1 . My first job was at a fast-food restaurant called Carroll’s in my hometown. One spring day my next-door neighbor _________ me to apply for work with her there, and I agreed to have a try.

One little _________ was that I wasn’t 16 yet, so I just changed my birth date on the application from July to _________. Luckily, they didn’t ask for any ID to prove my _________, because there were few applicants for the job. Both of us were _________.

The pay was _________, only $1.60/hour with no tips. I worked at the _________ and only boys were allowed to work in the kitchen. I got a chance to make milkshakes, though, which I considered kind of fun. I also _________ the relationships with all the other workers, who were mostly easy-going teenagers.

It was great to _________ different diners. The restaurant was located on a __________ entryway into town, so all kinds of people came in. One day a man in plain clothes __________ but ordered many signature dishes. When he came to my counter to check out, I was __________ to find he was my idol.

Besides __________ about my age, I also failed to inform the manager that I was leaving in June to attend summer camp, so my first job only lasted a few __________. It has been long gone, but the __________ in the restaurant remains a sweet memory of my life.

1.

A．allowed

B．invited

C．forbade

D．taught

2.

A．topic

B．mistake

C．difficulty

D．opportunity

3.

A．March

B．June

C．August

D．October

4.

A．address

B．age

C．name

D．face

5.

A．fired

B．interviewed

C．refused

D．accepted

6.

A．low

B．high

C．enough

D．good

7.

A．counter

B．door

C．park

D．toilet

8.

A．damaged

B．ignored

C．enjoyed

D．missed

9.

A．help

B．thank

C．recognize

D．encounter

10.

A．hidden

B．secret

C．distant

D．major

11.

A．woke up

B．gave up

C．turned up

D．looked up

12.

A．surprised

B．ashamed

C．disappointed

D．frightened

13.

A．worrying

B．lying

C．complaining

D．arguing

14.

A．days

B．hours

C．months

D．years

15.

A．food

B．service

C．payment

D．experience

2 . Born in Ryazan, Russia, the hometown of Russian poet Sergei Yesenin, Anastasia Podareva seems to be destined for a similar career.

Podareva, 28, has loved poetry since she was a girl, when her father would introduce her to works by great Russian poets such as Alexander Pushkin and, of course, Yesenin. Growing up, she wrote many poems in both Russian and English. After she came to China to study in 2013, the world of Chinese poetry opened up before her.

She soon gave herself a poetic Chinese name, Tang Xilan, with “tang” referring to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when Chinese poetry entered a golden age, and both “xi” and “lan” are characters taken from The Book of Songs, the earliest collection of Chinese poetry. Her name means an orchid (兰花) that blooms in the morning.

“One thing that strikes me in reading and writing Chinese poetry is the power of the language-it’s melodious (悦耳的) and rhythmic,” says Podareva in My China Surprise, a video series produced by 21^st Century.

Over the past decade, Podareva has won awards in multiple poetry writing competitions, published her own Chinese poetry collections, and participated in Chinese Poetry Conference, one of the leading poetry-themed TV programs in China. On top of that, her most unforgettable memory is that one of her poems was turned into a song. And even better: She sang it herself. The poem, titled If, was written in early of 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After witnessing China’s unity as it faced the pandemic, Podareva felt as one with the Chinese people. “I wanted to create something positive to help inspire and encourage people in times of difficulty,” she says. “Some people may praise China in a very straightforward way, but I prefer to express my feelings about the country through different styles of poems.”

1. What can we learn about Podareva before she came to China?

A．She fell in love with poetry.

B．She learned from Yesenin in person.

C．She became a famous poet in Russia.

D．She translated Russian poems into English.

2. Why did Podareva name herself “Tang Xilan”?

A．It dates from the Song Dynasty.	B．It showcases her success in China.
C．It relates to the Chinese poetry.	D．It has beautiful rhythm and melodies.

3. What is paragraph 5 mainly about?

A．Podareva’s poetry journey in China.	B．Podareva’s amazing talent in singing.
C．Podareva’s fight against the pandemic.	D．Podareva’s impression of Chinese poetry.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．People have trouble in gaining inspiration.

B．Podareva has deep love for Chinese people.

C．Poetry is the best form of showing emotions.

D．China’s unity was challenged by the pandemic.

3 . A great many studies have been conducted to distinguish between babies learning their first language and children or adults learning a second language.

A baby’s brain comes into the world prepared to learn any human language they hear spoken around them. The brain gets the same stimulation(刺激)from exposure to any language, although it adapts to certain features of the language such as specific sounds. Learning a language is natural for all babies, like learning to walk.

In fact, babies can even acquire two or more languages together, if they hear them regularly. The languages can be similar, like Portuguese and Spanish, or very different, like English and Chinese. Their bilingual(双语的)brains already understand something about the ways that languages can be different.

