1 . One Saturday last November, I stepped into my local library. I was about to read a book when I heard an elderly man speak to a lady. “This library will soon become a café. Everyone is reading with electronic devices,” he said. Hearing this, I wanted to shout, “I still read library books!” But my words stuck in my throat and I found teenagers around me were talking to friends or staring at their phones.
Reading online feels robotic to me. It’s like I stare at a screen and click “next” for the following page to appear until the very end of the e-book, and at the end of all of that, I just think, “That’s it?” But when I read a printed book, it’s like I’m holding on to the characters. I can imagine the plot better, as I can picture the scenes of each moment in my head with more accuracy and imagination.
Besides, some online books miss components (组成部分) that are in the printed novels. For instance, the physical copy of a fantasy novel I have read contains a map, but the e-book version does not. That is an injustice to e-book users; after reading and understanding the map, the story made a lot more sense for me, in terms of the setting and plot.
And personally, physically turning to the next page is better than clicking “next”. When reading online, I sometimes worry that I click “next” too quickly. It feels more like a race; I want to finish it because the pages just keep making that “flipping” sound and I wonder how long the book really is.
Some printed books have a special smell that makes the novel feel special to me. It’s hard to describe but I’m sure I’m not the only one that thinks so. I know I cannot convince every teen to switch from the digital book to the printed one, but maybe my writing about the difference will at least get some of them to think about it.
1. Why will the library be replaced by a café?| A．Few people head for it. | B．It lacks good management. |
| C．Few people read its books. | D．It holds little attraction for the youth. |
| A．They include additional contents. |
| B．They leave a lively impression. |
| C．They have a special pleasant smell. |
| D．They can improve readers’ imagination. |
| A．Making her tired of reading. | B．Leading her to read aimlessly. |
| C．Bringing more fun to her. | D．Stopping her digging into reading. |
| A．To inspire teenagers’ interest in reading. |
| B．To show advantages of printed books. |
| C．To reduce the impact of electronic devices. |
| D．To encourage teens to change the reading medium. |
2 . Fifteen years ago, I took a summer vacation in Lecce in southern Italy. After climbing up a hill for a panoramic (全景的) view of the blue sea, white buildings and green olive trees, I paused to catch my breath and then positioned myself to take the best photo of this panorama.
Unfortunately, just as I took out my camera, a woman approached from behind, and planted herself right in front of my view. Like me, this woman was here to stop, sigh and appreciate the view.
Patient as I was, after about 15 minutes, my camera scanning the sun and reviewing the shot I would eventually take, I grew frustrated. Was it too much to ask her to move so I could take just one picture of the landscape? Sure, I could have asked her, but something prevented me from doing so. She seemed so content in her observation. I didn’t want to mess with that.
Another 15 minutes passed and I grew bored. The woman was still there. I decided to take the photo anyway. And now when I look at it, I think her presence in the photo is what makes the image interesting. The landscape, beautiful on its own, somehow comes to life and breathes because this woman is engaging with it.
This photo, with the unique beauty that unfolded before me and that woman who “ruined” it, now hangs on a wall in my bedroom. What would she think if she knew that her figure is captured (捕捉) and frozen on some stranger’s bedroom wall? A bedroom, after all, is a very private space, in which some woman I don’t even know has been immortalized (使……永存). In some ways, she lives in my house.
Perhaps we all live in each other’s spaces. Perhaps this is what photos are for: to remind us that we all appreciate beauty, that we all share a common desire for pleasure, for connection, for something that is greater than us.
That photo is a reminder, a captured moment, an unspoken conversation between two women, separated only by a thin square of glass.
1. What happened when the author was about to take a photo?| A．Her camera stopped working. | B．A woman blocked her view. |
| C．Someone asked her to leave. | D．A friend approached from behind. |
| A．enjoying herself | B．losing her patience |
| C．waiting for the sunset | D．thinking about her past |
| A．the need to be close to nature | B．the importance of private space |
| C．the joy of the vacation in Italy | D．the shared passion for beauty |
| A．a particular life experience | B．the pleasure of traveling |
| C．the art of photography | D．a lost friendship |
3 . “Look at the results. What should our alpha level be to correct for multiple comparisons?” I stared at the statistics problem on the whiteboard and saw a lot of symbols and numbers but nothing that looked remotely like an “a”, let alone an “alpha”. All around me, pencils scratched out calculations as my classmates got to work. I pretended to start my own calculations as my heart beat soundly and my face turned hot.
