1 . To figure out what you want to do, maybe you can do what you know best: read everything; find the most useful tips and start putting a plan into action. There are some tips for you to think about what to do with your life.

    1    

It may feel impossible to predict what exactly you’ll be doing next, but what you can do is connecting the dots and looking back. Find the common thread. What did you do?     2     Let that be the compass for how to make future decisions.

    3    

Schedule it in your calendar and give yourself the space to think. You’ll make progress even if it’s just a few hours every other week.

Seek knowledge, not results.

If you focus on the excitement of discovery, your motivation will always be fueled. If you focus only on results, your motivation will be like weather - it will die the minute you hit a storm.

    4    Keep thinking about what you are learning along the way and what you can improve.

Collect experiences.

Look backward and take the lessons. Learn to collect experiences from the past to guide current behaviour in time. Your career and life are long. You may have one or many callings, and there will be multiple pathways.     5    And you’ll do what you want to do.

A．Take time to reflect.

B．Explore them all or not.

C．Start by looking backward.

D．What did you learn?

E．Who were you?

F．So the key is to focus on the journey, not the destination.

G．Try to work hard on the pathway you chose.

2 . A few years ago, I visited my daughter Sandra and my granddaughters, Jocelyn and Hailey.

One evening I noticed Hailey was a bit unhappy. I asked her what the _______was and she told me that she had to go to bed so _______and she wanted to stay up with me. I asked her if she felt a little _______and she said, “yes” with a pout (噘嘴).

I asked her, “Do you know what Grandpa does when he is feeling sad? I go to my _______ place.”

“Where is your happy place, Grandpa?” Jocelyn _______aloud.

“My happy place is on the inside of your hugs (拥抱),” I replied. “It’s the best place in the world. Don’t ever _______the power of a hug.”

Extra big hugs were _______that night from two of my girls.

The next morning, Sandra was under a bit of pressure to complete an assignment (任务). She lost her _______.

Jocelyn said, “Mom, are you having a _______day?” Sandra replied, “I guess I am, dear. I’m sorry.”

Jocelyn said, “Would you like to go to Grandpa’s happy place?” With that ________her mother in her arms. “Grandpa says this is his ________place.”

After some ________eyes and a heartfelt “I’m sorry,” Sandra returned to ________with a big smile on her face.

I cherish (珍爱) my time with ________and it is good knowing that what is said with ________has an influence on them.

1.

A．purpose

B．problem

C．plan

D．choice

2.

A．slowly

B．late

C．early

D．suddenly

3.

A．shy

B．tired

C．nervous

D．sad

4.

A．happy

B．secret

C．new

D．proper

5.

A．wondered

B．warned

C．answered

D．repeated

6.

A．put up with

B．go back to

C．look down on

D．get out of

7.

A．changed

B．expected

C．offered

D．refused

8.

A．power

B．patience

C．balance

D．trust

9.

A．bad

B．long

C．special

D．lonely

10.

A．helped

B．found

C．thanked

D．held

11.

A．safe

B．favorite

C．famous

D．personal

12.

A．closed

B．wide

C．bright

D．watery

13.

A．play

B．service

C．work

D．life

14.

A．friends

B．family

C．strangers

D．audience

15.

A．pride

B．humor

C．truth

D．love

3 . At 104 years old, Dorothy Hoffner fell. Then she kept falling, and falling. When the lifelong Chicagoan finally touched the ground last Sunday, she landed in the history books and became the oldest person to ever sky-dive (跳伞).

As Hoffner prepared to board, she pushed her red walker out and walked slowly to the plane, where two expert instructors helped her up the steps into the hold. “Let’s go!” she said, finally seated. The plane quickly rose, Hoffner looking calm and confident all the while.

When the aft (机尾) door opened to show the crop fields far below, she and the instructor were ready to stand up. When Hoffner first sky-dived at 100 years old, she was pushed out, she said. This time, she wanted to lead the jump.

Seven minutes after her jump, she moved slowly in the air for her historic landing. The wind pushed back her white hair. A look of excitement and wonder spread across her face. She picked up her legs as the ground approached. And finally, she managed to land on the ground.

