1 . Traveling itself is an experience hard to be described in words.     1     Especially the solo (独自) traveling experience is so transforming that it lives with you forever. Here I am sharing some lessons.

    2     Thinking how I would manage my entire day among strangers on campus, I pretended to be sick. Then I had the same feeling when I was planning to travel alone. Exploring a city on my own was a big fear for me but I successfully managed it all and now, I seek out new opportunities and experiences. I love to push myself.    3    

Having grown up and lived all my life in a single place, I had a small set of friends since my school days which continued till my college days.    4     I met a few very interesting people with whom I could feel an instant connect and got some new friends for life.

I totally agree that traveling with family and friends is fun and enjoying. But traveling alone is satisfying too. It’s among those few things that you do for yourself and nobody else.    5     During my solo travels I have explored my inner self and have expanded my boundaries which people around me have acknowledged at times.

A．I want to experience more.

B．But all this changed with my first solo trip.

C．I never thought I would travel alone in my life.

D．I was so scared when I went to school first time.

E．Every journey prepares you for the journey of life.

F．The farther you travel, the more independent you become.

G．After all you need to take care of yourself a bit too at times.

2 . It wasn’t easy to practice gratitude (感激) every day. After I _________ Cushing’s disease and had an operation a few years ago, my _________ was that everything would be OK. However, I was wrong. I had ongoing aches and pains, and _________ myself to a new life was difficult for me. I began to notice that I’d become a _________ person.

One day, I heard a discussion about gratitude by Dr Tony Evans. It _________ me and forced me to take a long, hard, honest look at myself. I have a (n) _________ spouse (配偶) and parents. I’d heard the stories of other people’s struggles with Cushing’s disease. Their spouses had left them and they didn’t have family to _________. I didn’t face any of these problems, yet I didn’t realize that.

I made a decision to start practicing gratitude daily. Once I decided that, my _________ improved, and I began to approach situations _________. Instead of viewing situations negatively, I started to see them as __________.

This led me to practice the concept of sowing and reaping (收获), which I learned from my parents. They didn’t just talk the talk, but rather they __________ this concept to us. __________, it wasn’t until I had my own experiences that I understood what it meant.

Let me explain. When I was __________ by my own pity, my harvest in life was ruined, because everything I was __________ was negative. Since I started practicing gratitude, so many different doors of opportunity have opened up for me.

My advice is starting practicing gratitude until it becomes a part of your daily __________. Take note of the difference it will make in your life.

1.

A．caught

B．treated

C．studied

D．spread

2.

A．suggestion

B．assumption

C．description

D．solution

3.

A．referring

B．abandoning

C．releasing

D．adjusting

4.

A．reasonable

B．considerate

C．generous

D．hateful

5.

A．annoyed

B．challenged

C．fooled

D．ignored

6.

A．supportive

B．creative

C．sensitive

D．active

7.

A．turn up

B．turn in

C．turn to

D．turn down

8.

A．image

B．taste

C．mood

D．character

9.

A．obviously

B．differently

C．greedily

D．frequently

10.

A．opportunities

B．responsibilities

C．abilities

D．difficulties

11.

A．reported

B．explained

C．performed

D．demonstrated

12.

A．Instead

B．Besides

C．However

D．Therefore

13.

A．consumed

B．surprised

C．protected

D．judged

14.

A．raising

B．sowing

C．meeting

D．learning

15.

A．burden

B．supply

C．routine

D．struggle

3 . I’m losing my hair. Don’t feel sorry. It will not be an explanation on how depressing it is that my body is submitting to the damages of time. It’s just a fact, and, honestly, I’m fine with it. Don’t get me wrong: had this happened when I was 25, I would have rushed to an Istanbul clinic with credit cards faster than you could say “Elton”. I would have had a baseball cap glued to my scalp (头皮). But I’m 40 now.

Hairdressers used to praise me on my “thick hair”, however, they’d make no obvious difference to my lion-like hairs. Therefore, this raises a question: why am I still spending £50 getting my hair cut? The answer to this is, I suppose, “habit”. But if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that even our fundamental behaviors can be transformed when necessary. For decades, I’ve frequented salons (美发厅). I enjoyed the air conditioning and the coffee. But really, all I require these days is a short back and sides. So, for the first time, I’ve started going to my local barbershop. And… it’s great! For one thing, you don’t need to book an appointment.

