I’d been proud that I’d never lost my cellphone until my husband Jack got a call one evening.
We went to visit a friend in hospital last year. When Jack’s 36 rang, it was my mother calling from my 37 . She asked if I had 38 my mobile. I checked my purse. It was 39 !
I used Jack’s phone to call my number. Then a boy, whom I’ll call Rhys, 40 it. “I found your phone!” he said, excitedly. “I have been trying to find you, but 41 it was getting late, I decided to leave.” He gave me the address of a 42 near his home.
Later that evening, I went to 43 him there. I didn’t dare to go 44 , worrying this was some cheater. So Jack came along. After 45 10km, we got to the coffee shop which Rhys 46 .
My 47 were gone. Rhys was just a young boy. “How did you 48 my mum?” I asked. He 49 that when he found my mobile by the roadside, he started calling people in my list of contacts. But all they 50 was my mobile phone number—which didn’t 51 . He’d called many names, starting with the letter A. Finally he got Adam, one of my friends, who 52 my house.
I was 53 to get my phone back with all the contacts, messages and photos I could have lost for ever. I was so 54 to Rhys and offered him some money, but he 55 .
As we drove back, we praised Rhys for his honesty.
|
James’s New Bicycle
James shook his money box again. Nothing! He carefully __1__ the coins that lay on the bed.
$24.52 was all that he had. The bicycle he wanted was at least $90! __2__ on earth was he going to get the __3__ of the money?
He knew that his friends all had bicycles. It was __4__ to hang around with people when you were the only one without wheels. He thought about what he could do. There was no __5__ asking his parents, for he knew they had no money to __6__.
There was only one way to get the money, and that was to __7__ it. He would have to find a job. __8__ who would hire him and what could he do? He decided to ask Mr. Clay for advice, who usually had __9__ on most things.
“Well, you can start right here,” said Mr. Clay. “My windows need cleaning and my car needs washing.”
That was the __10__ of James’s odd-job business. For three months he worked every day after finishing his homework. He was amazed by the __11__ of jobs that people found for him to do. He took dogs and babies for walks, cleared out cupboards, and mended books. He lost count of the __12__ of cars he washed and windows he cleaned, but the __13__ increased and he knew that he would soon have __14__ for the bicycle he longed for.
The day __15__ came when James counted his money and found $94.32. He __16__ no time and went down to the shop to pick up the bicycle he wanted. He rode __17__ home, looking forward to showing his new bicycle to his friends. It had been hard __18__ for the money, but James knew that he valued his bicycle far more __19__ he had bought it with his own money. He had __20__ what he thought was impossible, and that was worth even than the bicycle.
A．cleaned B．covered C．counted D．checked
A．How B．Why C．Who D．What
A．amount B．part C．sum D．rest
A．brave B．hard C．smart D．unfair
A．point B．reason C．result D．right
A．split B．spend C．spare D．save
A．borrow B．earn C．raise D．collect
A．Or B．So C．For D．But
A．decisions B．experience C．opinions D．knowledge
A．beginning B．introduction C．requirement D．opening
A．similarity B．quality C．suitability D．variety
A．brand B．number C．size D．type
A．effort B．pressure C．money D．trouble
A．all B．enough C．much D．some
A．finally B．instantly C．normally D．regularly
A．gave B．left C．took D．wasted
A．patiently B．proudly C．silently D．tiredly
A．applying B．asking C．looking D．working
A．since B．if C．than D．though
A．deserved B．benefited C．achieved D．learned
In order to tell what I believe, I must briefly introduce some of my personal history.
The turning point of my life was my decision to give up a promising business career and study music. My parents, sharing my love of music, _16_____ of it as a profession. This was understandable in view of the family __17____. My grandfather had taught music for nearly forty years and earned barely enough to __18____ for his large family. My father often said it was only the hardheaded thriftiness of my grandmother that helped the family live a life. As a(an) __19___ of this example in the family, my mention of music as a profession carried with it a picture of an existence with __20____ financial rewards. My parents insisted upon college instead of a conservatory of a career of music, and so finally I went to college quite happily.
Before my graduation from Columbia, the family met with severe financial problems and I felt it my duty to __21____ college and take a job. Thus was I started a business career – which I always think of as the wasted years.
