1 . 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

2 . Many years ago, I was living with my best friend and we had many happy moments together. But there was one night that ________ our lives forever.

On the night of November 25, 2011, I got into a fistfight with my best friend in our kitchen. It all started because I was trying to help him. He was drinking a lot, arguing with everyone and ________ himself from others by keeping silent most of the time. This had been going on for weeks and finally I decided it was time for a(an) ________ I told him that he needed to stop drinking so much and tried to ________ his alcohol and he got angry and started ________ with me. It was scary, but by the end of the night, we were able to calm down and talk to each other.

I thought alcohol ________ was his main problem. But he was just using alcohol to ________ himself through. He was lonely, heartbroken and struggling to connect with people. So during the Christmas season a few weeks later, I gave him a ________ that I didn’t even know I had.

That Christmas my friend didn’t have any place to go, so I invited him home to my parents’ house in Lancaster. They ________ cleaned up our guest room for him and even bought him some Christmas gifts. I’ll never forget the night we arrived at my home. My parents were already ________, but my mom had prepared dinner for us, baked some cookies and left us a note. My parents are known for their ________, so I wasn’t surprised by this warm welcome. But when my friend read my mom’s note and saw all that she had prepared, he broke down and cried. That’s when I ________ how much I took my loving family for granted.

That year my friend and I both received gifts that we would ________ forever. I gave him the gift of a warm, loving, safe place to spend Christmas. And he gave me the gift of a new ________ on life. If I hadn’t shared my home with him, I wouldn’t have understood how ________ I am.

1.

A．defined

B．inspired

C．created

D．changed

2.

A．defending

B．separating

C．protecting

D．locking

3.

A．communication

B．investigation

C．exploration

D．promotion

4.

A．put up

B．take away

C．break out

D．call off

5.

A．talking

B．crying

C．fighting

D．laughing

6.

A．access

B．addition

C．abuse

D．affection

7.

A．look

B．break

C．drive

D．carry

8.

A．time

B．holiday

C．gift

D．family

9.

A．happily

B．generally

C．formally

D．hurriedly

10.

A．awake

B．asleep

C．available

D．absorbed

11.

A．generosity

B．curiosity

C．ability

D．creativity

12.

A．admitted

B．realized

C．recognized

D．accepted

13.

A．exchange

B．present

C．treasure

D．appreciate

14.

A．day

B．test

C．skill

D．eye

15.

A．kind

B．grateful

C．blessed

D．healthy

3 . It’s far from easy for people to run just one marathon. They usually need months of training to get into shape to last the 42.195-km distance. However, marathons are no problem for Australian runner Erchana Murray-Bartlett.

Murray-Bartlett ran 150 of them — every day for 150 days. The 32-year-old woman ran 6,329 kilometres from Queensland, at the top of Australia, to Melbourne, at the bottom. Her five-month coast-to-coast run set a new world record, the most consecutive (连续不断的) daily marathons. She smashed the earlier record of 106 marathons in 106 days.

As a professional runner, Murray-Bartlett missed out on getting the chance to take part in the Tokyo Olympics, so she set her sights on a record-establishing challenge. More importantly, by running across the country, she hoped to make people pay more attention to the fact that many kinds of animals and plants were dying out in Australia. Finally, her run raised $70,000 for the protection organization, the Wilderness Society. She said it was terribly hard five months, but she knew she could do it. She said, “Even though sometimes I was covered in sweat and flies, and everything ached, I thought, ‘No, I can go one more kilometre’ or,’ No, I can go 500 more metres’. Lots of tiny goals mean you can do it.”

1. What does the author mainly tell us in paragraph 1?

A．Murray-Bartlett is an Australian sportswoman.

B．It’s very important for people to keep in shape.

C．The marathon covers a distance of 42.195 kilometres.

D．It’s not difficult for Murray-Bartlett to run marathons.

2. What world record did Murray-Bartlett create?

A．She ran 150 daily marathons for 150 days.

B．She finished a marathon in the shortest time.

C．She was the youngest to complete a marathon.

D．She ran from the top to the bottom of Australia.

3. The underlined word “smashed” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ________.

A．kept

B．broke

C．reached

D．followed

4. Why did Murray-Bartlett ran her daily marathons?

A．She aimed to help protect the wildlife.	B．She meant to raise money for herself.
C．She hoped to compete in the Olympics.	D．She wanted to establish a social organization.

5. Murray-Bartlett succeeded in setting the world record mainly because ________.

A．she had a tiny goal	B．she was professional
C．she never gave up	D．she was kind-hearted

4 . 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.

