Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He advertised for hired hands. Most people were to work on farms along the Atlantic. They feared the awful that spread across the Atlantic, damaging the buildings and crops. the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received many .
Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, the farmer.” Are you a good farmhand?” the farmer asked him.
“Well, I can when the wind blows,” answered the little man.
Although by this answer, the farmer, for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the , busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt with the man’s work. then one night the wind howled（怒号）loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer took a lantern and next door the hired hand’s sleeping room. He shook the little man and , “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down they are blown away! The little man rolled over in bed and said , “No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows” by the answer, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. , he hurried outside to prepared for the storm. To his , he discovered that all of the haystacks（干草堆）had been covered with tarpaulins（帆布）. The cows and the chickens were all in the places, and the doors were fastened. The windows were tightly . Everything was . Nothing could be blown away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.
A．unfit B．curious C．undoubted D．unwilling
A．hurricanes B．storms C．earthquakes D．wars
A．if B．once C．as D．until
A．refusals B．suggestions C．rewards D．desires
A．approached B．interviewed C．reminded D．educated
A．work B．sleep C．wake D．flee
A．excited B．touched C．puzzled D．discouraged
A．convenient B．famous C．bad D．desperate
A．farm B．company C．ocean D．station
A．bored B．satisfied C．patient D．honest
A．walked B．slipped C．rushed D．fell
A．cheered B．whispered C．asked D．cried
A．while B．after C．before D．unless
A．firmly B．weakly C．strangely D．closely
A．moved B．angered C．beaten D．calmed
A．therefore B．as a result C．as usually D．instead
A．surprise B．regret C．horror D．sorrow
A．wrong B．proper C．top D．clean
A．painted B．stored C．secured D．destroyed
A．flied away B．died down C．blown away D．tied down
Some years ago when I was in my first year in college, I heard Salome Bey sing for the first time. The moment was exciting. Salome’s filled the room and brought the theater to life. I was so that I decided to write an article about her.
I ___ Salome Bey, telling her I was from Essence magazine, and that I wanted to meet her to talk about her career. She and told me to come to her studio next Tuesday. When I hung up, I was scared out of my mind. I I was lying. I was not a writer at all and hadn’t even written a grocery list.
I interviewed Salome Bey the next Tuesday. I sat there , taking notes and asking questions that all began with, “Can you tell me…” I soon realized that Salome Bey was one thing, but writing a story for a national magazine was just impossible. The was almost unbearable. I struggled for days draft(草稿) after draft. Finally I put my manuscript (手稿) into a large envelope and dropped it into a mailbox.
It didn’t take long. My manuscript . How stupid of me! I thought. How could I in a world of professional writers? Knowing I couldn’t the rejection letter, I threw the unopened envelope into a drawer.
Five years later, I was moving to California. While my apartment, I came across the unopened envelope. This time I opened it and read the editor’s letter in _ .
Ms Profit,
Your story on Salome Bey is fantastic. Yet we need some materials. Please add those and return the article immediately. We would like to your story soon.
Shocked, it took me a long time to . Fear of rejection cost me greatly. I lost at least five hundred dollars and having my article appear in a major magazine. More importantly, I lost years of writing. Today, I have become a full – time writer. Looking back on this , I learned a very important lesson: You can’t to doubt yourself.
A．joy B．voice C．speech D．smile
A．proud B．active C．satisfied D．moved
A．visited B．emailed C．phoned D．interviewed
A．agreed B．refused C．hesitated D．paused
A．replied B．discovered C．explained D．knew
A．seriously B．patiently C．nervously D．quietly
A．blaming B．fooling C．inviting D．urging
A．hardship B．failure C．comment D．pressure
A．with B．by C．on D．in
A．disappeared B．returned C．spread D．improved
A．compare B．struggle C．live D．compete
A．ignore B．deliver C．face D．receive
A．decorating B．repairing C．cleaning D．leaving
A．disbelief B．anxiety C．horror D．trouble
A．subjective B．relevant C．private D．reliable
A．broadcast B．create C．publish D．assess
A．recover B．prepare C．escape D．concentrate
A．energetic B．endless C．typical D．enjoyable
A．experience B．success C．benefit D．accident
A．attempt B．afford C．expect D．pretend
It was in my high school science class. I was doing a task in front of the classroom with my favorite shirt on. A came, “Nice shirt,” I smiled from ear to ear. Then another voice said, “That shirt belonged to my dad. Greg’s mother works for my family. We were going to that shirt away, but gave it to her .” I was speechless. I wanted to hide.
