1 . It was 6 a.m. as I got on the train, ending my work one cold morning and I was lucky to get a seat. At that time of the morning, my eyes were not fully focused and at times I was half asleep. During that time the train was usually filled with construction workers heading out to start their work. On that particular morning I found myself drawn on the shoes of men sitting about 10 seats across from me.

I sat examining the shoes of men. Men from different walks of life, holding different jobs, thinking different thoughts, living different lives and despite what they did and how they looked, they all had something in common. They were all of the working class trying to achieve their dreams.

One day each of those men has to visit a shoe store to buy a new pair of shoes, a type that fits their working needs. For a short time those shoes look so good. Then one day they lose their shine; they no longer look as good, but guess what? The shoes feel right. Feet have found their own home within the comfort of those shoes.

If those shoes could talk, what kind of a tale do you think they would tell? If your shoes could talk, what do you think they would say about you? Would the story be about a journey filled with joy and fun? Or would the story be one filled with disappointment and regret?

We choose the shoes. Where we take them and when and how we wear them are up to us.

1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

A．It was cold that morning.

B．The author went to work by train.

C．The author worked during the night.

D．Construction workers usually began to work at 7 a.m.

2. How did the author draw the conclusion that all of the men were working class?

A．By closely observing their shoes.	B．According to the way they walked.
C．On the basis of the lives they lived.	D．By distinguishing their facial features.

3. What does the author think of the shoes then one day?

A．Fashionable.

B．Good.

C．Shiny.

D．Comfortable.

4. Where can the text probably be found?

A．In a news report.

B．In a magazine.

C．In a biography.

D．In a history book.

2 . I have been adopted by an American family since I was fifteen months old. Growing up in the second-whitest county in California, I had little interest in my ________ as an adopted Chinese American. After I moved to Tucson, my curiosity about my identities ________ as I was exposed to a larger Chinese population there.

During my four years at Northern Arizona University (NAU), I took two years of ________ language courses, which was a major marker in my adventure to ________ myself.

Through my class, I was introduced to the NAU Chinese culture club, where I ________ my knowledge of Chinese culture and connected with international students from China and students who were deeply ________ Chinese culture.

Then I had an opportunity to study abroad in Hong Kong for a year. Surrounded by mainly people who looked like me, I did not feel like I ________ as I usually do in the US. I became ________ connected to Hong Kong and its history, ________ and people. The experience ________ me to find beauty and ________ in the complexities (难题) of holding many identities.

After returning from my ________ abroad, I started to volunteer at the Education Abroad Office at NAU. I ________ my experience and encouraged other NAU students to go abroad, as it was such a ________ experience and enabled me to better understand myself. I’m ________ to call myself an adopted Chinese American.

1.

A．identity

B．experience

C．safety

D．community

2.

A．changed

B．disappeared

C．grew

D．continued

3.

A．English

B．Chinese

C．Japanese

D．German

4.

A．improve

B．understand

C．teach

D．support

5.

A．furthered

B．lacked

C．ignored

D．finished

6.

A．tired of

B．aware of

C．interested in

D．dependent on

7.

A．stood out

B．worked out

C．gave up

D．turned up

8.

A．eventually

B．incredibly

C．strangely

D．hardly

9.

A．geography

B．scenery

C．architecture

D．culture

10.

A．required

B．forced

C．instructed

D．allowed

11.

A．annoyance

B．pain

C．comfort

D．patience

12.

A．business

B．holiday

C．adventures

D．performances

13.

A．shared

B．announced

C．explained

D．admitted

14.

A．eye-catching

B．life-changing

C．time-consuming

D．heart-breaking

15.

A．curious

B．reluctant

C．awkward

D．proud

3 . The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said that you can’t step into the same river twice, for you aren’t the same person at each visit and the water is ever flowing. It is a powerful way to show the reality that everything is always changing. Yet so many people have unpleasant relationships with change. We resist it or attempt to control it, the result of which is almost always some combination of stress, anxiety, and burnout. It doesn’t have to be that way.

No doubt, change can, and often does, hurt; but with the right mindset, it can also be a force for growth. A concept called allostasis can help. Developed in the late 1980s by neuroscientist Peter Sterling and biologist Joseph Eyer, allostasis is based on the idea that rather than being rigid, our healthy baseline is a moving target. Allostasis is defined as “stability through change”—the way to stay stable through the process of change is by changing.

From neuroscience to pain science and psychology, allostasis has become the dominant model for understanding change in the scientific community. The brain is at its best when it is constantly rewiring itself and making new connections. Overcoming pain is not about resistance or trying to get back to where you were but about balancing acceptance with problem-solving and moving forward to normal.

