1 . When I was little, my mom put her love into making traditional Chinese soups for me. I’m talking Ching bo leung (清凉补), with a lot of herbal(中草药的) ingredients that give the soup a _______ taste.

As a kid, I never _______ drinking them because the taste made me sick. But my mom would try her best to _______ me to drink her soup.

First, she would state all the health benefits that the soup has.

“How can this strange water improve my _______?” I’d roll my eyes.

Then, she’d tell me it tasted _______ this time because she added chicken to make it taste more restaurant-style.

Lastly, she’d bribe (贿赂) me with a piece of candy.

And somehow that would _______. I’d take a deep breath and drink it without stopping. After I finished, my mom would _______ eating the Chinese soup ingredients (Tang Zha in Chinese).

I _______ why she did this. I could just _______ the soup but how could she eat the soup ingredients?

She’d always say, “I ________ eating them.”

When I was young, I ________ believed her.

But as I got older, I ________ she was only saying this because she wanted the best for her daughter.

Recently, I recalled (回忆起) this ________ while feeding my daughter a mango (芒果). I cut the mango into two halves and then ________ the seed (果核).

My daughter was ________ and asked me why I ate the seed.

I told her, “Because I love eating them.”

1.

A．good

B．real

C．strange

D．natural

2.

A．enjoyed

B．minded

C．regretted

D．stopped

3.

A．teach

B．promise

C．allow

D．encourage

4.

A．skill

B．grade

C．health

D．situation

5.

A．common

B．different

C．cheap

D．cold

6.

A．disappear

B．work

C．happen

D．increase

7.

A．advise

B．forget

C．begin

D．avoid

8.

A．wondered

B．understood

C．realized

D．explained

9.

A．buy

B．prepare

C．stand

D．find

10.

A．keep

B．love

C．imagine

D．consider

11.

A．honestly

B．hardly

C．secretly

D．eagerly

12.

A．doubted

B．hoped

C．agreed

D．knew

13.

A．dream

B．plan

C．memory

D．show

14.

A．threw

B．cut

C．planted

D．ate

15.

A．angry

B．surprised

C．excited

D．ready

2 . Our family moved to Texas in 1996, when my husband Jerry got a job in a factory as a pipe-fitter. We lived in a small mobile home. When the job in Texas ended, he was out of _________. Months went by. Rent was _________ on the mobile home.

“At least we would have a nice _________,” I thought as I drove the girls to the supermarket on Christmas Eve to buy some food. Amanda was two years old and Kimberly was five years old. In the supermarket, I was _________ by different items. The _________ wrapped with shiny paper looked especially beautiful. I wished the girls weren’t _________ by them. Kimberly _________ alongside the cart with excitement. “Maybe she forgets this Christmas,” I thought.

_________, we got to the checkout counter. When we wheeled the cart out, we saw a wall of Christmas trees, each waiting to be _________ so its branches could __________ in a special spot at home. “Look, Mom!” said Kimberly. “Sweetie, we can’t get a tree this year,” I replied. Amanda was too young to have any __________, and Kimberly seemed to be calm, but I felt terrible. We pushed our cart through the parking lot. Halfway to the car, Kimberly stopped and pointed, “Look, Mom! That can be our tree!” At first, I wasn’t sure what she was pointing at. Then I saw a pine __________ lying on the ground. I couldn’t say no again. “Okay.”

I said. “We will bring it home.”

Back home, I found a coffee can to __________ it in. Kimberly collected some rocks and filled the can. While I made dinner, the girls colored some stars and bells. Jerry __________ their artwork for the tree. We set the display on the table in our tiny kitchen. “That branch was a lucky find,” Jerry said when we sat down for dinner.

__________, it was luck. My family and I celebrated many other Christmas holidays with real trees later, but it is the Christmas in the mobile home that we all remember most.

1.

A．control

B．mind

C．breath

D．work

2.

A．due

B．low

C．limited

D．enough

3.

A．style

B．dinner

C．table

D．pet

4.

A．burdened

B．surrounded

C．confused

D．cheated

5.

A．shelves

B．ceilings

C．decorations

D．walls

6.

A．misled

B．defeated

C．threatened

D．attracted

7.

A．skipped

B．lay

C．hid

D．slept

8.

A．Amazingly

B．Desperately

C．Proudly

D．Eventually

9.

A．painted

B．untied

C．unloaded

D．replaced

10.

A．turn up

B．fan out

C．grow up

D．look out

11.

A．talents

B．imaginations

C．expectations

D．hobbies

12.

A．seed

B．box

C．branch

D．root

13.

A．set

B．throw

C．blow

D．pull

14.

A．cut up

B．tore down

C．cut out

D．tore up

15.

