Dad was always full of advice. One of the biggest lessons he taught me one summer was about having a strong__ _ethic(道德规范). When my brother and I were growing up, we mowed(除草) yards during the summer to_ pocket money.
Every time we went to work, Dad was there to _ _. I used to wonder __ he came with us. He stood watching our work in the_ _weather when he could have been inside relaxing with air conditioning.
One day we were _ _our neighbor’s yard. She always_ _ until the grass was knee-high to call us over. That afternoon, I was finishing up and was_ . I was just about to_ _the mower when I saw Dad pointing to some_ . I thought about how little I was getting paid for cutting grass so _ _it almost broke the mower. I _ _him and kept walking. Dad called me out, “you missed a piece.” I frowned, __ he would go home. He kept __ . So worn out and discouraged, I went back to cut that piece of grass. I said to myself: “That one piece isn’t __ anyone. Why won’t he just let it go ?Other neighbors_ _ the good work we did and soon got more_ _. we start out with one client, but by the end of the summer we had five.
The lesson my dad taught me stayed with me: be _ . If you say you are going to perform a job at a certain time, keep your _ . Give your customers the kind of service you would like to _ _. It shows how sincere you are and how much pride you take in your work.
A．work B．family C．neighbor D．academy
A．save B．share C．earn D．borrow
A．watch B．teach C．help D．perform
A．how B．whether C．when D．why
A．rainy B．snowy C．hot D．warm
A．visiting B．cutting C．cleaning D．digging
A．decided B．prepared C．stopped D．waited
A．excited B．confused C．frightened D．tired
A．pay for B．throw away C．turn off D．try out
A．people B．stones C．grass D．water
A．strange B．thick C．different D．high
A．ignored B．forgot C．comforted D．thanked
A．pretending B．admitting C．hoping D．believing
A．going B．pointing C．shaking D．disturbing
A．hurting B．cheating C．killing D．welcoming
A．took care of B．took advantage of C．took notice of D．took hold of
A．luck B．information C．business D．advice
A．ordinary B．professional C．smart D．bright
A．space B．peace C．word D．need
A．offer B．receive C．provide D．exchange
A man found the cocoon(茧) of a butterfly, One day a small appeared , He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any . It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go further.
So the man decided to the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and cut off the remaining bit of the cocoon.
The butterfly came out. But it then had a swollen（肿胀的）body and small, shriveled (褶皱的) .
The man to watch the butterfly because he’d expected that , at any moment, the wings would enlarge to be able to the body , which would contract (缩小) in time . So he waited patiently.
happened! In fact, the butterfly _the rest of its life crawling (爬行)around with a swollen body and shriveled wings , It was never able to .What a shame!
The man, in his kindness and fast action, made a . He did not understand that the suffering and the struggle for the butterfly to get through the tiny hole were nature’s way of fluid (体液) from the body of the butterfly into its wings it would be ready for flight once it achieved its from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are what we need in our lives. If nature allowed us to go through our lives any difficulties , it would weaken or even disable us. We would not be as as what we could have been . We could never fly !
A．mark B．insect C．sign D．opening
A．learned B．struggled C．pretended D．expected
A．progress B．decision C．choice D．noise
A．any B．still C．no D．much
A．study B．help C．trouble D．leave
A．silently B．naturally C．easily D．excitedly
A．wings B．legs C．feet D．head
A．waited B．stopped C．hoped D．continued
A．examine B．cover C．trust D．support
A．Neither B．All C．Either D．Both
A．devoted B．spent C．put aside D．gave up
A．walk B．fly C．get through D．get up
A．mistake B．discovery C．face D．fortune
A．wasted B．watched C．required D．searched
A．forcing B．making C．producing D．letting
A．even though B．as if C．so that D．in case
A．energy B．freedom C．progress D．life
A．almost B．probably C．hardly D．exactly
A．with B．by C．from D．without
A．wise B．satisfied C．strong D．patient
A man was walking along the street when he saw a woman struggling with a large package（包裹）. It was half in and half out of her car.
