1 . Usually, someone would come up and ask, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” This kind of question is often raised when we have _________ with families as children.

Well, it started out being a cowboy or super hero. Later it was fireman, policeman, lawyer... As I grew older, my dreams of the future _________. Before I was in college, I was asked, “What will you _________ in?”

By then, I had my heart set on _________ a teacher as my father. So, I studied and prepared for that life. I _________ nearly full time on my career. Although my physical disability after an accident prevented me from working full-time, I still insisted (坚持) on _________. I am content that I could realize my dream and perhaps have a(n) _________ influence on someone’s life. My kids are now on the way to _________ their goals, which makes me delighted.

However, for many, there is a “thief”, which goes around _________ our dreams. Sometimes, the __________ will come as a parent, a relative, a friend or a co-worker, but the greatest thief is, so many times, just __________.

We find ourselves just about reaching our __________, and a “small voice” inside says, “You’ll never make it,” “You can’t __________ do this.” “Very few have ever done this successfully.” And on and on the “small voice” predicts (预测) some kind of __________. Failure, though, is exactly how dreams are realized. It is one of the most important tools we have, because it teaches us __________ lessons. And, when we learn these lessons well, we are ready for success.

1.

A．difficulties

B．challenges

C．memories

D．gatherings

2.

A．changed

B．reduced

C．developed

D．disappeared

3.

A．live

B．major

C．believe

D．bring

4.

A．discovering

B．cheating

C．becoming

D．awarding

5.

A．spent

B．wasted

C．decided

D．took

6.

A．planning

B．teaching

C．planting

D．reading

7.

A．sensitive

B．objective

C．passive

D．positive

8.

A．disappoint

B．reflect

C．perform

D．achieve

9.

A．reaching

B．throwing

C．stealing

D．abandoning

10.

A．thief

B．teacher

C．robber

D．guider

11.

A．parents

B．ourselves

C．relatives

D．themselves

12.

A．homes

B．limit

C．dreams

D．potential

13.

A．possibly

B．quickly

C．frequently

D．gradually

14.

A．outcome

B．failure

C．moment

D．difference

15.

A．precious

B．original

C．faithful

D．ordinary

2 . There were eight children in my family, and we never had enough money. Meeting basic needs was a constant ________ for us. I got my first pair of ________ when I attended Senior High because I was awarded a scholarship since I performed well ________ in first grade. That enabled my parents to buy me shoes since we were ________ from the schooling fees (学费).

The first day when I walked in my new shoes, each step felt ________ beneath me. The shoes, simple and strong, protected me from the roughness of the path. To me, they were not just shoes but a symbol of ________ — through hard work and determination, I could ________ my situation.

The day I turned 18, I stood before my parents, my heart heavy with a(n) ________ that would shape my future. I told them I determined to leave home to ________ my dreams, which were bigger than what we had known here and that I wanted to change our ________. In my father’s eyes, I could see a ________ of sadness and understanding. After what seemed to be as long as a century, he nodded yes. My mother too blessed my journey. I stepped into the ________, carrying the dreams of generations with me. No matter how difficult things turned out to be, I never gave up. Years later, I started my own business and succeeded ________.

Although the first shoes are now ________, I keep them in my office as a witness of the long and hard journey from those barefoot days to now. They ________ me that hard work does pay off.

1.

A．struggle

B．promise

C．pleasure

D．comfort

2.

A．trousers

B．gloves

C．glasses

D．shoes

3.

A．physically

B．mentally

C．academically

D．socially

4.

A．protected

B．discouraged

C．freed

D．separated

5.

A．convenient

B．heavy

C．demanding

D．solid

6.

A．dignity

B．hope

C．challenge

D．harmony

7.

A．bear

B．understand

C．stress

D．transform

8.

A．decision

B．prediction

C．imagination

D．comment

9.

A．leave behind

B．go after

C．show off

D．figure out

10.

A．opinion

B．character

C．life

D．tradition

11.

A．balance

B．mix

C．competition

D．variety

12.

A．unknown

B．uneventful

C．unavoidable

D．unchanged

13.

A．with ease

B．at last

C．in return

D．on time

14.

A．perfect

B．valuable

C．gone

D．worn

15.

