1 . Sitting in my school cafeteria, I looked around, slowly taking in everything. Student after student passed my _________ carrying that day’s lunch, but if you looked deeper, there was more to _________. There was more than just the uniform they were wearing, or the way they had styled their hair. There was a lot more hidden under the _________.

Catching the eye of a girl in my grade sitting at a nearby table, I waved _________. She smiled weakly and then continued to pick at the spaghetti in front of her. If I hadn’t _________ recently that her mother was dying of leukemia, I would have never _________ anything was wrong and I may not have been as _________ and sympathetic, either. It suddenly _________ me that we judge others too quickly without knowing the whole story.

I have an incurable lung disease. No one at our school knows—I don’t show any noticeable _________ except for a few coughs. I go about my day like any other kid, __________ with the realization that I have a __________ and terrifying future.

Before that day when I decided to __________ the world with a new perspective, I __________ myself almost every day. I thought only about myself and my heavy __________. But I’ve now realized no one is __________—we just need to accept the way we are.

1.

A．order

B．room

C．table

D．cafeteria

2.

A．imagine

B．compare

C．observe

D．exchange

3.

A．uniform

B．rules

C．circumstances

D．surface

4.

A．politely

B．wildly

C．coldly

D．impatiently

5.

A．found

B．noticed

C．heard

D．decided

6.

A．remembered

B．suspected

C．predicted

D．regretted

7.

A．willing

B．outstanding

C．understanding

D．demanding

8.

A．escaped

B．satisfied

C．hit

D．attracted

9.

A．diseases

B．symptoms

C．complaints

D．weaknesses

10.

A．but

B．and

C．or

D．so

11.

A．bright

B．real

C．serious

D．dark

12.

A．tolerate

B．create

C．change

D．view

13.

A．forgave

B．pitied

C．challenged

D．encouraged

14.

A．debt

B．reward

C．burden

D．schedule

15.

A．changeable

B．perfect

C．unique

D．different

2 . In most situations, bystanders’ responses like disapproving glares, uninvited comments or pieces of advice to a child’s angry behavior can add to the stress of the situation. But sometimes bystanders’ truly understand, and sometimes their words or actions can make a positive difference. One mom experienced this firsthand.

This mom was noticeably pregnant and traveling alone with her young son at a Los Angeles airport. Then things had taken a turn for the worse.

The boy, about 18 months old, was in the midst of what Beth, a Facebook user, referred to as a “total meltdown”. He was running all over the place, kicking, screaming, and flopping down (趴) on the floor, dead set on not getting aboard the plane. His mom did her best to calm him down, but, according to Beth, “she couldn’t pick him up because he was so upset. He kept running away from her, then lying down on the ground, kicking                           and screaming again.” Finally, the mom came to her wit’s end. She sat down on the floor next to her son, buried her face in her hands, and began to cry.

Then the most amazing thing happened.

A group of six or seven women, Beth included, circled around the mother-son pair and did something to help. Beth sang him “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider.” Another offered an orange. Another gave him a toy she had on hand. Another helped get his cup out of Mom’s bag. Yet another tended to Mom by offering her a water bottle. With the help of these incredible women, the kid and his mother calmed down and were able to board the plane.

And then life moved on. All of the strangers went their separate ways without speaking of what had happened. But Beth said it was something she’d never forget. “We were strangers, gathering to solve something,” she wrote. “It occurred to me that a circle of women, with a mission, can save the world.”

1. What reaction of the bystanders is proper to a child’s angry behavior?

A．Understanding and trying to help.	B．Offering parents some advice.
C．Commenting on the situation.	D．Stopping the child by glaring.

2. What does the underlined part “came to her wit’s end” probably mean?

A．Burst into tears.	B．Felt totally at a loss.
C．Gave in to her kid.	D．Ran away from her kid.

3. What were the group of women like?

A．Professional.

B．Courageous.

C．Calm.

D．Considerate.

4. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To describe a great volunteer Beth.	B．To introduce some incredible women.
C．To show how strangers can help out.	D．To appeal to people to care for children.

3 . I'd been asked to go to an editor's office with the old program “We have a story we think you'd be perfect for”. Here was the topic: We want you to write about how middle-aged men have no friends. Seeing that,I couldn't help thinking, “Excuse me? I have plenty of friends.” Then the editor told me there were all sorts of evidence out there to show how men, as they age, let their close friendships go, and that the fact can cause all sorts of problems and have a terrible impact on their health.

As I walked back to my desk in the newsroom-a distance of maybe 100 yards-I quickly took stock of my friend list. First of all, there was my friend Mark. Wait, how often do we actually hang out? Maybe four or five times a year? And then there was another best friend from high school, Rory, and…I actually could not remember the last time I'd seen him.