A．Indeed

B．Roughly

C．Otherwise

D．Narrowly

3 . I was the only kid in college with a reason to go to the mail box, because my mother never believed in email, or cell phones in general. I was literally waiting to get a letter to see how the weekend had gone, which was usually the warmest comfort for me.

So when I moved to New York and got sucker-punched in the face by depression, I did the only thing I could think of — writing letters like my mother for strangers. I blogged about those letters and crazily promised I would write you a hand-written letter if asked to.

Overnight, my inbox became this harbor of heartbreak — a single mother in Sacramento, a girl being bullied (恐吓) in rural Kansas…, all asking me to write them a letter and give them a reason to wait by the mailbox. And this is how the act The World Needs More Love Letters was born, fueled by those trips to the mailbox. But the thing about these letters is that most of them have been written by people, who have grown up into a paperless world where some best conversations happen swiftly on a screen.

I’ve been carrying this mail crate (大木箱) with me these days, which is a magical icebreaker. So I get to tell total strangers about a woman whose husband was traumatized (受精神创伤) from war in Afghanistan, and how she left love letters throughout the house as a way to say, “Come back to me.” And the man, who had decided to take his life, tonight slept safely with letters just beneath his pillow, handwritten by strangers who were there for him.

These are the kinds of stories that convince me that letter-writing will always be needed, even in these days, because it is an art now.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．The efficiency of write letters.

B．The author’s care for her family.

C．The author’s attachment to letters.

D．The author’s love for the college life.

2. What inspired the author to launch the act?

A．The letters’ comforting effect on people.

B．Her intention of providing professional aid.

C．The positive influence of modern technology.

D．Her mother’s fear of modern communication.

3. Why does the author call the mail crate “a magical icebreaker”?

A．It is capable of doing magic tricks.

B．It starts a conversation with passers-by.

C．It helps people to recover from traumas.

D．It is hot enough to melt ice on a cold day.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Love for Writing

B．Priceless Family Letters

C．Love Letters to Strangers

D．The Art of Writing Letters

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What does the man need help with?

A．The planting.

B．The harvest.

C．The building.

2. What did the owner of the horse agree to do?

A．Give the man a discount.

B．Let the man try out the animal.

C．Give the man the best horse.

3. What happened in the end?

A．The man sent the horse back.

B．The man began to like the horse.

C．The man got the horse as a gift.

5 .    Lots of kids like to talk about sports, but Joseph D’Avirro talks about sports like a professional host in a show called Sliders & Curveballs. The 9-year-old from Newington, Connecticut is a natural at sports talk and has been broadcasting the show—which is about baseball, basketball and other sports—with his dad, Mike D’Avirro, since September 2019.

   The D’Avirro started the broadcast after two former college roommates of Mike died, which made Mike want to spend more time with his son. Then the idea came to him. So far, they have done about 50 programs. Joseph’s favorite is when the father-and-son team interviewed Jim Calhoun, the coach leading the Connecticut Huskies to three national titles. They have also interviewed important sports authors.

   The father and son make about one 30- to 40-minute podcast each month. They prepare for the podcasts by deciding on the questions they want to ask the guest. Joseph asks half of the questions, and Mike handles the other half. Joseph reads his questions again and again to get them in his brain well. It is a lot of work, but Joseph says it is “a lot more fun than homework”. Joseph has also learned to speak up and speak clearly. He has to listen and to go with the flow of the conversation. For example, he said, “If the guest is talking about sports in the 1990s, you have to think about sports in the 1990s.”

When asked how long he and his dad will continue doing the show, he answered, “Until my dad starts growing gray hairs.” Joseph has other ambitions when he grows up—to be a sports player, a sports broadcaster or to own a basketball team. Those are big dreams, but Joseph is already living a dream: talking sports and spending time with his dad.

1. What is Joseph’s show about?

A．Some talk shows on sports.

B．Ways to get along with parents.

C．Stories about famous sports players.

D．Sports that his family loves playing.

2. What inspired Mike to start the show with his son?

A．His son’s talent for sports.

B．His wish to be a host since college.

C．The deaths of his college roommates.

D．The encouragement from his roommates.

3. What does Joseph think of memorizing his questions?

A．It’s as boring as homework.

B．It’s challenging to his brain.

C．It takes a lot of time but means a lot.

D．It’s more interesting than homework.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．A rising sports broadcaster

B．A long road to go to success

C．The father-and-son team hosts

D．Joseph D’Avirro’s big dream

6 . A two-year-old girl in Newberry County had last been seen at about 3: 00 p. m., but she was missing later in the day. The situation took a _________ turn around 6: 00 p. m. when a hunter in the area heard the cries of the missing child. Reacting immediately, the hunter _________ an emergency call telling authorities the child’s location.

The operators _________ immediately, applying advanced mapping technology to locate the position. This crucial information was then _________ sent to a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division(SLED)and the county’s first _________.

