閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項。

1

I planted two seeds side by side in the soil in my backyard. The first said， “I want to grow！ I want to send my roots? into the soil， and try to . I want to feel the? of the sun on my face！” And it grew. The second seed said， “I am . If I send my roots into the ground below， I dont know what I will meet in the . If I push my way through the hard soil， I may? my small sprouts （芽）. What if a small child may? me up from the ground. No， it is much better for me to wait until .” A hen walking around for food found the waiting seed and? ate it.

I sometimes? myself—What if I stop focusing on the worst and go for the ？ Most people can do? things if they have the confidence to take the ， yet most people dont. There are lots of people? on the sofa saying， “Im going...” They will do it when they are rich and when they get? and their children are perfectly grown.

The? is that your life can never be . Part of it might be， though. Step away from the sofa sitters who are? a single perfect day to begin? their dreams.

Believe in yourself and know that you can do anything！ However， those who? to risk get controlled by life finally.

1. A. high B. wide C. short D. deep

2. A. get up B. stand out C. go out D. come up

3. A. warmth B. anger C. strength D. coolness

4. A. happy B. afraid C. wrong D. excited

5. A. sky B. sea C. dark D. light

6. A. damage B. grow C. help D. touch

7. A. send B. hold C. pull D. put

8. A. wet B. clear C. clean D. safe

9. A. frequently B. kindly C. seriously D. immediately

10. A. charge B. ask C. answer D. control

11. A. easiest B. smallest C. best D. farthest

12. A. unusual B. humorous C. boring D. useless

13. A. food B. money C. risk D. invitation

14. A. walking B. jumping C. sitting D. standing

15. A. married B. rich C. young D. handsome

16. A. quality B. truth C. dream D. advantage

17. A. nice B. interesting C. shiny D. perfect

18. A. spending B. thinking C. suffering D. waiting

19. A. realizing B. reaching C. hurting D. affecting

20. A. start B. prefer C. refuse D. fail

2

I was on vacation with my husband， my brother， and his wife and daughter. We were not? ? 1? ? with the area and got on a bus， thinking it would be a nice way to see the downtowns old town area. Well， until? ? 2? ? with the bus driver， we didnt find that we were on the neighborhood route which? ? 3? ? school children and delivers people to various? places. That was a route of over about two hours. That was a surprise and a concern because we had? ? 5? ? our vehicle （汽車） in a timed parking area and it was going to? ? 6? ?.

We shared this with the bus driver only to let her know we were not from the area and? ? 7? ? for getting on her bus by mistake. Then she surprised us by? ? 8? ? saying， “I get off shift （換班） after a few more blocks， and if you dont? taking my company car， Id be happy to take you? ? 10? ? to your vehicle before the time end.” The bus driver received permission from her? ? 11? ?， so we thankfully said yes to her? ? 12? ?.

She went out of her way to take us back to our vehicle after her shift was? ? 13? ? and it wasnt on her route home， either. We were? ? 14? ? and grateful for her kindness.? ? 15? ?， because she shared some of her? ? 16? ? about the school-age children she sometimes had on the bus route， I offered her a few? ? 17? ? on how to quiet the children with a skill that would make the ride? ? 18? ? for them as well as for her. She was so? ? 19? ?. It was a wonderful? ? 20? ? of kindness！

1. A. angry B. familiar C. busy D. patient

2. A. talking B. dealing C. going D. meeting

3. A. puts down B. drives off C. picks up D. brings up

4. A. downtown B. district C. attraction D. neighborhood

5. A. stopped B. parked C. ridden D. driven

6. A. end B. change C. drop D. land

7. A. cared B. answered C. apologized D. prepared

8. A. faster B. worse C. earlier D. further

9. A. mind B. like C. appreciate D. enjoy

10. A. up B. back C. down D. over

11. A. teacher B. child C. passenger D. manager

12. A. instruction B. offer C. invitation D. requirement

13. A. over B. open C. clean D. clear

14. A. satisfied B. astonished C. exhausted D. touched

15. A. In fact B. In common C. In return D. In general

16. A. concerns B. attitudes C. behaviors D. disciplines

17. A. tips B. tools C. ways D. approaches

18. A. shorter B. faster C. easier D. safer

19. A. disappointed B. excited C. thankful D. hopeful

20. A. expression B. exchange C. explanation D. expansion

3

When my husband and I got married， he worked as a mechanic （機(jī)修工） from midnight to 8 am. However， I worked during the? ? 1? ?. So as he came home from work each morning， I was getting ready to? ? 2? ?.

