1 . I vividly remember the day when my husband and I set off on a new journey to Tanzania. He had been ______ a position there as a Civil Engineer. Accompanying him, my aim was to find a job shortly after. As you can imagine, I was very excited, even rather ______, as I’d never been abroad before. So, my first ______ was to get settled in this small town called Dodoma in the middle of Tanzania.

As we got off the train, however, at six in the morning, a lady came rushing along the ______ towards us. Completely out of breath, she said, “We’ve heard you’re from England and our school ______ needs an English teacher — please say you’ll help us.” I felt tired and ______ a shower after the journey. Though shocked by her ______, for some reason or other, I agreed to ______ it!

I washed, changed, had a quick bite to eat and was ______ to the two local teachers and my ______ at 8 o’clock. It felt like being thrown into the deep end, as my teaching timetable began ______ at 8:30! Although I’d hardly had time to get my breath, I never ______ my sudden decision.

Though my entry into this ______ was unexpected, I found joy in teaching those youngsters and gradually became part of the local community in the following years. I’ve been fortunate to ______ lifelong friendships, which has left a lasting ______ on both my students and myself.

1.

A．awarded

B．offered

C．allowed

D．presented

2.

A．disappointed

B．dissatisfied

C．unconcerned

D．uneasy

3.

A．priority

B．worry

C．action

D．response

4.

A．river

B．platform

C．sidewalk

D．channel

5.

A．probably

B．suddenly

C．desperately

D．occasionally

6.

A．longed for

B．waited for

C．heard about

D．worried about

7.

A．remark

B．interruption

C．suggestion

D．request

8.

A．keep

B．take

C．forget

D．quit

9.

A．introduced

B．recommended

C．assigned

D．compared

10.

A．colleagues

B．assistants

C．students

D．interviewers

11.

A．exactly

B．finally

C．immediately

D．smoothly

12.

A．expected

B．regretted

C．delayed

D．dropped

13.

A．career

B．country

C．agreement

D．relationship

14.

A．value

B．strengthen

C．renew

D．harvest

15.

A．comment

B．record

C．impact

D．impression

2 . “If after the first 50 pages of a book you don’t get engaged, you’re allowed to stop reading and try again later when you feel ready for it,” my father told me.

My father holds this ______ responsible for his lifelong love of literature. As a busy labourer, he has regarded reading books as an almost sacred ______. He feels a strong, perhaps, irresistible ______ to read frequently and a lot.

I don’t think my father ______ to hand the advice down to me. He’s not the sort to give advice and I’m not the sort to ______ it. But I find it’s the advice that’s delivered ______ that.is most likely to be listened to.

I like this advice “reading first 50 pages”, for the generosity and respect it extends to a book’s ______ and their craft. A reader, it suggests, needs a little ______ to adapt to a book’s particular tone and voice. Meanwhile, this advice gives a person permission to ______ reading. Nobody, it implies, need force themselves to struggle through a book they’re not ______.

I particularly like the ______ advice to return to a book “when you feel ready for it.” It’s a ______ that reading is naturally relational and that the readers need time.

Even when I’m more than ready to stop reading by page 50, ______ the exercise feels worth doing. Just like stopping swimming halfway makes the muscles in my legs ache ______ it uses them in a different way from cycling. But in both cases, it’s a satisfying kind of hurt because it’s a ______ of getting stronger.

1.

A．warning

B．request

C．guarantee

D．advice

2.

A．debate

B．escape

C．beg

D．protest

3.

A．trend

B．view

C．urge

D．influence

4.

A．dared

B．forgot

C．hesitated

D．intended

5.

A．invite

B．write

C．drop

D．support

6.

A．safely

B．quickly

C．indirectly

D．personally

7.

A．reader

B．author

C．editor

D．publisher

8.

A．patience

B．luck

C．help

D．grace

9.

A．finish

B．teach

C．love

D．stop

10.

A．referring to

B．talking about

C．connecting with

D．commenting on

11.

A．strong

B．gentle

C．honest

D．timely

12.

A．recognition

B．duty

C．pity

D．wonder

13.

A．thus

B．just

C．then

D．still

14.

A．unless

B．because

C．once

D．before

15.

