1 . One of the most beneficial skills you can learn in life is how to consistently put yourself in a good position. But not everyone knows how we can create that foundation. The position you find yourself in today is the accumulation of the small choices that you’ve been making for years.

The ordinary choices that guarantee a strong future go unnoticed. There is no pat on the back for doing the right thing just as there is no slap on the wrist for doing the wrong thing. Reading a chapter of a great book today won’t solve your problems just as not reading it won’t make them worse. Not doing the obvious thing that positions you for future success — rarely hurts you right away. But as the days turn to weeks, weeks into years, and years into decades do the small choices create massively different results.

Whenever this idea is brought up, people are quick to interject. “I do these things and I don’t get the results.” Most of us make the right choices most of the time. But most of the time isn’t the same as all of the time.

For your choices to compound, you need to be consistent. A lack of consistency keeps ordinary people from extraordinary results. It’s like we’re Sisyphus rolling a boulder halfway up the hill, only to throw our hands in the air and go home. When we show up the next day, we see the boulder at the bottom of the hill. Not only did this undermine our progress but it makes getting started even harder.

Excelling at the small choices that compound over time perpetually (不断地) leaves you in favorable circumstances. If you want results you need to pay the price. The price is knowing that time is working on your side even when the results don’t show it yet.

When you look below the surface, giant leaps aren’t really giant leaps at all. If you look for the magic moment, you’ll miss how ordinary becomes extraordinary.

1. According to the passage, what causes most people to fail?

A．Selection difficulties.	B．Lack of perseverance.
C．Insufficient exterior support.	D．Shortage of social resources.

2. Sisyphus’s story is used to _____.

A．exhibit the way to get compound choices

B．prove that a good beginning is half success

C．emphasize the importance of being consistent

D．explain the difficulty of achieving extraordinary results

3. What’s the genre of the passage?

A．Narration.

B．Argumentation.

C．Practical writing.

D．Expository writing.

4. Which is the best title of this passage?

A．No Pains, No Gains.	B．Time Heals Everything.
C．Never Too Late to Mend.	D．Small Steps make Giant Leaps.

2 . From the heartland to urban parks, school kids were released onto the baseball diamond. There was a time when baseball was the only summer game. But with competition from soccer and lacrosse, the clap of leather gloves is not as omnipresent as it used to be. Still, America’s game is a place for young boys to prove themselves.

Some boys were born athletic but Tim seemed to be growing in the opposite way: thin shoulders and no meat on his bones. But he loved baseball. And game after game, strikeout after strikeout piled up in the stat sheet. The desire was there, but the body doesn’t respond to dreams and wishes. The strikes continued.

Tim practiced his swing every day. His teammates encouraged him. His coach worked with him. Even opposing teams wished for a hit, just one hit for a boy who seemed to deserve it more than any other kid in the world.

What teammates and even the coach never saw was a gray van that pulled up each game in the parking lot adjacent to left field. Inside was Tim’s father, too weak from cancer to get out of the van. It’s a tough to watch your kid strike out, even tougher when you don’t have the strength to pitch to him.

At the end of the season, Tim stood at the plate as determined as ever. On the first pitch, the bat fell from his shoulder in a downward swing and somehow made contact. The ball dribbled down the third-base line, and Tim galloped to first. He stood on the bag wearing a smile as big as the outfield. He didn’t have the chance to advance, and when the pitcher retired the final out, Tim ran straight into left field, climbed the fence and dove into the front seat of a gray van, into the arms of a frail father whose wish for his son had finally materialized.

Sometimes it is more than a game.

1. What does the underlined word “omnipresent” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Outstanding.

B．Exciting.

C．Replaceable.

D．Common.

2. We can learn from Paragraph 3 that _____.

A．Tim's efforts won others’ respect

B．everyone believed Tim deserved a strikeout

C．Tim's coach was very satisfied with his performance

D．Tim's teammates often complained about his performance

3. What can we learn from this passage?

A．Nobody supported Tim playing baseball.

B．Tim and his father love each other deeply.

C．Tim won the game through constant efforts.

D．Tim played baseball only to satisfy his own vanity.

4. Which message does Tim’s experience convey?

A．Easier said than done.	B．One good turn deserves another.
C．Where there is a will, there is a way.	D．One false step makes a great difference.

