1 . The Gift of Life

Most couples demonstrate their love on February 14 with flowers or chocolates.But these   four men and women have offered the ultimate loving gesture—the gift of life.Each sacrifice   has enabled their loved ones to live full and active lives again after serious illness.

I’D Do THE SAME FORHER

Michele Johnson，53，has been married to Gay，57，for 26 years.

With her husband suffering from a congenital(先天性的)kidney condition，in 2013 Michele   gave him one of hem.Gay said:“I needed to be hooked up to a dialysis(透析)machine.I had no quality of life at all.However，I felt great as soon as I woke up after the operation.I told her I’d do the same for her.”

I LOVE BRENDA TO BITS

Brenda Green，62，met her husband Keith，63，when she was 24 and they married five years later.When Brenda was told five years ago she needed a kidney transplant，she cried.IⅡgive you mine.”Keith said without hesitation.“Brenda is my wife and I love her to bits.”

MY WIFE’S MY HERO

Stephen Heavyside，61，and wife Patricia，62，have been married for 40 years.Stephen said:“I was diagnosed with adult polycystic kidney disease five years ago.Patricia took good   care of me and donated a kidney.This has brought us even closer.”

He said“Patricia’s gift changed my life.She is my hero.”

DECISION WAS EASY

Anna Stevens，48，and husband Gary，53，of Watford，Herts，have been wed for 23   years.Anna donated a kidney to her husband.She said of the transplant:“It was the easiest   decision I’ve ever made.”Gary said.“There’s only two words that I can use to describe her:   My angel.”

1. How was Michele Johnson’s husband before the operation?

A．He suddenly suffered from kidney disease.

B．He had to be on dialysis a long time.

C．He didn’t want to live any longer.

D．He felt great in spite of the sickness.

2. Why did Stephen Heavyside say her wife was his hero?

A．They had been married for a long time.

B．They had got along well with each other.

C．She took good care of him after he got ill.

D．He recovered because of his wife’s gift.

3. What can we know about the four couples?

A．Four wives donated their kidneys to their husbands.

B．They had all been married more than 20 years.

C．The patients suffered from congenital kidney disease.

D．They demonstrate their love with flowers or chocolates.

2 . Mott hoped to find a lady on an Iowa community Facebook page，but she didn’t even know her name.All she knew is that the ____ woman looked to be in her 30s，had purple hair and was ____ gentle and compassionate.

At 10:25 am on Black Friday Mott was busy shopping ____ she received a(n) ____ phone call，which came in from the nursing home where her mom lived.The nurse on the phone ____ her that her mom passed away.Mott just kind of ____ ，kneeling down and starting to cry uncontrollably.

The lady came across Mott and，instead of passing by，she ____ and asked what was wrong.Then she kept Mott in a tight ____ until Mott was able to regain enough senses to get back on her feet.She even ____ Mott to the checkout line and asked if any shoppers had enough Christmas spirit to let the sad woman ____ in line.The lines immediately parted to let her ____.Mott，still ____，didn’t think to ask the lady her name after paying her bill.

In recent days，Mott’s ____ to the woman had been a comfort so much that she longed to thank her ____.So she reached out and hoped people would help her find the lady.

Stephanie，42，realized that Mott had been looking for her.The most ____ thing she could think to do was to attend Mott’s mother's ____.Once Mott ____ her，the two strangers-turned-friends wrapped each other in another big hug，tears running down.The family and other mourners ____ ，probably feeling what I felt:It was reassuring to see such a warm，visible sign that the ____ meetings and random acts of kindness we often take for granted sometimes ____ a big difference.

1.

A．wealthy

B．proud

C．mysterious

D．fortunate

2.

A．slightly

B．extremely

C．differently

D．hardly

3.

A．when

B．while

C．where

D．because

4.

A．exciting

B．encouraging

C．refreshing

D．shocking

5.

A．informed

B．warned

C．convinced

D．reminded

6.

A．came out

B．worked out

C．blacked out

D．helped out

7.

A．glared

B．smiled

C．waved

D．stopped

8.

A．place

B．hug

C．way

D．coat

9.

A．1ed

B．called

C．followed

D．pushed

10.

A．stand

B．walk

C．cut

D．wait

11.

A．across

B．out

C．through

D．off

12.

A．numb

B．clumsy

C．unconscious

D．tired

13.

