我的备考日记cracking CBT(updating everyday)

123go

A writer’s method

For the last ten years, I have written novels for a living. Through my work, I have been able to accumulate a fair amount of wealth. I have been lucky because many of my books have received acclaim from literary critics.

My latest accomplishment is a mystery novel. It is a fictional account of how a clear and accomplished thief, posing as a accountant, gains access to the computer system of a large bank. Having extensive knowledge of accounting, he and a woman accomplice use the bank’s computer system to accomplish the biggest theft in history.

To be a good writer, I think you must find a quiet environment where you can think, preferably one with limited accessibility. Some of my most acclaimed work was written at an isolated island hotel off the coast of china. I highly recommend this place.

The island is accessible only by boat and the hotel is accredited by the asian resort association as a five-star accommodation. Upon arrival, the manager will accompany you to your room and show you how everything works. The staff is trained to accommodate your every need. Any errors in service are purely accidental. The security is excellent and there’s little chance of being accosted by strangers.

Each room has a balcony with a view of the ocean. On the balcony you will find a large leather chair and a sturdy writing desk. The bathroom is very modern and contains many unique accessories. The most useful bathtub accessory is their mini-desk, which allows you to write while soaking in a tub of hot water.

To continue being a good writer, you must find a way to relax your mind after a long day of writing. What’s my secret method of relaxation? Playing the accordian!

The accused

Bob is an excellent trial lawyer with a superior legal acumen. Unlike many other lawyers that need to use acronyms to remember certain legal principles, bob simply uses his photographic memory. What makes bob even more special is his acute sense for reading people’s emotions, especially those of jurors.

Due to his reputation, he is able to acquire the most interesting cases. His jealous competitors often accuse him of being too acquisitive and of taking away their business. But I respect bob for his many achievements. I remember the first trial he ever did.

Bob was hired by an acquaintance named Jim to defend him against a criminal charge. Jim was accused of intentionally throwing acid on another man’s arm in a laboratory where they were both activating chemicals. Jim was adamant that the accusation was false. He claimed it was an accident that occurred during an argument. Being a contract lawyer, bob was not accustomed to handling trials in front of a jury. However, he agreed to the acquisition of Jim’s case because he strongly believed in Jim’s innocence. The thought of an innocent man being convicted of a crime he didn’t commit actuated bob’s hidden trial skills.

At the trial, bob proved that the other man caused his own injury by pushing Jim while Jim was working with dangerous chemicals. Bob also proved that the man’s claim of an acute injury was false. The actual injury was minor. Bob asked the jury to acquit Jim of all criminal charges. Amazingly, bob achieved an acquittal for Jim.

I’ll never forget what bob did for Jim, because I was there. I am Jim. In fact, I still remember the adage bob used to explain why he took my case for free. He said, “ In doing, we learn.”

123go

Adaptation is the key

I must admit, I didn’t like Tom in the beginning. He lived in the house that was adjacent to mine, and I knew he was addicted to painkillers. He had injured his back while building adobe houses in the countryside for the local government administration. The painkillers numbed his back pain and allowed him to continue performing his heavy construction work. However, it wasn’t long before he got caught for failing to adhere to the drug laws.

I still recall what the judge told him shortly before he adjourned the court. “ You’ll either have to adapt to a life without drugs or adjust to living in the prison that adjoins this courthouse.”

I was admittedly upset when the judge asked me to help administer tom’s probation. I felt that the judge was making me an unwilling and unnecessary adjunct to the court system. But I had no choice. I thought to myself, “ adaptation is the key.” So I changed my attitude towards tom and I soon learned that tom was just as adaptable.

Tom heeded the judge’s warning. He quit his construction job and stopped using painkillers. He put all of his time and effort into inventing a new adhesive for constructing brick houses. His dedication was admirable. He became quite adept at chemistry and before long, he discovered a key additive that made his glue superior to all other adhesives.

Now, I greatly admire tom and he has become a good friend. I guess adaptation really is the key.

Christmas

I’m a big advocate of Christmas celebrations. It’s still my favorite time of year. Although china hasn’t adopted this special holiday, there’s still hope. With the advent of china’s membership in the WTO, Chinese people will be exposed to a number of western holidays. My guess is that they will adore Christmas.

My strong affinity for Christmas comes from my childhood days. In my hometown, we would prepare for Christmas comes from my childhood days. In my hometown, we would prepare for Christmas by buying a big Christmas tree. If we were feeling bit more adventurous, we would hike up the mountain and find one on our own. Adorning the tree is the next step. We’d use all kinds of adornment to decorate the tree, from pinecones and candy coated angles to colorful Christmas balls and fake icicles. My dad was especially adroit at making small handpainted ornaments. Since my dad’s company was affiliated with a light bulb company, he was also able to bring home the most beautiful and colorful Christmas lights.

