1 . To build a prosperous (繁荣的) society, a fundamental understanding of the modern economy as a driving force in today’s world is essential.

What kind of prosperity have we achieved so far? The widespread definition of prosperity focuses on economic power and growth as measures of success. Let’s take a look at history. The Second Industrial Revolution enabled mass production and created a sufficient supply of goods. This has greatly increased the importance of money in its role as “a store of value, ” and “a medium of exchange. ”As a result, we have pursued economic power as the only indicator of prosperity, such as GDP. Waves of globalization and technological evolution have promoted overall economic growth, but have allowed the few who are strong to achieve greater power while exploiting the many who are weak. Consequently, inequality has worsened, and disunity has intensified.

The path to a truly prosperous world requires a shift in focus towards the most suitable happiness for all, in addition to economic power. Defining happiness, however, is a complex task. What makes people happy? The degree to which the same thing creates happiness differs from person to person. Happiness is subjective and complicated. This is a world of “multiple values” where each of us determines worth as opposed to “one fixed price” based merely on an economic perspective. Individuals shouldn’t be defined by a single identity or role but by multidimensional nature as well as multiple roles making independent choices and taking actions for their happiness in different aspects.

Businesses must be pioneers in pursuing not only economic growth but also the happiness of all citizens of society. Companies can contribute through the pursuit of social value as well as economic profit. At the heart of this lies “purpose”. A company’s purpose defines the value it brings to society. The true worth of a company should be determined not just by the return s it creates for shareholders but by the value it creates for society as a whole.

1. What is the author’s attitude to the widely accepted standard of prosperity?

A．Indifferent.

B．Critical.

C．Uncertain.

D．Approving.

2. What is the side effect of technological evolution?

A．The slower economic growth speed.

B．The sharp reduction of job opportunities.

C．The enlarged gap between the rich and the poor.

D．The increasing conflict between different nations.

3. Which statement will the author agree with according to the passage?

A．Happiness is changeable and beyond control.

B．Happiness largely depends on economic power.

C．The pursuit of profit determines a company’s true worth.

D．A prosperous world should be measured by multiple values.

4. Who are the main intended readers of the text?

A．Social psychologists.	B．Enterprise administrators.
C．School educators.	D．Technological researchers.

2 . You hate me. You don’t even know me and you hate me. Before we’ve even spoken, you hate me. At least that’s how it feels on my end of the call as a female collections officer at a call center.

I dread the moment when I have to log on to our phone system first thing in the morning because I never know who is going to be on the other end of that call.

Sometimes it’s an easy task. The caller is pleasant and has accepted personal responsibility for their debts, and we get through the phone call with ease. Then there are the ones who call in looking for a fight, or looking for someone to blame. Through the luck of the phone system, that person is me.

I’ve had people who shout at me, call me horrible names, accuse me personally of taking their money and threaten me. Why? I think it’s because I am invisible. I think I would be treated with the same level of disrespect if we were face to face. Fortunately for me, I have had years of experience in customer service, so I’m fairly rich in not letting the negative encounters bother me.

The biggest and most effective skill when it comes to the job is empathy (同理心). I can appreciate the situation which the caller is in because I’ve been there. That’s why I’m good at my job — I understand what you’re going through, and I’m here to help.

Some days though, no matter how much I try to leave the stress behind when I hang up the phone, it stays with me. I may do some deep breathing, go for a quick walk or simply stick my head outside for a burst of fresh air. I do this so I don’t carry that negativity on to my next call. That next call may be a person having the worst day of their life, but I don’t want to ever be the one who makes it worse. We are all humans just trying to get by in life, which makes you and me equal. So please, the next time we talk, remember that.

1. What does the underlined word “dread” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Enjoy.

B．Fear.

C．Expect.

D．Avoid.

2. Why does the author think some callers treat her badly?

A．They get angry too easily.	B．They blame her for their debts.
C．They do not see her as a real person.	D．They accuse her of taking their money.

3. Why does the author think she is good at her job?

A．She can offer callers best advice.	B．She is always respected by callers.
C．She can put herself in others’ shoes.	D．She isn’t easily influenced by negativity.

