1 . “I feel lonely and hopeless, ” said Lisa, a bright teenager from a loving home. “It seems that nobody wants to become my friend. What’s wrong with me?”
Like Lisa, many of us experience loneliness. The truth is that all people, no matter what their age or character-even the most outgoing, wealthy and popular-experience loneliness at least sometimes. It’s healthy and natural to want to be around people who care. After all, we’ve all heard “No man is an island.” That’s true. We all need others in our lives.
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, explains that if we want friends, we must be friendly and reach out to others. But it has risk. Because we are often afraid of rejection, many of us are unwilling to reach out to others. We take a safer way and wait for others to make friends with us. But if we want friends, we’ve got to get beyond this.
If making friends is your goal as well, you need to consider taking some measures.
Be willing to take the initiative (主动). If you see someone whom you would like to know, don’t wait for her to make the first move. Get close to her and begin a conversation. Let her know in a non-aggressive (无攻击性的) way that you are interested in being friends with her.
Reach out to those who are lonely. When you see someone at school sitting alone, go over and talk to her. And don’t let popularity decide whom you reach out to. You’ll often be surprised at the beautiful qualities behind a shy appearance. Ask questions. Start your first conversation by asking this possible friend what she likes to do or asking about her family. Be sure to ask questions that cannot be replied with “yes” or “no”. For example, don’t ask “Do you have a dog?” Instead, say “So, tell me about your pets. ” Avoiding asking “yes” or “no” questions makes your possible friend not end your communication with a one-word answer.
1. Why does the author begin the text with Lisa’s worry?| A．To set a sad tone. |
| B．To share Lisa’s pain. |
| C．To teach readers a lesson. |
| D．To introduce the topic. |
| A．Putting ourselves in danger. |
| B．Being treated in a rude way. |
| C．Being refused by others. |
| D．Losing interest in communicating. |
| A．Popular people are often easy-going. |
| B．Just waiting for chances will help you make friends. |
| C．Shy people are hard to talk to. |
| D．A suitable way is important in making friends. |
| A．It is considered unfriendly. |
| B．It isn’t good for keeping a conversation going. |
| C．It will leave a bad first impression. |
| D．It shows the poor quality of the speaker. |
2 . Have you ever received a gift that was so clearly, not your taste that you wondered if perhaps it had been handed to you by mistake? Worse, have you ever given a present and watched your friend look as though she had opened the wrong box? Maybe she responded with a polite “Why, thank you,” but you knew you had missed the mark. Why do presents sometimes go wrong? And what do your choices (good and bad) reflect about your personal qualities?
Choosing the right gift is an art, I believe. It calls for empathy—the ability to put yourself into someone else’s head and heart.We’re all able to do this; in fact, we’re born with a kind of natural empathy.After the earliest period of childhood, however, it needs to be reinforced (加强) —by our parents, teachers, friends. When it isn’t, we’re not able to understand other people’s feelings as sharply.This can show in the gifts we select, and so can many other emotional(情感的) qualities.
Think back to the presents you’ve given over the past year, the time and effort you put into your selection, how much you spent, your thoughts while you were shopping, and your feelings when the receiver opened the package.Keep in mind that what you choose displays your inner world.(Of course, you may express yourself differently with different friends, relatives, and other people you know.)
We live in a society where exchanging presents is an important part of communication.Ignoring the tradition won’t make it go away.If you really dislike such a tradition, tell your friends ahead of time.
1. The underlined expression “you had missed the mark” means you had failed to _______.| A．make her feel better | B．keep your friendship |
| C．get the expected effect | D．receive a present in return |
| A．Natural empathy needs to be reinforced. |
| B．Emotional changes influence one’s choice of gifts. |
| C．Selecting the right gift is an ability people are born with. |
| D．Choosing gifts requires one to understand the receivers. |
| A．the choice of gifts reflects one’s emotional qualities |
| B．one learns from what he did in the past |
| C．attention should be paid to the receivers’ responses |
| D．one should spend more time choosing gifts |
| A．Ways of Choosing Gifts | B．An Important Tradition |
| C．Exchanging Presents | D．Message in a Gift |
3 . When she was just 8, Sammie Vance thought about a question. What breaks your heart? “For me, it’s seeing people who need a friend,” the seventh grader from Indiana, US. told People magazine. “I’ve been lonely myself, I don’t want others to feel that way.”
