1 . “Wanted: Violin. Can’t pay much. Call me at...”

Why did I notice that? I wondered, since I seldom look at such ads. I put the newspaper on my lap and closed my eyes, _______ what had happened many years before, when my family _______ to make a living on our farm. I, too, had wanted a violin, but we didn’t have the money.

When my arms grew long enough, how I wanted one! But I knew it was impossible. It was not a good year. At harvest the crops did not bring as much as we had hoped. Yet _______ times were hard, I couldn’t wait any longer to ask, “Daddy, may I have a violin of my own?”

Daddy looked _______ . That night, I heard him pray, “…Mary wants her own violin.” One evening we all sat around the table. Daddy wrote a letter to his friend, Mr Finkle, a violinist. When Daddy received a letter from Columbus several weeks later, he announced, “We’ll be driving to Columbus.”

The day finally _______ . After we got there, Mr Finkle, a tall man, opened the door. “Come in!” he and Daddy heartily shook hands at once.

He _______ a case, opened it and lifted out a violin. He said, “Carl, I found it in a shop for _______ dollars. It’s a good violin.” Then he handed the violin to me. I noticed the _______ in Daddy’s eyes. It was mine! I stroked (抚摸) the violin gently. The wood was a golden brown that seemed to warm in the light. “It’s beautiful.” I said, barely breathing.

The day I carried my violin to school for my first lesson no one could imagine the bursting feeling in my heart. Over the months I _______ every day. When I was ready to join the school orchestra (管弦乐队), I shook with ________ . I sat in the third row of violins and wore my white jacket. My heart beat ________ at my first public performance. I felt sure everyone in the audience was watching me. Daddy and Mother smiled ________ at their little girl.

I thought of Daddy, who did all he could to ________ my needs when I was a little girl. I wonder if I had ever thanked him.

At last I walked to the ________ and dialed the number. Later in the day, a man in his 30s knocked on the door. “My daughter wants a violin so badly,” he said. “ ________ are you asking?” Any music store, I knew, would offer me a nice sum. But now I heard my voice answer, “Seven dollars.”

1.

A．updating

B．remembering

C．defining

D．reflecting

2.

A．struggled

B．intended

C．planned

D．agreed

3.

A．now that

B．in case

C．as though

D．even though

4.

A．sad

B．joyful

C．pleased

D．satisfied

5.

A．gathered

B．went

C．stuck

D．arrived

6.

A．made up

B．brought up

C．picked up

D．cleaned up

7.

A．three

B．five

C．seven

D．nine

8.

A．riddles

B．tears

C．pressure

D．energy

9.

A．functioned

B．aimed

C．practised

D．adapted

10.

A．excitement

B．sadness

C．fear

D．confusion

11.

A．eagerly

B．wildly

C．seriously

D．suddenly

12.

A．generously

B．frankly

C．falsely

D．proudly

13.

A．decorate

B．confirm

C．meet

D．learn

14.

A．target

B．snack

C．costume

D．phone

15.

A．How soon

B．How much

C．How often

D．How long

2 . I’ve always been the sort of person who hated being asked to answer questions in class, not because I didn’t know the answer (in fact I’m pretty clever, and usually do have the right answers), but because I didn’t like attention drawn to me. Besides, I don’t have a lot of friends. I get joked about a lot since I’ve always been a fat kid.

I’ve found a way to change all that.

It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was an absolutely crazy idea. Being fat, I just knew that I’d only embarrass myself. But because the teacher — a favorite with me — kept insisting I “go for it,” I decided to give it a try.

When I first started attending the practice sessions, I really didn’t have a good handle on the game of basketball. To be honest, I didn’t even know the rules of the game. Luckily, I wasn’t the only one “new” to the game, so I decided to do my best at each practice session. I was learning, and I was getting better — even if it was little by little.

And then it became more fun. And more inspiring. I practiced and practiced. Pretty soon the competitive part of me was winning over my fat-kid challenge. I began to forget that I was fat. I even discovered that my “size” wasn’t such a disadvantage at all; I could make a basket from right under the net and block at the same time! I never had so much fun!

