1 . An American cancer survivor has become the first person to swim across the English Channel four times on end.

Sarah Thomas, a 37-year-old woman, completed the great achievement on Tuesday after over54 hours of swimming. Her record-breaking achievement comes just a year after she completed treatment for breast cancer.

In a video on Facebook, a small group of people could be seen cheering on the swimmer from Colorado as she made her final arrival to beach at Dover. Supporters congratulated Ms. Thomas on her non-stop swim, handing her chocolate and other gifts. In the video, Ms. Thomas admitted to feeling “a little sick" but said she had been encouraged to keep going by her husband and her team.

Before the start of her challenge, Ms. Thomas wrote that she was “fearful” and admitted she was "going to need some luck".

In a Facebook post made on Saturday, she dedicated the swim "to all the survivors out there", adding: "This is for those of us who have wondered hopelessly about what comes next, and have overcome the pain bravely."

After her swim, Ms. Thomas said. "I'm really tired and I'm losing my voice from all the salt water." Asked what the worst part of her challenge was, she said, “probably dealing with the salt water over two days, it really hurts your throat, your mouth and your tongue." She praised her support team for helping her stay strong, adding that she was very prepared for the weather, currents and cold water. "I feel just mostly stunned right now. I just can't believe that we did it.”

1. What was the biggest challenge for Ms. Thomas?

A．The weather.	B．The currents.
C．The salt water.	D．The cold water.

2. What does the underlined word stunned in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Frightened.

B．Surprised.

C．Upset.

D．Relaxed.

3. Which of the following can best describe Ms. Thomas?

A．Brave and determined.	B．Successful and intelligent.
C．Humorous and generous.	D．Kind and confident.

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

A．A Record-breaking Achievement

B．Sarah Thomas Beat Breast Cancer

C．Sarah Thomas Got Support from her Husband

D．A Woman First to Swim Channel Four Times Non-stop

2 . Yesterday, I went to the bookstore to pick up a present for my mother’s upcoming birthday. I found one of the books I wanted, but not the other one my mother had discussed with me the other day. When I went to pay. I asked the clerk behind the counter if I could order the second book.

A lady was standing in line behind me at the checkout. The clerk said she could order the book. but asked if I would mind letting the lady behind me pay for her purchases first. The lady behind me said no and that it was fine to wait.

It took nearly 15 minutes to put my order through! The lady behind me chatted agreeably with us for the entire time. When it finally came time for me to pay, I placed two $10 off cards on the counter. The clerk informed me the offer was only valid(有效) for the book I was purchasing in-store and wouldn’t work for the book I’d ordered. This meant that I’d have one $ 10 card left.

“You can come back and purchase another book.” the clerk smiled. “The offer is valid until the end of the week.”

I thought about this for a millisecond and then turned around to face the lady behind me who’d been so patient, kind, and charming through the very long wait at the checkout. “Here.” I gave her the $10 off card. She was very surprised and said. “Really?”

The gift didn’t cost me anything. I knew I wouldn’t be back before the end of the week and it rewarded someone whose attitude left a smile in my heart. Most definitely a win-win moment.

1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A．The author couldn’t afford anything else but books as a birthday present.

B．The book store had no suitable books available as a birthday present.

C．Reading was probably appealing to the author and the mother alike.

D．The author was a regular customer of the book store.

2. What did the author probably think of the clerk?

A．Impolite.

B．Considerate.

C．Cold

D．Easy-going.

3. Why did the author offer to give away the extra $ 10 off card to the lady?

A．The author was always very generous to strangers.

B．The $ 10 off card would become invalid next week.

C．The author believed the lady would smile at her/him.

D．The author wanted to thank the lady for her kindness.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Win win Moment at the Bookstore	B． Bread, Another
C．Lovely Delay at the Bookstore	D．Patience and Friendship Rewarded

3 . My mother is a diligent and kind woman. She is very busy from morning till night. As a teacher, she works hard.     1     Both my brother and I love her dearly as she loves us.

My mother has been teaching math at a middle school in my hometown. She goes to work early in the morning and does not return home until late in the afternoon.     2     She treats them with patience and teaches them well. For her excellent quality and very good teaching results, she has been elected as a model teacher several times.

    3     Every day, when she comes back home from work, she sets about doing housework, sweeping the living room and bedrooms or cleaning the furniture, and putting everything in good order. She seems to be busy all the time. As she has been very busy working every day, she looks older than her age. But she looks as cheerful and happy as ever. Mother never buys expensive dresses for herself, but she often buys some inexpensive but high-quality clothes for us.     4     She just eats a plain meal outside when she is too busy to cook herself. She lives a busy yet simple life, without any complaints.

