1 . Jerry, 81 years old, set out from Big Pine, California, on February 24th to return to his home in Gardnerville, Nevada. _________, he was trapped alone in his car in a heavy snow for nearly a _________.

The temperatures dropped from 35F to15F overnight, and many areas saw _________amounts of snow — an unusual occurrence for a state that’s not used to _________ winters.

Jerry survived by _________ the few snacks he had in his car. He _________ his window occasionally to eat snow. A hotel bath towel was the only thing Jerry had to keep himself   _________

On February 28, the Inyo County Search and Rescue team received “a call for a _________person”. Then, on March 2, they succeeded in locating Jerry’s car partially buried in _________. The crew loaded Jerry onboard and transported him directly to __________ care.

Jerry was only in the hospital for a few hours and afterward was returned to his __________ in Gardnerville. According to his grandson Christian, he was __________ well.

Christian hopes his grandfather’s miraculous (奇迹般的) rescue can serve as a warning to others about just how __________ winter travel can be. But above all, “if someone gets __________, don’t give up hope,” said Christian. “The human body is   __________   for what it can endure (忍耐).”

1.

A．Luckily

B．Unexpectedly

C．Undoubtedly

D．Obviously

2.

A．week

B．month

C．day

D．year

3.

A．little

B．small

C．large

D．moderate

4.

A．warm

B．dull

C．long

D．freezing

5.

A．eating

B．smelling

C．selling

D．counting

6.

A．turn down

B．rolled down

C．took down

D．pushed down

7.

A．safe

B．warm

C．quiet

D．happy

8.

A．talented

B．hopeless

C．missing

D．special

9.

A．sand

B．ice

C．dust

D．snow

10.

A．medical

B．temporary

C．private

D．daily

11.

A．shop

B．company

C．home

D．car

12.

A．playing

B．behaving

C．sleeping

D．recovering

13.

A．entertaining

B．dangerous

C．unforgettable

D．annoying

14.

A．trapped

B．injured

C．confused

D．arrested

15.

A．healthy

B．interesting

C．complicated

D．amazing

2 . Yesterday, Sophie, who gained fame for surviving two horrific accidents in her childhood, announced on the Internet that she is expecting her first child. “The biggest_________of all will be arriving in September!” she wrote.

Friends, family and supporters were quick to_________the mum-to-be with love and _________in the comment section.

“Oh Sophie, you have been a part of our consciousness since you were little. I have followed your _________from each tragedy along your journey. My wife and I were _________by your life experiences but the strength _________by you is most impressive. You darling, are a(n)_________and now an inspiring mum. We are all_________for you both.” Sophie’s friend said.

Sophie and her husband Joseph have_________each other since they were six years old, but didn’t start dating until after __________from their universities. They took their__________to the next level and became married in 2023.

“She has always been the__________person I’ve ever known. I could know from our first handshake, a very firm hold,” Joseph told the interviewer “Strong, confident and generous, those three words best__________Sophie. That’s what I__________when I’m with her.”

Now they are eagerly__________the arrival of their own happiness. Hearty congratulations to the expectant parents-to-be!

1.

A．gift

B．chance

C．luck

D．debate

2.

A．cast

B．generate

C．connect

D．shower

3.

A．options

B．reactions

C．expressions

D．congratulations

4.

A．recovery

B．transformation

C．incident

D．sorrow

5.

A．annoyed

B．concerned

C．shocked

D．satisfied

6.

A．offered

B．shown

C．detected

D．acknowledged

7.

A．operator

B．soldier

C．general

D．superhero

8.

A．delighted

B．relieved

C．advanced

D．depressed

9.

A．devoted

B．known

C．associated

D．affected

10.

A．qualifying

B．graduating

C．attending

D．applying

11.

A．occupation

B．appointment

C．relationship

D．cooperation

12.

A．happiest

B．kindest

C．brightest

D．strongest

13.

A．describe

B．match

C．write

D．read

14.

A．react

B．hear

C．see

D．improve

15.

