【推荐1】Our son, Tom, was different from others, because he was born with a serious brain disease. My wife and I often comforted him as he faced many _______ in his early years.

It was _______ to see him regularly chosen last for baseball, but his most tough time came when he began high school. One afternoon, Tom returned home in _______ and shouted: “I’m never going to school again!” He was _______ with food that other kids had _______ him on the school bus on the way home. Tom later told us what had _______. A few days earlier, Tom had _______ up for the school running team. That day, a few older students made fun of his performance on the track. I called the headmaster about the _______ and it never happened again.

One day, as the other kids exercised in the gym, they _______ one lonely runner Tom, jogging around the snow-covered track. A few weeks later, Tom said to me, “Dad, I was ready for the worst.” He added that each month, each student ________ an “athlete of the month” and voted (投票) for the ________. Tom’s name had never been ________. But that day, one student said: “Sir, I would like to propose (提名) Tom for athlete of the month.” The coach looked ________.“He works harder than any of us, Sir,” the student continued. “But we’ll have to have someone support the proposal,” the coach replied. Tears formed in Tom’s eyes as everyone in the class put their hands up. We, also in tears, looked on as he ________ showed his certificate (证书).

Whenever I feel hopeless, I think of this story. I ________ myself that challenges are not overcome by force, but by patience, determination, and faith.

1.

A．opportunities

B．inspirations

C．challenges

D．changes

2.

A．hopeful

B．heartbreaking

C．convenient

D．well-meaning

3.

A．relief

B．tears

C．shock

D．failure

4.

A．filled

B．provided

C．attached

D．covered

5.

A．thrown at

B．pushed against

C．broken down

D．dropped out

6.

A．viewed

B．supplied

C．happened

D．suffered

7.

A．stayed

B．signed

C．pulled

D．cheered

8.

A．crime

B．tension

C．movement

D．situation

9.

A．concerned

B．watched

C．noticed

D．ignored

10.

A．invited

B．agreed

C．meant

D．chose

11.

A．winner

B．ruler

C．advisor

D．fighter

12.

A．accepted

B．recognized

C．attended

D．listed

13.

A．surprised

B．awkward

C．disappointed

D．satisfied

14.

A．frankly

B．proudly

C．equally

D．seriously

15.

A．argued

B．reflected

C．reminded

D．comforted

【推荐2】Weeks ago, I was traveling by _________. After several stations, the delivery man from the cafeteria came along to _________ the pre-booked (预定的) hot meals and drinks. Just behind him rushed in a 9-year-old girl, _________ put out her hand, begging for some food. The man was _________ and pushed her out of the coach (旅客车厢). Something in me made me respond. I stepped outside and saw the child still standing there and crying. I asked her _________ she was hungry and she nodded (点头). So I held her hand and said I’d buy her food.

When I took her to the coach with the cafeteria, the people standing there had a(an) _________ expression on their face, seeing the little girl with me. _________ their response, I asked her to choose whatever she wanted. As I pointed to each item, she _________ nodding.

_________, we bought so much food. When I turned to the cashier to __________the bill, the little girl hurried down the train. The cashier __________ his head in disbelief and said the girl must be laughing for having fooled me into believing her unhappiness.

As I returned to my coach, the cashier’s __________ made me doubt whether she’d really fooled me. So I __________ and went down the train, following the direction the little girl had taken. After several coaches, I walked to a relatively-deserted (相对人少的) coach. Here I saw a __________ which left me surprised. This little girl was sitting in a circle with two other poor young boys. She had put all the food in the center and was also putting food into the hand of a young blind boy. Seeing all this, I couldn’t help smiling. The little girl taught us that one can be __________ even when poor.

1.

A．bike

B．train

C．plane

D．boat

2.

A．hand out

B．find out

C．take out

D．break out

3.

A．that

B．which

C．who

D．whom

4.

A．worried

B．pleased

C．frightened

D．angry

5.

A．if

B．how

C．what

D．where

6.

A．excited

B．sad

C．happy

D．puzzled

7.

A．Admiring

B．Ignoring

C．Supporting

D．Watching

8.

A．kept

B．stopped

C．began

D．practiced

9.

A．However

B．Suddenly

C．Finally

D．Surprisingly

10.

A．write

B．send

C．pay

D．draw

11.

A．shook

B．nodded

C．held

D．buried

12.

A．ways

B．plans

C．words

D．excuses

13.

A．turned back

B．turned over

C．turned off

D．turned down

14.

A．face

B．sight

C．station

D．coach

15.

A．hardworking

B．honest

C．friendly

D．generous

【推荐3】I never forget the single act of kindness that changed my life over 25 years ago. During a vacation trip, I needed to find my _______to the Greyhound bus station, some 30 miles away. Being a _______ student, I had little money to get there.