But scientists found that changes exist if people already speak a language and are learning a second one. A language that is very different to the one they already know is going to seem harder than the one that’s quite similar to their first language.

For example, if your first language is English, Spanish words like león for “lion” or sal for “salt” are going to be easier to learn than, say, Chinese shīzi and yán, or Turkish aslan and tuz. To make English words plural(复数), you usually add-s or-es, and the same is true in Spanish, so “lions” is leones. But in Turkish “lions” is aslanlar, and in Chinese there’s no difference between “lion” and “lions” at all. It’s mainly the difference from your first language that can make another language “easier” or “harder”, not the language itself.

Scientists used to think that there was a cutoff point, at around the age of 12 or 13, after which it was impossible to learn a new language completely. We now know that young people can learn another language throughout their teen years. After that, it does become harder — but not impossible — to reach high levels of fluency in a new language.

1. Why can babies acquire different languages according to the text?

A．They receive more stimulation.	B．They can make specific sounds.
C．They have well-developed brains.	D．They are natural language learners.

2. What is the purpose of giving examples in Paragraph 5?

A．To arouse interest.	B．To make predictions.
C．To show the diversity.	D．To explain the finding.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Adults can learn a new language easily.

B．Teenagers can not reach high levels of fluency.

C．Languages should be learned at a younger age.

D．The cutoff point makes no difference in language study.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Benefits of acquiring languages.	B．Learning difficulties in language.
C．Age influence on language learning.	D．Differences between children and adults.

4 . Olly Neal grew up in Arkansas. He didn’t care much for high school. One day during his senior year, he cut class and walked into the school library. He discovered a book written by Frank Yerby. The book was The Treasure of Pleasant Valley and it attracted Neal’s attention. But there was one problem — if Neal took the book to the check out counter (收银台), his friends would know he was reading books.

“Then my fame (名誉) would be down,” Neal said. “I wanted them to know that all I could do was fight and cuss (咒骂).” Finally, Neal decided to steal the book.

A week later, Neal had finished the book. He brought it back to the library. But when he put it back, there was another book by Yerby. He took it as well. The same thing happened again. He read four of Yerby’s books that term — checking out none of them.

But Neal’s sneaky action turned out not to have been so sneaky after all. Attending his 13-year high school get-together, Neal met the school’s librarian, Mildred Grady. She saw Neal take that book. She said, “My first thought was to call him out, and then I realized what his situation was. So I decided that if Neal was showing an interest in books, I would find another one for him and put it in the same place where the one he had taken was.”

This was not an easy matter, because Frank Yerby’s books were not especially available. But the woman’s efforts paid off: Neal went on to attend law school and later became a great judge. When Grady died, Neal told the story and he said, “I thank Mrs. Grady for helping me get into the habit of enjoying reading, so that I was able to go to law school and survive.”

1. Why did Neal steal the book instead of checking it out?

A．To prove he was a skillful thief.

B．To show the book to his friends.

C．To keep being known as a troublemaker.

D．To avoid communicating with the librarian.

2. What does the underlined word “sneaky” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Secret.

B．Dangerous.

C．Brave.

D．Illegal.

3. How did Mrs. Grady influence Neal?

A．She taught Neal how to survive.

B．She persuaded Neal to be honest.

C．She encouraged Neal to study law.

D．She helped Neal develop reading habits.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Reading changes people’s life

B．A librarian changed a boy’s life

C．A senior student became a judge

D．Frank Yerby’s books attracted a boy

5 . Whether it’s for a promising job interview, first date, or chance meeting, making a good impression is important in just about every situation.    1    

Arrive Early. Actor Billy Porter said it in his book Unprorected: A Memoir, “Fifteen minutes early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable.”    2    If you’re giving a presentation, arriving early gives you a moment to test the equipment you’re using. If you’re early to a job interview, you’ll have time to go over your elevator pitch to yourself, adjust your tie, or make sure your hair isn’t out of place.

Actively listen. Active listening is giving the speaker your undivided attention and paying attention to what’s said and the intention behind it.    3    Asking the right questions shows you’re engaged, but just don’t ask something the speaker already answered.

    4    When you’re meeting someone for the first time, don’t try to be someone you’re not. If you don’t know the answer to something they ask, don’t fake it. The ability to learn into your weaknesses shows that you are self-aware. However, don’t overemphasize your shortcomings, either.

Know your audience.     5    If your meeting is planned in advance, you should know plenty about the person or business you’re meeting with before arriving. Google the people you’ll meet, the company founders/co-founders, their history, their competition, their main products, and any other relevant information before you walk into the room.

A．Be authentic.

B．Do your research.

C．Emphasize your advantages.

D．Listen for opportunities to ask questions concerning the discussion.

E．There are some simple steps to succeed in the first business meeting.

F．We can help you put your best foot forward no matter where you are.

