2 . A great poem makes you want to get out of your chair and pace around the room.     1    . But if you haven’t developed your. poetry taste in a while, that feeling might be a little hard to tap into. Here are four tips that can help you get there.

Read aloud and out loud

When reading a poem, it is important to remember that it is not just words on a page, but is meant to be heard or read aloud.     2    . It will enhance the appreciation of the piece.

    3    

Approaching poetry with a perspective of finding connections between the poem and one’s own life can be a valuable tool for appreciating the poem more. Connecting to the emotions, memories and even the same life experiences can help to relate more to the poem and in turn, truly appreciate it. Through this connection to the poem, we can better understand the feelings, actions and words of the poem.

Create a dialogue

More often than not, a lot of hidden or “unsaid” messages are delivered in poetry.     4    . A fruitful discussion about a poem can help readers to understand the poem more, through their different interpretations and opinions.

Write your own poem

    5    . As you write your own poem, think about the structure you want to create, the literary devices you want to employ and the emotion you want to arouse. As you write your own poem, you will see your appreciation of the original poem rise, as you gain a sense of the effort that goes into crafting a poem. In this way, it can become much easier to appreciate the poem being read.

A．Find connections

B．Pair poetry with other art forms

C．Writing can be a great way to start your appreciation of a poem

D．It makes you want to throw your hands up and show it to somebody

E．Reading the poem aloud helps you understand the emotion of the poet fully

F．Having a discussion around a poem allows readers to bring out these messages

G．Possessing a critical eye allows readers to appreciate the art of poetry in a meaningful way

3 . Poetry is a way of conveying our deepest feelings, desires, and emotions without having to state it clearly.     1    . However, in the real sense, poetry is never difficult. You can try these following techniques anytime you have poetry writing ideas block.

Know your aim.     2    . Do you want to tell a story, describe an experience or fight an injustice and encourage people to take action? The correct details will, in turn, ensure that the poem serves the purpose for which it is written—your aim.

    3    . After you understand the aim of the poem, you might not still be able to write immediately. Take out a sheet of paper and write every idea and word that comes into your head concerning your aim. Pick one of these words or ideas and focus on it, expanding on that idea until you have a full poem.

Have a theme. A theme is more than just an idea. An idea with your personal opinion is what forms a theme, which will help your poem be more concise (简明的). We advise you to look through The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner Analysis.     4    .

    5    . However, they will help in writing poetry for beginners. You can also get books on how towrite poetry to help you boost your writing.

A．Write down the random words and ideas.

B．It may give you some fresh and novel ideas.

C．For beginners, the art of poetry might seem difficult at first.

D．Ensure you have used the right words to convey your message.

E．As far as we know, these tips are not necessarily rules for writing poetry.

F．Answering the question of the aim of poem helps you input the right elements.

G．Before writing your poem, you must understand what you plan to achieve from the poem.

4 . In the dim light of an early autumn evening, Alexander, a hunter: known as much for his solitude as for his skill, ventured into the untamed (原始的) heart of the jungle. Each step he took was measured and careful, a respect for the ancient wilderness where every breath was a story, and man was but a fleeting shadow.

For years, whispers of a tiger, not just any tiger but one whose fur caught the last rays of the sun, had reached Alexander. A creature so splendid and fearsome, it was said to be more myth than flesh. On this day, as the shadows lengthened and the jungle whispered its age-old secrets, Alexander sought not just the tiger, but a confrontation with the very essence of the wild itself. As dusk settled, painting the world in colors of gold and shadow, the boundary between predator and prey seemed to dissolve. The air was heavy with anticipation, the kind that precedes storms and stories.

Then, in a clearing where the jungle seemed to hold its breath, the tiger appeared. It was as if the sun had woven itself into the fabric of its being, its fur a blend of flame and night. For a moment, the world shrank to the space between the hunter named Alexander and the legend made flesh before him.

Their gazes locked, a silent understanding passing between man and beast. Here was Alexander, a man who had walked through shadows to stand in the light of a legend, and the tiger, an embodiment of the wild’s untouchable majesty. In that eternal moment, Alexander saw not a prey but a sovereign of nature, a being whose right to wander the dusk was as undeniable as the setting sun.

