1 . Nearly seven years ago, I hitchhiked （搭顺风车） across Canada. It was an exciting experience, which allowed me to look into the ______ of humanity.

Once, I was dropped off in front of a（n）______ woman, who had pulled over because her   ______ had broken down. I approached to make sure she was ______. She assured me she was fine and that her husband was on his way with a truck. So I went back to my ______, standing about 150 metres away. Her husband arrived. And ______ they had picked up the broken-down car, the old couple ______ to bring me back to their place for lunch. I ______ agreed.

But our ______ was very funny. I could not—for the life of me—figure out what her husband was ______. He spoke English, but his strong accent made it ______ to understand. Every time he spoke to me, I’ d have to ______, “I m sorry, but what did you say?” And every time I said this, his wife would ______: “He saaaaaaid...” and then ______ her husband’s words. But we had a good time together.

This old couple’ s random ______ was just what I enjoyed about hitchhiking.   You have non-stop social interactions（互动） that are authentic but only in a ______ time. A person becomes an important part of your life for an hour or two and then they ______. However, the beauty of these ______ being so kind never gets old.

Each meeting I had was ______ into my little treasury （宝库） of memories that has begun to ______ with time. But together, they paint a broader picture of harmony in this country.

1.

A．weakness

B．origin

C．beauty

D．chain

2.

A．elegant

B．healthy

C．dirty

D．elderly

3.

A．bike

B．car

C．truck

D．motorbike

4.

A．okay

B．alive

C．injured

D．awake

5.

A．climbing

B．walking

C．camping

D．hitchhiking

6.

A．until

B．when

C．before

D．because

7.

A．offered

B．applied

C．managed

D．helped

8.

A．roughly

B．unwillingly

C．happily

D．proudly

9.

A．teamwork

B．ending

C．plan

D．communication

10.

A．doing

B．suffering

C．doubting

D．saying

11.

A．easy

B．impossible

C．normal

D．embarrassing

12.

A．remind

B．note

C．ask

D．require

13.

A．step in

B．call in

C．hold on

D．look forward

14.

A．translate

B．accept

C．ignore

D．check

15.

A．survey

B．kindness

C．permission

D．occupation

16.

A．long

B．pleasant

C．short

D．fixed

17.

A．disappear

B．stay

C．succeed

D．agree

18.

A．tourists

B．drivers

C．couples

D．strangers

19.

A．knocked

B．divided

C．inserted

D．broken

20.

A．deepen

B．fade

C．settle

D．spread

2 . When young, I loved going on trail（小路） runs. It was my favorite way to escape stress. So, when I was back in my hometown after a tough first year of my Ph. D. program, I thought a trail run was just what I needed. But instead of helping me relax, the run did just the opposite.

After I moved to the city for college, where my runs were on flat concrete paths instead of winding dirt trails, I used a GPS watch. When I went on trail runs again in the country, it constantly reminded me of the fact that I wasn’t keeping up with my usual pace. I turned my watch off, thinking that would allow me to enjoy my surroundings and find the peace I expected, but I worried I was underperforming. “Why can’ t I let go and just enjoy myself?” I wondered. But after some introspection（反省）, I realized why I was struggling—both on trail runs and in graduate school.

Going into my Ph. D. , I had thought that my solid undergraduate track record would set me up for instant success. To my surprise, I was wrong. I lacked confidence in my research abilities which I thought stopped me performing well and I constantly felt my progress was too slow. Other students’ self-confidence and their excellent results made me feel insecure. Finally, one day I broke down in tears in my adviser’ s office.

Then came my visit home: I was having trouble because I hadn’ t properly adjusted my expectations to the differences between an urban run and a trail run.

A Ph. D. is like a trail run: Sometimes you can run fast. Sometimes you might find yourself climbing up a steep, winding trail at a snail’ s pace. And that’ s OK. Barriers are unavoidable, and success looks and feels different on a challenging trail than it does on a smooth, flat path. Sometimes it’ s best to take a deep breath and do your best to meet the challenge.

1. How did the author feel when he was on trail runs again?

A．Relaxed.	B．Tired.
C．Anxious.	D．Happy.

