1 . Making a Difference

In my 7th-grade year, we undertook a project focused on encouraging people to register to vote. I discovered that the registration process is quite simple, and I couldn’t understand why many individuals weren’t registered.     1    . I also learned that anyone who is 18 can vote.

    2    ; we would make a change in our community. The school set up a voter registration day. It was part of the school’s Open House, a day we knew many people would be there. My brother was 18. I asked him if he was registered, and he said. “Why should I register? I don’t think it is important.” I told him when people elected someone, that person would decide things that could help improve the city. I asked him to come to the Open House.     3    . I did not know what he meant.

My brother surprised me. He called the registrar’s office. He was calling to find out where he could register, but he learned more.     4    . He would have to go to a training session. Then he would be able to help others get registered. So he went downtown, and he not only registered as a voter but also began training to be a registrar.

My brother talked with his high school social studies teacher. He said he wanted to help other students get registered. The teacher set. up a voter registration table in the lunchroom. My brother sat there every day for a week. When students came in, if they were 18, they could go to register at his table.     5    . My brother had done all that himself. We both had made a big difference.

A．He didn’t come right away

B．He said he would do better than that

C．Our class decided to do something about this

D．He found out he could be a volunteer registrar

E．I wanted to find out why they refused to register

F．At the end of the week, 108 students had registered

G．I learned in social studies that voting is a crucial aspect of being a citizen

2 . The long fishing pathway is a well-worn narrow road, about six feet across, covered in stones and dirt. I’m in Barranquilla, Colombia－a seaport city known for great fish.

I keep an eye out so I don’t trip on the rocky path. Along the way, I come upon a man likely in his 50s. I stop and watch him for several minutes as he stands on the rocks and fishes. Instead of a rod (钓竿), the man holds a large bunch of fishing line. On the other end, far off in the distance, the line is attached to a kite. The wind pushes the kite away from him and carries his long line out to sea with several hooks (鱼钩) tied to the line to catch fish. As the sun is setting, I silently reflect on his life. A life so different from my own but no less meaningful.

I’ve chosen not to live anywhere for the time being. I gave up my apartment in Toronto over two years ago, choosing to live and work remotely. I move around often and live permanently out of a suitcase, often staying with friends, family and in hotels. Toronto has become unaffordable, even more so since I’ve left, and I want a lifestyle where I can save some money while discovering unfamiliar locations and forming connections with individuals I’ve yet to meet.

I guess you could call me a digital nomad (数字游民). Work can be done from anywhere now. As a publicist in the film industry, the majority of my job involves meetings and emails and that can all be done virtually.

I learned about a new word recently: “sonder,” coined to define when you realize that each person around you is experiencing a life as vivid and complex as your own. I met the man from Barranquilla early on in my travels. Participating in that small slice of his life made me excited and curious about the world. The longer I’m on the road, the more my eyes are opened to see the world this way and seek out opportunities to understand others.

1. What might the author think of the man’s fishing method?

A．Unique.

B．Traditional.

C．Fruitful.

D．Risky.

2. For what reason did the author choose to Live a nomadic life?

A．Job requirements as a publicist.	B．Unaffordability of a settled life.
C．Inability to find a permanent residence.	D．Desire to explore new places and meet new people.

3. What do we know about people with a sense of “sonder”?

A．They are fond of traveling.	B．They do most of their work virtually.
C．They have experienced many ups and downs.	D．They are aware of the richness of others’ life.

4. In which section of a magazine does the text most probably appear?

A．Fishing.

B．Travel.

C．Life.

D．Technology.

3 . What’s Happening at Cheshire Library in September

Movie Matinees Are Back!
September l , 1:00pm: The Polar Express (2004)
September 7, 1:00pm: The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

We’re bringing our Movie Matinees back, and this month there’s trouble on a train! This is a drop-in program, no registration required. Come by for a movie on the big screen!

Art Journaling with Megan Jeffery
September 8, 6:30-8:00pm

Learn how you can get started in documenting your life with art journaling in this engaging workshop led by illustrator Megan Jeffery. Participants will create their own joumaling cards using a variety of supplies. Space is limited, so registration is required.

The Humane Gardener: Nancy Lawson (Online)
September 15, 6:30-8:00pm

Join author Nancy Lawson as our special guest speaker in an online presentation related to her book The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife, which explains the importance of coexisting with the local wildlife. Registration required to receive a Zoom link one hour before the start of the program.

