1 . As a traveler with a disability, I have always avoided cruises. This expedition-style small-ship cruise changed my mind.
When our expedition leader
In fact, the possibility of
Our visit there wasn’t about what we could do or see. It was an opportunity to just be—to exist in a brief
A.knew | B.announced | C.remembered | D.replied |
A.living | B.return | C.landing | D.mark |
A.failing | B.choosing | C.struggling | D.hoping |
A.Instead | B.Finally | C.Thus | D.Otherwise |
A.strategic | B.remote | C.favorable | D.central |
A.set foot on | B.fell victim to | C.kept track of | D.gained control of |
A.constructions | B.conditions | C.descriptions | D.distributions |
A.unwanted | B.unsecured | C.unplanned | D.unauthorized |
A.mistakenly | B.nervously | C.routinely | D.happily |
A.walk | B.flight | C.ride | D.path |
A.dampen | B.share | C.convey | D.fuel |
A.changed | B.lost | C.fought | D.made |
A.in response to | B.in view of | C.in contrast to | D.in defense of |
A.moment | B.experiment | C.glance | D.ceremony |
A.value | B.need | C.miss | D.experience |
2 . A little stream flowed down from a high mountain far away through many villages and forests, until it reached a desert. The stream then thought, “I’ve been through countless obstacles. I should have no problem crossing this desert!” But soon she found herself gradually disappearing into the mud and sand. After numerous tries, she found it was all in vain and was very upset. “Maybe it’s my destiny! I’m not destined to reach the vast ocean in the legend.”
At this time;a deep voice came, saying, “If a breeze can cross the desert, so can a river.”
It was the voice of the desert. Unconvinced, the little stream replied, “That’s because a breeze can fly, but I cannot.”
“That’s because you stick to what you are If you’re willing to give it up, and let yourself evaporate (蒸发) into the breeze, it can take you across, and you can reach your destination,” said the desert in its deep voice.
The little stream had never heard of such a thing. She could not accept this idea. After all, she had never experienced anything like it before. Wouldn’t it be self-destruction to give up what she was now?
“How do I know if this is true? and will I still be what I am now?” asked the little stream.
“Yes, and no. Whether you’re a river or invisible vapor, your inner nature never changes. You stick to the fact that you’re a river because you don’t know your inner nature,”answered the desert.
Deep down, the stream vaguely remembered that before she became a river, it was perhaps also the breeze that had carried her halfway up a high mountain, where she turned into rain and fell onto the ground and became what she was now. Finally the little stream gathered her courage and rushed into the open arms of the breeze; which carried her to the next stage of her life.
The course of our lives is like the experience of little stream. If you want to surpass the obstacles in your life in order to head for the destination of Truth, Virtue and beauty, you should also have the wisdom and courage to renounce (放弃) your ego (attachment to yourself).
Perhaps you can try asking yourself these questions: What is my inner nature? What is it that I cling to? and, What is it that I really want?
1. What obstacle did the stream come across when starting to cross the desert?A.Her effortless attempt. | B.Her unrealistic goal. |
C.Her bowing to fate. | D.All that struggle for nothing. |
A.Confident -- shocked -- determined -- withdrawn |
B.Sad- - determined -- disappointed -- shocked |
C.Disappointed -- doubted -- confident -- surprised |
D.Hopeful -- upset -- shocked -- determined |
A.Give up what you are, and you will never owe it again. |
B.While you change physically, your inner nature will never change. |
C.Only by sticking to yourself can you realize your dream. |
D.Changing yourself means losing control of everything. |
A.When you can’t change the environment, change yourself. |
B.Stick to your inner nature rather than what you are. |
C.Once starting the journey, you should stick to your goal. |
D.Be flexible and adaptable, venturing into the unknown. |
3 . I grew up in a small North Dakota town. Dad was a farmer, so we kids were taught
One summer day, Dad asked me to back his truck up.
As a teenager, I usually worked part-time on Uncle Jim’s farm in my
The “can do”
A.early | B.hard | C.recently | D.fast |
A.Frankly | B.Skillfully | C.Intentionally | D.Unfortunately |
A.curious | B.scared | C.embarrassed | D.hesitant |
A.mad | B.pleased | C.worried | D.proud |
A.entire | B.quality | C.spare | D.limited |
A.emptied | B.operated | C.placed | D.transformed |
A.built up | B.ran into | C.tore down | D.passed by |
A.claimed | B.doubted | C.worried | D.assumed |
A.disappointment | B.surprise | C.fright | D.satisfaction |
A.decline | B.suffer | C.grow | D.change |
A.admiration | B.judgment | C.affection | D.attitude |
A.tough | B.confusing | C.relaxing | D.valuable |
A.comment | B.expectation | C.reflection | D.plan |
A.broken | B.recognized | C.refreshed | D.raised |
A.justice | B.belief | C.interest | D.courage |
The woman speaking to me at the basketball game looked quite familiar. She said, “Joe? Is that you?”
