“Down-to-earth” means someone or something that is honest, practical and easy to deal with. It is 36 to find someone who is down-to-earth. A person who is down-to-earth is easy to talk to and 37 other people as equals. A down-to-earth person is just the 38 of someone who acts important and proud.
Down-to-earth persons 39 be important members of society, of course. 40 they do not let their importance “go to their heads”. They do not 41 themselves to be better persons than others of less importance. Someone who is filled with his own importance and pride, often without cause, is 42 to have “his nose in the air”. There is 43 way a person with his nose in the air can be down-to-earth.
Americans 44 another expression that means almost the same as “down-to-earth”. The expression is “both-feet-on-the-ground”. Someone with both-feet-on-the-ground is a person with a good 45 of reality. He 46 what is called “common sense”. He may have 47 , but he does not allow them to 48 his knowledge of what is real.
The opposite kind of 49 is one who has his “head-in-the-clouds”. A man with his-head-in-the-clouds is a dreamer whose 50 is not in the real world.
51 , such a dreamer can be brought back to earth. 52 words from a teacher can usually bring a day-dreaming student down-to-earth.
Usually, the person who is down-to-earth is very 53 to have both feet on-the –ground. 54 we have both our feet on-the –ground, when we are down-to-earth, we act 55 and openly towards others. Our lives are like the ground below us, solid and strong.
| 小题1: | | A．pleasant | B．sad | C．common | D．surprising |
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| 小题2: | | A．meets | B．welcomes | C．receives | D．accepts |
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| 小题3: | | A．case | B．kind | C．opposite | D．example |
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| 小题4: | | A．must | B．may | C．should | D．will |
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| 小题6: | | A．wish | B．expect | C．desire | D．consider |
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| 小题7: | | A．said | B．told | C．asked | D．made |
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| 小题9: | | A．discover | B．find | C．make | D．use |
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| 小题10: | | A．understanding | B．wish | C．reason | D．expectation |
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| 小题11: | | A．demands | B．lacks | C．has | D．likes |
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| 小题12: | | A．fortunes | B．dreams | C．achievements | D．disadvantages |
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| 小题13: | | A．block | B．protect | C．own | D．gain |
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| 小题14: | | A．idea | B．people | C．attitude | D．person |
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| 小题16: | | A．Always | B．Therefore | C．However | D．Sometimes |
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| 小题18: | | A．possible | B．probable | C．likely | D．able |
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| 小题19: | | A．Though | B．Since | C．When | D．Unless |
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| 小题20: | | A．kindly | B．directly | C．friendly | D．honestly |
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小题1:A
小题2:D
小题3:C
小题4:B
小题5:A
小题6:D
小题7:A
小题8:C
小题9:D
小题10:A
小题11:C
