1 . We cannot argue with reality. We cannot argue with science. Therefore, we simply cannot argue with the fact that there are no straight lines in the universe.
Let’s start with science. The science of a straight line falls under the subject of physics. It might seem like a complicated topic, but the theory behind it is pretty simple. If you start rowing in a boat from one place and keep sailing, the concept of the curved (弯曲的) Earth will take you in a circle and you will end up where you started. The brain forms the concept of a straight line to simplify what you see in nature. Consider it a tool for the mind to recognize reality.
The concept of straight lines was controversial and heavily influenced the politics and society of Europe from the 15th century to the 17th century. Greek thinkers and scholars like Aristotle in the 5th century already proved that the Earth was a globe, but many Europeans at that time did not believe in this idea! However, some Europeans during the Age of Exploration denied this belief. Just as the famous Italian scientist Galileo Galilei was persecuted (迫害) for advocating a heliocentric (日心的) model of the solar system, many thinkers like Giordano Bruno were shamed for believing that the Earth was round.
Well, my friends, let’s move on to life. The concept of nothing going in a straight line can be associated with life as much as it relates to science and architecture. Whenever you do something, it never turns out to play out exactly as planned. I especially know that as a thirteen-year-old! Life is a rough road—every time you go forward, it is followed by two steps back or to the side. Just like how science explains it, life is a curvy path full of unexpected twists, turns, and adventures that nobody can ever predict.
1. What does paragraph 1 function as?| A．An introduction to the topic. | B．A means to attract readers. |
| C．An explanation of a common sense. | D．A proof of the author’s opinion. |
| A．The mind could not recognize realities. | B．Things in nature might look complicated. |
| C．What you see in nature could seem simple. | D．People in the 16th century might find the Earth flat. |
| A．Plain and smooth. | B．Easy but fruitless. | C．Long and tough. | D．Bothersome but safe. |
| A．A Straight Line: Everything Simple | B．A Straight Line: People’s Good Wish |
| C．A Straight Line: Difficult To Prove | D．A Straight Line: Simply Nonexistent |
The snowstorm was supposed to hit the evening of Monday, Jan. 31. I was working from home but I had to leave that afternoon and go to my office to sign an emergency financial aid check for a student. The route to the office took about 30 minutes along the highway. When I got there, my colleague came to my office to co-sign the check, and left. As I was packing up, I noticed he had left his laptop bag in my office.
“I can bring it to you,” I assured him. It was just past 4:30 p. m. The snow wasn’t supposed to start until later. On the way to his place, I picked up a new cellphone charger, and filled up my SUV with gas.
It took me about 15 minutes to get to my colleague’s house, where I dropped off the laptop case and got back on the road. Then the snow started, and it was coming down fast. Within minutes, the windows were fogging up and getting covered with snow, so I rolled down my driver’s side window, thinking I could better follow the edge of the road and keep to a straight line. But really, I didn’t have a clue where I was or even which side of the road I was on.
I called 911, but the dispatcher (调度员) told me that nobody was coming to get me until morning at the earliest. The storm would continue for longer than predicted and I worried I’d freeze to death.
Breathe, I told myself. Panicking won’t help.
I stopped the car, pinning my location on Google Maps, figuring out that I was on a road called Bouvier Lane, in between two farms. I posted this new information to my Facebook community group, pleading for anyone who knew who lived on the farms to help me get rescued.
At 8 p. m., my cellphone rang. It was the son of the farmer, André Bouvier, who owned the land beside the road I was stuck in. He told me that his dad had just helped two other cars get to his house, a father and his two kids, and a couple with their daughter. He comforted me that his dad was coming to get me.
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。
Then, about 45 minutes later, I saw a tall figure, pacing toward me in the dark, carrying a flashlight.
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We reached the house at last, I driving slowly behind Andre Bouvier.
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3 . Once there was a young farmer who had an appointment with his lover to meet under a big tree. He was short-tempered and came very early. It was a fine spring day with flowers in full bloom (盛开), but he wasn’t in the mood to enjoy it.
Suddenly an angel turned up before him. “You get impatient, don’t you?” said the angel. “If you don’t want to wait, just turn the button to the right. You can jump over any life period if you want to.”
The young fellow was so happy that he turned the button lightly. How amazing! His lover appeared before him immediately staring at him with love. How wonderful it would be if the wedding ceremony were held now! He, again, turned the button. a grand wedding appeared in front of him; the band was playing cheerful music, he lost himself in it deeply. Unknowingly, the desires in his heart appeared endlessly: I also want a big house. He turned the button. I also want a crowd of lovely children. Instantly a group of lovely kids were playing joyfully in the large living room. Again, he jumped at turning the button to the right more than half.
How time flies! Before he saw the blooming flowers in the garden, everything had been covered in a deep snow. Looking at himself again, he had already become so old, his hair and beard totally white.
He was filled with regrets. I’d rather spend my life step by step than go in such a hurry. Better let me wait patiently! The button moved to the left with a rush. Once again, he was waiting for his lover under that big tree. His restlessness disappeared completely.
