1 . 语法填空

The long-awaited TV series Blossoms Shanghai has been released in two versions — Mandarin (普通话) and the Shanghai dialect — on Dec 27, quickly soaring as one of the     1     (popular) dramas during the New Year’s period.

    2     (adapt) from writer Jin Yucheng’s award-winning novel, Fan Hua, the series takes audience back to Shanghai in     3     early 1990s, following the rise of A Bao, an ambitious young man     4     seizes the opportunities of the early stock (股票) market and     5     (transform) into a self-made millionaire, expanding his business to foreign trade.

Amid his journey to success, the protagonist (主角) has received help from multiple     6     (friend), including a seasoned former businessman, a capable employee from a foreign trade company,     7     a restaurant operator. However, his relationship with them undergoes a really big test due to a mysterious woman, and his own business also faces a crisis due to a powerful opponent from Shenzhen.

    8     (current), this drama has sparked heated discussions online, with some netizens     9     (praise) it as the “most artistic TV show of the year”. However, it has also received negative reviews. Some viewers said the television version’s story is too fragmented (零散) and not as “down to earth” as the     10     (origin) novel.

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。

There are all kinds of enemies, and one of the arts of living is to learn to tell them apart. But consider the kind who never meant to be an enemy at all, and doesn’t want to be an enemy, really. He’s not mad at you; he’s mad at the world, and if you are wandering around on his lonely battlefield, you get shot, which is not meant for you at all.

Let me tell you about one of them. She was the dark-eyed daughter of our town barber: a big, stormy Gina Lollobrigida. Years ago, I brought my two little girls home from South America and put them in school down the road. They talked a very peculiar language that was neither English nor Spanish, and their classmates gave them a hard time. Especially Gina, who was older and the ringleader (元凶) of the terror of the tiny kids. She had an air of anger with her fiery eyes, which seemed to pierce through anyone who dared to cross her path. Her words were hurtful, and even in moments of silence, the tension surrounding her was evident, like a thick wall built between her and the rest of the world. When my daughters were misunderstood and teased because of an unfamiliar language, Gina proved to be the most troublesome among all the students, dominating the younger children and causing chaos whenever she pleased.

Pat and Peggy came home crying almost every day, so I decided to cheer them up. “Let’s have a party,” I said. Pat’s and Peggy’s tears dried magically. Right away they got creative: “Ice cream! Cake, big red balloons!”

“And friends?” I said. The tears started again. “We haven’t got any friends,” Pat cried. Peggy howled, “Nothing but enemies.” Then I had one of my rare inspirations. “Let’s have an enemy party. Let’s invite all your enemies – and we’ll fill them up with ice cream and cake and give them red balloons to take home.

Little Pat and Peggy exchanged knowing looks, and one of them said in Spanish, “Qué passa al Viejo?” (“What is wrong with dad?”)

It turned out that the “Enemy Party” was a mad, merry success.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Another bonus of the party was that Gina seemed a different person afterwards.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . How to deal with decision paralysis (瘫痪)

If you’ve ever gone online to order something during a work break-let’s say a new electric toothbrush-expecting it to be fairly easy, but instead you found yourself overwhelmed by the huge number of choices available, you’ve experienced decision paralysis.

You’re shocked that there are so many factors to consider; not only the basics, such as price and delivery time, but there are many other factors like battery duration, warning lights for too much pressure and even fancy apps.     1    

This is just one example of decision paralysis-when the huge number of choices and the difficulty of weighing the supermarket up-leads you to freeze. It used to be thought that increased choice could only be a good thing for consumers and they would welcome it, but actually it can bring the opposite effect and cause people to walk away.     2     Perhaps you only have two or three choices, but the risk of making the wrong decision can be paralysing, such as choosing between university places and job offers.

    3     One is to recognise that there is rarely any such thing as the perfect decision. Another is to acknowledge that not making a decision is actually a decision-so don’t kid yourself that endlessly procrastinating(拖延)is the easy solution.

If you’re willing to put in the effort, a practical approach is to reduce the mental complexity involved in a decision by doing a little research.     4     In the case of the toothbrush, this might be price first and then battery duration; in the case of choosing a university it might be fame first, then friends who are also planning to study there, and lastly the distance to home. Score the available choices against those factors, giving greater weight to those that are higher priority.     5    

A．You could always make a random choice.

B．Make some brief notes about the prior factors to you.

