2 . Amanda works for Plato's Closet, the clothing chain that buys and sells used clothing and accessories (配件). When she performed a routine _________ on a coat that was _________ by a man earlier that day, she _________ $7,000 in $100 bills zipped inside a pocket.

No one was _________ ; Plato's Closet employees check clothes all day long. And _________,the man who brought the coat didn't _________ Some people would have _________ the “opportunity”. But not Amanda. She said, “It wasn't mine, so I didn't get too _________ about that thick pile of cash.” _________, she safely stored the money until it could be ____________ to its rightful owner.

Sure, Plato's Closet has ____________ about sending back personal items found in the clothing, but what Amanda did ____________ her character. It wasn't the result of outside pressure. “It's just about integrity (诚实),” She said. “You just have to make sure that you're ____________ and that you do the right thing.

Reputation is easy; character is hard. Doing the right thing when others are watching is easy.

____________ public integrity, resolve or sincerity often results in recognition and praise. Doing the right thing when no one is watching is hard. Your nonpublic integrity gains no ____________ Or applause. Doing the right thing is also hard ____________ it often runs against our best interests. The true test of ____________ is what you do when people aren't watching. Maybe ____________ is Amanda's main character and maybe it's not, but that doesn't ____________. The fact that she ____________ to do the right thing is more important.

1.

A．service

B．comment

C．inspection

D．experiment

2.

A．picked up

B．dropped off

C．paid for

D．tried on

3.

A．earned

B．donated

C．spent

D．discovered

4.

A．listening

B．chatting

C．watching

D．speaking

5.

A．obviously

B．fortunately

C．hopefully

D．consequently

6.

A．remember

B．determine

C．express

D．wonder

7.

A．provided

B．deserved

C．seized

D．confirmed

8.

A．annoyed

B．guilty

C．excited

D．confident

9.

A．Also

B．Otherwise

C．Indeed

D．Instead

10.

A．arranged

B．returned

C．applied

D．linked

11.

A．regulations

B．remarks

C．results

D．reservations

12.

A．preserved

B．reflected

C．developed

D．affected

13.

A．greedy

B．polite

C．honest

D．curious

14.

A．Covering

B．Measuring

C．Previewing

D．Displaying

15.

A．admiration

B．knowledge

C．apology

D．cooperation

16.

A．if

B．while

C．since

D．unless

17.

A．character

B．motivation

C．education

D．nationality

18.

A．weakness

B．cheerfulness

C．carelessness

D．selflessness

19.

A．occur

B．matter

C．match

D．continue

20.

A．expected

B．promised

C．forced

D．chose

3 . I was visiting my parents. My mom came out of their room with a __ look on her face. She'd been listening to the radio and heard a（ n） __ with a best-selling author of young-adult fantasy novels. The woman introduced herself as Tamora Pierce. The name was the same as a young writer my mom had __ nearly forty years before. My mother wondered, " Could this __ be the same person?"

Well, the Internet should be able to tell us. I found the authors __ quickly. I clicked on "Biography" to look for __ to Burlingame Junior High, where my mom had worked. My heart began to beat __ when I spotted it at the bottom of the first section. Here was __ that my mother had taught a now-famous writer! _____, I came to a（ n）        ____ reading the next paragraph. In it Pierce __ her first fiction writing experience as a sixth grader.

“The next year, as I was still scribbling （胡乱写）my own stories, my English teacher Mrs. Jacobson __ The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien, "   the biography read, “That's how I __ fantasies, and then science fiction, and both made their way into my stories.

My mother' s name was Mary Jacobson.

I don't remember my mother's _____ response to this discovery. I don't think she said much, but I do remember her face going a bit red.

Within days, I had checked out all the __ written by Tamora Pierce at the local library, and in one I found another Easter egg： Daja's Book, a 1998 novel, was dedicated （献给）to “the teachers who __ my life." Pierce __ four names,   and one was Mary Jacobson.

The dedication concluded, "A __ teacher is above all other treasures.

I cherish this story not only because it's a great example of the __ a teacher can have without __ it but also because it makes me see my mother differently.

1.

A．puzzled

B．amused

C．worried

D．astonished

2.

A．poem

B．interview

C．line

D．advertisement

3.

A．sponsored

B．informed

C．admired

D．encouraged

4.

A．definitely

B．finally

C．possibly

D．fortunately

5.

A．number

B．website

C．address

D．e-mail

6.

A．guidance

B．reaction

C．references

D．solutions

7.

A．permanently

B．abruptly

C．quickly

D．repeatedly

8.

A．persuasion

B．interaction

C．declaration

D．confirmation

9.

A．However

B．Otherwise

C．Thus

D．Still

10.

A．compromise

B．pause

C．agreement

D．settlement

11.

A．described

B．fancied

C．practised

D．recited

12.

