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

After years of searching, a truth seeker was told to go to a cave, in which he would find a well. “Ask the well what is 　36 , ” he was advised, “and the well reveal (告诉，揭露) it to you.” Having found the well, the seeker asked that most basic and important 　37 . And from the depths came the answer: “Go to the village crossroad, and there you shall find what you are seeking.”

Full of 　38 the man ran to the crossroad to 　39 only three rather uninteresting shops. One shop was selling pieces of metal, another sold 　40 , and thin wires were for sale in the third. Nothing and no one there seemed to 　41 much to do with the revelation of truth.

Disappointed, the seeker returned to the well to demand an 　42 , but he was told only: “You will 　43 　in the future.”

As years went by, the 　44 of his experience at the well gradually 　45 until one night, while he was walking, the sound of sitar (西塔琴) music 　46 his attention. It was wonderful and it was 　47 with great skill and inspiration.

Deeply 48 , the truth seeker felt drawn towards the 　49 . He looked at the fingers dancing over the strings. And then suddenly he let out a cry of joyful 　50 : the sitar was made out of wires and pieces of metal and wood just like 　51 he had once seen in the three stores.

At last he understood the 　52 of the well: we have already been given everything we need; our 　53 is to assemble (聚集) and use them in the proper way. Nothing is 　54 so long as we recognize only fragments (碎片). But as soon as the pieces are put together, something new appears, whose nature we could not have 　55 by considering the fragments alone.

21． A. truth　　　　　　　　　　 B. hope　　　　　　　　　 C. future　　　　　　　　　 D. music

22． A. fact　　　　　　　　　　　 B. reason　　　　　　　　 C. question　　　　　　　　 D. well

23． A. energy　　　　　　　　　 B. hope　　　　　　　　　 C. mystery　　　　　　　　 D. surprise

24． A. get　　　　　　　　　　　 B. count　　　　　　　　　 C. find　　　　　　　　　　　 D. open

25． A. instruments　　　　　 B. clothing　　　　　　　 C. food　　　　　　　　　　 D. wood

26． A. connect　　　　　　　　 B. have　　　　　　　　　 C. prepare　　　　　　　　 D. offer

27． A. explanation　　　　　 B. advice　　　　　　　　 C. excuse　　　　　　　　　 D. opportunity

28． A. succeed　　　　　　　　 B. discover　　　　　　　 C. pay　　　　　　　　　　　 D. understand

29． A. bitterness　　　　　　　 B. failure　　　　　　　　 C. memory　　　　　　　　 D. secret

30． A. doubled　　　　　　　　 B. forgot　　　　　　　　 C. disappeared　　　　　 D. recovered

31． A. paid　　　　　　　　　　 B. lost　　　　　　　　　　 C. split　　　　　　　　　　　 D. caught

32． A. played　　　　　　　　　 B. broadcast　　　　　　 C. enjoyed　　　　　　　　 D. conducted

33． A. annoyed　　　　　　　 B. moved　　　　　　　　 C. confused　　　　　　　 D. frightened

34． A. adviser　　　　　　　　 B. director　　　　　　　 C. composer　　　　　　　 D. player

35． A. admiration　　　　　　 B. distinction　　　　　 C. recognition　　　　　　 D. imagination

36． A. those　　　　　　　　　　 B. that　　　　　　　　　　 C. it　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. them

37． A. secret　　　　　　　　　 B. message　　　　　　　 C. theory　　　　　　　　　 D. benefit

38． A. target　　　　　　　　　 B. difficulty　　　　　　 C. task　　　　　　　　　　　 D. shortcoming

39． A. interesting　　　　　　 B. meaningful　　　　　 C. accessible　　　　　　　 D. successful

40． A. foreseen(预见)　　　 B. decided　　　　　　　 C. judged　　　　　　　　　 D. formed

I have learnt a lot about Chinese life and culture while teaching in China and found them very interesting．

First, family life is quite 　36 in China from that in the USA． In the USA, many young people 　37 home after they finish their education and start working． However, in China, it is 　38 for people to live with their parents until they get married． 　39 , many of my Chinese friends told me that their 40 lived with them and helped take care of them when they were children． It seems that Americans think independence is more important 　41 the Chinese think family relationships are more important．

Bargaining is another 　42 that I have tried to learn． In the USA, prices are 　43 and you can’t ask for a lower price． However in some small Chinese stores and tourist places, you are 　44 to bargain． My Chinese friends taught me to ask for 40 percent or 50 percent 　45 the original price． If the salesperson doesn’t agree to my price, I should 　46 to leave and he might let me come back and sell me the item． It is a skill that you have to 　47 if you live in China．

Tipping hasn’t been easier to 　48 ． In the USA, many people in the service 　49 want to get 　50 money for serving customers． Tipping is not a part of Chinese culture． 　51 I tried to tip a taxi driver． He looked a little 　52 and refused to take the money．

