1 . When handball was introduced to Sri Lankan schools in 2010, I wanted to bring it to my school in a remote village. This became a(n) _______ task as the sports teacher was unwilling to initiate anything _______ traditional sports like basketball. Despite being an English language teacher before _______ my post as deputy principal (副校长), I was _______ to start this game at any cost.

40 students aged between 13 and 19 _______ to play. I had the support of their parents but I still couldn’t _______ the sports teacher to agree. _______ , I used my position to get the game going.

Heshan Pradeep, an alumnus (校友) and member of the Air Force handball team, volunteered to _______ the team. Although handball is an indoor game, we trained outdoors due to limited _______. Training started early in the morning before class and ________ after school until it was dark. The boys loved the game and were ________ training. After three months of devoted training, we were able to send an under-19s boys’ team to ________ with 50 other schools. Our boys played remarkably well and ________ the semifinals. The following year, nobody could ________ our team from winning the all-island schools handball championship.

The ________ sent the whole village into carnival mode. Heshan and I were much honored to have shown the boys that dreams can be fulfilled.

1.

A．appealing

B．challenging

C．confusing

D．amusing

2.

A．regardless of

B．in relation to

C．other than

D．in terms of

3.

A．leaving

B．assuming

C．offering

D．creating

4.

A．determined

B．resistant

C．forbidden

D．grateful

5.

A．woke up

B．grew up

C．sped up

D．signed up

6.

A．allow

B．encourage

C．convince

D．force

7.

A．Ultimately

B．Occasionally

C．Similarly

D．Unfortunately

8.

A．protect

B．contact

C．coach

D．assess

9.

A．prospects

B．appliances

C．qualifications

D．facilities

10.

A．ended

B．continued

C．changed

D．functioned

11.

A．passionate about

B．particular about

C．embarrassed about

D．objective about

12.

A．debate

B．compete

C．associate

D．cooperate

13.

A．watched

B．hosted

C．reached

D．predicted

14.

A．stop

B．free

C．separate

D．excuse

15.

A．motivation

B．tendency

C．innovation

D．victory

2 . As the saying goes, life is sweet. But while we may wish for consistently sweet moments, life often serves us other _________.

Recently, we celebrated my mom’s birthday. In her nineties now, as she _________ the closing stages of a long and remarkable life, she struggles with dementia (痴呆), leading to her mind and body not _________ the way she would want.

The day before the celebration, we _________ to bake cookies with her great grand kids. Not just any cookies, but 60 _________ sugar cookies cut in different shapes, covered with lots of sprinkles (糖屑). Though the kids worked as carefully as they could, they made the kitchen a total mess, _________almost as many sprinkles on the floor as on the cookies. They went on for hours, rolling dough, baking, cutting shapes, and _________ with four kinds of sprinkles.

The next day, the birthday _________ was a success. We took many pictures, and the beautiful cookies were shared. In an _________ way, those sweet sprinkles have not only stuck in my mind but remained almost everywhere in our home for the past few days. In every __________, I continue to find them, in all the colors of the rainbow, four shapes and sizes, sweet, and after I __________ step on them, not so sweet.

Truly, these are bittersweet moments, filled with __________ emotions. From such moments, we unwillingly learn that much in life is __________ our control: the separations and losses, the __________ of life, the passage of time. Life serves up many flavors. __________, we can choose our attitudes on the journey.

1.

A．memories

B．flavors

C．experiences

D．smells

2.

A．forgets

B．realizes

C．nears

D．questions

3.

A．functioning

B．changing

C．failing

D．growing

4.

A．decided

B．asked

C．managed

D．continued

5.

A．new-born

B．snow-covered

C．hard-won

D．home-made

6.

A．working on

B．preparing for

C．cutting off

D．resulting in

7.

A．checking

B．decorating

C．struggling

D．volunteering

8.

A．cake

B．wish

C．gift

D．party

9.

A．unexpected

B．unknown

C．undoubted

D．unlimited

10.

A．picture

B．cookie

C．room

D．house

11.

A．dangerously

B．successfully

C．emotionally

D．accidentally

12.

A．new

B．strong

C．mixed

D．negative

13.

A．within

B．through

C．beyond

D．toward

14.

A．shortness

B．meaning

C．record

D．style

15.

A．Instead

B．However

C．Meanwhile

D．Therefore

3 . She was a four-year-old girl with very fine golden hair when I first met her. She was carrying a bowl of soup. I was 29 at that time and _________ from the flu.

