1 . During my first year in college, I was silent. I was too afraid of saying something wrong.

I declared a religion major as a sophomore and took a class from Barbara, a young theologian. My mind was split open by a range of new thinkers and writers and by the quality of Barbara’s questions, I finally had something to say and the energy to say it. I was a frequent visitor during Barbara’s office hours, a rocket of words. She listened and calmly responded, a perfect contrast to my feverish ramblings. I loved what she saw in me, which was a range of abilities I had never seen in myself. In the following years, our relationship gradually deepened, but I was always conscious of a teacher-student dynamic.

This changed fundamentally when I became a parent. I had my son in March 2010, and Barbara was one of the first to congratulate me. When, nine months later, my child was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease, a rare and always terminal illness with no treatment and no cure, she sent me a letter-handwritten on a white legal pad. For the next two and a half years, Barbara wrote me regular, sometimes weekly, letters, remarkable letters that are revealing, loving, and kind.

The letter written right before my son died, when he was three, was the most personal and perhaps the most profound. “I think he’s made you better by opening up the great fire of your love,” she wrote, “with his small but magnificent existence.” I have never in my life read a more deeply comforting sentence, one that spoke to my grandest hopes, my deepest fears, and the only faith that remains to me, which is a belief in chaos. Our love had bloomed and deepened from a guarded mutual respect to a richer, deeper friendship.

Mentors are meant to lead those in their charge into fresh understanding, help them sort and filter new experiences, assist in the project of making sense out of the chaos that is human life. Mentors observe and accompany the darkest despair, the wildest sorrow, and the most unexpected joy.

1. What can we learn from paragraph 2?

A．The author took the class because she excelled1 in theology.

B．Their relationship changed significantly beyond a teacher-student mode.

C．The author was a frequent visitor to Barbara’s home after working hours.

D．Barbara’s peaceful exterior was a contrast to the author’s overexcited talk.

2. What does the underlined word “This” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．The way Barbara treated her students.	B．The fact that the author kept silent in class.
C．The role of the author as a college student.	D．The relationship between Barbara and the author.

3. What transformed the relationship between Barbara and the author from a mutual respect to a deeper friendship?

A．Barbara’s efforts to solve the problem.

B．Barbara’s sympathy shown in the letter.

C．The author’s in-depth understanding of Barbara.

D．Barbara’s congratulations on the birth of the author’s son.

4. What does the author think of Barbara?

A．Demanding and dedicated.	B．Responsible and reasonable.
C．Insightful and inspiring.	D．Aggressive and ambitious.

2 . You might have heard of the expression “a guilty pleasure”—maybe it’s the chocolate bar you buy on the way home from work, or the new clothes that you don’t really need.     1     . Perhaps we don’t feel we deserved it, or we don’t think it was a responsible way to spend our money. But should we feel like this? Do we really have to feel guilty about treating ourselves?

Perhaps not. Psychologists have suggested that buying things for yourself can make you feel better as it provides an opportunity to take control of your situation.    2     . It may be that as well as lifting your mood, when you buy a treat, you might just be looking after yourself.

Of course, there are also examples of people turning to destructive behaviour when faced with stressful circumstances. People might spend money that they don’t have or turn to dangerous addictions. Psychologist Leon Seltzer considers the difference between self-indulgence and self-nurturing.    3     , while self-nurturing is taking responsible decisions to satisfy our needs and take care of ourselves in ways that don’t have a significant impact.

    4    . So, many universities publish guides with advice for coping with exam stress. Reflecting the difference between self-indulgence and self-nurture, they recommend rewarding yourself for your efforts, doing things that you enjoy and are good at so that you can feel accomplishment.    5     . Thus, perhaps, as long as we make responsible decisions, we shouldn’t feel guilty about our guilty pleasures.

A．Exams are vital for students.

B．Self-indulgence can have negative consequences

C．The difference becomes evident when students manage exam pressure

D．They also recommend embracing activities that could dampen your spirits

E．Besides, you should avoid things that may make you feel worse afterwards

F．It comes from the idea that when we treat ourselves, it can sometimes leave us feeling guilty

G．It can give you social contact as well as a confidence boost from changes you make to your self-image

3 . The Healing Power of Music

Since Mom died and Dad lived alone, he was often angry, and lately he was getting more and more confusing. Today _______ to be worse than usual. He had a new aid named Linda, from our home country of Lithuania. The _______ of a stranger was bound to make Dad even more _______ .

