1 . When I was 12 years old, I already knew that my teen years were going to be the worst years of my life. I was a total outsider, bullied (欺凌) at school. I felt completely alone in my small town.

But by starting to do volunteer work when I was 14, I turned my problem into a passion for helping others. The opportunity to practice kindness made me feel like my life had a greater purpose. The more positive energy I shared, the more kindness and appreciation I received. I realized that my purpose in life would be to reach out to people, specifically teenagers, and help them feel less alone.

Books were my true friends back then. I was so thankful that the authors wrote those books. The kindness they offered me with their books saved my life. One of my biggest dreams was to become an author so I could write books that would help other teenagers the way those books helped me.

After surviving terrible experiences at school and at home, I made a choice to take the optimistic, positive road in the next steps of my journey. My dream career, one I thought was only possible for the authors I loved, is what I am doing now. I have been a full-time author of teen novels since 2007 and am grateful for this amazing opportunity to reach out to readers every single day.

Kindness saved me when I needed help the most. Even small acts of kindness can change someone’s life. You never know what someone else is going through. But by practicing daily kindness, you become an architect of positive change.

1. What was the author’s life like when he was 12?

A．Boring.

B．Peaceful.

C．Painful.

D．Meaningful.

2. How did the volunteer work benefit the author?

A．It made him popular in his town.	B．It helped him find the meaning of life.
C．It helped him understand others’ lives better.	D．It helped to shape his dream career.

3. Why did the author choose writing as his job?

A．He was inspired by his teacher.	B．He could pass positive energy to readers.
C．He wanted to share his school experiences.	D．He found he had a talent for writing.

4. What does the author suggest readers do in the last paragraph?

A．Say “no” to bullies bravely.	B．Make positive changes in their lives.
C．Treat others with kindness in daily life.	D．Learn to care more about others’ feelings.

2 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写一段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

A few years ago, the company I worked for sent my wife and me to live in New York for a year. I’ve always loved running, so I was really happy when I found out I lived next to Central Park. This meant that every morning I could go for a run before I went to work.

Because a lot of people had told me to be careful of robbers in the park, so usually I didn’t take anything with me. How could they rob me if I didn’t have anything? But one morning, my wife gave me a S 10 bill and asked me to buy some bread on the way.

It was a beautiful morning and the park was quiet with very few people walking or jogging (慢跑) around. While I was running through the park, another jogger knocked into me. He apologized and continued running. For a while, I didn’t think too much of it. However, when I noticed the wide path where I was running, I thought was kind of strange. The warning of robbers in the park occurred to me. ”It could have been a robber!” I suddenly became alarmed, so I checked my pocket and found that the money was missing. Without thinking twice, I ran after that jogger. I finally caught up and held him by the arm. I shouted, “Give me the $10 bill! Now!” I am not usually a hot-headed (性急的) person, but I got really angry this time. I couldn’t believe the robbery was actually happening to me. Filled with anger, I shook my fist at him. This seemed to frighten him. He quickly put his hand in his pocket and gave me the money. Then he ran away as fast as he could.

I bought the bread and went home. As soon as I got home, I couldn’t wait to tell my wife my story. “You won’t believe what happened to me,” I started with pride. She immediately stopped me, “I know, you left the money for the bread on the kitchen table.”

注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为80左右；
2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。

Looking at the money on the table, I stood there, shocked.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . 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。

I can well remember that I was once asked to deliver a speech titled “A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class at the age of 9! You can imagine how     1     (terrible) shy I was with so many eyes       2       (fix) upon me. I had no     3     (choose) but to prepare for it, though. First of all, I was to draft the speech, which was just a piece of cake for me, a good writer. But the hardest part     4     (lie) in my oral presentation from my memory— for to read from the paper was not allowed. The real moment began     5         I stood on the platform with my legs trembling and my mind blank. But my listeners were waiting patiently without any signs of rushing me. Gradually I found myself back,     6     (deliver) my speech with difficulty. After what seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding— I made     7    ! From then on, my fear of talking before an audience disappeared. Actually with my     8     (confident) building up, I now turn out to be a great speaker. Looking back, I know the greatest difficulty on our way         9     success is our fear. Overcome it     10     we will be able to achieve our goals.

5 . In my starting days of real-life practice, I took up a job in a direct sales firm as a door-to-door marketer. I ______ this job and the good pay pushed me to become the best at the door-to-door sales. The motto given to us by our CEO, Mr Jones sounds ______ —meet 200 people and then you’ll achieve 10 sales. But it’s not that simple to do. I _______ this every day. Most of the days, I just couldn’t meet 200 people and the ______ left short of my target. But whenever I did meet 200 people, I could achieve the target. So I realized the motto was truly ______ words.

There were so many people who slammed (砰地关上) their ______ in my face. The kids answered the door, shouting “Mom, another ______ is here”. Some scared me with their dogs. Some even ______ to call the police. Some called me a thief. _______, there were a minority of people who gave me the strength to ______ hour after hour, day after day.

