1 . Back in high school, I loved nothing more than going bowling. From freshman to junior year, starting and leading my school’s bowling club helped me come out of my ________. As time went on, our team began winning local and even ________ tournaments. These victories not only ________ my popularity but also allowed me to form meaningful connections. Man, life was great back then.

Still the bowling memory that really stuck out to me was ________ I met Leroy. I was already a junior by then, and he was still a young freshman. The strange thing about it, ________, was how he would always ________ in the back, watching others play. ________ his regular presence, he seemed too nervous and shy to play or even talk with others.

Then one evening something remarkable happened. During a game, I ________ Leroy actually picking up a bowling ball for the first time. He ________ to lift the lightest ball up, and with each throw, the ball ________ in the gutter lane (边沟), resulting in straight zeroes across the board.

That’s, when I finally went over to say hi to Leroy. ________ to see me, Leroy nervously cracked a smile and murmured with ________, “I just can’t manage the ball...” Reassuringly, I responded, “It’s no big ________. Everyone was a green hand once.” My words seemed to ________ his tension, and in the following hours, he ________ as I taught him how to bowl step by step. From his words, I realized how ________ he had desired to join the bowling club and how lonely he felt without friends.

That was the beginning of our friendship. Since that night, playing together and sharing our life stories has become our weekly ________. I was delighted to see Leroy’s significant progress through ________ efforts. He was a fast learner and soon ________ a spot on the team. What’s more, Leroy gained confidence to try new things. It was through practising bowling that his brand new life journey ________. As bowling enthusiasts, we’ll always cherish the sincere friendship and get the ball rolling forever.

1.

A．way

B．zone

C．shell

D．place

2.

A．school

B．town

C．community

D．state

3.

A．boosted

B．affected

C．formed

D．enjoyed

4.

A．when

B．how

C．that

D．because

5.

A．instead

B．though

C．otherwise

D．rather

6.

A．hang out

B．turn over

C．show off

D．slip away

7.

A．Besides

B．Against

C．Despite

D．Beyond

8.

A．prevented

B．witnessed

C．suggested

D．imagined

9.

A．determined

B．struggled

C．desired

D．hesitated

10.

A．ended up

B．ran away

C．set off

D．turned out

11.

A．Disappointed

B．Relieved

C．Excited

D．Surprised

12.

A．confusion

B．embarrassment

C．eagerness

D．anger

13.

A．deal

B．matter

C．problem

D．mistake

14.

A．ease

B．increase

C．defeat

D．break

15.

A．held back

B．gave in

C．broke down

D．opened up

16.

A．helplessly

B．hopefully

C．desperately

D．thoroughly

17.

A．routine

B．meeting

C．experience

D．recreation

18.

A．temporary

B．consistent

C．subsequent

D．prosperous

19.

A．captured

B．seized

C．earned

D．found

20.

A．went along

B．started off

C．gave out

D．carried on

2 . Pooja Rai was a young architecture student in 2014 when she went with a friend to give food to a local orphanage. She was surprised at what she saw.

Kids were playing with anything they could get their hands on. One group was rolling around a broken metal pipe. Two boys were trying to play badminton, using old shoes as rackets. “Play shouldn’t just be part of a rich kid’s lifestyle. All kids have a right to enjoy their childhoods.” Rai says.

Over the next few weeks, she talked with friends about collecting money for a playground. And that’s when she thought of old tires. Around 100 million tires are thrown away in India every year. Could they reuse them as playground materials and help the environment, too?

That idea became a reality in 2015, using old tires—all cleaned, carefully looked over to make sure they are safe to use, and painted in bright colors. The following year, she created Anthill Creations, which has built 275 playgrounds across India—celebrating the power of play in public spaces orphanages, and schools.

“Our work always begins with talks with kids about what they want from this space.” says Rai. Sometimes it can take a few hours, or a few visits, until children are ready to open up. She also draws on her experience as an architect. “I found that spaces are powerful in shaping people’s behavior.” she says.

Most of the play spaces Rai designs feature large tire sculptures of cars, buildings, or animals, paired with more classic elements of swings and jungle gyms.

