1 . The train was at a standstill, some twenty minutes outside Kolkata, when an unexpected stroke of luck presented Piya with an opportunity to go for a seat beside a window for some fresh air. She had been sitting in the stuffiest part of the train compartment, on the edge of a bench: now, moving to the open window, she saw that the train had stopped at a station called Champahati.
Looking over her shoulder, Piya spotted a tea-seller on the platform. Reaching through the bars of the window, she called him with a wave. She had never cared for the kind of chai, Indian tea, sold in Seattle, her hometown in the USA, but somehow, in the ten days she had spent in India she had developed an unexpected taste for milky, overboiled tea served in earthenware cups. There were no spices in it for one thing, and this was more to her taste than the chai at home.
She paid for her tea and was trying to get in the cup through the bars when the man in the seat opposite her own suddenly turned over a page, jolting her hand. She turned her wrist quickly enough to make sure that most of the tea spilled out of the window, but she could not prevent some from spilling over his papers.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Piya was very embarrassed: of everyone in the compartment, this was the last person she would have chosen to injure with her tea. She had noticed him while waiting on the platform in Kolkata and she had been struck by the self-satisfied tilt of his head and the way in which he stared at everyone around him, taking them in, sizing them up, sorting them all into their places.
“Here,” said Piya, producing a handful of tissues. “Let me help you clean up.”
“There’s nothing to be done,” he said testily (暴躁地). “These pages are ruined anyway.”
For a moment she considered pointing out that it was he who had knocked her hand. But all she could bring herself to say was, “I’m very sorry. I hope you’ll excuse me.”
“Do I really have a choice?” he said. “Does anyone have a choice when they’re dealing with Americans these days?”
Piya had no wish to get into an argument so she let this pass. Instead, she opened her eyes wide and, in an attempt to restore peace, came out with, “But how did you guess?”
“About what?”
“About my being American? You’re very observant.”
This seemed to do the trick. His shoulders relaxed as he leaned back in his seat. “I didn’t guess,” he said. “I knew.”
1. In the first paragraph, Piya was relieved when she got a window seat because it meant that_________.| A．there was more room for her luggage |
| B．she no longer had to suffer from a lack of air |
| C．there was less chance that she would miss her stop |
| D．she didn’t have to stand for the rest of the train journey |
| A．was disappointingly weak in taste | B．reminded her of her home in Seattle |
| C．would have tasted better if served fresh | D．was preferable to the chai she had had before |
| A．he was someone who was observant of surroundings |
| B．he seemed to think he was better than other people |
| C．he had tried to keep his distance from his fellow passengers |
| D．he had been looking for someone he knew on the station platform |
| A．find out what the man really thought about Americans |
| B．try to calm the situation down by starting a conversation |
| C．ensure the man realized that she had apologized |
| D．make sure the man knew he was being rude |
Mama’s Soup Pot
There are too many treasures in life we take for granted, the worth of which we don’t fully realize until they’re pointed out to us in some unexpected way. So it was with Mama’s soup pot.
Mama’s soup was special because there was no recipe for it. It had been so since her girlhood in Italy, where she learned its secret from her grandma, who had inherited (继承) it from generation to generation. Also, it was a symbol of security. For our large immigrant family, Mama’s soup guaranteed we would never go hungry. And we could judge our economic conditions by its contents.
At one time, however, Mama’s soup pot became a source of embarrassment to me, for I feared it would cost me a new friend I had made at school. Sol was an unusual pal for me because his father was a doctor and they lived in the best part of our town. Often Sol invited me to his home for dinner, where I found the food was good but tasteless, lacking the heartiness of the one served from my mom’s flame-blackened pots. Moreover, the atmosphere matched the food and everything was so formal. Sol’s mother and father were polite, but the conversation around the table was not natural, which made me a little depressed. And no one hugged!
In my family, warm hugs were a constant-men, women, boys and girls-and if you didn’t kiss your mother, she demanded: “What’s the matter? You sick?” But at that time in my life, all this was an embarrassment.
