1 . In a gray box, I have a thick pile of love letters. I imagine about sharing them with a granddaughter when I’m 90. But my most treasured love letter is from one of my best friends. It’s a handwritten letter years ago when I was having trouble getting over a man. Her letter is the most romantic in my pile. It made no excuses. It simply let me know that I was loved.
Reflecting on her gift, and the dying art of handwritten letters in our age of emails and emoticons, I chose to conduct an experiment this Christmas: replacing presents with heartfelt, handwritten love letters for my family members.
In our digital era, most of us rarely take the time to share deeply considered thoughts and emotions with the people in our lives. Handwriting captures the writer’s emotions, often preserved longer than digital exchanges. However, technology is taking over. First came typewriters and keyboards. Now a new brain-computer lets people type with their minds. What are we losing when we sacrifice the physical labor behind the written word? We tend to value what we struggle for. Have we undervalued the human exchange of ideas?
That day, I came across a letter my mom wrote to her parents when she was young. She seemed so comfortable with her parents. It was a relationship I didn’t have with her. I was inspired by my mother’s letter to her parents when I sat down to write my letter to her. I wanted her to know my love, and to close the crack that technology and culture had created between us. With each sentence, I was discovering new and deeper ways of seeing my mother, and making myself known to her in more thoughtful ways as well.
Eight single-space pages later, my hand was aching but I was done. It was only the first of my love letters, but it was already clear: What had begun as a fun project was in fact one of the most important undertakings of my life.
1. Why does the author mention her love letters in Paragraph 1?| A．To show her grand charm as a young girl. | B．To share them with one of her granddaughters. |
| C．To highlight the value of handwritten letters. | D．To look back upon her romantic relationship. |
| A．Making our interaction less emotional. | B．Encouraging our thoughtful communication. |
| C．Saving our physical labor in conveying emotions. | D．Increasing our effort in handwritten exchanges. |
| A．To give her mother a big surprise. | B．To answer her mother’s handwritten letter. |
| C．To bridge a communication gap. | D．To make her mother feel more comfortable. |
| A．The irreplaceable bond of family members. | B．The tendency of information technology. |
| C．The expression of emotions in the digital age. | D．The power of handwritten correspondence. |
2 . After decades of married life, I realized that my life was limited, and even having friends frightened me. To ease my anxiety, my husband and I explored the Blue Ridge Mountains about an hour’s ride from home. We chose a path only a couple of miles long. The process of putting one foot in front of the other started to ease my worried soul. Being with nature slowed down my racing mind. Up and down the path we went. The trees gently swayed in the wind as we enjoyed views of valleys below us.
I knew this was my way to heal. I found the Internet site Meetup, picked a group and signed up for a five-mile hike in Shenandoah National Park. All my worries came into play when meeting the hiking group. The fifteen hikers, at least ten years younger than me, started slowly, crossing many little streams on rocks. I enjoyed the tour but struggled to keep up. After a half-mile, my steps got into the rhythm. I felt a part of all that surrounded me.
I have been actively hiking since that day, walking thousands of miles, with several worn pairs of hiking boots to prove it. With my fellow hikers, I climbed Mount Le Conte at 6,593 feet. It was a challenging hike, but I made it.
I have hiked the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland with five other women, through more than a hundred miles of green hills and valleys filled with baby sheep and their mothers. I’m fortunate to have the Blue Ridge Mountains nearby. Before the pandemic, I backpacked on the AppalachianTrail, falling short of my 100-mile goal but enjoying it. I met hikers along the way, camping next to them and listening to their determination to hike the entire 2,200 miles.
I don’t intend to give up being one with nature outdoors anytime soon. We all are responsible for our peace and happiness.
