1 . During the winter break, I found my dad’s old CD player in a drawer that I had never seen before. It reminded me of the three CDs I recently bought from Mostly Books, a second-hand media store on South Street. I knew I could put the player to good use with them.

However, I was a naughty kid who broke closet doors and shelves, so my dad was often unwilling to let me borrow his things. I couldn’t decide whether to ask my dad about using the player. “Can you help me with your old CD player? I want to play some CDs,” I finally asked him after walking into his home office that day. Despite my worries, my dad said yes.

Growing up, I felt that my dad disagreed with nearly everything I did. I was frightened to take his advice because listening to him felt like going against my own ideas.

       That day I looked at his office wall and saw a painting and he told me he bought it in the 1990s for a couple thousand dollars. Imagining him buying the artwork challenged my idea of him being too frugal (节俭的) and boring (没有情调的) to spend so much money on art.

This new side of my dad encouraged me to finally take the time to look for our similarities. I discovered how similar we really are while fixing the CD player with my dad, which helped me see him as someone I could relate to, instead of someone to avoid. Watching my dad prepare his old CD player for use was my first step toward understanding him. I observed several of his characters that I recognized in myself, like persistence, patience and calmness. Seeing these characters in my dad showed me how similar we are, which lowered the defenses (防御) I built against him, allowing our relationship to heal (愈合).

1. Why couldn’t the author decide whether to ask his dad about using the player at first?

A．He had no CDs to play then.

B．He feared his dad would say no.

C．He figured the CD player was broken.

D．He was afraid he’d break the CD player.

2. What was the problem between the author and his father?

A．They often had different views.

B．They hardly talked to each other.

C．They had no similar personalities.

D．They were shy to speak for themselves.

3. What did the author most probably realize after knowing about the painting?

A．He should challenge his father.

B．His father was very good at art.

C．His father was a really boring man.

D．He might not really know about his father.

4. What happened between the author and his father in the end?

A．They often argued with each other.

B．They greatly misunderstood each other.

C．They got on with each other much better.

D．They built great defenses against each other.

2 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Passing Kindness On

Mrs. Brown was in the store with her little boy Jack, having just come from Urgent Care Center to get him some medicine for a virus. While Jack looked around in the store, she couldn’t wait to get him home to warm soup and a warm bed.

“Mommy, look!” Jack said when they got close to the register. He pointed at a row of toy cars for sale. “Can I have one? Please?”

“No, Jack. You have plenty of cars,” said Mrs. Brown. “Besides, it’s very close to Christmas. Who knows what Santa will bring you?” Jack accepted his mother’s decision, but it didn’t help his mood. Now he was tired and disappointed.

When they got up to the counter, the lady at the register handed Jack one of the toy cars. “The woman in front of you in line bought this for you,” she said. “I chose the yellow one, but you can have any one you want.”

Jack looked so happy because it was the very thing he wanted. Mrs. Brown looked around for the mysterious (神秘的) benefactor, but she was long gone. “That was very nice of that lady,” she said. “Maybe we can also give an anonymous (匿名的) gift to someone else today.”

“Yes, we should!” Jack agreed. The unexpected kindness made him feel better than any medicine could. Immediately he thought of the little girl who was badly ill in Urgent Care Center. “Mommy, why not give the girl we saw in Urgent Care Center something nice to comfort her?” he suggested.

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。
“That sounds like a good idea,” said Mrs. Brown.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When she woke up, the girl found the doll(玩具娃娃) beside her.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . Every school has students who stand out for their abilities and their eagerness to learn. In Mexico, a school created a program to work with them. In 2019. both teachers Lotta Andersson and John Rennie got the idea to provide learning opportunities for students with a hunger for knowledge. They are English coordinators (协调员) in the school. “We want to have a program to inspire students who really have the abilities and the interests to learn more and continue accepting challenges,” Andersson said during a recent interview.

Students in the program, which was called Learning Challenges, met with the teachers about once a month. Andersson and Rennie would help us choose research topics. We then worked with the teachers to find books, interview subjects and Internet sources, While in Learning Challenges, I gave presentations on European culture and the fashion industry.

When asked what skills students had formed in the program, which ended in June 2020because of the limits of a common disease. Andersson said, “They had learned to ask questions, be more open-minded and see things from different angles (角度). Also, they mastered the skills-reflecting more, acting actively, and learning not to put limits on themselves.”

