1 . It has been heard for years: technology is ruining our lives. We are often told that it weakens our eyes light and productivity. I don’t buy into that mindset(心态) because we all have free will and can limit our technology intakes responsibly. However, one of the strongest bad effects of the technological age has been the downfall of reading books.

Before we had phones, books were sources of entertainment. I know I’m not the only one who spent nights as a child with a flashlight hidden under my covers so that I could finish a book when I was supposed to be sleeping. I still remember one of my favorite novels was Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, from which I learned about the value of friendship.

Reading a book often feels even more pleasant than watching a movie. We create our own worlds, pictures of the characters and views of the events described. Reading requires complete focus, so it pulls us out of our daily lives, our fears and our problems. Reading a book brings us into a state of peace and adventure, letting us dive into others’ worlds.

Reading a book takes time and requires attentions, which is almost impossible in a world in which plenty of distractions(使人分心的事) exist at the mere opening of a phone lock screen. Many people even report feeling distracted by their phones while watching TV. If people are feeling distracted when watching TV shows, how can they focus on reading a novel, a task that requires complete attention?

I was recently on vacation and found myself on an eight-hour plane ride with no Internet access. At first, this seemed unbearable, but then I remembered I had packed a book in my bag. I started the book, and within minutes, I was totally absorbed. I spent the rest of my journey reading it.

I advise anyone wanting to rediscover the joys of reading, to simulate(模拟) the environment I was forced to enter into by getting on the airplane. Turn your phone off and find a quiet space. Pickup an old favorite book from childhood or a new one. Then, sit down and begin to create your own world.

1. What can we know about the author?

A．She was into reading in her childhood.

B．She suffered from sleeping problems.

C．She prefers watching movies to reading books.

D．She thinks technology is bad for her health.

2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The decline of reading habits.

B．The influence technology has on reading books.

C．The benefits of reading books.

D．The reasons why people are less likely to read books.

3. How did the author feel about reading a book on the plane?

A．It drove her mad.

B．It failed to bring her peace.

C．It made her stay focused.

D．It helped her fall asleep quickly.

4. What’s the author’s suggestion on reading?

A．Reading a book aloud.

B．Creating an undisturbed environment.

C．Finding an electronic book.

D．Practicing your attention and patience every day.

2 . Every year about 40,000 people attempt to climb Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. They bring with them lots of waste. The_________ might damage the beauty of the place. The glaciers (冰川) are disappearing, changing the_________ of Kilimanjaro.

Hearing these stories, I’m_________ about the place — other destinations are described as “purer” natural experiences.

However, I soon discovered that much has changed since the days of disturbing reports of_________ among tons of rubbish. I find a clean mountain, with toilets at camps and along the paths. The environmental challenges are_________ but the efforts made by the Tanzania National Park Authority seem to be_________ .

The best of a Kilimanjaro_________ , in my opinion, isn’t reaching the top. Mountains are regarded as spiritual places by many cultures. This_________ is especially evident on Kilimanjaro as climbers go through five ecosystems (生态系统) in the space of a few kilometers. At the base is a rainforest. It ends abruptly at 3, 000 meters,_________ lands of low growing plants. Further up, the weather__________ — low clouds envelope the mountainsides, which are covered with thick grass. I __________ twelve shades of green from where I stand. Above 4, 000 meters is the highland __________ : gravel (砾石), stones and rocks. __________ you climb into an arctic-like zone with__________ snow and the glaciers that may soon disappear.

Does Kilimanjaro deserve its__________ as a crowded mountain with lines of tourists ruining the atmosphere of peace? I found the opposite to be true.

1.

A．crowds

B．stories

C．reporters

D．settlements

2.

A．age

B．face

C．name

D．position

3.

A．crazy

B．doubtful

C．serious

D．pessimistic

4.

A．grass

B．stones

C．camps

D．equipment

5.

A．new

B．special

C．necessary

D．significant

6.

A．paying off

B．blowing up

C．fading away

D．spreading out

7.

A．experiment

B．experience

C．atmosphere

D．intervention

8.

A．view

B．reason

C．quality

D．purpose

9.

A．holding on to

B．going back to

C．living up to

D．giving way to

10.

A．changes

B．permits

C．improves

D．dominates

11.

A．add

B．match

C．count

D．imagine

12.

A．lake

B．road

C．desert

D．village

13.

A．Directly

B．Finally

C．Obviously

D．Frequently

14.

A．fresh

B．little

C．artificial

D．permanent

15.

