A few weeks after my first wife, Georgia, was called to heaven, I was cooking dinner for my son and myself. For a 　36 , I had decided on frozen peas. As I was cutting open the bag, it 37 from my hand and crashed to the floor. The peas, like marbles, 　38 everywhere. I tried to use a broom, 39 with each sweep they just rolled across the kitchen．

For the next week, every time I was in the 　40 , I found a pea---in a corner, or behind a table leg. They kept 　41 . Eight months later I pulled out the refrigerator to clean behind it, and　 42 12 frozen peas hidden underneath．

　 At the time I found those few remaining 43 , I was in a new relationship with a wonderful 44 I’d met in a support group. After we married, I was reminded 45 those peas under the refrigerator, and realized that my 　46 had been like that bag of frozen peas. It had shattered. My wife had died; I was in a new city with a busy job, and with a son having trouble 　47 his new surroundings and the 48 of his mother. I was a bag of spilled frozen peas; my life had come apart and scattered．

　 When life gets you 　49 , when everything you know comes apart, and when you think you’ll never 50 , remember that it’s just a bag of scattered frozen peas. The peas can be 51 , and life will move on. You’ll find all the peas 　52 , including the ones that are hardest to find. And when you’ve got them 　53 you’ll start to feel whole again．

The life you know can break apart at any time. But you’ll have to 　54 , and how fast you collect your peas depends on you. Will you keep scattering them around with a broom, 55　 will you pick them up one by one and put your life back together?

36. A. drink B. fruit C. vegetable D. meat

37. A. moved B. walked C. ran D. slipped

38. A. rubbed B. rolled C. grew D. existed

39. A. but B. and C. although D. so

40. A. bedroom B. living room C. kitchen D. storeroom

41. A. getting up B. turning up C. taking up D. using up

42. A. found B. ate C. left D. planted

43. A. presents B. cans C. vegetables D. peas

44. A. man B. child C. woman D. boy

45. A. of B. for C. with D. in

46. A. wife B. life C. son D. friend

47. A. turning to B. leading to C. adjusting to D. adding to

48. A. thank B. love C. help D. loss

49. A. down B. near C. close D. wide

50. A. get it B. make it C. take it D. leave it

51. A. grew B. bought C. collected D. frozen

52. A. eventually B. fortunately C. properly D. specially

53. A. both B. all C. either D. each

54. A. call on B. put on C. bring on D. move on

55. A. while B. because C. since D. or

B

　　Will you get a good job？ What will you do？ Many new graduates feel lost when they consider the endless list of career choices. They’ve invested（投资）a lot of money for their diploma（文凭）and now an important question stares them in the fact.

　　I’ve seen so many now graduates who do not know how to use the degree they have just earned. An example was Dave，who loved sports and had played baseball throughout his college years. He had his heart set on working for Nike. But he had never made clear in his own mind what kind of job he could do for Nike，so nothing ever happened. Another example was Allison，who was a history major. She wanted to work as an event planner，but unfortunately，no one hired her. Why？ No experience.

　　Failing to do some solid career exploration first，to get a clear idea of the types of jobs you can do，is a big error that many college students make. After our suggestion，Dave and Allison both found their jobs. To ensure a brighter future，follow these effective strategies：

　　—Make educated career choices. Identify the job you want. Conduct research. Ask parents to advise you on actual job duties. Consider what your natural talents are，and look for positions where you can use them.

　　—Don’t rely on the Internet. Networking is an effective tool—be sure it’s a job—hunting strategy you use. New studies from the Department of Labor state that only 4％ of job-seekers found their job on the Internet. The fact is that 63％ of all jobs are filled by contacts.

　　Employers are making quick decisions. Most people lose the job in the first minute of the interview. It’s deadly to let the employers focus quickly on how well you can perform the job.

　　—Practice your interviewing skills. Be ready for the tough questions by first writing out good answers to possible questions and having a role-playing interview with your friend.

55．What does the author seem to be most probable？

A．A job-hunter. 　　　　　　　B．A magazine editor.

C．A website owner. 　　　　　 D．A job-seeking adviser.

56．In order to be well prepared for the interview, you’d better ____________.

A．surf the Internet for contacts

B．get along well with your workmates

C．practice the interview for several times

D．take care of your dress

57．According to the text it is suggested that Dave should ____________.

A．let others know what he can do for them

B．study further to get a higher degree

C．give up his interest in playing basketball

D．take part-time jobs first

58．For Allison, she should ____________.

A．find a job in another field

B．find some work to gain work experience

C．not tell the employer her major

D．offer more personal information

It was Christmas Eve. When Paul came out of his office, a poor boy was walking around the shiny new car,　 36 it. “Is this your car, Mister?” he asked.

Paul nodded, “It is a gift from my brother for Christmas.” The boy was surprised, “You mean your brother gave it to you and it did not cost you anything? Oh, I wish. . . ”He paused.

Of course Paul　 37　 what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a 38 like that. But what the boy said jarred Paul all the way down to his feet.

“I wish,” the boy went on, “that I could 　39 a brother like that. ”

Paul looked at the brother in 40 ,then he added, “Would you like to take a ride in my car?”

“Oh yes, I would love that.”

After a short ride, the boy, with his eyes shining, requested, “Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?”

Paul 　41 . He though the knew what the boy wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big car. But Paul was wrong　 42　 .

“Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked.

He ran up the steps. Then in a 　43 while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming quickly. He was carrying his little crippled（瘸腿的）brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then pointed to the car.

“There she is, Buddy, Just like It old you 44 . His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it cost him 45 . And some day I am going to gave you one just like it . . . then you can　 46 for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas shopping windows. ”

Paul got out and lifted the young boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began an 47 holiday ride.

36. A. admiring 　　　　　 B. selling 　　　　　　　　　　 C. examining 　　　　　　　 D. stealing

37. A. realized 　　　　　　 B. recognized 　　　　　　 C. heard 　　　　　　　　　　 D. knew

38. A. Christmas 　　　　 B. brother 　　　　　　　　　 C. car 　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. gift

39. A. have 　　　　　　　　 B. share 　　　　　　　　　　 C. be 　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. borrow

40. A. astonishment 　　 B. sadness 　　　　　　　　 C. pleasure 　　　　　　　　 D. anger

41. A. accepted 　　　　　 B. smiled 　　　　　　　　　 C. refused 　　　　　　　　　 D. laughed

42. A. next 　　　　　　　　 B. again 　　　　　　　　　　 C. then 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. now

43. A. short 　　　　　　　　 B. long 　　　　　　　　　　　 C. small 　　　　　　　　　　 D. large

44. A. here 　　　　　　　　 B. there 　　　　　　　　　　 C. downstairs 　　　　　　 D. upstairs

45. A. something 　　　　 B. nothing 　　　　　　　　　 C. anything 　　　　　　　　 D. everything

46. A. drive 　　　　　　　　 B. buy 　　　　　　　　　　　 C. have 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. see

47. A. interesting 　　　　 B. adventurous 　　　　　 C. unforgettable 　　　　　 D. exciting