2 . During my career in the past years, I’ve been fired a few times. The last time was about five years ago.

At the time, I co-owned a literary agency. I agreed to take on a giant project for a major client. I worked my tail off about a year, focusing just on this one client. Meanwhile my partner and associates took care of everyone else. We all thought it was a good bet. But in the end, the client fired me and cooperated with an agency who promised to get him a major book deal with a New York publishing house and an appearance on Oprah. I was left high and dry with nothing to show for my year-long investment.

The worst part was that I did not see it coming. I thought I had done a great job, and we had enjoyed a long-term personal relationship. But my client had his eye on bigger things and decided I couldn’t take him there, so he abandoned me without discussion.

The thing I finally learned from this experience was that clients and customers can be changeable. So never put all your eggs in one basket.

This wasn’t the only mistake I’d made in my career. Some of the mistakes I had made got me fired. That got my attention and furthered my education in the school of hard knocks.

Chances are that you are going to be fired at some point in your career. Last May, 1.7 million workers in America were laid off or fired. And according to the Labor Department, that was during month of generally good economic news. The trick — after being fired — is to try to push bitterness aside and learn from it. Failure can be a great teacher, but we have to listen.

1. Why did the author only focus on one project?

A．His client required him to do so.

B．He considered it would be a safe bet.

C．It can give him an appearance on Oprah.

D．There were no other projects in his agency.

2. Why was the author abandoned?

A．He caused some trouble for his client.

B．His client wanted to teach him a lesson.

C．He couldn’t satisfy his client’s demands.

D．His client was afraid of destroying their friendship.

3. What lesson did the author probably learn?

A．He should have spread his risk.

B．He should have tried his best to do better.

C．He shouldn’t have worked on giant projects.

D．He shouldn’t have made friends with his clients.

4. What did the author mainly write the text for?

A．To show the importance of failure

B．To tell us how to face getting fired.

C．To share a most horrible experience.

D．To explain why people easily get fired.

3 . Charles Darwin once said, “A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.” Well, quite simply _________: life is short. Spending eight hours every day sleeping _________ you’ re losing a third of your life to _________. So, is eight hours the _________ amount we need, or just a myth (神话)?

While most scientists _________ that between seven and nine hours a night is a proper amount, this is just a rough _________. In truth, it’s a little more _________ than that. It seems that the amount of sleep you need _________ your age—with babies needing much more than _________. Apparently, around seven and a half hours’ sleep is a good amount. In a study __________ at the University of Surrey Sleep Research Centre, the __________ of sleep were monitored.

One group slept for six and a half and the other for seven and a half hours per night. While some findings were __________—annoyance and lower __________ in the group who slept less, there were some more surprising findings. The genes of people with less sleep were __________. Genes associated with the immune (免疫) system, stress response and __________ risk of cancer became more active.

One of the biggest problems is that myths with __________ to sleep constantly exist. For example, have you ever heard that you can __________ yourself to need less or no sleep? It’s simply not __________. Eight hours might not be the exact sweet __________, and there are __________ like age to take into consideration, but there is a certain amount we do actually need.

1.

A．put

B．thought

C．appreciated

D．set

2.

A．proves

B．shows

C．predicts

D．means

3.

A．clothing

B．bed

C．food

D．accommodation

4.

A．exact

B．practical

C．approximate

D．statistic

5.

A．imagine

B．expect

C．agree

D．report

6.

A．size

B．statement

C．calculation

D．summary

7.

A．complex

B．important

C．popular

D．tiresome

8.

A．cuts down

B．adds to

C．looks over

D．depends on

9.

A．women

B．seniors

C．adults

D．babies

10.

A．built

B．conducted

C．published

D．collected

11.

A．methods

B．surroundings

C．habits

D．effects

12.

A．measurable

B．reliable

C．predictable

D．remarkable

13.

A．reputation

B．concentration

C．worth

D．voice

14.

A．affected

B．removed

C．reshaped

D．copied

15.

A．even

B．still

C．yet

D．thus

16.

