There were three children in my family. Kind Larry was the oldest, followed by smart Emily and I. One year, our family moved into a bigger house and we each had our own room. Both Larry and Emily chose to live upstairs while I preferred living in the basement. Emily laughed at me because I picked a room with poor natural light. However, I never cared about it. I had a secret kept only between my brother Larry and me-I wanted to be the neighbor of our large refrigerator where something delicious was always stuffed including the whole family’s favorite-ice cream.
During the week, we drank only milk at our meals and never ate dessert. But Sunday was different- Mom would make her famous roast meat dinner and Dad would make an exception to the dessert rule. One Sunday, my father sat happily at the head of the table and said, “Great meal! I think we should finish it with something special, “He told my brother, “Larry, go downstairs and get Breyers!”
Breyers is a brand of ice cream, the family’s favorite. When it went on sale, my mother would buy some, about a gallon of it, storing it in the refrigerator in the basement for such a special occasion.
But when the moment really came, I spoiled it. For a few nights, I couldn’t resist the temptation and ate a half box of ice cream at the rate of a small spoonful per night. So when Larry was about to run downstairs, I hurriedly pulled his hand under the table. Larry turned to look at me and felt surprised, but he immediately understood what had happened.
Emily was impatient at the table, looking at her empty dinner plate and urging Larry to be quick. Larry didn’t move, and instead, he said to Dad, “Why don’t we enjoy it on Children’s Day?” Dad smiled, “We can eat again on that day. Come on, Larry! Go and get it!” I knew Larry didn’t look like himself today. He was an ice cream lover like everyone else present, but it was unbelievable that he should refuse to eat it today. I felt very sorry for making my brother Larry so embarrassed.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1: With one more look at me, Larry had to walk slowly down to the basement.
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Paragraph 2: To my great shock, just when I hesitated to admit it, Larry said,“Yes. I ate it.”
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2 . I recently had a conversation with a friend who was feeling very upset about work. Why? He thought his manager didn’t like him. He rarely heard much from his manager, and when his manager said something, it was about correcting some aspects of his work or giving him some constructive advice.
Not surprisingly, given my friend’s understandably anxious view of these workplace dynamics (动态), he was afraid of his annual performance evaluation. He was worried that his boss might even tell him that he wasn’t needed anymore. Accordingly, he considered looking around for another job — not because he really wanted to, as he liked the kind of work he was doing, but because he suffered from the kind of management.
The evaluation day came, and to his great surprise, rather than being harshly critical, his manager told him that he was doing a fine job and gave him a promotion.
The sad truth is, this kind of phenomenon is by no means unusual in the workplace. One recent survey showed that nearly half of the employees have considered leaving a job “due to lack of recognition”. Another similar study found 46 percent of the employees left a job “because they felt unappreciated”.
The good news is that, in this case, the damage was repaired before it was too late — before my friend was out the door and his company began the expensive and time-consuming process of hiring a new employee. But as the research noted above shows, workplace problems related to recognition and appreciation are as common as the office air we breathe.
This conforms with my personal experience; during my decades of corporate management, I saw similar appreciation issues all the time. When a job isn’t done well, nobody deserves anything, of course. But when a job is done well, if you’re an employee, it’s entirely natural to expect at least a bit of appreciation. So if you’re a manager, it’s a good idea to show some. It’s that simple.
1. What phenomenon does the author want to describe through his friend’s case?| A．Unclear rewards and punishments. | B．Employee-management misunderstanding. |
| C．Unfair promotion in the workplace. | D．Fierce competition among new employees. |
| A．His company hired a new employee. |
| B．He continued to work for the company. |
| C．His company simplified the evaluation process. |
| D．He repaired the relationship with his colleagues. |
| A．Results from. | B．Separates from. |
| C．Agrees with. | D．Contrasts with. |
| A．Defend employees’ rights. | B．A friend’s unforgettable experience. |
| C．Acknowledge employees’ work. | D．Misunderstanding between employees. |
1. What helps Karl most to become successful?
| A．Hard work. | B．Good training. | C．A set schedule. |
| A．He has good meals. | B．He has a good rest. | C．He does more training. |
| A．At about 8: 30 a. m. | B．At about 9: 00 a. m. | C．At about 9: 50 a. m. |
| A．To avoid the mistakes they’ve made. |
| B．To relax themselves completely. |
| C．To know the opposing team. |
1. What’s a disadvantage of the woman’s new house?
| A．It is costly. | B．It is too large. | C．It is inconvenient. |
| A．Old. | B．Modern. | C．Remote. |
| A．In the back of the house. |
| B．In the front of the house. |
| C．Around the house. |
| A．A dining room. | B．A bathroom. | C．A green room. |
Birthdays were a huge deal at my workplace. Co-workers went above and beyond to shower the person of honor with food, decorations, affirmations, love and, yes, embarrassment on their special day. As one who preferred to go unnoticed and felt embarrassed at being the center of attention, I was horrified to walk in on my birthday to see my desk decorated with glittery streamers, and a hot pink sash (饰带) with the words, “Kneel! I’m the Birthday Princess”. I was forced to wear for the duration of the day.
