1

When I was 14， I got tired of school and left my hometown in search of my fortune in big cities. One day I was " "1 " "in the street when I noticed an old beggar at the corner. After " "2 " "me for some time he asked me， “Boy， come with me and I have something good for you.” Feeling " "3 " "and puzzled I followed him to a small house.

The beggar first asked me to wait for a moment. A few moments later， he returned with a couple of old " "4 " . “There are two things that I want to " "5 " "you， young man，” said he. “The first is to never " "6 " "a book by its cover， for it can fool you.” He " "7 " ， “I bet you think I’m a " "8 " ， don’t you， young man？” I said， “Well， uh， yes， I guess so， sir.” “You are " "9 " ， but I’m sure you are a dropout，” he said " "10 " . I got shocked.

“Well， young man， I’ve got a little " "11 " "for you. I am one of the " "12 " "men in the world. I have probably everything any man could ever want. A year ago， my wife passed away. I " "13 " "there were certain things I had not yet " "14 " "in life， one of which was what it would be like to live " "15 " "a beggar on the streets. For the past year， I have been going from city to city and doing just that.”

“The second is to learn how to " "16 " . There is only one thing that people can’t take away from you， your " "17 " .” Then， he reached forward， caught my " "18 " "and put them upon the books.

The beggar then " "19 " "me back on the streets near where we first met. His parting " "20 " "for me was to never forget what he taught me. I headed for my home that very day and returned to my school the next day.

1. A. shopping B. wandering C. running D. singing

2. A. watching B. questioning C. following D. helping

3. A. scared B. nervous C. curious D. impatient

4. A. bags B. gifts C. photos D. books

5. A. show B. teach C. lend D. give

6. A. buy B. judge C. admire D. borrow

7. A. went on B. held on C. kept up D. ended up

8. A. teacher B. seller C. beggar D. worker

9. A. perfect B. smart C. confident D. wrong

10. A. naturally B. anxiously C. firmly D. happily

11. A. surprise B. test C. lesson D. joke

12. A. greatest B. wealthiest C. sadest D. kindest

13. A. doubted B. remembered C. realized D. explained

14. A. caught B. enjoyed C. used D. experienced

15. A. like B. for C. with D. by

16. A. survive B. cheat C. read D. research

17. A. health B. wisdom C. appearance D. money

18. A. arms B. legs C. shoulders D. hands

19. A. pushed B. led C. forced D. drove

20. A. character B. step C. request D. figure

2

“What kind of Thanksgiving can I provide？” I said to myself. Living in a small house and still jobless， I " "1 " "to make ends meet.

Still， I counted my blessings （福分） when I " "2 " "that a young family in a nearby home lost " "3 " "because of a flash fire. I watched as the entire community became involved in their " "4 " ： A church provided shelter; others gathered food， bedding and clothing. Lines of busy people willingly gave their time " "5 " "their money.

The afternoon before Thanksgiving， two women came to our house " "6 " "donations （捐贈物品）. Although we had little to " "7 " ， I helped carry items to their car， " "8 " "in my heart to give more.

As we stood outside " "9 " ， my little Helen， only three， screamed， “Wait！ Don’t anybody move.” She rushed into the house， complaining， “We " "10 " "something！”

I looked apologetically at the ladies， but " "11 " "I could follow her， Helen was back outside， carrying her " "12 " "toy bear， which I had made for her birthday just two months before.

“Mommy，” her green eyes searched my " "13 " ， “the little girl doesn’t have any toys. I have to give it to her.”

My heart quaked. I thought about the few " "14 " "Helen had and how many hours I had spent sewing this one. Now she wanted to " "15 " "it away. We stood in silence， the ladies " "16 " "at me. I struggled with my feelings. I thought of all the things we needed and didn’t have.

Everyone held their " "17 " "as I bent down to face Helen. “Of course， Helen，” my voice nearly " "18 " . “You’re right. We forgot the toy. How " "19 " "of you to remember！”

And I " "20 " "my own heart would never be as big as the one pounding （砰砰地跳） in my daughter’s little chest.