小题12:B
小题13:A
小题14:D
小题15:A
小题16:D
小题17:A
小题18:C
小题19:C
小题20:A |
试题分析：
解读：这是一篇议论文。文章首先阐明“down-to-earth”是什么意思，然后描述“a down-to-earth person”是什么样的人，有什么样的品格特征，与“head-in-the-clouds”这类人有什么不同。文章最后提倡我们要脚踏实地地生活。
小题1:A 由下文“A person who is down-to-earth is easy to talk to…”以及上文的“honest, practical and easy to deal with”可以推断：遇到脚踏实地的人是一件令人惬意的事情。
小题2: D 脚踏实地的人很容易与人相处，他们将其他人都视为平等的。accept…as“认为……是，把……当作”。
小题3:C 由修饰“someone”的定语从句的内容可知，这类人与“a down-to-earth person”的性格相反。
小题4:B “down-to-earth persons”可能是社会上的重要人物。“down-to-earth”是指人的内在品质，并不是重要人物所特有的。May在这里表推测（可能）；must表推测时，可能性很大，表示“一定是”；should“应该”；will不表示推测。
小题5:A 前一句与后一句构成意义上的转折。他们有可能是重要人物，但不以此自居。
小题6:D consider… to be“认为……是”。其他选项与句意不符。
小题7: A 句意为：据说那种自以为是的人常常会毫无理由地趾高气扬。Be said to do“据说，人们说……”。其他选项与句意不符。
小题8: C 一个趾高气扬的人是没办法脚踏实地的。
小题9:D 美国人使用另一种表达方式来表示“down-to-earth”的意思。
小题10: A 常识判断题。脚踏实地的人当然是对现实有很好的理解和认识。
小题11: C 这类人具备一种被称为“常识”的东西。Has与上文的“with a good understanding of reality”和下文的“He may have dreams”相对应。
小题12:B 这里的“dreams”与上文中的“reality”相对应，说明实际的人有梦想但不脱离实际。
小题13: A block是“阻碍”的意思。脚踏实地的人善于把握现实，他们可能有梦想但不会让这些梦想阻碍他们对现实的认知。
小题14: D 上文说到的是实际的人，这里当然是指与之相反的另一类人。后面谓语是单数，故不能选B。
小题15: A 在这里“mind”是“想法，思维（方法）”的意思。
小题16: D “such a dreamer can be brought back to earth”这句话中的“can(可能会)”表推测的语气，所以与此相对应的应该是D。
小题17: A 老师一些尖锐的话常常能将那些爱做白日梦的学生拉回到现实中来。all和no不合常理；bad words“坏话，粗言秽语”不合题意。
小题18: C be likely to do sth.“很可能做某事”。上文提到的“down-to-earth”和“both-feet-on-the-ground”意义相同。
小题19: C 此空的选项与后一句“we are down-to-earth”相对应，故选C。
小题20:A 本题考查介词用法，towards表“向，对”。
点评：根据从本篇完型我们也可以看出完形的考查趋势。突出考察学生词汇与结构，词汇与结构这部分既是整个考试的基础，也是本题考察的重点部分，在以后的复习中，要特别重视词汇与语法的复习，重视自己基础的夯实与提高，只有这样，才能以不变应万变，在高考中中立于不败之地。另外在答题注意上下文理解，同时结合逻辑推理进行答题，题目就能迎刃而解了。 |
核心考点
试题【“Down-to-earth” means someone or something that is honest, practical and easy to】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
One of my fondest memories as a child is going by the river and sitting idly on the bank．There I would 36 the peace and quiet, watch the water rush 37 and listen to the singing of birds and the rustling of 38 in the trees．I would also watch the bamboo trees 39 under pressure from the wind and watch them 40 gracefully to their original position after the wind had 41 ．
When I think about the bamboo tree"s ability to bounce back to its original position, the word "resilience" comes to mind．When used in 42 to a person, this word means the ability to readily 43 from shock, depression or any other situation that stretches the limits of a person"s 44 ．
Have you ever felt like you are at your 45 point? Thankfully, you have survived the experience to live to talk about it．
During the 46 you probably felt a mix of emotions that threatened your health．You felt emotionally drained（枯竭）, 47 exhausted and you most likely stood 48 physical symptoms．
Life is a 49 of good times and bad times, happy moments and unhappy moments．The next time you are experiencing one of those bad times or unhappy 50 that take you close to your breaking point, bend, 51 don"t break．Try your best not to let the situation get the best of you．
A measure of hope will take you 52 the unpleasant ordeal （考验）．With 53 for a better tomorrow or a better situation, things may not be as bad as they seem to be．The unpleasant ordeal may be easier to 54 if the final result is worth having．
If life gets 55 and you are at your breaking point, show resilience．Like the bamboo tree, bend, but don"t break!
