【推荐1】For a long time I saw happiness as a huge banner(旗帜)across the finish line of a long race. I felt that only when I _______ certain things could I finally be happy in my life. Most of the time I       felt like a tortoise(乌龟) believing that being slow and steady(稳定的) would win the race. At other times I would act like a _______ trying different side roads at a dangerous _______ hoping to   reach that banner a little faster. Gradually, I began to see that no matter how long I raced towards it，the banner was never any _______ .I finally decided to sit down and take a break. It was then that I saw my _______ sitting beside me.

It had been with me as I _______ hard to support my family，as I played with my children and heard their _______ and even when I was _______ with my wife at my side looking after me. It had   been with me as I raced towards that stupid banner. I just didn't have the _______ to see it.

There is an old Chinese proverb that says, “Tension is who you think you should be. ________ is who you are.” Perhaps we all should stop our race towards the ________ life we think we should     have and ________ the life we have now.   Happiness   will never be found under some banner far     away. It will be found in your own heart, soul and mind. It will be found when you ________ that others love you just as you do.

Don't be a tortoise or a rabbit when it comes to your happiness. Be a playful puppy(小狗) and carry your stick of ________ with you everywhere you go. Take yourself out of the race and realize that when it comes to love and happiness, you are ________ there.

1.

A．measured

B．accomplished

C．skipped

D．prevented

2.

A．dinosaur

B．ant

C．kangaroo

D．rabbit

3.

A．place

B．height

C．time

D．speed

4.

A．closer

B．lower

C．clearer

D．smaller

5.

A．success

B．goal

C．happiness

D．fortune

6.

A．studied

B．worked

C．attacked

D．pressed

7.

A．complaint

B．argument

C．laughter

D．breathing

8.

A．sick

B．tired

C．lonely

D．hungry

9.

A．courage

B．wisdom

C．opportunity

D．strength

10.

A．Stress

B．Relaxation

C．Failure

D．Pain

11.

A．normal

B．ordinary

C．perfect

D．previous

12.

A．create

B．change

C．improve

D．enjoy

13.

A．hope

B．assume

C．realize

D．admit

14.

A．joy

B．sorrow

C．truth

D．responsibility

15.

A．never

B．still

C．ever

D．already

【推荐2】As Heiss and his wife walked near a town close to the U.S.-Mexico border（边境）, they noticed a piece of paper tied to a broken balloon's string. On one side, it read "Dayami", in a child's________. Heiss turned it over. It was a Christmas________. He guessed that a child called Dayami had tried to send Father Christmas a wish letter by balloon.

He decided to________the child. Heiss posted about his search on the Internet with photos. A few days passed and there was no________. So, he sent a message to Radio XENY, a radio station in Nogales of Mexico, about 20 miles across the border.

________, Radio XENY host Cesar Barron called him back right away. He offered to help, saying that he had________the message on the station's website. Just before Christmas, Cesar told Heiss that they had________Dayami, an 8-year-old girl and asked whether he would be willing to have a________.

Heiss went with his wife to a________and collected just about everything on Dayami's list and drove to see the girl.________, Dayami was very excited to receive so many presents. Heiss and his wife told her that Father Christmas was very________this year and they were his helpers.

Ten years ago, 50-year-old Heiss and his wife________their only child. They have no grandchildren. "We are no longer around________at Christmas time in our lives." Heiss said. How lucky it was for him to see the________by chance that day! He was also________that he was able to meet Dayami and her family.

1.

A．handwriting

B．mind

C．eyes

D．voice

2.

A．story

B．picture

C．gift

D．list

3.

A．call up

B．look for

C．believe

D．protect

4.

A．chance

B．idea

C．response

D．time

5.

A．Disappointingly

B．Patiently

C．Unfortunately

D．Amazingly

6.

A．announced

B．posted

C．received

D．download

7.

A．interviewed

B．found

C．examined

D．helped

8.

A．discussion

B．dinner

C．gathering

D．try

9.

A．shopping center

B．bookstore

C．children's park

D．post office

10.

A．Actually

B．Specially

C．Finally

D．Obviously

11.

A．busy

B．kind

C．helpful

D．satisfied

12.

A．saved

B．educated

C．lost

D．raised

13.

A．friends

B．strangers

C．guests

D．children

14.

A．balloon

B．girl

C．present

D．host

15.

A．expectant

B．thankful

C．moved

D．proud

【推荐3】Whatever misfortune you face, just hold up your head and face it with a smile! I got to know this from a musical soul.

The other day I was feeling quite _________, having just been laid off from my job. With so many _________ to pay, I was wondering what was going to happen to my family.

