In 1997, I found myself in a situation I never thought I'd be in: alone and begging for money in New York. My father had been separated from our family, and my mother had  recently died from complications related to AIDS. What I remember most about such nights is lying on the cold marble floor and using my backpack for a pillow.
Even though I had lost my family,  I made choices every single day to turn my life around. There was the haven for homeless teenagers called the Door, a non－profit organization that provided me with guidance, medical care and food, all of which kept me going while I completed my homework in train stations and under hallway lights. Perhaps the most surprising　help though, I did not seek out﹔it found me.  The New York Times told my story. In the weeks　that followed, dozens of strangers reached out to me from all across the United States. At my　high school, I began receiving handwritten letters of encouragement. Strangers showed up　bearing clothes, books, and even hugs. Since the article mentioned I was applying to Harvard, one woman knitted a blanket for me.  She attached this note to the box it was posted in: "It gets cold in those dorms. May you warm yourself knowing that people care about you".
With the help of these people, my life today bears no resemblance at all to my life then. I graduated not only from high school but also from Harvard University.
Before these people — some of them nameless— I just didn't realize how good people　could be. But now I do, and I can say that the people who helped me have forever changed me. They are the reason behind my decision to join the board at the Door so that I can be part of a small team of people opening a high school for homeless teenagers .They are the reason I dedicate my life to opening pathways for others. And they are the reason I travel around the　world helping people transform their own lives.
小題1:According to the passage, the author______________.

A．tried to change her life

B．often slept m friends’ homes

C．felt lonely because of her illness

D．felt quite desperate for her father

小題2:What can we learn about the Door?

A．It helps the homeless teenagers.

B．It is an organization seeking profits.

C．It provides entertainment for children.

D．It reports the stories about the homeless.

小題3:The 3rd paragraph mainly tells about                       .

A．how the author applies to Harvard

B．how the author struggles for her ideal

C．how The New York Times helps the author

D．how people help the author in different ways

小題4:Which of the following is the correct order to describe the author's life?
a. The newspaper reported her story.
b. She graduated from Harvard University.
c. She slept on the cold floor at night.
d. She joined the committee at the Door.           
e. Her mother died from the illness.

A．d→e→c→a→b	B．e→c→d→a→b
C．e→c→a→b→d	D．b→c→d→e→a

小題5:What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．Patience is a virtue.

B．Love can be passed on.

C．Time waits for no man.

D．Honesty leads to success.

I was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in a toy store. A nicely dressed little girl was  36  the teddy bears(泰迪熊) beside her father  37 she saw a little boy walk in and stop in front of the Pokémon toys. His jacket was obviously too small. He had money in his hand.  38 , it looked no more than five dollars at most. He was with his father as well, and  39  picking up the Pokémon video games. Each time he showed one to his father, his father  40  his head, “No”.
Rather  41 , the boy gave up the video games and chose a book of stickers  42 . After they walked away, the little girl ran over to the Pokémon video games. She excitedly picked up one  43  on top of the others, and raced down toward the check-out（結(jié)賬處）. I picked up my purchases and  44 the girl and her father.
Then, much to the little girl’s  45 , the little boy and his father got in line  46 her and me. After the video was paid for and bagged, the little girl  47 it back to the cashier(收銀員) and  48  something to her. The cashier smiled and put the  49 under the counter(柜臺(tái)). I was putting things in my bag when the little boy came up to the cashier. The cashier said, “  50  , you’re my hundredth customer today, and you win a prize!” and she handed the boy the Pokémon game. The boy could only   51  in disbelief. It was, he said,   52  what he had wanted! The little girl and her father had been standing at the doorway, and I saw the biggest and  53 smile on that little girl I have ever seen in my life.
I suddenly understood that the world is not  54 into the strong who care and the  55 who are cared for. We must each in turn care and be cared.
小題1:A．looking through   B．getting through    C dressing up       D．tidying up

小題2:	A．while B．when C．a(chǎn)fter D．once

小題3:	A．Then B．Therefore C．However D．Otherwise

小題4:	A．stopped B．continued C．a(chǎn)voided D．kept

小題5:	A．shook B．nodded C．moved D．held

小題6:	A．a(chǎn)nxious B．disappointed C．a(chǎn)ngry D．curious

小題7:	A．a(chǎn)lso B．instead C．lastly D．indeed

小題8:	A．laying B．lying C．to lie D．lain

小題9:	A．a(chǎn)ccompanied B．helped C．a(chǎn)dmired D．followed

小題10:

