1 . When trouble hits someone in your community, how can you respond? This year, a wildfire has left many people in my community _________ with damaged homes. The community where I live is coming together to _________. How does each of us show our _________ for those who lost their homes?

Imagine a Circle of Care. _________ a circle and write the name of a person in _________ in the center. Draw _________ rings around the first one and write in the names of the people next closest to the crisis. _________ outwards. Distant friends and family are within _________ circles. The entire _________ itself becomes the outer ring. After the firestorm in Santiam Canyon, people posted __________ signs saying “Canyon Strong!” and sent supplies to resource centers.

When I am in the center of such a circle, I do not want to __________ someone who has not experienced my __________ say, “I know exactly how you feel.” Helping people closer to the center of the circle requires more listening than __________.

When you are in a closer ring and __________ someone in the center of the circle, you may __________ their burden and want to express your own feelings. Do it with those further out in the circle. I find this gives me __________ to continue helping those in rings smaller than my own.

Whenever you are in the circle of care, __________ what you are about to say and do. Sometimes it is possible to give physical aid. Sometimes the damage is __________ . Can you calm by __________ to go for a walk with them?__________ others and hold them dear.

1.

A．agreeing

B．working

C．connecting

D．struggling

2.

A．reappear

B．rebuild

C．repeat

D．recall

3.

A．care

B．strength

C．respect

D．appreciation

4.

A．Find

B．Draw

C．Join

D．Run

5.

A．debt

B．surprise

C．crisis

D．doubt

6.

A．darker

B．larger

C．fewer

D．nicer

7.

A．Face

B．Point

C．Pull

D．Continue

8.

A．cycling

B．certain

C．widening

D．complete

9.

A．team

B．family

C．center

D．community

10.

A．interesting

B．satisfying

C．amusing

D．encouraging

11.

A．hear

B．aid

C．imagine

D．question

12.

A．joy

B．anger

C．pain

D．freedom

13.

A．talking

B．protecting

C．lying

D．waiting

14.

A．praising

B．visiting

C．helping

D．following

15.

A．forget

B．feel

C．miss

D．increase

16.

A．time

B．energy

C．space

D．money

17.

A．give up

B．look for

C．think about

D．deal with

18.

A．emotional

B．lasting

C．unknown

D．visible

19.

A．begging

B．deciding

C．pretending

D．offering

20.

A．Reach out to

B．Have faith in

C．Keep away from

D．Catch sight of

2 . 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

3 . 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.

4 . 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.

5 . Graduation is a significant milestone for everyone. An 89-year-old man called Rene Neira had been trying to finish a degree since the 1950s. However, in the 1960s, he was so passionate about urban and economic development of the southside of San Antonio that he stopped school and got involved with the local government. From that time, one of his life goals was to earn a degree in economics. In 2017, the grandpa and his 19-year-old granddaughter both enrolled (入学) at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

“There were times when we would get lunch together, be in the library together, and just work silently side-by-side,” Melanie Salazar, Rene’s granddaughter, recalled. “He always had something to say, especially if his professors had different opinions than him,” Melanie said. “And there were often times when a professor would invite him to talk about the past.”

Rene’s college years weren’t easy. “He has worked very hard over time. Especially in recent years, with hearing loss and going through seasons of not having a car, there was a term where he had to take medical leave because he had a stroke, so he couldn’t go back to school that term. And then the pandemic started,” said Melanie.

After four years, their hard work finally paid off—they graduated. Together, they stood on the stage. Everyone broke into applause and cheered for this fantastic pair.

Their story has been making waves online. People have nothing but good words for them, “Awww... I love stories like this. This was such a beautiful moment. Congratulations to both of them. Grandpa definitely demonstrated that one shouldn’t give up their dream no matter how long it takes,” one wrote. Another wrote, “I’m motivated to go back to school myself, thanks to his example.”

Rene had the determination to finish his degree even at an advanced stage in his life. Hard work, patience, and determination are the keys to success, especially when the path is not easy or clear.

1. Why did Rene fail to get a degree when he was young?

A．He was not interested in university life then.

B．He devoted himself to city development.

C．He needed to work to support his family.

D．He was not good at his school work.

2. How was Rene’s college life?

A．It made him physically ill.	B．It was full of surprise.
C．It was smooth and plain.	D．It came with challenges.

3. What did people think of Rene’s experience?

A．Admirable.

B．Doubtful.

C．Funny.

D．Pitiful.

4. What lesson can we learn from Rene’s story?

A．Actions speak louder than words.

