2 . As you read, remember: gifts from the heart are the best ones you’ll ever receive.

According to legend (传说), a young man while moving about the desert came across a spring of delicious clear water. The water was so sweet that he filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to an elder who had been his teacher. After a four-day journey he gave the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart.

Later, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was very smelly. It had become no longer fresh because of the old leather container. The student asked his teacher, “Master, the water was smelly. Why did you pretend to like it?”

The teacher replied, “You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of loving-kindness and nothing could be sweeter.”

I think we understand this lesson best when we receive gifts of love from young children. Whether it’s a piece of paper or a ruler, the natural and proper response (反应) is appreciation and we express thankfulness because we love the idea within the gift.

Gratitude (感激) doesn’t always come naturally. Unfortunately, most children and many adults value only the thing given rather than the feeling in it. We should tell ourselves and teach our children about the beauty and purity of feelings and expressions of gratitude. After all, gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart.

1. Based on the story, what did the water for the old man actually stand for?

A．The young man’s loving-kindness.	B．The beauty of the desert.
C．The source of the legend.	D．The importance of giving.

2. What was the old man’s response after drinking the water?

A．He frowned (皱眉) at the water.	B．He showed his appreciation.
C．He didn’t say anything.	D．He was moved to tears.

3. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．The Importance of Gratitude.	B．Gifts from Children
C．Gifts from the Heart	D．A leather Container

3 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Once upon a time，there was an island.All the feelings lived in the island：Happiness，Sadness，Richness，Knowledge, and all of the others,    1    (include) Love.One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink，so they constructed boats    2    left，except for Love.

Love was the only one who stayed.Love wanted to hold out    3    the last possible moment.When the island had almost sunk，Love decided to ask for help.Richness was passing    4    Love in a grand boat.Love said，“Richness，can you take me with you？”

Richness answered，“No，I can’t.    5    is a lot of gold and silver in my boat.There is no place here for you.”Suddenly，there was a voice，“Come，Love，I will take you.”It was an elder.So blessed and overjoyed，Love even forgot    6    (ask) the elder where they were going.    7    they arrived at dry land，the elder went her own way.    8    (realize) how much she owed the elder，Love asked Knowledge, another elder，“Who helped me？”“    9    was Time，”Knowledge answered.“Time？”asked Love.“But why did Time help me？”Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered，“Because only Time is capable of understanding how    10    (value) Love is.”

4 . It was a very cold Friday. When I observed the _______falling onto my car, I really began to wonder if I was going to _______ it on time. Of course I must, because I have no _______.

About two weeks ago, what my _______ Ellen had talked about was her Christmas concert to be held in her school and some rumors about it. “Mom, Rachel was _______ to sing alone, but she’s not! Linda will replace her to do it.” “Mom, you won’t believe it, _______Lexie’s whole family is coming to the concert, even from another _______!” Making a long way out of state to see third graders sing Christmas carol seemed to be a pretty big deal（待遇）for her.

When I sat in traffic, I thought about all the school _______ I had attended alone. Ellen never mentioned it, but I wonder _______ she felt about me being the only one who ever came to her events. My own family lived out of town, and her father and his family ________ quite succeeded in filling those things into their schedules. I ________ if it bothered her.

At eight o'clock the ________ was scheduled to begin. With only a few minute to ________, I found myself running: first, though the snow-drifted parking lot, then through the school passage. I entered the ________ hall and found a vacant seat near the front. From her place on stage, Ellen saw me ________ for the chair, and she smiled. I was ________ enough to hear the loud conversation of the children on stage.

“Look, Ellen, there is my uncle mad my cousin. They came all the way from West Virginia. I can’t believe my whole family is her!" Ellen ________ at Lexie and said, “My whole family is here, too! Look, there she is!” Ellen gave me a big smile. I smiled back at her, never once ________ the melting snow dripping off my head. It ________occurred to me that while we tried to teach our children all about ________, they actually taught us what life was all about.

1.

A．rain

B．snow

C．leaves

D．dust

2.

A．do

B．see

C．make

D．appreciate

3.

A．choice

B．idea

C．chance

D．time

4.

