1 . Many people around me make a difference to the world on a daily basis — being kind in unexpected ways and sharing the generosity of their lives with others. I, like many of them, volunteer some of my time in order to give back just a little of what I am so blessed to have. I volunteered to go to Guatemala with an eyeglass team from International Relief Teams — an organization I have supported in other ways for many years.
Our team went to a small town in Guatemala, San Augustin. We set up our tables and packages of pre-made glasses in the dirty courtyard of a clinic, put up the Snellen chart (an eye chart) on a wall, and began our work.
Young and old people came from many of the surrounding towns. Most had never received an eye exam before. They waited for hours patiently in the sun, never complaining. If we could help them out, their thankfulness for a simple pair of glasses was overwhelming. Some only left with eye drops or sunglasses, and even these people expressed their gratitude sincerely. All of them were very generous with blessings and smiles. We heard over and over from people who knew their eyes needed help but they had not gone to a doctor because it was too expensive, or had not got the glasses they needed for the same reason.
It’s so easy to overlook how much difference the volunteers’ small actions can make to the lives of people in Guatemala. The glasses in my country are so easily available, but to people in Guatemala, they are not.
As those who could give them a hand, we watched their lives change. What a gift sight is — and what a difference being able to see clearly makes! Here, we’d like you to join us and take action to help people in need. And every day, those actions change lives. No action is too small; no action is ever wasted.
1. According to Paragraph 1, the author is probably ________.| A．a major host of good deeds |
| B．a sponsor of an eyeglass team |
| C．a generous neighbor in his community |
| D．a supporter of International Relief Teams |
| A．Their working environment is simple. |
| B．They are medical experts nationwide. |
| C．Their initial preparation is inadequate. |
| D．They have served people in Guatemala for years. |
| A．Kind and helpful. | B．Poor but grateful. |
| C．Considerate and patient. | D．Knowledgeable but unhealthy. |
| A．To urge people to protect their eyes. |
| B．To ask people to volunteer in Guatemala. |
| C．To call on people to do good deeds in daily life. |
| D．To show the difficult life of people in Guatemala. |
My mother believed in using things up. Last year, our cornfield had a bad harvest because birds feasted on the crops. It was probably then that Mom’s frugality(节俭)became even more extraordinary. She began keeping everything that seemed useless in the attic(阁楼)—worn-out clothes, old sheets, broken umbrellas, and some other old items. Mom’s favorite saying was “waste not, want not”(俭以防匮). My brother Josh and I weren’t sure what that meant until the “Affair of the Scarecrow(稻草人)”, which, as it later became known, left a lasting impression on us.
The story began with a pretty hat that Mom received as a gift to protect her from the sun. However, Josh and I could see that Mom’s frugal nature and fashion sense were in battle. Mom really didn’t want to get rid of the hat—it was new and had a lot of use left in it—but neither could she stand wearing it. She tried to take off the fancy decorations, but they were stuck on tight. She’d have to find some other solution.
Josh and I watched as Mom headed upstairs to the attic with the hat. “Waste not, want not,” she called back down. We heard boxes being moved around. Moments later, Mom leaned out, holding a flour bag full of straw, and with a mysterious smile, she placed the hat on it.
“What is that for?” I asked, confused. “A scarecrow! ” Mom exclaimed. “But not a good one yet.It needs a strong body to stand firm in the field,” she said with a frown. “And it doesn’t look scary enough,” Josh remarked. I had to admit that Josh, though younger than I was, could sometimes be more imaginative. Josh and I turned to each other, searching for a good idea. Soon enough, Josh’s eyes lit up with inspiration.
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。
Paragraph 1: “Come with me!” Josh called out.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2: In the following days, the scarecrow stood proudly.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . Self-control is the ability to regulate and adjust responses in order to avoid undesirable behaviors, increase desirable ones, and achieve long-term goals. Common goals such as losing weight, exercising regularly, eating healthy food, giving up bad habits, and saving money are just a few worthwhile ambitions that people believe require self-control.
