1 . Life is filled with regrets. Anyone around you will have no difficulty in telling his regrets. As we get older, we look back and wish that we have made better choices.     1    

Make better plans.

If you start to do something, you need to make a plan before doing it. The earlier, the better.

You will know what comes first and what comes last.     2     If changes happen, you can have more time to deal with them.

Live a more active life.

You can go around more often. More outdoor activities can keep you relaxed and active.     3     “Thank you” can bring a smile to someone’s face. Learn to say “sorry” and don’t be angry with others.

    4    

A friend may make your life and he or she can break your life as well. So you have to think twice when you choose a friend. Good friends will always give you better ideas. When you get into trouble, ask others for help. That little help may get you good results.

Never fear failure.

Everybody fails. Even the greatest person fails before he or she achieves success. We should not fear failure, because failure is not the end of the road.     5    

Life is good. We don’t have to live in our past, but we do hope that we can plan better, live better and work better when we have the chance to do so.

A．You also need to be kind.

B．We must take failure as a chance to learn and improve ourselves.

C．What can we do to avoid future regrets?

D．Regrets play an important part in our daily life.

E．You’ll also know what you should do and what you shouldn’t do.

F．Ask others for help.

G．Find the right friend.

2 . Two of the saddest words in the English language are "if only". I live my life with the _______ of never having to say those words. The two words _______regret, lost opportunities, mistakes, and _______     . And sometimes the words "if only" go with _______disasters. Think about how many times you have heard about something awful happening, _______ by "if only he had called her back to make sure she was okay.” or “if only I had _______ that noise..." or “if only they had made sure the gate to the pool clicked behind them…"

My father-in-law is       _______in our family for saying, “_______ an extra minute to do it right. ” He must be doing something       _______, since he's 91 years old and still making sense.

I always ________to live by the "extra minute'' rule. Sometimes it only takes seconds to make sure I write the words down ________, or check some information on the Internet, or move an object ________ before it trips someone.

And of course when my children were young and ________     to cause all kinds of troubles, I lived and breathed the "extra minute" ________ . I always thought about what I could do to __________an "if only” moment, whether it was something simple 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 ________corners of a glass coffee table.

I know there will still be ________ when I have to say "if only” about something, but my life is surely more peaceful because of my policy of doing everything possible to avoid that ________. 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 ________ a personal connection, I know that Pm doing the right thing. I'm buying myself peace of mind and that's the best kind of ________ for my emotional well-being.

1.

A．result

B．luck

C．goal

D．role

2.

A．convey

B．handle

C．experience

D．raise

3.

A．preparation

B．disappointment

C．aggression

D．amazement

4.

A．harmful

B．shameful

C．accessible

D．terrible

5.

A．accompanied

B．accused

C．contributed

D．motivated

6.

A．heard

B．ignored

C．examined

D．shut

7.

A．respectful

B．respectable

C．sensitive

D．senseless

8.

A．Propose

B．Demand

C．Charge

D．Apply

9.

A．wise

B．familiar

C．rare

D．active

10.

A．promise

B．attempt

C．afford

D．hesitate

11.

A．frequently

B．normally

C．accurately

D．casually

12.

A．across the way

B．by the way

C．on the way

D．in the way

13.

A．probable

B．likely

C．average

D．ordinary

14.

A．signal

B．theory

C．notice

D．principle

15.

A．prevent

B．reflect

C．admit

D．regret

16.

A．narrow

B．plain

C．sharp

D．flexible

17.

A．locations

B．cases

C．occasions

D．events

18.

A．record

B．ending

C．plot

D．memory

19.

A．keep

B．remind

C．transform

D．deliver

20.

A．program

B．bargain

C．purchase

D．insurance

3 . I am a girl, but I was born to be a rebel (叛逆者). I like games that can be _____ Some of the sports I like, even boys won’t play!

Wrestling (摔跤) is _____ seen as a sport for men, but I _____ to see if I could do it.

Every Saturday morning, I got out of bed early to go and watch my brother _____.From morning to night, I would sit watching the _____ have all the fun. Since then, wrestling has been part of my _____.

For three years, I _____ all the boys and became the best player in the team. My _____ memory of wrestling is when a boy walked off _____ because he’d lost to a girl.

My last ______ was at this year’s Girls’ State Wrestling Championships.

