1 . I first saw a real durian (榴莲) in an Asian supermarket in Queens. That strange-looking fruit was big, heavy, and covered with sharp pricks (刺). I decided to buy one. The Chinese checkout girl carefully wrapped it thickly in a newspaper before putting it into a shopping bag.

On the train home, I cautiously opened the Chinese newspaper and lifted it out. Its strangeness made me think of kung fu, yoga and Taijiquan.

Upon arriving home, I dug out the biggest knife and cut through the tough prickly husk (壳). I tasted the pale-yellow flesh, delicious!

After that, durian was my favourite fruit. My skill at cutting durian open was improving. I showed the skill to my girlfriend.

A few years later, we moved to Taiwan. One day I noticed some durians had begun to open by themselves. The owner tried to get me to buy one but I shook my head, thinking it was far-gone. Instead I selected one whose outer husk wasn’t open.

The next morning I woke up to a strong durian smell. I found a small crack (裂缝) had appeared all on its own. I used the smallest pressure and tasted a more delicious durian. Suddenly, I realized something. I ha felt so satisfied with my own skill in opening the durian that I never thought about letting the durian open itself. The higher art was not in doing but in not doing — letting the thing happen on its own in the way it happens best.

1. Why did the Chinese checkout girl wrap the durian thickly in a newspaper?

A．To decorate the durian.	B．To stop the durian from falling apart.
C．To prevent the author from being hurt.	D．To encourage the author to read Chinese.

2. What came to the author’s mind when he looked at the durian on the way home?

A．A strange fruit.	B．A delicious dinner.
C．Other passengers’ attention.	D．Some symbols of Asian culture.

3. Why didn’t the author take the recommended durian?

A．He thought it was too ripe.	B．He enjoyed the selection of durian.
C．He wanted a chance to show his skill.	D．He preferred the durian with open husk.

4. What message did the author want to share?

A．Practice makes perfect.	B．Let nature take its course.
C．Interest is the best teacher.	D．Kill two birds with one stone.

2 . A therapy (治疗) client and I are working on an eating disorder and find it originated from a relationship break-up or perhaps being bullied in middle school. Such hurtful experiences led to not eating for a couple of weeks. Then comes a high praise from a friend that totally backfires. Maybe it’s an enthusiastic, “Wow, you look great!’’ In a flash, this praise excites an inner and often unconscious thought: “Oh, people care more about me if I lose weight. So many things feel out of control but I can control people’s affection by not eating.”

Often, very well-intentioned individuals offer praise out of a desire to uplift and connect. Such praise is often tied, directly or indirectly, to a person’s relationship with the standards of a specific group or institution. Sadly, such praise can easily reduce an individual’s dignity to their level in line with the group’s expectations rather than supporting their inherent (固有的) dignity and worth. So, what’s a better way?

One answer is to exit the game of “right and wrong” and enter a more life-giving focus on what needs are present. Returning to our example above, when you see that someone has lost weight and you want to give them a praise, just pause and take a deep breath. Simply ask, “How are you doing?” See them and hear them. Appreciate them as a person of limitless value. Know there may be much more to their inner world than meets the eye. Similarly, when you see someone’s success in school, appreciate the hard work they put into it. Ask with gentle curiosity, “How’s it been for you?” Listen with your full attention that in itself can be a rare gift in today’s hustle and bustle world.

By maintaining your concern and listening to the ways they want to be accompanied and supported — even when it might not be your first instinct — you can see them as a whole person, with complex feelings, very human needs, and inherent dignity.

1. What does the underlined word “backfires” in paragraph 1 refer to?

A．Improves the situation.	B．Shows sincere concern.
C．Removes hurtful feelings.	D．Produces an unexpected result.

2. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．Analyzing the phenomenon.	B．Listing another example.
C．Presenting the solution.	D．Making a proposal.

3. Why does the author suggest simply asking “How are you doing”?

A．To start a light conversation.

B．To focus on one’s inner needs.

C．To explore the secret of keeping slim.

D．To show appreciation for one’s efforts.

4. What might be the title for the text?

A．Say No to the “Right or Wrong” Game

B．Why We Need to Make Praises to Others.

