1 . My mother took an annual vacation all by herself. It was just two ________ visiting an out-of-town family and perhaps a little sightseeing on the way. It ________ when I was thirteen and old enough to look after my younger brother.

Why couldn’t we ________? I couldn’t get across the idea. My mother’s answer was always frank and to the point: “I need a ________ from you guys for a couple of days.” I couldn’t ________ that reasoning until twenty-five years later.

I am ________, responsible for most of the household tasks. I also hold a job and ________ my family and old parents. My husband asks about the vacation this year. I look up at the bathroom sink, ________ again. “Anywhere,” I answer, “as long as it’s ________.” He doesn’t understand, looking ________.

But now I do. I understand the need for every solo (个人的) vacation my mother ever took. My first ________ was to Bermuda. For five days, there were no blocked sinks, grocery lists, work deadlines, or ________ family members. Instead, there was only peace and the opportunity to do ________ what I wanted to do. It was amazing. I ________ three pounds and came home with perfect dark skin and renewed ________. I decide in the future whenever I feel overwhelmed (不堪重负) or like I need a break, I take one.

1.

A．hours

B．weeks

C．months

D．years

2.

A．started

B．appeared

C．grown

D．changed

3.

A．head off

B．help out

C．go along

D．wander about

4.

A．stop

B．break

C．help

D．reason

5.

A．understand

B．bother

C．claim

D．appreciate

6.

A．noted

B．trained

C．married

D．educated

7.

A．care for

B．rely on

C．turn to

D．follow up

8.

A．covered

B．filled

C．blocked

D．stuck

9.

A．independent

B．distant

C．alone

D．convenient

10.

A．concerned

B．annoyed

C．focused

D．puzzled

11.

A．plan

B．trip

C．decision

D．answer

12.

A．demanding

B．depressing

C．aging

D．encouraging

13.

A．generally

B．specially

C．briefly

D．exactly

14.

A．gained

B．bought

C．took

D．lacked

15.

A．body

B．spirit

C．schedule

D．pressure

2 . For Evan Harrison, a wildlife photographer, there was never any doubt about what she would do for a living.

“I am ________ about animals and the environment,” says Harrison. “Being able to ________ animals and their world is not only about educating people, but also about ________ that animals need to have their world intact (完好无损的) to survive.”

Harrison studied photography in school, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Photographers need to know more than just how to take a picture, ________ Harrison also took courses to learn how to use software.

“________ how to use software to edit your picture is important,” she says. “You could have the million-dollar shot; but if you do not know how to edit it ________, it will make no difference how ________ it is, if it does not look good.”

Harrison also stresses that ________ school can provide the foundation, becoming a professional photographer is also about learning on the job.

“My first job was with a nature conservation group that ________ to document the wildlife in a marsh (沼泽) area. I had to quickly ________ not only the equipment and proper clothing I needed, but also gain an understanding of the environment I was about to ________ in.”

Some of Harrison’s jobs take her to different parts of the world, which ________ she must educate herself about the people and the culture to make ________ easier. “Communicating with people is very important; it can often mean the ________ between getting a good shot and a great shot of an area,” she ________.

1.

A．wrong

B．sorry

C．honest

D．crazy

2.

A．document

B．change

C．protect

D．discuss

3.

A．predicting

B．imagining

C．agreeing

D．showing

4.

A．for

B．but

C．so

D．or

5.

A．Wondering

B．Knowing

C．Remembering

D．Sharing

6.

A．regularly

B．secretly

C．properly

D．instantly

7.

A．lucky

B．funny

C．small

D．great

8.

A．if

B．although

C．unless

D．until

9.

A．pretended

B．wanted

C．refused

D．hesitated

10.

A．figure out

B．point at

C．speak of

D．depend on

11.

A．sit

B．grow

C．work

D．play

12.

A．means

B．concludes

C．stresses

D．proves

13.