With the location data in hand, a search team was quickly _________ to the wooded area. The tireless efforts of these rescue workers ultimately _________ a heartwarming reunion. The missing two-year-old was found in the forest, safe and sound except some slight injuries. Despite her _______ experience, she was found to be in surprisingly good _______, except her understandable tiredness, thirst and fear.

The ________ rescue was the result of the _______ between different departments and the community as a whole. The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office expressed their ______ for the efforts of everyone involved, including citizens, and those ______ their thoughts and prayers during the search. And they showed their relief at the _______ of the little girl in the care of family. Their heroic actions will be ______ as a heartwarming success story in Newberry County for years to come.

1.

A．disappointing

B．hopeful

C．reasonable

D．challenging

2.

A．placed

B．received

C．missed

D．answered

3.

A．appeared

B．escaped

C．acted

D．arrived

4.

A．optionally

B．carefully

C．entirely

D．rapidly

5.

A．discoverers

B．rescuers

C．operators

D．survivors

6.

A．adapting

B．returning

C．heading

D．pointing

7.

A．paid for

B．set up

C．took on

D．led to

8.

A．frightening

B．regretful

C．annoying

D．shameful

9.

A．shape

B．mind

C．order

D．faith

10.

A．risky

B．remarkable

C．traditional

D．joyful

11.

A．respect

B．cooperation

C．balance

D．discussion

12.

A．blessing

B．kindness

C．concern

D．gratitude

13.

A．offering

B．praising

C．advocating

D．assessing

14.

A．performance

B．virtue

C．recovery

D．courage

15.

A．edited

B．perfected

C．performed

D．celebrated

7 . When the weather starts to warm up, we love heading to the beach for a few days. During one such trip, after a few days of being _________ on the beach and spending too much time walking the boardwalk, we decided to go for a _________.

We _________ a car for the day and drove to Key West. Our _________ was to enjoy a scenic drive on Highway 1 and maybe try some pie and head back, but the day _________ to be more memorable than that.

It was a breathtaking drive and we kept our eyes glued to the window. The scenery was _________ and felt like we were driving over water. When we were closer to Key West, _________ my husband-stopped the car, grabbed his camera, and ran out looking up at the sky—_________ me looking at him confused (困惑的).

After a few minutes of looking and pointing at a shiny object in the sky, he was pretty _________ to announce he’d spotted a UFO. I should __________ here that he loves sci-fi movies and UFO shows and strongly __________ we are not alone.

We eventually got back in the __________, stopped at a nearby store, and asked someone in the parking lot, “Do you see that shiny thing in the sky?” The man looked up and __________, “Do you mean that weather blimp (气象飞艇)?” The shiny object in the sky was not an unidentified flying object or alien craft but a weather blimp.

It is one of the short funny travel __________ that always come up when we talk about our __________. It starts with one of the kids saying “Remember the time when Dad thought he saw a UFO...?” and always makes us laugh.

1.

A．lazy

B．confident

C．different

D．angry

2.

A．walk

B．challenge

C．drive

D．rest

3.

A．bought

B．borrowed

C．found

D．fixed

4.

A．plan

B．dream

C．future

D．game

5.

A．took up

B．moved on

C．went away

D．turned out

6.

A．boring

B．excellent

C．normal

D．bad

7.

A．suddenly

B．quickly

C．luckily

D．carefully

8.

A．letting

B．bringing

C．leaving

D．telling

9.

A．worried

B．nervous

C．sad

D．excited

10.

A．decide

B．promise

C．mention

D．agree

11.

A．believes

B．understands

C．guesses

D．follows

12.

A．sun

B．car

C．hotel

D．store

13.

A．replied

B．remembered

C．thought

D．cheered

14.

A．books

B．tips

C．stories

D．tests

15.

A．hopes

B．ideas

C．problems

D．trips

8 . Faced with a medical emergency, most people would freeze or panic, ______ a child. But Suzie McCash, then just four, not only kept a calm head but took ________ action to save her mom’s life.

Suzie, from North Tyneside, had just returned home with her mom Rowena. But as soon as Rowena ________ through the door of their house, she began to feel dizzy. Rowena ______ from a life-theatening allergy to salicylates (水杨酸盐), ______ in oranges and almonds. Within minutes, she had collapsed in the hallway, ______ to breathe.

With dad Wiliam at work, it was ______ little Suzie to save her mom’s life.

She carefully described her mother’ s situation to the ______ call operator, “Mommy had an allergic shock. I then got her medicine to make her feel ______.” Then Suzie was asked if she could ______ the front door of her home, and replied, “I can’t really reach the lock, but I’ll have a ______.” When doctors and nurses arrived, Suzie managed to let them in, and they were able to give lifesaving ______ to Rowena.

