When 24-year-old Hannah Brencher moved to New York after college，she was hit by loneliness. One day she felt so that she want to reach out to someone. And so she put pen to paper and started writing letters-letters to complete .
But these weren’t letters about how she was feeling. There were happy letters，all about the other person，not her. She would write messages for people to have a “ day " and tell strangers how brilliant they were， they thought no one else had noticed. Brencher began dropping the all over New York，in cafes，in library books，in parks and on the subway. It made her letter，knowing that she might be making somebody’s through just a few words. It gave her to focus on. And so，The Word Needs More Love Letters was born.
The movement is all about letters—not emails，but handwritten letters. Not love letters，written to a real beloved，but letters for strangers. They don’t necessarily say “I love you”，but they are . kindness—telling people they are remarkable and 15 and all-round amazing. It’s the sort of stuff that most people don’t really say out loud even to the people they ，let alone a total stranger.
Brencher’s initiative(初衷) has now .There are more than 10,000 people who join in all over the world. Last year，she gave a talk. In it，she talked about a university student who dropped letters around her campus，only to suddenly everyone was writing them and there were love letters hanging from the trees.
It’s a very cute idea. I know that if I was on the end of a letter like that，it almost certainly would put a on my face. So I decided to give it a try and see if I could do the same for someone else.
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A friend of mine was sitting in the living room one day when his cat dragged in a little “gift” in its mouth—a dead animal of some sort. Taking a closer look, he was surprised to 36 it as the bunny(小兔子) that 37 Mary, the young daughter of the family next door. My friend felt 38 , believing his cat had killed Mary’s bunny.
My quick-thinking friend came up with a plan. 39 from the cat’s mouth the dead animal, which by now was a 40 mess, he put it in the kitchen sink. With a little warm water and some shampoo, he tried to 41 the dead bunny as best he could. Then he took a hair dryer and blowdried the bunny 42 it looked pretty good.
Finally, under the cover of darkness, he crept into the next-door garden and placed it 43 in the cage. He managed to make the bunny look very 44 there in his little box.
The next morning, my friend looked out of the window and noticed a crowd of people 45 around the rabbit hutch(笼). Everyone seemed to be talking and pointing. My friend 46 to go over and act like any normal 47 neighbor and find out what was going on.
When he got there, Mary’s mother said to my friend, “You won’t believe this! It’s a(n) 48 thing! Mary’s bunny 49 a few days ago, and we buried that little bunny right over there…”
Have you ever tried to cover up one wrongdoing with another? Covering up only makes matters 50 .
When we get caught doing something 51 , for example, we may 52 to cover it up with a lie. But just like Mary’s bunny, the result is 53 what we expected. We 54 looking foolish. We would have been better off admitting we were wrong and accepting the 55 . What do you think of it?
A．treat B．catch C．appreciate D．recognize
A．looked for B．got along C．belonged to D．resulted from
A．pleased B．terrible C．confused D．excited
A．Looking B．Removing C．Preventing D．Hearing
A．dirty B．lovely C．gifted D．strange
A．dress up B．bring up C．clean up D．make up
A．whenever B．though C．before D．until
A．carefully B．strangely C．espe cially D．wonderfully
A．serious B．accurate C．balanced D．natural
A．cheered B．gathered C．ran D．looked
A．wished B．decided C．hesitated D．meant
A．anxious B．discouraged C．wise D．curious
A．strange B．difficult C．committed D．annoying
A．passed away B．ran away C．set out D．went up
A．more B．worse C．better D．faster
A．exciting B．perfect C．strange D．wrong
A．refuse B．attempt C．promise D．pretend
A．often B．just C．always D．never
A．get down B．end up C．go through D．set out
A．consequences B．opportunities C．expectations D．choices
Driving to a store after a busy day at work, I saw a man standing near the store holding a sign that said, “Will work for food.” I knew at that moment that I was going into the store and 36 him something to eat.
As I 37 the car park, I saw in my car mirror a lady come out from a hairdresser’s and 38 the man. I thought she must be going to give him some 39 or something to help him out. In the store I was 40 to get the things I needed and also the chicken dinner and a soda that I wanted to give the man outside. I hurried out to my car and 41 that I was going to be able to hopefully help this man.
When I drove out of the car park, I couldn’t see the 42 . As I turned the corner I saw the man sitting in a 43 area away from the hairdresser’s and still 44 up the sign. I immediately 45 over and gave the man the dinner and soda and said, “ 46 this will get you through today.” He looked at me and said, “Thank you so much!”
