1 . I've been taking time this week to smell the roses. Literally, I bend over in my neighbors' front yard, check that nobody is watching, and then bury my head in the flowers.

I've also been walking into bakeries and walking around without buying anything. After having surgery on my broken nose 18 months ago, I haven't been able to smell or taste things. This week, however, my nose is back in business. I've been overwhelmed by smells, and it's given me a new way of thinking. Scent is just one of the little bits and pieces that make life enjoyable, but which we often ignore. I remember once, when my son was five months old, I was carrying him down the street. Wind swept through and almost tipped us over. He threw his little head back and giggled. He'd never felt the wind on his face. When is the last time I laughed at the weather?

The first time I ate bacon, I rushed home to my parents, determined that we ate this deliciousness at every meal. My father smiled and agreed. Do you recall when you learned that the voice actors of Mickey and Minnie Mouse were married in real life? Do you enjoy sleeping in new clean bedsheets? Is there someone on the radio whose voice is as smooth as velvet?

We don't write postcards about the small things. We don't frame them in photo-graphs. They aren't that great or grand, but without them, life is altogether too loud. These quiet experiences give us a chance to enjoy the simple fact of being alive. As my sense of smell returns to me, it's like I'm smelling things for the first time. They're full of memories and magic. Food tastes better, and the air is indeed sweet. I know what the poets mean now. It almost makes my broken nose worthwhile. Now, I am waiting for this bandage to come off. There's an itch I can't reach!

1. The writer in the passage mainly tries to _______.

A．discuss how to enjoy leisure time	B．show that she loves doing secret things
C．give examples of how she kills time	D．persuade readers to enjoy small things in life

2. According to the writer, “a new way of thinking” in the second paragraph means _______.

A．the ability to discover the joy of small things	B．the habit of overcoming ignorance
C．the ability to fully use our limited attention	D．the habit of making personal reflections

3. The writer recalls that _______.

A．her father enjoyed sleeping in new clean bedsheets.

B．her son was frightened when feeling the wind on his face.

C．she couldn't resist temptation when eating bacon for the first time.

D．she always ignored the great things in life.

4. One small thing mentioned in the last paragraph is _______.

A．a joyful memory	B．a quiet experience
C．the sense of smell	D．the simple fact of being alive

2 . Growing up, I thought math class was something to be endured, not enjoyed. I disliked memorizing formulas(公式) and taking tests, all for the dull goal of getting a good grade. One of my teachers told my mother that I was “slow”. But my problem wasn't with math itself. In fact, when a topic seemed particularly interesting, I would go to the library and read more about it.

By high school, no one told me that I could become a professional mathematician. What I wanted to do then was to play college football. My ambition was to get an athletic scholarship to attend a Big Ten school.

The chances of that happening were very low. But that didn’t stop my coaches from encouraging me to believe I could reach my goal, and preparing and pushing me to work for it. They made video tapes of my performances and sent them to college coaches around the country. In the end, a Big Ten school, Penn State, did offer me a scholarship.

I wish math teachers were more like football coaches. Students are affected by more than just the quality of a lesson plan. They also respond to the passion of their teachers and the engagement of their peers, and they seek a sense of purpose. They benefit from specific instructions and constant feedback(反馈).

Until I got to college, I didn't really know what mathematics was. I still thought of it as laborious(耗时费力的) calculations. Then my professor handed me a book and suggested that I think about a particular problem. It wasn't easy, but it was fascinating. My professor kept giving me problems, and I kept pursuing them, even though I couldn’t always solve them immediately. The mathematical research I was doing had little in common with what I did in my high school classrooms. Instead, it was closer to the math and logic puzzles I did on my own as a boy. It gave me that same sense of wonder and curiosity, and it rewarded creativity. I am now a Ph. D candidate in mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

1. Why did the writer think math class in school was “something to be endured” before entering college?

A．Because he wasn’t interested in math.

B．Because his math teachers didn't care to push him.

C．Because he was too smart and talented for math class.

D．Because he was training hard for an athletic scholarship.

