1 . Your first day anywhere can be tough. As a supply teacher, I had one such experience when I was _____ to work at a special education school.

When I received the call asking if I was available that day, a wave of _____ rushed over me. I’d never taught in a special school before, but I _____ pulled myself together and drove to the school. On the way there, I had _____ about everything I couldn’t do.

As I _____， I was greeted by the head who _____ me there was “nothing to worry about”， but I was feeling anything but! I was told I would teach Key Stage 1.

_____ by their parents, the children began to show up. I tried to _____ my anxious feelings, although a few drops of _____ were noticeable.

The whole class, a total of 8 with various special needs, arrived by 9：30. Contrary to my ______， as the day went on，my ______ levels went down. The children were expressive, unique and passionate, though there were times that left me slightly ______ by their screams.

As the day ended, I could ______ say it was one of the best experiences of my teaching career. I hope anyone will ______ working at a special school and allow the passion of the children there to ______ their love of teaching.

1.

A．force

B．required

C．allowed

D．guided

2.

A．panic

B．sadness

C．anger

D．sympathy

3.

A．hesitantly

B．regularly

C．eventually

D．desperately

4.

A．plans

B．thoughts

C．doubts

D．opinions

5.

A．broke up

B．sped up

C．picked up

D．pulled up

6.

A．assured

B．warned

C．reminded

D．informed

7.

A．Abandoned

B．Suspected

C．Accompanied

D．Raised

8.

A．maintain

B．hide

C．spread

D．enhance

9.

A．ink

B．rain

C．sweat

D．blood

10.

A．decisions

B．conclusions

C．suggestions

D．predictions

11.

A．stress

B．education

C．energy

D．confidence

12.

A．inspired

B．refreshed

C．shocked

D．satisfied

13.

A．regretfully

B．honestly

C．jokingly

D．patiently

14.

A．admit

B．recommend

C．tolerate

D．consider

15.

A．celebrate

B．earn

C．guarantee

D．awaken

2 . “I am so sorry,” I tearfully said to my principal investigator (PI), explaining I would not be able to return to work as originally planned. Before I became a parent, I had assumed a baby would fit right into my academic plans. But now, as the end of my leave approached, I realized I couldn’t simply carry on as I always had. I was worried this decision might signal the end of my academic career — but I felt I had no other choice.

Thankfully, my PI had more foresight. He told me I didn’t need to resign and that he could offer me a contract that would allow me to contribute to our project from afar. It proved to be an absolute career lifeline tailored to me.

Then five years after stepping back from academia, I felt ready to re-enter more fully. Because I had been able to keep my hand in during my time away, the prospect was much less daunting than it would have been otherwise. I ended up landing a lecturer position that allowed me to slowly ease back in, focusing on teaching and scholarship with research taking a back seat. And when, 4 years on, a senior lectureship position came up in the very group I had left a decade earlier, the timing was right. With both of my children in “big school”, I was ready to really put my foot down on the career accelerator. I got the job.

Now, 6 months into my new role, I am happy to be right where it all began, with involvement in so many interesting projects. But what truly made the difference for me was the offer of what I needed during that time away. I hope more institutions and PIs can come up with creative provisions (条款) for those in their workforce who don’t want to give up their careers but want-or-need to take extended periods of leave. And to those who are taking such breaks, or considering it, know that returning is possible. Above all, on both sides: Please do not discount extended leavers. We have a lot to offer — if we are given the chance.

1. What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?

A．Her path to PI began when she became a parent.

B．She struck a balance between work and family.

C．She had intended to stick to her academic plans.

D．She chose to prioritize her career over her family.

2. Which is closest in meaning to the underlined word “daunting” in paragraph 3?

A．Fearsome.

B．Realistic.

C．Regretful.

D．Promising.

3. What contributed most to her success according to the author?

A．Academic researches.	B．Supportive work environment.
C．Interest in the projects.	D．Involvement in engaging projects.

4. What’s the author’s purpose of writing the passage?

A．To analyse.

B．To entertain.

C．To report.

D．To promote.

5 . If you want to fill your shelves with the best books of all time, you’re in the right place.

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (1974)

The imagination of Shel Silverstein is on full display in this classic collection of short stories and poems. The book is truly one of the best poetry books of all time because of its staying power for children. The stories of this American poet, author, singer and folk artist have something for everyone.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878)

Most critics regard it as one of the most typical literary love stories. The author’s Russian tale of unfortunate lovers is filled with fascinating quotes like, “He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.” This one belongs on any book collector’s shelf.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1943)

It is a timeless tale of a prince’s journey in search of adventure. What he finds, however, are interactions with adults who leave him so upset. It’s one of the most appealing short books we’ve ever read and also one of the most widely read children’s classics all over the world.

The Shining by Stephen King (1977)

The master of mystery must be included in any list of books you should read in a lifetime. That’s why you will find it here. Horror fans take note: This is one of the scariest and best Stephen King books of all time.

1. In which book can we read about unfortunate lovers?

A．Anna Karenina.	B．The Shining.
C．The Little Prince.	D．Where the Sidewalk Ends.

2. Which writer is good at telling a timeless journey of adventure?

A．Shel Silverstein.	B．Stephen King.
C．Antoine de Saint-Exupery.	D．Leo Tolstoy.

3. What do Where the Sidewalk Ends and The Shining have in common?

A．They are both novels.

B．They are both for children.

C．They are both about adults.

D．They were both written in the 1970s.

6 . It was June 15, and in two days I would be turning thirty. I was insecure about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.

My daily routine included going to the gym for a workout before going to work. Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day, he noticed I wasn’t full of my usual vitality and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty. I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached Nicholas’ sage, so I asked him, “What was the best time of your life?”