I got off the bus when I heard piano music and singing rising above the noise of the traffic. I walked a bit slower, trying to find out where it was coming from. Through the _________ I saw a young lady sitting at a piano with a box next to her.

She was singing songs about love and her sweet voice _________me a bit. Then I stood there watching her playing, thinking that it must take _________to perform on her own in front of hundreds of people she didn’t know.

She might have felt my _________ for she occasionally looked in my direction.

By now I was telling myself that I could at least tell her how good she sounded. I walked _________ and put some money in her box and she expressed her thanks with a smile on her face.

I asked her _________, “Why are you playing the piano in the middle of this crowded place?”

She explained to me that she sees so many negative people in the world that she is trying to relieve the pain by _________motivational (激励的) music.

Instead of continuing my way home, I said to her, “I have been going through a __________time lately, but you’ve made me hopeful again.”

“I’m happy that I could be __________to you,” she replied. “Why are you so sad?”

I told her my story and said, “I’m not so __________about what to do….”

“You see, here’s the problem,” she responded. “When you were walking, your head was down.” She looked me in the eyes and went on, “Don’t look defeated, because __________comes in different ways and if your head is down you might never see it. You should __________more …lift your head up.”

I was really __________by what she said! I did hold my head up and soon got through the difficult time.

So whenever in trouble, just face it bravely and you are sure to overcome your difficulty sooner or later.

1.

A．lonely

B．relaxed

C．awful

D．breathless

2.

A．bills

B．fees

C．fines

D．prices

3.

A．trees

B．street

C．buildings

D．crowd

4.

A．shocked

B．comforted

C．excited

D．amused

5.

A．courage

B．energy

C．patience

D．technique

6.

A．mood

B．presence

C．thought

D．appreciation

7.

A．aside

B．down

C．off

D．over

8.

A．quietly

B．deliberately

C．curiously

D．seriously

9.

A．creating

B．sharing

C．enjoying

D．teaching

10.

A．tense

B．wonderful

C．rough

D．crazy

11.

A．available

B．essential

C．superior

D．helpful

12.

A．sure

B．ashamed

C．particular

D．anxious

13.

A．success

B．opportunity

C．aid

D．happiness

14.

A．concentrate

B．look

C．smile

D．fight

15.

A．occupied

B．moved

C．inspired

D．satisfied

【推荐1】Pen pals Jill Stretton and Cathie Alexander live half a world apart. However, they’ve_________ a faithful correspondence (通信) for seven decades.   

The long-lived letter-writing relationship_________ in 1950 when 12-year-old Stretton from Australia was given Alexander’s _________ by a friend. Back then, it sometimes took six weeks for a long-distance letter to reach its _________, but the pair established an instant rapport (融洽) after their first _________that has grown _________ with time.   

Though the two women didn’t meet in person until 1982, they felt as if they had truly_________ with one another, sharing life’s moments through their letters. “She is just like one of the family,” Stretton said. “And we are still together as we ever were 70 years ago. That is quite _________ for people who’ve lost confidence in ever-lasting friendship.”

Stretton and Alexander have never stopped_________ to one another. Along with hopes, dreams, photos, and family updates, through the years, their letters have contained their sweet life__________ — weddings, birthdays, graduation and so on.

While they__________ write letters, with the development of technology, Stretton and Alexander have slightly bowed to the times. For longer messages, they’ve turned to the Internet, but they agree that nothing will __________ a handwritten note. “Now, we do __________ to send postcards rather than write long letters because we email each other now,” Stretton __________ honestly. But letter writing plays the most important part in their friendship.   

The two women’s story proves that the __________ is nothing when it comes to true friendship.

1.

A．ignored

B．selected

C．sought

D．maintained

2.

A．improved

B．changed

C．began

D．disappeared

3.

A．email

B．address

C．number

D．postcard

4.

A．destination

B．rate

C．power

D．intention

5.

A．adventure

B．struggle

C．exchange

D．comment

6.

A．stronger

B．weaker

C．worse

D．less

7.

A．broken down

B．grown up

C．turned up

D．settled down

8.

A．typical

B．frightening

C．convenient

D．inspiring

9.

A．responding

B．speaking

C．writing

D．turning

10.

A．goals

B．memories

C．benefits

D．journeys

11.

A．still

B．gradually

C．never

D．eventually

12.

A．determine

B．impact

C．measure

D．replace

13.

A．pretend

B．tend

C．refuse

D．fail

14.

A．apologized

B．asked

C．admitted

D．argued

15.