A．celebrating

B．welcoming

C．enjoying

D．predicting

3 . I found a brown bag outside after our move. “Grass Seed,” it said in big letters. My husband and I _________ the seeds all over the dirty yard in front of our new house. “I have no idea if they will _________,” I told him, “but it’s worth a shot.” Just like our _________ to move to the rural Arizona.

Near our new house sat a charming cottage, which was _________ to tourists. I got a job offer to _________ the cottage. I’d worked in hotels for years, so when offered the _________, I jumped at it. Still, it was a big change. I _________ that it would be a right move.

While we waited for our grass to grow — or not — we _________ settled into our new house through our efforts. We made it a cozy home, despite the _________ in the front yard, which was still bare now. Meanwhile, many of the cottage guests became __________, and I got to know them well. I felt __________ to make their stays memorable. Perhaps I was better at that than __________.

But after a monsoon (季风) swept through, I woke up to a beautiful morning and looked out the window. There was no grass growing in the sunlight. __________, our yard was covered in a rainbow of zinnias (百日菊)! The front yard turned out even better than I could have __________, just like our new life. And it remains a powerful __________ of the beauty that awaits us in our new chapter.

1.

A．sought

B．spread

C．collected

D．removed

2.

A．remain

B．last

C．dry

D．root

3.

A．need

B．intention

C．decision

D．agreement

4.

A．rented

B．given

C．sold

D．introduced

5.

A．green

B．advertise

C．fill up

D．look after

6.

A．help

B．chance

C．service

D．accommodation

7.

A．pretended

B．decided

C．understood

D．prayed

8.

A．naturally

B．hardly

C．gradually

D．temporarily

9.

A．uncertainty

B．potential

C．danger

D．untidiness

10.

A．locals

B．employers

C．regulars

D．gardeners

11.

A．proud

B．grateful

C．curious

D．stressed

12.

A．house renting

B．yard cleaning

C．keeping house

D．growing grass

13.

A．Otherwise

B．Instead

C．Besides

D．Therefore

14.

A．imagined

B．designed

C．remembered

D．appreciated

15.

A．test

B．memory

C．reminder

D．choice

4 . For the past 18 years, my daughter has been around me all the time. Now that she is in college, the _______ of our relationship has totally changed and our relationship is completely _______. I’m not going to be there every morning to have breakfast with her. I won’t know when she’s mad or when she’s happy. Here’s a little story of our new _______.

A week ago, my daughter wanted to _______ so she called me during the day as I was in meetings. I _______her later on, but she was in class. At midnight, she reached out _______ to ask if we could talk. Well, guess what? I was _______ . I thought we would talk the next day, but she was not   _______ .

Research shows that parents are _______ when their children are grown up, but for me that is when I start to get concerned. I am always left to________ , how can I, as a parent, remain ________to my daughter to guide, support and love through life's changes?   

We may have to ________ the way we communicate. My daughter encouraged me to go digital. That’s how I ventured into the world of social media, following her updates and occasionally sharing my own experiences. Through this   ________ presence, the physical gap is ________and I feel I still have an active role in her life. This experience serves as a reminder that ________, however scary, holds the promise of growth in our shared journey.

1.

A．problem

B．progress

C．goal

D．context

2.

A．cold

B．special

C．different

D．casual

3.

A．normal

B．idea

C．approach

D．solution

4.

A．catch up

B．take over

C．check out

D．break away

5.

A．visited

B．touched

C．tried

D．emailed

6.

A．by taxi

B．by text

C．in private

D．in person

7.

A．stupid

B．angry

C．excited

D．asleep

8.

A．available

B．interested

C．ready

D．guilty

9.

A．saddest

B．busiest

C．happiest

D．best

10.

A．decide

B．wonder

C．investigate

D．distinguish

11.

A．kind

B．appreciative

C．sensitive

D．relevant

12.

A．voice

B．ignore

C．shift

D．continue

13.

A．human

B．virtual

C．physical

D．permanent

14.

A．widened

B．formed

C．broken

D．bridged

15.

A．college

B．relationship

C．change

D．communication

5 . My son Timmy was born with several rare developmental disabilities. By age 13, he had had at least 10 surgeries on his legs and feet. Balancing and walking was very ________ for Timmy, and he needed a great deal of help with mobility.

