1 . Instead of being a pacing-up time, winter is a locking-down time. Winter frees us in all sorts of ways.

I once had a neighbor named Earl. An old-timer and a self-made man, he _________ told me stories about Maine winters in the past. He suggested he had _________ the ice age. He backed up his old stories with _________ of old black-and-white photographs of heavy snowstorms that piled up to second-floor windows and completely _________ cars.

And I’ll never _________ what he said as an end to one of his stories, “A man couldn’t get much done once the snow came.” So what did he do once the snow came? He spent a great deal of time _________ to home and hearth, where he _________ the wood stove, sat with his wife, made pots of coffee, and read by the fire.

As I write these words I occasionally raise my head to _________ the window at the woodpile stacked (堆), the garden harvested, the apple tree _________, the lawn mowed, and the bicycle shed newly roofed.

As I tended to all those things, when did I have time to __________?

Some years ago a friend sent me a quote by Socrates that I try to be mindful of: Beware the fruitlessness of a __________ life.

The advice __________ me to look forward to the coming of winter, because I’ve finally learned that it is a slowing-down time, a gift of rest, a (n) __________ to acknowledge that most of the outdoor work that could be done has been done.

A friend of mine who lives in the Southeast recently called. In the course of our __________ he celebrated the climate where he lives, which __________ him to work outside year-round. “I’m always on the go.” he told me.

But I think I need a good time of winter.

1.

A．gradually

B．excitedly

C．angrily

D．unwillingly

2.

A．struggled

B．explored

C．survived

D．celebrated

3.

A．laughter

B．evidence

C．expectation

D．patience

4.

A．buried

B．struck

C．destroyed

D．supported

5.

A．realize

B．forget

C．recall

D．learn

6.

A．designing

B．improving

C．fixing

D．tending

7.

A．bought

B．controlled

C．built

D．filled

8.

A．look at

B．watch over

C．glance out

D．glare at

9.

A．picked

B．cut

C．planted

D．fell

10.

A．settle

B．arrange

C．work

D．breathe

11.

A．busy

B．happy

C．creative

D．special

12.

A．demanded

B．taught

C．appointed

D．assisted

13.

A．amazement

B．surroundings

C．opportunity

D．ability

14.

A．convenience

B．appearance

C．contribution

D．conversation

15.

A．employs

B．forces

C．enables

D．saves

2 . It might sound a bit old-fashioned, but there’s something unique about handwritten things. And I’m a real believer in the_______of letters.

When I was about 12 years old, my friends and I wanted a pet mouse. The pet shop wouldn’t_______us one until we had a letter from a parent, so, having the tidiest_______, I faked(伪)one.

My trick was quickly_______. My mum felt that the punishment should fit the crime, so she made me write letters to a few randomly selected_______.

One of them was my uncle who I’d only_______a few times. I wrote along letter_______my life and listing my interests.

My punishment_______, I forgot about this until I suddenly got a reply from him. He told me all about his life and would love to_______about what school subjects I enjoyed. And so started a correspondence(通信)that________for several years.

Then out of the blue, he passed away. My mum was________as they had not really spoken for years. I went upstairs and presented a box of________from him. She comforted herself reading them and knowing that ________she hadn’t been in touch, I had grown close to him by writing to him.

I often think about how that one________childhood behavior led to such an enriching correspondence. It________me-to write to lots of other people, and it’s something I keep up with to this day.

1.

A．content

B．advance

C．order

D．power

2.

A．sell

B．pay

C．give

D．offer

3.

A．handwriting

B．room

C．hand

D．habit

4.

A．admired

B．exchanged

C．discovered

D．solved

5.

A．strangers

B．neighbors

C．relatives

D．friends

6.

A．ignored

B．met

C．recognized

D．thanked

7.

A．detailing

B．organizing

C．improving

D．wasting

8.

A．reasonable

B．complete

C．serious

D．efficient

9.

A．think

B．care

C．hear

D．argue

10.

A．went on

B．ended up

C．got over

D．turned up

11.

A．concerned

B．upset

C．angry

D．calm

12.

A．chocolates

B．books

C．puddings

D．letters

13.

A．after

B．although

C．because

D．if

14.

A．meaningful

B．frank

C．unique

D．improper

15.

A．advised

B．required

C．encouraged

D．warned

3 . When I hear the word stereotype (刻板印象), I feel it’s a word that doesn’t have a good aura (氛围) around it. It makes me feel ________ when I hear it. I’m not gonna ________ you on what you look like, I’m gonna judge you only when I meet you.

