1 . Time was introduced to us when we were just kids and only knew the playing hours, but when we grew up, we got our own senses about how important “The Time” is. There is a story on time management which can give you some guidance.

A philosophy professor, once, decided to teach the students a valuable lesson about Time Management, so he stood before his class with some items on the table. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a big and empty jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in size. He then looked towards the class and asked the students if the jar was full. They all agreed that it was full. Therefore, the professor then moved to pick up a box of pebbles (鹅卵石) and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar gently. The pebbles, of course, rolled through the gaps between the rocks.

He then again looked up to the students and asked if the jar was full. They all again nodded their heads. For the last time, he turned towards the jar, this time, picked up a box of sand, poured it into the jar and shook it lightly. Of course, the sand moved into the gaps and filled up everything else. He then asked students for the last time if the jar was full or not. The students were surprised but responded with a unanimous “Yes.”

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to realize that this jar actually is your life. The rocks are the important things — like your family, your children, your health, your partner. If nothing remained but only these, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter — like your job, your career, your house. The sand is everything else, the unimportant stuff.” “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no space for the pebbles or the rocks.”

“The same goes for your life. If you keep on filling the jar with the sand, it means that you keep on spending all your time and energy on the pity things and you will never have room for the things that are important for you. First and foremost, focus on the rocks — the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

1. What’s the main function of the first paragraph?

A．To make a prediction.	B．To offer a guidance
C．To provide some advice.	D．To attract readers’ interest.

2. What can we know about the lesson from the passage?

A．The professor put the pebbles into the jar first.

B．The professor did four experiments altogether.

C．The result of the experiment was beyond students’ expectation.

D．It aimed to make students realize the importance of time for success.

3. According to the story, what are the “rocks” considered in life?

A．Your job and family.	B．Your career and children.
C．Your parents and body.	D．Your house and money.

4. What is the main lesson the professor wants to convey in the class?

A．It is important to make full use of time efficiently.

B．It is necessary to attach more importance to what truly matters in life.

C．It is crucial to strengthen the consciousness of managing time.

D．It is vital to arrange enough time for all aspects of life in advance.

2 . In 2016, when I was on the graduate scheme (计划) at Deutsche Bank, Marie Inafidon, chief executive of Stemettes, who encourages girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), was also working there. I didn’t meet her at the time, but I did read an article about her and her career.

Learning at 21 years old about the career of a young black woman’s succeeding in a traditionally white male-dominated industry was one of the most influential things that ever happened to me. It gave me confidence that it was possible to do well in the office and work on personal external project at the same time.

Role models can play a central role in shaping a young professional’s career. They are especially important if you belong to an under-represented group for whom a lack of representation in the workplace can lead to feeling isolated and lacking in confidence. They can help those just starting out, whether or not they are a graduate as I was, to believe in their own abilities.

There’s a growing need to have accessible role models. Given the tendency to exaggerate (夸大) success stories, hearing from women who talk honestly about the challenges they have faced, either when starting a business or forming a new career path, is much more effective. A study revealed that 70 per cent of girls say they think differently about their futures after hearing from women role models.

I’m frequently asked about what businesses could be doing to increase racial diversity in the workplace. A good starting point is to actively promote and support the voices of the people in the organisation that are leading positive change and inspiring others. This makes a real difference. Unlike the tokenism (装样子) I still come across, which results in individuals being made the lone representative for a group without real support from the organisation.

Things came full circle for me when I interviewed Ms. Inafidon for my book in 2019. I was able to tell her of the incredible impact her passion and confidence had had on me as a graduate trainee and how grateful I would always be for that.

1. What do we learn about Marie Inafidon？

A．She became successful at 21.

B．She was a trainee at Deutsche Bank.

C．She encouraged girls to take up STEM-related work.

D．She helped the author with her external project personally.

2. Who can benefit most from role models in the work place according to the third paragraph？

A．Experienced professionals.	B．A graduate eager to succeed.
C．People without special abilities.	D．The young from an under-represented group.

3. What is effective in changing girls’ mindset？

A．Taking on challenging projects.

B．Reading more made-up success stories.

