1 . I wanted to set myself the writing challenge of citing some of the many positive things about having a baby. It’s addressed to one person, but I hope that those who find themselves at a similar crossroads get help from it.
To my friend A,
All you ever seem to hear about parenthood is negative. I do not feel this. You create a new life in that child, and with that baby, you get a new life, too. When I became a mother, my own mother’s embrace, and my father’s, not to mention my extended family’s, have kept me going.
We are used to hearing about how motherhood limits your life, less so about how it can expand it. I have always believed that life is fundamentally about human relationships, and having a baby has enhanced mine. Becoming a mother—and giving birth—has enhanced my feelings of solidarity with other women. Parenting has also allowed me to experience childhood again. I have always wanted to give someone else a childhood. My wide-eyed little boy is at the stage where he is simply in love with the world, and that love is thrillingly unconditional. It is a privilege to witness, and it makes me determined to maintain it for him as much as I am able to, because his laugh is the best sound that I have ever heard.
A note about sleep: you will be OK-you’ve had enough wild nights to know you can cope. And you can get your body back, whatever that might mean to you. As for your career, it’s normal to worry. I speak only for myself when I say that I wish I had spent less time worrying beforehand about how I would write. I have far less time, now, but I’m still writing. Even a paragraph a day adds up to a novel, eventually. There is so much untapped joy and love there waiting for you, and I hope I’ve given you a small glimpse of some of it to hold on to.
1. Who might be the intended audience for this article?| A．Self-centered parents. |
| B．Those fearing to have a baby. |
| C．Broken-hearted friends. |
| D．Those avoiding marriage. |
| A．By explaining ideas. | B．By quoting sayings. |
| C．By comparing facts. | D．By concluding opinions. |
| A．To show how successful she was as a writer. |
| B．To note that where there is a will there is a way. |
| C．To tell her friend that giving birth is a piece of cake. |
| D．To persuade her friend not to worry about her career. |
| A．Opinion. | B．Headline. | C．Health. | D．Culture. |
2 . It’s a beautiful fall day. Before we camp near the river, the children dashed along the water’s edge, leaping off the bank into the slow current, pushing through the mud. The scene is happily familiar. We’ve been coming to rivers since our daughters were babies. In the beginning we went to the wilderness because my husband and I loved it and selfishly wanted them to love it, too. Now we go because we can’t live without it.
According to a report released in February, teenagers in the U.S. are in the midst of an alarming mental health crisis. A survey conducted in fall 2021 found that 30% of teen girls have seriously considered suicide, a jump of 60% in the past decade. Boys are struggling, too. The CDC report calls for greater school involvement in supporting at-risk kids, better access to mental-health services and higher standards for health education. As the mother of two teenage girls, these statistics are terrifying. What can we as parents do?
For our family, the answer has always been nature. After they started school, wilderness trips became our way of disconnecting from our digitized lives, and reconnecting with each other ourselves and the natural world. What began as a family experiment was now a cornerstone in our parenting philosophy: a way of raising healthy, curious, kind, resilient (对困境有承受力的) kids in an increasingly messy world.
I’ve seen firsthand how even a few nights out a few times a year have taught our daughter valuable life skills like cooperation, compassion, resilience, problem-solving and adaptability, which is relevant to everything we do in life.
Will our strategy work? We’re still in the thick of the experiment, so it’s too soon to tell. All we can do is pay attention, keep talking, keep trying and keep going.
1. What might be the initial reason for the couple to take their daughters to nature?| A．They loved going to the wilderness. |
| B．Their daughters liked camping. |
| C．It was a beautiful day for an outing. |
| D．It started as a family experiment. |
| A．Americans are suffering mental crisis. |
| B．Girls tend to be more helpless than boys. |
| C．The findings have aroused social concern. |
| D．No mental-health services could be accessed. |
| A．Why she loves taking her daughters to the wild. |
| B．What they experience in the outdoor adventures. |
| C．How the daughters’ growth has been transformed. |
| D．How the daughters balance schooling and recreation. |
| A．How to play in the wild. | B．How to be positive. |
| C．How to conquer nature. | D．How to see connections. |
3 . My 9-year-old niece Lily is a bit fat and she doesn’t do well at school. Because of these, she is often made fun of at home, thus developing some
Yesterday Lily and I went to an art exhibition, where paintings from kids with disabilities were being on
Then we went to a bookshop, where I bought a book written by a mom describing her journey with her autistic (孤独症的) son. On the bus back home, I briefly
I’m thankful for the
| A．distrust | B．honor | C．tension | D．loss |
| A．positions | B．hopes | C．response | D．energy |
| A．sale | B．show | C．collection | D．schedule |
| A．devoted | B．inspired | C．appealed | D．volunteered |
| A．seldom | B．even | C．always | D．again |
| A．indicated | B．accounted | C．introduced | D．gave |
| A．escaped | B．pressed | C．confused | D．surprised |
| A．concerns | B．sorts | C．struggles | D．sticks |
| A．on | B．off | C．beneath | D．above |
| A．concentrated on | B．loaded with | C．proud of | D．aware of |
| A．passenger | B．stranger | C．author | D．artist |
| A．dream | B．view | C．heart | D．imagination |
| A．context | B．review | C．power | D．conclusion |
| A．extended | B．represented | C．observed | D．presented |
| A．remind | B．promise | C．deceive | D．assume |
4 . I was recently in Door County Wisconsin, the land of cherries—a fruit sweet to taste and, for me sweeter to recall. The little fruit reminds me of a chat I had with my daughter Molly, now 19, about ten years ago on the summer shores of Lake Michigan.