1. A. struggled B. decided C. prepared D. happened

2. A. expected B. announced C. learned D. believed

3. A. nothing B. something C. anything D. everything

4. A. trouble B. rescue C. experience D. work

5. A. except for B. instead of C. rather than D. as well as

6. A. collecting B. providing C. requiring D. allowing

7. A. eat B. do C. spare D. sell

8. A. refusing B. offering C. waiting D. wishing

9. A. watching B. laughing C. chatting D. dancing

10. A. needed B. found C. owed D. forgot

11. A. since B. before C. when D. though

12. A. expensive B. favorite C. old D. ugly

13. A. face B. head C. heart D. body

14. A. books B. clothes C. friends D. toys

15. A. take B. throw C. give D. put

16. A. aiming B. shouting C. laughing D. staring

17. A. promise B. interest C. breath D. position

18. A. broke B. failed C. appeared D. stopped

19. A. proud B. thoughtful C. graceful D. clever

20. A. admitted B. hoped C. explained D. realized

3

On an autumn afternoon I was doing my homework at home when a sound of a violin flowed into my ears. I was so " "1 " "that I jumped to see what it was. A young girl， " "2 " "in the wind， was lost in playing her violin.

The music was so " "3 " "that I listened quietly. Lost in the music， I didn’t " "4 " "that I had been standing there for so long but my " "5 " "did not seem to disturb her.

Every day she played the violin there and I would watch her " "6 " . I was the only audience. " "7 " "we didn’t know each other， I thought we were already good friends. I " "8 " "she also liked me. However， one afternoon， when I was listening " "9 " ， the sound suddenly stopped. To my " "10 " ， the girl came over to me.

“You must like " "11 " ，” she said. “Yes. And you play very well. Why did you stop？” I asked. Suddenly， a " "12 " "expression appeared on her face and I could " "13 " "something unusual. “I came here to see my grandmother， but now I must " "14 " . I once played very badly. It was your listening every day that " "15 " "me，” she said. “In fact， it was your playing that gave me a meaningful " "16 " ，” I answered. “Let us be friends.” Both the girl and I " "17 " .

There are many kinds of " "18 " . Some are always with you， but don’t " "19 " "and support you. Some say a few words to you， but these words are " "20 " "to you. Many people will step in your life， but only true friends leave footprints.

1. A. angry B. curious C. touched D. excited

2. A. standing B. playing C. waiting D. struggling

3. A. familiar B. loud C. attractive D. clear

4. A. imagine B. care C. recognize D. realize

5. A. judgment B. existence C. praise D. feeling

6. A. progress B. performance C. movement D. expression

7. A. Though B. If C. As D. Since

8. A. doubted B. wondered C. believed D. promised

9. A. carelessly B. patiently C. devotedly D. secretly

10. A. shock B. joy C. sorrow D. interest

11. A. me B. singing C. violin D. playing

12. A. calm B. sad C. bored D. puzzled

13. A. make B. smell C. feel D. consider

14. A. study B. work C. stop D. leave

15. A. encouraged B. comforted C. reminded D. educated

16. A. spring B. summer C. autumn D. winter

17. A. cried B. smiled C. thought D. agreed

18. A. friends B. stories C. experiences D. lessons

19. A. notice B. understand C. remember D. know

20. A. similar B. sensible C. close D. meaningless

4

I believe in miracles （奇跡） because I’ve seen so many of them.

One day， a patient was referred to me who was one hundred and two years old. “There’s a " "1 " "in my upper jaw （頜; 下巴） ，” she said. “I told my own dentist it’s nothing， but he " "2 " "I come to see you.”

Her eighty-year-old son accompanied her. He wanted to add something， but she stopped him. She wanted to " "3 " "everything herself. I found a large cancer that " "4 " "over much of the roof of her mouth. A careful examination later " "5 " "that it was a particularly bad sort of cancer.

During her next appointment， I explained to her the " "6 " "of the problem. She clasped my hand in hers and said， “I know you’re " "7 " "me， but I’m just fine.”

