1 . It was just a typical morning of an ordinary workday. I was at the
Over the years. I had grown more competitive due to the
Shortly after I got back home, I started to receive some emails from my workmates — I guessed they expected me to join them again soon. After a few
| A．store | B．office | C．cafe shop | D．station |
| A．settle | B．disappear | C．awaken | D．explode |
| A．uncertain | B．unique | C．unfamiliar | D．unsmiling |
| A．begin with | B．get rid of | C．proceed with | D．get down to |
| A．pressure | B．response | C．commitment | D．obligation |
| A．outcome | B．opposite | C．means | D．alternative |
| A．responsible | B．anxious | C．tough | D．productive |
| A．starting | B．breaking | C．ending | D．boiling |
| A．fame | B．honor | C．partner | D．occupation |
| A．accounts | B．jokes | C．lines | D．greetings |
| A．belief | B．assistance | C．hardship | D．answers |
| A．choked | B．hesitated | C．relaxed | D．suffered |
| A．protected | B．prevented | C．liberated | D．excused |
| A．Actually | B．Generally | C．Eventually | D．Fortunately |
| A．irregular | B．improper | C．illogical | D．insignificant |
2 . An unpleasant smell floated into my nose as the bowl of fried stinky tofu settled onto my grandmother’s dinner table. I immediately sat back. The smell ruined my appetite, and I pushed the dish away.
“It’s supposed to stink. Just give it a try!” my grandmother said.
Holding my breath, I unwillingly took a bite. To my surprise, the tofu beneath the fried skin was warm, soft, and mouthwatering. Thus, stinky tofu became more than a household tradition. It became my favorite dish.
Along with the stinky tofu, I would meet my Uncle Chan on every visit. As an immature boy, I never understood my uncle’s condition of Down syndrome(唐氏综合征).He was an unfriendly and terrible creature in my eyes. He constantly walked around the house, talking to himself. Whenever he was within view, I would run away in fear.
However, one day, my view of my uncle suddenly changed. I was just getting out of my bed when I heard soft steps approaching. It was my uncle. My muscles froze. He slowly sat next to me and touched my face gently, as a mother would stroke (抚摸)a baby. A wide smile emerged from his blank expression. How beautiful his smile was! I could not help but smile back. My fear disappeared gradually, and my muscles relaxed.
My uncle very much resembles stinky tofu. Stinky tofu smells unpleasant on the outside, yet feels warm and soft in the inside. Like stinky tofu, my uncle’s Down syndrome made me keep my distance at first. Yet, I learned that deep inside, he is harmless and has a loving nature.
The outside and inside of the stinky tofu exist as two extremely different worlds. Perhaps that is what makes it such a tasty dish. Not only is it delicious, stinky tofu offers a valuable lesson: never judge people at first glance, for true beauty comes from the inside.
1. Why did stinky tofu become the author’s favorite dish?| A．It was related to family tradition. | B．It turned out to be quite delicious. |
| C．Grandma encouraged him to try it. | D．His appetite for food had increased. |
| A．Chan’s footsteps woke up the author |
| B．Chan showed his friendliness to the author |
| C．Chan displayed his love towards his mother |
| D．Chan’s blank expression made the author smile |
| A．To highlight the nature of Uncle Chan | B．To analyze the family relationship |
| C．To describe a childhood memory | D．To introduce a traditional Chinese food |
| A．We shouldn’t judge by appearances. | B．A person’s taste changes over time. |
| C．Blood is thicker than water. | D．You are what you eat. |
3 . I had a philosophy professor who was the typically off-the-wall philosopher. His appearance was
“Respond to the following questions by a show of hands,” my professor
“How many of you can tell me something about your great-grandparents?” Two out of sixty students
“
“Oh sure, maybe we have an old photograph
“Here’s a better question.
