1 . Everyone complains. Even if you argue that you are the happiest person in the world, you still complain sometimes. Sometimes you complain without even realizing it, but rarely is it ever helpful.     1     Here are some tips to stop complaining and give up the negative thoughts.

    2    

When you find yourself thinking or saying a negative comment about something or someone, stop and force yourself to say something positive instead. Seek the help of a cheerful friend to change you when you complain and help you to see the positive in the situation.

Make a list of things you are grateful for.

You often complain about the things you don’t have without noticing those things you already have. Be grateful for what you have in your life because you are lucky simply for being yourselves.     3    

Learn to adapt to the changes.

There are many things you can’t change.     4     Always find the positive side of each situation, regardless of however difficult the situation is. With parents’ and friends’ support, you can survive any life changes.

Allow yourself to vent (发泄) your feelings every once in a while.

Constantly ignoring negative thoughts could add up. If you are really going through a rough time, don’t be afraid to share your feelings with a close friend or family member or see a therapist.

Find what makes you happy.

    5     Maybe it is time to make the hard decision to move on to another job or career. Uncover what your biggest complaints are about and see if you can change the situation to make you happy. Choose happiness, focus on the positive, and be kind always!

A．Sometimes this list can be easy, full of hobbies you enjoy.

B．The best and only thing you can do is to accept them.

C．Change the way you think.

D．Are you constantly complaining about your present job?

E．Set down things you are thankful for and you’ll see that you don’t have any reason to complain.

F．Make friends with positive people.

G．So how can you manage to force yourselves to end complaining?

2 . As we close out the final days of this year, treat yourself to a deliciously distracting new book —a book that you can dip into and out of throughout the holidays. Read up, rest up, and enjoy yourself.

Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and beyond

A must-have guide for yoga-loving mamas, Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond offers helpful relaxation techniques and breathing exercises that are tailored to each pregnant woman. The book also lays out valuable techniques for labor and staying in touch with your body as it continuously changes.

Mindfulness Activities for Kids

We could all use a little more peace in our lives. Uniquely suited for children and parents to do together, the 40 mindfulness exercises recommended here —from pausing to fully enjoy a tasty sandwich to taking chalk walk together—will not only teach children calm and gratitude, but also bring grown-ups and their littles closer together.

Before She Disappeared

Frankie Elkin is a recovering alcoholic who devotes her time to solving cold cases, especially those involving people of color. A new investigation brings her to Boston, searching for a Haitian teenager who disappeared months ago. But as Frankie starts asking questions, someone else will stop at nothing to keep the answers hidden.

Oak Flat

Lauren Redniss’ Oak Flat tells the story of the land near the San Carlos Apache Reservation through an Apache family fighting to protect the land which the U. S. government and two world-power mining enterprises are attempting to seize and destroy for its copper resources. Visually striking and deeply reported, Oak Flat tells a larger story of endless westward expansion and native resistance.

1. Which book can help to improve family relations?

A．Oak Flat.

B．Before She Disappeared.

C．Mindfulness Activities for Kids.

D．Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond.

2. What do we know about the book Oak Flat?

A．It’s a brief account of mining enterprises.

B．It centers on an Apache family’s struggle.

C．It sings high praise of the US government.

D．It supports westward expansion and native resistance.

3. Who are the target readers of the four books?

A．Teenagers.

B．Men.

C．Kids.

D．Grown-ups.

3 . In the digital age, opportunities are arising for everyone. However, only those putting plans into action can stay ahead. Alexandr Wang is one such example.

Los Alamos National Laboratory was where Alexandr spent his childhood. Both his parents were physicists there. Alexandr, from a young age, had a sharp mind. As a kid, he was regarded as a math wizard (奇才) and competed in national math and computer competitions. Finishing high school, Alexandr entered MIT where machine learning and AI amazed him. He saw the potential (潜力) of AI, and was excited about how it could change the world. But it wasn’t making a real impact. His ambition to set up a company in that field was seeded then.

At 17, he got the role of tech lead at Quora and dropped out of MIT. “I told my parents it was just going to be a thing I did for the summer. Obviously, it wasn’t,” Alexandr said. Surely, his parents were disappointed. They all knew he made that change filled with unexpected risks. But Alexandr said, “If you aren’t willing to take a risk now, then when?” Alexandr met Lucy Guo at Quora, with whom Alexandr founded Scale AI, which turned out to be a considerable success.

