4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Located in Zhongxiang City, Hubei Province, Huangxian Cave is a rare karst (喀斯特) cave     1     combines various geological wonders into the scene.

It is a long and winding cave     2     (measure) over 2, 187 yards in length. The mouth of the cave faces northwest and measures more than three hundred     3     (foot) in width. Through the long period of geological change and     4     (develop), the abundant limestone inside the cave has formed into the typical karst landscape like a heavenly world. Walking into the cave, you can find     5     (you) in a wonderland full of all sorts of rock formations. Nature is not just like a sculptor carving the stalagmites (石笋) and stalactites (钟乳石) into stone columns, stone’ curtains, stone waterfalls, stone spears and stone needles,     6     like a painter who doesn’t forget to dress them in different beautiful colors ― red, white, yellow and green. The most     7     (impress) sight is the more than two hectares of karst basins called Yun Pen. In rainy seasons, these basins     8     (fill) with water.

Through the ages, Huangxian Cave     9     (attract) countless men of letters who have left many great works. Due to its excellent landscape and rich cultural relics, it is regarded     10     a rare karst treasure in China.

5 . I started ice skating when I was four years old. _________, I was just tagging (跟在后面) along with my sister, but soon enough the _________ became my entire life. I was told that I had what it took to become a(n) _________ and even take part in the Olympics. I didn’t go to school, because I had to train for up to six hours a day.

When I was 12, adolescence _________ and my body changed rapidly. Average teenager as I was, I knew right away that there would be a _________ that my body would prevent me from being the best skater I could be, and that with a _________ body, I would no longer be able to do some of the _________ jumps. Competing at the highest level doesn’t seem possible, so I _________ ice skating altogether.

Losing everything I had _________ caused me to sink into a deep ____________. It also meant that I had to go to school for the first time. I was ____________ a lot and people called me fat all the time. Eventually, I realized that I could get out of my depression only by ____________ who I was and no longer focusing on my ____________. I decided to start ____________ myself; I learned Spanish and went to law school.

Now I’m a(n) ____________ myself. I only teach children who skate to improve their ____________. Also, ice skating is an expensive sport. But the kids who need these ____________ for their health usually don’t have a lot of money, so my lessons are very ____________.

I am ____________ that this happened to me, and that I was young enough to turn my focus to something other than sport, so I could become the best ____________ of myself.

1.

A．Initially

B．Hopefully

C．Reluctantly

D．Surprisingly

2.

A．visit

B．dream

C．sport

D．journey

3.

A．amateur

B．leader

C．audience

D．professional

4.

A．got away

B．kicked in

C．came back

D．turned out

5.

A．hope

B．message

C．chance

D．risk

6.

A．slimmer

B．bigger

C．rigid

D．weak

7.

A．fluent

B．normal

C．universal

D．demanding

8.

A．quit

B．hated

C．restarted

D．doubted

9.

A．run into

B．fought for

C．come across

D．got over

10.

A．thought

B．confusion

C．depression

D．excitement

11.

A．bullied

B．envied

C．scolded

D．criticized

12.

A．denying

B．admitting

C．sheltering

D．redefining

13.

A．personality

B．decision

C．training

D．weight

14.

A．analyzing

B．educating

C．appreciating

D．forcing

15.

A．interpreter

B．educator

C．coach

D．lawyer

16.

A．health

B．status

C．image

D．grade

17.

A．criteria

B．classes

C．devices

D．recipe

18.

A．challenging

B．beneficial

C．rewarding

D．cheap

19.

A．regretful

B．doubtful

C．grateful

D．hopeful

20.

A．version

B．shadow

C．reflection

D．excuse

6 . Ocean Park Hong Kong is one of Hong Kong’s great visitor attractions.     1     It is a public service, and construction was funded by donations by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. So the park is much more suited to education and wildlife conservation research, and they take better care of the animals. These are the things special and excellent that really standout from similar parks. For the size and the quality, you will find the prices are lower.

    2     So try to be there before the park open sat 10 and definitely avoid the busy holidays and weekends. Try to purchase your tickets directly online or through agents before you go.

For public transport, we recommend taking the subway to Ocean Park Station. The transfer station for the Tsuen Wan Line (through Tsim Sha Tsui) and the Island Line (from Central Station) is Admiralty Station. Simply go 1 stop in about 20 minutes.     3    

Hong Kong is fairly unique in the world because you can purchase a card that you can swipe (刷卡) to pay for subway and bus fares.     4     The card allows people to travel with outstanding inline to buy tickets. Card holders simply swipe their cards and their fares are deducted (扣除) electronically. You can buy these at the subway station ticket windows and then use them for more convenience to pay for things in the park. No ID is required to buy one.     5    

A．Go there when it isn’t busy.

B．Large crowds of visitors arrive later in the morning.

C．It’s a good place where you can do research into rare animals.

