1. What does the speaker’s father do?
| A．A chef. | B．A waiter. | C．A restaurant owner. |
| A．Children. | B．Parents. | C．Grandparents. |
| A．Twelve years old. | B．Ten years old. | C．Eight years old. |
| A．He visited the White House. |
| B．He took part in a cooking contest. |
| C．He gave a speech on healthy eating. |
2 . At my first lesson in Chinese calligraphy, my teacher told me plainly: “Now I will teach you how to write your name. And to make it beautiful.” I felt my breath catch. I was curious.
Growing up in Singapore, I had an unusual relationship with my Chinese name. My parents are ethnically Chinese, so they asked fortune tellers to decide my name, aiming for maximum luck. As a result, I ended up with a nonsense and embarrassing name: Chen Yiwen, meaning, roughly, “old”, “barley (薏米)” and “warm”.
When I arrived in America for college at 18, I put on an American accent and abandoned my Chinese name. When I moved to Hong Kong in 2021, after 14 years in the States, I decided to learn calligraphy. Why not get back in touch with my heritage? I thought.
In calligraphy, the idea is to copy the old masters’ techniques, thereby refining your own. Every week, though, my teacher would give uncomfortably on-the-nose assessments of my person. “You need to be braver,” he once observed. “Have confidence. Try to produce a bold stroke(笔画).” For years, I had prided myself on presenting an image of confidence, but my writing betrayed me.
I was trying to make sense of this practice. You must visualize the word as it is to be written and leave a trace of yourself in it. As a bodily practice, calligraphy could go beyond its own cultural restrictions. Could it help me go beyond mine? My teacher once said to me, “When you look at the word, you see the body. Though a word on the page is two-dimensional, it contains multitudes, conveying the force you’ve applied, the energy of your grip, the arch of your spine.” I had been learning calligraphy to get in touch with my cultural roots, but what I was really seeking was a return to myself. Now I have sensed that the pleasure out of calligraphy allows me to know myself more fully.
During a recent lesson, my teacher pointed at the word I had just finished, telling me: “This word is much better. I can see the choices you made, your calculations, your flow. Trust yourself. This word is yours.” He might as well have said, “This word is you.”
1. What did the author initially think of her name “Chen Yiwen”?| A．It was lucky so she gladly accepted it. | B．She felt proud of its symbolic meaning. |
| C．She understood the intention but still disliked it. | D．Its strange pronunciation made her embarrassed. |
| A．pick up a new hobby | B．reconnect with her origin |
| C．gain insights into a new culture | D．fit in with local community |
| A．reflects the creator’s spirits | B．comes from creative energy |
| C．highlights the design of strokes | D．depends on continuous practice |
| A．Appreciate what our culture offers. | B．Find beauty from your inner self. |
| C．A great teacher leads you to truth. | D．We are the sum of what we create. |
3 . I must have always known reading was very important because the first memories I had as a child dealt with books. There was not one night that I don’t remember mom reading me a storybook by my bedside. I was extremely inspired by the elegant way the words sounded.
I always wanted to know what my mom was reading. Hearing mom say “I can’t believe what’s printed in the newspaper this morning” made me want to grab it out of her hands and read it myself. I wanted to be like my mom and know all of the things she knew. So I carried around a book, and each night, just to be like her. I would pretend to be reading.
This is how everyone learned to read. We would start off with sentences, then paragraphs, and then stories. It seemed an unending journey, but even as a six-year-old girl I realized that knowing how to read could open many doors. When mom said “The C-A-N-D-Y is hidden on the top shelf”, I knew where the candy was. My progress in reading raised my curiosity, and I wanted to know everything. I often found myself telling my mom to drive more slowly, so that I could read all of the road signs we passed.
Most of my reading through primary, middle and high school was factual reading. I read for knowledge, and to make A’s on my tests. Occasionally, I would read a novel that was assigned, but I didn’t enjoy this type of reading. I liked facts, things that are concrete. I thought anything abstract left too much room for argument.
Yet, now that I’m growing and the world I once knew as being so simple is becoming more complex I find myself needing a way to escape. By opening a novel, I can leave behind my burdens and enter into a wonderful and mysterious world where I am now a new character. In these worlds I can become anyone. I don’t have to write down what happened or what technique the author was using when he or she wrote this. I just read to relax.
We’re taught to read because it’s necessary for much of human understanding. Reading is a vital part of my life. Reading satisfies my desire to keep learning. And I’ve found that the possibilities that lie within books are limitless.
1. Why did the author want to take the newspaper suddenly out of mom’s hands?| A．She was dying to know what had happened. |
| B．She wanted mom to read the news to her. |
| C．She couldn’t wait to destroy the newspaper. |
| D．She couldn’t help but stop mom from reading. |
| A．Her special way to find a place. |
| B．Her eagerness to develop her reading ability. |
| C．Her effort to remind mom to respect traffic rules. |
| D．Her growing desire to know the world around her. |
| A．A way to develop a love for learning. | B．A way to create a mysterious land |
| C．A way to get away from a confusing world. | D．A way to learn about the adult world. |
| A．The Methods of Reading | B．Growing Up with Reading |
| C．The Process of Reading | D．Reading Makes a Full Man |
4 . My friend and I recently took an art class together through our town’s community education program. Our classmates were a mix of ages, stages of life, and experience with making art. We stood out in the class—not for our artistic talent, but for our consistent encouragement of ourselves, each other, and the group. It got me thinking how encouragement had become a routine.
