1 . A Leap（跳跃）to Honor.

Leaping on a narrow balance beam（平衡木） is not easy. But Lola Walter, a 13-year-old gymnast, is an expert at it.

To perfect her skills, Lola_________for four hours a day, five days a week. At the state championships in March, she finished seventh out of 16 girls.

That’s especially impressive, ___________she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift constantly. She often sees double and can’t _________how far away things are.

When she was little, her mom ___________that even though she couldn’t see___________, she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the___________right away and gymnastics became her favorite.

Though learning gymnastics has been more_________for her than for some of her teammates, she has never quit. She doesn’t let her _________stop her from doing anything that she wants to.

She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest _________is the balance beam. Because she has double vision, she often sees two beams. She must use her sense of touch to help her during her routine. Sometimes she even closes her eyes. “You have to__________your mind that it’ll take you where you want to go,” says Lola.

To be a top-level gymnast, one must be brave. The beam is probably the most__________for anyone because it’s four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t fall__________the beam. In fact, she got an 8.1 out of 10---- her highest score yet.

Lola doesn’t want to be__________differently from the other girls on her team. At the competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision__________. She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her__________attitude.

Lola never thinks about __________. She is presently at level 7 while the highest is level 10 in gymnastics. Her   ______________is to reach level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to pass down what she’s learned to other kids__________she grew up.

Lola is__________of all her hard work and success. She says it’s helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics, too. Her __________for others is “just believe yourself”.

1.

A．runs

B．teaches

C．trains

D．dances

2.

A．since

B．unless

C．after

D．though

3.

A．tell

B．guess

C．assume

D．predict

4.

A．suspected

B．remembered

C．imagined

D．noticed

5.

A．deeply

B．well

C．ahead

D．closely

6.

A．task

B．sport

C．event

D．show

7.

A．boring

B．enjoyable

C．difficult

D．unsatisfactory

8.

A．talent

B．quality

C．nature

D．condition

9.

A．doubt

B．advantage

C．challenge

D．program

10.

A．examine

B．express

C．open

D．trust

11.

A．fearful

B．harmful

C．unfair

D．inconvenient

12.

A．to

B．on

C．off

D．against

13.

A．greeted

B．treated

C．served

D．paid

14.

A．pains

B．stresses

C．injuries

D．problems

15.

A．positive

B．friendly

C．flexible

D．cautious

16.

A．defending

B．quitting

C．winning

D．bargaining

17.

A．standard

B．range

C．view

D．goal

18.

A．until

B．as

C．when

D．before

19.

A．proud

B．tired

C．ashamed

D．confident

20.

A．plan

B．advice

C．reward

D．responsibility

2 . I’d always dreamed of exploring Africa, ever since I read my first Tarzan(《人猿泰山》)comic as a child. Finally, in 2004, to celebrate my 60^th birthday, I went to Tanzania to experience a safari(东非游猎)and climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Seated next to me on the flight was Tanzania’s minister of water and wildlife development. We talked for thousands of miles, and he arranged me to visit a school. When I toured the school, I was shocked. The leaky(漏的)roofs turned the dirt floors into mud during the rainy season, and the walls couldn’t keep out the heat, cold or bugs(小昆虫). The school was in need of all material goods, but the kids possessed great human spirit.

It broke my heart that these children had to struggle to survive, so I asked the headmaster what it would cost to feed them. As little as 20 cents per child per day, he told me. Immediately I got home, I founded Kids of Kilimanjaro. Since then we’ve grown to provide hot lunches for nearly 13,000 schoolchildren every day. The free lunch program has eased a major problem the youngsters face.

I know a good education could really make a difference in these children’s lives. My parents always stressed the importance of education. I paid my own way through college in Tokyo by teaching English to students and business people. After attending university I moved to San Francisco, when I was 25 years old. In 1978 I realized my American dream when I founded my own company. My success all started with a good education.

It’s amazing that something as simple as a nutritious lunch can change and enrich so many lives. Giving young people a better, healthier life can inspire them to go all the way through college and lead a movement that transforms their country.

1. Why did the author go to Tanzania to celebrate his 60 th birthday?

A．He was curious about what Africa was like.

B．He was concerned about the Africans’ terrible life.

C．He wanted to get an idea of the area’s wildlife.

D．He hoped to lead a movement that would transform his country.

2. After his tour to the school, the author found that the kids there were ________.

A．in need of help	B．not interested in studies
C．not used to the rainy season	D．in low spirits

3. What is the main purpose of Kids of Kilimanjaro?

A．To make sure the African kids are mentally healthy.

