1 . Many language learners think their pronunciation is good enough because their teacher doesn’t correct them too often or because other students can ____ them.  

Pronunciation is the area which is ____ the least attention to in language learning. Working on each student’s pronunciation in class is just ____. Also the students who are ____ at pronunciation may be afraid that it will embarrass their classmates if they help ____ their mistakes.  

If you believe your pronunciation is good enough to ____ because it is good enough for your teacher and other students. You may be ____ when you actually go to a foreign country. One of my friends was the best student in his ____ class in Poland. When he went to America he found Americans didn’t understand what he said.  

Your pronunciation may still be quite different from that of a native speaker. If this is the ____, other people will find it ____ to understand what you’re saying and will not be comfortable with you. ____, don’t think you can communicate in a foreign language until you’ve tested your skills on real native speakers. ____ for native or near native pronunciation so that people you talk to can communicate with you ____. In order to achieve this goal there’s ____ that you will need to start thinking about pronunciation and ____ time on it.

1.

A．mistake

B．watch

C．surround

D．understand

2.

A．fixed

B．drawn

C．paid

D．called

3.

A．fantastic

B．impossible

C．necessary

D．important

4.

A．poor

B．well

C．good

D．strict

5.

A．find out

B．work out

C．try out

D．point out

6.

A．communicate

B．travel

C．pronounce

D．exchange

7.

A．happy

B．disappointed

C．surprised

D．excited

8.

A．Polish

B．French

C．German

D．English

9.

A．same

B．case

C．matter

D．fact

10.

A．easy

B．beneficial

C．convenient

D．hard

11.

A．In conclusion

B．In a word

C．On the contrary

D．In short

12.

A．Stand

B．Look

C．Aim

D．Account

13.

A．smoothly

B．difficultly

C．truly

D．practically

14.

A．no way

B．no doubt

C．no need

D．no wonder

15.

A．take

B．spend

C．cost

D．kill

2 . “Lei ming m ming baak ngo gong ge waa ah? Do you understand what I am saying?” I stare back at the speaker dumbly, my lips parted, the ideas clear in my mind but a response unable to express itself in a language in my distant range. After an uncomfortable pause, a bunch of words spill out of my mouth, sounding forced and unnatural.

The anecdote (轶事) above is a semi-conversation I had in Malaysia years ago. A three-week stay in Malaysia once every few years was often the highlight of my summers — what more can you ask from a food paradise (天堂)? But besides the family, food, and escape that Malaysia offered, trips also brought accompanying feelings of guilt that I just couldn’t seem to translate. For one month every few summers, I got a taste of what it feels to be an outsider in my own culture. I was a girl lost in translation, passively absorbing the various tongues shouted between the stalls (摊位) in the wet markets, quietly nodding along at my grandparents’ huge family dinners.

In America though, I am a different person. I don’t think twice about my grammar when speaking. I don’t struggle with the words and fear that my logic and stories won’t get through to people. So as a native English speaker, I do not have to worry daily about whether I’m judged for having an accent or whether I’m misunderstood across languages. In Malaysia, I naturally burst out “have you eaten?” instead of recalling the Malaysian equivalent “you makan already?” In Malaysia, everything about the way I speak — my accent, intonation, sentence structure, slang — gives me away. My American-ness is seen in the way I talk, dress and act. Maybe my face could pass for a Malaysian local, but once I open my mouth to speak I am so clearly not. It is uncomfortable and awkward, and sometimes I wonder if I did not look Asian at all would it be better, since there would be no more language expectation for me than for a white tourist.

1. How did the author feel in the anecdote?

A．Confused and scared.	B．Embarrassed and nervous.
C．Curious and surprised.	D．Upset and puzzled.

2. Why did the author feel guilty according to Paragraph 2?

A．Because she had to stay away from her family.

B．Because she didn’t enjoy speaking the language.

C．Because she had to accept what grandparents said.

D．Because she found it hard to understand the culture.

3. What can we learn about the author from the last paragraph?

A．She was a good language learner.

B．She didn’t like being an Asian.

C．She was judged unfairly in Malaysia.

D．She spoke English unconsciously in Malaysia.

4. From which column of the website does this article probably come from?

A．Culture

B．News.

C．Education.

D．Humor.

4 . Our family enjoyed a beautiful house plant for over thirty years. It had stayed with us through _________ years and good times, pain and joy. I had never thought of _________ it.

However, two weeks ago, we _________ some changes in its leaves, which began to lose color. We watered and looked after it _________, but it just showed no sign of _________. We finally picked a few almost dead leaves and _________ replanting them in another small pot.

