It was a dark and stormy night. The ferocious wind shook the windows wildly, as though someone outside were beating on the glass. It was also New Year’s Eve. We were having our annual party and had a house full of people just starting to celebrate.
Suddenly, we heard loud explosions. Looking outside and up into the hills, we saw sparks(火花) flying from electrical transformers(变压器). One area after another went dark up in those hills. Then there was the loudest explosion of them all and our house went dark too. I tried to find every candle we had and lit them. The candles made everything look lovely. But we had problems. We had fifteen people standing around and we still had to cook dinner. How would we do that without electricity?
The barbecue! Why not cook on the barbecue? We men went outside, some holding flashlights and others cooking. We did a wonderful job. The women stayed inside and got the salads ready. Everything was delicious. There were still a few hours to go before the beginning of the new year, so we all sat around the dining room table and sang up until a few minutes before midnight. We couldn’t watch the ball drop in Times Square on television but that wouldn’t stop us from celebrating. I stood on a chair and, with the help of someone’s watch to tell us the time, we all counted down and I dropped a tennis ball! We all screamed Happy New Year. We didn’t need electricity for that!
Nowadays, we still get together with the same group to celebrate the New Year and we still talk about that special night. I don’t think we have ever laughed so much as we did on that New Year’s Eve.
1. What does the underlined word mean in Paragraph 1? (1 word)2. What made dinner preparation difficult according to Paragraph 2? (no more than 6 words)
3. How did the people celebrate on New Year’s Eve according to the passage? (no more than 10 words)
4. How does the author feel about that particular New Year’s Eve? (no more than 8 words)
5. What do you think is the most necessary quality when dealing with an unexpected difficult situation? Please explain why. (no more than 25words)
2 . For most people, having things stolen feels like an offence. Robbie Pruitt admitted that he got
For Pruitt, a keen bicyclist, the first thing to do was
With that thought in mind, Pruitt
The day the post went live, Pruitt received thirty
Pruitt tries to give his donations to families that are
In addition to
"It's a really great
A.amazed | B.mad | C.curious | D.frightened |
A.emotions | B.career | C.opinions | D.route |
A.ever | B.together | C.instead | D.yet |
A.ride | B.lock | C.repair | D.replace |
A.lack | B.variety | C.increase | D.quality |
A.instruction | B.qualification | C.transportation | D.permission |
A.came up with | B.stuck to | C.gave up | D.broke away from |
A.remembered | B.refused | C.hesitated | D.offered |
A.by accident | B.in advance | C.for free | D.on credit |
A.profit | B.budget | C.courage | D.excuse |
A.shared | B.used | C.expensive | D.modern |
A.enquiries | B.advertisements | C.notices | D.announcements |
A.exported | B.sold | C.lent | D.returned |
A.hardly | B.slightly | C.truly | D.instantly |
A.Without | B.Beyond | C.Upon | D.Among |
A.practical | B.commercial | C.mathematical | D.social |
A.Otherwise | B.However | C.Somehow | D.Meanwhile |
A.promise | B.celebration | C.comfort | D.experience |
A.competition | B.service | C.ceremony | D.suggestion |
A.compromise | B.impression | C.impact | D.progress |
According to a review of evidence in a medical journal, runners live three years
The best exercise is one that you enjoy and will do. But otherwise… it's probably running. To avoid knee pain, you can run on soft surfaces, do exercises to
4 . Art is everywhere. Any public space has been carefully designed by an artistic mind to be both functional and beautiful. Why, then, is art still so widely considered to be "the easy subject" at school, insignificant to wider society, a waste of time and effort?
Art can connect culture with commercial products in a way that not many other things can; art generates money and holds significant emotional and cultural value within communities. When people attend a concert, they are paying for music, sure, maybe even hotel rooms, meals, and transport, but they also gain an incredible experience, a unique atmosphere and a memory that will go through the rest of their lives. People don't just want material things anymore, they want to experience life一the arts are a perfect crossover(交迭)between culture and commerce.
