My dad was a very busy man. After he retired, every morning he’d get up, take a shower, prepare a breakfast, and then draw up his to-do ______ for the day.
In the summer he planted and ______ the garden. In the winter he made sure the pile of logs for the wood-burning stove never got too small. ______ at daylight saving time, he’d make sure to ______ every clock in the house, from the digital one to the old clock he’d ______ Mom on their 15th anniversary. Dad never let a task slip from his ______. Dad took care of everything around our house. If it was on his schedule, it got ______.
Dad passed away in mid-November, 2006. What would we do then? I ______ the clock. It was an hour ahead. Dad never had the ______ to change the time from then on. Both Mom and I ______ to fix every clock except for one — that anniversary clock. It was a ______ — the chimes (钟声) needed to______ perfectly with the numbers on the face of the clock. If not, it would ring out the ______ number of chimes on the hour. We were about to begin our attempt ______ we heard a loud pop and all the lights went out.
My God! I thought. This ______ was already falling apart without Dad. It took the electric company about 40 minutes to come and ______ the lights. We were in no ______ to work on the clock. “Let’s just wait until tomorrow and try again,” I said to Mom.
The next morning the power went out again.______, the electric company responded in half the time it had taken them the night before. With the lights back on we started getting ready for the day. A loud, musical sound ______ the silence. The anniversary chime now has been set to just the right time.
Dad may not be here anymore, I thought, but I should make a ______ for every day.
A．contract B．list C．address D．letter
A．tended B．defended C．visited D．admired
A．Moreover B．Yet C．Even D．Still
A．remove B．paint C．clean D．reset
A．promised B．bought C．told D．reminded
A．idea B．decision C．mind D．feeling
A．done B．known C．hidden D．taken
A．threwaway B．showedoff C．lookedat D．forgotabout
A．hope B．ability C．courage D．chance
A．advised B．hated C．managed D．permitted
A．chall enge B．try C．lesson D．skill
A．run B．match C．prepare D．move
A．right B．same C．wrong D．opposite
A．because B．though C．so D．when
A．place B．country C．world D．time
A．buy B．produce C．repair D．study
A．doubt B．mood C．money D．sense
A．Curiously B．Particularly C．Strangely D．Thankfully
A．opened B．ended C．broke D．mixed
A．noise B．plan C．bid D．choice
A great many people are disappointed because of unrealistic expectations.
Walking up to a department store’s cloth counter, a(n) 1 young woman said, “I want to buy this material for a new dress. How much does it cost?”
“Only one 2 per yard,” replied the smirking (自鸣得意的) male clerk.
Not to be taken back by the funny words, the woman said,” That’s fine! I’ll take ten yards.”
With 3 written all over his face, the clerk 4 measured out and wrapped the cloth, then held it out teasingly, 5 forward to receive his “ 6”.
The woman got the package quickly from the clerk and pointed to a little old man standing beside her. “Grandpa will pay the bill instead of me,” she 7 .
He was no doubt disappointed. But in the course of living, many people are 8 when others do not 9 their expectations. In order to be happy, some expectations must be dropped. These three particular 10 and unhealthy expectations are some of the main causes:
1. Expect too much 11 .When others say, “Thank you,” or in any way to show their gratitude, be happy. It is a gift!
2. Expect others to make you happy. They simply cannot do that. Make yourself happy and 12 your joy with others.
3. Expect not to be 13 . At times, people will simply not come through for you in the way you need. 14 them and move on.
Get rid of these three unrealistic expectations and you can begin to expect more 15 right away!
A．tricky B．attractive C．ugly D．generous
A．kiss B．pay C．dollar D．cent
A．happiness B．enjoyment C．expectation D．courage
A．hurriedly B．slowly C．patiently D．curiously
A．setting B．sitting C．leaning D．taking
A．reward B．payment C．bonus D．money
A．smiled B．begged C．waved D．thought
A．encouraged B．disappointed C．annoyed D．surprised
A．live up to B．go against C．go without D．hope for
A．reasonable B．proper C．unimportant D．unrealistic
A．profit B．kiss C．appreciation D．disappointment
A．spare B．share C．make D．control
A．put down B．let down C．taken down D．thrown down
A．Forgive B．Punish C．Blame D．Praise
A．happiness B．encouragement C．excitement D．pride
Failing doesn’t make a failure. True failures are those who don’t learn from their 1 .
