1 . Ferrell got the standard well wishes on the website on her 53rd birthday, but she got some unusual messages too. One message was from a family in California who had just lost their four-year-old son to cancer. His older brother was heartbroken. Could Ferrell help?

That message was exactly what Ferrell was looking for. To celebrate her 53rd, the longtime social service worker had put out a call on her website. She wanted to perform 53 acts of kindness by the end of her birth month! and she needed information on people who could use one. When she got the note about the California family, she sent a wind chime (风铃) with the message “Listen to the wind and know that I am near” carved on it. It now hangs in the four-year-old’s bedroom, where his brother can listen to it whenever he wants.

This is not the first time that Ferrell has decided to give gifts for her birthday. For her 47th, she founded Love with Skin On, an organization devoted to doing good deeds. Over the years, Ferrell has reached out and touched over 100 strangers, some found online, others with help from her grandkids. In another act of giving, she shared her favorite creative gift ideas online for others to use.

Ferrell pays for everything herself: gift cards and care packages. Her family often gives her some extra birthday cash with a warning not to spend it on anyone else, which she naturally ignores. “I got a couple of gift cards for my birthday this year and was like “YESSS!” It’s Ferrell’s party, and she’ll give if she wants to.

1. Why did Ferrell send the California family a wind chime?

A．To bring a message to the family.	B．To ask for the needed information.
C．To comfort the child who lost his brother.	D．To help the child lean about a wind chime.

2. What do we know about Ferrell?

A．She began to give gifts at 53.	B．She did 53 acts of kindness in total.
C．She helped people in trouble in different ways.	D．She set up an organization to celebrate her birthday.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Ferrell?

A．Gifted and modest.	B．Caring and generous.
C．Humorous and thoughtful.	D．Determined and confident.

4. what can we learn from the text?

A．To give is better than to receive.	B．A friend in need is a friend indeed.
C．God helps those who help themselves.	D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

4 . Cheap Travel Destinations for Winter Trips

·Charleston, South Carolina(Hotel Cost：$72.33，Round-Trip Flight：$303)

The charming city of Charleston is ripe for exploring even during the cooler winter months. Catch a show at the Charleston Stage Company or watch a performance from the Charleston Ballet. If it’s your first time visiting, take a carriage tour of the city to explore 25 to 30 blocks of the downtown area.

·Anchorage, Alaska(Hotel Cost：$43. 67，Round-Trip Flight：$577.50)

Walk on a glacier, see wildlife and explore attractive national parks for cheapness in Anchorage. The Chugach Mountains are easily accessible, just 20 minutes from the downtown area.

·Washington, D. C.(Hotel Cost：$150，Round-Trip Flight：$206.50)

Take a trip to the Lincoln Memorial, express respect and admiration to the soldiers that served in World War Ⅱat the National World War Ⅱ Memorial and discover other sites that honor American history—free of charge. Galleries, museums and historic neighborhoods are ripe for exploring even during the winter months.

·Savannah, Georgia(Hotel Cost：$49，Round-Trip Flight：$317.50)

Taking a self-guided tour of this southern city is one of the best ways to see famous landmarks and sites free of charge. Visit the 22 public squares and see the General Casimir Pulaski Monument. And don’t forget to get your picture taken at the same bus stop bench used in the movie Forrest Gump, in Chippewa Square.

1. Which place will you choose to go if you are interested in modern American history?

A．Savannah, Georgia.	B．Charleston, South Carolina.
C．Anchorage, Alaska.	D．Washington, D. C.

2. What can we learn about traveling in Savannah?

A．Travelers can often see wildlife in the parks.

B．Travelers can watch a performance of ballet.

C．Travelers have to take a self-guided tour to travel.

D．Travelers often take pictures at a bus stop bench.

3. The passage is NOT probably taken from a ________.

A．newspaper

B．novel

C．web page

D．magazine

5 . When asked what his father did for a living, Mike explained to his kindergarten teacher that “he steals things, but it’s OK, because he gets paid to do it. ”

He isn’t wrong. His father is a hacker(黑客), who is proud of his job, just like doctors are proud of the work they do. Thanks to security researchers’ hacking practices, leaks in a new version of the most common Wi-Fi code standard(WPA3)were found before criminals could use them to break into home and business networks. In another case, criminals found an unknown weakness in Google’s Android operating systems before security researchers did, giving the bad guys full control of more than a dozen phone models.