A．approach

B．regard

C．reaction

D．access

17.

A．remind

B．encourage

C．beg

D．train

18.

A．worthwhile

B．fair

C．true

D．specific

19.

A．status

B．chance

C．possibility

D．spot

20.

A．rights

B．aspects

C．interests

D．costs

4 . Standing on the shore of a lake, I can’t help but feel surprised at the thousands of small rocks that surround my boots. They were all created from _________ surfaces, their edges softening over time. I wonder, “Can we learn from a pile of rocks?”

Even the tallest mountains have _________; none are as tall as they were 1,000 years ago. And much like a rock, I’ve found my _________ has softened and my desire to better understand others has expanded with each trip around the sun.

_________, I was also a sharp rock covered in pointy edges. Today, after decades of the waters of life coursing over me, my edges are softer and I’m more _________. I’m less likely to judge and more interested in learning how we can _________ together.

But I’m not a _________. I’m a human filled with all the drama built into my DNA.

Two years ago, while traveling in the Pacific Northwest, I watched a restaurant owner ask several young men to _________ for not wearing masks. Not _________ and not rude. On the door read a sign, “Please wear a mask before entering our restaurant. We don’t like it either, but let’s all do what we can to __________ this together.”

The group of young men wanted to __________ about the note. I sat at the restaurant watching, understanding both sides. I’ve been one of them before, using my youthful edges to chip away at (削弱) the world. What I lost, __________, was the ability to grow from __________ by looking through the eyes of others. In learning to be more __________, I’ve also found more happiness and success.

You can fit more rounded rocks in a jar than those with sharp edges. The former look for ways to __________ and make room for others, while the latter never give an __________ to accommodate others.

__________, like the waters rolling against once sharp stones, changes us by washing away our resistance to __________ the world from someone else’s point of view.

I placed a __________ stone into my jacket pocket. Mother Nature is holding a __________ again.

1.

A．fragile

B．shiny

C．smooth

D．hard

2.

A．piled up

B．worn down

C．risen up

D．broken down

3.

A．will

B．voice

C．attitude

D．heart

4.

A．Still

B．Often

C．Here

D．Once

5.

A．understanding

B．confident

C．patient

D．competitive

6.

A．contribute

B．exist

C．work

D．develop

7.

A．fool

B．soul

C．rock

D．judge

8.

A．explain

B．leave

C．apologize

D．pay

9.

A．contradictory

B．confusing

C．forceful

D．discouraging

10.

A．get through

B．stick to

C．deal with

D．fight against

11.

A．think

B．care

C．talk

D．argue

12.

A．even

B．however

C．anyway

D．also

13.

A．hardships

B．struggle

C．experiences

D．failure

14.

A．open

B．cautious

C．ambitious

D．independent

15.

A．ignore

B．accept

C．adjust

D．change

16.

A．excuse

B．agreement

C．entrance

D．inch

17.

A．Nature

B．Tolerance

C．Tide

D．Time

18.

A．reforming

B．seeing

C．exploring

D．travelling

19.

A．sharp

B．rounded

C．valuable

D．rolling

20.

A．class

B．belief

C．meeting

D．discussion

7 . I was sitting on a long, black, folding medical table. Beside me was a woman _________ the cold change the weather had taken recently. In the corner Christmas music was being _________ as the holiday was just _________.

I took a drink of lemonade so I wouldn’t get too _________. I looked around at all the other people. Each one of us had a _________ in our arms with a long tube (软管) running down from it to _________ a plastic bag below. Each one of us came to give a precious gift to _________ others, make the world a better place, and perhaps even save a life.

It was a blood donation activity _________ by the community. To get there, I had_________ my way across the snowy roads. I tried never to __________________ one activity in the wintertime. Despite all the time it took, I felt __________________ being able to give this gift back to others. I had been __________________ so much in this life; a loving family, many friends, sweet pets…

The gifts were all wonderful, yet the one thing that brought me more __________________ than anything else was giving something back. You see, in this life nothing brings you as much joy as taking your place in the great circle. In this circle you __________________ and you give. The more you give back, the more you get.