The crowd gathered along the landing area. Friends rushed to share the moment. Someone brought over Hoffner’s red walker. She rose fast, and a reporter asked how it felt to be back on the ground. “The whole thing was wonderful, and couldn’t have been better,” she said.

The Guinness World Record for oldest skydiver was set in May 2022 by 103-year-oldLinnéa Ingegard Larsson from Sweden. When asked how it felt like to break the record, Hoffner replied quickly, “Like I’m old.” But the record didn’t seem to interest Hoffner before the jump. Instead, she focused on the peaceful falling through the sky. Hoffner strongly encouraged others to sky-dive like her. “It’s surprisingly affordable and so amazing,” she said.

1. What did Hoffner do last Sunday?

A．She reported a sports event.	B．She managed to sky-dive.
C．She celebrated her birthday.	D．She wrote a history book.

2. How did Hoffner feel after landing on the ground?

A．Surprised.

B．Anxious.

C．Excited.

D．Hopeless.

3. Which probably attracted Hoffner most before her jump?

A．The falling in the air.	B．Her family’s help.
C．The low cost of the jump.	D．Her friends’ support.

4. What can we learn from Hoffner’s story?

A．To see is to believe.	B．Time tells everything.
C．Hard work pays off.	D．Age is just a number.

4 . I grew up around books. I remember opening my parents’ _______ book Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce and thinking: They might have never opened the _______ from the sign of the dust (灰尘), and with so many obscure words in it, why did they _______ it? In spite of this, I could sense the magic of buying it, and I carried that sense of _______ into my life.

In the past, I had hundreds of books in the house. They _______ my bookshelves, and the books got in the way sometimes. They gathered around the chair where I _______ on to watch TV. They _______ the space on my ottoman (凳子) where my feet were _______ to go. I thought I needed more _______ for my books. Since my work is to write about books, I have some forms of ________. But there’s more to it than that. That is I always had the ________ of holding a book, reading a book, and buying a book.

Though many books I ________ may haven’t been read, nothing can stop me from buying them. ________, with many books around me, there will always be an opportunity (机会) for me to pick up a book ________, and it takes me back to ________ times.

1.

A．half-opened

B．dust-covered

C．children-centered

D．picture-filled

2.

A．book

B．door

C．window

D．bag

3.

A．choose

B．revise

C．improve

D．design

4.

A．safety

B．direction

C．magic

D．humor

5.

A．protected

B．broke

C．shook

D．lined

6.

A．waited

B．jumped

C．stood

D．sat

7.

A．kept on

B．cleaned up

C．took up

D．focused on

8.

A．addicted

B．supposed

C．attracted

D．locked

9.

A．agreement

B．ideas

C．bookcases

D．money

10.

A．excuses

B．promises

C．rules

D．answers

11.

A．anger

B．pleasure

C．luck

D．patience

12.

A．sold

B．advised

C．borrowed

D．collected

13.

A．Actually

B．Quietly

C．Quickly

D．Hardly

14.

A．in time

B．by chance

C．on purpose

D．at first

15.

A．unsuccessful

B．sorry

C．good

D．difficult

5 . 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。

Smartphones are mobile phones that have lots of    1    same features as a personal computer. Technology is moving on very    2    (rapid). Smartphones have become an important part of everyday life for many people. However, they also have negative effects (影响),     3    means some people are giving them up.

Some people think smartphones can cause health problems. Smartphones offer so many ways    4    (communicate) that people are having less face-to-face communication. This can lead to loneliness and     5    (sad). What’s more, all the activities that can be done on phones can lead to fewer real-life experiences. Being less active can influence your health. Finally, some people become nervous if they    6     (separate) from their phone and can’t check their messages or social media.

Others still say smartphones are useful and fun. Smartphones allow you to keep    7    touch with people in different ways. They are really good for video-calling faraway friends and family. You can also get    8     (direction) on them. Having Internet access(访问) on your phone allows you to get news and information—it is really    9    (help) for homework and so are education apps. Smartphones are great entertainment(娱乐) on long journeys. They are fun to use with friends, taking photos and    10     (make) videos.

6 . The kitchen is not just where we prepare meals. In many places, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where we connect with our family and friends. We have open talks about our pleasures and problems we met during the day while we make dinner or have a bite to eat. So, it can be a very busy room in the house.

