1 . In 2001, I participated in an expedition to explore the Titanic. Our team used two small deep-sea robots, one blue and one green. My _______ was to ensure the robots’ batteries worked well.

Unfortunately, the green robot _______ a problem on the third day of this ambitious adventure. It got _______ inside the Titanic. Even worse, one of its batteries was damaged. That was _______, as the battery could explode. It could harm the robot and the ship. We had to find a way to get it out.

In the middle of the vast ocean, though, there are no stores to buy _______ . So, we had an idea. We took a coat hanger and put it inside the blue robot. The _______ was to use the hanger’s hook to pull out the green robot.

Accompanied by two fellow crew members, I prepared to go down in a three-man submarine (潜水艇). A machine lifted us and placed us in the _______. Then we started to _______ — 12,500 feet to the ocean floor.

At about 9,000 feet, a crewmate _______ touched some wires. Suddenly, all the submarine’s lights went out. We were in complete ________. It was terrifying, but the skilled pilot swiftly fixed it , and we ________ our journey.

Finally, upon reaching the site, we were ________ by a solemn (庄严的) scene where we started to see suitcases and shoes, serving as ________ reminders of the tragic events. For approximately 12 hours, we managed to ________ the trapped robot with the coat hanger. There was no way we were going to leave it behind — that little robot was part of our ________.

1.

A．interest

B．job

C．attitude

D．achievement

2.

A．understood

B．avoided

C．encountered

D．addressed

3.

A．misled

B．upgraded

C．lost

D．stuck

4.

A．dangerous

B．confusing

C．embarrassing

D．unreliable

5.

A．instructions

B．phones

C．weapons

D．supplies

6.

A．plan

B．question

C．message

D．note

7.

A．ship

B．robot

C．air

D．water

8.

A．swim

B．work

C．sink

D．float

9.

A．intentionally

B．accidentally

C．carefully

D．frequently

10.

A．loneliness

B．tiredness

C．darkness

D．annoyance

11.

A．gave up

B．carried on

C．paid for

D．put off

12.

A．challenged

B．beaten

C．greeted

D．motivated

13.

A．silent

B．temporary

C．friendly

D．comforting

14.

A．destroy

B．free

C．observe

D．repair

15.

A．journey

B．life

C．career

D．team

2 . Running marathons is quite a challenge. Yet for Simon Wheatcroft, who ______ his sight at 18, there’s an extra difficulty. However, Simon, now 29, has not only been ______ in marathons for the past two years with the help of ______ runners but has also learned to run alone outdoors.

Simon’s unique ______ involved slowly memorizing a five-kilometre route by repeatedly walking it alone. He used a smartphone app that ______ audio feedback on his pace and distance. It helped him build a mental map of the route and its ______. “I did make a few ______ early on — like running into posts. But I’m going to ______ where that is next time,” he laughs.

At first running was a challenge that required great ______ for Simon. However, it has now become more natural for him. Compared with most runners, he ______ his running style to be more cautious, using shorter and more careful steps to sense the surroundings.

Despite risks of ______ obstacles, Simon values the freedom and ______ running gives him. He believes what he gets from running alone far outweigh any dangers, which has ______ his confidence and provided inspiration to others.

But for Simon the real motivation for his training come from simply ______ competition, giving him an ______ to run with everyone. “I can’t hide the fact I’m blind,” he says, “but meanwhile I would rather compete with everybody else and not be put into a special group.”

1.

A．caught

B．kept

C．set

D．lost

2.

A．competing

B．learning

C．running

D．working

3.

A．volunteer

B．guide

C．competitor

D．top

4.

A．difficulty

B．advantage

C．approach

D．concern

5.

A．provided

B．recorded

C．analyzed

D．received

6.

A．features

B．highlights

C．obstacles

D．landmarks

7.

A．adventures

B．mistakes

C．trips

D．points

8.

A．come across

B．figure out

C．walk into

D．map out

9.

A．concentration

B．ability

C．memory

D．determination

10.

A．recognized

B．adapted

C．described

D．developed

11.

A．dangerous

B．physical

C．unexpected

D．mental

12.

A．independence

B．motivation

C．happiness

D．strength

13.

A．shown

B．developed

C．won

D．shaken

14.

A．fierce

B．friendly

C．casual

D．equal

15.

