1 . I was scared when a loud noise in my apartment woke me in the middle of the night. I rushed to turn on my bedroom light and discovered it was a cat. Here’s the thing — I do not have a cat. And this was not the first time this particular cat had demanded my attention. I immediately calmed down and realized my mistake — I had left a window open. I approached my house guest to entertain her by giving her some treats and scratches under her collar.

Just like many others, I shifted from working in an office to working from home. Living alone can be separate from outside at the best of times. It was around the one-month mark of the lockdown when I heard a meow outside my window. Sitting outside on the grass was a long-haired, golden-colored cat. I opened the window, and this beautiful cat jumped into my home. Her short visit lifted my spirits for the day.

A few days later, I heard a familiar meow. I saw a name tag on her collar: Mika. On this second visit, I also noticed Mika was cross-eyed, which only made her more lovely.

Over the next few weeks, Mika would drop by occasionally. Sometimes, she only stayed for a few minutes; other times, she would wander around my apartment much longer. Each visit cheered me up. Mika even served as my social bridge, helping me connect with some new neighbors, who, as it turns out, had also received visits from her.

While the lockdown has been awful, I doubt I might not have ever met Mika if it had not happened. But perhaps she came by at this time because she sensed a need for connection on my part.

While dogs are said to be man’s best friend, a good cat can be everyone’s best friend.

1. What do we know about the cat from the first paragraph?

A．She entered by the window.

B．She used to go out at night.

C．She annoyed the neighbors badly.

D．She liked the author’s treats particularly.

2. How did the author probably feel at first during the lockdown?

A．Moved.

B．Cheerful.

C．Lonely.

D．Angry.

3. How did Mika help the author during the lockdown?

A．By bringing food.

B．By serving as a social bridge.

C．By keeping the house clean.

D．By protecting him from dangers.

4. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 5 refer to?

A．The open window.	B．The lockdown.
C．A need for connection.	D．A stay with new neighbors.

5. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．The author lives an unusual life.	B．The author longs for a peaceful society.
C．Keeping cats is boring.	D．Befriending nice cats is worthwhile.

2 . A farmer owned an old mule(骡子) One day the mule _________ into the farmer’s well(井)unluckily   The farmer heard the mule _________ He tried every possible way to save the mule, but _________ .

After carefully thinking about the situation, the farmer _________ that neither the mule nor the well was worth greater efforts _________ , he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened, and asked them to help carry dirt to cover the old mule in the _________ and put him out of his _________ .

At first, the old mule was mad! But as the farmer and the neighbors _________ shoveling(铲土) and the dirt hit his back, an idea _________ to him.   Every time a shovelful of ____________ landed on his back, he would shake it off and step up!

This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” He repeated to ____________ himself.   No matter how painful the blows, or how ____________ the situation seemed, the old mule overcame his fear and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up!

It wasn’t long before the old mule, tired out, stepped ____________ over the wall of that well! What seemed to have destroyed him actually ____________ him all because of the way in which he dealt with his adversity(逆境)

That’s life! We should face our problems and respond to them ____________ , and refuse to give in to fear, bitterness, or self-pity.

1.

A．flowed

B．felt

C．fell

D．flew

2.

A．protesting

B．talking

C．singing

D．crying

3.

A．failed

B．refused

C．escaped

D．succeeded

4.

A．decided

B．imagined

C．requested

D．pretended

5.

A．However

B．Therefore

C．Moreover

D．Otherwise

6.

A．situation

B．house

C．wall

D．well

7.

A．disaster

B．order

C．control

D．prison

8.

A．stopped

B．suggested

C．continued

D．finished

9.

A．replied

B．got

C．turned

D．occurred

10.

A．pain

B．dirt

C．fear

D．pity

11.

A．encourage

B．experience

C．expect

D．explore

12.

A．painless

B．possible

C．hopeless

D．useful

13.

A．slightly

B．suddenly

C．secretly

D．successfully

14.

A．hurt

B．helped

C．punished

D．controlled

15.

A．obviously

B．positively

C．curiously

D．necessarily

3 . He had been on a long flight. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: “Fasten your seatbelts.”

Then, after a while, a calm voice said, “We shall not be serving the drinks at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence (气流). Please be sure your seatbelt is fastened.” she looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming nervous.

Later, the voice of the announcer said, “We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us.

And then the storm broke out. The terrible thunder could be heard even above the sound of the engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies and within moments that great plane was like a leather thrown around on a vast ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on great current so fair, the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.

The man admitted that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, “As I looked around the plane. I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying.”

“The future seemed terrible and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm. And then, I suddenly saw a girl to whom the storm meant nothing. She just sat on her seat and was reading a book. Everything within her small world calm.

Sometimes she closed her eyes and then she would read again. She would straighten her legs but worry and fear were not in her world. When the plane was being hit by the terrible storm, when it shook this way and that way, when it rose and fell so severely, and when all the adults were scared half to death, that unusual child was completely composed and unafraid.”