2. What resulted in the author’ s poor performance in Ph. D

A．His lack of confidence.	B．His lack of hard work.
C．His poor research abilities.	D．His poor track record.

3. What does the author want to show in the last paragraph?

A．His desire for success.	B．His confidence of trail runs.
C．His expectations in his study.	D．His realization after the trail run.

4. What does the author want to tell us?

A．Failure is the mother of success.

B．Working out regularly is beneficial.

C．It’ s important to make necessary adjustments.

D．It’ s vital to turn to others for help.

3 . A few years ago, my husband Charlie and I had marital problems. Growing family responsibilities and financial worries took a toll on us and we began arguing frequently, often late into the night.

However, neither of us could take the step that would end our eleven-year marriage and bring heartbreak to our three young children. Deep down we knew we still loved each other, so we determined to work it out. Through countless discussions, we began to close the gulf. The more honest we were, the closer we became.

When I felt we were reaching solid ground, I asked my husband to give me an “eternity (永恒) ring”. It was not so much the ring I wanted; it was the reassurance (保证) I thought it would bring.

We went shopping on a beautiful summer day. We walked hand in hand along a row of jeweler’s shops. Finally I found a ring I liked. While waiting for it to be adjusted, the jeweler took my left hand and glanced at my engagement ring. “May I clean it for you?” he asked. “It really doesn’t sparkle like it used to.” Charlie said as I slipped the ring off my finger. A few minutes later the jeweler was back. The ring shone like new!

On the drive home, I didn’t take my eyes off it. I forgot all about the eternity ring. I just couldn’t believe how this old ring suddenly sparkled the way it had the day Charlie gave it to me. I had taken it for granted these past years, but with a little polish it could still make my heart beat fast.

And that’s the way it is with a marriage. You have to work at keeping it polished and new, or else the grime (污垢) of the passing years will hide the joy. I put my hand on the seat between us and spread my fingers. Charlie covered my hand with his. I felt I was lucky to be able to see the sparkle in something gold when I thought I needed something new.

1. Why did the author and her husband decide to solve the problems?

A．They were a famous couple.	B．They didn’t want to divorce.
C．The problems were not serious.	D．They had experience in doing so.

2. What does the underlined part in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．free of trouble	B．arriving at a square
C．wealthy and generous	D．in good relationship

3. Why did the author forget all about the eternity ring on their way back home?

A．Her husband kept it for her.	B．They didn’t actually pay for it.
C．The old ring’s light attracted her attention.	D．The couple were talking all the way merrily.

4. What does the author mainly want to express in the last paragraph?

A．We tend to prefer new objects to old ones.

B．One should remain thankful for what he has got.

C．Marriage should be constantly polished.

D．We should try to rediscover the true value of old objects.

4 . Once upon a time there lived an old man in a nice cottage with a large garden. The old man was seen _______ for his flowers all the time. They were so well-tended that every passer-by could not but _______ for a glance.

One day a young man went by the garden. He gazed at the splendid garden,   _______ in admiration at the beauty of these views. Then, suddenly he ______ the old gardener was blind. _______, the young man asked, “Why are you busy tending these flowers every day which you can’t ______ in fact?” The old man smiled and answered, “I can tell you ______ reasons. First I was a _______   when I was young, and I really like this job. Second, although I can’t see these flowers, yet I can _______ them. Third, I can smell sweetness of them. As to the last one, that’s _______.”

“Me? But you don’t know me,” responded the young man _______.

“Yeah, it’s _______ that I don’t know you. But I know everyone loves flowers and would never ______. I know the beauty of my garden will get many people into a good _______. In the meantime, it also _______ a chance to me to have a word with you here and to enjoy the happiness these flowers have brought us.”

The old man’s _______ astonished me. The blind man grows flowers and ______   them as a link of minds so as to make ______ enjoy the sunshine in spring. Isn’t it one kind of happiness？

I believe every flower has _______ with which they can see the kindness of the man’s heart. The blind man grows flowers in his heart. Though ______ to see the beauty of blossoming, he surely can hear the voice of it, I suppose.

1.

A．loving

B．watering

C．tending

D．planting

2.

