1 . Twelve-year-old Catherine has a lot of friends—632, actually, if you count up her online friends. And she spends a lot of time with them.

But is it possible that Catherine’s online friendships could be making her lonely? That’s what some experts believe. Connecting online is a great way to stay in touch, they say. However, some experts worry that many kids are so busy connecting online that they might be missing out on true friendships.

Could this be true? During your parents’ childhoods, connecting with friends usually meant spending time with them in the flesh. Kids played Scrabble around a table, not words with friends on their phones. When friends missed each other, they picked up the telephone. Friends might even write letters to each other.

Today, most communication takes place online. A typical teen sends 2,000 texts a month and spends more than 44 hours per week in front of a screen. Much of this time is spent on social media platform.

In fact, in many ways, online communication can make friendships stronger. “There’s definitely a positive influence. Kids can stay in constant contact, which means they can share more of their feelings with each other,” says Katie Davis, co-author of The App Generation.

Other experts, however, warn that too much online communication can get in the way of forming deep friendships. “If we are constantly checking in with our virtual world, we will have little time for our real-world friendships,” says Larry Rosen, a professor at California State University. Rosen also worries that today’s kids might mistake the “friends” on the social media for true friends in life. However, in tough times, you don’t need anyone to like your picture or share your blogs. You need someone who will keep your secrets and hold your hand. You would like to talk face to face.

1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To tell about true friends.	B．To start a discussion.
C．To encourage online friendships.	D．To summarize(总结) the text.

2. What does the underlined part “in the flesh” mean in paragraph 3?

A．In any case.

B．In public.

C．In person.

D．In advance.

3. What is Katie’s attitude toward online communication?

A．Unconcerned.

B．Positive.

C．Worried.

D．Confused.

4. Which of the following is the Rosen’s view?

A．Teenagers need to focus on real-world friendships.	B．It’s easier to develop friendships in real life.
C．It’s wise to turn to friends online.	D．Social media help people stay closely connected.

2 . Everyday Food

by Martha Stewart

No matter how busy you are, at the end of the day you want meals that are easy to prepare. And you want lots of choices and variations. You’ll find all of that in this book: 250 simple recipes for delicious meals that bring freshness and nutrition.

Paperback, published by Random House, $16.79

Mighty Jack

By Ben Hatke

Jack dislikes summer. But he’s got a good reason: summer is when his single mom takes a second job and leaves him at home to watch his sister, Maddy. It’s lots of responsibility, and it’s boring, too, because Maddy doesn’t talk. But one day, at the market, Maddy does talk—to tell Jack to trade their mom’s car for a box of mysterious seeds. It’s the best mistake Jack has ever made.

Hardcover, published by First Second, $14.15

Zeroes

By Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti

The New York Times best-selling author Scott Westerfeld teams up with Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti in the book about six teenagers with amazing abilities. These teenagers have powers that set them apart. They can do things ordinary people can’t.

Paperback, published by Simon & Schuster, $12.99

Only Daughter

By Anna Snoekstra

She’s caught stealing. She’s homeless and on the run. But she happens to look the same as a girl who went missing a decade ago, Rebecca Winter. She takes Rebecca’s identity, using it as a way out. Little does she know her new life as Rebecca is itself a prison and it looks like a killer might be after her.

Kindle edition, published by Harlequin Enterprises, $8.88

1. Who wrote a book to help you cook a meal?

A．Anna Snoekstra	B．Ben Hatke.
C．Scott Westerfeld.	D．Martha Stewart

2. How much should readers pay for a story about a boy’s amazing experience?

A．$8.88.

B．$14.15.

C．$12.99.

D．$16.79.

3. What do we know about Only Daughter?

A．Its heroine enjoys her life on the run.	B．It provides different kinds of editions.
C．Its heroine lives with a false identity.	D．It is written by Harlequin Enterprises.

