1 . Miracles（奇迹）come in moments.

The scene of this minor miracle ______ in the living room of my house under an old, broken ceiling fan（吊扇）with a little glass angel hanging from its pull string（挂绳）.

My youngest son has a severe form of autism（自闭症）. ______ he is in his twenties now he still has the mind of a small ______. He speaks only a few words. He is always ______ in his own world. Most of the time he is happy but there are also times when he can be terribly ______. He will cry for no ______ that I can see. He will even hit himself. It always hurts me to see him suffer this way ______ when there is little I can do to help.

This morning was particularly trying for him. He ______ on and off for an hour. Finally he ______. I was still feeling stressed, however, and wearily sat down at my computer to see if I could get a little work done.

As I was turning it ______, though, I heard my son ______ for the first time all day. I turned my head and saw him ______ directly under the glass angel hanging from our ceiling fan. The light from our house lamps seemed to shine and sparkle all around him like a halo（光环）. His eyes sparkled too as the little ______ swung gently above his head. He laughed again and ______ at me.

At that moment my heart opened. I could see that the miracle was ______ me that my son was more than his autism. I saw the ______ and light of his spirit and knew he was here for a(n) ______. My eyes watered and I feel ______ for this minor miracle and gentle reminder of his love for all of us.

Miracles are all around us, but we ______ always see them with our eyes. We often have to see them with our ______. Keep your heart open to them then. And let yourself be the miracle you are meant to be!

1.

A．breaks out

B．goes up

C．takes place

D．comes back

2.

A．Ever since

B．As if

C．Now that

D．Even though

3.

A．child

B．student

C．fool

D．host

4.

A．busy

B．lost

C．patient

D．nervous

5.

A．upset

B．dangerous

C．injured

D．disappointed

6.

A．hope

B．doubt

C．reason

D．surprise

7.

A．hardly

B．especially

C．quietly

D．naturally

8.

A．painted

B．worried

C．laughed

D．cried

9.

A．broke down

B．calmed down

C．fell down

D．jumped down

10.

A．on

B．up

C．off

D．over

11.

A．forgive

B．apologize

C．laugh

D．call

12.

A．pulling

B．wandering

C．lying

D．standing

13.

A．angel

B．light

C．roof

D．spirit

14.

A．glanced

B．glared

C．stared

D．smiled

15.

A．tricking

B．reminding

C．watching

D．seeking

16.

A．love

B．pain

C．concern

D．shock

17.

A．interview

B．award

C．visit

D．purpose

18.

A．sorry

B．grateful

C．curious

D．responsible

19.

A．shouldn’t

B．mustn’t

C．can’t

D．needn’t

20.

A．hearts

B．glasses

C．thoughts

D．strengths

2 . The old Chinese saying "as happy as spending the New Year" might be outdated now in the busy modern world. The Spring Festival is regarded as the most important festival for Chinese people and an occasion for all family members to get together, like Christmas in the West. But many traditional customs accompanying the Spring Festival, however, have weakened in practice.

Setting off fireworks was once the most typical custom of the Spring Festival. People thought the sputtering(爆裂) sound could help drive away evil spirits. However, the activity has been completely or partially forbidden in big cities for years as the government has taken security, noise and pollution factors into consideration.

"In recent years, some cities have begun to allow people to light fireworks during limited hours at the Spring Festival, surrendering to(屈从于) public demand. Respecting folk traditions is a gesture of respect toward public opinion," said Zhou Xing, a folklore researcher.

"As people gain more income and it becomes easier to buy daily goods, the New Year holiday is just like any other. After long workdays, many people use the New Year holiday to take a rest, rather than visiting friends and neighbors. The process of making and enjoying the family dinner on Spring Festival Eve is the most important thing. However, many families would like to eat out to save time and energy," said Li Shunzhi, a resident of Harbin, Heilongjiang.

"I enjoy the holidays very much in the countryside. My family has been preparing for the Spring Festival more than two weeks before the holiday, cleaning the house, buying holiday goods and decorating the house with paper cuttings. On New Year’s Eve, the whole family stays up to see the New Year in, and in the days to follow, a series of activities such as lion dancing, dragon lantern dancing, lantern festivals and temple fairs will be held. Without the ancient traditions, the holiday is nothing to us," said Zhang Hui, from Hebei.

1. Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?

A．Setting off fireworks has been forbidden in some big cities for years.

B．Nowadays, people can light fireworks in some cities at the Spring Festival.

C．People believe that the sound of fireworks can drive away evil spirits.

D．In the past, setting off fireworks couldn’t be seen almost anywhere.

2. What Li Shunzhi said implies 　　　　.

A．what people do during the festival now is different from the past

B．people would like to have the family dinner on Spring Festival Eve

C．people prefer to visit friends and neighbors rather than take a rest

D．the New Year holiday is just like any other day

3. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．Zhang Hui often spends two weeks preparing for the Spring Festival.

B．Zhang Hui is used to spending the Spring Festival with his family.

C．Zhang Hui always takes part in a series of activities after the Spring Festival.

D．Zhang Hui lives in the urban area.

4. What does the whole passage show?

A．The Spring Festival is as lively as before.

B．The Spring Festival is outdated now.

C．The Spring Festival is losing its qualities.

D．The Spring Festival in China is more important than Christmas in the West.

3 . One Sunday morning I was running and noticed a person in front of me. I could ______ he was running a little slower than me and I thought, good! I shall try to ______ him. I had about a kilometer to go my path before I needed to ______.

So I started running faster and every block I was ______ near him just a little bit. After just a few minutes, I was only about 100 yards ______ him. So I ______ the pace and pushed myself. You would have thought I was running in the ______ part of a marathon. I decided to catch him. Finally, I did it! I caught up with him and passed him by. On the inside I felt so good. I “beat” him,______ he didn’t even know we were ______.

After I passed him, I ______ that I had been so focused on competing against him that I had ______ my turn, had gone nearly six blocks past it and had to turn around and go ______.

Isn’t that what happens in life when we ______ on competing with co-workers, neighbors, friends, trying to outdo them or trying to prove we are more successful or more ______? We spend our time and energy running after them and we miss our own ______.

The ______ caused by unhealthy competition is that it is a never ending circle. There will always be somebody ______ you, someone with a better job, more money in the bank, more education, better behaved children, etc.

Take what life has given you, and you will be ______ by it. Stay focused and live a ______ life. After all, there is no ______ in destiny(命运). Run your own race and wish others well.

1.

A．tell

B．predict

C．imagine

D．suppose

2.

A．fool

B．greet

C．stop

D．catch

3.

A．set out

B．go away

C．turn off

D．come up

4.

A．drawing

B．calling

C．holding

D．turning

5.

A．before

B．around

C．opposite

D．behind

6.

A．found out

B．slowed down

C．set about

D．picked up

7.

A．final

B．long

C．easy

D．special

8.

A．since

B．but

C．so

D．if

9.

A．racing

B．running

C．playing

D．joking

10.

A．wished

B．doubted

C．admitted

D．realized

11.

A．changed

B．left

C．missed

D．chosen

12.

A．away

B．back

C．alone

D．on

13.

A．live

B．depend

C．centre

D．put

14.

A．responsible

B．optimistic

C．sensitive

D．important

15.

A．path

B．chance

C．root

D．heart

16.

A．relation

B．problem

C．disagreement

D．influence

17.

A．more than

B．instead of

C．ahead of

D．rather than

18.

A．protected

B．saved

C．favored

D．moved

19.

A．successful

B．healthy

C．competitive

D．colorful

20.

A．difference

B．competition

C．point

D．ending

4 . During my second year at the city college，I was told that the education department was offering a "free"course, called Thinking Chess, for three credits. I _________the idea of taking the class because, after all, who doesn't want to _________ a few dollars? More than that, I'd always wanted to learn chess. And, even if I weren’t _________enough about free credits, news about our _________was appealing enough to me. He was an international grandmaster, which _________ I would be learning from one of the game's _________. I could hardly wait to _________him.

Maurice Ashley was kind and smart, a former graduate returning to teach, and this _________was no game for him: he meant business. In his introduction, he made it _________that our credits would be hard-earned. In order to __________the class, among other criteria, we had to write a paper on how we plan to __________what we would learn in class to our future professions and, __________, to our lives. I managed to get an A in that __________and learned life lessons that have served me well beyond the __________.

