It has often been said that a person’s life is the sum total of their experience. That seems like a simple 41 , but if one accepts this, then why do so many of us engage in practices and activities which are negative and actually 42 us?
43 the family of four who decided to each clean a different area. They each took a sponge (海绵), did the 44 , and then placed them back in the kitchen.
A visitor came along who was 45 to what was cleaned in the home, but couldn’t tell by 46 since the sponges all looked the same. So ,in order to 47 his curiosity, he decided to squeeze each sponge to see what came out.
When the first sponge was squeezed, some cola came out, so the visitor 48 someone cleaned the kitchen with that one. Upon squeezing the second, he found motor oil, so 49 , someone was cleaning the garage. In the third, baby powder came out when it was squeezed,
which 50 that the baby’s nursery was done. And 51 ,in the last one was wax(蜡), which was 52 on the floor.
As the visitor laid the last sponge down, he again remarked on their similarity. They all looked the same 53 they were squeezed.
The 54 we learned here is that as individuals we are not different from a sponge. We can only squeeze out what is 55 . As babies, we are born into this world 56 . We are like a new sponge. As we go through 57 , our “sponge” is filled with things we 58 through experiences.
If we look for the good in others and 59 to keep a positive attitude around, then as life squeezes us we will have a better chance of copying. If we are constantly finding 60 with others and look for excuses for our behavior, when life squeezes us we may not like what comes out.
41. A. example B. statement C. task D. explanation
42. A. deny B. punish C. hurt D. cheat
43. A. Consider B. Start C. Support D. Believe
44. A. ordering B. cleaning C. cooking D. cutting
45. A. sensitive B. familiar C. curious D. nervous
46. A. feeling B. drying C. smelling D. looking
47. A. arouse B. inspire C. satisfy D. protect
48. A. declared B. proved C. imagined D. judged
49. A. obviously B. fortunately C. simply D. generally
50. A. reported B. meant C. allowed D. supposed
51. A. finally B. suddenly C. quickly D. frequently
52. A. drawn B. used C. examined D. discovered
53. A. if B. though C. since D. until
54. A. evidence B. project C. lesson D. excuse
55. A. put away B. handed out C. taken back D. put in
56. A. hungry B. confident C. pure D. alive
57. A. life B. danger C. materials D. plans
58. A. find B. absorb C. understand D. afford
59. A. try B. help C. agree D. pretend
60. A. mistakes B. disease C. friendship D. fault
41-45 BCABC 46-50 DCDAB 51-55 ABDCD 56-60 CABAD
I first went to hear a live rock concert when I was eight years old. My brother and his friends were all ___36____ of a heavy metal group called Black Wednesday. When they ___37____ that Black Wednesday were going to perform at our local theatre, they all bought ____38___ for performance. However, at the last minute, one of the friends couldn’t go, so my brother __39_____ me the ticket. I was really ___40____!
I remember the buzz (嘈杂声) of excitement inside the theatre as we all found our __41____ . After a few minutes, the lights went down and everybody became ___42____. I could barely make out the stage in the ___43____. We waited. Then there was a roar from the crowd, like an explosion, as the first members of the band ___44____ the stage. My brother leaned over and shouted something in my ear, but I couldn’t ____45___ what he was saying. The first song was already starting and the music was as ____46___ a jet engine. I could ___47____ the drum beats and bass notes in my stomach.
I can’t recall any of the songs that the band played. I just __48_ that I really enjoyed the show and didn’t want it to _ 49_. But in the end, after three encores (加演), the show finished. We left the 50_ and walked unsteadily out onto the pavement. I felt a little dizzy, as if I had just 51_from a long sleep. My ears were still 52_with the beat of the last song.
After the 53 , I became a Black Wednesday fan too for a few years before getting into other kinds of music. Once in a while, 54_, I listen to one of their songs and 55_I’m back at that first show.
40. A. relaxed B. embarrassed C. excited D. encouraged
41. A. seats B. entrance C. spots D. space
42. A. comfortable B. quite C. serious D. nervous
43. A. silence B. noise C. darkness D. smoke
44. A. fell upon B. got through C. broke into D. stepped onto
45. A. forget B. hear C. repeat D. bear
46. A. loud B. heard C. sweet D. fast
47. A. feel B. touch C. enjoy D. digest
48. A. realize B. understand C. believe D. remember
49. A. continue B. delay C. finish D. change
50. A. party B. theatre C. opera D. stage
51. A. escaped B. traveled C. benefited D. woken
52. A. aching B. burning C. ringing D. rolling
53. A. competition B. performance C. interview D. celebration
54. A. though B. otherwise C. instead D. besides
55. A. decide B. regret C. conclude D. imagine