1 . In school, we' re taught word repetition is bad and that we shouldn't use the same word over and over again in the same piece. It gives the impression that we have a severely limited vocabulary.
Later on, however, we' re sometimes told that it's better to use the same word repeatedly. With dialogue, some novel-writing professors recommend using "said" with each comment instead of replacing it with synonyms（同义词）（whispered, responded, etc.）. Word repetition is also an emotional appeal strategy for speeches and sales, because people remember and respond to things they hear multiple times.
So which way is right?
The answer is, "It depends.” If you're writing for school, it's not a very good idea to use the same word constantly. If you're writing dialogue that you want to keep moving at a fast pace, using mostly “said” can help do that because "he said” and "she said” more or less fade into the background. They don't take much time or attention for the readers, so they can skip over and focus on the dialogue. However, this isn't a hard-and-fast rule. You might rely on “said” for one scene and mix in a bunch of synonyms for another.
Repeating a word can also provide emphasis, and it's really good for sales. Think about commercials and how they re-use specific words to make sure that those words stick in your memories. The trick to this method, however, is that you have to make sure other words aren't repeating the same way. Otherwise, the repetition loses its power.
In the end, it comes down to personal taste and the effect you' re trying to achieve. As Shakespeare said, "there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." You may need to repeat the same word every time. You may need to mix it up with synonyms. You may need to do both at the same time for different ideas. And the decision may change completely by what you're trying to do.
1. Why should you avoid repetition in your school essay?| A．It would get readers angry if you did that. |
| B．Teachers thinks less of your vocabulary. |
| C．Essays are graded by your vocabulary. |
| D．Readers hate to read simple words over again. |
| A．Limiting the writing speed. |
| B．Speeding up the reading process. |
| C．Putting more emphases on backgrounds. |
| D．Highlighting the writer's vocabulary. |
| A．Word repetition should be kept from being used in any way. |
| B．The more word repetitions, the better effect they have. |
| C．Repeat specific words but do the rest in another way. |
| D．Make sure that each word is repeated in the same way. |
| A．What Effect Can Repetition Have on Novels? |
| B．Why does Poetry Use Repetitions? |
| C．Is Word Repetition Good or Bad? |
| D．How Is Word Repetition Used in Ads? |
2 . Polish Olympian Maria has generously auctioned（拍卖）off her Tokyo Games silver medal to raise funds for a baby's lifesaving operation.
When Maria heard about 8-month-old Miloszek's battle for survival, she felt it a must to do something to help. The baby had a serious and rare heart disease. His condition was badly worsening, and he was in need of immediate surgery. His parents sought funds to cover the cost of his transportation and medical care for the complicated surgery at Stanford University Medical Center in the United States.
As a cancer survivor, Maria knows what it is like to fight the disease. She overcame bone cancer and a shoulder injury to make her comeback and compete at this summer's Tokyo Olympic Games. Her hard work paid off, earning her first medal.
Athletes make enormous sacrifices to have an opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games, and winning an Olympic medal is every athlete's dream. Maria treasured what the medal represents. However, she decided her medal was more valuable at auction if the raised funds could help save a child's life.
Maria stated in her social media auction announcement that Miloszek's fundraising already had a good head start. It was at the halfway point of reaching its goal of $390,000. That was thanks to the family of a recently deceased young boy who generously donated the funds originally meant for their son. Maria hoped her Olympic silver medal would take the fundraising across the finish line.
Zabka, a popular Polish supermarket chain, won Maria's silver medal auction with a bid of $125,000. Zabka's owners gracefully declined to accept the silver medal and returned it to Maria. They stated they were grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a good cause.
1. Which of the following best describes Miloszek's disease?| A．Common. | B．Urgent. |
| C．Incurable. | D．Infectious. |
| A．She was a gold medalist in Tokyo Olympics. |
| B．She survived lung cancer in the past. |
| C．She didn't think much about her medal. |
| D．She had great sympathy for Miloszek. |
| A．Dead. | B．Missing. |
| C．Generous. | D．Friendly. |
| A．Maria. | B．Miloszek. |
| C．Zabka's owners. | D．A young boy. |
3 . If you are currently learning English, 1 highly recommend you check out the apps below.
Quizlet
When learning English, you probably have to memorize a lot of words. If you want to grow your vocabulary as fast as possible, a flashcard app like Quizlet is a great shortcut. With Quizlet, you can create a set of flashcards with new English words you are trying to learn, and practice typing them out until you know them by heart. It's a simple concept, but it's highly effective.
Spotify
Spotify is not a language learning app. But chances are that you already use it or a similar app for listening to music or podcasts（播客）, and one of the effective ways to study is combining something you already use into your existing habits. If Spotify is already on your phone, you can subscribe to some podcasts for English learners or download playlists of songs for learning English, or make your own.
