1 . Give yourself a test. Which way is the wind blowing? How many kinds of wildflowers can be seen from your front door? If your awareness is as sharp as it could be, you’ll have no trouble answering these questions.
Most of us observed much more as children than we do as adults. A child’s day is filled with fascination, newness and wonder. Curiosity gave us all a natural awareness. But distinctions that were sharp to us as children become unclear; we are numb to new stimulation, new ideas. Relearning the art of seeing the world around us is quite simple, although it takes practice and requires breaking some bad habits.
The first step in awakening senses is to stop predicting what we are going to see and feel before it occurs. This blocks awareness. One chilly night when I was hiking in the Rocky Mountains with some students, I mentioned that we were going to cross a mountain stream. The students began complaining about how cold it would be. We reached the stream, and they unwillingly walked ahead. They were almost knee-deep when they realized it was a hot spring. Later they all admitted they’d felt cold water at first.
Another block to awareness is the obsession (痴迷) many of us have with naming things. I saw bird watchers who spotted a bird, immediately looked it up in field guides, and said, a “ruby-crowned kinglet” and checked it off. They no longer paid attention to the bird and never learned what it was doing.
The pressures of “time” and “destination” are further blocks to awareness. I encountered many hikers who were headed to a distant camp-ground with just enough time to get there before dark. It seldom occurred to them to wander a bit, to take a moment to see what’s around them. I asked them what they’d seen. “Oh, a few birds,” they said. They seemed bent on their destinations.
Nature seems to unfold to people who watch and wait. Next time you take a walk, no matter where it is, take in all the sights, sounds and sensations. Wander in this frame of mind and you will open a new dimension to your life.
1. According to Paragraph 2, compared with adults, children are more ________.| A．anxious to do wonders | B．sensitive to others’ feelings |
| C．likely to develop unpleasant habits | D．eager to explore the world around them |
| A．To avoid jumping to conclusions. | B．To stop complaining all the time. |
| C．To follow the teacher’s advice. | D．To admit mistakes honestly. |
| A．The natural beauty isn’t attractive to them. |
| B．They focus on arriving at the camp in time. |
| C．The forest in the dark is dangerous for them. |
| D．They are keen to see rare birds at the destination. |
| A．fill our senses to feel the wonders of the world |
| B．get rid of some bad habits in our daily life |
| C．open our mind to new things and ideas |
| D．try our best to protect nature |
2 . A decade ago, colored lights danced around the living room on New Year’s Eve and happy music was played. Upstairs, the children were asleep. But I wasn’t feeling happy. In mid-December, my husband and I had been informed that he had cancer and that he was going to die. He had less than a year left, the doctors said.
In the years since that painful season, I have come to look back upon New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve brings a halt to the endless commitments that fill our daily lives and a chance to reflect. New Year’s Eve is full of possibility and anticipation. What will be the surprising experiences and delightful successes in the coming year? But also, what disappointments are waiting for us in the next twelve months?
In many ways, New Year’s Eve and the days that surround it are a line between past and future. That line is made up of a series of moments of transition (过渡) that take us out of the old and into the new. Transition can be challenging for many of us. It’s about letting go of the familiar and diving headlong (迅猛地) into the unfamiliar.
Just as, back then, I had to face letting go of the life I had led with my beloved husband and stepping into a new world as a widowed mom, I find that each year I have to step out of the version of me that suited the year that is ending and ease into the version of me who will rise to the goals I am holding for myself for the year ahead.
Last year at this time, I sat in a chair in southern France and drank in the stillness (沉静) and beauty of the countryside around me. The three children I had brought into this world talked and laughed around the table beside me as we enjoyed a lunch of bread and cheese.
I was filled with a sense of joy and I had a glowing (热情洋溢的) heart that was full of hope. It was another ending and another beginning. May we all transition into the best of what lies ahead. May we all find happiness in this holiday season.