The man could hardly believe his eyes. It was not surprising, therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying off board he asked the girl why she had not been afraid. The sweet child replied, “Sir, my dad is the pilot and he is taking me home.’’

1. What happened while he was taking the flight?            

A．A Passenger was scared to death	B．The plane met a turbulence
C．A girl became deaf in the plane	D．Drinks and food ran out

2. Some passengers were praying during the turbulence because           

A．they were too afraid	B．they wanted to be happy
C．God asked them to	D．they were warned to

3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “composed” in paragraph 7?           

A．clever

B．health

C．strong

D．calm

4. Which is the right order of the description about the girl when others were scared half to death?           
a. She closed her eyes                      b. She straightened her legs
c. She went on reading                      d. She sat on her seat reading

A．a-d-b-c

B．d-c-a-b

C．d-a-c-b

D．a-b-c-d

5. What makes the girl be have so differently from others then?           

A．Confidence

B．Determination

C．Behavior

D．Destination

4 . Henry found work in a bookstore after he finished middle school. He wouldn’t do anything but wanted to get rich. Mr King thought he was too lazy and was going to send him away. Henry was afraid and had to work hard.

It was a cold morning. It was snowing and there was thin ice on the streets. Few people went to buy the books and the young man had nothing to do. He hated to read, so he watched the traffic. Suddenly he saw a bag fall off a truck and it landed by the other side of the street.

“It must be full of expensive things,” Henry said to himself. “I have to get it, or others will take it away.”

He went out of the shop and ran across the street. A driver saw him and began to whistle (鸣笛), but he didn’t hear it and went on running. The man drove aside, hit a big tree and was hurt in the accident. Two weeks later Henry was taken to court (法庭). A judge asked if he heard the whistle when he was running across the street. He said that something was wrong with his ears and he could hear nothing.

“But you’ve heard me this time.” said the judge.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Now I can hear with one ear.”

“Cover the ear with your hand and listen to me with your deaf (聋的) one. Well, can you hear me?”

“No, I can’t, sir.”

1. What was Mr King?

A．A driver.

B．A doctor.

C．A policeman.

D．A shopkeeper.

2. Why did Mr. King want to send Henry away?

A．Because Henry was too lazy.	B．Because Henry hoped to be rich.
C．Because Henry finished middle school.	D．Because Henry sold few books.

3. The driver was afraid to ________, so he drove aside.

A．hit Henry

B．hurt himself

C．fall behind

D．lose the bag

4. What does the underlined word “judge” mean in Chinese?

A．裁判

B．律师

C．法官

D．原告

5. Why did Henry say that he was deaf?

A．He wanted to have a joke with the judge.	B．He wanted to get the judge’s help.
C．He wanted to find another piece of work.	D．He didn’t want to pay for the accident.

5 . Many years ago, I was fresh out of school and working in Denver. One day, I drove to my parents’ home in Missouri for Thanksgiving Day. Suddenly, I found the gas was running out. I stopped, wondering what I was supposed to do. A car pulled up behind me and an old couple came out. They offered to pull my car to a gas station. When we said good- bye to each other. the husband gave me his business card.

When I arrived home, I wrote him and his wife a thank-you note. I soon received a note saying that helping me had made their holiday meaningful.

Years later, I drove to a nearby town for a meeting in the morning. In the late afternoon, I returned to my car and found that the battery was dead. Then I noticed that the Friendly Ford Dealership — a shop selling cars — was right next door. I walked over and found a salesman waiting beside the door.

“Would you please do me a favor?” I asked and explained my trouble. He quickly drove a pickup truck to my car and started it. He would accept no payment. When I got home, I wrote a note to thank him. I received a letter back from the salesman. He said no one had ever taken the time to write him a note of thanks and it meant a lot.

Although it is easy to say thanks to others, it means so much.

1. Why did the author drive to his parents’ home in Missouri?

A．To repair his car.	B．To see a friend.
C．For Thanksgiving Day.	D．For a meeting.

2. What happened when the author found the gas was running out?

A．An old couple helped him go to a gas station.

B．He had a word with a policeman nearby.

C．He pushed his car to a car dealership.

D．He called up his best friend for help.

3. What can we learn from Paragraph 3?

A．The author got a gas from the old couple.

B．The author’s car battery was dead.

C．The author wrote a letter to the old couple.

D．The author bought a car from the dealership.

4. When the salesman received the author’s thank-you note, he must have been ________.

A．moved

B．worried

C．nervous

D．sad

5. The main purpose of the passage is to tell us ________.

A．how to write a thank-you note	B．how to deal with car problems
C．the kind-heartedness of old people	D．the importance of expressing thanks

7 . With a satisfied smile, Keisha finished the last sentence of her English essay about one of her heroes, Rosa Parks, an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement.

“Keisha,” her mother shouted from downstairs. “It’s almost 4:15.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t be late. ” Keisha pulled down a storybook from her bookshelf， as she always read to the nursing home’s residents. And on an impulse（一时心血来潮）, she added her English notebook as well.

