Dad lost his job after arguing with the boss, and when Christmas came that year, we had no money ________. On Christmas Eve, Dad took me out into the park. I had a blanket wrapped around me, so I ________to share it with Dad, but he said no thanks. We________ at the sky. Those shining stars were one of the________treats for people like us who lived out in the wildness. Rich city people, he’d say, live in ________flats, but their air was so polluted that they ________ not even see the stars.
“________ your favorite star.” Dad said that night. He told me I could have it for keeping. He said it was my Christmas ________. “You can’t give me a star,” I said, “________owns the stars.”
“That’s right,” Dad said, “But you can suppose it is yours. And when you do that, it is yours.”
I________ my head, looked at the stars, and tried to figure out which was the best one. Then, I found one.
“I want that one.” I said.
Dad smiled. “That’s Venus（金星）,” he said, “Venus was only a planet. She looked bigger and brighter because she was much________ than the stars. Poor old Venus didn’t even make her________ light. She shone only from reflected（反射）light.”
“I like it anyway,” I said, “I had loved Venus even ________that Christmas. You could see it in the early evening, and if you got up early, you could still see it in the morning, after all the stars had disappeared.”
Dad said, “Ok, it’s Christmas. I________ your decision. You can have it if you want.” And he gave me Venus.
We all laughed about the kids who believed in the Santa myth（圣诞传说）and got nothing for Christmas but a bunch of cheap plastic toys. “Many years later, when all the junk they got is broken and long forgotten,” Dad said, “you will________ have your star.
1.A. at first B. at once C. at all D. at least
2.A. asked B. provided C. required D. offered
3.A. looked up B. looked for C. look out D. look after
4.A. strange B. special C. important D. impossible
5.A. fantastic B. ugly C. old D. poor
6.A. needed B. could C. should D. had better
7.A. pick up B. take out C. put out D. pick out
8.A. dinner B. card C. party D. present
9.A. Everybody B. Somebody C. Anybody D. Nobody
10.A. lowed B. put C. raised D. rose
11.A. slower B. farther C. closer D. higher
12.A. alone B. lonely C. strong D. own
13.A. when B. before C. after D. until
14.A. dislike B. refuse C. accept D. consider
15.A. even B. never C. already D. Still
学校下个月将举行以“学会感恩” （Learn to express thanks）为主题的英语演讲比赛，请你从感恩父母、感恩老师、感恩朋友三个方面出发，用英语写一篇演讲稿。
要求：1.演讲稿不得出现真实的班级和姓名。
2. 短文必须包含以下要点，并谈谈自己的看法。
3. 字数：80-100，开头已给出，不计入字数。
Good morning, everyone!
The topic of my speech today is “How to express thanks”.
A. Keep in Touch
You can keep in touch with your friends in many ways. You can call them. You can send letters or e-mails to them. You can even use a website like Facebook to keep in touch with them.
B. Touch Luck
"Touch Luck" is used when you feel sympathy (同情) about something bad that has happened to someone. But it is also used when you don't have any sympathy for someone's problems.
C. Touch Screen
You can find touch screens everywhere now. They are fun and easy to use! You touch the screen to choose what you want. Many mobile phones and music players have touch screens. Many ATMs have them, too. You can also use them to buy tickets.
D. Touchdown
When you watch an American football game, you will hear the word "touchdown". A touchdown happens when a player carries the ball across the other team's goal (球门) line. When a player makes a touchdown, he scores (得分) six points for his team!
E. The Midas Touch
Midas was a king in an old Greek story. He loved money very much! He wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. His wish came true. Everything he touched-His furniture, his food, and even his daughter-turned to gold.
1.—I didn't get the job. —Oh,________!
2.I often ________ with my friends by chatting on QQ.
3. If someone has "________", he is very good at making money.
4. Last night the football team needed just one more ________ to win the game.
5.The mobile phone doesn't work, because something is wrong with the ________.
One day, a poor boy was sending newspapers door to door. He was so hungry 1. he decided to beg (乞求)for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve (神经 ) when a lovely young woman 2.(open ) the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She 3.(think ) he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. “How much do I owe(欠) you?” asked the boy. “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied.
“Then I thank you from the bottom 4. my heart.” With these words, Howard Kelly left that house.
Years later the woman became 5.( bad ) ill and finally was sent to the hospital in a big city. Dr. Kelly, now famous, worked in this hospital. Dr. Kelly went into her room and recognized ( 认识 ) her at 6.and decided to do his 7._ to save her life.
At last the woman 8. ( save ). Dr. Kelly asked the business office to pass the final bill to him. He looked at it and then wrote something on the side. The bill was sent to her room. She was afraid 9. ( open ) it because she was sure that it would take the rest of her life to pay it off. Finally she looked, and the note on the side of the bill caught her attention. She read these words:
“Paid in full with a glass of 10., Dr. Howard Kelly.”
Will you give a speech in front of the class? Or will you just shake your head and say “no”? Let me tell you some useful ways to help you become a more confident person.
First, use your body language and look at people in the eyes. Answer questions 1. and confidently. The way you talk shows others how confident you are.
Second, take 2.and show talents. Focus on the things that you do well.
Next, face the 3. in the right way. We all fail at times, but don’t 4. the mistake to trouble you. Learn from the mistake. And it’ll help you face the same things later 5. confidence.
As we know, the more you practice, the easier they’ll become.
Jim found his cat missing. I suggested that he put an advertisement in the 1. (当地的)paper. But he didn’t want it known by the 2. (公众). He didn’t 3. (敢) to let it 4. (传播，扩散) out for his parents would 5.(款待，对待) him as a kid and would 6.(重复) reminding him of his carelessness ever since. He knew all this must be done at very great 7. (速度). He had to 8.(赶紧，急促). When he finally found his cat 9. (在旁边) the apple tree, the cat raised its paw 10.(有礼貌地) and said “Miaow…”,which freed him from the long-time worry deeply.
