What I Want for You and Every Child in America

　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 by President-Elect Barack Obama

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you’ve both had a lot of 　1 these last two years during the campaign, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn’t have let you have. But I also know that it hasn’t always been easy for you and Mom, and that although you are both excited about that new puppy(幼犬), it doesn’t 2 for all the time we’ve been apart. I know 3 I’ve missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me--about how I’d 4 my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my 5 　with all your curiosity and mischief （捣乱） and those smiles that never 6 to fill my heart and light up my day. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. That’s why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools 7 of their potential---schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill （灌输） in them a sense of 8 about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college 9 their parents aren’t rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them have time to spend time with their own 10 .

I want us to 11 back the boundaries(界限) of discovery so that you’ll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach 12 the divides(分水岭) of race and region, gender and religion that 13 us from seeing the best in each other.

That was the 14 your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for 15 because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean 16 .

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better and that the 17 work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It’s a duty we pass on to our children.

These are the things I want for you--- to 18 in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach. And I want every child to have the same 19 to learn and dream and grow that you girls have. That’s why I’ve taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you 20 you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, confidence, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Love, Dad

1. A. play　　　　　　 B. fun　　　　　　 C. pain　　　　　　 D. gain

2. A. take up　　　　　 B. pick up　　　　 C. make up　　　　　 D. put up

3. A. how much　　　 B. how many　　　 C. how soon　　　　 D. how long

4. A. lose　　　　　　 B. make　　　　　 C. take　　　　　　　 D. walk

5. A. world 　　　　　 B. family　　　　 C. position　　　　　 D. place

6. A. succeed　　　　 B. come　　　　　 C. tend　　　　　　　 D. fail

7. A. worth　　　　　 B. worthless　　　　 C. worthwhile　　　　 D. worthy

8. A. humor　　　　　 B. hatred　　　　　 C. wonder　　　　　 D. sadness

9. A. even if　　　　 B. as if　　　　　　 C. as long as　　　　 D. if

10. A. friends　　　　 B. kids　　　　　　 C. boys　　　　　　 D. girls

11. A. rush　　　　　 B. catch　　　　　 C. push　　　　　　 D. pull

12. A. to　 　　　　 B. in　　　　　　 C. into　　　　　　　 D. beyond

13. A. keep　　　　　 B. let　　　　　　 C. make　　　　　　 D. warn

14. A. way　　　　　 B. method　　　　　 C. means　　　　　 D. lesson

15. A. quantity　　　 B. quality　　　　　 C. equality　　　　　 D. quarter

16. A. everything　　 B. something　　　 C. anything　　　　　 D. nothing

17. A. unfinished　　 B. finished　　　　 C. unfinishing　　　　 D. finishing

18. A. wake up　　　 B. grow up　　　　 C. come up　　　　　 D. get up

19. A. difficulty　　　 B. barriers　　　　 C. anxiety　　　　　 D. chances

20. A. rather than　　 B. other than　　　　 C. less than　　　　 D. more than

A couple of years ago, I went to a lady’s house to buy some vitamins. Upon entering the house, I 　 31　 that there was an electronic keyboard on a stand, leaning　 32　 the wall. Being a piano music lover and 　 33 , I asked, if the woman played. She nodded and added that she had been 　34　 lessons—at age 54! I told her that it was very　 35　 that she was pursuing （追求） her passion（热情） to play the piano.

　 Then she asked me　 36　 question.

　 “I have been playing for 8 years now, ” I answered.

　 “Then you must play a song for me before you leave, ” she　 37 . I thought she was joking and I simply smiled. At the end of the deal of the vitamins, she　 38　 me of our musical “ 39　 ”. She then showed me to an old upright piano in the living room, 40 asked me to play a song for her. I thought　 41　 and decided to play David Lanz’s “Return to the Heart”, since she had so much passion for　 42　 , and it was my soul-searching song.

　 I played the song to the best of my ability, and with my emotions　 43　 into it as possible. She loved it. 　 44　 I was about to step out of the door, I heard a weak voice calling out, “Young man! ”

　 I turned around. And there was an old lady　 45　 one little step at a time with the help of another woman. “I wanted to come out to　 46　 you for the beautiful song that you played. I have been very sick, and it’s very hard for me to　 47　 my bed, but your music made me feel good, ”she said. With that, she turned around and walked　 48　 back to her room.

　 I was deeply　 49　 by her appreciation and felt a deeper understanding for the song. It served its purpose beautifully, returning to one’s　 50　 for peace and joy.