A．stop

B．stay

C．live

D．run

3.

A．kept

B．dropped

C．caught

D．lost

4.

A．realized

B．noticed

C．felt

D．thought

5.

A．Excited

B．Frightened

C．Shocked

D．Satisfied

6.

A．feel

B．see

C．hear

D．eat

7.

A．one

B．two

C．three

D．four

8.

A．gardener

B．teacher

C．farmer

D．painter

9.

A．taste

B．plant

C．touch

D．appreciate

10.

A．it

B．me

C．them

D．you

11.

A．with pleasure

B．in surprise

C．with fear

D．in anger

12.

A．true

B．possible

C．pitiful

D．shameful

13.

A．put them down

B．turn them down

C．get them down

D．knock them down

14.

A．mind

B．life

C．future

D．mood

15.

A．introduces

B．offers

C．stands

D．leaves

16.

A．words

B．behavior

C．story

D．attitude

17.

A．treats

B．acts

C．works

D．serves

18.

A．anybody

B．somebody

C．everybody

D．nobody

19.

A．ears

B．soul

C．eyes

D．heart

20.

A．refusing

B．trying

C．pretending

D．failing

5 . My son Daniel’ s passion (激情) for surfing ______ at the age of 13. Before and after school each day he went surfing with his ______. Daniel’ s love of the sport was ______ one afternoon.

The lifeguard ______ over the phone to my husband Mike that my son had been ______ by the point of the board. Mike ______ him to the emergency room and Daniel received 26 stitches from the corner of his eye to the bridge of his nose.

I was ______ home from a speaking engagement while Daniel’s eye was being stitched. Mike drove ______ to the airport after they left the doctor’ s office. He ______ me at the gate and told me Daniel was waiting in the car.

I ran to the car so ______ that the heel of my shoe broke off. I swung open the door, and Daniel was leaning forward with both arms ______ toward me crying, “Oh, Ma, I’ m so glad you’ re home.”

I sobbed in his arms telling him how ______ I felt about not being there when the lifeguard called.

“It’s okay, Mom,” he ______ me. “I’ ll be fine. The doctor says I can go back in the water in eight days.”

“What?” I asked.

I told him he wasn’ t ______ to go near water again until he was 35.

For the next seven days he kept ______ me to let him go back on the board. One day after I ____ “No” to him, he beat me at my own game.

“Mom, you ______ us never to give up what we love.”

I ______.

Back then Daniel was just a boy who was ______ about surfing. Now he’ s a man with responsibility. He has a(n)_______among the top 25 professional surfers in the world.

I was tested in my own backyard on an important principle that I taught audiences in distant cities: “Passionate people embrace(拥抱)what they love and never give up.”

1.

A．ended

B．began

C．paused

D．decreased

2.

A．competitors

B．colleagues

C．parents

D．companions

3.

A．researched

B．improved

C．tested

D．managed

4.

A．reported

B．demanded

C．required

D．conducted

5.

A．injured

B．shot

C．attacked

D．occupied

6.

A．dragged

B．walked

C．rushed

D．fetched

7.

A．leaving

B．running

C．wandering

D．flying

8.

A．directly

B．steadily

C．cautiously

D．secretly

9.

A．accepted

B．greeted

C．blamed

D．dismissed

10.

A．naturally

B．happily

C．fast

D．heavily

11.

A．settled down

B．reached out

C．fastened up

D．sought out

12.

A．normal

B．relaxed

C．calm

D．awful

13.

A．comforted

B．discouraged

C．hurt

D．protected

14.

A．forced

B．charged

C．limited

D．allowed

15.

A．scolding

B．consulting

C．pressing

D．instructing

16.

A．agreed

B．ignored

C．repeated

D．avoided

17.

A．taught

B．warned

C．reminded

D．persuaded

18.

A．took up

B．gave in

C．came out

D．insisted on

19.

A．doubtful

B．worried

C．nervous

D．enthusiastic

20.

A．situation

B．position

C．impression

D．presentation

6 . This is the best time and this is the worst time；this is the time of great material richness and this is the time of desert of the soul. Everyone seems to be rushing around for something but they have never fulfilled their dreams. Everyone tries to seek happiness but it seems to be nowhere to be found.