A．surprise B．satisfaction C．joy D．regret

小題11:

A．behind B．before C．between D．beyond

小題12:

A．put B．handed C．sent D．carried

小題13:

A．whispered B．shouted C．gave D．showed

小題14:

A．basket B．bag C．bear D．gift

小題15:

A．Sorry B．Excuse me C．Congratulations D．Pardon me

小題16:

A．cry B．stare C．jump D．pay

小題17:

A．extremely B．only C．exactly D．wonderfully

小題18:

A．widest B．greatest C．prettiest D．dearest

小題19:

A．divided B．changed C．included D．cut

小題20:

A．poor B．ugly C．unhappy D．weak

Have you ever been sad because of failure? Please remember, for often, achieving what you set out to do is not the most important thing.
A boy decided to dig a deep hole behind his house. As he was working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch. “What are you doing?” asked one of the visitors. “I want to dig a hole all the way through the earth!” the boy answered excitedly. The older boys began to laugh, telling him that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible. After a while, the boy picked up a jar. He showed it to the visitors. It was full of all kinds of stones and insects. Then he said calmly and confidently, “Maybe I can’t finish digging all the way through the earth, but look at what I’ve found during this period!”
The boy’s goal was far too difficult, but it did cause him to go on. And that is what a goal is for — to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen, in other words, to cause us to keep working!
Not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end up with a success. Not every dream will come true. But when you fall short of your aim, maybe you can say, “Yes, but look what I’ve found along the way! There are so many wonderful things having come into my life because I tried to do something!” It is in the digging that life is lived. It is the unexpected joy on the journey that really makes sense.
小題1:The older boys laughed at the boy because he was thought to be         .

A．brave

B．impolite

C．foolish

D．warm-hearted

小題2:Why did the boy show the jar to the older boys?

A．To drive them away.

B．To show what he had found in digging.

C．To show how beautiful the jar was.

D．To attract them to join him in the work.

小題3:What can be learnt from the fourth paragraph of the text?

A．Not dream can come true.	B．All work will end successfully.
C．Goals shouldn't be set too high	D．Goals will make us work harder.

小題4:The best title for the text should be         .

A．Joy in the Journey	B．A Boy Dug a Hole
C．No Pains, No Gains	D．Failure Is the Mother of Success

On a cold winter day, I waited in line to see my hero, Jack Canfield, the author of The Success Principles, who was going to deliver a speech on his new book.
During his talk, Jack   36  his wallet, pulled out a hundred-dollar bill, and said, ‘‘Who wants this?”   37  shot up in the audience; people leaned forward to see whom Jack would  38 . But I jumped up, ran up the   39  to the stage, and grabbed the bill. As I was launching myself in the air,   40 raced through my mind — was I about to be humiliated(羞辱) in front of 800 people? Would they   41  security guards and take me from the stage?   42  my desire for bold （大膽的）action was louder than any   43 voice. As I got the bill from his hand, he said, “That’s it! We can’t wait for the   44  to come to us. We must take    45   to create what we want!’’
After his talk, I   46  to formally meet Jack and boldly asked for his personal e-mail address. Over the next months, I sent him emails   47  my points of view and dreams with him. He kindly e-mailed back lots of encouragement. But my life got busy   48 other things. I stopped e-mailing Jack.
A year later, my dreams had worn away. I thought Jack would inspire me into action, like a giant arrow that would show me the way.
I e-mailed him, and then again — but got no   49  . As I sat down at my computer to 50  my e-mails, I  51  woke up. What was I doing? I was waiting! Now I remembered the crowd, most likely   52  that hundred-dollar bill, while they sat glued to their chairs.
Usually we all have a “Jack” for whom we wait — whether it’s a person, a place or a thing. We   53  believe the gifts of life are just around the corner, and that everything will come in a(n)   54  way. So we don’t try. We  55 . But as Wayne Gretzky said，“You’ll always miss 100% of the opportunities you don’t take!” So I stopped waiting and started my writing career.
Now what are you waiting for?

