A Welcome Gift
Dario and his mother loved their new apartment. The living room was large enough for their piano. That night, the two of them _______ side by side at the piano. They played jazz music to celebrate their new home. The loud _______ filled the room and made them feel very happy.
The next morning, _______, their happiness disappeared. Someone had left a _______ under their door during the night. One of their neighbors had written to complain about the sound of the piano. Dario’s mother asked the building superintendent(管理员) if he knew anything about it. But he said that they were all _______ people and he couldn’t imagine any of them had done that. Later that morning, Dario suggested that they write a letter to their _______ and apologize for their playing.
“Maybe we could go and _______ everyone in person.” his mother said.
“What if we invited them to come here for a _______ instead?” Dario asked.
They both loved the _______. Over the next few days, they sent out invitations and prepared desserts __________ their guests. They decorated the apartment with streamers(彩带) and party lights.
Finally, the day of the party __________. Some guests brought presents. Others brought flowers. Some even brought desserts to __________. One woman, Mrs. Gilbert, __________ Dario’s mother with a book of piano music by Chopin.
“I heard you playing the other night,” she said. “The sounds woke me out of bed. I __________ that you might play like this every night. So I wrote a short note. I hope you don’t think I disliked the playing.”
Dario’s mother smiled at Mrs. Gilbert. “I think maybe we __________ you an apology.” she said. “I didn’t __________ how late it was when we were playing. Maybe we should play some quieter music at night.”
“You play, you play!” Mrs. Gilbert said. “I like what you play! Just not so loud at night.” She pointed to the book she had given them. “These songs are not such __________ music.”
“These songs are beautiful music.” Dario’s mother said. “We will be __________ to play them in the evening.”
“And we won’t play so loud or late!” Dario said. He was already looking forward to __________ the new music. More than that, however, he was happy to see the big smile on his mother’s face. It gave him a feeling of __________ and made him feel that they were home at last.
1.A.sat B.stood C.lay D.walked
2.A.voice B.ring C.music D.cry
3.A.therefore B.however C.otherwise D.instead
4.A.note B.poster C.bill D.report
5.A.proud B.rich C.lucky D.nice
6.A.neighbors B.friends C.relatives D.audience
7.A.blame B.instruct C.question D.visit
8.A.party B.concert C.show D.play
9.A.experience B.idea C.performance D.action
10.A.to B.with C.for D.from
11.A.continued B.arrived C.passed D.finished
12.A.order B.sell C.share D.advertise
13.A.treated B.presented C.helped D.served
14.A.promised B.admitted C.agreed D.worried
15.A.give B.send C.offer D.owe
16.A.realize B.remember C.understand D.accept
17.A.sweet B.strange C.funny D.loud
18.A.brave B.sorry C.happy D.afraid
19.A.changing B.practicing C.recording D.writing
20.A.equality B.freedom C.warmth D.sympathy
“Daily Star, sir,” called Jason, carrying some news-papers under his arm. The little boy had been running up and down the street, but there were still twenty ____ left. His voice was almost gone and his heart was ____. The shops would soon close, and all the people would go home. He would have to go home too, carrying the papers ____ money. He had hoped to sell more papers tonight to make more money to buy a ____ for his mother and some seeds for his bird. That was why he had bought the papers with all his money. He ____ as he thought of his failure to sell all his papers.
“You don’t know the ____ of selling papers. You must shout, ‘Hot news! Bomb bursting!’” another newsboy Chad told Jason. “____ it’s not in the paper at all,” replied Jason. “Just run away quickly ____ they have time to see, and you’ll ____ out and get your money,” Chad said.
It was a new ____ to Jason. He thought of his bird with no ____ and the cake he wanted to buy for his mother, but was ____ that he would not tell a lie. Though he was ____ a poor newsboy, he had been ____ some good things.
The next afternoon Jason went to the office for his papers ____. Several boys were crowding around Chad, who declared with a ____ smile that he sold six dozen the day before. He added that Jason ____ money because he would not tell a lie. The boys ____ at Jason. “You wouldn’t tell a lie yesterday, my boy?” A gentleman at the office came up and patted Jason’s shoulder ____, “You’re just the boy I am looking for.” A week later Jason started his new ____. He lost the sale of twenty papers because he would not tell a lie, but got a well-paid job because he told the truth.
