I used to work in an office, which had a Iocust tree growing outside the window. It had grown into a tall tree and must have been there for a long time. The tree blocked the view and made the office seem dull. Unfortunately, this happened to be the room assigned to me, and l was depressed by it for quite some time.
When the first spring came, everything was green except the locust tree.I felt very happy because I had thought it had died!
One morning, when I opened the window for some fresh air, I unexpectedly smelt a familiar sweet scent floating into my office which I could not name. Suddenly,I realized it was the locust tree!The tree that I thought dead was in full bloom!
From then on, I usually came to the office very early to see dew forming on the locust tree blossoms, and was eager to see spring again every year.
During summer, the green leaves provided shade protecting me from the harsh sunlight, but allowing enough light in to make it pleasant. In autumn, the leaves turned many different colors. Its beauty touched my soul. Many times, I thought to take photos but never did. Then, I had to leave in a hurry. Later in life, it became a great regret that I had not done so.
Actually, many times in our lives we think we own something and thus do not value it. We don't feel regretful until we lose it one day! Moreover, sometimes, we have to accept the things we don't want and need to discover the hidden beauty to find unexpected joy!
【小题1】 The locust tree first attracted the author most by____.

I once had a house guest from Cuba. During his visit, I happened to throw an old broken blender (搅拌机) in the trash. The next day it was sitting on my counter – in working order. In his world, people simply cannot afford to replace an item which doesn't work properly. They take the time and figure out how to fix it. In Cuba, they are still driving cars from the 1960’s, mainly because they do not have a choice. 

In contrast, the U.S. is a “throw-away society.” Statistics show that each American produces six pounds of trash per day. I believe a combination of factors has contributed to this phenomenon.

“Planned obsolescence(废弃)” is not a secret. It is a manufacturing (制造业) philosophy developed in the 1920’s and 1930’s, when mass production became popular. The goal is to make a product or part that will fail, or become less desirable over time or after a certain amount of use. This pressures the consumer to buy again. 

Planned obsolescence does keep costs down. Instead of making an expensive product that will last a long time, businesses produce more affordable, disposable(一次性的) items. Some electronic items have become so inexpensive that it is cheaper to replace them than to repair them.

Busy people often value their time and convenience more than money. If a car starts to have mechanical problems, replacing it with a newer, more reliable model may be more appealing than tolerating it being in the garage for a week.

In addition, advertising trains consumers to want what is new and improved. It convinces them that the more they have, the happier they will be. 

Unlike people in many developing countries, we live in a world of abundance. A study by Dr. Timothy Jones of the University of Arizona also found that in the U.S., 40-50 percent of all food ready for harvest is wasted. Abundance and waste soon became closely associated in the American way of life.

1.In Cuba, people usually fix a broken item instead of buying a new one because __________.

A. wasting is prohibited there                                         B. they are poor

C. they are interested in fixing things                            D. they live a low-carbon life

2.According to the article, planned obsolescence ___________.

A. began before mass production became popular

B. is intended to encourage consumers to buy more things

C. results in higher prices of items

D. requires factories to produce high-quality products

3.Which of the following is NOT true about the “throw-away society” in the U.S.?

A. People prefer to buy a new blender rather than repair the broken one.

B. A large quantity of food has been wasted.

C. People believe that the more they have, the happier they will be.

D. People all hold the belief that money comes first.

4.What may be the writer’s attitude towards a throw-away society?

A. Supportive.                     B. Critical.                    C. Tolerant.                           D. Optimistic.

Many people go to work each day to a job they hate. The harmful feelings influence their entire life, putting a negative cloud over the home, their friends and many of their other activities. There is a better way to live your life. Meaningful purpose is a driving force that adds enthusiasm to your days. Here are a few steps to get the new career rolling:

Do some self-analysis. Ask yourself -- What really matters to me? What problem or wrong would I like to fix? What do I enjoy? Where are my interests and hobbies? What are my priorities? What is my secret passion? What do I want to do with the rest of my life? Reviewing these questions can give you new insight to where you want to go.

