A farmer once owned an old mule（骡子）. One day, the mule fell into a nearby well, and he began to 　36 and made a lot of loud noise. After carefully assessing the 　37 , the farmer felt sympathy for the mule, but 　38 that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving, then he called his 　39 together and told them what had happened and 　40 them to help shovel（铲）some dirt to bury the old mule in the 　41 and put him out of his suffering.

Hearing many people coming to help, the old mule initially was 　42 …But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought suddenly 　43 him. He was 　44 that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his 　45 , he should shake it off and step up! So he did, blow after blow.

As you might have guessed, it was not long 48 the old mule finally, stepped over the wall of the well, painful and tired. What would otherwise 49 him, actually blessed him because of the manner in which he 　50 his adversity（逆境）.

51 is life! As long as we face our problems and respond to them 52 , and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity, the adversities that come along to bury us 53 have the potential to 　54 and bless us! Forgiveness, tolerance, hope and perseverance are 　55 in shaking it off and stepping up out of the wells in which we find ourselves.

36．A．sink　　　　　　　　　 B．struggle　　　　　　　 C．leave　　　　　　　　　 D．sigh

37．A．location　　　　　　　 B．ground　　　　　　　 C．position　　　　　　　 D．situation

38．A．decided　　　　　　　 B．doubted　　　　　　　 C．complained　　　　 D．responded

39．A．brothers　　　　　　 B．relatives　　　　　　　 C．neighbors　　　　　 D．children

40．A．required　　　　　　 B．requested　　　　　　 C．demanded　　　　　 D．recommended

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

42．A．excited　　　　　　　 B．amused　　　　　　　 C．disappointed　　　 D．surprised

43．A．came　　　　　　　　 B．happened　　　　　　 C．struck　　　　　　　　 D．occurred

44．A．awake　　　　　　　　 B．aware　　　　　　　　 C．afraid　　　　　　　　 D．ashamed

45．A．chest　　　　　　　　 B．stomach　　　　　　 C．tail　　　　　　　　　　 D．back

46．A．enjoy　　　　　　　　 B．express　　　　　　　 C．encourage　　　　　 D．praise

47．A．kept　　　　　　　　　 B．held　　　　　　　　　 C．moved　　　　　　　 D．relied

48．A．when　　　　　　　　 B．before　　　　　　　　 C．until　　　　　　　　　 D．since

49．A．save　　　　　　　　　 B．protect　　　　　　　 C．desert　　　　　　　　 D．bury

50．A．solved　　　　　　　　 B．handled　　　　　　　 C．refused　　　　　　　 D．experienced

51．A．That　　　　　　　　　 B．How　　　　　　　　　 C．As　　　　　　　　　　 D．What

52．A．readily　　　　　　　　 B．passively　　　　　　 C．positively　　　　　　 D．willingly

53．A．frequently　　　　　 B．seldom　　　　　　　 C．never　　　　　　　　 D．usually

54．A．affect　　　　　　　　 B．benefit　　　　　　　　 C．direct　　　　　　　　 D．conduct

55．A．cheerful　　　　　　 B．hopeful　　　　　　　 C．helpful　　　　　　　 D．meaningful

The Keeper of the River

An old man had been working for many years for a town.His job was to clear away natural waste from the pool water in the hills, which made up the lovely river flowing through the town nearby. Quietly and 　36 , the old man guarded the hills, 　37 the leaves and branches, and cleaned up the dirt that would have 　38 and polluted the fresh flow of water. The town soon became a popular attraction for tourists. Elegant swan(天鹅) floated along the clear river and the view was so beautiful 　39 words.

Years passed. One evening the town 　40 met. As they reviewed the budget, one man's

41 caught sight of the salary 　42 being paid to the seldom seen keeper of the river. He asked, "Who is the old man? Why do we 　43 to employ him? No one in town ever 　44 him.

For all we know, the strange keeper of the hills isn't doing his job.His position isn't 　45 any longer." Then they voted to 　46 the man.

For several weeks, nothing changed ...

By early autumn, the trees began to 　47 their leaves. Small branches broke off and fell into the pools of the hills, 　48 the flow of the shining water. One afternoon, someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown 　49 in the river. A few days later, the water was much 　50 . Within another week, an oily something covered some sections of the water along the banks, and a terrible

51 was soon sensed. Swans left, and so did the 　52 . The only thing that was now visiting the village was disease and sickness.

