1 . Growing pains and gains

It’s not easy to grow up. Actually it’s far from easy. Growing up can be a real “pain” for some of us. We are always doing things that someone else makes us do and aren’t allowed to do all the things we like. Sometimes we feel stuck, sometimes we are fearful, and sometimes we just don’t understand why we can’t stay young forever. When we look back on all the challenges in life with a positive attitude, we realize that all of our growing pains actually turn into growing gains!

As a young girl my parents forced my sisters and me to do so many things that I never liked. They made me learn to play the violin and then the piano. At that time I hated music, just because it was what they wanted me to do. But looking back now, I am so glad that my parents encouraged me to take music lessons. Music has enriched my life in so many ways. I realize that my parents and teachers were always pushing me along. not because they wanted me to suffer(受苦)but because they wanted me to succeed in life. They’ve always wanted me to have a better life than they did themselves.

Every moment of our lives is either living or dying, so live life to its fullest! We are all going to experience growing pains, but they are just small pains in life. They might seem so huge at the time but we must be strong. Think about how we would feel if we had no fear and live life like that. The future is ours!

A little hard work and sweat never hurt anyone! If we realize that these pains are just small bumps(凸块)on our road to success we will realize that our growing pains are actually growing gains!

1. According to paragraph 1, we learn that when we are young, ______.

A．life is full of joy

B．life is easy for us

C．we know we can stay young forever

D．we sometimes can’t do things we like

2. When the author was young, she was forced by her parents to ______.

A．take music lessons

B．turn gains into pains

C．look back on challenges

D．live a successful life

3. What does the underlined phrase “to its fullest” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Directly.

B．Completely.

C．Carefully.

D．Terribly.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Growing pains are necessary for us to grow up.

B．We all have to experience growing pains.

C．A little hard work and sweat are harmful to us.

D．Life without fear is a better choice for us.

2 . Ten years ago, I went on a vacation in Italy. After climbing up a hill for a panoramic (全景的) view of the blue sea, white buildings and green olive trees, I paused to catch my breath and then positioned myself to take the best photo of this panorama.

Unfortunately, just as I took out my camera, a woman approached from behind, and planted herself right in front of my view. Like me, this woman was here to stop, sigh and appreciate the view.

Patient as I was, after about 15 minutes, I grew frustrated. Was it too much to ask her to move so I could take just one picture of the landscape? Sure, I could have asked her, but something prevented me from doing so. She seemed so content in her observation. I didn't want to mess with that. Another 15 minutes passed and I grew bored. The woman was still there. I decided to take the photo anyway.

Now when I look at the photo, I think her presence in the photo is what makes the image interesting. The landscape, beautiful on its own, somehow comes to life and breathes because this woman is engaging with it.

This photo, with the unique beauty that unfolded before me and that woman who "ruined" it, now hangs on a wall in my bedroom. What would she think if she knew that her figure is captured and frozen on some strangers bedroom wall? A bedroom, after all, is a very private space, in which some woman I don't even know has been immortalized (使永存). In some ways, she lives in my house.

Perhaps we all live in each other's spaces. Perhaps this is what photos are for: to remind us that we all appreciate beauty, that we all share a common desire for pleasure, for connection, for something that is greater than us. That photo is a reminder, a captured moment, an unspoken conversation between two women, separated only by a thin square of glass.

1. What happened when the author was about to take a photo?

A．Her camera stopped working.	B．A friend approached from behind.
C．Someone asked her to leave.	D．A woman blocked her view.

2. According to the author, the woman was probably ________.

A．losing her patience	B．enjoying herself
C．waiting for the sunset	D．thinking about her past

3. In the author's opinion, what makes the photo so alive?

A．The woman's existence in the photo.	B．The perfect positioning of the camera.
C．The rich color of the landscape.	D．The soft sunlight that summer day.

4. The photo on the bedroom wall enables the author to better understand ________.

A．the need to be close to nature	B．the importance of private space
C．the shared passion for beauty	D．the joy of the vacation in Italy

3 . My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body. Through the years I would _______the correct answer. When I was young, I thought _______ was very important to us as humans, so I said, “My ears，Mummy.” She said，“No. Many people are _______. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon.”

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first _______, I had often thought over the question. So this time I told her, “Mummy，it must be our eyes.” She looked at me and said, “You are _______fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind.”

_______ the years, Mother asked me a couple more _______ and always her response to my answer was, “No，but you are getting _______ every year，my child.” Then last year，my grandpa _______. Everyone was heartbroken. Everybody was crying. My mum looked at me when it was our ________ to say our final goodbye to Grandpa. She asked me, “Do you know the most important body part yet，my dear?”