A．remind

B．guarantee

C．warn

D．cheat

3 . I’m an online columnist. A few weeks ago, I wrote a column about my life, ending up receiving some _________ reviews on a regular basis. I have become _________ used to being criticized like that. In the following days, I was also surprised when more lovely words _________ in. They told me that my running adventures had _________ them to go out to work out. Yet more _________ me for giving tips on the mental health issues they had also experienced. I have been so touched by all these people.

As an online columnist for ages, I have constantly encountered _________ readers. A lady was _________ about my daughter when she was hospitalized and a gentleman offered to _________ me for my training when I was badly off. There was also a couple who sent me a jar of home-made marmalade when they read about my _________, in the hope of cheering me up. As I thought about __________ of these kind people, I wondered why our brains are programmed to focus on the bad things __________ all the lovely ones.

At that moment, I’ve realized we don’t have the luxury of negativity. Our life is too short to be __________ by it. To stop engaging in it, the key is our __________ to be dragged down by it. In that spirit, I’ve __________ that from now on, I’m only going to focus on the positive. I’ll keep a file on my cellphone containing all __________ for me, and look at them when times get tough.

1.

A．conventional

B．innovative

C．negative

D．thorough

2.

A．terribly

B．hardly

C．aimlessly

D．accidentally

3.

A．gave

B．flooded

C．dropped

D．cut

4.

A．permitted

B．required

C．banned

D．pushed

5.

A．appreciated

B．impressed

C．represented

D．criticized

6.

A．long-lasting

B．well-meaning

C．ever-changing

D．self-fulfilling

7.

A．cautious

B．anxious

C．concerned

D．astonished

8.

A．restrict

B．stimulate

C．release

D．sponsor

9.

A．depression

B．confusion

C．satisfaction

D．embarrassment

10.

A．expressions

B．purposes

C．gestures

D．desires

11.

A．at the bottom of

B．at the expense of

C．on account of

D．on behalf of

12.

A．held back

B．brought up

C．taken in

D．turned down

13.

A．acceptance

B．target

C．refusal

D．admission

14.

A．complained

B．resolved

C．explained

D．pretended

15.

A．comprehension

B．submission

C．direction

D．recognition

4 . In recent years, much of my life as a consumer has shifted to what I like to call background. As I’ve subscribed to more apps and streaming platforms, significant sums of my money tend to slip away each month without my ever thinking about it.

Think of it as an automated trade. Spending without the trouble of spending. Acquaint ion without action. Or thought.

But while this flood of subscriptions was sold to me on the condition that it would make my life more trouble-free, there was a certain shock I felt upon discovering how much I was spending without realizing each month ($179.45).

You see, the thing about background spending is that it tends to happen, well, in the background without your full attention. And there lies the point.

“Hand over your credit card details and let us take care of the rest,” these companies promote. But by again sing their name, we’ve become lazy, positive consumers. And this laziness breeds (导致) more laziness because most of us can’t be bothered with conducting regular reviews of our subscription spending. We’re too lazy to even notice or cancel it!

I know it’s not just me who is suddenly living life as a smart-braised subscriber. The average consumer spends $273 per month on subscriptions, according to a 2021 study of 2,500 by digital services firm West Morose. Not a single person surveyed knew what his actually monthly spending was.

It’s understandable why this model is so attractive to businesses. As companies questioned traditional advertising models, subscription offered the promise of “selling once and earning forever.” And while subscription services have been around for decades (think Wine of the Month Club), more customers have been willing to sign up thanks to the widespread availability of smartphones and the increasing ease of home delivery.

While these subscription promise ease and happiness, not all of us are satisfied. Last year, the Kameny Institute found 40 percent of consumer believe they have too many subscriptions. Almost half of us also think we pay too much for streaming video-on-demand subscriptions.

1. What can we know about background spending in paragraph 2?

A．Its purpose.

B．Its feature.

C．Its procedure.

D．Its requirement.

2. What makes it possible for background spending to happen?

A．Its attractive price.	B．Some people’s poor habit.
C．Its secure service.	D．Some people’s addiction to it.

3. Why is the subscription model appealing to businesses?

A．It offers good home delivery services.

B．It is like traditional advertising models.

C．It is popular among smartphone producers.

D．It brings repeated profits through a single sale.

4. What’s the author’s attitude towards background spending?

A．Supportive.

B．Doubtful.

C．Critical.

D．Unclear.

5 . What will you do when you feel like a failure? Feeling like a failure is part of the human experiences. Treat yourself with kindness and understand that failure does not define you, but it is a stepping stone on your journey. When you’re ready, take action and challenge yourself.