There are so many gifts you can give in this life too; a kind word, a few dollars, an e-mail, and even a pint of blood. Each one of them is __________________ and precious. May you fill your life with Love.

1.

A．preparing for

B．checking out

C．talking about

D．adapting to

2.

A．analyzed

B．played

C．recorded

D．selected

3.

A．around the corner

B．at a distance

C．out of reach

D．in the way

4.

A．crazy

B．weak

C．puzzled

D．bored

5.

A．present

B．bottle

C．spot

D．needle

6.

A．fill

B．cover

C．expose

D．remove

7.

A．amuse

B．remind

C．help

D．persuade

8.

A．mentioned

B．evaluated

C．improved

D．organized

9.

A．changed

B．pushed

C．struggled

D．restored

10.

A．recommend

B．miss

C．appreciate

D．consider

11.

A．grateful

B．energetic

C．ambitious

D．inspired

12.

A．awarded

B．charged

C．taught

D．given

13.

A．happiness

B．fortune

C．independence

D．surprise

14.

A．live

B．lose

C．receive

D．enjoy

15.

A．new

B．priceless

C．similar

D．unexpected

8 . This morning, I stopped by a local grocery store to pick up a few items. The small store was almost________and only one cashier(收银员)was working. I waited while the guy in front of me was putting all the________groceries back into his shopping cart(购物车). He was about to________when he asked if he could push the cart to his________a quarter mile away, unload it and then________ it.The cashier was new there and was not________. I said that I’d be happy to give him a________back home.

Then, we loaded his________into my car and talked on the________trip to his living place. He had just moved to the town recently, but like all of us, he was feeling the________of the high cost of living. I nodded with a sigh and helped him unload his groceries before________back home.

On my way home, I thought to myself, “The cost of living keeps going up, but at least the cost of loving doesn’t________.”That is the funny thing about loving. It almost costs us________. You might think if you spent your love________your family, your neighbors, your friends, and even the________you meet in the street, sooner or later your love would________.You might think sooner or later your________like your wallet would be empty.________, love doesn’t work like that. When we________our love, the cost doesn’t rise.________,we find that we have even more love.

1.

A．normal

B．empty

C．perfect

D．messy

2.

A．bagged

B．rotten

C．deserted

D．stolen

3.

A．leave

B．complain

C．serve

D．volunteer

4.

A．bank

B．hospital

C．supermarket

D．apartment

5.

A．purchase

B．repair

C．return

D．deliver

6.

A．honest

B．shy

C．afraid

D．sure

7.

A．chance

B．tip

C．lift

D．lesson

8.

A．presents

B．groceries

C．exhibitions

D．inventions

9.

A．endless

B．familiar

C．short

D．rough

10.

A．squeeze

B．value

C．flexibility

D．pleasure

11.

A．climbing

B．flying

C．walking

D．driving

12.

A．increase

B．respond

C．emerge

D．remain

13.

A．something

B．nothing

C．anything

D．everything

14.

A．replacing

B．monitoring

C．helping

D．defeating

15.

A．strangers

B．relatives

C．roommates

D．teachers

16.

A．go up

B．come out

C．give in

D．run out

17.

A．eye

B．stomach

C．heart

D．mouth

18.

A．Suddenly

B．Thankfully

C．Unluckily

D．Gradually

19.

A．ignore

B．abandon

C．mention

D．share

20.

A．Otherwise

B．Instead

C．Therefore

D．However

9 . School was always something I loved because I always enjoyed learning more. I never felt afraid of going to school early in the morning, and I never tried to get out of any work. I stayed after school every chance I got. I did most of the work I could, got the best grades I could, and in the end, I graduated from high school with honors. All my success was because of the teachers I had who helped me, pushed me, and made learning a fun thing to do.

At the beginning of the school year, I had a lot of trouble leaving my mom in the mornings, but Mrs. Trainer always sat with me, talked with me, and helped me feel OK without my mom. She was understanding, kind, and always made the classroom a comfortable place. Mrs.Trainer also sat down and helped me learn; I was, and still, the worst speller, but she tried her best to help me.

