1 . Now that my children are grown, I have resumed (中断后继续) a habit: solo travel. The seed was planted when I was 17 and went on a class trip to Spain. The experience was similar to reading my first book. I remember when I separated from the group and went through the busy streets of Madrid on my own, looking at the architecture gawkingly, trying unfamiliar foods, and gathering the courage to engage the natives with my high school Spanish. After that adventure I sought every opportunity to explore on my own, because I wanted to move according to my ideas.

I recall, many years ago, before I became a dad, arranging to work for a summer on an Icelandic farm in exchange for room and board. The driver stopped at the appointed place, but no one was there to meet me. And so I put my backpack down and read a book, knowing that when one travels one is never lost.

I tell this story to calm the fears of friends and others who have occasionally raised their hands to their faces upon hearing what I was up to. Some are specialists in outlining for me all the things that can go wrong when one launches oneself into the unknown. But for me, that’s the whole point of travel: to go where I haven’t gone before, to discover friendships waiting to be made, to interface with unfamiliar scents (气味) and tastes, to enter a new and, for me, undiscovered environment where being pleasantly surprised is the reward.

A few years back I went to Greenland. I spent a week hiking its mountains, interacting with the natives, and sailing the bays. It was inspiring. I hopped (登上) my flight back to Iceland feeling well satisfied. But when I got off the plane and saw the line of passengers waiting for their flight to Greenland, all I wanted to do was turn around and join them. Once again it was proved for me that I would never get travel out of my system.

1. How did the class trip to Spain affect the writer?

A．He discovered the magic of solo travel.

B．He realized the pleasure of reading books.

C．He became interested in learning Spanish.

D．He formed a habit of collecting plant seeds.

2. What does the underlined word “gawkingly” in the first paragraph most probably mean?

A．Curiously.

B．Randomly.

C．Casually.

D．Anxiously.

3. What does the travelling mean for the writer?

A．Going wherever you would like to.	B．Going in the unknown environment.
C．Exploring something new all the way.	D．Getting a reward from challenging fear.

4. What did the writer’s trip to Greenland reflect?

A．His impatient personality.	B．His crazy desire for travelling.
C．His quickness to follow others.	D．His tendency to be easily satisfied.

2 . Simple Tips to Increase Self-Confidence

Having confidence begins with having a mind full of confident thoughts. A mind is controlled by you, therefore believing only the things that will bring you things you desire. Almost anyone in the world can have confidence.     1    . It is a matter of following these easy steps.

Set goals

It’s a great idea to keep a “Goals Book” and every time something enters your mind you’d like to achieve, list it in the book. Soon you’ll see a pattern among all your goals.     2    , you begin to see simple changes in your life. There is no greater joy in life than to realize a goal.

    3    

People usually can’t tell you how you should live your life when it’s just an expression of their own shortcomings. Don’ allow the shortcomings of others to affect your life negatively. No one but you knows your interests and ambitions. Work in the direction of your true loves and ignore everything that enters your mind going against your own desires.

Challenge your beliefs

    4    . If they are not, cross them out. You may find it difficult to get rid of some of the deep-rooted beliefs, but with true desire you can abandon negative beliefs about yourself and you will realize enormous benefit in growing self-confidence and self-esteem.

Get started

Don’t expect changes right away and have patience in knowing that it takes time to be the person you wish to be. The wonderful thing about becoming a more self-confident person is that little benefits start taking shape almost immediately.     5     — as long as you continue to keep a positive outlook and display your confidence.

As you achieve confidence, and find little moments of confidence coming closer and closer, all the things you desire will come to you easier than you ever imagined.

A．Follow your heart

B．They keep coming one after the other

C．Believe in a power greater than yourself

D．When you make conclusions about your goals

E．If you maintain a confident position long enough

F．And, it is entirely easier than you may have once believed

G．Examine all of your beliefs and determine if they are in line with the life you desire

3 . A young man came across his old teacher. “I became a teacher because you inspired me to be like you,” said the young man and told him the following story:

One day, a friend of mine _________ the classroom with a nice new watch. I loved it so much that I _________ it from him. As soon as my friend _________ he had lost his watch, he reported it to our teacher, who was you, _________. You went to the class, “This student’s watch was missing during classes today. Whoever has taken it, please _________ it.” At that time, I was _________ to raise my hand.

