1 . Age is truly just a number if our hearts are young. Lee Minor, an 85-year-old retired psychologist, has________this by finishing his 600th marathon race with 32 members of his family by his side. “Runners don’t have a________line. We just keep going,” he toldGood Morning America. “I felt________running with my family.” Minor has been running three days a week since 1969, and his heart is filled with enthusiasm for running.

“I like to run in all kinds of________. It is so childish as the rain touches your face. And I love to come here after snow and you watch your________as you go along.” he concluded.

Minor’s enthusiasm for running is________. “It is my joy. And I want to live as long as I can. And I mean live, not________.” His words ring true for Ron Robert, a man diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease who decided to ________ a three-year bachelor of artsprogram at King’s University College in London, Ontario. “I was always taught early in life that the brain is like the most ________instrument we have in our body,” said Robert.

Last fall, Robert graduated from the university, despite the challenges of his illness. “When I went across the stage, and as I’m getting my________, the kids all stood up andyelled and clapped,” he________. “I had to hold back the tears. It was something else, just wonderful.” He hopes that his story will give hope to others facing________difficulties. “There will come a time when I won’t be able to, and I fully________that. Butin the meantime, I’m living a full life.”

The stories of Minor and Robert are reminders that age and illness need not________us. We can choose to pursue our________and live life to the fullest, no matter whatchallenges we may face.

1.

A．proven

B．approved

C．won

D．imagined

2.

A．starting

B．center

C．finishing

D．bottom

3.

A．depressed

B．thrilled

C．calm

D．uneasy

4.

A．weather

B．zones

C．illness

D．phases

5.

A．position

B．footprints

C．reflections

D．route

6.

A．infectious

B．temporary

C．blind

D．restricted

7.

A．wait

B．abandon

C．exist

D．run

8.

A．award

B．suspend

C．quit

D．pursue

9.

A．powerful

B．visible

C．boring

D．accurate

10.

A．uniform

B．application

C．certificate

D．license

11.

A．slid away

B．gave up

C．broke in

D．choked out

12.

A．emotional

B．identical

C．financial

D．abstract

13.

A．enjoy

B．reject

C．doubt

D．expect

14.

A．save

B．define

C．distinguish

D．witness

15.

A．scholarship

B．fitness

C．passion

D．career

2 . In many ways, Gitanjali Rao is an ordinary 11-year-old, lively and chatty, yet her scientific spirit makes a huge difference. Last month, she ___________ the top prize at the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge for her invention.

What ___________ Gitanjali’s work was that her city faced a water emergency with too much lead in its water. “The idea didn’t ___________ to me until I saw my parents try to do water tests. The test strips may show inaccurate results, which weren’t very ___________.”

She recalls. She then searched for suitable materials with continued efforts and ___________ found that carbon nanotube (纳米管)sensors can be used to sense chemicals. Gitanjali ___________ to build a small blue housing using the 3-D printer at her school with computer chips and a battery inside. A free app, which Gitanjali designed under ___________ from her computer science teacher, gives instant ___________ and sends the data to a linked phone through an attached device.

The process of designing her project wasn’t always ___________, though. Kathleen Shafer, a scientist paired with Gitanjali as her teacher in summer, ______________ along the way. In the award ceremony, Gitanjali also ______________ her parents with constant support and ______________ to try “crazy ideas”. Gitanjali received $25, 000 to further develop her program along with the great ______________ of winning the contest. According to Shafer, who ______________ Gitanjali, “she shows a lot of motivation to solve ______________ issues through science”.

1.

A．earned

B．designed

C．offered

D．made

2.

A．exposed

B．improved

C．defined

D．inspired

3.

A．stick

B．belong

C．occur

D．apply

4.

A．simple

B．reliable

C．predictable

D．creative

5.

A．initially

B．immediately

C．temporarily

D．eventually

6.

A．managed

B．promised

C．pretended

D．happened

7.

