When I was 17, I read a quote: “If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made a(n) 　36 on me，and since then，for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the 　37 day of my life，would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to 　38 something．

Remembering that I’ll be 　39 soon is the most important tool to help me make the big choices in life, 　40 　almost everything—all expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—just falls away in the face of death, 　41 only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to 　42 . You are already naked．There is no reason not to follow your heart.

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to 　43 don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever 　44 it, because Death is very likely to be the single best invention of Life. It clears out the old to 　45 for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will 　46 become the old and be cleared away.

　 Your time is 　47 , so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice．Everything else is secondary.

36．　　A．surprise　 　　　 B．impression　 　 C．choice D．call

37．　 A．last　 　 B．first　 　 C．worst 　　 D．best

38．　 A．change　 　 B．supply　 　　 C．provide D．achieve

39．　 A．dead　 　　　 B．fired　 C．murdered 　　 D．failed

40．　 A．despite　 　 B．because　 　 C．though D．if

41．　 A．including　 B．possessing　 　　 C．leaving D．facing

42．　 A．value　 　　　 B．reach　 　　 C．gain 　　　 D．lose

43．　 A．sky　 　 B．space　 　　 C．universe 　　　 D．heaven

44．　 A．experienced　 　 B．encountered　 C．escaped 　　　 D．observed

45．　 A．make good　 　　 B．make up 　　 C．make way 　　 D．make clear

46．　 A．dramatically　 　 B．gradually　 C．regularly 　　　 D．likely

47．　 A．important　 B．narrow　 　　 C．perfect D．limited

In the fall of 1985. I was a bright-eyed girl heading off to Howard University, 　36 a legal career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere. Twenty-one years later I am 37 a bright-eyed dreamer and one 　38 quite a different tale to tell.

　 My grandma, an amazing woman, graduated from college at the age of 65. She was the first in our family to 　39 that goal. But one year after I started college, she 40 cancer. I made the choice to withdraw from college to 　41 for her. It meant that school and my personal dream would have to wait.

　 Then I got married with another 42 : building my family with a 43 of adopt and biological children. You can imagine how 　44 occupied I became, 45 four boys under the age of 81. Our home was a complete zoo. 　46 , I never did make it back to college full-time. 47 I never gave up on the dream , either. I had only one choice: to 48 a way. That meant talking as few as one class each semester.

　　 The hardest part was feeling 　49 about the time I spent away from the boys. They often wanted me to stay home with them. There certainly were times I wanted to quit, But I knew I should set an example for them to 50 through the rest of their lives. In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina. It took me over 21 years to get my college degree！

I am not 　51 , just single-minded. It always 52 me that when you’re looking at a big challenge from the outside it looks huge, but when you’re in the midst of it, it just seems 53 . Everything you want won’t arrive in your life on one day. It’s a 　54 . Remember；little steps add up 　55 big dreams.

36．A．looking at　　　　　 B．aiming at　　　　　　 C．focus on 　　　　　 D．relying on

37．A．still　　　　　　　　　　 B．already　　　　　　　 C．even　　　　　　　　　 D．actually

38．A．about　　　　　　　　 B．by　　　　　　　　　　　 C．in　　　　　　　　　　　 D．with

39．A．miss　　　　　　　　　 B．have　　　　　　　　　 C．reach　　　　　　　　 D．take

40．A．caught　　　　　　　 B．developed　　　　　 C．found　　　　　　　　 D．defeated　　　

41．A．care for　　　　　　　 B．look for　　　　　　　 C．talk with　　　　　　 D．discuss with

42．A．purpose　　　　　　　 B．idea　　　　　　　　　　 C．chance　　　　　　　 D．dream

43．A．combination　　　　 B．connection　　　　　 C．community　　　　 D．committee

44．A．badly　　　　　　　　 B．fully　　　　　　　　　 C．seriously　　　　　　 D．obviously

45．A．collecting　　　　　 B．helping　　　　　　　 C．raising　　　　　　　　 D．teaching

46．A．Now surprising　 B．Not satisfying　　 C．Not frightening　 D．Not disappointing

47．A．Otherwise　　　　　 B．Therefore　　　　　 C．And　　　　　　　　　 D．But

48．A．suggcet　　　　　　　 B．push　　　　　　　　　 C．find　　　　　　　　　 D．change

49．A．nervous　　　　　　　 B．excited　　　　　　　 C．proud　　　　　　　　 D．guilty

50．A．set　　　　　　　　　　 B．follow　　　　　　　　 C．take　　　　　　　　　 D．make

51．A．famous　　　　　　　 B．curious　　　　　　　 C．special　　　　　　　 D．clever

52．A．struck　　　　　　　　 B．occurred　　　　　　 C．failed　　　　　　　　 D．escaped

53．A．terrible　　　　　　　 B．great　　　　　　　　　 C．strange　　　　　　　 D．normal

54．A．program　　　　　　 B．process　　　　　　　 C．competition　　　　 D．stage

55．A．make up for　　　　 B．live up to 　　　　　 C．make up of　　　　 D．add up to

You have waited 45 minutes for the valuable 10 minutes' break between classes．But when the bell for the next class rings, you can't 36 how quickly time has passed．

