1 . Age is truly just a number if our hearts are young. Lee Minor, an 85-year-old retired psychologist, has________this by finishing his 600th marathon race with 32 members of his family by his side. “Runners don’t have a________line. We just keep going,” he toldGood Morning America. “I felt________running with my family.” Minor has been running three days a week since 1969, and his heart is filled with enthusiasm for running.

“I like to run in all kinds of________. It is so childish as the rain touches your face. And I love to come here after snow and you watch your________as you go along.” he concluded.

Minor’s enthusiasm for running is________. “It is my joy. And I want to live as long as I can. And I mean live, not________.” His words ring true for Ron Robert, a man diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease who decided to ________ a three-year bachelor of artsprogram at King’s University College in London, Ontario. “I was always taught early in life that the brain is like the most ________instrument we have in our body,” said Robert.

Last fall, Robert graduated from the university, despite the challenges of his illness. “When I went across the stage, and as I’m getting my________, the kids all stood up andyelled and clapped,” he________. “I had to hold back the tears. It was something else, just wonderful.” He hopes that his story will give hope to others facing________difficulties. “There will come a time when I won’t be able to, and I fully________that. Butin the meantime, I’m living a full life.”

The stories of Minor and Robert are reminders that age and illness need not________us. We can choose to pursue our________and live life to the fullest, no matter whatchallenges we may face.

1.

A．proven

B．approved

C．won

D．imagined

2.

A．starting

B．center

C．finishing

D．bottom

3.

A．depressed

B．thrilled

C．calm

D．uneasy

4.

A．weather

B．zones

C．illness

D．phases

5.

A．position

B．footprints

C．reflections

D．route

6.

A．infectious

B．temporary

C．blind

D．restricted

7.

A．wait

B．abandon

C．exist

D．run

8.

A．award

B．suspend

C．quit

D．pursue

9.

A．powerful

B．visible

C．boring

D．accurate

10.

A．uniform

B．application

C．certificate

D．license

11.

A．slid away

B．gave up

C．broke in

D．choked out

12.

A．emotional

B．identical

C．financial

D．abstract

13.

A．enjoy

B．reject

C．doubt

D．expect

14.

A．save

B．define

C．distinguish

D．witness

15.

A．scholarship

B．fitness

C．passion

D．career

2 . Last Christmas, I volunteered for WNWNB, a charity which takes surplus (剩余的) produce from New Covent Garden Market and ________ it to the local community.

The food was already in containers. So we set up the stand and got ready to distribute some Christmas ________. At first, it was ________. People seemed a bit suspicious of taking food for free. But they gradually ________ us and we had a fun afternoon singing carols and trying to ________ passersby to take our food.

It was then time to deliver meals to those who weren’t able to come. This is ________ things changed for me. The first door I knocked on was ________ by a woman in her 30s. She had children and looked absolutely worn out. I told her I was from WNWNB and gave her the ________ meals. It was probably only about two days’ worth of food but, the way she ________, I felt as if I was handing her gold.

I had similar responses to my next ________. In some cases, when people were elderly or alone, I’d go into their homes and have a brief ________ before heading off. Many felt ________, but I saw how happy they were to have another adult human to ________.

As a local politician I knock on doors and talk to people a lot, but there was something deeper about those ________ on Christmas Day. I finished my day at WNWNB a slightly different person from the one who ________.

1.

A．distributes

B．introduces

C．sells

D．exhibits

2.

A．forgiveness

B．images

C．recipes

D．cheer

3.

A．easy

B．nice

C．slow

D．safe

4.

A．broke away from

B．put up with

C．cut in on

D．warmed up to

5.

A．threaten

B．encourage

C．allow

D．command

6.

A．why

B．how

C．where

D．when

7.

A．opened

B．repaired

C．cleaned

D．guarded

8.

A．costly

B．unfinished

C．deserted

D．ready

9.

A．declined

B．reacted

C．argued

D．traded

10.

A．purchases

B．interviews

C．deliveries

D．schedules

11.

A．meal

B．chat

C．report

D．silence

12.

A．proud

B．free

C．lonely

D．content

13.

A．connect with

B．look after

C．turn to

D．rely on

14.

A．conversations

B．budgets

C．explanations

D．deals

15.

