1 . In my childhood, my parents would take me to watch games. I loved the excitement I would feel when we went to watch these events, especially when the scores were close until the very end of the game. My meaningful attempt at sports began with T-ball at the age of three, progressed to the basketball court at six, and finally turned into a firm devotion to the game of baseball from the age of eight onward.

One of my most memorable moments was at the World Series when I was eleven and played on the Texas Rattlers. The July heat was unbearable. It was the semi-final game. Sweating like a pig, we ran into the dugout for our last at-bat (上场击球); we were down one run now. I was the second hitter and captain of the team, and I was ready for this moment. In the next few seconds, I had the chance to show my strength as a hitter and my ability to be a leader under pressure by hitting a home run! We carried the day!

As the team captain, I remember the time I had to give a speech to my team because we had lost an important game. I was nervous, but I knew it was my responsibility to cheer my team up when they were cast down. This experience has shaped my mind, making me become more independent, so I’m obtaining the ability to talk like a leader in front of my team and a group. Sports get it through my head that you can’t win at everything in life all the time.

On and of the field, I am more iron-willed, disciplined (遵守纪律的) and respectful, and a better leader. I have had so many awesome experiences through sports, which have taught me much and prepared me for the future. The memories of all the trips and diverse experiences I have had will be with me for a lifetime.

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

A．He often switched sports.	B．He was a gifted child in sports.
C．He had a busy childhood.	D．He was fond of sports from childhood.

2. How did the author feel during the semi-final at the World Series?

A．Stressed and tired.	B．Proud and confident.
C．Unbearable and down.	D．Surprised and energetic.

3. What was tough for the author according to paragraph 3?

A．Leading his team to face failure.	B．Giving a speech before the team.
C．Improving his leadership qualities.	D．Overcoming his own nervousness.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Interesting Life of Sports	B．Life Lessons from Sports
C．Deep Affection for Sports	D．Special Moments in Sports

2 . I grew up in a three-bedroom brick house in the Park Hill section of North Little Rock, Ark. It was a sweet, ordinary little home but reminded me of so much love.

I’ve always felt I was raised by a beautiful fairy. My mom, Nellie, was soft-spoken and had an extraordinary smile. My father, Maurice, was a train conductor and his declining health was the most defining aspect of my childhood. When I was 8, the doctors told us that Dad had a severe heart condition and we needed to care for him. I developed magical thinking, which was vital to my later acting. I’d say to myself that if I did this and that, my daddy would live.

After high school, I attended Hendrix College in Arkansas. When I was a freshman, they cast me in a school’s big play. At the end, one of the drama professors said, “You don’t really belong here. You belong in New York. They’d know what to do with you.” He gave me a list of schools. He pointed to the Neighborhood Playhouse and said it was small but Sandy Meisner, the man who ran it was great. I auditioned (试镜) and a month later, I was accepted. Mom and I started crying.

After moving to New York, my big break came six years later, in 1977. I took a meeting about a movie called “Goin’ South,” with Jack Nicholson. After the audition, they said I wasn’t quite right. Back in reception, I wanted to apologize for being stubborn. Jack was standing there. He said, “Are you waiting to see me?” I told him I was but I didn’t have a script. He gave me one and told me I’d have 10 minutes with him the next day. I made it to a screen test in L. A. Later, I was in Jack’s office and asked if someone could approve my hotel expenses. Jack was smoking a cigar. He said, “Don’t worry about it, kid. You’ re on the payroll.”

Today, my husband, actor Ted Danson, and I spend most of our time in Ojai, Calif. I also love the wildness of the mountains. I still own my childhood home in Arkansas. I haven’t been able to part with it. Emotionally, the love from our parents is still there.

1. What motivated the author to develop her ability to acting?

A．Her family’s poor housing.	B．Her father’s serious disease.
C．Her mother’s gift for acting.	D．Her confidence in learning subjects.

2. What can be inferred from paragraph 3?

A．Her mother refused her to become an actress.

B．Her performance was common in high school.

C．She was declined by manager Sandy Meisner.

D．She was highly praised by the drama professor.

3. How did Jack feel to the author’s performance in the screen test?

A．Indifferent.

B．Critic.

