You Are Going Places

One day I came home from school, changed my clothes and got ready for work. I work at a local restaurant in town as a cashier and waiter.

　　　 I went to work feeling 　21　 . And to make matters worse, I was busy that evening. It' s the same thing over and over again. 22 with customers who complain about their food and where they are 23 is too big or too small. Little things like that tend to 24 a lot of us 25 but we manage to deal with it.

　　　 Three elderly ladies walked in and sat by the windows. It happened to be the very 26 near where I keep the dirty 27 in the boxes. Trying to keep up with all the dirty tables, customers leaving and coming in and 28 running all over the house, it was crazy. 29 these elderly women were watching 30 I was working to make sure every table was clean and ready for the next customers.

　　　 When they 31 their meals, I took their plates back to the kitchen. They talked to me for a while about school, how I was doing, what 32 I was in and what I planned to do in the future.

　　　 33 they were leaving, they walked past me and one of them said to me in a 34 and gentle voice, “You are going places.” And that was it. They left the 35 and I had tears in my eyes, because they gave me 36 to believe in myself. They 37 my spirit from being down and gave me a 38 to keep on working hard.

　　　 People used to tell me that I couldn’t have a career in 39 until I had a degree. I'm now a co-anchor （联合主持人）of a student-produced television 40 . And the best thing is: I'm only 17 years old and I am a senior in high school.

21. A. tired　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. excited　　　　　　　　　　 C. up　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. down

22. A. Dealing　　　　　　　　　　 B. Helping　　　　　　　　　　 C. Talking　　　　　　　　　　 D. Meeting

23. A. sat　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. seated　　　　　　　　　　 C. laid　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. seating

24. A. attract　　　　　　　　　　　 B. avoid　　　　　　　　　　　 C. adjust　　　　　　　　　　　 D. annoy

25. A. employees　　　　　　　　 B. customers C. boss D. employers

26. A. table　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. box　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. spot　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. kitchen

27. A. dishes　　　　　　　　　　　 B. rooms　　　　　　　　　　 C. clothes　　　　　　　　　　 D. chairs

28. A. men　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. women　　　　　　　　　　 C. servers　　　　　　　　　　 D. people

29. A. And　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Otherwise　　　　　　　　 C. But　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. So

30. A. what　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. how　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. where　　　　　　　　　　 D. why

31. A. finished．　　　　　　　　 B. completed　　　　　　　　 C. ordered　　　　　　　　　 D. got

32. A. place　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. grade　　　　　　　　　　　 C. mark　　　　　　　　　　　 D. position

33. A. Before　　　　　　　　　　　 B. While　　　　　　　　　　　 C. As　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. After

34. A. confident　　　　　　　　　 B. loud　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. low　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. pleasant

35. A. kitchen　　　　　　　　　　 B. house　　　　　　　　　　　 C. restaurant　　　　　　　　 D. table

36. A. ability　　　　　　　　　　　 B. courage　　　　　　　　　 C. imagination　　　　　　　 D. time

37. A. put down　　　　　　　　　 B. picked up C. took 　over　 D. pointed out

38. A. cause　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. reason C. present　 D. permission

39. A. television　　　　　　　　　 B. government C. school D. restaurant

40. A. company　　　　　　　　　 B. station C. show D. advertisement

On August 26, 1999, New York City experienced a torrential downpour. The rain caused the streets to __36__ and the subway system almost came to a stop.

　 Unfortunately, this happened during the morning rush hour. Many people who were going to work were __37__ to go home. Some battled to __38__ a taxi or to get on a bus. Still others faced the __39__ bravely, walking miles to get to work.

　 I __40__ to be one of the people on the way to work that morning. I went from subway line to subway line only to find that most __41__ had stopped. After making my way __42__ crowds of people, I finally found a subway line that was __43__. Unfortunately, there were so many people waiting to __44__ the subway that I could not even get down the stairs to the __45__. So I took the train going in the opposite direction, and then switch back to the downtown train. Finally, after what seemed like an forever, the train __46__ my stop. Then I had to walk several blocks in the increasingly heavy rain. When I finally got to my office, I was __47__ through, exhausted and __48__.

