2 . I have done many things in the past four years I did not believe I would even consider, let alone do. Each of these _________ seemed to be a symbol of another step in my life that I _________ to get through to success. Not long ago I had the opportunity to _________ a rock wall. Now that does not sound very hard to _________. But when you look forty feet _________ and at the little things that you have to step on and hold onto, it doesn’t seem so _________ after all. At least that is what I _________. But I knew it was a challenge that I was going to take on. So I put on my climbing shoes, looked up at the wall and started up.

Each hand hold and each foot hold was carefully placed and one thing I _________ on the way up was to not look back or look down. About half _________ up I began to feel tired but I knew I could __________ it. So I continued one step at a time. And yes, I did make it to the top and what a joy it was to be forty feet in the air and look down at how __________ I had come. What fun and what a feeling of __________ it was coming back down and celebrating with the __________ I was with. Yes, eight of us climbed the wall in an afternoon of fun and challenge.

As I look at the experience I can see how it __________ my success and the direction I am continuing to pursue. It is __________ that every challenge and every road is conquered（征服）one step at a time. Every time I get a little __________, these challenges and experiences will help me through the tough times and stay focus on the __________. So many times people will look back and either slow down or stop because something discourages them. That day the prize was the __________ of the wall. But in life the prize is each __________ you have and celebrate as you conquer each challenge one step at a time. So __________ going and you will get to the top.

1.

A．suggestions

B．improvements

C．discoveries

D．challenges

2.

A．offered

B．created

C．needed

D．missed

3.

A．build

B．climb

C．visit

D．report

4.

A．say

B．judge

C．do

D．see

5.

A．straight

B．back

C．down

D．up

6.

A．easy

B．dangerous

C．fantastic

D．complex

7.

A．thought

B．proved

C．concluded

D．hoped

8.

A．ignored

B．admitted

C．obtained

D．learned

9.

A．way

B．time

C．amount

D．tour

10.

A．take

B．make

C．follow

D．give

11.

A．fast

B．far

C．soon

D．much

12.

A．achievement

B．appreciation

C．independence

D．familiarity

13.

A．beer

B．friends

C．flowers

D．audience

14.

A．reminds

B．directs

C．represents

D．refers

15.

A．likely

B．unbelievable

C．true

D．funny

16.

A．scared

B．unsatisfied

C．confused

D．discouraged

17.

A．purpose

B．course

C．prize

D．result

18.

A．top

B．size

C．weight

D．height

19.

A．problem

B．dream

C．opportunity

D．success

20.

A．give up

B．keep on

C．prepare for

D．start with

3 . Making it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee (a spelling competition) is an amazing achievement for any kid, but for 11-year-old Neil Maes, being born deaf made his journey especially unlikely.

After receiving cochlear implants (人工耳蜗) in both ears as a baby, he had to train his brain to understand spoken words. It took countless hours of speech therapy (疗法).

“We didn’t even know that he’d be able to talk,” said his mother, Christy Maes.

Now the soft-spoken kid from Belton, South Carolina is officially one of the nation’s top young spellers. He earned the right to take the stage in the final rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Neil’s parents have always given him a tip, coaching him to always ask the pronouncer for the meaning of a word, so that he can be sure he heard it correctly. Most contestants do this anyway.

“He’s able to spell very difficult words. You tell him, ‘Spell this word,’ and he’s able to actually imagine what that sounds like in his head and spell the word. It’s actually quite impressive,” said Dr. Michael Hoa, who performed Neil’s cochlear implantation. “There’s a lot that goes into training your brain to do that.”

Neil’s parents didn’t know he was taking part in a spelling bee with his third-grade class until he came home and told them he had won. He made it all the way to his regional (地区的) bee that year, finishing second. Now a naturally shy fifth-grader, Neil is already worn out from the busy bee-week schedule, but he seems happy.

“Our main hope out of all of this was to encourage people that are going to be facing what we had to face,” Christy said.

But Neil said coming to the bee has motivated (激发) him to study even harder, so he can return next year.

“It’s just fun and I want to do it again,” Neil said.