C．Impressive.

D．Neutral.

4. Why does the author mention her childhood home in the last paragraph?

A．To prove the excellent environment she lives.

B．To stress the beautiful scenery of her hometown.

C．To show her gratitude to her beloved parents.

D．To attract more people to enjoy the mountains.

3 . My life is full and active taking care of my grandson. But weeks ago, he headed for an overseas holiday, I was left feeling _______ and lost. I needed something extraordinary to lift my _______.

Then one day, I entered the Coffee Club near my home and _______ a cup of coffee. I settled into a comfortable sofa, _______ tasting the delicious drink. After a while, I approached the waitress and handed her my _______. She smiled and said, “That’s already been paid for.”

I looked at her in _______. “Really?” Then she said the words I’ll never forget. “It was a _______ of kindness, and it happens a lot.”

I was shocked. I never really _______ these things though I had heard about them. Today, I _______ it firsthand. Good, kind people are out there in the world. And they ________ when you need them most. I left home this morning feeling, somewhat lost. I returned with a ________ in my step, excited about sharing my story and ________ the kindness.

Two weeks later, I paid for a girl in the Coffee Club. The only thing is, this time, the Coffee Club did it ________. The waiter pointed me out. She couldn’t believe it and ________ me. I simply smiled, explaining that I was passing on the ________ I’d received not long ago.

1.

A．embarrassed

B．flat

C．patient

D．content

2.

A．sights

B．fortunes

C．spirits

D．voices

3.

A．mixed

B．ordered

C．prepared

D．served

4.

A．awkwardly

B．confidently

C．restlessly

D．leisurely

5.

A．bill

B．receipt

C．drink

D．license

6.

A．desperation

B．relief

C．surprise

D．shame

7.

A．test

B．gesture

C．feeling

D．power

8.

A．believed

B．enjoyed

C．refused

D．inquired

9.

A．pursued

B．avoided

C．confirmed

D．experienced

10.

A．hang around

B．break in

C．show up

D．move on

11.

A．pain

B．load

C．drag

D．spring

12.

A．repaying

B．evaluating

C．shaping

D．delaying

13.

A．secretly

B．regularly

C．differently

D．casually

14.

A．puzzled

B．rejected

C．comforted

D．thanked

15.

A．courage

B．kindness

C．respect

D．honor

4 . In 2019, a white-haired senior was awarded the Friendship Medal, the highest order of honor of China for foreigners. It was Isabel Crook. In her more than a century of life, she spent more than 90 years in China and cultivated (培养) a large number of foreign language talents for China.

In 1915, Isabel was born in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. After graduating from the University of Toronto in 1938, Isabel couldn’t wait to return to China. With hard work, she and her colleague completed the survey of over 1,500 families in some villages in Bishan County. She recorded the daily life of the villagers in Xinglongchang with detailed field notes, which give the young people today some idea of the state of affairs in villages at that time.             

In 1947, Isabel and her husband David Crook came to China to observe and study the ongoing land reform. A year later, they completed the study and accepted the invitation to stay in China for language teaching.

One could hardly imagine the teaching conditions in the midst of a war. They asked their students to take small stools (凳子) with them so that they could give class everywhere. They tailored (定制) teaching approaches to suit students’ different language proficiency levels. Without handy teaching materials, they collected articles from English newspapers and magazines. In oral English teaching, Isabel asked students to watch their teachers in a given conversation first. Since there were no tape recorders at school, she had to perform the conversation again and again.

Isabel retired in 1981, but she returned to Southwest China many times to set up scholarship for children from poor families. She also went to Inner Mongolia, Ningxia and other places to help with foreign language teaching. Isabel died in 2023 in Beijing.

1. What do we know about Isabel according to the text?

A．She got China’s highest honor for foreigners.

B．She received her college education in China.

C．She returned to China as a teacher at age 23.

D．She helped children in need all over China.

2. When did Isabel start the journey of education in China?

A．In 1915.

B．In 1938.

C．In 1948.

D．In 1981.

3. Which of the following best describes the couple’s teaching?

A．Boring but helpful.	B．Simple and modern.
C．Traditional but attractive.	D．Flexible and personalized.