Now I do not for a moment mean to disparage business. My whole point I is that it was not for me. I went into it for __22___, and apart from the satisfaction of being able to help the family, money is all I got out of it. It was not enough. I felt that life was passing me by. From being merely dissatisfied I became really ___23___. I knew what I wanted is to save enough to __24____ and go to Europe to study ___25__. I used to get up at dawn to practice before I left for “downtown”, disappointing my poor mother by eating a hurried breakfast at the last minute. I continued to make money, and finally, bit by bit, saved enough to __26____ me to go abroad. And, by now, the family didn’t need my help any longer. I ended my business career, feeling like a man released from prison, and sailed for Europe. I stayed four years, worked harder than ever and ___27___ every minute of it.
“Enjoyed” is too mild a word. I walked on air. I really lived. I was a __28____ man and I was doing what I loved to do and what I was meant to do.
If I had stayed in business, I might be a __29____ man today, but I do not believe I would have made a success of living. I would have given up all those inner satisfactions, which money can never buy.
When I broken away from business, it was against the advice of all my friends and family. Most of us are so accustomed to the association of success with money__30___the thought of giving up a good income for an idea seemed rather crazy. If so, all I can say is “Ah! It’s great to be crazy.”
A．thought B．disapproved C．agreed D．disagreed
A．background B．experience C．tradition D．belief
A．offer B．support C．provide D．give
A．expectation B．intention C．cause D．consequence
A．certain B．uncertain C．sure D．ensured
A．enter B．join C．leave D．apply
A．interest B．dreams C．money D．hope
A．painful B．excited C．embarrassed D．cheerful
A．drop B．satisfy C．live D．quit
A．music B．medicine C．economy D．Business
A．let B．make C．encourage D．enable
A．spent B．enjoyed C．wasted D．used
A．free B．wealthy C．creative D．enthusiastic
A．strong B．successful C．wealthy D．satisfied
A．it B．which C．that D．as
I am my mother’s third child. When I was born, her doctor gently explained to my mother that my left arm was __16__, below the elbow(肘部). Then he gave her some __17__:“Don’t treat her any __18__ from the other girls. Demand more.” And she __19__!
My mother had to work to __20__ our family. There were five girls in our family and we all had to __21__. Once when I was about seven, I came out of the __22__,“Mom, I can’t peel (削……皮) potatoes. I only have one hand. “You get back to peel those potatoes, and don’t ever use that as a(n) __23__ for anything again!” Of course I could peel potatoes with my good hand, while holding them down with my __24__ arm. There was always a __25__ , and Mom knew it, “If you try hard __26__,” she ‘d say, “you can do anything.”
Once in the second grade, our teacher had each of us race across the monkey bars(高低杠). When it was my turn, I __27__ my head. Some kids __28__ . I went home crying. After work the next afternoon, Mom __29__ me back to the school ground. “ Now, __30__ up with your right arm”, she advised. She stood by __31__ I practiced, and she __32__ me when I made progress. I’ll never forget the __33__ time I was crossing the bars. The kids were standing there with their mouths open.
It was the way with everything. When I __34__ I can’t handle things, I see Mom’s smile again. She had the heart to __35__ anything. And she taught me I could, too.
A．missing B．broken C．diseased D．short
A．warning B．medicine C．help D．advice
A．badly B．differently C．well D．normally
A．did B．refused C．cried D．was
A．care B．help C．support D．feed
A．pay attention B．work out C．carry out D．help out
A．kitchen B．bedroom C．house D．school
A．idea B．change C．excuse D．explanation
A．lost B．other C．next D．longer
A．chance B．way C．time D．success
A．enough B．too C．again D．often
A．hurt B．nodded C．shook D．turned
A．cheered B．whispered C．joked D．laughed
A．drove B．took C．sent D．carried
A．pull B．jump C．stand D．rise
A．before B．as C．after D．until
A．helped B．raised C．praised D．protected
A．first B．last C．wonderful D．next
A．admit B．fear C．find D．realize
A．face B．teach C．learn D．solve
It was my first year teaching in a special needs class, and I wasn’t sure what to expect at our yearly. Special Olympics sports meeting. My 1 had some challenges, from learning disabilities to cerebral palsy（大脑性麻痹）.
Mark was one with the latter. Restricted to a 2 , he had to fight his spasms （抽筋） just to control his movements. 3 , he always had a positive attitude and greeted everyone with a huge smile.
