Late one night, a thief crept into a wealthy merchant’s house. He was a young thief, without . In fact, this was his first professional appearance. So he had planned everything .
All went marvelously well at first. He found, as he expected , an open window and got into the room . But, stepping his way through the room, he stubbed (碰到) his bare toe against a table leg. Choking back a cry of , terrified of waking the merchant, he hit himself the forehead and called himself a fool. He had forgot to bring a light.
In the darkness, however , he was able to see an oil lamp on the table, and it, then he gave a of relief. As he picked up the lamp, a small spider came out from under its .
“Thank you for saving my life,” said the spider. “Before he went to bed, the merchant set this lamp down on top of me so I couldn’t . If you hadn’t come along, I wouldn’t have lasted the night; indeed, I’d have extremely uncomfortable situation for a long time.”
“You have saved a life and shown , ”the spider went on, although the impatient thief said he had not intended to do so. “Better yet, you have done so without the least thought or hope of . You have gained more merits (优点) than you could possibly imagine.”
“But you’re only a spider,” said the thief.
“And you’re only a .” said the spider. “My dear friend, when you understand that life is life, whether on eight or two , you will have understood much. Your deed, in any case, has got rid of the bad things from your heart. Go from here with a fresh spirit. And good luck to you.”
The thief did so and never thought to again.
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As a child, I was told that a wise person is the one who learns from everyone. It is a great way to live by this 1 ----One begins to look at people very 2 and he no longer puts others 3 in order to feel good about himself.
Living in China 4 me with many wonderful opportunities to put this theory (理论) into practice, China is quite 5 and as a Westerner, it’s easy for me to consider many of the local habits as “strange” and even “rude”. However, slowly I began to 6 a lot about the culture and about where many of their 7 came from. I decided to make an effort to meet people and 8 from them.
I am living in Harbin now, a city in the Northern part of China, near Russia. Yesterday I 9 to get money from the ATM and have a good cup of coffee after lunch. But I can’t speak Chinese yet and there are no signs in English 10 the nearest supermarket or coffee shop. There are signs in Russian. 11 “espaciba” which means thanks, I don’t know much else. 12 I decided to smile at my every attempt（尝试) to 13 and ask for information that would 14 me to an ATM and a coffee shop. It turned out that my efforts and my 15 were met with more smiles. I learned that 16 is to be found everywhere even17 I cannot communicate, and that people will 18 depending on what I give.
Look around you for opportunities to learn from the most 19 people. You will be surprised at what they can 20 you!
A．principle B．plan C．strength D．reason
A．excitedly B．doubtfully C．anxiously D．differently
A．up B．down C．away D．out
A．helps B．compares C．impresses D．provides
A．special B．modern C．beautiful D．powerful
A．ignore B．forget C．understand D．create
A．names B．habits C．behaviors D．beliefs
A．escape B．suffer C．hear D．learn
A．needed B．refused C．managed D．failed
A．heaving for B．setting up C．looking for D．pointing to
A．Except for B．As for C．According to D．Instead of
A．Yet B．Or C．So D．Besides
A．relax B．command C．explain D．discuss
A．force B．lead C．transport D．follow
A．thanks B．signs C．questions D．smiles
A．illness B．weakness C．kindness D．happiness
A．before B．when C．because D．after
A．react B．gain C．doubt D．benefit
A．famous B．useful C．unexpected D．familiar
A．charge B．teach C．lend D．require
While watching the Olympics the other night, I came across an incredible(难以置信的) sight. The 36 was swimming and started with only three men. For one reason or another, two of them had a 37 start, so they were disqualified. That would have been difficult enough, not having anyone to 38 against.
I watched the man 39 off the blocks and knew immediately that something was wrong. Now I’m not an expert 40 but I do know a good dive 41 a poor one, and this was not exactly medal 42 . I listened to the crowd begin to 43 this poor man that was clearly having a 44 time. Finally he made his turn to start back. It was 45 he made a few desperate(拼命的) stroke(划水) and you could tell he was exhausted.
