Two of the saddest words in the English language are “if only”. I live my life with the goal of never having to say those words, because they convey regret, lost opportunities, mistakes, and disappointment.
My father is famous in our family for saying, “Take the extra minute to do it right.” I always try to live by the “extra minute” rule. When my children were young and likely to cause accidents, I always thought about what I could do to avoid an “if only” moment, whether it was something minor like moving a cup full of hot coffee away from the edge of a counter, or something that required a little more work such as taping padding (衬垫) onto the sharp corners of a glass coffee table.
I don’t only avoid those “if only” moments when it comes to safety. It’s equally important to avoid “if only” in our personal relationships. We all know people who lost a loved one and regretted that they had foregone an opportunity to say “I love you” or “I forgive you.” When my father announced he was going to the eye doctor across from my office on Good Friday, I told him that it was a holiday for my company and I wouldn’t be here. But then I thought about the fact that he’s 84 years old and I realized that I shouldn’t give up an opportunity to see him. I called him and told him I had decided to go to work on my day off after all.
I know there will still be occasions when I have to say “if only” about something, but my life is definitely better because of my policy of doing everything possible to avoid that eventuality. And even though it takes an extra minute to do something right, or it occasionally takes an hour or two in my busy schedule to make a personal connection, I know that I’m doing the right thing. I’m buying myself peace of mind and that’s the best kind of insurance for my emotional well-being.
1.Which of the following is an example of the “extra minute” rule?
A. Start the car the moment everyone is seated.
B. Leave the room for a minute with the iron working.
C. Wait for an extra minute so that the steak tastes better.
D. Move an object out of the way before it traps someone.
2.The author decided to go to her office on Good Friday to ________.
A. keep her appointment with the eye doctor
B. meet her father who was already an old man
C. join in the holiday celebration of the company
D. finish her work before the deadline approached
3.The underlined word “foregone” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ________.
A. avoidedB. lackedC. abandonedD. took
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A. The Emotional Well-being
B. The Two Saddest Words
C. The Most Useful Rule
D. The Peace of Mind
科目：高中英语 来源：2016-2017学年江苏南通中学高二12月考英语试卷（解析版） 题型：阅读理解
Mail lay scattered across the kitchen table. I couldn’t put off sorting through it any longer. I checked the envelopes, putting aside the ones addressed to my husband.
It had been over three years since Bob had died. To friends and family it looked like I had moved past the worst of my sorrow. I took care of my house, socialized and kept up with community. On the outside everything appeared to be normal. But inside I was anything but I worried I would never get better, never be myself again. They say sorrow has no set time limit, but I was so tired of feeling empty and hopeless. My sorrow was sharp and fresh as ever. It was like a wall of pressure in my chest, pressing my heart.
I picked up a piece of Bob’s mail and held it out to tear in half, but stopped myself from cutting up the envelope. The letter was from an organization that funded a Haitian orphanage called My Father’s House. Its founder, Carol Hawthorne, had given a presentation at our church. Bob and I had donated, and Bob ended up on the mailing list to receive the newsletter (通讯) with updates on the children.
I hadn’t read one since Bob died. But just three months before, in January 2012, the country had been hit by a terrible earthquake. In my depressed state, it hadn’t even occurred to me to wonder whether the orphanage had survived. I opened the newsletter and was surprised to find out that My Father’s House was still standing. Of course now it was more crowded than ever. At the bottom of the page was an announcement about an upcoming trip to visit the orphanage in person. “I should go.” The thought wouldn’t leave me. I contacted Carol Hawthorne.“What would I do if I go?” I asked.“Build houses?”
“The Haitian people there are eager to work and they know what they’re doing,” said Carol. “What they need are raw materials, and we provide them. We also visit with the children. We go to clinics and schools, pass out supplies. You’ll be very busy, I promise!” I reserved a seat but didn’t mention it to any of my friends. Just a few weeks later, I was at the airport with seven strangers, waiting to board a plane to Haiti. Even after takeoff I wasn’t really sure of what I was doing.