I _______to call various taxis and shuttle services but they were all too _______or too far away to pick me up. Then, I got one person on the _______who managed to make out that I needed a ride to the Greyhound station but only had limited financial _______and he agreed to transport me! He came to pick me up about 45 minutes _______. The driver was old and I remember _______why the shuttle didn’t have a meter (计时器) but his ID was there and I could see this was his _______. The driver was so kind. He knew I was ________ so he distracted me with stories and good ________. He said I looked like his granddaughter.

At one point, I asked him why he ________ so little to others. Then, he patiently explained that he was ________retired and hadn’t removed his number from the phone book but when I called, clearly upset, he felt ________to help. This man drove an hour out of his way to help a person he didn’t know for a fee that only ________his gas. Because of his ________, I knew things were going to be okay. This man’s kindness warms my heart every time I think of him. ________, I didn’t get his name and his face has ________ gradually from my memory but he is on my mind often and I wish I could thank him ________. “Thank you Mr. Angel Shuttle-Man! I hope your granddaughter knows what a(n) ________grandfather she has!”

1.

A．way

B．entrance

C．connection

D．access

2.

A．wealthy

B．lucky

C．poor

D．talented

3.

A．forgot

B．managed

C．agreed

D．failed

4.

A．valuable

B．special

C．reasonable

D．expensive

5.

A．paper

B．email

C．phone

D．Internet

6.

A．difficulties

B．support

C．market

D．system

7.

A．before

B．earlier

C．later

D．after

8.

A．wondering

B．doubting

C．admiring

D．knowing

9.

A．field

B．function

C．duty

D．business

10.

A．upset

B．excited

C．hurt

D．crazy

11.

A．speech

B．conversation

C．introduction

D．connection

12.

A．spent

B．demanded

C．offered

D．charged

13.

A．actually

B．easily

C．certainly

D．clearly

14.

A．disturbed

B．driven

C．troubled

D．permitted

15.

A．provided

B．included

C．involved

D．covered

16.

A．courage

B．honesty

C．kindness

D．patience

17.

A．Unfortunately

B．Thankfully

C．Surprisingly

D．Delightedly

18.

A．abandoned

B．disappeared

C．existed

D．fixed

19.

A．secretly

B．in particular

C．privately

D．in person

20.

A．ordinary

B．strange

C．wonderful

D．brave

【推荐1】A few years ago, I was with a close friend in a grocery store in California. As we walked along the aisle (过道), we became ___________of a mother with a small boy going in the opposite direction. The woman don’t notice us because she was so _______ with her child, who _______ to eagerly pull items off the lower shelves. As the mother became more and more annoyed, she started to _________ at her son and progressed to shaking him by the arm.

At this point my friend spoke up. A wonderful mother of three, she had probably _______ in her life_______ any child so harshly(严厉地). I _________ my friend would give this woman a serious_________ about the effect of this kind of behavior on the boy. However to my ___________, my friend said, “What a(n) __________ little boy. How old is he?” The woman answered, “He’s three.” My friend went on to say how ________ he seemed and how her own three children __________in the grocery store, pulling things off shelves. “He seems so bright,” my friend said. A(n) __________smile came to the woman’s face. She said, “Yes, he’s very smart, ________ sometimes he wears me out.” My friend responded, “ They can do that; they’re so __________.”

As we ________ away, I heard the mother speaking more__________ to the boy about getting home and cooking his dinner. “We’ll have your favorite foods,” she told him.

How ________my friend achieved harmony in the situation! Really, although sometimes it’s necessary to ________someone physically from hurting another person, more often it is helpful that we show love and __________to those lost in anger, allowing them to remember their own tenderness(温柔).

1.

A．proud

B．careful

C．tired

D．aware

2.

A．controversial

B．cross

C．considerate

D．strict

3.

A．seemed

B．failed

C．happened

D．pretended

4.

A．stare

B．seize

C．knock

D．shout

5.

A．never

B．ever

C．sometimes

D．forever

6.

A．educated

B．hit

C．treated

D．judged

7.

A．expected

B．suggested

C．discovered

D．doubted

8.

A．report

B．explanation

C．talk

D．introduction

9.

A．delight

B．surprise

C．frustration

D．embarrassment

10.

A．awesome

B．rough

C．annoying

D．beautiful

11.

A．serious

B．worried

C．curious

D．patient

12.

A．talked

B．behaved

C．worked

D．shopped

13.

A．honest

B．ready

C．sad

D．shy

14.

A．and

B．but

C．so

D．or

15.

A．dynamic

B．sophisticated

C．humble

D．innocent

16.

A．drove

B．ran

C．walked

D．put

17.

A．proudly

B．kindly

C．loudly

D．excitedly

18.

A．clearly

B．conventionally

C．wonderfully

D．comfortably

19.