“Her dad and I told her she must have ______ because we have no idea how she managed to open the front door on her own!” Rowena later said. “When she was little she loved playing ______, which helped her stay calm and remember what to do in an emergency. I’m so _____ Suzie saved my life.”

1.

A．regularly

B．generally

C．especially

D．rarely

2.

A．vital

B．deadly

C．special

D．creative

3.

A．looked

B．drove

C．stepped

D．lived

4.

A．suffered

B．heard

C．learned

D．recovered

5.

A．lost

B．found

C．combined

D．deserted

6.

A．stopping

B．starting

C．struggling

D．trying

7.

A．up to

B．ready for

C．far from

D．lack of

8.

A．disaster

B．emergency

C．army

D．theft

9.

A．happier

B．smoother

C．warmer

D．better

10.

A．open

B．close

C．repair

D．knock

11.

A．rest

B．look

C．sleep

D．try

12.

A．apology

B．greeting

C．calculation

D．treatment

13.

A．directions

B．superpowers

C．intentions

D．introductions

14.

A．policemen

B．firefighters

C．doctors

D．volunteers

15.

A．lucky

B．enthusiastic

C．positive

D．optimistic

9 . Yesterday, my 15-year-old brother Tommy had a fight with my 12-year-old brother Kevin. Later, I heard Kevin crying (哭) in his room. I _________ outside his room and asked, “Kevin, do you want to talk?” No one spoke. I tried again. Still _________ happened.

So, I took some cards and wrote, “If you don’t, you can write your problems on them, and we can try to find some good _________ to solve them.”

An hour later I was still sitting on the floor outside his _________ with two pieces of paper in my hands. One was new and the other was from Kevin. As I _________ it, tears (眼泪) came to my eyes. It said, “Nobody in this family _________ me. Tommy thought I was too noisy and Dad wished to have another kid because I can’t study well. You’re _________ around to stay with me.”

He was right about my part. I wrote back, “Kevin, I do love you and you know that. I’m here for you and everyone loves you in this _________.” After a while, a piece of _________ appeared with “Thanks for loving me” on it.

From then on, Kevin and I have a __________ relationship. When one of us feels that the other is unhappy, we’ll smile and say “Write it on a piece of paper”.

1.

A．flew

B．jumped

C．stood

D．slept

2.

A．something

B．everything

C．anything

D．nothing

3.

A．ways

B．reasons

C．hobbies

D．habits

4.

A．door

B．wallet

C．hole

D．building

5.

A．wrote

B．read

C．planned

D．helped

6.

A．looks for

B．turns down

C．cares about

D．finds out

7.

A．always

B．often

C．sometimes

D．never

8.

A．family

B．school

C．hospital

D．room

9.

A．bread

B．paper

C．glass

D．cake

10.

A．worse

B．less

C．closer

D．harder

10 . In a world where acts of kindness often go unnoticed, a good story that has been discovered reminds us of the power of care and the effect it can have on someone’s life.

It all started with a “Kindness Week Challenge” given to Brennan by his 8th-grade teacher, Ms. Watkins. Little did he know that this challenge would lead to a wonderful friendship with 84-year-old Ms. Ann.

Brennan’s promise to send his little attractive things every day for a week developed a habit of checking up on Ms. Ann and sending gifts regularly(定期地), long after the challenge was over.

Their friendship has now lasted for over five years, and Brennan still visits Ms. Ann every month with flowers, cakes, chocolates, cards and more.

They talk about everything from his high school life to his college goals. The pair has found that they share a common love of chocolates. Ms. Ann always hopes to hear about what he’s doing and loves to share her own stories from a different time. They have become the best friends, with Brennan treating her as his great-grandmother.

Brennan’s mom, Traci, takes pride in her son. She said, “The best thing a teenager can do is to take care of the elderly. I’m so glad my son has added more sunshine to Ms. Ann’s life. I hope he always remembers the joy he’s brought her, and his fun talks with her, keeps his kind heart, and thinks of others.”

Ms. Ann’s daughter Emma, with her husband Gould, has a 2-year-old son. They are thankful for Brennan’s friendship as they cannot always be with Ms. Ann. Brennan’s kind heart has brought more sunshine into Ms. Ann’s life, and her encouraging words have helped to inspire(启发)him in return.

1. How did the task “Kindness Week Challenge” affect Brennan?

A．He discovered his love of chocolates.

B．He became a good friend of Ms. Ann.

C．He developed a habit of receiving gifts.

D．He learned how to choose attractive things.

2. What do Brennan and Ms. Ann both like?

A．Flowers.

B．Cakes.

C．Chocolates.

D．Cards.

3. What makes Traci feel proud of Brennan?

A．His kindness to others.

B．His talent for telling stories.

C．His good performances at school.

D．His ability to earn money for the gifts.

4. How do Ms. Ann’s family feel about Brennan?

A．Worried.

B．Sorry.

C．Thankful.

D．Surprised.