If you are familiar with this__37_,you'll know how time flies when you are having fun．And how time 38 when you are bored．Now scientists have 39 a reason why this is the case．

Scans have shown that patterns of activity in the brain_ 40 according to how we focus on a task．When we are 41 ．we concentrate more on how time is passingAnd this makes our brains_42_the clock is ticking more slowly．

In an experiment 43 by a French laboratory, 12 volunteers watched an image 44 researchers monitored their brain activity．The volunteers were told to 45 concentrate on how long an image appeared for, then 46 _the color of the image, and thirdly, study both duration（持续的时间） and color．The results showed that 47 was more active when the volunteers paid 48 subjects．

It is thought that if the brain is 　49　 focusing on many aspects of a task, it has to 50 its resources, and pays less attention to the clock．51 ,time passes without us really 52 it, and seems to go quickly．If the brain is not so active, it concentrates its__53___energies on monitoring the passing of time．__54_．time seems to drag．

Next time you feel bored__55__,perhaps you should pay more attention to what the teacher is saying!

36．A．guess　　　　 　 B．learn　　　　　 C．believe　　　 　　　 D．doubt

37．A．view　　　 　　　 B．point　　　　　 　　 C．scene　　　 　　　 D．experience

38．A．drags　　　　 B．stops　　　　 　　　　 C．backs　　　 　　　 D．gains

39．A．thought over　 　 B．made up　　　　　 C．suggested　　 　　 D．come up with

40．A．change　　 　　 B．develop　　　 　　　　 C．grow　　　　　 D．slow

41．A．sleepy　　　 　 B．bored　　　　　　 C．excited　　　　 　 D．active

42．A．report　 　　　　 B．think　　　　　 　　 C．decide　 　　　　　　　 D．see

43．A．produced　 　　 B．carried　　　　　 C．tried　　　　　 　 D．performed

44．A．so　　　　　 　 B．when　　　　　 　　 C．while　　　　　 D．but

45．A．partly　　　 　　 B．quickly　　　　　 　 C．how　　　　　 D．first

46．A．remember　　 　 B．focus on　　　　　 C．forget　　　　 　 D．tell apart

47．A．the researchers B．the experiment　　 C．the clock　　　 D．the brain

48．A．much attention to　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．more attention to 　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　　　 C．attention to many　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．attention to more

49．A．busy　　 　　　　 B．likely　　　　 　　　 C．ready　　 　　　　　 D．sure

50．A．focus　 　　　　　 B．gather　　　 　　 C．reach　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．spread

51．A．However　　 　 B．Furthermore 　　 C．Therefore　　　　 　　 D．Finally

52．A．recognizing 　　 B．watching　　 　 C．noticing　　　　　　 D．counting

53．A．enough　　 　　　 B．full　　　　 　　 C．right　　　　　　　 D．proper

54．A．In fact　　　 　 B．As a result　　 C．For example　　　 　　 D．Instead

55．A．in class　　 　　 B．with work　 　 C．in mind　　　　　　 　 D．of lessons

I shook with cold on the sidelines as my high school soccer team played on. Snow began to fall and so the playing conditions(情况条件) 　31 .

　　 It was a close game so I knew there was 32 　chance of my entering the action. I saw only 8 few audience --including my mom -- 33 　 the field. How I wanted t0 　34 　a goal for her, or for my coach to praise my sports ability in her　 35 　. But instead, I never played - - that day or many other days. My mom was 　 36 　to this. I wasn't much of a baseball player either. On the way home and feeling 　37　 about her coming "for nothing", I told her she shouldn't have　 38 　to come. She replied, "I had to. " And, when I asked her why, she 　39 　said, "Because you were there. "

　　 Now, after many years as a parent, I've come t0 　40_ many of the sacrifices(牺牲) that both of my parents, 　41 my mom suffered. With age comes intelligence. Almost thirty years later, I can easily 42 why my mom spent so many autumn afternoons standing on the sidelines during my 43 high school career. This was a good 44 　 I'd come to follow when I became a father. My children came first. And my willingness t0 45 　different activities of their lives often 　46　 me.

　　 With time going by, I began to realize that 　47 　I'd evenbecome a father, my education in how to be a good parent had already begun -- the　 48 　 0f the unconditional(无条件的) love, guidance and example set by my 　49 . So many valuable lessons were being 　50　 during my childhood, making me a good father. I'm no longer surprised by my willingness.

