1 . My long-distance cycling career of 13 years and 35,000 kilometres ended as I approached 75 in 2019. The realisation of this dawned on me slowly during my last ride in the US summer of that same year. Although I am now no longer strong enough to endure the long days and big climbs, day in and day out, I have my memories.

Long distance cycling brings pain, anxiety and exhaustion, but these pale into insignificance compared to the joy and satisfaction of climbing huge mountains or seeing spectacular sights for the first time. Real joy would come when I was alone, on my bicycle, in some remote and beautiful place. You could say that these same feelings could have been experienced in a car, but I know this not to be true. I had time to observe nature and life, all of which would have been bypassed in a car.

I enjoyed meeting and beating the daily schedule I had set for myself. I enjoyed the ever-changing vegetation, the people, kind, unkind and indifferent, whom I met along the way. No matter how hard or easy the ride was, I always enjoyed the achievement of arriving, followed by a hot shower and bed, when I could find a motel. On the other nights, I was happy to camp. Meeting a diversity of people with different perspectives on life was easy. The cycling devices allowed me to strike up conversations in pubs and cafes and I got to see and experience the very best in people.

The road ahead always loomed large, as did the mountains, the cold, the mosquitoes and the rain. The road behind is just memories, lack of pain and anxiety, some soon to be forgotten, others to be valued and boosted with the retelling.

Cycling taught me to like who I am. I am finally happy with and accepting of my introverted (内向的) personality. I have more persistence and courage than I ever imagined. These trips all required courage, courage which I never knew I possessed.

1. What made the author end his cycling career?

A．Financial problems.

B．Lack of interest in cycling.

C．Desire to pursue other hobbies.

D．Physical inability to bear long rides.

2. What was the real pleasure for the author?

A．Meeting different people.	B．Beating the daily schedule.
C．Experiencing nature up close.	D．Climbing huge mountains.

3. What special insight did the author gain through cycling?

A．Nature deserves exploring.

B．One could find a real self.

C．Introverted people could be sociable.

D．Communication with strangers helps a lot.

4. Where is the text most likely from?

A．A magazine.

B．A brochure.

C．A novel.

D．A manual.

2 . 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。

Once upon a time, there lived a poor but cheerful shoemaker. He was so happy that he sang all day long. The children loved to stand around his window to listen to him.

Next door to the shoemaker lived a rich man. He used to sit up all night to count his gold. In the morning, he went to bed, but he could not sleep because of the sound of the shoemaker’s singing. One day, he thought of a way to stop the singing. He wrote a letter to the shoemaker inviting him over for a cup of tea.

The shoemaker came at once, and to his great surprise, the rich man gave him a bag of gold as a gift. The shoemaker took the bag and thanked the rich man. When he returned home, the shoemaker couldn’t wait to open the bag. He had never seen so much gold in his life! He sat down at his bench and began, carefully, to count it. The children watched through the window.

There was so much there that the shoemaker was afraid to let it out of his sight. So he took it to bed with him. But he could not sleep for worrying about it. So he got out of bed and went to hide it in the attic (阁楼), but he was not sure if that was a good place.

Very early in the morning, he got up and brought his gold down from the attic. He had decided to hide it up the chimney (烟囱) instead. But after breakfast, he thought it would be safer in the chicken house. So he hid it there. But he was still uneasy, and in a little while he dug a hole in the garden and buried his bag of gold in it.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1:

He was in no mood for singing and found it difficult to focus on his work.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:

At last the shoemaker felt so unhappy that he took his bag of gold and ran next door to the rich man.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . I had always felt like I didn’t fit in the school. My true friends weren’t in the crowd of _________ kids in school, either.

Parading before me was “the fun group”— the popular kids — always laughing and whispering (窃窃私语). I wanted to be just like them and wished to be _________ .

Later, my dream came true when I joined a cheer leading team. Immediately, I_________ a lot — new hair color, new dressing style and a new group of _________. Everything I had wanted to be, I was. I was _________ one of the popular kids.

However, the more I was included with the “in crowd”, the more confused I became. _________, these people were far from _________ . They talked behind each other’s backs while they _________ to be best friends. They _________ what I was wearing, but they weren’t concerned about what my dreams were. I began to feel a sense of loss and __________.