Her mom and I had been friends for years. _________ that friendship grew into care from care into _________ and marriage. Marriage brought the three of us together as a _________. At first I was afraid to be a “stepfather”. Therefore, I tried not to come _________ my future daughter and her _________ father. I acted in that way in order to be liked. However, _________ she was growing up, I found it increasingly hard to _________ with her.

Once her school required the parents to individually write an open and _________ letter to our children. I wrote a letter about a little golden-haired girl who had __________ me a bowl of soup when I needed __________.

A week later, all the parents __________ together with our children. The students were allowed to make a few statements. I was __________ to hear what my daughter would say.

Finally my daughter __________ make her way up to the microphone. She said something like others and then __________ “At this very moment I just want to say. I love you, Father.”

Immediately people around me started __________ at me. For a teenage girl to say __________ in front of so many people “I love you,” took a great deal of courage.

Since then I have __________ to understand I didn’t need to have any __________about being a stepfather. I can still __________ honest love with the same little girl I met so many years before carrying a bowl full of what turned out to be kindness. I can also be friends with the girl — my dear daughter.

1.

A．hurting

B．attacking

C．suffering

D．experiencing

2.

A．Immediately

B．Finally

C．Especially

D．Generally

3.

A．like

B．pleasure

C．excitement

D．love

4.

A．union

B．group

C．family

D．whole

5.

A．between

B．among

C．from

D．for

6.

A．natural

B．following

C．untrue

D．old

7.

A．after

B．as

C．with

D．before

8.

A．connect

B．share

C．communicate

D．argue

9.

A．honest

B．formal

C．powerful

D．responsible

10.

A．taken

B．shown

C．shared

D．brought

11.

A．cure

B．care

C．help

D．friend

12.

A．presented

B．invited

C．gathered

D．asked

13.

A．glad

B．hopeful

C．serious

D．anxious

14.

A．determinedly

B．independently

C．patiently

D．unexpectedly

15.

A．lasted

B．declared

C．continued

D．responded

16.

A．hugging

B．smiling

C．kissing

D．celebrating

17.

A．quietly

B．openly

C．brightly

D．attractively

18.

A．used

B．stepped

C．desired

D．come

19.

A．courage

B．fear

C．happiness

D．idea

20.

A．exchanged

B．send

C．expect

D．fall

4 . “Is this all? Where arc the rest of the presents? ”asked my twelve-year-old daughter, Allison, and Blake, one year older than his sister.

       Money was ________. There was a time when my husband was alive and my children could receive almost everything on their wish lists, but that was not the ________ now.
       “Next year we will celebrate Christmas in a whole new way!” I announced, ________ to teach them a lesson.
       ________ went by quickly. My kids thought I would forget all about their actions on last Christmas. In fact, I ________ agencies and found a family that desperately needed help. There were four children aged three to eight. The father had lost his job and remained ________ since.
       As Christmas ________closer, there were still no presents under the tree. Blake and Allison were ________, and then told the gifts would be given to who truly needed them. The kids weren’t satisfied with the situation, but still prepared things for the family to ________ the winter.
       On Christmas Eve, we reached the house of the family and were welcomed with smiles and homemade bread. We accepted the ________, asking for the recipe, which seemingly delighted the mother.
       The parents let their children put the ________ under a small Christmas tree, where they shook boxes and guessed what was inside. ________, Allison and Blake began joining the children and laughing together. Blake was even rolling a ball with the youngest kid. We all enjoyed the day.
       When saying goodbye to the family, I could tell our visit had ________ Blake and Allison, whose eyes were full of tears that they didn’t let fall.
       The way home was quiet. On arriving, Allison and Blake turned to me, “Thanks, Mom.”
       ________ accomplished. The gifts ________ in my closet could now go under the tree, I thought.1.

A．tight

B．loose

C．enough

D．available

2.

A．case

B．view

C．reason

D．problem

3.

A．moved

B．delighted

C．embarrassed

D．determined

4.

A．Months

B．Years

C．Ages

D．Decades

5.

A．referred

B．arranged

C．promoted

D．contacted

6.

A．addicted

B．separated

C．forgotten

D．unemployed

7.

A．set

B．drew

C．mounted

D．scheduled

8.

A．amazed

B．excited

C．confused

D．frightened

9.

A．last

B．escape

C．survive

D．congratulate

10.

A．treat

B．effort

C．request

D．accommodation

11.

A．toys

B．lists

C．snacks

D．packages

12.