I remember such a _______: One Sunday at the railway station I ______ to sell something to two positive customers. One of them even went to ATM to get _______ for me during the big rain. When I asked him not to _______, his reply made me even stronger. He said that when I could sell in the big rain then he could ______ in the rain to get the money to help me.

These experiences in my life made me a stronger person and made me ______ that no matter what happens in life, I can never give up _______. And that’s how I have been able to achieve a little success from being ______ to being somewhere. I’m the CEO of my own marketing company now.

The lesson I learnt from door-to-door sales is that good doors are ______ there, and we have to ______ several bad ones before reaching the good one. Keep going and you’ll reach your target.

1.

A．lost

B．offered

C．liked

D．refused

2.

A．easy

B．ridiculous

C．complex

D．confusing

3.

A．wrote

B．played

C．thought

D．practiced

4.

A．salary

B．result

C．goods

D．partners

5.

A．warning

B．comforting

C．magical

D．meaningless

6.

A．books

B．doors

C．phones

D．windows

7.

A．neighbor

B．stranger

C．salesman

D．beggar

8.

A．threatened

B．forgot

C．expected

D．determined

9.

A．Besides

B．Otherwise

C．Therefore

D．However

10.

A．go away

B．stay up

C．carry on

D．pull out

11.

A．report

B．novel

C．movie

D．situation

12.

A．preferred

B．managed

C．failed

D．wished

13.

A．cash

B．food

C．drinks

D．tickets

14.

A．stop

B．return

C．trouble

D．complain

15.

A．sell

B．walk

C．talk

D．stand

16.

A．realize

B．imagine

C．doubt

D．dream

17.

A．exercising

B．shopping

C．learning

D．trying

18.

A．everywhere

B．anywhere

C．somewhere

D．nowhere

19.

A．never

B．always

C．seldom

D．sometimes

20.

A．open

B．repair

C．break

D．avoid

6 . Life from birth to death is an unbroken chain of ever-increasing, unavoidable struggles. Struggles are a kind of _______ with which Nature forces humanity to develop, expand and progress. The education we _______ from the struggles we face is gradually increasing. We get it a little at a time from every _______ we encounter.

Face struggles and master them. _______ you will have the strength and wisdom for all your needs.

The strongest trees in the forest aren't those most _______. They are those that must struggle against the _______ conditions and other trees and overcome them to survive.

My grandfather was a wagon （四轮马车）maker. In _______ his land for crops, he always left a few oak trees standing in the open fields where they were _______ to the full force of the sun and strong winds. The trees that struggled against Nature were far stronger and _______ than the protected ones deep in the forest. It was timber （木材）from the trees which had struggled ________ he used for the wagon wheels, ________ fear that they would break, because they had struggled and grown strong enough to ________ the heaviest loads.

Struggles force us to move when we would otherwise stand ________. And they lead us eventually to the full realization that ________ comes only through struggles. ________ worthwhile in life is ever achieved without a struggle.

Once we understand the broad purpose of life, we are ________ to accept the circumstances that force us to struggle. ________, we accept struggles for what they are - ________, and it's so rewarding when you get inspirations from struggles to live your life to the ________ and a chance to enjoy the life which you are making so many ________ to get.

1.

A．rule

B．tool

C．barrier

D．behavior

2.

A．offer

B．update

C．receive

D．discover

3.

A．inconvenience

B．experience

C．question

D．examination

4.

A．Then

B．Still

C．Yet

D．Even

5.

A．prevented

B．endangered

C．affected

D．protected

6.

A．unreasonable

B．unfavorable

C．unfamiliar

D．beneficial

7.

A．planting

B．turning

C．ruining

D．clearing

8.

A．exposed

B．connected

C．accustomed

D．addicted

9.

A．tougher

B．weaker

C．drier

D．prettier

10.

A．which

B．what

C．that

D．when

11.

A．for

B．despite

C．without

D．through

12.

A．bear

B．increase

C．remove

D．lessen

13.

A．outside

B．straight

C．apart

D．still

14.

A．reputation

B．success

C．courage

D．independence

15.

A．Anything

B．Everything

C．Something

D．Nothing

16.

A．willing

B．afraid

C．ashamed

D．surprised

17.

A．On the contrary

B．For instance

C．As a result

D．In particular

18.

A．discouragement

B．ambition

C．opportunities

D．drawbacks

19.

A．richest

B．fairest

C．easiest

D．fullest

20.

A．mistakes

B．sacrifices

C．decisions

D．arrangements

7 . Last fall, I went to New York for sightseeing. I visited many tourist attractions there, and I also saw many unfortunate citizens on the street, like beggars and homeless folks.

Standing outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I heard a voice ask, “Can you do me a favor?” When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended out. Naturally, I reached into my pocket for some change immediately and placed it in her hand without even looking at her. I was really annoyed at being bothered by a beggar. What I only thought at that moment was to send her away.

But the blind woman said with a warm smile on her face, "I don't want your money. I just need you to show me the way to the subway entrance."