However, finding Mike’s father’s personalized plates for his car with the word ‘HACKING’, an employee of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles quickly took them away, claiming that a license plate displaying “HACKING” publicized criminal activity. While this reaction really isn’t the fault of the well-intentioned employee, it’s a sign of how a deeply rooted misrepresentation of his profession has created a fixed wrong image. It seems that the way that hackers are described in Hollywood has contributed to the word ‘hacker’ paralleling ‘criminal’, where hackers are often referred to as figures in dark rooms engaged in illegal activity while tapping at keyboards.

But actually, hacking is just an activity. What separates any activity from a crime is, very often, permission. People are free to drive, but they do not have permission to drive 150 miles per hour, which is a criminal offense. Since a driver is just a driver, why must a hacker be a criminal? Someone who engages in the illegal use of hacking should not be called a ‘bad hacker’ but a ‘cybercriminal’. Contrary to popular belief, most hackers like Mike’s father undoubtedly play an important role in keeping companies and people safe.

1. What did Mike’s son think of Mike’s job?

A．Admirable.

B．Amazing.

C．Acceptable.

D．Annoying.

2. What does the second paragraph mainly talk about concerning the hackers’ job?

A．Its weakness.

B．Its importance.

C．Its variety

D．Its security.

3. Why does the writer mention ‘Hollywood’ in paragraph 3?

A．To entertain the renders.	B．To question the employee’s claim.
C．To clarify the concept of hacking.	D．To trace the wrong image of hackers.

4. What message does the author really want to convey in the text?

A．Hacking mostly counts.	B．Hacking is actually a crime.
C．Hacking is popular with people.	D．Hacking needs licenses.

6 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

It was thirty years ago, and I was twenty years old as a new teacher in an elementary school in Toronto, Canada. My class was made up of thirty-eight kids, one of them named Mike. Mike was a street kid. He never knew his parents and lived with an uncaring grandmother. His clothing was in need of repair. He was ten years old and looked in bad health. Like most new, young teachers, I was full of enthusiasm and wanted to make a difference. I decided to reach out to help the kid in need.

So it was that early in September that my special “foster father(养父)” relationship with Mike began with the permission of his grandmother. I became the only parent figure he ever had. Each day, I’d take him for meals. I showed him how to repair clothes. I taught him a lot of new skills like using a computer, taking photos and knowing about nature. Mike would then help me teach the rest of the class these skills. We all had a lot of fun, and a kind of un-spoken trust began to build up between us. Surprisingly, he appeared eager to join in this new father-son relationship.

Early in our special relationship, Mike told me his dream. Most of the kids in the class wanted to be doctors, musicians, teachers or some such things, but not Mike. “I want to be a gangster(土匪), Mr. Kowalchuk!” he said. This was no joke—this was his wish, and he was most serious about it.

I believe all children have a gift. Everyone has the same chance to be the best person they can be. I realized this boy was smart, and that with a little love, attention, understanding, guidance and encouragement, he could probably achieve whatever he put his mind to. I explained to him that a good gangster had to read a large number of books on law in the law library and know criminal law(刑法) well like an excellent lawyer(律师). His young mind was eager and interested.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

If he wanted to be a “gangster”, I would do something to help him.

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Years later, I got married and started a new life in another city.

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9 . Traveling is a great way to experience new cultures and landscapes, learn about different ways of life, and simply have an adventure. It can also help you open your mind to new ideas and perspectives.     1     They provide insight, tips, and inspiration for people looking to explore the world around them. From detailed guides to personal stories, these books offer readers a way to experience the world without ever leaving their homes.

One book that perfectly captures (描述) the spirit of travel is The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande.     2     Through her moving writing style, Grande paints a vivid picture of the struggles and joys of crossing a physical and cultural border.

Her book has a great impact on readers.     3     By sharing her own experiences, Grande offers hope and inspiration to anyone looking to take the leap and explore the world around them.

One of the greatest benefits of traveling to places inspired by books for students is the opportunity to explore and learn about many different cultures. Immersing (使沉浸) yourself in unfamiliar surroundings can help open your eyes to different ways of life.     4    

Being able to communicate effectively with those from different backgrounds is essential for any student, especially in today’s international society.     5     It can further improve conversation and fluency (流畅).

Lastly, by traveling to places inspired by books, students will gain a deeper understanding of the works that inspired them to take the journey in the first place.

A．Meeting new people can be invaluable.

B．That’s why there are so many books about traveling.

C．Literary works often include ideas beyond a reader’s imagination.

D．It can even help you gain insight into why people live differently from you.

E．It’s an inspiring story that will stay with them long after they finish the last page.

F．Traveling abroad helps students practice using their language skills in real-life situations.

G．In this book, Grande describes her journey from Mexico to America and how it shaped her life.