1 . Someone wise once said that there's no wrong time to learn. There's nothing more _________ than seeing someone try to study and learn new things years after they were last at school. A woman is now getting much _________ for graduating from Texas University.

Minnie Payne, a 90-year-old woman,_________ to get her Master's degree 73 years after graduating from high school in 1950._________ that she wasn't ready to give up on her academic career just yet, she went to Texas University. This made her the _________ graduate who completed her _________ and earned a degree at the university at any level.

Payne wasn't born into a family of intellectuals. She _________ quite poor in the South Carolina textile（纺织业）community. Despite her humble _________ , she said, “I've always tried to _________ myself. ”Talking about the importance of __________ and how it helped us, she added, "When you gain an education, you better yourself and those around you. Certainly, you gain __________ as well." She's undoubtedly a devoted student. Her __________ for knowledge coupled with her discipline is quite impressive.

According to Payne, her education wasn't an __________ part of her childhood, considering the __________ she was born into. Since her parents didn't __________ understand the importance of education, there was nobody there to __________ her in that direction. She said, "We were poor, but we __________ to realize we were poor because everybody else was in the same boat."

"Payne was __________ throughout the program to getting the education, knowledge and skills she __________ ," said Billy Roessler, who was Payne's academic adviser. "And her story __________ the fact that it's never too late to learn."

1.

A．frightening

B．contradictory

C．inspiring

D．joyful

2.

A．excitement

B．attention

C．service

D．encouragement

3.

A．agreed

B．happened

C．promised

D．decided

4.

A．Realizing

B．Hoping

C．Revealing

D．Remembering

5.

A．tallest

B．smartest

C．oldest

D．best

6.

A．purposes

B．coursework

C．challenges

D．exploration

7.

A．ended up

B．turned out

C．came out

D．grew up

8.

A．beginnings

B．personalities

C．strengths

D．requirements

9.

A．improve

B．express

C．simplify

D．identify

10.

A．reputation

B．environment

C．education

D．difference

11.

A．sympathy

B．knowledge

C．wealth

D．rescue

12.

A．application

B．demand

C．preparation

D．thirst

13.

A．important

B．extreme

C．obvious

D．especial

14.

A．platform

B．trend

C．poverty

D．direction

15.

A．traditionally

B．exactly

C．particularly

D．roughly

16.

A．believe

B．transport

C．accompany

D．push

17.

A．failed

B．struggled

C．longed

D．declined

18.

A．addicted

B．exposed

C．committed

D．attached

19.

A．lost

B．desired

C．supported

D．acquired

20.

A．monitors

B．replaces

C．changes

D．proves

2 . It was at the midnight. I had just gone to bed, a bit drunk after _________ my birthday with some buddies in my house.

Our town was on the bank of the Ahr River, and it had been raining heavily that week; there were flood warnings for nearby areas, but not where I was. I _________ made some preparations, sandbags outside my garden door, clothing on tables etc. Before my friends left, they _________ me for doing that, but I thought, why _________?

As I drifted off to sleep, I was _________ by the sound of rushing water. When I _________ my legs off the bed, I was shocked to feel cold water already up to my _________. In darkness, I grabbed my phone and turned on its flashlight to _________ into the hall, where I saw water was pouring from the garden door. It must have broken the _________.

Any __________ of the alcohol were gone. With the fierce water, in bare feet, I started to wade to my only __________: the door that leads __________ to the rest of the house. Finally I made it and tried to open the door, but it shut again __________ I opened it a bit. I had to do something. I __________ in the water nearly to my waist, and a sword was touched. I grabbed it and wedged the door open. I managed to make a __________, enough for me to __________ through. Then, I ran up to the third floor to check my family’s __________. At that critical moment, we saw the light flashing outside—the rescue team. __________ we stood on the assault boat, I was still trembling.

The following day, the __________ news came that many houses around us were destroyed. I think the experience made me grateful. __________, “better safe than sorry” is a wise choice.

1.

A．congratulating

B．celebrating

C．broadcasting

D．applauding

2.

A．even

B．already

C．yet

D．still

3.

A．laughed at

B．approved of

C．stared at

D．accused of

4.

A．take a risk

B．make a fortune

C．make a bet

D．take a guess

5.

A．annoyed

B．awakened

C．affected

D．attacked

6.

A．bent

B．sought

C．swung

D．hung

7.

A．feet

B．knees

C．waist

D．chest

8.

A．slid

B．wandered

C．hurried

D．skipped

9.

A．wall

B．fence

C．sandbags

D．barriers

10.

A．excuses

B．causes

C．consequences

D．effects

11.

A．escape

B．direction

C．help

D．passion

12.

A．forwards

B．backwards

C．downstairs

D．upstairs

13.

A．before long

B．every time

C．as soon as

D．any time

14.

A．observed

B．experienced

C．searched

D．examined

15.

A．gap

B．glimpse

C．blank

D．distance

16.