Smart persons not only learn from their own mistakes—they pay 2 to the mistakes of others, equate error with opportunity, and learn valuable 3 as well, as this story illustrates (说明).
A lion, a fox, and a wild pig went 4 for rabbits together. By the end of the day, they had a large pile of rabbits to 5 .
The lion said to the wild pig, “Pig, you divide the rabbits up among the three of us in a 6 that you think is fair.” The pig divided the rabbits up into three 7 piles, and said to the lion, “There we are. One 8 for each of us. How’s that?” The lion 9 sprang at the wild pig and 10 him.
Then, the lion threw all the rabbits into one big pile again.
He 11 to the fox. “Well now, Mr. Fox, why don’t you 12 the rabbits between the two of us in a way that you think is fair?”
The fox walked over to the pile of rabbits, took the 13 one for himself, and left the rest in a big pile. “This rabbit is for me, Mr. Lion, and that big pile is for you.” said the fox.
At that point, the lion laughed, “Where did you learn to divide so 14 , Mr. Fox?” And Mr. Fox replied, “The wild pig 15 me.”
A．teachers B．mistakes C．failures D．experiences
A．respect B．tribute C．court D．attention
A．experience B．skills C．lessons D．service
A．hunting B．searching C．hiking D．fishing
A．share B．eat C．attack D．enjoy
A．case B．situation C．mood D．way
A．same B．equal C．big D．different
A．rabbit B． animal C．pile D．group
A．gradually B．curiously C．immediately D．seriously
A．killed B．punished C．praised D．sold
A．came B．ran C．returned D．turned
A．part B．divide C．raise D．separate
A．unfairly B．fairly C．hurriedly D．badly
A．informed B．told C．reminded D．taught
The Pecan Thief
When I was six years old, I was visiting my grandfather's farm in Kansas. Grandpa had sent me into the 36 to gather pecans for us to enjoy later.
Pecan picking was really 37 work and my little basket was only half full. I wasn't about to 38 Grandpa down. Just then something caught my 39 . A large brown squirrel was a few feet away. I watched as he picked up a pecan, hurried to a tree and 40in a large hole in the trunk. A moment later the squirrel 41 out and climbed down to the ground to pick up another nut. Once again, he took the pecan back to his hiding place.
Not so 42 anymore, I thought. I dashed over to the tree and looked into the hole. It was 43 with pecans! Golden pecans were right there for taking. This was my 44 . Handful by handful, I scooped all of those pecans into my basket. Now it was full! I was so 45 of myself. I couldn't wait to show Grandpa all the pecans. 46 , I ran back and shouted, “Look at all the pecans!” He looked into the basket and said, “Well, well, how did you find so many ? ” I told him how I'd 47 the squirrel and taken the pecans from his hiding place.
Grandpa congratulated me on how smart I'd been in observing the squirrel and his habits. Then he did something that 48 me. He handed the basket back to me and put his arm gently 49 my shoulders.
“That squirrel worked very hard to gather his winter 50 of food, ” he said. “Now that all of his pecans are gone, don't you think that little squirrel will 51 the cold winter? ”
“I didn't think about that,” I said.
“I know, ” Grandpa said. “But a good man should never take 52 of someone else's hard work.”
Suddenly I felt a bit 53 . The image of the starving squirrel wouldn't 54 my mind. There was only one thing I could do. I carried the basket back to the tree and poured all the nuts into the hole.
I didn't eat any pecans that night, but I had something much more filling—the 55 of knowing I had done just the right thing.
