Long ago, there was a big apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it every day. He climbed to the top of the tree, ate the apples, and took a nap under the shadow. He loved the tree and the tree also enjoyed playing with him.
As time went by, the little boy grew up and he no longer played around the tree.
One day, the boy came back to the tree, appearing sad. “Come and play with me,” the tree asked the boy gently.
“I am no longer a kid; I won’t play around trees any more,” the boy replied. “I want toys. I need money to buy them.”
“Sorry, but I don’t have money. However, you can pick all my apples and sell them. Then, you will have money.” The boy was so excited that he picked all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy didn’t come back after that.
The tree was upset.
One day, the boy returned and the tree was so joyful. “Come and play with me,” the tree said.
“I don’t have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?” “Sorry, I don’t have a house. But you can cut off my branches to build your house.” So the boy cut all the branches of the tree and left with delight.
The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy didn’t appear since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.
One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. “Come and play with me!” the tree requested.
“I am sad and becoming old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?”“Use my trunk to build the boat. You can sail and be happy.” So the boy cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and did not show up for a long time.
注意：续写词数应为150左右。
Many years later, the boy finally returned.
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The apple tree is our mother.
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2 . I was born legally blind. Of all the stories of my early childhood, the one about a
Mom loves to use this story as an
We are almost certain to get
| A．trip | B．race | C．tree | D．driver |
| A．incident | B．change | C．illness | D．problem |
| A．feared | B．refused | C．forgot | D．turned |
| A．delay | B．absence | C．freedom | D．rest |
| A．promised | B．encouraged | C．allowed | D．expected |
| A．woke | B．picked | C．warmed | D．gave |
| A．answer | B．example | C．excuse | D．order |
| A．afraid | B．ashamed | C．able | D．anxious |
| A．ask | B．share | C．fear | D．try |
| A．regretted | B．reviewed | C．made | D．explained |
| A．job | B．friend | C．fortune | D．house |
| A．memories | B．efforts | C．research | D．experience |
| A．mixed up | B．fed up | C．knocked down | D．settled down |
| A．play | B．relax | C．dream | D．cry |
| A．all at once | B．in the end | C．in either case | D．as a result |
3 . How Laughing at Yourself Makes You Attractive
Have you ever embarrassed yourself in public and got laughed at for it?
●Laughing at yourself means accepting who you really are. You may feel bad about yourself because of past misfortune. However, it’s normal to be imperfect. What’s important is that you should be honest with yourself about who you are.
●Laughing at yourself helps increase your confidence. When you are able to stay optimistic and laugh at yourself, you are likely to be more successful in life.
●
Just remember that humans all make mistakes. So instead of blaming yourself, try to think of your mistakes in a positive way and accept yourself just as you are.
| A．Laughing at yourself makes you popular. |
| B．Accept yourself despite your imperfections. |
| C．You don’t need to take yourself seriously all the time. |
| D．Chances are that we all have these kinds of experiences. |
| E．Learn to laugh at yourself and you will be more attractive. |
| F．Laughing at yourself changes an ideal image of yourself. |
| G．This is because laughing at yourself contributes to your mental health. |
4 . Get a Thorough Understanding of Oneself
In all one’s life time, it is oneself that one spends the most time being with or dealing with.
When you are going upwards in life you tend to overestimate yourself. It seems that everything you seek for is within your reach.
Gain a correct view of oneself. You may look forward hopefully to the future but be sure not to expect too much, for dreams can never be fully realized. You may be courageous to meet challenges but it should be clear to you where to direct your efforts.
Self-appreciate. Whether you compare yourself to a high mountain or a small stone, you represent a state of nature.