Quickly , the 　53 town committee called a special meeting.Realising their huge error in

54 , they rehired the old keeper of the river again, and within a few weeks, the river began to clear up.Swans and tourists came back again and new life returned to the small town in the Alps.

Never ignore the seeming smallness of a task, job, or life.They may all make a 　55 .

36.A.regularly　　　　　　　　　 B.suddenly　　　　　　　 C.naturally　　　　　　　 D.actually

37.A.cut　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.burned　　　　　　　　　 C.removed　　　　　　　 D.selected

38.A.carried　　　　　　　　　　 B.poured　　　　　　　　　 C.changed　　　　　　　　 D.blocked

39.A.beyond　　　　　　　　　　 B.with　　　　　　　　　　 C.in 　　　　　　 D.after

40.A.office　　　　　　　　　　　 B.association　　　　　　 C.department　　　　　　 D.committee

41.A.eye　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.care　　　　　　　　　　　 C.hand　　　　　　　　　　 D.mind

42.A.list　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.form　　　　　　　　　　 C.figure　　　　　　　　　 D.information

43.A.promise　　　　　　　　　 B.continue　　　　　　　　 C.stop　　　　　　　　　　 D.tend

44.A.visits　　　　　　　　　　　 B.hires　　　　　　　　　　 C.tells　　　　　　　　　　　 D.sees

45.A.powerful　　　　　　　　 B.important　　　　　　　 C.necessary　　　　　　 D.suitable

46.A.find　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.fire　　　　　　　　　　　 C.support　　　　　　　　 D.forget

47.A.lose　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.miss　　　　　　　　　　 C.fall　　　　　　　　　　　 D.grow

48.A.pulling　　　　　　　　　　 B.speeding　　　　　　　 C.slowing　　　　　　　　 D.pushing

49.A.fish　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.color　　　　　　　　　　 C.flower　　　　　　　　　 D.leaf

50.A.deeper　　　　　　　　　　 B.cooler　　　　　　　　　 C.warmer　　　　　　　　 D.darker

51.A.sound　　　　　　　　　　 B.smell　　　　　　　　　　 C.wave　　　　　　　　　　 D.taste

52.A.managers　　　　　　　　 B.passengers　　　　　　 C.villagers　　　　　　　　 D.tourists

53.A.embarrassed　　　　　　 B.annoyed　　　　　　　　 C.discouraged　　　　　 D.heartbroken

54.A.arrangement　　　　　　 B.assignment　　　　　　 C.judgement　　　　　　 D.amusement

55.A.suggestion　　　　　　　 B.difference　　　　　　 C.progress　　　　　　　 D.decision

Carolyn Stradley is the founder of C&S Paving Inc. (铺路公司) in Atlanta, USA. In the following account, she recalls the job that challenged her 36 and skill but left her flying high.

“When the Atlanta Airport was under 37 in 1979, we were a new company struggling to make it. National Car Rental wanted to have 2,500 square meters of dirt paved 38 the cars could be on site 39 the airport opened, and the official opening was only ten days away! 40 other local paving company wanted to do the job, 41 it couldn’t be done in such a short time.

“Because we were new and really needed the work, we were 42 to try harder. We gave National Car Rental our offer and 43 our best effort to get the job finished within ten days. We also 44 them that if we failed, they would be no worse off, 45 they had plenty to gain if we succeeded.

“We got the job and immediately went into 46 . Working at night needed lights, so I rented a machine to produce electricity for the site. Our 47 challenge was to keep the rock mixture 48 enough. All the available water wagons (洒水车) were rented out for the airport construction, and we certainly couldn’t afford to buy a new one. 49 , I got a special 50 to rent fire engine hoses (消防水龙带) and connect them to nearby hydrants (消防栓); then I 51 held one of those hoses to 52 down the rock.

“Those ten days were filled with challenges that 53 one creative idea after another. Nine days later, the night before the airport opened, National Car Rental was the 54 company that had cars on the parking lot.

“The key to our success was having the 55 to take on any job and then being creative in our approach to getting it done.”