5 . Every time I take time off with my family, I tend to reflect on how technology has impacted our lives. It’s when we try to _________ the technology that we realize just how much we have _________ it. What happens when we have to _________ our own imagination and mind when there is no technology? If you ever stood in a long line and _________ went for your phone, you know what I am talking about.

When my family and I go on a trip together, it usually takes a few days for my kids to finally _________the fact that they have to let go of their electronic devices. They go through a withdrawal period (戒断期) where Mom is “the worst” for expecting them to go a few days without _________. I need to be _________ here. I am writing about my kids but the _________ is that I _________ withdrawals as well. I find myself having to use all my willpower just to __________looking at emails.

It has become a(n) __________ that vacation time is quality family time and when we are together, there are no __________. When vacation mode sets in, it becomes easier to __________ the technology and enjoy the moment. My children start to share stories and we find ourselves having fun just spending quality time together. __________, it always surprises me how quickly we __________ to our regular routine once the __________ is over. It becomes part of my __________ once I am back at work to have the phone beside me at all times.

Do you use technology as a tool to improve productivity or communicate and connect? Or, has technology become a(n) __________ that contributes to devaluing ( 贬值) “real life”__________with the people right in front of you?

So, spend __________ time with your loved ones and become engaged in the moment.

1.

A．dream of

B．show off

C．shut off

D．major in

2.

A．referred to

B．commented on

C．learned from

D．depended on

3.

A．share

B．simplify

C．face

D．develop

4.

A．properly

B．secretly

C．informally

D．instantly

5.

A．present

B．accept

C．check

D．discover

6.

A．games

B．homework

C．difficulties

D．help

7.

A．flexible

B．honest

C．confident

D．brave

8.

A．rule

B．plan

C．truth

D．reward

9.

A．experience

B．predict

C．replace

D．permit

10.

A．risk

B．avoid

C．imagine

D．consider

11.

A．tradition

B．instruction

C．contribution

D．motivation

12.

A．disagreements

B．emergencies

C．electronics

D．competitions

13.

A．test

B．recognize

C．improve

D．forget

14.

A．Otherwise

B．Therefore

C．However

D．Besides

15.

A．return

B．adapt

C．react

D．complain

16.

A．work

B．meeting

C．holiday

D．relationship

17.

A．fun

B．solution

C．reason

D．routine

18.

A．condition

B．addiction

C．standard

D．honor

19.

A．connections

B．lessons

C．chances

D．suggestions

20.

A．local

B．limited

C．long

D．quality

6 . The train shook back and forth, its wheels making a loud noise on the tracks. Outside the window, the freezing cold of winter ruled. The carriage was filled with passengers, cold and _________ by the journey. Suddenly, a little boy _________ his way through the grown-ups’ legs and sat down by the window. Without being paid any attention to, he looked all alone among the seemingly unfriendly grown-ups. What a _________ child, I thought. His father chose to stay by the door behind us. Then, _________, something very strange happened. The little boy slid down from his seat and leaned his hand on my knee _________, I thought that he wanted to _________ me and return to his father, so I carefully helped him to stand up. But instead, he leaned forward and held his head up towards me. Oh, he wanted to say something to me; I _________ my head to receive his message. Wrong again! What I did receive was such a _________ kiss on the cheek that everyone could hear it. The boy calmly returned to his seat, leaned back and continued looking out of the window. I felt. _________. What had just happened? A child kissed a(n) __________. grown-up on the train! How could anybody want to kiss such a man that had so much beard? But that was not the end of the story. Soon enough, the boy, encouraged by something inside, went around, and all my neighbors were certainly __________. Embarrassed and a little surprised, we smiled at the father. Seeing our questioning __________, he offered an answer as he got ready for his stop. “My boy is so happy to be alive,” the father said. “He has been very sick.” Father and son __________ into the crowd moving toward the exit. The doors closed and the train went on. On my cheek I can still feel the child’s kiss—a kiss that has triggered some soul searching inside me. “How many go around kissing each other for the joy of being alive like the boy? How many even give much thought to the privilege(特权) of __________?” The little kisser taught us a sweet but serious lesson: be careful; don’t let yourself __________ before your heart stops!

1.

A．thrilled

B．exhausted

C．delighted

D．determined

2.

A．led

B．came

C．pushed

D．lost

3.

A．brave

B．generous

C．casual

D．helpful

4.

A．hurriedly

B．anxiously

C．unexpectedly

D．accidentally

5.

A．On some occasion

B．For a moment

C．At no time

D．Once in a while

6.

A．kick

B．strike

C．search

D．pass

7.

A．raised

B．tapped

C．lowered

D．nodded

8.

A．loud

B．long

C．strict

D．strong

9.

A．ashamed

B．astonished

C．satisfied

D．scared

10.

A．well-behaved

B．elderly

C．strange

D．considerate

11.