Gaining self-confidence in playing inspired me to try out other things. I have gone from “hiding” myself to raising my hand. With my new and improved self-confidence comes more praise, some from teachers, and some from teammates and classmates. But these days, they also come from the face in the mirror — which is the person whose comments I value most. Best of all, I’m learning to really believe in myself.

1. Why did the author dislike being called on in class?

A．He hated most subjects.	B．He didn't know the answers.
C．He was too shy to speak in class.	D．He was not comfortable with being noticed.

2. What does the underlined word “embarrass” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．To make sb feel pleased or interested.	B．To make sb feel surprised.
C．To make sb feel shy or ashamed.	D．To invite sb to enter a competition.

3. How did playing basketball benefit the author?

A．He became sure of himself.	B．He lost a lot of weight.
C．He learned to cooperate.	D．He developed a funny personality.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．An overweight Kid’s Basketball Journey	B．The Best Way to Gain Confidence
C．The Power of Competitive Sports	D．A Teacher’s Impact on a Student’s Life

3 . As a child, I used to visit my grandfather’s shirt shop in Milan. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized how _________ he was in the city. Working behind his table he was cutting the most beautiful shirts that Milan ever saw.

I remember the shop being filled with _________ of all colors and patterns and the sound of the sewing machine. The smell of _________ cut cloth filled the air, and I couldn’t help but feel a _________ of warmth and comfort.

Our afternoon play was to choose the fabric and the tie that would _________ it. Not easy. We could not be too classic, neither too weird; it was a mix of _________ and modernity. We would spend hours trying to get it just right, and I loved every moment of it.

As I grew older, I began to appreciate the value of the matching game, and I found myself _________ to the world of fashion. I pursued a career in _________, using the skills and knowledge that my grandfather had passed down to me.

Now, as I walk through the streets or _________ online shops, I can instinctively tell what’s right. My grandfather’s taste never __________ me.

Looking back on those __________ spent with my grandfather, I realize that it wasn’t just about choosing the perfect shirt or tie. It was about learning how to appreciate beauty and __________ in all its forms. I am forever __________ for the time that we spent together in his shop.

He will always be a(n) __________ to me, and I will forever __________ the memories that we created together in his shop in Milan.

1.

A．troubled

B．cozy

C．popular

D．comfortable

2.

A．papers

B．fabrics

C．instruments

D．machines

3.

A．previously

B．casually

C．carelessly

D．freshly

4.

A．waste

B．result

C．sense

D．limitation

5.

A．fight against

B．go with

C．cope with

D．draw on

6.

A．taste

B．touch

C．sound

D．smell

7.

A．drawn

B．deserted

C．forced

D．urged

8.

A．education

B．advertisement

C．entertainment

D．design

9.

A．surf

B．establish

C．purchase

D．decorate

10.

A．impressed

B．left

C．impacted

D．attracted

11.

A．mornings

B．decades

C．afternoons

D．seconds

12.

A．sportsmanship

B．craftsmanship

C．membership

D．friendship

13.

A．grateful

B．responsible

C．eager

D．prepared

14.

A．performer

B．cheat

C．inventor

D．inspiration

15.

A．lose

B．search

C．cherish

D．decline

4 . 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。

The Fruit of Lost Labor

On an island in the Caribbean Sea lived a man known to all as Papa Lorne, and he was friendly to everyone. The children loved Papa Lorne. They thought he must be as old as the ocean. They loved his long gray curls and the deep lines in his face. They loved especially to watch Papa Lorne’s work.

Every year Papa Lorne walked the length and breadth of the beach, carrying great baskets. In the baskets, he collected sticks, stones, shells and anything else he could find. He walked for miles filling those baskets. And then he set to work, piling all that he found. In this way, every year, Papa Lorne built a seawall.

