1 . A cousin sent an email saying she had been out cutting her lawn (草坪) for two hours in the hot Nebraska sun and the smell of grass was in her nose. She said it reminded her of her dad working outside.

“Not a breath of cool air out there, unbearable for all the crew but Dad. During their lunch break, Dad would have a couple of sandwiches and skip the iced tea. He’d have creamed coffee. That was my hero—loyal, very, very hard-working, so wonderful. Funny what a smell can remind you.”

Her dad and my dad were brothers. There were five boys in the family. The boys were cut from the same cloth. Every one of them enjoyed hard work.

It wasn’t easy raising a large family during the Depression (大萧条), yet their farm was the first one for miles around to have electricity. Their dad made a small power station using batteries. Resourcefulness (足智多谋) was second nature.

When my parents married, they didn’t have much. When they got a dog, he managed to build a doghouse from wood.

I think of my dad when I see a barbecue. He loved to grill (烧烤). Burgers, hot dogs, steak. For years, he and Mom hosted a huge Fourth of July brunch and grilled pancakes and sausages before the neighborhood parade.

He loved grilling out especially when it was hot — 90℉ (about 32℃) was good, even 100℉ (about 37.8℃) wasn’t too high. That was also his favorite time to mow (割草). He and all his brothers were most comfortable outside. It came from the farm imprint, spring planting, summers in the fields and fall harvest.

At my dad’s retirement party, at a large university where he had worked his way up to purchasing director, he was standing by himself, looking at the crowd, having a good time when he laughed and said, “I never did want a desk job.”

I don’t think I realized until that moment how much our dad loved us. He had enjoyed his career and the people he worked with, but until the day he died, there was nothing as beautiful as a stand of wheat or a field of corn.

Here’s to dads everywhere who work hard and do what needs to be done for the love of family.

1. What made the cousin think of her Dad?

A．The hot sun.

B．The smell of grass.

C．The unbearable crew.

D．The hard work.

2. What can be inferred about the brothers of the family?

A．They had similar sizes.	B．They had similar clothes.
C．They had similar hobbies.	D．They had similar qualities.

3. Which of the following best describes the author’s father?

A．Humorous.

B．Creative.

C．Devoted.

D．Demanding.

4. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To show her respect for fathers.	B．To stress the importance of working hard.
C．To show that raising a family is never easy.	D．To describe the important role a father plays in a family.

2 . The Science of Recreational Fear

From peek-a-boo to Halloween haunted houses, research shows that recreational fear can teach us to face scary situations. The “paradox of horror” is that being scared, under the right circumstances, can be fun.     1    

Having fun with fear is an “extremely important tool for learning,” said Mathias Clasen, director of the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark. “We learn something about the dangers of the world. We learn something about our own responses: What does it feel like to be afraid? How much fear can I take?”

Horror movies have gotten more popular. And in one survey of more than 1,000 Americans, conducted by Clasen, 55% described themselves as horror fans.     2     Many people who would not consider themselves fans of fear enjoy true-crime podcasts and novels featuring violence and murder. Others may enjoy nature documentaries about top predators (捕食性动物) such as sharks and bears.

Even babies like being a little spooked (惊的). Peek-a-boo is “an infant jump scare,” Clasen said.     3     “I don’t think I’ve yet come across a person who did not enjoy some kind of recreational fear,” he said.

    4     It is a combination of an adrenaline (肾上腺素) rush and an opportunity to learn about dealing with scary situations in a safe environment, researchers say. When we are afraid, our endocrine system releases adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol to help prepare our body for physical action. We know the “Halloween” movie Michael Myers is not real, but our brain still responds as if he were a burning threat. One brain imaging study found that watching horror movies activates threat-response brain regions such as the amygdala (扁桃腺), prefrontal cortex and insula as if the danger were real.

After this rush, many people experience an uplifted mood. One study examined how 262 adults felt before and after they entered an extreme haunted house.     5     Brain recordings before and after showed that those whose mood improved had a smaller neural response to subsequent stressors, which is associated with the post-haunt high.

A．So why do we like it?

B．Fifty percent of people said they felt better after the visit.

C．And recreational fear, as it is rightly named, could benefit us, too.

D．Playing with fear helps us learn what our body does under pressure.

E．Horror, though, is not the only genre of what people find scary fun, he said.

F．We define recreational fear broadly as a mixed emotional experience of fear and enjoyment.

G．Classic childhood games of tag and hide-and-seek are just like the real scenes of predator vs. prey.

3 . This morning, a former student sent me a message, telling me he is living a happy life. He said he often thinks of me and that he especially misses my _________ classes.

My thoughts went back to that shy, overweight boy who _________ to our school in his fifth grade. He was quiet and _________. Some of the boys teased him about his lack of _________ ability. When they played games, Gibby would often be left standing alone. Several times I went to the playground and asked to _________ a team. I would call out several _________ and then, around the fourth or fifth spot, I would call Gibby and a few others who never seemed to get _________ by their peers. My team may not have been the best, but we were the happiest and definitely the most _________ and loyal.

