The Best Holiday
I was unbelievably proud of my nine-year-old daughter, Emily. 36 to buy a mountain bike, she’d been saving her pocket money all year, as well as doing small jobs to earn extra money.
By Thanksgiving , she had collected only $49. I said, “ You 37 have your pick from my bicycle 38 ”. “Thanks, Daddy. But your bikes are so old. ” She was right. All my girls’ bikes were 1950s models, not the kind a kid today would 39 choose.
As Christmas 40 near, Emily and I went bike shopping . As we left one store, she 41 a Salvation Army volunteer standing next to a big pot. “Can we give something, Daddy?” She asked. “Sorry, Em, I’m out of 42 . ”
Throughout December, Emily continued to work hard. Then one day, she made a 43 announcement. “You know all the money I’ve been saving?” she said hesitantly. “I’m going to give it to the poor people.” So one cold morning before Christmas, Emily handed her total savings of $58 to a volunteer who was really very 44 .
45 by Emily’s selflessness, I decided to contribute 46 of my old bicycles to a car dealer who was collecting used bikes for poor children. 47 I selected a shiny model from my collection, however, it seemed as if a second bike took on a glow. Should I contribute two? No, one would be enough. But I couldn’t 48 the feeling that I should give a second bike. When I later 49 the bikes, the car dealer said, “You’re making two kids very 50 , sir . Here are your tickets. For each bicycle contributed, we’re 51 away one chance to win a girl’s mountain bike. ”
Why wasn’t I surprised when that second ticket proved to be the 52 ? I like to think it was God’s way of 53 a little girl for a sacrifice 54 her year--while giving her dad a lesson in the 55 .
A．Promised B．Amazed C．Determined D．Organized
A．need B．should C．must D．can
A．collection B．contribution C．shop D．club
A．seldom B．likely C．slightly D．merely
A．drew B．became C．went D．pulled
A．observed B．sensed C．watched D．noticed
A．work B．charge C．time D．change
A．disappointing B．surprising C．formal D．public
A．agreeable B．hopeful C．thankful D．pitiful
A．Moved B．Shocked C．Persuaded D．Demanded
A．one B．some C．two D．any
A．While B．As C．Because D．Though
A．express B．describe C．explain D．shake
A．returned B．delivered C．chose D．shared
A．sweet B．healthy C．happy D．fair
A．putting B．giving C．storing D．signing
A．present B．harvest C．winner D．chance
A．greeting B．praising C．sheltering D．rewarding
A．under B．before C．beyond D．within
A．process B．project C．struggle D．communication
One night I decided to spend some time building a happier and closer relationship with my daughter. For several weeks she had been 1 me to play chess(棋) with her, so I suggested a game and she eagerly accepted. It was a school night, however, and at nine o’clock my daughter asked if I could hurry my moves, because she 2 to go to bed; she had to get up at six in the morning. I 3 she had strict sleeping habits, 4 I thought she ought to be able to 5 some of this strictness. I said to her, “ 6 , you can stay up late for once. We’re having 7 .” We played on for another fifteen minutes, during which time she looked 8 . Finally she said, “Please, Daddy, do it quickly.” “No,” I replied. “If you’re going to play it 9 , you’re going to play it slowly.” And so we 10 for another ten minutes, until suddenly my daughter burst into tears, and admitted that she was beaten.
Clearly I had made 11 . I had started the evening wanting to have a 12 time with my daughter but had allowed my desire to win to become more 13 than my relationship with my daughter. When I was a child, my desire to win 14 me well. As a parent, I 15 that it got in my way. So I had to change.
A．guiding B．asking C．training D．advising
A．agreed B．needed C．begged D．hated
A．knew B．learned C．guessed D．heard
A．so B．for C．but D．or
A．put up B．take up C．pick up D．give up
A．As usual B．Go ahead C．By the way D．Come on
A．patience B．luck C．fun D．success
A．excited B．proud C．anxious D．angry
A．well B．again C．fairly D．regularly
A．discussed B．continued C．counted D．argued
A．a mistake B．a decision C．an attempt D．an effort
A．free B．different C．full D．happy
A．important B．attractive C．practical D．interesting
A．offered B．served C．controlled D．taught
A．realized B．apologized C．imagined D．explained
I remember as a small child people would often ask me, "What are you going to be when you grow up?"
Well, it 31 being a cowboy or some super hero. Later it was a fireman, a policeman, a lawyer... As I grew older my dreams for the future 32 . When, at last, I was in college, I had my 33 set on becoming a preacher (牧师) like my father. 34 I studied and prepared for that life. I reached the 35 in the end and I was preaching 36 full-time for much of my adult life.
However, for many, there is a "thief" that goes around stealing our 37 . Sometimes, the thief will come as a parent, a relative, or a friend, but the 38 thief is usually ourselves.