A．sign

B．rule

C．question

D．goal

3 . The 11-year-old Freddy was chasing a rabbit on Monday when he got trapped down a narrow hole in Blackroot Pool, West Midlands. His ________ Richard Hill said he could hear Freddy’s whimpers (呜咽) underground but was unable to ________ him. The 55-year-old man ________ gave up searching for him when it got dark. “I really thought I had ________ Freddy for the very last time,” said Hill.

But Hill ________ on Tuesday morning and decided to call 999 after he could hear Freddy’s cries for help. Freddy had already been ________ for 24 hours by that time. The West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service found them after Hill used an app on his phone to help firefighters find Freddy’s exact ________. Crews used cameras and listening equipment on their mission to find the ________ dog, and eventually dug a 6-ft by 9-ft hole.

________, after two hours’ digging, firefighters ________ the exhausted Freddy, who “ran out of the hole as they got closer to him”. “I have to say a huge thank-you to the firefighters.” says Hill. “It was just ________ when he ran out of the hole after the ________, it was just like nothing had happened.” Freddy is still showing an orange color after being ________ with the clay soil.

According to the ________ owner the 4-legged adventurer will “definitely be staying on the ________ the next time we go out for a walk.”

1.

A．owner

B．coach

C．relative

D．neighbor

2.

A．call

B．check

C．reach

D．control

3.

A．hesitantly

B．naturally

C．unfortunately

D．unwillingly

4.

A．fed

B．seen

C．contacted

D．accompanied

5.

A．approved

B．departed

C．returned

D．attempted

6.

A．deserted

B．trapped

C．transported

D．forgotten

7.

A．origin

B．appearance

C．location

D．identity

8.

A．disabled

B．dependable

C．cute

D．upset

9.

A．Accidentally

B．Precisely

C．Immediately

D．Thankfully

10.

A．noticed

B．freed

C．dominated

D．discovered

11.

A．awful

B．impossible

C．incredible

D．harmonious

12.

A．rescue

B．discovery

C．adventure

D．operation

13.

A．buried

B．covered

C．rewarded

D．compared

14.

A．relieved

B．devoted

C．confused

D．embarrassed

15.

A．line

B．spot

C．path

D．lead

4 . Back in high school, I loved nothing more than going bowling. From freshman to junior year, starting and leading my school’s bowling club helped me come out of my ________. As time went on, our team began winning local and even ________ tournaments. These victories not only ________ my popularity but also allowed me to form meaningful connections. Man, life was great back then.

Still the bowling memory that really stuck out to me was ________ I met Leroy. I was already a junior by then, and he was still a young freshman. The strange thing about it, ________, was how he would always ________ in the back, watching others play. ________ his regular presence, he seemed too nervous and shy to play or even talk with others.

Then one evening something remarkable happened. During a game, I ________ Leroy actually picking up a bowling ball for the first time. He ________ to lift the lightest ball up, and with each throw, the ball ________ in the gutter lane (边沟), resulting in straight zeroes across the board.

That’s, when I finally went over to say hi to Leroy. ________ to see me, Leroy nervously cracked a smile and murmured with ________, “I just can’t manage the ball...” Reassuringly, I responded, “It’s no big ________. Everyone was a green hand once.” My words seemed to ________ his tension, and in the following hours, he ________ as I taught him how to bowl step by step. From his words, I realized how ________ he had desired to join the bowling club and how lonely he felt without friends.

That was the beginning of our friendship. Since that night, playing together and sharing our life stories has become our weekly ________. I was delighted to see Leroy’s significant progress through ________ efforts. He was a fast learner and soon ________ a spot on the team. What’s more, Leroy gained confidence to try new things. It was through practising bowling that his brand new life journey ________. As bowling enthusiasts, we’ll always cherish the sincere friendship and get the ball rolling forever.

1.

A．way

B．zone

C．shell

D．place

2.

A．school

B．town

C．community

D．state

3.

A．boosted

B．affected

C．formed

D．enjoyed

4.

A．when

B．how

C．that

D．because

5.

A．instead

B．though

C．otherwise

D．rather

6.

A．hang out

B．turn over

C．show off

D．slip away

7.

A．Besides

B．Against

C．Despite

D．Beyond

8.

A．prevented

B．witnessed

C．suggested

D．imagined

9.