The time to start practicing is now. Over the past few years, the river of change has been flowing, and it shows no signs of letting up. Our ability to work with these changes is directly related to our life satisfaction. Given all this, simply creating a stable expectancy around change goes a long way. So does realizing that the allostasis mindset doesn’t ask us to do nothing. Rather, it asks us to partake in change by focusing on what we can control and trying to let go of what we can’t. When I catch myself resisting change, in my head I say the following: “This is what is happening right now. I’m doing the best that I can. What, if any, skillful actions can I take?” Do this repeatedly and finally you start to get better at it.

To thrive in our lifetime — and not just survive —we need to transform our relationship with change, leaving behind rigidity and resistance. We are always shaping and being shaped by change, often at the very same time.

1. What’s the common practice toward change?

A．To welcome it.	B．To reject it.
C．To overlook it.	D．To adapt to it.

2. Which of the following can best interpret “allostasis”?

A．One size fits all.	B．Time works great changes.
C．Respond to change by changing.	D．It’s never too late to change.

3. What does the underlined phrase “letting up” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Stopping.	B．Dashing down.
C．Going up.	D．Widening.

4. What might the author agree with?

A．Repetition makes up for rigidity.	B．It matters to focus on what we can’t.
C．Changes promote life satisfaction.	D．It makes sense to embrace changes.

4 . No matter how much we try to be smart,   life has its own ways of teaching us the valuable lessons     1     Here are some of the life lessons that all of us learn the hard way.

Lying is harmful. Everyone, at some point in life, must have certainly realized that lying is a very dangerous thing for the mind, which finally affects our health too.     2     And also he would lose the trust of others.

Sometimes, moving on is the only choice.    3     But sometimes, circumstances and situations align (排整齐) in such a way that it is better to leave something and move ahead.   At times, it is better to move on with the memories, rather than stay there and live in a blank space with no possible future.

    4     It is rightly said that to err is human. We all are humans and nobody knows everything.   So it is fine to accept the things that went wrong, and try to avoid repeating them or doing wrong intentionally.

Happiness is the key to everything.    5     Things cannot bring happiness, but happiness can bring many things in life. And the most important person who should be happy with you is yourself. If you do not feel cheerful from the inside, you certainly cannot make others happy.

A．It is natural to make mistakes.

B．Sales are not always profitable.

C．It makes a man lose confidence and trust in himself.

D．Nothing in the world would make sense if you are depressed.

E．It is always good to be considerate about one’s views about things.

F．Though at first we are hurt, we eventually learn from the experiences.

G．Somethings are dear to us, and we cannot imagine life without them.

5 . When I was around six years old, we had a neighbor, Dave Juliano. As a car fancier, he was always working on his old car in his carport, during which I would go to him with ________ . He would never be ________ of explaining why he was doing certain things in a certain order. We also had interesting ________ about his life. We ________ with each other until he moved away one day. In spite of a strong sense of ________ for quite a few days, my life went on.

________ , I ran into Dave two decades later in a restaurant for breakfast. He appeared much older and I had grown up. He said he was living on his own, ________ by a dog.

In the following days, I would always ________ Dave and his dog at breakfast and we talked like before. He was still passionate about cars and ________ car shows of each season, and he had been eager to attend one but couldn’t make it by himself. I ________ to myself secretly that I would take him there, but I always ________ out one after one for one reason or another and kept saying I’d go for next show. However, our next show never came. I was ________ that Dave had passed away days ago, which came as a ________ to me at that moment. I ________ not to have tears on my cheeks. I learned a ________ lesson for that: Never put off doing something with those who meant a lot to you.

1.

A．satisfaction

B．respect

C．pleasure

D．curiosity

2.

A．aware

B．tired

C．typical

D．ashamed

3.

A．experiments

B．strategies

C．conversations

D．predictions

4.

A．connected

B．conflicted

C．cooperated

D．quarreled

5.

A．identity

B．humor

C．loss

D．smell

6.

A．Unfortunately

B．Normally

C．Gradually

D．Unexpectedly

7.

A．impressed

B．accompanied

C．injured

D．frightened

8.

A．encountered

B．inquired

C．distracted

D．interrupted

9.

A．figured out

B．participated in

C．lived up to

D．kept track of

10.

A．introduced

B．explained

C．promised

D．proposed

11.

A．found

B．carried

C．burned

D．missed

12.

A．implied

B．informed

C．reminded

D．permitted

13.

A．shock

B．relief

C．warning

D．chance

14.

A．ensured

B．decided

C．struggled

D．claimed

15.

A．stressful

B．painful

C．funny

D．perfect

6 . At the airport, one of my partners greeted me with a broad smile. “Welcome to Cuba!” he exclaimed in perfect English, giving me a strong handshake and a hug. The next day, we drove to the research center where he worked. In the conference room, each of us gave a presentation about science and what we hoped to learn from the study of Cuban rivers.

