Three packs of cigarettes were lying there on the pavement. I went down from Shubentsov’s office doorstep, picked them up and pocketed them. Later, in a bar, when I opened the first pack, I found – to my – the twenty cigarettes were there.
I’m still at the bar, telephone in one and the cigarettes in the other. I’m dialing Shubentsov, who told me to call the moment I felt the urge to . I feel it, feel it even than I felt Shubentsov’s healing energy. That’s saying something, since Shubentsov is known around the world for smokers of their nasty habit, using a method. He sent his healing energy from his fingertips, he tells me – something he picked up from another man in Russia. “I help you for free,” he told me in his muddy accent. “Just call me .”
I went to see Shubentsov. I think it’s time to because I’m getting old, and I can’t keep doing this to myself. But here’s the real problem. I should quit, but like a lot of you with the same habit, I really don’t want to.
Smoking has been very good to me. Cigarettes have never let me down, never abandoned me on , desperate nights. Smoking my head, helps me . Smoking has started conversations, driven away annoying people. Smoking helps me celebrate victories, get over losses, comfort the comfortless. It also chases away the mosquitoes.
I will . Soon, my body and my mind are demanding that , daily.
I claim to smoke for pleasure, but I realise that slowly I’m losing control of this close, special friend. I that. I realise it’s not just a “habit”. I’m .
So here I am, attempting to again, at Shubentsov’s place. I’ve tried all the other quitting techniques . Anytime the urge to smoke , he said, just call him immediately and he’ll help. The funny thing is, I realise that I’m not phoning him to stop me from lighting up. I’m phoning him so I can. If I call, I’ll have done my part. Then I can smoke this cigarette. Besides, I know that at 9.30 on a Friday night, I’ll get the answering machine. I do. “The office is open from ten to four. Call me back then. This machine does not take messages.”
I put the phone down and I can honestly say I’m . You see, it’s not Shubentsov’s fault or anyone else’s fault that I’m still . It’s mine.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to smoke this cigarette. Whether I’ll really enjoy it, though, is another story.
A．sadness B．disappointment C．inspiration D．delight
A．pack B．hand C．pocket D．bar
A．smoke B．talk C．drink D．dial
A．weaker B．faster C．stronger D．harder
A．accusing B．helping C．developing D．curing
A．popular B．mysterious C．frightening D．dangerous
A．whenever B．whatever C．however D．whichever
A．start B．continue C．stop D．keep
A．struggling B．beating C．hitting D．playing
A．lovely B．friendly C．lonely D．daily
A．destroys B．hurts C．cuts D．clears
A．breathe B．smile C．see D．think
A．begin B．quit C．report D．study
A．hate B．love C．ignore D．miss
A．ill B．excited C．addicted D．fascinated
A．give in B．give up C．give off D．give away
A．available B．alike C．abnormal D．additional
A．strikes B．attacks C．indicates D．continues
A．disappointed B．unhappy C．satisfied D．relieved
A．living B．working C．smoking D．smiling
Forty years ago Sadie left her drunk and violent husband. Needing shelter（住所）for herself and her young son, she took a job as a doorkeeper in a housing project for ___36___people. It meant she could live “on site” in one of the ___37___.
Eventually, she got to know the residents（居民）. One resident, Archie, didn't have a family of his own, ___38___his nephew’s wife and her naughty kids would drop in from time to time. They were there to help the old guy.
Sadie helped care for Archie as he ___39___illness and it was she who called the ___40___who diagnosed（诊断） his deadly cancer.
___41___time passing, Sadie’s son ___42___up, got married and settled several hundred miles away. Sadie ___43___and moved into a nice little house of her own. To ___44___the loneliness, she took in a series of ___45___over the years.
A heavy fall of snow came a year and a half ago. She was pleased when a neighbor ___46___to walk her current dog, Muffin, until the weather improved. Each day he would ___47___a while talking to her, making sure she was okay, and ___48___if she needed anything.
Although she had known him for a long time, Sadie ___49___thought to wonder what his last name was. This morning she asked. His surname was the same ___50___old Archie’s. It brought back a memory and she talked about the ___51___. She told him about working at the old residents’ flats and was ___52___to discover the man who had been “caring” for her for the past year and a half had been one of the little kids who used to run ___53___on his way to visit “Uncle Archie”.
She had cared for his family, now he was caring for her. ___54___of them knew it until that moment but they were living proof of the old saying, “What goes around comes around, ” and the ___55___of kindness will not be broken.