One 2011 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association found that 27 percent of subjects identified a lack of willpower as the primary factor keeping them from reaching their goals. Researchers have found that people who have better self-control tend to be healthier and happier. In one experiment, students who exhibited greater self-control had better grades and higher test scores, and were more likely to be admitted to a competitive academic program. The study also found that when it came to academic success, self-control was a more important factor than IQ scores.
The psychologist Walter Mischel conducted famous experiments in 1975 that were related to delayed gratification. In these experiments, children were offered a choice: they could choose to eat one treat right away, usually a cookie or a candy or they could wait for a brief period of time in order to get two treats. At this point, the researcher would leave the child alone in a room with a single treat. Not surprisingly, many of the kids chose to eat the single treat the moment the experimenters left the room. However, some of the kids were able to wait for the second treat.
Based on his research, Mischel proposed what he referred to as a “hot-and-cool” system to explain the ability to delay gratification. The hot system refers to the part of our willpower that is emotional and impulsive (冲动的) and urges us to act upon our desires. The cool system is the part of our willpower that is rational (理性的) and thoughtful, and enables us to consider the consequences of our actions in order to resist our impulses.
Self-control is an important skill that allows us to regulate behavior in order to achieve our long-term goals. Research has shown that self-control is not only important for goal attainment, and people with greater willpower also tend to do better on all sides.
1. What kind of students does the author think will most probably do best in studies?| A．Those having the highest IQ scores. |
| B．Those respecting the teacher most. |
| C．Those having the greatest willpower. |
| D．Those performing most actively in class. |
| A．Effect. | B．Competition. | C．Hardship. | D．Enjoyment. |
| A．Few children could get two treats. |
| B．Not all the kids were short of patience. |
| C．Most of the children ate another treat. |
| D．Self-control is very important for one’s future. |
| A．Consuming plenty of sweet food. |
| B．Staying up late at night often. |
| C．Copying others’ homework. |
| D．Quitting drinking high-sugar drinks. |
4 . In this new digital era, farmers are finding ways to keep pace with the times while still holding fast to their traditions.
In the quiet and excluded parts of rural China, Xiang Qing, a man born in 1990, leads a life quite unlike the noisy urban existence that defines modernity. His home is Guzhang county, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous region, which is located deep in western Hunan province. Xiang Qing and his 23-year-old nephew, Xiang Hong, jointly operate a video channel called “Shan Bai”. Through their videos, they showcase handicrafts and rural life in China, fascinating many young urban viewers.
“Life here unfolds at its own pace. We grow crops and vegetables and occasionally purchase meat at the market,” Xiang Qing said. “I’ve come across numerous comments from people who watch our videos while lying in bed at night after a busy day of work, finding them truly relaxing and comforting. I think it’s great, and it’s in line with our initial intentions.”
Five years ago, Xiang Qing quit his job as a customer service representative in Shanghai and returned to his hometown in Guzhang county, starting a new journey as a video blogger. “Back in 2012, when I was a college student, film-making aroused my passion, and it has continued to be a profound and enduring interest,” he said.
Following in his uncle’s footsteps, Xiang Hong made the same life-changing decision. Having graduated from college last year, he also returned to his hometown in April from Changde, a city in Hunan, and ventured into the world of video production alongside his uncle.
Now their video channel Shan Bai has attracted more than 59.8 million followers. Xiang Qing designs, films, and edits the videos himself. Xiang Hong serves as the video presenter. Long Lingling, Xiang Qing’s wife, manages the day-to-day operations of the video account, and other family members also contribute to the video production process in different ways.
