1 . I love to watch my father paint. Or really, I love to hear him talk while he _________ on the layers of a landscape. Mostly the things he talked about floated around me, but _________ something would happen and I would _________ exactly what he had meant. “A painting is _________ than the sum of its parts,” he would tell me, and then go on to explain how putting unnoticeable divisions together _________ magic. I understood what he was saying, but I never _________ what he was saying until one day when was up in the sycamore tree.

My mom told me that it was the biggest tree she’d seen and had been at the top of the hill forever. I had always played in the tree, but I didn’t become a serious _________ until the fifth grade, when I went up to _________ a kite that was stuck in its branches. It was a long way up, and when managed to have the kite free, I was miles off the ___________ I needed a minute to rest and ________________ before starting down. So ________________ looking at the ground below me, which made me ________________ and weak in the knees, I held on ________________ and looked out. Out across the rooftops.

That was when the fear of being up so high began to ________________, and in its place came the most ________________ feeling that I was flying above the earth and sailing among the clouds. Then I began to ________________how wonderful the gentle wind smelled. It smelled like sunshine. Like sunshine and wild grass and pomegranates and rain! I couldn’t stop ________________ it in, filling my lungs again and again with the sweetest smell I’d ever known. It was on a day like that when my father’s notion of the whole being more than the sum of its parts moved from my head to my ________________. The ________________ from my sycamore was more than rooftops and clouds and wind and colors combined. It was ________________.

1.

A．writes

B．brushes

C．composes

D．draws

2.

A．once in a while

B．sooner or later

C．without exception

D．little by little

3.

A．forget

B．abandon

C．grasp

D．indicate

4.

A．broader

B．more

C．bigger

D．richer

5.

A．ends up with

B．results from

C．carries out

D．appeals to

6.

A．questioned

B．appreciated

C．earned

D．felt

7.

A．learner

B．climber

C．painter

D．explorer

8.

A．fasten

B．rescue

C．fly

D．paint

9.

A．landscape

B．tree

C．branches

D．ground

10.

A．adapt

B．entertain

C．recover

D．reflect

11.

A．in case of

B．in addition to

C．owing to

D．instead of

12.

A．dizzy

B．thrilled

C．astonished

D．satisfied

13.

A．narrowly

B．firmly

C．vertically

D．stubbornly

14.

A．form

B．deepen

C．lift

D．move

15.

A．confusing

B．frightening

C．amazing

D．curious

16.

A．remember

B．notice

C．wonder

D．accept

17.

A．inviting

B．pulling

C．feeling

D．breathing

18.

A．heart

B．eye

C．toes

D．chest

19.

A．journey

B．sighting

C．view

D．range

20.

A．impressive

B．complicated

C．beautiful

D．magic

2 . I was cycling and noticed a person, about a quarter of a kilometer in front of me. I could tell he was cycling a little slower than me and decided to try to _______ him. I had about a kilometer to go on the road _______ turning off.

So I _______ cycling faster and faster and every _______ I was gaining on him just a little bit. After just a few minutes I was only about 100 yards _______ him, so I really picked up the pace and _______ myself You would have _______ I was cycling in the last section of London Olympic triathlon.

_______,I caught up with him and passed him by. On the inside I felt so _______.I beat him, of course, but he didn't even know we were __________ .

After I passed him, I __________ that I had been so focused on competing against him that I had __________ my turn. I had gone nearly six blocks past it and had to turn around and go all the way back.

Isn't that what happens in life when we __________ competing with co-workers, neighbors, and friends, trying to __________ that we are more successful or more important? We spend our time and ____________ chasing after them and we miss out on our own __________ to our future.

The __________ of unhealthy competition is that it's a never-ending ____________, because there will__________ be somebody ahead of you, someone   with a better job, more money and more education, etc.

Therefore, just take what life has given you, your height, weight and personality. Stay focused and live a healthy life. There's no __________in life. Run your own race and wish others well!

1.

A．follow

B．catch

C．remind

D．grasp

2.

A．before

B．after

C．unless

D．when

3.

A．stopped

B．enjoyed

C．started

D．regretted

4.

A．way

B．block

C．step

D．time

5.

A．apart from

B．above

C．ahead of

D．behind

6.