We had very little? then， so when Valentines Day? around that first year， I knew we couldnt? anything for each other. After he left to go to work the night before Valentines Day， I decided to? and make a Valentines Day card for him. I? ? 7? ? wrote a poem on the front of the card. When he came home the next? ? 8? ?， I felt foolish as I handed him the card，? ? 9? ? that he wouldnt laugh at it. When he had finished? ? 10? ? it， he slowly? ? 11? ? his head and looked at me. Then he? ? 12? ? down into his pocket. When he pulled his hand out， he was holding something.

He told me that he had? ? 13? ? it for me during his lunch hour， but he had been? ? 14? ? to give it to me because he thought I might think it was? ? 15? ?， and that I might laugh at it.

It was a small heart made out of aluminum （鋁）. While I had stayed up all night making him a valentine card， he had been cutting out a? ? 16? ? for me. I still have the aluminum heart， and I? ? 17? ? it in my desk. Every time I see it， all those? ? 18? ? come flooding back to me. Over the years， weve been able to buy each other very nice，? ? 19? ? presents for Valentines Day. But none has ever been as dear or meant as much as those handmade gifts made from our? ? 20? ? the first year that we were married.

1. A. day B. night C. weekend D. holiday

2. A. cook B. leave C. rest D. help

3. A. time B. chance C. money D. energy

4. A. went B. turned C. came D. hung

5. A. buy B. choose C. find D. create

6. A. look out? ? B. call back? ? C. slow down D. stay up

7. A. still B. yet C. even D. again

8. A. morning? ? B. noon C. afternoon? ? D. night

9. A. imagining? B. hoping C. guessing? ? D. noticing

10. A. studying B. reading? ? C. examining? ? D. playing

11. A. shook? B. touched? ? C. moved? ? ? D. raised

12. A. reached B. got C. bent D. looked

13. A. written? ? B. drawn C. made D. discovered

14. A. surprised B. happy C. serious D. afraid

15. A. wrong? ? B. difficult? ? C. different? ? D. stupid

16. A. heart? ? B. card C. ring D. poem

17. A. remember? ? B. keep C. throw D. find

18. A. problems? B. pains C. memories? ? D. choices

19. A. strange? ? B. special C. expensive D. satisfying

20. A. hearts? ? B. ideas C. ability? ? D. knowledge

4

A few years ago， I was working on a project in a small office of a company. While everyone was friendly， there seemed to be a（n）? ? 1? ? of the workplace culture， for which I wanted to do something? ? 2? ?.

So one evening， I wrote up a few quotes （引語） that have? ? 3? ? me over the years. The next morning， I went to work a bit early and quickly? ? 4? ? them up by the sinks and mirrors in the office? ? 5? ?.

For the next few months， some of the quotes got? ? 6? ? but I noticed that a couple? ? 7? ?. So perhaps they were meaningful to some of them.

Eventually， I finished out my contract （合同） with that? ? 8? ? and went to work in another place.

A few months ago， I was? ? 9? ? to a reunion （聚會） with my colleagues to hear updates on how the? ? 10? ? I had worked on was going. Although I no longer? ? 11? ? in this office building， I had really enjoyed working with the team， and was? ? 12? ? to see them all again. Towards the end of the? ? 13? ?， I went to the restroom， and one of the quotes that I had written before was still? ? 14? ? in the same spot by the mirror！ It? ? 15? ?： The real voyage of discovery consists not in? new lands， but seeing with new eyes.

Maybe the quote still stood out as a? ? 17? ? reminder each time someone went to the restroom. Whatever the case is， it is a sweet? ? 18? ? and reminder that we never know how long a seed planted will? ? 19? ? to bloom and give fruit—but to simply keep? ? 20? ? seeds of kindness from the heart nothing less， and nothing more.