A．Strangely

B．Gradually

C．Generally

D．Extremely

13.

A．struck

B．unified

C．shocked

D．identified

14.

A．Event

B．Point

C．Mission

D．Challenge

15.

A．lost

B．buried

C．trapped

D．hidden

5 . Last year I attended the annual autumn saffron (藏红花) harvest festival on a trip in Italy, known as the sagra. Giovannina Sarra and her family ________ me at their home. Early the next morning, we ________ among the fields and participated in the harvest.

Saffron , taken from the stigmas (柱头) of the saffron flower, is a(n) ________ crop. Also called red gold, it is a(n) ________ from Spain, first introduced into the region around the 13th century. Saffron is ________ in the hours just before ________, while the petals (花瓣) are closed. This helps protect their precious stigmas and makes the flowers easier to ________, especially preferred by the acquirers (收购商). Later, on the same day, the stigmas — three ________ strings per flower — are separated from the petals. It’s a delicate ________ that takes hours with a skilled and ________ hand. In the evening, over an open wood fire, the stringlike stigmas are ________ to make saffron powder to add to the richness of the color and the flavor, which brings considerable income.

Now sitting at a mouth-watering plate of Risotto alla Milanese, a dish cooked with saffron, I ________ the freezing morning with Sarra and her family. There’s no ________ that it is the families like the Sarras that stick to the many ________ that have survived from generation to generation. ________ more people will join them.

1.

A．interviewed

B．accompanied

C．hosted

D．recognized

2.

A．fell behind

B．fanned out

C．sat around

D．hung around

3.

A．profitable

B．tropical

C．unavailable

D．unaffordable

4.

A．technology

B．patent

C．investment

D．import

5.

A．harvested

B．stored

C．watered

D．monitored

6.

A．noon

B．sunrise

C．dusk

D．midnight

7.

A．bloom

B．tend

C．grow

D．sell

8.

A．frozen

B．sticky

C．tiny

D．wet

9.

A．object

B．issue

C．adventure

D．process

10.

A．rough

B．careless

C．patient

D．sweaty

11.

A．boiled

B．dried

C．fried

D．warmed

12.

A．recall

B．remind

C．cherish

D．record

13.

A．doubt

B．evidence

C．reason

D．chance

14.

A．wonders

B．platforms

C．traditions

D．relations

15.

A．Fortunately

B．Immediately

C．Gradually

D．Hopefully

7 . Rejection doesn’t always hurt. Sometimes rejection may _________ a more certain path to our final goals.

This year football fans have been watching to see how Joe would _________ in the playoffs(季后赛) this season. Joe dreamed to play in the National Football League (NFL), but his journey wasn’t a(n) _________ one. He applied to several colleges, but none _________ him. Later, he got into Ohio State, but he sat on the _________ for three years. Ohio State had a great football program and coaches, who didn’t think Joe had _________. But Joe thought differently. He _________ Nebraska and got rejected once again, but he didn’t quit. Then he applied to Louisiana State University, which accepted him. The rest is history.

Joe became the Heisman Trophy _________ during his senior year, then he was admitted to the NFL, and later, his team participated in the World Championship.

Joe’s story reminds us that there are _________ paths to our final goals and that it __________ strong endurance and determination to reach them. No single __________ is going to prevent you from __________ your long-term goals. Be sure to__________ the pain that comes from disappointment and face it bravely. Try to focus on goals rather than the __________ outcome of being rejected and remember that the hurt of rejection comes from how we __________ it.

1.

A．follow

B．lead

C．create

D．clear

2.

A．study

B．perform

C．train

D．join

3.

A．tough

B．fun

C．attractive

D．easy

4.

A．accepted

B．remembered

C．rejected

D．ignored

5.

A．bench

B．stand

C．team

D．stage

6.

A．chance

B．resource

C．potential

D．enthusiasm

7.

A．signed up for

B．applied to

C．attended to

D．searched for

8.

A．fan

B．adviser

C．learner

D．winner

9.

A．similar

B．smooth

C．multiple

D．flat

10.

A．costs

B．takes

C．makes

D．offers

11.

A．theory

B．training

C．rejection

D．excuse

12.

A．achieving

B．planning

C．announcing

D．explaining

13.

A．affect

B．emphasize

C．estimate

D．acknowledge

14.

A．active

B．negative

C．possible

D．predictable

15.

A．interpret

B．imagine

C．explore

D．escape

8 . I was halfway across Indiana headed home to Kentucky when my car broke down. My phone was ______, too. I managed to get to a gas station, but it was Sunday in the early fall, and there was no ______ on duty. I was working my way through university then and had little money for ______ the car.