C．Follow Me and Be a Qualified Therapist

D．How Innocent Words can Be Harmful

3 . What will we be doing in ten years’ time? Can we become the person we aim to be? Will we get into the school of our _________? Clearly, having plans for the future doesn’t mean they will become _________. For us, it is how we live that matters.

The young Arthur Conan Doyle, born in Scotland in 1859, had _________ worked as a doctor in London. But Doyle’ main _________ was to writing historical novels and get _________ in the academic field. However, _________, it was not his published historical novels but the Sherlock Holmes detective stories, which Doyle wrote as a doctor, that became a _________ of the time.

After Sherlock Holmes made him a(n) _________ name, Doyle gave up medicine and entirely turned to writing historical novels, which was his early _________. The public, however, couldn’t get enough of Sherlock Holmes, so Doyle had no __________ but to kill off the famous detective in a novel in 1893 to __________ his “serious” writing. Later, requested by __________ fans of Holmes, Doyle was forced to bring Holmes back to life. Doyle’s published historical novels have remained largely __________, but Sherlock Holmes has been entertaining readers for years.

Extremely successful and known, Doyle’s career failed to turn out as __________, though. However, it still shows us a(n) __________ that whatever the future unfolds for us, just live the life to the full.

1.

A．community

B．mind

C．choice

D．childhood

2.

A．empty

B．real

C．useful

D．meaningful

3.

A．accidentally

B．happily

C．originally

D．devotedly

4.

A．relief

B．comfort

C．idea

D．ambition

5.

A．accepted

B．required

C．invited

D．recommended

6.

A．hopefully

B．interestingly

C．obviously

D．thankfully

7.

A．hit

B．signal

C．sign

D．display

8.

A．common

B．household

C．unexpected

D．amazing

9.

A．belief

B．approach

C．access

D．intention

10.

A．time

B．application

C．manners

D．option

11.

A．focus on

B．transform

C．leave behind

D．taste

12.

A．funny

B．graceful

C．crazy

D．humorous

13.

A．forgotten

B．lost

C．refused

D．collected

14.

A．pictured

B．advised

C．thought

D．planned

15.

A．exhibition

B．lesson

C．offer

D．requirement

4 . As an ordinary man, I have a special habit to confess. Whenever I walk down the street, I offer to pour a bottle of water from the nearby river into the dirt of a street tree. It’s just my personal habit, and I think it doesn’t make a difference, but I’d like to do it. I mention this in light of a campaign launched by the Arboricultural Association to call on the public to water new street trees.

The UK government has committed to planting millions of trees to help meet climate targets and aims to increase tree cover from 14.5% to 16.5% by 2050. However, as John Parker, chief executive of the Arboricultural Association, says, “Planting a tree is just the start of the story. The health and survival of new urban trees is threatened by increasingly dry weather. It is recommended that the newly planted trees be given about 50 litres of water per week for the first three years.” While in rural settings, the newly planted trees and woods can take care of themselves and adapt, the challenging conditions mean trees in the urban areas need a bit more care.

Long ago, I assumed that the good of street trees was to soften the hard edges of urban environments. But, what an underestimation of tree power that was! A study from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities illustrates they can provide inspiration or a calming atmosphere in an otherwise crowded city. Trees are responsible for easing urban heat island effects and air and pollutant filtration. And I think they provide the habitat for wildlife, especially birds.

Trees can’t run away. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for urban residents, city trees are stuck with us. If we want to continue enjoying all the good they do, we should try to understand their needs and do all that we can to support them. A bottle of water won’t do much, but next time you all together have a bucket of water to pour, you know what big effect will happen.

1. What does the author think of his personal habit?

A．It is of little effect.	B．It is enforced.
C．It is of much significance.	D．It is common.

2. What does John Parker say about urban trees?

A．They have started to be watered regularly.

B．More work needs to be done for their living.

C．They are threatened by the increasing flood.

D．The newly planted ones can’t look after themselves.

3. What can we learn about street trees from paragraph 3?

A．Their usage is overrated.

B．Their value is thought highly of by the public.

C．They benefit residents physically and mentally.

D．They can thoroughly solve environmental problems.

4. What can be concluded from the last paragraph?

A．When in need, ask for it.	B．Tall trees catch much wind.
C．Many hands make light work.	D．Misfortunes seldom come alone.

