In my childhood, under the influence of my el der brother and my peers in the neighborhood, I tried a number of outdoor activities. Of course, I was not so taken by all of them. whether I was doing them for the first time or continuously. However, fate had its own plans in store. You never know when an outdoor activity will change my life.
The name of this activity is “fishing”. About ten years ago, I didn't really like the idea of sitting on the bank of a lake or river, spending long hours under the sun's ultraviolet rays, which can cause sunburns and skin damage, and anxiously anticipating some fish to be kind to take my bait(诱饵). In fact, I used to think of this outdoor activity as some kind of “hide-and-seek-game” that is popular with most young kids, except that it was much harder because I could see my “prey (猎物)” only after catching it.
However, all that changed when I paid a visit to my aunt in the countryside during a summer holiday. I was finally convinced by one of my cousins to accompany him to a nearby lake in order to do some fishing practice with him. In fact, he even assured me that fish would eat my baits. So I agreed and went to the lake expecting to catch some fish. Before throwing my fishing line into the water, my cousin did some tricks attaching some sort of food to my fishing pole.
Learning to fish in a river or lake can be challenging for the beginners like me. The act of dropping a line is easy, but being a successful fisher is hard. That's why they call it fishing but not catching But with practice and patience, it can become easier over time. Patience is essential in lake fishing. It may take some time to find the right spot or lure (鱼饵) that will attract fish.
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。
My cousin had to repeatedly remind me to keep patient.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When we finally left the lake, I had caught three fish!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . I used to find award show speeches inspiring when celebrities encouraged people to “chase their dreams.” However, as I grew older, I
Though there is hope, considering many celebrities started from humble beginnings, achieving dreams remains
Nonetheless, I am grateful that my dream of becoming a singer did not materialize. I have found other passions — writing and editing — and
| A．worried | B．changed | C．realized | D．controlled |
| A．barriers | B．shelters | C．excuses | D．thoughts |
| A．failed | B．agreed | C．used | D．desired |
| A．focused | B．shifted | C．continued | D．happened |
| A．efforts | B．challenges | C．demands | D．choices |
| A．straightforward | B．common | C．complicated | D．rare |
| A．false | B．true | C．great | D．special |
| A．confirm | B．appreciate | C．accomplish | D．distribute |
| A．Therefore | B．Moreover | C．However | D．Furthermore |
| A．optimistic | B．pessimistic | C．energetic | D．enthusiastic |
| A．unexpectedly | B．unavoidably | C．uneventfully | D．unnecessarily |
| A．come up | B．turn up | C．set up | D．end up |
| A．save | B．protect | C．prevent | D．guard |
| A．comfortable | B．attainable | C．bearable | D．adjustable |
| A．instead of | B．in terms of | C．by means of | D．regardless of |
3 . During the first meeting with my future mentor (导师) when I was an undergraduate student, he asked why I wanted to join his lab. I
I am the youngest of 14 children from a Vietnamese family. I knew college would be an important step and was thrilled when I got the offer. But I knew
No wonder I blew that interview with Dr.D. I reached for my backpack to leave, thinking this meeting was over. To my
From the start, Dr.D consistently asked me for help and ideas. At first I was surprised. What could I possibly have to offer?
