Two things changed my life: my mother and a bike basket. It’s true. I would be a different person if my mom hadn’t turned a bike basket into a life lesson I carry with me today—a lesson about the value of efforts.
My mother and father were united in their way of raising children, but it mostly fell to my mother to actually carry it out. Looking back, I honestly don’t know how she did it. Managing the family budget must have been a very hard task, but she made it look effortless. If we complained about not having what other kids owned, we’d hear something like, “I don’t care what so-and-so got for his birthday. You are not getting a TV in your room or a big party.” We had to earn our allowance (零用钱) by doing chores (家庭杂务) around the house. I can still remember how long it took to polish the legs of our coffee table. My brothers can no doubt remember hours spent cleaning the house. We had to keep track of our belongings, and if something was lost, it was not replaced.
It was one summer day. My mother drove me to the bike shop to get a tire fixed—and there it was in the window—white, shiny, plastic and decorated with flowers: The basket winked at me and I knew—I had to have it.
“It’s beautiful,” my mother said when I pointed it out to her. “What a neat basket.”
I tried to hold off at first, but then I couldn’t stand it any longer. “Mom, please can I get it? I’ll do anything, please, Mom, please?” I was desperate.
“You know,” she said, gently rubbing my back while we both stared at what I believed was the coolest thing ever, “if you save up, you could buy this yourself.”
“By the time I have earned enough, it’ll have gone! Someone else will buy it. Please, Mom, please?”
“There might be another way,” she said.
注意:
1.续写词数应为 150 左右；
2.请按如下格式作答。
“I’ll buy it now but you only get it after 3 weeks of double chores,” Mom explained.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Finally, I got my dream basket, but soon I sadly found the same basket on others’ bikes!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2 . “Tell me the story of me, Momma,” my daughter Sophie always asks when we sit on my grandmother’s rocking chair at the end of the day. “The first time I saw your beautiful face, it was nearly covered by a blue-and-white hat. You were surrounded by a soft blue blanket (毛毯). All I could see was a rosy face.” “And I looked like a tiny fairy baby?” she asks. “You did, and you weren’t older than a minute,” I always answer. “The nurse handed a tiny little girl to me, and I was so surprised because you felt so light. I thought if I threw off the blanket, I’d find no baby there at all, only air.”
From that moment, I became a mother. But that moment was just special and magical as if she’d come from my body directly into my arms. From that day on, she was my daughter in every way that mattered.
It’s easy sometimes to forget there was another mother out there with whom I share my title. Sophie’s birth mother, who was also my friend, lost her life to cancer not long after giving birth to Sophie. And I’ll never forget that it was her difficult decision — her tears and her pain — that made me a mom.
As my daughter grows, she will understand that sometimes life is a relay race (接力赛), and you never know who in this world will hand you your baton (接力棒). It could be someone you know for years, or it could be someone who you even never meet, someone you will never be able to repay for giving you the life you always wanted.
1. How does the author start the text?| A．By remembering her grandmother. |
| B．By asking her daughter questions. |
| C．By describing her past life. |
| D．By showing a conversation. |
| A．She was given up by her birth mother. |
| B．She and the author aren’t related by blood. |
| C．She had a hard time growing up. |
| D．She hated her birth mother. |
| A．Disappointed. |
| B．Worried. |
| C．Thankful. |
| D．Surprised. |
3 . 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。
Ada looked through the observation window at the kids below, all waiting in line to get into the pool. She turned to her mother with an angry expression on her face. “Mom, they’re all little kids! I’m 15 already! This is ridiculous, isn’t ?”
“I know, Ada,” replied her mother, “but you’re a beginner, too, and you have to start somewhere!”
Ada had never been to a swimming lesson in her life. Between schoolwork and helping on her grandfather’s farm, she hadn’t had time for lessons. The closest swimming pool Ada had been to was the inflatable (充气的) alligator pool her mother bought her when she was five. Now that Ada was older, her mother had found a new job in the city, and Ada faced a new challenge — school field trips to the local pool.
The first day that Ada went with her class to the pool, she had no idea what she was in for. What could be so difficult about swimming? Ada confidently slipped(溜) into the water and held onto the side of the pool, expecting to be able to touch the bottom with her feet. But when Ada let go of the side of the pool, she slipped under the water—the whole pool was one big deep end! Ada threw her arm toward the side of the pool and grabbed (抓住) the ledge (池壁), out of breath. “I really can’t swim! Everyone’s going to laugh at me!” she thought to herself in a panic.
