2 . Have you ever come out of a steamy hot shower and tried to look at your reflection in the mirror when it’s completely steamed and fogged up? I often think that is how we tend to view our beauty—through fogged up mirrors. We are seeing ourselves but the picture isn’t exactly clear! The mirrors have been fogged up through different life experiences and memories as we have grown up, and now blend together to form our own definition of our beauty.

The first mirror is formed as a young child and is often based on what was said about us from our parents and those around us. I remember being told that I was a cute child, so that when I got a little older and was around six or seven and another child tried to tell me I was ugly- everything within me rose up against the statement because my self-belief in what my parents had said stood strong.

The second mirror is the mirror of adolescence, those formative years when we are pushed into the big wild world and out of the protection of home. As a teenager I went to a boarding school, and I was one of the only two black people in the entire school. Children being naturally curious, I felt like I was asked a million and one different questions about both my hair and skin tone- -and I don’t think there has ever been a time when I have been more acutely aware of my appearance, which in turn opened up the door for me to question how I looked and to thankfully embrace my differences.

The final mirror comes from socially constructed ideas of beauty. We are often faced with numerous images in the media, popular culture, society, peers and social media, which can create a false ideal of beauty in our eyes. We tend to compare ourselves to those ideals and use it as some sort of margin (差值) of measurement.

However, real beauty comes from within. It is acceptance of yourself, perceived flaws and all. You are a masterpiece, a unique blend of genes and life experiences. It’s essential to appreciate yourself like any other work of art or natural wonder, without judgement. Maybe it’s time to create a fourth mirror, a new mirror that is wiped clean and is minus the fog of comparisons, accusations, judgments and expectations.

1. What do the fogged-up mirrors represent according to the first paragraph?

A．The difficulties of seeing oneself in the mirror.

B．The various sources of beauty standards.

C．The unclear perceptions of one’s beauty.

D．The life experiences and memories.

2. How did the author react when someone called her ugly?

A．She felt embarrassed.

B．She completely denied it.

C．She sought comfort from her parents.

D．She questioned what her parents had said.

3. What can we learn about social constructed ideas of beauty?

A．They push teens out of home protection.

B．They arouse acute awareness of one’s appearance.

C．They may mislead people’s idea of beauty.

D．They are the exact measurement of beauty.

4. What does the author suggest as a possible fourth mirror?

A．A mirror not affected by external factors.

B．A mirror going against society’s expectations.

C．A mirror reflecting one’s childhood experiences.

D．A mirror showing the beauty ideals from social media.

5. The passage is mainly written to tell us that we should________.

A．bring happiness to those around us

B．keep our resolve despite obstacles

C．change ourselves to achieve an ideal

D．embrace our real inner beauty

3 . What is your calling? What is your purpose in life? What did you come to this world to do? Every day we read about how we should find our purpose and pursue it throughout our lives in order to find meaning and contentment. There are even scientific studies that show people who view their work as a calling rather than just a career or a job have a higher life and work satisfaction. So, what exactly is this calling?

I’ve personally struggled with this concept for many years. I knew that happiness not only came from a present state of joy, but also from the pursuit of an objective that gave me something to pursue. That is, until I found myself feeling empty despite my achievement of those goals.

And as I reflected on these feelings of emptiness and boredom that had arisen despite my successes, I realized something. Meaning and satisfaction come from a personal devotion to what we do and the intrinsic (固有的) fulfillment we get from it. It has nothing to do with financial gain, social advancement or any other type of external reward or motivation. It is about doing something that we love. It is about focusing our efforts and spending our time on passions that light the spark inside of us and allow us to share with the world the unique gifts we possess.

I had never before stopped to think about what I found intrinsically rewarding or fulfilling. Financial gain and external recognition were pretty much the only drivers I knew. More so, I thought this calling meant having one passion we were born with to pursue relentlessly (不懈地).

So, I spent some years trying to find this long-lost purpose of mine. I discovered during that time passions I had no idea I even had. Yet, I wasn’t sure how to make them into my life purpose. I searched for an answer but couldn’t find it. It wasn’t until I came to understand the truths about our purpose in life that I was able to find my place in this world.