It became something of a joke between the two of us to compliment(赞美) each other, offer a positive comment when another student showed his or her work, and generally chat around the table about how fun our project was going. But reflecting back, our positivist was anything but a joke. It was a bright light in my week, a space where I knew I could be surrounded with kindness, gentleness, and positivist.
Here’s the most special thing about it; my friend’s and my positive conversation wasn’t just encouraging, it was true. We didn’t go for cheap or false compliments like, “This painting should be in a museum!” Instead, we went for authentic(真实的) expressions of support and encouragement, like, “I love how you did that cloud!”
Over time, the class became something of a sacred space, because we had made a habit of using encouraging, supportive language. Sentence-starters like, “I like,” “I appreciate,” “I want to try”, kept us present, positive, and honest.
The encouragement also kept us engaged in the work of making art. I feel sure that I learned more—and practiced more at home—because the activity was shown in such consistently positive terms, grounded in a growth mindset, self-acceptance, and encouragement.
Having a friend to share an encouragement habit is fantastic, but you can practice it on your own as well. Compliment yourself in the mirror every morning. Keep a running “great work.” list of thing? you are doing well today. Trust in your ability to find something loving—and true-to comment today and every day.
1. What do we know about the author’s classmates?| A．They admired those talented in art. |
| B．They didn’t take art class seriously. |
| C．They were of the same artistic level. |
| D．They were on good terms in the class. |
| A．By showing false compliments to others. |
| B．By decorating their class as a museum. |
| C．By displaying abstract art works in the class. |
| D．By offering supportive language around them. |
| A．It made him hopeful and confident. |
| B．It needed to provide more practice. |
| C．It was cheap and easy to carry out. |
| D．It promoted his communication skills. |
| A．To introduce a community education program. |
| B．To call for good action to support those in need |
| C．To describe how to make encouragement a habit. |
| D．To comment on the power of authentic expressions. |
Born to be different
I stood in front of the mirror, whispering to myself, “If I didn’t have this scar (疤痕), the world would embrace me more warmly.” With a heavy heart, I turned away from my reflection and gazed out of the window, the daily school routine—a constant reminder of the tightness in my chest. Each day, I prepared my sell for the unavoidable questions—the disgusted glances, and the eye-rolls as I bravely attempted to explain what it truly meant to be born with a cleft (裂缝，裂口).
Born with a cleft lip and orphaned (孤儿) at birth, I entered multiple adoptive homes until ages even when I was finally adopted by my forever home. But the frequent transitions had already left a bad mark on my young soul and I’d fallen behind in my schoolwork, and my appearance-related insecurities robbed me of any confidence. My future seemed clouded and uncertain, and I constantly sought approval from others, often finding myself in the wrong crowd.
Deep inside, I was fully aware that I was on the wrong path. Although the future remained a mystery, I desired something different and realized that I had to change the course of my life.
Thankfully, in middle school, my life took a turn. I started to hang out with uplifting friends—individuals who accepted me without judgment and taught me the value of self-love. My sixth-grade social studies teacher, Cynthia, with her passionate delivery of history, often had me staying after class to further explore global issues. She inspired me to become the change I longed to see in the world.
One day, I delivered a speech in front of my classmates, discussing the significance of the “Treaty of Versailles (《凡尔赛条约》)”. After my speech, Cynthia called to me. “Ashleigh, I would like to speak with you for a moment, please.”
注意：1.续写词数应为150个左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
My legs shook like trees in a storm.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Cynthia nodded approvingly, “Ashleigh, I’d like to suggest you consider a career in polities.”
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6 . Early on, Sandra Marshall showed a talent and love for art. A New York native, Sandra owes her passion for art, and her thirst for learning, to childhood trips into New York City to visit the museums, and galleries.
After Sandra received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Arizona State University, she worked as a portrait painter and mural (壁画) artist but turned to food art when her daughter declared she would no longer eat meat. Sandra started exploring with fruits and vegetables to make cooking more fun, and was inspired by the colors of nature. She would write stories about her dinnertime art pieces so her children would see the magic in produce.
In 2014, Sandra opened a studio called Be...An Artist Studio, which welcomed artists to come and learn many different types of art. Paint nights, sculpting nights, live entertainment and eventually a cooking school, all came together and helped to bring the community creating together. She was featured on many television networks displaying her passions for the arts. Sandra began posting her creations on social media which led to her first published book One Hot Night at the Veggie Bar.
In 2019, Sandra closed her studio to expand and bring art to more people. This also gave her more time to create and explore he town art, including her food art. Sandra hosted painting events, painting with thousands of people at her large Be...An Artist events, such as the National Football League’s owners meeting in 2019 where she painted with the NFL owners and their families.