1.A. shops B. coins C. people D. papers
2.A. open B. heavy C. pure D. weak
3.A. instead of B. in return for C. regardless of D. in exchange for
4.A. cup B. card C. comb D. cake
5.A. gave in B. broke down C. got away D. showed up
6.A. difficulty B. process C. goal D. secret
7.A. And B. But C. For D. So
8.A. before B. since C. though D. unless
9.A. call B. drop C. sell D. reach
10.A. edition B. idea C. policy D. task
11.A. bread B. insects C. seeds D. water
12.A. concerned B. amazed C. excited D. determined
13.A. still B. already C. just D. also
14.A. taught B. handed C. awarded D. allowed
15.A. at once B. by chance C. as usual D. on purpose
16.A. proud B. gentle C. warm D. polite
17.A. borrowed B. lost C. made D. saved
18.A. laughed B. shouted C. nodded D. stared
19.A. bravely B. gratefully C. fondly D. modestly
20.A. duty B. business C. job D. method
Years ago, a critical event occurred in my life that would change it forever. I met Kurt Kampmeir of Success Motivation Incorporation for breakfast. While we were ____, Kurt asked me, ＂John, what is your ____for personal growth?＂
Never at a loss for words, I tried to find things in my life that might ____for growth. I told him about the many activities in which I was ____. And I went into a ____about how hard I worked and the gains I was making. I must have talked for ten minutes. Kurt ____patiently, but then he ____smiled and said, ＂You don’t have a personal plan for growth, do you?＂
＂No,＂ I ____.
＂You know,＂ Kurt said simply, ＂growth is not a(n) ____process.＂
And that’s when it ____me. I wasn’t doing anything ____to make myself better. And at that moment, I made the ____: I will develop and follow a personal growth plan for my ____.
That night, I talked to my wife about my ____with Kurt and what I had learned. I ____her the workbook and tapes Kurt was selling. We ____that Kurt wasn’t just trying to make a sale. He was offering a ____for us to change our lives and achieve our dreams.
Several important things happened that day. First, we decided to ____the resources. But more importantly, we made a commitment to ____together as a couple. From that day on, we learned together, traveled together, and sacrificed together. It was a ____decision. While too many couples grow apart, we were growing together.
1.A. working B. preparing C. thinking D. eating
2.A. suggestion B. demand C. plan D. request
3.A. appeal B. look C. call D. qualify
4.A. involved B. trapped C. lost D. bathed
5.A. lecture B. speech C. discussion D. debate
6.A. calculated B. listened C. drank D. explained
7.A. eagerly B. gradually C. gratefully D. finally
8.A. admitted B. interrupted C. apologized D. complained
9.A. automatic B. slow C. independent D. changing
10.A. confused B. informed C. pleased D. hit
11.A. on loan B. on purpose C. on sale D. on balance
12.A. comment B. announcement C. decision D. arrangement
13.A. life B. progress C. performance D. investment
14.A. contract B. conversation C. negotiation D. argument
15.A. lent B. sold C. showed D. offered
16.A. recalled B. defined C. recognized D. declared
17.A. tool B. method C. way D. rule
18.A. provide B. buy C. give D. deliver
19.A. grow B. survive C. move D. gather
20.A. difficult B. random C. firm D. wise
During the war, my husband was stationed at an army camp in a desert in California. I went to live there in order to be _______ him. I hated the place. I had never _______ been so unhappy. My husband was ordered out on a long-term duty, and I was left in a tiny shack(棚屋) alone. The heat was _______ — almost 125°F even in the shade of a cactus(仙人掌). _______ a soul to talk to. The wind blew non-stop, and all the food I ate, and the very air I breathed, were _______ with sand, sand, sand!
I was so sorry for myself that I wrote to my parents. I told them I was _______ and coming back home. I said I couldn’t stand it one minute longer. I _______ be in prison! My father answered my _______ with just two lines — two lines that will always sing in my _______— two lines that completely changed my life:
Two men looked out from prison bars,
One saw the mud, the other saw the stars.
I read those two lines ________. I was ashamed of myself. I made up my mind I would find out what was good in my present ________; I would look for the stars.
I made friends with the natives, and their ________ amazed me. They gave me presents of their favorite artworks which they had ________ to sell to tourists. I studied the delightful forms of the cactus. I watched for the desert sunsets, and ________ for seashells that had been left there millions of years ago when the sands of the desert had been an ocean ________.
What brought about this ________ change in me? The desert hadn’t changed, ________ I had. I had changed my ________. And by doing so, I changed an unhappy experience into the most amazing ________ of my life. I was excited by this new world that I had discovered. I had looked out of my self-created prison and ________ the stars.
1.A.off B.behind C.near D.beyond
2.A.before B.already C.then D.still
3.A.inflexible B.incomprehensible C.uncontrollable D.unbearable
4.A.Only B.No C.Many D.Such
5.A.covered B.filled C.buried D.charged
6.A.catching up B.keeping up C.giving up D.getting up
7.A.ought to B.might well C.would rather D.had better
8.A.request B.call C.question D.letter
9.A.comparison B.imagination C.consideration D.memory
10.A.over and over B.by and by C.up and down D.now and then
11.A.company B.occupation C.situation D.relationship
12.A.movement B.reaction C.guidance D.purpose
13.A.refused B.failed C.managed D.happened
14.A.asked B.hunted C.waited D.headed
15.A.floor B.surface C.rock D.level
16.A.shocking B.challenging C.puzzling D.astonishing
17.A.as B.but C.for D.or
18.A.attitude B.principle C.identity D.standard
19.A.vacation B.operation C.affair D.adventure
20.A.sought B.counted C.found D.reached
Lainey finished third grade. She had good grades and could read ______ grade level, but she did not like to read. On a family car trip, her Aunt Dede pulled out a copy of Harry Potter, as a surprise for her ______. But Lainey took one look at it, ______ her eyes, and said, “Borrrring！”
Aunt Dede, a teacher, had read the book to her students, and they loved it. ______ the youngest children in the class were ______ by the story. They ______ with great interest, and then ______ joined in grand conversations about Harry's adventures.