The children called him Master Builder, for he never stopped working, and the children, especially a girl called Ruth, loved to watch as the wall grew taller and stronger and longer. “A seawall is a precious thing,” he said to the children. “It protects our beach from being washed away too quickly. This seawall is our salute to the sea. It shows the sea that we, too, are strong and firm.” And sure enough, every year Papa Lorne would complete his seawall and it would stand facing the ocean.

“It’s beautiful,” the children clapped, but the grown-ups from the village shook their heads. “It’s a beautiful folly(荒唐事),” the women said. The men sighed. “Lost labor,” they said. “You know what’s going to happen to Papa Lorne’s wall, don’t you?” Ruth’s father asked every year, but Ruth plugged her ears. She did not want to hear his predictions.

Every year the late summer storms rolled in and the waves rose up taller than 10 men, and every time those stormy waves broke Papa Lorne’s wall. Then Papa Lorne would start again.

This year, Ruth raced to the beach during a summer storm to see the wall washed away. However, Ruth saw a tear in Papa Lorne’s eye. “Why are you sad, Papa Lorne?” she asked. After a while, Papa Lorne’s wrinkled cheeks were wet with tears. “My child, I’m too old now to build another wall. Your parents were right to call this a folly.”

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。

Ruth felt her heart almost burst, and she turned and raced towards the village.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Papa Lorne wept with joy looking at the children’s masterpiece.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . I once rescued a distrustful horse and now he lives peacefully on my farm. But the________to Bob’s recovery was nothing I did. It was my grandson, Paul.

Paul came with his parents for a vacation. Bob kept his distance from the________, but he seemed________by this little visitor. So we decided to________them. “Move slowly, be quiet and bend down sometimes,” I told my grandson. Paul________approached Bob, step by step, holding a soft comb. He________Bob’s shoulders and neck softly with the comb, removing the remains of Bob’s thick winter coat. It’s hard for a four-year-old to stay________for long, but he did it. Paul made one quick move, and Bob shyly________. But they were not ready to give up. Paul approached again.

To________a preschooler’s learning to control himself in such a short time was________. As we watched, true love ________. Over the next few days, Bob let Paul throw his arms around his________, and pat his legs. And Paul felt________to sit at Bob’s feet while Bob carefully nibbled (咬) his shirt collar and hair. Bob even hugged Paul — yes, a horse can hug — without knocking him off________. Bob is now a(n)________and trusting horse and Paul a miracle worker.

1.

A．approach

B．key

C．road

D．answer

2.

A．lookers-on

B．passers-by

C．grown-ups

D．standers-by

3.

A．attracted

B．puzzled

C．surprised

D．annoyed

4.

A．support

B．treat

C．greet

D．introduce

5.

A．quickly

B．cautiously

C．casually

D．excitedly

6.

A．patted

B．held

C．embraced

D．rubbed

7.

A．calm

B．still

C．out

D．away

8.

A．backed off

B．stepped forward

C．jumped up

D．looked out

9.

A．appreciate

B．witness

C．allow

D．notice

10.

A．amazing

B．promising

C．rewarding

D．disappointing

11.

A．increased

B．restored

C．faded

D．developed

12.

A．body

B．cheeks

C．neck

D．tail

13.

A．free

B．uneasy

C．amused

D．scared

14.

A．position

B．chance

C．balance

D．stage

15.

A．interesting

B．satisfying

C．rescued

D．changed

6 . 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。

“This is such a simple sum (算术); don’t you know how to solve it? You silly girl!” Emma was laughing at her classmate Elva for not being able to solve an easy maths sum.

Head teacher Miss Maria was about to come in when she heard Emma laughing at Elva. Elva felt heartbroken and left the classroom, crying. She didn’t see Miss Maria standing there.

“Emma, you shouldn’t have treated Elva like that. You know her situation. Please don’t make her feel uncomfortable and helpless like that. We are classmates!” Eric said, trying to make Emma understand the pain she caused others.

But Emma was clearly unable to understand, “I just pointed out the fact that it was a simple sum and she couldn’t even do it. She really is a stupid girl. What’s wrong with that?”

