1 . The Gain Is Worth the Pain I was about 9 years old. I was taking Red Cross swimming lessons at our community pool. The day had arrived when I was to be ______ to see if I could advance from the Advanced Beginners class to the Intermediate class.   Approximately fifteen of us were to take ______to swim from one side of the pool to the other and back, doing various strokes（泳姿） and exercises along the way. I watched _____ my classmates one by one tried and failed to pass the test. Then it was my turn to _______, I mean, my turn to attempt to pass the test. I got about halfway across the pool when I felt the _____ sensation you feel when chlorinated (加氯消毒的) water enters your nose. I ____ stopped and seized the side of the pool, _____my test.   One of the instructors was standing ______me, a messy haired college student. “Why did you stop?” he _____, in a less than merciful voice. “I got water in my _____,” I explained.   Thats when this scruffy college student taught me one of lifes great _____, even if he probably never _____ he was doing that. Bending down, he shouted, “So?”   “So?” The question ______me. It had just seemed reasonable to me that the answer to ______was to get rid of the thing causing the discomfort. My 9 year old brain had not understood the fact that a valuable goal is worth ______ even if we have to go through discomfort to get there. Recognizing that, I wasnt sure what would keep me from completing the test. In fact, I did it rather easily on my next _______. Seeing me pass the test, almost all of the others did so as well.   Life is a journey, and the road won’t always be ______. The obstacles, the hardships, the barriers that appear along the way can’t be ______ to the goal that waits at the end. We have to focus on the final destination, not the blocks in the road. As one put it, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the ______ that will be shown in us.” The plan is not to get rid of suffering in our lives, _____ to look past it.

1.

A．urged

B．checked

C．tested

D．placed

2.

A．chances

B．turns

C．efforts

D．actions

3.

A．as

B．until

C．once

D．since

4.

A．escape

B．observe

C．train

D．fail

5.

A．burning

B．dizzying

C．freezing

D．tiring

6.

A．hesitantly

B．immediately

C．frequently

D．constantly

7.

A．starting

B．enquiring

C．ending

D．continuing

8.

A．beside

B．above

C．behind

D．against

9.

A．whispered

B．announced

C．smiled

D．yelled

10.

A．eyes

B．ears

C．nose

D．mouth

11.

A．lessons

B．lectures

C．courses

D．examples

12.

A．complained

B．admitted

C．regretted

D．realized

13.

A．excited

B．encouraged

C．comforted

D．shocked

14.

A．gain

B．pain

C．success

D．disappointment

15.

A．having

B．changing

C．achieving

D．setting

16.

A．attempt

B．plan

C．show

D．activity

17.

A．tough

B．easy

C．rough

D．busy

18.

A．attached

B．linked

C．exposed

D．compared

19.

A．glory

B．result

C．fun

D．sadness

20.

A．and

B．or

C．but

D．even

2 . I was studying chemistry at college because my family thought it was the key to success. One day, my professor took me aside and asked a very simple question, “Why are you in my class when it’s obvious that you have little or no _______ in chemistry?”

I came up with an explanation by _______ pressure from my dad, but he knew it was just a /an ________ excuse. He gave me the following advice.

“Success can only be measured by oneself, and each of us is _______. Your success will not be the same as mine, as your neighbor’s or your parents’. There is no secret formula(公式), no examination you have to _______, and no guarantee, but there is a secret ingredient—_______. To be successful in life in the broadest sense, you must pursue your passion. _______ it is fixing cars or exploring the world, you must be passionate about your _______ and set a path to achieve it. Only then will you find true _______.”

Since I was just nineteen years old, that was pretty profound advice to ________, but I knew instinctively (本能地) that he was ________. I made a conscious self-examination of my short life to ________ where my passion was hiding. It was so ________ that even my kid sister could have told me my true passion was music. It was in my genes. I could play the piano by ear, but had ________ considered music as a hobby.