3 . Nothing says “I love you” like a homemade gift. But imagine if this specially-crafted gift actually ended up changing the world! Before they became popular items used by millions of people, these inventions were inspired by incredible acts of love.

Garbage Disposal

John W. Hammes, an architect from Wisconsin, created the In-Sink-Erator in 1935. Hammes got the idea after watching his wife spend time wrapping food in newspaper and throwing it out. The In-Sink-Erator is a device, installed under a kitchen sink between the sink’s drain and the trap. The disposal unit shreds food waste into pieces small enough generally less than 2 mm in diameter to pass through plumbing.

Magnetic Shirt Buttons

Maura Horton’s husband, Don, was a football coach who had Parkinson’s disease. One day, after Don struggled to button his shirt before a game, Horton decided there needed to be a better clothing option for people suffering from disability. So, Horton designed a shirt with magnetic buttons in 2012. It will finally allow everyone to dress, and undress themselves efficiently.

Surgical Gloves

William Stewart Halsted, M.D. (1852 – 1922) was a renowned U.S. surgeon who is often called the “Father of Modern Surgery.” Known for his strict adherence to sterile working conditions, Halsted invented a rubber glove that allowed surgeons to lessen the transfer of germs during their work. Yet the origin of why he created them is more romantic than you would think. Halsted’s wife, Caroline, was a nurse who suffered from dermatitis during her work. According to the Washinton Post, Halsted invented the gloves especially for her and gave them to her as a gift after their marriage.

1. According to Paragraph 3, we know that _____.

A．only specific groups can use magnetic shirt buttons

B．ordinary buttons made Horton's husband lose the game

C．the designer of magnetic shirt buttons had Parkinson's disease

D．magnetic shirt buttons were originally designed for the disabled

2. Why did William design surgical gloves?

A．To treat surgical diseases.	B．To improve work efficiency.
C．To protect his wife from infection.	D．To be the father of modern surgery.

3. What do the three inventions have in common?

A．They were inspired by love.	B．They were designed to save time.
C．They were created to change the world.	D．They were invented in the 20th century.

4 . How to change the world

There are so many things you can do at home or in your community to make the world a better place. Even the smallest things can lead to bigger changes, so don' t be afraid to get out there and start helping.     1    No matter where you are or whom you meet, give them a warm smile when you’re around them. When you smile, you make the other person feel good and encourage them to smile too.

You’ve probably felt warm when someone says something nice about you, so why not return the favor? Say something that shows your appreciation for how they handle themselves emotionally or treat other people. Make sure you act sincerely when you give your praise so you come across as a truthful person.    2    

It can be really easy to get jealous (妒忌的) of other people when they succeed, but it’s a lot more rewarding to share their excitement. Avoid comparing yourself to other people and thinking of ways you can be better than them.     3    

Even though being kind to someone doesn’t seem like you’re making a big change, your kindness will continue to spread through them. Real kindness involves being friendly and considerate no matter the circumstances.     4    For example, if you see someone struggling to carry groceries , you can offer to help them to their vehicle.

When people litter, the rubbish ends up in the environment and damages the natural wildlife .     5    You may end up picking rubbish up from a beach, cleaning up around highways , or collecting waste from public parks.

A．But do things because you’re actually interested in them.

B．Even a few small kind words can have a huge effect on them.

C．Even flashing a quick smile can brighten someone else’s day.

D．Stay aware of the people around you and look for opportunities to help them.

E．Remember to treat yourself kindly as well so you take good care of your mental health.

F．Instead, really look at what they’ve accomplished and appreciate the work they’ve done.

G．Search online to see if there are clean-up programs in your city and work as a volunteer.

5 . Can People Really Learn to "Speed Read”？

There never seems to be enough time to read these days. With so many books and articles—especially on social media——the ability to read faster could be a life-changer.     1    The problem is that true speed reading without any loss in comprehension isn't supported by the science.

“Speed reading is not actually possible," said Elizabeth Schotter, a scientist at the University of South Florida.    2     You have to first see the word, understand its meaning, relate the word to its context, and then figure out where to point your eyes next.

Some books and classes train people to read whole passages all at once by scanning text in a zigzag（之字形）pattern. These methods suggest that our eyes make wasted movements when looking back and forth over words. But studies find that the limit to reading comprehension is the ability to recognize words.     3    

In recent years, numerous apps have claimed they can boost reading speed. These apps display text just one word at a time, one after another at a certain rate.     4     But again, the eyes sometimes have to go back and reread words to fully grasp text. Research has found that your eyes pick up important information beyond the word in focus, which is simply not possible if you can only read one word at a time.