31. A. observed 　　　B. watched

C. noticed 　　　　　D. caught

32. A. on 　　　B. at

C. over 　　　 D. against

33. A. player 　　　B. teacher

C. composer 　　　D. starter

34. A. giving 　　　B. attending

C. teaching 　　　 D. reviewing

35. A. interesting 　　　B. wonderful

C. moved 　　　　　　D. impressive

36. A. another 　　　B. a different

C. the same 　　　　D. other

37. A. advised 　　　B. ordered

C. demanded 　　　D. requested

38. A. warned 　　　B. reminded

C. asked 　　　　　D. required

39. A. course 　　　B. task

C. discussion 　　　D. deal

40. A. and 　　　　 B. but

C. as a result 　　　D. what’s more

41. A. for the moment 　　　B. at the moment

C. for a moment 　　　　　D. at a moment

42. A. music 　　　B. songs

C. the piano 　　　D. vitamins

43. A. dropping 　　　B. falling

C. pouring 　　　　　D. running

44. A. Since 　　　B. As

C. While 　　　　 D. Because

45. A. taking 　　　B. making

C. having 　　　　 D. moving

46. A. thank 　　　B. praise

C. admire 　　　　D. owe

47. A. get on 　　　B. get up

C. get off 　　　　 D. get down

48. A. quietly 　　　B. calmly

C. happily 　　　　 D. slowly

49. A. shocked 　　　B. touched

C. delighted 　　　　D. disturbed

50. A. world 　　　B. heart

C. brains 　　　　 D. dreams

War, money and power are a few things that countries and people are concerned about. __1__ I agree that those things are important, I believe that everyone should start to __2__ more on a growing problem—global warming.

Global warming will not only __3__ our country and our generation, but also the entire __4__ and future generations. It is __5__ because the weather has been a lot warmer over the past few years, which __6__ the melting(融化) of the ice in the Antarctic. This will soon cause water levels to __7__ and flood parts of the world.

Many people ignore this problem because they feel __8__ they can't do anything about it and have more __9__ things to worry about. If we all __10__ so, then our ozone layer(臭氧层) will be __11__ and the planet will no longer be able to make life continue to exist. We should do our best to limit the use of our planet's __12__ resources(资源) and keep our air clean. __13__， future generations will suffer from our __14__.

Some might feel that they can't stop global warming from __15__. But if every single person does his or her part in keeping the air clean, then it will become a __16__ effort. Sure, there are some things that cause pollution and that we won't be able to __17__ change. This may include cars burning oil, but we can __18__ adjust some of these things. People can start carpooling, taking the bus, riding their bikes, or __19__ just walking.

If everyone takes __20__ now, I believe we can start seeing remarkable results within a few years.

1．A.When　　　　B．As　　　　　　 C．How　　　　　　 D．Though

2．A.depend　　 B．focus　　　　　 C．hang　　　　　 D．remark

3．A.annoy　　　 B．interrupt　　　 C．affect　　　　 D．confuse

4．A.world　　　 B．continent　　　 C．industry　　　 D．climate

5．A.failing　　 B．completing　　 C．changing　　　 D．occurring

6．A.lies in　　 B．results in　　 C．suffers from　 D．escapes from

7．A.reduce　　 B．rise　　　　　 C．drop　　　　　 D．move

8．A.as if　　　 B．in case　　　 C．even though　　 D．if only

9．A.popular　　 B．suitable　　　 C．important　　　 D．difficult

10．A.do　　　　 B．keep　　　　　 C．like　　　　　　 D．find

11．A.protected B．strengthened　 C．destroyed　　　 D．surrounded

12．A.unlimited B．natural　　　 C．recycled 　　　　D．industrial

13．A.Therefore B．Otherwise　　 C．However　　　　 D．Instead

14．A.illnesses B．failures　　　 C．decisions　　　 D．mistakes

15．A.continuing B．arriving　　 C．improving　　　　 D．disappearing

16．A.physical　 B．mental　　　 C．national 　　　　 D．worldwide

17．A.slightly　 B．fully　　　　 C．hardly　　　　　 D．slowly

18．A.at least　 B．at most　　 C．at first　　　　　 D．at last

19．A.yet　　　　 B．even　　　 C．still　　　　　 D．thus

20．A.time　　　　 B．turns　　 C．action　　　　 D．arms

It was a cold evening and my daughter and I were walking up Broadway. I didn’t notice a guy sitting inside a cardboard box. But Nora did. She wasn’t even four, but she 36 at my coat and said, “That man’s cold. Daddy, 37 we take him home?”

