【推荐1】Less is more. This is why we say: reduce things by half instead of doubling them, get rid of junk instead of piling it up, slow down instead of_______. Apply these_______in your everyday life, and you will find yourself being on your journey to simplification.

When you concentrate on one task, you find you have_______that you didn’t even know you had. Just imagine: you are at a fair and you have to_______two heavy pigs over 100 yards. If you keep_______one and then the other, it will take a long time,_______one of them will keep slipping out of your hand and_______. But if you tie one pig in a place, pick up the other, gather all your_______, make a dash for the finish line, pause for a moment, run back, get_______one, and with great determination, carry the second pig to the finish line, and then you can be sure of success.

The stress of work is now________almost in all occupations. In the modern nuclear family, the stress that formerly would have been________among all the relatives is now________on the individual partner.

If you have the feeling that 24 hours per day is not________, then it’s not because the day has too________hours, but because you have too many activities. A simple fact is that________people tend to forget. The________is equally simple: refuse to accept so many assignments.

“I can handle stress” is regarded as a positive statement. People who can handle stress are given more—until one day they________. Pay careful attention to the signs that tell you that you are under more stress than you can________. These signs come from various________of life. You are ill, or your work efficiency is________.

If you have any of these symptoms, change your life goals and decrease your tolerance of stress. Say openly, “I can’t manage that.”

1.

A．bringing up

B．taking up

C．giving up

D．speeding up

2.

A．principles

B．advantages

C．operations

D．relations

3.

A．appetite

B．gift

C．energy

D．excuse

4.

A．carry

B．fetch

C．bring

D．take

5.

A．pushing

B．enjoying

C．grabbing

D．exchanging

6.

A．and

B．because

C．so

D．but

7.

A．running away

B．turning off

C．catching up

D．lying down

8.

A．labor

B．strength

C．power

D．force

9.

A．another

B．others

C．other

D．the other

10.

A．small

B．true

C．great

D．wrong

11.

A．shared

B．given

C．realized

D．influenced

12.

A．contracted

B．concentrated

C．constructed

D．congratulated

13.

A．enough

B．short

C．important

D．proper

14.

A．little

B．much

C．few

D．many

15.

A．overslept

B．overdeveloped

C．overcrowded

D．overloaded

16.

A．answer

B．destination

C．problem

D．solution

17.

A．break through

B．break down

C．break out

D．break off

18.

A．put with

B．deal with

C．suffer from

D．come with

19.

A．qualities

B．quantities

C．areas

D．stages

20.

A．improved

B．advanced

C．increased

D．affected

【推荐2】Last weekend I decided to treat myself to relaxation by reading a magazine. As usual, I looked through the front pages of _______women wearing designer clothes with ads promising it to be "Best of the Best". I read the ad. _______, instead of offering advice on how to live well, the entire article _______expensive treatments that slow the effects of getting older while fooling others into thinking you stay young naturally. What?Is that even_______?

You may have already guessed—I seldom make up, _______buy a few creams for my skin, and wear only one or two pieces of _______. Instead, given the choice I spend my money on travel, learning experiences, fun and a few causes I support. Fortunately, my husband Thom not only likes me this way, _______he's the same as well. _______comes naturally to us because we both prefer _______experiences.

There was a TV show in the 1980's called Fernando's Hideaway. Regardless of whom the host Fernando was ________in the show, he would always say, "You ________marvelous(棒极了)!"And that was usually followed by, "As we all know, it's ________to look marvelous than feel marvelous. "I knew everyone used to laugh at that show because what made it so ridiculous was how it pointed out the obvious ________of grasping for outside appearances, ________real feelings.

Some women out there might be telling themselves, "I ________possibly feel good if I don't look good. "Really? Your life is ________to feel good to you. We can control the way we feel by controlling our thoughts. Instead of _________outside circumstances to bring about responses in us and make us happy or not, we can put our time, attention and resources on ________can affect inside. No one else knows your reason for being happy. You do. Your happiness ________you to it. When you travel along your ________to joy, your conversation is of joy; your feelings are of joy—you're on the right way.

1.

