When I was a teenager, whatever my mother asked me to do was immediately followed by my complaining, "I can't." , very few tasks that I set out to finish were completed.
One evening, my mother me into the study where she was reading an article in the TV Guide. On the cover was a(n) of Marlo Thomas, a famous actress now starring in one of my favorite shows.
"I want you to read this article," Mother began. "It's about Marlo Thomas. She how a simple poem that she was forced to learn by her father her life. She went from saying, "I can't" to "I !" According to this article, she was able to rebuild her life, and finally her career, by learning the principles in the poem."
I took the small magazine from Mother and looked down at the pages. Beside her photo was the poem my mother had ; a simple poem entitled, "I Can."
"I want you to learn that by heart," Mother said.
"Mum," I said. "I can't learn that poem. It's too ."
"It's not too long and yes, you can learn it. I want you to know it by this time tomorrow."
I turned and made my way back to my bedroom with the magazine loosely inmy small right hand. With a heavy heart, I sat on my bed and began my .
"Can't is a word that is enemy to ambition（雄心）," I began. I the line until it held inmy heart. I the process until the following evening, when I said the poem aloud from my memory that has continued to be my motto.
Ms. Thomas did not know me, but her story changed my life.
Saying, "I can," helped me to survive the worst moments of my life. Saying "I can" me to finish things I would have otherwise seen as out of my .
A．Before long B．In addition C．As a result D．Aside from
A．ever B．never C．even D．still
A．took B．pulled C．locked D．called
A．example B．photo C．passage D．introduction
A．hopes B．tells C．reports D．admits
A．changed B．helped C．improved D．saved
A．will B．must C．can D．may
A．found out B．left for C．made up D．spoken of
A．article B．story C．poem D．actress
A．difficult B．long C．boring D．meaningless
A．perfectly B．quickly C．constantly D．slowly
A．caught B．placed C．touched D．held
A．homework B．task C．activity D．plan
A．repeated B．remarked C．liked D．analysed
A．hard B．fast C．firm D．close
A．finished B．continued C．studied D．stopped
A．proudly B．softly C．slowly D．luckily
A．mainly B．partly C．forever D．only
A．allowed B．caused C．forced D．encouraged
A．mind B．business C．life D．reach
Ella Fant was a middle-aged lady who lived with her only son John in a small house.She__16__John very much. In her__17__he couldn't do anything__18__.Every morning she would give him breakfirst_-19__bed and bring him the papers to__20__.It isn't really true that he was too__21__to work---in fact he had tried a few__22__.First of all he was a window-cleaner and in his first week he managed to__23__at least six windows. Then he__24__a bus conductor and on his second__25__a passenger stole his bag with all the fares（车费）collected.He__26__lost his job as a postman__27__he sent off all the letters when he should have taken them to people's houses. It seemed that there was__28__suitable work for him. So he__29__to join the army. Mrs. Fant was so__30__about this that she told the__31__to all her neighbours. "My John is good to be a soldier," she said. "He is going to be the best soldier there__32__was,I can tell you!"
Then the great day came__33__he was to march past the palace in the parade（接受检阅的队伍）.His__34__mother traveled to the city early in the morning to be sure of getting a good__35__in the crowd. The parade was full of sound and colour. But when John and his fellow soldiers came in sight some of the people watching couldn’t help laughing at the one who couldn't keep pace with the other as they marched along.
But Ella Fant, who was filled with happiness shouted at the top of her voice: "Look at them! They're all out of step except my John! Isn't he the best!"
A．depended on B．waited on C．trusted D．loved
A．hope B．eyes C．head D．beliefs
A．wrong B．great C．good D．strange
A．to B．at C．in D．by
A．check B．read C．keep D．sign
A．lazy B．young C．weak D．shy
A．ones B．years C．tasks D．jobs
A．rub B．drop C．break D．clean
A．day B．try C．route D．chance
A．thus B．even C．once D．only
A．even if B．so that C．because D．though
A．some B．such C．less D．no
A．began B．promised C．managed D．decided
A．excited B．worried C．anxious D．curious
A．incident B．change C．news D．matter
A．yet B．ever C．never D．just
A．where B．since C．when D．till
A．proud B．kind C．strict D．lucky
A．time B．position C．experience D．impression
Pass Your Love On
Waiting for the airplane to take off, I was happy to get a seat by myself. Just then, an air hostess approached me and asked, “Would you mind 36 your seat? A couple would like to sit together.” The only 37 seat was next to a girl with her arms in casts (石膏绷带)，a black-and-blue face, and a sad expression. “ 38 am I going to sit there,” I thought immediately. But a soft voice spoke, “She needs help.” Finally, I 39 _ to move to that seat.