A．jump

B．ride

C．squeeze

D．pull

17.

A．safety

B．health

C．actuality

D．motivation

18.

A．Since

B．If

C．After

D．Before

19.

A．harmful

B．fearful

C．stressful

D．powerful

20.

A．What’s more

B．Worst of all

C．In contrast

D．In any case

4 . The Art of Healing

The sea fires our imagination and rekindles our spirit.

Wyland

It was Christmas Day 1984, and I began painting my first Whaling Wall in Hawaii. The giant ________ wall, three hundred feet long and twenty stories high,________ Kaiser Hospital. Patients, many sick and ________, looked out of their windows and saw a ________ pale brown wall, the architects’ answer to saving costs. But I saw the wall as a perfect canvas(画布)to ________ life-size whales and other colorful marine life.

As I began painting that first day, I ________ an old man with an IV(静脉注射器)________ to his arm sitting in a wheelchair, watching my every ________

Day after day this man would ________ on the balcony of his hospital room and spend nearly every moment ________ me paint my largest marine mural. I would wave to him each day, and he would wave back with all the ________ left in his fragile body. Four months later at the dedication ________ of the mural, I cut the ribbon with city ________ and thousands of supporters and looked across the parking lot where, among the many ________ rooms, I caught a(an)________ of the old man. He tipped his hand to me for what I knew would be the last time. I tried to ________ my emotion as I waved back. I found out later from his family that he had an ________ cancer and should have died ________ before, but had wanted to live to see the mural ________

The man died shortly after the dedication ceremony; his memory and ________ will live with me and within that mural forever.

1.

A．brilliant

B．delicate

C．blank

D．plain

2.

A．approached

B．crossed

C．witnessed

D．faced

3.

A．dying

B．delighted

C．disappointed

D．disgusting

4.

A．disturbing

B．depressing

C．annoying

D．horrifying

5.

A．display

B．reflect

C．describe

D．imitate

6.

A．observed

B．recognized

C．noticed

D．realized

7.

A．applied

B．exposed

C．attached

D．related

8.

A．behavior

B．move

C．expression

D．manner

9.

A．run out

B．pick out

C．break out

D．come out

10.

A．accompanying

B．watching

C．inspecting

D．following

11.

A．energy

B．consciousness

C．patience

D．courage

12.

A．anniversary

B．occasion

C．reception

D．ceremony

13.

A．officials

B．residents

C．clients

D．agents

14.

A．dining

B．washing

C．office

D．hospital

15.

A．view

B．eye

C．glimpse

D．insight

16.

A．hold back

B．give back

C．call back

D．bring back

17.

A．uncomfortable

B．incurable

C．unbelievable

D．inescapable

18.

A．years

B．months

C．weeks

D．days

19.

A．constructed

B．abandoned

C．compeleted

D．approved

20.

A．love

B．life

C．movement

D．spirit

5 . Joey isn’t your typical guard pet—unless you try to break into his house.

Adam found a baby _________ in his yard. He decided to _________ him in and named him Joey. In just a few months, he _________ a family member. “He’d let anybody _________ him.” says Adam. “Right up until the kid broke in.”

That was the day when Adam came home to obvious signs of _________. Strange, snowy footprints tracked around the _________. His _________ was scratched up（刮擦）. A few items of value were _________. He alerted the police about the break-in, and officer Ashley came to the house to make a _________ .

“Joey had run in the bedroom... and kind of __________ her,” says Adam.

Ashley asked if Joey bites. Not usually, Adam explained, but he is, after all, a __________ animal. You never know.

__________ later, Ashley returned with a remarkable story: She’d __________ a suspect, based in part on the cuts all over his hands.

She asked him, ‘Did you get that __________ a squirrel?” and he says, “Yeah, it kept __________ me and wouldn’t stop until I left,” says Adam.

“The attack __________ him, obviously, because he wasn’t __________ to have a squirrel come flying out of nowhere at him,” says Ashley. “So basically he said he took what he could and __________ as fast as he could.”

In a couple of hours, Adam’s family got their __________ back, and Joey got his favorite   __________; nuts.

1.

A．dog

B．cat

C．squirrel

D．rabbit

2.

A．kick

B．take

C．throw

D．follow

3.

A．helped

B．found

C．became

D．hurt

4.

A．reward

B．comfort

C．challenge

D．pet

5.

A．robbery

B．mistake

C．murder

D．accident

6.

A．street

B．yard

C．office

D．bathroom

7.

A．bookcase

B．backpack

C．safe

D．cupboard

8.

A．missing

B．shining

C．stored

D．abandoned

9.

A．deal

B．request

C．decision

D．report

10.

A．delighted

B．surprised

C．annoyed

D．troubled

11.

A．small

B．unique

C．strange

D．wild

12.

A．Months

B．Years

C．Hours

D．Seconds

13.

A．questioned

B．charged

C．identified

D．recognized

14.

A．from

B．in

C．on

D．to

15.