36. A. kindness　　　　　　 B. patience　　　　　　　 C. imagination　　　　 D. experience

37. A. construction　　　　 B. repair　　　　　　　　 C. control　　　　　　　 D. development

38. A. after　　　　　　　　　 B. as　　　　　　　　　　　 C. for　　　　　　　　　　 D. so

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

40. A. Some　　　　　　　　　 B. Any　　　　　　　　　　 C. No　　　　　　　　　　 D. Every

41. A. stating　　　　　　　　 B. reporting　　　　　　 C. telling　　　　　　　　 D. warning

42. A. able　　　　　　　　　　 B. nervous　　　　　　　 C. afraid　　　　　　　　 D. willing

43. A. supported　　　　　　 B. promised　　　　　　 C. continued　　　　　 D. improved

44. A. asked　　　　　　　　　 B. surprised　　　　　　 C. reminded　　　　　　 D. demanded

45. A. though 　　　　　　　 B. but　　　　　　　　　　 C. as　　　　　　　　　　　 D. unless

46. A. discussion　　　　　 B. action　　　　　　　　 C. practice　　　　　　　 D. production

47. A. next　　　　　　　　　　 B. first　　　　　　　　　 C. past　　　　　　　　　 D. previous

48. A. cold　　　　　　　　　　 B. wet　　　　　　　　　　 C. loose　　　　　　　　　 D. clean

49. A. Naturally　　　　　　 B. Obviously　　　　　 C. Meanwhile　　　　　 D. Instead

50. A. excuse　　　　　　　　 B. order　　　　　　　　　 C. permit　　　　　　　　 D. reason

51. A. exactly　　　　　　　　 B. personally　　　　　 C. angrily　　　　　　　 D. hardly

52. A. pull　　　　　　　　　　 B. knock　　　　　　　　 C. hit　　　　　　　　　　 D. water

53. A. required　　　　　　　 B. mixed　　　　　　　　 C. followed　　　　　　 D. formed

54. A. best　　　　　　　　　　 B. last　　　　　　　　　　 C. second　　　　　　　 D. only

55. A. courage　　　　　　　 B. interest　　　　　　　 C. hope　　　　　　　　　 D. chance

A well-known speaker started off his speech by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 202, he asked, “Who would 31 this $20 bill?”

Hands started 32 up. He said, “I am going to 33 this $20 bill to one of you, but first, let me do this.”

He crumpled (压皱) the 20-dollar 34 . He then asked, “Who still wants it?” Still the hands were up in the air. “Well,” he replied, “what if I do this?” He dropped it on the 35 and started to grind (磨碎)it into the floor with his 36 . He picked it up, now crumpled and 37 .

“Now, who still wants it?”　 38 the hands went into the air.

“My friends, you have all 39 a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did 40 the money, you still 41 it because it did not 42 in value. It was still worth $20.”

“Many times in our lives, we are 43 , crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we 44 and the circumstances (环境) that come our way. We feel as though we are worth 45 ; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will 46 lose your value (价值).”

“Dirty or 47 , crumpled or finely folded (折叠), you are still priceless to those who 48 you. The 49 of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE.”

“You are 50 — don’t ever forget it.”

31　 A. admit　　　　　　　　　　 B. appreciate 　　　　　　 C. like　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. react

32　 A. going　　　　　　　　　　 B. standing　　　　　　　　 C. putting 　　　　　　　　 D. raising

33　 A. give　　　　　　　　　　　 B. post　　　　　　　　　　　 C. send 　　　　　　　　　　 D. pay

34　 A. check　　　　　　　　　　 B. note　　　　　　　　　　　 C. paper　　　　　　　　　　 D. notice

35　 A. sofa　　　　　　　　　　　 B. chair　　　　　　　　　　　 C. ground　　　　　　　　　 D. table

36　 A. shoe　　　　　　　　　　　 B. hand　　　　　　　　　　　 C. coat　　　　　　　　　　　 D. trousers

37　 A. tidy　　　　　　　　　　　 B. fantastic　　　　　　　　 C. attractive　　　　　　　 D. dirty

38　 A. Thus　　　　　　　　　　 B. Still　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. Even　　　　　　　　　　 D. Yet

39　 A. known　　　　　　　　　 B. followed　　　　　　　　 C. studied　　　　　　　　　 D. learned

40　 A. at　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. for　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. to　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. in

