1 . As a writer, I miss rejection slips. Not that I enjoyed receiving those pre-printed slips of paper, but at least when I got one, I was pretty sure that a flesh-and-blood _______ had put it in the envelope. And there was always the chance I might see a handwritten sentence on the bottom, _______ the piece almost made it. When an editor at McCall’s wrote, “I’m afraid I have to say no on this _______ piece, but try me again on another, would you?” It was almost as _______ to me as if she had said, “We’ll _______ it and here is an advance for you”.

Nowadays, rejection slips seem to have disappeared with the use of online submissions. Most editors don’t feel it a must to _______ they have received, read, or considered your work because they receive so many _______ each day.

For me, there are three _______ of rejection slip pain. The first is _______ brought on by finding a flat “no” on a ________ piece of paper, then followed by anger (how could they ________ a piece that is obviously so much ________ than most of the stuff they print), and, finally, rebirth: I will live to ________ a new piece another day.

Learning to ________ rejection seems like part of growing up as a writer. Despite the many letters of acceptance I have received, my folder of “Noteworthy Rejection Slips” is far ________ than that of “Noteworthy Acceptances”, which indicates to me the fact: I still have some growing up to do.

1.

A．writer

B．reader

C．mailman

D．editor

2.

A．demanding

B．indicating

C．suspecting

D．arguing

3.

A．boring

B．novel

C．lengthy

D．particular

4.

A．thrilling

B．upsetting

C．embarrassing

D．amusing

5.

A．buy

B．reject

C．check

D．substitute

6.

A．prove

B．determine

C．explain

D．acknowledge

7.

A．proposals

B．drafts

C．contributions

D．instructions

8.

A．meanings

B．stages

C．wonders

D．rewards

9.

A．relief

B．frustration

C．anger

D．hesitation

10.

A．valueless

B．expensive

C．characterless

D．shiny

11.

A．make up

B．put away

C．turn down

D．insist on

12.

A．easier

B．better

C．shorter

D．longer

13.

A．print

B．revise

C．download

D．submit

14.

A．accept

B．criticize

C．judge

D．evaluate

15.

A．thinner

B．fatter

C．older

D．newer

2 . 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。

I remember that I was worn out when I got home that afternoon. I'd had to be at the theatre for the audition (试演) at nine that morning, and then I'd been waiting around for about three hours before the director finally saw me. I performed my song and almost at once he told me I could go home. “I am very sorry,”he said,“but your voice isn't quite right for the part.”It had been a similar story at all the auditions that I'd done over the past few weeks.

It had been my dream for years to be in a famous musical like The Sound of Music or Mamma Mia, so I'd taken lessons in singing and dancing, and had come to the city to try and get a part in a show. I'd been really pleased when I'd managed to set up no fewer than ten auditions, but so far all of them had gone the same way. As I arrived back that afternoon at the little apartment where I rented a room, I really wondered whether I should bother going to the eleventh the next morning. It was a show I'd have loved to be in — but really, what was the point? Someone I knew had told me about a job at a local coffee shop, and had said that if I called in for a quick chat at ten the next day, I'd almost certainly get the job. It meant missing the audition, but right now, it seemed like a much more sensible thing to do.

I always sing when I need to cheer myself up, and because there was no one else in the apartment, I slipped off my shoes, went and stood in front of the mirror and started singing.Quite quickly I found myself belting out (大声唱) one of my favourite songs, Bridge over Troubled Water. As I finished the song, I suddenly heard applause. I looked around the room thinking that my roommate had perhaps slipped in without me noticing — but there was nobody. Then I went over to the open window of the apartment, and saw an elderly woman standing on the far side of the pavement below, looking up at me.

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。
Paragraph 1:

She reached her arms up towards me with a great smile on her face.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:

The next day I went to the eleventh audition.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。

As a kid, I dreamed of becoming a marine biologist and I lived out this fantasy by setting up aquariums(鱼缸) at home. Then, at 20, I was introduced to photographer David Liittschwager, who hired me to help him with a magazine assignment on marine life.

David’s assignment was to document the amazing biodiversity found in the ocean. My role was to collect species for him to photograph. Every night, I would cast a floating lamp. Like moths drawn to a flame, mysterious creatures would emerge from the depths in search of this light. I’d then set up aquariums to house them as they waited for David to take their shot.

