1 . 阅读下面短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Just after finishing his work, Mr. Philips was going to the grocery shop to buy some bananas, but he saw a poor old lady     1     (sell)fresh bananas on the street, so it seemed     2     (convenient)to buy some from her.

The old lady charged $7     3     one kilo of bananas. “But the shop     4     I usually buy from gives them for $5 per kilo!”, Mr. Philips said. “I’m sorry sir, I cannot afford to match that price”, the old lady responded. Mr. Philips said nothing and went to the grocery shop.

    5     , when he wanted to pay for bananas he picked, the cashier told him that the price per kilo was $10. He tried to bargain again, but the manager said coldly, “We do not bargain.” Mr. Philips felt very     6     (annoy)with his attitude, and decided to put the bananas back and go back to the old lady.

She recognized him     7     (instant)and told him, “Sir, I can’t match that price.” “Don’t worry, I will pay you $10 per kilo!” said Mr. Philips. “Now, give me two     8     (kilo)please!” The old lady happily packed the bananas and said, “I can’t accept $10 per kilo but I will accept $7 per kilo. I appreciate your     9     (kind).”

Mr. Philips left the old lady speechless with gratitude, and also recommended many friends to buy bananas from the old lady, which they did. From that day on, she made     10     much better living than ever before.

2 . No matter how many times Sandy has rescued an animal, she never gets over the casual cruelty some people display toward unwanted pets. When she lost her own “angel” dog, she started Logan’s Legacy to help other pets in need.

Sandy recently received a phone call about a small dog, possibly a puppy, that had been abandoned on a street. Since she was too far to help on, she called a friend who lives nearby to get there as soon as possible. When her friend Tom arrived, he found a tiny dog curled(蜷缩)in a tight ball with the chain firmly tied to a tree. Someone had left food and water for her, but the puppy was too frightened to eat or drink. Once gathered up in a blanket and placed into the back seat of the car, she began to get weak quickly from dehydration(脱水)and exhaustion.

The moment she got some water and food, the puppy made a rapid recovery, and her lovely and sweet personality could finally shine! “We have named her CiCi,” Sandy added, “She is feeling so much better. She has been observed at my place and she is doing great. This sweet baby girl will never feel fearful again, and won’t ever be abandoned again.” After winning hearts at Sandy’s office, CiCi has been approved for adopting and will soon leave for her new life. Sandy and her fellow rescuers are trying their best to find her the perfect family to love her and treat her with the respect all living creatures deserve!

1. What did Sandy feel it hard to overcome?

A．The casual humanity.	B．The cruelty of humanity.
C．The kind human nature.	D．The weakness of kindness.

2. How was the dog’s condition when first found?

A．She suffered a serious illness.

B．She had nothing to eat or drink.

C．She got lost far away from home.

D．She was scared and in poor health.

3. What will be CiCi’s probable future life?

A．She will stop taking medicine.

B．She will continue further treatment.

C．She will have a perfect match for home.

D．She will get on well with Sandy forever.

4. What can be the best title of this passage?

A．A Warm Home for CiCi

B．Dog Saved Heart Fulfilled

C．A Terrible Experience of CiCi

D．Saving Dogs Saving Themselves

3 . I first saw a real durian (榴莲) in an Asian supermarket in Queens. That strange-looking fruit was big, heavy, and covered with sharp pricks (刺). I decided to buy one. The Chinese checkout girl carefully wrapped it thickly in a newspaper before putting it into a shopping bag.

On the train home, I cautiously opened the Chinese newspaper and lifted it out. Its strangeness made me think of kung fu, yoga and Taijiquan.

Upon arriving home, I dug out the biggest knife and cut through the tough prickly husk (壳). I tasted the pale-yellow flesh, delicious!

After that, durian was my favourite fruit. My skill at cutting durian open was improving. I showed the skill to my girlfriend.

A few years later, we moved to Taiwan. One day I noticed some durians had begun to open by themselves. The owner tried to get me to buy one but I shook my head, thinking it was far-gone. Instead I selected one whose outer husk wasn’t open.

The next morning I woke up to a strong durian smell. I found a small crack (裂缝) had appeared all on its own. I used the smallest pressure and tasted a more delicious durian. Suddenly, I realized something. I ha felt so satisfied with my own skill in opening the durian that I never thought about letting the durian open itself. The higher art was not in doing but in not doing — letting the thing happen on its own in the way it happens best.

