1 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

In his book, Intentional Living, author John Maxwell shares that back in 1976, he received a gift from one of his     1     (assist). As he unwrapped the gift, he saw that it was a book     2     (name) The Greatest Story Ever Told. He couldn’t wait     3     (read) it.

But when he opened the book, he was     4     (astonish) to see that the pages were blank. Inside the book was     5     note that said, “John, your life is before you. Fill these pages with kind acts and good thoughts of your heart. Write a great story about your life.” The intention of writing the story of his life excited him. Then, he     6     (begin) to write his book.

Every day we live out our story through our words, actions and decisions. But we must remember to live with intention to focus on what     7     (matter) most in life and to regain that focus when we get changed. Without intention, we can become unfocused in things     8     needn’t add to a life of significance and difference in our world.

Life isn’t perfect and it’s always hard,     9     we need reminders in our life from a friend, author, blogger, pastor or our inner spirit to re-focus us on the things that matter and make us live     10     (positive).

2 . 假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

During the summer vacation of my first year in high school, I just stay at home all day long, lying in bed and listening to music. Even my father got tiring of seeing me lying in my rooms. One day, I thought I couldn’t live in this way any longer, but I asked my father if he could buy us a basketball and he said yes. He told me that if I really wanted play, I would need to show him. Every time he saw me playing the basketball with my friends, he smiled. Gradual, I became so active that I could concentrate much on my studies than before. Physical activities does help build our character.

3 . As a child, I was very shy. I wanted to be ______, but lacked confidence. When I discovered _______, I found something I was good at. I began to be _______by my friends and this gave me the desire to climb harder and higher _______. I discovered that nothing was impossible if I could find the _______to try.

Both individual determination and teamwork are _______to success when climbing. You need to rely on the _______of your team and share in the achievement. But personal focus and determination to keep _______despite any difficulty is an important _______to team success.

My greatest achievement in climbing is being the first ever to _______the 5,000-foot Troll Wall in Norway, whose rock face is the _______and most vertical(垂直) in Europe. A stone which drops from the summit will touch nothing until it _______on the valley floor one mile below.

53___our climb, the experts in Europe had said it was ______to climb the Troll Wall. But with three companions, I decided to _______. It took ten days to make the climb and we slept on ledges(岩石架) no more than a foot wide. But I _______.

Afterwards, I said to myself, “________I can do that, I can do anything.” Some years later, I succeeded in climbing Mount Everest-the highest mountain in the world.

_____to me is not hanging on a rope on the side of a mountain, but is just one field where adventurous people can constantly ______themselves. If we look at every day as an adventure, we can challenge ourselves and continue to grow throughout our ______. That is the final adventure.

1.

A．intelligent

B．successful

C．curious

D．generous

2.

A．surfing

B．wrestling

C．fishing

D．climbing

3.

A．denied

B．envied

C．recognized

D．tricked

4.

A．mountains

B．trees

C．walls

D．buildings

5.

A．method

B．secret

C．courage

D．skill

6.

A．suitable

B．convenient

C．equal

D．important

7.

A．guide

B．support

C．protection

D．sympathy

8.

A．going

B．refusing

C．waiting

D．burning

9.

A．examination

B．transportation

C．investigation

D．contribution

10.

A．plant

B．remove

C．conquer

D．surround

11.

A．smallest

B．safest

C．lowest

D．highest

12.

A．lands

B．stops

C．dies

D．rests

13.

A．After

B．Before

C．During

D．With

14.

A．easy

B．impossible

C．foolish

D．brave

15.

A．try

B．struggle

C．seek

D．compete

16.

A．failed

B．gave up

C．succeeded

D．took off

17.

A．Unless

B．If

C．Though

D．Whether

18.

A．Failure

B．Fear

C．Adventure

D．Confidence

19.

A．hold

B．forgive

C．understand

D．challenge

20.

A．life

B．study

C．childhood

D．country

4 . When I was a kid, my mum liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night ______ when she had made dinner after a long, hard day at ______.

On that evening so long ago, my mum ______ a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember ______ to see if anyone noticed! ______ all my dad did was reach for his toast, ______ at my mum and ask me how my day was at school… I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember ______ him spread butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remembered hearing my mum ______ to my dad for burning the toast. And I’II never ______ what he said: ＂Honey, I love ______ toast.＂

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really ______ his toast burned. He ______ me in his arms and said, ＂Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she’s really ____. And besides, a burned toast never ______ anyone!＂

____ is full of imperfect things... and imperfect people. I’m not the best at anything, ______ I forget holidays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I’ve ______ over the years is that learning to accept each other’s ______ — and ______ to celebrate each other’s differences — is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and ______ relationship where a burned toast isn’t a deal-breaker!

