It was a cold evening and my daughter and I were walking up Broadway. I didn’t notice a guy sitting inside a cardboard box. But Nora did. She wasn’t even four, but she ____ at my coat and said, “That man’s cold. Daddy, ____ we take him home?”
I don’t remember my reply. But I do remember a sudden ____ feeling inside me. I had always been delighted at how much my daughter noticed in her ____, whether it was ____ in flight or children playing. But now she was noticing ____ and beggary.
A few days later, I saw an article in the newspaper about volunteers who picked up a food package from a nearby school on a Sunday morning and ____ it to an elderly person. It was quick and easy. I ____ us up. Nora was ____ about it. She could understand the importance of food, so she could easily see how ____ our job was. When Sunday came, she was ready, but I had to ____ myself to leave the house. On the way to the school, I fought an urge to turn ___. The Sunday paper and coffee were waiting at home. Why do this? ____, we phoned the elderly person we’d been appointed. She ____ us right over.
The building was in a sad state. Facing us was a silver-haired woman in an old dress. She took the package and asked us to come in. Nora ran inside. I unwillingly followed. ____ inside, I saw that the department belonged to someone poor. Our hostess showed us some photos. Nora played and when it came time to say goodbye, we three hugged, I walked home in tears.
Professionals call such a(n) ____ “a volunteer opportunity”. They are opportunities. I’ve come to see. Where else but as volunteers do you have opportunity to do something ____ that’s good for others as well as for yourself? Nora and I regularly serve to needy people and ____ clothes for the homeless. Yet, as I’ve ____ her grow over these past four years, I still wonder—which of us has ____ more?
A．pulled B．glanced C．waved D．aimed
A．would B．can C．need D．must
A．general B．true C．heavy D．curious
A．area B．part C．eyesight D．world
A．insects B．dogs C．animals D．birds
A．coldness B．illness C．suffering D．ignorance
A．delivered B．returned C．devoted D．posted
A．held B．hurried C．signed D．lined
A．casual B．sorry C．astonished D．excited
A．creative B．valuable C．shocking D．simple
A．warn B．stop C．allow D．push
A．back B．away C．up D．out
A．Therefore B．Obviously C．Still D．Also
A．called B．promised C．invited D．helped
A．As B．Once C．Because D．Though
A．stay B．visit C．adventure D．challenge
A．fair B．famous C．difficult D．enjoyable
A．collect B．make C．order D．wear
A．let B．made C．watched D．noticed
A．improved B．benefited C．tried D．seized
Always Changing
Mark is leaving, and I’m feeling kind of sad.
You probably don’t know Mark, but you might be lucky enough 36 someone just like him. He’s been the heart and soul of the office for a couple of years combining 37 professional skills with a sweet and gentle nature.
And now he’s moving on to an exciting new professional 38 . It sounds like it could be the chance of a lifetime, and we’re 39 for him. But that doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye to him.
Life has a way of throwing these curve(曲线)balls 40 us. Just when we start to get comfortable with a person, a place or a situation, something comes along to 41 the recipe.
Our ability to cope with change 42 to a great degree, our peace, happiness and contentment in life.
But how do we do that? A friend of mine is fond of reminding us that“survivability depends upon 43 .”And then there’s Chris the California surf-rat, who once told me that the answer to life’s problems can be 44 in four words:“Go with the flow.”
I’m not exactly sure , but I think Chris was saying that life is a series of 45 —both good and bad . No matter how excellent your skill , there will always be life-influencing factors over which you have no 46 . The truly successful person expects the unexpected, and is prepared to 47 adjustments should the need arise-as it almost 48 does.
That doesn't mean you don't keep trying to make all your 49 come true．It just means that when things come up that aren't 50 in your plan，you work around them—and then you move on。
“Change，indeed，is painful， 51 ever needful，”said philosopher Thomas Carlyle．“And if memory has its force and worth，so also has 52 .”
we're going to miss Mark. But rather than stay on the 53 of our parting，we'll focus on our hopes for a brighter future－for him，and for us．And then we'll go out and 54
everything we can to make that future happen．55 our plans change--again.
