1 . As both a parent and a college professor, I have witnessed the destructive effects of test anxiety. Students with it can say quickly the material and explain complex content in a relaxed environment but fail in an exam. When it matters the most, students with test anxiety can convey the least.

Some students turn to drugs. With any medicine, there is a concern for safety, particularly when it is with the brain, the body’s most complicated and important organ. A new study suggests there may be a choice to these drugs for students: an open-label placebo (安慰剂).

Placebos have long been known to effectively reduce symptoms for different illnesses. Traditionally, service of a placebo treatment requires some tricks, in that people believe they are receiving an active, effective treatment, but in reality, they are taking a sugar pill or an activity that has no medical help. An open-label placebo is different: people are told from the start that they are receiving a placebo that contains no medication. And yet Schaefer’s findings indicate that people may still benefit from it.

Why did the placebo work? At this point, scientists are not entirely sure. Human mental processes can be changed by environment. Taking the pills each day may have encouraged participants to think about test anxiety and may have also provided a sense that they were doing something to deal with it.

Finally, although participants taking the placebos did show improvement on a number of self-report measures, they had no benefit over the control group with respect to scores on their final exams. They may have felt better about taking their exams, but those feelings did not change into improved test scores.

Despite these limits, the present findings are appealing and suggest a low-cost, low-risk way for reducing an all-too common problem among students.

1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

A．Test anxiety prevents some students perform normally in exams.

B．Test anxiety can improve some students’ performance after exams.

C．A relaxed atmosphere helps students bring out their best in exams.

D．Some students’ performance in exams is connected with environment.

2. Why do people feel placebos effective?

A．Because people feel it necessary psychologically.

B．Because people’s psychological feelings are at work.

C．Because placebos are made from sugar and taste sweet.

D．Because placebos are an open choice for the people taking it.

3. What can be concluded from the fourth and fifth paragraphs?

A．Taking placebos can reduce test anxiety.

B．Taking placebos can improve test scores.

C．Taking placebos is not as effective as taking drugs.

D．Taking placebos can increase sense of achievement.

4. What can be the best title for the passage?

A．Drug, a public concern for brain safety.

B．Test anxiety, a destructive factor in exams.

C．Open-label placebo, a free choice for students.

D．Placebo, a likely way to deal with test anxiety.

2 . Understanding Your Feelings Helps You Name And Tame (驯服) Them

We all experience various feelings all the time. Some of them feel great, some feel unpleasant, and it’s helpful to be able to recognize and understand how you’re feeling so you know how to deal with it.

    1     They can include anger, sadness, worry, loneliness and shame, as well as surprise, happiness, courage and hope, among many others.    2     All feelings are there to be felt and some can be more uncomfortable than others. It’s OK and natural to experience different emotions – and that includes emotions that might not feel nice.

To deal with your feelings you need to recognize what they are.     3     Are your fists clenched (攥紧)? Does it seem like there’s a knot in your stomach? Next, pay attention to what you’re thinking at this time.     4     Or are you thinking that you really don’t want to do something? Once you have identified how you’re feeling, you can label it by saying, for example, “I’m feeling angry” or “I’m feeling lonely” .

You can understand a difficult feeling and help yourselfto handle it.     5     If you’re upset about a difficult feeling, like “I’m feeling angry”, you might count to ten to calm down. Perhaps you notice “I’m feeling nervous”, and you might talk to someone about it. The person you talk to may be able to give you reassurance, more information, a different point of view, or even help you take action to deal with the cause of your difficult feeling.

A．Experts call this “name it to tame it” .

B．How can you deal with different feelings?

C．Perhaps you have the thought, “It’s not fair” .

D．Feelings are how people experience emotions.

E．First of all, notice what’s going on with your body.

F．They are shown through various body movements, to begin with.

G．Feelings are sometimes labelled as good or bad but that isn’t helpful.

3 . If you have been diagnosed with panic disorder, then you have likely experienced constant fear and anxiety. Research has shown that using relaxation techniques can help reduce nervousness.