After decorating the tree. We would make small gingerbread houses out of bread and candy. These houses were aesthetic but not edible. It was always advisable to keep these appetizing houses out of reach of young children.

There’s no adversity on Christmas day. Even the soldiers are adverse to fighting. Everyone is affable. Lovers are especially affectionate and they often show their affection by giving each other romantic gifts. Children usually receive toys as gifts. But my most memorable gift was not a toy. It was an aquarium, complete with an air pump to aerate the water. Raising all those fish was such an adventure for me.

What is my favorite holiday? All of these wonderful thoughts lead me to affirm that Christmas is without doubt the best time of year.

Another day, another dollar

Life as a newspaper reporter can be aggravating. Every morning at 5:00 a.m., there’s a staff meeting where the managing editor goes through his agenda for the day. He’s not at all agreeable in the morning. In fact, he’s akin to a grouchy bear. Oh does he love to agitate us! I drink coffee to calm my nerves but sometimes it just aggravates my stomach.

“Jim, you’ll be covering the recent acts of aggression in the middle east. We can’t afford to ignore this important development. You need to be airborne and on your way to the middle east within the hour.”

“Jane, come in here, you’re late. Don’t leave the door ajar, this is a private meeting. I need you to get a copy of that new alien alert from the immigration department. The aggregate number of aliens in this country is growing, but it seems to me that such an alert will only serve to alienate our own minority groups.”

“Sam, you’re the most agile of us all. Use your agility to catch up with the world-class runners who are in town for the marathon. Come on Sam, don’t agonize over your assignment, just do it.”

“Mary, the children in central Africa are afflicted with an unknown disease. It’s not just an ailment. It’s something far more serious. Hey, stop looking so aghast, you don’t need to go there. Just find out the source of the affliction and write a report on it by this afternoon. By the way, I think you should quit drinking coffee, it does nothing to cal your nerves!”

Oh well, I guess I better get going. Can I afford to quit this wonderful job? Not today.

Funny things happen

Yesterday, I decided to get my pants altered. I had$200 in my wallet, which was more than enough for the alteration. Foolishly however, I got lost taking an alternate route to the tailor shop. Fortunately, I had aspirin to alleviate my headache.

Walking further, I noticed a red balloon aloft, rising to a higher altitude. It distracted me, causing me to bump into two young brothers. They looked alike but seemed opposite in personality. One was clearly aloof but the other appeared to be an altruistic individual. He could sense I was lost and happily gave me directions. Such altruism is so rare these days. What an ally he can be to a lost person! The contrast in their personalities reminded me of the biblical allegory of Cain and Abel. But it would be too hasty to allege such a contrast given that I didn’t really know them.

I continued on my way but was allured into a bike shop by a window photo of a lovely girl on a mountain bike. Below the photo, it said, “ride rough, ride real,” a clear alliteration. I felt there was no alternative but to enter the shop.

The owner was an alumnus from my university. He alluded that the best bike for me would be the $200 bike that was displayed in the window photo. It was made out of a special lightweight alloy. He also offered to adjust my tire alignment for free.

Well, I didn’t make it to the tailor that day. But I did ride home on a new bike. As for my pants? Well, the bike shop owner cut the pant legs off for free. Now I have a cool pair of shorts for riding!

The speech and the vote

Good morning everyone. I’d like to make a few remarks. Let me start by saying, I think the merger is a good idea. Of we amalgamate our two small business, we can create a more powerful one, with our increased size and financial power, we can amass new investors and raise ample funds to renovate the old hotel. We can attract more guests by adding amenities, like a swimming pool, and planting more greenery to create a peaceful ambience. To make it even more special, we can build a special walkway that will allow people to amble amid the trees. The results of out ambitious project will amaze the community.

After we finish the renovations, we can take photos and post them on our Internet site. My brother is an amateur photographer and a very amenable individual. I’m sure he won’t charge us for taking photos, as long as we keep the amount of photos down to a reasonable number.

Then, before opening the new hotel, we’ll need to hire and train a new staff of amicable people. We don’t want anyone who is ambivalent towards the concept of “personal service.” Such ambivalence is bad for business, we want people who are hardworking and amiable. We’ll also need a manager who has enough ambition to keep the hotel running efficiently.

Okay. For those of you suffering from temporary amnesia, recall that we must vote to amend the company’s by-laws before we can initiate the merger of our two companies. So let’s vote. Everyone in favor of the amendment, say “aye!”