1. What causes author’s unhappiness on New Year’s Eve a decade ago?| A．The pressure she faced in her work. |
| B．The health problem her husband faced. |
| C．The information received from her family. |
| D．The relationship between her and her husband. |
| A．End. |
| B．Start. |
| C．Change. |
| D．Meaning. |
| A．Set challenging goals for the next year. |
| B．Break with daily routines and form a new habit. |
| C．Spend more time with family members. |
| D．Think about the past and get ready for the future. |
| A．To memorialize her husband. |
| B．To show how she got through a hard time. |
| C．To share her view of New Year’s Eve. |
| D．To remind us that uncertainty is part of life. |
3 . Did you know that Albert Einstein could not speak until he was four years old, and could not read until he was seven? His parents and teachers worried about his mental (大脑的) ability.
Beethoven’s music teacher said about him, “As a composer (作曲家) he is hopeless.” What if this young boy had believed it?
When Thomas Edison was a young boy, his teachers said he was so stupid that he could never learn anything. He once said, “I remember I used to never be able to get along at school. I was always at the foot of my class ... My father thought I was stupid, and I almost decided that I was a stupid person.” What if young Thomas had believed what they said about him?
When the sculptor (雕刻家) Auguste Rodin was young, he had difficulty learning to read and write. Today, we may say he had a learning disability. His father said of him, “I have an idiot (白痴) for a son.” His uncle agreed. “He’s uneducable,” he said. What if Rodin had doubted his ability?
Walt Disney was once fired by a newspaper editor because he was thought to have no “good ideas”. Enrico Caruso was told by one music teacher, “You can’t sing. You have no voice at all.” And an editor told Louisa May Alcott that she was unable to write anything that would have popular attraction.
What if these people had listened and become discouraged? Where would our world be without the music of Beethoven, the art of Rodin or the ideas of Albert Einstein and Walt Disney? As Oscar Levant once said, “It’s not what you are but what you don’t become that hurts.”
You have great potential (潜力). When you believe in all you can be, rather than all you cannot become, you will find your place on earth.
1. How many successful people are mentioned as examples in the passage?| A．Six. | B．Seven. | C．Eight. | D．Nine. |
| A．When he was young, Thomas Edison always got good grades at school. |
| B．Levant thought Louisa May Alcott couldn’t write any popular works. |
| C．Only Auguste Rodin’s uncle regarded him a boy of learning ability. |
| D．Both Enrico Caruso and Beethoven achieved their dreams in music. |
| A．He is too stupid to be taught. | B．He is very clever. |
| C．He is different. | D．He is a late success. |
| A．Working Hard for Success | B．Having Dreams |
| C．Believing in Yourself | D．Self-challenging |
4 . I’m proud of myself for this kindness I did last night. I did it
It was last night and I
In the past I’ve
So I tried to
Yet, something in myself was stopping me. Something in myself made me
Well, I learned a great
| A．nervously | B．proudly | C．exactly | D．carefully |
| A．share | B．remark | C．do | D．consider |
| A．pleasure | B．respect | C．honour | D．selfish |
| A．changed | B．kept | C．finished | D．missed |
| A．noticed | B．greeted | C．followed | D．helped |
| A．home | B．choice | C．friend | D．car |
| A．hangs around | B．hides away | C．watches over | D．calms down |
| A．each | B．another | C．either | D．that |
| A．hated | B．happened | C．offered | D．refused |
| A．works | B．lives | C．plays | D．remains |
| A．fly | B．ride | C．drive | D．walk |
| A．remind | B．avoid | C．attract | D．please |
| A．workroom | B．office | C．playground | D．park |
| A．therefore | B．even | C．however | D．instead |
| A．rely on | B．spy on | C．look at | D．point at |
| A．neighbors | B．pets | C．children | D．friends |
| A．since | B．although | C．as | D．if |
| A．accepted | B．hesitated | C．approached | D．urged |
| A．reliable | B．upset | C．generous | D．grateful |
| A．gift | B．lesson | C．treasure | D．method |
5 . An early morning winter storm had brought several inches of snow in my small town in the mountains.Schools were canceled,roads were dangerous and all I wanted to do was to stay in bed.Still,I knew I had to get the day started so I put on warm clothes and walked outside.The snow got all over my shoes.The cold wind dried my lips and my eyes.My 47 year-old back ached in anticipation（预想）of the shoveling（铲雪）I would have to do if the snow didn't stop soon.
