1 . Maybe it's because it was our first purchase as homeowners. The salesman must have spotted just how green we were, so he began persuading. And soon he led us to a classic leather chair. All these years later, I remember he used words like rich and handsome, the thing every living room needed.
We believed him. So we bought that chair — just less than $100, a great deal in the 1970s for a young couple!
How we loved that chair! It always occupied a place of honor in our various living rooms, moving with us from our first tiny house to our beloved new house.
Somehow, conversations were better on that chair, and life was more fun around it. Three daughters spilled their secrets on it. Old friends seemed to be attracted by it on those wonderful occasions. Crazy as it sounds, that leather chair seemed to have — well, powers. All for good.
At first, we didn't really care that the leather was showing signs of wear or that it had lost its sheen (光泽). But in our most recent move, when the chair was moved in our new living room, it suddenly looked terribly lonely sitting close to newly painted walls and a couple of shiny new tables.
My husband and I tried but still we couldn't ignore the rough spots. Our chair had a skin disease. Even our adult kids raised eyebrows, urging us to at least remove the chair to some dark corner of the room. Neither of us could imagine such a retirement for it.
So we had an inspired idea. We'd call in an upholsterer (修理工) to give our old chair a whole new life. Our friend Joe studied the chair and then took out a simple leather conditioner. He explained that although it wouldn't work miracles, it would definitely get our weary chair looking younger again. It certainly doesn't look new, but its seat and back are shining, and some of its deeper wrinkles have lightened.
Best of all, it's back in the living room, looking like a wise old friend to the furniture around it. And, yes, there it will stay.
Because some things, like some people, just deserve a happy old age.
1. How did the salesman persuade the author into buying the chair?| A．By thinking highly of the author. |
| B．By saying that the author was green. |
| C．By describing how great the chair was. |
| D．By comparing the chair with others. |
| A．Sweet memories with the chair. |
| B．Various functions of the chair. |
| C．People's comments on the chair. |
| D．Family activities and parties of friends. |
| A．Because he was persuaded by Joe. |
| B．Because he didn't have enough money. |
| C．Because it showed signs of hardness. |
| D．Because it couldn't match his new house. |
| A．East or west, home is best. | B．From saving comes having. |
| C．It is never too late to mend. | D．Old friends and wine are best. |
2 . Many of us just laugh it away when they are told incredible (难以置信的) stories about other people, but I have a deep interest in these stories and I prefer to believe they are true. Here’s one I collected from a total stranger.
“Well, I was 11 when my family arrived at Fern Lake overlooking Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was so beautiful to look miles across the Rockies and thousands of feet below into the valley. My parents were busy getting lunch out of the trunk so I climbed over the wooden fence to get closer to the cliff edge in the hope that I wouldn’t miss any beautiful sight down there.
I started down a little hill but soon started sliding on loose pebble rocks(鹅卵石). I fell on my back, but kept going faster and faster to what seemed the edge of the world (a 2,000 foot drop). In seconds I knew I was going to die. My feet and legs went first over the edge at a high speed. Then suddenly I felt two hands push hard on my chest and stopped me dead. My heart was racing and I slowly inched my body back to where I finally could make it back up the hill.
My father was waiting there and screaming at me for doing such a dangerous stunt (特技). I tried to tell him and my mom about the hands that held me back, but to this day they don’t believe me. They thought I was just trying to get out of trouble with a made-up story.”
We parted ways, but I assured her that I believed every word of her story. I could see a little surprise and happiness on her face.
That’s why I always ask people to share their miracles (奇迹). Each real story makes my days full of hope and gratefulness.
1. The girl got closer to the cliff edge to .| A．take an adventure | B．collect pebble rocks |
| C．better enjoy the view | D．play a joke on her parents |
| A．made up an exciting story | B．was saved by a magical force |
| C．enjoyed doing dangerous stunts | D．reached the bottom of the valley |
| A．are often told in an amusing way | B．seem unbelievable but actually true |
| C．prove that life is full of miracles | D．help him stay positive about life |
It was 1st January, the first day of the year and a holiday for me. What luck! I decided to withdraw some money from the bank, The bank person, an elderly gentleman with a white beard, replied indifferently as usual to my polite “Happy New Year.” He nodded and I sat in front of him.