A．determined

B．struggled

C．desired

D．hesitated

10.

A．ended up

B．ran away

C．set off

D．turned out

11.

A．Disappointed

B．Relieved

C．Excited

D．Surprised

12.

A．confusion

B．embarrassment

C．eagerness

D．anger

13.

A．deal

B．matter

C．problem

D．mistake

14.

A．ease

B．increase

C．defeat

D．break

15.

A．held back

B．gave in

C．broke down

D．opened up

16.

A．helplessly

B．hopefully

C．desperately

D．thoroughly

17.

A．routine

B．meeting

C．experience

D．recreation

18.

A．temporary

B．consistent

C．subsequent

D．prosperous

19.

A．captured

B．seized

C．earned

D．found

20.

A．went along

B．started off

C．gave out

D．carried on

5 . At the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comǎneci made history. She performed a routine ______ on the uneven bars (高低杠), scoring a perfect 10. She pursued perfection in her practice, which led to remarkable ______ in the game.

Perfectionism is generally appreciated as a good quality. Therefore, it’s not ______ that perfectionism in society has been on the rise for years. And it is more common in certain ______ like top athletes and medical specialists. Perfectionism can be seen as a behavioral ______. Perfectionists usually set extremely high standards for themselves and others. According to researchers, such behavior is rooted in insecurity. Many perfectionists ______ that if they don’t pay enough attention to ______, it will hurt their performance. So they ______ their perfectionism even when it’s self-defeating.

Aiming for a high degree of success isn’t necessarily ______ as long as you behave reasonably. People with adaptive perfectionism work hard to meet ambitious goals, but are also able to ______ mistakes, changes, and problems that they didn’t anticipate. When encountering barriers, they stay flexible.

Maladaptive perfectionism, which involves an intense ______ for others’ approval, and a high level of concern over mistakes, is unhealthy. It tends to ______ individual confidence and affects relationships and overall well-being. To overcome it, it’s crucial to ______ your mindset. Start by being ______ and gaining a broader perspective. Give yourself permission to loosen up a bit on certain matters, enabling you to ______ what truly matters. Transformation can be challenging, but it is indeed attainable.

1.

A．randomly

B．temporarily

C．faultlessly

D．repeatedly

2.

A．talent

B．discoveries

C．transformation

D．achievements

3.

A．interesting

B．necessary

C．apparent

D．surprising

4.

A．professions

B．experiences

C．advertisements

D．agreements

5.

A．theory

B．tendency

C．measure

D．difficulty

6.

A．insist

B．confirm

C．worry

D．regret

7.

A．detail

B．interaction

C．instruction

D．recognition

8.

A．miss out

B．hold onto

C．set aside

D．rely on

9.

A．beneficial

B．reliable

C．harmful

D．significant

10.

A．avoid

B．tolerate

C．identify

D．forget

11.

A．argument

B．competition

C．desire

D．strategy

12.

A．indicate

B．weaken

C．stress

D．inspire

13.

A．shift

B．adopt

C．accept

D．strengthen

14.

A．realistic

B．cautious

C．decisive

D．helpful

15.

A．challenge

B．mention

C．evaluate

D．prioritize

6 . When you are concerned about your uninspiring exam grades or sporting performance, psychologist Adam Grant has some good news. “_________ is less a matter of natural talent, but more of nurturing (培养) hidden potential,” he says. Grant has experienced this__________.

As a(n) _________ in multiple fields now, it is hard to believe Grant has ever been anything less than highly________. As a child, his body wasn’t _________ to touch his toes as a teenage diver; he was told he _________ remedial (辅导的) classes for writing; he was too _________ to speak publicly. However, his father always cheered him up, “I believe you have hidden potential in all these areas.”

Despite these _________, his father’s firm belief in his potential and Grant’s determination _________his continuous pursuit s pursuit of excellence. _________, he made it to be on the US Junior Olympic diving team, write five best-selling books and speak to _________audiences. Overtime, he discovered that talent could be nurtured through _________. Grant’s transformation also serves as a _________ to the power of belief in one’s potential.

Much of our _________ to discover hidden potential lies in underestimation. When someone struggles with something, we _________ that’s not for me, and that I don’t have that talent, rather than trying to nurture something we’re yet to _________ in. Consequently, we _________ ourselves.

