本文作者： 北京 郭文华
1

Teachers always talk about how hard it is in the “real world”. Well, I 1 to admit it, but they were right. 2 , having an after-school job is actually helping me as a student and as a young woman.

When I 3 16, my mom 4 pushed me out of the house to look for a job. She wanted me to learn the importance of being able to 5 more than one thing 6 . She also wanted me to start 7 the idea of being an adult, making a living in the real world.

So now I work at a sneaker retail store (运动鞋零售店) after school and on weekends. Working 25 hours a week doesn’t 8 a lot of time for homework and studying.

Teachers said to me: “ 9 is more important than school. If your job is 10 you away from your work, then maybe it is best that you 11 .” Have I been excellent at 12 my time? Not always. However, I am learning how important it is to be organized and 13 .

So I did something 14 people have been telling me forever: I bought a 15 . I wrote down when my homework assignments were 16 , when I had tests and quizzes, and when I was working each week. I planned all my time around those dates. So far it has 17 rather well.

Adults should 18 students to get an after-school job. We are going to have to 19 things for ourselves. But they should realize that we kids are going to make some mistakes. I may not be the top student that everyone wants me to be because I may miss a homework assignment. But in the end, I think I will be an ace (高手) at 20 in the real world.

1. A. like B. resist C. forbid D. hate

2. A. Therefore B. Besides C. Thus D. However

3. A. grew B. went C. turned D. got

4. A. particularly B. practically C. naturally D. partly

5. A. face B. control C. balance D. evaluate

6. A. at times B. all the time C. in no time D. at a time

7. A. grasping B. producing C. raising D. accepting

8. A. have B. leave C. remain D. occupy

9. A. Something B. Everything C. Anything D. Nothing

10. A. breaking B. making C. taking D. putting

11. A. disappear B. flee C. quit D. stay

12. A. making B. managing C. taking D. choosing

13. A. time-served B. time-honored

C. time-tested D. time-efficient

14. A. what B. as C. that D. because

15. A. clock B. planner C. book D. pen

16. A. due B. complete C. evident D. important

17. A. brought out B. turned out

C. worked out D. given out

18. A. tell B. force C. encourage D. influence

19. A. acquire B. experience C. abandon D. tolerate

20. A. standing B. enjoying C. recovering D. surviving

2

I had just walked in the door after dropping off the costume I had made for a friend’s daughter when I noticed the light blinking on my answering machine. It was my friend saying, “I know you worked hard on the 1 and it looks very nice, 2 Janet doesn’t like all those sequins (亮片). Could you 3 them?”

I groaned. 4 , I started to call her back – until I suddenly 5 Grandma and what she had once done for me long ago when I visited her in New York City.

Once, Grandma 6 to curl my hair. When she finished she sighed with delight. She was so 7 that she had me stand on a chair to look in the mirror. I looked 8 .

“You can go out and play now,” Grandma said, 9 .

I nodded and 10 walked down the stairs. I looked out the small window in the door and could see the neighborhood kids playing hopscotch (跳房子游戏). I knew everyone would 11 the curls.

I went 12 . I could hear my heart pounding with every step. I began to feel sick. I knocked on Grandma’s door. When she opened it, I said in a scared 13 , “Grandma, my hair’s too curly.”

She 14 said a word. She placed a comb in water, combed out all the curls, and then stood me back on the 15 so I could see in the mirror. Afterwards I went off to play.

It was when Grandma took out the curls that I knew she loved me. She had put my 16 before hers. And that is the kind of love I try to 17 today.

That memory was fresh in my mind. I 18 my friend back. “I’d be 19 to change the costume,” I said. 20 would have been, too.

1. A. clothing B. sweater C. costume D. shirt

2. A. and B. but C. since D. while

3. A. repair B. stop C. ignore D. change

4. A. Annoyed B. Surprised C. Excited D. Satisfied

5. A. turned to B. thought of C. called on D. agreed with

6. A. required B. advised C. decided D. prepared

7. A. proud B. hesitant C. nervous D. certain

8. A. sweet B. cute C. ridiculous D. attractive

9. A. staring B. waving C. frowning D. smiling

10. A. quickly B. slowly C. cheerfully D. calmly

11. A. laugh at B. think highly of

C. complain about D. be jealous of

12. A. in B. out C. downstairs D. upstairs

13. A. voice B. sound C. noise D. manner

14. A. ever B. never C. seldom D. simply

15. A. bed B. couch C. sofa D. chair

16. A. attitude B. feelings C. position D. opinions

17. A. put on B. put away C. pass on D. pass away

18. A. called B. sent C. got D. brought

19. A. sorry B. glad C. interested D. disappointed

20. A. My friend B. Janet C. Grandma D. Everyone