For a long time I saw happiness as a huge banner (旗帜) across the finish line of a long race. I felt that only when I____ certain things could I finally be happy in my life. Most of the time I felt like a tortoise believing that being slow and____ __would win the race. At other times I would______ _like a rabbit trying different side roads at a dangerous ____ __hoping to reach that banner a little faster._ ____ _，I began to see that no matter how long I raced towards it，the banner was never any______ _. I finally decided to_____ __and take a break. It was then that I saw my_____ _sitting beside me.
It had been with me as I_____ _hard to support my family, as I played with my children and heard their______ and even when I was _____ with my wife at my side looking after me. It had been with me as I raced towards that stupid banner. I just didn’t have the______ _to see it.
There is an old Chinese proverb that says，“Tension is who you think you should be. _____ __is who you are.” Perhaps we all should stop our race towards the______ life we think we should have and ______ __the life we have now. Happiness will never be found under some banner far away. It will be found_____ _your own heart，soul and mind. It will be found when you_____ _that others love you just as you do.
Don’t be a tortoise or a rabbit when it comes to your happiness. Be a playful puppy and carry your stick of______ __with you everywhere you go. ______ _yourself out of the race and realize that when it comes to love and happiness, you are____ _there.
A．forgot B．missed C．overcame D．accomplished
A．safe B．steady C．calm D．quiet
A．act B．run C．jump D．walk
A．place B．height C．speed D．time
A．Generally B．Gradually C．Fortunately D．Firstly
A．clearer B．lower C．closer D．smaller
A．settle in B．start off C．stop by D．sit down
A．happiness B．goal C．success D．friendship
A．studied B．fought C．exercised D．worked
A．laughter B．complaints C．stories D．breathing
A．lonely B．tired C．sick D．hungry
A．courage B．chance C．wisdom D．strength
A．Stress B．Relaxation C．Failure D．Pain
A．real B．perfect C．common D．ordinary
A．enjoy B．change C．improve D．create
A．from B．on C．over D．in
A．realize B．believe C．hope D．admit
A．sorrow B．responsibility C．fortune D．joy
A．Carry B．Make C．Push D．Take
A．never B．still C．already D．ever
Just off La Rambla Street in Barcelona, I skimmed through The Saints (圣人) of Spain in a bookstore. It would be a good read for the home. At that moment, I couldn’t help thinking of my own personal saint, the angel who’d my trip.
It was the first time for me to travel abroad and I called it a “spiritual journey”. I hadn’t a hotel before setting out I thought I could find a cheap one when I arrived. , it turned out to be a(n) .
I knew Spanish, but the quick, sad of each hotel owner’s head was easily understood — no room at the hotel. The sun had just gone down below the horizon (地平线)，I didn’t know what to do and began to . Just then, an old man came with a hat covering his white hair. He asked me if I needed any help. I supposed maybe he the worried look on my face.
After explaining why I was there, he asked me to him. At first, I whether the stranger did that out of kindness. However, considering my situation, I had no other choice but to him. I walked behind him and passed through a narrow, dark side street. Finally he rang the bell on a door. “You will stay here,” he said. “It is a place.”
He was . My room was huge —with a bed, a desk and even a bath. I wanted to him, but he’d gone away. “This man can be trusted,” I thought.
Now , at the , I felt a tap (轻拍) on my shoulder. It was him ! So he was . “I want to thank you. What’s your name ? ” I said.
“Raphael,” he said. “You’re very welcome.” With that, he went away into the crowd on La Rambla. “He was not an angel but just a kind ,” I thought.
On the planet, I turned to a page in The Saints of Spain by chance. “Raphael,” it read, “is known as the supporter of travellers. He helps guide spiritual journeys.” Yes, he does.