In one girl’s school in Bengaluru, the children wanted their play space to be shaped into a boxing ring, with tires doubling up as punching bags. “Their teacher was unsure about it.” Rai remembers. “But the girls said they didn’t want people to see them as weak. They wanted to practice self-defense and grow stronger.” In December 2019, this playground became a reality.

1. What did Rai find out about the kids in a local orphanage?

A．They behaved badly.	B．They were badly treated.
C．They had nothing to do but play.	D．They were short of play equipment.

2. What did Rai do with the thrown-away tires?

A．She renewed them in a tire shop.

B．She turned them into artistic works.

C．She used them to design play spaces.

D．She sold them to raise money for hungry kids.

3. What did Rai take into consideration when carrying out her work?

A．Children’s needs.	B．Children’s experiences.
C．Her favourite childhood games.	D．An architect friend’s suggestions.

4. What can we learn about the girls from the last paragraph?

A．They needed to build their confidence.

B．They wanted to win their teachers’ trust.

C．They finally had their dream playground.

D．They often helped with collecting old tires.

5. Which of the following can best describe Rai?

A．Talented and hard-working.	B．Creative and kind-hearted.
C．Realistic and lonely.	D．Poor but caring.

3 . Many of our family traditions centered around food. We’d gather in the kitchen for every birthday and holiday and enjoy delicious food. My grandparents always held Christmas dinner, which included chicken cacciatore, sausage, meatballs and salad. But right before we sat down to eat, my grandmother would pull me aside to show me the dish she made just for me: fresh pasta (意大利面) with tomato sauce.

It was a simple dish, but to me it was warm food that filled me with happiness. But more than that, it made me feel like I belonged. I was a shy kid and, in many situations, I felt ignored. And here was my grandmother, showing me that I mattered.

Years went by; I moved away and got married. I’d visit throughout the years and my grandmother would serve up a plate of pasta.

When my daughter was born in 2020, for the first time in my life I wasn’t about to make the trip back home for Christmas. I cooked my family’s traditional foods and my husband and I had a big meal that included, of course, fresh pasta. I had a video call with my grandmother and showed her the pasta. Shortly after the holidays she passed away unexpectedly.

It seemed so unfair that my grandmother passed away soon after I became a parent. I’d hold my daughter and think about how I could tell her what an amazing great-grandmother she had.

In my sadness I came to an answer: food. Late at night after my daughter had gone to bed, I’d go to the kitchen and learn how to make fresh pasta, cooking my grandmother’s recipes. Before long I started experimenting, making a bit changes to classic recipes. When my daughter got a little older, I began making special dishes for her with my grandmother’s flavors in mind.

I know that no matter how hard I try, my daughter will never have a bowl pasta with sauce exactly like the ones my grandmother would make for me. While that makes me sad, she’ll still get to have my pasta sauce. I know there’re two things she’ll never lack for in this life: pasta and love.

1. What did the author say about her grandmother’s homemade pasta?

A．It was a special birthday gift for her.	B．It brought her a sense of belonging.
C．It was loved by every family member.	D．It took a lot of time and energy to prepare.

2. What made the author’s 2020 Christmas dinner different from previous ones?

A．She didn’t share pasta with her husband.

B．She didn’t give her grandmother a call.

C．She didn’t prepare many traditional family foods.

D．She didn’t have a chance to eat her grandmother’s pasta.

3. Why did the author learn to make fresh pasta late at night?

A．To honour her grandmother.	B．To give her daughter a surprise.
C．To meet her grandmother’s wish.	D．To be a role model for her daughter.

4. What can we learn about the author’s pasta sauce?

A．It isn’t easy to make.	B．It isn’t to her daughter’s liking.
C．It tastes exactly the same as her grandmother’s.	D．It shows her love for her daughter.

5. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Different types of pasta	B．The origin of pasta
C．Love through pasta	D．Pasta for Christmas

4 . Last weekend I made my first visit to a remote village, home to one of our students, Tombe. Another teacher and I walked for two and a half hours to get there—first, up a mountain from where we had fantastic views, and then down a shaded path to the valley below. When we arrived at the village, Tombe’s mother, Kiak, saw us coming and started crying “ieee ieee”. We shook hands with all the villagers. Everyone seemed to be related to Tombe.