When I was
When I became a professor and mentored my own students, many of whom
| A．confidently | B．cautiously | C．impatiently | D．formally |
| A．curious | B．famous | C．nervous | D．serious |
| A．make | B．leave | C．find | D．keep |
| A．annoyed | B．confused | C．embarrassed | D．frightened |
| A．desperately | B．gracefully | C．thoughtfully | D．virtually |
| A．guidance | B．independence | C．admission | D．recommendation |
| A．boosted | B．maintained | C．inspired | D．ruined |
| A．check out | B．drop out | C．hangup | D．scttle down |
| A．delight | B．relief | C．shock | D．sorrow |
| A．emphasis | B．determination | C．foundation | D．responsibility |
| A．when | B．what | C．why | D．how |
| A．Under | B．Upon | C．Beyond | D．Despite |
| A．assisted | B．cooperated | C．persisted | D．resisted |
| A．concern | B．consume | C．conquer | D．contribute |
| A．carrying on | B．figuring out | C．longing for | D．looking after |
| A．convinced | B．commanded | C．showed | D．taught |
| A．difficult | B．interesting | C．pleasant | D．simple |
| A．assured | B．informed | C．reminded | D．warned |
| A．content | B．familiar | C．generous | D．strict |
| A．distinguished | B．worthy | C．knowledgeable | D．decent |
4 . I have new company these days as I go outside. Every time I go out the door Miss Alice is sitting at my front door, waiting to be
It wasn’t always this way. The very first time I saw Miss Alice she was
It still makes me
| A．fed | B．petted | C．adopted | D．caught |
| A．aid | B．food | C．attention | D．information |
| A．hiding | B．playing | C．hunting | D．running |
| A．order | B．notice | C．warning | D．impression |
| A．ambition | B．imagination | C．support | D．patience |
| A．trick | B．trap | C．catch | D．relieve |
| A．occasional | B．emotional | C．sensitive | D．repetitive |
| A．cry | B．complain | C．smile | D．sweat |
| A．distant | B．peaceful | C．noisy | D．fearless |
| A．source | B．power | C．adventure | D．exchange |
| A．saddened | B．awakened | C．lovely | D．merry |
| A．crazy | B．cheerful | C．careful | D．lazy |
| A．Throw | B．Translate | C．Change | D．Invite |
| A．fall over | B．wait for | C．turn into | D．flow through |
| A．risk | B．lose | C．help | D．like |
5 . On some late November dawn, I find myself draw n to the leisurely pursuit of baking a loaf of bread. Not by hand, but by following the bread machine’s step-by-step instructions.
But on this morning, three hours later, all I’ve got is a problem. I’d forgotten to insert the mixing blade into the bottom of the bread barrel. The result: a pile of unmixed dough that neither looks nor tastes like bread. Complaining, I dump the dough and prepare to start a new one.
I reach for the flour, only this time — I fall far short of the necessary four cups. I’ve got one cup at most, along with a freshly emptied flour bag. No matter, I think. I’ll simply drive to my parents’ house to borrow a bit of theirs. Upon my arrival, I decide not to wake them. Instead, I cat burgle my way through their front door, silently search through their cabinets, and discover their own bit of flour supply. I steal all of it and return home so that I might begin again the leisurely pursuit of baking bread.
I follow the instructions, and then, I consider the whole experience before breakfast. How I managed to turn a one-second oversight into an hour-long adventure that cost me more time and money than any loaf of bread could ever be worth. Somewhere, an apron reads, “Baking is my therapy.” I want the one that reads, “Baking sends me to therapy.”
As my bread machine bread begins to rise, I’m struck by an inconvenient truth: had I done nothing that morning, I’d have managed a more favorable outcome.
Meanwhile, I notice something new: the mixing blade works intermittently rather than continually, meaning that for the bread to rise to its full potential, it requires both motion and rest. Work has its place, but so must leisure. The recipe calls for both.
1. Why did the writer fail the first time in the baking?| A．He left out a key step. | B．The flour has run out. |
| C．The bread machine broke down. | D．The dough doesn’t taste like bread. |
| A．He went out to buy some. |
| B．He borrowed some from a friend. |
| C．He got some from his parents by himself. |
| D．He found another bag of flour in his own house. |
| A．How to bake bread |
| B．An unforgettable experience |
| C．Work has its place, but so must leisure |
| D．Breaking bread: A morning adventure in baking |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Well begun is half done. |
| C．Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. | D．All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. |
6 . I tried not to look down. My palms (手掌) were sweating. All I could concentrate on was the man below who was keeping the ladder steady. The tiny people waved up at me, but I couldn’t see them clearly.