5 . I bet you have heard about the story of the frog and the boiling water. If you have no idea what the story is all about, here it is…

It is a famous fable which surrounds the personal development industry that describes a frog in boiling water. If you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will jump out, but if you put the frog into a pot of lukewarm (不冷不热的) water and then slowly boils the water, the frog will eventually be heated to death due to its unconsciousness of the gradual temperature change.

Many people go through life without noticing the gradual changes, which causes them all sorts of problems. When you are in your twenties, you can eat whatever you want, ice-creams, junk foods, chips, chocolates, and you can even party all night without feeling tired or exhausted the next day. But when you get to your forties, you will notice the change. You will feel that you’re not as energetic as when you’re in your twenties. Plus, your metabolism rate will decrease. And if you continue to eat and put in all junk foods into your stomach, you will develop a bloated belly.

The story of the frog and the boiling water gives us a good hint about how our failure to notice gradual changes in our life can cause us huge problems. If you keep spending without saving, when you get to your fifties, you will regret not saving enough for retirement.

If you blame and make excuses every day and you don’t work on your future, after 10 years down the road, you will have hoped that you started earlier. You will wish that you have a time machine so that you can start over again.

Never let the “slow boiling water” kills you. Instead, learn to improve and cope with whatever you can right now. You don’t have to wait for the perfect moment to start. You don’t have to know and understand everything only to begin. You can start right now.

1. What results in the death of the frog in the lukewarm water?

A．Its personal development industry.	B．Its unawareness of the rising temperature.
C．Its surrounding industry’s great influence.	D．Its adaptation to the slowly rising temperature.

2. How does Paragraph 3 develop?

A．By contrast.

B．By time.

C．By reasoning.

D．By assumption.

3. What will most probably be talked about in the next paragraph?

A．Good hints.	B．Tips to improve.
C．“Slow boiling water” skills.	D．The best moment to start.

4. What can we learn from the text?

A．Still waters run deep.	B．Good wine needs no bush.
C．Great minds think alike.	D．A young idler, an old beggar.

6 . Are you terrified of what’s to come in the future? What if we don’t get into our dream schools?   What’s plan B? So much is on our 17-to 18-year-old minds. I didn’t exactly create aback up plan. I just adapted to every new situation I was put in.Here’s how my life didn’t go as planned, but I’m happier than ever.

In the year of 2016, I went into my dream school—Washington State University, where I’d beat tending school to study engineering. I visited my future school after I was already accepted. It was a school away from a major city. Cold feet came over me and I backed out of the school just before orientation (适应). This was a tough decision, but my heart wasn’t in it.When your heart isn’t in it, all you need to do is adjust.

My mom and I went to the Army recruiter’s (征兵人员的) office, where I enlisted in the U.S. Army as an Engineer. I’d never had a firm grasp of my identity from high school, so attending a military boot camp gave me a clean slate (新的开始), where I could become the person I wanted to be. When I came back home as an Army Engineer, I became one of the most confident people in my household. Everything seemed to be going to a plan that I had barely thought out. By the time I returned home in July of 2017 from Engineer training, I decided to enroll in my local community college. I had no high expectations for how community college would go. Turns out that my college was one of the best in the area and had a very diverse group of people from high schools I’d never interacted with. The people I met through clubs and classes at community college were beyond amazing people. I have friends for life.

I would not be where I am today without taking so many risks. I am grateful to my supportive parents and enlightening friends.

1. What’s the author’s purpose in raising the questions in paragraph 1?

A．To introduce the topic.

B．To explain a concept.

C．To give background information.

D．To present an important fact.

2. What was the author’s difficult decision before attending his dream school?

A．Changing his major.

B．Dropping out of school.

C．Accepting the cold weather.

D．Moving to a big city.

3. What was the author like after returning home from the army?

A．More easy-going.

B．More thoughtful.

C．More optimistic.

D．More communicative.

4. What can we know from the author’s experience?

A．Living from the heart can be happier.

B．Attending college is never late.

C．Future is impossible to predict.

D．Lucky people always take risks.

7 . Happiness can be difficult to find. But even when happiness seems almost impossible, it can be obtained with a shift in ways of thinking or simply a _______.

I volunteered at an elderly care home this past summer. _______, I didn’t think much about the visits to the residents. There couldn’t be anything _______ to talk about with old people, right? But as I got to know them my outlook — and life — completely _______.

