1 . A New Friend and Perspective (视角)

I picked up the phone, slowly dialing the number to her house. All I could think was what we could possibly have a conversation about. _________! I didn’t think I could have anything in common with someone who is 50 years older than me.

“Your grandmother won’t be around forever,” my mom said,_________ I just did what she told me and painfully _________ my grandmother. What I didn’t know was that the phone call would change my attitude to life and my grandmother.

When she answered the _________, I planned to have a small conversation. Instead, she invited me to lunch. _________, I replied with a “That sounds great.”

When I_________ the phone, I immediately regretted agreeing to the lunch date. How was I going to fit this _________my busy schedule of homework, games, and friends? It was not my ideal Saturday, but I sucked it up and _________ anyway. Me and my grandmother… nothing to talk about.

_________, my Saturday morning wasn’t painful. I was interested in listening about her recent trip to Europe and how she saw the famous Eiffel Tower. She told me stories about her sewing class and her friends. I wasn’t aware that 60-year-old people had a social life. It turned out that her life wasn’t as __________as I thought. For once, I was __________without friends and without my cell phone. We planned to meet again at her house. This time, my mom didn’t have to __________me.

During the next visit, we sorted through three shoeboxes of photographs. There was an interesting story for each one. I learned that as humans, we __________ human experiences, no matter what age.

Ever since I made the first phone call to my grandmother, we have talked at least once a week. I regret not calling her __________. Her advice has taught me things that can’t be learned in a textbook. She taught me to be open to new things, to enjoy the simple things, and to appreciate what life has given me. I have __________a friend, a mentor (导师), and a new perspective.

1.

A．Nothing

B．Something

C．Everything

D．Anything

2.

A．but

B．for

C．or

D．so

3.

A．left

B．called

C．visited

D．helped

4.

A．phone

B．door

C．letter

D．question

5.

A．Hopefully

B．Surprisingly

C．Hesitantly

D．Willingly

6.

A．picked up

B．put up

C．hung up

D．took up

7.

A．up

B．on

C．with

D．into

8.

A．stopped

B．waited

C．went

D．returned

9.

A．Hopelessly

B．Surprisingly

C．Funnily

D．Naturally

10.

A．hard

B．busy

C．rich

D．boring

11.

A．curious

B．content

C．active

D．proud

12.

A．beg

B．follow

C．thank

D．understand

13.

A．doubt

B．share

C．tell

D．enjoy

14.

A．later

B．more often

C．earlier

D．less often

15.

A．remembered

B．brought

C．changed

D．gained

2 . Before entering university, Wang Jiayi had never stepped onto a soccer field. Sports wasn’t really her _______ before college.

However, her perspective changed after witnessing the passion and heat of a male soccer match at university. Absorbed by the sport, Wang eagerly wanted to _______. But the _______ of a women’s soccer team at the university meant she could only join the male soccer team in a management capacity.

However, the following year, she took effort to _______ a women’s soccer team in her university. Recruiting team members proved to be _______. Wang visited the campus sports ground each morning to approach girls out exercising. She also sought out potential players from the women’s basketball and volleyball teams. Some girls joined out of _______, but their interest in soccer was limited. So she and the coach had to _______ them both before and during training sessions. To her delight, their attitudes gradually began to shift.

In June, Wang joined a local team, where she made an interesting _______: None of the team members were married. It seems that marriage and motherhood often prevent women from pursuing their personal development —not only affecting their choice of career but also _______ the realization of their own personal value.

But something did __________: before this new semester begins, incoming freshmen are already seeking her out to join the women’s soccer team.

1.

A．focus

B．talent

C．hope

D．virtue

2.

A．get away

B．get involved

C．get around

D．get down

3.

A．importance

B．existence

C．absence

D．performance

4.

A．establish

B．sponsor

C．train

D．conduct

5.

A．disappointing

B．confusing

C．interesting

D．challenging

6.

A．kindness

B．curiosity

C．pity

D．gratitude

7.

A．appreciate

B．criticize

C．motivate

D．persuade

8.

A．comment

B．judgement

C．reflection

D．observation

9.

A．disturbing

B．chasing

C．bringing

D．improving

10.