Then, we toured every lab in the building. I met scientists, technicians, secretaries, students, and the cook. Some spoke English, and others communicated with me in Spanish while my cooperator translated. I was introduced to each person in their center, and that was what I remembered most.

Then we met again to brainstorm. Together, we studied maps carefully to plan how we were going to collect samples. Had it not been for the Cubans, I would have been unaware that the maps I had were outdated and wrong. They left out reservoirs, which was a problem because had we sampled downstream of them, our results would have been misled.

On the last night of the trip, we searched for a restaurant that could seat all 14 of us at one table because that’s what teams do--sitting together. When a restaurant couldn’t seat the team without splitting us up, my partners insisted that we move on and find another restaurant with a large enough table.

In 26 years as a professor, I’ve always tried my best to treat my students as valued partners. I have never been a fan of the grade system in the academic world. I urge everyone working with me to feel as though they are part of a team. But my Cuban partners take teamwork to another level entirely. They make it clear--through actions, both big and small--that all team members are valued, that everyone is equal, and that true team work contributes to better science.

I returned to the United States as a changed scientist. Now, I spend more time listening and making sure that everyone’s voice is heard.

1. What impressed the author most when he visited the research center?

A．He was led to see everyone.	B．There were no many people there.
C．Everybody gave a great presentation.	D．The cooperator spoke perfect English.

2. Why did the author’s partners refuse to eat at the first restaurant?

A．They wanted a smaller one.	B．They wanted to save money.
C．They didn’t want a crowded one.	D．They didn’t want to be separated.

3. Which of the following does the author stress in the team?

A．Honesty.	B．Perseverance.
C．Cooperation spirit.	D．Scientific theory.

4. What can we infer about the author from the text?

A．He used to treat his students unfairly.

B．He used to be misled by other scientists.

C．He focuses on the opinions of the masses now.

D．He speaks highly of the grade system in science now.

7 . When it comes to earning wealth, some people admire wealth to an extreme level, overlooking spiritual values. One of the most significant and incomparable spiritual values is wisdom.     1     However, a huge number of people believe that wealth surpasses wisdom.

The invaluable qualities wisdom inherits(继承)in a person cannot be bought by wealth. A wealthy individual may experience the most luxury and comfort on the Earth.     2    

Albert Einstein once said. “Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” One needs to develop a positive mindset and the willingness to be polite and should possess a sense of sympathy.     3    

You can consider wisdom as the person’s capability to make correct decisions and choices.     4     It keeps on enhancing with time. If a person is wealthy but lacks wisdom, he can certainly lose his wealth because there is a lack of knowledge and intelligence to hold that wealth for a long time.

    5     Wisdom is in fact the key to wealth. Through wisdom come great wealth and ultimately the success. The violent pursuit of wealth could lead to failure and disappointment. However, the pursuit of wisdom guarantees you success and instills plenty of useful spiritual qualities within you. You can treat wisdom as the practical application of knowledge.

A．How is wisdom superior to wealth?

B．Wisdom is comprehensive and timeless.

C．All such qualities can contribute to wisdom.

D．No worldly possession can compare to wisdom.

E．However, if he lacks wisdom, all his wealth is fruitless.

F．In personal and professional life, wisdom conveys admiration.

G．How can your wisdom enhance your ability to influence others?

8 . Denmark retired after practicing medicine for 73 years and then volunteered her services until she couldn’t anymore. She died at the age of 114.

I met her by phone when the pediatrician (儿科医生) couldn’t figure out what was wrong with my baby. On the phone, she talked with me for more than 30 minutes. I took her advice, and my baby was better about 10 days later. She never charged me.

“You keep on doing what you do best as long as you can,” she was famous for the words. And it turned out her advice about actively helping others was as good as her medical advice.

Obviously, we can’t all live as long as Dr. Denmark. But recent research has shown that volunteering provides a longevity boost similar to the effects of adding multiple servings of fruits and vegetables to your daily diet. Specifically, older adults who volunteer are at 24 percent less risk of early death. The positive impact of giving and volunteering on older people goes beyond that. According to the research, adults over 55 who give their time for others have an easier time with everyday tasks. Besides, volunteers experience 250 percent less cognitive decline leading to dementia (痴呆).

According to a new study in the Journal of Happiness Studies, people who volunteer report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. The study took it a second step and followed people who began volunteering—monitoring their responses from the time they started volunteering. The longer they volunteered and the more they volunteered, the greater level of happiness they reported.

You may already be volunteering your time. But if you’re not, consider the charities you support. Think about the skills you might be able to offer them. You are likely to be glad about what you do.

