One day in September we were doing repair work on my parents’ old house to get it ready for my youngest daughter's wedding. We had to a great climbing plant that had grown a roof beam(房梁)，so that we could repair the roof and the walls.
When my husband was taking the plant away, he found the of a blackbird that had made its home in the leaves. He then something among that mass of earth and straw of the nest. He broke the earth around it into pieces with his finger tips and, to his , saw glittering gold. It was a child’s bracelet(手镯). He ran into the house to me.
“You won’t believe that the blackbirds not only steal the best fruit we to feed on,”he said, “but they also want their children to in a cradle(摇篮) of gold!”
When my daughter came over on the eve of the , we told her about this occurrence(发生的事).
“Don’t you remember, mother?” she said with a loud . “When I was eight, you gave me a bracelet that I a few days later while out playing in the yard? It was this one!”
As the bracelet no longer its owner and was dirty, I decided to take it into my safekeeping.
In December of the following year, the young couple’s baby son was baptized(受洗礼). Among the the newborn baby received, I placed his mother’s bracelet, now shining like . I hope that if my grandson loses it, one of the that live in my backyard is somewhere nearby.
A．cover B．remove C．grow D．water
A．across B．over C．beyond D．through
A．build B．rescue C．paint D．print
A．nest B．baby C．body D．egg
A．moved B．got C．picked D．noticed
A．shiny B．colorful C．nice D．special
A．honor B．surprise C．delight D．disappointment
A．ask B．tell C．give D．show
A．working B．cheating C．thieving D．dreaming
A．buy B．plant C．store D．collect
A．listen B．sing C．lie D．wait
A．party B．Christmas C．birthday D．wedding
A．strange B．important C．terrible D．funny
A．cry B．laugh C．sigh D．sound
A．hid B．threw C．lost D．broke
A．interested B．satisfied C．matched D．fitted
A．jewels B．toys C．clothes D．presents
A．new B．attractive C．modern D．golden
A．almost B．just C．ever D．even
A．grandchildren B．blackbirds C．Neighbors D．mice
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried ___1___ for hours as the farmer tried to think out ___2___ to do. Finally, he decided the animal was ___3___, and the well needed to be ___4___ up anyway; it just wasn’t ___5___ it to save the donkey. He invited all his ___6___ to come over and help him. They all grabbed（握起）a shovel（铁锹）and began to shovel ___7___ into the well. At first, the donkey ___8___ what was happening and cried horribly(惊恐的,害怕的). Then, to everyone’s ___9___ he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked ___10___ the well. He was surprised at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. As the farmer’s neighbours ___11___to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would ___12__ it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily ran off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. If you want to get out of the well, the ___13___ is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone（垫脚石）. We can get out of the ___14___ wells just by not stopping, never ___15___! Shake it off and take a step up.
A．sadly B．happily C．excitedly D．fiercely
A．how B．what C．that D．which
A．painful B．old C．rare D．powerful
A．drowned B．solved C．covered D．emptied
A．important B．possible C．necessary D．worth
A．neighbours B．relatives C．friends D．family
A．dust B．dirt C．waste D．soil
A．doubted B．recognized C．realized D．admitted
A．sorrow B．joy C．fear D．amazement
A．down B．around C．through D．over
A．pretended B．continued C．stopped D．determined
A．wash B．blow C．wipe D．shake
A．trick B．trap C．trouble D．tradition
A．longest B．largest C．deepest D．widest
A．having fun B．watching over C．giving up D．dying out
I could have easily gone through life without getting to know one of the most romantic feelings---love for a dog. For at least ten years my 1 had been suggesting that we get a dog. There were several reasons why the2 came up. We had noticed that, on our block, couples with no children as a rule3 one large or two small dogs. So we got one puppy (小狗)4 we too had no children.
He flew into the house with the 5 of a Formula 1 (一级方程式赛车). In several minutes he ran over all the house,6 from my shoulder onto the bed, and ended up in the7 , where my wife washed him with8 care. From that day on, the invisible（看不见的） 9 for the love of the new member of our household began at my home.
