1 . It was a dark and cold night. The taxi driver didn’t have even one passenger all day. When he went by the railway station, he saw a young man coming out with two bags in his hands. So he quickly opened the door of the car and asked, “ Where do you want to go, sir?”

“To the Star Hotel,” the young man answered. When the taxi driver heard that, he didn’t feel happy any more. The young man would give him only three dollars because the hotel was not far from the railway station. But suddenly he had an idea. He took the passenger through many streets of the big city.

After a long time, the car arrived at the hotel at last. “You should pay me fifteen dollars,” the car driver said to the young man. “What? Fifteen dollars! Do you think I’m a fool? Only last week, I took a taxi from the railway station to this same hotel and I only gave the driver thirteen dollars. I know how much I have to pay for the trip. I won’t pay you one dollar more than I paid to the other driver last week.

1. When did this story happen?

A．In the morning	B．In the afternoon
C．At noon	D．At night

2. The driver felt very ____when he saw the young man coming out of the railway station.

A．sad	B．sorry
C．happy	D．worried

3. The driver took the passenger through many streets to ______.

A．make the young man happy

B．let the young man have a good look at the city

C．show the young man around

D．get more money from the young man

4. From the article, we know that the young man _______

A．knew the way from the station to the hotel	B．had never been to the hotel before
C．didn’t want to stay in the city	D．didn’t know the city very well

2 . There are always some persons in your life who touch your soft heart with kindness.

As a little girl, my favorite thing was _______. And when I thought about _______ I wanted to be when I grew up, I figured I’d be a librarian, just because the two librarians changed my life.

At that time, the town library limited the number of books a person borrowed _______ two once a week. I _______ the books in just three days. So to read more, I was _______ about what books to choose. The librarian, Mrs. Tonne, was a warm person. Every time I went into the library, she greeted me, _______. When learning about my trouble, she often _______ some better books. Thanks to her help, I _______ a lot from these books.

Gradually, I developed an interest in writing, _______ poems. When I was in fourth grade, our school librarian, Mrs. Ketelsen, encouraged me to write more. When my poem was not accepted, she ________ me with comfortable words. Once she helped ________ some poems I’d written about dinosaurs to Highlights magazine. It was my first published writing!

Later, at the University of Iowa, ________ I majored in journalism, my dream was different. I realized that I was shy about interviewing people, which made me ________. When I recalled Mrs. Tonne and Mrs. Ketelsen, I made a decision without ________ to be devoted to writing. And now I am an editor at Reader’s Digest.

Whenever I think of the help from them, how ________ I am. It is their kindness that makes me what I am.

1.

A．reading

B．painting

C．exploring

D．creating

2.

A．how

B．why

C．where

D．what

3.

A．of

B．to

C．from

D．between

4.

A．published

B．edited

C．presented

D．finished

5.

A．under the weather

B．in the air

C．at a loss

D．on the rocks

6.

A．shouting

B．smiling

C．crying

D．dancing

7.

A．exchanged

B．recommend

C．designed

D．adapted

8.

A．reflected

B．devoted

C．expected

D．benefited

9.

A．extremely

B．fortunately

C．especially

D．slightly

10.

A．inspired

B．challenged

C．contented

D．tricked

11.

A．admit

B．send

C．revise

D．settle

12.

A．although

B．because

C．when

D．since

13.

A．relaxed

B．satisfied

C．impressed

D．upset

14.

A．hesitation

B．tension

C．exception

D．argument

15.

A．concerned

B．relieved

C．grateful

D．regretful

3 . Safe and Easy Workouts for Seniors

As you get older, it’s important to remain active and not to forget your health. There are plenty of all-time best exercises for weight loss, but not all are perfect for older individuals hoping to break a sweat.     1    

You might believe that certain workouts, like pushups (俯卧撑), are only for the young. In fact, they can be changed to best suit someone’s desired difficulty level.     2     Keep your back straight and bend your elbows, bringing your chest toward the wall, and press back. Repeat as desired.