4. What does the author want to illustrate by mentioning Isabel’s experiences?

A．Her working experiences were rich.

B．Her life in China was quite colorful.

C．She devoted herself to teaching in China.

D．She showed great interest in Chinese history.

5 . The teacher asked, “Is everybody ready?” I _________ wasn’t ready. It was the early 1980’s. I was in my high school typing _________ and totally confused.

I had taken it as a (n) _________ course because taking French or Spanish language seemed too difficult. _________, I wished I hadn’t chosen it. I was on _________—my fingers were shaking and my heart was beating wildly. I had thought we would just be learning to touch type (盲打), not be tested on speed and accuracy. Besides, I was the only freshman in the class, and the other students were _________ to me. My young body felt too nervous to be typing so quickly and _________.

The teacher said, “Hands on home keys. Eyes on books. Ready, type!” Suddenly, the room was alive with 30 electric typewriters’ keys _________ on. I tried my best to _________, but it was obvious that being a secretary wasn’t in my future. While I didn’t __________ many errors, my typing speed was horribly slow. And I knew I wasn’t going to get a good __________ on this test. I really __________ taking this class and wished I could be learning French instead.

Now years later, I’m a novelist. I’m so happy that I took that class and learned how to type. It has helped me write countless __________ flowing through my mind and into my __________ through keyboards. It has helped me to write e-mails full of kindness to __________ with friends and family. It has helped me to do what I should do and share what I was meant to share in life.

1.

A．certainly

B．slightly

C．willingly

D．hardly

2.

A．library

B．class

C．service

D．organization

3.

A．psychological

B．legal

C．advertising

D．optional

4.

A．Otherwise

B．Meanwhile

C．However

D．Therefore

5.

A．edge

B．purpose

C．time

D．track

6.

A．equal

B．senior

C．crucial

D．resistant

7.

A．straightly

B．similarly

C．precisely

D．mindlessly

8.

A．passed

B．fixed

C．taken

D．struck

9.

A．keep up

B．turn up

C．back down

D．come down

10.

A．admit

B．make

C．express

D．analyse

11.

A．decision

B．profession

C．shelter

D．grade

12.

A．enjoyed

B．suggested

C．avoided

D．regretted

13.

A．plays

B．stories

C．sayings

D．poems

14.

A．document

B．case

C．computer

D．room

15.

A．exchange

B．sympathize

C．compare

D．fight

6 . One Sunday, we arrived home from a wedding to find our neighbors siting among a pile of buckets, bot les, and anything they could fill water in. After inquiring, they said they had been waiting for the water truck. In some parts of Johannesburg, South Africa, homes have not had water in their taps for weeks and months on end.

Thankfully, my dad’s planning ahead blessed our home with a precious borehole (钻井) that provides us with freshwater every day. Sometimes, because we are off the grid (网格), we are not even aware of what is happening around us, especially with the lack of water-until we see people queuing up, waiting for the water trucks the government sends. Often, the trucks are late or run out of water before reaching our street.

In the spirit of Ubuntu, a Zulu (祖鲁语) term meaning humanity that also translates to: “I am because we are”, we encouraged the neighbors to collect their water from our borehole. We opened the gate and connected the pipe. Very quickly, the word spread, and old and young gathered with various-sized containers to collect this life-giving liquid. There was much laughter and chatter, along with some singing as bucket after bucket was filled. It was heartwarming to watch the young help the elderly carry their water home before returning for their own bucket. And as long as our family’s borehole is working, we practice Ubuntu.

“It is not safe to let strangers on to your property,” some say. But humanity drives us to take the risk because the burden is lessened when shared. It is what we need for our collective survival.

A simple act of sharing water has spread hope in the community that we can overcome the difficulties we face together.

1. What did the author find when arriving home?

A．Plastic bottles piled upon the road.

B．Neighbors were short of water.

C．Water trucks were out of service.

D．Public facilities were damaged.

2. What is the father like according to paragraph 2?

A．Forward-looking.

B．Hard-working.

C．Well-educated.

D．Self-confident.

3. Which of the following best interprets the spirit of Ubuntu?

A．One good tum deserves another.

B．A man can do no more than he can.

