1 . Life as a 340-pound man had become unmanageable for Erie O’Grey. When not traveling for work, he rarely left his apartment. He took about 15 medicines, including weight-loss drugs. He tried dieting, but nothing worked. Then two things during a flight inspired him to go to see a naturopathic (自然疗法的) doctor. O’Grey had an embarrassing incident when the flight crew had to wait for a seat belt extension for him before the plane took off. Then he saw news about “plant-based” diets.
The doctor recommended a plant-based diet and also ordered him to adopt a shelter dog and walk him twice a day for 30 minutes. Armed with new recipes and the order, he went to the local shelter with visions of the perfect dog dancing through his head, one that never barked or disobeyed orders. But the adoption coordinator (协调人) brought in a very fat dog with skin problems.
“The dog looked at me with a clear sense of disappointment. Then his head hung low,” O’Grey said.” I can relate to that." The coordinator told him they had much in common and that they both need work on the same things. O’Grey took the dog home and named him “Peety”. They began going for walks. At first, O’Grey could only take his new companion about 100 yards. But Peety seemed to like it. “He just looked up at me like he was so appreciative.”
Their twice-daily exercise gradually got longer as O’Grey began to enjoy walking through his neighborhood with Peety. As they lost weight and grew healthier together, the pair developed a tight bond. In six months, Grey quit all medicines. Over time O’Grey discovered he loved long-distance running. Now he runs an average of five to six marathons a year.
On the journey toward a healthier, happier life, O’Grey becomes a lover of long-distance running and dog adoption. He’s also co-written a book, Walking with Peety: The Dog Who Saved My Life, encouraging others struggling with obesity to turn it around.
1. Why did O’Grey feel embarrassed during the air travel?| A．He was too fat to take a seat. |
| B．He rarely traveled by plane. |
| C．He was laughed at by the flight crew. |
| D．He couldn’t fit in the safety belt. |
| A．A healthy dog. | B．An adaptive dog. | C．A gentle dog. | D．An energetic dog. |
| A．He disliked running at first. |
| B．He finished marathons with O’Grey. |
| C．He was trained to help people. |
| D．He was upset when meeting O’Grey. |
| A．The tough journey of losing weight |
| B．A man completed his book inspired by his dog |
| C．The bond between a man and a dog |
| D．A dog changed its owner from medicines to marathon |
2 . Early one morning in 1948, a phone call woke up the police chief in the small town of Clearwater, Florida. The caller said he'd seen something strange at the beach. Residents woke up that morning to find an odd set of footprints in the sand, and a rumor (谣言) began circulating that Clearwater Beach had a sea monster.
It turned out to be a local prankster (恶作剧者) who wore 30-pound, three-toed iron shoes and walked around the beach at night. Soon the mysterious tracks appeared on other beaches, from Honeymoon Island to St. Pete Beach. The local papers ran photos of police bending over a big footprint, looking puzzled. The footprints led people to believe there was a giant, 15-foot penguin wandering around their lands.
The tracks of the giant penguin continued for 10 years. 1958 marked the last time when anyone saw them. It wasn't until April 11, 1988, that a St. Petersburg Times reporter revealed that the giant penguin was actually Tony Signorini, a locally known prankster. Signorini kept the prank a secret for 40 years.
Signorini stated he had been inspired by a photograph of fossilized dinosaur tracks, and showed the reporter the huge penguin feet made of iron used in creating the tracks. "To create the false impression of a long step, Signorini would stand on one leg, swing the other one back and forth to take a leap." the Tampa Bay Times reported.
When Signorini died at age 91 in 2013, his family made sure to mention in his obituary(讣告) hat, along with being a World War II flight engineer, "Tony was famous for being ‘The Clearwater Monster,’ a hoax that made national news.”
1. What do we know about the footprints on Clearwater beach?| A．They were about 15 feet long each. | B．They were made by a big penguin. |
| C．They were marks left by a monster. | D．They looked like a huge penguin's tracks. |
| A．26 years old | B．30 years old. | C．36 years old | D．40 years old |
| A．A trick | B．A report. | C．A soldier. | D．A fiction. |
| A．The Unsolved Mystery | B．The Clearwater Monster |
| C．The Life of a Prankster | D．The Legend of a Giant |
3 . Spices (香料) are global now. But once they were restricted to certain regions, were highly costly and even more valuable than gold! Spices have come a long way since then. They are now used for varieties of purposes.
Spices are mainly found in tropical (热带的) areas. Spices were more commonly used in warmer climates as a way to treat infectious diseases in ancient times. They are commonly found in countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and east Africa.
The written record of spices dates back to the ancient India, China, and Egypt 3,500 years ago. In the 6th century BC, spices were introduced to Europe from Southeast Asia.