When asked "What on earth can make you happy？"，most modern men would give similar replies such as becoming extremely wealthy，or getting promoted in work and then becoming very wealthy. When asked "What will you do with your wealth？"，they would make a long list of things they have been longing for. However，haven't you noticed the multimillionaires are not as happy as we common guys suppose them to be？Haven't you noticed that the multimillionaire celebrities（名人）don't even enjoy the fundamental freedom of going shopping with their own families without being followed by annoying paparazzi？

If we focus our happiness on such big issues，we are bound to be unhappy all through our life，because those big issues might just occur to us once in a blue moon.

As Socrates（苏格拉底）once put it，"He is the richest man who is content with the least，for content is the wealth of nature. "But how can we" be content with the least"？If you pay due attention，you will find our life is loaded with little joys，sometimes too little to be noticeable. Stop once in a while in your rush to your destination，look around and you will see that there are always little things worth cheering for. You got an "A" in a test. Good！You listened to all inspiring lectures. Great！You offered a helping hand to someone who had a flat tire. Amazing！Your dream girl or boy greeted you with a sweet smile. Fantastic！Let's cheer for the little joys in life！Please keep in mind that never should we wait to be happy！

1. What is the best title of the passage？

A．Money Means Happiness

B．Happiness Is All Around Us

C．Dreams Make Our Life Rich

D．Satisfaction Is Unacceptable

2. What does the underlined phrase in the third paragraph probably mean？

A．Rarely.	B．Regularly.
C．Normally.	D．Frequently.

3. According to Socrates，people who are "content with the least" are ________ .

A．greedy	B．ambitious
C．optimistic	D．reliable

4. In the last paragraph，the author suggests that we should ________ .

A．set up great goals in life

B．make full use of opportunities

C．enjoy every moment in life

D．seek significant issues in life

7 . King Evan was so conscious about keeping his people happy and considered them as his own family. He took great care to _______ his people’s needs and they lived happily.

However, King Evan used to hear his court(宫廷) men say that people in his kingdom always _______ him for various reasons. One day, he secretly took a trip around his land to find out what made his countrymen feel _______. However, he could not see any unhappy people and this gave him great _______.

He decided to _______ a huge boulder(巨石) in the middle of the road to test the people who passed by. _______ his soldiers had placed a huge boulder in the road, they all hid in a nearby place to _______ what would happen next.

The boulder almost covered half of the road and many wealthy people simply walked around the boulder.

Nobody really seemed to care about the boulder _______ the movements of vehicles.

The king’s court men also saw the boulder but did _______ to move it away. Instead, they bad-mouthed the __________ for not maintaining the road properly. These were the people whom the king __________ to be loyal! The king was shocked to __________ their words.

A fruit seller walked along the road with his fruit. When he saw the huge boulder, he __________ and tried to move the stone. After some __________, the fruit seller removed the obstacle(障碍物) from the road __________.

He saw a huge bag placed under the boulder. He picked up and was extremely __________. The bag had a note on it, saying, “Here is a __________ for you! The bag has 1000 gold coins inside and they are for the one who __________ this obstacle!”

The fruit seller was so happy and he was also __________ by the king to a party where he was rewarded nicely. Every obstacle we face in our life is a(n) __________!

1.

A．satisfy

B．express

C．record

D．understand

2.

A．remembered

B．thanked

C．blamed

D．forgave

3.

A．excited

B．respected

C．bored

D．displeased

4.

A．advice

B．relief

C．power

D．pressure

5.

A．fix

B．hang

C．hide

D．place

6.

A．Before

B．Since

C．After

D．Unless

7.

A．consider

B．guess

C．watch

D．ask

8.

A．disturbing

B．controlling

C．directing

D．changing

9.

A．something

B．nothing

C．everything

D．anything

10.

A．king

B．soldiers

C．official

D．passers-by

11.

A．knew

B．proved

C．announced

D．believed

12.

A．repeat

B．hear

C．write

D．read

13.

A．left

B．smiled

C．stopped

D．returned

14.