1. A. sign B. lack C. honor D. atmosphere

2. A. finally B. separately C. secretly D. hardly

3. A. encouraged B. shaped C. shocked D. protected

4. A. held B. picked C. tied D. posted

5. A. windows B. building C. halls D. restroom

6. A. put down B. shut down C. taken down D. turned down

7. A. remained B. appeared C. changed D. broke

8. A. office B. company C. colleague D. job

9. A. admitted B. invited C. ordered D. requested

10. A. report B. research C. problem D. project

11. A. talked B. instructed C. enjoyed D. relaxed

12. A. curious B. tired C. worried D. happy

13. A. step B. event C. activity D. business

14. A. up B. indoor C. off D. outside

15. A. told B. wrote C. read D. spoke

16. A. creating B. sailing C. setting D. seeking

17. A. warning B. challenging C. shining D. joking

18. A. moment B. memory C. sentence D. quote

19. A. spend B. remind C. take D. afford

20. A. bringing B. planting C. harvesting D. sharing

5

Its been so long that I cant remember the crime， but Ill never? ? 1? ? the punishment： Dig up the fig （無花果） tree in the backyard and plant it at Mumsys place in the country. As I often did when I was punished to do hard work in the garden， I thought this was my parents way of? ? 2? ? me to do their dirty work.

It was a Sunday morning. With some tools， I went to the tree and? ? 3? ? it down. “What did that? ? 4? ? ever do to you？ You should have left some taproot （主根）， at least. Go and load up the truck，” my father said. On any other day before， during the? ? 5? ? to Mumsys， we would have pleasantly? ? 6? ? school as usual， but I kept silent that time.

Then， at Mumsys， instead of sitting back to watch me work， he? ? 7? ? me. As my father and I took turns to work， I could feel my? ? 8? ? disappeared， making room for the simple satisfaction of working at my fathers side toward a（n）? goal.

“Well，” my father said when we? ? 10? ?， “weve done what we can do.” “Do you think theres any? ? 11? ? that it can grow up？” I asked. “Its rich dirt. They say you can? ? 12? ? toenails in it and grow little kids，” my father answered. I never tried the toenail trick， but I did? ? 13? ? as it settled in， took root， and began to prosper. I was? ? 14? ? and happy when bowls of figs began to fill the fridge.

In a? ? 15? ? fair world， I dont deserve the reward. I had? ? 16? ? the tree for my own complaints. What right did I have to the fruit？ Years later， I put this? ? 17? ? to my father. Watching him slide a bowl of figs from the fridge one morning， I felt shameful for my boyhood? ? 18? ?. My father took a fig from the? ? 19? ? and let me think of the fruit as forgiveness. “You，” he said， “? ? 20? ? some of that.”

1. A. allow B. forget C. accept D. escape

2. A. inviting B. helping C. forcing D. advising

3. A. cut B. pulled C. put D. turned

4. A. truck B. tool C. tree D. taproot

5. A. rest B. way C. walk D. ride

6. A. thought of B. talked about C. broke into D. gave up

7. A. forgave B. tricked C. entertained D. joined

8. A. anger B. courage C. strength D. interest

9. A. amusing B. ridiculous C. common D. equal

10. A. argued B. continued C. started D. finished

11. A. relationship B. chance C. advantage D. value

12. A. dig B. plant C. remove D. observe

13. A. understand B. determine C. watch D. feel

14. A. frightened B. amazed C. embarrassed D. disappointed

15. A. perfectly B. partly C. mostly D. probably

16. A. forgotten B. hurt C. helped D. guarded

17. A. task B. trouble C. question D. complaint

18. A. background B. misfortune C. memory D. mistake

19. A. fridge B. bowl C. kitchen D. desk

20. A. deserve B. receive C. protect D. eat

6

When I was young， each morning I woke up and would find my father nowhere around the house. He usually got up early before? ? 1? ? and began cleaning the farmyard. In summer， he got up even earlier to? ? 2? ? the flowers and vegetables in the garden. Once I helped my father to? ? 3? ? weeds （野草） from the corn field. It wasnt long before I felt very? ? 4? ? but the field ridge （田埂） seemed? ? 5? ?. Finally I totally threw myself flat in the field， feeling? ? 6? ?. My dad seemed to have? ? 7? ? my mind. He came up and said， “Farming is tiring and really takes? ? 8? ? and sweat， but in? the sweet harvest will be worth the? ? 10? ?.” Encouraged by his words， I struggled to my feet. My father? ? 11? ? and added， “Rome is not built in a? ? 12? ?， but it can be built in hundreds of days. So whenever? ? 13? ? with a huge project， just break it into? ? 14? ? parts and then complete it one by one.? ? 15? ? you will be amazed at your? ? 16? ?.” Hearing what he said， I was greatly? ? 17? ? and continued removing the weeds from patch to patch. Believe it or not， at the end of the day， I? ? 18? ? in weeding half an acre of the corn field.