Sure enough, Dad started _______ as soon as I got in the door. “This new girl doesn’t know anything,” he whispered with dissatisfaction.

“It’ll take some time for her to learn how to help you,” I _______ him.

The three of us sat _______ in the living room. I wished I could think of something to say. Lord, please help us feel more comfortable with this arrangement.

Linda _______ to her feet. Walking over to Dad’s record player, she _______ a Lithuanian folk record onto the turntable (转盘). The familiar accordion (手风琴) music played. Dad started _______ along to it. Liuda smiled.

The music seemed to drive all the ________ from the room. We chatted about Lithuania. It was one of the ________ visits Dad and I had ever had.

When I left, he hugged me good-bye and asked me to ________ old photos with him and Linda next time. ________ , I had a look at the old Dad, the man I’d always loved ________ time with.

I’d come to Dad’s house expecting the ________ . But with Linda’s help and a little music from the old country, I’d found what I would always love.

1.

A．promised

B．tended

C．planned

D．needed

2.

A．choice

B．presence

C．name

D．assistance

3.

A．absent-minded

B．ill-tempered

C．light-hearted

D．heart-struck

4.

A．shouting

B．warning

C．remarking

D．complaining

5.

A．advised

B．directed

C．comforted

D．informed

6.

A．impatiently

B．anxiously

C．awkwardly

D．boringly

7.

A．sprang

B．went

C．struggled

D．came

8.

A．threw

B．placed

C．grabbed

D．played

9.

A．laughing

B．singing

C．clapping

D．smiling

10.

A．tension

B．atmosphere

C．sound

D．warmth

11.

A．longest

B．strangest

C．nicest

D．rarest

12.

A．check out

B．hang on

C．get through

D．look at

13.

A．For a moment

B．At a time

C．By the way

D．On the whole

14.

A．treasuring

B．wasting

C．saving

D．spending

15.

A．best

B．commonest

C．worst

D．happiest

4 . Kids have a lot on their minds. Dealing with school, family, activities, and all of the other big parts of life is hard enough. The recent rise in Omicron cases in the US is causing more stress on them. It can be difficult to think of how to cheer themselves up.     1    .

Connect with people you love. Reaching out to friends and family can make a huge difference.     2    . Just talking or spending time with them can improve your mood (情绪)and help you feel connected.

Talk to a trusted adult. If you’re feeling down. Dr. Murthy suggests confiding (倾诉)in a trusted adult.     3    . “A lot of schools have counselors or school nurses you can talk with as well.” he adds.

    4    . Eat well and get good sleep. Fresh air and exercise help, too. “I find that when I’m physically active, it actually lifts my mood,” Dr. Murthy says. It also has the benefit of freeing yourself from some challenges you have.

Help others.     5    . When you help other people, not only do you strengthen (巩固)your connections, you also remind yourself that you have a lot of beauty, value and strength to add to the world.

A．Take care of your body

B．Regular exercise helps body building

C．It is a good chance to speak out how you feel

D．This might be a family member, a teacher or a doctor

E．You don’t have to discuss anything sad with your loved ones

F．Service is one of the best ways to get out of sadness and loneliness

G．Vivek Murthy, the country’s top doctor, offers some advice for this purpose

5 . 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.

6 . The scars that Pat Rribble carried through life were formed nearly 50 years ago, inflicted (欺负) by fellow students in Woodland, who _______him because he was different.

Pat never _______or had children after graduating. He never had a _______, only a series of jobs. Now 65, Pat appears _______with his long gray hair and beard, whom you might cross the street to _______. But, to talk with him reveals (展现出) a _______side. He speaks quietly, measuring his words to _______his weakness, for which others once seized upon to _______him.

In 2021, when Carey Jim, Pat's classmate, learned Pat _______to attend his high school class's party ________ he'd been hurt in school, he ________. “Pat had it rougher than the rest of us.” Days later, Carey found Pat's ________and called. Pat answered. “We talked about the ________things, and the good things too,” Pat said. “Carey's love and ________caught me unexpectedly.” After that, Carey asked all his ________to call Pat. And so they did. They made a ________that they wouldn't lose track of Pat, and they have ________it for over ten years. Every week, one or more of them call Pat to see how he's doing.

The recovery of the ________from the past has allowed Pat to look to the ________. “I'll be at the next party,” he says. “These guys…” He pauses, stifling (强忍) ________. “Let's just say that everyone needs people like these guys in their lives.”