Ten years after my chess class with Ashley, I'm still putting to use what he __________me: “The absolute most important __________that you learn when you play chess is how to make good __________. On every single move you have to __________a situation, process what your opponent(对手）is doing and __________the best move from among all your options.”These words still ring true today in my __________as a journalist.

1.

A．put forward

B．jumped at

C．tried out

D．turned down

2.

A．waste

B．earn

C．save

D．pay

3.

A．excited

B．worried

C．moved

D．tired

4.

A．title

B．competitor

C．textbook

D．instructor

5.

A．urged

B．demanded

C．held

D．meant

6.

A．fastest

B．easiest

C．best

D．rarest

7.

A．interview

B．meet

C．challenge

D．beat

8.

A．chance

B．qualification

C．honor

D．job

9.

A．real

B．perfect

C．clear

D．possible

10.

A．attend

B．pass

C．skip

D．observe

11.

A．add

B．expose

C．apply

D．compare

12.

A．eventually

B．naturally

C．directly

D．normally

13.

A．game

B．presentation

C．course

D．experiment

14.

A．criterion

B．classroom

C．department

D．situation

15.

A．taught

B．wrote

C．questioned

D．promised

16.

A．fact

B．step

C．manner

D．skill

17.

A．grades

B．decisions

C．impressions

D．comments

18.

A．analyze

B．describe

C．rebuild

D．control

19.

A．announce

B．signal

C．block

D．evaluate

20.

A．role

B．desire

C．concern

D．behavior

5 . Failure is probably the most exhausting experience a person ever has. There is nothing more tiring than not succeeding.

We experience this tiredness in two ways: as start-up fatigue (疲惫) and performance fatigue. In the former case, we keep putting off a task because it has either too boring or too difficult. And the longer we delay it, the more tired we feel.

Such start-up fatigue is very real, even if not actually physical, not something in our muscles and bones. The solution is obvious though perhaps not easy to apply: always handle the most difficult job first.

Years ago, I was asked to write 102 essays on the great ideas of some famous authors. Applying my own rule, I determined to write them in alphabetical order, never letting myself leave out a tough idea. And I always started the day’s work with the difficult task of essay-writing. Experience proved that the rule works.

Performance fatigue is more difficult to handle. Though willing to get started, we cannot seem to do the job right. Its difficulties appear so great that, however hard we work, we fail again and again. In such a situation, I work as hard as I can—then let the unconscious take over.

When planning Encyclopedia Britannica( 《大英百科全书》), I had to create a table of contents based on the topics of its articles. Nothing like this had ever been done before, and day after day I kept coming up with solutions, but none of them worked. My fatigue became almost unbearable.

One day, mentally exhausted, I wrote down all the reasons why this problem could not be solved. I tried to convince myself that the trouble was with the problem itself, not with me. Relived, I sat back in an easy chair and fell asleep.

An hour later, I woke up suddenly with the solution clearly in mind. In the weeks that followed, the solution which had come up in my unconscious mind proved correct at every step. Though I worked as hard as before, I felt no fatigue. Success was now as exciting as failure had been depressing.

Human beings, I believe, must try to succeed. Success, then, means never feeling tired.

1. People with start-up fatigue are most likely to           .

A．work hard

B．delay tasks

C．seek help

D．accept failure

2. On what occasion does a person probably suffer from performance fatigue?

A．Before starting a difficult task.

B．After finding a way out.

C．If the job is rather boring.

D．When all the solutions fail.

3. According to the author, the unconscious mind may help us          .

A．find the right solution

B．get some nice sleep

C．gain complete relief

D．ignore mental problems

4. What could be the best title for the passage?

A．Success Is Built upon Failure

B．How to Handle Performance Fatigue

C．Getting over Fatigue: A Way to Success

D．Fatigue: An Early Sign of Health Problems

6 . I was really nervous this year because I was in a new class. It _______ me that I didn't know anyone in the class. But _______I didn't know anyone,   I had the _______to do something I love- people watching.