　　 My co-workers and I spent most of the day drying off. When it was 5:00 pm，I was ready to go home. I was about to turn off my computer __49__ I received an email from Garth, my Director:

　 I would like to thank all of you who made the effort and __ 50__ reported to work. It is always reassuring(令人欣慰), at times like these, when employees so clearly show their __51__ to their jobs. Thank you.

Garth’s email was short, but I learned more from that __52__ message than I ever did from a textbook. The email taught me that a few words of __53__ can make a big difference. The rainstorm and the traffic __54__ had made me tied and upset. But Garth’s words immediately__55__ me and put a smile back on my face.

36. A. break　　　　　　　　 B. flood　　　　　　　　 C. sink　　　　　　　　 D. crash

37. A. forced　　　　　　　 B. refused　　　　　　 C. adjusted　　　　　 D. gathered

38. A. order　　　　　　　　 B. pay　　　　　　　　　 C. call　　　　　　　　　 D. search

39. A. climate　　　　　　　 B. scenery　　　　　　 C. storm　　　　　　　 D. burden

40. A. used　　　　　　　　　 B. promised　　　　　 C. deserved　　　　　 D. happened

41. A. practice　　　　　　　　　　 B. routine　　　　　　　　　　 C. process　　　　　　 D. service

42. A. to　　　　　　　　　　　 B. through　　　　　　 C. over　　　　　　　　 D. for

43. A. operating　　　　　　 B. cycling　　　　　　 C. turning　　　　　　 D. rushing

44. A. check　　　　　　　　 B. carry　　　　　　　　 C. find　　　　　　　　 D. board

45. A. street　　　　　　　　 B. ground　　　　　　 C. floor　　　　　　　　 D. platform

46. A. paused　　　　　　　 B. crossed　　　　　　 C. reached　　　　　　 D. parked

47. A. wet　　　　　　　　　 B. weak　　　　　　　　 C. sick　　　　　　　　 D. hurt

48. A. ashamed　　　　　　 B. discouraged　　　　　　 C. surprised　　　　　 D. puzzled

49. A. while　　　　　　　　 B. when　　　　　　　 C. where　　　　　　　 D. after

50. A. hardly　　　　　　　　 B. casually　　　　　　 C. absolutely　　　　 D. eventually

51. A. devotion　　　　　　 B. donation　　　　　 C. connection　　　 D. reaction

52. A. accurate　　　　　　 B. urgent　　　　　　　 C. brief　　　　　　　　 D. humorous

53. A. promise　　　　　　　　　　 B. appreciation　　　 C. advice　　　　　　　 D. guidance

54. A. troubles　　　　　　　　　　 B. signals　　　　　　　 C. rules　　　　　　　　 D. signs

55. A. corrected　　　　　 B. supported　　　　 C. amazed　　　　　　 D. refreshed

If you are human, you can’t help but experience times when everything seems to be going wrong. You must also 36 as if your life is completely out of control at times. It is during those“down times” that words of encouragement from family, friends, co-workers or 37 strangers can boost (增强) your spirits. It is also during those 38 that destructive words can be devastating (毁灭性的) and sink you deeper and deeper into depression.

For example, consider this story about a group of 39 who were travelling through the woods when 40 of them fell into a deep pit (坑). All of the other frogs gathered around the 41 . When they saw how 42 the pit was, they told the two 43frogs they would never get out.

The two frogs didn’t obey what other frogs said and tried to 44out of the pit. The other frogs kept telling them not to jump, 　45 it was in vain. Finally, one of the frogs followed what the other frogs were saying and simply 46 . He fell down and 　47 . The other frog continued to jump as 48 as he could. Once again the crowd of frogs shouted at him to 49 the pain. The more they 50 , the harder he jumped and finally he 51 to safety.

When he 52 , the other frogs asked him why he continued to jump when they were all 53 him to simply quit. The frog 54 to them that he was a little bit deaf. He thought they were 55 him all the time.

