1 . The summer I turned 16, my father gave me his renewed car. It was a gift wasted on me at that age but Hannah and I could drive around our city in it.

Hannah was my best friend, a year younger but much taller, very attractive. That summer she signed with a modeling agency. She had already started her work in fashion show.

A month after my birthday, Hannah and I went to a movie. On the way home, we stopped at the McDonald's drive-through, putting the fries on the seat between us to share. Then we decided to ride around awhile. Taking a turn too fast, I hit a neighbor's wall and drove into a full-grown tree.

An impossible amount of blood on Hannah's face. They took us in separate ambulances. I'd broken my cheekbone, and Hannah's forehead was badly scarred( 留疤痕 ). In the emergency room, my parents spoke quietly, " Best plastic( 整形的 ) surgeon in the city for Hannah. " End of Hannah's modeling career.

I didn't know what I could say to Hannah. When her mother, Sharon, came into my hospital room, I started to cry, preparing myself for her anger.

She sat beside me and took my hand. "I hit my best friend's car when I was your age. ”   She said. "I damaged her car and mine badly. You're both alive, and the rest is   window dressing. ”   I started to protest, and Sharon stopped me. "I forgive you. Hannah will too. ”

Sharon's forgiveness allowed Hannah and me to get back in the car together that winter, to stay friends throughout high school and college, to be in each other's weddings, and to watch my daughters play with her children. I think of her gift of forgiveness every time I feel angry at someone. And whenever I see Hannah, the scars are so faded no one else would notice, but in the sunlight I can still see it just below her hairline-for me, a mark of grace.

1. What do we know about Hannah?

A．She didn't like her birthday gift.

B．She had quite good driving skills.

C．She enjoyed a close relationship with the author

D．She started work in a company at the age of 16.

2. The car accident happened when the author and Hannah were ______.

A．on their way to the cinema

B．attending a birthday party

C．driving around after a movie

D．buying food at the McDonald's

3. The underlined part " window dressing " probably refers to something that is ______.

A．not so important

B．not easy to forget

C．hard to take care of

D．necessary in one ’ s life

4. Which can best describe Sharon?

A．Clever and calm

B．Caring and respectful

C．Understanding and forgiving

D．Generous and warm-hearted

5. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．The Terrible Car Accident

B．The Gift of Forgiveness

C．The Story of My Close Friend

D．The Meaning of True Friendship

2 . More than two decades after it went missing, a ceremonial crown has found its way home to Ethiopia. The country’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, expressed his _______ to the Dutch officials who helped with its_______ – and to the man who_______ it, Sirak Asfaw, who went to the Netherlands in the 1970s for political reasons.

Sirak played a big role in the_______ journey of the fancy crown. He used to host different people from Ethiopia in his Dutch house. In 1998, one of the_______ asked him to look after a crown. But after _______ it was of Ethiopian origin, he refused to give it back and _______ it should be sent back to Ethiopia.

However, he didn’t _______ the authorities in power in Ethiopia at the time so he kept it at home. “To_______ such a treasure then was very hard to do,” he said. “I ended up in such a(n)__________ situation, not knowing who to tell or what to do with this________ artwork.”

It was not until the reform-minded Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018 that Sirak________ decided to come forward. He________ Arthur Brand, a famous Dutch specialist in the recovery of stolen art, and     Brand, who has described the __________ as “one of the most exciting finds of my career,” then ________ Sirak to give it to local authorities.

So the________ reached out to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the ministry helped them work out the________ of returning the artwork to Ethiopia – where it hadn’t been seen since early 1990s. ________, after 21 years hidden in a Dutch________, the crown is now back in Ethiopia. This is the amazing achievement of returning the treasure to its________ place.

1.

A．wish

B．preference

C．appreciation

D．enthusiasm

2.

A．return

B．search

C．development

D．protection

3.

A．repair

B．made

C．found

D．bought

4.

A．short

B．unusual

C．dangerous

D．pleasant

5.

A．experts

B．officials

C．ministers

D．guests

6.

A．admitting

B．suggesting

C．announcing

D．realizing

7.

A．advised

B．insisted

C．concluded

D．imagined

8.

A．trust

B．respect

C．urge

D．disappoint

9.

A．take away

B．hand over

C．take possession of

D．make use of

10.

A．risky

B．awkward

C．unique

D．unstable

11.

A．precious

B．foreign

C．unknown

D．illegal

12.

A．randomly

B．unwillingly

C．eventually

D．hesitantly

13.

