1 . There’s nothing more frightening than feeling adrift (漂浮着) and out of control — now imagine if you were a six-year-old girl in the ocean!

When a little girl recently was swept out to sea on a raft (橡皮艇), her father frantically ( 拼命地) called for a(n) _________ — but there was none to be found. _________ , the four Butler brothers took action, running to the ocean and _________ toward the little girl as fast as they could. The _________ rescue, which took an hour, inspired everyone around them. “I knew the water was getting deep, but I didn’t _________ ,” Declan Butler, who, at age 18, is the youngest brother along with his twin Eoghan, told The Washington Post. “I just didn’t want to _________ her.”

At one point, the little girl appeared to _________ the raft, and the brothers were _________, but then they saw her rise above the water again. From that point, the brothers _________ to swim for another half-hour before getting close enough to call out to the girl to keep her __________.

“It was emotional,” Alex Thomson, brother-in-law to the Butlers, said. “If anything, it was extremely rewarding __________ we got to her.”

In the time it took them to __________ her, the young girl’s father was __________ to carry on swimming and was also in __________ of rescuing. Once the little girl was __________ on the beach, twins Declan and Eoghan swam out to __________ her father too.

“Seeing her jump around and kiss her mom was really __________,” Declan said. Two days after they saved the six-year-old, the brothers were reflecting on the strange __________ of it all. Their grandfather __________ on that same day, decades before their rescue. By saving a young girl, they felt they had __________ their grandfather.

1.

A．shelter

B．lifeguard

C．organizer

D．instructor

2.

A．Still

B．Otherwise

C．Moreover

D．Instead

3.

A．boating

B．surfing

C．swimming

D．walking

4.

A．unpleasant

B．unfortunate

C．successful

D．medical

5.

A．notice

B．care

C．refuse

D．insist

6.

A．give up on

B．break away from

C．get along with

D．stand up for

7.

A．put off

B．switch off

C．show off

D．fall off

8.

A．excited

B．disappointed

C．terrified

D．embarrassed

9.

A．waited

B．continued

C．pretended

D．happened

10.

A．healthy

B．silent

C．modest

D．calm

11.

A．once

B．until

C．because

D．though

12.

A．call

B．reach

C．remind

D．stop

13.

A．hesitating

B．expecting

C．struggling

D．intending

14.

A．celebration

B．search

C．need

D．memory

15.

A．ready

B．found

C．trapped

D．safe

16.

A．recognize

B．assist

C．join

D．welcome

17.

A．shocking

B．confusing

C．amazing

D．challenging

18.

A．symbolism

B．wisdom

C．intention

D．outcome

19.

A．survived

B．drowned

C．volunteered

D．appeared

20.

A．inspired

B．forgiven

C．repaid

D．honored

2 . A car store in my hometown sold six to eight new cars a day. And 72 percent of this store’s first-time visitors returned for a second ________ . I was curious about how it ________.

On one particular June morning, my wife Jane said to me, “Today’s my fifth anniversary of being ________.” She suffered from it five years ago and had undergone surgery. I was ________ because I had forgotten it. To mark this special occasion, I did the most impetuous thing in my life: I ________ a new car in the car store I mentioned. I didn’t pick the ________ or the model, but I paid cash and told the staff I’d bring Jane to make those two ________. I also told them that it was my ________and hoped they didn’t reveal anything to her. Then one morning, it occurred to me that Jane always wanted a white car. So I called our sales consultant and asked him if he had anything ________ in the store. He said he had one ________ but he couldn’t promise it’d still be ________because they were selling so fast.

After I told Jane the biggest ________ to get her out of the house, we finally made our way to the car store. Jane quickly ________ the little white car. But I told her we could buy the car after our son graduated from college. Hearing what I said, she ________ walked to the front of the car. Then she ________a scream. There was a large sign, which said, “Congratulations, Jane. This car is yours. Five years cancer-free. Let’s treasure life!” I looked around and ________that there was no one in the store. Customers that came to the store were not ________ to enter; instead, the staff took them aside and ________ what was happening. Actually, our sales consultant had arranged it; ________, we could share the special moment alone.

Over the years, I’ve told this story as an example of the legendary ________.

1.