A．niece

B．nephew

C．son

D．daughter

5.

A．forced

B．reminded

C．supposed

D．persuaded

6.

A．so

B．but

C．or

D．and

7.

A．state

B．country

C．town

D．city

8.

A．meetings

B．exercises

C．events

D．exams

9.

A．which

B．what

C．when

D．how

10.

A．always

B．never

C．occasionally

D．regularly

11.

A．hesitated

B．ignored

C．wondered

D．imagined

12.

A．concert

B．class

C．party

D．competition

13.

A．start

B．begin

C．make

D．spare

14.

A．huge

B．empty

C．crowded

D．special

15.

A．walk

B．run

C．wander

D．head

16.

A．close

B．eager

C．prepared

D．happy

17.

A．glared

B．smiled

C．glanced

D．laughed

18.

A．considering

B．stopping

C．noticing

D．getting

19.

A．suddenly

B．eventually

C．gradually

D．secretly

20.

A．song

B．music

C．school

D．life

5 . Sometimes people around you can change your life. The change may not be sudden or _______ , but little habits can produce big _______ that make you think about what is important in your life. The person who changed my life is Julia Masi. She has _______ me so many things that I will carry with me _______ my life.

One thing I've learned from Julia is how to balance   _______. Julia has shown me how to _______ ahead so that I can finish all my school work, enjoy sports and_______ have time for my friends. She has taught me that you can do anything if you are _______ and if you never give up. I've also learned that you can find anything fun or _______   if you connect it with something that you enjoy.

Last year I hated studying vocabulary, but I loved playing on my computer. Julia ________   the two and showed me a website called “freerice.com” where you can ________   a word game that gives you 5 grains of rice to donate to the poor with every correct word. She ________   me to learn a hundred new ________   by filling up the rice bowl. I liked playing the game so much that I ________   about 1,000 words in just one month.

Julia has always ________   me to try new hobbies. She showed me that going to the theater could help me become a better writer. ________ , she taught me that discussing a play can excite an interest in reading.

________   it wasn't for Julia I probably wouldn't have ________   how easy it is to help the poor. There are so many ways that one person can ________ . I've learned to be more appreciative of what I own. I am ________   for the opportunities that I have been given. I will continue to think of ways to help those less fortunate for the rest of my life.

1.

A．simple

B．slight

C．necessary

D．impressive

2.

A．results

B．problems

C．ideas

D．decisions

3.

A．taught

B．served

C．offered

D．bought

4.

A．for

B．of

C．throughout

D．into

5.

A．work

B．money

C．career

D．time

6.

A．plan

B．get

C．move

D．stay

7.

A．never

B．seldom

C．yet

D．still

8.

A．excited

B．determined

C．careful

D．patient

9.

A．important

B．easy

C．possible

D．interesting

10.

A．shared

B．remembered

C．combined

D．separated

11.

A．watch

B．play

C．raise

D．improve

12.

A．permitted

B．invited

C．challenged

D．reminded

13.

A．lessons

B．skills

C．words

D．stories

14.

A．learned

B．read

C．used

D．spelled

15.

A．allowed

B．warned

C．forced

D．encouraged

16.

A．Therefore

B．Besides

C．However

D．Otherwise

17.

A．Unless

B．If

C．Although

D．Since

18.

A．realized

B．noticed

C．imagined

D．dreamed

19.

A．turn away

B．make a difference

C．show off

D．make a mistake

20.

A．ready

B．sorry

C．thankful

D．anxious

6 . After my husband's Chinese kung fu school was open for about a week, my daughters and I decided to see how it was going. We were deeply __________ to see there wasn't a single student in the school. My husband was standing __________ in the school waiting for customers.

We had to __________ ! We decided to be his __________ until he got some "real" ones. We thought it was better to have five people in the school __________ just him if a passerby looked in the window. He started teaching us __________ and forms. We found that some of them actually were __________ to ballet moves but much more difficult. It was kind of fun but __________, too! We

were attracted by then, so we __________ as learners.

