1 . Two of the saddest words in the English language are “if only”. I live my life with the goal of never having to say those words, because they express regret, lost opportunities, mistakes, and disappointment.
My father is famous in our family for saying, “Take the extra minute to do it right.” I always try to live by the “extra minute” rule. When my children were young and likely to cause accidents, I always thought about what I could do to avoid an “if only” moment, whether it was something minor like moving a cup full of hot coffee away from the edge of a counter, or something that required a little more work such as taping padding (衬垫) onto the sharp comers of a glass coffee table.
I don’t only avoid (避免) those “if only” moments when it comes to safety. it’s equally important to avoid “if only” in our personal relationships. We all know people who lost a loved one and regretted that they had foregone an opportunity to say, “I love you” or “I forgive you.” When my father announced he was going to the eye doctor across from my office on Good Friday, I told him that it was a holiday for my company and I wouldn’t be here. But then I thought about the fact that he’s 84 years old and I realized that I shouldn’t give up an opportunity to see him. I called him and told him I had decided to go to work on my day off after all.
I know there will still be occasions when I have to say “if only” about something, but my life is definitely better because of my policy of doing everything possible to avoid that eventuality (可能发生的事). And even though it takes an extra minute to do something right, or it occasionally takes an hour or two in my busy schedule to make a personal connection, I know that I’m doing the right thing. I’m buying myself peace of mind and that’s the best kind of insurance (保障) for my emotional well-being.
1. Which of the following is an example of the “extra minute” rule?A.Start the car the moment everyone is seated. |
B.Leave the room for a minute with the iron working. |
C.Wait for an extra minute so that the steak tastes better. |
D.Move an object out of the way before it trips (绊倒) someone. |
A.To keep her appointment with the eye doctor. |
B.To meet her father who was already an old man. |
C.To join in the holiday celebration of the company. |
D.To finish her work before the deadline approached. |
A.given up. | B.Lacked. | C.Avoided. | D.Wasted. |
A.The Emotional Well-being | B.The Two Saddest Words |
C.The Most Useful Rule | D.The Peace of Mind |
2 . 阅读下面材料,在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。
I can well remember that I was once asked to deliver a speech titled “A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class at the age of 9! You can imagine how
3 . You are only three years old, and at this point in your life you are not able to understand this letter. But some day when you
Life can be
Be open to life anyway. You’ll find cruelty and
You will meet many people who will try to do
Finally, know that I love you and always will. You are
A.grow up | B.show up | C.cheer up | D.calm down |
A.familiar | B.valuable | C.normal | D.interesting |
A.unkind | B.peaceful | C.equal | D.simple |
A.end up with | B.get on well with | C.laugh at | D.look after |
A.if | B.but | C.so | D.or |
A.hurt | B.found | C.accepted | D.impressed |
A.matter | B.work | C.disappear | D.happen |
A.luck | B.pain | C.difference | D.hope |
A.protect | B.encourage | C.prevent | D.choose |
A.forgive | B.struggle | C.compete | D.hide |
A.leave | B.prepare | C.escape | D.fail |
A.enjoy | B.try | C.miss | D.meet |
A.success | B.life | C.action | D.sorrow |
A.earlier | B.better | C.less | D.faster |
A.career | B.entertainment | C.success | D.competition |
A.challenge | B.drama | C.journey | D.dream |
A.change | B.pardon | C.follow | D.beat |
A.somewhere | B.instead | C.afterwards | D.though |
A.cruelty | B.danger | C.happiness | D.quietness |
A.starting | B.destroying | C.recreating | D.replacing |
4 . Victor Frankl, the author of Mans Search for Meaning, once wrote, "'Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of human freedoms-to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances." Frankl was right. Attitude is a choice. You could be faced with a thousand problems, many or most over which you have absolutely no control. However, there is always one thing you are in complete and absolute control of and that is your own attitude.
To be honest, it wasn't until I was in my late 20s that I finally understood its full impact. All through my teens and into my early adult life, I can't tell you the number of times that I heard, "Bob, if you'd just change your attitude, you would do a lot better." At that time, I didn't know what attitude was, let alone know how to change it!
Attitude and results are inseparable, They follow one another as night follows day. One is the cause, while the other, the result. There is a term we use to distinguish this "cause and effect " relationship, which is called The Law of Cause and Effect. Simply stated, if you think in negative terms, you will get negative results; if you think in positive terms, you will achieve positive results. Some people always see wrong things in the world. These individuals are quick to blame circumstances or other people for their problems, rather than accepting responsibility for their life and their attitude. Thus, it would appear as if they were born with bad luck and it has followed them around their whole life. However, there are others who are forever winning and living the good life. They are the real movers and shakers who make things happen. They seem to go from one major accomplishment to another. They're in control of their life. Their wins are a matter of choice.
