Nine years ago around Christmas, I was on a Captiva Island beach at sunrise. I crouched (蹲) low there and was lost in the false hope of finding a treasure larger than the small on the shore.
A man ran slowly along the waves my direction. When he came near me, he slowed to a walk. I didn’t him until he was almost standing over me. Too young to be of strangers, I got on my feet and looked at him. It was then that I saw what was in his , a beautiful bright cream-colored shell, the kind of thing that I was looking for. He smiled as I stared in , and then, to my shock, he handed it to me. I held it before me like a diamond, not my eyes.
“I think you will like it,” he said, and then continued his down the beach.I do not his voice, his clothes or even his face, I do still have the shell, and the greatest lesson I’ve ever . Now the shell sits on my bedside table, not as as it was, but it is still there, a reminder that there is in the world.
That man saved my belief in the kindness of people, and he saved my belief that one can find what means something in life. I see my shell every day, and I know that I can bad days because there are good things in my life. In the end, all that we have is we have done for others. The shell is to me, as important as another man who returned to the plane to me my lost jacket.
I know that a difference in someone’s life, no matter how big or small, is what truly matters, and that it is worth all the treasure in the world.
A．shell B．frog C．fish D．diamond
A．to B．in C．through D．for
A．recognize B．know C．follow D．notice
A．tired B．fond C．shy D．proud
A．clothes B．coat C．hand D．bag
A．despair B．fear C．disappointment D．amazement
A．formally B．calmly C．hopefully D．carefully
A．imagining B．believing C．thinking D．presenting
A．run B．walk C．ride D．drive
A．respect B．realize C．remember D．remind
A．but B．or C．unless D．so
A．accepted B．taken C．learned D．received
A．dirty B．hard C．bright D．soft
A．noisy B．wise C．quiet D．stupid
A．equality B．kindness C．bravery D．honesty
A．get through B．get down C．turn down D．turn off
A．what B．how C．where D．why
A．necessary B．important C．valuable D．essential
A．sell B．give C．remove D．buy
A．telling B．getting C．doing D．making
James sat outside the office waiting for the interview（面试）. He felt so 36 that he didn’t know what to do with37 .The person who had gone in 38 him had been there for nearly an hour. And she looked so confident when she went in. 39 James. He felt 40 that she had already got the 41 . The problem was that he wanted this job 42 .It meant43 to him. He had 44 it such a lot before the day of the interview. He had imagined himself45 brilliantly at the interview and 46 the job immediately. But now here he was feeling 47 .He couldn’t48 all those things he had 49 to say. At that moment, he almost decided to get up and 50 .But no—he had to do this. He had spent so much time considering it that he couldn’t 51 like that. His hands were hot and sticky and his mouth felt dry. At last the door of the office opened . The woman who had gone in an hour earlier came out looking very 52 with herself. She smiled sympathetically at James. At that moment James 53 her. The managing director then appeared at the office door. “Would you like to come in now, Mr Davis? I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.” James suddenly 54 that he had gone home after all. He got up, legs 55 and forehead sweating and wondered whether he looked as terrified as he felt.
A．healthy B．nervous C．careless D．confident
A．the managing director B．the woman C．himself D．the situation
A．by B．with C．before D．after
A．Not like B．So did C．Do as D．Do like
A．doubtful B．sure C．angry D．astonishing
A．reward B．first C．prize D．job
A．hopelessly B．naturally C．easily D．so much
A．everything B．happiness C．difficulty D．nothing
A．dreamed of B．learned of C．thought about D．talked about
A．explaining B．performing C．answering D．performed
A．offered B．asked for C．being offered D．being asked for
A．crazy B．excited C．probable D．terrible
A．depend on B．afford C．believe in D．remember
A．kept B．been taught C．planned D．been supplied
A．leave B．go in C．prepare D．practise
A．take back B．put off C．give up D．put down
A．ugly B．pleased C．sad D．pretty
A．noticed B．loved C．missed D．hated
A．thought B．hoped C．wished D．regretted
A．shaking B．bending C．walking D．stopping
When I was a little girl, my father loved to play the game of “catch the ball” with me. I wasn’t good at it21 he didn’t mind at all. He was always telling me to22 my eyes on the ball; otherwise I would not be able to23 it when he threw it to me.