Now I have tried different? ? 19? ? and finally settled down running a big restaurant. In my lifetime， my fathers devotion to his job and his special working? ? 20? ? can always encourage and guide me through all kinds of difficulties.

1. A. noon B. night C. dark D. sunrise

2. A. wash B. pick C. water D. sell

3. A. throw B. stop C. remove D. drop

4. A. tired B. sad C. worried D. happy

5. A. faraway B. endless C. challenging D. boring

6. A. angry B. disappointed C. hopeless D. nervous

7. A. read B. bothered C. spoken D. seen

8. A. pains B. wisdom C. patience D. courage

9. A. spring B. fall C. summer D. winter

10. A. strength B. cost C. effort D. risk

11. A. confused B. smiled C. sighed D. followed

12. A. day B. month C. minute D. year

13. A. left B. faced C. dealt D. worked

14. A. good B. various C. small D. different

15. A. Finally B. Luckily C. Suddenly D. Secretly

16. A. confidence B. achievement C. failure D. change

17. A. satisfied B. shocked C. delighted D. inspired

18. A. managed B. spent C. succeeded D. avoided

19. A. jobs B. plans C. models D. ways

20. A. conditions B. life C. relationship D. methods

7

After the birth of my second child， I got a job at a restaurant. Having worked with an experienced? ? 1? ? for a few days， I was? ? 2? ? to wait tables on my own. All went? ? 3? ? that first week. When Saturday night came， I was luckily? the tables not far from the kitchen. However， I still felt it a little? ? 5? ? to carry the heavy trays （托盤）.

Before I knew it， the? ? 6? ? was full of people. I moved slowly，? ? 7? ? every step. I remember how? ? 8? ? I was when I saw the tray stand near the tables; it looked different from the one I was? ? 9? ? on. It had nice handles （手柄）， which made it? to move around. I was pleased with everything and began to? ? 11? ? I was a natural at this job.

Then， an old man came to me and said， “Excuse me， dear， my wife and I loved? ? 12? ? you work. It seems your tray stand has been very? ? 13? ? to you， but we are getting ready to? ? 14? ? now， and my wife needs her? ? 15? ? back.”

At first his? ? 16? ? did not get across. “What was he talking about！” Then I got it. I had set my trays on his wifes orthopedic walker （助步器）. I stood frozen as ice， but my face was? ? 17? ?. I wanted to get into a hole and? ? 18? ?.

Since then， I have learned from many mistakes such as the one I just? ? 19? ?. I have learned to be more? ? 20? ? and not to be too sure of myself.

1. A. manager B. assistant C. cook D. waitress

2. A. promised B. invited C. allowed D. advised

3. A. well B. quickly C. safely D. kindly

4. A. provided B. given C. brought D. shown

5. A. embarrassed B. hard C. hurried D. shy

6. A. kitchen B. street C. restaurant D. table

7. A. minding B. changing C. taking D. saving

8. A. shocked B. calm C. strange D. happy

9. A. fixed B. trained C. loaded D. acted

10. A. slower B. lighter C. quieter D. easier

11. A. believe B. agree C. amaze D. pretend

12. A. letting B. making C. watching D. having

13. A. useful B. familiar C. unusual D. interesting

14. A. rest B. order C. eat D. leave

15. A. bag B. walker C. tray D. coat

16. A. idea B. praise C. message D. need

17. A. cold B. horrible C. strict D. red

18. A. lie B. hide C. escape D. stay

19. A. repeated B. discovered C. corrected D. described

20. A. proud B. patient C. honest D. practical

8

Like millions of people around the world， I used to spend every December making a New Years resolution or two. However， by February， like clockwork， exactly nothing would be achieved.

When I was younger， this didnt? me all that much. But in my 20s I realized that trying to keep a? New Years resolution was like writing a novel or climbing a mountain—it just wasnt .

So，? focusing on one large thing and giving up when I didnt succeed， I decided to make a? of little things I wanted to work on during the year. So far this has? things like keeping my house a little bit ， spending more time with my dog. My? has been to focus on taking small steps every day.

Im now making? toward those goals without feeling? pressured or disappointed that I havent done more. Simple upgrades like wiping down my bathroom sink （洗臉盆） every day after? my makeup have become second? ?to me.

