1 . Flaco the owl (猫头鹰) is gone, but his life had all the elements of a classic hero’s story, not soon forgotten. Flaco lived a dozen years in a comfortable cage in the Central Park Zoo where little happened and less was needed. His life was a safe existence without freedom. Then, a year ago, someone released him.
On Friday, when he died of injury, perhaps from a collision (碰撞) with a Manhattan apartment building’s glass windows, his death offered us a chance to reckon with the question at the heart of many a hero’s journey: Can we put a price on freedom?
Flaco’s liberation from his cage came at a cost — he spent the final year of his life free, but threatened from all sides by a booming city. Was it worth it?
Almost from the moment he was released, Flaco became a symbol of hope for many of the people who followed his story and recognized parts of themselves in him. Some saw him as the symbol of the American dream, an outsider who had come to Manhattan and made a life for himself here, like millions of others who arrived penniless and unconnected in search of freedom.
As a result, he flew around the city. We were terrified that he’d succumb to (屈服于) the dangers of city life. Flaco had no experience living outside a cage, and New Yorkers initially doubted his chances of survival. We worried that he’d eat a rat with enough poison in its system to kill him. But Flaco never looked back. Perhaps freedom itself was the home he’d discovered.
And though we feared for him, his new life excited us. How many of us, our circumstances familiar and sale, are too frightened to seek our more fully realized selves?
How many of us, viewing our confinements as nothing out of the ordinary, have long stopped wondering what our wings are for?
Have we not all desired a life beyond the range of the one we lead? Flaco showed that our desire is not misplaced. His choice proved a truth that given a chance, living things choose freedom of movement.
1. What do the underlined words “reckon with” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Bring up. | B．Deal with. | C．Reflect on. | D．Look into. |
| A．He died a natural death. |
| B．He was caught and returned to the zoo. |
| C．He died from a collision with a building. |
| D．He lived a free life but faced many threats. |
| A．They were excited and supportive. |
| B．They were worried about his survival. |
| C．They were indifferent and unconcerned. |
| D．They were angry and opposed to his release. |
| A．The importance of protecting wildlife. |
| B．The risks and rewards of seeking freedom. |
| C．The value of overcoming challenges in life. |
| D．The need for more awareness about animal rights. |
Three fish lived in the sea when they were young. Their parents died. They had to look after each other. Finally, they grew up and decided to swim deeper and further. One morning the three fish were taken to shallow water by a big wave.
Never had the three fish been to such a place. Everything was so different. They had great fun swimming around. Then, with another big wave, a small boat was taken there too. Now it was hard for the fish to go back to the sea, because the boat was right in front of them.
The largest fish realized that they were in danger and said, “We have to find a way to leave here as fast as possible, or it will be dangerous.” The second largest fish agreed with his elder brother and decided to go with him. However, the youngest one decided not to leave at all, saying “It’s not dangerous at all. Look! There is much water for our activities.” No matter how hard his brothers tried to persuade him to leave, the youngest fish wouldn’t listen.
At last, the largest fish managed to find a way to return to the sea. He found the lowest part of the boat and jumped over it. Challenging as it was, he made it. The second largest fish also succeeded in joining his elder brother in the other side of the water, but the youngest one didn’t follow them, still swimming around joyfully.
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。
As the sun rose higher, the water in the small shallow corner continued to disappear.
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Upon their return, the two fish made a plan to rescue their younger brother.