A search back in time

I often wondered about my ancestry. I knew that my angular face and large eyes came from my father’s Spanish ancestors. But what did they do for a living?

My father, who is very animated, would try to satisfy my curiosity by telling me funny anecdotes about his father and grandfather. His stories were often intriguing, but the information I wanted had to be more than anecdotal. So one day, I went to the library and searched through the annals of Spanish history.

I found a good book that thoroughly analyzed the relevant time period and amplified its analysis with charts and illustrations. In it, I discovered several interesting historical figures who shared my surname, sierra.

One was an anarchist. He wrote books in which he expressed his belief that society in the rural areas should be allowed to exist without a government. He believed that the government was purposely creating a fear of anarchy merely to justify its heavy taxes on rural area framers.

Another sierra was a doctor of anatomy. He was credited for inventing the first anesthetic. The anesthesia allowed him to operate on his patients without causing pain.

The most interesting sierra was a former high-ranking official who worked in an ancillary department of the central Spanish government. He spent most of his life protesting the Spanish military’s efforts to annihilate and annex smaller and weaker countries overseas. From the government’s point of view, his protests were analogous to treason, and they sentenced him to a life of anguish in prison.

From this research, I was able to see many analogies between the characteristic of my ancestors and my own personality. It made me feel very proud to be a sierra!

Time not lost

I first met her at the university 8 years ago. My major was anthropology and hers was history. We fell in love and wedded, but three months later, she announced her intention to annul the marriage. She said that I never seemed interested in talking about history and that my apathy annoyed her. She moved away and I never anticipated seeing her again.

Then, I ran into her last year while attending an annual convention at the university. She had passed to me an anonymous note that simply said, “look behind you.” I had no idea it would be her.

Now, she teaches an American history class at the university. She is truly an anomaly among history professors. She stimulates interest in history by taking her students to historic sites and having them experience antiquity in person. It thrills them to annotate their textbooks with fist-hand information. Her anomalous teaching method draws a large number of students.

Last month, I joined her class for a trip to a house that antedated the American civil war. We were fascinated by the antiquated furniture and the post-war antiques. In one room, I found a rusty bronze music box that plays the national anthem. In the bedroom, I found a hand-sewn book containing an anthology of civil war poems. In the bathroom, I discovered a pair of had-blown glass bottles used for storing antibiotic pills and antiseptic. Perhaps the most interesting piece was an old box-styled camera, one of the first to use an aperture. It still worked.

I never realized how interesting history could be. For that, I must thank my former wife, or should I say, my present wife. They are now one and the same!

123go

What job do I want?

Have you heard of the aphorism, “procrastination is the thief of time”? I think it applies to me. I need to start thinking about a job for which I have apposite skills. I think it would appease my parents if I do so this summer. Otherwise, I’ll have to make an apology to them for borrowing money again.

Should I be a chef? It would be fun to appease the appetites of hungry people. But I don’t even know how to operate the simple appliance in my kitchen!

Maybe I can appraise property for a real estate company. How hard can it be to make an appraisal? But I’d have to be good at observing the appreciable differences between various properties.

Perhaps I should be a criminal lawyer. I could use my big sad eyes to appeal to the judge for mercy. However, I don’t think my parents would appreciate my choice. Defending murderers and thieves would appall them.

What about being a policeman! I could apprehend criminals and put them in prison. I can imagine the warn feeling of appreciation I would get for saving someone’s life. On second thought, I don’t think I can be an applicant for a position that involves guns.

I could be a politician. I’d have the power to appoint people to positions of importance. But then I’d have to make really difficult decisions like how to apportion our limited water supply.

What I’d really like to be is an NBA basketball player like Michael Jordan. He’s the apotheosis of athletes. Everyone applauds his amazing skills. But I should be more realistic, shouldn’t I?

I think I better start with a simpler job. This summer, I’ll submit an application to McDonalds!

A touch case

For the last 20 years, I’ve worked as an arbitrator of disputes involving land. Arbitration is an arduous process that required patience. Both parties in a dispute are typically ardent about their opinions. It’s this state of ardor that makes it difficult to approach a satisfactory solution. Fortunately, I have the aptitude for understanding people’s needs and finding an appropriate solution that satisfies the approximate requirements of both sides.

The parties who approve me to judge their case know that I’m apt to make a fair and reasonable decision, not an arbitrary one. This knowledge tends to lower the apprehension of both parties. I find that if the parties are less apprehensive, they are more cooperative. But no case is easy. There’s always a sticking point.

