Once there was a very brilliant, creative and educated man. He gained much while traveling throughout the world. Unfortunately he lost his legs and left arm in a tragic accident, leaving only a finger and thumb on his right hand. He became so
that he was afraid he would spend his life
and would no longer be able to use his life in a(n)
way.
One day, he remembered how he had always loved getting He realized that he still had partial
of his right hand and could write with
. Then, he had an idea,"Why not write to other people who need encouragement?"
He where he could find those who could be encouraged if they read his letters. He thought of people in
. Many of them had hope of regaining their
Others would keep feeling depressed and remain putting away for the rest of their lives. He decided that he must try to
them. So he wrote to a prison ministry about sending letters to the prisoners. The prison minister replied that writing to the prisoners would be
. However, it would be against prison rules for the prisoners to write back.
with the intention, the man began sending
messages of God's love, hope, strength, and encouragement. He wrote twice a week, testing his strength and ability to the
. He poured his heart and soul into his words,
his experience, sense of humor, optimism, and faith.
It was difficult to write those letters, especially without hope of any . Frequently, he felt discouraged, wondering if anyone
read his letters. However, this was his
chance, so he determined to continue.
At last, he received a letter from the prison officer, which said,“ Please write on the best paper you can afford. Your letters are passed from cell (小牢房)to cell until they almost fall to !”We all have unique experiences, abilities and talents. We can discover ways to reach others in need of encouragement and strength.
A, wealth B. faith C. experience D. confidence
A. depressed B. embarrassed C. ashamed D. thrilled
A. writing B. suffering C. weeping D. wandering
A. abnormal B. regular C. comfortable D. meaningful
A. presents B. e-mails C. letters D. prizes
A. sense B. strength C. shape D. function
A. affection B. caution C. difficulty D. confidence
A. estimated B. doubted C, assumed D. wondered
A. hospitals B. churches C. prisons D. charities
A. families B. letters C. freedom D. conscience
A. release B. reach C. defend D. know
A. acceptable B. reasonable C. prohibited D. considerate
A. Faced B. Filled C. Satisfied D. Impressed
A. holy B. daily C. one-way D. round-way
A. point B. worst C. degree D. limit
A. sharing B, learning C. gaining D. enriching
A. success B. reply C. help D. progress
A. curiously B. patiently C. carefully D. actually
A. only B. better C. extra D. lost
A. ruin B. pieces C. the ground D. the bottom
The concept of solitude (独处) in the digital world is almost non-existent. In the world of digital technology, e-mail, social networking and online video games, information is meant to be____36___. Solitude can be hard to discover ___37____it has been given up. In this respect, new technologies have ___38____our culture.
The desire to be connected has brought solitude to a(n) ___39____as we’ve known it. People have become so ___40____in the world of networks and connections that one can often be contacted ____41___they’d rather not be. Today we can talk, text, e-mail, chat and blog (写博客), not only from our ___42____, but from our mobile phones as well.
Most developed nations have become ___43____on digital technology simply because they’ve grown accustomed to it, and at this point not ___44____it would make them an outsider. ___45____, many jobs and careers require people to be ___46____. From this point of view, technology has changed the culture of work. Being reachable might feel like a ___47____to those who may not want to be able to be contacted at all times.
I suppose the positive side is that solitude is still possible for anyone who ___48____wants it. Computers can be shut ___49____and mobile phones can be turned off. The ability to be “connected”and “ on”has many ___50____, as well as disadvantages. Travelers have ended up ___51____on mountains, and mobile phones have saved countless lives. They can also make people feel ___52____and forced to answer unwanted calls or___53____to unwanted texts.
Attitudes towards our connectedness as a society ___54____ across generations. Some find today’s technology a gift. Others consider it a curse. Regardless of anyone’s view on the subject, it’s hard to imagine what life would be like ___55____daily advancements in technology.
A.updated B.received C.shared D.collected
A.though B.until C.once D.before
A.respected B.shaped C.ignored D.preserved
A.edge B.stage C.end D.balance
A.sensitive B.intelligent C.considerate D.reachable
A.even if B.only if C.as if D.if only
A.media B.computers C.databases D.monitors
A.bent B.hard C.keen D.dependent
A.finding B.using C.protecting D.changing
A.Also B.Instead C.Otherwise D.Somehow
A.connected B.trained C.recommended D.interested
A.pleasure B.benefit C.burden D.disappointment
A.slightly B.hardly C.merely D.really
A.out B.down C.up D.in
A.aspects B.weaknesses C.advantages D.exceptions
A.hidden B.lost C.relaxed D.deserted
A.trapped B.excited C.confused D.amused
A.turn B.submit C.object D.reply
A.vary B.arise C.spread D.exist
A.beyond B.within C.despite D.without
When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student(优等生), I believed I could 1 tough(=hard) subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he 2 in class.
When I took the first exam, I was 3 to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper, 4 English was my best subject. I went to reason with Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained5 .
I decided to try harder, although I didn't know what that 6 because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I 7 with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn't change his 8 .
One more test before the final exam. One more 9 to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts(加倍努力) and, for the first time, 10 the meaning of the word "thorough"(彻底的).But my 11 did no good and everything 12 as before.
The last hurdle(障碍)was the final. No matter what 13 I got, it wouldn't cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the 14 goodbye.
I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even 15 myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I'd have 16 with a test.
A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into Professor Jayne's office. He 17 to be expecting me. "If I gave you the As you 18 , you wouldn't continue to work as hard."
I stared at him, 19 that his analysis and strategy(策略)were correct. I had worked my head 20 , as I had never done before.
I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I've always remembered Professor Jayne's lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.
A.take B.discuss C.cover D.get
A.found B.presented C.exchanged D.obtained
A.shocked B.worried C.scared D.anxious
A.but B.so C.for D.or
A.unchanged B.unpleasant C.unfriendly D.unmoved
A.reflected B.meant C.improved D.affected
A.quarreled B.reasoned C.bargained D.chatted
A.attitude B.mind C.plan D.view
A.choice B.step C.chance D.measure
A.memorized B.considered C.accepted D.learned
A.ambition B.confidence C.effort D.method
A.stayed B.went C.worked D.changed
A.grade B.answer C.lesson D.comment
A.scholarship B.course C.degree D.subject
A.helped B.favored C.treated D.relaxed
A.fun B.luck C.problems D.tricks
A.happened B.proved C.pretended D.seemed
A.valued B.imagined C.expected D.welcomed
A.remembering B.guessing C.supposing D.realizing
A.out B.over C.on D.off
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