1 . As a traveler with a disability, I have always avoided cruises. This expedition-style small-ship cruise changed my mind.

When our expedition leader ________ we would make a Zodiac (卓迪船) ________ at Jan Mayen, a tiny island in the Arctic Ocean, I stepped out onto my balcony aboard our ship, ________ to find clear skies and calm seas. ________, I was met with a gust of wet wind and a view of mist-covered mountains in the distance. Jan Mayen wasn’t on our itinerary (行程), and due to its ________ location and often unpredictable weather, very few people ever ________ the island. I knew the ________ weren’t ideal, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me.

In fact, the possibility of ________ adventures was one of the reasons I chose this small-ship cruise. So I ________ joined my shipmates in the mud room, where we put on waterproof clothes and life jackets before hopping in the Zodiacs for a bumpy ________ to a black-sand beach. Even the fierce wind and rain couldn’t ________ our excitement as we ________ our way to the beach and hiked to a viewpoint, pausing to photograph little purple flowers ________ the volcanic rocks.

Our visit there wasn’t about what we could do or see. It was an opportunity to just be—to exist in a brief ________ on a tiny, often inaccessible, volcanic rock in the Arctic. And that’s something I never thought I’d ________ in my lifetime.

1.

A．knew

B．announced

C．remembered

D．replied

2.

A．living

B．return

C．landing

D．mark

3.

A．failing

B．choosing

C．struggling

D．hoping

4.

A．Instead

B．Finally

C．Thus

D．Otherwise

5.

A．strategic

B．remote

C．favorable

D．central

6.

A．set foot on

B．fell victim to

C．kept track of

D．gained control of

7.

A．constructions

B．conditions

C．descriptions

D．distributions

8.

A．unwanted

B．unsecured

C．unplanned

D．unauthorized

9.

A．mistakenly

B．nervously

C．routinely

D．happily

10.

A．walk

B．flight

C．ride

D．path

11.

A．dampen

B．share

C．convey

D．fuel

12.

A．changed

B．lost

C．fought

D．made

13.

A．in response to

B．in view of

C．in contrast to

D．in defense of

14.

A．moment

B．experiment

C．glance

D．ceremony

15.

A．value

B．need

C．miss

D．experience

2 . Before setting out on her journey, Shirley led an elegant and peaceful life in the quiet countryside. Little did she _________ the adventure that would beat her thoughts and lead her far from the _________ of home.

Regardless of her prior unwillingness, Shirley’s _________ with Sally, who suggested this trip, threw her into a category of adventures she had never imagined. Yet, despite the _________ that arose, from encounters with tigers to struggles with crocodiles (鳄鱼), Shirley remained somewhat _________ in her devotion to the journey.

Her ideal, to prove her _________ and find her place, became a (n) _________ driving force as she faced the challenges of the journey. Along the way, she _________ awesome wonders, from the fascination of the Kenyan safari (游猎) to the thunders of the misty Kilimanjaro. _________ her expectations, Shirley found herself bound to the fate of home, owing much to the friendship she had and the __________ she had discovered within herself. And when faced with the fear of mother nature, it was Shirley’s bravery that __________ her only companion, Sally.

As her journey __________ its end, Shirley realized how much she owed to the journey, not just the material treasures she had got, but the personal growth and self-discovery that came from __________ beyond her comfort zone. And so, with confidence and a heart of __________, Shirley started going back home, forever __________ by this unforgettable adventure.

1.

A．expect

B．imply

C．acknowledge

D．decide

2.

A．security

B．comfort

C．relief

D．fear

3.

A．combination

B．patience

C．association

D．familiarity

4.

A．sufferings

B．protests

C．conflicts

D．dangers

5.

A．determined

B．excited

C．satisfied

D．inspired

6.

A．advantage

B．point

C．cost

D．worth

7.

A．exceptional

B．initial

C．fundamental

D．common

8.

A．brought about

B．came across

C．cut through

D．set off

9.

A．Conquered by

B．Contrary to

C．Content with

D．Concerned about

10.

A．creativity

B．courage

C．curiosity

D．care

11.

A．controlled

B．persuaded

C．astonished

D．disappointed

12.

A．accessed

B．acquired

C．approached

D．achieved

13.

A．leaving

B．digging

C．coming

D．stepping

14.

A．recognition

B．gratitude

C．respect

D．dependence

15.

A．changed

B．excused

C．relaxed

D．freed

3 . Moving forces us to face the extraneous. File cabinets and drawers stuffed to the brim, boxes piled high in the backs of closets — why keep letters and cards that we never re-read? One card with my grandmother’s handwriting should be enough.

An unnerving yet productive strategy is to envision someone dealing with the piles of papers if you suddenly weren’t here. You instantly realize that most of your accumulation will one day be thrown into a recycling bin. The things you are saving as reminders of your past are useless to others. Sure, you may value what you keep, but worth is essentially all in your head.

