1 . I was working in my upstairs study when the doorbell rang. I
I quickly opened the door, afraid they might leave, only to be
I made my contribution — politely but with little
Firstly, I wasn’t even
Now I know I made a
| A．carefully | B．slowly | C．eagerly | D．quietly |
| A．trick | B．package | C．emergency | D．investigation |
| A．annoying | B．ridiculous | C．pleasant | D．convenient |
| A．like | B．share | C．return | D．expect |
| A．greeted | B．thanked | C．caught | D．blamed |
| A．interested | B．disappointed | C．embarrassed | D．frightened |
| A．sight | B．thought | C．manner | D．work |
| A．mess | B．panic | C．conflict | D．rush |
| A．force | B．enthusiasm | C．consciousness | D．hesitation |
| A．ashamed | B．bored | C．skeptical | D．helpless |
| A．need | B．danger | C．power | D．fashion |
| A．clear | B．ambiguous | C．positive | D．cautious |
| A．sorry | B．concerned | C．happy | D．sure |
| A．raised | B．lowered | C．deserved | D．indicated |
| A．received | B．enjoyed | C．forgotten | D．bought |
| A．excused | B．protected | C．saved | D．distanced |
| A．relax | B．give | C．improve | D．learn |
| A．friend | B．difference | C．promise | D．mistake |
| A．self-awareness | B．self-confidence | C．self-dependence | D．self-sacrifice |
| A．rely on | B．pass on | C．make out | D．send up |
When my father was celebrating a milestone (里程碑), birthday, I pulled together a surprised gift that he would never forget.
On his 60th birthday, I had a fun idea: What if I could get the memories people had of him, put each one into an envelope (信封) — 60 in total — and have him open them, one by one, on his birthday? So I wrote an e-mail to family and friends, explaining my idea.
I sent the e-mail and waited. And then the replies started coming in and I was very, very astonished. There were so many memories, and they were all so lovely. They came from the ′50s, ′60s, ′70s, from every decade (十年) between now and the day my dad was born. They came from my mother, my siblings, my grandma, my dad’s friends from high school, his sister, my dad’s first boss, a colleague at his first job, from people who hadn’t seen my dad in 40 years, from people I myself hadn’t even informed. They typed them and hand-wrote them. They mailed them and e-mailed them.
The night before Dad’s birthday, my sister and I stayed up late, putting the mails into envelopes.
The next morning, after breakfast and presents and cake, we gave the pile of envelopes to him. “Just one more thing for you,” we said.
It took him along time to open them and read. Each one was a brief ticket to another time, a leap (跳跃) backward over years and decades. There was a lot of laughter and a few tears in his face.
I was kind of sad when the project of the memories about my .father was over because it was, great fun to collect these memories.
1. When did the author give her father a surprised gift? (no more than 5 words)2. What does the underlined word “astonished” in paragraph 3 probably mean? ( no more than 10 words)
3. Why did the author and her sister stay up late the night before their father’s birthday? (no more than 10 words)
4. How did the author’s father most probably feel when he read the mails? (no more than 2 words)
5. What was the surprised gift? (no more than 6 words)
3 . Apple, a 34-year-old doctor, had been on call(待命) at Atlanta Medical Center for more than two days, with only a few hours’ sleep. And now tiredness was clouding her eyes as she drove to a meeting in Kentucky, nearly seven hours away. She tried turning on her CB radio (无线电，对讲机), which enthusiasts used to war none another about road conditions, but the airwaves (广播频道)were silent. Soon Apple’s car started to weave (迂回前进).
A 41-year-old trucker named Woody Key found a car ahead, drifting (漂移)off the road. Key shouted into his CB microphone, “Four-wheeler, are you all right?”
Apple woke up. She talked on her CB radio. “I’m tired, and I’m lucky I’m still alive driving this tired. Thanks!”
“Call me Woodpecker, my CB nickname,” the trucker said. “I’m going to Kentucky. And you?
“Kentucky.”
