I lost my sight when I was four years old by falling off a box car in a freight（货物）yard in Atlantic City and landing on my head. Now I am thirty-two. I can still the brightness of sunshine. It would be to see again, but a can do strange things to people. I don’t mean that I would prefer to go without my eyes. I simply mean that the of them made me more what I had.
Life, I believe, asks a continuous series of adjustmentsto reality. The more quickly a person is able to make these adjustments, the more his own private world becomes. The adjustment is never . I was totally confused and afraid. But I was lucky. My parents and my teachers saw something in me—the to live—which I didn’t see, and they made me want to against blindness.
The hardest I had to learn was to believe in myself. I am not talking about simply the kind of that helps me down an unfamiliar staircase alone. That is part of it. But I mean something bigger than that: the confidence that I am, despite being imperfect, a real, person; that there is a special place where I can make myself fit.
It took me years to discover and this confidence. It had to start with the simplest things. Once a man gave me an indoor baseball. I thought he was making fun of me and I was hurt. “I can’t use this.” I said. “Take it with you,” he me, “and roll it around.” The words in my head. “Roll it around!” By rolling the ball I could hear where it went. This gave me an idea how to achieve a goal I had thought : playing baseball. At Philadelphia’s Overbrook School for the Blind I a successful variation of baseball and I called it ground ball.
All my life I have set ahead of me a series of goals and then tried to reach them, one at a time. I had to be clear about my . It was no good trying for something that I knew at the start was wildly out of reach that only invited the bitterness of failure. I would sometimes anyway but on the average I made progress.
A．remember B．affect C．measure D．bring
A．possible B．wonderful C．hopeful D．reasonable
A．question B．mistake C．disaster D．situation
A．importance B．value C．loss D．attention
A．record B．expect C．offer D．appreciate
A．natural B．modern C．meaningful D．challenging
A．necessary B．easy C．difficult D．practical
A．right B．plan C．place D．potential
A．guard B．hit C．argue D．fight
A．game B．skill C．lesson D．knowledge
A．self-control B．self-confidence C．self-defense D．self-improvement
A．modest B．energetic C．generous D．positive
A．strengthen B．express C．share D．destroy
A．urged B．blamed C．respected D．admired
A．held B．stuck C．bothered D．knocked
A．important B．specific C．common D．impossible
A．invented B．confirmed C．checked D．noticed
A．interest B．limitation C．experience D．responsibility
A．once B．unless C．because D．though
A．fail B．try C．act D．continue
Over the years, thanks to my life’s obstacles(障碍), I understood the meaning of faith and the strong will to survive. It was Hurricane Ike that made me fully____ the beauty of our strength and a human’s motivation to ____.
Mom had a two-week ____ in summer. While we enjoyed our holiday in Southeast Texas, we didn’t realize the fact that Ike ____ cause months and likely years of “labor”. By September 7th, the “eyes of Texas” were watching Hurricane Ike more ____, making the typical mad rush for last-minute hurricane ____. Two days later, both oil and ice were in ____ demand.
In the early hours of September 11th, some neighbors were planning to ____the storm in their homes, ____ others were making final preparations to get away. At first, we decided to stay. But that afternoon, the Houston-Galveston area would be on the more ____ side of the storm. Mom and I packed some of our most ____ belongings in the car and ____ the East Texas town of Lufkin.
As Ike pushed farther inland, we ____power in Lufkin. On Sunday, our next-door neighbor told us via cell phone that our ____ had remained well. Our hopes could not have been ____. But a few hours later, the neighbors reported that our brick chimney had ____, and it was sitting on our living room, ____ a hole in the roof between two skylights (天窗).
We wouldn’t be allowed to return home ____ September 17th. I climbed upstairs, and looked toward the hole in the roof which showed a beautiful blue sky.
Without hesitation, I shouted, “Wow! A third skylight!”
My neighbors could not believe I was making jokes ____ crying, but ____ is always good medicine. It was with that joke that I knew, given time, everything would be okay.
A．observe B．appreciate C．explore D．improve
A．work B．apologize C．recover D．change
A．vacation B．journey C．meeting D．schedule
A．must B．might C．should D．would
A．closely B．constantly C．warningly D．differently
A．adventure B．equipment C．supplies D．reports
A．basic B．high C．pure D．neat
A．get through B．put away C．test out D．suffer from
A．since B．when C．until D．while
A．dangerous B．abundant C．peaceful D．awesome
A．available B．concrete C．prized D．potential
A．set out B．headed for C．settled down D．watched out
A．provided B．reduced C．produced D．lost
A．garden B．house C．pool D．yard
A．clearer B．wilder C．lower D．higher
A．passed B．stood C．gone D．followed
A．leaving B．digging C．filling D．kicking
A．by B．before C．until D．after
A．in spite of B．instead of C．apart from D．in terms of
A．faith B．will C．strength D．laughter
When I was eight, I wrote my first poem．My mother read and cried, "Buddy, you didn't really write this beautiful poem!"
