I am a Grade 11 student, and all my peers are obsessed with the future. 9 out of 10 conversations with my friends are about universities, dream jobs, or what we want to pursue after high school. My laptop is already plastered with stickers from universities I don’t know if I’ll even apply to yet, and my diary is filled with more notes about grades for admissions than personal thoughts. My best friend and I have already planned the fantasy apartment that we’ll rent together if we get into the same university.
However, I recently found that keeping my mind on the future is preventing me from living in the present. I selected courses I had absolutely no interest in just to boost my average. I found myself doing schoolwork with the intention of getting good grades for university admissions. At one time, I had thought of high school as nothing more than a highway to transport me from childhood to adulthood. I felt that way until last month when I attended my school’s semi-formal dance (半正式舞会).
As I danced with 200 sweaty teenagers in the venue, I felt a feeling I hadn’t felt for a long time: I was present, and we were all present. I wasn’t worried about my future because that wasn’t relevant at that moment. All that mattered was that we were young. We all lost ourselves in teenage bliss (幸福) on the dance floor without a single thought of our futures in our heads. What a wonderful feeling adolescence is.
That night changed everything. I understand now that high school is more than just a pathway to adulthood. High school is a rightful destination of its own. Ever since I’ve been trying to spend every second of my life living in the moment. Every time I catch myself going down the mental rabbit hole of the future, I take a step back and recenter myself. Instead of thinking years into my career, I try to think just one day at a time. Since my semi-formal, I’ve lived my life as an adolescent, not an adult-to-be.
1. Why did the author select courses he disliked?(no more than 5 words)2. What did the author use to think of high school?(no more than 10 words)
3. What does the underlined phrase mean in Paragraph 4?(no more than 2 words)
4. What’s the author’s new attitude towards high school?(no more than 10 words)
5. What’s the highlight or unforgettable moment of your high school life? Please explain it.(no more than 25 words)
Once upon a time, in a little village called Charmington, there lived a shy and unconfident girl named Lily. Lily was a kind-hearted soul, but her lack of self-assurance often led her to doubt her own beauty and worth.
One sunny day, as Lily wandered through the streets of Charmington, she came across a charming little shop filled with shining hair accessories (配饰). Among the treasures, her eyes were attracted by a lovely bow (蝴蝶结) that seemed to callout to her. Despite her hesitation, something inside Lily told her to take a small act of self-expression and pay for the bow. She bought it and gently put it in her hair. At that very moment, a magical transformation took place. Lily felt a burst of confidence, as if the bow had given her a newfound confidence and charm.
Excited about her new accessory, Lily confidently walked down the busy streets of Charmington, unaware that the bow had slipped and dropped unnoticed from her hair. Her newfound confidence made her feel beautiful inside and out. As Lily walked, something amazing began to happen. People passing by couldn’t help but notice her beauty, the warmth that shined from herself. Strangers smiled at her, complimenting her on her look and bright smile.
Confused by their compliments, Lily touched her hair, only to realize that the bow was missing. Instead of feeling embarrassed or disheartened, she couldn’t help but be amazed by the power of her own confidence. Lily began to understand that true beauty lies not in outside decorations but in self-assurance and grace. It was her confidence that had caught the attention and admiration of those around her.
1. What was the biggest challenge for Lily? (No more than 15 words.)2. What happened to Lily’s new bow?(No more than 10 words.)
3. What does the underlined word “complimenting” probably mean? (Only 1 word.)
4. According to the passage, what is the true beauty? (No more than 15 words.)
5. In your opinion, how to build your own confidence? (No more than 20 words.)
My elder brother Steve, in the absence of my father who died when I was six, gave me important lessons in values that helped me grow into an adult.
For instance, Steve taught me to face the results of my behavior. Once when I returned in tears from a Saturday baseball game, it was Steve who took the time to ask me what happened. When I explained that my baseball had scared through Mrs. Holt’s basement window, breaking the glass with a crash, Steve encouraged me to confess (认罪) to her. After all, I should have been playing in the park down Fifth Street and not in the path between buildings. Although my knees knocked as I explained to Mrs. Holt, I offered to pay for the window from my pocket money if she would return my ball.
I also learned from Steve that personal property is a sacred (神圣的) thing. After I found a shiny silver pen in my fifth-grade classroom, I wanted to keep it, but Steve explained that it might be important to someone else in spite of the fact that it had little value. He reminded me of how much I’d hate to lose to someone else the small dog my father carved from a piece of cheap wood. I returned the pen to my teacher, Mrs. Davids, and still remembered the smell of her perfume as she patted me on my shoulder.