As Keisha came running in the door, the manager told her, “We have a new resident this week, Mrs. Ruby Watson. She’s still adjusting to her new surroundings. You’ll find her in Room 28. And by the way, Keisha, good luck.”

Keisha walked down the hallway at a quick pace. As she entered Room 28, she met two sharp brown eyes staring at her doubtfully.

“I’m Keisha Jackson, a volunteer,” Keisha explained. “I come here to help pass the time with residents, or read to them, or, . . .” Keisha started stammering（结巴）as Mrs.

Watson continued to stare at her.

“I didn’t request anyone to keep me company,” Mrs. Watson interrupted. “I’m alone most of the time, and that’s how I prefer it.”

“I brought along some funny stories,” Keisha said hesitantly.

“I’m not in the mood for funny stories,” Mrs. Watson replied angrily. “What else do you have?”

Nervously, Keisha opened her notebook to her essay. She read the title aloud, “Rosa

Parks: A Woman of Courage and Conviction（信念）.” She glanced at Mrs. Watson to see how she might react, but to her surprise, Mrs. Watson’s face relaxed and her eyes shone.

“Read to me about Rosa,” Mrs. Watson said.

Keisha read how Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in 1955 inspired the protest that became a turning point in the struggle for civil rights.

“I walked with Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King,” Mrs. Watson said with pride. “That was the greatest moment of my life because…” She paused.

“Because… you were a woman of courage and conviction too.”

Sitting up straighter, Mrs. Watson said, “Yes, I was and I still am. Thank you for reminding me, Keisha. Next Thursday, I will tell you my story.”

1. Why did Keisha take her English notebook along?

A．Her mother asked her to take it.	B．She would hand it in on her way.
C．She might read her essay to someone.	D．The manager wanted to read her essay.

2. Why did the manager wish Keisha good luck before she visited Mrs. Watson?

A．Mrs. Watson could be difficult.	B．Mrs. Watson was in poor health.
C．Keisha was feeling nervous.	D．Keisha was a shy person.

3. Mrs. Watson’s eyes (Para. 10) suggested that she was ______.

A．amused	B．puzzled
C．annoyed	D．interested

4. What effect did Keisha’s essay have on Mrs. Watson?

A．It aroused her curiosity in volunteer work.

B．It built up her expectation for more visitors.

C．It awoke her pride in her struggle for civil rights.

D．It changed her attitude to the Civil Rights Movement.

5. Readers may find this story inspiring because ______.

A．a girl enjoys learning about her heroes	B．a girl helps someone feel appreciated
C．a woman overcomes hardship by herself	D．a woman gathers the courage for life

8 . The moon had gone behind a cloud and there weren’t many stars in the sky. As I took a glance(一瞥)at my neighbor’s house, I saw a flame (火焰)in his ______. I thought he was having a midnight fast food so I went back to my______.

Soon, there was a ______ smell in the air and I guessed something was wrong. ______, I jumped out of bed and went downstairs to ______. I saw fire coming out of my neighbour’s kitchen. Right away, I ______＂Fire! Fire!＂ But there was no one nearby to ______ my shouts for help.

I ______into my house, called the Fire Department and went back to my neighbour’s house. I rang the doorbell, hit on the door and _____ my neighbour’s name but there was no ______. I managed to _____ the house and rescued a cat and a rabbit.

I tried to throw water through the kitchen window ______ it was no use; the fire was too strong. ______, a fire engine arrived and soon the firemen put out the fire. They arrived just ______ as the fire was going to ______ to the other rooms in the house.

When my neighbor came back, he was ______ because his kitchen was burnt down, but he thanked me for calling the Fire Department and for saving his ______. He wanted to give me some money in return but I did not ______ it.

Weeks later, my neighbor repaired and restored his kitchen. He ______ me to see his new kitchen and there he gave me a medal(奖章) that he had ______ ordered from a factory. It made me feel very happy.

1.

A．sitting room

B．bathroom

C．kitchen

D．bedroom

2.

A．chair

B．table

C．bed

D．sofa

3.

A．valuable

B．hot

C．special

D．burning

4.

A．After a while

B．All the time

C．Once in a while

D．At once

5.

A．examine

B．search

C．reserve

D．smell

6.

A．said

B．shouted

C．received

D．whispered

7.

A．hear

B．listen to

C．ask

D．turn to

8.

A．walked

B．rushed

C．jumped

D．stepped

9.

A．called in

B．called up

C．called out

D．called for

10.

A．answer

B．light

C．sound

D．fire

11.

A．take out

B．take up

C．break down

D．break into

12.

A．and

B．but

C．because

D．therefore

13.

A．Luckily

B．Sadly

C．Unfortunately

D．Suddenly

14.

A．in time

B．on time

C．at a time

D．at times

15.

A．run

B．spread

C．flow

D．return

16.

A．amazing

B．sad

C．sick

D．angry

17.

A．children

B．parents

C．life

D．pets

18.

A．expect

B．want

C．accept

D．permit

19.

A．persuaded

B．begged

C．admitted

D．invited

20.

A．gradually

B．particularly

C．specially

D．regularly