The second was my senior high school English teacher, Mr. Stonerock. Mr. Stonerock was able to make English and writing fun, especially when we had eight-page papers to hand in. Some of my favorite high school memories(记忆) were in his classes. Mr. Stonerock also taught my class APA format(格式)which to me is invaluable. I use it every day in my life. He put up with so many shenanigans(恶作剧)from my classmates and me and always did it with a smile.

My point to all of this is that there are amazing and caring teachers out there whether they teach college level classes, high school level classes, or primary level classes. I have had more influential teachers than I can count. I am still in touch with some of my high school teachers, who give me life advice and guide me. Teachers are invaluable resources and no one can take their place.

1. Which of the following can best describe the author as a student?

A．Creative and proud.	B．Confident and polite.
C．Kind-hearted and honest.	D．Hard-working and excellent.

2. How did Mrs.Trainer help the author?

A．By teaching him like a mother.

B．By helping him to be the best speller.

C．By asking him easy questions in class.

D．By learning about his habits from his mother.

3. What is the most useful skill the author learnt from Mr.Stonerock?

A．How to finish papers quickly.

B．How to use APA format correctly.

C．How to learn English in a fun way.

D．How to get on well with classmates.

4. What is the best title of this text?

A．How to Be Good Teachers.	B．My Experience As a Teacher.
C．The Greatness of Teachers.	D．The Joy of Being a Teacher.

10 . My daughter loved dancing until she didn’t love it. After an ______ first year, I noticed her interest fading week by week. Then, one day, she slowly walked to me before class and asked if she could just ______ it.

My first reaction was to ______ her to “finish what you start”．______, sticking with something difficult can teach perseverance, discipline and confidence. But watching my first­ grader ______ herself into each ballet position, I started to question how much ______ that “blanket advice” made. Is it really in my kid’s best ______, or even practical, to make her stick to every commitment through until she reaches a bitter ______? What if there are different but ______ valuable qualities, which can be gained by ______ the things that are not right for her?

With the winter show approaching, I realized she needed to either ______ her class or commit herself to it. After a few days’ consideration, she ______ dance wasn’t for her — a choice I ______. Quitting is never a black­ and­ white issue. Sometimes, it means ______ a barrier in your way to love something else. In my daughter’s case, ending dance made space for her new hobbies, such as horseback riding and Girl Scouts. She’s into them for now, but it is okay if that ______ changes.

As adults, we are accustomed to ______ the power of saying yes, but what about saying no? The ability to recognize when something isn’t an ______ investment of our time or energy is also important. As my daughter gets older, I want her to feel confident to ______ something that’s no longer meeting her needs. She shouldn’t be held back by the thought that she must ______ something at any cost ______ because she has started.

1.

A．depressing

B．independent

C．enthusiastic

D．unbearable

2.

A．make

B．join

C．skip

D．try

3.

A．advise

B．inform

C．allow

D．order

4.

A．In addition

B．After all

C．At most

D．By contrast

5.

A．addict

B．expose

C．enjoy

D．drag

6.

A．time

B．sense

C．energy

D．pity

7.

A．honor

B．help

C．behavior

D．interest

8.

A．end

B．space

C．side

D．direction

9.

A．partly

B．hardly

C．equally

D．seemingly

10.

A．letting go of

B．giving way to

C．making up for

D．putting up with

11.

A．teach

B．join

C．attend

D．drop

12.

A．decided

B．approved

C．hesitated

D．argued

13.

A．suspected

B．required

C．supported

D．regretted

14.

A．tolerating

B．clearing

C．challenging

D．crossing

15.

A．even

B．still

C．once

D．yet

16.

A．warning

B．experiencing

C．stressing

D．ignoring

17.

A．appropriate

B．unfair

C．extra

D．informal

18.

A．decorate

B．abandon

C．treasure

D．practise

19.

A．appreciate

B．change

C．admit

D．finish

20.

A．slightly

B．roughly

C．nearly

D．merely