One day when I was about nine years old, I ran into my mother’s bedroom and opened the dresser(梳妆台). Then in the top drawer, was a small jewelry box. I was fascinated by its treasures. Then I saw there was something under the piece of red cloth. the cloth, I found a little white chip of china(瓷器). Why did my mother keep this thing? Shining slightly in the light, no answers. Some months later，I was setting the dinner table when my neighbour Marge knocked at the door. Coming in and the table, Marge said, "Oh, you are expecting company. I’ll another time."
"No, come on in."Mom replied ."We are not anyone."
"But isn't that your good china?" Marge asked. "I'd trust kids to handle my good dishes！"
Mom laughed."Tonight's my family's favorite meal. If you set your best table for a(n) ____meal with guests, why not for your own ?A few broken plates are a small to pay for the joy we get using them" Then she added ." _____ every chip and crack has a story to tell."
Mom went to the cupboard and took down a plate. She said, "Seeing this on the edge here ? It happened when I was 17".
Her voice , "One day my brother invited a young man to dinner and sat him next to me. I was so that when I look the plate, it and knocked against the fork. As the young man was leaving, he a piece of broken china in my hand without saying a word."
I couldn't forget about that plate with the chip. I went up to take out the little wooden jewelry box again. I examined the chip .The chip mother had saved with care belonged to the plate she broke on the day she met my father.
A．silver B．gold C．wooden D．china
A．hidden B．drawn C．removed D．fixed
A．Covering B．Lowering C．Spreading D．Lifting
A．useful B．broken C．beautiful D．valuable
A．found B．invented C．selected D．offered
A．watching over B．glaring at C．glancing at D．sweeping up
A．go by B．pass by C．stand by D．stop by
A．expecting B．inviting C．scolding D．celebrating
A．always B．usually C．sometimes D．never
A．family B．relative C．neighbour D．ancestor
A．value B．attention C．price D．visit
A．common B．special C．ordinary D．especial
A．However B．Besides C．Though D．Otherwise
A．break B．flower C．color D．design
A．hardened B．raised C．softened D．sharpened
A．excited B．nervous C．surprised D．pleased
A．jumped B．escaped C．left D．slipped
A．laid B．threw C．examined D．picked
A．required B．remaining C．missing D．replaced
A．secretly B．carefully C．gratefully D．proudly
After the earthquake hit northeast Japan on March 11, many moving stories that I saw with my own eyes happened around me.
I had to walk home since all the 36 had stopped after the earthquake. On my way home I 37 an old lady at a bakery shop（面包店） who was giving out free bread, which made my heart 38 . A man was holding a sign（招牌） that said, “Please use our 39 .” He was 40 his house for people who were homeless to have a rest .
My friend wanted to 41 others. He stood in the cold with a sign “If you’re okay with a motorcycle, I will 42 you to your house.” And then I saw him take one gentleman home, all the way to a faraway place!
Then next day I drove to 43 my car with gas. There is a lack (缺乏) of 44 now after the quake and many gasoline stations are either closed or have very 45 lines. I got 46 , since I was behind 15 cars. Finally, when it was my 47 , the man smiled and said, “ 48 this bad situation after the quake , we are only giving $30 worth gas to each person. Is that all right?” “ 49 . I’m just glad that we are all able to 50 with each other .” I said. His smile gave me so much comfort.
I saw a man at the evacuation (疏散) center burst into 51 when people brought food to him. It was the first time in three days that food was brought to their center. However, after he wiped the tears, his next 52 surprised me. “I am very 53 that we are provided with food. But people in the city next to us haven’t 54 any food at all. Please go to that center as well.” And when hearing that, I realized there is a bright future on the other side of this terrible 55 .
A．rescue B．life C．buses D．shops
A．missed B．caught C．saw D．heard
A．upset B．hard C．broken D．warm
A．toilet B．hotel C．hospital D．house
A．selling B．opening C．repairing D．closing
A．request B．change C．save D．help
A．drive B．follow C．lead D．notice
A．start B．fill C．check D．wash
A．information B．gas C．food D．salt
A．direct B．fine C．long D．thin
A．worried B．lucky C．frightened D．angry
A．time B．turn C．duty D．decision
A．Except for B．Together with C．Because of D．Instead of
A．Not at all B．Of course C．No way D．Never mind
A．share B．offer C．learn D．choose
A．flame B．laughter C．cheers D．tears
A．words B．roles C．ways D．promises
A．sure B．grateful C．surprised D．shocked
A．bought B．wasted C．prepared D．received
A．disaster B．chance C．center D．city
Tom was a middle-aged leather trader whose repeated failure in career
made him a depressed man, often complaining that others had been playing tricks on him. One day he told his wife he was so 16 with the city that he had to leave.
