1 . About five weeks ago, I noticed the skin of our pet lizard was growing dusty. It worried me. I reported the strange surface on the skin of the lizard to my husband and children the next morning. Seconds later, our lizard emerged from its tank with its old skin flowing behind it.
I didn't think about it much until a morning last week when I knocked my favorite teapot off the table. It burst into hundreds of pieces. As I swept up the mess, I wondered why we had been breaking so many things over the months.
The destruction started three months ago. It was my husband's birthday. He had just lost his job. The uncertainty was starting to wear on us, so I wanted to do something special.
“Let's make a cake for Dad!” I cried.
My kids screamed with joy. We baked, iced and sprinkled for most of the day. Candles on the cake! Balloons on the walls! Flowers on the table!
Two hours before my husband came back home from another job interview, my daughter climbed up to grab a glass vase from a high shelf. It fell and crashed beside the cake. Tiny pieces of glass were everywhere. She sobbed loudly as I threw the cake away. My husband had banana pudding for his birthday.
Three days ago, the light in our living room suddenly went out. After several frustrating hours of unsuccessful attempts to fix it, my husband suggested watching the Michael Jordan documentary series The Last Dance.
The poignancy of Jordan retiring from his beloved basketball to play baseball and what had pushed him to make such a tough decision took me by surprise. As I watched him take off his basketball uniform and replace it with a baseball uniform, I saw him leaving behind the layer that no longer served him, just as our lizard had. Neither of them chose the moment that had transformed them. But they had to live with who they were after everything was different. Just like us. I realized that we have to learn to leave the past behind.
Humans do not shed skin as easily as other animals. The beginning of change is upsetting. The process is tiring. Damage changes us before we are ready. I see our lizard, raw and nearly new.
Jordan said that no matter how it ends, it starts with hope. With our tender, hopeful skin, that is where we begin.
1. What can we learn about the pet lizard from Paragraph 1?| A．Its tank grew dirty. | B．Its old skin came off. |
| C．It got a skin disease. | D．It went missing. |
| A．The birthday cake was ruined. | B．The author made good puddings. |
| C．Pudding was his favorite dessert. | D．They couldn't afford a birthday cake. |
| A．To prove a theory. | B．To define a concept. |
| C．To develop the theme. | D．To provide the background. |
| A．letting go of the past | B．looking for a new job |
| C．getting rid of a bad habit | D．giving up an opportunity |
| A．Love of family helps us survive great hardships. | B．It's not the end of the world if we break things. |
| C．We should move on no matter what happens. | D．Past experiences should be treasured. |
2 . Wheeling her red chair and scissors around the city, Katie gives out-of-luck strangers the
Last summer, Katie saw a man sitting with a
The man was in his 60s. “
She came back with her
“It’s more than a haircut. I want it to
Katie wanted to help people
It all began with a belief in simple acts of
| A．tool | B．gift | C．course | D．challenge |
| A．mask | B．chair | C．sign | D．mirror |
| A．perfect | B．regular | C．special | D．free |
| A．Naturally | B．Luckily | C．Actually | D．Eventually |
| A．exploring | B．hoping | C．begging | D．moving |
| A．usual | B．formal | C．smooth | D．loose |
| A．demanded | B．kept | C．reserved | D．took |
| A．good | B．brave | C．healthy | D．satisfied |
| A．prove | B．show | C．appreciate | D．combine |
| A．establish | B．complete | C．change | D．reflect |
| A．suffered from | B．got through | C．put up with | D．adapted to |
| A．charged | B．applied | C．sought | D．arranged |
| A．experiment | B．illness | C．operation | D．emotion |
| A．worthwhile | B．serious | C．alone | D．innocent |
| A．feel | B．follow | C．accomplish | D．select |
| A．coming over | B．turning around | C．reaching out | D．looking up |
| A．struggle | B．escape | C．relief | D．performance |
| A．extremely | B．apparently | C．merely | D．hardly |
| A．joy | B．honesty | C．pride | D．kindness |
| A．occurs | B．continues | C．remains | D．matters |
3 . That cold January night， I was growing sick of my life in San Francisco． There I was， walking home at one in the morning after a tiring practice at the theater． With opening night only a week away， I was still learning my lines． I was having trouble dealing with my part-time job at the bank and my acting at night at the same time． As I walked， I thought seriously about giving up both acting and San Francisco． City life had become too much for me．
As I walked down empty streets under tall buildings， I felt very small and cold． I began running， both to keep warm and to keep away any possible robbers． Very few people were still out except a few sad-looking homeless people under blankets．
