1 . My son is doing an MA (Master of Arts) in music, so for his final project he decided to explore the role of fantasy in society. He emailed home for help. “Naturally we all love escapism,” he wrote, “but the important question is why? You’re a fantasy writer, Mum, got any ideas?”

This is what I came up with: Fantasy is important for the human mind. It begins as the psychological process by which a child learns to fill the space between knowledge, reality and experience.

When we were small children, trying to get to sleep, a creaking (嘎吱响的) floorboard was really frightening. Who or what could be making the noise? The only way to make sense of the experience was to fantasise : there’s probably a tiger under the bed.

Children frighten themselves silly like this, but while they have no knowledge of central heating pipes swelling (管道膨胀), they have to use make-believe to fill the space between experience and knowledge. As time passes and children learn about the effect of heat on pipes and floorboards, they will often prefer the tiger story. Fear, within a safe environment, is fun.

As they grow, children need stories that include war, falling in love, becoming a hero and saving the world. They provide a framework (框架) within which developing emotions can awaken, ready for “real life”   when it hits.

Louis Sachar’s Holes is a great modern explanation of this, but the best ones are those we make up for ourselves. A friend who is a child psychologist was treating a boy who’d been mistreated by a relative. The child loved this person, and was puzzled and hurt by what had happened, so my friend wrote him a story about a baby rabbit that loved his uncle, a wolf. One day, the wolf hurt him. The rabbit remembered the love, but he also understood that wolves were dangerous, and had to be avoided. The child went away with the tools to reconcile (和解) the irreconcilable.

Taking one step away from reality to that “safe” place of pretend prepares us to look at the world’s hard realities in the face.

1. Which question puzzled the author’s son?

A．Do people love escapism?

B．Why is fantasy so important?

C．Is escapism good for people?

D．What is the purpose of fantasy music?

2. How can fantasies about creaking floorboards benefit children?

A．By helping them to get to sleep quickly.

B．By encouraging them to find out the truth.

C．By helping them to overcome fear on their own.

D．By allowing them to explore their feelings in a safe way.

3. Which of the following about fantasy would the author agree with?

A．It frees kids of concerns.

B．It makes people emotional.

C．It helps people spot danger.

D．It prepares kids for real life.

4. How did the child psychologist’s make-up story turn out?

A．It worked well.

B．It confused the child.

C．It made the relative apologise.

D．It became more popular than Holes.

5. Which best describes the author’s tone in the text?

A．Approving.

B．Concerned.

C．Humorous.

D．Doubtful.

2 . 阅读下面短文，并根据短文内容完成下列各题。

The morning of my daughter’s first school play I had an important business meeting. I went to the play, getting a seat in the front row. I even brought my mum along in case it overran. But, not wanting to be late for my appointment, I moved quietly to the back. My daughter, who was just three at the time, noticed my empty seat and started to cry. Outside the doorway, I heard one mum say loudly and angrily, “She’s gone to work.” I watched as some of the others rolled their eyes. My stomach went cold.

It’s OK for a mum to have a job — as long as it’s part-time, fits around the school run or means she doesn’t have to leave the school play early or fly to the other side of the world now and again to earn a living. During the decade I’ve been a working mum I’ve received numerous critical comments from women about my work choices, but I think running my own business and travelling with my work when I can (while still taking my daughter to school most days and making pretty much every show or event) is setting a good example to my daughter. It shows her that it is possible to succeed at a time when women in many professions find it harder than men to reach the top and get less pay.

But I often feel I’ m in the minority. Do the women who roll their eyes at other women who leave the school play early or show up late to parents’ evening because their meetings overrun really believe females should only be in part-time, flexible work that fits around their children? I think it’s time for women to support each other’s career decisions.