Our purpose can consist of various things that make us feel alive. As we grow and evolve throughout the different stages in our lives, we may discover new passions and desires that change our sense of purpose and calling.

We all have a longing for lives that give meaning to our existence. The difference lies in how we go about accomplishing this. We must each find our own “shine” and then shine on.

1. According to the passage, the calling refers to________.

A．one’s view about careers

B．a task one has to carry out

C．a life-long career one chooses

D．a strong desire or sense of duty to do a job

2. Which of the following belongs to the author’s previous drivers for finding fulfillment?

A．Financial gain and external recognition.

B．Pursuing passions relentlessly.

C．Discovering new passions.

D．Finding purpose in life.

3. What is the real purpose in life according to the author?

A．Trying to do everything that you can.

B．Trying to achieve your ambitious goals.

C．Doing meaningful things with your passion.

D．Doing something that can be successful easily.

4. According to the 5th paragraph, we know that________.

A．the author spent some years making changes

B．the author used to think he had no passion at all

C．the author didn’t know how to search for the life purpose

D．the author has known his passions since he started to work

5. What conclusion can be drawn from the passage?

A．It’s wise to give up discovering our one true passion.

B．It’s useless to pursue financial gain and external recognition.

C．It’s necessary to find our own calling and pursue it with vigor.

D．It’s important to share our passion with the world without stopping.

5 . Beep! Beep! Beep! I rolled over and turned off my alarm clock. It was still _________ outside so I turned on the light. I got dressed quickly because I knew both of my dogs would be _________ to get outside for their morning walk. I reached over to grab a _________ and stopped. It was technically still fall but the _________ here in the Appalachian mountains of my home didn’t follow the _________. It had been cold and snowy two days ago and chilly and rainy yesterday. I had forgotten to _________ the weather report for today, however, so I wasn’t sure if I _______ my light jacket or my heavy coat.

I _________ my light jacket, pulled it on and leashed up my bigger dog. I opened the door and stepped outside. Instantly I knew I had made the _________ choice. Each breath I exhaled was a frozen mist. The wind chill was bitter cold. The grass was covered in __________ and I tried to keep my __________ while my dog dragged me along behind him.

I shivered (打寒颤) and __________ a bit but finally turned my head up to the heavens. I looked up at the __________sky and saw it was full of twinkling stars. It was so beautiful and so peaceful. __________, I felt a warmth inside of me and __________ shivering. While my dog sniffed the ground, I opened my heart to the __________ of nature’s creation. In all of its sweet seasons it had never __________ to touch my soul. It had heated my heart on the coldest days and     ________ my spirit on the darkest nights.

Our lives here are full of sweet __________ as well. From the innocence and youth of Spring to the wisdom and wrinkles of Winter. __________ all your sweet seasons. Make each day a creation of your love.

1.

A．rainy

B．dark

C．cold

D．snowy

2.

A．curious

B．afraid

C．eager

D．able

3.

A．coat

B．bite

C．leash

D．flashlight

4.

A．temperature

B．condition

C．environment

D．weather

5.

A．method

B．path

C．plan

D．calendar

6.

A．check

B．forecast

C．test

D．provide

7.

A．removed

B．needed

C．packed

D．washed

8.

A．tried on

B．decided on

C．relied on

D．focused on

9.

A．difficult

B．ideal

C．wrong

D．safe

10.

A．water

B．mud

C．dust

D．frost

11.

A．patience

B．balance

C．distance

D．promise

12.

A．complained

B．smiled

C．suffered

D．doubted

13.

A．pre-dusk

B．mid-night

C．pre-dawn

D．post-dawn

14.

A．Actually

B．Suddenly

C．Effortlessly

D．Generally

15.

A．avoided

B．regretted

C．stopped

D．continued

16.

A．wonder

B．reality

C．signal

D．challenge

17.

A．offered

B．refused

C．intended

D．failed

18.