Eric was upset, “This constant criticism ( 不断的批评) of yours can destroy her confidence. Please try to understand and give her some space to learn. She needs more time to understand this sum.”

Emma was the bully of the class and she didn’t even realize it. She used to criticize her classmates all the time, unable to understand the damage she caused by laughing and criticizing them.

One day, when Elva fell outside the class, Emma started laughing at her rather than helping her. “You can’t even walk properly. Silly!”

Miss Maria wanted to make Emma understand the pain she brought to others. The next day, while giving the lecture, Miss Maria called Emma, “Emma! Come and solve this question, please.”

Emma was extremely shocked because she didn’t know the solution. She started panicking (惊慌).

Miss Maria laughed at her, “Emma, it’s such a simple question. How can you not do it?”

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。

Emma started crying.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Emma said sorry to everyone, especially Elva.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . One day, I was driving my truck on the Harare-Mutare Highway in Zimbabwe. When traffic _________ to a crawl (徐行，爬行), I realized there was an accident _________. Drawing closer, I saw that a bus had _________ into a fuel tanker, and the bus was on fire. More than 60 people were _________ inside the bus when the accident occurred, so without a thought for my own safety, I jumped from my truck, _________ into the fire.

I was one of the _________ people on the scene. I knew the passengers in _________ needed my help. _________, I ran into the bus and started pulling out victims. By the time the rescuers arrived, I’d single-handedly rescued eight people from the fire! _________ all the people were rescued, I was covered in __________ third-degree burns.

I was taken to Kadoma General Hospital to be __________ for my wounds. When word about the accident __________, people all over Zimbabwe praised me for risking my __________ to save people I didn’t even know. People from all over the world have sent donations to aid in my __________. A stranger even sent me $250, 000! Now my condition is __________ and I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness and generosity I have since received.

1.

A．slowed

B．occurred

C．nodded

D．compared

2.

A．alongside

B．subsequently

C．backward

D．ahead

3.

A．encountered

B．crashed

C．transformed

D．combined

4.

A．joined

B．visited

C．trapped

D．surrounded

5.

A．rushing

B．escaping

C．changing

D．looking

6.

A．best

B．quickest

C．first

D．useful

7.

A．surroundings

B．challenge

C．duration

D．adversity

8.

A．Within reach

B．In particular

C．Without hesitation

D．At work

9.

A．If

B．When

C．Unless

D．Although

10.

A．spectacular

B．painful

C．obvious

D．contrary

11.

A．warned

B．treated

C．cleared

D．affected

12.

A．came out

B．came down

C．turned down

D．faced down

13.

A．work

B．way

C．life

D．future

14.

A．reputation

B．motivation

C．kindness

D．recovery

15.

A．abnormal

B．steady

C．unforgettable

D．effective

8 . Some years ago, I was stuck on a crosstown bus during rush hour. The bus was filled with cold, tired people________ with one another. Two men________ at each other for an unintentional push. An elderly woman got on, and nobody offered her a________. Anger was in the air; no________ could be found here.

As the bus approached Seventh Avenue, the driver’s words came from the speaker. “Folks,”   he said. “I know you’ve had a(n)________ day and that you are depressed, but I will________. When each of you walks by before getting off, drop your________ into my palm (手掌). My route goes right by the Hudson River, into which I’ll________ them.”

It seemed as if a spell had lifted. Everyone burst out laughing, their faces shining with________. The passengers who had been________each other’s existence were suddenly grinning (咧嘴笑) at each other — is this guy serious?

At the next stop, just as________, the driver held out his hand, palm up, and waited. All the________passengers performed the gesture of dropping something into his palm. The driver________the same action at every stop that followed.

Occasionally we may sink into a grey world, but someone can ________it like a ray of light, showing us hope. What if we are the light?________, anyone possesses the power to shine on others’ dark days.

1.

A．satisfied

B．associated

C．impressed

D．annoyed

2.

A．waved

B．nodded

C．barked

D．shot

3.

A．reminder

B．seat

C．ride

D．choice

4.

