1 . Monique Marshall knew she had to do something for her mother after her stepfather passed away. Monique’s mother, Karin, who is 84 years old, was living in her apartment in New York City ________, about 2,500 miles away from Monique in Los Angeles.

Monique ________ she had to do something for her mother. ________, Monique’s husband, Demille, was all on board, willing to do anything to ________ Karin in her advanced age. That’s when Monique and Demille brainstormed with their friends and neighbors, Pierre and Carmen, who happened to be ________.

After much thought and planning, they ________ a solution of a “glam garage (豪华车库)”. Monique and Demille decided to turn their old and drafty ________ into an apartment space for Karin. But as is always the case with any construction project, they encountered ________. However, it was nothing too big that kept them from completing the ________. And the results are ________!

Karin is in love with her new living space and new city. When Karin first ________ into her glam garage apartment in Los Angeles, she couldn’t ________ her eyes.

“It was overwhelming,” said Karin. “I was so ________. Monique had done all the furniture. I didn’t have to do anything.”

What a wonderful and ________ solution that came about because of love, care and ________.

1.

A．in person

B．at hand

C．on duty

D．by herself

2.

A．knew

B．guessed

C．stressed

D．minded

3.

A．Eventually

B．Luckily

C．Occasionally

D．Instantly

4.

A．revive

B．ignore

C．visit

D．assist

5.

A．artists

B．doctors

C．architects

D．teachers

6.

A．brought up

B．came about

C．broke down

D．took out

7.

A．car

B．house

C．garage

D．kitchen

8.

A．consequences

B．issues

C．strategies

D．facilities

9.

A．match

B．project

C．distance

D．preference

10.

A．awful

B．challenging

C．obvious

D．fantastic

11.

A．stepped

B．broke

C．turned

D．drove

12.

A．change

B．keep

C．believe

D．open

13.

A．confused

B．shocked

C．curious

D．addicted

14.

A．specific

B．classic

C．attractive

D．creative

15.

A．concern

B．prediction

C．balance

D．warning

3 . In 1992, Jeff Balch’s mom died of cancer, at the age of 60. She _________ on a weekend, and that Monday was rubbish pick-up day.

Balch was at his mom’s home, doing some yard work, when the young man who worked as their _________ collector came up the driveway. The man _________ and said, “Hey, how’s Ms. Balch doing?”

Balch took a _________. He hadn’t yet told a stranger about his mom. And he said, “Well, she was very sick, and I’m afraid she died a couple of days ago.” On hearing this, the man felt very _________, He stammered (结结巴巴地说), “I’m so sorry.” And he _________ his eyes and hurried away.

Balch remembers looking down as well, his eyes filled with tears. When he looked up, he saw that the man was _________ by two other rubbish collectors, and now they were walking towards him, across the _________.

The oldest man in the group said, “We just want you to know your mom was the _________ person. She always brought us water to drink when we were working and __________ us in need.”

Today, Balch sometimes __________ of those three men, who went out of their way to say something kind about his mom. Balch says he can’t be __________ like his mom as he talks to rubbish collectors. But he does try to treat them the way the __________ treated him and he will pass on his mother’s __________. “It’s all about realizing the humanity (仁慈) in everyone we’re dealing with,” Balch said. “And that was the rubbish collectors’ __________ to me, which was to humanize (使人性化) at that moment.”

1.

A．took action

B．passed away

C．worked out

D．stayed up

2.

A．rubbish

B．paper

C．water

D．knowledge

3.

A．smiled

B．hid

C．warned

D．won

4.

A．trip

B．shower

C．breath

D．chance

5.

A．angry

B．tired

C．disappointed

D．sad

6.

A．closed

B．treated

C．lowered

D．caught

7.

A．joined

B．fed

C．moved

D．checked

8.

A．river

B．city

C．sky

D．yard

9.

A．laziest

B．cleverest

C．strictest

D．nicest

10.

A．praised

B．helped

C．followed

D．changed

11.

A．hears

B．thinks

C．dreams

D．complains

12.

A．accidentally

B．merely

C．exactly

D．tightly

13.

A．publishers

B．sellers

C．gardeners

D．workers

14.

A．excitement

B．kindness

C．challenge

D．stress

15.

A．choice

B．promise

C．gift

D．wonder

4 . 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。

In 1940, I worked in the checkroom of the railway station. I saw everybody that came up the stairs.

Harry was a young man who came to the station and waited at the head of the stairs for the passengers from the 9:05 train.

I remembered seeing Harry that first evening. He wasn’t much more than a thin, anxious kid then. He was all dressed up and I knew he was meeting his sister, who he hadn’t seen for many years.

