1 . It was a cold May morning when I received an email from an old friend inviting me to join a 10-day all-girls surf trip. I knew I had to say yes. The trip seemed simple enough. 10 women aged 30 to 45, all complete strangers, were to meet on the coast of Portugal to try something new: surfing in the Atlantic Ocean. I have always loved traveling, so I eagerly sent an email to my boss asking for time off to make the trip.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over my past 33 years, it’s that adults typically spend their days mastering the things they’ve done before. It seems like we pride ourselves on becoming experts in whatever field we’ve fallen into, knowing more about less. Now, in theory, this is a great strategy, as it allows you to become really good at one particular thing, but it also kind of ends up leaving some skills lacking.
I met my new surfing companions on the grass of the hotel lawn in a small surf town called Ericeira. Despite our different personalities and backgrounds, we were all united in a strong desire to challenge ourselves, learn, tackle and grow.
The shores at Ericeira, where the beginners learn to surf, are shallow and covered with slippery rocks. They make for softer waves but are difficult to ride.
Guided by our amazing coaches, together, we faced the waves. Sometimes, it poured with rain, and the waves crashed around us, but we were still out there. And with every slip and fall, words of encouragement filled the air. Honestly, I probably spent most of my days frozen to the bone, but that didn’t matter because a new level of genuine joy and personal achievement had been unlocked.
Learning a new skill taught me the humility (谦虚) that can come from doing badly at something new, and the pride that develops when you finally manage to grasp something you’ve been working on. While surfing might not be my lifelong passion, trying it out inspired me to take more risks in life. You never know what you’re capable of if you don’t go out there and try.
1. What inspired the author to join the surf trip?| A．Her love for seashore surfing. | B．Her desire to make new friends. |
| C．Her need to take a break from work. | D．Her passion for exploring something new. |
| A．It hurts one’s pride. | B．It narrows one’s potential. |
| C．It promotes one’s career success. | D．It broadens one’s view of the world. |
| A．Relaxing but dangerous. | B．Tough and uninteresting. |
| C．Challenging but rewarding. | D．Surprising and unforgettable. |
| A．She used to lack confidence in herself. |
| B．She determined to become an expert surfer. |
| C．She discovered her lifelong passion after the trip. |
| D．She was more willing to try new experiences in life. |
2 . You hate me. You don’t even know me and you hate me. Before we’ve even spoken, you hate me. At least that’s how it feels on my end of the call as a female collections officer at a call center.
I dread the moment when I have to log on to our phone system first thing in the morning because I never know who is going to be on the other end of that call.
Sometimes it’s an easy task. The caller is pleasant and has accepted personal responsibility for their debts, and we get through the phone call with ease. Then there are the ones who call in looking for a fight, or looking for someone to blame. Through the luck of the phone system, that person is me.
I’ve had people who shout at me, call me horrible names, accuse me personally of taking their money and threaten me. Why? I think it’s because I am invisible. I think I would be treated with the same level of disrespect if we were face to face. Fortunately for me, I have had years of experience in customer service, so I’m fairly rich in not letting the negative encounters bother me.
The biggest and most effective skill when it comes to the job is empathy (同理心). I can appreciate the situation which the caller is in because I’ve been there. That’s why I’m good at my job — I understand what you’re going through, and I’m here to help.
Some days though, no matter how much I try to leave the stress behind when I hang up the phone, it stays with me. I may do some deep breathing, go for a quick walk or simply stick my head outside for a burst of fresh air. I do this so I don’t carry that negativity on to my next call. That next call may be a person having the worst day of their life, but I don’t want to ever be the one who makes it worse. We are all humans just trying to get by in life, which makes you and me equal. So please, the next time we talk, remember that.