1. Why did the Chinese checkout girl wrap the durian thickly in a newspaper?

A．To decorate the durian.	B．To stop the durian from falling apart.
C．To prevent the author from being hurt.	D．To encourage the author to read Chinese.

2. What came to the author’s mind when he looked at the durian on the way home?

A．A strange fruit.	B．A delicious dinner.
C．Other passengers’ attention.	D．Some symbols of Asian culture.

3. Why didn’t the author take the recommended durian?

A．He thought it was too ripe.	B．He enjoyed the selection of durian.
C．He wanted a chance to show his skill.	D．He preferred the durian with open husk.

4. What message did the author want to share?

A．Practice makes perfect.	B．Let nature take its course.
C．Interest is the best teacher.	D．Kill two birds with one stone.

4 . When Hurricane Ian hit Florida, Karen Lauder refused to leave her home because she was wrong about the intensity(强度) of the storm. Karen is 84 years old and depends on a wheelchair to get around because she is missing a leg. Her son, Johnny Lauder, tried repeatedly to get her to leave, but she refused.

Johnny and his whole family live within a few blocks of one another. They kept in touch with Karen as the storm continued violently(猛烈地) outside, watching the water rising dangerously all around them. When Karen reported that the water in her house had reached her bottom, Johnny knew he had to take action.

First, Johnny ensured his sons and their pets were taken care of. Then, he jumped out of a window and began to swim. Johnny used to work as a rescue swimmer. He is obviously a strong swimmer, but the flood water was filled with dangerous materials. There was also a strong current (水流), and he had to swim against it for most of his trip to Karen’s. As he made his way through the water, Johnny stopped periodically to snap selfies(自拍) to show his worried family that he was okay.

Johnny was racing against the clock. He knew he only had a short period of time to get there before the water rose above Karen’s head. It took him 40 minutes to swim four blocks. The sound of Karen shouting inside was music to his ears!

“If it would’ve been 20 minutes later, she wouldn’t be here,” Johnny said.“She’s never been happier to see me.”

Karen is now safe, although she is in the hospital being treated for infections(感染) she got in the water. The family have all lost everything they owned, including their houses, but they’re grateful just to be here.

1. Why did Karen decide to stay in her house when Hurricane Ian came?

A．She had nowhere to go.

B．She was too old to move.

C．She thought the storm was not violent.

D．She lost her wheelchair and was unable to leave.

2. Why did Johnny take selfies along the way to Karen’s home?

A．To record his swimming trip.	B．To show off his swimming skills.
C．To warn other rescuers of danger.	D．To report his safety to his family.

3. How did Johnny’s family keep in touch in the storm?

A．By shouting.	B．Over the phone.
C．Through e-mail.	D．With other’s help.

4. How did Johnny feel when he heard Karen shouting?

A．Curious.

B．Frightened.

C．Confused.

D．Relieved.

5 . 阅读下面短文，根据上下文填入适当的词语，或使用括号中的词语的正确形式填空

Jack,     1     was a ten-year- old boy, didn’t like doing any work. He had to go to school, of course, but he didn’t study hard there and tried     2     (do) little work. His father and mother were both doctors and they     3     (hope) that their son would become a doctor, too, when he grew up.

But one day Jack said     4     (happy) to his mother, “When I finish school, I want to be a     5     (clean).” What? his mother asked,     6     (feel) very surprised. “That’s not a good job. Why do you want to do the job?” his mother said. “    7     I would only need to work one day a week,” Jack answered at once. “Only one day a week?” his mother said. “What do you mean? And how do you know about it?” “Well,” Jack answered, “I know that the cleaners come to work     8     Thursday every week, because I only see     9     (they) that day.” And then his mother laughed and said, “But     10     cleaners go to work in other streets on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.”

6 . For the past 17 years, Raquel Radford Baker has been a school bus driver for the Dallas Independent School District. Last month, Baker saved the life of a 7-year-old boy who had a _________ moment on his way to school when he accidentally swallowed (吞咽) a coin and began to choke.

The _________, which was caught on tape, took place on September 29. Preston, a first grader, was sitting in his seat on the bus, when he suddenly sat up, _________ that the coin he had been holding above his open mouth had _________ his throat. He got up and walked to Baker at the front of the bus and tapped her for _________.

Initially, Baker thought Preston was sick, but _________, she heard him say something about a coin and she sprang into _________. She grabbed him from behind and carried him off the bus. When she got to a bench in front of the school, she told a nearby parent to call 911 as she started _________ first aid, which she’d _________ during the company’s training sessions. ____________ that moment, Baker, getting teary, said the only ____________ running through her mind was, “I have to save this boy. I have to save him.”