C．Starting their own business as early as possible.

D．Listening to women role models share their experiences.

4. What should businesses do to increase racial diversity in the workplace according to the author?

A．Encourage positive opinions.

B．Make more colored people authorities.

C．Include more people of different races.

D．Understand the true meaning of tokenism.

3 . Automation certainly has its advantages. I am grateful for my cellphone that _______performs services. But I also miss the interactions with people that these devices have _______. The most precious byproduct of these interactions was the unplanned, friendly jokes that often _______.

I recently decided to spend a day _______ all of my goals in a non-digital manner. So I rose early and _______ on my visit. I began by going to the bank. When I entered the hall, I found the _______ was mine: I was the only customer, with three clerks at my _______. After my transaction we chatted for a few minutes, sharing news about children. After that pleasant _______, I moved on to the post office, where the letter I was sending to Iceland triggered a/an _______ comment by the clerk, who longed to visit that country. The last visit was the ________ where I was welcomed by a cashier, who ________ that for only one penny more I get an additional potato.

That evening I told my ________ to my friend. She ________ that I could have done these with the ________, and it would have taken less than an hour. True, but I would have ________ all those kind words and friendly smiles.

1.

A．surprisingly

B．firmly

C．reliably

D．carefully

2.

A．simplified

B．enhanced

C．connected

D．replaced

3.

A．erupted

B．helped

C．counted

D．increased

4.

A．considering

B．chasing

C．setting

D．accomplishing

5.

A．settled down

B．set out

C．hung out

D．took off

6.

A．world

B．money

C．seat

D．corner

7.

A．reach

B．command

C．side

D．service

8.

A．gathering

B．learning

C．exchange

D．atmosphere

9.

A．exciting

B．humorous

C．doubtful

D．critical

10.

A．supermarket

B．theater

C．field

D．restaurant

11.

A．advocated

B．suggested

C．insisted

D．begged

12.

A．secret

B．problem

C．experiment

D．opinion

13.

A．interrupted

B．remarked

C．admitted

D．understood

14.

A．instruction

B．cellphone

C．assistance

D．effort

15.

A．valued

B．enjoyed

C．missed

D．admired

4 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

When we were finally dismissed from the last class of the day, the students streamed out of the classrooms. It was another boring day after school. I dragged my feet home as I sighed. Yet another uneventful day, I thought. Little did I know that the day would take a turn for the worse.

The lift lobby (电梯间) of my flat was old and dirty. The walls, which were painted white, had been dirtied over many years. I reached my flat’s lobby, and pressed the lift button and went in. Just then, Mrs Lim, my elderly neighbour, hobbled (蹒跚) in. She looked ancient with tissue paper white hair, wearing a faded old-fashioned dress. I held the lift door open, flashing a friendly smile, and politely greeted her. I asked her how she felt that day and pressed the buttons. She thanked me for being so polite, then we were silent for the rest of the ride.

The lift fell down increasingly fast. There were loud clanking sounds here and there while the lift grew slower and slower. My heart beat hard and fast as my hands turned cold and wet with sweat. Unfortunately, the lift came to an abrupt stop at the fifth floor. I pressed the buttons hard several times, but it was of no help. The lights on the buttons had gone out. It soon dawned on me that we were trapped. An icy fear crept up my spine. Mrs Lim was hysterical (歇斯底里).

“We will never get out!” she cried with her face pale. It had become a colourless mask. I had no time to lose. I pressed the bell in the lift immediately. The sound was surely deafening, but what other choice did I have? Mrs Lim burst into tears. I tried my very best to comfort her, telling her that everything would be all right and that we needed to find out how to get out safely. Mrs Lim began having trouble breathing, and I immediately helped her sit down and loosened her collar.

Paragraph 1: Several minutes passed, but no help came.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2: Bang! My hopes were lifted when I heard the firefighters on the other side of the lift door.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . In 1967, my husband and I graduated from college with financial challenges. We struggled to make both _________ meet because of our low-paying jobs as well as college loans. The birth of our son that summer _________ our financial pressure.