I dont even? these New Years resolutions， and that helps to make my small goals feel more achievable. I also? myself once in a while along the way. For example， I? myself a new pair of sneakers when I ran three weeks out of the month. And then theres the free time I naturally have in tidying the bathroom sink every day， which takes less time than a deep? on a Sunday.

If keeping your New Years resolution is harder than you thought， the? to success might be giving up the idea of resolutions . Instead， break down your goals into small milestones you can easily? daily or weekly—and enjoy the? feeling of meeting each and every mini goal.

1. A. bother B. attract C. help D. harm

2. A. different B. huge C. special D. magical

3. A. complex B. traditional C. realistic D. achievable

4. A. along with B. instead of C. except for D. long before

5. A. list B. number C. group D. total

6. A. suggested B. explained C. included D. described

7. A. bigger B. softer C. tidier D. stronger

8. A. future B. revolution C. attention D. plan

9. A. progress B. signals C. information D. turns

10. A. silently B. happily C. distantly D. painfully

11. A. leaving behind B. putting on C. looking up D. pointing to

12. A. nature B. chance? C. interest D. challenge

13. A. discuss B. consider C. realize? D. expect

14. A. excuse B. respect C. treat D. appreciate

15. A. passed B. paid C. found D. bought

16. A. clean B. breath C. sleep D. thought

17. A. road B. key C. way D. direction

18. A. quietly B. hopefully C. completely D. sadly

19. A. set B. make C. keep D. reach

20. A. bored B. empty C. proud D. inspired

9

My family often had a get-together with friends in my childhood. As I was smart， there was always someone who would come up to mention my high? ? 1? ? and ask， “What are you going to do when you? ? 2? ? up？”

Well， it started out being a teacher or a hero.? ? 3? ? it was a fireman， an artist... As I grew older my dreams of the future? ? 4? ?. When I was going to college， I was asked， “What will you major in？”—another question designed to? what I would be when I grew up.

By then I made up my mind to become a? ? 6? ? programmer. So I was studying software for much of my life. I am? that I could realize my dream. The realization of my life purpose encourages me to help others to succeed in their own .

However， for many， there is a “? ?9? ?” which goes around stealing our dreams and robbing us of the? ? 10? ? mental state to achieve our? ? 11? ?. Sometimes， the thief will? ? 12? ? as a parent， a relative， or a friend， but the greatest thief is just ourselves.

Usually when we are about to? ? 13? ? the aim， a “small” voice inside will say， “You will never? ? 14? ?.” “Very few have ever done this .” And on and on the “small” voice makes us lose heart and fail.

Failure，? ? 16? ?， helps our dreams to come true. It is one of the most important? ? 17? ? we have， because it teaches us? lessons. And， when we learn these lessons well， we are? ? 19? ? for success.

There are no “overnight” successes， but with perseverance （毅力）， they will come. So just dont? ? 20? ?. Let dreams stay in your life.

1. A. intelligence B. power C. quality D. character

2. A. get B. wake C. grow D. cheer

3. A. Later B. Finally C. Sometimes D. Usually

4. A. disappeared B. changed C. formed D. continued

5. A. talk about B. find out C. think of D. advise on

6. A. car B. radio C. computer D. satellite

7. A. surprised B. happy C. interested D. worried

8. A. studies B. work C. lives D. experience

9. A. thief B. parent C. friend D. relative

10. A. same B. normal C. necessary D. exact

11. A. results B. advantages C. ideas D. goals

12. A. develop B. dress C. grow D. come

13. A. reach B. choose C. forget D. remove

14. A. fail B. succeed C. arrive D. start

15. A. carefully B. successfully C. easily D. completely

16. A. though B. instead C. besides D. therefore

17. A. purposes B. tools C. messages D. medicines

18. A. formal B. private C. definite D. valuable

19. A. responsible B. sorry C. angry D. ready

20. A. stand by B. give up C. move away D. set off

10

A few days after Christmas， my friend Zachary came over with his snowboard. Zachary was very good at snowboarding， but I could? do it at all. I wondered if maybe my new board wasnt the right size for me， so I tried? Zacharys board， but I still didnt get very .

While I? with Zacharys board， he was making run after run down the hill. He asked me if we could go to his favourite hill to do more runs， and not wanting to? his fun， I? said I would go.