Tombe’s father, Mukap, a man with a strong jaw and a wrinkled forehead, led us to his house, a low, round bamboo hut with no windows, with a door just big enough to get through, and with grass sticking out of the roof—this shows it is a man’s house. Such housing is dark inside so it took time for our eyes to adjust. Fresh grass had been laid on the floor and there was a platform for Jenny and me to sleep on. There was a fireplace in the centre of the hut. The only possessions I could see were one broom, a few saucers, a kettle, cups, pans, and a couple of jars.

Mukap built a fire outside and laid stones on it to heat. He then placed the hot stones in an empty oil drum with kau kau(sweet potato), ripe corn, and greens. He then covered the vegetables with banana leaves and left them to steam. It smelled delicious. We ate inside the hut sitting round the fire. I loved listening to the family talking softly to each other in their language, even though I could not participate much in the conversation. Luckily, Tombe interpreted for us.

Later, I noticed a can standing upside down on the grill (烤架) over the fire. After a while. Tombe threw it out of the doorway. Tombe told me that the can was heated to dry out the leftover food. His family believes that leftovers attract bad spirits in the night, so any leftover food is dried up in a can and the can is then thrown out of the hut.

We left the village the next morning after many goodbyes and firm handshakes. My muscles were aching and my knees shaking as we dragged ourselves down the mountain towards home. That evening I fell happily into bed. It was such a privilege to have spent a day with Tombe’s family.

1. Why did Tombe’s mother start crying “ieee ieee”?

A．Because she was excited to see her son home	B．Because she saw someone who scared he
C．Because she was welcoming the teachers.	D．Because that was her daily routine.

2. What can we learn about Tombe’s father from the passage?

A．He’s not a considerate one.	B．He has a luxury house.
C．He had a good talk with the author.	D．He is good at cooking

3. When the author saw the family talking softly to each other, her feeling can be best described as ________.

A．amazed

B．puzzled

C．frightened

D．happy

4. According to Paragraph 4, the can was used to ________.

A．drive bad spirits

B．protect the hut

C．hold the leftovers

D．be thrown out of the hut

5. What did the author think of this visit?

A．She hated the long and tiring visit

B．She was pleased to visit the Tombe family.

C．She thought Tombe’s family was too poor.

D．She thought some of the Tombe family’s actions were stupid.

5 . About two weeks ago I saw a very sad, blue eyed, homeless man sitting outside my local coffee house. I said, “Hi! How are you doing today?”

He seemed shocked that I was talking to him. “Not very well,” he replied. He began to tell me how he had been hit by a car while riding his bike. He had been in the hospital for a month and s rest home for another month. During that time the person that paid for his SSI checks (社保费) died of a hear attack and his wallet was stolen with all his IDs. He had several checks waiting for him but had no ID and therefore no access to his money.

I decided that if this was all true I’d like to help him get a copy of his birth certificate and social security card. I asked him to meet me at the Department of Vital Statistics at 11:00 p.m. The next morning I didn’t see him so I started filling out the paperwork. I explained to the receptionist, “I’m trying to help a homeless friend get his ID hack.” “Bob?”   she inquired. “Yes, Bob,” I responded, surprised that she knew his name. “He was here at 9:30 and he just left,” she said, “But he told us you were coming.” I paid the fee and walked out with Bob’s Birth Certificate.

As I was driving home I saw Bob riding back on the old bike someone had given him. I pulled over and jumped out of my car shouting, “Bob! Bob! I got it!” He saw me and rode over. “I got it, Bob! Look, here it is!” He got tears in his eyes and told me I was his guardian angel.

A few days later I needed him to meet me at the Social Security Office. It took me a half hour to get there by car and at least two hours by bike. But there he was sitting on the sidewalk waiting for me! We were in the Social Security Office for two hours. We got everything straightened out and by next week he will have received his back pay, which is a substantial sum.

Yes, one person can make a difference in this world. And the interesting thing is that I am getting as much, if not more, from this experience than Bob. I am deeply touched by Bob’s sensitivity, his gratitude, his stories, his heart.

Home is where the heart is, even for the homeless!