But in those few 46 strokes, the crowd had changed. No longer were they laughing, but beginning to 47 . Some even began to 48 things like, “Come on, you can do it!” and he 49 finished his race. The crowd went 50 . Even though he recorded one of the 51 times in Olympic history, this man gave more heart than any of the other 52 .
In a competition where athletes remove their silver medals, feeling they have 53 been cheated out of gold, or when they act so 54 in front of their competitors, it is nice to watch an underdog(败者), a man that gave his all --- knowing that he had no chance, but competed because of his 55 and the spirit of the games.
A．view B．event C．game D．match
A．false B．nervous C．strange D．violent
A．fight B．struggle C．defend D．race
A．set B．bounce C．dive D．fall
A．swimmer B．coach C．judge D．adviser
A．from B．in C．beyond D．between
A．feature B．quality C．example D．sign
A．break off B．stand by C．laugh at D．focus on
A．happy B．wonderful C．satisfying D．tough
A．hopeful B．pitiful C．boring D．skillful
A．intellectual B．smart C．awkward D．excellent
A．support B．quit C．cheer D．hesitate
A．speak B．present C．conclude D．yell
A．eventually B．hardly C．successful D．nearly
A．wild B．angry C．sad D．grey
A．fastest B．luckiest C．worst D．slowest
A．companion B．competitors C．volunteers D．partners
A．somehow B．already C．even D．anyway
A．poorly B．carelessly C．sharply D．proudly
A．advantage B．independence C．determination D．principle
One fine afternoon I was walking along the Fifth Avenue, when I remembered that it was necessary to buy a pair of socks．I 36 the first sock shop that caught my eye, and 37 , not more than 17, came forward. "What can I do for you, sir?" "I wish to 38 a pair of socks." 39 glowed. "Did you know that you had come into 40 in the world to buy socks?" I had not been 41 that, as my entrance had been accidental．"Come with me,”"said the boy happily．He began to 42 down from the shelves box after box．
" 43 , boy, I'm going to buy only one pair!" "I know that, but I want you to see how beautiful these are．Aren't they wonderful?" There was 44 an expression of joy, 45 he were revealing(透露） to me the 46 of his religion．I became far more interested in him than in the socks．"My friend,"said I, "if this is 47 the enthusiasm from freshness, and you can keep it up 48 , in ten years you’ll own every sock in the United States．"
My amazement at his pride in 49 will be understood by all who read this article．In many shops the customer has to wait for someone to 50 him．When 51 some clerk does notice you, you are made to feel as if you were interrupting him． 52 possibly that very clerk who is now so 53 began his career with enthusiasm．The freshness 54 ; He became a mechanical salesman．
I’ve observed such change in the lives of so many men in so many occupations that I've come to the 55 that the fastest road to failure is to do things mechanically．
A．turned into B．broke into C．came across D．met with
A．a female clerk B．a boy clerk C．a girl clerk D．an old man
A．buy B．find C．see D．have
A．His face B．The room C．His eyes D．The fire
A．the worst B．the right place C．the wrong D．the best place
A．curious about B．aware of C．sensitive to D．attached to
A．push B．force C．look D．drag
A．Hold up B．Just you wait C．Hold on D．Hang up
A．on his face B．to my surprise C．for some reason D．to some degree
A．when B．as if C．even if D．while
A．beliefs B．stories C．values D．mysteries
A．hardly B．only C．no more than D．not merely
A．day after day B．day by day C．the other day D．to this day
A．passion B．salesmanship C．enthusiasm D．job
A．serve on B．care for C．wait upon D．deal with
A．accidentally B．occasionally C．finally D．disrespectfully
A．Yet B．So C．Then D．For
A．enthusiastic B．unconcerned C．different D．responsible
A．wore of B．wore on C．wore over D．wore off
A．response B．realization C．conclusion D．circumstance
One day, a teacher was speaking to a group of students about how to manage time. He gave such an interesting example that his students would never 26 .
He put a wide-mouth jar(罐) on the table. Then he 27 some rocks and carefully placed them into the jar, one at a time. When 28 rocks would fit inside, he 29 , “Is this jar full?”