1.

A．amused

B．targeted

C．inspired

D．criticised

2.

A．resisted

B．regretted

C．married

D．appeared

3.

A．career

B．family

C．friend

D．complaint

4.

A．tough

B．cool

C．optimistic

D．confident

5.

A．hug

B．avoid

C．greet

D．follow

6.

A．selfish

B．mature

C．brave

D．gentle

7.

A．cover

B．ignore

C．express

D．change

8.

A．fight

B．help

C．hurt

D．protect

9.

A．promised

B．expected

C．decided

D．refused

10.

A．after

B．because

C．though

D．even if

11.

A．felt great

B．became annoyed

C．fell silent

D．looked disappointed

12.

A．address

B．house

C．photo

D．number

13.

A．unimportant

B．unbelievable

C．unforgettable

D．unpleasant

14.

A．punishment

B．explanation

C．kindness

D．questions

15.

A．teachers

B．families

C．classmates

D．colleagues

16.

A．plan

B．promise

C．require

D．comment

17.

A．kept

B．discussed

C．remembered

D．promoted

18.

A．loss

B．weakness

C．illness

D．wounds

19.

A．past

B．future

C．situation

D．truth

20.

A．tears

B．joy

C．pain

D．anger

7 . I was with my mom one day as we took a walk while window shopping. We both knew we wouldn't be buying much. I remember I was looking up at the people we passed as we walked. Ladies wore 5-inch heels and bright clothes. Men wore expensive perfumes and creams that wiped away the wrinkles on their faces. An uneasy feeling started to settle in my chest. I could deny it no longer and I was ashamed of my mom.

We were in a high-class neighborhood. We lived in a small, expensive apartment building at the edge of our county. Mom chose to move there because she knew the schools were good. I realized for the first time that we didn't belong there.

I could see the heavy lines around my mom's eyes and mouth. She wore cheap clothes and worm-out shoes. Her eyes were tired from working long hours to make ends meet, and her hair was too gray for her age. She was nothing extraordinary, yet at that moment, she stood out because she was just so plain. I didn't want to be seen with her although there was no one important around to see me anyway. I felt embarrassed about being at her side. We were standing in the middle of a high-end store, and she was holding a sweater.

Mom said, “Anna, this will look good on you. Do you want it?” It Was much too expensive, but I almost thoughtlessly answered “Yes”. Then I took a closer look at the small, tired woman with a big smile and a sweater in her hands, happy to be giving me something so nice. My words died in my throat. Her clothes were worn and old because she spent her money buying me new ones. She looked so tired because she was busy working to provide for me. She didn't wear jewelry or perfumes because she was content with spending what little money she had on me. Suddenly, my mom was beautiful and extraordinarily wonderful in my eyes. I was no longer ashamed of her, but of myself.

“Do you want it?” Mom repeated.

“No, thanks,” I replied.

1. Why did the author describe the passers-by while window-shopping?

A．To stress her mother was plain.

B．To show she envied rich people.

C．To suggest she was curious about others.

D．To indicate she was in an expensive neighborhood.

2. What most likely made the author feel uneasy?

A．Studying at a top school.	B．Going window-shopping.
C．Being seen with her mom.	D．Living in a small apartment.

3. What did the author mean by “My words died in my throat” in Paragraph 4?

A．She was afraid of being blamed by her mom.

B．She was too excited to say anything about the sweater.

C．She felt her mom was so ordinary that she stopped speaking.

D．She failed to speak after realizing her mom's great sacrifices.

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

A．Misunderstanding Mom	B．Refusing Mom's Kindness
C．Feeling Ashamed of Mom	D．Going Shopping with Mom

8 . 假定你是高一学生李华，父母都是英语老师。在感恩节来临之际，请你用英语给自己的家长写一封感谢信。要点如下：
1.感谢家长多年来无微不至的关心和照顾；
2.表达决心（努力学习，多帮家长做家务等）。
注意：(1)词数 100 左右；
(2)可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Dad and Mum,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . A video of a tearful young man bursting with joy, pride and gratitude during his high school graduation recently went popular. Dontrail Spencer was _______ holding his diploma and screaming out the names of his teachers and family members who had _______ him along the way. They had been encouraging him to keep his eyes on the _______ and to push through the _______days.

None of us can _______ life without encouragement — _______ from a parent, best friend, school teacher or spiritual leader. Their _______ keeps us going and believing in ourselves. When someone gives you encouragement, you are given the _______ to do something important. You are made _______.