“If I don’t know the answer to this question,” I thought, “I don’t belong in this class.”
It turns out I’m not alone. In a study of over 1,000 high school students recruited by Character Lab Research Network, about 40% said they regularly hesitated to admit when they didn’t know something in class. The struggles were especially strong among girls and were most common in math.
Why? We tend to believe that you can’t be good at math unless you’ re really smart. The more we think we need to be “brilliant” to succeed, the harder it is to reveal what we don’t know to others. But if students don’t feel comfortable voicing their questions in school, they will miss opportunities to learn from peers and teachers — the very opportunities that can make them brilliant.
To help teens overcome this resistance, you can change their feelings by sharing times you have felt reluctant to ask — like my story about statistics class.
I filled the blanks with puzzling statistics with a little help from my classmate Liz. Still in a panic, I glanced up from my paper and saw a hand shoot into the air. “What do you mean by alpha level?” Liz asked.
“Good question,” the teacher said. Now the learning could begin.
Don’t hide what you don’t know. The more you conceal your questions, the scarier it becomes to ask for help. Be brave and share your questions with the world.
1. Why does the author mention his statistics class in the first paragraph?| A．To illustrate the importance of fame. | B．To complain about the boring class. |
| C．To lead in the topic of the study. | D．To draw the interest of the readers. |
| A．Only talented students are able to do well in math. |
| B．Most senior students aren’t interested in math lesson. |
| C．The elder students would become more inactive in class. |
| D．The more questions you ask, the cleverer you will become. |
| A．He changed the question into a simple one. |
| B．He shared his experience with the students. |
| C．He built students’ courage to ask questions. |
| D．He ignored the students’ indifference in class. |
| A．Nothing is to hide | B．Everything is possible |
| C．Everyone is a talent | D．All will be answered for |
4 . Small children are easy to throw up in the air and catch — and they
I hope Jacky will always trust me fully, but I know that, as he gets older, it will need more effort and sound judgment
| A．deserve | B．love | C．miss | D．know |
| A．in case | B．even though | C．so that | D．as if |
| A．fear | B．doubt | C．excitement | D．astonishment |
| A．reasonable | B．absolute | C．limited | D．important |
| A．responsibility | B．satisfaction | C．achievement | D．relief |
| A．on my part | B．on my behalf | C．in my honor | D．in my name |
| A．wait | B．choose | C．expect | D．afford |
| A．attach | B．compare | C．introduce | D．adjust |
| A．grateful | B．happy | C．proud | D．safe |
| A．For instance | B．Above all | C．At first | D．In addition |
| A．However | B．Therefore | C．Similarly | D．Fortunately |
| A．affection | B．leadership | C．friendship | D．determination |
| A．assess | B．understand | C．organize | D．develop |
| A．gesture | B．lack | C．bond | D．measure |
| A．communication | B．personality | C．management | D．education |
5 . Sometime in the early 1960s, a significant thing happened in Sydney, Australia. The city discovered its harbor. Then, one after another, Sydney discovered lots of things that were just sort of there — broad parks, superb beaches, and a culturally diverse population. But it is the harbor that makes the city.
Andrew Reynolds, a cheerful fellow in his early 30s, pilots Sydney ferryboats for a living. I spent the whole morning shuttling back and forth across the harbor. After our third run Andrew shut down the engine, and we went our separate ways — he for a lunch break, I to explore the city.
“I’ll miss these old boats,” he said as we parted.
“How do you mean?” I asked.
“Oh, they’re replacing them with catamarans. Catamarans are faster, but they’re not so elegant, and they’re not fun to pilot. But that’s progress, I guess.”
Everywhere in Sydney these days, change and progress are the watchwords, and traditions are increasingly rare. Shirley Fitzgerald, the city’s official historian, told me that in its rush to modernity in the 1970s, Sydney swept aside much of its past, including many of its finest buildings. “Sydney is confused about itself,” she said. “We can’t seem to make up our minds whether we want a modern city or a traditional one. It’s a conflict that we aren’t getting any better at resolving.”
On the other hand, being young and old at the same time has its attractions. I considered this when I met a thoughtful young businessman named Anthony. “Many people say that we lack culture in this country,” he told me. “What people forget is that the Italians, when they came to Australia, brought 2000 years of their culture, the Greeks some 3000 years, and the Chinese more still. We’ve got a foundation built on ancient cultures but with a drive and dynamism of a young country. It’s a pretty hard combination to beat.”
