1 . The Price of a Dream
I grew up poor. We had little money, but plenty of love and attention. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, they could still afford a dream. My dream was athletics.
By the time I was sixteen, I was good at baseball and football. My high school coach was Ollie Jarvis. He not only believed in me, but taught me the difference between having a dream and showing conviction (信念).
One summer a friend recommended me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket — cash for dates with girls, certainly, money for a new bike and new clothes, and the start of savings for a house for my mother.
Then I realized I would have to give up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell Coach Jarvis I wouldn’t be playing. I was afraid of this, but my mother said, “If you make your bed, you have to lie in it.”
When I told Coach Jarvis, he was as mad as I expected him to be. “Your playing days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them,” he said.
I stood before him with my head hanging, trying to think of the words that would explain to him why I dream of buying my mom a house.
“How much are you going to make at this job, son?” he demanded.
“Three point twenty-five an hour,” I replied.
“Well,” he asked, “is $3. 25 an hour the price of a dream?”
That question exposed the difference between wanting something right now and having a goal. I devoted myself to sports that summer, and within the year I was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play rookie-league ball, and offered a $20, 000 contract. I signed with the Denver Broncos in 1984 for $1.7 million, and bought my mother my dream house.
1. Why was the writer grateful to Coach Jarvis?A.Because Coach Jarvis made him set a goal. |
B.Because Coach Jarvis supplied him with new clothes. |
C.Because Coach Jarvis gave him financial support. |
D.Because Coach Jarvis helped him show conviction. |
A.Balance summer baseball and the work schedule. |
B.Refuse the job offer for summer baseball. |
C.Give up summer baseball for the job. |
D.Ask his coach Jarvis for advice. |
A.You must eat the bitter fruit of your own making. |
B.Believe in yourself, but above all be patient. |
C.You must rely on yourself first, then others. |
D.A good beginning makes a good ending. |
A.He failed to buy his mother a house. |
B.He succeeded as a sportsman. |
C.He became a successful businessman. |
D.He made some money in the summer job. |
2 . Pet owners have a big responsibility when it comes to taking care of their furry friends Unfortunately, many pet owners make common mistakes as follows.
● Not providing enough exercise or mental stimulation for your pet
All pets need regular exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy.
● Over feeding
You might think you’re doing your pet a favor by giving them extra treats, but overfeeding can do more harm than good.
● Not socializing your puppy
Socialization is key to a well-behaved and happy dog. Make sure to introduce your puppy to different people, animals and situations.
Pets are great at hiding their pain and discomfort, so it’s important to watch for any change in behavior or appetite. Don’t hesitate to bring something up with your vet if you notice something off.
To help avoid these types of errors,Wanda Morgan, Chief Editor of Workout Lunatic, gives the following tips.
● Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is always the way to go when training your pet. Use treats and verbal praise to encourage good behavior instead of punishment or scolding.
● Addressing underlying anxiety causes
A.Ignoring signs of illness |
B.Not trusting your puppy |
C.It can help them grow confident and well-adjusted |
D.It can lead to obesity and other serious medical conditions |
E.Mental exercise is crucial to your pet as much as physical exercise |
F.Anxiety-based behavior can stem from a lack of attention or stimulation |
G.Without enough physical activity, your pet may become overweight or bored |
Jack sat by the radio at exactly five minutes before seven o’clock. This was a part of his daily routine he never broke. The old man sighed, turned the radio on, and tuned it to a specific frequency. He wanted to contact his best friend, Gerry. With the noise in the house, his step-son (继子) always had an argument with him.
When his wife passed away, Jack’s step-son, David, wanted to persuade a doctor that he was crazy and had dementia (老年痴呆). So, he could get his power of lawyer and then send Jack to a nursing home.
Phillip didn’t understand why Dad wanted Grandpa to leave his home. The next day, Phillip decided to find out what was happening with Grandpa. Phillip bit his lip and moved closer to ask the most important question: “Where is Gerry now?” Grandpa frowned, “It’s been forty-five years, and I still haven’t heard from him, but I haven’t given up hope either. I know my friend will contact me one day by radio at a specific frequency. ” Phillip nodded. He felt that Grandpa was telling the truth.
After listening to Grandpa’s stories about his friend Gerry, Phillip returned home feeling better about Grandpa’s health. However, that evening, Phillip suddenly heard that the doctor would arrive a few minutes before seven o’clock. This time, he realized he needed to take action.
At about seven o’clock, the doctor and David peered into the sitting room and watched Jack sit down and turn on the radio. The static (电流声) was loud enough to hear in their hiding spot. The doctor turned to David. “It seems you’re right about your step-father’s state of mind,” he said.
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。
Just then, a voice spoke over the radio: “Jack, can you hear me?”
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One day, when Jack entered the boy’s bedroom to surprise Phillip, Jack got a surprise.