A．protected

B．pushed

C．supported

D．comforted

7.

A．thought

B．remembered

C．dreamt

D．hoped

8.

A．Fortunately

B．Finally

C．Surprisingly

D．Apparently

9.

A．calm

B．lucky

C．astonished

D．good

10.

A．racing

B．exercising

C．celebrating

D．cycling

11.

A．believed

B．expected

C．realized

D．understood

12.

A．escaped

B．missed

C．made

D．lost

13.

A．worry about

B．care for

C．depend on

D．focus on

14.

A．prove

B．declare

C．explain

D．inform

15.

A．tears

B．money

C．energy

D．pain

16.

A．paths

B．entrances

C．plans

D．barriers

17.

A．task

B．difficulty

C．problem

D．goal

18.

A．movement

B．cycle

C．event

D．routine

19.

A．never

B．often

C．sometimes

D．always

20.

A．mistake

B．competition

C．pressure

D．challenge

3 . I like my job. It may be my nature that draws me to this kind of job. I work at Izzy's Pizza Bar.

One day an elderly couple came in just after 3p. m. The first thing they said was, **Where is Nan?" Nan is my mother. She was not in that day. It was her day off.

    1     , since they liked to talk with my mom. But when I explained I was her daughter, they were thrilled to meet me. We enjoyed our conversation, comparable to a girl speaking with her grandparents. They are the type of people who understand me and have a positive attitude towards my job.

Later that night, I waited on two men. It took some effort to get them to be friendly. I explained I was waitressing over the summer to make some extra cash for school.     2    , since she was also my coworker. They said they were very surprised at the idea of me and my mother waiting on people at the same restaurant. The two men were quite different.     3    .

Once all the customers had finished eating, I began my closing duties, using the time to reflect on my day, or rather, life. I rushed around getting everything done, thinking about those two men.

    4    . We should treat people with respect, regardless of their occupation. I could have let those two men make me feel ashamed, but I didn't.     5    . I will always have pride in the person I was, am, and aim to be.

A．I had always received a positive response from everyone else I had told

B．Everyone should have equal opportunities in getting a job

C．I also said I was grateful that my mom had trained me

D．On the contrary, I felt really proud

E．This couple got a lot of enjoyment out of eating in this restaurant

F．You could say they were very disappointed to know that

G．Your job doesn't have to state who you are as a person

4 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Last week, our school     1    (hold) a basketball match against another school. Near the end of the match, they only had an advantage over us. When our captain got the ball, one of them pretended     2    (knock) into by him. Upon seeing that, our captain tried to help him up, but the match was over and they won. We lost the game.     3    , we were all satisfied with the result because we went all out.

From this match,I learn that being     4    winner doesn’t mean gaining while a loser doesn’t mean     5    (lose) everything. What really counts     6    (be) the spirit, not the result. As long as we try    7    (we) best, there is no need in regretting. In reality, a true loser is even more precious than a false winner. Without that match, I    8     have learned the importance of spirit.

To sum up,a true winner is to a match what water is to a fish. It is not the result but the process     9     matters. Life without spirit Is like sailing without a compass, so be a true winner and you will find its     10    (important).

5 . My brother Gene was four years older than me. By the time I turned four, I was upset that he could read but I couldn’t. I burned with ______ to read a book like my brother. I begged: “Teach me to read, Mom! Please, please?!” Finally, Mom set aside time after lunch ______ reading lessons, and soon after my fifth birthday, I was reading.

I longed for my father, who was a great storyteller, to read me the books that I couldn’t yet read on my own. But my father worked three jobs to feed the family. He didn’t have the time or ______ in the evening to read to me.       ____, every Sunday morning, my brother and I lay next to him in bed, waiting for him to tell stories about his   ____. I can still hear my father’s voice ______ the cold winters on the family farm in Poland. His family didn’t have enough money to burn wood in the fireplace all night. He told us that he always volunteered to help with ______. I can smell the soup made by my grandma and ______ my father cutting onions, carrots and tomatoes for salad, and when no one was looking, putting a piece into his mouth. “I was always ______,” he explained. Hearing my father’s stories   ______ me closer to the books and the stories they held.

