Sarah Winchester lived in California. She was a very
1 woman. She didnt buy many jewels or 2 clothes. Instead, she spent millions of dollars in 3 a house. She began to do it at the age of 45. The strange thing about Sarahs house was that it seemed never 4 . The work on the house went on for 38 years because Sarah was afraid to 5 building it.
Sarahs house was near San Jose. Every day, a lot of
6 arrived there to work for her. Sarah wanted more rooms, more doors and more windows, so the workers kept on building them. The house was seven floors high and had 160 rooms. There were 200 doors and l,000 7 . There were also three lifts, nine kitchens, and 47 fireplaces.
Why did Sarah want a house that kept getting 8 ? It was because Sarah was afraid of 9 . She thought she would die when the house was finished, so she didnt want her house to be finished.
Sarah Winchesters plan seemed to have worked 10
she lived to be 83 years old. But, finally, her house was finished.
1. A. kind B. rich C. useful D. brave
2. A. cheap B. expensive C. simple D. old
3. A. building B. mending C. selling D. setting
4. A. done B. closed C. changed D. finished
5. A. keep B. enjoy C. stop D. help
6. A. drivers B. workers C. farmers D. visitors
7. A. floors B. gardens C. windows D. rooms
8. A. bigger B. smaller C. stronger D. cleaner
9. A. working B. dying C. living D. growing
10. A. whether B. because C. though D. while
A friend of mine likes drawing dragons. He draws the dragons very and people like his pictures. But he always begins at the tail. People usually begin at the of the dragon, that is I was surprised before. Later I came to know that it could not really make any whether the artist begins at the head or the tail, if he really knew what he was doing. And most great artists who really know their business do not follow other peoples rule. They their own rules. Every one of them does his work in a way of himself, which means that he finds it easier to work in that way.
Now the very same thing is true to . And the question, “How shall I begin?” only means that you want to begin at the head instead of beginning at the tail or somewhere else. That is, you are not yet enough to believe your own powers. When you become more skillful you will ask the question, and I think that you will often begin at the tail—that is to say, you will write the end of the story you have even thought of the beginning.
1. A. good B. bad C. well D. badly
2. A. neck B. head C. leg D. tail
3. A. why B. what C. which D. where
4. A. mistake B. difference C. progress D. decision
5. A. break B. change C. make D. explain
6. A. wrong B. difficult C. interesting D. special
7. A. drawing B. working C. writing D. living
8. A. successful B. clever C. lucky D. skillful
9. A. never B. also C. only D. still
10. A. after B. before C. until D. if
These days, cars are designed using computers. Lets look at how a new car is created.
First, several 1 talk about the new car and any good ideas that they have. Then they sit down at their computers and 2 many sketches (素描). The best two or three drawings are chosen and then more detailed drawings of
cars are 3 on the computer. You can change the size, shape or color of any part on the computer to see 4 the car would look and then you can choose the best design.
Both the inside and the outside of the car have to be designed. Part of the inside of the car is 5 so that the designers can sit in it. They can feel if there is enough 6 inside and if they can reach 7 in the car. Then some cars are built—there are more than 15, 000 parts of a car to 8 .
When everything is known to be 9 , the cars are made in the factory. Again computers are used to make sure that all the parts are 10 as they are needed. The factory usually stays open all through the night so that the car production never stops.
1. A. drivers B. designers C. workers D. salesmen
2. A. draw B. order C. type D. enjoy
3. A. improved B. corrected C. developed D. changed
4. A. how B. if C. what D. that
5. A. covered B. painted C. locked D. built
6. A. metal B. glass C. leather D. room
7. A. nothing B. somebody C. everything D. nobody
8. A. choose B. test C. show D. repair
9. A. safe B. easy C. cheap D. fast
10. A. rare B. electronic C. colorful D. ready
It was very cold that day. It was 1 heavily, and the ground was covered with thick snow. The shepherd (牧羊人) thought it was dangerous to 2 the hill and it was difficult for the sheep to find some 3 there. So he decided to stay in the 4 room. He put some hay (干草) beside the fence 5 the sheep could eat it when they were hungry. The dog, who felt cold outside, lay on the 6 hay and soon went to sleep.
At noon the sheep wanted to eat the hay. They were
7 afraid of the dog and none could get close to it. At last the 8 sheep came to the hay. Before he started to eat, the dog heard it and opened his eyes. The dog barked (吠) loudly to 9 him. The sheep ran away quickly. Looking at the unfriendly dog, the sheep began to talk
10 .
“What a selfish (自私的) dog!” said one of the sheep. “He cannot eat the hay, and yet refuses to allow those who can eat!”