A．train B．boat C．flight D．bus
A．saved B．recorded C．disturbed D．described
A．cleaned B．run C．booked D．left
A．because B．unless C．until D．though
A．At least B．After all C．In all D．In fact
A．warning B．error C．example D．tale
A．little B．some C．old D．only
A．change B．shake C．memory D．thought
A．speak B．rest C．worry D．imagine
A．near B．back C．out D．again
A．remembered B．noticed C．misunderstood D．enjoyed
A．inform B．tolerate C．follow D．defend
A．explained B．doubted C．discussed D．argued
A．look for B．laugh at C．wait for D．believe in
A．dark B．secret C．safe D．good
A．tired B．confused C．right D．independent
A．visit B．invite C．challenge D．thank
A．shop B．hotel C．bookstore D．school
A．real B．active C．selfish D．rude
A．Traveler B．stranger C．adult D．Worker
Childhood curiosity can last a lifetime and I learned this from my son, Bill. When he was very young, I often took him to the . He loved to read and often needed to the books he’d read in order to borrow more books.Oneunintended of his nonstop reading habits was that he even at the dinner table. His mother, Mary, and I did our best to him that, on certain social , reading while dining with others was not a good thing.
Every summer the teachers at his school give the students a reading list, and there was a contest to see who could read the most books. He was so , and he always wanted to win. And he often . But the main reason why he read so obsessively (着迷地) was that he was so . He didn’t just want to learn about things. He wanted to learn about everything.
We helped his curiosity in every way. an unfamiliar word came up in conversation, we’d turn to the , looking up the word, and reading the definition aloud. Thus my son came to realize that if you have a question, the exists somewhere. All you have to do is it.
Bill remains as much of a today as when he was a child, and he seems to everything he reads. He’s often to share what he’s learned with the next person he meets. He reads at the dinner table, though — which is a good thing because the books he’s attracted to now are increasingly unappetizing (引不起食欲的): The Eradication of Infectious Diseases, Mosquitoes, Malaria & Man, and Rats, Lice, and History.
A．school B．office C．library D．museum
A．return B．store C．talk D．pick
A．advantage B．discovery C．explanation D．consequence
A．play B．read C．study D．laugh
A．convince B．promise C．inform D．advise
A．issues B．services C．occasions D．duties
A．could B．would C．should D．might
A．sincere B．crazy C．positive D．competitive
A．went B．failed C．did D．proved
A．curious B．confident C．diligent D．excellent
A．simple B．past C．any D．some
A．protect B．develop C．examine D．follow
A．Until B．If C．Though D．Because
A．teacher B．newspaper C．partner D．dictionary
A．person B．book C．answer D．matter
A．find B．use C．tell D．ask
A．speaker B．reader C．maker D．user
A．imagine B．believe C．create D．remember
A．eager B．afraid C．careful D．sure
A．now and again B．at all time C．no longer D．just now
Four brothers left home for college, and they became successful doctors and lawyers. Some years later, they _ after having dinner together. They discussed the __ they gave their elderly mother who lived far away in another city. The first said, “I had a _ house built for Mama.” The second said, “I had my Mercedes-Benz dealer（经销商）send a _ to her.” The third said, “I built a beautiful _ for Mama.” The fourth said, “You know _ Mama loved reading poems and you know she can’t read anymore because she can’t _ very well. I met a _ who had a parrot（鹦鹉）that can recite many poems. It took him 12 years to _ it to speak and he earns his living by renting it out. I had to pay him $100,000 a year for twenty years, _ it is worth it.” On hearing that, the other brothers were_ by his good thought.
After the holidays their mother _ her thank-you notes, which read: “Milton, the house you built is so huge. I only live in one room, but I have to _ the whole house. It’s a tiring job. Thanks anyway.”
“Marvin, I am too old to _ . I stay home and have my foods delivered, so I’ll _ use the car. The_ was good, although not practical. Thanks.”
“Michael, you gave me an expensive building for 50 people to_ plays or watch movies in it, but all my friends are dead. I’ve almost _ my hearing and I’m nearly blind. I won’t use it. Thank you all the same.”
“Dearest Melvin, you were the_ son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken tasted so _ . I liked it very much. Thank you.”
