I'm walking along a river bed in California. The future stretched out ahead, in the valley, hills and mountains. The past is there too, but today I prefer to walk forward: to live “in the now”， and truly see all the good things in the world. Light clouds float high in the bright blue sky, and the sunlight shines off the house in the distance. People ride bicycles on the bike path that follows the river. They talk and laugh together. What a beautiful and peaceful  scene it makes!

My heart is suddenly full of joy as I remember it is New Year's Day. A day to start afresh and to feel gratitude for the gift of life God has given me. I pass by a man holding his son, one or two years old, whose face is a study in pure joy and wonder, as he looks out over the green hills and towering mountains. Tears gather in my eyes with the sweetness of this simple thought. A man sits gazing into the distance. In this lonely scene, I'm reminded of other days in the past when sadness and hopelessness were my only companions. I say a silent prayer for him, and thanks to God. Then I walk on.

A young couple crouch (蹲) next to a bicycle that has dropped its chain. As they look up, I smile and say “Happy New Year”. They smile and wish me the same. It is a simple thing, but for a moment we have become one with the world and a sudden joy takes my breath away. An old woman leans on a fence post. She doesn't seem either happy or sad, just gazes into the past, or maybe the future. A feeling of timeless peace flows through me and all fear of what the future may bring disappears. I thank her with my thoughts, and move on.

I walk by a stand of young trees. A loud burst of cheerful chirping (唧唧叫) from the little woods, and I can't help but laugh out loud. As I reach home, I say another thanks to God for the gift “now”. It has taken a long time to find it, and although I can't keep it with me all of the time, I know how to open the door again. I know whatever the New Year will bring, there will be joy and enough love of “now” to help me through the hard times we all must face.

Happy New Year!

56．How does the writer feel after he sees the old woman?

A．Fearful.　　　　B．Hopeless.                    C．Thankful.    D．Regretful.

57．How many scenes does the writer describe about people?

A．Three.         B．Four.                          C．Five.          D．Six.

58．What does the underlined word “we” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．The young couple and the writer.

B．All the people in the world.

C．The people whom the writer has met.

D．The young couple and the old woman.

59．What can we learn from the text?

A．Happiness is in getting together with your parents.

B．Watching people can make you relax.

C．Walking makes people energetic.

D．Smile brightens people up.

Hidden in our subconsciousness (潜意识) is a perfect mental picture. We see ourselves on a long trip that goes across the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows, we think in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle feeding on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, or row upon row of corn and wheat, of flat lands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hills, of city skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour, we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw（拼图玩具） puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles(通道), condemning the minutes for loitering --waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

“When we reach the station, that will be it!” we cry. “When I’m 38.” “When I buy a new 450SL Mercdes Benz!” “When I put the last kid through college.” “When I have paid off the!” “When I get a promotion.” “When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after! ”

Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

“Relish(appreciate) the moment” is a good motto, actually it isn’t the burdens of today that drive man mad. It is the regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. Then the station will come soon enough.

1.Why does the author describe the mental picture?

A．To lead us into a perfect world.                    B．To let people enjoy the scenery.

C．To introduce an actual trip of his.                 D．To compare it to our life’s journey.

2.How do people feel when they’re on their trip?

A．Puzzled.                     B．Happy.                C．Relaxed.              D．Impatient. 

3.What does the author mean by “Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today” in Line 2 Paragraph 5?

A．Regret and fear are responsible for the loss of today.

B．We must be careful of the two thieves: regret and fear.

C．regret and fear stop us from enjoying our present life.

D．We’re frequently challenged by the two : regret and fear.

4.Why does the author write the passage?

A．To teach us a good lesson.                           B．To tell us the right attitude to life.

C．To advice us to forget our worries.               D．To stop us wandering along the aisles.

 

Hidden in our subconsciousness (潜意识) is a perfect mental picture. We see ourselves on a long trip that goes across the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows, we think in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle feeding on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, or row upon row of corn and wheat, of flat lands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hills, of city skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour, we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw（拼图玩具） puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles(通道), condemning the minutes for loitering --waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

“When we reach the station, that will be it!” we cry. “When I’m 38.” “When I buy a new 450SL Mercdes Benz!” “When I put the last kid through college.” “When I have paid off the!” “When I get a promotion.” “When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after! ”

Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

“Relish(appreciate) the moment” is a good motto, actually it isn’t the burdens of today that drive man mad. It is the regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. Then the station will come soon enough.

Why does the author describe the mental picture?

A．To lead us into a perfect world.      B．To let people enjoy the scenery.

C．To introduce an actual trip of his.   D．To compare it to our life’s journey.

How do people feel when they’re on their trip?

A．Puzzled.   B．Happy.     C．Relaxed.   D．Impatient. 

What does the author mean by “Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today” in Line 2 Paragraph 5?

A．Regret and fear are responsible for the loss of today.

B．We must be careful of the two thieves: regret and fear.

C．regret and fear stop us from enjoying our present life.

D．We’re frequently challenged by the two : regret and fear.

Why does the author write the passage?

A．To teach us a good lesson.      B．To tell us the right attitude to life.

C．To advice us to forget our worries. D．To stop us wandering along the aisles.

Hidden in our subconsciousness (意识) is a perfect mental picture. We see ourselves on a long trip that goes across the continent. We are traveling by train. Out of the windows, we think in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle feeding on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, or row upon row of corn and wheat, of flat lands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hills, of city skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour, we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw (拚图玩具) puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles(通道) ,condemning the minutes for loitering-waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

‘‘When we reach the station, that will be it!” we cry, “When I'm 38.” “When I buy a new 450SL Mercdes Benz!” “When I put the last kid through co llege.” “When I have paid off!” “When I get a promotion.” “When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after! " Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

“Relish (appreciate) the moment" is a good motto, actually it isn't the burdens of today that drive man mad. It is the regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. Then the station will come soon enough.

1..

 Why does the author describe the mental picture?

A. To lead us into a perfect world.          B. To let people enjoy the scenery.

C. To introduce an actual trip of his.  D. To compare it to our life's journey.

2..

 How do people feel when they’re on their trip?

A. Puzzled.           B. Happy.         C. Relaxed.           D. Impatient.

3..

What does the author mean by "Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today" in Paragraph 4?

A. Regret and fear are responsible for the loss of today.

B. We must be careful of the two thieves: regret and fear.

C. Regret and fear stop us from enjoying our present life.

D. We’re frequently challenged by the two : regret and fear.

4..

 Why does the author write the passage?

A. To teach us a good lesson.       B. To tell us the right attitude to life.

C. To advise us to forget our worries.      D. To stop us wandering along the aisles.

 

9. No bird and no beast _____ in the lonely island.

A．are seen

B．is seen

C．see

D．Sees