1 . A man got depressed about life. In spite of all his ________, he got nothing but failure. Feeling ________, he left everything and relaxed himself in the woods, where he met a farmer. The man shared his ________ with the farmer.

“Do you see that fern (蕨类植物) and bamboo there?” the farmer said, pointing towards two ________. He told the man that when he planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, he took very good care of them. Within a short period of time, the fern ________ grew from the earth. However, ________ the bamboo seed had been watered for years, it did not outwardly grow as much as an inch. But the farmer did not ________ the bamboo seed and continued to ________ it. By the fifth year, a tiny sprout (嫩芽) grew out of the ________. And within six months, the tree grew a hundred feet tall.

“So, did the bamboo tree lie quietly for four years only to grow rapidly in the ________?” the farmer asked. The answer is quite ________. The little tree was growing underground, developing a root system which was ________ enough to support its potential for outward ________ in the fifth year and beyond.

“Did you know that you had been ________ all the time and that you were growing strong roots?” said the farmer. Hearing the farmer’s words, the man ________ the value of hard work.

1.

A．advice

B．effort

C．fear

D．evidence

2.

A．surprised

B．motivated

C．defeated

D．relieved

3.

A．excitement

B．failure

C．knowledge

D．food

4.

A．farms

B．seeds

C．gardens

D．plants

5.

A．quickly

B．immediately

C．hardly

D．likely

6.

A．since

B．if

C．unless

D．although

7.

A．get down to

B．look forward to

C．give up on

D．go away with

8.

A．show

B．control

C．cut

D．water

9.

A．ground

B．imbalance

C．tree

D．disorder

10.

A．third

B．fourth

C．fifth

D．sixth

11.

A．obvious

B．right

C．wrong

D．complex

12.

A．clear

B．strong

C．early

D．close

13.

A．information

B．calmness

C．success

D．growth

14.

A．resting

B．waiting

C．struggling

D．smiling

15.

A．reported

B．realized

C．ignored

D．assessed

2 . 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 ______   in your hands is great, isn’t it?” I closed the book and we started ______ .

He told me he was getting ready to ______   high school next week and then started his college life in the fall. But he had no ______ what he wanted to do with his life.

He asked me many questions, and I ______ them as well as I could, trying to give ______ advice with the time I had. And after a half-hour conversation, he thanked me and we parted ways.

But on my way home I realized the ______ I had with that 18-year-old boy was ______ quite nostalgic (令人怀念的) . He made me ______ the time when I was his age, more than twenty years ago. I had so many ______ back then. So, I started thinking about his questions again, and I began remembering all the helpful little things someone told me ______ I was 18.

The ______ is that you’d better do your best, one ______ , not all at once. And above all, laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t ______ when everything develops. Life is short, yet ______ . Enjoy the ride!

1.

A．book

B．magazine

C．radio

D．newspaper

2.

A．reading

B．dancing

C．chatting

D．singing

3.

A．graduate from

B．give up

C．get to

D．look for

4.

A．right

B．idea

C．excuse

D．money

5.

A．avoided

B．refused

C．doubted

D．answered

6.

A．proper

B．strict

C．humorous

D．wrong

7.

A．competition

B．experiment

C．argument

D．conversation

8.

A．angrily

B．sadly

C．actually

D．bravely

9.

A．forget

B．remember

C．waste

D．discuss

10.

A．chances

B．choices

C．questions

D．challenges

11.

A．when

B．until

C．how

D．though

12.

A．reason

B．truth

C．silence

D．cause

13.

A．on time

B．at a time

C．in time

D．from time to time

14.

A．volunteer

B．imagine

C．change

D．cheat

15.

A．similar

B．strange

C．difficult

D．amazing

3 . 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.

2. Why was the author in shame when seeing his old coat in the closet?

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.

3. What is the author’s decision after his second coat becomes old?

A．Telling his daughter.	B．Buying a new one soon.
C．Donating it to charity.	D．Sending something else to charity.

4. What does the author want to show in the last paragraph?

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.

4 . 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.

2. What made the two boys unable to talk in the car?

A．Strong wind.

B．Too loud noise.

C．Busy repair work.

D．Driving excitement.

3. How is the language of connection learned in the author’s opinion?

A．By taking part in competitions.	B．Through communication.
C．By studying hard.	D．Through doing things together.

4. Who may Michael want to follow in his life?

A．Mr. Christensen.	B．His friends.
C．His own father.	D．His adoptive parents.

