1 . Many people still remember the magic of Father Christmas from when they were children. As parents, they try to keep that magic alive for their children for as long as they can.

That is why Letters from Father Christmas could be the perfect book for those who regard Christmas as a special time of year. The man who wrote these letters is one of the most famous names in English literature — J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings. The letters were Tolkien’s way of keeping Father Christmas alive for his four children, over a period of more than twenty years.

Every Christmas, an envelope with a North Pole stamp arrived. It was addressed to Tolkien’s children. Who could it be from? The children must have been very excited as they opened it. Inside, they would find a handwritten letter from Father Christmas. The letters were also beautifully illustrated—each must have taken its true author, Tolkien, a long time to complete.

The letters told wonderful stories about Father Christmas’s life and adventures at the North Pole. A regular character in the letters was Polar Bear, who once climbed the North Pole (an actual pole in this case) and fell through the roof of Father Christmas’s house. In another letter, Father Christmas complained about how he could not stop his helpers playing games with the toys instead of wrapping them up. Interestingly, the letters did not contain the usual warnings to children that they might not receive their presents if they were not good. The letters did, however, change as Tolkien’s children got older：

...but if you find that not many of the things you asked for have come, and not perhaps quite as many as sometimes, remember that this Christmas all over the world here are a terrible number of poor and starving people.

Letters from Father Christmas tells us that as well as enjoying the adventures of Father Christmas, Polar Bear and other characters at the North Pole, we can all share the true spirit of giving at Christmas time. By expressing love for his children in such a special way, Tolkien may indeed have been the real Father Christmas.

1. What is Tolkien famous for?

A．His novel The Lord of the Rings.	B．His letters to Father Christmas.
C．His fantasy childhood memories.	D．His introduction to Father Christmas.

2. Why did the letters take Tolkien a long time to finish?

A．They were sent from Father Christmas.	B．They were wrapped up in good boxes.
C．It was hard to write the different stories.	D．The beautiful pictures were hard to make.

3. What message was included in letters from Father Christmas?

A．Life will be easy if you work hard.	B．It’s no use complaining about life.
C．We should learn to give care to others.	D．Children love presents with pictures.

4. In what way is Tolkien regarded as real Father Christmas?

A．He addressed all his letters to Father Christmas.

B．He showed his love for his children in a special way.

C．He got others to know some people were starving.

D．He discovered the spirit of Father Christmas.

2 . I’m often asked how to study English effectively. I think this means getting the most out of your study time, and that means variety.     1    .

Study Every Day

It’s important to study English every day. However, don’t exaggerate (夸张)!     2    . This habit of studying English every day will help keep English in your brain fresh.

A Little Grammar, a Little Listening, a Little Reading, and a Little Writing.

    3    . Study a little grammar, then do a short listening exercise and then read an article on the same topic. Don’t do too much; twenty minutes on three different types of exercises is plenty!

    4    

Give yourself one grammar goal when reading a new article or watching a new video. For example, try to write down each example of a form you are studying such as the present perfect. Use colored pens to highlight (使.....突出) forms that you are studying.

Use Different Learning Methods

Don’t just use one way to study English. Use many kinds of methods which will make all the parts of your brain help you.     5    . All of these methods together help with your learning.

Find Some Friends

You can practice the exercises together, have conversations together (in English), and, as you study English together, help each other with exercises you may not understand.

A．Forget Grammar

B．Review Grammar as You Watch or Read

C．Here are some simple exercises to help you warm up

D．Here are some basic ideas to help you as you study English

E．Study for thirty minutes every day instead of two hours once a week

F．Make sure that you study a number of areas rather than focusing on just one

G．For example, if you are learning new vocabulary, create a word map, describe a picture, make a list...

3 .     1    You probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessarily so, however. Anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. Here is how:

Plan your time carefully. When planning your work, you should make a list of things that you have to do. After making this list, you should make a schedule of your time. First your time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. Then decide a good, regular time for studying.     2     A weekly schedule may not solve all your problems, but it will force you realize what is happening to your time.

Find a good place to study. Look around the house for a good study area. Keep this space, which may be a desk or simply a corner of your room, free of everything but study materials. No games, radios, or television. When you sit down to study, concentrate on the subject.

Make good use of your time in class.     3     Listening carefully in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what the teacher says.

Study regularly. When you get home from school, go over your notes, review the important points that your teacher is going to discuss the next day, read that material.     4     If you do these things regularly, the material will become more meaningful, and you’ll remember it longer.

Develop a good attitude towards tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. They help you remember your new knowledge. The world won’t end if you don’t pass a test, so don’t be over worried.

    5     You will probably discover many others after you have tried these.

A．There are other methods that might help you with your studying.

B．Don’t forget to set aside enough time for entertainment.

C．Take advantage of class time to listen to everything the teacher says.

D．No one can become a top student unless he or she works hard.