Meeting Janice, who ________ treat Timmy, changed Timmy’s life. Janice and Timmy ________ an immediate bond. That bond led us to get our Larry, the biggest dog I’ve ever seen. Janice, being so ________ with my son and her dogs, knew Timmy and Larry would make a perfect ________.Larry, not usually easy to bond with, was ________ like glue to my son the minute they walked in the door.

Larry has changed Timmy, s life so much for the better. Not only does Larry give my son ________ for his mobility issues by keeping him steady on his feet and protecting him from ________, but he is also his best friend. If Timmy is sleeping, Larry does not ________ his side. If Timmy does not feel ________, Larry still will not leave his side, even to ________ or go out.

Larry slows to Timmy’s pace and watches every ________ he makes. They walk along together in perfect steps. It is truly ________ to watch the two of them together. This year, Timmy and Larry began their journey in high school together. The ________ that Larry gives Timmy is priceless. Larry is always there to support Timmy for mobility, for falling, for companionship, and is his best ________.

1.

A．suitable

B．difficult

C．easy

D．perfect

2.

A．used to

B．seemed to

C．had to

D．failed to

3.

A．motivated

B．pushed

C．anticipated

D．formed

4.

A．disappointed

B．strict

C．careful

D．familiar

5.

A．judgement

B．day

C．match

D．task

6.

A．dressed

B．stuck

C．pulled

D．invited

7.

A．support

B．message

C．highlight

D．news

8.

A．bleeding

B．falling

C．following

D．screaming

9.

A．take

B．come

C．leave

D．see

10.

A．sad

B．excited

C．angry

D．well

11.

A．eat

B．drive

C．read

D．laugh

12.

A．plan

B．decision

C．move

D．conclusion

13.

A．amazing

B．shocking

C．boring

D．annoying

14.

A．exercise

B．security

C．account

D．tension

15.

A．doctor

B．journey

C．school

D．friend

6 . I quit social media in college. This is how my life has changed.

I’m a 19-year-old college student. In the past, I ________ entire days, weeks and months on my phone. Despite being in constant ________ with people, I had never been more alone. Just like any toxic relationship, it was time for a________.

I determined to try a year ________ social media. Thus began the official________. I began to quit various apps that stole hours of our waking lives. When I started the challenge, it was ________at first to resist the muscle memory of opening the ________. So, every time I wanted to open one, I would either ________ or text someone instead. If I had burning ________I wanted to share, I would set them down. If I desired ________ and wanted to check in with loved ones, I would text.

       By the first month, the ________ to open the forbidden apps disappeared completely. I soon noticed some differences in how I ________. On one five-hour car ride with friends, the only time I unlocked my ________ was to control the music. This car ride became an incredible________ to talk with my friends. We sang along to classic rock and made plans for our trip.
       This year has been a nice break from online life and a reminder of the beauty of a(n) ________world.1.

A．checked

B．spent

C．handled

D．dragged

2.

A．communication

B．struggle

C．competition

D．cooperation

3.

A．turnover

B．workout

C．breakup

D．build-up

4.

A．from

B．with

C．for

D．off

5.

A．approval

B．challenge

C．presentation

D．performance

6.

A．difficult

B．natural

C．effective

D．normal

7.

A．books

B．computer

C．apps

D．diary

8.

A．complain

B．defend

C．journal

D．blame

9.

A．measures

B．honour

C．curiosity

D．thoughts

10.

A．socialization

B．stimulation

C．recognition

D．attention

11.

A．inspiration

B．function

C．reality

D．enthusiasm

12.

A．survived

B．appeared

C．considered

D．behaved

13.

A．phone

B．car

C．camera

D．suitcase

14.

A．entrance

B．contrast

C．opportunity

D．innovation

15.

A．primary

B．offline

C．unusual

D．regular

7 . Years ago, just as I do every winter, I was bagging up the clothing my sons had outgrown. It is always my _________ to re-purpose those things that do nothing more than _________ space.

