These children are wild. I feel sorry for        had to be their babysitter.

A．who         B．whom       C．whoever   D．whomever

She did not allow her failure in the exam to discourage her.        , she began to work twice as hard.

A．In addition                                                 B．On the whole

C．In conclusion                                             D．On the contrary

Despite the great success of Change-1, experts say, it will be at least ten years    our astronauts can land on the moon.

A．while        B．before       C．since        D．until

Environmental groups intend to        the pressure until the government changes the law.

A．keep up    B．make up    C．pick up     D．bring up

To Be Lucky, Be Prepared

I remember the exact moment I learned the principle of preparing for luck.

I was on the wrestling team, Now, if there’s one thing I can tell you about any sport, it is that wresting is probably the sport that has the least  1  . There are only two people out on the mat, so you cannot  2  it on your teammates or your coach. And guess what? There is no  3  because we do the whole thing indoors, so you can’t say, “It was raining” or “It was snowing.” It makes  4  to say wrestling is the sport with the least luck.

On our team were two world champions; one of them had been world champion five times. We  5  had five people who were national champions. One of them was a guy  6  the name of John.

John had never been  7  in my high school wrestling competition that I could remember,  8  he was a national champion. There was nobody locally who could touch him.

One day, we   9  a match with our biggest opponent（對手）. John went out on the mat, and about a minute and 30 seconds into the match he tried to make a particular  10  . He rolled over, and his opponent  11  him halfway through his roll. He was pinned  12  !

The match was over.

I remember on the bus on the way home, one of our teammates tried to  13  John by saying, “Oh, he just got lucky.” And John said, “That’s so stupid. The opportunity presented itself,  14  he exploited it.”

We used to have this big sign in our wrestling room that the coach had  15  there. “Luck is what happens when opportunity  16  preparation.”

John’s opponent was prepared to exploit this opportunity. The probability of  17  John was not strong, and he knew it. But he paid attention to the   18  opportunity to present itself, and he defeated and pinned a five-time national champion.

In other words, the real  19  is “Be prepared!” It’s not just finding the opportunity; you have to be prepared to  20  it.

1．A．luck                      B．risk                     C．difficulty             D．opportunity

2．A．a(chǎn)ccuse                  B．blame                  C．doubt                  D．keep

4．A．judgment               B．progress              C．sense                  D．way

5．A．a(chǎn)lso                      B．even                    C．only                    D．once

6．A．under                    B．for                      C．in                       D．by

7．A．hurt                      B．chosen                C．trained                D．defeated

8．A．a(chǎn)lthough                B．because               C．unless                 D．until

9．A．went for               B．waited for            C．fought for           D．played for

10．A．sign                    B．step                    C．task                    D．move

11．A．  fixed                  B．threw                  C．caught                D．carried

12．A．a(chǎn)ccidentally         B．fortunately           C．unfairly               D．instantly

13．A．calm                   B．comfort               C．convince             D．forgive

14．A．so                       B．or                       C．a(chǎn)nd                     D．but

15．A．set                      B．put                      C．left                     D．used

16．A．meets                  B．suits                    C．gets                    D．fits

17．A．striking               B．beating                C．knocking             D．controlling

18．A．equal                   B．exact                   C．rest                     D．right

19．A．message              B．passage               C．decision              D．suggestion

20．A．receive             B．follow                 C．seize                  D．save

My teacher held up a piece of broken glass and asked, “Who broke this window?” Thirty boys tried to think about not only what they had done, but also what our teacher may have found out. She seldom became angry, but she was this time.

“Oh,” I thought. I was the one who broke the window. It was caused by a naughty throw of a baseball. If I admitted guilt, I would be in a lot of trouble. How would I be able to pay for a big window like that? I didn’t even get an allowance. “My father is going to have a fit,” I thought. I didn’t want to raise my hand, but some force much stronger than I was pulled it skyward. I told the truth. “I did it.” It was hard enough to say what I had.

My teacher took down a book from one of our library shelves and I had never known my teacher to strike a student, but I feared she was going to start with me.

“I know how you like birds,” she said as she stood looking down at my guilt-ridden face. “Here is that field guide about birds that you are constantly checking out. It is yours now. It’s time we got a new one for the school anyway. You will not be punished as long as you remember that I am not rewarding you for your misdeed, I am rewarding you for your truthfulness.”

I couldn’t believe it! I wasn’t being punished and I was getting my own bird field guide-the very one that I had been saving up money to buy.

All that remains of that day is my memory and the lesson my teacher taught me. That lesson stays with me every day and it will echo forever.

1．From the story, we can learn that the boy             .

      A．didn’t break the window on purpose

       B．lacked the strength to admit his guilt

       C．tried to think about that he had done

       D．didn’t know what the teacher would find out

2．If the boy admitted guilt, he thought he would NOT             .

       A．be punished by the teacher                    B．make his father angry

       C．pay for the broken window                   D．get a bird field guide

3．Which of the following best describes the changes in the boy’s feelings?

       A．Afraid-Surprised-Thankful                    B．Frightened-Amazed-Proud.

       C．Regretful-Guilty-Excited.                      D．Nervous-Afraid-Satisfied.

4．What is the lesson the boy’s teacher taught him?

      A．Every coin has two sides.                     B．Honesty is always valued.

       C．Bad luck never comes alone.                 D．It’s never too late to be careful.

