It was a lazy morning during the Christmas week. We were enjoying breakfast when the doorbell rang. It was a little girl, standing at the doorway with a piece of paper and a face that carried an expression of want, rather a common 1 during Christmas.
She murmured that the paper was her booklist and that she was going around 2 money to buy her schoolbooks. My children went inside and brought some 3 for her. This kind of incident happens very often in my hometown, 4 during Christmas.
From where I was seated, I could see her clearly. She looked about ten years old and she wore a dress too big for her. She spoke in a 5 voice and looked at me straight in the eye. Something made me get up and 6 her.
In answer to my questions, she said that her mother made hoppers and she 7 them before going to school. But the hopper money was not adequate to 8 the list; therefore, she was going from house to house asking for help.
Her voice told me the story; her eyes told me that it was 9 . I said I'd buy her what was on the list.
We drove to a nearby bookstore. She sat 10 , with a strange look on her face. When the clerk was taking all the things on the list, the little girl kept staring as if confused. Perhaps she had never 11 so many new things before. They were merely exercise books, pencils, pens and such things. She whispered her 12 to us. Strange, I hadn't been aware that giving such 13 things to one in need, could bring me such a lot of happiness.
As we drove back, I could see the little girl in the mirror. All the gifts I had given in my life never 14 up a face so much. She was grasping the parcel, smiling to herself. The total event made us all very 15 . Our Christmas became more meaningful.
A．problem B．sight C．moment D．experience
A．borrowing B．receiving C．begging D．lending
A．clothes B．books C．food D．coins
A．absolutely B．casually C．especially D．hardly
A．strange B．polite C．serious D．loud
A．care for B．speak to C．smile at D．hold to
A．sold B．needed C．collected D．used
A．buy B．make C．cover D．control
A．painful B．true C．moving D．interesting
A．happily B．eagerly C．anxiously D．silently
A．possessed B．bought C．seen D．accepted
A．surpr ise B．satisfaction C．thanks D．pleasure
A．simple B．wonderful C．expensive D．useful
A．lit B．made C．put D．shut
A．confused B．delighted C．amazed D．relieved
The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read beneath an old willow tree. Not 36 with life, I was down. A young boy out of breath 37 me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted(倾斜的) down, 38 with great excitement,“Look what I found!”
In his hand was a flower, and what a 39 sight, with is petals(花瓣) all worn—not enough rain, or too little light. 40 him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I 41
a small smile and then shifted away. But instead of 42 he sat next to my side and placed the flower to his nose and declared with 43 ,“It surely smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too. That’s why I 44 it; here, it’s for you.”
The flower before me was dying or dead. But I knew Imust 45___it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and 46 , “Just what I need.”But instead of placing the flower in my hand, he 47 it mid-air without reason. It was then that I 48
for the very first time the boy was 49 .
I heard my voice shake, tears shone like the sun 50 I thanked him for picking the very best one. He smiled, and then ran off to play, 51 of the effect he’d had on my day.
I sat there and 52 how he managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my self-indulged(放纵的) 53 ? Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true 54 .
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see, the problem was not connected with the world; the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see__55___, and appreciate every second that’s mine.
A．excited B．inspired C．satisfied D．disappointed
A．approached B．overlooked C．understood D．talked
A．telling B．saying C．informing D．talking
A．unique B．rough C．bothering D．pitiful
A．Wanting B．Demanding C．Persuading D．Inviting
A．played B．adjusted C．forced D．delivered
A．declining B．accepting C．panicking D．quitting
A．surprise B．embarrassment C．sympathy D．sorrow
A．took B．pulled C．sold D．picked
A．bring B．fetch C．take D．smell
A．announced B．replied C．declared D．whispered
A．grasped B．held C．caught D．seized
A．convinced B．confirmed C．noticed D．refused
A．strange B．blind C．deaf D．unimaginable
A．once B．after C．as D．since
A．unaware B．unbelievable C．regretful D．regardless
A．doubted B．felt C．found D．wondered
A．embarrassmet B．depression C．pleasure D．effort
A．sense B．hearing C．sight D．ability
A．beauty B．disability C．fantasy D．wonder
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had 16 a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and 17 his father could well 18 it, he told him that was all he wanted.
