1 . We all have them in our lives—Ms. Late and Mr. Early. They live among us just to try our patience. They can’t seem to get out of their own way and arrive on time. It’s a problem, and they know it, but that’s how they roll.

I’ve ever been in the room with my bestie Tinkerbell and said, “It’s time to go.” She agreed. Then, she turned around and ordered a T-shirt she had seen online, checked her email, folded her laundry and searched for her purse while I was waiting by the door.

But as exasperating as it is to have Ms. Late in your life, it’s equally painful to have Mr. Early.

My husband Hubby is in this category. He will time things to the minute. “The movie is at four. We have five stops to make before that, so estimating 15 to 20 minutes per stop, not counting traffic or unforeseen circumstances like a flat tire, we should leave after breakfast.”

Being too early or too late is a suffering, but it never seems to bother the person himself. It only affects the poor ones in their company who just do their best to show up when they’re supposed to.

I’d like to know how early in life this behaviour came into being. How does our internal clock leave one person unconcerned about time passing, and the other constantly aware of it? Look at my kids. My son is very laid back, and he didn’t arrive until nine days after his due date. My daughter, a spitfire (烈性子), arrived before her Christmas Day due date, so maybe it’s nature from the very beginning.

The one thing that does happen is that this behaviour has become part of the charm of the person you love. You can’t imagine Mr. Early ever being late or Ms. Late ever showing up early. As long as they show up.

1. Why does the author mention Tinkerbell and Hubby?

A．To make comparisons.	B．To provide examples.
C．To explain a concept.	D．To introduce the topic.

2. What can we infer about the author from this text?

A．She hates Mr. Early and Ms. Late.

B．She desires to change Mr. Early and Ms. Late.

C．She shows understanding to Mr. Early and Ms. Late.

D．She speaks highly of Hubby’s ability to time things accurately.

3. What does the underlined word “exasperating” mean?

A．Annoying.

B．Boring.

C．Confusing.

D．Worrying.

4. What’s the author’s purpose in writing this text?

A．To explain the importance of being on time.

B．To teach people how to stick to the schedule.

C．To share her views on Mr. Early and Ms. Late.

D．To discuss the origin of Mr. Early and Ms. Late.

2 . I have a vivid memory from when I was two years old. My uncle was holding me up in the air so I could _________ my mom’s washing machine, and I was _________ by the clothes swimming in circles in the water.

The first real _________ I ever owned was a camel hair overcoat with a matching fur hat. _________ I loved clothing, my mom and grandma _________ my enthusiasm by taking me shopping, pleasing me with fine clothes, and _________ me to care for them.

My love of _________ only deepened as I grew older. I learned how to wash, dry and _________ my own clothes in my teens. While on a college-student _________, I washed my wool sweaters myself to save money. What I __________ from the lessons of my laundry teacher were not just the how-tos. He explained five “love languages”— ways to __________ and experience love. Mine is service. That’s what caring for clothes __________ for my grandma, for my mom, and now for me. __________ duty, service is the way I show others love —__________ I’m washing my husband’s shirts, or washing the tablecloth in preparation for a party.

Changing our mindsets from __________ cleaning clothes to caring for others is key to changing our __________ about laundry. Caring for our loved ones’ clothes shows them love. When their clothes are __________, smell wonderful, and look great, our loved ones feel as if they can __________ the world, and their days become brighter.

That’s __________ for you and your clothes as well. And don’t you __________ that?

1.

A．examine

B．watch

C．discover

D．recognize

2.

A．confused

B．shocked

C．attracted

D．inspired

3.

A．garment

B．blanket

C．equipment

D．material

4.

A．Suspecting

B．Explaining

C．Admitting

D．Knowing

5.

A．fostered

B．checked

C．controlled

D．showed

6.

A．ordering

B．allowing

C．persuading

D．teaching

7.

A．clothing

B．shopping

C．laundry

D．cleaning

8.

A．design

B．iron

C．sew

D．pack

9.

A．trip

B．diet

C．budget

D．programme

10.

A．gained

B．expected

C．collected

D．judged

11.

A．seek

B．praise

C．discuss

D．express

12.

A．proved

B．meant

C．reflected

D．cost

13.

A．Far beyond

B．As for

C．Regardless of

D．Due to

14.

A．because

B．though

C．whether

D．unless

15.

A．really

B．entirely

C．actually

D．simply

16.

