1 . When my old dog developed major health problems, I knew that watching him fail would be painful, but I wasn’t prepared for the powerful lessons he’d offer in the last year of his life.
Chance was 14 when the problems started. First, he developed a cancer that left him whistling for breath. Then came cataracts（白内障）in both eyes, arthritis（关节炎）in his legs, and a series of mini-strokes（小中风）that threw off his balance. Any one of these misfortunes would have left me begging for relief, but Chance became calmer as the disabilities piled up.
When leg pain left him frozen on the floor, unable to rise for a quick pat as I came home, he didn’t complain. He just lay there patiently, signaling me with his hammering tail, each movement spelling out the value of waiting for the things you want. When his cataracts made steering impossible after dark, he’d stand calmly until I could guide him inside, proving how easy it is to find happiness if you let go of your pride and insecurities and learn to lean on those who love you. When mini-strokes had him walk unsteadily like a drunk, he taught the value of persistence. For days after each attack, he’d fall as he moved about. Yet again and again he’d try to walk, each day moving a few more steps until finally he was able to get outside and back by himself.
There were lessons in so much of what he did, but the key one surely was the importance of obtaining all the joy possible from each experience whether it’s a day lazing under a warm sun or a few minutes appreciating a favorite meal.
For most of our life together, Chance was always rushing ahead, searching out new adventures, then circling back to let me know what lay around the next turn. As an old dog, he did the same thing, using his attitude, instead of his once - fast legs, to show the way.
1. Chance suffered very much from all the diseases he had except for _______.| A．having problem with breath | B．walking around awkwardly |
| C．having trouble drinking | D．losing his eyesight in darkness |
| A．Living in the present and enjoying what we have |
| B．Learning to depend on those who we love and trust |
| C．That we should expect good things to happen patiently |
| D．That we should persevere in what we believe is worth trying |
| A．people might suffer from different diseases when they grow old |
| B．people could face aging with courage and dignity |
| C．pets would become calmer for lack of energy in their last days |
| D．pets and masters should stick together helping each other in difficulty |
| A．Bitter. | B．Appreciative. |
| C．Proud. | D．Sympathetic. |
2 . One day I was walking around in a national park when I saw a beautiful tarantula (狼蛛) crossing a path. I just stopped and decided to observe its walking.
Behind me there was a family going up the same way and they also noticed the tarantula. Without doubting it, a kid shouted, ''Quick, Dad, kill it. '' His brother also encouraged their dad to do that.
Then I stopped their dad. ''Wait. This is the last place the tarantula has to live in. Do you really want to kill it? ''
''Well, it's dangerous and we have kids here…''
''Why not stand still and let it cross safely? Then you can go and admire the rest of the park. ''
After some discussions I persuaded them to stand still and watch. Soon, the tarantula crossed and hid into the bushes.
Their dad thanked me and said, ''You're right. I was about to make a mistake. '' The children even said good bye to the tarantula and they learned something too.
1. What did the family want to do on seeing the tarantula?| A．To watch it. | B．To kill it. |
| C．To stand by. | D．To hide away. |
| A．Dangerous. | B．Interesting. |
| C．Powerful. | D．Beautiful. |
| A．To stop it quickly. | B．To greet it politely. |
| C．To let it cross safely. | D．To drive it into the bushes. |
| A．Stay calm in time of danger. |
| B．Enjoy the beauty of nature. |
| C．Stay away from animals. |
| D．Treat the wildlife kindly. |
3 . Listening looks easy, yet hard to master. Don’t worry. Here we’ve collected four books to help you to be a good listener.
The Good Listener by James E. Sullivan
The book points out how our poor listening hurts others and how much we can heal（使……好受些）a person just by listening and understanding his/her feelings. It also gives suggestions on how we can improve our listening and how we can share so others will understand us better.
Just Listen by Mark Goulston
This book is about listening and giving responses. Just Listen is a good how-to guide to becoming a better face-to-face communicator. It reveals（揭露）how to make a powerful first impression, how to respond positively and more. If you deal with difficult people around you, this is a must-read for you to not only understand them but also make them feel understood.
Power Listening by Bernard T. Ferrari
Poor listening can lead to poor business decisions. The book focuses on corporate（团体的）listening. It’s great for anyone who leads groups through decision and design. The author offers a step-by-step guide to turn readers into active listeners.
The Lost Art of Listening by Michael P. Nichols
What is it that keeps so many of us from really listening? Nichols answers the question. The book is filled with real-world examples that show easy-to-learn techniques for becoming a better listener. The techniques enable us to break through misunderstandings and conflicts in our relationships.
1. Who gives helpful guides on listening and responding?| A．Mark Goulston | B．James E. Sullivan |
| C．Bernard T. Ferrari | D．Michael P. Nichols |
| A．Just Listen | B．Power Listening |
| C．The Good Listener | D．The lost Art of Listening |
| A．They are based on the author’s experience. |
| B．They are written in the same style. |
| C．They provide real-life stories. |
| D．They share the same theme. |
