It was the first time in Cindy’s 12 years that she had tried to make a cake, but it wasn’t exactly a success. The cake was well lumpy (结成块的). And it tasted ____, as if she ____ the sugar. Besides, the ____ was in a mess with all the fixings for cake out of place.
But Cindy wasn’t thinking about the mess. She was anxious for her parents to ____ home, so she could ____ her gift to them. She turned off the lights and waited ____ in the darkness. When at last she saw the ____ of the car’s headlights, she ____ herself in the kitchen doorway. When she heard the ____ sliding into the front door, she was close to exploding.
Her parents entered quietly, but Cindy would have ____ of that. She turned on the lights dramatically and gestured towards the kitchen ____, where a slightly off-balance cake awaited ____ praise. But her mother saw nothing but the ____. She shouted, “How many times have I talked to you about cleaning up after yourself?”
“But, Mom. I was only…”
“Clean this up immediately.”
____, Cindy’s mother isn’t the only parent who ____ the occasional inability to see the wood for the trees. Sometimes we allow ourselves to be ____ to things of long-term significance by the thing that seems ____ now — but isn’t. ____ kitchen sanitation (卫生设备) is important, is it ____ the sacrifice (祭品) of tender feelings and relationships? As patents, there are times when we ____ need to see the mess in the kitchen, and times when we only need to see the cake.
A．delicious B．sweet C．fresh D．bad
A．had run out B．had been given out C．had been worn out D．had used up
A．kitchen B．bedroom C．garden D．lab
A．leave B．visit C．return D．miss
A．send B．present C．share D．prepare
A．patiently B．excitedly C．nervously D．politely
A．shadow B．flame C．flash D．body
A．positioned B．managed C．adapted D．dropped
A．window B．car C．chair D．key
A．much B．part C．none D．something
A．floor B．table C．knife D．wall
A．their B．her C．his D．Cindy’s
A．chance B．result C．cake D．mess
A．Hopefully B．Luckily C．Happily D．Unfortunately
A．gives up B．suffers from C．shows off D．takes in
A．blinded B．addicted C．opposed D．devoted
A．necessary B．important C．ordinary D．clean
A．As B．If C．Although D．Since
A．across B．like C．towards D．worth
A．sadly B．only C．really D．hardly
A person may have a false idea about himself that will stop him from doing good work..
He may have the belief that he is unable to do it. A child may think he is 36 because he doesn’t understand how to make 37 use of his mental gifts. Old people may have a false idea that they are unable to learn new things because of their 38 .
A person who believes that he is stupid will not make a real 39 because he feels that it would be useless. He won’t go at a job with confidence necessary for 40 . Besides, he won’t work his hardest way, even though he may think he is doing so. 41 , he is likely to fail, and the failure will 42 his belief in his incompetence（无能）in turn.
Alfred Alder, a famous doctor, had 43 like this. When he was a small boy, he had a poor 44 in math. His teacher told his parents he had no ability in math in order that they would not 45 too much of him. In this way, his teacher and parents 46 the idea. He 47 their false judgment of his ability, feeling that it was useless to 48 . Then, he was very poor at math, 49 as they expected.
But one day everything changed. He worked out a problem which 50 of the other students had been able to solve. He 51 in solving the problem which gave him confidence. Soon he became especially good at 52 .
Alder now 53 with interest, determination and purpose. He not only proved that he could learn math well, but luckily he learned it 54 , not too late. From his own experience, we can tell that if a person goes at a job with determination and purpose, he may 55 himself as well as others by his ability.
A．clever B．shy C．useless D．stupid
A．big B．full C．high D．great
A．age B．ability C．brain D．knowledge
A．decision B．plan C．effort D．promise
A．work B．study C．improvement D．success
A．Truly B．Really C．However D．Therefore
A．lead to B．strengthen C．improve D．get rid of
A．an experience B．an example C．a thought D．a story
A．state B．mind C．start D．ending
A．blame B．expect C．get D．win
A．developed B．organized C．discovered D．found
A．broke B．refused C．doubted D．accepted
A．manage B．argue C．try D．act
A．only B．almost C．just D．then
A．none B．all C．some D．most
A．broke B．succeeded C．failed D．believed
A．physics B．medicine C．English D．math
A．studies B．works C．plays D．graduates
A．early B．deeply C．later D．simply
A．discourage B．love C．surprise D．disappoint
Do you remember last summer, when angry travelers were urging the government to do something about airline customer service? Airlines 36 to improve, and they adopted (采用) new standards just before Christmas. 37 as another summer nears, plenty of 38 travelers don’t see much improvement in customer 39 overall.