In dinners, perhaps what surprises an American visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their 　53 ． Actually, this is a 　54 of true friendship and politeness． My Chinese friend told me if I didn’t want to eat it, I should just 　55 the food in the plate．

36．A．unique　　　　　　　　 B．different　　　　　　　　 C．private　　　　　　　　　 D．harmonious

37．A．come　　　　　　　　 B．build　　　　　　　　　　　 C．leave　　　　　　　　　　 D．abandon

38．A．regular　　　　　　　 B．true　　　　　　　　　　　 C．common　　　　　　　　 D．usual

39．A．Also　　　　　　　　　 B．However　　　　　　　　 C．Therefore　　　　　　　 D．Although

40．A．parents　　　　　　　 B．relatives　　　　　　　　 C．babysitters　　　　　　 D. grandparents

41．A．while　　　　　　　　 B．since　　　　　　　　　　 C．when　　　　　　　　　　 D．as

42．A．way　　　　　　　　　 B．custom　　　　　　　　　 C．method　　　　　　　　　 D．habit

43．A．made　　　　　　　　 B．agreed　　　　　　　　　 C．charged　　　　　　　　 D．set

44．A．expected　　　　　　 B．taught　　　　　　　　　　 C．suggested　　　　　　　 D．required

45．A．up　　　　　　　　　　 B．away　　　　　　　　　　 C．off　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．on

46．A．promise　　　　　　　 B．pretend　　　　　　　　　 C．decide　　　　　　　　　 D．hope

47．A．tolerate　　　　　　　 B．understand　　　　　　 C．practise　　　　　　　　 D．consider

48．A．adjust to　　　　　　 B．turn to　　　　　　　　　 C．refer to　　　　　　　　　 D．stick to

49．A．area　　　　　　　　　 B．department　　　　　　 C．branch　　　　　　　　　 D．industry

50．A．easy　　　　　　　　　 B．extra　　　　　　　　　　　 C．pocket　　　　　　　　　 D．prize

51．A．Often　　　　　　　　 B．Once　　　　　　　　　　 C．Sometimes　　　　　　 D．Before

52．A．excited　　　　　　　 B．satisfied　　　　　　　　 C．frightened　　　　　　　 D．confused

53．A．own　　　　　　　　　 B．children　　　　　　　　 C．neighbors　　　　　　　 D．guests　

54．A．signal　　　　　　　　 B．mark　　　　　　　　　　 C．sign　　　　　　　　　　　 D．feature

55．A．leave　　　　　　　　　 B．remain　　　　　　　　　 C．put　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．taste

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Jerry is a restaurant manager who is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say.

One day I went up to Jerry and asked him, “I don’t get 　36 ! You can’t be a 　37　 person all of the time. How do you do it?” Jerry replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself you have two 　38 today. You can choose to be in a good mood 　39 you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. It’s your choice 　40 you live life.”

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never 　41 to do in the restaurant business…. He 　42 the back door open one morning and was held up at 　43 　point by three armed robbers. He was shot by them while trying to fight back. 　44 , Jerry was found relatively quickly and 　45 to the local trauma(外伤) center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released 　46 the hospital with fragments of the bullets 　47 in his body.

I saw Jerry about six months after the 　48 . Jerry told me something happening in the ER( 急诊室). He said, “… the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the 　49 on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really 　50 . In their eyes, I 　51 ‘he’s a dead man.’ I knew I needed to take 　52 .” “What did you do?” I asked. “Well, there was a nurse shouting questions at me,” said Jerry. “She asked 　53 I was allergic to anything. ‘Yes,’ I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘BULLETS!’ Over their 　54 , I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead’.” Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, 　55 , is everything.

