My husband and I insisted that our children were old enough to clean their rooms and make their beds. But they thought . My complaints, even self-justified shouting, were always landing on ears. Very often a whole hour’s scolding would end with their into tears, I felt very frustrated. I realized I needed to my method of “mothering”.
One day when they were at school, I spent some time their rooms. On their desks, in plain , I left the cards: “Dear Bill (the other card was to Sarah), your room was messy this morning and I’m sure you like it clean. Love, the Room Fairy.” arriving back, the children were excited to receive the little note from the Room Fairy. The next day, their rooms were fairly tidy. Sure enough, there was another note from the Room Fairy __ for them, thanking them for their nice “gift” of a clean room and asking them to play a certain violin . Each day, thank--you notes would be written differently to keep the ideas .
Sometimes the Room Fairy would propose a little : “If you can finish your homework and your lessons before dinner, I’ d like to watch a particular television program with you tonight.” Sometimes some colored markers or other little items would be left in of well done jobs the day .
I can’t remember how long “the Room Fairy” continued leaving her love notes. When they were age appropriate, we used various versions of Post-Its(贴条). The bathroom mirror became the centre of our home. Appointments, notices about visiting relatives, lesson schedules, and changes in plans could be posted.
We all benefited from and the idea of sharing reminders and daily details of life through notes. I believe the true advantage of the Room Fairy notes survives in our frequent and enjoyable communication.
A．indifferently B．gratefully C．doubtfully D．otherwise
A．side B．deaf C．neither D．either
A．crying B．breaking C．bursting D．bumping
A．adjust B．adopt C．access D．addict
A．clearing B．tidying C．emptying D．searching
A．distance B．words C．speech D．sight
A．sent B．read C．delivered D．addressed
A．As B．At C．In D．Upon
A．more than B．rather than C．no more than D．other than
A．asking B．waiting C．praying D．expecting
A．politely B．happily C．gently D．toughly
A．music B．song C．piece D．tone
A．respectable B．uninteresting C．incredible D．fresh
A．challenge B．question C．suggestion D．advice
A．go with B．look up C．go over D．look into
A．response B．answer C．praise D．honor
A．ahead B．before C．over D．ago
A．Actually B．Even so C．Even if D．Though
A．life B．main C．memory D．reminder
A．learned B．appreciated C．shared D．thanked
Whenever you want to make a decision, just make sure to think twice and confirm it. This is what we learn from the following story. While two old beggars were sitting on a street corner, they watched helplessly as scores of people walked by. Some purposely them and others too caught up in their own cares didn’t even notice their . Every so often, a kind-hearted woman or a small child would drop a few coins in the which lay in front of them.
As the crowd began to die down, they started to their things and head for their evening . Just as they were getting ready to leave, they noticed a man walking toward them. He was obviously a man—they could tell that from his finely tailored business suit.
The first beggar whispered to the second with , “He’s coming our way!”
The two tried not to look at the man as he stepped closer to them, but they couldn’t gazing up with anticipation he reached into his pocket and took something out.
“Thunk” was the only sound they heard as what looked like a piece of hard , wrapped in tissue paper hit each of their waiting hats. The rich man and continued on his way, not making a backward glance.
“How insulting(侮辱人的)!” said the first beggar. “He could have left us a few coins or a spare bill, but he mocks us with a piece of rock candy. Who does he think we are? ? There’s no way we can even eat this—we have no .” He picked up the object and threw it into the gutter.
“I haven’t had anything like this for ages,” the second beggar thought. “I can’t chew it, but I can suck on it , and the sugary juices will stay in my for a long time. How nice of that man to offer me something so sweet！”
With that, he the white tissue paper, but to his , there was no hard rock candy inside. However, into his fingers fell a shiny white pearl worth thousands of dollars.
A．distant B．busy C．broad D．narrow
A．aided B．observed C．noticed D．ignored
A．existence B．situation C．appearance D．expression
A．hats B．hands C．pockets D．bowls
A．put up B．cover up C．pack up D．end up
A．party B．flat C．shelter D．shadow
A．wealthy B．healthy C．poor D．proud
A．confusion B．happiness C．excitement D．amusement
A．carelessly B．calmly C．sadly D．directly
A．help B．escape C．wait D．prevent
A．then B．while C．as D．since
A．cake B．candy C．coin D．bill
A．quit B．declined C．turned D．returned
A．easily B．hardly C．suddenly D．finally
A．Babies B．Children C．Adults D．Old men
A．hands B．teeth C．bowls D．money
A．in a while B．for a while C．after a while D．once in a while
A．pocket B．hand C．mouth D．hat
A．threw B．undertook C．unfolded D．wrapped
A．satisfaction B．amazement C．horror D．disappointment
People say one man's trash(垃圾) is another man's treasure. That comes to me as I the house purchased in 1962 by my parents. My mother passed away in 1996. My father left the house my sister and me when he died a few months ago.
