1 . I have a love-hate relationship with 8 o’clock classes. I like to get started that _________. Most students do not. They _________ in late and many otherwise bright ones look so sleepy at that hour.

One day, I was _________ about the topic, but no one else seemed to be. I wrote things on the _________. I moved around the room. I told stories. I got theatrical. I _________ humour. It was useless. The _________ looks didn’t seem to change. I was upset.

I lost track of time. I was about to _________ a major topic when I glanced down at my _________. I was already two minutes past the _________ end of class. So I just ended __________ and the students picked their book bags and headed out the door on their way to another class. Watching them retreat (退出) out the door, I __________ my own books, notes and papers and __________ out into the hall. I was tired and a bit __________. I had put everything I knew how to do into that classroom __________ and it had seemed for naught. Then, as I started crossing the hall to my nearby office, a student __________ from the back door of the classroom I had just been in and caught up with me.

I __________ he wanted to ask why I didn’t have those test papers graded yet or maybe he wanted permission to __________ a late paper or…

It was none of that. With his __________ full of sparkles (闪光), Randy said, “This is the first time I’ve not wanted a college class to end.” The __________ lifted. Randy would never know how much his __________ meant to me.

1.

A．fast

B．early

C．direct

D．simply

2.

A．drag

B．fit

C．break

D．turn

3.

A．excited

B．curious

C．concerned

D．anxious

4.

A．wall

B．book

C．letter

D．board

5.

A．abandoned

B．tried

C．valued

D．sensed

6.

A．worried

B．serious

C．disappointed

D．blank

7.

A．remember

B．read

C．start

D．revise

8.

A．watch

B．desk

C．screen

D．agenda

9.

A．scheduled

B．final

C．reasonable

D．opposite

10.

A．suddenly

B．definitely

C．gratefully

D．desperately

11.

A．found out

B．piled up

C．make up

D．set down

12.

A．stepped

B．brought

C．watched

D．rushed

13.

A．regretful

B．discouraged

C．amazed

D．delighted

14.

A．party

B．programme

C．persuasion

D．performance

15.

A．slipped into

B．closed up

C．came out

D．knocked on

16.

A．realized

B．confirmed

C．noticed

D．thought

17.

A．hand in

B．give up

C．refer to

D．look through

18.

A．skin

B．eyes

C．mouth

D．cheeks

19.

A．tiredness

B．pain

C．sorrow

D．anger

20.

A．behaviours

B．reply

C．courage

D．words

2 . On an extremely hot summer day, my friend Shelia and I treated our children to some rides at Libertyland, an amusement park. Libertyland ________ finds talented teenagers who must put on four or more shows a day for their little pay in its theater.

By mid-afternoon, Shelia and I were ________ while the kids were still full of energy and ________ to continue riding the rides. With security assistants ________ them, we decided to look for a cool ________. After a long time, in the theater, we ________ found a bench. We just sat down, hoping for a few moments of rest.

Luckily, a show ________ soon. The performers put on a wonderful show. ________, their audience of about 20 people seeking to escape the ________ didn’t seem to care.

At the end of the show, the audience gave ________ applause. But Shelia jumped to her feet, ________ and oohed and aahed (叫好) as if she ________ the most amazing Broadway production in her life. She ________ and said to me, “They’re someone else’s ________. Since their moms aren’t here, we need to ________ them.” In that instant, Shelia gave me ________ I had never thought of! Then I stood, cheering those ________ kids.

That happened over six years ago, and Shelia’s ________ still stay with me now. When I’m in a fast-food place, they ________ me that the teen behind the counter is someone’s child, and so is the pizza delivery boy. I ________ those kids as I’d want other people to do to my own children.

1.

A．already

B．just

C．still

D．also

2.

A．worried

B．tired

C．addicted

D．excited

3.

A．unsure

B．happy

C．proud

D．nervous

4.

A．accompanying

B．teaching

C．assessing

D．questioning

5.

A．show

B．sight

C．place

D．time

6.

A．eventually

B．constantly

C．secretly

D．immediately

7.

A．finished

B．began

C．continued

D．changed

8.

A．Instead

B．Besides

C．However

D．Therefore

9.

A．noise

B．dust

C．heat

D．people

10.

A．familiar

B．comforting

C．embarrassing

D．half-hearted

11.

A．listened

B．observed

C．clapped

D．predicted

12.

A．demonstrated

B．saw

C．created

D．directed

13.

A．looked down

B．came along

C．turned over

D．stepped forward

14.

A．kids

B．co-workers

C．students

D．teachers

15.