Preschool Storytime (Ages 3-5)
September 20, 10:00-10:45am

A program for preschoolers to learn through talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing! For children ages 3-5 and their caregivers. Registration: Cheshire residents may register beginning on September 6. Non-residents may register starting on September 13.

1. What is special about the movie-watching program?

A．It is held on a train.	B．It is an online program.
C．It includes hands-on activities.	D．It requires no advance registration.

2. What should participants do before joining the presentation by Nancy Lawson?

A．Click a Zoom link.	B．Read her latest book.
C．Bring their own art supplies.	D．Submit an art journaling card.

3. Who are most likely interested in the Sept. 20 program?

A．Movie lovers.

B．Gardeners.

C．Preschoolers’ parents.

D．Artists.

4 . People with special access requirements across Brisbane are finding homes that are easier to live in thanks to a home access information trial.

Started by the Queensland Department of Housing and the Real Estate Institute of Queensland, the trial encourages real estate agents to identify and promote homes for sale or rent which include access features for older people and people with disabilities.

The access listing includes homes that have at least one entry with no more than three steps. Alternatively, there may be a ramp (斜坡), elevator or lift that provides easy entry into the main living areas. The listing agent may also have information on door widths, bathroom space and other important considerations for those requiring wheelchair access.

Rosslyn Kennedy from Gateway Properties is one of about 70 agents who have elected to participate in the trial. Rosslyn says access features are a big selling point.

“While people may not necessarily come out and ask for these types of properties, when you mention it to them, they say ‘oh great’,” she says. “It’s like an unconscious thing that people are looking for.”

Gateway Properties is also promoting several new developments featuring lifts and easy access to local beaches and hospitals. People who wish to have a home that is accessible for friends or family with a mobility disability will also benefit from this trial, Rosslyn says.

“We’ve had success in talking to developers early to encourage them to consider access features, especially in ground level properties,” she says. “Making modifications (改进) to properties before they are completed is also a good way to introduce access features, and can often be cheaper than designing a home from scratch.”

Housing Minister Robert Schwarten says the trial will be held in the Brisbane area and is expected to run until later this year.

“The purpose of the trial is to work with real estate agents to test and evaluate the process,” he says. “Following the results of the evaluation, we may consider a state-wide release.”

1. Who can benefit most from the home access information trial?

A．Real estate agents.	B．Tourists and patients.
C．The old and the disabled.	D．The Queensland Department of Housing staff.

2. According to Rosslyn, homes with access features ______.

A．are hard to find	B．are well-received
C．are priced much too high	D．refer to those without steps

3. What’s Robert Schwarten’s attitude towards the trial?

A．Critical.

B．Worried.

C．Surprised.

D．Supportive.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．Homes sold in Brisbane	B．Homes get nod for access
C．Homes attract more agents	D．Homes available for everyone

5 . 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。

Over the course of the recent global pandemic, humans grew familiar     1     the idea of social distancing. A research team wondered     2     oceanic species engage in a similar practice. To find out, they ventured to the shores of the Dutch Wadden Sea to study seal (海豹) behavior.

The researchers noted that two main     3     (type) of seals frequent the shores－harbor seals and gray seals. In surveys of the area, the team noted that gray seals tend     4     (stay) away from the shore, while harbor seals prefer to keep close to the water. They also found that harbor seals keep nearly twice as much distance between one another than gray seals do.

The researchers noted that harbor seals tend to fall victim to distemper (瘟热) outbreaks — they     5     (face) two major outbreaks over the past three decades, each of     6     led to major drops in their numbers. Gray seals have not been nearly as     7     (severe) impacted because they generally survive such infections.

The research team suggests that the reason why the harbor seals keep their distance     8     (be) that they are practicing a form of social distancing as     9     way to reduce the chances of infection during outbreaks. Their findings could have     10     (significant) for other animals that practice similar behavior in light of climate change.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the man?

A．A salesman.

B．A coach.

C．A tennis player.

2. When did the man go to Dubai?

A．In February.

B．In March.

C．In May.

3. What impresses the man most about Paris?

A．The pleasant weather.

B．The romantic atmosphere.

C．The modern white building.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What are sharks famous for?

A．Their large bodies.

B．Their high intelligence.

C．Their attacks on sea creatures.

2. How long can the biggest whale shark be?

A．20 m.

B．10 m.

C．2 m.

3. What do sharks’ good senses help them do?

A．Escape from danger.

B．Find their food.

C．Kill their enemies.

4. Where do most sharks live?

A．In warm waters of oceans.

