1 . One of my wonderful memories is about a Christmas gift. Unlike other gifts, it came without wrap (包装).
On September 11th, 1958, Mum gave birth to Richard. After she brought him home from hospital, she put him in my lap, saying, “I promised you a gift, and here it is.” What an honour! I turned four a month earlier and none of my friends had such a baby doll of their own. I played with it day and night. I sang to it. I told it stories. I told it over and over how much I loved it!
One morning, however, I found its bed empty. My doll was gone! I cried for it.Mum wept and told me that the poor little thing had been sent to a hospital. It had a fever. For several days, I heard Mum and Dad whispering such words as “hopeless”, “pitiful”, and “dying”, which sounded ominous.
Christmas was coming. “Don’t expect any presents this year,” Dad said, pointing at the socks I hung in the living room.“If your baby brother lives, that’ll be Christmas enough.” As he spoke, his eyes filled with tears. I’d never seen him cry before.
The phone rang early on Christmas morning. Dad jumped out of bed to answer it. From my bedroom I heard him say, “What? He’s all right?” He hung up and shouted upstairs. “The hospital said we can bring Richard home!”
“Thank God!” I heard Mum cry.
From the upstairs window, I watched my parents rush out to the car. I had never seen them so happy. And I was also full of joy. What a wonderful day! My baby doll would be home. I ran downstairs. My socks still hung there flat. But I knew they were not empty; they were filled with love!
1. What happened to the author on September 11th, 1958?| A．He got a baby brother. |
| B．He got a Christmas gift. |
| C．He became four years old. |
| D．He received a doll. |
| A．Impossible. | B．Boring. |
| C．Difficult. | D．Fearful. |
| A．Excitement. | B．Happiness. |
| C．Sadness. | D．Disappointment. |
| A．A sad Christmas day. |
| B．Life with a lovely baby. |
| C．A special Christmas gift. |
| D．Memories of a happy family. |
2 . I have been proud of my wit (机智幽默). However, recently I’ve learned a lesson: keeping my thoughts to myself and we’d better follow the policy of “Silence is golden”.
In a college literature course, one of my classmates had a habit of arriving a few minutes late each class. She was a lovely and well-dressed girl from a big city. Some of my classmates even discussed her elegant clothes after class. One day, when the professor was about to start the class, he said in a slightly angry tone, “Where is Miss X?” It seemed that no one could reply, and the silence was coming awkward. To break the embarrassing atmosphere, I offered in an amusing way, “She likes to make a grand entry.”
My words, however, were greeted with more awkward silence, and even the professor stared at me for a second. No one felt what I said was humorous, which made me confused. We all had witnessed this student’s constantly late arrivals. Months later, to my astonishment and chagrin (懊恼),I knew the reason for others’ strange response: My classmate was from a famous noble family. I suddenly realized my remarks could have been interpreted as a mean dig (嘲讽) at her private status. I regretted what I had said, but the course was over, and it was impossible for me to make amends (补救).
As I recall this experience and other examples of ill-considered words I have said, I realize that it is better for us to think twice rather than coming up with a witty, fact-based reply because what you say can’t be taken back. In this way, we can avoid some unnecessary awkwardness or hurt.
1. What does the author think he is good at?| A．Making clever jokes. | B．Breaking the silence. |
| C．Having a creative mind. | D．Putting forward good policies. |
| A．They burst out laughing. |
| B．They couldn’t figure them out. |
| C．They got a sense of well-being. |
| D．They remained silent as before. |
| A．To add joy to class. | B．To enhance teamwork. |
| C．To relax the whole class. | D．To make relationships stronger. |
| A．By imitating others’ manner. |
| B．By using considered words. |
| C．By giving a fact-based reply. |
| D．By making clever conversations. |
3 . Three women were sitting on the river bank. All were
But the old woman said, “I will tell you. But first please give me some water to drink. I am very
Hearing this, the three ladies at once
Having finished
| A．wealthy | B．healthy | C．young | D．energetic |
| A．fought | B．smiled | C．nodded | D．disagreed |
| A．dog | B．lantern | C．branch | D．river |
| A．slowly | B．rudely | C．peacefully | D．surprisingly |
| A．eyes | B．hands | C．ears | D．shoulders |
| A．dirty | B．poor | C．upset | D．thirsty |
| A．laughed | B．cried | C．escaped | D．disappeared |
| A．sang | B．relaxed | C．sighed | D．recovered |
| A．bottle | B．bag | C．pot | D．basket |
| A．Seeing | B．Hearing | C．Feeling | D．Smelling |
| A．boiled | B．chose | C．changed | D．poured |
| A．came across | B．gave away | C．put aside | D．took in |
| A．listening | B．talking | C．eating | D．washing |
| A．date | B．control | C．order | D．shape |
| A．point | B．serve | C．touch | D．refuse |
4 . I was living with my grandparents at the time. Our grandparents had recently retired. While they’d managed to save enough to buy a home, they were short on living expenses.