I sat alongside my car for several hours trying to ______ the heat when an older gentleman ______ to fuel his car.   He asked about my car, and I ______ my predicament (困境). To my ______, the gentleman told me that he had a daughter my age, and then he opened his trunk and ______ a tool set.

Right then and there, this total ______ examined my engine, explaining as he worked that my spark plugs (火花塞) hadn’t been charged for so long that they were ______ to function.   After about an hour, he ______ that my car was safe to finish the trip.

______ came at the hands of a stranger. ______ his clothes, working on a hot September afternoon, this man ______ a college student from disaster, just because she could have been his ______ .

1.

A．busy

B．loud

C．dead

D．secure

2.

A．mechanic

B．policeman

C．manager

D．guide

3.

A．washing

B．parking

C．purchasing

D．maintaining

4.

A．feel

B．beat

C．absorb

D．produce

5.

A．promised

B．refused

C．stopped

D．volunteered

6.

A．solved

B．noticed

C．escaped

D．explained

7.

A．surprise

B．regret

C．amusement

D．disappointment

8.

A．called up

B．pulled out

C．put down

D．threw away

9.

A．liar

B．beginner

C．stranger

D．loser

10.

A．free

B．ready

C．uncertain

D．unable

11.

A．pronounced

B．agreed

C．discovered

D．doubted

12.

A．Tiredness

B．Kindness

C．Loneliness

D．Carefulness

13.

A．Folding

B．Drying

C．Soiling

D．Mending

14.

A．saved

B．called

C．judged

D．banned

15.

A．friend

B．daughter

C．coworker

D．customer

10 . Chad and I spent about 15 years celebrating our anniversary the old-fashioned way. He’d give me _________, I’d give him a card and we’d go out for dinner. _________ we both enjoyed our child-free time together, I finally _________ that I didn’t even like red roses, and his card ended up in the garbage can.

So we_________ a new tradition called the Every Other Year Anniversary. We alternate years planning a _________for each other. A celebration of a marriage should be _________, and we intended to make it so.

I was perfectly _________ to go first, planning a weekend getaway to Hiawassee. I chose all the activities—it was _________ for Chad to think of anything. As for Chad, the _________ added to his excitement. And, he didn’t have to call the flower shop at the last minute to __________ flowers.

The next year was my turn to be surprised. Chad, though traditionally not a romantic person, __________ successfully, planning a weekend in Nashville. We went on a comedy bus tour that made us__________a lot; we visited the Grand Ole Opry and downtown Nashville. Chad __________ endured (忍受) some shopping just because he knew I would like it. We ate at a very excellent restaurant and __________ each other’s company more than ever. For once, I didn’t have to make any decisions. I could __________ Chad had put a lot of thought into where we went and what we did.

We agreed at this point that the new __________ would be topping (超越) each other the following year. __________, we manage to do it every time. Of course, some years have been better prepared than others, __________on finances or the children’s schedules.

We have now been __________ for more than 20 years. The Every Other Year Anniversary has made our marriage loving, complete and, __________, fun! I can’t wait to see what’s in store next year.

1.

A．dresses

B．flowers

C．cards

D．photos

2.

A．Unless

B．Because

C．When

D．While

3.

A．complained

B．doubted

C．admitted

D．pretended

4.

A．followed

B．invented

C．celebrated

D．changed

5.

A．surprise

B．trip

C．party

D．weekend

6.

A．normal

B．lively

C．ordinary

D．special

7.

A．bound

B．willing

C．content

D．flexible

8.

A．unnecessary

B．unfair

C．unusual

D．unfortunate

9.

A．idea

B．rest

C．mystery

D．decision

10.

A．pick

B．water

C．decorate

D．order

11.

A．came through

B．broke down

C．ran away

D．put up

12.

A．perform

B．think

C．treasure

D．laugh

13.

A．never

B．even

C．ever

D．seldom

14.

A．encouraged

B．imagined

C．enjoyed

D．deserved

15.

A．predict

B．tell

C．suggest

D．appreciate

16.

A．challenge

B．achievement

C．anxiety

D．curiosity

17.

A．Approximately

B．Increasingly

C．Astonishingly

D．Immediately

18.

A．depending

B．insisting

C．acting

D．agreeing

19.

A．engaged

B．separated

C．employed

D．married

20.

A．in all

B．above all

C．at all

D．after all