With a respect born of countless sunsets and the silent tales they told, Alexander slowly lowered his rifle (步枪). The act was not one of defeat but of profound respect-a recognition of the bond that ties every living thing to the pulse of the earth. The tiger, its gaze still locked with Alexander’s, seemed to acknowledge this unspoken pact. Then, it turned and melted into the shadows, leaving behind a trail of twilight.

Alexander left the jungle that night without a trophy (战利品), but his soul was alight with a tale of fire and twilight. He had sought a legend and found a truth far greater: in the wild’s heart, where shadows and light dance, there lies a respect so deep it transcends the hunt. This encounter, a dance with the untamed, would echo in Alexander’s heart long after the jungle’s whispers faded into the dawn.

1. What was Alexander’s primary reason for venturing into the jungle?

A．To find a place to set up camp.

B．To hunt a tiger rumored to have a fur like the setting sun.

C．To escape from the challenges of modern life.

D．To meet other hunters and share stories.

2. What decision does Alexander make when he finally encounters the tiger?

A．He captures the tiger to prove its existence.

B．He shoots the tiger to claim his trophy.

C．He attempts to trap the tiger but fails

D．He lowers his rifle, choosing not to shoot the tiger.

3. The author’s writing style reflects Hemingway’s influence through ________.

A．complex language.	B．long sentences.
C．straightforward storytelling.	D．supernatural focus.

4. What theme is most prominently reflected in Alexander’s encounter with the tiger?

A．The thrill of the hunt is unparalleled.

B．True courage is demonstrated through dominance over nature.

C．There is a profound respect that exists between man and nature.

D．Technology has distanced man from understanding the natural world.

6 . I didn’t realize it, but during that short walk home I had lost a whole lot of weight and my eyes had grown dull and colorless. When my mom saw me she screamed out in surprise. Staring at me in disbelief, she asked, “Are you Fugui?”

Looking at my mom, I forced a smile and nodded my head. Shocked, she uttered something else, but I was no longer paying attention to her. I pushed the door open and went into my room. Jiazhen, in the middle of combing her hair, was also taken back when she saw me. She gazed at me with her mouth gaping. As soon as I thought of how I had beaten her when she came to persuade me to go home the night before, I fell to the ground and, kneeling before her, muttered, “Jiazhen, I’m finished.”

After speaking those words I began to cry out loud. Jiazhen rushed over to help me up, but being pregnant with Youqing, how could she support me? She called my mom over, and the two of them pulled me onto the bed. I looked like a corpse. They were scared to death and began patting me on the shoulder and rocking my head.

My mother appeared dumbstruck; she stared at me with a look of intensity and asked, “What did you say?”

“I’ve lost everything,” I repeated.

The look on my face convinced her. My mother sat down on the floor and, wiping her tears, said, “If the upper beam is no straight, the lower ones will not go straight either.”

Even then my mother still loved me. She didn’t blame me. Instead she blamed my father.

Jiazhen also cried. She patted me on the shoulder and tried to console me. “As long as you don’t gamble anymore, everything will be all right.”

I had nothing left. Even if I had wanted to gamble, I wouldn’t have had any money to stake a bet. I heard Dad in the next room shooting off his foul mouth. He still didn’t know that he was penniless — he was simply annoyed at being disturbed by the two women crying. As soon as she heard my father’s voice, Mom stopped crying. She stood up and walked out, with Jiazhen following her. I knew that they were going into my father’s room, and after a while I heard my dad begin screaming, “Bastard!”

It was just then that my daughter, Fengxia, pushed the door open and came in. She closed the door and in a shrill voice said, “Dad, hurry up and hide! Grandpa’s going to beat you.”

I just stared at her without moving a muscle. She then came over and tried pulling me away by the hand; when I wouldn’t budge she began to cry. Seeing Fengxia cry was like having a knife pierce my heart. Even at such a young age, Fengxia was trying to protect her dad. Just looking at her made me feel like I deserved to be cut to pieces.

Quoted from Yu Hua’s To Live

1. The underlined phrase “taken back” in paragraph 2 means ______.

A．regretful

B．astonished

C．shameful

D．concerned

2. Fugui kept saying “I’ve lost everything” to his mom and his wife because he ______.

A．wanted to gradually process the strong emotion and beg for their forgiveness

B．pretended to lose his mind and go crazy so as to get away with the punishment.