As some friends were deeply lost in the world of yoga and mindfulness, I’ve personally struggled with the feeling of failure, not on the yoga mat, but on the road to my entrepreneurship(创业). It all began several years ago when I threw myself into the business, driven by my passion and a dream.

In the early days, optimism flowed freely, but financial struggles and sleepless nights soon followed. I questioned my decision and felt like the biggest failure. However, every difficulty became a stepping stone towards growth. I learned more from my failures than from my successes, adapting and growing stronger with each obstacle. I reached out to instructors, friends and family, sought advice and slowly saw a ray of hope. One defining moment came when I gained my first long-term coaching partnership. It was a breakthrough, and my hard work paid off. Over the years, I faced many more failures, but I refused to let them define me.

Today, looking back at my journey, I realize that moments of feeling like a failure were essential to my success. They taught me humility, perseverance and the value of hard work. They shaped me into a successful entrepreneur I am today—someone who doesn’t fear failure but embraces it as a necessary part of the path to success. As we approach the end of the year of graduation, remember that success is not about avoiding failure, but about how we rise after we fall. Let’s support each other on this journey called life. Stay positive, stay inspired and stay true to ourselves.

1. What is the function of paragraph 1?

A．To give the definition of failure.

B．To list some examples of failure.

C．To introduce the topic of the story.

D．To stress the importance of experience.

2. What made the author start a business?

A．Internal motivation.	B．Advice from a coach.
C．Family financial crisis.	D．Encouragement from friends.

3. What can be concluded from the author’s entrepreneurial experience?

A．To teach is to learn.

B．A word spoken is past recalling.

C．Constant dropping wears away a stone.

D．Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.

4. What does the author want to do in the last paragraph?

A．Inspire us with his lessons.

B．Persuade us to major in business.

C．Recall the key moments of his entrepreneurship.

D．Advocate avoiding obstacles on the way to success.

6 . When I was in third grade, my family and I took on an unforgettable trip across the country. It turned out to be more than just a/an _______ journey; it was a journey of discovery into our _______. Every day, Dad _______ us with his trusty road map. Mom, the heart of our family, shared folk tales and painted pictures about the upcoming _______. We went through diverse _______from the thick forests to the vast deserts of the West.

One day, while hiking through the Grand Canyon, I _______   a particularly rough path. Frightened, I _______, not knowing how to proceed. That’s when my parents _______ .

As Dad showed me footholds, Mom coached me with calming _______and reminded me of the breathtaking views that lay ahead. Then, I________the confidence as my feet ________ solid ground again. When I finally overcame my fear, I felt we became ________ as a family.

From then on, every evening, we’d gather around a campfire for what we________called “Family Reflection Time”. During these sessions, we’d share laughs, ________, and insights from the day’s experiences.

The trip taught me that the true meaning of travel isn’t merely about reaching the destination but about the personal growth that happens on the route, and the family bonds formed when facing ________ together.

1.

A．crowded

B．physical

C．creative

D．necessary

2.

A．relationships

B．potentials

C．dreams

D．inspirations

3.

A．guided

B．encouraged

C．comforted

D．attracted

4.

A．events

B．stations

C．locations

D．shows

5.

A．cultures

B．landscapes

C．groups

D．countries

6.

A．imagined

B．constructed

C．smoothed

D．encountered

7.

A．froze

B．flew

C．fell

D．forgot

8.

A．reached down

B．stood aside

C．stepped in

D．turned back

9.

A．words

B．worries

C．noises

D．thoughts

10.

A．lost

B．maintained

C．demonstrate

D．restored

11.

A．left

B．broke

C．found

D．dug

12.

A．nicer

B．tougher

C．braver

D．closer

13.

A．originally

B．affectionately

C．frequently

D．simply

14.

A．sympathy

B．conflict

C．tears

D．profits

15.

A．challenges

B．defeats

C．opposition

D．uncertainty

9 . We just got back from a weeklong trip through New Mexico where we traveled through desert landscapes, hiked up mountains, and walked through dry creek beds. We experienced nature and wildlife that was vastly distinct from what I’ve seen before.

We’ve lived in Atlanta for 25 years so it was quite a change from our “city in a forest”. My husband and I were joined by our adult so n who now lives in San Diego and is a little more familiar with the west. We like to visit national parks and explore interesting ecosystems.

