1 . Last week I wrote about how giving to others can and does lift your life and brings more happiness, contentment, and even better health and a longer life. It must have _________ me to practice what I was preaching (宣扬) because later I _________ myself in my car driving to the high school that all my kids attended and going _________ to the office where I made a pretty sizable donation.

As I walked out of the building, I felt so good and happy in the _________ of my heart and brain that I _________ another school. I made a couple more _________ that day and felt like I was on top of the _________. It’s very _________ that when I make donations, including all those $2 bills that I _________ give to kids, I always feel that I __________ much more out of it than the recipient (接受者). What a great __________ it gives me! As science has proved, there is a great __________ between the brain and the __________. This allows us humans to help and __________ our entire physical being by what we run through our heads. __________ is one of those things that can set off a lot of good __________ feelings in our bodies.

Most of us, when we talk about giving, tend to think __________ in terms of giving money. But there are so many other ways and things to give. With very little __________, I came up with this list of things we can give to others that can be a __________ help to those people and, at the same time, can give a __________ to our brains, souls, and bodies.

1.

A．attracted

B．prohibited

C．motivated

D．allowed

2.

A．found

B．devoted

C．committed

D．dressed

3.

A．suddenly

B．specially

C．well

D．straight

4.

A．presence

B．center

C．edge

D．absence

5.

A．got through

B．registered for

C．rolled over

D．headed for

6.

A．donations

B．experiments

C．predictions

D．decisions

7.

A．voice

B．building

C．-world

D．mountain

8.

A．surprising

B．interesting

C．annoying

D．convincing

9.

A．often

B．purely

C．simply

D．deliberately

10.

A．make

B．share

C．get

D．change

11.

A．shock

B．feeling

C．gift

D．reward

12.

A．difference

B．restriction

C．gap

D．connection

13.

A．body

B．heart

C．muscle

D．ankle

14.

A．handle

B．improve

C．spread

D．block

15.

A．Purchasing

B．Organizing

C．Giving

D．Changing

16.

A．official

B．foreign

C．familiar

D．positive

17.

A．fortunately

B．constantly

C．primarily

D．eventually

18.

A．effort

B．contribution

C．requirement

D．chance

19.

A．real

B．legal

C．formal

D．huge

20.

A．terminal

B．lift

C．train

D．rest

2 . I’m an American-born Chinese. I wouldn’t say I’m more American than Chinese or vice versa. My character was equally molded by both cultures. For a long time, I was comfortable with being from two cultures. I was fluent in “Chinglish”.

However, as I grew up, something unexpected rose, causing a parallel tension between the two corresponding cultures. During Chinese events when I was in China, the host would sometimes make fun of America. My relatives would look at me and laugh, asking me how I felt. But how could I respond to a question like that? If I said I was uncomfortable, it would just make me seem even more American in their eyes. But I couldn’t pretend to laugh either. So, I often just stayed quiet and smiled.

Sometimes, I’d leave China feeling less Chinese than when I went in.

This past summer, on my way back to Rochester, a man at the airport kept asking my father and I where we were from. When I told him I was from the United States, he didn’t seem to believe me.

He then went on to ask the terrible question, “But like where are you really from, like, where were you born?” And no matter how specific our answers were, the man still seemed a little doubtful. He then went on to ask us if we knew where Tampa, Florida was and if we knew anything about it. It’s moments like these when I realize that sometimes my appearance makes it hard for me to seem fully American.

These experiences made me question if I was more Chinese or American.

I felt like I was neither. So, if I wasn’t completely one culture or the other, what was I? In China, I would feel more American, while in America, I would feel more Chinese. There was no balance between my two cultures.

But this doesn’t mean that I don’t embrace (拥抱) both my identities. I love both my Chinese cultural identity and my American one. I just need to learn to love them together.

1. How did the author feel about his identity at the very beginning?

A．Special.

B．Confident.

C．Confused.

D．Ridiculous.

2. Why did the author feel less Chinese when he left China?

A．Because he found it hard to remain quiet and have a big smile.

B．Because he was unable to speak fluent Chinese at his hometown.

C．Because he had lost face in front of his relatives and friends.

D．Because he was treated as an American by his Chinese relatives.

3. What made the man at the airport keep questioning where the author was from?

A．His cultures.

B．His experience.

C．His look.

D．His air tickets.

4. What could be the best title of the passage?

A．Being Culturally Homeless	B．A Boy with Two Identities
C．A Chinese Boy Born in American	D．Better Chinese than American

3 . I looked out of the door of my 100 year-old house and saw my newly built garden. I realized nothing is rubbish. I was full of_________and appreciation.