A．know B．greet C．imagine D．recognize
A．extra B．good C．correct D．precise
A．agreement B．destination C．experience D．opportunity
A．pleased B．pity C．anxious D．curious
A．on B．with C．at D．in
A．provide B．use C．change D．try
A．produce B．determine C．protect D．preserve
A．habit B．communication C．belief D．adaptability
A．summed up B．held up C．made up D．put up
A．accidents B．records C．events D．problems
A．difference B．control C．power D．trouble
A．take B．have C．get D．make
A．always B．never C．already D．seldom
A．decisions B．promises C．dreams D．solutions
A．eventually B．exactly C．immediately D．surprisingly
A．yet B．also C．even D．still
A．future B．parting C．attempt D．hope
A．complaint B．attention C．sadness D．sympathy
A．do B．demand C．face D．seize
A．Until B．Before C．If D．After
Butterfly’s wings
One day a small opening appeared on a cocoon（茧）, a man sat and watched for the butterfly for several hours as it was struggling to __36__ its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten __37__ it could and it could go no further. So the man decided to __38__ the butterfly: he took a pair of scissors and __39__ the remaining part of the cocoon. The butterfly then __40__ easily.
But it has a swollen（肿胀的）body and __41__ wings. The man continued to __42__ the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the __43__ would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would __44__ the time span(跨度). Neither happened! __45__, the butterfly spent the rest of its life __46__ around with a swollen body and small, shriveled（褶皱的）wings. It __47__ was able to fly. What the man did in his __48__ and haste（匆忙）did no good to the butterfly. He didn’t know the __49__ cocoon and the struggle __50__ for the butterfly to get through the tiny __51__ were the natural way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings __52__ it would be ready for flight once it achieved its __53__ from the cocoon.
Sometimes the __54__ is exactly what we need in our life. If we are allowed to go through our life without any __55__, it would not be a good thing to us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.
A．build B．force C．form D．destroy
A．as far as B．as long as C．as soon as D．as quick as
A．seize B．leave C．bring D．help
A．took off B．made up C．cut off D．picked up
A．spread over B．came out C．stayed in D．flew away
A．hard B．strong C．small D．large
A．watch B．look for C．look after D．follow
A．butterfly B．wings C．cocoon D．scissors
A．disappear B．enlarge C．lose D．shorten
A．Luckily B．Probably C．In all D．In fact
A．crawling B．approaching C．running D．wandering
A．ever B．seldom C．always D．never
A．fear B．kindness C．evil D．confidence
A．restricting B．loose C．soft D．little
A．prepared B．wanted C．allowed D．required
A．place B．room C．opening D．space
A．even if B．otherwise C．when D．so that
A．life B．course C．progress D．freedom
A．courage B．struggle C．wisdom D．strength
A．fun B．friends C．difficulty D．achievement
Once upon a time there were two brothers who lived near each other. One day, they had a 16 because of some small things. And neither was willing to 17 each other.
One morning, there was a knock at door of the elder brother. He18 it and found a man standing beside the door. “I’m a carpenter(木匠). I’m19 a few days’ work. Perhaps you would have a few small jobs I could help with.”
“Yes,” said the elder brother. “I do have a job for you.20 at that farm across the small river. It is my younger brother’s. We had a quarrel, so I won’t like to see his 21 any more. I want you to build me a 8-foot 22. ”
The man said, “I think I understand the situation. Don’t worry. I’ll be able to do a job that makes you 23” So the elder brother was very glad and left for the town nearby.
In the evening, the carpenter had just 24 his job when the elder brother returned. But he was 25 to find, instead of a fence, before him, stood a 2 6, which went from one side of the river 27 the other! On the other28 of bridge, was his younger brother.
“Do you know the name of the bridge?” The carpenter asked.
“No,” the elder brother was 29
“OK, I can tell you. Its name is understanding and30,” the carpenter smiled.
Suddenly they began to understand 31. Surely, between two brothers there should be a bridge rather than a 32. Standing on the bridge, they33each other’s hands with34 in their eyes.
“Could you stay another few days? I’ve a lot of other work for you,” said the elder brother. “I’d love to35 on,” the carpenter said. “But I have many more bridges to build.”
A．meeting B．question C．decision D．quarrel
A．forgive B．like C．speak D．think
A．got B．opened C．shut D．left
A．looking for B．looking at C．looking on D．looking up
A．See B．Watch C．Observe D．Look
A．river B．face C．farm D．eyes
A．wall B．fence C．road D．bridge
A．excited B．pleased C．moved D．surprised
A．begun B．done C．finished D．continued
A．surprised B．happy C．anxious D．sad
A．house B．bridge C．fence D．river
A．to B．between C．across D．till
A．end B．side C．field D．stage
A．disappointed B．puzzled C．amazed D．worried
A．love B．hate C．joy D．anger
A．everything B．nothing C．anything D．something
A．river B．fence C．farm D．wall
A．brought B．took C．held D．clapped
A．smiles B．tears C．anger D．sadness
A．leave B．get C．stay D．work
In 1977, a dead author of detective stories saved the life of a 19-month-old baby in a most unusual way. The author was Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of detective stories in the world.
