1 . Steph Morris is a talented UK artist who specializes in hyper-realistic drawings of sneakers (运动鞋). Her works are so true-to-life that even closeups of the drawings are ________ to distinguish from the real thing.

When it comes to sneaker ________, Manchester-born Morris is famous for her unmatched realism. She has always had a thing for sneakers, so pairing up this passion with her ________ talent just made sense. She didn’t ________ plan to make a living out of drawing sneakers. At first, she was more interested in ________ them, as she sought a career in sports. But a number of injuries forced her to ________ her option and come up with a plan B. She ________ a pencil and started drawing the things she ________ most.

“I’ve always loved sneakers since I was a ________so exploring that in my work is very ________.” Morris said. “It was actually a pair of sneakers that I drew to hang on my wall that got me here in the first place. It’s one of my favorite sneakers, and I collected many ________ growing up.”

While ________ as a graphic designer, Morris ________ a phone call from Reebok and was invited to a Future x Reebok event in New York. Since she couldn’t get any ________ off from work, she decided to just ________ her job and take up drawing full time.

1.

A．tiring

B．hard

C．relaxing

D．painful

2.

A．fans

B．stores

C．drawings

D．brands

3.

A．acting

B．athletic

C．musical

D．artistic

4.

A．eventually

B．fortunately

C．originally

D．obviously

5.

A．designing

B．advertising

C．washing

D．wearing

6.

A．ignore

B．reevaluate

C．discuss

D．maintain

7.

A．took up

B．threw away

C．sold out

D．turned in

8.

A．discovered

B．visited

C．loved

D．needed

9.

A．dreamer

B．kid

C．mother

D．failure

10.

A．surprising

B．boring

C．natural

D．stressful

11.

A．sheets

B．answers

C．paintings

D．pairs

12.

A．working

B．learning

C．talking

D．teaching

13.

A．missed

B．got

C．made

D．forgot

14.

A．information

B．business

C．money

D．time

15.

A．quit

B．find

C．record

D．enjoy

2 . Our old, artificial Christmas tree was in rough shape by the time we retired it. At least a decade had passed since my wife and I bought the tree, a medium-size fake tree with built-in lights, at a Target in Brooklyn and carried it on the subway to our tiny apartment. Over the years, we dragged that tree from apartment, jammed it onto a moving truck to Los Angeles and later packed the weathered box onto another moving truck, this time to Chicago and our current home. By the end, layers of duct tape (强力胶布) held the box together, the wear and tear of a decade of delivering holiday cheer.

Our little tree looked run down, but it was the only tree our family ever knew. It stands proud and glowing in the background of photos of me and my pregnant wife during our last Christmas in Brooklyn without children. Our oldest was born a month later during a January snowstorm. The tree shows up again in the next year’s photos, this time surrounded by holiday gifts for a boy about to turn 1. Then it appears in photos of our son and his 1-month-old brother, this time with California palm trees just outside the door. And in more recent photos, our tree lights up windows overlooking shining Chicago snow. This year, after much debate, we decided to retire our dear old tree, with its bent branches and the lights that had burned out years ago. Rather than feel depressed, we used the moment to launch a new family tradition: our first real Christmas tree.

So here’s a toast to all your family’s traditions—the old and the new. I hope you enjoy this issue, which we have filled with stories of seasonal joy and holiday cheer. Happy holidays!

1. Where is the author’s present home?

A．In Chicago.

B．In Brooklyn.

C．In California.

D．In Los Angeles.

2. Why did the author keep the old tree for so long?

A．His budget was tight.	B．He was attached to it.
C．It was in good condition.	D．It was environmentally-friendly.

3. Who is probably the author?

A．An editor.

B．A salesman.

C．A delivery man.

D．A home designer.

4. What can we learn from the story?

A．The finest diamond must be cut.

B．Out with the old, in with the new.

C．Old friends and old wine are best.

D．All things in their being are good for something.

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How many museums are there in the Johnston Museums?

A．Three.

B．Six.

C．Nine.

2. Which is the best time to start the trip to the Johnston Museums?

A．The early mornings.

B．The late mornings.

C．The early afternoons.

3. What does the speaker say about the city bus?

A．Its latest route will open soon.

B．It stops in front of the museum.

C．Its timetable changes frequently.

4. What are parents advised to do before visiting the Johnston Museums?

A．Call the Johnston Information Center.

B．Discuss the exhibitions with their kids.