1. What does the text mainly talk about?(no more than 10 words)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What does the underlined sentence in the first paragraph probably mean?(no more than 25 words)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What may the author’s daughter learn from her working mother?(no more than 30 words)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What kink of job should a mother have according to other mothers who rolled their eyes? (no more than 5 words)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Do you agree with the author? Give your reasons.(no more than 25 words)
______________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . Months earlier, my wife Lisa had woken up at 4:45 am, preparing to do exercise. She heard voices coming from the upstairs game room and decided to investigate. She discovered that our older son, Hunter, had been playing the video game Fortnite since he got home from school the previous day. What she found angered both of us.

We were sick and tired of the amount of time Hunter spent playing video games. He was so addicted to video games. Back in the 1980s, instead of playing video games, we kids were crazy about playing baseball and street football, driving hoops outside the house, etc. But times are different now. It became apparent that kids of the new generation are entirely different from kids of my generation. My kids and his peers are crazy about electronic products. I work in a summer camp and responsible for the field sports programme. I often notice many of the campers playing video games on little portable devices.

I began to refer to kids who spent more time playing video games than playing sports as the Nintendo Generation. In an attempt to ensure that our kid did not become a member of the Nintendo Generation, I came up with a programme to help Hunter cope with his bad habit. It was that video-game time would have to be earned in our house, just like money. I set the exchange rate: Each mile run equals 30 minutes of video-game play.

The first couple days didn’t go well. Instead of choosing to run to win the time of playing games, he decided to boycott my programme and spend time sleeping. But eventually, Hunter came around, and decided he would give running a shot. Now, Hunter is in good health and can run 18 miles. But nine months earlier, he was not in any condition to run five miles.

I hope that running teaches my son to invest his time in worthwhile efforts, to do something hard, but quite meaningful and beneficial, and then to enjoy a reward. I never want him to stop challenging him.

1. What made the author and his wife Lisa angry? (no more than 10 words)
2. What did kids in the 1980s like doing according to the author? (no more than 5 words)
3. How did the author help Hunter deal with his bad habits? (no more than 10 words)
4. What does the underlined word in paragraph 4 mean? (1 word)
5. What lesson do you learn from Hunter’s change? Please explain. (no more than 20 words)

4 . I come from a long line of farmers. When my parents moved to Wisconsin, farming allowed them to _________ back to Laos, to the culture, and the land. Wisconsin’s cornfields _________ the rice fields of Laos. But for me as a child, farming was just a _________. I would be assigned (分配) a row of green beans. My mom _________ me a big basket and it was my _________ to fill it. That was how I spent my summer vacation _________ my friends were either at camp or doing other fun activities.

I didn’t _________ how farming brought hope to my parents until I was an adult. I am a _________ removed from Laos and I have found that farming allows me to _________ my parents’ story. It allows me to see a little bit into their story. What I’ve __________ from my mom is that you can grow just about anything. My mom wants to start growing __________ like she did back in Laos. With a snowy climate, it is something I never thought __________ here. To me, this shows resilience (适应力). Maybe it __________ and maybe it doesn’t. But there is __________ in that.

As a kid, I hated doing farm work and I never thought that someday I would say that I kind of __________ putting my feet in the mud and weeding (除草) the corn.

1.

A．connect

B．head

C．retire

D．report

2.

A．changed

B．covered

C．replaced

D．affected

3.

A．dream

B．game

C．chore

D．mystery

4.

A．sold

B．gave

C．sent

D．lent

5.

A．intention

B．opportunity

C．choice

D．job

6.

A．while

B．if

C．since

D．until

7.

A．regret

B．monitor

C．appreciate

D．complain

8.

A．generation

B．graduate

C．professional

D．beginner

9.

A．give away

B．make up

C．act out

D．relate to

10.

A．expected

B．learned

C．chosen

D．demanded

11.

A．corn

B．rice

C．beans

D．flowers

12.

A．flexible

B．necessary

C．legal

D．possible

13.

A．improves

B．revives

C．works

D．exists

14.

A．confusion

B．permission

C．balance

D．hope

15.