Furthermore, the arts can bring communities together, reducing loneliness and making people feel safer. Social bonds are created among individuals when they share their arts experiences through reflection and discussion, and their expression of common values through artworks in honour of events significant to a nation's experience.
The arts clearly have a pretty positive impact on physical and psychological health. It is found that people who frequent cultural places or participate in artistic events are more likely to gain good health compared to those who do not; more engagement with the arts is linked to a higher level of people's wellbeing. The Royal Society of Public Health discovered that music and art, when used in hospitals, help to improve the conditions of patients by reducing stress, anxiety and blood pressure.
Children who are involved with the arts make greater achievements in their education: those engaged with drama have greater literary ability while others taking part in musical practice exhibit greater skills in math and languages. Kids with preference for the arts have a greater chance of finding employment in the future. Participating in the arts is essential for child development; encouraging children to express themselves in constructive ways could help to form healthy emotional responses in later life.
Vital to human life, art is celebrated and used by nations across the world for various purposes. Life without art would be boring and dead still, for art is a part of what makes us human.
1. Art products differ from most other commercial products because .A.most people purchase them for collection |
B.they are more expensive and less accessible |
C.they have both commercial and cultural values |
D.their prices may climb up as time passes |
A.keep the community safe from illnesses |
B.develop a stronger tie between them |
C.learn to appreciate their own works of art |
D.offer honourable solutions to their problems |
A.They enjoy better living conditions. |
B.They like to compare themselves with others. |
C.They are particularly good at both music and art. |
D.They tend to be healthier physically and mentally. |
A.It promotes their academic performance and emotional growth. |
B.It gives them more confidence in exhibiting their learning skills. |
C.It inspires their creativity in designing their future career. |
D.It helps to make responsible people out of them. |
A.How Art Cures Our Hearts |
B.Art: A Blessing to Humankind |
C.How Art Benefits Communities |
D.Art: A Bridge Between Cultures |
5 . Two weeks earlier, my son, Ben, had got in touch, he’d moved to England with his mum when he was three and it had been 13 years since I’d
I was
The instructors called for an ambulance.
I still can’t believe what a
A.also | B.often | C.even | D.last |
A.delight | B.relief | C.anger | D.worry |
A.scared | B.shocked | C.thrilled | D.ashamed |
A.talk | B.stay | C.meet | D.settle |
A.bathed | B.clean | C.deep | D.formed |
A.faster | B.closer | C.heavier | D.wiser |
A.trouble | B.advance | C.question | D.battle |
A.real | B.right | C.fair | D.fit |
A.stared | B.sank | C.dived | D.fell |
A.arguing | B.fighting | C.Shouting | D.shaking |
A.lead | B.persuade | C.carry | D.keep |
A.happened | B.occurred | C.applied | D.appealed |
A.sharp | B.pleasant | C.attractive | D.familiar |
A.agreed | B.hesitated | C.doubted | D.knew |
A.Fortunately | B.Frankly | C.Sadly | D.Suddenly |
A.return | B.relax | C.speak | D.leave |
A.joked | B.turned | C.listened | D.pointed |
A.created | B.honored | C.saved | D.guided |
A.coincidence | B.change | C.pity | D.pain |
A.on board | B.in time | C.for sure | D.on purpose |
6 . I was born legally blind. Of all the stories of my early childhood, the one about a
I was only two when the
Mom loves to use this story as an
We are almost certain to get
A.trip | B.race | C.tree | D.driver |
A.incident | B.change | C.illness | D.problem |
A.feared | B.refused | C.forgot | D.turned |
A.delay | B.absence | C.freedom | D.rest |
A.landed | B.slept | C.laughed | D.wept |