1. What can we infer about Denmark?

A．She retired at the age of 73.	B．She volunteered for 73 years.
C．She was patient and professional.	D．She once forget to charge the author.

2. How many benefits of volunteering are mentioned in paragraph 4?

A．1.

B．2.

C．3.

D．4.

3. What does the author try to do in the last paragraph?

A．Seek support.	B．Advise about sharpening skills.
C．Offer solutions.	D．Encourage people to volunteer.

4. What’s the text mainly about?

A．The kindness of a doctor.	B．The benefits of volunteering.
C．The process of being a volunteer.	D．The struggle of child-raising.

9 . “I have no idea what to do with 1,000 tennis balls!”

My student Nick was discouraged with the assignment. I’d asked the students to imagine they were working at the U.S. Open tennis tournament. After the tournament ended, a supervisor offered them the lightly used tennis balls hit during the event by stars like Serena Williams and Roger Federer. Their job was to sell the balls for a profit.

“I had a couple of good ideas at first,” Nick said. “I could sell them as dog toys or to hospitals that could put them on the bottom of walker frames to keep them from slipping.” Then he struggled to think of more options and decided that was the best he could do.

Most people believe that good ideas come quickly or not at all—but it turns out that’s not the case. Researchers call this “the creative cliff illusion (错觉)”, the sense that we’re unlikely to get good ideas if they don’t appear the minute we start thinking.

The truth, though, is that the best ideas often come later. Your first ideas tend to reflect common wisdom, and thinking like everyone else isn’t a recipe for creativity. The solution is to persist,even though persevering feels hard. If you continue working,more interesting and original ideas will emerge.

I explained this to the class, and we spent another 10 minutes thinking together. Nick realized that he could sell the balls using two different strategies: selling a small portion for a lot of money assigned souvenirs to tennis fanatics and the rest at a discount to tennis schools serving under privileged kids.

Finally, I, together with my students drew a conclusion after discussion: don’t assume your first ideas are always your best ones but do keep brainstorming after you think you’re out of new ideas. It’s worth spending 10-15 minutes longer on a task, because the best ideas are likely just around the corner.

1. What did the teacher ask the students to do?

A．Get profit by doing business.	B．Think of a solution to a problem.
C．Serve as ball boys in a tournament.	D．Meet with their favorite tennis stars.

2. How did the teacher feel about Nick’s first ideas?

A．They would be favored by hospitals.	B．They were the most creative.
C．They reflected collective intelligence.	D．They required more digging.

3. What do the researchers refer to as “the creative cliff illusion”?

A．Good ideas usually come later.	B．The best ideas often come quickly.
C．The first ideas are always interesting.	D．No one is likely to get good ideas at first.

4. What advice can help kids get the best idea according to the text?

A．Keeping thinking.	B．Using new strategies.
C．Consulting others.	D．Discussing together.

10 . I read Newport’s book, Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, which he published in 2016. In this book, Newport makes the persuasive argument that highly focused work is increasingly not common in the modern workplace.

People are easy to get distracted (分心), whether they’re surfing the Internet for entertainment or wasting time on tasks like email and meetings. However, those who are able to push their cognitive (认知的) abilities to the limit can create new value and improve their skills. In other words, training one’s mind to focus on deep work not only makes one efficient and produces valuable work, but it also secures one’s place in a quickly changing economy.

Part I of Newport’s book explains the importance of deep work. Part II explores the process of how to develop such a practice in one’s own life by following four rules: (1) Work deeply; (2) Accept boredom; (3) Quit social media; (4) Remove shallow things.

Newport praises the importance of daily laziness in this book, writing, “Add regular and great freedom from professional concerns into your day, providing you with the idleness (闲散) required to get deep work done.” He advises doing this by shutting everything down at the end of the workday.

Deep Work is packed with useful tips and tools for making meaningful changes. Since picking up the book several weeks ago, I’ve been using bits and pieces of the philosophy, such as leaving my phone on silent all day long and checking it only at predetermined times, and not allowing myself to look things up online until I’ve finished writing an article. Now I’m able to start additional projects that I’ve been wanting to do but haven’t felt like I had the time before.

1. Which of the following is a benefit of deep work?

A．Avoiding boredom.

B．Increasing job security.

C．Keeping away from social media.

D．Adapting to new changes quickly.

2. What is stressed in this book according to Paragraph 4?

A．The significance of relaxing.	B．Ways of reducing concerns.
C．The advice on deep work.	D．Benefits of being lazy.

3. What can we learn from the story in the last paragraph?

A．Interest is the best teacher.

B．The old methods still work today.

C．It is difficult to put theory into practice.

D．Concentration helps improve work efficiency.

4. What’s the text mainly about?

A．A life experience.	B．A best-selling writer.
C．An introduction to a book.	D．A study on concentration.