Some common techniques include breathing exercises or yoga.     1     Another powerful one is visualization, which can help you relieve stress. It involves using mental imagery to achieve a more relaxed state of mind.

Similar to daydreaming, visualization is accomplished through the use of your imagination. There are reasons why visualization can help you cope with panic disorder or panic attacks.     2     When experiencing a panic attack, your mind may focus on the worry, the worst things that can happen and other concerns that only add to your sense of fearfulness. Visualization works to expand your ability to relax by focusing your mind on more calming images.

Before visualization, make sure your environment is set up for your comfort. To better relax, get rid of any distractions (干扰), such as phones, pets or TV.     3     Remove any heavy jewelry or restricting clothing. Get ready to relax by either sitting or lying down in a position that feels most comfortable to you.     4     Feel free to change it to better suit your needs and imagination.

    5     Through regular practice, you will more easily be able to use visualization when you really need it, such as when you start feeling the physical symptoms of panic and anxiety.

A．Take your time and slowly open your eyes.

B．Then you may begin your visualization exercise.

C．If the scene doesn’t fit you, try your own visualization.

D．They are relatively easy to learn and can be practiced daily.

E．Consider how your thoughts wander when you feel panic or anxiety.

F．Try to find a quiet place where you will most likely be undisturbed.

G．To get better at visualization, try practicing at least several times a day.

4 . When I was a kid I was a bit of a scaredy-cat. The "adventurer" in my family has always been my big brother. Still, I'm always trying to shake up the scaredy-cat inside me. And I've always known how important it is for girls to feel brave. However, girls, at large, experience so much hesitancy and a drop in confidence as they grow up.

One way to stop losing heart is to encourage a sense of adventure in girls before they are teenagers. Such adventures don't have to be big. Research from Angelia Ruskin University shows that even just going for a walk or a run outside leaves people feeling more confident and better about their bodies. After all nature doesn't care how we look. It doesn't care who our friends are or what grades we get. It is a place where we can really be ourselves.

That's why I teamed up with Amy Blackwell, the award-winning illustrator, to create a middle-grade book containing real-life women's adventures from around the world, from 2,000 years ago to today. The Girl Who Rode a Shark and Other Stories of Daring Women has been receiving star reviews in lots of places.

It is all of those amazing women that make the book a hit. While reading, they can trace the ocean-soaring flights of pilot Amelia Earhart, follow Isabella Bird's exploration up the Yangtze River and meet Kimi Werner, the freediving chef who met with a great white shark. That's why kids just can't get enough of those stories. I hope these stories can help so many kids feel confident and excited when they walk into the world.

As for me? While I still feel a little nervous to begin an adventure up a big mountain or across a frozen river, I feel I have more courage than I did as a kid. I now have a lot of role models to help me.

1. What does the underlined part in the first paragraph probably mean?

A．The author wants to keep a pet cat.

B．The author makes effort to overcome her fear.

C．The author wishes to beat her brother in the game.

D．The author plans to experience an adventure on her own.

2. According to Paragraph 2, what may be helpful in increasing girls' confidence?

A．Playing outdoor sports.	B．Having a long-term hobby.
C．Making friends with strangers.	D．Improving their school performance.

3. What do we know about the stories in the author's book?

A．They are all travel diaries.	B．They are based on true stories.
C．They teach girls how to succeed.	D．They are designed for preschool kids.

4. Why does the author list some stories from her book?

A．To express her pride in her career.	B．To attract more readers to writing.
C．To present the trouble of creating her stories.	D．To explain the reason for the book's popularity.

5 . People spend too much time and effort trying to control anxiety these days. Here are some things you can do to help minimize anxiety’s negative effects.

    1     If you treat anxiety as part of life and part of everyone’s living experience, you can learn to relate it with self-compassion and even with humor. This is a cornerstone of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which has been gaining clinical validation.

ACT guides people to see their unpleasant emotions as just feelings and accept that parts of life are hard. Doctors encourage patients to begin a dialogue with anxious thoughts.     2     Meanwhile, they also keep in mind patients’ personal goals and values. Although anxious thoughts shouldn’t be completely controlled, sufferers can be trained not to allow anxiety to turn them away from what they want to do and who they want to be.