A．attract

B．coach

C．impress

D．support

16.

A．insights

B．chances

C．challenges

D．memories

17.

A．cautious

B．hard-working

C．curious

D．warm-hearted

18.

A．stories

B．promises

C．words

D．concepts

19.

A．convince

B．inform

C．warn

D．remind

20.

A．educate

B．persuade

C．serve

D．treat

3 . Five years ago, I wrote about the connection between expectations and happiness—lower your expectations and you will be happier: control expectations and despair won’t be so obvious when life does not go according to plan. And perhaps there is some truth in that idea.

However, with reduced expectations, we chip away at hope. And how can we not hope for a better tomorrow? I consider myself to be someone with spirit. I look forward to experiences and anticipate memorable ones. And while it’s important to cope when such experiences fall through. I think it’s even more important to hold onto what was originally present -that sense of hope.

The Times article, Optimism Bias: Human Brain May Be Hardwired for Hope, offers a perspective with roots in evolutionary (进化的) psychology. Hope can be wired in the human brain to enhance survival. If present during trying times, hope can be a factor that allows some to overcome difficulties and gather positivity for the days ahead.

“Hope keeps our minds at ease, lowers stress and improves physical health,” the article states. “Researchers studying patients with heart disease found that optimists were more likely than nonoptimistic patients to take vitamins, cat low-fat diets and exercise, thereby reducing their overall risk. A study of cancer patients revealed that pessimistic patients under the age of 60 were more likely to die within eight months than nonpessimistic patients of the same initial health and age.”

Life is always going to bring us challenges. Life is always going to be comprised of problems that might pull us down. Is it still foolish to have hope? I say it’s not. Because without hope, what are we left with? I say hope is significant. I say it’s a beautiful part of what it means to be human.

1. What would the author do to deal with disappointments five years ago.

A．Raise expectations.	B．Anticipate less.
C．Stay away from stress.	D．Make fewer plans.

2. What does the underlined phrase “chip away art” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Forget.

B．Weaken.

C．Change.

D．Doubt.

3. What can we learn from The Tines article?

A．Pessimists tend to live a shorter life.	B．Optimists usually have a better appetite.
C．Being hopeful helps humans survive.	D．Human brains are designed for hardship.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The methods of achieving happiness.	B．How to cope with difficulties.
C．The importance of holding on lo hope.	D．How to balance hope and reality.

4 . Many years ago, Coca-Cola ran a brilliant advertising campaign about “The Pause That Refreshes”. They were on to something. Pauses refresh us because they allow us to stop, refocus, and rest.

The older I get, the more I’ve intentionally added pauses to my day. Some pauses are only a few minutes long; others are hours. It may be a walk to a faraway copier at work instead of the one in my department. Or driving an alternate route home. Or a day at the beach. The idea is to relax and rest by changing my thoughts from what stresses me to what refreshes me.

Rest refreshes us. And I rest best by doing nothing. I recently read a little book by Sandy Gingras called How to Live at the Beach. I love this light-hearted, five-minute read. It’s a clue that helps conjure up images of the mentality we have when we’re at the beach—and why we need to transport this beach mentality to our non-beach lives.

My son, his wife, and my grandson live near the beach in Santa Barbara, California. Next to Hawaii, it's one of the most beautiful places in the United States. When I head to the ocean with them, I'm awed by the benefits of the beach. For me, a day at the beach epitomizes (成为缩影) the discipline of doing nothing. It’s a pause. It’s also an example of a simpler life. I’m learning how to bring a beach mentality, and all its benefits, back home with me. A beach mentality slows me down, allows me to think over only what’s in front of me and allows me to fully appreciate what surrounds me in my nine-to-five world.

During the time of “country closure”, I’ve noticed what I typically fail to notice. Who says doing nothing is boring? Doing nothing calms and refuels me.

I’ve realized that by pausing more, I’ve seen more, listened more, heard more, and felt more. Yet, pausing is a discipline all its own. By developing the discipline of doing nothing, I’ve learned that a life of clarity, simplicity, and rest awaits.

1. Why is the advertising campaign run by Coca-Cola mentioned?

A．To make a prediction.	B．To explain a concept.
C．To introduce the topic.	D．To illustrate an argument.

2. What do the underlined words “conjure up” mean in paragraph 3?

A．Transform.

B．Imagine.

C．Withdraw.

D．Polish.

3. What are the readers advised to do in the last paragraph?

A．Follow suit.

B．Keep watch.

C．Pursue perfection.

