We can make mistakes at any age．Some mistakes we make are about money．But most mistakes are about people．One might say, "Did Jerry really care when I broke up with Helen?" "When I got that great job, did Jim really feel good about it, as a friend? Or did he envy my luck?" When we look back, doubts like these can make us feel bad．
Why do we go wrong about our friends? Sometimes what people want to say hides their real meaning．And if we don't really listen, we miss the feeling behind the words． Suppose someone tells you, "You're a lucky dog．" Is he really on your side? If he says, "You are a lucky guy", that's being friendly．But if he says "a lucky dog", there's a bit of envy in those words．Maybe he doesn't see it himself．But he puts you down a little if he brings in the "dog"．What he may be saying is that he doesn't think you deserve your luck．
"Just think of all the things you have to be thankful for" is another noise that says one thing and means another．It could mean that the speaker is trying to get you to see your problem as part of your life as a whole．But is he trying to? Wrapped up in this phrase is the thought that your problem isn't important．It's telling you to think of all the starving people in the world when you haven't got a date for Saturday night．
How can you tell the real meaning behind someone's words? One way is to take a good look at the person talking．Do his words fit the way he looks? Does what he says agree with the tone of voice, his posture, or the look in his eyes? Stop and think．The minute you spend thinking about the real meaning of what people say to you may save another mistake．
Therefore, when you hear someone saying, please try to know what he really means．Don't just listen to what he says with your ears but feel the words he uses with your head．In this way you may make fewer mistakes．
【小题1】.
．In the 1st paragraph, the writer says something that happened between him and his friends ____．

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第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）

阅读下面文章，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

It was the afternoon of December 24, the day before Christmas, and as the newest doctor in our office, I had to work. The only thing that brightened my day was the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in our waiting room and a gift sent to me by a fellow I was dating(约会)—a dozen long-stemmed red roses. 

As I was cleaning my office, I was told a lady urgently needed to speak with me. As I stepped out, I noticed a young, tired-looking woman with a baby in her arms. Nervously, she explained that her husband—a prisoner in a nearby prison—was my next patient. She told me she wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in prison and that he had never seen his son. Her request was for me to let the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as long as possible before I called him for his appointment（约见）. Since my schedule wasn’t full, I agreed. After all, it was Christmas Eve. 

A short time later, her husband arrived—with chains on his feet and hands, and two armed guards as bodyguards. The woman’s tired face lit up like our little Christmas tree when her husband took a seat beside her. I kept glancing out to watch them laugh, cry and share their child. After almost an hour, I called the prisoner back to my office. The patient seemed like a gentle and modest man. I wondered what he possibly could have done to be held under such conditions. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible.

At the end of the appointment, I wished him a Merry Christmas—a difficult thing to say to a man headed back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He also said he felt saddened by the fact that he hadn’t been able to get his wife anything for Christmas. On hearing this, I was inspired with a wonderful idea.

I’ll never forget the look on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful, long-stemmed roses. I’m not sure who experienced the most joy—the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this special moment.

51.What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

A. The writer was a newcomer to her office. 

B. A fellow sent her a dozen red roses as Christmas present.

C. She was in low spirits because she had to work before Christmas.

D. She was at work with a light heart.

52. The young woman came to the writer’s office for the purpose of         .

A. having her baby examined      

B. giving her husband a chance to make his escape

C. having her husband examined  

D. getting a chance for her family to get together

53.The underlined part in Paragraph 3 most probably means “         ”. 

A. to be sent to hospital      B. to be separated from his family

C. to be comfortable             D. to become a prisoner

54. What does the writer learn from the story?

A. The wife experienced the most joy in receiving. 

B. An act of kindness can mean a lot.

C. The prisoner was treated with mercy.      

D. Whoever breaks the law should be punished.

From the ________ look on my teacher’s face, I know she was _______ with the results.

I was successful at my job. I worked very hard, but it 36  me and my family a fabulous (极好的) lifestyle. I’d worked for the same company for twenty years and had worked my way up to department director.  37 , one afternoon last May, I was called to the office, and it was  38  explained to me that they were letting me go. I just sat there  39  they talked on and all I could think was, “I’ve  40 .”  I’d been so well respected, but  41  I was of no value.
For six weeks, I was in a very  42  place. I wandered around my house like a zombie (僵尸). I could 43 things needed doing, but would not do anything. My beliefs in looking forward and seeing the positive (积极的) in everything  44  me.
Then, in late June, my youngest son’s football team made the city cup final. The year before, he’d been very sad when I  45  the same final, so he was  46  when I told him I’d go. Not only did they win, but the look on his face as he saw me  47  him on was unbelievable, From then on, I spent the summer enjoying my some and their passions (激情). I attended match after match and performances of my elder son’s band — I  48  went to another city to watch him play. These moments were so  49 . My life had been so much devoted to  50  for so long, and I felt  51  that my sons were happy to welcome me into their world.
 52 , being unemployed gave me back a sense of purpose --- I was someone’s mum! I felt a sense of being  53  Again. Now I feel more positive about my professional  54  and I’m getting on better with my family than I ever have. Losing my job made me realize just how  55  it is to achieve real balance in life.

Christmas is long gone. and Valentine’s Day is a distant memory. That means it's a slow time for jewelers, and a good time for you to make a purchase. Whether you’re out shopping for gold, or silver, here fife a few things you need to know:
What determines price?
The purity of the metal is one of the elements that determines the price. Gold purity is indicated with a stamp of 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K. And different countries have their own standards. For example, for a piece to be considered gold in the US, it must be at least 10K. In Britain and Canada: 9K. In Italy and France: l 8K. Anything over l 8K is really too soft for everyday wear. That’s why jewelry stores in the US sell mostly 14K.
How much can you expect to pay?
That depends on the weight of the metal and the gemstone(宝石). So keep that in mind, especially when buying online. To keep yourself from getting ripped off, ask yourself the following:
●How long has the company been around?
●What is its return policy?
● Is the jewelry featured on the website visible from all directions?
● Is the company transparent with the gram weights and the size of the gemstones?
Yellow gold? White? Rose?
Yes, it's confusing, and while this is largely a personal decision, there fife a few things to keep in mind. For starters. white or rose gold costs about l 0% more than yellow gold. If you want the “look for less”, consider gold. plated jewelry. “Gold plated” and “gold overlay” mean the same thing and guarantee a thicker layer of finish than “vermeil” which is a flash finish that is thinner and less consistent, but more affordable. Buy vermeil finished pieces you want for a season or two just to follow the fashion. For pieces you want to wear for a lifetime, solid gold is best.
What about sterling silver(标准纯银)?
Sterling silver has been。an alternative for white gold during the difficult economy, and while it used to be more popular with just the younger these days it has much more mass appeal. So much so that retailers are now offering fine gemstones with silver--something you used to see only with gold.
Keep in mind that in the US. the sterling silver standard is 92.5% real silver. Don’t buy it if there isn’t a “925” stamp on it. And keep in mind that the lower price you’re paying for silver means more maintenance. To keep silver jewelry from becoming less shiny, consider keeping a piece of chalk in your jewelry box.
【小题1】According to the passage, the underlined phrase “getting ripped off” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_______”.