1 . On the first day of my new high school, I almost had a nervous breakdown. Everything about the school seemed so difficult. When I got home, my parents said, “You’re nervous and that’s okay. Everyone is afraid of high school.” I denied it. I wanted to be strong, so I refused to let anyone know about my fear, even my closest friends.

On the first day I was late for every class and was constantly lost. The school seemed like a puzzle that I couldn’t figure out. Was this how the whole year was going to be? I didn’t think I could rise to this challenge, especially carrying a huge backpack that I could hardly lift. It was so big that I could knock someone out with it!

Despite my fears, after the first week I finally had my schedule figured out. With the exception of falling up and down the stairs a couple of times and getting laughed at, high school was turning out to be not so bad. It was actually much better than middle school and much more challenging. Since then, I’ve been elected (选举) the vice monitor of my class, which wasn’t much of a victory since only three people ran for the four positions.

It is normal to be scared of a new school. Take a deep breath and relax. High school is not so frightening. Make sure you participate in some out­of­class activities because you’ll find it easier to make friends. Try to do your best, even if it isn’t straight A’s.

Most important of all, be who you are, whether you’re a“fool”， an athlete, or a lower grader. Don’t try to pretend to be someone you’re not. Now you know the secret of my success.

1. What is the main reason for the author’s fear on his first day in high school ?

A．He was unable to work out the puzzle.

B．His schoolmates were unfriendly to him.

C．He was not familiar with the new surroundings.

D．His schoolbag was too heavy for him to carry.

2. What can we infer from the author’s first day’s experience?

A．He didn’t know the right way to class.

B．He got to school before classes began.

C．He was fond of the school immediately.

D．His home was very far from the school.

3. What can be learnt about the author after his first week at school?

A．He was still not accustomed to the schedule.

B．He was gradually used to the new school.

C．He found high school not so challenging as he had imagined.

D．He ran for monitor of his class against three other students.

4. What is the secret of the author’s success according to the passage?

A．Making more friends.

B．Being who he really is.

C．Getting straight A’s at school.

D．Joining in out­of­class activities.

2 . Several years ago I went on a trip alone to Mozambique. Our bus broke down by the side of the road. There was certainly nothing in the way of _________ or campsites or any kind of place to sleep. I _________ I’d just have to bed down on the roadside like others. But I was pretty _________ at the idea. Most everyone else was traveling with their families or other _________, and here I was, a very young woman, alone, with pale white skin that just screamed out “I’m a foreigner and do not _________ here.” Besides I spoke Portuguese reasonably _________ but not any of the local dialects, which _________ my difficulty.

I was trying to work out what to do when I _________ one of the women passengers I’d been chatting with _________ to me. “Come with me,” she said. I was then taken to the nearby village, where she lived. She and her large family __________ me that night. We had chips and matapa, a delicious Mozambican dish. Her kids laughed and circled around and were __________ to have a visit from a real white person. I couldn’t __________ a lot of the conversation, because only the woman spoke Portuguese, but I felt so __________ despite my foreignness.

This kind-hearted woman accommodated (提供住宿) a __________ a night spent shaking in __________ and hunger by the side of the road.

1.

A．hospitals

B．stores

C．hotels

D．colleges

2.

A．wished

B．concluded

C．insisted

D．argued

3.

A．frightened

B．surprised

C．excited

D．annoyed

4.

A．guides

B．villagers

C．volunteers

D．friends

5.

A．wait

B．tour

C．belong

D．explore

6.

A．frequently

B．poorly

C．fluently

D．eagerly

7.

A．added to

B．got over

C．discussed

D．expected

8.

A．felt

B．found

C．kept

D．stopped

9.

A．explaining

B．whispering

C．complaining

D．gesturing

10.

A．hosted

B．interviewed

C．charged

D．comforted

11.

A．scared

B．attracted

C．satisfied

D．embarrassed

12.

A．hear

B．remember

C．follow

D．affect

13.

A．worried

B．confused

C．uncertain

D．welcomed

14.

A．local

B．family

C．customer

D．stranger

15.

A．relief

B．regret

C．doubt

D．fear

3 . Gitanjali Rao, Colorado teenager who invented mobile device to test for lead (铅) in drinking water, was Time’s Kid of the Year for 2020. The magazine announced the award on Thursday, citing Rao’s ability to apply scientific ideas to real-world problems and her desire to motivate other kids to take up their own causes.

It was just the latest recognition for Rao, 15, who was named last year to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. She won praise in 2017 after she responded to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, by creating a device named Tehys, using carbon nanotube sensors to detect (探测) lead in water. The Lone Tree, Colo., native was named America’s Top Young Scientist when she was in the seventh grade. She went on to cooperate with scientists in the water industry to try to get the device on the market.