Get a full control of one’s life. Then one will find one’s life full of color and flavor.
| A．Do oneself a favor when it’s needed. |
| B．It has its own value. |
| C．Do yourself a favor when you resist the attack of illness. |
| D．Especially if it is well within your reach, you are just too blind to see it. |
| E．But it is precisely oneself that one has the least understanding of. |
| F．When you are going downhill you tend to underestimate yourself. |
| G．So long as you have a perfect knowledge of yourself, there won’t be difficulties you can’t overcome. |
5 . Do you find yourself pulling away from others, especially if you’ve experienced a deep disappointment? Maybe the most
A man who lost his wife to cancer found himself wanting to be
His friends became
The man responded that he felt better
They sat in
The man sat in silence,
We cannot
| A．exciting | B．common | C．difficult | D．obvious |
| A．independent | B．cheerful | C．sociable | D．alone |
| A．enjoyed | B．refused | C．looked back to | D．took part in |
| A．quit | B．reduced | C．kept | D．became fond of |
| A．hurriedly | B．hopefully | C．straight | D．eagerly |
| A．greetings | B．visits | C．kindness | D．invitations |
| A．annoyed | B．alarmed | C．disappointed | D．curious |
| A．warm fireplace | B．beautiful garden | C．bright window | D．TV set |
| A．inspired | B．told | C．encouraged | D．required |
| A．inform | B．expect | C．leave | D．allow |
| A．while | B．without | C．regardless of | D．because of |
| A．besides | B．otherwise | C．generally | D．therefore |
| A．turn | B．silence | C．tears | D．talks |
| A．frightening | B．heartwarming | C．unusual | D．interesting |
| A．black | B．burnt | C．dark | D．flaming |
| A．watching | B．holding | C．admiring | D．ignoring |
| A．down | B．away | C．ahead | D．around |
| A．point | B．invitation | C．news | D．notice |
| A．think | B．understand | C．escape | D．survive |
| A．welcomed | B．concerned | C．connected | D．affected |
6 . One day, my father and I were watching a dance reality show. For some reasons, I disliked one of the dancers from the very beginning of the show.
Unknowingly, I kept finding his
“No, Dad, not at all,” I said.
“Then how do you know that he is a
“Just
“But he is among the final 10 competitors who were carefully
“Why not?” I asked carelessly.
“Because criticizing someone or something
So choose
| A．secrets | B．tricks | C．mistakes | D．strengths |
| A．Besides | B．However | C．Finally | D．Immediately |
| A．movie | B．action | C．performance | D．sign |
| A．know | B．debate | C．inquire | D．complain |
| A．representative | B．bad | C．common | D．silly |
| A．call on | B．spy on | C．glare at | D．look at |
| A．treated | B．raised | C．suspected | D．selected |
| A．benefit | B．use | C．interest | D．importance |
| A．ignore | B．limit | C．prevent | D．forget |
| A．affects | B．gets | C．contains | D．solves |
| A．awarding | B．appreciating | C．recording | D．remembering |
| A．positive | B．fresh | C．original | D．unique |
| A．freely | B．confidently | C．wisely | D．independently |
| A．defence | B．luck | C．deal | D．knowledge |
| A．valuable | B．ambitious | C．elegant | D．embarrassing |
7 . Have you ever come out of a steamy hot shower and tried to look at your reflection in the mirror when it’s completely steamed and fogged up? I often think that is how we tend to view our beauty—through fogged up mirrors. We are seeing ourselves but the picture isn’t exactly clear! The mirrors have been fogged up through different life experiences and memories as we have grown up, and now blend together to form our own definition of our beauty.
The first mirror is formed as a young child and is often based on what was said about us from our parents and those around us. I remember being told that I was a cute child, so that when I got a little older and was around six or seven and another child tried to tell me I was ugly- everything within me rose up against the statement because my self-belief in what my parents had said stood strong.
The second mirror is the mirror of adolescence, those formative years when we are pushed into the big wild world and out of the protection of home. As a teenager I went to a boarding school, and I was one of the only two black people in the entire school. Children being naturally curious, I felt like I was asked a million and one different questions about both my hair and skin tone- -and I don’t think there has ever been a time when I have been more acutely aware of my appearance, which in turn opened up the door for me to question how I looked and to thankfully embrace my differences.
The final mirror comes from socially constructed ideas of beauty. We are often faced with numerous images in the media, popular culture, society, peers and social media, which can create a false ideal of beauty in our eyes. We tend to compare ourselves to those ideals and use it as some sort of margin (差值) of measurement.