He was a kind of man so he went up to the woman and said, "Let me give you a hand with that package. It looks very ."
"That's very kind of you," the woman said. "I'm having a lot of with it. I think it's stuck."
"Together we'll soon move it," the man said. "I'll get into the and take the other end."
"Oh, that's very . Thank you so much," the woman said gratefully. He got into the back of the car and took hold of the other end of the package.
"Right," he said, "I'm ready." And he began to push with all his .
For several minutes the man and the woman struggled with the package. Soon they were both red in face and out of .
"Let's pause for a minute," the man said. "You're right. It really is ."
They paused for a few to wipe the perspiration from their faces and get their breath back.
Then the man said, "Let's try again. Are you ?"
They took hold of the package again.
"One, two, three!" the man said, and again they their struggle with the package.
At last, when they were both , the man said, "I'm sorry, but the package really seems to be stuck. I don't think there's any way we can get it out of the car."
"Get it out of the car!" the woman cried. "You fool! I'm trying to get it in!"
A．helpful B．careful C．useful D．hopeful
A．big B．small C．heavy D．light
A．problems B．trouble C．pain D．worry
A．seat B．package C．street D．car
A．sensible B．interesting C．possible D．moving
A．car B．box C．seat D．chair
A．power B．strength C．hands D．arms
A．mind B．air C．exercise D．breath
A．stuck B．taken C．shaken D．broken
A．times B．hours C．moments D．days
A．alright B．ready C．OK D．right
A．both B．all C．each D．every
A．stopped B．kept C．paused D．continued
A．interested B．excited C．exhausted D．surprised
A．mostly B．completely C．nearly D．greatly
I walked into the grocery store, not really wanting to buy anything. I just wanted to stay there quietly — the pain of losing my was still too great. And this supermarket held so many sweet . He often came with me, and always bought me yellow roses.
Standing the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak my husband used to love it. a woman came up beside me. I watched as she picked up a large pack of T-bone steaks, dropped them in her basket, , and then put them back. She turned to go and once again for the pack of steaks. She saw me her and she smiled. “My husband loves T-bone steaks, but they are so expensive.”
“My husband away eight days ago,” I told her, and to control the sadness in my voice, “Buy him the T-bone steaks. And every moment you have together.”
by my words, she placed the steaks in her basket and walked away . But several minutes later she came towards me again, a package in her arms. She was the brightest smile I had ever seen.
As she , I saw what she held. “These are for you,” she placed three beautiful yellow roses in my hands. I wanted to tell her what the roses for me, but, unable to speak, only watching her walking away.
Looking down at the roses, I wondered she knew it. Suddenly the answer seemed so . I wasn’t alone. There were many people caring for me and willing to help me. Just be thankful for what you have and who you are.
A．father B．brother C．husband D．son
A．groceries B．memories C．flowers D．dreams
A．by B．for C．beyond D．against
A．even if B．in case C．until D．since
A．Actually B．Suddenly C．Instantly D．Hopefully
A．missed B．suffered C．doubted D．hesitated
A．reached B．searched C．sent D．paid
A．following B．helping C．watching D．stopping
A．broke B．cleared C．moved D．passed
A．decided B．fought C．offered D．pretended
A．forget B．recover C．treasure D．imagine
A．Surprised B．Embarrassed C．Panicked D．Frightened
A．softly B．violently C．silently D．wildly
A．fastening B．carrying C．picking D．opening
A．covering B．rolling C．spreading D．wearing
A．approached B．turned C．continued D．bent
A．smelled B．tasted C．collected D．meant
A．what B．how C．whether D．when
A．accidental B．strange C．obvious D．funny
A．still B．just C．even D．also
I have a cousin who’s a farmer. If you saw him on market day with his old boots and worn hat, you might think he was a tramp (流浪汉). But he’s either buying or selling for thousands of pounds. He doesn’t have a luxurious lifestyle, but the farmhouse, dozens of acres of land, machinery, cattle, chicken and crops must be worth a fortune. You might describe him as a man, but he doesn’t look like that.