More recently, Rao has developed a phone and Web tool named Kindly, which uses artificial intelligence technology to detect possible early signs of cyberbullying (网络欺凌).

“You type in a word or phrase, and it’s able to pick it up if it’s bullying, and it gives you the choice to edit it or send it the way it is,” Rao told Time. “The goal is not to punish people. As a teenager I know teenagers tend to become very angry sometimes. Instead, it gives you the chance to rethink what you’re saying so that you know what to do next time around.”

Rao was chosen in part because of the way she has followed up her technical work with efforts to get other young people to work on solving the problems they see.

“I don’t look like your typical scientist. Everything I see on TV is that it’s an older, usually white man as a scientist,” she told Time. “My goal has really shifted, not only from creating my own devices to solve the world’s problems, but inspiring others to do the same as well. So I really want to put out that message: If I can do it, you can do it, and anyone can do it.”

1. What made Gitaniali Rao Time’s Kid of the Year for 2020?

A．Her desire to guide other kids.

B．Her invention of testing lead in water.

C．Her idea of making devices commercial.

D．Her excellent personal ability and desire to encourage other children.

2. What is the function of Rao’s Web tool “Kindly”?

A．To make sure the security of the network.

B．To punish teenagers’ wrong thoughts.

C．To use artificial intelligence technology.

D．To type a word or phrase on the Internet.

3. Why did Rao say “anyone can do it” in the last paragraph?

A．A white man can work as a scientist.

B．We ought to set a goal at an early age.

C．We are supposed to inspire others to do the same.

D．Everybody may succeed in solving world’s problems.

4. In which section of newspaper may this text appear？

A．Health.

B．Science.

C．People

D．Entertainment.

4 . Volunteers in New York call on people to donate their used iPads to help poor patients keep in touch with their families online.

Some people with COVID-19 died alone in hospital physically _________ from their friends and family, which is a heartbreaking situation. This terrible reality _________ on a group of volunteers. Their goal is to connect patients with family members who are unable to be present ___________ hospital restrictions (限制) on visitors. They plan to collect used iPads from across the country and donate them to _________ in communities where the need is extremely _________. Nicolas Heller, a 31-year-old volunteer, said thousands of people had_________ from the disease in isolation (隔离) without the comforting words or _________ from a loved one. Heller is collecting used iPads for patients who do not _________ smart phones capable of video chatting.

By Friday morning, the volunteer group had _________ 375 used iPads from donors (捐赠者) nationwide. So far, 300 of the iPads have been __________ donated to Brooklyn’s University Hospital of Brooklyn. The volunteers were amazed by the donors’ __________. What the volunteers are doing is __________ people’s iPads that are not used anymore to help those patients in hospitals. These iPads can __________ medical staff to communicate with patients from outside of the room, decreasing their __________ of being exposed to the virus.

No one is an island. __________, we can make the world warmer.

1.

A．separated

B．prevented

C．protected

D．suffered

2.

A．depends

B．insists

C．looked

D．weighs

3.

A．because of

B．instead of

C．regardless of

D．apart from

4.

A．universities

B．clubs

C．hospitals

D．companies

5.

A．unbelievable

B．pleasant

C．strange

D．urgent

6.

A．recovered

B．died

C．escaped

D．learned

7.

A．hope

B．touch

C．worry

D．advice

8.

A．hire

B．provide

C．own

D．share

9.

A．received

B．bought

C．sent

D．gave

10.

A．frequently

B．nicely

C．correctly

D．smoothly

11.

A．generosity

B．friendship

C．duty

D．knowledge

12.

A．get hold of

B．take charge of

C．make use of

D．take notes of

13.

A．force

B．allow

C．advise

D．encourage

14.

A．cost

B．moment

C．risk

D．right

15.

A．Treated

B．United

C．Greeted

D．Taught

5 . Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer. In his twenties, he had been very famous for his skills on the piano, but then he began to lose his hearing. Beethoven thought about giving up, but in the end he continued to write music. Inspired by his struggles with deafness, the composer produced some amazing pieces! He proceeded with the composition until his death in 1827.

One day in February 1824, at his little house in Vienna, Austria, Ludwig van Beethoven sat back in his chair and smiled. The famous German composer’s ninth symphony was finally completed. Before the performance, the backstage atmosphere at a very famous theatre in Vienna was tense. Beethoven was afraid that the performance would be a disaster. After all, what use is a conductor who could not hear his orchestra — even if he is a musical genius?

The audience did not hesitate to applaud loudly as the famous composer walked out onto the stage. The theatre’s musical director, Michael Umlauf, joined him and together the two men took charge of the orchestra. For more than an hour, Beethoven jumped about in front of the orchestra, waving his arms wildly in the air, and madly turning the pages of his score.