D．Unlike other theme parks, this park isn’t for a profit business.

E．However, taxis from Central are relatively quick and inexpensive.

F．And you can add money as you wish and return the card to a station window for some money back.

G．It can also be used to pay for many other things such as purchases at supermarkets, convenience stores and restaurants.

7 . Playing video interactive games, and later computer games, has been a big part of people’s lives ever since the birth of Pong and gaming consoles (游戏机) in the early 1970s. But games have progressed steadily since those early days. Now online games are being played worldwide by people of all ages.

While many people tend to think of gamers as people who sit alone on their couches and anonymous to other players, the opposite is actually true according to the BBC. With the rise in popularity of games, people, especially for those in Generation Z, have built communities and friendships with their fellow players. These connections have become a social lifeline during these times of social distancing and lockdowns (活动限制).

While TV and Netflix help people pass the time, there is no interaction between people like the ones found in gaming and the amount of time people play has seriously increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (疫情). In fact, in the US, gamers are now playing an average of 6 hours and 46 minutes weekly. And the numbers keep going up.

Twitch, which is owned by Amazon, where people can watch other people play videogames in real time webcasts and can chat with other viewers, actually clocked 5 billion hours of viewed content in the second quarter of 2020. That was an 83 percent increase from 2019 and a new record. But this increase in gaming is about much more than just entertainment. “This isn’t just out of boredom but an inner desire to be social. New gaming capabilities allow people to communicate with one another virtually,” said Nigel Burmeister, vice president of Limelight Networks. That’s because humans are naturally social and human contacts are necessary for our mental health.

Rosemary “Nekkra” Kelley, a 25-year-old gamer, told USA Today that she’s spending a lot more time playing games because her work has been curtailed due to the cancellation of live events. In her extra time, she has been playing Pokémon Sword and Animal Crossings on her Nintendo Switch.

1. What idea does the author convey in Paragraph 2?

A．Gamers appear to be lonely.

B．Gamers take friendship seriously.

C．Playing games benefits players.

D．Some gamers hate social interaction.

2. What is the disadvantage of Netflix?

A．It causes people to waste time.

B．Its content holds little attraction.

C．It lacks newly-developed games.

D．It gives people no chance to interact.

3. Why are Nigel Burmeister’s words mentioned?

A．To state what research he takes up.

B．To analyze why Twitch is popular.

C．To make people aware of their nature.

D．To encourage people to interact with one another.

4. What does the underlined word “curtailed” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Shortened.

B．Simplified.

C．Adapted.

D．Influenced.

8 . Patagonia, a leading brand in outdoor clothing, is climbing a mountain in the clothing industry and reaching a new summit. Through several measures, the company inspires people to share, resell, repair, and recycle their clothes, producing less waste. Every second, about one garbage truck of used clothes is sent to the landfill (填埋区) or is burned. Patagonia is taking this alarming statistic seriously.

A few years ago, the fashion giant launched an independent online store called Worn Wear, which is a collection of refurbished (翻新的) clothing where customers resell their old clothes for cash or store credit and shop for second-hand goods. Now Patagonia is approaching a step further ― they are including a “buy used” option on their website, offering second-hand clothes alongside their newest designs.

The second-hand trend is here to stay. Other chains such as The North Face, Macy’s, Adidas, Burberry, and Made well have also accepted the new circular economy business model. Famous traditional retailers (零售商) are also becoming used clothing providers, and are transforming the way second-hand clothes are sold and sensed.

Even the most skeptical shoppers are now open to the idea of buying used quality items. As a result, it is no surprise that the total secondhand market is projected to grow to almost twice the size of fast fashion by 2029. Naturally, the most sustainable piece of clothing is the one that already exists. This “green” article of clothing doesn’t require using virgin (原始的) resources, it prevents used clothes from ending up in landfills, and it requires no plastic packaging.

According to a 2018 report by thredUP, buying a piece of used clothing extends its life on average by 2.2 years, which reduces its carbon, waste, and water footprint by 73 percent. So even though the development of innovative materials and processes in fashion seems promising, wearing second-hand clothes is the easiest and most immediate way to face the environmental challenges the fashion industry brings.

1. What does the author intend to tell us in Paragraph 3?

A．The second-hand trend is more commonly accepted.

B．Lots of second-hand clothes are of high quality.

C．Traditional retailers have a role to play in reducing waste.

D．Consumer attitudes towards second-hand clothes are changing.

2. What’s the author’s attitude to the future of secondhand market?

A．Skeptical.	B．Optimistic.
C．Urgent.	D．Unclear.

