The House Fairy

　　As young parents, my husband and I felt that at age 6 and 8, our children were old enough to be cleaning their rooms and making their beds. But they thought 36 . My complaints, repeating myself, even self-justified shouting were landing on 37 ears. I felt frustrated (沮喪的) , and very often a whole afternoon’s scolding would end with their 38 into tears, I realized I needed to 39 my methods of “mothering”.

　　One day while they were at school, I had great fun 40 their rooms. On their desks, in plain 41 , I left the cards: “Dear Bill (the other card was 42 to Sarah), your room was messy this morning and I’m sure you like it clean. Love, the House Fairy. ” 43 arriving back, the children were 44 excited to receive the little note from the House Fairy. The next day, their rooms were fairly tidy. Sure enough, there was another note from the House Fairy 45 for them, thanking them for their nice “gift” of a clean room and 46 asking them to play a certain violin 47 . Each day, thank--you notes would be worded differently to keep the ideas 48 .

　　Sometimes the House Fairy would propose a little 49 : “If you can finish your homework today and 50 it before dinner, I’ d like to watch a particular television program with you tonight. ” Sometimes some colored markers or other little items would be left in 51 of jobs especially well done the day 52 .

　　53 I can’t remember how long “the House Fairy” continued leaving her love notes. When they were no longer age appropriate (合適的), we used various versions of Post-Its. The bathroom mirror became the 54 centre of our home. Appointments, notices about visiting relatives, lesson schedules, and changes in plans could be posted.

　　We all benefited from and 55 the idea of sharing reminders and daily details of life through notes. I believe the true legacy of the House Fairy notes survives in our frequent and enjoyable communication.

　　36. A. different B. no C. otherwise D. doubtful

　　37. A. side B. deaf C. neither D. either

　　38. A. crying B. breaking C. bursting D. bumping

　　39. A. adjust B. adopt C. access D. addict

　　40. A. to tidy B. tidying C. tidied D. tidy

　　41. A. distance B. words C. speech D. sight

　　42. A. sent B. read C. delivered D. addressed

　　43. A. As B. At C. Of D. Upon

　　44. A. more than B. rather than C. no more than D. other than

　　45. A. asking B. waiting C. praying D. expecting

　　46. A. politely B. friendly C. gently D. toughly

　　47. A. music B. song C. piece D. tone

　　48. A. respectable B. uninteresting C. incredible D. fresh

　　49. A. challenge B. question C. suggestion D. advice

　　50. A. go with B. go through C. look up D. look into

　　51. A. response B. answer C. praise D. honor

　　52. A. ahead B. before C. over D. ago

　　53. A. Actually B. Even so C. Even if D. Though

　　54. A. reminder B. main C. memory D. life

　　55. A. learned B. appreciated C. shared D. thanked

　　答案：36-40：CBCAB 41-45：BDDAB 46-50：CCDAB 51-55：CBAAB

　　Loving Kindness Is Twice Blessed

　　I felt gloomy (沮喪的) the other day. The weather had been dark and rainy, and I just didn’t feel so 16 .

　　As I was sitting at my desk, I 17 it was the birthday of a dear long-time friend — a single, middle-aged woman who has devoted the past 30 years to nursing and loves her 18 .

　　Knowing that she doesn’t have family in town, I 19 to give her a call. Sure enough, she was on B-shift, 20 to work late into the evening, and wouldn’t have 21 of a birthday this year. As always, 22 , she sounded cheerful and was happy that I 23 .

　　After I hung up, I couldn’t 24 the feeling that she would really appreciate a little attention on her special day. 25 feeling a little gloomy myself, I tried to put it out of my mind, but as the day passed I couldn’t shake the thought. I 26 gave in, and that evening set off to the hospital with a card, a cheese cake, and some balloons. My friend’s grateful smile and joyful surprise 27 me I’d done the right thing and were a generous 28 for the little effort it had taken.

　　When I got home, I realized that not only had I cheered up a 29 friend on her birthday, but my own gloomy feelings had also disappeared. Making her day had 30 my own!

　　Isn’t that the way it is 31 we take the time and make the 32 to do something for someone else? It’s like the little saying, “Loving kindness is twice blessed; it blesses him who gives, and him who 33 .”

　　Cheering up people on their birthdays isn’t the only thing we can do to make their day. Life constantly presents us with 34 to take an extra step or do a kind deed that will make a difference to 35 . And the wonderful thing is that as we do, it changes things for the better for us too.

　　16. A. special B. positive C. nervous D. proud

　　17. A. explained B. complained C. remembered D. informed

　　18. A. family B. training C. work D. school

　　19. A. decided B. continued C. agreed D. refused

　　20. A. surprised B. disappointed C. bored D. prepared

　　21. A. much B. many C. little D. few

　　22. A. though B. besides C. therefore D. otherwise

　　23. A. admitted B. called C. succeeded D. apologized

　　24. A. experience B. imagine C. shake D. understand

　　25. A. Almost B. Even C. Never D. Still

　　26. A. luckily B. finally C. unhappily D. hardly

　　27. A. convinced B. advised C. promised D. reminded

　　28. A. response B. contribution C. reward D. share

　　29. A. careless B. lonely C. weak D. curious

　　30. A. troubled B. taken C. wasted D. made

　　31. A. when B. where C. why D. how

　　32. A. suggestion B. friend C. effort D. call

　　33. A. tries B. receives C. expects D. cares

　　34. A. opportunities B. dreams C. choices D. regrets

　　35.A. someone B. something C. everyone D. everything

　　16.B. positive意為“樂觀的”，此處的didn’t feel so positive 與上文的felt gloomy相符。

　　17.C. 記起。

　　18.C. 從事護(hù)士職業(yè)30年，很喜歡她自己的工作。

　　19.A. 我決定給她打個電話。

　　20.D. 她是B班，準(zhǔn)備工作到深夜。

　　21.A. 不會有太多的時間過生日。

　　22.A. though 意為“雖然”。

　　23.B. 她因我打電話而高興。

　　24.C. shake 意為“動搖”，下文26空前有提示。

　　25.D. 作者仍然感到沮喪，與文章開頭相呼應(yīng)。

　　26.B. 最終。

　　27.A. 使我相信我做對了。

　　28.C. 她的笑容和驚喜是對我慷慨的回報。

　　29.B. 作者沒有家人在鎮(zhèn)里，所以孤獨，與19空前內(nèi)容相符合。

　　30.D. 與make her day 相符合。

　　31.A. 當(dāng)我們付出時間和努力的時候。

　　32.C. 同上。

　　33.B. receives 與 gives 相對應(yīng)。

　　34.A. 生活為我們提供機(jī)會。

　　35.A. 對某個人產(chǎn)生影響。