1 . When your best friends are upset, sad, or disappointed, all you want to do is lift their spirits. Here are some easy ways to cheer them up.

Help your friend clean their room.

Being surrounded by a mess doesn’t do much for your mental state.     1     Helping your friend straighten up their room gives you something productive to do together. Plus, when they’re on their own, they can relax in a clean, peaceful space.

Encourage them to talk it out.

Talking is effective. Teenagers usually want someone to talk to when they are stressed.     2     If they aren’t interested in talking, invite them to do an activity with you and they will likely start talking.

Practice gratitude.

Thinking about and focusing on the good things in your life can do wonders for lifting your spirits. Help your friend turn their attention to those things.     3    

    4    

Staying active can help get depression (抑郁) away. Invite the person to join you in a dance class or anything else they may have mentioned before that they wanted to try out but never have. Fun time with friends is surely helpful.

Do an aimless act of kindness together.

    5     So go out, do things, even small things (e.g., opening a door for someone, paying for someone’s drink, smiling at and greeting a stranger. etc.), for others and see how your day changes.

A．Try new things together.

B．Plan for your future together.

C．Just be there for them and listen to them.

D．Together, you can each list all the things you’re grateful for.

E．Science has shown just being in nature naturally improves one’s mood.

F．Meanwhile, having a tidy space can help you feel more in control and calmer.

G．Oftentimes when we do things for other people, we are the ones that benefit.

2 . Five misunderstandings about loneliness

At some point in our lives, the chances are that you and I will feel lonely. It’s a problem that’s getting a lot of attention. It’s an important topic and one that causes a lot of misery, but there are plenty of misunderstandings surrounding it.

    1    

Feeling lonely is not the same as being alone. Loneliness is a sense that no one around you really understands you and that you don’t have the kind of meaningful connections you would like. Sometimes we want to be alone. But if we don’t have the choice to spend time with people who understand us, that’s when loneliness strikes.

There’s an epidemic(流行) of loneliness at the moment.

Loneliness is undoubtedly getting more common.     2     It is true that the actual number of lonely people are rising simply because there are more people in the world.

Loneliness is always bad.

Loneliness hurts. But it shouldn’t be seen as entirely negative.     3    . Or it can be a sign to find a way of improving our existing relationships.

Loneliness leads to ill health.

    4     But it could also happen the other way around. People could become isolated and lonely because they already have poor health, which stops them from socialising.

Most older people are lonely.

Loneliness is more common in old age than in other adults, but in her review of loneliness across the lifespan, Pamela Qualter found there is also a peak in teenage years.     5    

A．Loneliness can be horrible.

B．Loneliness is all about isolation(孤立).

C．Instead, it can be the signal to us to look for new friends.

D．Generally speaking, it’s harder for old people to overcome loneliness.

E．But that doesn’t mean that a higher percentage of people feel lonely now.

F．It is possible that unhappily isolated people are more likely to become ill.

G．Meanwhile, studies show that 50-60% of older people are not often lonely.

3 . My sister and I couldn’t be more different. I’m louder and taller. She’s quieter and shorter. When we were young, I sped through Michigan forests on my bike while she read Nancy Drew books. My sister, who is 14 months older than me, and I have always gotten along, but for years we weren’t especially friendly and spoke only when necessary.

Twelve years ago, our father had a stroke (中风). Soon our mother was seriously ill. I managed all the day-to-day caretaking; from afar, my sister offered suggestions which made me feel she was unsatisfied with me. Our mother died in 2015.

Last year I suddenly wanted to watch Chinese TV dramas (电视剧). That felt natural. When I was young, my mother and her friends would share videos of TV dramas sent from China. Perhaps these dramas were her only connection to her early years in China.

I started with one of the most popular dramas—“The Story of Yanxi Palace.” I was amazed at the beautiful clothes, detailed settings and excellent performances (表演). One afternoon, I decided to text my sister what I might have told my mother about the drama. At that point, my sister and I only texted once every few months, usually to discuss our father’s caretaking. Surprisingly, she began to watch along with me. Soon we were live texting as we watched.

Our interest grew until we were watching other dramas, like the hit “GO Ahead.” The more dramas we watched, the more conversations we had. Over the past year, my sister and I have watched so many Chinese dramas together that I’ve lost count.

2020 has been a long year of repeated losses for us all, but amid these losses, I’ve found a lost sister. I never could have imagined how Chinese dramas could help me get back to my Chinese roots (根), or how dramas would help me build a new relationship with my sister.

1. What was the young author’s relationship with her sister like?

A．Rather cold.

B．Very difficult.

C．Very close.

D．Quite changeable.