A．delivered

B．printed

C．exposed

D．recommended

13.

A．got addicted to

B．got along with

C．got accustomed to

D．got away with

14.

A．reasonable

B．impressive

C．immediate

D．complicated

15.

A．reports

B．books

C．letters

D．surveys

16.

A．rescued

B．formed

C．represented

D．shaped

17.

A．published

B．typed

C．listed

D．memorized

18.

A．promising

B．cheerful

C．potential

D．wonderful

19.

A．assessment

B．influence

C．expectation

D．preference

20.

A．knowing

B．regretting

C．selecting

D．admitting

4 . Why Gratitude Is Significant

As far as I'm concerned, no matter what you’re going through, there is always a reason to be thankful. But not only that — being thankful might just be exactly what you need to do if you’re going through a tough time.     1    

Researchers found that having a grateful attitude helps strengthen one’s immune system, lower blood pressure, improve sleep and motivate people to exercise regularly.     2     Practicing gratitude also has been associated with better quality of life for individuals who struggle with stress, anxiety and depression.

Having gone through a period of depression myself after cancer surgery 10 years ago, I can tell you this illness can be severe.     3     I knew I was in trouble when I couldn’t eat or sleep. It took me well over a year to come out of that dark valley.

During that time I sought forms of treatment for depression, including professional counseling and exercise. One thing recommended to me by a counselor was keeping a gratitude journal.     4     This simple exercise lifts my sight out of the darkness and helps me see the truth around: there are people who love and care for you, there’s purpose in life.

    5     In reality, there is no single cure for it. If suffering, you may prefer to seek professional counseling and care. Still, I would encourage you to practice gratitude. Think of a few things you can thank life for. You might be surprised by how significant an effect it can have.

A．Every day, I would set down three things I was thankful for in life.

B．Now I realize depression does not go away by practicing a single exercise.

C．It itself carries a host of health benefits.

D．Being grateful accounts for your recovery.

E．Gratitude is good for your mind, body and soul.

F．Depression makes you feel as if you are dead inside.

G．For example, I would sincerely convey my gratitude loudly.

5 . I walked into a restaurant and ordered some food. After 20 minutes a group of guys came in and ordered theirs.

To my________, these people got served first. I watched as they began to eat and________joyfully. I even overheard one of them bragging（吹嘘）about how he's connected to everyone in the________and I felt mocked（嘲笑）. Unable to stand it anymore, I called the________.

He explained to me, "yours is a special order, being prepared by the________chefs themselves. Their orders were________prepared by students because the top chefs are busy________yours. Please have some________as you wait."

I________and waited. Shortly after that, my meal was served by six waiters. What a coincidence! The owner of the restaurant, who________to be an old long-lost friend of mine, ________me when I entered and decided to surprise me. She changed my________meal to a five-star meal. The group at the other________were shocked. They couldn't stop________. Suddenly they were the ones whispering, asking________they didn't get that kind of service and meal.

Such is life! Some people go________you, eating and laughing at you. You________mockery and are waiting________, wondering why it takes so long to break through. The owner of the world has seen you and doesn't want you to be served a quick meal like those________of you. You are waiting long because yours is a special meal, which ________time to prepare.

1.

A．disappointment

B．excitement

C．relief

D．embarrassment

2.

A．cry

B．laugh

C．discuss

D．fight

3.

A．restaurant

B．workplace

C．meeting

D．street

4.

A．customer

B．waiter

C．cashier

D．chef

5.

A．strict

B．careful

C．junior

D．top

6.

A．fully

B．slowly

C．cautiously

D．hurriedly

7.

A．in

B．with

C．about

D．at

8.

A．juice

B．meals

C．meat

D．dishes

9.

A．pulled down

B．calmed down

C．lay down

D．broke down

10.

A．seemed

B．managed

C．happened

D．pretended

11.

A．tracked

B．saw

C．warned

D．welcomed

12.

A．simple

B．great

C．complicate

D．expensive

13.

A．corner

B．room

C．side

D．table

14.

A．spying

B．helping

C．eating

D．watching

15.

A．how

B．that

C．why

D．when

16.

A．behind of

B．among

C．ahead of

D．on top of

17.

A．put up with

B．come up with

C．get along with

D．associate with

18.

A．sincerely

B．gratefully

C．patiently

D．enthusiastically

19.

A．taking advantage

B．making use

C．making fun

D．taking account

20.

A．cuts

B．pays

C．spends

D．takes

6 . Have you ever wondered why the world is full of so many people who are incredibly incompetent at the very thing they are paid to do? If so, an educationalist called Laurence J. Peter may have the answer.

In Peter’s view, most people were promoted based on their current performance, with no real consideration of their ability to take on greater responsibility. Eventually, “every employee tends to rise to his or her level of incompetence”, as he wrote. This is the law he termed the“Peter Principle”.