Although embarrassed by the display, I felt extremely loved. I thoroughly enjoyed the pleasant flowers and delicious chocolate cake my co-workers gave me.
Several months after my birthday celebration, our office welcomed Laura, a new member, to the team. Hired as our office manager’s assistant, Laura was also tasked with establishing a human resources department. Possessing an ambitious vision and receiving trust from our manager, she immediately made major changes — which were not well received. Gradually, Laura became the centre of gossip (闲言碎语).
When Laura’s spring birthday neared, it was evident that no one wanted to celebrate. I understood why no one wanted to go all-out in celebrating Laura’s birthday, but it bothered me nevertheless. As an extremely shy and introverted (内向的) individual, being left out or ignored was nothing foreign to me, and it pained me to think of the deliberate effort to ignore her birthday. Although she drove me crazy, too, I knew her time in our office had not been easy.
Stopping by our local grocery store, I selected some rosy-pink tulips and a birthday card in which I wrote a heartfelt note highlighting some of Laura’s qualities I admired, such as her ambitious spirit, creativity, and strong inner drive. Arriving an hour early to work the morning of her birthday, I transformed her corner of the office just like what my co-workers did for my birthday.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I watched Laura spot her decorated work area when she arrived.
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The friendship between Laura and me began since the lunch and continued to grow over the years.
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It was Saturday. When Adam was wide awake, the house was quiet, so he knew his parents were still sleeping. They always slept late on the weekend. He could hear his father snoring (打鼾). Even the cat was still asleep on the rocking chair by the fireplace with its tail curled over the nose.
His mother had promised that they would go on a picnic in the park that day. He had been looking forward to it for a long time. He liked the peanut butter and banana sandwiches she made. They would play catch and maybe fly a kite if the wind was moderato. Adam thought maybe he should wake his parents up then.
However, it still looked dark outside. Usually, at that time, the sun was shining through the windows. Maybe it was cloudy. Adam thought. He got out of his bed and went to his parents’ room. He climbed onto their bed and got in the middle between them. His father turned over. His mother opened one eye and saw Adam there.
“Hello!” said Adam, cheerfully. “It’s time to get up and go to the park!” His mother yawned and rubbed her eyes. “Hi,” she whispered. “What time is it?” “I don’t know,” replied Adam. “Oh, Adam,” said his mother, looking at the time on her phone.
“It’s too early. Let’s go back to sleep.” She closed her eyes again. “But it’s morning. And you promised a picnic today!” “Ugh,” said his mother. “I guess you aren’t going back to bed. Okay, give me a few minutes.”
His mother went to the glass door leading to the backyard. She looked out of it. The leaves on the trees were blowing, and the glass was covered with tiny, clear drops of water. She said to her son, “Adam, it’s raining, so we can’t go on a picnic today.”
This was not the news Adam wanted to hear. He sat down on the floor and held his chin in his hands. He wondered what his father would do when he got up.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
Paragraph 1:
Several minutes later, Adam’s father got up.
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Paragraph 2:
Finally, they came back, wet but happy.
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7 . Fragile. Oversensitive. Glued to their phones.
Never before have the lives of any generation of teens been as flooded with mobile technology and social media as the teens of this generation.
To conclude, the teens of this generation differ in many ways from their predecessors (前辈), in some ways more positive than others.
| A．No wonder the self-confidence and mental health of teens have been damaged. |
| B．Yet, the effects of technology on this generation of teens are not all bad. |
| C．Is this what comes to mind when we think of the teens of this generation? |
| D．Their parents or grandparents were likely less connected and more isolated. |
| E．Moreover, in the older generations’ mind, the teens today are more individualistic. |
| F．As a result, this might be why the teens today are more open-minded and progressive. |
| G．Every generation is a product of the cultural, political and economic events of their time. |
I took up flying more or less on a whim (突发奇想). I had a really difficult time at that time. My mother left me and my favorite cat was lost two weeks later. My life was filled with uncertainties and sadness and I was left feeling terribly down. So when I passed our local airfield and saw an advertisement for trial flying lessons, I decided to book one. It was something I’d always imagined trying, and I hoped it would cheer me up.
I enjoyed my trial lessons and decided to book some more. I found that flying an airplane was attractive, and it took my mind off my personal difficulties. By the end of that summer, I had my private pilot’s license, and I started to do some local flights for fun.
