My father died in December. He had spent the last several years in hospital, and my mother spent a lot of her time him. That is without doubt, a situation for any family. And the was a team of fairly frustrated family members.
My biggest frustration was trying to why he didn’t make choices that would him to be involved more fully in the lives of his grandchildren. Yet he each and every one of them. Every morning he asked my mother which of his grandbabies was going to that day. He had frequent visits from his collection of loving grandkids. Kids would have the place up instantly—toys everywhere, cushions off the couches and the TV channel to their station. Every visit was a kid invasion into his space. Interestingly, he was not at all bothered by the or chaos at all. He was never with them and he certainly never shouted at any child. Visits ended with and kisses.
I felt that relationship wasn’t good enough because he didn’t actually do anything my children. My dad didn’t read to the children, and certainly played a board game or did a puzzle with them. He didn’t take them out for or do any of the other things I saw active grandparents doing with their grandchildren. It made me sad that he was to get on with the kids.
A couple of weeks after his death, my 9-year-old daughter turned up in my bedroom at midnight to share a
of him done by herself. Included in the picture were several messages and —one for each day since he had died. The most striking one to me was“I loved EVERYTHING about you, Grandpa”.
Apparently, I was . All that time I thought he wasn’t doing anything with his grandchildren, but he was very actively doing the thing that was most to them. He loved them. And it was all they needed.
A．preparing for B．taking care of C．believing in D．looking forward to
A．personal B．boring C．difficult D．dangerous
A．result B．solution C．reward D．review
A．explain B．describe C．accept D．understand
A．expect B．allow C．force D．persuade
A．respected B．ignored C．loved D．blamed
A．leave B．cry C．visit D．perform
A．set B．messed C．given D．lit
A．introduced B．switched C．pointed D．checked
A．impression B．alarm C．expression D．noise
A．careful B．intelligent C．inconvenient D．impatient
A．tears B．quarrels C．tricks D．hugs
A．to B．with C．at D．on
A．frequently B．always C．never D．occasionally
A．walks B．books C．jokes D．interests
A．hoping B．offering C．failing D．promising
A．dream B．plan C．story D．drawing
A．statements B．photos C．suggestions D．problems
A．guilty B．rude C．wrong D．firm
A．honest B．important C．normal D．equal
Of course, she wasn't really my aunt and, out of fear, I never called her that to her face. I only ____ to her as "My Aunt Fannie" because it always made my father chuckle and my mother look ____ at both of us—at me for being _____ of my elder and at my father for _____ my bad behavior. I ____ both reactions so I grasped every opportunity to work the name into as many conversations as possible.
As a young woman, my mother had worked in the _____ of a large Victorian farmhouse owned by Fannie Cratty and her twin brother, Farnsworth. They represented the ____ of the Cratty line. Neither had married ____ had any living heirs(继承人) and my father once told me in a whisper that it was because they were both too ____ to share their family wealth. During those years my mother helped Aunt Fanny make the best blueberry jam ever ____ by anyone in Glenfield. She was noted for her jam and for never ____ the recipe with anyone else. ____ my mother knew the recipe by heart, as long as Aunt Fannie was alive, she ____ made the jam without Ms. Cratty in our kitchen to direct the process and preserve the secret.
One year, after I had been particularly helpful with the jam process Aunt Fannie gave me a ____ and then made me promise that I would never spend it. " ____ this quarter," she said, "and some day you will be rich. I still have my very first quarter given by my grandfather." It had obviously ____ for her. So I followed her advice.
I now have the blueberry jam recipe and the quarter from Aunt Fannie. In people's eye Aunt Fannie's ____ was attributed to that secret recipe. But to me, it was just a ____ recipe. However, I keep them as ____ to hold firmly the valuable things in life. Money can make you feel rich for a while, but it is the relationships and the memories of time spent with friends and family that truly leave you wealthy. And that is a ____ that anyone can build.