In Haiti we were met by Pastor Ronald Lefranc, the director of My Father’s House. We piled into an old school bus and drove over uneven roads full of stones and mud. We passed women shaking under the weight of huge water buckets balanced on their heads. Piles of rubbish scattered across the landscape, and the land was covered with broken tents. Finally we pulled up to the orphanage. A crowd of children—52 in all—rushed up to greet us. I couldn’t understand the words of the song they sang in Creole, but with the smiles on their faces I didn’t need to. Each child planted a big kiss on my cheek.
Carol and Pastor Ronald led us into the main building. “What are those over there?” I asked, pointing to a collection of thin tents. “Is there not enough room in the building for all the children?”
“We have the room,” said Pastor Ronald. “But many of these children came here after the earthquake. They still don’t feel safe sleeping under a roof.”
There was no sign of fear in the playroom inside. I played dolls and other games. Children I’d just met presented me with pictures they’d drawn and letters written in Creole. In the evening the children gathered in the dining room. They took turns reading aloud and then they all joined in song. The words were strange, but the tune sounded familiar.
They’d lost so much, yet were so joyful. In the evening the children gathered in the dining room. One of the older children stood up to speak and then they all joined in song. The words were strange, but the tune sounded familiar. The children settled down. In the silence, a quiet noise began.
1.During the three years after her husband’s death, the writer ________.
A. kept in close touch with friends and neighbors
B. just stayed at her home to take care of her house
C. forgot her unhappiness completely with busy work
D. lived in emptiness and hopelessness due to hardships
2.What does the underlined part “My Father’s House” refer to?
A. An association that fund the research into earthquake in Haiti.
B. An institution where children without parents greet foreigners.
C. An organization that collect money for children without parents.
D. A place where children without parents live and are looked after.
3.The writer enjoyed herself at ________.
A. driving over the roads
B. viewing the landscape
C. seeing the expressions on children’s faces
D. observing water buckets on women’s heads
4.Why did the children love to live in the thin tents?
A. Because they had to make preparations for the newcomers.
B. Because the tents are convenient for drawing in the open.
C. Because the rooms in the building are used to house guests.
D. Because they worried there might be another earthquake.
5.What can we conclude from the passage?
A. The writer decided to settle down in Haiti at last.
B. The writer overcame her loss by helping others.
C. The writer taught the children to sing in English.
D. The writer picked up Creole during her stay there.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2017届贵州遵义航天高中高三第五次模拟英语试卷（解析版） 题型：七选五
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
How to Win a Debate Competition
Debating doesn’t mean that you can end up arguing with your opponents(对手). 1.The following tips on how to win a debate will further help you out.
1. 2.
This is very important. If you already know the debate topic that you are going to debate on, learn as much about it as you can. Research on it and then form opinions about it. Only if you know something in and out, will you be able to talk convincingly on it.
2. Be confident.
When you are putting your point in front of your opponents as well as the audience, be sure of yourself. Along with the words, your body language, voice modulation (语调) and eye contact, will play a major part in your success in debating. 3.
3. Give real life examples.
While debating, make use of very simple language, which your audience can understand very easily. Give as many real examples as you can when making a point. 4.Thus, the judges and audience will find you much more convincing.
4. Be descriptive.
To win any debate, there is something about the human mind that you should be aware of. The thing with us humans is that if we see something, we believe and remember it much more than something we merely hear! 5.Tell you point of view in such a way that they can actually “see” what you are saying. If you are somehow able to pull this off, there is no doubt that you will be the winner of the debate competition!
Follow the tips mentioned above, and with time, you will see yourself winning over your judges and audience.
A. Be well prepared.
B. Promote dialogue instead of arguing with your opponents.
C. Try to paint a picture in the mind of your judges and audience.
D. So participate in as many debating contests as you can.
E. To prove your point, tell something you or someone else has personally experienced.
F. So practice with friends or in front of the mirror so that you are certain of your ability.
G. Your main purpose is to convince your audience what you are saying is right.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2015-2016学年内蒙古高二下期第一次月考英语卷（解析版） 题型：阅读理解
We have a strange obsession with the concept of perfection. Driven by our culture, we struggle for an unattainable ideal. If I had the perfect parents, perfect grades, perfect ..., then I would be happy. We seek what we can’t have without remembering that we don’t actually need to be perfect. Imperfection allows us to be humankind.