Yet of all the instructions Steve gave me, his respect for life is the most vivid in my mind. When I was twelve I killed an old brown sparrow in the yard with a BB gun. Excited with my accuracy. I screamed to Steve to come from the house to take a look. I shall never forget the way he stood for a long moment and stared at the bird on the ground. Then in a dead, quiet voice, he asked, “Did it hurt you first, Mark?” I didn’t know what to answer. He continued with his eyes firm,” The only time you should even think of hurting a living thing is when it hurts you first. And then you think a long. long time.” I really felt terrible then, but that moment stands out as the most important lesson my brother taught me.
1. Why did the author weep when returning from a baseball game? (no more than 12 words)2. The underlined part can be replaced by
3. How did the author kill the old brown sparrow? (no more than 5 words)
4. What important lessons did the author learn from Steve? (no more than 20 words)
5. How are you inspired by the lesson? Explain in your own words. (no more than 20 words)
Just like everyone, I have experienced ups and downs in my life. I am an aerospace engineer from India. I was told by my relatives, close friends and others that it was hard for a non-IT student to pursue a master’s degree in IT and graduate from a US university.
I had never taken courses related to computers or programming. I was never interested in being a programmer, but things changed. I became so captivated by the convenience IT has brought to our life that I made up my mind to chase a master’s degree in IT.
At first, I came across too many difficulties and setbacks. Coming from a middle-class family, the huge cost per credit was a big issue. My English accent was terrible. Most importantly, the course seemed impossible at first. Although I felt so discouraged and frustrated, I never thought of giving up.
Then I decided to choose my university because it promised its students to help them learn practically. During my first month, it was difficult to understand the Americans’ accent and finish my assignments. But I never gave in. I walked two miles to the university every day so that I could use my travel money to buy a meal. I started looking for jobs and I got an offer to work as a student assistant, which meant lifting benches and chairs every day.
I took all these challenges as my chances, and I believed that hard work was my strength. Right now I am graduating with a GPA of 3.96/4 and a job offer from a multinational company that has asked me to start right after graduation.
When you have a dream to realize, there is nothing that can stop you. All you need is the diligence and persistence. Hard work always pays off. Having a determined will is also necessary.
1. Why did the author’s family and friends say that it was hard for him to pursue a master’s degree in IT? (no more than 8 words)2. What does the underlined part “captivated by” in paragraph 2 mean? (2 words)
3. What is the main idea of paragraph 3? (no more than 10 words)
4. What made the author graduate with a higher GPA and a good job offer? (no more than 15 words)
5. What do you learn from the author’s story? (no more than 25 words)
We would all love to learn how to be happy. And sometimes, the solution comes from a surprising place.
During his fieldwork in a remote African village, an anthropologist (人类学家) had devoted himself to studying the unique habits and culture of the local tribe. He had been working in the village for quite some time and on the day before his scheduled return home, he composed a gift—a basket full of delightful fruits from the area, wrapped thoughtfully in a piece of cloth. He placed this offering beneath a tree and then gathered the village children around.
The man drew a line in the dirt, looked at the children, and said, “As soon as I signal to start, dash to the tree; the first to arrive will claim the basket of fruits.” However, when he signaled, instead of racing against each other, the children joined hands and ran together to the tree. Then They settled around the basket and enjoyed their treat as a group.
Bewildered by their act of unity, the anthropologist asked why they chose to run collectively when any one of them could have seized all the fruits. A young girl looked up at him and said innocently, “How can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?”
Years later, Desmond Tutu, the well -known South African activist, remembered how a girl once thought about things in a simple yet deep way. He used the word “ubuntu” to describe her thinking. “Ubuntu” means “I exist because we all do.” In other words, we are who we are because of our relationships with others. For that tribe, to be human is to relate with and through others. They think that our happiness comes from the union of our joys and the meaningful impact they have on the community.
1. What gift did the anthropologist prepared? (no more than 10 words)2. How did the children reach the tree? (no more than 10 words)
3. What does the underlined word “bewildered” probably mean in Paragraph 4? (1 word)
4. What is the source of happiness for the tribe? (no more than 10 words)
5. Do you agree with the tribe’s belief about happiness? Please give your reason (s).(no more than 25words)
6 . “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. |
| A．By providing examples. |
| B．By analyzing causes. |
| C．By making comparisons. |
| D．By listing figures. |
| 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”. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
7 . Exams never made me break out in a nervous sweat—but this one did. Even booking my piano exam reduced me to a mess of anxiety.