A．practices

B．attitudes

C．hobbies

D．comments

17.

A．neat

B．plain

C．expensive

D．unique

18.

A．fight against

B．look through

C．take on

D．find out

19.

A．fun

B．true

C．basic

D．secret

20.

A．envy

B．obey

C．celebrate

D．deserve

3 . Dad is a busy mechanic. Every Saturday he puts on his apron and produces delicious bread. I think he bakes to _________.

I’ve been feeling stressed out myself as I found out I didn’t _________ for the swim team. Now I’ll have to wait a whole year to try out again. I think Dad knew how I _________, so this Saturday he invited me to help him bake.

Dad first got out everything needed, and then told me to _________ the ingredients (配料) with a spoon. After that he showed me how to knead the dough (揉面团). It took only ten minutes but a(n) _________ amount of energy to complete.

Next came the _________ part — doing nothing. We   waited for the dough to slowly_________, then punched (捶打) it down and waited for it to rise again. Dad said the waiting is always the hardest part as you have to _________ the thought of putting the dough _________ into the oven.

While we waited, we sat and talked. __________ is like the dough that rises and fills a room with emptiness __________ you punch it down with words. It felt good to listen and share our __________. As the flour dust quietly __________, time seemed to slow down. The dough would rise at its own __________. We could do nothing to make it rise faster.

I learned how to bake, and I also learned to __________ the slowly ticking rhythm of time, to relax and let the bread rise.

1.

A．forget

B．exercise

C．learn

D．relax

2.

A．care

B．qualify

C．plan

D．vote

3.

A．failed

B．felt

C．performed

D．tried

4.

A．cook

B．shake

C．taste

D．mix

5.

A．surprising

B．increasing

C．extra

D．limited

6.

A．best

B．last

C．most difficult

D．most rewarding

7.

A．swell up

B．turn up

C．stand out

D．come out

8.

A．accept

B．consider

C．repeat

D．resist

9.

A．carefully

B．completely

C．directly

D．quickly

10.

A．Embarrassment

B．Hunger

C．Silence

D．Stress

11.

A．unless

B．though

C．even if

D．so long as

12.

A．recipes

B．duties

C．snacks

D．thoughts

13.

A．froze

B．settled

C．gathered

D．developed

14.

A．cost

B．convenience

C．pace

D．will

15.

A．appreciate

B．control

C．ignore

D．suffer

4 . I will never forget the first dessert class at a cooking school in France, where a group of anxious dessert students (myself included) were tasked with preparing an apple pie. It looked simple enough, but I soon realized that it was as far from simple as it could be. However, my knife and I mastered this French classic, as well as dozens of others.

After graduating, I found a job at a modern American restaurant in Florida. Despite the restaurant’s tiny kitchen, I was excited to work under Sylvia, the executive chef (主厨). The first job she gave me was to make apple pies. I couldn’t have been more excited — until I realized these pies were actually in the form of a dumpling. But my education had made me stick to French tradition. It took me a minute to get comfortable with this way of cooking again. Slowly, I was forgetting my French tradition, and beginning to go with the flow more. The response from diners was good. Our desserts were sold out on most days.

Then one day, chef Sylvia gave me the chance to make a new dessert and planned to add it to the menu for a week. Surprised and touched by the chance, I decided to go all out. I created a seasonal citrus mousse (柑橘慕斯) made with Florida oranges and pistachio croquant (a crisp, delicate cookie). But after a week, the apple pie dumplings continued to far outsell my special dessert. A sense of frustration went inside of me.

It finally made me aware that there isn’t one “right” way to understand a cuisine, or set of ingredients (配料). Where one chef can look at apples, butter, and flour and see a French apple pie, another might see baked apple dumplings. Even though each person’s translation may be different, I think they all deserve a spot on the table. And that was the most important lesson I discovered, through something as seemingly simple as fruit and dough (生面团).

1. What makes the author feel surprised according to paragraph 2?

A．The tiny kitchen.

B．The shape of apple pies.

C．The restaurant’s tradition.

D．The French way of coking.

2. How was the author’s new dessert?

A．It wasn’t popular as expected.

B．It was thought highly of by Sylvia.

C．It was removed from the menu.

D．It built up the author‘s confidence.

3. What did the author finally realize?

A．Foods stand for cultures.

B．Ingredients matter to cooking.

C．There is no fixed way for cooking.

