When I was 17，I read a quote that went something like：“If you live each day as if it were your last，someday you’ll most certainly be right．”It made a deep 21 on me, and since then, for the past 33 years，I have 22 in the mirror every morning and asked myself：“If today were the last day of my life， 23 I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a 24 ，I know I need to change something．
Remembering that I’ll be 25 soon is the most important tool I’ve ever known to help me make the big 26 in life because almost everything falls away in the face of death， 27 only what is truly important.
About a year ago I was 28 with cancer. My doctor even advised me to go home and get my affairs 29 order，which is a doctor’s way of telling people to prepare to die．I 30 with that diagnosis all day． 31 ，at last an advanced test showed that it was a very rare cancer that is 32 with surgery．I had the surgery and I’m fine now.
33 wants to die．Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all 34 ．No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be，because death is very likely the single best invention of 35 ．It is life's change agent. It clears out the old to 36 for the new．Right now the new is you．But someday not too 37 from now，you will gradually become the old and be cleared away．Sorry to be so dramatic，but it is quite true．
Your time is 38 ，so don’t waste it living someone else’s 1ife．Don’t be 39 by dogma(教条) —which is living with the results of other people’s thinking．Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner 40 ．And most importantly，have the courage to follow your heart.
A．impression B．curse C．decision D．joke
A．seen B．looked C．found D．1ost
A．hurry B．1ine C．moment D．row
A．successful B．rich C．dead D．frustrated
A．apologies B．fortune C．impressions D．choices
A．proving B．leaving C．confirming D．telling
A．diagnosed B．cured C．treated D．round
A．on B．for C．in D．at
A．met B．got C．did D．1ived
A．However B．But C．Therefore D．So
A．Anyone B．Someone C．No one D．Everyone
A．want B．avoid C．share D．escape
A．destination B．1ife C．science D．disease
A．make up B．make for C．make our D．make way
A．distant B．short C．long D．away
A．1imited B．rare C．enough D．1ost
A．wasted B．cheated C．excited D．trapped
A．voice B．love C．direction D．confusion
The day I met my best friend for the first time, I was full of anxiety. I was trying to do some __ for an important oral exam in the local library, but people kept me. I was getting annoyed and of course, I was not able to . Suddenly I beard someone singing loudly behind me. I and glared at the person who was singing. It was a tall girl about the same age as me.
She looked like a sensitive and friendly girl, which didn’t matter. If anything, it made me even angrier. “How could she be so selfish?” I thought .
I picked up my books, glared at her and whispered coldly, “Thanks to your , I’ve been unable to study. You’re so !”
I left the library in a hurry, leaving my most important textbook . When I got home two hours later, I found that textbook gone. I was so that I almost cried. Just then, the phone rang. A gentle voice the speaker as Jenny and asked if I was Jane. After __ that I was, she said she had noticed I’d left my book in tile library and as my was in it, she’d asked a librarian to get my phone number. She said she didn’t live far away and could bring it around for me if I needed it.
I sighed with and agreed to meet her at the convenience store down the road. Of course, you’ve who Jenny was. She was just the gift I had shouted at for singing in the library. When I recognized her in the store, I was filled with and apologized for my rude behavior. I felt so , but Jenny just laughed, saying She was glad to see I’d also left my __ in the library! I couldn’t help laughing at this and I invited her to my apartment for a cup of tea.
Ever since then we’ve been best friends and we’re getting along well. To be honest, I trust her more than anyone else. I often think how I am. If Jenny hadn’t been a kind person who was willing to my shortcomings, I would have experienced such true friendship.
A．research B．revision C．work D．experiment
A．watching B．asking C．warning D．disturbing
A．speak B．improve C．concentrate D．follow
A．turned around B．turned down C．turned off D．turned over
A．sadly B．hopelessly C．angrily D．crazily
A．practice B．noise C．attitude D．existence
A．selfish B．active C．sensitive D．stupid
A．out B．around C．aside D．behind
A．nervous B．careless C．upset D．forgetful
A．introduced B．considered C．took D．remembered
A．deciding B．confirming C．realizing D．thinking
A．address B．class C．writing D．name
A．comfort B．relief C．confidence D．satisfaction
A．recognized B．found C．guessed D．heard
A．courage B．energy C．doubt D．shame
A．worried B．sorry C．terrible D．excited
A．glare B．expression C．virtue D．friendship
A．considerate B．pleased C．lucky D．grateful
A．overcome B．share C．hide D．forgive
A．ever B．never C．seldom D．still
One day I was doing a big clean-up when I a knotted handkerchief with an old dark brown coin inside. I took one look and immediately an unforgettable time.
