1 . It is William Shakespeare, the great coiner, who is given credit for the word. Coriolanus, one of his characters, compares going into exile (流放) to a “lonely dragon” retiring to his cave. He was talking about a physical state: someone who was lonely was simply alone. Then, thanks to the Romantic poets, the word took on emotional meanings. Loneliness became a condition of the soul. For William Wordsworth, who famously “wandered lonely as a cloud”, the natural world offered an escape from negative feelings of loneliness—a host of flowers could provide “cheerful company”. Today, loneliness is often seen as a serious public-health problem, creating the feeling of disconnection.

In his book Solitude, Netta Weinstein, a psychology professor wonders the rewards of time spent alone. He begins with an account of stories of solitude created by figures such as Michel Montaigne, a writer, and Edward Hopper, a painter. Netta then draw on laboratory work, interviews and surveys to clarify how being alone really affects the human mind.

It is common to treat loneliness and solitude as synonyms (同义词), but they are not. The author suggests that what is negatively described as one state can be positively expressed as the other. Loneliness, often perceived as negative, can potentially be transformed into a positive experience of solitude. To this end he emphasizes how being alone can help restore people and offers practical advice. In a noisy world, he argues, people should make time to be alone, away from attention-grabbing motives.

The book’s interviewees mostly regard a lack of company as a contributor to autonomy. But this depends on whether solitude is desirable or not. Enforced solitude, such as that experienced by prisoners, typically leads to nothing but suffering. Elective solitude, by contrast, affords space for self-reflection. It can open the door to “peak experiences” such as wonder, harmony, and happiness. In a highly-connected digital age, however, many readers do not fancy their chances of ever taking a long enough break to have such experiences.

1. How does paragraph 1 introduce the concept of loneliness?

A．By tracing its development.	B．By analyzing causes.
C．By making a point to be argued.	D．By sharing a romantic story.

2. What does Netta Weinstein’s book Solitude focus on?

A．The various terms of solitude.

B．The societal impact of solitude.

C．The long-standing history of solitude.

D．The psychological benefits of solitude.

3. Netta describes the state of loneliness as __________.

A．stressful

B．essential

C．changeable

D．never beneficial

4. What does Netta most probably agree with according to the last paragraph?

A．Enforced solitude is a matter of choice.

B．Enforced solitude contributes to autonomy.

C．Elective solitude is rare in the digital world.

D．Elective solitude interrupts peak experiences.

2 . Mason Branstator is on a journey to find the meaning in life every day. With a positive social media ________, he’s helping others find it, too.

When Mason was in high school, he loved skiing. A(n) ________ day changed his life forever. Skiing down a hill he had been on countless times before, he hit a jump too fast, ending with a ________ back. Doctors decided he had a spinal cord (脊髓) injury, which ________ lower body functions and that he likely wouldn’t ________ again.

He just thought it was a(n) ________ for the first couple of days. However, it only took him a few days to accept the reality. He began the ________ process at Craig Hospital, struggling to make what he was ________ told was impossible — walking — possible. He came to ________ he was fighting mental and physical barriers, and soon learned the ________ of him he thought he’d lost forever was not gone at all. He even ________ his recovery stories online, inspiring others with similar ________. “The optimistic Manson came back again,” he said.

“It all started with me just wanting to find more people like me that I could ________ with and talk to.” said Mason, “And then it ________ into this thing that inspired millions of people around the world, which I didn’t ________ in the beginning.”

1.

A．presence

B．intervention

C．popularity

D．giant

2.

A．busy

B．exciting

C．sunny

D．typical

3.

A．painful

B．broken

C．rigid

D．stressful

4.

A．enhanced

B．affected

C．restored

D．preserved

5.

A．walk

B．travel

C．sit

D．stand

6.

A．chance

B．adventure

C．dream

D．choice

7.

A．exercise

B．operation

C．reaction

D．recovery

8.

A．temporarily

B．eventually

C．initially

D．consequently

9.

A．confirm

B．realize

C．remember

D．admit

10.

A．story

B．concept

C．part

D．detail

11.

A．documented

B．changed

C．advertised

D．created

12.

A．conflict

B．lesson

C．mission

D．challenge

13.

A．compete

B．consult

C．connect

D．deal

14.

A．grew

B．faded

C．melted

D．got

15.