One resident I remember vividly was a woman with a friendly smile. I _______ a collection of porcelain (瓷制的) shoes, in varying sizes, beside her window. “Those are really pretty,” I said. The woman’s face instantly lit up. “Ah yes! I used to _______ them when I was younger,” she said, carefully _______ a shoe with a beautiful design. “My daughter bought it for me. I saw it in an antique store and just knew I had to have it.” I could feel the _______ in her voice.

I visited another resident who kept her wedding photograph next to her bed. The photograph, though _______ and black-and-white, showed the pure joy on the bride’s and groom’s faces. Along with the photograph, she ________ postcards and letters from her family. Looking at the pictures on the postcards, she could ________ she was traveling around the world with them.

These stories — so familiar, yet so distant from my ________ — made me see what truly defines happiness. Despite their old ________, the residents had happy memories of friends and family, and a great deal of experiences to ________. All these little details turn into their own ________ of happiness. I must make the most of life so that one day I can unearth my own tiny pieces of happiness.

1.

A．visit

B．memory

C．talk

D．wish

2.

A．Continually

B．Eventually

C．Gradually

D．Initially

3.

A．interesting

B．necessary

C．boring

D．difficult

4.

A．changed

B．improved

C．disappeared

D．matched

5.

A．arranged

B．put

C．noticed

D．remembered

6.

A．throw

B．collect

C．sell

D．compare

7.

A．searching for

B．putting away

C．picking up

D．working on

8.

A．hope

B．pressure

C．confidence

D．joy

9.

A．old

B．dirty

C．useless

D．ugly

10.

A．received

B．kept

C．checked

D．sent

11.

A．believe

B．tell

C．explain

D．imagine

12.

A．position

B．description

C．viewpoints

D．life

13.

A．wisdom

B．work

C．age

D．hobbies

14.

A．share

B．follow

C．gain

D．learn

15.

A．expectation

B．guarantee

C．definition

D．knowledge

8 . I feared it was going to be a terrible firework season this year. The bangs (巨响)_________   before the first of July and lasted three more days. I have never been a big fan of fireworks since I was a boy. It was then that a local fair _________   a huge firework show near our house and I saw how the huge _________   terrified our dogs. I sat on the_________ in the house with them during the whole show, holding their_________ bodies.

I know a lot of people enjoy the_________ light shows the fireworks can put on at times. They can be bright and beautiful. Still, I find that I_________ the gentler lights of summers to these noisy ones. I love seeing the moon rising _________ above the hills in the evening. The shining stars always look so wonderful when you take the time to_________ into the sky and watch them shine.

I also__________   the beautiful, blinking lights of the fireflies (萤火虫) at this__________   of year. Seeing their lovely, little lights as they__________ around always fills my heart with joy and light as well. It feeds my soul and reminds me of what a glorious__________ we live in.

I think we all might do better to develop and grow the gentler__________ within ourselves. They are meant to be__________ with others. They are meant to be shined.

1.

A．bounced

B．resounded

C．ripened

D．resigned

2.

A．launched

B．assessed

C．canceled

D．assigned

3.

A．bonus

B．noise

C．sight

D．feast

4.

A．carpet

B．fountain

C．grass

D．roof

5.

A．frightening

B．exciting

C．calming

D．trembling

6.

A．subsequent

B．vivid

C．single

D．primitive

7.

A．prefer

B．apply

C．compare

D．devote

8.

A．initially

B．substantially

C．slowly

D．obviously

9.

A．break down

B．look up

C．rise up

D．flow away

10.

A．seize

B．release

C．raise

D．fancy

11.

A．time

B．age

C．edge

D．mercy

12.

A．lie

B．flee

C．fly

D．stick

13.

A．world

B．community

C．dream

D．flat

14.

A．sounds

B．levels

C．lights

D．images

15.

A．helped

B．shared

C．compared

D．communicated

9 . Courtney Rich of Utah, was running in the Salt Lake City marathon. But as she headed into Mile 24, she began to feel the one thing that she didn’t want to do: collapse. It began creeping up on her and then suddenly overtook her.

