1 . Novels. Why do I read them? I was most ____ to read when I was a kid. I suspect this was because my only purpose was ____ and escapism. From all 21 Famous Five stories — in order, naturally — to Anna Karenina, ____ into a basket on a cycling holiday, I was ____ to another world. Then, for A-levels and a degree, I read to pass ____. Slowly, tellingly, the joy ____. And I was no good at the exams either. When those last exams were done, more than 30 years ago, I was done with novels. I had ____ love.

Gradually, it has come back, but it’s all ____ now. I find I’m reading whole novels mainly to ____ intelligence to help understand what I’ve been feeling; feelings that I’ve been ____ to express myself. For some reason I ____ The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte. The _____soon starts to fade, and all you are left with is how it made you feel. This is nice, but what makes it all worthwhile is those specific ____ that I make sure to harvest and go back to. ____, Helen says of her new life in the big city: “At first, I was ____ with the novelty and excitement of our London life, but soon I began to be tired of its ____.”

A few months later, I ____ Anne Bronte’s resting place in Scarborough. Standing there, I____ this little passage and appreciated anew how ____ it resonated (产生共鸣) with my own feelings about London. And there the poor young woman lay, gone 173 years and still making ____ friends. That’s quite something.

1.

A．surprised

B．eager

C．qualified

D．welcome

2.

A．education

B．judgment

C．enjoyment

D．family

3.

A．divided

B．turned

C．rolled

D．stuffed

4.

A．transported

B．limited

C．admitted

D．followed

5.

A．inspection

B．exams

C．messages

D．time

6.

A．declined

B．arose

C．remained

D．gathered

7.

A．sought for

B．suffered from

C．fallen out of

D．broken away from

8.

A．different

B．wrong

C．difficult

D．normal

9.

A．prove

B．unearth

C．explain

D．untie

10.

A．unwilling

B．unhappy

C．unprepared

D．unable

11.

A．identified

B．selected

C．wrote down

D．took back

12.

A．plot

B．memory

C．reputation

D．vision

13.

A．fruits

B．happenings

C．insights

D．characters

14.

A．In addition

B．In short

C．At random

D．For instance

15.

A．content

B．familiar

C．bored

D．occupied

16.

A．misfortune

B．beauty

C．authority

D．unrest

17.

A．lost sight of

B．sorted out

C．chanced upon

D．kept track of

18.

A．let out

B．made up

C．edited out

D．looked up

19.

A．intensely

B．simply

C．possibly

D．gradually

20.

A．lifelong

B．personal

C．new

D．local

2 . When you picture doing a science project, you might imagine peering through a microscope or building a model volcano. But science projects can be done anywhere. Many teens get inspired from playing musical instruments to doing gymnastics. All it takes to transform your favorite activities into a science project is identifying a problem you want to solve.

Elizabeth, 14, who is in seventh grade at Davis Drive Middle School in Cary, N. C, designed a program. Her method is based on the golden ratio (比例). This ratio is often used to create pleasing parts in artworks. The ratio also appears in nature. Elizabeth’s data storage strategy helps computers write data evenly (均匀地) across memory devices. This could help such devices last longer.

“As long as I can remember, I’ve been an artistic person,” Elizabeth said, “In fourth grade, my art teacher taught us about the golden ratio. And at that point it was just, you know, something to use when we were painting.” But last year, Elizabeth had to replace the memory in her own computer, thinking the golden ratio might work in tech, too. Elizabeth tested her golden-ratio technique by running programs on a computer.

But before this project, Elizabeth had no coding experience. To prepare, she spent months reading textbook on how to code. She says, “It wasn’t like an ‘ah-ha’ moment. Writing algorithms (程序) is such a boring process. But it was just cool to explore and see the computer actually just doing stuff that I told it to do after those hours.”

“Don’t limit yourself,” Elizabeth adds, “One of the biggest challenges you face is changing your mindset. I never thought that science or computer science would be my kind of thing, but after learning a bit about programming, I found that it was actually a new way to express myself. Words, painting, now programming.”

1. What can we learn about science projects according to this passage?

A．They need skills in building models.	B．They may involve great imagination.
C．They can come from different hobbies.	D．They will inspire teens to find solutions.

2. What is Elizabeth’s programming used for?

A．Creating fine works.