Often, she says to us, “work while you work, and play while you play. That is the way to be happy and gay. If you do not work, you will become lazy and be of no use to society”. What a piece of good advice this is!     5     This advice of hers will always serve as a guide to my behavior. My mother is great indeed, and I always feel proud of her.

A．As a mother, she takes good care of us and gives us every comfort.

B．She enjoys listening to classic music.

C．She never goes to expensive restaurants to enjoy meals.

D．She loves her students and cares for them.

E．My mother is hard-working and never wastes money.

F．Can you tell us something about your mother?

G．I never forget it and always bear it in my mind.

4 . Dawn Loggins of Lawndale, N.C. is on her way to Harvard, one of the eight world­famous universities in the eastern US.Nobody encouraged her to study or paid for her special classes.This girl created her own future.

The teen was abandoned by her family last summer, when her parents and two sisters moved to Tennessee.She found herself homeless and had to spend the night on friend’s sofas.

The school bus driver learned about Dawn’s situation and invited Dawn to move in with her family. Soon, Dawn had a job at Burns High School.She worked from 6 a. m.to 7：40 a. m.before the first school bell rang.She swept floors and picked up trash again in the afternoons, before diving into her studies in the evenings.

Dawn’s hard work paid off.She finished school with a 3.9 GPA and scored 2, 110 on the SAT.

“There were times when I felt like it would be easiest if I gave up, ”the 18­year­old said. “But it was never in me to give up, because I realized that I was never going to be successful unless I got an education.”

Even before Dawn’s family left her, she led a difficult life.Her family was poor and cups of noodles were often the only food. Dawn “studied by candlelight” because her parents couldn’t afford to pay the electricity bill(电费).

Dawn has now reconnected with her family.They are proud of her accomplishments(成就)and are attending her high school graduation.

1. Why didn’t Dawn give up her studies?

A．To reconnect with her family.

B．To thank those who had helped her.

C．To get an education to be successful.

D．To realize her dream of going to Harvard.

2. Who helped Dawn when she found herself homeless?

A．Her teachers.	B．Her neighbors.
C．A Tiger Mom.	D．A school bus driver.

3. Which of the following words describes Dawn?

A．Open-­minded.	B．Good-­natured.
C．Strong-­willed.	D．Warm-­hearted

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Another Harvard girl

B．A girl in candlelight

C．From homeless to Harvard

D．The role of Tiger Moms

5 . Sometimes meeting friends can be confusing, especially when you suddenly find yourself in a new city or for whatever reason totally without friends.     1    If you're stumped for where and how to meet new people, this list of suggestions is sure to inspire you.

    2    

Perhaps the best way to meet new friends is when you're getting outside your comfort zone and doing something new. Getting involved in a new hobby, taking a class that makes you stretch to your mind, or just making a point to do something different than the usual are all good ways to connect with someone new. First of all, you'll be meeting new people you probably would never have crossed paths with this way.    3    It is the perfect way to start a new friendship off the right way.

While Traveling.

If you're introverted like me, meeting new friends while traveling can seem like a really intimidating thing.    4    It's amazing to me how important the Internet has become in the last few years when it comes to friendship. A few years ago, I might never have even attempted to make friends while traveling, because I'm just too shy.

Book Club

I'll bet you thought that we had less opportunities to meet friends than those who are outgoing. Not so! If you're into books and authors, there are several great ways to connect with new people. One of them is by joining a book group. Of course, you don't need to be introverted to enjoy a conversation about literature.    5    

A．Doing New Things.

B．Meet a new friend in a work environment.

C．Second, you'll be in the mood to experience something out of the ordinary.

D．But there are actually several websites that will help you connect with others.

E．Rather than keep my nose in my book, I took a break and chatted with some people.

F．Making new friends can come easy to some people, but to others it might take more work.

G．The great part about joining one of these groups is that you'll meet a surprising variety of people.

6 . I sat here at that same desk and stared at the computer. I waited patiently for ideas to come to me, thinking about exam questions for a school test I would give to my English students tomorrow. My wife was off to a reunion somewhere, but I wasn't alone. Our two children kept me company. Ten-month-old Edward spent most of his day looking at some cards and other different pieces of paper. But Meghan was different from her younger brother.