What _________ us was that these leaves planted in the new pot grew strong. In order to know the reason why the house plant died, we dug the dead plant out of the pot. Then, it became _________ to us—its roots（根）were in disorder, completely tangling up. Our once-beautiful plant died because it grew out of its environment—it became root-bound（根满盆的）.

People can become root-bound, too. Those who _________ personal growth or development often want to make __________ that can lead to greater achievements or much more happiness. However, they more often find they outgrow their environment and want to __________. Their view becomes larger and they need __________ environment to live in. They need people who will make __________ for their growth. If they cannot be __________, some problems are sure to appear.

So if your new-found growth causes you to abandon the old ways, you may need to __________ you are bigger now.

1.

A．peaceful

B．pleasant

C．hard

D．busy

2.

A．controlling

B．losing

C．buying

D．selling

3.

A．made

B．recorded

C．collected

D．discovered

4.

A．disappointedly

B．quickly

C．carefully

D．happily

5.

A．recovery

B．strength

C．trouble

D．growth

6.

A．avoided

B．practiced

C．tried

D．enjoyed

7.

A．amazed

B．disappointed

C．embarrassed

D．bored

8.

A．happy

B．useful

C．energetic

D．clear

9.

A．depend on

B．look for

C．wait for

D．turn down

10.

A．suggestions

B．studies

C．explanations

D．changes

11.

A．take off

B．fall down

C．calm down

D．set up

12.

A．warmer

B．safer

C．larger

D．taller

13.

A．chances

B．promises

C．time

D．room

14.

A．satisfied

B．accepted

C．mentioned

D．protected

15.

A．refuse

B．realize

C．order

D．prove

5 . The most important skill I picked up at school was keeping a routine. Routines allow us to develop a rhythm to our lives, but they also have their downsides.

It can be easy to get so accustomed to your routine that you don’t realize you’re no longer conscious of your time. This can stop progress, which means you start living your life on autopilot. It’s important that you include time in your routine for self-reflection. Doing the same thing week after week can be dull. If you make time to try new things and explore new interests, you can adjust your routine to better fit your lifestyle as things change.

When I first came to college, I was told countless times that it’s important you develop a routine so you can focus on things important to you. But it’s easy to forget the bigger picture. I got so used to the same old things that I would often forget about all of the other fun and exciting opportunities college had to offer.

It wasn’t until my junior year that I really started setting time aside to explore things that were interesting to me. This was partly because COVID-19 and lockdown made my college life a lot more boring. It was this experience that made me realize I was stuck in a rut, a feeling I’m sure many came to terms with. I decided I was going to make a change. I needed to find a balance between keeping a structured schedule and finding time to be creative and try new things.

I started writing and doing research to apply the things I learned in class. I started learning new instruments, visiting new places around town and exploring new ways to get involved in the local community. All of these different experiences allowed me to look at the things I was doing from a new perspective. It made me reassess what I’m doing with my life and pursue new goals, which have added tremendous value to my life.

Routines are important, yes, but don’t forget: it’s not the routine that determines your life. It’s only you who can decide how you spend your time, so don’t forget to throw something new in there from time to time. Above all else, don’t live your life on autopilot.

1. What can happen if we “live our lives on autopilot” according to the author?

A．We make rapid progress.

B．We get bored by our dull lives.

C．We forget to practice self-reflection.

D．We become more sensitive to changes.

2. What did the author realize in his junior year of college?

A．It was vital to develop a routine.

B．A structured schedule helped beat boredom.

C．He should focus on important things.

D．He should lead a more balanced life.

3. In what way did the author make a change?

A．He changed his career path.

B．He changed his major in college.

C．He paid more attention to his books.

D．He enriched his social life.

4. What is the message the author tries to convey in the text?

A．We should balance our school work and interests.

B．It’s important to explore possibilities outside our routines.

C．Our routines define our goals and who we are.

D．Colleges offer us numerous opportunities to try new things.

6 . During the winter of 1986 I was working at a construction site near Oakland, California. It is not ________ for construction workers’ hands to become very painful. My hands were no ________ that year. They were bleeding at the joints of the fingers and thumbs.

________ work because of hurting hands is simply not a good choice in the construction industry. You grit your teeth(咬紧牙关), keep working, and finish the job. One morning I left for work at 5 a.m. and arrived at a ________. As I got out of my truck, I saw a newspaper delivery car and the driver struggling with newspapers. I took a second look, ________ that the man had no forearms. I was ________ to see him doing a job that would require a(n) physically gifted person. Still, he was somewhat having ________ with the larger bundles(捆)because his arms weren’t long enough.