A．gratitude

B．relief

C．satisfaction

D．regret

14.

A．in progress

B．in reality

C．in advance

D．in person

15.

A．painful

B．appropriate

C．troublesome

D．effective

16.

A．party

B．treatment

C．funeral

D．meeting

17.

A．recognized

B．met

C．thanked

D．accompanied

18.

A．slid away

B．calmed down

C．looked on

D．turned up

19.

A．temporary

B．constructive

C．frequent

D．chance

20.

A．do

B．make

C．have

D．enjoy

3 . It was many years ago.I was a college ___ with a degree but no job.My substitute teaching work had dried up and I was getting ____.I had a family to feed and little money left.____，my oldest brother had been able to get me a ____ at the local lumber mill where he worked.While I was ____ ，my first day there was quite a blow to my ego(自尊).The job   ___ barely above minimum wage.The work was hard and back breaking.It was full of ___ ，lifting，and carrying heavy wood for eight hours a day.Splinters(木屑)were soon my best pals and every day I went home ____ and exhausted.

When winter arrived my gloves tore and my fingers split and ____ in the cold air.I found myself using more band aids(创可贴)and duct tape than I ever ____ I would just to keep my hands working.The turn over rate at the mill became so ____ that at the end of two years only four other people had ____ there longer than I had.Every morning I would ____myself out of bed and go to work knowing it was going to he another ____ day.I tried my best to keep my   __   up but many times during those years I found myself saying，“Why me，God? Why am I having to ____ this? Why has my life not turned out the ____ I dreamed it would?”I never got an ____ .

It is only now many years later that I have a hint of ____ I had to go through those tough times.I think that it is the“Why Me?”times of our lives in which we ____ the most.

1.

A．editor

B．graduate

C．professor

D．student

2.

A．delighted

B．satisfied

C．desperate

D．modest

3.

A．Hopefully

B．Fortunately

C．Sadly

D．Frankly

4.

A．job

B．rise

C．choice

D．title

5.

A．busy

B．worried

C．calm

D．grateful

6.

A．paid

B．cost

C．reduced

D．wasted

7.

A．stopping

B．jumping

C．bending

D．wandering

8.

A．aching

B．trembling

C．cheering

D．choking

9.

A．burnt

B．broke

C．shook

D．bled

10.

A．heard

B．promised

C．saw

D．thought

11.

A．low

B．high

C．fixed

D．steady

12.

A．relaxed

B．waited

C．prepared

D．worked

13.

A．push

B．release

C．press

D．pull

14.

A．difficult

B．helpful

C．interesting

D．meaningful

15.

A．hand

B．voice

C．spirits

D．tunes

16.

A．give up

B．go through

C．prepare for

D．carry out

17.

A．challenge

B．way

C．1evel

D．structure

18.

A．answer

B．aim

C．order

D．opportunity

19.

A．how

B．where

C．why

D．when

20.

A．complain

B．lose

C．grow

D．expect

4 . With golden sunshine and a gentle breeze（微风）, autumn is the most beautiful seasons in the year. This is a great time to go outside and have fun. Go to a valley to see red maple trees,go and pick fruit in an orchard or find an open field to fly your kite in.

However, for many high school students, these great activities may be just a dream. With plenty of work to do, they spend all their hours indoors, struggling for a high mark in their exams. Of course, study is one of the most important things for teenagers. But life is definitely much more than that.

Sometimes we spend so much time studying that we forget how to make life wonderful. In doing so, we lose the real purpose of life —to be a valuable and happy person. To enjoy just how great it is to be alive, we have to put down our books and pens and look around us. Students, take some exercise to improve your health, talk with your parents and friends for understanding and walk around outside to refresh（振作）our body and mind.

Going out and enjoying the beautiful countryside often helps our creativity in our work. Chinese craftsman, Lu Ban created a saw to help woodworkers. But if he hadn’t walked outside, he would not have been inspired by a kind of toothed（锯齿状的）grass. We could also suppose if Newton hadn’t rested under that apple tree, then he wouldn’t have been hit by an apple, and his classic（经典的）theories would not have come out.

Going out is not only a break from hard work, but a chance to add to life experience. So come on, give your brain a good rest. Step out of the books and get your bag ready for an autumn outing. We are sure you will get much more than knowledge from the exciting journey.

