Zigfried, a little mouse, blew his breath on the frosty window of the farmhouse and rubbed it to see the outside. Still nobody came. Maybe today, he thought 31 . It was only a few days before Christmas and he was watching for a miracle (奇迹).
This farmhouse had been 32 too long. It needed a family. Zigfried’s 33 made a noise. He realized that he hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday. He jumped from the windowsill (窗沿), grabbed a 34 from his home, and went next door to Farmer Mike’s.
Farmer Mike’s house had been a great place for the little mouse 35 the farmer married a wife who had a cat. Zigfried 36 when he thought of it. He looked around cautiously as he 37 into the room where grain was stored and was quite 38 as he filled his bag with wheat. He was turning to leave when suddenly he 39 a hot breath about his ear. His heart beat 40 , and without thinking he started to run and luckily 41 the cat’s paws (爪子).
The next afternoon Zigfried heard some good news: a 42 family would be moving into the farmhouse soon. Zigfried’s granny would arrive on Christmas Eve to 43 with him. He hoped that the family would come before his granny came. Before long, a car came 44 the road leading to the house, with butter sandwiches, cheese and chocolate.
Zigfried’s Christmas miracle did arrive!
The house came 45 the next few days. Zigfried 46 every single hour of them. 47 , the day before Christmas when he was drinking hot chocolate with a 48 smile at the door of his home, he heard the 49 of the children of the family about what they might get for Christmas. What? A cat? The 50 froze on his face； his mouth fell wide open. After a long while, he at last found his voice: “Hey! Whose Christmas miracle is this?”
A．carefully B．excitedly C．hopefully D．proudly
A．shabby B．noisy C．messy D．empty
A．mouth B．nose C．stomach D．throat
A．bag B．stick C．bowl D．coat
A．although B．until C．whereas D．unless
A．leapt B．sniffed C．trembled D．withdrew
A．broke B．marched C．paced D．stole
A．curious B．nervous C．pitiful D．sensible
A．took B．released C．felt D．drew
A．strongly B．irregularly C．slowly D．wildly
A．escaped B．seized C．rubbed D．scratched
A．close B．happy C．new D．young
A．celebrate B．communicate C．compete D．compromise
A．across B．from C．off D．up
A．alive B．loose C．open D．still
A．counted B．enjoyed C．missed D．wasted
A．However B．Instead C．Moreover D．Therefore
A．bitter B．forced C．polite D．satisfied
A．introduction B．discussion C．comment D．debate
A．blood B．smile C．tear D．sweat
While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to his family.
First he moved to his youngest son as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a long, loving hug. they separated, I heard the father say, “It’s so good to see you, son. I missed you so much!” His son smiled somewhat shyly and replied softly, “Me, too, Dad!”
Then the man stood up, gazed in the of his oldest son and said, “You’re already quite the young man. I love you very much, Zach!” They too hugged a most loving, tender hug.
After several , he turned to his wife and declared, “I’ve saved the best for last!” and to give his wife the longest, most passionate kiss I remember seeing.
For an instant they me of newlyweds(新婚夫妇), but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn’t possibly be. I puzzled about it for a moment and gathered my courage to ask, “Wow! How long have you been married?”
“Almost twelve years.” he replied, breaking his gaze from his lovely wife’s face. “Well then, how long have you been away?” I asked. The man turned and looked at me,. “Two whole days”
Two days? I was . By the intensity of the greeting, I had he’d been gone for at least several weeks — if not months. I know my expression me. Hoping to stop our conversation politely and continue with my for my friend, I said almost immediately, “I hope my is still that passionate after twelve years!”
The man suddenly smiling. He looked me straight in the eye, and with power that burned right into my soul, he told me something that left me a person. He told me, “Don’t , friend …decide!” Then with wonderful smile, he and his family turned and left together.
I was still watching that special family walk just out of sight when my friend to me and asked, “What are you looking at?” Without , and with a curious sense of certainty, I replied, “ My future!”
