1 . Let me tell you about a young boy who made a model car all on his own. The boy is me, six years ago when I was just 11.

The car was small and simple, but in my imagination it was a high-speed racing car, speeding along the race road. It was during the school summer holidays and workmen were building a new driveway and garage (车库) beside our house. It meant to add something new to our home. When I watched the workmen, I came up with an idea — I would build a car to drive into the garage in celebration of it. I told my mother and began with my plans. But I couldn’t find the right things for making the car, so I gave up and sadly spent several days doing nothing. My mother noticed that I had stopped working and asked me why. I explained and she suggested that maybe I should change my plan to fit the things I had, rather than give up.

And that’s just what I did. I found small pieces of wood in my father’s workshop and made my car from anything that was lying around the house. When I found a small engine (发动机) from one of my old model planes, I added that. The power came from a battery (电池) I found in a box.

By the time the garage was finished, so was my car. I called my family together outside the house, started the engine and put the car on the driveway. It was fast and I had to run to the garage to prevent it from hitting the new door. My family began to cheer and I smiled proudly. Thanks to my mother I learned the value of continuing to do things, especially, something difficult. Soon I was making plans for my next project: a robot!

1. What was the writer when he made the model car?

A．A student.

B．A driver.

C．A workman.

D．An engineer.

2. What did the mother do to help the writer?

A．Explained the plan to him.	B．Brought him to the workshop.
C．Gave him some suggestions.	D．Found him some pieces of wood.

3. What happened by the time the car was finished?

A．The writer thanked his father.	B．The family was called together.
C．The writer put it into the house.	D．The family began a new project.

4. What did the writer mainly tell us?

A．Keep on doing things to the end.	B．Think hard before doing something.
C．Always ask for help when in trouble.	D．Try the best to find the right things to do.

2 . I have dreamed of taking a trip to Hawaii since I graduated, but the best thing always needs waiting.

I took a trip with my friends to Haleakala National Park, which lies in Hawaii.

When we arrived at Haleakala National Park, we were advised to watch the early morning sunrise. I was lost in the sightseeing (观光) that afternoon, so I could hardly wait to see the sunrise. The next morning, we all got out of bed very early and got to the seaside at 3 o’clock. In the first half an hour, we imagined how wonderful it would be when the first light came out through the thick clouds and how soft it would be when the light touched our skin, so we waited and waited. However, another half an hour later, I gradually lost my patience since there was nothing but the chilly darkness, and I felt that I was frozen to death. (冻死) But my friends were still extremely cheerful.

Nearly another one hour later, “Amazing!” Judy burst out and we all shouted to welcome the light, which was really unbelievable. Until today, I dare say that it is the most impressive sunrise in my life. However, waiting in the morning darkness is also one memory I can’t forget forever.

Waiting sometimes is really a hard thing for most of us as it needs patience and strong-willed determination (决心) , but what about the result after that? It might turn out to be pleasing and unbelievable. So, it is really worth (值得的) waiting for the best.

1. What can we learn from the passage?

A．he author’s friends and the author took a trip to China.

B．Hawaii is a good place to enjoy the sunrise.

C．Sometimes, it is worth waiting for the best.

D．The author enjoyed the worst sunrise in his life.

2. When did they see the first light of the sunrise?

A．About 3 o’clock.	B．About 4 o’clock.
C．About 5 o’clock.	D．About 6 o’clock.

3. What’s the meaning of the underlined word in Paragraph 2?

A．Total.

B．Cold.

C．Terrible.

D．Interesting.

4. How did the author feel when waiting for the sunrise?

A．Excited all the time.	B．Afraid all the time.
C．Firstly excited then afraid.	D．Firstly excited then impatient.

3 . Satya Nadella still remembers his interview question from many years ago. An interviewer asked, “If a baby falls and is crying, what will you do?” “I’ll call 911,” he said. Then, he was told to ___ some empathy (同感), because he needed to pick the baby up and ___ it first before he called.

Nadella says that although he did get the job, the ___ he learned from that interview question is core to business.

One of Nadella’s main tasks when he ___ as Microsoft’s CEO was to get his key people on the same page. Empathy would prove ___ to making that happen.