1. Why do Xiang Qing and Xiang Hong work as video bloggers?| A．To pursue personal fame and wealth. |
| B．To promote the business of film-making. |
| C．To financially support their whole family. |
| D．To popularize the lifestyle in their hometown. |
| A．Xiang Qing influenced Xiang Hong’s career option. |
| B．Xiao Hong quit his first job and switched to video making. |
| C．They reached a decision of returning to hometown together. |
| D．They got involved in each step of the video production process. |
| A．Modest and responsible. | B．Diligent and optimistic. |
| C．Devoted and innovative. | D．Ambitious and demanding. |
5 . Walking has been considered as one kind of rewarding exercise. For many people, daily walking offers massive and long-term physical and mental benefits.
But the scenery is almost as important as the sweat. Just by going outside, you are stepping out of your habitual surroundings and your comfort zone, which is necessary if you want to open your mind to new possibilities. You can walk through a tree-filled neighborhood.
Walking outside develops our ability to collect new ideas and take in new sights, sounds, smells, and flavors. Shinrin-yoku, a common form of relaxation in Japan, suggests that being in the forest and walking among the trees there can lower your stress levels.
So instead of setting a fitness goal, why not set a creativity goal that starts with walking outdoors?
Walk not just for exercise. Walk for wonder.
| A．Unfortunately, you often fail to do it. |
| B．Expose yourself more to your surroundings. |
| C．The movement during walking is obviously key. |
| D．Without enough energy, you cannot wonder or create. |
| E．But to receive the benefits, you do not have to live in a forest. |
| F．This habit, however, not only benefits well-being but also contributes to innovation. |
| G．Wandering around a park and observing people relaxing or birds singing is also a choice. |
6 . It was the most destructive wildfire in California history. It started in Paradise (天堂镇) and caused $16.5 billion in
Grammer, working in Los Angeles, grew up there. When his friend Edwards posted pictures of his white chimney — the only part of his house to survive — he felt
“I’ve got to
Grammer spent three hours painting an image of a woman on the
Grammer posted the image on Instagram. Those who were affected by the fire,
Greatly inspired, Grammer returned eight times. Outside one house, he found a photo of a girl, Eleanor. He painted a picture of her on the wall of her home left
Ironically (讽刺的是) that first painting, on the chimney in Paradise,
| A．damage | B．collection | C．debt | D．reserve |
| A．basically | B．generally | C．beautifully | D．seriously |
| A．disappointed | B．interested | C．helpless | D．fearless |
| A．beautify | B．paint | C．build | D．repair |
| A．succeed | B．improve | C．practice | D．express |
| A．chimney | B．wall | C．window | D．door |
| A．art | B．life | C．nature | D．beauty |
| A．on average | B．in general | C．on earth | D．in particular |
| A．argued | B．insisted | C．posted | D．suggested |
| A．standing | B．existing | C．fallen | D．destroyed |
| A．pretend | B．afford | C．continue | D．decide |
| A．new | B．special | C．practical | D．real |
| A．copy | B．handle | C．donate | D．admire |
| A．flashed | B．suffered | C．survived | D．waited |
| A．spirit | B．size | C．fame | D．power |
7 . It was the final part of the 2016 World Triathlon (三项全能运动) Series in Mexico. With just 700 metres to go, Alistair Brownlee was in third place and his younger brother, Jonny, was in the lead. When pushing himself towards the
For Alistair, the choice was
The Brownlee brothers have been doing triathlons since they were children. “Obviously, when your older brother is doing it, you think it’s a
The ending to the race has
| A．start | B．finish | C．base | D．side |
| A．give up | B．run off | C．fall onto | D．finish with |
| A．chance | B．pleasure | C．promise | D．risk |
| A．confusing | B．clear | C．difficult | D．stressful |
| A．tears | B．silence | C．danger | D．trouble |
| A．unpleasant | B．unlucky | C．unacceptable | D．unexpected |
| A．rushed | B．arranged | C．asked | D．directed |
| A．cool | B．annoying | C．wrong | D．graceful |
| A．affect | B．encourage | C．concern | D．demand |
| A．investigations | B．opinions | C．debate | D．preference |
| A．enjoyment | B．advance | C．embarrassment | D．advantage |
| A．different | B．curious | C．unified | D．creative |
| A．punished | B．protected | C．praised | D．discussed |
| A．failure | B．success | C．decision | D．result |
| A．teenager | B．brother | C．grow-up | D．student |
8 . A group of Chinese language students from Spain visited Malta for three days. They had a chance to enjoy themselves in the amazing Chinese cultural experiences there.