I_________to look at the things that we usually think of as_________—plastic bags, polluted water, rubber bands, and newspapers, clothes and furniture we_________. I also began to think, act and live according to a belief that all things have the_________of being reused as long as we try to_________it. And I explored the worth of_________. I mean recycling isn't just about_________rubbish like putting glass and paper in_________bins. It also requires creativity, commitment and even love.

My neighbors would put the autumn__________by the roadside to be picked up by the garbage truck. This didn't__________with my newfound concept of recycling trash, so I made a new__________with moving boxes and put up a__________saying, ''Dump（倾倒）leaves here". I watched carefully through the autumn as my neighbors__________the leaves in the new garden and I also watered the leaves__________with rainwater and collected dogs' waste as fertilizer, Then I__________flower seeds. Finally, I had a new__________garden, full of colorful flowers.

Nothing has to be really__________. If you try hard enough, everything can be recycled. I even used my bath water to water my garden, though it might be a little__________for my friends. But I think if we all can turn waste, sometimes a little dirty, into__________, the world will be a much better place.

1.

A．joy

B．sympathy

C．doubt

D．regret

2.

A．refused

B．hesitated

C．liked

D．started

3.

A．wealth

B．garbage

C．investments

D．necessities

4.

A．packed up

B．brought up

C．threw away

D．gave away

5.

A．value

B．request

C．confusion

D．consequence

6.

A．own

B．find

C．forget

D．lose

7.

A．collecting

B．recovering

C．recycling

D．competing

8.

A．sorting

B．picking

C．spotting

D．recording

9.

A．uniform

B．broken

C．limitless

D．separate

10.

A．fruit

B．rice

C．leaves

D．vegetables

11.

A．compare

B．deal

C．communicate

D．fit

12.

A．platform

B．garden

C．picture

D．schedule

13.

A．building

B．tent

C．sign

D．show

14.

A．piled

B．polished

C．decorated

D．cleaned

15.

A．unwillingly

B．hardly

C．seriously

D．casually

16.

A．submitted

B．sowed

C．removed

D．reserved

17.

A．smelly

B．annoying

C．imaginary

D．attractive

18.

A．useless

B．careless

C．priceless

D．defenseless

19.

A．pleasant

B．vivid

C．violent

D．disgusting

20.

A．trouble

B．treasure

C．terror

D．trade

4 . During my years teaching communication courses at East Carolina University and College of Charleston, I got to hear many incredible true-life stories through students' presentations. Stories that stick out in my mind include a young man's sharing his experience of being falsely diagnosed with a fatal illness, another who failed repeatedly to try out for the baseball team before getting into a game he enjoys much more - golf, and so on. So many unforgettable stories; so much wisdom.

But one story really stands out in my mind to illustrate our incredible power. Here's what happened to this young girl, Suzy.

One Christmas Suzy had her heart set on getting a new Barbie. But not just any Barbie, it was one where she could cut her hair. At least the doll came with scissors. It was the last gift that little seven-year-old Suzy opened, and she felt pure delight. Barbie's hair went from hip length, to waist length, to long layers to irregular, to shoulder length, to pixie (小精灵) short... finally ending with a total buzz cut (圆寸).

Everything's ready and the logical thing to do next was of course for Suzy to cut her own hair. She cut layers and more layers and couldn't wait to show her parents and class.

Little Suzy had a hard time understanding why her mother wanted to take her to a beauty salon to “fix” her hair style. But Suzy firmly believed everyone at school would be so envious of her design concept and skill. Her friends would turn green with envy. Absolutely, her complete and unquestioned confidence in her appearance caused other people to see her beauty.

That story was told 12 years after the fact and Suzy still has pictures of that haircut. She would never cut her hair again, but she cherishes that memory of boundless self-value.

Confidence is like a muscle that you exercise. You decide to be more confident, to choose the positive performance, to take care of yourself, and the feeling of confidence comes to you after that. We all have had that level of confidence at times, but where is it when you need it?

1. What's the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To introduce the author's background.	B．To tell some incredible stories.
C．To summarize the main idea of the article.	D．To pave the way for the following.

2. The reason why Suzy wants the Barbie is that

A．she will make a comparison	B．she would like to practice hair cutting
C．she feel like showing off her collection	D．she wants to give her classmates a surprise

3. Which of the following words best describes Suzy?

A．Determined.

B．Absurd.

C．Sympathetic.