I thought otherwise. After considerable " "8 " "on my part， and kindness on her part because she wanted to " "9 " "me， she agreed to have me refer her to a cancer surgeon. She saw him， but as I predicted， " "10 " "treatment.

About six months later she returned to my office， still energetic and " "11 " .

“How are you？” I asked.

“I’m just fine， honey，” she responded in high " "12 " ".

Surprised to see her at all， I answered " "13 " ， “Let me take a look in your mouth and we’ll see about it.”

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The cancer that had " "14 " "nearly the entire roof of her mouth was gone—only one small area of redness " "15 " .

I had read of such things happening， but had never seen them with my own eyes. That was my first " "16 " ". Since then I’ve seen many others， because they keep getting " "17 " "to see. In fact， miracles are daily events for me now. And people are miracle， " "18 " "through them we have a chance to know ourselves and to " "19 " "the miracles of one another.

Since my first miracle， I’ve come to understand that the time and place for a miracle is " "20 " "we choose to find it.

1. A. cut B. pain C. wound D. cancer

2. A. declared B. admitted C. promised D. insisted

3. A. learn B. take C. tell D. manage

4. A. spread B. came C. bring D. leave

5. A. confirmed B. explained C. considered D. concluded

6. A. possibility B. importance C. seriousness D. result

7. A. strict with B. delighted with C. worried about D. angry with

8. A. permission B. support C. approval D. effort

9. A. persuade B. please C. encourage D. astonish

10. A. declined B. provided C. received D. required

11. A. healthy B. independent C. optimistic D. strong

12. A. position B. spirits C. quality D. pressure

13. A. worriedly B. confusedly C. patiently D. confidently

14. A. covered B. reached C. controlled D. grown

15. A. cured B. appeared C. expanded D. remained

16. A. case B. treatment C. miracle D. lesson

17. A. easier B. better C. happier D. closer

18. A. or B. so C. yet D. for

19. A. read B. make C. keep D. see

20. A. whatever B. wherever C. whoever D. whichever

5

One day a small group of young people were at a wildlife park on a field trip.

“Oh， look at her， she’s so beautiful.” All of them " "1 " "a cheetah （印度豹） named Subira in respect—except a teenage boy called Cory in the back row， who seemed to be " "2 " "to himself in impatience. When several members of the group " "3 " "in his direction， he brushed the front of his T-shirt as though to " "4 " "dust， and， in a gesture clearly meaning to " "5 " "us， rolled up the right sleeve （袖子） of his shirt， further " "6 " "his well-developed muscles.

Cory had " "7 " "of playing professional baseball someday. No one doubted Cory’s " "8 " . But that was before the car accident. Not only did Cory lose a " "9 " "in the accident but his hope and his spirit.

Seeing such a large audience， Subira couldn’t wait to give the " "10 " "a show of her skills. “How fast she runs！” one shouted. “But she only has three legs.” one cried.

No one was more " "11 " "than Cory. He stared at the animal with the missing leg and he smiled， tears of " "12 " "in his eyes.

Looking " "13 " "into Cory’s face， the organizer explained， “It was soon after she came to us that she showed her own worth—a unique " "14 " "of love and spirit. In the past few years， the gift of Subira has " "15 " "people around the world， and without words Subria has become our most persuasive " "16 " ， and the most priceless gift.”

Cory asked " "17 " ， “Can I touch her？”

As the rest of the group looked on in amazement， the boy wheeled himself over to the large gate and " "18 " "to push it open. The expression on his face was one of great " "19 " . It was clear that Cory had " "20 " "the gift of Subira.

