1 . For some people, practicing gratitude is part of their spiritual practice or religion, while for others, it’s about cultivating a more positive outlook on life.     1    , there is no doubt about the benefits to be gained.

Improved mood

When you practice gratitude, you shift your focus from negative thoughts and feelings to positive ones. Instead of thinking about everything that makes you unhappy, gratitude makes you think about all the things that are good — no matter how big or small. Practicing gratitude will make you feel more optimistic.     2    .

Better relationship

When you think about all the things you are grateful for, you will think of the people in your life that you care for — your family and friends.     3    , chances are that you’ll want to show them how much they mean to you and how much you appreciate them. And that can strengthen your connection with them.

Reduced stress

    4    . So they often feel stressed. Maybe they’re having trouble at work, maybe they’re in financial difficulty, or maybe they feel like they’re just not good enough at something. But by practicing gratitude, they’re able to view things properly.

    5    

Instead of focusing on all the things that you’re bad at or things you’ve failed at, practicing gratitude will shift your focus on all the amazing things you’ve accomplished. And once you realize that, you’ll boost your feelings of achievement. Just focus on what you are grateful for in yourself. It will help you to appreciate your own strengths and talents.

A．Increased focus

B．Improved self-worth

C．People are facing a certain problem

D．You have plenty of reasons to be happy

E．That helps you realize life isn’t as bad as you thought

F．Whatever someone’s reason for practicing gratitude is

G．Once you realize how grateful you are to have them in your life

2 . Cope With Loneliness or Depression

My grandmother, Margaret lived to be 104, spending the last 16 years of her life in a nursing home. Although ______ kept in a wheelchair from severe arthritis(关节炎), she was mentally sharp until her ______. In fact, she was one of the very few residents there who could still think clearly. ______ the passing years, friends and family members died. Yet, when I had the ______ to visit her, she never seemed to be despondent or ______ of being lonely. After my visits, I ______ left thinking “If I lived that long, would I have the same ______? Was there something special or different in the way she thought that prevented her from becoming ______ ?”

By our very nature, human beings are relational. As social beings, we need some sense of ______ to the world around us, whether it’s through people or the ______ world. In what appeared to be the very ______world of my grandmother, she had ______ close relationships with the nurses on her floor. I’ve ______ a lot on the example my grandmother provided during her ______ years. I’ve asked myself many questions about aging and how to ______ a sense of well-being as our world ______ to narrow from the death of family and friends or major health issues. Perhaps what I’ve ______ will help you, too.

Being alone. What does that ______ bring into your mind? The way we feel about being alone has something to do with the way we frame it. For example, you ______ be in a large group of people and still feel very lonely. Yet, some people seem to recharge and actually energize by taking the time to be alone. Once your thoughts and feelings change, it will be ______ for your behavior to change as well.

1.

A．mentally

B．sadly

C．happily

D．physically

2.

A．recovery

B．death

C．victory

D．failure

3.

A．While

B．As

C．Until

D．With

4.

A．chance

B．honor

C．right

D．choice

5.

A．complained

B．reminded

C．informed

D．thought

6.

A．never

B．sometimes

C．always

D．seldom

7.

A．ability

B．luck

C．attitude

D．age

8.

A．depressed

B．disappointed

C．annoyed

D．excited

9.

A．achievement

B．direction

C．connection

D．humor

10.

A．amusing

B．amazing

C．different

D．natural

11.

A．small

B．huge

C．difficult

D．broad

12.

A．developed

B．invented

C．held

D．found

13.

A．regained

B．realized

C．reflected

D．recognized

14.

A．long

B．lonely

C．early

D．last

15.

A．organize

B．maintain

C．spread

D．broadcast

16.

A．promises

B．prepares

C．seems

D．starts

17.

A．calculated

B．collected

C．discovered

D．described

18.

A．phrase

B．word

C．sentence

D．passage

19.

A．would

B．can

C．must

D．should

20.

