Before Father’s Day, I found my father was unhappy because he was out of work. I decided to cheer him up by buying him a special Father’s Day gift.
One day after school I to the Agins which was known for fashions and styles. I told Agins that I was looking for a Father’s Day present.
“ Do you think he’d like a ?” she asked. “I think he might.” I told her.
She a Swiss watch and I told her that would like it.
“ How much money do you have?” she asked.
“ dollars.” I replied.
“You’re so lucky!” she told me. “It’s only $11. You still have $1 for the . “ She packed the watch and I thanked for my business, and I rode off home with the gift under my arm.
When my father opened the gift, he asked . “Where did you get it?”
“I bought it at the Agins. I cost me $11.” I said. My father was shocked into silence.
Many years later, I did learn that the watch was worth several hundred dollars, I appreciated(赞赏) how wonderful Agins had been to me. I always felt that I never had chance to thank her.
“What really amazes me to this day…my daughter.” My father said, “Letting you have the watch for 11 dollars was enough. But the fact that she let you leave the store with a dollar for the card was a touch(触动) of . I’ll never forget it.”
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Lightning flashed through the darkness over Sibson’s bedroom skylight（天窗）.Sibson was shaken by a clap of thunder ____21___ he knew what was happening. The storm had moved directly _____22____ his two-story wooden house. Then he heard the smoke alarm beeping.
Sibson rushed down the stairs barefoot to 23 ; he opened the door to the basement（地下室）, and flames 24 out. Sibson ran back upstairs to call 911 from his bedroom. “I felt 25 because the room had a separate outdoor stairway,” he explains.
But the phone didn’t work, and when he tried to go down the outdoor stairway, he was 26 by a wall of flames. Sibson realized he was trapped（困住）.
Sibson’s house was three kilometers 27 the main road and was so well hidden by trees that he knew calling for help would be 28 .
Up a hill nearby lived Sibson’s neighbor, Huggons. He was lying in bed when something like a smoke alarm 29 his ears. He jumped out of bed, took his 30 and flashlight, and headed down the hillside toward the 31 . That was when he saw the rolling heavy smoke.
Huggons dialed 911, and the operator warned him not to 32 the house. But Huggons said, “There is no way I am going to listen to Sibson 33 and die in that fire.”
“Anyone there?” Huggons called out. Then he heard “Help! I’m trapped!” coming from the second floor balcony（阳台）. He entered the house, but soon had to run back to catch his 34 .
After one more 35 inside the house, Huggons gave up and 36 around back.
The wind parted the smoke just 37 for him to catch sight of Sibson. But there was no way to get to him. He 38 the flashlight into the woods and noticed a ladder. He took it over to the balcony and 39 Sibson down just as the second floor of the house fell off.
Sibson is still 40 when he tells the story. “ I was alone that night,” he says. “Then I heard the most beautiful sound in my life. It was Huggons.”
A．before B．while C．since D．until
A．on B．in C．through D．over
A．hide B．wait C．check D．escape
A．moved B．gave C．went D．exploded
A．safe B．worried C．glad D．tired
A．burned B．stopped C．shocked D．covered
A．beside B．off C．across D．along
A．limited B．false C．fruitless D．regretful
A．struck B．missed C．touched D．passed
A．coat B．key C．basin D．phone
A．noise B．road C．smoke D．danger
A．search B．enter C．leave D．damage
A．call B．roll C．scream D．sigh
A．breath B．attention C．ladder D．flashlight
A．stay B．chance C．thought D．attempt
A．climbed B．circled C．looked D．jumped
A．clear B．open C．enough D．fit
A．led B．put C．drove D．shone
A．persuaded B．kicked C．pulled D．forced
A．nervous B．surprised C．proud D．thankful
The concept of solitude (独处) in the digital world is almost non-existent. In the world of digital technology, e-mail, social networking and online video games, information is meant to be____36___. Solitude can be hard to discover ___37____it has been given up. In this respect, new technologies have ___38____our culture.
The desire to be connected has brought solitude to a(n) ___39____as we’ve known it. People have become so ___40____in the world of networks and connections that one can often be contacted ____41___they’d rather not be. Today we can talk, text, e-mail, chat and blog (写博客), not only from our ___42____, but from our mobile phones as well.
Most developed nations have become ___43____on digital technology simply because they’ve grown accustomed to it, and at this point not ___44____it would make them an outsider. ___45____, many jobs and careers require people to be ___46____. From this point of view, technology has changed the culture of work. Being reachable might feel like a ___47____to those who may not want to be able to be contacted at all times.
I suppose the positive side is that solitude is still possible for anyone who ___48____wants it. Computers can be shut ___49____and mobile phones can be turned off. The ability to be “connected”and “ on”has many ___50____, as well as disadvantages. Travelers have ended up ___51____on mountains, and mobile phones have saved countless lives. They can also make people feel ___52____and forced to answer unwanted calls or___53____to unwanted texts.
Attitudes towards our connectedness as a society ___54____ across generations. Some find today’s technology a gift. Others consider it a curse. Regardless of anyone’s view on the subject, it’s hard to imagine what life would be like ___55____daily advancements in technology.
A．updated B．received C．shared D．collected
A．though B．until C．once D．before
A．respected B．shaped C．ignored D．preserved
A．edge B．stage C．end D．balance
A．sensitive B．intelligent C．considerate D．reachable
A．even if B．only if C．as if D．if only
A．media B．computers C．databases D．monitors
A．bent B．hard C．keen D．dependent
A．finding B．using C．protecting D．changing
A．Also B．Instead C．Otherwise D．Somehow
A．connected B．trained C．recommended D．interested
A．pleasure B．benefit C．burden D．disappointment
A．slightly B．hardly C．merely D．really
A．out B．down C．up D．in
A．aspects B．weaknesses C．advantages D．exceptions
A．hidden B．lost C．relaxed D．deserted
A．trapped B．excited C．confused D．amused
A．turn B．submit C．object D．reply
A．vary B．arise C．spread D．exist
A．beyond B．within C．despite D．without
When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student(优等生), I believed I could 1 tough（=hard） subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he 2 in class.
