War started in our house in late July with a month to go before my first day of college. It was a battle of wills over what college I was to attend. Mom wanted me to attend a famous
school, and I wanted to go to a small writing college. Every night for two weeks, we argued, shouted and gave treatments until both sides went to bed with regrets.
It was mostly my . Since my junior year of high school, I had at being a nurse. I took all the science courses, and even worked as a in my town’s local hospital. My was to help the sick and be superwoman to the world.
Yet, graduation and college neared, it all changed. Treating the sick was
, but not what I was meant to do for the of my life. I could picture myself in hospitals, making rounds, and taking , but I couldn’t picture myself happy. It wasn’t the
I wanted.
Then, I realized I had been creating and writing stories for as long as I could . I loved it, and writing was what I had been doing as a . It was going to be my career. And it had to be.
On August 1st, Mom and I sat down at the dinner table and I told her that she had every
to choose where to spend her money, just like I had every right to decide where I wanted to go to school. If it was her choice not to any of my college education, then I would take a year off to work and earn money so I could go to the college I wanted.
Standing by my decision to be a writer had my firm belief to my mom. Finally we were at , and she decided to support me, which the world to me.
Before that time, I had never stood up my parents on any major decision. Choosing which college to attend me to become a separate and complete adult. I am now finished with my first semester as a Professional Writing major and I cannot wait to see what comes next.
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The two teachers were sitting in the teacher’s room. For a moment there was . Then one of them, Miss Smith said “I’m afraid I’d have to him.”
“Now, Alice,” said her friend Mrs. Jackson, “is he such a terrible student?”
“That’s just the ,” the other woman replied. “Tom is my best student. The problem is that he’s now so lazy that he never gets done. He hasn’t handed me of his homework for three weeks and I’d be surprised he did now.”
before had Mrs. Jackson seen Miss Smith look so unhappy. “Have you with him about it?” she asked.
“Why should I? He knows he has to prepare his lessons and do his homework. I that clear the first day for class. When the course started , he did so that I considered asking the to give him a scholarship (奖学金). But now he even in class! I’ve never seen such a in a student.”
“You should have a with him. Give him a chance to tell his side of story.”
Miss Smith spoke to Tom and all about it. He was studying all day and most of the night in a factory to pay for his education. Of course he was tired in the and sometimes could hardly keep . Miss Smith soon arranged for him to have a and he was able to give up his and concentrate (集中精力) on his studies .
A．distance B．silence C．pleasure D．delight
A．fail B．teach C．beat D．tell
A．lesson B．thing C．trouble D．boy
A．homework B．housework C．cleaning D．washing
A．some B．plenty C．any D．lots
A．even B．if C．though D．when
A．Long B．Until C．Ever D．Never
A．quarreled B．talked C．dealt D．discussed
A．said B．thought C．required D．made
A．quickly B．often C．much D．well
A．school B．class C．others D．parents
A．talks B．sleeps C．laughs D．walks
A．matter B．change C．habit D．way
A．lesson B．look C．talk D．meeting
A．studied B．got C．learned D．understood
A．sleeping B．working C．spending D．staying
A．morning B．afternoon C．evening D．night
A．silent B．clean C．warm D．awake
A．scholarship B．room C．teacher D．position
A．education B．sleep C．job D．pay
Long ago there was a poor farmer in Russia. He had been very with everything he had. However, when he found his elder brother was than him, he felt disappointed. So he hard about how he could also be richer. Finally he got an idea. He started to spend less money on food and clothes to some money to buy more land. Once he had enough money, he started for land.
He that on the neighboring land, there were some nomads (游牧民) living there. He bought some gifts and went to their head. He presented the gifts to the head and told him the of his visit. The head welcomed him, accepted the gifts and agreed to his to get the land. The head told him that he could have the land giving him anything. He can take as much land as he could by walking through the land before sunset (日落). He should start in the morning and whatever distance he could travel during the , he could have it.
The farmer became very when he heard this offer. Now he could have lots of without paying anything. He came the next morning and started running, not walking, he could cover the largest area. To reach his goal, he neither ate food, nor drank water, nor had any rest. He just continued . Without eating, or drinking, or resting he just got very . When he came back to the head in the evening, he right on the spot. Sadly his son buried him in a piece of land about 6 x 4 feet.
Don’t be greedy (贪婪的) or you will everything finally.
A．careful B．pleased C．bored D．busy
A．healthier B．stronger C．richer D．cleverer
A．thought B．learned C．tried D．worked
A．borrow B．spend C．make D．save
A．waiting B．looking C．preparing D．caring
A．explained B．hoped C．noticed D．guessed
A．see B．follow C．help D．cheat
A．chance B．result C．condition D．purpose
A．promise B．request C．suggestion D．order
A．for B．by C．without D．before
A．cover B．farm C．buy D．have
A．year B．month C．week D．day
A．interested B．sad C．happy D．calm
A．land B．crop C．experience D．knowledge
A．quietly B．early C．finally D．suddenly
A．so that B．even if C．because D．whether
A．dreaming B．walking C．speaking D．running
A．nervous B．excited C．tired D．worried
A．refused B．died C．appeared D．rested
A．lose B．face C．change D．defeat
Once upon a time, there were two very good friends who lived together in the shade of a rock. Strange as it may seem, one was a and one was a tiger. They had met when they were too to know the difference between lions and tigers. So they did not think their was at all unusual. Besides, it was a peaceful part of the mountains, possibly the influence of a gentle forest monk who lived nearby. He was a hermit, one who far away from other people.
