1 . Before setting out on her journey, Shirley led an elegant and peaceful life in the quiet countryside. Little did she _________ the adventure that would beat her thoughts and lead her far from the _________ of home.

Regardless of her prior unwillingness, Shirley’s _________ with Sally, who suggested this trip, threw her into a category of adventures she had never imagined. Yet, despite the _________ that arose, from encounters with tigers to struggles with crocodiles (鳄鱼), Shirley remained somewhat _________ in her devotion to the journey.

Her ideal, to prove her _________ and find her place, became a (n) _________ driving force as she faced the challenges of the journey. Along the way, she _________ awesome wonders, from the fascination of the Kenyan safari (游猎) to the thunders of the misty Kilimanjaro. _________ her expectations, Shirley found herself bound to the fate of home, owing much to the friendship she had and the __________ she had discovered within herself. And when faced with the fear of mother nature, it was Shirley’s bravery that __________ her only companion, Sally.

As her journey __________ its end, Shirley realized how much she owed to the journey, not just the material treasures she had got, but the personal growth and self-discovery that came from __________ beyond her comfort zone. And so, with confidence and a heart of __________, Shirley started going back home, forever __________ by this unforgettable adventure.

1.

A．expect

B．imply

C．acknowledge

D．decide

2.

A．security

B．comfort

C．relief

D．fear

3.

A．combination

B．patience

C．association

D．familiarity

4.

A．sufferings

B．protests

C．conflicts

D．dangers

5.

A．determined

B．excited

C．satisfied

D．inspired

6.

A．advantage

B．point

C．cost

D．worth

7.

A．exceptional

B．initial

C．fundamental

D．common

8.

A．brought about

B．came across

C．cut through

D．set off

9.

A．Conquered by

B．Contrary to

C．Content with

D．Concerned about

10.

A．creativity

B．courage

C．curiosity

D．care

11.

A．controlled

B．persuaded

C．astonished

D．disappointed

12.

A．accessed

B．acquired

C．approached

D．achieved

13.

A．leaving

B．digging

C．coming

D．stepping

14.

A．recognition

B．gratitude

C．respect

D．dependence

15.

A．changed

B．excused

C．relaxed

D．freed

2 . The stands were always filled with family members to support their favorite players. I attended each of my son’s games. His father worked nights for years, and missed out on most of his games. My son Jorden knew if his dad could, he would be there sitting right beside me.

When Jorden was younger, some family members would occasionally come to watch. But gradually they stopped showing up. Never once did Jorden lead me to believe that this bothered him, but apparently it did. It wasn’t until when he was asked to give a speech at his baseball event that he made it very clear not only to me but a room filled with over 150 people just how important it is to have extra fans in the stands.

His speech was anything but like I thought it would be. It wasn’t short and bittersweet. It wasn’t his quick thank you to his coaches and teammates. He poured his heart out, saying he seldom had grandparents, aunts or uncles coming to support him. He was grateful that his teammates’ family members showed up to support not just their own loved ones but the entire team of boys. Clearly Jorden desired more than just me. Never did I ever think my son would be hurting inside as he looked out to the bleachers to see only me at each and every game.

As he struggled to get each word out through tears, I promised I would attend as many events of the children around as I possibly could. There was no way I could allow another child to feel what my son was feeling. This small simple gesture would mean so much to any child. Neither Jorden nor I was upset with those who never attended his games. Jorden just wanted someone else besides me to witness his craft in action. I understand all of our lives become complicated and that everyone is busy with their own children and jobs that may not allow them as much free time as they’d like.

1. What do we know about Jorden’s father?

A．He had long been misunderstood by Jorden.

B．He had few chances to attend Jorden’s games.

C．He managed to be with Jorden in every game.

D．He had made excuses to miss Jorden’s games.

2. What was Jorden’s speech about?

A．His ambition to win the championship.

B．His gratitude to his mother and coaches.

C．His complaint about his family members.

D．His desire for support from more people.

3. What does the author think of Jorden’s speech?

A．Depressing.

B．Complicated.

C．Astonishing.

D．Absurd.

4. How did the author respond to Jorden’s speech?

A．She tried to be actively involved in children’s games.

B．She promised not to miss out on games of every child.

C．She offered to invite many relatives to Jorden’s games.

D．She decided to lead Jorden to trust his family members.

3 . If someone asked whether you like the arts, you’d probably say you do—at least in theory. According to a survey, more than two-thirds of U.S. adults say the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences.” However, only 30 percent attended a concert of any type in 2017; 23 percent went to an art museum. Fewer than half actively created art of any kind.

The mismatch can boil down to the fact that we are weighed down by our day-to-day responsibilities, leaving our schedule packed. Maybe you like to play a little background music while you work or do the chores, but even before the pandemic, most of us rarely, if ever, saw a live performance, let alone visited a gallery or watched a play.