B．To spread knowledge among the African kids.

C．To build new schools for the African kids.

D．To protect the African kids from hunger.

4. What is the correct order of the following events?
a. “I” founded “my” first company.
b. “I” founded Kids of Kilimanjaro.
c. “I” read “my” first Tarzan comic.
d. “I” moved to San Francisco.

A．a, c, d, b

B．a, d, c, b

C．c, a, d, b

D．c, d, a, b

5. The author believes education is important because __________.

A．his parents always stressed the importance of education

B．a good education contributes to his success

C．he paid his own way through college by teaching English

D．he’s trying to realize his American dream

3 . 阅读表达

I walked to Mrs. Windsor’s house as I always did when I heard the piano. Before ringing the bell, I stood against the wall and sighed sadly. I daydreamed what I’d rather be doing. I had been tutored enough to read, understand, and even write some musical compositions, but I just didn’t have a gift for it. But Mrs. Windsor had offered to give me the lessons for free, so I felt it my duty to try.

The door opened. I walked in, sat down on the piano bench and began to sort through my sheet music. Today Mrs. Windsor introduced her niece Pasha to teach me. With a smile, Pasha sat beside me on the piano bench, opened my sheet music to the beginning page and asked me to play. I arranged my fingers on the keys. Then I frowned (皱眉) and concentrated to make the notes on the page match the finger movements. I had to admit I was a rather mechanical pianist.

After about a page or two, Pasha gently put her hand on top of mine as if to calm my fingers. There was a long pause. “Jennifer, what are you hearing in the music?” I looked at her rather strangely and admitted I didn’t know what she meant.

“Here, let me try and you listen,” Pasha advised.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting her fingers dance lightly over the keys. Then, she began to play.

“See, it begins here beside some kind of river. Hear the water flowing beside you?”

Her fingers rose and fell gently on the keys. “Now the princess appears and she’s picking flowers from the water’s edge.” A happy piece of music filled the air in time to Pasha’s dancing fingers. “Oh, but she slips!” The music changed. “And our princess is being carried off by the fast-flowing stream. Quickly, the princess’ horse sees her plight (困境) and races to the river’s edge where he swims out to let her catch hold of him. Luckily, they make it to the bank and she hugs her faithful horse.” Pasha finished with a big smile and then looked at me.

I was delighted and advised to try another one. Pasha smiled and together we played many pieces of music that afternoon, finding the stories in the music and learning that sometimes it takes a friend to pull you out of the river onto dry land again.

1. Why did the author sigh sadly? (no more than 15 words)
_________________________________________________________
2. How did Pasha inspire the author to play the piano? (no more than 8 words)
_________________________________________________________
3. What made the music change in Pasha’s playing? (no more than 10 words)
_________________________________________________________
4. Please explain the meaning of the underlined sentence. (no more than 15 words)
_________________________________________________________
5. What do you think of Pasha? Why? (no more than 25 words)
_________________________________________________________

5 . I believe in miracles (奇迹) because I’ve seen so many of them. One day, a patient was referred to me who was one hundred and two years old. “There’s a ___________ in my upper jaw,” she said, “I told my own dentist it’s nothing, but he ___________ I come to see you.”

Her eighty-year-old son accompanied her. He would ___________ to add something, but she stopped him. She wanted to tell everything herself. I found a large cancer that spread over much of the ___________ of her mouth. A careful examination later ___________ that it was a particularly bad sort of cancer.

During her next appointment, I explained to her the ___________ of the problem. She clasped my hand in hers and said, “I know you’re worried about me, but I’m just ___________.”

I thought otherwise. After considerable ___________ on my part, and kindness on her part because she wanted to ___________ me, she agreed to have me refer her to a cancer surgeon. She saw him, but as I expected, ____________ treatment.

About six months later she returned to my office, still energetic and ____________.

“How are you?” I asked.

“I’m just fine, honey,” she responded ____________ high spirits. “When can I get started on fixing my dentures (假牙)?”

Surprised to see her at all, I answered ____________ “Let me take a look in your mouth and we’ll see about it.”

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The cancer that had ____________ nearly the entire roof of her mouth was gone—only one small area of redness ____________.

I had read of such things happening, but had ____________ seen them with my own eyes. That was my first miracle. Since then I’ve seen many others, because they keep getting ____________ to see. In fact, miracles are daily events for me now. And people are in miracle, ____________ through them we have a chance to know ourselves and to ____________ the miracles of one another.

