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 Im a 8 ， dont you， young man？” I said， “Well， uh， yes， I guess so， sir.” “You are 9 ， but Im sure you are a dropout，” he said 10 . I got shocked.

“Well， young man， Ive 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 cant 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. saddest 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 （捐赠物品）. 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！ Dont 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 doesnt 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 didnt have.

Everyone held their 17 as I bent down to face Helen. “Of course， Helen，” my voice nearly 18 . “Youre 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 daughters 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 didnt 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 didnt 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 dont 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 （奇迹） because Ive seen so many of them.

One day， a patient was referred to me who was one hundred and two years old. “Theres a 1 in my upper jaw （颌； 下巴） ，” she said. “I told my own dentist its 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 youre 7 me， but Im 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.

“Im 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 well see about it.”

I couldnt 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 Ive 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， Ive 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， shes 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 Corys 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 couldnt 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 Corys 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 middle of it. This habit 2 first my mom， then my friends， and 3 even my own daughter. Often my 4 wouldnt 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 didnt 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 wasnt done yet and that I had many pages 11 to go， I still couldnt 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 ， doesnt 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 “live 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