A．recover

B．happen

C．change

D．approach

3 . All my friends had made the football cheerleading team except me. My name was _______ from the list. I still sat with them at lunch, still laughed at their jokes, _______ I felt as if I didn’t belong. I fought back tears, wanting to be strong.

Knowing that next year would bring a new round of try-outs, I started practicing and was determined to see my name on the list. However, my dad suggested that I get involved in a school-sport-_______ as anyone could sign up with no try-outs. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I only _______ I might participate in it until I made the cheerleading team again.

On the track team, running pushed me to work harder than I ever knew I could. Race after race, I continued to feel my lungs burning from the _______. I guessed that I wanted to _______ myself to see if I could improve my running time.

The next year when spring came around, I was thrilled to make the football cheerleading team, when, incredibly, I received a letter from a new cross-country coach, _______ me to join his running team. I didn’t have a reason for choosing running over cheerleading, _______ the fact that I followed my heart.

When I called the coach and told him I would give it a try, I never realized that one simple _______ would change the direction of my life. Within one year, I became one of the fastest female cross-country runners.

We can be who we were born to be or we can just follow the crowd. And when I chose to be a runner, I chose to be __________ to myself.

1.

A．coming

B．missing

C．turning

D．changing

2.

A．but

B．so

C．or

D．for

3.

A．throwing

B．cheerleading

C．football

D．running

4.

A．recorded

B．heard

C．figured

D．concluded

5.

A．effort

B．diseases

C．needs

D．interest

6.

A．accept

B．challenge

C．express

D．treat

7.

A．sending

B．asking

C．teaching

D．reminding

8.

A．in case of

B．in spite of

C．rather than

D．other than

9.

A．decision

B．complaint

C．evaluation

D．expectation

10.

A．friendly

B．tolerant

C．true

D．respectful

4 . One spring morning, my husband was in the yard cutting down an overgrown tree.

He then __ it across the front yard and put it on a pile of wood.

I was inside the house tending to some things, when suddenly he came into the house, looking __ and said, “I’m not sure if I should tell you this. ”

“What?”I said, totally expecting the very worst.

“Just come with me, ” he said. I __ him out to the yard. He pointed. “There, ” he said.

In front of us were four baby birds in the tree branches, having fallen out of their nest (巢) during the terrible ride, __ amazingly all still alive.

I immediately picked them up and made a “nest” in the front of my T-shirt. My husband just looked at me and said, “You won’t be able to keep them ___. You have never nursed a bird back to health before. ”

Luckily, we were able to find the nest in the center of the tree. I placed the baby birds inside the nest. They had no feathers (羽毛), so these tiny birds had no protection __ the sun. I thought they wouldn’t make it through the day. As we stood far enough away from the nest, I wondered if their mother would ever find and __ them as her own.

I couldn’t believe it! Within a few minutes, a Blue Jay flew in and was jumping around the nest. She then flew up to the nest and __ herself on her babies, spreading her wings to __ them. And soon, the father joined the __ and continued his task of bringing food to the family while she warmed and kept the baby birds safe.

On one rainy day, I remember seeing her wings were spread especially wide across the nest. It was a __ sight, to see how a bird with a tiny brain, the size of the tip of my little finger, still had the will to so deeply __ her babies.

Then one day, all four baby birds jumped out of the nest and were gone. The parents had done their job and now the youngsters were __ to go make nests of their own.

I ended up __ that nest. Whenever I look at it, it reminds me to never give up no matter how bad things look, and be inspired by the inner___ of the Blue Jay parents to provide for their family.

1.

A．dragged

B．planted

C．kicked

D．threw

2.

A．disappointed

B．cheerful

C．serious

D．angry

3.

A．led

B．forced

C．invited

D．followed

4.

A．when

B．so

C．but

D．or

5.

A．awake

B．alive

C．active

D．alone

6.

A．against

B．of

C．above

D．for

7.

A．pick

B．study

C．guide

D．recognize

8.

A．warmed

B．calmed

C．settled

D．helped

9.

A．hide

B．cover

C．separate

D．remove

10.

A．reunion

B．celebration

C．chance

D．event

11.

A．lively

B．touching

C．funny

D．common

12.

A．depend on

B．look into

C．believe in

D．care for

13.