The two guys are friendly, yet also business-like. Best of all, the cut costs £15, and my hair looks exactly the same as when it was done in the salon. The first time my barber placed a wet towel over my nose and mouth, I’ve come to appreciate the feeling of a freshly-shaved jaw. So yes, my hair is thinning: I am older. But also, I believe, wiser.

1. What do we know about the author from paragraph1?

A．He has a lot of credit cards.

B．He is fine with his thinner hair now.

C．He feels upset about losing his hair.

D．He likes gluing a baseball cap to his scalp.

2. Why does the author reject the salons he’s frequented?

A．Because the salons charge too much.

B．Because he wants to change his hairstyle.

C．Because the hairdressers make his hair lion-like.

D．Because he has no habit of making appointments.

3. What does the author think of the local barbershop?

A．Inspiring.	B．Challenging.
C．Satisfying.	D．Disappointing.

4. What message does the author try to get through to us?

A．It’s wise to accept changes owing to aging.

B．The old are more likely to have thinner hair.

C．Crucial behaviors can be changed if necessary.

D．Salons and barbershops make no big difference.

4 . It was well after midnight, I stood silently staring out of the ninth floor window of the New York hospital. At 9 a.m., I was_________into an operating room. After an eleven-hour_______,I was put into a recovery room. It was then that I first saw him. He was so_________and stood in the doorway of the recovery room. He sent out sympathy and _______to me.

The man would be standing in the doorway, smiling and nodding as I would pass with one or more members of my family. On the fourth week I was allowed to walk up the corridor(走廊) _______. As I passed his room, I stopped a minute to_______. He introduced me to his wife and his son who was_________in a hospital bed. He explained that he and his wife had brought their boy to this hospital of hope from Iran. They were still_________but things were not going well. For three more weeks we_________ our conversations, each giving the other the gift of caring and friendship.

There did come a day when the doctor told me I could________ the hospital the following morning. The next morning he came to my room. I told him I would pray for his son. He ________ me but shrugged (耸肩) indicating the hopelessness. This man in his sorrow was so________ for me. I could feel his love. As I turned to walk down the corridor to the elevator, he was ________ and stood in the doorway, smiling, nodding and giving his blessing.

Fifteen years have passed and I think of him ________and he is always in my heart as I feel I am in his. I think it is because when we face the________ , our hearts and souls are open to those around us and we are able to accept the love and kindness of others, almost freely and thankfully as children accept love.

1.

A．dragged

B．attracted

C．wheeled

D．pulled

2.

A．argument

B．experiment

C．practice

D．operation

3.

A．curious

B．worried

C．funny

D．confident

4.

A．encouragement

B．order

C．confusion

D．sorrow

5.

A．carefully

B．independently

C．bravely

D．patiently

6.

A．think

B．breathe

C．recover

D．chat

7.

A．playing

B．studying

C．lying

D．jumping

8.

A．dreaming

B．working

C．changing

D．hoping

9.

A．continued

B．guided

C．stopped

D．started

10.

A．repair

B．leave

C．visit

D．rebuild

11.

A．thanked

B．understood

C．comforted

D．amused

12.

A．strange

B．special

C．happy

D．important

13.

A．impressed

B．annoyed

C．amazed

D．delighted

14.

A．finally

B．immediately

C．occasionally

D．frequently

15.

A．anxiety

B．disaster

C．responsibility

D．failure

5 . Ben was bothered every time he went through the kitchen. It was that little metal contain on the shelf above his wife Martha’s cook stove, which he had been repeatedly _________ never to touch. The reason, she said, was that it contained a “secret _________” from her late mother, and since she had no way of ever _________ the container, she was _________ that if Ben picked it up and looked inside, he might accidentally drop it and spill its _________ contents.