As I got back into my car, I looked in the 47 and saw the man swallowing the dinner as if he hadn’t eaten for days.
I was so 48 that I was able to help him and at the same time I was so sad that the woman from the hairdresser’s, 49 , had asked the man to 50 from her shop. It’s sad to say that 51 I live in a small city where homeless is not as 52 as in larger cities, people are uncomfortable with these people in 53 . All they need to do is lend a helping hand 54 and it could make a huge 55in their lives.
A．cook B．buy C．pay D．serve
A．turned into B．got over C．called at D．pointed out
A．interview B．comfort C．blame D．approach
A．example B．space C．money D．comfort
A．preparing B．hurrying C．hesitating D．planning
A．explained B．wondered C．agreed D．felt
A．man B．food C．lady D．sign
A．different B．strange C．famous D．comfortable
A．making B．holding C．taking D．building
A．turned B．thought C．pulled D．looked
A．Hopefully B．Finally C．Luckily D．Naturally
A．store B．mirror C．square D．crowd
A．popular B．anxious C．pleased D．patient
A．immediately B．obviously C．carefully D．nervously
A．stop B．suffer C．move D．change
A．whether B．because C．though D．unless
A．poor B．visible C．selfish D．happy
A．danger B．action C．need D．moment
A．at times B．at the time C．at one time D．at a time
A．difference B．mistake C．decision D．living
Earlier this morning I e-mailed an old friend, Mark. We have been out of touch for 12 years, but the 36 is a wonderful thing. Finding his e-mail address 37 less than a minute. He is working on his doctoral paper in western America.
Mark and I met at a summer 38 that we both attended. I went every year from the time I was 8 or 9 until I was 15. I don’t 39 exactly, but I think Mark was there for as many years as I was.
We lived close to each other and 40 saw each other around the campsite, but not often. Mostly we stayed together for a week or two in the 41 and wrote letters back and forth during the rest of the first few years. I still have all of his letters in a box somewhere. I come across them occasionally and 42 to sit down and read through them, but I never have. He was a 43 and precious friend to me, and I am deeply 44 that we have drifted so far apart.
Mark was a very kind and incredibly bright and funny 45 . He loved Monty Python — I mean he was a fanatic(狂热者), and could 46 entire movies from memory. He was one of those kids who 47 such a unique and powerful mind 48 they never quite fit into the main stream of life. 49 Mark, who I believe realized that, never seemed to care about it. When I knew that Mark was working on his 50 (on a highly intellectual and fairly mysterious and difficult topic), I thought, “Well yes, of course.” He is just where I would
51 him to be.
I wonder if he will write me back. I wonder if he will be 52 by where I am. I wonder whether he and I can be 53 again, or whether these years have left us with 54
in common. I wonder whether he can ever be the man I 55 , or only remain the boy I knew.
A．world B．Internet C．life D．fax
A．cost B．paid C．took D．spent
A．train B．meeting C．camp D．holiday
A．remind B．recall C．remember D．realize
A．occasionally B．regularly C．usually D．commonly
A．neighborhood B．group C．holiday D．summer
A．manage B．advise C．intend D．prefer
A．likely B．friendly C．coldly D．dear
A．regret B．sorry C．excited D．satisfied
A．teenager B．adult C．reader D．camper
A．see B．recite C．write D．read
A．gained B．had C．got D．deserved
A．that B．as C．because D．so
A．Because B．Though C．Since D．But
A．book B．novel C．paper D．lesson
A．let B．lead C．expect D．allow
A．shocked B．surprised C．disappointed D．excited
A．classmates B．partners C．enemies D．friends
A．everything B．something C．nothing D．anything
A．value B．know C．dislike D．admire
The day before Father’s Day, Mrs. Berry asked her students to make a card for their fathers. She passed out paper and pieces of cloth.
Elizabeth looked for a while at the blue cloth and began to cut it. Then she 36 her paper in half and began writing. When Elizabeth finally looked at the message the teacher gave on the paper, she noticed something else. She felt her 37 grow hot — she hadn’t heard that anyone who didn’t have a father could make one for a grandfather or an uncle.
As her teacher walked to her, Elizabeth tried 38 her card with her arm, but Mrs. Berry gently 39 it so that she could read it. Elizabeth sat 40 , waiting for her to say something, but she saw a 41 roll down Mrs. Berry’s face. She had never made Mrs. Berry so upset.