Overhead arm raises can benefit seniors with joint (关节) pain. Using a weighted object such as a bottle of water, position yourself shoulder-width apart. With your shoulders back and arms lifted to 90 degrees, breathe out as you lift the bottles over your head and breathe in as you lower your arms.     3    

Endurance workouts increase your breathing and get your heart pumping. Dancing can improve the health of your heart and lungs and keep you healthy as you perform daily tasks.     4     The goal is to build up to at least 150 minutes of activity a week that makes you breathe hard.

    5     Higher daily step counts have also been linked with lower all-cause mortality (死亡率). It can also keep you healthy as you observe nature in your own backyard. Schedule a daily walk into your everyday routine. This simple activity can keep your heart healthy, keep you energetic and improve your mood.

A．Taking a walk outside can change your life.

B．Drink enough water each time you work out.

C．Start close to the wall, hands touching the wall.

D．Put on your favorite song(s) and move to the beat.

E．If they seem too light, find a slightly heavier object.

F．Regular exercise is a must to everyone, seniors included.

G．So here are some perfect workouts for seniors aged 50 and up.

4 . My body hit the water with a pounding and I suddenly felt afraid that terrible things could happen. Water gushed（涌出）through my mouth and left its salty taste. My feet touched the ground as I attempted to float back up to the surface. I could see the speed boats in the distance and I started to panic.

I saw something gray from a distance coming closer and closer. As it approached me, I realized that it was not a good one-it was a SHARK! Its fin（鳍）was moving closer and I attempted to swim as fast and as far away from it as possible. My heart beat faster and faster as my body got all stiff（僵硬的）. I looked behind me and saw the huge sharp teeth pointing directly at me. As I turned away, I heard jaws shut with a mighty bite! The shark turned away and left me alone.

I looked at my feet and saw bright red blood flow into the water. I cleaned it with some water and a thought went into my mind-sharks love blood, and that was not good for me. I knew more fins were surrounding me from every direction. I was stuck in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by about ten sharks and they were all heading for me.

They all stared at me with their white sharp teeth sticking out, ready to attack. Slower and slower they got ready to bite. Just then I heard an engine heading my way and I saw a speed boat pushing some heavy waves away. As it came closer, I saw a tall man driving it. The engine roared in my ears and it began to scare the sharks away.

As they swam away, I began to make my way back to the shore. The boat sped towards me and I slowly climbed on it. With relief we headed back towards the shore.

1. What did the author do when the first shark came close to him/her?

A．He/She hit the shark.	B．He/She tried to swim away fast.
C．He/She dived deep into the water.	D．He/She stayed in the water quietly.

2. Why did the sharks finally swim away without attacking the author?

A．The engine drove them away.	B．A man scared them away.
C．They couldn't find the author.	D．They found a new target.

3. How did the author feel in the end?

A．Frightened.

B．Nervous.

C．Anxious.

D．Relaxed.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．An Exciting Trip	B．A Helpful Speed Boat
C．An Unforgettable Experience	D．A Brave Tall Man

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. When will the man arrive at the hotel?

A．On December 23.

B．On December 24.

C．On December 25.

2. How long will the man stay?

A．For one night.

B．For two nights.

C．For three nights.

3. How much will the man pay in total?

A．$590.

B．$1，080.

C．$1，180.

4. What kind of room does the man book?

A．A room with twin beds.

B．A room with a double bed.

C．A room without an ocean view.

6 . There are many movies that you can focus on if you want to improve the way you are learning. Choose one of the movies below and the results will be great in the end!

The King’s Speech

The King's Speech tells the story of a man forced to speak to the world with a stammer (口吃).That movie is filled with lots of encouraging information and is a wonderful movie for those who love language classes.

Inside Job

Inside Job is an Oscar-winning film by Charles Ferguson. It provides a detailed analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008. which caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. It's a movie for students who want to learn more about the economic market.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a story of a young drummer who wants to realise his dreams although he doesn't receive any help from the people around him. It\s an interesting movie that will help art students better understand how much hard work can help them realise their dreams.

