D

I shall never forget the night, a few years ago, when Marion J. Douglas was a student in one of my adult-education classes. He told us how tragedy had struck at his home, not once, but twice. The first time he had lost his five-year-old daughter. He and his wife thought they couldn’t bear that first loss; but, as he said, “Ten months later, God gave us another little girl and she died in five days.”

This double bereavement was almost too much to bear. “I couldn’t take it,” this father told us. “I couldn’t sleep, eat, rest or relax. My nerves were entirely shaken and my confidence gone.” At last he went to the doctors; one recommended sleeping pills and another recommended a trip, but neither helped. He said, “My body felt as if it was surrounded in a vice(大钳子), and the jaws of the vice were being drawn tighter and tighter.” The tension of grief(悲伤) — if you have ever been paralyzed(使瘫痪) by sorrow, you know what the meant.

“But thank God, I had one child left — a four-year-old son. He gave me the solution to the problem. One afternoon as I sat around feeling sorry for myself, he asked, ‘Daddy, will you build a boat for me?’ I was in no mood to build a boat; in fact, I was in no mood to do anything. But my son is a persistent fellow! I had to gave in. Building that toy boat took me about three hours. By the time it was finished, I realized that those three hours spent building that boat were first hours of mental relaxation and peace that I had had in months! I realized that it is difficult to worry while you are busy doing something that requires planning and thinking. In my case, building the boat had knocked worry out of the ring. So I determined to keep busy.”

“The following night, I made a list of jobs that ought to be done. Scores of items needed to be repaired. Amazingly, I had made a list of 242 items that needed attention. During the last two years I have completed most of them. I am busy now that I have no time for worry.”

No time for worry! That is exactly what Winston Churchill said when he was working eighteen hours a day at the height of the war. When he was asked if he worried about his huge responsibilities, he said, “I am too busy. I have no time for worry.”

53. The underlined word “bereavement” in the second paragraph refers to _____.

54. Marion felt his body as if it was caught in a vice because _____.

55. Marion made a list of over 200 items that needed to be repaired because _____.

    A. he hadn’t been able to spare time to mend them

    B. he wanted to kill his free time by repairing them

    C. the items had actually been broken and needed attention

    D. repairing the items helped crowd worry out of his mind

56. At the end of the passage, the author wrote about Winston Churchill in order to _____.

    A. prove that he followed Churchill’s example

    B. support his student’s solution to his problem

    C. show that he was successful in his career

    D. make it clear how his conclusion was reached

      I grew up poor—living with my wonderful mother. We had little money, but plenty of love and attention. I was  1  and energetic. I understood that  2   poor a person was, he could still afford a dream.

       My dream was  3  . By the time I was sixteen, I started playing baseball. I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour fastball and  4  anything that moved on the football field. I was also

  5  : My high school coach was John, who not only believed in me, but also taught me  6  

to believe in myself. He  7  me the difference between having a dream and remaining true to that dream. One particular  8  with Coach John changed my life forever.

       A friend recommended me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket money for a new bike, new clothes and the  9  of saving for a house for my mother. Then I realized I would have to  10  summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell John I wouldn’t be playing.

When I told John, he was  11  as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” he said. “Your  12  days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.” I stood before him with my head  13  , trying to think of the  14  that would explain to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his  15  in me.

       “How much are you going to make at this job, son?” he asked. “3.5 dollars an hour,” I replied.

“Well,” he asked, “is $3.5 an hour the price of a dream?”

       That simple question made me   16  the difference between  17  something right now and having a  18  . I decided myself to play sports that summer and within the year I was  19  by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and was  20  a $20,000 contact agreement. In the same year, I bought my mother the house of my dream!

1．A．happy                   B．popular                C．famous               D．honest

2．A．no matter what      B．no matter how     C．whatever             D．whichever

3．A．athletics               B．music                  C．business              D．money

4．A．kick                     B．play                    C．pass                    D．hit

5．A．right                     B．shy                     C．lucky                  D．confident

6．A．how                     B．why                    C．when                  D．whether

7．A．gave                     B．taught                 C．brought               D．asked

8．A．accident                B．interview             C．problem              D．experience

9．A．view                     B．idea                     C．start                    D．purpose

10．A．keep up               B．take out               C．give up                D．pick out

11．A．mad                    B．helpful                 C．frightened            D．shameful

12．A．living                  B．playing                C．working              D．studying

13．A．moving               B．nodding               C．shaking               D．hanging

14．A．questions             B．choices               C．words                 D．ways

15．A．sadness               B．regret                  C．hopelessness        D．disappointment

16．A．confuse               B．understand           C．doubt                  D．puzzle

17．A．wanting               B．changing             C．dreaming             D．enjoying

18．A．baseball               B．goal                    C．score                  D．house

19．A．fired                   B．helped                 C．watched              D．hired

20．A．paid                    B．got                      C．offered                D．presented

The Price of a Dream

I grew up poor, living with my wonderful mother. We had little money but plenty of love and attention. I was 　36 and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still 　37 a dream.