A．assume

B．anticipate

C．appreciate

D．witness

3 . The greatest sports moments often have a wonderful flow state behind the victories or performances. Being in flow refers to the moments where distraction reduces, and concentration ________ .

It was a _______ summer camp ping pong tournament where I was not only down I set, but 7 points behind my opponent (对手), who had only 3 points left to ________ the set, and the tournament. For a comeback, I had to win at least 10 points, without making ________ !

Facing the desperate situation, I could ________ it a day and let my opponent win. Perhaps my opponent had already focused on the ________, but failure wasn’t an option! Thus, I ________ it out, hoping for the best. I told myself, “Let’s just try and win the next point, nothing else.” ________ deep, I stared at the ball with a clear mindset and keen ________. I took it, hit it back and scored!

5 points to go, 4 points to go... My opponent started getting visibly ________ and made mistakes. Point by point I was getting closer to being even.7-8. I was one point away from doing the ________. My mouth was shut and my eyes stayed ________ the entire set. He made another error. 8-8. The comeback was complete. The crowd went ________! Winning the next 3 points, I managed to win that set. In the last set, my opponent turned restless again. ________ the flow, I ended up winning the final set, and the tournament.

Despite a small game, it inspired me a lot. Not being able to control how our opponent plays, we can _______ how to react. Don’t be there, where you are not. Instead, be here and now! Stay in flow! Be concentrated!

1.

A．limits

B．decreases

C．heightens

D．changes

2.

A．tough

B．competitive

C．crazy

D．close

3.

A．lose

B．win

C．tie

D．restart

4.

A．adjustments

B．reservations

C．efforts

D．mistakes

5.

A．call

B．make

C．leave

D．take

6.

A．defense

B．attack

C．celebration

D．relief

7.

A．figured

B．tried

C．pointed

D．stuck

8.

A．Sighing

B．Breathing

C．Regretting

D．Struggling

9.

A．attention

B．interest

C．insight

D．appreciation

10.

A．confused

B．desperate

C．exhausted

D．uneasy

11.

A．right

B．impossible

C．opposite

D．previous

12.

A．swollen

B．bright

C．sharp

D．bloodshot

13.

A．wild

B．silent

C．mad

D．deaf

14.

A．Going against

B．Cutting off

C．Holding to

D．Recovering from

15.

A．wonder

B．determine

C．predict

D．consider

4 . Dreaming of photographing the world’s beauty, I wrote a travel wish list and hung it on my wall, not expecting to actually go anywhere. However, a local photo contest gave me a _________. I chose the Grand Canyon, one of my bucket list places to visit, since I got my first camera.

The journey was _________, with unique touches like aspen trees towering and lizards (蜥蜴)rushing about. After a day’s _________, I decided to have a good rest and start fresh the next day for the mission to _________ the Canyon’s grandeur.

The next morning, I woke up early to capture (拍摄) the _________. Reaching the overlook, I found an elderly man alone on a bench. After exchanging _________, he noticed my camera and _________if I’d captured any favorites. I _________ shared a couple of photos, not anticipating any further conversation that followed. He _________, revealing that he and his late wife, Betty, visited the Grand Canyon annually for their anniversary. Her __________the previous year marked his first return without her and he spent each sunrise reflecting on their treasured __________. His heartfelt tales __________ me deeply, as I, too, had experienced a recent loss, making the moment __________.

Returning home with numerous photos, I __________the best from my adventures for the contest. This journey taught me the value of chasing dreams, embracing challenges, and __________with others through shared moments, making it a truly enriching experience.

1.

A．favor

B．break

C．suggestion

D．push

2.

A．tiring

B．puzzling

C．refreshing

D．encouraging

3.

A．traveling

B．meeting

C．talking

D．picnicking

4.

A．shoot

B．paint

C．describe

D．video

5.

A．trees

B．sunrise

C．lizards

D．birds

6.

A．gifts

B．ideas

C．numbers

D．greetings

7.

A．doubted

B．inquired

C．considered

D．checked

8.

A．elegantly

B．purposefully

C．hesitantly

D．gratefully

9.

A．opened up

B．dressed up

C．hurried up

D．cheered up

10.

A．running away

B．passing away

C．breaking down

D．settling down

11.

