2 . We need to learn to make choices. I still remember the thing. After that weekend my high school classmates and I would go our ________ ways. Many planned on attending colleges far away, as I did. Others had jobs lined up and a few were imagining the ________ in the future.

Directly in front of me was a friend, who ________ and smiled, acting a little self-satisfied. He and a couple of friends had decided to play one ________ trick before graduation. The night before, they’d ________ over to the headmaster’s home and used miles of toilet paper to decorate his house and yard.

The headmaster onstage had given no ________ that anything was wrong. Hearing my name, I took a deep breath,________climbed the steps, crossed the stage and stopped in front of the headmaster. He handed me my ________ case. I couldn’t wait to open it and find my name,________ that I had graduated. My friend opened his case and all of us burst into _________ What we saw was a single roll of toilet paper inside.

The choices we make ________ our lives.

Our high school headmaster had a great sense of ________ and took this opportunity to play a trick back on the boys, but they were allowed to graduate.

Sometimes we get lucky when we do something wrong.________, sometimes we don’t I often wonder what ________ those who didn’t make it to graduation. The ________ way to stay out of trouble is to avoid it in the first place.

1.

A．wide

B．separate

C．similar

D．opposite

2.

A．education

B．result

C．marriage

D．separation

3.

A．laughed

B．whistled

C．shook

D．yawned (打呵欠)

4.

A．usual

B．important

C．last

D．very

5.

A．slipped

B．swung

C．skipped

D．swum

6.

A．meaning

B．framework

C．fantasy

D．sign

7.

A．nervously

B．casually

C．shamefully

D．elegantly

8.

A．paper

B．diploma

C．tool

D．glass

9.

A．assuming

B．informing

C．confirming

D．believing

10.

A．laughter

B．tears

C．anger

D．songs

11.

A．destroy

B．disturb

C．experience

D．shape

12.

A．kindness

B．humor

C．happiness

D．accomplishment

13.

A．Anyhow

B．Furthermore

C．Still

D．Therefore

14.

A．became of

B．brought about

C．got across

D．brought out

15.

A．bravest

B．simplified

C．meanest

D．surest

3 . At age 14, 15 and 16, the way we looked was the most important thing in the world to us. My friends and I wanted nothing less than perfection. We joined the gymnastics team in high school and our _________ became even more important to us.

One summer day, all my friends were at my house swimming. At one point, I was running back to the pool. I _________ on a bee, and while it was dying under my foot, it stung(蛰)me. I immediately started to feel _________. That night, I began to run a high fever and my leg and foot were red, hot and swollen. I couldn’t walk.

When my foot started to go numb(麻木)everyone became more _________. My foot was not getting enough blood. I had to go to the hospital, and my leg hurt as if it were broken. I couldn’t move. All I could do was think about how soft my waist(腰部)was becoming, which _________ me more than any concern over my leg.

That all changed when I heard the doctors mention possibly _________ my foot. It was still not getting the _________ supply it needed. The doctors would have to speed up their treatment.

I never have such great appreciation for my foot before. And walking seemed like a _________ from the gods. Less and less would I want to hear my friends talk about gymnastics and who was wearing what. More and more I expected visits from other kids in the _________, who were quickly becoming my friends.

One girl came to visit me __________. Every time she came, she brought flowers. She was recovering from cancer and felt she should come back and __________ the other patients.

She still had no hair, and she was swollen from medications she had been taking. I would not have given this girl a second __________ before. I now loved every inch of her and looked forward to her __________.

Finally, I was improving and soon I went home. My leg was still swollen, __________ I was walking, and I had my foot When I went back to the hospital, I often saw my friend. She was still visiting people and __________ encouragement. I thought if there was an angel on this earth, it had to be her.

1.

A．grades

B．brains

C．bodies

D．clothes

2.

A．stepped

B．focused

C．held

D．took

3.

A．upset

B．fearful

C．sick

D．anxious

4.

A．concerned

B．amazed

C．surprised

D．interested

5.

A．blamed

B．impressed

C．shocked

D．troubled

6.

A．cutting off

B．holding up

C．putting down

D．taking in

7.

A．bone

B．blood

C．time

D．air

8.

A．gift

B．hand

C．promise

D．treats

9.

A．school

B．family

C．team

D．hospital

10.

A．suddenly

B．regularly

C．finally

D．recently

11.

A．advise

B．encourage

C．serve

D．instruct

12.

A．choice

B．thought

C．glance

D．chance

13.

A．words

B．ideas

C．flowers

D．visits

14.

A．but

B．then

C．so

D．for

15.

A．enjoying

B．gaining

C．discovering

D．spreading

4 . A popular saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” However, that’s not really true. Words have the power to build us up or tear us down. It doesn’t matter if the words come from someone else or ourselves—the good and bad effects are just as lasting.

