I'm a 50-something male, the father of two mostly grown girls. I'm happy to say that both my parents are still kicking. I'm on good terms with my brothers and sisters most of the time. I am blessed with good friends and other relations, and tend to get on well with my co-workers. I am fortunate in so many ways, but feel like I consistently disappoint everyone I know. I cannot, for the life of me, give a genuine compliment. It simply doesn't come naturally. When I try, and I do, in order to maintain all the aforementioned relationships, it feels forced, more a matter of obligation than a gift that might put wind in the sa Is of someone I truly care for. I feel strongly that giving should spring from joy, or at least from a heartfelt desire to see the recipient enlivened by it. When I have nothing to offer in response to a job well done, or I can't cite the intrinsic value of those I love, everyone loses. I feel like I've warped the emotional and social development of my children, alienated any number of perfectly wonderful lovers, and generally kept the world at arm's length. I can recall certain compliments given to me through the years. Some of them made all the differences, whether in attaining some goal or simply affording me an elevated sense of self and my rightful place in the world. The value of timely acknowledgment is obvious. After years of psychotherapy and the obsessive self-examination endemic to my generation, I believe I know where this stinginess of spirit comes from. Six kids in total, at a very tender age, there were five younger, cuter kids standing between me and the object of our affection. Mama was driven to distraction, to put it mildly, by the demands placed on her, but it was the 1950s and she set a selfless and hardy example. I had complete sympathy for her difficult situation, even at the time. The fact remains, however, that, as a young child, I needed more than I got. I thirsted for my mother's attention. I needed to know that she valued me as more than her helper, her strong little man. I clearly recall, at the ripe old age of 7, coming to the conclusion that I would never get it. "That's OK, " I reckoned, "I can get by without it", "it" being her love. You can imagine the sibling rivalry in all its permutations. Eventually I took haven in the written word to get away from it. But even before I learned to read, I had realized that giving any sign of approval or encouragement to my brothers and sisters could only serve to increase the gulf between me and my mom. Does that make sense? I can rationalize otherwise, of course, and now we're all "one big happy family", but the damage is done. I want to be gracious and giving, but when I even think to reach into that purse, however, it's pretty much empty.
{{B}}PART II LISTENING COMPREHENSION{{/B}}
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It is essential that he_____all the facts first.(2014)
You just lost quite a bit of blood, which is why you feel ______.
Major-choosing has long been a hot issue for university students. Some people believe that it is not proper to ask students to choose a major before they go to university and they should be given at least one year to take different courses so as to find their field of interest. Others, however, do not think so. What's your opinion? Write a composition of about 200 words on the following topic: Should Students Decide on Majors Before University Studies? Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks.
Two men have denied _____ murdering a woman at a remote picnic spot.
{{B}}PART VI WRITING{{/B}}
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PASSAGE FOUR
Acute hearing helps most animals sense the approach of thunderstorms long before people ______.[2000]
They all think that it's better to be busy than to be free, _______?
All he said was so free from effort and ______ and was said with such a captivating charm.
Your advice would be ______valuable to him, who is now at a loss as to what to do first.
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Ted couldn't remember the exact date of the storm, but he knew it was ______ Sunday because everybody was at______ church.
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The only candidate______ can hope to defeat him finally quits.
Which of the following italicized parts is a subject clause(主语从句)?
Which of the following reflexive pronouns(反身代词)is used as an appositive(同位语)?