    5    You probably can't dramatically increase your speed, but research suggests you can get a little faster by improving your vocabulary and simply reading more. Good thing there's plenty to read. Enjoy it.

A．So is there a way to become a faster reader?

B．Is the scientific community doubtful about speed reading?

C．So adjusting eye movements probably won't help you read faster.

D．Most people who claim to be speed-reading are actually skimming.

E．That way, your eyes are forced to focus on the word in front of you.

F．Reading is a complex task that requires cooperation between mental systems.

G．That is why so many classes, books and apps claim they can get you to read faster.

6 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

One of my most memorable trips took place during the summer vacation about three years ago, when my sister, my aunt and I took a trip to Spain because we were moving. On the day of the trip, I lay in bed thinking about my friends whom I was going to leave behind and thoughts were flooding in.

When we arrived at the hire station, we seemed to have some problems with our luggage because it was too much for a taxi, so we had to book a van (厢式送货车) to take our luggage to the airport. We waited for a long period to find a perfect van that would fit our luggage.

Before leaving, I felt very bad because I was going to a different country and was going to miss all my friends and family. I was not comfortable and cried.

The journey was almost perfect at the beginning, but soon it began to rain. Because of the rain, the drivers could not see far away, which caused a huge traffic jam. I was sitting by the window with a can of Coke that I had bought in the store earlier. My aunt and sister fell asleep, and during this time. I felt bored and thought about other things that bothered me. My eyes turned to the mountain in front of us.

A bus suddenly appeared in the picture. It was very close to us. Cars sped past us without any speed limit. Beside me was a very deep lake: I wondered to myself what if something or someone fell inside it. Suddenly, a bus in front of our van stopped, and because it was raining heavily and the van was going fast, no one could see what was going to happen. Then, bang, we bumped into each other. Our van overturned, but luckily, it didn’t fall into the lake. People came to help us get out of the van because we were blocked and the driver was half-dead.

注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。

We struggled to get out of the van and everything we had was gone.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I was losing a lot of blood and then the emergency aid came.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

After 20 years as a full-time wife and mother, I decided to be a school bus driver for I loved kids. When I think about my years of bus driving, many things crowd in, but mostly, I remember Charlie.

Charlie, eight years old, with blond hair and crystalline gray eyes, began riding my bus in September of my fourth year driving. They all had stories to tell me about their summers. Charlie, though, ignored me. He didn’t even answer when I asked his name.

From that day on, Charlie was a trial. If a fight broke out, I didn’t have to turn my head to know who had started it. If a girl was crying, chances were Charlie had pulled her hair. No matter how I spoke to him, gently or firmly, he wouldn’t say a word. He’d just stare at me with those big gray eyes of his.

I later found out Charlie’s father was dead and he didn’t live with his mother. He deserves my patience, I thought. To my cheery “Good Morning”, he was silent. When I wished him a happy Halloween, he sneered (冷笑). Still I was sure that this child needed to feel some warmth from me. So, when he’d pass by, I’d pat him on the arm or sometimes gave him a hug.

Toward the end of that year, the kids on my bus gave me a small trophy inscribed (刻) “To the Best Bus Driver Ever”. I propped it up on the dashboard (仪表盘). On top I hung a small tin heart that a little girl had given me. In red paint she had written, “I love Polly and Polly loves me.”

The next day, I was delayed a few minutes talking to the principal. When I got on the bus I realized that the tin heart was gone. “Does anyone know what happened to the little heart that was up here?” I asked. For once with 39 children, there was silence.

One boy piped up, “Charlie was the first one on the bus. I bet he took it.” Other children joined the chorus, “Yeah! Charlie did it! Search him!”

I asked Charlie to come forward, stuck my hand into his pocket and immediately I felt it—the small tin heart. Charlie stared at me and seemed to be waiting for what he’d come to expect from the world. I was about to pull out the tin heart when I stopped myself. Let him keep it, a voice seemed to whisper.

“It must have fallen off before I got here,” I said to the kids. “I’ll probably find it back at the depot.” Without a word, Charlie returned to his seat. When he got off at his stop, he didn’t glance at me as usual.

That summer Charlie moved away.