A Beautiful Mind

A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 American film based on the life of John Nash, a Nobel Prize winner with schizophrenia (精神分裂症).It follows his journey from the point where he is not even aware he has schizophrenia, to the point where Nash and his wife find a way to manage his condition. It includes some interesting physics elements that will help you quite a lot.

1. Which film will you choose if you are interested in economic development?

A．The King’s Speech.	B．Inside Job.
C．Whiplash.	D．A Beautiful Mind.

2. What may Whiplash bring to art students?

A．Making efforts.	B．Asking for help.
C．Keeping an interest.	D．Being understandable.

3. What is special about A Beautiful Mind?

A．It focuses on interesting scenic spots.

B．It describes the progress in medicine.

C．It is based on the story of a real person.

D．It records the selection of Nobel Prize winners.

7 . Below is a list of popular movies, which are not only fun to watch, but they give us a lesson.

Booksmart

Booksmart stars (由……主演) Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as two high school seniors who feel they haven’t experienced the typical (典型的) high school experience. So they attend different parties held by their classmates, but get into more trouble than they’ve experienced in their lives.

Stream Booksmart on Amazon $13. 99

Mean Girls

Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey, is regarded as one of the best teenage movies ever. The film stars Lindsay Lohan as Cady, a student from Africa. On her first day of school, Cady gets to know Regina George, the most popular girl in school. While she’s happy to be in the cool crowd at first, Cady realizes that popularity isn’t what she imagines.

Stream Mean Girls on Amazon $8. 99

She’s All That

She’s All That is taken from George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion. It was considered one of the best teenage movies in the 1990s and reached number one at the box office in its first week. The film stars Freddie Prize Jr. as Zach, a popular student who becomes unpopular when his cheerleader friend leaves him for a reality TV star.

Stream She’s All That on Amazon $15. 99

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, based on Steven Chbosky’s novel of the same name, is a coming-of-age film about a teenager named Charlie and his struggle with anxiety. The film, which is considered one of the best teenage movies ever, follows Charlie throughout his first year of high school.

Stream Perks of Being a Wallflower on Amazon $9.99

1. What topic is Mean Girls about?

A．Friendship.	B．Difficult culture.
C．Being popular.	D．Typical school life

2. Which film is suitable for anxious freshmen?

A．Booksmart.	B．Mean Girls.
C．She’s All That.	D．The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

3. What do the films have in common?

A．Their leading actors are girls.	B．They are mainly about teenagers.
C．They were made in the 1990s.	D．They are of the same price on Amazon.

8 . 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。

Crew members of the Shenzhou XII mission returned to Earth on Friday afternoon,     1     (conclude) a historic journey in China's Tiangong space station.

Nie Haisheng and his crew spent 92 days in space since the Shenzhou XII spacecraft     2    (launch) at the Jiuquan center on June 17. They were the first inhabitants of China's permanent space station     3    (name) Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace.

During    4    (them) stay in Tiangong, the astronauts carried out two extravehicular activities, or spacewalks, using a large robotic arm and other     5    (equip) to install and adjust devices outside the station. They also performed a number of scientific experiments and technological tests, and had video calls with President Xi Jinping and hundreds of researchers, teachers and students in Hong Kong.

It is a     6     (fruit) trip by any measure,     7     proves China's ability to provide a long-term living environment in space. Their work also prepares China for the next steps in its construction. “So far China's manned space programs     8     (contribute) greatly to mankind's peaceful development of outer space     9     the country will continue broadening and deepening its cooperation and communication with the international community to build the Chinese space station     10     a shared laboratory to bring benefits to all people on the globe.” Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, told reporters.

9 . I used to watch her play basketball and laugh. The boys always tried to stop her but _________. No one could. At other times she would practice dribbling and shooting   _________ until dark. She desired to go to college and the only way was to get a(an) _________ by being one of the best players. _________, one day in her senior year, the coach told her that she would probably _________ get to play for a top ranked team for being too short----_________ less offered a scholarship.