A．possessions

B．collections

C．memories

D．qualities

12.

A．entertained

B．inspired

C．concerned

D．touched

13.

A．available

B．comfortable

C．admirable

D．unforgettable

14.

A．purchased

B．guaranteed

C．selected

D．made

15.

A．competing

B．connecting

C．discussing

D．cooperating

5 . My colleagues and I, who have been teaching powerful communication skills, talk about the power of words all the time. We think the words we use are at the heart of _________.

Over the last twenty years, I have _________ thousands of people. I have heard some _________ of the following many times: “How can I get my boss/colleague to _________ me like I am part of the team?” I have met young people who are made to feel like _________ by their older colleagues, often because the experiences that are shared around the table are about something that happened long ago. I have talked with older people who feel out of touch because their younger and more culturally-current colleagues _________ refer to new developments in technology that an older colleague is _________ to know.

There are lots of ways we can make someone feel excluded and _________. But often, in my experience, the words we use are a main _________. The words have the power to make people feel included, but they also can make people feel __________.

So, the next time you are in a __________ of some kind, be __________. If you are in a meeting of engineers and there is someone who doesn’t “speak engineering” the way the rest of you do, __________ using fewer technical terms. If you are in a party and are not __________ whether everyone “speaks football”, think about talking about another __________ of your weekend.

1.

A．success

B．friendship

C．inclusion

D．sympathy

2.

A．praised

B．employed

C．criticized

D．coached

3.

A．assumptions

B．options

C．questions

D．suggestions

4.

A．treat

B．rescue

C．admire

D．follow

5.

A．competitors

B．outsiders

C．researchers

D．professionals

6.

A．gradually

B．rarely

C．temporarily

D．constantly

7.

A．hesitant

B．unlikely

C．afraid

D．unwilling

8.

A．unwelcome

B．regretful

C．envious

D．disappointed

9.

A．factor

B．result

C．change

D．dream

10.

A．sought for

B．tested out

C．cared for

D．left out

11.

A．contest

B．gathering

C．camp

D．classroom

12.

A．confident

B．courageous

C．thoughtful

D．patient

13.

A．imagine

B．consider

C．avoid

D．miss

14.

A．worried

B．curious

C．pleased

D．sure

15.

A．element

B．day

C．person

D．party

6 . Last year, my younger brother Darrin tore the old engine out of his Dodge Challenger. Then he ________ it piece by piece, and put it back together again all by himself. He was 16. All he ________ was a Chilton’s shop manual (使用手册) for the car, his own curiosity, and a strong desire to ________ how things worked.

Later, I asked him about this ________ and how he made it. His answer was ________ — he just did it. He wanted a new car and couldn’t afford to buy another one, so this was really his only ________. He had nothing to lose and was highly ________ to make the engine work. He ________ with it, paid close attention to how he took it apart, made a lot of mistakes, and reached points where he wasn’t ________ what to do next. When that happened, he asked a friend or a friend’s dad for ________, tried this and tried that, until he finished the work. To me it was a (n) ________ achievement.

Our ________ to do hard things increases when we try doing those hard things. It is ________ limited by our own will and imagination. We learn by trying, by making mistakes, and by ________ help from those who know more sometimes just a little more-than we do.

Never ________ trying new things. The more one does, the more one can do.

1.

A．discovered

B．rebuilt

C．donated

D．reserved

2.

A．detected

B．preferred

C．occupied

D．had

3.

A．figure out

B．give away

C．bring up

D．rule out

4.

A．property

B．campaign

C．guide

D．project

5.

A．correct

B．serious

C．simple

D．funny

6.

A．luck

B．option

C．requirement

D．relaxation

7.

A．expected

B．forced

C．convinced

D．motivated

8.

A．communicated

B．competed

C．experimented

D．disagreed

9.

A．sure

B．afraid

C．curious

D．satisfied

10.

A．permission

B．courage

C．advice

D．reward

11.

A．amazing

B．common

C．confusing

D．strange

12.

A．anxiety

B．capacity

C．income

D．impatience

13.

A．rarely

B．necessarily

C．originally

D．mostly

14.

A．seeking

B．offering

C．affording

D．avoiding

15.