1. The angel gave the farmer a magic button in order to________.| A．make an appointment with him |
| B．help him enjoy beautiful flowers |
| C．shorten his future time |
| D．change his temper |
| A．Impatience. | B．Hopelessness. |
| C．Eagerness. | D．Amazement. |
| A．Regrets may exist if life is not fun. |
| B．Lovers had better wait. |
| C．People should live a realistic life. |
| D．Life can’t skip forward. |
4 . One of the statements that many experts seem to agree on is the fact that the great things start to happen the minute you step outside of your comfort zones. As soon as you decide that you are willing to go beyond what is safe, the possibilities are endless. For me, one of the most important things that we should always keep in mind is the fact that growth and comfort can’t coexist.
Personal development author Napoleon Hill once said: “Whatever the mind can understand and believe, the mind can achieve. Regardless of how many times you may have failed in the past or how lofty (崇高的) your aims and hopes may be.” This statement is especially powerful because it reminds us that we are the only ones who can be responsible for how far we will go. However, stepping outside of our comfort zone is probably the most important step to experiencing real change.
For a long time, I knew that I wanted to live in Argentina, so halfway through my bachelor’s degree, I bought a one-way ticket there. While in Argentina, I finished the last two years of my degree online before flying back home for graduation. I currently still live in Argentina, and I can proudly say that taking the necessary steps to make it a reality was one of the most important things I could have done.
This, of course, by no means at all applies to everyone, and I’m not implying we should all buy one-way tickets to foreign countries and see what happens. But it’s important to know that we should recognize what we desire and try to bring our dreams to life.
Living in a comfort zone can trick us into believing that we have an abundant amount of time when, in reality, we all know that years can fly by without us having accomplished much of what we really wanted to do. So why wait? I’m thankful that I didn’t put off my move until a later date because I would have missed out on a lot of amazing life experiences that have shaped me as a person. If we want to experience even a small amount of change, we will have to step outside of it.
1. Why do people prefer staying in comfort zone?| A．It makes people feel safe. | B．It leads to great things. |
| C．It is important for growth. | D．It helps make wise decisions. |
| A．Time and tide wait for no man. | B．The higher you fly, the harder you fail. |
| C．Failure is the mother of success. | D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
| A．persuade others to follow his/her example | B．encourage others to take immediate action |
| C．inform people of different foreign culture | D．remind people to be thankful in life |
| A．Identify your comfort zone | B．Value your precious time |
| C．Always try something new | D．Make the best decisions |
5 . As a general rule, all forms of activity lead to boredom when they are performed on a routine(常规) basis. As a matter of fact, we can see this
| A．habit | B．principle | C．way | D．power |
| A．parties | B．races | C．countries | D．ages |
| A．working | B．living | C．playing | D．going |
| A．confidence | B．interest | C．anxiety | D．sorrow |
| A．same | B．extra | C．funny | D．expensive |
| A．well-organized | B．colorfully-printed | C．half-filled | D．newly-collected |
| A．broad | B．passing | C．different | D．main |
| A．silently | B．impatiently | C．worriedly | D．gladly |
| A．promise | B．burden | C．right | D．game |
| A．courage | B．calmness | C．confusion | D．excitement |
| A．graduation | B．independence | C．responsibility | D．success |
| A．children | B．students | C．adults | D．retirees |
| A．carefully | B．eagerly | C．nervously | D．bravely |
| A．required | B．gained | C．noticed | D．discovered |
| A．need | B．learn | C．plan | D．start |
| A．great | B．strange | C．difficult | D．correct |
| A．time | B．money | C．skills | D．knowledge |
| A．only | B．well | C．even | D．soon |
| A．lost | B．chose | C．left | D．began |
| A．pets | B．toys | C．friends | D．colleagues |
6 . When we’re young, we don’t always know what interests us. We often learn skills or
I entered a cabinetmaking (家具制造)
I didn’t fully know what I was
I spent that year truly learning. True learning is a humbling (使人谦逊的) experience. I could understand exactly what was wrong with the
I finished the program — with honors, no less! My
| A．break down | B．set out | C．take up | D．lead to |
| A．operated | B．enjoyed | C．applied | D．resisted |
| A．trial | B．activity | C．club | D．program |
| A．hard | B．incredible | C．serious | D．boring |
| A．talented | B．determined | C．lovable | D．organized |
| A．used | B．committed | C．related | D．addicted |
| A．secure | B．physical | C．spiritual | D．abstract |
| A．added | B．respected | C．overcame | D．clarified |
| A．plan | B．homework | C．furniture | D．tool |
| A．ignore | B．realize | C．assess | D．fix |
| A．excusing | B．failing | C．pretending | D．judging |
| A．classmates | B．approaches | C．grades | D．challenges |
| A．continuously | B．finally | C．curiously | D．obviously |
| A．cold-blooded | B．kind-hearted | C．absent-minded | D．well-rounded |
| A．functions | B．strengths | C．dreams | D．surroundings |
7 . There was a time in my life when I lost everything. My physical health was the first thing to go. I lost the ability to walk and ended up in a wheelchair. I couldn’t go places and do the things I used to do.