People assume that because of my ________ that I can’t do things that white women do, like finishing high school, going to college, graduating from college, getting a PhD, and having a career. ________ I go to the gym, people will be like, you run well for an ‘Asian guy’. And like this little ________ use of languages really affects how we view our world.

Being an Indian in a ________ American school, I’ve faced a couple of challenges. Many people assume things ________ me like I’m smart or I want to be a doctor, or I play things like chess, but I don’t think my skin color is what ________ me. I think it’s important for you to get to know a person ________ their skin. And really, I’m just American. I was born here. I like to live the same way ________ anybody else would.

When I first meet someone, I just talk about where they’re from and stuff ________ assuming where they’re from. Because it’s usually better to get to ________ someone’s background information than just assume it.

I break the stereotypes that I’ve encountered by ________ them, and walking off. A stereotype does not make you. You make you. You should accept who you are and love who you are, because we’re all human. We all deserve to have a ________. Your color or your race shouldn’t ________ your personality.

1.

A．upset

B．concerned

C．tired

D．excited

2.

A．make

B．judge

C．meet

D．criticize

3.

A．personality

B．school

C．family

D．race

4.

A．Wherever

B．Whatever

C．Whenever

D．However

5.

A．great

B．tiny

C．strange

D．enormous

6.

A．mostly

B．partially

C．clearly

D．rarely

7.

A．in

B．about

C．on

D．from

8.

A．predicts

B．chooses

C．replaces

D．defines

9.

A．at

B．in

C．under

D．about

10.

A．of

B．as

C．for

D．from

11.

A．instead of

B．by accident

C．because of

D．thanks to

12.

A．guess

B．think

C．know

D．understand

13.

A．coming across

B．looking after

C．depending on

D．laughing at

14.

A．voice

B．noise

C．sound

D．interest

15.

A．explain

B．assess

C．identify

D．acquire

4 . Take a Leap to Find Luck

What is luck? I’ve realized, by watching so long, that luck is rarely a lightning strike, isolated and dramatic.     1     Sometimes it’s calm, and sometimes it blows in gusts, and sometimes it comes from directions that you didn’t even imagine.

So how do you catch the winds of luck?     2     So I’m going to share three things with you that you can do to build a sail to capture the winds of luck. The first thing to do is to change your relationship with yourself.     3     When we’re children, we do this all the time. We have to do this if we’re going to learn how to walk or talk or ride a bike. The problem is, as we get older, we rarely do this. We sort of lock down the sense of who we are and don’t stretch anymore.

The second thing to do is to change your relationship with other people. You need to understand that everyone who helps you on your journey is playing a huge role in getting you to your goals.     4     And if you don’t show appreciation, not only are you not closing the loop, but you’re missing an opportunity.

And third, you want to change your relationship with ideas. Most people look at new ideas that come their way and they judge them. “That’s a great idea” or “That’s a terrible idea.” But it’s actually much more different. Ideas are neither good nor bad. And in fact, the seeds of terrible ideas are often something truly remarkable.     5    

So, yes, sometimes people were born into terrible circumstances, and sometimes, luck is a lightning bolt that hits us with something wonderful or something terrible. But the winds of luck are always there.

A．It’s easy, but it’s not obvious.

B．Judgment brings fear and hope.

C．You need to acknowledge what they’re doing.

D．Nothing comes to you accidentally or randomly.

E．It’s much more like the wind, blowing constantly.

F．Be willing to take small risks that get you out of your comfort zone.

G．When they’re turned into something brilliant, amazing things may happen.

5 . I had some pretty serious issues with my community for the last year, and our relationship completely fell apart 6 months ago. As a result, I ________ them on social media, and did my best to forget about them. The events though continued to ________ me, and the ________ that I felt from those events affected other aspects of my life. It began destroying relationships in other parts of my life and I ended up ________ bridges with big opportunities and people I really ________.

Yesterday, I was forced to see this community because of a major work event. I was fearing this event for months and it was pretty ________ when I first saw the people with whom I was in ________. Despite all of this, the strangest yet most wonderful thing happened to me. After I left the event, I felt something that I hadn’t felt in a long time-peace and ________. Some of the people at this ________ didn’t even know who I was and it was clear that a lot of people had ________ from the events.

________ breaking up with that community, I could still see them during the conference and apologize in my head and forgive them. After doing this, I felt peace in myself, and I find I’ve been able to see things from a bigger ________.

When you forgive others, you not only free them, but you free yourself ________. You not only find peace with them, but you find peace ________ yourself. Now, I only wish them the best life that they can have, the most success that they can ________, and the most happiness they could ever have.

1.