You can experience that kind of life as well, you only need to decide. Dorothea Brand once said, "Act as if it were impossible to fail, " and I challenge you to do so. By simply becoming aware that you can choose your thoughts each and every day, you will change your entire outlook. You have the power to choose an abundant life no matter what your circumstances are. Don't wait to experience all the wonderful things the universe has in store for you. Start today by working on your attitude and welcome the abundant life that you are meant to lead.
1. What can we know from Paragraph 1? ______A.Freedom is the last thing we can control. |
B.Most problems in life are in our control. |
C.We can choose our attitude at any time. |
D.A man can lose anything but freedom. |
A.To show attitude is important to the old. |
B.To show understanding attitude takes time. |
C.To prove attitude impacts greatly on people. |
D.To prove the author was very stubborn. |
A.understand what causes a good attitude |
B.analyze the effect of a negative attitude |
C.understand "cause and effect" relationship better |
D.know the benefit of choosing active attitude |
A.Winning is a matter of control. |
B.Success begins with positive attitude. |
C.Bad attitude results in bad results. |
D.Attitude and results are inseparable. |
5 . Maybe it's because it was our first purchase as homeowners. The salesman must have spotted just how green we were, so he began persuading. And soon he led us to a classic leather chair. All these years later, I remember he used words like rich and handsome, the thing every living room needed.
We believed him. So we bought that chair — just less than $100, a great deal in the 1970s for a young couple!
How we loved that chair! It always occupied a place of honor in our various living rooms, moving with us from our first tiny house to our beloved new house.
Somehow, conversations were better on that chair, and life was more fun around it. Three daughters spilled their secrets on it. Old friends seemed to be attracted by it on those wonderful occasions. Crazy as it sounds, that leather chair seemed to have — well, powers. All for good.
At first, we didn't really care that the leather was showing signs of wear or that it had lost its sheen (光泽). But in our most recent move, when the chair was moved in our new living room, it suddenly looked terribly lonely sitting close to newly painted walls and a couple of shiny new tables.
My husband and I tried but still we couldn't ignore the rough spots. Our chair had a skin disease. Even our adult kids raised eyebrows, urging us to at least remove the chair to some dark corner of the room. Neither of us could imagine such a retirement for it.
So we had an inspired idea. We'd call in an upholsterer (修理工) to give our old chair a whole new life. Our friend Joe studied the chair and then took out a simple leather conditioner. He explained that although it wouldn't work miracles, it would definitely get our weary chair looking younger again. It certainly doesn't look new, but its seat and back are shining, and some of its deeper wrinkles have lightened.
Best of all, it's back in the living room, looking like a wise old friend to the furniture around it. And, yes, there it will stay.
Because some things, like some people, just deserve a happy old age.
1. How did the salesman persuade the author into buying the chair?A.By thinking highly of the author. |
B.By saying that the author was green. |
C.By describing how great the chair was. |
D.By comparing the chair with others. |
A.Sweet memories with the chair. |
B.Various functions of the chair. |
C.People's comments on the chair. |
D.Family activities and parties of friends. |
A.Because he was persuaded by Joe. |
B.Because he didn't have enough money. |
C.Because it showed signs of hardness. |
D.Because it couldn't match his new house. |
A.East or west, home is best. | B.From saving comes having. |
C.It is never too late to mend. | D.Old friends and wine are best. |
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号() 并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2.只允许修改10处,多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Three years ago I fail in an important exam in my life and became the student in an ordinary school. Disappointing as I felt at the shabby campus and the poor equipment, I found the teachers patiently. Besides, I enjoyed the friendly atmosphere in class. I decided make the best of it. I worked hard but got along well with my teachers and classmate. Whenever I had difficulties, you were always available. Soon I became one of the most best students in my class.
My experience tells me that it’s not what you are given but how you make use of it which determines who you are.
