1 . My wife and I moved into our home two years ago. We had a yard with a lot of ________. Very often when we have flowers, Denise or I would plant some between the rocks, just to add some ________ to the area.

Last summer, I found a tiny little plant in the yard that I could not immediately identify. I knew I didn’t plant it and Denise said she didn’t either.

We decided to let it ________ growing until we could find out what it was.

Weeks passed and as I made my way back to the ________ plant, it appeared to be a sunflower. I decided to ________ the weeds (杂草) around it. As I pulled rocks from the area to get to the weeds, I noticed something ________.The sunflower had not ________ where I saw it begin. It actually had begun under a big rock and grown under and around it to reach the ________.

That’s when I ________ that if a tiny little sunflower didn’t let a big rock stand in its way of developing, we too have the ability of doing the same thing. If we ________ ourselves like that little sunflower, we can reach where we ________ to go and get what we need for growth.

We need to believe in ourselves knowing we have the ________ to achieve our goals. Like the sunflower, it knew it had the ability to get over the rocks because it had ________ in itself that it would succeed. Stand tall like the sunflower and be ________ of who and what we are, and then the environment will begin to ________ us. We will find a way to go under or around any “rocks” in order to reach our goals.

1.

A．flower

B．insects

C．vegetables

D．rocks

2.

A．water

B．fertilizer

C．color

D．shape

3.

A．stop

B．continue

C．improve

D．escape

4.

A．weak

B．strange

C．lonely

D．pretty

5.

A．collect

B．tend

C．remove

D．watch

6.

A．unusual

B．wonderful

C．terrible

D．valuable

7.

A．passed

B．started

C．left

D．died

8.

A．air

B．top

C．sun

D．house

9.

A．hoped

B．realized

C．doubted

D．regretted

10.

A．fill in

B．put in

C．worry about

D．believe in

11.

A．forget

B．hate

C．aim

D．wait

12.

A．wish

B．plan

C．ability

D．idea

13.

A．faith

B．energy

C．virtue

D．courage

14.

A．aware

B．afraid

C．proud

D．tired

15.

A．forgive

B．support

C．upset

D．affect

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

I can well remember that I was once asked to deliver a speech titled “A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class at the age of 9! You can imagine how     1     (terrible) shy I was with so many eyes       2       (fix) upon me. I had no     3     (choose) but to prepare for it, though. First of all, I was to draft the speech, which was just a piece of cake for me, a good writer. But the hardest part     4     (lie) in my oral presentation from my memory— for to read from the paper was not allowed. The real moment began     5         I stood on the platform with my legs trembling and my mind blank. But my listeners were waiting patiently without any signs of rushing me. Gradually I found myself back,     6     (deliver) my speech with difficulty. After what seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding— I made     7    ! From then on, my fear of talking before an audience disappeared. Actually with my     8     (confident) building up, I now turn out to be a great speaker. Looking back, I know the greatest difficulty on our way         9     success is our fear. Overcome it     10     we will be able to achieve our goals.

3 . 假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（⋀），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

Three years ago I failed an important exam in my life and became a student at a ordinary school. Although I felt disappointed at the shabby campus and my poorly-equipped classroom, but I found the teachers impatient and considerate. Beside, I enjoyed the friendly class atmosphere. I decided to make the best it. I worked hard and got along good with my teachers and classmates. Whenever I had difficulties, they are always available. Soon, I became one of the top student in my class, that greatly increased my confidence and got me motivated. My experience tells me that it is not what you are given but how you make use of it that determines who we are.

4 . 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.

6 . Every Sunday morning I take a walk around a park near my home. There's a lake in one corner of the park. Each time I walk by this lake, I see the same elderly woman sitting at the water's edge with a small metal cage beside her.

This Sunday, I stopped walking and went over to her. As I got closer, I realized that there were three turtles(乌龟), unhurt, slowly walking around the base of the metal cage. She had a fourth turtle on her knee that she was carefully wiping with a brush, which made me feel surprised.

"Hello," I said. "If you don't mind my nosiness, I'd love to know what you're doing with these turtles."

"I'm cleaning off their shells," she replied.

"Anything on a turtle's shell weakens the turtle's ability to take in heat and blocks its ability to swim. It can also impair and weaken the shell over time."

She went on, "I spend a couple of hours each Sunday morning, relaxing by this lake and helping these little guys out. It's my own strange way of making a difference."