My dream was to be a sportsman. 38 I was sixteen, I had started playing baseball. I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour fastball and hit anything that moved on the football field. I was also 　39 : My high-school coach was Ollie Jarvis, who not only believed in me, but taught me 40 to believe in myself. He 　41 me the difference between having a dream and realizing the dream. One particular 　42 with Coach Jarvis changed my life forever.

It was the summer between my junior and senior years, and a friend recommended (推荐) me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket—money for a new bike and new clothes, and the 　43 of savings for a house for my mother. Then I realized I would have to 　44 summer baseball to deal with the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell Coach Jarvis I wouldn’t be playing.

When I told Coach Jarvis, he was as 　45 as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” he said. “Your playing days are limited. You can’t 　46 to waste them.” I stood before him with my head hanging, trying to think of the 　47 that would explain 　48 him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his 　49 in me.

“How much are you going to make at this job, son?” he asked. “Three twenty-five an hour,” I replied.

“Well,” he asked, “is $3.25 an hour the 　50 of a dream?”

That simple question made it 　51 to me the difference between 　52 something right now and following a dream. I 　53 myself to sports that summer, and within the year I was 　54 by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and was 　55 a $20,000 contract. In 2000, I bought my mother the house of my dream!

36.　 A. happy　　　　　　　　　 B. polite　　　　　　 C. shy　　　　　　　　　 D. honest

37.　 A. lose　　　　　　　　　　　 B. have　　　　　　　 C. make　　　　　　　　 D. need

38.　 A. By the time　　　　　　 B. The time　　　　 C. At one time　　　 D. At a time

39.　 A. right　　　　　　　　　　 B. popular　　　　　 C. lucky　　　　　　　 D. confident

40.　 A. how 　　　　　　　　　　 B. why　　　　　　　 C. when　　　　　　　 D. whether

41.　 A. gave　　　　　　　　　　 B. taught　　　　　　 C. brought　　　　　　 D. asked

42.　 A. accident　　　　　　　　 B. matter　　　　　　 C. problem　　　　　　 D. experience

43.　 A. aim　　　　　　　　　　　 B. idea　　　　　　　 C. start　　　　　　　　 D. purpose

44.　 A. keep up　　　　　　　　 B. put up　　　　　　 C. give up　　　　　　 D. pick up

45.　 A. mad　　　　　　　　　　　 B. happy 　　　　　 C. frightened　　　　 D. shameful

46.　 A. adopt　　　　　　　　　　 B. afford　　　　　　 C. affect　　　　　　　 D. effect

47.　 A. answers　　　　　　　　 B. excuses　　　　　 C. words　　　　　　　 D. ways

48.　 A. for　　　　　　　　　　　 B. to　　　　　　　　　 C. on　　　　　　　　　　 D. in

49.　 A. sadness　　　　　　　　 B. regret　　　　　　 C. hopelessness　　 D. disappointment

50.　 A. source　　　　　　　　　 B. prize　　　　　　　 C. price　　　　　　　　 D. allowance

51.　 A. direct　　　　　　　　　　 B. clear　　　　　　　 C. clean　　　　　　　　 D. straight

52.　 A. wanting　　　　　　　　 B. changing 　　　 C. dreaming　　　　　 D. choosing

53.　 A. provided　　　　　　　 B. devoted　　　　　 C. headed　　　　　　 D. imagined

54.　 A. worked　　　　　　　　 B. mentioned　　　 C. fired　　　　　　　　 D. hired

55.　 A. paid　　　　　　　　　　　 B. got　　　　　　　　 C. offered　　　　　　 D. signed

The Price of a Dream

I grew up poor, living with my wonderful mother. We had little money but plenty of love and attention. I was 　36 and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still 　37 a dream.

My dream was to be a sportsman. 38 I was sixteen, I had started playing baseball. I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour fastball and hit anything that moved on the football field. I was also 　39 : My high-school coach was Ollie Jarvis, who not only believed in me, but taught me 40 to believe in myself. He 　41 me the difference between having a dream and realizing the dream. One particular 　42 with Coach Jarvis changed my life forever.

It was the summer between my junior and senior years, and a friend recommended (推荐) me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket—money for a new bike and new clothes, and the 　43 of savings for a house for my mother. Then I realized I would have to 　44 summer baseball to deal with the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell Coach Jarvis I wouldn’t be playing.

When I told Coach Jarvis, he was as 　45 as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” he said. “Your playing days are limited. You can’t 　46 to waste them.” I stood before him with my head hanging, trying to think of the 　47 that would explain 　48 him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his 　49 in me.

“How much are you going to make at this job, son?” he asked. “Three twenty-five an hour,” I replied.

“Well,” he asked, “is $3.25 an hour the 　50 of a dream?”

That simple question made it 　51 to me the difference between 　52 something right now and following a dream. I 　53 myself to sports that summer, and within the year I was 　54 by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and was 　55 a $20,000 contract. In 2000, I bought my mother the house of my dream!