In fact, at that time, there were various opportunities in the tech world. It was hard to decide which road they should go down. Then he and his team decided to take a different approach — instead of following diverse paths, they agreed to focus on one. They went with “imagery, computer vision and other kinds of sensor data”. And that is what made the company’s profits rise quickly. Scale AI has a net worth of about $7.3 billion at present, with Alexandr being the world’s youngest self-made billionaire.

When asked lessons he’d like to share with founders, Alexandr stated there are a number of things. “The top one is always doing things that go with your values and how you want to build a company at the beginning. When you talk to investors (投资者), they’ll contribute advice that may go against your goal. Figure out your focus and what gets you started.”

1. What inspired Alexandr to build Scale AI?

A．The work at Quora.	B．His experiences at university.
C．The influence of his parents.	D．His talent for math and computer.

2. What is mainly talked about in paragraph 4?

A．The key to the success of Scale AI.	B．Challenges of Alexandr’s career.
C．Alexandr’s great achievements.	D．The process of founding Scale AI.

3. What did Alexandr advise founders to do?

A．Stick to one particular direction.	B．Keep an open mind on suggestions.
C．Remain true to the original intention.	D．Find a friend to start a company.

4. Which of the following can best describe Alexandr?

A．Clever and generous.	B．Courageous and outgoing.
C．Ambitious and sociable.	D．Adventurous and determined.

4 . In recent years China has made great efforts to make the best use of local conditions to help rural residents boost their incomes. Let’s have a look at some regional products that have helped to revive (振兴) the rural economy. Maybe here is one project that appeals to you.

Woodblock printing

With a history of more than 1, 000 years, woodblock printing was adopted by ancient Chinese as a way to keep written records. The process is very complicated, including painting, engraving (雕刻) on a woodblock and printing. Sibao town in Fujian province is famous for the preservation of traditional Chinese woodblock printing. The town now has 50 ancient bookshops and many cultural relics. It also invited tourists and students to learn from artisans.

Bark paintings

Bark paintings, a form of intangible cultural heritage of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, is made from bark chippings scaling off white birch trees. The painting has helped many villagers overcome poverty in White Wolf town, as the town is rich in forest resources and making such paintings is environmentally friendly and also beneficial by providing employment for some locals.

Handicraft weaving and tie-dyeing

Experiencing traditional handicraft dyeing and weaving techniques is a special cultural and creative endeavor in Pingtian village of Sidu town in Lishui, East China's Zhejiang province. It is also an effort to protect and carry forward traditional handicraft intangible cultural heritage. All the dyes used are produced from plants and tea leaves in the mountains around the village.

Oilpaper umbrella

Oilpaper umbrella is a kind of traditional Chinese handicraft made of bamboo and paper coated in the oil of the tung nut for waterproofing. It has been around for at least 1, 000 years and was eventually adopted in other parts of the planet. Both ceremonial and practical, the oilpaper umbrella was used on rainy days, as well as during many ceremonies and festivals.

1. What can people do in Sibao town?

A．Visit cultural relics.	B．Engrave old woodblocks.
C．Unearth ancient books.	D．Learn traditional painting.

2. What do the four products have in common?

A．Changing modern social life.	B．Being in an autonomous region.
C．Reviving with high technology.	D．Making use of natural materials.

3. From which section of a website is the passage probably taken?

A．Finance.

B．Science.

C．Sports

D．Education.

5 . Although I love watching Olympic diving, I’ve never understood why athletes hurry off to the showers and then proceed to relax in a hot tub (热水浴池) after each dive. They’re already wet. They’re only in the pool for a handful of seconds, so it’s not like they need to get cleaned up. And doesn’t taking a shower serve the same purpose as sitting in a hot tub?

Actually, that’s what Olympic divers usually do between dives as they know very well about the importance of warm-ups and cool-downs. So, what’s the actual reason?

