Living an Adventurous Life

Nearly ten years ago, I was told that I had a brain tumor (瘤), and this experience changed my attitude about adventure forever.I thought that I was going to die and that all my adventures were over.I did not have a brain tumor, it turned out, but rather multiple sclerosis (多发性硬化症), which meant that, although they were not over, the nature of my adventures could have to change.

Each morning that I wake up is a fresh event, something that I might not have had.Each gesture that I make carries the weight of uncertainty and demands significant attention: buttoning my shirt, changing a light bulb, walking down stairs.I might not be able to do it this time.If I could not delight in them, they would likely drown me in anger and in self-pity.

I admire the grand adventures of others.I read about them with interest.With Peter Matthiessen I have hiked across the Himalayas to the Crystal Mountain.I have walked with Annie Dillard up, down, into, and across Tinker Creek in all seasons.David Bain has gone with me along 110 miles of Philippine coast, and Ed Abbey has rowed me down the Colorado River.I enjoy the adventures of these courageous figures, who can strike out on difficult trips – 2 miles, 250 miles, 3000 miles – ready to bear cold and tiredness, indeed not just to bear but to celebrate.

But as for me, I can no longer walk very far from the armchair in which I read.Some days I don’t even make it to the backyard.And yet I’m unwilling to give up the adventurous life, the difficulty of it, even the pain, the anxiety and fear, and the sudden brief lift of spirit that makes a hard journey more attractive.

I refine adventure, make it smaller and smaller.And now, whether I am moving on my hands and knees across the dining room to help my cat, lying wide-eyed in the dark battling another period of sadness, gathering flowers from the garden, meeting a friend for lunch, I am always having the adventures that are mine to have.

Which of the following is TRUE about the author’s reaction after the illness?

       A.The author is drowned in anger and self-pity.

       B.The author travels to places he/she has dreamed of.

       C.The author can’t take care of himself/herself any longer.  

       D.The author adapts to the condition successfully.

Why does the author admire the people mentioned in Paragraph 3?

       A.Because they write popular novels.                          B.Because they are great adventurers.

       C.Because they are famous geographers.               D.Because they fight with hardship in life.

Which of the following shows the author’s strong love for adventures?

       A.The author spends almost every day looking for adventures.

       B.The author works hard to make more money for adventures.

       C.The author imagines having adventures while reading.

       D.The author expects to recover only to continue adventures.

When I was young, I belonged to a club that did community service work. There was one specific event that was   1    for me. I spent three or four hours handing out warm dinner to the ___2_ out in the streets. After that I went to a homeless shelter(避难所) not far from the Bay Bridge. I was in high school and at the time my sister was too young to join in . She wanted to help,   3    she made many chocolate chip cookies for me to __4_____ and hand out to people. When getting to the shelter, I passed out the   5   . I began making sandwiches and shared them with the crowd. I had the containers with my sister’s cookies in them and began to walk around, offering them to anyone near me.
I walked   6  to an old gentleman and said, “Sir, would you like a cookie?” He stopped and turned around, looked at me   7  and said, “What did you say? Did you call me sir?” I told him I had , and his eyes  8  a little bit and said, “No one has ever called me sir.” So he was completely   9 . It struck me.
I explained I had been raised that regardless of (不顾)   10  and social status(地位), everyone deserved(值得)  11 . It saddened me to think that just because he was homeless, no one offered him the honor . It broke my heart. I just didn’t understand   12  no one ever called him sir. I had never thought that anyone was   13   me because I wasn’t raised that way. Every single person deserves to be treated with respect. Years later, I still carry that   14    and the lesson it taught me. Somtimes, what we take for granted can really make a difference in   15  life.

【小题1】
A.uncommonB.unusualC.universalD.simple
【小题2】
A.winnersB.losersC.hopelessD.homeless
【小题3】
A.butB.soC.whileD.though
【小题4】
A.enjoyB.eatC.take D.produce
【小题5】
A.mealsB.cookiesC.chocolatesD.chips
【小题6】
A.nearB.closeC.forwardD.along
【小题7】
A.brieflyB.swiftlyC.highlyD.directly
【小题8】
A.criedB.openedC.wateredD.lit
【小题9】
A.disappointedB.movedC.spoiledD.relieved
【小题10】
A.incomeB.painC.colourD.goal
【小题11】
A.respectB.praiseC.happinessD.laughter
【小题12】
A.whatB.howC.whyD.whether
【小题13】
A.in front ofB.belowC.behindD.beside
【小题14】
A.wordB.memoryC.feelingD.sadness
【小题15】
A.someone’sB.anyone’sC.everyone’sD.no one’s