“I used to believe that you could _________ where you would land from where you start,” Grant says_________to that, Grant’s transformative journey demonstrates the profound ________ of being encouraged and hard work on one’s path to success.

1.

A．Concept

B．Success

C．Security

D．Belief

2.

A．on the whole

B．in a sense

C．in the flesh

D．on no account

3.

A．individual

B．junior

C．trainee

D．celebrity

4.

A．impressive

B．intense

C．dependent

D．efficient

5.

A．tough

B．sensitive

C．curious

D．flexible

6.

A．created

B．needed

C．ignored

D．escaped

7.

A．cautious

B．energetic

C．awkward

D．enthusiastic

8.

A．barriers

B．chances

C．efforts

D．characters

9.

A．recalled

B．banned

C．abandoned

D．fueled

10.

A．Respectively

B．Unfortunately

C．Ultimately

D．Logically

11.

A．alarmed

B．packed

C．disappointed

D．puzzled

12.

A．availability

B．probability

C．restriction

D．devotion

13.

A．proof

B．warning

C．rule

D．desire

14.

A．purpose

B．ability

C．failure

D．decision

15.

A．detect

B．assume

C．promise

D．deny

16.

A．shine

B．cheat

C．delight

D．delay

17.

A．enjoy

B．limit

C．hurt

D．conduct

18.

A．differ

B．separate

C．judge

D．defend

19.

A．Equal

B．Similar

C．Blind

D．Contrary

20.

A．impact

B．reaction

C．regret

D．performance

8 . Pets are always part of a family. Pets and kids who grow up together have very close _________. This is especially true in the case of 9-year-old Milly Kukuczka, whose beloved dog Bella _________ shortly before Christmas in 2022. The girl was _________ but she turned her sadness into a labor of love for _________ animals.

This year, when Milly’s parents asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she went to her room to prepare her _________. To her parents’ surprise, _________ toys for herself, Milly gave her parents a flier (小广告传单) she made for a pet drive to collect toys and treats for pets without forever _________. All she wanted was to hold a pet drive, so all pets could have a toy for Christmas.

The Kukuczka family _________ Bella before Milly was born. The dog was Milly’s _________ and her best friend. Milly’s mom said that they were always side by side, and she wanted to do everything with Bella. But Bella was diagnosed with cancer around a year before she died. It was difficult for the entire family, especially for Milly. Now, this young girl wants to keep her love for Bella __________ by helping other pets.

Milly’s parents were all onboard to help their daughter organize the pet drive. They __________ out to the Dumb Friends League in Denver where the family chose their cats and __________ the pet drive on social media. The response was very __________. There are 50 toys there already and they have boxes of treats and cat scratchers (抓扒工具).

Milly is __________ the pet Father Christmas and she will deliver the __________ to shelter animals at the Dumb Friends League just in time for Christmas.

1.

A．end

B．observation

C．bonds

D．mood

2.

A．came back

B．broke down

C．fled off

D．passed away

3.

A．disappointed

B．heartbroken

C．confused

D．beloved

4.

A．suburb

B．neighborhood

C．shelter

D．downtown

5.

A．list

B．interview

C．attempt

D．course

6.

A．in spite of

B．apart from

C．but for

D．instead of

7.

A．friends

B．homes

C．peace

D．fund

8.

A．lost

B．adopted

C．sold

D．buried

9.

A．protector

B．tutor

C．toy

D．baby-sitter

10.

A．changeable

B．respectful

C．alive

D．occupied

11.

A．reached

B．turned

C．picked

D．made

12.

A．applied

B．demanded

C．debated

D．shared

13.

A．infectious

B．brief

C．generous

D．natural

14.

A．serving as

B．searching for

C．appealing to

D．dreaming of

15.

A．goods

B．donations

C．supplies

D．purchases

9 . Jeremy grew up being active and involved in sports. But he never gave healthy eating too much ________ until he found himself gaining weight. In November 2019, Jeremy ________ a turning point when he found that he was so ________ that he couldn’t play in a company football game. He decided to change his eating habits.

The first step Jeremy took toward healthy eating was to stop going to fast-food restaurants, where he used to eat fast food as ________ as 4 times a week. To his surprise, he found that giving up fast food wasn’t that hard.

