Jan Tchamani, an English teacher in Birmingham, UK, suddenly developed a serious illness and had to quit her job. At age 50, she found herself out of work and
She was so inspired by the people she
Jan’s life has been
2 . Exhausted, Jia Ling ate five packs of chocolate cookies alone at night by her bed after wrapping up filming for her new film YOLO that day. “Recalling that moment, I felt so great, like a tired soldier claiming the spoils of war,” she said.
By then, she had lost an incredible 50 kilograms, and her entire image had changed. The chubby (胖乎乎的), round and cute comedian Jia Ling was gone, replaced by a cool, muscular warrior.
Audiences were shocked by her appearance on Chinese New Year’s Day, Feb.10, when the film was first released. Jia had kept everything so secretive, avoiding public appearances for a year, that her new look was only revealed when she appeared on the big screen. Conversations about her high-intensity weight loss training, along with her courage and determination, have become trending topics across China, propelling the film’s box office earnings.
YOLO, which stands for “you only live once,” is the theme Jia aims to tell in her new film. The story follows an overweight, depressed woman who becomes isolated from society. However, after meeting a boxing coach and taking up the sport, she begins to regain her passion and finds her way in life. The filming was divided into five stages. Jia had to gain 20 kilograms at first for the role, moving on to the final stage when she lost a significant amount of weight and became muscular. This method mirrors what some Hollywood stars, such as Christian Bale, have done, but Jia’s effort is jaw-dropping and takes it to an even more extreme level.
Yet, the film’s core goes beyond physical transformation. “This film is not about weight loss, nor is it much about boxing. It’s a film that tells the story of how a kind person finds her true self and learns to love herself,” Jia said.
1. What does the underlined word “propelling” in Paragraph 3 mean?| A．Disturbing. | B．Restoring. | C．Driving. | D．Slowing. |
| A．Generous and funny. | B．Determined and courageous. |
| C．Creative and sensitive. | D．Ambitious and enthusiastic. |
| A．A woman’s pursuit of boxing glory. |
| B．A woman’s journey through weight loss. |
| C．A woman’s struggle with social pressure. |
| D．A woman’s discovery of self-love and acceptance. |
| A．The early bird catches the worm. | B．Actions speak louder than words. |
| C．It’s never too late to change. | D．Don’t cry over spilled milk. |
3 . The story of Oprah Winfrey’s life is one of overcoming incredible odds and achieving great success. Born into poverty in Mississippi, Winfrey faced numerous challenges throughout her childhood. She was raised by her grandmother, who installed in her a love of reading and a strong work ethic. However, Winfrey was also the victim of abuse and neglect, both at home and in her community.
Despite these obstacles, Winfrey showed great promise from a young age. At age 19 she became a news anchor(主播) for the local television station, and in 1976 she was made a reporter and co-anchor for the ABC news in Baltimore, Maryland. She found herself limited by the objectivity required of news reporting, and in 1977 she became co-host of the Baltimore morning show People Are Talking.
Winfrey excelled in the casual and personal talk-show format, and in 1984 she moved to Chicago to host the faltering(衰退的) talk show AM Chicago. Winfrey’s honest and engaging personality quickly turned the program into a success, and in 1985 it was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show. Winfrey’s warmth, intelligence, and empathy made her a beloved figure to millions of viewers. She used her platform to address important social issues, such as child abuse, domestic violence, and poverty.
Despite her success, Winfrey faced many challenges along the way. She struggled with her weight, and was often criticized for her appearance. She also faced many personal and professional setbacks in her life and work. However, Winfrey refused to give up. She continued to work hard, launching her own production company, Harpo Productions, and starting her own cable network, OWN. She also became a philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to charitable causes.
Today, Winfrey is one of the most successful and influential people in the world. She has won lots of awards for her work. She is also a best-selling author and a respected public speaker. Winfrey’s story provés the power of perseverance, hard work, and faith in oneself.