"Well then, don't you think your time could be better spent? It's a waste of time. And 99% of these turtles don't have kind people like you to help them clean off their shells. So, how exactly are your efforts here truly making a difference?"

The woman smiled, then looked down at the turtle on her knee, wiped off the last piece of algae(海藻)from its shell, and said, "Sweetie, if this little guy could talk, he'd tell you I just made all the difference in the world."

1. What was the writer surprised at according to Paragraph 2?

A．Four turtles in the cage.	B．The beautiful scenery in the park.
C．A small metal cage put beside the water.	D．A woman cleaning off the turtles' shells.

2. What does the underlined word "impair" in Paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．Make.

B．Clean.

C．Hurt.

D．Recognize.

3. Why did the author doubt the woman's efforts?

A．He thought the woman's efforts were meaningless.

B．There are so few turtles in the world.

C．The woman didn't protect the environment.

D．The woman couldn't be understood by others.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．Taking a walk.	B．The power of kindness.
C．An elderly woman's job.	D．Four turtles in the metal cage.

7 . Do you always agree to do things that you are unwilling to do? Are you the type of person who always says "yes"? I've come to learn that it is very important to learn to say NO! It's okay. People are still going to like you. They may even respect you more because they know you are honest.

I'm not saying to say "no" to someone who really needs your help. I'm talking about refusing that meeting that you really do not want to attend or that birthday party that you don't want to be a guest at.

Think for a moment how you feel when you say YES to something that you really don't want to do. If you're like I once was，you can't sleep at night and you think about it too much. It weighs on your mind. You try to find ways out. Whatever you're saying to yourself，if you really wanted to go，you wouldn't have all of these thoughts.

So，why not just say NO from the beginning? Maybe you feel like if you don't show up at the meeting (by the way，it is not the one you must attend) your boss isn't going to like you or your co-workers won't respect you. Maybe you feel as if your mom，dad or sisters won't love you as much if you don't do everything for them that they ask every occasion.

If these people are your true friends，family members，or a good boss，they will like or love you the same no matter what. People treat you the way you teach them to, and if you're someone who always says "yes", then that's what they're expecting.

You need to do what is right for you. Of course we do have real obligations in life to fulfill，but we do not have to do everything others want us to do.

1. Which of the following statements would the writer agree with?

A．We should try to do what our friends ask us to do.

B．We should help others in need.

C．Always saying "no" means you are brave.

D．Always saying "yes" means you are dishonest.

2. What does the underlined word '' It" in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Saying "yes".

B．A friend's birthday party.

C．Something you're unwilling to do.

D．Something you think difficult to do.

3. The writer believes that if you say "no" to your family members，you'll ______.

A．upset them

B．disappoint them

C．have a loose relationship with them

D．have the same relationship with them as before

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Learn to Make a Right Choice

B．To Be Yourself

C．Learn to Say No

D．Do What You Want to Do

8 . I just had a snowstorm that piled up eight inches of snow. It truly was a winter wonderland, and there was white beauty everywhere. Since I didn't have anything to do that day, I really enjoyed it.

But then the second snowstorm arrived that night, piling additional inches of snow on top of the snow banks that were already there. And then on the evening news, the weather cast gave us a notice that still another snowstorm was headed our way. Then I felt despondent. I had things to do and places to go. After days of being snowbound, I felt like I was under house arrest. I was stuck.

A place stuck isn't a fun place to be, whether it's from a snowstorm or from life circumstances such as a bad relationship, bills that seem to tower over our heads, or situations where we see no way out. All of us will feel stuck at one time or another, but it's how we respond that makes the difference.

I had a friend named Hannah. She was stuck in the heartbreaking world of infertility (不孕). She longed for a child more than anything. Instead of accepting defeat, she acted sincerely. Think about Nelson Mandela in a dark prison. It was a seemingly hopeless place, but instead of becoming depressed or bitter, he kept fighting for freedom. Yes, he kept fighting to get the success.

Circumstances cannot define us, but our reactions do. Each of those men and women learned important lessons in their "stuck" situations, and we can as well.

1. What does the underlined word" despondent" in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Unhappy.

B．Unusual.

C．Ambitious.

D．Energetic.

2. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 3?

A．Summarize the previous paragraphs.

B．Provide some advice for the readers.

C．Introduce some background information.

D．Form a connecting link of the context.

3. Why does the author mention Hannah and Nelson Mandela?

A．To introduce two great celebrities.

