1 . Our first year in New York we rented a small apartment with a Catholic school nearby, taught by the Sister of Charity, strong women in long black gowns and bats. I liked them a lot, especially my grandmotherly fourth grade teacher，Sister Zoe. I had a lovely name, she said, and she had me teach the whole class how to pronounce it: Yo-lan-da. As the only immigrant in my class, I was put in a special seat in the first row by the window, apart from the other children so that Sister Zoe could tutor me without disturbing them. Slowly, she enunciated(发音) the new words for me to repeat: cornflakes, subway, snow.

Soon I picked up enough English to understand a horrible wars was in the air. Sister Zoe explained to us that Russian missiles(导弹) were being collected and brought together, aimed supposedly on New York City.On the television. President Kennedy, looking worried too, was in the television at home, explaining we might have to go to war against the enemies. At school, we had air-raid drills: a worrying bell would go off and we’d move into the hall, fall to the floor, and shelter our heads with our coats. And at home, Mom and I prayed for world peace. I heard new vocabulary: nuclear bomb, radioactive fallout(放射性沉降物), bomb shelter. Sister Zoe explained how it would happen. She drew on the blackboard a picture of a mushroom and a cloud of dusty fallout that would kill us all.

The months grew cold, November, December. It was dark when I got up in the morning, and frosty when I followed my breath to school. One morning, as I sat at my desk daydreaming, out the window, I saw dots in the air like the ones Sister Zoe had drawn—random at first, then lots and lots. I screamed, “Bomb！Bomb！” Sister Zoe hurried to me. A few girls began to cry.

But then Sister Zoe’s shocked look disappeared. “Why, Yolanda dear, that’s snow!” She laughed. “Snow.”“Snow，” I repeated. I looked out the window cautiously. All my life I had heard about the white snow that fell out of American skies in the winter. From my desk I watched the fine-powder dust the sidewalk and parked cars below.“Each flake(雪花) was different，”Sister Zoe had said，“like a person，irreplaceable and beautiful.”

1. Why was the author seated apart from the other children?

A．Because she was punished for not speaking English.

B．Because the teacher could help her without bothering others.

C．Because she had trouble hearing the teacher clearly.

D．Because she was shy and afraid of talking to other students.

2. What can we infer from what Sister Zoe did?

A．She paid no attention to the performance of her students.

B．She was an immigrant from America.

C．She taught students to draw a picture of mushroom.

D．She was a thoughtful and caring teacher.

3. During the air-raid-drills, the children would ____________.

A．hide themselves under their desks.

B．run to their homes immediately.

C．pray for world peace together.

D．cover their heads with their coats.

4. Realizing that Yolanda mistook snow for radioactive fallout, Sister Zoe _________.

A．move into the hall immediately	B．corrected her patiently.
C．scolded her for making other girls cry	D．announced an air-raid-drill.

5. What could be the best title of the passage?

A．Snow	B．Air-raid-drills.
C．The Sister of Charity	D．My Childhood in New York.

2 . The idea that having narrow local focus leaves little room for anything but a selfish mindset is a misconception, according to a new study that found that concern for local affairs could help with global environmental conservation.

You might have heard of NIMBY which means “not in my back yard” and describes an individual or group opposed to a new addition to the neighborhood, typically a factory, roadway or power station. Nimbyism and parochialism(眼界狭小), which is a focus on a local area,   can go hand in hand, and there are concerns that parochialism paves the way for prejudice, narrowmindedness, and selfishness.

But researchers found the exact opposite to be true in a new study published. The researchers argue that positive parochialism can inspire a larger awareness of global environmental problems and encourage people to action.

“We did not find evidence that parochialism was necessarily negative and inward -looking,” said Patrick, a researcher for the study. “It can be those things, but there's no necessary conflict between feeling connected to your local area and feeling connected to the wider world. ”

For the study, the researchers reviewed documents from the 1987 Parish Maps project. The researchers showed how the Parish Maps project also demonstrated a passion for the environment and conservation. The researchers say that the Parish Maps project is a strong example of “positive parochialism”, and shows that thinking locally can influence a global mindset.

“For a long time,   it has been generally agreed that if we want people to think about global affairs they need an international worldview-but this may not be the case,” said Patrick. “Given where we are now in terms of trying to encourage people to make changes to help the environment, positive parochialism offers something that has been overlooked.”

1. Which behavior can best illustrate NIMBY?

A．Criticizing a friend for his selfish action.