Yet,when I looked out on the white blanket that covered the ground,I couldn't help but smile a bit.It was so beautiful.It softened the bare trees and hid the dead grass.In the distance I could hear the sound of the snowplow on the road,the barking of a happy dog and the laughter of children playing outside,enjoying their way off from school.
The sweet music of that laughter brought back a hundred memories of winters past.I remembered catching snowflakes(雪花)on my tongue,building snowmen,making snow angles,running down hills and always losing snowball fights with first my brothers and then my own children.Standing there in that warmcoat of memories made the wind a little less cold and my back a little less sore.I turned up my head,stuck out my tongue and for the first time in years caught a snowflake on it.It tasted so fresh and clean.It tasted like youth,like joy and like love.
May you always feel young in spirit,no matter how old or achy your body may be.May you always delight in the simple joys of life.May you always share your happiness with the hearts of children.And may you always give your love,your light,your laughter and your warmth to others even on the coldest days.
1. What was the author’s first reaction when he knew it snowed heavily?| A．He was upset. | B．He was happy. |
| C．He was thankful. | D．He was moved. |
| A．my back ached because of the cold weather. |
| B．I didn't want to start my day on such a snowy day. |
| C．my back would ache upon thinking of cleaning up the snow. |
| D．the snow didn't stop and I felt too cold. |
| A．Taste and smell. | B．Sight and smell. |
| C．Smell,hearing and taste. | D．Sight,hearing and taste. |
| A．Appreciate every snowstorm you spend with your family. |
| B．Snow brings both fun and trouble. |
| C．Memories can change our opinion. |
| D．We should stay young at heart. |
About six years ago I began my job as an IT consultant(顾问). I had always been quite good with computers. It was a great move for me, as I quickly learned a ton. Every day was fun. It was one of the best and most challenging jobs
When
Last year things came to a head(达到紧急关头). I was having a
Now, a year after my role change, not much is different. Senior staff did not adopt
I’ve again quit my job. I need a greater challenge. I’ve learned a lot
Ariana caught another whiff(难闻的味道)and tried to hold her breath. She moved away slightly, but Ashley only moved closer and continued talking. Ariana felt trapped. She wanted badly to tell Ashley that she didn’t smell very good. But how could she do that without hurting Ashley’s feelings? Instead, she gathered the remains of her lunch to throw into the trash, thankful for the excuse to get some fresh air. She looked back to see Ashley eating quietly. Ashley’s hair was tangled(乱糟糟的), and her clothes were dirty. Ariana forced herself to go back to the table and take her seat, vowing(发誓)that she would not sit with Ashley the next day.
When Ariana got home from school, she complained to her mom, “There’s a girl named Ashley who likes to sit next to me in school, but she smells bad.”
“She’s probably having a tough day,” said her mother.
“No, it’s not just one day. She smells bad a lot,” Ariana explained. “Nobody else likes to sit next to her, either.”
“I don’t think you understand Ashley’s situation, so let me ask you this...” Her mother’s tone was serious. “Who makes sure that your hair is combed every morning so you’ll look nice when you go to school?”
“You do,” answered Ariana.
“Who makes sure you’re bathed and cleaned every day? And your clothes are washed and neatly ironed?”
“You and Daddy,” Ariana said again.
“Do you live in a nice home? Do you have enough to eat?”
Ariana nodded, beginning to feel guilty. She was starting to understand now. Ashley couldn’t help her situation because she was only seven years old—the same age as Ariana. Grown-ups are supposed to take care of kids.
“Why doesn’t her family take better care of her?” Ariana asked.
“Not all children live in the best situation,” her mother said. “The best thing you can do for Ashley is to treat her with kindness and sympathy.”
注意：1．续写词数应为150左右；
2．开头已给出。
Paragraph 1:
Ariana bit her bottom lip. Sadness for Ashley filled her heart.
