When I returned from a trip abroad, I felt that something was wrong between Keith (one of our twin sons) and me. So I asked him, “Keith, have I done anything that really your feelings?”
Instantly, he said, “Yes. Last Christmas you promised me a special that I really wanted and you gave it to me.”
The is that I’d completely forgotten about it. I , “Is there anything else I’ve done wrong, but I have never asked for your forgiveness?”
Again, his was immediate, “Remember when Mom said you had to go to the because Stephen was going to be born? You left us at home and hurriedly. Remember?” I did.
“Well, you left in a hurry and the suitcase with all the things.” I couldn’t believe all the he remembered! “After you left Mom at the hospital, you came back and you were . When you got here, the suitcase had been opened and was thrown all over the place. And you me.”
“And you didn’t do it?” I asked.
“No.”
My heart . I felt terrible. I hugged Keith and asked him to me. His honesty made me think of our other twin son, Kevin. Perhaps I’d hurt him, too. I went to ask him the question. Kevin’s answer was as immediate as his had been, “Last Christmas you us a special toy and you never bought it for us.”
the Christmas was past, I still took my two sons to the store that day and bought them what I had promised. The thing wasn’t the toy. The problem was I’d made a promise all too lightly and didn’t keep it as their father.
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If you are human, you can’t help but experience times when everything seems to be going wrong. You must also _36__as if your life is completely out of control at times. It is during those “down times” that words of encouragement from family, friends, co-workers or __37_strangers can boost(增强)your spirits. It is also during those __38_that negative words can be devastating (毁灭性的) and sink you deeper and deeper into depression.
For example, consider this story about a group of _39__who were traveling through the woods when __40__of them fell into a deep pit(坑). All of the other frogs gathered around the __41__.When they saw how _42__the pit was, they told the two _43__frogs they would never get out.
The two frogs didn’t obey what other frogs said and tried to __44__ out of the pit. The other frogs kept telling them not to jump, _45__it was in vain. Finally, one of the frogs followed what the other frogs were saying and simply _46. He fell down and _47_. The other frog continued to jump as __48_as he could. Once again the crowd of frogs shouted at him to _49__ the pain. The more they _50__, the harder he jumped and finally he __51__to safety.
When he __52_, the other frogs asked him why he continued to jump when they were all __53__him to simply quit. The frog __54_to them that he was a little bit deaf. He thought they were _55__him all the time.
A．think B．experience C．seem D．feel
A．so B．just C．even D．ever
A．processes B．times C．courses D．practices
A．frogs B．mice C．dogs D．cats
A．hole B．pit C．water D．well
A．muddy B．wide C．deep D．long
A．uncomfortable B．unpleasant C．unhappy D．unfortunate
A．run B．walk C．climb D．jump
A．so B．as long as C．because D．although
A．gave out B．gave up C．gave away D．gave off
A．died B．wounded C．destroyed D．damaged
A．fast B．hard C．easily D．swiftly
A．help B．ban C．forbid D．stop
A．cried B．spoke C．shouted D．read
A．get it B．forget it C．use it D．made it
A．turned out B．kept out C．got out D．held out
A．taking to B．shouting at C．throwing at D．speaking to
A．explained B．announced C．introduced D．told
Recently, a professor of philosophy in the U. S. has written a book called Money and the Meaning of Life. He has discovered that how we 41 money in our day-to-day life has more meaning than we usually think. One of the exercises he asked his students to do is to 42 every penny they spend for a week. 43 they spend their money, they can see what they really 44 in life.
He says our relation with others often becomes clearly 45 when money enters the picture. You might have 46 with somebody and you think that you are very good friends. But you will 47 him only when you ask him to lend you some money. If he does, it brings 48 to the friendship that seems stronger than ever before. Or it can suddenly 49 the friendship if he doesn’t.
Since money is so important to us, we consider those who possess a lot of it 50 very important. The author interviewed some millionaires for 51 . Question: What is 52 thing you have discovered about being rich, because you are a self-made man? Answer: What makes me surprised most is how people give me 53 . I am nothing. I don’t know much. All I54 money
People just 55 making more and more money, but what is it 56 ? How much do I need for a given purpose in my life? In his book, the professor uncovered an important need in modern society: to bring back 57 that money is an instrument 58 the end． 59 plays an important role in the material world, but expecting money to give happiness may be 60 the meaning of life.
A．get through B．deal with C．give away D．look after
A．keep a record of B．run out of C．keep up with D．use up
A．In this way B．By this means C．By the way D．From the way
A．insist B．value C．dream D．offer
A．doubtful B．uncertain C．definite D．distrustful
A．poor relation B．a quarrel C．words D．wonderful friendship
A．know B．recognize C．respect D．admire
A．everything B．nothing C．anything D．something
A．strengthen B．weaken C．threaten D．protect
A．is B．to be C．being D．is to be
A．his family B．his friends C．much money D．his book
A．the most surprising B．the less surprising C．the most surprised D．a most surprising
A．so less respect B．so much respect C．so much money D．so much envy
A．have is B．am has C．have but D．am to be
A．pay no attention to B．make no sense of C．have an idea of D．lose consciousness of
A．against B．by C．beyond D．for
A．the design B．the idea C．the plan D．the argument
A．rather than B．more than C．other than D．less than
A．Spirit B．Friendship C．Money D．Character
A．missing B．getting C．receiving D．understanding
My mother often asked me, “what is the most important part of the body?” Through the years I would guess at 46 I thought was the correct answer. When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, “My 47 , Mommy.” She said, “No. Many people are deaf. But you 48 thinking about it and I will ask you again soon.”