A．hesitated

B．started

C．ignored

D．struggled

3 . Once upon a time, my father and I got lost in a forest in France. I must have been about twelve or thirteen. Anyway, it was before the time when most people ______ a mobile phone. It was in the Loire Valley. About half an hour, my dad ______ the truth. “Oh, it seems that we’re lost.” We walked around and around in circles, trying to find the path, ______ with no luck. I could tell my dad was starting to ______, even as he was trying to hide it from me. We had been in the forest for hours then and both knew my mom would be in a state of absolute ______. At school, I had just been told the story of the hikers who had died in the wilderness and I found it easy to ______ that would be our fate too. “If we keep going in a ______ line we’ll get out of here,” my dad said.

And he was right. ______ we heard the sound of cars and ______ a main road. We were eleven miles from the village where we had ______, but at least we had signposts. And I often think of that strategy, when I am totally ______ — literally or metaphorically (比喻). I thought of it when I was in the middle of a ______, when my heart beat rapidly with ______ and didn’t know how I could carry on living. Walking one foot in front of the other, in the same ______, will always get you further than running around in circles. It’s about the ______ to keep walking forward.

1.

A．owned

B．borrowed

C．invented

D．promoted

2.

A．revealed

B．realized

C．told

D．faced

3.

A．all

B．if

C．yet

D．so

4.

A．complain

B．erupt

C．regret

D．panic

5.

A．terror

B．anger

C．disappointment

D．loss

6.

A．decide

B．announce

C．imagine

D．clarify

7.

A．simple

B．short

C．straight

D．similar

8.

A．Regularly

B．Eventually

C．Surprisingly

D．Generally

9.

A．chose

B．missed

C．followed

D．reached

10.

A．set off

B．passed

C．called at

D．lived

11.

A．lost

B．sensitive

C．angry

D．stuck

12.

A．term

B．race

C．performance

D．breakdown

13.

A．excitement

B．surprise

C．fear

D．interest

14.

A．way

B．cycle

C．direction

D．distance

15.

A．ambition

B．determination

C．inspiration

D．cooperation

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。

It was my twelfth birthday, and what I really wanted most was a new bicycle. But I knew that my family couldn’t afford one, so I settled for a bedside table with lockable drawers, a safe place to keep my private stuff.

We went to the charity shop where we found an old dark one. It didn’t look too cool, but I thought that I would paint it to make it look better.

After we took it home, I was getting ready to paint it. When I pulled the drawers out. I felt something stuck to the back. I reached in all the way, and guess what? A sealed bag with some papers in it.

When I opened the bag, I realized that the papers were official documents. And, wrapped in them were a bunch of ten and twenty dollar bills! Talk about finding a treasure! And on my birthday!

“Is this some kind of joke?” I said aloud. I went ahead and read the papers, and it turned out to be a will. Some old lady was leaving her savings for her son and grandchildren.

My mind was going crazy. Was I the luckiest twelve-year-old ever? With this money I could buy the coolest bicycle. Who knows?

I began counting. When I reached a thousand dollars, my mother was knocking on my bedroom door. I quickly closed the drawer with the money in it.

“Do you want some help? Is everything all right?” she asked.

No, everything was not right. Actually, my stomach was growling (低吼).

“I’m okay,” I lied.

When my mother left my room, I lay on my bed, starting thinking. What a dilemma (窘境)! I wished there were some one I could talk with. Could I keep it and get all kinds of stuff for me and my family? It wouldn’t be too bad for me to keep it, if I shared it...right? Thoughts ran through my mind. But I really didn’t need someone else to give me the answer.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I finally made a decision and called my parents into my bedroom.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Though surprised, the shop owner helped find the family’s telephone number.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . About a month ago I noticed something really amazing, which I must call a garden miracle(奇迹). It so happened that when I _______ the double doors of a small storage area in the back of my house where I _______my garden supplies during the long, severe New England winter, I found, in one of the dirt-filled pots, a living, growing plant, topped with two of the most unlikely pink _______you’ve ever seen.

How was this _______? The unheated space had been closed all winter, and it was still cold outside. Once I caught my breath, I _______and discovered something approaching a reasonable explanation-there was a small glass window at the top of the double doors, and it was possible that a ray of sun fell directly on that pot, giving the plant just enough light and warmth to_______ it to grow in its own personal greenhouse.