Those evenings made me feel as if I were on another planet. I had never imagined such strange life-forms could exist in our oceans. But I didn’t grasp the true magic of what was in front of me until I saw the photographs David took.

The biggest surprise was his image of a baby flounder. I caught this fish by accident. Only later did I notice its two tiny eyeballs staring back at me. But David’s photograph of this flounder revealed a universe of detail that even my eager eyes had missed. His macro lens magnified its ribs. The lightning-fast exposure froze its motion. A precisely aimed light released the rainbow hidden in its skin. And the black background removed all distractions to focus our attention on the quiet beauty at hand.

Years after that project, I was snorkeling(潜水) on a shallow reef. Out of the darkness, another baby flounder emerged and settled on my mask. This time I knew what to look for. Before working for David, I had assumed the goal of photography was simply to reproduce an observation so that others could share the same experience. It had never occurred to me that photography could expand our visual perception and therefore teach us to see the world anew.

1. What was the author’s responsibility in David’s assignment?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Why was David’s image of a baby flounder the biggest surprise to the author?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
▶Encountering a baby flounder while snorkeling deepened the author’s understanding that photography could reproduce an observation.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What can help you see the world anew?(In about 40 words)
___________________________________________________________________________________________

4 . It was 6 a.m. as I got on the train, ending my work one cold morning and I was lucky to get a seat. At that time of the morning, my eyes were not fully focused and at times I was half asleep. During that time the train was usually filled with construction workers heading out to start their work. On that particular morning I found myself drawn on the shoes of men sitting about 10 seats across from me.

I sat examining the shoes of men. Men from different walks of life, holding different jobs, thinking different thoughts, living different lives and despite what they did and how they looked, they all had something in common. They were all of the working class trying to achieve their dreams.

One day each of those men has to visit a shoe store to buy a new pair of shoes, a type that fits their working needs. For a short time those shoes look so good. Then one day they lose their shine; they no longer look as good, but guess what? The shoes feel right. Feet have found their own home within the comfort of those shoes.

If those shoes could talk, what kind of a tale do you think they would tell? If your shoes could talk, what do you think they would say about you? Would the story be about a journey filled with joy and fun? Or would the story be one filled with disappointment and regret?

We choose the shoes. Where we take them and when and how we wear them are up to us.

1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

A．It was cold that morning.

B．The author went to work by train.

C．The author worked during the night.

D．Construction workers usually began to work at 7 a.m.

2. How did the author draw the conclusion that all of the men were working class?

A．By closely observing their shoes.	B．According to the way they walked.
C．On the basis of the lives they lived.	D．By distinguishing their facial features.

3. What does the author think of the shoes then one day?

A．Fashionable.

B．Good.

C．Shiny.

D．Comfortable.

4. Where can the text probably be found?

A．In a news report.

B．In a magazine.

C．In a biography.

D．In a history book.

5 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

The smell of defeat filled the air on a warm October evening. In the school parking lot stood Coach McDonald and me, a loser in the 160-pound weight class.

Coach McDonald’s hands firmly grasped my shoulders, his eyes looking through my uncertainty. “Billy,” his voice cut through the uneasy quiet. “The potential for you to become an excellent wrestler exists. It takes time,” he argued.

“Don’t you see? I lost... again. Ten matches. Never won.” Frustration struck me as I stepped away from Coach McDonald. Pulling my cell phone from my equipment bag, I said definitively, “I need to call my mom. She’ll pick me up.” I just wanted to get away as soon as possible and flung myself into Mom’s arms. She had always been my best friend and supporter.

While waiting for her to answer my call, the thought of quitting the sport rumbled in my mind. I was so frustrated at that time that I ignored the joy and satisfaction wrestling had brought to me.

Coach McDonald closed in. “Billy, look at me,” he said. “Pound for pound, you’re the strongest and most flexible (灵活的) kid on the team. That’s a winning combination. Master the techniques in practice, and victory will be yours, I promise.”

I coughed and pulled my sweaty shirt off my chest. “When, Coach?”

With a knowing look, Coach said, “Do you know how long it took me to win my first match?” He stood up straight, squinting (斜视) like he was recalling a tough time. “During my first year, I lost every match. I ended the season 0-11. I didn’t lose at all in the following two years, including two state championships. Billy, that can be you someday. But it’ll never happen if you quit.”