B．Accepting a proposal beneficial to locals.

C．Supporting a neighborhood construction plan.

D．Objecting to building an airport in the neighborhood.

2. Why does the author mention the Parish Maps project?

A．To explain how to protect the environment.

B．To offer an example of positive parochialism.

C．To encourage people to take part in the project.

D．To stress the importance of global mindset.

3. How does Patrick feel about “positive parochialism phenomenon”?

A．Appreciative.

B．Cautious.

C．Negative.

D．Puzzled.

4. What may be the best title for the text?

A．Parochialism, a better practice?

B．International view, more popular?

C．Thinking locally, acting globally

D．Bigger thinking, better environment

3 . 15 years ago, when I was playing basketball in one of Australia’s premier basketball leagues, I remember a sports psychologist we had for the season. As young professional athletes with high egos (自我价值感), the team were not quite convinced the techniques of psychology would _______ performance, especially when it didn’t _______ using the physical strength and endurance needed to tough out (熬过) the weeks of training and games. I, _______, was interested.

We were trained in a visualization (想像) technique used before games. It involved moving ourselves into a meditative (冥想的) state and taking ourselves on a journey into the _______ to recreate the experience of a game. From _______ home, getting to the stadium, being in the change room, walking out onto the _______ and then finally visualizing how we would play and see ourselves _______. The most important part of the _______ was to bring to life the vivid details of each stage, while also focusing on the _______ that came with it. We were trained to ________ fear, doubt and learned to go beyond them, so that by the time we got onto the court, we were grounded, ________ and ready to play.

What I learnt most from this technique was that winning games was important but how we ________ to play was even more vital. And ________ visualization was a powerful way to see through to the ________, there were absolutely no ________ in the hard work of getting there.

1.

A．monitor

B．maintain

C．measure

D．improve

2.

A．involve

B．mind

C．appreciate

D．admit

3.

A．in addition

B．on the other hand

C．as a result

D．in other words

4.

A．wild

B．home

C．future

D．history

5.

A．finding

B．moving

C．leaving

D．missing

6.

A．street

B．court

C．platform

D．stage

7.

A．learning

B．talking

C．waiting

D．winning

8.

A．subject

B．match

C．team

D．technique

9.

A．feelings

B．decisions

C．questions

D．lessons

10.

A．drive away

B．face up to

C．bring back

D．forget about

11.

A．cheerful

B．patient

C．confident

D．eager

12.

A．appear

B．aim

C．continue

D．promise

13.

A．unless

B．if

C．as

D．while

14.

A．goal

B．solution

C．truth

D．background

15.

A．tools

B．shortcuts

C．examples

D．downsides

4 . I have been extremely busy for the past six months mainly because I _______ a dental clinic. As a dentist, I’ve always_______ owning a dental clinic. After dreaming about it for years, I_______ .

I never expected how _______ it would be. The previous owner left behind a mess that I could never have _______. It took lots of time and money to_______things around.

A few weeks ago, the bank account for that new_________was down to $147 and salaries about $11, 000 were due the next week. I started to___________how difficult this was going to be. What had _________ looked like a gold mine was turning into a money pit (坑). It seemed that my dream was going to ________ before my eyes. Looking at my banking website, I________over to the sidebar where four words caught my ________ and hit me over the head.

“There are no shortcuts(捷径).”

It was like a wake-up call to me. There is no __________ to be gained from taking shortcuts and ________ the struggle. The struggles are the best learning experiences life can ________. They shape us into ________ people.

So whether you relate it to a professional ________ or to your family goals, remember that there really are no________. There seem to be shortcuts at first but eventually they will leave you far off the path you want to be on, and often ________ you to return just to recover. The hard times are part of the journey and you will ________ respect for them when they are past.

1.

A．chose

B．sold

C．built

D．purchased

2.

A．dreamed of

B．saved for

C．lived on

D．prepared for

3.

A．had fun

B．took action

C．lost heart

D．made progress

4.

A．impressive

B．valuable

C．difficult

D．beneficial

5.

A．changed

B．admitted

C．heard

D．imagined

6.

A．move

B．look

C．turn

D．observe

7.

A．goal

B．business

C．project

D．campaign

8.

A．decide on

B．deal with

C．worry about

D．test out

9.

A．originally

B．totally

C．really

D．particularly

10.

A．come true

B．move off

C．rise

D．disappear

11.

A．pulled

B．glanced

C．went

D．took

12.