When I took the first exam, I was 3 to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper, 4 English was my best subject. I went to reason with Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained 5 .
I decided to try harder, although I didn't know what that 6 because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I 7 with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn't change his 8 .
One more test before the final exam. One more 9 to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts(加倍努力) and, for the first time, 10 the meaning of the word "thorough"（彻底的）.But my 11 did no good and everything 12 as before.
The last hurdle（障碍）was the final. No matter what 13 I got, it wouldn't cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the 14 goodbye.
I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even 15 myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I'd have 16 with a test.
A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into Professor Jayne's office. He 17 to be expecting me. "If I gave you the As you 18 , you wouldn't continue to work as hard."
I stared at him, 19 that his analysis and strategy（策略）were correct. I had worked my head 20 , as I had never done before.
I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I've always remembered Professor Jayne's lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.
A．take B．discuss C．cover D．get
A．found B．presented C．exchanged D．obtained
A．shocked B．worried C．scared D．anxious
A．but B．so C．for D．or
A．unchanged B．unpleasant C．unfriendly D．unmoved
A．reflected B．meant C．improved D．affected
A．quarreled B．reasoned C．bargained D．chatted
A．attitude B．mind C．plan D．view
A．choice B．step C．chance D．measure
A．memorized B．considered C．accepted D．learned
A．ambition B．confidence C．effort D．method
A．stayed B．went C．worked D．changed
A．grade B．answer C．lesson D．comment
A．scholarship B．course C．degree D．subject
A．helped B．favored C．treated D．relaxed
A．fun B．luck C．problems D．tricks
A．happened B．proved C．pretended D．seemed
A．valued B．imagined C．expected D．welcomed
A．remembering B．guessing C．supposing D．realizing
A．out B．over C．on D．off
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried ___1___ for hours as the farmer tried to think out ___2___ to do. Finally, he decided the animal was ___3___, and the well needed to be ___4___ up anyway; it just wasn’t ___5___ it to save the donkey. He invited all his ___6___ to come over and help him. They all grabbed（握起）a shovel（铁锹）and began to shovel ___7___ into the well. At first, the donkey ___8___ what was happening and cried horribly(惊恐的,害怕的). Then, to everyone’s ___9___ he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked ___10___ the well. He was surprised at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. As the farmer’s neighbours ___11___to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would ___12__ it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily ran off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. If you want to get out of the well, the ___13___ is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone（垫脚石）. We can get out of the ___14___ wells just by not stopping, never ___15___! Shake it off and take a step up.
A．sadly B．happily C．excitedly D．fiercely
A．how B．what C．that D．which
A．painful B．old C．rare D．powerful
A．drowned B．solved C．covered D．emptied
A．important B．possible C．necessary D．worth
A．neighbours B．relatives C．friends D．family
A．dust B．dirt C．waste D．soil
A．doubted B．recognized C．realized D．admitted
A．sorrow B．joy C．fear D．amazement
A．down B．around C．through D．over
A．pretended B．continued C．stopped D．determined
A．wash B．blow C．wipe D．shake
A．trick B．trap C．trouble D．tradition
A．longest B．largest C．deepest D．widest
A．having fun B．watching over C．giving up D．dying out
I could have easily gone through life without getting to know one of the most romantic feelings---love for a dog. For at least ten years my 1 had been suggesting that we get a dog. There were several reasons why the 2 came up. We had noticed that, on our block, couples with no children as a rule 3 one large or two small dogs. So we got one puppy (小狗) 4 we too had no children.
He flew into the house with the 5 of a Formula 1 (一级方程式赛车). In several minutes he ran over all the house, 6 from my shoulder onto the bed, and ended up in the 7 , where my wife washed him with 8 care. From that day on, the invisible（看不见的） 9 for the love of the new member of our household began at my home.
He seemed to 10 that at once. Most of the meals that my wife had 11 for him with greater care than those for me—he didn’t 12 look at them.
Every evening I went out walking with him. I could not know who was walking whom 13 one evening, when, tired from work, I 14 the walk. The dog was very angry and dragged me out.
Last night our dog pulled me by the ear with his teeth, 15 me up in my dream, and dragged me into the kitchen to make me turn off the 16 which had disturbed his sleep. I meekly（乖乖地）17 that I had forgotten to turn off the light, but that was not 18 . He looked at me like a teacher at a pupil who repeatedly makes 19 .
Now we finally know who’s the 20 at home, and for twenty years we had seriously argued whether it was my wife or I.
A．wife B．son C．husband D．daughter
A．promise B．chance C．idea D．trouble
A．kept B．rose C．carried D．invited
A．if B．unless C．since D．before
A．speed B．shape C．cost D．race
A．climbed B．jumped C．covered D．stopped
A．yard B．street C．kitchen D．bathroom
A．friendly B．motherly C．natural D．personal
A．signal B．work C．war D．truth
A．doubt B．understand C．deserve D．inspect
A．reached B．searched C．looked D．prepared
A．even B．still C．ever D．yet
A．while B．because C．until D．as
A．gave in B．gave up C．gave away D．gave out
A．broke B．woke C．picked D．packed
A．water B．heater C．cooker D．light
A．hoped B．considered C．admitted D．decided
A．enough B．good C．bad D．true
A．plans B．mistakes C．faces D．decisions
A．boss B．member C．adult D．child
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