Make lifestyle adjustments.     3     This requires trial and error to get just right. While acceptance is the first and most important step, some lifestyle changes have been proved to take the edge off as well.

Work out regularly. When tiredness and stress leave you more exposed to anxiety, a well-balanced diet and adequate rest are helpful.     4     One research study shows that regular vigorous workouts reduce the likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder over the next five years by 25 percent.

As a specialist, Arthur also shares her experiences on the website, openly discussing her anxiety has transformed her relationship with it. “I’m learning to live in harmony, as much as possible, with this thing that is part of me,” she says. “It’s not always pleasant, but I accept it.     5    ”

A．Accept it.

B．Develop a sense of humor.

C．I may be more anxious in the future.

D．To some extent, I can take care of my anxiety.

E．Above all, exercise can help you manage it better.

F．Learning to live with anxiety is an individual process.

G．They want to examine the causes of patients’ feelings.

6 . 近期你班将以“感恩父母”为题举办演讲比赛，请你根据以下要求写一篇英语演讲稿，内容包括：
1.感恩父母的原因；
2.发出号召。
注意：
1.词数80左右；
2.请在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Being Grateful to Our Parents

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7 . Speaking of self-improvement, perhaps you want to become more productive, read more books, take regular exercise or learn something new.     1     Here we’ve put together this guide to help you.

Observe your emotional reactions.

Our emotions can often overwhelm (击败) us and make us behave in ways we’d rather not. The first step in dealing with your emotions is to recognize your current feelings.     2     You can sit for a few minutes each day and just observe how you feel.     3     However, learning to be with yourself without distractions is an essential part of meaningful self-development. You could be surprised by what you discover.

Develop a way to express your emotions.

Chris Martin, the singer-songwriter and frontman of the band Coldplay, once said, “You've got to express yourself in life, and it's better out than in. What you reveal, you heal.”

    4     You can try art, music and sports. Or you can get a piece of paper and a pen and start a healthy outlet. A talk with your close friend, relative, or partner can also help you get peace of mind.

    5    

Sometimes emotions can be overwhelming even if you undertake all other steps to manage them. In this case, the only left option is to find a therapist (治疗师). Many successful, respected people like J. K. Rowling, Emma Stone, and Michael Phelps all promote therapy’s benefits. Turning to these professionals is one of the best ways to improve yourself. These trained professionals can provide guidance and support when it comes to coping with your emotions.

A．Work with a licensed therapist.

B．Receive professional training as therapists.

C．This can feel incredibly uncomfortable at first.

D．There are so many ways to let out your emotions.

E．Remember you can’t manage what you don't know.

F．It will help you improve your concentration.

G．Have you thought of learning to control your emotions?

8 . A smile makes a person look approachable. You can get the attention of other people by this simple gesture. You may even change someone’s mood for the day.

How Your Smile Affects Other People

A simple smile can make a difference to other people. Your smile can make them happy. Those with bad feelings can immediately change after seeing your bright smile.    1     Besides, a smiling face allows them to feel that life has to go on despite any bad situation.

    2     They will think of you as a friendly, attractive, and confident person. Apart from that, your smile can change the things they think about you, such as being beyond reach.

A genuine smile can earn other people’s trust. It can make other people see that you are worthy of it. Moreover, they will become responsive to your smile.

These are the effects of your smile on other people. Your smile may be beneficial to anyone who sees it.     3     It is not only the other people who benefit from it. You can also enjoy its benefits for yourself.

How Smiling Benefits You

Smiling is an excellent way to release endorphins, which are the chemicals responsible for feeling happy. In effect, you can have an improved mood and increased positive thoughts. Your smile is also a stress-reliever.    4     As a result, you can get over your source of stress sooner or later.

Furthermore, a smile can help you maintain positivity. You can face any situation with calmness.     5    

Above all, smiling can benefit you and the other people surrounding you. In general, it is best to share bright smiles that all of you can benefit from in the long run.