Without hesitation, Nicholas replied, “Well, Joe, this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question.”

“When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents, that was the best time of my life.”

“When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life.”

“When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts, that was the best time of my life.”

“When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life.”

“The Second World War came, and my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship bound for North America, that was the best time of my life.”

“When we came to Canada and started a family, that was the best time of my life.”

“When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life.”

“And now, Joe, I am seventy-nine years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met. This is the best time of my life.”

1. Why did the author feel anxious according to the article?

A．He would be 30 in two days.

B．He was worried about getting old.

C．He didn’t go to the gym to exercise.

D．Nicholas asked questions he didn’t want to answer.

2. What do we know about Nicholas’ life experiences?

A．He spent his childhood with his grandparents in Austria.

B．He dropped out of school, found a job and got paid.

C．He took part in the Second World War and met his wife.

D．He started a family and became a young father in Canada.

3. What do you think of Nicholas’s life?

A．Casual.

B．Anxious.

C．Positive.

D．Negative.

4. What can we learn from Nicholas?

A．Live a day at a time.	B．You get what you pay for.
C．Every man has his price.	D．Strike while the iron is hot.

7 . Nowadays, everyone seems to hope to go into space and live on new planets. Instead of depending on another pre-existing planet, could we make a new planet by ourselves?

First of all, if we were to live on it, we should find a good place in space to put the new planet. We would want it to be in a habitable zone, which means the planet should be at the right distance from its star to make sure there would be perfect temperatures and most importantly, liquid water.

We’d also need the right materials to make the planet. Our Earth is made up of many different elements (元素). If we made our own new planet, we’d probably want it to have similar elements and a similar structure (结构). We’d also want enough water to form some oceans.

But even if we get all of the materials, creating a new planet like Earth could have many troubles. It might be something more like a huge space station. It would be pretty expensive if we wanted it to be super big.

We would probably also need a lot of food because there is going to be many scientists and astronauts out in space working on this project!

According to NASA, each astronaut uses about 0.83 kilograms of food per meal, including 0.12 kilograms of packaging (包装) material. Without the weight of the packaging material, we’d need about 780 kilograms of food just to feed one astronaut for a year.

Putting all these together could make it possible to make our own planet one day! In fact, creating a new planet would probably require a very modern technology and there would be tons of other things to think about. And if this is possible, it won’t likely happen within a very long time.

1. To create a new planet, which of the following should we first do?

A．To collect materials similar to Earth.	B．To prepare plenty of food for astronauts to eat.
C．To design its inner structure.	D．To find a proper place to set it.

2. How much food will an astronaut really eat for each meal?

A．About 0.12 kilograms.	B．About 0.71 kilograms.
C．About 0.83 kilograms.	D．About 0.95 kilograms.

3. What does the author think of making a new planet?

A．It is a waste of time and money.

B．It may be a dangerous thing for humans.

C．It is impossible to come true in the near future.

D．It should be one of NASA’s next plans.

8 . Chinese Festivals

As an ancient country, China has various festivals.

The Spring Festival

In the evening before the Spring Festival, families get together and have a big meal. Children also get lucky money from parents.

The Lantern Festival

During this festival, there is special food called “tang yuan”, which is said to symbolize both the first full moon and family unity and completeness. Part of the Lantern Festival tradition involves a game to guess riddles (谜语) attached to the lanterns.

Stilt walking, drumming and the dragon and lion dance are the main entertainment forms of the Lantern Festival.

The Dragon Boat Festival

It is to celebrate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, a loyal and highly respected minister, who brought peace and prosperity (繁荣) to the state but ended up drowning himself in a river as a result of being vilified (诽谤).

The Double Seventh Festival

On the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, there is a traditional festival full of romance. Recently the youth have celebrated it as Valentine’s Day in China.

The Mid-Autumn Festival

It is a traditional festival for both the Han and minority nationalities in China.The custom of worshipping (礼拜) the moon can be dated back to the ancient Xia and Shang dynasties. The Mid-Autumn Festival is also a holiday for members of a family to get together.

The Double Ninth Festival

On the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, people celebrate the Double Ninth Festival. People usually climb mountains and eat double-ninth cakes, which means our life will become better and better.

1. Which is NOT included in the entertainments of the Lantern Festival?

A．Guessing riddles.	B．Lucky money.
C．Drumming.	D．Dragon dance.

2. Which of the following festival tells about a Chinese ancestor who showed his love to his homeland?

A．The Dragon Boat Festival.	B．The Spring Festival.
C．The Double Seventh Festival.	D．The Mid-Autumn Festival.

3. What aspect is the Mid-Autumn Festival unique in?

A．Families’ reunion.

B．Festival full of romance.

C．Worshipping the moon.

D．Symbolizing the first full moon.

10 .

Charles Darwin
Personal information: Date of birth: 12 February 1809 Date of death: 19 April 1882 Nationality: English Education: Edinburgh University, Cambridge University
Achievements: He put forward the theory of evolution by natural selection and published On the Origin of Species in 1859.
Influence: His theory of evolution by natural selection has greatly influenced the development of biology.
Interesting fact: Darwin was such a scientific man that before he made up his mind to get married, he made a careful list of the advantages and disadvantages of marriage.

1. Where was Charles Darwin from?

A．Germany.

B．Britain.

C．America.

D．France.

2. When was Charles Darwin born?

A．In Feb. 1809.

B．In April 1809.

C．In April 1882.

D．In Feb. 1882.

3. What did Charles Darwin come up with?

A．The Origin of Species.

B．The advantages of marriage.

C．The development of biology.

D．The theory of evolution by natural selection.