I can’t help feeling_______ at the lessons this wonderful plant has to teach.

For one thing, I am moved by the happenstance(巧合) of the whole thing. If I had _______my pot six inches to the left or right of that spot, the plant might not have gotten that_______ray of light. If I had ________ the roots of the plant in late fall, there would have been nothing but dirt in that pot.

But there’s something else that________me about this-just how little light and________it took for this plant to grow and flower. I’m not________ we should be mean with love and kindness and all the other warming things we__________for others and for ourselves. But isn’t it comforting to think that just a drop of________can brighten a day, a place, a life?

When it comes to positivity, a little goes a long way. Just ask my little miracle plant.

1.

A．approached

B．shut

C．opened

D．knocked

2.

A．need

B．provide

C．receive

D．keep

3.

A．sticks

B．branches

C．roots

D．flowers

4.

A．essential

B．possible

C．significant

D．different

5.

A．stepped aside

B．stepped away

C．looked down

D．looked around

6.

A．request

B．enable

C．instruct

D．intend

7.

A．excited

B．puzzled

C．amazed

D．amused

8.

A．put

B．found

C．measured

D．missed

9.

A．broad

B．soft

C．strong

D．narrow

10.

A．pulled out

B．cared for

C．thought about

D．brought in

11.

A．requires

B．cheers

C．inspires

D．changes

12.

A．attention

B．warmth

C．time

D．effort

13.

A．expecting

B．imagining

C．doubting

D．saying

14.

A．experience

B．do

C．accept

D．remember

15.

A．water

B．encouragement

C．sunshine

D．support

6 . There is no such thing as a perfect woman, and Nothing but Thirty screenwriter Zhang Yingji wanted to convey this message in telling the stories of three different women, who have found very different ways to climb their own mountains.

Wang Manni is a woman who will climb any mountain as long as she finds it challenging. Zhong Xiaoqin is one who will only climb if she has someone to go along with her. She will not overexert herself, and she will definitely stop once she has reached a comfortable place. Gu Jia, on the other hand, has already started to think about reaching the peak before she even starts the climb, regardless of whether she is alone or has company.

In a sense, the scriptwriter purposely created Gu Jia as the perfect woman of thirty. She is married, with a successful husband and a young son. She is living the dream, but Gu Jia does not feel complete. She feels lost. She is flawed. She has episodes of succumbing to her own greed and disregard to those around her.

“She is someone who chases alter perfection.” said Tong Yao (who portrays Gu Jia). “Obviously, this is stressful for those around her. She hides things. She isn’t perfect, but in front of others, she has to stay perfect.”

Her chase for perfection and her stubbornness to maintain this image has effected many of the relationships in her life. She chases after what she believes is right for others. Because of this, she and her husband start to see and value things differently, which puts a strain on their relationship.

Gu Jia’s personal struggles give life to the character. Many viewers are able to relate to her, and, through her character, find a shadow of themselves. There’s still a lot left that we can learn from the women of Nothing but Thirty, but maybe like them, we too can find the courage in ourselves to walk on that road which is truly meant for us.

1. According to the article, which of the following best describes Zhong Xiaoqin’s personality?

A．Ambitious and goal-driven	B．Moderate and content
C．Aimless and impulsive	D．Visionary and independent

2. According to Paragraph 3, what is not true about Gu Jia’s life?

A．She has her own worries and insecurities.

B．She leads a seemingly perfect and enviable life.

C．She can be greedy and insensitive to others’ feelings.

D．She is discontented with life because of her husband.

3. According to the passage, audiences have a preference for Gu Jia mainly because she ________.

A．is a perfectionist	B．stands up to her husband
C．balances her work and life well	D．displays some identifiable traits

4. What is the main purpose of this passage?

A．To call attention to the rise of feminism.

B．To introduce the plot of Nothing but Thirty.

C．To contrast the main characters of Nothing but Thirty.

D．To encourage viewers to find inspiration in Nothing but Thirty.

7 . “Man up.” That’s the “advice” that some guys hear from their family and friends when they’re not _________ “manly” enough because they’re showing “too many” emotions.

And, frankly, it’s the kind of advice that ends up doing great _________. Love and support are what strengthen a person; toxic masculinity (有毒的男子气概) is what _________ some problems in the future.