A．distance

B．quality

C．challenge

D．profession

【推荐2】Mildred Webinga Freeman was an English teacher at the new middle school I attended in the ninth grade. She wasn’t my _________; she was the adviser to the safety patrol (巡逻队) on which I _________. I loved being around her and _________ her sense of humor and kind personality. She was _________ a good listener.

At the end of the year, she announced that she was moving to Florida, and I was very sad. We exchanged_________and became pen pals. I could tell her _________, and she treated me _________ respect even though I was a teenager.

In Florida, Mrs Freeman became a Realtor (房地产经纪人), _________ she managed to find time to write letters. She wrote_________ stories and always took my concerns __________. She had given me an open invitation to visit, and I missed her so much. When I __________ to take her up on the offer, she answered, “Get your shoes on and your bags __________! You are welcome anytime!”

I spent three weeks with her in Miami. Her __________ of poetry, music, and creative writing __________ me to follow these endeavors (努力). One day while hanging sheets on the clothesline, she __________ and said, “You know, the sky is fuel for the soul.” I had never looked at the clouds before hearing those words. Later that year, I received a call that Mrs Freeman had died.

1.

A．mother

B．friend

C．classmate

D．teacher

2.

A．served

B．advised

C．expected

D．led

3.

A．shared

B．enjoyed

C．imagined

D．found

4.

A．such

B．just

C．still

D．also

5.

A．addresses

B．gifts

C．views

D．roles

6.

A．anything

B．nothing

C．everything

D．something

7.

A．in

B．as

C．with

D．to

8.

A．so

B．but

C．or

D．for

9.

A．amusing

B．different

C．emotional

D．ordinary

10.

A．immediately

B．carefully

C．seriously

D．privately

11.

A．decided

B．hesitated

C．wrote

D．hurried

12.

A．bought

B．found

C．filled

D．packed

13.

A．love

B．dream

C．sense

D．feeling

14.

A．persuaded

B．encouraged

C．forced

D．allowed

15.

A．looked over

B．looked out

C．looked up

D．looked down

【推荐3】When I was 14, I invited some friends for a party at our home out in the country. I planned it well, but something __ happened. When it was time for us to ride the bus, Nora, one of my friends, didn’t ___.

I felt __ . Why would she tell me she’d come to the party and then __ without letting me know? So, I decided to call Nora and get some answers. I needed no __ but I demanded to know why.

Nora __ she had to stay away from school because she was sick. Anger still seized me and I __ to listen, “What kind of friend are you?” Nora began crying on the phone, hurt and surprised. For the rest of the school year, we __ hung around again, and I forgot about my __ call with Nora. __ had happened between us at some point, but I shrugged (耸肩) it off.

Years later, I began to __ that ugly phone conversation. I regretted it. I recognized how selfish, and __ I’d been, caring only about myself. I wanted to make things __ . I wrote an apology letter to Nora and soon got her __ . So finally, we did bring a sad moment from the past to a __ conclusion, healing both of us.

1.

A．unforgettable

B．unknown

C．unexpected

D．unsure

2.

A．show around

B．show in

C．show off

D．show up

3.

A．mad

B．worried

C．amazed

D．doubtful

4.

A．come in

B．look away

C．drop out

D．step up

5.

A．company

B．apologies

C．excuses

D．response

6.

A．assumed

B．explained

C．expected

D．lied

7.

A．intended

B．hesitated

C．tried

D．refused

8.

A．hardly

B．actually

C．frequently

D．regularly

9.

A．ordinary

B．hurtful

C．frank

D．formal

10.

A．Difference

B．Discussion

C．Argument

D．Concern

11.

A．reflect on

B．rise to

C．escape from

D．get over

12.

A．self-supported

B．self-respected

C．self-controlled

D．self-centered

13.

A．valuable

B．right

C．nice

D．clear

14.

A．promise

B．decision

C．forgiveness

D．attitude

15.

A．healthy

B．serious

C．natural

D．strange

【推荐2】My father was raised in a fatherless home at a time when the family of five struggled to survive, which caused my father to be extremely tightfisted (吝啬)with money. When we children became __ that other children got pocket money from their parents, we made a(n) __ to ask our father for some. Immediately his face turned stone cold, and he said, "If you're old enough to ask, you're old enough to __ And we had to seek odd jobs about the neighbourhood.

He didn't __ his attitude as we grew into adulthood. There was a time when ___of us had a car, so we had to ride a __ whenever we came home. Though the bus stopped about two miles from home, Dad never met us, __ in bad weather. If someone ___(and my brothers did a lot), he'd say in his __ father-voice. “That's what your legs are __!"

One spring morning I was on the bus home from _____ . Tests and long hours in labs had ____ me exhausted. As other students were _____at their stops. I looked silently out of the window. Finally, the bus came to a ____ at my destination, and I ___, carrying my suitcase to begin the long journey home.