Shyly, but ,I said yes．She poured out her ．"It was nothing short of talent!"
”What time will Father be home?" I asked．I could hardly wait to my work to him．I spent quite some time for his arrival．I wrote the poem out in my finest flourish（花体字）’drew a fancy border around it and I placed it right on my father's plate on the dining table． My father had begun his motion-picture career as a writer．1 was sure he would be able to my poem．
At almost 7 o'clock my father burst in．He seemed ．He circled the dining-room table, complaining about his employees．
Suddenly he paused and glared at his plate．"What is this?" He was reaching for my poem．
¨Ben, Buddy has written his first poem!” my mother began． "And it's beautiful, absolutely amaz…”
“If you don't mind, I'd like to decide for myself．" Father said．
I my head as he read that poem． It was only ten lines．But it seemed to take hours．Then I heard him dropping the poem back on the table． Now came the moment of ．
“I think it's terrible," he said．
I couldn't look up． My eyes were getting ．
“Ben, these are the first lines of poetry he's ever written," my mother was saying． "He needs ，”
“I don't know why．" My father held his ground． "Isn't there enough poetry in the world already? "
I couldn't it another second． I ran from the dining room crying． Up in my room I myself on the bed and cried the worst of the out of me．
That may have been the end of the story, but not of its for me． I realized how fortunate I had been． I had a mother who said, "I think it's wonderful!" and a father who drove me to hear with "I think it's awful．"
Every one of us needs that mother force, from which all flows; and yet the mother force alone is incomplete． It needs the balance of the force that ,"Watch． Listen． Review． Improve．"
Those voices of my childhood ring in my ears through the years, like two opposing winds blowing me． Between the two poles of and doubt, both in the name of love, I try to follow my true course．
A．proudly B．slowly C．anxiously D．honestly
A．praise B．surprise C．criticism D．belief
A．recite B．show C．describe D．introduce
A．waiting B．planning C．praying D．preparing
A．quickly B．confidently C．nervously D．casually
A．read B．revise C．appreciate D．polish
A．upset B．calm C．tired D．relaxed
A．shook B．raised C．lowered D．turned
A．truth B．struggle C．decision D．discussion
A．wet B．wide C．dark D．bright
A．practice B．judgment C．instruction D．encouragement
A．awful B．elegant C．fluent D．controversial
A．hold B．see C．stand D．control
A．seated B．threw C．left D．kept
A．confusion B．pressure C．tiredness D．disappointment
A．significance B．development C．difficulty D．challenge
A．failure B．honor C．creation D．improvement
A．orders B．persuades C．cautions D．declares
A．conflicting B．warning C．disturbing D．inspiring
A．confidence B．confirmation C．distrust D．disapproval
It’s a delicate（棘手的）time — if not every parent’s worst nightmare — when a child enters adolescence.
Not only are their bodies __ _ physically , but hormones (荷尔蒙) are spreading violently and bad moods are in full swing (活跃).Katie Couric spoke with Dr. Barbara Greenberg, a parenting expert and clinical psychologist , all about how parents can _ _ with their teens , and finally get some answers .Every parent wants to know what is going on inside their teenager’s _ ___, and while the normal instinct (本能) is to give them the third degree (盘问) about their day , Dr Greenberg strongly _ __ us not to question teens closely for long , who are _ __ to get upset or excited all of a sudden.
direct, general questions like “How was your day?” or “How was the date?”. Teens will respond more positively to questions like “How was the movie?” they aren’t ready to give you a whole bunch of information at once. Listening is an important part of any , and interrupting your child may not get you much .
Most adolescents are discovering who they are and how they society. While it might seem that their eyes are laden with laser beams (激光束) and you are their next target, they are also under a lot of pressure, both socially and academically. Let them themselves freely; this is their way of telling you about their .
Even though the idea isn’t “cool”, research has found that about 80% of teens admire and want to spend time with their parents. Teens really love their parents!
, but believe it. They are between wanting that precious independence and mom and dad.
Show your kids at an early age that it’s okay to talk about anything at home. like drugs, sex and alcohol can be scary for both to discuss, but having these conversations has been proven to help teens keep a healthy lifestyle.
It is totally possible to a strong relationship with your teen! Just remember to stay calm, what they have to say, and don’t take that sigh when you ask about their homework too personally.
A．promoting B．changing C．enlarging D．increasing
A．talk B．live C．deal D．fight
A．room B．body C．school D．head
A．suggests B．appeals C．encourages D．persuades
A．supposed B．concerned C．wanted D．expected
A．Ignore B．Ask C．Escape D．Avoid
A．common B．indirect C．accurate D．specific
A．unless B．because C．if D．when
A．thought B．understanding C．conversation D．saying
A．response B．love C．news D．attitude
A．fit into B．put into C．object to D．respond to
A．examine B．teach C．enjoy D．express
A．day B．future C．failures D．studies
A．Exciting B．Disappointing C．Shocking D．Frightening
A．fighting B．struggling C．concerning D．pushing
A．carrying on with B．holding on to C．keeping up with D．keeping out of
A．Worries B．Conversations C．Topics D．Questions
A．parties B．people C．members D．families
A．grasp B．find C．hang D．keep
A．be silent B．keep smiling C．listen to D．be friendly
My sister and I were flying from our home in Kansas to a summer camp in Minnesota. Our plane had a two-hour at the airport in Omaha, where I saw a toy airplane that I really . I had $10 and I had no idea what I needed to at camp, but I spent $8 on the airplane anyway.