A student, Yihane Abed, conducted research on the sun, the moon, stars, planets, etc, while in Learning Challenges. “The skills I developed were teamwork and the ways to do research and give a good presentation,” she said.

Andersson and Rennie continue to help students pursue their love of learning. “The program doesn’t exist formally, but as an important part of the culture at school, it is still needed,” Andersson said. “There is much more difference, not only for students who need extra help, but also for those who are higher achievers.”

1. What’s the purpose of creating Learning Challenges?

A．To help some students learn more.

B．To guide students to work out effectively.

C．To raise students’ interest in visiting Europe.

D．To encourage English students to help others.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Methods that students used in the program.

B．Abilities that students got from the program.

C．Difficulties that students met in the program.

D．Topics that students selected from the program.

3. Which kind of research did Yihane Abed conduct?

A．The universe.	B．Teamwork
C．The fashion industry.	D．Travelling.

4. What does Andersson think of the program?

A．Tough.	B．Formal.
C．Necessary.	D．Traditional.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填人1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Mentioning Sydney, Australia, most people think of the Sydney Opera House.     1     (shape) like huge shells or rising sails, this famous building on Sydney’s Bennelong Point graces the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is one of the world’s great architectural     2     (representative). The location is amazing. Water surrounds the structure on three sides, and the Royal Botanic Garden border it to the southeast. Danish architect, Jørn Utzon won an international competition     3     its design, but withdrew from the project after     4     (technique) and financing problems. Finally, its construction     5     (complete) in 1973 at a cost 14 times the original budget. By this time, Utzon had left the country, never returning to see his impressive creation.     6     (current), visitors can enjoy a performance in the Sydney Opera House, dine at one of the restaurants, or see the highlights of the Sydney Opera House on a guided tour. The structure includes theaters, studios, a concert hall, exhibition rooms     7     a cinema. Touring the Sydney Opera House is rewarding, but its     8     (astonish)architecture is perhaps best appreciated from a distance. One of the best sites to photograph this top Sydney tourist     9     (attract) is Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in the Royal Botanic Garden, or visitors can catch the ferry (渡船) to take     10     photo from the water as they sail past.

5 . It isn’t every day that the future and the past get to meet on national television.

When his wife of 72 years passed away six years ago, Peter Davies _________ he felt like “almost soul”. The 100-year-old man from Macclesfield, England _________ to find new purpose in his life, so when his daughter suggested he offer his help at the local elementary school, he _________ to go for it.

“I was married for 72 years, and when my wife died, life changed _________,” Peter explained. “My daughter suggested that, to get some _________ back into my life, I do something I’m _________ of doing.”

Peter chose to_________ at a primary school, and he was a huge _________ with all of the children he tutored. He _________ reading into a fun game. Besides, his new __________ as a grandfatherly figure made him feel more connected to his community than ever before.

“The __________ are great, ”said Peter. “I’m sure I get more than the kids do. It is a lovely warm feeling that I __________ the community. I’m part of it. Moreover, my image is __________ . Wherever I go in the village, a child will shout ‘Hello Mr. Davies. I feel 10 feet tall. ”

Recently he was __________ with a British Empire Medal (BEM) on television with the youngest recipient, 18-year-old Dara McAnulty. “He is the future, and I am the past, ”Peter said. “It’s just simple as that, it really is. I’m__________ for him.”

1.

A．admitted

B．suspected

C．proved

D．argued

2.

A．refused

B．struggled

C．regretted

D．pretended

3.

A．failed

B．determined

C．requested

D．forgot

4.

A．dramatically

B．temporarily

C．casually

D．secretly

5.

A．information

B．creation

C．affection

D．meaning

6.

A．afraid

B．tired

C．capable

D．ashamed

7.

A．study

B．perform

C．investigate

D．volunteer

8.

A．star

B．scholar

C．hit

D．model

9.

A．expanded

B．transformed

C．recovered

D．compared

10.

A．responsibility

B．challenge

C．status

D．mission

11.

A．assistants

B．instructors

C．applicants

D．kids

12.

A．belong to

B．object to

C．adapt to

D．reach to

13.

A．apparent

B．tremendous

C．flexible

D．particular

14.

A．remarked

B．accompanied

C．honoured

D．impressed

15.

A．concerned

B．respectful

C．embarrassed

D．delighted

6 . The Masai(马赛人) are continually trying to keep their own ways in an increasingly modern world. They live along the border of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa, moving their homes from time to time to follow their cattle, the source of their livelihood. They rely on their cattle in many parts of their life. They like drinking the cows’ milk.