To illustrate the point, imagine that you walk into work one day to find your colleagues ___ about a problem. You may think to yourself, “Why are they always complaining?” or “I’ve had that problem before. What’s the big ___?”

Even if you don’t ___ those thoughts, just thinking of them will make you likely to get ___ or frustrated when you are dealing with your colleagues. This, of course, only makes the situation worse for them and completely ____ your relationship.   

____, what if you offer your colleagues a(n) ____ ear? When you do this, you’re learning to see the world through the eyes of others. Your colleagues will see you as someone who is quick to encourage others and build up ____ tear down something. Because they feel ____, they’ll put forth more effort and will be ____ to try and understand you next time you need the same treatment.

1.

A．measure

B．develop

C．challenge

D．experience

2.

A．save

B．hug

C．pull

D．greet

3.

A．answer

B．practice

C．lesson

D．skill

4.

A．took over

B．gave up

C．took off

D．gave in

5.

A．simple

B．efficient

C．harmful

D．essential

6.

A．arguing

B．talking

C．thinking

D．complaining

7.

A．deal

B．case

C．news

D．plan

8.

A．collect

B．read

C．clear

D．voice

9.

A．annoyed

B．ashamed

C．surprised

D．scared

10.

A．improves

B．destroys

C．handles

D．builds

11.

A．In short

B．In general

C．In contrast

D．In consequence

12.

A．ringing

B．listening

C．burning

D．aching

13.

A．other than

B．more than

C．less than

D．rather than

14.

A．recognized

B．appreciated

C．understood

D．influenced

15.

A．inspired

B．reminded

C．ordered

D．persuaded

4 . To the untrained eye, a ping-pong ball is just a ping-pong ball. To a Beverly Cleary fan, it's two motorcycle helmets（头盔）for mice. Just cut apart and add rubber band chin straps. Ever since I read Cleary's series about Ralph, the motorcycle-riding mouse, I've never looked at a ping-pong ball—or the world—the same way. And why shouldn't it be? It's perfect.

I wanted a mouse of my own to ride a toy motorcycle around my house! Thanks to Cleary's genius, a talking mouse friend seemed not only possible but probable.

Cleary, who passed away at 104, was one of the main reasons why I became a children's author. While much of children's literature attempted to explain the world from the point of view of a wise and gentle adult, Cleary created main characters who saw the world as only children can. I carefully read every title that bore Beverly Cleary's name. She seemed like a friend who understood me in ways I didn't yet understand myself.

I've written eight children's books and have always kept Beverly's sense of wonder in mind. I don't remember at exactly what age I decided I wanted to write books, but I know that in the second or third grade, my teacher assigned a project that allowed us to focus on whatever we wanted. My best friend picked dolphins while I chose children's authors. I told that story recently to a school group. One of the students said, "That's amazing! You did your project on children's authors and then you became one!" "Yes," I said.

And that perfectly sums up why I love writing for children: the lack of cynicism（愤世嫉俗）, the belief that fantastic, magical things can happen. Best friends can become dolphins. Mice can ride toy motorcycles and become our friends.

That's what Beverly Cleary taught me. In the hands of a gifted storyteller, anything is possible…and very funny.

1. Why does the author use a ping-pong ball as an example?

A．To say the ball is their favorite for mice.

B．To express his thoughts about the topic.

C．To describe how mice ride the motorbike.

D．To stress the importance of reading stories.

2. Who is Beverly Cleary?

A．The author's favourite writer.	B．The author's grandmother.
C．The author's teacher.	D．The author's fan.

3. What do we know about the author from paragraph 4?

A．He took Cleary's sense of mind seriously.

B．He decided to help his teacher finish the project.

C．He has published several books on animals for children.

D．He clearly remembered when he wanted to write books.

4. What is the fifth paragraph mainly about?

A．The author's talent for telling a story.

B．The author's strong belief about magic.

C．The author's reasons for writing for children.

D．The author's interest in playing with dolphins.

5 . Students and Technology in the Classroom

I love my blackberry (黑莓手机) — it’s my little connection to the larger world that can go anywhere with me. I also love my laptop computer, as it holds all of my writing and thoughts. Despite this love of technology, I know that there are times when I need to move away from these devices (设备) and truly communicate with others.