2. What made the author start to watch Chinese TV dramas?

A．The influence of her sister.	B．Her mother’s love for them.
C．Her dream of learning Chinese.	D．The popularity of Chinese TV shows.

3. What did the author text her sister that afternoon?

A．Her sadness at losing their mother.	B．Her interest in watching a TV drama.
C．Her plan to better look after their father.	D．Her views on a Chinese live show.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．How different my sister and I could be

B．Why TV dramas from China are popular

C．Why I have come to believe in family love again

D．How Chinese dramas helped me connect with my sister

4 . Coursework, quizzes, and activities can all get you, a high school student, too stressful sometimes.     1     If you’re worried about your exams, try and turn a negative into a positive and follow these steps:

i. Find out why you’re worried about your results.

Think you’re not prepared? Don’t know how you’re going to learn everything in time? Or do you just get nervous in test conditions?     2     It’s important to figure out what exactly is making you have negative thoughts; you can start doing something about it.

ii. See the improvements to ease your worries.

Are you already doing hours of revision and are still worried? Maybe you’re not seeing the results of your revision.     3     Make a list of all the topics you need to revise and tick them off when you’ve learnt them, turning that “I know nothing” feeling into an “I am ready” feeling.

iii.     4    

While it’s great to realise that all people are having a hard time with revision, it’s important you don’t get used to thinking negatively about your results. Positive thinking has been shown to build up confidence and reduce anxiety. So even if you’re talking about your fear for the results, make sure you’re imagining yourself passing with success.

iv. Study now!

    5     If you hate some of your topics then those topics might be causing you stress-revise those until you’re more comfortable and your revision will be better.

A．You probably have some scary thoughts about your final results.

B．The best way to stop worrying is to take action.

C．Talk to other people who are being negative.

D．You may get worried about examinations for different reasons.

E．Keep testing yourself with past papers to track how your work helps.

F．Try to take the negative energy away from your thoughts.

G．The good news is that these emotions are entirely normal.

5 . Ask most people which day of the week they fear the most and the answer is likely to be Monday. The first day of the working week can make us depressed.     1    

The most depressing day of the year is the third Monday in January, when it’s cold and dark outside. This day was named “Blue Monday” by psychologist Cliff Arnall. Even if there was little science behind Blue Monday, it’s probably true that the sound of our alarm clock on any Monday morning means the coming of a new working week and possibly the end of our weekend of fun.     2     It’s what psychologists call an emotional shift, and no other part of the week has a transition(过渡) like it.

Apparently, Monday means the end of weekend lie-ins.     3     According to a website, “If you can’t stand your job, then the Monday blues can be very real.” And it can be especially difficult to start another seemingly endless workweek. Your case of the Mondays can have a negative impact on your performance, productivity and the people around you.

    4     Feeling a bit low shouldn’t be confused with more serious depression, caused by other factors. Claudia Hammond, an author and presenter, argues that this low feeling might be untrue.     5     She mentions an Australian study of how people reflected on their mood and found the day that scored the lowest was in fact Wednesdays. So, when Monday comes, maybe we should give it a second chance!

A．But is Monday as bad as we like to think it is?

B．What exactly makes us feel down remains unknown.

C．Weekends are definitely happy days in all countries.

D．That’s why the feeling is described as the Monday blues.

E．There is a strong cultural idea that we don’t like Mondays.

F．Our Monday mood can be based on a direct comparison to the day before.

G．It’s back to the routine and the realization that there are five days of working ahead.

6 . 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。

One sunny day, I drove to the airport and was waiting to pick up a friend. That day I had one of those experiences that change people’s lives.

It happened just two feet away from me. I was sitting on a bench and looked around the big waiting hall. Just then I noticed a man, carrying two bags, coming toward me. He stopped next to me. There stood his family, the wife and three lovely kids. He greeted them, with a big smile on his face.

First of all, he laid down his bag and came closer to his younger son (about six years old). They gave each other a warm, loving hug. Then the father looked in his son’s eyes with words, “I missed you so much. It’s so good to see you, son!” The boy smiled and said, “Me too, dad.”

Then the man talked to his older son (nine or ten years old). “Oh, you are quite the young man. I love you very much!” and cupped his face. Then they had the most tender hug too.

Afterwards the father said, “Hi, baby girl” to his baby daughter. She was moving excitedly in her mother’s arm and watching her returning father all the time. The man gently took his little daughter, quickly kissed her face all over and then held her close to his chest. The little girl laid her head on his shoulder in pure contentment.