A．casual

B．special

C．ordinary

D．attractive

2.

A．Unfortunately

B．Frequently

C．Hopefully

D．Fortunately

3.

A．focused on

B．left out

C．commented on

D．made out

4.

A．necessary

B．possible

C．convenient

D．essential

5.

A．never

B．often

C．usually

D．just

6.

A．clothing

B．jewelry

C．decoration

D．furniture

7.

A．and

B．yet

C．but

D．although

8.

A．Happiness

B．Tiredness

C．Beauty

D．Fortune

9.

A．common

B．cultural

C．traveling

D．quality

10.

A．performing

B．requiring

C．interviewing

D．working

11.

A．look

B．sound

C．smell

D．feel

12.

A．worse

B．better

C．less

D．funnier

13.

A．puzzle

B．mistake

C．idea

D．progress

14.

A．more than

B．less than

C．rather than

D．other than

15.

A．mustn't

B．couldn't

C．needn't

D．daren't

16.

A．supposed

B．permitted

C．requested

D．promised

17.

A．letting

B．allowing

C．recommending

D．preventing

18.

A．which

B．that

C．what

D．why

19.

A．guides

B．sends

C．misleads

D．applies

20.

A．mind

B．reason

C．time

D．path

【推荐3】Growing Roots

When I was growing up,I had an old neighbour named Dr Gibbs.He didn’t look like any doctor I’d ____ known.When Dr Gibbs wasn’t ____ lives,he was planting trees.

The good doctor had some ____ theories on planting trees.He believed in “No pains,no gains.” He never ____ his new trees,which was ____ many people.Once I asked why.He ____ that watering plants spoiled them,and that if you water them,each following tree generation will ____ weaker and weaker.So you have to make things ____ for them.He talked about how watering trees could ____ shallow roots,and how trees that weren’t watered had to grow deep roots in ____ of water.I came to understand that he meant deep roots were to be ____.I planted a couple of trees and I took good care of them.Two years of ____ has resulted in trees that expect to be waited on hand and foot.Whenever a cold wind blows,they ____ and tremble their branches.Funny things about those trees of Dr Gibbs’.The lack of water seemed to ____ them in ways comfort and ease never could.

I used to ____ for my sons that their lives will be easy.But ____ I’ve been thinking that it’s time to ____ my prayer.I know my children are going to meet ____,and I’m praying they will be strong.The prayer for comfort is seldom met.What we need to do is to pray for deep roots,____ when the winds blow,we won’t be ____ away.

1.

A．even

B．ever

C．never

D．hardly

2.

A．valuing

B．making

C．enjoying

D．saving

3.

A．exciting

B．dull

C．interesting

D．terrible

4.

A．watered

B．raised

C．loved

D．sheltered

5.

A．against

B．beyond

C．within

D．from

6.

A．wondered

B．answered

C．doubted

D．guessed

7.

A．grow

B．change

C．appear

D．show

8.

A．harmful

B．favourable

C．tough

D．wonderful

9.

A．lead to

B．result from

C．put in

D．care for

10.

A．charge

B．favour

C．honour

D．search

11.

A．treasured

B．challenged

C．respected

D．liked

12.

A．education

B．information

C．preparation

D．devotion

13.

A．dance

B．shake

C．spread

D．lift

14.

A．harm

B．raise

C．benefit

D．hurt

15.

A．pray

B．apply

C．stand

D．call

16.

A．perfectly

B．formally

C．obviously

D．lately

17.

A．attend

B．say

C．change

D．keep

18.

A．hardships

B．worries

C．bosses

D．jobs

19.

A．or

B．so

C．and

D．but

20.

A．given

B．sent

C．broken

D．swept

【推荐1】When the Chinese government first sent students to America in the late 19^th century, it could not decide whether their goal should be to acquire specific technical knowledge or to _______ new ways of thinking. More than a century later, a third of a million Chinese students are enrolled at American schools and universities. Yet folks back home remain _______ about what an American degree means.