A．miss

B．risk

C．delay

D．escape

5 . Sinking onto the sofa in my living room on a Friday evening, I was emotionally worn out from a busy workweek and eager to find a temporary _________. Nearby, my 3-year-old son was playing with a toy train, so _________ in the play that he didn’t even notice me.

Then I made a surprising _________. Though exhausted, I was flooded with a sense of deep satisfaction. I felt extremely _________ watching him swing his body to ride the train through imaginary hills and valleys. His loud “choo-choo” sounded like a comforting tune. I dared not make the slightest sound or motion that would _________ this joyful moment.

Upon reflection, I _________ something: No amount of money or success could _________ this experience. Professional milestones such as earning a medical degree paled in comparison to the _________ I was feeling now. It will not contribute to my professional achievements. Nor will it _________ me any praise from colleagues. But it has __________ my life in a significant way. I did not have to work for it. All I had to do was __________ and be present, like my son who was focused on his train game and __________ showing me how to be in the here and now.

Our daily lives are hidden with countless __________ to find satisfaction. It may be the sound of birds on a sunny morning or __________ a few minutes of silence at the end of a busy day. The key is to __________ the moment and take it in.

1.

A．reward

B．duty

C．satisfaction

D．solution

2.

A．talented

B．absorbed

C．restricted

D．stressed

3.

A．announcement

B．victory

C．decision

D．discovery

4.

A．delighted

B．pressed

C．frustrated

D．astonished

5.

A．disturb

B．capture

C．extend

D．avoid

6.

A．remembered

B．realized

C．repeated

D．requested

7.

A．describe

B．enrich

C．equal

D．promote

8.

A．kindness

B．generosity

C．energy

D．joy

9.

A．buy

B．cost

C．earn

D．hand

10.

A．attracted

B．affected

C．risked

D．ruined

11.

A．slow down

B．calm down

C．catch on

D．move on

12.

A．undoubtedly

B．unknowingly

C．unnecessarily

D．unconditionally

13.

A．presents

B．arrangements

C．opportunities

D．instructions

14.

A．filling

B．breaking

C．noticing

D．enjoying

15.

A．seize

B．share

C．define

D．choose

6 . What is your calling? What is your purpose in life? What did you come to this world to do? Every day we read about how we should find our purpose and pursue it throughout our lives in order to find meaning and contentment. There are even scientific studies that show people who view their work as a calling rather than just a career or a job have a higher life and work satisfaction. So, what exactly is this calling?

I’ve personally struggled with this concept for many years. I knew that happiness not only came from a present state of joy, but also from the pursuit of an objective that gave me something to pursue. That is, until I found myself feeling empty despite my achievement of those goals.

And as I reflected on these feelings of emptiness and boredom that had arisen despite my successes, I realized something. Meaning and satisfaction come from a personal devotion to what we do and the intrinsic (固有的) fulfillment we get from it. It has nothing to do with financial gain, social advancement or any other type of external reward or motivation. It is about doing something that we love. It is about focusing our efforts and spending our time on passions that light the spark inside of us and allow us to share with the world the unique gifts we possess.

I had never before stopped to think about what I found intrinsically rewarding or fulfilling. Financial gain and external recognition were pretty much the only drivers I knew. More so, I thought this calling meant having one passion we were born with to pursue relentlessly (不懈地).

So, I spent some years trying to find this long-lost purpose of mine. I discovered during that time passions I had no idea I even had. Yet, I wasn’t sure how to make them into my life purpose. I searched for an answer but couldn’t find it. It wasn’t until I came to understand the truths about our purpose in life that I was able to find my place in this world.

Our purpose can consist of various things that make us feel alive. As we grow and evolve throughout the different stages in our lives, we may discover new passions and desires that change our sense of purpose and calling.

We all have a longing for lives that give meaning to our existence. The difference lies in how we go about accomplishing this. We must each find our own “shine” and then shine on.

1. According to the passage, the calling refers to________.

A．one’s view about careers

B．a task one has to carry out

C．a life-long career one chooses

D．a strong desire or sense of duty to do a job

2. Which of the following belongs to the author’s previous drivers for finding fulfillment?

A．Financial gain and external recognition.