Even volunteers like myself ________words of encouragement. Back in February, I was in my fifth week as a community volunteer during the pandemics (大流行病). I don’t ________ meeting Grace, a lady who had been very ________ and in the hospital. But one morning I ________ an email from her: Thank you and all involved for keeping our community and life moving forward. It makes me sad that our ________ a relationship has been so limited. I enjoy your Wednesday chorus and ________ find you inspirational. I’m ________ to be part of it Love, Grace.

A few days later I received a call that she had ________. Grace was nearing the end of her life, but she took time to encourage me. Every time I read her email, I’m ________ by her words. When we encourage one another — everybody ________. Be generous in your ________. We all need in it. Some now more than ever.

1.

A．noticed

B．monitored

C．filmed

D．heard

2.

A．helped

B．trained

C．warned

D．informed

3.

A．grades

B．goals

C．achievement

D．interests

4.

A．strange

B．old

C．tough

D．regular

5.

A．make use of

B．pay attention to

C．give up

D．get through

6.

A．simply

B．especially

C．completely

D．originally

7.

A．patience

B．attention

C．service

D．support

8.

A．courage

B．task

C．money

D．advice

9.

A．healthier

B．warmer

C．smarter

D．stronger

10.

A．prepare

B．need

C．convey

D．choose

11.

A．remember

B．succeed

C．practice

D．appreciate

12.

A．hopeless

B．ordinary

C．sick

D．sensitive

13.

A．recorded

B．expected

C．evaluated

D．received

14.

A．ending

B．building

C．controlling

D．accepting

15.

A．directly

B．occasionally

C．truly

D．causally

16.

A．qualified

B．suitable

C．eager

D．grateful

17.

A．moved out

B．woken up

C．passed away

D．fallen over

18.

A．inspired

B．bothered

C．cheated

D．changed

19.

A．agrees

B．wins

C．cheers

D．hesitates

20.

A．encouragement

B．wealth

C．sympathy

D．time

10 . I once had a real show of what love is about from my son, Branton, who was then eight and totally unkind to his little sister, Susan.

One Autumn evening, I discovered Susan was ________. I thought she was in the house at first. By the time I ________ she was gone, Branton was comfortably on the sofa watching his favorite television program with a friend. After I’d searched every room for Susan, I began to be ________. It was dark by then, and she was only 5. Our house in the country had many ________ surrounding it.

Careful not to betray my ________, I announced, “Susan is gone.” There was a pause, then Branton ________ and looked at me. “I can’t find Susan,” I ________. “She isn’t in the house, and I don’t know where she is.” He was up as if a bomb had blown him off the sofa. “I’ll find her,” he said running to the door. Then he stopped and turned to his friend. “Get up, Jeff,” he ________, “We’ve got to find Susan. Hurry up.” Within two minutes he’d rung two doorbells to ask if the ________ knew where his sister was. Branton, still running at top ________, came up and passed me by, calling, “Susan, Susan.”

As we headed up the big path into the woods, I heard the sound of a child ________ out. It was Susan. I tried to comfort her we were coming — while attempting to ________ falling in the mud. Meanwhile, Branton ran on ahead, apparently ________ nothing. In another minute he had her in his arms. As I ________, I heard him saying repeatedly, “Susan, are you all right?” as tears streamed down his cheeks.

That night I told Susan, who frequently ________ Branton’s trick, that we all should know what Branton really felt about us.

1.

A．missing

B．injured

C．puzzled

D．asleep

2.

A．argued

B．realized

C．compared

D．agreed

3.

A．surprised

B．frightened

C．delighted

D．tired

4.

A．woods

B．villages

C．houses

D．mountains

5.

A．anger

B．secret

C．anxiety

D．doubt

6.

A．laughed

B．shook

C．shouted

D．turned

7.

A．repeated

B．prayed

C．announced

D．scolded

8.

A．persuaded

B．suggested

C．commanded

D．blamed

9.

A．teachers

B．classmates

C．workers

D．neighbors

10.

A．cost

B．height

C．speed

D．trip

11.

A．crying

B．going

C．leaving

D．dying

12.

A．imagine

B．risk

C．avoid

D．enjoy

13.

A．interested in

B．familiar with

C．crazy about

D．afraid of

14.

A．called

B．approached

C．greeted

D．discovered

15.

A．thanked

B．valued

C．accepted

D．suffered