A．shared

B．posted

C．blocked

D．contacted

2.

A．frustrate

B．disturb

C．defeat

D．interrupt

3.

A．interactions

B．emotions

C．fantasies

D．passions

4.

A．burning

B．building

C．crossing

D．strengthening

5.

A．disagreed with

B．sided with

C．worried about

D．cared about

6.

A．overwhelming

B．annoying

C．frightening

D．embarrassing

7.

A．harmony

B．comparison

C．conflict

D．contact

8.

A．security

B．confidence

C．forgiveness

D．comfort

9.

A．conference

B．stage

C．moment

D．lecture

10.

A．broken away

B．held on

C．got away

D．moved on

11.

A．While

B．When

C．Since

D．Unless

12.

A．tendency

B．perspective

C．prospect

D．expectation

13.

A．in return

B．at least

C．at times

D．as well

14.

A．about

B．of

C．within

D．for

15.

A．acknowledge

B．attain

C．demonstrate

D．measure

6 . Review Our Worries

We spend a lot of our lives worrying, but there’s one basic thing we almost never remember to do.    1    For example, one week, we might be worried about running out of money, the next of having offended a friend, and the third about being brought down by a rumour on social media. The worries go on and on, shifting unstoppably from one target to another.    2    

What we seldom spend time doing is pausing to compare the scale of the worry with what actually happened in the end. We are too taken up with the next worry to return for a composed review.

However, if we force ourselves to perform one, a strange discovery is likely to dawn on us.     3    We almost lost our minds to worry, but we didn’t run out of money in the end, our friend wasn’t offended, and so on.    4    Mark Twain’s famous saying comes to mind: “I have lived through many disasters, only a few of which actually happened.”

    5    If we got it so wrong in the past, we’re highly likely to get it wrong now too. Of course, we’re convinced that this is really and truly the end, but such a certainty was with us on many other situations which we appear to have sailed through well enough.

Perhaps the world is not quite as awful as we assume. Perhaps most of the drama is ultimately unfolding in a place we need to explore and heal as fast as we can: our own minds.

A．Our worries are nearly always out of line with reality.

B．They ruin our precious time on Earth in the process.

C．Ignore our worries and focus on more productive things.

D．Go back and check how our worries matched up to reality.

E．We might say that only 1% of our worries truly become awful.

F．Our worries are caused by external factors beyond our control.

G．We should use the data about the unreliability of our fears as a guide to the future.

7 . 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.

8 . You can’t see it, smell it, or hear it, and people disagree on how precisely to define it, or where exactly it comes from. It isn’t a school subject or an academic discipline, but it can be learned. It is a quality that is required of artists, but it is also present in the lives of scientists and entrepreneurs. All of us benefit from it and we succeed mentally and spiritually when we are able to handle it. It is a delicate thing, easily wiped out; in fact, it blossoms most fully when people are playful and childlike. Meanwhile, it works best in meeting with deep knowledge and expertise.

This mysterious—but teachable—quality is creativity, the subject of a recently-published report by Durham Commission on Creativity and Education. The report concludes that creativity should not exist in the school curriculum only as it relates to drama, music, art and other obviously creative subjects, but that creative thinking ought to run through all of school life, infusing (充满) the way humanities and natural sciences are learned.

Nevertheless, it is arts subjects through which creativity can most obviously be promoted. The value placed on them by the independent education is clear. One only has to look at the remarkable arts facilities at Britain’ stop private schools to understand this. But in the state education the extreme focus on English, maths and science threatens to destroy arts subjects; meanwhile, reduced school budgets mean decreasing extracurricular activities.

This difference between state and private education is a matter of social justice. It is simply wrong and unfair that most children have a small part of the access to choirs, art studios and drama that their more privileged peers enjoy. As lives are affected by any number of threatening challenges—climate crisis, automation in the workplace—humans are going to need creative thinking more than ever. For all of our sakes, creativity in education, and for all, must become a priority.

1. What is the primary function of the first paragraph in the passage?

A．It offers a historical overview of creative thinking.

B．It introduces the precise definition and benefits of creativity.

C．It guides the reader on to the topic of creativity in education.

D．It provides evidence for the importance of science education.

2. What is the conclusion of a recently-published report?

A．Natural sciences should be learned the way humanities courses are.

B．Growth of creativity should run through the entire school curriculum.

C．Art courses should be made required for all students，

D．Students should learn more obviously creative subjects.

3. What do we learn about the private schools in the UK?

A．They encourage extracurricular activities.

B．They attach great importance to arts education.

C．They prioritize arts subjects over maths and sciences.

D．They meet the needs of students from different family backgrounds.