Could I be a successful musician? Or a songwriter? Or a music critic? There was only one way to find out, so I took my professor’s ________ and switched to the university’s music school. I studied harmony and composition, learned how to play a clarinet(单簧管) and ________ the symphony orchestra. I felt as though I was on top of the world, and that ________ has never left me.

I’m now fifty-four years old, and a very happy and ________ man. As I look at the walls of my small office, I still get a thrill at seeing the records I ________, the photos of the famous musicians I was lucky enough to play with, and the praises from many of the finest instrumentalists in the world who I am honored to call my friends.

Life was a long journey, and not a/an ________ one, but I followed my passion and succeeded.

1.

A．achievement

B．doubt

C．interest

D．belief

2.

A．blaming

B．gathering

C．overcoming

D．reducing

3.

A．accurate

B．weak

C．direct

D．innocent

4.

A．different

B．perfect

C．honest

D．creative

5.

A．design

B．pass

C．control

D．stand

6.

A．knowledge

B．confidence

C．passion

D．effort

7.

A．Unless

B．Because

C．While

D．Whether

8.

A．study

B．need

C．goal

D．gift

9.

A．fortune

B．friendship

C．character

D．happiness

10.

A．confirm

B．absorb

C．remember

D．seek

11.

A．sensitive

B．generous

C．kind

D．right

12.

A．choose

B．report

C．discover

D．follow

13.

A．likely

B．obvious

C．popular

D．practical

14.

A．only

B．even

C．never

D．seldom

15.

A．message

B．lecture

C．advice

D．view

16.

A．helped

B．started

C．hosted

D．joined

17.

A．feeling

B．experience

C．expression

D．appreciation

18.

A．independent

B．patient

C．brave

D．contented

19.

A．bought

B．made

C．received

D．copied

20.

A．easy

B．good

C．ordinary

D．safe

3 . Overthinking the Small Stuff?

How many decisions have you made over the last day, week... month? Drive or Uber? Suit or no suit? Italian or Thai? iPhone or Huawei?

While today’s freedom of choice has obvious benefits, the constant pressure to make perfect choices can often rob our freedom, heighten our anxiety and lower our productivity.

    1     For starters, trying to perfect every single decision is a “mission impossible”, making it pretty in vain.     2     And finally, research shows that trying to nail every decision reduces our ability to perform at our best and make great decisions about the things that really matter.

The irony is that people who try to make the perfect decision every time tend to suffer more anxiety about their decisions, feel less satisfied with them afterward and, unsurprisingly, are less productive than people who just go with “good enough”.

“The habit of aiming for the best possible option every time actually robs people of satisfaction and effectiveness,” wrote Barry Schwartz on the Paradox of Choice.     3     However, they're generally less happy about what they eventually decide upon.

Better than trying to maximize every choice is to make a “good enough” choice that meets a basic level of satisfaction. So you didn’t get the best possible hotel at the best possible price? Move on. So the shade of yellow you chose to paint the sunroom was a little dark? Again, move on!     4    

    5     The reason is that they aren’t wasting precious time and energy on decisions that don’t really matter. So as you think about all the decisions you have to make in the day or month ahead, focus your precious time, talents and attention on the things that truly matter.

A．There are a few reasons for this.

B．But some researchers do not agree with it.

C．Secondly, it can be mentally and emotionally exhausting.

D．Much more important issues are waiting for your attention.

E．Besides that, every decision you make may disappoint you.

F．Such “maximizers”, as Schwartz calls them, spend more time and energy reaching a decision.

G．Schwartz found that “satisficers” who live by the “good enough” rule actually get more done.

4 . Every act of kindness starts with something small, something we all can and should do every single day. I’m Will Ruhio, one of the _______ of BYUtv’s Random Acts show. We take hidden cameras to unexpected places to _______ random acts of kindness. We’ve filmed acts _________ from building disabled-friendly facilities(设施) for those who are badly _______ them but can’t afford them to returning a lost wallet.