D．Slow down.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．The Discipline of Doing Nothing	B．Being Intentional About Self-Care
C．The Price of Every Decision	D．Choosing Joy over Sadness

5 . How do I change my life? If you’re asking this question, remember that the one constant thing in our life is change.     1     Instead of avoiding it, ask how you can change your life to work with the changes happening around you. Here are some best tips for you.

    2    

Spend some time trying to sort out what is important in your life to make a life change. What is it that you want to achieve in your life? What are your dreams? What makes you happy? Your meaning in life sets the direction of how you want to live your life. Without meaning, you will spend the rest of your life wandering aimlessly.

Let go of regrets.

Regrets will only hold you back in life. You cannot change what you did or did not do in the past, so let it go. The only thing you have control over now is how you choose to live your present and future life.     3     Try writing down each regret on a piece of paper and then burying or burning it in your backyard.

Experience the joy of learning.

Learning new skills helps us to be more adaptable in new situations.     4     Reading is a great way for us to learn. To fully embrace the joy of learning, pick up that novel you’ve heard so many people talking about. Once you find the genre (体裁) that interests you most, read as many pages as you can.

Accept yourself.

    5     To create that change, you have to like yourself. There will be times in your life when you will face rejection, and there will be people who will not like you or your choices. Accepting who you are and loving yourself despite adversity helps you move forward in your life. Find your courage, love yourself, and step out and do something crazy.

A．Change your beliefs.

B．Find your life meaning.

C．Remember that your goals may change.

D．The more we resist it, the tougher our life becomes.

E．The only person who is going to change your life is you!

F．It also encourages us to be more creative and innovative in our thinking.

G．Each time you experience a negative thought about your past, challenge it.

6 . Britain’s toughest grandmother cheated death three times to become a champion powerlifter and is still pumping iron in her 70s. Pat Reeves has _________ two terminal cancer diagnoses and a high-speed car crash.

She _________ weightlifting in 1982 when she was 36, after receiving her first terminal diagnosis due to a brain tumor (肿瘤). She _________ a plant-based diet and began running marathons and _________. She hoped that it would _________ her slow-growing tumor. She was encouraged by her bodybuilding _________ to try powerlifting and fell in love with it, quickly breaking records and _________ titles at competitions she entered. For 10 years, she traveled the world, _________ in national and global events.

But in December, 1993, she was _________ by another terminal cancer diagnosis; this time she was told she had bone cancer. Reeves __________ to let it defeat her and continued with her healthy and __________ lifestyle in an attempt to make the tumors __________, and was declared cancer-free in mid-2016.

In September, 2018, she was involved in a high-speed __________. The accident left her with crushed lungs and led to a(n)__________ disease that occurred when lung tissue was __________. She was told she only had three months to __________ in June, 2019. But she survived again. However, she said, “It does still __________ me, but I’ve found a way to train and I still do powerlifting even with my setbacks.” She has broken around 200 __________ and can lift up to nearly 300 pounds.

We may meet many __________ in life. However, as long as we have a positive attitude, we can __________ overcome them.

1.

A．suffered

B．survived

C．recovered

D．treated

2.

A．took up

B．saved up

C．kept up

D．drew up

3.

A．rejected

B．examined

C．adopted

D．experienced

4.

A．fantasy

B．innovation

C．interaction

D．bodybuilding

5.

A．enhance

B．stop

C．attack

D．inspect

6.

A．coach

B．judge

C．athlete

D．teacher

7.

A．missing

B．accepting

C．securing

D．beating

8.

A．competing

B．accelerating

C．charging

D．hiding

9.

A．puzzled

B．designed

C．embarrassed

D．shocked

10.

A．hesitated

B．refused

C．attempted

D．claimed

11.

A．active

B．lazy

C．popular

D．boring

12.

A．bigger

B．longer

C．smaller

D．stronger

13.

A．occasion

B．crash

C．event

D．adventure

14.

A．eye

B．skin

C．heart

D．lung

15.

A．broken

B．clean

C．healthy

D．strong

16.

A．walk

B．work

C．connect

D．live

17.

A．protect

B．support

C．affect

D．scold

18.

A．arguments

B．records

C．media

D．devices

19.

A．successes

B．opportunities

C．pleasures

D．difficulties

20.

A．barely

B．instantly

C．eventually

D．slightly

7 . Shortly before he turned 60, Mark Fuhrmann realized what he wanted. He, now, at 65, has just returned from a second voyage. His 6,835 mile-round trip from Nova Scotia took in the great lakes of the US, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.