On the morning of his graduation day his father called him into his own study and told him how 19 he was to have such a fine son. He handed his son a beautiful gift box. 20 but slightly disappointed, the young man 21 the box and found a lovely book. 22 , he raised his voice at his father and said, “ 23 all your money you give me a book?” and rushed out of the house 24 the book in the study.
He did not contact（联系）his father for a whole year 25 one day he saw in the street an old man who looked like his father. He 26 he had to go back home and see his father.
When he arrived at his father’s house, he was told that his father had been in hospital for a week. The moment he was about to 27 the hospital, he saw on the desk the 28 new book ,just as he had left it one 29 ago. He opened it and began to 30 the pages. Suddenly, a car key 31 from an envelope taped behind the book .It had a tag（标签）with dealer’s name, the 32 dealer who had the sports car he had 33 .On the tag was the 34 of his graduation, and the 35 PAID IN FULL.
A．expected B．enjoyed C．admired D．owned
A．finding B．proving D．knowing
A．afford B．offer C．keep D．like
A．encouraged B．comfortable C．proud D．moved
A．Nervous B．Serious C．Careful D．Curious
A．packed B．opened C．picked up D．put aside
A．Angrily B．Eagerly C．Calmly D．Anxiously
A．At B．From C．With D．To
A．tearing B．putting C．forgetting D．leaving
A．until B．as C．before D．unless
A．learned B．realized C．recognized D．admitted
A．get to B．search for C．turn to D．leave for
A．much B．still C．hardly D．quite
A．year B．month C．week D．day
A．clean B．read C．turn D．count
A．lost B．came C．appeared D．dropped
A．old B．same C．special D．new
A．remembered B．desired C．found D．met
A．picture B．place C．date D．sign
A．word B．information C．messages D．card
One dark stormy night, an elderly couple hurried into a hotel and asked whether they could be 36 for the night, “I’m very sorry,” the clerk on night shift said politely, “we are all 37 tonight. 38 ,you could stay in my room if you don’t mind. I’m 39 ,so I’ll be here.” The young man gave the sincere advice.
The elderly couple accepted his 40 with gratitude. They apologized for the 41 they had caused him. The next day, the rain stopped and it 42 . When the old gentleman went to pay his bill, the same clerk said, “The room you and your wife stayed in is not a proper 43 room in this hotel, so you don’t need to pay.”
The old gentleman nodded in 44 : “You are an employee that every boss in the hotel business would dream of . Perhaps someday I’ll build a hotel for you.” The clerk was 45 but, deciding that the guest must have been 46 , he gave the remark 47 thought.
Two years later, the young man received a letter from the old gentleman, in which he 48 the experience of that dark stormy night. The letter also 49 a formal invitation, asking that young man to pay a visit.
At a street corner in Manhattan, the young man met his 50 guest. The old gentleman, pointing to a magnificent new building 51 over the crossroads, “Look, that is the hotel I 52 to build for you. I hope you will 53 it for me .Remember what I said then? Well, I was 54 about it.”
The young man stammered, “But…will there be any 55 , sir? Why do you choose me? And who are you?”
“My name is William Aster.” This building was none other than the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, a symbol of supreme status and honor in New York.
A．put up B．put away C．stay up D．set up
A．preserved B．conserved C．booked D．occupied
A．Meanwhile B．Moreover C．Otherwise D．However
A．on duty B．on display C．on stage D．on hand
A．service B．view C．offer D．invitation
A．Instruction B．consideration C．Inconvenience D．interruption
A．cleared away B．picked out C．cleaned up D．cleared up
A．living B．double C．admirable D．luxury
A．appreciation B．admiration C．surprise D．excitement
A．excited B．skeptical C．annoyed D．respectful
A．lacking B．covering C．joking D．cheating
A．not more B．no more C．some D．another
A．described B．stated C．recited D．recalled
A．swapped B．included C．attached D．added
A．former B．original C．formal D．primitive
A．displaying B．towering C．flying D．hovering
A．determined B．promised C．tended D．intended
A．get B．keep C．manage D．make
A．sensitive B．concerned C．curious D．serious
A．Scene B．situation C．condition D．Occasion
The students at Sandy’s high school were badly shaken by the news that a classmate had 11 himself. On the suicide note was written: “It’s hard to 12 when nobody cares if you die.”