A．poor B．senior C．disabled D．unfortunate
A．groceries B．stadiums C．flats D．cages
A．otherwise B．but C．though D．because
A．battled B．banned C．cured D．beat
A．servant B．master C．neighbor D．doctor
A．As B．Since C．With D．When
A．grew B．got C．went D．came
A．complained B．retired C．fired D．hesitated
A．refuse B．reduce C．stop D．escape
A．programs B．projects C．birds D．dogs
A．attempted B．declared C．offered D．wished
A．spend B．cost C．take D．spare
A．observing B．requiring C．indicating D．checking
A．often B．never C．sometimes D．once
A．to B．from C．as D．of
A．coincidence B．comprehension C．tradition D．statement
A．puzzled B．frightened C．concerned D．surprised
A．calling B．screaming C．barking D．whispering
A．All B．None C．Neither D．Both
A．custom B．glory C．pattern D．circle
When I was a teenager I volunteered to work at the water station at a 10,000 m race. My 36 was to pass out water to the runners. I remember being so excited to see all the different kinds of 37 who passed by and 38 a cup of water. The next year I signed up for the 39 and gave it a shot.
The first 10,000 m race was quite an experience. I jogged, I walked, I jogged and I walked. At times, I didn’t 40 if I could finish.
At one point near the end, a 70-year-old man ran past me very 41 , and I felt embarrassed that I was 50 years younger than him and I couldn’t even keep up with him. I felt 42 for a second.
But then I 43 something. He was running his race and I was running mine. He had 44 capacities, experience, training and goals for himself. I had mine. Remember my 45 was only to finish.
After a minute, it 46 me that this was a lesson I could draw from . I learned 47 about myself in that moment. I turned my 48 into inspiration.
I decided that I would not 49 running races. In fact, I would run even more races and I would learn how to train and 50 properly and one day I would be one of those 70-year-olds who were still running. As I 51 the finishing line, I was proud 52 my accomplishment.
In life we all have those moments when we 53 ourselves to others. It’s only 54 . Don’ allow those moments to weaken you. Turn them into 55 and let them inspire you. Use them to show you what is possible.
A．position B．direction C．decision D．target
A．trainers B．runners C．fans D．volunteers
A．begged B．drank C．dropped D．grabbed
A．project B．service C．race D．experience
A．doubt B．know C．answer D．promise
A．slowly B．fast C．quietly D．carefully
A．surprised B．satisfied C．amused D．defeated
A．forgot B．realized C．remembered D．abandoned
A．different B．wonderful C．valuable D．proper
A．dream B．plan C．goal D．job
A．happened B．hit C．occurred D．attracted
A．everything B．anything C．nothing D．something
A．disappointment B．embarrassment C．agreement D．achievement
A．sign up B．pick up C．give up D．keep up
A．predict B．behave C．prepare D．pretend
A．found B．crossed C．held D．left
A．in B．upon C．of D．for
A．combine B．control C．compare D．contribute
A．natural B．frequent C．important D．terrible
A．condition B．motivation C．situation D．protection
Once there was a very brilliant, creative and learned man. He gained much ____36_____while traveling throughout the world. Unfortunately he lost his legs and left arm in a traffic accident, leaving only a finger and thumb on his right hand. He became so ____37_____ that he was afraid he would spend his life _____38_____ and would no longer be able to use his life in a(n) ____39_____way.
One day, he remembered how he had always loved getting ____40_____. He realized that he still had partial ____41_____ of his right hand and could write with ____42_____. Then, he had an idea. “Why not write to other people who need encouragement?”
He ___43___ where he could find those who could be encouraged if they read his letters. He thought of people in ____44___. Many of them had hope of regaining their ____45___ . Others would keep feeling depressed and remain put away for the rest of their lives. He decided that he must try to __46____ them. So he wrote to a prison ministry about sending letters to the prisoners. The prison minister replied that writing to the prisoners would be ____47____. However, it would be against prison rules for the prisoners to write back.
____48_____with the intention, the man began sending 49 messages of God’s love, hope, strength, and encouragement. He wrote twice a week, testing his strength and ability to the ___50____. He poured his heart and soul into his words, ___51_____ his experience, sense of humor, optimism, and faith.
It was difficult to write those letters, especially without hope of any ___52___. Frequently, he felt discouraged, wondering if anyone ___53____read his letters. However, this was his ___54____chance，so he determined to continue.
At last, he received a letter from the prison officer, which said, “Please write on the best paper you can afford. Your letters are passed from cell (牢房) to cell until they almost fall to ____55___!”
We all have unique experiences, abilities and talents. We can discover ways to reach others in need of encouragement and strength.