A．pulling

B．chasing

C．approaching

D．attacking

16.

A．excited

B．scared

C．moved

D．encouraged

17.

A．expecting

B．noticing

C．pretending

D．promising

18.

A．checked

B．hid

C．cleaned

D．left

19.

A．clothes

B．belongings

C．secrets

D．books

20.

A．treat

B．target

C．toy

D．taste

9 . “Did you forget your name?” someone asked me at a networking event a few years ago after it took me almost a minute to say it. “No, I stutter (口吃),” I politely replied. This is what I have to face every day. So I wasn’t upset.

I’ve stuttered since I was three years old. In my case, stuttering usually shows itself in terms of repetitions: “My name is S-S-S-S-Samuel.” Instead of being unhappy about the experience at the networking event, I felt proud that I’d brought up my stuttering. But I wasn’t always so forthcoming about it. When I was growing up, I hardly spoke. Whether it was at school or at work, I avoided most social situations out of embarrassment and fear of being laughed at.

But things became different after I attended the National Stuttering Association meeting, the largest gathering of stutterers worldwide. It was the first time I’d met so many other professionals who stutter—lawyers, doctors, actors, etc.—all in one place. To my surprise, everyone spoke without fear or embarrassment. In fact, they were proud. Stuttering was celebrated. That was when I first realized that stuttering isn’t something to be ashamed of. It’s just something I happen to do, and that’s okay.

The change didn’t happen overnight, but over the last eight years, I’ve started to bring up my stuttering more. I’ve talked to friends and co-workers. I’ve mentioned it in every organization I’ve worked for. And when I talk about it with others, it encourages them to open up, too. My stuttering has allowed me to connect with others and develop stronger ties with them.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s still frustrating when I know exactly what I want to say but I just can’t seem to get the words out of my mouth. But today I don’t let my stuttering hold me back. Instead, I let it push me forward and help me make progress.

1. By saying “I wasn’t always so forthcoming about it”, the author means ________.

A．he was once an outgoing person

B．he regretted talking about his stuttering

C．he used to avoid opening up about his stuttering

D．he was unwilling to receive comments on his speech

2. How did the National Stuttering Association meeting influence the author?

A．He began to make friends with stutterers.

B．He learned some skills at stopping stuttering there.

C．It made him focus his attention on good comments.

D．The confident stutterers changed his attitude to stuttering.

3. What happened after the author started bringing up his stuttering?

A．He has improved his work performance.

B．He became popular among his co-workers.

C．He learned to express himself with simple words.

D．He was able to build a close relationship with others.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．The power of accepting my stutter	B．The challenge from normal people
C．Special ways to live with stuttering	D．My experience of overcoming stuttering

10 . A Georgia mom is winning praise for the way she’s teaching her children, aged 13,10 and 6, about money.

Shaketha MeGregor, a single mother in Dublin, Georgia, knew she needed a solution after frequent requests from her three kids for things like new toys and money to do things with their friends.

She came up with the unique idea to host a “job fair(就业展览会)”for her three children, Jahkeem, in seventh grade, Takeia, in fifth grade, and Serinity, in first grade. The three positions at the job fair were the kitchen manager, lead housekeeper and laundry supervisor(洗衣房主管).Children had to earn their pocket money by doing a job.

Jahkeem, Takeia and Serinity each picked the job they wanted to apply for, filled out the application and had interviews with their employer-their mom.

“My oldest and my youngest both applied for the lead housekeeper,” McGregor said.“ As to my 6-year-old daughter Serinity, I was more impressed with her application and her interview than my 13-year-old son Jahkeem.”

”I want them to be familiar with the process when they are older,“ she said. ”Whether they’re applying to a school or for a new job. they can look back and say, “I did this with Mom years ago.” As a parent you want to protect your children as much as possible, but you know that eventually they’ll have to experience it on their own and a child’s greatest lesson in life is going through the process.

MeGregor’s post on Facebook where she shared her job fair idea now has more than 200,000 likes. She said she hoped it inspired other parents to think outside of the box and let their kids’ voices be heard.“ What I’m realizing is that kids just want to be part of something. The first-hand experience is the best way to educate children,” McGregor said.

1. What do you know about McGregor’s solution?

A．It is creative.	B．It’s uninteresting
C．It is strange.	D．It’s traditional.

2. How can Takeia get the new toy she wants according to the passage?

A．By doing housework.	B．By behaving well.
C．By getting good marks.	D．By listening to McGregor.

3. What can we infer from the result of the job fair?

A．Serinity was awarded a new toy.

B．Serinity got the position as a kitchen manager.

C．Takeia became the lead housekeeper at the fair.

D．Jahkeen didn’t get the job he had applied for.

4. What do we know from the last paragraph?

A．Children should always listen to their parents views.

B．Parents should pay their children for anything.

C．MeGregor’s post is well received online.

D．MeGregor’s idea is suitable for all families.