A．called B．thought C．regarded D．referred
A．coldly B．severely C．delightedly D．politely
A．disappointed B．disagreeable C．disrespectful D．dissatisfied
A．encouraging B．scolding C．forcing D．pushing
A．hated B．respected C．treated D．enjoyed
A．barn B．kitchen C．yard D．garden
A．beginning B．start C．end D．glory
A．nor B．and C．but D．yet
A．proud B．generous C．strict D．mean
A．seen B．tasted C．cooked D．sold
A．sharing B．telling C．selling D．giving
A．As though B．As if C．Even though D．Even if
A．ever B．never C．still D．yet
A．quarter B．bill C．note D．cheque
A．Hold back B．Hold up C．Hold onto D．Hold out
A．mattered B．failed C．succeeded D．worked
A．sorrow B．success C．schedule D．signature
A．usual B．normal C．ordinary D．common
A．regulations B．reflections C．reminders D．rewards
A．future B．fortune C．fantasy D．favor
It was the last day of final examination in an Eastern university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors gathered for the due to begin in a few minutes. On their faces was . This was their last exam — then on to graduation and jobs.
Some of jobs they already had; others talked of jobs they would get. With all this assurance of four years of , they felt ready and able to the world.
The approaching exam, they , would be a piece of cake. The professor had said they could any books or notes they wanted. Requesting only that they not talk to each other during the test.
Happily they entered the classroom. The professor the papers. And smiles broadened as the students noted there were only five essay-type questions.
Three hours . Then the professor began to collect papers. The students looked confident. On their faces was a expression. Papers in hand, no one spoke as the faced the class.
He examined the worried faces before him, and then asked: “How many completed all five questions?” Not a was raised. He asked again, “How many answered four?” Still no hands.
Then the students restlessly in their seats. “One, then? Certainly somebody finished one,” he said. But the class remained . The professor put down the papers. “That is exactly what I expected,” he said.
“I want to impress on you that, even though you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don’t know. These you could not answer are relatively common in everyday practice.” Then, smiling, he added: “You will all pass this course, remember — you are now college graduates, your education had just begun.”
The years have obscured (使……不分明) the name of this professor, but not the he taught.
A．university B．examination C．building D．day
A．confidence B．sadness C．puzzle D．disappointment
A．referred B．mentioned C．talked D．reminded
A．life B．war C．college D．job
A．break B．improve C．create D．conquer
A．knew B．recognized C．frightened D．admitted
A．bring B．take C．sell D．buy
A．could B．would C．should D．must
A．handed in B．handed out C．sorted out D．gave in
A．finished B．ended C．passed D．arrived
A．no longer B．no more C．hardly D．nearly
A．proud B．relaxing C．cheerful D．fearful
A．headteacher B．headmaster C．professor D．doctor
A．hand B．flag C．voice D．smile
A．shook B．moved C．trembled D．cried
A．calm B．still C．silent D．quiet
A．just B．never C．ever D．seldom
A．questions B．exercises C．subjects D．topics
A．or B．and C．but D．while
A．expression B．lesson C．experience D．class
I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And ____ otherwise assigned（指定）a seat by the teacher, I always ____ to sit at the back of the classroom.
All this changed after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy idea because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the _____ _ to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “_____ __ for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give it a try.
Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the ____ _ of it! When I first started attending the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much _____ _ what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get_____ and take a shot at the wrong direction—which made me feel really stupid. Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to ______ on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn’t _____ _ “just yet”.
I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the ____ _ and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive ______ in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the ____ __ —friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!
With my improved self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from “______ _” in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself, _____ raising my hand—even when I sometimes wasn’t 100 percent ______ _ I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.