Everyone in class shouted, “Yes.” “Really?” The teacher pulled out a bag of small stones. He put 30 small stones in and shook the jar. The small stones went 31 into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the group 32 , “Is this jar full?”
“Probably not,” one of them answered. “Good!” the teacher replied. He brought out a box of sand and 33 some sand on the jar and it went between the rocks and small stones. Again he asked the 34 question, “Is this jar full?
“No,” the class shouted. Once more the teacher said, “Good.” He poured a cup of water into the jar 35 it was full. The he asked, “What is the point here?” One student 36 his hand and said, “The point is that if you try really hard, you can 37 put more things in.”
“No,” the teacher replied, “that’s not the 38 . What I want to tell you is that if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you will never get others in at all. 39 are the ‘big rocks’ in your life? Time with your friends, your education or your dreams? Remember to put the 40 in first, or you’ll never get others in at all?”
A．remember B．like C．forget D．think
A．handed out B．took out C．carried away D．put away
A．no more B．not more C．no many D．not many
A．answered B．read C．asked D．said
A．no B．few C．any D．some
A．up B．out C．down D．away
A．no more B．once again C．a third time D．a fourth time
A．sent B．put C．bought D．collected
A．same B．different C．difficult D．common
A．since B．till C．while D．because
A．offered B．placed C．raised D．shook
A．always B．already C．never D．hardly
A．point B．example C．promise D．story
A．When B．What C．Who D．Why
A．sand B．small stones C．big rocks D．water
One day I was doing a big clean-up when I 36 a knotted handkerchief with an old dark brown coin inside. I took one look and immediately 37 an unforgettable time.
In 1991, I had spent five months in Niger, with sandstorms and great heat. Its 38 and beggars were my biggest and most constant complaint. Street beggars would continually reached out their hands, shouting “Gift! Gift!”
One day, I 39 for neighboring Burkina to work in a health clinic.Arriving by taxi at our destination in Burkina, we began to 40 . Out of the darkness, a motorbike with two men approached slowly. Without 41 , one of the men grabbed my daypack as the motorbike swept close by. Within seconds, the two were out of sight, 42 up by the night.
The bag had my passport, money, traveler’s cheques, camera, an airline ticket and other things 43 to me. I was in deep trouble.
In the weeks that followed, I 44 guarded the rest of my valuables and regarded all 45 with suspicion. All I wanted was to leave this place.
Then, walking through Burkina’s streets, I met with an old woman, “Gift! Gift!” she cried. I’d had enough. I was 46 of the country: its poverty, its thieves, the heat, and the dust, I told her angrily, “A thief stole all my money and now I can’t 47 out of your country. I cannot give you anything”.
The beggar woman listened attentively and 48 my words. Then she reached 49 the folds of her dress.
“Then I will give you a gift”, she announced. Kindly, she placed and old, dark brown coin in my hand. I looked at it in 50 . It was a very small amount of money – but for this woman, the coin 51 a meal. At that moment, I felt a shame. In spite of the 52 , she was able to give me something priceless.
I saw then the 53 beauty of the people of Burkina, and appreciated deeply the quiet 54 of the poor. With the old woman’s gift, I hope never to part with the coin she gave me. With one small coin, she 55 my concept completely.
A．cared about B．came across C．looked for D．focused upon
A．presented B．gave C．recalled D．reminded
A．traffic B．dust C．noise D．climate
A．headed B．struggled C．stood D．came
A．move B．unload C．hide D．pass
A．warning B．planning C．thinking D．arranging
A．hung B．put C．swallowed D．cleared
A．obvious B．expensive C．familiar D．previous
A．elegantly B．cautiously C．dependently D．frequently
A．locals B．thieves C．beggars D．motorbikes
A．proud B．conscious C．sick D．aware
A．get B．run C．come D．rush
A．attended to B．looked up C．thought about D．wrote down
A．for B．into C．out D．at
A．order B．vain C．serve D．shock
A．meant B．made C．served D．suggested
A．dirtiness B．poverty C．kindness D．safety
A．updated B．unfolded C．broken D．unexpected
A．moment B．action C．dignity D．life
A．changed B．damaged C．found D．accepted
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