36.　 A. happy　　　　　　　　　 B. polite　　　　　　 C. shy　　　　　　　　　 D. honest

37.　 A. lose　　　　　　　　　　　 B. have　　　　　　　 C. make　　　　　　　　 D. need

38.　 A. By the time　　　　　　 B. The time　　　　 C. At one time　　　 D. At a time

39.　 A. right　　　　　　　　　　 B. popular　　　　　 C. lucky　　　　　　　 D. confident

40.　 A. how 　　　　　　　　　　 B. why　　　　　　　 C. when　　　　　　　 D. whether

41.　 A. gave　　　　　　　　　　 B. taught　　　　　　 C. brought　　　　　　 D. asked

42.　 A. accident　　　　　　　　 B. matter　　　　　　 C. problem　　　　　　 D. experience

43.　 A. aim　　　　　　　　　　　 B. idea　　　　　　　 C. start　　　　　　　　 D. purpose

44.　 A. keep up　　　　　　　　 B. put up　　　　　　 C. give up　　　　　　 D. pick up

45.　 A. mad　　　　　　　　　　　 B. happy 　　　　　 C. frightened　　　　 D. shameful

46.　 A. adopt　　　　　　　　　　 B. afford　　　　　　 C. affect　　　　　　　 D. effect

47.　 A. answers　　　　　　　　 B. excuses　　　　　 C. words　　　　　　　 D. ways

48.　 A. for　　　　　　　　　　　 B. to　　　　　　　　　 C. on　　　　　　　　　　 D. in

49.　 A. sadness　　　　　　　　 B. regret　　　　　　 C. hopelessness　　 D. disappointment

50.　 A. source　　　　　　　　　 B. prize　　　　　　　 C. price　　　　　　　　 D. allowance

51.　 A. direct　　　　　　　　　　 B. clear　　　　　　　 C. clean　　　　　　　　 D. straight

52.　 A. wanting　　　　　　　　 B. changing 　　　 C. dreaming　　　　　 D. choosing

53.　 A. provided　　　　　　　 B. devoted　　　　　 C. headed　　　　　　 D. imagined

54.　 A. worked　　　　　　　　 B. mentioned　　　 C. fired　　　　　　　　 D. hired

55.　 A. paid　　　　　　　　　　　 B. got　　　　　　　　 C. offered　　　　　　 D. signed

When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. I went at once to a shop where they sold toys for children. Being charmed with the sound of a whistle that I had seen by the way, in the hands of another boy, I handed over all my money for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers and sisters and cousins, when I told of the bargain I had made, said I had given four times as much as the whistle was worth. They put me in mind of what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money, and laughed at me so much for my folly that I cried with vexation(烦恼). Thinking about the matter gave me more chargrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.
This, however, was afterwards of use to me, for the impression continued on my mind, so that often, when I was tempted to buy something I did not need, I said to myself, “Don’t give too much for the whistle, ” and I saved my money. As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I thought I met with many, very many, who “gave too much for the whistle.” When I saw some men too eager for court favor, wasting his time at court gatherings, giving up his rest, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, for royal favor, I said to myself---“This man gives too much for the whistle.” When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly taking part in political affairs, neglecting his own business, and ruining it by neglect, “He says, indeed,” said I, “too dear for his whistle.”
If I knew a miser（守财奴） who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow citizens and the joys of friendship, for the sake of gathering and keeping wealth--- “Poor man,” said I, “ you pay too dear for your whistle.” When I met a man of pleasure, who did not try to improve his mind or his fortune but merely devoted himself to having a good time, perhaps neglecting his health, “ Mistaken man, you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure; you are paying too dear for your whistle.” If I saw someone fond of appearance who has fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine earrings, all above his fortune, and for which he had run into debt, and ends his career in a prison. “Alas,” said I, “he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle.” In short the miseries of mankind are largely due to their puffing a false value on things --- to giving “too much for their whistle.”

1. 1.

   How did the author get the whistle?

   1. A.
      He bought it in a toy shop for children.
   2. B.
      He got it as a birthday present.
   3. C.
      He exchanged all his coppers for it from another boy.
   4. D.
      He got it from his brothers, sisters and cousins.
2. 2.

   When the author recalled(回忆) the whistle, he felt______________.

   1. A.
      pleased
   2. B.
      charmed
   3. C.
      chagrin
   4. D.
      worth
3. 3.

   Which situation would not the author say “ too dear for the whistle?”

   1. A.
      People were tempted to buy something they did not need.
   2. B.
      Men were too eager for court favor, wasting his time.
   3. C.
      People were fond of popularity, constantly taking part in political affairs.
   4. D.
      People were devoted to a career he loved so much.
4. 4.

   Which Chinese equivalent can best describe “ too dear for the whistle”?

   1. A.
      得不偿失
   2. B.
      皆大欢喜
   3. C.
      物超所值
   4. D.
      名副其实
5. 5.

   What’s the best title of the passage?

   1. A.
      A story in my childhood.
   2. B.
      Too dear for whistle.
   3. C.
      A lesson from a whistle.
   4. D.
      We should have a right attitude towards temptation（诱惑）.