“I wanted them to see Mom finish strongly. Those are things I tell my kids as often as I can when things are hard or they’re playing in their own sports. ‘Just do your best and that best is going to be a little different every day,’” she said. But at that moment, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to finish the race. “When I can feel my legs slowing down and I know I’m going to disappoint my kids,” Rich said. “By Mile 24… I looked at my watch and that’s when I called my husband and was in tears,” she said. “I was just having a little pity party for myself for a minute.”

“Next thing I knew, my daughter ran out,” Rich recounted. “I kind of saw her out of the corner of my left eye and I realized it was Avery. I just put a huge smile on my face. I stuck out my hand, she grabbed it and all of a sudden, my legs that were hurting and the heaviness of my body just felt lighter and we just ran to the finish line hand in hand.”

The proud mom said Avery told her that she did what she knew her mom needed at that moment. “That is absolutely Avery’s character. She sees people. She has sympathy. She notices people and is aware of just feelings and needs,” Rich said.

“Don’t ever brush aside the inspiration to do a small act of kindness for someone because you just never know what impact that will have on people,” Rich added.

1. What happened to Rich on Mile 24?

A．She was disturbed by a party.	B．She was overcome by tiredness.
C．She was struggling to cross the finish line.	D．She received an unexpected call from her husband.

2. How did Rich feel when Avery ran out?

A．Confused.

B．Refreshed.

C．Astonished.

D．Worried.

3. What does Rich think of Avery?

A．She is reliable and creative.	B．She is energetic and friendly.
C．She is sympathetic and considerate.	D．She is ambitious and intelligent.

4. What can we learn from the story?

A．Failure is often the case in our life.

B．Inspiration is more important to a successful mother.

C．We should hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

D．The smallest moment of kindness can have a huge impact.

10 . “Lonely” is defined in the dictionary as “unhappy because you are alone or do not have anyone to talk to”. However, in my perspective, “being alone” can also be meaningful and enjoyable. In other words, “being alone” isn’t equivalent to “loneliness”. Actually, we can literally enjoy our time when staying alone.

Think of loneliness as the “tunnel phase” of our lives. It’s a time when we don’t have a group of friends around to keep us company; when we are away from the hustle and bustle (熙熙攘攘) of the outside world; when we get the chance to tune in to our inner monologue (独白); when we are given the time to recharge ourselves on our own so that we can focus entirely on ourselves. It is during these periods that, without being disturbed and distracted, we are able to discover the things we truly want from our lives. This process is like digging a tunnel, through which we improve ourselves, achieve our goals and get a jolt of power to prepare for the or darkness we may meet with in our future lives.

A distinguished figure skater (花滑冰运动员) once said in his interview that he often felt lonely, but the external environment would to some extent affect his mind and body, making it difficult for him to concentrate during his practice and performance, and thus he was actually willing to be alone and at times would rather be isolated from the world. This type of “loneliness” must be one of the reasons why he has been able to deliver so many elaborate and splendid performances throughout his career.

So don’t be frightened by the temporary void or unhappy feeling when you have to he alone. Instead, cherish and enjoy the sense of loneliness you get when you are completely free. Spend time with yourself.

We become more independent in loneliness. We grow stronger in loneliness. Most importantly, we find our complete selves in loneliness. When we learn to embrace the feeling of “loneliness” and enjoy the time in which there is no other, loneliness itself ceases to exist.

1. What’s the author’s opinion about “being alone”?

A．Being alone is as something shameful

B．Being alone means being lonely and helpless

C．There is no point in being alone.

D．We appreciate our time more when we are alone.

2. How does the author develop Paragraph 2?

A．By providing examples.

B．By analyzing causes.

C．By making comparisons.

D．By listing figures.

3. Why is the distinguished figure skater mentioned in the passage?

A．To show athletes always feel lonely.

B．To demonstrate the factor of the success.

C．To indicate solitude (独处) is as important as practice.

D．To confirm the positive effect of “loneliness”.

4. What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?

A．Time spent with yourselves is more enjoyable than that with others.

B．People will always feel depressed when faced with being alone.

C．Loneliness can benefit us a lot in many aspects.

D．Loneliness can exist all the time, so we should change our attitude toward it.

5. What is the author’s purpose for writing this passage?

A．To illustrate different opinions on staying alone.

B．To encourage people to learn to value and enjoy their time of loneliness.

C．To persuade people into staying away from others.

D．To offer some suggestions on how to spend time alone.