“How did you do it, Dad? How have you 21 not to take a drink for almost 20 years?” It took me almost 20 years to have the 22 to even ask my father this very 23 question. When Dad first 24 drinking, the whole family was on pins and needles 25 he got into a situation that, in the past, would have started him drinking again. For a few years we were 26 to bring it up for fear that the drinking would begin again.
“I had this little 27 that I would recite to myself 28 four to five times a day” was Dad’s 29 to my 18 – year – old unasked question. “The 30 were an instant relief and constant reminder to me that things were never so 31 that I could not handle them,” Dad said. And then he 32 the poem with me. The poem’s simple, yet profound (深奥的) words 33 became part of my daily routine as well.
About a month after this talk with my father, I 34 a gift in the mail from a friend of mine. It was a book of affirmations(断言)with one affirmation listed for each 35 of the year.
I 36 opened the book to the page of my birthday to see what words of wisdom this book had in store for me. 37 of disbelief and appreciation rolled down my face. There, on my birthday, was the 38 poem that had helped my 39 for all these years! It is called The Serenity Prayer.
God, give me the Serenity (平静)to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to 40 the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference.
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One of my favourite films is Mr. Bean At a Fancy(化装)Restaurant. In the film, after being 21 at his table,Mr. Bean takes out a 22 ,writes a few words on it,signs his name,puts it into an envelope and 23 it on the table.After a moment,he looks at the 24 but this time he looks surprised,as if he did not know it was there.He opens it to find a birthday card and delightedly puts it on the table for everyone to see.
When he looks at the 25 ,an astonished look quickly 26 on his face.He takes all 27 out of his pockets,counts it and puts it in a saucer(碟子).He then looks from the menu to the money with 28 until he finds one thing that makes him smile. He 29 a dish called “steak tartare.” When the dish arrives,he is 30 to discover that “steak tartare” is 31 a raw(生肉的)hamburger.He 32 an attempt to eat it,but it is 33 ,from the look on his face,that he finds the taste really terrible.He cannot 34 his feelings,except when the waiter asks whether everything is OK.He smiles and nods, 35 that everything is fine.36 no one is looking,however,he 37 himself hiding the raw meat anywhere he can 38 ,inside a sugar bottle,a tiny flower vase and under a plate.He becomes so disappointed in the end that he 39 hides some inside the 40 of a woman sitting near him and throws some under the seat of the restaurant’s violinist!
I like to watch Mr. Bean on TV but I wouldn’t want to meet someone like him in real life.
A.treated B.invited C.accepted D.served
A.magazine B.book C.card D.wallet
A.throws B.places C.removes D.spreads
A.waiter B.watch C.envelope D.table
A.customers B.tablecloth C.surroundings D.menu
A.appears B.grows C.turns D.shows
A.cards B.money C.bills D.keys
A.satisfaction B.care C.confidence D.concern
A.buys B.orders C.washes D.breaks
A.shocked B.pleased C.moved D.frightened
A.mostly B.indeed C.actually D.nearly
A.makes B.gets C.tries D.takes
A.doubtful B.sure C.clear D.likely
A.hide B.express C.prevent D.explain
A.admitting B.recognizing C.indicating D.realizing
A.Because B.When C.Once D.Although
A.pretends B.helps C.prepares D.busies
A.reach B.see C.get D.arrive
A.rather B.almost C.exactly D.even
A.hand B.purse C.blouse D.hair
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Mr. Smith,head of Howard’s department,never said a pleasant word to anyone. He never smiled.His face always __36__a serious expression.Worse __37__,he never did his own work.__38__,he always asked his subordinates(下属)to do the job he __39__himself.The clerks were __40__frightened by Mr. Smith that they were afraid to __41__to Mr. White,who was Mr. Smith’s superior.Everybody worked very hard while Mr. Smith,who had nothing to do,read newspapers all morning to__42__.
One day,Mr. Smith could not find an important paper.He told Howard to__43__the paper which__44__.
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阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,然后从36—55各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项
I’m an operating engineer, running crane in New York City. I was in the countryside, playing golf when we got the call that a plane had 36 the World Trade Centre. We checked out of the hotel immediately and started 37 our way downtown. When I got home, I called the rescue center and they told me to come 38 and get on the 39 list.
The next morning I went down to the 40 at about 5 A. M., and four hours later I 41 the call to come down to West Street. I called my wife and told her not to 42 me, and that I would stay in 43 with her. I took the subway. It stopped at West Fourth Street, so I had to 44 the rest of the way.