G．Arriving in advance for a meeting gives you a little more time to ensure everything is in place.

6 . Are you looking for some good places for you and your four-leg friend? Here are some for you.

Tahmoor Gorge (峡谷)

The number and quality of swimming holes in this valley immediately take us back to some of our favourite places in Kakadu national park. The only difference here is that you don’t need a four-wheel drive, so the best way togo to the gorge is walking. This pet-friendly walk follows the Bargo River through an open gorge that gradually drops to a deep gorge. It is a popular place for locals on weekends. The further you run into the gorge, the less people there are.

Sirius Cove, Mosman

Sirius Cove is one of many quietly beautiful places along the Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach walking trail (路线). The deep, U-shaped bay, with a large grassy area, is popular with picnicking families and their dogs.

Kutti Beach, Vaucluse

We heard about it from a friend, but it is so hidden that it is not easy to find the entrance. Follow Wharf Road until it dead ends at the Vaucluse Amateur Sailing Club. Go right up to the building and look left. There is a very narrow set of stairs leading to the beach. Go down the steps and open the gate at the bottom. Follow the narrow road along the wall to the sand. The best bit? It’s dog-friendly.

MacKenzies Beach, Tamarama

From whale watching hot place MacKenzies Point, follow the sloped (斜的) road to MacKenzies Beach, a dog-friendly, short-time beach that only appears every couple of years when the right combination (结合) of wind and sand on the normal rocky reef. They say you aren’t a local until you’ve seen sand at MacKenzies.

1. What do we know about Tahmoor Gorge?

A．It’s a must to drive there.

B．It’s a popular place on weekdays.

C．It’s a good way to go there on foot.

D．It’s a popular place for foreign visitors.

2. Which is the most hidden place according to the author?

A．Tahmoor Gorge.	B．Kutti Beach, Vaucluse.
C．Sirius Cove, Mosman.	D．MacKenzies Beach, Tamarama.

3. What do the four places have in common?

A．They are beside the sea.

B．They are dog-friendly.

C．They are places where whales are seen.

D．They are open to the public only on weekends.

7 . It is never too late to develop great study habits. However, starting making some changes is hard. Even if you want to do well enough in school and improve your grades, you’re probably having trouble getting started in the first place!     1    .

Plan your time carefully. Make a list of your weekly tasks. Make a schedule of your time. Then decide on good, regular time for studying.     2    , but it will make you more aware of how you spend your time.

Find a good place to study. Choose one place for your study area. It may be a desk or a chair at home or in the school library, but it should be comfortable and quiet. When you begin to work, you should be able to concentrate on the subject.

Skim before you read.     3    . As you preview the material, you get some idea of the passage and how it is organized.

    4    . Listening to what the teacher says in class means less work later. Taking notes helps you remember what the teacher says.

Develop a good attitude to tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject.     5    . Tests provide grades, but they also let you know that you need to spend more time studying.

There are other skills that might help you with your study. Share with your classmates some of the skills you have found to be helpful.

A．Study regularly

B．Make good use of your time in class

C．There are several ways that can help you

D．Develop a positive attitude by setting realistic goals

E．This weekly schedule may not solve all of your problems

F．The world won’t end if you don’t pass a test, so don’t worry too much about a test

G．This means looking over a passage quickly before you begin to read it more carefully

8 . My 15-year-old boy is a high achiever. He is very bright, pursuing everything he does with devotion and determination. And he is a great kid; honest, kind, faithful and caring.

Like a lot of kids who are high achievers, he is a perfectionist and very easy to fall into anxiety. That is manifested in his study, and other things he does as well. For example, he loves tennis but he is often worried about losing in the game. Now he has to stop competing because the pressure he puts on himself is becoming unhealthy. He still plays, but playing socially rather than competitively means that it’s an outlet for him rather than a source of stress.

He does not manage stress well. He puts so much pressure on himself to the point of worrying himself sick over just about every assessment. And he gets so negative about it, everything I say to him is met with negativity, every suggestion with a response that it won’t work, and honestly it’s depressing and tiring.

To help my son, I had a patient conversation with him, and he finally followed my advice about physical exercise to ease stress. Whenever he was under a lot of pressure, I would run with him for half an bour and do some push-ups to relax the pressure. Gradually, he became less nervous in the later exams and his scores became more and more stable.

Pressure from grades and perfectionism can be really hard to manage when it comes to schooling. As kids, what they need is effective communication and sincere encouragement. So I have always told and shown my son that we’re proud of him, and that pride doesn’t merely depend on top grades.

1. Which of the following best explains “manifested” underlined in paragraph 2?

A．Exchanged.

B．Explored.

C．Achieved.

D．Reflected.

2. Why does the author’s son keep playing tennis?

A．He is a high achiever.	B．He’s easy to fall sick.
C．He hopes to release stress.	D．He wants to win the game.

