1 . I woke up by my dog barking in the early morning. I went outside to find a koala (考拉) at the yard gate wanting to enter. It was the first time that I had _______ a koala in my neighbourhood. What a welcome _______! 

I was wondering why he was here, as koalas _______ came down from the trees and didn’t like walking, either._______, there was no eucalyptus (桉树) around. Was he hungry or lost? Or maybe the bushfire across Kangaroo Island _______ him here? 

He just sat there, apparently _______, and sort of looked at me with a look, like helping me out of my suffering. At a(n) _______ look, I discovered a long cut at his back with bloods,_______ of attacks or cuts of something sharp in some other way. 

I rushed into my room and came out with some iodophor (碘伏药水). It was not a _______ problems as I was a nurse. This poor soul seemed to quite ________ my kindness when I ________ the cut with the liquid. It ________ me that he came to seek my ________! 

After the treatment, I watched the koala finally ________ in the wild, hoping he was able to ________ the hard time and live his life as he should.

2 . The family of Chuck Rees, his wife Laurie, and his mother-in-law Ann Effert had just finished lunch at a cafe. Then Rees, 51, spotted _______ rising. They immediately drove through unfamiliar streets and_______ came to a white two-story house. _______ nobody in, Rees called 911.

Rees ran around the house, hoping to find the _______ of the fire. When he climbed over a _______ and into the yard, Rees noticed a small steel door in the addition (扩建部分). He hit on it with his fist. Soon he _______ a woman’s faint voice from the deep inside. He spotted an old woman through the _______ in the doorway. He tried to take the woman to the _______.

Rees went back into the living room to _______ others. The smoke had spread to the floor, and the __________ was almost unbearable. He moved through the downstairs rooms, coughing and __________ to anyone who might be there. After one last look around, Rees __________.

A fire crew arrived, and Rees quickly __________ them. Moments later, flames destroyed the house.

That night, the local news reported that an anonymous (匿名的) man had __________ an elderly woman from her burning house. Effert proudly called media to __________ her son-in-law as the hero. “He didn’t do it for fame,” she said.

3 . Tyrion was asked why he reads so much? He answered, “I have a realistic grasp of my own ______ and weaknesses. My mind is my________. My brother has his sword, King Robert has his war hammer (战锤)… and a mind needs ______ as a sword needs a whetstone (磨石), if it is to preserve its edge.” George R.R. martin once said, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he   _____. The man who never reads lives one.”

An old farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early ______ at the kitchen table reading his book. One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa! I try to read the book just like you but I don’t   _______ it, and what I do understand I forget ______ I close the book. What good does reading the book do?”

The grandfather ______ turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”

The boy did as he was told, but all the water ______ before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time.” and _____   him back to the river with the basket to try again. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket ______ . The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough, ” and he went out of the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was ______ , but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water _______ escape before he got back to the house. Tiredly, he said, “See Grandpa, it’s useless!”

“Look at the basket carefully,” the old man said. The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that he basket was _______. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean. That’s what happens when you read the book. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be _______, inside and out.

4 . It was a summer evening almost 30 years ago. I was rocking my baby boy in my arms and when he fell asleep, I put him_______down into his crib for the night. My wife,tired out after a long day of work, was half napping and half watching TV in the living room. Not caring for the_______, I poured myself a glass of iced tea in the kitchen, took a lawn chair off our porch (门廊) and walked into the front yard to_______ the stars. 

As soon as I stepped into the yard, I heard the sweet sound of _______ floating through the air. On the hill next to our house, the neighbor’s children were _______fireflies (萤火虫), hoping to catch one in a jar. I sat down in my chair and watched them for a while. They ran very fast; _______, they couldn’t seem to catch the slow moving lighting bugs. _______, exhausted, they both sat down on the grass and _______watched the little guys flying through the air, blinking on and off. I drank my tea and joined them in their _______. It felt so good to get to see one of many miracles lighting up my front yard on a ________ night. It made me feel a part of something far greater than myself. 