3 . I have a degree in business. But it was my father’s _________ for me to seek to attain a business major. He thought that having a business major would guarantee (保证) me more available choices and make me more _________ in entering a global labor market. I _________ his advice. However, even though my college experiences were _________, I had no interest in any field of commerce, let alone having a long-term career as a businesswoman.

After I _________, I worked as a marketing planner at a computer company. My _________ and working environment were great; yet I still didn’t feel happy doing something that had little _________ for me. After two months of working there, I made up my mind to _________ and decided to do what I love, namely teaching history. I have now been doing this job for over twenty years. I am _________ of being with my students.

If you are in a __________ where you don’t love what you are learning or doing, please ask yourself what you are really __________ about, and what you truly want for your life. Don’t __________ to get yourself a quick answer. Take some time to think about what career could bring __________ to you.

I like this motto “Success is not the key to happiness. __________ happiness is the key to success.”

Happiness __________ the inside of you, not from the outside. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

1.

A．decision

B．promise

C．ambition

D．response

2.

A．eager

B．curious

C．competitive

D．unique

3.

A．ignored

B．took

C．valued

D．opposed

4.

A．frightening

B．fantastic

C．painful

D．plain

5.

A．matured

B．trained

C．succeeded

D．graduated

6.

A．future

B．dream

C．pay

D．scholarship

7.

A．advantage

B．chance

C．attraction

D．trouble

8.

A．quit

B．continue

C．consider

D．wait

9.

A．careful

B．tired

C．proud

D．fond

10.

A．place

B．game

C．story

D．firm

11.

A．anxious

B．enthusiastic

C．optimistic

D．nervous

12.

A．hesitate

B．rush

C．intend

D．stop

13.

A．curiosity

B．confidence

C．joy

D．knowledge

14.

A．As a result

B．On the whole

C．In the meanwhile

D．On the contrary

15.

A．applies to

B．spreads to

C．arises from

D．differs from

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is Linda famous for?

A．Painting.

B．Traveling.

C．Collecting stones.

2. What is the man’s opinion of Linda’s stones?

A．Valuable.

B．Impressive.

C．Useful.

5 . What is the woman doing?

A．Complaining.

B．Apologizing.

C．Discussing.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why would the man prefer to rent an apartment near the elementary school?

A．He teaches there.

B．He once lived there.

C．His son studies there.

2. Which price would the man prefer?

A．$480.

B．$550.

C．$600.

3. Which kind of apartment would the man prefer?

A．An empty one.

B．One with furniture in it.

C．One without a kitchen.

4. What can you learn from the conversation?

A．The woman lost the keys to the two apartments.

B．The man might take a look at the two apartments.

C．The man isn’t interested in either of the two apartments.

7 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

I sat in the breakfast corner with my four-year-old son, Matthew, trying to ignore the ache in my stomach. I was still recovering from a surgery. I hoped for strength and happiness. But the future seemed so hopeless.

Matthew jumped up from his spot on the kitchen floor. “Bird!” he shouted, rushing to the sliding door. Sure enough, there was a white dove seated on a rubber tree. It sat there a few moments, and then flew away. I’d never seen one in our neighborhood before.

When I dragged myself to the kitchen the next morning, the dove was back. This time it was with a mate carrying twigs (嫩枝), “Look, Matthew,” I said, pointing to the tree. “They’re going to make a nest.” The doves flew in and out of the courtyard all week, building on the top of the rubber tree. Matthew could hardly contain his excitement. Every morning, he’d run into the kitchen and take his spot by the sliding glass door, talking to the birds while they worked. As much as I was grieving (感到悲伤), I couldn’t help but look forward to the doves’ visits too. We watched their progress as if it were a real-life soap opera unfolding before us. Gradually, my pain disappeared, replaced by joy.