Minutes passed but he didn’t raise his head.
Then very hesitantly I put my form and booklet in front of him. He was busy filling up entries in his register. After a few minutes he took my form and from his cabinet he took out a very thick file, from which he started filling in my details, I sat there wondering why we had computerized banking if we were still filling in forms and register.
After waiting for a few more minutes, in which I showed all signs of being impatient, I asked him if my work was done. The moment I said the words, I felt as if a bomb had fallen on him. He shouted, “Nothing is done, it will take time!”
Just then I saw his morning cup of tea which had been lying there for the last ten minutes, untouched. The tea had tuned almost cold while he was doing his work. Suddenly I felt what this man, who had been working at this counter for the last God-knows-how-many years, must be feeling when customers like me come who are always in a hurry to get their work done. We do not even feel the need to thank them for being there, He must be feeling so anxious that “here comes another person who will push me for doing his work first.”
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。
Paragraph 1:
Thinking of this, I told him, “Sir, you please hare your tea, I am not in a hurry.”
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Paragraph 2:
What he said really touched my heart.
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4 . The Oxford English Dictionary defines work as the “mental or physical activity as a means of earning income”. Since the industrial revolution, the working world has seen dramatic changes,
We are finding new ways to explore our inborn talents and use our knowledge and skills for the good of the world. Yet most of us are operating under an outdated definition of work. We think work should be hard and that it should be a sacrifice.
The next best step is to come up with your own definition of work. Think through the following two questions:
If you want to spend the majority of your time loving what you do and feeling a deep sense of fulfillment, you need to take charge of creating this for yourself. It doesn’t matter whether you are a businessman or a student with a part-time job.
| A．What is your definition of work? |
| B．New jobs are being created every day. |
| C．Do you understand the definition of work? |
| D．Enjoying work is simply something “nice to have”. |
| E．We are supposed to work hard to satisfy our own need. |
| F．But we must remember that the mind creates the experience. |
| G．You have more power to manage your experience of work than you believe. |
5 . I saw the most beautiful thing ever one morning. It was early with a slight frost on the ground, and I was walking on grass down to the farm—my mind on the daily routines.
Suddenly a shining flash erupted straight from the ground about 15 feet in front of me, and shot up into the sky. It was so brilliant, clear and clean. I thought the only thing that could make such a flash must be a diamond—maybe someone had lost some kind of jewelry. Or some kind of lightning strikes—so bright. I waited to see if it repeated but it didn’t.
I walked slowly towards it. There was nothing to see. I stared down at the grass, searching for gold or some kind of metal. Nothing. So I dropped down really close and there it was! A tiny spider’s web, delicately hanging between grass, flashing in a number of colors. The rising sun had caught the exact angle of the dewdrops (露珠), and that light had exploded up into the sky.
It was unbelievable, such a powerful flash from something so small and fragile, and I would have destroyed it beneath my feet. It was as if the unseen world was giving me a heads-up. Hello! Look what’s around you. I’ve never forgotten that moment.
So take some time to notice the wonder of nature that most of us never even see. So much beauty all around us if we would only take the time. Look at the tiny flowers that cover playing fields—we walk all over them without a second glance. The colors of practically any flower on the earth are breathtaking and all natural—if we would only notice. Take the time and discover from nature one secret beautiful thing that you can keep in your heart. Take a picture. It’s what life really consists of. And it’s free.
1. What actually caused the flash?| A．A diamond. | B．The lightning. |
| C．A piece of metal. | D．A spider’s web. |
| A．The flash is very splendid. | B．The spider’s web is mysterious. |
| C．The shining object was priceless. | D．Something small touches her soul. |
| A．Appreciate the beauty of nature. | B．Be considerate towards the weak. |
| C．Find time to play outdoors. | D．Keep a secret deep in heart. |
6 . I used to hate running. It seemed too hard, and pushing outside my comfort
In fact, I wouldn’t have become a(n)
So he picked it up again, and after about a year, I started to join him at the
But on race day, there I was.