7 . A lady wanted a birthday gift from her husband. For many months she had liked a beautiful
Many years passed and the lady was very
When she arrived at his house, sadness
A.watch | B.ring | C.coat | D.box |
A.afford | B.like | C.design | D.guess |
A.holiday | B.performance | C.meeting | D.birthday |
A.kind | B.proud | C.sorry | D.brave |
A.lent | B.gave | C.asked | D.moved |
A.found | B.carried | C.missed | D.held |
A.Politely | B.Lightly | C.Patiently | D.Angrily |
A.calm | B.disappointed | C.grateful | D.careless |
A.sad | B.lonely | C.successful | D.poor |
A.realized | B.wondered | C.hoped | D.explained |
A.help | B.visit | C.understand | D.catch |
A.received | B.passed | C.wrote | D.sent |
A.but | B.and | C.or | D.so |
A.covered | B.broke | C.filled | D.left |
A.car | B.Bible | C.letter | D.table |
A.smiles | B.tears | C.laughter | D.interests |
A.hid | B.disappeared | C.made | D.dropped |
A.book | B.card | C.pen | D.flower |
A.If | B.But | C.And | D.So |
A.hand | B.eye | C.heart | D.face |
8 . Being jobless for the last three months, I am upset nowadays. My son has lost his
In these circumstances I have two mental
I choose the second option because I believe that the pain I am
Two months later,
As I am back on the track of normal life, I can
A.admission | B.benefit | C.diploma | D.permission |
A.share | B.reduce | C.break | D.raise |
A.showed up | B.set off | C.fell down | D.passed away |
A.putting | B.finding | C.forming | D.lifting |
A.problems | B.concerns | C.choices | D.activities |
A.link | B.replace | C.mix | D.exchange |
A.regret | B.stop | C.keep | D.risk |
A.practicing | B.suffering | C.producing | D.relieving |
A.intelligence | B.body | C.character | D.reputation |
A.carful | B.hard-working | C.easy-going | D.successful |
A.life | B.wealth | C.time | D.health |
A.hide | B.destroy | C.strengthen | D.kill |
A.desperately | B.unwillingly | C.hopefully | D.fortunately |
A.regardless of | B.due to | C.instead of | D.apart from |
A.occupied | B.empty | C.open | D.closed |
A.disappointedly | B.surprisedly | C.deliberately | D.confidently |
A.fight | B.meet | C.change | D.delay |
A.general | B.positive | C.friendly | D.honest |
A.offer | B.expect | C.manage | D.send |
A.as if | B.in that | C.now that | D.in case |
9 . There was a gardener who looked after his garden with great care. To water his flowers, he used two buckets(桶). One was a shiny and new bucket. The other was a very old and dilapidated one, which had seen many years of service, but was now past its best.
Every morning, the gardener would fill up the two buckets. Then he would carry them along the path, one on each side, to the flowerbeds. The new bucket was very proud of itself. It could carry a full bucket of water without a single drop spilled(溢出). The old bucket felt very ashamed because of its holes: before it reached the flowerbeds, much water had leaked along the path.
Sometimes the new bucket would say, “See how capable I am! How good it is that the gardener has me to water the flowers every day! I don’t know why he still bothers with you. What a waste of space you are!”
And all that the old bucket could say was, “I know I’m not very useful, but I can only do my best. I’m happy that the gardener still finds a little bit of use in me, at least.”
One day, the gardener heard that kind of conversation. After watering the flowers as usual, he said, “You both have done your work very well. Now I am going to carry you back. I want you to look carefully along the path.”
Then the two buckets did so. All along the path, they noticed, on the side where the new bucket was carried, there was just bare(光秃秃的)earth; on the other side where the old bucket was carried, there was a joyous row of wild flowers, leading all the way to the garden.
1. What does the underlined word “dilapidated” probably mean?A.great. | B.dark. |
C.worn-out. | D.excellent. |
A.His past. | B.His aging. |
C.His manner. | D.His leaking. |
A.laugh at the old one |
B.take pity on the old one |
C.show off its beautiful looks |
D.praise the gardener’s kindness |
A.Because it was used to keep a balance. |
B.Because it stayed in its best condition. |
C.Because it was taken as a treasure. |
D.Because it had its own function. |
10 . This summer, I, along with several other international students, traveled to the region of Berounka and found a lovely camping place beside the river. At night, I shared a tent with three girls from Brazil, the United States, and Belgium.
Later that morning, when we were all on the raft and ready to leave, I was told to sit in the middle because I'd never used a paddle before.
At last, I finally made it to a rock near the riverbank. I was so delighted and asked my friends to take a photo of me.
A.I'd never camped outside before. |
B.I heard my friends cheering me up loudly. |
C.I shared what I brought with my three roommates. |
D.So I grasped my paddle and swam stoutly to my friends. |
E.I held on tightly to my paddle, not daring to move one bit. |
F.I had fallen into the river, but I fell in love with this sport too. |
G.Tree-filled mountains, the clear blue sky, and wooden cottages surrounded me. |