After Dad was , we looked around the house where we grew up and that Dad loved so much. At first we felt so all the stuff(东西) left. Like so many of their generation, my parents everything. And like many in my generation, we faced anxious about what to abandon and what to keep.
As we started throwing out old phone books and every medical bill from every my parents ever saw, I also many hidden treasures. Mom's pocketbook was in their bedroom closet, which had everything in it, her hairbrush with hair, as if she were still here. And Dad, who was a World War II veteran(退伍兵) and a world traveler, everything -- from little spoons from all over the world to every letter he wrote to his parents while in the . The letters he wrote during the war his thoughts as a young man. Later, in the basement, I our old kitchen table, which brought back of my parents and sister and me having breakfast together.
I'm realizing all these things my parents' life journey. Each time I go to , I find something that reminded me of my childhood or teaches me something about my parents I knew. , from the shabby furniture to all the hidden treasures, means more to me than all the money in the world.
A．coincidence B．goal C．principle D．thought
A．looked for B．looked through C．looked into D．looked after
A．to B．for C．with D．by
A．retired B．ill C．gone D．injured
A．clean B．strange C．empty D．modern
A．pleased with B．familiar with C．astonished at D．disappointed at
A．saved B．enjoyed C．purchased D．designed
A．decisions B．bargains C．challenges D．responsibilities
A．person B．doctor C．neighbor D．child
A．bought B．discovered C．buried D．lost
A．just B．even C．only D．yet
A．liked B．bought C．kept D．lost
A．countryside B．school C．college D．army
A．receive B．direct C．sense D．describe
A．repaired B．cleaned C．spotted D．set
A．introductions B．memories C．descriptions D．communications
A．represented B．recognized C．instructed D．confirmed
A．the supermarket B．church C．my office D．the house
A．merely B．always C．really D．never
A．Everything B．Nothing C．Anything D．Something
When I was fifteen, I announced to my English class that I was going to write my own books. Half the students smiled , and even worse, the rest nearly fell out of their chairs laughing. “Don’t be . Only geniuses can become writers.” the English teacher said, “And you are getting a D this term.” I was so that I burst into tears. That night I wrote a short poem about broken dreams and mailed it to the newspaper. To my , they published it and sent me two dollars. I was a published and paid writer. I showed my teacher and fellow students. They laughed, “Just plain dumb luck,” the teacher said. I tasted ; I’d sold the first thing I’d ever written. That was more than any of them had done and if it was just dumb luck, that was fine with me.
During the next two years, I sold dozens of poems and letters. By the time I graduated from high school, I had scrapbooks (剪贴簿) with my published works. I never my writing to my teachers, friends or my family again because they were dream .
I had four children at the time. While the children slept, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote what I felt. It took nine months. I chose a and mailed it. A month later I received a contract, an advance on payments, and a request to start another book. Crying Wind, which became a best seller, was translated into fifteen languages and sold worldwide. My first book also became required in native American schools inCanada.
In the year I ever had as a writer I earned two dollars. In my best year I earned 36,000 dollars. People ask what college I , what degrees I have and what qualifications I have to be a writer. The answer is: “None.” I just write. I’m not a genius. I use an electric typewriter that I paid a hundred and twenty nine dollars for six years ago. I do all the housework and fit my writing in a few minutes here and there. I’ve written eight books. To all those who dream of writing, I’m shouting at you: “Yes, you can. Don’t listen to them.” I don’t write right but I’ve succeeded. Writing is ; it’s fun and anyone can do it. Of course, a little dumb luck doesn’t hurt.
A．unkindly B．happily C．willingly D．crazily
A．curious B．depressed C．excited D．silly
A．unlucky B．ashamed C．moved D．unconfident
A．sad B．innocent C．disappointing D．puzzling
A．puzzlement B．expectation C．astonishment D．disappointment
A．coldness B．failure C．success D．prejudice
A．furnished B．linked C．combined D．filled
A．remembered B．concluded C．described D．mentioned
A．killers B．makers C．designers D．creators
A．writer B．reporter C．publisher D．manager
A．working on B．going on C．turning on D．putting on
A．writing B．reading C．selling D．buying
A．busiest B．unluckiest C．worst D．highest
A．worked B．attended C．admitted D．participated
A．easy B．hard C．convenient D．practical
阅读下面短文．从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
When my brother and l were growing up, we mowed(割)yards during the summer to earn pocket change．Dad traded our service to neighbors and a price they could not refuse. We got $ 10 per yard．I later found out our friends $20 or more for the same amount of work.