41　 A. wanted　　　　　　　　　 B. needed　　　　　　　　　 C. brought　　　　　　　　 D. took

42　 A. raise　　　　　　　　　　　 B. fall　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. increase　　　　　　　　 D. miss

43　 A. moved　　　　　　　　　 B. contacted　　　　　　　 C. dropped　　　　　　　　 D. fell

44　 A. imagine　　　　　　　　　 B. consider　　　　　　　　 C. form　　　　　　　　　　 D. make

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

46　 A. never　　　　　　　　　　 B. ever　　　　　　　　　　　 C. often　　　　　　　　　　 D. possibly

47　 A. ugly　　　　　　　　　　　 B. clean　　　　　　　　　　　 C. dry　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. bright

48　 A. leave　　　　　　　　　　 B. push　　　　　　　　　　　 C. hate　　　　　　　　　　　 D. love

49　 A. enjoyment　　　　　　　 B. worth　　　　　　　　　　 C. nature　　　　　　　　　　 D. luck

50　 A. common　　　　　　　　 B. average　　　　　　　　　 C. special　　　　　　　　　 D. ordinary

A farmer once owned an old mule（骡子）. One day, the mule fell into a nearby well, and he began to 　36 and made a lot of loud noise. After carefully assessing the 　37 , the farmer felt sympathy for the mule, but 　38 that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving, then he called his 　39 together and told them what had happened and 　40 them to help shovel（铲）some dirt to bury the old mule in the 　41 and put him out of his suffering.

Hearing many people coming to help, the old mule initially was 　42 …But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought suddenly 　43 him. He was 　44 that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his 　45 , he should shake it off and step up! So he did, blow after blow.

He repeated “Shake it off and step up！” to__46__himself.No matter how painful the blows were，or how disappointing the situation seemed，the old mule just__47__on shaking it off and stepping up!

As you might have guessed, it was not long 48 the old mule finally, stepped over the wall of the well, painful and tired. What would otherwise 49 him, actually blessed him because of the manner in which he 　50 his adversity（逆境）.

51 is life! As long as we face our problems and respond to them 52 , and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity, the adversities that come along to bury us 53 have the potential to 　54 and bless us! Forgiveness, tolerance, hope and perseverance are 　55 in shaking it off and stepping up out of the wells in which we find ourselves.

36．A．sink　　　　　　　　 B．struggle　　　　　　 C．leave　　　　　　　　 D．sigh

37．A．location　　　　　　 B．ground　　　　　　　 C．position　　　　　　 D．situation

38．A．decided　　　　　　 B．doubted　　　　　　 C．complained　　　 D．responded

39．A．brothers　　　　　 B．relatives　　　　　 C．neighbors　　　　 D．children

40．A．required　　　　　 B．requested　　　　　 C．demanded　　　　 D．recommended

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

42．A．excited　　　　　　 B．amused　　　　　　 C．disappointed　　 D．surprised

43．A．came　　　　　　　　 B．happened　　　　　 C．struck　　　　　　　 D．occurred

44．A．awake　　　　　　　 B．aware　　　　　　　　 C．afraid　　　　　　　 D．ashamed

45．A．chest　　　　　　　　 B．stomach　　　　　　 C．tail　　　　　　　　　 D．back

46．A．enjoy　　　　　　　　 B．express　　　　　　 C．encourage　　　　 D．praise

47．A．kept　　　　　　　　 B．held　　　　　　　　　 C．moved　　　　　　　 D．relied

48．A．when　　　　　　　　 B．before　　　　　　　 C．until　　　　　　　　 D．since

49．A．save　　　　　　　　 B．protect　　　　　　　 C．desert　　　　　　　 D．bury

50．A．solved　　　　　　　 B．handled　　　　　　 C．refused　　　　　　 D．experienced

51．A．That　　　　　　　　 B．How　　　　　　　　　 C．As　　　　　　　　　　 D．What

52．A．readily　　　　　　　 B．passively　　　　　 C．positively　　　　　 D．willingly

53．A．frequently　　　　 B．seldom　　　　　　　 C．never　　　　　　　　 D．usually

54．A．affect　　　　　　　 B．benefit　　　　　　　 C．direct　　　　　　　　 D．conduct

55．A．cheerful　　　　　 B．hopeful　　　　　　 C．helpful　　　　　　　 D．meaningful