That spring I decided to give my students more _________. We began by running, but after one or two circles around the playground, Gibby would lag far behind, __________. However, after a month, he lost a few pounds and could __________ the group easier. Then we added floor exercises to the program. Gibby was still there, stretching and bending, lifting and kicking, as __________ as ever. He never gave up or made __________. Many students admired his __________ and in time, he gained confidence and began to smile and talk more. He was no longer the new kid.

Messages of this kind always call up sweet memories. Yes, as a (n) __________ teacher, I love all my students and help them become what they can be.

1.

A．literature

B．exercise

C．language

D．physics

2.

A．transferred

B．turned

C．applied

D．belonged

3.

A．careless

B．curious

C．friendly

D．withdrawn

4.

A．logical

B．expressive

C．athletic

D．calculating

5.

A．join

B．make

C．coach

D．inspect

6.

A．names

B．numbers

C．teachers

D．helpers

7.

A．abandoned

B．promoted

C．caught

D．selected

8.

A．modest

B．creative

C．committed

D．respected

9.

A．encouragement

B．training

C．concern

D．assistance

10.

A．out of breath

B．out of sight

C．out of practice

D．out of shape

11.

A．get along with

B．put up with

C．fit in with

D．keep up with

12.

A．flexible

B．relaxed

C．enthusiastic

D．intelligent

13.

A．mistakes

B．excuses

C．changes

D．comments

14.

A．determination

B．potential

C．optimism

D．competence

15.

A．ambitious

B．professional

C．confident

D．caring

4 . 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?

5 . Growing up, I understood one thing about my dad: He knew everything. I asked him questions and he gave me _________. When I moved out on my own, I usually called him when something broke and I needed to know how to _________ it.

But then, eventually, I _________ him less. I got married, and my husband had the _________ I was short of. I didn’t know when it happened, but our _________ when I called developed into six words. Me: “Hi, Dad.” Him: “Hi, sweetie. Here’s Mom.” There would be a(n) _________ if my mum wasn’t at home. I _________ loved my dad, but I wondered at times if maybe he had already _________ everything I needed to know.

Then, this past summer, my dad said that he once spent a summer in college building boats. “You did?” I asked. I thought I knew everything about my dad. However, I never knew this. I _________ that in the past 40 years, I had focused on myself only. I felt a deep sense of __________.

A few weeks later, I called my parents. Dad answered. “Hi, sweetie. Here’s Mom.,” he said.

__________ to know more about him, I said, “Wait, Dad. How are you?” We __________ talking about a new battery he’d bought for his boat. To anyone else, it would sound like a __________ conversation between a dad and his daughter. But to me, it was novel and a new __________. I spent the first part of my life needing to talk to my dad. Now I talk to him because I __________ to.

1.

A．reminders

B．reports

C．responses

D．reasons

2.

A．rent

B．view

C．use

D．fix

3.

A．knew

B．needed

C．missed

D．saw

4.

A．knowledge

B．resource

C．freedom

D．character

5.

A．arrangement

B．meeting

C．performance

D．conversation

6.

A．explanation

B．tension

C．silence

D．exchange

7.

A．certainly

B．usually

C．hardly

D．particularly

8.

A．acquired

B．shared

C．gathered

D．stressed

9.

A．proved

B．complained

C．guessed

D．realized

10.

A．shame

B．doubt

C．shock

D．pity

11.

A．Lucky

B．Eager

C．Ready

D．Happy

12.

A．aimed at

B．got through

C．stuck to

D．ended up

13.

A．normal

B．long

C．personal

D．serious

14.

A．advance

B．opportunity

C．beginning

D．agreement

15.

A．learn

B．want

C．promise

D．prepare

6 . Sometimes your parents might ask you to write thank-you notes to people but you might not want to do it. However, writing thank-you notes can not only make you feel good but also make the person getting the note feel good.

Amit Kumar is a professor at the University of Texas. He worked with Nicholas Epley to do experiments to see why people hesitate to send thank-you notes. They also studied the reactions of people who received the notes.

Kumar and Epley asked students in business classes to write a letter of thanks to another person. And then they asked both the writers and the receivers how the letter made them feel.

As a result, they found that writing the letter was a good experience for the writers. It improved their mood right afterward though the writers only thought the letter would be embarrassing for someone who got a letter of thanks. However, that was not the case.

The writer worried about what to say and how to say it. However, Kumar says, the receivers did not care much about whether writers got the words right. Those who got letters felt really good.And they didn’t really feel embarrassed at all.

“When you are a receiver, you focus on the warmth,” Kumar says. The receivers considered the feelings on the letters while the writers only tried their best to make sure their writing was correct.

