1 . Most female fashion models start their careers（事业）in their late teens and retire in their early 30s, but 96-year-old Alice Pang isn’t an ordinary fashion model. She started modelling at 93.
Alice always liked dressing well and looking elegant, but never actually considered a career in modelling. But her granddaughter always thought she had it in her, so when she saw an online ad for senior models of 65, she sent in Alice’ s pictures and she was chosen for a photo shoot. Never one to back away from a challenge, Pang decided to give it a shot and even though she knew nothing about modelling, she had all the natural qualities to succeed in it. Today, she is recognized as one of the best senior models in Asia, as well as the oldest.
Born in 1923, Alice never dreamed she’ d one day be modelling for high-end fashion brands like Gucci, Ellery or Valentino, let alone at age 96. But her wonderful skin color and excellent posture（姿势）—uncommon qualities for people of her age—make her one of the most sought-after senior models in the business.
Surprisingly, Alice doesn’t credit exercise or a strict diet for her enviable figure and posture. Even though she agrees that exercise helps some people stay in good shape, she doesn’t even have a morning exercise routine, crediting her good genes（基因）instead. She says her skin is white because she’ s seldom exposed to the sun and she has a straight back.
While most people praise her for her active lifestyle and the courage to start a whole new career in her nineties, some say she should dress and act according to her age. She chooses to ignore them, though, saying that her personal happiness is all that counts.
1. What makes Alice Pang a special fashion model?| A．Her unusually long modelling career. |
| B．Her being famous worldwide at an old age. |
| C．Her not retiring from modelling in her early 30s. |
| D．Her starting the career decades later than normal. |
| A．doesn’t give up easily |
| B．is quite fond of competing with others |
| C．doesn’t do anything she is unfamiliar with |
| D．often dreams of being a professional model |
| A．completely natural | B．quite unexpected |
| C．due to her strict diet | D．the result of regular exercise |
| A．Active as she is, she is rather stubborn. |
| B．She always turns a deaf ear to others’ opinions. |
| C．There are different voices on her present lifestyle. |
| D．She thinks personal happiness comes before modelling. |
2 . Last week I did something that scared me. I stood in front of nearly 200 financial planners and I talked to them about why financial blogs are a good thing. I'm a confident writer. I've been doing this long enough that I know my strength and my limitations. I'm less confident as a speaker. I don't have time to pause to collect my thoughts. I'm not able to edit. I'm afraid of being trapped in a corner without being able to talk my way out. Basically, I'm scared to speak.
It would be easy to simply refuse the chances that come my way. When somebody asks me to speak in front of a group, I could say "no". When radio and television stations call for an interview, I could say "no". But for the past two years, I've been following my own policy to say "yes" to new chances.
To say "yes" is to live in fear. My goal is to continually improve myself to become better than I am today. One way to do that is to do the things that scare me, to take them on as challenges, and to learn from them—even if I fail.
In mid-November, a local station asked me to appear on live television. "I realize it's short notice," the producer wrote, "but we'd love to have you on the show if you're available tonight." I was frightened. I thought about recent taped television interviews that I had hated. I was afraid of what might happen.
But I also thought about the things that had gone right. I thought of how my speaking skills had improved over the past year. And then I thought of the book I was reading, a book that I had bought for $1.29 at the local store. The Magic of Thinking Big was a huge bestseller during the 1960s. Written by Dr. David Schwartz, a professor at Georgia State University, the book contains dozens of practical tips on how to take risks to achieve big goals. Schwartz argues that nobody will believe in you until you believe in yourself.
So when the television producer asked if I wanted to appear on his show, I thought big. "Sure," I said. "I'll do it." I acted confidently, but on the inside I was frightened. What I needed was techniques to build up my confidence and to overcome my fear.
1. Why is the author afraid of speaking in public?| A．He is aware of his potential. | B．He has few chances to talk. |
| C．He is not able to edit what he says. | D．He likes writing better. |
| A．self-improving through challenges |
| B．hesitating before chances |
| C．turning down the invitations |
| D．saying yes to fear |
| A．it was inspiring | B．it was a bestseller |
| C．its author was famous | D．its price was attractive |
| A．To analyze his strength and weaknesses. |
| B．To give practical tips on speaking in public. |
| C．To persuade people to follow his example. |
| D．To share his experiences of overcoming fear. |
3 . My friend, Monty Roberts owns a horse ranch (养马场). The last time I was there he introduced me a story like this: There was a young man who was the son of a horse trainer, who would go from stable (马厩) to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. So the boy's school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.
That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. He also drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch. He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, “See me after class.”
The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked why he received an F. The teacher said, "This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. There's no way you could ever do it... If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.”
The boy went home and thought about it long and haul. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, "Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.” Finally, after a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, “You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream."
Monty then turned to me and said, "I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4, 000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, "The best part of the story is that two years ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week. When the teacher was leaving, he said, “Look, Monty, when I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough ambition not to give up on yours.”