A.promised | B.encouraged | C.allowed | D.expected |
A.woke | B.picked | C.warmed | D.gave |
A.adds | B.replies | C.admits | D.supposes |
A.drove | B.lived | C.stood | D.zoomed |
A.crashed | B.broke | C.climbed | D.looked |
A.answer | B.example | C.excuse | D.order |
A.able | B.ashamed | C.afraid | D.anxious |
A.ask | B.share | C.learn | D.try |
A.honesty | B.toughness | C.kindness | D.curiosity |
A.regretted | B.reviewed | C.made | D.explained |
A.job | B.friend | C.fortune | D.house |
A.memories | B.efforts | C.research | D.experience |
A.mixed up | B.fed up | C.knocked down | D.settled down |
A.play | B.relax | C.dream | D.cry |
A.all at once | B.in the end | C.in either case | D.as a result |
7 . When most of us get a text message on our cell phone from an unknown person, we usually say "sorry,
On March 19, Dennis got a group text
"Congratulations! But I think someone was mistaken," Dennis
Much to the family’s surprise, Dennis stuck to his
Teresa
A.unlucky | B.secret | C.new | D.wrong |
A.received | B.translated | C.copied | D.printed |
A.reasonable | B.special | C.necessary | D.practical |
A.convincing | B.reminding | C.informing | D.warning |
A.wake-up | B.recovery | C.growth | D.arrival |
A.responded | B.interrupted | C.predicted | D.repeated |
A.coming in | B.setting out | C.passing down | D.moving around |
A.opinion | B.anxiety | C.excitement | D.effort |
A.comparing | B.exchanging | C.discussing | D.sharing |
A.accept | B.know | C.believe | D.bother |
A.parents | B.doctors | C.patients | D.visitors |
A.dream | B.promise | C.agenda | D.principle |
A.bearing | B.collecting | C.opening | D.making |
A.discouraged | B.relaxed | C.astonished | D.defeated |
A.admit | B.need | C.appreciate | D.expect |
A.found | B.selected | C.developed | D.posted |
A.confirmed | B.simplified | C.clarified | D.accompanied |
A.pity | B.blessing | C.relief | D.problem |
A.smart | B.calm | C.sweet | D.fair |
A.sympathy | B.attention | C.control | D.trust |
8 . Detective Ashley Jones works at a police department in England. He has recently made a significant
Jones got the idea after he had talked with an elderly lady who had been cheated of her
This led Jones to the conclusion that there are too many extremely
The idea is catching on
This effort is not just a(n)
The Chat Bench is a fantastic new project that
A.choice | B.discovery | C.visit | D.promise |
A.experienced | B.suffered | C.prevented | D.felt |
A.solution | B.puzzle | C.excuse | D.intention |
A.pleasure | B.prize | C.credit | D.money |
A.eventually | B.frequently | C.previously | D.occasionally |
A.ashamed | B.shocked | C.excited | D.amused |
A.mind | B.forgive | C.risk | D.enjoy |
A.active | B.lonely | C.cautious | D.stubborn |
A.learned | B.refused | C.pretended | D.decided |
A.forced | B.ordered | C.convinced | D.taught |
A.put away | B.make out | C.tear apart | D.set up |
A.read | B.claimed | C.meant | D.implied |
A.formal | B.joyful | C.awkward | D.crazy |
A.randomly | B.slowly | C.quickly | D.purposefully |
A.positive | B.disappointing | C.correct | D.embarrassing |
A.realized | B.examined | C.discussed | D.formed |
A.break down | B.put up | C.keep off | D.take out |
A.glance | B.attempt | C.knock | D.attack |
A.heart-breaking | B.risk-taking | C.face-saving | D.crime-cutting |
A.forbids | B.appoints | C.encourages | D.troubles |
I’ve always been creative since I was a little girl. My childhood was filled with arts, crafts (手工) and music, and every day was an exciting adventure of creation.
Somewhere along the way, however, I lost touch with my creative self. At 21, I landed a job at a big insurance company out of my business degree. I would go to the office, sit at my desk and repeat the same work five days a week 9 to 5. The days were long and tedious. Working this way for one year was painful enough, let alone a lifetime. Before long I decided to make a change.
One thing I had developed an interest in was sewing, so I took a sewing course at a community college. It was only a five-week course but it awakened my interest and got my confidence up.