1. A. raining B. snowing C. blowing D. shining
2. A. play on B. live on C. climb up D. come to
3. A. cake B. grass C. fruit D. vegetables
4. A. cold B. cool C. hot D. warm
5. A. in order to B. so as to C. so that D. now that
6. A. hard B. soft C. thin D. wet
7. A. both B. either C. all D. neither
8. A. smallest B. youngest C. weakest D. strongest
9. A. meet B. greet C. warn D. receive
10. A. angrily B. happily C. quietly D. politely
Amber Wong was not like many of her classmates. She didnt listen to popular music. She didnt watch many movies, and she wasnt interested in nice clothes.
When she got with her friends at a party, Amber found her friends preferred rock and pop music. When Amber if they would like to try classical music, they all looked at her strangely.
“ music is for old people,” one of her friends said. Amber was that something was wrong with her. She decided to her father. As Amber entered his study, her father could feel something was .
“Dad, am I strange?” she asked her father.
“Of course not,” he answered, “why do you ask that?”
“Because I dont the same things as my classmates. They want to listen to pop music. But I like classical music.”
“I understand. Never mind, Amber. Its all right to be yourself. You dont have to what other people do. Everybody different tastes. Some of them are popular, but others arent.”
After Amber spoke to her father, she felt about herself. She realized that being different made her special. It was an important lesson for her to learn.
1. A. up B. away C. together D. around
2. A. said B. found C. noticed D. asked
3. A. Pop B. Rock C. Classical D. Country
4. A. proud B. worried C. glad D. lucky
5. A. talk to B. look for C. write to D. call up
6. A. terrible B. wrong C. strange D. true
7. A. have B. know C. use D. like
8. A. copy B. carry C. know D. think
9. A. does B. has C. makes D. takes
10. A. surer B. angrier C. better D. worse
Once upon a time, there was a lazy poor man living in a small house with spider webs (蜘蛛網) on the walls and mice running around. People coming into such a dirty place and the poor man was lonely and sad every day. He thought it was poverty (贫困) that his unhappy life.
One day, the poor man dropped in on a wise old man and asked him for about changing his life. The old man gave him a beautiful vase (花瓶) and said, “This is a magic vase that will bring you .”
The poor man looked at the vase . Why would he need a vase in his poor house? However, he didnt want to such a beautiful vase, so he brought it home on the table.
“Its not right for something so beautiful to be .” the poor man looked at the vase and thought. Then he picked some wild flowers and put them into it, making it even more beautiful.
he was still not satisfied.“It is not good for such a beautiful thing to stand next to a spider web.” At this, he started to do some cleaning in the house and paint the walls.
His house turned into place immediately. The poor man . He suddenly realized that in the past it was his laziness that made him poor and unhappy. From then on, he worked hard and his life got better and better.
1. A. enjoyed B. avoided C. forgot D. considered
2. A. led to B. connected to C. made up D. set up
3. A. service B. knowledge C. advice D. care
4. A. peace B. happiness C. mess D. regret
5. A. sadly B. nervously C. proudly D. surprisedly
6. A. throw away B. give out C. pay for D. keep off
7. A. ugly B. full C. empty D. dirty
8. A. Although B. But C. So D. Because
9. A. large B. dark C. strange D. comfortable
10. A. cheered up B. rang up C. sped up D. stayed up
After a meeting, I returned to my hotel room late in the evening. The overhead light outside my door was 1 and I had difficulty finding the keyhole. When I finally opened the door, I 2 around the wall for a light switch (開关).
I 3 seeing a lamp by the bed. I found the bed in the dark and walked 4 , but when I switched it on, nothing happened!
Though I knew that it was dark outside my window 5
the outdoor light was burned out, I thought that perhaps if I opened the curtains I might be able to use the light from the 6 to find another lamp. So I 7 my way slowly across the room to the curtains and ... no draw-string!
What a 8 day! That evening I discovered how dark the world can be and how necessary light is. But even more necessary than light is the light that shines from people— the light of heart.
Let your light shine. Whatever light you 9 may be a beacon (灯塔) of hope in someones darkness. And if you feel that your light is only a candle in a forest, there isnt enough darkness in the world to 10 the light of one small candle.
1. A. burning B. broken C. shining D. bright
2. A. found B. turned C. felt D. looked
3. A. began B. tried C. liked D. remembered
4. A. lightly B. fast C. carefully D. easily
5. A. if B. unless C. since D. so
6. A. stars B. street C. room D. shops
7. A. forced B. followed C. made D. pushed
8. A. lucky B. special C. peaceful D. terrible
9. A. imagine B. receive C. offer D. throw
10. A. give out B. break off C. care for D. put out
Recently, I felt like I reached a very low point in life. My relationships werent good. I wasnt 1 my classes, and I felt like I had nothing to look forward to. My life seemed to be full of endless homework, tests and loneliness. Nothing anyone said seemed 2 to me. I wasnt sure what to do about myself. All I wanted was to be happy again, but I didnt know who or what would 3 that.