Then you shut the door and told us all to get up and began to _________ our pockets one by one. But you _________ us to close our eyes.

You went from pocket to pocket, and when my _________ came, you found the watch and took it. You __________ searching everyone's pockets until you finished, you asked us to open our eyes. It was the most __________ day of my life. But this was also the day my __________ was saved. You never __________ anything about the incident later, nor even gave me a right or wrong lesson, but I received your __________ clearly. I understood what a real educator needs to do.

If an educator must make students lose the __________ of other people, he doesn’t know how to teach.

1.

A．watched

B．cleaned

C．entered

D．designed

2.

A．borrowed

B．stole

C．learned

D．heard

3.

A．imagined

B．feared

C．realized

D．regretted

4.

A．immediately

B．hopefully

C．possibly

D．luckily

5.

A．change

B．share

C．throw

D．return

6.

A．forced

B．glad

C．grateful

D．afraid

7.

A．fill

B．search

C．exchange

D．use

8.

A．encouraged

B．expected

C．allowed

D．required

9.

A．turn

B．choice

C．chance

D．result

10.

A．considered

B．continued

C．started

D．stopped

11.

A．interesting

B．confident

C．shameful

D．dangerous

12.

A．goal

B．fame

C．business

D．dream

13.

A．mentioned

B．described

C．argued

D．complained

14.

A．reason

B．excuse

C．report

D．message

15.

A．admiration

B．help

C．respect

D．support

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入适1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

How can people live in a country for years and not learn the language? I’d heard of such people and, if I’m    1    (complete) honest, I judged them. Then, the time came for me to move to China and I decided I wouldn’t waste my opportunity    2    others.

After two years, I’m embarrassed to report that I’ve not made significant progress.    3    I work mostly with Chinese colleagues    4    offer to help me, I simply don’t make the time. Why, though? How is it possible? Well, life is so interesting in Beijing that I get     5     (catch) up in anything and everything else.

One would think that living in a foreign country would practically press you    6     (study) the language, but it’s more complex than that. First, when your job is to use your native language, the majority of your day     7     (spend) in and around native language material. Second, let’s not forget that we live in the     8    (advance) era (时代) of translation apps. Yes, it is easy indeed to go about the majority of your day and not hear or need to use much Chinese at all. Thirdly, it must be recognized that learning    9    new language takes time.

In short, it has taught me how to abandon my opinions about how people “should” interact with the world. It has increased my     10     (able) to empathize(共情).

5 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Everyone wants to live their dream life, but sadly, most people fail     1    （achieve）it.

If you have a choice to turn back time, what would you do     2    （different）that will make your life better today? Or are you already living the     3    （wonder）life you wanted?

Most people take things for granted（把一切视为理所当然）. They think that they have all the time in the world and they neglect（忽视）    4    （they） dreams. They say things like "later", or “there will always be tomorrow”. The fact is that we don't have all the time in the world. Later soon becomes never.

The same goes for     5    （live）your ideal（理想）life. You have to understand that what you want in life     6    （be）a choice. You are where you are right now because     7    the choice you make. You have a choice and you can choose. And because you have a choice, you get to choose how you want to live. Living your dream life starts with making a     8    （decide）.

And if you want to live your ideal life, you must say “no" to the things     9    will pull you away from it. And     10    is time to make a change. Dare to be different and dare to follow your heart.

6 . Happiness is the most sought-after emotion. It is the reason for the existence of all beings. Happiness is not confined to the human world alone.     1    

A young child is happy when it is well fed and becomes sad when it is hungry. Even adults cannot resist the pleasures of food and associate this with happiness. A bar of chocolate, an ice cream treat, or a fancy spread at a buffet all bring happiness.     2     Plants that are watered and given enough nutrients will grow happily.

    3     Toys and gadgets, presents, and red packets bring unexpected joy. Even a pet cat or dog will show its happiness at being given a toy or plaything. A ball of wool or a plastic bone is all it takes.