Soon after a summer camp. Vance learned about buddy benches(伙伴长椅). These benches are seats at a school playground. A lonely child can sit on it, which shows that he or she is in need of a friend.
She loved this idea. “This would be really cool.” Vance said. Then she got into action at once. She collected 725 kgs of bottle caps and found a factory to turn the caps into benches for her school. According to Vance, these benches cost much less than common park benches and are good for the environment.
Vance collected more for benches at other schools, too. She also made a website page for others to follow her journey and make bottle cap donations(捐赠). She was surprised that her small project had had an influence on people around the world. She even received bottle caps from Germany and Australia. But she has no plans of stopping. She said in an interview that even adults(成年人)can use a buddy bench because people at any age can feel lonely.
“I just look forward to making a difference.” she said, “and inspiring(激励)other people to make a difference.”
1. What makes Sammie Vance sad?| A．Seeing homeless people. | B．Seeing hungry people. |
| C．Seeing lonely people. | D．Seeing lying animals. |
| A．Bottle caps. | B．Glass bottles. | C．Old clothes. | D．Old chairs. |
| A．Make more friends to live a happy life. | B．Try to help others and make a difference. |
| C．Work hard to make our dream come true. | D．Live a green life and protect the environment. |
4 . My 5-year-old daughter Kai walked around a bus stop, picking up candy wrappers and plastic bottles and throwing them in the waste bin. We were a visiting family here, but she was cleaning the sidewalk, which didn’t shock me, nor was I
Our cleanup project began when we drove past an empty field one day and Kai
However, it seems we can never
Now Kai hopes to become a marine biologist to protect sharks one day. She still has many years to
The last time our family was at the beach, we still picked up plastic bottles. Most
| A．embarrassed | B．discouraged | C．concerned | D．frightened |
| A．apologized | B．confirmed | C．spotted | D．explained |
| A．loose | B．magic | C．processed | D．abandoned |
| A．trade | B．mistake | C．replace | D．change |
| A．pulled over | B．blew up | C．turned down | D．gave in |
| A．due to | B．ahead of | C．other than | D．instead of |
| A．official | B．serious | C．optional | D．regular |
| A．deliver | B．remove | C．track | D．produce |
| A．stress | B．comfort | C．anger | D．pride |
| A．mess | B．platform | C．court | D．house |
| A．scary | B．pleasant | C．historic | D．real |
| A．decide | B．struggle | C．survive | D．contribute |
| A．safe | B．giant | C．distant | D．sick |
| A．personally | B．memorably | C．technically | D．universally |
| A．promise | B．threat | C．reminder | D．favor |
5 . If you had boarded a passenger plane in 1950, you would have seen five people in the cockpit (驾驶舱): two pilots, a radio operator, a navigator and a flight engineer. Over the years, technical advances have gradually removed the need for the last three, leaving just two pilots. That has been the norm (标准) in commercial aviation for decades.
However, things could be simplified further — one of the two remaining pilots could soon go. Many military aircraft are already manned by a single pilot, and for commercial aviation this would mean stepping into a brave new world.
But how will airlines make this brave innovation come true? One way is to greatly increase automation in the cockpit, devoting more tasks to computers. Another is to shift the same tasks from the cockpit to the ground. “The latter approach seems to be more workable, at least in the short term, because much of what is required already exists,” says Patrick Smith, an airline pilot flying Boeing 767 aircraft. “A trained ground operator could observe a number of flights at once and even fully control the plane remotely if needed.”
It’s true that single-pilot operations could help airlines save money, but there is another reason which makes them quicken their pace for this crucial breakthrough. Boeing predicts a need for 600,000 new pilots in the next two decades, but by some estimates, there will be a deficit (赤字) of at least 34,000 pilots globally by 2025. Reducing the number of pilots on some crews or aircraft could lessen the impact of this.