B．Protecting nature.

C．Strengthening memories.

D．Storing information.

3. Where did Elizabeth get inspiration for her program?

A．Golden-ratio technique.	B．Playing musical instruments.
C．Coding experience.	D．Programming textbook.

4. Which proverb explains Elizabeth’s story best?

A．The early bird catches the worm.	B．Many hands make light work.
C．Rome was not built in a day.	D．Nothing is impossible for a willing heart.

3 . My friend never did well in school but always had a sharp eye for beauty. One day I was busy arranging some flowers in a vase but just couldn’t get them to look right. She came along, and with a few skillful waves of her hand, transformed them into a stunning bouquet. When praised for having this amazing ability, she shrugged off the compliment. She simply didn’t view her creativity as anything special.

Too often we underestimate our own talents in this way. Maybe it’s because we’ve become used to believing that only abilities like a high I.Q., a gift for mathematics or a large vocabulary have cognitive (认知的) value. I was fortunate to learn otherwise at a young age.

When I entered high school, a guidance counselor told my mother I wasn’t college material because I had performed miserably on the spelling section of a standardized test. Thankfully my mother recognized my other intellectual (智力的) gifts and stood up for me, insisting I be put into the college-track curriculum. This experience literally defined the course of my life. It showed me how important it is not to accept a label someone else put on me and it allowed me to realize my full potential.

In the early 1980’s, Howard Gardner, a prominent Harvard researcher, pioneered a concept of “multiple intelligences”. In his book, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, he suggested that intelligence is not limited to a traditional interpretation but instead includes a wide range of cognitive abilities.

What I love about the multiple intelligences theory is that it allows you to reframe your own abilities and talents, especially those that don’t necessarily fit into neat academic boxes. While it’s true one must meet a basic level of intelligence for achievement, the analytical skills measured by I.Q. do not tell the whole story. This is why we should celebrate all of our talents and abilities. They’re part of what makes your individual brain so wonderful and unique.

1. Whose ability is probably underestimated according to the author?

A．A child who has a large vocabulary.

B．A child who is good at building Lego blocks.

C．A child who has an easy time learning how to multiply.

D．A child who quickly fits into academic learning process.

2. What does “otherwise” underlined in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．It suited me well to take college-track courses.

B．Intelligence can be interpreted by various abilities.

C．Spelling ability in a standardized test is of great value.

D．A high I. Q. makes no sense in realizing my full potential.

3. Why did the author mention Howard Gardner’s book?

A．To introduce a new topic.	B．To clarify a concept.
C．To recommend the book.	D．To support his opinion.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Change Your Cognitive Value.

B．Develop Your Academic Ability.

C．Appreciate Your Multiple Intelligences.

D．Explore the Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

4 . The process of becoming independent is not the same for everyone. Some attain it much younger in life than others. Nevertheless, we are told that becoming independent is very important, but why is it?

Being independent improves your confidence.

    1     Having confidence gives you a positive outlook on life. You are going to be willing to do things on your own, without needing support or approval (批准) from others.     2     This becomes self-fulfilling, for the more experiences you have, the more your confidence will grow, and the greater will be your chances of big rewards for your efforts.

    3    

Being mature enables you to handle your emotions without help from others. There will be many challenging situations throughout our lives. Keeping our emotions from dominating our lives is essential. Knowing that our emotions are under control brings a sense of pleasure and calm. Stress is reduced, and we become happier. There are many techniques that can be used to help us control our emotions.     4    

Independence leads to broader horizons.

Once you become independent from limits placed on you by others, you can broaden your horizons. You will be able to take trips to different destinations, meet people with different social and moral beliefs, and gain more knowledge.     5     It might affect the way you approach decision-making. In this way, independence can prevent you from adopting a narrow mindset. You will welcome adventure and see the rewards of taking risks.

A．Emotional independence makes you happier.

B．It is all about being secure with who you are.

C．You can try new things, and thus gain more experience.

D．Jogging, yoga and breathing exercises are among them.

E．Independent people are always positive about their lives.

F．In turn, this will lead you to think differently about your life.

G．The more independent you are, the more confident you will become.

5 . True beauty is not found in looks.     1     Changing the way you think about beauty will give you life-long confidence.