In 1991, I spent five months in Niger, with sandstorms and great heat. Its and beggars were my biggest and most constant complaint. Street beggars would continually reach out their hands, shouting “Gift! Gift!”
One day, I for neighboring Burking to work in a health clinic.
Arriving by taxi at our destination in Burkina, we began to . In darkness, a motorbike with two men approached slowly. Without any , one of them grabbed my pack as the motorbike swept close by. Within seconds, the two were out of sight, up by the night.
The bag had my passport, money, traveler’s cheques, a camera, an airline ticket and other things to me. I was in deep trouble.
In the weeks that followed, I guarded the rest of my valuables and regarded all with suspicion. All I wanted was to leave this place.
Then, walking through Burkina’s streets, I met with an old woman. “Gift! Gift!” she cried. I’d had enough. I was of the country: its poverty(贫困), its thieves, the heat, and the dust. I told her angrily, “A thief stole all my money and now I can’t out of your country. I cannot give you anything.”
The woman beggar listened attentively and my words. Then she reached the folds of her dress.
“Then I will give you a gift,” she announced. Kindly, she placed an old, dark brown coin in my hand. I looked at it in . It was a very small amount of money, but for this woman, the coin a meal. At that moment, I felt a shame. In spit of her , she was able to give me something priceless.
I saw then the beauty of the people of Burkina, and appreciated deeply the quiet of the poor. With the old woman’s gift, I hope never to part with the coin she gave me. With one small coin, she my concept completely.
A．cared about B．came across C．looked for D．focused upon
A．presented B．gave C．recalled D．reminded
A．traffic B．dust C．noise D．climate
A．headed B．struggled C．stood D．came
A．move B．unload C．hide D．pass
A．warning B．planning C．thinking D．arranging
A．hung B．put C．swallowed D．cleared
A．obvious B．expensive C．familiar D．precious
A．elegantly B．cautiously C．dependently D．frequently
A．locals B．thieves C．beggars D．men
A．proud B．conscious C．sick D．aware
A．get B．run C．come D．rush
A．attended to B．looked up C．thought about D．wrote down
A．for B．into C．out D．at
A．order B．vain C．serve D．shock
A．meant B．made C．deserved D．suggested
A．dirtiness B．poverty C．kindness D．safety
A．updated B．unfolded C．broken D．unexpected
A．moment B．action C．dignity（尊严） D．life
A．changed B．damaged C．found D．accepted
It is the season of weddings for Hindu families. Also, because the demand is so great, it is likely that several weddings take place in the same temple. So perfect timing is stuck to there is no confusion; but , as I found out, there is.
When I Kalyani's invitation to her wedding, I made a note of it in my diary. She had been my schoolmate and we had got along well, so I was happy to attend her wedding. l decided to for it and borrowed an Indian style shirt. On the day of the wedding, I arrived at the temple in good time and started to anyone I knew. I saw no one and went to sit cross-legged quietly in a corner, waiting. Kalyani was escorted (簇拥) in. From where I was sitting, I could not see but I thought she had a little since she left school. She looked a little fat now and wore glasses. I my head. Anyway I down to wait for the long ritual. As soon as the wedding was over, a line formed to the couple and I joined in. When I arrived and handed her the , she looked up and a beautiful smile and only then did I realize that the was entirely mine: it was not Kalyani at all. I had just attended the wedding. To my shock, I smiled broadly. , I was treated like a guest: the couple each have thought I was the other's guest.
Then I went to look for the correct wedding party in the area. Sure enough there stood Kalyani. As I was walking up to her, I realized I was in deep : I had just given the present meant for her to a complete stranger.
A．in case B．even if C．so that D．as if
A．fortunately B．frequently C．impossibly D．hardly
A．kept B．took C．expected D．received
A．finally B．immediately C．suddenly D．naturally
A．pay B．call C．dress D．wait
A．talk to B．look for C．say hello to D．shake hands with
A．carefully B．clearly C．completely D．easily
A．experienced B．learned C．suffered D．changed
A．shook B．nodded C．bent D．covered
A．slowed B．looked C．calmed D．settled
A．watch B．meet C．welcome D．congratulate
A．note B．invitation C．present D．diary
A．flashed B．forced C．wore D．pretended
A．regret B．Happiness C．pleasure D．surprise
A．noisy B．wrong C．strange D．splendid
A．get B．hide C．prove D．stop
A．Otherwise B．Moreover C．Therefore D．Anyway
A．should B．must C．could D．need
A．waiting B．standing C．open D．quiet
A．thought B．trouble C．sorrow D．doubt
A Leap（跳跃）to Honor
Leaping on a narrow balance beam（平衡木） is not easy. But Lola Walter, a 13-year-old gymnast, is an expert at it.