The girl was named Kathy. She 40 in a car accident and now was on her way for_ 41 .
When the snack and juice arrived, it did not take me long to 42 that Kathy would not be able to 43 herself. I considered 44 to feed her but hesitated, as it seemed too 45 to offer a service to a 46___. But then I realized that Kathy’s need was more 47 than my discomfort. I offered to help her eat, and 48 she was uncomfortable to accept, she 49 as I expected. We became closer and closer in a short period of time. By the end of the five-hour trip, my heart 50 , and the 51 was really better spent than if I had just sat by myself.
I was very glad I had reached 52 my comfort zone(地带) to sit next to Kathy and feed her. Love 53 flows beyond human borders（边界） and removes the fears that keep us 54 . When we 55 to serve another, we grow to live in a larger and more rewarding world.
A．losing B．changing C．taking D．bringing
A．comfortable B．suitable C．available D．favorite
A．No problem B．No way C．Nowhere D．No doubt
A．decided B．wanted C．regretted D．refused
A．was B．would be C．used to be D．had been
A．treatment B．travel C．pleasure D．business
A．see B．say C．realize D．recognize
A．eat B．feed C．choose D．support
A．offering B．needing C．stopping D．trying
A．impolite B．far C．good D．fast
A．interpreter B．neighbor C．passenger D．stranger
A．unusual B．direct C．important D．shameful
A．when B．although C．since D．as
A．refused B．wondered C．cried D．did
A．had warmed B．had jumped C．had broken D．hadcheered
A．life B．money C．time D．energy
A．below B．through C．across D．beyond
A．seldom B．never C．hardly D．sometimes
A．separate B．independent C．silent D．upset
A．happen B．offer C．wait D．continue
In some cities, workaholism(工作狂)is so common that people don’t consider it unusual, they accept the lifestyle as ____11____. Government worker in Washington D.C, ____12___, frequently work sixty to seventy hours a week. They don’t do this because they have to; they do it because they ___13___to. Workaholism can be a ___14___problem. Because true workaholism would rather work than do anything else, they___15___have no idea of how to relax; that is, they might not ___16___movies, sports, or other types of entertainment. Most of all, they ___17___ to sit and do nothing. The lives of workaholics are usually stressful, and this tension (紧张) and worry can cause___18___problems such as heart attacks and stomach disease. ___19___, typical workaholics don’t pay much attention to their families. Their marriages may end in___20___ as they spend little time with their families.
Is workaholism___21___dangerous? Perhaps not. There are, certainly, people who work ___22___under stress. Some studies show that many workaholics have great energy and interest in work. They feel ___23___ is so pleasurable that they are actually very happy. For most workaholics, work and entertainment are the same thing. Their jobs___24___them with challenge; this keeps them busy and creative.
Why do workaholics enjoy their jobs so much? There are several factors to work. Of course, it provides people with paychecks. But it offers more than financial security. It provides people with self-confidence; they have a feeling of satisfaction ___25___ they have produced a challenging piece of work.
A．strange B．boring C．pleasant D．normal
A．for example B．on the other hand C．what’s more D．after all
A．agree B．promise C．dare D．want
A．slight B．serious C．obvious D．difficult
A．still B．probably C．certainly D．mostly
A．afford B．enjoy C．watch D．allow
A．dream B．decide C．intend D．hate
A．physical B．cultural C．social D．mental
A．Therefore B．However C．Anyway D．Besides
A．happiness B．silence C．failure D．surprise
A．sometimes B．always C．seldom D．hardly
A．sadly B．differently C．efficiently D．slowly
A．study B．family C．life D．work
A．equip B．pack C．provide D．fill
A．when B．before C．unless D．until
“Tell me what you were like when you were my age,” I asked my mother one afternoon. She looked up, 21 at my question. After a long time she answered, “I was 22 like you. Then, there was only one career for girls — being a hard-working 23. To tell the truth, it is 24 for me to tell you that I 25 my mother when I was growing up. I did so much for her. Besides doing lots of housework, every night I would go into my parents’ bedroom, and wash their feet with warm water. Not once did my mother ever said, ‘thank you’."