I found an ugly pair of hand-knitted socks. I had to _________ — garbage or donation? Not being unusable, they were simply _________ to look at. I put them in the garbage, but minutes later, I took them back.

Later that afternoon, _________ up the car with clothes, I drove to a local shelter. As I distributed them, I _________ into the bag and pulled out the last of the donations — the ugly socks. _________, I held them in my hand as the crowd of the homeless went away, each with a _________ smile. Just as I was about to drop the socks back into the empty bag, _________myself for even bringing them along for the __________, a teenage boy walked up to me. “Can I have these socks?” he asked. A little __________ that I hadn’t anything left to give him except for these socks, I replied, “Of course.” “Thank you!” he said__________. “These socks remind me of my grandmother. She used to knit stuff like this for me!”

Not only were his feet __________ that day but so was his heart — and mine. To this day, the socks continue to bring me __________. It’s a proof that there is happiness in life’s simplest things, and we’ll never know how much we get until we’ve __________ those things with others.

1.

A．worry

B．beauty

C．hope

D．secret

2.

A．take up

B．leave

C．make

D．free up

3.

A．compare

B．decide

C．record

D．explore

4.

A．wonderful

B．clean

C．uncommon

D．unpleasant

5.

A．painting

B．washing

C．loading

D．lifting

6.

A．turned

B．ran

C．put

D．reached

7.

A．Secretly

B．Fortunately

C．Generally

D．Sincerely

8.

A．tight

B．strange

C．grateful

D．winning

9.

A．caring for

B．living up to

C．putting up with

D．laughing at

10.

A．show

B．ride

C．sale

D．space

11.

A．frightened

B．satisfied

C．disappointed

D．surprised

12.

A．bravely

B．happily

C．anxiously

D．angrily

13.

A．warmed

B．hurt

C．fixed

D．whitened

14.

A．money

B．peace

C．luck

D．joy

15.

A．shared

B．divided

C．supported

D．collected

8 . One November day, two weeks before Thanksgiving, my mom was travelling through Kentucky when her old car had trouble. She pulled over, ________ and helpless. Then, a truck carrying chickens pulled up behind her. After the driver knew the ________, he told my mom to leave her car there, convinced her to get in his truck and ________ her to his home.

Seeing my mom, the driver’s wife didn’t ask any questions, but welcomed her ________ and treated her to a delicious dinner. After dinner, the driver and his friends went back to the road and ________ my mom’s car. She was so surprised by the whole situation that she didn’t get their names. Nor did she ________ why these strangers took the time to help her get to ________, introduce her to the driver’s beautiful family with such kindness, and then get her back on the road for free.

Two weeks later, my mom wanted to ________ the family for what they did for her. She ________ to send the family a check for $ 550 and a letter of thanks. She ________ it to “The Chicken Farmer, Bonnieville, Kentucky”, and to her ________,not only the mail carrier got it to the right place, but she received a letter with an amazing story.

It ________ that the money she sent them was the exact amount they ________ to keep their chicken farm from being sold. They took the money, ________ their debt and bought a Thanksgiving dinner with the rest.

Their actions ________ illustrated the meaning of Thanksgiving.

1.

A．excited

B．anxious

C．rude

D．proud

2.

A．trouble

B．change

C．power

D．business

3.

A．wished

B．invited

C．caused

D．permitted

4.

A．coldly

B．angrily

C．formally

D．warmly

5.

A．rented

B．painted

C．fixed

D．washed

6.

A．know

B．wonder

C．trust

D．remember

7.

A．strength

B．safety

C．thought

D．health

8.

A．thank

B．blame

C．visit

D．praise

9.

A．refused

B．forgot

C．decided

D．agreed

10.

A．answered

B．addressed

C．stamped

D．devoted

11.

A．horror

B．shame

C．puzzlement

D．amazement

12.

A．turned out

B．set out

C．seemed

D．mattered

13.

A．offered

B．afforded

C．needed

D．raised

14.

A．avoided

B．paid

C．collected

D．borrowed

15.