1. What made the author less worried at the mountain path?| A．Closely following her husband. |
| B．Choosing a path near her home. |
| C．Taking a walk outdoors in nature. |
| D．Racing with the wind in the trees. |
| A．Worried. | B．Energetic. |
| C．Confident. | D．Excited. |
| A．Travel with backpack before the pandemic. |
| B．Keep her boots to prove her ability. |
| C．Plan the hiking route of 2 ,200 miles. |
| D．Finish the 100-mile goal along the trail. |
| A．Outdoor Life Is Beneficial |
| B．The Mountains Are Calling |
| C．I Learned to Face My Worries |
| D．Nature Is Our Best Friend |
3 . On my way home from coaching basketball yesterday, I was listening to WGN, my favorite talk radio station. What
I was upset because I wanted to know
I now have a stronger determination to tell those around me how much they
Do you love someone? Then
Life is too
| A．shocked | B．excited | C．worried | D．confused |
| A．loved | B．hated | C．judged | D．criticized |
| A．explaining | B．describing | C．advising | D．thinking |
| A．threw | B．poured | C．filled | D．crowded |
| A．comfortable | B．disappointed | C．discouraged | D．cheerful |
| A．what | B．how | C．where | D．why |
| A．when | B．because | C．after | D．before |
| A．mean | B．symbolize | C．refer | D．represent |
| A．admired | B．appreciated | C．accepted | D．affected |
| A．sounds | B．actions | C．opinions | D．ideas |
| A．useful | B．hopeful | C．thankful | D．wonderful |
| A．inform | B．notice | C．tell | D．ask |
| A．go by | B．go over | C．go out | D．go off |
| A．special | B．strange | C．difficult | D．funny |
| A．indicates | B．expresses | C．displays | D．discovers |
| A．bought | B．written | C．sent | D．saved |
| A．first of all | B．in the end | C．now and then | D．at a time |
| A．realize | B．recognize | C．recall | D．remember |
| A．long | B．short | C．hard | D．easy |
| A．effect | B．influence | C．difference | D．function |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（﹨）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词； 2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
A proverb says, “Time is money.” But on my opinion, time is even more valuable than money. Why? Because when money is spent, we can earn them back. However, when time is gone, it will never return. This is the reason that we must value time. The time for our study and work is quite limit. But there are a number of people who do not know the important of time. They kill time by chatting or drinking. They didn’t realize that wasting time is simple wasting their valuable lives. In word, we should develop the good habit of saving time. Don’t leave what can be do today till tomorrow. Laziness will not only bring to us failure but also make us lead a poor life.
5 . In primary school, I
Then came the
My life began to turn back around when I went to an inpatient rehabilitation center (住院康复中心), along with my mom. At first, I didn’t
As I felt better, things began to get
Lately, I’ve been able to stand with help for five minutes straight. I feel
This journey has changed my life. It’s made me brave and
| A．still | B．never | C．just | D．sometimes |
| A．sports | B．camps | C．activities | D．discussions |
| A．chance | B．room | C．reason | D．price |
| A．Because | B．If | C．Though | D．When |
| A．changed | B．worked | C．continued | D．stood |
| A．confusion | B．safeness | C．sadness | D．relaxation |
| A．regretted | B．imagined | C．enjoyed | D．avoided |
| A．journey | B．search | C．idea | D．goal |
| A．mind | B．like | C．suggest | D．admit |
| A．talked | B．visited | C．passed | D．agreed |
| A．easy | B．important | C．hard | D．dangerous |
| A．clearer | B．worse | C．better | D．stranger |
| A．memory | B．performance | C．tour | D．creativity |
| A．paying for | B．picking up | C．throwing out | D．turning over |
| A．hopeful | B．lucky | C．awful | D．unsatisfied |
| A．teach | B．invite | C．order | D．persuade |
| A．believed | B．joined | C．remembered | D．left |
| A．try | B．story | C．right | D．disability |
| A．polite | B．honest | C．strong | D．friendly |
| A．dreams | B．methods | C．costs | D．needs |
6 . As a teen myself, I’ve seen first-hand the pleasing effects of poetry. Not too long ago, I went on stage to read my poetry at writing workshop, thinking anxiously to myself: Would the audience understand me? More than being nervous about the quality of my poem, I felt anxious about what my voice would sound like. At the time, I was 14, and still suffering from a speech disorder (语言障碍) that had affected me since began talking. As I stood, I experienced a sudden appreciation for the blinding lights. I couldn’t see everyone’s face! That made things much easier. I opened my book and began to read.
After the writing workshop, I gained the confidence to read my own work aloud. I learned that writing wasn’t about pronunciation, but about style and the author’s voice. This lesson helped me grow on endless occasions in my life, convincing me that poetry can have an astonishing influence when taught to teens.