1. What does the underlined word “dread” in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Enjoy. | B．Fear. | C．Expect. | D．Avoid. |
| A．They get angry too easily. | B．They blame her for their debts. |
| C．They do not see her as a real person. | D．They accuse her of taking their money. |
| A．She can offer callers best advice. | B．She is always respected by callers. |
| C．She can put herself in others’ shoes. | D．She isn’t easily influenced by negativity. |
| A．To call for understanding of her job. | B．To explain why she is good at her job. |
| C．To introduce what she is responsible for. | D．To complain about her being treated badly. |
3 . My family always had some sort of animal around, but none of them were truly mine. My parents didn’t permit me to
Every Friday I would clean out his bowl. I found myself
One day, I came home from school and headed to my room to
My mom walked into my room. I turned around as tears started to well in my eyes. “Mommy, George d…d…died.” With that
Suddenly, I realized that George hadn’t just
| A．draw | B．imagine | C．have | D．share |
| A．doubtful | B．excited | C．surprised | D．afraid |
| A．toy | B．mind | C．time | D．pet |
| A．take care of | B．make use of | C．get hold of | D．look forward to |
| A．reading out | B．putting away | C．turning down | D．showing off |
| A．replaced | B．recognized | C．affected | D．needed |
| A．feed | B．save | C．impress | D．find |
| A．basic | B．terrible | C．funny | D．familiar |
| A．dropped | B．emptied | C．hid | D．checked |
| A．common | B．last | C．extra | D．new |
| A．left | B．reminded | C．defeated | D．chosen |
| A．preference | B．independence | C．difficulty | D．responsibility |
| A．safe | B．good | C．sorry | D．tired |
| A．agreement | B．treatment | C．disappointment | D．achievement |
| A．Otherwise | B．Besides | C．However | D．Therefore |
4 . What will you do when you feel like a failure? Feeling like a failure is part of the human experiences. Treat yourself with kindness and understand that failure does not define you, but it is a stepping stone on your journey. When you’re ready, take action and challenge yourself.
As some friends were deeply lost in the world of yoga and mindfulness, I’ve personally struggled with the feeling of failure, not on the yoga mat, but on the road to my entrepreneurship(创业). It all began several years ago when I threw myself into the business, driven by my passion and a dream.
In the early days, optimism flowed freely, but financial struggles and sleepless nights soon followed. I questioned my decision and felt like the biggest failure. However, every difficulty became a stepping stone towards growth. I learned more from my failures than from my successes, adapting and growing stronger with each obstacle. I reached out to instructors, friends and family, sought advice and slowly saw a ray of hope. One defining moment came when I gained my first long-term coaching partnership. It was a breakthrough, and my hard work paid off. Over the years, I faced many more failures, but I refused to let them define me.
Today, looking back at my journey, I realize that moments of feeling like a failure were essential to my success. They taught me humility, perseverance and the value of hard work. They shaped me into a successful entrepreneur I am today—someone who doesn’t fear failure but embraces it as a necessary part of the path to success. As we approach the end of the year of graduation, remember that success is not about avoiding failure, but about how we rise after we fall. Let’s support each other on this journey called life. Stay positive, stay inspired and stay true to ourselves.
1. What is the function of paragraph 1?| A．To give the definition of failure. |
| B．To list some examples of failure. |
| C．To introduce the topic of the story. |
| D．To stress the importance of experience. |
| A．Internal motivation. | B．Advice from a coach. |
| C．Family financial crisis. | D．Encouragement from friends. |
| A．To teach is to learn. |
| B．A word spoken is past recalling. |
| C．Constant dropping wears away a stone. |
| D．Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched. |
| A．Inspire us with his lessons. |
| B．Persuade us to major in business. |
| C．Recall the key moments of his entrepreneurship. |
| D．Advocate avoiding obstacles on the way to success. |
5 . I started a “question of the day” section in a family text group. We’d talk about everything from movies to politics. But despite several warnings from loved ones that some of my responses were judgmental and that I was too quick to attack an opinion, I all but killed that group text. It had a good 12 people in it. We’d shared laughs, encouragement, and funny memes (表情包). It took only one conversation — which I was in the middle of — to end it.
I realized that I had a problem. The medium for my problem is the smartphone. Before smartphones enabled instant communication, people talked on the telephone. In person, you could cut in a “What do you mean by that?” to correct a misunderstanding before it got out of hand. Don’t get me wrong: I love a good group text. It makes me feel connected to people in a way that I just can’t seem to anymore, now that I have a wife and kids.