I was ________ when she was asking me this now. I always thought this was a ________ between her and me. She saw the ________ on my face and told me, “This question is very important. It shows that you have really ________ your life.” I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, “My dear，the most important body part is your ________.” I asked, “Is it because they hold up your head?” She replied, “No，it is ________ on them a crying friend or a loved one can rest his or her head. I only hope that you have enough ________ and friends and that you will have a shoulder to cry ________ when you need it.” Then and there I understood the most important body part is not a ________ one. It is sympathetic to the pain of ________.

1.

A．notice

B．believe in

C．doubt

D．guess at

2.

A．love

B．health

C．sound

D．sight

3.

A．blind

B．deaf

C．invisible

D．thoughtful

4.

A．discovery

B．decision

C．attempt

D．suggestion

5.

A．learning

B．thinking

C．growing

D．changing

6.

A．Before

B．Till

C．Beyond

D．Over

7.

A．ways

B．things

C．questions

D．times

8.

A．stronger

B．taller

C．smarter

D．nicer

9.

A．left

B．got ill

C．died

D．got wounded

10.

A．duty

B．turn

C．pity

D．chance

11.

A．shocked

B．satisfied

C．interested

D．secret

12.

A．game

B．problem

C．matter

D．action

13.

A．worry

B．puzzlement

C．regret

D．pain

14.

A．enjoyed

B．found

C．disliked

D．lived

15.

A．shoulders

B．feet

C．hands

D．hair

16.

A．how

B．because

C．why

D．whether

17.

A．respect

B．favor

C．love

D．fun

18.

A．by

B．on

C．above

D．for

19.

A．valuable

B．useful

C．selfish

D．precious

20.

A．others

B．the deaf

C．Grandpa

D．the blind

4 . “Father, I don’t like to go to school,” said Harry Williams one morning. “I wish you would let me stay at home. Charles Parker’s father doesn’t make him go to school.”

Mr Williams______his little boy by the hand, and said _______to him, “Come, my son. I want to show you _____ in the garden.”

Harry walked into the garden with his_______, who led him along until they came to a bed in which peas(豌豆) were growing. Not a weed(杂草) was to be ______about their roots.

“See how beautifully these peas are ______, my son,” said Mr. Williams. “How clean and healthy the vines(藤) look. We shall have a good ______. Now let me show you the vines in Mr. Parker’s garden.”

Mr. Williams then______Harry to look at Mr. Parker’s pea vines.

After a few moments, Mr. Williams asked, “Well, my son, what do you ______Mr. Parker’s pea vines?”

“Oh, Father!” replied the little boy. “I never saw such______looking peas in my life! The weeds are nearly as_____ as the peas themselves. There won’t be half a crop!”

“_______are they so much worse than ours, Harry?”

“Because they have been left to grow as they______. I suppose Mr. Parker just planted them, and never took any care of them______”

“ Yes. A garden will soon be overrun with weeds_______it is not taken good care of,” Mr. Williams   ____, “and so it is with the human garden. Children’s minds are like garden beds. They must be   ____ cared for. I send you to school in order that the garden of your ______may have good seeds and _____ plentifully. Now which would you_____, to stay at home or go to school?”

“I would rather go to school,” said Harry.

1.

A．grabbed

B．pulled

C．took

D．punished

2.

A．loudly

B．secretly

C．kindly

D．politely

3.

A．anything

B．something

C．everything

D．nothing

4.

A．mother

B．father

C．sister

D．brother

5.

A．made

B．changed

C．seen

D．planted

6.

A．growing

B．moving

C．shaking

D．dancing

7.

A．result

B．harvest

C．match

D．present

8.

A．forced

B．led

C．followed

D．ordered

9.

A．think of

B．look at

C．hear of

D．deal with

10.

A．ugly

B．poor

C．dirty

D．fine

11.

A．high

B．long

C．deep

D．wide

12.

A．When

B．Why

C．Where

D．How

13.

A．pleased

B．stayed

C．left

D．belonged

14.

A．ahead

B．afterward

C．forward

D．outside

15.

A．as

B．or

C．if

D．so

16.

A．required

B．answered

C．announced

D．explained

17.

A．carefully

B．correctly

C．gently

D．slightly

18.

A．school

B．family

C．mind

D．dream

19.

A．produce

B．develop

C．decrease

D．drop

20.

A．find

B．support

C．know

D．prefer

5 . Lectures on happiness are becoming increasingly popular in Harvard University. I went to one of them, which left a lasting impression on me. While we were listening with close attention, the speaker suddenly stopped and started a game, giving each person a balloon. Each one was asked to write their name on it using a pen. Then the 100 students from 25 schools were divided into two groups.