Sandra is now working with schools, bringing the joy of creating to children and their families with her “Success For All” painting programs that n re supported by the sales of her food art books and grants given to the schools. Last year alone, she painted with thousands of children and their families over Zoom.
1. For what reason did Sandra change her art theme?| A．She got bored with mural art. |
| B．She was attracted by the colors of nature. |
| C．She wanted to introduce her daughter to art. |
| D．She hoped to make cooking more appealing. |
| A．Sandra’s influence. | B．Sandra’s art styles. |
| C．Sandra’s achievements. | D．Sandra’s future plan. |
| A．She wrote books on art. | B．She held large painting events. |
| C．She opened her own studio. | D．She began to try different types of art. |
| A．The Story behind Food Art |
| B．The Rise of Be...An Artist Studio |
| C．A Trip Shaping Sandra’s Artistic Career |
| D．Sandra Marshall: from a Portrait Painter to an Art Advocate |
7 . 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
Maurice Ashley was kind and smart, a former graduate returning to teach, and this job was no game for him; he meant business. In his introduction, he made it
Ten years after my chess class with Ashley, I’m still putting to use what he
| A．put forward | B．jumped at | C．tried out | D．turned down |
| A．waste | B．earn | C．save | D．pay |
| A．title | B．competitor | C．textbook | D．instructor |
| A．urged | B．demanded | C．held | D．meant |
| A．interview | B．meet | C．challenge | D．beat |
| A．real | B．perfect | C．clear | D．possible |
| A．attend | B．pass | C．skip | D．observe |
| A．add | B．expose | C．apply | D．compare |
| A．eventually | B．naturally | C．directly | D．normally |
| A．criterion | B．classroom | C．department | D．situation |
| A．taught | B．wrote | C．questioned | D．promised |
| A．fact | B．step | C．manner | D．skill |
| A．grades | B．decisions | C．impressions | D．comments |
| A．analyze | B．describe | C．rebuild | D．control |
| A．announce | B．signal | C．block | D．evaluate |
8 . I didn’t go to Santiago, Chile to look for friendship. In fact, Chile was not even on my wish list.
A mid-life crisis woman, I got a chance to study abroad. I only wanted to learn about global business, taste South American cuisine, and check “study abroad” off my wish list.
On the fifth day, I joined a group for a neighborhood work project aided by the anti-poverty (扶贫) organization. Our tasks were to build a water tower and paint the community center. Upon arrival, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like a scene out of a horrible film. That moment redefined poverty for me because I had never seen such terrible living conditions. As advised, I showed no signs of the motional battle going on inside me.
Just as I was about to start work on painting, a request came through for a few volunteers to help Nadia, a local resident who volunteered to cook for us. I raised my hand to help because I wanted spend time with the people of the neighborhood despite my shortage of Spanish speaking skills.
Nadia had a sincere smile but not overly friendly. Even without speaking each other’s language we started to learn about one another. We chatted about our children, our upbringing, shared picture of our family, struggled to instruct each other to communicate in the other’s language, and laugh many times.
After we fed everybody and the dishes were washed, my day was over. But I found myself hesitant to leave. It was as if I had known her my entire life. I had not predicted the unselfishness heart I would encounter, and it was moving.
As we were waiting for the car to pick us up, Nadia showed me her plants that are well-maintains. I could see that despite the hard conditions she was passionate about life. She made me long to be stronger person. She showed me that poverty was external, but happiness was internal. I was seeking to give 100 percent for a well-intentioned cause, but I left receiving 200 percent from her.
1. What was the author’s initial purpose of going to Chile?| A．To find new friends while traveling. | B．To participate in an anti-poverty project. |
| C．To fulfill the desire to study abroad. | D．To gain a graduate certificate in business. |
| A．She decided to relieve the poverty. | B．She kept her emotions well hidden. |
| C．She comforted the shocked volunteers. | D．She refused to continue the present task. |
| A．She felt very sympathetic toward Nadia. |
| B．She longed to interact with the local residents. |
| C．She wanted to improve her Spanish speaking skills. |
| D．She preferred cooking to painting the community center. |
| A．True friends are never apart in heart. |
| B．Happiness is defined by a positive attitude. |
| C．Language is not a barrier to great connections. |
| D．Unselfishness is putting others before ourselves. |
1. Who is the speaker probably speaking to?
| A．Movie fans. | B．Newspaper readers. | C．College students. |
| A．How education shaped his life. |
| B．How his language skills improved. |
| C．How he managed his business well. |
| A．Proud. | B．Sympathetic. | C．Grateful. |
| A．Business. | B．Math. | C．History. |
1. What did the speaker do yesterday morning?
| A．He went hiking. |
| B．He went fishing. |
| C．He went horse-riding. |
| A．In the morning. |
| B．In the afternoon. |
| C．In the evening. |
| A．Preparing the hot dogs. |
| B．Making the campfire. |
| C．Looking for sticks. |
| A．Eight days. | B．Five days. | C．Six days. |