As I got older, we didn’t play the game as24 as before. If I had a 25 , I would go to my father and 26 his advice. He would try to make a joke and say, “Keep your eyes on the ball.” We would both laugh 27 that advice was not usually able to 28 the problem, but he would just try to make me 29 .
My father became 30 in 1995 when I was 23. There were not any more conversations, as he was 31 from a terrible disease. He couldn’t 32 ; he could only move his 33 without making a sound, which was sometimes 34 to understand. I seemed to be 35 good at reading his lips after a while, even better than the nurses that were 36 him.
During one of our last 37 I was telling him about a difficulty I was 38 . Once again, I could read his lips. “Keep your eyes on the ball,” he said. We both smiled. That was the last time I saw my father 39 he passed away.
Sometimes now, all those years later when I get into a 40 situation, I just tell myself, “Keep your eyes on the ball.”
A．and B．but C．so D．or
A．keep B．leave C．find D．hold
A．watch B．feel C．move D．catch
A．quick B．much C．many D．little
A．surprise B．wound C．danger D．problem
A．pay for B．send for C．look for D．ask for
A．because B．unless C．if D．when
A．settle B．produce C．drop D．realize
A．worry B．smile C．study D．talk
A．advice B．ill C．busy D．wealthy
A．recovering B．thinking C．suffering D．preventing
A．eat B．see C．speak D．jump
A．lips B．face C．hands D．eyes
A．interesting B．boring C．easy D．hard
A．quite B．nearly C．hardly D．still
A．waiting for B．thinking about C．caring for D．worrying about
A．impressions B．experiences C．games D．conversations
A．looking through B．going through C．coming up D．getting along
A．before B．after C．until D．as
A．shocking B．puzzling C．frightening D．troubling
The last time I saw my mother, she didn’t know who I was. Although having 36 from dementia(老年痴呆症) for many years, mother was never 37 . All our family came to the hospital to spend time with her. She didn’t 38 them either, but we wanted to be there with her.
I have just flown back from Texas. Mother 39 looked at me, or past me, and said “Yeah”. That’s 40 she responded to 41 around her. In spite of this, I held her hand and talked to her.
I told her about the big old house in Highland where I 42 . When we first 43 there from Mascoutah when I was 5 years old, I was 44 of that house. The yard was full of 45 and the house was falling apart. But my father and mother were intelligent and 46 and we eight kids helped to turn it into a home. All of a sudden, I wasn’t frightened any more.
I told her she must have been very 47 when I decided to go to college to study journalism 48 being a priest（牧师）, which she thought was the highest 49 for a family. But she didn’t show it. She just saw me 50 with my favorite chocolate chip cookies.
When I told her all about Texas, 51 she and father had been to visit me, mother seemed 52 by that Texas beach on which they had taken a 53 . She 54 the trip and kept the picture in the living room all the time.
We had too many stories to tell. It was time for me to say 55 to mother and I told her I’d see her again. “Yeah,” she answered. But I wasn’t able to.
A．recovered B．suffered C．damaged D．lived
A．healthy B．awake C．unconscious D．alone
A．see B．understand C．recognize D．like
A．never B．just C．excitedly D．seldom
A．because B．when C．how D．what
A．somewhere B．everywhere C．something D．everything
A．experienced B．grew up C．brought up D．worked
A．moved B．visited C．left D．withdrew
A．fond B．afraid C．curious D．tired
A．weeds B．flowers C．trees D．waste
A．fortunate B．easy-going C．hospitable D．hard-working
A．disappointed B．excited C．surprised D．anxious
A．as well as B．instead of C．except for D．in spite of
A．praise B．prize C．honor D．encouragement
A．away B．out C．about D．off
A．which B．that C．where D．when
A．delight B．interested C．happy D．impressed
A．note B．boat C．picture D．bath
A．enjoyed B．hated C．remembered D．accounted
A．thanks B．goodbye C．sorry D．hello
I drove a school bus as a part-time job. Thirty-nine children all had stories to tell me about their summers. Charlie though __16__me. From the first day on Charlie was __17__. If a fight broke out I didn’t have to turn my __18__to know who had started it. If a girl was crying chances were that Charlie had __19__ her hair. No matter how I spoke to him gently or __20__ he wouldn’t say a word. He’d just __21__ me with those big gray eyes of his. One day I found a small tin heart (小锡心)on the bus was gone. “Does anyone know __22__happened to the little heart here” I asked. Some children cried “Charlie __23__it Search him” When I asked him to come forward his gaze( 注视) __24__ my eyes. I stuck my hand into one of his pockets. Then I felt it—the __25__ outline(轮廓)of the small tin heart. Charlie stared at me for a long time. There were no __26__ in those big gray eyes no plea( 恳求) for mercy. He seemed to be waiting for what he’d come to __27__ from the world. I was about to pull the tin heart out of Charlie’s pocket __28__I stopped myself. Let him keep it, I said “It must have fallen off before I got here.” Without a word Charlie __29__ to his seat. When he got off at his stop, he didn’t so much as glance at me. Several days later just that__30__ Charlie moved away… A dozen years after retirement we met in the street. To my __31__, he hugged me. After he let go, he pulled something from his pocket and held it up for me to see. An old key chain… bent out of __32__, the lettering faded (消褪). You __33__probably guess what it was—the little tin heart. “You were the only one who kept trying.” He explained. We __34__ again and went our separate ways. I am so __35__ I’d done a good job.
