I didn’t think I had a passion(激情). I would sit in front of the TV all day, thinking about nothing but the next show. It was not long ago that I first learned how important having a passion is to life.
That day I went with my mum to drive my sister to the gym. I was bored. Then, as my mum stopped at a red light, someone on the side of the road caught my eye（吸引我的世界）. It was a man dressed in rags (衣衫褴褛). He was homeless. That didn’t interest me, for I had seen many like him before.
But in some ways he was different. This man was not sitting down with a sad expression(表情). He had a radio in his hand and was dancing happily to the music. The radio seemed to be the most precious(珍贵)thing he had.
“Mum, why does that man have a radio even thought（尽管） he’s homeless?” I asked.
“He bought it,” she replied. I was still unable to understand.
“But if he’s homeless, why doesn’t he use the money to buy food or clothes? He wasted it on something he doesn’t need.”
“Well, Sarah, sometimes food and clothes aren’t the most important things. We need happiness, too.”
The man must care too much about music to buy a radio instead of food clothes. I soon realized（意识到）that happiness is the key to life. Without it, there’s nothing to look forward to.
Since then I’ve never gone a day without thinking of what’s truly important. A home, a meal, clothes—these things are only part of the picture. What’s often forgotten is that we all need a pleasure, a light in a dark day. We all need a passion.
【小题1】How would Sarah spend her days long ago?

       Here is a question from http：//answers@yahoo corn．

      I’ve been invited to a graduation party, but here’s the problem：I don’t know what I’m supposed to bring or if it's necessary for me to bring a gift．                   —Mike   

Answers

    Lucy：People usually give money，but you could just，take a graduation card．Graduation is a personal accomplishment．It’s nice to be able to give and receive，but it isn’t necessary．

      Peter：You can take some pictures at the party and make a remembrance book（纪念册）for your friends I am sure that it is more important that you should be there than give an expensive gift without attending it．

      Richard：Go to Trader Joe’s and buy some nice bottles of wine．They have excellent wines at great prices．Take a card and a bottle of wine to the patty．That way you won’t feel bad about showing up at the party with empty hands．

      Diana：If you don’t have enough money, then just take a card．Maybe even a dish you make if you can cook will be OK．That would be a special gift because it is made by you and your friends will never forget it．

1．What’s Mike’s problem?

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2．How many people suggest that Mike should bring a card to the party?

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3．Who thinks it is not necessary for Mike to bring a gift?

       __________________________________________________________________________

4．Peter suggests that Mike should take some pictures to the party, doesn’t he?

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5．What do you think Trader Joe’s is?

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I used to have little passion (激情) in my life. But what happened the other day changed my min. It was then that 1 learned how 　26 it is to have a passion in life.

That day 1 went home in Mom's ear. When Morn 27 at a red light, someone on the side of the road caught my eye. It was a man dressed 　 28 rags (破旧衣服). He was homeless. That didn't interest me, because I had seen 　29 like him before. Those people usually looked unhappy and hopeless.

　　 But this man was 30 in some way. He was not sitting down with a 31 expression. Instead, he had a　 32　 in his hand and was dancing happily to the music. The radio seemed to be the most precious (珍贵的) thing he had.

　 "Morn, why does that man have a radio 　33 he’s homeless?” I asked.

　 "He　 34　 it," she replied.

　 "But why doesn't he use the money to buy food or clothes? He　 35　 something that he didn't need."

　 "Well, Sarah, sometimes food and clothes aren't the most important.”

　 That man must care so much about　 36　 that he bought a radio instead of food or clothes. I soon realized that　 37　 is the key to life.

　 Since then I am always thinking of 　38　 is truly important in life. A home, a meal, clothes—these things are 39 part of the life. What we often forget is that we all need a joy, a light in a 　40 . day. We all need a passion which gives a person the happiness they need ~o keep going.

26. A. strange　　　　 B. important　　　 C. dangerous　　　 D. difficult

27. A. stopped　　 　　B. walked　　　　 C. stood　　　　　 D. exercised

28. A. in　　　　　 　B. on　　　 　　　C. at　　　　　 　D. of

29. A. none　　　　　 B. few　　 　　 C. all　　　　 　　D. many

30. A. common　　　 B. different　 　　C. polite　　　 　 D. rude

31. A. sad　　　　 　 B. nervous　 　　 C. mad　　 　　　D. happy

32. A. hat　　　　 　B. phone　 　　　 C. scarf　 　　　 D. radio

33. A. though　　　 　B. because　 　　　C. until 　　　　 D. unless

34. A. borrowed　 　 B. made　　　　　 C. fixed　　 　　 D. bought

36. A. asked for　 　 B. waited for　　 　 C. paid for　 　 D. looked for

36. A. stories　　　 　B. music　　　　　 C. news　　 　　D. languages

37. A. knowledge 　　B. health　　　　 　 C. happiness　 　 D. friendship

38. A. who　　　　 　B. what　　　　　　 C. where　　　 　D. when

39. A. only　　　　　　 B. all　　　　 　　C. also　　　 　 D. never

40. A. warm　　　　　 B. hot　　　　 　　C. dark　　　 　　D. relaxing