“You know,Ann,” my friend Nick said, “Lisa and Anita were just talking about you.”  I immediately got 11.  “They said that you join the Students Union just because the teacher likes you, not because you are excellent.”

I 12 to keep myself from crying, getting down to my knees. After Nick told me everything my supposed best friends said about me, I felt I was 13 .

Lisa and Anita came in, acting as if(好像) 14  had happened.Lisa was still my deskmate and Anita was still my partner for our history project. I was 15 that they were able to pretend we had the perfect friendship. 16 they’d said such hurtful things.

I felt like I didn’t have a friend in the world, all because of rumor(谣言).

The tongue can be our worst 17 . Rumors do harm to friendship. They are like sharp knives, breaking one’s dignity(尊严) into pieces. When we say 18 things abut others, we’re hurting their hearts.

So how was I to act next? I thought of 19 them back. But instead, I told them directly they had hurt me. Lisa started 20 and Anita was speechless. I knew they were both sorry for what they had said. They said sorry to me, and I forgave them 21 I was still unhappy. Sure, things were a little embarrassing (尴尬的) at first, but soon enough everything was back to the way it had been before. I still 22  rumors from time to time. Talking about others is a part of our life, but the more I learn about the friendship, the more I realize the importance of tolerating others.

11, A relaxed  B nervous  C scared  D energetic

12, A struggled  B decided  C continued  D preferred

13, A different  B wrong  C sick  D alone

14, A everything  B something  C anything  D nothing

15, A surprised  B satisfied C frightened  D worried

16, A simply  B especially  C obviously  D probably

17, A criminal  B victim  C suspect  D enemy

18, A unpopular  B unlucky  C unkind  D unusual

19, A attacking  B arguing  C bringing  D pulling

20, A shouting  B keeping  C fighting  D crying

21, A because   B although  C after  D unless

22, A play with  B agree with   C deal with  D help with

One afternoon I toured an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was looking forward to a quiet viewing of the wonderful paintings.
A young couple were viewing the paintings in front of me and chatting with each other without stop. I watched them for a moment and noticed the man’s wife was doing all the talking. I was surprised to see that the man was so patient and could stand his wife’s words, but I still moved on.
I met them several times when I moved through the different rooms of art. Each time I heard she continued talking about the paintings, I moved away quickly.
I was buying some gifts in the museum shop when the couple came near to the gate. Before they left, the man reached into his pocket and pulled out something brown. He turned it into a long stick and then tapped(轻敲) his way into the coatroom to get his wife’s jacket.
“He’s a brave man,” a clerk beside me said. “Most of us would give up if we became blind at such a young age. During his treatment, he made a promise that his life wouldn’t change. So, as before, he and his wife come in whenever there’s a new art show.”
“But what does he get out of the art?” I asked. “He can’t see.”
“Can’t see? You’re wrong. He sees a lot , more than you or I do.” The clerk said, “His wife describes each painting, so he can see it in his head.”
I learned something about patience(耐心), courage and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person who was blind and the courage of a husband who would not allow blindness to make his life different. And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away holding each other’s hands.
根据短文内容填空，每空填一词。
【小题1】When I stayed at the art museum, I ___________ to look at the wonderful paintings without any ___________.
【小题2】To my ___________, only the wife kept talking about the paintings all the time while her husband just listened to her ___________.
【小题3】 I didn’t realize that something was wrong with the young man’s ___________ until I noticed him using a long ___________ to trap his way.
【小题4】 The man can see each painting in his ___________ because his wife ___________ it to him.
【小题5】 The young couple not only share a common interest in ___________ but also share their strong ___________.