While out on the new hill， I still struggled to stay . I had fallen a few times when a teenager that I had never? before noticed that I was getting ， and called me over to give me some advice. I dont talk to strangers as a ， but my mom was with me， so I felt . So I listened to what he had to ， and then I made another? . He watched， and then came over to give me more . I did what he told me， and I was able to get all the way down the hill without . It seemed much easier with the instructions he gave me.

This guy was so nice and helpful about? me. He could have chosen to make a few more runs for the day，? taking the time to help me. As? preteens， sometimes when we think of teenagers， we think of those who are troublemakers， or those who scare us. But this teenager made me feel? around him and was really helpful and kind to me.

Im a much better snowboarder now， thanks to the very? teenage stranger.

1. A. exactly B. definitely C. hardly D. clearly

2. A. changing B. buying C. riding D. adjusting

3. A. high B. far C. well D. much

4. A. played B. walked C. connected D. struggled

5. A. ruin B. mention C. increase D. strike

6. A. unwillingly B. proudly C. confidently D. uncertainly

7. A. up B. off C. out D. down

8. A. asked B. liked C. found D. met

9. A. embarrassed B. worried C. excited D. frustrated

10. A. way B. rule C. gesture D. hobby

11. A. amazed B. bothered C. satisfied D. protected

12. A. repeat B. explain C. describe D. say

13. A. mistake B. effort C. decision D. complaint

14. A. warnings B. benefits C. tips D. presents

15. A. helping B. falling C. tripping D. sliding

16. A. instructing B. amusing C. encouraging D. criticising

17. A. except for B. instead of C. according to D. more than

18. A. younger B. smarter C. kinder D. shier

19. A. anxious B. small C. comfortable D. useful

20. A. energetic B. determined C. thoughtful D. handsome

11

I work as the reception manager at my hotel. A? came in a few weeks ago with a note saying that the guest would be traveling with her? father. His daughter wanted to make his trip to Ireland as? as possible.

Upon seeing this note， I? I would be the one to check them in as I was scheduled for their arrival time. I? to learn some very basic sign language. I? the guest in my usual fashion， asking for the surname on the booking. Once I heard the name I? immediately who was standing in front of me.

I had been learning for two weeks how to say “welcome to Ireland. My sign language is ， but please if you need anything during your stay just let me know and we will help you”.

I? at the father and daughter and greeted him in the sign language I had learned for him. His daughter broke down? and called me sweet when she learned about the truth. But the father just smiled and was so . Honestly， seeing his? was enough for me.

On check out， I? wasnt working， but they had? a gift for me—a small box with some chocolates and a book on sign language. Inside was a? saying “Thank you very much for what you did on check in. You have no idea how much this? to my father and me. We cant? you enough. Youve made his trip home to his family after 50 years very? with one simple gesture”.

They wrote a letter to the general manager，? to give me a raise， which I really . I cried for 5 minutes when I came into work today to find this gift in my locker.

1. A. stranger B. woman C. booking D. call

2. A. deaf B. retired C. lonely D. blind

3. A. fun B. cheap C. smooth D. long

4. A. worried B. knew C. said D. hoped

5. A. pretended B. preferred C. had D. decided

6. A. greeted B. eyed C. helped D. attended

7. A. recognized B. realized C. wondered D. observed

8. A. excellent B. helpful C. terrible D. useless

9. A. smiled B. stared C. pointed D. shouted

10. A. laughing B. singing C. complaining D. crying

11. A. entertained B. embarrassed C. excited D. encouraged

12. A. presence B. disability C. appearance D. reaction

13. A. fortunately B. sadly C. commonly D. recently

14. A. left B. made C. picked D. ordered

15. A. card B. poster C. proverb D. note

16. A. showed B. meant C. happened D. explained

17. A. help B. pay C. give D. thank

18. A. attractive B. special C. brilliant D. important

19. A. asking B. offering C. promising D. require

20. A. dreamed B. cared C. appreciated D. deserved

12

We made a quick stop at a grocery store to pick up cupcakes for my daughter Norahs fourth birthday. As an older gentleman walked by， Norah? ? 1? ? and waved， “Hi， old person！ Its my birthday today！” I apologized to him? ? 2? ? for her impoliteness.