A．interviewed

B．praised

C．recognized

D．consulted

14.

A．reform

B．incident

C．crown

D．leader

15.

A．trained

B．ordered

C．allowed

D．encouraged

16.

A．pair

B．police

C．specialists

D．authorities

17.

A．costs

B．details

C．challenges

D．advantages

18.

A．Gradually

B．Ridiculously

C．Thankfully

D．Undoubtedly

19.

A．hotel

B．office

C．museum

D．apartment

20.

A．right

B．strange

C．public

D．hiding

3 . Cold showers are common practice in many countries and have been around for much longer before we were spoiled with in-home water heaters. Many health benefits are associated with taking cold showers, the most popular one being improved circulation (血液循环). Cold water hitting the body causes blood to move closer to the inner organs to keep them warm.    1    

Also, those who take a cold shower in the morning are most likely to be more energetic than people who take a hot shower.     2       This, in turn, increases your oxygen intake and heart rate, leading to improved awareness and a more energetic state.

Besides, as you take a cold shower, your body struggles to stay warm by increasing its metabolic (新陈代谢) rate.    3     These cells are responsible for protecting your body and increasing your immune system, making you less likely to be affected by disease.

Additionally, as the cold water shocks the nervous system, the nerves send a signal to the brain and activate the part of the brain responsible for releasing hormones that reduce depression.

    4     Having a shower with cold water will close pores (毛孔) in your skin and also make your hair appear smooth, shiny and healthy.

    5     Turn that tap to cold every now and then, boost your health, and save some pennies on the heating bill in the process.

A．So, what are you waiting for?

B．Do you believe in these benefits of cold showers?

C．That act increases the overall blood circulation in your body.

D．Lots of white blood cells will soon disappear from your body after that.

E．This results in the body producing more white blood cells as it thinks it’s under attack.

F．A less obvious benefit of cold showers may be discovered when you look in the mirror.

G．The sudden touch of cold water will surprise the body, leaving you taking a deep breath.

4 . Role models are powerful. No matter what stage of life you’re at, it’s good to have someone who encourages you to be the best version of yourself. Recent winners of national commendations mean we have a wider range of possible role models.

As part of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), President Xi Jinping signed a presidential decree (主席令) on Sept 17 to award 42 people the Medal of the Republic, the Friendship Medal and national honorary titles, China Daily reported. Recipients come from various backgrounds, including scientists, lawmakers, educators, artists, model workers and six non-Chinese individuals. All have made big contributions to the nation’s construction and development.

Chinese scientist Tu Youyou is one of the eight who were awarded the Medal of the Republic. Tu, who won the 2015 Nobel Prize for her discovery of the malaria drug artemisinin (抗疟药物青蒿素), is the first Chinese citizen to win a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. She has saved millions of lives worldwide. She has also made important scientific innovation in traditional Chinese medicine.

“It is my dream that Chinese medicine will help us conquer life-threatening diseases worldwide and that people across the globe will enjoy its benefits,” Tu once wrote in the science journal Nature Medicine.

Tu is not the only one who has given her life to the country’s development. Nan Rendong, before his death in 2017, led the research and development of China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, the world’s largest radio telescope. He worked on the project for more than 20 years. The facility he designed helps humans search for extraterrestrial civilizations (外星文明) and marked a Chinese technological milestone. His contributions to Chinese astronomy earned him the title, “the people’s Scientist.”

Also receiving awards are six foreign friends who have lent their hands to assist with China’s prosperity. Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, an honoree of the Friendship Medal, is an advocate of the Belt and Road Initiative. Having worked to strengthen the friendship between French and Chinese people in the past decades, he told Xinhua that he is “sincerely pleased” with the honor. “To work for this friendship is to work for peace,” Raffarin said.

Thanks to the great efforts made by these heroic figures, we can live in a prosperous and peaceful country. Hopefully these role models can also light the way for future nation buildings.

1. What’s the main purpose of the article?

A．To express thanks to national heroes.

B．To tell readers what makes a good role model.

C．To describe the national honorary titles awarded recently.

D．To introduce some of the people who won national awards.

2. What do we know about Tu Youyou?

A．She is the only woman to be awarded the Medal of the Republic.

B．She won a Nobel Prize for her discovery of artemisinin 2017.

C．She has helped millions of people around the world defeat malaria.

D．She has helped traditional Chinese medicine gain popularity worldwide.