5 . It has been an unwritten rule that those who become 30 years old must have already been in a stable (稳定的) place. _________, they might be considered a failure.

I am turning 30 tomorrow and I ask myself, “Should I _________ this deadline?” I am still renting an apartment, and living alone. This seems far from _________ for most, but it looks nice to me.

When I graduated years ago, I _________ worked as a journalist because I had been dreaming of writing stories for the _________ since childhood, and I thought I would stick to it forever. But as time flies, I realize that it will be unwise to _________ myself to just one path. Therefore, I decide to start my another pursuit—studying law.

Was I _________ before? No. I have learned that there is no single formula (公式) for _________ and happiness. Our lives are filled with _________ possibilities. While I really love my current career, I have also been interested in being a __________. So why should I __________ the dream to the end just because I am 30 already?

Turning 30 can also be a chance to do whatever you like. You needn’t care about how others will __________ your decisions. The most important part is that you are just being yourself and __________ it. Turning 30 is just like any other birthday. Stop feeling __________ about your age and try to __________ all the opportunities and surprises that life throws on your way.

1.

A．Moreover

B．However

C．Therefore

D．Otherwise

2.

A．fear

B．approach

C．determine

D．miss

3.

A．common

B．active

C．satisfactory

D．stressful

4.

A．strangely

B．immediately

C．previously

D．magically

5.

A．public

B．villager

C．customer

D．foreigner

6.

A．turn

B．compare

C．limit

D．confirm

7.

A．impressed

B．wrong

C．powerful

D．cheerful

8.

A．freedom

B．independence

C．existence

D．success

9.

A．obvious

B．reasonable

C．endless

D．practical

10.

A．lawyer

B．teacher

C．writer

D．journalist

11.

A．look for

B．think about

C．make up for

D．hold on to

12.

A．ignore

B．judge

C．recognize

D．respect

13.

A．observing

B．stressing

C．doubting

D．enjoying

14.

A．anxious

B．content

C．comfortable

D．exciting

15.

A．assume

B．accept

C．leave

D．ignore

6 . Whirlwind （旋风般的） tour of Paris inspires new love of travel

During last year's summer holiday, I finally realized my dream. I travelled to Europe. What a(n)_________ experience!

After getting to Germany by plane, it took me four hours to get to France on a bus._________ Paris, I could see the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral （巴黎圣母院） from my seat. Although it was _________ earlier this year, it's still an amazing _________. I hope it can be _________ as it was before.

After getting off the bus, I saw many people enjoying afternoon tea outside of cafes,_________ enjoying the sunlight. _________, we reached the Louvre Museum, which is _________ its collection of paintings and sculptures. There are hundreds of showcase in its halls, with fine murals （壁画） on the walls and ceilings. Among its impressive _________ are the paintings Venus, the Goddess of Victory and Mona Lisa.

The next day, we got up early for a boat ride on the Seine River. It was wonderful to appreciate the city's scenery from a boat.

Paris is also considered a(n)__________ heaven. The variety of goods __________ me. Yet, nothing is more __________ to me than eating delicious food. We __________ on the streets of Paris, having dinner and enjoying the sunset. We enjoyed steaks and chicken chops.

Travel not only lets me know how big and beautiful the world is, but also lets me know that there are a lot of things to __________ in the world. As the saying goes, “If you don't go out for a walk, you will think this is the __________.”

1.

A．terrible

B．boring

C．dangerous

D．unforgettable

2.

A．Arriving in

B．Leaving for

C．looking for

D．Thinking over

3.

A．built

B．checked

C．cleaned

D．burned

4.

A．photo

B．park

C．statue

D．sight

5.

A．painted

B．protected

C．restored

D．tidied

6.

A．leisurely

B．nervously

C．hurriedly

D．worriedly

7.

A．Hopefully

B．Gratefully

C．Finally

D．Strangely

8.

A．crowed with

B．famous for

C．short of

D．free from

9.

A．treasures

B．views

C．stories

D．copies

10.

A．shopping

B．entertainment

C．tourist

D．dancing

11.

A．amazed

B．bothered

C．affected

D．worried

12.

A．expensive

B．important

C．difficult

D．convenient

13.

A．ran

B．sat

C．jumped

D．sang

14.

A．require

B．learn

C．value

D．consider

15.

A．district

B．countryside

C．town

D．world