1 . Castillo wrote a letter to her father for his 50th birthday. Her father, who suffers from Down’s syndrome (唐氏综合征), had at one point been a(n)
Castillo said it took years before she had the courage to
“You
Besides having Down’s syndrome, her father has a wide
“Dad, no words can sum up how
A.pride | B.encouragement | C.embarrassment | D.puzzlement |
A.praises | B.believes | C.admires | D.assists |
A.reason out | B.face up to | C.seek after | D.clear up |
A.typical | B.different | C.rude | D.troublesome |
A.Still | B.Moreover | C.Instead | D.Meanwhile |
A.reserve | B.deserve | C.preserve | D.demand |
A.area | B.division | C.range | D.circle |
A.examinations | B.operations | C.treatments | D.medicines |
A.courageous | B.selfless | C.promising | D.pessimistic |
A.bear | B.relieve | C.kill | D.remove |
A.faith | B.ambition | C.strength | D.example |
A.awesome | B.sorry | C.casual | D.shameful |
A.lucky | B.lovely | C.absent | D.intelligent |
A.keeping | B.hiding | C.saving | D.drawing |
A.guess | B.recover | C.know | D.seize |
2 . Malaysia Airlines(马航) flight MH370 disappeared from radar(雷达) screens an hour after it
The plane may fall into the sea. China, Malaysia and many other countries have joined to search for the
How did the accident
It may
Whether the missing plane is found
We hope these people on the plane will be
A.took up | B.took off | C.took in | D.took away |
A.found | B.missed | C.flown | D.seen |
A.ship | B.terrorists | C.plane | D.Chinese |
A.talking about | B.listening to | C.waiting for | D.hearing |
A.take | B.go | C.come | D.happen |
A.the other | B.the others | C.other | D.others |
A.given | B.met | C.tried | D.caused |
A.wise | B.easy | C.hard | D.hardly |
A.spend | B.waste | C.get | D.take |
A.to imagine | B.imagining | C.imagined | D.imagines |
A.as soon as | B.after | C.until | D.before |
A.nor | B.so | C.or | D.and |
A.make | B.made | C.pay | D.paid |
A.safe | B.dangerous | C.friendly | D.bad |
A.his | B.its | C.my | D.their |
I had a trip to New Mexico last year, a trip I still remember very well to this day. I went to a place called Philmont and attended a summer camp. There were thirteen people including me. The entire 10-day hike we took through those mountains went well, except for the second day, because of the terrible weather.
It had been a nice sunny day up until we were halfway to the camp we were staying at that night. Then without a word it started raining gently. There was nothing too bad and certainly nothing we couldn’t handle. We put our raincoats on and continued on our way. It stayed raining slightly for a while, so I decided it would be a good idea to say, “Well, it can’t be much worse than this, right?” And in less than five seconds the thunder crashed around us. It almost sounded like a laugh, as if it was laughing at us. Then the rain started to come down harder, and then, the hail (冰雹) came.
Getting hit with balls of ice in the middle of the New Mexico mountains was not something I had ever thought would happen to us, but here we were. All thirteen of us were wishing at that moment that we could go home. But we quickly abandoned the idea. It was freezing, and my feet felt like they might fall off. Wet, cold, and carrying 40 pounds on our backs, we hiked on.
But soon enough we got lost for about a mile because of a mistake that our “Navi-guesser” made on getting us to our destination. At the same time, one of our boys got a minor case of hypothermia (低温症). We decided to stop for a while, unpacking our tents to get into a nice warm sleeping bag. I don’t know if you know this, but unpacking camping gear (装备) in the rain was not very fun, especially setting up a tent.
注意:1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
We came up with a solution.
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The rain stopped just as we were about to start.
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As far as Justin knew, there was only one way out of his neighborhood: basketball. So he ran with the ball like the hounds (猎犬) were running after him. He could drop any of the older guys at the court and the younger guys didn’t stand a chance. Justin saw his way out and he ran for it.
One day when Justin was shooting around at the local court, some guys from another block ran up and asked to play. The big one in the middle said that he had heard that Justin was the best and he wanted to see if it was true. Justin refused him at once. But the big guy insisted, and Justin’s cousin was encouraging, “Come on, Justin, drop this guy.” So Justin figured that he’d just do what everyone wanted and play.
Justin was running all over the big guy and making his shots while he did it. But suddenly Justin was pushed hard by the big guy and went flying in just such a way that he unluckily tore up his right knee. The doctor said Justin might never play again. Justin almost broke down.