I the shirt into the back of the closet and told my mum what had happened. She then dialed her , “I will no longer work for your family,” she told him. That night, Mom told my dad that she couldn’t clean anymore; she knew her life’s was something greater.
The next morning she with the personnel manager at the Board of Education. He told her that without a proper education she could not teach. So Mom decided to a university.
After the first year in college, she went back to the personnel manager. He said, “You are , aren’t you? I think I have a for you as a teacher’s assistant. This opportunity deals with children who are mentally challenged with little or no chance of .” Mom accepted the opportunity very .
For almost five years, as a teacher’s assistant, she saw teacher after teacher give up on the children and quit, feeling . Then one day, the personnel manager and the principal in her classroom. The principal said, “We have watched how you the children and how they communicate with you and admire your hard-working over the last five years. We are all in agreement that you be the teacher of this class.”
My mom spent more than 20 years there. her career, she was voted Teacher of the Year. All of this came about because of the comment（评论） made in the classroom that day. Mom showed me how to handle situations and never give up.
A．noise B．voice C．sound D．tune
A．get B．take C．carry D．throw
A．otherwise B．anyhow C．instead D．actually
A．settled B．pushed C．stored D．put
A．teacher B．employer C．director D．adviser
A．purpose B．encouragement C．achievement D．victory
A．went B．met C．worked D．stayed
A．visit B．continue C．attend D．prepare
A．serious B．fortunate C．careful D．responsible
A．career B．duty C．position D．part
A．learning B．judging C．obeying D．imagining
A．patiently B．eagerly C．successfully D．skillfully
A．upset B．frightened C．guilty D．ashamed
A．looked up B．went up C．took up D．showed up
A．believe B．protect C．treat D．receive
A．spirit B．intention C．action D．attempt
A．must B．would C．might D．should
A．At B．During C．On D．With
A．worthless B．thoughtless C．hopeless D．helpless
A．challenging B．different C．dangerous D．strange
Last January I was given a chance to work in another country. At first, I lived a life, but soon I met a group of new friends and they were really nice.
Then something happened. One of our friends suffered from kidney stones (肾结石), which had to be surgically as soon as possible. But it was not as as that! Our friend could not the operation, which put him into deep . I didn’t know how to help him because I didn’t have any money either. , I never lost hope. Instead I tried to think of other and told him not to worry because everything would be all right.
Before I left the hospital, I talked to the surgeon and asked him to do the surgery, saying I would pay the expenses the next day I had that kind of money. Well, I must have been because the surgeon agreed to do it! But how was I going to get that much money?
All I knew was that I needed to help my friend! Although it could be to deal with this kind of situation, I decided to make some efforts. I tried to borrow money but failed. I tried my things but no one wanted them. Then I had the idea of talking to my . I asked him if I could have my next two months’ salary in advance—without even thinking on how I would for two months with no money. He was surprised and asked me the reason. I told him that I had a friend who was really in need. I convinced him too and then he gave my two months’ salary without any !
Upon getting the money, I ran to the hospital and paid all the bills. My friend didn’t know how to thank me. I just said, “Come on! Give me a !”
Friendship may not only be found at the happy moment but sometimes you can find it on the time in your life! I’ve done a good thing by being a (an) friend and I think it is well worth the .
A．private B．lonely C．colorful D．normal
A．strange B．wrong C．unexpected D．unfair
A．removed B．reduced C．examined D．lifted
A．terrible B．painful C．simple D．special
A．stand B．consider C．perform D．afford
A．anxiety B．confusion C．embarrassment D．dissatisfaction
A．Thus B．Otherwise C．However D．Therefore
A．reasons B．choices C．symptoms D．expectations
A．even if B．as if C．so that D．in case
A．encouraging B．annoying C．astonishing D．convincing
A．challenging B．disturbing C．amazing D．scaring
A．saving B．handling C．donating D．selling
A．colleague B．relative C．boss D．surgeon
A．adapt B．survive C．continue D．wander
A．Luckily B．Slightly C．Constantly D．Occasionally
A．analysis B．dignity C．hesitation D．remark
A．favor B．hug C．promise D．reply
A．best B．longest C．strangest D．toughest
A．supportive B．sensitive C．aggressive D．attentive
A．tolerance B．sympathy C．pressure D．effort
For several years, we lived at the end of a long Texas country road. Every evening when I was away from home on business, my little boy would ask permission of his mother to take his black and his daddy’s walking stick, to make the half-mile from the house to the fence which the beginning of the dirty driveway.