In general, most people don’t always realize that thank-you notes make others feel good. If they knew, things might change. “They would do it more often,” Kumar says.

Kumar thinks that this study is a good reminder. It shows that small things can have an effect. Writing a thank-you note is a simple thing. Still, it can make a big difference. We feel good when we do nice things for others.

1. What’s the purpose of Kumar and Epley’s experiment?

A．To advise us to thank our parents.

B．To see thank-you notes’ influence.

C．To get children close to their parents.

D．To prove letters are the best to show our thanks.

2. What do writers care about when writing thank-you notes?

A．Their writing skills.	B．Receivers’ feelings.
C．Receivers’ warmth.	D．Their proper words.

3. What do we know about receivers of thank-you notes?

A．They enjoyed being thanked	B．They feel shame and sad.
C．They didn’t care about the notes.	D．They hate writers’ mistaken ideas.

4. What does Kumar advise us to do in the last paragraph?

A．Be generous to others.	B．Be willing to do nice things.
C．Pay attention to small things.	D．Write thank-you notes frequently.

7 . “I think kawaii, or cute feelings, can remind us of human connection that we sometimes forget,” says Hiroshi Nittono, director of the Cognitive Psychophysiology Laboratory at Osaka University.

“Viewing cute images of baby animals gives us a desire to act tenderly and responsibly to protect them,” he explains. “This idea holds that weak and defenseless but cute things set off caregiving behavior in the beholder.” Cute things make us feel protective, and when we’re protective, we might be naturally more focused.

Engineers, advertisers, and developers have taken advantage of this phenomenon, using kawaii to control user experience and consumer behavior. Researchers call it cute engineering. It’s a way to harness positive feelings and emotions to motivate (激励) and shape the user’s behavior in a positive way.

Sometimes cute engineering is subtle (微妙的), but it’s often quite obvious. Engineers use kawaii in the field of robotics, for instance—the cuter the robot, the more humans will want to engage with it. There’s also the iMac, which over the years, Apple designed to be subtly adorable (可爱的). It persuaded traditionally non-computer users to buy into the world of computing so that they could sell more units.

There’s also “cute filtering (萌物滤镜)”, a component of cute engineering that allows consumers to personalize their kawaii experience, just like the way iMac users could choose the color of their units. In this way, users can create their own kawaii experience. Using a “cute filter”, users can freely choose the cuteness parameters (参数) such as color, size, motion, smell, and taste to adjust their desired cute output.

1. Why would people like to protect cute baby animals according to Hiroshi Nittono?

A．People have no choice but to do it.

B．People are taught to protect animals.

C．Cute things motivate people to protect them.

D．Cute baby animals are too weak to protect themselves.

2. What does the underlined word “harness” probably mean?

A．Focus on.

B．Figure out.

C．Throw light on.

D．Make use of.

3. Why was the iMac designed to be adorable?

A．The iMac could shape people’s preference.

B．Computer producers could make more money.

C．Engineers could design computers to their taste.

D．Consumers would like to have more kawaii experience.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．The Power of Kawaii.	B．Protect Cute Animals.
C．A New Discovery.	D．Control Cute Feelings.

8 . 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。

As a child, I clearly remembered watching the PBS cartoon character Arthur get glasses. The poor guy felt ashamed and was laughed at by other kids due to his glasses. So I was thankful that I had good eyesight.

However, when I entered the eighth grade, I could no longer see very clearly the writing on the blackboard. Luckily, I was usually seated in the front of the classroom, and my study was not affected. So I didn't turn to glasses.

During my first year in high school, my eyesight became poorer. My eyes were examined, and the doctor determined that my eyesight was quite bad. I would either have to wear glasses full time, or try contact lenses (隐形眼镜). Since I had watched the cartoon character Arthur before, I was afraid to be judged by others due to my glasses — it made me believe the glasses would affect a person’s beauty. And being a teenage girl, I cared much about my self-image. Besides, at that time, there were few students around me wearing glasses. So I chose to wear contact lenses. I felt they would not affect my appearance. On the contrary, they would make me more attractive. And after wearing contact lenses, my entire world was transformed. Trees actually had leaves. People around me showed clear expressions. I was overjoyed at my new-found sight and appearance, and I had more self-confidence.

But when my junior year came along, I began to have trouble with my eyes. Once in a while, the contact lenses would irritate (刺激) my eyes, almost to the point where the pain was unbearable. It would take me thirty minutes just to get the lenses in comfortably every day, which made me so upset. With time going by, the pain only got worse.

In spite of endless visits to the hospital, my doctor found nothing wrong with my eyes. He tried countless mediations to ease my pain, However, none of them worked, and there was nothing left to try.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1:

He suggested that I wear my glasses full-time. __________________________

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Paragraph 2:

Later in my summer camp, I met a very outgoing girl who also wore glasses.

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