1 . “Sating from now on, to be healthy, I will NOT eat any snacks besides granola bars (燕麦棒),” is what I told myself yesterday, and yet here I am today chewing a Chocopie. I’m aware that I’m breaking my own promise to myself. Instead of eating this, I should be working out or something. But the thing is, chocolate is too good at this moment for me to refuse it!

As I type this, I’m experiencing what’s called instant gratification — the desire to experience pleasure or fulfillment without delaying it for a future benefit. Essentially, when you want it, you get it.

Instant gratification is also the exact opposite of what we’re taught to do-delayed gratification: deciding to put off satisfying our current want to gain something better in the future. We’ve all encountered instant gratification before. Should I sleep in or wake up early to work out? When I get home, should I rest and watch TV first or get started on my homework?

All humans have the tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain, which is a basic but fundamental concept known as the pleasure principle. Originally coined by Sigmund Freud, it clearly states that all humans are driven, to some extent, by pleasure.

Constantly seeking quick pleasure may bring subsequent troubles. However pleasant not doing your homework may seem pleasant right now, it only results in pleasure plagued by guilt and last-minute panicking late at night. An inability to resist instant gratification may result in underachieving in the long term and failure to meet certain goals.

Instant gratification, however, is not necessarily a bad thing. You don’t always have to say no to things you want at that moment, and it’s good to treat yourself when you need it. In other words, times where you “treat yourself” are only valuable in combination with delayed gratification. While my Chocopie may taste good now, it’ll taste even better if I only eat it after I’ve worked out or done something healthy.

1. How does the author introduce the topic?

A．By making a contrast.	B．By giving a definition.
C．By citing a personal case.	D．By listing detailed problems.

2. Which of the following is an example of instant gratification?

A．Purchasing items regardless of budgets.	B．Exercising regularly for long-term health.
C．Limiting time on social media platforms.	D．Finishing homework before watching TV.

3. What does the underlined word “plagued” in paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．Reminded.

B．Highlighted.

C．Introduced.

D．Bothered.

4. What may the author agree with?

A．Delayed gratification is pointless.

B．Instant gratification should be prioritized.

C．Enjoying the moment brings in endless pleasure.

D．Instant treats paired with delayed gratification are sweeter.

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 stared at myself in the mirror: blue tights, yellow vest, a fish tail trailing behind me, and large eyes sitting at op my head. I raised my eyebrows and sighed.

“Mom, I don’t think this costume is right,” I said. “Maybe the makeup will add something,” Mom replied hopefully.

Somehow Mom had convinced me to play the Fish Footman in Alice in Wonderland. I can’t say it’s been the time of my life.

“What if I forget my lines?” I hesitated.

“Oh Riley, is that what you’re afraid of? I know you’ve been rehearsing for two months, you were the first off-book in your scene, and I couldn’t be prouder of you.” Mom said, kneeling down and hugging me.

The next day we pulled into the parking lot, and I stepped out of the car, wearing the questionable costume. I shrank inside myself, but Mom pulled me toward the makeup room. When the makeup was done, I looked at myself in the mirror. My jaw dropped.

“Mom! I can’t go onstage like this!” I cried.

“Why not?”

“I’d be a laughing stock (笑柄)! ”

“Riley, look around you! You’re not the only one in an odd costume.”

“What if we just sneak out? No one will miss me.” I whispered.

Mom’s lips disappeared into a thin line, and I knew I had gone too far. “Riley, I’m going to watch you go out on that stage tonight. And that’s the end of it.” Then mom disappeared into the audience. I sat there, alone and bored, as the play began and the curtain rose on.

The two boys dressed as Two of Clubs (梅花2) near me chatted casually about this and that. Suddenly, they asked, “You’re awfully quiet. Is this your first show?” I tried to respond, but my voice caught in my throat and refused to escape. I coughed and nearly yelled, “YES!”

The Ace of Diamonds (方块A) sitting nearby laughed. “The audience will certainly hear you if you talk that loud. But you might have to clear your throat first, she chuckled. I gave them a weak smile.

“Don’t worry about us,” the Ace said. “We’re only teasing.”

“Yeah,” the Two said. “When you’ve done as many shows as we have, projecting will be second nature to you.”