Worst of all, I __________ that I was becoming just like them. I decided I had to get my life back in __________ . I concentrated on finding out who my real friends were — the ones who really mattered. I stayed with cheer leading, but I __________ playing with only the popular kids. I found out that my real friends had never__________ me. They were simply waiting for me. I finally learned that my __________ friends were all I would ever need.

1.

A．busy

B．clever

C．popular

D．serious

2.

A．accepted

B．praised

C．challenged

D．helped

3.

A．thought

B．learned

C．requested

D．changed

4.

A．teachers

B．classmates

C．neighbors

D．friends

5.

A．finally

B．responsibly

C．strangely

D．privately

6.

A．In shock

B．On hand

C．In fact

D．On earth

7.

A．alone

B．certain

C．perfect

D．unique

8.

A．dreamed

B．pretended

C．demanded

D．chose

9.

A．searched for

B．cared about

C．watched over

D．looked after

10.

A．excitement

B．curiosity

C．peace

D．disappointment

11.

A．begged

B．wondered

C．explained

D．realized

12.

A．order

B．need

C．advance

D．common

13.

A．stopped

B．began

C．continued

D．enjoyed

14.

A．cheated

B．left

C．helped

D．supported

15.

A．lucky

B．popular

C．former

D．confident

4 . Looking back, I spent many unhappy days. In middle school I didn’t think I was as smart as everyone else; I didn’t have cool enough clothes. Junior high was the same. I wasn’t as tall and thin as all the other girls; my baby teeth hadn’t fallen out yet. Fast forward to high school. Still everyone was smarter; still everyone dressed better. Eventually, in my first job out of college I wasn’t making as much money as my friends did.

I come from a long line of people who’ve suffered from depression. When I was single, I thought that was just who I was — it was the genes (基因) I was born with. When I was twenty-six, I got married, and three years later I had my first child.

Once we had kids, my excuse of “it’s-in-the-genes” didn’t work so well for me anymore because that meant my kids would be depressed. Although I realized that still might be the case, I began looking at my unhappiness in new ways.

Over the years many things helped me fight depression: healthy eating, exercise, fresh air, friends and medicine. They all helped. But I had a little secret, too. It’s an exercise I did every night before bed. By the side of my bed, I had a small datebook — every day I only had enough space to write one line.

Every night I asked myself: “What made me the happiest today?” Because I didn’t have space to write a lot, it only took me a few seconds. But in those seconds I replayed my day and decided on its happiest moment.

Some days it was “reading before bed with the kids” or “laughing with a friend on the phone”. And other days it was “finally getting to get into bed” or “not having to cook dinner again”. Anyway, I actively sought the positive every day. Today, when I have a difficult day, I look back through the datebook, read and remember those happy moments in the past.

1. What can be inferred from paragraph 1?

A．The author led a poor life.

B．The author got a high-pay job.

C．The author challenged herself bravely.

D．The author usually compared herself with others.

2. What changed the author’s mind?

A．Her first career.	B．Her happy marriage.
C．Her care for her children.	D．Her knowledge of genes.

3. Why did the author keep a datebook every day?

A．To ease her loneliness.	B．To have a sound sleep.
C．To recall happy moments.	D．To serve as bedtime stories.

4. What can we learn from the story?

A．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

B．Mother should set a good example for kids.

C．There could be a solution to any problem.

D．We should appreciate life’s bright aspects.

5 . Not long ago when I had a dinner party, a guest noticed the gravy boat (船形酱汁壶) — a piece of china, “Is it a heirloom (传家宝)?” The boat is very old, matches nothing else, and has a V-shaped cut on it. But it is the one I will keep forever.

Our history together began fifty years ago when I was seven. That December the river started to rise. We worked hard against the disaster and even kept a rowboat downstairs. My mother carefully packed the china in the study upstairs because it’d been her mother’s and was valuable to her. She told me, “You must treasure the things people you love have treasured. It keeps you in touch with them.” But then I didn’t really understand her concern.

The water rose higher. One night, the floor of the study fell through and the china was on the first floor under the rising river. The loss really broke her heart. That night she sat on the top of the stairs and cried.

The next morning I could tell how bad she still felt. Suddenly I saw the rowboat —yes, I could fish for the china. I put a hook (钩) onto a line, let it down until I felt it hit bottom and slowly moved the rowboat back and forth, pulling my line, but time after time I pulled the line up empty.