36. A. that　　　　　　 　　B. those　　　　　　　　 　C. one　　　　　　　　　　 D. it

37. A. brave　　　　　 　　B. good　　　　　　　　 　C. positive　　　　　　　　 D. bad

38. A. causes 　　　　　 B. choices　　　　　　 　C. things　　　　　　　　　 D. goals

39. A. and　　　　　　 　　B. or　　　　　　　　　　 　　 C. but　　　　　　　　　　　 D. then

40. A. how　　　　　 　　B. what　　　　　　　　 　C. that　　　　　　　　　　 D. when

41. A. supposed　　 　　B. expected　　　　　 　C. encouraged　　　　　 D. suggested

42. A. came　　　　　 　　B. left　　　　　　　　　 　C. broke　　　　　　　　　 D. knocked

43. A. sword　　　　 　　B. stick　　　　　　　　 　C. arrow　　　　　　　　　 D. gun

44. A. Hopefully　　 　　B. Delightedly　　　C. Luckily　　　　　 　 D. Disappointedly

45. A. pushed　　　　 　　B. rushed　　　 　　　C. stepped　　　　 　 D. followed

46. A. to 　　　　　　 　　B. towards　　　　　　 　C. from　　　　　　　　　 　　　 D. down

47. A. even　　　　　 　　B. ever　　　　　　　　 　C. once　　　　　　　　　　 　　　 D. still

48. A. trouble　　　　 　　B. accident　　　　　 　C. difficulty　　　　　　　 D. trick

49. A. expressions　　 B. smiles　　　　　　　 　C. cries　　　　　　　　　　 　　　 D. tears

50. A. attracted　　 　　B. touched　　　　　　 　C. scared　　　　　　　　 D. warned

51. A. mix　　　　　　 　　B. hope　　　　　　　　 　C. ask　　　　　　　　　　　 D. read

52. A. care　　　　　　 　　B. action　　　　　　　 　C. turns　　　　　　　　　 D. apart

53. A. what　　 　 　　B. that　　　　　　　　　 　C. if　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. why

54. A. laughter　　　 　　　　B. disappointment　 　C. excitement　　　　　 D. joy

55. A. after all　　　　 B. at all　　　　　　　　 　C. in all　　　　　　　　　　 　　　 D. for all

The sound of the rain hitting the windows wakes me up and it sounds just exactly as it did 15 years ago, which reminded me of my girlhood.

It was my second day of 　16 and it was raining heavily. I couldn’t 　17 the habit I had at home, so I fell asleep right at my 　18 . I woke up to find myself not in the classroom but carried on Dad’s back. We were 　19 home. It was the last time I felt 　20 to him.

After that, I realized that he never carried me or hugged me as other fathers did to their children. I was not bothered by this 　21 . I was proud of it, for I felt 　22 and “grown up”. However, there were times when I felt depressed by not having sought 　23 from him.

One day, I was writing Chinese characters as homework. I hated doing this more than anything. Dad came and stood behind me for a moment, 　24 me scratching (乱涂) the paper quickly. Then he said, “This kind of writing needs 　25 . Your writing is not strong enough. Press harder.”

I followed his 　26 for the next two weeks, but 　27 I could see little improvement, I followed my own method—— the 　28 way. His advice didn’t improve my writing but our 　29 . As I grew older, I found out that he had finished his 　30 in Grade 6, which was the highest grade in town then, so he was considered to be a 　31 . People used to ask him to write something to put on the walls, but he never felt very useful.

He often said to me, “As you can see, this family is going to count on you. We are 　32 to improve you anything for your future. You have to get 　33 to change the life for yourself.”

As a result of his 　34 , I have 　35 it through high school and through college.

16. A. graduation　　　　　 B. employment　　　　　　 C. college　　　　　　　　　　 D. school

17. A. form　　　　　　　　　 B. resist　　　　　　　　　　　 C. follow　　　　　　　　　　 D. break

18. A. dormitory　　　　　 B. door　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. desk　　　　　　　　　　　 D. bed

19. A. at　　　　　　　　　　　 B. already　　　　　　　　　　 C. beyond　　　　　　　　　　 D. halfway

20. A. close　　　　　　　　 B. near　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. happy　　　　　　　　　　 D. relaxed

21. A. gap　　　　　　　　　　 B. thought　　　　　　　　　 C. action　　　　　　　　　　 D. accident

22. A. lonely　　　　　　　　 B. depressed　　　　　　　　 C. independent　　　　　　 D. comfortable

23. A. comfort　　　　　　　　　　 B. help　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. support　　　　　　　　　 D. explanation

24. A. helping　　　　　　　 B. directing　　　　　　　　　 C. watching　　　　　　　　 D. blaming

25. A. skill　　　　　　　　　 B. patience　　　　　　　　　 C. time　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. practice

26. A. introduction　　　　 B. manner　　　　　　　　　　 C. spirit　　　　　　　　　　　 D. advice

27. A. even if　　　　　　　 B. while　　　　　　　　　　　 C. as　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. though

28. A. difficult　　　　　　　 B. slow　　　　　　　　　　　 C. efficient　　　　　　　　　 D. fast

29. A. relationship　　　　 B. friendship　　　　　　　　 C. thought　　　　　　　　　 D. life

30. A. schooling　　　　　 B. life　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. hope　　　　　　　　　　　 D. expectation

31. A. writer　　　　　　　　 B. scholar　　　　　　　　　　 C. scientist　　　　　　　　　 D. specialist

32. A. tired　　　　　　　　　 B. glad　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. useless　　　　　　　　　　 D. ready

33. A. an education　　　 B. a rich boyfriend　　　　 C. a well-paid job　　　　 D. a good writing

34. A. help　　　　　　　　　 B. expectations　　　　　　 C. examination　　　　　　 D. watch

35. A. succeeded　　　　　 B. got　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. made　　　　　　　　　　　 D. found