1. What makes it difficult for Neil to enter the competition?

A．He is naturally shy.	B．He is unable to talk.
C．He has a hearing disability.	D．He is undergoing medical treatment.

2. What does the underlined word “it” (in Para. 5) refer to?

A．The tip from Neil’s parents.	B．The coach’s pronunciation.
C．The meaning.	D．The word.

3. What did Michael think of Neil?

A．He’s amazing.	B．He’s very lucky.
C．He should study harder.	D．He should use his imagination.

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

A．Hard training will finally pay off	B．We can do more for disabled children
C．Spelling bees are becoming more popular	D．Deaf 11-year-old competes in National Spelling Bee

7 . Going to the Olympics wasn’t happening smoothly as I’d expected. I went to Greece as an alternate, but it was a ________experience-watching my teammates ________ together and compete day after day. I was part of the team, yet it was clear that I wasn’t   ________one of them. I never had a chance to compete. Still, I was proud of my identity. A reporter asked me how I felt about being________ as an alternate. I answered, “There is no event that can defeat my sense of inner ________.”

After I returned, I soon ________ myself. My coach even said it was as if I had   ________ on; he could see the light ________in me. In the gym, working on my training plans, I ________to my dream of being an Olympian, and from then on, I spent 24 hours a day________to this goal.

I________it to the 2008 Olympic tryouts in Philly, and sailed right through them. When the decision day finally came when the president of USA Gymnastics________ team members competing for Beijing Olympics, I was very, very confident. The second my name was heard, with a ________, I fell to my knees. Then, smiling and crying at the same time, I ________ up and hugged my coach. I hugged everyone. I was   ________   and inside I was grateful for the ________ and hardship I ever met with.

The greatest thing I got from those years is that once I find a(n)________, it’s a matter of grasping that dream with________ confidence and unwavering (坚定不移的) ________. And then let the dream ________me!

1.

A．praiseworthy

B．painstaking

C．bittersweet

D．heartbreaking

2.

A．work out

B．drop out

C．go out

D．check out

3.

A．eventually

B．really

C．occasionally

D．properly

4.

A．named

B．abandoned

C．considered

D．observed

5.

A．peace

B．change

C．conflict

D．accomplishment

6.

A．blamed

B．enjoyed

C．motivated

D．believed

7.

A．stayed

B．switched

C．got

D．held

8.

A．go on

B．go by

C．go ahead

D．go beyond

9.

A．contributed

B．adjusted

C．stuck

D．belonged

10.

A．reduced

B．addicted

C．opposed

D．devoted

11.

A．put

B．made

C．caught

D．got

12.

A．announced

B．instructed

C．interviewed

D．permitted

13.

A．sigh

B．hesitation

C．curiosity

D．shout

14.

A．woke

B．stood

C．turned

D．looked

15.

A．attracted

B．astonished

C．overjoyed

D．moved

16.

A．wonders

B．disappointment

C．introduction

D．difficulties

17.

A．passion

B．solution

C．comparison

D．instruction

18.

A．partial

B．artificial

C．absolute

D．insufficient

19.

A．imagination

B．perseverance

C．intelligence

D．expectation

20.

A．purchase

B．challenge

C．charge

D．chase

8 . Hua Sheng and Lu Sheng, a retired Tibetan couple, have become trailblazers（开拓者）of grape growing and wine-making in their old ages.

Lu Sheng learned grape planting and winemaking from her grandmother’s sister. Since they retired, the couple have moved to Lhasa from the village of Yakhadi. Though the fact that the region’s capital, which is 3,600 meters above sea level, is considered unfit for growing grapes, Lu Sheng and Hua Sheng began an ambitious project in 2015, planting grapes in Tsalna, a town in the suburb of Lhasa.

They received support from the local government, which is committed to developing business and the economy. The couple’s project provides jobs for rural residents, and, as a result, the government has considered the project part of its poverty relief program.

“Lhasa is an ideal place for planting French grape varieties that are resistant to cold, drought and disease, and adaptable to high-altitude and open-air planting," Lu Sheng said.