A．better

B．happier

C．harder

D．easier

3 . 阅读下面短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个恰当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Crying is a natural response to emotions. Regardless of     1     causes the tears to flow, the physical reaction is usually the same with puffy cheeks and tight eyes     2     (lead) to streaming tears down one’s face. Despite its stigma (污名), crying can be an act     3     relieves tension and clears feelings of negativity and sadness. Crying can communicate our emotions to others and foster greater understanding and compassion. Ultimately, crying is a powerful tool we ought to use to free ourselves     4     negativity.

4 . Everything changed when I entered high school. Among all the freshmen, I never saw an acquaintance. At home I was just as ___________.

Mom was shouting again. “Karole, your bedroom is a disaster. Why can’t you keep it_________?”

The last thing, I needed was, mother’s_________. Clean your room. Finish your dinner. What happened to the mother who___________ me with complete acceptance? However, instead of explaining my _________, I just holed up in my bedroom.

Clearing off some space, I pulled out my math textbook, turned to a fresh page and started___________the first problem. Almost immediately, I made a_______! “Wrong again” I thought. “You can’t do anything___________!”   I tore the paper from my notebook, balled it up and_________it on the floor.

When I finished my homework, the floor was__________with crumpled(皱的) papers. It gave me a kind of satisfaction to see the___________ I’d made. Like it was proof of all my flaws(缺点). I kicked the papers under the   ___________.

One day, when I came home and entered my room, I___________. It was neat as a new pin. Mom had___________cleaned it. All the papers under my bed had___________, except one. I picked it up and unfolded it.

I___________Mom’s handwriting immediately: “Dear Karole, I’ve been too___________with you lately. Sorry. Now I only_____________you are to be your same, sweet self. Love, Mom.”

At that moment, a weight seemed to lift from me. It was_____________with something as soft as an angel’s wing. After that, everything changed in high school. But that heartfelt note remained ____________for the rest of my teenage years.

1.

A．depressed

B．uninterested

C．frightened

D．embarrassed

2.

A．quiet

B．clean

C．bright

D．empty

3.

A．education

B．explanation

C．criticism

D．punishment

4.

A．loved

B．raised

C．respected

D．pitied

5.

A．anxiety

B．anger

C．confusion

D．pain

6.

A．writing down

B．wiping off

C．searching for

D．working out

7.

A．decision

B．mistake

C．change

D．progress

8.

A．quickly

B．perfectly

C．right

D．easily

9.

A．hid

B．spread

C．displayed

D．threw

10.

A．decorated

B．replaced

C．littered

D．surrounded

11.

A．mess

B．mark

C．plan

D．effort

12.

A．chair

B．bed

C．desk

D．floor

13.

A．cried

B．stopped

C．froze

D．hesitated

14.

A．suddenly

B．unwillingly

C．occasionally

D．obviously

15.

A．increased

B．faded

C．rotted

D．disappeared

16.

A．recognized

B．remembered

C．hated

D．imagined

17.

A．disappointed

B．concerned

C．strict

D．bored

18.

A．believe

B．expect

C．realize

D．discover

19.

A．replaced

B．combined

C．covered

D．filled

20.

A．comforting

B．exciting

C．amusing

D．satisfying

5 . Walter Benjamin, the German philosopher, once noted that boredom was the “dream bird that hatches the egg of experience”. However, the creative flights of fancy which often arise from having little to do are being killed off by social media, researchers argued. Viewing mindlessly through attention-grabbing posts and videos prevents “profound (深层的) boredom” that can drive people on to new passions or skills. Instead, people find themselves in a state of “superficial boredom”, which does not motivate creative thought.

Dr Timothy Hill, leader of the research team at the University of Bath, said, “The problem we observed was that social media can ease superficial boredom. But that also consumes time and energy, and may prevent people progressing to a state of profound boredom, where they might discover new passions. Profound boredom may sound like a negative concept but, in fact, it can be intensely positive if people are given the chance for undisturbed thinking and development.

Researchers interviewed 15 people during the pandemic (流行病), when boredom was more likely because of restrictions. Many described being trapped in regularly daily walks and watching television, with many turning to social media to pass the time. But although the participants said that social media provided a temporary escape from superficial boredom, it also appeared to exacerbate it, leaving them feeling they had wasted their time.