“How can you say it's ______？Have you read it？” asked Aunt Dede.
“No, it's too long and it doesn't have any ______，” complained Lainey.
“Oh, that's where you are ______； there are lots of pictures. Every page is full of pictures; you just have to read the words to ______ them. It's like magic.”
“Nice try, Aunt Dede，” Lainey replied ______ from the back seat.
Another ______ was in order. “Well, if you don't want to read it, give it ______. Maybe your mum would ______ hearing the story.” The book sailed through the air to Aunt Dede and she began to read it aloud. By the end of the first chapter，______ were coming from the back seat: “Please read a little ______．”
Lainey is an example of an ______ reader. As shown here, Lainey can become ______ about reading when ______ with literature on topics that interest her, and when the people around her model involvement in the reading process.
1.A. within B. on C. to D. above
2.A. daughter B. niece C. student D. friend
3.A. opened B. dried C. rolled D. shaded
4.A. Even B. Still C. Just D. Yet
5.A. surprised B. annoyed C. puzzled D. attracted
6.A. read B. told C. listened D. wrote
7.A. suspectedly B. anxiously C. calmly D. enthusiastically
8.A. amazing B. boring C. ridiculous D. humorous
9.A. pictures B. stories C. adventures D. conversations
10.A. crazy B. foolish C. wrong D. different
11.A. see B. match C. show D. recognize
12.A. sourly B. patiently C. eagerly D. shyly
13.A. idea B. try C. belief D. behaviour
14.A. away B. out C. in D. back
15.A. enjoy B. admit C. mind D. finish
16.A. decisions B. requests C. comments D. promises
17.A. more clearly B. longer C. louder D. more carefully
18.A. unpleasant B. innocent C. unwilling D. independent
19.A. astonished B. worried C. confused D. excited
20.A. presented B. concerned C. disturbed D. replaced
The journey my daughter Cathy has had with her swimming is as long as it is beautiful.
Cathy suffered some terrible _______ in her early childhood. After years of regular treatment, she _______ became healthy.
Two years ago, while Cathy was watching the Olympics, a dream came into her sweet little head—to be a swimmer. Last summer, she wanted to _______ our local swim team. She practiced hard and finally _______ it. The team practice, _______ was a rough start. She coughed and choked and could hardly _______ her first few weeks. Hearing her coughing bitterly one night, I decided to _______ her from it all. But Cathy woke me up early next morning, wearing her swimsuit _______ to go! I told her she shouldn’t swim after a whole night’s coughing, but she refused to _______ and insisted she go.
From that day on, Cathy kept swimming and didn’t ________ a single practice. She had a ________ intention within herself to be the best she could be. My ten-year-old was growing and changing right before my eyes, into this ________ human being with a passion and a mission. There were moments of ________ of course: often she would be the last swimmer in the race. It was difficult for Cathy to accept that she wasn’t a ________—ever. But that didn’t stop her from trying.
Then came the final awards ceremony at the end of the year. Cathy didn’t expect any award but was still there to ________ her friends and praise their accomplishments. As the ceremony was nearing the end, I suddenly heard the head coach ________, “The highest honor goes to Cathy!” Looking around, he continued, “Cathy has inspired us with her ________ and enthusiasm. ________ skills and talents bring great success, the most valuable asset(财富) one can hold is the heart.”
It was the greatest ________ of my daughter’s life. With all she had been ________ in her ten years, this was the hour of true triumph(成功).
1.A.failure B.pressure C.loss D.illness
2.A.usually B.finally C.firstly D.frequently
3.A.improve B.train C.join D.contact
4.A.increased B.found C.created D.made
5.A.however B.therefore C.otherwise D.instead
6.A.use B.survive C.save D.waste
7.A.pull B.tell C.hide D.fire
8.A.afraid B.nervous C.ready D.free
9.A.take off B.set off C.give up D.show up
10.A.attend B.miss C.ban D.start
11.A.rich B.weak C.firm D.kind
12.A.trusted B.determined C.experienced D.embarrassed
13.A.frustration B.delight C.excitement D.surprise
14.A.beginner B.learner C.partner D.winner
15.A.cheer on B.compete with C.respond to D.run after
16.A.admitting B.explaining C.announcing D.whispering
17.A.humor B.will C.honesty D.wisdom
18.A.Although B.Since C.Once D.Because
19.A.discovery B.choice C.influence D.moment
20.A.through B.under C.across D.around