A．advantage

B．inspiration

C．opportunity

D．objective

3 . One day a small gap appeared in the cocoon (茧), through which the butterfly would come out. A boy, who _______ passed by, stopped and watched how the butterfly was trying to _________ of the cocoon. It _________ several hours. The butterfly was trying very hard, but the _________ was as little as before. It seemed that the power would _______ the butterfly soon.

The boy decided to _________ the butterfly. He took a penknife and cut the cocoon. The butterfly immediately came out, but it was very small and _________, and the wings were _________ moving.

The boy continued to _________ the butterfly, thinking that now its wings would __________ and it would fly. ________, that did not happen.

The rest of its life the butterfly had to drag its weak body and wings that wouldn’t unfold. It was unable to fly because the boy did not realize that a(an) __________ to force itself through the narrow gap of the cocoon was __________ for the butterfly, so that the life-giving fluid would move from the body to the butterfly’s wings and that the butterfly could fly. Life forced the butterfly to leave its shell so hard that it would gain the ________ to grow and develop.

Just like the butterfly, if we were allowed to live without meeting difficulties, we would not survive. Life gives us __________ to make us braver and stronger.

1.

A．independently

B．joyfully

C．accidentally

D．absolutely

2.

A．give out

B．get out

C．work out

D．take out

3.

A．saved

B．wasted

C．lost

D．took

4.

A．entry

B．escape

C．gap

D．vigour

5.

A．leave

B．trip

C．leap

D．settle

6.

A．check

B．help

C．move

D．cure

7.

A．neat

B．scared

C．soft

D．weak

8.

A．barely

B．slowly

C．suddenly

D．sharply

9.

A．tend

B．restore

C．defend

D．observe

10.

A．divide

B．perform

C．spread

D．gather

11.

A．Thus

B．Instead

C．However

D．Meanwhile

12.

A．talent

B．effort

C．motivation

D．approach

13.

A．essential

B．rewarding

C．flexible

D．cruel

14.

A．fortune

B．assistance

C．guidance

D．power

15.

A．challenges

B．accidents

C．chaos

D．restrictions

4 . My writing career began at the age of ten. That year, my mother gave me my first journal to help me deal with the ______ of my grandmother's death. In many ways, my grandmother was the ______ behind my own writing career.

When she was alive, my grandmother had ______ much emotional pain, but she also knew that writing was her key to ______ . While growing up in Galicia, Poland, during World War I, she ______ both her parents, and then had to care for herself and her eight-year-old sister. She found solace (慰藉) in journal writing.

Many years after her death, I ______ her journal and read every word. The void (空虚感) she had left in my life became stronger as the years progressed and I had my own health issues to ______ , such as being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 47. My ______ caused me to write down my grandmother's life story, based

on the ______ of her journal. Although at times the writing was ______ , it did bring me close to her once again and help me more ______ understand her many hardships.

Keeping journals has helped me ______ emotionally. Whether you're ______ by change, loss or pain, finding the time to write is ______ to the healing process. So why not ______ your pen and write down whatever comes to your mind?

1.

A．secret

B．reason

C．suffering

D．place

2.

A．idea

B．inspiration

C．tip

D．instruction

3.

A．described

B．studied

C．forgotten

D．experienced

4.

A．existence

B．education

C．survival

D．dream

5.

A．lost

B．missed

C．left

D．loved

6.

A．picked up

B．came across

C．took away

D．gave back

7.

A．display

B．make

C．explain

D．handle

8.

A．job

B．failure

C．illness

D．confusion

9.

A．contents

B．suggestions

C．demands

D．pages

10.

A．scary

B．painful

C．vital

D．great

11.

A．happily

B．nearly

C．exactly

D．clearly

12.

A．respond

B．succeed

C．struggle

D．recover

13.

A．tracked

B．affected

C．injured

D．punished

14.

A．important

B．close

C．equal

D．related

15.

A．borrow

B．purchase

C．grab

D．throw

5 . On February 17th, the Clermont County Animal Shelter, Ohio, shared a story. A woman met with her missing dog Will again.

While ________ the shelter’s Facebook post forwarded by friends in her community, Hannah saw a dog named Rome that was to be available at the shelter’s weekend ________ event and that dog looked quite ________.