At the Confucius Institute of the University of Malta on Saturday, the students from the Official School of Languages were attracted by traditional Chinese flute (长笛) performances, and Chinese tea making. Each of them was photographed trying on Hanfu, a form of traditional Chinese clothing. Despite their age differences, they all proved their dexterity (灵巧) at traditional Chinese works such as paper-cutting and knot-weaving. Maria Nieves, a group member, expressed her strong interest in Chinese culture, after two years of learning the language. “Despite the challenges, Chinese characters are truly beautiful,” she says.
On Sunday, the group visited the Mediterranean Regional Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Paola, Malta. Under the guidance of a doctor, they practiced Ba Duan Jin, a set of exercises whose name translates as “eight steps to healthy living”. A lecture on TCM introduced them to treatments like acupuncture (针灸) and cupping, and some of the students had the chance to personally experience a treatment. Feng Hua, leader of the Chinese medical team, says that the TCM center is planning to host more students, who are interested in TCM and Chinese culture to take part in cultural exchange, and learn more about Chinese medical practice.
During their visit to the China Cultural Center in Valletta on Monday, the students were drawn to the traditional Chinese lanterns hanging in front of the entrance, and also to the beautiful tea sets in the main hall. Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta, highlights the importance of cultural exchange in promoting friendship between nations.
1. What is the first destination of the students’ study visits?| A．University of Malta. |
| B．Official School of Languages. |
| C．Mediterranean Regional Center. |
| D．China Cultural Center. |
| A．Six months. | B．One year. | C．Two years. | D．Three years. |
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．Wisdom of Chinese People |
| B．An Amazing Language Learning Tour |
| C．The Importance of Cultural Exchange |
| D．Spanish Students Visit Malta for Cultural Experience |
It was first constructed in 366AD and represents the great achievement of Buddhist art from the 4th
The Library Cave at the Mogao Caves was discovered in 1990.
10 . Thanks to its proximity (邻近) to England, its successful tourism industry and its multicultural population, Edinburgh is quite a special city in Scotland.
Edinburgh simply makes it with culture during its long holiday season. It is not just its famous festivals in the summer but its Christmas and Hogmanay (除夕) celebrations, which fill the city with tourists from all over the world. Along with the tourists, Edinburgh has lots of students. They bring energy and variety to the culture of the city. Although this can be overwhelming (令人不知所措) at times, if you open your arms to the good that it brings you can get so much out of the city.
The Cycling Gardeners are a part of the local community. By being totally dependent on bikes for transport, we are limited to working within the city centre. We have made life a bit easier on ourselves by using electric bikes, and we often beat cars in traffic and have no problem finding place to park.
We have a great collective team spirit which is very important. Whenever you go there from May to September, you will likely meet both sunshine and rain. But the wet weather can be dealt with by helping each other out, spending time in the many local cafes, catching up with your friends and having a good discussion about the rain!
Without doubt my favourite place in Edinburgh is the Meadows Park. I was born in the hospital overlooking it and grew up in buildings around it. Much of my childhood days were spent there. I met my wife there and it is where I take my young son to play. I have the happiest memories of building snowmen when the snow comes down. I really hope that this winter brings good snow so I can review my own childhood with my son!
1. What does Edinburgh attract visitors most?| A．Its successful industry. | B．Its famous festivals. |
| C．Its rainy seasons. | D．Its beautiful view. |
| A．Speed. | B．Comfort. |
| C．Convenience. | D．Expense. |
| A．Getting up. | B．Meeting up. |
| C．Showing up. | D．Picking up. |
| A．He has good memories there. | B．He was born there. |
| C．He played with his young son there. | D．He met his wife there. |