1. A. listened to B. nodded at C. smiled at D. stared at

2. A. talking B. pointing C. referring D. lying

3. A. travelled B. turned C. drove D. ran

4. A. watch B. feel C. remove D. catch

5. A. amuse B. impress C. satisfy D. frighten

6. A. observing B. enjoying C. training D. showing

7. A. spoke B. dreamed C. heard D. expected

8. A. smartness B. speed C. ability D. strength

9. A. leg B. arm C. teammate D. baseball

10. A. boy B. animal C. crowd D. partner

11. A. astonished B. interrupted C. terrified D. disappointed

12. A. happiness B. surprise C. sorrow D. hope

13. A. bravely B. frankly C. directly D. immediately

14. A. gift B. way C. animal D. position

15. A. told B. warned C. described D. touched

16. A. teacher B. spokesman C. program D. leader

17. A. calmly B. softly C. bitterly D. proudly

18. A. wished B. decided C. begged D. struggled

19. A. puzzle B. guilty C. satisfaction D. worry

20. A. received B. kept C. discovered D. found

6

I had a habit of skipping to the last page of a book. I just wanted to see how it " "1 " "while I was still in the midde of it. This habit " "2 " "first my mom， then my friends， and " "3 " "even my own daughter. Often my " "4 " "wouldn’t be limited just to the books I read but also to what others were " "5 " "as well. Then one day my daughter told me in anger， “Dad， please just read a book one " "6 " "at a time like everyone else！”

At times I didn’t " "7 " "this bad habit to just reading books either. I also tried to skip ahead in my own life and " "8 " "out what to do months or even years from now instead of " "9 " "each day at present. Although I knew that the book of my " "10 " "wasn’t done yet and that I had many pages " "11 " "to go， I still couldn’t " "12 " "my burning desire to write the ending of it halfway through. Time and time again， I would " "13 " "jump ahead and try to solve every potential problem before it happened. Life， " "14 " ， doesn’t work like that. It loves to " "15 " "us， and you never know what new problems， changes， or opportunities each " "16 " "day will bring about.

Recently when I found myself living in the " "17 " "again， I felt a voice that gently told me I needed to “l(fā)ive one day at a time.” When I heard those words， I " "18 " ， turned the book of my life to the " "19 " "page， and thanked God for today.

Each of us has to " "20 " "the book of life line by line， moment by moment and trust that our story will be brought to its perfect end.

1. A. happened B. developed C. ended D. appeared

2. A. confused B. annoyed C. scared D. satisfied

3. A. usually B. obviously C. accidentally D. finally

4. A. impatience B. misunderstanding C. disappointment D. disagreement

5. A. saying B. reading C. doing D. watching

6. A. page B. copy C. chapter D. edition

7. A. contribute B. devote C. apply D. limit

8. A. try B. figure C. let D. turn

9. A. working B. skipping C. enjoying D. spending

10. A. life B. plan C. work D. research

11. A. forgotten B. left C. kept D. asked

12. A. follow B. stand C. control D. comments

13. A. consciously B. strangely C. foolishly D. quietly

14. A. otherwise B. furthermore C. therefore D. however

15. A. surprise B. cheat C. disappoint D. frighten

16. A. tiring B. new C. important D. long

17. A. present B. future C. memory D. dream

18. A. cheered B. cried C. hesitated D. smiled

19. A. last B. hopeful C. first D. right

20. A. write B. review C. explain D. read

7

I grew up in a community called Estepona. I was 16 when one morning， Dad told me I could drive him into a " "1 " "village called Mijas， on condition that I took the car in to be " "2 " "at a nearby garage. I readily accepted. I drove Dad into Mijas， and " "3 " "to pick him up at 4 pm， then dropped off the car at the " "4 " . With several hours to spare， I went to a theater. " "5 " ， when the last movie finished， it was six. I was two hours late！

I knew Dad would be angry if he " "6 " "out I’d been watching movies. So I decided not to tell him the truth. When I " "7 " "there I apologized for being late， and told him I’d have " "8 " "as quickly as I could， but the car had needed major repairs. I’ll never forget the " "9 " "he gave me. “I’m disappointed you " "10 " "you have to lie to me， Jason，” Dad looked at me again. “When you didn’t " "11 " ， I called the garage to ask if there were any " "12 " ， and they told me you hadn’t yet picked up the car.” I felt " "13 " "as I weakly told him the real reason. A " "14 " "passed through Dad as he listened attentively. “I’m angry with " "15 " . I realize I’ve failed as a father. I’m going to walk home now and think seriously about " "16 " "I’ve gone wrong all these years.” “But Dad， it’s 18 miles！” My protests and apologies were " "17 " . Dad walked home that day. I drove behind him， " "18 " "him all the way， but he walked silently.