A．mercy

B．fortune

C．courage

D．security

5.

A．tough

B．average

C．important

D．fruitful

6.

A．make comments

B．show up

C．help out

D．take risks

7.

A．memories

B．troubles

C．faults

D．tips

8.

A．transform

B．stretch

C．accompany

D．cast

9.

A．envy

B．greed

C．pleasure

D．pride

10.

A．suspecting

B．ignoring

C．expecting

D．appreciating

11.

A．ordered

B．promised

C．requested

D．reported

12.

A．chosen

B．fooled

C．sitting

D．exiting

13.

A．repeated

B．designed

C．interpreted

D．evaluated

14.

A．divide

B．explore

C．reward

D．brighten

15.

A．However

B．Instead

C．Actually

D．Consequently

9 . 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。

Jenny was 18 and she thought she would be strong enough to face going away to college2,000 miles away from home. But by the second day, she was crying on the phone, telling her mom she wanted to come home. It could be because she was the baby of a family of six and the only girl, or her family was particularly close and loving.

Unfortunately, her roommate, Zara, heard her crying. As soon as Jenny hung up the call, Zara started making fun of her. “Oh my! Does baby miss her mommy in Phoenix?” Jenny wiped her tears and asked whether she missed her parents and longed to go home. Zara replied coldly that she had put away such childish things and warned that she shouldn’t behave like a cry baby. Soon everyone in the dorm was calling Jenny “Cry Baby”. The idea of quitting college and running home constantly occurred to Jenny. But somehow, she made it through.

One day, her dad called and asked her to come home for a long weekend. In the end, her father added that she could bring her roommate Zara home and he would soon send two return tickets. Jenny had never told her parents that Zara was far from friendly or supportive. She’d been too ashamed and eager to hide her complete misery(痛苦) from her family.

That evening, Jenny told Zara about her family’s invitation. Zara stared at Jenny, her mouth open. “A ticket for me? Why?” she asked. “I told them you were nice to me…So they wanted to be nice to you...” Jenny explained awkwardly. After a while, Zara said, “I’m coming!”

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。
Two weeks later, Jenny and Zara landed in Phoenix.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Feeling the family’s warmth, Zara began to sob.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . 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。续写的词数应为150左右。

Mark was a successful lawyer. Since graduating from law school, he seldom went home. Although he loved his mother deeply, he was too busy with his work.

One Saturday when driving to his company, Mark suddenly remembered it was his mother’s birthday. But being occupied with his work, he couldn’t make time to visit his mother who lived 200 miles away. Just then, he spotted a flower shop, thinking the flowers were the best solution.

Mark parked in front of the flower shop where a girl was standing outside. Since Mark was thinking about the note he would send to his mother, he paid no attention to her. After chatting with the shop owner, Mark bought some pink roses and asked the shop owner to deliver the flowers to his mother. “Happy birthday to my mom; love you,” he wrote on the note.

Mark then walked out of the shop, thinking his mother would get the flowers later tonight, and felt satisfied. When walking to his car, Mark saw the girl again. She was crying. Mark couldn’t help asking,“Hey, are you OK? Are you lost?” The girl shook her head. Mark later knew the girl was Mandy, who was eight and lived nearby. Feeling a little worried about her, Mark asked gently, “Can I help?”

Mandy said she wanted a rose for her mom. But she couldn’t afford it. “The flower lady said my coins could buy a daisy, but my mom loves red roses,” she added. Touched by the girl’s words, Mark went back into the shop and bought a bunch of red roses.

“Here you go,” he said. Mandy took the roses, smiled brightly, and thanked him. “Anything else I can do for you?“ Mark asked. Mandy hesitated. Then she said, “Could you take me to my mom? It’s not far but I’m not supposed to go on my own.” Mark nodded. “Sure, lead the way!" Mandy took his hand and walked with him down the street. As they passed by a graveyard, Mandy stopped.

To Mark’s surprise, Mandy directly went inside the graveyard.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After dropping Mandy off by her house, Mark went back to the flower shop.                    

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________