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1. 活动时间、地点;
2. 活动内容;
3. 你的收获。
注意:1. 词数应为 80 词左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Dear Jack,
I would like to tell you about a recent study tour organized by our school.
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Best regards!
Yours,
Li Hua
Chinese calligraphy (书法) is an art form that
The origins of Chinese calligraphy can be traced back thousands of years to the Shang Dynasty, making it one of the
Calligraphy in China
Different styles of calligraphy have emerged throughout history, each with its own distinct characteristics and artistic conventions. The most famous
Chinese calligraphy has a profound influence
6 . When it comes to my fathering lessons, few adventures compare to the motorcycle trips I’ve shared with my daughter, Ewa.
Our first
On our second day, we
Me: “We don’t know. ”
It
Since we almost
A.sail | B.flight | C.goal | D.journey |
A.avoided | B.chose | C.built | D.promoted |
A.straight | B.twisty | C.main | D.broad |
A.walking | B.running | C.riding | D.laughing |
A.settled | B.stopped | C.landed | D.moved |
A.population | B.rule | C.name | D.position |
A.occurred | B.happened | C.mattered | D.referred |
A.engineer | B.bicyclist | C.chemist | D.motorcyclist |
A.destination | B.reaction | C.exploration | D.explanation |
A.course | B.benefit | C.feature | D.present |
A.never | B.always | C.completely | D.absolutely |
A.satisfied | B.disappointed | C.surprised | D.frightened |
A.out | B.in | C.off | D.down |
A.grew | B.failed | C.waited | D.survived |
A.silent | B.smooth | C.careful | D.energetic |
7 . One recent report found that adults in the US check their phones, on average, 344 times a day—once every four minutes—and spend almost three hours a day on their devices in total. The problem for many of us is that one quick phone-related task leads to a quick check of our email or social media feeds, and suddenly we’ve been trapped into endless scrolling (刷屏).
What we do know is that the simple distraction of checking a phone or seeing a notification (提示) can have negative consequences. This isn’t very surprising; we know that, in general multitasking harms memory and performance. One of the most dangerous examples is phone use while driving. One study found that merely speaking on the phone, not texting, was enough to make drivers slower to react on the road. It’s true for everyday tasks, too. Simply hearing a notification “ding” made participants of another study perform far worse on a task-almost as badly as participants who were speaking or texting on the phone during the task.
In one recent study, for example, researchers asked participants to either put their phones next to them so they were visible (like on a desk), nearby and out of sight (like in a bag or pocket), or in another room. Participants then completed a series of tasks to test their abilities to process and remember information, their problem-solving, and their focus.
They were found to perform far better when their phones were in another room instead of nearby—whether visible, powered on or not. That held true even though most of the participants claimed not to be consciously thinking about their devices.
Our brains may be subconsciously hard at work in preventing the desire from checking our phones, or constantly monitoring the environment to see if we should check our phone (eg. waiting for a notification). Either way, this distracted attention can make doing anything else more difficult. The only “fix”, the researchers found, was putting the device in a different room entirely.
1. What did the recent report in Paragraph I find?A.Multitasking is very dangerous. |
B.Notification is always heard. |
C.People are addicted to mobile phones. |
D.People like doing phone-related tasks. |
A.By making comparisons. |
B.By examining differences. |
C.By following the order of importance. |
D.By analyzing causes and giving examples. |
A.Do anything more difficult. |
B.Use phones to do right things. |
C.Monitor the environment around. |
D.Stay away from phones entirely. |
A.How do We Avoid the Distraction of Phones? |
B.Why Are People Fond of Using Mobile Phones? |
C.What Should We Do When Buying Mobile Phones? |
D.How Do We Do Research by Using Mobile Phones? |
8 . The term “oniomania”, which is used to describe people with obsessive (强迫性的), problematic shopping and spending behaviors, consists of the Greek words “onios”, meaning “for sale”, and “mania”. Also known as Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) and Impulsive Compulsive Buying Disorder (ICBD), oniomania can leave negative impact on your financial health and mental wellbeing if left untreated.
At this point you might be wondering: “What’s the difference between an oniomaniac and someone who likes to shop perhaps a bit too much?” We tend to believe that the two are rather similar. Clinically (从临床上看), however, they are quite easy to separate.
Although people who like shopping will return an item if they do not like it and start budgeting if they run low on money, people suffering from oniomania are no longer able to make reasonable, let alone financially responsible, decisions. They sometimes emotionally dissociate from what they are doing, making their purchases while they are not really sure what to buy. Spending relieves feelings of anxiety and depression, but only temporarily. In a short time, they might become moody, annoyed, and depressed, and their confidence declines sharply.
