One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided that the animal was old, and the well needed   31   (cover) up anyway; the donkey just wasn’t worth saving.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help   32  . They all took a shovel (铲) and began to shovel some dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized   33   was happening and cried   34   (terrible). Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He   35   (astonish) at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt   36   hit his back, the donkey was doing something   37   (amaze). He would shake it off and take a step up.

  38   the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take one more step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over   39   edge of the well and happily ran off!

Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just   40   not giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

 

三、完形填空

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried   36   for hours as the farmer tried to figure out   37   to do. Finally he decided the animal was   38   and the well needed to be   39   up anyway, so it just wasn’t   40   it to rescue the donkey.

He invited all his   41   to come over and help him. They all grabbed (握起) a shovel (铁铲) and began to shovel   42   into the well. At first, the donkey   43   what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s   44  , he was quiet.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked   45   the well and was   46   at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that   47   his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would   48   it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors   49   to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take another   50   up. Pretty soon, everyone was surprised as the donkey stepped up over the   51   of the well and ran off.

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The best way of   52   out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our   53   is a stepping-stone. We can get out of the deepest   54   just by not stopping, never   55  ! Shake it off and take a step upward!

36. A. sadly                  B. confidently        C. frequently         D. gradually

37. A. how                   B. what                 C. that                   D. which

38. A. strong                 B. old                   C. stubborn            D. powerful

39. A. dug                    B. flowed                     C. covered             D. emptied

40. A. important            B. possible             C. necessary           D. worth

41. A. neighbors            B. relatives            C. partners             D. friends

42. A. dust                    B. pain                  C. stone               D. dirt

43. A. determined          B. recognized         C. realized             D. admitted

44. A. relief                  B. surprise             C. fear                  D. joy

45. A. down                  B. around                     C. for                    D. after

46. A. annoyed                     B. delighted           C. astonished         D. disappointed

47. A. attacked                     B. packed                     C. recovered          D. hit

48. A. shake                  B. blow                 C. take                D. wash

49. A. decided              B. continued          C. pretended          D. volunteered

50. A. base                   B. stage                 C. step                  D. breath

51. A. bottom               B. track                 C. appearance        D. entrance

52. A. holding               B. getting                     C. sorting                     D. sticking

53. A. troubles                     B. happiness          C. successes           D. losses

54. A. reality                B. distance             C. caves               D. wells

55. A. setting up            B. blowing up        C. giving up          D. picking up