完型填空。

　　A parable(寓言)tells about a martial artist who kneels(跪)before a master in a ceremony to receive the Black Belt, which is hard to earn．After years of 　　1　　, the student has finally reached a height of achievement in the discipline．

　　“Before gaining the belt, you must 　　2　　 one more test,” the coach seriously tells the young man．

　　“I’m ready,” responds the student, 　　3　　 perhaps one more round of boxing．

　　“You must answer the 　　4　　 question：what is the true meaning of the Black Belt?”

　　“Why, the end of my journey,” says the student．“A well-deserved 　　5　　 for my hard work．”

　　The master waits for more．　　6　　, he is not satisfied．The coach finally speaks, “You are not ready for the Black Belt．　　7　　 in one year．”

　　As the student 　　8　　 before his master a year later, he is again asked the question, “What is the true 　　9　　 of the Black Belt?”

　　“It is a symbol of honor and the highest achievement in our art．” The young man responds．

　　Again the master waits for more．Still 　　10　　, he says once more, “You are not ready for the Black Belt．Return in one year．”

　　A year later the student kneels before his coach and 　　11　　 the question, “What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?”

　　This time he answers, “The Black Belt 　　12　　 not the end, but the beginning, the 　　13　　 of a never-ending journey of discipline, work and the pursuit of an ever higher standard．”

　　“Yes,” says the master．“You are now ready to 　　14　　 the Black Belt and begin your work．”

　　You may not be 　　15　　 for a Black Belt, but you might be at an important point．Maybe you’re facing a life change, perhaps even a 　　16　　 one．Or maybe you are waiting for something you have worked hard to achieve－graduation, a new job, a 　　17　　, or even retirement．

　　All wise people see that 　　18　　 can be new beginnings．Change need not be feared．And neither should we be looking for a 　　19　　 resting place, for a full and happy life is always active．

　　Does the change you face represent, not just an ending, but a new beginning in your life’s 　　20　　? If so, you may be ready to move forward．

完形填空

　　People often have curiosity．When a person is curious about something, it means he is 　　1　　 in it and wishes to know more about it．There is 　　2　　 wrong with curiosity in itself．Whether it is good or bad depends on what people are curious about．

　　Curiosity is 　　3　　 silly or wrong．Some persons with nothing to do are 　　4　　 of curiosity about what their neighbors are doing．They are 　　5　　 to know what they are eating or drinking, what they are 　　6　　 home or taking outside, or why they have come home so early or late．To be interested in these things is 　　7　　 because they are not at all 　　8　　．It is 　　9　　 for them to know what their neighbors do or are doing．Such curiosity is something not only foolish but also 　　10　　．Most probably, it 　　11　　 to small talk which often brings harm, shame or disrespect to 　　12　　, and thus 　　13　　 their feelings．

　　On the other hand, there is a 　　14　　 curiosity-the curiosity of wise men, who 　　15　　 at all the great things and try to find out all they 　　16　　 about them．Columbus could 　　17　　 have found America if he had not been 　　18　　．James Watt would not have made the steam engine without his curiosity about the raising of the kettle lid．All the discoveries in the world have been made 　　19　　 a result of curiosity, but the curiosity is never about unimportant things which have 　　20　　 or nothing to do with the happiness of the public．