As it turns out, showers and hot tubs are used pretty interchangeably by the swimming pool. However, there is a need for both. First, let’s start with why divers need to take a shower between dives. It has to do with body temperature and keeping their muscles relaxed. As you can imagine, practicing dives in the pool, then having to keep your body warm in a shower, and then jumping off a 10-meter platform and into cold water couldn’t be comfortable for anyone. Going back and forth between these warm and cool temperatures can cause a diver’s muscles to tense or cramp up (痉挛), which can lead to injuries to the muscles. Showers allow an Olympic diver to recover and prevent that.

In that way, showers and hot tubs serve the same purpose. A hot tub is generally used if you have a bit more time between dives and have already stretched. The shower walls on the pool deck can typically provide enough space for more divers at the same time, and they’re especially helpful for athletes who need to stretch or who only have a few minutes between dives. Just like Olympic swimmers depend on thick clothes to keep their muscles warm, Olympic divers rely on these methods to stay loose. If you ask me, it’s not a bad way to pass the time!

1. What does the underlined word “proceed” in Paragraph 1 mean?

A．Prefer.

B．Continue.

C．Tend.

D．Stop.

2. Why do the athletes need showers after diving?

A．To fully clean their body.	B．To rest and wait for the results.
C．To avoid possible muscle injuries.	D．To stop themselves from catching a cold.

3. What does the last paragraph suggest?

A．Hot tubs are as important as showers for divers.

B．Olympic swimmers need to stay warm using hot tubs.

C．Hot tubs are often used by divers having little time between divers.

D．The shower walls are designed for divers who have already stretched.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing this text?

A．To provide some diving advice for us.

B．To compare cold showers with the hot bath.

C．To explain the difference between warm-ups and cool-downs.

D．To tell us why divers take a shower and sit in a hot tub after diving.

6 . I’m a seventeen-year-old boy preparing for my A Level exams at the end of the year. In the society where my peers (同龄人) and I live, we tend to accept the rat race values. As students, we want to get good grades so that we can get good jobs. I enjoy studying and have consistently received A’s in my classes. There was a year when I finished first in my class in the final exams. It was a great accomplishment.

Another one I am pleased with is that I managed to improve the relationship between Mum and Dad. Dad was a successful businessman who was rarely at home. Mum was a housewife who always felt bored and constantly nagged (唠叨) him to let her go to work. Their constant arguing bothered me, so I advised Dad that Mum would be better off with a part-time job. He agreed, and their relationship has improved since then.

My most proud achievement, however, is my successful work in the local old folks’ home. My grandparents had raised me since I was a child. I wept (哭泣) bitterly when they died. Unlike many of my classmates, I do not take part in my school’s community service to earn points. I enjoy my voluntary work and believe I’m contributing to a worthwhile cause. This is where I can help. I talk to the elderly, assist them with their daily life, and listen to their problems, glory days and the hardships they experienced.

Last year, I hosted a successful New Year party for the elderly and they enjoyed a great time. Many expressed a desire to attend another party the following year. When I reflect on my accomplishments, I’m especially proud of my service at the old folks’ home, so I hope to study social work at university and work as a social worker in the future. I wish to be more skilled in attending to the less fortunate and find great satisfaction in it, after all.

1. What can be inferred about the author from the first paragraph?

A．He is content with his learning achievements.	B．His good grades got him a good job.
C．He refuses to compete with his peers fiercely.	D．His views on social values are well known.

2. Which role does the author play in his parents’ relationship?

A．A bystander (旁观者).

B．A judge.

C．A helper.

D．A destroyer.

3. What is the greatest achievement for the author?

A．The contribution to volunteering.	B．The success in exams.
C．The recovery of confidence in life.	D．The work in school’s service.

4. Why does the author want to study social work at university?

A．To gain a well-paid job.	B．To give his life a purpose.
C．To better help the disadvantaged.	D．To meet his grandparents’ expectations.

7 . Next autumn when you see wild geese heading south for the winter flying in a V formation (队形), you might think about what scientists have discovered as to why they fly that way.

As each bird flaps (拍打) its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formation the whole group adds at least 71% greater flying distance than if each bird flies on its own.

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the push of one another. When a wild goose falls out of the formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance (阻力) of trying to go alone and quickly tries to get back into the formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. When the head goose gets tired, it flies back into the formation and another goose flies to the front. It is wise to take turns doing difficult jobs whether it could be people or wild geese flying south.

