1 . It’s January and time to go back to school. For some, that might be a gloomy prospect after the joys of the post Christmas festive period. For me, though, it’s as exciting as a trip to Antarctica, also as scary as starting a job for which I’m not sure whether I’m qualified.

To be embarking on a master’s degree in Psychotherapy and Counselling at Regent’s University at 71 is perhaps an unlikely route for someone who dropped out of school at 17. But now I’ve come full circle to the conclusion that nothing, for me, feels more stimulating at this point in my life than learning new things. That studying, far from being the bore and the chore it used to be, is a treat.

Turning 70 came as something of a shock. I started to feel I was drifting (飘). Without a big project, and without any major family responsibilities, I was starting to feel I was lying on a bed of thorns. Friends of similar age were lapping up their lives, socializing and travelling. However, I longed for something more. Or perhaps not more, but different.

As the gloom grew, I thought perhaps I needed to see a therapist. A friend, a psychotherapist, suggested that while therapy might be useful, doing a course on the basics of psychotherapy and counselling might be more up my street. Without too much thinking, I decided to give it a shot.

So that’s how every weekday I beep (发出哔哔声) myself through the gate with my student pass, which makes me smile every time. I felt privileged to be exposed to a group of my fellow students who were willing to be open to me.

While ageing is an inevitable process, we can get rid of a lot of the rules about what’s age-appropriate. Studying for a master’s degree in old age is a challenge, but it has provided me with a new perspective on life. Hence, ageing should never limit your ambitions.

1. How did the author feel when going back to school?

A．Unrealistic.	B．Resistant.
C．Awkward.	D．Expectant.

2. Why did turning 70 come as a shock to the author?

A．She achieved nothing before.	B．She lived without a purpose.
C．She had to support her family.	D．She was separated by her fellows.

3. What is the author’s suggestion when facing ageing?

A．Keeping your passions alive.	B．Seeking support if needed.
C．Behaving age-appropriately.	D．Socializing with young students.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Returning To School — My Dream Since Childhood

B．My Efforts To Learn At An unlikely Age Paying Off

C．Learning — My Way To Overcome The Ageing Crisis

D．My Tough Journey To Pursuing A Master’s Degree

2 . The holidays can be a difficult time to stay on track with your fitness goals.     1    . Even the most disciplined people can find it difficult to stick to their fitness routines during the holiday season. Here are some expert-recommended tips that can help you stay on track.

    2    .

Planning is the best way to make sure you don’t lose track of your goals. Plan your workouts for the week and mark them in your schedule to assure they are a part of your day.

Exercise early.

    3    . Make sure workouts are in the morning and you’ll set yourself up for a productive day. Then you can enjoy holiday activities and time with family without worrying about when you’ll have time to exercise.

Keep moving.

Research shows that getting up for just five minutes every 30 to 60 minutes and performing light activities reduces the risk of heart disease risk factors. Small efforts to get moving can help your overall health during the holidays. In addition to staying active, try to avoid sitting for long periods of time, such as when watching football games or eating.     4    .

Think out of the box.

The holidays are busy, but do your best to avoid the “all or nothing” mentality when it comes to physical activity.     5     — like taking a family walk around the neighborhood before opening Christmas presents.

A．Plan ahead

B．Plan out your route before you go

C．Exercising in the morning is one of the biggest tips

D．Remember: too much sitting is harmful to your health

E．Your schedule will be filled with family gatherings and celebrations

F．Get creative with exercise and make physical activity a family affair

G．Rather than skipping the gym altogether, make time for a quick workout

3 . When I was young, I dreamed of becoming a chef. My dad often fought with my mom over the food when he disliked the taste of my mom’s cooking.     1     My dad, however, had a different opinion, insisting that I was too young to learn cooking.     2     I watched and studied how he prepared the ingredients, cut meat and vegetables into pieces, and mixed them all together.

When I was 18, my dad finally allowed me to start cooking. Many people started with a simple fried egg or other fried food.     3     The years of watching my dad cooking made it easier for me to cook more complex foods like roast beef, sautéed (炒) vegetables, and even a cake.

I never needed to use recipe books. I had learned by careful observation for many years, so it was easy to even make my own unique dishes.    4    After several years of experience in the kitchen, I can now make almost every food that tastes familiar and give it a nice new twist of my own style.

    5     Even though today I am just a learning observer lacking relevant knowledge, someday I will become the master of every field I set foot in. I will cook my life according to my heart’s desire and dream.

A．My first dish was more advanced.

B．Those were the kitchen moments I remembered the most.

C．For many years, he only allowed me to observe him cook.

D．I wish that the whole world could be just like the kitchen to me.

E．I decided to learn to cook well to avoid argument with my future partner.

F．It was in the kitchen that I developed my cooking skills as well as the career.