So his family moved to 17 city. It was in the evening of aweekend when Tom and his wife were busy 18 up their new home
19 the light suddenly went out. So they had to 20 work. Tom was regretful to have forgotten bringing along candles and had to wait 21in a low mood. Just then he heard slight, hesitant knocks on his door that sounded clear in the 22 night.
“Who’s it?” he wondered, since Tom had no 23in the new city.
And this was the moment he especially disliked being disturbed. 24 , he went reluctantly to the door and opened it impatiently. At the door was a little girl, shyly asking, “Sir, do you have 25 ? I’m your neighbor.” “No,” answered Tom in anger and shut the door violently. “What a nuisance!” he complained over it with his wife. “No sooner had we settled down 26 the neighbor came to 27 things.” After a while, the door was knocked 28 . He opened it and found the same girl outside. But this time she was holding two candles, saying, “My grandma told me the new neighbor downstairs might need candles. She 29 me here to give you these.” Tom was very 30 by what he saw. When he became fully aware, he said, “Thank you and your31 . God bless you!”
At that moment he suddenly realized what caused his 32in life. It
was his 33 and harshness(刻薄)with other people. The person who had cheated him in life was 34 nobody else but himself, for he had fallen for his unsympathetic 35 .
A．inspired B．satisfied C．disappointed D．encouraged
A．the other B．other C．every D．another
A．looking B．turning C．cleaning D．ending
A．where B．that C．why D．when
A．continue B．start C．quit D．change
A．helplessly B．happily C．patiently D．hopefully
A．quiet B．dark C．noisy D．crowded
A．acquaintance B．stranger C．consultant D．adolescent
A．So B．Though C．However D．In case
A．lights B．candles C．tricks D．failures
A．when B．that C．while D．than
A．lend B．sell C．purchase D．borrow
A．suddenly B．again C．too D．constantly
A．suggested B．forbade C．sent D．forced
A．frightened B．pleased C．puzzled D．surprised
A．grandma B．mother C．father D．brother
A．failure B．success C．dissatisfaction D．determination
A．apology B．coldness C．responsibility D．concept
A．in reality B．in particular C．in all D．in general
A．brain B．mind C．thought D．idea
Robby was 11 years old when his mother dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I 36 that students begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby, but Robby said that it had been his mother’s 37 to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student.
Hard 38 Robby tried, he lacked the basic sense of music. However, he persisted, and at the end of each weekly 39 , he always said, “My mom’s going to hear me play some day.” But it seemed 40 . He just did not have any gift for music.
I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby 41 or waited in her old car to 42 him up. She always 43 and smiled but never visited my class. Then one day Robby 44 coming to our lessons. He telephoned me and said his mother was 45 .
Several weeks later I was preparing my students for the upcoming recital(独奏会) 46 Robby came and asked me if he could be in the recital. “Miss Hondorf ... I’ve just got to 47 !” he insisted. I agreed.
The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was 48 with parents, friends and relatives. The recital went off well. Finally Robby came up on stage. I was 49 when he announced that he had chosen Mozart’s Concerto(协奏曲) No. 21 in C Major. I was not 50 what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys. He played so 51 that everyone 52 to applaud him. In tears I ran up on 53 . “Oh, Robby! How did you do it?”
“Well, Miss Hondorf ... I kept on 54 at home. Remember I told you my mom was sick? Well, _55 she had cancer and passed away this morning. And well ... she was born deaf, so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play ...”
A．prefer B．imagine C．suppose D．wish
A．plan B．belief C．need D．dream
A．although B．while C．as D．if
A．conference B．lesson C．test D．show
A．successful B．senseless C．wonderful D．hopeless
A．on B．in C．off D．away
A．pick B．put C．take D．hold
A．waved B．sang C．jumped D．left
A．finished B．broke C．stopped D．continued
A．tired B．sick C．deaf D．unhappy
A．as B．since C．while D．when
A．succeed B．learn C．play D．listen
A．seated B．filled C．surrounded D．mixed
A．surprised B．certain C．disappointed D．angry
A．pleased with B．interested in C．eager for D．prepared for
A．bad B．hard C．differently D．well
A．raised B．rose C．lifted D．left
A．platform B．stairs C．stage D．floor
A．practising B．listening C．training D．performing
A．luckily B．therefore C．however D．actually
Dear son,
The day that you see me old and I am already not in good health, have patience and try to understand me.