A．visit

B．try

C．chance

D．date

2.

A．arrived

B．ranked

C．happened

D．developed

3.

A．smoke-free

B．rent-free

C．tax-free

D．cancer-free

4.

A．confused

B．embarrassed

C．frightened

D．relieved

5.

A．bought

B．painted

C．borrowed

D．hired

6.

A．brand

B．color

C．number

D．type

7.

A．requests

B．decisions

C．donations

D．promises

8.

A．pleasure

B．opinion

C．secret

D．problem

9.

A．cheap

B．small

C．new

D．white

10.

A．left

B．sold

C．made

D．found

11.

A．available

B．possible

C．popular

D．convenient

12.

A．risk

B．concern

C．mistake

D．lie

13.

A．returned

B．forgot

C．noticed

D．recognized

14.

A．disappointedly

B．hurriedly

C．regularly

D．confidently

15.

A．ended in

B．held back

C．changed to

D．let out

16.

A．believed

B．discovered

C．expected

D．accepted

17.

A．reminded

B．prepared

C．forced

D．allowed

18.

A．guessed

B．presented

C．explained

D．ignored

19.

A．besides

B．otherwise

C．therefore

D．however

20.

A．symbol

B．service

C．design

D．character

3 . Dr. Tatiana Erukhimova is a physics professor at Texas A&M who aims to show her students, especially the young women, that there are no limits.

Only 25% of physics undergraduate students are female. Perhaps it is because boys grow up playing with machines and making drawings of fast cars and rocket explosions. But girls are just as curious about the way the world works — they just haven’t jumped into the culture of chemical reactions, energy and magnetic force with as much enthusiasm. That is, until they see one of Tatiana’s videos showing the science behind real life’s magic. Tatiana is really one of the few living female examples they could follow.

Her videos get millions of views. She is a ball of energy with a short haircut, a Russian accent and a lively personality that makes physics accessible to the younger audience. Young girls are attracted to Tatiana’s attractive demonstrations the way they flock to pop concerts. This is real. This is science they can participate in. This is an open door to endless possibilities.

“These short clips are the spark that inspires,” Tatiana says with so much excitement that it lights up the room. Everything she does involves students. She believes the magic in learning is when your peers are part of the demonstration, when you are part of the teaching process.

“She wants everything to be a celebration of science,” says one of Tatiana’s former students. And indeed, the classroom is in a party atmosphere, with students cheering when amazed by Newton’s law of motion, demonstrated by a spinning bicycle wheel held upright by the professor. It’s hard to tell who is more delighted, Tatiana or her students. She is an attraction for female students who are graduating college and working in the sciences in higher numbers than ever before.

Dr. Tatiana’s story began in Russia and her parents were both physicists. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Tatiana moved to Texas with her husband, also a physicist. They both teach at Texas A&M, and when Tatiana isn’t in the classroom, she is doing outreach with schoolchildren, amazing them with spinning lights that soon form words, liquid oxygen that shrinks objects and chemical reactions that expand matter to 10 times its size. But most importantly, she is expanding the audience of female physicists.

1. According to the passage, why do girls sometimes hesitate to jump into the culture of physics?

A．Lack of interest in chemical reactions.

B．Cultural differences in curiosity.

C．Absence of female role models.

D．Fear of liquid oxygen demonstrations.

2. Which of the following is TRUE about the videos mentioned in the passage?

A．They were made by a female physician.

B．They feature engaging demonstrations.

C．They are meant for Tatiana’s homeland.

D．They have received millions of likes online.

3. What is the primary focus of Dr. Tatiana’s outreach activities with schoolchildren?

A．Appealing to students with fascinating demonstrations.

B．Teaching students some difficult physics concepts.

C．Explaining the history of Newton’s law of motion.

D．Encouraging girls to attend parties and pop concerts.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Female Professor Rejecting Gender Barrier

B．Russian Physicist and Female Scientists

C．Physics Professor Stimulating Girls’ Passion

D．The Significance of Online Short Videos

4 . When reading, my mother likes to slice a paragraph or a sentence out and attach it to the wall of her kitchen. She picks boring sentences that puzzle me. But I prefer copying favorite bright lines into a journal in soft, gray No. 2 pencil, word by word.