A．greet B．hug C．comfort D．appreciate
A．As B．Before C．Because D．Since
A．mind B．eyes C．heart D．head
A．months B．hours C．moments D．weeks
A．proceeded B．managed C．pretended D．promised
A．never B．already C．ever D．almost
A．remembered B．reminded C．warned D．informed
A．nervously B．strangely C．casually D．excitedly
A．on B．after C．without D．by
A．directly B．finally C．cautiously D．deliberately
A．shocked B．frightened C．delighted D．discouraged
A．assumed B．planned C．realized D．decided
A．discovered B．overlooked C．betrayed D．withdrew
A．research B．control C．search D．reach
A．marriage B．relatives C．family D．friends
A．continued B．kept C．stopped D．tried
A．different B．reliable C．wonderful D．perfect
A．remark B．imagine C．hope D．quit
A．called on B．dropped in C．came up D．waved at
A．hesitation B．decision C．difficulty D．intention
Don’t Wait Until Flowers Fade
Each spring brings a new blossom of wildflowers in the ditches (路沟) along the highway I travel daily to work.
There is one blue flower that has always my eye. I’ve noticed that it blooms only in the morning hours, and the afternoon sun is too warm it. Every day for approximately two weeks, I see those beautiful .
This spring, I started a wildflower garden in our yard. I can look out of the window while doing the dishes and see the flowers. I’ve often thought that those lovely blue flowers from the ditch would look in that bed alongside wildflowers.
Everyday I drove the flowers thinking, “I’ll stop on my way home and dig them.” “Gee, I don’t want to get my good clothes ...” Whatever the reason, I never stopped to dig them. My husband gave me a folding shovel(铁锹) one year to be used for that purpose.
One day on my way home from work, I was to see that the highway department had moved the ditches and the pretty blue flowers were gone. I thought to myself, “Way to go, you too long. You it when you first saw them blooming this spring.”
A week ago we were shocked and saddened to learn that my oldest sister-in-law has a terminal brain tumor(脑瘤晚期). She is 20 years older than my husband and , because of age and distance, we haven’t been as as we all would have liked.
I couldn’t help but see the between the pretty blue flowers and the between my husband’s sister and us. I do believe that God has given us some time left to plant some valuable that will bloom every year for us.
And yes, if I see the blue flowers again, you can bet I'll stop and them to my wildflower garden
A．sweet B．interesting C．different D．particular
A．fascinated B．struck C．caught D．charm
A．for B．to C．with D．on
A．plants B．flowers C．ones D．wilds
A．open B．main hall C．front D．kitchen
A．great B．well C．horrible D．ugly
A．many B．various C．other D．colorful
A．passed B．past C．pass D．pasted
A．damaged B．ready C．dirty D．smelly
A．ever B．once C．never D．even
A．expressed B．temporary C．unfinished D．permanent
A．annoying B．saddened C．interested D．helpless
A．wasted B．ignored C．thought D．waited
A．would have done B．need have done C．should have done D．muse have done
A．unconsciously B．fortunately C．unfortunately D．consciously
A．close B．closely C．closed D．near
A．connection B．difference C．meaning D．significance
A．friendship B．relationship C．support D．relative
A．trees B．memories C．species D．roses
A．dig B．rescue C．transmit D．transplant
For years I wanted a flower garden. I would spend hours thinking of the different things I could that would look nice together.
But then I had five lovely children: Matthew and Marvin, the twins Alisa and Alan, and then Helen. I was too raising them to grow a garden.
Money was tight (紧的) ，as well as time. When my children were little, if they wanted something that too much I’d have to say, “Do you see a money outside? Money doesn’t grow on trees, you know.”
Finally, all five got through high school and college, and started living on their own. And I started thinking again about having a .
One spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I the window and was surprised to see a new tree in my yard. I put my glasses on and I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. There was a money tree in my yard!
I went outside to look. It was true! There was as much as one hundred on that tree. All I could think of was all the garden flowers I could with that money! There was also a(an) attached(附上): “ Love, Marvin.”
My other had bought me tools, ornaments(装饰物) and gardening books.
That was three years ago. My garden is now very , just the way I wanted.
I’m still not sure whether money on trees. But I know love does!
