Last spring, I was fortunate to be chosen to participate in an exchange study program. In my application letter, I was careful to how much I wanted to see France; evidently, my excitement really came through in my words. Once I that I was going, all I could think about was the fun of foreign travel and making all sorts of new and friends. While traveling was inspiring and meeting people was , nothing about my term in France was what I .
The moment I arrived in Paris, I was by a nice French couple who would become my host parents. My entire experience was joyous and exciting I received some shocking news from my program coordinator（协调人）: there had been a death in my host parents’ extended family. They had to travel outside France for several weeks. That afternoon, I had to out of one family’s house into another. The exchange coordinator told me I’d have a this time and asked whether I could share a bedroom with an English speaker. To avoid the temptation(诱惑) to my native language, I asked not to be with an English-speaking roommate. When I got to my new room, I myself to my new roommate Paolo, a Brazilian（巴西人） the same age as I, whom I was surprised to find playing one of my favorite CDS! In just a few hours, we knew we’d be good friends for the rest of the .
I left France with many , so when people asked me what my favorite part of the trip was, they are always to hear me talk about my Brazilian friend Paolo and scores of weekdays in class, weeknights on the town, and weekends France we enjoyed together. I love how people seem so different, but end up being so . The most valuable lesson I gained from studying in France wasn’t just to respect the friend people to respect all people, for your next best friend could be just a continent away. I would recommend an exchange program to anyone who wants to experience foreign cultures and gain meaningful .
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A Faithful Father
My husband ,kissed me goodbye ，stroked, the baby’s cheek and then rushed out of the door ，into his busy day. With the cold of the morning fading, I fed my baby and it fell fast asleep. Usually I would place it in bed and quickly have the house somewhat in 36______ ,
This morning ，however, I stayed seated ,just 37_____,with the baby in my arms ,The thoughts ran into 38______ of the mornings with my husband, a father rushing out of the door to meet the obligations of life. It was only a small jump to thoughts of my own 39______
My mother passed away when I was ten, and as I looked 40 ______I could see how much of a family man my dad was. He went to work every morning and 41______ to his family every evening. He 42______ food, clothing, warmth ，and protection. He was a faithful father.
Setting the baby down ,I dialed the 43 ______ number. I had just realized the 44 ______ of the ordinary—the daily life going on around us that we often took for granted, and that it needed to be 45______
“Hi ，Dad. ” I said, 46______ back tears.
“Hey, Bud- How are you? ” 47______ was in his voice.:
“ Fine, Fm just calling to say. ,, thank you. ” I got it out before my throat 48______ too much for me to speak.
"What for?”
— For getting up and going to work every morning of ray life. Now that I have my' own 49______ and I see my husband doing the same ，I just wanted to thank you for being 50______ ”
There was 51______ for a moment as my dad composed himself ，and with a small . .52______ in his voice he said, “You’re welcome, Bud. ”
I don’t remember much of the rest of the call, 53______ that moment of revelation (显露） about my father, I will never forget. There are those who are known for their heroic 54 ______，and also those who are known for their fortunes and fame ，but it is the 55 ______everyday fathers who are the true heroes. I’m thankful that my father was one of them.
A．use B．line C．order D．fashion
A．thinking B．dreaming C．imagining D．praying
A．conversations B．struggles C．incidents D．memories
A．baby B．husband C．mother D．father
A．out B．away C．back D．around
A．moved B．returned C．escaped D．walked
A．provided B．collected C．sought D．bought
A．popular B．relative C．regular D．familiar
A．difference B．significance C．balance D．absence
A．recognized B．arranged C．reduced D．achieved
A．sending B．pushing C．holding D．putting
A．Sympathy B．Stress C．Doubt D．Concern
A．cleared B．hurt C．ached D．tightened
A．child B．duty C．plan D．career
A．inspiring B．faithful C．considerate D．admirable
A．peace B．calm C．silence D．rest
A．tremble B．hesitation C．passion D．sigh
A．and B．but C．or D．nor
A．ideas B．deeds C．remarks D．words
A．outstanding B．patient C．ordinary D．honest
Dear son,
The day that you see me old and I am already not in good health, have patience and try to understand me.