1. The author helped the homeless man get his ID back by _____.

A．finding it for him

B．filling out the paperwork

C．visiting the Department of Vital Statistics

D．getting his birth certificate

2. The receptionist knew the homeless man because ______.

A．he just contacted with her	B．he told her I was coming
C．he just left from her office	D．he called her for reception

3. The homeless man needed his ID to ______.

A．get the money from the car owner	B．get the money out of some checks
C．prove his true identity	D．pay back his SSI checks

4. The author helped the homeless man at the Social Security Office to _______.

A．check if his information is true	B．check if his name was kept there
C．get his information to his back pay	D．take a substantial sum of money

5. “I am getting as much, if not more, from this experience than Bob” means ____.

A．I felt it meaningful to help Bob

B．Bob also helped me in some way

C．I was repaid after Bob got the money

D．I got more respect after the experience

6 . After my dad passed away, my mom went into her room and shut the door. She sat on the bed with the lights _______ and curtains drawn. That’s where she _______ for the next two months. I had never seen my mom so _______. I didn’t know how to _______ her until I rode past my Aunt Ruby’s house one day. I _______ just to see if she was all right. I walked to the door and _______. A 92-year-old lady asked, “Who’s there?”

“It’s me, Aunt Ruby. It’s Debbie.”

“I need you,” she said _______. “Bob’s family fell ill and Bob has to leave to take care of his family.”

Bob was her personal _______. For years, she had someone living in her home to look after her. _______, she was alone on this particular day. Aunt Ruby was trying to take care of herself.

As I got home, I talked to my mom through the bedroom door after ________

her dinner. “Mom, do you know Aunt Ruby has been over there all by herself?” I said. She made a ________ “Umm.” I knew she was listening and wanted to help. Then she asked me a ________ about Aunt Ruby.

“Did she say she need someone?”

“Yes,” I answered.

________, my mom came out. She asked me to drop her off at Aunt Ruby’s house. I couldn’t ________ to get her out of the house. Aunt Ruby ________ my mom with open arms. My mom cooked meals and helped Aunt Ruby. They enjoyed their ________time together. Mom became ________ again.

There was a spirit of ________ and love between them. I thought that maybe ________ gave them a bond, but caring about each other made a big ________ to their lives.

1.

A．beyond

B．behind

C．out

D．over

2.

A．disappeared

B．stayed

C．recorded

D．missed

3.

A．frightened

B．depressed

C．embarrassed

D．disappointed

4.

A．protect

B．tolerate

C．face

D．assist

5.

A．stopped by

B．went ahead

C．set off

D．hung around

6.

A．kicked

B．hesitated

C．witnessed

D．knocked

7.

A．sharply

B．warmly

C．weakly

D．wisely

8.

A．caregiver

B．tutor

C．coach

D．expert

9.

A．Therefore

B．However

C．Besides

D．Otherwise

10.

A．sampling

B．ordering

C．collecting

D．delivering

11.

A．complaint

B．claim

C．response

D．remark

12.

A．option

B．solution

C．question

D．comment

13.

A．Eventually

B．Generally

C．Initially

D．Additionally

14.

A．fail

B．wait

C．refuse

D．agree

15.

A．followed

B．reminded

C．entertained

D．greeted

16.

A．special

B．embarrassed

C．stressful

D．funny

17.

A．creative

B．intelligent

C．dynamic

D．ambitious

18.

A．reflecting

B．fighting

C．pioneering

D．sharing

19.

A．sadness

B．loneliness

C．tiredness

D．bitterness

20.

A．difference

B．contribution

C．donation

D．commitment

7 . 阅读短文，并按照题目要求用英语回答问题。

When 16-year-old Colin Moore is out on the football field, he is putting his heart into the game and looks just like any other teenage athlete out there. But what makes him different than the rest, is that he’s playing without part of his arm.

Moore was born without the lower part of his right arm, but he’s never let that stop him from achieving anything he’s put his mind to in his life, including football. “I’ve always had to have a mind of steel, heart of gold, and just move forward no matter what.” Moore said.

Although his arm difference has never got in the way of anything, it’s been a challenge for him. But in everything he does, he’s worked twice as hard as everyone else to make sure he would succeed. Moore’s goal is to be a starting center, which requires a lot of body strength. Even though he is missing an arm, he makes up for it with his fast movements and strength, making him the perfect choice for this position.