31 . A. disappeared　 B. worsened　　　 C. mattered　　　　　 D. worked

32. A. great 　　　　 B. much　　 　　　C. some　　　　　　　 D. little

33. A. from 　　　　 B. through　　　　 C. across　　　　　　　 D. away

34. A. kick　　 　　 B. have　　　　 　 C. set　　　　　　　　 D. reach

35. A.mind　　　　 B. presence　　　　 C. opinion　　　　　　 D. way

36.A. friendly　　 　 B. devoted .　　　 C.used　　　　　　　　 D. open

37. A. certain　　　　 B. equal　　　　　 C. disappointed　　　　 D. sad

38. A. troubled　 　　B. persuaded　　　 C. escaped　 　　　　　D. destroyed

39. A. suddenly　　　 B. jokingly　　　　 C. nervously　　　　　 D. only

40. A. escape　　　 　B. realize　 　　　 C. enrich　　 　　　　 D. disagree

41. A. usually　 、 B. finally　　　　 C. entirely　　 　　　　 D. especially

42. A. remember　 B. determine 　　 C . understand　　　　 D. doubt

43. A. unsuccessful 　 B. hopeful　　　　 C. peaceful　　　　　　 D. grateful

44. A. tip　　　 　　B. example　　　　 C. rule　　　　　　　　 D. goal

45. A. set up　　 　 B. join in　 、 　 C. talk about　　　 　　　D. learn from

46.A. surprised　 　　B. setded　　　　 C. educated　　　　　　 D. moved

47. A. even if　　　 B. because of　　　 C. as if　　　　　　　　 D. long before

48. A. reason　　 B. choice　　　　 C . disadvantage　　　 D. result

49. A. teacher　 　 B. mother　　 　　　C. fnend　　　　　　　 D. school

50.A. organized 　　 B. read　　　　　 C. taught　　　　　　　 D. recorded

One fine day, I was sitting in a quiet room at the Miclroft Hotel, a peaceful place about an hour out of Toronoto. It was just past noon, late July, and I was 　 1　 to the desperate sounds of a life —or— death 　2　 going on a few feet away．

There was a small fly 　3 the last of its short life' s energies in a useless 　4　 to fly through the glass of the window．The whining （发出嗡嗡声） wings told the 　5　 story of the fly' s strategy: Try harder．But it' s not working．

The great effort offered no hope for its　 6 ．Instead, the struggle was part of the trap．It was 　7　 for the fly to try hard enough to succeed in breaking through the glass: This fly's fate was　 8 ．It would die there near the window． 9　 the room; ten steps away, the door was 10 ．By ten seconds of flying, this small creature could 　11　 the outside world．With only a bit of the 　12　 now being wasted, it could be free of this self - imposed （自设的） trap．The breakthrough possibility was 　13　 .It would be so easy．

Why didn't the fly try 　14　 approach? How did it get so locked in the idea that this 　15 route and determined effort offered the most 　16　 for success? No doubt this approach made sense to the fly． 17 , it was an idea that would kill it．

Trying harder isn't necessarily the solution to achieving more．It 　18 offer any real promise for getting what you want out of life．Sometimes, 　19　 , it' s a big part of the problem．If you stake （拿……冒险） your hopes for a breakthrough on trying harder than ever, you may 20 your chances for success．

1．A．listening　　　 B．walking　　　 　　　　　　 C．looking　　 　　　 D．talking

2．A．performance　 B．struggle　　　　 C．competition　　 D．decision

3．A．giving up　 　　　　　　 B．saving up　　 C．bringing out　　 D．burning out

4．A．fight　 B．attempt　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　 C．way　　　　　　 D．spirit

5．A．sad　 　　　　　　　　　　 B．brave　　　　　　　　　　 C．funny　　　 　　　 D．great

6．A．reality　　　　　 B．trouble　　　 C．survival　　　 D．death

7．A．impossible　　 B．difficult 　C．unnecessary　　 　　　 D．practical

8．A．determined　 B．shortened 　C．changed　　　　 　　　　 D．controlled

9．A．From　　　 　　　　　 B．．Through C．Across　　　　 　　　　 D．Around

10．A．open　　　　 　　　 B．left 　C．closed　　　 　　　　　 D．guarded

11．A．see　　　　　 　 B．reach 　C．feel　　　　　 　　　　　 D．contact

12．A．power　　　 　　 B．hope C．trial　　　　　　 　　　 D．effort

13．A．late　　　　　 　　 B．little C．there　　　　 　　　　　 D．wasted

14．A．another　　　 　　　 B．the other 　C．either　　　　　 　　　 D．any other

15．A．different -　 　　　　 B．difficult 　C．familiar　　　　 　　　 D．particular

16．A．problem　　 　　　 B．excuse C. strength　　　　 　　　　 D．promise

17．A．Probably　　 　　 B．Regrettably C．Naturally　　　　 　　　 D．Gradually

18．A．may not B．mustn't C．would not D．can't

19．A．at last　　　 　　　 B．intact 　C．as a result　　　 　　　 D．after all

20．A．kill　　　　　 　　 B．value C．take　　　　　　 　　　 D．have