When I was a kid in Minnesota, watermelon was expensive. One of my father’s friends, Bernie, was a rich businessman, who owned a large store in St. Paul.
Every summer, when the first watermelons arrived, Bernie would call. Dad and I would go to Bernie’s place. We’ d sit on the edge of the dock（码头）, feet dangling（摇晃）, and got ready for a big meal.
Bernie would take his knife, cut our first watermelon, hand us both a big piece and sit down next to us. Then we’d bury our faces in watermelon, eating only the heart—the reddest, juiciest, firmest, sweetest, most seed-free part—and throw away the rest.
Bernie was my father’s idea of a rich man. I always thought it was because he was such a successful businessman. Years later, I realized that it was not Bernie’s wealth itself but his way of dealing with it that my father liked. Bernie knew how to stop working, get together with friends and eat only the heart of the watermelon.
What I learned from Bernie is that being rich is a state of mind. Some of us, no matter how much money we have, will never be free enough to eat only the heart of the watermelon. If you don’t take the time to dangle your feet over the dock and enjoy life’s small pleasure, your work is probably hurting your life.
For many years, I forgot that lesson I’d learned as a kid on the loading dock. I was too busy making all the money I could.
Well, I’ve relearned it. I hope I have time left to enjoy the success of others and to take pleasure in the day. That’s the heart of the watermelon. I have learned again to throw the rest away.
1. We learned from the second paragraph that the writer and his father were feeling ______.
A. relaxed B. worried C. hungry D. proud
2.How did the writer and his father eat the watermelon?
A. They ate it in a polite way. B. They only ate its best part.
C. They ate every part of it. D. They shared only one piece.
3. In the eyes of the writer’s father, Bernie ______.
A. was just a rich businessman B. worked hard all the time
C. lived a rich but healthy life D. knew how to make money
4.The underlined part “the heart of the watermelon” in the last paragraph refers to ______.
A. the best part of the watermelon B. the writer’s busy life
C. the writer’s decision of making money D. the writer’s hope of enjoying life
5.It can be learned from the passage that ______.
A. one has to work hard to reach his goal B. a friend in need is a friend in deed
C. watermelon is the healthiest fruit D. one should keep work-life balance
Monty was the son of a horse trainer. When he was in his ninth grade, he was asked to write a __31__ about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.
That night he wrote a seven-page paper saying that someday he’d __32__ a horse ranch (牧场). He wrote about his dream in great detail and he __33__ drew a picture of a 200-acre ranch with all the buildings.
He put a great deal of his __34__ into the project and the next day he handed it in __35__ his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a __36__ that read, “See me after class.”
The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, “__37__ did I receive an F?”
The teacher said, “This is an __38__ dream for a young boy like you. You come from a poor family. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of __39__. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for other things. There is no__40__ you could ever do it.” Then the teacher added, “__41__ you rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.”
The boy went home and thought about __42__ long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, “Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important __43__ for you.”
Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the __44__ paper, making no changes at all. He said to the teacher, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my 45 .”
1.A. speech B. paper C. notice D. diary
2. A. paint B. win C. own D. sell
3. A. just B. almost C. ever D. even
4. A. heart B. life C. advice D. trust
5. A. to B. with C. from D. for
6. A. word B. letter C. note D. post
7. A. How B. Why C. When D. Where
8.A. unusual B. unforgettable C. unimportant D. unrealistic
9. A. money B. time C. space D. effort
10. A. wonder B. way C. problem D. matter
11. A. Though B. since C. Until D. If
12. A. himself B. him C. it D. itself
13. A. change B. gift C. message D. decision
14. A. long B. thick C. same D. correct
15. A. grade B. dream C. duty D. secret
John had a short walk after lunch, ______?
A. did he B. didn’t he C. had he D. hadn’t he
For breakfast, I usually have______ and two pieces of bread.
A. a cup of mild half B. half a cup of milk C. a half milk cup D. half a milk cup
–Are you satisfied with the result of the exam? –Not at all. I can’t have ______.
A. a worse one B. a better one C. the worse one D. the best one
A smile costs nothing, but gives so ______.
A. little B. few C. many D. much