3. Nan Rendong was awarded for his contributions in the field of________.

A．Medicine	B．agriculture
C．astronomy	D．education

4. Why did Jean-Pierre Raffarin receive an award?

A．He introduced Chinese education To France.

B．He has helped improve China-France relations.

C．He has organized many cultural activities in China.

D．He has devoted himself to China’s economic development.

5 . When I was little, my classmate and neighbor Paul would take wonderful Santa face cookies to school every year as his birthday ________. In those days, I would always follow him when he shared the cookies with other classmates, just in case someone had been ________ and as a result he had an extra ________ or two. Somehow, one cookie ________ long enough for me to show it to my mother. She got the ________ from Paul’s mother and bought the special cookie cutter at Morley Brothers, our local hardware shop.

Over the years, my mother and I would ________ to make these cookies. After I got married, I bought my own cookie cutter and the cookies remained a ________ for the Christmas time. Later, my mother gave me her cutter. I ________ both of the Santa face cookie cutters because Morley Brothers had ________ years before and we never saw anything that even ________ these wonderful Santa faces.

One year, after I made the cookies, the two cutters were waiting to be hand washed and ________ for another year. Well, my oldest daughter decided to help out by ________ the dishwasher. You guessed it. ________, the two treasured plastic cutters, came out distorted and totally ________. I knew if I couldn’t ________ them, a long-standing tradition would come to a ________.

After making several telephone ________, I learned a woman named Pat Kimbrel had ________ the hardware business from her grandmother. I was excited! Immediately, I called and managed to talk with Pat about the happy memories connected with her grandmother’s cookie cutters. Eventually, through Pat I got four Santa face cookie cutters.

Now the family tradition is ________ in both our and our daughters’ houses. So, Paul, thanks to you and your grandmother. I’ll bet you never know how many lives you affect or for how many years the ________ will be felt.

1.

A．benefit

B．wish

C．treat

D．game

2.

A．curious

B．absent

C．free

D．cautious

3.

A．gift

B．class

C．cookie

D．cutter

4.

A．appeared

B．expanded

C．sold

D．survived

5.

A．recipe

B．response

C．award

D．comment

6.

A．manage

B．continue

C．expect

D．struggle

7.

A．program

B．challenge

C．must

D．memory

8.

A．equipped

B．accepted

C．spared

D．guarded

9.

A．closed

B．enlarged

C．existed

D．opened

10.

A．combined

B．resembled

C．represented

D．suited

11.

A．put away

B．saved on

C．set down

D．brought up

12.

A．loading

B．handling

C．covering

D．fixing

13.

A．Obviously

B．Surprisingly

C．hopefully

D．Unfortunately

14.

A．invalid

B．invaluable

C．unusable

D．unavailable

15.

A．copy

B．replace

C．identify

D．share

16.

A．fall

B．head

C．deal

D．stop

17.

A．businesses

B．services

C．lines

D．enquiries

18.

A．taken over

B．taken up

C．taken down

D．taken to

19.

A．inspired

B．observed

C．learnt

D．taught

20.

A．appreciation

B．pleasure

C．influence

D．motivation

6 . Like clockwork, nearly every fourth February includes one extra day. February 29th, otherwise known as Leap Day, isn’t exactly a holiday. Instead, it’s there to keep your calendar consistent with the earth’s rotation (旋转) around the sun.

According to History, com, Roman emperor Julius Caesar is the “father” of Leap Year. Until he came along, people used a 355-day calendar, which was 10.25 days shorter than the solar year. Roman officials were supposed add an extra month every now and then to keep the seasons exactly where they should be. But that didn’t work out all that well. When special occasions started shifting into different seasons around 45 BCE, Caesar consulted with astronomers and decreed (下令) that the empire should use a 12-month, 365-day calendar, which he named after himself, Caesar’s Julian calendar included a Leap Day every four years.

Though Leap Day keeps your calendar in line with the earth’s rotation around the sun, it causes a different kind of problem for leapsters. When should these February 29th babies celebrate their birthdays during the other three-quarters of their lives? Some party on February 28th, while others prefer a two-day celebration that spans the last day of February and the first day of March.

Leap Day can be a nuisance in the legal system. In 2006, a court in Massachusetts was deciding whether criminal John Melo could be released a day early since his 10-year sentence included a Leap Day. In the case, the judge decided that since the man was sentenced to prison for years, not days. Leap Day didn’t make a bit of difference.

Though a few timekeepers have pushed for calendars that don’t include Leap Day, almost all astronomers and societies agree that Leap Day is the best method to keep the calendar on track.