Since my first miracle, I’ve come to understand that the time and place for a miracle is ____________ we choose to find it.

1.

A．cut

B．pain

C．wound

D．cancer

2.

A．declared

B．suspected

C．promised

D．insisted

3.

A．refuse

B．continue

C．attempt

D．manage

4.

A．roof

B．corner

C．bottom

D．surface

5.

A．confirmed

B．convinced

C．considered

D．concluded

6.

A．possibility

B．importance

C．seriousness

D．resolution

7.

A．old

B．sick

C．fine

D．glad

8.

A．permission

B．support

C．approval

D．effort

9.

A．persuade

B．please

C．encourage

D．astonish

10.

A．declined

B．provided

C．received

D．required

11.

A．healthy

B．elegant

C．optimistic

D．humorous

12.

A．to

B．in

C．with

D．by

13.

A．worriedly

B．confusedly

C．patiently

D．confidently

14.

A．covered

B．reached

C．spread

D．grown

15.

A．cured

B．faded

C．expanded

D．remained

16.

A．ever

B．also

C．never

D．already

17.

A．easier

B．rarer

C．happier

D．closer

18.

A．or

B．so

C．yet

D．for

19.

A．read

B．make

C．keep

D．see

20.

A．whatever

B．wherever

C．whoever

D．whichever

6 . With a combined total of 211 years between them, Charlotte and John Henderson, from Austin, Texas, are celebrating their 80th wedding anniversary. The two are _______ the oldest living couple on earth, according to Guinness World Records. John Henderson is 106 _______ Charlotte Henderson is 105.

The pair met in 1934 as _______ at the University of Texas, where Charlotte was studying to be a teacher and John played football. John was very _______ of football. Since 2010, he has had the _______ of being the oldest living former UT football player, and he _______ a game every year. The Hendersons, who have no children, have _______ at a retirement community in Austin, for the past decade. It is _______ that the retirement home helped to _______ an anniversary party for the couple. “In our ages, we’ve slowed down somewhat,” John Henderson ______________. “We used to go on cruises, but now we have to take it ______________. We like watching sports and talking about what we’re going to do.”

Henderson’s nephew Jason Free said the two were his ______________ role models. They love and really care for each other. “They don’t always ______________ the past,” Free said. “You won’t hear them say, ‘Oh, if only it were 1952 again, ______________ would be great.’ Instead, they are making plans for their ______________ together.”

Free noted that when his uncle is at a UT game or out ______________ friends, Charlotte usually will call to ______________ him. “She likes to know when John is going to be coming back to eat with her,” Free said.

As for the ______________ to their longevity, John Henderson puts it down to exercise and having a positive ______________. Then with a ______________ he added, “But some people think it’s because we’ve never had kids!”

1.

A．naturally

B．officially

C．individually

D．normally

2.

A．so

B．but

C．as

D．and

3.

A．participants

B．professors

C．students

D．players

4.

A．fond

B．sure

C．afraid

D．tired

5.

A．qualification

B．confidence

C．truth

D．distinction

6.

A．organizes

B．attends

C．sponsors

D．appreciates

7.

A．aimed

B．researched

C．lived

D．arrived

8.

A．reported

B．assumed

C．suggested

D．confirmed

9.

A．deliver

B．find

C．show

D．throw

10.

A．announced

B．recommended

C．explained

D．complained

11.

A．seriously

B．easy

C．off

D．away

12.

A．relationship

B．behavior

C．career

D． concept

13.

A．overlook

B．recall

C．believe

D．see

14.

A．something

B．anything

C．everything

D．nothing

15.

A．choices

B．children

C．retirement

D．future

16.

A．cheating

B．inviting

C．meeting

D．making

17.

A．pick up

B．care about

C．wait for

D．check on

18.

A．introduction

B．tendency

C．secret

D．guide

19.

A．attitude

B．method

C．theory

D．comment

20.

A．laugh

B．sigh

C．nod

D．gesture

7 . 阅读短文，并按照题目要求用英语回答问题

Eleven-year-old Ruby Kate has long been close to older folks. Her mother, Amanda Chitsey, works at nursing homes in northwest Arkansas, and Ruby Kate often goes with her in the summer. “I’ve never found them scary at all, so I’m able to just go up to them and ask if they need anything,” she says.

Last May, Ruby Kate noticed a resident named Pearl staring out a window. She seemed sad. “What are you looking at?” Ruby Kate asked. Pearl said she was watching her dog being led away by his new owner after a visit. Pearl didn’t know when she would see her dog again.