We find 39 just about reaching the top, and a "small" 40 inside says, "You’ll never 41 it""You can’t possibly do this." On and on the "small" voice 42 our failure. Failure, though, is exactly how dreams are 43 . It is one of the most important tools we have, because it teaches us invaluable (极宝贵的) 44 . When we learn these lessons well, we are ready for 45
The message I always gave my children was that you 46 do anything that your heart desires. Remember the saying, "Nothing is 47 to a willing heart." There are 48 "overnight" successes, but with determination, they will arrive. The life you dream of 49 in the end .Then in your heart, believe it will happen to you. Then work, work, work. You’ll get the picture.
So, be true to your dream, and don’t let anyone 50 it from you —especially yourself.
A．insisted on B．felt like C．kept on D．started out
A．changed B．failed C．planned D．left
A．eyes B．heart C．brain D．experience
A．But B．So C．Or D．Yet
A．agreement B．decision C．aim D．position
A．hardly B．slightly C．nearly D．extremely
A．money B．plan C．friends D．dreams
A．greatest B．tallest C．poorest D．oldest
A．themselves B．yourselves C．ourselves D．itself
A．sound B．voice C．noise D．speech
A．succeed B．make C．put D．finish
A．expects B．predicts C．answers D．suffers
A．met B．defended C．understood D．realized
A．stages B．suggestions C．lessons D．choices
A．success B．succeed C．a success D．successful
A．are able to B．used to C．have to D．ought to
A．interesting B．important C．necessary D．impossible
A．many B．a few C．some D．no
A．coming B．to come C．came D．will come
A．buy B．fool C．steal D．borrow
Our tolerating ability is indeed way beyond our imagination. But not until the very critical moment will we 21 our potential tolerating ability.
There was a woman in the countryside who got married at the age of 18 and had to escape with her two daughters and a son wherever she could at the age of 26 due to the Japanese army’s invasion. Many people in the village at that time could not 22 the suffering of being a fugitive（亡命者） and wanted to commit suicide. After she knew about it, she would come to those 23 ,saying, “Don’t do that 24 thing. There are no such setbacks(挫折) that we could not overcome!”
Finally she insisted until the day when all the Japanese armies were kicked out of China. 25 , her son died of disease without sufficient 26 and nutrition in those days of hardships. Her husband, after knowing the death of his son, lay in bed for two days without eating and drinking anything. She teared to her husband and said, “We have a tough destiny, but however tough our lives will be, we should also 27 . Though our son has passed away, we can have another. ”
After giving birth to the second 28 , her husband died of edema（水肿病）, which almost 29 her away. But eventually, she 30 and held the three young children in her arms, saying, “My sweet hearts, don’t feel scared. You still have me, your dear mum!”
It took her pain efforts to 31 her children up and the life of her family was getting better and better. Two daughters were married and so was his son finally. She said to everyone she met, “Look! What I said is 32 right. There are no such setbacks that we could not overcome! My life is so happy now!” She was 33 gradually and could not do the farm work anymore. So she stayed at home and did some sewing work.
Nevertheless, the Heaven seemed to show no affection to her who had undergone a 34 life. She got her leg broken 35 when she was nursing her grandson. Due to her old age that posed a great risk to her operation, she did not receive operation and had to lie in bed all day long. Her children all cried heavily, while she merely said, “Why do you cry? I am still living.”
36 she could not rise from bed, she did not complain about anything and anybody. Instead, she sat on the bed and did some sewing work. She had learnt scarves-weaving, crafts-making, etc. All her neighbors spoke 37 of her skills and came to learn from her.
She lived until 86. Before she went to Heaven, she said to her children, “You all should live to your best. There are no such setbacks that we could not overcome!”
We will only get to realize our own iron will and strong tolerating ability after getting 38 heavily. Therefore, no matter what you are suffering from now, do not merely complain about the 39 of our destiny and maintain low-spirited all the time. There are no such setbacks that we could not overcome. Only those who have no confidence and courage to overcome setbacks will be 40 at last!
A．recognize B．realize C．reduce D．reach
A．bear B．see C．find D．feel
A．houses B．villages C．women D．people
A．hard B．silly C．easy D．smelly
A．Therefore B．However C．Furthermore D．Besides
A．food B．water C．medicine D．clothes
A．persist B．help C．work D．accept
A．child B．son C．daughter D．baby
A．get B．give C．blew D．put
A．stopped B．cried C．sighed D．recovered
A．raise B．teach C．build D．love
A．nearly B．absolutely C．almost D．naturally
A．dying B．growing C．aging D．complaining
A．happy B．long C．normal D．rough
A．purposely B．accidently C．suddenly D．quietly
A．As though B．Even though C．As long as D．Ever since
A．hurt B．ill C．excited D．stricken
A．unfairness B．unhappiness C．unfitness D．uncomfortableness
A．hit B．improved C．defeated D．hurt
My sister and I have been a headache for my mother, because my father was in the army, he was not around too often. __21__, my mother brought us up almost single-handedly and it must have __22__ real strength of mind to bring up such naughty and stubborn children who got out from one trouble only to get into another.