______ , we got actual students in our school. There were many men and teenage boys, and we _______lots of other girls and women as well. One special student was a __________ sevenyear-old girl. She was going __________ and had other health problems. With my daughters' help and __________, this little girl got to be a real kung fu kid. Although she is now a sightless, grown adult, I'm confident she can __________ herself if she needs to.

I am __________ to say my daughters are more confident in every area of their lives. This experience taught me to __________ things I never would have __________ before kung fu. I haven't been __________ in all of my efforts, but I'll give almost __________ of niceness a try!

1.

A．bored

B．upset

C．nervous

D．moved

2.

A．cheerfully

B．aggressively

C．alone

D．forever

3.

A．act

B．joke

C．appear

D．learn

4.

A．families

B．workmates

C．consultants

D．students

5.

A．more than

B．in place of

C．rather than

D．in case of

6.

A．speeches

B．moves

C．manners

D．designs

7.

A．useful

B．accessible

C．similar

D．comparable

8.

A．challenging

B．astonishing

C．relaxing

D．inspiring

9.

A．got together

B．signed up

C．broke away

D．stayed on

10.

A．Eventually

B．Unfortunately

C．Obviously

D．Regularly

11.

A．discovered

B．joined

C．united

D．attracted

12.

A．traditional

B．homeless

C．disabled

D．typical

13.

A．blind

B．deaf

C．lame

D．stupid

14.

A．threat

B．encouragement

C．adjustment

D．approval

15.

A．protect

B．recognize

C．feed

D．educate

16.

A．stubborn

B．proud

C．sensitive

D．tentative

17.

A．apply to

B．give up

C．try out

D．hold back

18.

A．appreciated

B．predicted

C．ignored

D．considered

19.

A．helpful

B．successful

C．cheerful

D．enthusiastic

20.

A．some

B．either

C．none

D．any

7 . Failing Successfully

Two years ago I took part in a speech competition and delivered a memorized speech. It was a hard time for me when the judge ______ the winners. At last, the moment of truth came. I got the worst.

After not being placed in the competition, I really wanted to ______ again. I realized that finding the right topic was the most important part of the whole _____. It needs to be motivational and inspirational to the ______. So I reworked my speech for the following year, ______ a different topic and spending many hours before the computer and in libraries doing research. Then I worked _____ the speech, line by line, word by word, making it ______ better.

The next year I participated in the competition again. I gave my ______ in two parts, one was about my own experience and the other was about the feelings that people usually have when giving a speech—how ______ it is, standing on a stage all alone, with everyone sitting and watching them. My speech ______ down well and I was hoping to do that a little bit better. _____, my wish didn’t come true. The competition was so fierce and again I wasn’t _____.

I was deeply disappointed, since I couldn’t accept the fact that I had ______ twice in something that I had worked so hard on. However, I knew that losing is ______ and part of life. One of the judges said to me that my speech was quite good, ______ it needed to be better if I wanted to go any further. He advised me to struggle to ______ something like some of the empty gestures. He said that I would surely succeed someday.

While I didn’t earn ______ as a result of the competition, I did gain a new viewpoint. I discovered that I could fail successfully. I think I’ll ______ to work hard and enter the next competition. Now, whenever I’m faced with a defeat, I ______ myself of what a famous person said, “The path was worn and slippery. My foot slipped from under me, knocking the other out of the way, but I recovered and said to myself that it’s a slip and not a ______.”

1.

A．interviewed

B．predicted

C．observed

D．announced

2.

A．compete

B．suffer

C．win

D．check

3.

A．range

B．condition

C．system

D．process

4.

A．companion

B．audience

C．director

D．author

5.

A．reviewing

B．supposing

C．picking

D．comparing

6.

A．during

B．against

C．behind

D．through

7.

A．increase

B．occur

C．expose

D．flow

8.

A．choice

B．instruction

C．reason

D．speech

9.

A．annoying

B．surprising

C．frightening

D．confusing

10.

A．slowed

B．dropped

C．went

D．rolled

11.

A．Angrily

B．Sadly

C．Strangely

D．Eagerly

12.

A．placed

B．treated

C．settled

D．affected

13.