In that silent moment, I felt a slight pain within me, but it was weak, not strong enough to change my mind. Coach cleared his throat, glancing at his watch. “Well, I’m hungry.”

“And my mom’s here,” I said. Then I jumped into her car.

注意：1.续写词数应为150左右;
2.请按如下格式作答。
In the car, I told her I lost again and I was hesitating about quitting the team.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The next day, I walked into the training field again.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . It was a sunny weekend. I had planned to go mountain climbing in the suburbs with Daniel. However, a sudden heavy rain that morning disrupted my plan. Looking out of the window, I couldn’t help feeling a little ________ as the rain poured down.

However, Daniel ________ , “Since we can’t go mountain climbing, why don’t we go to an old ________ in the city? I heard there are many interesting shops and delicious food there.” I thought it was a good idea and _________. We braved the heavy rain and arrived at the old neighborhood. Although the sky was still ________ , the old buildings and unique atmosphere of the neighborhood attracted us.

We walked through the narrow streets and admired the ________ shops on both sides. A retro-style coffee shop caught our attention and we decided to go in and rest. In the coffee shop, we tasted the delicious coffee and talked about our daily lives. ________ , a strange figure walked into the coffee shop. He looked ________ and lost. His eyes fell on us casually and seemed to be looking for something. Out of ________ , we took the ________ to talk to him. It turned out that he was a photographer and he had just lost an important memory card which contained his works of many years. He had been searching for it in the neighborhood for a long time, but still couldn’t find it.

After hearing ________ his troubles, we decided to help him search for it. We searched around the neighborhood and asked many people, but couldn’t find the memory card. Just when we were about to give up, a little kid ________ to us with a memory card and said he had found it by the roadside. We excitedly took the memory card and after checking it was ________ , we gave it back to the photographer. The photographer looked at us gratefully with tears in his eyes. He said, “Thank you very much. This memory card means a lot to me.” We felt happy that we could help him and it added more meaning ________ this unexpected trip.

This experience made me realize that life always has unexpected surprises and twists. Sometimes, ________ your plan is not a bad thing and it may bring you a more wonderful experience.

1.

A．disabled

B．disappointed

C．disgraceful

D．disturbed

2.

A．suggested

B．claimed

C．answered

D．demanded

3.

A．museum

B．community

C．street

D．neighborhood

4.

A．admired

B．agreed

C．jumped

D．permitted

5.

A．sunny

B．chilly

C．gloomy

D．clear

6.

A．ancient

B．crowded

C．spacious

D．various

7.

A．Gradually

B．Slowly

C．Suddenly

D．Quickly

8.

A．tired

B．angry

C．energetic

D．relieved

9.

A．question

B．curiosity

C．control

D．danger

10.

A．action

B．measures

C．responsibility

D．initiative

11.

A．about

B．from

C．out

D．into

12.

A．listened

B．talked

C．came

D．pointed

13.

A．complete

B．correct

C．full

D．useful

14.

A．with

B．up

C．in

D．to

15.

A．changing

B．scheduling

C．making

D．following

7 . Have we reached the peak of the culture war? Looking at my social media feeds, it seems that polarised thinking and misinformation have never been more common. How am I supposed to feel when users I once admired now draw on questionable evidence to support their beliefs?

Perhaps it is time for us all to adopt a little “existential humility”. I came across this idea in a paper by Jeffrey Greenat Virginia from Common Wealth University and his colleagues. They build on a decade of research examining the benefits of “intellectual humility” more generally — our ability to recognise the errors in our judgement and remain aware of the limits of our knowledge.

You can get a flavour of this research by rating your agreement with the following statements, ranging from 1 (not at all like me) to 5 (very like me): I question my own opinions because they could be wrong; I recognise the value in opinions that are different from my own; in the face of conflicting evidence, I am open to changing my opinions.

People who score highly on this assessment are less likely to form knee-jerk reactions on a topic, and they find it easier to consider the strengths or weaknesses of a logical argument. They are less likely to be influenced by misinformation, since they tend to read the article in full, investigate the sources of a news story and compare its reporting to other statements, before coming to a strong conclusion about its truth.