A．prevent

B．protect

C．free

D．separate

20.

A．respect

B．friendship

C．courage

D．understanding

【推荐2】I’ll never forget a ride 20 years ago. Back then, I drove a taxi. One time, I was called at midnight to pick a _________. When I arrived, the building was dark except or one light in a window.

I walked to the door and knocked. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a _________, I took it and we walked slowly to the street. She kept thanking me.

“It’s nothing,” I tried to treat my passengers how I want my mother to be _________.”

When we got into the taxi, she gave me the _________, and then asked me to drive through the downtown. But I told her it was not the shortest way.

“Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice (临终安养院). The doctor says I don’t have much time _________.”

I quietly _________ the meter (计价器). For the next two hours, she showed me the building where she had once worked, the _________ where she had lived, and the furniture shop where she had gone _________ as a girl. In the early morning, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”

We drove in _________ to the hospice. As I __________ two nurses were waiting for us. They helped her into a wheelchair.

“How much do I __________ you?” she asked, reaching for her purse.

I said nothing, leaned down and gave her a __________. She said, “You gave me a little moment of joy. Thank you.”

I squeezed her hand and then walked back, __________ believing I had never done anything more important in my life. We usually think that our lives are __________ by great moments. But I now realize that great moments catch us by surprise, because they often seem quite __________.

1.

A．stranger

B．passenger

C．clerk

D．employer

2.

A．suitcase

B．cat

C．wheelchair

D．purse

3.

A．cured

B．cared

C．treated

D．fed

4.

A．address

B．money

C．map

D．direction

5.

A．left

B．counted

C．taken

D．spent

6.

A．turned on

B．shut off

C．set up

D．tore down

7.

A．castle

B．destination

C．hospice

D．neighborhood

8.

A．shopping

B．dancing

C．sporting

D．dating

9.

A．advance

B．amusement

C．excitement

D．silence

10.

A．pulled up

B．went through

C．walked away

D．passed by

11.

A．occupy

B．owe

C．charge

D．feed

12.

A．present

B．smile

C．hug

D．promise

13.

A．firmly

B．happily

C．largely

D．gently

14.

A．divided

B．detected

C．declared

D．defined

15.

A．reliable

B．small

C．incredible

D．innocent

【推荐3】Several years ago, a neighbor kid kicked a football and broke a basement window of my house. Due to financial problems, I _________ it up, thinking I’d get to it someday.

Over the years, I had planned to upgrade to better windows. But the frame (窗框) slowly became covered with rust (锈) and_________ in the foundation (地基) firmly, whoever did it would need to chisel (凿) it out by hand. It would be a_________ process and there were six of those windows in the house. The cost might be as much as $ 15,000. It was simply_________.

Honestly, the thought of that window_________ me for years. I knew I needed to fix it, but I had built up the_________ so much in my mind that I put it off again and again.

Then I had a job change and needed to sell the house before moving away. But it was almost_________ to find a buyer if there was a broken window. So I took off the boards to face this thing head-on. I got some rust remover (消除剂), _________ it around the frame of the window, and gave it a pull. To my astonishment, it easily_________. I took the window downtown. It only cost me $ 12. I could have__________ the problem for only $12 when it happened, but I let it bother me for five years!

__________ this isn’t just about my window. Many of us live with broken windows of one type or another. They are things that seriously affect our__________ of life. If you recognize your broken window, don’t hesitate (犹豫) to__________ it. It may turn out to be__________ than expected. Usually we suffer more in__________ than in reality.

1.

A．tore

B．made

C．boarded

D．packed

2.

A．lost

B．stuck

C．buried

D．mixed

3.

A．brain-burning

B．hard

C．energy-wasting

D．powerful

4.

A．in a mess

B．beyond control

C．at hand

D．out of reach

5.

A．came to

B． relied on

C．ate at

D．attracted to

6.

A．difficulty

B． confidence

C．confusion

D．harm

7.

A．shameful

B．impossible

C．amazing

D．unfair

8.

A．blew

B．turned

C．passed

D．spread

9.

A．broke

B．fell

C．moved

D．missed

10.

A．solved

B．hidden

C．exchanged

D．considered

11.

A．Luckily

B．Surprisingly

C．Unexpectedly

D．Actually

12.

A．quality

B．goal

C．way

D．meaning

13.

A．sell

B．report

C．fix

D．admit

14.

A．easier

B．faster

C．weaker

D．worse

15.

A．practice

B．memory

C．action

D．imagination

【推荐2】Recently an old friend reached out to me to ask about the success I’ve had in my life and how I achieved it. He has similar _______ as me: get in shape, get into music more seriously, and be fluent in _______ .