C．There are various ways to overcome decision paralysis.

D．You’ll end up with a score showing you the most favourable decision.

E．The clock is ticking on your break and it’s impossible to make a decision.

F．This is all that you’ll miss out on once you choose to go down a particular path.

G．In other life situations, it might be the weight of the decision that bears down on you.

4 . While Alice has her adventures in the Wonderland, you can have your own as well this summer. British contemporary artist Philip Colbert has created a Lobster (龙虾) Wonderland in Changsha, Hunan Province.

Date: July 15

Location: Changsha International Finance Square (Changsha IFS)

About Philip Colbert

His globally welcomed lobster series has won the hearts of a large number of followers. The artist, with a master’s in philosophy, takes lobster as his second personality.

Through large installations, public art theme exhibition and new media art, the artist has introduced works from galleries and created a surreal art scenery in city’s public space with a combination of pop art and local culture.

Features

In Changsha IFS, Colbert’s exhibition, which is the London-based artist’s first large-scale outdoor public art installations, has three major sectors, showcasing his large installations, sculptures and new media arts as well as the special works created for the event.

The opening ceremony, an art carnival, saw the debut (首次登台) of a 12-meter-long Lobster Taikonaut specially made by Colbert. His Lobster Flower and Lobster Shark also found their way in the parade. At the southwest square, people can find Lobster Fountain towering 12 meters and enjoy two major theme sectors, Lobster Island and Lobster Skate Park.

Lobster Rainbow, a lobster breaking through a roof with a rainbow behind it, is the artist’s brand-new work for Changsha IFS. In his works, such as Daydreamer, Colbert also expresses his wish of narrowing the distance between art pieces and people.

1. What is Philip Colbert well known for?

A．Alice Wonderland.	B．Shark experience.
C．Lobster series.	D．Rainbow story.

2. What can we learn about the exhibition according to the text?

A．It took place in the open air.

B．There was no special works for the event.

C．People can enjoy lobster fountain and lake.

D．Lobster Island is the artist’s brand-new work for Changsha IFS.

3. Where can the text probably be found?

A．A shopping brochure.

B．An art magazine.

C．A science report.

D．A fashion advertisement.

5 . I have struggled with feelings of unworthiness since forever. My most painful moments were at parties. My friends made fun of me because I was rhythmically (有节奏地)__________ and I couldn’t get my__________ body to imitate the latest dance moves. I was never chosen to dance. I felt like I didn’t__________.

Around age 12, I decided that the way to__________ these feelings of unworthiness was perfection. If I was just perfect then I would fit in. But this strategy didn’t__________.My self-esteem (自尊心) was high when I got good grades and felt__________, but crashed when I didn’t do well__________, or was left out.

After several years of spiritual growth, it__________ me that for many of us, self-worth is tied to our__________. We experience low self-worth__________ we fail or lose approval. So I have begun to cultivate an unconditional self-worth. It’s not about doing things perfectly.__________, “Unconditional self-worth” is the______ that you deserve to be alive, to be loved and cared for.

The__________ to unconditional self-worth is not always easy. It takes courage to free yourself from the __________ you’ve placed on your worth. But this journey is beautiful and worth taking. So I challenge you to embrace yourselves and find your metaphorical (隐喻的) __________ floor and move freely.

1.

A．adjusted

B．bothered

C．challenged

D．compromised

2.

A．twisted

B．annoyed

C．limited

D．awkward

3.

A．belong

B．appeal

C．match

D．deserve

4.

A．solve

B．cure

C．release

D．arouse

5.

A．sustain

B．work

C．hatch

D．dismiss

6.

A．included

B．excluded

C．inspired

D．appreciated

7.

A．internally

B．academically

C．professionally

D．contemporarily

8.

A．occurs to

B．happens to

C．calls on

D．knocks on

9.

A．desires

B．strengths

C．accomplishments

D．harmony

10.

A．as well as

B．as soon as

C．as much as

D．as far as

11.

A．Still

B．However

C．Meanwhile

D．Rather

12.

A．definition

B．resolution

C．sense

D．pose

13.

A．discovery

B．access

C．journey

D．experience

14.

A．emphasis

B．burden

C．demand

D．conditions

15.