During these days, I had trouble 4 . I had to take sleeping pills but still woke up in the midnight. I had no 5 but to tell my dad. He 6 the book The Secret. I immediately bought the e-book online and read the whole thing that night. Im normally quite a stubborn (固执的) person, 7 the influence on my mood after finishing the book was obvious (明显的). Suddenly, I felt like life was 8 again. I had never felt such a deep and quick 9 in my life before.
In fact, the books message was very simple—think positively. The book had many success stories about how people were able to 10 money, soul mates and old friends back into their lives. I started learning to thank everything in my life like them. Little by little, I realized that The Secret could work only when I believed these peoples success stories.
Now Im sure I can bring myself happiness.
1. A. playing B. doing C. giving D. enjoying
2. A. helpful B. colorful C. peaceful D. powerful
3. A. serve B. offer C. answer D. prevent
4. A. reading B. studying C. working D. sleeping
5. A. problem B. idea C. need D. doubt
6. A. borrowed B. collected C. returned D. suggested
7. A. and B. but C. or D. so
8. A. pleased B. common C. beautiful D. serious
9. A. breath B. notice C. surprising D. change
10. A. attract B. control C. imagine D. mention
Several years ago, I was at a train station in Amsterdam. I saw a young homeless man people for money to buy breakfast. Most of the simply took no notice of him or gave him a dirty look. There was one exception (例外) though: an older, well-dressed lady. When the young homeless man moved this elegant lady, she turned, looked straight into his eyes, and asked, “How much do you need?” I couldnt hear what the young man said but watched the old lady pulled several bills from her wallet and them in the young mans hands.
I dont know whether the young man actually used this money for breakfast or for some other purpose. What I do know is that I saw two completely different reactions (反應) to the same . I saw people afraid, angry or uncertain. And then I saw this old lady who the homeless man as her brother. I decided at once that even though we have to be in this world, I would rather be like her.
Every day may bring us many chances of . The key is to do it or not.
1. A. asking B. calling C. disturbing D. helping
2. A. guests B. audience C. neighbors D. travelers
3. A. from B. after C. before D. over
4. A. softly B. coldly C. loudly D. hopefully
5. A. because B. unless C. as D. although
6. A. dropped B. put C. covered D. threw
7. A. location B. survey C. situation D. program
8. A. turned B. treated C. used D. dressed
9. A. famous B. creative C. careful D. successful
10. A. richness B. happiness C. fitness D. kindness
Its never easy to admit (承認) you are wrong. We all to know the art of apology. Think how often youve done wrong. Then count how many youve expressed clearly you were . You cant go to bed with an easy mind if you do about it.
A doctor friend, Mr Lied, told me about a man who came to him with different kinds of problems: headaches, heart trouble and insomnia (失眠症). some careful exams, Mr Lied found nothing wrong with him and said, “If you dont tell me whats really you, I cant help you.”
The man admitted he was cheating (骗取) his brother of his inheritance (遗产). Then and there the clever doctor the man write to his brother and his money. As soon as the letter was put into the post box, the man suddenly cried. “Thank you,” he said to the doctor, “I think Ive got well.”
An apology not only saves a broken relationship, but also makes it . If you can think of someone who should an apology from you, do something about it right now.
1. A. decide B. have C. need D. try
2. A. mistakes B. people C. ways D. times
3. A. sorry B. weak C. sad D. wrong
4. A. something B. anything C. nothing D. everything
5. A. Before B. After C. Till D. Since
6. A. hurting B. changing C. touching D. worrying
7. A. asked B. helped C. let D. saw
8. A. give B. keep C. return D. pay
9. A. newer B. worse C. harder D. stronger
10. A. receive B. give C. make D. accept
Dear Dad,
Happy birthday to you! On this special day, Id like to tell you in a special way.
I dont think Im good at telling you my thought face to face with you, so Im 1 to show my deep love for you. You are not a rich man 2 a famous person. But in my heart, you are one of the 3 men in the world. I am proud of you. You are 4 interested in being famous and rich. You do 5 things like paying for your phone on time, and working hard in your factory. The smile on your face 6 you are pleased with the family. You take good care of my grandparents. You help me with my schoolwork and go shopping with Mom on Sundays.
In the past, I didnt care 7 you were with me or not. Now I am sorry to 8 I didnt realize you before. But I am thankful for what you have done for me.
I am quite lucky that I have 9 a great father. And I 10 happy that now I can let you know how much I love you. You are successful as a son, a husband, a father, and a friend.