Too often, we let the dull reality of life get in the way of the arts. But this is a mistake. The arts are the opposite of an escape from reality; they might just be the most realistic glimpse we ever get into the nature and meaning of life. If you make time for consuming and producing art—the same way you make time for work and exercise and family commitments—I assure you that you’ll find your life getting fuller and happier. Think of a time when you heard a piece of music and wanted to cry. Or maybe your dizziness as you emerged from a narrow side street in an unfamiliar city and found yourself in a beautiful town square as if in a fantasy. They probably stimulated a sudden awakening, much like the shock from a lungful of pure oxygen after breathing in smoggy air.

If you are among the people who feel that art is pure pleasure to experience and participate in, you might see it as a luxury item, while a preferable attitude is to treat art less like a distracting pleasure, and more like exercise or sleep, a necessity. Then draw up a schedule of your art exposure journey, and gradually weave art into your everyday life.

1. What prevents people from enjoying the arts?

A．Shortage of time.	B．Avoidance of duty.
C．Lack of interest.	D．Art space inaccessibility.

2. What can we learn about the role of art according to the passage?

A．It explores mysteries of life.	B．It sparks emotional responses.
C．It enhances physical well-being.	D．It offers a getaway from daily life.

3. What will be talked about next in the passage?

A．Ways to integrate art into routine.	B．Barriers to combine art and life.
C．Forms of distracting pleasures.	D．Benefits of engaging with art.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Art Journey: Refreshing Soul

B．Art Pursuit: Transforming Dull into Full

C．Embracing Art: From Luxury to Necessity

D．Connecting with Art: From Reality to Fantasy

4 . Ida Keeling was 67, weak and sick, when her daughter Cheryl suggested a run to her. Cheryl thought that maybe what would pull her mother out from dark cloud was something that would get her _______ again.

Keeling lived a hard life when young, growing up _______ in Harlem, and doing hard work in factories during the Great Depression. She had _______ her husband early, and two of her four children died in drug-related incidents in 1978 and 1981.

Keeling had sunk into a deep _______, her health had begun to _______, and her daughters began to _______ that they soon might be losing their mother as well.

It had been decades since Keeling had done any _______, and she would later recall that first “mini-run” feeling as if it would never end. But when it did, “I just threw off all my bad _______.”

She hasn’t stopped running since, and it’s no longer as _______ as it was during that first meet. “I was just exercising then,” she says ________ regarding that first run, “and now I’m all over the world.”

When she’s not running, she must be ________. She’s in the gym three to four days a week on a ________ basis. Part of her healthy diet is occasional consumption of alcohol mixed with her coffee or water to ________ blood circulation.

She’s written a book about her ________, titled Can’t Nothing Bring Me Down: Chasing Myself in the Race Against Time. Her ________ is also suitable for everyone: “Every day is another day forward.”

1.

A．working

B．starting

C．exercising

D．winning

2.

A．poor

B．happy

C．out-going

D．depressed

3.

A．met

B．left

C．married

D．lost

4.

A．dream

B．depression

C．regret

D．relaxation

5.

A．recover

B．slide

C．improve

D．disappear

6.

A．believe

B．announce

C．worry

D．realize

7.

A．running

B．decision

C．changing

D．preparation

8.

A．mistakes

B．memories

C．analyses

D．habits

9.

A．difficult

B．cool

C．boring

D．unsafe

10.

A．anxiously

B．cheerfully

C．unwillingly

D．secretly

11.

A．wandering about

B．doing housework

C．making friends

D．working out

12.

A．regular

B．solid

C．daily

D．voluntary

13.

A．aid

B．feel

C．slow

D．resist

14.

A．achievements

B．puzzles

C．reflections

D．experiences

15.

A．prospect

B．philosophy

C．potential

D．prediction

5 . It was a warm summer afternoon in mid-July at the Jersey shore. My four-year-old son and I hit the sand and started our adventure with bucket in hand.

I remembered the days not so long ago when a trip to the beach was just unbearable for my little boy. His sensitivities to sights, sounds, and touches would prevent us from enjoying everyday activities. My son, Will, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD自闭症谱系障碍). However, presently, we were able to walk along the edge of the water, looking for seashells to fill our red sandcastle-shaped bucket.

Will began picking up whatever shells he saw lying in the sand. After a while, I looked into the bucket and saw nothing but broken shells. “Will,” I said softly, “all of these shells are broken. You need to find shells like this,” I continued, as I held up a perfectly shaped clamshell with patience. Will gave me a puzzled look and continued on his way, gathering whatever shells he came upon.

I stopped, but this time I asked in a stern voice, “Will, why do you keep filling our bucket with broken shells?” He looked up at me with his big blue eyes and replied, “Mom, these shells are broken, but they are still beautiful.” He began pulling out different shells and commenting on their uniqueness. “This one is broken, but look, it has the color purple on it. Mom, none of yours have purple on them,” he said with such pride.