A．woods B．rooms C．holes D．roads
A．dirty B．hard C．light D．easy
A．settle B．let C．have D．keep
A．sweater B．basket C．hand D．eye
A．joined B．lived C．disappeared D．discovered
A．held B．jumped C．stood D．found
A．secret B．strange C．anxious D．patient
A．filled B．covered C．rebuilt D．decorated
A．time B．choice C．achievement D．chance
A．afraid B．ashamed C．proud D．careful
A．Otherwise B．However C．Therefore D．Besides
A．followed B．driven C．protected D．caught
A．annoyed B．satisfied C．delighted D．surprised
A．off B．beside C．around D．over
A．cost B．supply C．support D．preparation
A．escape B．spend C．flee D．survive
A．place B．notice C．charge D．advantage
A．unconfident B．guilty C．embarrassed D．nervous
A．leave B．open C．cross D．occupy
A．inspiration B．expectation C．satisfaction D．impression
One day while sitting in the boat fishing, I noticed a field mouse on the river bank. He ran out of his 21 , ran around a bit and then ran back. I thought of the 22 of this mouse. His life is spent running around, 23 , following his nose. He runs here, runs there, turns in circles, but never really sees much beyond his 24 . He is trying to 25 his way to successful living, which is finding a little 26 , so that he can carry on for the rest of his life, frightened.
A few minutes later I looked up and noticed an osprey (鱼鹰) 27 high in the sky. This keen-eyed hunter with a 28 view of the river was simply waiting for the best time to catch his food. The 29 creature flew up toward a nest at the top of one of the tallest trees.
It is the osprey not the field mouse that 30 our human potential (潜能). I don’t know about you, but it is 31 for me to decide which creature I want to learn from. I want to 32, to see the big picture, to climb higher, go farther, dive deeper, and 33 more. I want my soul enlarged and my heart inspired. I want to 34 running about following my nose and instead I want to find new strength, fresh 35 , clear vision and courage. I want to be more like the osprey and less like the field mouse, for to live like the field mouse is to ruin my potential.
A．boat B．hole C．yard D．box
A．friend B．appearance C．food D．existence
A．frightened B．excited C．surprised D．pleased
A．eyes B．nose C．head D．legs
A．lose B．find C．smell D．give
A．time B．room C．treasure D．food
A．hanging B．running C．flying D．staying
A．short B．full C．different D．first
A．interesting B．frightening C．boring D．amazing
A．needs B．models C．follows D．strikes
A．difficult B．strange C．easy D．special
A．play B．rest C．relax D．explore
A．get B．experience C．forget D．control
A．continue B．stop C．enjoy D．practise
A．thinking B．air C．news D．water
Every summer, hundreds of thousands of students travel to other countries looking for work and adventure. Most of the opportunities are in 1 work. The pay is usually poor, but most people work 2 for the thrill of travel. You can pick grapes in France, entertain kids on American summer camps, and, of course, there are always 3 in hotels and restaurants.
But it is not as easy as it used to be to find work. Unless you speak the language of the country well, there will be very 4 openings. For example, when you arrive to wash dishes in a restaurant in Paris, the owner will 5 you to speak French. British students only have a language 6 for jobs in the USA and Australia.
Not every one 7 the experience. Sarah James was once responsible for forty American children in Europe. During the 8 , one child lost his passport; four children were lost in Madrid for a whole day; the whole group was thrown out of one hotel because of the9 they made. Sarah says, “It really was a 24-hour-a-day job since the kids never 10 ! And the pay was awful. It wasn’t worth it.”
The trouble is that 11 expect to have an easy time of it. After all, they see it as a12 . In practice, though, they have to work hard. At the same time, all vacation work is casual work, and jobs are 13 only when the hotel, the restaurant, or the campsite is busy. But students have few employment 14 . As soon as the holiday season finishes, companies will get rid of them. And if their employer doesn’t like them, they’ll be 15 , too.
A．seasonal B．mental C．professional D．formal
A．hard B．voluntarily C．abroad D．continuously
A．jobs B．visitors C．customers D．parties
A．good B．new C．attractive D．few
A．teach B．expect C．allow D．forbid
A．program B．lesson C．advantage D．exam
A．has B．enjoys C．forgets D．remembers
A．trip B．flight C．discussion D．ceremony
A．promise B．progress C．complaint D．noise
A．cried B．studied C．slept D．helped
A．children B．students C．employers D．parents
A．job B．lesson C．holiday D．shame
A．countless B．available C．interesting D．boring
A．experiences B．rules C．plans D．rights
A．dismissed B．charged C．fined D．punished