If I get dirty when eating, if I can not dress, have patience and remember the hours I 31 teaching it to you. If, when I speak to you, I 32 the same things thousand and one times, do not 33 me, listen to me. When you were small, I had to read to you thousand and one times the same story 34 you got to sleep. When I do not want to have a 35 , neither shame me nor scold me. Remember when I had to chase you with thousand excuses I 36 , in order that you wanted to bathe. When you see my 37 little about new technologies, give me the necessary time and do not look at me with your mocking(嘲弄) smile. I taught you 38 to do so many things: to eat food, to dress well, to confront life…. When at some moment I lose the memory or the 39 of our conversation, let me have the necessary time to remember, and if I cannot do it, do not become nervous, as the most important thing is not our conversation but surely to be with you and to have you 40 to me.
If ever I do not want to eat, do not force me. I know well 41 I need to and when not. When my 42 legs do not allow me to walk, give me your 43 , the same way I did when you gave your first 44 . And when someday I say to you that I do not want to 45 any more ---- that I want to rest forever, do not get ___46__. Someday you will understand.
Try to understand that my age is not lived but survived. Some day you will discover that, despite my mistakes, I always wanted the 47 thing for you and that I tried to prepare the way for you. You must not feel sad, angry or impotent(无可奈何) for seeing me 48 you. You must be next to me, try to understand me and to help me as I did it when you 49 living. Help me to walk, help me to end my way with love and 50 . I will pay you by a smile and by the immense love I have had always for you.
I love you, Son
Your father
A．paid B．spent C．cost D．took
A．praise B．think C．repeat D．criticize
A．interrupt B．disturb C．look D．avoid
A．when B．after C．since D．until
A．rest B．word C．shower D．sleep
A．discovered B．invented C．noticed D．assumed
A．knowing B．fearing C．enjoying D．consulting
A．what B．when C．how D．why
A．news B．attitude C．material D．thread
A．talking B．listening C．responding D．appealing
A．where B．how C．that D．when
A．tired B．short C．long D．strong
A．leg B．ear C．hand D．mind
A．step B．pace C．laugh D．cry
A．talk B．live C．write D．sleep
A．careful B．interested C．calm D．angry
A．last B．first C．best D．most
A．near B．behind C．below D．against
A．made B．started C．earned D．found
A．mercy B．care C．excuse D．patience
Years ago a farmer possessed vast land along the Atlantic coast. He constantly ___31___ for hired hands. Most people didn’t want to work on farms along the Atlantic. They were ___32___ of the storms that blew across the Atlantic , ___33___ the buildings and crops. So the farmer couldn’t find one good worker. Finally , a short, ___34___ man, well past middle age, visited the ___35___.
“Are you a good farmhand?” the farmer asked him.
“Well, I can ___36___ _when the wind blows,” answered the little man.
Although___37___ _at his answer, the farmer, longing for ___38___, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm and the farmer felt___39___ _with the man’s work.
Then one night the big wind blew. Jumping out of bed, the farmer___40___ into the hire hand’s sleeping room. He___41___ the little man and cried, “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down___42___ _they are blown away!” The little man rolled over in bed and said___43___, “No, sir. I told you, I can sleep when the storm strikes.”
Hearing his response, the farmer wanted to___44___ the man on the spot. Then he hurried outside to make necessary preparations. To his___45___, he discovered that all of the haystacks(干草堆)had been___46___ well. The cows were in the barn(畜棚)and the doors were___47___. Everything was well organized. The farmer then understood what he___48___, and he returned to his bed while the wind blew.
When you’re___49___, you have nothing to worry about. Can you sleep with the wind blowing through your life? The worker in the story was able to sleep___50__ _he had prepared the farm well against the storm. We should also prepare ourselves well against the storm in our lives.
A．searched B．advertised C．hunted D．waited
A．afraid B．tired C．fond D．certain
A．damaging B．watering C．destroying D．hurting
A．heavy B．strong C．kind D．thin
A．farmer B．boss C．master D．host
A．work B．sleep C．stay D．survive
A．frightened B．pleased C．puzzled D．shocked
A．work B．service C．support D．help
A．satisfied B．excited C．angry D．disappointed
A．walked B．stepped C．rushed D．marched
A．shook B．dragged C．pulled D．pushed
A．after B．before C．once D．while
A．seriously B．jokingly C．impatiently D．firmly
A．desert B．abandon C．fire D．strike
A．excitement B．disappointment C．amazement D．shame
A．covered B．hidden C．wrapped D．packed
A．closed B．locked C．opened D．fixed
A．tended B．promised C．intended D．meant
A．prepared B．willing C．careful D．courageous
A．since B．so that C．because D．in case
I was in the kitchen making lunch when I saw my six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. I could only see his back. He 1 to be walking with a great effort, trying to be as 2 as possible.