Beelinguapp
Beelinguapp makes reading in English as convenient as possible. It shows you a text in your own language with the English translation side-by-side. Texts are short enough so that you can really dig into every word. They cover topics from fairytales, to science, to current news articles. There's even a "karaoke" feature where you can read along to audio, which helps you match up the English pronunciation with the English spellings.
Tandem
Tandem is a language exchange app which connects learners from all over the world. It can help you find a native English speaker who is trying to learn your native language, so you can swap language skills. If you only have five minutes to spare, you can simply exchange messages with a native English speaker. If you have more time, you can have a longer, digital language exchange" by sharing voice notes, or using video chat. It's a great way to test your English skills out with real people.
1. What is Spotify intended to help people do?| A．Develop a good habit. | B．Listen to music or podcasts. |
| C．Learn a foreign language. | D．Memorize words with flashcards. |
| A．Learners can use their native language as a reference. |
| B．It's convenient for learners to translate voice notes. |
| C．It provides learners a chance to tell their own stories. |
| D．Learners can sing English songs along to the music. |
| A．Quizlet. | B．Spotify. | C．Beelinguapp. | D．Tandem. |
4 . Decision hard
From the moment we wake up each day, we’re faced with a continuous stream of choices.
When decision fatigue kicks in, you may feel like you just don’t have the mental bandwidth to deal with more decisions.
Here’s how to minimize or manage this phenomenon:
Tune into how you’re feeling. Be watchful of signs of decision fatigue and act accordingly: If you’ve had a demanding day that was filled with lots of decisions, put off making another one if you can. If things that wouldn’t normally upset you start bothering you, consider that a sign that you may not be in the best state of mind to make a major decision. “People may not realize that they’re experiencing decision fatigue,” Baumeister, a professor of psychology at the University of Queensland in Australia, says. “
| A．Make some choices automatic |
| B．It’s something to watch out for |
| C．They should turn to the experts for advice |
| D．Put down what you have in hand and take a break from them |
| E．This can lead to decisional disfunction or decreased self-control |
| F．If you like having oatmeal for breakfast, stick with it on a daily basis |
| G．We tend to feel overwhelmed, anxious, stressed or otherwise out of sorts |
5 . Matt Haig, the best-selling author of the novel “The Midnight”, recommends some books that offer wisdom or comfort in difficult times.
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Rilke (1929). This is the ultimate comfort read. The book is what the title suggests: letters from an older poet to a younger one. The great thing about Rilke’s advice is that it acknowledges the darkness and suffering of existence, yet manages despite that—or maybe even because of that—to inspire.
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön(1996). I read this book during the first lockdown, and it was the perfect read for uncertain times. Chödrön is a Buddhist, but the advice and philosophy in these relatively few pages speaks universally. It’s a great book about embracing life in its totality, about seeing hope and suffering as part of a whole.
The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne(1928). The Winnie-the-Pooh stories really speak to people going through tough times. In many ways, each of the characters reflects a different mental state: Eeyore is depressed, Tigger is hyper-active, Piglet is anxious, and Pooh reflects a hope and optimism much needed in recovery. I reread this book when I was ill with a panic disorder, and it soothed me.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (1994). In my opinion, this is the greatest book about writing ever written. But like Rilke, Lamott is offering far more than writing advice. She is offering wisdom on life and how to embrace its imperfect nature.
1. Which book came out first?| A．Bird by Bird. |
| B．The Midnight. |
| C．Letters to a Young Poet. |
| D．The House at Pooh Corner. |
| A．The tough times are everywhere. |
| B．Life consists of hope and suffering. |
| C．People have a variety of mental states. |
| D．The undesirable things of life can be ignored. |
| A．All contain inspiring advice. |
| B．They are based on true facts. |
| C．Matt Haig instructed their novelists. |
| D．Writing will be improved by reading them. |
I have a neighbor we call "Happy". I have never seen her angry at anything and never heard her say a harsh (苛刻) word to anyone or about anyone. They always have a positive attitude
Happy and her husband Ben. 70, have a huge garden on which they spent many happy hours together working. Most of the neighbors watched interestingly as Ben doubled the size of
One day last month was the time
By 9:00 am, there were nine of us in the garden picking
Well, in
7 . Developing strong study skills as a high school student not only allows you to earn better grades in high school, but also to prepare you for college. The sooner you start to build your study skills, the more good habits you’ll create for your future study.
1. Boost brain power
2. Develop concentration
Set focused study time for nothing but school work. Create a quiet study zone that includes a phone-free environment for studying.