A．reward

B．ecology

C．history

D．reputation

3 . I remember as a young child bringing a bunch of brilliant yellow flowers to my mother. It didn’t matter that the stems felt sticky or that both my parents cursed the presence of these flowers in the lawn. I thought they were beautiful!

And there were so many of them! We spent hours picking the flowers and then popping the blossoms off with a snap of our fingers. But the supply of dandelions (蒲公英) never ran out. My father or brothers would chop off all the heads with the lawnmower at least once a week, but that didn’t stop these hardy wonders.

And for those flowers that escaped the honor of being hand-delivered to my mother or the sharp blades of the lawnmower, there was another level of existence. The soft roundness of a dandelion gone to seed caused endless laughter of delight as we unconsciously spread this flower across the yard.

As I worked in my garden last week, pulling unwanted weeds out of the space that would become a haven for tomatoes, corn, peas and sunflowers, I again marveled at the flower that some call a weed.

And I thought, if only I had the staying power of a dandelion. If only I could stretch my roots so deep and straight that something tugging on my stem couldn’t separate me completely from the source that feeds me life. If only I could come back to face the world with a bright, sunshiny face after someone has run me over with a lawnmower or worse, purposely attacked me in an attempt to destroy me. If only I could spread love and encouragement as freely and fully as this flower spreads seeds of itself.

The lawns at my parents’ home are now beautiful green blankets. The only patches of color come from well-placed, well-controlled flowerbeds. Chemicals have managed to kill what human interference couldn’t. Still, I hope you and I can be different. I hope that we can stretch our roots deep enough that the strongest poison can’t reach our souls. I hope that we can overcome the poisons of anger, fear, hate, criticism and competitiveness.

1. The author’s parents probably viewed the dandelions in the lawn as ________.

A．unwanted weeds

B．hard y wonders

C．supplies of seeds

D．patches of colors

2. What does the author mean by “another level of existence” in Paragraph 3?

A．The flowers were meant as a joyful gift to her mother.

B．The flowers that some called a weed were difficult to pull out.

C．The flowers were tough enough to spread new lives themselves.

D．The flowers evolved into a stronger species because of frequent mowing.

3. What can we learn from the article?

A．The author’s family enjoyed the dandelions as much as she did.

B．The author purposefully replaced some dandelions with crops.

C．The dandelions were never successfully removed from the lawn.

D．The author felt sorry but encouraged by the fate of the dandelions.

4. What message is conveyed in the article?

A．You reap what you sow.

B．Never judge a book by its cover.

C．United we stand, and divided we fall.

D．Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine.

4 . As a child, there was nothing I liked better than Sunday afternoons at my grandfather’s farm in western Pennsylvania. Surrounded by miles of stone walls, the house and field provided endless hours of fun for a city kid like me.

Since my first visit to the farm, I had wanted more than anything to be allowed to climb the stone walls surrounding the houses. My parents would never agree because the walls were so old that some stones were loose and falling. However, my idea to climb across those walls grew so strong that finally I had all my courage to enter the living room, where the adults had gathered after Sunday dinner.

“I want to climb the stone walls.” I said. “Heavens, no! You’ll hurt yourself!” The response was just as I’d expected. But before I left the room, I was stopped by my grandfather’s loud voice. “Now hold on just a minute.” I heard him say. “Let the boy climb the stone walls. He has to learn to do things for himself.”

“Go,” he said to me, “and come and see me when you get back.” For the next two and a half hours I climbed those old walls — and had the time of my life. Later I met with my grandfather to tell him about my adventures. I’ll never forget what he said. “Fred,” he said, smiling, “you made this day a special day just by being yourself. Always remember, there’s only one person in this whole world like you, and I like you exactly as you are.”

Many years have passed since then, and today I host the television program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, seen by millions of children throughout America. There have been changes over the years, but one thing remains the same: my message to children at the end of almost every visit. “There’s only one person in this whole world like you,” the kids will hear me say, “and people can like you exactly as you are.”

1. Why did the writer enjoy his visits to the farm?

A．There were old stone houses.	B．He was allowed to climb the walls.
C．He missed his grandfather a lot.	D．He could experience new fun there.

2. What can be inferred about the writer from the passage?

A．He was backed up by his grandfather to follow his heart.

B．He didn’t expect his parents’ disagreement on wall climbing.

C．He became a TV program host with his grandfather’s help.

D．He didn’t know the possible danger of the stone walls.

3. Which is probably the best title for the text?

A．Unforgettable Childhood	B．Just Be Yourself
C．Do Whatever You Like	D．Like grandfather, like grandson

5 . 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 cafe. 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 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 cafe?

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.