C．Download a fifteen-minute video online.

4 . Confidence helps us take risks and push ourselves to excellence.It can also inspire more trust in other people and open doors that would remain closed otherwise.Here are a few ideas on how to build up your confidence.

Forgive yourself for your mistakes.

Try to remember that you’re only human.     1    . Try to forgive yourself for things you did in the past so you can move on. If you’re having trouble forgiving yourself for something, try asking if you’d forgive a friend for the same mistake.     2    .

Make a list of your positive qualities.

It might seem silly, but sit down and write out a list.Start with five things that you like about yourself and try to add something to the list every day. For example, you could write, “I’m kind, I’m loving, I’m passionate about art, I’m creative, and I’m a good friend.”     3    , try asking your loved ones what they like about you to get you started.

    4    .

Negative people tend to lower your confidence. Instead, spend time with friends and family members who inspire you and push you to be your best self. You’ll know someone is good to be around if you feel excited and happy to hang out with them.

Learn a new skill.

    5    . If you’ve never tried playing chess before, play a few online games to get the hang of it. If you aren’t the best cook, try making a dish you’ve never had. By doing so, you can improve your confidence slowly and steadily.

A．If you can’t think of anything

B．Then,use that forgiveness on yourself

C．Spend time with people who support you

D．Stop undervaluing yourself when you speak

E．When you express your idea in an insecure way

F．Do something outside of your own comfort zone

G．Everyone makes mistakes,and you’re no different

5 . 假如你是李华，世界读书日即将到来，你校将于本月底举行一次以“Let’s Read”为主题的演讲比赛。请根据以下内容写一篇演讲稿：
1.读书的重要性：
①读书丰富我们的知识；
②读书拓宽我们的视野；
③读书帮助我们解决问题。
2.呼吁大家多读书，读好书。
注意：1.词数不少于80；
2.可适当增加内容，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：丰富 enrich；拓宽视野 broaden the horizon
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . I wanted to buy something today -- until I figured out the cost versus the benefit. At that point I knew it was a completely stupid idea.

What I wanted to buy was an older car to have in addition to my four-year-old Smart Car that I absolutely like. So you wonder, why would I want to have another car as well? The reason is ... grandkids. I have several and in the Smart Car I can only have one passenger (It’s a two-seater). Besides, one of my daughters-in-law does not trust the Smart Car as a vehicle for her daughter Lily to ride in, so that’s one little girl I can’t take anywhere at all. My husband also has a car -- and a truck.

So that’s why I had the stupid idea to buy an old Toyota I found on the lot of an honest used car salesman. Thank heavens I came to my senses before I spent $ 8000 to buy it, $ 80 or so to license it and probably $ 500 to insure it for a year. It would be senseless to buy that car.

My grandkids just have to continue to come with me one by one. I can’t take two girls out to lunch or two girls shopping or pick up the brother and sister that live in the same house. As for the little one that’s not allowed to ride with me ... well, Grandpa will have to pick her up. As for me, I didn’t get money in my savings account by being totally stupid. Sure, doing things with the kids is fun, but spending that kind of money to put two or more of them in a group -- which would probably drive me crazy anyway -- is really dumb. Sometimes temptation can prove that you still have a little sense.

1. The author’s little grandkid Lily ______.

A．refused to stay with her

B．was not allowed to take her car

C．was always picked up by her husband

D．thought it was dangerous to drive a Smart Car

2. The author gave up the idea of buying the Toyota because ______.

A．it was a used car

B．she couldn’t afford it

C．there was no need for it

D．the salesman was unreliable

3. The underlined word “dumb” in the last paragraph can best be replaced by ______.

A．difficult

B．stupid

C．reasonable

D．amazing

4. Which of the following proverbs best describes the text?

A．Look before you leap.

B．Better late than never.

C．Don’t judge a book by its cover.

D．Every advantage has its disadvantage.

7 . You ought to carry on with your dream,______ facing a lot of difficulty.

A．as if

B．in case of

C．so long as

D．even if

8 . As I grew up, I always had my mom by my side. We lived a very ________ life. I never looked at the other kids and ________ why I didn’t have a dad, or why I lived in an apartment instead of a big house. Most of what I ________ was our little Christmas tree in the living room and going to the park very often.

________, when I hit my teenage years, things started to change. I didn’t want to ________ with her as much. I ________ on friends and school. I ________ her out because I didn’t want her to tell me what to do.