B．In cold areas of oceans.

C．In warm lakes.

8 . 你校英语社组织学生对近二十年人们旅游出行方式的变化进行了一个暑期问卷调查，请你根据调查结果提供的信息写一篇报告，内容包括：
1. 分析图表数据；
2. 简述变化的原因；
3. 预测未来趋势。

注意：1. 词数100左右；2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Report on travel mode preferences

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . My mother took an annual vacation all by herself. It was just two ________ visiting an out-of-town family and perhaps a little sightseeing on the way. It ________ when I was thirteen and old enough to look after my younger brother.

Why couldn’t we ________? I couldn’t get across the idea. My mother’s answer was always frank and to the point: “I need a ________ from you guys for a couple of days.” I couldn’t ________ that reasoning until twenty-five years later.

I am ________, responsible for most of the household tasks. I also hold a job and ________ my family and old parents. My husband asks about the vacation this year. I look up at the bathroom sink, ________ again. “Anywhere,” I answer, “as long as it’s ________.” He doesn’t understand, looking ________.

But now I do. I understand the need for every solo (个人的) vacation my mother ever took. My first ________ was to Bermuda. For five days, there were no blocked sinks, grocery lists, work deadlines, or ________ family members. Instead, there was only peace and the opportunity to do ________ what I wanted to do. It was amazing. I ________ three pounds and came home with perfect dark skin and renewed ________. I decide in the future whenever I feel overwhelmed (不堪重负) or like I need a break, I take one.

1.

A．hours

B．weeks

C．months

D．years

2.

A．started

B．appeared

C．grown

D．changed

3.

A．head off

B．help out

C．go along

D．wander about

4.

A．stop

B．break

C．help

D．reason

5.

A．understand

B．bother

C．claim

D．appreciate

6.

A．noted

B．trained

C．married

D．educated

7.

A．care for

B．rely on

C．turn to

D．follow up

8.

A．covered

B．filled

C．blocked

D．stuck

9.

A．independent

B．distant

C．alone

D．convenient

10.

A．concerned

B．annoyed

C．focused

D．puzzled

11.

A．plan

B．trip

C．decision

D．answer

12.

A．demanding

B．depressing

C．aging

D．encouraging

13.

A．generally

B．specially

C．briefly

D．exactly

14.

A．gained

B．bought

C．took

D．lacked

15.

A．body

B．spirit

C．schedule

D．pressure

10 . In 1985, Vanessa Foster and her husband hopped on a flight to Alaska without any plan. When they _________, they used the last of their money to buy an old _________ and started wandering across the state. A little while into their drive, they saw a hitchhiker (搭便车的人) on the side of the road, and her husband decided to give him a _________. A few hours later, they _________ at a rest stop.

“I hopped out and _________ to the ladies’ room. When I came out a few minutes later, my husband was exiting the men’s room,” Foster remembered. “We _________ around the parking lot, and the hitchhiker and our car were gone. So we _________ the hitchhikers,” Foster said.

As they walked down the _________, none of the cars slowed down to _________ them up. __________, an El Camino stopped. Sitting in the driver’s seat was a middle-aged man with bright __________ eyes. He told them to hop in.

“When he heard we were __________ and lost everything, he offered us summer jobs and a place to stay on his farm near Homer, Alaska,” Foster said.

The __________ impacted them to such a degree that Vanesa Foster wrote about it in a book titled More Than Everything. Looking back on that time in her life, all these years later, she says she’ll never __________ that man with the bright blue eyes.

“I really appreciate his kindness toward a couple of __________ on that Alaskan highway,” she says.

1.

A．escaped

B．came

C．won

D．landed

2.

A．car

B．horse

C．pick-up

D．bike

3.

A．lesson

B．treat

C．ride

D．truck

4.

A．gave up

B．pulled over

C．checked out

D．sat down

5.

A．rushed

B．preferred

C．appealed

D．referred

6.

A．wandered

B．searched

C．played

D．drove

7.

A．asked

B．invited

C．became

D．needed

8.

A．hill

B．valley

C．bank

D．highway

9.

A．break

B．pick

C．clean

D．eat

10.

A．Currently

B．Occasionally

C．Finally

D．Frequently

11.

A．little

B．black

C．big

D．blue

12.

A．jobless

B．hungry

C．tired

D．cold

13.

A．drive

B．scenery

C．experience

D．book

14.

A．forget

B．miss

C．hate

D．forgive

15.

A．animals

B．thieves

C．workers

D．strangers