Bonus and I weren’t scholars either. __23__, we hated studying from the very beginning. We were __24__ to spend time with our schoolbooks---out of the fear of Mum’s scolding. I almost did not make it to 10th grade. That entire summer Mum __25__ that I read my schoolbooks from the very first chapter till the last.
I left __26__ college at 18. In my second year of college, while I was studying for my final exams, I got a phone call from Mum __27__ my sister had failed her 9th grade exams. Mum was heartbroken. My mother was an English teacher in a famous school in the city and it was a(n) __28__ for her.
Then started another __29__ for my Mum. There always seemed to be people who would come and talk about how well their children were doing __30__ my mother would be having a tough time making sure we stayed on the right path. Mum was __31__ that we would do well for ourselves. She never let my sister and me __32__ that we had lost out on something and always told us: “Let this be a lesson. We are going to work really really hard...__33__ will change.”
Things did change, but very slowly and __34__, one little step at a time. Last year I finished with law school and started working. My mother’s belief in me __35__. And just a few days ago I got a phone from Bonus. She had __36__ the exam with honors and was __37__ to the best university in the country. I was in tears. Later that night I __38__ Mum: “Mum, your two little failures didn’t do as badly as everybody thought.” Mum __39__ and said: “You are my daughters and I knew you the best. I always knew that you would succeed. It was just a __40__ of time.”
A．However B．Thus C．Otherwise D．Besides
A．devoted B．spent C．taken D．wasted
A．In that case B．In this way C．On the other hand D．On the contrary
A．pleased B．annoyed C．forced D．advised
A．demanded B．concluded C．promised D．mentioned
A．at B．for C．from D．after
A．announcing B．reading C．knowing D．saying
A．shame B．challenge C．pride D．honor
A．experiment B．research C．conflict D．trial
A．though B．while C．as D．unless
A．determined B．astonished C．satisfied D．concerned
A．predict B．imagine C．guess D．feel
A．Environment B．Society C．Circumstances D．Impressions
A．quickly B．extremely C．smoothly D．gradually
A．made up B．paid off C．took on D．burst out
A．attended B．received C．passed D．failed
A．accepted B．allowed C．admitted D．permitted
A．questioned B．convinced C．persuaded D．called
A．nodded B．laughed C．shouted D．joked
A．matter B．period C．waste D．length
Every morning a woman baked Chapati, an Indian cake, for her family and an extra one for a hungry passerby. She would place the extra cake on the ___(21)___ for someone to take it.
She noticed a hunchback (驼背) came every day and took the extra cake. Instead of expressing ___(22)___, he would mutter (嘀咕) the following words as he went his way: “The evil you do ___(23)___ with you. The good you do, comes back to you!”
This went on day after day. The woman felt very ___(24)___. One day, she decided to ___(25)___ him. She added poison to the cake she prepared for him! As she was about to place it on the window, her hands trembled. She threw his cake into the fire ___(26)___, prepared another one and put it on the window.
As usual, the hunchback came, ___(27)___the cake and muttered the same words. The hunchback proceeded on his way, ___(28)___ nothing about the fight in the mind of the woman.
The woman had a ___(29)___ who had gone to a distant place to ___(30)___ his fortune. Every day, as the woman placed the cake on the window, she offered a ___(31)___ for him. For many months she had no news of him and she prayed for his ___(32)___ return.
That evening, there was a knock on the door. Opening it, she was surprised to find her son standing there. His clothes and shoes were ___(33)___. He was starved and ___(34)___.
Looking at his mother he said, “Mom, it’s a(n) ___(35)___ I' m here. When 1 was but a mile away, I was so starved that I collapsed (晕倒). I would have died, but for a whole ___(36)___ an old hunchback gave me.”
As the mother heard those words, her face turned ___(37)___. She leaned against the door for ___(38)___. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have ___(39)___ her own son!
It was then that she ___(40)___ the significance of the words: “The evil you do remains with you. The good you do, comes back to you!”
A．door B．roof C．stone D．window
A．concern B．hope C．gratitude D．regret
A．agrees B．remains C．differs D．fights
A．annoyed B．delighted C．disappointed D．relieved
A．look into B．get rid of C．search for D．argue with
A．immediately B．fortunately C．purposely D．carefully
A．checked up B．picked up C．ate up D．threw up
A．asking B．answering C．knowing D．wondering
A．daughter B．husband C．relative D．son
A．get B．have C．seek D．tell
A．greeting B．hello C．kiss D．prayer
A．double B．happy C．safe D．warm
A．broken out B．worn out C．cut out D．thrown out
A．strong B．free C．happy D．weak
A．event B．miracle C．mistake D．surprise
A．cake B．egg C．meal D．supply
A．black B．green C．pale D．yellow
A．fear B．strength C．support D．weight
A．helped B．killed C．missed D．surrounded
A．valued B．recognized C．remembered D．realized
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