1 . As to psychological well-being, the comfort zone is frequently perceived as a haven, a familiar location where individuals feel calm and peaceful. Pushing beyond this psychological state might have benefits.

The comfort zone can be understood as a behavioral metaphor. Within a comfort zone, an individual takes on a state of minimal anxiety without a perception of risk, responding predictably to deliver a consistent level of performance. These include behaviors that people do commonly, find relaxing, or that take them away from high-stress situations. Engaging in the same manner over time leads to a predictable and familiar zone of comfort. As creatures of habit, we become dependent on these routines that we know we can complete well to feel secure. However, by stepping outside of our comfort zone, we learn about our ability to handle new situations and control risks, leading to greater self-confidence, and lower levels of anxiety.

One study found that individuals who are more secure in stepping out of their comfort zone are more likely to be excited by and look forward to new experiences, feeling greater confidence in their ability to take them on.

One behavior that demonstrates the benefits of stepping out of a comfort zone is learning to play a musical instrument. When we consider actions outside of our comfort zone, we must assess our desire to engage in that activity. By weighing the pros and cons, we evaluate how uncomfortable a situation may seem, and whether the danger of entering such an unknown situation will be worth the risk.

Music offers a safe way to step out of your initial comfort zone because you can begin by practicing in an isolated setting, which offers a casual, safe way to build a new skill set. By picking up and practicing a new instrument, you have proven to yourself that you are capable of meeting an unfamiliar objective, thus decreasing anxiety.

1. What does the underlined word “haven” in Paragraph 1 most probably mean?

A．Habitat.

B．Shelter.

C．Community.

D．Destination.

2. Which will not be considered when we step out of our comfort zone?

A．We recall the old experience.

B．We think whether it is worth the risk.

C．We evaluate our thirsty for the activity.

D．We weigh the strengths and weaknesses.

3. What will be probably discussed in the following paragraph?

A．The definition of the comfort zone.

B．The importance of psychological well-being.

C．The process of learning a new musical instrument.

D．The benefits of stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．How to Identify Comfort Zone

B．Staying Inside Comfort Zone is Important

C．Stepping Outside Comfort Zone Promotes Learning

D．How to Take Yourself Away from High-stress Situations

3 . 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。

Sara, my neighbor, and I were sitting in our yard, chatting, and frowning at the wooden house across the street.

Nobody in the neighborhood had met these two young men there yet. The two men had long hair and beards and dressed strangely. They kept to themselves. When they came outside, they never made eye contact with anyone. “They sure don’t fit into the neighborhood,” Sara said, the corners of her mouth turning down as she stared at that house.

Sara said, “What about our street parties? We’ve always included everyone. Should we invite them?” I sighed, “Try being nice, Sara.” Suddenly, Sara sat up straight and her eyes grew wide with curiosity when a government car pulled up before Mrs Swain’s house next door. We hurried over. Mrs Swain was recovering from cancer and lived alone. Sara and I tried to keep an eye on her.

The man from the car put a piece of paper on Mrs Swain’s door and hurriedly left. Mrs Swain looked old, thin, and very tired when she opened the door. We three looked at the paper. It read: “Someone complained your grass’ length is against city rules. Please cut it in five days, or you’ll be fined.”

It was a shame that nobody had cut her grass for her. However, Sara and I lived alone, and we were both pregnant. What was worse, we were on a tight budget, and the other families here were on vacation.

Sara and I comforted Mrs Swain, telling her we’d figure out a way. Mrs Swain blinked in confusion, “Who would complain? Everyone knows that my old lawn mower is broken. And I’ve been sick too.” “It may be those two guys across the street,” Sara whispered, angrily staring at that wooden house.

Just then, a voice that seemed too gentle to be coming from the strange young man behind me said, “What is going on? Is she alright?” He nodded toward Mrs Swain. Sara looked at him coldly and said, “Some guys reported her because her grass is too high.” Her eyes ran over him disapprovingly, but he didn’t seem to notice.

注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The young man and his friend quickly made eye contact and nodded seriously.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
After they finished the work, Sara and I walked in shame to apologize for judging them.
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4 . Columbia high school girls’ soccer team had lost every game in the season until a new ______stepped in two years ago.

Stuart Henley, a former soccer player and now a truck driver, ______the team and started training hard in February 2020. He ______the progress of the girls to team-building activities to help them bond on and off the field. He focused on the basics of football like passing, ______, and movement to try and bring the girls up to a good standard. His ______: coaches could give them guidelines, but girls ______what they felt they needed to work on.

Obviously, the girls were onto something big in the new season. They ______the skills they had learned and teamwork into their ______, which led them to an ______run of eight games, until they were sadly beaten 3-2 by Wyrley Pumas Team. Although this means they have been _____ the league title, the team have still exceeded (超出) expectation by earning the ______to the county’s top division.

“Whatever brings you down will ______make you stronger, especially for girls.” Captain Chelsea said, “Stuart has really ______our girls the philosophy of playing soccer. We’re going into next season full of confidence and ready to compete against tougher ______, but for now we’re still very much enjoying our ______.”

1.

A．player

B．driver

C．colleague

D．coach

2.