My father owned a shop selling newspapers, cigarettes, birthday cards, toys, books and magazines. The shop a comfortable life for us, but we weren’t rich. The only luxury was that my father owned a car when most people in our town couldn’t afford one, professionals such as doctors and lawyers.
My point is that can be misleading. You often can’t the rich from the way they look.
I once met Richard Branson, the Virgin Airlines tycoon (巨头).He’d a hot balloon across the Atlantic and landed in the Irish sea. When he was rescued, he was wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a sneaker. You’d have guessed he was a multimillionaire.
Andrew Bruce, the 11th Earl (伯爵) of Elgin, a group of press people to his luxurious home in Fife, Scotland. His , the 7th Earl of Elgin was famous for removing and transporting to Britain priceless sculptures from the Parthenon, a very famous temple in Greece. The so-called Elgin Marbles can be seen in the British Museum. The Earl’s castle was cold, despite a fire burning in the hearth (壁炉). He explained to us,“I’m sorry it’s so cold, but you should know that a gentleman’s house is always cold.”
There you have it: doesn’t always bring comfort.
A．eggs B．foods C．cattle D．fruits
A．wealthy B．poor C．good D．successful
A．offered B．provided C．supplied D．gave
A．besides B．including C．as well as D．apart from
A．things B．facts C．appearances D．faces
A．say B．tell C．recognize D．judge
A．made B．driven C．bought D．flown
A．perhaps B．neither C．never D．rather
A．allowed B．permitted C．demanded D．invited
A．forefather B．father C．grandfather D．father-in-law
A．frozen B．freezing C．surprising D．surprised
A．health B．wealth C．luck D．poverty
Whatever misfortune you face, just hold up your head and face it with a smile! I got to know this from a musical soul.
The other day I was feeling quite , having just been laid off from my job. With so many to pay, I was wondering what was going to happen to my family.
I got off the bus when I heard piano music and singing rising above the noise of the . I walked a bit slower, trying to find out where it was coming from. Through the I saw a young lady sitting at a piano with a box next to her.
She was singing songs about love and her sweet voice me a bit. Then I stood there watching her playing, thinking that it must take to perform on her own in front of hundreds of people she didn’t know.
She might have felt my for she occasionally looked in my direction.
By now I was telling myself that I could at least tell her how good she sounded. I walked and put some money in her box and she expressed her thanks with a smile on her face.
I asked her , “Why are you playing the piano in the middle of this crowded place?”
She explained to me that she sees so many people in the world that she is trying to relieve the pain by motivational(激励的)music.
Instead of continuing my way home, I said to her, “I have been going through a time lately, but you’ve made me again.”
“I’m happy that I could be to you,” she replied. “Why are you so sad?”
I told her my story and said, “I’m not so about what to do….”
“You see, here’s the ,” she responded. “When you were walking, your head was down.” She looked me in the eyes and went on, “Don’t look defeated, because comes in different ways and if your head is down you might never see it. You should more … lift your head up.”
I was really by what she said! I did hold my head up and soon got through the difficult time.
So in trouble, just face it bravely and you are sure to overcome your difficulty sooner or later.
A．lonely B．relaxed C．awful D．breathless
A．bills B．fees C．fines D．prices
A．listeners B．traffic C．instrument D．background
A．trees B．street C．buildings D．crowd
A．shocked B．comforted C．excited D．amused
A．courage B．energy C．patience D．technique
A．mood B．presence C．thought D．appreciation
A．aside B．down C．off D．over
A．quietly B．deliberately C．curiously D．seriously
A．negative B．unhealthy C．unconscious D．elderly
A．creating B．sharing C．enjoying D．teaching
A．tense B．wonderful C．rough D．crazy
A．enthusiastic B．emotional C．energetic D．hopeful
A．available B．essential C．superior D．helpful
A．sure B．ashamed C．particular D．anxious
A．problem B．situation C．conflict D．condition
A．success B．opportunity C．aid D．happiness
A．concentrate B．look C．smile D．fight
A．occupied B．moved C．inspired D．satisfied
A．however B．wherever C．whoever D．whenever