A．truly

B．rarely

C．suddenly

D．toughly

9 . In late January, returning home from a day in town, my husband and I were greeted by a couple of Willie Wagtails sitting on a hanging basket on our balcony, probably planning to build a nest. Another day away, we came home to find a simple ________ which had started on the hanging basket, right in front of our toilet door. We didn’t have the heart to ________ it, so the “building” ________, with the pair of Willie Wagtails flying in with building materials. Finally after a week, a beautiful nest built with ________ materials was completed.

The next day an egg ________ in their nest, followed by anther two during the week. We were such disturbance to them, having to use the toilet next to their ________.

Two weeks passed and three baby chicks were hatched (孵出). The ________ task began for the parents to find ________ to bring back to their babies. Both Willie Wagtails would fly in and out during the day. It was amazing how ________ the babies were growing.

We were constantly ________ if we came near their nest, and often got our hair pulled just as a ________ to keep our distance. Going to the toilet late one night, I ________ their nest. How lovely it is to see three little ________ and bodies lying neatly side by side, sound asleep, with just their hearts ________ — their little bodies rising and falling with each breath. They were so ________, and I was so lucky to be able to share this special moment.

1.

A．fence

B．door

C．picture

D．construction

2.

A．decorate

B．keep

C．move

D．hang

3.

A．wore out

B．fell down

C．went ahead

D．gave out

4.

A．various

B．rare

C．second-hand

D．man-made

5.

A．broke

B．appeared

C．caught

D．rolled

6.

A．outline

B．routine

C．nest

D．reserve

7.

A．meaningless

B．luckless

C．doubtless

D．tireless

8.

A．water

B．food

C．grass

D．clothes

9.

A．strangely

B．quickly

C．painfully

D．curiously

10.

A．protected

B．confused

C．attracted

D．scolded

11.

A．chance

B．solution

C．warning

D．greeting

12.

A．looked for

B．looked into

C．got on

D．took on

13.

A．insects

B．heads

C．wings

D．tails

14.

A．beating

B．hitting

C．striking

D．sinking

15.

A．full

B．popular

C．careful

D．peaceful

10 . The Pros and Cons of AI

What is artificial intelligence (AI)?

I recently spoke with Kai-Fu Lee, a famous expert on AI in China. He was in the United States to make a(n)________at a technology conference in Laguna Beach, California.

Lee became very well-known for_________the world’s first speaker-independent, continuous speech recognition system, which can translate the spoken words into text by computers. “I became interested in AI,” he said, “because of a______about this thing that replaces (取代) or improves our brain.”

“Will AI______humans in the future?” I asked. “To a certain degree,” Lee responded. “But they cannot do jobs that require______like pity and love or that need creativity. AI today is only good at particular tasks that need to be______over and over again. So it is still too early for people to______the future of our jobs.”

Lee gave ______to young people who are interested in learning more about the rapidly developing______. “Get started,” he said. “The basic programing language for AI is Python. The Internet and free online courses_______plenty of ways to learn Python. That is the first step for those who are______to make researches into it.”

“Books are another great way to advance your knowledge. Always have a programing book ____to read,” Lee said. “Learning from books and online programs is truly the quickest way to get started.”

Lee ______ that AI could cause _______if it is used for the wrong purposes. But, he added, “It also offers a huge world of ______.”

1.

A．introduction

B．speech

C．difference

D．performance

2.

A．developing

B．finding

C．discovering

D．buying

3.

A．worry

B．puzzlement

C．curiosity

D．doubt

4.

A．find

B．finish

C．create

D．replace

5.

A．experiences

B．memories

C．feelings

D．skills

6.

A．repeated

B．reviewed

C．explained

D．designed

7.

A．struggle with

B．worry about

C．think about

D．dream of

8.

A．space

B．praise

C．money

D．advice

9.

A．knowledge

B．world

C．technology

D．business

10.

A．offer

B．need

C．get

D．gain

11.

A．supposed

B．willing

C．expected

D．likely

12.

A．interesting

B．easy

C．useful

D．handy

13.

A．objected

B．considered

C．recognized

D．doubted

14.

A．dangers

B．chances

C．difficulties

D．benefits

15.

A．ideas

B．jobs

C．opportunities

D．challenges