The gun went off Thousands of runners
The first kilometer was tough. I was already breathing
After another minute I saw the three-kilometer
I rounded a comer, and saw both sides of the street
Then I looked up and saw the clock. The
I had my arms
“You did great! I’m so proud of you!” Charles was thrilled that I’d
“That was amazing! I want to do another race.” I proudly hugged my medal as we started to walk to the post-race festivities. My lungs and my comfort zone both
| A．block | B．line | C．emotion | D．zone |
| A．wife | B．coach | C．expert | D．runner |
| A．serious | B．common | C．casual | D．sharp |
| A．hated | B．missed | C．admired | D．trained |
| A．race | B．department | C．track | D．ceremony |
| A．hesitated | B．puzzled | C．cared | D．brought |
| A．slipped away | B．backed off | C．pushed forward | D．came over |
| A．mildly | B．shallowly | C．gently | D．heavily |
| A．running | B．bending | C．reaching | D．pacing |
| A．symbol | B．mark | C．pattern | D．campaign |
| A．hopeful | B．speechless | C．dying | D．moving |
| A．stuck | B．crowded | C．provided | D．directed |
| A．sunk | B．bent | C．shook | D．willed |
| A．seconds | B．titles | C．criteria | D．competitors |
| A．also | B．actually | C．just | D．unfortunately |
| A．dressed | B．came | C．stayed | D．straightened |
| A．kept | B．crossed | C．held | D．tied |
| A．rope | B．medal | C．necklace | D．award |
| A．got it | B．meant it | C．made it | D．defeated it |
| A．trembled | B．expanded | C．ached | D．erupted |
7 . Through the cold winter wasteland a man walked hard, leaning into the harsh wind which tried to force him back. He was covered from head to toe in layers of
In the distance he saw what looked like
There before him was a remarkable sight. In the middle of the frozen wasteland was a large
“Come in here. It is lovely and warm. You can just
“I can’t. There are no
“Just jump in. It really is lovely. There’s plenty of
“But what if I want to get out? The sides are too
There’re many things and people in life like this pool. They
Life is hard. Stay wise. And fight.
1.| A．fashionable | B．thick | C．expensive | D．fancy |
| A．changeable | B．rainy | C．brilliant | D．rough |
| A．fought | B．thought | C．screamed | D．looked |
| A．smoke | B．steam | C．fire | D．light |
| A．pushed | B．dragged | C．blown | D．driven |
| A．place | B．spot | C．course | D．side |
| A．voices | B．sights | C．figures | D．faces |
| A．thrilling | B．rude | C．crazy | D．relaxing |
| A．absorbed | B．drew | C．forced | D．exposed |
| A．hole | B．lake | C．pool | D．valley |
| A．bathing | B．drowning | C．swimming | D．floating |
| A．tremble | B．approach | C．wander | D．escape |
| A．sit | B．go | C．lie | D．turn |
| A．steps | B．boats | C．fish | D．guards |
| A．water | B．support | C．room | D．waves |
| A．persuasion | B．argument | C．competition | D．activity |
| A．slippery | B．narrow | C．distant | D．high |
| A．unexpected | B．interesting | C．simple | D．wise |
| A．promise | B．advise | C．remind | D．inform |
| A．lies | B．traps | C．miracles | D．barriers |
8 . Some of the most powerful companies in the world have co-founders. For example, Google(Sergey Brin and Larry Page),Apple(Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs),and Microsoft(Bill Gates and Paul Allen)and so on. Having partners can help to deal with the pressure and the failures that come with running a business. No matter how down on your luck you feel they may provide emotional support. They may have extra skills, and be on hand to help out with the day-to-day problems. And an alternate point of view may help to broaden your mind and aid the risk of mistakes being overlooked.
Everybody knows Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7.When the phone was launched in 2016,customers praised it for its storage, design and usability, and it may well have been a hit if it weren’t for the fact that it occasionally caught fire and exploded. It was soon banned immediately from flights, and Samsung had no choice but to recall the entire model. The shortcoming reportedly cost the company $1 billion, and a further $17 billion in lost sales. But remember, based on the lesson, the Galaxy Note 8 and the Galaxy Note 9 are well received in the world! Now we know that failing is part of business success.