She was heartbroken and I felt my own throat _________ as I sensed her disappointment. Her father encouraged that those coaches were _________. They just did not understand the _________ of a dream.“ If you really wished to achieve something, nothing could stop you except one thing---your own __________ . If the dream is big enough, the facts don't __________. Keep dreaming!" Then she smiled and ran towards the court to continue the __________ .

The next year, as she and her team went to the Northern California Championship game, she was seen by a college __________ who was there looking at the opposing team. She was indeed __________ a scholarship. She was going to get the college education that she had __________ and worked toward for all those years. And that little girl had more playing time as a freshman and sophomore than any other woman did in the history of that university. All the teachers were __________ with her diligence and rapid progress.

Every time she wanted to __________ , she remembered her father’s words and she will continue to __________ her dream. After work she can still be found sometimes as the sun is __________, bouncing a basketball. And often I hear her tell others, "If the dream is big enough, the __________ don’t count.”

1.

A．succeeded

B．defeated

C．passed

D．failed

2.

A．repeatedly

B．accidentally

C．occasionally

D．naturally

3.

A．diploma

B．scholarship

C．admission

D．training

4.

A．Besides

B．Meanwhile

C．However

D．Therefore

5.

A．only

B．ever

C．merely

D．never

6.

A．much

B．yet

C．alone

D．already

7.

A．ache

B．tighten

C．dry

D．itch

8.

A．correct

B．positive

C．honest

D．wrong

9.

A．importance

B．power

C．imagination

D．restriction

10.

A．family

B．skill

C．attitude

D．height

11.

A．exist

B．stand

C．count

D．debate

12.

A．running

B．shooting

C．routine

D．ambition

13.

A．coach

B．manager

C．athlete

D．consultant

14.

A．indicated

B．attached

C．submitted

D．allocated

15.

A．heard of

B．dreamed of

C．thought of

D．spoken of

16.

A．enjoyable

B．respectable

C．thoughtful

D．impressive

17.

A．last

B．decline

C．quit

D．fight

18.

A．stick to

B．wake up

C．calm down

D．think over

19.

A．setting

B．rising

C．moving

D．glowing

20.

A．failure

B．facts

C．consequence

D．target

10 . Hollywood is looking East. And not just for ticket buyers. It is putting more and more Chinese elements into its productions. Chinese elements are playing an important role in Western films. Here, we list just a few of these elements.

The Chinese people

Hollywood has a history of casting Caucasian (白种人) actors for films where the race of the character is anything but white. Now, things are changing bit by bit. Kung fu superstar Bruce Lee was perhaps the first Chinese face Hollywood got familiar with. Action stars Jackie Chan, Chow Yun-fat and Jet Lee followed his footsteps. More and more ethnically Chinese faces were introduced to the silver screen around the world.

Symbols of China

Kung fu seems to be an element immediately associated with China.This also shows in films. The Karate Kid, starring Jackie Chan and actor Will Smiths son Jaden Smith, tells the story of how a boy, who was bullied at school, changed the course of his life after learning martial arts from a car mechanic (played by Chan). The film earned more than 1.6 billion yuan in ticket sales in China.

The Chinese language

Actor Bruce Willis showed his language skills in the film Red, where he said “A few years ago, I lived in Wuhan” in Chinese. This caused quite a stir in the theatres for Chinese audiences. Willis is not the only one who has spoken Chinese on the big screen. In Pearl Harbour, Alec Baldwin taught American soldiers how to say "I am an American " in Chinese. Nicolas Cage also delivered one of his most recognized lines “I prefer to shoot"in Chinese in Lord of War.

1. Why does Hollywood look East ?

A．Chinese film industry develops better.

B．Hollywood intends to attract more ticket buyers.

C．Hollywood finds it valuable to cooperate with China.

D．Chinese elements make a big difference to Hollywood.

2. Which Chinese actor did Hollywood first become familiar with ?

A．Chow Yun-fat

B．Jackie Chan

C．Bruce Lee

D．Will Smiths

3. Who spoke the lines in Chinese in Pearl Harbour ?

A．Bruce Willis

B．Alec Baldwin

C．Nicolas Cage

D．Jaden Smith