Attending an American university is a good career move. It is also _______ as a soft option for well-off kids, scared of the gaokao, China’s brutal university-entrance exams. Yet many bright Chinese youngsters explain the appeal of an American education in a remarkably _______ fashion. One place to hear such dreams is an English-language debating tournament in the central city of Wuhan. It follows a(n) _______ popular at high schools across America, known as “Public Forum Debate”.

At first sight, the event bears the stamp of _______. It uses the classrooms at a bilingual private boarding school in Wuhan with its own golf course and an ice-hockey team coached by imported Russians. But the debate is not for big-city _______. It is run by the National High School Debate League of China, which _______ contests in dozens of Chinese cities each year. This one has _______ pupils, aged 13-18, from nine cities. Many will never study overseas.

The proposition is: “Countries should give ________ to climate-change adaptation over alleviation.” An early round is won by a pair of 17-year-old girls who attend the international section of a state-run high school in Shenyang. In confident, rapid-fire English the duo argue that climate change should be treated with realism. The pair also had speeches arguing the opposite ready, in case the coin-toss had gone ________.

Unlike America, where debating clubs are ________ by shouty, self-assured boys, most contestants in the Chinese league are girls. Of its 20 highest-ranked debaters, 16 are female. In a society that is still ________-centered, the chance to argue forcefully and be applauded for it has a rare appeal, suggests Liam Mather, the league’s executive director. The winners in Wuhan are Joyce Yi and Erica Chen, from a state school in the southern boomtown of Shenzhen. Their swaggering first-round performance leaves two ________ boys open-mouthed like fish. Ms Chen initially ________ debating in English because “I’m kind of an argumentative person.” Then she realized the subtle effects of having to research both sides of an argument. Chinese education emphasizes one correct answer to a question, she says.

1.

A．absorb

B．apply

C．practice

D．spread

2.

A．assured

B．disturbed

C．divided

D．suspended

3.

A．blamed

B．punished

C．scorned

D．warned

4.

A．idealistic

B．practical

C．realistic

D．variable

5.

A．access

B．format

C．path

D．recipe

6.

A．challenge

B．democracy

C．economy

D．privilege

7.

A．amateurs

B．elites

C．inhabitants

D．migrants

8.

A．enters

B．exposes

C．issues

D．stages

9.

A．converted

B．convinced

C．drawn

D．withdrawn

10.

A．emergency

B．guarantee

C．priority

D．sympathy

11.

A．in the way

B．its own way

C．the other way

D．under way

12.

A．advocated

B．dominated

C．monitored

D．presented

13.

A．exam

B．male

C．money

D．power

14.

A．illiterate

B．ill-prepared

C．unexpected

D．unpredictable

15.

A．dreaded

B．fancied

C．ignored

D．tolerated

【推荐2】It has been difficult to sit on the bench most of the time, watching my team from the sideline. I always wonder why I am not good enough to be on the floor. After endless hours of work and devotion, ______ myself through drill after drill, the last thing I want is to be a cheerleader. The feeling of being ______ is sometimes too much and drives me to ______ on the spot. I often feel as though my efforts are wasted and my time Is eaten away, devoted to   ______. It is heartbreaking to be a spectator(观看者) for the game love, knowing that no one has enough faith to give me the chance to ______ on the floor. Tears well up, but I ______ them back. I shouldn't be so upset over something so silly

Away from the game, it's easier to put my thoughts together, rather than letting my ______ drive my reasoning. I consider ______ I am where I am. I have played basketball my whole life. I have a strong passion for the sport and always have. There is nothing like the ______ of playing: the swish (嗖嗖声) of the net, the sweat rolling off my cheeks, even the bruise are battle wounds worn ______ after every game.

Even If I don't play much, I participate in every game. I am part of a team of girls who ______ together like a family. I am there for them, ______ they are for me

Should I move on? Or should I stay with my team and continue playing basketball with great passion just a little longer? The ______ isn't difficult when I consider the joy that being a part of a team ______ me- not just any team, but my team. I love basketball and my teammates. When I think about that, my ______ from the bench really isn't so bad after all

1.

A．following

B．supporting

C．pushing

D．discovering

2.

A．careless

B．worthless

C．selfless

D．homeless

3.