In Europe, the most common spices in the middle age were cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and black pepper. These were among the most expensive products at that time. No wonder they were popular among noble people in Europe. King of Aragon wanted to put them in wine.
During these times, the spices were fundamentally imported from plantations (种植园) in Africa and Asia. This was the main reason why they were expensive. The Republic of Venice established a monopoly (垄断) on the trade of spices from the 8th to 15th century with the Middle East. This made the region very rich. About 1,000 tons of spices were imported every year into Western Europe.
Considering the high prices of spices, Portugal and Spain were increasingly getting interested in finding new trade routes for spices from Asia. This was the main reason that drove Portuguese navigator (航海家) Vasco da Gama to sail to India. He found that pepper was at much lower prices than those of Venice. During this time only, Columbus came back from the New World. He told about the new spices available there to the investors.
Portuguese were able to control the sea routes to India with the help of their military force. This enabled Portuguese to trade directly with the Maluku Islands, China, and Siam.
1. What was spice once used as in warm areas?| A．Medicine. | B．Food. | C．Money. | D．Decoration. |
| A．To promote spices. | B．To make a profit. |
| C．To explore the new world | D．To control the world trade. |
| A．In time order | B．By analyzing reasons |
| C．By citing historical documents. | D．According to the change of locations. |
| A．The spice trade. | B．The origin of spices. | C．The history of spices. | D．Legends about spices. |
4 . Vacations are meant to be enjoyed and to explore new stuff and hobbies. Summer vacation offers everyone a lot of time and comfort to develop new skills.
We reached Srinagar Airport at 12 noon, after one hour, we finally reached our hotels. We were greeted with Kahawa（a famous Kashmir's (克什米尔) coffee）, Tired as we were, we got fresh and had lunch.
All the shops were decorated with wooden antiques and reproductions of famous paintings. We returned at 9 pm after having dinner in a famous restaurant. We went to attend the bonfire event which was organized by the hotel staff.
We then visited the botanical garden, apple farms, Nishat Gardens, and historical temples and castles, which were telling the Kashmir's beauty. We went to many other scenic spots and spent five days in Shikara in Dal Lake.
I want to revisit Kashmir. After returning from the Kashmir trip, I got engaged in my summer vacation homework and shared my travel experience with my friends. Also, I presented my friends with small gifts I have purchased for them from Kashmir.
| A．Then we went to the nearby market |
| B．Everything in Kashmir is new and exciting. |
| C．We also played cards before we went to bed. |
| D．Then the next morning we went to visit Gulmarg. |
| E．Last summer, I accompanied my parents on a 15-day trip. |
| F．Staying in the water for such a long duration was the best experience. |
| G．Last year, I visited Kashmir with my parents during my summer vacation. |
5 . In 2002, a retired K-9 police officer named Perry Martin adopted a yellow kitten and named it T2. Hurricane Jeanne hit Florida in 2004, and everyone lost their
In 2018, a local animal shelter found a
| A．way | B．appeal | C．patience | D．power |
| A．heat | B．peace | C．sunshine | D．wind |
| A．rain | B．light | C．air | D．sunshine |
| A．door | B．window | C．hole | D．gap |
| A．searched | B．waited | C．watched | D．hesitated |
| A．promised | B．accepted | C．determined | D．prayed |
| A．lovely | B．adopted | C．lost | D．naughty |
| A．looked for | B．heard from | C．thought over | D．called up |
| A．saw. | B．examined | C．had | D．missed |
| A．appreciate | B．believe | C．answer | D．know |
| A．satisfied | B．impressed | C．associated | D．reunited |
| A．elderly | B．respected | C．lonely | D．poor |
| A．escape | B．stay | C．hide | D．survive |
| A．campaigns | B．advertisements | C．interviews | D．competitions |
| A．really | B．instantly | C．rarely | D．possibly |
A grey car broke down on a gentle slope near the entrance of the grocery store parking lot. A long line of cars moved slowly around it, some honking(按喇叭), shoppers urgently trying to get their errands(差事)done during the December holiday craziness.
I looked around the offending vehicle, craning(伸长)my neck to catch a glimpse of the driver, a slight figure curled up before the steering wheel and wearing a dark green cap pulled tight.
“I think it's a woman." I told Lois, my wife, who sized up the driver and said. "These days, you just can't tell about people. Better to be safe than sorry."
I edged out into traffic. Lois, the more cautious one, was right. Holiday stress could bring out the worst in people. Across the nation, no one, it seemed, could agree on anything. Racial conflicts. Social unease. Crime on the rise. Neighbors acting like strangers. Peace on earth? I didn't see it on the gift list for this year. Not even in our tiny community in Pennsylvania Dutch country.
I was a few miles down the road when a thought stopped me; Was I missing an opportunity by driving past someone so obviously in need?