His expression softened as he? ? 3? ?， “Hello， little lady！ And how old are you today？” They? ? 4? ? for a couple of minutes， with Norah? ? 5? ? him in on the details of her birthday， and we went our? ? 6? ? ways. But a few minutes later， Norah decided she really wanted a? ? 7? ? with him. Uh， my cutest baby！

We went back and found him at the? ? 8? ?. “Excuse me， sir？ Shed like to know if youd take a photo with her，” I asked，? ? 9? ? the man to be angry at my daughters strange? ? 10? ?. Instead， I got the completely contrary response！ “A photo？ With me？” But his expression? ? 11? ? changed from confused to delighted. So they posed together and then they? each other as if they were long-lost friends. The precious? ? 13? ? blocked other shoppers， making the shop a little ， but no one cared.

We thanked Mr Dan （I knew his name later on） for his? ? 15? ?. Now， Norah and Mr Dan are more than just friends. We make regular? ? 16? ? to see him because she? ? 17? ? his being lonely. Mr Dan says that his friendship with Norah helped to mend his? ? 18? ? heart for his wifes sudden death.

Sometimes talking to? ? 19? ? turns into the most beautiful thing in the world. I think this? ? 20? ? story brilliantly reminds us to see and hear people， so please share it with your loved ones！

1. A. nodded B. asked C. wondered D. smiled

2. A. carefully B. nervously C. embarrassedly D. seriously

3. A. explained B. returned C. replied D. questioned

4. A. stood B. talked C. waited D. discussed

5. A. filling B. dropping C. turning D. putting

6. A. various B. daily C. personal D. separate

7. A. photo B. break C. moment D. party

8. A. store B. street C. market D. fair

9. A. causing B. encouraging C. expecting D. reminding

10. A. order B. request C. action D. suggestion

11. A. actively B. exactly C. rapidly D. rarely

12. A. hugged B. greeted C. supported D. valued

13. A. situation B. view C. event D. scene

14. A. noisy B. crowded C. different D. busy

15. A. time B. lesson C. effort D. work

16. A. calls B. meals C. trips D. visits

17. A. cares for B. worries about C. thinks of D. deals with

18. A. lost B. weak C. broken D. uneasy

19. A. shoppers B. friends C. passengers D. strangers

20. A. amusing B. inspiring C. important D. typical

13

One cold December morning， my dad and I were walking along the road to a store to buy Christmas presents. Suddenly a car ran to us out of? ? 1? ?. Pushed away by my dad， I was? ? 2? ? while he was unable to escape and injured. My dad? unconditional love to me when faced with the accident. Since that day， I have? ? 4? ? the power of love and the? ? 5? ? it can teach to those who take anything for granted， as I did everything before.

People wander into our lives for various reasons， but each one has something to? ? 6? ?， even the driver who caused the? ? 7? ?. He helped me a lot. Whether our? ? 8? ? is entirely good or not， there remains something to be gained from every person we? ? 9? ?. I have come to view? ? 10? ? in this way. Sometimes， when schoolwork gets tough and I lack （缺乏） motivation， I? ? 11? ? myself that I am here to make use of every lesson that I have been? ? 12? ?. What a wonder it is to be able to acquire knowledge！

This unconditional? ? 13? ? I have for learning allows me to see the world through what some may call rose-colored glasses， which? ? 14? ? me to love and be loved in complete confidence as well. In addition， it offers me the power to see things? ? 15? ? in the constantly changing world and? ? 16? ? myself to overcome difficulties in my life. I have a strong desire to? ? 17? ?， and because of my ability to love， I? ? 18? ? the challenges that will help me? ? 19? ?. I approach everything with interests， and see an opportunity for education on every page of my books， and even with? ? 20? ? and failures.

1. A. order B. reach C. control D. date

2. A. safe B. healthy C. nervous D. painful

3. A. brought B. showed C. needed D. prepared

4. A. announced B. shared C. known D. heard

5. A. lessons B. differences C. methods D. instructions

6. A. hide B. teach C. follow D. say

7. A. accident B. problem C. damage D. fight

8. A. task B. result C. attitude D. relationship

9. A. refuse B. come across C. admire D. depend on

10. A. power B. wealth C. research D. study

11. A. request B. promise C. warn D. remind

12. A. given B. trained C. sent D. told

13. A. support B. praise C. love D. trust

14. A. advises B. expects C. asks D. helps

15. A. patiently B. completely C. clearly D. easily

16. A. encourage B. behave C. allow D. equip

17. A. change B. imagine C. learn D. practice

18. A. put away B. take up C. care about D. keep off

19. A. grow B. work C. study D. play

20. A. successes B. difficulties C. chances D. responsibilities

14

There were many tents in the woods.? ? 1? ? carefully， I could see the winding? ? 2? ? that led me to another way of . This was our first visit. My father and I had arranged with Sam， a? ? 4? ? man living in the woods to bring the group daily goods from a nearby church.