A．ignored B．feared C．greeted D．told
A．active B．troublesome C．independent D．noisy
A．position B．shoulder C．head D．attention
A．pulled B．cut C．stole D．played
A．secretly B．carefully C．proudly D．strictly
A．laugh at B．stare at C．depend on D．concentrate on
A．how B．why C．what D．who
A．did B．made C．wore D．said
A．turned into B．burned into C．stepped into D．flew into
A．shining B．hard C．strange D．familiar
A．tears B．puzzles C．hopes D．ways
A．plea B．ask C．expect D．disappoint
A．while B．when C．as D．if
A．came B．wanted C．intended D．returned
A．summer B．autumn C．spring D．winter
A．delight B．sadness C．surprise D．annoyance
A．shape B．date C．order D．fashion
A．need B．can C．must D．may
A．talked B．looked C．smiled D．hugged
A．happy B．sure C．lucky D．shocked
I had offered to watch my 3-year-old daughter, so that my wife could go out with a friend. I was getting some work done in my study while she ___36___ to be having a good time in the other room. No problem, I figured. But then it got a little too ___37___ and I shouted, “What are you doing?” No response. I ___38___ my question and heard her say, “Oh,…nothing.” Nothing？
I got up from my desk and ran out ___39___ the living room, where I saw her running across the hall. I followed and watched her as her little behind made a quick ___40___ into the bathroom. I had her ___41___! I told her to turn around. She ___42___. I pulled out my big Daddy voice, “Young lady, I said turn around!”
___43___, she turned toward me. In her hand was what was left of my wife’s new lipstick. And every square inch of her face was ___44__ with bright red! As she looked up at me with fearful eyes, I heard ___45__ voice that had been shouted to me as a child. “How could you…You should know…How many times have you been ___46___ … What a bad thing to do…” It was just a matter of my picking out which old ___47___ I was going to use on her so that she would know what a bad girl she had been. But ___48___ I could become angry, I looked ___49___ at the sweater on her. In big ___50___ it said, “I’M A PERFECT LITTLE ANGEL(天使)!” I looked back up into her tearful eyes and, ___51___ seeing a bad girl who didn’t listen, I saw a little angel full of ___52___ that I had come dangerously close to ___53___. “Sweetheart, let’s take a picture so Mommy can see how ___54___ you look.” I took the picture and thanked God that I didn’t ___55__ the chance to prove what a perfect little angel she had given me.
A．happened B．liked C．appeared D．pretended
A．long B．quiet C．calm D．strange
A．asked B．answered C．raised D．repeated
A．into B．of C．from D．for
A．way B．turn C．change D．progress
A．followed B．scolded C．cornered D．fooled
A．laughed B．listened C．agreed D．refused
A．Slowly B．Eagerly C．Angrily D．Unfortunately
A．filled B．marked C．printed D．covered
A．every B．such C．any D．one
A．told B．beaten C．frightened D．forbidden
A．reports B．notice C．advice D．words
A．as B．when C．since D．before
A．up B．down C．in D．on
A．signs B．letters C．messages D．figures
A．because of B．instead of C．in spite of D．as a result of
A．values B．sadness C．pities D．tricks
A．preventing B．getting rid of C．destroying D．doing wrong on
A．dirty B．ugly C．special D．silly
A．have B．get C．take D．miss