Presently, I’m working on a dispute between an old farmer and the government. The old farmer owns a piece of arable land on which he has grown fruit trees for 25 years. He wants to keep his land just as it is, not only because of his trees, but also due to the arboreal life it supports. The government believes that the old man’s farming methods are archaic and not a productive use of the land. They want approval to use the farmer’s land to build a huge high-tech public aquarium. They want to display unique aquatic creatures to help educate the public. The government plans to make this project the archetype for all future public aquariums.

Well, it’s going to be a tough case. In fact, it may be my toughest case yet.

The way home

It seemed like a long ascent to the top. The mountain appeared barren, as though it had suffered though many years of arid climate. I had no idea why I was climbing this mountain. All I could recall was that I had been reading a fascinating article about climbing. But with my arthritis, how could I possibly make it to the top?

Despite my confusion, I ascended the mountain. After what seemed like an hour, I stumbled across a small artificial structure. It was hidden behind large rocks. I was shocked to discover that it was an arsenal containing an array of antiquated armor and armament. All of it appeared to be hand-made, probably by a 17^th century artisan. It was a bit scary, so I left quickly and continued my ascent.

Further up, I ran into a man dressed like an aristocrat. He was articulating some kind of ancient arithmetic. His presence aroused my curiosity. I asked hum what he was doing on the mountain. He rudely responded, “don’t you know where you are?” what an arrogant man, I thought to myself.

After what felt like another hour, I spotted a small cave. I found an old monk living inside. Foolishly, I offered him some wine. I should have known that monks practice asceticism. But he wasn’t offended. He simply smiled and said, “I am indeed an ascetic person.”

I told the monk that I was tried and missed my home. “Open you eyes” the whispered. “You are already home.”

Suddenly, I began to hear the sound of my favorite aria. I could sense the aroma of a familiar aromatic substance. It was followed by a familiar voice.

“Wake up” my wife said. “Here’s you coffee! You’re late for work.”

Aspirations gone astray

I work on an assembly line in a car factory. Most days, I just assemble car parts. Occasionally, they’ll ask me to assay an unknown drug substance. Once in a while, I’ll be asked to assist with breaking up a fight. Assault is not common here. But now and then, a frustrated worked will assail his assistant by casting aspersions on some aspect of the other’s work. I’m considered an asset in my company. But 20 years ago, I was a different kind of asset to an entirely different type of company.

They called it “the company” but it was really a secret government group trained to assassinate political leaders. I never aspired to be an assassin. In fact, I was an aspiring chemist and a regular soldier in the army. All I really wanted was to do something great or important for my country. But sometimes, having too great an aspiration can lead you astray.

I still recall the day of the assembly. It was a small gathering of highly skilled people like me. “the company” was assessing our abilities in the areas of weaponry and chemistry. I was a top chemist and a natural marksman, probably the best in my group. They ascribed my success to my steady hands and sharp eyes, the same tools I used for chemistry.

After the assembly, they gave us our assignments. I was assigned to assimilate into the mainstream society of a Latin American country. It wasn’t long before I was doing things that I will forever be ashamed to admit.

It’s been over for about 15 years. But I’ll never feel clean and I’ll never be able to assert that I have been a good man all my life.

The world of teachers

I love to associate with my fellow teachers. We meet at least twice each week at the faculty association meetings. At these meeting, we often talk about our classes over a wonderful snack of assorted fruits. We’re a close-knit group, although we’re quite different in character.

Jane is one of my most astute colleagues. She teaches a course in astronomical phenomenon. Her students are often astonished when she talks about “black holes” and her theory of the shrinking universe. But she is careful to assuage their concerns. She assures them that her theory is based on a number of assumptions that may turn out to be untrue.

My friend Bob teaches nuclear physics. He says it’s all about atoms, atomic particles and atomization. I assume he knows what he’s talking about. He must know, given how assuredly he speaks about the subject.

Mary teaches religion, however, she is an atheist. She has an excellent sense of humor. She often jokes about how she may end up having to atone for not believing in God.

Jim is our school’s physical education teacher. He’s a natural athlete and he loves basketball. He never fails to astound us with his ability to dunk a basketball backwards without looking.

Lastly, there’s Sally, our teacher of geometry. She likes to talk about symmetrical and asymmetrical triangles. Frankly, it drives me crazy to think about those things. But I like her stimulating personality. She probably knows how to turn a boring subject into a fascinating one.

As for me, I teach art. It brings out my creative side.

Life beyond injury

I still recall the accident. I had an audacious attitude back then. I remember being very upset at my brother and telling him, “you have the audacity to call me a coward when you won’t even try.” Neither of us knew how unstable and heavy that auger bit was.