This month, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) office will publish its first critical 40 on whether airlines are 41 their promises. One survey suggests problems: the number of 42 to the DOT about the top 10 airlines in the first 43 rose 89% from a year ago .
Hit last summer by passenger complaints and the threat (威慑) of consumer-protection laws by the 44 _, 14 airlines 45 to adopt a set of basic customer-service standards called Customers First . The “12 promises” to passengers were introduced 46 a major effort to improve service. Since then, airlines have been redesigning websites , retraining employees and upgrading technology
Recently, DOT inspector general Kenneth Mead, at McCain’s request, sent 20 examiners to airports to 47 whether each airline is doing what it promised. Mead warns travelers shouldn’t 48 too much. Most of the promises are 49 better communication with customers , not problems with flights .
“Passengers should show more understanding to airlines about their 50 to better air service.” Spokeswoman Shelly Sassoon says. “And when 51 are made, it takes a long time for them to be noticed,” she says.
Now, the efforts may be working. During the first quarter, Delta had the second-lowest rate of complaints among the 52 10 carriers. 53 , its rate, along with other carriers’, is up from last year. McCain and other lawmakers say there may be a 54 to pass new consumer-protection 55 .
A．promised B．managed C．hoped D．refused
A．So B．But C．Merely D．Even
A．skilled B．experienced C．tired D．puzzled
A．flight B．opinion C．service D．travel
A．news B．information C．doubt D．article
A．honoring B．making C．giving D．improving
A．problems B．travelers C．passengers D．complaints
A．quarter B．year C．month D．summer
A．customer B．company C．government D．public
A．wished B．agreed C．remembered D．failed
A．to B．for C．as D．by
A．explain B．discuss C．discover D．check
A．travel B．expect C．complain D．suggest
A．aimed at B．considered as C．joined to D．made from
A．difficulty B．situation C．reality D．efforts
A．suggestions B．rules C．decisions D．improvements
A．large B．first C．top D．bad
A．Still B．Therefore C．Instead D．Meanwhile
A．possibility B．need C．chance D．use
A．examinations B．service C．laws D．reports
School was over and I felt quite tired. I sat at the very 41 of the crowded bus because of my anxiety to get home. Sitting there makes me 42 out like a shiny coin in a pile of dull pennies.
Janie, the 43 , tries to break the uncomfortable atmosphere by striking the match of 44 .
I tried to mind my manners and 45 listen, but usually I am too busy thinking about my day. On this day, 46 , her conversation was worth listening to.
“My father’s sick,” she said to no one in particular (专门) , I could see the 47 and fear in her eyes. “What’s wrong with him?” I asked. With her eyes wet and her voice tight from 48 the tears, she answered, “Heart trouble.” Her eyes 49 as she continued. “I have already lost my mum, so I don’t think I can stand losing him.”
I was 50 . My heart ached for her. And this reminded me of the great 51 that my own mother was thrown into when her father died. I saw how hard it was, and 52 is, for her. I wouldn’t like anyone to 53 that.
Suddenly I realized Janie wasn’t only a bus driver. That was 54 her job. She had a whole world of 55 and concerns, too. I suddenly felt very 56 . I realized I had only thought of people as far as what their purposes were in my life. I paid no attention to Janie 57 she was a bus driver. I had 58 her by her job and brushed her off as unimportant.
For all I know, I’m just another person in 59 else’s world, and may not be 60 . I should not have been so selfish and self-centered. Everyone has places to go, people to see and appointment to keep. Understanding people is an art.
A．front B．end C．side D．middle
A．find B．take C．think D．stand
A．doctor B．driver C．teacher D．assistant
A．fire B．topic C．conversation D．discussion
A．politely B．slightly C．carelessly D．partly
A．however B．therefore C．instead D．otherwise
A．surprise B．worry C．curiosity D．anger
A．fighting B．turning C．clearing D．protecting
A．opened B．shone C．closed D．lowered
A．recognized B．worried C．shocked D．excited
A．victory B．pain C．respect D．disappointment
A．away B．seldom C．still D．never
A．pick up B．work out C．go through D．get down
A．almost B．nearly C．ever D．just
A．family B．bus C．school D．friend
A．selfish B．desperate C．pessimistic D．ridiculous
A．while B．because C．though D．until
A．blamed B．received C．considered D．judged
A．everyone B．anyone C．someone D．nobody
A．happy B．wise C．useful D．important
June is always a sad time for Senior Three students. After taking the big test, they leave to 31 their dreams in different ways. It’s hard time when students 32 to say goodbye to carefree high school days and close friends.