E．Maybe you are an average student.

F．Make full use of class time to take notes of what the teacher says in class.

G．This will help you understand the next class.

4 . 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。

In a class I teach adults. I gave the class homework that was to “go to someone you love within the next week and tell them you love them. It has to be someone you have never said those words to before or at least haven’t shared those words with for a long time.”

It doesn’t sound like a very tough homework until you realize that most of the men in that group were over 35 who were less willing to express their feelings. So this was a very challenging homework for some.

At the beginning of our next class, I asked if someone wanted to share what had happened when they told someone they loved them. I fully expected one of the women to volunteer, as was usually the case, but on this evening one of the men raised his hand. He appeared quite moved and a bit shaken.

As he stood up, he began by saying, “Five years ago, my father and I had a sharp disagreement and really never solved it since then. We avoided seeing each other unless we absolutely had to be at family gatherings. But even then, we hardly spoke to each other, So, last Tuesday by the time I got home I had convinced myself I was going to tell my father I loved him. It was weird (怪异的), but just making that decision seemed to lift a heavy load off my chest.”

“The next morning I was up bright and early. I got to the office early and completed more in two hours than I had the whole day before. At 9: 00 I called my dad to see if I could come over after work. When he answered the phone, I just said, ‘Dad, can I come over after work tonight? I have something to tell you. ’My dad agreed with reluctance (不情愿).”

“At 5: 30. I was at my parents’ house ringing the doorbell, praying (祈祷) that Dad would answer the door. As luck would have it, Dad did answer the door. I didn’t waste any time — I took one step in the door and said, ‘Dad, I just came over to tell you that I love you.’”

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。

“It was as if a change came over my dad.”

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“But that’s not even my point.

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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。

You probably have ever been warned against using certain hand gestures when     1    (travel) abroad. The meanings of hand gestures differ so     2    (great) in different countries. But do you know the relationship between body language     3     groups?

Mark Mofftt, author of The Human Suarm, describes our need to belong to a certain group. We are     4    (safe) in a group than in one person. We trust them, they protect us, and they share     5     same values and beliefs as us. We will even go to war     6    (fight) for our group.

Humans gravitate (吸引) to those people who are     7    (member) of their own group. This is because we like to be able to predict the actions of others and belonging to a group enables this.

Outsiders to our group     8     (be) foreign and unknown. Therefore, they could be     9     (danger), unpredictable or threatening. So it is important to recognize these outsiders to our group.

There are many things help us identify these strangers or outsiders-the clothes they wear and the way they speak. Now, experts know that their body language is also an indicator. In our ancestors’ times, knowing     10     someone is a friend or foe (对手) could mean the difference between total annihilation (灭绝) of their family or the survival of their genes.

6 . Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class fun homework — to draw picture of something for which they were _________.

Most of the class might be _________ economically disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the boliday with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her students’ _________. And they were.

But Douglas made a _________ kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the tescher’s true child of misery (不幸) , weak and unhappy. As other children played in the playground, _________, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those _________ eyes.

Yes, his _________ was different. When _________ to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand, nothing else. Just an ordinary hand.

His strange image captured the _________ of his peers. Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a __________ because farmers raise turkeys. Another suggested a police officer’s because the police protect and __________ people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God for God feeds us. And so the __________ went on—until the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself.

When the children had gone on to other pictures, she walked up to Douglas’ desk, bent down. and asked him whose hand it was.

The little boy looked away and muttered (低声说出). “It’s yours.”

She __________ the times she had taken his hand and __________ with him here and there, although she had the other students. How often had she said, “Take my hand. Douglas. We’ll go outside.” Or “Let me show you how to __________ your pencil.” Or “Let’s do this together.” Douglas was most thankful for his teacher’s hand.

1.

A．eager

B．grateful

C．concerned

D．prepared

2.

A．considered

B．accepted

C．discovered

D．proved

3.

A．tests

B．texts

C．arts

D．answers

4.

A．same

B．different

C．similar

D．right

5.

A．in addition

B．as a result

C．by contrast

D．in other words

6.

A．incredible

B．anxious

C．happy

D．sad

7.

A．holiday

B．picture

C．tradition

D．pain

8.

A．approved

B．employed

C．asked

D．persuaded

9.

A．dream

B．preference

C．imagination

D．hope

10.

A．student

B．doctor

C．cook

D．farmer

11.

A．care for

B．appeal to

C．trade with

D．call on

12.

A．class

B．discussion

C．game

D．action

13.

A．remembered

B．recorded

C．watched

D．researched

14.

A．sang

B．walked

C．talked

D．complained

15.

A．break

B．sell

C．fix

D．hold

7 . It’s important for you teenagers to know how to save money. You know that the money you save can be for rainy days and be used to pay through your college education. If you think it’s a difficult task and don’t know how to do it, please do as the followings.