On Random Acts, it may be a neighbor or a colleague who recognizes a need and _______an incredible chain reaction of service._______ the story of Emmalene Meyers for example. Like many young girls, Emmalene was_______to be a ballet dancer, but her physical disability makes even everyday tasks a(n)_______. Instead of seeing a limitation, Emmalene’s friend Lily _______________ an opportunity. Lily imagined Emmalene’s dream being brought to life onstage and persuaded Random Acts to help make her plan __________.

So, where can you start? The key is to be like Lily: look for an opportunity to make a__________ to those in need, and then take action to make it happen. Being __________ and involved in service is __________ like any other goal you want to achieve. You have to __________ it.

After two seasons of hosting Random Acts, the joy of   __________ burdens and brightening lives doesn’t fade. I sometimes __________Random Acts might lose its feature eventually, but that couldn’t be further from the __________. When I finally meet the people we’ve been working to __________ and see their genuine shock and appreciation, it __________ me in the feel every time. I cry more than anyone else on the show.

Be that person doing acts of kindness out of the __________ of your heart—be the nice you want to see in the world!

1.

A．photographers

B．actors

C．viewers

D．hosts

2.

A．expose

B．conduct

C．arrange

D．advocate

3.

A．changing

B．counting

C．ranging

D．transforming

4.

A．in search of

B．in need of

C．in defense of

D．in favor of

5.

A．sets off

B．sets aside

C．keep off

D．take off

6.

A．Retell

B．Take

C．Create

D．Explain

7.

A．anxious

B．proud

C．afraid

D．unwilling

8.

A．exception

B．dilemma

C．competition

D．challenge

9.

A．provided

B．seized

C．spotted

D．missed

10.

A．successful

B．acceptable

C．reasonable

D．available

11.

A．choice

B．difference

C．promise

D．decision

12.

A．generous

B．caring

C．ambitious

D．sociable

13.

A．never

B．even

C．still

D．just

14.

A．put up with

B．make up for

C．work at

D．take in

15.

A．bearing

B．carrying

C．reducing

D．overcoming

16.

A．admit

B．realize

C．remember

D．assume

17.

A．truth

B．deadline

C．destination

D．boundary

18.

A．entertain

B．surprise

C．locate

D．please

19.

A．relieves

B．discourages

C．hits

D．satisfies

20.

A．whisper

B．curiosity

C．faith

D．goodness

5 . My brother Gene was four years older than me. By the time I turned four, I was upset that he could read but I couldn’t. I burned with ______ to read a book like my brother. I begged: “Teach me to read, Mom! Please, please?!” Finally, Mom set aside time after lunch ______ reading lessons, and soon after my fifth birthday, I was reading.

I longed for my father, who was a great storyteller, to read me the books that I couldn’t yet read on my own. But my father worked three jobs to feed the family. He didn’t have the time or ______ in the evening to read to me.       ____, every Sunday morning, my brother and I lay next to him in bed, waiting for him to tell stories about his   ____. I can still hear my father’s voice ______ the cold winters on the family farm in Poland. His family didn’t have enough money to burn wood in the fireplace all night. He told us that he always volunteered to help with ______. I can smell the soup made by my grandma and ______ my father cutting onions, carrots and tomatoes for salad, and when no one was looking, putting a piece into his mouth. “I was always ______,” he explained. Hearing my father’s stories   ______ me closer to the books and the stories they held.

One Saturday afternoon when I was seven, we walked two blocks to the small ______ in our neighborhood, and my dad filled out forms for a card. That Saturday ______ my life: I met Mrs. Schwartz, the librarian, and my dad said, “You’re ______ enough to walk to the library yourself.” And so I did—almost every afternoon.

In my mind, Mrs. Schwartz was “the keeper of books and the guardian of stories.” Some days she read aloud to a small group of us ______. Most of time, Mrs. Schwartz let me ______ myself with books I pulled from the shelves and look through them to see which ones I’d ______ out. I remember that sometimes she’d ______ a book and tell me a part of the story. But she always let me choose. Books became my ______ who were my comfort when I felt lonely.