B．Pursuing passions relentlessly.

C．Discovering new passions.

D．Finding purpose in life.

3. What is the real purpose in life according to the author?

A．Trying to do everything that you can.

B．Trying to achieve your ambitious goals.

C．Doing meaningful things with your passion.

D．Doing something that can be successful easily.

4. According to the 5th paragraph, we know that________.

A．the author spent some years making changes

B．the author used to think he had no passion at all

C．the author didn’t know how to search for the life purpose

D．the author has known his passions since he started to work

5. What conclusion can be drawn from the passage?

A．It’s wise to give up discovering our one true passion.

B．It’s useless to pursue financial gain and external recognition.

C．It’s necessary to find our own calling and pursue it with vigor.

D．It’s important to share our passion with the world without stopping.

7 . “Mr Mazzella, what is the difference between a period (句号) and a comma (逗号)?” I was a young substitute teacher (代课老师) in a middle school English class. The regular teacher had called in sick and left a lesson plan going over the rules of ______. I hated these rules and hardly ______   them myself, even though I was a writer. The English language is one of the most ______ subjects in the world. As I looked at the ______, I knew that even if I told this student all the different ______ about commas, he wouldn’t remember them.

I was also in no mood for a long ______. My mom had died just a few short weeks ago. I ______ her so much. I wandered around feeling half ______ inside. All I wanted to do was stay in bed, but my own young family was ______ to get by and I knew I had to take every day of work I could. I looked at the textbook again but couldn’t ______ it because my eyes were so watery. All at once, however, I ______ my previously simple but practical experience I used whenever I was ______ something. “A period is the end of a sentence or a(n) ______,” I said, “A comma, on the other hand, is just a brief pause before the ______ continues on.” When I finished saying this, my heart suddenly felt ______. I smiled and thought of my mom ______ in a place much brighter and happier than the one I was in now.

That little moment of light ______ me as I continued to miss my mom over the months and years to come. Recently I remembered it once again when I saw this quote in a book I was reading: “Death is not a(n) ______, only a comma.”

Our lives are a sentence and a ______ that goes on forever. Our ______ here is only a part of it. Our death here is only a comma. Write your story with love.

1.

A．grammar

B．pronunciation

C．classroom

D．spelling

2.

A．wrote

B．imagined

C．understood

D．realized

3.

A．difficult

B．interesting

C．important

D．popular

4.

A．class

B．textbook

C．blackboard

D．dictionary

5.

A．forms

B．roles

C．rules

D．examples

6.

A．lesson

B．holiday

C．speech

D．writing

7.

A．upset

B．troubled

C．trusted

D．missed

8.

A．alive

B．touched

C．awake

D．dead

9.

A．learning

B．starting

C．struggling

D．hoping

10.

A．carry

B．read

C．understand

D．find

11.

A．forgot

B．checked

C．considered

D．remembered

12.

A．writing

B．doing

C．planning

D．teaching

13.

A．headline

B．thought

C．word

D．more

14.

A．sentence

B．paragraph

C．action

D．activity

15.

A．emptier

B．colder

C．heavier

D．lighter

16.

A．falling down

B．going out

C．continuing on

D．growing up

17.

A．alarmed

B．helped

C．stopped

D．surprised

18.

A．end

B．period

C．loss

D．result

19.

A．song

B．circle

C．game

D．story

20.

A．choice

B．task

C．time

D．visit

8 . Originally, I don’t think about getting older. Perhaps it’s because I like to keep busy and just don’t think about it. ________, sometimes something happens that makes me ________ my death and what lies ahead.

I used to be a radio broadcaster and recently I was ________ by the activity director at a senior citizen’s home near where I live. She told me there are a couple of former broadcasters who live in the home and they would really ________ a visit from someone with a ________ background who can trade stories with them about the good old days. I’m retired, and I have some free time so I said, “sure, I’d come for a visit or two.” That has developed a ________ in which I spend an afternoon each week ________ the old boys and helping them to ________ their happier and busier times.