I had known Sol would like to eat dinner at my house, but that was the last thing I wanted. My family was so different. No other kids had such pots on their stoves, nor did they have a mama whose first action upon seeing you enter the house was to sit you down with a spoon and bowl.
One day, Sol pointedly asked if he could come to my house. I had to say yes.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
The day Sol came over I was nervous.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________But Sol quickly finished his bowl and asked for one more.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________One day, while browsing the internet, I came across the recruitment notice for bilingual volunteers for the upcoming 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. Excited yet unsure, 1 shared the news with my teacher, uncertain if I had what it took to participate. To my surprise, my teacher wholeheartedly encouraged me, recognizing my strong background in English literature. However, deep down, a lack of confidence in my spoken English held me back.
Undeterred by my initial refusal, my teacher persistently tried to persuade me. The inner struggle intensified as I weighed my desire to be part of such a prestigious event against my fear of speaking English fluently. Touched by my teacher’s belief in me, I finally agreed, on the condition that my teacher would practice speaking English with me.
The initial interview posed a daunting(巨大的) challenge, but my solid English knowledge helped me through. However, the final interview awaited, and it would truly test my speaking skills. Doubts plagued me, but my teacher’s unwavering support reminded me to keep practicing.
Day after day, my teacher and I diligently practiced speaking English. We repeated conversations, engaged in discussions, and tackled different scenarios. Gradually, my confidence grew, and setbacks became opportunities for improvement. I had come too far to give up now.
The time for the final interview arrived. Nervous yet determined, I entered the room, ready to face this ultimate test. As I spoke, I felt a newfound fluency and confidence that surprised even myself. The interviewers acknowledged my growth and progress, and to my delight, I successfully passed the final hurdle.
注意：1. 写作词数应为150左右。
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The day the Hangzhou Asian Games began was filled with an electrifying atmosphere.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Throughout this transformative journey, my teacher remained my constant companion. offering unwavering belief and encouragement.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . Driving through a West Haven crossroads, a young man named Rhett and his friends encountered something extraordinary. There, in the middle of the road, was a box filled with envelopes. But these were no
The rightful owner of the money, who had reported it lost, was informed of its
The owner’s reaction to getting his money back was one of disbelief and enormous gratitude. He planned to meet the young men to thank them
Their actions
| A．thick | B．ordinary | C．stamped | D．official |
| A．amounting | B．referring | C．sticking | D．contributing |
| A．recording | B．blessing | C．recalling | D．picking |
| A．unavoidable | B．unconfirmed | C．uneventful | D．unexpected |
| A．Instead of | B．Owing to | C．In addition to | D．In spite of |
| A．integrity | B．patience | C．tolerance | D．generosity |
| A．eye-catching | B．decision-making | C．time-saving | D．mind-blowing |
| A．survival | B．progress | C．recovery | D．application |
| A．imperfect | B．immeasurable | C．impractical | D．impure |
| A．warned | B．doubted | C．applauded | D．advocated |
| A．vividly | B．frequently | C．casually | D．personally |
| A．victory | B．investment | C．response | D．reminder |
| A．carry away | B．consist of | C．serve as | D．rely on |
| A．recognized | B．benefited | C．honored | D．alarmed |
| A．matter | B．arise | C．disappear | D．remain |
Bonnie raised her granddaughter alone after the girl’s parents died. She hated her granddaughter’s art and wanted her to stop drawing. But everything changed when Mr. Henderson, a famous cartoonist, appeared at her doorstep.
One day, Bonnie called out to Amy as she took the chicken out. “Dinner is ready, honey! Come soon!” But Amy didn’t answer.
Bonnie finished setting the table and served them dinner, but she still didn’t hear a response from Amy. “Amy? Honey, your dinner is getting cold! Are you coming?” she asked her 10-year-old granddaughter again.
When Amy didn’t respond, Bonnie climbed the stairs to the girl’s room and pushed the door open. Amy sat at her desk, with her headphones on. At first, Bonnie thought Amy was studying, but then she noticed the drawing sheet on the table in front of Amy. Bonnie frowned (皱眉) in anger.