“And, Mom, this one looks like a smile when you hold it this way,” he said as he reached for another broken shell. “It reminds me of a clown. This one is round like the sun, and these ones are stuck together like butterfly wings...” my eyes gradually filled with tears.

“You’re right, Will,” I agreed. We walked along the beach, collecting only broken shells in our bucket and admiring their beauty.

1. What kept Will from going to the beach in the first place?

A． Lack of company.

B．Time limits.

C．Personal preference.

D．His medical condition.

2. Which of the following can best replace the underlined word “stern” in Para 4?

A．Confused

B．Proud

C．Serious

D．Gentle

3. Why did Will mention the purple color on a shell with pride?

A．Because he was into the shells of enormous sizes.

B．Because he knew purple was the rarest color for seashells.

C．Because he regarded the purple shell unique though broken.

D．Because he was reminded of his favorite toy at home.

4. What lesson can we learn from the passage?

A．Chance favors those who are well prepared.	B．Beauty can still be found in imperfection.
C．Happiness in life is to move forward.	D．Experience is the father of wisdom.

6 . The question “Who am I?” can bring on a series of thoughts, emotions, and feelings, but what if you don’t know how to answer?     1     We’re here to help you find all the answers you’re looking for.

    2     Think about where you want to see yourself in 5 days, months, or years. What goals can you make to turn that vision into your reality? These goals don’t have to be big; they can be as simple as making the bed every morning. Write down your goals and refer to them whenever you feel lost, remembering to take each day one step at a time.

Question your body image.     3     Are they negative or positive? Can you rewrite the negative remarks in a more positive way? Confidence in your body can transfer to confidence in other parts of your life, so try to reframe hateful words into something loving.

Practice self-care. It can be hard to find time to reflect on yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Taking care of yourself physically and mentally is essential to being the best version of you, so don’t forget to schedule time to do something for yourself.     4    

Write in a journal. To process your thoughts and experiences, write down what you did, felt, and thought throughout the day.     5     If you had a terrible experience, set down why it affected you. If you made a mistake, identify what you could do better.

A．Set reasonable goals.

B．Learn more about yourself.

C．List words about the way you look.

D．If you were happy, put down what delighted you.

E．This can help you feel more at peace with life and yourself.

F．By doing this, you will find it rewarding to share your time with others.

G．Feeling lost or confused about who you are is more common than you may think.

7 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

It happened on one Sunday morning a few days ago. When I was about to have my routine cup of coffee along with a bagel, I realized that I did not have any bread at all. I have to admit that I am unable to enjoy coffee without some kind of baked food.

I decided to run out to buy something. However, all the stores were closed, but one. That store did not have any fresh pastries, and I ended up buying four slices of wheat bread. I was frustrated for two reasons: my favourite routine — Sunday coffee ruined, and the saleswoman charged me $3 for four slices of bread. I returned to the building where I lived on the tenth floor, stepped into the elevator, pushed the button, and got out. When I reached my apartment and tried to unlock the door, I could not turn the key. I made a few attempts but without success. I started banging on the door, hoping to wake up my daughter. I was not successful at that either.

I can’t explain how it crossed my mind to check the number of the apartment. The apartment number was correct, except for the first digit: the apartment was on the ninth floor, not the tenth. I was shocked to realize that I had been banging on somebody else’s door.

I still think over what might have happened if somebody had opened the door and what he or she would have said to me at 8:00 am on Sunday morning.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为 150 左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡上的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1

If a young girl had opened the door and said,     

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2

After this incident I realized that...

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . Back in the days when I was just a young student, I was always absent from school ______, too shy to step into the public attention. My grades, though not absolutely good, was above the ______. However, an unexpected incident allowed me to______life lessons and gradually accept the challenges thrown at me.

One rainy afternoon, while walking home from school, an accident happened. A speeding car ______me, leaving me with a broken leg. Lying on my hospital bed,pain aching through my body, the reality of my situation ______. This unforeseen incident had set me back academically, and I needed to figure out how to achieve my previous______.

With the help of my parents and teachers, who ______accompanied me through the healing process, I managed to transform my ______ into a stepping stone. I began to acquire the will to push myself beyond my limits. After several months, I returned to school. My teachers had made accommodations for me, which included access to ______classes to catch up on the lessons I missed. Fueled by a newfound ______, I made every effort to engage in all activities and strived to stay active in both the academic and extracurricular fields.

In the end, my actions______fruit. Not only did my academic performance improve, but I also developed an ability to adapt to unexpected situations. I realized the importance of being able to______my fears and overcome them. The incident that I______viewed as a major discouragement was, in fact, a turning point in my life. It was an opportunity to adjust my perspective and learn to admire the strength within myself.