And somewhere in there I became 45 that I was going into something I 46 . I once worked there in 1966 for the 47 of the World Trade Centre. On halfway on September 12, I was frightened to see the World Trade Centre was a huge pile, maybe ten 48 tall. And it was burning. I started to ask 49 in which my crane might be 50 a whistle blew suddenly warning us of some danger. I saw people running away and I really didn’t know what to do. So I did the same, too. It was as if they had 51 the bulls go in Spain and we were running through the street. People falling down, people 52 them up as they came by, and carrying them, just to get them out of the way, because something was extremely 53 . I didn’t even look back. We stopped running when we got to the Battery Tunnel, and I caught my 54 and said, “Oh, my God, I’m going to 55 .”
Then I settled down a little bit, thinking about what we should do next. As we started again we knocked into a fire chief officer and we asked, “What can we do to help you?”
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Fifteen years spent in the field of education has provided me with many treasured moments. One of the most unforgettable 36 when I was teaching second 37 , 10 years ago.
In May I decided to plan something special for the children; a Mother’s Day tea. We had put our heads together to 38 ideas of how to 39 our mothers. We practiced singing songs, memorized poems and wrote cards. We decided to hold our tea the Friday before Mother’s Day. I was surprised and 40 to learn that every mother was planning to attend. I 41 invited my own mother.
Finally, the big day arrived. Each child 42 up at our classroom door, expecting the arrival of his or her mom. 43 it got closer to starting time, I looked around and my eyes quickly found Jimmy. His mother hadn’t shown up and he was looking 44 .
I took my mother by the hand and walked over to Jimmy. “Jimmy,” I said, “I have a bit of problem here and I was 45 if you could keep my mother 46 while I’m busy.”
My mom and Jimmy sat at a table. Jimmy 47 my mom her treats, presented her with the gift I had made, just as we had 48 the day before. Whenever I looked over, my mother and Jimmy were in deep 49 .
Now 10 years later, I work with students of all ages, educating them about the environment. Last year, I took a senior class on a field trip, and there was Jimmy, I had the students complete an outline of the day’s 50 and an evaluation of our trip. Then I collected the students’ booklets and checked them to see if 51 was completed. When I came 52 Jimmy’s page, he had written “Remember our Mother’s Day tea we had in second grade, Mrs, Marra? I do! Thanks for all you did for me, and thank your mother, too.”
I told him I really enjoyed what he had written. He looked rather embarrassed and 53 his own thanks and walked away. Suddenly he ran bark and gave me a big hug. “Thanks again. No one even knew my mother didn’t 54 it.”
I ended my workday with a hug from a teenage boy who had 55 stopped hugging teachers years ago.
A.lasted B.happened C.experienced D.described
A.school B.class C.grade D.lesson
A.pay attention to B.look forward to C.get on with D.come up with
A.love B.please C.respect D.admire
A.astonished B.worried C.relieved D.interested
A.even B.ever C.still D.once
A.followed B.held C.kept D.lined
A.As B.Although C.While D.Because
A.wild B.curious C.strange D.upset
A.considering B.wondering C.asking D.doubting
A.connection B.care C.company D.concern
A.served B.supplied C.assigned D.applied
A.taught B.studied C.practiced D.told
A.mind B.thought C.agreement D.conversation
A.feeling B.behavior C.event D.action
A.something B.everything C.anything D.nothing
A.by B.to C.on D.over
A.announced B.delivered C.stated D.whispered
A.make B.get C.do D.take
A.probably B.exactly C.rarely D.eagerly
阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
My job was to make classroom observations and encourage a training program that would enable students to feel good about themselves and take charge of their lives. Donna was one of the volunteer teachers who participated in this 36 .
One day, I entered Donna’s classroom, took a seat in the back of the room and 37 . All the students were working 38 a task. The student next to me was filling her page with “I Can’ts.” “I can’t kick the soccer ball.” “I can’t get Debbie to like me.” Her page was half full and she showed no 39 of stopping. I walked down the row and found 40 was writing sentences, describing things they couldn’t do.
By this time the activity aroused my 41 , so I decided to check with the teacher to see what was going on 42 I noticed she too was busy writing. “I can’t get John’s mother to come for a parents’ meeting.” …… I felt it best not to 43 .