B．To introduce the way to be famous.

C．To show their different circumstances.

D．To show how to respond to difficult situations.

4. What's the best title for the text?

A．Don't be defeated by failure

B．Don't be trapped by snow

C．Enjoy the white beauty

D．Keep calm in the winter

9 . Several years ago,our family rented a house that had a basement apartment under ours.The young couple who lived below us were quiet and modest.Their dog,however,was not.

Cody was an outgoing black dog with a big tail.He loved to greet us by planting his huge paws on our chest.Our dog Tasha has a similar characteristic.Because she shared the yard with Cody,they soon became good friends.

We often saw a ball of black and white fur as they raced neck and neck toward some unlucky bird that had just landed in the yard.The only time I saw any conflict between the two dogs was when we fed Tasha Cody would jump up.expecting to share Tasha's food.However,Tasha would bark fiercely.Cody would change his strategy,dropping to his belly and moving slowly toward Tasha's dish.But this friendly behavior did not impress Tasha . The closer Cody got,the louder Tasha shouted.Finally.Cody would slip away with his tail between his legs-until next mealtime. Then Cody,ever the optimist,would replay the scene.with the same disappointing conclusion

One day my husband Jeff came home quite upset .He had just found Cody lying by the side of the road.killed by a speeding truck.Tasha cleaned Cody' s smooth black fur with her nose and mouth and whined(R).Over the next few weeks.Tasha was in low spirits with her tail between her legs.She obviously missed her old friend.

At the same time,Tasha's dish disappeared.We replaced it with another,only to have that one disappear as well.There followed a steady succession(连续）of bowls,plates,even an old coffee can.They all disappeared Finally,the mystery was solved when our neighbor knocked on our door,her arms loaded with the missing dishes,some still half-full of dog food.

＂Are these yours?"she asked.When Jeff and I nodded,she explained,"l saw Tasha headed   toward the road,so I followed her.Then I noticed all these dishes in a pile."

Puzzled,I asked,"Where were they?"

“Well,you know,"she answered thoughtfully,Fit was right by the place where Cody died. Isn't that strange?Surely Tasha couldn't..."Her voice turned down in confusion.

Jeff and I exchanged glances.Has Tasha been begging her old friend back by offering him the one thing she refused to give him when he was alive?Even today,retelling the story makes me feel sad.It raises questions about animal’s intelligence and emotions.It also reminds me that I need to share whatever blessings I've received with others---before it's too late.

1. We can learn from the passage that Tasha

A．was an outgoing white dog

B．lived in a basement apartment

C．was pot friendly to the young couple

D．was the enemy of Cody due to the yard

2. A dog often feels disappointed or sad when

A．dropping to the belly

B．barking fiercely

C．putting the tail between legs

D．cleaning fur with its mouth

3. In the author's opinion,why did Tasha move its food away?

A．Because it wanted to hide it for herself.

B．Because it wanted to hide it for Cody.

C．Because it wanted to show Cody what it had.

D．Because it wanted Cody to come back to life.

10 . An old woman had two large pots - one on each end of a pole(扁担). She_______the pole with the pots on her shoulder. One of the pots had a crack(裂缝)in it, while_______pot was perfect and was always_______of water. At the end of the long walk_______the local well(井)to the woman’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half-full.

This happened daily for two years, with the woman bringing home_______one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was_______. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection.

One day, the cracked pot spoke to the woman while they were at the well,”I am ashamed of myself_______the crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house,”it said. The old woman   smiled   and said,   “Did you   _______that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have_________known you were cracked. I________flower seeds on your side of the path. And every day while we walk back, you water________.

“For two years, I have been able to________these beautiful flowers to decorate( 装 饰 )my dining table.________you being just the way you are, I would not have this beauty.”

Each of us has our own________. But it’s these cracks that make our lives so interesting and meaningful.

1.

A．carried

B．took

C．brought

2.

A．other

B． another

C．the other

3.

A．filled

B． full

C．short

4.

A．from

B．through

C．of

5.

A．hardly

B．only

C．completely

6.

A．angry

B．ashamed

C．proud

7.

A．because

B．so

C．though

8.

A．hear

B．watch

C．notice

9.

A．always

B．never

C．ever

10.

A．performed

B．planted

C．then

11.

A．it

B．him

C．them

12.

A．put

B．grow

C．pick

13.

A．With

B．Without

C．For

14.

A．cracks

B．flowers

C．beauties