Place your beauty in your identity but not your identity in your beauty. If you hold onto youthful beauty as a narrow definition of yourself, you won’t enjoy your looks as you age.     2     Mirrors tell us only a part of what we show to the outer world. Go past your reflection and see the real self!

The fountain of youth doesn’t exist. Despite many anti-aging products, there is no magic solution to stopping the effects of aging. You should stop devaluing (贬低) yourself just because you are getting older. Aim for a healthy life and keep yourself strong and fit. Eat healthy diet and be committed to a daily exercise routine. Lots of efforts are needed.     3    

Beauty relates to physical and psychological aspects.     4     However, Serena Williams never hides her unusual muscular physique. Instead, her showing her muscles enhances her appeal. Many fans think she is beautiful. This proves that looking beautiful and attractive goes beyond our looks.

    5     Beauty matters to all women, but to those who age beautifully, it matters neither too much nor too little. Do enjoy our lives to the fullest, True beauty is about accepting yourself. It is also about feeling good about yourself.

A．Everyone does it.

B．It comes from the inside.

C．Go beyond your mirror image.

D．You will feel better over a long term.

E．It’s human nature to believe beauty is everything.

F．People generally think beauty is only a skin-deep issue.

G．Be less scared of aging and you will look more beautiful.

6 . As a young man, I wanted to see the world and be inspired by new cultures. So with a full backpack, an open mind and lots of curiosity, I set off. _________the familiarity of what call home.

I remember feeling both anxious and excited about the _________that day before setting off. Traveling _________me to new people, places and experiences I _________ how different the world was from where I_________. I saw the sharp_________ between advanced and developing countries and how _________the infrastructure(基础设施)and environmental conditions were in developing countries, making me want to help _________ the gap between these two worlds.

I became an engineer_________, developing technologies and infrastructure to help society ____________ more efficiently. Young engineers should always be ____________and motivated, which are the two words that I have always____________, and this mindset has helped me understand and ____________ to today's changing world.

As a young engineer, I saw technology as the____________ to carbon reduction. But technology alone is not ____________. There also has to be cooperation among different parties to make a real ____________.

One day, I would like to become a(n) ____________again, but this time I dream of traveling with my son, who has only seen ____________ of developing countries on the Internet. He should experience other cultures in person, which would____________ make him curious to learn more about the world and ____________ him to help build a better future.

1.

A．leaving behind

B．calling for

C．drawing on

D．wrestling with

2.

A．inability

B．uncertainty

C．misfortune

D．discomfort

3.

A．submitted

B．compared

C．exposed

D．reduced

4.

A．discovered

B．imagined

C．complained

D．feared

5.

A．grew up

B．took up

C．brought up

D．picked up

6.

A．competition

B．connection

C．contradiction

D．difference

7.

A．mature

B．obvious

C．poor

D．fine

8.

A．replace

B．bridge

C．explore

D．identify

9.

A．unintentionally

B．accidentally

C．eventually

D．unwillingly

10.

A．extend

B．display

C．follow

D．function

11.

A．humble

B．creative

C．innocent

D．curious

12.

A．expected

B．valued

C．indicated

D．interpreted

13.

A．adapt

B．belong

C．resign

D．tend

14.

A．guide

B．clue

C．barrier

D．answer

15.

A．appealing

B．enough

C．precise

D．relevant

16.

A．surprise

B．difference

C．decision

D．wish

17.

A．dreamer

B．doer

C．backpacker

D．engineer

18.

A．progress

B．danger

C．signs

D．images

19.

A．hopefully

B．temporarily

C．ambitiously

D．commercially

20.

A．force

B．appoint

C．inspire

D．persuade

7 . Everybody wants what’s best for their kids, but nobody knows what that is. It might be succeeding, but it might be_________.

Many of us who played youth sports remember the defeats far more_________than the victories. You just don’t _________with teammates after a win like you do after a loss. That’s when you learn to express and accept empathy(共鸣). I’ve_________this as a member of the hockey(冰球) parent. In the course of this second career, I have_________a coach and cheer leader while watching my son promoted.

In his third season, his team_________lost over three straight games, won a gold medal and made a deep_________in the league. There was_________, happiness and boasting(自夸). He improved as a_________but didn’t much change as a person.