He is right, but I can’t help wishing they would keep those old ferries.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．Sydney’s striking architecture. | B．The cultural diversity of Sydney. |
| C．The key to Sydney’s development. | D．Sydney’s tourist attractions in the 1960s. |
| A．He goes to work by boat. | B．He looks forward to a new life. |
| C．He pilots catamarans well. | D．He is attached to the old ferries. |
| A．It is losing its traditions. | B．It should speed up its progress. |
| C．It should expand its population. | D．It is becoming more international. |
| A．A city built on ancient cultures is more dynamic. |
| B．A city can be young and old at the same time. |
| C．Modernity is usually achieved at the cost of elegance. |
| D．Compromise should be made between the local and the foreign. |
6 . The other day, I was looking at my schedule for the summer. I had a moment of
You might be thinking my
I know I’m not
I’m not saying working all the time makes us feel OK. Taking a break brings us
Our brains aren’t designed to
| A．panic | B．relief | C．pride | D．joy |
| A．desire | B．influence | C．permission | D．response |
| A．brain | B．grade | C．resource | D．collection |
| A．mild | B．relaxed | C．confident | D．anxious |
| A．independent | B．alone | C．powerful | D．confused |
| A．advance | B．choose | C．argue | D．escape |
| A．illustrates | B．refuses | C．values | D．doubts |
| A．made out | B．referred to | C．figured out | D．came across |
| A．proposals | B．situations | C．customs | D．advantages |
| A．losses | B．diversities | C．difficulties | D．benefits |
| A．creative | B．disappointed | C．sensitive | D．worried |
| A．invited | B．exported | C．promoted | D．faded |
| A．foam | B．productivity | C．moral | D．diagram |
| A．attach | B．beat | C．work | D．rest |
| A．item | B．chance | C．gift | D．break |
7 . I wrote a letter to my kids a few years ago. It’s three pages long, and it sums up what I’ve learned in four decades of life. My kids are too
I sealed the letter in a plain white envelope and wrote
Every day, when I open my locker, I see the letter. It
But for me, it’s not enough to write down my beliefs. I try to be the
| A．naughty | B．active | C．curious | D．young |
| A．take | B．attach | C．support | D．guide |
| A．agreements | B．preparations | C．guidelines | D．instructions |
| A．improved | B．enriched | C．changed | D．saved |
| A．some | B．no | C．both | D．any |
| A．advice | B．letter | C．envelope | D．locker |
| A．pass | B．present | C．send | D．give |
| A．allows | B．turns | C．informs | D．reminds |
| A．eventually | B．firstly | C．suddenly | D．accidentally |
| A．expectation | B．thought | C．example | D．wish |
| A．best | B．cleverest | C．kindest | D．happiest |
| A．strange | B．familiar | C．friendly | D．aggressive |
| A．polite | B．strict | C．loving | D．skeptical |
| A．tired of | B．far from | C．free with | D．different in |
| A．perfection | B．attention | C．passion | D．conclusion |
8 . I first realized that plastic was a serious matter for our planet during my travel in Western Australia. One day about 12 years ago, I stopped at a supermarket along the Coral Bay coast ta buy some groceries. But the lady at the counter told me that the supermarket didn’t sell any shopping bags to prevent plastic in the ocean and help preserve the endangered turtles(海龟) living in that area. After a first reaction of surprise, I gathered all purchases in my arms and left, reflecting on what I had been told.
The experience in that trip made me more conscious about my impact and pushed me to adopt various habits to travel and live more sustainably. For example, I always carried a cotton bag when I went shopping.
My travel to Indonesia was another life-changing experience that strengthened my determination to turn to a zero-waste lifestyle. In Indonesia, finding safe drinkable water was always a challenge, so I traveled with my water bottle, managing to avoid almost entirely the use of plastic during my trip.
However, I was seriously struck by my stay on the Libaran Island, where a sustainable and turtle conservation project was launched 10 years ago. Despite the big efforts by the project staff and the community in cleaning up the beaches and creatively reusing plastic, the shore was washed daily with tons of plastic coming from the tides. Walking on a carpet of plastic that almost prevented me from seeing the beach underneath was quite shocking.
Facing this global issue in person, I felt a sense of sadness and anger that soon turned into determination: to do as much as possible to reduce plastic in my life. Sometimes we might feel helpless in front of big problems, but we should be aware that small changes could actually make a difference step by step!