    1    

My dad always tells me that if one doesn’t respect money, it will never respect you. Hence, it’s important that you keep a record of your daily expenses. Make it a habit to write down all that you have spent. And when you find out the total expenses at the end of the month, you will realize what you have spent more money in doing.    2    .

Open a savings account

Opening a savings account is a better way to save money. You can set a goal; say (for example), the money is for a new notebook or for college, and then save, until you have enough money to buy a notebook or until you go to college.    3    .

Do not carry much cash

Do you have the habit of not leaving a store without buying anything? The only way to stop that is carrying less money around with you. Go to the store with the minimum amount of money, which will not even help you buy a drink.    4    .

Save the changes

Save the changes that you get back. If you have gone to a shop to buy something and get back some changes, then do not spend them.    5    . And you’ll be surprised at the huge amount of money after days.

Follow these tips above, and thus you can save a lot of money. And surely, they’ll help you to be more responsible in your life.

A．Keep a record of your daily expenses

B．In a few days, you’ll get rid of this habit

C．Instead, you can save them in your piggy bank

D．By that time, you will realize the importance of saving money

E．Saving money builds your financial power and personal freedom

F．Next month, you will automatically try and save more in that part

G．Nowadays in the developed and developing countries, people are all working for the sake of earning money

8 . Hansen and his 10-year-old son Chase search the streets of Salt Lake City every weekend for the homeless to take to lunch. They started Project Empathy(共情)four years ago to ________a meal, listen to their stories and figured out how they could ________ help.

“Just start with a smile, a hello. It really just starts with that. If you do it, you can make a connection. A small gesture can have a ________ impact on others less fortunate,” Hansen ________ in an interview.

Some of these shared meals have turned into stronger ________ .Ward, a homeless, was ________ in a flat. He credited the Hansens with helping him ________the difficult process of moving off the streets. “It is great to have friends who make us feel ________ and I’m impressed with the pair,” Ward said.

Father and son’s ________have developed into a passion project that ________ faith and community, which emphasizes the ________ community members can have in uplifting the homeless. They know they can’t settle the homeless ________ alone. They’re hoping empathy will ________.

“My hope for the future is to ________ more connection across our country. We could and we will succeed ________ we have other people join in and help the homeless,” Chase said.

1.

A．buy

B．cook

C．share

D．eat

2.

A．often

B．further

C．also

D．even

3.

A．dramatic

B．different

C．minimum

D．decisive

4.

A．remarked

B．praised

C．joked

D．quoted

5.

A．desires

B．connections

C．motivations

D．opinions

6.

A．provided

B．permitted

C．abandoned

D．housed

7.

A．through

B．for

C．despite

D．to

8.

A．surprised

B．relaxed

C．awesome

D．calm

9.

A．dreams

B．influences

C．experiences

D．efforts

10.

A．assesses

B．compares

C．highlights

D．respects

11.

A．importance

B．task

C．chance

D．role

12.

A．argument

B．problem

C．debt

D．conflict

13.

A．go away

B．catch on

C．fade out

D．give off

14.

A．establish

B．miss

C．exchange

D．maintain

15.

A．before

B．if

C．until

D．so

9 . 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。

Finding Niesha’s Courage

Niesha could not forget the way she had frozen in front of the class today. Mr Roberts had divided the class into groups to do presentations. Today had been Niesha’s turn. However, her hands had shaken so badly that she couldn’t read her notes. Her voice had become softer even to silence. Mr Roberts kindly ended Niesha’s part of the presentation even though she had clearly not finished. He had also asked Niesha to stay after class for a moment.

“Niesha, I know you’re shy, but you worked hard on this project. I’d hate to see you give up on yourself.” Mr Roberts had hesitated, “If I give you another chance tomorrow, do you think you can find, your courage?”

Niesha had nodded, grateful for the chance. She had gone as quickly as she could to her next class. She had kept her head down and hoped the school day would end soon.

When she reached her back steps that afternoon, she could see an inviting light coming from the kitchen windows. Momma was baking.

Momma studied Niesha’s face as she came into the kitchen. “What’s wrong, Niesha?”

Tears shone in Niesha’s brown eyes. She told her the whole story. Momma was silent for a moment, her hands still busy with the cake.

“Why is it that you can talk to me about anything and everything, but you can’t talk to your class?” Momma asked. She set the timer and then said, “Let me show you something.”

Niesha followed Momma to her bedroom. There Momma showed her a book filled with newspaper clippings and pictures. In it there was a blue ribbon that said “First Place” and a picture of herself when she was very young, standing with her parents.

“I won it for public speaking. I started the school year as the shyest girl on the speech team, but I ended the year as the blue ribbon winner. It wasn’t easy because I was lacking in confidence—not sure of myself at all. I worked hard, and mostly I faced my fears. You just need to find your courage.”

注意：
1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

That was the second time someone had told her that today.

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The next day Niesha again walked to the front of the classroom to give her presentation.

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