“Marci?”
“It is you!” she said, smiling widely, “It’s good to see you again!”
It was good to see Marci, too. Off and on during the past tens of years, I’d wondered about her. I almost tried to find her a few years ago, after a friend told me that Marci had been going through a hard time. So running into her at the basketball game was, at the very least, unexpected.
We spent a few minutes catching up on the business of our lives: kids, work, houses, education and hobbies, etc. We played a little “Have you seen...?” and “Did you know..?” And we talked about the old days, both good and bad.
Then Marci grew quiet for a while, looking out over the people moving around. “You know, Joe,” she said, “I’ve always wanted to tell you...how...you know...how sorry I am for the way I treated you.”
I felt a little uncomfortable, remembering how Marci had broken up with me without any warning.
“It’s okay,” I said. “No big deal.” At least, I thought to myself, not anymore.
“But I was such a bad person,” she continued, lowering her head.
Yes, you were, I thought, “We were both pretty young,” I said.
“I know,” she said. “But that’s no excuse for ...” She hesitated (迟疑), and then continued: “I’ve always regretted it, remembering how mean I was to you. And I’ve wanted to tell you that I’m sorry and ask for your forgiveness. So ... I’m sorry.”
The smile on her face was warm and sincere. And there was something in her eyes — it looked a lot like relief (解脱) — that washed away my anger and hate that may have built up within me during the years since she had broken my heart.
注意:1.续写词数应为150左右; 2.请按如下格式在相应位置作答。“Okay, apology accepted!” I said.
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We all bear wounds that others have caused us.
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5 . A few days before my high school ended, I was sitting in my English class. My classmates were talking about who would be the first person to shed tears at
High school isn’t for everyone, but there is something for everyone in high school. You just have to
But there were a lot of times when I felt
My biggest
A.school | B.graduation | C.break | D.random |
A.cry | B.lie | C.sing | D.sigh |
A.proposal | B.option | C.possibility | D.thought |
A.meant | B.replied | C.reacted | D.faded |
A.bring | B.figure | C.cross | D.carry |
A.anxiously | B.bravely | C.luckily | D.initially |
A.organization | B.impression | C.voice | D.discovery |
A.benefit | B.chance | C.challenge | D.purpose |
A.objectives | B.principles | C.concerns | D.updates |
A.disturbed | B.sheltered | C.alarmed | D.inspired |
A.applauding | B.searching | C.fighting | D.longing |
A.counted down | B.went through | C.set aside | D.put off |
A.promise | B.assume | C.pray | D.realize |
A.support | B.advice | C.rule | D.warning |
A.account | B.notice | C.control | D.advantage |
6 . I was shopping in Whole Foods Market when my cellphone rang. My daughter Julianna told me that she got the job she had applied for. She had just turned 14 and was determined to spend this summer vacation on work. The things she wants are both long-term and immediate. She wants to freely buy things from Forever 21 and save money for the famous college she’s determined to get into.
Several weeks before her birthday, Julianna asked me whether I’d allow her to work. Some of her friends’ parents wouldn’t let their kids work, wanting them to focus on their studies and enjoy the last childhood freedom for as long as possible. I understood those parents. But I wanted her to spend less time on her electronic devices in her room and more time in the outside world.
The day after her birthday, Julianna immediately applied to an amusement park, which hires teens during busy summer months. I’d never seen Julianna so active. The day before the interview, we went over possible questions, including why she wanted to work at the amusement park, its most famous attraction, and what her previous work and volunteering experiences were. She rarely talked about anything else until the interview was over.
I never worked as a young teen. My husband, though, worked as a young teen at an amusement park. He shared some funny stories about his time working there. More importantly, the work contributed to his strong work ethic (道德准则) today. Studies also show that work can contribute to healthy development and that teens who work at times are more likely to attend four-year colleges and get degrees quickly.
Julianna used to be so careful about new experiences, but now she is doing something new. I realize it’s time to put aside my doubts and worries and believe she can learn the skills she needs to take care of herself.
1. What was the author’s expectation of her daughter?A.She could spend her free time in a relaxing way. |
B.She could actively experience the real world. |
C.She could pay much attention to her health. |
D.She could do better in her studies. |
A.She took the interview very seriously. |
B.She wanted to improve the amusement park. |
C.She wished to work together with her mom. |
D.She had great confidence in getting the job. |
A.The reason for her husband’s success. |
B.The joy of working at an amusement park. |
C.The relationship between work and education. |
D.The positive influence of early work experience. |
A.How my daughter achieved freedom and independence |
B.How I guided my daughter through her life troubles |
C.How I embraced my daughter’s journey of growth |
D.How my daughter developed a new hobby |
7 . “A house without books is like a room without windows,” wrote Horace Mann, the 18th-century writer. I agree wholeheartedly with Mann.