Hannah explained in her Facebook post that Will, a six-year-old went missing from her home in 2019. Although her family looked everywhere, they couldn’t ________ their missing baby.

A shelter volunteer said, “Just yesterday we ________ a message accompanied by photos with a detailed description of Will’s ________ in the hope that the dog brought to our shelter and renamed Rome was ________ Will!” But Rome was scheduled to be at the Take Me Home event today! Learning this, the volunteer, in a bit of ________ quickly sent a message back that Rome would be at the event! “We would love this family to be ________ and we just had to ________ whether this was Will after all these years!” It turned out a big yes. The volunteer continued, “The ________ story serves as a reminder of the incredible impact that the Internet can have in bringing communities together, especially in times of ________. Thank you all for ________ Will’s post.”

It was nothing short of a ________ and we are sure Hannah and her family are ________ to have their dog back!

1.

A．commenting on

B．checking out

C．speaking of

D．looking for

2.

A．celebration

B．adoption

C．demonstration

D．recommendation

3.

A．dynamic

B．lovely

C．familiar

D．friendly

4.

A．shelter

B．describe

C．forget

D．locate

5.

A．received

B．forwarded

C．left

D．delivered

6.

A．duties

B．achievements

C．owner

D．appearance

7.

A．possibly

B．obviously

C．actually

D．typically

8.

A．hesitation

B．guilt

C．anger

D．panic

9.

A．popular

B．thankful

C．supported

D．reunited

10.

A．guess

B．know

C．discuss

D．doubt

11.

A．heartwarming

B．mind-bending

C．convincing

D．entertaining

12.

A．danger

B．need

C．happiness

D．uncertainty

13.

A．sharing

B．reading

C．revising

D．saving

14.

A．connection

B．treasure

C．wonder

D．success

15.

A．excited

B．motivated

C．amused

D．urged

6 . In 2010, Justin Horner was driving down a busy freeway in Portland, US, when his tire blew out. He _______ to the side of the road and made a _______ indicating his need for help.

Three hours later, _______ a van pulled up and out came a Latino family of four. Regardless of the _______ barrier, they worked together to repair Horner’s car, relying on the daughter’s broken English. One hour later, the car was _______ and the mom pulled out a big jug of water for them to drink and wash their hands. Horner thanked them sincerely and _______ to give what he had in his wallet — a $20 bill — but they _______the offer. Despite their resistance, Horner   _______ and placed the money in the mother’s hand before walking away. A few moments later, their small daughter called out and offered Horner a _______ — a tamale (玉米粉蒸肉)   — which he gratefully accepted.

As they slowly drove off, Horner unwrapped the tamale and discovered his ________ inside. He rushed over to the van to give it back, but the father ________ shook his head, saying only four words, “Today you, tomorrow me.” With a ________, he drove off.

Months later, Horner shared his experience online, which ________ thousands of likes and comments. Horner knows that the phrase, “today you, tomorrow me” wasn’t ________ by that stranger in the van. He said it’s a common expression in Mexico, where he believes the family was from. However, the idea behind it is ________.

1.

A．came in

B．moved on

C．pulled up

D．dropped out

2.

A．note

B．sign

C．call

D．deal

3.

A．notably

B．eventually

C．secretly

D．immediately

4.

A．race

B．traffic

C．nationality

D．language

5.

A．examined

B．powered

C．cleaned

D．fixed

6.

A．hesitated

B．attempted

C．refused

D．pretended

7.

A．declined

B．appreciated

C．withdrew

D．accepted

8.

A．promised

B．questioned

C．insisted

D．complained

9.

A．snack

B．pie

C．soup

D．fruit

10.

A．wallet

B．gift

C．money

D．key

11.

A．simply

B．carefully

C．truly

D．slowly

12.

A．wave

B．bow

C．sigh

D．touch

13.

A．confirmed

B．updated

C．made

D．drew

14.

A．expressed

B．practiced

C．invented

D．promoted

15.

A．regional

B．universal

C．funny

D．creative

7 . It was dark and I was standing in front of a stranger’s house. Rescue box in hand, leather gloves under arm, my head was full of ________ to follow. It would be my first test as a volunteer wildlife ________ since I’d completed the training course last month. A man called that afternoon: a bird of a/an ________ species was being attacked by a flock of crows in his garden. He scared them off and grabbed their ________.