One organization that I am part of, WriteGirl, through monthly creative writing workshops, gives girls the skills they need for a brighter future. Although WriteGirl doesn’t only focus on poetry, the organization still uses poetry to teach, inspire and empower girls all across Los Angeles. While the high school graduation rate in Los Angeles is only 80 percent, every year 100 percent of WriteGirl teens not only graduate from high school, but go to college.
But are these advantages becoming needless with the fast development of technology being placed in young hands?
It seems the answer is quite the opposite—technology has opened whole new world for young poets and writers. On KidBlog, young students can post their poems as a blog post on which others can leave their opinions. The Internet makes it easier for viewers to read poetry. Many people are discovering or rediscovering that poetry is fun and creates many opportunities for self-expression.
As I stepped up to read my writing at the workshop, I learned that poetry is about having a voice, and the courage to use it. With this courage, we free ourselves and become able to influence others.
1. How did the workshop influence the author?| A．It aided her in making a long speech. |
| B．It contributed to her personal growth. |
| C．It improved her communication skills. |
| D．It made her begin to take speech disorder seriously. |
| A．It is beneficial to girls’ studies. |
| B．It brings out girls’ poetic skills. |
| C．It encourages girls to teach poetry. |
| D．It helps girls become famous writers. |
| A．Poetry is old-fashioned in modern times. |
| B．Technology makes creating poetry easier. |
| C．Technology serves as a useful tool for poetry. |
| D．The Internet slows down the development of poetry. |
| A．How poetry gave me a voice |
| B．Why teens don’t read poetry |
| C．Approaches to learning poetry |
| D．Influence of technology on poetry |
7 . For some years，my mother worked for a charity as President and Secretary.Selling raffle tickets(兑奖券) was her main means of bringing in the charity’s muchneeded funds.We girls would accompany her，selling tickets with great success.My father made and donated beautiful wooden toys，jewellery boxes and other lovely items as prizes.
Now my sister was always coming up with “good ideas”，most of which didn’t work out to plan.But that didn’t deter her.She had many just waiting to be tested.When she was eight and I was just five，we had a wonderful idea for a business adventure.We decided we would sell raffle tickets for charity，and that charity was us!
So one afternoon，we told our mother we were going to play in the park with our cousins as we did most days after school.But instead，we walked around the streets armed with a raffle book，a pen and a large cloth bag to carry the money.
We’d accompanied our mother many times when she sold tickets，so people were familiar with us when we appeared at their doors.Despite the blank looks they received when asking about the prizes on offer，they were very generous.Although there were no actual prizes，our mother’s previous track record enabled us to sell nearly the whole book of raffle tickets.
Like a little pair of lottery(彩票) winners，we walked home and proudly showed off our takings.But our enjoyment of this sudden wealth was shortlived，and our plans for spending it quickly failed.Our angry mother took us back to every ticket buyer，making us apologise and give the money back.Thankfully，our sweet neighbours didn’t make a big deal of our “clever” misbehavior and thus my mother’s
fundraising career could continue safely.We were taught a good lesson by our mother that day.Also I remember my sister’s entrepreneurial(企业家的) spirit dried up a bit after that.
1. What did the author’s father do?
| A．He got prizes ready. | B．He sold handmade items. |
| C．He was in charge of a charity. | D．He helped design raffle tickets. |
| A．Embarrass. | B．Shock. |
| C．Discourage. | D．Mislead. |
| A．They ran into their mother. |
| B．They met some generous strangers. |
| C．They got lost while walking around the streets. |
| D．They took advantage of people’s trust in their mother. |
| A．Honesty is the best policy. | B．What’s done can’t be undone. |
| C．Misfortune never comes alone. | D．Good advice is beyond all price. |
8 . A few years ago, I was working in a small office. I noticed that even though the organization was not
One particular week, I decided to make people
For the next few months, some of the quotes got taken down, but a couple
Finally, I
A few months ago, I was
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but seeing with new eyes.