Though I haven’t _______ reached my long term goals yet in any of these 3 aspects, he’s seen that I’ve made some _______ on my journey to achieving these goals and wanted my advice.

We had a nice hour and a half _______ about this and it seemed like he was pretty _______ by the end of the chat. A week went by and he told me that he _______ a personal fitness trainer, was _______ music theory, and sent me clips of him studying French. He’s posting _______ on social media about all of the progress he’s making. He’s doing great, full of motivation and ________ !

Eventually I’ll have to let him know that progress isn’t linear (线性的) and that he’ll undoubtedly ________ some hardships in the road, feeling depressed and disappointed. But I’m letting him enjoy the “beginner gains” in the meantime and will ________ him out when that time comes.

I’m ________ that he gave me the opportunity to serve him and offer him ________ , and I’m thankful to see that he’s ________ the time and money to improve his life. He has even ________ lately on the Twitter about how excited he is with all the ________ changes in his life and expressed his thanks to me.

Even if you’re still not where you want to be, there are a lot of people out there who want what you have now and who are ________ how far you’ve come. It feels so good to realize how much progress you’ve made, be ________ of yourself, and recognize how much you can help others ________ the same.

1.

A．problems

B．goals

C．habits

D．hobbies

2.

A．English

B．Japanese

C．French

D．Spanish

3.

A．directly

B．entirely

C．naturally

D．gradually

4.

A．progress

B．friends

C．adjustments

D．money

5.

A．interview

B．argument

C．lesson

D．chat

6.

A．motivated

B．confused

C．relaxed

D．tired

7.

A．made up for

B．caught up with

C．got along with

D．signed up for

8.

A．supporting

B．studying

C．improving

D．proving

9.

A．secretly

B．casually

C．regularly

D．slowly

10.

A．imagination

B．creativity

C．curiosity

D．passion

11.

A．overcome

B．avoid

C．face

D．remove

12.

A．call

B．help

C．wear

D．keep

13.

A．grateful

B．desperate

C．anxious

D．hopeful

14.

A．fund

B．chance

C．advice

D．knowledge

15.

A．investing

B．limiting

C．sharing

D．sacrificing

16.

A．reported

B．complained

C．joked

D．posted

17.

A．sudden

B．necessary

C．recent

D．strange

18.

A．impressed with

B．cautious about

C．blind to

D．sorry for

19.

A．sensible

B．careful

C．critical

D．proud

20.

A．adopt

B．achieve

C．understand

D．predict

【推荐3】In my childhood, there were no smart phones or computers. Still, I never felt bored. The field, _________and woodlands around my home were the perfect playground. I can remember once hiking to a nearby _________ and walking slowly around it. At the back of it I was amazed to find an old dirt road that I had never seen before. It was full of muddy tyre tracks and deep woods bordered it on both sides, but_________ it still seemed like a fine adventure.

I _________on and on for what seemed like hours. I was sure someone was_________ in my ears to ask me to turn around and head back home but I was_________ and even a bit stupid, so I walked on. There was still neither a car nor a house _________. My legs were getting tired. I noticed that the sun was starting to go down and I grew_________. I didn’t want to end up trapped on this road in the dark night, and I was worried that it would be dark _________ I could make my way back to the lake again.

I continued to walk on with the fear growing inside of me. My heart was __________ and my legs were aching. When I turned one last corner and__________ my house, I jumped up and down and laughed out loud. I knew the way home! It was still over a mile away , but legs felt like feathers. I __________ into the house with a big smile just in time for dinner. Then I ended my adventure with a good night’s sleep.

I remembered this recently when I saw a__________ that said, “All roads lead home.” This is true. I also remembered a sage（智者） compared life to a journey. Are we going to make this life a terrible trip or are we going to make the life a joyful one? It __________our own choice.

All roads no matter how they twist and turn, can __________ us home in our hearts. May you always walk your path with love! May you always help your fellow travelers along the way!

1.

A．towns

B．farms

C．hills

D．cities

2.

A．lake

B．farmhouse

C．forest

D．highway

3.

A．appreciating

B．refusing

C．introducing

D．exploring

4.

A．drove

B．walked

C．flew

D．rode

5.

A．scolding

B．whispering

C．singing

D．waving

6.

A．stubborn

B．discouraged

C．sad

D．anxious

7.

A．in order

B．in comfort

C．in sight

D．in need

8.

A．excited

B．disappointed

C．astonished

D．frightened

9.

A．though

B．if

C．when

D．before

10.

A．beating

B．sinking

C．blocking

D．racing

11.

A．owned

B．overlooked

C．recognized

D．defined

12.

A．danced

B．stormed

C．dragged

D．jumped

13.

A．design

B．signature

C．signal

D．sign

14.

A．depends on

B．decides on

C．deals with

D．refers to

15.

A．move

B．urge

C．lead

D．transport