After another ten minutes, the students were 44 to fold the papers in half and bring them to the front. They placed their “I Can’t” statements into an empty shoe box. Then Donna
45 hers. She put the lid on the box, tucked it under her arm and headed out the door. Students followed the teacher. I followed the students. Halfway down the hallway Donna got a shovel from the tool house, and then marched the students to the farthest corner of the playground. There they began to 46 . The box of “I Can’ts” was placed at the 47 of the hole and then quickly covered with dirt. At this point Donna announced, “Boys and girls, please join hands and 48 your heads.” They quickly formed a circle around the grave.
Donna delivered the eulogy (悼词). “Friends, we gathered here today to 49 the memory of ‘I Can’t.’ He is 50 by his brothers and sisters ‘I Can’ and ‘I Will’. May ‘I Can’t’ rest in 51 . Amen!”
She turned the students 52 and marched them back into the classroom. They celebrated the 53 of “I Can’t”. Donna cut a large tombstone from paper. She wrote the words “I Can’t” at the top and the date at the bottom, then hung it in the classroom. On those rare occasions when a student 54 and said, “I Can’t,” Donna 55 pointed to the paper tombstone. The student then remembered that “I Can’t” was dead and chose other statement.
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Carolyn Stradley is the founder of C&S Paving Ine.(铺路公司)in Atlanta,USA.In the following account,she recalls the job that challenged her 36 and skill but left her flying high.
“When the Atlanta Airport was under 37 in 1979,we were a new company struggling to make it.National Car Rental wanted to have 2500 square meters of dirt paved 38 the cars could be on site 39 the airport opened,and the official opening was only ten days away! 40 other local paving company wanted to do the job, 41 it couldn’t be done in such a short time.”
“Because we were new and really needed the work,we were 42 to try harder.We gave National Car Rental our offer and 43 our best effort to get the job finished within ten days.We also 44 them that if we failed,they would be no worse off, 45 they had plenty to gain if we succeeded.”
“We got the job and immediately went into 46 .Working at night needed lights,so I rented a machine to produce electricity for the site.Our 47 challenge was to keep the rock mixture 48 enough.All the available water wagons(洒水车)were rented out for the airport construction,and we certainly couldn’t afford to buy a new one. 49 ,I got a special 50 to rent fire engine hoses(消防水龙带)and connect them to nearby hydrants(消防);then I 51 held one of those hoses to 52 down the rock.”
“Those ten days were filled with challenges that 53 one creative idea after another.Nine days later,the night before the airport opened,National Car Rental was the 54 company that had cars on the parking lot.”
“The key to our success was having the 55 to take on any job and then being creative in our approach to getting it done.”
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.
A.while | B.since | C.where | D.when |
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When I was young,my parents ran a snack bar in our small town.
One evening in early April,my mother told me to fill in at the snack bar 36 a worker who had the flu.I told her I would mess it up, 37 I had never worked at the bar before.I 38
that instead of making money,I would end up owing it.
“You can do it,”said my mother.“ 39 ,you won’t get much business until lunch.”
“But I’ll never remember the orders,and I’m no good___40_money.Please,Mom,don’t
41 me.”
“Then I’ll help you,”she said.
I shrugged my shoulders.I thought my mother’s 42 was a bad one,but I 43 .
When I got to the bar the next day,I found my mother was 44 .Because the weather that day was rainy and cold,people wanted hot snacks and drinks. 45 ,I was really slow at taking the orders and making change.The line of people grew,and everybody seemed 46 .I was so nervous that my hands shook,and I 47 a cup into pieces.What a mess!Then my mother came to 48 me,and she also showed me how to make 49 .If someone gave me $5 for something that cost $3.25,I handed over 50 quarters and a dollar and said,“75 cents makes four dollars,plus one dollar makes five.”Things went more 51 after that.
By the end of the day,I could remember orders, 52 the bill,and make change quickly with a smile.I was even a little 53 when the sun came out and dried up business.My mother said she was proud of me,and when she 54 that I work at the snack bar again next year,I did not even shrug.I was too busy 55 the restaurant I would open one day.
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Many years ago,I owned a service station and roadhouse on the main road between Melbourne and Adelaide.
One very cold,wet night at about 3:30 a.m.,there was a 41 on the front door of our house.A young man,wet from 42 to toe,explained that he had 43 out of petrol about 30 km up the road.He had left his pregnant(怀孕的) wife and his two children 44 at the car and said that he would hitchhike(搭便车) back.