D．Understanding a cuisine is necessary.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A job affecting one’s life.

B．A new dessert on the menu.

C．A special class at a cooking school.

D．A lesson taken as a dessert chef.

5 . The first thing my wife, Peg, said when I retired was “Good news! Now you’ll have time to clean the garage!” Not exactly good news-it was the one task I’d been putting off. Inside the garage had been gaps so big you could see all the way down to the ground and all the junk that had piled up since I’d started my job.

I’d earned a job as a news director, a position where I could use my skills. I threw my whole into it and put aside all the family trifles. I’d even worked my way up to head of the office. And after 30 years’ service, I knew it was time to retire. But after decades of long hours and strict deadlines, now what?

This dusty garage didn’t seem like much compared to the marble halls of the office building. Sure, I would have more time to spend with my family, but I worried I’d lose the sense of purpose and identity I had felt in my job.

I picked my way past coolers, snow shovels and folded canvas. Here I was puttering (磨蹭), of all things. I pulled on work gloves, then removed a box of motor oil out of the way, intending to empty some shelves when my hand hit something hard. What could that be?

“Just a dusty tin of seeds.” I sighed. “Huh, maybe older than me.”

I grabbed a plastic tray and pushed them into the soil. “What are my chances?” I asked an experienced gardener. “Not very good,” he said. I told Peg with a sigh, wanting to get rid of the tray, but something made me hesitate.

One morning, a sprig of green accidentally came into my view. Was it just grass? A weed? Or could it be...? I found myself checking first thing every morning, until one day I saw leaves unfurled. I proudly showed off the broad, healthy leaves to Peg and our grandchildren. “I just feel it even something this old can still come up. Pretty cool, right? Just like your papal!”

1. Why did the author put off cleaning the garage?

A．The garage was not in use.	B．He was lazy with cleaning.
C．The garage was full of wastes.	D．He was occupied in his work.

2. How did the author feel about his retirement at first?

A．He felt a sense of loss.	B．He was worried about housework.
C．He felt freed from burdens.	D．He was hopeful about the future life.

3. What does the underlined word “something” in paragraph 6 mean?

A．The experience of planting seeds.

B．The ability to take care of the seeds.

C．The words from the gardener about chances.

D．The expectation for the coming up of the seeds.

6 . When you need to find a solution to a design problem, you could ask yourself, “What animals or plants face a similar problem in their lives, and how do they handle it?”    1     Termites (白蚁) in Africa control the temperature and air currents in their nests by having thick walls and air spaces in the top part. The Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe was designed in a similar way, with thick overhangs shading the windows, and all the offices connected to a big chimney letting hot air escape. This allows it to stay cool while using much less air-conditioning.    2    

Engineer Nakatsu also asked himself the same question.    3     A keen birdwatcher, Nakatsu realised that kingfishers also experience an abrupt pressure change when diving into the water, but their beaks allow them to pierce through the water smoothly. His team found that putting a long, pointed nose on the train greatly reduced the loud booms in the tunnel and allowed it to run faster.

Having a big picture of the world we live in also helps us understand how technology can be used to protect instead of destroy it.    4     On the other hand, plastic packaging creates a lot of waste and pollution. One company has come up with an alternative material made of com husk waste and some big companies are starting to use it.

    5     Nakatsu worries that children today do not have the opportunity to touch and feel nature. He advises that students in university should study more than one narrow field so that they do not just have one fixed way of thinking.

A．In nature, everything gets recycled.

B．To mimic (模仿) nature, we must be familiar with it.

C．It turns out that natural beauty often has a logical reason behind it.

D．Large cities full of people are often compared to ants’ colonies (群).

E．This idea was used to arrange hundreds of mirrors at a solar power plant.

F．It could be a good solution for the hot and crowded cities in Southeast Asia too.

G．His problem was that the pressure from a bullet train rushing into a tunnel at high speed caused loud noises.

7 . I don’t own a camera anymore. I know my computer has one and my daughter is ________ taking photos with her smart phone. However, I rally miss those ________ cameras. I can remember taking a roll of film, mailing it out, and then ________ for two weeks to get the pictures back. And half of them were either overexposed by the sunlight or all of us had red eyes in them from the flash on the ________.

I can also remember the ________ when we finally saved up enough money to get a Polaroid (一次成像的) camera. It was more exciting to ________ the camera and have a photo ________ in only a minute. Even then, though, we only used it for special ________, such as birthdays and family gatherings.