小題1:	A．brought in B．reached for C．took over D．handed in

小題2:	A．Cheers B．Shouts C．Heads D．Hands

小題3:	A．offer B．trust C．like D．choose

小題4:	A．path B．road C．steps D．route

小題5:	A．thoughts B．opinions C．ideas D．plans

小題6:	A．a(chǎn)sk B．call C．demand D．order

小題7:	A．And B．So C．But D．Or

小題8:	A．noisy B．doubtful C．meaningful D．helpful

小題9:	A．opportunities B．consequences C．results D．a(chǎn)ims

小題10:

A．step B．measure C．way D．a(chǎn)ction

小題11:

A．expected B．tried C．permitted D．managed

小題12:

A．stating B．describing C．presenting D．sharing

小題13:

A．with B．in C．a(chǎn)bout D．over

小題14:

A．news B．message C．response D．reaction

小題15:

A．check B．examine C．inspect D．review

小題16:

A．gradually B．suddenly C．immediately D．slowly

小題17:

A．desiring B．claiming C．begging D．dreaming

小題18:

A．particularly B．honestly C．falsely D．correctly

小題19:

A．difficult B．impressive C．early D．natural

小題20:

A．give up B．put up C．take up D．set up

Wishing to encourage her young son to make more progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually found his way through a door marked “NO ADMITTANCE.” When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. To her horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
At that moment, the great pianist made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy’s ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.” Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a melody. Together, the old master and the young beginner transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was amazed and, as it finished, they cheered.
That’s the way it is in life. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren’t exactly graceful flowing music. But when we put our trust in the hands of a Greater Power, our life’s work can be truly beautiful. Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, “Don’t quit, and keep playing.”
小題1:The reason why the boy went to the piano was that ________.

A．he was encouraged to explore

B．his mother forced him to have a look

C．he was invited by the pianist

D．he was exploring the concert hall

小題2:What the famous pianist did at the beginning of the concert showed ________.

A．what a great pianist he was

B．what a skilled pianist he was

C．what an upright man he was

D．what a strong man he was

小題3:What did the author really want to tell us in the last paragraph?

A．Not being interrupted by others is important.

B．Life needs one’s own effort combined with guidance and cooperation.

C．It is necessary for us to keep doing everything.

D．It is important for us to get help from a famous person.

There are two basic ways to see growth: one as a product, the other as a process. People have generally viewed personal growth as a result or product that can easily be identified (識(shí)別) and measured. The worker who gets a rise, the student whose grades improve, the foreigner who learns a new language—all these are examples of people who have measurable results to show for their efforts.
By contrast, the process of personal growth is much more difficult to determine, since it is a journey and not the specific signposts or landmarks along the way. The process is not the road itself, but rather the attitudes and feelings people have, their caution or courage, as they meet with new experiences and unexpected obstacles (障礙). In this process, the journey never really ends; there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept.
In order to grow, to travel new roads, people need to have a willingness to take risks, to face the unknown, and to accept the possibility that they may “fail” at first. How we see ourselves as we try a new way of being is extremely important to our ability to grow. Do we notice ourselves as quick and curious? If so, then we tend to take more chances and to be more open to unfamiliar experiences. Do we think we’re shy and indecisive? Then our sense of fear can cause us to hesitate, to move slowly, and we think we’re slow to adapt to change or that we’re not smart enough to deal with a new challenge. Then we are likely to take a more passive role or not try at all.
These feelings of insecurity (無把握) and self-doubt are both unavoidable and necessary if we are to change and grow. If we protect ourselves too much, then we stop growing. We become trapped inside a shell of our own making.
小題1:Which of the following can be viewed as the process of personal growing? 

A．Helen was always willing to accept challenges.

B．Jane won the first prize in the speech competition.

C．Jerry picked up French during his stay in Paris.

D．Father’s salary rose from 5,000 to 7,000.

小題2:For personal growth, the writer is in favor of ________.

A．being cautious(謹(jǐn)慎的) with changes

B．having little interest in new things

C．staying away from failures and challenges

D．having an open mind to new experiences

小題3:How do you understand the last sentence of this passage? 

A．We are trapped and injured.

B．Our body is trapped and stops growing.