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:

When my name was called, I stepped onto the stage uneasily.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:

Suddenly I was determined to make a lasting impression.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . 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 was lying in bed in the dark ready for sleep I got the heart-broken news that my parents lost their lives in the flight accident. I couldn’t accept the news for a long time, since nobody would stay with me in the empty house. In the weeks that followed, with depression and grief, I decided to continue seeing the counselor on my own. One day, he gave me a homework assignment: I was to write down a list of one hundred life goals in my rest of my life.

It took me two weeks to complete the task. When I finally handed over the list, I was instructed me to pick one goal and take two small steps toward it before the following week. Looking over my list of one hundred goals, I chose. “Fly an airplane.” I bought a flying magazine. That was one step. Then I went to a local airport and arranged with a flight instructor to take a low-cost “Discovery Flight.”

And so began my journey to become a pilot, starting from scratch. No knowledge. No experience. When I bought $300 worth of textbooks, I began to question what I’d gotten myself into. Then came the fear that accompanies every new challenge thrown at one while flying.

That’s when I realized I needed to adjust my mental attitude. Somewhere along the way, I had read that people should tell themselves they were the best at whatever they were attempting to do. I took this to heart. With that well-hidden confidence. I sought the help of flight instructors and ground instructors. The instructors encouraged me to believe that I was born to be a super pilot and just to recover all this “lost” ability. No way would I ever miss a flying training class.

Eventually, the time came for my first flight check with the chief instructor, an airline pilot with 11,000 hours. As if I wasn’t nervous enough already, one of my classmates told me that he’d recently been through the same routine. Not only did he fail but he actually cried. But passing the test is a must to get the pilot certification.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式作答。

The chief informed me that it’s my turn to accept the order and the check.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Several years later, a terrible earthquake happened in my hometown. And I was invited to help teenagers regain confidence after the disaster.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 . It was my first day in my school’s Gifted & Talented Program. Just minutes before, I had been called upon by my teacher and told to report to the cafeteria, where classes would be held. Feelings of nervousness seized me as I walked to the cafeteria for the very first time. I knew the most distinguished students would be waiting and, secretly, I wondered if I belonged. At that time in life, I struggled with acceptance.

I quickly found a seat in the back corner. As Mr. Canereli introduced himself, his calm voice settled the butterflies in my stomach.

“Today we will begin with a deductive reasoning puzzle,” he announced, breaking the stillness in the room.

“You will be given five minutes to read the clues and solve the puzzle.”

I quickly read through the clues, failing to come to any conclusions. “Breathe… slow down… you can do this….” I whispered to myself.

At this age, I felt pressure to thrive in all academic subjects. Since my mom and my dad hadn’t completed college, and my older sister did not do her best in school, I always put extra pressure on myself to do well. I refused to accept failure of any kind.

The clues repeated themselves in my head and I picked up my pencil. Before I knew it, X’s and O’s covered my paper. The entire puzzle was completed! I raised my hand and waved in sheer excitement. The assignment, initially associated with fear and doubt, had transformed into a representation of acceptance and personal excellence.

That day, I not only learned how to think but also discovered the potential to achieve anything I set my mind to. Now, my objective is to pass on the invaluable lessons I gained from Mr. Canereli on my first day in the seventh-grade Gifted & Talented Program. As a young woman, I seek to educate, equip, and inspire those in need and, as I enter college, I will use these tools to contribute to my environment.

1. What made the author nervous on the way to the cafeteria?

A．Stress of fitting in with others.

B．Fear of giving a report in public.

C．Doubts about the fairness of the program.

D．Anxiety about being excellent academically.

2. What does the underlined word “thrive” in Paragraph 6 mean?

A．Study.

B．Complete.

C．Succeed.

D．Participate.

3. What did the assignment mean to the author?

A．It deepened her fear and doubt.

B．It served as a source of creativity.

C．It relieved her academic pressure.

D．It contributed to building her self-confidence.

4. What can be learned about the author from the last paragraph?

A．She shows her social responsibility.

B．She has managed to obtain anything she wants.

C．She will use tools to beautiful her environment.

D．She aims to be a brilliant teacher like Mr. Canereli.

5 . Growing up as a kid in the UK, I was fascinated by insects. Wanting to _________ them, I started building little houses for ants, using little pieces of wood and _________.

I then progressed to _________ little cups from silver foil (银箔) for the imaginary friends I visualized living in my garden’s depths. My mother, seeing my creations, _________ me by saying that my ability to make things small could _________ great achievements.

As the years went by, my designs became more _________. And I used many different _________, such as diamond fragments, eyelashes (睫毛) and even spider web threads.