A．valley

B．forest

C．dance

D．balcony

6 . In the last 100 years, the global temperature has gone up by around 0.75℃. Such a small increase is causing sea levels to rise and ________ the habitat of many species of plants and animals. A(n) ________ of 2℃ in global temperatures could result in ________ of 30% of the world’s land species.

Sea levels in the UK have increased by around 10 cm in the last 100 years and experts ________ that global sea levels could rise by up to 59 cm in the near future. ________, areas which were land a few hundred years ago are now under water.

As a result of the changing ________, the world’s ecosystems are also changing faster than ever before. So what is ________ climate change? The main cause of climate change is the huge amount of greenhouse gases like CO₂ in the atmosphere, but the reason for this is the world’s population — you and me. As the ________ increases, more land is needed to provide food, and more energy is ________ too. Burning fossil fuels for heating, lighting, transport, or electricity ________ CO₂. Furthermore, humans breathe out CO₂ and trees “breathe in” CO₂ and produce oxygen — so by ________ trees, we are increasing the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere and reducing the amount of oxygen. As a result of these ________, CO₂ levels are now at their highest for 800,000 years.

The biggest ________ we all face is to prevent further environmental disasters. We need to ______________ burning fossil fuels and start using renewable energy. If we can get enough ________ from renewable fuels, we can stop using fossil fuels completely.

1.

A．attacking

B．ignoring

C．threatening

D．discovering

2.

A．limitation

B．reduction

C．increase

D．improvement

3.

A．extinction

B．escape

C．change

D．development

4.

A．argue

B．explain

C．doubt

D．predict

5.

A．Surprisingly

B．Consequently

C．Immediately

D．Usually

6.

A．climate

B．height

C．period

D．environment

7.

A．forcing

B．allowing

C．causing

D．helping

8.

A．animal

B．species

C．plants

D．population

9.

A．wasted

B．needed

C．supplied

D．stored

10.

A．produces

B．includes

C．requires

D．provides

11.

A．transporting to

B．searching for

C．planting in

D．cutting down

12.

A．questions

B．activities

C．procedures

D．disasters

13.

A．challenge

B．disadvantage

C．adventure

D．influence

14.

A．consider

B．deny

C．stop

D．hate

15.

A．time

B．energy

C．inspiration

D．knowledge

7 . 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。

Short and simple as they are, fables teach people important life lessons and reveal the truths hidden in ordinary events. In fact, many parents find     1     less laborious and more effective to instill (逐渐灌输) correct concepts into their children by leading them to read interesting and     2     (inspire) fables than just through lectures. The following is a good example of how an ancient Chinese fable     3     (help) modern readers understand the world. The story goes like this: A man was attempting     4     (sell) his horse in the market, where he had stood for three days, but none of the passersby would come to take     5     look. So, he turned to Bo Le, a specialist     6     (fair) famous for his skill in selecting fine horses,     7     help. All the man asked Bo Le to do was to walk around the horse three times and turn his head to look at it several times while     8     (leave). Bo Le agreed and did so. In an instant, the man sold the horse at a high price. The moral of the fable is     9     people tend to blindly follow others’ or experts’ opinions rather than make their own     10     (judge) . It can’t be more true of modern society.

8 . Today’s Wonder of the Day comes in all shapes and sizes. It can look like a beautiful landscape, a familiar skyline, or even outer space! It comes in boxes labeled with numbers — 300, 500, 1,000, or even 2,500. What are we talking about? Jigsaw puzzles (拼图游戏), of course!

Puzzles have been around since at least 1760. Today, though, the process of making jigsaw puzzles has changed quite a bit.     1     They used jigsaws to cut each piece out of wood or cardboard. Some specialty puzzle makers still do so today, but it’s far less common. Instead, most puzzles are mass-produced.

How exactly are modern puzzles made? It starts with choosing the right picture.     2     The most popular puzzles are often full of details. After all, this makes them quite a bit more manageable — imagine working on a puzzle that is just one color or patter!

Once the image is chosen, it’s printed on special paper and pasted to cardboard. Then, they’re left to dry before going through the die cutter.     3     The design of the die cutter is unique to each puzzle and is often drawn by hand. Later, they go through a machine that separates them.     4    

Of course, puzzles aren’t just for fun! They’re good for your brain. Experts say putting together a puzzle has the same effect as trying to solve a mystery. It can stimulate different brain areas.     5     It feels great to place that last piece in the right spot. Maybe that’s why puzzles seem to be a timeless source of entertainment.