Fuhrmann started these journeys “to kickstart retirement” from the maritime PR business he ran in Oslo for the past 30 years. Before he set off, in June last year, he swapped (交换) his house for a flat, and greatly reduced his possessions. “It was good to get rid of all of those things and say: ‘This isn’t a phase; this is a new season,’” he says.

Amazingly, he didn’t plan his trip, beyond committing to fundraise for Medecins Sans Frontières. “I thought: ‘I’ll try to do 40km each day.’ But I never knew where I was going to lay down my head.”

The challenges were psychological, physical, and sometimes life-threatening. In Florida, he was chased by an alligator (短吻鳄), but narrowly escaped from it. In the Boston area, he saw “a black fin moving towards me like a snake”. He lay his oar (划桨) across his lap and waited. “If a great white shark can swim leisurely, that’s exactly what it did. It just passed me,” he says. Ten minutes later, Fuhrmann pulled his kayak (小艇) into a cove, where he ran into a man who invited him into his home for coffee and apple pie. His whole trip was filled with these switchbacks and moments of connection with strangers, which Fuhrmann experienced as “a call to authenticity”.

What does he mean? “Nature is born within us. If you avoid that, you avoid experiencing something that is vital to who you are as a person. I want real things — life isn’t about having more. I think we need to accept where we are at this stage of life, at 60 or 65.”

“I look at retirement as a season,” he says. He started his latest voyage because “I wanted to have a better understanding of who I was. I wanted to have time for my thoughts to wander, to restart, to discover the value and power within myself.”

1. Why did Fuhrmann get rid of most of his possessions?

A．To make donations to charity.	B．To start a new life in retirement.
C．To make up for his business loss.	D．To collect money for the journey.

2. What does the underlined word “switchbacks” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Blessings.

B．Ambitions.

C．Defeats.

D．Challenges.

3. Which of the following might Fuhrmann agree with?

A．The meaning of life is achieving more.

B．Old people should take things as they are.

C．It is good to have nature-based experience.

D．It is advisable for aging people to play safe.

4. Why did Fuhrmann start his latest voyage?

A．To reflect on his past.	B．To discover his true self.
C．To relax his mind and body.	D．To be free from the noisy world.

8 . Tawnya Ford and Larry Sumpter are always ready to make their kids feel awkward. When their 15-year-old daughter Madelynn Sumpter broke the rules by going to a sleepover party secretly, they gave her a choice between ________ her phone for a month, or giving them access to her social media for two weeks. She chose the latter and the netizens are so ________ of it.

Madelynn Sumpter’s social media ________ by her parents began early in November with an Instagram post that ________ she had chosen to abandon her social media for two weeks. So her ________ could expect “some amazing Instagram posts, snapchats and tiktoks from her parents”. On November 11, Madelynn’s dad had already begun his ________ exploration to embarrass his teen daughter, by ________ one of his photos, saying “Felt cute. Might delete later”. But that was ________ the beginning. From posing in a tight top and ________ a blonde wig (假发), to dancing around in a pair of shorts and a tank-top (背心), it seemed like there was nothing the 43-year-old wouldn’t do to ________.

Over the course of two weeks, Madelynn Sumpter’s Instagram following ________ from around 2,700 to 12,700, at the time of this writing, so she should probably ________ her parents for their ________ punishment. The only question is “Can she ________ dad Larry’s creativity?”. She’ll have to give it a(n) ________ as many of her social media fans are already ________ her to “bring dad back”.

“We always ________ our kids!” Tawnya Ford said, adding that her husband routinely ________ their kids from school dressed as a mascot (吉祥物). From this ________, the girl finally understood her parents’ ________ are another kind of love.

1.

A．setting aside

B．taking away

C．handing over

D．bringing along

2.

A．appreciative

B．proud

C．afraid

D．confident

3.

A．breakdown

B．takeover

C．comeback

D．makeup

4.

A．consulted

B．found

C．pretended

D．announced

5.

A．relatives

B．followers

C．classmates

D．teachers

6.

A．similar

B．amusing

C．safe

D．fearful

7.

A．sharing

B．downloading

C．exploring

D．preserving

8.

A．exactly

B．definitely

C．merely

D．vaguely

9.

A．leaving

B．putting

C．wearing

D．enjoying

10.

A．entertain

B．relax

C．exercise

D．compete

11.

A．jumped

B．dived

C．counted

D．doubled

12.

A．doubt

B．accept

C．demand

D．thank

13.

A．average

B．severe

C．original

D．constant

14.

A．live up to

B．get rid of

C．look down on

D．put up with

15.

A．right

B．end

C．topic

D．go

16.