In Britain and other countries, young people sometimes take a “gap year,” a year off between high school and college. This idea never gained a big following in America. Recent news reports have suggested that interest may be growing, though there are no official numbers.

Charles Deacon is the dean of admissions at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. estimates that in the current first-year class of 1600 students, only about 25 decided to take a year off. He says this number has not changed much over the years.

Mr. Deacon says the most common reason for taking a “gap year” is to have a chance to travel. but he says international students may take a “gap year” to meet requirements at home for military duty.

Some high school graduates see a year off as a chance to recover after twelve years of required education, but it can also give students a chance to explore their interests. Students hoping to be doctors, for example, could learn about the profession by volunteering in a hospital.

Many colleges and universities support gap-year projects by permitting students to delay their admission. Experts say students can grow emotionally and intellectually as they work at something they enjoy.

The Harvard admissions office has an essay on its Web site called “Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation.” It praises the idea of taking time off to step back, think and enjoy gaining life experiences outside the pressure of studies. It also notes that students are sometimes admitted to Harvard or other colleges in part because they did something unusual with that time.

Of course, a “gap year” is not for everyone. Students might miss their friends who go on directly to college. And parents might worry that their children will decide not to go to college once they take time off. Another concern is money. A year off, away from home, can be costly.

Holly Bull’s job is to specialize in helping students plan their “gap year”. She notes that several books have been written about this subject/ She says these books along with media attention and the availability of information on the Internet have increased interest in the idea of a year off, and she points out that marry gap-year programs cost far less than a year of college.

1．What is the passage mainly about?

      A．More and more American students are choosing to take a year off.

       B．If you want to go to an American university, take a “gap year” first.

       C．It is likely that taking a “gap year” is becoming popular in America.

       D．Americans hold different opinions towards students’ taking a “gap year.”

2．How many reasons for students’ taking a “gap year” are mentioned in the passage?

       A．2.                       B．3.                       C．4.                       D．5.

3．The essay “Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation” suggests that        .

       A．every student must take a “gap year” before applying for a famous university

       B．some famous universities encourage students to gain more life experiences

       C．taking a “gap year” can make students free from life learning

       D．the stress of studies does harm to the students’ health

4．What can we learn from the passage?

       A．Books and media have contributed to the students’ interest in school learning.

       B．Charles Deacon doesn’t support the idea of the students’ taking a “gap year”.

       C．Parents night disagree with the program. Concerned about their children’s future.

       D．Experts agree taking a year off will benefit the students emotionally and physically.

I was working with a client who was completely burned out on her career and life and then ready for a career change. As we were talking, she said, “I just wish I had meaningful work. I don’t feel like I am making a difference. I am just wasting my life.” This is the theme I hear most often from clients who have been in the workforce awhile. All of us want to feel like we are making a difference. We want to believe our work means something. The problem comes in defining “meaningful work.” What is it? That answer is different for everyone. For some meaningful work might be helping others organize their office. For others it may mean making a million dollars.

What really matters is how you see it. What is meaningful work to you? Take out a piece of paper and answer these questions. How do you define meaningful work? When do you feel like you are really making a difference? What work have you done so far that feels the most meaningful? Write down whatever comes to mind.

It is very easy to start judging yourself as being selfish. Stop! Allow yourself to be honest. The fact is when Picasso painted, he was doing it because he liked to paint. He was not thinking. “Oh I hope this brings joy to others’ lives.” He painted because he wanted to. When Beethoven composed, he did it because he loved music. Even scientists searching for a cure for cancer are immersed in their work because it fascinates them.

It is easy to downplay the importance of work that feels meaningful. I remember Tony Robbins told a story of talking with the owner of a major company. The man said to Tony, “I wish I could do what you do because it makes such a difference in people’s lives.” Tony said, “You’ve got to be kidding! Look at what a difference you make. You provide work, health insurance and security for thousands of people! ” Don’t underestimate the value you provide.

Take a look at what you have written about meaningful work. Do you see any themes? How do you wish to contribute to this world? Whatever you choose, remember that the greatest gift you can give is to find work that makes you feel fulfilled and joyful. Honor your preferences because giving your gifts to the world, whatever they look like, is the most meaningful action you can ever take.

1．Which should come first to see whether you are doing something meaningful?

       A．What is meaningful work to you?

       B．Where can you find meaningful work?

       C．How do you wish to contribute to the world?

       D．How can you make a difference in your work?

2．What does the writer mean by mentioning the famous people?

       A．Famous people are selfish to start work for themselves.

       B．Doing meaningful work requires our interest in it.

       C．Interest is the best teacher in learning.

       D．Honesty makes for the greatest people.

3．When you downplay the value of your work, you tend to think it is          .

       A．quite different                                      B．very successful

       C．not meaningful                                    D．less important

4．According to the passage, what meaningful job does the writer advise us to take?

       A．The one which is popular in society.      B．The one which brings you profits.

       C．The one which wins you fame.             D．The one which interests you.

5．The article is intended to             .

       A．explain the most important aspect in changing one’s career

       B．a(chǎn)dvise taking a preferable action to find meaningful work

       C．suggest we should show confidence and talent in work

       D．show as how to give our greatest gift to society

I __________ to write a letter to John this morning, but I had no time.

A．hope  B．hoped       C．have hoped      D．had hoped

With his eyes______ on her, he asked what she had done with her hair.

A．to fix       B．fixing C．fix            D．fixed