For that, you need to__________. The next year his team lost 40 of their first 50 games. For a time, I worried that these setbacks would__________his love of the game that he’d hate hockey and__________. But that didn’t happen. As__________as it got, the losing was clarifying. It__________the kids who were in it more for the__________than for the game. The losing separated__________players from “show ponies”. Besides, the kids were learning the game in a way only losing can__________, appreciating the__________of every position on the ice.

This new team had character and could never be counted out, no matter the__________. They had learned the most important__________: You can lose without being beaten.

1.

A．failing

B．winning

C．falling

D．cheating

2.

A．Unbelievably

B．bitterly

C．remarkably

D．clearly

3.

A．agree

B．deal

C．bond

D．play

4.

A．treated

B．learned

C．doubted

D．considered

5.

A．served as

B．argued with

C．approved of

D．responded to

6.

A．regularly

B．just

C．never

D．permanently

7.

A．bow

B．run

C．research

D．analysis

8.

A．celebration

B．caution

C．commitment

D．authority

9.

A．trainer

B．player

C．leader

D．employee

10.

A．struggle

B．improve

C．compromise

D．lose

11.

A．spare

B．kill

C．afford

D．promote

12.

A．continue

B．recover

C．quit

D．hesitate

13.

A．smooth

B．adequate

C．precise

D．bad

14.

A．weeded out

B．appealed to

C．took in

D．referred to

15.

A．diploma

B．support

C．glory

D．identification

16.

A．delicate

B．swift

C．proud

D．true

17.

A．teach

B．follow

C．adopt

D．obtain

18.

A．term

B．role

C．virtue

D．accuracy

19.

A．field

B．judge

C．partner

D．score

20.

A．justice

B．border

C．lesson

D．course

8 . For my 8^th birthday my ________ was a shiny blue bike. My older sisters decided to teach me to ride. We lived on Edgewood Avenue at the top of a steep hill. My ________, Agnes and Christina, put me on my bike and ________ me hard, yelling instructions, “Peddle! Steer! Use the brakes!” Needless to say, I was rushing down the street ________ trying to hold on.

I bumped into the curb (路缘), ________ over the handlebars onto the sidewalk, skinning my knees, hurting my hands and crying loudly. Instead of offering ________, my sisters yelled at me ________ I hadn’t listened to their instructions. Weeks ________ before I tried again. This time I walked my bike to the ________ parking lot behind the schoolyard. I kept repeating the instructions to myself and after a few awkward ________ and even more painful spills I learned to ride a bike.

Learning life lesson is ________ like learning to ride a bike. Some life lessons are ________ to learn. We don’t always get to choose where we learn them; we don’t always have good teachers and we are not always ________. Sometimes we find ourselves madly trying to hold on.

But things are different now.

My husband, Rich, ________ my sons to ride a bike. First he raised their training wheels a little and they rode around the block getting used to the unstable ________. After he removed the training wheels he would run along the side of the bike holding on to the seat to ________ them. Up and down our street they would go with Rich calling out, “You ________ have it! You’re doing great!” until my son would call out “Let go”. Rich would let go but still run along, just ________. It was a happy day in the neighborhood.

When the life lessons come along in this New Year you may ________ them from a patient and kind teacher; you may have them surrounded by ________ and encouragement. And you may have someone stay by your side until you have found victory.

1.

A．dream

B．reward

C．gift

D．aim

2.

A．brothers

B．sisters

C．friends

D．classmates

3.

A．stuck

B．turned

C．knocked

D．pushed

4.

A．wildly

B．carefully

C．slowly

D．instantly

5.

A．jumping

B．flying

C．moving

D．leaving

6.

A．sadness

B．happiness

C．excitement

D．sympathy

7.

A．although

B．until

C．because

D．while

8.

A．passed

B．remained

C．happened

D．changed

9.

A．crowded

B．busy

C．covered

D．empty

10.

A．experiments

B．attempts

C．fights

D．conflicts

11.

A．though

B．even

C．much

D．still

12.

A．wonderful

B．comfortable

C．dangerous

D．painful

13.

A．ready

B．perfect

C．wrong

D．strong

14.

A．forced

B．taught

C．allowed

D．ordered

15.

A．practice

B．habit

C．development

D．feeling

16.

A．repair

B．fix

C．steady

D．move

17.

A．almost

B．usually

C．always

D．seldom

18.