A．praised

B．kissed

C．scolded

D．touched

12.

A．looks

B．gestures

C．characters

D．images

13.

A．pulled

B．rushed

C．flooded

D．disappeared

14.

A．sharing

B．remaining

C．moving

D．living

15.

A．regret

B．stop

C．die

D．escape

7 . “I can’t connect with your characters.”

I kept hearing the same feedback and was unable to understand why and not sure what to do. I was a character-driven writer. How could I mess up the one thing I was supposed to be good at? I was determined to convince my agent that these characters were real. After all, I knew they were real. My main character Lotus had lived inside me for years. I just needed to clarify her on the page.

I wrote and edited for a year, trying to respond to this agent’s feedback. But Lotus’ personality began to disappear. I tried to have her make “better” decisions, wear smarter fashion, and have more friends, as my agent said she acted “immature” and was “isolated”. And when this agent ultimately parted ways with me, I felt like I had failed. Now with time and distance, I realize I tried to fit Lotus into a neurotypical style to please my agent. And as a result, Lotus lost her Lotus-ness.

When that agent discouraged me from writing Lotus as autistic(自闭的), he said that would make Lotus seem more “vulnerable(脆弱的)” or an “obvious victim”. I didn’t want Lotus to seem vulnerable. Lotus’ autism is what makes her powerful, I tried to explain. But from a neurotypical perspective, Lotus’ autism could only be seen as a weakness.

Unsure of how to convince my agent of the strength and power autistic women hold, I began to write Lotus as “neurotypical”. And I failed miserably. After all, what do I know about being neurotypical? My whole life, autism was my default. Not being diagnosed until 2020, I assumed the way I saw the world was “normal”.

My current agent encourages me to write from my neurodivergent(神经多样性的) experience. With this invitation, I revisited Lotus and saw her the way I first wrote her. And when I did, the characters and the entire narrative began to make more sense.

Identifying my characters as neurodivergent not only gives me joy as a writer, but it has produced my strongest writing. For so long, I’ve combatted the advice to “write what I know”, in part because I didn’t know what I actually knew. I didn’t know I was neurodivergent. But as I mine the specificity of my lived experience, my writing is stronger. There is a power to our lived experience. It’s not a limitation on our craft, but a swinging open of the gates.

1. How did the author feel when receiving the repeated response from the first agent?

A．Confused.

B．Convinced.

C．Determined.

D．Disappointed.

2. Lotus’ personality got lost because ______

A．Lotus no longer lived inside the author	B．the author attempted to please the agent
C．the agent failed to sympathize with Lotus	D．Lotus was considered childish and lonely

3. What do we know about the author?

A．She regretted parting with the agent.

B．She owed her success in life to autism.

C．She was aware of her autism in the early years.

D．She was empowered by her autistic experience.

4. What has the author learned from her own experience?

A．Stick to your dream despite discouragement.

B．Be true to yourself and write from your heart.

C．Giving in to authority is the barrier to success.

D．Everyone is born an original instead of a copy.

8 . I attend an Art School in Southern California for Musical Theatre and have always pursued artistic pursuits throughout my life. I have also had a lot of _________ experiences from working at food banks to _________ money to help patients suffering from blood cancer. All the things I mentioned above are what _________ me to be a more appreciative and better person.

The _________ that has been by far my favorite was the _________ I did last summer. I developed and carried out a Musical Theatre Summer Camp at a local community center that _________ low-income families. This camp allowed children, who _________ wouldn’t have an opportunity, to gain a basic _________ in singing, dancing, and acting while also allowing them to feel as though they were a _________ of something.

This camp completely impacted the way I __________ both the world and the profound impact people can have. The children came from all backgrounds, and we had some homeless children, undocumented children, and many children who had experienced __________ throughout their lives. I cannot fully __________ the happiness it brings me to be able to share a creative outlet (出路) for them. I __________ believe in the importance of art and I feel incredibly grateful to have been able to share that __________ with them.

Volunteering has reminded me how important it is to __________ to others and how lucky I have been to experience everything.

1.

A．reviewing

B．approving

C．volunteering

D．attempting

2.

A．raising

B．distributing

C．chasing

D．counting

3.

A．impressed

B．remembered

C．motivated

D．troubled

4.

A．experience

B．project

C．dream

D．schedule

5.

A．zone

B．work

C．line

D．secret

6.

A．chose

B．received

C．moved

D．served

7.

A．besides

B．otherwise

C．however

D．instead

8.

A．delay

B．comfort

C．joy

D．education

9.

A．part

B．center

C．reminder

D．burden

10.

A．cultivate

B．reason

C．view

D．conquer

11.

A．connection

B．touch

C．violence

D．witness

12.