Moore looks up to the Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, and aims to be just like him one day. Moore’s hard work even got him noticed by his hero. After seeing a video of Moore playing football, Kelce sent him one back. Kelce told Moore that his perseverance is a great encouragement to him. He even invited Moore to join him and the Eagles at their training camp so they could meet him.

Moore’s coach Frank Holmes agrees with Kelce and compliments Moore’s perseverance. “The thing I can say about Colin is this: he was born with a challenging situation, but every day he has a positive attitude and focuses fully on whatever he does. He trains hard.”

1. What makes Moore different from other athletes? (no more than 10 words)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
2. How did Moore achieve his goal? (no more than 5 words)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What did Jason Kelce do after seeing Moore play? (no more than 20 words)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the meaning of the underlined word in the last paragraph? (1 word)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
5. How does Moore’s story inspire you? Please explain. (no more than 20 words)
____________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . 阅读下面短文，并根据短文内容完成下列各题。

After being evacuated (疏散) from her Florida home following Hurricane Michael. Amber Gee was attempting to get an idea of the destruction left behind when she discovered a sign of trouble. As reported by ABC News, Gee was using NOAA’s interactive aerial map (交互式航拍地图) to check the damage done to her and her family’s homes when she spotted the word “H-E-L-P” spelled out in the yard.

The NOAA website allows those impacted in the hurricane to get a look at specific streets or homes by zooming in on (用变焦距镜头拉近) aerial imagery of the affected area. According to ABC News, Gee was looking at one of these photos when she noticed a cry for help spelled out in wood in the front yard of her grandmother’s Bay County home.

Though her grandmother had evacuated, several other family members, including Gee’s uncle and his wife, had stayed behind. After spotting the message, Gee alerted (向……报警) Bay County Emergency Services, who went to the house and rescued those who were trapped in the residence.

“Apparently, they had to cut through a lot of downed trees to get there,” Gee told ABC News. Her uncle, Ernest, had reportedly used wood from one of those trees to spell out the message.

After the rescue, Bay County Emergency Services posted the incident on their Facebook page, writing, “This is an incredible story of how people are working together in this situation. Someone from another county was using the mapping app to check property in rural Bay County and noticed the word ‘help’ spelled out in the grass in wood. That person immediately contacted us and sent the picture and we dispatched emergency workers.”

Meanwhile, Gee says she is thankful that she was able to use the mapping tool to get her family to safety. “The hurricane has turned everything upside down everywhere. Some were more fortunate than others. I’m just happy that everybody is safe and sound and, hopefully, soon we will all get through this together and recover from this storm,” she said.

1. What did Gee use the mapping app to do? (no more than 12 words)
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Who can look at the NOAA website’s aerial photos of the affected area?   (no more than 5 words)
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Who spelled out “Help” to cry for help?   (no more than 5 words)
________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What does the underlined word “dispatched” in Para. 5 probably mean?   (one word)
________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What lesson can you learn from this story? Please explain.   (no more than 25 words)
________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . No one expected this from me. There had been an air of ________ rising within my family for months, and I felt totally overburdened with the school work and activities I had on my plate. So I ________.

I had completely no idea of returning home. It ________ some begging for a place to stay on the first night. I got enough cash for a room at a hostel on the second night by ________ my electronics (电子设备).

I spent the first few days full of optimism, ________ out around downtown New York. But that ________ soon gave way to fear. My money was running out fast, ________ me into financial responsibility. I ________ only what I needed at the lowest price when I was ________. Survival stress was a different beast than academic or familial stress. I was ________ as well as I could, but I was still greatly underprepared for living ________. So I took one more day to enjoy the city and my ________, and then I went home.

It had been less than a week, but it felt like much ________. Going back was much harder than leaving. Repairing my ________ with my parents was a difficult process. And missing a week of school was ________ enough, so my grades were in need of serious ________.

When all the dust settled, I didn’t want to run away from my ________ anymore. I grew up a lot that week and learned how to ________ self-control. I won’t ________ what I did to anyone. It didn’t provide any long-term ________ to any problem.

