In January of 1968, I was “surfing” TV channels when I was caught by Funny Business, a show about cartoons. I had always wanted to be a(n) 36 but never knew how to go about it. I wrote to the host of the show, cartoonist Jack Cassady, asking him for advice 37 entering the profession.

A few weeks later, I got an encouraging 38 letter from Jack, 39 all of my specific questions. He went on to warn me of the possibility of being 40 at first, advising me not to get discouraged 41 that happened. He went further, saying the cartoon 42 I sent him were good and worthy of publication.

I got very 43 and submitted my best cartoons to Playboy and New Yorker. The magazines quickly rejected me with 44 little photocopied form letters. Frustrated, I decided to 45 cartooning.

In June of 1987, I was surprised to get a second letter from Jack Cassady. It 　46 as follows:

“Dear Scott, I’m dropping you this note to again encourage you to 47 your ideas to various publications. I 48 you lots of luck, sales and good drawing.”

I hadn’t 49 thanked him for his first letter! Again, I dragged out my art brushes and set to 50 the sample strips(连环漫画) now known as Dilbert. It finally became popular.

As Dilbert 51 more successful, I came to appreciate Jack’s simple act of 52 .

How can you ever 53 a kindness like that? Just reach out to some person who badly needs encouragement and 54 it on. Do it for somebody who knows you have nothing to gain. There’s no 55 thing as a small and great act of kindness.　　　　　

36. A. actor　 　　　　　 B. writer　　　　　　　　　　　 C. photographer　　　　　 D. cartoonist

37. A. on　　　　　　　　　　 B. with　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. in 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. to

38. A. informal　　　　　　 B. formal　　　　　　　　　　 C. handwritten　　　　　　　　　　 D. printing

39. A. asking　　　　　　　　 B. answering　　　　　　　　 C. neglecting　　　　　　　　 D. replying

40. A. published　　　　　 B. rejected　　　　　　　　　 C. recognized　　　　　　　 D. appreciated

41. A. if　　　　　　　　　　　 B. unless　　　　　　　　　　 C. since　　　　　　　　　　　 D. before

42. A. magazines　　　　　 B. books　　　　　　　　　　　 C. samples　　　　　　　　　 D. models

43. A. disappointed　　　 B. excited　　　　　　　　　　 C. interested　　　　　　　　 D. surprised

44. A. impolite　　　 B. kind　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. warm　　　　　　　　　　　 D. cold

45. A. forget about　　　 B. give in　　　　　　　　　　 C. build up　　　　　　　　　 D. get in

46. A. wrote　　　　　　　　 B. spoke　　　　　　　 　 C. told　　　　　　　　　 　 D. read

47. A. submit　　　　　　　 B. apply　　　　　　　　　　　 C. lead　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. add

48. A. expect　　　　　　　 B. hope　　　　　　　　　　　 C. wish　　　　　　　　　　　 D. may

49. A. even　　　　　　　　　 B. only　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. still　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. just

50. A. put on　　　　　　　　 B. work on　　　　　　　　　 C. give up　　　　　　　　　　 D. take on

51. A. seemed　　　　　　　 B. went　　　　　　　　 　 C. became 　　　　　　　　 D. came

52. A. love　　　　　　　　　 B. friendship　　　　　　　　 C. hurt　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. kindness

53. A. award　　　　　　　　 B. pay　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. treat　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. repay

54. A. pass 　　　　　 　　B. receive　　　　　　　　　　 C. deliver　　　 　　　 D. move

55. A. so　　　　　　　　　　 B. this　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. such　　　　　　　　　　　 D. like

Once President Roosevelt’s house was broken into and lots of things were stolen. Hearing this, one of Roosevelt’s friends wrote to him and advised him not to take it to his 　21 so much. President Roosevelt wrote back immediately, saying,” Dear friend, thank you for your letter to 　22 me. I’m all right now. I think I should thank God. This is because of the following three reasons: firstly, the thief only stole things from me but did not 　23 me at all; secondly, the thief has stolen some of my things 　24 all my things; thirdly, most luckily for me, it was the man 　25 me who became a thief…”

It was quite unlucky for anyone to be stolen from…. However, President Roosevelt had such three reasons to be so 　26 . This story tells us how we can learn to be grateful in our life.

Being grateful is an important philosophy of life and a great wisdom…. It is impossible for anyone to be lucky and successful all the time 　 27 he lives in the world. We should learn how to face failure or misfortune bravely and 　 28 and to try to deal with it. If so, should we complain about our life and become 　 29 and disappointed ever since then or should we be grateful for our life, 　30 again ourselves after a fall? William Thackeray, a famous British writer, said, “Life is a mirror. When you smile in front of it, it will also smile and 　31 will it when you cry to it.” If you are grateful to life, it will bring you shining sunlight. If you always complain about everything, you may own 32 in the end. When we are successful, we can 　33 have many reasons for being grateful, but we have only one excuse to show ungratefulness if we fail.