In a real sense, to throw things away is to prepare to die. This is not a gloomy declaration but rather an enlivening recognition of the freedom that follows when we take ourselves less seriously. It’s the same as looking at a sky full of stars and feeling the relief of being tiny and unimportant. Awareness of the briefness of our time on earth and the impermanence of both our attachments and our sufferings can become a powerful basis for clearing things and emotions alike.

A few years ago, dear friends were called home from work to a big fire. They watched as their house burned to the ground, despite the efforts of several fire crews. Everything material, cherished things, and accumulations were reduced to ashes —clothes, photo albums, furniture, paintings, books, boxes of old letters, the piano.

By nightfall, what they had left were the clothes they had worn that day and the photos they had kept at their workplaces. At first, they felt completely collapsed, but once they emerged from the initial shock and grief, they were sustained by a lot of love from family and friends. They were alive, and this is what really mattered. It is astonishing to discover how little weight our possessions carry in this calculus of true necessity.

1. What does the underlined word “extraneous” mean in Paragraph 1?

A．Invaluable.

B．Irrelevant.

C．Suitable.

D．Necessary.

2. What may the author agree with about the value of one’s accumulation?

A．It’s useless.

B．It’s essential.

C．It’s personal.

D．It’s recyclable.

3. How can one be prepared “to throw things away” according to Paragraph 3?

A．By recognizing the burden of freedom.	B．By letting oneself fade into insignificance.
C．By being aware of the preciousness of time.	D．By treasuring the attachments and sufferings.

4. Why does the author mention his friends’ story?

A．To demonstrate the cruelty of a fire.	B．To stress the weight our possessions carry.
C．To emphasize the importance of love from friends.	D．To show the insignificance of our possessions.

4 . A son and his father are walking on the mountains. _________, the son falls, hurts himself and screams: “AAAhhhhhhh!!!” To his surprise, he hears the voice _________, somewhere in the mountain: “AAAhhhhhh!!!”

_________, he shouts: “Who are you?” He receives the _________: “Who are you?” And then he screams to the mountain: “I admire you!” The _________ answers: “I admire you!” Angered at the response, he screams: “Coward (懦夫)” He receives the answer: “Coward!”

He looks to his father and asks: “What’s going on?” The father smiles and says: “My son, pay attention.” Again the man screams: “You are a _________!” The voice answers: “You are a champion!” The boy is _________, but does not understand. Then the father _________: “People call this ECHO (回音), but_________this is LIFE. It gives you __________ everything you say or do.

Our life is__________a reflection of our actions. If you want more love in the world, __________ more love in your heart. If you want more competence (能力) in your team, __________ your competence. This relationship __________ everything, in all aspects of life; Life will give you back everything you have given to it. “YOUR LIFE IS NOT ACOINCIDENCE. IT’S A __________OF YOU!”

1.

A．Finally

B．Suddenly

C．Apparently

D．Secretly

2.

A．repeating

B．laughing

C．trembling

D．dropping

3.

A．Excited

B．Disappointed

C．Proud

D．Curious

4.

A．introduction

B．explanation

C．answer

D．analysis

5.

A．voice

B．father

C．son

D．wind

6.

A．loser

B．champion

C．stranger

D．student

7.

A．moved

B．upset

C．surprised

D．angered

8.

A．admits

B．complains

C．adds

D．explains

9.

A．unfortunately

B．really

C．luckily

D．naturally

10.

A．away

B．out

C．back

D．off

11.

A．simply

B．likely

C．hardly

D．otherwise

12.

A．appreciate

B．create

C．cherish

D．purchase

13.

A．hide

B．share

C．improve

D．use

14.

A．applies to

B．begins with

C．goes against

D．looks like

15.

A．PRIDE

B．REFLECTION

C．TRADITION

D．SURVIVAL

5 . Twenty-five years ago, we were on a family vacation, driving to see family in New York State. Mom and Dad, probably looking for ways to keep their two young kids busy, borrowed a sign about fifteen inches long and three inches high. On one side of the sign was painted “Smile” and on the other side “Thanks”. The sign got a lot of use on the trip. One of us would hold up the sign, so a car behind us could read “Smile”. If they did, we turned the sign over and they got the reward of “Thanks”.

The smile lesson is important, but no more so than the other side, the thanks! Playing this driving game was one of the many ways my parents taught me the importance and value of gratitude, most easily expressed with a simple thank you.

The story goes that a farmer took some of his corn to the State Fair and won the blue ribbon, for the best corn. A reporter asked him what he was going to do with the prized ears of grain he was holding. He said that he would share the seed with his neighbors. The reporter was surprised and asked, “Why would you want to do that?” The farmer calmly answered: “Don’t you know? The wind picks up pollen (花粉) from the ripening corn and blows it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily worsen the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

So it is with smiling. You are the wind. You can produce smiling faces by spreading your pollen. The cost to you is slight, but the fruits of your pollen will be felt all around.