A．found

B．admired

C．reflected

D．lighted

19.

A．discoveries

B．dreams

C．seasons

D．memories

20.

A．Enjoy

B．Examine

C．Admit

D．Remember

6 . Close to the king’s palace stood a little house. In it lived a ______ gardener who worked at the palace grounds from dawn to dusk. It was hard work. Yet he ______ complained. He always seemed to be at peace with himself.

The king wondered, “I wish I could be as happy as him.”

One evening the king found the gardener packing up his tools after ______ the day’s work. He was covered with dust and mud. But he kept singing to himself. The king ______ him and said, “You are always happy. I wish I could be as happy as you. What is the ______ of your happiness? Won’t you ______ it with me? ”

“Why should I be unhappy when I get two meals a day and have a ______ to sleep in at night? I’m happy that I have the ______ to work from morning till evening to earn my bread. I’m so ______ now that I can enjoy anything, even hard dry bread. And I am tired too. So I can ______ on the hardest floor, and drop off to sleep ______ . When I wake up in the morning, I feel fresh and full of ______ to welcome another day. I take every ______ as it comes. This moment is what ______ to me the most,” the gardener bowed and replied ______ .

“But what if tomorrow you fall sick! Shouldn’t you think of the future too?” the king asked.

“And start ______ ? Then I will lose my appetite. I will not get good sleep. I will fall sick and ______ my job. I will starve and die. I can’t ______ to worry about the future. Only this moment counts. Nothing else,” the gardener explained.

“You said it. Thank you,” the king nodded and ______ to change his attitude and to make the best use of the ______ .

1.

A．silly

B．lazy

C．cheerful

D．rich

2.

A．rarely

B．immediately

C．uncomfortably

D．jokingly

3.

A．starting

B．finishing

C．missing

D．studying

4.

A．shot

B．arrested

C．ignored

D．approached

5.

A．secret

B．use

C．price

D．goal

6.

A．exchange

B．divide

C．appreciate

D．share

7.

A．garden

B．palace

C．bed

D．kitchen

8.

A．money

B．strength

C．time

D．company

9.

A．sad

B．weak

C．tired

D．hungry

10.

A．get up

B．roll over

C．lie down

D．break out

11.

A．carefully

B．instantly

C．occasionally

D．painfully

12.

A．energy

B．hate

C．meaning

D．ambition

13.

A．chance

B．day

C．dream

D．meal

14.

A．sings

B．listens

C．matters

D．prefers

15.

A．respectfully

B．awkwardly

C．shyly

D．humorously

16.

A．celebrating

B．arguing

C．learning

D．worrying

17.

A．love

B．lose

C．change

D．forget

18.

A．afford

B．fail

C．decide

D．plan

19.

A．refused

B．pretended

C．threatened

D．determined

20.

A．power

B．wealth

C．present

D．talent

8 . Do you find yourself pulling away from others, especially if you’ve experienced a deep disappointment? Maybe the most ______ thing most of us can do is to be with people when we don’t feel like being around anybody.

A man who lost his wife to cancer found himself wanting to be ______ . He dropped out of his community and ______ all of the activities he and his wife were used to for year. He ______ socializing at work and returned ______ home to an empty house after work. He turned down ______ from friends and co-workers.

His friends became ______ . One came by to visit and invite him over for supper the next evening. The two old friends sat in comfortable chairs by a ______ . The visitor extended the dinner invitation and ______ him to come, “You may need to ______ others to share your pain.”

The man responded that he felt better ______ staying with other people. “And ______ ,” he said, “it’s just too difficult to get out anymore.”

They sat in ______ for a while, watching the wood burn in the fireplace. Then the visitor did a(n) ______ thing. He took tongs (火钳) by the fireplace, reached into the fire, pulled out a ______ coal and laid down by itself on the earth. “That’s you,” he said.

The man sat in silence, ______ the red-hot ember. Neither man looked ______ as the once hot coal gradually transformed into a black lump. After some moments, the man said, “I get the ______ , my friend. I’ll be over tomorrow evening.”