| 小题1: | | A．see | B．hear | C．touch | D．enjoy |
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| 小题2: | | A．smoothly | B．downstream | C．uphill | D．peacefully |
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| 小题3: | | A．fruits | B．branches | C．leaves | D．roots |
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| 小题4: | | A．bend | B．move | C．fall | D．decline |
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| 小题5: | | A．go | B．turn | C．return | D．suffer |
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| 小题6: | | A．died away | B．died off | C．died down | D．died out |
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| 小题7: | | A．honor of | B．reward to | C．favor of | D．reference to |
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| 小题8: | | A．escape | B．suffer | C．come | D．recover |
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| 小题9: | | A．emotions | B．mind | C．body | D．thoughts |
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| 小题10: | | A．starting | B．breaking | C．standing | D．tiring |
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| 小题11: | | A．practice | B．experiment | C．experience | D．victory |
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| 小题12: | | A．possibly | B．mentally | C．terribly | D．probably |
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| 小题13: | | A．unpleasant | B．unreasonable | C．exciting | D．good |
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| 小题14: | | A．result | B．change | C．mixture | D．wonder |
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| 小题15: | | A．moments | B．events | C．adventures | D．changes |
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| 小题16: | | A．however | B．but | C．though | D．and |
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| 小题17: | | A．away | B．through | C．apart | D．out |
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| 小题18: | | A．idea | B．search | C．imagination | D．hope |
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| 小题19: | | A．get stuck | B．look into | C．depend on | D．deal with |
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| 小题20: | | A．tough | B．wrong | C．acceptable | D．cozy |
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A young man was getting ready to graduate from college, for many months he had 31 a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and 32 his father could well 33 it, he told him that was all he wanted.
On the morning of his graduation day his father called him into his own study and told him how 34 he was to have such a fine son. He handed his son a beautiful gift box. 35 but slightly disappointed, the young man 36 the box and found a lovely book. 37 , he raised his voice at his father and said, “ 38 all your money you give me a book?” And rushed out of the house 39 the book in the study.He did not contact（联系）his father for a whole year 40 one day he saw in the street an old man who looked like his father. He 41 he had to go back home and see his father. When he arrived at his father"s house, he was told that his father had been in hospital for a week. The moment he was about to 42 the hospital, he saw on the desk the 43 new book, just as he had left it one 44 ago. He opened it and began to 45 the pages. Suddenly, a car key 46 from an envelope taped behind the book. It had a tag (标签) with the dealer’s name, the 47 dealer who had the sports car he had 48 . On the tag was the 49 of his graduation, and the 50 PAID IN FULL.
| 小题1: | | A．expected | B．enjoyed | C．admired | D．owned |
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| 小题2: | | A．suspecting | B．proving | C．deciding | D．knowing |
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| 小题3: | | A．afford | B．offer | C．keep | D．like |
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| 小题4: | | A．encouraged | B．comfortable | C．proud | D．moved |
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| 小题5: | | A．Curious | B．Serious | C．Careful | D．Nervous |
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| 小题6: | | A．packed | B．opened | C．picked up | D．put aside |
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| 小题7: | | A．Angrily | B．Eagerly | C．Calmly | D．Anxiously |
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| 小题9: | | A．finding | B．putting | C．forgetting | D．leaving |
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| 小题10: | | A．until | B．as | C．before | D．unless |
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| 小题11: | | A．learned | B．realized | C．recognized | D．admitted |
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| 小题12: | | A．get to | B．search for | C．turn to | D．leave for |
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| 小题13: | | A．much | B．still | C．hardly | D．quite |
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| 小题15: | | A．clean | B．read | C．turn | D．count |
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| 小题16: | | A．lost | B．came | C．appeared | D．dropped |
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| 小题17: | | A．old | B．same | C．special | D．new |
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| 小题18: | | A．remembered | B．desired | C．found | D．met |
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| 小题19: | | A．picture | B．place | C．date | D．gift |
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| 小题20: | | A．words | B．information | C．message | D．card |
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About ten years ago, I was on a plane going west, and a young woman boarded and sat across the aisle (过道) from me. I ___21____ her for two reasons. She was very attractive, and she was holding a teddy bear about half her ____22____. I teased her by asking if she had a ___23___ for the bear. She laughed and said no.
About halfway through the flight she ___24____ over and told me she was going to Tucson to enter rehab (进行康复治疗). She ___25___ to share her life story with me. She had been working as a dancer in a nightclub. That ___26____ had led her down a dark ____27____ to drugs and alcohol. As I listened to her story. I was ____28____ at all she had gone through. I listened to all she shared and told her I was sure she was going to ____29___ it. At the end of the flight, she ___30____ me for listening to her.