We all talk to ourselves sometimes. We’re usually too shy to admit it, though. In fact, we really shouldn’t be shy because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit.

This “self-talk” helps us encourage ourselves, remember things, deal with problems, and calm ourselves down. You must know, though, that as much as 77% of self-talk tends to be bad. So in order to stay good, we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves. We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back. The next time you finish a project, do well in a test, or finally clean your room, join me in saying “Good job!”

Often, words come out of our mouths without thinking about the effect they will have. But we should know that our words lead to certain effects on others. For example, when returning an item to a store, we might use warm, friendly language during the exchange. And the clerk will probably answer in the same way. Or harsh (刻薄的) and bad language will most likely cause the clerk to feel bad.

Words have power because of their lasting effect. Many of us regret something we once said. And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking, we should always ask ourselves: Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn’t pass this test, then it’s better left unsaid.

Words have power: both good and bad. Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively. We can give hope, build self-esteem (自尊) and encourage others to do their best. Bad words destroy all those things. Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours.

1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

A．Words have a great effect on us.	B．Encouraging words give us confidence.
C．Bad words may let us down.	D．Not sticks and stones but words will hurt us.

2. Why does the writer say there is no need for us to feel shy when we talk to ourselves?

A．Almost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves.

B．Talking to ourselves can have a good effect on us.

C．Talking to ourselves always gives us courage.

D．It does no harm to have “self-talk” when we are alone.

3. What does the underlined sentence mean?

A．Make ourselves relaxed.	B．Remind ourselves regularly.
C．Praise ourselves timely.	D．Give ourselves happiness.

4. What can we learn from the text?

A．Encouraging words are sure to lead to kind offers.

B．Bad words may encourage us to make more progress.

C．It is better to think twice before talking to others.

D．People tend to remember friendly words.

5 . The Chinese government ends its one-child policy (政策) and allows families to have three children. The policy is meant to balance population development, stop a falling birth rate (出生率) and strengthen the country’s labor force (劳动力).

China, with the largest population in the world, started the one-child policy in 1980. But the government allowed only a small number of couples to have two children. For example, some families in the countryside could have two children, if the first-born child is a girl. In 2016, the Chinese government gave other couples a chance to have two children if one of them was an only child. Because of aging of population, in 2021, it allowed families to have three children.

To the newest policy, different families have different opinions. “Too many young people in the cities are no longer interested in having two or three children,” an official said. “People in the countryside are more interested.”

At the end of 2021, China had a population of more than 1. 4 billion people. A total of 900 million of them have jobs. But the labor market population will drop in 30 years. That is to say, the country will be in great need of labor by the year 2050. With the three-child policy, an increase in births can solve this problem.

Boys and girls, what do you think of the three-child policy? Do you want to have new-born brothers or sisters?

1. Why does the Chinese government end the one-child policy?

A．Because China needs a larger population.

B．Because a falling birth rate must be stopped.

C．Because most families want to have a second or third child.

D．Because there will be less old people.

2. How do most young people in the cities react (反应) to the three-child policy?

A．They strongly support the policy.	B．They don’t think it is good.
C．They’re not interested in it any more.	D．They are interested in it.

3. What may happen after we have the “three-child” policy?

A．The population development will be balanced.	B．The labor market population will drop.
C．There will be more old people.	D．There will be less newborns.

7 . My great-grandfather, my grandfather and my father are all farmers. My father expects me to become a farmer and _______ them all but I don’t agree with my father.

Three years ago, my father took me to an airport to visit one of his friends. His friend _______ a small airline. It was the first time I had seen a _______ airplane. After my father’s friend discovered I had never been in an airplane, he _______ me to fly with them. When we took off, I felt excited. While we were in the air, I almost forgot I had to _______ the ground. All I could think of was flying would be my _______ in life and how I wanted to fly again and again.

Since then, if I had time, my father’s friend would teach me how to fly. He _______ let me fly alone once. I wanted to become a pilot but I would have to go _______ my father.

At the age of 18, I had to tell my father what I wanted to do but I didn’t want to make him _______. As he walked ahead of me and I ________, I didn’t know what I could say to help him understand my ________ for flying. I took my courage and said, “Father, I have something ________ to tell you. I want to go to college and become a pilot. I have talked to the schools and they agreed to give me financial (金融的) help. “I felt nervous in his ________. Then he spoke,” I was wondering when you would tell me. I have been ________ money for you. ” When I heard this, I couldn’t help crying. For the first time, I really understand his ________ love for me.

1.

A．respect

B．join

C．remember

D．believe

2.

A．introduced

B．examined

C．needed

D．owned

3.

A．real

B．special

C．huge

D．popular

4.

A．ordered

B．allowed

C．forced

D．trained

5.