About a block from my apartment， I heard a sound behind me． I turned quickly， half expecting to see someone with a knife or a gun． The street was empty． All I saw was a shining streetlight． Still， the noise had made me nervous， so I started to run faster． Not until I reached my apartment building and unlocked the door did I realize what the noise had been． It had been my wallet falling to the sidewalk．
Suddenly I wasn't cold or tired anymore． I ran out of the door and back to where I'd heard the noise． Although I searched the sidewalk anxiously for fifteen minutes， my wallet was nowhere to be found．
Just as I was about to give up the search， I heard the garbage truck pull up to the sidewalk next to me． When a voice called from the inside， "Alisa Camacho？" I thought I was dreaming． How could this man know my name？ The door opened， and out jumped a small red-haired man with an amused look in his eyes． "Is this what you're looking for？" he asked， holding up a small square shape．
It was nearly 3 a． m． by the time I got into bed． I wouldn't get much sleep that night， but I had got my wallet back． I also had got back some enjoyment of city life． I realized that the city couldn't be a bad place as long as people were willing to help each other．
1. How did the writer feel when she was walking home after work？ ______| A．Cold and sick | B．Lucky and hopeful |
| C．Satisfied and cheerful | D．Disappointed and helpless |
| A．preparing for the first night show |
| B．taking part in various city activities |
| C．learning acting in an evening school |
| D．solving her problem at the bank |
| A．was stopped by a garbage truck driver |
| B．lost her wallet unknowingly |
| C．was robbed of her wallet by a man with a knife |
| D．found some homeless people following her |
| A．would stop working at night |
| B．would make friends with the man |
| C．would stay on in San Francisco |
| D．would give up her job at the bank |
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A, B, C, D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
“Paul must have been trying to carry his waste paper to garbage can and dropped a few pieces.” I
“Stop making a mess.” “It’s not a mess. They’re
He didn’t answer me. Paul has autism (自闭症) and
Butterflies. Of course. I rushed to
That day Paul
| A．laughed | B．sighed | C．amazed | D．shouted |
| A．Days | B．Years | C．Moments | D．Weeks |
| A．called out | B．turned up | C．got in | D．added to |
| A．angrily | B．silently | C．loudly | D．peacefully |
| A．planes | B．papers | C．leaves | D．butterflies |
| A．rarely | B．frequently | C．willingly | D．eagerly |
| A．devoted | B．depended | C．focused | D．addicted |
| A．showing | B．looking | C．playing | D．drawing |
| A．spells | B．puts | C．pushes | D．accumulates |
| A．sound | B．remark | C．report | D．prayer |
| A．refuse | B．hear | C．mind | D．realize |
| A．worthy | B．aware | C．fond | D．typical |
| A．hide | B．destroy | C．rescue | D．remove |
| A．tore | B．dusted | C．cut | D．seized |
| A．throw | B．flow | C．land | D．fly |
| A．masterpieces | B．schoolwork | C．inventions | D．imagination |
| A．reminded | B．forced | C．intended | D．permitted |
| A．mistakes | B．weaknesses | C．beauty | D．scenery |
| A．amusement | B．housework | C．communication | D．homework |
| A．Happiness | B．Failure | C．Success | D．Life |
5 . My First Marathon（马拉松）
A month before my first marathon, one of my ankles was injured and this meant not running for two weeks, leaving me only two weeks to train. Yet, I was determined to go ahead.
I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P.E. class, the teacher required us to run laps and then hit a softball. I didn’t do either well. He later informed me that I was ＂not athletic＂.
The idea that I was ＂not athletic＂ stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized running was a battle against myself, not about competition or whether or not I was athletic. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. A test of wills!
The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn’t even find the finish line. I woke up sweating and nervous, but ready to prove something to myself.
Shortly after crossing the start line, my shoe laces(鞋带) became untied. So I stopped to readjust. Not the start I wanted!
At mile 3, I passed a sign: ＂GO FOR IT, RUNNERS!＂
By mile 17, I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt badly. Despite the pain, I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.
By mile 21, I was starving!
As I approached mile 23, I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan. She never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a.m. or questioned my expenses on running.
I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal. In fact, I got the same medal as the one that the guy who came in first place had.
Determined to be myself, move forward, free of shame and worldly labels(世俗标签), I can now call myself a ＂marathon winner＂.