He seemed to10 that at once. Most of the meals that my wife had11 for him with greater care than those for me—he didn’t12 look at them.
Every evening I went out walking with him. I could not know who was walking whom13 one evening, when, tired from work, I14 the walk. The dog was very angry and dragged me out.
Last night our dog pulled me by the ear with his teeth,15 me up in my dream, and dragged me into the kitchen to make me turn off the16 which had disturbed his sleep. I meekly（乖乖地）17 that I had forgotten to turn off the light, but that was not18 . He looked at me like a teacher at a pupil who repeatedly makes19 .
Now we finally know who’s the20 at home, and for twenty years we had seriously argued whether it was my wife or I.
A．wife B．son C．husband D．daughter
A．promise B．chance C．idea D．trouble
A．kept B．rose C．carried D．invited
A．if B．unless C．since D．before
A．speed B．shape C．cost D．race
A．climbed B．jumped C．covered D．stopped
A．yard B．street C．kitchen D．bathroom
A．friendly B．motherly C．natural D．personal
A．signal B．work C．war D．truth
A．doubt B．understand C．deserve D．inspect
A．reached B．searched C．looked D．prepared
A．even B．still C．ever D．yet
A．while B．because C．until D．as
A．gave in B．gave up C．gave away D．gave out
A．broke B．woke C．picked D．packed
A．water B．heater C．cooker D．light
A．hoped B．considered C．admitted D．decided
A．enough B．good C．bad D．true
A．plans B．mistakes C．faces D．decisions
A．boss B．member C．adult D．child
On August 26, 1999, New York City experienced a torrential downpour. The rain caused the streets to __16__ and the subway system almost came to a stop.
Unfortunately, this happened during the morning rush hour. Many people who were going to work were __17__ to go home. Some battled to __18__ a taxi or to get on a bus. Still others faced the __19__ bravely, walking miles to get to work.
I __20__ to be one of the people on the way to work that morning. I went from subway line to subway line only to find that most __21__ had stopped. After making my way __22__ crowds of people, I finally found a subway line that was _23__. Unfortunately, there were so many people waiting to __24__ the subway that I could not even get down the stairs to the __25__. So I took the train going in the opposite direction, and then switch back to the downtown train. Finally, after what seemed like an forever journey, the train __26_ my stop. Then I had to walk several blocks in the increasingly heavy rain. When I finally got to my office, I was __27__ through, exhausted and __28__.
My co-workers and I spent most of the day drying off. When it was 5:00 pm，I was ready to go home. I was about to turn off my computer __29__ I received an email from Garth, my Director:
I would like to thank all of you who made the effort and __ 30__ reported to work. It is always reassuring(令人欣慰), at times like these, when employees so clearly show their __31__ to their jobs. Thank you.
Garth’s email was short, but I learned more from that __32__ message than I ever did from a textbook. The email taught me that a few words of __33__ can make a big difference. The rainstorm and the traffic __34__ had made me tired and upset. But Garth’s words immediately__35__ me and put a smile back on my face.