The pandemic was a painful and consuming experience for thousands of less fortunate people. But there are stories of those in lockdown who found new hobbies, careers or directions in life. Switching off devices could help people reach the state of boredom which pushes them on to new hobbies or achievements.

This research has given us a window to understand how the “always-on”, 24/7 culture and devices that promise an abundance of information and entertainment may be fixing our superficial boredom but are actually preventing us from finding more meaningful things.

1. Why are Walter Benjamin’s words mentioned?

A．To call for attention to the research on boredom.

B．To comment on the strategies to face loneliness.

C．To offer advice on developing creative thinking.

D．To clarify the problem caused by social media.

2. Which of the following may Dr Timothy Hill agree?

A．Profound boredom is of value.

B．Social media can fuel passions.

C．The research has some limitations.

D．Creative thought is easily disturbed.

3. What does the underlined word “exacerbate” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Avoid.	B．Break.
C．Inspire.	D．Worsen.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．Why people enjoy boredom

B．How boredom helps kill time

C．Why being bored may be good for you

D．How social media blocks creative ideas

6 . Our Greatest Gift

Recently, a friend told me a story about twins talking to each other in the womb (子宫). The sister said to the brother, “I believe there is _________ after birth.”

Her brother _________ strongly, “No, no! This is all there is. This is a dark and cosy place, and we have nothing else to do but _________ on the cord that feeds us.

The little girl _________. “There must be something more than this dark place. There must be something else, a place with light where there is _________ to move.” Still she could not _________ her twin brother.

After some silence, the sister said,_________, “I have something else to say, and I’m afraid you won’t believe that either, but I think there is a _________.

Her brother became angry. “A mother!” He _________. What are you talking about? I have never seen a mother, and __________ have you, Who puts that idea in your head? As I told you, this place is all we have. Why do you always want more? This is not such a bad place.__________, We have alt we need, so let’s be __________.”

The sister was overwhelmed by her brothers ________ and for a while didn’t dare say anything more. But she couldn’t __________ her thoughts, and since she had only her twin brother to __________ to, she finally said, “Don’t you feel the __________ every once in a while? They’re quite __________ and sometimes even painful.”

“Yes,” he answered. “What’s__________ about that?”

“Well,” the sister said, “I think that these squeezes are there to get us ready __________ another place, much more beautiful than this,__________ we will see our mother face to face. Don’t you think that’s exciting?”

1.

A．soil

B．air

C．life

D．water

2.

A．protested

B．projected

C．proposed

D．protected

3.

A．react

B．depend

C．hold

D．focus

4.

A．whispered

B．insisted

C．commented

D．reviewed

5.

A．chance

B．ability

C．freedom

D．choice

6.

A．dislike

B．admire

C．motivate

D．convince

7.

A．hesitantly

B．immediately

C．reluctantly

D．gradually

8.

A．world

B．bird

C．mother

D．human

9.

A．spoke

B．thought

C．wept

D．shouted

10.

A．both

B．so

C．not

D．neither

11.

A．in all

B．after all

C．above all

D．not at all

12.

A．satisfied

B．quiet

C．patient

D．diligent

13.

A．attitude

B．response

C．action

D．behavior

14.

A．give in to

B．reflect on

C．think of

D．let go of

15.

A．talk

B．refer

C．lend

D．devote

16.

A．squeezes

B．loads

C．burdens

D．secrets

17.

A．cosy

B．excellent

C．unpleasant

D．comfortable

18.

A．particular

B．special

C．wrong

D．angry

19.

A．in

B．at

C．for

D．with

20.

A．when

B．which

C．before

D．where

7 . Winter goes and summer comes. The tides_______; the tides withdraw. All nature is a circle of moods and I am a_______of nature. It is one of nature’s_______, little understood, that each day I_______with moods that have changed from yesterday. Inside me is a wheel,_______turning. Like the flowers, today’s full blossom will_______, yet I will remember today’s dead flower carries the seed of tomorrow’s blossom.