Then last year, my Grandpa 49 . Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. My Mom looked at me when it was our 50 to say our final goodbye to grandpa. She asked me, “Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?” I was shocked 51 she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. She saw the confusion(迷惑) on my face and told me, “This 52 is very important. It shows that you have 53 lived your life”. I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, “My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder.” I asked, “Is it because it holds up your head?”
She replied, “No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or loved one when they 54. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and 55 that you will have a shoulder to cry on when you need it.”
A．if B．what C．that D．whether
A．ears B．eyes C．hands D．feet
A．feel B．stop C．keep D．forget
A．worried B．visited C．died D．came
A．need B．chance C．duty D．turn
A．when B．unless C．before D．but
A．experience B．answer C．problem D．question
A．easily B．really C．carefully D．especially
A．sleep B．think C．laugh D．cry
A．visitors B．friends C．classmates D．teachers
The night of graduation, I was afraid. Two hundred people were sitting out there. I felt tense and I wanted to run away, 36 I couldn’t! After all, my own children were sitting in front of me with many other persons. I couldn’t be a coward(懦夫) before 37 .
When I ended the speech, I was38 at the cheering. And I never forget the first time I received the cheering in my life.
Flowers arrived39 my brothers and sister. My husband gave me silk roses. The reporters came with 40 and recorders and lots of questions. There were tears and hugs and congratulations.
Sometimes, I sit down and 41 the tape of my gaduation speech. I hear myself say to the audience, “Don’t’ give up your 42 in life. Anything can happen if you believe. It means hard work, but 43 sure that you can do it, with God’s help.”
And then, I remember mother’s 44 to me , a young girl: “Hurry, Gin, you’ll be late for school.”
Yes, Mom, I was late 45 school, but it was sweeter for waiting. I only wish you and Dad could have been there to see your daughter and granddaughter in all their show and speech.
A．and B．then C．so D．but
A．them B．themselves C．him D．himself
A．worried B．worrying C．surprised D．surprising
A．at B．in C．to D．from
A．books B．newspapers C．cameras D．cars
A．put up B．put down C．put on D．put off
A．speech B．ideas C．dreams D．love
A．let B．take C．get D．make
A．shout B．shouting C．call D．calling
A．to B．for C．of D．with
Growing up is not always easy. When facing difficulties, courage and a spirit of independence can be more useful than crying for __36___! That’s what Hong Zhanhui’s story of__37__ boy to man with family hardships tells us.
Hong was born in 1982 in a poor family in Xihua County, Henan Province. When he was ___38___ 11, his father became mentally ill and one day came back with an abandoned baby girl. A year later, Hong’s mother and younger brother both ___39__home because of poverty and pressure from his sick father.
Their burdens fell onto the 12-year-old’s shoulders: to treat his father’s illness, to ___40___ the adopted sister Chenchen, and to go on to study.
Hong didn’t __41___ . Since a young age, he has worked in part-time jobs to feed his family. At the same time, he has studied at college. To take care of Chenchen , he worked hard to___42__a room near his campus for her, and send her to school.
After Hong’s story went public, people were ___43___to tears by his unselfishness. Hard __44__ his life was, Hong didn’t abandon his father and the adopted ___45__, because they needed his help. With his hard-won money, he even aided other students ___46__against misfortunes.
Today when many tend to worry more about their own happiness, Hong’s deeds ___47__ us of what we usually neglect: Love and care for others. Without these, ___48___ of us could survive.
Hong ___49__ donations from others. He said that he felt encouraged by kind offers, but he could ___50__ his own work. Short of money to buy food, the boy climbed tall trees to get birds’ eggs for his baby sister. He walked two hours at weekends to buy different things to ___51__ around his school to earn money. Through his hard life, the boy developed ___52___ against misfortune that made him a hero in people’s eyes.
Hong’s story shows that with love and willpower, no hardship can ___53__ a person but himself. So when facing difficulties, don’t ___54__ about bad luck. Consider what more you could do for your family and society ___55___ you’ll find the world smiling back.
A．money B．food C．clothes D．help
A．only B．already C．ever D．still
A．stayed B．went C．sold D．left
A．bring up B．turn to C．stick to D．devote to
A．give away B．give up C．run out D．turn down
A．build B．rent C．but D．paint
A．encouraged B．moved C．inspired D．made
A．as B．because C．unless D．while
A．brother B．daughter C．sister D．uncle
A．struggling B．learning C．standing D．turning
A．left B．remembered C．reminded D．told
A．any one B．every one C．none D．no one
A．threw away B．turned out C．gave off D．turned down
A．depend on B．stick to C．refer to D．turn to
A．show B．eat C．sell D．share
A．a chance B．an ability C．a spirit D．a belief
A．bury B．defeat C．win D．knock
A．worry B．care C．complain D．joke
A．and B．when C．while D．until