1 . On the final day of my second year of high school, I was hit in the face with a baseball bat. After weeks in hospital, _________, I returned home with a broken nose. The following months were _________. It felt like everything was on pause. And I became painfully _________ that my return to baseball was not smooth.

After a year of self-doubt, I _________ not to let my injury get me down. If things were going to improve, I knew I was the one _________ for making it happen.

When I began college, I _________ getting my life in order. While my peers stayed up late and played video games, I _________ good sleep habits. In the _________ world of a college dorm, I kept my room neat and tidy. These _________ were minor, but they gave me a sense of control over my life. I started to feel __________ again. I improved my __________ habits and managed to earn straight A’s. I made it a habit to lift weights, and my body __________ from a featherweight 170 to a strong 200 pounds.

Changes that seem small at first will contribute to __________ results if you stick with them for years. My sleep habits, study habits, and strength-training habits __________. Six years after the __________, I was named to the Academic All-America Team.

1.

A．positively

B．slightly

C．mercifully

D．hopefully

2.

A．tough

B．secure

C．peaceful

D．easy

3.

A．suspicious

B．eager

C．aware

D．resistant

4.

A．hesitated

B．determined

C．afforded

D．failed

5.

A．admirable

B．available

C．suitable

D．responsible

6.

A．agreed on

B．focused on

C．ended up

D．drew on

7.

A．broke

B．quit

C．built

D．rid

8.

A．harmonious

B．noisy

C．tolerant

D．messy

9.

A．improvements

B．contributions

C．additions

D．arguments

10.

A．discontent

B．confident

C．relaxed

D．depressed

11.

A．study

B．exercise

C．food

D．sleep

12.

A．ranged

B．prevented

C．transformed

D．protected

13.

A．disappointing

B．ordinary

C．contradictory

D．remarkable

14.

A．took off

B．paid off

C．caught up

D．sped up

15.

A．injury

B．victim

C．threat

D．disability

2 . What do work relationships, personal relationships and diplomacy have in common? First, they best function when based on purely positive energy.

I developed a more remarkable ability to relate to the people in my life after taking multiple courses from an organization. The organization offers advice far more than anything I’ve ever experienced. As an example of the benefits of their teachings, my decade conflict with my mom has turned into loving relationship. This turnaround was critical since she is now in her late 70s. This renewed love was worth my investment in training or the organization. Had I continued down my former path, I believe my life today would be one of suffering.

They teach never to criticize, condemn, or complain. I have applied these principles to great success in all my relationships. And the rewards have been astounding, beyond my imagination. But in my role of management at work, I need to learn how to combine authority with positivity.

Recently, however, I found a solution. In other words, I discovered the secret to maintaining authority in the workplace while maintaining pure positivity. For the most part, I found it in Napoleon Hill’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. I found many of the same principles taught by the organization, but the guidelines were less optimistic in Hill’s book. For instance, Napoleon Hill’s advice on criticizing without offending suggests we start by mentioning the positives about the person and then follow up with criticism.

But, of course, the organization advises against all complaints and I’ve concluded that work relationships, too, shouldn’t have any criticisms. Instead, work relationships should focus on another of Napoleon Hill’s strategies: focusing only on the positives while using suggestions instead of criticism. In other words, say, “That looks great. Do you think this addition might make it even better?” instead of “Here’s what that is lacking.”

1. Why did the author take several courses from an organization?

A．To mainly learn management skills.

B．To enrich his technological knowledge.

C．To deal with relationships in a positive way.

D．To become more sociable as a successful diplomat.

2. What did the author think of the change of his relationship with his mother?

A．It did not come as a surprise.

B．It had little to do with the courses.

C．It was the result of his mother’s great efforts.

D．It was very important considering her old age.

3. What does the underlined word “astounding” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Satisfactory.

B．Unexpected.

C．Unsurprising.

D．Imaginary.

4. Why did the author give the example at the end of the text?

A．To show how powerful criticism is.

B．To suggest replacing complaints with criticism.

C．To show how to use suggestions instead of criticism.

D．To advise readers to combine suggestions with criticism.