A．fought B．talked C．studied D．slept
A．gifts B．chances C．wishes D．challenges
A．warm B．big C．safe D．lonely
A．book B．bike C．car D．bag
A．station B．museum C．library D．theater
A．what B．how C．why D．when
A．listen B．feel C．see D．walk
A．nurse B．writer C．businessman D．lawyer
A．protect B．beat C．raise D．teach
A．but B．so C．unless D．although
A．treated B．impressed C．threatened D．hurt
A．sent out B．put up C．took out D．picked up
A．sell B．borrow C．clean D．visit
A．learn B．work C．exercise D．travel
A．never B．often C．regularly D．sometimes
A．future B．hobby C．idea D．program
A．create B．enjoy C．bring D．record
A．lost B．admired C．remained D．discovered
A．same B．last C．next D．only
A．strange B．unpleasant C．bitter D．delicious
You are only three years old, and at this point in your life you are not able to understand this letter. But some day when you , I hope you will find something in what I am going to share with you.
Life can be . There will be people in your life who won’t be very nice. They’ll you because you are different, for no good reason. You will also face heartbreak and might be by those you love. I hope you don’t have to face these too much, but such things .
Be open to life anyway. You’ll find cruelty and in your journey through life, but don’t let that you from finding new things. Don’t retreat(退却) from life, and don’t or wall yourself off. Be open to new things, new experiences, and new people. You’ll many times, but if you allow that to stop you from trying, you will many chances. Do remember failure is a stepping stone to .
You will meet many people who will try to do than you, in school, in college and at work. They’ll try to have nicer cars, bigger houses, nicer clothes, and so on. To , life is a competition. However, I believe life is a . If you always try your best to others, you’re wasting your life. Learn to enjoy your life and you will make it a journey of , of learning, and of love.
Finally, know that I love you and always will. You are a really wonderful journey, and I will always be there for you.
A．grow up B．show up C．cheer up D．calm down
A．familiar B．valuable C．normal D．interesting
A．unkind B．peaceful C．equal D．simple
A．end up with B．get on well with C．laugh at D．look after
A．if B．but C．so D．or
A．hurt B．found C．accepted D．impressed
A．matter B．work C．disappear D．happen
A．luck B．pain C．difference D．hope
A．protect B．encourage C．prevent D．choose
A．forgive B．struggle C．compete D．hide
A．leave B．prepare C．escape D．fail
A．enjoy B．try C．miss D．meet
A．success B．life C．action D．sorrow
A．earlier B．better C．less D．faster
A．you B．me C．him D．them
A．challenge B．drama C．journey D．dream
A．change B．pardon C．follow D．beat
A．somewhere B．instead C．afterwards D．though
A．cruelty B．danger C．happiness D．quietness
A．starting B．destroying C．recreating D．replacing
“Where’s the light?” My dad used to ask me that when I was little. It’s one of those questions that parents use to how smart their young children are. During my teenage years, my dad told me that he thought I was going to be foolish because I at him whenever he asked me where the was.
I consider myself to be a “Daddy’s girl”. Dad never me, but he did buy me nice things---dolls and shoes---for my birthday. I am now 28, and I live with my parents in Baguio, Philippines. my father is always very busy, we still time with each other. We go for a drive in the country. Most girls of my would rather go out with their friends than be with their family, but my family has always felt a bit .
Looking at my father now, I can see he is a(n) man. So many difficulties were in his life, but his dream of a better life kept him . At 14, he began working at his high school to himself.
During his life, my father has overcome a lot of difficulties and he always education. When we were , he would tell my brother and me to seek improvement in ourselves through .
Like a light, he shines with respect, but he sends out the brightest light for our family as a unit with love and faith as its . There are times when my dad makes jokes and asks me, using my childhood nickname, “Sasi, where’s the light?” I just smile, and point at him.
A．secret B．address C．way D．question
A．look for B．find out C．take in D．give away
A．jokingly B．sadly C．surprisingly D．calmly
A．shouted B．laughed C．pointed D．knocked
A．doll B．gift C．light D．family
A．spoiled B．taught C．cheated D．missed
A．never B．still C．suddenly D．finally
A．Because B．Unless C．When D．Though
A．waste B．divide C．gain D．spend
A．ever B．even C．later D．soon
A．age B．height C．style D．kind
A．happy B．puzzled C．different D．strange
A．strict B．broadminded C．independent D．easy-going
A．going B．coming C．smiling D．waiting
A．enjoy B．support C．behave D．control
A．worries B．provides C．receives D．values
A．young B．helpless C．proud D．busy
A．working B．speaking C．learning D．reading
A．showing B．keeping C．imagining D．starting
A．tool B．basis C．goal D．trick