Thanks to her ____________, the coin was removed from Preston’s throat. Before that, however, Preston had gone ____________ and his face was turning blue. Baker continued first aid. That was when Preston said, “Miss Raquel, I’m okay. I can ____________ ” Baker said that moment brought great ____________. She immediately hugged him tight. Preston promised to never put coins in his mouth again.

1.

A．merry

B．honorable

C．guilty

D．scary

2.

A．incident

B．journey

C．attack

D．conflict

3.

A．deciding

B．imagining

C．realizing

D．explaining

4.

A．thrown off

B．turned into

C．torn off

D．slipped into

5.

A．leave

B．change

C．help

D．comfort

6.

A．eventually

B．temporarily

C．constantly

D．secretly

7.

A．panic

B．action

C．fame

D．doubt

8.

A．assessing

B．seeking

C．teaching

D．performing

9.

A．invented

B．learned

C．missed

D．forgotten

10.

A．Recalling

B．Ignoring

C．Recognizing

D．Repeating

11.

A．memory

B．challenge

C．thought

D．courage

12.

A．curiosity

B．effort

C．fortune

D．guidance

13.

A．deaf

B．weak

C．mad

D．impatient

14.

A．stand

B．move

C．listen

D．breathe

15.

A．relief

B．responsibility

C．respect

D．motivation

7 .    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

8 . When Joseph Novetske finished raking (清理) leaves in his backyard a few weeks ago, he suddenly stopped. “I happened to look at my hand. No ring,” said Novetske, 80, who lives in Charlotte, Michigan, with his wife, Mary Ann. His handmade gold wedding ring, which he wore for 42 years, had gone missing. Worried, he began to look for it.

The couple searched the yard with no luck and it was getting dark. “I was feeling a little hopeless,” said Mary Ann Novetske, 71.

The following morning on Nov. 5, she posted in a private Facebook group called “What’s happening in Charlotte, Michigan now.” “Does anyone have a metal detector (探测器)?” she wrote in a post, explaining what had happened.

Shortly after sharing the post, Mary Ann Novetske had dozens of responses on her post. That afternoon, eight people showed up at their home, five of whom were strangers, and the other three were neighbors, to look for the ring. A few of them had brought metal detectors.

They searched the large backyard. It was filled with several tall piles (堆) of leaves Joseph Novetske had raked the day before. “They didn’t know us, but here they were,” said Mary Ann Novetske. “It was exciting to see so many people care about this.” Her husband was also touched. “We love community,” he said.

When the search had hit hour three, the group collectively began working on a pile of leaves at the back of the yard. Then Joseph Novetske saw something shiny. “I saw the ring shining because it was a beautiful sunny day,” he said. “There it was!” The searchers were overjoyed. While losing the ring was stressful, the couple said that finding it filled them with hope.

“It was a community hunt,” said Lisa Delcamp, who lives next door to the Novetskes. “We should lend a hand and be willing to step in when our neighbors are in need.”

1. What happened to Joseph a few weeks ago?

A．He lost his gold ring.	B．He fell in his backyard.
C．He couldn’t find his home.	D．He couldn’t contact his wife.

2. Why did Mary Ann write a post on Facebook?

A．To start a group discussion.	B．To show her experiences.
C．To ask for a special tool.	D．To share happy moments.

3. What can we learn about the couple after they saw the eight people show up?

A．They invited neighbors over.	B．They cleaned the leaves.
C．They were stressful.	D．They were moved.

4. What do the words “step in” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Attend.

B．Help

C．Change

D．Challenge

9 . “George,” he (Dobbin) said, “are you going to marry Amelia or not?”

“Is that any business of yours?” George asked angrily.

“Yes, it is, George, because you’re ignoring a sweet girl. You should have seen her sad little face when I visited the other day. Go and comfort her, you bad fellow, instead of spending all your time in gambling houses (赌场) when you’re in town.”

“I’m very fond of Amelia, of course I am,” said George, “but – but a man must enjoy himself before he gets married, you know.”

“Go and see her,” said Dobbin, “or write her a long letter. Do something to make her happy. It won’t take much.”

“You’re right. Yes, I’ll go tomorrow. It’s true, she is very fond of me,” George said, in a self-satisfied way.