1. Why was Monty’s schooling continually interrupted?| A．Because he didn’t like his teacher. |
| B．Because he had to do much housework. |
| C．Because he refused to go to school sometimes. |
| D．Because his father always changed his working place. |
| A．He did not pay attention to it. |
| B．He punished his son for the large red F. |
| C．He encouraged his son to make his own decision. |
| D．He scolded his son for the ridiculous plan. |
| A．Skill comes by exercise. |
| B．Everybody's good at something. |
| C．It's great to have dreams. |
| D．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
| A．A boy having no changes | B．A boy following his heart |
| C．A boy holding on to his dream | D．A boy owning a horse ranch |
4 . For or Against?—That Is the Question
Andy is the most unreasonable and he makes me so angry that I could even scream sometimes! Of course, I sort of have to love him because he is my twin brother. Andy and Amy （that is me） have the same curly hair and dark eyes and are equally stubborn. Yet, on most issues we usually take opposite positions.
Just this week in our school, there was a heated discussion on whether to adopt a school dress code. Every student would be required to wear a uniform. The teachers are divided: Some are in favor of the uniforms while others are opposed. The principal has asked the students to express their opinions by voting on the issue before decisions are made. But she will have the final word on the dress code.
I think a dress code is a good idea. The reason is simple. The less I have to decide first thing in the morning, the better. I can't tell you how many mornings I look into my closet and just stare, unable to decide what to wear.
Andy is shocked at my opinion. Last night, he even dragged out my parents' high school photo albums to show me how brilliant they looked without uniforms! He also declared, "Bruce Springsteen never wore a school uniform. Bob Dylan wouldn't have been caught dead in a school uniform! Besides, when I am feeling political, I want to be able to wear clothes made of natural, undyed fibers, sewn or assembled in countries that do not pollute the environment or exploit child labor. If I have to wear a uniform, I won't feel like me!"
To that I replied, "So your personal heroes didn't wear school uniforms. But they went to high school about a million years ago! I feel sorry for you since I had no idea that your ego（自我）is so fragile that it would be completely destroyed by a uniform." That really made him angry and he shouted, "You're just copying what you hear that new music teacher saying because you are crazy about him!"
Fortunately, the bell rang before we could do each other physical harm, and we went to our separate classes. The vote for or against uniforms took place later that day. The results of the vote and the principal's decision will be announced next week. I wonder what it will be. I know how I voted, and I'm pretty sure I know how Andy voted. How would you vote---for or against?
1. Amy and Andy often get angry with each other because ______ .| A．they're both stubborn | B．they like different teachers |
| C．they always hold different views | D．they don't like each other very much |
| A．school clothing should reflect parents' values |
| B．teenagers should never follow the latest clothing fashion |
| C．the way one dresses should be an expression of one's personality |
| D．wearing school uniforms means one makes less decision every morning |
| A．The principal. | B．Their parents. |
| C．Their teachers. | D．Students themselves. |
| A．Andy shouldn't look up to his heroes so much |
| B．our clothes should decide people's attitudes towards us |
| C．Andy's lack of self-confidence is reflected in his clothing |
| D．our clothes shouldn't determine how we feel about ourselves |
5 . When I was in my first year of high school, I had a terrible time when every area of my life was a disaster. I felt so hopeless and alone that I thought everything was impossible.
On one such day, I was walking from class across the school to catch the school bus home, with my head down, fighting tears of total hopelessness, when a young man came down the sidewalk toward me. Though I had never seen him before, I did not want him to see that I was in such low spirits, so I turned my head away and hoped to hurry past. I thought he'd walk on by, but he moved until he was directly in front of me, waited until I looked up, and then smiled.
Looking into my eyes, this stranger spoke in a quiet voice："Whatever is wrong will pass. You're going to be OK, just hang on." He then smiled again and walked away.
I can't explain the effect of that man's unexpected kindness and caring! He gave me the one thing that I'd lost completely—hope. I looked for him in our school to thank him, but never saw him again.
That was thirty years ago. And I've never forgotten that moment. Over the years, whenever I see someone who is in trouble, I will always think of that young man and try to give a flash of hope in the dark wherever I can. I carry things for people when they are too heavy for them, sit with naughty babies in the waiting room while their mothers are busy, or talk to tired couples at the checkout line or it could be anything.
If you keep your head up, your heart will show you the place that needs hope.
1. Where did the writer meet with the young man？
| A．In the school. | B．In the school bus. | C．In the classroom. | D．In the library. |
| A．had known the young man for a long time |
| B．made friends with the young man afterwards |
| C．was grateful to that young man very much |
| D．avoided meeting the young man since then |
| A．show his sympathy to those who are badly ill |
| B．give others hope of life when they are in trouble |
| C．realize his promise made to the young man |
| D．get respect from those who were helped by him |
| A．the young man always tried his best to help those who were in trouble |
| B．it was the young man's smile and words that made the author feel hopeful |
| C．the author had never been praised by others before he met with the young man |
| D．the author traveled to a lot of places to look for the young man but failed |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(Λ)，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。
Last summer, to my delighted, I got a chance to go to the United Kingdom. I was eager to see what England was like. Although my parents objected to my decision at first, but finally they were persuaded. It was the first time that I have travelled abroad alone. Felt excited, I boarded the plane. Suddenly, however, I found my luggages gone and felt helplessly. It was on that moment that an airhostess came to my assistance. After helping me find it back, she suggested that I attached a label to my suitcase on my next journey. I was thankful to the kind lady for his help! What unforgettable trip!
