Bum rate is the speed at which a startup business consumes money. My rate would be $ 50,000 a month when my new media company started. So, I began looking around for individuals who would be my first investors. “Angel money” it was called. But when I reviewed my list of acquaintances to find those who might be able to help, I found the number got small.

　　With no other choices, I began meeting with the venture-capital companies. But I was warned they took a huge share of your company for the money they put in. And if you struggled, they could drop you cold.

　　As I was searching for “angel money”, I started to build a team who trusted me even though I didn't have money for paychecks yet.

　　Bill Becker was an expert in computer programming and image processing at a very famous Media Lab at M. I.T. With his arrival, my company suddenly had a major technology “guy” in-house.

　　Katherine Henderson, a filmmaker and a former real-estate dealer, joined us as our director of market research. Steve White came on as operating officer. He had worked for the developer of a home-finance software, Quicken. We grabbed him.

　　We had some really good people, but we still didn't have enough money. One night, my neighbor, Louise Johnson, came for a visit. She and I were only nodding acquaintances, but her boys and ours were constant companions. She ran a very good business at the time.

　　Louise was brilliant and missed nothing. She had been watching my progress closely. She knew I was dying for money and I had prospects but could offer no guarantees of success.

　　She told me that her attorney had talked to mine and the terms had been agreed upon. She handed me an envelope. Inside was a check for $ 500,000.

　　I almost fell down. I heard her voice as if from heaven.

　　“I have confidence in your plan,” she said. “You' 11 do well. You're going to work hard for it, but it' s satisfying when you build your own company.”

　　Who would have thought I'd find an angel so close to home? There were no words sufficient for the moment. We just said good night. She left and I just stood there, completely humbled and completely committed.

1.For a newly-established business, bum rate refers to___________.

A. the salary it pays to its staff　         B. the interest it pays to the bank

C. the way in which it raises capital　  　 D. the speed at which it spends money

2.By "Angel money", the author refers to__________.

A. the money borrowed from banks　  　 B. the money spent to promote sales

C. the money raised from close friends　　 D. the money needed to start a business

3.To get help from a venture-capital company, you may have to__________.

put up with unfair terms　         　B. change your business line

C. enlarge your business scope      　　 D. let them operate your business

4.The author easily built a team for his company because__________.

A. they were underpaid at their previous jobs

B. they were turned down by other companies

C. they were confident of the author and his business

D. they were satisfied with the salaries in his company

5. Louise decided to lend money to the author because__________.

A. she wanted to join his company

B. she knew he would build a team

C. she knew his plan would succeed

D. she wanted to help promote his sales

Bum rate is the speed at which a startup business consumes money. My rate would be $ 50,000 a month when my new media company started. So, I began looking around for individuals who would be my first investors. “Angel money” it was called. But when I reviewed my list of acquaintances to find those who might be able to help, I found the number got small.

　　With no other choices, I began meeting with the venture-capital companies. But I was warned they took a huge share of your company for the money they put in. And if you struggled, they could drop you cold.

　　As I was searching for “angel money”, I started to build a team who trusted me even though I didn't have money for paychecks yet.

　　Bill Becker was an expert in computer programming and image processing at a very famous Media Lab at M. I.T. With his arrival, my company suddenly had a major technology “guy” in-house.

　　Katherine Henderson, a filmmaker and a former real-estate dealer, joined us as our director of market research. Steve White came on as operating officer. He had worked for the developer of a home-finance software, Quicken. We grabbed him.

　　We had some really good people, but we still didn't have enough money. One night, my neighbor, Louise Johnson, came for a visit. She and I were only nodding acquaintances, but her boys and ours were constant companions. She ran a very good business at the time.

　　Louise was brilliant and missed nothing. She had been watching my progress closely. She knew I was dying for money and I had prospects but could offer no guarantees of success.

　　She told me that her attorney had talked to mine and the terms had been agreed upon. She handed me an envelope. Inside was a check for $ 500,000.

　　I almost fell down. I heard her voice as if from heaven.