Sometimes you need order in the kitchen for things to run smoothly. And sometimes you need one person to be in charge. Imagine you are cooking dinner for your friends. As you are making the soup, your friend Sara tastes it and says, “This needs more salt.” So, she adds more salt. Harlan comes to taste your soup and throws some fresh black pepper into the pot and some dried herbs. Cecilia tastes the soup and pours in some vinegar. What will the soup be like?

You are happy to spend time with your friends. But, quite frankly, all their opinions about your soup are becoming annoying. Worst of all, you taste the soup and it’s awful! And that is where we get the expression “too many cooks spoil the soup”.

This expression describes an age-old problem: If too many people help to complete a task, it may not go very well. But, you may think, “If many people are trying to get something done, the task will get done faster.” After all, American English also has the expression “many hands make light work”.

To answer that point, I will draw your attention to the word “cook”. Now, the cook is the leader in the kitchen. They may have assistants to help them. But the cook has the final say. So, what if a kitchen has many cooks? Who is the leader? Everyone! And that’s where the trouble comes.

1. What does the author think of the kitchen according to the first paragraph?

A．It is crowded in many houses.	B．It is where we feed our body and soul.
C．It helps to brighten up people’s day.	D．It serves as the most useful place in a home.

2. Why does the author take “your friends” as an example?

A．To describe a common phenomenon (现象).

B．To vividly introduce a saying.

C．To explain a way to be a good cook.

D．To stress the importance of teamwork.

3. Which situation agrees with “too many cooks spoil the soup”?

A．A group of students get a task done together.

B．Some volunteers discuss how to help others.

C．Five designers want their own idea to be accepted.

D．Many retired workers learn how to be a cook.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．What Happens with Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen?

B．Should a Cook Be Open to Suggestions?

C．What Could a Cook Do to Everyone’s Satisfaction?

D．Why Will Too Many Cooks Work in the Kitchen?

7 . Stepping out of your comfort zone (区域) helps you to improve yourself and become a happy and fun person. You’ll experience greater enjoyment as you try out new experiences.     1    .

Unplug (拔掉插头)

Take a break from today's interconnected world.       2    .   You may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but you will know that is just part of the process to let you know better about yourself.

Go to another country

You will experience new cultures, different customs, unique landscapes and another language from travel.     3    . Additionally, the excitement of exploring different scenery and experiencing different cultures are lifelong treasure.

    4    

Try diving, skydiving or a roller coaster ride. If those are too frightening, try giving a speech or taking a dance class. Once you overcome your inner fear, you will have a sense of satisfaction that comes from overcoming it.

Talk with someone new

This doesn’t have to be a complete stranger. Start a conversation with someone new at work, the barista (咖啡师) in your local coffee shop, a neighbour or someone in the queue.     5    . By focusing on other people rather than your own internal thoughts, you can improve your own mental health.

A．Do something that is fearful for you

B．Become uncomfortable with the Internet

C．You can end your conversation with your friends anytime

D．Leave your phone at home, turn off the TV and the Internet

E．Here are some ways that can probably lead you to a new life

F．See if you can continue the conversation for 30 seconds or longer

G．Besides, using cash from different countries is also good for your brain

8 . Everyone tries their best in life, and sometimes a few kind words of encouragement can help people realize that their efforts are not in vain (徒劳).Ⅰ remember a time when I was in fifth grade, and I was a very shy girl.

There was a drawing competition at my school that day. As everyone started to use their creative ideas to draw, I was only trying to think of something creative that could express my thoughts and emotions. Lost in my own world, I was brought back to reality when my art teacher called my name from behind. She came to me and encouraged me, saying, “Don’t overthink it, just put whatever comes to your mind on the canvas (画布). Do your best, and you will do well.”

Taking her words of wisdom to heart, I started my painting. Time flew by, and soon the bell rang, signaling the end of the time limit. We all turned in our canvases for inspection (检查). The next day, the winners of the competition were announced in front of the whole school. To my surprise, I heard my name being called second prize. It was a bolt from the blue for me, as I had never dared to dream of winning any prize.

Later on, I expressed my gratitude to my art teacher for her words of encouragement and for believing in me. That day, I became aware of my talent and started painting more whenever I had free time. Sometimes, I think that if it weren’t for her words of encouragement, I may have never discovered the talent I have.