I feel permanently scared inside churches, where piano exams are held—no longer admiring their beauty because over the years I have received terrible marks from examiners. Despite being 15—too old, too cool to be frightened—I remember trembling inside the bathroom before my tests. I wished I never had to play in front of others.
This time, after booking my Level 8 Royal Conservatory of Music piano exam, I went back to my normal routine. A little practice here; a little practice there. And then it happened. My trusty, 10-year-old electric piano gave out. When I told my father what had happened to my piano, he only glared at me with disappointment, “When I was your age, I learned to be resourceful.”
Hmm. I had a broken piano, an exam coming up in a few months and a father who refused to buy me a new piano because he wanted to teach me a “life lesson”. I finally came up with a decision: I’d practice at school.
The school had many pianos but only a few in tune. Within a few days of searching, I headed off to a music room at every available opportunity. I loved finding new pianos in hidden corners of the school and spent hours practicing.
As my exam drew near, all the music teachers knew to look for me in the piano rooms after school. In anticipation of my assessment, one of my music teachers let me perform for her as a mini practice exam. To my surprise, she was greatly impressed.
Music had never been the love of my life but that was changing. When I played, my worries about how others judged me and how I viewed myself merged to reveal who I really am. All my adolescent thoughts made me feel like I was in a cage, but music gave me the key.
Within a few months I went from not caring about my playing to feeling actually kind of proud of my work. In my favorite, soundproof music room, I discovered that behind the piano, I could become anyone. Talking to other people never came easy to me, but I was able to express myself through music. I became overjoyed.
When the time came to play in front of an examiner, all the anxiety I had about going up on stage dimmed, and all I could think about was the marvelous journey I’d had to get here. Trilling the keys reminded me of the bittersweet music experiences of past years and my happiness nowadays.
Many days later, I received my mark—a rarely mentioned “well done”.
Now whenever I get caught up in the daily struggle, I remember the hard work that it took to reach my goal. Whenever I feel discouraged, I never forget to look at the gleaming keys of my new upright piano. As my father always says, some lessons are just learned the hard way.
1. What made the author so stressful inside churches these years?| A．The religious atmosphere. | B．The artistic performance. |
| C．The horrible surroundings. | D．Her colorful fantasy. |
| A．The author’s family was too poor to afford a new piano. |
| B．The father was quite angry about the author’s bad behavior. |
| C．The father wanted the author to address the problem independently. |
| D．The author showed great dissatisfaction about her father. |
| A．her hard work and determination |
| B．her own understanding of musical: value |
| C．her teachers’ constant encouragement |
| D．her family’s enthusiastic support |
| A．Mixed. | B．Separated. | C．Interacted. | D．Exploited. |
| A．Nervous—disappointed—angry—calm |
| B．Curious—frustrated—hopeful—grateful |
| C．Depressed—satisfied—disappointed—peaceful |
| D．Frightened—indifferent—passionate—proud |
| A．An important Music Test | B．A Hard but Enjoyable Life |
| C．My Favorite Piano | D．The “Key” to Happiness |
8 . A few years ago, I stood underneath a red overhanging cliff near my hometown, Carbondale, Colorado. The scenery was
I was tied in, ready to climb. I was
Just as I was about to climb,
It didn’t work. I fell near the top. Defeated, I
My self-worth was closely
I told myself that on my next attempt, success or failure didn’t
| A．fulfilling | B．gloomy | C．breath-taking | D．powerful |
| A．attempting | B．making | C．managing | D．promising |
| A．hesitation | B．distraction | C．equipment | D．engagement |
| A．desire | B．motivation | C．passion | D．nerves |
| A．Determined | B．Inspired | C．Desperate | D．Amused |
| A．pictured | B．realized | C．supposed | D．dreamed |
| A．in charge | B．in doubt | C．at length | D．for sure |
| A．dropped | B．lowered | C．handed | D．threw |
| A．sheltered | B．rescued | C．discouraged | D．avoided |
| A．combined | B．connected | C．contrasted | D．contacted |
| A．brought about | B．gave out | C．held back | D．set out |
| A．body | B．thought | C．spirit | D．heart |
| A．identify | B．mind | C．matter | D．happen |
| A．pass | B．license | C．certificate | D．document |
| A．hit | B．worked | C．admitted | D．interrupted |
| A．in terms of | B．in view of | C．regardless of | D．apart from |
| A．changed | B．failed | C．envied | D．evaluated |
| A．flow | B．rigidity | C．strength | D．naturalness |
| A．vital | B．crucial | C．possible | D．identical |
| A．motive | B．energy | C．force | D．power |
I have a big birthmark (胎记) on my face. But I don’t consider it a big problem. Instead, I think it’s something that makes me unique and memorable.