I sometimes worked for 16 hours a day without breaks, and it took me up to three months to _________ a sculpture. I had to hold my breath during the sculpting process. It wasn’t actually a（n）_________ process—I could only enjoy it once I had finished it.

My sculptures have taken me to __________ places. In 2012, I met the queen, giving her a tiny crown on the head of a pin. In 2013, I __________ my first Guinness World Record for creating the smallest sculpture made __________. It was a 24-carat gold motorbike that fitted inside a drilled out hair. In 2017, I __________ my record with a sculpture of a human fetus (胎儿) that measured 0. 078mm by 0.053mm.

Later in life, I was diagnosed with autism (自闭症), which I now view as a special ability. It has __________ me to strive for excellence, and I share this message by leading workshops for children with __________ learning styles, helping them to make their own small figures from a modeling clay called Blu-Tack.

The world of tiny sculptures is where I find __________. Although I’ve attempted larger works, I’ve realized that the __________ and precision of small sculptures are what I __________ love. It’s a reminder to __________ the small moments in life, where great __________ and beauty can often be found.

1.

A．control

B．trap

C．comfort

D．protect

2.

A．roots

B．flowers

C．leaves

D．vegetables

3.

A．creating

B．choosing

C．designing

D．painting

4.

A．encouraged

B．ordered

C．urged

D．allowed

5.

A．object to

B．lead to

C．appeal to

D．related to

6.

A．abstract

B．expensive

C．complicated

D．traditional

7.

A．methods

B．tools

C．colors

D．materials

8.

A．select

B．evaluate

C．finish

D．change

9.

A．special

B．enjoyable

C．difficult

D．unforgettable

10.

A．incredible

B．hopeful

C．crucial

D．awful

11.

A．received

B．confirmed

C．expected

D．admitted

12.

A．with resources

B．by machine

C．with devices

D．by hand

13.

A．ruined

B．supported

C．quit

D．broke

14.

A．brought

B．driven

C．forced

D．persuaded

15.

A．different

B．proper

C．simple

D．regular

16.

A．duty

B．joy

C．respect

D．surprise

17.

A．depth

B．variety

C．width

D．detail

18.

A．merely

B．truly

C．instantly

D．equally

19.

A．observe

B．require

C．value

D．admire

20.

A．courage

B．ambition

C．strength

D．kindness

6 . As a traveler with a disability, I have always avoided cruises. This expedition-style small-ship cruise changed my mind.

When our expedition leader ________ we would make a Zodiac (卓迪船) ________ at Jan Mayen, a tiny island in the Arctic Ocean, I stepped out onto my balcony aboard our ship, ________ to find clear skies and calm seas. ________, I was met with a gust of wet wind and a view of mist-covered mountains in the distance. Jan Mayen wasn’t on our itinerary (行程), and due to its ________ location and often unpredictable weather, very few people ever ________ the island. I knew the ________ weren’t ideal, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me.

In fact, the possibility of ________ adventures was one of the reasons I chose this small-ship cruise. So I ________ joined my shipmates in the mud room, where we put on waterproof clothes and life jackets before hopping in the Zodiacs for a bumpy ________ to a black-sand beach. Even the fierce wind and rain couldn’t ________ our excitement as we ________ our way to the beach and hiked to a viewpoint, pausing to photograph little purple flowers ________ the volcanic rocks.

Our visit there wasn’t about what we could do or see. It was an opportunity to just be—to exist in a brief ________ on a tiny, often inaccessible, volcanic rock in the Arctic. And that’s something I never thought I’d ________ in my lifetime.

1.

A．knew

B．announced

C．remembered

D．replied

2.

A．living

B．return

C．landing

D．mark

3.

A．failing

B．choosing

C．struggling

D．hoping

4.

A．Instead

B．Finally

C．Thus

D．Otherwise

5.

A．strategic

B．remote

C．favorable

D．central

6.

A．set foot on

B．fell victim to

C．kept track of

D．gained control of

7.

A．constructions

B．conditions

C．descriptions

D．distributions

8.

A．unwanted

B．unsecured

C．unplanned

D．unauthorized

9.

A．mistakenly

B．nervously

C．routinely

D．happily

10.

A．walk

B．flight

C．ride

D．path

11.

A．dampen

B．share

C．convey

D．fuel

12.

A．changed

B．lost

C．fought

D．made

13.

A．in response to

B．in view of

C．in contrast to

D．in defense of

14.

A．moment

B．experiment

C．glance

D．ceremony

15.