B．It is never too late to achieve one’s dream.

C．Genius without education is like silver in the mine.

D．A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

6 . There are things we all do, or don’t do, that lead us to waste far more time than we realize in the moment. The biggest time regret, I think, is dwelling on (沉湎于) mistakes and shortcomings.

    1     In a study, researchers asked subjects to spend money during an imaginary trip to the mall. Before “shopping”, some subjects were asked to recall a past financial mistake. They found those subjects were more likely to incur (招致) debt. Dwelling made them feel like a failure and told them there was no need to try, because they already sucked. So, they got further into debt when already feeling like an over spender. Of course, we don’t want to skip over our mistakes or ignore them either.     2    

I also missed too much for fear of my own shortcomings.     3     I wanted to travel after high school, but I went to university close to home instead, because I was too shy to meet new people and was afraid I couldn’t make it in another city. After university, I wanted to be a writer, but I decided to find a more stable, accessible job instead, because that’s easier.     4     I decided to find work I actually enjoyed, travel more and live somewhere else. I made a ton of mistakes along the way, but the bigger mistake was not trying sooner.

    5     So, never beat yourself up over your mistakes and shortcomings. The sooner you learn from them, the sooner you can free up your time and energy to live the life you want.

A．Eventually, I got tired of this.

B．Regret is another big waste of time.

C．I was doing it for the wrong reason that I was afraid to fail.

D．For years, I stayed in a comfortable place, doing things I disliked.

E．The goal is to learn something from them, and then release the failure.

F．When you finally relate it to your own past experiences, it probably becomes easier.

G．Dwelling on mistakes wastes time and, worse still, makes us more likely to repeat mistakes.

7 . Kala has deep ties to her Hawaiian roots. Her ancestors navigated (航行) the oceans for centuries using their knowledge of the stars, the sun, the currents and the wind. It’s not that she does it in a canoe without technology, but rather uses the natural technology around her. It’s called Way finding, and was taught to her by her father.

“My father was my foundation, my rock.” she says of her first voyage with him from Oahu to Lahaina in a traditional canoe. He taught her how to read the stars, the ocean swells and how to use them to hold the course. “Over 200 stars have specific names and purposes when you are Way finding. You have to look at each and determine if they are rising or setting. You know this star and the direction it represents. If you can do that, you can use it as a tool to orient (确定方向).” Kala added.

Kala Tanaka sailed the canoe in the ocean for up to three weeks. During the day, Kala used the sun until it hit a certain height. When she got closer to land, she looked for certain species of land birds and clouds that indicated there was land below. When Kala sailed she felt “I feel very connected to the crew and the canoe. We’re a family.” The longer voyage required Kala to spend hours studying the day and the night skies. It was demanding physical work. But it also had its moments of awe. For Kala, the beauty was in tying together the past and the present to enjoy the moment. So when she was not sailing, she was teaching Way finding skills to school-aged children in hopes of preserving the skills her ancestors relied on.

It’s easy to be lost in the immediacy of the technology of our day, to be consumed by screens and miss the nature that unfolds around us. But if we will take the time to look up, to see the stars and the sun, the way the clouds move, the miracle of life beneath and above us, we will discover something deep inside us, something that will always lead to happiness.

1. How does Kala navigate the ocean in a canoe?

A．By observing the natural elements around.

B．By following the course of ocean currents.

C．By using hi-technology navigation devices.

D．By recalling the first voyage with her father.

2. What did Kala think of the three-week canoe voyage?

A．It was a heroic adventure.	B．It brought great joy to her life.
C．It was school children’s favorite.	D．It represented a kind of innovation.

3. What does the author suggest we do?

A．Enjoy the screens.	B．Explore the universe.
C．Get close to nature.	D．Keep the earth clean.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．Finding Our Way	B．Navigating the Ocean
C．The Wisdom from Ancestors	D．An Unforgettable Journey

8 . As a travel journalist who lives in three countries each year — Australia, Ireland, and Thailand — the coronavirus has left me in a spin (手忙脚乱) as I’ve tried to balance my commitments in these three nations with my need to travel for work.

My situation is far from unique. Nowadays, a huge number of people have close family who are scattered across the world, requiring modern forms of transport to connect with their loved ones face-to-face. Suddenly, that option has been removed for many of us. The coronavirus threat has closed down countless air, rail, bus, and boat routes. We can’t go to see our distant family and friends, even if we want to.

In a world which has never been so interconnected, the COVID-19 outbreak has left millions of people feeling an unfamiliar sense of being separated. Our lives changed dramatically.