He did go to see Amelia the next day, and Dobbin even lent him some money to buy her a present. George probably would have done so, but on the way to the Sedleys’ house, he saw a very nice diamond shirt-pin, and he bought it for himself.

When he arrived, Amelia’s sad little face lit up in the sunshine of George’s smile. She ran to him, and George kissed her fondly on the forehead and was very affectionate (满怀柔情的) with her; and she thought his diamond shirt-pin was the prettiest thing ever seen....

He was late home for dinner, and found his father in a very bad mood and his sisters and Amelia eating in nervous silence. When the ladies had gone up to the drawing room, leaving father and son to their wine, George watched his father’s face anxiously. He needed urgently to ask his father for money, to pay off some of his debts, but when he carefully raised the subject, he did not get the explosion of bad temper he had feared.

“Well, well,” Mr Osborne said, “young men will be young men. I know you’re mixing in the best society, and I like to see it. You have to pay your own way, and my money’s as good as theirs, George my boy. You can call at my bank tomorrow.”

George was relieved and properly grateful, but it seemed that the old gentleman had something else on his mind.

“That little girl upstairs – Amelia,” he said. “What do you intend to do about her, George?”

“Well, it’s clear, isn’t it?” George said. “She’s very fond of me. Anyone can see that. And didn’t you order me to marry her, and don’t I always obey you?”...

“Things have changed since then,” his father said, frowning (皱眉). “Sedley’s business is not doing well. I’m not sure that he can pay the money we agreed on for the marriage settlement . In fact, unless Sedley can pay me ten thousand pounds now, there will be no marriage between you and Amelia Sedley.”

1. How did George feel about Dobbin asking whether he was going to marry Amelia?

A．Puzzled.

B．Embarrassed.

C．Annoyed.

D．Hurt.

2. What did George do with the money Dobbin lent him?

A．He gave it to Amelia as a present.	B．He used it to pay off his debts.
C．He lost it at a gambling house.	D．He bought a gift for himself.

3. What did Mr Osborne think of George requesting money?

A．It was worrying.	B．It was disappointing.
C．It was understandable.	D．It was unreasonable.

4. What condition did Mr Osborne set for George’s marriage to Amelia?

A．Amelia’s agreement.	B．Ten thousand pounds from Sedley.
C．Sedley’s business success.	D．George’s obedience to him.

10 . A talented teen painter in Waterbury is helping her very sick father with her love of art. The 15-year-old girl from Waterbury could become a well-known artist one day. For now, though, part of her love for painting is the chance to help her dad, who’s ill. “It’s kind of like an ache-a heartbreak,” she said. “You never want to see one of your loved ones get hurt. ”

Her father is suffering from type-one diabetes (糖尿病) and is having trouble affording his mounting medical bills. “I’m suffering from heart disease, and blindness from my diabetes,” her father said. Angie has decided to put her talent as an artist to good use.

On Saturday, Sept. 23 from noon to 4 p. m., she’s hosting her own one day art exhibition (展览) to sell her paintings and raise money mainly for her father’s medical bills. “Angie’s Art Exhibition” will be at the North End Recreation Centre, located at 262 North Main Street in Waterbury. She’s also using it to help the Fairfield Animal Shelter. Angie loves animals—you see that on many of her paintings.

This isn’t the first time Angie has put her paintbrush to good use helping others. Her mother tells News 8 that Angie has also used her work to help her community: a local family who lost their father, and children who needed school supplies.

“She has an angelic heart. If there were more people like her in the world, there wouldn’t be so much chaos (混乱) and hate. I just look up to her and say ‘I’m very proud of you,’ ”her father said.

“My dad’s a great person. Though he goes through this, he still loves me and supports me in any way he can. It makes me feel important, “she said.

1. What is the main reason why Angie is hosting her own art exhibition?

A．To show her talent as an artist.	B．To raise money to treat her father.
C．To sell her paintings to art collectors.	D．To support the Fairfield Animal Shelter.

2. What is Angie’s father’s opinion of her?

A．He expects her to become a world-famous artist.

B．He takes pride in her and considers her to be an angel.

C．He is disappointed in her for not concentrating on study.

D．He thinks she should focus on helping him instead of others.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Angie?

A．Artistic and caring.	B．Humorous and kind.
C．Independent and proud.	D．Knowledgeable and helpful.

4. What does the story intend to tell us?

A．It’s never too late to learn.

B．Study first and play afterwards.

C．The company of parents is important to children’s development.

D．Determination and creativity can be powerful tools to help those in need.