1.

A．in particular

B．in fact

C．after all

D．in all

2.

A．kitchen

B．home

C．work

D．school

3.

A．cooked

B．placed

C．broke

D．ate

4.

A．waiting

B．hoping

C．turning

D．hesitating

5.

A．And

B．Thus

C．Yet

D．Instead

6.

A．stare

B．smile

C．laugh

D．shout

7.

A．cheering

B．admiring

C．studying

D．watching

8.

A．shout

B．explain

C．talk

D．apologize

9.

A．believe

B．doubt

C．forget

D．understand

10.

A．broken

B．buttered

C．burned

D．baked

11.

A．cared

B．liked

C．knew

D．minded

12.

A．wrapped

B．turned

C．beat

D．left

13.

A．angry

B．hungry

C．depressed

D．tired

14.

A．poisons

B．hurts

C．upsets

D．chokes

15.

A．Society

B．School

C．Family

D．Life

16.

A．but

B．and

C．or

D．so

17.

A．remembered

B．expressed

C．argued

D．learned

18.

A．concerns

B．advice

C．faults

D．misunderstanding

19.

A．choosing

B．agreeing

C．offering

D．helping

20.

A．lasting

B．changing

C．important

D．familiar

5 . My wife, daughter, and I moved into our home nine years ago and we spent a lot of time and energy in the yard to get it looking like the way it does today. We live on a corner, higher than street level, and the entire side of the yard is surrounded by a professionally built rock wall. The front of the house though is another story because instead of a wall along the sidewalk, the rocks appear to be just thrown up onto the dirt as if someone were in a hurry to finish.

We did the best we could with what we had to work with and called this area our “rock garden”. Whenever we had leftover flowers or plants, Denise or I would stick them out front, just to bring some color to the area. We would do all of the yard work on our own, even the tiring weed-pulling.

Last summer I had reached the end of the rock garden and found a tiny little plant that I could not immediately identify, I knew I didn’t plant it and Denise claimed that she didn’t either. We decided to let it continue growing until we could figure out what it was.

Weeks passed and as I made my way back to the mystery plant, it appeared to be a Sunflower with a tall skinny stalk（茎，杆）and only one head on it. I decided to baby it along and weed around it. As I pulled rocks from the area to get to the weeds, I noticed something unusual. The Sunflower had not started where I saw the stalk begin. It actually had begun under a big rock and grown under and around it to reach the sun.

That’s when I realized that if a tiny little Sunflower didn’t let a big rock stand in its way of developing, we too have the ability of doing the same thing. Once our environment begins to see that we believe in ourselves like that little Sunflower, we can attain the same nourishment（营养）and growth as well.

Stand tall like the Sunflower and be proud of who and what you are and the environment will begin to support you. You will find a way to go under or around your big obstacle in order to reach your desires.

1. We can know from the first paragraph that ______.

A．the author finished building his home hurriedly

B．the author’s family have lived in this home for nine years

C．the author’s home is made of rock walls

D．there is a wall along the sidewalk

2. The author found it unusual that ______.

A．the mystery plant turned out to be a Sunflower

B．the Sunflower had a tall stalk and only one head

C．the Sunflower grew under and around a big rock

D．the Sunflower had started where the stalk was seen

3. Which of the following best describes the Sunflower?

A．Brave and stubborn	B．Confident and persistent
C．Optimistic and modest	D．Mysterious and devoted

4. What can be inferred from this passage?

A．Human beings are able to remove obstacles

B．The universal truth made the sunflower survive

C．A big rock blocked out the sunlight of the sunflower

D．We can achieve success as long as we are self-confident

6 . There is no such thing as a “bad memory”.     1    , as long as you are not suffering from memory loss as a medical condition. If you want to improve your memory, there are a number of things you can do.

Stop thinking that you have a “bad memory”.     2    . Too many people get stuck here and convince themselves their memory is bad. Erase those thoughts and vow to improve your memory. Celebrate even little achievements to keep yourself motivated.

Exercise your brain. Regularly “exercising” the brain keeps it growing and help improve memory.     3    .By developing new mental skills -- especially complex ones such as learning a new language or learning to play a new musical instrument, you can keep your brain active and improve its physiological functioning.

Give yourself time to form a memory. Memories are very fragile in the short term, and distractions can make you quickly forget something as simple as a phone number. The key to avoid losing memories is to be able to focus on the thing to be remembered for a while without thinking about other things.     4    .