Overall, this experience taught me the importance of encouraging others and how a few kind words can make a significant impact on someone’s life.

1. What was the author doing when called by the art teacher?

A．Organizing a drawing competition.	B．Trying to get some creative ideas.
C．Painting her work on her canvas.	D．Trying to get help from others.

2. What did the author think of the competition?

A．Easy.

B．Interesting.

C．Challenging.

D．Encouraging.

3. What do the underlined words “bolt from the blue” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Addiction.

B．Puzzlement.

C．Disappointment.

D．Surprise.

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

A．The Power of Encouragement

B．The Importance of Art Competitions

C．Overcoming Shyness Through Painting

D．Discovering Your Great Natural Ability

9 . Listed below are some nice family-friendly museums in Chicago, pick one that interests your kids most and take your little ones there to have fun.

Shedd Aquarium (水族馆)

It was open to the public on May 30th, 1930. Visitors with limited movement can use easy slopes (斜坡) to reach the exhibits, which are also explained to children through an app.Families can spend the night in the aquarium during the special event called Asleep with the Fishes.

Elmhurst History Museum

It’s a museum about history that has won awards and was created in 1957. It shows different exhibits about many history-related subjects, has a fun interactive exhibit about its own history, and offers various public programs, tours of exhibits, and special events for the community. The museum is a fantastic place for families to visit for a day or two, and it even has places for picnics and holiday train journeys.

Chicago Children’s Museum

Founded in 1982, the museum displays impressive exhibits for children, featuring dinosaur bones, a play area only for babies and a famous and fun climbing area for children.Moreover, the museum offers various exhibitions and daily art classes for children, which are free of charge. Visiting the museum on the weekend is a good choice for economical family amusement.

Field Museum of Natural History

With millions of things in its store, it was established in 1893. Disco ver more than 4billion years of life on Earth through interesting displays and interactive events, and discover protection campaigns worldwide.   It is now considered as famous as the Smithsonian Institution, established in 1846 in Washington, and the American Museum of Natural History, which originated in 1869 in New York.

1. What is special about the Shedd Aquarium for family visitors?

A．They can go on a picnic there.

B．They can sleep overnight there.

C．They can surf the Internet.

D．They can learn the history of Chicago.

2. What can kids do at the Chicago Children’s Museum?

A．Have discounts on holidays.	B．Watch dolphins’ exhibitions.
C．Take a fun climb.	D．Take free art classes on an app.

3. Which of the following has the longest history?

A．Shedd Aquarium.	B．ElmhurstHistoryMuseum.
C．Chicago Children’s Museum.	D．Field Museum of Natural History.

10 . Four Best Online English Courses

Udemy: English for Beginners

This 77-hour course is among the bestselling courses. The design based on real need makes it easy to adapt to even the busiest schedules. It opens to students with no knowledge of the language. Learners will become good enough to speak clearly and confidently and understand the language well enough to follow movies and TV.

Price: $109

Time to complete: 20 weeks

Coursera: English for Career Development

Coursera is supported by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ office of English learning. Coursera teaches English for business skills like job searching, resumes and interviewing. Learners can start at any time.

Price: $100

Time to complete: 40 weeks

Alison: English for Career Development

This self-paced (自定进度的) course takes a unique approach to teaching business English. English language learners learn the basics of searching, applying, and interviewing for jobs in the United States. Though all parts of the course are free, certification costs $30 and is available only to those who receive 80 percent or higher on their assessments (认证).

Price: Free

Time to complete: Self-paced

Perfectly Spoken: English for Daily Use

This course helps non-locals with the kinds of English used on the street and on vacation. It covers common expressions, such as what to say when meeting and greeting people, and how to express feelings. The course includes the language used when traveling, ordering at a restaurant, and during the United Kingdom holidays.

Price: $90

Time to complete: 36 weeks

1. How much should learners pay for Udemy?

A．$30.

B．$90.

C．$100.

D．$109.

2. What do Coursera and Alison have in common?

A．They are free of charge.

B．They must be finished in 40 weeks.

C．They focus on business English.

D．They are suitable for pupils.

3. Which course attracts non-locals who want to learn daily English?

A．Perfectly Spoken.

B．Coursera.

C．Alison.

D．Udemy.