A．sell B．catch C．plant D．feed
A．stressed B．excited C．bored D．busy
A．cost B．took C．spent D．paid
A．pocket B．tree C．box D．market
A．garden B．dream C．present D．yard
A．looked after B．looked for C．looked out of D．looked over
A．dollars B．flowers C．butterflies D．lights
A．see B．solve C．design D．buy
A．Document B．Suggest C．Note D．excuse
A．friends B．children C．volunteers D．members
A．pretty B．old C．usual D．small
A．decorates B．hangs C．grows D．puts
How often do you let other people’s nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, impolite waiter，rude boss，or an insensitive employee your day?
One day I was in a taxi and we headed __ the airport. We were driving in the lane when suddenly a black car drove out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes，slide sideways，and at the very last moment our car stopped and narrowly the other car by just inches！The driver of the other car looked around and started at us.
My taxi driver just and waved at the guy. And I mean he was really . So I asked, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital！” This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call “The Law of the Garbage Truck”．
He that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of ，full of frustration，full of anger，and full of disappointment. As their garbage up，they need a place to dump (倒) it and sometimesthey’ll dump it on . Don’t take it personally. Just smile，wave，wish them well，and move on.
Believe me. You’ll be more . Don’t take their garbage and it to other people at work，at home，or on the streets, Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with . The mark of your success is how quickly you can refocus on what’s in your life. Roy Baumeister，a psychology researcher from Florida State University，found in his extensive research that you bad things more often than good things in your life. You store the bad memories rather easily, and you them more frequently.
So...Love the people who treat you right. Ignore the ones who don’t. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you it!
When you follow “The Law of the Garbage Truck”，you take back control of your life. You make room for the good by go of the bad. Have a Garbage Free Day！Have a marvelous，garbage-free day！The seeds you plant today the harvest you reap tomorrow.
A．injure B．ruin C．hurt D．harm
A．through B．from C．in D．for
A．latter B．right C．opposite D．free
A．knocked B．overtook C．missed D．left
A．laughing B．throwing C．glancing D．yelling
A．wondered B．smiled C．ignored D．guessed
A．friendly B．angry C．frightened D．disappointed
A．showed B．suggested C．explained D．hated
A．expectation B．passengers C．garbage D．goods
A．turns B．pushes C．holds D．piles
A．roads B．children C．you D．dustbins
A．healthy B．happy C．pitiful D．wealthy
A．spread B．share C．explain D．contribute
A．surprise B．pleasure C．doubt D．regrets
A．funny B．important C．strange D．embarrassing
A．remember B．forget C．value D．appreciate
A．enjoy B．exchange C．recall D．imagine
A．inspire B．take C．mend D．notice
A．letting B．consisting C．making D．dreaming
A．distinguish B．deserve C．deliver D．determine
One Friday, a businessman decided to ask his boss for a salary raise. Before going to , he told his wife about it. All day long he felt and uneasy. Finally, in the late afternoon, he gathered the courage to approach his employer. To his , the boss agreed to give him a raise.
That evening, the husband arrived home and was surprised to see a beautiful table set with their best china and candles. Smelling the aroma (香味) of the wonderful meal, he that someone from the office had called his wife and tipped her off (透露消息).
Finding her in the kitchen, he eagerly the details of his good news. When they sat down to the meal, next to his plate he found a note that read: ''Congratulations, darling. I knew you'd get the . This dinner is to show you how much I love you. ''
After dinner, on his way to the to help his wife serve dessert, he noticed a second card had slipped out of his wife's pocket. Picking it up, he read: ''Don't worry about not getting the raise. You it anyway. This dinner is to show how much I love you."
A．school B．work C．home D．dinner
A．nervous B．relaxed C．curious D．dangerous
A．anger B．disappointment C．sorrow D．delight
A．careful B．cheerful C．helpful D．wonderful
A．deserted B．burned C．lighted D．used
A．heard B．found C．guessed D．forgot
A．shared B．told C．knew D．talked
A．position B．note C．raise D．news
A．office B．living-room C．kitchen D．study
A．donate B．devote C．demand D．deserve
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