The family had just moved to Rhode Island, and the young woman was feeling a little depressed on that Sunday in May. After all, it was Mother's Day—and 800 miles her from her parents in Ohio.
She had called them that morning, to wish her a happy Mother's Day and her mother had how colorful their backyard was spring had arrived. Later, she told her husband how she those lilacs in her parents' yard. “I know where we can find some,” he said. “Get the and come on.” So off they went.
Some time later, they stopped at a hill and there were lilacs all round. The young woman rushed up to the nearest and buried her face in the flowers. Carefully, she some．
Finally, they returned to their car for the home. The woman sat smiling, surrounded by her .
When they were near home, she shouted “stop,” got off quickly and to a nearby nursing home. She went to the end of the porch (门廊), where a(n) patient was sitting in her wheelchair, and put the flowers into her lap. The two , bursting into laughter now and then. Later the young woman turned and ran back to her . As the car pulled away, the woman in the wheelchair with a smile, and held the lilacs .
“Mom,” the kids asked, “ did you give her our flowers?” “It is Mother's Day, and she seems so while I have all of you. And anyone would be by flowers.”
This satisfied the kids, but not the husband. The next day he some young lilacs around their yard.
I was the husband. Now, every May, our yard is full of lilacs. Every Mother's Day our kids purple lilacs. And every year I remember that smile of the lonely old woman.
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Now you’re a fool for helping. “I don’t want to get ” seems to have become a national motto. One summer I was driving from my hometown of Tahoe City, California to New Orleans, Louisiana. In the middle of the desert, I passed a young man standing by the roadside. He had his thumb and held a gas can in his other hand. I drove right by him. There was a time when you’d be called a jerk (混蛋) for passing by somebody _ ___ .
Several days later I was still _ _ about the hitchhiker (搭便车的人), about how I didn’t even lift my foot _ _ the accelerator (加速踏板) for him. “Does anyone stop any more?” I wondered. I Blanche DuBois’s famous line—”I have always depended on the kindness of .” Was that possible these days? One way to this would be for a person to journey across the US without any money, just ___ _ on the good will of others. What would happen? Would he find food, shelter and support?
The idea intrigued (激起兴趣) me.
The week I turned 37, I realized that I had never done something truly crazy. ___ _ I decided to really do it: travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic without a penny. I would only accept ___ of rides, food and places to sleep. For six weeks I hitched 82 rides and covered 4,223 miles across 14 states. I was treated kindly everywhere I went. I was ___ _ by people’s readiness to help a stranger.
In Oregon, a house painter named Mike ___ _ the cold weather and asked if I had a coat. I didn’t, so he gave me a big green army-style jacket. A lumber-mill worker in Michigan named Tim invited me to a(n) _ _ _ _ dinner with his family in their shabby house. Then he offered me a tent. I , but Tim insisted, packing it into my bag himself. I found people were generally compassionate. Hearing I had no money and would take none, people bought me food or ___ _ with them whatever they happened to have. Those who had the _ _ _ _ to give often gave the most.
I’m ___ _ to all the people I met for their rides, their food, their shelter and their gifts. My faith in ordinary folks was ___ _. I am proud to live in a country where people are still willing to help. Now about the hitchhiker I met the other day, I am feeling __ _ that I did not stop to take him along .
A．involved B．crazy C．blamed D．rejected
A．away B．in C．over D．out
A．in danger B．in need C．in action D．in favor
A．worrying B．considering C．concerning D．thinking
A．off B．on C．away D．from
A．concluded B．recalled C．polished D．submitted
A．strangers B．relatives C．friends D．colleagues
A．guide B．test C．handle D．conduct
A．basing B．relying C．insisting D．relating
A．But B．So C．And D．However
A．jobs B．supplies C．helps D．offers
A．frightened B．annoyed C．disappointed D．amazed
A．noted B．saw C．felt D．sensed
A．simple B．rich C．awesome D．interesting
A．understood B．refused C．paused D．disobeyed
A．supplied B．offered C．shared D．provided
A．grandest B．most C．least D．best
A．careful B．grateful C．hopeful D．helpful
A．created B．reminded C．renewed D．returned
A．guilty B．sceptical C．delighted D．shallow
A little part of me thought about going to another checkout line．This one had the shortest ，there was only one guy in it，but he was in a and there seemed to be some difficulties ．
We stepped in behind him．At first, he to be having difficulty getting his groceries onto the counter．But after a while，I realized that what he was actually doing was it into two parts．
I offered to help，but he and the checkout lady had it under ．He asked Julie if she would mind putting his basket away．Then he for his wallet which was in a bag on one side of his chair．The he was positioned and the fact he only had one usable arm this troublesome for him，so I helped there．
The checkout operator came around and gave him his and the goods he needed to have to hand．She one bag of groceries over a handle at the back of his chair．
I offered to get the other bigger bag and he said，“No． you could do me a favor．Take that bag along to the entrance and give it to Angela．"
Angela，it ，was collecting food for people who might go hungry! I hadn’t even her before.