The first six weeks in hospital, Justin just lay in bed with his leg in a long cast (石膏). He watched three reruns (再播放) of The Simpsons every day and ate potato chips until the bag was empty, and then he’d dig the salt and grease out of the corner with his finger. It seemed as if he blew up like a balloon. Right when he reached the bottom of the pit of despair (绝望), Justin’s sister, Kiki, came home from the university.
注意:
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
She came in the house like a whirl of sunshine.
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After spending those weeks with his sister, Justin realized he didn’t want to feel bad for himself any more.
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5 . The most affectionate memory of my childhood is about a round table. When I was still little, my entire family would
The round table is a
The food on the table may
In less than two months before the Spring Festival, a(n)
A.imagine | B.reunite | C.repeat | D.flee |
A.strangers | B.teachers | C.adults | D.teenagers |
A.symbol | B.schedule | C.decoration | D.ceremony |
A.argument | B.occupation | C.operation | D.attachment |
A.round | B.new | C.long | D.square |
A.dreams | B.negotiations | C.secrets | D.experiments |
A.Obviously | B.Moreover | C.Consequently | D.Instead |
A.explore | B.expand | C.clarify | D.unfold |
A.keep | B.change | C.sell | D.display |
A.various | B.public | C.typical | D.temporary |
A.switch | B.predict | C.forbid | D.accept |
A.annual | B.innovative | C.unnecessary | D.modern |
A.forces | B.assists | C.reminds | D.drives |
A.caring about | B.looking for | C.figuring out | D.making up |
A.adapt | B.apply | C.belong | D.turn |
6 . This morning I was reading a book outside my favorite beachside coffee shop when an 18-year-old boy sat down next to me and said, “The
He told me he was getting ready to
He asked me many questions, and I
But on my way home I realized the
The
A.book | B.magazine | C.radio | D.newspaper |
A.reading | B.dancing | C.chatting | D.singing |
A.graduate from | B.give up | C.get to | D.look for |
A.right | B.idea | C.excuse | D.money |
A.avoided | B.refused | C.doubted | D.answered |
A.proper | B.strict | C.humorous | D.wrong |
A.competition | B.experiment | C.argument | D.conversation |
A.angrily | B.sadly | C.actually | D.bravely |
A.forget | B.remember | C.waste | D.discuss |
A.chances | B.choices | C.questions | D.challenges |
A.when | B.until | C.how | D.though |
A.reason | B.truth | C.silence | D.cause |
A.on time | B.at a time | C.in time | D.from time to time |
A.volunteer | B.imagine | C.change | D.cheat |
A.similar | B.strange | C.difficult | D.amazing |
7 . It was early winter several years ago. I had pulled out my old winter coat for another year’s use. It was still in pretty good shape although it was looking dirty from so many winters’ wear. I didn’t really need a new one but I wanted one and casually mentioned it to my daughter one day. She was such a sweet, loving girl that I should have guessed what would happen next. A few weeks later she gave me a new winter coat as a gift.
I put the old one in my closet and started to wear the new coat every day. Each day, though, when I opened my closet, something troubled me. It seemed a shame that my old but still good coat should just sit there keeping no one warm during the cold winter days. After a few weeks, I took it out and drove to a local charity shop. I knew that there was someone who couldn’t afford a coat but could get my old one.
My new coat is my old coat now. It is getting a little dirty and worn, too. It has black marks on the sleeves. It is in too bad shape to even donate to charity. I wonder if I should buy a new one soon, but I think I will wait for a while. I don’t really need a new one and maybe I can find something else to give to the charity shop instead.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Want is a growing giant whom the coat of Have was never large enough to cover.” Perhaps the best way to deal with our wants then is to give instead. Love, after all, brings us the most joy. And the more of it you give away, the more of it you have.
1. Which word can best describe the author’s daughter?A.Wealthy. | B.Thoughtful. | C.Easy-going. | D.Humorous. |
A.It cost too much. | B.It was looking dirty. |
C.There was not enough room for his new coat. | D.It was not sent to someone in need. |
A.Telling his daughter. | B.Buying a new one soon. |
C.Donating it to charity. | D.Sending something else to charity. |
A.Giving fills our wants. | B.Love is the key to joy. |
C.The more you give, the more you lose. | D.A coat is large enough to cover our wants. |
8 . Is your life being restricted (限制) by limiting beliefs that you’re holding on to? Like many, you may find yourself stuck in an unhappy relationship and your life is unsatisfying.
It’s probably not due to a lack of ability, physical or monetary reasons.
It is your choice that matters most. Let go of your limiting beliefs and begin moving forward.