Ben never saw Martha cook a dish without taking the container of the shelf and sprinkling (洒) _________ a little of the contents over the ingredients. Whatever was in that container, it surely _________ Anyone who ever ate at their house felt Martha was the best _________ in the world. Looking into that container became increasingly _________ for Ben, but he never allowed himself to do so.

Then one day Martha became ill and was kept overnight in the hospital. Feeling lonely and bored in the house after returning home, Ben __________ the kitchen, and then the container on the shelf immediately came into view. It __________ his eyes like a magnet, and he quickly looked away, yet his curiosity brought him back again. He carefully took the container off the shelf, and opened it. Ben became __________ when what was inside came to I his sight. The container was empty, except for a little folded slip of paper at the bottom. He carefully picked it up and slowly __________ it under the kitchen light. Ben immediately __________ the handwriting as that of Martha’s mother. Very __________ it said: “Martha to everything you make, add a dash of love.”

1.

A．forbidden

B．told

C．inspired

D．threatened

2.

A．recipe

B．menu

C．herb

D．tobacco

3.

A．refilling

B．restoring

C．emptying

D．decorating

4.

A．pleased

B．concerned

C．puzzled

D．relieved

5.

A．valuable

B．previous

C．tasteless

D．messy

6.

A．yet

B．even

C．still

D．just

7.

A．failed

B．hurt

C．worked

D．changed

8.

A．wife

B．host

C．housekeeper

D．cook

9.

A．delightful

B．comforting

C．annoying

D．irresistible

10.

A．broke into

B．wandered into

C．ran out of

D．went back to

11.

A．opened

B．wetted

C．blinded

D．drew

12.

A．satisfied

B．calm

C．astonished

D．angry

13.

A．wrapped

B．unfolded

C．tore

D．wrinkled

14.

A．recognized

B．mentioned

C．treated

D．received

15.

A．stupidly

B．simply

C．cautiously

D．safely

6 . A song called Lonely Warrior (《孤勇者》) is always ringing in my ears. Six years ago, after hosting an annual ceremony for my school, I found that my left leg was a little swollen, and very soon I could barely walk. In fact, the swollen part became a fist-sized meatball that was so painful that I could barely sleep. Of course, I went to a local hospital, where I was given very bleak (不乐观的) news-osteosarcoma, which means bone cancer.

I underwent chemotherapy (化疗) for the next two years, and it was the worst time of my life. Physically, I felt that the side effects of chemotherapy were killing me. I lost all of the hair on my body and I became totally bald. I could barely eat anything, even if felt hungry. I no longer needed an alarm clock to wake up in the morning. Instead, what woke me was my body telling me that I needed to vomit (呕吐).

I had no idea where all this treatment would leave me, and the dreams I had once nursed about the future were entirely wiped out. I wanted to feel the world and experience more, so I stuck to the course of treatment. As time went by, however, I became weaker and weaker. The side effects now were far worse than they had been earlier.

I eventually suggested that the leg be chopped off, and the doctor said that might be the best thing to do, as long as I could cope with the psychological and social pressures afterward. I made my decision very calmly, because I knew things could not be worse than they were at that moment, and I was determined that this was just one more battle I would win.

Now, six years later, I have weathered all these difficulties. I have been so lucky to be able to find the strength to deal with all of this, and what I have to tell anyone still struggling with difficulties is this: have faith in yourself, and do not let bad moments drag you down. Just hang on and you will come through.

1. What can we learn about the side effects of chemotherapy?

A．They made the author suffer a lot.

B．They destroyed the author’s faith.

C．They were relieved after treatment.

D．They were more obvious in the daytime

2. What was the author’s decision to deal with his condition?

A．Chopping off his leg.

B．Turning down the doctor’s advice.

C．Giving in to the cancer.

D．Seeking psychological assistance.

3. What does the underlined word“weathered”in the last paragraph mean?

A．resisted

B．survived

C．escaped

D．produced

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

A．A light heart lives long.

B．A good medicine tastes bitter.

C．Time works wonders.

D．One with faith braves any hardship.

7 . In my primary school, we used to write a lot in Mrs. White’s class. There were many mistakes in my writings. But no red _________. Instead, always a star. Sometimes _________ a Good! I would jump with joy at it. But this _________ my mother. She wanted to figure out why Mrs. White never _________ spelling or grammatical errors. Then one day she went to see her.