If I get dirty when eating, if I can not dress, have patience and remember the hours I spent 31 it to you. If, when I speak to you, I32 the same things thousand and one times, do not33 me, listen to me. When you were small, I had to read to you thousand and one times the same story34 you got to sleep. When I do not want to have a35 , neither shame me nor scold me. Remember when I had to chase you with thousand excuses I36 , in order that you wanted to bathe. When you see my37 little about new technologies, give me the necessary time and do not look at me with your mocking( 嘲弄 ) smile. I taught you38 to do so many things: to eat good, to dress well, to confront life…. When at some moment I lose the memory or the39 of our conversation, let me have the necessary time to remember, and if I cannot do it, do not become nervous, as the most important thing is not our conversation but surely to be with you and to have you40 to me.
If ever I do not want to eat, do not force me. I know well41 I need to and when not. When my42 legs do not allow me to walk, give me your43 , the same way I did when you gave your first44 . And when someday I say to you that I do not want to45 any more ---- that I want to rest forever, do not get 46 . Someday you will understand.
Try to understand that my age is not lived but survived. Some day you will discover that, despite my mistakes, I always wanted the47 thing for you and that I tried to prepare the way for you. You must not feel sad, angry or impotent( 无可奈何 ) for seeing me48 you. You must be next to me, try to understand me and to help me as I did it when you49 living. Help me to walk, help me to end my way with love and50 . I will pay you by a smile and by the immense love I have had always for you.
I love you, Son.
Your father
A．giving B．teaching C．coming D．pointing
A．praise B．think C．repeat D．criticize
A．interrupt B．disturb C．look D．avoid
A．when B．after C．since D．until
A．rest B．word C．shower D．sleep
A．discovered B．invented C．noticed D．assumed
A．knowing B．fearing C．enjoying D．consulting
A．what B．when C．how D．why
A．news B．attitude C．material D．thread
A．talking B．listening C．responding D．appealing
A．where B．how C．that D．when
A．tired B．short C．long D．strong
A．leg B．ear C．hand D．mind
A．step B．pace C．laugh D．cry
A．talk B．live C．write D．sleep
A．careful B．interested C．calm D．angry
A．last B．first C．best D．most
A．near B．behind C．below D．against
A．made B．started C．earned D．found
A．mercy B．care C．excuse D．patience
Recently, researchers in the US have carried out a study on laughing, one of the most natural characteristics of human behavior.
Jo-Anne Bachorowsky, a psychology professor at Vandebilt University,36 a team of researchers who 37 a total of 11 short videos to 97 young adult volunteers in the US. They found that the participants produced a 38 of sounds when they laughed,39 grunts(呼噜声) and snorts(哼声).
The researchers found that some of the 40 were dependent 41 gender(性别). Men laughed with grunts and snorts more often than women, 42 women’s 43 was more song-like.
They also found that people’s laughter could change, 44 who they were with at the time. Whether they were with a man or a woman and 45 person was a friend or a 46 both played a part in laughter.
The researchers found that women’s laughter was very high with a 47 pitch(音高) when they were with male strangers. And women taking 48 in the study laughed more often when they were with a male friend than when they were with a(n)49 friend or a male stranger. But men laughed more freely with friends of either sex than with strangers of either sex.
Scientists believe that the 50 consumed in laughing 100 times is 51 to 15 minutes on an exercise bike. Another52 of laughter is53 it improves our mental health. Laughter reduces our levels of stress. It also helps us 54 serious illness.
55 ,we think laughter can make us feel good.
A．got B．led C．undertook D．worked
A．returned B．provided C．showed D．read
A．part B．case C．bit D．range
A．including B．containing C．having D．possessing
A．ways B．differences C．studies D．columns
A．on B．of C．with D．from
A．that B．when C．while D．how
A．cry B．sound C．voice D．laughter
A．depending on B．to depend on C．depend on D．depended on
A．other B．the other C．another D．others
A．passers-by B．relative C．stranger D．teacher
A．same B．similar C．various D．changeable
A．action B．part C．exercise D．duty
A．male B．young C．old D．female
A．food B．energy C．pressure D．memory
A．short B．easy C．equal D．good
A．way B．content C．intention D．benefit
A．why B．that C．how D．because
A．fight B．remove C．break D．deal
A．All along B．All the same C．In summary D．After all