I used to believe in the American Dream, which meant a job, a mortgage (按揭), credit cards, success. I wanted it and worked toward it like everyone else, all of us 36 chasing the same thing.
One year, through a series of unhappy events, it all fell 37 . I found myself homeless and alone. I had my truck and $ 56. I 38 the countryside for some place I could rent for the 39 possible amount. I came upon a shabby house four miles up a winding mountain road 40 the Potomac River in West Virginia. It was 41 , full of broken glass and rubbish. I found the owner, rented it, and 42 a corner to camp in.
The locals knew nothing about me, 43 slowly, they started teaching me the 44 of being a neighbor. They dropped off blankets, candles, and tools, and began 45 around to chat. They started to teach me a belief in a 46 American Dream—not the one of individual achievement but of 47 .
What I had believed in, all those things I thought were 48 for a civilized life, were nonexistent in this place. 49 on the mountain, my most valuable possessions were my 50 with my neighbors.
Four years later, I moved back into 51 . I saw many people were having a really hard time, 52 their jobs and homes. I managed to rent a big enough house to 53 a handful of people. There are four of us now in the house, but over time I’ve had nine people come in and move on to other places. We’d all be in 54 if we hadn’t banded together.
The American Dream I believe in now is a shared one. It’s not so much about what I can get for myself; it’s about 55 we can all get by together.
A．separately B．equally C．violently D．naturally
A．off B．apart C．over D．out
A．crossed B．left C．toured D．searched
A．fullest B．largest C．fairest D．cheapest
A．at B．through C．over D．round
A．occupied B．abandoned C．emptied D．robbed
A．turned B．approached C．cleared D．cut
A．but B．although C．otherwise D．for
A．benefit B．lesson C．nature D．art
A．sticking B．looking C．swinging D．turning
A．wild B．real C．different D．remote
A．neighborliness B．happiness C．friendliness D．kindness
A．unique B．expensive C．rare D．necessary
A．Up B．Down C．Deep D．Along
A．cooperation B．relationships C．satisfaction D．appointments
A．reality B．society C．town D．life
A．creating B．losing C．quitting D．offering
A．put in B．turn in C．take in D．get in
A．yards B．shelters C．camps D．cottages
A．when B．what C．whether D．how
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
“Paul must have been trying to carry his waste paper to garbage can and dropped a few pieces.” I , picking them up. later I found more pieces. No quiet sighing this time. I , “Who is throwing garbage?” No answer. Instead, I saw more bits of paper silently floating from upstairs. Looking up, I saw my seven-year-old son, Paul.
“Stop making a mess.’’ “It’s not a mess. They’re .” “Sorry, what did you say?” I hadn’t heard him clearly.
He didn’t answer me. Paul has autism (自闭症) and answers a question, especially when he’s attentively on something else. He ran down the stairs. “Where are my other butterflies?” he asked, around. Every time Paul five or more words together, my heart says a of thanks. But lately he seems to that the benefits of forming complete sentences when communicating are of the effort.
Butterflies. Of course. I rushed to them from the garbage, them off and handed them to my young artist. “Want to see them again?” he asked with a shy smile. “Oh yes! They’re beautiful.” I whispered. He ran back upstairs to float his down again. They really did look like beautiful butterflies.
That day Paul me to look up at instead of down at garbage. How many other masterpieces do I miss because I’m too caught up in my to take time to appreciate what’s right in front of me? Life is not what happens to us. It’s we look at it. Now, I look up.
A．laughed B．sighed C．amazed D．shouted
A．Days B．Years C．Moments D．Weeks
A．called out B．turned up C．got in D．added to
A．up B．down C．away D．off
A．planes B．papers C．leaves D．butterflies
A．rarely B．frequently C．willingly D．eagerly
A．devoted B．depended C．focused D．addicted
A．showing B．looking C．playing D．drawing
A．spells B．puts C．pushes D．accumulates
A．sound B．remark C．report D．prayer
A．refuse B．hear C．mind D．realize
A．worthy B．aware C．fond D．typical
A．hide B．destroy C．rescue D．remove
A．tore B．dusted C．cut D．seized
A．throw B．flow C．land D．fly
A．masterpieces B．schoolwork C．inventions D．imagination
A．reminded B．forced C．intended D．permitted
A．mistakes B．weaknesses C．beauty D．scenery
A．amusement B．housework C．communication D．homework
A．when B．whether C．where D．how
My father grew up in Oklahoma during the early years of the Great Depression. He was the only living child of a hardworking farmer and a____mother.When Dad completed the eighth grade, my grandfather believed his only son would work on the farm. My grandmother, however, understood the door that education could open even in____economic times. She persuaded grandfather to____Dad to finish high school.