1. A month before the marathon, the author ____________.| A．was well trained | B．felt scared |
| C．made up his mind to run | D．lost hope |
| A．To acknowledge the support of his teacher. |
| B．To amuse the readers with a funny story. |
| C．To show he was not talented in sports. |
| D．To share a precious memory. |
| A．He made it. | B．He quit halfway. |
| C．He got the first prize. | D．He walked to the end. |
| A．A man owes his success to his family support. |
| B．A winner is one with a great effort of will. |
| C．Failure is the mother of success. |
| D．One is never too old to learn. |
6 . In our daily life, we have too many things to deal with. It seems as if life is always tiring. However, whenever I feel
In middle school, Joanne was always
This made me think of another story. Maria and Jessie, who were good friends, had a big argument one day and they
The lesson I learned is that nobody can
| A．bored | B．exhausted | C．lonely | D．angry |
| A．offers | B．awards | C．impresses | D．suggests |
| A．hopeful | B．cheerful | C．smart | D．fortunate |
| A．excited | B．surprised | C．content | D．regret |
| A．completely | B．exactly | C．frequently | D．similarly |
| A．accident | B．disaster | C．hunger | D．disease |
| A．burst | B．wore | C．forced | D．formed |
| A．gift | B．words | C．behaviors | D．visit |
| A．Luckily | B．Happily | C．Unfortunately | D．Angrily |
| A．death | B．enemy | C．family | D．life |
| A．agreed | B．refused | C．stopped | D．continued |
| A．encouraging | B．convincing | C．rude | D．cruel |
| A．forgive | B．comfort | C．persuade | D．apologize |
| A．words | B．strength | C．courage | D．time |
| A．upset | B．harmed | C．regretted | D．respected |
| A．trouble | B．excuse | C．agreement | D．advice |
| A．used up | B．picked up | C．put up | D．came up |
| A．Unless | B．After | C．Before | D．Until |
| A．tell | B．observe | C．doubt | D．ignore |
| A．impression | B．feeling | C．attitude | D．mind |
On the first day he heard the stereo rocking over, Edward marched downstairs and politely told the newcomer that his stereo was too loud. He asked the new tenant to turn the volume down and keep it down as long as he lived in the building. The tenant appeared surprised and embarrassed, and said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was that loud.”
So, Edward returned upstairs, feeling good, because he had taken a stand and politely let the newcomer know that loud music was not going to be tolerated. The next day all was quiet, and Edward continued to be pleased with himself. The following day, Edward thought it must be Fourth of July, because a marching band was playing on his street. In fact, it was the new neighbor who was playing his music loud again.
Edward was not one to repeat himself, feeling that each time you repeated yourself, you diminished the value of your words. So, he did what he always did with rude neighbors－grinand bear it. Eventually, they would move away. What else are you going to do?
In Los Angles a year ago, a woman had complained to her upstairs neighbor that he was playing his drums too loud and too often. The drummer repeatedly ignored her. One day the woman walked upstairs and shot the drummer in the head and his girlfriend in the chest. The woman was sentenced to prison for 20 years.
The dead drummer won’t bother anyone with his drums, but the woman might be wishing now that she had learned to grin and bear it. If she were still living in her apartment, she could always move. When you’re in prison, you don’t have that option.
1. The man living below where Edward lived was .
| A．a deaf man | B．the owner of the house |
| C．a tenant | D．an old neighbor |
| A．Grinning and bearing it. |
| B．Persuading them to stop repeatedly. |
| C．Shouting them to dead. |
| D．Moving away from the rude neighbors. |
| A．he ignored her advice repeatedly |
| B．she could not stand his playing the guitar too loud |
| C．she could not put up with him any longer |
| D．he played the drums too often |
| A．being in prison means the loss of freedom |
| B．grinning and bearing it is the best policy |
| C．Edward should follow the example of the woman |
| D．the woman was right to kill her neighbor |
8 . An eight-year-old girl heard her parents talking about her little brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they had no money. Only a very expensive operation could save him now and there was no one to lend them the money.
When she heard her daddy say to her tearful mother, “Only a miracle can save him now,” the little girl went to her bedroom and pulled her money from its hiding place and counted it carefully.
She hurried to a drugstore with the money in her hand.
“And what do you want?” asked the salesman.
“It’s for my little brother,” the girl answered. “He’s really, really sick and I want to buy a miracle.”
“Pardon?” said the salesman.
“My brother Andrew has something bad growing inside his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him. So how much does a miracle cost?”
“We don’t sell a miracle here, child. I’m sorry,” the salesman said with a smile.
“Listen, if it isn’t enough, I can try and get some more. Just tell me how much it costs.” said the girl.
A well-dressed man heard it and asked, “What kind of a miracle does your brother need?”
“I don’t know,” she answered with her eyes full of tears. “He’s really sick and mum says he needs an operation. But my daddy can’t pay for it, so I have brought all my money.”