She doesn’t know any of this. There's nothing shocking: for our chatting. we seldom begin certain conversations though we talk on the phone weekly, sometimes making each other laugh so hard that I choke and she cries. But what we don't say could fill up rooms. Fights with my father. Small failures in school. Anything that really upsets us.

My mother has never told me “I love you, Lisa.”—as if the four-word absence explains who I am—so I carry it with me, like a label on me. The last time she almost spoke the words was two years ago, when she called to tell me a friend had been in hospital. I said, “I love you, Mom.” She stopped for a while and then said, “Thank you.” I haven't said it since, but I've wondered why my mother doesn't until I've found a poem that supplies words for the blank spaces I try to understand in our conversations:

Don’t fill up on bread. I say absent-mindedly. The servings here are huge.

My son, middle-aged, says: Did you really just say that to me?

What he doesn’t know is that when we’re walking together, I desire to reach for his hand.

It's humble, yet heartbreaking. After copying it down in my journal, I emailed it to mom, adding “This poem makes me think of you.” My mother doesn’t read poetry—or at least, she doesn’t tell me, and I felt nervous clicking “Send”.

She never mentioned the poem. But the next time I went home for vacation, I noticed something new in the kitchen fixed to an antique board: the poem. The board hung above the heater, the warmest spot in the kitchen. The poem still hangs there. Neither my mother nor I have ever spoken about it.

1. What's the function of paragraph 1?

A．To stress the theme.	B．To establish the setting.
C．To represent the characters.	D．To create the atmosphere.

2. Which of the following best describes the mother daughter relationship?

A．Shaky.

B．Distant.

C．Reserved.

D．Intense.

3. Why did the author send the poem to her mom?

A．It reminded her of mom's love.

B．She wanted to apologize to mom.

C．It suited mom's taste of literature.

D．She needed an interpretation from mom.

4. What does the poem mean to mom?

A．A memory of golden days.

B．Daughter’s gratefulness to her.

C．A decoration in the plain kitchen.

D．Daughter's understanding of her.

5 . If someone had told me five years ago that I would be living happily ever after on a small farm in western Oklahoma, I would have immediately denied the possibility. Back then, I was a confirmed city girl. I enjoyed the city life.

Then one day, while we were checking my mother’s farm for her, I looked around, liked what I saw and asked my husband, “Why don’t we build a house here on the farm?”

To my surprise, he said, “Yes!”

And so we began a new and very different chapter in our life story. My husband and I set out to deal with the land. We took down dead trees, knocked down the outbuildings and planted vegetable and flower gardens. We learned new skills as we worked and provided the locals with humorous moments as they answered our questions. We built a home to welcome family and friends, to share the beauty and bounty of the land.

We soon realized the land had played a joke on us: it had changed and transformed us in our efforts to change it. We lost weight and gained muscles.

We’ve learned to recognize and honor nature’s cycles and timing instead of clocks, calendars, schedules and to-do lists. With only two clocks in the house, we enjoy the flow of days into nights. Our timeless life allows us to appreciate sunrises and sunsets — each a unique event that camera and words only partially capture.

Living a simple life in the country has led us back to common sense. We’ve learned to be resourceful in solving problems and can think of many unique ways. I become better at handling a situation with fewer resources and conveniences.

In the quietness of the land, we hear and appreciate nature’s music. We also listen to the silence. Walking through the grasses, gazing at the century-old trees and wondering about all the changes and history they have witnessed are relaxing pastimes. I have to be truthful: caring for the land is a joyful job.

1. How did her husband react to the author’s proposal?

A．Opposed.

B．Approving.

C．Surprised.

D．Concerned.

2. How did the author benefit from the country life?

A．She enjoyed better health.	B．She made much money by working.
C．She regained the respect from the farmers.	D．She improved her relationship with her family.

3. What is the author’s feeling when living in the country?

A．She becomes more creative.	B．She becomes more humorous.
C．She becomes more honest with others.	D．She becomes more interested in travelling.

4. What message does the author want to convey?

A．Simple life is the most important.	B．Country life is better than city life.
C．Getting close to nature can be joyful.	D．Living in the country is everyone’s dream.