A．admit

B．stop

C．fancy

D．keep

7 . Flaco the owl (猫头鹰) is gone, but his life had all the elements of a classic hero’s story, not soon forgotten. Flaco lived a dozen years in a comfortable cage in the Central Park Zoo where little happened and less was needed. His life was a safe existence without freedom. Then, a year ago, someone released him.

On Friday, when he died of injury, perhaps from a collision (碰撞) with a Manhattan apartment building’s glass windows, his death offered us a chance to reckon with the question at the heart of many a hero’s journey: Can we put a price on freedom?

Flaco’s liberation from his cage came at a cost — he spent the final year of his life free, but threatened from all sides by a booming city. Was it worth it?

Almost from the moment he was released, Flaco became a symbol of hope for many of the people who followed his story and recognized parts of themselves in him. Some saw him as the symbol of the American dream, an outsider who had come to Manhattan and made a life for himself here, like millions of others who arrived penniless and unconnected in search of freedom.

As a result, he flew around the city. We were terrified that he’d succumb to (屈服于) the dangers of city life. Flaco had no experience living outside a cage, and New Yorkers initially doubted his chances of survival. We worried that he’d eat a rat with enough poison in its system to kill him. But Flaco never looked back. Perhaps freedom itself was the home he’d discovered.

And though we feared for him, his new life excited us. How many of us, our circumstances familiar and sale, are too frightened to seek our more fully realized selves?

How many of us, viewing our confinements as nothing out of the ordinary, have long stopped wondering what our wings are for?

Have we not all desired a life beyond the range of the one we lead? Flaco showed that our desire is not misplaced. His choice proved a truth that given a chance, living things choose freedom of movement.

1. What do the underlined words “reckon with” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Bring up.

B．Deal with.

C．Reflect on.

D．Look into.

2. What happened to Flaco the owl after he was released from his cage?

A．He died a natural death.

B．He was caught and returned to the zoo.

C．He died from a collision with a building.

D．He lived a free life but faced many threats.

3. What was the initial reaction of New Yorkers towards Flaco’s release?

A．They were excited and supportive.

B．They were worried about his survival.

C．They were indifferent and unconcerned.

D．They were angry and opposed to his release.

4. What does the author want to convey through the story of Flaco?

A．The importance of protecting wildlife.

B．The risks and rewards of seeking freedom.

C．The value of overcoming challenges in life.

D．The need for more awareness about animal rights.

8 . 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。

Another Way

The train ran smoothly on a spring afternoon. At one station, the doors opened, and came in a man. He wore laborer’s clothing, big, drunk and dirty. Screaming, he swung at an elderly couple. Terrified, the couple jumped up and quickly walked away. The laborer aimed a kick at the back of the old woman but missed. The passengers froze with fear.

I’ve been putting in a solid eight hours of martial arts (武术) training nearly every day for the past three years. “We study how to resolve conflict, not how to start it,” my teacher had said again and again. I listened to his words. In my heart, however, I wanted to save the innocent by destroying the guilty.

“This is it!” I said to myself as I got to my feet. Seeing me stand up, the drunk recognized a chance to focus his rage (怒火). His fists upraised, he gathered himself for a rush at me. A second before he could move, someone shouted “Hey!”

I remembered the strangely joyous quality of the voice. We both stared down at a little old man. “Come here and talk with me,” the old man said in an easy voice. He waved his hands lightly. The big man followed, as if on a string. He planted his feet in front of the old gentleman, “Why should I talk to you?” The old man continued, “What have you been drinking?” “Beer,” the laborer replied, “and it’s none of your business!”

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” the old man said with interest. “You see, I love beer, too. Every night, my wife and I take beer out into the garden, and we sit on an old wooden bench. We look to see how our persimmon (柿子) tree is doing. We worry about whether it will recover from those ice storms we had last winter. Our tree has done better than I expected, though, especially when you consider the poor quality of the soil.”

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

As the laborer struggled to follow the old man, his face began to soften.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I turned my head for one last look before getting off the train.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . I didn’t go to Santiago, Chile to look for friendship. In fact, Chile was not even on my wish list.

A mid-life crisis woman, I got a chance to study abroad. I only wanted to learn about global business, taste South American cuisine, and check “study abroad” off my wish list.