A．value

B．need

C．miss

D．experience

7 . On an extremely hot summer day, my friend Shelia and I treated our children to some rides at Libertyland, an amusement park. Libertyland ________ finds talented teenagers who must put on four or more shows a day for their little pay in its theater.

By mid-afternoon, Shelia and I were ________ while the kids were still full of energy and ________ to continue riding the rides. With security assistants ________ them, we decided to look for a cool ________. After a long time, in the theater, we ________ found a bench. We just sat down, hoping for a few moments of rest.

Luckily, a show ________ soon. The performers put on a wonderful show. ________, their audience of about 20 people seeking to escape the ________ didn’t seem to care.

At the end of the show, the audience gave ________ applause. But Shelia jumped to her feet, ________ and oohed and aahed (叫好) as if she ________ the most amazing Broadway production in her life. She ________ and said to me, “They’re someone else’s ________. Since their moms aren’t here, we need to ________ them.” In that instant, Shelia gave me ________ I had never thought of! Then I stood, cheering those ________ kids.

That happened over six years ago, and Shelia’s ________ still stay with me now. When I’m in a fast-food place, they ________ me that the teen behind the counter is someone’s child, and so is the pizza delivery boy. I ________ those kids as I’d want other people to do to my own children.

1.

A．already

B．just

C．still

D．also

2.

A．worried

B．tired

C．addicted

D．excited

3.

A．unsure

B．happy

C．proud

D．nervous

4.

A．accompanying

B．teaching

C．assessing

D．questioning

5.

A．show

B．sight

C．place

D．time

6.

A．eventually

B．constantly

C．secretly

D．immediately

7.

A．finished

B．began

C．continued

D．changed

8.

A．Instead

B．Besides

C．However

D．Therefore

9.

A．noise

B．dust

C．heat

D．people

10.

A．familiar

B．comforting

C．embarrassing

D．half-hearted

11.

A．listened

B．observed

C．clapped

D．predicted

12.

A．demonstrated

B．saw

C．created

D．directed

13.

A．looked down

B．came along

C．turned over

D．stepped forward

14.

A．kids

B．co-workers

C．students

D．teachers

15.

A．attract

B．coach

C．impress

D．support

16.

A．insights

B．chances

C．challenges

D．memories

17.

A．cautious

B．hard-working

C．curious

D．warm-hearted

18.

A．stories

B．promises

C．words

D．concepts

19.

A．convince

B．inform

C．warn

D．remind

20.

A．educate

B．persuade

C．serve

D．treat

8 . We put limitations on ourselves when the fear of failure grows stronger than our will to succeed. That’s why we all need a push to help us reach further than we ever thought possible.

That is the purpose of NubAbility Athletics Foundation, a nonprofit organization aimed to get “limb (肢体) different” youth — kids who are amputees (被截肢者) — “out of the stands, off the bench, and into mainstream sports.” The organization holds camps around the country, pairing kids and coaches with similar limb differences to help them reach their full physical potential.

Tim, who was born without arms, certainly didn’t believe he could pull off a 20-inch box jump before he joined. This month, the 14-year-old participated in the weight-lifting and training program at a camp and achieved something amazing.

In a video on the Internet, we see Tim’s coach teaching him to jump onto a box. With no arm strength, it seems like a tough task. While Tim pushes through his self-doubt and jumps, he still holds back on his first two tries and doesn’t stick the landing.

Then, the coach pats her hands onto the box, yelling, “All the people who told you you can’t — right here, jump on them. Now!” This time, Tim puts all his energy into the jump. Still, it isn’t enough to make it all the way onto the box. Understandably, Tim grows frustrated and turns away as if to give up. But he’s not done yet. Tim turns back to the box with a look of pure determination, bends his knees… and launches himself onto the box!

As his coaches cheer him on, the victorious teen jumps down and straights into his motivator’s arms, overwhelmed with emotion at what he just achieved. That day, Tim learned he is capable of so much more than he knew.

Tim is living proof that we can all achieve greatness, no matter our limitations. All we have to do is keep trying. Never give up, and never let the word “can’t” hold you back!

1. What is the mission of NubAbility Athletics Foundation?

A．To pick out excellent young sportsmen.

B．To develop the full potential of the disabled.

C．To hold camps for the amputees in the world.

D．To encourage teenage amputees to get involved in sports.

2. What might Tim initially look like in the video?

A．He lacked confidence.	B．He was full of energy.
C．He was very excited.	D．He was shy and ashamed.