C．Hardship makes a man wise, not rich.

D．We are stronger when standing together.

4. What does the underlined word “It” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Property.

B．Humanity.

C．Risk.

D．Burden.

7 . Driving the mountain roads can be both a delight and an adventure at times. In the summer the beauty of them is _______. Yet, you have to watch out for rocks that have broken loose and _______ down the side of the hill.

I _______ to see a rock in the road the other day. A car ahead of me swerved (转弯) around it. I knew a rock that size would be a _______ to any driver if he didn’t see it in time to move. I quickly _______ to a wide spot, walked over and got it into the ditch (沟) after a great deal of _______.

The incident reminded me of an old story. “In a far-away land a king had _______ a huge rock in the road and hidden gold coins _______ the rock. He watched all day as many people _________ about the rock and found nobody making an attempt to move it. __________, a poor peasant arrived dragging a cart of vegetables. He stopped, and with all his __________ pushed the stone off the road. __________ his surprise when he saw the gold coins. The king had left them for the one who cleared the __________ for those who came after.”

Now while there wasn’t any __________ under the rock I moved, I did feel __________ as I walked back to my car. Maybe the real reward is the love we feel, the joy we scatter, and the kindness we share.

1.

A．amazing

B．frightening

C．shocking

D．confusing

2.

A．walked

B．floated

C．sunk

D．rolled

3.

A．happened

B．decided

C．planned

D．pretended

4.

A．balance

B．cure

C．danger

D．pressure

5.

A．looked around

B．pulled over

C．set off

D．turned away

6.

A．surf

B．loss

C．effort

D．faith

7.

A．buried

B．measured

C．placed

D．removed

8.

A．beside

B．off

C．over

D．under

9.

A．cared

B．complained

C．quarreled

D．learned

10.

A．Finally

B．Regularly

C．Frequently

D．Gradually

11.

A．ability

B．might

C．courage

D．talent

12.

A．Imagine

B．Design

C．Limit

D．Prove

13.

A．clue

B．chain

C．target

D．path

14.

A．evidence

B．saving

C．reaction

D．treasure

15.

A．confident

B．nervous

C．amused

D．respected

8 . While many cats love to go outdoors, they usually do not venture far from home. But some cats are the _________. One cat has even made a busy railway station in the UK her second _________.

Although Nala, a four-year-old cat has a home in Hertfordshire and a loving owner, she always loves _________, with an adventurous spirit. Her owner, Natasha Ambler fitted her with a GPS tracking device. And Nala’s favorite place to _________ is the Stevenage Station where she _________ commuters every day.

She comes in every day to greet hundreds of commuters. Ambler says that Nala goes to the station when it is the busiest because she enjoys the _________.

The staff at the station have grown very _________ of Nala. They say, “Her _________ always makes people smile and encourages cheerful conversations between the staff and passengers.”

Nala wears a collar with _________, including her name and owner’s phone number. Ambler says that she received around 20 calls a day from people telling her they __________ her cat. She had to make a second tag (标签) to tell people that Nala was not lost but just on a(n) __________.

Nala is so popular that Ambler __________ a website page where people can post photos of their __________ with the cat. One passenger posted, “She __________ my day when I get the train to work.” Another said, “Nala is __________ a real celebrity of the Stevenage Station.”

1.

A．competitors

B．cases

C．negotiators

D．exceptions

2.

A．circus

B．zoo

C．home

D．workplace

3.

A．eating

B．wandering

C．hunting

D．sleeping

4.

A．visit

B．skip

C．monitor

D．advocate

5.

A．challenges

B．delights

C．guides

D．disturbs

6.

A．debate

B．news

C．space

D．attention

7.

A．worthy

B．free

C．fond

D．proud

8.

A．presence

B．request

C．performance

D．trick

9.

A．qualifications

B．diaries

C．details

D．recommendations

10.

A．found

B．released

C．struck

D．adopted

11.

A．business

B．adventure

C．exhibition

D．diet

12.

A．looked for

B．referred to

C．learned from

D．set up

13.

A．encounters

B．fights

C．quarrels

D．comparisons

14.

A．experiences

B．makes

C．explores

D．examines

15.