2. Why does the author prefer printed books according to paragraph 2?

A．They include additional contents.	B．They provide a strong connection to the characters.
C．They have a special pleasant smell.	D．They can improve readers’ imagination.

3. What is the author’s purpose of writing this text?

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.

6 . An unpleasant smell floated into my nose as the bowl of fried stinky tofu settled onto my grandmother’s dinner table. I immediately sat back. The smell ruined my appetite, and I pushed the dish away.

“It’s supposed to stink. Just give it a try!” my grandmother said.

Holding my breath, I unwillingly took a bite. To my surprise, the tofu beneath the fried skin     was warm, soft, and mouthwatering. Thus, stinky tofu became more than a household tradition. It became my favorite dish.

Along with the stinky tofu, I would meet my Uncle Chan on every visit. As an immature boy, I never understood my uncle’s condition of Down syndrome(唐氏综合征).He was an unfriendly and terrible creature in my eyes. He constantly walked around the house, talking to himself. Whenever he was within view, I would run away in fear.

However, one day, my view of my uncle suddenly changed. I was just getting out of my bed when I heard soft steps approaching. It was my uncle. My muscles froze. He slowly sat next to me and touched my face gently, as a mother would stroke (抚摸)a baby. A wide smile emerged from his blank expression. How beautiful his smile was! I could not help but smile back. My fear disappeared gradually, and my muscles relaxed.

My uncle very much resembles stinky tofu. Stinky tofu smells unpleasant on the outside, yet feels warm and soft in the inside. Like stinky tofu, my uncle’s Down syndrome made me keep my distance at first. Yet, I learned that deep inside, he is harmless and has a loving nature.

The outside and inside of the stinky tofu exist as two extremely different worlds. Perhaps that is what makes it such a tasty dish. Not only is it delicious, stinky tofu offers a valuable lesson: never judge people at first glance, for true beauty comes from the inside.

1. Why did stinky tofu become the author’s favorite dish?

A．It was related to family tradition.	B．It turned out to be quite delicious.
C．Grandma encouraged him to try it.	D．His appetite for food had increased.

2. The author’s attitude towards Uncle Chan changed when________.

A．Chan’s footsteps woke up the author

B．Chan showed his friendliness to the author

C．Chan displayed his love towards his mother

D．Chan’s blank expression made the author smile

3. What is purpose in comparing his uncle to stinky tofu?

A．To highlight the nature of Uncle Chan	B．To analyze the family relationship
C．To describe a childhood memory	D．To introduce a traditional Chinese food

4. What does the author mainly want to tell us in the passage?

A．We shouldn’t judge by appearances.	B．A person’s taste changes over time.
C．Blood is thicker than water.	D．You are what you eat.

8 . Time was introduced to us when we were just kids and only knew the playing hours, but when we grew up, we got our own senses about how important “The Time” is. There is a story on time management which can give you some guidance.

A philosophy professor, once, decided to teach the students a valuable lesson about Time Management, so he stood before his class with some items on the table. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a big and empty jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in size. He then looked towards the class and asked the students if the jar was full. They all agreed that it was full. Therefore, the professor then moved to pick up a box of pebbles (鹅卵石) and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar gently. The pebbles, of course, rolled through the gaps between the rocks.

He then again looked up to the students and asked if the jar was full. They all again nodded their heads. For the last time, he turned towards the jar, this time, picked up a box of sand, poured it into the jar and shook it lightly. Of course, the sand moved into the gaps and filled up everything else. He then asked students for the last time if the jar was full or not. The students were surprised but responded with a unanimous “Yes”.

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to realize that this jar actually is your life. The rocks are the important things— like your family, your children, your health, your partner. If nothing remained but only these, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter —like your job, your career, your house. The sand is everything else, the unimportant stuff.” “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no space for the pebbles or the rocks.”

“The same goes for your life. If you keep on filling the jar with the sand, it means that you keep on spending all your time and energy on the pity things and you will never have room for the things that are important for you. First and foremost, focus on the rocks — the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

1. What’s the main function of the first paragraph?

A．To make a prediction.	B．To offer a guidance
C．To provide some advice.	D．To attract readers’ interest.

2. What can we know about the lesson from the passage?

A．The professor put the pebbles into the jar first.

B．The professor did four experiments altogether.

C．The result of the experiment was beyond students’ expectation.

D．It aimed to make students realize the importance of time for success.

3. What is the main lesson the professor wants to convey in the class?

A．It is important to make full use of time efficiently.

B．It is necessary to attach more importance to what truly matters in life.

C．It is crucial to strengthen the consciousness of managing time.

