Three packs of cigarettes were lying there on the pavement. I went down from Shubentsov’s office doorstep, picked them up and pocketed them. Later, in a bar, when I opened the first pack, I found – to my – the twenty cigarettes were there.
I’m still at the bar, telephone in one and the cigarettes in the other. I’m dialing Shubentsov, who told me to call the moment I felt the urge to . I feel it, feel it even than I felt Shubentsov’s healing energy. That’s saying something, since Shubentsov is known around the world for smokers of their nasty habit, using a method. He sent his healing energy from his fingertips, he tells me – something he picked up from another man in Russia. “I help you for free,” he told me in his muddy accent. “Just call me .”
I went to see Shubentsov. I think it’s time to because I’m getting old, and I can’t keep doing this to myself. But here’s the real problem. I should quit, but like a lot of you with the same habit, I really don’t want to.
Smoking has been very good to me. Cigarettes have never let me down, never abandoned me on , desperate nights. Smoking my head, helps me . Smoking has started conversations, driven away annoying people. Smoking helps me celebrate victories, get over losses, comfort the comfortless. It also chases away the mosquitoes.
I will . Soon, my body and my mind are demanding that , daily.
I claim to smoke for pleasure, but I realise that slowly I’m losing control of this close, special friend. I that. I realise it’s not just a “habit”. I’m .
So here I am, attempting to again, at Shubentsov’s place. I’ve tried all the other quitting techniques . Anytime the urge to smoke , he said, just call him immediately and he’ll help. The funny thing is, I realise that I’m not phoning him to stop me from lighting up. I’m phoning him so I can. If I call, I’ll have done my part. Then I can smoke this cigarette. Besides, I know that at 9.30 on a Friday night, I’ll get the answering machine. I do. “The office is open from ten to four. Call me back then. This machine does not take messages.”
I put the phone down and I can honestly say I’m . You see, it’s not Shubentsov’s fault or anyone else’s fault that I’m still . It’s mine.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to smoke this cigarette. Whether I’ll really enjoy it, though, is another story.
A．sadness B．disappointment C．inspiration D．delight
A．pack B．hand C．pocket D．bar
A．smoke B．talk C．drink D．dial
A．weaker B．faster C．stronger D．harder
A．accusing B．helping C．developing D．curing
A．popular B．mysterious C．frightening D．dangerous
A．whenever B．whatever C．however D．whichever
A．start B．continue C．stop D．keep
A．struggling B．beating C．hitting D．playing
A．lovely B．friendly C．lonely D．daily
A．destroys B．hurts C．cuts D．clears
A．breathe B．smile C．see D．think
A．begin B．quit C．report D．study
A．hate B．love C．ignore D．miss
A．ill B．excited C．addicted D．fascinated
A．give in B．give up C．give off D．give away
A．available B．alike C．abnormal D．additional
A．strikes B．attacks C．indicates D．continues
A．disappointed B．unhappy C．satisfied D．relieved
A．living B．working C．smoking D．smiling
After the earthquake, the rescuers arrived at the disaster area as soon as possible. In a(n) 36 house, they found a woman. She was dead when the rescuers found her. Through the ruins, they could see her last 37 . Being on her knees, the upper part of her body was 38 , with her hands on the ground to 39 her body. It looked strange because she was bent out of 40 .
The leader came to the body, reached outhis hands under the woman, feeling and touching, and then he shouted loudly, “There is someone, a 41 , still living.”
Through some effort, rescuers 42 up the bricks covering her body. Under her body was her baby, who was 43in a small red quiltwith yellow flowers. He was about 3 or 4 months old. Because he was well protected by the mother’s body, he was 44 safe. He was sleeping when the rescuers carried him out, and his lovely and peaceful face 45 everyone around him. The doctor, along with the rescue team, opened the 46 to check if the baby was all right, and he found there was a mobile phone in the quilt. The doctor looked at the screen. A written message was there, “My dear baby, if you live, don’t 47 how much I love you.” The mobile phone was passed on to the other people; every person who saw this message was close to tears.