Then I felt the numbing pain of the auger bit crushing my back. I can still see the ambulance attendants, in their clean white attire, attending to my injury. I think my voice was barely audible. The doctors were able to attach supporting metal pins to my spine, but I’ve not yet to walk. My whole body seems to be in a state of atrophy. But I’ve never given up hope. One of my strongest attributes is patience. Someday, I’ll attain the use of my legs again.

Fortunately, my attorney helped me to obtain compensation for my injuries. The extra money helps to augment my monthly income. I still work as an accountant, auditing the books of small companies. But I only work part-time, and latter this year, I plan to retire. It looks like my company will reduce its staff through attrition.

I’d like to spend more time with my family now. I have a strong attachment to my wonderful and energetic daughter. Everyone loves her. It’ s as though she emits an aura. This afternoon, I’ll be talking her to the school auditorium so that she can attend an audition for a part in the school play. Next winter, we’ll be talking a trip to Alaska to see the aurora borealis!

123go

A change of pace

Joining the Peace Corps is an auspicious start to a career in the Foreign Service. Peace corps volunteers perform charitable functions in developing countries under the auspices of the U.S. Government. They primarily serve as auxiliary advisers or teachers. Most volunteers are average citizens just looking for a change of pace.

Every volunteer receives a uniform. It’s clean but far from avant-garde. You also receive a handbook. It’s an authoritative manual for survival in your host country.

The handbook contains some useful tips for staying out of trouble in a foreign country:

1 always respect the authorities in your host country.

2 don’t authorize anyone to use your identification card

3 when crossing a mountain pass in the winter, beware of avalanche conditions

4 be alert for possible attacks by terrorists trying to avenge a loss.

5 make certain that anything valuable you buy is authentic

6 always authenticate large bills before accepting them

some assignments are dangerous. In my first assignment, I was sent to a small Latin American country to help build an automated water supply system. The only difficulty I had in that country was cooking for myself. It’s too bad they haven’t invented an automaton that can make breakfast in the morning.

If you’re available for at least a full year of service, you can apply to join the Peace Crops. Acceptance is not automatic. Perhaps at the end of your service, you will be able to write an autobiography of your adventures abroad.

Facing your fear

I’m averse to flying. It’s not that I don’t have a backbone. In fact, I am otherwise very brave. I wear a police badge everyday and I arrest dangerous criminals. My aversion to aviation dates back to when I was a child.

When I was 8 years old, my baby-sister took me on a short flight to visit my mom. We flew in a small plane. The weather conditions were very bad that day. Halfway to our destination, we hit a terrible storm. The aviator lost control of the plane. The powerful wind made the plane do several barrel rolls. It was like we were in a ball that was spinning on an axis. After a few seconds, the aviator regained control and averted a disaster.

I avowed never to fly in a small plane again. That story should serve as a sufficient backdrop for my fear of flying.

However, I’m an avid fisherman. In fact fishing is my avocation. To me, there’s nothing like putting bait on your hook and casting it in s peaceful stream. No phones to ring, no supervisors to badger you. I’m still a bachelor so I have plenty of time for fishing. The problem is that now, the best fishing spots are accessible only by small planes.

Thus, I find myself looking rather awkward today as I stumble and stagger towards the small plane that awaits me. Why am I flying when I knew how dangerous it is? Is this fishing spot really so great? My awareness of the danger is suppressed only by my thoughts of fabulous fishing. But I can hardly keep my balance as I struggle forward with my baggage.

Just like any other fear, you have to face it one step at a time.

Voting day in San Rico

Initially, I balked at my editor’s request that I cover the presidential elections in San Rico was known for its bandits. Just 1 year ago, we had been banned from traveling there because of the danger. This year, the government promised political reforms and crime control.

Could things have changed so much in only one year? Not in my mind. I imagined the worst. I anticipated burly bald men wearing bandannas, riding around on motocycles and harassing voters. I pictured a bankrupt candidate, making a banal speech to a bored crowd, and claiming that his bankruptcy would not interfere with his governmental duties. I even expected the ballot box to be wrapped in barbed wire, with blood dripping from some of the barbs. What I didn’t expect was a bandmaster and the bang of a drum!

When our foreign press plane arrived in San Rico, we were greeted by a cheering crowd and a marching band. There was even a bald eagle. The bandleader led us from the plane, through the throngs of smiling’ people, and into the packed center of the city. These were big red banners hanging from every building, encouraging people to vote. Secure voting booths stood on every corner with people standing in long lines to case their ballot. I had never seen so much enthusiasm for an election.

It was a new and exciting beginning for the people of San Rico. I reported it all in my story and faxed it back to my editor. After attending a wonderful banquet. I found myself sitting at a bar, listening to the banter about the election.