Well, the passengers came up and I had to get busy. I didn’t look toward the stairs again until nearly time for the 9:18 and I was very surprised to see that the Harry was still there. His sister didn’t come on the 9:18 either, nor on the 9:40, and when the passengers from the 10:02 had all arrived and left, Harry was looking pretty upset. Pretty soon he came close to my window so I called out and asked him what his sister looked like.

“She’s small and dark. She is nineteen years old and very neat in the way she walk,” he said. “She has a face that has lots of spirit. I mean she can get mad but she never stays mad for long, and her eyebrows come to a little point in the middle. She’s got a brown fur, but maybe she isn’t wearing it.”

“I couldn’t remember seeing anybody like that,” I told him.

He showed me the telegram he’d received: ARRIVE THURSDAY. MEET ME AT THE STATION. MAY. It was from Omaha, Nebraska. “Well,” I finally said, “why don’t you phone to your home? She’s probably called there if she got in ahead of you.”

He gave me a sick look. “I’ve only been in the town for two days. We were going to meet and then drive down to the south of the city where I’ve got a job. She doesn’t have my address.”

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。

When I came on duty the next day, Harry was still there and I asked more about his sister.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

One day, after about two weeks, I thought I could say something encouraging to him.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . Growing old is something that happens to all of us. But often, older people seem “invisible” in society. Many people see them as physically weak, helpless or unable to contribute anything.

Starting in 1990, the United Nations has made Oct 1 of every year the International Day of Older Persons. It is a day to fight this stereotype (刻板印象) and raise awareness of issues faced by older people in society.

How do you feel about getting old? I chatted with my grandma to find out her opinions. Born in 1927, my grandma Solveig King grew up in Sweden during the Great Depression of the 1930s and World War Ⅱ. Everything was rationed (定量配给). There were no outdoor lights and no running water. “But it was a very happy childhood: snow every winter and always sunshine in summer, enough food, but no luxuries,” she said. This explains where she got her habit of keeping old boxes and containers and never wasting any food. It’s a habit many people of her generation seem to have.

In 2015, I went to live with my grandma for a few months. We would sit together and read books, go to the swimming pool, watch some travel programs or documentaries on TV, do some gardening, try some crossword puzzles, and then do it all again the next day. It was quite fun!

Now 96 years old and in a wheelchair, Solveig can’t go swimming any more, but she still keeps up with her other hobbies. “I don’t feel ‘old’, just a little disabled! But I never wish I could do something I know I can’t do. I remember one of my favorite teachers saying: ‘That is just wasted mental energy!’ Nor do I ever wish to relive any part of my life. I am very happy with the road I have taken.”

As for getting older and wiser, Solveig thinks wisdom comes with experience and reasoning, but not everyone is willing to take notice of it. And she keeps a curious and adventurous mindset. “Soon, I’ll need to go live at a nursing home for two weeks while my family is away. I’m excited because I’ll get to learn all about old people!” she said.

1. What does Solveig think of her childhood?

A．It was filled with fear due to the war.	B．It was marked by food shortages.
C．It was joyful despite hardships.	D．It was poor and hopeless.

2. What does Solveig think about her life?

A．She longs to relive it.	B．She regrets wasting her mental energy.
C．She feels upset about aging.	D．She is satisfied with her decisions.

3. What does Solveig think is the origin of wisdom?

A．Curiosity and open-mindedness.	B．Experience and reasoning.
C．Extensive reading.	D．Formal education.

4. Which of the following best describes Solveig?

A．Funny and generous.	B．Curious and positive.
C．Creative and sociable.	D．Friendly and patient.

6 . My 16-month-old daughter jumped onto the floor again, after climbing onto the low windowsill. She made it many times a day—it is her own Mount Qomolangma. With a sense of _________, she ran into my arms, laughing. I was almost crying as I _________ her.

I felt I was a(n)_________. No one had prepared me for working from home daring the COVID-19 pandemic while _________ a wild, fearless kid. I felt so sad. I wasn’t _________ enough and I wasn’t a good mother. I was defeated by life.

Then came a sound from my cellphone. After getting my _________ child back on her feet and, watching her go to climb the windowsill, I read the _________: “Watching you be a mommy has been my favorite. It brings me so much     _______! How talented you are, and how kind and funny you are!”

And immediately, my friend Megan got me out of a complete _________. This was exactly what I needed to ________, at the exact moment I felt so ________ . She rebuilt my confidence and __________ me that motherhood is my mission, my happiness, and my greatest achievement, even when it’s __________.

Sometimes the greatest kindnesses are some words of __________ at just the right time. Therefore, I headed back to Baby Qomolangma, ready for her next __________.

1.

A．responsibility

B．fairness

C．achievement

D．humor

2.

A．found

B．freed

C．left

D．held

3.

A．influence

B．failure

C．partner

D．fool

4.