Like many young children, Vikas Jyani dreamed of
It was what he did after achieving his dream
With his growing up, the elders in the village always encouraged him
All the elders got to travel from New Delhi to Amritsar where they got to see the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and Wagah Border. Flying in a plane
8 . Moksh Jawa, 16, a student at Washington High School in the US, has already become a legend(传奇) among students. “Why not?” might be his favorite question to ask.
As a seventh-grader, he taught himself coding(编程) by studying on the Internet.
As a high school freshman, he passed the AP Computer Science A exam with a 5, the highest score possible.
As a sophomore (高中二年级学生), he developed his own online course and helped his classmates get through it because his high school didn't teach coding.
Everything he did came from his own interest. His father sent him a link to Codeacademy, an online coding training program, in middle school. He learned a programming(编程) language all by himself after signing up to the website.
“I just fell in love with computer science,” Jawa said. Along the way, he lit a fire of curiosity and passion among classmates to learn coding too.
“All of my friends, especially the girls, were really, really afraid of computer science,” he said. But the subject and exam weren't things to be feared, he said, “Computer science is all about logic(逻辑), not about how smart you are. ”
To make his knowledge available online, Jawa set about creating his own online course, with easy-to-follow lessons. He included quizzes and tests too.
The course has so far attracted 3, 200 students across the US and in 120 countries and regions, including China, Ukraine and Algeria. It shows, Jawa said, the huge need for coding lessons.
When video lecturing, “I deliver it like I'm talking from one high school student to another .” Jawa said.“ It's always great to make it as clear and fun as possible, and to try to keep my voice as energetic as possible. ”
He also does that, when teaching members of the computer science club he founded at his high school.
“His tutorials(辅导) were great, ”said Taj Shaik, the club's co-president, who took the whole course last year. “I'm definitely one of the early adopters(使用者) of Moksh. ”
“He's pretty amazing, ”said Bob Moran, principal of Washington High School, who saw him lead the club. “He was just a fantastic teacher—clear, organized and entertaining. When a student got the right answer, he would throw him a candy. ”
1. Which of the following probably made Moksh Jawa a legend among students?| A．He created his own online coding course. |
| B．He welcomes any kind of challenge by asking, “Why not?” |
| C．He learned an intermediate programming language. |
| D．He earns a lot of money by coding for companies. |
| A．You have to be smart to learn computer science well. |
| B．Interest is the most important when learning coding. |
| C．Computer science is not difficult to learn. |
| D．Coding is useful and everyone should know it. |
| A．is patient but strict with his students |
| B．likes to do things in a fixed order |
| C．usually applies unusual teaching methods |
| D．tries to make his classes simple yet interesting |
9 . I was working as a lifeguard at Tower 15 on Newport Beach and two blocks to my right was another guard named Mike, working at Tower 17. He called me over the phone and said, “Hey, I have
Mike hung up the phone and
When I dropped my binoculars (望远镜) and reached the mother, Mike was in waist-deep water,
Mike had some seemingly
Mike just glanced at me and smiled. As I jogged back to my tower, I promised myself I’d never let my own
| A．saved | B．spotted | C．arrested | D．scolded |
| A．emergencies | B．disasters | C．statements | D．punishments |
| A．assist | B．inform | C．confirm | D．consider |
| A．repaired | B．provided | C．seized | D．abandoned |
| A．struggling | B．laughing | C．quarreling | D．trembling |
| A．supported | B．directed | C．prevented | D．swallowed |
| A．Still | B．Instead | C．Thus | D．Indeed |
| A．explored | B．noticed | C．reached | D．scanned |
| A．noises | B．screams | C．beliefs | D．gestures |
| A．hiding | B．counting | C．beating | D．carrying |
| A．fade away | B．split up | C．break down | D．come around |
| A．surprise | B．regret | C．panic | D．doubt |
| A．purpose | B．appreciation | C．expectation | D．discrimination |
| A．stubborn | B．abnormal | C．mysterious | D．disturbing |
| A．elegant | B．positive | C．unpleasant | D．aggressive |
| A．gave in to | B．lived up to | C．made up for | D．stood up for |
| A．judgement | B．experience | C．description | D．application |
| A．comforted | B．rescued | C．condemned | D．frightened |
| A．decision | B．request | C．prejudice | D．commitment |
| A．rejecting | B．representing | C．remembering | D．recognizing |
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。
For a long time I had been longed for a piano of my own to practice on. There was a piano shop on the street through that I went to the school every day. Whenever I passed the shop, look at the piano which stood in the corner of the shop window. What desperately I had been dreaming day and night to possess a piano like that. Unfortunate, my father was just a clerk, but he could not afford to buy me an expensive piano, though he knew that I was very anxious for one. In my birthday, I went as usual to the shop window to look at the piano, but to my surprised the piano had gone. In fact, I should not have been surprised, other had the right to buy it, if they could afford to. Tears filled my eyes when I thought of being able to see that piano any more.