I’m learning, but I had a relapse (复发) recently. I joined a new text group. I introduced my “question of the day” feature. I fooled myself into thinking that I was encouraging a healthy debate on current events. No. Others in the group saw it as me trying to prove that my way was the right way. Then I made the mistake of sharing some personal information that one friend had told me during a phone conversation. I thought everyone knew. Then this friend started referring to me as a snitch — not terms of kind word. So I asked him about it — in person. That’s when he told me I’d shared sensitive information he hadn’t told anyone else. I apologized plentifully and came away from the conversation more determined to slow down my texts.
My new resolve seems to be working. You should be pleased to know that I have avoided making a few points that I was tempted (鼓动) to make in individual and group texts. In some cases, I didn’t even respond. I haven’t lost any more connections by doing this.
1. How does the author introduce the topic?| A．By making judgments on politics. | B．By responding to some text messages. |
| C．By presenting a personal experience. | D．By starting a funny conversation. |
| A．Ignoring the need to listen to others. | B．Making quick and sharp responses. |
| C．Failing to express himself timely. | D．Focusing on the issues of his own. |
| A．He gave away the privacy of his friend. |
| B．He always made mistakes on current events. |
| C．He made a fool of himself in chatting. |
| D．He liked enquiring personal information. |
| A．Hurry makes waste. | B．Understanding each other is vital. |
| C．Sometimes fast is just too fast. | D．Trust is the bridge of communication. |
6 . Years ago, I lived in a
After several months had
One bright morning I decided to clean my flat,
Then it dawned on me. I had been criticizing her dirty window,
That was
Since then, whenever I wanted to judge someone, I asked myself
| A．street | B．family | C．building | D．school |
| A．ever | B．before | C．never | D．once |
| A．gone up | B．gone by | C．gone off | D．gone away |
| A．in | B．across | C．through | D．on |
| A．me | B．myself | C．I | D．my |
| A．terrible | B．ugly | C．good | D．surprise |
| A．containing | B．includes | C．contains | D．including |
| A．cleaning | B．listening | C．studying | D．learning |
| A．shock | B．excitement | C．surprise | D．joy |
| A．however | B．but | C．though | D．because |
| A．so | B．very | C．quite | D．too |
| A．looked after | B．looked at | C．looked for | D．looked into |
| A．ear | B．hand | C．heart | D．face |
| A．first | B．second | C．third | D．finally |
| A．why | B．what | C．that | D．when |
7 . We will all experience pain, disappointment, and almost certainly loss and sickness. Yet some people
John O’Leary is the host of the Live Inspired Podcast. When he was just nine years old, John suffered
| A．subscribe | B．proceed | C．respond | D．express |
| A．interviewed | B．imagined | C．introduced | D．recognized |
| A．externally | B．joyfully | C．formally | D．wisely |
| A．mood | B．pain | C．sadness | D．hurt |
| A．Regardless | B．Instead | C．However | D．Therefore |
| A．thoughts | B．opinions | C．theories | D．factors |
| A．shelter | B．decrease | C．improve | D．change |
| A．gentle | B．severe | C．certain | D．ordinary |
| A．relief | B．recount | C．survival | D．refreshment |
| A．make it | B．get across | C．go around | D．pull over |
| A．potential | B．touchy | C．sincere | D．successful |
| A．work | B．talent | C．fantasy | D．prediction |
| A．desperation | B．gift | C．goal | D．task |
| A．higher | B．rarer | C．brighter | D．calmer |
| A．angle | B．manner | C．prospect | D．trend |
8 . I knew it was going to be a bad fireworks season this year when I saw so many different tents selling them to the public. I was right. The bangs and booms (噼啪声) started before the first of January and lasted way past the fourth. I have never been a big fan of fireworks since I was a boy. It was then that a local fair set off a huge show near our house and I saw how the noise terrified our dogs. I sat on the floor with them during the whole show, holding their shaking bodies.
I know a lot of people enjoy the colorful light shows the fireworks can put on at times. They can be bright and beautiful. Still, I find that I prefer the gentler lights of summer to these noisy ones. I love seeing the moon rising above the hills in the evening. Its gentle, smiling face always reminds me that someone loves me and is watching over me from above.