On the next field trip to the pool, Ada sat on the side of a bench, frozen with fear. She huddled (蜷缩) with a towel over her shoulders, too embarrassed to try again. When she came home, her mother noticed right away that Ada was upset. “Honey, I want you to take Bella’s swimming lessons at the local pool. Soon you’ll learn how to swim just like everyone else,” she convinced Ada, showing photos of Bella with her prize-winning students. Ada felt doubtful whether the lessons would help, but she had to overcome her fear.
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。
Then came the time for Ada to take her first lesson.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Soon Bella came over to where Ada sat and introduced herself.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What can we infer about those mummies?
| A．They had their own characteristic in culture. |
| B．Their genes had much in common with their neighbors. |
| C．They seemed to isolate themselves from other groups. |
| D．They developed faster than others. |
5 . The second experiment on how to grow crops on Mars and moon soil simulant(模拟装置)has given a surprising outcome. As a result of what the researchers of Wageningen University & Research center in the Netherlands learned from their first experiment, they were able to grow ten different crop species. Tomatoes, peas, rye, garden rocket, radish and garden cress were harvested.
A few improvements have been made since the first experiment. Researcher Wieger Wamelink said, “We used trays instead of original small pots and added organic material (fresh cut grass) to the Mars and moon soil simulant. This solved the problem we had with watering in the first experiment and also added manure(肥料)to the soils.” In particular, the crop growth on the moon soil simulant showed improvement. While in the first moon soil experiment most plants died, in the next round they flourished, and the researchers could harvest from the same species as on the Mars soil simulant and the Earth potting compost(混合肥料)control.
The production of biomass(生物量)on the Mars soil simulant was lower than on Earth control, but it was a minor difference and caused by one of the trays that showed less growth. It was also not statistically different from the Earth control. “That was a real surprise to us,” comments Wamelink. “It shows that the Mars soil simulant has great potential when properly prepared and watered. The biomass growth on the moon soil simulant was less than on both other soils, about half of the biomass. Only the spinach(菠菜)showed poor biomass production.”
Although the researchers harvested several eatable crops, they did not eat them. The soils contain heavy metals like lead, arsenic and mercury and also a lot of iron. If the components become available for the plants, they may be taken up and find their way into the fruits, making them poisonous. Further research on this is necessary and that is one of the reasons why a crowdfunding(众筹)campaign has been started to finance the third experiment that will be all about food safety. If the crops prove to be safe enough to eat, the funders will be invited for dinner where a ‘Martian meal’ will be served that includes the harvested crops; at least for those who dare!
1. What do the researchers gain from the first experiment?| A．They can harvest ten crop species. |
| B．They learn what the organic material is. |
| C．They’re sure that they will succeed next time. |
| D．They learn they have to change the plant containers. |
| A．The process of how to plant crops on soil simulant in the experiment. |
| B．In spite of some drawbacks, the Mars soil simulant has great potential. |
| C．The reasons why the production of biomass on the Mars soil simulant was lower. |
| D．The production of biomass on the Mars soil simulant is obviously different from that on the Earth control |
| A．What they harvested was not eatable. |
| B．They haven’t got enough funding support. |
| C．The crops may contain various poisonous substances. |
| D．The production of the crops was lower than that on the Earth control. |
| A．Crops Grown on Fake Mars and Moon Soil |
| B．Time to Crowdfund Eatable Crops |
| C．Growing Plants on Mars and the Moon |
| D．Colony in Outer-space Becomes Reality |
6 . London and Paris are two of Europe’s biggest tourist destinations, just a few hours away from each other by road or rail and an hour’s distance by air. What about the train-ferry combination that many recall fondly from their childhoods? Well, though it’s budget-saving, this option is too time-consuming today, so better leave it to your memories. Since the UK is not part the Schengen Area, passengers need to go through passport control prior to boarding.
Air trips
Though flying between London and Paris is by no means recommended, there are still a few people traveling between the two dynamic cities by air. A very low one-way fare is possible through advanced booking, but of course it’s rare, and that doesn’t include the taxi and rail fares traveling to and from the airports.