Love from,
Lydia
1. A. writing B. singing C. reading D. speaking
2. A. and B. or C. also D. but
3. A. strongest B. funniest C. greatest D. tallest
4. A. always B. ever C. already D. never
5. A. common B. interesting C. wonderful D. popular
6. A. finds B. shows C. teaches D. tastes
7. A. what B. where C. whether D. how
8. A. call B. say C. know D. learn
9. A. too B. so C. very D. such
10. A. sound B. feel C. smell D. look
Thomas was a good student but he didnt respect others. One day, his aunt gave him a as a birthday gift. He went around the classroom playing his drum. When others asked him to keep or play somewhere else, Thomas refused.
Thomas classmates couldnt the noisy drum, so they stopped playing with him. Joe, one of his classmates invented special earplugs (耳塞) which allowed people to hear normal sounds, but stopped the bad ones. Thomas got very with Joe. He even had a big fight with Joe.
A few days later, a clock was put into the classroom, just next to the desk of Thomas. The clock was making the like “Tick tock, tick tock.” Thomas couldnt concentrate on his study at all. , the others, with their special earplugs, were OK. Soon Thomas started to how much he had disturbed his classmates with the drum, and how silly it had been to fight with Joe. In order to change the situation, Thomas decided to say to his classmates. Whats more, he played his drum in the classroom. Seeing Thomas great changes, his classmates forgave (原諒) him and decided to play with him again. From then on, Thomas changed a lot and got along well with his classmates.
1. A. piano B. violin C. guitar D. drum
2. A. calm B. quiet C. lively D. healthy
3. A. bear B. advise C. ask D. connect
4. A. strict B. angry C. popular D. patient
5. A. mistake B. problem C. noise D.change
6. A. Instead B. However C. Perhaps D. Really
7. A. show B. realize C. discuss D. dream
8. A. thanks B. okay C. sorry D. goodbye
9. A. at times B. generally C. always D. no longer
10. A. actually B. finally C. suddenly D. recently
Before seeing light we have slowly for two hours on that cold December evening. “This must be the house.” I told our group. We parked our car at an old house. We gathered up our books. We knocked on the door. We heard a voice from inside say, “Come in. The door is open.” We the door.
There in a rocking chair sat an elderly woman with a big smile on her face. “I am you.” Ruth said weakly. We Ruth the basket of delicious food. I asked Ruth what carols (圣歌) she would like to hear. Then Ruth sang some carols with us happily.
As we hugged Ruth good-bye she said to me , “The day you called I was still in bed. I had just finished praying. I asked God if it would be to have some Christmas Carolers come to my home and sing this year. Thank you for being the answer to my prayer.”
Wow, what an great to have the opportunity (機会) to be the answer to someones Christmas prayer.
1. A. waited B. driven C. walked D. climbed
2. A. English B. science C. song D. story
3. A. happy B. sad C. weak D. exciting
4. A. broke B. mended C. painted D. opened
5. A. expecting B. writing C. hating D. advising
6. A. cooked B. sold C. made D. handed
7. A. sadly B. angrily C. thankfully D. angrily
8. A. OK B. necessary C. possible D. true
9. A. birthday B. Christmas
?C. Thanksgiving D. Halloween
10. A. experience B. news C. dream D. story
It was the first week of the summer vacation. Dad said to Mike, “Charlie hurt his foot and cant 1 for two weeks. Can you work with me on the 2 ?” Charlie was Dads helper.
Mom said, “We know you had plans with your friends, but Dad really needs your 3 .”
“Sure, Dad, I would love to,” Mike replied.
Dad and Mike left early the next morning. “Fishing is a(n) 4 job,” Mike thought. But he kept working. When he found they were 5 more and more fish, Mike was so excited.
It was late afternoon when they returned home. Mom 6 had dinner ready for them, but Mike felt so tired that he went straight to bed.
The next morning, Mikes arms hurt a lot. However, he had such a good time with Dad that he 7 to keep helping him.
The 8 weeks passed soon. Charlie came back to work. Mike 9 being out on the ocean, so he asked, “May I come, too?”
Dad looked surprised and said, “Sure!”
They all jumped 10 the boat and set off to the ocean. The rest of the summer would be great for the three of them.
1. A. sleep B. dance C. work D. study
2. A. ship B. boat C. bus D. train
3. A. love B. advice C. help D. idea
4. A. hard B. interesting C. new D. bad
5. A. selling B. buying C. eating D. catching
6. A. still B. already C. never D. always
7. A. decided B. refused C. regretted D. turned
8. A. two B. three C. four D. five
9. A. tried B. kept C. enjoyed D. stopped
10. A. down B. onto C. from D. over