Parents, teachers and other high-achieving peers will have us believe that we must be perfect if we wish to remain competitive. However, what job or school requires you to develop a cure for some of cancer by the age of 18? Although those grades will be admirable achievements, are they worth losing sleep? We feel that we need the perfect grades to get into the perfect college that will provide us with the education necessary for getting the perfect job. Making use of our thirst for perfection, the whole college and career industries have grown up making money by helping us reach our goals.
In fact, you need to focus more on your passions. Don’t worry about anything secondary to your passions. You won’t become an expert in anything if you spend your time trying to succeed in everything you do. You’ll only become an expert when you devote your time to that one project that truly brings you joy.
As members of this society, we have a responsibility to be excellent in what we do, not perfect. Although perfection can be a goal, it should not be the only goal. We only have 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week. Thus, we need to prioritize what we what to do and cut out the activities we cannot do.
With everything, though, make sure you are doing enough. Pursuing your passions is not an enough reason to completely give up on everything else. Try as hard as you can and let your future worry about itself. Worry about your task at hand and you will be successful in achieving your dreams. Most of all, remember that you are going to be okay.
1.According to paragraph 1, we know ________.
A. most people don’t want to be perfect
B. imperfect people aren’t happy at all
C. it’s not necessary to be too perfect
D. perfect grades result from remembering facts
2.We can infer from the passage that ________.
A. a perfect grade is worth losing sleep
B. the whole college and career industries are perfect
C. some schools ask students to invent some medicine
D. someone is profiting from our search for perfection
3.What might be the best title of the passage?
A. How to be perfect
B. Being enough is enough
C. Finding your own passions
D. Giving up your secondary goals
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科目：高中英语 来源：2017届江西上高县二中高三上期第五次月考英语试卷（解析版） 题型：完形填空
A policeman was walking along the street. In the doorway of a shop, a man was standing in the ________ light, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. The policeman ________ and then walked up to the man.
“I’m just waiting for a friend here,” the man said “It’s a(n) ________ made twenty years ago.” The man struck a match and ________ his cigar. The light ________ a pale face with a little white scar(疤) near his right eye. “Twenty years ago tonight, when I said goodbye to Jimmy Wells, my best friend to ________ for the West to make my fortune, we ________ we would meet here again exactly twenty years ________ that date and time.” “I hope your friend will come around soon.” said the policeman, ________.
Twenty minutes later, a(n) tall man hurried across the street. He went directly to the waiting man. “Is that you, Bob?” he asked. “Jimmy Wells?” ________ the man with excitement. “You have ________, Jimmy. I never thought you were so tall.”
When they both looked at each other ________, the man said suddenly “You’re not Jimmy Wells. Twenty years is a long time, ________ not long enough to change a man’s ________.” “It sometimes changes a good man into a ________ one,” said the tall man. “You are under ________ now. Well, here is a note from your friend.” His hand was steady when he began to read, but it ________ a little by the time he had finished. It reads: “Bob: I was at the appointed place ________. When you lighted your cigar I saw it was the face of the man ________ by Chicago police. ________ I couldn’t catch myself, so I went around and got a plain clothes man to do the job.”
