If I said I have never felt jealous(嫉妒)of anyone,I would be lying. I felt a little that way if someone had a new dress or a new computer. But the time I 36 felt jealous was when I was about ten.
I come from a low-income family and my mom 37 houses for rich people for a living. I often have to help. One day, I went to Olivia’s house. 38 entering,I was astonished by everything! I had never seen such a beautiful house. Mom 39 me upstairs to clean Olivia’s room, where I found only one bed and many lovely toys. I was 40 again! I 41 have looked stupid with my mouth wide open. It looked 42 like my room,which I had to share with my sister with hardly any 43 for anything else. Then I got to know she was taking some 44 — dancing,art,singing,and violin and had a lot of after-school activities. Her life was so different from mine! I mean, 45 I was doing homework and baby-sitting my younger sister,she was learning how to dance. She had so many 46 .
Right then,I 47 I was jealous. Not of her room,but of her 48 . For me,trying to get into a four-year university was my goal. I always have to be determined and make every 49 . For her it seemed 50 and didn’t need much effort. While I was 51 to understand math by myself,she could hire a teacher to help her. Her world contained so many opportunities. 52 I really was jealous of was that some people have it easy compared to others. Now,whenever I’m thinking of Olivia’s house,I remember my 53 of going to university. The goal 54 me to try even harder to step closer to college, and 55 one day I too will have my dream house.
36. A. slightly B. really C. hardly D. nearly
37. A. cleans B. decorates C. builds D. sells
38. A. In B. On C. With D. Before
39. A. sent B. begged C. ordered D. let
40. A. confused B. frightened C. moved D. astonished
41. A. may B. can C. should D. must
42. A. nothing B. something C. more D. less
43. A. space B. possibility C. furniture D. time
44. A. action B. classes C. exercise D. exams
45. A. once B. while C. if D. although
46. A. toys B. books C. opportunities D. interests
47. A. knew B. regretted C. asked D. doubted
48. A. house B. life C. dream D. college
49. A. choice B. effort C. chance D. difference
50. A. possible B. obvious C. worthwhile D. natural
51. A. struggling B. managing C. intending D. expecting
52. A. It B. What C. That D. Why
53. A. achievement B. goal C. belief D. adventure
54. A. permits B. asks C. inspires D. prevents
55. A. generally B. necessarily C. regularly D. hopefully
36—40 BABAD 41—45 DAABC 46—50 CABBD 51—55 ABBCD
Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are very busy trying to 26 in order to pay the high tuition for my brother and me. They don’t act in the 27 ways that I read in books or I see on TV. In their opinion, “I love you” is too 28 for them to say. Sending flowers to each other on Valentine’s Day is even more out of 29 .
One day, my mother was sewing a quilt. I sat down beside her. “Mom, I have a question to ask you. Is there 30 between you and Dad?” I asked her in a very low voice. She didn’t answer immediately. She 31 her head and continued to sew the quilt.
I was very worried because I thought I had 32 her. I was 33 and I didn’t know what I should do. But at last I heard my mother say the following words:
“Susan,” she said thoughtfully, “Look at this thread.Sometimes it 34 , but most of it disappears in the quilt. The thread really makes the quilt 35 . If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread.It can hardly be seen 36 , but it’s really there. Love is 37 .”
I listened carefully but I 38 her until the next spring. At that time, my father suddenly 39 seriously. My mother had to stay with him in the hospital for a month. When they returned from the hospital, they both looked 40 . It seemed both of them had had a serious illness. After they were back, every day in the morning and dusk, my mother helped my father 41 on the country road.
“Dad, how are you feeling now?” I asked him one day.
“Susan, don’t 42 me.” he said gently. “To tell you the truth, I just like walking with your mom.” 43 his eyes, I know he loves my mother deeply.
Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and 44 . But from this experience, I understand that love is just 45 in the quilt of our life. Love is inside, making life strong and warm.
26. A. keep fit | B. rise early | C. earn money | D. collect money |
27. A. magic | B. romantic | C. fantastic | D. attractive |
28. A. simple | B. easy | C. relaxing | D. luxurious(奢侈) |
29. A. the question | B. question | C. reach | D. control |
30. A. feeling | B. love | C. quarrel | D. smile |
31. A. raised | B. shook | C. lifted | D. bowed |
32. A. hurt | B. injured | C. wounded | D. harmed |
33. A. in great surprise | B. in a great embarrassment | ||
C. with delight | D. in great astonishment | ||
34. A. happens | B. comes about | C. appears | D. occurs |
35. A. warm and soft | B. hot and hard | ||
C. thin and cool | D. strong and durable (耐用的) | ||
36. A. somewhere and sometime | B. anywhere or anytime | ||
C. more or less | D. everyhere and everywhere | ||
37. A. inside | B. outside | C. faraway | D. nearby |
38. A. could believe | B. couldn’t understand | ||
C. wouldn’t recognize | D. might know | ||
39. A. got sick | B. got stuck | C. threw up | D. became disabled |
40. A. quite healthy | B. very pale | C. fairly red | D. much surprised |
41. A. jump high | B. go hurriedly | C. run fast | D. walk slowly |
42. A. think about | B. talk with | C. worry about | D. laugh at |
43. A. Reading | B. Listening | C. Speaking | D. Writing |
44. A. fresh roses | B. gold ring | C. sweet kisses | D. beautiful jewelry |
45. A. a thread | B. a needle | C. the cloth | D. the cotton |