3 . A farmer in Bangladesh was preparing his land for planting crops. _______ he dug through the soil, the hoe(锄头)kept getting stuck in one place. Out of curiosity(好奇)he _______ to check out what was hidden in the ground. He continued digging the ground and _______ a big box. The farmer _______ opened the box to see what was in it. But to his disappointment, there were _______ black stones inside the box. He thought the stones were useless, so he planned to throw them at the _______ when they came to eat the crops at the time of harvesting(收获).

Finally, the day came when the crops were _______ and the birds came to eat them. So he started throwing the stones at the birds.

One day a man who sold expensive stones _______ the field. Two stones happened to fall right in front of _______ when the farmer threw them at the birds. The man brought the black stones to the farmer and asked ________ he would like to sell them to him for $50,000 each.

The farmer thought that the man was ________ . so he replied,“ No, I don’t believe it.” ________ the man insisted(坚持)on offering $50,000 for each stone and explained that they were expensive jewels(宝石), Now the farmer couldn’t help ________ and said that he had only one or two stones left.

________ , time is like black stones. Every second of our time is very important. Today, we are just throwing them away here and there. But on the day of judgment(判断), we will realize how ________ they were, but it will be too late. So it is very important to use our time properly.

1.

A．Before

B．When

C．After

D．Until

2.

A．agreed

B．volunteered

C．decided

D．promised

3.

A．searched

B．discovered

C．produced

D．received

4.

A．quietly

B．politely

C．secretly

D．quickly

5.

A．only

B．still

C．even

D．also

6.

A．chickens

B．rabbits

C．mice

D．birds

7.

A．ready

B．fresh

C．gone

D．safe

8.

A．pointed at

B．walked by

C．looked around

D．checked out

9.

A．him

B．her

C．us

D．them

10.

A．where

B．when

C．why

D．whether

11.

A．waiting

B．interviewing

C．risking

D．joking

12.

A．And

B．But

C．Or

D．So

13.

A．crying

B．laughing

C．shouting

D．guessing

14.

A．At least

B．For example

C．In fact

D．Of course

15.

A．common

B．meaningless

C．valuable

D．useless

4 . Behind the city of Colorado Springs stands a mountain which is popular among local hikers. The ________ hiker is generally always told that the hike will take all day to go up and back. He is told to start early and to set a strong, steady pace for the journey will be ________. The hiker who follows this advice and plans accordingly can be easily ________ and even become angry or confused on ________ the beginning of the trail, because he can see that the hike to the summit (山顶) and back would take far less than half a day easily at even the most relaxed ________.

And so he ________ his plans. He climbs up the trail wandering frequently from the path, taking many side-trips. He stops to play and to ________ on some of the supplies he brings since he won’t need so much for such a short trip. This he does ________ about half way through the day when he finally climbs to the summit only to discover that it is his eyes that have ________ him and not the words of those who have gone before. For he now stands on a false summit which has ________ his view of the higher summit far above.

Realizing his lack of foresight, this hiker now quickly ________ his time and decides that if he pushes himself hard enough he can still make it to the summit. And so he ________ at a wild pace, crashing through the bush until at last he reaches his destination and looks up at still another summit. You see, the mountain has two ________ summits, both of which must be traveled over before reaching the real goal. It getting dark, our exhausted hiker has no choice but to return sadly. He will try again another day.

________, we are not so fortunate in our journey through life. There are many false summits, and if you struggle for only those goals which you can see, you will fall far short of the ________ goal.

1.

A．crazy

B．anxious

C．fortunate

D．inexperienced

2.

A．exciting

B．difficult

C．boring

D．smooth

3.

A．satisfied

B．terrified

C．amazed

D．disappointed

4.

A．reaching

B．changing

C．imagining

D．choosing

5.

A．pace

B．mood

C．tone

D．breath

6.

A．makes

B．changes

C．forgets

D．remembers

7.

A．drop

B．count

C．snack

D．concentrate

8.

A．until

B．since

C．after

D．before

9.

A．shocked

B．cheated

C．helped

D．guided

10.

A．hidden

B．caught

C．blocked

D．broadened

11.

A．realizes

B．recalls

C．reproduces

D．reevaluates

12.

A．sets off

B．turns up

C．catches up

D．brings about

13.