This guy，in spite of the limitations，had bought more than twice as shopping as he needed—and given the bigger bag away to help people!
He didn’t let the fact that he needed help him from being a help．He may have been limited ，but his heart was more than able to overcome all that．
A．queue B．space C．figure D．time
A．supermarket B．wheelchair C．helmet D．uniform
A．going on B．holding on C．paying off D．setting down
A．happened B．seemed C．used D．pretended
A．selecting B．wrapping C．handing D．separating
A．charge B．control C．improvement D．settlement
A．empty B．heavy C．large D．broken
A．felt B．searched C．reached D．seized
A．spot B．direction C．distance D．way
A．caught B．carried C．made D．solved
A．basket B．bag C．wallet D．change
A．arranged B．hung C．loaded D．connected
A．And B．But C．So D．Or
A．turned out B．found out C．pointed out D．put out
A．already B．always C．otherwise D．fairly
A．noticed B．known C．understood D．greeted
A．many B．much C．few D．little
A．wealthy B．ordinary C．other D．normal
A．stop B．require C．lead D．persuade
A．financially B．morally C．mentally D．physically
Could the Internet be totally free and should it be? Should the Internet be regulated? The recent disorder in the Arab world ____ by a disputed (有争议的) video damaging the image of Prophet (先知) Muhammad shows the United States, which is busy ____ global Internet freedom, has paid a huge price ____ the lives of its diplomats.
In an unregulated Internet world, cheating, violence or rumors can ____ serious consequences. Many countries across the world are periodically suffering from “rumors” ____ by the Internet and social media.
The US-led West always promotes Internet freedom and ____ any regulation as investigation, but it should think twice if it calculates the heavy price that has been and has to be paid for “____”. Moreover, ____ the Internet in the West ____ to be free, with no obvious ____ and no limited sites, isn’t the structure of the main pages already hand-controlled, with selected press agencies and ____ occupying clearly dominating (显著的) positions?
The Internet has helped fight injustice, ____ corruption in places so far apart as Indonesia, India and Latin America. But the Internet could be extremely ____ as well. Various racist or separatist organizations are using their Internet sites to fan ____. Those who are spreading hate are frequently using the Internet as their tool. No country can ____ to make the Internet absolutely free.
The question is how to keep free flow of information ____ while protecting children from unhealthy works, common citizens from ____ rumors and countries from unfair and damaging propaganda (宣传) attacks. And who sets the limits?
The ____ is that there will never be a perfect system. Every country will have to ____ its own system, based on its culture, social ____ and the degree of danger it’s facing.
A．led B．caused C．damaged D．attacked
A．helping B．processing C．promoting D．improving
A．for B．at C．with D．off
A．bring B．reach C．fetch D．take
A．spread B．exposed C．delivered D．passed
A．supports B．follows C．opposes D．dislikes
A．free B．accessible C．available D．healthy
A．as if B．even if C．so that D．in that
A．happens B．intends C．offers D．appears
A．interruption B．interference C．defence D．preference
A．programs B．substances C．channels D．sources
A．uncover B．strike C．prevent D．avoid
A．beneficial B．useful C．sensitive D．destructive
A．expressions B．impressions C．passions D．affections
A．refuse B．afford C．fail D．attempt
A．unpolluted B．unskilled C．unoccupied D．uninterrupted
A．evil B．meaningful C．untrue D．effective
A．importance B．conclusion C．description D．possibility
A．develop B．invent C．change D．study
A．trends B．structure C．surroundings D．factors
It was a winter afternoon. Some friends and I were eating at a restaurant and talking. We talked and talked and soon became the topic. Suddenly I hit upon an idea. “Wouldn’t it be fun to go ? Others go in winter, but why couldn’t we? , we could be healthier if we did. ” I told them about this, and they all said it was a good idea . Early the next morning, we four were standing at the bus stop, with bags in our hands, for a bus to take us to the . The sky was clear; the sun was shining. But it was very cold all the same. our heavy overcoats were not enough to keep us warm. We all felt we should go back, but no one wanted to speak out.