Escape

I live an isolated life in a small basin between two mountain ridges at the edge of an ocean. Due to the ban soil, the land is barren. However, I have a barn full of animals that supply me with all the food I need. There’s nothing more satisfying than basting pig meat over a barbecue. The weather is pretty good. There is always enough rain to fill my water barrel. But sometimes, a fierce storm will batter the barn all night.

The rough life I lead has made me look and feel like a barbarian. The heat from the sun has baked my bare skin brown. I haven’t been to the barber for tow years. As a result, I think I would be bashful if anyone found me. I don’t have any money but I don’t need it. You can’t buy anything here. You can’t even barter. However, I’m not completely out of touch with civilization, every few months, I can hear the sound of an ocean barge passing in the distance. I always run to the ocean side to see it. It reminds me that I’m still human.

You might think that I’m barely surviving but the opposite is true. This is the only place where I can escape the horrible war in the city. In my mind, I can still hear the barrage of gunfire smashing through our wooden barriers. I can still remember spending months, helplessly barricaded in the basement of one of out many, once beautiful, baroque style buildings. My life is more peaceful now. Perhaps after the war, I’ll find my way back home.

What’s that I hear? It’s the bark of my dog. I’ve got to run. Another barge is passing by.

Killing with kindness

Sometimes, it’s difficult to behave like a gentleman. It’s especially hard when the person talking to you is belligerent and trying to belittle you in front of others. You might feel like beating him and burying him as deep as bedrock, but don’t. Remember, violence begets more violence. Of course, it’s easier said than done.

My cousin Tom comes drunk to out family reunions every year and always manages to insult my family members. “your nose is looking more and more like the beak of a bird,” he would tell my daughter. “those red beads don’t look becoming on you,” he would say to my wife. “is that your beard or a bird’s nest,” he would ask me.

I think, deep in his heart, Tom has always begrudged me. His occasional smile belies his true feelings of envy. I wish that someone would shine a beam of light in his eyes and ask him why he feels this way.

In any event, because I must act as the host of the reunion on behalf of my parents, I have to be on my best behavior. As my mother keeps reminding me, I must bear the responsibility of keeping things friendly. To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t have agreed to be host if I had known it was going to be like this beforehand.

Well, this year, I decided to change my strategy with Tom. Instead of reacting to his insults with anger, I tried to befuddle hi with kind words. Strangely enough, when he becomes befuddled, he can’t speak and he just walks away. The kindness just kills him. It’s truly a sight to behold!

Man’s best friend

Mr. Rich was a wealthy man and a great benefactor to the community. During his lifetime, he bestowed many gifts upon the poor and the disabled. His sudden death bereaved us all of his unique wisdom and benign sense of humor. He would always be remembered for being a kind and benevolent man. Besides that, he would also be remembered for trying to keep peace among his many relatives.

However, it wasn’t long before Mr. Rich’s relatives began to bicker over who should inherit his money. The fighting was not beneficial to anyone. They berated each other for being selfish and beseeched the court to grant a reading of the will. The bicameral court assigned the reading of the will to its superior branch and scheduled the reading for Monday. On Monday morning, a horde of people besieged the superior courthouse. The relatives who believed they would be beneficiaries gathered in front of the judge’s bench. They were anxious to hear what benefits or bequest they would receive. Beverages were served to keep everyone cool and comfortable.

Finally, the judge entered the room and sat down. The will, which had been sealed, lay beneath him. Reaching down, he picked up the will and unsealed it. Then e read it aloud.

“Greetings to everyone. I know that all of you are probably arguing over how much money you should receive from me. Please don’t feel betrayed when I say, among you, there isn’t a single selfless person without a bias. For this reason, I have decided to bequeath my entire fortune to the in only loyal friend that I have, Ralph. Ralph, you’re the finest friend and pet dog a man could ever have!”

The assignment

His eyes blazed with excitement. “I’ve got an important assignment for you,” he said, as he glanced back down at a newspaper.” The leaders of out nation have just signed a bilateral travel treaty with the isolated country of Bandu on the African continent, and I want you to go down there right away to do research for a biography!”

The research my boss wanted was for a biography about bob boon. Boon was a brilliant biologist who was somewhat bigoted when it came to discussing politics or religion. He was known for making blasphemous statements. He spent most of his adult years studying animals in the country of Bandu. He was one of the first scientists to successfully track the migratory patterns of the bison. Boon was also a strong advocate for maintaining biological diversity.

My boss pays me quite well to do his biding. He owns a billion-dollar publishing company, and when he sets his mind on doing a story, he doesn’t care about the bill.

So here I am in Bandu, surrounded by bizarre animals and bitter food. Frankly, I’d rather eat bland food. It’s freezing here at night and my blanket doesn’t keep me warm. During the day, it is as hot as a blast furnace. Last week, the blazing sun caused a fir that blazed out of control for several days.