On my way to pay for the gas, I stopped and asked him if I could ________ him. He politely ________ my offer. A few minutes later while I was refueling, he said, “Hey buddy, would you mind tying(系)my ________ for me?” As I was tying his shoes, he went on to explain that tying his shoes was the only thing he couldn’t do for ________.

I stopped and looked back at him as he was getting into his car. I looked down at my ________. Suddenly it hit me: I had been complaining about my hurting hands for weeks. That experience made a difference to my hurting hands. Every ________ when my hands start cracking and bleeding, I think back to that ________ in 1986. And just like magic, my hands don’t ________.

1.

A．easy

B．fair

C．unusual

D．certain

2.

A．exception

B．problem

C．wonder

D．sense

3.

A．Beginning

B．Stopping

C．Getting

D．Finishing

4.

A．factory

B．company

C．gas station

D．police station

5.

A．suggesting

B．ignoring

C．thinking

D．noticing

6.

A．nervous

B．afraid

C．happy

D．amazed

7.

A．difficulty

B．fun

C．words

D．relations

8.

A．disturb

B．approach

C．help

D．teach

9.

A．examined

B．accepted

C．considered

D．declined

10.

A．shoes

B．scarf

C．feet

D．tie

11.

A．others

B．himself

C．work

D．me

12.

A．legs

B．arms

C．shoes

D．hands

13.

A．week

B．night

C．month

D．winter

14.

A．encounter

B．incident

C．trip

D．party

15.

A．bleed

B．change

C．hurt

D．talk

7 . You need to send a quick text to your mom to tell her soccer practice is canceled. In an effort not to get _________, you reach slowly into your backpack. You are _________ about not pressing the wrong button that will make your task known by the teacher. With the phone on your lap, you try not to _________ as you text: “soccer canceled!”

Send. You slip it into your pocket. But wait . . . your friend Lucy’s hair made her look _________ when you passed her in the hall. It’s _________ to wait until lunch. So, you repeat the secret process of texting: “Fix _________. It’s ugly!” Now, not only have you just _________ two whole possibly important minutes of your teacher’s lecture, but you have also furthered the _________ of your spelling and vocabulary.

The way we type when we use virtual communication devices _________ the way we spell — not just when we’re in a __________. Have you ever caught yourself writing “u” instead of “you” in an essay for school? We have become accustomed to the __________ use of non-standard abbreviations (缩写词).

In a world where instant satisfaction is everything, we simply do not take the time to __________ the few extra letters, __________ unfamiliar words. Seldom do we see the word “overjoyed” for “happy”, “morose” for “sad” in a text. We must __________ our vocabulary and learn to use advanced words if we expect to make a __________ of exams relating to our future and get job opportunities.

1.

A．stuck

B．caught

C．fired

D．bothered

2.

A．curious

B．particular

C．cautious

D．serious

3.

A．look out

B．look down

C．look away

D．look around

4.

A．pretty

B．tired

C．young

D．funny

5.

A．unbearable

B．unimportant

C．unfortunate

D．unnecessary

6.

A．seat

B．text

C．hair

D．work

7.

A．forgotten

B．refused

C．postponed

D．missed

8.

A．control

B．fall

C．waste

D．lack

9.

A．affects

B．determines

C．predicts

D．strengthens

10.

A．quarrel

B．speech

C．hurry

D．trouble

11.

A．formal

B．proper

C．casual

D．illegal

12.

A．accept

B．check

C．observe

D．add

13.

A．according to

B．because of

C．except for

D．let alone

14.

A．enlarge

B．classify

C．spread

D．remember

15.

A．start

B．success

C．habit

D．deal

8 . I was walking in a park on a cool autumn morning. The view was charming, and a pleasant breeze(微风) was kissing my face _______.

Then I saw a mother and her little baby. The mother wore _______ clothes that seemed to be found in a dustbin—How easy it is for fortunate people to _______ away things they don’t need, and they do this _______ thinking of the unfortunate! She was holding her baby, protecting her from the morning _______ and expecting some money from strangers so that she could _______ food for both of them. It was then that I realized how _______ I had been in my whole life for living a rich life.

Then a man _______ some money and food to the mother, and as she took them, her face was _______ as if she had been the happiest person in the world. And why not, she could now ________ her baby at least for the day.

Actually, happiness doesn’t ________ luck, your financial or your physical conditions, but only on yourself. It is just a ________ in your hands. If you choose to be happy, ________ can stop you from it.

How ________ it is that one observation(观察) can change your life! Life has a lot to offer if you observe very closely. One who observes can ________ real happiness.

1.

A．strongly

B．gradually

C．gently

D．normally

2.