A．copy

B．express

C．indicate

D．present

13.

A．casually

B．temporarily

C．formerly

D．truly

14.

A．trade

B．trick

C．skill

D．gift

15.

A．give back

B．give in

C．get down

D．get across

9 . Beep! Beep! Beep! I rolled over and turned off my alarm clock. It was still _________ outside so I turned on the light. I got dressed quickly because I knew both of my dogs would be _________ to get outside for their morning walk. I reached over to grab a _________ and stopped. It was technically still fall but the _________ here in the Appalachian mountains of my home didn’t follow the _________. It had been cold and snowy two days ago and chilly and rainy yesterday. I had forgotten to _________ the weather report for today, however, so I wasn’t sure if I _______ my light jacket or my heavy coat.

I _________ my light jacket, pulled it on and leashed up my bigger dog. I opened the door and stepped outside. Instantly I knew I had made the _________ choice. Each breath I exhaled was a frozen mist. The wind chill was bitter cold. The grass was covered in __________ and I tried to keep my __________ while my dog dragged me along behind him.

I shivered (打寒颤) and __________ a bit but finally turned my head up to the heavens. I looked up at the __________sky and saw it was full of twinkling stars. It was so beautiful and so peaceful. __________, I felt a warmth inside of me and __________ shivering. While my dog sniffed the ground, I opened my heart to the __________ of nature’s creation. In all of its sweet seasons it had never __________ to touch my soul. It had heated my heart on the coldest days and     ________ my spirit on the darkest nights.

Our lives here are full of sweet __________ as well. From the innocence and youth of Spring to the wisdom and wrinkles of Winter. __________ all your sweet seasons. Make each day a creation of your love.

1.

A．rainy

B．dark

C．cold

D．snowy

2.

A．curious

B．afraid

C．eager

D．able

3.

A．coat

B．bite

C．leash

D．flashlight

4.

A．temperature

B．condition

C．environment

D．weather

5.

A．method

B．path

C．plan

D．calendar

6.

A．check

B．forecast

C．test

D．provide

7.

A．removed

B．needed

C．packed

D．washed

8.

A．tried on

B．decided on

C．relied on

D．focused on

9.

A．difficult

B．ideal

C．wrong

D．safe

10.

A．water

B．mud

C．dust

D．frost

11.

A．patience

B．balance

C．distance

D．promise

12.

A．complained

B．smiled

C．suffered

D．doubted

13.

A．pre-dusk

B．mid-night

C．pre-dawn

D．post-dawn

14.

A．Actually

B．Suddenly

C．Effortlessly

D．Generally

15.

A．avoided

B．regretted

C．stopped

D．continued

16.

A．wonder

B．reality

C．signal

D．challenge

17.

A．offered

B．refused

C．intended

D．failed

18.

A．found

B．admired

C．reflected

D．lighted

19.

A．discoveries

B．dreams

C．seasons

D．memories

20.

A．Enjoy

B．Examine

C．Admit

D．Remember

10 . 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。

Sandy and Jane came to see the jobo tree on the hilltop again. Jobos were their favorite fruit, but the tree belonged to a lady who lived in the house by the hill. They heard she was difficult, but that sometimes she would give fruit in return for an errand(差使)

The girls finally gathered their courage to knock on her door. An elderly woman with a fierce look answered, staring down at the girls. “We heard …”said Sandy, her voice shaky, “that you give jobos in payment for running an errand.”

The lady raised one eyebrow, then went into the kitchen and took two baskets. She pushed them into the girls’ hands.“Go fill these with jobos, and come right back.”

The girls raced up the hill to the tree and filled the baskets with the ripest jobos. Back at the house, the lady filled a bag with rice and handed it to Sandy. “Take this bag and one basket of jobos to the Brown family. And ask them for the payment,” the lady added with a tight smile.“If you return without the payment, you won’t get the fruit.”

The girls struggled all the way with the bag and the basket. When they were there, Mrs. Brown answered the door. Inside on the floor were three little children, each painting something on papers.

Mr. Brown was lying sick in bed.Times were hard.

The girls handed her the food.“This is from the lady with the jobo tree, ” said Sandy.

“She asked for the payment, too.”Jane said awkwardly.

“The payment! The payment!” The children repeated, waving the paper in their hands happily.

Sandy and Jane looked at each other strangely. With a smile, Mrs. Brown handed Sandy a large sealed(密封的)envelope so full that it was almost starting to break open. The girls said goodbye and left quickly. “I wonder,” Sandy murmured, “whether Mrs. Brown can afford to pay for that food.”

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。

Worried, the two girls discussed what was in the envelope as they walked back.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The lady opened the envelope, took out a pile of papers, and smiled.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________