A．attempts

B．tests

C．research

D．discussion

15.

A．easily

B．naturally

C．hopefully

D．successfully

16.

A．nervous

B．surprised

C．angry

D．frightened

17.

A．task

B．gift

C．list

D．joke

18.

A．notices

B．breaks

C．removes

D．covers

19.

A．challenged

B．forced

C．sent

D．invited

20.

A．opportunity

B．concern

C．message

D．possibility

8 . I was ready to pay for my bananas at the grocery one night, when fear seized me. My wallet was gone. I could only have left it on the G9 bus, which was now speeding in the dark to some _____________ station.

The _________ moment was quickly followed by mental math. How much time and money would it cost to replace the ___________ of that little wallet? The credit cards, the driver’s license, the cash, all lost to the bus.

Two hours later, back at my house, I heard a knock on the door. My husband _____________ it while I was on the phone in the dining room. “Does Jennifer live here?” I heard a lady say. In my husband’s hand was my wallet, with not a penny ___________. She left before I could _________ make it to the door to offer my thanks.

After sharing the story online, I heard from someone, who _________ the lady as Erin Smith. Without _______, I called to thank her. She said she _________ my wallet on a bus seat. She ______________ that going to a stranger’s house was a ____________ move, but she decided to take the chance. “If I were in that ____________, I would want someone to try to find me,” she said.

This one stranger responded beautifully to my small ____________, but she actually wasn’t the only one. Right after Erin ____________ my wallet on the bus, she posted a picture of my driver’s license to an online forum(论坛), trying to see ____________ anyone knew me. No sooner did she leave my doorstep than I had emails from two women whose kids go to my son’s nursery and who recognized my face. I’ve never ____________ words with those moms beyond small talk, but they wanted to help. I read that people are more divided than ever, but that’s not how the people I ______________ tend to act.

__________, I feel blessed someone had wanted to help a stranger. Erin had gone ____________ what almost anyone would have done, finding my house on a bitterly cold night, and for that I was extremely ____________.

1.

A．accessible

B．hidden

C．unknown

D．convenient

2.

A．face-saving

B．brain-washing

C．eye-catching

D．heart-stopping

3.

A．parts

B．contents

C．details

D．ingredients

4.

A．ignored

B．answered

C．examined

D．interrupted

5.

A．missing

B．returned

C．remaining

D．abandoned

6.

A．still

B．ever

C．yet

D．even

7.

A．selected

B．appointed

C．identified

D．defined

8.

A．delay

B．alarm

C．regret

D．invitation

9.

A．moved

B．placed

C．opened

D．spotted

10.

A．disagreed

B．complained

C．calculated

D．recommended

11.

A．selfless

B．risky

C．slow

D．personal

12.

A．site

B．direction

C．situation

D．atmosphere

13.

A．crisis

B．danger

C．threat

D．failure

14.

A．got rid of

B．made use of

C．had control of

D．took possession of

15.

A．if

B．where

C．how

D．when

16.

A．recalled

B．exchanged

C．repeated

D．whispered

17.

A．encounter

B．follow

C．consult

D．accompany

18.

A．Going away

B．Turning around

C．Looking back

D．Coming along

19.

A．into

B．against

C．over

D．beyond

20.

A．longing

B．enthusiastic

C．concerned

D．grateful

9 . On a recent trip to the island of Newfoundland, Canada, my husband asked our talkative cab driver what made him most proud to be a native.

“Our generosity and hospitality(好客),” he replied in a strong local accent. “If your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, someone will stop to help. People here are kind like that.” His answer rang in my mind during that ride with my husband and teenage kids, as we headed out to explore on the first day of our vacation.

Little did I know we were about to experience some of that remarkable Newfoundland kindness for ourselves. We met Alma that same morning at the start of a long hike. Our teenagers hurried ahead, and as we walked behind, admiring the scenery, two women in sunglasses and summer hiking equipment stopped. They’d heard us discussing different routes, and then asked if we’d like suggestions. They looked to be in their 40s, and were both enthusiastic to share their local expertise.

We listened eagerly, taking mental notes, until one of the women asked, “You have a car, right?” I explained that there were no cars available during our week on the island, so we had to rely on cabs instead.