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3 . In the vast ocean, nature wonders never stop to amaze us. On October 18th, in Australia, some beach goers
Malcolm Smith and his rescue team
The amazing
The remarkable sight reminds us of the unbelievable
| A．harmed | B．hunted | C．noticed | D．touched |
| A．bored | B．lost | C．hungry | D．tired |
| A．finally | B．suddenly | C．violently | D．immediately |
| A．agreed | B．arrived | C．ran | D．left |
| A．artificial | B．shallow | C．natural | D．deep |
| A．provides | B．needs | C．lacks | D．invents |
| A．rest | B．research | C．travel | D．call |
| A．rare | B．little | C．different | D．abundant |
| A．sliding | B．wandering | C．running | D．flying |
| A．fix | B．disturb | C．understand | D．watch |
| A．wave | B．rescue | C．circus | D．scenery |
| A．joining | B．doubting | C．checking | D．admiring |
| A．fall behind | B．take the lead | C．swim away | D．catch up |
| A．home | B．water | C．path | D．group |
| A．bonds | B．pictures | C．sounds | D．gifts |
| A．best | B．shortest | C．longest | D．busiest |
| A．hope | B．concern | C．gratitude | D．regret |
| A．dangerous | B．troubled | C．huge | D．devoted |
| A．defense | B．payment | C．video | D．act |
| A．protecting | B．exploring | C．recording | D．testing |
Many years ago, a crocodile(鳄鱼)lived in a pool. He spent most of his time in the shady parts of the green pool. When he was hungry, he hid into the water towards the watering hole where all the animals gathered to drink the clear water on hot days. The crocodile was very cunning(狡猾的)and kept only his eyes above the water as he moved towards the other animals, Then his big jaws closed in on some unlucky animals that didn’t see him coming. They became his delicious dinner at last.
The crocodile said to himself, “I’m so strong that no one can get away from me. “ All of the animals were afraid of the crocodile except a butterfly(蝴蝶).
One day, the butterfly noticed the crocadile moving closer to the other animals in the pool. She flew around the crocodile’s eyes to get his attention. She said, “You might be strong, but I bet you won’t catch anything today. “ She flew in circles around the crocodile’s face.
The crocodile rose up out of the water a bit so he could talk to the butterfly. He said, “Of course I will. I’m the strongest animal in the pool. I can catch any animal I want. “ The butterfly flew past the crosodile’s nose and said, “I don’t think so. “ She flew very close to the crocodile’s car and teased(戏弄) him with her wings.
“Stop that!” The crocodile couldn’t keep his temper and shouted. Not far away, two birds looked up from the watering hole. They saw the danger and flew to the treetops just in case. At the same time, the rabbits and frogs at the watering hole looked up as well and saw the crocodile. In a flash, they all ran away and hid in the forest.
The butterfly danced in the air just in front of the croondile’s nose. “Being strong isn’t everything, you know.” Then she landed slowly on the tip of the crocodile’s nose. She teased his leathery skin with her wings.
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。
The crocodile didn’t like being teased.
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Finally, the crocodile felt tired and stopped biting the butterfly.
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I watched my dad scowl (绷着脸) as he listened to the voice coming through the telephone receiver. I heard him say, “Yes, Miss Beisner,” and “I understand what you’re saying, Miss Beisner. I appreciate you sharing this information. We’ll see what we can do about the situation. Thank you for calling. Goodbye.”
Miss Beisner was my first-grade teacher, and I loved her. I thought she felt the same about me, but now I was beginning to wonder. The tone of Dad’s voice, the redness in his cheeks, and his repeated clenching. And unclenching of fists made it pretty clear. This was not a warm and fuzzy good news-from-the-teacher call.
As I was deciding whether I should lock myself in my bedroom for the rest of my life or run away from home, Dad hung up the phone. “Jacquie, come here and sit down. We need to talk.”
Uh-oh. When Dad said, “We need to talk,” it meant he needed to talk, and I needed to listen.
I shuffled (拖着脚走) over to the well-worn brown chair in the corner of the living room, plopped down, and waited to hear the nature of my crime.
Dad told me that Miss Beisner thought I was bright but not working up to my ability. She said I had strong verbal skills but weak study habits. Translation: I never closed my mouth, and I seldom opened a book. Apparently, my failure to memorize the addition facts, or even attempt to, was more than she was willing to put up with. Hence, the telephone call.
Dad ended our one-way conversation with a verbal outline for his plan of attack. Bubbles, our Toy Manchester Terrier, was going to teach me math. Silently, I thought, No way is any dumb dog going to teach me how to add, not even our beloved Bubbles. Out loud, I said, “How?”
Dad summoned Bubbles from her bed near the stove and commanded her to sit. “Bubbles,” Dad said, “how much is five plus three?” Bubbles let out eight loud, crisp barks.
