Chances
I really love my job because I enjoy working with small children and like the challenges and awards from the job. I also think my work is important. There was a time when I thought I would never have that sort of career（职业）.
I wasn’t an excellent student because I didn’t do much schoolwork. In my final term I started thinking what I might do and found I didn’t have much to offer. I just accepted that I wasn’t the type to have a career.
I then found myself a job, looking after two little girls. It wasn’t too bad at first. But the problems began when I agreed to live in, so that I would be there if my boss had to go out for business in the evening. We agreed that if I had to work extra hours one week, she’d give me time off the next. But unfortunately, it didn’t often work out. I was getting extremely tired and fed up, because I had too many late nights and early mornings with the children.
One Sunday, I was in the park with the children, and met Megan who used to go to school with me. I told her about my situation. She suggested that I should do a course and get a qualification（资格证书）if I wanted to work with children. I didn’t think I would be accepted because I didn’t take many exams in school. She persuaded me to phone the local college and they were really helpful. My experience counted for a lot and I got on a part-time course. I had to leave my job with the family, and got work helping out at a kindergarten.
Now I’ve got a full-time job there. I shall always be thankful to Megan. I wish I had known earlier that you could have a career, even if you aren’t top of the class at school.
1.What is the author’s present job?
A. Working part-time in a college.
B. Taking care of children for a family.
C. Helping children with their schoolwork.
D. Looking after children at a kindergarten.
2.When staying with the two girls’ family, the author ________.
A. was paid for extra work
B. often worked long hours
C. got much help from her boss
D. took a day off every other week
3.Why did the author leave her first job?
A. She found a full-time job.
B. She was fed up with children.
C. She decided to attend a part-time course.
D. She needed a rest after working extra hours.
4.What has the author learned from her own experiences?
A. Less successful students can still have a career.
B. Qualifications are necessary for a career.
C. Hard work makes an excellent student.
D. One must choose the job she like.
Dear Laura,
I just heard you tell an old story of gift giving and unselfish love in your program. You doubted that such unselfish love would happen in today’s world. Well, I’m here to give you 1.
helmet
I wanted to do something very 2for my fifteen-year-old son, who has always been the perfect child. He 3all summer to earn enough money to buy a used motorcycle. Then, he spent hours and hours on it 4it looked almost new. I was so 5of him that I bought him the shiniest helmet and a riding outfit.
I could 6wait for him to open up his gift. In fact, I barely slept the night before. Upon a wakening, I went to the kitchen to 7the coffee, tea, and morning goodies. In the living room was a beautiful keyboard with a 8:” To my wonderful mother, all my love, your son.”
I was so 9. It had been a log-standing joke in our family that I wanted a piano so that I could 10lessons. “ Learn to play the piano, and I’ll get you one” was my husband’s 11.
I stood there shocked, crying a river, asking myself how my son could 12this expensive gift.
Of course, the 13awoke, and my son was thrilled（激动的）with my reaction. Many kisses were 14, and I immediately wanted him to 15my gift.
AS he saw the helmet and outfit, the look on his face was not 16what I was expecting. Then I 17that he has sold the motorcycle to get me the keyboard.
Of course I was the proudest mother 18on that day, and my feet never hit the ground for a month.
So I wanted you to know, that kind of love still 19and lives even in the ever-changing world of me, me, me!
keyboard
I thought you’d love to 20this story.
Yours,
Hilary
P.S. The next day, my husband and I bought him a new “used” already shiny motorcycle.
1.A. hope B. advice C. support D. courage
2.A. polite B. similar C. special D. private
3.A. played B. studied C. traveled D. worked
4.A. after B. before C. unless D. until
5.A. sure B. fond C. proud D. confident
6.A. perhaps B. really C. almost D. hardly
7.A. start B. cook C. set D. serve
8.A. note B. notice C. word D. sign
9.A. disturbed B. confused C. astonished D. inspired
10.A. give B. take C. draw D. teach
11.A. reason B. request C. comment D. response
12.A. present B. afford C. find D. order
13.A. neighbor B. building C. home D. house
14.A. exchanged B. experienced C. expected D. exhibited
15.A. tear B. open C. check D. receive
16.A. purely B. basically C. obviously D. exactly
17.A. realized B. remembered C. imagined D. supposed
18.A. only B. still C. ever D. even
19.A. works B. exists C. matters D. counts
20.A. send B. publish C. share D. write
—why does she always ask you for help?—there is no one else ______, is there?
A. who to turn to B. she can turn to C. for whom to turn D. for her to turn
I couldn’t do my homework with all that noise ________.
A. going on B. goes on C. went on D. to go on
I’d like to arrive 20 minutes early _______ I can have time for a cup of tea.
A. as soon as B. as a result C. in case D. so that
The prize of the game show is ＄30,000 and an all expenses __________ vacation to China.
A. paying B. paid C. to be paid D. being paid
