Born in America, I spoke English, not Chinese, the language of my ancestors. When I was three, my parents flashed cards with Chinese at my face, but I pushed them . My mom believed I would learn I was ready. But the never came.
On a Chinese New Year’s Eve, my uncle spoke to me in Chinese, but all I could do was at him, confused, scratching my head. “Still can’t speak Chinese?” He me, “You can’t even buy a fish in Chinatown.”
“Hey, this is America, not China. I’ll get some with or without Chinese.” I replied and turned to my mom for . “Remember to ask for fresh fish, Xin Xian Yu,” she said, handing over a $20 bill. I the words, running downstairs into the streets of Chinatown.
I found the fish surrounded in a sea of customers. “I’d like to buy some fresh fish,” I shouted to the fishman. But he my English words and turned to serve the next customer. The laugh of the people behind increased their impatience. With every , the breath of the dragons（龙）on my back grew stronger---my blood boiling--- me to cry out, “Xian Sheng Yu，please.” “Very Xian Sheng,” I repeated. The crowd erupted into laughter. My face turned and I ran back home , except for the $20 bill I held tightly in my pocket.
Should I laugh or cry? They’re Chinese. I’m Chinese. I should feel right at . Instead, I was the joke, a disgrace（丢脸）to the language.
Sometimes, I laugh at my fish , but, in the end, the joke is on . Every laugh is a culture ; every laugh is my heritage（传统）fading away.
A．custom B．games C．characters D．language
A．ahead B．around C．along D．aside
A．when B．before C．unless D．until
A．success B．study C．time D．attempt
A．aim B．joke C．nod D．stare
A．cared about B．laughed at C．argued with D．asked after
A．right now B．from now C．at times D．in time
A．decision B．permission C．information D．preparation
A．repeated B．reviewed C．spelled D．kept
A．farm B．stand C．pond D．market
A．guessed B．forgot C．doubted D．ignored
A．by B．as C．with D．from
A．second B．effort C．desire D．movement
A．forcing B．allowing C．persuading D．leading
A．bright B．blank C．pale D．red
A．open-mouthed B．tongue-tied C．empty-handed D．broken-hearted
A．service B．home C．risk D．root
A．trade B．deed C．challenge D．incident
A．it B．us C．me D．them
A．thrown B．lost C．divided D．Reflected
My sister and I grew up in a little village in England. Our father was a struggling 1, but I always knew he was 2 . He never criticized us, but used 3 to bring out our best. He’d say,” If you pout water on flowers, they flourish. If you don’t give them water, they die.” I 4 as a child I said something 5 about somebody, and my father said, “ 6 time you say something unpleasant about somebody else, it’s a reflection of you.” He explained that if I looked for the best 7 people, I would get the best 8 . From then on I’ve always tried to 9 the principle in my life and later in running my company.
Dad’s also always been very 10 . At 15, I started a magazine. It was 11 a great deal of my time, and the headmaster of my school gave me a 12: stay in school or leave to work on my magazine.
I decided to leave, and Dad tried to sway me from my decision, 13 any good father would. When he realized I Had made up my mind, he said, “Richard, when I was 23, my dad 14 me to go into law. And I’ve 15 regretted it. I wanted to be a biologist, 16 I didn’t pursue my 17 . You know what you want. Go fulfill(实现) it.”
As18 turned out, my little publication went on to become Student, a national 19 for young people in the U.K. My wife and I have two children, and I’ d like to think we are bringing them up in the same way Dad 20 me.
A．biologist B．manager C．lawyer D．gardener
A．strict B．honest C．special D．learned
A．praise B．courage C．power D．warmth
A．think B．imagine C．remember D．guess
A．unnecessary B．unkind C．unimportant D．unusual
A．Another B．Some C．Any D．Other
A．on B．in C．at D．about
A．in case B．by turns C．by chance D．in return
A．revise B．set C．review D．follow
A．understanding B．experienced C．serious D．demanding
A．taking up B．making up C．picking up D．keeping up
A．suggestion B．decision C．notice D．choice
A．and B．as C．even if D．as if
A．helped B．allowed C．persuaded D．suggested
A．always B．never C．seldom D．almost
A．rather B．but C．for D．therefore
A．promise B．task C．belief D．dream
A．this B．he C．it D．that
A．newspaper B．magazine C．program D．project
A．controlled B．comforted C．reminded D．raised
The other day, I happened to meet someone I hadn’t seen for many years. I couldn’t believe the change in him. In fact, he didn’t even seem like the 36 person.