I hate these assignments to remote areas. But I always end up accepting the job. It’s not as though I was blackmailed into coming here. I have no one to blame but myself. I just hope that my next assignment doesn’t require that I blast off to the moon!

123go

Winter surprise

I live in a boarding-house during the school year. My room is rather large, but I share it with another boarder.

It’s already November but the autumn flowers are still in bloom. Just yesterday, I saw some lovely red blossoms along the roadside. These blessed flowers were perfect. They didn’t have a single blemish. Seeing these flowers in the fall created a feeling of bliss. I had no idea that it would be the last I’d see of them.

Yesterday, my roommate had told me that there would be a blizzard today. He’s always boasting that he knows the weather. I thought it was just a bluff to get me to stay home from school. I was rather blunt in my reply.

However, I blushed when I looked out the window this morning and saw that he was right. I had to blink my eyes several times just to be sure. An overnight storm had bleached the ground with seventeen inches of snow. Because the roads were blocked by the snowfall, I wouldn’t be able to board my usual bus to school. My outlook seemed rather bleak.

Then my roommate said, “Hey, you really need to take a break from your studies. Why don’t you just rest your brain, blend some fruit drinks, and listen to blues music.”

“It’s true, I’m probably in need of a rest,” I replied.

Well, it turned out to be the most relaxing day I’ve had all year. I guess the sudden storm was really a blessing in disguise!

Tom’s search

Tom was a product of the baby boom generation. He had a bold personality. His passion for adventure seemed boundless.

He worked as a supervisor at a mining company, boring holes in boulders to extract mineral samples. To measure the mineral content, the samples were heated to a temperature that was nearly 100 times the boiling point of the water. A certain percentage of gold content would indicate the presence of a new gold mine. Although the long hours sometimes made Tom felt like he was in bandage. Tom was bound to his job. Mining was not at all boring to him. The prospect of finding a bonanza was exciting and he felt a special bond with his workers. They bolstered his confidence that he would someday find gold.

In the early years, the mining company’s stock had boomed in value. However, it had recently decreased in worth. The company desperately needed to find a new source of gold to boost its profits and to bounce back from its losses. Tom knew this. So he spent most of his time collecting mineral samples from the western boundary line of the new frontier. It was a dangerous area, but he knew that finding gold there would save the company and could earn him a bonus. It would also be a boon to his future with the company.

Tom was right. He found a huge gold source that year. The company promoted him to general manager, doubled his salary and held a grand celebration. Tom’s increase in importance did not lead him to make bombastic speeches at the party. Tom was not like that and it certainly would have created boredom at the gathering. Instead, he praised his men and yelled, “Let’s get boisterous tonight!”

Where’s the groom?

It was Sunday, 12:00 p.m. the bride waited patiently at the church door with her bouquet of flowers. Her lovely black hair, braided by her mother, blew gently about her shoulders in the breeze. Three violinists, with their bows in the air, stood ready to play the wedding song. The bowlegged priest was already at the wedding altar with his opened bible. Some guests had already grabbed a handful of uncooked rice from a bowl and were prepared to shower the blessed couple. It was a breathtaking sight. The wedding had been brilliantly planned. But where was the groom?

The bride’s father was getting angry. His breathing was becoming more intense. He started to argue with the groom’s father. “This is a clear breach of our wedding agreement,” he yelled. It looked like there might be a brawl. The guests were beginning to gossip. “Did the couple have a breakup?” some asked. It looked like the bride was going to faint. Her brother rushed up and braced her with his body so she wouldn’t fall. “ Breathe,” he whispered to her. “ I brewed a pot of coffee to calm everyone down.”

Suddenly, aloud piercing scream filled the air. It was the bride. Something had caused her face to brighten. It was the sight of her groom, racing towards the church on a strange-looking skateboard. In a matter of seconds, he arrived. He was breathless. He took her in his arms and said, “I’m so sorry babe, my car suffered a breakdown 5 kilometers away near that new barn where they breed cattle. I made a skateboard out of an old box with wheels and got here as soon as I could.”

“Don’t worry,” she laughed, looking down at his feet. “Your brilliance saved the day.”

Starting small

They say it’s best to start with something small when you’re trying to build a business. So I started with belt buckles. It’s a good building block for a clothing business. Fortunately, I had a buddy already in the business so he helped me to set up a store.

The buckles I sell are made out of bronze. Bronze is a brownish colored metal that matches every color of clothing including brown garments. They’re not at all brittle. In fact, they are strong and long lasting. My buckles are made in Spain by the best craftsmen alive since the bronze age. I save a lot of money by exmporting them in bulky containers that are filled to the brim.