6 . At 91 years old and with Alzheimer’s disease, Gene McGehee was finding his golden years to be his loneliest. That all ______ one day when he heard the clear sound of children’s laughter right outside his home.

When Gene ______ outside, he couldn’t believe his good ______ to discover a group of lively young kids playing. The children, from the daycare center across the street, were more than ______ to include Gene in their fun. They ______ him Big Gene, and a special, long-lasting friendship was ______ between Gene, the kids and Megan Nunez, the daycare teacher.

Gene’s ______ Alzheimer’s disease means he now has only short-term memory. For the last three years, Gene has been ______ Megan and the kids every day for what he thinks is the ______ time. “Every day, I cross the street, and we stay together,” explained Megan. “I always tell the kids that his ______ is kind of sick, but his heart ______ us.”

Gene’s daughter, Cathy, said he ______ from loneliness until the kids came into his life and ______ his days. He now gets to just go outside and make new friends on a daily basis. “They have been such a ______ to Daddy, and he lights up,” Cathy ______ shared.

Gene and the kids enjoy their one-hour “playdate” every afternoon. They ______ jokes, stories, laughs and hugs. He sometimes even ______ their games. Even though the day’s cherished memories disappear as the sun _______, something remains in the depths of Gene’s mind. It is that ______ feeling that makes him go outside as soon as he hears the children’s _______once again.

1.

A．changed

B．happened

C．mattered

D．began

2.

A．rushed

B．stayed

C．stepped

D．glared

3.

A．view

B．fortune

C．alternative

D．position

4.

A．willing

B．curious

C．annoyed

D．afraid

5.

A．awarded

B．nicknamed

C．owed

D．handed

6.

A．expected

B．faded

C．damaged

D．born

7.

A．infectious

B．mild

C．severe

D．rare

8.

A．meeting

B．consulting

C．asking

D．accompanying

9.

A．last

B．next

C．most

D．first

10.

A．leg

B．eye

C．arm

D．brain

11.

A．needs

B．remembers

C．ignores

D．discovers

12.

A．learned

B．suffered

C．benefited

D．recovered

13.

A．ruined

B．promoted

C．brightened

D．explored

14.

A．blessing

B．reward

C．problem

D．burden

15.

A．eventually

B．cheerfully

C．regularly

D．frequently

16.

A．exchange

B．communicate

C．tell

D．play

17.

A．breaks in

B．blows up

C．passes down

D．participates in

18.

A．rises

B．shines

C．moves

D．sets

19.

A．normal

B．necessary

C．special

D．cautious

20.

A．screams

B．complaints

C．laughter

D．news

7 . Education has always been the key part of young Nikita’s life. However, the home-school _________ is a massive barrier, one that she was _________ to crossing on foot, by walking 14km every single day. _________ the struggle, her disadvantaged parents couldn’t _________ to provide her with an _________ means of transport. So Nikita had to _________ walking. Every day it would take her 2 hours to walk to school. Saturdays were _________ tiring for her, as school begins two hours earlier than usual. However, Nikita’s difficulties were about to _________ soon.

Deeply _________ by her story, Anirudhha Deshpande, the MD of City Corporation Ltd. , __________ an electric bicycle to her. He said, “I’m very impressed by Nikita’s __________ for study. Her determination to walk 14km daily and go through the forest to attend school is __________. I hope this electric bicycle will further increase her __________ and make her journey more __________.”

After receiving the gift, Nikita said, “While the wild animals in the forest do make me afraid, it is the __________ of my school that keeps me moving forward. This bicycle is a big __________ and a great encouragement to me. It will always remind me to __________ myself to pursuing my doctor dream.” According to her headmaster, Nikita is a __________ student. “From her grades to her love for study, all things are remarkable. She __________ lets her problems get in the way of her studies, and that __________ is something her classmates should learn from her.”

1.

A．distance

B．cooperation

C．difference

D．relationship

2.

A．committed

B．sensitive

C．equal

D．accustomed

3.

A．Beyond

B．Despite

C．Under

D．Against

4.

A．afford

B．agree

C．wait

D．offer

5.

A．extra

B．original

C．alternative

D．individual

6.