In an instant, I realized what I had done just now. Her unexpected words took me by surprise and shame. I had acted with prejudice ——I'd judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be. I felt ashamed of myself and couldn't face the old woman anymore. And I felt small beside her.

The incident reminded me that I believed in being humble, even though I had lost that belief for a moment. The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant. I left Honduras and arrived in the U. S. at the age of 15. Through the years, I have experienced many acts of prejudice. I remember a time at the age of 17 when I was a busboy, I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me. But now, living my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to go. It is the blind woman who cured me of my blindness.

1. What did the author think the blind woman wanted at first sight?

A．To ask for directions.	B．To offer him some help.
C．To demand some donations.	D．To borrow money from him.

2. Why did the author feel ashamed?

A．He had a prejudice on the woman.	B．He couldn't face the woman.
C．He was judged by his appearance.	D．He was an immigrant himself.

3. Why did the author mention his experience as a busboy?

A．To indicate he led a miserable life.	B．To tell he didn't work hard at school.
C．To prove he used to be a humble man.	D．To show he used to be unfairly judged.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Be Considerate - Always Minding Your Words

B．Be Humble - Always Dropping Your Prejudice

C．Be Generous - Always Helping Those in Need

D．Be Aggressive - Always Having a Big Dream

8 . 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

9 . As my husband and I drove down a country road, we passed a fire station with a sign that read, "Are you ready for the next storm?” Our area had just been in the path of Hurricane Irma, causing downed trees and outages. We were stuck in the dark and cut off from the outside world.

We have had our share of storms in the past--a snowstorm and other heavy snows that knocked down trees, sometimes up to a week at a time. Those days in a cold house weren't fun, but we learned so much from those early storms, things that made later storms easier to bear.

Now we have stored up flashlights, lanterns and candles. We bought a battery-operated radio to keep up with the news. We stocked up on batteries so that we'd have plenty for extended power failures. We make sure our grill（烤架） is ready and its tank is full, and we purchase food that can be easily prepared and then cooked or heated on the grill. And we don't forget to buy emergency chocolate! We have book lights to read in the dark. We keep our car gas tanks full and have emergency cash on hand.

We're ready for the next storm, but we wouldn't have learned to do all those things if we hadn't encountered a storm in the past. The same is true spiritually. Those little storms in our lives are never fun, but they prepare us for the big storms--the big trials--that will come our way, They can teach us some valuable lessons.

Are you ready for the next storm? Now is the time to get ready. . . not when the storm arrives.

1. Which can replace the underlined word "outages” in paragraph 1?

A．weather change

B．virus' spreading

C．power failure

D．emotional reaction

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．The lessons that storms can teach us.

B．The importance of being ready for storms.

C．The necessities the author bought for her daily life.

D．The preparations the author made for the next storm.

3. What does the author think of experiencing the past storms?

A．It was rewarding.

B．It was annoying.

C．It was thrilling.

D．It was frightening.

4. What can we learn from the author's story?

A．Things will work out.

B．Keep something for a rainy day.

C．Don't stop regardless of the weather.

D．Sunshine always comes after the storm.

10 . “Do I really want to go through with this?” Have you ever asked yourself that question? Sometimes in life, there are moments when you ______ if you will be able to handle the responsibilities ahead of you.

For me, these ____ come daily, whether it’s taking a test or working. But one Saturday afternoon, my family and I were _____around when my dad pulled into a small mall. Little did I realize we were going to a______ store where a new member would be ______ to our family.

As my dad parked our car, I figured we would just take a ______ look and then leave. After a while, my dad called us over. He was standing next to my mom, looking at several cats.

I began to think, “Are we ______ a cat?”

My dad asked, “ So guys, you like any of these?”

My brother said “Yes!” before I could open my _______.

When I pictured feeding the cat, cleaning it and giving it water, all of these responsibility felt ______to me. Would I be able to handle it? After all, I would have to live a more adult-like ______ if I got a cat.

Later on, after ______ that we should get a cat, I thought about this new phase of my life. I realized that the _______ I make can affect my future.

Looking back, I find that I have been able to _____ the responsibility of owning a cat. Some tasks may be ______ , but that doesn’t mean they can’t be accomplished. You ____ need to do your best in order to push past them.

1.

A．wonder

B．tell

C．explain

D．announce

2.

A．activities

B．chances

C．expectations

D．moments

3.

A．walking

B．passing

C．driving

D．moving

4.

A．car

B．food

C．book

D．pet

5.

A．returned

B．introduced

C．delivered

D．attracted

6.

A．quick

B．steady

C．long

D．careful

7.

A．feeding

B．preparing

C．getting

D．training

8.

A．mouth

B．heart

C．bag

D．mind

9.

A．interesting

B．confusing

C．enjoyable

D．heavy

10.

A．dream

B．hobby

C．life

D．effort

11.

A．agreeing

B．refusing

C．remembering

D．advising

12.

A．experiments

B．ideas

C．decisions

D．comments

13.

A．think of

B．deal with

C．talk about

D．connect with

14.

A．easy

B．possible

C．exciting

D．difficult

15.

A．simply

B．probably

C．extremely

D．really