Once I had 45 a can with petrol,I took him back to his car where his two-year-old and four-year-old children were both 46 ,saying that they were cold.Once the car had started,I suggested that he 47 me back.
Before leaving,I had turned the heater 48 in the roadhouse,so that when we went in,it was nice and 49 .While the little ones played and ran 50 ,I prepared bread and butter for the children,and hot chocolate for the 51 .
It was about 5 a.m. before they 52 .The young fellow asked me how much he 53
me and I told him that the petrol pump(加油泵) had 54 $15.He offered to pay “call-out fee”,but I wouldn’t accept it.
About a month later,I received a 55 from Interstate,a large bus company that we bad been trying to 56 to stop off at our roadhouse for a long time.It 57 out that the young fellow I had helped was its general manager,the most 58 person in the company.
In his letter,he thanked me again and 59 me that,from then on,all their buses would stop at my service station.In this 60 ,a little bit of kindness was rewarded with a huge amount of benefits.
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Roberta appeared on the stage.She took a deep breath and began to 16 .Now she was Portia,a strong-willed 17 in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.The theater was filled with people.She was speaking with a power she had never before experienced,the words flowing
18 from her.
19 .Roberta had never acted in her life before the audition(选拔试演).She 20 being in front of other people.She was very 21 at school.She had never thought she was good enough at anything to 22 much attention.She stayed mostly to herself,making 23 friends.She had excellent grades, 24 she always thought that something was missing.
Two weeks before the audition,Roberta’s mother had heard about it and 25 her to join in.
“I can’t think of anyone else better suited to 26 the part.Remember all the plays you used to act out for us?”
Roberta looked down.“I’m not interested.”
Her mother wouldn’t let the 27 drop.“You’re just a little scared(害怕).Everyone gets scared.You know you 28 do it.The trick is to look past the 29 to find the love of what you’re doing.”
So Roberta had made an appointment(预约)with the head of the Drama Club.She had read the play and found herself excited by the 30 of speaking such rich words.In secret she practiced Portia’s part, 31 the lines by repeating them over and over.It wasn’t hard;she 32 every minute of it.Every time she spoke the words,she had a new 33 of the lines,as if Shakespeare had written Portia on many levels.
On the day of the audition,she 34 two of Portia’s famous speeches for the auditors.When she had finished,the head of the Drama Club announced the 35 was hers.
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Ban the Band(乐队)?
Every year,our school has a dance for all the students.It’s a little funny seeing friends in clean shoes and trousers or colorful 36 ,instead of the usual school uniform.
Most of us think the dance is great 37 —even the teachers enjoy being there. 38 ,two weeks ago someone said that there would be no 39 band this year—only CDs.
“I don’t 40 it!”Amy cried out during the lunch break.
“Someone said the school couldn’t 41 a band,and they think it’s too noisy anyway,”added Daniel.
“Well,I don’t think it’s 42 enough without a band!”declared Angela,“and I’m going to see what can be done.”
Angela was as good as her 43 .In the afternoon she went to see the school headmaster who agreed to give the 44 some more thought.And he suggested that one 45 for having a band was to increase the price of each ticket from $5 to $10.Angela had to 46 out whether the students would like to do that.
“I need all of you to help me,”she 47 to our group before school the next day.“Mr.Berry gave me a list of all the names,and suggested we ask each one their 48 about the band and the extra cost.”
49 the day we asked around as Angela suggested,and wrote down people’s feelings about the band and the cost.We were amazed how much 50 there was for the band and everyone agreed to pay the extra $5.
“I’m surprised,”smiled Mr. Berry,when we gave him the 51 .“I really thought that only a few people 52 their band and that the cost would be too high.OK,Angela,your next 53 is to find a good band and line them up for the dance.”
Angela was all smiles and 54 the news to Amy and Daniel.“You’re 55 ,”smiled Daniel to Angela as he thought how close they came to having a less than perfect dance.
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We arrived in Spain for the first time a few weeks ago.I decided to 21 a car because we had sold the one we had in England before 22 home.Yesterday the sales office rang us to say the car was 23 .I had tried out a model like it before,but as I was not yet 24 driving in this city,my wife did not want me to collect it 25 so we went together to 26 it.We paid for the car and 27 the papers.They told us that there was 28 petrol(汽油) to take us to a garage,where we could fill up.The 29 garage to the office was about 100 yards away and we got there 30 .But when I turned into the main road I suddenly saw a lot of cars racing 31 me.I got out of 32 as fast as I could by backing into the garage 33 and the man behind 34 me.