For some unknown reason, one day the two friends got into a silly . The tiger said, “Everyone knows the cold when the moon wanes from full to new! ” The lion said, “Where did you hear such nonsense? Everyone knows the comes when the moon waxes from to full! ”
The argument got stronger and stronger. Neither could the other. They could not any conclusion to resolve the growing dispute. They started calling each other names! Fearing for their friendship, they decided to go to ask the learned forest , who would surely know about such things.
Visiting the hermit, the lion and tiger bowed respectfully and put their question to him. The friendly monk thought for a while and then gave his . “It can be cold in any phase of the , from new to full and back to new again. It is the wind that brings the cold, from west or north or east. Therefore, in a way, you are both right! And neither of you is by the other. The most important thing is to live without conflict, to remain . Unity is best by all means. ”
The lion and tiger thanked the wise hermit. They were happy to be friends.
A．fox B．hen C．donkey D．lion
A．weak B．unforgettable C．young D．poor
A．friendship B．difference C．relationship D．connection
A．in turn B．due to C．according to D．as to
A．lived B．survived C．walked D．moved
A．argument B．decision C．activity D．conference
A．happens B．bears C．comes D．seems
A．clean B．cold C．cool D．good
A．wonderful B．fresh C．delicious D．new
A．solve B．compete C．convince D．remind
A．arrive B．reach C．cause D．paint
A．far B．ever C．yet D．even
A．monk B．teacher C．mother D．parent
A．kind B．different C．peaceful D．rich
A．answer B．speech C．comment D．remark
A．sun B．weather C．moon D．day
A．whether B．until C．if D．when
A．rewarded B．won C．defeated D．awarded
A．moved B．united C．interested D．amused
A．too B．quite C．also D．still
What seemed like an unplanned comment about Syria's chemical weapons (武器) had a major effect on world events this week. American Secretary of State John Kerry spoke last Monday at a press conference in London. He was reacting to questions about possible American action to answer a chemical weapons attack believed to be likely in Syria. One reporter asked the secretary whether there is anything Syria's president can do to avoid an American military (军事的) strike.
"Sure, he can turn over every single bit of his chemical weapons to the international society in the next week."
Mr. Kerry made it clear that he was speaking theoretically, and did not expect anything like that to happen.
But Russia seized on the idea and persuaded Syria to do the same. That brought plans for American congressional (议会) votes on military action to a halt. President Obama has said he would accept a diplomatic settlement if it can be carried out. But that would likely take weeks, at least.
Mr. Obama has said the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must be punished for breaking the nearly century old ban on the use of chemical weapons. He called for American action to prevent future use of chemical weapons in Syria. He suggested limited airstrikes on government targets. The airstrikes could happen quickly if Congress approves.
Joanna Kidd is a security expert with London's King's College. She says any move to place Syria's chemical weapons under international control would take a long time, if it could be done at all.
What does the author think of John Kerry’s statement at a press conference in London last Monday?
A．Theoretical B．Practical C．Unintended D．Planned
A．stop B．action C．attention D．debate
A．Russia thinks there was a chemical weapons attack in Syria. B．Russia is against the American military strike on Syria. C．Obama believes that a diplomatic settlement is on the way. D．American Congress will approve Obama’s limited airstrikes.
A．Bashar al-Assad’s administration should be punished for breaking the ban B．Obama’s government has to prevent future use of chemical weapons in Syria C．Syria's president can do nothing to avoid an American military strike D．placing Syria's chemical weapons under international control is hard to achieve
The world would be a better place if we all had children’s eyes. This is not because children’s eyes are too sharp to allow any blot（污点，瑕疵）to pass without being , but because adults have too many conflicting concerns to keep their eyes open to all wrongdoing.
Not long before, an examination, intended to some police officers to higher positions, was held in Gansu province. Someone with a good idea that 18 primary pupils could be invited to act as invigilators (监考人). At that age, students would do as they are told and act fearlessly. , they caught 25 officers cheating on the spot, which has caused a stir (轰动，搅动) and the question of whether adult invigilators would their duties as well.
The implication of this event goes its impact on the work style of local police officers and the examinations. Most people said what these children have done points to the sad fact of being less trustworthy. If adults acted as invigilators, they would quite turn a blind eye to cheating.
We Chinese have been holding the that human nature was good at birth: as of blot as a sheet of blank paper, which can be with content (good or bad) in the process of growing up. Everything should be done on the basis of certain principles(原则). , nowadays the repeated reports of cheating in examinations, selling ranks and and embezzling (挪用) public funds paint a picture of common social morals. Adults have become too concerned with their own personal gains to basic sense of principles. When no one any principle and the only concern is personal interest, everyone will , not only those who first break the rules.
Besides, cheats are unfair to honest examinees, and when the success of cheats more people to cheat, the consequences will be disastrous.
In a word, we adults need to have our eyes as as children’s on matters of principle.
A．praised B．dismissed C．caught D．thrown
A．develop B．investigate C．prevent D．promote
A．caught up B．came up C．kept up D．put up
A．Surprisingly B．Usually C．Safely D．Slowly
A．hid B．recommended C．raised D．affected
A．accept B．ignore C．refuse D．perform
A．without B．beyond C．into D．for
A．tutors B．pupils C．adults D．teachers
A．probably B．suddenly C．luckily D．gradually
A．opportunity B．dream C．belief D．hope
A．free B．busy C．ugly D．dirty
A．described B．filled C．purchased D．charged
A．Unless B．Therefore C．However D．Thus
A．names B．titles C．goods D．products
A．bright B．beautiful C．pleasant D．sad
A．care about B．put aside C．contribute to D．come across
A．understands B．observes C．possesses D．change
A．act B．exist C．suffer D．survive
A．advises B．encourages C．warns D．informs
A．beautiful B．young C．wide D．clear