A．decreased

B．escaped

C．struggled

D．failed

14.

A．flexible

B．typical

C．appropriate

D．normal

15.

A．but

B．so

C．for

D．or

16.

A．assume

B．declare

C．overcome

D．acquire

17.

A．awards

B．profits

C．comments

D．qualities

18.

A．continue

B．agree

C．regret

D．apply

19.

A．allow

B．inform

C．accuse

D．remind

20.

A．fall

B．push

C．kick

D．walk

8 . After I graduated from college, I tried to find work. I applied everywhere but no one______ me. Finally I ______ a job in a group home for mentally disabled people. It wasn’t _____ work. Our work included the feeding, dressing, and safety of our clients (委托人). Also we had to take them to their supported jobs, and help them to _____ their behaviors when they acted out. It was a difficult job emotionally (感情上) and I really wasn’t _____ for it. In fact, I didn’t _____ to go to work each day.

One of our clients was a young man who couldn’t ____ and would often behave badly when wanting to express something. He did ____ walking outside, however, so the other workers would often have me take him for a walk up the road to ____ him down. One day when we were out ___, I suddenly felt something touch my fingers. The young man was trying to ____ my hand. ____ pushing it away, I took his ____ and we walked along together in the sunshine. Then as we turned to head back to the home I ____ it. There was a light shining in his eyes. It was full of love, happiness and goodness. In that moment I saw past his ____ behaviors. I saw who he really was.

Little did I know that ____ would help prepare me for my own two sons’ mental illness. It would help me to see the ____ that lay within them as well and learn that caring for them was not a ____ but an honor. It would help me to realize they were to be my greatest ____. They taught me how to live and how to love. They showed me the only way to make sure that love and happiness live on our planet is to ____ them there ourselves.

1.

A．accepted

B．understood

C．helped

D．praised

2.

A．created

B．offered

C．got

D．refused

3.

A．dangerous

B．easy

C．safe

D．difficult

4.

A．change

B．judge

C．control

D．show

5.

A．sorry

B．ready

C．thankful

D．regretful

6.

A．ask

B．agree

C．promise

D．want

7.

A．talk

B．hear

C．see

D．learn

8.

A．hate

B．practice

C．consider

D．enjoy

9.

A．calm

B．break

C．let

D．pull

10.

A．running

B．riding

C．walking

D．traveling

11.

A．hurt

B．hold

C．lift

D．beat

12.

A．Instead of

B．Except for

C．As for

D．Along with

13.

A．bag

B．clothes

C．hand

D．head

14.

A．saw

B．gave

C．received

D．lost

15.

A．interesting

B．troubling

C．shy

D．natural

16.

A．skill

B．progress

C．idea

D．experience

17.

A．secret

B．light

C．sadness

D．dream

18.

A．business

B．method

C．result

D．duty

19.

A．friends

B．supporters

C．teachers

D．students

20.

A．find

B．put

C．expect

D．hide

9 . When I was twelve, I took part in a six-day hiking with the Scout troop for fifty miles through the mountain in autumn. With a forty-pound pack, we ____ into the mountains. It didn't take me long to realize that this hike was ____ than expected. We couldn’t even stop for a break because the mosquitoes were in our ears, eyes, even our noses! It was better to just keep ____ to stay ahead of them.

When we reached camp I wanted only to have a warm meal and then go to sleep. I cooked some delicious pasta, but knocked over the ____ as I leaned over to grab my fork. I ____ biting some Granola bars and spent the first night ____ my bed at home. The next day, I almost ____. With every step, my ____ seemed to get a new blister. By the late afternoon, I tried to cook some dinner again. ____, the heat of my stove attracted all kinds of bugs which kept ____ in it and getting stuck. I gave up .

At this point, all sorts of ____ raced through my head. My muscles and feet ached and my stomach groaned(响) ____ hunger.  Not wanting others to see me, I wandered off, sat down and ____. After my moments of self-pity, I pulled myself together and wiped away the tears. Well, the evening finally came. I tried to sleep away my ____.