As the final, joyous note signal led the end of the symphony, the audience jumped to their feet, clapping, cheering and waving their hats. But Beethoven continued conducting, his head buried in the score. It was not until Caroline Unger, one of the singers, took his arm and turned him to face the audience that the great man realised his symphony was a success.

1. What was the theatre’s musical director Michael Umlauf’s attitude towards Beethoven?

A．Negative.

B．Supportive.

C．Unfriendly.

D．Indifferent (漠不关心的).

2. What can we infer from paragraph 4?

A．Michael Umlauf performed better than Beethoven.

B．The audience didn’t understand Beethoven’s music.

C．The audience liked and admired Beethoven very much.

D．Beethoven performed on the stage for less than an hour.

3. What does “his head buried in the score” in paragraph 5 mean?

A．Beethoven felt a little shy.	B．Beethoven didn’t look at the audience.
C．Beethoven was lost in his performance.	D．Beethoven forgot his score.

4. Which words can best describe Beethoven?

A．Selfish and cold-hearted.	B．Talented and strong-minded.
C．Weak but helpful.	D．Talented but lazy.

6 . My grandfather died in 1970, leaving my grandmother living in their old house alone. Shortly after that, we went to the animal shelter and picked out a little dog to accompany Grandma. The dog was named Penny.

Grandma and Penny quickly became very attached (喜爱的) to each other, and that attachment grew much _________as the years passed—they became very _________. When Grandma went to _________, Penny walked along and lay _________ her until she woke up. As Penny aged, she could no longer jump up on the _________ to lie next to Grandma, so she lay on the blanket beside the bed. Grandma never went anywhere without her partner by her side.

The time came when both my grandmother and Penny were becoming _________.Grandma had been sent to hospital several times, and Penny couldn’t _________ around very well. When Grandma was in hospital, Penny would sit at the window _________ out for the car bringing Grandma home and would _________ wait at the door when Grandma came through. Each homecoming was a great meeting again between the two.

On Christmas Day in 1985, Grandma was again taken to the hospital. Penny, __________, sat at the window watching out for the car bringing Grandma home. Two mornings later, I __________ she couldn’t stand and wouldn’t eat. Later, she had difficulty in breathing. I quickly __________ her to the hospital where Grandma stayed to let her see her __________ for the last time. There, as soon as Penny saw Grandma, Penny’s eyes brightened suddenly and then slowly __________. Grandma left this world several hours later.

After fifteen years of loving friendship, Grandma and Penny passed away on the same day. God had it all worked out — Penny was waiting at the door to __________ her when Grandma came home.

1.

A．stronger

B．higher

C．farther

D．longer

2.

A．similar

B．gentle

C．friendly

D．close

3.

A．work

B．hospital

C．sleep

D．church

4.

A．on

B．beside

C．under

D．below

5.

A．table

B．bed

C．chair

D．blanket

6.

A．lost

B．active

C．weak

D．tired

7.

A．lie

B．walk

C．play

D．jump

8.

A．looking

B．crying

C．climbing

D．getting

9.

A．worriedly

B．hurriedly

C．excitedly

D．disappointedly

10.

A．as usual

B．in time

C．by accident

D．at once

11.

A．believed

B．guessed

C．heard

D．found

12.

A．guided

B．posted

C．sent

D．followed

13.

A．owner

B．mother

C．doctor

D．saver

14.

A．opened

B．brightened

C．closed

D．wetted

15.

A．call

B．help

C．miss

D．greet

7 . “You’re very talented, dear. I hope everything turns out great. I’ll tell my friends about the animal shelter (避难处),” a kind old lady told Conrad, who smiled ______ as she left $20 in his hat.

Conrad was proud of what he was doing and people in the ______ loved hearing him sing and play his ______. The 11-year-old didn’t know how much money the local animal shelter _____.

His mother, Sandy, worked at the shelter and had always been a(n) ______ animal lover. Therefore, he grew to be fond of animals as well. ______, he recently heard his mother telling a friend that the shelter was not doing well. It ______ on donations (捐赠), and not much donations were ______. This made the boy very ______. So he grabbed his guitar and ______ the local town park to sing and play.

He placed a ______ to tell people he was doing it to raise (募捐) money for the animal shelter, which helped greatly. People ______ and gave him mostly $1 and change, and others, such as the kind old lady, were more ______. He was grateful to everyone and continued playing songs and ______ money.

Raise your kids to love animals, and they’ll be better people. Caring for innocent animals makes people more selfless, ______ and caring. That’s why Conrad used his skills to raise funds, knowing how vital the shelter was.

1.

A．suddenly

B．sweetly

C．purposely

D．secretly

2.

A．square

B．park

C．street

D．hall

3.

A．violin

B．piano

C．organ

D．guitar

4.