C．was afraid to face his father and wanted them to break the bad news to him

D．believed that they might still lend him some money to gamble again

3. According to the passage, what do the three female characters have in common?

A．Hard-work.

B．Bravery.

C．Self-discipline.

D．Compassion

4. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Fugui’s father was also addicted to gambling when he was young.

B．Jiazhen would ask for a divorce from Fugui since he was penniless.

C．Fugui’s mother and his wife decided to hide the truth from his father.

D．Fengxia had more affection towards her father than her mother.

7 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. attacking       B. beaten       C. bites       D. dignity       E. diverse       F. emotional G. exhibiting       H. link       I. literature       J. strength       K. struggles

Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea is the simple story of an old Cuban fisherman who undergoes the most difficult struggle of his life. In the title character, Santiago, Hemingway describes one of the most distinguished examples in American     1     of an individual looking deep within to work up the courage necessary to get through the achievements and sad events that life presents.

Alone on the sea, Santiago continuously     2     to find hope in several seemingly hopeless situations. The old man illustrates Hemingway’s ideal of     3     “grace under pressure”, as he refuses to give in to the enormous obstacles (障碍) presented by the sea. Relying on memories of his youth, Santiago finds the     4     to physically and emotionally carry on throughout the story.

After catching the great marlin (马林鱼) Santiago realizes he is unable to quickly kill the fish, and it proceeds to pull him farther out to sea. Yet, throughout the battle between man and fish the old man begins to recognize a(n)     5     between him and the marlin, repeatedly referring to it as his brother. Both the old man and the fish are only insignificant among the     6     creatures at sea, joined together by the fact that they are at the mercy of the sea.

The fish, therefore, changes from merely being Santiago’s prey (猎物) into a reflection of the old man’s     7     and physical state. When the sharks damage the dead marlin hanging off the side of the boat as Santiago struggles to sail home, the old man fights them off as if they were     8     him. Only when the marlin’s body has been entirely eaten away does Santiago give up, knowing he “was     9     now finally”.

Although the old man seemingly fails once the sharks steal his prize fish, they cannot take away the fact that Santiago has done the unthinkable by staying with and catching a fish “bigger than he had ever heard of”. In spite of not successfully bringing the fish back, Santiago fights with     10    — first to catch the marlin, then to protect his fish from the sharks — and in doing so declares his humanity by remaining resilient (坚韧的) in the face of achievements and sad events.

8 . The scent of hot bread drifting from the shops along the Street of Flour was sweeter than any perfume Arya had ever smelled. She took a deep breath and stepped closer to the pigeon. It was a plump one, speckled brown, busily pecking at a crust that had fallen between two cobblestones, but when Arya’s shadow touched it, it took to the air.

Her stick sword whistled out and caught it two feet off the ground, and it went down in a flurry of brown feathers. She was on it in the blink of an eye, grabbing a wing as the pigeon flapped and fluttered. It pecked at her hand. She grabbed its neck and twisted until she felt the bone snap.

Compared with catching cats, pigeons were easy.

She tied the pigeon to her belt and started down the street. A man was pushing a load of tarts by on a two-wheeled cart; the smells sang of blueberries and lemons and apricots. Her stomach made a hollow rumbly noise. “Could I have one?” she heard herself say. “A lemon, or…or any kind.”

The pushcart man looked her up and down. Plainly he did not like what he saw. “Three coppers.”

Arya tapped her wooden sword against the side of her boot. “I’ll trade you a fat pigeon,” she said.

“The Others take your pigeon,” the pushcart man said.

The tarts were still warm from the oven. The smells were making her mouth water, but she did not have three coppers... or one. She gave the pushcart man a look, remembering what Syrio had told her about seeing. He was short, with a little round belly, and when he moved he seemed favor his left leg a little. She was just thinking that if she snatched a tart and ran he would never be able to catch her when he said, “You be keeping your filthy hands off. The gold cloaks know how to deal with thieving little gutter rats, that they do.”