1.

A．tension

B．mystery

C．expectation

D．excitement

2.

A．drew back

B．dropped behind

C．ran away

D．gave up

3.

A．included

B．required

C．received

D．mentioned

4.

A．repairing

B．abandoning

C．donating

D．selling

5.

A．falling

B．working

C．hanging

D．screaming

6.

A．regret

B．patience

C．anxiety

D．hope

7.

A．forcing

B．inviting

C．persuading

D．accompanying

8.

A．appreciated

B．accepted

C．suggested

D．bought

9.

A．conscious

B．exhausted

C．starving

D．generous

10.

A．adapting

B．surviving

C．travelling

D．behaving

11.

A．bravely

B．independently

C．expensively

D．healthily

12.

A．future

B．freedom

C．holiday

D．process

13.

A．longer

B．busier

C．happier

D．lonelier

14.

A．friendship

B．relationship

C．combination

D．impression

15.

A．skeptical

B．specific

C．tough

D．changeable

16.

A．control

B．recovery

C．reflection

D．observation

17.

A．problems

B．activities

C．conclusions

D．decisions

18.

A．confirm

B．avoid

C．reduce

D．practice

19.

A．describe

B．return

C．report

D．recommend

20.

A．attention

B．consideration

C．solution

D．communication

10 . Once, during my summer holidays, my father was sick, but he worked in the rice field just the same, because there was so much to do. As I looked at his thin figure, crawling (缓慢移动) ahead of me, I thought of my own depressing future. I was tied to the land by job after backbreaking job, unlike other boys who had freedom to pursue happiness. Why were there people in the world who would never know what it was like to toil (苦干), and others, like me, who had been toiling ever since they were small boys, season after season, year after year? Why were some people sitting before electric fans or in air-conditioned rooms, while I was out of breath and sweating under the blazing sun? Why was there mud and more mud in front of me?

Only we farmers were willing to crawl, to assume the lowliest of positions in order to have a better harvest. Even a horse, when working for man, stands tall. I was suddenly consumed with great pity and great respect for poor farmers, and the focus of my attention began to extend beyond myself and my family. This was an important turning point in my life.

While resting beside a field one day, my brothers and I resolved to pursue useful knowledge and technology to help ourselves and other farmers improve our circumstances, and lighten our burden of labour. This resolve gave me strength so that when I went to university, lighten our burden of labour. This resolve gave me strength so that when I went to university, and later to the US on a scholarship, my spirit rose above personal hardships. Crawling in the mud had taught me to lake bleeding and sweating as part of my life, and not to be afraid in the face of difficulties. But what was more important was that I had learned the meaning of “You reap what you sow”.

Mother used to say, “Judge a man not by his face, but by his fields.” I appreciate more and more the meaning of these words. The land is dependable, as long as you are willing to toil on it. When the wind blew and the green rice plants moved like waves in a sea, stunningly beautiful, a deep sense of satisfaction swelled up (充满) in me.

I laboured hard in the simple, isolated countryside of my home, and I am proud of this. Although later I went into academic research, I shall always remember what working in the rice fields taught me: plant your feet firmly on the ground, work hard and you will be rewarded.

1. What did the author think of his job as a farmer in Paragraph 1?

A．Unhappy but promising.	B．Free and meaningful.
C．Busy but rewarding.	D．Exhausting and hopeless.

2. What motivated the author to change his present life?

A．The concern for his father’s sickness.	B．His pity and respect for poor farmers.
C．His eagerness for knowledge and technology.	D．His wish to have a better harvest.

3. How does the author understand his mother’s words in Paragraph 4?

A．A man should be judged by his academic background.

B．A man’s sense of satisfaction comes from the land.

C．A man willing to toil in his field is bound to reap a harvest.

D．A man shouldn’t be proud of his appearance.

4. According to the last paragraph, it can be inferred that the author________.

A．achieves great success in his academic career	B．benefits a lot from his previous experience
C．lives in the isolated countryside	D．takes pride in his hometown

5. What could be the best title for the passage?

A．Crawling in the Rice Fields	B．Sticking to Your Dreams
C．Lightening the Burden of Labour	D．Sparing No Effort to Work