There is a village in America, and in this village everyone is 31 . They all have beautiful houses and nice clothes. They are good at 32 .
One day a young lady came to the village. She talked with a man, “ Look! You are all good businessmen. What’s the 33 ?”
“The secret is that we eat a lot of fish.” answered the man, “The fish is good for our brains. It makes us 34 .”
“I see.” said the young lady, “ And what’s the name of the fish?”
“I don’t know, but if you give me 50 dollars, I can 35 you some. The young lady thought it was a good idea. Then she gave the man 50 dollars and told 36 her address. Soon the young lady got a box. In the box, there were three 37 .
After a month, the young lady 38 the businessman again. “Thank you for your fish.” she said, “ But listen! 50 dollars is very 39 for just three fish!”
“Ah, you see!” the businessman smiled, “ The fish is 40 to have an effect(效果). You are becoming clever!”
Tom and Bertie were students at a boarding school(寄宿学校). Both were sad because they had to stay at school over the 31 holiday. Tom’s parents were far away from home. Bertie’s sister was 32 , so he couldn’t go home until she was well.
The day before Christmas, the boys were 33 fairies (精灵): whether they were somewhere to make them happy over the Christmas. 34 , Tom’s aunt, Laura appeared. She invited Tom to her home. Tom’s face shone with happiness. However, when he saw Bertie, he turned to his 35 .
“Dear Aunt,” he said, “I’m very sorry, but I can’t go.”
“Can’t go? Why not?”
“Because I can’t leave Bertie alone,” he said. “When I was going to be 36 , he asked his mother to let me go home with him. And, he has 37 been away from home at Christmas time before, so I can’t go without him.”
For a 38 Aunt Laura looked at Tom as if she could not believe him. Then she caught him in his arms and kissed him.
“My dear, you shall not 39 Bertie. We shall all enjoy ourselves together. Boys, remember, it is kindness that is never wasted in the world.
So Bertie and Tom 40 that there was such a thing as a fairy after all.
31. A. summer B. winter C. Christmas
32. A. angry B. sick C. lonely
33. A. playing with B. fighting with C. talking about
My father and I always had a bit of trouble in our relationship. It’s not that we didn’t love each other. It’s just that we used to have 41 opinions. My dad is one of the most hard-working men I know, but I was a 42 . I played sports as a kid, but gave 43 when I was making progress. Then I showed an 44 in music. My father got excited and 45 me a guitar when I was about eight. But I really didn’t like it until I was a teenager. During those teen years, I got up my guitar and 46 playing along.
Then I went to college. My father thought I should focus more on my 47 , while I thought I should have more fun playing music. I dreamed to be a musician. When I grew into a young man, I suddenly fell 48 ill one day and it was discovered that I had a terrible kidney disease (肾病). I had to accept 49 all my life, or get a transplant (移植).
I felt like there was a heavy 50 on my shoulders. Life became hard for me. But I was lucky enough because of my loving parents who 51 me and took care of me. While trying to 52 just what to do with my life, my father got tested to see 53 he was the right man to give me his kidney. I tried to refuse, but he’d hear 54 of it. He saved my life at last.
Two years ago, I made up a band. He had always wanted to play in a band, but 55 got the chance when he was young. It was one of the greatest gifts I could give to him.
41. A. special B. different C. private D. necessary
42. A. musician B. coach C. actor D. dreamer
43. A. up B. out C. off D. away
44. A. introduction B. influence C. increase D. interest
45. A. expected B. threw C. bought D. praised
46. A. began B. regretted C. finished D. meant
47. A. hobbies B. studies C. skills D. choices
48. A. similarly B. hardly C. seriously D. harmfully
49. A. agreements B. movement C. argument D. treatments
50. A. weight B. disadvantage C. disbelief D. warming
51. A. provided B. encouraged C. afforded D. managed