I was so ______. I was sure I would win. My heart was beating hard when the match started. I could see ____but my competitor. When the final whistle blew, I had ______ by four points. The cameras and ______ all turned to me: I was the new wrestling champion. I felt so ______. But after a few minutes of enjoying being a champion, ______ began to run through my knee. Because I hurt my knee, my ______ of being a national champion ended. Even so, I won’t lose heart and still ______ to wrestle next year when I go to college. I have   ___ that you can do anything you want if you stay positive and put your ______ into it.

1.

A．interesting

B．surprising

C．dangerous

D．famous

2.

A．usually

B．ever

C．hardly

D．never

3.

A．agreed

B．pretended

C．decided

D．happened

4.

A．roll

B．run

C．fight

D．wrestle

5.

A．boys

B．girls

C．teammates

D．friends

6.

A．way

B．life

C．work

D．study

7.

A．beat

B．hit

C．knocked

D．injured

8.

A．longest

B．shortest

C．deepest

D．worst

9.

A．shouting

B．smiling

C．laughing

D．crying

10.

A．chance

B．match

C．try

D．sport

11.

A．upset

B．great

C．pleased

D．excited

12.

A．anything

B．nothing

C．everything

D．something

13.

A．won

B．lost

C．led

D．gained

14.

A．hands

B．players

C．lights

D．photos

15.

A．shy

B．hopeful

C．happy

D．nervous

16.

A．air

B．blood

C．steam

D．pain

17.

A．dream

B．plan

C．goal

D．story

18.

A．remember

B．cycle

C．want

D．walk

19.

A．said

B．heard

C．learned

D．noticed

20.

A．time

B．heart

C．foot

D．wealth

4 . _________ from a famous university, Tom wished to find a good job. One day he got the _________ in a newspaper that there was a post in a company. So he did some research on the company first and then went to _________ it. While _________, he answered the questions _________. Tom was _________ with his performance, feeling confident that he could get the job. But at that moment, the manager’s phone rang. He picked it _________, listened and nodded. And then he turned around and said to Tom, “Sorry, I want to get some important information now. Please give me the book with the red cover on that desk.” Tom _________ around and found 3 books on the desk, so he went to the desk, took one and handed it to him politely. Holding the book, the manager _________ the phone and said, “Sorry, you are not the right person.” Tom was __________ and __________ why. Then the manager gave the __________, “There’re three reasons. First, the moment you entered, I found the third button on your shirt had been missing .Second, the three books with covers of the same color are different, __________ you took one without asking me which I needed. Third, I was __________ the call. You should run to the desk to __________ time. These details showed you are not __________ person.” Therefore, Tom __________ the job.

Tom’s story __________ some people don’t __________ the details in our life. But it is the details __________ count. Not only should we value what we learn but also we should pay attention to the details, which sometimes can even determine our success or failure.

1.

A．Having finished

B．Having learned

C．Having graduated

D．Having instructed

2.

A．news

B．interview

C．report

D．application

3.

A．ask for

B．apply for

C．dream for

D．require for

4.

A．visited

B．interviewed

C．asked

D．examined

5.

A．efficiently

B．casually

C．fluently

D．steadily

6.

A．content

B．convinced

C．sure

D．pleasant

7.

A．on

B．off

C．out

D．up

8.

A．walked

B．looked

C．turned

D．moved

9.

A．hung up

B．hung down

C．hung on

D．hung over

10.

A．embarrassed

B．awkward

C．unfortunate

D．surprised

11.

A．wandered

B．wondered

C．wanted

D．realized

12.

A．excuse

B．description

C．explanation

D．presentation

13.

A．but

B．and

C．thus

D．so

14.

A．answering

B．talking

C．picking

D．speaking

15.

A．spare

B．save

C．spend

D．waste

16.

A．courageous

B．careless

C．curious

D．careful

17.

A．failed

B．missed

C．lost

D．resigned

18.

A．reflects

B．reminds

C．teaches

D．informs

19.

A．count

B．matter

C．mind

D．assess

20.

A．what

B．which

C．how

D．that

5 . A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her, she did not know she was going to make it and want to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her father, a cook, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and in the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

The daughter impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them on a plate. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a glass. Turning to her he asked, “Darling, what do you see?” “Carrots, eggs, and coffee.” she replied

He brought her closer and asked her to the carrots, she did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to taste the coffee. She smiled, as she tasted it.

“What does it mean, Father?” she asked. He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity—boiling water, but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong and hard. But after being subjected to the boiling water, it’s softened and weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior (内部), but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique; however, after they were in the boiling water, they changed the water.