One Saturday afternoon when I was seven, we walked two blocks to the small ______ in our neighborhood, and my dad filled out forms for a card. That Saturday ______ my life: I met Mrs. Schwartz, the librarian, and my dad said, “You’re ______ enough to walk to the library yourself.” And so I did—almost every afternoon.

In my mind, Mrs. Schwartz was “the keeper of books and the guardian of stories.” Some days she read aloud to a small group of us ______. Most of time, Mrs. Schwartz let me ______ myself with books I pulled from the shelves and look through them to see which ones I’d ______ out. I remember that sometimes she’d ______ a book and tell me a part of the story. But she always let me choose. Books became my ______ who were my comfort when I felt lonely.

Yes, reading changed me. It gave me the _____ to study hard so I could become a teacher, and share my _____   of reading with my students. And inside my head, I can still hear the voices of my mother, father, and Mrs. Schwartz, which are with me every time I open the first page of a new book.

1.

A．anger

B．desire

C．worry

D．interest

2.

A．until

B．before

C．in

D．for

3.

A．energy

B．ambition

C．courage

D．ability

4.

A．Finally

B．Then

C．Therefore

D．Still

5.

A．workplace

B．farmland

C．childhood

D．neighborhood

6.

A．explaining

B．introducing

C．describing

D．interpreting

7.

A．cooking

B．reading

C．farming

D．living

8.

A．picture

B．discover

C．notice

D．catch

9.

A．busy

B．hungry

C．poor

D．tired

10.

A．laid

B．taught

C．drew

D．left

11.

A．club

B．bookstore

C．office

D．library

12.

A．saved

B．tested

C．changed

D．controlled

13.

A．near

B．old

C．ready

D．free

14.

A．graduates

B．candidates

C．regulars

D．communicators

15.

A．reward

B．familiarize

C．examine

D．surround

16.

A．find

B．check

C．lend

D．sign

17.

A．write

B．study

C．recommend

D．reserve

18.

A．companions

B．assistants

C．listeners

D．teachers

19.

A．chance

B．dream

C．order

D．drive

20.

A．lesson

B．love

C．time

D．plan

6 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Curiosity is part of human nature. Children want answers     1     tons of questions. People keep reading or watching because they want to find out what happens. But curiosity also provides many     2     (practice) benefits.

Many of history's greatest     3     ( discover) were made by curious people. People wondered how processes worked or how certain tasks could be done more     4     (effect). Thanks to their curiosity, people now know far more about the world and obtain useful technology     5     ( help) themselves.

Even if you don't plan to be     6     inventor or researcher, curiosity can still help you in the classroom. If you develop the joy of learning, classes will become more fun. Even if you are no longer a student, curiosity will make you better     7     (inform) and thus a more capable worker. Often, the more you learn about a topic, the     8     (interest) it becomes.

Thus, ask a lot of questions. Remember, everyone knows something     9     you don' t. Find out what that is, and ask about it.

In the classroom or out of     10     ,developing curiosity is sure to be worthwhile.

7 . The Coffee Place

I used to believe politeness was a thing of the past. Very seldom had I met a _____human being in this modern age of the so-called Ceneration X.

Recently, I had to change my_____ ,when I came face to face with just such a human being. I had gone to a coffee place, with two of my grown-up daughters. The place was crowded with the usual loud crowd and we had to climb the stairs in order to find a(n) ____ table. After enjoying coffee and snacks, we were going down the stairs, where the_____ space made climbing down only possible in a single_____ ,with hardly any space for another person to either climb up or   ___ .

Just as I was in the ___   of my going down, a gentleman entered by the main ____ of the coffee place which was in front of the staircase. I was sure I would be pushed ____ by the man who would want to go up _____ .I kept coming down as fast as I could, ____ on to the bannister ( 扶手). My daughters were already down, looking up at me and hoping I would reach them before the ___ started up the stairs.

Nearly reaching them, I noticed the man still standing near the   ___ . I reached my daughters and passed him at the entrance door he ____ holding open. I looked back, thinking he was still there trying to ____ whether to go in or find another less crowded place. But later I saw him going up the stairs, two at a time. I told my daughters about it and felt bad that we didn't even thank him who was actually holding the door open for us to pass through     ___ going up.

