1 . First-time writers may find it easier to get a short story published in a magazine or in an anthology of short stories than to get a novel accepted. Yet, even though it sounds easier to write a short story, a new writer can easily write a bad short story.
Read other short stories to study how the author has plotted her story. Take notice of the story genre, the theme and how conflict is plotted in a short story. Prepare background information for your short story by making notes on characters, theme and your storyline.
Create a plot chart to help plot your short story. Draw a horizontal line on a sheet of paper and mark significant events along the line which occur in your story.
Hook in the reader with an intriguing opening and introduce the conflict early. Introduce your main character immediately and don’t spend too long setting the scene, as brevity is the key to short story writing.
Adhere to a single theme which helps to drive the plot of the short story forward. Focus on moments of conflict and how the protagonist deals with each problem. Don’t forget to incorporate suspense into your plot to keep the reader interested.
| A．A plot is the soul of the story. |
| B．It takes practice to write a story. |
| C．Write about a specific time in a person’s life. |
| D．Record what happened in your life all the time. |
| E．Hold information back until it is the right moment to reveal it. |
| F．Conclude your story in a positive or negative way. |
| G．Describe briefly how the story opens at the beginning. |
2 . Some people worry that there’s too much technology in our lives. And they may have a point, given how countless people now carry the internet around in their pocket and use it as a primary form of communication. It’s practically difficult to shun technology in our world. There are computer microchips (微芯片) in our watches, our cars, light switches, even our pets! Where will it end?
Well, if certain people have their way, it’ll go even further. We’ll have microchips implanted into our brains that call interact with the computers by thought alone. It may sound like something from the science fiction, but in many ways, things look quite promising. Thanks to the ability to send and receive information remotely via computers, microchips and other related devices have long been put into brains.
For example, electrodes have been implanted in the brains of epilepsy patients to better record and even predict the abnormal neurological (神经病学的) activity. Similarly, deep-brain stimulation, through implanted devices that cause activity in key brain regions, is an established treatment for things like-Parkinson’s disease, and is even being looked into for illnesses like depression.
However, it’s another thing to place such devices in health y individuals. There are the practical concerns, not least of which is what these chips will be made of. The inside of the brain is a mass of highly reactive chemicals and electrical activity. Implants would need to be inert (静止的) enough to not upset the delicate processes by their presence, but also sensitive enough to read and process the activity around them. Current technology has made impressive progress with this, but if it were to be rolled out to millions of people, we’d need to be 100 per cent certain that it’s safe.
How many people will actually want to have technology literally put into their brain? A surprising 60 per cent of Americans say they’d be okay with it, but that’s when it’s purely theoretical. In reality, the possibility of having strangers stick chips in your brain is likely to prove unattractive, especially for a population where millions get mad at fictional microchips in vaccines (疫苗), and even more are frightened of dentists.
Ultimately, the technology of computer-brain interface (接口) implants is still far away from us.
1. What’s the function of the first paragraph?| A．A summary of the article. | B．An introduction to the main topic. |
| C．An overview of the whole article. | D．An argument over the main topic. |
| A．To put something into someone’s body by an operation. |
| B．To design something new over a period of time. |
| C．To prevent something from changing rapidly. |
| D．To get rid of something steadily. |
| A．The process of human-computer interaction. |
| B．The possible treatment for particular diseases. |
| C．The future of microchips and devices alike. |
| D．The existing application of microchip implants. |
| A．Imaginary. | B．Practical. | C．Unfulfilled. | D．Impossible. |
3 . Bee protection is a big issue these days in America, with people planting native pollinator gardens, setting up bee houses, and taking part in scientific activities to monitor local bee populations. And this is for good reason — in North America, a quarter of native bee species are at risk of extinction. Bees pollinate 35percent of our global food supply and many of the wild plants our ecosystems depend on.
No Mow May, a movement that began in the U. K., is now rapidly spreading throughout the U. S. Its popularity lies in its being simple: Just give bees a little help during the crucial springtime by removing a chore from your list and letting your lawn grow for the month of May. This lets “lawn flowers” such as dandelions grow at a time when bee food is rare.
Dandelions, despite being pretty and useful, are non-native. Then why do we promote a movement that encourages their growth? Here’s the basic answer — don’t let “perfect” be the enemy of “good”. Sure, it would be great to turn your entire neighborhood into a bee kingdom of native plants, but that can take lots of time and money.