A．as B．until C．unless D．though
A．hoped B．agreed C．meant D．chose
A．right B．chance C．ability D．Patience
A．going B．looking C．cheering D．applying
A．point B．half C．rest D．basis
A．less B．later C．worse D．further
A．committed B．motivated C．embarrassed D．confused
A．focus B．act C．rely D．try
A．want B．do C．support D．know
A．stapes B．orders C．rules D．games
A．role B．part C．mind D．value
A．process B．operation C．movement D．situation
A．dreaming B．playing C．relaxing D．hiding
A．by B．for C．with D．to
A．lucky B．happy C．sure D．satisfied
Some people are afraid of starting a casual conversation with a stranger because of a fear of not having anything interesting to say. Fear of rejection (拒绝) is also a for keeping silent. Small talk in a conversation can as a way of warming up and getting to each other. Most people, no matter successful they are at work, will find the process of small talk uncomfortable, even pointless. , you will have a pretty small world you refuse to let others in. Starting off with a casual comment or question will make others , and even just greeting them with a simple “hello” will often be enough.
Once you have made the first , there is no turning back. You need to keep things before you can gracefully say goodbye. Think about what you would like to with a new friend and that is what you can ask the other person about. Work, family, hobbies or interests are some points of discussion. To keep the ball rolling, you can show that you are really in what they are saying. Once you find common of interest, things will definitely off from there.
Small talk can out to be a pleasant experience. The conversation be brief and casual without turning into a long and boring discussion. Do not let yourself the conversation. Stop worrying about how big of a fool you may appear to be. You may find out later on that you have the “ ” of getting people to open up to you by engaging them in small talk.
A．right B．reason C．result D．sign
A．take B．use C．mean D．serve
A．know B．learn C．recognize D．help
A．what B．whether C．why D．how
A．giving B．leaving C．making D．forcing
A．So B．Instead C．However D．Besides
A．unless B．until C．if D．Though
A．comfortable B．upset C．nervous D．satisfied
A．try B．plan C．wish D．move
A．changing B．rising C．improving D．going
A．know B．share C．do D．show
A．private B．present C．important D．general
A．careful B．surprised C．interested D．encouraged
A．ideas B．experiences C．points D．senses
A．take B．put C．get D．set
A．come B．turn C．find D．figure
A．should B．can C．will D．may
A．start B．complete C．consider D．control
A．still B．even C．ever D．almost
A．right B．advantage C．talent D．habit
Many years ago ,l was working at my job at a community college when a homeless woman came in. She began as she lay on one of the sofas in the student rest room. , she wasn't well. Without thinking too much I went next door to the Student Affairs office where I knew I could find in the Lost and Found box. I up a set of clothing and went back to my office, I heard a colleague calling me. She told me that I should not this person, as it would only lead to her wanting more help. I refused her and went back to help the woman, my co-worker's warning .
Two weeks later, while I was working, a very cute elderly man entered my and asked to speak with me in private. Curiously, l gave him my full and he told me that he had happened to hear my with the co-worker about helping the woman. He wanted me to know that it was always okay to help people and that was why he wanted to give me a for $1,000. I burst into tears, because I needed the money at the time, but also because I had never been in such a way for helping someone!
We soon became good and 10 years later he called me up suddenly and told me he wanted to help me my first home! He giving me $120,000 as part payment for my dream house in my home town. I asked him why he wanted to give me such a large amount of money and he said it was because I was a " giver" and that I it ! To make a long story short, l was able to buy the perfect little home for myself, all because one day I did not to help a homeless woman.
A．smiling B．talking C．shouting D．coughing
A．Luckily B．Clearly C．Strangely D．Sadly
A．clothes B．books C．food D．medicine
A．gave B．turned C．gathered D．made
A．while B．when C．how D．why
A．ignore B．disturb C．value D．help
A．advice B．request C．plan D．offer
A．more than B．rather than C．regardless of D．apart from
A．home B．office C．classroom D．dormitory
A．energy B．love C．care D．attention
A．disagreement B．discussion C．fight D．quarrel
A．young B．old C．sick D．wealthy
A．support B．check C．tip D．promise
A．anxiously B．eagerly C．hardly D．really
A．recognized B．measured C．taught D．praised
A．colleagues B． competitors C．partners D．friends
A．build B．buy C．rent D．repair
A．came out B．ended up C．carried on D．resulted in
A．deserved B．wanted C．needed D．enjoyed
A．fear B．fail C．hesitate D．attempt
粤公网安备 44130202000953号