-Marcel Proust
Maybe the quote simply blended into (融合) the background for the employees, or perhaps it still
It was such a
| A．huge | B．rich | C．distant | D．good |
| A．similar | B．ordinary | C．familiar | D．comfortable |
| A．sigh | B．smile | C．reply | D．shout |
| A．pity | B．hope | C．sight | D．doubt |
| A．notes | B．reports | C．notices | D．poems |
| A．excited | B．satisfied | C．shocked | D．encouraged |
| A．patiently | B．calmly | C．naturally | D．quickly |
| A．accept | B．prepare | C．enjoy | D．remember |
| A．freshen | B．spend | C．organize | D．treasure |
| A．appeared | B．matched | C．remained | D．increased |
| A．introduced | B．left | C．charged | D．bought |
| A．sent | B．read | C．finished | D．published |
| A．taken | B．rushed | C．led | D．invited |
| A．looked into | B．thought about | C．worked on | D．found out |
| A．surprised | B．happy | C．lucky | D．sorry |
| A．classroom | B．waiting room | C．bathroom | D．meeting room |
| A．same | B．only | C．first | D．next |
| A．showed up | B．turned out | C．made up | D．stood out |
| A．strange | B．sweet | C．simple | D．smart |
| A．saving | B．storing | C．producing | D．planting |
9 . A famous teacher was speaking to the students at our school. He began his lesson by holding up a ￡100 bill. Then he said to the three hundred students, "Who would like to have this ￡100 bill?" The students began to put up their hands at once.
Then he said, "I am going to give this bill to one of you, but first, let me do this." He then made this bill into a ball. Then he said, "Who wants it?" Hands went into the air.
"Well," he said, "What if I do this?" and he dropped it on the floor and stepped on it. He picked up the dirty, crumpled bill and said, "Who still wants it?" Hands went back into the air.
"My friends," he said, "You've learned a valuable lesson today. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it didn't go down in value. It was still worth ￡100.”
“Many times in our lives, we're dropped, crumpled, and stepped on by the chances we take and the things that happen to us. We feel as if we are worth nothing. But remember, no matter what has happened to you, you will never lose your value: you are always valuable to those who love you. Your value doesn't come from what you drop or whom you know, but WHO YOU ARE.”
You are special and valuable. Don't ever forget it!
1. Even though the money was dirty, it _______.| A．went up in value | B．was worth much |
| C．didn't reduce in value | D．was still ours |
| A．the students put up their hands again. |
| B．the students put down their hands. |
| C．the students agreed to what the teacher said |
| D．the students put their hands in front of them |
| A．Because he wanted to give a lecture about money. |
| B．Because he was used to dropping a bill on the floor and stepping on it. |
| C．Because he was going to give the bill to one of the students. |
| D．Because he wanted to make the students know what the value was. |
| A．￡100 bill is worth the same no matter what you do with it . |
| B．All people love money most. |
| C．Your value doesn't change no matter what happens to you. |
| D．The value of money changes when it is made dirty. |
An old woman had lost her eyesight completely, so she went to a
The doctor had a(an)
The doctor began to
When the woman recovered her eyesight, she saw that her valuables had gone and
The judge asked the old woman
Everyone there looked at her
The old woman replied, “ I
The judge
| A．friend | B．doctor | C．teacher | D．professor |
| A．special | B．expensive | C．regular | D．poor |
| A．visit | B．call | C．expect | D．question |
| A．cleaning | B．counting | C．stealing | D．appreciating |
| A．depended on | B．cared about | C．gave up | D．asked for |
| A．explained | B．hoped | C．guessed | D．forgave |
| A．nearly | B．once | C．not | D．well |
| A．ashamed | B．surprised | C．touched | D．encouraged |
| A．playground | B．street | C．house | D．court |
| A．why | B．whether | C．how | D．when |
| A．pretend | B．promise | C．refuse | D．manage |
| A．everything | B．something | C．nothing | D．anything |
| A．wishes | B．admits | C．realizes | D．declares |
| A．quite | B．ever | C．even | D．still |
| A．in surprise | B．in peace | C．as usual | D．on purpose |
| A．friendly | B．seriously | C．proudly | D．carefully |
| A．slowly | B．finally | C．really | D．almost |
| A．lost | B．failed | C．had | D．hurt |
| A．price | B．meaning | C．use | D．value |
| A．reported | B．agreed | C．worried | D．doubted |