A few minutes after he disappeared into the 3 , he came running toward the house again. I went back to making sandwiches, 4 that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, 5 , he was once again walking slowly toward the woods.
6 curiosity, I walked out and followed him on his journey. He was 7 both hands in front of him as he walked, being 8 not to spill the water he held in them. I secretly walked 9 behind him as he went into the woods and I saw the most amazing 10 .
Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost 11 at him to get away. A huge male deer with elaborate（精美的）antlers was 12 close. But they didn’t even move as Billy 13 . And I saw a small deer lying on the ground, obviously suffering from 14 and extreme heat, lift its head 15 to drink the water cupped in my beautiful boy’s hands.
It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of 16 . You know, we hadn’t had any rain for three months and our crops were 17 . As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, they were suddenly 18 by other drops. I looked up at the sky. It was 19 God was moved to weep. The rain came that day and saved our farm, just like the 20 of one little boy who saved another.
A．happened B．seemed C．managed D．intended
A．quickly B．secret C．smoothly D．still
A．distance B．yard C．woods D．park
A．wondering B．thinking C．studying D．doubting
A．eventually B．actually C．however D．therefore
A．Within B．Out of C．Beyond D．In spite of
A．holding B．waving C．surrounding D．cupping
A．careful B．worried C．eager D．prepared
A．away B．close C．out D．off
A．scene B．story C．view D．game
A．fought B．signed C．screamed D．waited
A．hardly B．dangerously C．easily D．nearly
A．ran away B．turned out C．knelt down D．settled down
A．hunger B．disease C．thirst D．injury
A．in turn B．in silence C．with appreciation D．with difficulty
A．suffering B．supporting C．sharing D．depending
A．dying B．reducing C．harvesting D．growing
A．hidden B．covered C．joined D．caught
A．when B．as if C．because D．that
A．wish B．dream C．action D．expectation
Children find meanings in their old family tales．
When Stephen Guyer’s three children were growing up, he told them stories about how his grandfather, a banker, 1 all in the 1930s, but did not lose sight of what he valued most. In one of the darkest times 2 his strong-minded grandfather was nearly 3 , he loaded his family into the car and 4 them to see family members in Canada with a 5 , “there are more important things in life than money”.
The 6 took on a new meaning recently when Mr. Guyer downsized to 7 house from a more expensive and comfortable one. He was 8 that his children, a daughter, 15, and twins, 22, would be upset．To his surprise, they weren’t. 9 , their reaction echoed (共鸣) their great-grandfather’s．What they 10 was how warm the people were in the house and how 11 of their heart was accessible.
Many parents are finding that family stories have surprising power to help children
12 hard times. Storytelling experts say the phenomenon reflects a growing 13 in telling tales, evidenced by a rise in storytelling events and festivals.
A university 14 of 65 families with children aged from 14 to 16 found kids’ ability to 15 parents’ stories was linked to a lower rate of anger and anxiety.
The 16 is telling the stories in a way children can 17 . We’re not talking here about the kind of story that 18 , “ When I was a kid, I walked to school every day uphill both ways, barefoot in the snow.” Instead, we should choose a story suited to the child’s 19 , and make eye contact (接触) to create “a personal experience”. We don’t have to tell children 20 they should take from the story and what the moral is.
A．missed B．lost C．forgot D．ignored
A．when B．while C．how D．why
A．friendless B．worthless C．penniless D．homeless
A．fetched B．allowed C．expected D．took
A．hope B．promise C．suggestion D．belief
A．tale B．agreement C．arrangement D．report
A．large B．small C．new D．grand
A．surprised B．annoyed C．disappointed D．worried
A．Therefore B．Besides C．Instead D．Otherwise
A．talked about B．cared about C．wrote about D．heard about
A．much B．many C．little D．few
A．beyond B．over C．behind D．through
A．argument B．skill C．interest D．anxiety
A．study B．design C．committee D．staff
A．provide B．retell C．support D．refuse
A．trouble B．gift C．fact D．trick
A．perform B．write C．bear D．question
A．means B．ends C．begins D．proves
A．needs B．activities C．judgments D．habits
A．that B．what C．which D．whom
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