I especially admire a person called Joseph. He had a life which was full of hardships, from being sold as a slave by his brothers to being wrongfully accused and jailed in Egypt. And through it all, he kept his uniqueness, shared his talent and uplifted those around him. In my opinion, that he was able to rise to become an important official in Egypt was exactly because he could learn from his hardships and turn them into his advantages. They gave him the gifts of perseverance and bravery to stick to his faith and face any challenges that stood in his way.
Each of us has our struggles and pains in life, those things that we think hinder us from reaching greater heights. But what is important is that we know strength and beauty lie in the struggles, in overcoming hardships and in being open to people about your struggles.
When I meet someone, I try telling them, “The birthmark on my face makes me different, and would you mind my condition?” and with those few words, I show them that I have something special and I don’t avoid talking about it. Try that for yourself. Put the challenge up front so that you can put it aside from the start.
I hope this story of my struggle and the strength it has given me can add value to your life as well. We are on this journey of life together. With resilience and kindness, we can add light to our lives and the lives of those around us every day.
1. How does the author feel about his birthmark?(No more than 5 words)2. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?(No more than 8 words)
3. What does the underlined word “hinder” in Paragraph 3 mean?(I word)
4. Why does the author talk to people about his birthmark?(No more than 15 words)
5. How does the author’s story inspire you? Please explain it in your own words.(No more than 25 words)
10 . When I was little, my dad would let me sit beside him on the porch while he painted. He would tell me how the cow by itself is just a cow, and the meadow by itself is just grass and flowers, and the sun peeking through the trees is just a beam of light, but put them all together and you’ve got magic.
I understood what he was saying, but I’ve never felt what he was saying until one day when I was up in the sycamore tree to rescue a kite stuck in the branches. It was a long way up, but I thought I’d give it a shot. I started climbing. Then I looked down. And suddenly I got dizzy and weak. I was miles off the ground! But the kite was still beyond my reach. I caught my breath and forced myself to concentrate on the kite as I climbed up.
When I had the kite free, I needed a minute to rest. That’s when the fear of being up so high began to lift, and in its place came the most amazing feeling that I was flying. Just soaring above the earth, sailing among the clouds.
Then I began to notice how wonderful the breeze (微风) smelled. It seemed like sunshine and wild grass and rain! I couldn’t stop breathing it in, filling my lungs again and again with the sweetest smell I’d ever known.
I never got over the view. I kept thinking of what it felt like to be up so high in that tree. I wanted to see it, to feel it, again. And again.
It wasn’t long before I wasn’t afraid of being up so high and found the spot that became my spot. I could sit there for hours, just looking out at the world. Sunsets were amazing. Some days they’d be purple and pink, some days they’d be an orange, setting fire to clouds across the horizon.
It was on a day like that when my father’s notion (观念) moved from my head to my heart. The view from my tree was more than rooftops and clouds and wind and colors combined.
And I started marveling (惊奇) at how I was feeling both humble and majestic. How was that possible? How could I be so full of peace and full of wonder?
It was magic.
1. Why did the author climb up the sycamore tree?| A．To play in the tree. |
| B．To get a trapped kite. |
| C．To prove her courage. |
| D．To practice climbing skills. |
| A．Flying high. |
| B．Shouting aloud. |
| C．Singing happily. |
| D．Moving quietly. |
| A．unusual but painful |
| B．adventurous but rewarding |
| C．competitive and imaginative |
| D．well-planned and interesting |
| A．Because the tree had the sweetest smell. |
| B．Because it could help her to concentrate. |
| C．Because her father encouraged her to do so. |
| D．Because she could enjoy more than good views. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. |
| B．Positive action leads to happiness. |
| C．Beautiful things don’t ask for attention. |
| D．The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. |