The clothing business is very competitive and it can be brutal at times. I suppose it’s better than selling light bulbs. Some customers are rather brusque and don’t seem to like conversation. It doesn’t bother me. I try to run a brisk business by selling most of my products in bulk at a discount. As long as I keep to my budget, I can make a profit.

My goal is to broaden my business by the end of the year by adding belts and hats to my product line. I also want to publish a brochure of my goods. If I succeed at making a good profit, maybe I can buy that house by the brook that I’ve always wanted.

Every time I feel exhausted by the demands of my business, I close my eyes and dream of that house. I think of the cool water coming from the nearby brook. I imagine the sweet smell of flower buds in the garden. And I picture myself sitting in a big bathtub full of bubbles.

A bump in the night

I don’t care to live in a burgeoning city. When a city burgeons too rapidly, it creates two unfortunate by-product, crime and pollution.

That’s why I live in a cabin in the woods. It’s miles away from the nearest bypass. It’s the perfect place for a retired cabinetmaker. It’s relatively quiet except for the buzz of the bees and the occasional cadence of horses galloping in the distance. Nobody comes to visit me, although a mouse did burrow into my cabin once. You can’t even get a cab here. The isolation has left me with plenty of time for hobbies. I’ve even had time to sculpt a bust of my father and to burnish it.

I don’t need to travel very far. The furthest I need to go is through the trees and bushes to collect a bundle of firewood and a bunch of fruit. I do wish I had some animals. Perhaps a cow for milk and some chickens for eggs. It would be interesting to make butter with the milk.

The woods are a relatively safe place, so calamities are rare. The closest misfortune I came to was the time a burglar broke into my cabin and tried to steal some food. It was late at night. Fortunately, the buzzer of by homemade burglar alarm woke me up. I bumped him on the head with my broom and he went running out the door.

I didn’t get a clear look at his face because of his black mask. Although I was angry, I didn’t call the police. You don’t bother the police with these kinds of things in the woods, especially if your burglar is just a raccoon.

123go

托福阅读文章的特点：1托福阅读文章都是由学术体的语言组成的。学术性的议论文，academic essay.可从阅读中汲取营养以提高作文，但注意它结构不完整。完整的学术性议论文的结构为总分总，对全文结构题目有用。
2出题顺序与文章议论顺序严格一致。
3文章的出题原则：必考的，引号，最高级别和特殊词
1）引号。引用，比喻，夸张，解释
背诵题：P16,25题目
25 it can be inferred that........
引号出现必有考题，正话反说
2)最高级
P44,19.20题
19 of all the characteristics of the sea cucumber, which........
20 compared with other sea creatures the sea cucumber....
fascinate迷住某人
先观察位置，在22行but the most spectucular thing about the sea cucumber is the way it defends itself.考最高级一定要找最高级的原文
贴着文章去理解，以原文为准
creatures当一个单数名词和一个复数名词相比较的时候，用最高级；当2个单数名词相比较的时候用比较级
sea cucumber 与sea creatures相比较，以sea creatures代表所有的海洋生物，把所有的海洋生物归结为一个单数名词。以比较级表示最高级。
squirt v喷出 cast off抛弃抛舍
eviscerate抛腹，取出内脏

123go

一天看记住50页,压力的确满大的,所以更改了一下,一天20页.这样24天就能比较仔细的看完全书,再配合王玉梅的词汇,一天4个list,和一个词汇练习,一天3个list,再结合阅读和听力争取在25号左右把词汇给熟悉下来.汗~

同时继续听新的网络课堂.每天做一套老题听力,精听.

enjoylife517

Terrific！！

真的不错。。加油！！

Veronica_Melody

WOW!!

123go

汗,打算考10月的G(ps:不知道今年的国内笔考时间是否还是10月?)

所以词汇方面现在背的2本,胡敏的toefl词汇故事和gre词汇精选(49个list的)

同时搭配新东方背单词软件3.

希望一切顺利,现在是胡的一天40页,词汇按软件的来一天14个小部分,大概就是15天完成一遍

然后开始看六人行

对了谁知道六人行的文本在哪儿?打算精听,然后买了0203年的VOA special和standard

花了不少$$$$$$$$$$$$$$,一定要考好T,不然太对不起$$$$$$$了

还发现一天背完,熟悉胡的50页满困难的,汗,因为词汇有些不认识,边背边跟磁带读还要查单词,faint~

每天40页,不搞定不睡觉!
我拼了

1/21日完成计划

[此贴子已经被作者于2005-1-9 18:51:22编辑过]