4. What is the author’s main purpose in writing this text?

A．To call for understanding of her job.	B．To explain why she is good at her job.
C．To introduce what she is responsible for.	D．To complain about her being treated badly.

3 . 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 . I just flew from Berlin, Germany, to Atlanta, Georgia, and it took me 24 hours due to the weather-related delay during my stopover in New York. Like many other passengers, I was so worn out, annoyed, and helpless that I could barely hold it together.

The pilot, called Thierry Beyeler, was different. He left the flight deck and walked to the dissatisfied passengers to apologize and comfort them. The pilot’s appropriate behavior set the tone and ensured no one got angry. It reminded me of the beauty of “elegance under pressure”. Thierry Beyeler was a pilot with Swiss International Air Lines, for which he flew various aircraft. During the delay, I had the chance to speak to Beyeler and learn about his experience as a pilot.

He said, “Flying is a bit like eating chocolate. I love every flight. However, when you have16 flights in four days, then that’s too much chocolate for me...”. As for crisis situations, he did have a few: “Once, I had an engine failure, but that’s rare, and we handled it. Another time, we had smoke in the cabin (机舱), and we went to land quickly. In the end, it was just the air conditioning having some problems…” He believes, “As Murphy’s law puts it, ‘What can go wrong will go wrong’. So think about it and try to prepare mentally.”

Beyeler continued, “Compared with cars, a flight is a high-risk environment; it’s not like riding a bike. Even if there was a minor error, it could have fatal consequences. Every pilot is quite professional in the field. But it is the strong mindset in the chaos that plays the key role. Humans intervene in technical systems to solve problems countless times a day, and it would be dangerous if the pilot became nervous and forgot that.”

I’ve been touched by Beyeler’s words. I understand that human factors, including confidence, courage, responsibility, and emotional intelligence, are becoming more and more important in today’s world.

1. How did Beyeler sound facing the long delay according to the text?

A．Depressed and tired.	B．Calm and optimistic.
C．Helpless and anxious.	D．Annoyed and sympathetic.

2. What does Beyeler want to show by mentioning “eating chocolate”?

A．Flying brings him much fun.	B．Flying involves various crisis situations.
C．Too many flight tasks can be unbearable for him.	D．Too many crisis situations have happened to him.

3. What does Beyeler consider critical, for pilots during emergencies?

A．Gaining a good sense of time.	B．Having great strength of mind.
C．Knowing all the technical systems well.	D．Having a good grasp of professional knowledge.

4. What did the author think of his communication with Beyeler?

A．Boring.

B．Frightening.

C．Rewarding.

D．Confusing.

5. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A．An adventurous trip to Atlanta.	B．The potential crisis situations on the plane.
C．Major factors influencing traffic safety.	D．The lessons from the pilot Beyeler.

5 . I’ve always been very sporty, even when pregnant with my four children. But when my third child George was born, everything _______. As a very _______ baby, he was always on the go and never slept. I still kept _______, but when he turned two, he started to have some _______ problems. One night we took him to hospital, and within 12 hours we were told he had _______ cancer of the white blood cells. It was his third birthday.

Our lives _______. We were taken by ambulance to Birmingham hospital and my husband Rich and I _______ to spend three days with him and three days with our kids at home. After about a month, Rich _______ me my running shoes. I looked at them, _______ He said: “George is ________, he’s with a nurse. I think you need to go for a run.” I remember putting them on and ________   as I ran on the road, as fast as I could for 25 minutes, which was such a(n) ________.

When George was on the road to ________, I needed to re-find my identity and earn some money. I couldn’t ________full-time as he was always going to need a lot of ________, so I decided to become a personal trainer. We built a ________ in the garden and now I train groups of women running there.

I also ________ in obstacle course races (OCR) and won the Spartan world champion. The thing that ________ me is the memory of George at rock bottom; I want all my kids to see that you can never ________. You just need motivation and passion. Just like my’ story-when George had cancer, exercise helped me cope with the difficulty and gave me a new ________.

1.

A．escaped

B．abandoned

C．changed

D．remained

2.

A．gentle

B．careless

C．lazy

D．energetic

3.