After that, I lost everything else. I lost friends who grew tired and weary of waiting for a recovery that might never come. I lost my career, which I had worked for decades to build- my source of independent income. There went my sense of purpose, too. I lost my house. I had nowhere to live and had to move back in with my parents.
With no job, health, friends, or house to come home to, most people would fall into a deep despair. And I did experience depression. But it was my family that gave me faith. I think it was my ability to keep the faith that allowed the faith to be rewarded in the end.
My health returned slowly but surely. I no longer neglected myself and then put my body last. I was grateful that I could now see how necessary my health was, and that it was okay to prioritize myself over a paycheck. For me, health was more important than any other things and should be dealt with first.
New friends entered my life—people with authentic hearts and kind understanding. I was grateful that I lost people along the way to make room for the people who were supposed to be there all along. A new job presented itself as well. I was so grateful that I lost my old job so that one better suited to my hobbies could unfold before my eyes.
When bad things happen, it doesn’t mean that better things aren’t down the line. We just need the strength to hold on to hope. Yes, there was a time in my life when I lost everything—everything except my faith. But the new perspective that I gained was more important than anything that I lost.
1. Why did the author’s friends leave after she was sick?| A．They lost patience. | B．They were deeply in debt. |
| C．They minded their business. | D．They found themselves helpless. |
| A．New friendship. | B．Pursuit of career. | C．Desire for fame. | D．Family support. |
| A．She regards herself as a total failure. | B．She has got back what she once had. |
| C．She views things from a different aspect. | D．She has experienced a lot of tough days. |
| A．Everything comes to those who wait. | B．When one door closes, another opens. |
| C．History is a mirror reflecting reality. | D．Action is worry’s worst enemy. |
8 . A kindergarten teacher had decided to let her class play a game. The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag
And the
Days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the
The teacher asked: “How did you
Then the teacher told them the
| A．storing | B．containing | C．packing | D．attaching |
| A．address | B．photo | C．card | D．name |
| A．number | B．size | C．style | D．colour |
| A．base | B．count | C．depend | D．show |
| A．never | B．even | C．yet | D．already |
| A．unclear | B．unpleasant | C．unusual | D．unforgettable |
| A．relaxed | B．confused | C．annoyed | D．tired |
| A．live | B．reject | C．feel | D．travel |
| A．changes | B．trouble | C．fields | D．doors |
| A．different | B．valuable | C．fresh | D．heavy |
| A．various | B．hidden | C．surface | D．accurate |
| A．exactly | B．partly | C．roughly | D．eventually |
| A．hurt | B．improve | C．catch | D．influence |
| A．handle | B．drive | C．tolerate | D．tell |
| A．predict | B．imagine | C．choose | D．decide |
9 . I was ready for bed. My eyes fell on the musical
Dad was a
Dad was a man with big heart. When my house burned down a few years ago, Dad
With happy
“Beautiful and marvelous!”
Suddenly, I was awoken hours later by the
How did that card just start playing? I checked the windows, all tightly shut. But why couldn’t I
I decided to
The
| A．record | B．card | C．clock | D．box |
| A．particular | B．sad | C．religious | D．strange |
| A．joyful | B．powerful | C．reliable | D．traditional |
| A．intentionally | B．hardly | C．annoyingly | D．typically |
| A．frightened | B．moved | C．tricked | D．dragged |
| A．protection | B．tips | C．opportunities | D．rent |
| A．mean | B．careful | C．ridiculous | D．sensible |
| A．songs | B．endings | C．memories | D．wishes |
| A．familiar | B．embarrassing | C．beautiful | D．classic |
| A．believe | B．shake | C．tolerate | D．express |
| A．check | B．observe | C．wander | D．test |
| A．chemicals | B．cigarettes | C．cooking | D．smoke |
| A．reflection | B．influence | C．change | D．damage |
| A．regret | B．satisfaction | C．relief | D．excitement |
| A．kindness | B．voice | C．heart | D．generosity |
10 . I’ve never considered myself a brave person. When I was younger, if it was dark and I had to go outside alone to fetch something from the yard, I would run back inside like the hounds of hell were on my heels. Then before entering, I would act like nothing had happened.
What I didn’t realize at the time is that even though I was afraid, I would never let anyone know it.
You see, I was more afraid of being viewed as a coward than of the fear itself. And so, I ended up doing those scary things without realizing that I was, in fact, being courageous for acting despite the fear. And now, I realize that by consistently choosing to face the fear and acting anyway,
And so, this habit of doing what scared me despite the fear was one of the best habits I could have possibly formed, unconscious as it was. For you see, courage is not the absence of fear. It is not even the ability to overcome fear. It goes deeper than that.
| A．And that’s just the start of it. |
| B．My heartbeat would accelerate. |
| C．I would do the things that scared me. |
| D．To be courageous, one needs to be afraid. |
| E．So courage and fear are similar to some extent. |
| F．I became less and less afraid of doing those things over time. |
| G．I would talk to people about my fear and seek their help. |