A．doubt

B．hesitation

C．attention

D．anxiety

13.

A．wisdom

B．confidence

C．happiness

D．excitement

14.

A．removing

B．overcoming

C．accepting

D．avoiding

15.

A．possess

B．offer

C．expose

D．acquire

16.

A．richer

B．braver

C．better

D．warmer

17.

A．career

B．competition

C．experiment

D．research

18.

A．fears

B．struggles

C．ends

D．shortcuts

19.

A．require

B．attract

C．persuade

D．introduce

20.

A．desire

B．gain

C．lose

D．ignore

5 . 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。

I went up to the roof for a break after studying for an hour and watched the 50 or so people swimming in the natural rock pool below our house. It was a sunny day--a blue, cloudless sky over a calm sea. But then, as I looked in the distance, I discovered three or four big waves heading towards the shore. I'd seen these mini-tsunamis(海啸) many times before. They were heading at speed in the direction of the pool. Most people knew how to look out for them, but from the screams that started coming from the beach, I could tell someone was in trouble.

Without thinking, I ran down into the street, holding my body board(俯伏冲浪板) on the way and shouted at a stranger to go inside my house and call the coastguard. My neighbor Moises had heard the screaming as well and was also outside with his body board, so together we rushed to the steps that led down to the sea.

Once we got closer, we discovered the waves had pulled a boy and a girl from the pool and into the open sea. I knew that the nearest boat would take at least 30 minutes to reach us. Waiting for help wasn't a choice. I wasn't used to this sort of emergency--I’d never been trained as a lifeguard-but I didn't think twice about trying to save them. I supposed in a way I wanted to impress everyone: at 19, a deal like that can seem like a good opportunity to show off.

Moises and I dived into the water and it took us 10 minutes to get to them. When we finally reached them, they were almost lifeless with only their heads coming in and out of the water. We could tell they were still alive from their small breaths but it was clear they wouldn't have been able to stay there much longer. I held the boy and pulled him over my board. Moises moved the girl onto his board. We discussed pushing them back to the shore, but we were too far out.

注意：
1.所续写的短文词数应为150左右；
2.续写部分分为两段,每段的开头语已为你写好；
Paragraph 1:

We had to wait.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:

That night, word came from the hospital that the two people were in good condition.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . Years ago, there was a heated debate about what belongings people lacked most. _______ those who often made a list of the belongings they wanted to possess, I also created a _______ of my desirables: well-being, care, gift, power, wealth and reputation.

I _______ brought it to a wise elder, the spiritual model of my youth, the moment I completed the catalogue. Maybe I just hoped to _______ him deeply with my splendid wisdom, or maybe I just hoped to win _______ from him._______, I gave him my list.

“The list”, I said with great confidence, “consists of all the things we ordinary people may get. If one could _______ all of them, he would be viewed as a god.”

Smiles gathered at the corners of his old eyes. “A really outstanding list,” he said slowly, after a _______ thought, “put down in fairly reasonable order.” I _______, because the feeling of being accepted was really good. Then he continued, “__________, it seems, my young friend, that you have __________ the most important part of all, without which everything can become painful.”

“Then what,” I asked him, __________ my voice with anger, “is that missing part?”

Using a pencil, he crossed out (划掉) all the items I had written down. Afterwards, he wrote down three words, __________of mind. “It is the present from God for His special followers,” he explained.

“He gives well-being, care and gift to many. Power and wealth are common and reputation is not __________, but peace of mind is the best of His love, given with great caution. Most are never blessed with it; most of the rest __________ a long time, even all their lives, for this gift to approach them.”

1.

A．Like

B．Among

C．By

D．From

2.

A．boundary

B．regulation

C．catalogue

D．prejudice

3.

A．eagerly

B．silently

C．magically

D．frequently

4.

A．surround

B．comfort

C．inspire

D．impress

5.

A．justice

B．money

C．praise

D．permission

6.

A．Otherwise

B．Anyhow

C．Meanwhile

D．Besides

7.

A．obtain

B．remind

C．consider

D．challenge

8.

A．boring

B．prefect

C．correct

D．careful

9.

A．escaped

B．bargained

C．frowned

D．smiled

10.

A．And

B．Yet

C．Therefore

D．Moreover

11.

A．occupied

B．valued

C．missed

D．explored

12.

A．expressing

B．raising

C．treasuring

D．preferring

13.

A．magic

B．peace

C．heaven

D．hope

14.