A．choose

B．begin

C．accept

D．continue

7.

A．occasionally

B．particularly

C．absolutely

D．obviously

8.

A．arise

B．lose

C．end

D．increase

9.

A．moved

B．shocked

C．worried

D．saddened

10.

A．set aside

B．got across

C．made over

D．gave away

11.

A．concern

B．talent

C．enthusiasm

D．demand

12.

A．worthwhile

B．admirable

C．simple

D．natural

13.

A．motivation

B．delight

C．satisfaction

D．interest

14.

A．meaningful

B．colorful

C．memorable

D．comfortable

15.

A．sight

B．image

C．thought

D．matter

16.

A．appeal

B．help

C．deal

D．shot

17.

A．apply

B．abandon

C．adapt

D．address

18.

A．mature

B．medical

C．graduate

D．star

19.

A．even

B．never

C．still

D．just

20.

A．ambition

B．responsibility

C．firmness

D．courage

8 . It’s 6 p.m. on a Friday, and rather than heading home after a long workweek, Renee Dixon, a preschool director in Indianapolis, starts her second job as an Uber driver.

The money Dixon earns as a driver does not go into her own pocket. Instead, she uses it to buy holiday gifts and winter clothing for all 50 of her students. “So many families don’t have money to get Christmas presents this year. Some parents have lost their jobs, and others have had their wages cut back,” Dixon said. “A lot of them come from low-income families and are below the poverty line.”

The coronavirus pandemic, she said, has increased the need. “As far as presents go, a lot of these kids are likely to get nothing this year. I know how that feels,” said Dixon. “Being a driver in this special period, I have my own strict rules ,” she said. In her car, mask-wearing is required. Each passenger must sanitize (消毒) their hands upon entering the car, and she uses wipes to clean the back seat and door handles between each ride. Plus, she keeps the windows open a crack to circulate fresh air.

Not only will her efforts bring joy to the children, but the gifts will also lessen the great pressure parents feel at this time. Alongside the money Dixon has earned through driving, several people in the community have donated money or offered to buy gifts for the students, including Eva Cheung. She quickly decided to get involved after hearing about Dixon’s efforts through Dixon’s husband. She said, “You read about people like Renee, but when you are finally able to connect with somebody like that and help fulfill their vision, it’s an amazing feeling.”

“Everything I’m doing is for these kids right now,” Dixon said. “Their world has turned upside down, and it’s no fault of their own. They deserve this from me.”

1. Why did Dixon start her second job as a driver?

A．To get gifts for her students.	B．To support poor local workers.
C．To earn more money for her family.	D．To help people control the new disease.

2. What is Dixon’s top concern when driving?

A．Speed.

B．Pay.

C．Health.

D．Convenience.

3. What does the underlined part in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Their parents have required them to study harder.

B．Their life gets worse due to the pandemic.

C．They are forced to leave school early.

D．They have to earn a living by themselves.

4. Which of the following best describe Eva Cheung?

A．caring and independent	B．considerate and modest
C．gifted and ambitious	D．inspiring and generous

9 . Hua Sheng and Lu Sheng, a retired Tibetan couple, have become trailblazers（开拓者）of grape growing and wine-making in their old ages.

Lu Sheng learned grape planting and winemaking from her grandmother’s sister. Since they retired, the couple have moved to Lhasa from the village of Yakhadi. Though the fact that the region’s capital, which is 3,600 meters above sea level, is considered unfit for growing grapes, Lu Sheng and Hua Sheng began an ambitious project in 2015, planting grapes in Tsalna, a town in the suburb of Lhasa.

They received support from the local government, which is committed to developing business and the economy. The couple’s project provides jobs for rural residents, and, as a result, the government has considered the project part of its poverty relief program.

“Lhasa is an ideal place for planting French grape varieties that are resistant to cold, drought and disease, and adaptable to high-altitude and open-air planting," Lu Sheng said.

“Thanks to the plateau’s sunshine and organic planting, our grapes grow very well here in Lhasa. The grapes are a bit sour and sweet, and they have a high anthocyanin（花青素）content,” she said. Anthocyanins, which are in grape cells and contribute rich color to wine, are water-soluble（水溶性的）.