Ruby Kate and Amanda asked around and discovered that the nursing home didn’t allow residents to have dogs and Pearl couldn’t afford to pay anyone to look after hers. The Chitseys also learned that many nursing home residents are unable to afford even the smallest luxuries. So Ruby Kate decided to do something about it.

She started by asking residents what three things they wanted most in the world. “That’s a lot simpler than going, ‘Hey, what do you want?’” she explains. “They can understand you better.” Amanda worried that people would ask for cars and other things an 11-year-old   wouldn’t be able to provide. Instead, they asked for chocolate bars, McDonald’s fries, pants that fit properly, and even just a prayer.

“It broke me as a human,” Amanda says. “We left the nursing home that day and went straight to a store and bought as many items as we could.” Using their own money, the Chitseys granted the wishes of about 100 people in three months.

Then they started asking for donations, set up a GoFundMe page, Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents, and raised more than $250,000 in five months. One of their new goals is to set up a communal laptop in one nursing home in each state.Ruby Kate doesn’t plan to stop there. “I consider kindness to be my hobby,” she says, “and I’m very good at it.”

1. What makes Ruby Kate have a close relationship with older people? (No more than 10 words)
2. Why was Pearl’s dog taken away from her? (No more than 15 words)
3. What are paragraphs 4 and 5 mainly about? (No more than 10 words)
4. How do you understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph? (No more than 10 words)
5. What do you think of Ruby Kate? Give your reasons. (No more than 20 words)

8 . “You are the only one who can handle it, Matt,” said Mr. Wolf, my fourth-grade band teacher, as he put the heavy tuba into my arms. I felt_______because I had asked for other band instrument, not the tuba. But I knew what he_______and he was right. In the fourth grade, I was_______a foot taller and 50 pounds heavier than any of my classmates.

Now I’m 6 feet and 3 inches and weigh 240 pounds. Since freshman year, my football coach has had only one_______place for me: the line. I had to be where size_______.

Somehow my size has_______me from any solo performances in music or sports. In fact, there is a(n) _______chance that a tuba player or a lineman will get noticed. But I seldom complain about my lack of_______because my size has benefited me a lot.

In school, my classmates formed a fixed_______of a big kid:that I was either an awkward fool or an annoying “tough guy”. I didn’t feel that I__________in either category. To correct their expectations, I__________to become athletic and even graceful. I made sure that I played well in all the sports I__________. I also joined in a ballroom dance class and followed it throughout high school, long after my friends had__________halfway.

My father used to encourage me to use my size to my full__________. He told me that I should take pride in myself.________, he lost his life on September 11, 2001. His death was a heavy__________to my family, but it helped me see my size from a different__________. During his funeral(葬礼), I tried to__________dignified and brave. I hope my calm and tall__________would comfort my family and give them the courage to make it through.

Looking forward, I know that my size will__________me to accomplish many positive things, whether in college, in a career or in just helping others.

1.

A．delighted

B．surprised

C．ashamed

D．amused

2.

A．meant

B．concluded

C．admitted

D．demanded

3.

A．casually

B．gradually

C．randomly

D．actually

4.

A．unique

B．flexible

C．helpless

D．changeless

5.

A．calculated

B．challenged

C．mattered

D．occupied

6.

A．sheltered

B．prevented

C．rescued

D．persuaded

7.

A．slim

B．golden

C．suitable

D．unexpected

8.

A．bravery

B．encouragement

C．recognition

D．comment

9.

A．tendency

B．faith

C．glory

D．impression

10.

A．belonged

B．qualified

C．applied

D．dominated

11.

A．hesitated

B．determined

C．failed

D．chanced

12.

A．came across

B．referred to

C．fitted in

D．participated in

13.

A．dropped out

B．registered for

C．carried out

D．made for

14.

A．height

B．speed

C．potential

D．intelligence

15.

A．Undoubtedly

B．Unfortunately

C．Uncommonly

D．Unwillingly

16.

A．coincidence

B．sympathy

C．blow

D．load

17.

A．source

B．situation

C．location

D．angle

18.

A．appear

B．sound

C．feel

D．prove

19.

A．influence

B．reaction

C．presence

D．display

20.

A．remind

B．enable

C．advise

D．force

9 . Since I was a child I always knew my dream was being a famous singer even though I didn't know how to get there. Though I have read The Magic and Hero multiple times _______ I was 12 years old，it was _______ a couple of years ago that I really started taking it seriously.