A．ready

B．afraid

C．curious

D．unwilling

14.

A．discovering

B．decorating

C．saving

D．making

15.

A．beauty

B．joy

C．peace

D．strength

5 . I had always wanted a dog. My parents told me when I was old enough and _______, I could have one.

One day I hopped off the bus, not knowing what awaited me inside. I walked through the door, and to my _______, a white and black puppy greeted me with many puppy kisses. A very special friendship was born that day.

She was a smart dog. We _______ play for hours, spending our days learning and growing together.

Eleven years we were together, best of friends. Unfortunately, arthritis (关节炎) and old age set in on her. My parents knew what had to be done, but they let me find and make the decision myself.

She was _______ so much and the medicine didn’t seem to help anymore. She could _______ walk. I looked into those deep brown eyes and _______ it was time to let her go.

I carried her into the vet’s (兽医诊所) and placed her on the table. She leaned her head forward and gave a lick to my hand as if to say, “I understand. Stay _______.” Her tail was wagging (摆动) in a circle as always.

The vet asked before giving the final shot, “Are you sure?” With a heavy heart and tear-filled eyes, I nodded yes. The final shot was given. My eyes fixed upon her wagging tail. In a matter of seconds, it _______. The vet listened for a heartbeat, and said, “It’s over.”

I took her home and buried her in the pasture, where she loved playing and chasing rabbits. It was the _______ thing I had ever done.

Recently I went back to her grave. Growing on her grave was a single wildflower. It was swaying in a circle, just like her. I know now that, that special friend will be __________ me always.

1.

A．confident

B．brave

C．creative

D．responsible

2.

A．relief

B．surprise

C．annoyance

D．confusion

3.

A．would

B．should

C．might

D．must

4.

A．suffering

B．expecting

C．paying

D．gaining

5.

A．even

B．almost

C．still

D．hardly

6.

A．insisted

B．realized

C．agreed

D．predicted

7.

A．honest

B．popular

C．strong

D．active

8.

A．stopped

B．expanded

C．hurt

D．rose

9.

A．greatest

B．hardest

C．wisest

D．warmest

10.

A．above

B．on

C．with

D．for

6 . I was having breakfast at home, checking out social media on my phone. Suddenly, a picture ________ my eye. It was a 9-year-old dog, Charlie, who was regarded as the loneliest one in Britain. He had been in a rescue center for more than 500 days.

I ________ on the link of this story, and straight away, I saw Charlie’s cute but sad eyes looking at me. I was ________ and my husband Sam felt exactly the same way. The idea of taking him home appeared in our minds. It took us some time to ________ it. A few days later, we ________ an email asking us to ________ him.

On our way to the center, we had no idea of what was going to happen. We hadn’t got much information about Charlie’s ________. Since he hadn’t got along with a new ________ for a long time, we thought there might be some ________. We had been told Charlie was ________ of humans, but when he saw us, he was full of joy, wagging (摇) his tail happily and coming straight over to us. He even jumped on Sam’s lap as if they’d been best friends for many years. Later, being told that we could take him home, we were so ________.

As soon as he got to our house, he soon made himself at home. He sniffed (嗅) around and then ________ onto a chair. Charlie knows exactly what he wants, which is to be with us all the time. He’s so warm-hearted and has none of the ________ you might think of after spending a long time in a rescue center.

We get out every day on walks and we’re much closer now. He’s always so happy to see us when my husband and I come through the door. If you give dogs ________, they’ll give you a number of wonderful things in return.

1.

A．hit

B．caught

C．found

D．gave

2.

A．clicked

B．depended

C．tried

D．passed

3.

A．excited

B．encouraged

C．satisfied

D．moved

4.

A．drop in

B．rely on

C．apply for

D．suffer from

5.

A．sent

B．selected

C．received

D．presented

6.

A．visit

B．buy

C．replace

D．rescue

7.

A．decoration

B．occasion

C．tradition

D．situation

8.

A．teenager

B．owner

C．foreigner

D．reader

9.

A．expectations

B．fights

C．difficulties

D．descriptions

10.

A．glad

B．aware

C．proud

D．afraid

11.

A．bored

B．interested

C．happy

D．worried

12.