In New Mexico, everything seemed striking and amazing. Starting in Albuquerque, we took a tram up the Sandia Peak in the Sandia Mountains, where we had fantastic views as we watched parasailers float off into the unending sky. We then drove to Abiquiu, the town where artist Georgia O’Keeffe was so inspired. We stayed at a lovely home pretty much in the middle of nowhere. First,   we noticed the breathtaking setting. Then we noticed the ants: billions of tiny ants were marching all over the outside of the property. They were carrying off a few of the native bees that had fallen to the ground near the house.

Once we were awakened in the middle of the night by howling (嚎叫) that was both strange and musical. We were told about the coyotes (郊狼) that share the area, so we weren’t surprised when we woke up the next morning to some pretty impressive pawprints right outside the back door. On our final morning hike before heading south in the state, we even spotted a large snake curled up on the path, enjoying the warm morning sun. We stayed far out of its way but certainly watched our steps a little more carefully.

We talked about sustainability throughout the trip. In the past several decades, there’s been so much noticeable change in our travel adventures. That will be great to keep the skies cleaner and save energy. And the coyotes and snakes can be left to dance and enjoy in peace.

1. What was the family’s first impression of the trip to New Mexico?

A．It was familiar to them in many aspects.

B．It was dangerous but totally fresh for them.

C．It was simple and plain with little to explore.

D．It was quite different from their previous experiences.

2. Which of the following best describes the author’s experience in New Mexico?

A．Romantic.

B．Eventful.

C．Conventional.

D．Regretful.

3. What message does the author want to convey in the last paragraph?

A．It’s beneficial for us to take an adventure tour.

B．It’s threatening to live with wildlife around.

C．It’s necessary to boost sustainable tourism.

D．It’s difficult to keep the balance of ecosystem.

4. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A reflection in a travel journal.	B．An essay about the plans for traveling.
C．A guidebook to a new destination.	D．An introduction of a new type of traveling.

10 . When you think of the strong actor and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, what comes to your mind first? Perhaps it’s his roles in movies like “The Terminator” or his _______ bodybuilding career. Or maybe it’s his _______ journey from a small Austrian village to _______ the Governor of California.

While Schwarzenegger’s life story is nothing short of extraordinary, he recently _______ an inspiring speech that _______ challenges the idea of being a “self-made man”. In a world that often celebrates individualism and the _______ that success is entirely the result of one’s _______ , Schwarzenegger’s speech was a breath of fresh air. He _______ that he didn’t achieve his success on his own. He _______ his success to those who had offered a ________ hand whenever he was in need.

“Please don’t ever, ever ________ me a self-made man,” he said. “That will give the wrong ________ that we can do it all alone. In reality, none of us can ________ it.” Schwarzenegger’s message ________ beyond his personal story. He encouraged the audience to reflect on the people who have ________ us in our lives and to pay it forward by offering ________ and assistance to others whenever it is possible.

In a society that often ________ individual achievement above all else, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s speech is a ________ reminder that we are interconnected. And our success is often a result of the support we ________ from those around us. It’s a message that urges us to be ________ to those who once helped us and to offer help to those in need.

1.

A．impressive

B．smooth

C．awkward

D．accessible

2.

A．rare

B．tough

C．remarkable

D．practical

3.

A．defeating

B．becoming

C．delighting

D．believing

4.

A．favored

B．measured

C．heard

D．delivered

5.

A．carelessly

B．severely

C．randomly

D．cautiously

6.

A．idea

B．altitude

C．suggestion

D．proof

7.

A．gains

B．pity

C．duty

D．efforts

8.

A．stressed

B．suspected

C．denied

D．announced

9.

A．devoted

B．referred

C．owed

D．turned

10.

A．shaking

B．helping

C．green

D．clean

11.

A．call

B．give

C．tell

D．leave

12.

A．forecast

B．argument

C．direction

D．feeling

13.

A．describe

B．make

C．guess

D．deserve

14.

A．circles

B．wonders

C．goes

D．traces

15.

A．aided

B．rejected

C．convinced

D．distributed

16.

A．victory

B．function

C．treasure

D．support

17.

A．makes fun of

B．thinks much of

C．looks forward to

D．speaks ill of

18.

A．surprising

B．comfortable

C．powerful

D．fearful

19.

A．choose

B．spread

C．upload

D．receive

20.

A．similar

B．mean

C．grateful

D．familiar