The row of privet hedge (树篱)came into _____, which lined the driveway that climbed the hill to our house. I stopped to put a book in the suitcase. When I stood up, I saw something gray ____ along the top of the hedge toward the house.

It was the top of my father's head. I ____ then, each time I came home, he would stand behind the hedge, watching, __ he knew I had arrived safely. I held back my tears. He did care, _____.

Upon reaching home, I found my father innocently in his chair “So! It's you!" he said, his face lengthening into surprise.

1.

A．aware

B．certain

C．surprised

D．excited

2.

A．attempt

B．suggestion

C．trouble

D．plan

3.

A．spend

B．earn

C．survive

D．raise

4.

A．strengthen

B．soften

C．take

D．show

5.

A．neither

B．each

C．all

D．none

6.

A．bicycle

B．car

C．train

D．bus

7.

A．especially

B．only

C．even

D．once

8.

A．refused

B．complained

C．cried

D．intended

9.

A．strangest

B．lowest

C．scariest

D．softest

10.

A．on

B．in

C．by

D．for

11.

A．work

B．home

C．town

D．college

12.

A．led

B．made

C．found

D．proved

13.

A．treated

B．received

C．met

D．greeted

14.

A．stop

B．house

C．street

D．corner

15.

A．stepped off

B．went off

C．jumped on

D．climbed on

16.

A．mind

B．view

C．flower

D．leaf

17.

A．shining

B．flying

C．failing

D．moving

18.

A．supposed

B．thought

C．imagined

D．realized

19.

A．since

B．after

C．until

D．though

20.

A．after all

B．above all

C．in advance

D．in total

【推荐3】Fifteen years spent in the field of education has provided me with many treasured moments. One of the most unforgettable _______ when I was teaching second _______ , 10 years ago.
In May I decided to plan something special for the children: a Mother’s Day tea. We had put our heads together to _______ ideas of how to _______ our mothers. We practiced singing songs, memorized poems and wrote cards. We decided to hold our tea the Friday before Mother’s Day. I was surprised and _______ to learn that every mother was planning to attend. I _______invited my own mother.
Finally, the big day arrived. Each child _______up at our classroom door, expecting the arrival of his or her mom. _______it got closer to starting time, I looked around and my eyes quickly found Jimmy. His mother hadn’t shown up and he was looking _______ .
I took my mother by the hand and walked over to Jimmy. “Jimmy,” I said, “I have a bit of problem here and I was ________ if you could keep my mother ________ while I’m busy.”
My mom and Jimmy sat at a table. Jimmy ________my mom her treats, presented her with the gift I had made, just as we had ________ the day before. Whenever I looked over, my mother and Jimmy were in deep ________ .
Now 10 years later, I work with students of all ages, educating them about the environment. Last year, I took a senior class on a field trip, and there was Jimmy. I had the students complete an outline of the day’s ________ and an evaluation of our trip. Then I collected the students’ booklets and checked them to see if________was completed. When I came ________ Jimmy’s page, he had written “Remember our Mother’s Day tea we had in second grade, Mrs. Marra? I do! Thanks for all you did for me, and thank your mother, too.”
I told him I really enjoyed what he had written. He looked rather embarrassed and________his own thanks and walked away. Suddenly he ran back and gave me a big hug. “Thanks again. No one even knew my mother didn’t ________it.”
I ended my workday with a hug from a teenage boy who had________stopped hugging teachers years ago.1.

A．lasted

B．happened

C．experienced

D．described

2.

A．school

B．class

C．grade

D．lesson

3.

A．pay attention to

B．look forward to

C．get on with

D．come up with

4.

A．love

B．please

C．respect

D．admire

5.

A．astonished

B．worried

C．relieved

D．interested

6.

A．even

B．ever

C．still

D．once

7.

A．followed

B．held

C．kept

D．lined

8.

A．As

B．Although

C．While

D．Because

9.

A．wild

B．curious

C．strange

D．upset

10.

A．considering

B．wondering

C．asking

D．doubting

11.

A．connection

B．care

C．company

D．concern

12.

A．served

B．supplied

C．assigned

D．applied

13.

A．taught

B．studied

C．practiced

D．told

14.

A．mind

B．thought

C．agreement

D．conversation

15.

A．feeling

B．behavior

C．event

D．action

16.

A．something

B．everything

C．anything

D．nothing

17.

A．by

B．to

C．on

D．over

18.

A．announced

B．delivered

C．stated

D．whispered

19.

A．make

B．get

C．do

D．take

20.

A．probably

B．exactly

C．rarely

D．eagerly