The next morning, we were hiking along a beautiful ridge. The views were amazing! It ____ me at that moment that I had been focusing on the ____ things! I made up my mind that I would focus on what I did want. As if ____, the rest of the trip was ____. When we finished our trip, I came home a bit less of a boy and a bit more of a ____.

All we need to do is simply change our ____ and then life truly becomes colourful.

1.

A．broke

B．wandered

C．headed

D．looked

2.

A．tougher

B．longer

C．more amusing

D．more inspiring

3.

A．jumping

B．moving

C．rubbing

D．waving

4.

A．dinner

B．pack

C．tent

D．bed

5.

A．concentrated on

B．looked forward to

C．showed up

D．ended up

6.

A．processing

B．missing

C．making

D．adjusting

7.

A．cheered up

B．broke down

C．settled down

D．set out

8.

A．stomach

B．leg

C．head

D．feet

9.

A．However

B．Therefore

C．Besides

D．Instead

10.

A．coming

B．squeezing

C．landing

D．floating

11.

A．thoughts

B．dreams

C．excuses

D．complaints

12.

A．for

B．in

C．at

D．with

13.

A．reflected

B．laughed

C．cried

D．rested

14.

A．dilemmas

B．assignments

C．opportunities

D．troubles

15.

A．struck

B．confused

C．reminded

D．warned

16.

A．correct

B．wrong

C．crazy

D．essential

17.

A．like crazy

B．on purpose

C．by chance

D．like magic

18.

A．horrible

B．unbearable

C．enjoyable

D．admirable

19.

A．girl

B．soldier

C．man

D．traveller

20.

A．demand

B．focus

C．goal

D．habit

10 . When most of us get a text message on our cell phone from an unknown person, we usually say ＂sorry, ________ number!＂ and move on. But when Dennis Williams __________ a text that clearly wasn’t intended for him, he did something __________.

On March 19, Dennis got a group text __________ him that a couple he didn’t know were at the hospital, waiting for the __________ of a baby.

＂Congratulations! But I think someone was mistaken,＂ Dennis __________. The baby was born and update texts were __________ quickly from the overjoyed grandmother, Teresa. In her __________, she didn’t seem to realize that she was __________ the baby’s photos with a complete stranger. ＂Well, I don’t __________ you all but I will get there to take pictures with the baby,＂ replied Dennis before asking which room the new __________ were in.

Much to the family’s surprise, Dennis stuck to his __________! He turned up at the hospital __________ gifts for the new mother Lindsey and her baby boy. Lindsey’s husband was totally __________ by the unexpected visit. ＂I don’t think we would have randomly invited him over but we __________ it and the gifts.＂

Teresa __________ a photo of the chance meeting on a social networking website __________ by the touching words: ＂What a __________ this young man was to our family! He was so __________ and kind to do this.＂ The post has since gained the __________ of social media users all over the world, receiving more than 184,000 shares and 61,500 likes in just three days.

1.

A．unlucky

B．secret

C．new

D．wrong

2.

A．received

B．translated

C．copied

D．printed

3.

A．reasonable

B．special

C．necessary

D．practical

4.

A．convincing

B．reminding

C．informing

D．warning

5.

A．wake-up

B．recovery

C．growth

D．arrival

6.

A．responded

B．interrupted

C．predicted

D．repeated

7.

A．coming in

B．setting out

C．passing down

D．moving around

8.

A．opinion

B．anxiety

C．excitement

D．effort

9.

A．comparing

B．exchanging

C．discussing

D．sharing

10.

A．accept

B．know

C．believe

D．bother

11.

A．parents

B．doctors

C．patients

D．visitors

12.

A．dream

B．promise

C．agenda

D．principle

13.

A．bearing

B．collecting

C．opening

D．making

14.

A．discouraged

B．relaxed

C．astonished

D．defeated

15.

A．admit

B．need

C．appreciate

D．expect

16.

A．found

B．selected

C．developed

D．posted

17.

A．confirmed

B．simplified

C．clarified

D．accompanied

18.

A．pity

B．blessing

C．relief

D．problem

19.

A．smart

B．calm

C．sweet

D．fair

20.

A．sympathy

B．attention

C．control

D．trust