Yes, reading changed me. It gave me the _____ to study hard so I could become a teacher, and share my _____   of reading with my students. And inside my head, I can still hear the voices of my mother, father, and Mrs. Schwartz, which are with me every time I open the first page of a new book.

1.

A．anger

B．desire

C．worry

D．interest

2.

A．until

B．before

C．in

D．for

3.

A．energy

B．ambition

C．courage

D．ability

4.

A．Finally

B．Then

C．Therefore

D．Still

5.

A．workplace

B．farmland

C．childhood

D．neighborhood

6.

A．explaining

B．introducing

C．describing

D．interpreting

7.

A．cooking

B．reading

C．farming

D．living

8.

A．picture

B．discover

C．notice

D．catch

9.

A．busy

B．hungry

C．poor

D．tired

10.

A．laid

B．taught

C．drew

D．left

11.

A．club

B．bookstore

C．office

D．library

12.

A．saved

B．tested

C．changed

D．controlled

13.

A．near

B．old

C．ready

D．free

14.

A．graduates

B．candidates

C．regulars

D．communicators

15.

A．reward

B．familiarize

C．examine

D．surround

16.

A．find

B．check

C．lend

D．sign

17.

A．write

B．study

C．recommend

D．reserve

18.

A．companions

B．assistants

C．listeners

D．teachers

19.

A．chance

B．dream

C．order

D．drive

20.

A．lesson

B．love

C．time

D．plan

6 . One day, I drove into a service station to get some gas. It was a beautiful day and I was feeling ______ . As I paid for the gas, the attendant said, “How do you feel?” That seemed like a ______ question, but I felt fine and told him so. “You don't look ______.” he replied and continued to tell me my skin appeared ______.

By the time I left, I was a little ______ . About a block away, I ______ to the side of the road to look at my face ______ the mirror. Was everything all right? Had I picked up ______ rare disease? By the time I got home, I was beginning to feel a slight ______ somewhere in my body.

The next time I went into that gas station, I ______ what had happened: The place had recently been painted a bright yellow, and the light reflecting off the walls made everyone inside ___________ as though they were sick! That was the truth. ______ , I let that short conversation change my attitude for an entire day. His _____ observation affected the way I felt and acted.

This experience made me think a lot. It is the same with life, in which attitude ________ . The way we look at life determines how we feel and how we _______. If we expect something to turn out _______ , it probably will. But the _______ also works in reverse. If we expect good things to happen, they ________ do. An optimistic attitude, I believe, is not a luxury but a(an) ________. So after that, I chose to highlight the _______ throughout the rest of my life.

1.

A．great

B．excited

C．sick

D．uncomfortable

2.

A．considerate

B．thoughtful

C．strange

D．funny

3.

A．happy

B．comfortable

C．satisfied

D．well

4.

A．grey

B．yellow

C．black

D．red

5.

A．angry

B．uneasy

C．painful

D．unbelievable

6.

A．pulled over

B．pulled in

C．pulled out

D．pulled through

7.

A．on

B．at

C．over

D．in

8.

A．certain

B．some

C．several

D．anxiety

9.

A．comfort

B．relief

C．pain

D．anxiety

10.

A．picked out

B．put out

C．turned out

D．figured out

11.

A．feel

B．behave

C．look

D．see

12.

A．However

B．Therefore

C．Besides

D．Otherwise

13.

A．kind

B．helpful

C．rude

D．negative

14.

A．matters

B．affects

C．decides

D．speaks

15.

A．work

B．perform

C．learn

D．believe

16.

A．smoothly

B．badly

C．well

D．positively

17.

A．principle

B．saying

C．meaning

D．sentence

18.

A．usually

B．certainly

C．definitely

D．seldom

19.

A．imagination

B．tool

C．necessity

D．alternative

20.