Mrs. White replied, “Children are just beginning to get _________ about using words, about forming sentences. I don’t want to _________ that enthusiasm or put any pressure on them with red ink. Spelling and grammar can wait, but the _________ of words won ‘t…” And maybe she didn’t say it _________ like that. But what’s for sure is that I grew up learning to use words with _________ confidence from her.

It occurs to me that if Mrs. White had used her red pen more __________, I probably wouldn’t be telling you about this now. Looking back, I think she was such a(n) __________ teacher—to exercise “red-pen-restriction”. She allowed the joy, wonder and excitement of expression to come out.

In middle school, I used to __________ the word beautiful as “baeutiful”. Although “pretty” is __________ to spell, it doesn’t hold as much as you mean sometimes. So I told myself that if I was going to __________ the word, the least I could do was spell it right. Eventually, I made it.

And thanks to Mrs. White, I had no __________ when writing what I meant even if I couldn’t quite spell it out. Because Life isn’t Pretty. It’s “Baeutiful”.

1.

A．signals

B．corrections

C．remarks

D．symbols

2.

A．even

B．yet

C．ever

D．still

3.

A．threatened

B．shocked

C．worried

D．pleased

4.

A．gave up

B．waited for

C．wrote down

D．pointed out

5.

A．nervous

B．sensitive

C．excited

D．confused

6.

A．kill

B．fuel

C．welcome

D．ignore

7.

A．meaning

B．choice

C．repetition

D．wonder

8.

A．formally

B．exactly

C．firmly

D．loudly

9.

A．new

B．little

C．poor

D．full

10.

A．precisely

B．carefully

C．personally

D．cautiously

11.

A．reliable

B．romantic

C．extraordinary

D．famous

12.

A．recognise

B．identify

C．misuse

D．misspell

13.

A．better

B．harder

C．easier

D．faster

14.

A．cancel

B．employ

C．imitate

D．read

15.

A．tension

B．relief

C．complaint

D．anger

8 . Growing up, I was fortunate to have dinner with my family almost every day. Sometimes, the family dinner circle_________to include relatives stopping by. Yet, I knew some friends whose parents got home after dinner or even_________the entire evening. So I_________the quality time around our kitchen table, which witnessed countless valuable_________in my life.

_________,my kids cannot relate to my childhood memories. They have been left to_________with babysitters more times than I would like to admit. My husband and I have_________careers. And we often end up staying at the office way past dinnertime. When this happens too often, it_________the balance of our family.

Apart from suffering from_________,what else can a hardworking family do? I think we can all try to__________our own ways to spend time together. Surely there are days when I’m too busy to share a meal with my family. But I would make efforts to__________and chat later that day,__________       setting aside cellphones every time. And I even find a bedtime reading with my kids much__________.I am also proud to have our “big breakfast” routine every Saturday. My husband serves as the head chef, and my younger son__________       him to make the breakfast.

I am aware that my sons are growing up quickly and will be out of the__________someday. But now, I am happy to have so many wonderful things on my plate.

1.

A．widened

B．formed

C．lessened

D．closed

2.

A．missed

B．avoided

C．enjoyed

D．recorded

3.

A．wasted

B．treasured

C．limited

D．calculated

4.

A．shows

B．dishes

C．recipes

D．moments

5.

A．However

B．Otherwise

C．Therefore

D．Besides

6.

A．sleep

B．dine

C．study

D．play

7.

A．suitable

B．flexible

C．satisfying

D．demanding

8.

A．maintains

B．disturbs

C．improves

D．strikes

9.

A．fear

B．anger

C．guilt

D．hunger

10.

A．predict

B．create

C．evaluate

D．accept

11.

A．work out

B．calm down

C．hold on

D．catch up

12.

A．unwillingly

B．casually

C．consciously

D．carelessly

13.

A．louder

B．shorter

C．simpler

D．sweeter

14.

A．assists

B．guides

C．allows

D．orders

15.