Molly and I have much in common, including a lasting love of homemade pies. As I get aged, I’ve never changed the sense that freshly baked pies are the most delicious. My daughter agrees.
When she was younger, we would talk about pies before, while and after eating them. She made a special face and sign—one eye closed, fork waved twice in the air—whenever a tasty pie had been eaten up. So this chat wasn’t all that strange as we drove around Door County, a land of cherries that July day.
“Dad,” Molly asked from the back of our car, “try to guess my two favorite pies.” I thought before answering, given the importance of the subject.
Pumpkin and Wisconsin cherry, I answered, looking at her through the rearview mirror(后视镜). Our Lake Michigan location had given me the idea of my second guess and, I thought, her question. But that was not Molly’s answer. Her expression told me she was confused. But as quickly as the look came, it was replaced by a naughty smile. “OK,” she corrected, “try to guess my three favorite pies.” Molly had changed her rankings(排序), putting her original top two picks to second and third place.
Our brief chat stayed with me. Too often facts around me change, but my mind doesn’t. Unaffected by new information, I function like a navigation (导航) system that has missed a turn but won’t return. Since that summer day, when I sense myself behaving this way, I try to recall the “favorite pie” chat with my daughter and correct my course.
It was a small moment that Molly has probably forgotten, but I never will. Sometimes big lessons come from small moments.
1. What did Molly mean by making a special face and sign after eating a pie?| A．She was quite full. | B．She was very lovely. |
| C．She wanted more pies. | D．She really enjoyed the pie. |
| A．Refuse to change his mind. | B．Behave his own way. |
| C．Accept new information. | D．Follow a navigation system. |
| A．Grateful. | B．Excited. | C．Regretful. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．A shared love for pies | B．A happy journey in summer |
| C．A sweet lesson from a pie | D．A small moment with Molly |
There was an eight-year-old girl. One day, while returning from school with her mum, she saw a wonderful Barbie doll, on the shelf of a toy shop. The Barbie was designed and packed perfectly. She insisted her mum to buy it, but her mum was having a cash shortage and 50 dollar for the doll was a bit too much to afford as her husband was separated and all she was using was her savings to live their life.
Now each day after her school while coming back with her mum the girl cried for that toy and all her mum could say was next month. Days passed and this continued. Mum got fed up and slapped her daughter for the first time to force her to forget about that toy, and then promised a better one (obviously low cost). However, the kid was very stubborn. She wanted that only.
It was the month of winter when her mum found a job which she could do at home at night after making her daughter sleep. Finally she could have extra money, now she was a bit relaxed. On a Monday afternoon, she went to pick up her daughter as usual, but this time she didn’t go alone. She bought the Barbie toy for her. The kid was glad to see that, excitedly hugging her mum. She was in joy.
Each day the kid played with her doll, making her bath, combing her hair, and making her put on fancy dress. Days passed, and now she was one year older. The Barbie was not as that important. While playing, she grabbed the hair, broke her one hand, etc. Gradually she got bored and the Barbie toy was dumped somewhere unknown.
Years later, she got married. And one day, she came to visit her old mum.
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.
She looked around her room where she grew up and suddenly she noticed her old toy box.
She took the Barbie back her home.
