完形填空

　　When you are learning languages, what do you think is the most interesting? One of the most interesting of all studies is the study of words and word origins．Each language is 　　1　　 of several earlier languages and the words of a language can sometimes be traced 　　2　　 through two or three different languages to their 　　3　　．Again a word from one language may pass into other languages and 　　4　　 a new meaning．The word “etiquette,” which is 　　5　　 French origin and originally meant a label(标志), 　　6　　 a sign, passed into Spanish and kept its original meaning．So in Spanish the word “etiquette” today is used to 　　7　　 the small tags(标签)which a store 　　8　　 to a suit, a dress or a bottle．The word “etiquette” in French, 　　9　　, gradually developed a different meaning．It 　　10　　 became the custom to write directions on small cards, or “etiquette”, as to how visitors should dress themselves and 　　11　　 during an important ceremony at the royal court．　　12　　 the word “etiquette” began to indicate a system of correct manners for people to follow．　　13　　 this meaning, the word passed into English．

　　Consider the word “breakfast”．“To fast” is to go for some period of time without 　　14　　．Thus in the morning after many hours 　　15　　 the night without food, one 　　16　　 one’s fast．

　　Consider the everyday English 　　17　　 “Good-bye”．Many many years ago, people would say to each 　　18　　 on parting “God be with you．” As this was 　　19　　 over and over millions of times, it gradually became 　　20　　 to “Good-bye”．

完型填空

　　Just ten years ago, I sat across the desk from a doctor with a serious look．“Yes,” he said, “there is a serious injury in the left lung…” I listened, too 　　1　　 to speak, as he continued, “You'll have to 　　2　　 work at once and go to bed．Later on, we'll see．” He gave no definite promise of recovery．

　　Feeling like a man who has suddenly been placed under 　　3　　 of death．In the next three days, I 　　4　　 my affairs; then I went home, got into bed, and set my watch to tick off not the minutes, 　　5　　 the months．Two and a half years and many crashed hopes later, I left my bed and began the long 　　6　　 back．It was another year before I made it．

　　I speak of this experience because these years that passed so 　　7　　 taught me what to believe and what to 　　8　　．They said to me：Take time, 　　9　　 time takes you．I realize now that this world I'm living in is not my oyster(牡蛎)to be opened but my opportunity to be 　　10　　．To me, each day is such a 　　11　　 gift．The sun comes up and presents me with 24 brand new, wonderful hours－not to pass, but to 　　12　　．

　　I've learned to 　　13　　 those little but all-important things I never thought I had the time to notice before：the play of light on 　　14　　 water, the music of the wind in my favorite pine tree．I seem now to see and hear and feel with some of the recovered 　　15　　 of childhood．I recall the touch of the springy earth under my feet the day I first stepped upon it after the years in bed．It was like 　　16　　 one's citizenship in a world one had nearly lost．　　17　　, I sit back and say to myself, let me make a 　　18　　 of this moment I'm living right now．All this, I owe to that long time spent on the deadlines of life．Wiser people come to this awareness 　　19　　 having to acquire it the hard way．But I wasn't wise enough．I'm 　　20　　 now, a little, and happier．

完型填空。

　　A parable(寓言)tells about a martial artist who kneels(跪)before a master in a ceremony to receive the Black Belt, which is hard to earn．After years of 　　1　　, the student has finally reached a height of achievement in the discipline．

　　“Before gaining the belt, you must 　　2　　 one more test,” the coach seriously tells the young man．

　　“I’m ready,” responds the student, 　　3　　 perhaps one more round of boxing．

　　“You must answer the 　　4　　 question：what is the true meaning of the Black Belt?”

　　“Why, the end of my journey,” says the student．“A well-deserved 　　5　　 for my hard work．”

　　The master waits for more．　　6　　, he is not satisfied．The coach finally speaks, “You are not ready for the Black Belt．　　7　　 in one year．”

　　As the student 　　8　　 before his master a year later, he is again asked the question, “What is the true 　　9　　 of the Black Belt?”

　　“It is a symbol of honor and the highest achievement in our art．” The young man responds．

　　Again the master waits for more．Still 　　10　　, he says once more, “You are not ready for the Black Belt．Return in one year．”

　　A year later the student kneels before his coach and 　　11　　 the question, “What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?”

　　This time he answers, “The Black Belt 　　12　　 not the end, but the beginning, the 　　13　　 of a never-ending journey of discipline, work and the pursuit of an ever higher standard．”

　　“Yes,” says the master．“You are now ready to 　　14　　 the Black Belt and begin your work．”

　　You may not be 　　15　　 for a Black Belt, but you might be at an important point．Maybe you’re facing a life change, perhaps even a 　　16　　 one．Or maybe you are waiting for something you have worked hard to achieve－graduation, a new job, a 　　17　　, or even retirement．

　　All wise people see that 　　18　　 can be new beginnings．Change need not be feared．And neither should we be looking for a 　　19　　 resting place, for a full and happy life is always active．

　　Does the change you face represent, not just an ending, but a new beginning in your life’s 　　20　　? If so, you may be ready to move forward．