Then, there is the house and the car, holidays abroad, a simple picnic, or even a movie that evokes happiness. Happiness is found in obtaining material things or indulging in recreational activities.     4     Why? Well, it all boils down to the individual. Money can buy happiness to a certain extent but when all is achieved, obtained, and bought, there comes a time for the true sense of happiness.

Many have sought it in ashrams and from wise men, but all it takes is an act of kindness and sharing. True happiness is eventually not in the receiving, possessing, and getting but in the giving. Giving time, things, labor to those around us, loved ones or strangers is the true happiness that lives on in our lives.     5     It doesn't have to be grand or expensive but has to be sincere and thoughtful. As Mark Twain once said, “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” So, go out there and cheer someone up!

A．Clothing and accessories bring happiness.

B．Making others happy is the core of being happy.

C．Animals and even plants seem to display happiness.

D．People are happiest when they are having a meal and some drink.

E．Everything we do is aimed at letting other people live more happily.

F．Different individuals have different definitions of happiness, though.

G．However, many are still not happy with all these trappings of luxury.

7 . I can remember once when I was just a little boy, my Mom and I drove to my aunt's house. It was a warm, summer afternoon so I went outside to play in the ______ . After over an hour playing and ______ by myself I got ______ and walked inside to see what they were doing. ______ out on the kitchen table was a large, homemade quilt（棉被）that was still being sewn together. I sat on a chair and watched as my aunt ______ sewed a little piece onto the collage（拼贴画）of color. I looked over at one edge of it and saw a piece of thread ______ . Without thinking I reached over to ______ it.

“NO!” It was my Mom's voice. I ______ back. That was the first time I can ever remember her ______ at me. Seeing the ______ look on my face she smiled and gently showed me ______ she did so. That single piece of thread wove in and out of the different pieces of fabric（织物）. Like a ______ mountain road, it made its way from one end of the quilt to the other. If I had done like that, I might have torn the entire quilt and ______ hours of work.

As I ______ that moment today, I can see that each of us is a lot like that single ______ and our love and our life help to hold the whole thing together. So accept your place and live it each day of your life.

1.

A．school

B．basement

C．yard

D．study

2.

A．reflecting

B．calculating

C．monitoring

D．exploring

3.

A．involved

B．bored

C．excited

D．interested

4.

A．Laid

B．Lined

C．Pointed

D．Sold

5.

A．formally

B．bravely

C．nervously

D．patiently

6.

A．running out

B．cutting out

C．sticking out

D．wearing out

7.

A．pick

B．fix

C．cut

D．pull

8.

A．jumped

B．called

C．talked

D．answered

9.

A．laughing

B．shouting

C．wondering

D．glaring

10.

A．worried

B．excited

C．frightened

D．satisfied

11.

A．why

B．how

C．when

D．where

12.

A．virtual

B．smooth

C．straight

D．winding

13.

A．required

B．ruined

C．made

D．spent

14.

A．look back on

B．live up to

C．give way to

D．look forward to

15.

A．color

B．quilt

C．day

D．thread

8 . According to the latest study in the United States, 14% of children don't have any physical activity at least once a week, while 27% of children are physically active for at least 60 minutes every day. The results of this study clearly suggest that taking up sports makes a great difference. It is highly recommended that children should exercise regularly.     1    .

Being on a sports team provides children with a new social circle outside of school and a chance to build up new friendships, some of which may last a lifetime.     2    . Being involved in a sport teaches valuable lessons, such as putting yourself in the second place for the benefit of the whole team.

Learning to accept and deal with defeat is also an important lesson in life. The nature of sports is that there is always a winner and a loser, and there are ups and downs in life.    3    .

By working hard at every practice and staying focused on their goal, children build persistence (坚持) and learn the importance of patience.     4    . This translates to life in general.

    5    . Words of praise from coaches for successfully finishing a workout or winning a game, or high-fives from teammates after a great team action, are ways of building trust in their own abilities and developing confidence.

Finally, playing sports can have a positive impact on bone health, especially among girls. And physically active children usually grow up to be physically active adults.

A．Taking part in sports can be good for children's confidence.

B．Here are usual ways children take up sports.

C．Here are important reasons why children should take up sports.

D．They win together, lose and deal with defeat together.