While dandelions have become the poster child for No Mow May, other plants, including native species, may also appear in your lawn. “Besides dandelions, there are many other plants that are going to be there,” says Dr. Claudio Gratton at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In Massachusetts, scientists found 63 species of plants in lawns, 30 percent of which were native to the state. Most Americans probably loved dandelions as children but have tended to hate them as adults because of American lawn culture, which allows no flowers. “No Mow May forces us to think about our relationship with nature. We should reflect on the way we have made nature suit our needs, and realize flowers play really important roles,” says Dr. Claudio Gratton.
1. What is the background to No Mow May in the U. S.?| A．Native bee species are increasing. | B．There is a tendency to protect bees. |
| C．Bees mainly depend on garden plants. | D．More people have no time to cut lawns. |
| A．It needs almost no cost. | B．Few Americans support it. |
| C．It is aimed at planting dandelions. | D．It appeals for careful attention to the lawns. |
| A．General principle. | B．Rare exception. |
| C．Typical example. | D．Difficult problem. |
| A．A bee-friendly lawn. | B．A regularly cut lawn. |
| C．A lawn growing naturally. | D．A lawn with native flowers. |
4 . When I was a teenager, I was invited to a formal dance party. I was
“Mom, I don’t know if I can wear these,” I said, feeling
As I arrived at the party, I tried to be
I quickly got up and laughed it off, pretending like it was
My friend Lilly helped me
When I returned home, I told Mom I felt like a complete
From that day forward, I stuck to flat shoes. I learned to
| A．surprised | B．excited | C．relaxed | D．satisfied |
| A．unsure | B．unsafe | C．unusual | D．unhappy |
| A．breaks | B．turns | C．steps | D．attempts |
| A．genuine | B．polite | C．serious | D．cool |
| A．danger | B．injury | C．disaster | D．wonder |
| A．landed on | B．tripped over | C．kicked up | D．ran into |
| A．a hot potato | B．a big fish | C．no luck | D．no big deal |
| A．fight | B．argue | C．disappear | D．struggle |
| A．approach | B．avoid | C．prevent | D．identify |
| A．patience | B．bravery | C．worry | D．anger |
| A．fool | B．hero | C．stranger | D．dancer |
| A．suggested | B．expected | C．promised | D．directed |
| A．dependent | B．easy | C．careful | D．hard |
| A．fashionable | B．tight | C．comfortable | D．special |
| A．promote | B．accept | C．trust | D．refuse |
5 . It’s been 20 years since a cookbook changed my life. Before reading every page in Nigella Lawson’s Feast, I didn’t give much thought lo what I ate. Cooking was a boring task I wasn’t particularly good at. Moreover, fear of calories and not being able to fit into my jeans left little room for enjoying things like “chocolate cake”. Nigella, the author of Nigella Lawson’s Feast transformed my relationship with food, changing it from a source of panic to one of limitless pleasure. Leafing through the pages of Feast, I began to think of the women who shaped my cooking. They not only influenced me strongly with their words, recipes and passion for the art of eating, but they also left their mark on the culinary (烹饪的) world.
Take Eugénie Brazier, for example, who grew up with barely enough to eat yet with plenty of determination to achieve great things. After years of hard work on farms and later as a humble cook, she used the little savings she had to open La Mère Brazier, a restaurant that would attract the likes of celebrities. A second location followed, and in 1933, she became the first chef ever to hold six Michelin stars simultaneously (同时地). Known as the mother of modern French cooking, Brazier’s simple yet elegant food changed the way Britain ate.
What Brazier did for the UK, the passionate Julia Child did for America. At a time when TV dinners and tinned foods were gaining popularity, she inspired home cooks to try elegant recipes, teaching them about the use of quality ingredients in an approachable way.
While Julia Child tempted us with her recipes, it was the American author Fisher who enlightened us with her fine cooking prose (散文). In her brilliant essays, she praised the pleasures of the table and explored connections between food and culture. One of my favorite books is Love in a Dish, a charming collection of culinary experiences that transport you to French villages and even describe how the love of food can potentially save a marriage!