The______did not happen overnight. It was a gradual process, just like adding a new piece to a puzzle every day. But with each piece, I moved one step closer to the bigger ______ .

1.

A．camps

B．days

C．facilities

D．events

2.

A．minimum

B．maximum

C．average

D．majority

3.

A．absorb

B．forget

C．teach

D．avoid

4.

A．approached

B．hit

C．lifted

D．followed

5.

A．gave in

B．sank in

C．fit in

D．cut in

6.

A．standing

B．playing

C．suffering

D．finding

7.

A．occasionally

B．casually

C．constantly

D．scarcely

8.

A．shyness

B．setback

C．strength

D．performance

9.

A．practical

B．optional

C．basic

D．extra

10.

A．drive

B．concept

C．version

D．skill

11.

A．planted

B．distributed

C．sold

D．bore

12.

A．assess

B．address

C．monitor

D．hide

13.

A．initially

B．actually

C．suddenly

D．eventually

14.

A．inspiration

B．assumption

C．transformation

D．exploration

15.

A．space

B．ambition

C．picture

D．capacity

9 . Signs That You Are Growing

Growing is a lifelong process. Here are the signs that show that you are actually growing and not getting stuck in the process.

    1    

Often, we see how badly people look when they get overly upset due to unimportant things. So the first sign of maturity (成熟) is letting the small things go and not getting angry over a tiny detail that didn’t go as you planned.

You start forgiving and understanding other people

When we are young, we are often unforgiving. As we mature, we are better able to understand the world beyond black and white.     2    . It enables us to look beyond the obvious and let go of simple judgments. We begin to understand better that others have complex (复杂的) lives and personalities, and so we become more willing to forgive their mistakes.

You always complete things that matter

Immature people don’t know when to commit (承诺) themselves and their energy or resources are always not well employed.     3    . In this way, they can often keep their promises and honor their commitments.

You accept the possibility of being wrong

    4    . They are always able to accept the possibility that they are wrong, that they don’t know something, because there is always more to learn.

Being mature is knowing that you are always growing up. You are never done learning and developing. This means that you don’t set yourself up as the highest authority.     5    .

A．You follow the crowd

B．You let the small things go

C．Instead, mature people focus on completing things that matter

D．Immature and mature people can both have plans for their lives

E．Rather, you open your mind to other ideas and new possibilities

F．Becoming more understanding is a sign of strength, not weakness

G．Mature people appear more confident, however, they are not overconfident

10 . Joy is an emotion experienced by many but understood by few. It often refers to a broad sense of being satisfied with life that appears after experiencing a sense of awe or wonder. It also relates to accomplishing something we’ve wanted for a long time. It’s usually mistaken for happiness, but joy is experienced naturally, while happiness is often pursued.

Joy triggers (引发) a series of physical and psychological changes that can improve our health. When joyous, our breathing becomes faster, our heartbeat increases, and our chest and entire body feel warmer. These changes make our body prepared for movement and also make us feel more mentally prepared to take on life’s challenges. These changes in body and mind are also associated with improved mood.

Interestingly, joy is both a state and a trait (特质). This means that while some of us only experience it as a result of a joyful situation, others have a capacity for it, that is to say, they’re able to experience joy regardless of whether they’ve encountered something joyful. Some research suggests that this capacity is genetic, with estimates that about 30% of people have this “gift for joy”. This means they’re hardly influenced by their external environment and may find it easier to experience joy.

But just because some people may find it easier to experience joy, that doesn’t mean we can do nothing to help boost our experience of it. Sharing and preparing food with others can help us experience more joy, as it can enhance what’s known as psychological flourishing — the highest level of wellbeing. Researchers also find that doing exercise in company with other people or accomplishing an exercise-related goal we never thought we were capable of can lead to joy. Another simple way to boost feelings of joy is by writing down how you feel. In one experiment, participants who spent 20 minutes a day writing about positive experiences for three months reported better moods compared with participants who wrote about different topics.

However, while joy is wonderful to experience, it isn’t the only emotion we’ll feel in our life. It’s important to embrace all the emotions we experience — be that sadness, anger, happiness or joy.

1. What does the underlined word “It” in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A．Joy.

B．Sense.

C．Awe.

D．Wonder.

2. The changes triggered by joy can ________.

A．make our breath faster	B．increase our heartbeat
C．prepare our body for movement	D．make us feel challenged

3. Why is joy a trait?

A．Because it’s a result of a joyful situation.

B．Because it’s an experience of few people.

C．Because it’s a general capacity.

D．Because it’s a genetic talent.

4. Which of the following statements does the author agree with?

A．Food is an important source of joy.

B．It’s joyful to exercise with other people.

C．Being a writer makes you have better moods.

D．Joy should be valued more than other emotions.