A．important

B．useful

C．positive

D．special

7 . I attended a party one night. During the dinner a man told a humorous story based on the quotation: "There's a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will.”

The storyteller mentioned that the quotation was from the Bible. I knew he was wrong. There couldn't be the slightest doubt about it. To get a feeling of importance and display my superiority, I appointed myself as an unwelcome committee member to correct him. He stuck to his guns. "What? From Shakespeare? Impossible! Absurd! That quotation was from the Bible.” And he knew it.

The storyteller was sitting on my right; and Frank Gammond, an old friend of mine, was seated on my left. Mr. Gammond had devoted years to the study of Shakespeare. So the storyteller and I agreed to submit the question to Mr. Gammond. Mr. Gammond listened, kicked me under the table, and then said,"Dale, you are wrong. The gentleman is right. It is from the Bible."

On our way home that night, I said to Mr. Gammond, “Frank, you knew that quotation was from Shakespeare. "Yes, of course," he replied, “Hamlet，Act Five, Scene Two. But we were guests at a happy time, my dear Dale. Why argue with the storyteller? Why prove to him he is wrong? Why not let him save his face? Always avoid your sharp angle." I learned a lesson I'll   never forget. I not only had made the storyteller uncomfortable, but also had put my friend in an embarrassing situation. How much better it would have been had I not become argumentative.

Nine times out of ten, an argument ends with each of the contestants more firmly convinced than ever that he is absolutely right. You can't win an argument. You can't because if you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it

1. What did the author do to get a feeling of importance at the party?

A．Tell a humorous story.	B．Show off his rich knowledge.
C．Teach the storyteller a lesson.	D．Correct the storyteller's mistake.

2. . Why did Frank Gammond kick the author under the table?

A．Because he didn't know much about the Bible.

B．Because he thought the author was really wrong.

C．Because he was thoughtful and wanted to stop the author.

D．Because he was humorous and played tricks on the author .

3. How did the author feel about the event that happened at the party?

A．Thankful.	B．Regretful.
C．Satisfied,	D．Confused.

4. What can be the suitable title for the passage?

A．You Can't Win an Argument	B．You Can't Make Mistakes in Public
C．Do Have an Open Mind	D．Mind Your Manners at a Party

8 . “Sara, don’t forget your promise to me that you will mow (割草) Mrs. Martin’s yard this weekend,” said Dad. “Don’t let me down.”

Sara was the oldest child in the family, and one of her chores was to mow their yard. Mrs. Martin, their ______ neighbor, was unable to take care of her yard in her 70s, so Sara’s dad had ______ Sara for this job. ______ Mrs. Martin’s yard was not big, Sara knew the job would go quickly. However, she still disliked her dad’s ______.

“Why didn’t you ask me first?” Sara had ______.

“Did you ask me first when you volunteered me to be in the school festival last fall?” asked Sara’s father.

“Well, no, I didn’t ask you first, ______ you would have done those things anyway. You’re always ______ to help.”

“I ______ when I can.” Dad answered. “Sara, we have known Mrs. Martin for a very long time. She has often ______ our family. Now we can do something for her. ______, the feeling you get from helping someone makes you ______ who is really helping whom.”

“I don’t know, Dad,” said Sara. “The only feeling I get from mowing our yard is ______.”

“Just you wait and see,” said Dad

After breakfast, Sara made her way to Mrs. Martin’s yard. She was good at her job and soon had Mrs. Martins yard looking ______. Mrs. Martin came outside with a big glass of orange juice and ______ it to her. Sara stopped her work and ______ enjoyed the drink, while Mrs. Martin talked to her about all of the flowers in her yard. Seeing the ______ in Mrs. Martin’s eyes, Sara began to understand how much the yard ______ to Mrs. Martin.

After finishing her drink, Sara returned to work with a new ______. A warm feeling began to ______ through her body. Her dad was ______. It was hard to tell who was helping whom!