A．break B．flood C．sink D．crash
A．forced B．refused C．adjusted D．gathered
A．order B．pay C．call D．search
A．climate B．scenery C．storm D．burden
A．used B．promised C．deserved D．happened
A．practice B．routine C．process D．service
A．to B．through C．over D．for
A．operating B．cycling C．turning D．rushing
A．check B．carry C．find D．board
A．street B．ground C．floor D．platform
A．paused B．crossed C．reached D．parked
A．wet B．weak C．sick D．hurt
A．ashamed B．discouraged C．surprised D．puzzled
A．while B．when C．where D．after
A．hardly B．casually C．absolutely D．eventually
A．devotion B．donation C．connection D．reaction
A．accurate B．urgent C．brief D．humorous
A．promise B．appreciation C．advice D．guidance
A．troubles B．signals C．rules D．signs
A．corrected B．supported C．amazed D．refreshed
This is my third story．When I was seventeen, I 36 a quote （引文） that went something like, " If you live each day 37 it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right．" Since then, for the past thirty-three years, I've looked 38 the mirror every morning and asked myself, "If today were the last day of my life, what would I do ?" And when there was no answer for too many days in a 39 , I know I need to change something．
About a year ago I 40 from cancer．The doctors told me it was incurable, and that I should 41 to live no longer than three to six months．They advised me to get my 42 in order, which is doctors' code （代名词） for "prepare to 43 "．Later when the doctors 44 the cells taken from my pancreas （胰腺） under a microscope, they found it turned out to be a very rare form of cancer that is 45 with surgery．I had the surgery and, 46 , I'm fine now．
This was the closest I've been to facing 47 , and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades．Death is the destination we all 48 ．No one has ever escaped it．And that is 49 it should be, because death is very likely the single 50 invention of life．It clears out the old to make 51 for the new．Your time is limited, so don't waste it living 52 life．Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out （ 盖过） your own inner 53 ．And most importantly, have the courage to 54 your heart and intuition （直觉）．They55 already know what you truly want to become．Everything else is secondary．
A．wrote B．described C．expressed D．read
A．now that B．even though C．as if D．as long as
A．in B．at C．through D．on
A．row B．minute C．sense D．word
A．recovered B．kept C．fell D．suffered
A．desire B．prepare C．expect D．wait
A．office B．affairs C．money D．documents
A．work B．die C．act D．start
A．witnessed B．noticed C．confirmed D．viewed
A．curable B．possible C．acceptable D．suitable
A．immediately B．gradually C．thankfully D．hopefully
A．cancer B．death C．life D．success
A．share B．desert C．admire D．avoid
A．when B．while C．as D．since
A．oldest B．best C．newest D．worst
A．preparations B．progress C．plans D．way
A．your B．anyone else's C．his D．someone else's
A．voice B．world C．heart D．trouble
A．touch B．follow C．open D．accept
A．otherwise B．anyway C．somehow D．therefore
After seating myself in my room and turning on my computer, I noticed a Post-it note stuck to my monitor(显示器). It read, “Don’t 36 your computer. You stayed up until midnight doing your homework last night.—Mom.” I 37 the note into the wastebasket. “Why do they 38 ?” I thought. “They’re never here anyway.”
Right after high school started, I almost 39 contact with my parents. With all their business 40 , they asked the neighbors to watch over me. Of course, the neighbors didn’t do such a(n) 41 job, as they had kids of their own to worry about. The only means of 42 between me and my parents was through Post-it notes.
After spending about eight hours away from home, I usually came home to find the house 43 empty. It made me sad. I would come home from school to be welcomed by 44 , to talk to no one and to be watched over by my neighbors. That was when I started 45 more clubs and staying after school more often 46 I didn’t have to feel so lonely. Luckily, at school, my friends were there 47 me. They were all there to give me a 48 or talk with me when I wanted to talk. I felt 49 when I was at school. Yet, something was still 50 — my parents.
Now I realize that nobody can 51 my parents. I wish that they would be there at home, 52 me to come back from school. There are 53 things my parents don’t know about me. I wish that they actually had a(n) 54 to understand me. I want them to understand that they’re my parents and I’m their kid and I 55 them.
A．go through B．depend on C．put up D．turn on
A．showed B．threw C．led D．pulled
A．check B．know C．care D．speak
A．lost B．built C．wanted D．regained
A．designs B．dreams C．trips D．partners
A．free B．easy C．careless D．good
A．communication B．behavior C．change D．love
A．suddenly B．almost C．completely D．necessarily
A．everybody B．anybody C．somebody D．nobody
A．creating B．joining C．finding D．serving
A．though B．if C．or D．so
A．in B．after C．for D．without
A．hand B．wish C．suggestion D．reason
A．friendly B．noisy C．useful D．great
A．disappointing B．missing C．hateful D．possible
A．look forward to B．think highly of C．take the place of D．look down upon
A．referring to B．turning to C．looking at D．waiting for
A．too many B．too few C．a couple of D．a few
A．excuse B．chance C．task D．place
A．support B．follow C．hate D．need