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6 . Auntie Zeny took care of me from the time I was born until I was 15. She didn’t join us for
It was
After leaving Hong Kong to attend high school in the USA, and
Now, my parents regularly send some of their allowance to Auntie Zeny to show their
| A．talks | B．games | C．parties | D．meals |
| A．separately | B．quickly | C．secretly | D．sadly |
| A．signed | B．persuaded | C．ordered | D．encouraged |
| A．opinion | B．solution | C．point | D．sense |
| A．necessary | B．hard | C．possible | D．important |
| A．ignore | B．blame | C．leave | D．defend |
| A．complain | B．talk | C．tease | D．comment |
| A．explanations | B．reasons | C．advice | D．evidence |
| A．agreeing | B．fighting | C．claiming | D．offering |
| A．basically | B．eventually | C．briefly | D．consequently |
| A．understanding | B．missing | C．amusing | D．praising |
| A．time | B．health | C．feelings | D．savings |
| A．unknown | B．unqualified | C．unwelcome | D．unimportant |
| A．fried | B．shared | C．healthy | D．formal |
| A．admiration | B．kindness | C．understanding | D．appreciation |
A MOTHER’S DAY SURPRISE
The twins were filled with excitement as they thought of the surprise they were planning for Mother’s Day. How pleased and proud Mother would be when they brought her breakfast in bed. They planned to make French toast and chicken porridge. They had watched their mother in the kitchen. There was nothing to it. Jenna and Jeff knew exactly what to do.
The big day came at last. The alarm rang at 6 a.m. The pair went down the stairs quietly to the kitchen. They decided to boil the porridge first. They put some rice into a pot of water and left it to boil while they made the French toast. Jeff broke two eggs into a plate and added in some milk. Jenna found the bread and put two slices into the egg mixture. Next, Jeff turned on the second stove burner to heat up the frying pan. Everything was going smoothly until Jeff started frying the bread. The pan was too hot and the bread turned black within seconds. Jenna threw the burnt piece into the sink and put in the other slice of bread. This time, she turned down the fire so it cooked nicely.
Then Jeff noticed steam shooting out of the pot and the lid starting to shake. The next minute, the porridge boiled over and put out the fire. Jenna panicked. Thankfully, Jeff stayed calm and turned off the gas quickly. But the stove was a mess now. Jenna told Jeff to clean it up so they could continue to cook the rest of the porridge. But Jeff’s hand touched the hot burner and he gave a cry of pain. Jenna made him put his hand in cold water. Then she caught the smell of burning. Oh dear! The piece of bread in the pan had turned black as well.
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。
As the twins looked around them in disappointment, their father appeared.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The twins carried the breakfast upstairs and woke their mother up.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8 . There is a country-I read about it once-where the local custom is that if you go to a house and praise some small possession,the owners feel obliged to offer it to you as a gift.I don’t remember the name of the country;the only other place I know of with such a custom is my mother’s apartment.
Knowing Mama,I have always been careful with my compliments,but that doesn’t stop her. Mama senses admiration far more subtle(敏感的)than what’s spoken.If she catches me staring at anything small enough to put in a grocery sack,she hands it to me as I leave.It would do no good to protest.
Sometimes,while visiting Mama,I try not to say anything complimentary.
I have been worrying for weeks now about what to give my mother for Mother’s Day.For most people,this is a modest problem,solved by the purchase of a bathrobe or a box of candy. For me,however,Mother’s Day represents an annual challenge to do the impossible-find a gift that will make neither Mama nor me feel terrible.Expensive gifts-Mama defines as costing over$1.98-are out,because they make Mama feel terrible.There is always the danger that a gift given to Mama will bounce swiftly back to the giver.
Papa,a sensible man,long ago stopped trying to shop for Mama.Instead,on Mother’s Day, her birthday,and other appropriate occasions,he composes a short epic poem in which he tells of their meeting,courtship(求婚)，and subsequent(随后的)marriage.After nearly 30 years of poems,Papa sometimes worries that the edge of his poetic inspiration has dulled,but Mama doesn’t complain.She comes into the room while he is struggling over a gift poem and says,”It doesn’t have to rhyme as long as it’s from the heart.”
This year,finally,I think I,too,have found a painless gift for Mama.I am going to give her a magazine article,unrhymed but from the heart,in which I wish her”Happy Mother’s Day”and tell her there’s nothing Papa or I could ever buy,find,or make her that would be half good enough anyway.
1. The underlined word”compliments”in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to| A．behavior | B．purchase | C．words | D．praise |
| A．It’s difficult to choose a proper but cheap gift. |
| B．His Mama wishes him to follow his father’s way. |
| C．Gifts will make his mother feel terrible. |
| D．The writer has a very tight budget. |
| A．the writer will be given whatever he wants |
| B．his mother will give him the things he praises |
| C．his father will have to compose rhymed poems |
| D．his mother will return anything to the giver |
| A．An Economical Mother |
| B．A Challenging Choice |
| C．A Gift for Mama |
| D．An Old Custom |
1. What color of jacket does the old woman wear?
| A．Green. | B．Blue. | C．Red. |
| A．To buy a gift. | B．To go to work. | C．To get some food. |
| A．A hat. | B．A T-shirt. | C．A pair of jeans. |
| A．Family members. | B．Co-workers. | C．Strangers. |
| A．Move house. | B．Rent a house. | C．Build a house. |