“I'm going back," I said. "Let's make sure everything's okay." Lois didn't object.
Minutes later I was back the parking lot. The car was still blocking traffic. Now I could clearly see a woman behind the wheel. I motioned for her to roll down her window, but she stared back at me hesitantly. I got it. I'm a big black guy with a beard, in a community where African Americans are definitely a minority. Finally, the woman rolled down the window.
“I ran out of gas and I just spent my last dollar on groceries." she said. I figured out that I had to push her car to the nearest gas station. But then I was hit with the reality of what I was in for. I had a bad knee, possibly facing surgery. No way could I push even a small car alone.
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。
I saw a big white guy in a car waiting to exit.
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As we struggled, another passing driver offered to help drag the car to the gas station with a tow bar(拖车杠).
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No trip to Sydney is complete
8 . In the digital age, we rely on technology such as social media in trying to build interesting and varied lives. Social networking sites like Facebook are designed and promoted to make us believe enthusiastically that they are able to open up new experiences for us. There are constant notifications (通知), status updates and incentives to check-in to find out what is new.
But if we do not use the technology wisely, we can end up becoming overly attached and trapped in a cycle of social media FOMO, a sign of deeper unhappiness. FOMO, or fear of missing out, is a fear that exciting or interesting events are happening somewhere else and that we are not able to take part.
People who experience high levels of FOMO have been found to be more likely to give in to urges to compose and check text messages while driving, as well as to use Facebook more often directly after waking, while going to sleep and during meals.
When it comes to lasting happiness, it is best not to give in to FOMO, but rather to deal with the cycle of desires that fuel it. Hard as it is, we are better off working toward facing the fearful reality that we cannot experience everything we might like than to get caught in a cycle of checking behaviors that only sustain anxiety.
If we have become accustomed to using social media as part of our attempts at living interesting lives, we must acknowledge that it is not easy to change our approach. But change is almost always worthwhile in the long run.
The fact that FOMO is so common in our digital age is a sign that there is something wrong with the way we are pursuing happiness and that we are not as happy as we might think we are. It should warn us that, in our keenness to use digital technology to try to make ourselves happier, we may unintentionally be bringing on exactly the opposite result.
1. With paragraph 1, the writer aims to tell us that social media _________.| A．is not worthy of our trust | B．tries to attract our attention |
| C．needs to be checked constantly | D．provides new reliable information |
| A．Being afraid of missing a Facebook update. | B．Feeling anxious about socializing with others. |
| C．Posting food photos on social media. | D．Handling multiple tasks at once. |
| A．Select the social media platform that is suitable to your taste. |
| B．Strive to make small changes on a daily basis. |
| C．Acknowledge there are limits to enjoyment in life. |
| D．Get rid of the desire to check social updates |
| A．Influence of FOMO. | B．Wise use of technology. |
| C．Problems FOMO can reflect. | D．Ways of pursuing happiness |
1. 你的选择；2. 选择理由；3. 表达期待。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 文章开头已给出，不计入总词数。
Nowadays, many classics have been adapted for movies. As for me.
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Laurie sat quietly in the empty dressing room at the ice-skating rink(溜冰场). She had not been skating in any competition since her left knee was badly injured in an accident six months ago. As she waited for her turn to skate. Laurie was very nervous. “If I can win today.” she thought, “I can skate in the World Cup next year and then maybe I can make it to the Olympics.”
Laurie was told that she had a tough competitor this year, a girl named Jinny Jordan who was really strong in everything. “She is the one you have to beat this year,” said the coach.
Minutes later, the door swung open and Laurie saw a young woman who was about her own age. The young woman dropped her skating bag onto a chair. The bag fell to the floor with a thud(砰地一声), “Hi. I’m Jinny Jordan,” she said.
Laurie felt uncomfortable as she looked at Jinny. “So this is my competitor,” thought Laurie, “Because of her. I may lose tonight.”
“This costume was my mom’s idea,” Jinny said, looking down at her red, white, and blue skating dress. “It looks like a flag.”
Laurie couldn’t keep from smiling. She pointed to Jinny’s bag, “Some stuff fell out of your bag.” Jinny looked down. As she began to gather her belongings, the door opened.
“Jinny.” called someone, “You’d better give the music tape to the sound engineer right away.”
“Oh, my God! I thought I had handed it hours ago. It’s a green box with my initials(姓名首字母)written on it,” screamed Jinny, hurrying out.
Laurie knew that music was nearly as important to the program as the skating itself. If she lost her music tape, she might as well forget about skating. Laurie stood up and walked to the chair to do a few more knee bends.
注意：
1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。
Paragraph 1
Suddenly Laurie saw a dark green box with letters “J.J” behind the leg of the dressing table.
Paragraph 2
Feeling relieved, Laurie skated quickly to the center of the rink after the announcer finally called her name.