The shinning stars also always look so heavenly and wonderful when you take the time to look up into the skies and watch them shine. I also love the beautiful, blinking (眨眼的) lights of the fireflies this time of the year. Seeing their lovely, little lights as they fly around always fills my heart with light and delight as well. It warms my soul and reminds me of what a perfect world we live in.
I think we all might do better to grow the gentler lights within ourselves. Our society seems to praise and admire those who come off as booming and brash (自以为是的).
1. Why does the author mention his childhood’s experience?| A．To share an old story. |
| B．To explain his tiredness of fireworks. |
| C．To stress a joyful atmosphere with fireworks. |
| D．To remind us of the danger of fireworks. |
| A．Because they are bright, and beautiful. |
| B．Because they give him pleasant feelings. |
| C．Because they don’t scare his dogs any more. |
| D．Because they keep him free from being monitored. |
| A．Grateful. | B．Joyful. | C．Determined. | D．Beloved. |
| A．Why gentler lights are better than noisy ones. |
| B．What gentler lights will really bring to our life. |
| C．How we can make the world a gentler place. |
| D．When we can stop great noises such as fireworks. |
9 . So, I did it. I moved back home, despite all the disapproval. I left my good job, my relationship, and the endless opportunities.
Some people questioned me, “Why did you move back?” It was hard at first to admit that I liked being home, and that, actually, I didn’t prefer New York City (as so many people do). But after time, it became easier and less of an issue. And when they asked me why I moved back home, I confidently said, “Because I wanted to.” Many people welcomed me back into the community.
The first few months home were the most relaxing of my life. Every day I wake up to birds chirping, and sunlight coming in from the window-no traffic sounds or people screaming on the streets. It sounds like a Disney movie, but it’s so true! There is something about the air here-it’s clean. It smells good. I can also see the Grand Mesa (the largest flat-top mountain in the world) from my bedroom window. My work commute (通勤) is a four-minute car ride. And on summer nights, my favorite thing to do is watch the sunset from my porch because it’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
I’ve been home for almost three years now, much to the surprise of my friends and family. Some friends even made bets on how long “this” would last. So far, I’m winning. But since I’ve been home my life has flourished. I realized that home, for me, is a place that inspires me. Because before, in the city, I felt like I had to compete with everyone to get ahead. Many times, forgetting what I was “fighting” for, I was clouded in competition and not passion. I lost touch with the other parts of myself, never quite realizing that the quiet country life provided that to me.
By coming home, I found myself again, the true me. I didn’t expect a city to give me opportunities because I could make my own.
1. Why does the author mention “a Disney movie” in Paragraph 3?| A．To introduce a new topic. | B．To provide more details. |
| C．To give a vivid description. | D．To support an argument. |
| A．By staying home longer than expected. | B．By getting used to country life quickly. |
| C．By wining competitions at workplace. | D．By leading a better life than in the city. |
| A．Bad work relations. | B．Few job opportunities. |
| C．Longer work commute. | D．Too much competition. |
| A．The goal she was fighting for. | B．Living to be her true self. |
| C．The chance of getting ahead of others. | D．A more comfortable life. |
10 . It’s 3 am. I
I feel
I
Suddenly I had an idea. If it’s true that I can be happy with either path, then why not let
It
We make
| A．hang up | B．pick out | C．take apart | D．fix up |
| A．goals | B．opinions | C．explanations | D．solutions |
| A．doubtful | B．awkward | C．serious | D．sorry |
| A．difficult | B．different | C．right | D．simple |
| A．proposal | B．risk | C．trouble | D．answer |
| A．ignore | B．weigh | C．collect | D．share |
| A．choice | B．change | C．challenge | D．plan |
| A．uncertain | B．acceptable | C．regretful | D．uninteresting |
| A．formally | B．eagerly | C．particularly | D．heavily |
| A．responsibility | B．emotion | C．chance | D．personality |
| A．put back | B．pull out | C．throw away | D．set aside |
| A．exists | B．rolls | C．lands | D．stands |
| A．improves | B．appears | C．struggles | D．survives |
| A．friends | B．mistakes | C．discussions | D．decisions |
| A．complaint | B．dream | C．limit | D．advice |