1. Why was Leap Day created?

A．To celebrate special occasions.	B．To honor Emperor Julius Caesar.
C．To keep pace with the solar year.	D．To keep track of all the seasons.

2. What is the problem with the birthday celebration of February 29th babies?

A．It is sometimes delayed.	B．It lasts at least two days.
C．It has to be held every other year.	D．It may take place on different dates.

3. What does the underlined word “nuisance” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Joke.	B．Topic.
C．Trouble.	D．Mistake.

4. what is the attitude of most astronomers towards Leap Day?

A．Critical.	B．Supportive.
C．Doubtful.	D．Cautious.

7 . Many people avoid apologizing because admitting to wrongdoing makes them uncomfortable. “We like to view ourselves as good people-as kind and considerate,” says Ryan Fehr, a professor at the University of Washington. “Apologies force us to admit to ourselves that we don't always live up to our own standards. We might also fear that the victim won't accept our apology, further damaging our positive sense of self. For these reasons, an apology can be very difficult to give.”

For many, apologizing is stressful, awkward and uncomfortable. But a heartfelt apology has positive effects. It can improve your mental health, repair damaged relationships and promote self-esteem. “Apology acts as a signal of one's moral character,” Fehr says.

Researchers at Ohio State University have determined that effective apologies have five elements: expressing regret, explaining what went wrong, acknowledging responsibility, offering to repair the situation and requesting forgiveness. All five aren't necessary every time. “The more of those elements were included, the more likely the apology was seen as convincing,” says Roy Lewicki, the lead study author. “Acknowledgement of responsibility turned out to be the most important piece, followed by an explanation of why it happened and declaration of regret.”

“Sometimes, an immediate apology is called for,” says Antony Manstead, a psychology professor at Cardiff University. “But if the other party is angry at your wrongdoing, it may be more effective to wait, because their anger may stop them accepting an apology. Some research suggests that a delay increases an apology's effectiveness because it conveys that the wrongdoer has had time to reflect on. his/her misdeeds,” says Mara Olekalns, a professor of management at Melbourne Business School. “The best time to apologize is when one feels ready to sincerely apologize,” says Etienne Mullet, research director of the Ethics and Work Laboratory at the Institute of Advanced Studies. “There is nothing worse in these situations than insincere apologies.”

1. Why do many people feel uncomfortable to apologize?

A．They are kind and considerate people.	B．They are afraid of losing face.
C．They believe themselves right.	D．They have high moral standards.

2. What is the most important when it comes to making an effective apology?

A．To express regret.	B．To express what went wrong.
C．To accept responsibility.	D．To request forgiveness.

3. What can be inferred about an apology from the last paragraph?

A．The sooner, the better.	B．The later, the better.
C．The more often, the better.	D．The more genuine, the better.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．How you can make an effective apology.	B．Why people avoid apologizing.
C．What benefits you can get from an apology.	D．When you can make a heartfelt apology.

8 . While car sharing is a concept that’s catching on, old-fashioned carpooling where a group of people take turns driving each other to work has always faced a resistance (抗拒）. In a study on traffic problems by ABC News, 84% of those who drive to work say that they still do it alone. More than half of those lone riders insist that carpooling is just too inconvenient, and 18% say they simply don’t know anyone to share a ride with.

Now technology makes carpooling easier and more fun. NuRide, a company provided an online carpooling service last year, offers daily travelers in the Washington area not just a web-based list of would-be carpoolers but also a way to arrange a trip online. Here，s how it works: rider seekers enter the positions where their trip will begin and end, the time they want to leave and if they’re willing to drive or just ride in someone else’s car. The website’s search engine then looks for matches and makes lists of the names of traveling companions, along with the car model and the exact time and place to meet for each trip. People who want to share the ride can show their interest in joining in online and then meet their car mates when it’s time to go.

NuRide users aren’t riding with total strangers. They are required to provide the name of their employer and a work e-mail address，both of which need to be checked before being listed on the website.

To attract users, NuRide offers a frequent rider prize: anyone who shares a ride gets a $1 credit. So far, 2, 300 people have signed up. NuRide GEO Rick Steele said that more than 50, 000 rides have been arranged on the website, resulting in 1.4 million fewer miles driven and 650 fewer tons of automobile emissions (排放).

1. What has the study found about drivers' opinions on carpooling?

A．Many think it is inconvenient.

B．84%of them accept the idea.