1. What is the purpose of the author’s family trip 25 years ago?

A．To influence others in a fun way.	B．To play a driving game together.
C．To drive to another city to visit family.	D．To go on a family vacation on the road.

2. Why did the author’s parents make them hold up the sign?

A．To keep them fit.	B．To teach them a lesson.
C．To gain people’s gratitude.	D．To make other drivers laugh.

3. The author tells the story of the farmer to show ________.

A．the importance of passing kindness	B．the necessity to keep good relationship
C．the significance of expressing gratitude	D．the pleasure of sharing with other people

4. What is compared to “the fruits of your pollen” in the last paragraph?

A．The influence of smiles.	B．The work you are doing.
C．The reason for your smiles.	D．The people you smile at.

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。

Trust your bad luck

Before this time, I usually buy a first class train ticket. That is necessary! Because this is one of the most crowded and poorest region in the world, I am afraid that there are no seats in the general class. Unluckily, this time I was running late. I was informed there was no first class seating available, so I was forced to buy a general ticket.

The general coach was extremely crowded. Smell of sweat and sighs from tired bodies troubled me. I stepped over people sitting on the floor, asking them to make a little space for me to stand, but nobody moved. Finally, I had to shout at two poor people to make a standing place near the gate for me. As several hours passed, I continued changing the pressure on my legs, one by one, to ease the pain of standing. The entire time, I cursed(咒骂) in my heart, “Damn! Bad luck has ruined my day!”

Suddenly, at about 3 am, a strange sound woke me up. I scanned the coach. Everyone was sleeping. Hadn’t anyone else heard it? Beside the train gate, I noticed an empty space. That space wasn’t there before. I’d know it. For the entire journey, I’d stood just four meters from that gate. If there had been a space, I would have taken it. My mind raced. No! A young man was sleeping there just now. I shouted, “Pull the emergency chain!” I was nowhere near the chain.

A group of people awoke in surprise. “What’s going on?” They quizzed. “I think someone accidentally fell off the train.” I replied. Those men sitting near the chain stared wide-eyed, motionless, for fear of facing a fine or punishment. So I struggled through the crowd, reached for that emergency chain and pulled it. Finally, the train stopped.

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。
Within seconds, a policeman rushed forward, “Who touched the emergency chain?”
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
It was the young man! He was lying alongside the track, injured.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . It had been forty years since I graduated from high school, but the staircase haunted my memories. The concrete steps led up to the Smiley Building. I climbed those steps several times each day to get to math class or visit my locker.

Boys would sit on both sides of the staircase, rating the girls on a scale of I to 10 as we walked by. If they thought a girl was ugly, they barked. Every time I walked, the barks and laughter rang in my ears. “Just ignore them,” my mother advised. And I did. Just on the surface.

Eventually, I graduated, got accepted to college, launched a rewarding career, got married and raised two amazing boys. But when I looked in the mirror, the doubts returned.

Then I got an invitation to my fortieth high school reunion. “Why would you go back there? I thought you didn’t like high school.” My brother complained. I didn’t, but I wanted to show the boys that I had all the things they’d made me feel I wasn’t worthy of. I put on my favorite blouse, touched up my make—up, and steeled myself for the Friday night opening reception.

Maybe it’s true that memory is the first thing to go. People greeted me politely, drinks in hand, flattering me with “You haven’t changed at all.” I’d look at the face and study the name-tag with the graduation photo, but it didn’t ring a bell most of the time. Was I at the wrong reunion? No, some women remembered my mother being their Girl Scout leader. Others had kind things to say about my father, a local college professor.

My planned speech wilted (萎靡不振) on my lips. Instead, I chatted breezily about my new life. People were nice enough, but aside from a couple of friends, I felt like I was talking to strangers.

It was pointless to feel angry at people I couldn’t even recognize. I was only hurting myself by replaying those memories in my mind. I knew I needed to forgive and move on.

1. Why couldn’t the author ignore the boys’ laughter?

A．She fell into self-doubt.

B．She had an ugly appearance.

C．Her mother kept reminding her.

D．The boys’ laughter were impressive.

2. What did the author do before the school reunion?

A．Called old classmates.	B．Dressed herself up.
C．Argued with her brother.	D．Renewed her closet.

3. What happened in the opening reception?

A．People treated the author impolitely.

B．The author found herself in a wrong reunion.

C．Everyone present received a graduation photo.

D．The author failed to recognize many of her classmates.

4. How did the author feel after the reunion?

A．Excited.

B．Relieved.

C．Annoyed.

D．Hopeless.

8 . 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.