A．life

B．peace

C．communication

D．transportation

14.

A．connection

B．difference

C．balance

D．conflict

15.

A．notes

B．complains

C．suggests

D．promises

3 . Several years ago I was teaching in Melbourne, Australia. Like most Brits down under, I wanted to _________ my time in this country, so I would take every chance to travel around the far _________ of Australia.

On one trip, I and three friends went as far into the Outback (内陆地区) as it was possible to go, camping and _________ Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. In these riverine areas, there were plenty of crocodiles and smaller, deadly _________ to make us nervous.

After picking up some _________ from an isolated shop near an even more isolated settlement, we reached a _________ which had to be forded (涉过). It was a likely _________ for dangerous salt water crocodiles to be loitering (游荡), so all of us were warned to _________ any “salties” as our vehicle entered the water.

At first the water only reached the top of the _________, but within seconds it was lapping at the windows. My heart was beating fast as I peered out, searching for any __________ logs floating towards us.

__________ there was a scream from the back seat. “Ah! Get it off, it hurts!” I turned round, feeling quite __________ that I was about to see a horrifyingly grizzly animal. As it __________, one of my friends had bought a hot pie in the isolated little store. The contents, hotter than the Arnhem Land sunshine, had __________ onto his bare legs as we bumped through the stream.

We made it to the other side with no “salties” __________. Just one passenger with a very sore leg.

1.

A．run out of

B．take hold of

C．make the most of

D．catch sight of

2.

A．fields

B．corners

C．villages

D．surroundings

3.

A．exploring

B．searching

C．swimming

D．climbing

4.

A．mammals

B．humans

C．plants

D．creatures

5.

A．water

B．supplies

C．clothes

D．friends

6.

A．stream

B．lake

C．valley

D．cliff

7.

A．station

B．channel

C．spot

D．yard

8.

A．reach out for

B．wait up for

C．turn a deaf ear to

D．keep an eye out for

9.

A．wheels

B．walls

C．seats

D．legs

10.

A．easy-going

B．fun-loving

C．suspicious-looking

D．fast-flowing

11.

A．Interestingly

B．Unbelievably

C．Occasionally

D．Suddenly

12.

A．curious

B．certain

C．amazed

D．bored

13.

A．turned out

B．stood out

C．made out

D．found out

14.

A．cracked

B．extended

C．spilled

D．crashed

15.

A．lost

B．caught

C．missed

D．sighted

4 . Most people as they get older start to take life a little slower and enjoy a leisurely pace. But it is not for Kerry, who ________ pole dancing in her 50s, has no ________ of slowing down any time soon. She’s even ________ her life “began at 50”.

The super fit gran ________ an eating disorder from a young age. Now in the best ________ of her life, she looked back on her youth and claimed she was once told she was “too fat to be a dancer”, sparking an eating disorder and being ________ conscious of her weight. After taking up dancing she felt ________ in her new lease of life.

“At the age of 47 I made a list of things I wanted to ________ and I’ve always wanted to do dancing, but I was worried I was too ________. It was so late in life,” said Kerry. ________ planning on doing one class to ________ it off her list, she found a passion and love for the sport and made a living from it, even participating in ________ too. “I feel like fate really put this in my ________, not only to recover my body but to get rid of the ________ that comes with it,” she explained. Now, she’s on a mission to ________ women that their age doesn’t have to hold them back.

1.

A．kept on

B．took up

C．hoped for

D．subscribed to

2.

A．intentions

B．doubts

C．tasks

D．feelings

3.

A．promised

B．predicted

C．checked

D．claimed

4.

A．remembered

B．indicated

C．battled

D．regretted

5.

A．shape

B．hobby

C．emotion

D．aspect

6.

A．occasionally

B．permanently

C．constantly

D．purposely

7.

A．curious

B．competitive

C．confident

D．awkward

8.

A．make

B．try

C．quit

D．win

9.

A．old

B．fat

C．weak

D．sensitive

10.