C．We get stuck in what we are doing and can not achieve real growth.

D．We can’t protect ourselves and are trapped by others.

小題4:Which of the following would be the best title for the text? 

A．Facing New Challenges	B．Growth—Product or Process
C．Two Basic Ways of Growth	D．Overcoming Fears

Quit while you're ahead
I am one of those people who are terrible at saying no．I take on too many projects at once, and spend too much of my time doing things I'd rather not be doing．I get work done, but it's not always the best I can do, or the best way I could spend my time．
That's why my newest goal, both as a professional and a person, is to be a quitter．
Being a quitter isn't being someone who gives up, who doesn't see important things through to the end．I aspire （渴望?） to be the opposite of that．The quitter I want to be is someone who gets out when there's no value in what he's doing, or when that value comes at the expense of something more important．
A friend of mine once told me, "I knew I was an adult when I could stop reading a book, even after getting 500 pages into it．" Strange though it sounds, we all tend to do this．We get involved in something, realize we don't want to be a part of it, but keep on going．We say "Well, I've already invested so much time in this, I might as well stick it out．"
I propose the opposite: quit as often as possible, regardless of project status or time invested．If you're reading a book, and don't like it, stop reading．Cut your losses, realize that the smartest thing to do is to stop before your losses grow even more, and quit．Instead of reading an entire book you hate, read half of a bad one and half of a good one．Isn't that a better use of your time?
Step back for a second．Let's learn how to say "no" at the beginning, or in the middle, and free up more of our time to do the things we'd like to be doing, and the things actually worth doing． Saying no is hard, and admitting a mistaken yes is even harder．If we do both, we'll start to make sure that we're spending our time creating value, rather than increasing our losses．Let's be quitters together．
小題1:The author wants to be a quitter, because he _____．

A．hopes to improve his personality

B．wishes to have more time for relaxation

C．expects to make more efficient use of his time

D．has found it hard to do several things at one time

小題2:In what circumstances does the author suggest quitting is a good idea?

A．When you feel tired and need a rest．

B．When you know a task cannot be finished．

C．When you meet with difficulties along the way in your life．

D．When you realize what you are doing is not worth the time．

小題3:If you stop reading a book you hate, the author might think that ______．

A．you are wise to cut your losses

B．it's a pity that you have wasted so much time

C．you should finish a book that you have started

D．you should regret choosing the wrong book

小題4:The message the author tries to convey is to ______．

A．learn to say no

B．live your life to the fullest

C．create more value

D．stop doing many things at once

When I learned that my 71-year-old mother was playing Scrabble—a word game—against herself, I knew I had to do something. My husband suggested we give her a computer to play against. I wasn’t sure my mother was ready for it. After all, it had taken 15 years to persuade her to buy an electric cooker. Even so, we packed up our old computer and delivered it to my parents’ home. And so began my mother’s adventure in the world of computers.
It also marked the beginning of an unusual teaching task for me. I’ve taught people of all ages, but I never thought I would be teaching my mother how to do anything. She has been the one teaching me all my life; to cook and sew; to enjoy the good times and put up with the bad. Now it was my turn to give something back.
It wasn’t easy at the beginning. There was so much to explain and to introduce. Slowly but surely, my mother caught on, making notes in a little notebook. After a few months of Scrabble and other games, I decided it was time to introduce her to word processing(文字處理). This proved to be a bigger challenge(挑戰(zhàn)) to her, so I gave her some homework. I asked her to write me a letter, using different letter types, colors and spaces.
“Are you demanding this with your kindergarten pupils?” she said.
“No, of course not,” I said. “They already know how to use a computer.”
My mother isn’t the only one experiencing a fast personal growth period. Thanks to the computer, my father has finally got over his phone allergy(過敏反應(yīng)). For as long as I remember, and time I called, my mother would answer, Dad and I have had more phone conversations in the last two months than we’ve had in the past 20 years.
小題1:What does the author do?

A．She is a cook.

B．She is a teacher.

C．She is a housewife

D．She is a computer engineer.

小題2:The author decided to give her mother a computer__________.

A．to let her have more chances to write letters

B．to support her in doing her homework

C．to help her through the bad times

D．to make her life more enjoyable

小題3:The author asked her mother to write her a letter__________.