A．office

B．kitchen

C．house

D．park

9 . My childhood was a painted picture of sunny sky and rolling green fields stretching to the horizon. It tasted of sharp berries and smelt of sour grapes. My family lived in a cabin(小木屋) in the countryside but I lived in my mother’s arms. They were so delicate but strong, her red hair falling around me like a curtain separating me from the world.

Childhood was simple. The borders of my village were the furthest my troubles went and monsters only lived in the pages of books. Every day was a waking dream of running races and muddy knees. My village was archaic, dying cabins housing dying farmers with dying traditions. There weren’t many children but me and the other boys; boys of butchers and sellers formed our own group.

They called us wild. I suppose we were. Trees and mountains formed our playgrounds and fights broke out as easily as sudden laughter. Liberated from the restrictions of society, we would bound into the woods, deeper and deeper until we found a lake which, with a wild yell, we would jump into all at once.

My most vivid memories from boyhood center around that lake. Water shone brightly and the sounds of our screams broke into the outcry from birds. The shock of cold water against sweating skin would wake every nerve in my body and my bare feet would hit the sinking muddy bottom. As we submerged(淹没)， time would suspend， movements slowing as bubbles rose around us.

I was drowning. I was living. I was living. I was drowning.

For timelessness or a second (both felt the same), we would suspend, curl up, and then be forced back out into breathing air.

We should have known that it wouldn’t last forever. Yet, even under the best circumstances, there’s something so tragic about growing up: to have your perspective on the people and life around you change;to always struggle to reach a mirror only to find yourself tall enough to see your reflection one day. And find, a different person staring back out at you.

1. What does the underlined word “archaic” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Borderless.

B．Valueless.

C．Old-fashioned.

D．Poverty-stricken.

2. Why did the author consider himself and other children wild?

A．They played in the woods crazily.

B．They tricked others purposefully.

C．They frequently broke social rules.

D．They firmly refused school education.

3. How does the author introduce his memories of the lake?

A．By sharing feelings.

B．By expressing ideas.

C．By making comparisons.

D．By describing characters.

4. What message does the author seem to convey in the last paragraph?

A．Loneliness and challenges make a man grow up.

B．The regret of growth is that you have never tried.

C．Growth is often accompanied by sad goodbyes to the past.

D．Growth begins when we begin to accept our own weakness.

10 . After leaving the publishing industry in my fifties, I chose a university to follow my love for animal biology. I regard the experience as a change for my self-confidence, both inside and outside the classroom.

My background is in the arts, so I wanted to see if I could keep up with a science degree. I was a carer for my parent when I was 18, so I didn’t have the opportunity to go to university then. I was a little nervous, and worried, but I was actually treated the same as all the other students.

I’m definitely a bit of a mum figure to some of my classmates, but that’s fine. Friendship grows in different ways. I’ve done lots of volunteering, so there have been plenty of opportunities to extend my knowledge and experience.

My family have been so supportive. My husband is retired(退休) now and has taken on lots of the housework so that I can study. My daughter has already g other degree and she’s been great helping me get new views. I’ve hunted for a few jobs at the university, and I’m also considering other qualifications. I have learned so much about critical thinking.

I would recommend adult study to anyone, even if it’s just college, so they can feel that connection and support. That’s what I missed-going in regularly and having a group of people to talk to, especially if you have gradually lost your confidence over the years You need the support from people who see you as a person and not just a mum or a wife. It’s really given me the confidence to speak up again, to join in and be part of the society.

1. Why did the author choose a university?

A．To teach arts.	B．To get a degree.
C．To follow her passion.	D．To find a better job.

2. What prevented the author going to university when she was young?

A．Keeping a science degree.	B．Taking care of her parents.
C．Being nervous about study.	D．Showing no interest in university.

3. What did the author benefit from her experience?

A．She got on better with her old friends.

B．She learned to be stricter with herself.

C．She was more responsible for her housework.

D．She became more confident to express herself.

4. Which maybe the best title for the text?

A．It Is Never Too Old to Learn.

B．Hard Work Is the Key to Success.

C．Family Support Is of Great Importance.

D．Volunteering Is Helpful in Developing Friendship.