After being shown in, I lifted the edge of the shoebox ________ to see a little bird standing to attention on very long, thin legs. The bird seemed ________ and troubled, so I didn’t grab it by hand but just ________ the whole shoebox into my rescue box.

Back home, I couldn’t see any obvious ________ of injury: no blood, no broken bone, no evidence of a concussion (脑震荡). I hadn’t seen this bird species before, so I searched the Internet for a likeness. After a while, I found a/an ________: a rufous fantail (红尾扇尾鹟). I phoned a bird specialist, who told me this species ________ insects on the wing, so keeping it longer than overnight would only do it harm.

Half an hour later, I was back to where I’d rescued it. I________ the bird up as high as I could to give it a good lift-off: the little bird ________ swiftly into the darkness without a pause. It would look after itself just as before, and be ________ enough to catch some insects as food and refill its energy without any ________.

My first rescue had ended in a ________ release.

1.

A．enthusiasm

B．instructions

C．opinions

D．explanations

2.

A．hunter

B．scholar

C．researcher

D．rescuer

3.

A．unknown

B．endangered

C．common

D．extinct

4.

A．enemy

B．companion

C．relative

D．victim

5.

A．casually

B．accidentally

C．slightly

D．suddenly

6.

A．aimless

B．tireless

C．restless

D．harmless

7.

A．transferred

B．delivered

C．distributed

D．released

8.

A．cause

B．sign

C．solution

D．message

9.

A．copy

B．alternative

C．match

D．entry

10.

A．feeds

B．wraps

C．traps

D．hunts

11.

A．held

B．caught

C．brought

D．took

12.

A．carried off

B．flew off

C．broke off

D．set off

13.

A．lucky

B．strong

C．delicate

D．kind

14.

A．doubt

B．order

C．notice

D．delay

15.

A．legal

B．generous

C．successful

D．creative

8 . I was sixty-eight years old and retired when our church joined a prison service group. We went on a tour of the women prison. The metal doors gave me a sense of _________. I knew I couldn’t stand being locked behind those doors, _________ as a volunteer who knew she was getting out.

Then Margo, a young but experienced volunteer in the prison, _________ me to be her partner. She felt she could _________ the women by speaking to their needs. Her positive attitude gradually built my _________, and I accepted her invitation.

Later, Margo and I scheduled our first visit. _________, when we arrived at the prison, the women _________ to come out as they were watching TV. And when I arrived the next week for the second visit, I was told Margo couldn’t _________! How was I supposed to deal with them when she was absent? Waiting alone _________, I almost jumped at the sound of the door unlocking. One by one, the women in orange entered the room. I saw daughters, mothers, and grandmothers. They had all once made bad decisions but they wanted to __________. Suddenly, I felt no fear and couldn’t wait to share __________ words with these women. Before I knew it, our meeting had ended and the women were __________ me.

Fifteen years have passed now and I __________ to go weekly to the prison. The greatest __________ is to hear them say “thanks, Granny Bev,” as they follow the guard back to their rooms, and I go through the __________ doors that once brought me fear.

1.

A．fear

B．curiosity

C．surprise

D．sadness

2.

A．rarely

B．especially

C．even

D．just

3.

A．invited

B．appointed

C．allowed

D．hired

4.

A．control

B．influence

C．cheat

D．evaluate

5.

A．capacity

B．patience

C．confidence

D．reputation

6.

A．Moreover

B．Therefore

C．Otherwise

D．However

7.

A．planned

B．refused

C．managed

D．remembered

8.

A．stay

B．speak

C．come

D．walk

9.

A．nervously

B．excitedly

C．expectantly

D．angrily

10.

A．survive

B．escape

C．relax

D．change

11.

A．encouraging

B．interesting

C．polite

D．sharp

12.

A．congratulating

B．asking

C．thanking

D．observing

13.

A．claim

B．struggle

C．forget

D．continue

14.

A．satisfaction

B．confusion

C．disappointment

D．amusement

15.

A．hidden

B．same

C．spiritual

D．wooden

9 . When John asked his daughters which sculptures they like best, they shouted excitedly, “The Story birds!”. These birds are the _______ of Robin and John. Robin explains, “Made from plain clay (黏土), the colorful ceramic birds stand on metal legs. There is a little _______ in it. Together, we make something better.”