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Paragraph 2 :
At the end of the school year , the second grade prepared to go on a field trip to the zoo.
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8 . 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。
It was Christmas Day. Pappy was working alone fixing an old lantern in the backroom when he heard the ringing of his bell on the shop door. The bell, which produced a uniquely pleasant sound, had been in Pappy’s family for over a hundred years. He valued it dearly and enjoyed sharing its song with all who came to his shop. Although the bell hung on the inside of the main door, Pappy had tied a wire to the screen door so that it would ring whether the inner door was open or not. Hearing the bell, he left the backroom to greet his customer.
“And how can I help you, little lady?” Pappy’s voice was joyful.
“Hello, sir.” The little girl spoke almost in a whisper. She looked at Pappy with her big brown eyes, and then slowly scanned the room in search of something special. Shyly she told him, “I’d like to buy a present, sir.”
“Well, let’s see,” Pappy said, “who is this present for?”
“My grandpa. It’s for my grandpa. But I don’t know what to get.”
Pappy began to make suggestions. “How about a pocket watch? It’s in good condition.” The little girl didn’t answer. She had walked to the doorway and put her small hand on the door. She shook the door gently to ring the bell. Pappy’s face seemed to glow as he saw her smiling with excitement.
“This is just right,” the little girl said. “Momma says grandpa loves music.”
Just then, Pappy’s expression changed. Fearful of breaking the little girl’s heart, he told her, “I’m sorry, Missy. That’s not for sale. Maybe your grandpa would like this little radio.”
The girl looked at the radio, bowed her head, and sadly sighed, “No, I don’t think so.”
In an effort to help her understand, Pappy told her that the bell had been his only companion, for the rest of his family were all gone now, except for his estranged (疏远的) daughter whom he had not seen for nearly a decade.
注意：
所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
续写部分分为两段，每段开头语已为你写好；
续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
With a giant tear in her eye, the little girl looked up at him.
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Paragraph 2:
Later that evening when Pappy was closing up the shop, he heard a familiar ringing.
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9 . Few of us can avoid the frustrations and challenges of daily life — family problems, conflicts at work, illness, stress over money. But a simple, aged-old principle may be part of both the prevention and the cure: Help others to help yourself.
A lot of research shows that people who give time, money or support to others are more likely to be happy and satisfied with their lives — and less likely to be depressed. Carolyn Schwartz, a research professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, found that those receiving support from others can gain some mild benefit, but the real favored persons were those lending a supportive ear. In fact, those who offered support experienced great improvements in their quality of life — several times more than those who were helped.
This phenomenon is nothing new. Paul Wink and Michele Dillon found a similar pattern when they looked at the data collected every decade on a group of San Francisco Bay Area residents beginning in the 1930s. Those who volunteered and were engaged in different forms of giving when they were teenagers were much less likely to become depressed, even as they got older. Even better，feeling good and doing good can combine to create a positive feedback circle, where doing good helps us to feel good and feeling good also makes us more likely to do good.
“A number of studies have found that happy people are more helpful,” says Dr. David Myers, asocial psychologist at Hope College and author of The Pursuit of Happiness. “Those who have just found money in a telephone box are more likely to help a passer-by with dropped papers. Those who feel successful are more likely to volunteer as a tutor.”
1. What is a long-held belief towards happiness?| A．Receiving support. | B．Feeling and thinking good |
| C．Helping others. | D．Volunteering as a tutor. |
| A．Offering support to others. | B．Holding a positive attitude. |
| C．Getting support from others. | D．Following others' advice. |
| A．helpful people are more likely to keep fit |
| B．happy people are more likely to do good |
| C．successful people are more likely to feel good |
| D．old people are less likely to feel depressed |
| A．Be Happy, Be Successful | B．Do Good, Feel Good |
| C．Be Happy, Be Positive | D．Help Others, Love Yourself |
Sometimes in life, you need to act quickly. Thinking too much about a problem
Franklin was not talking about disease.