　　“I have confidence in your plan,” she said. “You' 11 do well. You're going to work hard for it, but it' s satisfying when you build your own company.”

　　Who would have thought I'd find an angel so close to home? There were no words sufficient for the moment. We just said good night. She left and I just stood there, completely humbled and completely committed.

1.For a newly-established business, bum rate refers to___________.

A. the salary it pays to its staff

B. the interest it pays to the bank

C. the way in which it raises capital

D. the speed at which it spends money

2.By "Angel money", the author refers to__________.

A. the money borrowed from banks

B. the money spent to promote sales

C. the money raised from close friends

D. the money needed to start a business

3.To get help from a venture-capital company, you may have to__________.

A. put up with unfair terms　         B. change your business line

C. enlarge your business scope      　D. let them operate your business

4.The author easily built a team for his company because__________.

A. they were underpaid at their previous jobs

B. they were turned down by other companies

C. they were confident of the author and his business

D. they were satisfied with the salaries in his company

5.Louise decided to lend money to the author because__________.

A. she wanted to join his company

B. she knew he would build a team

C. she knew his plan would succeed

D. she wanted to help promote his sales

My wife and I moved into our home nine years ago. We 　 1　 a lot of time and 2 in the yard to get it looking the way it does today. We live on a corner, and the entire side of the yard is surrounded by a professionally built rock wall.

We did the best to cultivate(耕种) it and called this area our rock garden. 3 We had found flowers and plants, Denise or I will plant them, just to bring some 　 4　 to the area.

Last summer I found a tiny little plant that I could not immediately 　5　 . I was sure that we didn’t plant it. We decided to let it 　6 to grow until we could 7 what it was.

Weeks passed, and as I made my way back to the 　8 plant, it appeared to be a sunflower. I 9 to nurture(培育) it and weed around it. As I picked up rocks from the area to get to the 10 , I noticed something 　11 　. The sunflower had not started to grow from where I first saw the stalks(茎）appear. 12 it had begun under a big rock and grown under and around it to 13 the sun.

That's when I realized that if a tiny little sunflower wouldn't let a big rock stand in its way when growing up, then we have the　 14 　to do the same. 15 we believe in ourselves, like that little sunflower, we can 　16 the type of nourishment(营养）and growth. We need to believe in　 17 , knowing that we have the ability to 　18 our desires. If you stand all like the sunflower and are 19 of who and what you are, then the environment will begin to 20 you. You will find a way to go under or around your obstacles( 障碍）in order to reach your goals.

1. A. took　　　　 B. spent　　　 C. cost　　　　 D. pay

2. A. strength　　 B. energy　　　 C. power　　　 D. force

3. A. However　　 B. When　　　 C. Whenever　　 D. Whatever

4. A. weed　　　　 B. color　　　 C. water　　　 D. soil

5. A. classify　　　 B. accept　　　 C. clarify　　 D. identify

6. A. remain　　　 B. prevent　　　 C. continue　　 D. leave

7. A. figure out　　 B. hold out　　　 C. stand out　 D. try out

8. A. endangered　 B. convenient　　 C. mysterious　 D. enormous

9. A. refused　　　 B. decided　　　 C. adapted　　 D. proposed

10. A. seeds　　　 B. stalks　　　　 C. rocks　　　 D. weeds

11. A. unusual　　 B. common　　　 C. fantastic　 D. unnatural

12. A. Casually　　 B. Basically　　　 C. Actually　　 D. Strangely

13. A. enlarge　　 B. expand　　　 C. reach　　　 D. spread

14. A. chance　 　　B. choice　　　 C. power　　　 D. ability

15. A. What if　　 B. As far as　　　 C. Only if　　 D. As long as

16. A. inspire　　　 B. attain　　　　 C. lose　　　　 D. refuse

17. A. ourselves　　 B. yourselves　　 C. themselves　 D. myself

18. A. preserve　　 B. comfort　　　　 C. achieve　　 D. suggest

19. A. ashamed　　 B. pride　　　　 C. proud 　　　D. ambitious

20. A. ensure　　　 B. support　　　 C. satisfy　　 D. protect