I was incredulous (满腹狐疑的). I couldn’t understand how a dog could add, and I was more than a little embarrassed by the fact that the family dog was smarter than me.
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。
Paragraph 1: After that, I threw myself into math with newfound determination.
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Paragraph 2: One day, I asked Dad whether Bubbles really knew how to add.
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A spider (蜘蛛) was looking for a suitable place to make its web. He wanted his web to be in such a place where a lot of insects and flies would come and get trapped in his web. In this way he wanted to spend his life eating, drinking and relaxing happily.
Soon, he found a corner (角落) of the room of a house and started preparing to make his web there.
Just when he started weaving (织网) the web, a cat passing by started laughed loudly after seeing him. When the spider saw the cat laughing, he asked, “Why are you laughing?”
The cat replied, “I am laughing because you are foolish. Can’t you see how clean this place is? No flies or insects will come here. Who will fall in your web?”
After listening to the cat, the spider gave up the idea of making a web in that corner and started looking for another place.
Then he saw a window and started weaving his web there. The spider had prepared half of the web. Then a bird came and started making fun of him, saying, “Have you lost your mind? Why weaving your web near this window? A strong wind will blow and your web will fly away.”
The spider understood and stopped weaving the web on the window and started looking for another place. While searching, his eyes fell on an old cupboard (橱柜). The door of that cupboard was slightly open. He went there and started weaving a web. Just then a cockroach (蟑螂) came and said, “It is useless to make a web at this place. This cupboard is very old. It will be sold in few days. All your hard work will go fruitless.”
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。
Para 1: The spider listened to the advice of the cockroach and stopped making the web in the cupboard and started searching for another place.
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Para 2: An ant who was watching all this went to the spider and said.
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Two fast friends were Willie and his little dog Bounce. Willie could never think of taking a walk without Bounce. Cake and play were equally shared between them. Willie taught his dog many cunning tricks, and often said that Bounce could do almost anything in the world but talk. Then on a bright summer afternoon, Willie had strolled with Bounce down to the river, which was not more than two blocks from his father’s store—Mr. Brown’s store.
Willie began to throw stones into the water, and to watch ripples as they made one circle after another. Bounce lay on the grass, watching the flies buzzing around his nose, and catching any that came too near.
There were some logs floating in the river near the bank. Willie jumped upon one of them to see if he could throw a stone across the river. He drew back, sent the stone with all strength, just as it left his hand, the log turned and he fell into the water. He was frightened, for he did not know how to swim, and there was no one to hear, though he called as loud as he could for help.
If he had been a big water dog, he could have jumped in and brought his master out.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
He ran up and down the bank two or three times, barking, looking first at Willie and then around.
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Finally, the father came to the river.
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8 . Recep Mirzan from Turkey and a white swan are as close as a family. They haven't been
Mirzan was in a car when he spotted a
After the female swan
“She seems to
To take more
| A．different | B．controllable | C．separate | D．unfortunate |
| A．honesty | B．friendship | C．struggle | D．success |
| A．caged | B．hidden | C．deserted | D．wounded |
| A．beat | B．meet | C．challenge | D．interview |
| A．quickly | B．occasionally | C．frequently | D．rarely |
| A．choice | B．profit | C．death | D．failure |
| A．bird | B．plan | C．pedestrian | D．car |
| A．changed | B．recovered | C．appeared | D．traveled |
| A．Instead | B．Also | C．Otherwise | D．Therefore |
| A．stick around | B．move on | C．hang out | D．hold up |
| A．witnessed | B．made | C．demanded | D．accepted |
| A．encourage | B．understand | C．remember | D．approve |
| A．then | B．just | C．even | D．yet |
| A．sensitive | B．intelligent | C．strong | D．considerate |
| A．supported | B．motivated | C．examined | D．attended |
| A．expected | B．suspected | C．meant | D．proved |
| A．interest | B．relief | C．puzzle | D．regret |
| A．normal | B．similar | C．convenient | D．flexible |
| A．farm | B．tree | C．river | D．garden |
| A．guiding | B．helping | C．comforting | D．following |