They don’t kill their cattle for food. But if a cow is killed, the parts of its body are used to make containers, shoes, clothin,   ropes, bed coverings and so on. Not all of the men have cows. The more cattle a man owns, the richer he is considered to be. A man who owns 50 or fewer cattle is considered poor. Rich men have a thousand or more. The cattle, though owned by the man, are considered to belong to the man’s entire family. The family names the cattle and can recognize each animal’s special voice.

The Masai men have become known as warriors(勇士), protecting their cattle against other wild animals. They wear their red long hair. Most women often take care of their children, cook food, clean clothes and make clothing at home. They also make necklaces dresses and headdresses. A few women can also become authorities once they are powerful enough. They speak a language called Maa.

The houses of Masai made from sticks and grass, which are held together with a mixture of mud, are not very firm or safe. These plain houses with some basic supplies are built in a circle and make up a Masai village. They are not meant to last long since the migration(迁徙) of the cow population means that the Masai move as well. In the meantime, in order to prevent animals from entering, they also form a wall of branches. The whole setup is to protect the cattle, which sleep at night in the middle of the village. They seem to live a natural and self-sufficient life but lack modern civilisation.

1. What do we know about the Masai?

A．They don’t move in their lives.

B．They each have their own cows.

C．They don’t kill their cattle at all.

D．They are heavily dependent on cattle.

2. What do most of the Masai women work as?

A．Designers.	B．Authorities.
C．Housewives.	D．Warriors.

3. Which word best describes Masai houses?

A．Modern.

B．Lasting

C．Simple.

D．Safe.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Africans: Living a Moving life

B．Africans: Brave People in the World

C．The Masai: Rich People in East Africa

D．The Masai: Maintaining a Traditional Lifestyle

7 . A waterworks maintenance team discovered a possible one-of-a-kind Roman road in a field in Worcestershire that may date back 2,000 years.

If asked to name a place where you might make a once-in-a-lifetime archaeological (考古的) discovery, your mind may go to the pyramids of Egypt or the peaks of the Andes...not a field in Worcestershire. But a field in Worcestershire is exactly where workmen recently discovered what is thought to be a Roman road up to 2,000 years old！

The road was discovered during routine (常规的) waterworks maintenance by Severn Trent. Archaeological experts from Wychavon District Council were called to the scene and immediately recognised the find’s significance.

Wychavon District Council’s archaeology officer Aidan Smyth said, “When I first saw it, it took my breath away. If proven to be from the first century AD, it would be beyond rare.”

Experts say it is constructed in a traditional Roman technique, with similar roads only being found in Rome and Pompeii. Ruts (车辙) in the stones show that it was used by carts for a long time. A team from Historic England is expected to investigate further to determine the exact origin of the structure.

This is actually not the first significant historical discovery in Worcestershire. A number of possible forts have been suggested in Worcestershire since the 1950s, and Worcestershire is thought to possibly have been the site for the Roman town of Vertis.

It is too early to say without 100 per cent certainty that the road is Roman, but even if it is a road in the Middle Ages, it will still be a nationally significant discovery. If it is indeed a first-century Roman road, then it is the only one of its kind in Britain.

1. Why does the author mention the pyramids of Egypt?

A．To make a comparison with the Andes.

B．To identify the importance of pyramids.

C．To show the find in Worcestershire is rare.

D．To prove the archaeological discovery is true.

2. What can the road discovery be described as?

A．Long expected archaeology news.

B．The result of a careful exploration.

C．The effort of world archaeologists.

D．An unexpected result of a repair service.

3. How does Aidan Smyth sound when called to the scene?

A．Excited.

B．Confused.

C．Annoyed.

D．Satisfied.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A once-in-a-lifetime archaeological literature.

B．An unfortunate waterworks maintenance team.

C．A nationally significant event in ancient Rome.

D．A possible Roman road discovered in a field in Britain.

8 . Whether your kid can count on a sizable inheritance (遗产) or your family is living pay period to pay period, a college degree is a must. Along with the invisible life skills you get from those formative years on campus, college comes with a bankable payout: A Georgetown University study found that, on average, college graduates make a million dollars more over a lifetime than people who stop at high school.