Perhaps the biggest barrier to a single pilot will be selling the idea to passengers. In 2019, Don Hairis, a professor at Coventry University, conducted a survey on the prospect of flying on an airliner with just one pilot. Just a minority of participants said they’d be willing to take that flight, and the general idea was that removing a pilot increased the possibility of accidents. In the study, Harris concluded that the single-crew airliner would be still probably 20 years away.
1. What is the potential trend in commercial aviation according to the text?| A．It will make air travel eco-friendly. |
| B．It will switch to single-pilot operations. |
| C．It will tighten its flight control for safety concerns. |
| D．It will bring in many military aircraft to the industry. |
| A．Raising the standards in admitting new pilots. | B．Making pilots adaptable to different situations. |
| C．Using computers to automate the flight process. | D．Gaining piloting support from ground operators. |
| A．The shortage of pilots. | B．The need for new airlines. |
| C．The airlines’ brave innovation. | D．The financial problem airlines face. |
| A．The prospect of single-crew airliners is bright. |
| B．It's urgent that airlines reduce airplane accidents. |
| C．Passengers are willing to try new types of airplanes. |
| D．Airlines have a long way to go before the innovation occurs. |
6 . “Just sign here, sir,” the deliveryman said as he handed Oscar Reyna a package.
The package consisted of a long, narrow box
Oscar was 16 when he first saw the
Oscar
Oscar talked his grandparents into going by Mrs. O’Brien’s house on their way home. He rang the bell, the door opened, and an elderly woman appeared. “May I
“I’d like to return it if it’s yours,” Oscar said,
“Why, yes! It’s mine,” replied Mrs. O’Brien with a
“No, ma’am,” he said. “My grandmother says that a good deed is its own reward.”
“Well, that’s
Years later Oscar was staring at the finely carved handle of the umbrella as he remembered Mrs. O’Brien. It was in perfect condition, considering how
As if
| A．strictly | B．carefully | C．roughly | D．casually |
| A．Opening | B．Seizing | C．Observing | D．Searching |
| A．After | B．When | C．Since | D．Although |
| A．average | B．unusual | C．plain | D．typical |
| A．designer | B．seller | C．user | D．owner |
| A．convinced | B．forced | C．encouraged | D．advised |
| A．until | B．before | C．which | D．where |
| A．invite | B．help | C．bother | D．know |
| A．putting up | B．turning out | C．picking up | D．holding out |
| A．wide | B．confident | C．proud | D．shy |
| A．patience | B．kindness | C．courage | D．determination |
| A．obviously | B．naturally | C．exactly | D．probably |
| A．old | B．rare | C．precious | D．nice |
| A．in contrast | B．in return | C．in exchange | D．in answer |
| A．attractive | B．significant | C．unselfish | D．sympathetic |
7 . Many people like traveling. Travel in Canada has become exciting as a number of lakes make it attractive. In fact, Canada has more lakes than any other country which contains fresh water. In addition to lakes, Canada has a number of beaches as it has a long coastline on its north, east, and west. Travelers from around the world come in large numbers to enjoy the sunbath on various beaches.
Niagara Falls lies on the border between Canada and the US. It is now popular for its beauty and is a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Niagara Falls is most attractive during the summer season when the weather condition is charming and attractive. At the Canadian side, floodlights illuminate both sides of the falls for several hours after dark and the whole scene becomes magnificent.
When traveling in Canada, travelers can enjoy doing the shopping in Toronto which is considered a leading city. It symbolizes the spirit of independence. Migrants from Europe, Latin America and Asia inhabit the place and make it a plural society. Ottawa, on the other hand, is the capital of Canada and center of political activities.
Vancouver is an enlightening city in Canada which was named after British Captain George Vancouver, who explored the area in the 1790s. The city is a leading industrial place in Canada. Another tourist attraction in Canada is the capital city of British Columbia, Victoria. The city is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.
Travel in Canada is being made easy because of a higher standard of transportation facilities. Besides, very few people know that Canada is a country with high wages per hour. In addition to a popular tourist destination, Canada is an economic powerhouse of North America, particularly in agricultural products. The Canadian dairy industry exports milk products around the world.
