I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch (牧场). He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for the youth. The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my house. It all goes back to a story about a young man, the son of a horse trainer who would go from ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.”
“That night he wrote a paper describing his goal of owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch. He put his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note reading, ‘See me after class.’ The boy went to see the teacher after class and asked, ‘Why did I receive an F?’ The teacher said, ‘This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, ‘If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’”
“The boy went home and thought about it 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 decision for you.’ Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, ‘You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream.’”
Monty then turned to the group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week.” When the teacher was leaving, he said, ‘Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.’”
1.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Monty’s high school life was interrupted because his father asked him to help him train horses.
B. Monty received an F because his teacher thought it was impossible for him to realize his dream.
C. Monty decided not to rewrite his paper because his father supported him.
D. Monty’s teacher was serious, responsible, strict and warm-hearted.
2.The underlined word “gumption” in the last paragraph means ______.
A. hope B. idea C. determination D. belief
3.What can you learn from the passage?
A. Trying and getting real experience is a way of feeling better about yourself and gaining more confidence in your abilities.
B. The easiest way for you to grow as a person is to surround yourself with people smarter than you.
C. Don’t be afraid of those who might have a better idea or who might even be smarter than you.
D. Don't let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、Ｂ、Ｃ和Ｄ）中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
When William, a 10-year old boy planned to learn the piano, the music teacher was reluctant to accept him. She 1her students to start their music lessons at a young age when their 2were able to move quickly and easily. “William, why do you want to learn the piano?” the teacher asked. “I want to play for my mother.” She noticed the 3in his eyes as he answered her. She had no heart to 4and accepted William as her student. But at each music lesson, William appeared to be in a hurry and played 5. “My mother is waiting outside for me,” he would tell the teacher. She was tempted to advise William not to 6his time as he 7hit the right note. 8there was something about William---she was fascinated with the tender look of his eyes 9he mentioned “mother”.
Suddenly, William stopped coming for his lessons. At the end of the semester year, the music teacher decided to 10a piano recital(独奏会) for her students and she sent flyers to them to participate. She was 11to find William's application that he would like to contribute a musical piece. She would put him as the last player 12he made mistakes, and she would come forward to improve the 13.
The day came and William appeared. 14it was his turn to play, William bowed before the audience and said he was thankful 15the music teacher's patience with him. “Tonight I am dedicating my music to my mother.” he said. Everyone later asked why William did not bring his mother as she would 16be proud. William replied, “My mother was stone deaf and she could never 17me play during her life time. 18she sacrificed her time and money to let me learn the piano. This morning mother passed away. I am sure she is now 19as she can hear my piano recital. I chose a piece from Beethoven's concerto(协奏曲). As you all know, Beethoven was deaf at the triumph of his career. The piece symbolized his 20for freedom and released him from darkness and so was mother. ”
1.A. hoped B. persuaded C. allowed D. preferred
2.A. fingers B. brains C. eyes D. hands
3.A. surprise B. joys C. tears D. disappointment
4.A. put him down B. turn him down C. put him away D. turn him away
5.A. badly B. nicely C. carefully D. patiently
6.A. pass B. take C. kill D. waste
7.A. ever B. never C. even D. always
8.A. However B. Therefore C. So D. But
9.A. at one time B. all the time C. each time D. the first time
10.A. support B. take C. intend D. organize
11.A. delighted B. surprised C. curious D. angry
12.A. as far as B. if only C. in case D. now that
13.A. situation B. condition C. state D. position
14.A. Until B. Since C. While D. When
15.A. to B. for C. at D. with
16.A. surely B. gradually C. finally D. quickly
17.A. watch B. suggest C. make D. hear
18.A. Besides B. Then C. Yet D. Otherwise
19.A. happy B. shocked C. ashamed D. sad
20.A. effort B. struggle C. belief D. challenge
Please keep us ____ of any change of address as soon as possible.
A. informing B. informed C. being informed D. to inform
Progress so far has been very good. We are, ______, confident that the work will be completed on time.
A. however B. otherwise C. therefore D. besides
---Have all the mysteries been cleared up?
--- Almost. But ______ only one question ______.
A. there remains; answered B. it remains; to be answered
C. there remains; to be answered D. it remains; answered
---You speak very good English. Have you ever been abroad to learn English?
---Thanks. I have never been abroad before but I _____English in Beijing Foreign Language University
for four years.
A. studied B. study C. was studying D. had studied