    5    . Often we forget things not because our memory is bad, but rather because our observational skills need work. One way to become more observant is to look at a photo for a few seconds and then describe as many details about it as possible. With regular practice you will find you’re able to remember more details with even shorter glimpses of the photos.

A．Practice your describing skills regularly

B．So when you’re trying to remember something, avoid distractions for a few minutes

C．Take better pictures

D．Everyone can improve their memory

E．A large portion (部分) of your brain is activated when it learns a new skill

F．So the more time you spend, the better your memory will be

G．Convince yourself that you do have a good memory that will improve

7 . Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours in life than by the narrow road toward goals. I like this image. But it was quite by accident that I discovered the deep meaning of his words.

For years we made the long drive from our home in Seattle to my parents’ home in Boise in nine hours. We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest, easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy, restless kids who hate confinement and have strong opinions about everything.

Road trips felt risky, so I would drive fast, stopping only when I had to. We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired.

But then Banner, our lamb was born. He was rejected by his mama days before our planned trip to Boise. I had two choices: leave Banner with my husband, or take him with me. My husband made the decision for me.

That is how I found myself on the road with four kids, a baby lamb and nothing but my everlasting optimism to see me through. We took the country roads out of necessity. We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him. The kids chased him and one another. They’dget back in the car breathless and energized, smelling fresh from the cold air.

We explored side roads, catching grasshoppers in waist-high grass. Even if we simply looked out of the car windows at baby pigs following their mother, or fish leaping out of the water, it was better than the best ride down the freeway. Here was life and new horizons．

We eventually arrived at my parents' doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories.

I grew brave with the trip back home and creative with my disciplining technique. On an empty section of road, everyone started quarreling. I stopped the car, ordered all kids out and told them to meet me up ahead. I parked my car half a mile away and read my book in sweet silence.

Some road trips are by necessity fast and straight. But that trip with Banner opened our eyes to a world available to anyone adventurous enough to wander around and made me realize that a detour may uncover the best part of journey—and the best part of yourself.

1. Why did the author use to take freeways to her parents' home?

A．It was less tiring.	B．It would befaster and safer.
C．Her kids would feel less confined.	D．She felt better with other drivers nearby.

2. The author stopped regularly on the country roads to ________．

A．take care of the lamb	B．take a deep breath
C．relax in the fresh air	D．let the kids play with Banner

3. What does the author discover from the trip according to Paragraph 6?

A．Freeways are where beauty hides.

B．Getting close to nature adds to the joy of life.

C．Enjoying the beauty of nature benefits one's health.

D．One should follow side roads to watch wild animals.

4. What could be the best title for the passage?

A．The Road to Bravery	B．Creativity out of Necessity
C．Charm of the Detour	D．Road Trip and Country Life

8 . When my sister Mertie told me she had put out tomato plants last summer, I was quite impressed.

Since she was a garden-beginner, Mertie researched exactly how far apart to space her tomato plants; what kind of fertilizer to use; how to keep away the bugs（害虫）, etc. Once they were planted, she took care of them daily, anxiously awaiting the juicy tomatoes to appear. But, day after day, her plants were tomato-less while all of her neighbors who had also put out tomato plants were already enjoying the fruit of their labor.

Frustrated(upset), Mertie gave in and went to the market to search fresh tomatoes. While paying, Mertie told the farmer her troubles. The farmer paused to think for a moment and then asked, “Well, what kind of tomatoes did you plant?”

“I think they were called Big Boy,” Mertie remembered.

“Well there’s your problem,” the farmer explained. “Big Boy and Better Boy tomatoes have a 95-day growing period whereas regular tomato plants produce fruit in as few as 70 days…you just have to wait a little longer for the Big Boys.”

With that new knowledge, Mertie went home with excitement, knowing they would be worth the wait.

Thinking about my sister’s gardening experience, I had to smile. She just didn’t know that Big Boy tomatoes took longer--neither did I--but once she discovered that information, she was no longer discouraged and upset about the lack of tomatoes on her plants. Instead, she was encouraged and excited to see them a few weeks later.

It makes me wonder how many of us have “Big Boy” dreams in our hearts, yet we just don’t realize that they are of the “Big Boy” variety so we are discouraged and worn out with the waiting process. Instead of waiting with excitement, we give up on our dreams and figure we must have done something wrong to stop them from coming to pass. Frustrated, we see other people’s dreams coming true, and we wonder why ours haven’t yet been achieved.

1. To better grow tomato plants,what did Mertie do?

A．Using little fertilizer.	B．Keeping them well close.
C．Watering them daily.	D．Controlling pests on them.

2. Why did Mertie’s tomato plants fail to produce at the expected time?

A．Because they were destroyed by her neighbors.