Later we got involved socially with a community of couples. They _________ our values and had insights to offer on parenting. This group of people went to many places and engaged in various activities. They _________ made us feel welcome although our finances often _________ our participation.

One summer, the group _________ a picnic and requested we bring potato chips. I was _________ that I didn’t have to spend much on the event. So I bought two large bags of the least expensive brand of potato chips I could find. _________, we got to the state park, only to find a real feast laid out — chicken, watermelon, home-made salads, and desserts. _________, I thought about leaving but a friend reassured (使……安心) me that our time to make a __________ for the feast would come.

Decades have passed. Now, as my husband and I approach retirement with our grown son, that picnic remains __________ in my memory. Our friends’ kindness has __________ how we perceive and assist others. We may never repay those who once provided for us, but we continue the tradition of __________, supporting our struggling younger friends.

That day, the feast symbolized a(n) __________ of gratitude, not to be repaid, but to be paid forward. It serves as a __________ of the lasting power of community and kindness.

1.

A．terms

B．routes

C．ends

D．sides

2.

A．allowed for

B．sorted out

C．resulted in

D．added to

3.

A．challenged

B．shared

C．reflected

D．acknowledged

4.

A．hopefully

B．originally

C．consistently

D．occasionally

5.

A．encouraged

B．restricted

C．refused

D．facilitated

6.

A．advertised

B．funded

C．delivered

D．organized

7.

A．relieved

B．satisfied

C．astonished

D．convinced

8.

A．Instead

B．Therefore

C．Moreover

D．However

9.

A．Depressed

B．Disappointed

C．Embarrassed

D．Worried

10.

A．return

B．fortune

C．difference

D．reform

11.

A．available

B．fresh

C．distant

D．untouched

12.

A．evaluated

B．calculated

C．influenced

D．defined

13.

A．innovation

B．cooperation

C．royalty

D．generosity

14.

A．debt

B．favor

C．advance

D．investment

15.

A．chance

B．motive

C．reminder

D．turn

6 . I strongly believe that it is rather important to be a good listener. And although I have become a better listener than I was ten years ago, I have to admit I’m still only an ________ listener.

Effective listening is more than simply ________ the bad habit of interrupting others while they are speaking or finishing their sentences. It’s being ________ to listen to the entire thought of someone ________ waiting impatiently for your chance to respond. In some ways, the way we fail to listen is symbolic of the way we live. We often treat communication as if it were a ________. It’s almost like our goal is to have no time ________ between the conclusion of the sentence of the person we are speaking with and the beginning of our own. My wife and I were recently at a cafeteria having lunch, overhearing the conversation around us. It seemed that no one was really listening to one another. ________, they were taking turns not listening to one another. I asked my wife if I still did the same thing. With a smile on her face she said, “only sometimes.”

Slowing down your responses and becoming a better listener ________ you in becoming a more peaceful person. It takes ________ from you. If you think about it, you’ll notice that it takes an enormous amount of energy and is very stressful to be sitting at the edge of your seat trying to ________ what the person in front of you (or on the telephone) is going to say so that you can ________ your responses. But as you wait for the person you are communicating with to finish, as you simply listen more ________, to what is being said, you’ll notice that the pressure you feel is off. You will immediately feel more ________and so will the people you are talking to. They will feel safe in slowing down their own responses because they won’t feel in ________ with you for “air time”! Not only will becoming a better listener make you a more patient person, it will also ________ the quality of your relationships. Everyone loves to talk to someone who truly listens to what they are saying.

1.

A．active

B．adequate

C．accurate

D．amazing

2.

A．developing

B．offending

C．avoiding

D．escaping

3.

A．moderate

B．resistant

C．comfortable

D．objective

4.

A．rather than

B．apart from

C．other than

D．in spite of

5.

A．game

B．race

C．trade

D．burden

6.

A．limit

B．control

C．drain

D．gap

7.

A．Instead

B．However

C．Therefore

D．Meanwhile

8.

A．allows

B．aids

C．forbids

D．enables

9.

A．pleasure

B．patience

C．instinct

D．pressure

10.

A．interrupt

B．suggest

C．guess

D．ensure

11.

