“I'm too old and it's too late,” these were the words which played over and over in my mind. I was 41 and exhausted after ending my marriage and my law career at the same time. 42 my ambition to become a writer, I 43 my ability to succeed as one. Had I wasted years going 44 the wrong goals?
I was at a low point 45 the voice on the radio began 46 the story of Grandma Moses. Ann Mary Moses left home at thirteen, bore ten children and worked hard to raise the five who 47 . Struggling to make a living on poor farms, she managed to 48 a bit of beauty for herself by embroidering (绣花) on cloth.
At seventy-eight, her fingers became 49 awkward to hold a needle. 50 give in to aging, she went out to an empty room and began to 51 . For the first two years, these paintings were either given away or sold 52 a little money. But at the age of seventy-nine, she was “discovered” by the 53 world—and the rest is 54 . She went on to produce more than two thousand paintings, 55 
her book illustrations (插图) for It was the Night before Christmas were completed in her one-hundredth year!
56 I listened to the radio, my mood(心情) 57 . If Grandma Moses 58 begin a new career and succeed after eighty, there was still 59 for my life after thirty. Before the program ended, I rushed to my computer to work on the novel I'd nearly 60 .
It was published eight months later.
A．depressed B．disappointed C．encouraged D．inspired
A．In spite of B．In need of C．In hope of D．In favor of
A．believed B．convinced C．regretted D．doubted
A．by B．after C．against D．over
A．unless B．because C．when D．while
A．telling B．reminding C．saying D．translating
A．succeeded B．commented C．survived D．entertained
A．notice B．offer C．direct D．provide
A．so B．too C．such D．that
A．Other than B．More than C．Rather than D．Less than
A．paint B．write C．think D．change
A．off B．at C．by D．for
A．artificial B．art C．advanced D．major
A．story B．fortune C．history D．fact
A．but B．and C．so D．therefore
A．With B．Until C．As D．Unless
A．changed B．cheered C．failed D．amused
A．should B．must C．might D．could
A．association B．consideration C．freedom D．hope
A．finished B．abandoned C．published D．misunderstood
One day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground. The woman _36__ a little boy in a red coat and said: “That is my son __37__ is moving smoothly down the slide (滑板)”. “What a lovely boy!” the man replied. Then he went __38__ saying, “That is my daughter on the bike. She is __39__ a white dress”.
After a while, the man looked at his __40__ and called to the girl in white, “Shall we go home, Mary?” “Only five __41__ minutes, Dad, please?” little Mary cried. The man __42__ and Mary went on riding her bike happily. Five minutes passed soon. The father __43__ and called again to his daughter: “It’s time __44__ now, Mary?” Again, Mary pleaded (恳求), “Give me more minutes, Dad. __45__ five more minutes, OK?” The man smiled and said: “OK.”
The __46__ responded, “You are surely a patient father.” __47__ in thought, the man said nothing. However, after a __48__, he smiled and then said: “Her elder brother Tom was killed by a __49__ driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never __50__ much time with Tom and now I would give anything for just five more minutes with him. I wouldn’t make the same __51__ with Mary. She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The __52__ is that I get five more minutes to watch her play. Life sometimes __53__ too suddenly. ”
Yes, life is all about making priorities (优先考虑的事), and what are your priorities? Don’t always __ 54__ excuses for your not being able to accompany your family members or your friends. Give someone you are __55__ five more minutes of your time today!
A．pointed to B．looked up C．shouted at D．argued with
A．which B．who C．/ D．whose
A．in B．up C．on D．out
A．wearing B．putting C．folding D．glaring
A．feet B．watch C．honey D．gift
A．less B．illegal C．latter D．more
A．nodded B．shook C．refused D．shocked
A．put down B．stood up C．cut down D．picked up
A．going B．gone C．went D．to go
A．Too B．Immediately C．Clearly D．Just
A．woman B．man C．girl D．boy
A．Reacted B．Frightened C．Lost D．Rebuilt
A．rank B．while C．reality D．shelter
A．social B．drunk C．suitable D．unfair
A．spent B．wasted C．exploded D．fed
A．ride B．ground C．mistake D．preparations
A．chance B．truth C．injury D．glory
A．harvests B．ignores C．changes D．orders
A．operate B．question C．make D．purchase
A．proud of B．beneficial to C．worried about D．devoted to
My husband has always had a huge affection for older people and has helped out several elderly friends in the past. Mr. Dave 16 the same lake as my husband John for over 15 years．A friendship 17 but when Mrs. Dave died five years ago, it left Mr. Dave 18 . So John took Mr. Dave fishing with him every time he went. Mr. Dave was very 19 for 80 years old and never tired of being with John．
A few years later Mr. Dave had a stroke(中风)that paralyzed(麻痹)his right side．He lost his speech and was 20 a nursing home. Restricted to his bed and unable to 21 , Mr. Dave began to suffer from 22 .
This almost broke John’s heart. He finally got 23 from the nursing home to take Mr. Dave out for a ride．They were both 24 to be together again but it was very painful for Mr. Dave to be 25 into John’s truck. Because he was paralyzed on one side. The 26 of that side pulled heavily on his good side．
John had gotten his truck a year earlier, a real cowboy Cadillac, 27 was the truck of his dreams. But one day he 28 it so he could buy a van(厢式货车)that was 29 for a wheelchair. The van isn’t sporty or fast but it surely 30 Mr. Dave’s pain on their outings.
John has made a 31 fishing rod that Mr. Dave can use, 32 they still go fishing together. Even though Mr. Dave can’t 33 , he has led the nursing home staff to believe John is his son. I don’t know anyone who would 34 their prized possession to help a friend. I hope he can be an example for others to take similar steps to 35 those who are in need.