A few years later, I got a ___31____ in the mail saying, “Wow, it’s been years since we met on that plane. It is ___32____ how you touched my life.” She went on to tell me that she had ____33____ to stay away from drugs, and had been working for a radio station. She felt she had achieved things she could not have ____34___ that day on the plane. We agreed to set up a time to get ___35___.
When I saw her, she was ____36____ the attractive young woman I remembered. She told me that that little ___37___ we had had turned her life around. She had boarded the plane ___38___ anything would work in her life, and my affirmation (肯定) of her as a person and of her ___39___ had given her the last bit of ___40___ she needed to work through her problems.
The young woman taught me it’s never too late to make a new start in life.
| 小题1: | | A．found | B．helped | C．recognized | D．noticed |
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| 小题2: | | A．shape | B．size | C．weight | D．leg |
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| 小题3: | | A．name | B．friend | C．ticket | D．cloth |
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| 小题4: | | A．moved | B．leaned | C．looked | D．pulled |
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| 小题5: | | A．agreed | B．learned | C．continued | D．refused |
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| 小题6: | | A．manner | B．feeling | C．event | D．lifestyle |
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| 小题8: | | A．disappointed | B．worried | C．surprised | D．blamed |
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| 小题9: | | A．own | B．reach | C．leave | D．make |
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| 小题10: | | A．criticized | B．avoided | C．thanked | D．remembered |
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| 小题11: | | A．note | B．word | C．case | D．text |
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| 小题12: | | A．effective | B．amazing | C．easy | D．clear |
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| 小题13: | | A．managed | B．tried | C．decided | D．worked |
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| 小题14: | | A．realized | B．produced | C．required | D．imagined |
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| 小题15: | | A．through | B．along | C．together | D．off |
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| 小题16: | | A．never | B．still | C．once | D．even |
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| 小题17: | | A．expectation | B．explanation | C．information | D．conversation |
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| 小题18: | | A．doubting | B．promising | C．believing | D．admitting |
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| 小题19: | | A．condition | B．discoveries | C．criticism | D．possibilities |
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| 小题20: | | A．delight | B．interest | C．strength | D．character |
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Even though it was only October, my students were already whispering about Christmas Plans. With each day passing, everyone became more __1___ waiting for the final school bell. Upon its ___2___ everyone would run for their coats and go home, everyone except David.
David was a small boy in ragged clothes. I had often ___3___ what kind of home life David had, and what kind of mother could send her son to school dressed so __4__ for the cold winter months, without a coat, boots, or gloves. But something made David __5___. I can still remember he was always _6__ a smile and willing to help. He always __7__ after school to straighten chairs and mop the floor. We never talked much. He ___8___ just simply smile and ask what else he could do, then thank me for letting him stay and slowly __9__ home.
Weeks passed and the __10__ over the coming Christmas grew into restlessness until the last day of __11__ before the holiday break. I smiled in __12__ as the last of them hurried out the door. Turning around I saw David __13__ standing by my desk.
“ I have something for you,” he said and __14__ from behind his back a small box __15__ it to me, he said anxiously, “open it.” I took the box from him, thanked him and slowly unwrapped it. I lifted the lid and to my __16__ saw nothing. I looked at David’s smiling face and back into the box and said, “The box is nice, David, but it’s __17__.”
“Oh no it isn’t,” said David. “It’s full of love. My mum told me before she died that love was something you couldn’t see or touch unless you know it’s there.”