She followed a daily routine that needed much time and was difficult. It included certain basic tasks: watching the fish, sweeping the carpet in her room, sitting for a few minutes on the bottom shelf of the bookcase to determine whether she still fitted there, checking regularly on Edward or jumping on the sofa.

I could do my own work fairly well during most of these chores. Unfortunately, I had not counted on the “Bib-bibs, bib-bibs”. “Bib-bibs, bib-bibs” shrieked Meghan, and her eyes were alive with expectation. She insisted that I go with her to the window. “No, Meghan,” I answered irritably. “Not now. Go away and leave me alone.”

She left without any attempt to bother me. I could finish the test easily without interference. However, I saw her standing quietly with tears running down her cheeks. She had two fingers of her right hand in her mouth and watched me type. She caught sight of the birds from time to time.

At this moment, only for a moment, I saw a little girl crying because I didn't have time for her, realizing somehow it was the sitting next to each other that meant everything. I put away the blank paper and stood up.

1. What can we learn about the author from paragraph 1?

A．He has two daughters.	B．He's tired of his present job.
C．He often stays alone at home.	D．He works as an English teacher.

2. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．Meghan's naughtiness.	B．Meghan's favorite hobbies.
C．Meghan's cleverness.	D．Meghan's daily diet.

3. What does the underlined word “irritably” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Amazedly.

B．Angrily.

C．Nervously.

D．Warmly.

4. Why would the author put away the paper?

A．To call his wife come back.	B．To get some paper from the drawer.
C．To watch the birds with his daughter.	D．To stop his daughter from making noise.

7 . Here’s the bad news:Men are hurting, and, according to many researchers, masculinity (男子气) is what is hurting them and making it hard for them to maintain friendships. Society tells men to hide their feelings and expects them to be aggressive, so many men lose their friendship when growing up. The good news is that some skills can be recovered!    1    

Accept your own desire and normalize it for the people in your life. Way, an expert, recommends seeking for articles about masculinity and friendship and poring over them. Don’t forget you have the entire Internet at your fingertips, friend!    2    

Model vulnerability (脆弱).    3    like “I’m afraid nobody will go to my party,” or “I miss my grandma every day.” Doing so will make it OK for other people to follow your lead. We are all on the elevator to a society where emotional availability is normalized, and I want you to be the man in the street.

    4    Men sometimes feel they might be prying (爱打听的) if they ask more about some- one’s life-especially when their friend is sharing something tough. But if you get curious in moments of your friend’s vulnerability, you will open the door to all kinds of growth in your relationship. Take the opportunity to really see your friend and show them they matter by following up.

Get close with the children in your life. Way’s research says that the No.1 thing that helps men with masculinity grow up to own enriching friendships is to be close with children who are not afraid to express emotions.    5    take the opportunity to be close to them and help them grow up to be good friends, too.

A．Ask more questions.

B．Get curious.

C．Say the thing that scares you,

D．There are a lot of experts who can help, and here’s what they recommend.

E．In order to show your strengths,

F．In this way you can start a normal conversation with your friends.

G．So, if you’re a parent, or working on something to do with children.

8 . Amanda Kofoeds had found a strange lump in her arm one day and visited a doctor at a friend's urging. During this time, she was enrolled in school for education and was currently uninsured due to the expense. She planned to save money so she could get on her husband' s insurance and then seek medical treatment for the cancer.

Her friends and family didn't want her to postpone her treatment due to the expense. They took matters into their own hands and started a GoFundMe campaign. The friend came up with the creative idea to spread the word and invite family, friends, and strangers who wanted to help to participate in a donation flash mob (快闪行动).The event started an outpouring of enormous generosity from the local community.

Amanda and her husband Clint teared up as the crowd passed by and the donations poured in. The generous act of kindness gave the family a comforting, and optimistic feeling during a time when all hope seemed lost. Clint said that Amanda struggled with the idea of asking for help. She felt guilty and undeserving compared to others who are also struggling.

In the time since, Amanda has enrolled in an insurance plan and has finished chemotherapy. Life for the family has started getting back to their normal routine.

Once Amanda got her strength back, she returned to school and completed her bachelor's degree in education. She is now a teacher. She said the experience motivated her to instill (灌输) the value of charity in her children. The family is now inspired to volunteer in their local neighborhood and contribute to crowdfunding (众筹) efforts. They are grateful for the opportunity to give back and help others as many have helped them.

The couple said they feel blessed by the strong support. PassItOn wants to celebrate those heroes during the family's darkest time. These individuals perfectly demonstrate the value of community. It is with the help of their generosity that the family is now happy, healthy and whole.