We ____ his thoughtfulness. Such ____ people are hard to find these days when pushing roughly is very_____ in our advanced but aggressive society. Till date, I remember this gentleman and_____ to God to make more human beings like him.

1.

A．polite

B．rude

C．clever

D．dull

2.

A．choice

B．thinking

C．life

D．decision

3.

A．convenient

B．nice

C．reserved

D．empty

4.

A．wide

B．open

C．narrow

D．large

5.

A．area

B．circle

C．second

D．line

6.

A．break down

B．set down

C．come down

D．take down

7.

A．end

B．way

C．middle

D．aim

8.

A．entrance

B．room

C．hall

D．exit

9.

A．gently

B．roughly

C．casually

D．politely

10.

A．carefully

B．happily

C．slowly

D．hurriedly

11.

A．holding

B．going

C．depending

D．handling

12.

A．waiter

B．student

C．friend

D．stranger

13.

A．table

B．door

C．window

D．counter

14.

A．stopped

B．permitted

C．kept

D．considered

15.

A．decide

B．inform

C．persuade

D．discuss

16.

A．after

B．when

C．before

D．since

17.

A．required

B．applauded

C．thanked

D．spread

18.

A．well-mannered

B．deeply-affected

C．ill-educated

D．easily-identified

19.

A．general

B．urgent

C．serious

D．common

20.

A．point

B．pray

C．devote

D．explain

8 . I attended a party one night. During the dinner a man told a humorous story based on the quotation: "There's a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will.”

The storyteller mentioned that the quotation was from the Bible. I knew he was wrong. There couldn't be the slightest doubt about it. To get a feeling of importance and display my superiority, I appointed myself as an unwelcome committee member to correct him. He stuck to his guns. "What? From Shakespeare? Impossible! Absurd! That quotation was from the Bible.” And he knew it.

The storyteller was sitting on my right; and Frank Gammond, an old friend of mine, was seated on my left. Mr. Gammond had devoted years to the study of Shakespeare. So the storyteller and I agreed to submit the question to Mr. Gammond. Mr. Gammond listened, kicked me under the table, and then said,"Dale, you are wrong. The gentleman is right. It is from the Bible."

On our way home that night, I said to Mr. Gammond, “Frank, you knew that quotation was from Shakespeare. "Yes, of course," he replied, “Hamlet，Act Five, Scene Two. But we were guests at a happy time, my dear Dale. Why argue with the storyteller? Why prove to him he is wrong? Why not let him save his face? Always avoid your sharp angle." I learned a lesson I'll   never forget. I not only had made the storyteller uncomfortable, but also had put my friend in an embarrassing situation. How much better it would have been had I not become argumentative.

Nine times out of ten, an argument ends with each of the contestants more firmly convinced than ever that he is absolutely right. You can't win an argument. You can't because if you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it

1. What did the author do to get a feeling of importance at the party?

A．Tell a humorous story.	B．Show off his rich knowledge.
C．Teach the storyteller a lesson.	D．Correct the storyteller's mistake.

2. . Why did Frank Gammond kick the author under the table?

A．Because he didn't know much about the Bible.

B．Because he thought the author was really wrong.

C．Because he was thoughtful and wanted to stop the author.

D．Because he was humorous and played tricks on the author .

3. How did the author feel about the event that happened at the party?

A．Thankful.	B．Regretful.
C．Satisfied,	D．Confused.

4. What can be the suitable title for the passage?

A．You Can't Win an Argument	B．You Can't Make Mistakes in Public
C．Do Have an Open Mind	D．Mind Your Manners at a Party

9 . My kids and I were heading into the superstore over the weekend． On the way， we saw a man covered by a blanket and holding a sign that said， "Lost my job． Family to Feed．"

At this store， a sight like this is not normal． It was obvious that the man was embarrassed， but desperate． My 10-year-old noticed him and said how bad it must be to have to stand outside in the cold wind．

While we were in the store， I asked each of the kids to pick something they thought our "friend" outside would need． They picked a couple of apples， a package of bread， a sandwich， some cheese and a bottle of juice． Then my 17-year-old asked， "Can we get him a gift card？" I thought about it． We were low on cash ourselves， but …well， sometimes giving from our "need" instead of our "abundance （充裕）" is just what we need to do! All the kids declared something they could do away with for the week．