Tears filled my eyes__18__ I looked at the proud dirty face that I had rarely given __19__ to. After that Christmas, David and I became good friends and I never forgot the meaning __20__ the little empty box set on my desk.
| 小题1: | | A．anxious | B．courageous | C．serious | D．cautious |
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| 小题2: | | A．warning | B．ringing | C．calling | D．yelling |
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| 小题3: | | A．scolded | B．wondered | C．realized | D．learned |
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| 小题4: | | A．modestly | B．naturally | C．inaccurately | D．inappropriately |
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| 小题5: | | A．popular | B．upset | C．special | D．funny |
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| 小题6: | | A．expressing | B．delivering | C．wearing | D．sharing |
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| 小题7: | | A．practiced | B．wandered | C．studied | D．stayed |
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| 小题8: | | A．would | B．should | C．might | D．could |
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| 小题9: | | A．aim at | B．turn to | C．put off | D．head for |
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| 小题10: | | A．argument | B．excitement | C．movement | D．judgment |
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| 小题11: | | A．school | B．year | C．education | D．program |
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| 小题12: | | A．relief | B．return | C．vain | D．control |
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| 小题13: | | A．weakly | B．sadly | C．quietly | D．helplessly |
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| 小题14: | | A．searched | B．found | C．raised | D．pulled |
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| 小题15: | | A．holding | B．handing | C．sending | D．leaving |
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| 小题16: | | A．delight | B．expectation | C．appreciation | D．surprise |
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| 小题17: | | A．cheap | B．empty | C．useless | D．improper |
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| 小题18: | | A．as | B．until | C．because | D．though |
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| 小题19: | | A．advice | B．support | C．attention | D．command |
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| 小题20: | | A．from | B．behind | C．over | D．towards |
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I told my friend Graham that I often cycle two miles from my house to the town centre but unfortunately there is a big hill on the route. He replied, “You mean fortunately.” He explained that I should be glad of the extra exercise that the hill provided.
My attitude to the hill has now changed. I used to grumble as I approached it but now I tell myself the following. This hill will exercise my heart and lungs. It will help me to lose weight and get fit. It will mean that I live longer. This hill is my friend. Finally I comfort myself with the thought of all those silly people who pay money to go to a gym and sit on stationery exercise bicycles when I can get the same value for free. I have a smile of satisfaction as I reach the top of the hill.
Problems are there to be faced and overcome. We cannot achieve anything with an easy life. Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to gain a university degree. Her activism and writing proved inspirational. She wrote, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can vision be cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.”
One of the key factors of success in life is our attitude towards adversity (逆境). From time to time we all face hardships, problems, accidents, afflictions and difficulties. Some are of our making but many confront us through no fault of our own. While we cannot choose the adversity we can choose our attitude towards it.
Douglas Bader was 21 when in 1931 he had both legs cut off following a flying accident. He was determined to fly again and went on to become one of the leading flying aces in the Battle of Britain with 22 aerial victories over the Germans. He was an inspiration to others during the war. He said, “Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you can’t do this or that. That’s nonsense. Make up your mind, and you’ll never use crutches (拐杖) or a stick, and then have a go at evening. Go to school, and join in all the games you can. Go anywhere you want to. But never, never let them persuade you that things are too difficult or impossible.”
The biographies of great people are full of examples of how they took steps to overcome the difficulties they faced. The common thread is that they did not become depressed. They chose their attitude. They chose to be positive. They took on the challenge. They won.
Nevertheless, there is still the problem of how you change your attitude towards adversity.
小题1:The underlined word “grumble” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to ________.| A．tremble | B．complain | C．speed up | D．slow down |
小题2:Which of the following is true according to the author of the passage?| A．Climbing hills on bicycles is the best way to take exercise. | | B．People are wise to pay to go to the gym. | | C．Those who want to achieve success can’t expect to live an easy life. | | D．People’s attitude towards adversity is the only factor that determines whether they will succeed. |
小题3:By quoting what Douglas Bader said, the author intends to tell us “________”.| A．Failure is the mother of success. | | B．A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. | | C．If you venture nothing, you will have nothing. | | D．Nothing is difficult to the man who will try. |
小题4:Following this passage, the author will further talk about ________.| A．how his friend helped him to change his attitude towards the adversity he faced | | B．what steps to take to change your attitude towards the adversity you face | | C．what great people have in common | | D．why it is important to keep optimistic in face of adversity |
小题5:Which of the following can best function as the title of the passage?| A．Face adversity with a smile | | B．Different attitudes towards adversity | | C．Nothing is impossible | | D．Life is full of adversity |
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