For many years I had a good life. My illness was reasonably (适度的) under control, I had a nice relationship with my husband, I did work, I didn't hate. It was, as I said, a good life.
But there's a saying that the good is the enemy of the best. I finally realized this one day, and began making my best life. I changed doctors and tried a new way that could relieve(减轻) my symptoms (症状) , rather than just making them easier to deal with. I started talking more with my husband and listening to what he had to say. And I quit(辞掉) my job and started working for myself.
I have the best life I've ever had. I'd call it great. It is possible there's a better life for me, which would then be my "best life" , but for now I don't think so. I've started a business I love. My husband and kids are wonderful. I have a good friend and I'm close to my older sister who lives in town. Could it get better? I suppose so. But for me I think this is the best life I can have right now.
Think more about your life. Where are you living? Are you in a job you just don't mind? What makes your life "good" ? Why isn't it great? What's the enemy of the best and what can you do about it?
Enjoy your best life. We're only here for a short while, and we all need to have the best possible time we can. It's like going to Disney World. If you spend too much time standing in line waiting for the ride, pretty soon your time's up. Get out of the "good" line and have your best life.
【小题1】Which of the following is NOT included in the writer's "good life" ?

On my eighth birthday, Dad bought me an accordion(手风琴） and said excitedly, "Once you learn to play, it’ll stay with you for life." But I didn’t want to play it. Ijust wanted to play games, But Dad asked me to take accordion lessons.
One day, I found a box in a corner. When I opened it, I saw a beautiful violin. "You’re your father’s," Mum said. "His parents bought it for him. I guess he got too busy on the farm to learn to play it."
I had to practice half an hour every day, and every day I tried to get out of it. But Dad didn’t allow. I asked why. He answered, "Because you can bring people joy. You can touch their hearts." He added softly, "Someday you’ll have the chance I never had: you’ll play beautiful music for your family. And you’ll understand why you’ve worked so hard." I was speechless.
The lessons stopped after I finished high school. When I grew up, I got married and moved into a new house. I put the accordion in the attic（阁楼）.
One afternoon, my two children found the accordion by accident (偶然). They got very excited. "Play it. Play it," they laughed and said. I started to play some simple songs. I was surprised I could still remember them. Soon the kids were dancing. Even my wife was laughing and clapping to the beat.
At that moment, my father’s words came back to me, "Someday you’ll have the chance I never had. And you’ll understand." I finally knew why Dad had asked me to practice hard. Dad never learnt to play his violin. But I told my family, "This is my father’s music."
【小题1】My father didn’t learn to play his violin when he was young because _______.

 On my way home I knocked into a stranger as he passed by. “Oh. I'm terribly sorry,” I said. “That’s all right. Please excuse me too; I wasn't even 26____ you. I wish  I didn’t hurt you.”

We were very  27   . We said good-bye and went on our way.

But at home we often  28 our loved ones in a different way.

Later that day, while I was cooking the evening meal, my daughter stood beside me very quietly. When I turned, I nearly  29 her down. “Move out of the way.” I shouted. She walked away, tears (眼泪) in her eyes.

While I lay awake in bed, I realized how  30  I’d spoken. So I decided to get up to say sorry to my daughter. On the way to her bedroom, to my surprise, I found some  31 by the door of the kitchen. At that time my tears began to fall. I quietly went and got down on my knees by her  32 . She woke up and put her arms around my neck when I kissed her. Then I asked, “Did you pick these flowers for me?”

She smiled, “I found them out by the tree. I picked them  33 they're pretty like you. I knew you’d like them. I stood quietly in order to give you a surprise.” “Oh dear, I'm really sorry for the way I acted today; I shouldn’t have shouted at you.”

“ That’s okay. Mom. I  34  you anyway.”

I suddenly realized what a clever way it is to explain the word   35   like this: (F) ather (A) nd (M) other, (I) (L) ove (Y) ou!

1. A. saving      B. helping             C. calling          D. noticing

2. A. sad         B. angry              C. polite           D. proud

3. A. help        B. treat                C. criticize        D. encourage

4. A. put         B. took                C. turned         D. knocked

5. A. sadly       B. rudely               C. softly          D. calmly

6. A. books       B. clothes              C. flowers         D. vegetables

7. A. bed         B. desk                C. chair           D. computer

8. A. if           B. though              C. before          D. because

9. A. love         B. need                C. miss           D. hate

10. A. father        B. mother              C. family          D. daughter