Nowadays everything seems to be ________, saved and posted online. I wonder ________. Maybe a part of it is that we all want to stop, freeze and ________ these moments in time that fly by so fast. I have to ________ that sometimes I do. Just the other day I ________ some dusty photo albums about my ________. In one there was a picture of me just a few years old, laughing in my front yard. How I longed to go back to that ________, see my mother’s smiling face and be held in my grandmother’s ________ arms once more. Still, I know that does live on in my heart, and one day we will all be ________ again.

The truth is that hard as we try we can’t ________ time. All the photos can’t keep it in place, either. Perhaps we should really ________ our lives instead of just filming them. Perhaps it is best to smile with joy instead of smiling for a ________.

1.

A．unwillingly

B．hesitantly

C．barely

D．constantly

2.

A．expensive

B．advanced

C．old

D．popular

3.

A．relaxing

B．advertising

C．hiding

D．waiting

4.

A．watch

B．phone

C．camera

D．computer

5.

A．thrill

B．confusion

C．terror

D．peace

6.

A．replace

B．click

C．send

D．return

7.

A．ready

B．destroyed

C．posted

D．still

8.

A．accidents

B．occasions

C．challenges

D．adventures

9.

A．ignored

B．deleted

C．filmed

D．combined

10.

A．why

B．where

C．when

D．how

11.

A．judge

B．transform

C．bury

D．preserve

12.

A．forget

B．admit

C．doubt

D．predict

13.

A．looked through

B．broke down

C．mixed up

D．swept away

14.

A．adulthood

B．childhood

C．birth

D．adolescence

15.

A．thought

B．debate

C．moment

D．ceremony

16.

A．cold

B．unfamiliar

C．shaky

D．loving

17.

A．awake

B．asleep

C．together

D．away

18.

A．spend

B．stop

C．count

D．kill

19.

A．waste

B．assess

C．record

D．live

20.

A．photograph

B．game

C．mail

D．face

8 . We were told many things as parents who were expecting a baby. There was only one thing I actually _________. “You are going to learn the most important things from your _________,” we were told.

There are only a few _________ our boy can say. After “momma” and “daddy”, “more” is probably the word he uses most, and _________ anything from fun to food. By far his most important and _________ used expression is “wow”. He only says “wow” when something really _________ him.

We recently spent the night at our friends 'house. They only had one extra room so we _________ our bed and the baby's cot（婴儿床）in the same room. I slept well but _________ up too early and couldn't get back to sleep. I was _________ my day, a Sunday, and all the jobs that I needed to do. __________ of them was going to be much fun.

I heard my child made a __________ . He rolled over, opened his eyes and let out a cheerful “wow”. Suddenly. I learnt something.

Despite everything I've learnt about “good thoughts”, “looking on the __________ side” and “taking it a day at a time”, I woke up feeling __________ . This little boy, with no __________ , was at the place I've been seeking for. To wake up in the morning, take a look at the world, and say “wow” is probably as close to __________ as a person could ever get.

I'm sure our child will __________ wake up, as most of us do only to say “oh no”. I wish I knew what I could do to __________ this happening. I wish he could __________ me the way he sees things now.

If only we could make ourselves __________ what it takes to open our eyes in the morning, see that we are alive in a __________ world and say “wow”.

1.

A．get down to

B．give in to

C．look forward to

D．come up with

2.

A．children

B．teachers

C．parents

D．friends

3.

A．letters

B．words

C．idioms

D．sentences

4.

A．means

B．points

C．delivers

D．transforms

5.

A．constantly

B．frequently

C．seldom

D．usually

6.

A．disturbs

B．annoys

C．frightens

D．impresses

7.

A．put off

B．brought in

C．took away

D．set up

8.

A．woke

B．got

C．dressed

D．held

9.

A．preparing for

B．thinking about

C．checking on

D．bringing out

10.

A．One

B．Part

C．Some

D．None

11.

A．dream

B．wish

C．move

D．face

12.

A．appropriate

B．evident

C．bright

D．ridiculous

13.

A．thrilled

B．frustrated

C．joyful

D．curious

14.

A．experience

B．intelligence

C．skill

D．experiment

15.

A．depression

B．determination

C．happiness

D．entertainment

16.

A．eventually

B．absolutely

C．occasionally

D．particularly

17.

A．appreciate

B．prevent

C．imagine

D．keep

18.