His classmates 4 him and always took the time to make sure he was included in group activities, especially Mike, Andy and Lucas, three boys who were good at 5 . Obviously, Mark wanted to be like them, unrestricted by the limitation of his 6 and watching them moving on the playing field seemed to fill him with 7 .
When the day came, Mike, Andy and Lucas 8 well in their sports events, and gave the normally calm audience something to cheer about. Mark sat in his wheelchair on the sidelines, 9 them on.
The final event of the day was the 400 meter race. 10 was invited to either walk or run, according to their ability, around the 11 length of the track.
When Mike, Andy and Lucas reached the finish line, they 12 and turned to look behind them. At the 13 of the crowd, determined not to be left behind, was Mark. All his classmates had 14 him. He was alone on the track with over half the distance left to 15 .
Mike, Andy and Lucas looked at each other, and a silent 16 passed between them. Slowly, they jogged 17 towards their friend, cheering him on 18 he had done for them moments before.
The progress was 19 , but in the end the three star runners and Mark crossed the finish line together to the enthusiastic cries of their teachers and classmates. Seeing the look on Mark’s face as he crossed the finish line, hands upraised and laughing, I came to understand what 20 the Special Olympics, and the determined athletes who compete, so extraordinary.
Years later, I’m still cheering them on.
A．partners B．friends C．students D．classmates
A．bed B．machine C．wheelchair D．desk
A．So B．However C．Otherwise D．Therefore
A．protected B．satisfied C．respected D．loved
A．sports B．practice C．studies D．expression
A．interests B．body C．habits D．mind
A．wonder B．trust C．stress D．reset
A．trained B．played C．operated D．prepared
A．bringing B．holding C．cheering D．moving
A．Someone B．Nobody C．Anybody D．Everyone
A．entire B．different C．average D．equal
A．fell B．paused C．rushed D．rested
A．center B．front C．end D．top
A．left B．ignored C．passed D．helped
A．continue B．jog C．walk D．cover
A．demand B．thought C．action D．relief
A．back B．along C．again D．on
A．while B．although C．since D．as
A．boring B．great C．slow D．relaxing
A．leaves B．finds C．keeps D．makes
An old man lay in a hospital bed, heavily sedated（给……服镇静剂）to ease the pain from his heart attack.. The nurse arrived and said, "Your 36 is here," repeating the words several times before the 37 conscious man opened his eyes. His son was a 38 who had come back from service to 39 to his beloved father.
The elderly man 40 out to touch his son's hand and held it gently. All through the 41 ,the young soldier sat in the ward（病房）offering words of 42 to his dying dad, who said 43 but kept a weak grip of his child. 44 of the noise of the oxygen tank and the moans（呻吟声）of the other patients, the soldier remained 45 by the old man-s side.
Several times in the course of that long night, the nurse returned and suggested that the soldier leave to 4 6 for a while, But each time he would 4 7 As dawn approached the elderly man 48 His loving son rested the old man's lifeless hand on the bed and left to find the 49 . The young man waited while the nurse carried his father's body away and when she returned, offering words of 50 the soldier interrupted her.
"Who was the man?"-he asked.
51 ,the nurse replied, "He was your father."
“No, he wasn't," the young man said, 6'I've never seen him before in my life.”
"Then 52 didn't you say something'?"
“When I arrived at the ward,I knew right away there had been a(n) 53 ,”the young man explained. "But I also knew that man needed his son, and he wasn't here.I could tell he was too一54 to know who sat beside him but he needed someone there, soI just decided t0 55 him.
A．wife B．son C．brother D．cousin
A．barely B．simply C．actually D．totally
A．director B．manager C．waiter D．soldier
A．talk B．listen C．attend D．adjust
A．morning B．noon C．afternoon D．night
A．sadness B．truth C．excitement D．encoursgement
A．something B．anything C．nothing D．everything
A．Free B．Unaware C．Afraid D．Tired
A．loyally B．seriously C．impatiently D．carelessly
A．walk B．chat C．rest D．exercise
A．refuse B．agree C．hesitate D．weep
A．awoke B．died C．recovered D．screamed
A．friend B．relative C．ambulance D．nurse
A．love B．anger C．sympathy D．admiration
A．Shocked B．Worried C．Frightened D．Annoyed
A．mistake B．hope C．accident D．event
A．anxious B．sick C．disappointed D．careless
A．leave B．support C．respect D．accompany
粤公网安备 44130202000953号