第二节:完形填空(共20小题,每小题1.5分,满分30分)
阅读下面短文,从短文后所给各题的四个选项(A、B、C 和D )中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
I put a package of small gold colored foil (金箔) angels in my purse after my illness. The package was ___36___ and the angels fell out into my purse.
On the way home, I was at the store __37____ for something and change was __38____. I dug in, got the change and gave it to the __39____. I didn’t realize there were also angels sticking (粘) to the ___40___! Well, she said, “Oh, angels for __41____! Thank you! Come back and see me anytime!”
This __42____ several times that day, with almost the same reaction at __43____ places, with different people. So now I keep the angels in there and __44____ dispense (分发) them with the change.
This little __45____ has led to some interesting conversations --- for example, when I did go back to the same __46____ where the lady received the __47____ angles, she told me how much she __48____ them and kept them by her bed.
She then told me, “I was __49____ as a child, I couldn’t walk or talk. My grandparents told me that if I didn’t __50____ I would be healed because the angel was __51____ me. I started praying, and within a year I was totally healed! I’m so __52____ for this healing!”
She also told me that the first time she __53____me, she thought I was an angel! I then gave her some more angels, and ___54___ she acted like I had given her a million dollars!
What a lovely __55____!
I plan on always keeping the little gold angels in my purse and dispensing them everywhere. When I do, I don’t say anything --- I just give them with the change.
36. A. lost            B. mended           C. opened        D. stolen
37. A. calling               B. paying              C. looking        D. examining
38. A. saved          B. checked            C. returned          D. required
39. A. salesperson      B. waiter              C. beggar        D. conductor
40. A. clothes         B. purse                      C. money          D. package
41. A. them          B. her                  C. you           D. me
42. A. changed         B. happened          C. existed        D. gained
43. A. different       B. similar             C. familiar        D. successful
44. A. never          B. almost              C. always          D. finally
45. A. reaction         B. fault                 C. help          D. practice
46. A. company        B. store                C. station        D. city
47. A. first            B. only               C. last           D. some
48. A. treasured        B. missed            C. expected        D. needed
49. A. deaf          B. blind               C. wounded       D. disabled
50. A. get up           B. give up           C. turn up          D. come up
51. A. inside           B. outside            C. like           D. behind
52. A. tense           B. sorry            C. grateful        D. proud
53. A. dreamed        B. tested            C. saw           D. found
54. A. however        B. also             C. later           D. again
55. A. trade          B. experience        C. plan          D. method

We were talking about engagement when my boyfriend, Jack, had to go to war. I was so afraid of losing him; the only way I could stay sane(保持清醒) was to dance. I became very good and critics praised me, but I could feel was the ache in my heart, no knowing whether the love of my life would ever return. And then one day a letter from him came:“I have lost my leg. I am no longer a whole man and now give you back your freedom. It is best you forget me.”
I made my decision there and then I left the city. When I returned I had bought myself a cane(拐杖) and learned to limp convincingly. I told everyone I had been in a car crash and that my leg would never completely heal again. My dancing days were over. No one suspected the story. And I made sure the first person to hear of my accident was a reporter. Then I travelled to the hospital. They had pushed him outside in his wheelchair. I leaned on my cane and limped to him.
I told him he was not the only one who had lost a leg, even if mine were still attached to me. I showed him newspaper clippings of my accident. “ There is a whole life waiting for us out there! And I am not going to carry you—you are going to walk yourself.”
I limped a few steps towards him and showed him what I’d taken out of my pocket.” Now show me you are still a man,” I said. He bent to take his cane and struggled out of that wheelchair. I could see he had not done it before, because he almost fell on his face. But I was not going to help. Finally he managed it on his own and walked to me and never sat in a wheelchair again in his life.
What I showed to him was engagement rings. And I would limp with him for the rest of life.
【小题1】The author felt ache in her heart though critics praised her dancing because_______.

A.She wasn’t sure if Jack still loved her.
B.Jack became handicapped and couldn’t walk
C.Jack asked her to forget about him
D.She was afraid that Jack might die in the war
【小题2】What decision did the author make after she received Jack’s letter?
A.To see Jack in the battlefield. B.To leave the city for travel.
C.To give up dancing. D.To see a reporter.
【小题3】What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 2?
A.She visited a hospital.B.She broke her leg.
C.She helped push Jack’s wheelchair.D.She had a car crash.
【小题4】After they met in the hospital, Jack ______.
A.gave her the engagement rings B.got rid of the cane
C.picked up the hope of life D.lived without a wheelchair
【小题5】Which of the following words can best describe the author?
A.Strong and optimistic B.Clever and faithful
C.Timid but faithfulD.Brave and helpful.

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