At about 16, I ________ an eating disorder. And I felt sad and lost. Soon, I found the reason why I was ________ — I needed my mother. And she was there ________ my mean words, my silence, and my anger. She told me she was ________ there for me, reminding me to relax for a moment and think. I did. And I ________ when the world is sometimes cruel, she will be there for me all the time.

After that day, everything changed. I looked at how she ________ me on her own as a single mom. I looked at the sacrifices and ________ of sleep she endured for me. She got herself through college without ________ by making money by herself, and is now ________ with her own apartment and ________. I honestly could not be more grateful for such a(n) ________ mom. Now, as a 17-year-old ready to leave for college, it’s my turn to ________ her. I thought the least I could do was to get her to go on some dates. I ________ her in every way, and she does the same.

1.

A．happy

B．hard

C．different

D．lonely

2.

A．answered

B．proved

C．wondered

D．explained

3.

A．expect

B．hate

C．remember

D．achieve

4.

A．Therefore

B．However

C．Besides

D．Otherwise

5.

A．make up

B．come up

C．get along

D．hang out

6.

A．depended

B．focused

C．called

D．agreed

7.

A．helped

B．shut

C．picked

D．pulled

8.

A．controlled

B．prevented

C．developed

D．treated

9.

A．tired

B．upset

C．strange

D．bored

10.

A．in spite of

B．for fear of

C．in addition to

D．because of

11.

A．never

B．sometimes

C．always

D．hardly

12.

A．imagined

B．doubted

C．wished

D．realized

13.

A．praised

B．disappointed

C．raised

D．trusted

14.

A．lack

B．needs

C．favor

D．effects

15.

A．encouragement

B．permission

C．love

D．aid

16.

A．cheerful

B．successful

C．respectful

D．meaningful

17.

A．life

B．relationship

C．marriage

D．friendship

18.

A．young

B．honest

C．funny

D．amazing

19.

A．take care of

B．stay away from

C．take the place of

D．pay attention to

20.

A．teach

B．observe

C．check

D．support

9 . It’s a fact that most children have an ______ for learning, which is a treasure.

A．welfare

B．capsule

C．appetite

D．melody

10 . The production of the cement (水泥) used in concrete is a major contributor to worldwide CO₂ emissions. Since we use it a lot in building things, this is a serious problem. But there’s good news: Scientists have made a new kind of concrete that can trap CO₂ instead of letting it out. It is a greener way to build things.

The concrete is made by D Company, cooperating with other companies, and is named G-concrete. Here’s how it’s made: A special cement mixture is placed in a curing chamber (养护室) and CO₂ is then pumped into the chamber to be absorbed. The absorbed CO₂ is then stuck inside the concrete, and will not be released. Crucially, it’s also just as strong as regular concrete.

“Generally, concrete hardens through a chemical reaction between cement and water,” the company explains. “But in G-concrete, over half the cement is replaced with a material we call γ-C2S. Instead of reacting with water, γ-C2S reacts with the CO₂ in the air to harden. After mixing the materials needed to create G-concrete, the concrete can be placed in a location with high CO₂ levels so it can absorb the CO₂ and harden, trapping the gas inside. For example, a thermal power plant (发电厂) or other facilities that produce carbon-heavy waste gases can redirect the gases into a special chamber, where concrete products made with G-concrete can be placed to absorb the CO₂ in the gases.”

Obviously, greener concrete is a good thing in itself. And under the right conditions, this could be used to create net-zero buildings, but if it’s not affordable and practical to produce, it’s not going to be widely adopted.

On that note, signs are actually quite hopeful. A representative of the company told us that the cost of producing G-concrete is about three times higher than standard concrete currently used. Work is being undertaken on further reducing this cost and the company believes it will become a lot more affordable in the near future.

1. What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 1 refer to?

A．Cement production.

B．Building construction.

C．CO2 emission.

D．Concrete use.

2. What do we know about G-concrete?

A．It is environmentally friendly.	B．It is produced in thermal power plant.
C．It is harder than regular concrete.	D．It is replaced by a cement mixture.

3. What should be mainly considered before using the greener concrete widely?

A．Practical function.

B．Production cost.

C．Marketing strategy.

D．Gas emission.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Chemical Reaction Behind Concrete Hardening

B．G-concrete: A New CO2-absorbing Building Material

C．The Environmental Impact Of Traditional Cement Production

D．The Economic Possibility Of The Building Material — G-concrete