“I’ll travel behind and help keep you awake. What’s your CB nickname?”
“Dr. Froot Loops,” she told him. As they drove, they shared stories, and the time passed quickly. They parted near the Kentucky state line. She thanked him for keeping her awake and safe on the long, dark road.
Years later, Apple found several doctors checking a person brought in from an accident. His head was badly hurt. She put both hands on his head, hoping to calm him. “It’s not your time to die!” she said.
Then, he asked for her name.
“Dr. Sherry Apple,” she replied.
“No...your CB nickname.”
“How did you guess I have a CB?”
“...I know your voice...”
“My nickname is Dr. Froot Loops.”
“Oh...It’s me...Woodpecker!”
It was her truck driver! She said, “It’s not your time, Woodpecker!” Then Key was rushed into the operating room.
The first days out of the operating room were very painful for Key. Often Apple would get home and find her phone ringing. Nurses, unable to calm Key, asked her to return. She always did.
About two months after his accident, Key was ready to leave the hospital. As she was leaving, he told Apple, “I don’t think I could have made it without you.” Apple’s eyes welled up. “And I wouldn’t have made it without you.”
1. What happened to Apple on her way to Kentucky?| A．She was called back to hospital halfway. |
| B．She was disconnected from her friend. |
| C．She fell asleep as she drove. |
| D．She met with a car accident. |
| A．By giving her a lift. | B．By driving her car instead. |
| C．By talking with her by phone. | D．By keeping her eyes on the road. |
| A．By her appearance. | B．By her nickname. |
| C．By her name. | D．By her voice. |
| A．He fought to survive. | B．He returned home quickly. |
| C．He stayed quite calm in the hospital. | D．He was looked after by Apple every day. |
| A．It was heart-breaking. | B．It was life-saving. |
| C．It was serious. | D．It was strange. |
4 . 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 |
| A．they were too afraid | B．they wanted to be happy |
| C．God asked them to | D．they were warned to |
| A．clever | B．health | C．strong | D．calm |
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 |
| A．Confidence | B．Determination | C．Behavior | D．Destination |
5 . The man is doing something on his lawn (草坪). As I pass, he is cleaning a long strap (带子). It is hung between two trees. He nods at me. I used to live in this neighborhood in my childhood. But I don’t remember him. I nod and smile back, but continue down the street.
When I return, the man is standing on the strap. He is walking and jumping. I ask him how long he has been tightrope-walking (走钢丝).
“Not a tightrope.” He says. “A slack line (扁带). Since October. Want to try?” I am scared of things that are unstable (不稳定的) and narrow. All my life, I have tried to avoid them. But I am in my forties. Time itself is narrowing in front of me. I find myself suddenly kicking off my shoes, standing in my socks. I ask his name, “Merlin.” He explains that I should get my right foot up first. I do. The strap, only 3 cm or so wide, starts shaking widely.
“Pay no attention. I will hold you. Keep your eyes straight ahead. If you are to fall, just bend your knees.” I hold fast to his shoulders. He is so comforting that when I have finally got two feet on the line, I cannot bring myself to let go. There is a strange moment when you forget yourself and forget that there is anything at all about meeting a man and getting yourself above his grass. It is only for a few seconds. But I let go. I take Merlin, laughing, and jump off.
I have never forgotten: accept the strange shaking. It is not the rope. It is you.