When we had to leave as the water poured in, I tried for the last time. Suddenly I felt something and raised my catch. The gravy boat! The moment I took it out in front of my mother, she was in tears of joy.

It was just then that I realized how deeply that old gravy boat connected me to the people and places of my past, tying me to my mother as well as her life, her joy and her love.

1. What can we learn about the gravy boat?

A．It is fifty years old.	B．It means much to “my” family.
C．It is old but perfect.	D．It matches the furniture well.

2. What made the author’s mother cry that night?

A．Pain of the injury.	B．Rise of the river.
C．Damage of the study.	D．Loss of the treasure.

3. Which of the following can best describe “I”?

A．Caring.

B．Honest.

C．Confident.

D．Responsible.

4. What does the author want to express in the text?

A．Stay calm in face of a disaster.

B．“Heirlooms” connect generations.

C．Suffering improves the parent-child tie.

D．Mother’s love promotes her child’s growth.

6 . 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。

Listening to Be Heard

Our P. E. teacher Ms. Lopez had been out with a skiing injury. She was a caring and considerate teacher who showed patience and understanding to little minds like us. So, when we knew she was returning, some of us asked our substitute(替代) gym teacher if we could plan a welcome-back party.

“Sounds great,” said Ms. Green, “We have a few minutes before the bell rings, so you can do a little brainstorming while I put some stuff away.” We were excited and could not wait to let our minds wander. But here came the problem.

“I bet Ms. Lopez would like welcome-back cards.” I said.

“We should have a rock ‘n’ roll theme!” said Noah.

“No, we should make it a soccer theme! What about a cake shaped like a soccer ball!”said Avery.

“Why is soccer better than music?” said Noah.

“I think cards are really important!” I said, louder.

The discussion soon turned into a noisy chaos (混乱). Everyone had their ideas to present and wished them to be realized. Even the “fashionable” kids interrupted, demanding to bring balloons and some fancy clothes like a skirt with orange flowers. It seemed all voices were ignored.

That was when the bell rang and the party discussion ended. I was in confusion and fear for the rest of the day. It was going to be a disaster, and Ms. Lopez wouldn’t even know we missed her.

When I returned home, my little brother and sister were arguing about a board game.

“I know the rules!” Tex shouted. “You don’t have to start over if you land on blue!”

“I know the rules!” shouted Indi. “You get an extra point if you get the flowers!”

I walked over to where they were playing and said, “If you’d stop and listen to each other, you might realize you’re both right.” I pointed to the rule sheet and read them the parts they’d been arguing about. They were surprised that they were both right. Suddenly it clicked—we had been busy presenting our ideas without listening to others.

注意：
1.续写词数应为 150 左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

The next day in gym class, during the party discussion, I asked my classmates for a stop.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A week later, Ms. Lopez was amazed at the welcome-back party containing our various ideas.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . People usually consider voluntary work as a completely selfless act, but voluntary work has its place in everyone’s lives, and my personal experiences have confirmed my belief in this.

    1     I once cleaned up flats where the poor lived in. The space was overcrowded and the items were covered in dust. I couldn’t contain my judgement and was critical about them. However, after talking to the residents and hearing about their misfortunes, I regretted my hasty judgment. This allowed me to know more about the less fortunate who don’t share my lifestyles.     2     Life is more complex than expected and I should sympathize with the disadvantaged.

Volunteer work has reminded me to cherish and appreciate little things in life. When I volunteered to teach life skills to students with cerebral palsy (脑瘫), I found that they were very grateful to the teachers and assistants by saying “thank you” and smiling.     3     Consequently, this has made me more mindful of my priorities in life, and more deliberate in not letting insignificant things bother me. Doing voluntary work has taught me to be happier and more grateful.

Doing voluntary work has given my life more meaning.     4     However, excessively pursuing them can often lead to increased discontent and can’t give meaning to one’s life. After doing voluntary work and learning the stories of others, I have a stronger sense of purpose in my life. Instead of just being absorbed in my own wants and needs, I make up my mind to try my best to help those in need.     5    

A．I felt that they had taught me a lesson on gratitude.

B．It is easy to be obsessed with material wants in society.

C．I am now able to go through life with more love and compassion.

D．Volunteer work has provided me with opportunities to make friends.

E．With the determination, the decisions I make are now more meaningful.