Then I decided to have a go at flying helicopters, and I found that I liked that even more. Despite having promised myself and all my friends that I wasn’t going to take it up, I got my private pilot’s license for helicopters, too. Soon, I was hiring small helicopters and taking friends flying. But helicopter flying is very expensive, and I knew I couldn’t keep doing it as a hobby forever. I knew a lot of people at our local airfield, and many were taking commercial (商业的) flying exams — some with a goal of working as commercial pilots, others wanting to be instructors. I had an idea — I could become a helicopter instructor. That way, I could fly for free, and even get paid for it.
Then I told my friends my thought, but I didn’t expect some of the reactions I got. My friends couldn’t believe that I really meant to do that. “Oh, don’t be silly, Helen. You can’t possibly be a helicopter instructor,” one of my friends said. After all, I was well over forty, which is not the usual time to begin a new career. But I chose to stick to my idea.
注意：
1. 续写的词效应为150左右；
2. 请按照如下格式作答。
Paragraph 1:
Quickly, I went ahead with my plan.
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Paragraph 2:
Soon I found a job at an airfield, not too far from my home.
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9 . Worth nearly $1trn, Facebook is the world’s sixth-most-valuable company. Its revenues have grown by 56% in the past year, and its share price by more than a quarter. Nearly 3bn people use its products every month. Why did such a successful company change its name as Meta?
The likely official reason for the rebranding is that the firm has outgrown the social network that Mark Zuckerberg started 17 years ago in a Harvard dorm. Today it includes other social apps (Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger) and video hardware (Oculus, Portal). It has launched a digital wallet (Novi) and may yet offer a currency (Diem). Mr Zuckerberg expects people eventually to associate his firm more with the “metaverse”(元宇宙), a virtual space for work, play and more, than with social media.
Facebook wouldn’t be the first tech giant to do so. In 2015 Google set up Alphabet, a holding company for the search engine and its many side projects. Under this model, Facebook would become just another app within a wider family, though by far it has been the biggest earner.
There is another possible motive for a makeover. For all its financial success, the Facebook brand has become tarnished. The social network is blamed for fueling everything from teenage anorexia(厌食症) to uprising at the US Capitol. Public trust in it is lower than in most tech giants, and falling. Although two years ago the firm started branding its apps as being “from Facebook”, its new smart glasses, which can record video and take phone calls, feature only the logo of its partner, Ray-Ban. A former employee revealed that Facebook was trying to cover up a drop in young American users.
Mr Zuckerberg himself has been a reason for much of the criticism of Facebook, and of bossy tech firms more generally. As the all-powerful founder, he has a higher profile than his opposite numbers at TikTok, YouTube and other social networks. Normally, a brand facing a reputational crisis might dump its unpopular CEO. But Mr Zuckerberg’s position is immovable, which may explain why he would want to dump the brand instead.
1. Facebook changed its name because________.| A．it wanted people to associate its name with universe |
| B．it was trying to follow the fashion led by Google |
| C．it expected to expand its business to a wider range |
| D．its former name has brought bad reputation to the company |
| A．It was founded by Zuckerberg in Harvard’s dormitory. |
| B．It has a positive influence on teenagers’ mind and actions. |
| C．It is as popular among young people in the US as it was. |
| D．It produced smart glasses with two companies’ logos on it. |
| A．distinguished | B．abandoned | C．globalized | D．spoiled |
| A．a science review | B．a business magazine |
| C．a technical report | D．the website of Facebook |
When I was 11 years old, we lived in Albany, New York. My parents rented the first floor of a two-storey house. My job that summer was to take care of my three-year-old brother, Joey. There wasn’t much to do, but one thing that kept me happy was spending time with our house owner, a young Italian mother-to-be. They called her Catuzza. It was Italian for “sweet little Catherine.” She was well into her pregnancy, happy though she was, but she was also lonely much of the time. She knew very little English, and during the day she missed her husband a great deal. He was a shoemaker and worked long hours to support his growing family.
Catuzza enjoyed spending time with little Joey and me. It was also always nice for children to feel that adults enjoyed being with them, and we knew that she enjoyed time with us. My little brother had golden hair. She loved to play with his hair, running her fingers through it. d Her smile always made me feel that she was wondering about her own small child, not yet born. Sometimes when the baby kicked, she would let us touch her stomach. Once, when Joey was close by, the baby kicked as if it showed a response to Joey’s gentle stroke. Gradually, Joey’s company made Catuzza no longer feel lonely.
After that summer, my family moved to another part of the city, where Joey and I spent the rest of our childhood, but we still kept in touch with Catuzza. I went on to finish school and became a writer. My brother Joey grew up to join the army, go to college, work for the New York State Department of Labor — and, suddenly, discover at age 35 that he had leukaemia, which was cancer of the blood. The disease was killing him.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
However, Joey wanted to live.
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Then I realised that the unborn baby saved my brother’s life.
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