2. According to the writer, students are affected by the following things from teachers or coaches EXCEPT ________.

A．a sense of purpose	B．constant feedback
C．passion	D．specific instructions

3. We can conclude that after entering college, the writer ________.

A．was busy looking for math problems to solve

B．studied on his own just as he was in high school

C．met with laborious calculations in his studies

D．began to realize what mathematics really is

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Interest is the best teacher

B．Be the best—you can make it

C．Math, taught like football

D．Once your teacher, always your teacher

3 . At 36, I have three kids and a great husband, and I'm enjoying a challenging but fun career. Although this is ______ , sometimes I feel my heart asking if this is who I truly am.

The chaos of the family kitchen ______ my brain: the noise of the kettle, pots and the dishes, and the conversation demands while I'm making breakfast. I escape ______ to my bedroom. Only in silence do I hear the self that is ______ from the children and wonder who that person might be.

So, I journeyed, for the first time in a decade, without my husband or kids. I went with a friend to ______ in Iceland. I hoped the consideration of walking would help me better ______ who I want to be. For 6 days, I was absorbed in ______ scenery and real weather. The mountains in Iceland ______ black and tall into the heavens against the white of the snow. Looking outside at wild wind and rain and knowing there's no ______ to make freed the soul. Climbing a mountain against sheets of rain and returning to a tent for a simple meal ______ me how little I actually needed and how ______ I felt when uncomfortable.

I found ______ in Iceland, and time to consider “the me” outside of career and kids as I shared stories with strangers with no ______ past and no expected future. When I stopped talking and just listened, I was surprised at how my ______ changed — I became more generous. I learned generosity can ______ more space, more food and more warmth ______ when there may not seem enough to go around at first glance.

I came home to noise, chaos and love. I know the answer isn't waiting out there on the top of a mountain or inside my head if I just ______ hard enough to hear, and it isn't in conversation with other seeking souls. The answer is in front of me with every step on my own life’s ______.

I'm not finding myself, but I'm creating myself. I need the storm as much as I need the quietness. ______ is built under a heavy load. I'm expecting to ______ all of my loads and travel on.

1.

A．progress

B．reward

C．success

D．encouragement

2.

A．disturbs

B．awakes

C．quiets

D．ruins

3.

A．instantly

B．eventually

C．suddenly

D．briefly

4.

A．accessible

B．separate

C．tired

D．different

5.

A．hike

B．volunteer

C．settle

D．wander

6.

A．judge

B．consider

C．question

D．understand

7.

A．changeable

B．green

C．wild

D．surrounding

8.

A．turn

B．rise

C．form

D．appear

9.

A．picture

B．decision

C．peace

D．promise

10.

A．reminded

B．warned

C．convinced

D．told

11.

A．stubborn

B．nervous

C．satisfied

D．strong

12.

A．confidence

B．value

C．silence

D．happiness

13.

A．shared

B．painful

C．troubled

D．glorious

14.

A．concern

B．attitude

C．life

D．character

15.

A．develop

B．explore

C．offer

D．create

16.

A．indeed

B．just

C．only

D．even

17.

A．try

B．calm

C．move

D．manage

18.

A．design

B．choice

C．path

D．belief

19.

A．Pleasure

B．Strength

C．Spirit

D．Pressure

20.

A．think over

B．deal with

C．lay down

D．pick up

4 . Like every other Sunday morning, my best friend, Patty, dropped my godchildren, Jeremiah, off at my apartment ______ she went on her way to work. Then we hurried and got ourselves out the door for ______. It wasn’t until I saw the girl standing there ______ flowers that I remembered it was ______.

Before I could ______ him, Jeremiah went up to the girl and was allowed to picked ______ a flower for Patty. Then, Jeremiah turned towards me, ______ holding a pink carnation (康乃馨). I smiled and asked him to come with me to take our seats in church. Instead, he turned back towards Linda. “Can I have a flower for Aunt Kimmie too?”

I felt my breath catch ______ in my chest. It was one of the sweetest things I had ever heard him say. But neither of us was ______ for what happened next.

“Oh, no, Jeremiah. She can’t have ______. She isn’t a mother.” I watched as all the ______ left his face. My heart broke in about a million pieces, but not for myself, for Jeremiah. But my heart was also ______ because I found out how much I _______ to him.