A．high

B．false

C．beautiful

D．dangerous

14.

A．Besides

B．However

C．Therefore

D．Meanwhile

15.

A．genuine

B．specific

C．ambitious

D．immediate

9 . When our first grandchild, Noah, was born, we didn’t know what to expect. We thought he would be ________ and develop like others.________ , that was not the case.

Noah had a lot of health ________ from the very beginning, one of which was failure to ________ naturally.

We take a lot for granted(想当然)when we have children, and one is their eating. ________ 一 Noah wasn’t able to suck(吸)like most ________ . While in the hospital, a feeding ________ had to be put in. Though this was needed, it ________ our hearts to see what all Noah went through.

One day I was in the grocery store. A young mother was walking by with her ________ baby. The baby started to cry out loud. Then, in a bored voice, the mother looked at me and ________ that now she had to ________ the two-month-old baby again. I knew she was taking feeding her baby as an inconvenience but not something to be thankful for.

I understood the mother, but I ________ with her what Noah was going through. I said, “You have no idea how ________ my daughter would be to feed Noah like you’re able to. ”

Noah is unique and 13 years old now. He has come a long way. I’m thankful he can do things today that I didn’t know he would ever be ________ enough to do.

Today, let’s take some time to ________ things we often take for granted and be thankful.

1.

A．clever

B．healthy

C．handsome

D．honest

2.

A．Surely

B．Usually

C．Strangely

D．Unfortunately

3.

A．tests

B．records

C．problems

D．puzzles

4.

A．walk

B．grow

C．think

D．speak

5.

A．ability

B．need

C．habit

D．method

6.

A．students

B．parents

C．babies

D．pets

7.

A．tool

B．spoon

C．bowl

D．bottle

8.

A．encouraged

B．changed

C．calmed

D．broke

9.

A．polite

B．brave

C．newborn

D．patient

10.

A．explained

B．noticed

C．warned

D．promised

11.

A．feed

B．watch

C．support

D．remember

12.

A．discussed

B．imagined

C．discovered

D．shared

13.

A．stressed

B．satisfied

C．shocked

D．worried

14.

A．strong

B．quick

C．active

D．wise

15.

A．set aside

B．search for

C．think about

D．go through

10 . I’ve had a string of bad luck lately. Last week my washing machine broke. I planned to fix it myself but soon ________ the repairs would cost more than a new one would. Then this week the ________ thing happened to my daughter’s washing machine! This time I ________ called a friend to help. Once again, however, it was broken beyond ________. I ended up having to ________ two. While both the new machines got delivered quickly, I still ________ about what I was going through in my heart.

The moment I did, my ________ traveled back to when I was a child, I saw my grandma ________ an old-fashioned washing machine with my jeans and shirts. It didn’t have a spin dryer (甩干机) inside so she had to put each item through a pair of rollers to _________the water. When the washing was done, she’d often pat the machine ________. She had grown up hand-washing clothes and was ________ for the machine that did so much of the work for her.

Remembering this helped me realize that I was looking at things in the ________ way. I was getting ________ in the inconveniences of modern life instead of being thankful for all I have. The good old days had their share of ________ and joys. And so do the good new days. What ________ is how we live them and what we can learn from them.

1.

A．regretted

B．remembered

C．denied

D．appreciated

2.

A．usual

B．same

C．funny

D．amazing

3.

A．even

B．still

C．ever

D．already

4.

A．recognition

B．control

C．repair

D．compare

5.

A．sell

B．order

C．return

D．fix

6.

A．lied

B．cared

C．complained

D．argued

7.

A．memory

B．dream

C．doubt

D．fear

8.

A．covering

B．decorating

C．loading

D．equipping

9.

A．purify

B．remove

C．hold

D．absorb

10.

A．firmly

B．hurriedly

C．wildly

D．lovingly

11.

A．grateful

B．eager

C．sorry

D．responsible

12.

A．ideal

B．proper

C．wrong

D．traditional

13.

A．carried away

B．caught up

C．turned down

D．taken over

14.

A．purposes

B．duties

C．excuses

D．struggles

15.

A．matters

B．remains

C．works

D．happens