生活往往在意料之外。俗语说：否极泰来。不要在最低谷的时候放弃，转角也许就是希望。

 Life

   Time: 5.5 minutes   Difficulty: ★★

Life is never a bed of fragrant roses, as some would say. It is like a whirling wind that sweeps off every possible thing in place. In short, life isn’t a sweet or beautiful fairytale.

Perhaps you have experienced a broken heart and never feel better.

Perhaps you have stumbled and fell and never have the courage to cheer up.

Perhaps you have a near perfect life but to be shattered without warning. And then, look up to the sky and wonder why life is mistreating you.

It is easy to get discouraged over the smallest failure. But perhaps, it’s time for us to wake up and realize that everything happens for a reason.

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, deserted island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him, and to store his few possessions.

But then one day, after searching for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

“How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man.

“We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly. But we shouldn’t lose heart. Remember, the next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons help.

1.      Help:

fragrant adj. 芳香的

whirl vi. 旋转

2.      Test for you:

（1）All the following support the writer’s opinion about life except _______

1. Life is not a bed of roses, nor is it a beautiful fairytale.
2. When your perfect life is broken unexpectedly, life is mistreating you.
3. People are easy to lose heart over their failures and sorrow.
4. In life, everything happens for a reason.

（2）Which is the right order of what happened?

a.       he prayed for help but none come.

b.       he arrived home, only to find his hut was on fire.

c.       He lost everything and fainted with anger

d.       he was rescued

e.       he made a small hut to protect himself and store his belongings.

f.        he survive a shipwreck.

g.       he landed on a deserted island.

A. f, a, c, b, e, g , d       B. f, e, a, b, c ,g , d

C. f, g ,a, c, e, b, d       D. f, g, b, a, c, e, d

（3）By telling the story, the writer tries to tell you __________.

  A. where is a will, there is a way.

 B. Failure is the mother of success.

 C. Life is as it is, full of failure and success.

 D. Never lose heart, whatever happens.

  3.  Key points:

     (1) sweep off：扫去。

     （2）roll up: 袅袅上升。

  4.  Sentences Recitation:

（1）Life is never a bed of fragrant roses, as some would say.

（2）It is like a whirling wind that sweeps off every possible thing in place.

（3）In short, life isn’t a sweet or beautiful fairytale.

（4）Remember, the next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons help.

Key：1-3 BCD

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责任编辑:yingyubao