One thing that all great companies have in common is that they have failed many times—and luckily, they bounced back. Take Sarah Blakely, founder of shapewear brand Spanx for example. She credits her business success specifically to her failures. “I’d get kicked out of buildings all day long, “she remembered. “People would tear up my business card in my face. But my friends and I knew I could sell and I knew I wanted to sell something I had created. I learned that ‘no’ doesn’t always mean ‘no’ ,and that you may get 30 nos before you get the one yes. People told me no with Spanx for two years. “Spanx is worth just over $1 billion—it was a company that Blakely who took a degree in a law school started with just $5 000!
1. What can we learn from the examples in Paragraph 1?| A．Two heads are better than one. |
| B．Constant dropping wears the stone. |
| C．God helps those who help themselves. |
| D．All things are difficult before they are easy. |
| A．To suggest customers should follow the new trends. |
| B．To prove Samsung is responsible for customers. |
| C．To show Samsung paid for its product failure. |
| D．To explain that failures don’t spell the end. |
| A．Her friends’help. | B．Her will power. |
| C．Her good luck. | D．Her education background. |
| A．By making contrast. | B．By making classification. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By giving numbers. |
9 . I was excited to take my rescue Beagle (比格犬) to the river the other day, as it’s within walking distance of our new home. Having spent her first six years in a cage, Georgie had never seen a body of water, and I wanted to get there before sunset to watch her experience it.
I was growing increasingly impatient about all the stops her little Beagle nose required. She inspected the grass, dirt, and trees, and licked (舔) whatever was stuck to the road. These were all new discoveries for her, and she took her time studying them.
When I accepted that it was fruitless to hurry her along, I whipped out my cell phone and began texting. I thought that I needed something to do while Georgie was slowing us down. Then, for some reason, I heard the cicadas (蝉) ,and I remembered that the sound of cicadas is my favorite sound in the world. That awakened something buried within me that longed for the simple pleasures that had been replaced by technology.
I made a conscious decision to be present, and to enjoy the journey to the river Just like Georgie. Now, I admired the flowers and the winding ivy on our path. I smelled the grass and the flowers, and the dirt and the air. I treasured each one equally, as if discovering them for the first time.
As we neared our destination,1 realized something even more important: It didn’t matter if we even reached the river. Why must there always be a destination? Georgie had no idea that we had a destination. She was present for the journey, and she savored every bit of that sweet experience. There was no race and no finish line.
Now I’m not sure who rescued whom.
1. Why did the author take out the cellphone?| A．To kill time. | B．To awaken the simple pleasures. |
| C．To hurry the dog along. | D．To record the sound of cicadas. |
| A．How I enjoyed the journey. | B．What I saw on the way. |
| C．Why I traveled to the river. | D．Whether I reached my destination. |
| A．Smelt. | B．Expected. | C．Enjoyed. | D．Deserved. |
| A．Say Goodbye to Cell Phones | B．Think like a Dog |
| C．Learn to Get along with Pets | D．Travel toward Destinations |
10 . When I arrived at college, I expected everything to quickly fall into place. I’d be that girl in the movies who started off
However, this didn’t happen. I watched the girls on my floor become best friends while my roommates and I were only
Later, I
Feeling lost made me
| A．outgoing | B．shy | C．active | D．lazy |
| A．friends | B．parents | C．professors | D．relatives |
| A．believed in | B．held back | C．figured out | D．gave away |
| A．strangers | B．partners | C．acquaintances | D．soulmates |
| A．proud | B．ashamed | C．afraid | D．jealous |
| A．immediately | B．rarely | C．finally | D．eventually |
| A．funny | B．boring | C．attractive | D．illegal |
| A．goals | B．courses | C．competitions | D．options |
| A．Inspired | B．Influenced | C．Defeated | D．Surrounded |
| A．hide | B．exercise | C．study | D．sleep |
| A．within | B．beyond | C．against | D．between |
| A．aggressive | B．smart | C．generous | D．social |
| A．imagined | B．realized | C．suspected | D．denied |
| A．although | B．unless | C．if | D．while |
| A．who | B．which | C．what | D．where |
| A．agreed | B．failed | C．promised | D．decided |
| A．spotted | B．tried | C．occupied | D．missed |
| A．expanding | B．limiting | C．setting | D．designing |
| A．hate | B．abandon | C．push | D．relax |
| A．wondering | B．celebrating | C．discussing | D．researching |