A．active

B．endless

C．certain

D．rare

15.

A．take

B．save

C．wait

D．devote

7 . Our house was directly across a popular hospital. We rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic. One summer evening, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man, his face lopsided from swelling, red and raw. He told me he’d been hunting for a room since noon but he had no success. “I guess it’s my face. I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more treatments…”

For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: “I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning.” I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. It didn’t take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children, and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He didn’t tell it by way of complaint. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease.

At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children’s room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. Before he left for his bus, haltingly, he said, “Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? I can sleep fine in a chair.” He paused a moment and then added, “Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don’t seem to mind.” I told him he was welcome to come again.

In the years he came to stay overnight with us. There was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden. When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor made after he left that first morning. “You can lose roomers by putting up such people!”

Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illnesses would have been easier to bear. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude.

1. When the author’s children saw the old fisherman, how did they react to him？

A．They felt at home.	B．They were bothered.
C．They were terrified.	D．They felt normal.

2. What can we learn about the fisherman from the passage?

A．He suffered from a back injury.	B．He had a small body but a strong mind.
C．He was cured of his disease.	D．He felt hopeless about life.

3. Why did the old fisherman give the author vegetables and seafood?

A．Because he wanted to sell them to the author

B．Because he wanted to pay the rent with them

C．Because his garden had a good harvest

D．Because he wanted to thank the author

4. According to the story, what did the author want to tell us?

A．God helps those who help themselves.	B．Misfortune can be a blessing in disguise.
C．Never judge a book by its cover.	D．Honesty is the best policy.

8 . The Psychology of Spending

Have you ever stayed up “chopping your hands” during the Double Eleventh Shopping Festival? Does possessing the latest iPhone 12, designer purse or limited sneakers really brighten your day?     1    

Dr. Thomas Gilovich, psychology professor at Cornell University, has studied the topic for over 20 years. According to Dr. Gilovich, “We buy things to make us happy, and we succeed, but only for a while. New things are exciting to us initially, but then we adapt to them.”     2    

Dr. Gilovich has found that our satisfaction with possessions fades over time. Yet our happiness over things we’ve experienced increases.

Why experiences are the better investment?

1.     3    

A trip, an adventure or a hobby etc. tend to bring the participants together and unite them over a shared interest. According to Gilovich, “We consume experiences directly with other people.” As a result, these experiences typically create a positive link and good feelings toward the other person or people.

2. Your experiences become a part of your identity.

You might be someone who loves taking cooking classes.     4     They won’t know you as someone who owns the latest kitchen equipment.

3. Experiences provide lasting memories.

Planned experiences are frequently something we expect. Then when the moment arrives, if we enjoy the time involved in the activity, we’re left with fond memories. These memories will often last a lifetime. Even our worst trips, on many occasions, are later committed to memory with laughter.

Materialism VS Meaningful Experiences

    5     Why not spend them on things that will make the greatest difference to our lives — meaningful experiences?

A．More than likely, you’ll strike your friends and family as a great cook.

B．Most of us possess limited resources.

C．The research showed that people who spent money on experiences instead of possessions were happier.

D．Activities can bond individuals.

E．He has concluded that we are spending our money on the wrong things.

F．Old questions as they seem, one psychologist thinks that he might have the answer.

G．In other words, once the novelty (新鲜感) of our newest purchase wears off, we begin looking for something else to buy to make us happy.

9 . When my children were teenagers, I ___________ a fridge magnet with what was said to be a First Nation or Native American prayer. I ___________ it on the door of our refrigerator in full view. I found the words to be thought ___________ and hoped they would teach my children to have more patience and be more ___________ of others.

Although my children are ___________ now, with homes of their own, I’ve kept the magnet on our_______ door for the past twenty-five years. During that time, I’ve often found that the _______ has helped me see situations from a different perspective.

For example, a number of years ago, I was on my way to a farewell function with several colleagues. As we were leaving the office, we _______ our other colleague, Wendy, who had previously planned to attend the event with us. I asked Wendy if she wanted us to wait for her, and she responded in a fairly rude manner,_______ our invitation. One of my other colleagues was quite ________ and clearly angry over Wendy’s behavior.“I don’t know why you even bothered to ________ her,” she said. ________on how tired Wendy appeared as she rushed away from us, I commented that perhaps we should just give Wendy a________ and forgive her for being rude at the last minute. She was ________ having a bad day, and it wasn’t worth holding a grudge (怨恨) against her if we weren’t aware of what ________her unusual behavior.