Developing “intellectual humility” would be an excellent idea in all fields, but certain situations may make it particularly difficult to achieve. Greenat points out that some beliefs are so central to our identity that any challenge can activate an existential crisis, as if our whole world view and meaning in life are under threat. As a result, we become more insistent in our opinions and seek any way to protect them. This may reduce some of our feelings of uncertainty, but it comes at the cost of more analytical thinking.

For these reasons, Greenat defines “existential humility” as the capacity to entertain the thought of another world view without becoming so defensive and closed-minded. So how could we achieve it? This will be the subject of future research, but the emotion of awe (a feeling of great respect and admiration) may offer one possibility. One study found that watching awe-inspiring videos about space and the universe led to humbler thinking, including a greater capacity to admit weaknesses.

Perhaps we could all benefit from interrupting our despair with awe-inspiring content. At the very least, we can try to question our preconceptions before offering our views on social media and be a little less ready to criticize when others disagree.

1. Regarding the culture war on social media, the author is _______.

A．embarrassed

B．concerned

C．panicked

D．stressed

2. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Existential humility reduces the threat to identity.

B．People with intellectual humility tend to jump to conclusions.

C．Awe could promote existential humility by encouraging modest thinking.

D．The higher you score on the assessment, the more you stick to your values.

3. Which would be the best title for the passage?

A．Overcome an Existential Crisis	B．Show a Little Humility
C．The Path to Screening Information	D．The Approach to Achieving Humility

8 . It was a sunny winter day. I had gone up and down the tower when, outside the little door at the foot, a blind man came toward me. He was a pale, thin man with dark glasses. He kept close to the inner wall of the courtyard. On reaching the door, he touched it and sharply turned inside. In a moment, he disappeared up the staircase. I stood still, looking at the little sign that said “To the Tower… ” I felt obliged to follow.

I didn’t follow closely. I caught up with him in the ticket office. There I was surprised to see the attendant selling him a ticket as though he were any other visitor. With the ticket in one hand and touching the wall with the other, he reached the staircase leading to the hallway.

“That man is blind,” I said to the attendant, but he showed no concern. “He’s blind,” I repeated. He didn’t answer, looking at me vacantly.

“Perhans he wants to jump,” I said. But his chair was too comfortable. He didn’t stir. He still looked down at a crossword puzzle he had begun. I turned toward the staircase.

“The ticket,” the attendant said, rising from his chair. It seemed the only thing that could move him. After purchasing my ticket, I hurried up the staircase.

The man hadn’t gone as far as I imagined. After ten minutes, I approached him. “Excuse me,” I said as politely as I could, “but I am very curious to know why you came up.”

“You’d never guess,” he said.

“Not the view, I take it, or the fresh air on this winter day,” I said.

He smiled. “Coming up the stairs, one can feel the change-the coo staircase suddenly becomes quite warm, —and how up here behind the wall there is shade, but as soon as one goes opposite a narrow window one finds the sun. In all of Siena there is no place so good as here.”

He moved into the sunlight. Then he stepped into the shade. “Light, shade, light, shade,” he said, and seemed as pleased as a child who, in a game of hopscotch, jumps from square to square.

We went down the tower together. I left him, gladdened as one can only be by the sunlight.

1. Why did the author follow the blind man?

A．To offer timely help.	B．To satisfy his curiosity.
C．To teach him a lesson.	D．To prevent him from climbing up.

2. What was the attendant’s attitude to visitors?

A．Enthusiastic.

B．Concerned.

C．Indifferent.

D．Skeptical.

3. What encouraged the blind man to climb the tower?

A．The fresh air on the top.	B．The pleasant childhood memories.
C．The fantastic view from the tower.	D．The striking contrast between light and shade.

4. What message does the writer want to convey in the text?

A．Nature is the best gift for humanity.

B．When one door shuts, another opens in life.

C．Every individual can appreciate beauty in life.

D．The disadvantaged deserve care from the society.

9 . As an ordinary senior school student, I’ve discovered a wonderful way to _________ life with a positive attitude — my daily bicycle rides. Riding my bike has become more than just a fun activity. It’s like a little _________ that has taught me important lessons about staying positive, facing challenges and being _________.