3. Develop organizational skills
Find a convenient location for putting all your school learning papers, books, and homework assignments in place. That way you’ll be better prepared for the coming lectures and thus better follow the teachers.
4.
Be sure to effeciently write down what you listen to in class. You don’t need to write down everything said, just the important points. You may have to take down keywords, dates, names and fill in the details later if you are having trouble getting down enough. Learning to organize and denote（表示）things in a clear visual way is also very helpful in taking good notes.
| A．Being organized can save you a lot of time and allow you to have more efficient（高效）class. |
| B．You can have a rest after using your brain too long. |
| C．Develop good listening skills |
| D．That’s why it’s important to build good study skills early. |
| E．Make sure you are eating healthy food and getting enough rest. |
| F．Develop note taking skills |
| G．When you are studying, try to clear your desk and just keep some study necessities. |
When Thanksgiving Day was approaching, my primary school decided to celebrate it by presenting shows like dancing and singing that all students could join in. Parents would also be invited to watch.
One afternoon, the schoolmaster called me into his office. He said with a smile, “Nancie, could you write a poem for the festival and read it during the coming event?” “Sure!” Excitedly, I had loved poetry since my fifth grade. I was fascinated by poems for it is an amazing thing to convey feelings through them. When my first poem was published, I was known to my friends and teachers as the class poet.
I left the schoolmaster’s office that afternoon, feeling quite happy. Then for weeks, I worked or my poem, carefully designing the content, structure and sound. I practiced reciting it aloud every day.
When the evening for the event finally came, I was ready. Well, I was ready until I looked around and realized how many people there were in the school hall. How could I present my poem in front of more than 400 people? I was just a seventh-grader! No one would take my work seriously What was worse, I had never spoken in front of a huge crowd before. I sat in my chair, hoping I could disappear. Maybe they would forget I was supposed to read.
“Hey, Nancie, I saw your name in the program. Good luck!” my little brother's voice rose as he took his seat a few rows down with his class. I nodded, struggling to keep calm. I knew my parents were somewhere in the hall. Before long, the lights faded, the crowd quieted, and the schoolmaster took the stage to introduce the list of the shows. Mine was at the end of the list. So I had to sit through an hour of absolute anxiety.
It wasn’t until the students from the fourth grade were singing that my teacher brought me downstairs next to the stage. My mind was blank. Then suddenly, I was on stage with the bright white lights blinding my view of the audience. When I walked to the microphone in the center of the stage, I somehow tripped over something. And I stupidly fell down. All of the kids burst into laughter.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I was about to run away when my teacher came up to me.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When I finished my reading, the hall was silent at first.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________9 . Ways to Show Gratitude (感激)
COVID-19 has a way of making people feel like their world was turned upside down overnight. They struggle with feeling frightened and feeling like everyone is overreacting (反应过度).
Give thanks for everyday things
One way to make gratitude a regular part of your day is to make it a habit to think of three things you are thankful for each day. It doesn’t really matter whether you perform this exercise first thing in the morning or just before you go to bed. The important thing is that you’re taking time and reflecting on what you are grateful for.
Keep track of everything you’re grateful for
Using a phone app like Gratitude Plus, you can record the things you’re grateful for. Another option is to use social media or even post-it notes to express your gratitude.
Reflect on past negative experiences
Look back on the worst moments in your life.
| A．Make gratitude a daily habit. |
| B．Stick to expressing gratitude in public. |
| C．Then, compare those with where you are now. |
| D．Gratitude doesn’t have to be over the top or something significant. |
| E．You can hardly stay strong while recalling the moments that ever happened. |
| F．But learning to practice gratitude every day can bring some changes to your life. |
| G．The key is to use a method to help you remember the things you are grateful for. |
10 . Four Tips to Improve Your English Communication Skills
There are many tips, tricks, and techniques to improve communication skills.
Slow down your speaking speed
In a way, this will take the pressure off too. When you learn a new word, try to memorize a couple of sentences that contain it.
Learn to listen
When speaking in a foreign language, you might be so focused on what you are saying and whether it’s correct or not, that you forget to listen to what others are saying. This is a big mistake as they might be using the exact words or grammar you’ll be needing later on. It’s an important resource to you at the time of speaking to someone.
We also need to keep in mind the fact that communication is a two-way process. Not only does it make you seem uninterested-even rude—if you don’t ask questions, you might also end up being the one who has to do all the talking.
| A．Learn to reduce pressure |
| B．Learn sentences, not only words |
| C．I don't want to trouble you with too much information. |
| D．Therefore, pay attention to what’s being said around you. |
| E．You might be a fluent speaker when it comes to your mother tongue. |
| F．If you always ask questions, you will make other people feel important. |
| G．Questions will keep the conversation on and show interest in others’ opinions. |