“Which are you?” he asked his daughter. When adversity knocks on your door in your life, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

1. What can we infer from Paragraph 1?

A．The daughter complained to her mother about her life as she felt it’s too hard for her.

B．She found her life full of difficulties and she could do much about them.

C．She was fighting and struggling with her life and she was unsatisfied with it

D．The daughter was going to make her life better with the help of her father.

2. The father did a simple experiment to tell his daughter ________.

A．people can become tough and make changes when facing difficulties

B．it is very common and natural for people to complain about difficulties in life

C．how to overcome difficulties in life

D．how carrots, eggs and coffee change when they are cooked

3. Which of the following words can be best used to describe the father?

A．Selfless and kind-hearted.	B．Wise and patient.
C．Brave and hard-working.	D．Delicate and considerate.

4. Which of the following proverb applies to the article?

A．Courage is the light of a man in adversity.

B．Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.

C．Choices vary from individual to individual.

D．Adversity is the touchstone of the strong and the weak.

6 . Travelling alone can be a little frightening. However, this time is _______. Last week I had a holiday from work, but all my friends were occupied and none of them had the same_______ as mine. Such as it was, I still booked a train ride to Toronto and _______ a bed in a hotel for one week.

One week by myself! Would I be lonely? Would I be _______? Quite the opposite! In fact, there are many _______ that come from travelling alone. Firstly, I was able to do whatever I wanted. I enjoyed spending hours in museums that might have seemed _______ to some of my friends. I walked all around the _______, which some people may have found too exhausting. Instead of _______ someone else to remember _______ or to suggest activities to do, I discovered my independence and ________ map-reading skills that I didn’t know I had. I could   ________ and go to sleep when I wanted. Being in the safe environment of a hotel with like-minded __________ also gives a great opportunity to meet new people from all over the world, which can help conquer ________

I found that there were also some disadvantages of travelling alone ________ the benefits. I missed having someone to talk to and to ________ ideas with. Experiences are often more enjoyable if they are ________, and part of the fun of travelling is the ________ that you have with your friends or families afterwards. ________, eating in a restaurant or cooking in the hotel alone is less fun.

I am very ________ of myself for travelling alone and I had a fantastic time in Toronto. I would rather be by myself than with someone who is lazy and ________ to deal with in the future!

1.

A．different

B．proper

C．strange

D．disappointing

2.

A．work

B．arrangement

C．interest

D．freedom

3.

A．bought

B．made

C．changed

D．reserved

4.

A．tired

B．delighted

C．bored

D．amazed

5.

A．benefits

B．results

C．effects

D．accidents

6.

A．private

B．unique

C．dissatisfying

D．dull

7.

A．hotel

B．community

C．city

D．country

8.

A．appealing to

B．relying on

C．waiting for

D．finding out

9.

A．constructions

B．instructions

C．destinations

D．directions

10.

A．recovered

B．developed

C．received

D．refreshed

11.

A．come out

B．bring back

C．get up

D．turn over

12.

A．foreigners

B．newcomers

C．customers

D．travellers

13.

A．loneliness

B．illness

C．anger

D．fear

14.

A．rather than

B．despite

C．instead of

D．except

15.

A．declare

B．remember

C．exchange

D．learn

16.

A．shared

B．explored

C．shown

D．experienced

17.

A．guidelines

B．plans

C．opinions

D．memories

18.

A．However

B．Gradually

C．Additionally

D．Altogether

19.

A．aware

B．proud

C．fond

D．ashamed

20.

A．difficult

B．rude

C．stubborn

D．silly

7 . Last year I took on an assignment to help with people who live on public welfare. What I wanted to do was to show that everybody has the _________ to live on their own, and all I have to do is to _________ them to do what they dream of.

I met a group of _________ people in the southern county. The first thing I _________ after I shook hands with everybody was that I would like to know what: their _________ were. Everyone stared at me as if I were kind of _________. Someone replied, “I don’t have dreams. I am _________ with the rats in my house. I wish I had a screen door (纱门) without _________ to keep them away.” I asked _________, “Is there anybody around here who knows how to __________ a screen door?” A tall man in the group __________ to help.

I asked other people about their dreams. A young __________ shared that she wanted to be a secretary but __________ her three children stood in her way. I asked, “Is there anybody in this group who would look after her children while she gets some job __________ at the community college?” One __________ woman raised her hand. A job opportunity was __________ and a promising “secretary” was on the way to school.