“Oh no,” she said, “you need a car.” And then, as casually as if offering a piece of chewing gum (口香糖), she said, “Take mine!” My husband and I just smiled in disbelief, dumbfounded.

“Why not?” she insisted. “You need a car to get to know all these places.”

“But you don’t even know us,” I said.

“That doesn’t matter,” she continued with absolute determination.

Surprised, I looked over at her friend, who shrugged and said, “That’s Alma.”

Forty minutes of talking later, my family climbed into Alma’s car. We spent the rest of our vacation discovering different areas of this beautiful island. But it wasn’t the groups of whales we saw, or the vast areas of woodland, that made this place so memorable. Instead, it was the act of kindness from a complete stranger that made us realize how special Newfoundland really was.

Next year, there’s no doubt where we’ll be taking our summer vacation. Who knows what act of kindness we’ll meet then?

1. What did the cab driver take pride in as a native?

A．Their kindness and enthusiasm.	B．Their cheap service and friendliness.
C．Their unselfishness and determination.	D．Their rich experience and local knowledge.

2. The underlined word “dumbfounded” in Paragraph 5 probably means “________”.

A．annoyed

B．satisfied

C．shocked

D．embarrassed

3. What impressed the author most during her stay in Newfoundland?

A．The local culture of the island.	B．The answer from the cab driver.
C．The beautiful scenery of the island.	D．The help from an enthusiastic stranger.

4. What can we infer about the author from the last paragraph?

A．She expects to visit Newfoundland again.

B．She hasn’t decided where to go next year yet.

C．She is looking forward to meeting Alma once more.

D．She also wants to be kind to others during the vacation.

10 . When I was young, my understanding of life was simple. This made it _______ for me to deal with the world around me. As I grew up, things seemed more _______, which made life more challenging. Now, middle-aged, I find my_______ of the world is returning to the simple.

When I try to teach my daughter important _______ about life, I will break complicated things _______ into small pieces. One of those basics is ______, for yourself, and for others. I teach my daughter to _______. To fail feels bad, _______, but not to have tried feels worse, because you can’t respect yourself for it. And as the saying _______, if you don’t respect yourself, no one else will.

When I was seven or eight, I played at my cousin’s house with his toys. His family was better off than mine, and he had many more toys. There was one ________ that I’d always wanted, and I ________ it into my pocket. But a moment later, I ________, even at that age, that I would never enjoy playing with the toy. I would always know I had ________, and my opinion of myself would ________. When his mother dropped me off later that day, I shamefacedly ________ out the toy and gave it back. She knew, I’m sure, what had happened, ________ she thanked me and never spoke of it again.

I hope to help my daughter avoid similar ________. She first has to gain self-respect ________ she can start respecting others. I believe in respect, because ________ it we’re all enemies. I'm not ________ in this regard, far from it. But I try my best, and I respect others for trying their best in this changing world.

1.

A．funnier

B．easier

C．safer

D．deeper

2.

A．important

B．awkward

C．fragile

D．complex

3.

A．view

B．experience

C．aim

D．expectation

4.

A．basics

B．facts

C．subjects

D．choices

5.

A．away

B．off

C．down

D．out

6.

A．passion

B．love

C．respect

D．desire

7.

A．forgive

B．accept

C．share

D．try

8.

A．certainly

B．eventually

C．personally

D．willingly

9.

A．runs

B．goes

C．writes

D．follows

10.

A．for fun

B．in particular

C．with care

D．at random

11.

A．fetched

B．arranged

C．slipped

D．fitted

12.

A．doubted

B．promised

C．questioned

D．sensed

13.

A．lied

B．stolen

C．changed

D．cheated

14.

A．suffer

B．improve

C．fade

D．spread

15.

A．gave

B．left

C．pulled

D．handed

16.

A．so

B．or

C．for

D．but

17.

A．accidents

B．mistakes

C．results

D．habits

18.

A．before

B．until

C．in case

D．now that

19.

A．upon

B．beyond

C．without

D．despite

20.

A．honest

B．casual

C．curious

D．perfect