1. In which paragraph does the writer make a summary about his opinion?

A．Paragraph 1.	B．Paragraph 2.
C．Paragraph 4.	D．Paragraph 5.

2. Why is going out a dream for many high school students?

A．They are unhappy to do so.

B．They have too much work to do for getting high marks in the exams.

C．Their parents don’t allow them to do so.

D．They think study is the most important thing for them.

3. The passage is developed mainly by______________.

A．describing the beautiful scenery in Autumn

B．pointing out the present situation of high school students

C．making predictions

D．reasoning and giving examples

4. What message can you learn from the passage?

A．Going out can make high school students get more.

B．Nature is power.

C．All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

D．The author isn’t happy with our education at all.

5 . Ten years ago I was visiting Costa Rica when I found I was in a bad situation. I only knew basic Spanish, and the only _______ I had was some coins and a return ticket to Guatemala in two weeks.

With the coins, I managed to arrive at Santa Rosa by bus. It was _______ in the middle of the night, but I could see some _______ in the distance, so I _______   toward them.

I went _______ door to door, explaining my situation. “I can _______ and clean and look after your kids, I can do anything, can you give me a _______ ?” Everybody replied saying “Oh my gosh, but we are so _______. We have no extra food. Maybe you can try the next _______.”

Finally, I arrived at a Chinese restaurant, the owner of which was incredibly ______________ . She told me that her son had a(n) ______________ experience. At that time, some other people were very kind to him, and she remembered how ______________ that made her feel. She called the Red Cross to ______________me. With their help, I spent my ______________ days in Costa Rica.

I’ve ______________ all over the world. But this was one of the best trips, the best two ______________ I ever had in my traveling life.

At first, I felt ______________ and stupid for not traveling with a clear plan. But then I realized that when you’re in a position to be able to ______________, it actually makes people feel happier. Being able to receive kindness is a ______________ for other people as well. And kindness ______________ more kindness in small ripples (涟漪).

1.

A．possession

B．file

C．choice

D．fortune

2.

A．busy

B．dark

C．hot

D．cold

3.

A．stores

B．bus-stops

C．bookshops

D．houses

4.

A．wandered

B．fled

C．walked

D．jumped

5.

A．knocking

B．hitting

C．answering

D．kicking

6.

A．cook

B．fish

C．swim

D．fight

7.

A．coffee

B．bed

C．tip

D．job

8.

A．unlucky

B．poor

C．mean

D．hard

9.

A．company

B．factory

C．restaurant

D．family

10.

A．honest

B．polite

C．kind

D．easygoing

11.

A．similar

B．different

C．relaxing

D．pleasant

12.

A．tough

B．grateful

C．awkward

D．warm

13.

A．seize

B．check

C．find

D．rescue

14.

A．passing

B．remaining

C．rewarding

D．exciting

15.

A．surveyed

B．driven

C．studied

D．traveled

16.

A．days

B．weeks

C．months

D．years

17.

A．fortunate

B．optimistic

C．guilty

D．curious

18.

A．offer

B．help

C．receive

D．repay

19.

A．gift

B．talent

C．chance

D．character

20.

A．proves

B．reflects

C．forces

D．inspires

6 . When I was about 4 years old, I decided to go to Disney World. For most young kids, it’s a normal request, but I had cerebral palsy (脑瘫). Walking into anywhere, let alone a crowded place like Disney World was, to put it lightly, a tall order. Luckily, I had people in my corner to help me. Over the next three years, I worked with physical doctors, acquired a walker, and practiced walking, standing, and balance — all skills that I would need to turn my goal into a reality.

I remember the feeling when my legs would protest doing any more work. Despite this, everyone else told me I could do it, so I kept it up. It was all because of people like my parents, brothers, teachers, and doctors that I was able to grow so much, both physically and mentally. Constantly pushing me to “walk on,” yet encouraging me whenever I needed it.

On June 9, 2008, as I stood in the tunnel leading into Main Street, my dad asked me if I wanted any help. I instantly replied, “No!” and situated myself facing the end of the tunnel, feet planted firmly, heart most likely beating out of my chest. Then I went, walking ever so slowly at first, then gradually speeding up. Step, step, step, step, bump. Holding fast onto the handlebars, I gathered up all my strength, picked up my walker and straightened out, picking up my pace once again. It wasn’t too long before the cheering increased because I had made it to the end, where my mom was waiting with tears in her eyes and arms open wide ready to hug her son and tell him how proud she was.