A．stay

B．struggle

C．delay

D．quit

4.

A．nothing

B．something

C．anything

D．everything

5.

A．respond

B．identify

C．survive

D．perform

6.

A．call

B．hold

C．give

D．take

7.

A．hardships

B．possessions

C．feelings

D．achievements

8.

A．that

B．why

C．when

D．whether:

9.

A．encouragement

B．embarrassment

C．excitement

D．disappointment

10.

A．bravely

B．regretfully

C．painfully

D．proudly.

11.

A．stick

B．fix

C．add

D．argue.

12.

A．if

B．as

C．for

D．though

13.

A．decision

B．conflict

C．patience

D．challenge

14.

A．cheats

B．brings

C．urges

D．controls.

15.

A．request

B．intention

C．ambition

D．view

【推荐3】Sneaker is a kind of shoe worn by many people all over the world. Some say that the word “sneaker” is another word for tennis shoe, ______no one really knows where the word came from. ______ say it came from the old English verb “sneak”, which ______ to move silently and quickly. The only thing we are ______ is that when you put on a pair of sneakers, you ______ light-hearted, light-footed and ready to play.

Sneakers of some kind are used by ______ who play tennis, basketball, and other sports. New design has been made ______ for people who run slowly. But perhaps sneakers are______used by children in the United States. In fact American children of ______ ages would much rather  play in sneakers than anything else, except perhaps ______ at all.
New York City once held a poetry contest (诗歌比赛) for children. The subject was only “sneaker”. Thousands of children sent in their ______ and praised the sneakers they love. One prize winner called ______ poem “The Sneaker and the World Peace”. “When everyone is wearing sneakers,” she said, “it will be impossible to ______.”
American school children can be seen every day ______ sneakers of all colours. They put them on in the morning and take them off ______. Sneakers are ______ washed. In fact the older and dirtier they are, the ______ loveable they are. When their sneakers wear out (穿破), children hate to throw them off. How do you explain the closeness between ______? Perhaps another young ______ in the New York Poetry Contest said it best. “A shoe is just a shoe,” he said. “But a sneaker is a ______.”1.

A．however

B．but

C．or

D．and

2.

A．All

B．Some

C．People

D．The others

3.

A．appears

B．remains

C．means

D．wants

4.

A．excited about

B．sure of

C．surprised at

D．pleased with

5.

A．think

B．feel

C．consider

D．suggest

6.

A．men

B．women

C．those

D．these

7.

A．lovely

B．specially

C．lively

D．cheaply

8.

A．only

B．greatly

C．hardly

D．finally

9.

A．all

B．some

C．little

D．old

10.

A．some shoes

B．no shoes

C．no children

D．some sneakers

11.

A．photos

B．compositions

C．poems

D．drawings

12.

A．her

B．his

C．its

D．their

13.

A．explain

B．guide

C．hate

D．love

14.

A．dressing

B．wearing

C．putting on

D．having

15.

A．the next day

B．at noon

C．at bedtime

D．in the evening

16.

A．forever

B．always

C．seldom

D．sometimes

17.

A．much

B．many

C．most

D．more

18.

A．sneakers and other shoes

B．boys and girls

C．children and sneakers

D．winners and sneakers

19.

A．girl

B．man

C．woman

D．winner

20.

A．sneaker

B．friend

C．poem

D．shoe

【推荐1】It was a sunny Friday afternoon. I, however, was _______ sitting in the mentor's (导师) office, staring at the spreadsheet (电子数据表) on which we had _______ our goals for the week. I shaded my cells red; I had not been able to _______ any of them. My mentor, Tristan, gave me a reassuring smile, reminding me not to _______ myself too much. “It’s OK to be_______, but make sure your three weekly goals are workable and measurable,” he _______.

Halfway through my grade school, I was_______with a sea of experimental failures and lost without the structure I was _______ to as an undergrade. When my mentor Tristan saw that I was struggling, he suggested an _______ from his experience in a sport, which is called Three to Thrive(T2T), referring to three goals set each week to help ________ progress.