A．recognized

B．rewarded

C．reorganized

D．founded

3.

A．applied

B．preferred

C．credited

D．adjusted

4.

A．shooting

B．cheering

C．walking

D．observing

5.

A．principle

B．dream

C．plan

D．virtue

6.

A．found

B．decided

C．watched

D．liked

7.

A．turned

B．divided

C．integrated

D．translated

8.

A．styles

B．training

C．rules

D．game

9.

A．embarrassing

B．unlucky

C．intense

D．unbeaten

10.

A．awarded

B．denied

C．saved

D．limited

11.

A．promotion

B．approach

C．solution

D．contribution

12.

A．hopefully

B．officially

C．fortunately

D．eventually

13.

A．brought

B．taught

C．left

D．reserved

14.

A．participants

B．winners

C．opponents

D．partners

15.

A．harmony

B．victory

C．company

D．dignity

5 . When I was a boy, I spent much time playing alone. I didn’t _________ too much, though. I lived outside town, next to a forest where oaks (橡树) were my _________. I would sit in their shade and enjoy their peace.

Therefore it was so _________ for me when I was in _________ in a wood processing factory. It wasn’t just the back-breaking work, long _________, and low pay. It was also seeing trees being cut. The red oak tree were _________ affected because they made the prettiest hardwood flooring.

One afternoon after a long day’s work, I decide to take a walk in the _________. As I wandered, I was filled with _________ for childhood days. Feeling so down, I dropped my head and that was when I _________ it: a red oak acorn (橡子) that had somehow ______________ hungry animals all winter long. Something I’d read once ______________ me at that moment “An acorn ______________ a forest eventually if it wants!” I smiled, and carefully ______________ that little acorn. Then I headed home, no longer______________, for I also realized in our life we all ______________ as an acorn, but whether our future is a forest or not is up to us.

1.

A．demand

B．change

C．mind

D．notice

2.

A．shelters

B．hopes

C．favorites

D．companions

3.

A．surprising

B．tough

C．impressive

D．vital

4.

A．trouble

B．business

C．employment

D．luck

5.

A．hours

B．meetings

C．breaks

D．flights

6.

A．equally

B．heavily

C．rarely

D．suddenly

7.

A．factory

B．woods

C．mountains

D．town

8.

A．longing

B．concern

C．regret

D．struggle

9.

A．received

B．remembered

C．recognized

D．spotted

10.

A．encountered

B．left

C．survived

D．fed

11.

A．found

B．disappointed

C．guided

D．struck

12.

A．becomes

B．preserves

C．reflects

D．represents

13.

A．collected

B．picked

C．planted

D．examined

14.

A．fearful

B．hesitant

C．worried

D．depressed

15.

A．fight back

B．start out

C．step forward

D．break through

7 . I tightly held the seat under me as the jeep raced forward, bouncing me into the air. I, a bookish Manhattanite, ____ solo north of the Arctic Circle to the Swedish Lapland. I didn't want to ______ my fortieth birthday as a day I was chained with my office work. Feeling an urgency to live life to the ______ , I answered the call of the wild.

I booked a Husky sledding tour and ______ myself that I would be safe on the journey. Yet, I still doubted my ability to steer the ______ dogs. What if the sled stopped halfway and the ______ began to crack under us?

After struggling into multiple layers of clothing. I boarded and looked like a fat monster. With the pack of Huskies, ______ in the noise of barks and howls, I hit the open rough road. While speeding down, I could even hear the snow crunching under us. With ______ eyes, I tried to avoid any possible dangers. I didn't want to put my own life ______.

Eventually, the pack of Huskies had brought my ______ into the unknown. A vast stretch of wild opened before us. Tall conifers（松柏）______ a tunnel of trees. I desired to catch a glimpse of the native wildlife-the quiet moose. the arctic fox, the magical reindeer,which seemed straight from a storybook. I was searching, like the Huskies, all senses ______ , eager for adventure.

I strained my eyes as far as they could see ______ paths met milky-white sky. Perhaps the earth and the heaven were one. Perhaps life wasn't so much about ______ the reins（缰绳）but letting go and trusting the adventure. Perhaps we even need a little rough weather, the slippery snow, to experience the ______ of challenging the wild.

1.

A．hiked

B．settled

C．traveled

D．dreamed

2.

A．get along with

B．look back on

C．make up for

D．keep up with

3.

A．fullest

B．largest

C．fairest

D．coldest

4.

A．requested

B．declared

C．forgave

D．convinced

5.

A．freezing

B．emotional

C．dangerous

D．energetic

6.

A．car

B．ice

C．rock

D．air

7.

A．erupting

B．training

C．feeding

D．living

8.

A．watchful

B．sensitive

C．patient

D．generous

9.

A．with ease

B．under control

C．at risk

D．in return

10.

A．thought

B．work

C．future

D．journey

11.

A．grew

B．created

C．lifted

D．covered

12.

A．alert

B．absent

C．dull

D．obvious

13.

A．muddy

B．snowy

C．tough

D．busy

14.

A．loosening

B．fixing

C．tightening

D．breaking

15.

A．pain

B．sorrow

C．hope

D．joy