A．return to

B．look at

C．think about

D．care for

6.

A．problem

B．custom

C．challenge

D．goal

7.

A．even

B．still

C．never

D．already

8.

A．for

B．through

C．after

D．against

9.

A．sick

B．worried

C．angry

D．excited

10.

A．waited

B．followed

C．left

D．ran

11.

A．plan

B．love

C．excuse

D．explanation

12.

A．terrible

B．amazing

C．important

D．encouraging

13.

A．silence

B．sadness

C．surprise

D．anger

14.

A．counting

B．searching

C．saving

D．changing

15.

A．different

B．strange

C．lost

D．deep

9 . Looking out of the window of his truck, Bob Fitzgerald sees dying forests and empty farmland. Fitzgerald says the land has been in his family since the 17th century. “I can show you the land around here that people grew tomatoes on when I was a little boy. And now it’s gone.”

Climate change is making things worse. As sea levels rise, salt water is entering rivers and other waterways. As a result, the land is becoming too salty for crops (庄稼) to grow on. Hundreds of millions of people will have to move inland because of rising waters.

Kate Tully, a researcher in the University of Maryland, wants to keep coastal (沿海的) farmers in business as the seas rise. She has seen the forests filled with pine trees killed by the increasingly salty soil. The United States Department of Agriculture gave Tully and other researchers $1.1 million to study the problem. She and her team hope to give farmers ways to stay on their land.

They are testing different crops on pieces of land around the Eastern Shore. “Sorghum is my new favorite crop because it can grow without rain and it can grow with lots of rain.” The grain crop (谷类庄稼) may be a good choice to feed the nearly 600 million chickens kept in the area each year. As farmers know, chickens can deal with salt, dry weather conditions and heavy rains. Yet just being able to grow a crop is not enough. The crop has to bring in money.

Some people believe the land should be given back to nature. They say the fields should be turned into wetlands, which are popular with duck hunters (猎人). “There’s money in duck hunting,” Tully said. “Hunting organizations will pay farmers for hunting on their land. Farmers could make a lot of money from duck hunting.”

Tully and her team are just getting started. It will be a few years before they really understand how to save the farms.

1. How does the author introduce the topic?

A．By telling a story.	B．By showing an experience.
C．By doing a research.	D．By studying the result.

2. Why were Tully and other researchers given $1.1 million?

A．To help farmers stay on their land.	B．To study new crops for coastal farmers
C．To study climate change in recent years.	D．To help farmers start their own business.

3. What does Tully think of turning farms into places for duck hunting?

A．She’s worried it goes against nature.	B．She thinks it’s popular with farmers.
C．She thinks it can be a good choice.	D．She thinks it will take time.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Scientists Teaching Farmers to Plant Crops	B．Rising Seas Forcing Changes on Farms
C．Climate Change Making Things Worse	D．Coastal Farmers Saving Their Homeland

10 . In the digital age, we rely on technology such as social media in trying to build interesting and varied lives. Social networking sites like Facebook are designed and promoted to make us believe enthusiastically that they are able to open up new experiences for us. There are constant notifications (通知) and updates, attracting us to check-in to find out what is new.

But if we do not use the technology wisely, we can end up becoming overly attached and trapped in a cycle of social media FOMO, a sign of deeper unhappiness. FOMO, or fear of missing out, is a fear that exciting or interesting events are happening somewhere else and that we are not able to join.

People who experience high levels of FOMO have been found to be more likely to give in to desires to write and check text messages while driving, as well as to use Facebook more often directly after waking, while going to sleep and during meals.

When it comes to lasting happiness, it is best not to give in to FOMO, but rather to deal with the cycle of desires that fuel it. Hard as it is, we are better off working toward facing the fearful reality that we cannot experience everything we might like than to get caught in a cycle of checking behaviors that only cause anxiety.

If we have become used to using social media as part of our attempts at living interesting lives, we must admit that it is not easy to change our approach. But change is almost always worthwhile in the long run.

The fact that FOMO is so common in our digital age is a sign that there is something wrong with the way we are pursuing happiness and that we are not as happy as we might think we are. It should warn us that, in our eagerness to use digital technology to try to make ourselves happier, we may unintentionally (无意之中) be bringing on exactly the opposite result.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．The digital age has arrived.

B．Sites give netizens useful experiences.

C．People find it helpful to apply modern technology.

D．Social media are designed to attract public attention.

2. Which of the following could be regarded as social media FOMO?

A．Failing to use Facebook.

B．Answering a call during shopping.

C．Checking Facebook while driving.

D．Reading text messages on reaching offices.

3. What can be learned from the last paragraph?

A．Everybody has experienced FOMO.

B．Digital technology may make us unhappier.

C．Pursuing happiness is a sign of the digital age.

D．People may unintentionally get addicted to technology.