Odysseus is a literary figure in the Odyssey (write) by Homer. He rejected the comfortable life of a Greek king and made a promise to help another Greek leader, Menelaus, get
wife back. But the war
(drag) on and on and he was away from his family for ten years.
During this time the fortunes of the war were so (change) that no one could predict
would win. Odysseus became tired of the war and the delay in Troy. He urgently wanted to return home, so
the Greek kings had their regular weekly meeting, he suggested that they take
opportunity to trick the Trojans. The Greeks built a giant wooden horse so that men could hide inside it. The Greeks then pretended to leave as if they
(discourage) by the length of the war. The Trojans blessed their God
their good fortune and prepared to celebrate.
That night the men climbed out of the horse and opened the city gates to the Greek army. The Trojans awoke to the sound of the warning bell (announce) a Greek victory. So the war ended but the punishment of the Trojan people was only just beginning.
Former Hollywood child star Shirley Temple (die) on Monday at home in Woodside, California, from natural causes.
With her charm and blonde curls, she was one of (popular) stars of
1930s in hit movies like Bright Eyes and Stand Up and Cheer.
Her singing, ___(dance) and acting won over fans worldwide. She
_ (give) a special juvenile Oscar in 1935,
she was just seven years old. To this day, she is still the youngest person
__ has received an Academy Award.
Shirley Temple started film career at three years old. Between 1934 _
_ 1938 she appeared in more than 20 films and was consistently the top US movie star.
Her final film, A Kiss For Corliss, is available to watch online for free. This is the star’s final moment on the big screen.
After retiring from films in 1950 the age of 22, Temple once again became the focus(焦点) as a politician and diplomat (外交官).
In the 1950s, a family that owned a farm near Beulah, Michigan kept a bull chained to an elm (榆树). The bull paced around the tree, dragging the heavy iron chain, led to a groove (槽) in the bark. The groove was deepened over the years. Though for whatever reason,
did not kill the tree.
After some years, the family took their bull away. They cut the chain, (leave) the link around the tree.
Then one year, agricultural catastrophe (strike) Michigan in
form of Dutch elm disease. All of the elms lining the road leading to the farm became infected
died. Everyone thought that the old elm would be the
. The farm owners considered
(go) the safe thing: pulling it out and chopping it up into firewood before it died.
(amazing), the tree did not die. It’s said that what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. Or,
a plant pathologists (病理学家 ) put it , “Life breaks us all, but afterwards, many of us are strongest at the broken places.”
Festivals and celebrations of all kinds (hold) everywhere since ancient times. Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather,
(plant) in spring and harvest in autumn. At that time people would starve if food was difficult to find, especially during the cold winter months.
Today's festivals have many origins, some ( religion) , some seasonal, and some for special people or events. Some festivals are held to honor the dead or to satisfy the ancestors, who might return either to help or to do harm. For example, the Japanese festival Obon is honored in
of their ancestors. People then should go to clean graves, light lamps and play music
they think that this will lead the ancestors back to earth. In Mexico, people celebrate the Day of the Dead in early November.
this important feast day, people eat food in
shape of skulls and cakes with "bones" on them. They offer food, flowers and gifts to the dead. The Western holiday Halloween also had
origin in old beliefs about the return of the spirits of dead people. It is now a children's festival,
they can dress up and go to their neighbors' homes to ask for sweets. The Dragon Boat Festival in China honors the famous ancient poet, Qu Yuan. India has a national festival on October 2 to honor Mohandas Gandhi, the leader who helped gain India's
（depend) from Britain.
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卷标号为1～10的相应位置上。
Six days of spring rain had created a wild river (run) by Nancy Brown’s farm. As she tried to drive her cows to higher ground, she
(slip) and hit her head on a fallen tree trunk. Nancy was badly hurt and could only walk with great
(difficult). The water was rising. Nancy’s pace got slower and slower. Finally, all she could do was to throw her arm around Lizzie’s neck and try to hang on. About 20 minutes later, Lizzie managed to
(success) pull herself and Nancy out of the water and onto a bit of high land.
helicopter lowered a doctor,
attached Nancy to a life-support lift. They raised her into the helicopter and took her to the school gym,
the Red Cross had set up an emergency shelter.
When the flood subsided two days later, Nancy immediately went back to the highland. Lizzie was gone.was one of the 19 cows that Nancy lost. “I owe my life
her,” said Nancy sobbingly.
Yesterday, as I approached the front door of our public library, a white-haired gentleman stepped back to hold the door for me. You see, I have to go everywhere these days with a walker, and folks are _________ (constant) holding or opening doors for me, so this was not unusual.
However, I told the gentleman that the door had _______ automatic opener, and he did not need to stay to hold it open. He said “Here I thought I would have an opportunity to be
_________ (help).”
At that, I backed up, let the door close, and allowed him to reopen the door, not ________ (use) the automatic control this time. His comment then was “Well, now I feel like that I
_______ (accomplish) something helpful and worthwhile today.”
We never know_________ someone else is feeling. We seniors seem to feel we can take care of
________ at all times. That random act of kindness brightened not only my day, but to my joy and delight, also the day of that white-haired senior citizen. I felt a glow for the rest of the day, and,
________ (hope), so did he!
So, gentle readers, never hesitate ________ (offer) kindness. You may find to your
________ (amaze) that there is more kindness in your community than you ever believe possible.