I stared out of the window, remembering 26 I grew up, always wanting to hear a word of 27 from her, but getting only the rule and 28 I could never live up to (做到). I remembered the years when she 29 me to get up at six every morning and cook breakfast for the family before leaving for school. Least of all, I remembered the times she’d 30 me to other girls who were as old as me and found me useless.
“Nothing was ever 31 enough for my mother,’’ continued my mother, “ but now I know she did 32 me, even if she never said so. I told you this just for a 33. Yes, I love all my children, but you are my first child, the first in everything to me. I have been very strict and hard on you, but I 34 you in the only way I knew. I am 35 proud of you.”
A．excited B．angry C．disappointed D．surprised
A．ever B．mostly C．never D．once
A．woman B．worker C．wife D．student
A．comfortable B．proud C．shameful D．silly
A．hated B．loved C．respected D．forgave
A．where B．how C．before D．when
A．honesty B．use C．importance D．praise
A．promise B．order C．expectation D．curiosity
A．made B．encouraged C．forced D．advised
A．compared B．matched C．explained D．introduced
A．interesting B．bad C．modern D．good
A．support B．love C．honour D．ignore
A．reason B．explanation C．excuse D．consideration
A．helped B．taught C．raised D．affected
A．slightly B．generally C．actually D．gradually
Tears clouded my eyes as I stood in our washing room, holding Brett’s jeans and full of burn holes.
Tired and defeated, I 31 to the floor. The clothes were just one more thing Brett had 32 . He often got almost everything in the house out of 33 . Many windows in our house needed repair due to his breaking 34 to steal money when he chose to live on the street. Yet none of this could compare to the emotional 35 Brett had done to our once quiet home.
Brett came to live with us when he was 12 years old. During the next few years I had dealt with Brett a 36 as possible, but inside I was shouting. “I don’t want him in my house another day, Lord! I just can’t 37 him!” Having wiped my tears, I continued 38 him as before.
When Brett was nearly 18, he landed again in Juvenile Hall(少管所). After that, my husband and I had to send Brett to a boarding school for helping 39 teens.
At the 40 ceremony, each graduate held a white rose to give to the person who had 41 the most to him or her. Brett spoke 42 to his parents and then spoke to me, “You did so much. You were always there, no matter 43 . My mom and dad, I was their kid. But you, 44 troubled enough by me, always 45 me such love. And I want you to know I love you for it.”
46 , I stood as Brett placed the white rose in my hand and hugged me 47 .
At that moment, tears 48 in my eyes again, this time not for disappointment but for 49 . Although I had struggled with silent 50 toward my stepson, Brett had seen only my actions. Love is action. We may not always have positive feelings about certain people in our lives, but we can love them.
A．sat B．sank C．bent D．dropped
A．ruined B．lost C．torn D．broken
A．danger B．place C．trouble D．order
A．off B．in C．up D．away
A．pain B．injury C．damage D．harm
A．patiently B．willingly C．strictly D．rudely
A．forgive B．educate C．stand D．control
A．parenting B．pardoning C．comforting D．feeding
A．lazy B．troublesome C．disappointing D．careless
A．opening B．official C．victory D．graduation
A．afforded B．meant C．supplied D．owed
A．lovingly B．sadly C．proudly D．nervously
A．where B．how C．what D．who
A．unless B．although C．because D．when
A．cost B．lent C．taught D．showed
A．Astonished B．Puzzled C．Encouraged D．Interested
A．surely B．roughly C．tightly D．fiercely
A．fell B．flowed C．moved D．gathered
A．pity B．happiness C．luck D．success
A．love B．anxiety C．anger D．care
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