There were all those other good friends who seemed as if they're still in my life because we follow one another via social media, but as I ran down the list of those I considered real, true, lifelong friends, I realized that it had been years since I saw many of them, even decades for a few.

By the time I got back to my desk, I realized that I was indeed perfect for this story, not because I was unusual in any way, but because my story was very, very typical. And as I looked into what that means, I realized that in the long term, I was heading down a path that was very, very dangerous. And I knew I needed a change.

1. What did the author think of the topic at first?

A．He showed an interest in it.

B．He felt surprised and doubtful.

C．He knew the editor was joking.

D．He thought it was perfect for him.

2. What did the author realize as walking back to the newsroom?

A．He had lost some best friends.

B．He wasn't popular with others.

C．He had close friends in his life.

D．He hadn't made any true friends.

3. How did the author keep his friendship?

A．By letters.	B．Through the Internet.
C．By phoning each other.	D．By getting together regularly.

4. What do we know from the last paragraph?

A．The author was a good writer.

B．The author liked making new friends.

C．Others had more friends than the author.

D．The author would attach importance to friendship.

4 . During my lifetime, I’ve learnt something important: it’s good to learn new skills outside of your comfort zone. About seven years ago, I started learning how to paint as a_______. I was pretty terrible. Everything looked_______, and my colors were totally off. My friends and colleagues suggested that I stop_______my time on something I wasn’t good at. “_______on your day job,” they said. I kept at it — practicing, taking classes, finding the right_______who could guide me. I am now___________“good”. Today, the same friends say I was born with this_______.

The same thing_______when I started piano and singing lessons a couple of years ago. Comments shifted from, “Stop wasting your time and focus on what you know,” to “You’ve got a musical gene (基因).”

These_______originate from long-held beliefs that growth is usually not possible for adults. Even when there is evidence of learning, it can be__________to inborn talent.

Most scientific studies on adulthood focus on cognitive decline (认知下降), rather than__________, suggesting that even scientists may think that development is limited in adulthood. A few recent studies suggest that__________new skills, such as photography, for even three months may strengthen the functioning of the brain in adults.

I would take these studies one step further to argue that a(n)__________cause of cognitive decline is the fact that adults learn fewer new skills__________to children. If we can__________how to learn well as adults, then perhaps we can__________cognitive decline.

Adults are often__________ to go outside of their comfort zones. We fear looking__________for making mistakes; we fear failure could cost us our jobs. Perhaps a reason why we suffer from cognitive decline is that we do not engage in learning new skills for many years.

To better communicate with my German friends, I am starting to learn German. I’m__________at the “listening and babbling (咿呀学语)” phase. Sure, some may laugh at an adult babbling, but I hope one day I can__________German fluently, and inspire many other adults to learn like a baby.

1.

A．hobby

B．dream

C．job

D．measure

2.

A．perfect

B．bright

C．dull

D．enjoyable

3.

A．taking

B．wasting

C．putting

D．getting

4.

A．Count

B．Depend

C．Focus

D．Congratulate

5.

A．friends

B．teachers

C．colleagues

D．partners

6.

A．concluded

B．realized

C．considered

D．described

7.

A．character

B．spirit

C．talent

D．power

8.

A．happened

B．found

C．mentioned

D．showed

9.

A．suggestions

B．achievements

C．results

D．comments

10.

A．reported

B．owed

C．forced

D．addicted

11.

A．failure

B．change

C．adaptation

D．growth

12.

A．catching

B．arranging

C．learning

D．holding

13.

A．important

B．strange

C．insignificant

D．useful

14.

A．prepared

B．compared

C．intended

D．provided

15.

A．break out

B．give out

C．bring out

D．figure out

16.

A．interrupt

B．prevent

C．master

D．influence

17.

A．unreasonable

B．uncertain

C．unwilling

D．undoubted

18.

A．stupid

B．upset

C．crazy

D．ugly

19.

A．clearly

B．presently

C．continually

D．occasionally

20.

A．write

B．read

C．listen

D．speak

5 . Once I started working after graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University, I decided to stay in the workforce and go to school part-time. I began my journey as an adult _______ in the Business Administration program at Wilfrid Laurier University. When I _______ from Laurier, a colleague introduced me to the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist （CEBS） program, which offered a professional credential（凭证）related to my field of _______

These days, I keep my industry knowledge _______ through reading industry publications, _______   relative conferences and taking an annual Continuing Education course. From a_______interest perspective, I've taken music lessons and _______ in first aid, gardening and website development.

Some might call me a learning _______. I honestly can't imagine a time when I want to stop learning. Sometimes people ask me why I _______ to take courses when I am getting close to “retirement’’. When I look to the ________, 30 years of sitting on the couch watching Netflix isn't the kind of life I want to live. I need a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and something to keep me ________ active.