1. How does the author introduce the topic?| A．By giving examples. | B．By raising a question. |
| C．By describing his experience. | D．By offering facts. |
| A．Friendly and determined. | B．Considerate and brave. |
| C．Generous and intelligent. | D．Ambitious and successful. |
| A．The ingredients of food. | B．The story behind food. |
| C．The significance of food. | D．The origin of food. |
| A．To motivate readers to cook at home. | B．To market high-quality cooking books. |
| C．To honor some exceptional women cooks. | D．To share his passion for cooking. |
6 . This was the big game. The boys were
Nervously, I looked out Andy’s way. I was
“Come on, Andy.
Thank goodness the big kid made a mistake. We (Andy and I) had been
Andy ran up to me at the
Andy’s eyes were glowing (发光) with
“Yes,” I said. “Well, one inning (局) to go. Hit a home run (全垒打)!”
“Okay!” said Andy, and he ran back to his
I suddenly realized it was nice my son would take time out to
| A．nervous | B．puzzled | C．curious | D．ashamed |
| A．won | B．struggled | C．prayed | D．run |
| A．electric | B．friendly | C．casual | D．romantic |
| A．flee | B．climb | C．jump | D．strike |
| A．amused | B．thrilled | C．shocked | D．satisfied |
| A．carrying | B．reflecting | C．commenting | D．focusing |
| A．Settle down | B．Stand up | C．Wake up | D．Lie down |
| A．informed | B．punished | C．warned | D．spared |
| A．meeting | B．break | C．corner | D．entrance |
| A．blame | B．comfort | C．entertain | D．threaten |
| A．anger | B．anxiety | C．excitement | D．confidence |
| A．teammates | B．fans | C．parents | D．stars |
| A．create | B．research | C．explain | D．appreciate |
| A．need | B．expect | C．afford | D．suspect |
| A．become | B．filmed | C．seen | D．followed |
Michael saw the trouble coming. There standing in the hallway was Frank, the boy who enjoyed making fun of anyone at any given moment. Frank was tall and strong, so few of his victims stood up to him. Michael hated the idea that Frank always got away with his wrongdoing. Yet like most kids who were picked on, he just took it quietly and waited for the unpleasant to pass.
Frank walked up, his eyes locked on the books in Michael’s arms. When they met, Frank stopped unexpectedly, “Hey, let me see those books!” Some students watched as Michael held out the books he was carrying, trying not to give away his nervousness.
Frank took a book, looked inside for a second, and then threw the book at Michael, who dropped all the other books. “Hey, those are school property,” Frank barked, “Be careful!” Then he walked away, laughing loudly.
Michael, his cheeks turning red, half kicked the fallen books. Suddenly a hand picked up one book. “You look like you could use a p ally (盟友),” a friendly voice said. It was Ramon, the most athletic boy in the high school. Michael couldn’t believe Ramon was stopping to help him as they barely spoke.
“Thanks,” Michael sighed with relief. “It’s confusing. I don’t know what his problems is.”
“Well, as I see it,” Ramon said, “you need to find a way to end this.” Michael nodded, stuck for what to say. Ramon continued, “You know my grandmother used to tell me whenever I had a problem with someone. She’d say, ‘You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar (醋).’”
Looking puzzled, Michael asked, “What does that mean?”
“It means kindness may be more effective than anger,” Ramon explained.
“Can you just tell Frank to stop picking on me?” Michael suggested.
“That’s vinegar,” Ramon laughed as he walked away. “Try honey instead.”
Ramon’s words left Michael thinking.
The next school day brought Michael’s usual pain. There stood Frank, and Michael knew it would be just seconds before he had to face him in the middle of the hall. Frank came nearer.
注意：（1）续写词数应为150个左右；
（2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Then, suddenly, the unexpected happened.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Michael bent down and quickly picked up Frank’s books on the floor.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________注意：
（1）写作词数应为80个左右；
（2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Our Cultural Festival on Campus
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The term “Erbin”, a, nickname of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, known for its ice and snow festival,
The essence of this “fancy rat-race” lies in
First, they need to build better roads to scenic spots and tourist service platforms,
Tourism authorities should, therefore, focus on promoting local cuisine, natural resources and personalities.
1. 活动的时间和地点；2. 活动过程；3. 学生们的感受。
注意：1. 写作词数应为80左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
A Campus Cleaning Activity
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