We set up a shared spreadsheet where we would plan our goals, which can be ________ and academic. At the end of the week, we would meet and ________ our progress in the “Friday Finish.” Then we realized the ________ themselves were the problem. It was ________ for me to see where I wanted to be in one year, or five, but I had a hard time figuring out what weekly ________ would get me there. ________, I was setting goals too high to achieve in a week. Since then, Tristan has helped me learn to ________ my big-picture goals into smaller tasks that are challenging but ________.

With T2T, I have been able to regain some ________ of my life. T2T has also helped Tristan and me develop a much more honest and ________ mentor-mentee relationship, connecting on everything from professional techniques to tips for not eating too much ice cream.

1.

A．curiously

B．hopefully

C．unhappily

D．sleepily

2.

A．outlined

B．reached

C．uplifted

D．overlooked

3.

A．enjoy

B．complete

C．recognize

D．remember

4.

A．praise

B．tease

C．blame

D．sacrifice

5.

A．ambitious

B．talkative

C．sensitive

D．optimistic

6.

A．declared

B．evaluated

C．recommended

D．discovered

7.

A．impressed

B．overcome

C．trained

D．equipped

8.

A．opposed

B．grateful

C．accustomed

D．equal

9.

A．experiment

B．attitude

C．association

D．approach

10.

A．form

B．guide

C．list

D．share

11.

A．personal

B．athletic

C．traditional

D．scientific

12.

A．imagine

B．introduce

C．postpone

D．discuss

13.

A．goals

B．records

C．rules

D．games

14.

A．fair

B．lucky

C．easy

D．rare

15.

A．tests

B．steps

C．information

D．help

16.

A．By the way

B．All of a sudden

C．On the contrary

D．As a result

17.

A．break up

B．turn down

C．put aside

D．make out

18.

A．flexible

B．changeable

C．practical

D．official

19.

A．facts

B．control

C．questions

D．dignity

20.

A．primitive

B．standard

C．potential

D．authentic

【推荐3】Tom was an aged carpenter(木匠) who was near his sixties and prepared to left work. He came to his boss with his _______ to drop out of the house building business and live a more _______ life with his wife enjoying _______ of his life. He would miss the happy time in the company, but he had to _______.

The boss was sorry to see his best worker go and asked _______ he could do him a favor to build just one more house. Tom agreed, _______, in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He did the work _______ using poor materials.

_______ the carpenter finished his work and the boss came to _______ the house. To everyone’s ________, the boss handed the front-door key to Tom. “The house ________ you now,” he said, “my gift to you ________ your good work these years.”

What a ________! What a shame! ________ he had known he was building his own house, he would have done it all with ________! Now he had to live in the house he had built none too well.

So it is with us. Mostly we build our lives in a casual(随便的) way, complaining(抱怨) rather than acting, ________ to try our best. Then with a shock we find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized, we would have done it ________.

Think of yourself as the ________. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or ________ a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. ________ the saying goes, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.”

Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

1.

A．guide

B．decision

C．forecast

D．answer

2.

A．powerful

B．useful

C．doubtful

D．peaceful

3.

A．the rest

B．the part

C．the half

D．the most

4.

A．run

B．leave

C．escape

D．stay

5.

A．that

B．whether

C．how

D．why

6.

A．and

B．or

C．besides

D．however

7.

A．calmly

B．usually

C．carelessly

D．sincerely

8.

A．At last

B．At first

C．Above all

D．In a way

9.

A．advise

B．sell

C．inspect

D．show

10.

A．relief

B．surprise

C．disappointment

D．horror

11.

A．belongs to

B．is equal to

C．is fond of

D．depends on

12.

A．in search of

B．in charge of

C．in return for

D．in time for

13.

A．joy

B．success

C．loss

D．shock

14.

A．Unless

B．Because

C．Though

D．If

15.

A．respect

B．care

C．hope

D．pain

16.

A．unwilling

B．certain

C．honest

D．proud

17.

A．wildly

B．hardly

C．differently

D．selflessly

18.

A．boss

B．carpenter

C．student

D．report

19.

A．come up

B．pack up

C．break up

D．put up

20.

A．Which

B．Where

C．As

D．When