And how will I master these emotions so that each day will be_______? Trees and plants depend on the weather to_______, but I make my own weather. I_______it with me. If I bring enthusiasm to my customers, they will________with enthusiasm and my weather will produce a harvest of sales and a lot of gold for me. I will learn this secret: weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he who________his actions to control his thoughts. Each day I will follow this plan of battle before I am________by the forces of sadness,________and failure. I will know only those with inferior(较次的) ability can always be________, and I am not inferior. If I feel depressed I will sing. If I feel________I will remember my goals.Yet, some emotions approach me with a smile, which can also destroy me. If I become overly proud, I will remember my weaknesses. If I feel my skill is________, I will look at the stars.

With this new knowledge I will make________of a person’s anger of today, for he doesn’t know the secret of controlling his mind. No longer will I judge a man on one________. This secret will be my key to great wealth. From this moment I am________to control whatever personality awakes in me each day. I will control my fate, which is to become the greatest________in the world!

1.

A．advance

B．disappear

C．exist

D．fall

2.

A．native

B．colleague

C．supporter

D．part

3.

A．jokes

B．secrets

C．experiences

D．awards

4.

A．break in

B．wake up

C．take off

D．give out

5.

A．constantly

B．temporarily

C．casually

D．elegantly

6.

A．appear

B．blow

C．fade

D．spread

7.

A．anxious

B．natural

C．additional

D．productive

8.

A．sow

B．grow

C．separate

D．shelter

9.

A．fold

B．follow

C．carry

D．load

10.

A．react

B．review

C．recite

D．repeat

11.

A．obtains

B．regards

C．allows

D．observes

12.

A．chosen

B．seized

C．received

D．witnessed

13.

A．self-awareness

B．self-control

C．self-esteem

D．self-pity

14.

A．behind the scene

B．on the bottom line

C．at the end of the rope

D．out of sight

15.

A．insignificant

B．improper

C．impolite

D．unconscious

16.

A．concrete

B．inadequate

C．abstract

D．unmatched

17.

A．use

B．fun

C．sure

D．sense

18.

A．view

B．meeting

C．experiment

D．idiom

19.

A．limited

B．reserved

C．prepared

D．afraid

20.

A．salesman

B．player

C．architect

D．designer

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What does the speaker’s mother want her to be?

A．A confident person.

B．A warm-hearted person.

C．A humorous person.

2. Why did the speaker feel lonely in her childhood?

A．She often traveled by herself.

B．Her family moved frequently.

C．Her mother was busy working.

3. What does the speaker mainly talk about?

A．Importance of home schooling.

B．Mother-daughter relationship.

C．A role model in her family.

9 . How adversity(逆境) makes you stronger

When faced with a crisis, we find it difficult to imagine the experience will eventually lead to some type of growth.     1     Research shows that past adversities can help you become more powerful in three ways.

    2     Post-unpleasant growth is the experience of positive change after going through a significantly stressful event. Researchers have discovered two common themes that people tend to report after experiencing a stressful event: spiritual growth and enhanced personal strength.

They build self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is the confidence in your ability to overcome challenges and succeed. I once took part in a program with soldiers, where I should dance in front of hundreds of audience. When I danced, I had a panic attack and had to hang onto my colleague’s arm to make it through. What was odd was my brain’s reaction to the exercise. While it was a truly unpleasant experience, I survived.     3    

They help you treat stress as a challenge.     4     Some people view stress as a threat, while others are able to view it as a challenge. With a challenge response? you get additional energy and feel focused instead of being fearful.

    5     Your past struggles, even small ones during an adversity can help you step out of the trouble you’re faced with.

A．They help you find the good.

B．They can bring growth after sufferings.

C．People have a healthier physical response to stress.

D．If your world feels out of control right now, just stay relaxed.

E．The fact is that we can become stronger after a difficult situation.

F．How you think about stress matters extremely in terms of how you process it.

G．That made my brain think about what other tough challenges I could conquer.

10 . 假定你是某高中学生会主席李华， 在你校即将举行的外籍学生欢迎会上，作为学生代表 就如何学好中文发言，请写一篇题为： Learn to speak Chinese, Learn to sing Chinese songs. 的发言稿。内容包括：
1. 对新生表示欢迎；
2. 介绍学习中文的好方法；
3. 表达祝愿。
注意：
1. 词数 100 左右，题目已经给出， 不计入字数；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Learn to Speak Chinese, Learn to Sing Chinese Songs

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