When I got to the top, some sort of supernatural force brought my feet to the edge of the platform. I was going to slip off the board. The line holding me was going to break, and I was once again going to be thrown to death. Down was the only direction my eyes would go.
I begged to go back down the ladder, but the stupid man tried to convince me. The tiny dots below shouted encouragingly, saying they would run with me as I flew. I was going to slide off that platform. I couldn’t think; the tears stopped my brain. Why wouldn’t he let me go back? The message replayed in my mind, “You’re going to die…”
Like a blown-up balloon, I was let go just before it could be knotted at the bottom. I went in every direction, tension escaping from my body as I fell. The breeze hit my face and cooled my sweaty body. I could see clearly now, and I was flying.
Today, I am still terrified of heights. It would be nice to say that I conquered my fear and found something I loved. I owe my zip line (飞索) experience to the Englishman who pushed me off the platform. I am grateful for the experience because I love adventure. Trying new things has always appealed to me. Some of the most rewarding experiences I have had, like flying, have come out of conquering what at first appears to be frightening and impossible. While my days of aerial escapades are over, I look forward to the future and the question of fear of flying and will continue to create questions wherever I go.
1. How did the author feel when he was on the ladders?| A．Exhausted. | B．Frightened. | C．Annoyed. | D．Excited. |
| A．To teach him to fly. | B．To push him to death. |
| C．To develop his courage. | D．To test his ability to climb. |
| A．everyone can enjoy flying well |
| B．trying difficult things is his favorite |
| C．looking back on the old days is awful for him |
| D．something that seems impossible can be conquered |
| A．The author’s zip line experience. | B．The author’s difficulty in life. |
| C．The author’s failure in adventure. | D．The author’s dreams about his future. |
7 . My obsession with literature exploded in my early teens. Back then, my reading consisted mostly of whatever classics I could find, novels by Jules Verne, poetry by Mario Benedetti, and a lot of horror novels by Stephen King, Richard Laymon, and Bentley Little — all of which I was too young to read. When I heard John O’Connor’s The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on a North American Monster was coming, I knew I had to read it.
Fascinated by Bigfoot, he spent a year tracking Bigfoot in the untamed region of the Pacific Northwest. The Secret History of Bigfoot is a wonderfully immersive journey not only into the history of Bigfoot in North America and the culture around but also a deep look at the people who obsess about it. The result is one of the most attractive nonfiction books you’ll read this year.
There are two elements that make this is fantastic read. The first is O’Connor’s voice. Knowledgeable and funny, O’Connor quickly turns into the perfect narrator for this adventure. His pursuit for understanding is powerful, and he presents every person in this book with the same gravitas (庄严).
The second element is the scope of this book. This is about Bigfoot, about its history and the people trying to find him, but O’Connor somehow manages to take the discussion into unexpected places but still leave the creature at the core of the narrative. You’ll learn things reading this book, but you’ll never feel like he’s trying to teach you something or preaching about his own beliefs.
The Secret History of Bigfoot is a wonderful book about one of the most ubiquitous myths in the U.S. and around the world: a wild man, a hair y beast stalking the woods, a magic al creature that remains untouched by the mess we’ve made. It fully embraces the fact that we sometimes need to believe in something bigger and freer than us. Bigfoot is all of that and more. Bigfoot might be out there, but its presence is all over this book. I assure you it’s an amazing adventure you can start without leaving your house.
1. Why does the author mention the names of some writers in the first paragraph?| A．To show his passion for literature. | B．To introduce the main topic: Bigfoot. |
| C．To encourage readers to read more books. | D．To introduce some famous writers he knows. |
| A．He presents the core of the narrative in a funny voice. |
| B．O’Connor’s book is in fact a wonderfully immersive journey. |
| C．He describes every person in the book with the same gravitas. |
| D．You can find out he tries to teach you something about his own beliefs. |
| A．Ambiguous. | B．Indifferent. | C．Universal. | D．Impressive. |
| A．Bigfoot just exists in writer O’Connor’s books. |
| B．The habitat of Bigfoot is influenced by humans. |
| C．Believing in something stronger is sometimes essential. |
| D．We all should have an adventure to seek the Bigfoot. |
8 . Seeing happiness differently
Since its official beginning in 2013, the International Day of Happiness has been observed for 11 years. It falls on March 20 every year.