So, our grandfather took a job as doorkeeper of the Java school building. Keeping the entire building clean was a stressful job for one man. Realizing this, I began helping him after school, sweeping rooms and emptying waste baskets, for a small wage.
When winter arrived, he fired up the school’s furnace (火炉). He quickly realized how difficult it had become for him to shovel (铲) the huge pile of coal chips required to fill in the furnace. I volunteered to take on that job, a commitment that required me to set my alarm clock an hour earlier each morning. I’d go over to the school, and shovel a half ton of coal, enough to keep the fire burning for 24 hours. After finishing that task, I’d go home, change clothes, and eat breakfast. Then I’d head back to school, always at the last minute.
It was during those morning rushes to school that I discovered my superpower. On two mornings, at the very instant I stepped onto the sidewalk in front of the school, the first bell rang. That was the signal for students to head to class. This astonishing coincidence caused me to improve my precision. I carefully planned each phase of my morning activity. I paced myself. Often I’d step onto the school’s sidewalk just as the first bell rang. This accomplishment gave me enormous pride — and some strange feelings.
Decades later, at a school reunion, I happened to meet Harold Spiry, who had been in charge of ringing the bell by pressing a button in his office. I couldn’t resist boasting (吹嘘). I told Mr. Spiry about how well I had ordered my complex morning work back then, how my timing had been faultless. “Oh that,” he said. “Do you recall that my office windows looked out over the front of the building? I often saw you coming. And when you hit the sidewalk, I’d ring the bell.”
1. What does the underlined word “this” refer to?| A．Grandparents’ lack of living expenses. |
| B．Granddad’s retiring as a doorkeeper. |
| C．Grandparents’ saving money to buy a house. |
| D．Granddad’s hardships in cleaning the whole building. |
| A．To avoid being late for school. | B．To help his granddad clean classrooms. |
| C．To fill coal into the school’s furnace. | D．To volunteer to empty waste baskets. |
| A．He had the ability to be on time. | B．He was good at morning activities. |
| C．He could do things at his own pace. | D．He could fire up the furnace alone. |
| A．Proud. | B．Surprised. |
| C．Cautious. | D．Regretful. |
5 . I’ve just arrived from New York City at the airport in Rome and already I’m lost, wandering left and right and searching for the right exit. I’m supposed to meet my wife Elvira, who lives in Italy now, and then drive to Guardia Sanframondi, the little town where we own a house, to meet our newborn granddaughter Lucia, now all of 11 weeks old.
But I takes a wrong turn, and then another, all in vain. I’m lost for 15 minutes, then 30, and finally about 45, unable to get my passport properly scanned and pick up my luggage. This is more than mildly inconvenient. After all, I’ve just flown more than 4,000 miles, a flight into my future.
But suddenly I see Elvira, who is holding baby Lucia in her arms. I’m found.
I stay in Italy for three weeks. It’s impossible for me to get enough of Lucia, and so I follow a strict agenda(日程). Hold Lucia in my arms. Kiss Lucia all over her face. Wheel Lucia in her carriage in the most public places available. Make faces at her and even sillier gestures and sounds.
Today, at 70, I’m a permanent resident of Italy, with Lucia living a five-minute walk away. We visit her at her house and she visits us at ours almost every day. In most American families, adult children with grandchildren live in different towns and states far away. Italian families, on the other hand, are more likely to live near each other. Sometimes three generations here even stay together in the same home. I’ve happily turned my life upside-down to be a grandpa Italian-style. Lucia is just what I need right about now. If I’m lucky, I’ll be just what she needs, too.