To perfect her skills, Lola for four hours a day, five days a week. At the state championships in March, she finished seventh out of 16 girls.
That’s especially impressive. she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift constantly. She often sees double and can’t _ how far away things are.
When she was little, her mom that even though she couldn’t see , she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the right away and gymnastics became her favorite.
Though learning gymnastics has been more for her than for some of her tournaments, she has never quit. She doesn’t let her stop her from doing anything that she wants to. She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest is the balance beam. Because she has double vision, she often sees two beams. She must use her sense of touch to help her during her routine. Sometimes she even closes her eyes. “You have to your mind that it’ll take you where you want to go.” says Lola.
To be a top-level gymnast, one must be brave. The beam is probably the most for anyone because it’s four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t fall the beam. In fact, she got an 8.1 out of 10---- her highest score yet.
Lola doesn’t want to be differently from the other girls on her team. At the competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision . She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her attitude.
Lola never thinks about . She is presently at level 7 while the highest is level 10 in gymnastics. Her is to reach level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to pass down what she’s learned to other kids she grew up.
Lola is of all her hard work and success. She says it’s helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics, too. Her for others is “just believe yourself”.
A．runs B．teaches C．trains D．dances
A．since B．unless C．after D．though
A．tell B．guess C．assume D．predict
A．suspected B．remembered C．imagined D．noticed
A．deeply B．well C．ahead D．closely
A．task B．sport C．event D．show
A．boring B．enjoyable C．difficult D．unsatisfactory
A．talent B．quality C．nature D．condition
A．doubt B．advantage C．challenge D．program
A．examine B．express C．open D．trust
A．fearful B．harmful C．unfair D．inconvenient
A．to B．on C．off D．against
A．greeted B．treated C．served D．paid
A．pains B．stresses C．injuries D．problems
A．positive B．friendly C．flexible D．caution
A．defending B．quitting C．winning D．bargaining
A．standard B．range C．view D．goal
A．until B．as C．when D．before
A．proud B．tired C．ashamed D．confident
A．plan B．advice C．reward D．responsibility
That Christmas Eve, the streets of Boston were crowded with people dressed in wool and flannel(法兰绒). “Jingle Bells” was playing in stores. Everyone, it seemed, was _____ by someone else smiling or ____ I was alone.
The eldest of a Puerto Rican family of 11 children growing up in one of New York’s _____ apartment. I’d spent much of my life _____ solitude(独处). Now, _____, at 27, was enduring the last break-up of a seven-year relationship. Every part of me wanted to be _____, but not at Christmas.
My family had returned to Puerto Rico, and my _____ were involved in their own lives. Dusk was falling, and the unavoidable return to my ____apartment brought tears to my eyes.
I stopped at the local market, feeling even more______ when I saw all the people there filling their baskets with gifts. I _____ my family, my friends and the noisy parties at home, filled with laughter and dancing. I wanted to cry for having wanted to be alone and for having _____ it.
In front of the church down the street, a manger(马槽) had been set up, with Mary, Joseph, and the barn animals in ______ the arrival of baby Jesus. As I walked home, I _____ that the story of Joseph and Mary wandering from door to door seeking shelter was much like my own. Leaving Puerto Rico was still a _____in my soul and I was struggling with whom I had become in my 15 years in the United States. I’d mourned my losses, _____for the first time, I recognized what I’d gained. I was _____, and educated and healthy. My life was still before me, full of ______.Sometimes the best ____ is the one you give yourself. That Christmas, I gave myself credit ____ I’d accomplished so far and permission to go ______ unafraid. It was the best gift I’ve ever received, the one that I most treasure.
A．chosen B．bothered C．allowed D．accompanied
A．working B．laughing C．studying D．thinking
A．crowded B．expensive C．cheerful D．large
A．looking for B．looking at C．looking through D．looking over
A．finally B．easily C．quickly D．likely
A．patient B．strict C．alone D．private
A．friends B．dreams C．guests D．customers
A．beautiful B．interesting C．clean D．empty
A．pleased B．upset C．surprised D．curious
A．hated B．loved C．missed D．forgot
A．achieved B．refused C．preferred D．offered
A．search B．expectation C．position D．control
A．imagined B．sighed C．realized D．expressed
A．effort B．belief C．wound D．wish
A．but B．so C．because D．though
A．excited B．independent C．ordinary D．worthless
A．desires B．possibilities C．ideals D．advantages
A．gift B．lesson C．purpose D．memory
A．on B．in C．at D．for
A．upward B．down C．around D．Forward
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