A．swam B．played C．fished D．visited
A．destroyed B．developed C．disappeared D．increased
A．disabled B．sleepless C．homeless D．alone
A．happy B．energetic C．proud D．powerful
A．put into B．kept away C．locked in D．picked up
A．sleep B．communicate C．eat D．think
A．weakness B．starvation C．depression D．pressure
A．donation B．support C．mercy D．permission
A．sad B．excited C．desperate D．lucky
A．lifted B．invited C．led D．pushed
A．pain B．flesh C．strength D．weight
A．that B．which C．what D．it
A．fixed B．repaired C．remade D．sold
A．created B．equipped C．changed D．decorated
A．overcomes B．removes C．reduces D．relaxes
A．expensive B．beautiful C．strong D．special
A．but B．or C．so D．and
A．walk B．talk C．escape D．hear
A．give up B．put away C．hand in D．keep off
A．impress B．help C．cure D．comfort
If you want your life to stand for peace and kindness, it’s helpful to do kind, peaceful things. One of my 16 ways to do this is by developing my own 17 actions. These little acts of kindness are 18 to be of service and reminders of how good it feels to be 19 and helpful.
We live in a rural area of the San Francisco Bay Area. Most of what we see is beauty and 20 .One of the exceptions to the beauty is the 21 that some people throw out of their windows as they are 22 on the rural roads. One of the few drawbacks to 23 the mountainous area is that public services, such as litter collection, are less 24 than those are closer to the city.
A helping action that I practice 25 with my two children is picking up litter in our surrounding area. We' ve become so 26 to doing this that my daughters will often say to me in exciting 27 , "There' s some litter, Daddy, stop the 28 !" And if we have time, we will often pull over and pick it up. It may seem 29 , but we actually enjoy it. We pick up litter in parks, on sidewalks, practically 30 . Once I even saw a complete stranger picking up litter close to 31 we live. He smiled at me and said, "I saw you doing it, and it seemed like a good 32 ."
Picking up litter is only one of an 33 supply of possible helping actions. You might like holding a door open for people, 34 lonely elderly people in nursing homes, or removing snow off someone else' s driveway. Perhaps you might 35 something that seems effortless yet helpful. It' s fun, personally rewarding, and setting a good example. Everyone wins.
A．favorite B．familiar C．difficult D．different
A．taking B．placing C．passing D．helping
A．customs B．ceremonies C．opportunities D．occasions
A．cruel B．kind C．proud D．brave
A．science B．weather C．universe D．nature
A．list B．guidebook C．litter D．check
A．driving B．directing C．floating D．flying
A．search for B．live in C．look at D．march into
A．acceptable B．available C．horrible D．honorable
A．regularly B．completely C．calmly D．roughly
A．opposed B．reduced C．devoted D．accustomed
A．lungs B．voices C．sounds D．noises
A．horse B．carriage C．bike D．car
A．strange B．sensitive C．imaginable D．necessary
A．nowhere B．anywhere C．somewhere D．everywhere
A．why B．when C．which D．where
A．idea B．plan C．excuse D．feel
A．empty B．endless C．immediate D．attractive
A．describing B．developing C．visiting D．valuing
A．ask for B．look into C．carry out D．think of
In this modern world, we rush around all day. There is no 48 for stillness.
And when we are 49 to be still because we’re in line for something, or waiting at a doctor’s appointment, or on a bus or train, we often find something to do. Being still isn’t something we’re 50 .
This comes at a 51 : we lose that time for 52 , for observing and listening. We lose peace. And 53 yet: sometimes too much action is worse than no action at all. You can run around , but get nothing done.
Take a moment to think about how you spend your days. Are you always 54 through your schedule? Is this how you want to spend your life? If not, take a moment to be 55 . Don’t think about what you have to do, or what you’ve done already. Just be in the moment.
A．place B．chance C．freedom D．time
A．forced B．ordered C．invited D．told
A．familiar with B．curious about C．used to D．interested in
A．cost B．risk C．moment D．danger
A．play B．food C．sleep D．consideration
A．further B．worse C．farther D．deeper
A．walking B．rushing C．stepping D．going
A．silent B．patient C．still D．quiet
After the earthquake, the rescuers arrived at the disaster area as soon as possible. In a(n) 36 house, they found a woman. She was dead when the rescuers found her. Through the ruins, they could see her last 37 . Being on her knees, the upper part of her body was 38 , with her hands on the ground to 39 her body. It looked strange because she was bent out of 40 .
The leader came to the body, reached outhis hands under the woman, feeling and touching, and then he shouted loudly, “There is someone, a 41 , still living.”
Through some effort, rescuers 42 up the bricks covering her body. Under her body was her baby, who was 43 in a small red quiltwith yellow flowers. He was about 3 or 4 months old. Because he was well protected by the mother’s body, he was 44 safe. He was sleeping when the rescuers carried him out, and his lovely and peaceful face 45 everyone around him. The doctor, along with the rescue team, opened the 46 to check if the baby was all right, and he found there was a mobile phone in the quilt. The doctor looked at the screen. A written message was there, “My dear baby, if you live, don’t 47 how much I love you.” The mobile phone was passed on to the other people; every person who saw this message was close to tears.
A．destroyed B．old C．nice D．new
A．debate B．action C．guide D．quarrel
A．forward B．western C．up D．straight
A．lower B．rise C．support D．carry
A．sight B．question C．job D．shape
A．teenager B．citizen C．baby D．fellow
A．cleaned B．added C．looked D．called
A．gathered B．packed C．locked D．dressed
A．totally B．differently C．widely D．narrowly
A．encouraged B．delighted C．warned D．warmed
A．blanket B．brick C．overcoat D．quilt
A．remember B．know C．forget D．keep
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