A．Still

B．Hardly

C．Never

D．Only

11.

A．cross

B．cut

C．see

D．drop

12.

A．races

B．parades

C．parties

D．shows

13.

A．opinion

B．strategy

C．path

D．dream

14.

A．memory

B．danger

C．power

D．negativity

15.

A．contact

B．protect

C．inspire

D．warn

5 . I believe that we can have an important influence on anyone we meet. The right words at just the right time could _______ someone’s life.

When I was three years old, my parents discovered I was deaf. After asking many doctors and parents of other deaf children, they decided to put me in a normal _______.

On my first day, the other kids made fun of me _______ my hearing aid (助听器) and the way I talked. _______ I seemed outgoing and happy, my self-esteem (自尊) was quite low. I _______ myself as an ugly kid.

Mrs. Jordan, my teacher changed all of that with a _______ three-word phrase.

One morning she asked the class a question. I read her lips and raised my hand right away. She called on me. I took a deep breath and _______ answered Mrs. Jordan’s question.

I will never forget what _______ next. Mrs. Jordan pointed directly at me. With shining eyes and a big smile, she cried, “That’s right, Stephen!”

For the first time in my young life, my confidence soared (自信增强) like _______ before.

At that moment, I decided that no matter how many ________ I may face, I can overcome them. Just from those three simple words, my whole life was changed.

1.

A．finish

B．stop

C．change

D．create

2.

A．yard

B．house

C．community

D．school

3.

A．because of

B．with the help of

C．instead of

D．except for

4.

A．Unless

B．Although

C．When

D．Whether

5.

A．turned down

B．thought of

C．took after

D．brought up

6.

A．long

B．useless

C．simple

D．last

7.

A．nervously

B．angrily

C．recently

D．sadly

8.

A．caused

B．happened

C．discussed

D．explained

9.

A．ever

B．always

C．often

D．never

10.

A．successes

B．messages

C．difficulties

D．situations

6 . Seven years after a terrible fall left me paralyzed, here I was, with my two teammates, on the way to becoming the first all-disabled team to cross Europe's largest ice cap, the Vatnajökull glacier, unsupported and unassisted.

A year before, when McCann first suggested making the 100-mile trip, I was excited by the _______ of reaching this lost world of mountains and ice, yet _______ about whether I’d struggle. But I was eager for

_______ and signed on to do the trip with MeCann and Jackson, both of whom had spinal cord (脊髓) injuries.

From our start point, we would need to _______ through storm-force winds and overcome the _______ of our injuries. This was going to be the toughest challenge of my life. Roped together, we started toward the frozen horizon, _______ two sledges (雪橇) loaded with equipment behind us. Just 10 minutes into our journey, I was already beginning to feel the _______ on my shoulders and arms. The weight of our equipment was a constant _______ as it dragged stubbornly through the snow behind us. And yet, with each drive of my poles into the snow, I pushed myself further from civilization — and _______ to the man I'd once been.

After 11 tough days, and countless ________ and slips, we approached the eastern edge of the Vatnajökull glacier. We had beaten the odds, ________ our physical limitations and emerged victorious.

That moment at the ________ affected every aspect of my life and the way I ________ my disability. No longer did I consider myself ________ , because, if I could reach the summit of a remote ice cap, I could overcome the frustrations and setbacks of day-to-day life with flexibility and ________ .

1.

A．prospect

B．condition

C．schedule

D．observation

2.

A．curious

B．puzzled

C．enthusiastic

D．anxious

3.

A．recovery

B．fame

C．adventure

D．money

4.

A．battle

B．live

C．see

D．walk

5.

A．powers

B．limits

C．sources

D．dangers

6.

A．pushing

B．dragging

C．operating

D．following

7.

A．strength

B．responsibility

C．weakness

D．pressure

8.

A．resistance

B．protection

C．inspiration

D．failure

9.