I think we should even be grateful to life 　34 we are unsuccessful or unlucky. Only by doing this can we find our weakness and shortcomings when we fail. We can also get 　35 and warmth when we are unlucky. This can help us find our courage to overcome the difficulties we may face, and receive great impetus (动力) to 　36 . We should treat our frustration and misfortune in our life　　　 37 just as President Roosevelt did. We should be grateful all the time and keep having a healthy　 38 to our life forever, keep having perfect characters and enterprising spirit. Being grateful is not only a kind of comfort, not 　39 from life and nor thinking of winning in spirit like Ah Q. Being grateful is a way to sing for our life which comes just from our love and 40 .

21. A. mind　　　 　　 B. heart　　　 　　　　　 C. head　　 　　 　　D. nerve

22. A. consider　　 　 B. persuade　　　 　　 C. blame　 　　　　　　　 D. comfort

23. A. hurt　　　　 　 B. rob　　　 　　　 　　C. kill　　　 　　　 D. notice

24. A. in spite of　　 B. regardless of　　　 C. instead of　　 　　　 D. in need of

25. A. rather than　　 B. other than　　　 　　 C. no other than　　　 　　　 D. not more than

26. A. comfortable　　 B. happy　　 　　　　　　 C. lucky　 　　　　　　　 D. grateful

27. A. so long as　 　 B. because　 　　　　　　 C. even though　 　　　 D. if only

28. A. successfully　 B. gratefully　　 　　　 C. sincerely　 　　　　　 D. generously

29. A. frustrated 　　B. surprised　　 　　　 C. shocked 　　　　　　　 D. frightened

30. A. arise 　　　　　 B. hold　　　 　 　　　 C. rise　　　　 　　　　 D. understand

31. A. such　 　　 　　　 B. nor　 　　　　　　 　　C. so　 　　　　　　　　　　 D. either

32. A. something　 　　 B. none　 　　　　　　　　 C. nothing　 　　　　　　　 D. anything

33. A. hardly 　　　　　　 B. surely　　　 　　　　 C. impossibly　　 　　　 D. clearly

34. A. however　　　 B. whenever　　 　　　　 C. wherever　　　 　　 D. whether

35. A. relief　　　 　　 B. faith　　　 　　　　　 C. confidence　　　 D. inspiration

36. A. get on 　　　　　　 B. work on　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. take on　 　　　　　　 D. move on

37. A. in no way　　 B. in the other way　 C. in a good way　 　 D. by the way

38. A. attitude 　　 　　　 B. way　 　　　　　　　　　 C. belief　 　　　　　　 D. thought

39. A. an expectation B. an appreciation　　 C. a complaint　　 　　 D. an escape

40. A. experience　　 B. failure　 　　　　　　　　 C. hope　 　　　　　　　　 D. thought

"Everything happens for the best." my mother said whenever I felt disappointed. " 1 , and one day something good will happen. Then you'll realize it wouldn't have happened 2 the disappointment you had experienced 3 ." Mother was right, 4 I discovered after graduating from college, I had decided to try for a job 5 radio, then 6 my way up to a sports announcer. I hitchhiked (搭免费车) to Chicago and tried every station, but got 7 . In one studio, a kind lady told me big stations couldn't risk hiring inexperienced persons. "Try your luck in the 8 " she said.

I hitchhiked home to Dixon, Illinois, where there was no radio-announcing jobs. My father said a store wanted a local 9 to manage its sports department. Since Dixon was 10 I had played high school football, I 11 . The job sounded just 12 for me. But l wasn't hired.

My disappointment 13 have shown. "Everything harem for the best." Mother 14 . Then I tried WOC Radio in Davenport, Iowa. The program director, Peter MacArthur, told me they had already hired an announcer. As I left his office, my disappointment boiled 15 . I asked aloud. "How can a fellow become a sport announcer if he can't get a job in a radio station?"

I was waiting for the 16 when I heard MacArthur calling, "What was that you said about sports? You know something about football?" Then he 17 me before a 18 and asked me to broadcast a(n) 19 game.

On my way home, as I have many times 20 , I thought of my mother's words.