After several moments, the man put down the baby daughter slowly. He turned to his wife and looked at her gently and said, “I’ve saved the best for last.” He shared with her the most passionate kiss. They stared at each other, having big smiles. They reminded(使想起) me of newlyweds(新婚夫妇).

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。

Suddenly, I heard myself asking, “Wow, how long have you been married?”

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I was shocked, as I imagined that he had been gone for several weeks at least.

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7 . My mom and my grandpa have been making jam(果酱)every summer for more than 20 years. The jam is sweet ,made from local Okanagan fruit. Not only is it delicious but it also helps me remember my childhood. As kids, we traveled to Salmon Arm, B. C. ,every summer to spend it with my grandpa and grandma. Memories of house-boating, fishing, countless hours in the lake, and of course jam-making remain in all our hearts.

We were never part of making jam, but I remember watching my mom and grandpa carry in fresh berries from the car, and then measure and cook. Only breaking to sleep and eat, they would show up two days later tired, sometimes covered with burns, and proud faces. Although at that time I couldn't tell you how the jam was made, I knew that each jar(瓶)was made with love and care. They never sold the jam at any local markets; they kept some for themselves and the rest was given away to friends and family.

One summer, for some reason, they weren't able to make jam. I remember my mom being really sad and I didn't understand till some years later that making jam with her dad wasn't really about the jam at all. It was an occasion (场合),where she had his undivided attention and he, hers. I don't know what they talked about for all those hours, or if they even talked at all, but any silence was filled with feelings of love and happiness.

Now in my mid-30s, my brother, sister and I have our own children to bring to Salmon Arm every summer, it only for a few days. Much has changed but one thing that has not is the jam. Mom and Grandpa disappear for a couple of days to make it. I feel joy watching my mom and grandpa share this time together. It's a tradition that one day my mom will carry forward with me, and many years from now, I will carry forward with my daughter.

1. What can best describe the author's childhood?

A．Unusual.	B．Poor.
C．Troubled.	D．Colorful.

2. How did the author feel when she saw her mom being sad?

A．She shared the same feeling.

B．She was unable to understand.

C．She didn't care about it.

D．She felt sorry about it.

3. What might be the point of making jam?

A．Filling the family with joy and love.

B．Making a good living for the family.

C．Bringing happiness to children.

D．Helping the old family members feel less lonely.

4. What decision does the author make?

A．To make jam on her own.

B．To learn her mom's attitude to life.

C．To follow the family tradition.

D．To spend more time with her daughter.

8 . To show empathy is to identify with another’s feelings. It is to emotionally put yourself in the place of another. The ability to empathize is directly dependent on your ability to feel your own feelings and identify them.

If you have never felt a certain feeling, it will be hard for you to understand how another person is feeling. If you have never put your hand in a flame, you will not know the pain of fire. If you have not experienced jealousy, you will not understand its power. Reading about a feeling and intellectually knowing about it is very different than actually experiencing it for yourself.

Among those with an equal level of emotional intelligence, the person who has actually experienced the widest range and variety of feelings — the great depths of depression and the heights of fulfillment, for example, — is the one who is most able to empathize. On the other hand, when we say that someone “can’t relate” to other people, it is likely because they haven’t experienced, acknowledged or accepted many feelings of their own.

Once you have felt discriminated against, for example, it is much easier to relate with someone else who has been discriminated against. Our innate emotional intelligence gives us the ability to quickly recall those instances and form associations when we encounter discrimination again. We then can use the “reliving” of those emotions to guide our thinking and actions. This is one of the ways nature slowly evolves towards a higher level of survival.

For this process to work, the first step is that we must be able to experience our own emotions. This means we must be open to them and not distract ourselves from them or try to numb ourselves from our feelings through drugs, alcohol, etc.

Next, we need to become aware of what we are actually feeling — to acknowledge, identify, and accept our feelings. Only then can we empathize with others. That is one reason why it is important to work on your own emotional awareness and sensitivity — in other words, to be “in touch with” your feelings.

1. How does the author explain the feelings of empathy?

A．By giving examples.	B．By having classification.
C．By making comparison.	D．By providing data.

2. Which statement may the author agree with?

A．Low level of empathy leads to fewer varieties of feelings.

B．The deeper one’s feelings are, the more empathetic one is.

C．Empathy is a way we recently picked up for better survival.

D．Rich experiences may not go with a high level of empathy.

3. What’s the purpose of the last two paragraphs of the text?

A．To advise a sincere attitude to one’s experiences.

B．To suggest a right understanding of empathy.

C．To require a real bond with one’s emotions.

D．To call for true acceptance of one’s feelings.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．How Empathy Unfolds	B．Be Open to Your Emotions
C．Why Is Empathy Important	D．Accept Your True Self