A．because her mother had stopped using the telephone

B．because she wanted to keep in touch with her mother

C．so that her mother could practice what she had learned

D．so that her mother could be free from housework

小題4:After the computer was brought home, the author’s father__________.

A．lost interest in cooking

B．took more phone calls

C．played more games

D．began to use it

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried ___1___ for hours as the farmer tried to think out ___2___ to do. Finally, he decided the animal was ___3___, and the well needed to be ___4___ up anyway; it just wasn’t ___5___ it to save the donkey. He invited all his ___6___ to come over and help him. They all grabbed（握起）a shovel（鐵鍬）and began to shovel ___7___ into the well. At first, the donkey ___8___ what was happening and cried horribly(驚恐的,害怕的). Then, to everyone’s ___9___ he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked ___10___ the well. He was surprised at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. As the farmer’s neighbours ___11___to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would ___12__ it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily ran off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. If you want to get out of the well, the ___13___ is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone（墊腳石）. We can get out of the ___14___ wells just by not stopping, never ___15___! Shake it off and take a step up.

小題1:	A．sadly B．happily C．excitedly D．fiercely

小題2:	A．how B．what C．that D．which

小題3:	A．painful B．old C．rare D．powerful

小題4:	A．drowned B．solved C．covered D．emptied

小題5:	A．important B．possible C．necessary D．worth

小題6:	A．neighbours B．relatives C．friends D．family

小題7:	A．dust B．dirt C．waste D．soil

小題8:	A．doubted B．recognized C．realized D．a(chǎn)dmitted

小題9:	A．sorrow B．joy C．fear D．a(chǎn)mazement

小題10:

A．down B．a(chǎn)round C．through D．over

小題11:

A．pretended B．continued C．stopped D．determined

小題12:

A．wash B．blow C．wipe D．shake

小題13:

A．trick B．trap C．trouble D．tradition

小題14:

A．longest B．largest C．deepest D．widest

小題15:

A．having fun B．watching over C．giving up D．dying out

When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student(優(yōu)等生), I believed I could  1   tough（=hard） subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he  2 in class.
When I took the first exam, I was  3   to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper,  4   English was my best subject. I went to reason with Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained 5  .
I decided to try harder, although I didn't know what that  6   because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I  7    with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn't change his  8   .
One more test before the final exam. One more  9  to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts(加倍努力) and, for the first time,  10  the meaning of the word "thorough"（徹底的）.But my  11  did no good and everything  12  as before.
The last hurdle（障礙）was the final. No matter what  13 I got, it wouldn't cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the  14  goodbye.
I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even  15  myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I'd have  16  with a test.
A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into Professor Jayne's office. He  17  to be expecting me. "If I gave you the As you  18  , you wouldn't continue to work as hard."
I stared at him,  19  that his analysis and strategy（策略）were correct. I had worked my head  20  , as I had never done before.
I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I've always remembered Professor Jayne's lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.

小題1:	A．take B．discuss C．cover D．get

小題2:	A．found B．presented C．exchanged D．obtained

小題3:	A．shocked B．worried C．scared D．a(chǎn)nxious

小題4:	A．but B．so C．for D．or

小題5:	A．unchanged B．unpleasant C．unfriendly D．unmoved

小題6:	A．reflected B．meant C．improved D．a(chǎn)ffected

小題7:	A．quarreled B．reasoned C．bargained D．chatted

小題8:	A．a(chǎn)ttitude B．mind C．plan D．view

小題9:	A．choice B．step C．chance D．measure

小題10:

A．memorized B．considered C．a(chǎn)ccepted D．learned

小題11:

A．a(chǎn)mbition B．confidence C．effort D．method

小題12:

A．stayed B．went C．worked D．changed

小題13:

A．grade B．a(chǎn)nswer C．lesson D．comment

小題14:

A．scholarship B．course C．degree D．subject

小題15:

A．helped B．favored C．treated D．relaxed

小題16:

A．fun B．luck C．problems D．tricks

小題17:

A．happened B．proved C．pretended D．seemed

小題18:

A．valued B．imagined C．expected D．welcomed

小題19:

A．remembering B．guessing C．supposing D．realizing

小題20:

A．out B．over C．on D．off