Now the two groups were in different rooms with their balloons flying in it. The first group of 50 students were asked to find the balloon with their name on it within 5 minutes. Everyone was hurriedly searching for their own name, pushing and running into each other, and there was lots of noise. At the end of 5 minutes, none of them could find their own balloon.

The second half, on the other hand, was asked to randomly (随机地) collect a balloon and give it to the person whose name was written on it. Within minutes everyone had their own balloon.

This is exactly happening in our lives. Everyone is hurriedly looking for happiness all around, not knowing where it is. Our happiness lies in the happiness of other people. Give them their happiness, and you will get your own happiness. And this is the purpose of human life.

1. What happened to the first group?

A．None made any noise at all.	B．None found their balloon
C．Everyone found their friends.	D．Everyone helped one another.

2. How many students found their own balloons in the game?

A．5.

B．25.

C．50.

D．100.

3. According to the text, which of the following is TRUE?

A．Everyone pushed each other in the two groups.

B．Students in the game come from the same school.

C．Our happiness comes from the happiness of others.

D．Students learned nothing about happiness in the game.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Finding Happiness	B．Having Lectures
C．Collecting Balloons	D．Playing Games

6 . Ten years ago I was visiting Costa Rica when I found I was in a bad situation. I only knew basic Spanish, and the only _______ I had were some coins and a return ticket to Guatemala in two weeks.

With the coins, I managed to arrive at Santa Rosa by bus. It was _______ in the middle of the night, but I could see some_______ in the distance, so I_______ toward them.

I went _______ door to door, explaining my situation. “I can _________ and clean and look after your kids, I can do anything, can you give me a_______ ?” Everybody replied saying “Oh my gosh, but we are so_______ . We have no extra food. Maybe you can try the next_______ .”

Finally, I arrived at a Chinese restaurant, the owner of which was unbelievably________.   She told me that her son had a(n) ________ experience. At that time, some other people were very kind to him, and she remembered how ________ that made her feel. She called the Red Cross to________ me. With their help, I spent my________ days in Costa Rica.

I’ve ________   all over the world. But this was one of the best trips, the best two __________ I ever had in my traveling life.

At first, I felt ________ and stupid for not traveling with a clear plan. But then I realized that when you’re in a position to be able to________, it actually makes people feel happier.

Being able to receive kindness is a ________for other people as well. And kindness________ more kindness in small ripples (涟漪).

1.

A．tools

B．records

C．choices

D．things

2.

A．busy

B．hot

C．dark

D．cold

3.

A．stores

B．houses

C．bookshops

D．bus-stops

4.

A．walked

B．fled

C．wandered

D．jumped

5.

A．hitting

B．knocking

C．answering

D．kicking

6.

A．cook

B．fish

C．swim

D．fight

7.

A．coffee

B．bed

C．tip

D．job

8.

A．unlucky

B．poor

C．ordinary

D．hard

9.

A．company

B．factory

C．family

D．restaurant

10.

A．kind

B．polite

C．honest

D．easygoing

11.

A．relaxing

B．different

C．similar

D．pleasant

12.

A．tough

B．grateful

C．terrible

D．warm

13.

A．seize

B．check

C．find

D．rescue

14.

A．remaining

B．passing

C．rewarding

D．exciting

15.

A．surveyed

B．driven

C．traveled

D．studied

16.

A．days

B．weeks

C．months

D．years

17.

A．ashamed

B．optimistic

C．fortunate

D．curious

18.

A．offer

B．help

C．receive

D．repay

19.

A．talent

B．gift

C．chance

D．character

20.

A．proves

B．reflects

C．forces

D．inspires

7 . Last week I went shopping in the supermarket. I got to the front of the ___________ and put my groceries through the checkout. I was about to pay, when I ___________ that I didn't have my bankcard with me. I _________.Then I remembered I left it at home when I ___________ something online. All I had was $30 in notes and some coins in my wallet. I was short ___________ at least $25, and I needed to buy most of the items.

I started to ___________ to the checkout lady. "I'm sorry, I stop the queue. Can I put these things back, and then think I'll ___________ these. Oh, no, need that."

An Irish lady was ___________ behind me, next in the queue. "Excuse me, Dear," she said. "Oh, I'm so sorry," I replied, "I'm ___________ you up." "Of course not. I know ____________ you feel. This happens to all of us at some point. Now please use my ____________ to pay the bill and you can be on your way."