One day, I was busy with my business and was for about an hour, completely forgetting about the little boy down the road who might be for his daddy.
On my way home, the rain was so thick that I could not ten feet in front of me. All I could was finishing my journey and getting out of the rain. , the downpour began to abate(减弱). It was only a drizzle(细雨) by the time my car turned the last and approached the final street between me and a warm home and nice meal.
, I caught sight of my little boy, who was an umbrella in one hand, a walking stick in the other, and was wearing the biggest and most beautiful smile ever to lighten the of a little boy.
As I stopped the car and the door, he ran into my arms and held me long and hard. He was wet and with cold, but he never the rain, nor the hour-long wait. He simply said, “Daddy, I missed you. I am so glad you are home.”
Last year, we to a wonderful new home provided for a special season in our lives. We no longer have a long country road. , I have never forgotten the rainy day and the little boy and his black dog. Often, perhaps a thousand times, that has occurred in my mind. all events in our lives, it happens once, and must be treasured.
A．bag B．dog C．umbrella D．toy
A．journey B．flight C．effort D．ride
A．discovered B．explained C．marked D．described
A．controlled B．trained C．delayed D．bothered
A．hopeful B．grateful C．careful D．faithful
A．waiting B．sending C．searching D．calling
A．drive B．see C．feel D．hear
A．stick to B．think of C．pick up D．hold on
A．In fact B．In surprise C．At once D．At last
A．moment B．corner C．street D．way
A．All of a sudden B．Believe it or not C．To my pleasure D．For seconds
A．holding B．taking C．folding D．carrying
A．body B．head C．face D．hand
A．closed B．locked C．knocked D．opened
A．worrying B．nervous C．trembling D．anxious
A．noticed B．doubted C．judged D．mentioned
A．moved B．turned C．returned D．traveled
A．Therefore B．Besides C．Otherwise D．However
A．time B．scene C．act D．sight
A．With B．For C．Like D．Among
Some people are afraid of starting a casual conversation with a stranger because of a fear of not having anything interesting to say. Fear of rejection (拒绝) is also a ______ for keeping silent. Small talk in a conversation can ______ as a way of warming up and getting to ______ each other. Most people, no matter ______ successful they are at work, will find the process of______small talk uncomfortable, even pointless. _____ ,you will have a pretty small world______you refuse to let others in. Starting off with a casual comment or question will make others ______, and even just greeting them with a simple “hello” will often be enough.
Once you have made the first ______, there is no turning back. You need to keep things ______ before you can gracefully say goodbye. Think about what you would like to______with a new friend and that is what you can ask the other person about. Work, family, hobbies or interests are some ______ points of discussion. To keep the ball rolling, you can show that you are really______in what they are saying. Once you find common ______of interest, things will definitely______off from there.
Small talk can ______out to be a pleasant experience. The conversation _____be brief and casual without turning into a long and boring discussion. Do not let yourself______the conversation. Stop worrying about how big of a fool you may appear to be. You may______find out later on that you have the “______” of getting people to open up to you by engaging them in small talk.
A．right B．reason C．result D．sign
A．take B．use C．mean D．serve
A．know B．learn C．recognize D．help
A．what B．whether C．why D．how
A．giving B．leaving C．making D．forcing
A．So B．Instead C．However D．Besides
A．unless B．until C．if D．Though
A．comfortable B．upset C．nervous D．satisfied
A．try B．plan C．wish D．move
A．changing B．rising C．improving D．going
A．know B．share C．do D．show
A．private B．present C．important D．general
A．careful B．surprised C．interested D．encouraged
A．ideas B．experiences C．points D．senses
A．take B．put C．get D．set
A．come B．turn C．find D．figure
A．should B．can C．will D．may
A．start B．complete C．consider D．control
A．still B．even C．ever D．almost
A．right B．advantage C．talent D．habit