A．running

B．swimming

C．hiking

D．skating

4.

A．family

B．health

C．mental

D．financial

5.

A．mysterious

B．temporary

C．significant

D．serious

6.

A．restricted

B．injured

C．stopped

D．wasted

7.

A．rolled over

B．took turns

C．calmed down

D．paid off

8.

A．made

B．held

C．designed

D．brought

9.

A．excited

B．delighted

C．confused

D．upset

10.

A．safe

B．ready

C．brave

D．strong

11.

A．missing

B．crying

C．staring

D．sighing

12.

A．guide

B．healer

C．adviser

D．trainer

13.

A．danger

B．youth

C．retirement

D．recovery

14.

A．work

B．sing

C．dance

D．study

15.

A．appreciation

B．encouragement

C．company

D．understanding

16.

A．gym

B．swing

C．lab

D．cabin

17.

A．competed

B．observed

C．judged

D．reported

18.

A．forces

B．admits

C．drives

D．demands

19.

A．miss out

B．give up

C．tum down

D．move on

20.

A．skill

B．course

C．car

D．career

6 . How to Learn from Your Regrets

Regret’s benefits don’t come to us by chance.     1     . Here are three steps you can take the next time you find yourself thinking carefully about your past missteps.

Kill the ghost (鬼魂).

People often say their regrets keep coming to their mind. This suggests that regret is like a ghost. Bring your ghost out of the shadows by making a list of your regrets. Write down why each one still bothers you and its bad effects.     2    .

Forgive yourself.

    3    , but sometimes you just can’t stop blaming yourself. Perhaps you dropped out of school decades ago and are constantly calculating today how much money you would be making if you had pressed on to graduation. Now is the time to declare: “I will not waste my life reliving a decision that cannot be changed.”

Collect your diploma.

Regret is like a school run by human nature. If you never experienced regret, you would keep repeating the same behaviors that led you to miss opportunities.     4    . Next. list all the ways that you can invest in your own skills and improvement right now — and get started.

Regrets may hurt.     5    , while trying to live without them is a lost opportunity to grow. Life is a journey full of pleasures and pains. To live it well and fully means learning from every bit of it, including the mistakes, and moving forward.

A．After you make a mistake, life moves on

B．Filling your mind with them is destructive

C．The ghost certainly doesn’t rule a person’s life

D．We have to seek them out on purpose to improve ourselves

E．You will find that a list is a lot less frightening than a ghost

F．You choose a life sentence for a poor decision you made in the past

G．If you let regret teach, you can note how you want to change your behavior

7 . Youth shines through hardships; life is elevated through hard work.

Xi Jinping, Chinese President

“I don’t think about winning or losing during the competition. I just do my best, and the rewards come naturally,’’ Gu Ailing, freeskier from Chinese Olympic team, said in an interview.

When I had this interview with Gu in 2021, the young skier had just achieved record- breaking wins for two gold medals at the world championships in Aspen, US. But what impressed me most was how she treated her great achievements. While many people consider Gu talented, she believes she is just one of the many sports lovers, who with such pure passion, could overcome any obstacles or setbacks and enjoy doing what they love.

Her words struck a chord with me. As a young journalist covering the youth of today, I have written thousands of reports, digging up inspirational stories among Gen Zers who are born between 1995 and 2010. I also look tor different ways to make their stories known by more people, For example, I have made videos on hot topics while also writing articles.

My efforts have reaped fruits. On April 15, I was awarded as a national outstanding member of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC).

I am so honored, but what makes me more thrilled is that some of my interviewees are also on the list. We are all exploring different career paths, but we share the same attitude toward our passions like Gu. This award, I believe, is for the spirit of Chinese young people.

For example, the awardees from the Sanxingdui Museum have a passion to bring the 3.000-year-old Sanxingdui relics back to life and reveal a magnificent civilization in history. In October 2021,1 went to the museum and interviewed two young restorers there. Through working with them I got to know that restoration is a long process, and they might repeat one single action carefully every day for several months. ”We are doing ordinary things and we just do our best, "said one of the restorers. This was how they saw their work.