Dad worked hard and completed high school at the age of 16. At last, grandpa was to have his wish. Dad would work on the farm, easing the economic and physical ____grandpa carried. But grandmother again begged grandpa to permit my father to go to college.
After____, grandpa made the most difficult decision of his lifetime. He walked to the chicken coop (鸡笼子), where he did his____. Taking a shovel in his work-worn hands，grandpa dug up a jar that held all the family’s savings. He offered the jar and its precious____to Dad, saying, “Here boy, go and make something of yourself.”
Realizing that his family wassacrificingall their savings by in his education, Dad became a steward(管家)of those funds. He____his bachelor’s degree and then went on to the University of Oklahoma，where he graduated second in his____school class in 1936. Jobs were hard to come by when Dad graduated, so he opened his own practice and lived in a home with a dirt floor. He worked long hours, but I remember him____the great books he discovered in the course of his education with me.
Our family was changed by the long walkthatgrandpa took to the chicken coop. Education is more than an investment in our family. It is a treasure. I____my father to college and law school, and all of my children have also____ higher education. We have been transformed by a sacrifice made twogenerationsago by a loving. If grandfatherhad not been convincedbymypersistent(固执的)grandmother,hewould not havemade the____.
A．beautiful B．devoted C．lazy D．curious
A．tough B．great C．peaceful D．competitive
A．permit B．take C．ask D．force
A．pains B．troubles C．burdens D．activities
A．graduation B．work C．reflection D．permission
A．cooking B．cleaning C．farming D．banking
A．books B．bills C．savings D．coins
A．investing B．storing C．treasuring D．raising
A．failed B．received C．offered D．needed
A．maths B．educat C．economics D．law
A．making B．writing C．protecting D．sharing
A．joined B．followed C．advised D．accompanied
A．sought B．insisted C．favored D．considered
A．toughly B．kindly C．rudely D．fully
A．sense B．use C．difference D．effect
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Bobby was getting cold sitting in his backyard in the snow. His shoes had a few holes and did a poor job of keeping out the______. He had been out for about an hour already, _____ he could not come up with an idea for his mother' s Christmas gift. He had no money to spend.
Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, the family had ______ The small wage of her mother could______ make ends meet.
What the family lacked in _______ they made up for in love. Bobby' s sisters, clever with hands, had already_______ beautiful gifts for their mother by themselves. But Bobby had nothing. Here it was Christmas Eve already.
Standing up, Bobby walked to the street. It wasn't _______ being six without a father, especially when he needed a man to talk to. He walked from shop to shop. Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of________.
It was getting dark and Bobby turned to walk home when______ his eyes caught something shining on the ground. He reached down and _________ a shiny dime(a coin of ten cents).
Never before has anyone felt so _______ as Bobby felt at that moment. ________ spread throughout his body.___ __ his new found treasure, he walked into the first store he saw. His ______ quickly turned cold when knowing he could buy nothing with only a dime.
Then he went into a flower shop. Bobby presented the dime and asked ______ he could buy one flower for his mother. Looking at Bobby and his dime, the shopkeeper_____ for a second and asked Bobby to wait there. Then he went in.
Few minutes later, the shopkeeper came out with a bunch of beautiful red roses. Bobby' s heart______ as the shopkeeper placed the roses gently into a beautiful box. He had only a dime !
"That will be ten cents, young man,”the shop owner said._____ __ Bobby moved his hand to give the man his coin.
Could this be true? No one else would give him a thing for his dime!_______ the boy' s mind, the shopkeeper added, "I just happened to have some roses on sale. Would you like them?"
This time Bobby didn't _____ Walking out the door the owner was holding, Bobby heard the shopkeeper say, "Merry Christmas, son. "
A．rain B．cold C．dark D．dust
A．yet B．so C．or D．thus
A．ended B．moved C．struggled D．united
A．hardly B．probably C．usually D．totally
A．time B．spirit C．money D．education
A．bought B．made C．ordered D．exchanged
A．safe B．wise C．strange D．easy
A．mind B．control C．reach D．sight
A．gradually B．suddenly C．hurriedly D．deliberately
A．searched B．watched C．placed D．discovered
A．popular B．special C．wealthy D．comfortable
A．Warmth B．Panic C．Regret D．Ambition
A．Choosing B．Holding C．Bringing D．Fetching
A．guilt B．patience C．curiosity D．excitement
A．what B．why C．if D．when
A．paused B．looked C．waited D．prayed
A．settled B．sank C．bled D．relieved
A．Slowly B．Calmly C．Secretlyd D．Unwillingly
A．Changing B．Clearing C．Occupying D．Reading
A．refuse B．stop C．insist D．hesitate
I had arrived at the airport about 30 minutes before the check-in. It had been a very busy three days for me with lots of meetings. So I was to have the extra time to make my notes on what I needed to do the day. But then the announcement that my flight had to be delayed there was a problem with the plane.