A．observation

B．command

C．instruction

D．control

8.

A．access

B．results

C．decisions

D．approval

9.

A．optional

B．complete

C．continuous

D．smooth

10.

A．changed

B．risked

C．helped

D．followed

11.

A．stresses

B．credits

C．impresses

D．provides

12.

A．encouragement

B．request

C．struggle

D．pressure

13.

A．fortune

B．intention

C．honor

D．potential

14.

A．keeps up with

B．gets along with

C．takes care of

D．speaks highly of

15.

A．commercial

B．practical

C．academic

D．systematic

3 . Most young people are always on their phones, which may upset many people. ___________, a group called Girl Scouts are receiving _________ for setting up their first walk-in clinic for elderly people, who have difficulty understanding how to ___________ the secrets of their smart phones.

Each teen spent at least an hour of one-on-one time with their oldsters. Based on their _________ knowledge, each Girl Scout was assigned to ___________ different aspects of Android and Apple phones.

Some of the oldsters actually wanted to take part in e-commerce (电子商务), and needed help to _________ a payment account on their smart phones while others simply had _________ when learning how to send messages to their family members. "I was teaching this older woman how to _________, and the first thing she did was to send a message to her daughter,” one of the Scouts said. “How ___________ it was! It just made me feel really, really happy.”

In addition to arranging group lessons for all of the seniors to ____________ together at the end of the clinic, the youngsters even printed out brochures and guides for the seniors to take home in case ____________ seniors would encounter problems with their smart phones in the future.

The eighth graders earned their “Silver Award,, for their job. After experiencing the ____________ of their project, the girls hope to organize more ____________ in the near future. “Those girls were just great,” said Nancy, a great-grandmother who once ____________ the clinic. “They were ready for us and had a very mature attitude about answering our questions, and they ______________ the praise.

1.

A．Otherwise

B．Therefore

C．However

D．Besides

2.

A．service

B．praise

C．invitation

D．donation

3.

A．keep

B．untie

C．share

D．unlock

4.

A．technological

B．medical

C．psychological

D．physical

5.

A．record

B．teach

C．recall

D．investigate

6.

A．get back

B．set up

C．check out

D．pay off

7.

A．patience

B．luck

C．fun

D．trouble

8.

A．write

B．phone

C．text

D．read

9.

A．sweet

B．simple

C．rare

D．common

10.

A．play

B．live

C．talk

D．review

11.

A．amazed

B．experienced

C．confused

D．respected

12.

A．success

B．arrangement

C．change

D．pressure

13.

A．performances

B．clinics

C．clubs

D．competitions

14.

A．organized

B．managed

C．visited

D．funded

15.

A．needed

B．refused

C．enjoyed

D．deserved

5 . Recently I was very busy and I needed a timeout. So I decided to drive to the supermarket and pick up dinner instead of doing my usual ______.

In the supermarket, I took fat and juicy chicken and some warm cornbread. As the cashier began processing my items, I______my bag for my credit card. However, I realized my wallet was not there. In______, I told the cashier I had left my money at home and apologized sincerely, offering to______my items to where I______them. Just at that moment the supermarket owner appeared, saying “Please, take everything home and______the dinner. It’s on the house tonight!” I tried to______the lovely offer but he______a dark chocolate bar near the counter and said, “Here! Take this, too!” His act of______lifted everybody present. I thanked him______for making my day.

When I approached home, as I______into my driveway, I saw my next-door neighbor had just mowed my lawn (草坪). He was putting on the finishing touches, clearing the cut grass. Feeling______, I jumped out of my car and asked him how much he wanted for his ______, to which he replied,“Nothing at all. The lawn needed doing.” He______me off summarily as he returned to his home. A second scoop of good______had landed in my lap, which again reminded me kindness is everywhere in the world.

1.

A．walking

B．cooking

C．shopping

D．teaching

2.

A．reached into

B．stared at

C．put aside

D．watched over

3.