3. What is the biggest advantage of buying used clothing?

A．Keeping pace with fashion.	B．Satisfying consumers’ needs.
C．Lowering economic stress.	D．Protecting the environment.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Patagonia Is a Leading Clothing Brand

B．Clothing Waste Influences the Environment

C．Second-hand Clothes Draw Wide Attention

D．Patagonia Is Now Selling Used Clothes

9 . Peak by Roland Smith, $2.98

When 14-year-old Peak Marcello is caught climbing a skyscraper to place his signature graffiti (涂鸦) tag on it, he is offered a choice: spend three years in prison, or climb Mt. Everest with his long-absent father. Peak is challenged by the climb. Readers young and old will be attracted by the sharp writing and memorable characters.

Look at Lucy! by IIene Cooper, $3.50

Bobby is really proud of his dog Lucy. She is a terrific friend, and a great dog. So when a local store has a pet contest, he happily enters Lucy in it. But it turns out that the pet that wins the contest may be featured on TV with its owner. Bobby is shy, and doesn’t like attention. But can he face the spotlight…for Lucy? In this heartwarming story of a boy and a dog’s friendship, IIene Cooper once again charms young readers and dog-lovers alike.

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Chodlenko, $6.95

Kirsten’s parents hardly speak to each other. Her best friend is no longer close, to her. Meanwhile, Walker’s goal is to survive at the new private school. Then Kirsten and Walker discover an astonishing secret together. This book touches on universal truths about human nature.

Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah, $2.95

A Chinese proverb says, “Falling leaves return to their roots.” In Chinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her painful childhood and her courage in the face of despair. Adeline’s rich family considers her to be bad luck after her mother dies giving birth to her. Although Adeline wins prizes at school, they are not enough to get what she really desires — the love and understanding of her family. Following the success of the adult best-seller Falling Leaves, this memoir (回忆录) is a moving retelling of the classic Cinderella story.

1. Why does Peak climb Mt. Everest according to the text?

A．Because he wants to challenge himself.

B．Because he is forced to accept it as a punishment.

C．Because he’d like to get a chance to be with his father.

D．Because he desires to place his signature graffiti tag there.

2. If you have $6, which two books can you buy?

A．Peak and Look at Lucy!.

B．Peak and Chinese Cinderella.

C．Look at Lucy! and Chinese Cinderella.

D．Look at Lucy! and If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period.

3. What can we learn from the text?

A．Roland Smith is not popular with adult readers.

B．Gennifer Chodlenko has great faith in human nature.

C．Adeline Yen Mah’s Falling Leaves appeals to adult readers.

D．IIene Cooper never wrote about dogs before writing Look at Lucy!

10 . When NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, they marked the first successful rocket launch (发射) off American soil in nine years. However, it was also a first in their close ______ which has developed over their 20-year work at NASA.

“Being lucky enough to ______ with your best friend is some astronauts' wish and we're lucky enough,” explained 53-year-old Hurley.

The two astronauts had ______ the mission (使命), which saw them ______ land on the   International Space Station, over a two-year period. While they were friends before, in this time they could really see each other's weaknesses and ______.

And they're ______ that the experience made them even ______ together. So when they climbed into their space suits and the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, the two men were ______ not only in their technical skills, but in ______ that they'd have each other's backs.

Their close relationship has developed partly from shared ______ experiences. They both ______ women who played roles in space missions. Their ______ go beyond their wives' work. Both men ______ as they shared how their fathers were their first employers—and possibly their strictest ones. And the ______ of fatherhood is very important for both men: Behnken has a six-year-old son, Theodore, and Hurley has a 10-year-old son, Jack.

“My l0-year-old son thinks it's a cool spacecraft with a cool name. So I got the ______ from him and that' all that ______,” Hurley shared happily.

With the two astronauts living their ______ of heading into space as best friends, the mission will ______ end with the two of them landing safely into the cool waters of the Atlantic. After they ______ their work, they can share the ______ with their families together once they're back on Earth.

1.

A．idea

B．birth

C．fight

D．friendship

2.

A．survive

B．argue

C．fly

D．teach

3.

A．thought of

B．prepared for

C．cut down

D．made up

4.

A．successfully

B．frequently

C．violently

D．casually

5.

A．changes

B．memories

C．strengths

D．appearances

6.

A．terrified

B．guilty

C．anxious

D．grateful

7.

A．faster

B．closer

C．taller

D．smarter

8.

A．comfortable

B．worried

C．sad

D．puzzled

9.

A．pretending

B．wishing

C．forgetting

D．knowing

10.

A．learning

B．travel

C．family

D．work

11.

A．saved

B．married

C．forgave

D．admired

12.

A．similarities

B．agreements

C．promises

D．adventures

13.

A．escaped

B．sighed

C．laughed

D．cried

14.

A．question

B．harm

C．record

D．role

15.

A．trick

B．praise

C．patience

D．imagination

16.

A．matters

B．suffers

C．appears

D．falls

17.

A．secret

B．hobby

C．habit

D．dream

18.

A．by accident

B．suddenly

C．hopefully

D．in danger

19.

A．finish

B．combine

C．plan

D．seek

20.

A．expression

B．experience

C．scene

D．manner