Then it all went wrong. The courtyard was a safe enough spot for a nest, but the rubber tree’s broad, thin leaves were far from stable. One night, a strong wind blew through, throwing the doves’ nest to the ground. I heard the twigs break apart. Nothing good ever lasts. I wouldn’t blame the doves if they never came back. But they returned. And they paid no attention to the pi le of sticks that had once been their nest. They started again from scratch, though the wind destroyed all their hard work. The next day, and the next, they renewed their efforts, as if nothing had happened.

注意：
1．续写词数应为150左右：
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Paragraph 1: I knew I had to do something for the poor creatures.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2:“The birds were back!” Matthew announced.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . 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。

Learning Chinese calligraphy     1     (list) as one of the must-do things when I came to China. Now, I’m in the course of learning this unique art,     2     value is considered very high in China, even across East Asia today. It is not only     3     ancient artistic form of human language, but it also reflects Chinese traditions.

As someone who paints, draws, and loves all     4     (create) things, at first, I assumed I would be rather good at Chinese calligraphy. I was     5     (total ) wrong. Using thick brush tips to produce awkward brush strokes (笔画)     6     (be) very difficult for a beginner. I have no idea about the different types of calligraphy and the meanings     7     ( hide) behind each one. Also, I have to hold the paintbrush     8     a very specific way; unlike a pen or pencil, the paintbrush is held upright in the hand. I need to be extra careful when changing the angle or     9     (direct) of the brush, especially if I press too hard on the paper.

After taking the lesson, I now understand the difficulty of calligraphy and that it will take efforts and commitment     10     (master) this art form. Yet, I am grateful to learn such a special Chinese tradition.

9 . J. K. Rowling frequently shows there is magic every day. Her Harry Potter series has helped people through times of stress and depression and she is always there to deliver wise words of encouragement.

She is one celebrity who is very active on Twitter. So when a single dad named Matt Burke sent her a message thanking her for the series, she noticed. Her series had helped strengthen his relationship with his 9­year­old daughter Bailey.

He included a link to his article titled Being a Broke Parent. He explained how he hadn’t found a level of financial stability that allowed him to pay bills on time and take his daughter on more activities and events. The family also doesn’t have the Internet or TV, which means there’s no “digital babysitter” and he has to rely on his own creative ways to bond with his daughter. Since he received the series, the main thing that has occupied them these days is reading books together.

Burke admits that he thought he was “too cool” for the books when they first came out and he was in his twenties, but he’s loving reading them now. “We switch off chapter by chapter reading them out loud，“Burke explains.” This not only allows her to get more used to reading aloud in front of someone, but it gets me directly involved in something she loves, and it gives me the chance to be very dramatic when I read my chapters and bring myself into the characters in the book, which has proven to be a ton of fun.”

After hearing Burke’s story, Rowling said how honored she was when Harry Potter was a part of his family’s life and offered Burke more books. Besides, people are also offering to send Burke more books as gifts. For Burke, this experience, far more than gifts, will be what he treasures.

1. Why did Burke thank J. K. Rowling according to the text?

A．She guided him how to write a good story.

B．She encouraged him when he was in trouble.

C．Her books helped him through times of confusion.

D．Her books helped him improve his bond with his daughter.

2. What is implied in Burke’s words in paragraph 4?

A．He has found it interesting to read the series.	B．He was too old to understand the series better.
C．He has chosen a better way of reading the series.	D．He hopes to play a role in the drama in the future.

3. Which word can best describe Burke’s experience according to the text?

A．Useless.

B．Normal.

C．Valuable.

D．Boring.

4. What is the main idea of this text?

A．J. K. Rowling chooses to help improve kids’ health.

B．J. K. Rowling gives a magical gift to a single father.

C．J. K. Rowling has a deep influence on others’ growth.

D．Burke comes to know J. K. Rowling through her series.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What can we learn from the conversation?

A．The boss left very early.

B．The speakers enjoyed themselves at the party.

C．The man regretted (后悔) having invited his wife’s boss.

2. What is the boss like?

A．Nice.

B．Impolite.

C．Shy.