A．pay

B．teach

C．lead

D．introduce

19.

A．rebuild

B．restart

C．recall

D．relearn

20.

A．fragile

B．stressful

C．busy

D．beautiful

9 . “Sometimes I’m so envious of my friends, I hate them,” says Kimberly. “I was at dinner a month ago, celebrating a friend’s engagement. Suddenly I remarked that 50% of marriages end in divorce. I was upset about not having a serious relationship myself. My envy took over, and I became a different person.”

Envy is the desire for what someone else has and resentment（愤恨）of that person for having it. Kimberley was envious, but that doesn’t mean she is a bad person. “Everyone experiences envy,” explains psychologist Karen Peterson.

Envy doesn’t have to make us feel powerless and sorry for ourselves. Instead, it can motivate us to try to achieve what we want. There are effective ways for dealing with envy and turning it into something useful.

Kimberly’s envy caused her to make the unkind remark about divorce. If you have a similar desire to express your envy in a negative way, stop yourself. Instead, think about what it is that you are envious of. Kimberly admitted that when her friend announced her engagement, “it made me feel lonely and insecure.” Once you figure out why you are envious, it’s much easier to eventually grow from the experience. “Envy can be an excellent teacher,” states Peterson, “as long as you are open to learning its lessons.”

Lucy and her friend were both trying to get a better job at their company. Lucy thought that she would get the promotion, but things didn’t work out that way. Instead, her friend got the job, and Lucy became upset and jealous. Full of envy, she started saying hurtful things about her friend. “That wasn’t like me, but I couldn’t think straight,” she explains. Lucy said unkind things because not getting the job made her feel bad about herself, explains Peterson. Her reaction didn’t make her feel better, though. It just strengthened her negative feelings. If something similar happens to you, Peterson says that you should try to understand why your friend got the promotion. That way you can learn from the experience instead of reacting in a negative way.

1. Karen Peterson thinks envy ______.

A．turns one into a different person	B．can make one feel powerless
C．is connected with hatred	D．is normal in humans

2. The author suggests that when you feel envious, you should first ______.

A．consult a teacher for help.	B．state your negative thoughts.
C．find out what makes you envious	D．figure out what lesson you should learn

3. What could be the best title for the text?

A．What Envy Means to Friends?	B．Is Envy Hurting or Helping you?
C．Why Do People Make Unkind Remarks?	D．How Can You Get Along with Friends?

10 . From the age of eight, I was allowed to walk from my house to the local library. I started with Little House in the Big Woods. I was fascinated by the story and the peaceful atmosphere there.

But the local library’s collection paled in comparison to what was available to us at high school. There, I read novels written by the authors we were studying in class: Charles Dickens and Joseph Conrad, Mark Twain and Emily Brontë.

When I studied English literature at university, I dreamed of building my own library. And later, when I taught English at a high school, I continued to collect books. Toward the end of my teaching career, I became a teacher-librarian. This position reignited (重新点燃) my love and appreciation for how wonderful it is to be surrounded by books. I searched for books that would interest my teenage audience and hopefully spark a love of reading in them.

I quickly realized that the library wasn’t just a place to do research; students came for other reasons, as well. I noticed that some students lined up first thing in the morning, returned at break time and spent the whole lunch hour eating in a carrel (小书房). These were the loners who felt safer in the library than in the cafeteria where they could be bullied.

I noticed that students searched for books on specific topics instead of using computers: drugs, mental-health issues, etc. I realized that computer screens were too visible, so I bought more books on those topics.

I bought sofas and easy chairs. The conference room doubled as an art gallery and a meeting place for students to talk about ideas, play chess, and make posters for their clubs. The library became an inclusive public space, safe for everyone.

Whether libraries are located in schools or in communities, I believe libraries are vibrant (生机勃勃 的 ) places that help us to adjust to the world, and their doors must be kept open to everyone—for free.

1. The text is organized mainly _________.

A．by space.

B．by example.

C．by comparison.

D．by time.

2. Which of the following view would the author most likely agree with?

A．School libraries are usually much better than local libraries.

B．Libraries are the best places where students can do research.

C．The attraction of libraries partly lies in their cosy atmosphere.

D．Students can learn more from books than from computers.

3. What might be the best title for the text?

A．Safe in the Library.

B．My Dream Library.

C．Passion for Reading.

D．From a Lover to a Librarian.