D．It is vital to arrange enough time for all aspects of life in advance.

9 . Our neighbors had a loud party last night. We weren’t _______ but this was one of those celebrations that I didn’t mind. They are a bunch of young, single guys and I would have felt out of place.

What _______ me was the way they behaved. One of the young men came over _______ in the day to “warn” us of the upcoming event and said it would be over at about 11 p.m. That was the first step. Even more _______ was what they did next. “Here’s my _______,” offered our neighbor _______. “Text me if it’s too noisy.” That was a level of _______ I had never experienced in all my years of being a neighbor!

And it really worked in their favor. My husband and I were so friendly that even when the event went past the _______ end time, even when the music reached high decibels (分贝), and even when we couldn’t get through on the phone number, we felt no _______. We knew they would stop and be ________ eventually.

It takes such little effort to make people feel that they ________ and get people on your side. Everyone needs to let loose every now and then, especially in these uniquely tough times. But people who do it without ________ others are few and far between. I hadn’t fully ________ my neighbors until this week. We had adopted that all too American “live and let live” posture. But now I see them in a new light and with greater ________. They didn’t just bring noise to the neighborhood; they shone the light of ________.

1.

A．located

B．explored

C．challenged

D．invited

2.

A．trapped

B．impressed

C．annoyed

D．embarrassed

3.

A．later

B．closer

C．earlier

D．further

4.

A．disappointing

B．frightening

C．puzzling

D．amazing

5.

A．phone number

B．room number

C．account number

D．car number

6.

A．anxiously

B．politely

C．regularly

D．obviously

7.

A．imagination

B．consideration

C．limitation

D．organization

8.

A．promised

B．supplied

C．designed

D．compared

9.

A．stress

B．anxiety

C．worry

D．anger

10.

A．responsive

B．adaptable

C．continuous

D．respectful

11.

A．figure

B．succeed

C．matter

D．access

12.

A．gathering

B．inviting

C．meeting

D．disturbing

13.

A．noticed

B．delivered

C．explored

D．proved

14.

A．surrounding

B．appreciation

C．curiosity

D．distance

15.

A．gratitude

B．apology

C．thoughtfulness

D．inspiration

10 . When it came to weather, I was always complaining about wind or rain. Although it was _________ unusual for the arrival of wind or rain, it caused _________ for me to go out, and sometimes it even created an awful atmosphere, so I _________ it strongly.

On a rainy day, I met a meteorologist（气象学家）, who was very _________ at my great anger caused by rain that made a little inconvenience for me. He asked, “Have you ever seen typhoon? Do you know what would happen to the world if there were no typhoon?” I _________ my head.

“Well, let me tell you,” the meteorologist said. “Without it the _________ of freshwater will be more serious, for it is a great source of water supply on the earth. Without it, there would be a greater _________ in the distribution（分布）of warmth. The equatorial （赤道的）area that receives the most sunshine on the earth _________ on typhoon to disperse（驱散）heat. Without typhoon, the tropics would be even hotter, while the frigid zones much _________. As a result, the temperate（温带的）zones would __________ from the world.”

Ignorance made me __________. I disliked wind only because it ruffled（吹乱）my hair. I hated rain only because I had to carry an umbrella. But I had no idea at that typhoon—something a thousand times more violent and disturbing than wind or rain—was a __________ to the existence of mankind.

It __________ to my mind that hard as it is for people to guard against typhoon, it is advisable for a man to stop to think for a moment before he complains. “What if typhoon disappeared altogether? What would the world become then?” The __________ will keep him calm and lead him closer to the truth—he will be better __________ of the world he lives in.

1.

A．something

B．anything

C．nothing

D．everything

2.

A．inability

B．possibility

C．opportunity

D．inconvenience

3.

A．escaped

B．punished

C．blamed

D．fought

4.

A．doubtful

B．puzzled

C．delighted

D．frightened

5.

A．hung

B．nodded

C．turned

D．shook

6.

A．shortage

B．supply

C．amount

D．extinction

7.

A．imbalance

B．unfairness

C．significance

D．influence

8.

A．holds

B．keeps

C．leaves

D．depends

9.

A．colder

B．warmer

C．hotter

D．wilder

10.

A．disappear

B．move

C．escape

D．remove

11.

A．far-sighted

B．short-sighted

C．in sight

D．out of sight

12.

A．must

B．desire

C．warning

D．worry

13.

A．happened

B．struck

C．sprung

D．occurred

14.

A．theories

B．answers

C．situations

D．complaints

15.

A．careful

B．afraid

C．aware

D．tired