Arya glanced warily behind her. Two of the City Watch were standing at the mouth of an alley. Their cloaks hung almost to the ground, the heavy wool dyed a rich gold; their mail and boots and gloves were black. One wore a long sword at his hip, the other an iron cudgel. With a last wistful glance at the tarts, Arya edged back from the cart and hurried off. The gold cloaks had not been paying her any special attention, but the sight of them tied her stomach in knots. Arya had been staying as far from the castle as she could get, yet even from a distance she could see the heads rotting atop the high red walls. Flocks of crows squabbled noisily over each head, thick as flies. The talk in Flea Bottom was that the gold cloaks had associated themselves with the Lannisters, their commander raised to a lord, with lands on the Trident and a seat on the king’s council.

1. The story is set in a place where ______.

A．people raised pigeons	B．only privileged people lived
C．people sold and bought food	D．the watchmen received training

2. In depicting the inviting smell of the tarts, the writer used ______.

A．metaphor	B．overstatement
C．personification (拟人)	D．rhetoric rhyme

3. What is the key meaning of the underlined word “seeing” in the context?

A．Remembering people’s appearance so that you can recognize them.

B．Perceiving people’s intention so that you can properly talk to them.

C．Understanding people’s living conditions so that you can help them.

D．Knowing people’ strengths and weaknesses so that you can beat them

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Arya was more hunger than terrified in the story.

B．The Lannisters was a big enemy of the gold cloaks.

C．The atmosphere of the castle was agreeable and welcome.

D．The authority treated the executed people’s dead bodies in a cruel way.

10 . Turning 13 can be painful. Sure, pimples (粉刺) are a problem. _______ it’s the feelings of insecurity that really _______. “I would gaze into the bathroom _______ and ask myself, ‘Is this the sum of my 13 years?’” author Gary Soto says of his _______ self. “We all doubt ourselves — _______ we look, how we play on the field, how we dress, how we do in school.”

These _______ form the basis of Soto’s latest book, Mercy on These Teenage Chimps, which is _______ in bookstores.

Soto tells the story of two 13-year-old friends, Ronnie and Joey, who are self-conscious about their _______ appearance. In the mirror, they see the _______ coming out of their chins doesn’t improve the look.

It gets ________ when the coach at school embarrasses Joey in front of a girl. ________, Joey returned to his childhood hideaway in a tree. Soto understands the need of a place to ________ it all. “I remember my childhood street from tree level. It was an escape from the ________.”

The trouble is that Joey has no intention of ________ his sanctuary (避难所). It’s up to Ronnie to convince his friend to face the world ________. In his search, Ronnie stands bullies and nosy neighbors, and ________ from more than one roof.

“This book is a call for mercy for young people ________ self-doubt,” Soto told TFK. “It’s a comic novel about ________. Ronnie concerns his friend and knows he must do ________ in his power to return him to his optimistic, fun-loving spirit. That’s ________ a friend does.”

The moral of the story: You don’t need to be the best-looking chimp in the jungle. All you need is a loyal friend who will stick by you, even when the going gets a little, well, hairy.

1.

A．And

B．But

C．So

D．Though

2.

A．benefits

B．offers

C．hurts

D．differ

3.

A．floor

B．toilet

C．mirror

D．water

4.

A．younger

B．older

C．taller

D．prettier

5.

A．what

B．where

C．why

D．how

6.

A．sadness

B．necessities

C．happiness

D．worries

7.

A．empty

B．available

C．priceless

D．invisible

8.

A．developing

B．growing

C．reforming

D．changing

9.

A．pimple

B．hair

C．wound

D．skin

10.

A．worse

B．better

C．darker

D．happier

11.

A．Excited

B．Warm-hearted

C．Teary-eyed

D．Frightened

12.

A．get away from

B．get into

C．get over

D．get through

13.

A．scene

B．world

C．coach

D．school

14.

A．leaving

B．entering

C．liking

D．avoiding

15.

A．in time

B．on time

C．right away

D．once again

16.

A．jumps

B．climbs

C．falls

D．escapes

17.

A．going for

B．going through

C．going into

D．going by

18.

A．loyalty

B．selfishness

C．glory

D．courage

19.

A．nothing

B．something

C．everything

D．anything

20.

A．which

B．that

C．those

D．what