1. What did Oprah Winfrey start her career as?| A．A news anchor. | B．A talk show co-anchor. |
| C．A manager of a company. | D．A reporter of a TV station. |
| A．It was a TV program meant to help the local citizens. |
| B．Oprah Winfrey’s excellent qualities made it successful. |
| C．It called on viewers to fight against poverty and crimes. |
| D．It was a program designed only for Oprah Winfrey. |
| A．Winfrey faced many doubts about her hosting style. |
| B．Winfrey set up a company of her own. |
| C．Winfrey never gave up in face of difficulties. |
| D．Winfrey contributed lots of money to charities. |
| A．To tell us that our life has its ups and downs. |
| B．To share Winfrey’s life experience with us. |
| C．To encourage us to work hard in our careers. |
| D．To sing high praise for Winfrey’s success and qualities. |
4 . The system of communication which relies on the verbal or non-verbal codes, used in transferring (转移的) information, is called “language”. A language is a tool of communication, while communication is the process of transferring message to one another. Language focuses on the signs, symbols and words. Communication lays emphasis (强调) on the message. Before the invention of written words, language was limited to the auditory (听觉的) channels. The basics of communication do not change at all. However, daily new words are added to the dictionary of the language, so it changes every day.
Is communication wider than language?
So with the above explanation, it is quite clear that communication has a wider scope than language, as the former covers the latter. Language is the essence (本质) of communication, without which, it cannot exist.
What are language barriers (障碍) in communication?
Language barriers are the most common communication barriers which cause misunderstandings and misinterpretations between people. Most of the people in the world do not speak English or, even if they use, it is their second or third language. If the speaker and receiver do not use the same language and words, there is no meaning to the communication.
Why is language needed for communication?
Language is needed for any kind of communication, and even people with speech impairments communicate with sign language. Communication becomes difficult in situations where people don’t understand each others’ language. The inability to communicate using a language is known as the language barrier to communication.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?| A．Language is the only way to communicate with people. |
| B．People send messages to communicate with others. |
| C．Language didn’t appear until the invention of written words. |
| D．Language changes every day with the added new words. |
| A．Speaking English. | B．Speaking the second language. |
| C．Speaking the same language. | D．Using body language. |
| A．methods | B．functions | C．disabilities | D．skills |
| A．Communication is superior to language. |
| B．There are differences between communication and language. |
| C．All the languages can be written and spoken in the world. |
| D．Language has a wider scope than communication. |
5 . 假如你是李华，请你给某英文报社的“城市风采”栏目写一篇短文，介绍我们伟大的首都——北京。要点如下：
1. 基本概况：人口约2, 000万，面积16, 000多平方千米，位于华北平原北部；
2. 气候：四季分明，夏季炎热多雨，冬季寒冷干燥；
3. 历史与文化：有3, 000多年的历史，政治、文化中心，著名大学很多；
4. 交通与旅游：交通便利，有很多旅游景点。
注意： 1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6 . “Just sign here, sir,” the deliveryman (送货员) said as he handed Oscar Reyna a package.
The package consisted of (装有) a long, narrow box
Oscar was 16 when he first saw the
Oscar
Oscar talked his grandparents into going by Mrs. O’Brien’s house on their way home. He rang the bell, the door opened, and an elderly woman appeared. “May I
Years later, Oscar was staring at the finely carved handle of the umbrella as he remembered Mrs. O’Brien. It was in perfect condition, considering how
| A．strictly | B．carefully | C．seriously | D．carelessly |
| A．Opening | B．Seizing | C．Watching | D．Searching |
| A．After | B．When | C．Since | D．Although |
| A．ordinary | B．unusual | C．simple | D．typical |
| A．beauty | B．shape | C．size | D．history |
| A．persuaded | B．forced | C．encouraged | D．advised |
| A．until | B．before | C．which | D．where |
| A．invite | B．help | C．bother | D．know |
| A．putting up | B．turning out | C．picking up | D．holding out |
| A．wide | B．confident | C．proud | D．shy |
| A．patience | B．kindness | C．courage | D．determination |
| A．clearly | B．naturally | C．exactly | D．probably |
| A．old | B．rare | C．valuable | D．nice |
| A．in turn | B．in return | C．in exchange | D．in answer |
| A．attractive | B．mean | C．selfless | D．selfish |
Sports Day was getting close in the school. All the children were very excited and were practicing for the big race. John, one of the fast runners of the school, was confident that he would win for he was not doing anything at all. “You have to work hard to come first in the race John. You are not practicing at all,” said John’s mother.
“Mom, you know how fast I am! Why should I waste my time running? Only I will win; no one else will win!”said John. “John, you may be right but talent (天赋) without hard work is not good at all. This laziness of yours will cost you greatly,” his mother warned him. John just laughed. He was so confident that he would win the trophy (奖杯) as no one else in his class was as fast as he was!.