Loneliness never suited me, even as a child. I longed for human contact. It’s one reason travel became such a powerful influence on me in my early 20s. However, as I ventured to non-English speaking countries on my own,sometimes for up to five weeks, I was forced to become comfortable in my own company, to stop leaning on others. Then as I entered my 30s, and started a travel journalism career that saw me living in three different countries, the meaning of travel shifted for me once more. As much as I still adored the excitement and education it offered, never did I value travel more than, when it reunited me with my family.

Once this crisis eventually recedes, I’ll try never to forget this current moment. I’ll think back to the time when travel was banned, my family were out of reach, and I was isolated and lonely and afraid. Then I’ll smile, and plan my next trip.

1. What does the author think of his situation?

A．Unique.

B．Common.

C．Awful.

D．Worrying.

2. Which statement is right about the author according to the fourth paragraph?

A．His idea of traveling is changing.

B．He chose travel as his career.

C．He is accustomed to loneliness.

D．His interest in travel decreases.

3. What is the probable meaning of the underlined word “recedes” in Paragraph 5?

A．Goes on.

B．Follows up.

C．Fades away.

D．Breaks out.

4. What does the author mainly intend to emphasize in this text?

A．A combination of work and travel.

B．Measures to deal with COVID-19.

C．The importance of being connected.

D．The impact of COVID-19 on travel.

9 . 奋斗是人生前进的动力，也是世界万物生存的条件。请以Struggle Hard为题，结合实例或自身经历写一篇短文阐明奋斗的重要性。
注意：1. 词数100左右；题目和首句已给出，不计入总词数；
2. 不得出现真实的人名、校名、地名等相关信息。

Struggle Hard

As we all know, life is full of struggle which is also the driving force of all life conditions.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . It was a good day to fly a kite with the warm sun and the right wind. However, one lonely kite looking worried and _________ preferred to stay in the back of a closet. He didn’t like flying. You see, the higher the flight, the _________ the fall. It was that which _________ the kite most of all.

At 2:00 pm, his boy opened the closet door. “Come on,” said the boy, “It’s the _________ kite day.” As they came to the park there were happy kids everywhere flying kites that sailed _________ high in the air.

The boy started _________ to get the kite going. He ran all through the _________ while other kids stared at his kite that dragged and _________.He heard a boy _________, “That kite must either be stupid or __________.” Kneeling, the boy thoughtfully asked the kite, “Why don’t you fly? Are you afraid?” With all of his pride, the kite tried to __________ it, but the look in his eyes told the boy he had guessed it.

Then with a kind smile, the boy said, “Everyone gets __________, but Dad says that’s okay. And by facing __________ boldly we can scare some away. That’s how it was with me and my bike. Maybe biking and flying are a little __________.” The light of hope that shone in the boy’s eye made the kite decide to give flying a try.

The boy started running to give the kite __________. Instead of fighting the wind the kite gave himself to it. At first he was careful not to __________ down. Then he __________ and saw the whole town! Gathering courage, he made a great loop-the-loop in the __________. Every child was squinting to watch that kite sail.

In the sky, the kite learned facing fears boldly can scare some away. To __________ at new things, you must be willing to grow. That means not holding back but __________.

1.

A．attractive

B．superb

C．cool

D．upset

2.

A．further

B．nearer

C．lighter

D．shorter

3.

A．delighted

B．scared

C．interested

D．surprised

4.

A．perfect

B．same

C．different

D．complex

5.

A．unsteadily

B．mildly

C．gracefully

D．roughly

6.

A．walking

B．dancing

C．jumping

D．dashing

7.

A．park

B．schoolyard

C．campus

D．wild

8.

A．flied

B．fell

C．pulled

D．spread

9.

A．celebrate

B．praise

C．laugh

D．smile

10.

A．broken

B．cozy

C．clever

D．inconvenient

11.

A．interpret

B．admit

C．reject

D．deny

12.

A．amazed

B．frightened

C．confused

D．appealed

13.

A．panics

B．pleasures

C．changes

D．opportunities

14.

A．likely

B．alike

C．alive

D．lively

15.

A．pull

B．push

C．lift

D．drag

16.

A．set

B．settle

C．look

D．put

17.

A．got up his nose

B．pulled up his sleeves

C．pulled his weight

D．got up his nerve

18.

A．park

B．air

C．hand

D．thread

19.

A．aim

B．point

C．succeed

D．look

20.

A．leaving out

B．leaving behind

C．letting alone

D．letting go