A．warning

B．asking

C．allowing

D．forcing

17.

A．please

B．support

C．frighten

D．embarrass

18.

A．stares at

B．picks up

C．knocks on

D．comes across

19.

A．performance

B．failure

C．experience

D．conflict

20.

A．comparisons

B．guesses

C．expectations

D．actions

9 . When my wife and I didn’t work long, our budget was tight. We tried to save as much money as possible so we could afford overspend occasionally. At the same time, we benefited a lot from the kindness of local store owners.

When my wife was expecting our child, she developed a craving for a local Chinese restaurant’s version of tai dop voy, a mixture of meat, shrimp and vegetables. Even though they rarely saw us, the owners remembered us. One evening, I ordered tai dop voy. They enthusiastically treated me and said, “There is some fried rice for your wife. Have a healthy baby.” The bag was obviously heavier than normal. When I got home, there was not only fried rice but also two orders of tai dop voy.

That was many years ago. But those small kindnesses from locals made a difference. Customers were seen as more than a source of profit. We were members of the community that local businesses served.

The generosity I experienced years ago hasn’t disappeared. I witnessed it recently at my local farmers’ market. A family was debating whether to add another vegetable to the order. The farmer served them and said, “Sorry, I forgot. I have so many vegetables this year. Buy two, and you’ll get another for free. Pick out any one you like.” I thought the farmer was being morally flexible: no prices on the produce, but everything is fairly priced. Fairness is in the sense that care and kindness are parts of the merchant-client relationship.

The kindness of merchants is a sign of something deeper: We are all making our shared way together. For my part, I will continue to support farmers’ markets and family-run restaurants. I am happy to make a fair offer.

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

A．Desire.

B．Habit.

C．Proposal.

D．Technique.

2. Why does the author mention the experience of buying tai dop voy?

A．To praise Chinese meals.	B．To prove love for his wife.
C．To show human goodness.	D．To express his thanks to the owners.

3. What is the author’s attitude to the farmer in paragraph 4?

A．Appreciative.

B．Ambiguous.

C．Critical.

D．Cautious.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Tight budget, happy life	B．Low prices, fair business
C．Tasty tai dop voy, deep love	D．Small businesses, big kindnesses

10 . At this point, a new live stage show, The Music Critic, is touring across the US. In the show, John Malkovich transforms into the sharpest critics of the greatest classical musicians in history and reads their comments aloud as the music critics in his unusual voice.

For example, Frederic Chopin was once criticized by pianist Hyung-ki Joo. “Mr. Chopin has, by some means or the other which we cannot understand, obtained an enormous reputation too often refused to composers who possess several times his genius. Mr. Chopin is by no means a composer of the ordinary. He is worse,” Malkovich comments as the critic.

In the show, even Beethoven got a very bad review from the wonderful composer Tchaikovsky. “He first fills the soul with sweet sadness, and then destroys it by a mass of messy notes,” Malkovich reads.

The Music Critic is part concert, part theater. Malkovich says that the similarities between them are part of the draw for him.

“I always say they are like surfing because we just paddle (划) out on our little boards. We turn our back to the sun and wait for a wave. We’re not the wave, which most of us think we are, but we are really not the wave,” Malkovich emphasizes. “The wave is created by the collision (碰撞) between the material and the audience. We ride the wave or we don’t.”

For sure, it is fun to criticize anyone. However, there’s something more at the heart of The Music Critic—and there’s a lesson for all of us. Everyone will be at the receiving end of bad reviews at some point. As Malkovich points out: If Beethoven and Chopin got dismissed, you will too.

“I think of it as an inspirational piece for people in the creative industry to keep going,” Malkovich says. “You know, face all the criticism, enjoy it, and have fun with it because you’re going to get it. There’s no one who’s going to be spared.”

1. What does the underlined word “their” in paragraph 1 refer to?

A．The classical musicians’.	B．Chopin and Beethoven’s.
C．The sharpest music critics’.	D．Hyung-ki Joo and Tchaikovsky’s.

2. What did Hyung-ki Joo mean?

A．Chopin shouldn’t become so famous.	B．Many composers were treated unfairly.
C．He couldn’t understand Chopin’s music.	D．Chopin was one of the greatest composers.

3. What is the wave mentioned in paragraph 5?

A．The beautiful music.	B．The audience’s feeling.
C．The dramatic acting.	D．The performers’ passion.

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

A．Every great man shall be criticized.

B．Entertainers might get far more criticism.

C．The audience should be fair with their criticism.

D．We should face criticism and try to have fun with it.