People always say that teenage friendships are the most precious. Kids are too young to understand real friendship while adults 33 to relate it to fame and wealth.
Things are 34 with high school best friends. We share each other’s secret. We discuss news from all walks of life and begin to 35 our values. We support each other on the journey to the biggest 36in our lives. We also share success and failure. The seeds of friendship become deeply rooted.
Many of us don’t realize this 37 we enter society. One of my friends, Yang Ping, 38 how strong the bond with high school friends could be. “ It was my high school friend who helped me get 39 the darkest days in my life,” said the 27-year-old girl.
In 2001 Yang lost her job in Beijing. Yang’s best friend was staying in a college dormitory and took her in. Each night the two girls squeezed into a narrow single bed, chatting and crying. “I’ll never forget her care and encouragement, which supported me out of the darkness,” said Yang.
I 40 remember my last days in Senior 3. At the time, I 41a 20-page message with my best friend, both of us hoping to keep the friendship 42 forever.
But we didn’t realize we were already deep in each other’s 43 . During the past ten years, whenever I’ve needed help or wanted to pour out my 44 , she has always been there at the other end of a telephone line.
It is true that friends come and go. But never forget the ones who have been there for you. Take a closer look at those now around you, they could be the most precious 45 you discover in your entire life.
A．realize B．create C．depend D．finish
A．decide B．volunteer C．have D．begin
A．attempt B．tend C．plan D．manage
A．similar B．same C．like D．different
A．weigh B．make C．measure D．shape
A．challenge B．trouble C．question D．problem
A．unless B．after C．until D．but
A．experienced B．appreciated C．considered D．thought
A．into B．out C．through D．across
A．yet B．even C．already D．still
A．changed B．exchanged C．turned D．discussed
A．running B．going C．advancing D．marching
A．head B．brain C．spirit D．heart
A．unhappiness B．happiness C．disaster D．joy
A．period B．treasure C．wonder D．image
It was her giggling that drew my attention．Note taking really wasn’t all that funny．
Walking over to the offender, I asked for the 21 ．Frozen, she refused to give it to me．I waited, all attention in the classroom on the quiet 22 between teacher and student．When she finally 23 it over she whispered, “Okay, but I didn’t draw it”.
It was a hand-drawn 24 of me, teeth blackened and the words “I’m stupid” coming out of my mouth．I managed to fold it up calmly．My mind, 25 , was working angrily as I struggled not to26 .
I figured I knew the two most likely candidates for drawing the picture．It would do them some 27 to teach them a lesson, and maybe it was high time that I did it!
Thankfully, I was able to keep myself 28 .
When there were about six minutes remaining, I showed the class the picture．They were all silent as I told them how 29 this was for me．I told them there must be a reason 30 and now was their chance to write down anything they needed to tell me．Then I let them write silently while I sniffed in the back of the classroom．
As I 31 the notes later, many of them said something like, “I’ve got nothing against you,” or “I’m sorry you were hurt．” Some kids said, “We’re 32 of you．” But two notes, from the girls who I 33 were behind the picture, had a list of issues．I was too 34 , too strict…
Reading those notes, I realized that over the course of this year, instead of 35 my students, I had begun commanding them to 36 ．Where I thought I was driving them to success I was 37 driving them away．
I had some apologizing to do．But the next day in the classroom, one boy and one girl each handed me a card．The one38 by all the boys expressed sincere regret for the ugly joke．The one from the girls asked for 39 .
This was a lesson for both the kids and me．Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the 40 .
A．note B．advice C．reason D．help
A．battle B．competition C．argument D．conversation
A．took B．thought C．turned D．handed
A．statue B．graph C．picture D．poster
A．otherwise B．however C．therefore D．besides
A．leave B．cry C．explain D．argue
A．good B．harm C．favor D．punishment
A．amused B．controlled C．uninterested D．relaxed
A．meaningful B．forgetful C．regretful D．hurtful
A．aside B．above C．beneath D．behind
A．wrote B．finished C．read D．collected
A．proud B．fond C．afraid D．ashamed
A．figured B．promised C．concluded D．confirmed
A．talkative B．mean C．clumsy D．considerate
A．forcing B．encouraging C．comforting D．teaching
A．appreciate B．apologize C．compromise D．achieve
A．actually B．normally C．immediately D．generally
A．decorated B．offered C．signed D．bought
A．thankfulness B．forgiveness C．compensation D．communication
A．friendship B．education C．knowledge D．future