When school was over, Elizabeth 42 until all the other kids left so that she could
43 . “I’m sorry for not listening. I’ll make another card 44 you want. I’ll do it 45 and bring it tomorrow.” “ 46 are you talking about?” asked Mrs. Berry.
“My Father’s Day card. I know you’re upset because I didn’t do it 47 .”
“Elizabeth, that was the __48 card in the whole class. It was so 49 that it made me cry.”
Elizabeth was so 50 that she ran out of the classroom.
When her mom came home from work that night, Elizabeth 51 to give her the card early. On the front of the card was a 52 of Elizabeth’s mom, with a blue piece of cloth cut like her hair. Inside the card she had written:
Dear Mom,
I know you work really hard to be both a mommy and a(n) 53 . I want to thank you and 54 you a happy Father’s Day!
Love,
Elizabeth
When her mom read the card she started 55 , just like Mrs. Berry did.
A．cut B．tore C．spread D．folded
A．heart B．face C．hands D．body
A．covering B．holding C．doing D．making
A．caught B．left C．lifted D．placed
A．alone B．still C．up D．down
A．tear B．smile C．hair D．sweat
A．worked B．waited C．stood D．sat
A．apologize B．stop C．understand D．stay
A．because B．until C．unless D．if
A．just here B．at once D．at school
A．Who B．Whose C．Which D．What
A．carefully B．quickly C．wrong D．right
A．worst B．best C．favorite D．simplest
A．wild B．useful C．sweet D．hard
A．happy B．regretful C．brave D．rude
B．decided C．refused D．promised
A．recording B．discovery C．drawing D．writing
A．teacher B．sister C．daddy D．aunt
A．wish B．hope C．want D．congratulate
A．laughing B．joking C．worrying D．crying
A lesson in caring
It was a cold evening. My daughter and I were walking up Broadway. I didn’t notice a guy sitting inside a cardboard box. But Nora 36 . She wasn’t even four, but she 37 at my coat and said, “That man’s cold. Daddy, can we take him home?”
I don’t remember my 38 . But I do remember a sudden 39 feeling inside me. I had always been delighted at how much my daughter noticed in her 40 , whether it was 41 flying or children playing. But now she was noticing 42 and beggary.
A few days later, I saw an article in the newspaper about volunteers who picked up a food package from a nearby school on a Sunday morning and 43 it to an elderly person. It was quick and easy. I signed us up. Nora was 44 about it. She could understand the importance of food, so she could easily see how 45 our job was. When Sunday came, she was ready, but I had to 46 myself to leave the house to fetch the food package. On my way to the school, I fought an urge (强烈愿望) to turn 47 . The Sunday paper and coffee were waiting for me at home. Why do this? 48 , we phoned the elderly person we’d been appointed. She 49 us right over.
The building was in a bad state. Facing us was a silver-haired woman in an old dress. She took the package and asked us to come in. Nora ran inside. I unwillingly followed. 50 inside, I saw that the department belonged to someone poor. Our hostess showed us some photos. Nora played and when it came time to say goodbye, we three hugged. I walked home 51 .
Professionals call such a(n) 52 “a volunteer opportunity”. They are opportunities and I’ve come to see. Where else but as volunteers do you have the opportunity to do something 53 that’s good for others as well as for yourself? Nora and I regularly serve meals to needy people and 54 clothes for the homeless. Yet, as I’ve 55 her grow over these past four years, I still wonder—which of us has benefited more?
A．did B．was C．has D．had
A．pulled B．replaced C．waved D．aimed
A．debate B．reply C．explanation D．expression
A．general B．funny C．heavy D．magical
A．web B．dream C．castle D．world
A．insects B．animals C．plants D．birds
A．coldness B．illness C．suffering D．appearance
A．sent B．returned C．devoted D．posted
A．concerned B．sorry C．worried D．excited
A．creative B．valuable C．shocking D．simple
A．warn B．stop C．allow D．push
A．back B．away C．up D．out
A．Therefore B．But C．Anyhow D．Also
A．requested B．promised C．invited D．helped
A．Although B．Once C．Because D．Though
A．in tears B．in surprise C．in reality D．in disappointment
A．stay B．visit C．reception D．challenge
A．fair B．famous C．difficult D．enjoyable
A．collect B．make C．order D．design
A．let B．made C．watched D．affected