On one occasion, I teach a course called History Matters for a group of higher education managers. My goals for the class include a full discussion of historical themes and ideas. Because I want students to thoroughly study the material and exchange their ideas with each other in the classroom, I have a rule-no laptops, IPads, phones, etc. When students were told my rule in advance of the class, some of them were not happy.

Most students think that my reasons for this rule include unpleasant experiences in the past with students misusing technology. There’s a bit of truth to that. Some students think that I am anti-technology. There’s no truth in that at all. I love technology and try to keep up with it so I can relate to my students.

The real reason why I ask students to leave technology at the door is that I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversations and engage complex ideas. Interruptions by technology often break concentration (专心) and allow for too much dependence on outside information for ideas. I want students to dig deep within themselves for inspiration and ideas. I want them to push each other to think differently and make connections between the course material and the class discussion.

I’ve been teaching my history class in this way for many years and the evaluations reflect student satisfaction with the environment that I create. Students realize that with deep conversation and challenge, they learn at a level that helps them keep the course material beyond the classroom.

I’m not saying that I won’t ever change my mind about technology use in my history class, but until I hear a rally good reason for the change, I’m sticking to my plan. A few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too sweet to give up.

1. Some of the students in the history class were unhappy with ______.

A．the course material	B．others’ misuse of technology
C．discussion topics	D．the author’s class rules

2. The underlined word “engage” in para.4 probably means ______.

A．explore

B．accept

C．change

D．refuse

3. According to the author, the use of technology in the classroom may ______.

A．keep students from doing independent thinking

B．encourage students to have deep conversations

C．help students to better understand difficult themes

D．affect students’ concentration on the teacher’s ideas

4. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that the author ______.

A．is quite stubborn in teaching	B．will give up teaching history
C．will change his teaching plan soon	D．values technology-free dialogues in his class

6 . In 2010, my mother-in-law gave me her rather simple but graceful, antique “secretary desk”. The desk easily fit into the tiny room at the top of the stairs. I felt so secure, and confident when I sat down and began each writing session. Despite the desk’s appeal, its limited storage capacity meant that I often put file folders and books on the small floor space around me. After each writing session, I painstakingly gathered the tools of the trade and placed them on a nearby shelf until the next session.

A few years into my writing journey, we moved into a bigger home and I acquired my own office. My husband, Bill offered on more than one occasion to buy me a new desk for my office, but I ignored his offer.

One day, we stopped at the local office supply store. Bill found what he thought was the perfect desk for me. “I want to buy this for you, sweetie. My writer needs a bigger desk. ”He hugged me.

“Thanks, but I don’t want a bigger desk!” I said.

“Why don’t you want a bigger desk?” he said. “You must be afraid of something.”

“I’m not afraid of anything,” I said. “Like I said, I really like my little desk. So don’t ask me again.”

He didn’t.

A few weeks later, while working in my new office. I looked around at the folders, books and papers lying all over my office floor but couldn’t find what needed to meet a contest deadline. My heart raced. I looked around my office. The room basically swallowed the tiny desk, making it look slightly out of place. Maybe I did need a bigger desk. Was Bill right? Was I afraid of something?

Unable to write, I pulled c. JoyBell C.’s book of poetry, All Things Dance Like Dragonflies (蜻蜓), from the bookshelf. I flipped through its pages, and her words about faith jumped off the page into my heart. She talked about how she had trained herself to love the feeling of not knowing where she was going, and just trusting that as she opened up her wings and flew off in an unknown direction, things would work out.

At that moment, I recognized that a bigger desk symbolized bigger possibilities, stepping out in faith, and leaving my comfort zone.

1. What was the limitation of the “secretary desk”?

A．It was too old to be functional.

B．It competed with the shelf for room.

C．It prevented the author focusing on writing.

D．It was a bit small in size.

2. When did the author want to buy a new desk?

A．After she was stuck in a mess.

B．When she finished writing a book.

C．When she moved into a bigger house.

D．After she missed an important contest.

3. What was the author afraid of before?

A．Unemployment.	B．Loss of inspiration.
C．Uncertainty.	D．Lack of trust.