1. 所续写短文的词数应为150词左右；
2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
3. 请按如下格式作答。
Paragraph 1:
A dozen years after my retirement I was in a department store, when someone said, “Polly?”
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2：
That night I thought over his words.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

I have been in Taiyuan, the provincial capital of Shanxi, for two years since I     1     (admit) to a PhD program in Shanxi University as an international student from Bangladesh.

Over the two years, I found myself     2     (fall) in love with Shanxi and China. I liked to cycle on the streets in Taiyuan and visit places I encountered     3     (random). The cycling tours helped to deepen     4     (I) understanding of the city. In my eyes, Taiyuan is a city     5     both history and modernity.

The city has     6     history of more than 2,500 years, the longest among all cities in China. An abundance of well-preserved ancient     7     (structure), like the temples in Jinci, the double pagodas in Yongzuo Temple, are the material evidence to help you get a glimpse into     8     ancient China looked like. Taiyuan is also a fast-growing modern city. It is ranked among the world’s top 500 cities in terms of     9    (science) research according to a recent Nature Index rating.

I hope more international students come to study in Shanxi University and to live and work in China     10     is full of opportunities.

9 . 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。

Zhang Guimei, devoted to education in China’s southwestern borders for 40 years, is     1       “mother” for more than 170 children, motivating young girls from poor families in mountainous areas. She has lit up hopes of many for education.

Zhang was born in Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang province in 1957. She came to Yunnan province at 17,     2     (respond) to the call of the country to support the development of border areas. Teaching at a middle school there, she saw the low     3     (admit) of girls to high school. It saddened her so much to find out that these girls     4     (abandon) their school work long before due to poverty.     5     , Zhang decided to build a free all-girl high school in 2002, in hope of changing the destiny of the girls in the mountain.

In 2007, Zhang went to Beijing as a deputy for the 17th CPC National Congress. Her speech “I Have a Dream”     6     (address) at the meeting made her dream of building a free all-girl high school known     7     all. A year later, the school was completed as the first free all-girl high school in China.

On June 29, Zhang     8     (award) July 1st Medal at a ceremony in Beijing,     9     she said she did this out of her gratitude and love for the country, as well as her identity     10     (origin) as a CPC member. As long as she was still capable, she would stand in the classroom to give her all without regret.

10 . The Nigerian boy is only 11 years old, but so far Kareem Olamilekan has displayed his unbelievable super-realistic drawings in many museums around the world.

Kareem started _______ his artistic talents when he was around six years old, by practicing with his favorite cartoon _______. His biggest turning point _______ two years later, when he visited the Ayowole Art School. Teachers at the academy _______ his extraordinary gift and asked him to join. Now, Adeniyi Adewole, the _______ of the school, says Kareem is one of his best students.

Kareem’s success was not _______ available. Coming from a poor family, he often _______ to buy basic artistic supplies. “I would _______ buy myself some paper every time Mom sent me shopping for food _______ I have nothing to draw on,” Kareem said. His family had no electricity, ________ him to depend on a flashlight when he wanted to draw at night. Despite the difficulties, the boy still ________ his passion for drawing, and he is now able to draw detailed photo-like drawings.

Adeniyi always encourages the boy to think ________. “You can go farther than beyond our expectations. Don’t think yourself only as a roadside artist ________ for others’ recognition. Believe you can have a (an) ________ like Michelangelo and Da Vinci,” Adewole said. The young artist’s ________ are anything but small. “I want to see myself among the great artists in museums,” Kareem said.

1.

A．accepting

B．considering

C．expressing

D．indicating

2.

A．performances

B．characters

C．celebrations

D．interactions

3.

A．took up

B．broke in

C．came out

D．caught on

4.

A．developed

B．displayed

C．received

D．noticed

5.

A．founder

B．inventor

C．applicant

D．participant

6.

A．hardly

B．readily

C．formally

D．simply

7.

A．promised

B．struggled

C．managed

D．offered

8.

A．happily

B．hurriedly

C．comfortably

D．secretly

9.

A．so that

B．even though

C．in case

D．as long as

10.

A．allowing

B．forcing

C．inspiring

D．inviting

11.

A．informed

B．reminded

C．fell

D．married

12.

A．bigger

B．faster

C．longer

D．deeper

13.

A．interacting

B．voting

C．starving

D．adjusting

14.

A．name

B．smile

C．emotion

D．museum

15.

A．tensions

B．competitions

C．interpretations

D．ambitions