At John’s house, art is a family _______. Robin brings style to their ceramics. John crafts the metal elements of the sculptures, Their daughters, Ruby, Eliza and Carmella, help too. “The girls _______ into bodies,” says John, “Everyone contributes to the works, so every sculpture is a symbol of our _______ effort.”

There are lots of _______ to turn a clay into a bird. First, John breaks the clay and _______ it until about one-quarter inch thick. He covers it so that it won’t dry out and _______. Then, Robin _______. She thins the clay here and there, pushing in and out to make the bird’s body. John adds fresh clay on the drier clay and Robin ________ the body with bright colors. Then it is Ruby’s turn. She sculpts it. Eventually, the bird will go into an oven for firing-baking and ________. Robin programs the oven so that the temperature ________ bit by bit. Total oven time can be 20 hours. “That may be a long time.but the ________ you heat the clay, the more likely it is to crack.” Robin says.

Soon, the bird stands ________ on its feet, John shows it to his families. “I did the carving!” Ruby says excitedly. The girls gather for a closer look. The________expressions on their faces tell a story — they love making art together.

1.

A．memories

B．creations

C．copies

D．reforms

2.

A．magic

B．challenge

C．reward

D．effort

3.

A．regulation

B．guidance

C．affair

D．decision

4.

A．look

B．move

C．come

D．carve

5.

A．joint

B．real

C．final

D．serious

6.

A．highlights

B．steps

C．ideas

D．benefits

7.

A．rolls

B．fires

C．paints

D．brushes

8.

A．disappear

B．enlarge

C．crack

D．explode

9.

A．takes over

B．runs out

C．tests out

D．turns over

10.

A．washes

B．decorates

C．refreshes

D．strengthens

11.

A．resting

B．cycling

C．striking

D．hardening

12.

A．drops

B．changes

C．stabilizes

D．rises

13.

A．hotter

B．tougher

C．faster

D．deeper

14.

A．quietly

B．closely

C．temporarily

D．firmly

15.

A．sensitive

B．innocent

C．enthusiastic

D．gentle

10 . Ahmed was a middle-class businessman and used to go to his office in a car that he had bought seven years ago. Despite being _________ stronger than most of his co-workers, he was _________. Ahmed always wanted more than he had. Whenever he got into his car, he would start finding _________ with it, and drown in self-pity for being so poor.

One weekday, Ahmed left his home to go to his office. It was raining heavily. Ahmed drove _________, for he had to be careful with his _________ car. Then, a man on a motorbike grabbed his _________. The man was _________to keep the bike steady in the thunderstorm. Ahmed was _________ the fact that he was travelling safe and dry in his car. He said to himself, “I’m travelling _________ without getting affected by the rain, while this person is in serious difficulty. I am more __________ than him.”

The day passed quickly. When Ahmed drove back home, the rain had stopped. He saw a homeless man sleeping on the wet sidewalk.

Ahmed remained __________ that night, lost in deep thought. Happiness was around him, yet he always ________ about his life. Neither his car, his house nor status was depressing; what was saddening him was his __________. He knew he had to __________ his thoughts. That day, he __________ an important lesson — happiness comes from optimism!

1.

A．physically

B．spiritually

C．intellectually

D．financially

2.

A．annoyed

B．ashamed

C．dissatisfied

D．discouraged

3.

A．things

B．faults

C．money

D．chance

4.

A．slowly

B．dangerously

C．absent-mindedly

D．self-confidently

5.

A．small

B．old

C．lovely

D．electric

6.

A．balance

B．breath

C．attention

D．imagination

7.

A．longing

B．marching

C．wandering

D．struggling

8.

A．aware of

B．excited about

C．anxious for

D．surprised by

9.

A．freely

B．comfortably

C．quickly

D．frequently

10.

A．hopeful

B．impressive

C．content

D．advanced

11.

A．awake

B．curious

C．disappointed

D．silent

12.

A．cared

B．wondered

C．worried

D．complained

13.

A．attitude

B．intention

C．identity

D．memory

14.

A．share

B．change

C．follow

D．appreciate

15.

A．missed

B．gave

C．learnt

D．observed