F．Moreover, I realized they are often unreasonably judged by other people.

G．Voluntary work has helped me better understand the lives of the less fortunate.

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 . The days that make us happy make us wise.

--- John Masefield

When I first read this line by England's Poet Laureate, it _____________   me.   What   did Masefield mean? Without thinking about it much, I had always assumed that the _______ was true. But his serious assurance was ________. I was deeply attracted by it.

Slowly, I seemed to ________ his meaning and realized the wisdom that happiness makes possible lies in clear perception(洞察力), not _______ by anxiety nor dimmed by despair and boredom, and without the blind _______ caused by fear.

Active happiness---not mere satisfaction or _______---often comes suddenly, like an April shower or the unfolding of a bud. Then you discover what kind of wisdom has ____________ it. Amazingly, in your eyes, the grass is greener; bird songs are sweeter; the _________   of your friends are more understandable, and more forgivable. Happiness is like a pair of eyeglasses correcting your ________ vision.

Nor are the __________ of happiness limited to what is near around you. Unhappy, with your thoughts focused on your emotional woes (痛苦) , your vision is cut short as though blocked by a wall. Happy, the wall _________.

Consequently, the long vision is there for the seeing. The ground at your feet, the world about you---people, thoughts, emotions, pressures---are now ____________ a larger scene. Everything covers a fairer _________. Everything around you, whether it is encouraging or frustrating, no longer seems such a big deal. And here is the beginning of _________.

1.

A．terrified

B．satisfied

C．surprised

D．upset

2.

A．other

B．opposite

C．view

D．contrast

3.

A．arresting

B．amazing

C．interesting

D．disturbing

4.

A．handle

B．observe

C．appreciate

D．seize

5.

A．iced

B．clouded

C．rained

D．snowed

6.

A．roads

B．paths

C．spots

D．places

7.

A．fulfillment

B．sorrow

C．disappointment

D．entertainment

8.

A．embraced

B．interrupted

C．responded

D．accompanied

9.

A．brightness

B．stupidity

C．shortcomings

D．memories

10.

A．physical

B．sharp

C．spiritual

D．solid

11.

A．insights

B．impressions

C．attentions

D．expectations

12.

A．extended

B．collapsed

C．witnessed

D．withdrew

13.

A．got out

B．stayed on

C．kept off

D．fitted into

14.

A．proportion

B．position

C．explanations

D．duty

15.

A．happiness

B．wisdom

C．ability

D．life

10 . Denmark retired after practicing medicine for 73 years and then volunteered her services until she couldn’t anymore. She died at the age of 114.

I met her by phone when the pediatrician (儿科医生) couldn’t figure out what was wrong with my baby. On the phone, she talked with me for more than 30 minutes. I took her advice, and my baby was better about 10 days later. She never charged me.

“You keep on doing what you do best as long as you can,” she was famous for the words. And it turned out her advice about actively helping others was as good as her medical advice.

Obviously, we can’t all live as long as Dr. Denmark. But recent research has shown that volunteering provides a longevity boost similar to the effects of adding multiple servings of fruits and vegetables to your daily diet. Specifically, older adults who volunteer are at 24 percent less risk of early death. The positive impact of giving and volunteering on older people goes beyond that. According to the research, adults over 55 who give their time for others have an easier time with everyday tasks. Besides, volunteers experience 250 percent less cognitive decline leading to dementia (痴呆).

According to a new study in the Journal of Happiness Studies, people who volunteer report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. The study took it a second step and followed people who began volunteering—monitoring their responses from the time they started volunteering. The longer they volunteered and the more they volunteered, the greater level of happiness they reported.

You may already be volunteering your time. But if you’re not, consider the charities you support. Think about the skills you might be able to offer them. You are likely to be glad about what you do.

1. What can we infer about Denmark?

A．She retired at the age of 73.	B．She volunteered for 73 years.
C．She was patient and professional.	D．She once forget to charge the author.

2. How many benefits of volunteering are mentioned in paragraph 4?

A．1.

B．2.

C．3.

D．4.

3. What does the author try to do in the last paragraph?

A．Seek support.	B．Advise about sharpening skills.
C．Offer solutions.	D．Encourage people to volunteer.

4. What’s the text mainly about?

A．The kindness of a doctor.	B．The benefits of volunteering.
C．The process of being a volunteer.	D．The struggle of child-raising.