A．Working on a puzzle can also reduce stress.

B．Decades ago, people made puzzles by hand.

C．Finally, they’re boxed up and made ready for sale.

D．Not every piece of beautiful artwork can make the cut.

E．Puzzles offer an affordable way for people to have fun.

F．No matter your preferences, there’s a puzzle out there for you.

G．You can think of this as a cookie cutter that cuts the puzzle into pieces.

9 . The World Health Organisation has produced a report predicting that 9.8 billion of us will be living on this planet by 2050. Of that number,72 percent will be living in urban areas. Presented with this information, governments have a duty to consider how best to meet the needs of city residents.

Take New York City, a place where I frequently meet up with other researchers in my field. Luckily for me, I do not need to navigate the crowded streets. Admittedly my experience of the urban lifestyle here is limited to the hotels I stay in, and the blocks within a three-kilometre walk. But whenever I leave my room in search of a store providing fruit or anything with nutritional value, none can be found. New York has made great advances in redeveloping its museums and arts centres, but authorities must recognise that people’s basic needs must be met first.

Sometimes these basic needs are misunderstood. In some urban areas, new residential developments are provided with security features such as massive metal fences in the belief that these will make residents safer. There is little evidence that such steps make a difference, but we do know they make residents feel unwilling to go outside and walk around their neighbourhood. This adds up to a feeling of being cut off from others.

So where are planners and developers going wrong? Inviting a group of locals to attend a consultation event is the conventional method for discovering what a community might want. The issue here is that it often attracts the same few voices with the same few wishes. Successful development is taking place in many urban areas around the world. There is no better way for city planners to do this than to visit these places in person.

1. What are governments expected to do in the near future?

A．Plan cities well to benefit their citizens.

B．Lower the population in urban areas.

C．Provide their citizens with more information.

D．Predict the population on earth.

2. What does the writer complain about New York?

A．Certain venues cannot be reached on foot.

B．Museums and arts centres are pretty old.

C．There are a limited number of hotels.

D．Healthy food is not easy to obtain.

3. What is the writer’s attitude towards the use of security features?

A．Doubtful.

B．Tolerant.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Appreciative.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．The Process of Urbanization	B．The Increasing Population on Earth
C．The Management of Cities	D．The Work of Developers

10 . The Thing About Yetis

Everyone knows yetis love winter. They love snowball fights and hot chocolate and building snow houses. But even yetis complain about the cold. So here’s a secret about yetis: Sometimes they miss summer. Sometimes, they have to bring a little bit of summer to the coldest of winter days. Those yetis, they’re just full of surprises.

But Excuse Me That Is My Book

Charlie and Lola have already won the hearts of readers in three winning books. And now they’re quickly gathering more fans as an animated series on the Disney Channel.

In this new tale, Lola has become interested in Beetles, Bugs, and Butterflies, the best book in the whole world. It’s funny, it has pictures, and it is “great and very interesting”. It’s the only book she wants to take out of the library. What will she do when she discovers that somebody else has borrowed her book?

Uncle Remus: The Complete Tales

Brer Rabbit is causing trouble again — this time it brings together all the stories from the Tales of Uncle Remus series.

The Uncle Remus tales, originally written down by Joel Chandler Harris, were first published over a hundred years ago, and serve as the largest collection of African-American folklore. In this four-book series. Julius Lester makes some changes so the stories will be understood and enjoyed by new generations of readers.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Mouse

A lively story about discovering the joy and meaning of Christmas.

When Mr. Mouse and his family move into a big house, they discover something new and wonderful: an evergreen tree decorated with lights and pleasant smells in the air. They hear about a happy man named Santa who brings gifts to celebrate Jesus’s birth on a day called Christmas. So Mr. and Mrs. Mouse decide that their family should celebrate Christmas, too.

1. What’s a secret about yetis?

A．They have snowball fights.	B．They love summer as well.
C．They can build snow houses.	D．They eat chocolate sometimes.

2. What may be Lola’s problem?

A．She couldn’t borrow her favorite book.

B．She couldn’t find a good book.

C．She couldn’t afford to buy her favorite book.

D．She couldn’t find a good library.

3. Which of the following books is rewritten for today’s readers?

A．The Thing About Yetis.	B．But Excuse Me That Is My Book.
C．Uncle Remus: The Complete Tales.	D．Merry Christmas, Mr. Mouse.