A．closer

B．harder

C．higher

D．deeper

10.

A．steps

B．turs

C．falls

D．tricks

11.

A．set down

B．went beyond

C．kept off

D．moved into

12.

A．edge

B．base

C．center

D．summit

13.

A．ignored

B．fought

C．perceived

D．hid

14.

A．successful

B．disabled

C．brave

D．irresponsible

15.

A．curiosity

B．sincerity

C．willpower

D．innovation

7 . Rich or poor, young or old, we all have problems. We can easily become unhappy unless we _________ our problems. _________ our problems can affect how we do things at school or at home. So how do we deal with our problems?

Most of us have probably been _________ with our friends, parents or teachers. Perhaps they said something you didn’t like, or you felt they were unfair. Sometimes, people can stay angry for years about a small problem. Time goes by, and good friendships may be lost.

When we are angry, however, we are usually the ones affected. Have you ever seen young children playing together? But they _________ very soon, and decide not to talk to each other. However, this usually doesn’t _________ for long. They become good friends again. This is an important _________ for us: we can solve a problem by learning to forget.

Many _________ often complain about school. They might feel they have too much work to do sometimes, or think the rules are too _________. We must learn how to change these “problems” into “challenges”. As young adults, it is our duty to try our best to deal with the challenges with the help of our teachers.

By comparing yourself with other people, you will find your problems are not so terrible. Think about Stephen Hawking, for example, a very clever scientist. He couldn’t walk _________ even speak, but he regarded his many physical problems as unimportant. And he is known as a great scientist in the world. We are probably quite healthy and smart. Let’s not worry about our problems. Instead, let’s face the challenges __________. Only in this way can we live happily.

1.

A．solve

B．answer

C．imagine

D．decide

2.

A．Depending on

B．Trying out

C．Looking for

D．Worrying about

3.

A．pleased

B．interested

C．friendly

D．angry

4.

A．fight

B．laugh

C．hug

D．frighten

5.

A．last

B．make

C．hope

D．use

6.

A．way

B．test

C．class

D．lesson

7.

A．teachers

B．students

C．workers

D．adults

8.

A．difficult

B．important

C．strict

D．kind

9.

A．and

B．or

C．for

D．but

10.

A．bravely

B．angrily

C．sadly

D．quietly

8 . One day, Sue argued with her mother. She left home without saying a word. _________ she left in a hurry, she didn’t take any money.

When she saw a noodle shop, she suddenly felt _________. The shop owner saw her standing outside and asked her if she would like a bowl of noodles. She nodded but then she said that she didn’t have money.

“Don’t worry. I’ll _________ you,” the shop owner said. A few minutes later, he brought _________ a bowl of noodles. Sue cried.

“What’s wrong?” the shop owner asked.

“I am touched by your kindness. Even a _________ can give me a bowl of noodles, but my mother often argues with me. I hate her!”

“Girl, why do you think so? Think again. I _________ gave you a bowl of noodles and you were touched. Your mother has raised you since you were born. Why aren’t you grateful (感激的)?”

Sue was surprised after _________ that.

On the way home, Sue thought over. She stopped in front of the door and saw her _________ worried and tired after looking for her everywhere. When she saw Sue come back home, she was overjoyed. “Are you hungry? I cooked supper. Come to _________ while it is still hot.”

Sue couldn’t control herself. She cried and hugged her mother.

In our life, it is __________ for us to appreciate the small actions of strangers. But for the relatives, especially our parents, we see their sacrifices (牺牲) as a matter of course.

1.

A．Because

B．If

C．Although

D．Unless

2.

A．thirsty

B．cold

C．hungry

D．sleepy

3.

A．leave

B．call

C．borrow

D．treat

4.

A．you

B．me

C．her

D．him

5.

A．child

B．friend

C．relative

D．stranger

6.

A．even

B．never

C．often

D．just

7.

A．seeing

B．tasting

C．hearing

D．touching

8.