A 16-year-old boy told his _________ about how he cried after not getting into a soccer team. It was a pretty big _________ to him and, naturally, he was upset. And _________ his mom and his sisters comforted him, his dad had a _________ attitude towards the entire situation. A big fight followed full of accusations of the boy not being enough of a man.

The boy’s dad _________ him for “not doing enough” to get into the soccer team. He then went on to give the boy some _________ on how to be more athletic and take care of his diet more.

__________, the dad said that it was stupid to cry over a thing like this, and that it was time that he “manned up”. What followed was a long __________ and afterwards, the boy ignored his dad for a week.

The boy’s behaviour can be __________. Men, just like women, experience depression and anxiety. However, men are __________ told to control their emotions and not to __________ their problems with others, as it’s seen as being weak. Actually, for men, it is good to __________ their emotions properly.

1.

A．appearing

B．acting

C．responding

D．offering

2.

A．harm

B．failure

C．confusion

D．anxiety

3.

A．deals with

B．runs into

C．brings about

D．looks into

4.

A．opinion

B．story

C．secret

D．trip

5.

A．loss

B．change

C．shame

D．blow

6.

A．unless

B．if

C．because

D．while

7.

A．different

B．positive

C．friendly

D．flexible

8.

A．praised

B．thanked

C．forgave

D．blamed

9.

A．information

B．inspiration

C．suggestions

D．demands

10.

A．However

B．Besides

C．Therefore

D．Instead

11.

A．silence

B．separation

C．conversation

D．argument

12.

A．glorious

B．practical

C．understandable

D．impressive

13.

A．traditionally

B．originally

C．immediately

D．simply

14.

A．combine

B．share

C．handle

D．compare

15.

A．hide

B．generate

C．release

D．control

8 . My plan to learn to play the cello (大提琴) was a health y choice. So I took the next innocent step of going to a shop that sells and rents string instruments, especially violins, violas, and cellos. The place was a hole-in-the-wall, up a steep flight of stairs. Instruments left a narrow path to the counter where a woman with grey hair and warm eyes greeted me. Since I couldn’t form a question about what I wanted, I just stood there exploring the scene, which felt immensely pleasurable.

I rented a cello, a bow, and a case to hold them. What attracted me to the cello was its enormous size and its soft, smooth, and memorable sounds. It’s an instrument made of beautifully polished wood that I could wrap my arms around and feel its powerful vibrations when the strings were played. That was a good starting point for me. The only problem was that I didn’t know how to play it.

There’s a popular belief that the cello is a particularly difficult instrument to learn. Another is the admonition, “Don’t bother if you are a beginner over age 10!” Well, I was 70, and what others thought no longer influenced me. And besides, I thought of the words of Dr. Cohen, who suggested that learning causes physical changes in the brain.

So I found a teacher who had respect for older adult beginners and I practiced diligently, daily for years, and sometimes disheartened, but I kept up. I’m happy to report that now, more than a decade later, I can hold my own in a string trio and two quartets （two violins, a viola, and me, the female cello）and even a senior community band. Of course, I’ll never sound like Yo-Yo Ma but you could recognize a Mozart piece if you heard me play it. And, more importantly, I don’t need to please anyone but myself.

Whether it’s a pleasurable pastime or a new career, the starting point is the same: wonder, curiosity, determination, and the desire to keep your brain sharp.

1. How did the writer feel in the shop?

A．Amused by the shop assistant.

B．Anxious for a live performance.

C．Pleased at the nice music atmosphere.

D．Curious about where to find a teacher.

2. What does the underlined word “admonition” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Approval.	B．Criticism.
C．Puzzlement.	D．Warning.

3. Why does the writer mention Dr. Cohen in paragraph 3?

A．To recommend a reliable doctor.

B．To provide proof for common belief.

C．To add another reason for her decision.

D．To stress the crucial function of the brain.

4. Which of the following can best convey the writer’s idea?

A．Art is man’s second nature.

B．One is never too old to learn.

C．Education is the key to success.

D．Happiness is the best form of health.

9 . Back in the days when I was just a young student, I was always absent from school ______, too shy to step into the public attention. My grades, though not absolutely good, was above the ______. However, an unexpected incident allowed me to______life lessons and gradually accept the challenges thrown at me.