4. What would be the best title of the passage?

A．My Writing Journey	B．On the Wings of Change
C．My Lifelong Faith	D．On the Desk of Fate

9 . For as long as I can remember, my body and I have shared a relationship of discontent. Growing up, I was skinnier than the other kids and at five I was told I wasn’t attractive and that I must put on some weight. But no matter how much I ate, I stayed thin for years until adolescence. Then I started putting on weight almost immediately. I remember feeling happy as I began to fill out. However, my joy didn’t last long.

I was thirteen when I was first called fat. Friends and neighbours would make jokes on my big size. As I entered my late teens, I had completely lost confidence in my body and, subsequently, in myself. Having failed to live up to conventional beauty standards, I was convinced that if I wanted to be loved, I needed to offer more, doing anything to please everyone around.

I entered adulthood thinking I wasn’t “enough”—an idea that was seeded not only by the fact that “skinny” is celebrated, but also by the language associated with accounts of losing weight—self-improvement, discipline—all virtues. Being fat quickly categorizes you as lazy and undisciplined. Consumed by thoughts of the way my body looked, I didn't notice the other ways my body needed attention. I failed to realize, for example, that my period was much heavier and more painful than ever before. Actually I developed a rare disease and later I had two surgeries.

I was always made to feel that my weight was the root of a lot of problems in my life; I have learnt this is not true. After a lot of self-­reflection and some professional help, I realized I never learnt to like myself. While two decades of self­hatred cannot be undone overnight, I have taken first steps to acceptance.

I am now much lighter than before, in body and mind. There are days I find voices on social media saying I am too fat to be loved or to be worthy, but I am learning not to focus on that thought for long. As long as I like myself, just the way I am, opinions at the end of the day are just water off a duck’s back.

1. What can we learn about the author from the first two paragraphs?

A．She could change her weight at will.

B．She had different beauty standards from others.

C．She tried to love others to build her confidence.

D．She was greatly influenced by others’ opinions.

2. Why did the author think she wasn't “enough”？

A．She was poorly disciplined.	B．She failed to celebrate “skinny”．
C．She was labeled as lazy for her weight.	D．She put on more weight after entering adulthood.

3. What caused the author to make a change?

A．Her lighter body.	B．A troublesome illness.
C．Popular beauty standards.	D．Others’ critical comments.

4. What does the passage mainly tell us?

A．Beauty matters.	B．Opinions vary.
C．Worth your weight.	D．Beyond your limits.

10 . “I just don’t know what my mission in life is!” a friend told me. Her word _______ an old memory in me.

As a young dad, I was _______ just to get by. I was getting a few days’ work as a _______ teacher. Then near the end of the school year I got worried about the summer to _______ and the lack of work it would bring. The class had a bad _______ of summer break fever too. Students were _______ their seats, talking in class and not paying attention to anything I said. _______, it was time for a break and I was as happy as they were to get outside the hot classroom. I watched them run and play and _______ it would wear them out so the afternoon wouldn’t be as _______ as the morning had been on me. It was then, however, that a little girl ran up to me. She had a handful of freshly ________ wild flowers. She reached a daisy out to me and said, “This is for you, Mr. Mazzella.” In that second I felt a(n) ________ I hadn’t felt all day. I smiled and thanked her for her gift as she ________ happily away.

You see, in that ________ that little girl had completed a moment of her mission here on Earth. Every single thing we ________ is a part of our mission. It is a lifelong ________ too, so stop worrying about your mission.

1.

A．broke

B．implied

C．got

D．awakened

2.

A．moving

B．praying

C．struggling

D．working

3.

A．substitute

B．practice

C．senior

D．family

4.

A．relieve

B．come

C．focus

D．end

5.

A．case

B．mistake

C．memory

D．way

6.

A．packing up

B．bouncing off

C．sitting on

D．putting back

7.

A．Guiltily

B．Actually

C．Casually

D．Finally

8.

A．knew

B．decided

C．hoped

D．guaranteed

9.

A．tough

B．fixed

C．dependent

D．easy

10.

A．bought

B．picked

C．decorated

D．delivered

11.

A．urge

B．need

C．interest

D．joy

12.

A．slipped

B．passed

C．skipped

D．turned

13.

A．regard

B．spot

C．silence

D．instant

14.

A．explore

B．need

C．do

D．learn

15.

A．process

B．devotion

C．respect

D．love