A．sister

B．mother

C．father

D．brother

9.

A．sleep

B．drink

C．eat

D．play

10.

A．unusual

B．strange

C．difficult

D．easy

9 . As the youngest kid in the family, I used to be told, “No, do it this way.”I knew my family members were all trying to _______ me. But I didn’t like feeling _______ all the time.

One weekend, I went to help Grandpa with _______. Grandpa had flattened out one side of the green bush with a pair of shears(大剪刀) and told me to _______ the other side. He _______ to watch, but I didn’t do anything. I was _______ of doing it the wrong way. “I can do it by myself, ”I said. Grandpa said he would come back to _______ me. When he was gone, I _______ the big shears to cut the branches, but _______. I wanted to cry.

Then I took a pair of regular scissors and cut the bush. Little branches fell to the ground. I took a step back to ________ my work. The bush looked flat and neat on my side. Grandpa came back. He looked at the side he had cut, then back at mine. “Your side looks ________ than mine, he said.

I was ________. ”You mean my way isn’t wrong?“

”No. Your way works just fine,“ Grandpa said.

I was so happy my ________ was right this time. As I grew up I realized learning from other people didn’t necessarily mean having to always ________ them. It is okay to do things a little ________. Being different is fine.

1.

A．blame

B．trust

C．teach

D．ask

2.

A．confused

B．threatened

C．strange

D．wrong

3.

A．planning

B．gardening

C．cooking

D．cleaning

4.

A．cover

B．replace

C．watch

D．cut

5.

A．waited

B．forgot

C．happened

D．promised

6.

A．proud

B．aware

C．afraid

D．sure

7.

A．look after

B．depend on

C．go after

D．check on

8.

A．shared

B．lifted

C．exchanged

D．improved

9.

A．failed

B．ended

C．refused

D．mattered

10.

A．remember

B．support

C．examine

D．continue

11.

A．better

B．taller

C．greener

D．more

12.

A．nervous

B．determined

C．upset

D．surprised

13.

A．model

B．way

C．track

D．word

14.

A．praise

B．copy

C．greet

D．persuade

15.

A．formally

B．safely

C．slowly

D．differently

10 . My dear girl, this is a letter for you to read when I am getting old.

The day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to be patient please, but first, try to ________ what I’m going through. If when we talk, I ________ the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt (打断) to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago...” Just ________, please. Try to remember the times when you were ________ and I would read the same story night after night until you ________.

When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be ________ and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you, trying to get you to take a ________ when you were just a girl?

When you see how ignorant (无知的) I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way... Remember that I ________ taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed and ________ life’s problems every day.

________ I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous or impatient. Just know in your heart that the most ________ thing for me is to be with you.

And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as ________ as before, give me your hand, the same way that I offered mine to you when you first ________.

When those days come, don’t feel sad... Just be with me, and understand me while I get to the ________ of my life with love.

I’ll ________ and thank you for the time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you, my darling daughter.

1.

A．explain

B．translate

C．understand

D．forget

2.

A．recall

B．repeat

C．remember

D．realize

3.

A．wait

B．watch

C．listen

D．feel

4.

A．strong

B．little

C．weak

D．big

5.

A．woke up

B．came back

C．left home

D．fell asleep

6.

A．ashamed

B．angry

C．nervous

D．lazy

7.

A．shower

B．chance

C．ride

D．break

8.

A．suddenly

B．quietly

C．calmly

D．patiently

9.

A．coming across

B．going through

C．dealing with

D．thinking about

10.

A．Unless

B．If

C．Since

D．As

11.

A．unfair

B．difficult

C．important

D．romantic

12.

A．quickly

B．equally

C．formally

D．commonly

13.

A．talked

B．walked

C．sang

D．smiled

14.

A．start

B．beginning

C．end

D．middle

15.

A．waste

B．avoid

C．weigh

D．treasure