I believe similar situations can be found in the story of every awardee. Just as the lyrics of the popular song Lonely Warrior go, “who said heroes can’t be ordinary souls?’’ We are all ordinary people doing our best for our passions, and together we can make extraordinary achievements.

1. What does the underlined word “elevate’’ (Line 1) mean in the context?

A．lift up

B．promote

C．increase

D．cheer up

2. Which of the following statements regarding Gu Ailing is WRONG?

A．She believes enthusiasm and passion can overcome any difficulties.

B．She is regarded as a genius sports player by a minority of people.

C．She is absolutely passionate about her sports career of skiing.

D．She doesn’t owe her success solely to her excellent skills in skiing.

3. Why is the author more thrilled by seeing her interviewees also on the list?

A．Because they are all her good friends.

B．Because their glories will benefit her as well.

C．Because she is a generous person who is happy for everyone’s success.

D．Because it indicates a success of a common attitude shared by all of them.

4. What’s the purpose of the author’s writing this passage?

A．To introduce the life stories of the people she has interviewed.

B．To persuade youngsters to take up careers they love.

C．To prove the positive relationship between passion and success.

D．To inform the readers of her recent achievements in the career.

8 . Many people associate the English language with literature, whether that is poetry, novels or plays. However, for Nathan, English is ________ those writings. It is a device that can give people ________.

Winner of the 2021 Student of the Year Linguist（English）Award, Nathan was born with a stutter（口吃）. As a child, his speech disorder ________ whenever he had to speak in public. "That was when I would get really ________ and lose confidence in my speech," said the college student.

However, even at a young age, he knew avoiding the problem was not a（n）________. Through speech training and discipline, Nathan was able to ________ this barrier, evident from the many awards he has ________ after taking part in debates at his school. Having gained confidence from public speaking, Nathan began volunteering to teach ________ to primary school students from ________ communities. He believes that having a "wealth gap" between your classmates can make you ________ you're inferior（低级别的）. "They really had to find their confidence," Nathan explained, and English was a ________ for the students to build their self-esteem. Nathan hopes people will understand that "your ________ would really be able to shape your identity and individuality".

As a person who once had trouble ________ his opinions, he knows the value of speaking with ________. That is why the language is crucial to him. However, while some may ________ the winner in a Linguist category would want to pursue a career in language, Nathan wishes to follow a ________ in science. Nevertheless, he believes English can be an essential part of that journey, because scientists need language to ________ their findings with the general public. "Scientists are specialized but to make a massive ________, their message must ________ the general public," he explained. "Language is very important to ________ abstract concepts."

1.

A．other than

B．more than

C．rather than

D．less than

2.

A．motivation

B．interest

C．imagination

D．confidence

3.

A．hid

B．worsened

C．disappeared

D．improved

4.

A．nervous

B．sensible

C．cautious

D．excited

5.

A．possibility

B．purpose

C．option

D．escape

6.

A．ignore

B．remove

C．recognize

D．accept

7.

A．witnessed

B．presented

C．challenged

D．received

8.

A．English

B．literature

C．discipline

D．speech

9.

A．international

B．downtown

C．disadvantaged

D．diverse

10.

A．think

B．expect

C．regret

D．promise

11.

A．goal

B．barrier

C．reason

D．way

12.

A．wealth

B．weakness

C．talent

D．friendliness

13.

A．keeping

B．justifying

C．expressing

D．forming

14.

A．attitude

B．passion

C．efficiency

D．clearness

15.

A．assume

B．persuade

C．decide

D．discover

16.

A．tip

B．rule

C．path

D．routine

17.

A．help

B．combine

C．charge

D．share

18.

A．impact

B．progress

C．devotion

D．success

19.

A．get rid of

B．live up to

C．get across to

D．take charge of

20.

A．confirming

B．simplifying

C．developing

D．obtaining

9 . Courage is a highly admired virtue. When asked to describe courage, most people conjure up (脑中浮现) the image of an individual running into a burning building, or maybe a hero saving the world. But there's another form of bravery that's much more important because it comes up more often. It's called moral courage.