A week later, I learned that when we came across Wendy, she was returning to the office from a medical appointment ________ she was told she had pancreatic cancer. She died a year later. Wendy wasn’t being rude to us; she had just received a very ________ diagnosis.

Whether it’s a family member who let me down, a friend who __________ a confidence, or a difficult colleague, the quote on my fridge ________ me. Although it’s not always easy to forgive, I’ve been able to ________ a lot of grudge over the years by focusing on my mantra.

1.

A．missed

B．lost

C．purchased

D．sold

2.

A．spotted

B．carried

C．dropped

D．placed

3.

A．meaningful

B．interesting

C．familiar

D．unexpected

4.

A．aware

B．forgiving

C．ashamed

D．confident

5.

A．workers

B．parents

C．seniors

D．adults

6.

A．kitchen

B．fridge

C．bedroom

D．bathroom

7.

A．dream

B．message

C．target

D．relief

8.

A．bumped into

B．saw off

C．knocked down

D．dealt with

9.

A．demanding

B．accepting

C．declining

D．delaying

10.

A．curious

B．amazed

C．anxious

D．annoyed

11.

A．convince

B．promise

C．ignore

D．invite

12.

A．Reflecting

B．Counting

C．Looking

D．Concentrating

13.

A．break

B．party

C．dance

D．lesson

14.

A．suddenly

B．obviously

C．passively

D．naturally

15.

A．discovered

B．avoided

C．caused

D．created

16.

A．where

B．that

C．which

D．what

17.

A．confusing

B．shocking

C．unusual

D．casual

18.

A．built

B．lost

C．betrayed

D．possessed

19.

A．doubted

B．evaluated

C．guided

D．ordered

20.

A．take down

B．break through

C．come about

D．get rid of

10 . The mind is a wonderful thing.It’s also excuse-making machine that frequently tries to convince us not to take action we know are good for us.If we hadn't learned about these excuses, or how to overcome them, we would never have succeeded in making these positive changes.

So why does the mind mess with us and make unreasonable excuses? Because the mind wants comfort, that's the reason.It’s afraid of discomfort, pressure and change.The mind is absorbed in its comfort zone, and anytime we try to stretch that zone too far, for too long, the mind tries desperately to get back to "ground zero" at any cost.These damaging excuses, such as "I can't do it", "It is too hard for me", "It’s too late now" and so on, are no strangers to our minds.

It seems too difficult at first, so you think you can't stick to the positive change you're making.This excuse can be countered (对抗）by looking at the fact that other people were no more capable than you thought you were.For example, my 60-year-old next-door neighbor finished running a marathon, so I told myself, "If she can do it, so can I !" Truth be told, the only person who tells you "I can't" is yourself.If you hear those words echoing in the back of your mind, tune them out.

I've witnessed people reinventing themselves at all ages 48-year-olds starting families, 57-year-olds graduating from college for the first time, 71-year-olds starting successful businesses, and so forth.

Another common excuse is that "I've already failed too much." If you break down, it's fine, because you are only human.Just don't stay down; take a rest, and then pick yourself up so you can go to where you'd rather be.As Winston Churchill said, "Success is never final; failure is never fatal .It is courage to continue that counts."

Some people feel like quitting when they have almost reached their goal, while others attain   goals through their efforts until the last second.So make some necessary adjustments to get rid of the bad habit of making excuses.Keep going! No excuses! Think, work, and climb, that's how you'll move your life forward.

1. Why does our mind make excuses?

A．It tends to seek comforts rather than suffering.

B．It needs rest and relaxation .

C．It is preparing for the difficult times.

D．It is the way it tries to find a solution.

2. What might "ground zero" in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．The lowest spot.	B．The safest place
C．The original place	D．The proper position

3. Knowing his neighbor finished the marathon made the author realize________.

A．completing a marathon was not too difficult

B．people often neglect their abilities

C．looking down upon the others is wrong

D．people shouldn't let negative thoughts step in their way

4. For someone who fears failure, the author advises him to_______.

A．learn from those good examples

B．stop for a while and examine himself

C．try to adjust himself, and get back on his feet

D．look for new directions and keep trying

5. What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?

A．To tell readers how to make a change.

B．To help readers develop a new view of life.

C．To encourage readers to leave their comfortable zone.

D．To tell readers to stop making excuses and keep fighting.