I ______ Linda a look as I took Jeremiah ______ the hand and hurried in. The rest of that morning Jeremiah was quiet and ______. After getting back home, I got out my prettiest _______ so he could keep that pink carnation in it and give it to Patty when she came for him. But his ________ had been crushed; the joy he had felt had been robbed from him.

That afternoon after nap time, Jeremiah went outside to play. When I heard the front door open, Jeremiah ______ came to the doorway, his hands behind his back.

“Aunt Kimmie,” he said softly, “You ______ something for Mother’s day.” He pulled out a handful of fresh picked dandelions (蒲公英) and gave them to me. I felt tears on my cheeks as I gathered him in my arms. “I love you, Aunt Kimmie.”

1.

A．until

B．before

C．when

D．after

2.

A．school

B．hospital

C．church

D．courtyard

3.

A．giving out

B．giving off

C．taking out

D．taking up

4.

A．Women’s Day

B．Father’s Day

C．Mother’s Day

D．Teachers’ Day

5.

A．spot

B．stop

C．seek

D．scold

6.

A．up

B．at

C．off

D．out

7.

A．proudly

B．curiously

C．readily

D．hopefully

8.

A．something

B．anything

C．somewhere

D．anywhere

9.

A．grateful

B．eager

C．responsible

D．ready

10.

A．it

B．that

C．those

D．one

11.

A．comfort

B．silence

C．joy

D．sadness

12.

A．safe

B．free

C．anxious

D．full

13.

A．felt

B．meant

C．considered

D．claimed

14.

A．formed

B．led

C．shot

D．showed

15.

A．in

B．by

C．with

D．over

16.

A．withdrawn

B．worn

C．relaxed

D．relieved

17.

A．stuff

B．wax

C．vase

D．hook

18.

A．enthusiasm

B．disappointment

C．depression

D．curiosity

19.

A．intentionally

B．reluctantly

C．slowly

D．patiently

20.

A．desire

B．deserve

C．realize

D．receive

5 . No doubt there are ups and downs in life. Whatever the situation is, you shouldn’t lose your joy of life. Life is for a limited period only and no one knows how long he/she will live, so why do you waste your precious time in worrying about the things that are beyond your control? Be happy, and enjoy your life unconditionally (无条件地).

You enjoy good days but you also need to learn how to enjoy bad days, even enjoy your pain. In 2016 when I was in Geneva, Switzerland, I suffered a sudden heart attack. My colleagues called an ambulance and I was taken to hospital with much pain in my chest. Before reaching hospital, I was totally exhausted with pain and was going to lose control of my emotions. Then the doctor in the ambulance said, “Don’t worry; you are in safe hands.” His words took away all my pain because I started realizing that it was no time to worry about pain and it’s time to be happy that my life was safe. At that time, I learnt an important lesson that in pain there is a hidden joy and whoever sees the bright side can enjoy pain. My pain turned into a joy which greatly helped me recover more quickly than expected.

You not only enjoy success but you also need to learn to enjoy failure. Failure provides you with an opportunity to benefit from so many choices you’ve made. Celebrating failure will raise your morale and make you more powerful and determined to achieve success. We all make mistakes in life but only the courageous (勇敢的) people not only laugh at their own mistakes but also let other people laugh at them and then they reach success without any spiritual burden (负担). A person who learns from mistakes and knows how to turn the bad situation into his/her favor is the most intelligent person and really enjoys his/her life.

1. What does the author mainly tell us in the first paragraph?

A．Life is full of ups and downs.	B．People’s lives only last a limited period.
C．We should enjoy our life unconditionally.	D．Bad situations can be changed into good ones.

2. Why did the author still feel happy when experiencing much pain?

A．His colleagues were always with him.

B．He could be looked after by his parents.

C．He planned to enjoy the last days in life.

D．His doctor made him realize the value of being alive.

3. The underlined word “morale” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to “________”.

A．talent	B．confidence
C．pleasure	D．inspiration

4. The author thinks that the wisest person________.

A．never laughs at others	B．has strong determination
C．is ready to do others a favor	D．is good at learning from mistakes

6 . Few 17-year-old girls know how to weld (焊接)two metal pipes together. I have learned this skill in the past five years as a(n) _____for my father’s personal plumbing (管道装置) business.This summer job often needs to deal with the mess that causes physical and mental ___     ,and, to some extent,   ___   a tough and elegant attitude. It is often difficult to cope with. But I ____

Every morning, I have to put on a pair of men's jeans Most of my peers are   ___ to wear it in public. I   ___ tied my hair when I rushed out of the house, and _____   into the front passenger seat of the plumber's construction vehicle.