Moral courage is the ability that allows us to face our fears and to conquer our darkest fears. It’s the ability to face the future without knowing what is certain. It’s the ability to stand tall and confront those who oppose us, those who prevent us from realizing who we are and what we are. But most importantly, it’s the ability to stand up for what’s right, even though there are risks that stand in your way. Sara Anderson once said that "It takes great courage to faithfully follow what we know to be true."

The potential of showing moral courage has the power of changing the world. It was because of the moral courage that Mahatma Gandhi was able to make India free from British rule. He fought bravely against them without the use of any weapon by presenting great moral courage. In this way, he also became a great example for the people of the whole world. It is not that we remember Gandhi because of his body or beauty. We remember him because of the great ideas and principles of his life.

Moral courage is essential not only for a noble life, but a happy one. Without moral courage, we have no control over our lives. Our fears destroy our spirit and make us trapped in depression. Mark Twain said, “Courage is not the absence of fear but the resistance of fear, the mastery of fear.” If our fears cause us to lose confidence in the power of virtue, we will lose something very precious.

People with moral courage rarely get medals, but it is the best marker of true character and a virtue others can be proud of. We must try to develop the power of moral courage that will surely help in ending injustice and wrong and grant us a better world.

1. What is the main function of Paragraph 1?

A．To make a comparison.

B．To propose a definition.

C．To introduce the subject.

D．To provide the background.

2. In the author’s view, moral courage is not _________.

A．the willingness to face and conquer fears

B．the capacity to stick to what is right

C．the ability to confront opponents

D．the desire to control whoever opposes you

3. What does the example of Mahatma Gandhi tell us?

A．Moral courage can make a difference to the world.

B．Moral courage makes people faithfully follow the truth.

C．Moral courage is essential for leading a happy life.

D．Moral courage restricts great ideas and principles.

4. What can be inferred from Mark Twain’s words?

A．Courage is being brave without any fear.

B．Courage is a spirit to overcome the fear.

C．Having a fear can limit our future lives.

D．Fear can stop us from achieving our goals.

5. What does the author advise us to do in the last paragraph?

A．To end injustice and wrong.

B．To pursue excellent virtues.

C．To strengthen moral courage.

D．To create a better world.

10 . Occasionally, misfortune will happen in our life and no one can avoid it. If you choose only to complain and escape from the misfortune, it will constantly follow you no matter where you go.     1    

A girl, called Selina, lost her arms in a traffic accident that caused her father’s death — who was the main source of support for the whole family.     2     For the sake of caring for her, her elder brother became her shadow , never leaving her alone for years. Except for writing with her toes, she was totally unable to do anything in her life. Then one day, her elder brother wanted to live his own normal life, and they had no choice but to separate. So she was almost desperate and didn’t know what to do next.

    3     When he tried to prepare dinner for his parents, he overturned the kerosene light on the stove, resulting in a fire that took his hands away. Though his younger brother that was studying in another city, showed his willingness to take care of him, he was determined to be totally independent. At school, he always studied hard. Most of what he learned was to be independent. Once he wrote the following in his composition: “I am lucky. Though I lost my arms, I still have legs; I am lucky. Though my wings are broken, my heart can still fly. ”

One day, the girl and the boy were both interviewed on a television program. The girl complained to the TV host about her uncertain future at being left on her own, but the boy was full of enthusiasm for his life.     4     The girl wrote: My elder brother’s arms are my arms. However, the boy wrote: Broken wings, flying heart.

    5     It is true that life is unpredictable. Disasters can strike at any time. How you deal with misfortune when faced with it is the true test of your character. If you choose only to complain and escape from the ordeal, it will always follow you wherever you go. But if you decide to face it bravely, the hardship will turn out to be a fortune on which new hopes will arise.

A．A similar misfortune happened to a boy named Jerry, too.

B．Since then, she had had to depend on her elder brother’s arms.

C．So his father went out looking for his mother, leaving him alone at home.

D．One night her mother, who suffered from chronic mental illness disappeared.

E．They both were invited to write something on a piece of paper with their toes.

F．They had both encountered the same misfortune, but had completely different attitudes towards lives.

G．But if you decide to be will-powered, the sufferings will turn out to be a fortune where new hopes will arise.