1. What attracts travelers most in Canada according to the first paragraph?| A．Coastlines and sunbaths. | B．Lakes and beaches. |
| C．Animals and plants. | D．Mountains and water. |
| A．Canada and the US. | B．The beauty of Niagara Falls. |
| C．The importance of the falls. | D．The hydroelectric power. |
| A．It is the political center of Canada. | B．It displays the Canadian bravery. |
| C．Its people come from different countries. | D．Travelers can buy something cheap there. |
| A．To tell us a history story. | B．To compare Vancouver and Victoria. |
| C．To remind us to keep him in mind. | D．To introduce the city of Vancouver. |
8 . I never went to university but always thought about it. The only way I
My first day of school finally arrived. As I drove there, my mind was filled with
Then, suddenly, I saw it! A large billboard on the side of the road with a picture of Kermit the Frog. I slowed down a little and read the words, “Live your dreams.” Was Kermit talking about me? I didn’t turn the car around.
I drove a little
| A．attended | B．gained | C．consulted | D．contained |
| A．goal | B．idea | C．advice | D．dream |
| A．since | B．before | C．until | D．after |
| A．theme | B．system | C．programme | D．process |
| A．sign up | B．turn up | C．keep up | D．make up |
| A．negative | B．attractive | C．active | D．optimistic |
| A．tutors | B．kids | C．professors | D．guards |
| A．degree | B．praise | C．skill | D．reputation |
| A．higher | B．further | C．closer | D．lower |
| A．billboard | B．picture | C．portrait | D．cartoon |
| A．breaking | B．giving | C．pulling | D．sticking |
| A．holding | B．arriving | C．setting | D．making |
| A．Leaving | B．Squeezing | C．Approaching | D．Staying |
| A．stood | B．lived | C．lay | D．sat |
| A．slightly | B．accidentally | C．differently | D．completely |
9 . Mid-Autumn Festival, a typical agricultural harvest and get-together festival, falls on lunar August 15. I disliked it not because it’s
Last year, finding I had little in common with my classmates, I felt
Later, in spite of my unwillingness, I was still invited to
In brief, I
| A．originally | B．immediately | C．previously | D．horribly |
| A．experience | B．atmosphere | C．belief | D．joy |
| A．romantic | B．lonely | C．capable | D．selfish |
| A．disappearing | B．harvesting | C．passing | D．approaching |
| A．significant | B．inner | C．medium | D．autonomous |
| A．church | B．wedding | C．classroom | D．branch |
| A．awarded | B．decorated | C．removed | D．observed |
| A．rolled | B．battled | C．surfed | D．cheered |
| A．represent | B．greet | C．figure | D．prove |
| A．features | B．envelopes | C．regions | D．congratulations |
| A．talent | B．impact | C．respect | D．philosophy |
| A．settled down | B．marched on | C．broke away | D．gave up |
| A．charge | B．cure | C．enjoy | D．defend |
| A．click | B．reflect | C．press | D．depend |
| A．beautiful | B．effective | C．generous | D．legal |
10 . Have you ever had problems in your life and don’t know how to be happy? If
Many teenagers think
Some school students have
| A．not | B．so | C．ever | D．any |
| A．wise | B．smart | C．useful | D．simple |
| A．orders | B．tells | C．asks | D．argues |
| A．problems | B．questions | C．ideas | D．comments |
| A．roles | B．classes | C．courses | D．subjects |
| A．says | B．writes | C．reads | D．thinks |
| A．for an example | B．such as | C．so as | D．so that |
| A．make | B．turn | C．let | D．change |
| A．what | B．how | C．that | D．whether |
| A．for | B．but | C．so | D．or |
| A．yet | B．already | C．still | D．rather |
| A．bad | B．good | C．independent | D．normal |
| A．learn | B．rescue | C．struggle | D．separate |
| A．experiences | B．difficulties | C．fears | D．problems |
| A．success | B．happiness | C．failure | D．height |
| A．way | B．means | C．manners | D．spirit |
| A．short | B．small | C．tall | D．fat |
| A．lower | B．higher | C．worse | D．better |
| A．take | B．spend | C．cover | D．cost |
| A．work | B．lesson | C．teaching | D．study |