In 2018, Hua Sheng and Lu Sheng expanded their project, planting on nearly 6.67 hectares. In order to familiarize Tibetan farmers with grape planting and winemaking, they taught the skills to local villagers.

“We have successfully taught the local farmers how to grow grapes and make wine over the three years. They now have a new source of income besides traditional farrming and herding,” Hua Sheng said.

Yudron, a resident of Nam, said she was grateful to the grape planting project in her village, which has contributed to her income and quality of life." After working in the vineyards for years, now we know how to make wine. We drink both barley and grape wine now. We love grape wine more, though, as it is healthier.

1. What did the couple do after their retirement?

A．They grew grapes and made wine in Lhasa.

B．They made friends with a French expert.

C．They moved to another city from Lhasa.

D．They learned grape planting from Hua Sheng’ S grandmother.

2. Why was the couple’s project thought of as a poverty relief program?

A．They donated grapes to local schools.

B．They provided free wine for villagers.

C．They employed local residents as workers.

D．They expanded the project with the local government.

3. Which is the function of anthocyanins?

A．They make grapes more delicious.

B．They can accelerate the growth of grapes.

C．They make grapes宣bit sour and sweet.

D．They provide rich color’s for wine.

4. For/the project conducted by the couple, Yudron is ________ .

A．appreciative

B．cautious

C．indifferent

D．hesitate

10 . Mr. Steven was a comic actor in his city, who was popular with audience. One day, he went home by subway. When he arrived home, Mr. Steven was surprised as he found somebody’s gold watch had _________appeared in his pocket.

He was puzzled, _________ to guess how this rather expensive thing could get into his pocket. Since Steven had no _________ , he couldn’t find the answer. So the actor made up his mind to take the watch to the police station. The next day the answer to this _________ was found. A postman _________ to Steven an anonymous (匿名的) letter.

“Dear Mr. Steven”, it said, “It is _________ that you wonder who is writing this letter. I am a professional _________ . Yesterday I managed to steal from somebody a _________ gold watch when I was in the subway. But then I _________ you in the subway, and instantly I decided to give it to you as a gift. So I __________ put the watch in your pocket.”

The policemen tried hard to find this elusive (神出鬼没的) pickpocket, but all their efforts were __________. The thievish Steven admirer __________ the thin air. The police didn’t succeed in returning the stolen property to the true owner of the gold watch as it couldn’t find him anywhere. They made a __________ to return that ill-fated watch to the comic actor.

The story was so __________ that it became popular in one day. It became known among the press and in no time __________ the headlines in the newspapers of the city. Soon after this sensation in mass media, Steven received another __________. There was no address and no names. It said “Dear Mr. Steven, about a year ago I was in the subway and someone stole my gold watch. I was very __________ about that, but now I have known that the thief had __________ it to you. I want you to __________ it. I am a big fan of yours, so that is why I’m also sending you a gold chain that would __________ the watch.”

1.

A．expectedly

B．incredibly

C．fortunately

D．horribly

2.

A．trying

B．managing

C．refusing

D．pretending

3.

A．skill

B．equipment

C．clue

D．explanation

4.

A．cause

B．adventure

C．accident

D．riddle

5.

A．enveloped

B．delivered

C．folded

D．displayed

6.

A．amazing

B．abnormal

C．apparent

D．vital

7.

A．journalist

B．comedian

C．robber

D．pickpocket

8.

A．costly

B．fake

C．valueless

D．fashionable

9.

A．noticed

B．mentioned

C．remarked

D．overlooked

10.

A．casually

B．secretly

C．publicly

D．aimlessly

11.

A．at random

B．under control

C．in vain

D．for certain

12.

A．turned up

B．showed off

C．crashed into

D．vanished into

13.

A．decision

B．comment

C．conclusion

D．analysis

14.

A．common

B．original

C．moving

D．cheerful

15.

A．outlined

B．released

C．captured

D．deserted

16.

A．name

B．gift

C．watch

D．letter

17.

A．delighted

B．annoyed

C．thrilled

D．puzzled

18.

A．presented

B．sold

C．awarded

D．lent

19.

A．sell

B．return

C．keep

D．abandon

20.

A．tie

B．replace

C．exchange

D．match