It was a week before Christmas, but things were far from cheery. Our task was to deliver as many boxes of food as possible to those in need in Camden, New Jersey. There were no Christmas carolers (唱颂歌的人) walking these streets that were lined with boarded-up (用木板封住的) houses and broken windows. Mothers kept their children close as they hurried down the streets. It was mid-afternoon, but even the bright sun couldn't warm this place.
Red tickets in the windows marked which houses we were to visit. Our white truck stopped in front of one townhouse and our group knocked on the door. In our arms were boxes filled with ham, bread and other essentials to make the perfect Christmas dinner. Four small faces glanced through the curtains and one exhausted mom answered the door. She seemed embarrassed to be caught in her nightgown with undone hair. She was in her mid-20s, but her rough skin and tired eyes added years.
"Sacred Heart food delivery service," I smiled. "Where can we put this for you?"
She pointed and as we entered the house, I noticed the conditions they lived in. The children climbed around, wearing only diapers (尿布). There were no carpets, only cold concrete beneath our feet. There was no Christmas tree or decorations. My heart sank. It was so cold, and I found it hard to believe that this was reality for this family. We set the boxes down and the mother grabbed my hand.
"You don't know how much of a blessing this is to me and my family," she said, crying. "We are just getting by." I opened my arms and gave her a hug.
"Happy holidays!" I replied before I headed out the door. I realized how warm I felt inside.
This was unlike anything I had ever experienced. We cannot help what family we are born into, but we can help each other.
1.From Paragraph 1, we can infer that Camden may be a place where ________.
A. the living conditions were terrible B. people had no belief
C. there was no sign of life D. little sunshine was received
2.What impression did the woman leave on the author?
A. She was shy and cold to visitors. B. She was confident and energetic.
C. She wasn't good at dressing herself up. D. She looked much older than her age.
3.By saying "We are just getting by", the woman meant __________.
A. they were waiting for help B. they were looking for food and clothing
C. they were going to move away D. they were living a very poor life
4.The passage mainly tells us that _______________.
A. the poor can also help others B. assisting the poor needs actions
C. people should help each other D. having more children causes poverty
Our thoughts, words, and actions often cause harm to others and to us. Without reconciliation
(和解), we cannot deepen our understanding and only cause more suffering. "Beginning Anew" is
a(n) 36 of reconciliation. It involves three steps ---- sharing appreciation, expressing 37 , and expressing hurt and difficulties.
In the first step, we share appreciation. We acknowledge the 38 qualities of the other person. The second step -- expressing regret, is to 39 with the other person our regrets for the things we have done or said that might have caused him or her 40 . This requires humility (谦逊), and the 41 to let go of our own pride. In the third step, we 42 our own hurt with mindful and loving 43 without blaming or criticizing. We speak in such a way that the other person can listen and 44 our words. If we 45 the other person, his heart will 46 and he will not be able to hear us. We ask the other person to help us to understand 47 he has spoken and acted as he has , causing us so much pain. Perhaps, later, he can share his feelings 48 we can understand him more deeply. If a strong 49 arises in us while we are expressing our suffering, we should simply 50 and come back to our breathing until the emotion becomes 51 . The other person can 52 us by following his breathing until we are ready to continue. We can enjoy practicing "Beginning Anew" with our partner, our family, or our friends 53 . By doing this, we will 54 misunderstandings from accumulating. Rather, we will take care of them as they arise, 55 we take care of our children.
1.A. method B. practice C. example D. experience
2.A. concern B. belief C. regret D. sympathy
3.A. positive B. poor C. confident D. selfish
4.A. chat B. compare C. debate D. share
5.A. pain B. anxiety C. confusion D. loss
6.A. willingness B. kindness C. happiness D. weakness
7.A. charge B. argue C. express D. combine
8.A. speech B. letter C. story D. question
9.A. choose B. accept C, spread D. change
10.A. trust B. praise C. envy D. blame
11.A. open B. close C. beat D. melt
12.A. when B. how C. what D. why
13.A. so that B. even though C. as though D. in case
14.A. emotion B. responsibility C. value D. interest
15.A. continue B. stop C. leave D. repeat
16.A. quieter B. warmer C. deeper D. stronger
17.A. forget B. support C. hate D. remember
18.A. quickly B. carefully C. regularly D. willingly
19.A. prevent B. protect C. separate D. forbid
20.A. for B. so C. like D. if
– You look so upset, Jane. _____?
-- I have been told my father has got skin cancer.
A. What’s for B. What’s up
C. So what D. How’s up
Hurry up! The train ______. You know it______ at 8:30 am.
A. leaves; leaves B. is leaving; is leaving
C. leaves; is leaving D. is leaving; leaves
________ a precious diamond necklace for his wife, Martin could hardly afford a tie for himself.
A. Having bought B. Buying
C. Being bought D. To buy
____ I say Clancy is a smart boy, he still needs to work hard to achieve his goal.
A. Then B. When C. While D. As