Experts in various fields hold different views on what happiness means and the factors that influence it.
Sonja Lyubomirsky is a researcher in the field of positive psychology.
People’s levels of subjective happiness are influenced by both internal factors, such as personality and outlook, and external factors, such as the environment in which they live, according to the author of the book Culture and Psychology.
More than that, experts in medical fields found that genes might influence happiness. In an article published in Iran J Public Health, three researchers show how twin studies have suggested that genetic factors count for35~50 percent of happiness. The study also mentioned two genes that may have an effect on happiness, which may help clarify the genetic base of happiness in the future.
From the aspect of economics, Tejvan Pettinger, an independent economics researcher, said that the factors affecting happiness can include income, quality of work, quality of consumption, leisure, the welfare of family members and the environment.
| A．This special day serves to remind people of the significance of happiness. |
| B．She provides a clear description of happiness. |
| C．Among them, income is a crucial factor. |
| D．Several important factors contribute to a person’s happiness. |
| E．What is their main source of income? |
| F．Career success may not be a guarantee of happiness. |
| G．The truth is that happiness itself is different for everyone. |
9 . Ever since I was a child, I’ve been frightened by the idea of disappointing people.
Of course, the explanation was simple: I’d made a mistake. But for a perfectionist, that’s a very dangerous thought, which can cause a chain of abusive self-talks. After all, that mistake was so stupid.
What hides behind my perfectionism is the illusion (幻觉) of control, the idea that if I work hard and do my best, I’ll be perfect and protected,
Despite the problems, perfectionism has allowed me to complete a lot and become who I am today. “To see perfectionism as a uniquely negative thing is actually to deny a part of yourself,” said the perfectionism coach Yasmina Hajoui.
| A．Perfectionism is a survival mechanism. |
| B．There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do things well. |
| C．The problem is that perfectionism brings more than stress. |
| D．I should have studied more, worked harder and focused better. |
| E．In perfectionism, we tend to believe that only our achievements define us. |
| F．And if something isn’t perfect, that means it’s my fault and that I’m awful. |
| G．My solution to that anxiety was to achieve perfectionism-and mostly, it worked. |
10 . I often felt there was a lack of ceremony in my life. The ceremony of passage to mark transitions was
It was a long drive and we started out early,
| A．happening | B．recovering | C．developing | D．missing |
| A．curious | B．confident | C．excited | D．puzzled |
| A．sympathetic | B．symbolic | C．severe | D．sufficient |
| A．visited | B．accompanied | C．persuaded | D．accomplished |
| A．guide | B．friend | C．teacher | D．partner |
| A．lesson | B．greeting | C．ceremony | D．problem |
| A．wonderful | B．ordinary | C．unimportant | D．unsuitable |
| A．walking | B．climbing | C．jumping | D．winding |
| A．fashion | B．wilderness | C．travelling | D．business |
| A．wildflowers | B．cultures | C．clothes | D．houses |
| A．hid | B．unfolded | C．disappeared | D．stopped |
| A．attraction | B．attention | C．association | D．accommodation |
| A．forget | B．break | C．keep | D．change |
| A．Fortunately | B．Strangely | C．Occasionally | D．Interestingly |
| A．sad | B．awkward | C．historic | D．teachable |
| A．lighter | B．clever | C．healthier | D．older |
| A．gifts | B．plans | C．purposes | D．disadvantages |
| A．escape | B．rest | C．notice | D．laugh |
| A．adapt to | B．pay for | C．wait for | D．object to |
| A．attempt | B．influence | C．function | D．attitude |