A．destroyed B．old C．nice D．new
A．debate B．action C．guide D．quarrel
A．forward B．western C．up D．straight
A．lower B．rise C．support D．carry
A．sight B．question C．job D．shape
A．teenager B．citizen C．baby D．fellow
A．cleaned B．added C．looked D．called
A．gathered B．packed C．locked D．dressed
A．totally B．differently C．widely D．narrowly
A．encouraged B．delighted C．warned D．warmed
A．blanket B．brick C．overcoat D．quilt
A．remember B．know C．forget D．keep
Overweight has been a great concern for some people. In an attempt to keep normal weight, people have 48tried various methods. Nevertheless, not all the ways are 49 when it comes to health. For weight loss, many people 50the high-protein, low-carbohydrate(碳水化合物)diets. However, such diets might have 51harmful long-term effects on the colon (结肠), a small study indicates.
On average, the study found when the men were on the high-protein diets, they hadhigher levels of substances known as N-nitrous compounds that have been 52cancer. And when they were on the high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, they had lowered amounts of fiber-originated compounds thought to be protective against 53.
The findings 54 that people should beaware ofconsuming too much protein and too little fiber over a long period.In general, experts 55 that adults get about 28 grams of fiber per day though—it’s not known whether that’s enough for someone on a high-protein weight-loss diet.
A．successfully B．painfully C．occasionally D．immediately
A．helpless B．cheap C．useless D．beneficial
A．make up B．come across C．turn to D．get on
A．potentially B．additionally C．frequently D．definitely
A．taken from B．linked to C．held up D．based on
A．health B．diet C．cancer D．protein
A．hope B．accept C．suggest D．doubt
A．recommend B．offer C．demand D．agree
The car, running along the well-lit road now sank in darkness. I broke the 36 on purpose, for fear that the driver was too tired to drive. “When do you go back home in the evening?”“9 o’clock after this trip.” Then when do you come out in the morning?”I 37another question. “9 o’ clock, too—just as if I worked at an office.” His easiness surprised me, because every time I ride a taxi, what I38from the driver are only complaints that they have to work from morning till night, it’s hard to earn money, they’re often 39by the police, or that their leaders are seated 40 , enjoying the fruits. But this driver told me, “I find it 41 to be a section chief as I was before. I like driving just for pleasure. It’s fortunate that I 42 drive without a passenger. So I earn two or three thousand Yuan a month with ease. Yes, I never 43an empty taxi. If it goes southward, I go northward. If it goes along a highway, I turn into a narrow street…”
His words showed his 44 with his life and the pride he 45 in his
job. Such feelings are so 46among people nowadays as oxygen in high mountain. How many people nowadays can show high ideals by simple living and go far with a calm mind? I couldn’t help feeling moved when finding such a state of mind in a stranger on a cold 47 .
A．window B．car C．silence D．promise
A．threw out B．gave away C．put up D．led to
A．suffer B．request C．benefit D．hear
A．detected B．ordered C．fined D．seized
A．noisy B．lazy C．tired D．hungry
A．exciting B．disappointing C．tiring D．amazing
A．hardly B．usually C．actually D．immediately
A．follow B．admire C．envy D．meet
A．intelligence B．satisfaction C．competition D．honesty
A．made B．held C．caught D．took
A．rare B．comfortable C．special D．unique
A．morning B．night C．moment D．season
My mother has been a true inspiration to me and changed the way I look at life. Since my birth she has made it evident that I would become ___16___ and that I would be one of the great ones. She has taught me that I can do anything if I put my ___17___ to it.
As a young boy, I struggled to achieve tasks that came ___18___ to others. I had problems with writing, reading and especially speaking. I didn’t talk the way ___19___ kids did and did not respond to questions or stay alert（警觉的）to my surroundings. My reading was poor ___20___ with teachers helping me, and my speech was hard to ___21___. My writing was not at the ___22___ it should have been. Even simple things like knowing my left from my right or being able to snap my fingers (弹手指) were ___23___.