| A．described | B．highlighted | C．focused | D．minimized |
| A．rested | B．rode | C．lifted | D．bounced |
| A．anywhere | B．everywhere | C．nowhere | D．somewhere |
| A．hit | B．reach | C．return | D．associate |
| A．promised | B．assumed | C．instructed | D．assured |
| A．raised | B．waved | C．shook | D．cupped |
| A．Tear down | B．Tidy up | C．Look around | D．Take up |
| A．merely | B．hardly | C．absolutely | D．nearly |
| A．copied | B．shot | C．hidden | D．restricted |
| A．masterpiece | B．story | C．history | D．secret |
| A．Within | B．Except | C．Beyond | D．Along |
| A．Look ahead | B．Look through | C．Take over | D．Get over |
| A．Apart from | B．Instead of | C．Because of | D．Except for |
| A．sign | B．clue | C．warning | D．reward |
| A．slipped | B．trembled | C．stretched | D．rose |
4 . There is a man who I’d like to tell you about. His name is Sandy Greenberg. Sandy was a very good student, but he came from a poor family. And so he went to Columbia University, but while there, he became blind.
But something else happened to Sandy that may surprise you. Sandy said that when he lost his sight, his roommate would read his textbooks to him, every night. As a result, Sandy went on to graduate. He got a scholarship, and he went off to study at Oxford.
One day, Sandy got a call at Oxford, and his former roommate said, “Sandy, I’m really unhappy. I really don’t like being in graduate school, and I don’t want to do this.”
So Sandy asked, “Well, what do you want to do?”
And his roommate told him, “Sandy, I really love to sing. I have a high school friend who plays the guitar. And we would really like to try the music business. But we need to make a record, and in order to do that I need $500.”
So Sandy Greenberg told me he took all his life savings and sent it to his roommate. He told me, “You know, what else could I do? He made my life; I needed to help make his life.”
I almost forgot. You probably are wanting to know who Sandy’s roommate was. I think you’ve heard of him. Sandy’s roommate was a fellow by the name of Art Garfunkel, and he teamed up with another musician by the name of Paul Simon. That $500 helped them make a record that eventually became “The Sound of Silence.”
I hope you’ll remember the power of doing well by doing good. Each of you, in your own lives, will be faced with challenges and problems that you didn’t expect. How you are able to deal with adversity will be influenced by how you deal with others along the way. What you get will depend a lot on what you give. And that’s the end of the story of doing well, by doing good.
More importantly, when you get to be my age, you will find yourself beginning to ask, did my life make a difference? I think the only way to face this question is to consider, every day of your life: How can I do something for somebody else? How can I give back to others? It may be teaching, it may be becoming a doctor, you may be successful in business — no matter what your career path, there will always be the opportunity to give back. The chance will present itself to give your time, give your money, but mostly, to give your own heart and soul.
1. When Sandy Greenberg lost his sight, ____________.| A．he had thoughts of quitting college | B．he overcame the difficulties on his own |
| C．he borrowed a friend’s notes | D．a friend helped him with his study |
| A．Sandy had a difficult time at Oxford |
| B．Sandy and his roommate both went on studying after their graduation |
| C．singing was one of Sandy’s hobbies |
| D．Sandy’s roommate was a great success at graduate school |
| A．to encourage us to face difficulties bravely |
| B．to tell us to change our path in life if we want to |
| C．to show that disabled people can succeed with help |
| D．to tell us that by helping others, we can also help ourselves |
| A．difficulty | B．generosity | C．kindness | D．friendship |
| A．helping others to make sure that we are successful |
| B．using our life to make a difference to others |
| C．being a teacher so that we can give back to others |
| D．starting to be generous when we become older |
5 . It was a sunny winter day. I had gone up and down the tower when, outside the little door at the foot, a blind man came toward me. He was a pale, thin man with dark glasses. He kept close to the inner wall of the courtyard. On reaching the door, he touched it and sharply turned inside. In a moment, he disappeared up the staircase. I stood still, looking at the little sign that said “To the Tower… ” I felt obliged to follow.
I didn’t follow closely. I caught up with him in the ticket office. There I was surprised to see the attendant selling him a ticket as though he were any other visitor. With the ticket in one hand and touching the wall with the other, he reached the staircase leading to the hallway.