“Thanks to the plateau’s sunshine and organic planting, our grapes grow very well here in Lhasa. The grapes are a bit sour and sweet, and they have a high anthocyanin（花青素）content,” she said. Anthocyanins, which are in grape cells and contribute rich color to wine, are water-soluble（水溶性的）.

In 2018, Hua Sheng and Lu Sheng expanded their project, planting on nearly 6.67 hectares. In order to familiarize Tibetan farmers with grape planting and winemaking, they taught the skills to local villagers.

“We have successfully taught the local farmers how to grow grapes and make wine over the three years. They now have a new source of income besides traditional farrming and herding,” Hua Sheng said.

Yudron, a resident of Nam, said she was grateful to the grape planting project in her village, which has contributed to her income and quality of life." After working in the vineyards for years, now we know how to make wine. We drink both barley and grape wine now. We love grape wine more, though, as it is healthier.

1. What did the couple do after their retirement?

A．They grew grapes and made wine in Lhasa.

B．They made friends with a French expert.

C．They moved to another city from Lhasa.

D．They learned grape planting from Hua Sheng’ S grandmother.

2. Why was the couple’s project thought of as a poverty relief program?

A．They donated grapes to local schools.

B．They provided free wine for villagers.

C．They employed local residents as workers.

D．They expanded the project with the local government.

3. Which is the function of anthocyanins?

A．They make grapes more delicious.

B．They can accelerate the growth of grapes.

C．They make grapes宣bit sour and sweet.

D．They provide rich color’s for wine.

4. For/the project conducted by the couple, Yudron is ________ .

A．appreciative

B．cautious

C．indifferent

D．hesitate

9 . Spring Festival means a lot for Chinese people. However, given the sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks in different places, many cities ________ residents in any city with confirmed COVID-19 cases not to travel during the holiday in order to prevent any more outbreaks. ________, I stayed in Beijing during the Spring Festival of 2022. It was my first Spring Festival in China. I ________ it with my Chinese friends.

Several of Ralph’s coworkers came to our apartment to have ________ with me. They brought the meat and dough (面团) to make the ________ dumplings. While I was not ________ in making them, I certainly did enjoy eating them. As soon as all the food was ready, we ________ to enjoy the delicious foods.

Linda brought me Spring Festival couplets ________ good wishes and asked me to paste them on the door. Scott ________ me with many firecrackers. Some students gave me paper cuts to ________ my windows.

Eric invited me to ________ his family to spend New Year’s Eve together. Among the many ________ at dinner, they served a ________ fish. However, I was told we would only be eating half the fish that night because the ________ of it would be eaten the next day. This was done to ________ the good fortune over into the following year since leftovers are thought to be a ________ of prosperity. After dinner, we watched the Spring Festival Gala together. A martial art performance ________ me deeply. The show entitled “Walking Clouds, Flowing Water” starred three tai chi ________ practicing their moves on top of landmark buildings in three cities: Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangzhou of Guangdong province, which was amazing. I went to my ________ at midnight.

It was a very happy time and we have many good ________ of this festival holiday.

1.

A．urged

B．forbade

C．allowed

D．invited

2.

A．Otherwise

B．Therefore

C．Besides

D．However

3.

A．congratulated

B．made

C．visited

D．celebrated

4.

A．lunch

B．supper

C．fun

D．tea

5.

A．common

B．original

C．traditional

D．sweet

6.

A．skilled

B．concerned

C．weak

D．fortunate

7.

A．got off

B．stood up

C．sat down

D．let out

8.

A．forecasting

B．representing

C．spreading

D．adopting

9.

A．assisted

B．impressed

C．served

D．provided

10.

A．decorate

B．paint

C．fix

D．protect

11.

A．greet

B．promise

C．join

D．help

12.

A．guests

B．dishes

C．programs

D．events

13.

A．small

B．big

C．half

D．whole

14.

A．rest

B．head

C．back

D．tail

15.

A．turn

B．send

C．carry

D．transform

16.

A．scene

B．sign

C．period

D．schedule

17.

A．absorbed

B．adapted

C．frightened

D．judged

18.

A．athletes

B．adults

C．performers

D．singers

19.

A．country

B．classroom

C．office

D．apartment

20.

A．memories

B．views

C．imagination

D．expectations