We also brought some gas for the two electrical machines that? ? 5? ? some small fans fighting the July? ? 6? ?. We continued this routine for a while and spent time getting to know the people who? ? 7? ? these woods home. “Ill be? when the fall comes，” a guy named Billy said.

We were all? ? 9? ? to helping the homeless， but it soon dawned on us that produce， chickens and gas werent really the . We learned their lives were complex. Divorces， job losses， addictions， or poor health issues had? ? 11? ? them into the woods. In some? ? 12? ?， events unfolded abruptly. In other cases， they had? ? 13? ? something bad before they were reduced to the spot on which they set up their? ? 14? ?.

As we tried to? ? 15? ?， we realized we really didnt have a plan because of our inexperience， so we decided to give money to groups that were more? ? 16? ? in helping the homeless.

Remember how Billy was looking forward to the? ? 17? ?？ Well， fall was short-lived that year. And before the cold winter came we? ? 18? ? found a small studio apartment for Sam， and then one for Billy.

They have become family to us， and were going to? ? 19? ? taking care of them as family. Who would have thought that could have? ? 20? ? from our initial （最初的） trip into the woods？

1. A. Listening B. Checking C. Looking D. Thinking

2. A. trees B. roads C. rivers D. walls

3. A. life B. love C. recreation D. relaxation

4. A. generous B. lonely C. friendly D. homeless

5. A. contained B. powered C. controlled D. pushed

6. A. rain B. sunlight C. heat D. air

7. A. called B. preferred C. changed D. treated

8. A. surprised B. calm C. relaxed D. glad

9. A. nice B. new C. free D. equal

10. A. answer B. truth C. problem D. aim

11. A. attracted B. carried C. directed D. led

12. A. cases B. countries C. parts D. periods

13. A. created B. understood C. experienced D. imagined

14. A. groups B. tents C. business D. standard

15. A. leave B. change C. help D. follow

16. A. skilled B. active C. interested D. careful

17. A. success B. assistance C. end D. fall

18. A. increasingly B. generally C. eventually D. gradually

19. A. consider B. discuss C. practice D. continue

20. A. learned B. developed C. separated D. protected

15

Last weekend， I had an opportunity to serve as a volunteer at a nursing home in another city. I dont have a car and even the? train station is far away from my house. Therefore， I wasnt sure how to get there.

I posted a（n）? for a ride on the ride share board. Soon an individual Id never met? that hed be able to? ?me up and drop me off at the station. He said hed wait until my train arrived before he drove away. My heart? and the stress Id been feeling disappeared? and thus our friendship began.

I ended up arriving at the nursing home in . The tiny team of servers there were? for the additional help. We all worked together as a team. I was glad to be a part of this and be of? to the elderly.

That evening when my new? dropped me off at the station， he? that it was in a deserted area. So he parked his car and said， “We will wait for the? to come together.” I couldnt believe his .

With five minutes left before the train arrived， he? with me stories of his childhood. As a young boy， he? ?to sit near the edge of the train tracks， waiting? for the trains to rush by with all their . That night he waited with me as my train . It didnt rush by with full force but I left that station? the full force of his kindness and generosity. People like him would always? me how to love and how to give.

1. A. oldest B. largest C. closest D. latest

2. A. excuse B. charge C. preference D. request

3. A. replied B. joked C. remembered D. pretended

4. A. call B. pick C. raise D. take

5. A. broke B. warmed C. sank D. changed

6. A. immediately B. peacefully C. perfectly D. occasionally

7. A. order B. return C. time D. turn

8. A. thankful B. regretful C. responsible D. sorry

9. A. interest B. service C. hope D. treat

10. A. colleague B. customer C. neighbor D. friend

11. A. admitted B. heard C. noticed D. intended

12. A. train B. bus C. taxi D. car

13. A. bravery B. confidence C. courage D. kindness

14. A. argued B. shared C. discussed D. compared

15. A. used B. had C. wished D. decided

16. A. unwillingly B. proudly C. excitedly D. embarrassedly

17. A. power B. speed C. fuel D. force

18. A. started B. passed C. stopped D. approached

19. A. doubting B. waving C. feeling D. wondering

20. A. warn B. remind C. expect D. promise