As I dreamt bigger, I began looking into college courses for Fashion Design and three months later I signed up for a part-time design course. I attended classes two nights a week. Although exhausting, it gave me energy, enthusiasm and happiness.
As it became clearer that fashion was what I wanted to do full time, the reality of my day-to-day work at the insurance company became harder. I felt bored. No energy, no motivation and zero fulfilment (满足感).
I knew I needed to make a bigger change. After struggling for quite a while, I made a difficult decision—leaving my job and studying my design course full time. Two years later I got my diploma.
The last few years have been exciting because I’ve been following my heart to do what I love. Today I am living a creative life as the designer of my own fashion brand.
Sometimes it’s hard to make a change, but I’m so glad I set the wheels of change in motion with that very small first step because it has led me to where I am today.
1. What was the author interested in when she was a little girl? (no more than 10 words)2. What does the underlined word in Paragraph 2 mean? (1 word)
3. How did the author feel when she was taking the part-time design course? (no more than 10 words)
4. What did the author do to get back to her creative life? Give two of the facts. (no more than 15 words)
5. Do you consider the author as your role model? Please explain. (no more than 20 words)
10 . “They tell me that you’d like to make a statue(塑像) of me-is that correct, Miss Vinnie Ream?”
The deep, gentle voice helped calm the nervous girl. Asking a favor of the President of the United States was no casual matter, especially for a seventeen-year-old girl.
“Yes, sir,” she replied, her dark eyes meeting his. “I wouldn’t have duo ask you, but my teacher, Mr. Mills, says I am ready. I plan to make it in an admirable manner. “
President Lincoln smiled. “Painters, sculptors-they’ve all tried to make the best of this ordinary face, but I’m afraid there’s not much hope. What did you have in mind, Miss Ream? A bust(半身像)?”
Before Vinnie could say yes, the President hurried on, a shade of apology in his voice.
“Of course-I shouldn’t have asked. A full-length pose would be much too big a project for a young woman your size. “
Vinnie’s face turned red. She realized she looked like a child, with her tiny figure. “Small does not mean weak, sir,” she defended herself. “I was born in the country of Wisconsin. I’ve driven teams of horses and carried water. Making a full-length clay(粘土) figure would not exhaust my strength-and that is what I intend to do!”
The President’s eyes, brightened at her show of spirit. “Sorry, madam, I have underestimated you as I didn’t know your background.”
But his smile faded as he rubbed his beard with bony fingers, in thought. “Miss Ream,” he sighed, “I’d like to let you do it, but as you know, we are in the middle of a war. How could I possibly take the time to pose for a sculpture now? I hardly have a minute to myself.”
Vinnie glanced around and noted the size of his office. “I work quickly,” she said. Her voice was soft but confident as she pointed to the corner near the windows. “If I were to bring my clay here and work for three hours every afternoon, I could complete most of the project while you are at your desk.”
The President seemed to consider her idea seriously. He got up and shook Vinnie’s hand warmly, “I’ve heard that you are a talented young woman, and I have found you charming and intelligent as well. I cannot make my decision immediately, but you will hear from me soon.”
The very next day, Vinnie received an invitation from the President.
1. What gave Vinnie confidence to make her request of President Lincoln?A.Her aggressive personality. |
B.Mr. Mills’s encouraging remark. |
C.President Lincoln’s gentle voice. |
D.Her interest in a challenging job. |
A.Pleased. |
B.Thrilled. |
C.Regretful. |
D.Doubtful. |
A.her experience from other projects |
B.her innocent childhood in the country |
C.the heavy labor she had done before |
D.the skill she picked up in Wisconsin |
A.achieve effects of natural lighting |
B.keep all her tools within easy reach |
C.observe the President at a right angle |
D.avoid disturbing the president’s work |
A.A strong-willed soul can reach his goal. |
B.Experience helps to promote excellence. |
C.Ups and downs make one strong. |
D.Devotion requires enthusiasm. |