* One-way fares from Paris can be as low as 49;
* From London, Air France flies with fares as low as £39(46), and British Airways as low as £48 (56).
Rail trips
The only direct train between London and Paris is the Eurostar, which travels 15 -17 times per weekday. Eurostar’s 2015 edition trains can make the journey in two hours at speeds of up to 320 km/h. Besides, they offer good seating space.
* Fares begin at a reasonable £58(68), round trip;
* The earlier you book, the more you save.
Bus trips
The bus is by far the least expensive and longest way to travel between Paris and London. Eurolines and OUIBUS are two major bus lines traveling between the two capitals. The journey takes between seven and nine hours. Both lines advertise free Wi-Fi.
* One-way Eurolines fares begin at 15;
* One-way OUIBUS fares begin at 15 too, but early bird sales can even lower the fare.
1. Which way is probably the cheapest for a round trip?| A．By train-ferry. | B．By air. | C．By rail. | D．By bus. |
| A．Free booking. | B．Taxi pickup. |
| C．Good seating space. | D．Free Wi-Fi. |
| A．There are different competing companies. |
| B．They are cheaper if booked ahead of time. |
| C．They are more expensive from the Paris end. |
| D．There are still additional fees to be included. |
7 . When I began planning to move to Auckland to study, my mother was worried about a lack of jobs and cultural differences. Ignoring these
One afternoon, I walked into a building to ask whether there were my job. The people there advised me not to continue my job in that manner. As I was about to
I was a little surprised, but had a
It seems that the world always
| A．doubts | B．concerns | C．instructions | D．reasons |
| A．on my own | B．on my way | C．by any chance | D．by the day |
| A．answer | B．work | C．leave | D．refuse |
| A．for ever | B．at any time | C．as usual | D．for a while |
| A．returned | B．hesitated | C．passed | D．regretted |
| A．silent | B．busy | C．positive | D．comfortable |
| A．pick out | B．search for | C．take on | D．give up |
| A．dull | B．good | C．guilty | D．general |
| A．made use of | B．taken care of | C．rum out of | D．become tired of |
| A．stopped | B．knocked | C．glanced | D．appeared |
| A．right | B．more | C．former | D．different |
| A．pressures | B．agreements | C．impressions | D．suggestions |
| A．lonely | B．funny | C．disappointed | D．satisfied |
| A．call | B．tip | C．present | D．report |
| A．turns off | B．goes over | C．gives back | D．looks up |
| A. reminded him of B. made sense C. give away D. devoted all his life to E. work on F. believe in G. turned his back on |
Jack’s parents got very disappointed after their son quit school. However, Jack was stubborn (固执) and
9 . It is never easy to be a world champion,
| A．he will probably be given more training to improve his mental intensity |
| B．and it is especially difficult for a team to be in the lead for a long time |
| C．their honour and determination to uphold the tradition of keeping their country’s team in the lead. |
| D．the coach pushes them to extremes and limits |
| E．that they are willing to do that extra little bit that might take them to the top |
| F．and they will be treated and have some time off but they will come back |
| G．Being a professional Ping-Pong player is no different |
10 . Shirley Allen loved to sing and play the piano. She studied music in college and her
Shirley would never give up playing the piano,
For three years, Shirley worked as a clerk in Washington, D.C.
Always
This amazing woman became the first black deaf female in the world to receive her Ph.D. She made history in 1992 when she received the highest degree in education from the University of Rochester in New York.
1.| A．job | B．interest | C．duty | D．dream |
| A．disappeared | B．changed | C．stopped | D．ended |
| A．made | B．supplied | C．invented | D．thought |
| A．allowed | B．caused | C．encouraged | D．enabled |
| A．almost | B．actually | C．totally | D．gradually |
| A．loved | B．written | C．created | D．remembered |
| A．and | B．so | C．but | D．even if |
| A．career | B．interest | C．life | D．attitude |
| A．information | B．help | C．an assistant | D．a job |
| A．happy | B．independent | C．free | D．confident |
| A．Unfortunately | B．Then | C．Thus | D．Besides |
| A．worked | B．walked | C．lived | D．played |
| A．attend | B．observe | C．describe | D．advertise |
| A．interested in | B．busy with | C．concerned about | D．ready for |
| A．learns | B．offers | C．pays | D．promises |