Over the years since then, I have appreciated and________ all of the glorious light in this world. I have taken it into my heart and welcomed it into my soul. I have found it in nature, books, music, animals, prayers, and most of all in the lives of those around me. I have never tried to catch this ________, however. I have learned that true light and true love must come from ________. It must flow freely between us and can’t be________in a jar. The next time you see some fireflies, take a seat and enjoy their light. Let them remind you to give off your own light as well. Let them remind you that you, too, are one of the________ in this world.

13.

A．near

B．behind

C．within

D．around

5 . Don’t let Aurora’s small stature (身材) fool you — her spirit is strong. She is one of 140 chickens _______ from a farm. When we saved her, she was tiny and sick and it seemed _______ that she would survive. Having never got the right care, many of the chickens were sick and some sadly died.

At a young age, Aurora and her sisters and brothers were _______ by their mom. Luckily, another mother took on their care.Aurora seemed the last to _______ food and attention.She grew at a much slower rate than her brothers and sisters. Everything seemed _______ her.

At the young age of seven months, Aurora had lost two moms and was _______ to find a place with the other chickens.

Aurora _______ found comfort from an old chicken named Margaret, staying under her wings during the cold nights, _______ Margaret was so old that a few months later she died.Aurora, in her own way, thinks of Margaret. Every evening you will find her in the _______ spot where she kept Margaret company.________ when the other chickens try to ________ her away, Aurora comes back.

As Aurora grew, we became ________ at her love to simply live. Nothing ________ her.

So remember, when life seems so ________ that you can't take it, think of Aurora. She has lost two moms, watched her sisters and brothers die, and recovered from serious illness. Yet she enjoys the small, sweet ________ life has offered—safety, food, warmth and good friendships.

6 . It was Mother’s Day, but our mother was far away from us. I decided to drive to the ______ with my wife and our children to gather flowers.

After we arrived, we went hiking, played games, and collected all kinds of flowers and so on.How happy we were! Finally, though, we had to ______ our car and got ready to go back home. While the kids chatted and I drove, my wife sat behind me, surrounded by her flowers, a(n) ______look in her eyes.

Suddenly my wife ______to me, “Stop the car.Stop right here!” ______ I could ask her what had happened, she was out and went up a nearby grassy hill with the lilacs (丁香花) still in her arms. At the ______ of the hill was a nursing home and, because it was such a beautiful spring day, the patients were outdoors talking with relatives.

My wife went up the hill, where an elderly patient was sitting in her ______, alone with her back to most of the others.My wife ______the flowers to her and said something. The patient raised her head and smiled. They talked for a few ______before my wife ran back. As the car ______ away, I found in the mirror the woman ______ with the lilacs.

“Mom,” the kids asked, “Who was that? Why did you give her our _______ ? Is she somebody’s mother?” My wife said, “I didn’t know the old woman. But it is Mother’s Day. And she seemed so ______. Who wouldn’t be cheered by flowers? ______,” she added, “I have all of you, and I still have my mother, even if she is far away. That woman needed those flowers more than I did.”

Now, every May, our own yard is _______ with lilacs. Every Mother’s Day we drive to the countryside to gather flowers and sow more seeds in our yard. And every year I remember that lonely old woman in her wheelchair, and her smile on her face.

7 . A group of children would gather frequently at each other’s homes. They_______ what was happening in their lives.Their friendship was beautiful to see, and surprising thoughts flowed from these _______ minds.

The mother of one of the children would occasionally join their_______ and tell them stories.When she spoke of her “jewel box”, her most _______ possession, she sent their imagination soaring.

She emphasized that the jewel box was so secure _______ its contents could never be stolen! Of course, the children’s minds were _______ with dazzling pictures of diamonds, jewels, pearls, and other priceless items.They daydreamed of her being an heiress(继承人) of a _______ family, even though her simple life did not _______ vast material wealth.