My mother ___24___ all my challenges and as a professor with a PH.D, decided to ___25___ the situation early in my development. She didn’t want me to ___26___. After a while, we did indeed get over all the problems that had ___27___ me. She spent hours every day ___28___ me everything I needed to know, determined to help me learn. ___29___ her I would not be anywhere close to the level I am now.
In addition, she gave ___30___ for my life. She told me what to do and what not to do. Her expectations have always been high ___31___ she knows that I can do it. For that, I thank her. She would not allow her son to be incapable. She never ___32___ on me, and to this day she tells me education is a must. I will be a ___33___ person if I continue to follow her lead. She encourages me to study hard for my ___34___ and attend college.
She used her gifts as a ___35___ to help a child—her child—and now I have the opportunity to become something.
A．everything B．nothing C．anything D．something
A．mind B．brain C．feelings D．work
A．smoothly B．strongly C．frequently D．easily
A．average B．ordinary C．normal D．common
A．just B．ever C．even D．only
A．hear B．write C．read D．understand
A．level B．length C．speed D．degree
A．problems B．excuses C．worries D．duties
A．suffered B．observed C．removed D．tolerated
A．study B．find C．change D．keep
A．fight B．struggle C．strike D．challenge
A．interrupted B．disturbed C．terrified D．troubled
A．teaching B．giving C．supporting D．reminding
A．Without B．Except C．Besides D．Beyond
A．information B．advice C．promise D．expectation
A．before B．though C．because D．unless
A．set up B．gave up C．pushed up D．looked up
A．rich B．famous C．successful D．powerful
A．training B．grades C．experiments D．abilities
A．woman B．doctor C．sister D．teacher
Being on the road at 3:15 a. m. to drive 450 kms wasn’t in my plans for the weekend. I had been looking forward to a couple of 1 days to prepare myself for the following busy 2 .
My son, Simon, and his good friends were heading for the 3. Due to the last-minute issue（问题）with transportation, I 4 my car to make sure that everyone could get to the 5 point so that they could get together and enjoy their week’s 6 by snowboarding and skiing.
The only thing that 7 to me on my journey was that no sooner had I 8 and said goodbye than I would make the trip 9 ，in total, a round trip of 900 kms in just 10 hours. Such a long drive in one day was frightening, 10 as I was looking forward to relaxationSimon and I 11 , on our way, about his break and a whole lot of his school subjects. It was great to have this time with him as we 12 spent five continuous hours together, other than when we played Saturday cricket (板球).
On my return trip, I 13 a strange sense of loneliness in some heavy morning 14 . Within an hour it 15 . I spent the next four hours listening to some CDs and enjoying the scenery. Surprisingly, after my long trip home I was 16 refreshed and energized even though I was physically exhausted. And I knew that I would have a(n) _17 sleep that evening.
A change 18your environment, no matter how great, can provide you with the opportunity to 19_ something from different angles（角度）, as well as to be refreshed and energized.
Now I’m looking forward to my next 20 event and many more opportunities to spend quality time with those who are important to me and make my life more rewarding.
A．surprising B．exciting C．moving D．relaxing
A．hour B．day C．week D．month
A．snowfield B．beach C．hotel D．school
A．fueled B．parked C．offered D．lent
A．put-off B．drop-off C．get-off D．take-off
A．freedom B．excitement C．adventure D．break
A．appealed B．happened C．appeared D．occurred
A．rested B．started C．arrived D．left
A．back B．forward C．out D．away
A．even B．just C．particularly D．mostly
A．mentioned B．talked C．complained D．argued
A．always B．usually C．frequently D．rarely
A．developed B．showed C．lost D．kept
A．smoke B．dust C．fog D．snow
A．greatly B．completely C．immediately D．mentally
A．uncomfortable B．uneasy C．sound D．light
A．about B．from C．in D．for
A．give up B．look at C．find out D．carry on
A．planned B．discussed C．unexpected D．prepared