1.A. darkB. brightC. dimD. colorful
2.A. slowed downB. picked outC. went onD. hurried up
3.A. mistakeB. timeC. tradeD. appointment
4.A. stoppedB. lightedC. burntD. dropped
5.A. formedB. appearedC. relievedD. showed
6.A. startB. workC. lookD. search
7.A. insistedB. preferredC. agreedD. suggested
8.A. forB. fromC. laterD. at
9.A. speeding upB. coming toC. pulling offD. moving away
10.A. criedB. smiledC. weptD. choked
11.A. grewB. achievedC. changedD. became
12.A. clearlyB. surprisinglyC. quicklyD. happily
13.A. butB. andC. orD. while
14.A. characterB. faceC. qualityD. size
15.A. successfulB. ordinaryC. tallD. bad
16.A. discussionB. controlC. arrestD. inspiration
17.A. trembledB. struggledC. escapedD. understood
18.A. in advanceB. on time
C. before longD. sooner or later
19.A. askedB. wantedC. describedD. caught
20.A. AnywhereB. ThoughC. HoweverD. Anyway
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科目：高中英语 来源：2017届内蒙古高三上第三次模拟考试英语试卷（解析版） 题型：七选五
For many people, history classes are seen as no more than requirements for getting degrees in chemistry, biology, business, marketing, etc. 1. Below are a few reasons why it’s vital that today’s people continue to learn about the past.
Understanding where people come from plays a key role in understanding who they are.2. For this reason, it’s extremely important to learn history in order to understand why people are the way that they are.
Through history classes, you can experience a shift (改革) in the way you think. 3.It’s important to develop minds to be able to consider problems from different angles. Finally, this shift can improve your ability to analyze and understand situations, to make educated decisions and to learn how to weigh the consequences related to each choice before you.
4.The idea that history repeats itself is rooted in truth. From wars to fashion to political trends, historians are often able to make predictions about the future based upon the past. By having a deep understanding of what happened in the past, today’s people can better prepare for brighter futures by making the right decisions—instead of repeating old mistakes.
Many people may not believe that a degree in history can lead to a well-paid job. In fact, students who graduate with degrees in history can become lawyers, business owners, think tank members, educators, leaders in historical organizations writers and so on. 5..
A.Whichever job you take, it can provide a comfortable life.
B.Learning about history can get students admitted to key universities
C.That means you look at things from a new point of view.
D.Learning from the past prevents future mistakes.
E.The key to enjoying the study of history is to find classes that interest you.
F.But the truth is that studying history is a wonderful way to prepare for a successful future.
G.History has shaped cultures, attitudes and social structures; it has shaped the world and its citizens.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2016-2017学年西藏林芝地区一中高二上期末考试英语卷（解析版） 题型：语法填空
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
A young man, while traveling through a desert, came across a spring of clear water. ___1.__water was sweet. He filled his leather container so that he could bring some back to elder __2.__ had been his teacher. After a four-day journey, the young man __3._ (present) the water to the old man. His teacher took a deep drink, smiled ___4.__ (warm), and thanked his student very much for the sweet water. The young man went home __5.__ a happy heart.
After the student left, the teacher let __6.___ student taste the water. He spit it out, __7.__ (say) it was awful. Apparently, it was no longer fresh because of the old leather container. He asked his teacher, “Sir, the water was awful. Why did you pretend to like __8._?”
The teacher replied, “You tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of kindness and love. Nothing could be __9.__ (sweet).”
We understand this lesson best ___10.___ we receive gifts of love from children. Whether it is a cheap pipe on a diamond necklace, the proper response is appreciation. We love the idea within the gift rather than the thing.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2016-2017学年山东枣庄八中东校区高二12月考英语试卷（解析版） 题型：单词拼写
单词拼写
1.The teacher must have the __________(预先) teaching plan．
2.I’d like to take this __________(机会) to thank everyone for their hard work on the project.
3.I’m __________(谨慎) about what I say because careless remarks will hurt one’s feelings.
4.The company made an __________(调整) to my salary.
5.Have you __________(确定) decided to go to America?
6.It was very __________(体贴) of you to let us know you were going to be late.
7.I often __________(吵架) with my brother about little things.
8.A soldier has to __________(面对) death and danger.
9.The kind lady finally __________(原谅) him for what he had said to her.
10.Her __________(志向) is to be a supermodel.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2016-2017学年广东汕头金山中学高一12月考英语试卷（解析版） 题型：单项填空
Even though we have made much progress in preventing pollution, yet much ________.
A. is remained to doB. remains being done
C. remains to be doneD. is remained to be done
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