36. A. think　　　　　　　　　　 B. experience　　　　 C. seem　　　　　　　　　　D. feel

37. A. so　　　　　　　　　　　 B. just　　　　　　　　　　 C. even　　　　　　　　　 D. ever

38. A. processes　　　　　　 B. times　　　　　　　　　C. courses　　　　　　　　D. practices

39. A. frogs　　　　　　　　　　 B. mice　　　　　　　　 C. dogs　　　　　　　　　　 D. cats

40. A. two　　　　　　　　　　　　B. three　　　　　　　　 C. many　　　　　　　　　　 D. few

41. A. hole　　　　　　　　　　　 B. pit　　　　　　　　　　C. water　　　　　　　　　　 D. well

42. A. muddy　　　　　　　　　 B. wide 　　　　　　　 C. deep　　　　　　　　　　 D. long

43. A. uncomfortable　　　　 B. unpleasant　　　 C. unhappy　　　　　　　　 D. unfortunate

44. A. run 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. walk 　　　　　　　 C. climb　　　　　　　　　　 D. jump

45. A. so　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. since 　　　　　　　 C. because　　　　　　　　D. although

46. A. gave out　　　　　　　　　B. gave up　　　　　 C. gave away　　　　　　 D. gave off

47. A. died　　　　　　　　　　　　B. wounded　　　　 C. destroyed　　　　　　　D. damaged

48. A. fast 　　　　　　　　　　　 B. hard　　　　　　　　　C. easily　　　　　　　　　　D. swiftly

49. A. help　　　　　　　　　　　　B. ban　　　　　　　　　 C. stop　　　　　　　　　　　D. forbid

50. A. cried 　　　　　　　　　　 B. spoke　　　　　　　 C. shouted　　　　　　　 D. read

51. A. got it　　　　　　　　　　　 B. forgot it　　　　　　 C. used it　　　　　　　　 D. made it

52. A. turned out　　　　　　　 B. kept out　　　　　　 C. got out　　　　　　　　　D. held out

53. A. talking to　　　　　　　　B. shouting at　　　　　C. throwing at　　　　　 D. speaking to

54. A. explained　　　　　　　 B. announced　　　　　 C. introduced　　　　　　D. told

55. A. encouraging　　　　　 B. helping　　　　　　　　 C. pulling　　　　　　　　　 D. dragging

When you open your eyes in the morning, you find it is a beautiful day and the plans for the day are what you have been looking forward to for a long time. Then the 　36 rings, you say hello, and the drama starts. The person on the other 37 has a depressing tone in his voice as he starts to tell you how 　38 　his morning is and that there is nothing to look forward to. Are you 39 in a wonderful mood? Impossible!

Communicating with negative people can wash out your 　40 . It may not change what you think, but doing this long enough with them will make you 　41 depressed for a moment or a long time.

Life brings ups and downs, but some people 42 　the wrong idea that life has no happiness to offer. They only feel glad when they make others feel 43 . No wonder they can hardly win others' pity or respect.

When you 44 with positive people, your spirit stays happy and therefore more positive things are attracted. 45 the dagger（匕首）of a negative person is put in you, you feel the heavy feeling that brings you 46 .

Sometimes we have no 47 but to communicate with negative people. This could be a co-worker, or a relative. In this case, 48 what needs to be said as little as possible. Sometimes it feels good to 49 　your anger back to the negative person, 50 　all this does is to lower you to that same negative level and they won't feel 51 of themselves about that.

Negativity often 52 happiness without even being realized. The negative words of another at the start of the day can attach to you throughout the 53 of your day, which makes you feel bad and 54 your happiness. Life is too 55 to feel negative. Stay positive and avoid negativity as much as possible.

36. A. bell B. door C. voice D. telephone

37. A. way　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. corner 　　 　　　　　　 C. end　　 　　　　　　　　　　 D. part

38. A. terrible 　　　　　　　　　　 B. cheerful 　 　　　　　　 C. amazing　　 　　　　　　 D. exciting

39. A. almost 　　　　　　　　　　 B. still 　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. never 　　　　　　　　　　 D. ever

40. A. belief　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. happiness　　　　　　　　 C. sadness　　 　　　　　　 D. relief

41. A. feel　　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. remain 　　 　　　　　　 C. look　 　　　　　　　　　　 D. Sound

42. A. are accused of B. are stuck in　　　 　　　

C. are pleased with D. are concerned about

43. A. glad　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. sorry　　　　 　　　　　　 C. bad　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. content

44. A. quarrel 　　　　　　　　　　 B. fight 　　　　　　　　　　 C. communicate　　　　　 D. work

45. A. Since　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. Before 　　 　　　　　　 C. When 　　　　　　　　　　 D. After

46. A. up 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. down 　　　　　　　　　　 C. in　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. out

