I had worried myself sick over Simon’s mother coming to see me. I was a new teacher, and I gave an honest account of the students’ work. In Simon’s case, the grades were awfully low. He couldn’t read his own handwriting. But he was a bright student. He discussed adult subjects with nearly adult comprehension. His work in no way reflected his abilities.
So when Simon’s mother entered the room, my palms (手掌心) were sweating. I was completely unprepared for her kisses on both my cheeks. “I came to thank you,” she said, surprising me beyond speech. Because of me, Simon had become a different person. He talked of how he loved me, he had begun to make friends, and for the first time in his twelve years, he had recently spent an afternoon at a friend’s house. She wanted to tell me how grateful she was for the self-respect I had developed in her son. She kissed me again and left.
I sat, stunned, for about half an hour, wondering what had just happened. How did I make such a life-changing difference to that boy without even knowing it? What I finally came to remember was one day, several months before, when some students were giving reports in the front of the class, Jeanne spoke quietly, and to encourage her to raise her voice, I had said, “Speak up. Simon is the expert on this. He is the only one you have to convince, and he can’t hear you in the back of the room.” That was it. From that day on, Simon had sat up straighter, paid more attention, smiled more, and became happy. And it was all because he happened to be the last kid in the last row. The boy who most needed praise was the one who took the last seat that day.
It taught me the most valuable lesson over the years of my teaching career, and I’m thankful that it came early and positively. A small kindness can indeed make a difference.
1.We can infer that when Simon’s mother entered the room, the writer felt _______.
A. satisfied B. nervous
C. happy D. surprised
2.Why did Simon’s mother come to visit her son’s teacher?
A. Because she worried about her son’s poor work.
B. Because she wanted to show her gratitude to the teacher.
C. Because Simon asked her to do so.
D. Because she wanted to know her son’s performance in the school.
3.What the teacher said in paragraph 3 is intended to _______.
A. encourage Jeanne to speak louder
B. encourage Simon to work hard
C. ask Jeanne to convince Simon
D. tell the students that Simon was expert on that.
4.The purpose of the passage is to ________.
A. tell the story of Simon
B. tell teachers how to be kind to students
C. advise the readers to be kind to others.
D. share a valuable lesson with readers.
完形填空,阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
With his leg lame（瘸的）and his teeth uneven, the boy almost thought of himself as the most unfortunate child in the world. He _________ played with his classmates, and when asked to answer questions, he always _________ his head without a word.
One spring, his father brought home some saplings（树苗）. _________ of his children would plant a sapling and he promised, “Whoever _________ his sapling best shall get a favorite gift.” The boy certainly wanted to get his father’s gift. _________ seeing his brothers and sisters watering the trees, an idea _________ him: he hoped the tree he planted would die soon. So watering it once or twice, he never _________ it.
Several days later, when the little boy went to see his tree again, he was _________ to find it not only didn’t die, but also grew so many fresh _________ . Compared with those of his brothers and sisters, his appeared greener. His father kept his _________ , bought the little boy one of his favorite gifts and said from the tree he planted, he would surely become an outstanding _________ when he grew up.
From then on, the little boy slowly became _________ and confident. One night, he suddenly _________ his biology teacher once said that plants _________ grow at night. Why not go to see his tree?
When he came to the courtyard, he found his father was working near his tree! Instantly he _________ : his father had been secretly _________ his small tree! He returned to his room, with tears _________ in his eyes.
Decades passed. The little boy didn’t become a botanist. _________ , he became the U.S. president. His name was Franklin Roosevelt.
_________ is the best nourishment（滋养品）of life. _________ it is just a bucket of water, it can make the tree of life grow well!
1.A. ever B. seldom C. still D. often
2.A. held B. raised C. lowered D. covered
3.A. Both B. None C. One D. Each
4.A. likes B. protects C. grows D. watches
5.A. And B. So C. Before D. But
6.A. cared for B. got rid of C. occurred to D. put forward
7.A. appealed to B. attended to C. adapted to D. turned to
8.A. surprised B. frightened C. disappointed D. amused
9.A. roots B. leaves C. branches D. seeds
10.A. word B. balance C. agreement D. opinion
11.A. teacher B. gardener C. president D. botanist
12.A. satisfied B. certain C. optimistic D. independent
13.A. believed B. recalled C. repeated D. knew
14.A. generally B. hardly C. recently D. voluntarily
15.A. remembered B. understood C. wondered D. admitted
16.A. cutting B. decorating C. watering D. fertilizing
17.A. welling B. falling C. dropping D. crying
18.A. Therefore B. Besides C. Moreover D. Instead
19.A. Love B. Water C. Disability D. Father
20.A. So long as B. If only C. Now that D. Even though
Not until he retired from teaching three years ago ________ having a holiday abroad.
A. he had considered B. had he considered
C. he considered D. did he consider
______, the conference began.
A. The candidates having taken their seats
B. The candidates had taken their seats
C. Taken their seats
D. Taking their seats
In order to _______ a good knowledge of English ,he gave up his job and went to study in an English school.
A. require B. inquire C. acquire D. Address
________, the boys were shouting and singing.
A .Happy and excited B. Happily and excitedly
C. Happily and excited D. Happy and excitedly