One day we were our next-door neighbor’s yard．She always waited until the grass was knee—high to call us over． we had an old lawn mower．This particular hot afternoon, I was finishing up and was tired .I the tall grass as a cold drink to cool down.
I was just about to cut off the lawn mower I saw Dad pointing to one lone piece. I thought about the change l was getting paid for cutting grass so high that it broke the mower. I ignored him and kept walking. Dad called me out,“You a piece.” I frowned, hoping he would let me go home. He kept pointing .So , 1 went back to cut that piece of grass. I said to myseIf, “That one piece doesn’t anyone .Why won’t he just let it ?”
But when I reached adulthood，I understood his : When you’re running a business, the work you do much about you If you want to be seen as a businessman with ，you must deliver a quality product .That single piece of grass meant the job was not done.
The my father taught me stayed with me：if you say you are going to a job at a certain time，keep your ．Give your customers the kind of you would llke t0 receive. It shows how sincere you are and how much you take in your work.
A．kept B．calculated C．lowered D．offered
A．charged B．paid C．afforded D．spent
A．cleaning B．exploring C．cutting D．searching
A．To be honest B．Worse still C．Believe or not D．Above all
A．picmred B．watered C．planted D．enjoyed
A．after B．before C．when D．while
A．total B．exact C．loose D．poor
A．hardlv B．almost C．never D．merely
A．lost B．1eft C．missed D．forgot
A．angry B．happy C．astonished D．stubborn
A．attract B．hurt C．attack D．comfort
A．come B．live C．go D．pass
A．action B．instruction C．feeling D．message
A．says B．expresses C．explains D．knows
A．fortune B．pleasure C．content D．honesty
A．lesson B．experience C．skill D．business
A．quit B．find C．create D．perform
A．word B．secret C．mind D．watch
A．dignity B．service C．reward D．praise
A．trouble B．surprise C．pride D．responsibility
The Christmas gift when I was seven years old has been a pleasant memory. other gifts, it came without wrap（包装）.
On September 11ththat year, Mum gave to Richard. After she brought him home from ,she put him in my lap, saying, “I you a gift, and here it is.” What a/an ! I seven amonth earlier and none of my friends had such a baby doll of their own. I played with it day and night and told it over and over how much I loved it!
One morning, however, I found its bed empty. My doll was ! I cried for it. Mumwept（流泪）and told me that the little thing had been sent to a hospital because of a fever. For several days, I heard mum andDad whispering such as “hopeless”, “pitiful”, and “dying”, which sounded .
Christmas was coming. “Don’t any presents this year,” Dad said, pointing at the I hung in the living room. “ your baby brother lives, that’ll be Christmas enough.” As he spoke, his eyes filled with tears. I’d seen him cry before.
The phone rang early on Christmas morning. Dad jumped out of bed to it. From my bedroom I heard him say, “What? He’s all right?” He and shouted upstairs. “The hospital said we can bring Richard home!”
“Thank God!” I heard Mum cry.
From the upstairs window, I watched my parents rush out to the car. I had never seen them so . And I was also full of joy. What a wonderful day! My baby doll would be home. I ran . My socks still hung there , but I knew they were filled with !
A．Like B．Unlike C．As D．Except
A．life B．treatment C．freedom D．birth
A．hospital B．illness C．shop D．danger
A．bought B．offered C．promised D．ordered
A．surprise B．honor C．wonder D．pity
A．grew B．got C．became D．turned
A．stolen B．gone C．broken D．Hidden
A．nice B．naughty C．poor D．Ugly
A．words B．feelings C．predictions D．results
A．impossible B．dangerous C．fearful D．difficult
A．think B．expect C．forget D．buy
A．clock B．pictures C．socks D．bag
A．Unless B．If C．Only D．After
A．once B．already C．never D．often
A．see B．receive C．hear D．answer
A．hung up B．held up C．got up D．stood up
A．anxious B．worried C．crazy D．happy
A．downstairs B．upstairs C．outside D．inside
A．alone B．flat C．high D．untouched
A．dolls B．thanks C．kindness D．love