I was astonished by her kindness, ____________ even. No matter how I insisted otherwise, she was ________ to help me. Afterwards I asked for her telephone number to ____________ and pay her back. "No," she said, "rather pay it forward. You may do a good deed for the next person in need."

By helping others, can we start chain ____________ of positive feeling and charity that can benefit our whole society?

1.

A．table

B．supermarket

C．queue

D．shelf

2.

A．realized

B．knew

C．recognized

D．observed

3.

A．hesitated

B．paused

C．panicked

D．struggled

4.

A．explored

B．purchased

C．advocated

D．delivered

5.

A．by

B．under

C．on

D．with

6.

A．cry

B．apologise

C．complain

D．explain

7.

A．borrow

B．drop

C．follow

D．take

8.

A．standing

B．supporting

C．blaming

D．shouting

9.

A．turning

B．putting

C．joining

D．holding

10.

A．what

B．how

C．why

D．when

11.

A．card

B．fame

C．income

D．identity

12.

A．abnormal

B．anxious

C．embarrassed

D．desperate

13.

A．convinced

B．determined

C．excited

D．reluctant

14.

A．fit in

B．get through

C．look up

D．get in touch

15.

A．reaction

B．sympathy

C．satisfaction

D．relationship

8 . I was coming back from home late at night in a “Sharing” mini van (厢式货车). In Hydera-bad, India, it is a cheap and quick form of _______. The van driver picked up as many as 13 people at times in a vehicle which is _______ for the transport of 8. So our van was very _______.

Making her way to the _______ of the van, a school girl with a bag _______   the driver to stop. While getting down, she slipped and fell. None of us _______ it, as it was dark outside. The driver was _______ for her to pay. It was then that we saw that the girl was on her   _______ by the side of the road. Another passenger and I got down_______ and held her up.

Even in __________, she held up a note and asked us to pay the driver. The other __________ passenger took the note and paid the driver. My __________ was a few hundred meters away. As a girl, I knew I’d get off and stay with her in the__________. So I paid up the driver for__________ and he drove away with the other passengers.

I neither__________ her nor did I know what to do. But I was there, giving some comforting words to the girl in pain. I looked for a place for her to sit. Then I phoned her friend and waited there. She was rushed to a nearby clinic later.

1.

A．1ife

B．transport

C．activity

D．communication

2.

A．designed

B．bought

C．organized

D．powered

3.

A．heavy

B．noisy

C．crowded

D．awkward

4.

A．driver

B．window

C．door

D．seat

5.

A．guided

B．suggested

C．admitted

D．signaled

6.

A．noticed

B．managed

C．recognized

D．stood

7.

A．caring

B．reaching

C．waiting

D．planning

8.

A．back

B．knees

C．feet

D．own

9.

A．immediately

B．doubtfully

C．naturally

D．anxiously

10.

A．silence

B．surprise

C．vain

D．pain

11.

A．patient

B．helpful

C．generous

D．secret

12.

A．home

B．stop

C．car

D．school

13.

A．dark

B．rain

C．wind

D．van

14.

A．himself

B．herself

C．myself

D．itself

15.

A．ignored

B．persuaded

C．promised

D．knew

9 . 短文改错

One Saturday morning, I suddenly noticed my room was a completely mess, what really annoyed me. I realized too many useful things took up a lot of space. So I decided to throw it away and do some cleaning. It took me a whole day get all the works done. Finally the room was tidy again and everything was in the order.

This was also true for life: we add more and more to our life, hoped to get a better life. But sometimes the more we add, the bad our life becomes. After all, sometimes less is more.

10 . 阅读下面短文，用英语简要回答文后所给的五个问题，并将答案写在答题卡对应位置。（注意：每题答语不超过15个单词）

Mr. Black was spending his holiday in Africa. One day he watched some elephants passing by. Each of them was tied to his front legs only by a small rope. To his great surprise, these large strong animals could easily run away, but they did not.

So Mr. Black asked the owner why not a single elephant made an attempt to break free. The owner said, ''When the elephants were very young, the same size ropes were used to tie them, and at that time the ropes were strong enough to hold them. Now they have grown big and strong, but they believe that the ropes still hold them and it is impossible to escape, so they never try to get away. ''

Sometimes people act like these elephants. They often give up after the first failures. In fact, the failures are part of learning. If we want to succeed, we should never give up, but try and try again.

1. Where was Mr. Black spending his holiday?
2. What was each of the elephants tied by?
3. How did Mr. Black feel when he saw the elephants did not try to get away?
4. Why do the elephants never try to break free?
5. According to the text, what should we do if we want to succeed?