Recently, my husband and I did a painting project in a room we use as an office, which has a beautiful wall full of built-in bookshelves. As we started to pull my valuable books down off the shelves, I felt like I was pulling plants out of the garden.
The physical act of removing every book from its spot on the shelf showed a few unexpected insights (见解).
I took the opportunity and started by grouping the books. Then I thought about the layout of the books on the shelves.
A.A strong wave of anxiety suddenly hit me. |
B.I regularly share books with my neighbors. |
C.Cleaning a bookshelf might sound like a chore. |
D.Choosing a good book to read seems like a difficult task. |
E.Surprisingly, I realized my bookshelves had space for more than just books. |
F.I take pride in the realization that I have books in every room of my house. |
G.For one thing, there were many books that no longer inspired or comforted me. |
8 . We will all experience pain, disappointment, and almost certainly loss and sickness. Yet some people
John O’Leary is the host of the Live Inspired Podcast. When he was just nine years old, John suffered
A.subscribe | B.proceed | C.respond | D.express |
A.interviewed | B.imagined | C.introduced | D.recognized |
A.externally | B.joyfully | C.formally | D.wisely |
A.mood | B.pain | C.sadness | D.hurt |
A.Regardless | B.Instead | C.However | D.Therefore |
A.thoughts | B.opinions | C.theories | D.factors |
A.shelter | B.decrease | C.improve | D.change |
A.gentle | B.severe | C.certain | D.ordinary |
A.relief | B.recount | C.survival | D.refreshment |
A.make it | B.get across | C.go around | D.pull over |
A.potential | B.touchy | C.sincere | D.successful |
A.work | B.talent | C.fantasy | D.prediction |
A.desperation | B.gift | C.goal | D.task |
A.higher | B.rarer | C.brighter | D.calmer |
A.angle | B.manner | C.prospect | D.trend |
9 . It’s 3 am. I
I feel
I
Suddenly I had an idea. If it’s true that I can be happy with either path, then why not let
It
We make
A.hang up | B.pick out | C.take apart | D.fix up |
A.goals | B.opinions | C.explanations | D.solutions |
A.doubtful | B.awkward | C.serious | D.sorry |
A.difficult | B.different | C.right | D.simple |
A.proposal | B.risk | C.trouble | D.answer |
A.ignore | B.weigh | C.collect | D.share |
A.choice | B.change | C.challenge | D.plan |
A.uncertain | B.acceptable | C.regretful | D.uninteresting |
A.formally | B.eagerly | C.particularly | D.heavily |
A.responsibility | B.emotion | C.chance | D.personality |
A.put back | B.pull out | C.throw away | D.set aside |
A.exists | B.rolls | C.lands | D.stands |
A.improves | B.appears | C.struggles | D.survives |
A.friends | B.mistakes | C.discussions | D.decisions |
A.complaint | B.dream | C.limit | D.advice |
10 . I opened my car window and called out “Ma’am! Ma’am!” The only lady in the parking lot looked around until she saw me. “I just wanted to tell how nice you look today,” I said. “The colors you have on are beautiful on you.” Her face registered surprise for a second, and then she smiled. “Thank you!” she called back. Her final steps to her car seemed lighter, and I smiled to myself.
I grew up with very few cheerleaders in my own life. When I was in the middle of fighting a battle for my life, I had been confirmed depression, along with anxiety. It has taken many years and more effort and determination than I thought I was capable of recovering from this illness. With no cheerleaders in my court, I fought this battle alone. I am proud of the progress I have made thus far. There are times when I thought, if only I had had someone to hold me and say, “Susan, I believe in you. You can do this, and I’ll be there every step of the way.” I wonder how much sooner I would have recovered. I’ll never know.
So I have made it a point in recent years to praise people, especially women and girls. Instead of just thinking that someone looks nice or did a great job, I say it out loud. It doesn’t take long, and it’s easy. So, I wonder, why don’t more people do this? As women, we have learned from our role models to be quiet. We downplay (淡化) our own achievements even when we do receive a rare compliment (恭维). Now, when I compliment someone and she denies, I say to her, “Just say thank you.” Most women are relieved that they don’t have to deny the compliment; they can accept the praise without guilt.
Cheerleading doesn’t require any skills. It only takes a few seconds, although you do have to remind yourself to do it. Eventually, it becomes a habit.
1. How did the lady feel after hearing the author’s praise?A.Delighted. | B.Anxious. |
C.Relaxed. | D.Worried. |
A.Her experiences. |
B.Her habit. |
C.Her personality. |
D.Her ambition. |
A.She can be rewarded. |
B.She can be appreciated. |
C.They can accept the praise. |
D.They should say something. |
A.Caring. | B.Brave. |
C.Outgoing. | D.Honest. |