The girl sitting behind me was always laughing and talking happily. She was one of the very few people who made any_______ to acknowledge me.

At the end of the year, we were_______ to do a big open-ended project where the_______were basically to read something, then watch something related to it, and then _______ a presentation based on what we learned.

On the presentation day, that girl_______ in front of the class, and told everyone how she had read about eating disorders, because she herself had_______with one. As it was too difficult for her to talk about it__________, she had made a movie, where she had__________some people about their eating disorders and how they had felt and __________them eventually. After the presentation, almost__________ was in tears. Several people commented on how __________she was to stand up and talk about it, and how strong she was to have got over the disorder.

I never__________she would have a problem like that because she always seemed __________. Her courage to talk about something so__________in public and her strength to get through her difficulties have__________me. I’ve also learned how difficult it is to__________people. You never know what type of person someone is just by__________for a term.

1.

A．pleased

B．confused

C．interested

D．scared

2.

A．since

B．if

C．before

D．unless

3.

A．honor

B．right

C．chance

D．duty

4.

A．discovery

B．progress

C．remark

D．attempt

5.

A．forced

B．required

C．allowed

D．reminded

6.

A．instructions

B．purposes

C．catalogues

D．references

7.

A．try out for

B．make use of

C．come up with

D．look forward to

8.

A．turned away

B．got up

C．looked down

D．came back

9.

A．stayed

B．begun

C．struggled

D．mixed

10.

A．directly

B．swiftly

C．randomly

D．seriously

11.

A．informed

B．consulted

C．supported

D．interviewed

12.

A．ignored

B．overcome

C．improved

D．developed

13.

A．somebody

B．anybody

C．everybody

D．nobody

14.

A．reliable

B．brave

C．patient

D．generous

15.

A．expected

B．admitted

C．suspected

D．concluded

16.

A．cheerful

B．honest

C．curious

D．independent

17.

A．specific

B．professional

C．complex

D．personal

18.

A．comforted

B．inspired

C．persuaded

D．relaxed

19.

A．amuse

B．impress

C．judge

D．satisfy

20.

A．thinking

B．listening

C．communicating

D．observing

7 . Education is very close in my heart. My father grew up in a very small village in China. In those days, not many villagers could read. So my father______a night school to teach them how to read. With his help, many people learned to_______their own names; with his help, many

people learned to read newspapers for the first time; with his help, many women were able to______their children how to read. As his daughter, I know what______means to the people, especially those without it.

After generations of hard work, china______a long way in education. I myself______that progress. Otherwise, I would never become a famous singer and a professor of music. I am following my father's_______to help continue china's success story. I am truly______to work with the UN and do something about Global Education. I have visited many schools around the world. I've seen first-hand how much we can do for education.

Education is about women and girls. It is important for girls to go to school because they will become their children’s______teacher someday. But women still______over half of the world's poor in population and 60% of adults who can't read. Education is of extreme importance in______such inequalities. Education is about equality. In poor countries and regions the number of school dropouts is______. We call for more educational______to these places.

Education is about the young people. Young people are the future. Education is important because it not only gives young people______and skills but also helps them become______citizens.

As the UNESCO special envoy(特使)and the mother myself, my______to education for all will never change. Many years ago my father made a small difference in his village.______, we can make a big difference in the world.

I was once asked about my Chinese______. I said I hope all children especially girls can have access to good education. I______one day education first will no longer be a dread but a reality_______by every young woman on this planet.

1.

A．rebuilt

B．found

C．attended

D．opened

2.

A．remember

B．pronounce

C．write

D．confirm

3.

A．teach

B．inform

C．convince

D．enquire

4.

A．education

B．contribution

C．devotion

D．civilization

5.

A．has travelled

B．has come

C．has walked

D．has taken

6.

A．contribute to

B．approve of

C．benefit from

D．pass down

7.

A．routine

B．fashion

C．suggestions

D．footsteps

8.

A．determined

B．confident

C．honored

D．fortunate

9.

A．first

B．unforgettable

C．Impressive

D．patient

10.

A．care for

B．account for

C．stand for

D．allow for

11.

