Among the more colorful characters of Leadville’s golden age were H. A. W. Tabor and his wife, Elizabeth McCourt, better known as “Baby Doe”. Their history is fast becoming one of the legends of the Old West.
Horace Austin Warner Tabor was a school teacher in Vermont. Then he moved west to the small Colorado mining camp known as California Gulch, which he later renamed Leadville when he became its leading citizen. “Great deposits of lead are sure to be found here.” he said.
As it turned out, it was silver, not lead, that was to make Leadville’s fortune and wealth. Tabor knew little about mining himself, so he opened a general store, which sold everything from boots to salt, flour, and tobacco. It was his custom to “grubstake” prospective miners, in other words, to supply them with food and supplies, or “grub”, while they looked for ore(矿石), in return for which he would get a share in the mine if one was discovered. He did this for a number of years, but no one that he aided ever found anything of value.
Finally one day in the year 1878, so the story goes, two miners came in and asked for “grub”. Tabor had decided to quit supplying it because he had lost too much money that way. These were persistent, however, and Tabor was too busy to argue with them. “Oh help yourself. One more time won’t make any difference,” He said and went on selling shoes and hats to other customers. The two miners took $17 worth of supplies, in return for which they gave Tabor a one-third interest in their findings. They picked a barren place on the mountain side and began to dig. After nine days they struck a rich vein of silver. Tabor bought the shares of the other two men, and so the mine belonged to him alone. This mine, known as the “Pittsburgh Mine,” made $1,300,000 for Tabor in return for his $17 investment.
Later Tabor bought the Matchless Mine on another barren hillside just outside the town for $117,000. This turned out to be even more fabulous than the Pittsburgh, yielding $35,000 worth of silver per day at one time. Leadville grew. Tabor became its first mayor, and later became lieutenant governor of the state.
1.Leadville got its name for the following reasons EXCEPT that
A.Tabor became its leading citizen.
B.great deposits of lead is expected to be found there.
C.it could bring good fortune to Tabor
D.it was renamed
2.The underlined word “grubstake” in Paragraph 3 means
A.to supply miners with food and supplies
B.to open a general stores
C.to do one's contribution to the development of the mine
D.to supply miners with food and supplies and in return get a share in the mine, if one was discovered
3.We can infer that Tabor’s life career is.
A.purely lucky
B.based on his managing theory of “grubstake’
C.through the help from his wife
D.because he planned well and accomplished targets step by step
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A.Tabor’s Life. B.A legend of the Old West
C.Lead Makes Leadville’s Fortune D.The Best Investment
In a world where comparisons happen non-stop, it is difficult to look outside yourself and to ever be 36 with who you are. There’s always someone who’s a bit 37 . The only solution is to reach 38 and measure against what Warren Buffett calls your own inner yardstick. There is no more 39 measure for comparison than who your were yesterday, last week or last decade, when you were at your 40 .
Nothing useful ever comes from comparison to others. Either you see yourself as better than someone and you get 41 , or you see someone else as better than you and you feel like all your hard work is for 42 . It is a fool’s game. Not one of us is exactly 43 . The only direct and honest comparison is 44 yourself. Everything else is apples to oranges.
My opinion is that you are only 45 to compare yourself to someone else if their life 46 is the same as your own. Good luck finding that 47 . And one thing is for sure. No matter how hard you work and how dedicated you are, there will always be someone who can run a little faster, jump a little higher, score a little better or look a little nicer in a swimsuit. And if there’s not, you can 48 someone is coming up fast 49 you. So how can you always win in life? Become your best 50 .
Having an image of your most recent past limits is the perfect thing to 51 you to the next level. If you ran 7 flights of stairs yesterday, then do 8 today. Who 52 if the guy next to you did 15? It doesn’t make a bit of 53 . You are a more 54 person today than you were yesterday. Your own 55 is all you need.
1.A. patient B. strict C. content D. concerned
2.A. stronger B. better C. lazier D. wiser
3.A. inside B. out C. for D. up
4.A. accurate B. useful C. careful D. powerful
5.A. end B. best C. convenience D. side
6.A. satisfied B. busy C. inspired D. lazy
7.A. nothing B. fun C. sure D. success
8.A. equal B. unique C. alike D. common
9.A. within B. by C. for D. of
10.A. instructed B. allowed C. directed D. suggested
11.A. situation B. position C. occasion D. accommodation
12.A. game B. match C. friend D. enemy
13.A. conclude B. bet C. announce D. declare
14.A. before B. beside C. below D. behind
15.A. assistant B. competitor C. coach D. teacher
16.A. contribute B. expose C. push D. devote
17.A. cares B. says C. wonders D. asks
18.A. effort B. sense C. difference D. change
19.A. successful B. happy C. lucky D. fit
20.A. benefit B. progress C. habit D. result
--- Sorry, it's already 6 o’clock. I have to be off for an appointment.
---OK. ________.
A. It couldn’t be better B. You really have me there
C. Let’s call it a day D. Take your time
---Hi, Dave. This is Helen speaking!
---Hi, what a coincidence! I _____ about you.
A. was just thinking B. just thought
C. have just thought D. would just think
A British official said that_____ this impractical policy could be changed , the future for Britain was indeed dark.
A.unless B. when C.if D.until
—To get a slim figure, Fanny has tried many ways, but in vain.
---So now she is reduced______anything for supper.
A. to not eating B.not to eat
C. not to eating D. to not eat