“How much do you have?” asked the man.
“$1.11, but I can try and get some more,” she answered.
“Well, what luck,” smiled the man.“$1.11, the price of a miracle for little brother.”[
He took up the girl’s hand and said, “Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.”
That well-dressed man was Dr Carlton Armstrong, a famous doctor. The operation was successful and it wasn’t long before Andrew was home again.
How much did the miracle cost?
1. What was the trouble in the little girl’s family?| A．Miracle was hard to get in the drugstore. |
| B．They were poor and no one can lend them money. |
| C．Her brother was badly ill and her family couldn’t afford the operation. |
| D．Nothing could save her brother. |
| A．something interesting | B．some useful medicine |
| C．something beautiful. | D．some good food |
| A．she had still kept some money |
| B．she hoped not to be refused |
| C．There was no need to worry about money |
| D．she thought money was easy to get |
| A．The girl’s love for her brother. | B．The girl’s money. |
| C．The medicine from the drugstore. | D．Nobody can tell. |
| A．The salesman didn’t sell miracle to the girl |
| B．Andrew was in fact not so sick as they had thought |
| C．The little girl is lovely but not so clever |
| D．A miracle is sure to happen if you keep on |
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C 和 D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Growing older is unavoidable while growing up is optional. These words have been passed on in the loving 1 of Rose.
On the first day of school our professor challenged us to get to know someone, so I 2 to find a little old lady looking at me with a smile. She said, “Hi, handsome! My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a 3 ? ” I laughed and 4 responded, then followed a giant squeeze. “ 5 come that are you in college at such an innocent age?” I asked. “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of kids... ” I was 6 what it was that motivated her to be taking on this 7 at her age. “I always dreamed of having a college education and now I 8 it!” Later, we became friends.
Rose became a campus celebrity and she easily made friends 9 she went. On one 10 Rose was invited to speak at our football banquet. Her prepared cards dropped before she 11 the speech. A little 12 , she simply 13 her throat and began, “We do not stop playing 14 we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are certain secrets to stay 15 , being happy and achieving success. You’ve got to have a dream. When you 16 your dreams, you die.”
At the end of the year Rose finished her college education. One week after graduation Rose died 17 in her sleep. Over two thousand college students 18 her funeral in honor of the wonderful woman who taught by 19 that it’s never too late to be all you can possibly be.
Anybody can grow older, which doesn’t 20 any talent or ability. The key is to grow up by always finding opportunities in change.
1.| A．care | B．memory | C．need | D．want |
| A．turned up | B．turned over | C．turned around | D．turned away |
| A．hug | B．kiss | C．hand | D．gift |
| A．annoyingly | B．impatiently | C．absently | D．enthusiastically |
| A．Who | B．How | C．Why | D．When |
| A．curious | B．positive | C．obvious | D．convinced |
| A．risk | B．opportunity | C．challenge | D．invitation |
| A．like | B．take | C．hold | D．make |
| A．however | B．whenever | C．wherever | D．whatever |
| A．stage | B．occasion | C．time | D．event |
| A．remembered | B．continued | C．delivered | D．wrote |
| A．delighted | B．embarrassed | C．fascinated | D．frightened |
| A．cleared | B．checked | C．cleaned | D．treated |
| A．until | B．before | C．when | D．because |
| A．energetic | B．young | C．alive | D．healthy |
| A．lose | B．realize | C．pursue | D．obtain |
| A．secretly | B．sadly | C．peacefully | D．bitterly |
| A．joined | B．ignored | C．cancelled | D．attended |
| A．example | B．directions | C．speech | D．personality |
| A．gain | B．explore | C．take | D．appeal |
Love
Love plays a key role on our life. Love makes you feel wanted. Without love a person could become cruel and violent. In the early stage of our life, our parents are the ones who show us with unconditional love and care. They tell us what is right or wrong, good or bad.
Happiness and Sorrow
Materialistic happiness is short-lived, but happiness achieved by bringing a smile on others gives a certain level of fulfillment.
Failure and Success
Hope and Despair
Hope is what keeps life going. Parents always hope their children will do well. Hope makes us dream. Hope builds in patience.
Life teaches us not to regret over yesterday, for it has passed and is beyond our control. Tomorrow is unknown, for it could either be right or dull.
| A．Life teaches us not to despair even in the darkest hour |
| B．So the only alternative is work hard today |
| C．But we always tend to take this for granted |
| D．Success lies in trusting yourself |
| E．So let’s enjoy every day |
| F．Failure is the path to success |
| G．Peace of mind is the main link to happiness |