A．directly

B．relatively

C．frequently

D．definitely

9 . “A good book is easy to find.” That is the message on a sign at Hernando Guanlao’s home in the Makati area of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines.”

Guanlao has transformed his home into a free public library. Visitors can borrow the books inside for free. Guanlao says he hopes his library will inspire people to read, especially the young.

The 72-year-old told reporters that his library includes books that all students can enjoy —— from young children in Kindergarten to older students in grade 12. And also his library has books for readers of all interests. His home is filled with thousands of available books.

He calls his library Reading Club 2000. It contains many different kinds of books, or genres. Genre is a group of artistic, musical, or literary works that share a particular style, form, or content. “There are history books, novels, children stories in my library,” Guanlao added proudly, “and there are cookbooks, science fiction, and even medicine books.” Almost everyone can find a suitable book, all for free.

He started his library more than 20 years ago when he set 50 books on the walkway in front of his home. Guanlao’s collection has grown greatly over the years —— thanks to a continuous supply of books from donors.

Speaking of donors, he said, “They just leave boxes of books outside my house.” He has also started donating books himself. He sends reading materials to public schools in far-away communities.

Guanlao’s efforts come at a time when reading ability among students in the Philippines remains low. The Program for International Student Assessment reports that reading scores in the Philippines are among the lowest in the world. Students in the Philippines are also facing learning delays in math and science.

Guanlao is firm about his goals, “My mission is to give away used and donated books to others at no cost,” he said, “and to promote education through literature.”

1. What’s the purpose of Guanlao’s setting up his home library?

A．To establish his fame in the country

B．To encourage people to read and increase education level

C．To set up a record for collecting the most books

D．To help people find jobs more easily

2. Which of the following words best describe Guanlao’s personality?

A．Devoted and caring	B．Outgoing and brave
C．Humorous and considerate	D．Ambitious and impatient

3. What contributes to his growing book collection most?

A．His own effort to collect books continuous	B．The government’s help and support
C．Warm-hearted people’s continuous donations	D．Help from public schools in far-away communities

4. Which part of the newspaper can this passage likely come from?

A．science report

B．sports

C．fashion

D．education

10 . After spending his career as a chef and working as the Vice President of Food and Beverage at FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan, Michael McFarlen saw how much food would get thrown away from the Casino’s restaurant every day.

Unfortunately, throwing away perfectly good food is extremely common within the restaurant industry. Yet it was always something that bothered McFarlen about his work. Actions point, McFarlen decided to get involved with the South Central Food Bank of Michigan Inc. to help give back to those in need. He then became the president on the board and came up with a plan to open a restaurant in the community that would also help support a food bank on the property.

In April of 2016, the FireKeepers Casino Hotel and its owners, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, bought Fire Station No. 4, a historic firehouse near down town Battle Creek that had been closed for years and was set to be demolished. However, the group bought it before that happened and started to give the historic building a new life.

Renovations on the property lasted about a year. Then on April 19, 2017, the restaurant, which they named The Fire Hub, opened to the public for the first time. At the same time, the food bank, which they named the Kendall Street Food bank, opened its door in the back of the building.

“Anytime you open a new restaurant, you just have to figure a way through that first year,” George said. However, the first year of operation was beyond their expectations. Not only did the restaurant attract customers because of its popularity and sustainability, but the food bank helped more people in the first year than they ever imagined would need its services.

In total, about 375 to 400 households get help from the food bank every single month. “We’re able to cater to people who are working, but still need a little help during the month,” McFarlen told Second Wave media. To better fit the need of the majority of people using their services, the food bank was designed to look like a small market.

1. What bothered McFarlen as a chef?

A．A lack of cooks.

B．Waste of good food.

C．Involvement in food banks.

D．Shortage of food in some areas.

2. What might the underlined word “demolished” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Built up.

B．Torn down.

C．Broken up.

D．Knocked off.

3. How did The Fire Hub go with its business?

A．It worked out well.

B．It had branches set up.

C．It stuck to good quality.

D．It didn’t last for a year.

4. What can best describe McFarlen?

A．Patient and careful.

B．Loving and devoted.

C．Enthusiastic and diligent.

D．Cautious and understanding.