Three months later, the tall man found a full-time job as a __________ handyman. The woman who looked after the three children became a professional __________. These small successes __________ allowed the group to see dreams and __________. We can make a difference through caring about others.

1.

A．promise

B．right

C．ability

D．ambition

2.

A．urge

B．inspire

C．remind

D．pull

3.

A．unemployed

B．clever.

C．unhealthy

D．generous

4.

A．enjoyed

B．shared

C．answered

D．put

5.

A．complaints

B．dreams

C．anxieties

D．appeals

6.

A．crazy.

B．mean

C．considerate

D．honest

7.

A．playing

B．struggling

C．dancing

D．bargaining

8.

A．colors

B．handles

C．holes

D．windows

9.

A．strangely

B．carefully

C．sadly

D．immediately

10.

A．fix

B．move

C．draw

D．reserve

11.

A．desired

B．refused

C．volunteered

D．hesitated

12.

A．organizer

B．competitor

C．mother

D．girl

13.

A．looking to

B．attending to

C．taking over

D．calling on

14.

A．interview

B．application

C．schedule

D．training

15.

A．warm-hearted

B．middle-aged

C．energetic

D．cautious

16.

A．donated

B．chosen

C．changed

D．created

17.

A．temporary

B．unique

C．licensed

D．modest

18.

A．house-keeper

B．baby-sitter

C．cook

D．dentist

19.

A．obviously

B．nearly

C．rarely

D．briefly

20.

A．reality

B．imaginations

C．appreciation

D．hopes

8 . Life will be peaceful if you always do kind things. I teach my daughters to develop a habit of _______ others. The little acts of _______ give you opportunities to provide service for others. They can make you remember how _______ it feels to be kind and helpful.

We _______ in a rural (乡村的) area. Most of what we _______ is beautiful nature. One of the exceptions to the _______ is the rubbish that some people throw out of their car windows as they drive along the rural roads. One of the few _______ of living there is the lack of _______ public services, such as rubbish collection, which is common in the _______.

A helping behavior that I practice regularly with my daughters is __________ rubbish in our neighborhood. My daughters often have a match to see who can collect the most rubbish. They will often say to me in a(n) __________ voice, “There’s some rubbish, Daddy —__________ the car!” And if we have time, we will often get out of our car and pick it up. __________ it may seem strange, we do it. In fact, we __________it. We pick up rubbish in parks, on sidewalks, almost anywhere.

One day I saw a stranger picking up rubbish on the road. I stopped. He __________ his head and smiled, “I saw you doing this with your family. It’s a good __________ to protect our environment.”

There are many other ways to __________ kindness for others. You may share a dinner with a beggar, visit __________ old people in the nursing home, or help the blind __________ the street. You can think of something that can be finished __________ but helpful. It is fun, self­satisfying, and what’s more, it can set a good example. Helping others is helping yourself.

1.

A．watching

B．welcoming

C．helping

D．teaching

2.

A．kindness

B．peace

C．cruelty

D．interest

3.

A．sad

B．unusual

C．rare

D．great

4.

A．work

B．live

C．travel

D．stay

5.

A．see

B．dream

C．need

D．develop

6.

A．environment

B．beauty

C．area

D．weather

7.

A．favorites

B．disadvantages

C．wishes

D．mercy

8.

A．comfortable

B．modern

C．necessary

D．excellent

9.

A．city

B．village

C．sky

D．street

10.

A．looking for

B．picking up

C．taking apart

D．laughing at

11.

A．surprised

B．tired

C．excited

D．angry

12.

A．speed

B．start

C．move

D．stop

13.

A．Although

B．But

C．And

D．Since

14.

A．enjoy

B．experience

C．forget

D．understand

15.

A．covered

B．lowered

C．shook

D．raised

16.

A．sport

B．idea

C．result

D．question

17.

A．provide

B．debate

C．describe

D．make

18.

A．amazing

B．fancy

C．healthy

D．lonely

19.

A．clean

B．cross

C．deserve

D．draw

20.

A．suddenly

B．impossibly

C．easily

D．hardly

9 . After all of these years, I still remember my first moment of kindness. It was the first day of kindergarten. I walked in with my mom and was ______ at all the toys against the walls. I _______ ran over to play. Most of the other kids were doing the same.