D．Aggressive.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Lifelong Wisdom	B．Confident Scissors
C．Unforgettable Stories	D．Barbie's Encouragement

5 . Throughout my high school career I've made a point of doing what many people fail to do on a daily basis：reflect and assess my life and decisions. I'm a（n） _______ and I analyze and contemplate （沉思）,sometimes too much, but always with the intention of _______ something new about myself. You might be _______ to learn that I do my best thinking not in the classroom, not in the bedroom, but in the bathroom.

The bathroom has always been a place where I can sit in _______. The closest thing to a（n） _______ is a polite knock on the door, and quiet is _______ maintained. Bathrooms are always kept clean, and _______are provided for sufficient self-inspection. _______, the bathroom is the ideal place for reflection.

My bathroom, which is situated a brief _______ down the hall from my bedroom, is a wonderful place where I can take comfort. ________a long day of hard work, I ________for my bathroom to reflect on the past day and the days ahead. I think about my friends and family, and what they ________ to me. I even realize the numerous ________ that I have recently made, and ________ to put them right.

The thinking I do in the bathroom — whether it is a ________ about my future as a rock star, or the realization that my mother was in fact correct - is important to me. Taking the time to think and reflect has ________ me to make good decisions. And then I will ________ what is important to me. Instead of living my life ________ , I've made a choice to think deeply and keep things in perspective.

To me, the bathroom is not a place to________ the challenges of reality, but rather a place to________   those challenges through the power of human intelligence.

1.

A．doctor

B．thinker

C．observer

D．reader

2.

A．learning

B．recording

C．mentioning

D．abandoning

3.

A．worried

B．surprised

C．excited

D．disappointed

4.

A．regret

B．patience

C．pride

D．peace

5.

A．celebration

B．invitation

C．description

D．interruption

6.

A．poorly

B．quickly

C．continually

D．occasionally

7.

A．mirrors

B．pictures

C．cameras

D．towels

8.

A．At present

B．On average

C．At last

D．In short

9.

A．ride

B．walk

C．jump

D．roll

10.

A．After

B．Until

C．Before

D．As

11.

A．wait

B．prepare

C．head

D．stand

12.

A．introduce

B．refer

C．give

D．mean

13.

A．mistakes

B．promises

C．goals

D．challenges

14.

A．afford

B．forget

C．attempt

D．refuse

15.

A．duty

B．rule

C．fantasy

D．project

16.

A．begged

B．allowed

C．ordered

D．forced

17.

A．call on

B．rely on

C．focus on

D．live on

18.

A．blindly

B．slowly

C．unluckily

D．painfully

19.

A．accept

B．remember

C．delay

D．escape

20.

A．avoid

B．conquer

C．meet

D．create

6 . All left-handed humans have not had it easy in the world. In many cultures and in the dark ages, left-handed people have generally been seen as the devil.

The word “left” in English comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “lyft”，which means weak or broken. The Oxford English Dictionary defines “left-handed” as meaning defective, awkward or clumsy.     1     A “left-handed compliment” and a “left-handed marriage” can be set as examples. The former does not mean sincere praise but indicates an insult. The latter, as you may notice, refers to an illegal or informal marriage, which, in particular, involves one side of royal or noble birth and the other of lower rank.

In some certain cultures, things go beyond that.     2     In Nigeria, for instance, taking or giving anything to anyone with your left hand is assumed that you lack home training.

    3     Many people around you in China, if asked, would tell you they were forced by their parents or teachers, to write with their right hand. Strangely enough, none of those elders can say what an actual problem there is with left-handedness. If it has to do with the fear of that child not being prosperous, there are a lot of left-handed personalities doing well and breaking grounds. The possible explanation here maybe lies in their long- held prejudice.     4    

Two-thirds of the world still view left-handedness as a shortcoming but it isn't.     5    That is what C. R. Manske points out, “Life without left-handed people wouldn't be right. ”

A．And that is not the only case.

B．The following two examples can best reflect this point.

C．A tiny gesture or movement with the left hand can mean a lot.

D．Namely, people tend to believe in common ideas instead of the reality.

E．The way forward for the left-handers is for them to be accepted as they are.

F．Certain phrases in English suggest a rather negative view of “left-handedness”.

G．In other words, different deep-rooted beliefs originate from different cultures.

7 . Nine years ago when I went to an English corner for the first time, nobody tried to talk to me. However, I have now become a(n) _________  participant at the English corner. I always give a(n) _________smile to new comers.

There have been times when I feel unable to _________ those who have an excellent command of English. But as long as I remember the _________ I received nine years ago, I feel better _________ for the challenge, for I_________ there is no point in being sorry for my own inability and the only_________way forward is to start again from the very beginning with full_________.