However, real beauty comes from within. It is acceptance of yourself, perceived flaws and all. You are a masterpiece, a unique blend of genes and life experiences. It’s essential to appreciate yourself like any other work of art or natural wonder, without judgement. Maybe it’s time to create a fourth mirror, a new mirror that is wiped clean and is minus the fog of comparisons, accusations, judgments and expectations.
1. What do the fogged-up mirrors represent according to the first paragraph?| A．The difficulties of seeing oneself in the mirror. |
| B．The various sources of beauty standards. |
| C．The unclear perceptions of one’s beauty. |
| D．The life experiences and memories. |
| A．She felt embarrassed. |
| B．She completely denied it. |
| C．She sought comfort from her parents. |
| D．She questioned what her parents had said. |
| A．They push teens out of home protection. |
| B．They arouse acute awareness of one’s appearance. |
| C．They may mislead people’s idea of beauty. |
| D．They are the exact measurement of beauty. |
| A．A mirror not affected by external factors. |
| B．A mirror going against society’s expectations. |
| C．A mirror reflecting one’s childhood experiences. |
| D．A mirror showing the beauty ideals from social media. |
| A．bring happiness to those around us |
| B．keep our resolve despite obstacles |
| C．change ourselves to achieve an ideal |
| D．embrace our real inner beauty |
8 . You are given many opportunities in life to choose to be a victim or creator. When you choose to be a victim, the world is a cold and difficult place. “They” did things to you which caused all of your pain and suffering. “They” are wrong and bad, and life is terrible as long as “they” are around. Or you may blame yourself for all your problems, thus internalizing (内化) your victimization. The truth is, your life is likely to stay that way as long as you feel a need to blame yourself or others.
Those who choose to be creators look at life quite differently. They know there are individuals who might like to control their lives, but they don’t let this get in the way. They know they have their weaknesses, yet they don’t blame themselves when they fail. Whatever happens, they have choice in the matter. They believe their dance with each sacred (神圣的) moment of life is a gift and that storms are a natural part of life which can bring the rain needed for emotional and spiritual growth.
Victims and creators live in the same physical world and deal with many of the same physical realities, yet their experience of life is worlds apart. Victims relish (沉溺) in anger, guilt, and other emotions that cause others- -and even themselves--to feel like victims, too. Creators consciously choose love, inspiration, and other qualities which inspire not only themselves, but all around them. Both victims and creators always have choice to determine the direction of their lives.
In reality, all of us play the victim or the creator at various points in our lives. One person, on losing a job or a special relationship, may feel as if it is the end of the world and sink into terrible suffering for months, years, or even a lifetime. Another with the same experience may choose to first experience the grief, then accept the loss and soon move on to be a powerful creative force in his life.
In every moment and every circumstance, you can choose to have filler, richer life by setting a clear intention to transform the victim within, and by inviting into your life the powerful creator that you are.
1. What does the word “They” in paragraph 1 probably refer to?| A．People and things around you. | B．Opportunities and problems. |
| C．Creators and their choices. | D．Victims and their sufferings. |
| A．seem willing to experience failures in life | B．possess the ability to predict future life |
| C．handle ups and downs of life wisely | D．have potential to create something new |
| A．different reactions to sufferings lead to different life paths. |
| B．people need family support to deal with challengers in life. |
| C．it takes creators quite a long time to get rid of their pains. |
| D．one’s experiences determine his attitude toward life. |
| A．To define victims and creators. |
| B．To evaluate victims against creators. |
| C．To explain the relationship between victims and creators. |
| D．To suggest the transformation from victims to creators. |
9 . What is your calling? What is your purpose in life? What did you come to this world to do? Every day we read about how we should find our purpose and pursue it throughout our lives in order to find meaning and contentment. There are even scientific studies that show people who view their work as a calling rather than just a career or a job have a higher life and work satisfaction. So, what exactly is this calling?
I’ve personally struggled with this concept for many years. I knew that happiness not only came from a present state of joy, but also from the pursuit of an objective that gave me something to pursue. That is, until I found myself feeling empty despite my achievement of those goals.
And as I reflected on these feelings of emptiness and boredom that had arisen despite my successes, I realized something. Meaning and satisfaction come from a personal devotion to what we do and the intrinsic (固有的) fulfillment we get from it. It has nothing to do with financial gain, social advancement or any other type of external reward or motivation. It is about doing something that we love. It is about focusing our efforts and spending our time on passions that light the spark inside of us and allow us to share with the world the unique gifts we possess.