A．accepting

B．tolerating

C．handling

D．evaluating

12.

A．controversial

B．ambiguous

C．accurate

D．astonishing

13.

A．resources

B．experiences

C．qualifications

D．materials

14.

A．permission

B．strength

C．wealth

D．knowledge

15.

A．independent

B．responsible

C．intelligent

D．capable

16.

A．response

B．commitment

C．reaction

D．attention

17.

A．Together

B．Meanwhile

C．Therefore

D．Moreover

18.

A．expectation

B．vision

C．dream

D．ambition

19.

A．promise

B．believe

C．assume

D．sense

20.

A．desired

B．realized

C．faced

D．enjoyed

8 . Yesterday, our teacher asked us when a man could be referred to as an old man. David stood up and said people with wrinkles could be called old people, However, Mary didn’t _______ for some people may gain wrinkles at an earlier age owing to their. _______ life. Then Lily expressed her idea that those reaching their 60s or more could be called old people. However, Emily expressed her _______ and said some old people may still be energetic and trying to pursue their dreams, which makes them appear _______. The class was over and we still didn’t reach any _______, so the teacher asked us to think about it after class.

The _______ has reminded me of the saying of J. Barrymore that a man isn’t old as long as he is _______ something.

My grandma is such a woman who pursues her dream _______ when she’s 70 now. She has _______ her dream of being a painter since she was a little child. ________, because her family was poor, she had to ________ her dream and stepped into the ________ to raise money so as to support her family. Though she has ________ abandoned her dream, she could hardly find any ________ to realize it because of the tough work. ________, chance came when she retired from her work. She began taking her painting lessons ________ she had all-white hair and lots of wrinkles. At first, I was ________ her idea of attending school at so old an age, but after seeing her paint happily and enjoyably, I ________ feeling it a good choice. She seems ________ and looks fine.

So if we have our dreams and seek for them, we aren’t old. It’s when we don’t know what we want and let ________ be the center point of our lives that we can finally be regarded as the old.

1.

A．respond

B．agree

C．identify

D．understand

2.

A．negative

B．boring

C．tough

D．complex

3.

A．certainty

B．wish

C．doubt

D．concern

4.

A．attractive

B．young

C．intelligent

D．ambitious

5.

A．conclusion

B．contract

C．decision

D．destination

6.

A．embarrassment

B．barrier

C．question

D．confusion

7.

A．preserving

B．seeking

C．treasuring

D．possessing

8.

A．even

B．nearly

C．only

D．hardly

9.

A．realized

B．changed

C．promoted

D．kept

10.

A．Therefore

B．Instead

C．Moreover

D．However

11.

A．give up

B．search for

C．put aside

D．stick to

12.

A．society

B．reality

C．world

D．office

13.

A．seldom

B．occasionally

C．already

D．never

14.

A．time

B．excuse

C．help

D．money

15.

A．Suddenly

B．Eventually

C．Soon

D．Gradually

16.

A．because

B．once

C．though

D．unless

17.

A．with

B．for

C．at

D．against

18.

A．risked

B．rejected

C．continued

D．began

19.

A．energetic

B．gentle

C．optimistic

D．wealthy

20.

A．achievements

B．regrets

C．dreams

D．difficulties

9 . These days I am on my very best behavior whenever I leave the house. If I am wearing pantyhose(连裤袜), I double-check to ensure there is no hole on it. I drive thoughtfully as if I’m being tested for a license. I won’t even allow myself to frown when another driver is blocking my path.

My kids have noticed my fear in public. “Why are you looking all around, Mum?” they asked.

“You can’t be too careful,” I said. “Every single person around us is hiding one of cell phone cameras. They are glad to catch somebody doing something stupid or embarrassing. Then they’ll put it on YouTube and a million people will see. I’m not taking any chances.”

“But I don’t think anyone is interested in filming you putting on your lipstick for a YouTube video.” answered one kid.

“Oh, really? Don’t count me out so quickly.” I said.

Actually, in some cases, I am all for public shaming. For example, I admire the cleverness of the man who put up a website where he posts photos of cars and license numbers of people who occupy two parking spots. And I take secret pleasure in photos of politicians with their fingers in their noses. Throwing light on bad behavior can awake the sleepy conscience(良知).