47. A. need B. hope C. chance D. choice

48. A. describe　　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. mind　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. write　 　　　　　　　　　　 D. say

49. A. find out 　　　　　　　　　　 B. make out 　　　　　　 C. let out 　　　　　　　　　　 D. try out

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

51. A. tired B. afraid C. ashamed　　　　　　　　　 D. proud

52. A. buys B. gains C. affects D. decides

53. A. length　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. beginning　　　　　 　　　 C. rest　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. middle

54. A. shares　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. steals　　　　　　　　　　　 C. sells　 　　　　　　　　　　 D. hides

55. A. short B. long C. easy D. uncertain

On August 26, 1999, New York City experienced a terrible rainstorm. The rain caused the streets to 　26 and the subway system almost came to a stop.

　 Unfortunately, this happened during the morning rush hour. Many people who were going to work were 　27 to go home. Some battled to 　28 a taxi or to get on a bus. Still others faced the 　29 bravely, walking miles to get to work.

　 I 　30 to be one of the people on the way to work that morning. I went from subway line to subway line only to find that most 　31 had stopped. After making my way 　32 crowds of people, I finally found a subway line that was 　　33 . Unfortunately, there were so many people waiting to 　34 the subway that I could not even get down the stairs to the 35 . So I took the train going in the opposite direction, and then switch back to the downtown train. Finally, after what seemed like an forever, the train 　36 my stop. Then I had to walk several blocks in the increasingly heavy rain. When I finally got to my office, I was 　37 through, exhausted and 　38 .

　　 My co-workers and I spent most of the day drying off. When it was 5:00 pm，I was ready to go home. I was about to turn off my computer 　39 I received an email from Garth, my Director:

　 I would like to thank all of you who made the effort and 　40 reported to work. It is always reassuring(令人欣慰), at times like these, when employees so clearly show their 　41 to their jobs. Thank you.

Garth’s email was short, but I learned more from that 　42 message than I ever did from a textbook. The email taught me that a few words of 　43 can make a big difference. The rainstorm and the traffic 　44 had made me tired and upset. But Garth’s words immediately 45 me and put a smile back on my face.

26. A. break　　　　　　　　 B. sink　　　　　 　 C. flood　　　　 D. crash

27. A. forced　　　　　　　 B. refused　　　　　　 C. adjusted　　　　　 D. gathered

28. A. order　　　　　　　　 B. pay　　　　　　　　　 C. call　　　　　　　　　 D. search

29. A. climate　　　　 B. scenery　　　　　　 C. burden　　　　　　 D. storm

30. A. used　　　　　　　　　 B. promised　　　　　 C. happened　 D. deserved

31. A. practice　　　　　　 B. routine　　　　　　 C. process　　　　　　 D. service

32. A. to　　　　　　　　　　　 B. through　　　　　　 C. over　　　　　　　　 D. for

33. A. rushing　　　 B. cycling　　　　　　 C. turning　　　　　　 D. operating

34. A. check　　　　　　　　 B. carry　　　　　　　　 C. find　　　　　　　　 D. board

35. A. street　　　　　　　　 B. ground　　　　　　 C. floor　　　　　　　　 D. platform

36. A. reached　　　 B. crossed　　　　　　 C. paused　　　　　　 D. parked

37. A. wet　　　　　　　　　 B. weak　　　　　　　　 C. sick　　　　　　　　 D. hurt

38. A. ashamed　　　　　　 B. discouraged　　　 C. surprised　　　　　 D. puzzled

39. A. when　　　　　　　　 B. while　　　　　　　　 C. where　　　 D. after

40. A. hardly　　　　　　　　 B. casually　　　　　　 C. absolutely　 D. eventually

41. A. connection　 B. donation　　　　　 C. devotion　　 　 D. reaction

42. A. accurate　　　　　　 B. urgent　　　 C. brief　　　　　　　　 D. humorous

43. A. promise　　　　　　 B. appreciation　　　 C. advice　　　 D. guidance

44. A. troubles　　　　　　 B. signals　　　 C. rules　　　　　　　　 D. signs

45. A. corrected　　　　　 B. refreshed C. amazed　　　　　　 D. supported