When I first knew Bill , back in 37 , he was one of the most carefree（无忧无虑）people I had ever 38 . He was always ready to have a party. He thought 39 of going out for beer at three o’clock in the morning or driving 15 miles to see an old 40 he really liked. Bill and I were in the same class in college, and 41 was never dull when he was 42 . With him there was one wild 43 after another. Sometimes I wonder how we 44 to study for our exams.
Last week I was in Houston on business and I ran into Bill in the bar at the hotel. 45 , I wasn’t even sure it was 46 . Was this short-haired businessman really the same person? I wasn’t really sure until I came near him but it indeed was Bill. Now he works for a bank. He 47 most of the evening about his job, his new car and his house. How he had changed! Back when we were in college, the 48 thing Bill cared about were possessions(财富). Now they seemed to be his main 49 . Although I have changed quite a bit myself, somehow I never 50 Bill changing so much. My image of him 51 the one I had formed 52 the time when we were college students together.
I suppose it’s 53 to expect people to remain the same, especially 54 I have changed so much myself. But I must say that I enjoyed the old Bill much more than the new Bill. Maybe he 55 the same way about me.
A．proper B．usual C．same D．right
A．childhood B．the army C．his thirties D．college
A．considered B．met C．supposed D．expected
A．most B．much C．nothing D．none
A．movie B．hospital C．man D．country
A．learning B．life C．work D．fun
A．in B．out C．around D．away
A．joke B．mistake C．chance D．adventure
A．managed B．continued C．decided D．hoped
A．First of all B．At first C．Now and then D．All the time
A．that B．he C．there D．us
A．thought B．spent C．argued D．talked
A．first B．next C．last D．only
A．interest B．event C．subject D．problem
A．forgot B．minded C．imagined D．liked
A．remained B．reminded C．suggested D．became
A．since B．from C．at D．till
A．unnecessary B．foolish C．common D．unusually
A．because B．that C．how D．when
A．discovered B．acted C．looked D．felt
When high school started, Becky and I became best friends. We 36 many interests and quickly became inseparable. When high school ended, we both cried 37 we would attend different colleges.
Our first term of university life was 38 . Our telephone bill and e-mails were incredibly long. In the second term I found some new friends with whom I felt very 39 and I could 40 out my feelings. I was eager to share my new friends with Becky.
When Becky finally visited me at my school, we were excited. __41__, something unexpected happened when I 42 her to my new friends. Her eyes grew dark and I could see the 43 within them. My new friends tried to share their friendship, but Becky seemed 44 to accept it. I didn’t understand 45 the people I love most couldn’t love each other.
Becky 46 . I knew she was not happy. I thought long about __47__ happened. At last, I found the answer. Becky saw me with my new friends and 48 that we no longer shared the same experiences. She saw all the fun I was having 49 her and wished she could a part of it.
I wrote a letter to Becky 50 she’s always my best friend. I told her everyone had many friends, who were indeed life’s greatest 51 . Becky wrote me back soon. She was in 52 and felt sorry about what she had done.
I think Becky and I both learn an important lesson from it. 53 can influence our friendship and change the experiences we’ve shared. We are now walking on two different paths of 54 . While new friends are special and exciting, old friends are always there, 55 to share their heart and soul, no matter how far apart.
A．shared B．developed C．protected D．showed
A．while B．unless C．although D．because
A．explicit B．striking C．tough D．normal
A．anxious B．strange C．familiar D．comfortable
A．figure B．pour C．pick D．hold
A．Therefore B．Thus C．Besides D．However
A．admitted B．mentioned C．introduced D．referred
A．concern B．hurt C．curiosity D．doubt
A．unwilling B．cautious C．ashamed D．thrilled
A．how B．whether C．that D．why
A．started B．left C．remained D．stared
A．that B．how C．what D．Which
A．wondered B．regretted C．promised D．proved
A．for B．from C．across D．without
A．recognized B．predicting C．explaining D．assuming
A．achievement B．spirit C．gift D．sign
A．sympathy B．surprise C．agreement D．disappointment
A．Nothing B．Anything C．Something D．Everything
A．happiness B．life C．research D．success
A．choosing B．demanding C．planning D．waiting
A great many people are disappointed because of unrealistic expectations.