I am looking at the Plain Language program as an opportunity to learn a new skill that will not only make me ________ at my current job, but also will ________ some extra income once I leave my full-time career behind.

The days of being able to ________ education after university are long gone. So, continuous learning will be necessary to keep up with the pace of ________

1.

A．designer

B．teacher

C．reporter

D．learner

2.

A．heard

B．inferred

C．graduated

D．suffered

3.

A．work

B．training

C．research

D．education

4.

A．current

B．known

C．useful

D．remarkable

5.

A．organizing

B．attending

C．recording

D．confirming

6.

A．secret

B．personal

C．unique

D．common

7.

A．choices

B．measures

C．courses

D．responsibilities

8.

A．celebrity

B．master

C．consultant

D．addict

9.

A．need

B．agree

C．continue

D．refuse

10.

A．truth

B．demand

C．effect

D．future

11.

A．financially

B．physically

C．mentally

D．socially.

12.

A．better

B．stronger

C．braver

D．firmer

13.

A．reduce

B．generate

C．reserve

D．negotiate

14.

A．care about

B．leave behind

C．insist on

D．show off

15.

A．comment

B．purchase

C．production

D．change

6 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

Having held the interschool storytelling championship for the past two years, I was the shining star of my school. When it came to choosing the right candidate to participate in such competitions, I was always the first choice. Naturally, I was once again selected to represent my school in the approaching contest this year.

Upon hearing the fact that I was chosen again, my classmates and friends acknowledged that I would undoubtedly emerge as the champion again. Consequently, I became conceited. I was so proud that I neglected the importance of practicing for the contest.

A week before the contest, my teacher Ms. Sara asked,“Selena, would you like to stand in front of the class to rehearse for the contest ?” She had tutored me in the past two competitions and knew how important practice was .“Just imagine you are on the stage in the presence of the audience, ”she added .

“ I’m sorry, Ms. Sara, ” I replied .“I have a bit of a sore throat.”

This was usually the lie I would tell whenever my teacher requested me to practice in front of the class. I always found excuses to avoid doing it because I believed that I was the best and therefore the practice was unnecessary. On one occasion, I even told Mrs. Sara not to worry too much as I was well prepared for the contest. In fact, I did everything but practice my scrip. I only managed to glance briefly through the story the day before the contest. As the best storyteller among the students of the local secondary schools, I was too

vain to practice and expected everything to be fine.

The contest was being held in the local community hall. On the day of the contest, the hall was packed.

My school teachers and principal were there along with many of my classmates and schoolmates. I was the eighth contestant out of twenty in total. Those who spoke before me did extremely well. On seeing their
fascinating and outstanding performance, I began to lose confidence in myself. My palms sweated heavily and I started to feel nervous.
注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 至少使用5个短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph1:

Soon, it was my turn to talk.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph2:

Finally, results were announced after the contest.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . To tell the truth, no one has the right to judge you. People may have heard your stories, but they can't feel what you are going through; they aren't living YOUR life.     1     Instead, focus on how you feel about yourself, and do what you think is right.

    2     Your relationship with yourself is the closest and most important one you will ever have. If you don't take good care of yourself, then you can't take good care of others either. Taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do.

Do what you know is right, for YOU. Don't be afraid to walk alone, and don't be afraid to like it. Don't let anyone's words stop you from being the best you can be.     3     When you are totally at peace within yourself, nothing can shake you.

Follow your own path.     4     Make use of the chance to make life all that you want it to be. Work hard for what you believe, and keep your dreams big and your worries small.

Forgive those who have wronged you.     5     It is a special quality of the strong and wise. It allows you to focus on the future instead of the past. Without forgiveness, wounds can never be healed, and moving on can never be achieved.

A．Take care of yourself.

B．So forget what they say about you.

C．Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.

D．Show everyone your love and kindness.

E．Every new day is a chance to change your life.

F．Keep doing what you know in your heart is right.

G．When you are dealing with failure, don't be ashamed.

8 . The idea that having narrow local focus leaves little room for anything but a selfish mindset is a misconception, according to a new study that found that concern for local affairs could help with global environmental conservation.

You might have heard of NIMBY which means “not in my back yard” and describes an individual or group opposed to a new addition to the neighborhood, typically a factory, roadway or power station. Nimbyism and parochialism(眼界狭小), which is a focus on a local area,   can go hand in hand, and there are concerns that parochialism paves the way for prejudice, narrowmindedness, and selfishness.

But researchers found the exact opposite to be true in a new study published. The researchers argue that positive parochialism can inspire a larger awareness of global environmental problems and encourage people to action.