In June 1977, a baby girl became seriously ill in Qatar, near Saudi Arabia. Doctors were unable to __36__ the cause of her illness, so she __37__ to London and admitted to Hammersmith Hospital, where specialist help was __38_. She was then only half-conscious（半昏迷） and on the “Dangerously Ill” list. A team of doctors hurried to __39__ the baby only to discover that they, __40__, were puzzled by the very unusual symptoms. While they were discussing the baby’s case, a nurse asked to __41__ to them.
“Excuse me,” said nurse Marsha Maitland, “__42__ I think the baby is __43_ from thallium poisoning.”
“__44__ makes you think that?” Dr. Brown asked. “Thallium poisoning is extremely __45__.”
“A few days ago, I was reading a novel called A Pale Horse __46__ Agatha Christie,” Nurse Maitland explained. “In the book, somebody uses thallium poison, and __47__ the symptoms are __48__. They are exactly the same as the baby’s.”
“You’re very observant and you may be right,” another doctor said. “We’ll __49__ some tests and find out __50__ it’s thallium or not.”
The __51__ showed that the baby had __52__ been poisoned by thallium, a rare metal used in making optical（光学的） glass. __53__ they knew the cause of illness, the doctors were able to give the correct treatment. The baby soon __54__ and was sent back to Qatar. Inquiries（调查） showed that the poison __55__ from an insecticide（杀虫剂）used in Qatar.
A．describe B．diagnose C．discover D．discuss
A．flew B．sent C．went D．was flown
A．inexpensive B．important C．available D．impossible
A．examine B．see C．look after D．cure
A．too B．either C．often D．never
A．refer B．turn C．speak D．belong
A．and B．so C．as D．but
A．coming B．suffering C．tired D．dying
A．Who B．How C．What D．Which
A．rare B．serious C．clear D．dangerous
A．in B．on C．by D．about
A．all B．some of C．one of D．both
A．drawn B．broadcast C．announced D．described
A．make up B．carry out C．get through D．deal with
A．that B．how C．what D．whether
A．words B．tests C．examination D．book
A．indeed B．actually C．probably D．never
A．As long as B．As for as C．Once D．If
A．died B．got injured C．recovered D．got ill
A．must come B．should come C．might have come D．can’t have come
A group of graduates got together to visit their old university professor.
The conversation soon turned into complaints about 36 in work and life. Offering his 37 coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and 38 with a large pot of coffee and a 39 of cups---porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, some beautiful—telling them to 40 themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, “if you have 41 , all the nice-looking expensive cups have been 42 , leaving behind the plain and 43 ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the 44 of your problems and stress.”
“Be assured that the cup 45 adds no quality to the coffee. 46 it is just more expensive and in some cases 47 hides what we drink.”
“48 all of you really want is coffee, not the cup, 49 you consciously went for the best cups…. And then you began 50 each other’s cups.”
Now consider this: 51 is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. 52 are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the 53 of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we 54 to enjoy the coffee. Value the coffee, not the cups! Don’t let the cups 55you … enjoy the coffee instead.
A．stress B．dream C．sorrow D．truth
A．friends B．customers C．fellows D．guests
A．carried B．returned C．arrived D．reached
A．kind B．variety C．sort D．number
A．devote B．expose C．help D．addicted
A．searched B．witnessed C．noticed D．discovered
A．taken up B．brought in C．sold out D．cut down
A．expensive B．cheap C．beautiful D．usual
A．point B．answer C．source D．result
A．by itself B．on its own C．for itself D．itself
A．At no time B．At times C．In no case D．In most cases
A．ever B．even C．never D．hardly
A．What B．That C．Which D．Whether
A．but B．so C．and D．for
A．suspecting B．liking C．envying D．eyeing
A．Love B．Life C．Future D．Failure
A．They B．We C．You D．What
A．quantity B．style C．quality D．standard
A．have B．hesitate C．forget D．fail
A．force B．drive C．puzzle D．amaze