1. A. Get on　　　 　 B. Carry on　　　 　 C. Work on　　　 D. Concentrate on

2. A. in spite of　　 B. regardless of　　　 C. but for　　　　　 D. instead of

3. A. previously　　 　 B. preciously　　　　 　 C. precisely　　　　 D. presently

4. A. it　　　　　　 B. what　　　　　 　 C. that　　　　　　 　 D. as

5. A. in　　　　　 　 B. on　　　　　　　 C. by　　　　　　 D. from

6. A. feel　　　　　 B. work　　　　　　 　 C. find　　　　　　 D. push

7. A. declined　　　 B. accepted　　　　 C. reduced　　　　　 D. received

8. A. city　　　　　 B. home　　　　　　 　 C. country　　　　　 D. town

9. A. salesman　　　 B. athlete　　　　　 C. shop assistant　　 D. manager

10. A. in which　　　 　 B. when　　　　　 C. where　　　　　 　 D. how

11. A. appealed　　　 　 B. refused　　　　　 C. agreed　　　　　 D. applied

12. A. right　　　　 B. reasonable　　　 C. improper　　　　 D. stable

13. A. should　　　　 　 B. must　　　　　 　 C. could　　　　　 　 D. might

14. A. recommended　 B. requested　　　　 C. reminded　　　　 D. required

15. A. above　　　　 B. out　　　　　　 　 C. in　　　　　　　 　 D. over

16. A. lift　　　　　 　 B. result　　　　　 C. response　　　　 D. offer

17. A. told　　　　　 B. stood　　　　　　 C. showed　　　　　 D. helped

18. A. radio　　　　 B. station　　　　　 C. TV　　　　　　 D. microphone

19 A. live　　　　　 B. ordinary　　　　 C. imaginary　　　　 D. fierce

20. A. before　　　　 　 B. since　　　　　 　 C. until　　　　　　 D. unless

 

阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

"Everything happens for the best." my mother said whenever I felt disappointed. " 1 , and one day something good will happen. Then you'll realize it wouldn't have happened 2 the disappointment you had experienced 3." Mother was right, 4 I discovered after graduating from college, I had decided to try for a job 5 radio, then 6 my way up to a sports announcer. I hitchhiked (搭免费车) to Chicago and tried every station, but got 7 . In one studio, a kind lady told me big stations couldn't risk hiring inexperienced persons. "Try your luck in the 8 " she said.

I hitchhiked home to Dixon, Illinois, where there was no radio-announcing jobs. My father said a store wanted a local 9 to manage its sports department. Since Dixon was 10 I had played high school football, I 11 . The job sounded just 12 for me. But l wasn't hired.

My disappointment 13 have shown. "Everything harem for the best." Mother 14 . Then I tried WOC Radio in Davenport, Iowa. The program director, Peter MacArthur, told me they had already hired an announcer. As I left his office, my disappointment boiled 15 . I asked aloud. "How can a fellow become a sport announcer if he can't get a job in a radio station?"

I was waiting for the 16 when I heard MacArthur calling, "What was that you said about sports? You know something about football?" Then he 17 me before a 18 and asked me to broadcast a(n) 19 game.

On my way home, as I have many times 20 , I thought of my mother's words.

1. A. Get on　　　 　 B. Carry on　　　 　 C. Work on　　　 　 D. Concentrate on

2. A. in spite of　　 B. regardless of　　 C. but for　　　　　 D. instead of

3. A. previously　　 B. preciously　　　 C. precisely　　　　 D. presently

4. A. it　　　　　　 B. what　　　　　 C. that　　　　　　 　 D. as

5. A. in　　　　　 　 B. on　　　　　　　 C. by　　　　　　 　 D. from

6. A. feel　　　　　 B. work　　　　　　 C. find　　　　　　 D. push

7. A. declined　　　 B. accepted　　　　 C. reduced　　　　　 D. received

8. A. city　　　　　 B. home　　　　 　 C. country　　　　　 　 D. town

9. A. salesman　　 B. athlete　　　　　 C. shop assistant　 D. manager

10. A. in which　　　 B. when　　　　　 C. where　　　　　 D. how

11. A. appealed　　　 B. refused　　　　　 C. agreed　　　　　 D. applied

12. A. right　　　　 B. reasonable　　　 C. improper　　　　 　 D. stable

13. A. should　　　　 B. must　　　　　 　 C. could　　　　　 　 D. might

14. A. recommended　 B. requested　　　　 C. reminded　　　　 D. required

15. A. above　　　　 B. out　　　　　　 C. in　　　　　　　 D. over

16. A. lift　　　　　 B. result　　　　　 C. response　　　　 D. offer

17. A. told　　　　　 B. stood　　　　　　 C. showed　　　　　 D. helped

18. A. radio　　　　 B. station　　　 　 C. TV　　　　　　 D. microphone

19 A. live　　　　　 B. ordinary　　　　 C. imaginary　　　　 D. fierce

20. A. before　　　　 B. since　　　　　 　 C. until　　　　　　 D. unless

 

Why don’t you bring ______to his attention that you’re too ill to work on?

　 A．that　 B．it C．this　 D．him