I had never before stopped to think about what I found intrinsically rewarding or fulfilling. Financial gain and external recognition were pretty much the only drivers I knew. More so, I thought this calling meant having one passion we were born with to pursue relentlessly (不懈地).
So, I spent some years trying to find this long-lost purpose of mine. I discovered during that time passions I had no idea I even had. Yet, I wasn’t sure how to make them into my life purpose. I searched for an answer but couldn’t find it. It wasn’t until I came to understand the truths about our purpose in life that I was able to find my place in this world.
Our purpose can consist of various things that make us feel alive. As we grow and evolve throughout the different stages in our lives, we may discover new passions and desires that change our sense of purpose and calling.
We all have a longing for lives that give meaning to our existence. The difference lies in how we go about accomplishing this. We must each find our own “shine” and then shine on.
1. According to the passage, the calling refers to________.| A．one’s view about careers |
| B．a task one has to carry out |
| C．a life-long career one chooses |
| D．a strong desire or sense of duty to do a job |
| A．Financial gain and external recognition. |
| B．Pursuing passions relentlessly. |
| C．Discovering new passions. |
| D．Finding purpose in life. |
| A．Trying to do everything that you can. |
| B．Trying to achieve your ambitious goals. |
| C．Doing meaningful things with your passion. |
| D．Doing something that can be successful easily. |
| A．the author spent some years making changes |
| B．the author used to think he had no passion at all |
| C．the author didn’t know how to search for the life purpose |
| D．the author has known his passions since he started to work |
| A．It’s wise to give up discovering our one true passion. |
| B．It’s useless to pursue financial gain and external recognition. |
| C．It’s necessary to find our own calling and pursue it with vigor. |
| D．It’s important to share our passion with the world without stopping. |
10 . When I spent the summer with my grandmother, she always set me down to the general store with a list. Behind the counter was a lady like no one I’d ever seen.
“Excuse me,” I said. She looked up and said, “I’m Miss Bee.”
“I need to get these.” I said, holding up my list. “So? Go get them.” Miss Bee pointed to a sign. “There’s no one here except you and me and I’m not your servant, so get yourself a basket from that pile.”
I visited Miss Bee twice a week that summer. Sometimes she shortcharged me. Other times she overcharged. Going to the store was like going into battle. All summer long she found ways to trick me. No sooner had I learned how to pronounce “bicarbonate of soda” and memorized its location on the shelves than she made me hunt for it all over again. But by summer’s end the shopping trip that had once taken me an hour was done in 15 minutes.
“All right, little girl,” she said. “What did you learn this summer?” “That you’re a meanie (小气鬼)!” I replied. Miss Bee just laughed and said, “I know what you think of me. Well, I don’t care! My job is to teach every child I meet life lessons. When you get older you’ll be glad!” Glad I met Miss Bee? Ha! The idea was absurd…
Until one day my daughter came to me with homework troubles. “It’s too hard,” she said. “Could you finish my math problems for me?”
“If I do it for you, how will you ever learn to do it yourself?” I said. Suddenly, I was back at that general store where I had learned the hard way to add up my bill by myself. Had I ever been overcharged since?
1. What did the author’s grandmother always ask her to do during her summer vacation?| A．Go to see the lady in a store. | B．Make lists for her shopping. |
| C．Buy something in the general store. | D．Send lists to the lady in the general store. |
| A．Teaching kids lessons was Miss Bee’s job at that time. |
| B．She neither shortcharged the author nor overcharged her. |
| C．Her tricks made the author finish shopping in a shorter time. |
| D．She used to learn to pronounce the names of some goods in the store. |
| A．express her opposition to Miss Bee |
| B．tell readers Miss Bee’s influence on her |
| C．show her satisfaction with her kid’s homework |
| D．inform readers of her irresponsibility for her kid |
| A．A Precious Lesson By Meanie | B．Being a Responsible Mother |
| C．Making a Meaningful Life List | D．An Unforgettable Summer Travel |