Use your unique genius and talents. Every person is born with a unique set of natural abilities. Talents, such as managing, creating, researching, training others, drawing, can all seem like easy work because you have a natural flair（才能）for them. True happiness comes from combining your natural talents, developing and excelling in them, and working in a field, job, industry that you have a passionate interest in.

Make a decision. Only action can change your life. Read a book. Take vocational tests. Use a good career-management professional. Do some career exploration and gather all the information you need. Then make a decision and go forward. Outline the action steps to reach your career goal. Finding meaning, passion and purpose every day you go to work is the wonderful reward, so don’t wait any longer. Begin right now and set in motion your own plan to live a happier, more satisfying life.

1.Which is the best title of the passage?

2.According to the passage, by analyzing ourselves, we can      .

3.According to the passage, it’s easier to make success in the work which we      .

4.The purpose in writing this passage is to _____.

This is my third story．When I was seventeen, I 　36 a quote （引文） that went something like, " If you live each day 37 it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right．" Since then, for the past thirty-three years, I've looked 38　 the mirror every morning and asked myself, "If today were the last day of my life, what would I do ?" And when there was no answer for too many days in a　 39 , I know I need to change something．

About a year ago I 40　 from cancer．The doctors told me it was incurable, and that I should 41　 to live no longer than three to six months．They advised me to get my 42　 in order, which is doctors' code （代名词） for "prepare to 43 "．Later when the doctors 44　 the cells taken from my pancreas （胰腺） under a microscope, they found it turned out to be a very rare form of cancer that is 　45 with surgery．I had the surgery and,　 46　 , I'm fine now．

This was the closest I've been to facing 47 , and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades．Death is the destination we all 　48　 ．No one has ever escaped it．And that is　 49　 it should be, because death is very likely the single　 50 invention of life．It clears out the old to make 　51　 for the new．Your time is limited, so don't waste it living 　52　 life．Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out （ 盖过） your own inner 　53　 ．And most importantly, have the courage to 54 your heart and intuition （直觉）．They 55 already know what you truly want to become．Everything else is secondary．

36．A．wrote　　　　　　　　 B．described　　　　　　 C．expressed　　　　　 D．read

37．A．now that　　　　　　 B．even though　　　　 C．as if　　　　　　　　　 D．as long as

38．A．in　　　　　　　　　　　 B．at　　　　　　　　　　　 C．through　　　　　　　 D．on

39．A．row　　　　　　　　　 B．minute　　　　　　　　 C．sense　　　　　　　　 D．word

40．A．recovered　　　　　 B．kept　　　　　　　　　 C．fell　　　　　　　　　　 D．suffered

41．A．desire　　　　　　　　 B．prepare　　　　　　　 C．expect　　　　　　　　 D．wait

42．A．office　　　　　　　　 B．affairs　　　　　　　　 C．money　　　　　　　 D．documents

43．A．work　　　　　　　　 B．die　　　　　　　　　　 C．act　　　　　　　　　　 D．start

44．A．witnessed　　　　　 B．noticed　　　　　　　 C．confirmed　　　　　 D．viewed

45．A．curable　　　　　　　 B．possible　　　　　　　 C．acceptable　　　　　 D．suitable

46．A．immediately　　　　 B．gradually　　　　　　 C．thankfully　　　　　 D．hopefully

47．A．cancer　　　　　　　 B．death　　　　　　　　　 C．life　　　　　　　　　　 D．success

48．A．share　　　　　　　　 B．desert　　　　　　　　 C．admire　　　　　　　 D．avoid

49．A．when　　　　　　　　 B．while　　　　　　　　　 C．as　　　　　　　　　　　 D．since

50．A．oldest　　　　　　　　 B．best　　　　　　　　　 C．newest　　　　　　　 D．worst

51．A．preparations　　　　 B．progress　　　　　　 C．plans　　　　　　　　　 D．way

52．A．your　　　　　　　　　 B．anyone else's　　　 C．his　　　　　　　　　　 D．someone else's

53．A．voice　　　　　　　　 B．world　　　　　　　　 C．heart　　　　　　　　　 D．trouble

54．A．touch　　　　　　　　 B．follow　　　　　　　　 C．open　　　　　　　　　 D．accept

55．A．otherwise　　　　　 B．anyway　　　　　　　 C．somehow　　　　　 D．therefore