The strongest evidence for the theory comes from a recent study of 131 companies that all used the same performance management software. As you might expect, the team found that the best salesmen or saleswomen were the ones who tended to be promoted. And the study found that managers who used to be very high-performing sales workers tended not to bring significant assistance to their colleagues.

There are lots of potential reasons why this might occur. The personal drive-even aggression-that is needed to promote your own individual sales doesn’t necessarily transform into the interpersonal skills necessary to motivate others, for instance.

In the meantime, knowledge of the “Peter Principle” might be useful for each of us personally. If you frequently find yourself disappointed with your own boss or with your subordinates (下属), it’s worth considering the possibility that you’ve already reached your “level of incompetence”.

That’s not always easy to recognize. As Peter put it, “competence, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder”, but a modest awareness may just encourage you to correct your weaknesses, or to find a new position where your unique talents are of greater value.

1. Which of the following may Peter be in favour of?

A．An able employee may not be in the right place.

B．Employees with higher pay tend to perform better.

C．Whoever performs well in a firm deserves to be promoted.

D．There is no fixed criterion for assessing an employee’s ability.

2. What is the result of the study?

A．The “Peter Principle” makes sense both in companies and schools.

B．The best sales workers have got promoted due to their teamwork spirit.

C．The companies are in need of employees with good communicative skills.

D．Managers, once with good sales performance, may contribute little to others’progress.

3. How does the “Peter Principle” benefit each of us personally?

A．It makes us qualified for a higher position.

B．It reminds us of the importance of learning from others.

C．It inspires us to fulfill ourselves in a suitable position.

D．It provides guidance on how to improve our competence.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．General Rules in a Company	B．Reasons for Getting Promoted
C．Knowledge of the “Peter Principle”	D．The Development of a Famous Theory

7 . 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

8 . One day, I was eating an apple when suddenly, I felt an apple seed in my mouth. I wanted to throw it away. But_________, I looked at the apple seed -really looked. It was dark brown, almost black. Its shape_________me of a candle flame. A little dark brown candle flame...

I realized I was_________an apple tree in my hand-a little seed with the_________to become a beautiful tree and_________thousands of fruits and seeds, each able to grow a new tree again._________then, wasn't the world filled with apple trees?

It is a（n）_________of nature that only a few of these seeds grow. Most_________do or are destroyed early on in their growth. I put the apple seed on the table and bent down to_________how the light was reflected from it, this tiny wonder of nature. I wondered, how many seeds would a farmer have to____________for one seed to grow into a tree? How much____________would it require?

Then it occurred to me that it's quite often so with people's____________. Wonderful ideas come to our minds but they____________too soon. We don't protect them as we should. And then one day we____________why our dreams never come true. The seeds of our dreams could never____________on their own. Like the planting of an apple tree, it might take many____________-such as the application sent a hundred times for that one good job,____________the many people you meet in life before a true friend can be____________.

I picked up the apple seed again -but instead of____________it away 1 took an empty flower pot, poured some earth into it and____________the seed. I thought that maybe one day it would grow into a proud tree, and I would never know if I didn't try.

1.

A．still

B．instead

C．also

D．rather

2.

A．warned

B．convinced

C．reminded

D．informed

3.

A．catching

B．expecting

C．imagining.

D．holding

4.

A．potential

B．courage

C．intention

D．patience

5.

A．raise

B．bear

C．gain

D．eat

6.

A．When

B．How

C．What

D．Why

7.

A．rule

B．step

C．order

D．game

8.

A．nearly

B．just

C．never

D．always

9.

A．prove

B．see

C．show

D．guess

10.

A．bury

B．collect

C．produce

D．save

11.

A．money

B．earth

C．work

D．water

12.

A．conditions

B．dreams

C．chances

D．faiths

13.

A．increase

B．change

C．die

D．appear

14.

A．explain

B．doubt

C．decide

D．wonder

15.

A．grow

B．develop

C．live

D．destroy

16.

A．choices

B．goals

C．tries

D．challenges

17.

A．or

B．yet

C．So

D．as

18.

A．kept

B．helped

C．noticed

D．found

19.

A．putting

B．throwing

C．taking

D．giving

20.