A．hid

B．put

C．turned

D．jumped

13.

A．problems

B．advantages

C．manners

D．complaints

14.

A．advice

B．home

C．fairness

D．support

7 . Gardening changed how I see myself as a disabled woman. When I started gardening in 2018, I didn’t know anything about plants, let alone how to grow things we can eat. I thought gardening required a lot of _________tasks. As I have a genetic (遗传的) condition that causes my bones to _________easily, I didn’t believe I could complete them. The thought of taking care of plants in a wheelchair every day made me feel_________ . But just like how I gradually learnt everything else as a disabled person, I had to _________how to garden my way.

That first season, I visited my garden as much as I could. Noticing my interest in gardening, my neighbors in the community_________offered me advice and support. Under their careful_________, I managed to pull up the weeds and watered my plants on my own. Finally, I was so proud to eat the tomatoes I grew and even shared some with neighbors. They tasted like summertime.

Gardening has _________ how I see other parts of my life. As a disabled woman, I fear being seen as a _________ and struggle to ask for the things I need. Gardening helped me normalize the fact that I have needs. I don’t think my plant is a heavy load because it needs more nutrition. I don’t _________ it for getting insects and not being able to fight against them. Gardening also helped me expand my social circle and grow close to people in our community.

Over the years, gardening has made me feel more confident in every aspect of my life. I’m planting what I want to grow, and I have gained a lot of   __________from that.1.

A．simple

B．physical

C．pleasant

D．urgent

2.

A．change

B．rest

C．break

D．move

3.

A．anxious

B．expectant

C．motivated

D．bored

4.

A．look over

B．show off

C．bring back

D．figure out

5.

A．suddenly

B．readily

C．hesitantly

D．casually

6.

A．observation

B．check

C．discussion

D．guidance

7.

A．impacted

B．ruined

C．controlled

D．recorded

8.

A．support

B．comfort

C．burden

D．threat

9.

A．appreciate

B．fault

C．challenge

D．forgive

10.

A．justice

B．access

C．weight

D．power

8 .

It was a Sunday afternoon in May. Paul Blachut was busy working at a restaurant in scenic Augsburg, Germany. Many tourists came for food at the pretty place beside the river, where the meltwater was cold at this time of year.

A mother and her daughter were _______ the cooling water by the riverbank. They were playing with an inflatable tube happily when _______ the girl lost her footing and was caught in the river’s current. It happened so fast that the girl desperately grabbed (抓) on to the tube, which her mother was sitting in, throwing her into the river, too.

Blachut heard the sudden shout, “Two women are drowning in the river!” Then he hurried to the _______ , where he spotted them trying to grab anything they could. He was horrified to see that one of them kept sinking. Blachut’s mind _______ , “How can I help them?” _______ having no lifesaving training, he rushed down to the riverbank. Quickly he _______ his T-shirt and jumped into the river. He didn’t care about the cold; all he could think about was saving the women. It was obvious they were _______ .

As Blachut got closer to them, he could _______ that the mother seemed to be in the most trouble. She was drowning. He _______ a film in which a lifeguard grabbed a drowning victim’s body, pulling the person ashore while swimming on his back. Blachut tried this, but the woman’s clothing made her so ________ ; he kept being dragged under, too. He needed a new ________. He quickly dived under the drowning woman, ________ her upward and using that momentum (水势) to take her toward the shore. At that time, an onlooker was able to ________ the woman’s hand, pulling her ashore. Then Blachut jumped into the river again. He swam downstream, got hold of the daughter, and was able to get her out in the same way, too.

Several onlookers expressed their ________ for Blachut following the incident. However, Blachut was ________ about his role, “The whole rescue only took several minutes and I am happy to receive your praise.”

1.

A．enjoying

B．buying

C．drinking

D．pouring

2.

A．slowly

B．naturally

C．fortunately

D．suddenly

3.

A．pool

B．restaurant

C．shore

D．tube

4.

A．stopped

B．raced

C．wandered

D．worked

5.

A．Without

B．Despite

C．Besides

D．For

6.

A．put away

B．tried on

C．took off

D．hung up

7.

A．helpless

B．dangerous

C．calm

D．busy

8.

A．share

B．express

C．respond

D．tell

9.