3. Which word can best describe the coach’s words?

A．Scary.

B．Funny.

C．Encouraging.

D．Threatening.

4. What message can we get from Tim’s success?

A．Life has no limitations.	B．It is never too late to learn.
C．A good beginning is half done.	D．It is no use crying over spilled milk.

9 . The greatest sports moments often have a wonderful flow state behind the victories or performances. Being in flow refers to the moments where distraction reduces, and concentration ________ .

It was a _______ summer camp ping pong tournament where I was not only down I set, but 7 points behind my opponent (对手), who had only 3 points left to ________ the set, and the tournament. For a comeback, I had to win at least 10 points, without making ________ !

Facing the desperate situation, I could ________ it a day and let my opponent win. Perhaps my opponent had already focused on the ________, but failure wasn’t an option! Thus, I ________ it out, hoping for the best. I told myself, “Let’s just try and win the next point, nothing else.” ________ deep, I stared at the ball with a clear mindset and keen ________. I took it, hit it back and scored!

5 points to go, 4 points to go... My opponent started getting visibly ________ and made mistakes. Point by point I was getting closer to being even.7-8. I was one point away from doing the ________. My mouth was shut and my eyes stayed ________ the entire set. He made another error. 8-8. The comeback was complete. The crowd went ________! Winning the next 3 points, I managed to win that set. In the last set, my opponent turned restless again. ________ the flow, I ended up winning the final set, and the tournament.

Despite a small game, it inspired me a lot. Not being able to control how our opponent plays, we can _______ how to react. Don’t be there, where you are not. Instead, be here and now! Stay in flow! Be concentrated!

1.

A．limits

B．decreases

C．heightens

D．changes

2.

A．tough

B．competitive

C．crazy

D．close

3.

A．lose

B．win

C．tie

D．restart

4.

A．adjustments

B．reservations

C．efforts

D．mistakes

5.

A．call

B．make

C．leave

D．take

6.

A．defense

B．attack

C．celebration

D．relief

7.

A．figured

B．tried

C．pointed

D．stuck

8.

A．Sighing

B．Breathing

C．Regretting

D．Struggling

9.

A．attention

B．interest

C．insight

D．appreciation

10.

A．confused

B．desperate

C．exhausted

D．uneasy

11.

A．right

B．impossible

C．opposite

D．previous

12.

A．swollen

B．bright

C．sharp

D．bloodshot

13.

A．wild

B．silent

C．mad

D．deaf

14.

A．Going against

B．Cutting off

C．Holding to

D．Recovering from

15.

A．wonder

B．determine

C．predict

D．consider

10 . 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。

In New England, a few years ago, a party of boys decided to start a grand sleigh (雪橇) ride. The sleigh was a large one, pulled by six gray horses.

The next day, as the teacher entered the schoolroom, he found his students in high spirits, chattering excitedly about their journey. One of the boys recounted their trip and its various incidents. As he reached the end of his story, he exclaimed, “Oh sir, there was one thing I had almost forgotten. As we were coming home, we saw a strange sight on the road. It turned out to be a rust y old sleigh attached to a covered wagon (四轮运货车), moving at a very slow pace and taking up the entire road.”

The boys had grown impatient with the slow-moving vehicle ahead of them and decided to take action. They threw snowballs at the wagon and shouted, making the old horse start to run quickly. The old man in the wagon cried out, asking why they were frightening his horse. A boy replied, “Why don’t you turn out, then?” and gave him three more loud cheers. His horse was frightened again and ran into a loaded wagon, almost making the old man fall over.

The teacher listened carefully to the boy’s story before responding, “Take your seats, boys, and I will tell you a story about a sleigh ride, too.”

Yesterday afternoon, a very elderly man was traveling from Boston to Salem to spend the winter at his son’s house. He had brought his wagon for the journey and his sleigh for the winter. His vision and hearing were not what they used to be due to his age. He was traveling slowly, as his horse was old and weak like himself. Suddenly, he was frightened by loud cheers and rapid snowballs hitting his wagon. In his panic, he dropped the reins and his horse ran wildly. Amidst his troubles, a large group of boys in a sleigh pulled by six horses rushed past him, shouting and demanding that he give them the road.

注意：续写词数应为150左右;请按如下格式作答。
Paragraph1
The old man begged them not to frighten his horse.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph2
The boys listened quietly, reflecting on their actions.
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