Glen, a teacher, realized this was a 13 moment about the importance of making people feel
14 . He asked his class to imagine they were about to 15 and to write a note “telling someone how and why you 16 him or her.”
Sandy, who had a 17 relationship with her mother, decided to write her mother. Her letter 18 “We’ve had some 19 times and I haven’t always been a very good 20 ,but I know I’m lucky to have you in my life. You’re the 21 person I’ve ever known, And even when I disagree with you, I never 22 you love me and want what’s best for me. Thanks for not 23 up on me”.
When her mom read the note, she cried and hugged Sandy 24 but said little.
The next morning, Sandy found a 25 on her mirror: “Dearest Sandy, I want you to know being your mother is ,by far, the most important thing in my life. 26 I got your note, I thought I had lost your love and 27 . I felt like such a failure. I intended to 28 it all last night. Your note saved my 29 .”
Be careful not to underestimate the 30 of expressed appreciation. It won’t always save a life, but it will always make someone’s life better.
A．sacrificed B． defeated C． abandoned D． killed
A． live B． imagine C． struggle D． think
A． sad B． final C． teachable D． great
A． ashamed B． valued C． excited D． scared
A． die B． fail C． retire D． survive
A．miss B． hate C． admire D． appreciate
A． close B．casual C．bad D．personal
A． read B． wrote C． spoke D． told
A． free B． delightful C． usual D． rough
A． daughter B． student C． friend D． trainer
A． best B． wisest C． luckiest D． gentlest
A． trust B． doubt C． consider D． predict
A． taking B． going C． giving D． looking
A． coldly B． hesitantly C． shyly D． tightly
A． note B． gift C． notice D． reminder
A． Since B． Until C． Though D． When
A． confidence B． courage C． respect D． heart
A． end B． make C． get D． fall
A． life B． time C． money D． honor
A． push B． price C． meaning D． power
My husband used to be a workaholic(工作狂)．Nothing seemed to be more __16__ to him than his work，not even his family.
He usually __17__at 6 o’clock，and our __18__ and I were still asleep then，and then left __19__ having breakfast.I asked him to have breakfast __20__，but he said it’s a waste of __21__.I didn’t know what kept him so__22__.He even couldn’t finish all his work in the office.He came back at ten at night.However，I never expected that he would give me a kiss.__23__he got home，he would start to__24__.The kids had already been in bed，of course.
“Mom，where is Dad？Why I __25__ see him？”the kids often asked.
“Well，Dad has to work.He is busy，”I always__26__like this.As time went by，they didn’t ask where their dad was again.Perhaps they had__27__that they had a dad.However，the situation changed several months ago.
Jenny，our daughter，suddenly became__28__.I sent her to the hospital.The__29__told me that she was seriously ill and that she was calling__30__all the time.Tears burst into my eyes when I__31__that.I finally called my __32__and told him about that.Half an hour later，he came to the hospital and held Jenny’s little hands.
He__33__another job two weeks later.
“I just wanted to make as much__34__as possible for you and our kids.But now，I just want to__35__as much time as possible with you and the kids，”he said and that’s what he is doing now.
A．possible B．interesting C．important D．relaxing
A．sat down B．got up C．stoop up D．came up
A．kids B．pets C．neighbors D．parents
A．on B．with C．without D．after
A．in the office B．on the way C．in school D．at home
A． money B．time C．energy D．food
A．tired B．busy C．fast D．excited
A．As soon as B．In the end C．Long before D．Long after
A．eat B．sleep C．work D．write
A．often B．never C．sometimes D．cheated
A．shouted B．asked C．replied D．cheated
A．thought B．forgotten C．ignored D．minded
A．fine B．worse C．ill D．angry
A．teacher B．boss C．officer D．doctor
A．mom B．sir C．dad D．madam
A．noticed B．realized C．heard D．felt
A．mother B．child C．brother D．husband
A． received B．lost C． changed D．found
A．money B．happiness C．value D．laughter
A．spend B．make C．set D．steal
粤公网安备 44130202000953号