“what’s the matter, mum?” As soon as I enter the door, I find that my mother is      . It’s unusual —she usually       the door and welcomes me with a smile!

“She's dying,” mum says sadly. I       what she says. The tulip (郁金香), mother’s        is dying.

A month ago, we moved       our new house and mum bought a very beautiful tulip. Mum liked it very much.      . she was free, she would sit       her armchair beside the tulip and enjoys its beautiful colour       sweet smell.

She treated it like a baby and looked after it      . She put the tulip by window and moved it from one place to       to give the tulip enough sunshine. The first thing she did when she       every morning was       the tulip, Mum also fertilized (施肥) it many times.

She hoped that with great care, the tulip would become more and more beautiful and      , But the tulip was dying       too much sunshine, water and fertilizer.

It's true that mother loved the tulip. But this kind of love       be harmful. Love can sometimes kill what you love.

1.A. happy                   B. unhappy                 C. pleased                 D. pleasure

2.A. closes                   B. opens         C. keeps                  D. takes

3.A. know                     B. love                     C. think                    D. find

4.A. favourite            B. hate                   C. unlike                   D. like

5.A. into                 B. around                C. across                   D. with

6.A. Though              B. Because               C. After                    D. When

7.A. at                        B. in                       C. on                      D. under

8.A. but                      B. and           C. for                      D. or

9.A. happily                  B. brightly                  C. carefully               D. usually

10.A. other              B. place        C. two places             D. another

11.A. got up                 B. made the bed       C. played the piano D. washed her face

12.A. to take             B. to cut                     C. to water                D. to pull

13.A. dry                B. strong       C. wet             D. old

14.A. because                   B. for                      C. since            D. because of

15.A. must              B. should                 C. may             D. need

“What’s the matter, mum?” As soon as I enter the door, I find that my mother is   26  . It’s unusual, she usually    27  the door and welcomes me with a smile!

“She’s dying,” mum says sadly. I   28  what she says. The tulip (郁金香), mother’s   29 is dying.

A month ago, we moved   30  our new house and mum bought a very beautiful tulip. Mum liked it very much.   31  she was free, she would sit   32  her armchair beside the tulip and enjoys its beautiful colour   33  inviting smell.

She treated it like a baby and looked after it   34 . She put the tulip by window and moved it from one place to   35 to give the tulip enough sunshine. The first thing she did when she   36  every morning was   37 the tulip, Mum also fertilized (施肥) it many times.

She hoped that with great care, the tulip would become more and more beautiful and   38  . But the tulip was dying   39  too much sunshine, water and fertilizer.

It’s true that mother loved the tulip. But this kind of love can be ___40___.Love can sometimes kill what you love.

1.A. happy      B. unhappy          C. pleased          D. pleasure

2.A. closes     B. opens            C. keeps            D. takes

3.A. know       B. love             C. think            D. find

4.A. favourite  B. hate             C. unlike           D. like

5.A. into       B. around           C. across           D. with

6.A. Though     B. Because          C. After            D. Whenever

7.A. at         B. in               C. on               D. under

8.A. but            B. and              C. for              D. or

9.A. happily        B. brightly         C. carefully        D. usually

10.A. other     B. place            C. two places       D. another

11.A. got up        B. made the bed     C. played piano     D. washed her face

12.A. to take       B. to cut           C. to water         D. to pull

13.A. dry           B. strong           C. wet              D. old

14.A. because       B. for              C. since            D. because of

15.A. helpful    B.useful           C. harmful           D.hopeful

For many years I had a good life. My illness was reasonably (适度的) under control, I had a nice relationship with my husband, I did work, I didn't hate. It was, as I said, a good life.

But there's a saying that the good is the enemy of the best. I finally realized this one day, and began making my best life. I changed doctors and tried a new way that could relieve(减轻) my symptoms (症状) , rather than just making them easier to deal with. I started talking more with my husband and listening to what he had to say. And I quit(辞掉) my job and started working for myself.

I have the best life I've ever had. I'd call it great. It is possible there's a better life for me, which would then be my "best life" , but for now I don't think so. I've started a business I love. My husband and kids are wonderful. I have a good friend and I'm close to my older sister who lives in town. Could it get better? I suppose so. But for me I think this is the best life I can have right now.

Think more about your life. Where are you living? Are you in a job you just don't mind? What makes your life "good" ? Why isn't it great? What's the enemy of the best and what can you do about it?

Enjoy your best life. We're only here for a short while, and we all need to have the best possible time we can. It's like going to Disney World. If you spend too much time standing in line waiting for the ride, pretty soon your time's up. Get out of the "good" line and have your best life.

1.Which of the following is NOT included in the writer's "good life" ?

2.The writer quit her job because she________.

3.What did the writer do to make her best life?

①She visited other doctors.

②She started a business she loved.

③She played more with her kids.

④She talked more with her husband.

⑤She spent much time in Disney World.

4.What's the enemy of the best?

5.What is the best title for the article?

1 

A farmer was selling(卖) his little dogs. Just then, a __1_ happened to pass by.

   “I want to __2__ one of your dogs, sir.”

   “Well,” said the farmer, “these dogs come from fine parents and cost a lot of __3_.”

   The boy drop (低下) his head for a __4____. Then he reached deep into his pocket and took out some change. “I’ve got thirty-nine cents. Is that __5__ to take a look? ”

   “__6__,”said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle(口哨),“Here, Dolly!”

   Dolly ran out of the doghouse followed by four little dogs. The boy’s eyes danced with _7_.

   As the dogs made their ___8__ to the farmer, the little boy saw something else moving inside the __9__.Slowly another little dog __10__; this one much smaller. It was doing its best to look out

    “I ___11_that one,” the little boy said.

    The farmer said, “Son, don’t want that dog. He will __12__ be able to run and play with you like the other dogs would.”

  The boy rolled up(卷起) one leg of his trousers and showed a steel(钢) __13__.Looking back up at the farmer, he said,“You see, sir ,I don’t __14__ too well myself ,and he will need someone to __15____”

1.A. boy           B. dog             C. farmer           D. son

2.A .sell           B. see              C. buy         D. feed

3. A. time              B. money        C. work             D. study

4.A. moment         B. day              C. minutes          D. week

5. A. enough        B. easy             C. necessary         D. simple

6. A. No            B. Sure             C. Sorry            D. Thanks

7. A. happy         B. sad              C. joy            D. music

8. A. way           B. road             C. route         D. street

9. A. farm          B. advertisement    C. grass       D. doghouse

10. A. died             B. shouted          C. appeared     D. watched

11. A. like             B. hate         C. know         D. want

12.A. sometimes         B. always           C. often        D. never

13. A. hand             B. back            C. arm        D. leg

14.A. speak             B. sing             C. walk             D. swim

15. A. ask              B. understand        C. think            D. succeed