful B.impatient C.enthusiastic D.shy
A.decided B.managed C.turned D.forgot
A.go over B.run over C.turn over D.hand over
A.except B.due to C.as for D.up to
A.will B.record C.heart D.back
A.pain B.stare C.sense D.contrast
A.wouldn’t B.needn’t C.mustn’t D.shouldn’t
A.amused B.doubtful C.approved D.thoughtful
A.survey B.speech C.report D.quiz
A.give up B.hand in C.turn down D.come across
A.respect B.curiosity C.surprise D.fear
A.victory B.shock C.sadness D.confidence
A.escaped B.taken C.missed D.passed
A.nothing B.something C.anything D.everything
Twenty years ago I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 AM. When I 21 -,I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor 22
I walked to the door and knocked “Just a minute” answered a weak elderly 23
After a long pause the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood 24 me by her side was a small suitcase. I took the suitcase to the car and then 25to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked 26 toward the car.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing” I told her. “I just try to 27 my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.” “Oh you’re such a good man.” She said. When we got into the taxi she gave me an address and then asked“Could you drive 28 downtown”
“It’s not the shortest way” I answered quickly.
“Oh I’m 29 ” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice临终医院. I don’t have any 30 left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and 31 the meter计价器.
For the next two hours we drove through the city. She 32 me the building where she had once worked the neighborhood where she had lived and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone 33 as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a 34 building and would sit staring into the darkness saying nothing.
At 35 she suddenly said” I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the 36 she had given me. “How much do I37 you” she asked. “Nothing.” I said. “You have to make a living” she answered. “Oh there are other 38 ” I answered. Almost without thinking I 39 and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. Our hug ended with her remark“You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”
I walked into the 40 morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
A.waited B.stopped C.arrived D.wandered
A.window B.house C.door D.glass
A.sound B.whisper C.sign D.voice
A.beneath B.before C.behind D.over
A.walked B.left C.returned D.stepped
A.calmly B.hurriedly C.quietly D.slowly
A.receive B.collect C.treat D.drive
A.through B.from C.to D.towards
A.out of work B.in no hurry C.on no purpose D.out of danger
A.hope B.money C.time D.family
A.turned on B.shut off C.switched over D.covered up
A.showed B.pointed C.indicated D.forgot
A.working B.growing C.playing D.dancing
A.memorial B.significant C.particular D.similar
A.dawn B.sunset C.noon D.night
A.house B.address C.direction D.destination
A.pay B.owe C.promise D.save
A.cars B.buildings C.passengers D.chances
A.nodded B.landed C.swung D.bent
A.dim B.colorful C.bright D.black
Waiting for the airplane to take off, I was happy to have a seat by myself.Just then, an air hostess approached me and asked, “Would you mind26 your seat? A couple would like to sit together.” The only 27 seat was next to a girl with her arms in casts(石膏),a black-and-blue face, and a sad expression.“28 am I going to sit there,” I thought immediately.But a soft voice spoke, “She needs help.” Finally, I 29 to move to that seat.
The girl was named Kathy.She30 in a car accident and now was on her way for 31 When the snack and juice arrived, it did not take me long to32 that Kathy would not be able to33 herself.I considered34 to feed her but hesitated, as it seemed too35 to offer a service to a36 .But then I realized that Kathy’s need was more37 than any of my discomfort.I offered to help her eat, and38 she was uncomfortable to accept, she39 as I expected.We became closer and closer in a short period of time.By the end of the five-hour trip, my heart 40 , and the41 was really better spent than if I had just sat by myself.
I was glad I had reached 42 my comfort zone to sit next to Kathy and feed her.Love 43 flows beyond human borders and remove the fears that keep us44 .When we 45 to serve another, we grow to live in a larger and more rewarding world.
A.losing B.changing C.taking D.giving
A.comfortable B.suitable C.available D.favorable
A.No problem B.No way C.Nowhere D.No doubt
A.decided B.wanted C.regretted D.promised
A.was B.would be C.used to be D.had been
A.treatment B.travel C.pleasure D.business
A.know B.say C.realize D.recognize
A.eat B.feed C.choose D.support
A.offering B.needing C.stopping D.trying
A.impolite B.far C.close D.fast
A.girl B.neighbor C.passenger D.stranger
A.unusual B.direct C.important D.shameful
A.when B.although C.since D.as
A.refused B.wondered C.cried D.did
A.had warmed B.had jumped C.had broken D.had cheered
A.life B.money C.time D.energy
A.below B.through C.across D.beyond
A.seldom B.never C.hardly D.sometimes
A.separate B.independent C.silent D.upset
A.happen B.stretch C.wait D.continue