A．show up

B．pick out

C．break into

D．fire back

12.

A．effectively

B．attentively

C．honestly

D．eagerly

13.

A．relaxed

B．excluded

C．convinced

D．impressed

14.

A．touch

B．accordance

C．competition

D．communication

15.

A．determine

B．enhance

C．describe

D．decorate

7 . It was 6 p. m. on 24 January 2001, the first day of Chinese New Year. I was working as a tour guide and was on my way to ________ a group for a night tour around Kuala Lumpur. As I drove along the road, a small hatchback flew across the centre divider from the ________ direction and crashed into my car head-on. I passed out and was ________ by the ringing of my mobile phone. It was a travel agent, asking me if I had arrived at the Mandarin Oriental for my assignment. Then I went into shock.

In the hospital, I saw my crushed feet hanging from my body, blue and lifeless, and I pleaded with the doctors to save them at all costs. They calmly promised to do their best.

Days after that, I was informed that I lost the job. My heart ________. How was I going to support my 65-year-old mother? And plus, I have so many other commitments.

I felt utter helplessness, but a lot of unexpected ________ came my way. I had many visitors during my 14 days in hospital and when I was ________ at home. Friends and relatives helped me with my financial stuff or simply came to cheer me up.

But I was only 30, and wanted to see the world. When the casts were removed, I did not let the sight of my weak legs ________ me. I worked hard at my physiotherapy with only one ________: I must walk again. After the five-month ________, I was back on my feet. After eight months, I was walking without the aid of crutches. By February the following year, I had started globetrotting again.

Today, after eight years, I have travelled to many countries as a tour leader and am determined not to let the pain interfere with my work.

The ________ made me realize how lives can change in a split second; five out of the six people in the overcrowded car that hit me lost their lives. In my ________ state of mind, I recalled how motorcyclists wrapped their jackets around their arms and ________ away my shattered side window to save me. I also recall the Chinese family who ________ taboo (禁忌) and drove me to the hospital ________ my bloodied condition on Chinese New Year. The kindness I’ve experienced taught me never to give up hope on anyone or in any situation. I ________ life more, not only my own but also everyone I know, and will always try to help when I know of someone in trouble.

1.

A．find out

B．search for

C．pick up

D．attend to

2.

A．opposite

B．same

C．wrong

D．right

3.

A．awakened

B．astonished

C．annoyed

D．activated

4.

A．beat

B．sank

C．jumped

D．ached

5.

A．results

B．disasters

C．blessings

D．promises

6.

A．recovering

B．working

C．testing

D．reflecting

7.

A．frighten

B．please

C．discourage

D．encourage

8.

A．aim

B．idea

C．statement

D．destination

9.

A．exercise

B．therapy

C．experiment

D．examination

10.

A．incident

B．accident

C．event

D．prelude

11.

A．nervous

B．mixed

C．foggy

D．unconscious

12.

A．cleared

B．moved

C．pulled

D．pushed

13.

A．overlooked

B．emphasized

C．considered

D．abandoned

14.

A．in spite of

B．in addition to

C．on account of

D．in case of

15.

A．understand

B．sacrifice

C．save

D．value

8 . By the time he was 24 years old, Imran Nuri quit his job in a bold move, and emptied his savings account to carry out an ambitious ________ he’d been bearing in mind. Nuri would drive his car to every state on a 100-day trip to find 1,000 ________ and ask them to share one thing they wish they’d ________ when they were younger. Nuri was hoping for answers that might help him ________ the rest of his life.

He ________. But to his shock, he chose a ________ person for the first time. He met a man, who had a dark look at Nuri. Nuri thought the man was going to ________ him. Then, doing the most ________ thing he’d done, he introduced himself, “I’m ________ around the country to talk to 1,000 unfamiliar people. I’m asking them for pieces of life advice about things they wish they knew ________.” The man remained silent for a minute or so and ________ said, “We should spend more time with our family.”

In Colorado Springs, Colorado, a man in his 50s who had stage 4 terminal cancer told Nuri, “Life is about the human ________. There would be no life without social interactions.”