A．anger

B．amazement

C．satisfaction

D．embarrassment

4.

A．clear

B．show

C．pack

D．return

5.

A．bought

B．put

C．took

D．ate

6.

A．enjoy

B．prepare

C．donate

D．deliver

7.

A．appreciate

B．withdraw

C．decline

D．ensure

8.

A．looked at

B．picked up

C．showed off

D．put away

9.

A．courage

B．generosity

C．faith

D．bravery

10.

A．hurriedly

B．curiously

C．hesitantly

D．sincerely

11.

A．searched

B．dug

C．crashed

D．pulled

12.

A．regretful

B．excited

C．nervous

D．energetic

13.

A．efforts

B．talent

C．guidance

D．goods

14.

A．sent

B．drove

C．waved

D．turned

15.

A．appetite

B．deal

C．fortune

D．reputation

6 . Misty Copeland spends most days twisting, spinning and _______. She practices and _______ the graceful movements of her art. When she isn’t performing she is practicing. When she isn’t practicing, she is stretching. She takes classes almost every day. She takes care of her body so she doesn’t _______ it when she goes to work in a ballet theatre.

“I treat my body with the respect that any musician would to their _______.” says Misty. “I love my body,” she adds.

Was she _______ confident? Actually, she was a _______ girl and avoided the spotlight. But Misty loved music and movement. When she was thirteen, Misty’s teacher suggested she _______ a free ballet class at the Boys&Girls Club. For two weeks, Misty sat on the gym bench watching the class, afraid to _______. Finally, she gave it a _______. At first, she felt ________in the class. She didn’t know anything about ballet, and she was ________ than most of the students. Over time, ________, she began to enjoy the lessons. She discovered that her body — especially her long legs and flexible muscles — was just ________ for ballet. After the class season ended, Misty received a scholarship to a nearby dance studio. Most ballerinas (女舞者) start their training much younger than thirteen. But Misty’s natural abilities and hard work made her improve quickly.

Over the next five years, ballet was Misty’s ________. She practiced, performed, competed and attended ballet programs. “Performing was my favourite part because I felt ________ and open onstage,” she says. “For the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged.”

1.

A．wandering

B．leaping

C．exercising

D．dancing

2.

A．perfects

B．conquers

C．examines

D．describes

3.

A．hurt

B．injure

C．spoil

D．abuse

4.

A．appearance

B．voice

C．techniques

D．instruments

5.

A．found

B．made

C．born

D．trained

6.

A．humble

B．quiet

C．cautious

D．shy

7.

A．attend

B．register

C．learn

D．watch

8.

A．stand up

B．catch up

C．cut in

D．join in

9.

A．rest

B．chance

C．try

D．thought

10.

A．out of place

B．out of order

C．out of mind

D．out of control

11.

A．younger

B．older

C．taller

D．shorter

12.

A．meanwhile

B．however

C．moreover

D．thus

13.

A．ready

B．good

C．right

D．qualified

14.

A．life

B．major

C．prospect

D．stage

15.

A．improved

B．calm

C．free

D．secure

7 . As a boy, John Kerr wanted to be a park ranger (护林员). ________, he spent four decades at a public broadcasting’s station in Boston. He ________ at the age of 65 without any particular post-career goal in mind.

After several lazy weeks, he drove to visit his family by Yellowstone. On the way he ________ stopped at the Yellowstone Park Foundation, which raised funds for the national park. As it happened, the foundation was ________ people to educate park guests on wolves. Kerr ________ for an internship (实习).

To say that Kerr stood out in the intern crowd is a massive ________. Most interns were college and even high school students. But, in a sense, he had been ________ for this since his youth. His outdoor adventures with his grandfather had given him a love of ________, and he once volunteered at the local fire department on ________ calls.