“We did not find evidence that parochialism was necessarily negative and inward -looking,” said Patrick, a researcher for the study. “It can be those things, but there's no necessary conflict between feeling connected to your local area and feeling connected to the wider world. ”

For the study, the researchers reviewed documents from the 1987 Parish Maps project. The researchers showed how the Parish Maps project also demonstrated a passion for the environment and conservation. The researchers say that the Parish Maps project is a strong example of “positive parochialism”, and shows that thinking locally can influence a global mindset.

“For a long time,   it has been generally agreed that if we want people to think about global affairs they need an international worldview-but this may not be the case,” said Patrick. “Given where we are now in terms of trying to encourage people to make changes to help the environment, positive parochialism offers something that has been overlooked.”

1. Which behavior can best illustrate NIMBY?

A．Criticizing a friend for his selfish action.

B．Accepting a proposal beneficial to locals.

C．Supporting a neighborhood construction plan.

D．Objecting to building an airport in the neighborhood.

2. Why does the author mention the Parish Maps project?

A．To explain how to protect the environment.

B．To offer an example of positive parochialism.

C．To encourage people to take part in the project.

D．To stress the importance of global mindset.

3. How does Patrick feel about “positive parochialism phenomenon”?

A．Appreciative.

B．Cautious.

C．Negative.

D．Puzzled.

4. What may be the best title for the text?

A．Parochialism, a better practice?

B．International view, more popular?

C．Thinking locally, acting globally

D．Bigger thinking, better environment

9 . Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood-The Rolling Stones — have played together for more than 50 years. However, they still recognize the ____ of practicing together.

They understand that for excellence to become a habit, you need to define a ____ approach to working together. You need to practice it over and over until it becomes second ____. Before every tour, the band typically spends two months in rehearsing . They __ the opportunity to reconnect with their collective rhythm . The __ enables the band to perform with almost telepathic communication. Richards says that he knows exactly what's happening by____watching Watts' left hand. If the rhythm ever slows, one glance from Richards to Wood speaks volumes. Together they will then ____ the pace.

The Stones' ____ comes from each member having a distinctive yet complementary   ____ Richards is their spiritual leader, Watts the band's backbone, Wood the mediator, and Jagger is ___ everything he can be - a chief executive in many ways.

Each of the band's members is a(n) ____ in his own right, but it is the chemistry the band has on each of them that works best. Being part of the Rolling Stones remains the best way for each member to achieve their ____ goals. The best teams are those who ___ individual drive with understanding the importance and ____ of the team.

This is the secret to becoming an excellent team ： There is no ____ to the ongoing devotion and intentional practice required to build better teams.

1.

A．circumstance

B．mode

C．importance

D．prospect

2.

A．secure

B．shared

C．reliable

D．independent

3.

A．interest

B．time

C．nature

D．preference

4.

A．appreciate

B．find

C．expect

D．use

5.

A．work

B．difference

C．career

D．practice

6.

A．barely

B．merely

C．possibly

D．secretly

7.

A．step up

B．slow down

C．hold on

D．bring down

8.

A．appeal

B．idea

C．commitment

D．success

9.

A．tendency

B．role

C．characteristic

D．view

10.

A．interested in

B．aiming at

C．in control of

D．in need of

11.

A．witness

B．genius

C．educator

D．player

12.

A．accurate

B．visible

C．appropriate

D．individual

13.

A．combine

B．mix

C．help

D．push

14.

A．consequence

B．objective

C．potential

D．power

15.

A．ban

B．way

C．alternative

D．key

10 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

One year, a newspaper of the United States published an announcement that the horticultural institute offered a reward at a high price for the pure white marigold (金盏花). The high reward attracted so many people, but in nature besides golden, the marigold is brown, and it is not easy to grow the white one. So after they were excited for a time, many people had forgotten the announcement.

Years flew away. One normal day after 20 years, the horticultural institute that had published the announcement accidentally received a letter and 100 seeds of pure white marigold. On that day the news spread like wildfire.

It turned out to be an old woman of over 70 years old. The institute had always been hesitating over the fact that the letter said with certainty that the seeds could bloom pure white marigold, and the need for verification (验证) became the focus of the debate. Whether they would make an experimental verification or not became the controversial focus at one time.

Some said you would never live up to the old man’s wish. Those seeds finally took root in the earth. The miracle appeared after one year: large patches of pure white marigold waved in the breeze.

Accordingly, the old woman who was always unknown to the public became a new focus.

Originally, the old woman was a flower lover. When she occasionally read the announcement in the newspaper 20 years ago, she was eager to try. But her eight children strongly opposed her decision. After all, a woman who never knew the seed genetics (遗传学) couldn’t complete what the experts could never achieve, so her thought seemed very foolish.

注意：1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已经为你写好。
Paragraph 1:

Still, the old woman didn’t change her mind and went on working without hesitation.

Paragraph 2:

Finally, after 20 years on the day we all know, in the garden she saw a pure white marigold.