A．wealth B．faith C．experience D．confidence
A．depressed B．embarrassed C．ashamed D．thrilled
A．writing B．suffering C．weeping D．wandering
A．abnormal B．regular C．comfortable D．meaningful
A．presents B．e-mails C．letters D．prizes
A．sense B．strength C．shape D．function
A．affection B．caution C．difficulty D．confidence
A．estimated B．doubted C．assumed D．wondered
A．hospitals B．churches C．prisons D．charities
A．families B．letters C．freedom D．conscience
A．release B．reach C．defend D．know
A．acceptable B．reasonable C．forbidden D．considered
A．Faced B．Filled C．Satisfied D．Impressed
A．holy B．daily C．one-way D．round-way
A．point B．worst C．degree D．limit
A．sharing B．learning C．gaining D．enriching
A．success B．reply C．help D．progress
A．curiously B．patiently C．carefully D．actually
A．only B．better C．extra D．lost
A．ruin B．pieces C．the ground D．the bottom
On the IraqSyria border，a pack of wild dogs circled American soldiers for food．The leader of the pack was a grayandwhite dog．The soldiers called him Nubs．Nubs was shaking and __36__ able to stand．Marine major Brian Dennis looked closer and saw that there was a knife wound __37__ his chest．
Dennis couldn’t stand seeing the dog __38__．He and his men immediately treated the wound，and gave Nubs medicine．Nubs__39__but was still in pain．The next day，the team had to__40__．Ten days later，Dennis’s unit was back，and so was Nubs．He was still___41__，but the men fed him and played with him．
Before long the unit once again__42__an outpost (前哨) 70 miles away．Nubs，slowly but determinedly，__43__them far into the trackless wasteland until the men lost__44__of him．Two days later，beyond Dennis’s__45__，he saw Nubs just outside the outpost．The dog had tracked him across 70 miles of frozen desert to__46__with the friend who had saved his life．From then on Nubs and the men slept in the same place，and ran around in the same ruins．
Until an order came down from above that they were not__47__to have pets，Dennis__48__to make sure the dog would continue to live the__49__life．So he quickly raised $4,000 from his family and friends to fly Nubs to__50__．
A month later，when Dennis and the dog were__51__in California，at first Nubs didn’t recognize the guy．__52__within minutes，the dog jumped into Dennis’s arms，jumping up again and again to__53__ his friend’s face．
A little__54__and concern in the middle of war will not save a violent world．But small stories，like the story of a soldier and a dog，hold a promise of a(n) __55__world．
A．mostly B．certainly C．hardly D．never
A．in B．on C．at D．behind
A．stand B．starve C．bleed D．suffer
A．pulled through B．fell asleep C．woke up D．fell down
A．leave B．rest C．pass D．remain
A．hungry B．tired C．dirty D．weak
A．took up B．took over C．left for D．returned from
A．watched B．followed C．accompanied D．barked
A．touch B．sight C．footprint D．smell
A．ability B．surprise C．imagination D．understanding
A．part B．fight C．meet D．break
A．asked B．suggested C．required D．allowed
A．decided B．agreed C．accepted D．proposed
A．moving B．good C．safe D．interesting
A．London B．America C．Iraq D．Syria
A．found B．interviewed C．linked D．reunited
A．So B．And C．But D．Though
A．lick B．touch C．bite D．clean
A．pity B．mercy C．care D．contribution
A．equal B．harmonious C．prosperous D．amazing
The Catherine family enjoyed the good things in life as much as anyone else. They ___36___games, books, music, toys, good food and good times. But sometimes ___37___seemed, especially to Mrs. Catherine who ___38___the house, that they had too much stuff in the closets, in the drawers, in the basement, and almost ___39___. It made Mrs. Catherine a little ___40___.
One day, at breakfast, Mrs. Catherine made a（n） ___41___. “This family,”she said firmly, “has too much stuff. It's time to get ___42___of some of them. ”The three children all ___43___with this idea and helped pile used things and unused things they were never going to use into the car.
Their first ___44___was Home for the Aged where the older went to live. Nurses and doctors looked after them, but sometimes the older got a little lonely and ___45___. They liked visitors and things to do. When the family arrived at Home for the Aged, they ___46___out their games and puzzles to the older and then sat down to play games and do puzzles with them. They had a ___47___time and they were sorry when it was time to leave.
Their next stop was the Young Cubs Hospital. The Catherine family dropped ___48___their load of used toys which were very welcome. The hospital workers said the toys would be given out at the hospital ___49___party.
Their last stop was People Who Care store. This was a store that sold things to ___50___money for those who needed warm clothes and good food. The Catherine family lugged all their old clothes and furniture into the store.
After that, the Catherine family ___51___home with warm feelings about what they had done. ___52___they drove along, they passed the lighted ___53___of supermarkets which were beautifully decorated for Christmas. There was window after window of the very latest things, but they were so filled with special thoughts about helping others that they ___54___noticed the wonderful things in the windows except maybe out of the ___55___of their eyes.
A．read B．played C．enjoyed D．shared
A．there B．they C．it D．this
A．knew B．bought C．sold D．managed
A．anywhere B．everywhere C．nowhere D．somewhere
A．uneasy B．difficult C．ready D．happy
A．announcement B．amusement C．notice D．report
A．away B．out C．hold D．rid
A．decided B．agreed C．argued D．dealt
A．place B．arrival C．stop D．departure
A．bored B．disappointed C．excited D．determined
A．handed B．carried C．found D．let
A．fine B．bad C．sad D．sorry
A．onto B．into C．out D．off
A．Thanksgiving B．Halloween C．Christmas D．Eastern
A．rise B．arise C．raise D．arouse
A．headed B．arrived C．left D．felt
A．Though B．As C．Since D．Before
A．closets B．houses C．doors D．windows
A．nearly B．hardly C．closely D．immediately
A．corners B．sides C．edges D．covers
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