C．Some consider it dangerous.

D．18%of them drive to work alone.

2. What can NuRide do for its users?

A．Decide car models for them.

B．Help them arrange a shared cart trip.

C．Give them a list of car owners.

D．Find out their car mates' true names.

3. What information is a NuRide user asked to provide?

A．His age.	B．His home address.
C．His hobbies.	D．His employer's name.

4. It can be inferred that NuRide has helped in _________.

A．improving air quality

B．increasing job opportunities

C．promoting driving safety

D．making people know each other

9 . Your dog is as smart as any two year old, according to a new study. Dogs bring much happiness to their owners, and even improve human health. Most two-year-olds keep us busy in life - an important part of living a long and happy life. According to Stanley Coren, Ph.D.of the University of British Columbia, our dogs are smarter than we thought.

Dr. Coren reviewed many studies to find out that dogs are as smart as 2 to 2.5-year-olds. Forget about one word orders - according to Coren, the smartest dogs can learn up to 250 words. Most dogs understand an average of 165 words. “The upper limit of dogs, ability to learn language is partly based on a study of a Border Collie   named Rico who showed knowledge of 200 spoken words，and ‘fast-track learning,’ which scientists believed to be found only in humans and language-learning apes (猿).”

Dogs are also great at tricking. During play, they have the ability to trick humans and other dogs in order to get treats. “And they are nearly as successful in tricking humans as humans are in tricking dogs,” says Coren.

Dogs can also count to four or five, which might explain how they know when their toys are missing. Coren explains, “Their astonishing flashes of smartness and creativity are reminders that they may not be Einsteins, but are sure closer to humans than we thought.”

Animals can do much to keep us happy, healthy, and protect us from harm. Stories of dog heroes can be found using a simple Internet search. Pets teach us sense of duty, keep us from loneliness,and can help with treatment of the disabled.

1. How do dogs bring happiness and health to humans according to the author?

A．By doing funny tricks.	B．By keeping their owners busy.
C．By serving their owners.	D．By playing with the children.

2. In what way is Rico special?

A．He understands one-word orders.

B．He uses words like a 2.5-year-old.

C．He is Coren's favorite subject for study.

D．He shows a high level of language ability.

3. What does Coren say about dogs' counting ability?

A．It is as good as an ape's.

B．It is close to that of humans.

C．It shows their smartness.

D．It leaves a lot to be studied.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Dogs are smarter than we thought.

B．Dogs do well in tricking for food.

C．Dogs are people's faithful friends.

D．Dogs can speak human language.

10 . A thief dropped a winning lottery ticket（彩票）at the scene of his crime has been given a lesson in _______. The man whom he robbed _______the ticket and won the ￡25,000 prize, but he managed to find the thief,and handed over _______.

The robbery happened when Professor Sabbatuccci was changing a tyre on a highway.Another motorist， who stopped‘to_______', stole a suitcase from his car and drove off.The professor found the_______ticket and brought it home.

Next day， the professor saw the lottery_______on TV and realized it was a winner.He_______the ￡25,000 prize， but he decided not to keep the money.He made an announcement on the radio，_______:‘I'm trying to find the man who robbed me.I have ￡25，000 for him-a lottery_______.Please meet me.'

The professor received hundreds of________from people who were hoping to________him into handing them the money.But there was one voice he________-and he arranged to meet the man in a park.

The robber gave back the________and burst into tears.He could not ________what was happening.‘Why didn't you keep the money?'he asked.The professor replied：‘Because it's not mine.'Then he walked off， turning down the thief's________to share the prize.

1.

A．friendship

B．honesty

C．bravery

D．adventure

2.

A．sent

B．took out

C．bought

D．picked up

3.

A．crime

B．ticket

C．money

D．evidence

4.

A．repair

B．rest

C．watch

D．help

5.

A．left

B．dropped

C．forgotten

D．damaged

6.

A．results

B．story

C．loss

D．sales

7.

A．presented

B．took

C．donated

D．shared

8.

A．joking

B．saying

C．wondering

D．replying

9.

A．number

B．luck

C．win

D．receipt

10.

A．notes

B．emails

C．letters

D．calls

11.

A．trick

B．persuade

C．lead

D．draw

12.

A．recognized

B．remembered

C．recorded

D．recovered

13.

A．car

B．suitcase

C．money

D．check

14.

A．imagine

B．blame

C．believe

D．realize

15.

A．deal

B．promise

C．payment

D．offer