When we reached the camp, I discovered that there were no showers! , we bathed in a lake every night. I needed to buy soap. Because the regular soap I brought had chemicals that could the fish. The special soap cost $4 at the camp store. After buying the plane, I had $2 left, so I couldn’t buy the soap.
After a few days, I was a . Sally, our camp teacher, asked me if I needed some soap. When I her that I had spent my soap money on a toy airplane, she laughed and said, “You need to budget.” She then explained that a budget was a(n) for spending money to help make sure you save enough for things you — like soap — before you buy fun things — like . Sally gave me her extra soap, which I took.
When I returned home from , I decided to make my budget. Every week I spent time writing down everything I bought, and some weeks, I would have more in my “Money In” account I did odd jobs (零活) around the house.
Budgeting was , especially when my friends bought soda at the store after school and I couldn’t because I had spent all my “Want to Spend” money. But I with it, and by the next summer, I had enough money to buy a Paula Pilot doll at Omaha Airport, as well as at the camp store to Sally!
A．rest B．trip C．flight D．stop
A．made B．wanted C．left D．remembered
A．learn B．bring C．buy D．do
A．Besides B．However C．Instead D．Anyhow
A．special B．common C．small D．expensive
A．catch B．raise C．hurt D．control
A．hero B．mess C．star D．failure
A．warned B．told C．suggested D．reminded
A．plan B．idea C．example D．promise
A．lose B．gather C．need D．hate
A．chemicals B．clothes C．bills D．toys
A．fortunately B．cautiously C．unhappily D．gratefully
A．school B．airport C．camp D．hospital
A．daily B．weekly C．monthly D．yearly
A．so B．and C．because D．until
A．hard B．boring C．safe D．fresh
A．dealt B．began C．agreed D．stuck
A．received B．saved C．earned D．borrowed
A．fish B．water C．soap D．soda
A．apologize for B．call on C．care for D．pay back
Sometimes pleasures of life are so simple that I take them for granted, things that I've considered as my right, instead of a blessing. I this after a friend of mine, who served there as a volunteer, invited me to pay a visit to Honduras.
The night before I set off, I decided a warm bath would help calm my nerves and help me sleep. So I the hot water handle on the tub（浴盆）and waited. . . and waited. It took forever for the hot water to work its way through the pipes，so I the bath late at night. What an experience!
On the five-hour drive to my friend's home, I the beautiful countryside. On my arrival, she took me to some families, who were in great ，living in stick-and-mud houses and sleeping on dirt floors. ，even in these terrible conditions，everyone I met had a smile on their face. They were so nice as to we stay for coffee. Among them were two women beside a dirty pond. One pushed dirt back with a stick the other dipped the water into a bucket. I shot a toward the heavens,“Dear Lord, please don't let them offer coffee.” Suddenly，one little girl ran towards us, a mango（芒果）in each hand. The one in her left hand was half eaten. had mixed with the dirt on her skin and small streams of mango-mud ran down her wrist. She held out her hand and offered me the other mango, which I accepted. Her eyes danced and joy spread into a smile. When we left, my friend pointed at a small stream beside their home and said,“That is where they . It is also where the animals drink and defecate（排便）. ”I have to say I had never been so .
The evening I returned home, I went into my bathroom. The image of that poor little girl my mind. Her bath would only take place in the cold, dirty water in the stream. I eased into my tub filled with warm water, enjoying this simple pleasure. Clean water wasn't my ；it was a blessing, one I was determined to with others.
A．accepted B．proved C．imagined D．realized
A．excited B．disturbed C．worried D．delighted
A．opened B．touched C．twisted D．removed
A．broke through B．rushed through C．looked through D．ran through
A．unusual B．interesting C．amazing D．awful
A．took in B．took out C．took up D．took over
A．debt B．poverty C．pleasure D．pain
A．Thus B．Rather C．Besides D．Still
A．command B．urge C．insist D．recommend
A．while B．after C．until D．when
A．dream B．prayer C．whisper D．glance
A．taking B．pressing C．holding D．lifting
A．Sweat B．Water C．Coffee D．Juice
A．dirty B．right C．left D．clean
A．unwillingly B．coldly C．gladly D．cautiously
A．bathe B．play C．swim D．drink
A．angry B．calm C．happy D．sad
A．inspired B．slipped C．crossed D．changed
A．possession B．favor C．treasure D．right
A．meet B．share C．provide D．combine