4. What should be done to meet the future challenges?

A．Increasing government investment in school education.

B．Narrowing the existing gap between the rich and the poor.

C．Providing all children with equal access to arts education.

D．Focusing on meeting the needs of under-privileged students.

9 . I’m a grandma in my 60s. In the spring of 2020, like the rest of the world, I spent a lot of time staring at a screen and that was when I first got into the YouTube world. I discovered that onscreen offerings were truly endless. From one YouTuber I learned how to plant my own vegetable garden. Someone else shared poetry from Robert Frost, wise sayings from Confucius, and a smattering (一知半解) of other philosophical viewpoints, all of which helped me through some dark days. Down the rabbit hole I went, scrolling for hours and hours, watching other people living their lives and giving me advice on how to live mine.

As the months rolled by, YouTube turned my attention away from the hard reality of what was going on in the world. I subscribed to several channels and waited anxiously for new weekly offerings. I watched people reading poetry or painting by streams or looking out windows into snowy landscapes. I found all this calming. Such lovely scenery, such beautiful background music, such pretty clothes they were wearing!

At some point though, I got upset by these artistic and seemingly perfect lives. Who is filming them? I wondered. Do they rehearse or just act on the spot? Isn’t it cold, stepping through snowbanks in dresses? The questions kept bothering me while forcing comparisons to my own somewhat more ordinary existence. I wanted to walk in a flowing dress through hilly green field filled with wildflowers! Instead, I was marching through my neighborhood’s city streets in mom jeans.

In a moment of insight, I realized that I had a full and happy life, which although it wouldn’t win awards for perfection onscreen, suited me perfectly. I put my phone away and started paying attention to my own life instead of watching other people live theirs. I still like checking in once in a while. YouTube can be a rich source of entertainment and inspiration, but I’ve limited my exposure. I am content with the knowledge that my addiction to life onscreen has been replaced by life itself.

1. What can be learned about the author in the spring of 2020?

A．She experienced some hard times.

B．She taught others about gardening.

C．She developed an interest in poetry.

D．She shared her philosophical views online.

2. What effect did YouTube have on the author according to paragraph 2?

A．It made her more anxious.

B．It improved her taste in art.

C．It taught her to accept reality.

D．It brought some comfort to her.

3. How did the artistic lives presented on YouTube make the author feel?

A．Desperate.

B．Connected.

C．Envious.

D．Proud.

4. What has the author decided to do in the end?

A．Seek inspiration from YouTube.

B．Stop using her phone in daily life.

C．Focus on her own life instead of others’.

D．Continue watching other people’s lives.

10 . When I was young, I struggled with body image and disordered eating. I used disordered eating to deal with my _________ and feel more in control of my life. Afterwards, I’d over-exercise to_________my body for what I’d eaten, especially if I thought the _________ too much.

But later I realized how unhealthy my _________ were. A happier life was possible, the one in which I’d hang out with friends and join in enjoyable exercise in my free time _________. I wanted to have a wonderful life filled with amazing _________. In response to it, I stopped punishing my body and began to _________ it right. My body and I had done nothing _________ in eating and enjoying food, but my life would be happier once I was healthier.

Once I became healthier, I dove back into _________.   I attended Zumba classes with an old roommate. I ____________ how cool it was and how privileged I was that my body could do so many fancy dance moves. I even became one of the ____________ of the technique award.

We live in a world where feeling okay about our eating and body image is close to ____________sometimes. But a life free of diet culture and body ____________ is the one that everyone should fight for. I’m so ____________ that I’m able to exercise my body through dancing, and here I want to ____________other particular body’s abilities。

1.

A．passion

B．emotions

C．initiative

D．principle

2.

A．abuse

B．involve

C．punish

D．defeat

3.

A．amount

B．quantity

C．quality

D．calorie

4.

A．reactions

B．thoughts

C．performances

D．behaviors

5.

A．easily

B．quietly

C．actively

D．eagerly

6.

A．memories

B．adventures

C．challenges

D．secrets

7.

A．keep

B．change

C．make

D．treat

8.

A．harmful

B．wrong

C．optimistic

D．painful

9.

A．perform

B．dance

C．paint

D．exercise

10.

A．doubted

B．responded

C．realized

D．imagined

11.

A．creators

B．winners

C．designers

D．collectors

12.

A．innocent

B．unfortunate

C．incorrect

D．impossible

13.

A．judgment

B．structure

C．energy

D．language

14.

A．merciful

B．hopeful

C．grateful

D．peaceful

15.

A．celebrate

B．restrict

C．discover

D．seek