A．used

B．removed

C．studied

D．planted

9 . On a trip to California, my family stopped for lunch. As we walked toward the entrance to the restaurant, a man, with a _____________beard and dirty hair, jumped up from a bench outside the restaurant and opened the door for us．Regardless of his_____________ , he greeted us in a friendly way．

Once inside, my daughters whispered, "Mom, he____________." After we ordered our lunch, I explained, telling the kids to look_____________the dirt．We then watched other customers approach the restaurant but many_____________him. Seeing this rudeness truly upset me. The day I became a mother, I had determined to set a good_____________to my children. Yet sometimes when things didnˈt go right, being a good example was_____________. When our meal arrived, I realized I had left the car-sick pills in the truck. With the windiest trip ahead, the kids needed them, so I _____________ myself from the meal and went to get them．

Just then, the "doorman" was opening the door for a couple. They rushed past him without even acknowledging his_____________.   Letting them in first, I said aloud "thank you" to him as I   _____________．

When I returned, we talked a bit．He said he was not allowed inside_____________he purchased food．I went back and told my family his_____________.Then I asked our waitress to add one soup and sandwich．

The kids looked_____________as we had already eaten, but when I said the order was for the "doorman", they smiled．When it was time to _____________our trip, I found the "doorman" enjoying his meal. Upon seeing me, he stood up and thanked me heartily. He then_____________out his hand for a handshake and I gratefully accepted. I suddenly noticed the tears in his eyes—tears of   _____________.What happened next drew great astonishment: I gave the " doorman" a______________. He ran away, with tears_____________down his face．

Back in truck, I fell into deep thought. While we canˈt choose many things in life, we can choose when to show gratitude. I said thanks to a man who had_____________opened a door for me, and also said thanks for that _____________ to teach my children by example．

1.

A．clean

B．messy

C．pretty

D．bright

2.

A．service

B．state

C．appearance

D．attitude

3.

A．smells

B．smokes

C．signs

D．smiles

4.

A．around

B．into

C．over

D．beyond

5.

A．refused

B．ignored

C．missed

D．hated

6.

A．example

B．target

C．record

D．rule

7.

A．accessible

B．awkward

C．tough

D．stressful

8.

A．prevented

B．refreshed

C．helped

D．excused

9.

A．company

B．challenge

C．presence

D．attack

10.

A．exited

B．approached

C．marched

D．quitted

11.

A．before

B．unless

C．though

D．since

12.

A．desire

B．deed

C．story

D．demand

13.

A．puzzled

B．excited

C．concerned

D．bored

14.

A．make

B．start

C．take

D．continue

15.

A．washed

B．reached

C．raised

D．waved

16.

A．approval

B．sympathy

C．gratitude

D．affection

17.

A．clap

B．nod

C．lift

D．hug

18.

A．streaming

B．rushing

C．slipping

D．breaking

19.

A．firmly

B．simply

C．constantly

D．rudely

20.

A．journey

B．opportunity

C．wisdom

D．community

10 . Two weeks of volunteer work lay ahead. And my mood   ________ when I realized that good        ____and travel Spanish would not be enough to make the __________that I had hoped for. My volunteer service was in a shelter in Peru. I was WHERE I wanted to be, but, without the communication   __________I needed.   

One morning the founder of the shelter, Miguel Rodríguez, __________the story of how, after the death of his baby, he started feeding and taking in __________children. He eventually __________his family, wealth, and life to setting up what is now a shelter for over 1,300 children. As he finished, I asked: “I can ___________how the walls, the food, the facility(设施) came to be, but, how did you ________the atmosphere of love, respect, and caring among these children?”

His response was simple: “Use the language of Love.” He _________, “The language of love is done with your eyes, your hands, and your smile.” “_________ are not only for work. They are for hugging, holding, and_________. Do this, and they may well _________the example.”

This simple statement carried _________. These children had communicated love, respect, and _________to me and each other without a word being _________. These emotions, so _________to convey, did not need translation at all.

For the remainder of my service, I was determined to worry less about my ________of Spanish, and instead, focus on using the language of love. When I returned home, I_________ myself to use it more in my everyday life and to be mindful that being a(n) _________ is sometimes all the power that is needed.

1.

A．mattered

B．sunk

C．disappeared

D．zoomed

2.

A．intentions

B．appreciation

C．introduction

D．introduction

3.

A．decision

B．arrangements

C．impression

D．difference

4.

A．tools

B．desire

C．skills

D．course

5.

A．changed

B．heard

C．shared

D．reformed

6.

A．unconscious

B．careless

C．dangerous

D．homeless

7.

A．committed

B．assessed

C．entertained

D．extended

8.

A．stress

B．understand

C．explore

D．predict

9.

A．support

B．decorate

C．recognize

D．create

10.

A．wondered

B．explained

C．imagined

D．claimed

11.

A．Lips

B．Eyes

C．Hands

D．Cheeks

12.

A．fighting

B．performing

C．kissing

D．comforting

13.

A．include

B．follow

C．analyze

D．describe

14.

A．weight

B．signals

C．reference

D．limitations

15.

A．sympathy

B．advance

C．warmth

D．freedom

16.

A．overlooked

B．spoken

C．mistook

D．prepared

17.

A．simple

B．important

C．specific

D．hard

18.

A．lack

B．practice

C．demand

D．record

19.

A．challenged

B．expected

C．condemned

D．questioned

20.

A．angel

B．talent

C．example

D．hero