Recently, a Bronx nonprofit asked me to speak to a group of high schoolers whose families were struggling financially. The participants were (rightly) worried about taking on too much college debt. Here’s what I told them: Even when you subtract (扣除) tuition, lost earnings during the college years, and other factors, an average college grad will still take in $300,000 more than those without a college degree.

And while rising tuition fees are a serious worry, free college programs of one kind or another have sprung up in more than 20 states. My own home state, New York, boasts one of the most comprehensive efforts. The Excelsior Scholarship program guarantees that students at public institutions attend tuition-free if their family earns under $110,000 a year.

Even in Silicon Valley, where there are many successful people who don’t own a college degree, I asked a group of parents there if it’s true that kids are giving up a college degree because they’re sure they’ll be rich people. The answer was a resounding, unapologetic no.

The truth is that in this STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)-centric age, any form of home-schooling or social education can’t replace the formal school education. Especially in an age when many low-end careers are being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI), a college degree can give your kid an edge.

1. In writing paragraph 1, the author aims to ________.

A．propose a definition	B．make a comparison
C．give an example	D．present an argument

2. What can we infer from the text?

A．Free college programs are available all over the USA.

B．In the STEM-centric age, a college degree is essential.

C．In New York, all public school students are tuition-free.

D．Children from rich families don’t need a college degree.

3. What is happening to the low-end careers?

A．They are developing very rapidly.

B．They are all being engaged by AI.

C．They are all depending on a degree.

D．They are disappearing because of AI.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Why do you need a college degree?

B．Where can you enjoy free education?

C．What is a must in the STEM-centric age?

D．How much do people with a degree earn in US?

9 . A 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the Indonesian coast sent a wall of water racing toward Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Lang was on the island of Ko Phi Phi, just south of Phuket, Thailand, shopping on Main Street with her friend Rubina Wong, when suddenly everything changed. “People started running inland. From where we were, we could not see the beach so we had no idea what was going on,” she said.

Lang and Rubina started running inland in the same direction as everyone else, when she noticed water flooding into the island, but so strong and fast that she could no longer lift her feet to run. Rubina had gone down a side street. Lang never saw her alive again.

Lang was stuck underwater between debris (碎片) with the surface just above her face. “The more I struggled (挣扎), the tighter I was stuck. I could not reach the surface. I thought I came here on my vacation to die, and then I got really annoyed,” she said. “I must have blacked out because the next thing I remember is waking up underwater.”

The water was still and black. Lang looked up and could see that at the top, there was a small circle of light. She started swimming through the water and made it to the surface of the water. She pulled herself onto a floating door and could see that the whole island was flooded and a lot of buildings were gone. She could see a house not far away and a man on its roof. She encouraged herself to climb over the floating objects to the balcony (阳台) of the house. From there she saw the water start to slowly go back to the ocean.

1. What was Lang doing when the tsunami happened?

A．She was running in a race.	B．She was playing on the beach.
C．She was shopping in the street.	D．She was looking for her friend.

2. Why was Lang unable to run?

A．There was a wall in the way.	B．She feared she would get lost.
C．She had to wait for her friend.	D．The racing water was too powerful.

3. What can we learn about Lang from paragraph 3?

A．She didn’t want to struggle.	B．She was trapped underwater.
C．She didn’t regret going on vacation.	D．She kept awake all the time in the water.

4. How did Lang manage to save herself?

A．By calling for help.	B．By hiding in a house.
C．By climbing up a tall tree.	D．By making use of floating objects.

10 . 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。

Do you know what the ballet, jeans, and eyeglasses have in common? They     1     (invent) in Italy. Now, another Italian symbol is making headlines as a possible solution to a huge     2    (environment) problem. In a time when the world searches for ways     3     (reduce) plastic waste, pasta straws might be one of the answers.

Recently, a picture     4    （show）the initiative (倡议) some bars in Italy have been taking was posted on the Internet,     5     has been spreading like crazy.

    6     (interest), there are already a couple of companies that sell pasta straws: Stroodles and The Amazing Pasta Straw. The straws are tasteless while in cold beverage, as they're just made of wheat and water. According to the Stroodles website, the straws last roughly     7     hour before softening up, after which they can be composted (制成堆肥) or even consumed.

"Stroodles is not just a straw company and there is a much     8     (big) picture, as I feel I can leave a long-term impact by creating a ripple effect (连锁反应) by triggering many small challenges all across the world, especially among people that are less conscious     9       sustainability and their respective     10     (act) and behaviors, "company founder Maxim Gelmann said.