3. What does the author mainly tell us about his son in paragraph 3?

A．His son fails to handle stress properly.	B．His son becomes tired of stress.
C．His son is good at some sports.	D．His son is doing well at school.

4. What is the author’s advice for his son?

A．Taking up a new hobby.	B．Hanging out with some friends.
C．Doing some exercise with him.	D．Talking to friends as much as possible.

9 . With 48 impressionism works exhibited in his solo show in Yangon recently, Bhone Myat San, a 13-year-old boy, has stepped into a professional career in Myanmar.

When his mother was transferred to Dawei in 2020, he accompanied her and later joined a portrait painting class taught by senior artists at the campus of Dawei University. Bhone Myat San says he has been studying painting through online courses while staying at home during the pandemic. He also joined a five-month online class about oil painting conducted by an artist in Myanmar last year.

“I envy impressionists like Monet,” says Bhone Myat San, a seventh grader, while putting finishing touches on an oil painting titled Bagan’s Tharabar Gate.

When his works were checked for exhibition, Khey Mar Shin, the owner of the Artist Gallery Cafe who’s an artist herself, noticed that he is talented. “He is the youngest artist to have hosted a solo show in my gallery. The event was successful,” the 42-year-old artist says, adding that she also saw that the 13-year-old boy’s passion for arts was higher than his peers and even stronger than some senior artists.

Ma Pale, 38, says she brought her two children to the art show so that her children can get inspiration from him.

Aung Hein Tun, 25, an art enthusiast who visited the event, says the young artist’s paintings are lively, and his painting skill as a 13-year-old is admirable. “I had no intention to collect paintings, but I bought one after enjoying his arts,” Aung Hein Tun says.

“Consistency is the key to success,” the young artist says. “I want to attend a foreign language university in Myanmar because I have a dream of studying arts abroad,” he adds.

1. How did Bhone Myat San learn to paint?

A．Through teaching himself.

B．By learning from artists.

C．With the help of his mom.

D．Under the guidance of Monet.

2. What was Khey Mar Shin’s attitude to Bhone Myat San?

A．Skeptical.

B．Critical.

C．Favorable.

D．Uncaring.

3. Which of the following statements is true about Bhone?

A．He is the youngest artist to have hosted a solo show in Myanmar.

B．He believes talent is the most important thing for achieving success.

C．His works of art were much admired and displayed by Aung Hein Tun.

D．His paintings may be a source of inspiration to Ma Pale’s two children.

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

A．A Young Inspiring Artist

B．A Road to Success

C．A Boy’s Passion for Art

D．A Successful Exhibition

10 . My brother rang. “Can you do something with Mum?” he asked. Since Dad died, she’s been unwilling to _________ the house. She and my dad came over from Iran. My brother, Faraz, and I were born and _________ in America. _________, even now we always speak in Farsi (波斯语) when together as a family.

Mum was a writer and wrote poems in her own _________. But she didn’t write any more and stayed indoors after Dad died. One day, I saw a poster _________ that our town hall would be hosting people who’d been to Iran. I asked Mum to share her _________ there. _________, she agreed. After we arrived, she _________ cottage pie with chips. Seeing me dip my chips in gravy (肉汁), she was _________ at first. But then she accepted and laughed, because she knew I was a child of two __________ eager to enjoy what they both served up.

That day was a good __________. After that, Mum began to take a(n) __________ in the world again: She started a new collection of poems. “I’m thinking of taking a degree in English __________ if my English keeps improving. You and Faraz will help, I hope?” She asked on the phone. “Of course, Mum - as long as we don’t lose our mother tongue.” I replied. Ever since, I’ve been thinking about the phrase “mother tongue”. It means so many things: The __________ given by mothers to their babies and said back to them and the acknowledgement that all languages are rich in poetry. I’m a child of two cultures and I love them both, just as I love the people who helped __________ them around me.

1.

A．leave

B．move

C．keep

D．sell

2.

A．grown up

B．brought up

C．broken up

D．turned up

3.

A．Therefore

B．However

C．Meanwhile

D．Besides

4.

A．style

B．rhythm

C．language

D．way

5.

A．writing

B．speaking

C．adding

D．saying

6.

A．poems

B．novels

C．essays

D．reports

7.

A．Surprisingly

B．Frighteningly

C．Disappointingly

D．Unfortunately

8.

A．made

B．carried

C．ordered

D．refused

9.

A．scared

B．shocked

C．thrilled

D．delighted

10.

A．lives

B．countries

C．families

D．cultures

11.

A．start

B．ending

C．process

D．opportunity

12.

A．role

B．chance

C．interest

D．duty

13.

A．history

B．painting

C．architecture

D．literature

14.

A．blood

B．spirit

C．words

D．thoughts

15.

A．offer

B．shape

C．escape

D．remove