题目内容

My mom takes pride in the fact that I was talking in three and four word sentences before I was ten months old. Some say it’s a gift while others simply think I talk too much.

As my thirties came to a close, I found myself reflecting on my life. I’m very happy and have no significant regrets. However, when I looked back on those times of difficulty, I saw a clear common denominator(特征); I didn’t seem to know when to stop talking. Whether it was hurting someone’s feelings, or having carelessly told a secret, the incident could have been avoided had I closed my mouth sooner. So I decided to practice the power of quiet.

To take this step, I needed to understand how people could sit comfortably in a group and not talk. Why does my husband feel completely content to say nothing in a conversation? He’s highly intelligent and has wonderful opinions but he’ll sit quietly and just listen. Even when he’s asked a pointed question, he’ll answer with few words while still communicating effectively. What a talent!

Can you imagine being happy just listening? In surveying those I know who talk less than I do, I got two answers—they either didn’t feel confident enough to speak up, or they just didn’t feel the need to participate in the conversation. Of course there were other reasons for not talking, but these were the two most popular answers.

The first one didn’t work for me. I’m just fine letting people know what I think about them, and hopefully it will make the conversation much more interesting. The second one didn’t work either. I do feel the need to participate. I feel it physically like an electrical pulse through my body; sometimes it’s so strong that it causes me to behave badly in the form of interrupting or speaking in an unusually loud voice. I had to look further.

An interesting thing happened on this journey to the power of quiet. During my weekly yoga class, it came to me like an answer so clear that the words rang in my head like soft, heavenly bells.

I talked too much so people would know I cared about them. It was my way of taking care of those I love. I decided before my fortieth birthday, that from that day forward, those around me would know I loved them, and cared what they thought and felt, but I was going to practice the power of quiet.

As my forty-second birthday approaches, I can say that deciding to talk less has been more about focusing on quality rather than quantity. I’ve found that listening more shows those who I care about that I really do care how they feel. Now when I break in, it means more to them. Oh, sure, I still have my short periods of talking too much, but for the most part this has been one resolution that I can call a success.

1.In Paragraph 3 the writer mentions her husband mainly ________.

A. to show how one communicates effectively

B. to explain the reason for his silence in a conversation

C. to give her high opinion of his communication skills

D. to give an example of those who have the power of quiet

2.By “I had to look further”, the writer means she had to ________.

A. look into the future in order to succeed in practicing the power of quiet

B. try harder to prevent herself from talking too much

C. find out other reasons why she should talk less

D. survey people in other areas who talk little

3.Which of the following best describe the writer’s character?

A. Kind but pessimistic.

B. Selfless but proud.

C. Loving and active.

D. Stubborn and sensitive.

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阅读下面短文,从短文后各助所沧的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie.That Friday after work, I drove over to pick her up.

We went to a restaurant that, although not , was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm she were the First Lady. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation – nothing but catching up on recent of each other’s life. We talked so much that we missed the .As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me you.”I agreed.

“How was your ?” asked my wife when I got home. “Very nice. Far my wildest imagination” I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a heart attack. It happened so that I didn?t have a chance to do anything for her. Some time , I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant from the same place where mother and I had dined. An note said: “I paid this bill . I wasn’t sure that I be there; but I still paid for two plates – one for you and the other for your .You will never know what that night for me. I love you, son.”

At that moment, I the importance of saying in time: “I LOVE YOU” and to give time to our family. in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they , because these things cannot be till “some other time.”

1.A. grand B. comfortable C. shabby D. delicate

2.A. even if B. as though C. so that D. in case

3.A. unbelievable B. attractive C. interesting D. extraordinary

4.A. accidents B. events C. coincidences D. conditions

5.A. bus B. appointment C. movie D. time

6.A. accompany B. order C. satisfy D. invite

7.A. date B. dinner C. film D. mother

8.A. from B. beyond C. beneath D. out of

9.A. immediately B. abruptly C. absolutely D. awfully

10.A. before B. ago C. later D. after

11.A. receipt B. bill C. reception D. notice

12.A. extra B. additional C. attached D. approved

13.A. by chance B. on purpose C. for myself D. in advance

14.A. might B. should C. could D. would

15.A. son B. wife C. friend D. colleague

16.A. meant B. paid C. provided D. made

17.A. advocated B. appreciated C. admired D. applauded

18.A. Something B. Anything C. Everything D. Nothing

19.A. demand B. need C. deserve D. desire

20.A. put off B. called off C. taken off D. turned off

For my 22nd wedding anniversary, I determined that I would write my wife Sheila twenty-two ________ to describe my love to her. I also decided that I would have a unique ________ to give her a great surprise.