1. Why does the author go to Guardia Sanframondi?| A．To meet his wife. | B．To decorate his house. |
| C．To explore the countryside. | D．To see his granddaughter. |
| A．He lost his way. | B．He missed his flight. |
| C．He couldn’t find his luggage. | D．He had his passport stolen. |
| A．He gets enough of Lucia. | B．He sets a high goal for Lucia. |
| C．He loves his granddaughter. | D．He is forced to make Lucia happy. |
| A．He’s worried. | B．He’s satisfied. | C．He’s curious. | D．He’s uncertain. |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(⋀)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
On Monday I went to the store. There was an old woman, appeared to be in her 80s looking at peppers. I went to get it and she started complaining to me the price of goods were too high and that they didn’t look good etc. I had run into this situation before, which someone complains about something. Normally I would have just said something politely but walked away quickly. This time I stay and listened while nodding my head politely. Soon her angry over the high price of food turned into fond of memories of her past. When she was done talking she said, “Bless you!” It wasn’t what she said but how she said it that was so heartfelt and genuine. I just did a simply thing as to listening and thing brightened someone’s day.
7 . One morning when I was seven years old, I woke up to find my mother was gone. I was terrified, running to
That morning, my father was coming to pick me up to spend a week with him and my stepmother. When he arrived, he
After reading the letter, my father said, “Mom’s very
I nodded, but I knew the
When I turned 18, my dad and Melanie gave me a car and wanted to throw me a party, but I just wasn’t in the mood(心情) for
Tears streamed down my cheeks. It was then that I realized her
| A．call on | B．learn from | C．glance at | D．look for |
| A．noticed | B．left | C．expected | D．remembered |
| A．guilt | B．favor | C．burden | D．reputation |
| A．turn | B．chance | C．right | D．honor |
| A．busy | B．selfish | C．popular | D．tired |
| A．working | B．fighting | C．staying | D．communicating |
| A．trial | B．truth | C．deal | D．plan |
| A．regretful | B．silent | C．independent | D．relaxed |
| A．arrival | B．return | C．request | D．comment |
| A．ashamed | B．awkward | C．wrong | D．determined |
| A．occupied | B．welcome | C．cautious | D．calm |
| A．Generally | B．Unluckily | C．Strangely | D．Gradually |
| A．inspirations | B．achievements | C．prizes | D．celebrations |
| A．choosing | B．assessing | C．admiring | D．preparing |
| A．bored | B．angry | C．patient | D．concerned |
| A．forgive | B．remind | C．comfort | D．praise |
| A．loss | B．prejudice | C．failure | D．blame |
| A．clarified | B．repeated | C．decided | D．promised |
| A．hurt | B．scare | C．limit | D．transform |
| A．explanation | B．departure | C．misfortune | D．ambition |
Little Tom was a student in senior high school. He was not good at his work and failed many times in the exams, and he never knew why he couldn’t catch up with others.
One day, Tom and his teacher were walking through the forest. He was disturbed by the fact that his mind was in constant unrest. He asked his teacher, “Why most people’s minds are restless, and only a few have a calm mind? What can one do to calm the mind down?”
The teacher looked at Tom, smiled and told him a story:
On one beautiful day, an elephant was standing by the shade of a tree, eating its leaves. Suddenly, a small fly came buzzingly and landed on the elephant’s ear. The elephant stayed calm and continued eating, ignoring the fly. The fly flew around the elephant’s ear, buzzing noisily, yet the elephant seemed to be unaffected. This confused the fly, and it asked, “Are you deaf?”
“No!” the elephant answered.
“Why aren’t you bothered by my buzz?” the fly asked.
“Why are you so restless and noisy? Why can’t you stay calm just for a few moments?” asked the elephant, and peacefully continued eating the leaves.
The fly answered, “Everything I see, hear and feel attracts my attention, and all noises and movements around me affect my behavior.”
“What is your secret? How can you stay so calm and still, while I am buzzing around your ears?”