One rainy afternoon, while walking home from school, an accident happened. A speeding car ______me, leaving me with a broken leg. Lying on my hospital bed,pain aching through my body, the reality of my situation ______. This unforeseen incident had set me back academically, and I needed to figure out how to achieve my previous______.

With the help of my parents and teachers, who ______accompanied me through the healing process, I managed to transform my ______ into a stepping stone. I began to acquire the will to push myself beyond my limits. After several months, I returned to school. My teachers had made accommodations for me, which included access to ______classes to catch up on the lessons I missed. Fueled by a newfound ______, I made every effort to engage in all activities and strived to stay active in both the academic and extracurricular fields.

In the end, my actions______fruit. Not only did my academic performance improve, but I also developed an ability to adapt to unexpected situations. I realized the importance of being able to______my fears and overcome them. The incident that I______viewed as a major discouragement was, in fact, a turning point in my life. It was an opportunity to adjust my perspective and learn to admire the strength within myself.

The______did not happen overnight. It was a gradual process, just like adding a new piece to a puzzle every day. But with each piece, I moved one step closer to the bigger ______ .

1.

A．camps

B．days

C．facilities

D．events

2.

A．minimum

B．maximum

C．average

D．majority

3.

A．absorb

B．forget

C．teach

D．avoid

4.

A．approached

B．hit

C．lifted

D．followed

5.

A．gave in

B．sank in

C．fit in

D．cut in

6.

A．standing

B．playing

C．suffering

D．finding

7.

A．occasionally

B．casually

C．constantly

D．scarcely

8.

A．shyness

B．setback

C．strength

D．performance

9.

A．practical

B．optional

C．basic

D．extra

10.

A．drive

B．concept

C．version

D．skill

11.

A．planted

B．distributed

C．sold

D．bore

12.

A．assess

B．address

C．monitor

D．hide

13.

A．initially

B．actually

C．suddenly

D．eventually

14.

A．inspiration

B．assumption

C．transformation

D．exploration

15.

A．space

B．ambition

C．picture

D．capacity

10 . If someone asked whether you like the arts, you’d probably say you do—at least in theory. According to a survey, more than two-thirds of U.S. adults say the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences.” However, only 30 percent attended a concert of any type in 2017; 23 percent went to an art museum. Fewer than half actively created art of any kind.

The mismatch can boil down to the fact that we are weighed down by our day-to-day responsibilities, leaving our schedule packed. Maybe you like to play a little background music while you work or do the chores, but even before the pandemic, most of us rarely, if ever, saw a live performance, let alone visited a gallery or watched a play.

Too often, we let the dull reality of life get in the way of the arts. But this is a mistake. The arts are the opposite of an escape from reality; they might just be the most realistic glimpse we ever get into the nature and meaning of life. If you make time for consuming and producing art—the same way you make time for work and exercise and family commitments—I assure you that you’ll find your life getting fuller and happier. Think of a time when you heard a piece of music and wanted to cry. Or maybe your dizziness as you emerged from a narrow side street in an unfamiliar city and found yourself in a beautiful town square as if in a fantasy. They probably stimulated a sudden awakening, much like the shock from a lungful of pure oxygen after breathing in smoggy air.

If you are among the people who feel that art is pure pleasure to experience and participate in, you might see it as a luxury item, while a preferable attitude is to treat art less like a distracting pleasure, and more like exercise or sleep, a necessity. Then draw up a schedule of your art exposure journey, and gradually weave art into your everyday life.

1. What prevents people from enjoying the arts?

A．Shortage of time.	B．Avoidance of duty.
C．Lack of interest.	D．Art space inaccessibility.

2. What can we learn about the role of art according to the passage?

A．It explores mysteries of life.	B．It sparks emotional responses.
C．It enhances physical well-being.	D．It offers a getaway from daily life.

3. What will be talked about next in the passage?

A．Ways to integrate art into routine.	B．Barriers to combine art and life.
C．Forms of distracting pleasures.	D．Benefits of engaging with art.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Art Journey: Refreshing Soul

B．Art Pursuit: Transforming Dull into Full

C．Embracing Art: From Luxury to Necessity

D．Connecting with Art: From Reality to Fantasy