“Amy!” Bonnie screamed, and the girl turned around and removed her headphones.
“Granny? I… I was just…” Amy said.
Bonnie stormed up to Amy’s desk, and the little girl tried to cover the drawing, but it was too late.
“Did you finish your math homework, little girl? Mrs. Warren called me today. And she told me you’ve been ignoring her assignments!” Bonnie said angrily.
“I’ll finish the homework,” Amy said. “I was planning on doing it once I finished the sketch (素描) I was working on, Granny.”
“I’m tired of that hobby of yours, Amy! You’re no longer doing those drawings!” Bonnie went on. “Those things you draw are not going to help you in the future! You finish your dinner, and then you’ll be doing your homework. You’re not leaving the house to play with your friends until you finish your homework. Am I clear?” Bonnie said and stormed out of Amy’s room.
Minutes later, Amy walked into the kitchen and quietly sat at the table. They began eating dinner in silence. Bonnie was already in a terrible mood, so she didn’t ask about Amy’s day like she usually did. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Amy answered the door and was surprised to see Mr. Henderson.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Bonnie hesitated for a long time and decided to ask Mrs. Warren for advice.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6 . Chloe Smith is a girl aged 6 from Atlanta, Georgia. One day, while taking a walk with her father near their home, she
The medal belongs to former canoeist (划艇运动员) Joe Jacobi, who won gold while
Chloe’s dad had seen Jacobi’s story on the news, and
Chloe was
| A．sought | B．buried | C．noticed | D．dropped |
| A．waste | B．object | C．material | D．antique |
| A．embarrassed | B．satisfied | C．frightened | D．shocked |
| A．competing | B．applying | C．coaching | D．preparing |
| A．broken | B．stolen | C．replaced | D．deserted |
| A．purchase | B．register | C．preserve | D．recover |
| A．secured | B．prized | C．advertised | D．priced |
| A．project | B．decision | C．habit | D．idea |
| A．quickly | B．gradually | C．really | D．carefully |
| A．identifying | B．obtaining | C．evaluating | D．investigating |
| A．sorry | B．eager | C．upset | D．hesitant |
| A．In addition | B．In fact | C．In return | D．In advance |
| A．purpose | B．report | C．attempt | D．story |
| A．heart-warming | B．breath-taking | C．eye-catching | D．life-changing |
| A．important | B．simple | C．interesting | D．right |
7 . I vividly remember the day when my husband and I set off on a new journey to Tanzania. He had been
As we got off the train, however, at six in the morning, a lady came rushing along the
I washed, changed, had a quick bite to eat and was
Though my entry into this
| A．awarded | B．offered | C．allowed | D．presented |
| A．disappointed | B．dissatisfied | C．unconcerned | D．uneasy |
| A．priority | B．worry | C．action | D．response |
| A．river | B．platform | C．sidewalk | D．channel |
| A．probably | B．suddenly | C．desperately | D．occasionally |
| A．longed for | B．waited for | C．heard about | D．worried about |
| A．remark | B．interruption | C．suggestion | D．request |
| A．keep | B．take | C．forget | D．quit |
| A．introduced | B．recommended | C．assigned | D．compared |
| A．colleagues | B．assistants | C．students | D．interviewers |
| A．exactly | B．finally | C．immediately | D．smoothly |
| A．expected | B．regretted | C．delayed | D．dropped |
| A．career | B．country | C．agreement | D．relationship |
| A．value | B．strengthen | C．renew | D．harvest |
| A．comment | B．record | C．impact | D．impression |
Cashmere Nicole was a struggling single mother, juggling (兼顾) her nine-to-five job and family life and battling breast cancer when she started her side business, Beauty Bakerie, a beauty brand. Started in her kitchen, the brand is currently sold in over 100 countries worldwide. “You can only find the things you truly love by exploring, by trying things,” says Nicole when interviewed about her achievement. “If we aren’t trying, we aren’t giving ourselves the best shot at finding the one thing that we’ll enjoy doing.”