2. How did the author win the bets with her friends?

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.

3. What is it that the author dislikes about city life?

A．Bad work relations.	B．Few job opportunities.
C．Longer work commute.	D．Too much competition.

4. What does the author refer to with the word “that” in Paragraph 4?

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.

9 . Eric loses his dog, Nova, on a walk. She has pulled the leash (绳子) from his hand in ________ of a rabbit. He puts up signs, ________ neighbors, and enlists friends to help search for Nova, but with no ________.

A week later, a beautiful woman named Vanessa shows up at Eric’s front door. She has Nova. After Nova and Eric reconnect in a chaotic, ________ display of affection, Eric thanks the woman. They talk for a while and seem to ________. Soon, Eric and Vanessa fall in love.

A couple of months go by. While driving on his way to pick up Vanessa, Eric is T-boned at full speed by a distracted driver who ________ a red light. Eric is ________ unconscious. Later, he finds himself in a hospital. A doctor ________ Eric of what has happened and explains that he has suffered a severe head ________ and that they will need to run a brain scan to ________ if there’s any chance of permanent brain damage.

The next day, the doctor comes into Eric’s room and tells him they have found a tumor (肿瘤) in his brain. “________, we only catch a tumor after someone realizes something’s wrong when they start to feel the ________ which is almost always too late, but this tumor is caught before it grows into any other areas of your brain, which in almost all cases becomes ________. Eric, this car accident basically saved your life.”

This ________ of events led Eric to realize that sometimes a ________ could be a blessing in disguise.

1.

A．pursuit

B．memory

C．defense

D．control

2.

A．brings

B．notifies

C．alerts

D．encourages

3.

A．answer

B．luck

C．wonder

D．way

4.

A．easy-going

B．far-reaching

C．heart-warming

D．ever-lasting

5.

A．check it out

B．leave it behind

C．pick it up

D．hit it off

6.

A．approached

B．encountered

C．ran

D．spotted

7.

A．knocked

B．pushed

C．beaten

D．carried

8.

A．accuses

B．convinces

C．informs

D．relieves

9.

A．tumor

B．spin

C．shot

D．injury

10.

A．determine

B．react

C．compare

D．prevent

11.

A．Unexpectedly

B．Occasionally

C．Fortunately

D．Normally

12.

A．accident

B．scars

C．symptoms

D．disasters

13.

A．rare

B．original

C．deadly

D．harmless

14.

A．schedule

B．chain

C．type

D．circle

15.

A．chance

B．misfortune

C．checkup

D．belief

10 . In one’s lifetime, especially during adolescence when mental maturity is yet to be achieved, everyone is likely to make some foolish mistakes that will be remembered for a lifetime. The way parents _________ these situations often directly determines the value attributed to these mistakes.

When I was ten years old, I got really angry one day and ended up breaking my favorite pen. Instead of scolding me, my parents chose a different _________. They quietly kept the broken pen and used it as a silent reminder of my mistake. Every time I saw that _________ pen, it served as a gentle yet _________ lesson.

In the beginning, I couldn’t understand why they didn’t yell at me or punish me _________. However, as days went by, the broken pen became a symbol of my _________ actions. It made me reflect on my behavior and the consequences of letting anger _________ me.

The silence from my parents _________ louder than words ever could. It wasn’t about the pen itself, but rather the lesson it represented. I realized that patience and self-control were _________ qualities to cultivate. Instead of reacting impulsively (冲动的), I learned to take a step back and __________ before acting.

Time __________, I eventually became a more patient and thoughtful person. The broken pen, once a source of __________, became a catalyst (催化剂) for positive change in my behavior. My parents’ quiet discipline __________ me a valuable lesson about the power of reflection and the importance of learning from my mistakes. This experience __________ me into a better person, reminding me that sometimes, the most profound lesson come in the form of silent __________.

1.

A．put off

B．give in

C．lead to

D．deal with

2.

A．approach

B．career

C．punishment

D．expectation

3.

A．unique

B．expensive

C．damaged

D．magic

4.

A．practical

B．powerful

C．well-organized

D．challenging

5.

A．directly

B．gently

C．quietly

D．openly

6.

A．secretly-promoted

B．newly-invented

C．highly-recommended

D．ill-considered

7.

A．catch up with

B．in terms of

C．take control of

D．team up with

8.

A．whispered

B．spoke

C．shouted

D．remained

9.

A．essential

B．rough

C．average

D．satisfactory

10.

A．reflect

B．fight

C．scream

D．dream

11.

A．freezes

B．flies

C．talks

D．cures

12.

A．happiness

B．imagination

C．regret

D．creativeness

13.

A．planed

B．bought

C．set

D．taught

14.

A．drew

B．compared

C．terrified

D．shaped

15.

A．pens

B．consequences

C．parents

D．people