A．Moreover, your smile can build connections.

B．Relieving stress is a good way to make you smile.

C．Meanwhile, smiling can give you a win-win situation.

D．A smile can influence how other people think about you.

E．It can prevent you from showing signs of tiredness or sadness.

F．Thus, you’re unlikely to get angry or disappointed with small things.

G．The moment they see the sincerity in your smile, their mood can improve.

9 . Have you ever felt like others don’t understand your pain when they seem to be living a happy life? You’re not alone in feeling this way, but the truth is that happiness takes work.    1    

Live in the present moment

Your past is important to learn from.    2     At the end of the day, though, the only thing that exists outside of your head is the present. In order to ground yourself in the now, you can practise noticing what’s around you, how you’re feeling, why you’re feeling that way, etc.

Be kind to others

    3     While you may not be at a place to help them financially (经济上), offering a smile or a kind word can help them feel better about where they’re in life. When others see you show kindness, they’ll also be more likely to do so.

Keep your mind open

Having an open mind is important for your growth. You may be right about something, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways to look at it.    4     You are sure to learn something as long as you stay open to difficult conversations.

    5    

You’ll hear people say “I had that idea” every time you see someone create something great. Everyone had the idea for Facebook first. The reason Mark Zuckerberg got rich off it is that he went out and did it, while everyone else was talking about it. Ideas are useless if you don’t act on them. Less thinking, more doing.

A．Decide what’s important to you.

B．Here are several ways you can try.

C．Take action for what matters to you.

D．Your future is important to work towards.

E．Every day you see someone who needs help.

F．Listening to ideas you don’t agree with keeps your mind open.

G．So find something new and set goals beyond what you believe possible.

10 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

After 20 years as a full-time wife and mother, I decided to be a school bus driver for I loved kids. When I think about my years of bus driving, many things crowd in, but mostly, I remember Charlie.

Charlie, eight years old, with blond hair and crystalline gray eyes, began riding my bus in September of my fourth year driving. They all had stories to tell me about their summers. Charlie, though, ignored me. He didn’t even answer when I asked his name.

From that day on, Charlie was a trial. If a fight broke out, I didn’t have to turn my head to know who had started it. If a girl was crying, chances were Charlie had pulled her hair. No matter how I spoke to him, gently or firmly, he wouldn’t say a word. He’d just stare at me with those big gray eyes of his.

I later found out Charlie’s father was dead and he didn’t live with his mother. He deserves my patience, I thought. To my cheery “Good Morning”, he was silent. When I wished him a happy Halloween, he sneered (冷笑). Still I was sure that this child needed to feel some warmth from me. So, when he’d pass by, I’d pat him on the arm or sometimes gave him a hug.

Toward the end of that year, the kids on my bus gave me a small trophy inscribed (刻) “To the Best Bus Driver Ever”. I propped it up on the dashboard (仪表盘). On top I hung a small tin heart that a little girl had given me. In red paint she had written, “I love Polly and Polly loves me.”

The next day, I was delayed a few minutes talking to the principal. When I got on the bus I realized that the tin heart was gone. “Does anyone know what happened to the little heart that was up here?” I asked. For once with 39 children, there was silence.

One boy piped up, “Charlie was the first one on the bus. I bet he took it.” Other children joined the chorus, “Yeah! Charlie did it! Search him!”

I asked Charlie to come forward, stuck my hand into his pocket and immediately I felt it—the small tin heart. Charlie stared at me and seemed to be waiting for what he’d come to expect from the world. I was about to pull out the tin heart when I stopped myself. Let him keep it, a voice seemed to whisper.

“It must have fallen off before I got here,” I said to the kids. “I’ll probably find it back at the depot.” Without a word, Charlie returned to his seat. When he got off at his stop, he didn’t glance at me as usual.

That summer Charlie moved away.

1. 所续写短文的词数应为150词左右；
2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
3. 请按如下格式作答。
Paragraph 1:
A dozen years after my retirement I was in a department store, when someone said, “Polly?”
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Paragraph 2：
That night I thought over his words.
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