“That man is blind,” I said to the attendant, but he showed no concern. “He’s blind,” I repeated. He didn’t answer, looking at me vacantly.
“Perhans he wants to jump,” I said. But his chair was too comfortable. He didn’t stir. He still looked down at a crossword puzzle he had begun. I turned toward the staircase.
“The ticket,” the attendant said, rising from his chair. It seemed the only thing that could move him. After purchasing my ticket, I hurried up the staircase.
The man hadn’t gone as far as I imagined. After ten minutes, I approached him. “Excuse me,” I said as politely as I could, “but I am very curious to know why you came up.”
“You’d never guess,” he said.
“Not the view, I take it, or the fresh air on this winter day,” I said.
He smiled. “Coming up the stairs, one can feel the change-the coo staircase suddenly becomes quite warm, —and how up here behind the wall there is shade, but as soon as one goes opposite a narrow window one finds the sun. In all of Siena there is no place so good as here.”
He moved into the sunlight. Then he stepped into the shade. “Light, shade, light, shade,” he said, and seemed as pleased as a child who, in a game of hopscotch, jumps from square to square.
We went down the tower together. I left him, gladdened as one can only be by the sunlight.
1. Why did the author follow the blind man?| A．To offer timely help. | B．To satisfy his curiosity. |
| C．To teach him a lesson. | D．To prevent him from climbing up. |
| A．Enthusiastic. | B．Concerned. | C．Indifferent. | D．Skeptical. |
| A．The fresh air on the top. | B．The pleasant childhood memories. |
| C．The fantastic view from the tower. | D．The striking contrast between light and shade. |
| A．Nature is the best gift for humanity. |
| B．When one door shuts, another opens in life. |
| C．Every individual can appreciate beauty in life. |
| D．The disadvantaged deserve care from the society. |
6 . As an ordinary senior school student, I’ve discovered a wonderful way to
When I get on my bike and ride around familiar streets, it feels like I’m on a small quest. It’s not just about reaching a(n)
Another thing that cycling has taught me is to be ready for surprises. The road isn’t always
The most important part, though, is how cycling makes me feel happy and
In the end, my daily bike rides have become more than just a way to get around. They’ve become a(n)
| A．estimate | B．approach | C．guarantee | D．challenge |
| A．phenomenon | B．coincidence | C．adventure | D．entertainment |
| A．flexible | B．unique | C．traditional | D．responsible |
| A．cooperation | B．dilemma | C．crisis | D．destination |
| A．discovery | B．value | C．comment | D．growth |
| A．top | B．coast | C．stage | D．platform |
| A．describe | B．detect | C．remove | D．overcome |
| A．delicate | B．fragile | C．smooth | D．tough |
| A．volunteer | B．insist | C．pray | D．panic |
| A．original | B．unexpected | C．crucial | D．natural |
| A．useful | B．efficient | C．carefree | D．curious |
| A．apply | B．recharge | C．develop | D．recognize |
| A．alarmed | B．embarrassed | C．fresh | D．emotional |
| A．audience | B．passenger | C．victim | D．guide |
| A．determination | B．attempt | C．comfort | D．calmness |
7 . As a kid growing up in a suburb of London. I loved to go looking for the perfect park bench. Some Sunday mornings, my dad could be persuaded to drive to new parks. We’d have a kick-around with a soccer ball, share a bag of Doritos and check out all the benches in the area, reading the words on them.
The good park bench leaves me in a state, somewhere between nostalgia (怀旧) and eager anticipation. Where once I was excited by the words carved on wood, I now find, as a 10-year-old, that I’m more appreciative of each bench’s quiet stoicism (坦然淡定), the way they are willing to wait out their turn in every weather, remaining available to all-comers. Like a good book or piece of music, a park bench allows for a sense of solitude (独处) and community at the same time, which is crucial to life in a great city.