Walking up to a department store’s cloth counter, a(n) 1 young woman said, “I want to buy this material for a new dress. How much does it cost?”
“Only one 2 per yard,” replied the smirking (自鸣得意的) male clerk.
Not to be taken back by the funny words, the woman said,” That’s fine! I’ll take ten yards.”
With 3 written all over his face, the clerk 4 measured out and wrapped the cloth, then held it out teasingly, 5 forward to receive his “ 6”.
The woman got the package quickly from the clerk and pointed to a little old man standing beside her. “Grandpa will pay the bill instead of me,” she 7 .
He was no doubt disappointed. But in the course of living, many people are 8 when others do not 9 their expectations. In order to be happy, some expectations must be dropped. These three particular 10 and unhealthy expectations are some of the main causes:
1. Expect too much 11 .When others say, “Thank you,” or in any way to show their gratitude, be happy. It is a gift!
2. Expect others to make you happy. They simply cannot do that. Make yourself happy and 12 your joy with others.
3. Expect not to be 13 . At times, people will simply not come through for you in the way you need. 14 them and move on.
Get rid of these three unrealistic expectations and you can begin to expect more 15 right away!
A．tricky B．attractive C．ugly D．generous
A．kiss B．pay C．dollar D．cent
A．happiness B．enjoyment C．expectation D．courage
A．hurriedly B．slowly C．patiently D．curiously
A．setting B．sitting C．leaning D．taking
A．reward B．payment C．bonus D．money
A．smiled B．begged C．waved D．thought
A．encouraged B．disappointed C．annoyed D．surprised
A．live up to B．go against C．go without D．hope for
A．reasonable B．proper C．unimportant D．unrealistic
A．profit B．kiss C．appreciation D．disappointment
A．spare B．share C．make D．control
A．put down B．let down C．taken down D．thrown down
A．Forgive B．Punish C．Blame D．Praise
A．happiness B．encouragement C．excitement D．pride
Failing doesn’t make a failure. True failures are those who don’t learn from their 1 .
Smart persons not only learn from their own mistakes—they pay 2 to the mistakes of others, equate error with opportunity, and learn valuable 3 as well, as this story illustrates (说明).
A lion, a fox, and a wild pig went 4 for rabbits together. By the end of the day, they had a large pile of rabbits to 5 .
The lion said to the wild pig, “Pig, you divide the rabbits up among the three of us in a 6 that you think is fair.” The pig divided the rabbits up into three 7 piles, and said to the lion, “There we are. One 8 for each of us. How’s that?” The lion 9 sprang at the wild pig and 10 him.
Then, the lion threw all the rabbits into one big pile again.
He 11 to the fox. “Well now, Mr. Fox, why don’t you 12 the rabbits between the two of us in a way that you think is fair?”
The fox walked over to the pile of rabbits, took the 13 one for himself, and left the rest in a big pile. “This rabbit is for me, Mr. Lion, and that big pile is for you.” said the fox.
At that point, the lion laughed, “Where did you learn to divide so 14 , Mr. Fox?” And Mr. Fox replied, “The wild pig 15 me.”
A．teachers B．mistakes C．failures D．experiences
A．respect B．tribute C．court D．attention
A．experience B．skills C．lessons D．service
A．hunting B．searching C．hiking D．fishing
A．share B．eat C．attack D．enjoy
A．case B．situation C．mood D．way
A．same B．equal C．big D．different
A．rabbit B． animal C．pile D．group
A．gradually B．curiously C．immediately D．seriously
A．killed B．punished C．praised D．sold
A．came B．ran C．returned D．turned
A．part B．divide C．raise D．separate
A．unfairly B．fairly C．hurriedly D．badly
A．informed B．told C．reminded D．taught