Since Jeremy has always enjoyed cooking, he began to experiment with ways to make recipes ________. He used whole wheat flour instead of white flour, and olive oil instead of butter. Cooking allowed him to have more ________ over his food choices. “If you’re going to prepare it yourself, you’re much better off than if you were going to buy it already ________. You know exactly what’s in it.”

He also learned to expect there would be ________ as he changed his eating habits. Accepting that things wouldn’t always go perfectly, he didn’t get ________. “Just be patient with it, and be ________ with your goals.”

Jeremy’s friends and family noticed when he started eating healthier foods. Their support helped ________ him to make a healthy eating habit. And Jeremy felt pretty good when people began to ________ his changes.

For Jeremy, there have been no drawbacks to changing the way he eats. He acknowledges that healthy eating takes planning. But he knows it’s worth the ________. As a result of his changes, he is now back to a healthy weight and has the ________ to do the activities that he wants to do. “It’s just something that’s been really ________ for me.”

1.

A．idea

B．opinion

C．thought

D．concept

2.

A．hit

B．knocked

C．marked

D．proved

3.

A．under pressure

B．on edge

C．out of shape

D．off balance

4.

A．rarely

B．frequently

C．moderately

D．precisely

5.

A．cheaper

B．spicier

C．healthier

D．tastier

6.

A．control

B．power

C．potential

D．courage

7.

A．specialized

B．packaged

C．advertised

D．delivered

8.

A．questions

B．tragedies

C．disasters

D．setbacks

9.

A．relieved

B．discouraged

C．sensitive

D．cheerful

10.

A．realistic

B．content

C．concerned

D．strict

11.

A．force

B．motivate

C．persuade

D．disturb

12.

A．make light of

B．approve of

C．keep track of

D．take advantage of

13.

A．effort

B．money

C．wait

D．risk

14.

A．interest

B．agenda

C．qualification

D．energy

15.

A．dynamic

B．fortunate

C．rewarding

D．challenging

10 . Spanish class scared me in the freshman year. I knew little Spanish before starting the class, and I thought it would be ________ for me. However, Mary, our honored Spanish teacher, who was full of creativity, made her class fun from the beginning. I knew what to expect with a schedule for each week, but there was always some slight ________.

Before the exam, Mary often asked us to ________ our lessons by ourselves. But I could remember one day she said, “This time, let’s play a game before going over what you’ve learned.” The game was so interesting that we all ________ ourselves. After the exam, Mary gave us opportunities to make up for our ________. After each error correction, she would check again. She took things so ________ that she wouldn’t overlook any detail. No wonder she was ________ by us.

Mary was ________ and willing to help, within reason, on everything. We could ask her questions at any time. She encouraged everyone to speak Spanish in class. Because of that, I was ________ enough, and then I could communicate with Spanish speakers outside of class. When she knew our problems, she would give advice. When someone was struggling, she would ________.

Mary’s ________ teaching eventually transformed my ________ into fascination. She infused (灌输) foreign culture into lessons, using music and dance to ________ our language skills. Her personalized attention to each student’s needs fostered a(n) ________ environment. At the end of the term, my Spanish improved, and my confidence soared. Mary left a lasting impact on my ________ for new challenges.

1.

A．exciting

B．easy

C．boring

D．beneficial

2.

A．variation

B．disturbance

C．annoyance

D．inconvenience

3.

A．explain

B．describe

C．prepare

D．review

4.

A．challenged

B．enjoyed

C．trusted

D．developed

5.

A．experience

B．time

C．losses

D．mistakes

6.

A．seriously

B．roughly

C．modestly

D．curiously

7.

A．amused

B．respected

C．judged

D．spotted

8.

A．understanding

B．humble

C．athletic

D．courageous

9.

A．discouraged

B．suspected

C．heartened

D．comforted

10.

A．stand out

B．reach out

C．get around

D．get by

11.

A．passive

B．conventional

C．voluntary

D．innovative

12.

A．fear

B．sorrow

C．anger

D．confusion

13.

A．know

B．match

C．enhance

D．assess

14.

A．secure

B．supportive

C．economic

D．competitive

15.

A．pity

B．profit

C．debate

D．desire