A．in time

B．in relief

C．in turn

D．in case

19.

A．accept

B．learn

C．refuse

D．avoid

20.

A．blame

B．complaint

C．support

D．criticism

9 . It was the last day of the month-long summer camp. All the camp leaders and volunteers were preparing for the party that evening. Some were setting up chairs and tables outside, some were preparing water balloons for games we’d play later, and some were_________fruits.

A pastor（牧师）came to me,_________me a small broom and a dustpan, and asked me to sweep the gym. Alone. I had no_________. I was a team leader at camp, and this pastor was my employer. I put on as_________a face as I could and_________to sweep the floor. The whole situation felt so _________. I was angry.

During a_________between sweeps, I looked up. The same pastor who told me to sweep the gym was_________moving the speakers and cleaning the stage in the front of the gym. He worked alone, too. And I noticed the calmness and_________in his eyes as he worked.__________, my unhappiness left my heart, and in its place grew a sense of__________for what I saw in the pastor.

First, being a leader doesn’t mean doing all the fun things, all the time. It also means____________and hard work. To be a good leader, it means doing things one doesn’t really__________with a cheerful, genuine smile. Second, taking the time to think is________ to being a good leader. Without time for________, you might__________what’s more important. Third, however complex a task maybe, however long you have to work on it, you have to__________it. Cleaning the whole gym with a small broom seemed________. But I made it, one sweep at a time.

       I__________the pastor on my way to the garbage bin outside the gym. He looked up and smiled at me—and I smiled back. It was a tired smile, but it was a__________one.

1.

A．buying

B．cutting

C．picking

D．storing

2.

A．lent

B．gifted

C．awarded

D．handed

3.

A．choice

B．sense

C．interest

D．opportunity

4.

A．serious

B．disappointed

C．cheerful

D．embarrassed

5.

A．refused

B．hesitated

C．pretended

D．started

6.

A．unsafe

B．unfair

C．uncommon

D．unfamiliar

7.

A．trial

B．strike

C．break

D．review

8.

A．quietly

B．proudly

C．casually

D．hurriedly

9.

A．pain

B．joy

C．regret

D．desire

10.

A．Actually

B．Hopefully

C．Fortunately

D．Instantly

11.

A．urgency

B．sympathy

C．appreciation

D．achievement

12.

A．sacrifice

B．risk

C．guidance

D．experience

13.

A．care

B．enjoy

C．value

D．match

14.

A．vital

B．equal

C．similar

D．relevant

15.

A．expectation

B．preparation

C．assumption

D．reflection

16.

A．doubt

B．destroy

C．overlook

D．postpone

17.

A．help with

B．stick to

C．approve of

D．suffer from

18.

A．rewarding

B．unnecessary

C．satisfying

D．impossible

19.

A．passed

B．forgot

C．comforted

D．avoided

20.

A．final

B．real

C．patient

D．different

10 . Winners and Losers in the Race of Life

Our societies have advanced tendencies to label certain people ‘winners’ and others — logically enough — ‘losers’.    1    

And yet the more confusing and complex truth is that life is really made up of a number of races. There are races for money and fame. But there are also races that measure other kinds of skills worth respecting. There is a race for who can remain calmest in the face of frustration.     2     There are races focused on how good they are at getting pleasure from autumn fruits.

A striking fact about the multi-race event of life is, quite simply, that no one is ever able to end up a winner in every genre of competition available.     3     When we have failed in certain races in the long journey of life, we keep ample opportunities to train and develop our strength to win in others. We may never again be able to compete in the race for fame, honor or money, but it’s still entirely open to us to compete in the race for kindness, friendship and forgiveness. We may even win at the not insignificant race for enjoying one’s own company or sleeping very soundly.

    4       There is only a person who has won in some areas and messed up in others. We never entirely fail at life itself. When we feel depressed and isolated, the universe is just giving us another chance.     5     Only by showing gratitude to life can we learn to win.

A．Let’s smile to life.

B．They will lose in the less familiar races.

C．In that case, life might be a singular race.

D．There is no such thing as a winner or a loser in nature.

E．There is a race measuring how gifted someone is at friendship

F．If so, it follows that one cannot be a loser at everything either

G．One could neatly rank all the competitors from highest to lowest.