The determination to start again indicates your_________ of the many opportunities ahead. You’ve all __________ read the novel Gone with the Wind, and are __________  by Scarlett, the heroine, who brings herself and the family through the  __________ years of the Civil War and Reconstruction and regains her footing in Atlanta. At the end of the book, she says __________, “After all, tomorrow is another day.” Scarlett’s persistence (坚持) and self-confidence in face of difficulty probably __________  the ever-appealing attraction of the character, and the everlasting popularity of the novel.

It is true that the age in which we live is not __________. There are a lot of hardships and barriers ahead. But, if we__________ that we always have tomorrow before us, we will not be that__________ with everything around us now. Tomorrow will be a new day. This is the__________ on which we rely. With this faith, we will__________ all that was disagreeable yesterday and discover golden opportunities to achieve that which we’ve never before __________.

1.

A．rude

B．anxious

C．careless

D．active

2.

A．grateful

B．encouraging

C．familiar

D．winning

3.

A．keep up with

B．take pride in

C．get rid of

D．make fun of

4.

A．advice

B．training

C．treatment

D．protection

5.

A．allowed

B．prepared

C．blamed

D．supported

6.

A．suspect

B．know

C．promise

D．remember

7.

A．serious

B．awkward

C．proper

D．bearable

8.

A．schedule

B．determination

C．curiosity

D．puzzlement

9.

A．share

B．experience

C．memory

D．awareness

10.

A．probably

B．gradually

C．obviously

D．frequently

11.

A．impressed

B．annoyed

C．scared

D．confused

12.

A．recent

B．golden

C．romantic

D．bitter

13.

A．casually

B．wrongly

C．hopefully

D．naturally

14.

A．admit

B．explain

C．predict

D．reduce

15.

A．perfect

B．reasonable

C．meaningful

D．difficult

16.

A．declare

B．forget

C．realize

D．doubt

17.

A．patient

B．busy

C．connected

D．dissatisfied

18.

A．pride

B．reality

C．faith

D．benefit

19.

A．throw away

B．show up

C．seek for

D．depend on

20.

A．analyzed

B．accepted

C．designed

D．obtained

8 . I’m a talker. I am keen on debating, gossiping and teasing when I have people to talk to. Under lockdown, however, I’ve only had my partner, Peter.

We not only lived, worked and travelled together, we mostly socialized together, too. Under the first UK lockdown, our already closeness began to feel uncomfortable. While talking to Peter, I could see his attention drift.

For the first time in our 10 years together, we needed to be alone. I tried to manufacture this by going on walks on my own, but a short walk wasn’t doing the job. I had hiked in remote spaces all over the world but always in a pair or group — for safety reasons. I considered my options and hit upon an idea: the semi-solo hike.

Could we do a circular hike but walk in different directions? This would give us the space and peace of a solo hike — done by a person alone. It felt like a promising way out, and he agreed to give it a try.

We started with a four-mile loop (环路) from Reeth. At the start, we parted ways. At first, I was aware of how close we were, which lessened the appeal. As I gained ground, however, I found myself very much alone. I set my own pace, and I decided to take my time.

I sat on a rock and breathed out. That moment — with the weak sun through the clouds and the breeze blowing — felt extraordinary to me. I was born and raised in London and had never imagined leaving until I met an outdoorsman. Now, my former life as a city girl felt crazy. In remembering what I had gained, I felt the tension leave me. There, in the chilly air, I no longer needed to talk. The semi-solo hike gave us a shared experience with added room to breathe.

I didn’t see Peter on the way but reunited back where we started, both pleased.

The semi-solo hike is admittedly silly in theory, but for me it has been a lifeline. It has given me the gift of time alone and, in a year of constant closeness, the joy of reuniting.

1. What motivated the author to adopt the semi-solo hike?

A．Peter’s disinterest in her words.

B．Her habit of venturing into the wild.

C．The lack of privacy under lockdown.

D．Her desire to engage in outdoor exercise.

2. How does the semi-solo hike work?

A．Their routes coincide sometimes during the hike.

B．They depart in a separate way to different destinations.

C．They hike in each other’s company throughout the journey.

D．They start and return to the same place by a different route.

3. Which of the following can describe the author’s feelings when she sat on a rock?

A．Fearless and refreshed.	B．Free and relaxed.
C．Tense and depressed.	D．Upset and embarrassed.

4. What message does the author convey with this text?

A．An appropriate distance creates beauty.

B．There are more solutions than difficulties.

C．Access to nature is better than social circles.

D．Hiking helps improve interpersonal relationships.