One of them, it turns out, is ________ tied to an oxygen generating machine, can only ________ in a wheel-chair, and ________, has dementia(痴呆) and knows he is ________ losing his memory and ability to think clearly. My other new friend in the home is about ten years than I. He has cerebral palsy (大脑瘫痪) and is also ________ to a wheel-chair. Neither man can live ________ any more: they can’t drive a car, can’t prepare their own meals, and can’t plant a garden. But they’re being well ________ and they have television, people to serve their daily needs and workers at the home who try their best to keep them comfortable. They have family members who visit them ________ and now I guess they have me. It makes me consider what lies ahead, perhaps not for a number of years, perhaps tomorrow, I have no way of ________.

The thought of being dead doesn’t ________ me, for I’m in absolutely no hurry to get there. What worries me is the process of dying. I’m getting older but I’m still going strong and feeling ________. I go to visit the men in the senior’s home and sometimes I look ahead into the unknown. Life gets ________ in unexpected ways as one gets older.

1.

A．Therefore

B．However

C．Though

D．Meanwhile

2.

A．believe

B．regret

C．prevent

D．consider

3.

A．doubted

B．questioned

C．contacted

D．interviewed

4.

A．pay

B．enjoy

C．intend

D．allow

5.

A．similar

B．diverse

C．different

D．special

6.

A．activity

B．custom

C．tradition

D．routine

7.

A．chatting with

B．looking for

C．working with

D．cheering for

8.

A．look up to

B．look out for

C．look down upon

D．look back at

9.

A．permanently

B．relatively

C．accidentally

D．practically

10.

A．show up

B．hold up

C．move about

D．hold on

11.

A．worse still

B．what’s more

C．on the contrary

D．on the other hand

12.

A．secretly

B．gradually

C．directly

D．suddenly

13.

A．related

B．connected

C．bound

D．limited

14.

A．independently

B．optimistically

C．comfortably

D．disappointedly

15.

A．fed on

B．cared for

C．trained

D．educated

16.

A．primitively

B．occasionally

C．instantly

D．rarely

17.

A．understanding

B．deciding

C．knowing

D．guessing

18.

A．surprise

B．help

C．bother

D．excite

19.

A．nervous

B．sorry

C．help

D．great

20.

A．tiresome

B．meaningless

C．interesting

D．upsetting

9 . I’m an 18-year-old pre-medical student, tall and good-looking, with two short story books and quite a number of essays to my credit. Why am I singing such praises of myself? Just to explain that the attainment of self-pride comes from a great deal of self-love, and to attain it, one must first learn to accept oneself as one is. That was where my struggle began.

Born and raised in Africa，I had always taken my African origin as burden. My self-dislike was further fueled when my family had to relocate to Norway, where I attended a high school. Compared to all the white girls around me, with their golden hair and delicate lips, I ,a black girl, had curly hair and full, red lips. My nose often had a thin sheet of sweat on it, whatever the weather was. I just wanted to bury myself in my shell crying “I’m so different!”

What also contributed to my self-dislike was my occasional stuttering (口吃), which had weakened my self-confidence. It always stood between me and any fine opportunity. I’d taken it as an excuse to avoid any public speaking sessions, and unknowingly let it rule over me.

Fortunately, as I grew older, there came a turning point. One day a white girl caught my eye on the school bus when she suddenly turned back. To my astonishment, she had a thin sheet of sweat on her nose too, and it was in November! “Wow,” I whispered to myself, “this isn’t a genetic(遗传的) disorder after all. It’s perfectly normal.” Days later, my life took an-other twist(转折). Searching the internet for stuttering cures, I accidentally learned that such famous people as Isaac Newton and Winston Churchill also stuttered. I was greatly relieved and then an idea suddenly hit me—if I’m smart, I shouldn’t allow my stuttering to stand between me and my success.