G．That is what I love about cooking — making it like an art to express my creativity.

4 . Luke Coelho recently transferred from Brazil to attend school in the United States. He understands that integrity and _________ are values appreciated in all countries and cultures. And Luke didn’t hesitate to _________ both when he found a pocket full of family _________ left behind in a(n) _________ jacket.

Andy’s Attic is a clothing donation program at Luke’s new school, and Luke recently _________ the jacket through the program. Local resident Dave Kenney was the one who donated the jacket.

When Luke put on the coat,_________, he found much more than a warm coat. Inside the pocket, Luke discovered some personal _________, including two watches, a bracelet and two diamond rings!

Luke _________ shared the news with his aunt Taryn Souza and together they set to work trying to _________ the owner of the items. With some detective work, they were __________ to find Dave. Of course, he was __________ to receive the prized pieces back, but he hadn’t even __________ that they were in the jacket!

Earlier this year, both Dave’s mother and wife passed away, so he was especially __________ to have back the wedding ring he’d bought for his wife and items that had __________ his mother. Dave stated, “This fine young man did the right thing. I totally __________ what they did for me and my family.”

1.

A．courage

B．bravery

C．generosity

D．honesty

2.

A．exercise

B．check

C．promote

D．learn

3.

A．elements

B．treasures

C．traditions

D．memories

4.

A．forgotten

B．outdated

C．donated

D．worn

5.

A．discovered

B．received

C．found

D．changed

6.

A．to his surprise

B．in relief

C．out of curiosity

D．with joy

7.

A．gold

B．art

C．material

D．belongings

8.

A．excitedly

B．hesitantly

C．eventually

D．immediately

9.

A．locate

B．recognize

C．remind

D．inform

10.

A．eager

B．likely

C．able

D．ready

11.

A．supposed

B．excited

C．surprised

D．annoyed

12.

A．mentioned

B．imagined

C．admitted

D．realized

13.

A．grateful

B．determined

C．anxious

D．amazed

14.

A．led to

B．come from

C．belonged to

D．stood for

15.

A．accept

B．appreciate

C．support

D．understand

5 . 完成语段。
    1    (看见我朋友悲痛欲绝), I was so anxious deep down that I felt like an ant on a hot pan. I must do whatever I could to     2     (振奋他的精神, 并说服他不要向失败屈服). I offered him some effective measures to relieve his sadness and tackle his problems. Finally,     3     (他相信只有致力于学习他才能通过考试). When I saw him come out of the haze, my heart was as sweet as honey.

6 . 语法填空

For years，a farmer called John has been devoted to     1     (tackle) the problem of hunger. One day he came across an article which referred to Yuan Longping and his super hybrid rice. He thought it essential    2    him to benefit from the practical knowledge circulated by Yuan Longping. Therefore, he had no alternative but     3     (equip) himself with more knowledge of Yuan’s farming methods. He took all     4     (aspect) into consideration and developed his farming method suitable for the soil of his fields. With scientific farming methods，he and his family have their output     5     (expand) and have never bought exported grain any longer.

7 . 根据汉语提示完成短文

With her secret leaked, Jane    1     (忍不住啜泣起来，眼神茫然).     2     (由于缺乏安全感), she ceased communicating with people around her. She didn’t know how to switch the embarrassment. She was thrown into the abyss (深渊) of pain, burying herself in tears. Luckily, the monitor finally     3     (说服泄密者向简道歉). Gradually, Jane’s gloom from within vanished into the air and a smile reappeared on her face.

8 . 使用恰当的过渡衔接词连句成篇
1．据预测，随着科技的发展，智能家居将逐渐走进人们的生活。 智能家居将保障我们的安全，为我们提供便利，帮我们创造环境友好型并节能的居住环境。
2．电视和电灯等电器可以自动开关。
3．智能家居将持续跟踪我们的健康状况，并在出现问题时向我们的手机发出警告。
4．用不了多久，这些创新将给我们提供更高质量的生活。
Good morning, my dear classmates, my topic today is about smart homes.
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9 . 【课本改编题】
语法填空

Festivals have     1     wide range of origins. Some come from     2     (religion), while some are for famous     3     (figure) and significant events. The harvest festival is an important festival full of joy and charm. People are grateful     4     the harvest. In European countries, people decorate churches and town halls     5     flowers and fruit, featuring a new look. Today, with festivals     6     (become) commercial, some traditions may fade away. Christmas is the biggest occasion in the West     7     people greet each other with “Merry Christmas”. On Christmas Eve, it is typical of people     8     (enjoy) the roast turkeys, puddings, mashed potatoes and pumpkins.

10 . Match the pictures below to the medical emergencies and describe the pictures.

___heart attack   ___drowning   __sprained ankle ___poisoning   ___bad cut/bleeding

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