Looking back on that experience, I realize something pretty thoughtful. Every once in a while, life will throw a few bumps in the road. Though it may set you back for a bit, don’t let it stop you. Pick yourself back up and finish. It’s worth it. Besides, there just might be someone there cheering you on along the way.

1. Which of the following best explains “a tall order” underlined in paragraph 1?

A．An easy decision.	B．An available action.
C．A reasonable order.	D．A challenging task.

2. Why does the author say he’s lucky?

A．He eventually has his brain disease well cured.

B．He constantly gets courage and support from others.

C．He is likely to do any kind of work in his later life.

D．He is naturally gifted in keeping balance on his own.

3. The author gives a vivid picture of himself in paragraph 3 to______.

A．explain he was terrified to take the first step

B．describe he took pride in his mother and friends

C．show how he managed to walk by himself

D．prove how he understood to respect others

4. What can be the best title of the text?

A．Where Dreams Come True	B．When Bad Fortune Falls
C．How I Value Friendship	D．Why I Look Back My Life

7 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

I had hardly sat down on the train and opened a bar of chocolate     1     a really old man with huge bags sat down across from me. I said hello     2     him, smiling sweetly and then I suddenly thought, “Why not offer him a piece of chocolate？” So I did. He was quite     3    (surprise), but accepted and thanked me. He said that people didn’t usually do things like this for     4    (strange) and at least that was what I understood, because he was speaking a really     5     (usual) dialect.

Then he opened one of his bags and gave me     6     handful of freshly picked cherries,     7    (explain) that he had just taken them from his orchard. The cherries were really lovely, better than those in the shops, and I enjoyed them very much. It had been just an impulse (冲动) to offer him a piece of chocolate, but if I     8    (not do) so, I would never have tasted those lovely cherries,     9     I didn’t even know he had at the time. Life is about giving and taking, and it’s     10    (general) true that if you give, you will receive.

8 . A new family moved in next door and I got to meet the mother of the family, Lydia.

Lydia is a (an) ______. We started talking, and she was ______ about how bad her English was, but I didn’t care. I knew how hard it was to ______ a second language. I enjoyed chatting with Lydia as we watched our kids play.

It was what came next that ______ me: Lydia asked if I’d be ______ to help her with her English.

Now, I am not a teacher. But I ______ teachers, and I’m grateful for teachers, and it’s because I admire what they do so much that I was very, very ______ that I couldn’t do it myself.

But Lydia was sure that she wanted my help. I was ______. I wasn’t sure my “help” was even ______ being called by that name.

____because she asked me, I said “yes.”

And that was the beginning of our friendship. Lydia and I spent afternoons sitting together. She asked me questions when she had them - questions about ______, but also questions about the new culture she found herself in. ______, I asked my own questions, growing ______ about her home country and culture. We ______ over our shared faith and our struggles as mothers. When I complimented (恭维) her ______, she began to teach me about Korean food, ______ leading to a shared trip to explore the Korean grocery stores in our city.

Because of Lydia, I learned more about my own hometown than I ______ could have learned by myself.

I’m still not sure that I’m any good as a ______. But I’m grateful I said “______” when my neighbor asked me to help her with her English. That meant spending extra time with my neighbor, and that extra time meant she didn’t ______ just my neighbor. She became my friend.

1.

A．American

B．Korean

C．native

D．woman

2.

A．confident

B．upset

C．apologetic

D．concerned

3.

A．understand

B．remember

C．teach

D．master

4.

A．shocked

B．struck

C．challenged

D．grasped

5.

A．willing

B．ready

C．nervous

D．grateful

6.

A．hate

B．fear

C．thank

D．admire

7.

A．sad

B．anxious

C．sure

D．uncertain

8.

A．doubtful

B．faithful

C．enthusiastic

D．optimistic

9.

A．worth

B．useless

C．fruitful

D．rewarding

10.

A．And

B．So

C．Yet

D．Or

11.

A．life

B．language

C．study

D．family

12.

A．In addition

B．In turn

C．In return

D．In succession

13.

A．passionate

B．curious

C．worried

D．excited

14.

A．argued

B．combined

C．separated

D．bonded

15.

A．skill

B．study

C．manners

D．cooking

16.