Wild geese honk (发出雁叫声) from behind to inspire those up front to keep up their speed. When a wild goose gets sick or wounded by gunshots, and falls out of the formation, two other geese will fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They will stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and only then will they go on with their own or with another formation to catch up with their group.

1. Why do wild geese fly in a V formation?

A．To protect themselves from danger.	B．To fly more quickly and easily.
C．To help the sick and wounded.	D．To fly much higher in the sky.

2. If a wild goose falls out of the V formation, ______.

A．the other geese will call it back	B．the other geese will fly with it
C．it will try to get back into the group	D．it will fall behind the whole group

3. What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?

A．Wild geese honk is a sign of help.

B．Wild geese are easy to be shot by hunters.

C．Wild geese never give up any other teammate.

D．The wounded geese will be left alone to recover.

4. What can be the suitable title for the passage?

A．The Whole Group Flying	B．Geese Moving Forward
C．The Rules of V Formation	D．The Spirit of Encouragement

8 . My dad doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would bake great bread, but he is and he does. Every Saturday he produces homemade bread. When he’s done, the whole house smells delicious.

The shop where Dad works doesn’t have enough work, so he’s under pressure. I think Dad bakes bread to help him relax.

Now I’ve been feeling kind of stressed out myself since I found out I didn’t make the school swim team. I think Dad knew I was feeling bad. Last Saturday he asked me how things were going. I said OK, even though I didn’t feel OK at all. He looked at me for a moment, and then he said it was time for me to help. Then he headed to the kitchen.

I followed right behind him. Once we were there, Dad took out his big mixing bowl, handed me a large wooden spoon, and told me to mix while he added the ingredients (烹饪原料). Dad isn’t big on measuring, but he knows how much of each ingredient to use, and the bread always turns out great.

Dad showed me how to knead the dough (揉面团). Next came the most difficult part — doing nothing. We put the dough back into the bowl and then we waited for more than an hour for the dough to slowly rise and double in size. Next, we divided it into two and waited for it to rise again.

Dad said the waiting is always the hardest part. “It’s hard to resist (抵制) putting the dough directly into the oven (烤箱), but if you do, the bread will be hard. The most important lesson of all is learning to be patient.” Dad taught me more than how to bake bread.

1. What can we learn about the author’s father?

A．He is living a relaxing life.	B．He tries his best to support his family.
C．He has his own way to reduce pressure.	D．He is more like a baker than a worker.

2. Why is the author feeling stressed?

A．School isn’t going well.	B．She dislikes making bread.
C．She feels sorry for her father.	D．Some classes aren’t worth it.

3. What do the underlined part “Dad isn’t big on measuring” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Dad is skilled at measuring.	B．Dad dislikes measuring.
C．Dad is crazy for measuring.	D．Dad is careless about measuring.

4. What lesson has the author learned from her dad?

A．Never give up.	B．Enjoy time with family.
C．Believe in yourself.	D．Take life easily.

10 . Chinese culture values family bonds (纽带) very much. Family members don’t just gather during the holidays, in fact they often live under one roof all year round.

Different cultures have different family values.     1    

In most East Asian cultures, extended families (大家庭) are common.     2     According to the Atlantic, 90 percent of children in Shanghai and 70 percent of children in Beijing were cared for by their grandparents. Chinese people believe that “a grandparent is a treasure to their family”.

In many Western countries, most families are nuclear families (小家庭). These are only made up of children and their parents.

Additionally, the duties parents have toward their children can also differ.

    3     It’s normal for parents to pay for their children’s college, help them find a job, or buy them an apartment. Chinese adults also follow their parents’ opinions when making major life decisions, more often than not.

In most Western countries, however, kids usually move out of the house after they turn 18.     4     Also, if they choose to keep living with their parents after becoming an adult, it can be seen by some as a failure on their part.

While the East cares more about close family bonds, the West values privacy and independence.     5     Families will always be a source of love, warmth, and care for people around the world.

A．But in the end, home is best — east or west.

B．Nuclear families are the most common type in China.

C．Both Easterners and Westerners value quality family time.

D．Families in the east and west are very different from each other.

E．These families have three or even four generations living together.

F．In China, many parents look after their children all the way into adulthood.

G．Many college students often work part-time in order to pay for tuition and rent.