E．Learning to stand up when you are down is a lesson that sports can teach us.

F．When they reach their goal, they realize all their hard work pays off.

G．Being in sports makes children feel energetic even when they are in low spirit.

9 . With age, and the experience of achieving great success, it has become clear that physical wealth, power, fame and possessions（财产）do not add anything significant to the actually happy life. I find having ________ is nice and allows me to do many ________ things like travelling a lot.

I always buy many things, but I find things that make a life worth living cannot be ________. They can only be found in the ________ I have. They can be what I give to others, what I accept, and the way I ________ to view the world. It's many small steps that ________ the journey that determines the true importance of the destination, not the ________ itself.

In my opinion, if the destination is great wealth, I think we will feel happier after ________ that wealth if we struggle hard, and ________ our small successes along the way. As for those lottery（彩票）winners, there is no journey, no sense of success, and no memories that make up the path to their wealth. The money just becomes a condition of their life, not something that ________ them the sense of personal achievement.

I enjoy the wonderful ________ of giving to others. ________ and kind acts will fill my life with the kind of treasures（珍宝）that I could never buy—they can only be attained through giving help to others. In fact, when you give, you'll often ________ that even more is given back to you. So please do remember to be ________ on the way to wealth, and always keep up the kindness, and you will ________ a happy life you want.

1.

A．memory

B．fame

C．wealth

D．success

2.

A．awful

B．grateful

C．peaceful

D．wonderful

3.

A．folded

B．contained

C．bought

D．recycled

4.

A．exercises

B．experiences

C．performances

D．expressions

5.

A．pretend

B．prove

C．fear

D．choose

6.

A．pick up

B．make up

C．make out

D．hold up

7.

A．destination

B．defeat

C．honesty

D．conclusion

8.

A．keeping

B．begging

C．quoting

D．getting

9.

A．celebrate

B．control

C．entrust

D．replace

10.

A．tells

B．posts

C．gives

D．throws

11.

A．act

B．security

C．prediction

D．liquid

12.

A．Curious

B．Previous

C．Romantic

D．Generous

13.

A．request

B．find

C．worry

D．complain

14.

A．frank

B．energetic

C．kind

D．pleased

15.

A．lead

B．gather

C．claim

D．organize

10 . In the seventh grade when my mother suggested that I should join the golf team, I thought she had lost her mind. But as usual, my mother _________ in the end. I played on the middle-school golf team in the seventh and eighth grade. The summer before high school came, I was _________ to join the high school team.

That summer I _________ almost every Sunday morning on the golf course with my _________, and too many afternoons with my mother. This_________ relationship with my parents _________ during my high school years._________ you’re walking down the freshly mowed fairway (修剪的平坦球道), looking out across miles of nothing but golf course, and looking up at the beautiful blue sky, you will realize what is _________ in life.My mom and I_________ many things in the middle of a round of golf that we would never do at ____________,where she is Mom and I am an annoying teenager. On the golf course, we’re just two people who ____________ golf.

During the past years golfing has become a part of my____________. My friends know in the summer the place to find me is on the golf course. There is ____________ I love more than a perfect autumn morning, riding around in a golf cart (球车) with my dad. Golf has ____________ me and made me into the person I am today. And I have to____________ that all of it is thanks to my mom who made me join that middle-school golf team. In fact, she was right.

1.

A．stopped

B．replied

C．recovered

D．won

2.

A．serious

B．careful

C．anxious

D．afraid

3.

A．wasted

B．spent

C．counted

D．missed

4.

A．father

B．friend

C．sister

D．classmate

5.

A．funny

B．unhappy

C．close

D．poor

6.

A．changed

B．started

C．failed

D．continued

7.

A．Though

B．When

C．Because

D．Unless

8.

A．difficult

B．common

C．convenient

D．important

9.

A．talk about

B．give up

C．look for

D．take down

10.

A．school

B．home

C．work

D．play

11.

A．discover

B．trust

C．love

D．watch

12.

A．way

B．story

C．job

D．life

13.

A．nothing

B．something

C．anything

D．everything

14.

A．saved

B．shaped

C．protected

D．persuaded

15.

A．admit

B．explain

C．consider

D．prove