1. Why did Amanda Kofoeds postpone her treatment?

A．She was admitted to a school.

B．Her family couldn't afford the medical cost.

C．No good doctors could treat her cancer.

D．Her friends and family refused to assist her.

2. What did her friends do to help Amanda Kofoeds?

A．They started a donation flash mob.

B．They founded a community school.

C．They supported her through local hospitals.

D．They fought for assistance from the whole country.

3. Which word best describes the couple's feeling when strongly supported?

A．Guilty.

B．Satisfied.

C．Anxious.

D．Grateful.

4. What can we learn from Amanda Kofoeds' story?

A．Hard work pays off.

B．The value of charity is great.

C．Education is the key to success.

D．A friend is never known till a man has need.

9 . How to Choose Friends Wisely

Making friends is one thing, but choosing who your friends are is incredibly important because your friends help define（定义）who you are.

Choose a friend who is honest. A friend that is honest is one of the best friends you can have. An honest friend will keep you from walking out of the house wearing that awful green shirt. They're supportive in their honesty.     1    

Choose a friend who stands by you in hard times.     2     There are all kinds of laughter and joyful moments, and those times make relationships easy. But who are the people that stand by you when times turn hard? Those are your true friends. Those are the people that get that life doesn't always go the way we plan.

Choose a friend who gives as much as they take. We've all had friends that only want things from us.

    3     When a relationship is one-sided, we just end up feeling angry. It's not healthy. Choose a friend with whom you feel a balance of give and take.'

Choose a friend who likes the things you do. While friendship is full of compromise （妥协），it helps if you choose friends who share a lot of your interests.     4     It makes deciding on things to do easier. You don't have to choose a friend who likes every single little thing you do, but you should have some shared interests.

    5     Friends need to laugh together. We like our good times in life. Choose a friend who can laugh with you rather than at you. Look for someone who will laugh with you at a look or a glance. Those people will be some of your best friends.

A．Your friends are your guides in life.

B．It gives you things to talk about or share.

C．Choose a friend who gets your sense of humor.

D．It's easy for us to be good friends in the fun times.

E．Choosing a friend who can get your faith is important.

F．And you should choose someone you know will not lie.

G．But they never seem willing to give to us when we are in need.

10 . Zhang Shuai has a sense of fun that is being widely appreciated on the internet. When deliverymen bring cardboard boxes to his doorstep, Zhang soon builds them into interactive toys for his daughter Nini, who is 5.

The 32-year-old father from Zhengzhou, Henan Province, has made more than 120 toys from waste cardboard in the past three years. His toy-making videos have gone viral (走红) on the internet and many netizens comment that it shows an environment-friendly way to spend quality time with children.

In Zhang’s eyes, everything can have a hard cardboard copy. Even the classic video games, such as Need for Speed, Tetris and Submarine Game Challenge, can be played in the actual world.

“These are toys or games that people born after 1980 had in childhood that are rarely seen today. I want my daughter to see what her father played with as a boy, building a kind of connection between the two generations,” Zhang says.

The homemade toy, cardboard version of Need for Speed, has got more than 1.6 million likes on short video platform Douyin. The screen is made of paper with three lanes (车道) with cars and a magnet (磁铁) underneath. In the video, Nini uses a steering wheel to control a metal car to overtake painted cars in its lane with her father rolling the paper.

He also built a marble obstacle course, a pool table, a robot WALL-E and many others. His most liked video, a toy bank in the shape of a house, has gained more than 2.7 million likes.

“As people are becoming more addicted to digital devices, there are harmful effects brought by technology, like difficulty in concentration,” Zhang says, adding that parents should control their children’s screen time.

1. What do we know about Zhang Shuai’s cardboard toys?

A．They are interactive.	B．They are of a style.
C．They are commonly seen.	D．They are a waste of money.

2. What can we learn from the fifth paragraph?

A．How a cardboard toy is played.	B．How likes on Douyin are gained.
C．What games were popular in 1980.	D．What materials are needed for a toy.

3. What does Zhang Shuai mean by his words in the last paragraph?

A．Digital devices are beneficial to people.

B．Children rely on their parents to buy toys.

C．Harmful effects brought by technology are unnoticed.

D．Parents should spend quality time with their children.

4. Which of the following can best describe Zhang Shuai?

A．Kind and generous.	B．Patient and creative.
C．Brave and ambitious.	D．Just and sympathetic.