Seeing Dad in so much " "19 " "and emotional pain was my most painful experience. However， it was " "20 " "the most successful lesson. I have never lied since.

1. A. lonely B. small C. distant D. familiar

2. A. kept B. washed C. watched D. serviced

3. A. agreed B. planned C. determined D. promised

4. A. village B. community C. garage D. theater

5. A. However B. Then C. Therefore D. Still

6. A. worked B. found C. thought D. picked

7. A. went B. ran C. walked D. hurried

8. A. started B. left C. arrived D. come

9. A. word B. face C. look D. appearance

10. A. find B. decide C. believe D. feel

11. A. turn up B. drive out C. go away D. come out

12. A. questions B. problems C. mistakes D. faults

13. A. ashamed B. frightened C. nervous D. surprised

14. A. nervousness B. sadness C. silence D. satisfaction

15. A. you B. myself C. me D. yourself

16. A. where B. how C. why D. when

17. A. meaningless B. useless C. helpless D. worthless

18. A. asking B. persuading C. begging D. indicating

19. A. physical B. practical C. personal D. natural

20. A. indeed B. always C. also D. almost

8

I didn’t believe in ghosts （幽靈）. However， my mother reminded me many times that I had the " "1 " . It was all because of a " "2 " "I told when I was 4. One night I " "3 " "to get ready for bed， so I lied there was a ghost in the bathroom. Mother was " "4 " "to learn that.

After that she often " "5 " "anything unusual—a sudden wind， a vase that fell and got broken. She would ask me， “Is she here？” She " "6 " "my grandmother， who she said died in a car accident. When I was 14， my older brother was seriously ill. My mother " "7 " "me to ask my grandmother to save him. When he died， she asked me to talk to him as usual. “I don’t know " "8 " ，” I said. When my father died six months after my brother， mother asked me if they still loved us. I spelled out the answer which I " "9 " "she wanted to hear： “Yes， always.”

When I became a writer in my 30s， I wrote a story about a woman who killed herself by eating too much opium （鴉片）.

10 " "the story， my mother got shocked， " "11 " "it’s exactly how my grandmother died. For some reason， mother didn’t tell me the truth. Now she had " "12 " ： My grandmother had talked to me and told me her true story. She asked me， “Is she here now？” I answered " "13 " ， “I don’t know.”

Over the years， mother always asked me some " "14 " "questions. Sometimes I really got " "15 " "of them. And I began to " "16 " "whether there was something wrong with her " "17 " . Ten years later， my mother left me for ever. Suddenly I felt sad and " "18 " . It seemed that I had lost everything. That night I " "19 " "about her and she was laughing at my surprise. When she reached me， I felt as if I had been " "20 " "in the chest with something： love， but also joy and peace. “Now you know，” my mother said.

1. A. chance B. gift C. secret D. experience

2. A. lie B. story C. dream D. plan

3. A. pretended B. prepared C. refused D. decided

4. A. satisfied B. moved C. disappointed D. surprised

5. A. noticed B. questioned C. appreciated D. found

6. A. asked B. meant C. mentioned D. missed

7. A. begged B. forced C. ordered D. helped

8. A. what B. who C. how D. which

9. A. imagined B. doubted C. hoped D. knew

10. A. Printing B. Telling C. Reading D. Typing

11. A. because B. so C. though D. unless

12. A. confidence B. proof C. knowledge D. information

13. A. quickly B. happily C. honestly D. sadly

14. A. difficult B. silly C. familiar D. similar

15. A. tired B. proud C. afraid D. hopeless

16. A. understand B. figure C. wonder D. speak

17. A. eyesight B. mind C. body D. head

18. A. strong-minded B. strange C. relaxed D. empty

19. A. chatted B. dreamed C. read D. wrote

20. A. taken B. hit C. filled D. kept