Being the head of a high school for many years, I grew tired of budget meeting, funding cuts, and
many other administrative chores (杂务). I started to dream of retirement. Sitting in traffic on a weekday
morning, I would find my mind wandering, I would imagine spending time with my grandchildren, quiet
evenings with my wife, traveling, or rediscovering some great books. I told myself that I wouldn"t sign
myself up for any committees, any classes, or anything requiring a schedule.
My first day of retirement came at last! I cooked a great breakfast for my wife and me, leisurely read
the paper, cleaned a bit of the house, and wrote a few letters to friends. On the second day, I cooked
breakfast, read the paper. On the third day, … This is retirement? I tried to tell myself that it was just the
transition (过渡), that those golden moments were right round the corner, and that I would enjoy them
soon enough. But something was missing. A former colleague asked a favor. A group of students were
going to Jamaica to work with children in the poorest neighborhoods. Would I interrupt my newfound
"happiness" and return to the students, just this once? One trip. That"s all, my bags were packed and by
the door. The trip was very inspiring. I was moved not only by the poverty I saw but also by the sense
of responsibility of the young people on the trip. When I returned home, I offered to work one day a week
with a local youth organization. The experience was so positive that I was soon volunteering nearly
full-time, working with students across North America to assist them in their voluntary work.
Now, it seems, the tables have turned. Some days I am the teacher, other days I am the student. These
young people have reawakened my commitment (责任感) to social justice issues by challenging me to
learn more about the situation in the world today, where people are still poor and suffer because of greed,
corruption and war, Most important, they have given me the opportunity to continue to participate in helping
to find solutions. In return, I help them do their charitable projects overseas. I"ve gone from running one
school to helping oversee the construction of schools in twenty-one countries!
B. To write some great books.
C. To do some voluntary work
D. To plan for his future.
B. He couldn"t refuse his colleague"s favor.
C. He was concerned about the people there.
D. He was not satisfied with his retired life.
B. felt happy to work with students again
C. became a learner rather than a teacher
D. changed his attitude toward his retired life
B. Troublesome
C. Promising
D. Meaningful
was my stepmother.
I was nine years old when she entered our home in rural Virginia. My father 1 me to her with these
words: "I would like you to meet the fellow who is 2 for being the worst boy in this county and will
probably start throwing rocks at you no 3 than tomorrow morning."
My stepmother walked over to me, raised my head slightly 4 , and looked me right in the eye. Then she
looked at my father and 5 , "You are wrong. This is not the worst boy at all, 6 the smartest one who
hasn"t yet found an outlet (释放的途径) for his enthusiasm."
That statement began a(n) 7 between us. No one had ever called me smart. My family and neighbors
had built me up in my 8 as a bad boy. My stepmother changed all that.
She changed many things. She 9 my father to go to a dental school, from which he graduated with
honors. She moved our family into the county seat, where my father"s career could be more 10 and my
brothers and I could be better educated.
When I turned fourteen, she bought me a secondhand 11 and told me that she believed that I could
become a writer. I knew her enthusiasm, I 12 it, and I saw how it had already improved our lives. I
accepted her 13 and began to write for local newspapers. I was doing the same kind of 14 that great day
I went to interview Andrew Carnegie and received the task which became my life"s work later. I wasn"t the
15 beneficiary (受益者). My father became the 16 man in town. My brothers and stepbrothers became
a physician, a dentist, a lawyer, and a college president.
What power 17 has! When that power is released to support the certainty of one"s purpose and is 18
strengthened by faith, it becomes an irresistible (不可抗拒的)force which poverty and temporary defeat can
never 19 .
You can communicate that power to 20 who needs it. This is probably the greatest work you can do
with your enthusiasm.
( )1. A. rushed ( )2. A. distinguished ( )3. A. sooner ( )4. A. backward ( )5. A. talked ( )6. A. but ( )7. A. agreement ( )8. A. opinion ( )9. A. begged ( )10. A. successful ( )11. A. camera ( )12. A. considered ( )13. A. belief ( )14. A. teaching ( )15. A. next ( )16. A. cleverest ( )17. A. enthusiasm ( )18. A. deliberately ( )19. A. win ( )20. A. everyone | B. sent B. favored B. later B. forward B. replied B. so B. friendship B. image B. persuaded B. meaningful B. radio B. suspected B. request B. writing B. same B. wealthiest B. sympathy B. happily B. match B. someone | C. carried C. mistaken C. longer C. upward C. cried C. and C. gap C. expectation C. ordered C. helpful C. bicycle C. ignored C. criticism C. studying C. only C. strongest C. fortune C. traditionally C. reach C. anyone | D. introduced D. rewarded D. earlier D. downward D. answered D. or D. relationship D. mind D. invited D. useful D. typewriter D. appreciated D. description D. reading D. real D. healthiest D. confidence D. constantly D. doubt D. nobody | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
完型填空。 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For long, a little boy was wondering why his deskmate could rank 1st in the class whenever he wanted to, while he himself failed to: he only ranked 21st. At home, he asked his Mom, "Mom, am I more 1 than others? I feel I am obedient and as careful as him, but 2 I always fall behind?" Hearing the words, Mom was aware that her son began to 3 the sense of self- respect, which was now being injured by the ranking system. 4 at him, she went wordless, not knowing 5 to explain. In another test, the son ranked 17th, while his deskmate remained 1st. Back home he 6 the same question. Mom really wanted to inform his son that 7 differs, which means that students ranking 1st are supposed to be cleverer than normal ones. 8 , was this discouraging answer the one that her son was constantly 9 about? Thank goodness she did not open her mouth. How to answer her son"s question? There were times when she felt an urge to say, "You are too lazy. You are not as hard-working as others…" but she stopped 10 imagining her son suffering from the pains of unsatisfied grades and rankings. She thought it 11 to put any additional burden on his son and was trying to find out a perfect answer. Time passing swiftly, the son 12 primary school. Despite studying harder and better, he was still unable to keep up with his deskmate. To show her pride of him, mom decided to 13 him to the sea. During the trip, she managed to give an answer. Now, the son no longer worries about his 14 , and there are no boring guys who would inquire his grades in primary school, because, 15 the 1st ranking, he is admitted to Tsinghua University. Back home in winter vacation, he was invited to 16 the students and parents in his high school, In the speech, he mentioned a valuable experience in his childhood,"…When my mother and I were lying on the 17 , she pointed to the front and said, "Do you see the seabirds struggling for food over there? When the waves come near, little birds can rise 18 while awkward seagulls would take more time to complete the process. However, have you noticed birds that finally fly 19 the endless ocean are none other than the awkward seagulls?" The speech 20 many mothers present to tears, including his mother. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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