“It’s such a problem to 35 to drive on the right side,isn’t it?”my wife said.“Yes,if only I had had a few lessons for 36 ,”I replied.“You had better go 37 on the way home,”my wife said.“You’d be sorry if you had 38 on the first day,wouldn’t you?”While we were talking,the man behind got out of his car and said in good English,“Would you mind telling me 39 you are thinking of leaving? 40 are you going to sit in your car all day?”
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A woman id her sixties lived alone in her little cottage with a pear tree at her door. She spent all her time taking care of the tree. But the children nearby drover her 21 by making fun of her. They would climb her tree and then run away with pears, 22 “Aunty Misery” at her.
One evening, a passer by asked to 23 for the night. Seeing that he had an 24 Face, she let him in and gave him a nice 25 . The next morning the stranger, actually a sorcerer (巫师), thanked her by granting (允准) her 26 that anyone who climbed up her tree 27 not be able to come back down until she 28 it.
When the children came back to steal her 29 , she had them stuck on the tree. They had to beg her
long 30 she gave the tree permission to let 31 go. Aunty Misery was free from the 32 at last.
One day another man 33 her door. This one did not look trustworthy to her, 34 she asked who he was . “I am Death, I’ve come to take you 35 me.” said he.
Thinking fast Aunty Misery said, “Fine, but I’d like to 36 some pears from my dear tree to remember the 37
it brought to me in this life. But I am too 38 to climb high to get the best fruit. Will you be so 39 as to do it for me?” With a deep sigh, Mr. Death climbed up the tree 40 and was immediately stuck to it. No matter how much he warned or begged, Aunty Misery would not allow the tree to let Death go.
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I was on a bus one March evening. The driver didn’t 36 to start the bus soon because it was not yet 37 . A middle-aged woman got on. Tired and sad, she told her story 38 , not to anyone in particular. On her way to the station, half of her 39 was stolen. The other half was hidden under her blouse, so she 40 still had some left. A few minutes later, she stopped crying, but still looked 41 .
When all the seats were taken, the driver started the engine. The conductor began to collect fares(车费). When she came to an old man in worn-out clothes, he 42 that he had spent all his money when he had accidentally got on a wrong bus and now he was trying to go home. On hearing this, she ordered the old man to 43 the bus. The old man was almost in tears as he 44 her to let him take the bus home. The driver took the conductor’s side and repeated the conductor’s 45 .
The woman was watching the incident. 46 the driver and the conductor raised their voices at the old man, she interfered(干预).
“Stop 47 him! Can’t you see he’s only trying to get home?”
“He doesn’t have any money! ” the driver 48 .
“Well, that’s no 49 to throw him off the bus,” she insisted.
Then she reached inside her blouse, took out her 50 money, and handed it to the conductor. “Here’s his fare and mine. Just stop giving him a 51 time.”
All heads turned to the woman. “It’s only money,” she shrugged.
She rode the rest of the way home 52 a happy smile, with the money she’d lost earlier 53 .
On the road of life, the help of strangers can 54 our loads and lift our spirits. How much sweeter the 55 will be when we make it a little smoother for others!
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After the birth of my second child, I got a job at a restaurant. Having worked with an experienced 36 for a few days. I was 37 to wait tables on my own. All went 38 that first week. When Saturday night came, I was luckily 39 the tables not far from the kitchen. 40 , I still felt it a little hard to carry the heavy trays(托盘).
Before I knew it, the 41 was full of people. I moved slowly, 42 every step. I remember how 43 I was when I saw the tray stand near the tables; it looked different from the one I was 44 on. It had nice handles, which made it 45 to move around. I was pleased with everything and began to 46 I was a natural at this job.
Then, an old man came to me and said, “Excuse me, dear, my wife and I loved 47 you work. It seems your tray stand has been very 48 to you, but we are getting ready to 49 now, and my wife needs her 50 back.”
At first his 51 did not get across. “What was he talking about!” Then, I got it. I had set my trays on his wife’s orthopedic walker(助步器). I stood frozen as ice, but my face was 52 . I wanted to get into a hole and 53 .
Since then, I have learned from many mistakes such as the one I just 54 . I have learned to be more 55 and not to be too sure of myself.
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试题篮
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