“I can continue eating peacefully, because my five senses do not disturb my peace.”
“How is it possible?” asked the fly amazed and confused.
“Because I don’t let them rule my attention,” answered the elephant.
“I am in control of my mind and my thoughts, and therefore, I can direct my attention where I want, and ignore any disturbance including your buzz.”
“And therefore,” continued the elephant, “I am completely lost in the act of eating, enjoying my food and chewing it peacefully.”
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。
After listening to the story, Tom’s eyes opened wide and smiled.
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From that day on, he paid his attention to whatever he was doing.
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9 . Robbie Gay is a young boy with a kind heart. He had a horrible start to life, hospitalized twice with brain injuries before entering the foster(寄养) care system. When he was finally adopted by his parents, he was so hurt by his experiences that he was unable to cry.
However, he found therapy(治疗)in a most unlikely place—his local animal shelter. There he took comfort in caring for the older dogs who’d been left behind. “People don’t want older dogs. They only want puppies, “Robbie explained. His ability to empathize(移情)with the older dogs obviously comes from his own shocking experience, as his mom shared, “He knows what it’s like not to be loved and cared for.”
Now in a safe and loving home, he’s able to open his heart completely to these unfortunate dogs and practice compassion. It was this kindness that led him to find his tears again when one of his foster dogs died.
One of the difficulties in caring for the older dogs is that many don’t stay alive for long. But Robbie insists on staying with them right up until they pass away, as he quite rightly says, “I don’t think of when they’re going, I think of how they feel right now.”
Robbie is unusual in that he not only wants to care for aging dogs, he also hopes to foster children when he grows up. He truly shows compassion and understanding, even if it leaves him heartbroken when his four-legged friends depart too soon. Hopefully, Robbie will continue to care for others, through his beautiful heart, continue to heal and feel loved with his wonderful furry family and the human one!
1. What made Robbie care for older dogs in his local animal shelter?| A．His childhood dream. | B．His studying background. |
| C．His early experience. | D．His family’s encouragement. |
| A．Generous and caring. | B．Confident and creative. |
| C．Energetic and active. | D．Ambitious and considerate. |
| A．Where they came from. | B．When they will pass away. |
| C．Why they were left behind. | D．How they feel at the moment. |
| A．A Boy Suffering a lot. | B．A Boy with a Terrible Life |
| C．A Boy Finding His Tears. | D．A Boy Caring for Older Dogs |
Easton retired(退休) as a school teacher, and he didn’t have enough savings. What’s worse, his wife, Cassandra, had heart disease that needed expensive treatment.
To save his wife’s life, Easton didn’t have a choice but to take up a job, and he found one as a pizza delivery(递送) man at Rooster’s Pizza. On his first day on the job, his co-workers judged him because the sight of an 84-year-old pizza delivery man was undoubtedly a rare one. But Easton didn’t care.
After delivering the first two orders that day, Easton was on his way to deliver the third one, when he realized his car was low on gas. He stopped at a gas station, worried he would be late for his next delivery. Determined to make it on time, Easton grabbed the steering wheel and drove as fast as he could. However, as he reached one of the main roads, a police car stopped him.
When Officer Jenkins and Officer Matthew walked up to Easton’s car, they were shocked to see an 84-year-old behind the wheel of a pizzeria car. Moreover, they didn’t expect an old man to be speeding.
“You see,” Easton said nervously, “I am running late for pizza delivery. We have a policy of delivering pizza within 45 minutes, or I’ll have to pay for it out of my pocket, and I need money for my wife’s treatment. I hope you understand…”
Officer Matthew looked at Easton’s teary eyes and trembling hands and felt deeply sad for him. However, he couldn’t go against his line of duty. They had to give him a ticket anyway. Easton was late for the delivery that day, prompting his manager to deduct(扣除) it from his salary. He was also warned that he would have to leave if he repeated the mistake.
Not losing heart, Easton set out for his deliveries the following day. “Rooster’s Pizza!” he shouted as he rang the doorbell of one of the houses on his list.
注意：1. 续写词数应150左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
When the door opened, Easton recognized his customer was Officer Matthew!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Easton couldn’t believe what had just happened and was surprised by what Officer Matthew did for him.
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