After giving a talk at a high school, I was asked to pay a visit to a special student. An illness had kept the boy home, but he had expressed an interest in meeting me. I was told it would mean a great deal to him, so I agreed.
During the nine-mile drive to his home, I found out something about Matthew. He had muscular dystrophy (肌肉萎缩症). When he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to five, and then they were told he would not make it to ten. Now he was thirteen. He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal power lifter, and I knew about overcoming obstacles and going for my dreams.
I spent over an hour talking to Matthew. Never once did he complain or ask, “Why me?” He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams. Obviously, he knew what he was talking about. He didn’t mention that his classmates had made fun of him because he was different. He just talked about his hopes for the future, and how one day he wanted to lift weights with me. When we had finished talking, I went to my briefcase and pulled out the first gold medal I had won and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about success and overcoming obstacles than I ever would. He looked at it for a moment, then took it off and handed it back to me. He said, “You are a champion. You earned that medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you.”
Last summer I received a letter from Matthew’s parents telling me that Matthew had passed away. They wanted me to have a letter he had written to me a few days before:
Dick,
My mum said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me. I also want to let you know that the doctors tell me that I don’t have long to live any more, but I still smile as much as I can.
I told you someday that I would go to the Olympics and win a gold medal, but I know now I will never get to do that. However, I know I’m a champion, and God knows that too. When I get to Heaven, God will give me my medal and when you get there, I will show it to you. Thank you for loving me.
Your friend,
Matthew
1. The boy looked forward to meeting the author because _________.
A. he was also good at weight lifting B. he wanted to get to the Olympics and win a medal
C. he was one of the author’s students D. he admired the author very much
2. The underlined sentence in the third paragraph probably means that _______.
A. the boy never complained about how unlucky he was to have this disease
B. the boy never complained about not being able to go to school
C. the boy never complained why the author had never come to see him before
D. the boy never complained about not getting a medal
3. From the passage we learn that _________.
A. Matthew was an athlete B. Matthew was an optimistic and determined boy
C. The author used to have the same disease as Matthew had D. Matthew became a champion before he died
4.Matthew didn’t accept the author’s medal because _________.
A. he thought it was too expensive B. he was sure that he could win one in the future
C. he thought it was of no use to him as he would die soon D. he would not be pitied by others
5.What would be the best title for this passage?
A. A sick boy. B. A special friend. C. A real champion. D. A famous athlete.
Many of us spend a great deal of time and energy trying to prove that we are right and others are wrong. Many people 21 that it’s their job to show others how their positions, statements, and points of view are 22 , and that on doing so, the person they are correcting is going to somehow _23 it, or at least learn something. Wrong!
Think about it. Have you ever been _24 by someone and said to him, “Thank you so much for showing me that I’m wrong and you’re right”? Or, has anyone you know ever 25 you when you corrected them, or made yourself “right” at their 26 ? Of course not. The truth is, all of us 27 to be corrected. We all want our position to be 28 and understood by others. Being listened to and heard is one of the greatest 29 of the human heart. And those who learn to 30 are the most loved and respected. Those who are in the 31 of correcting others are often resented(怨恨 ) and 32 .
A wonderful way for becoming more peaceful and loving is to practice 33 others the joy of being right ---give them the glory. 34 correcting. When someone says, “ I really feel it’s important to …”, rather than breaking 35 and saying, “No, it’s more important to… “, simply let it go and allow their statement to 36 . The people in your life will become less defensive and more 37 . They will appreciate you more than you could ever have 38 . You’ll discover the joy of joining in and witnessing other people’s 39 , which is far more rewarding than a battle of egos( 自我 ). Starting today, let others be “ 40 ” , most of the time.
1.A. believe B. doubt C. prove D. tell
2.A. unimportant B. unbelievable C. incorrect D. imperfect
3.A. consider B. appreciate C. understand D. refuse
4.A. fooled B. helped C. taught D. corrected
5.A. thanked B. rewarded C. cared D. accepted
6.A. side B. price C. expense D. value
7.A. like B. hate C. prefer D. afford
8.A. admired B. received C. realized D. respected
9.A. shortcomings B. advantage C. desires D. wishes
10.A. talk B. praise C. help D. listen
11.A. habit B. form C. position D. purpose
12.A. punished B. avoided C. left D. laughed
13.A. letting B. lending C. allowing D. owing
14. A. Stop B. Continue C. Practise D. Try
15.A. out B. up C. in D. off
16. A. last B. send C. work D. stand
17.A. helpful B. loving C. careful D. popular
18. A. dreamed B. requested C. asked D. demanded
19.A. sufferings B. worries C. progress D. happiness
20.A. happy B. right C. sorry D. proud
---Excuse me, do you have the time? ---_______.
A. Yes; I do B. Of course, I have C. A quarter to ten D. No problem
_______ is known to the world, the Chinese in many places _______ the old tradition.
A. That; keep on B. which; keep out C. It ; keep back D. As; keep up
Have you any idea _______?
A. that how we can improve the English level within 4 months
B. that how can we improve the English level within 4 months
C. how can we improve the English level within 4 months
D. how we can improve the English level within 4 months
The question came up at the meeting _______ we had enough money to change the environment
A. that B. what C. whether D. which