B．Because she grew the wrong kind of tomatoes.

C．Because she didn’t manage the garden well.

D．Because they required more time to produce.

3. What does the author compare tomatoes to in the text?

A．Goals.	B．Experiences.
C．Time.	D．Imagination.

4. What does the text intend to show us?

A．It’s better late than never.

B．A bad beginning makes a bad ending.

C．Success sometimes needs a little patience.

D．A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

9 . “Down the streets of Portsmouth more than two hundred years ago,” said Lt.General Ira C. Eaker in a speech, “walked a sailor with one arm and one eye. Indeed he would probably have been in a home for incurables were his name not Horatio Nelson. The man’s spirit drove the flesh.”

Born in 1758, Nelson was a small and weak child who loved sailing. As a young teenager he joined the British Navy and, while on a journey, caught a fever that seriously damaged his health. But he never allowed this to hold him back. At 18 he was appointed a lieutenant (上尉) in the Royal Navy and by the year 1803 was made commander-in-chief of the British fleet (舰队).

Two years later, on 21 October, at the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets. This naval victory left the British in control of the seas for the rest of the 1800’s. Unfortunately, Nelson was fatally (致命地) wounded during Trafalgar but lived long enough to know that his fleet had won the battle.

Nelson believed in his country, in his cause, and in himself. He proved this with his words and more so with his life.

The British philosopher John Stuart Mill would agree. He said, “One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who only have interest.” Why is this so? Beliefs are remarkably powerful in that they are to our lives what a rudder (舵) is to a ship. That is, they control the direction of our lives. Simply put, if I believe I am a failure, I will set myself up to fail. If I believe I am a successful person, I will succeed.

Dr. Joyce Brothers, well-known author and psychologist said, “A person’s self-concept is the central part of his personality. It affects every aspect of human behavior. It’s no exaggeration (夸张) to say that a strong positive self-concept is the best possible preparation for success in life.”

1. Which of the following can be used to describe Nelson?

A．Honest and modest.	B．Cautious and friendly.
C．Brave and determined.	D．Considerate and optimistic.

2. Why does the author mention the rudder and the ship?

A．To explain the key role of beliefs.

B．To show the importance of rudders.

C．To explain the beliefs of John Stuart Mill.

D．To show the difficulty of controlling directions.

3. What is important for success according to the last paragraph?

A．Ability.

B．Courage.

C．Character.

D．Confidence.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A UK philosopher’s ideas.	B．An unusual British sailor.
C．The Battle of Trafalgar.	D．The power of beliefs.

10 . I was selfish as a teenager．I usually spent my time thinking about myself and taking care of my own needs．I let my older brother do most of the work around the house until he left for college．I let my mom and dad worry about our bills and problems while I read books, played, and lost myself in my own imagination．This didn't change even when I went to college either．I studied hard but only to make my own life better． Even when I started to explore my faith, it was only to increase my own happiness．

I married after graduation and decided to start a family．Of course, I had no idea what hard knocks reality had in store for my selfish soul．Soon I found myself unemployed, deeply in debt, and with a new baby on the way．l found out that life has little sympathy for spoiled people．In fact, all of the struggles I was going through were beating the selfishness slowly out of me．

Still,I didn't give up on happiness．I knew that there must be a way to find it．I finally realized, however, that it had to include more than just my own needs, wants, and desires．The answer began to make itself clear one night shortly after my baby boy was born．I got a bottle and held him in my arms．As I was feeding him I looked down and saw his big, innocent, trusting eyes．I smiled and talked to him．Then he smiled and I could feel my heart growing, expanding with love．I felt such peace and joy．At that moment I had a hint of the truth: it is by growing our hearts with love that we find our happiness．

Carolyn Arends wrote："The more people you let into your heart, the bigger your heart gets．The more love you get, the more love you have to give．It just keeps growing." So, keep loving, keep living and keep caring. Keep growing your heart today, tomorrow, and always．

1. What do we know about the author from the first paragraph?

A．He often helped his brother with housework．

B．He studied hard for his family．

C．He was concerned about his family．

D．He put his own needs above others'．

2. What did the author realize after he suffered in life?

A．Spoiled people can't survive the hardship of life.

B．Spoiled people are never happy in life．

C．Life is cruel to spoiled people．

D．Selfishness is helpful．

3. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．The author loved kids．

B．The author often fed his baby．

C．The author realized the importance of happiness．

D．When caring for his baby, the author got inspired．

4. Which can be the best title of the passage?

A．Loving Others, a Way to Happiness

B．The Elder One Grows, the More He Gets

C．Help Others, Help Oneself

D．Keep Growing to Live a Happy Life