Part of my obsession with park benches is as spaces where history settles. By planting seeds of curiosity, and making space for reflection, park benches become doors to the past. Maybe that’s the greatest power of the park bench: its capacity encourages the art of observation. A good bench catches us in our quietest, most vulnerable (脆弱的) moments, when we may be open to imagining new narratives and revisiting old ones. Our masks are taken off, hung from the bench’s wrought iron. On other nearby benches, babies are being burped. Glances exchanged. Sandwiches eaten. Newspapers read it .
......
Which aspect of park benches does paragraph 3 focus on?| A．Design. | B．History. | C．Location. | D．Power. |
8 . Perhaps you think you could easily add to your happiness with more money. Strange as it may seem, if you're unsatisfied, the issue is not a lack of means to meet your desires but a lack of desires — not that you cannot satisfy your tastes but that you don't have enough tastes.
Real riches consist of well-developed and hearty capacities (能力) to enjoy life. Most people are already swamped (淹没) with things. They eat, wear, go and talk too much. They live in too big a house with too many rooms, yet their house of life is a hut.
Your house of life ought to be a mansion (豪宅) , a royal palace. Every new taste, every additional interest, every fresh enthusiasm adds a room. Here are several rooms your house of life should have.
Art should be a desire for you to develop simply because the world is full of beautiful things. If you only understood how to enjoy them and feed your spirit on them, they would make you as happy as to find plenty of hamburgers and eggs when you're hungry.
Literature, classic literature, is a beautiful, richly furnished room where you might find many an hour of rest and refreshment. To gain that love would go toward making you a rich person, for a rich person is not someone who has a library but who likes a library.
Music like Mozart's and Bach's shouldn't be absent. Real riches are of the spirit. And when you've brought that spirit up to where classical music feeds it and makes you a little drunk, you have increased your thrills and bettered them. And life is a matter of thrills.
Sports, without which you remain poor, mean a lot in life. No matter who you are, you would be more human, and your house of life would be better supported against the bad days, if you could, and did, played a bit.
Whatever rooms you might add to your house of life, the secret of enjoying life is to keep adding.
What would be the best title for the passage?| A．House of Life | B．Secret of Wealth |
| C．Rest and Refreshment | D．Interest and Enthusiasm |
Although Anderson started his business with strong passion, his business broke down just after several months, He didn’t start any new work ever since. His teacher got to know about that and called him to his home.
The teacher asked, “Why don’t you start some other work?”
Anderson replied. “I gave my everything to my business and yet it didn’t make it.”
The teacher tried to comfort him, saying “But that’s life. Sometimes we get success and sometimes we don’t. This doesn’t mean that we stop working.”
“What’s the significance of doing work, when I can’t be sure of success?” Anderson re-plied with a bit of annoyance.
The teacher took Anderson to a room and showed him a dead tomato plant. Confused. Anderson said, “It’s dead. Why are you showing it to me?”
The teacher replied, “When I sowed its seed, I did everything right for it. I watered it, fertilized it, sprayed it with pesticide (杀虫剂). I took great care of it but it still died.” He paused for a while and then continued. “Doing work is the same... No matter how hard you try, you cannot decide what happens in the end. However, you can control those things in your hands. Just do your best!”
Anderson asked, “But if there is no guarantee of success then what’s the use of doing anything?”
The teacher said. “You’d better not think like that...”
“What’s wrong with that... I have given so much hard work, so much money, so much times if success is only a matter of chance, then what is the use of doing so much?” said Anderson, being about to leave.
Just then the teacher stopped him and said, “Before you leave, I want to show you one more thing.”
Paragraph 1:Leading by the teacher, Anderson came to another room, opening the door.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2:
It was at that very moment that Anderson read the lesson of success.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________10 . Real riches consist of well-developed and hearty capacities (能力) to enjoy life. Most people are already swamped (淹没) with things. They eat, wear, go and talk too much. They live in too big a house with too many rooms, yet their house of life is a hut.
......
The underlined sentence in the second paragraph probably implies that______.| A．however materially rich, they never seem to be satisfied |
| B．however materially rich, they remain spiritually poor |
| C．though their house is big, they prefer a simple life |
| D．though their house is big, it seems to be a cage |