1. How does the author lead in the topic of the text?| A．By reflecting on the present life. |
| B．By looking into the future environment. |
| C．By introducing the previous achievements. |
| D．By recalling the past shopping experience. |
| A．Cut back on travel. | B．Shop less frequently. |
| C．Lead a green life. | D．Rurify drinking water |
| A．It had no clear goal. | B．It didn’t work out very well. |
| C．It met the islanders’ needs. | D．It was aimed to prevent turtle attacks. |
| A．It is demanding | B．It is manageable. |
| C．It is easy to solve. | D．It’s lacking in attention. |
9 . At this point, a new live stage show, The Music Critic, is touring across the US. In the show, John Malkovich transforms into the sharpest critics of the greatest classical musicians in history and reads their comments aloud as the music critics in his unusual voice.
For example, Frederic Chopin was once criticized by pianist Hyung-ki Joo. “Mr. Chopin has, by some means or the other which we cannot understand, obtained an enormous reputation too often refused to composers who possess several times his genius. Mr. Chopin is by no means a composer of the ordinary. He is worse,” Malkovich comments as the critic.
In the show, even Beethoven got a very bad review from the wonderful composer Tchaikovsky. “He first fills the soul with sweet sadness, and then destroys it by a mass of messy notes,” Malkovich reads.
The Music Critic is part concert, part theater. Malkovich says that the similarities between them are part of the draw for him.
“I always say they are like surfing because we just paddle (划) out on our little boards. We turn our back to the sun and wait for a wave. We’re not the wave, which most of us think we are, but we are really not the wave,” Malkovich emphasizes. “The wave is created by the collision (碰撞) between the material and the audience. We ride the wave or we don’t.”
For sure, it is fun to criticize anyone. However, there’s something more at the heart of The Music Critic—and there’s a lesson for all of us. Everyone will be at the receiving end of bad reviews at some point. As Malkovich points out: If Beethoven and Chopin got dismissed, you will too.
“I think of it as an inspirational piece for people in the creative industry to keep going,” Malkovich says. “You know, face all the criticism, enjoy it, and have fun with it because you’re going to get it. There’s no one who’s going to be spared.”
1. What does the underlined word “their” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．The classical musicians’. | B．Chopin and Beethoven’s. |
| C．The sharpest music critics’. | D．Hyung-ki Joo and Tchaikovsky’s. |
| A．Chopin shouldn’t become so famous. | B．Many composers were treated unfairly. |
| C．He couldn’t understand Chopin’s music. | D．Chopin was one of the greatest composers. |
| A．The beautiful music. | B．The audience’s feeling. |
| C．The dramatic acting. | D．The performers’ passion. |
| A．Every great man shall be criticized. |
| B．Entertainers might get far more criticism. |
| C．The audience should be fair with their criticism. |
| D．We should face criticism and try to have fun with it. |
10 . It was early winter several years ago. I had pulled out my old winter coat for another year’s use. It was still in pretty good shape although it was looking dirty from so many winters’ wear. I didn’t really need a new one but I wanted one and casually mentioned it to my daughter one day. She was such a sweet, loving girl that I should have guessed what would happen next. A few weeks later she gave me a new winter coat as a gift.
I put the old one in my closet and started to wear the new coat every day. Each day, though, when I opened my closet, something troubled me. It seemed a shame that my old but still good coat should just sit there keeping no one warm during the cold winter days. After a few weeks, I took it out and drove to a local charity shop. I knew that there was someone who couldn’t afford a coat but could get my old one.
My new coat is my old coat now. It is getting a little dirty and worn, too. It has black marks on the sleeves. It is in too bad shape to even donate to charity. I wonder if I should buy a new one soon, but I think I will wait for a while. I don’t really need a new one and maybe I can find something else to give to the charity shop instead.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Want is a growing giant whom the coat of Have was never large enough to cover.” Perhaps the best way to deal with our wants then is to give instead. Love, after all, brings us the most joy. And the more of it you give away, the more of it you have.
1. Which word can best describe the author’s daughter?| A．Wealthy. | B．Thoughtful. | C．Easy-going. | D．Humorous. |
| A．It cost too much. | B．It was looking dirty. |
| C．There was not enough room for his new coat. | D．It was not sent to someone in need. |
| A．Telling his daughter. | B．Buying a new one soon. |
| C．Donating it to charity. | D．Sending something else to charity. |
| A．Giving fills our wants. | B．Love is the key to joy. |
| C．The more you give, the more you lose. | D．A coat is large enough to cover our wants. |