Another boost to my self-confidence came days later as I was watching the news about Oprah Winfrey, the famous talk show host and writer—she’s black too! Whenever I think of her story and my former dislike of my color, I’m practically filled with shame.

Today, I’ve grown to accept what I am with pride; it simply gives me feeling of uniqueness. The idea of self-love has taken on a whole new meaning for me: there’s always something fantastic about us, and what we need to do is learn to appreciate it.

1. What affected the author’s adjustment to her school life in Norway？

A．Her appearance

B．Social discrimination.

C．Her changing emotions.

D．The climate in Norway.

2. What did the author’s occasional stuttering bring about according on Paragraph 3?

A．Her lack of self-confidence.

B．Her loss of interest in school.

C．Her unwillingness to greet her classmates.

D．Her desire for chances to improve herself.

3. How did the author feel on noticing the similarity between her and the girl on the bus?

A．Blessed and proud.

B．Confused and afraid.

C．Amazed and relieved.

D．Shocked and ashamed.

4. What lesson did the author learn from the cases of Newton and Churchill?

A．Great minds speak alike.

B．Stuttering is no barrier to success.

C．Wisdom counts more than hard work.

D．Famous people can’t live with their weaknesses.

5. What can best summarize the message contained in the passage?

A．Pride comes before a fall.

B．Where there is a will, there is a way.

C．Self-acceptance is based on the love for oneself.

D．Self-love is key to the attainment of self-pride.

10 . A few weeks ago, my teenage daughter failed a test. She was embarrassed, angry, anxious and there were tears in her eyes. This grade might prevent her from qualifying for the next key class she wanted to take.

She took some time to complain to me. Then I saw something interesting. She calmed herself down by making a joke. She expressed thankfulness that she didn’t have bigger problems. Then she made a plan to talk to her teacher to improve her skills. This was a great change from the kid I was watching deal with disappointment a few years ago, the one who once was unwilling to take responsibility and blamed others, which shows she has grown up and understood the good in the bad.

We expect our kids to learn and grow, but many of them will also grow through adversity (逆境), and even thrive (茁壮成长) after trauma (创伤). Psychologists call it post-traumatic growth. Trauma, defined as an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, attack, natural disaster, or other life-changing happenings, is painful and even can be harmful. Trauma does leave its mark, but the mark may not be all bad and there can also be growth.

In one study, researchers surveyed nearly 385 people who experienced financial adversity during the pandemic lockdown (疫情封锁), even while working full-time. These people are also the parents or primary caregivers or young children who were being homeschooled. And those surveyed had either been sick with COVID-19 or had a loved one with the disease. Despite all of this adversity, 88 percent of the people surveyed said they now have stronger family relationships and a greater appreciation for life. Some said they experienced spiritual growth and 11 percent reported they discovered new opportunities.

Hardship makes us adapt, respond, and find other ways to solve it. When we do, we become not only able to heal the trauma associated with it but also thrive again. We build up confidence and experience that will help us the next time we face adversity.

1. What can we know about the author’s daughter?

A．She lost heart after failing the test.

B．She was very anxious about the coming test.

C．She changed a lot with the help of the author.

D．She may lose the chance of attending an important class.

2. What does the author think of his daughter after the test?

A．She grew up.

B．She should learn to handle disappointment.

C．She suffered severe trauma.

D．She was avoiding responsibility.

3. What can we know from Paragraph 3?

A．Post-traumatic growth is the result of emotional injuries.

B．Traumatic experiences have both advantages and disadvantages.

C．Traumatic experiences hold back kids’ psychological growth.

D．One will not make a positive change without experiencing trauma.

4. What did most surveyed people have in common?

A．They benefited from the adversity.

B．They made a good recovery from COVID-19.

C．They were good at controlling their emotions.

D．They grasped new chances in their career.

5. Which would be the best title for this text?

A．Help children build up confidence	B．Trauma leaves a mark on children
C．Uncover the good in the bad	D．Avoid the adversity in a positive way