We soon reached the sands. There was there, but we were not discouraged. Instead we were that we were the only ones that dared to challenge the weather. we changed our clothes quickly. But things were not going so . The freezing sea wind was blowing. We felt very cold and trembled all over. At we made up our minds to go into the water. We put our feet in first to take them back very quickly. The water was unbelievably cold. Then I suggested we all jump in . We all went back ten steps. I gave the , and we all rushed forward and jumped in. I shall never forget the moment I was in the water. I was up and rushed again to the shore. it was with my friends. We put on our clothes as quickly as possible.
On the way back home, we talked about this unforgettable . The four of us did not school for the following three days. We all suffered a lot a very bad cold. But we thought it was all worth it.
A．film B．music C．sports D．play
A．swimming B．skating C．skiing D．camping
A．Specially B．Besides C．Really D．Clearly
A．indeed B．fully C．certainly D．truly
A．looking B．searching C．waiting D．asking
A．river B．lake C．pool D．sands
A．Even B．Yet C．But D．Just
A．somebody B．nobody C．everybody D．anybody
A．excited B．happy C．proud D．lonely
A．So B．But C．Still D．Yet
A．wrong B．right C．bad D．smooth
A．first B．all C．last D．once
A．just B．then C．only D．but
A．one by one B．one after another C．separately D．at the same time
A．message B．order C．mark D．information
A．slowly B．nervously C．late D．immediately
A．Nor B．And C．So D．Or
A．idea B．experiment C．chance D．experience
A．attend B．reach C．enter D．go
A．by B．with C．from D．of
When I was in seventh grade, I volunteered at a local hospital during the summer. I spent most of the time there with Mr. Gillespie. He never had any , and nobody seemed to care about his condition. I spent many days there his hand and talking to him, helping with anything that needed to be done. He became a close friend of mine, Mr. Gillespie was in a coma (昏迷).
I left for a week, and when I came back, Mr. Gillespie was . I didn't have the courage to ask any of the nurses where he was, for they might tell me he had died.
So with many questions , I continued to volunteer there.
Several years later, I was at a gas station when I noticed a face. When I realized who it was, my eyes filled with tears. He was alive? I got up the to ask him if his name was Mr. Gillespie, and if he had been in a about 5 years ago. With an uncertain look on his face, he yes. I explained how I knew him. His eyes were with tears, and he gave me the warmest hug.
He began to tell me when he there comatose (昏迷的), he could hear me talking to him and could me holding his hand the whole time. He thought it was an , not a person, who was there with him. Mr. Gillespie firmly believed that it was my and touch that had kept him alive.
Then he told me about his life and what happened him to put him in the coma. We both cried for a while, said our goodbyes and our separate ways.
Although I have not seen him since then, he fills my heart with joy every day. I know that I made a between his life and his death. More , he has made a very big difference in my life, too. I will never forget him and what he for me: he made me an angel.
A．visitors B．employees C．doctors D．relatives
A．touching B．breaking C．holding D．shaking
A．if B．although C．when D．since
A．dead B．lost C．puzzled D．gone
A．fear B．terror C．convenience D．insurance
A．undone B．unanswered C．uncovered D．unaccepted
A．blank B．kindly C．familiar D．strange
A．support B．principle C．memory D．courage
A．coma B．position C．conversation D．situation
A．expected B．replied C．thought D．considered
A．kept B．put C．filled D．came
A．climbed B．sat C．stood D．lay
A．feel B．attack C．imagine D．send
A．animal B．angel C．interviewee D．assistant
A．noise B．shout C．voice D．suggestion
A．to B．on C．over D．off
A．ran B．checked C．escaped D．went
A．living B．difference C．mistake D．turn
A．importantly B．carefully C．frequently D．actually
A．decorated B．headed C．did D．allowed