When I get on my bike and ride around familiar streets, it feels like I’m on a small quest. It’s not just about reaching a(n)_________; it’s about enjoying the ride itself. Cycling has turned into a kind of teacher, helping me understand the _________ of practice and having a can-do spirit. One of the coolest things I’ve learned is about not giving up when things get hard. You know, when I’m trying to pedal up a steep hill, it’s hard! But guess what? Even when my legs feel super tired, I keep going and do not give up, till I reach the _________. Life is kind of like that too. When I have a challenging task or any problems in my studies, I remember those steep hills. I know if I keep trying, I can _________ anything.

Another thing that cycling has taught me is to be ready for surprises. The road isn’t always _________. Sometimes there are bumps, and you have to ride around them. When something is wrong with my bike, I do not _________. I try to find a solution. Life’s a bit like that too. It’s not always easy, but being flexible and staying positive helps me rise to the challenge and handle __________ problems.

The most important part, though, is how cycling makes me feel happy and __________. The wind in my hair and the rhythm of pedaling makes everything seem OK. It’s like a secret power — no matter what’s going on, it keeps me happy, lets me __________ my batteries, and lets me come back feeling __________.

In the end, my daily bike rides have become more than just a way to get around. They’ve become a(n) __________ for how I want to live my life. Cycling has shown me that being positive, facing challenges with __________, and keeping an optimistic attitude can turn the life journey into a fantastic adventure. So, here’s to more bike rides and more fun!

1.

A．estimate

B．approach

C．guarantee

D．challenge

2.

A．phenomenon

B．coincidence

C．adventure

D．entertainment

3.

A．flexible

B．unique

C．traditional

D．responsible

4.

A．cooperation

B．dilemma

C．crisis

D．destination

5.

A．discovery

B．value

C．comment

D．growth

6.

A．top

B．coast

C．stage

D．platform

7.

A．describe

B．detect

C．remove

D．overcome

8.

A．delicate

B．fragile

C．smooth

D．tough

9.

A．volunteer

B．insist

C．pray

D．panic

10.

A．original

B．unexpected

C．crucial

D．natural

11.

A．useful

B．efficient

C．carefree

D．curious

12.

A．apply

B．recharge

C．develop

D．recognize

13.

A．alarmed

B．embarrassed

C．fresh

D．emotional

14.

A．audience

B．passenger

C．victim

D．guide

15.

A．determination

B．attempt

C．comfort

D．calmness

10 . Five years ago, I wrote about the connection between expectations and happiness—lower your expectations and you will be happier: control expectations and despair won’t be so obvious when life does not go according to plan. And perhaps there is some truth in that idea.

However, with reduced expectations, we chip away at hope. And how can we not hope for a better tomorrow? I consider myself to be someone with spirit. I look forward to experiences and anticipate memorable ones. And while it’s important to cope when such experiences fall through. I think it’s even more important to hold onto what was originally present -that sense of hope.

The Times article, Optimism Bias: Human Brain May Be Hardwired for Hope, offers a perspective with roots in evolutionary (进化的) psychology. Hope can be wired in the human brain to enhance survival. If present during trying times, hope can be a factor that allows some to overcome difficulties and gather positivity for the days ahead.

“Hope keeps our minds at ease, lowers stress and improves physical health,” the article states. “Researchers studying patients with heart disease found that optimists were more likely than nonoptimistic patients to take vitamins, cat low-fat diets and exercise, thereby reducing their overall risk. A study of cancer patients revealed that pessimistic patients under the age of 60 were more likely to die within eight months than nonpessimistic patients of the same initial health and age.”

Life is always going to bring us challenges. Life is always going to be comprised of problems that might pull us down. Is it still foolish to have hope? I say it’s not. Because without hope, what are we left with? I say hope is significant. I say it’s a beautiful part of what it means to be human.

1. What would the author do to deal with disappointments five years ago.

A．Raise expectations.	B．Anticipate less.
C．Stay away from stress.	D．Make fewer plans.

2. What does the underlined phrase “chip away art” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Forget.

B．Weaken.

C．Change.

D．Doubt.

3. What can we learn from The Tines article?

A．Pessimists tend to live a shorter life.	B．Optimists usually have a better appetite.
C．Being hopeful helps humans survive.	D．Human brains are designed for hardship.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The methods of achieving happiness.	B．How to cope with difficulties.
C．The importance of holding on lo hope.	D．How to balance hope and reality.