In Tillamook, Oregon, a waitress-a college student told him, “whether it’s changing your major or changing your whole life path, you don’t have to ________ yourself for taking a step back and reevaluating your past choices. Just do what you think to be right.”

Nuri found beauty in every place as well as ________ from the people he met. Those people taught a lot. Now he always puts himself in other people’s shoes even when a person sees the world ________.

1.

A．plan

B．policy

C．initiative

D．trick

2.

A．acquaintances

B．residents

C．strangers

D．peers

3.

A．embraced

B．inquired

C．misunderstood

D．known

4.

A．picture

B．navigate

C．enrich

D．interpret

5.

A．cracked up

B．backed away

C．set out

D．knocked off

6.

A．generous

B．wrong

C．pleasant

D．selfish

7.

A．dismiss

B．accompany

C．consult

D．beat

8.

A．courageous

B．stupid

C．unforgettable

D．glorious

9.

A．sailing

B．hiking

C．driving

D．wandering

10.

A．occasionally

B．permanently

C．later

D．earlier

11.

A．finally

B．excitedly

C．instantly

D．hesitantly

12.

A．potential

B．nature

C．connection

D．competition

13.

A．admire

B．reward

C．forgive

D．fault

14.

A．wisdom

B．fortune

C．confidence

D．perseverance

15.

A．objectively

B．differently

C．selectively

D．randomly

9 . It was a winter after noon when I tripped over a high kerb (马路牙子). Suddenly, I was flying through the air. It was only the next morning when I tried to take a photo of some splendid sunlight _________ into my kitchen, that I had to face the reality: I could no longer lift my camera, let alone use it. Later, a hospital appointment _________ my worst fear — the arm needed total rest.

Soon I became impatient. I couldn’t travel much. Surfing online, I _________ the concept of gratitude intervention, a method to boost _________ and well-being by being grateful. I had never been wildly _________ about the concept of counting one’s blessings. However, a Californian psychologist, Sonja Lyubomirsky, has _________ research into something much more creative — using a daily photography _________ as a tool for enhanced gratitude.

Lyubomirsky’s instructions are _________, but not necessarily easy to carry out. Take photographs throughout the day of things central to who you are. Reading how participants assigned to the gratitude interventions _________ experienced enhanced positive emotions, a sense of connectedness, more support, and less __________, I decided to carry on.

Taking a single photo was painful, but the __________ to find anything to feel grateful about, and then to record it, started to greatly __________ both my mood and my images. I began to photograph the __________ of my days. Despite everything, I found I could find magic in the daily routines. Life seems repetitive and __________ when you don’t notice the __________ of each moment and the constant small changes that are going on all around you. Don’t just take my word for it — experience it for yourself.

1.

A．winding

B．streaming

C．sticking

D．knocking

2.

A．confirmed

B．removed

C．relieved

D．overcame

3.

A．broke into

B．made up

C．took down

D．came across

4.

A．dream

B．thought

C．mood

D．desire

5.

A．enthusiastic

B．confused

C．nervous

D．particular

6.

A．consulted

B．imagined

C．pioneered

D．observed

7.

A．lesson

B．skill

C．plan

D．practice

8.

A．complex

B．simple

C．normal

D．abstract

9.

A．occasionally

B．hardly

C．significantly

D．slightly

10.

A．interruption

B．loneliness

C．willingness

D．motivation

11.

A．struggle

B．excuse

C．opportunity

D．promise

12.

A．keep

B．balance

C．ruin

D．improve

13.

A．details

B．surprises

C．changes

D．achievements

14.

A．wonderful

B．meaningful

C．unfair

D．boring

15.

A．pain

B．anxiety

C．uniqueness

D．challenge

10 . 假如你是李华，你校英文报正在征稿。请你结合下面的名人名言(famous quote): “I don’t know what ‘home’ is, but unhappiness and worries melt away once there.” (From Bing Xin)，写一篇题为“My Understanding of Home”的征文。
内容包括：
1. 你对该名言的理解；
2. 举例说明你的观点。
要求：
1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。

My Understanding of Home

Bing Xin once said, “I don’t know what ‘home’ is, but unhappiness and worries melt away once there.”

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________