As I sat waiting for my flight I reflected on my last meeting of the day. It was not a business meeting rather a very enjoyable lunch with an old business friend I had not seen for over 12 years. Our lunch was spent recalling times as well as filling each other in on what in our lives over the last 12 years. We both laughed and smiled as we recalled the good times and the great we had shared together. At the end of our time together, we both said we had enjoyed it and we must do it again.
It was great to have this additional time to in my mind all that we had talked about. I realized just how important it is to have regular of the good times in your life. I was lucky enough to the chance to take a short break and reflect on the good things that had happened in my life over 12 years.
It was like looking at an old photo album stored away in a cupboard in your house. There before your eyes are lots of wonderful memories that you back to times and places, and most importantly those people who are in the photos.
My flight was finally called three hours later. I smiled as I boarded the plane and realized that I was upset about the delay in the flight，as I had been able to spend the time on the good times from days gone by．
A．regretful B．glad C．unlucky D．sorry
A．following B．other C．another D．first
A．spoke B．went C．made D．came
A．until B．although C．because D．when
A．to be called B．being called C．called D．be called
A．also B．still C．yet D．but
A．passed by B．gone by C．known D．remembered
A．had suffered B．had happened C．had spent D．had expected
A．experiences B．adventures C．sorrows D．hardships
A．how many B．how nice C．how much D．how exciting
A．it B．this C．what D．that
A．retell B．replay C．react D．reply
A．reminders B．belongings C．impressions D．recommences
A．have B．had C．had had D．have had
A．somehow B．anyway C．somewhat D．anyhow
A．catch B．take C．fetch D．pay
A．to B．for C．in D．of
A．meeting B．home C．business D．office
A．not a little B．very much C．much too D．not a bit
A．focusing B．concentrating C．reflecting D．depending
Risha loved school. However, there was one class Risha worried about more than any other—art. She didn’t know why she just wasn’t any good at , painting, or cutting.
Ms. Clay, the art teacher, stood at the front of the room. “Class, next Friday our school is going to have an art ,” she announced. Ms. Clay was a great teacher, and Risha liked her a lot. But this announcement made Risha . “Everyone in the school will create a piece of artwork to in the library. You can use the different types of artwork we have been studying.” Ms. Clay was quite excited when she spoke Risha found herself sinking lower in her chair.
Risha had the whole weekend to work on her project, she could not think of anything to do. On Monday, Risha felt frightened, so after school Risha asked Ms. Clay if she could write an art paper doing an art project.
“I understand this project you, Risha,” Ms. Clay said. “Just remember, you can
any kind of art you want.” Ms. Clay smiled at her. “Art is a person’s way of expressing his or her feelings—it isn’t always painting, drawing, or cutting. I know you will think of something very creative, and I can’t to see it.”
When Risha arrived home, she took out a piece of paper and a pencil. She Ms. Clay’s words. “Art is a person’s way of expressing his or her feelings.” Risha wrote the word “terrified” on her paper. She crumpled(把……揉成团) the paper and threw it to the side of her desk. Then Risha stared at the crumpled ball. It reminded her of a snowball. an idea struck her. Why not create a winter wonderland out of crumpled paper? Risha didn’t have to draw or paint or cut.
Risha crumpled lots of paper balls, glued them all together, and them on a big piece of hard paper to form a snowman. The snowman a hat made of black paper and a scarf made of red paper. And she even crumpled brown and green paper to create a forest. Her project was really wonderful.
On Friday, Risha carefully carried her project into the library. She noticed the and the nods from teachers and other students she put her work on a table. Ms. Clay walked over to Risha.
“You have created an original and amazing piece of artwork. I am so proud of you!” Ms. Clay said.
Risha was proud of herself too. Her pride when Ms. Clay placed a first-place star on her artwork. “Maybe I am a good after all,” Risha thought.
A．drawing B．writing C．cleaning D．spelling
A．lesson B．meeting C．collection D．competition
A．excited B．nervous C．satisfied D．surprised
A．paint B．sell C．donate D．show
A．before B．unless C．while D．because
A．and B．but C．or D．therefore
A．in case of B．because of C．instead of D．by means of
A．shocked B．encouraged C．pleased D．scared
A．refuse B．change C．create D．receive
A．wait B．afford C．come D．stand
A．noticed B．imagined C．remembered D．heard
A．Suddenly B．Seriously C．Lately D．Slowly
A．never B．even C．just D．nearly
A．knocked B．placed C．destroyed D．shared
A．showed B．owned C．wore D．kept
A．finished B．used C．improved D．uncompleted
A．doubt B．tears C．anger D．smiles
A．though B．since C．if D．as
A．disappeared B．grew C．exploded D．decreased
A．artist B．teacher C．organizer D．advertiser
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