To a certain extent, spending makes everyone feel good. In 2007, a group of researchers from MIT, Stanford and Carnegie Mellon looked at the brains of American consumers via MRI technology and found that when they purchased desirable objects, their nucleus accumbens — the brain’s pleasure center — would light up, indicating a positive stimulation. This stimulation can take on different forms. For instance, some people get particularly excited when they believe they have gotten a good deal. This, researchers say, is the result of the prefrontal cortex — the decision-making part of our brain — interacting with the insula, the part of our brain that processes pain. According to psychotherapist Joyce Marter, compulsive buyers in the U. S. make an average of 156 impulsive purchases per year. Each purchase sets them back around $81. 75, making for a grand total of $5, 400 per year and a thorough shocking $324, 000 per lifetime. That money could have been invested in a home, an education, or other products that you actually need in order to survive and thrive in the world. Ultimately, though, treating oniomania is about much more than just protecting your finances from your own impulses — it’s also about maintaining your personal mental health and improving your relationships with others.
1. What do we know about oniomania?A.It is a normal behavior. |
B.It influences people’s health. |
C.It means people who like shopping. |
D.It describes people’s difference. |
A.Run out of |
B.Go short of |
C.Look down on |
D.Become rich in |
A.Why many researchers take part in the study. |
B.How everyone makes a wise decision. |
C.How desirable objects are well welcome. |
D.Why shopping makes common people happy. |
A.It is beneficial to education. |
B.It develops our desires. |
C.It keeps our mind healthy. |
D.It is harmful to relationships. |
9 . I had always dreamed of living and working in New York, which promised endless opportunities. But as soon as I arrived, I realized that my journey was going to be filled with countless setbacks and challenges.
My first major failure came when I landed my dream job at a famous company. However, after just a few months, I was let go due to budget cuts. I was shocked and felt like all of my hard work had been for nothing.
Determined to bounce back, I applied for a new job at another company. This time, things seemed to be going better. I was making progress and gaining valuable experience, but then I was suddenly laid off again due to company restructuring.
Feeling defeated and hopeless, I decided to take a break from the job search and focus on self-improvement. I enrolled in courses and attended workshops to learn new skills and expand my knowledge. But even with all of this effort, I still couldn’t find the right job.
One day, while searching online job listings, I found an opportunity that seemed too good to be true. It was a remote position that offered a competitive salary and flexible hours. Without hesitation, I applied and was thrilled when I received an offer letter.
However, as soon as I started working remotely, I realized that it wasn’t the same as being in an office with colleagues (同事) around me. I struggled to communicate effectively and found it difficult to stay motivated without the support of my team.
Despite these challenges, I refused to give up. I reached out to my colleagues and tried to build relationships with them through virtual meetings and social media. With their help and encouragement, I was able to adapt to the new environment and excel in my role. Looking back on my journey, I realized that success is not about avoiding failure, but rather about learning from it and persevering through the tough times. I encouraged others who may be facing similar challenges in their own careers to never give up on their dreams and to keep pushing forward even when things get tough.
1. How did the author feel about his journey when he arrived?A.Better. |
B.Promising. |
C.Tough. |
D.Well-paid. |
A.Company restructuring. |
B.Financial problems. |
C.Being short of skills. |
D.Working attitude. |
A.He wanted them not to give up. |
B.He wanted to get support from them. |
C.He wanted to be better than them. |
D.He wanted to hold a meeting with them. |
A.Perseverant. |
B.Modest. |
C.Imaginative. |
D.Generous. |
10 . San Francisco Fire Engine Tours
San Francisco Winery TourRunning: February 1st through April 30th
This delicious tour goes through the city on its way to Treasure Island where we will stop at the famous Winery SF. Here you can enjoy 4 pours of some of the best wine San Francisco has to offer.(Included in tickets price)
Departing from the Cannery: Tour times upon request.Duration(时长): 2 hours
Price: $90
Back to the Fifties Tour
Running: August 16th through August 31st
This tour transports you back in time to one of San Francisco’s most fantastic periods, the 1950s! Enjoy fun history as we take you through San Francisco for a free taste of ice cream.
Departing from the Cannery: 5:00 pm and 7:30 pmDuration: 2 hours
Price: $90
Spooky Halloween Tour
Running: October 10th through October 31st
Join us for a ride through the historical Presidio district. Authentic fire gear(服装) is provided for your warmth as our entertainers take you to some of the most thrilling parts of San Francisco.
Departing from the Cannery: 6:30 pm and 8:30 pmDuration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Price: Available upon request
Holiday Lights Tour
Running: December 6th through December 23rd
This attractive tour takes you to some of San Francisco’s most cheerful holiday scenes. Authentic fire gear is provided for your warmth as you get into the holiday spirit.
Departing from the Cannery: 7:00 pm and 9:00 pmDuration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Advance reservations required.
1. Which of the tours is available in March?
A.San Francisco Winery Tour. | B.Back to the Fifties Tour. |
C.Spooky Hallowen Tour. | D.Holiday Lights Tour. |
A.Go to Treasure Island. | B.Enjoy the holiday scenes. |
C.Have free ice cream. | D.Visit the Presidio district. |
A.Take some drinks. | B.Set off early in the morning. |
C.Wear warm clothes. | D.Make reservations in advance. |