1.

A．strange

B．new

C．aged

D．faithful

2.

A．guided

B．volunteered

C．ordered

D．forced

3.

A．Once

B．Since

C．Unless

D．Although

4.

A．promise

B．argument

C．permission

D．introduction

5.

A．replied

B．suggested

C．complained

D．announced

6.

A．but

B．so

C．or

D．for

7.

A．proud

B．willing

C．afraid

D．fortunate

8.

A．choose

B．succeed

C．hesitate

D．try

9.

A．respected

B．changed

C．protected

D．helped

10.

A．Besides

B．Instead

C．Therefore

D．Otherwise

11.

A．imagine

B．explore

C．worry

D．wonder

12.

A．scared

B．moved

C．tired

D．relaxed

13.

A．tidy

B．alive

C．empty

D．messy

14.

A．threw

B．delivered

C．offered

D．sold

15.

A．eagerly

B．generously

C．carefully

D．gratefully

16.

A．determination

B．peace

C．curiosity

D．joy

17.

A．related

B．meant

C．belonged

D．referred

18.

A．attitude

B．wisdom

C．inspiration

D．expectation

19.

A．exist

B．fly

C．spread

D．break

20.

A．unusual

B．right

C．serious

D．helpful

9 . When I was 7 months pregnant with my daughter, I witnessed a car accident. Someone and I ______ to get the elderly lady who ______ the accident out of the car. It was during the summer months and I was one of the few ______ staff on. I stayed with her ______ the ambulance came but I couldn’t travel with her as there was no one else in my department to ______ the class.

My mother-in-law,______ years later, was collecting donations about a 10-minute walk from where the ______ occurred. She left calling cards saying she would be back to houses where no one was in. When she ______ to a house an elderly lady was really ______ of talking to her. She questioned my mother-in-law and asked if she had any ______ called Rose-Marie.

The lady had made a ______ with my surname (姓) she had remembered from all those years ago and my mother-in-law’ surname. The lady ______ the story to my mother-in-law and told her of my _____. She also said she had tried to ______ me down and even put a notice in the petrol station nearby asking anyone who ______ me to get in touch with her! She had also been ______ about me as I was pregnant.

My mother-in-law was ______ to tell her my daughter was healthy and 10 years old. It is a really beautiful kindness to me to _____ remember me after all that time and to even remember my ______. Her kindness touched me more than _____ could possibly touch her.

1.

A．expected

B．managed

C．afforded

D．agreed

2.

A．cared for

B．escaped from

C．came across

D．dealt with

3.

A．teaching

B．nursing

C．healthy

D．lucky

4.

A．though

B．until

C．so that

D．in case

5.

A．skip off

B．attend

C．arrange

D．take over

6.

A．seven

B．eight

C．ten

D．twelve

7.

A．bus

B．ambulance

C．house

D．accident

8.

A．drove

B．returned

C．moved

D．appealed

9.

A．proud

B．careful

C．sure

D．fond

10.

A．relatives

B．volunteers

C．assistants

D．colleagues

11.

A．mistake

B．difference

C．connection

D．mark

12.

A．relayed

B．made

C．donated

D．recommended

13.

A．background

B．kindness

C．experience

D．opinion

14.

A．turn

B．put

C．set

D．track

15.

A．received

B．appreciated

C．knew

D．remembered

16.

A．curious

B．excited

C．particular

D．concerned

17.

A．likely

B．determined

C．pleased

D．easy

18.

A．still

B．just

C．rather

D．also

19.

A．story

B．name

C．experience

D．address

20.

A．mine

B．time

C．she

D．work

10 . Old Tom had four sons. He wanted them     1     (learn) not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them to look at an apple tree in different seasons. The first son went in winter, the second in spring, the third in summer, and the youngest in autumn. When they all came back, he called them together to describe     2     they had seen. The sons had different     3     (opinion). Tom then told them that they shouldn’t judge a tree, or a person, by only one season.