Tim, a classmate of John, was also participating (参加) in the running race. He was not a fast runner. However, he practiced till late at night and had developed great endurance (持久力) to run the race.
There were a few days left for the Sports Day but John did not practice at all. On the other hand, Tim practiced day and night.
The Sports Day was almost around the corner but John was confident that no one could beat him and had not practiced at all. But Tim with his hard work had become a very great runner.
At last, the Sports Day arrived. All the students showed up on the ground to cheer their favorites. The coach blew the whistle (口哨) and everyone began to run toward the finishing line. It was so exciting. John and Tim left all the racers far behind. Both of them were neck to neck.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Suddenly, John went ahead of Tim.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________John’s mother came up to Tim and praised him for his hard work.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8 . Some Winter Activities
Winter activities are underestimated (低估). The days may be shorter, but the list of fun activities isn’t. Don’t let the winter blues take over.
Finding your favourite.
Walking on snow.
Skiing. Those that love it really love it. Hitting the ski hills is an old wintertime tradition. It gets you outside, boosts your mood, and serves as a core workout. You don’t need the latest gear (设备) to be able to have fun.
| A．Go to the gym. |
| B．Learning something. |
| C．Most ski fields rent gear too. |
| D．Be active and try these winter activities. |
| E．The following are things you can do at home. |
| F．You needn’t be an athlete to enjoy this seasonal activity. |
| G．The key to keeping healthy is finding what you enjoy doing. |
9 . After graduation, I decided to take the gym seriously. Accompanied by a friend, I
One day, he suggested that we
But several weeks later, he managed to
“We’re not getting enough
“Tennis? I can’t play tennis! That
However, weeks later, I started playing tennis. After several months of
I learned a valuable
| A．quit | B．changed | C．started | D．designed |
| A．confident | B．familiar | C．careful | D．satisfied |
| A．take up | B．focus on | C．make up | D．check in |
| A．admired | B．supported | C．revised | D．refused |
| A．remind | B．persuade | C．attract | D．request |
| A．wanted | B．imagined | C．scheduled | D．arranged |
| A．fluent | B．skillful | C．curious | D．impressive |
| A．movement | B．adventure | C．exercise | D．time |
| A．includes | B．requires | C．improves | D．explores |
| A．suggestion | B．strategy | C．behaviour | D．goal |
| A．hopeful | B．careful | C．painful | D．harmful |
| A．obviously | B．formally | C．actually | D．finally |
| A．lecture | B．message | C．lesson | D．responsibility |
| A．flash | B．follow | C．narrow | D．contact |
| A．positive | B．calm | C．confused | D．interested |
10 . Cheapest Islands in the World to Visit
Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas
As the northernmost of the 700 islands of the Bahamas, Grand Bahama dishes up plenty of cheap activities alongside its white-sand beaches. Visiting Lucayan National Park, which is home to both beloved Gold Rock Beach and one of the largest underwater cave (洞穴) systems in the world, is an affordable trip. There are hotel rooms at $80 a night.
Madeira, Portugal
Though closer to mainland Africa, Madeira is a part of Portugal known for its breathtaking natural beauty. Visitors can find hotels starting at $85 a night, and enjoy plenty of low-cost activities, like rowing a boat around the volcanic Porto Moniz natural swimming pools, and admiring the never-ending views around the island. No wonder it’s been called the “Hawaii of Europe”.
Dominican Republic
Looking for one of the least expensive Caribbean islands? The Dominican Republic is full of affordable surprises. In Santo Domingo, walk around Zona Colonial, the historic heart of the country’s capital, you’ll find castles, cathedrals (教堂), cobblestone streets, and cafés around every corner. During the low season (summer), you can find hotel deals starting at $33 a night.
Sri Lanka
Do you want to spend just $25～50 a day? Then go to Sri Lanka. Since the South Asian island country is one of the largest tea producers in the world, start with a tea factory tour on a peaceful hike. Taking a train ride through the hills from Kandy to Badulla or from Colombo to Galle is an enjoyable and affordable way to see the countryside.
1. What can you do in Lucayan National Park?| A．Visit a huge castle. | B．Enjoy the beautiful beach. |
| C．Swim in Porto Moniz. | D．Go on a tea factory tour. |
| A．It requires booking. | B．It has historic sites. |
| C．It is famous for tea. | D．It is closed in summer. |
| A．Dominica. | B．The Bahamas. | C．Portugal. | D．Sri Lanka. |