A．waking up

B．picking up

C．caring for

D．waiting for

5.

A．strong

B．curious

C．confused

D．generous

6.

A．creative

B．adventurous

C．polite

D．honest

7.

A．example

B．report

C．story

D．message

8.

A．luck

B．attention

C．happiness

D．love

9.

A．mess

B．joke

C．excuse

D．surprise

10.

A．share

B．write

C．accept

D．hear

11.

A．afraid

B．helpless

C．ashamed

D．lonely

12.

A．promised

B．called

C．reminded

D．warned

13.

A．hard

B．strange

C．different

D．dangerous

14.

A．explanation

B．encouragement

C．advice

D．agreement

15.

A．run

B．flight

C．cry

D．jump

7 . My dad is easy-going and has a gift for chatting. He ________ a fast food restaurant called Queenie’s Weenies, which is specialized in hot dogs. I work with my dad at the ________ on weekends.

One Saturday, we went ________. As we got into the checkout line, I ________ something: our cashier (收银员) was very ________! She ________ no smiles, no greetings and no small talk. Her “anger aura (光环)” was obvious and kind of ________ to me. When we ________ to check out, I was thinking that we should just pay for our things and leave quickly. My dad had a different ________. When it was our turn, he started ________ her.

Dad said, “Hi, how are you today? This is my son. I have a restaurant, and we ________ together. It’s called Queenie’s Weenies. Drop by my restaurant sometime and I will ________ you to my hot dogs. I’m good at cooking them.” By the time we ________ checking out, the cashier was smiling. She said, “Thanks, umm… I hope you and your son have a very nice day.”

Back in the car, Dad said to me, “The cashier was obviously ________ today. It happens to everyone. Smile ________ or give a few kind words, which is all it takes to make one a little more delighted.”

1.

A．owns

B．describes

C．visits

D．recommends

2.

A．supermarket

B．hospital

C．restaurant

D．company

3.

A．hiking

B．camping

C．exploring

D．shopping

4.

A．imagined

B．believed

C．noticed

D．remembered

5.

A．beautiful

B．unhappy

C．professional

D．polite

6.

A．received

B．needed

C．avoided

D．offered

7.

A．suitable

B．frightening

C．special

D．friendly

8.

A．helped

B．refused

C．waited

D．forgot

9.

A．problem

B．idea

C．hope

D．experience

10.

A．talking to

B．looking after

C．going after

D．laughing at

11.

A．work

B．play

C．tour

D．exercise

12.

A．drive

B．tie

C．treat

D．lead

13.

A．quitted

B．finished

C．missed

D．regretted

14.

A．in peace

B．in danger

C．in a hurry

D．in low spirits

15.

A．warmly

B．immediately

C．secretly

D．comfortably

8 . It’s a really cold winter day. I had just finished some shopping, and was ready to _________ the supermarket’s parking lot. Hearing the _________ coming from the area of the shopping carts, I _________ the sounds. It was someone I knew well who was playing the guitar. Beggar (乞丐), I can’t really call him.

He never begged. It was more like he was open to _________ presents. He would just sit _________ to the side of the entrance, and _________ everyone very politely who gave him something. I’d seen him many times.

He had been an epileptic (癫痫患者) since his childhood. He couldn’t even _________ the lowest-paid job the social services try to offer people like him. They seemed afraid of the _________.

I started feeling _________ for him, but he said, “I’ve made my __________ with that. I’m happy I could live in a flat. It’s very difficult to get off the street when people know you’ve lived here.” He told me how he’d remembered his __________ for music. He’d gotten so much help, and wanted to try to __________ the kindness, starting with the music. Thus everyone could enjoy sweet music while shopping.

I was __________ when he said that people were much more giving, and he wasn’t __________ about the money anymore because it didn’t matter to him any longer. He was grateful for what he had. He only wanted people to give him money if they really wanted to, if it was a __________ from the heart.

1.

A．leave

B．close

C．book

D．sell

2.

A．crying

B．news

C．music

D．voice

3.

A．feared

B．followed

C．doubted

D．passed

4.

A．refusing

B．sending

C．hiding

D．accepting

5.

A．tiredly

B．quietly

C．excitedly

D．angrily

6.

A．track

B．forgive

C．thank

D．shape

7.

A．get

B．miss

C．post

D．avoid

8.

A．communication

B．environment

C．difference

D．responsibility

9.

A．sorry

B．lucky

C．calm

D．cold

10.

A．nature

B．promise

C．ability

D．peace

11.

A．respect

B．room

C．love

D．need

12.

A．give back

B．go after

C．grow into

D．hold out

13.

A．hopeless

B．amazed

C．carefree

D．honored

14.

A．certain

B．nervous

C．worried

D．annoyed

15.

A．letter

B．gift

C．word

D．beat