But what about the poor guy who has already had a bad day at work and then loses his temper at a rude store clerk? What about the woman whose only crime is a terrible judgment error at the hairdresser? Do they deserve to have their images uploaded onto the Internet for all the world to see?

None of this is new, of course. Allen Funt pioneered the art of catching people during unguarded moments back in the 1940s with “Candid Camera”. But there’s a difference. On “Candid Camera”, people are set up in staged situations, such as riding in an elevator that goes sideways. And they must give permission before they enjoy their fifteen minutes of fame. Now we are a nation of Allen Funts. This can’t be a good thing.

1. What is the author like?

A．She is poor at driving.

B．She is a very fashionable dresser.

C．She is very cautious about her behavior.

D．She is sick to death of others’ rudeness.

2. What is the author truly afraid of?

A．Making mistakes before her kids.

B．Being filmed while doing something stupid.

C．Getting involved in a quarrel with others.

D．Watching videos on YouTube.

3. From the text, the author thinks it good________.

A．to keep the poor’s mistakes secret.

B．to download images from the Internet.

C．to take pleasure in making funny videos.

D．to make the public aware of bad behavior.

4. What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph suggest?

A．People can be easily caught in embarrassing moments.

B．We are permitted to upload images onto the Internet.

C．It was once a fashion to film people in unguarded moments.

D．Cell phones make it convenient to catch illegal behavior.

10 . Although I knew we were not wealthy as children, I didn’t know we were “poor”. I always had everything I needed and wanted, including beautiful ________. But according to my mother, I didn’t have enough clothes. I can still remember so clearly going to Kmart to ________ them—the beautiful clothes. When my mother said that we would be ________ this, I knew it meant that I would soon be performing as a (n) ________, trying on new clothes for the eager audience—Mom.

I also knew that I would be going home with a new outfit (服装). I always ________ my mother’s hand in the parking lot and through the store. She would ________ me to the fitting rooms in the rear (后面)and she would ________ the store for anything she wanted me to try on. She could examine the sizes, ________ and prices and still know ________ what I was doing. It amazed me how she seemed to ________ when I was about to be tempted (有兴趣的)to dive under the clothes racks (衣架)or wander away.

Once her load of clothes was ________ for me to model, the lady would arrange me in my own room to begin the ________. After each fitting, my mom would rush up with a new dress. The look in her eyes is still ________ in my memory—a look that said, “Yes, this one may be ________ than the last. “When I walked out of the dressing room, she would put her hand ________ her mouth in awe(惊叹), and smile.

Sometimes, during this ________, I would look up at her and see a sort of desiring. It was a (n) ________ look. It was almost like she’d give up any of her things just to buy me one more pretty dress. But even ________ that, she had a ________ of pure love and joy. She wanted so much to give her little girl everything she needed and wanted, ________ what she didn’t know was that her little girl already had everything she needed and wanted—her mom.

1.

A．flowers

B．vases

C．clothes

D．pictures

2.

A．look at

B．rely on

C．make room for

D．deal with

3.

A．wearing

B．measuring

C．preserving

D．doing

4.

A．model

B．actress

C．athlete

D．tailor

5.

A．dragged

B．shook

C．held

D．examined

6.

A．drive

B．invite

C．adapt

D．lead

7.

A．open

B．search

C．keep

D．run

8.

A．styles

B．parcels

C．targets

D．meanings

9.

A．publically

B．confidently

C．clearly

D．skillfully

10.

A．know

B．report

C．declare

D．forget

11.

A．heavy

B．ready

C．potential

D．limited

12.

A．bargain

B．sale

C．rest

D．show

13.

A．impressed

B．reminded

C．provided

D．explored

14.

A．cheaper

B．lighter

C．better

D．brighter

15.

A．beyond

B．from

C．under

D．over

16.

A．journey

B．process

C．research

D．experiment

17.

A．painful

B．brave

C．honest

D．terrified

18.

A．rather than

B．more than

C．other than

D．less than

19.

A．glance

B．chance

C．lack

D．look

20.

A．once

B．or

C．but

D．and