A.I will overcome it. |
B.So it is time to let go. |
C.You need to look inside. |
D.So you have to look forward. |
E.Yet you seem unable to do anything about them. |
F.Limiting beliefs is potentially destroying your future. |
G.For example, you can replace “I am ugly” with “I can attract the right partner”. |
9 . In a quiet Northern California neighborhood, Michael seemed like a normal 11-year-old boy. His family made use of the Californian sunshine to grow orange trees and roses. All seemed good from the outside, but Michael was troubled.
Since he was taken in at 3 years old, Michael never really connected with his parents. There was a strictness about them that his nature couldn’t understand, and he was left to himself to sort out (整理) confusing feelings and the need for connection.
Without the tie a young boy needs at home, Michael often found himself down the street at his best friend’s house. Of course, the two boys laughed, read picture books and ate junk food. But the real reason why Michael liked his friend’s home was Mr. Christensen. He was the kind of father who understands boys.
With Mr. Christensen, the boys spent hours in the garage fixing an old sports car. They drove up the California coast at high speed, feeling the salt wind wash over them. The car was too loud to allow for any conversation, which was fine with Michael. He didn’t yet know how to express his feelings; for the time being, just being able to feel them was enough.
For many young boys, the language of connection is written in the wrenches (扳手) they and their parents turn, the wrestling matches they watch, the hours of their watching clouds race by overhead. Mr. Christensen understood that boys need time to learn this language. He knew a boy learns respect and duty by being loved in an unspoken way.
Some 50 years later, Michael remembers his time with Mr. Christensen. “My own father couldn’t raise me, so I was given away. My adoptive father (养父) did his best but never allowed a relationship to form between us. Luckily for me, I had Mr. Christensen. I have tried to be the kind of father he was, teaching, having fun and spending time with my child.”
1. What was the problem with young Michael?A.He had to do hard work on the farm. |
B.He dropped out of school with his best friend. |
C.He was given up by his parents as a little kid. |
D.He was treated badly by his adoptive parents. |
A.Strong wind. | B.Too loud noise. | C.Busy repair work. | D.Driving excitement. |
A.By taking part in competitions. | B.Through communication. |
C.By studying hard. | D.Through doing things together. |
A.Mr. Christensen. | B.His friends. |
C.His own father. | D.His adoptive parents. |
10 . In the 1950s, British historian Northeaster Parkinson came up with a concept which was later known as Parkinson’s Law of Triviality. It states that the amount of time spent discussing an issue in an organization is oppositely associated with its actual importance.
Parkinson’s Law of Triviality is also known as “bike-shedding (车棚)”, after the story Parkinson uses to illustrate it. He asks readers to imagine a financial committee meeting to discuss a three-point agenda. The points are as follows: A proposal for a f10 million nuclear power plant; A proposal for a f350 bike shed; A proposal for a f21 annual coffee budget.
What happens? The committee ends up running through the nuclear power plant proposal in little time. It’s too advanced for anyone to really dig into the details. The discussion soon moves to the bike shed. Here, everyone’s an expert. In the end, the committee runs out of time and decides to meet again to complete their analysis.
Bike-shedding happens because the smaller a matter is, the more people will have an opinion on it, even when there is no real value to add. When something is outside of our circle of competence, like a nuclear power plant, we don’t even try to express an opinion. But when something is understandable everyone wants to show that they know about the topic at hand.
How can we avoid bike-shedding? The main thing you can do is to have a clear purpose. Priya Parker, the author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, says that any successful gathering needs to have a focused purpose. “Specificity,” she says, “is a key element.”
When it comes to choosing your list of invitees, Parker writes, “if the purpose of your meeting is to make a decision, you may want to consider having fewer cooks in the kitchen.” Getting the result you want—a thoughtful, educated discussion about that power plant—depends on having the right people in the room.
1. What is Parkinson’s purpose of presenting the imaginary meeting?A.To state a fact. | B.To clarify a concept. | C.To make a prediction. | D.To introduce a new point. |
A.The more you know, the less you speak. |
B.What is simple for you may be tough for others. |
C.What requires more work may get less attention. |
D.The more you put in, the better your result will be. |
A.Planning before the meeting. | B.Getting the right people to the table. |
C.Spending less time on the minor issues. | D.Taking different opinions into account. |
A.Purpose: The Key to an Effective Meeting |
B.Talent: A Crucial Element in Organizations |
C.The Bike Shed Effect: Avoiding Small Matters |
D.Nuclear Power Plant: The Less-known Proposal |