A．fortunately

B．constantly

C．eventually

D．successfully

17.

A．ever

B．never

C．hardly

D．forever

18.

A．student

B．teacher

C．speaker

D．friend

19.

A．ok

B．fine

C．sorry

D．yes

20.

A．remain

B．change

C．regard

D．promise

9 . Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are very busy trying to_________in order to pay the high tuition (学费) for my brother and me. They don’t act in the_________waya that I read in books or I see on TV. In their opinion, “I love you” is_________luxurious (奢侈) for them to say. Sending flowers to each other on Valentine’s Day is even more out of the_________.

One day, my mother was sewing a quilt. I sat down beside her. “Mom, I have a question to ask you. Is there_________between you and Dad?” I asked her in a very low voice. She didn’t answer immediately. She_________her head and continued to sew the quilt.

I was very worried because I thought I had hurt her. I was_________and I didn’t know what I should do. But at 1ast I heard my mother say the following words:

“Susan,” she said_________, “Look at this thread. Sometimes it is_________, but most of it disappears in the quilt. The thread really makes the quilt_________. If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread. It can hardly be seen_________, but it’s really there. Love is_________.”

I listened carefully but I_________her until the next spring. At that time, my father suddenly_________seriously. My mother had to stay with him in the hospital for a month. When they returned from the hospital, they both looked_________. It seemed both of them had had a serious illness. After they were back, every day in the morning and dusk, my mother supported my father    16    on the country road.

“Dad, how are you feeling now?” I asked him one day.

“Susan, don’t    17    me.” he said gently. “To tell you the truth, I just like walking with your mom.”    18    his eyes, I know he loves my mother deeply.

Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and    19    . But from this experience, I undentand that love is just    20    in the quilt of our life. Love is inside, making life strong and warm.

1.

A．keep fit

B．rise early

C．earn money

D．collect money

2.

A．in great surprise

B．in great embarrassment

C．in deep depression

D．in deep sorrow

3.

A．thoughtfully

B．patiently

C．anxiously

D．happily

4.

A．strong

B．weak

C．visible

D．invisible

5.

A．warm and soft

B．hot and hard

C．thin and oool

D．strong and durable

6.

A．somewhere and sometime

B．anywhere or anytime

C．here and there

D．more or less

7.

A．inside

B．outside

C．faraway

D．nearby

8.

A．could believe

B．couldn’t understand

C．might know

D．wouldn’t recognize

9.

A．got sick

B．got stuck

C．1ay down

D．lay off

10.

A．quite healthy

B．very pale

C．fairly red

D．much surprised

11.

A．jump high

B．go hurriedly

C．run fast

D．walk slowly

12.

A．think about

B．talk with

C．worry about

D．laugh at

13.

A．Reading

B．Seeing

C．Saying

D．Writing

14.

A．fresh roses

B．gold rings

C．sweet kisses

D．beautiful jewels

15.

A．a thread

B．a needle

C．the cloth

D．the cotton

10 . There is no such thing as a “bad memory”.     1    , as long as you are not suffering from memory loss as a medical condition. If you want to improve your memory, there are a number of things you can do.

Stop thinking that you have a “bad memory”.     2    . Too many people get stuck here and convince themselves their memory is bad. Erase those thoughts and vow to improve your memory. Celebrate even little achievements to keep yourself motivated.

Exercise your brain. Regularly “exercising” the brain keeps it growing and help improve memory.     3    .By developing new mental skills -- especially complex ones such as learning a new language or learning to play a new musical instrument, you can keep your brain active and improve its physiological functioning.

Give yourself time to form a memory. Memories are very fragile in the short term, and distractions can make you quickly forget something as simple as a phone number. The key to avoid losing memories is to be able to focus on the thing to be remembered for a while without thinking about other things.     4    .

    5    . Often we forget things not because our memory is bad, but rather because our observational skills need work. One way to become more observant is to look at a photo for a few seconds and then describe as many details about it as possible. With regular practice you will find you’re able to remember more details with even shorter glimpses of the photos.

A．Practice your describing skills regularly

B．So when you’re trying to remember something, avoid distractions for a few minutes

C．Take better pictures

D．Everyone can improve their memory

E．A large portion (部分) of your brain is activated when it learns a new skill

F．So the more time you spend, the better your memory will be

G．Convince yourself that you do have a good memory that will improve