A few years ago, I took a sightseeing trip to Washington, D.C．Standing outside the Ronald Reagan Center, I heard a voice say, “Can you help me?” When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended．In a natural reflex (反应), I reached into my pocket, pulled out all of my loose change and placed it on her hand without even looking at her．I was annoyed at being bothered by a beggar．But the blind woman smiled and said, “I don’t want your money．I just need help finding the post office.
In an instant, I realized what I had done．I judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be．I hated what I saw in myself．This incident re-awakened my belief in humility (谦恭), even though I’d lost it for a moment．
The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant．I left Honduras and arrived in the U.S．at the age of 15．I started my new life with two suitcases, my brother and sister, and a strong, serious-minded mother．Through the years, I have been a dishwasher, mechanic and pizza delivery driver among many other humble jobs, and eventually I became a network engineer．
In my own life, I have experienced many open acts of prejudice (偏见)．I remember a time, at age 17 — I worked as a waiter, and I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me．I have also witnessed the same treatment of my family and friends, so I know what it’s like, and I should have known better．
But now, living in my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget my past, to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to be going．That blind woman on the streets of Washington, D.C., cured me of my blindness．She reminded me of my belief in humility and to always keep my eyes and heart open．By the way, I helped that lady to the post office．And in writing this essay, I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson．
1.We can learn from the first two paragraphs that________________________________．
A．the author regretted his act of prejudice
B．the blind woman needed the money badly
C．the author was as poor as the blind woman
D．the author was a native American
2.According to Paragraph 4, hearing the father’s words, the author was probably________．
A．rather hurt B．very excited C．deeply moved D．greatly inspired
3.According to the passage, the author probably agrees that one should_______________．
A．be nice to the elderly and the disabled
B．try to experience different kinds of life
C．treat others equally with love and respect
D．think about one’s past as often as possible
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A．Learn from Your Past B．How My Dream Comes True
C．A Belief That Will Never Change D．A Priceless Lesson in the Street
My father was in the navy, which meant that my mother was married to both my father and the sea. As was often the case, we had to pack our belongings into boxes and 36 those we had grown to love. We would arrive at our new home and find ourselves once again 37 at the pier（码头）waving good-bye to my father as his 38 pulled him away from us. My mother would turn my brother and me around before the ship was out of 39 , wipe our tears, and take us back home to start the process of 40 in the new environment again.
Throughout the years of changing 41 , schools and friends, there remained one constant in my childhood — my mother. For both my 42 and me, she was the cook, maid and teacher. She played these roles while 43 some type of part-time job. Leaving a promising career is just one of the 44 which my mother made for my family as we moved around the world with our father every three years or so. 45 she had to deal with only a small budget, my mother 46 managed to make each house to be the very home that is safe and 47 .
This probably sounds like a depressing way to live, 48 with two small children: “single” parenthood, short-term friendships, and the inability to 49 a career or establish a home. But it was not for my mother. She turned this 50 into adventure for us all! Each relocation was a chance to 51 another part of the world. My mother greeted each new culture, climate and neighborhood. Each new house was a 52 to rearrange furniture, make curtains and 53 pictures. Every part-time job was an opportunity to learn something new and work with interesting people.
No matter how difficult the life was, she was always having a 54 attitude. She always had strength in the face of struggle and change. My mother was so 55 all those years of my childhood — she was my island in a sea of change. She is my hero.
1. A．leave behind B．leave out C．leave off D．leave for
2. A．living B．staring C．standing D．going
3. A．car B．ship C．train D．plane
4. A．range B．shape C．sight D．control
5. A．adapting B．suiting C．matching D．fitting
6. A．names B．jobs C．addresses D．directions
7. A．father B．classmates C．brother D．relatives
8. A．performing B．seeking C．waiting D．applying
9. A．programs B．sacrifices C．contribution D．cooperation
10. A．Once B．While C．When D．Unless
11. A．somewhere B．somewhat C．sometime D．somehow
12. A．romantic B．comfortable C．mysterious D．wealthy
13. A．generally B．actually C．especially D．unfairly
14. A．desert B．pursue C．affect D．limit
15. A．lifestyle B．value C．journey D．opportunity
16. A．acquire B．explore C．occupy D．realize
17. A．load B．sadness C．result D．challenge
18. A．hang B．draw C．take D．sell
19. A．changeable B．cautious C．positive D．negative
20. A．experienced B．brave C．ordinary D．annoyed
— Are you still busy?
— Yes, I _______________ my work, and it won’t take long.
A．just finish B．am just finishing
C．have just finished D．am just going to finish
— People should stop using their cars and start using public transport.
— _____________. The roads are too crowded as it is.
A．All right B．Fine C．Go ahead D．Exactly
______ final competitors is limited though _____ people have signed up for the short list.
A．The number of; a number of B．The number of; the number of
C．A number of; a number of D．A number of; the number of
I remember he lives in the room __________ window faces south.
A．where B．which C．whose D．when