1. The first paragraph suggests that ________.| A．the man is doing something magic on the street |
| B．the author is paying a visit to her hometown |
| C．the author is lost in the neighborhood |
| D．the man is busy cleaning his lawn |
| A．Because she wants to kill time. |
| B．Because slack-lining is her hobby. |
| C．Because she wants to make full use of the time. |
| D．Because the man promises to protect her. |
| A．Standing on the strap as well. | B．Standing beside the author. |
| C．Watching the author on the street. | D．Holding an end of the strap. |
| A．forget everything | B．lose heart at once |
| C．fall off the line | D．shake wildly |
| A．A stranger who cleared my fear | B．A man who taught me to walk on the strap |
| C．An impressive game on the lawn | D．A funny game in my childhood |
6 . I had spent a full day on my work again. And now I only had twenty minutes before my three
I was a(n)
There is a quote which reads: “Our children deserve the best of us, not the rest of us.” The
The following day, I gathered up every bit of courage and
| A．energetic | B．independent | C．talented | D．thoughtful |
| A．mealtime | B．playtime | C．showtime | D．bedtime |
| A．programmer | B．educator | C．editor | D．host |
| A．school | B．office | C．restaurant | D．factory |
| A．spending | B．wasting | C．saving | D．losing |
| A．respond to | B．use up | C．call up | D．look for |
| A．judgment | B．reflection | C．influence | D．operation |
| A．showed up | B．turned around | C．fell behind | D．broke-away |
| A．Still | B．Thus | C．Besides | D．However |
| A．disappointed | B．grateful | C．tired | D．excited |
| A．gathered | B．left | C．introduced | D．prepared |
| A．familiar | B．connected | C．wrong | D．covered |
| A．words | B．sentences | C．examples | D．comparisons |
| A．encouraged | B．persuaded | C．allowed | D．approached |
| A．value | B．simplify | C．record | D．stop |
| A．emotion | B．right | C．responsibility | D．imagination |
| A．freely | B．quietly | C．early | D．suddenly |
| A．intelligent | B．generous | C．honest | D．important |
| A．meaningful | B．inspiring | C．painful | D．impossible |
| A．expect | B．accept | C．remember | D．count |
7 . A week before Christmas, my grandmother passed away. My boss
Here, my string (一串) of bad luck began: my plan was
The woman is a stranger,
| A．suddenly | B．worriedly | C．kindly | D．proudly |
| A．in peace | B．in surprise | C．in secret | D．in time |
| A．sad | B．great | C．common | D．comfortable |
| A．attracted | B．supported | C．affected | D．recorded |
| A．borrow | B．check | C．find | D．book |
| A．flat | B．snowy | C．busy | D．narrow |
| A．came over | B．set out | C．broke down | D．showed up |
| A．spare | B．good | C．full | D．strong |
| A．pass | B．keep | C．take | D．change |
| A．left | B．laughed | C．cried | D．jumped |
| A．treatment | B．help | C．time | D．money |
| A．hurriedly | B．carefully | C．quietly | D．slowly |
| A．miss | B．lose | C．build | D．notice |
| A．notebook | B．bag | C．keys | D．tools |
| A．confusion | B．excitement | C．gratitude | D．amazement |
| A．happiness | B．kindness | C．excuse | D．answer |
| A．offering | B．saving | C．promising | D．sending |
| A．for | B．so | C．and | D．but |
| A．meet | B．forget | C．invite | D．remember |
| A．believe | B．imagine | C．decide | D．doubt |
In my early 30s, I struggled to find a dream job. One of my friends reminded me that I’d always loved beauty, and suggested I apply for a licence, which would give me the freedom to set up my own business.
However, the only problem was that tuition fees were $6,000, which was out of my budget. I knew that my salary wouldn’t cover all the fees, even if I worked extra hours every day. I’d seen others set up crowd funding papers to help them achieve their goals. I thought I’d do the same. Then, on a Friday night, I received a large amount of money in my bank account, which made me really surprised. There had been some mistakes. I assumed it was an illegal trick.
It turned out to be a donation. The name on it is one I instantly recognized: Chrissy Teigen, my favorite TV host. She had left a note: “I’ve seen that this has been your dream for such a long time. I’m so happy to lend you a hand.” I called my mom immediately. I was crying and not making much sense. I just managed to say that Chrissy Telgen had made my dream come true.
The amount might have been a drop in the ocean for her, but it was life-changing for me. Lots of other people donated after her. Soon I paid all the fees for the course. I couldn’t have been happier. I’ve now set up my own business, and I always think about Chrissy’s generosity. I did thank her, and I still follow each other on Twitter. Hopefully, I will be able to give her a beauty treatment someday.