A．needed

B．sold

C．worked

D．made

5.

A．passive

B．active

C．strict

D．attractive

6.

A．However

B．Besides

C．Otherwise

D．Therefore

7.

A．acted

B．survived

C．concentrated

D．kept

8.

A．showing up

B．coming in

C．going on

D．getting up

9.

A．worried

B．annoyed

C．panicked

D．confused

10.

A．looked around

B．went past

C．headed for

D．turned around

11.

A．sign

B．signal

C．box

D．bench

12.

A．hesitated

B．passed

C．left

D．stopped

13.

A．generous

B．happy

C．energetic

D．angry

14.

A．counting

B．raising

C．saving

D．earning

15.

A．curious

B．serious

C．loving

D．unconcerned

8 . I’ve been working as a United Nations (U.N.) Peacekeeper in the Central African Republic for the past two years. Before this, I was a pilot and I ______ my work. However, I felt it was my duty to help innocent people who are caught in trouble, so I ______ the United Nations.

The Central African Republic is a relatively small country. Since it got ______ from France in the 1960s, there have been many violent conflicts between the government and rebels (反叛者). In 2012, a civil war began, due to which, over one million people were forced to _____ their homes and there were many deaths and injuries. ______, the United Nations established a peacekeeping _____ in the country.

We peacekeepers _____ cities and villages to _____ that no conflict is occurring and help bring supplies of food and medicine. We are a _____ that can keep people in conflict apart.

As a woman, I am particularly ______ as I can act as a role model for many women and girls in the country. When they see how others respect me, they feel that they also ______ to be respected and treated ______.

My life is not ______ in any way! It’s long hours in a very tough environment. I have basic ______ with just a bed in a shared room. Of course, being away from my family and friends is also very hard at times. However, I know that the Central African Republic is safer because of the U. N. Peacekeepers, and that makes it all _______.

1.

A．hated

B．enjoyed

C．guarded

D．changed

2.

A．led up to

B．looked up to

C．kept up with

D．signed up with

3.

A．treatment

B．technology

C．independence

D．inspiration

4.

A．flee

B．return

C．sweep

D．tend

5.

A．In turn

B．In surprise

C．In response

D．In addition

6.

A．measure

B．reputation

C．business

D．mission

7.

A．follow

B．expand

C．monitor

D．block

8.

A．insure

B．prove

C．report

D．predict

9.

A．bridge

B．barrier

C．castle

D．shelter

10.

A．protected

B．trusted

C．valued

D．doubted

11.

A．deserve

B．prefer

C．plan

D．fail

12.

A．gently

B．equally

C．seriously

D．honestly

13.

A．boring

B．rewarding

C．difficult

D．fancy

14.

A．association

B．accommodation

C．administration

D．adaptation

15.

A．available

B．ambitious

C．worthwhile

D．educational

10 . After decades of exploring the moon, a dramatic vision is finally becoming reality. The Guardian recently reported that a project called Lunar Codex is planning to send and store over 30,000 works on the moon from artists, writers, filmmakers, and musicians from over 150 countries and regions. The goods to be stored range from novels and paintings to music, films，and even soil from Earth.

In fact, this is not the first time that people have tried sending human legacies (遗产) to outer space. In 1969, the Apollo 12 mission carried a ceramic piece with drawings. In 1971, the Apollo 15 staff left a sculpture to honor those who had died in space exploration. What’s more famous is the Golden Record carried by spacecraft Voyager 1 and 2 from NASA in 1977, which contains human language, music and images. For example, a piece of Chinese guqin music, called Flowing Streams was included in it.

Although we don’t know who determines which symbols of human legacy get sent out to space in most projects, it’s obvious that the criteria keep changing. In the past，space heritage products only focused on space-related works; but gradually, more human-related contemporary goods which held great importance in their respective eras have been added to the list. In the Lunar Codex, films, diverse art and literary works produced by women, disabled artists, and even AI have been collected for the first time to be sent to the moon.

These changing criteria also leave space for ordinary people to imagine and think. Many people are now trying to store their DNA information digitally. Will people be able to find even more surprising and inventive ways to preserve their legacy in the future? Only time can tell.

1. What is the goal of the project?

A．To make the moon livable.	B．To show respect to artists.
C．To enrich the life of astronauts.	D．To preserve human legacies.

2. How is Paragraph 2 mainly developed?

A．By explaining reasons.	B．By giving examples.
C．By making comparisons	D．By analyzing previous data.

3. What does the change of the criteria reflect?

A．AI technology is amazing.	B．The selective rules are strict.
C．Human civilization is inclusive.	D．Space-related works are popular.

4. Where does the text most probably come from?

A．A magazine.

B．A textbook.

C．An advertisement.

D．A poster.