On the fifth day, I joined a group for a neighborhood work project aided by the anti-poverty (扶贫) organization. Our tasks were to build a water tower and paint the community center. Upon arrival, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like a scene out of a horrible film. That moment redefined poverty for me because I had never seen such terrible living conditions. As advised, I showed no signs of the motional battle going on inside me.

Just as I was about to start work on painting, a request came through for a few volunteers to help Nadia, a local resident who volunteered to cook for us. I raised my hand to help because I wanted spend time with the people of the neighborhood despite my shortage of Spanish speaking skills.

Nadia had a sincere smile but not overly friendly. Even without speaking each other’s language we started to learn about one another. We chatted about our children, our upbringing, shared picture of our family, struggled to instruct each other to communicate in the other’s language, and laugh many times.

After we fed everybody and the dishes were washed, my day was over. But I found myself hesitant to leave. It was as if I had known her my entire life. I had not predicted the unselfishness heart I would encounter, and it was moving.

As we were waiting for the car to pick us up, Nadia showed me her plants that are well-maintains. I could see that despite the hard conditions she was passionate about life. She made me long to be stronger person. She showed me that poverty was external, but happiness was internal. I was seeking to give 100 percent for a well-intentioned cause, but I left receiving 200 percent from her.

1. What was the author’s initial purpose of going to Chile?

A．To find new friends while traveling.	B．To participate in an anti-poverty project.
C．To fulfill the desire to study abroad.	D．To gain a graduate certificate in business.

2. What did the author do after seeing the living conditions in the neighborhood?

A．She decided to relieve the poverty.	B．She kept her emotions well hidden.
C．She comforted the shocked volunteers.	D．She refused to continue the present task.

3. Why did the author volunteer to work with Nadia?

A．She felt very sympathetic toward Nadia.

B．She longed to interact with the local residents.

C．She wanted to improve her Spanish speaking skills.

D．She preferred cooking to painting the community center.

4. What did the author learn from Nadia?

A．True friends are never apart in heart.

B．Happiness is defined by a positive attitude.

C．Language is not a barrier to great connections.

D．Unselfishness is putting others before ourselves.

10 . My birth was a little more dramatic than the standard way a baby enters the world. I was born missing my left hand. Indeed, my limb (手臂) difference could have been a disaster if it hadn’t been for what happened next. A nurse placed me in my mother’s arms and instructed, “You will take her home. You will love her and treat her as normal.”

That is exactly what happened. I played sports, acted in theater, excelled in school and had playdates with friends. While I did get some stares and “polite” questions about my disability, I was lucky because I wasn’t made fun of for it.

However, that fact that I was different hit me hard my first day of high school. I was 13, an age when kids are already very self-conscious and the need to fit in is intensified. I remember one of the other kids on the school bus stared just a little too long at my left arm. I felt a sudden urge to hide my hand, so I slipped it into my pocket. I told myself that I’d just hide it that one day, while I was trying to make friends. But one day of hiding turned into a week, a month, and years — 25 of them to be exact.

When I was 38 years old, tired of hiding and lonely, I met someone special and invited him in. The combination of me finally feeling ready to unhide and his willingness to go through the unhiding process with me was exactly what I needed. For the first time in my life, I allowed someone to really hold my limb, look at it, touch it, love it — love me. I saw my limb difference as something unique about me, something that should be shown, not hidden.

It was a transformational experience, and I learned to love me too. It changed how I lived my entire life and made me happier. I also discovered and joined the Lucky Fin Project, an organisation devoted to people with all types of disabilities.

Hiding things, especially from loved ones, is tiring and lonely, and it prevents us from getting help and support. It’s time to change that.

1. What was the author’s childhood like?

A．She had no social interactions with friends.

B．She was raised with care and treated normally.

C．She faced some challenges in school activities.

D．She was upset about the attention to her difference.

2. What happened to the author when she was 13 years old?

A．She began to ignore her disability.

B．She suffered prejudice from some kids.

C．She started hiding herself away from friends.

D．She became sensitive due to her self-awareness.

3. How did the author change when she stopped hiding?

A．She started to open up and be herself.

B．She met someone who cured her disability.

C．She was fed up with the company of others.

D．She reduced involvement in the disability group.

4. What can we learn from this passage?

A．Misfortune is a good teacher.

B．Disability is not a barrier to success.

C．Self-acceptance can lead to self-love.

D．Nothing beats the feeling of being loved.