1. Why couldn’t the author set up her own business? (no more than 10 words)2. What was the author’s first reaction to the donation in her bank account? (no more than15 words).
3. Who donated the money to the author? (no more than 5 words)
4. How do you understand the underlined part “a drop in the ocean”? (no more than 5 words)
5. What kind of person do you think Chrissy Teigen is? And why? (no more than 20 words)
9 . One night I was short of breath and my chest felt tight. It was
To deal with the
It’s not difficult to find how
There is
Needless to say, I have no intention of stopping in future
| A．temporarily | B．apparently | C．occasionally | D．slightly |
| A．refused | B．forgot | C．offered | D．continued |
| A．Otherwise | B．Therefore | C．However | D．Besides |
| A．insisted | B．suspected | C．questioned | D．recalled |
| A．boredom | B．chaos | C．expectation | D．readings |
| A．dancing | B．singing | C．drawing | D．writing |
| A．powerful | B．traditional | C．simple | D．familiar |
| A．convincing | B．supporting | C．challenging | D．astonishing |
| A．guidance | B．consideration | C．pressure | D．treatment |
| A．restrict | B．explore | C．reward | D．puzzle |
| A．proud | B．nervous | C．conscious | D．guilty |
| A．take down | B．struggle with | C．bring about | D．work out |
| A．self-denying | B．self-healing | C．self-defeating | D．self-sacrificing |
| A．As for | B．Far from | C．Due to | D．Apart from |
| A．comment on | B．take over | C．hand out | D．leave out |
| A．responsibility | B．justice | C．achievement | D．freedom |
| A．uncertainty | B．science | C．criticism | D．prejudice |
| A．negative | B．significant | C．similar | D．interesting |
| A．prefers | B．forbids | C．assists | D．troubles |
| A．until | B．though | C．while | D．as |
10 . It was a Friday afternoon. I was riding a bus home from school. At the bus stop before my destination, a few boys got off the bus. “Bye, Big Nose!” one of them said, waving to me. He and his friends laughed and got off the bus. My cheeks flushed (满脸通红) with embarrassment. I knew I didn’t have a tiny and delicate nose, but I had never thought of my nose as a particularly big one. I immediately covered my nose with my hands.
I went home immediately when I got off the bus. I came to the bathroom and looked at myself in profile (从侧面) in the mirror. Oh, no! I did have a big nose! Even worse, there was a slight bump (肿块) in my nose at the bridge. I experimented, putting the sunglasses on. They helped hide the bump. If only I could wear sunglasses all the time! Then I tried pressing down my nose. But when I took my finger away, it regained its shape. After two hours in the bathroom, I came out, feeling hopeless.
Days later, my family came over to my grandfather’s house for dinner. When we reached, climbed upstairs and found Grandpa in his bedroom, staring at a photograph. “Dally!” he smiled. But his eyes looked sad. My grandma passed away when I was in kindergarten. “Is that Grandma?” I asked. It was a black-and-white photo of a young woman with short blond hair and wide, pretty eyes. She was smiling at the camera as if she knew a wonderful secret. “Yeah,” Grandpa replied. I said, “She’s so beautiful.”
Grandpa added, “Inside and out. Next to you, of course.” “Thanks, Grandpa.” But I knew he was just being nice. And I knew I had a big nose, “You’re almost a carbon copy of your grandma,” Grandpa said. “Just look at your nose. You got your profile from your grandma. And there was also a tiny bump at the bridge of her nose,” he added.
That was the day I began to love my nose. I think my grandma Auden in some way is kept alive through my own nose with its beautiful bump.
1. What made the author feel embarrassed on the bus?(no more than 10 words)2. How did the author have her nose look smaller in the bathroom?(no more than 10 words)
3. What was the author’s grandma like according to the photo?(no more than 6 words)
4. How do you understand the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4?(no more than 8 words)
5. What’s your attitude towards your appearance after reading the story? (no more than 20 words)