Gerard AdamsGerard Adams founded Fownders, a digital and in-classroom learning platform for entrepreneurs (企业家). Adams thanks his mentor (顾问), Tony Robbins, for much of his success. “Find a good mentor and get started,” he says. “We wouldn’t be anywhere as far as we are today without good mentorship.” Through Fownders, Adams provides mentorship to entrepreneurs.
Tamar LucienTamar Lucien had just $250 left to her name when she started MentalHappy. Inspired by her own struggles with anxiety, she wanted to create a business and movement that helps people overcome their own sadness and anxiety, which is done through MentalHappy’s signature “Cheerbox” filled with happiness tools.
Christopher GrayGray graduated from college and decided to help others find scholarship money, which is why he founded Scholly, a mobile and web app that finds students scholarship money for college and graduate school. Gray knows it takes a ton of hard work to be a successful entrepreneur. “There are no shortcuts (捷径) to success,” he says.
1. What does Nicole value most in terms of achieving success?| A．Attempting new things. | B．Having a healthy body. |
| C．Balancing work and life. | D．Taking care of your appearance. |
| A．Tamar Lucien. | B．Gerard Adams. | C．Cashmere Nicole. | D．Christopher Gray. |
| A．Fownders. | B．Scholly. | C．MentaIHappy. | D．Beauty Bakerie. |
9 . In the community of Mudgeeraba, a remarkable story has occurred, displaying a more connected society.
Living far from her own family and with her husband having no parents left, Nina, a new mom, was feeling the weight of
Nina put out a heartfelt
Since their initial meeting six months ago, Christine has lovingly
The unexpected
| A．mistrust | B．intervention | C．prejudice | D．loneliness |
| A．answering | B．longing | C．preparing | D．arranging |
| A．assistance | B．promise | C．respect | D．recognition |
| A．debatable | B．familiar | C．courageous | D．generous |
| A．statement | B．option | C．proposal | D．request |
| A．unappealing | B．convincing | C．heartwarming | D．confusing |
| A．comments | B．responses | C．discussions | D．investigations |
| A．professional | B．relative | C．employer | D．match |
| A．channel | B．babysitter | C．witness | D．standard |
| A．departure | B．affection | C．absence | D．objection |
| A．reflected upon | B．taken on | C．set aside | D．applied for |
| A．worries | B．remembers | C．denies | D．feels |
| A．limit | B．title | C．message | D．prize |
| A．discovery | B．adventure | C．bond | D．reunion |
| A．releasing | B．exposing | C．encouraging | D．illustrating |
Every week I save all the change and $1 bills I have in my purse. Then every Christmas I cash it in for as many $100 bills as the saved money gets me. I then wait for a family in need. I split the money in half and give half to the family in need and the other half to my nine-year-old son, Say’ Veon, who puts it in his savings account, to teach him about delayed satisfaction. Then he helps me get gifts or give the money to the family.
I adopted Say’ Veon after his mother, a close friend of mine, passed away from cancer before his fifth birthday. Even though Say’ Veon has dealt with great loss and sadness at such a young age, his generous spirit and loving heart shine through. He has given money to someone else who needs it more, such as his friends or classmates. Say’ Veon’s acts of kindness always blow me away and I feel blessed to have him in my life.
This week I got a call from a friend, DeeDee, who is 77 years old. She was upset because she had been cheated, and the cheaters took all the money out of her checking account which she lives on, and now she didn’t have the money to pay her rent and bills.
This morning, I took the money and showed Say’ Veon how much I saved this year. I told him what happened to DeeDee, and then asked him if he would be willing to give his half along with my half and donate it to her as our person in need this year.
He said, “Yes, of course.” This year our total was $400.
We went to visit DeeDee and my son handed her a Christmas card with the money. She opened it and said, “Thank you.” She then looked again and stared at the $100 bills.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
DeeDee froze there with her eyes wide open.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Suddenly, Say’ Veon said to DeeDee, “You are our family!”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