Since then，everything has _______ in front of my eyes. With complete faith I moved to London to study _______ and it was one of the most amazing years of my life. I began to make friends for life and I became the happy _______ person. And my dream was more _______ than ever. And I didn't want to be just a _______ ，but the one that inspires people and _______ a message of love and happiness.

A year later I figured out it was time for a change and to _______ my professional music career. So I ________   a music business degree in a music university. Although some people said it didn't ________ , I knew it was the right way. In one of the university seminars, a creative director talked about their acts and how they ________   young artists and introduce them to successful record labels.

From that moment I knew I wanted to be ________ with them. It felt like it was a good ________ even though few artists per year could succeed. Sometimes I had ________ and   set backs. Then in a series of events I met a girl in a management company. But I was ________ since the company only has 20 employees. What are the chances? Anyway I     ________ to her a demo of one of my songs.

I didn't hear from her for two weeks but I still imagined the ________ of me signing the contract. Then out of the blue, I got a call ________   they were really interested in me. I'm so happy because I know I'm one step ________ to my dream. Fast forward one month, I finally got to sign with them!

1.

A．after

B．when

C．since

D．as

2.

A．already

B．only

C．still

D．nearly

3.

A．worsened

B．improved

C．changed

D．achieved

4.

A．music

B．science

C．history

D．art

5.

A．sociable

B．wealthy

C．peaceful

D．funny

6.

A．practical

B．likely

C．remote

D．ambitious

7.

A．musician

B．singer

C．writer

D．composer

8.

A．spreads

B．creates

C．acquires

D．indicates

9.

A．explore

B．start

C．prepare

D．solve

10.

A．accounted for

B．applied for

C．answered for

D．searched for

11.

A．exist

B．agree

C．allow

D．work

12.

A．spot

B．employ

C．develop

D．produce

13.

A．provided

B．concerned

C．associated

D．signed

14.

A．chance

B．selection

C．alternative

D．bargain

15.

A．decisions

B．confidence

C．doubts

D．preference

16.

A．shocked

B．confused

C．amused

D．puzzled

17.

A．brought

B．rented

C．mailed

D．sent

18.

A．failure

B．ceremony

C．outcome

D．opportunity

19.

A．meaning

B．implying

C．proving

D．saying

20.

A．further

B．closer

C．wider

D．longer

10 . 阅读短文，并按照题目要求用英语回答问题。

When I was young, my mum had a hard time. Five years earlier, my Dad drowned. The burden to raise us kids only fell on my mum’s shoulders. Because Dad had no pension, there was not much money. Thus, we went on relief (救济), now called social assistance.

Looking back, I realize what Mum went through, sending us kids to school. Every morning she would put a new piece of cardboard in our shoes, because our soles were worn out. Constant moving was typical for my family in these times. I still remember that once the rent for a house was twenty-five dollars a month. But Mum couldn’t pay it, and we knew we would be evicted right after Christmas on the first of January.

Unexpectedly, when Christmas was approaching, we received a twenty-five dollar Christmas fund for social services. Mum said that instead of buying food, she would use the money to pay rent, assuring us all of a roof over our heads for a little while longer. She told us then there would be nothing for Christmas.

I had a secret that was unknown to Mum. I had been selling Christmas trees, and doing odd jobs to earn enough money to buy a new pair of comfortable boots for myself.

Well, the big day came on the afternoon of the Christmas Eve. I was very excited. But on the way to the boots store, I noticed a house with Christmas lights and decorations. It was then that I realized at our house, we had no lights, no decorations, nor turkey or ham for Christmas. I felt very sad.

I was eleven years old, and I was feeling a strange sense of guilt. Here I was going to buy a new pair of boots while Mum was home in tears. She would be trying to explain to us why there were no presents. So finally, I bought a turkey, ham, oranges and all the Christmas treats with my hard-earned money.

Later, with great excitement in my eyes, I knocked on the door. When my mum opened the door, some of the groceries fell onto the floor, and she just stood there surprised. Holding back the tears, I said, “Merry Christmas Mother!”

I did a lot of explaining as we unpacked all the food. That day I got enough hugs and kisses from Mum. She said I had grown up.

1. Why did the author’s mother have a hard time? (no more than 12 words)
2. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 2 probably mean? (no more than 10 words)
3. What was the author’s secret? (no more than 10 words)
4. What made the author’s mother surprised? (no more than 10 words)
5. Do you agree with the mother’s words that the author had grown up? And why? (no more than 25 words)