A．expensive

B．wonderful

C．perfect

D．dirty

3.

A．move

B．push

C．throw

D．send

4.

A．for

B．in

C．within

D．without

5.

A．cold

B．light

C．sound

D．fact

6.

A．save

B．buy

C．pick

D．share

7.

A．wealthy

B．special

C．successful

D．lucky

8.

A．donated

B．lent

C．promised

D．sold

9.

A．sinking

B．shining

C．shaking

D．falling

10.

A．improve

B．protect

C．deliver

D．feed

11.

A．go on

B．come out

C．depend on

D．turn out

12.

A．symbol

B．strength

C．voice

D．choice

13.

A．nothing

B．something

C．anything

D．everything

14.

A．comforting

B．amazing

C．disappointing

D．satisfying

15.

A．invent

B．lose

C．discover

D．ignore

9 . Do you want to live with a strong sense of peacefulness, happiness, goodness, and self-respect? The collection of happiness actions broadly categorized as “honor” help you create this life of good feelings.

Here’s an example to show how honorable actions create happiness.

Say a store clerk fails to charge us for an item. If we keep silent and profit from the clerk’s mistake, we would drive home with a sense of excitement. Later we might tell our family or friends about our good fortune. On the other hand, if we tell the clerk about the uncharged item, the clerk would be grateful and thank us for our honesty. We would leave the store with a quiet sense of honor that we might never share with another soul.

Then what is it to do with our sense of happiness?

In the first case, where we don’t tell the clerk, a couple of things would happen. Deep down inside we would know ourselves as a type of thief. In the process, we would lose some peace of mind and self-respect. We would also demonstrate that we cannot be trusted, since we advertise our dishonor by telling our family and friends. We damage our own reputations by telling others. In contrast, bringing the error to the clerk’s attention causes different things to happen. Immediately the clerk knows us to be honorable. Upon leaving the store, we feel honorable and our self-respect is increased. Whenever we take honorable action we gain the deep internal rewards of goodness and a sense of nobility.

1. According to the passage, the positive action in the example contributes to our______.

A．friendly relationship	B．financial rewards
C．advertising ability	D．self-respect

2. The author thinks that keeping silent about the uncharged item is equal to______.

A．stealing

B．lying

C．cheating

D．advertising

3. The phrase “bringing the error to the clerk’s attention” in Paragraph 5 means______.

A．offering advice to the clerk

B．telling the truth to the clerk

C．asking the clerk to be attentive

D．reminding the clerk of the prices

4. How will we feel if we let the clerk know her mistake?

A．We’ll be very excited

B．We’ll feel unfortunate

C．We’ll feel sorry for the clerk

D．We’ll have a sense of honor

10 . I remember my teen years when all I wanted was to put on weight. Growing up, I was always on the thinner side and try as I could, I never seemed to put on the kilos. I would admire the chubbier (丰满的) girls and wished to be like them.

Now I realize I had weighed my self-worth on how I looked. I had also sent out a message saying that I wasn’t good enough because of my body size, not realizing that we train others how to treat us.

Today, I’m comfortable in my skin, and I have learnt the art of self-love. And yes, I did put on the kilos years later after childbirth, but I lost them at the gym, and I am happy with myself. This got me thinking about the number of people today who want to look like someone else. They look in the mirror and don’t like what they see. They are always in search of a different self!

Learn to fall in love with yourself. Learn to value yourself. If you do not like something about yourself, why not work out to get to your ideal (理想的) body type? This not only increases your confidence, but you no longer have to wear those ugly tops to hide your stomach. Invest (投资) in self-improvement courses if you have to.

Learn to say No. You do not have to present yourself for every party or appointment. Give yourself space to breathe. As women, we are taught to take care of everyone else but ourselves. We get worn out raising our families and balancing our private lives with our careers, and rarely have time for ourselves. At the end of the day, we are so worn-out; everyone else is happy but us. When you are tired, take enough time to rest. Remember, you cannot pour out of an empty cup. Every so often, take time to refill your cup.

1. What do we know about the author as a teenager?

A．She put on weight easily.

B．She was laughed at by others.

C．She was unsatisfied with her figure.

D．She was good at controlling her weight.

2. What does the author look like now?

A．Slim.	B．Black.
C．Chubber.	D．Rough-skinned.

3. What should people unsatisfied with themselves do in the author’s opinion?

A．Model themselves on others.

B．Improve themselves if necessary.

C．Compare themselves with other people.

D．Accept what they are and be themselves.

4. What does the author argue about?

A．Women should saying no to parties.

B．Women should learn to love themselves.

C．Women should balance the life and work.

D．Women should take good care of their family.