We cannot ______ in any healthy way by ourselves. The leaf needs the branch. The branch needs the trunk. The trunk needs the roots. And the roots need the rest of the tree. We are ______ . And in that connection life and vitality (活力) are found.

1.

A．exciting

B．common

C．difficult

D．obvious

2.

A．independent

B．cheerful

C．sociable

D．alone

3.

A．enjoyed

B．refused

C．looked back to

D．took part in

4.

A．quit

B．reduced

C．kept

D．became fond of

5.

A．hurriedly

B．hopefully

C．straight

D．eagerly

6.

A．greetings

B．visits

C．kindness

D．invitations

7.

A．annoyed

B．alarmed

C．disappointed

D．curious

8.

A．warm fireplace

B．beautiful garden

C．bright window

D．TV set

9.

A．inspired

B．told

C．encouraged

D．required

10.

A．inform

B．expect

C．leave

D．allow

11.

A．while

B．without

C．regardless of

D．because of

12.

A．besides

B．otherwise

C．generally

D．therefore

13.

A．turn

B．silence

C．tears

D．talks

14.

A．frightening

B．heartwarming

C．unusual

D．interesting

15.

A．black

B．burnt

C．dark

D．flaming

16.

A．watching

B．holding

C．admiring

D．ignoring

17.

A．down

B．away

C．ahead

D．around

18.

A．point

B．invitation

C．news

D．notice

19.

A．think

B．understand

C．escape

D．survive

20.

A．welcomed

B．concerned

C．connected

D．affected

9 . It was January, the first day of the year. I decided to get the bank work out of the _________. The bank clerk, an elderly gentleman, was _________ curt(简短而失礼的) to my polite “Happy New Year” _________. He nodded and I sat in front of him. Minutes passed and nothing happened. Then very _________ I put my form in front of him. He was busy _________ entries in his register. I sat there wondering why we had _________banking if we were still filling in registers. While waiting I showed all _________ of being impatient, I asked him _________ my work was done. The moment I uttered the words, he shouted, “Nothing is done, it will take time!”

Just then I saw his morning tea lying there, _________. It had turned almost cold. Suddenly I sensed how he feels when customers come who are __________ hurried to get their work done and __________ him for doing their work first. We don’t even feel the __________ to thank him. Then I told him, “Sir, please have your tea, I am not hurried.” This man suddenly __________ me and for the first time we had eye contact.

I realized he was also missing the __________ things in life just like a hot cup of tea. He gave me a rare smile and said, "It is an everyday __________ with me." His wise words really __________ me. I felt that we all had put shields (盾牌) on our __________, and that we were scared to show our hearts and __________ too much of ourselves. From then on, I __________ to be more friendly to others and be __________ that they are there for me.

1.

A．way

B．corner

C．question

D．reach

2.

A．on purpose

B．by accident

C．after all

D．as usual

3.

A．service

B．invitation

C．greeting

D．handshake

4.

A．hopefully

B．curiously

C．sincerely

D．hesitantly

5.

A．going through

B．filling up

C．checking out

D．printing off

6.

A．computerized

B．canceled

C．popularized

D．broadened

7.

A．symptoms

B．gestures

C．signs

D．marks

8.

A．when

B．how

C．why

D．if

9.

A．untouched

B．unprepared

C．unfolded

D．undisturbed

10.

A．always

B．seldom

C．never

D．still

11.

A．reward

B．push

C．pardon

D．scold

12.

A．reason

B．need

C．opportunity

D．urge

13.

A．looked up at

B．looked down upon

C．looked forward to

D．looked back on

14.

A．precious

B．small

C．important

D．essential

15.

A．coincidence

B．suggestion

C．affair

D．arrangement

16.

A．impressed

B．attached

C．challenged

D．comforted

17.

A．hearts

B．minds

C．bodies

D．souls

18.

A．release

B．recommend

C．reveal

D．revise

19.

A．preferred

B．promised

C．managed

D．expected

20.

A．cautious

B．confident

C．optimistic

D．grateful