A．mentioned

B．recalled

C．rent

D．shot

10.

A．pretty

B．soft

C．heavy

D．strong

11.

A．schedule

B．task

C．message

D．plan

12.

A．pushing

B．flying

C．rolling

D．pulling

13.

A．wave

B．clap

C．grasp

D．shake

14.

A．surprise

B．admiration

C．happiness

D．hope

15.

A．curious

B．careful

C．passionate

D．modest

9 . Back in 2008, I was teaching Concepts of Fitness in a high school. At the end of one class, I chatted with David Gale, a senior high jumper, about how to improve his ________ and how motivation played an important role in one’s achievement. He, out of the blue, asked me what would happen if he broke the school record.

Not ________ of his passion and determination, I paused for a moment, but then promised that I would paint his name on the wall of our classroom. He was very excited and suggested that I go purchase the paint.

Nothing more was mentioned about the ________ until two weeks later, the young warrior ran into the classroom with a huge smile on his face. “I did it! I broke the record!” he shouted as I was still gathering information to ________ what I had promised him. I joined in with the high-fives and fist bumps ________ him.

The next day, it was done! G-A-L-E. Huge blue letters with white edges, the school colors. I could see his excitement even surpassed the success itself. Actually, his coach said the wall was part of the ________ to break the record.

What happened next was totally amazing. Many students, even from other classes, saw the name on the wall and ________ how they, too, could be considered for the wall. With the enormous ________, I had to add more names to the wall, and more than 100 names appeared there in the following 10 years.

Many folks admitted they would not have ________ what they did if the wall hadn’t been part of the reward. More importantly, all those who stepped far beyond their comfort zone helped set the ________ higher.

1.

A．health

B．performance

C．talent

D．knowledge

2.

A．proud

B．afraid

C．certain

D．fond

3.

A．promise

B．record

C．suggestion

D．news

4.

A．describe

B．recall

C．explain

D．picture

5.

A．encouraging

B．admiring

C．congratulating

D．greeting

6.

A．excitement

B．confidence

C．creativity

D．motivation

7.

A．inquired

B．expected

C．insisted

D．doubted

8.

A．effort

B．experience

C．stress

D．response

9.

A．adjusted

B．achieved

C．examined

D．displayed

10.

A．pace

B．stage

C．bar

D．tone

10 . I was in my home office on a cold Sunday when I heard a quick knock on the door. I _____ downstairs, threw open the door and saw my dad _____ something wrapped up in paper in his arms. Strangely, he had given no hint (暗示) of it when we spoke on the phone last night.

“Open it.” he said.

I opened it to find a yellow begonia (秋海棠). It occurred to me that it was Mother’s Day.

“But···but I’m not a mother.” I said, _____.

My dad smiled, “Well, some special people aren’t mothers. but I think they _____ to get flowers, too.” With that, he hugged me and drove off.

Later, I called to thank him and we got to talking a lot. That’s when he let me in on his little _____. He had decided that he would challenge himself to do one act of _____ per day. It had started several weeks before when he accidentally knew a friend of his was having a rough day. He knew she loved ice cream, so he drove straight to her house with a huge tub of ice cream.

“She laughed _____ when she saw it,” he said, “It really delighted me to know that I had _____ her day.”

When asked why, he added, “I already know about the importance of being _____ in the moment. So, I try to be there with each person I am spending time with. I want them to feel important and believe in the goodness in people in that moment.”

I realized my dad was making a difference in people’s lives. ______, I also want to be more like my dad, who goes out of his way to make people feel loved and cared for.

1.

A．fell

B．waited

C．raced

D．looked

2.

A．shaking

B．pulling

C．holding

D．collecting

3.

A．annoyed

B．confused

C．worried

D．disappointed

4.

A．deserve

B．decide

C．promise

D．pretend

5.

A．celebration

B．joke

C．secret

D．excuse

6.

A．faith

B．courage

C．appreciation

D．kindness

7.

A．coldly

B．excitedly

C．proudly

D．nervously

8.

A．kept

B．spent

C．predicted

D．brightened

9.

A．present

B．healthy

C．patient

D．humorous

10.

A．Depressed

B．Inspired

C．Terrified

D．Astonished