One day the children asked her what was in the jewel box. Looking at the children’s_______, upturned faces, she smiled at each child, and then ________ them to gather around her and sit on the grass. “Let me tell you a wonderful ________, ”she whispered, “The jewel box is not a ________ box!”

The children’s eyes were big with expectation. The mother continued, “________ reality, it is a ________ box of your heart. And everyone has one! Its ________ are the feelings of love, joy, peace, gratitude, and faith. It is an inner experience, and the treasure of knowing which stays with you forever.

8 . When Bill Geske was diagnosed with cancer six years ago, his life was turned upside down. After being_________to the emergency room with severe stomach pain, doctors found a tumor in his left kidney and_________spots on his lungs. For treatment, Geske had the kidney removed and at the time the spots were dismissed.However, a few months later, he learned from doctors that the cancer had indeed_________．

The situation wasn’t good, and doctors estimated his_________to be no more than two years._________the emotional and physical pains, his personal and family life suffered.

“We have a family business.We have two children who were thrown into the middle of this chaos_________, and they’ve had to grow up very fast and handle the business, which they knew nothing about.” he said.

But_________all the chaos, there has been one constant: his wife Diane.

Whether it was accompanying him to every doctor’s_________or cooking his favorite meal, Diane always made sure her husband knew he had her full support.

“I really see what love is. My wife_________so much suffering. I’m so__________to have her fight with me and not against me.” Geske said.

The Geskes__________that their road has been far from easy—they call it “cruel” in fact—and sometimes they give in to the stresses of the illness.

But Diane has__________to learn how to cope with the more difficult times.“If he’s in a mood or having a__________day, I just leave him alone for a while” she said.She also said making time to focus on herself and a life outside of their relationship help keep their bond strong.While too many couples grow__________when one of the partners suffers from a serious illness like cancer, the Geskes grow together.The people that are there for you on your__________nights are the ones worth spending your brightest days with.

9 . Brian Peters had one thing to do before leaving his job as a police officer in Brooklyn. He decided to spend $500 he _______ for his service to buy 10 gift cards and handed them out to strangers in Brooklyn Centre on his _______ day.

It took him about two hours to _______ the cards and he could put smiles on a lot of people’s faces, including one woman he stopped _______ noticing the condition of her car. “Her car was really old and really _______. I saw her screen wipers were _______ in the up position,” Peters said. “I explained what I was doing and gave her a gift card, and _______ she lit up with a smile.”

Once people _______ the initial shock of what he was doing, Peters said he received a lot more hugs that day. Monique Drier, who _______ with Peters, said Peters has ________ wanted to give back and didn’t really want the attention. “He didn’t even have a going away ________,” Drier said. “He has always tried to ________ the human side of law practice. He was a great policeman and will be dearly missed.”

Peters, who started his ________ job three days ago, said he still wants to continue giving back to the community. “Community service is extremely ________, and when you’re fortunate in life, you should give back to others who aren’t as fortunate as you,” Peters said. “That’s what ________ the world go round.”

10 . What do you do with a withered orchid (兰花)?____ you’re an expert, you may find that they never ____ for you again.

Everything has a life cycle and orchids don’t ____ forever. I can’t ____ throwing out orchids. I have tried my best, but in ____. After so much ____ and error, I was almost ____ that they have died.____, my wife had other ideas.

Some of the plants were moved to a table in the living room, and others were ____ on the kitchen window.

Actually, everything has its own life cycle. Sure, you can ____ hope. It was easy to believe that those orchids would never flower again—that is, until my wife decided to come to their ____.

My wife kept moving the plants around the house looking for the right light.____, the orchids stayed alive. Tiny new stems (茎) grew from the old ones a year later. And now, nearly all of them are flowering.

Yes, you can ____everything you think is important—your beauty, your wealth, even your family — but as long as you are alive, you can find new life within something you thought was never going to bloom (开花) again. Never lose ____ on finding new life, even if the chance is ____.