We quickly checked out， with the foods he could eat at the moment， and a gift card for the store． At the suggestion of my 16-year-old， we also bought a hot cup of coffee， and then drove to the end of the parking lot， where our "friend" was holding his sign．

We handed him the coffee and the bag of food． He thanked us with watery eyes． When I handed him the gift card and said he could use it for whatever his family might need， he burst into tears， obviously overwhelmed and grateful．

Though I wished we could have done more， I can't help but think about how this experience has been such a wonderful opportunity for our family． The feeling of helping someone else has affected them all---they cannot stop talking about it， and for four days now have been searching for others we can help!

Things would have played out so differently if I had simply said， "No， we really don't have money to give more，" or something to that effect． Stepping out not only helped a brother in need， it also gave my kids the______ taste of helping others．

1. Which is the right order of what happened in the story？ ______
a． The man was grateful with tears．
b． Each child picked some food for the man in the store．
c． A poor man lost his job and asked people for help．
d． All kids did away with something and gave him a gift card．
e． They saw the poor man outside the supermarket and took pity on him．

A．c-e-b-d-a

B．c-e-d-b-a

C．e-c-d-b-a

D．e-c-b-d-a

2. What does the underlined word "it" in Paragraph 3 mean？ ______

A．giving him some food

B．giving from our abundance

C．giving from our need

D．giving him a postcard

3. The best word could be filled in the blank in the last paragraph should be ______ ．

A．terrible

B．sweet

C．tiring

D．hopeless

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph？ ______

A．If mother had said NO， the kids would have helped in a different way．

B．They had helped many people before offering this poor man help．

C．They won't help more people because they can't afford to do so．

D．They will try their best to help more people in the future．

10 . When I was about 4 years old, I decided to go to Disney World. For most young kids, it’s a normal request, but I had cerebral palsy (脑瘫). Walking into anywhere, let alone a crowded place like Disney World was, to put it lightly, a tall order. Luckily, I had people in my corner to help me. Over the next three years, I worked with physical doctors, acquired a walker, and practiced walking, standing, and balance — all skills that I would need to turn my goal into a reality.

I remember the feeling when my legs would protest doing any more work. Despite this, everyone else told me I could do it, so I kept it up. It was all because of people like my parents, brothers, teachers, and doctors that I was able to grow so much, both physically and mentally. Constantly pushing me to “walk on,” yet encouraging me whenever I needed it.

On June 9, 2008, as I stood in the tunnel leading into Main Street, my dad asked me if I wanted any help. I instantly replied, “No!” and situated myself facing the end of the tunnel, feet planted firmly, heart most likely beating out of my chest. Then I went, walking ever so slowly at first, then gradually speeding up. Step, step, step, step, bump. Holding fast onto the handlebars, I gathered up all my strength, picked up my walker and straightened out, picking up my pace once again. It wasn’t too long before the cheering increased because I had made it to the end, where my mom was waiting with tears in her eyes and arms open wide ready to hug her son and tell him how proud she was.

Looking back on that experience, I realize something pretty thoughtful. Every once in a while, life will throw a few bumps in the road. Though it may set you back for a bit, don’t let it stop you. Pick yourself back up and finish. It’s worth it. Besides, there just might be someone there cheering you on along the way.

1. Which of the following best explains “a tall order” underlined in paragraph 1?

A．An easy decision.	B．An available action.
C．A reasonable order.	D．A challenging task.

2. Why does the author say he’s lucky?

A．He eventually has his brain disease well cured.

B．He constantly gets courage and support from others.

C．He is likely to do any kind of work in his later life.

D．He is naturally gifted in keeping balance on his own.

3. The author gives a vivid picture of himself in paragraph 3 to______.

A．explain he was terrified to take the first step

B．describe he took pride in his mother and friends

C．show how he managed to walk by himself

D．prove how he understood to respect others

4. What can be the best title of the text?

A．Where Dreams Come True	B．When Bad Fortune Falls
C．How I Value Friendship	D．Why I Look Back My Life