I started out months ________, writing poems and ________ with my wife’s friends and got their help in making cards for each of the twenty-two poems.

Had I known how ________ it was to make twenty-two cards for twenty-two poems, I might have ________ a different idea. ________, by the time I was about to ________, I was encouraged by our ________, so I kept on the task.

Some good friends ________ to host the party at their house. The question then was how to get my wife to the party without raising her ________. I told my wife for our anniversary I would make a(n) ________ at a nice restaurant, so she didn’t have to ________ anything. I had prearranged with the party host to call me before the party to say that she really needed to get back a ________ that I had borrowed. In my wife’s ________, I told him that we were heading out to dinner and could drop the book off on our way.

Finally, when we arrived at the ________, I suggested that perhaps Sheila should accompany me to the door and say a quick ________. We stepped into the house where the ________ happened. One at a time, twenty-one of Sheila’s friends presented her with a card and rose. Then, I ________ a poem titled “Pure Luck”. I wanted ________ to get it right—and I did!

That was five years ago, and I can still recited the whole poem by heart.

1.A. lettersB. poemsC. booksD. stories

2.A. partyB. mealC. programmeD. feeling

3.A. for instanceB. on purposeC. at mostD. in advance

4.A. arguingB. fightingC. dealingD. consulting

5.A. specialB. valuableC. difficultD. enjoyable

6.A. pay attention toB. looked forward to

C. come up withD. made up with

7.A. HoweverB. ThereforeC. OtherwiseD. Moreover

8.A. go onB. give upC. come outD. show up

9.A. lifeB. prideC. loveD. honesty

10.A. refusedB. hesitatedC. pretendedD. volunteered

11.A. wishesB. worriesC. doubtsD. enthusiasm

12.A. effortB. reservationC. decisionD. call

13.A. planB. shareC. missD. explain

14.A. bookB. cardC. bikeD. flower

15.A. performanceB. influenceC. presenceD. absence

16.A. dinnerB. houseC. meetingD. competition

17.A. goodbyeB. pityC. yesD. hello

18.A. accidentB. surpriseC. quarrelD. trouble

19.A. recitedB. readC. wroteD. sang

20.A. responsiblyB. thankfullyC. sensitivelyD. desperately

One day I saw a boy wrapped in a towel on the side of the pool. He was no bigger than I was, so I thought him______Coming secretly behind, I pushed him in, holding on to his towel so that it would not get wet, I was surprised to see an angry face come out from the water, and a being of great strength masking its way by face strokes (猛力地划)to the shore. I fled, but in vain. He overtook me, seized me violently, and threw me into the deepest part of the pool. I soon climbed out on the other side, and found myself surrounded by a crowd of younger boys.” Do you know what you have done?” they said, “It’s Amery; he is in Grade Six. He is champion at gym; he has got his football honor.”

I was frightened and felt ashamed. How could I tell his position when be was wrapped in a bath towel and so small.” He didn’t seem pleased at all, so I added in a most brilliant word,” My father, who is a great man, is also small.” At this be laughed, and after some general words about my rude behavior and how I had better be careful in the future, signified the incident was closed.

1.

A. was of similar size

B. was fond of games

C. looked like an animal

D. was good at sports

2.

A. he was laughed at by other boys

B. he played a joke on an outstanding athlete

C. Amery turned out to be in the same grade

D. he pushed Amery hard and hurt him

3.

A. challenged Amery B. threatened Amery

C. admired his father D. tried to please Amery

4.

A. The writer could run faster than Amery.

B. Amery forgave the writer for his rude behavior.

C. The writer liked playing on boys of all sizes.

D. Amery was a student in Grade Four.

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