　 I don’t remember my reply. But I do remember a sudden 38 feeling inside me. I had always been delighted at how much my daughter noticed in her 39 , whether it was 40 in flight or children playing. But now she was noticing 41 and beggary.

　 A few days later, I saw an article in the newspaper about volunteers who picked up a food package from a nearby school on a Sunday morning and 42 it to an elderly person. It was quick and easy. I 43 us up. Nora was 44 about it. She could understand the importance of food, so she could easily see how 45 our job was. When Sunday came, she was ready, but I had to 46 myself to leave the house to fetch the food package. On my way to the school, I fought an urge to turn 47 . The Sunday paper and coffee were waiting for me at home. Why do this? 48 , we phoned the elderly person we’d been appointed. She 49 us right over.

　 The building was in a bad state. Facing us was a silver-haired woman in an old dress. She took the package and asked us to come in. Nora ran inside. I unwillingly followed. 50 inside, I saw that the apartment belonged to someone poor. Our hostess showed us some photos. Nora played and when it came time to say goodbye, we three hugged, I walked home in tears.

　 Professionals call such a(n) 51 “a volunteer opportunity”. They are opportunities, I’ve come to see. Where else but as volunteers do you have the opportunity to do something 52 that’s good for others as well as for yourself? Nora and I regularly serve meals to needy people and 53 clothes for the homeless. Yet, as I’ve 54 her grow over these past four years, I still wonder—which of us has 55 more?

36. A. waved　　　　 　　 B. glanced　　　　 　 C. pulled　　　　　 D. aimed

37. A. Would　　　　 　　 B. Can　　　　　　　　 C. Need　　　　　　　 D. Must

38. A. general　　　　　　 B. funny　　　　　　　 C. heavy　　　　　 　 D. curious

39. A. world　　　　　　　　　　 B. part　　　　　　　　 C. eyesight　　　　 　 D. area

40. A. insects　　　　　 B. animals　　　　　　　 C. plants　　　　　　　 D. birds

41. A. coldness 　　　　　 B. suffering　　　　　　　 C. illness 　　　　 　 D. ignorance

42. A. delivered　　　　　　 B. returned　　　　　　　 C. devoted　　　　 　 D. posted

43. A. held　　　　　 　　 B. hurried　　　 　　　　 C. signed　　　　　　 D. lined

44. A. casual　　　　 　　 B. sorry　　　　 　　　 C. astonished　　　　　 D. excited

45. A. creative　　　 　　　 B. valuable　　　　　　　 C. shocking　　　　　 D. simple

46. A. warn　　　　　　　 B. stop　　　　　　　　 C. allow 　　　　　　 D. push

47. A. back 　　　　　　　　　　 B. away　　　　　　　　 C. up　　　　　　　　 D. out

48. A. Therefore　　　　　 B. Obviously　　 　　　 C. Also　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Still

49. A. called　　　　 　　 B. promised　　　　　　 C. invited 　　　　 D. helped

50. A. Although　　　　　 B. Once　　　　　　　 C. Because 　　　　　 D. Though

51. A. stay　　　　　 　　 B. visit 　　　　　　　　 C. adventure 　　　　　 D. challenge

52. A. fair　　　　　 　　 B. famous　　　　　　　 C. difficult　　　 　　　 D. enjoyable

53. A. collect　　　　　　　 B. make　　　　　　　 C. order 　　　　　　 D. wear

54. A. let　　　　　　　　 B. made　　　　　　　 C. watched 　　　　　 D. noticed

55. A. benefited　　　　　　 B. increased　 　　　　　　 C. tried　　　　　 　　 D. seized

完形填空

　It　1　　 　be that when the world was young, no one 　2　　　. People had to speak. Just 　3　　 　babies do. When one knew how to talk, 　4　　 　did anyone learn? That is a 　5　　 　that 　6　　 　even today.

　What would it be 　7　　 　if people were still 　8　　 　? People might live together 　9　　 　protection, but there would be 　10　　 　cities, and no one would travel, 　11　　 　no one could tell them 　12　　 　. So many things would be 　13　　 　, that this world 　14　　 　like the world we know 　15　　 　.

　In a world 　16　　 　no one could talk, how would we be able to 　17　　 　our feelings or tell someone 　18　　 　about something that 　19　　 　us? There would be many things that you wouldn't know 　20　　 　there would be no one to explain them to you. You could learn things only 　21　　 　looking and remembering.

　It wouldn't be 　22　　 　to live in a world 　23　　 　no one could talk. There would still be love and friendship, but there would also be the 　24　　 　that stems from the 　25　　　.