From his internship, he ________ a ranger sooner, educating park visitors, making for safe ________ between guests and animals, and responding to medical emergencies. He ________ his job of what he describes as one in the most beautiful places, and moments when he treats a visitor to an ________ look at one of the park’s wolves or bears through his telescope, an ________ that can move visitors to tears.

“These are ________ and all-too-rare moments,” recalls Kerr. “I never forget them.”

1.

A．Instead

B．Anyhow

C．Still

D．Hence

2.

A．retired

B．departed

C．graduated

D．resigned

3.

A．at random

B．on purpose

C．on time

D．by chance

4.

A．helping

B．requiring

C．training

D．hiring

5.

A．signed up

B．moved on

C．hang out

D．broke in

6.

A．honour

B．understatement

C．relief

D．overstatement

7.

A．delighted

B．determined

C．contented

D．prepared

8.

A．travel

B．nature

C．drive

D．freedom

9.

A．business

B．guidance

C．emergency

D．conference

10.

A．turned to

B．went with

C．moved up to

D．kept up with

11.

A．encounters

B．places

C．trips

D．experiences

12.

A．judges

B．treasures

C．admires

D．changes

13.

A．open

B．anxious

C．up-close

D．all-round

14.

A．effort

B．occasion

C．imagination

D．adventure

15.

A．rich

B．natural

C．urgent

D．easy

8 .

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A．It is valid only on March 31st.	B．It doesn’t support phone reservation.
C．Only new patients can use it.	D．It must be used with insurance fees.

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A．They cost little money.	B．They preserve the jawbone.
C．They can be easily removed.	D．They prevent teeth missing.

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9 . Helga Stentzel’s Clothesline Animals combine charming images as fine art prints in various sizes.

As an artist whose style she calls　“household surrealism　(超现实主义)”，she works in various media and has a large collection of works. Instead of throwing an old pair of pants or T-shirt away,　Helga Stentzel puts her tired garments out to the farm. By hanging them on a simple clothesline she sets up and folding them artfully that look like animals,　she takes wonderful pictures. Some are shot in real locations while others are digitally placed in environments in charming form with appealing colors.

Siberian-born Stentzel has cooperated with many respectable and well-known brands, one of which is Hogar Verde,　a bio-friendly laundry products brand in Ecuador. For them she has created the adorable clothing illusions　(错觉)　for a print ad campaign，which also drew attention to the endangered animals shown within, like dinosaurs, polar bears and so on.

Stentzel’s practice started from her childhood in Siberia, where she spent hours surveying her grandmother’s carpet, woods and random objects for recognizable forms, including a pile of buckets looking like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

In what seems a very simple gesture,　Stentzel’s works employ household items and turn them into surrealist images that uncover different reading layers. From food to clothes, the artist is inspired by everyday objects and gives them a second life through her creative and really poetic personal angle.

“I stare at things longer than socially acceptable! It can be anything—a chair, a noodle hanging off the fork,　a lamp post in the middle of the road. Observation is a form of thinking for me. I really enjoy studying colors, shapes and textures—with no expectation, simply admiring their unique beauty. Very often there’s nothing more to it,　but sometimes BOOM!—a creative idea hits my brain, and it makes a link between sliced bread and wrinkled skin of a French bulldog. It’s very unpredictable,”Stentzel said.

1. How did Stentzel create an artwork according to paragraph2?

A．By designing clothes on software.

B．By painting animals in various colors.

C．By taking photos of animals on the farm.

D．By hanging clothes folded in animal shapes.

2. What is Stentzel’s source of inspiration?

A．Daily items.	B．Tourist attractions.
C．Random surveys.	D．Childhood adventures.

3. Which of the following can best describe Stentzel’s fine art prints?

A．Complex and digital.	B．Meaningful and creative.
C．Poetic but commercial.	D．Ordinary but bio-friendly.

4. What can we learn from Stentzel’s story?

A．Art can give people a second life.

B．Artworks are from life yet above life.

C．Creation is from intentional observation.

D．Cooperation results in adorable artworks.