In the corner ______, I saw one girl, sitting by herself. She was small and looked ______. She was the only one in the class shorter than me. Her ______ eyes looked like she had been crying. None of the other children seemed to ______ her there.

I went back to ______ the toy cars but after a minute, I looked up at her again. She seemed so ______. Something inside started to stir(搅动). After a moment, I ______ two of the toy cars and ______ her. “Do you want to play?” I asked. She smiled and ______ her head yes.

What made me remember that first unselfish act was a ______ that little girl wrote me after we were both grown. She told me how her illness made the other kids ______ her and how that moment of kindness had ______ her life. She had valued the ______ I had offered her and carried it in her ______ even after she moved away. I wrote her back and we continued our friendship through the mail for several years ______ the disease finally took her life.

Today I still thanked my unselfish little heart for ______ me to be kind to a little girl who needed a friend. I thought of how a moment of kindness can ______ so much to another, and of how ______ act can make the world so much better. May your life be full of giving,   caring and helping that bring joy to you while you bring joy to others.

1.

A．disappointed

B．amazed

C．bored

D．mad

2.

A．slowly

B．worriedly

C．carefully

D．immediately

3.

A．though

B．still

C．ever

D．also

4.

A．weak

B．strict

C．tired

D．angry

5.

A．grey

B．black

C．bright

D．red

6.

A．ignore

B．praise

C．notice

D．forget

7.

A．break up

B．play with

C．find out

D．put away

8.

A．patient

B．friendly

C．lonely

D．curious

9.

A．picked up

B．lent

C．handed out

D．bought

10.

A．visited

B．introduced

C．pushed

D．approached

11.

A．shook

B．held

C．turned

D．nodded

12.

A．poem

B．letter

C．note

D．message

13.

A．avoid

B．beat

C．admire

D．cheat

14.

A．created

B．changed

C．enriched

D．continued

15.

A．difference

B．appointment

C．friendship

D．agreement

16.

A．journey

B．plan

C．dream

D．heart

17.

A．unless

B．before

C．though

D．when

18.

A．permitting

B．wishing

C．driving

D．causing

19.

A．reply

B．prove

C．mean

D．show

20.

A．simple

B．skillful

C．wonderful

D．creative

10 . I was born legally blind. Of all the stories of my early childhood, the one about a______is my mother's favorite.

I was only two when the______occurred. We had just arrived home from a trip. Mom lifted me out of the car and _____to speak to the driver. I took advantage of my brief______to dash across the lawn (草坪) — and hit a large maple tree! I was running so fast that I bounced off the trunk and______on my backside. Mom______me to start crying, but I just sat there for a minute. Then I______myself up and kept right on going. Mom always______here that, as many times as I______across the lawn after that, I never again______into that tree.

Mom loves to use this story as an______. It reminds her that children don't enter life______to take risks or unwilling to______again when they fall down. She never wanted me to lose that______as I grew older. When I______my major life decisions，I was still that little girl tearing full-speed across the lawn. I studied abroad and later moved away from my parents' home to look for a______, Through years of______, I have become a respected teacher in a school serving high-need students.

We are almost certain to get______at some point during the process of achieving our goal. When that happens, don't sit in the grass and______. Just get up and keep on going. It will all be worth it______.

1.

A．trip

B．race

C．tree

D．driver

2.

A．incident

B．change

C．illness

D．problem

3.

A．feared

B．refused

C．forgot

D．turned

4.

A．delay

B．absence

C．freedom

D．rest

5.

A．landed

B．slept

C．laughed

D．wept

6.

A．promised

B．encouraged

C．allowed

D．expected

7.

A．woke

B．picked

C．warmed

D．gave

8.

A．adds

B．replies

C．admits

D．supposes

9.

A．drove

B．lived

C．stood

D．zoomed

10.

A．crashed

B．broke

C．climbed

D．looked

11.

A．answer

B．example

C．excuse

D．order

12.

A．able

B．ashamed

C．afraid

D．anxious

13.

A．ask

B．share

C．learn

D．try

14.

A．honesty

B．toughness

C．kindness

D．curiosity

15.

A．regretted

B．reviewed

C．made

D．explained

16.

A．job

B．friend

C．fortune

D．house

17.

A．memories

B．efforts

C．research

D．experience

18.

A．mixed up

B．fed up

C．knocked down

D．settled down

19.

A．play

B．relax

C．dream

D．cry

20.

A．all at once

B．in the end

C．in either case

D．as a result