When my peers were part-time babysitters or lifeguards, I was helping my father in the dirty bathroom or the _____ basement. Thick dust   ___my nose and mouth, and my hands became black. There is nothing beautiful and neat; every thing in front of you is __

Honestly speaking, I felt_______, discouraged and unable to think hard Pipe work is a tough job, and I sometimes hate it. I asked myself why I had to_____these dust and sweat. I can even find another job, a ______job more like my peers.

__,   just like I hate messy pipes, I also hate being affected by these little   ___ emotions After all, the world is built by people who are willing to get their hands ___. Life is a process of     ___ chaos and learning to clean up, and pipeline work is no ___.

My dad and I not only create chaos, we also create_____. When customers are ____   for our work, I understand that we have brought order to their lives in small places. The physical and mental discomfort of plumbing work is worth it.

1.

A．companion

B．fellow

C．assistant

D．engineer

2.

A．misfortune

B．pleasure

C．discomfort

D．injury

3.

A．requires

B．reflects

C．reviews

D．recovers

4.

A．promised

B．waited

C．resisted

D．insisted

5.

A．eager

B．able

C．unwilling

D．impatient

6.

A．carefully

B．normally

C．eventually

D．hurriedly

7.

A．looked

B．moved

C．climbed

D．turned

8.

A．big

B．damp

C．cool

D．warm

9.

A．covered

B．separated

C．infected

D．protected

10.

A．dangerous

B．interesting

C．crucial

D．ugly

11.

A．fearless

B．powerless

C．effortless

D．endless

12.

A．respect

B．wipe

C．tolerate

D．replace

13.

A．renewable

B．responsible

C．regular

D．realistic

14.

A．However

B．Therefore

C．Otherwise

D．Instead

15.

A．disturbing

B．surprising

C．touching

D．warning

16.

A．smooth

B．smart

C．dirty

D．violent

17.

A．controlling

B．accepting

C．finishing

D．handling

18.

A．excuse

B．puzzle

C．description

D．exception

19.

A．memory

B．luck

C．order

D．wealth

20.

A．grateful

B．ready

C．thirsty

D．sorry

7 . 假定你是李华，你最近读了一篇主题为"The True Meaning of Happiness"的文章。请给你的英国朋友Jack发一封邮件，与他分享你对快乐的理解，内容包括：
1.快乐的真正意义；
2.获得快乐的途径。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . I grew up as the “baby” of my family. I was the_______of three sons. My brothers were five and seven years older than me and_______most of the small routine tasks that my mom and dad needed to do around the house. I spent most of my time riding my bike, playing basketball, walking in the woods, or reading books by the_______in the cold winter. I spent my_______with all the fun and none of the_______.

By the time I entered my early teens,_______, both of my brothers had moved out of our home. My dad had injured his back seriously and become_______. Later, we_______to a mountain top house heated by a stove. I soon_______that I did more work than I had ever done before. I__________our garden in the spring and summer. In the fall I cut and__________wood up to keep us__________ in the winter. And all year round I__________heavy five gallon containers of water from a mountain spring back to our__________so that we could have water to drink and cook with.

At first I__________and wasn’t satisfied. After a while, I began to find__________in helping my parents. I sang to myself while I piled wood up and smiled while I carried water. I __________found myself helping my mom with the dinner dishes and cleaning. I started to __________something that I would carry with me the rest of my__________too: When your work is done in love, it isn’t just__________.

1.

A．smartest

B．laziest

C．youngest

D．strangest

2.

A．abandoned

B．handled

C．removed

D．weighed

3.

A．lorry

B．fence

C．tree

D．stove

4.

A．childhood

B．adulthood

C．time

D．money

5.

A．effort

B．preparation

C．patience

D．responsibility

6.

A．however

B．therefore

C．otherwise

D．instead

7.

A．distinct

B．disabled

C．dishonest

D．distinguished

8.

A．led

B．distributed

C．moved

D．devoted

9.

A．found

B．recommended

C．indicated

D．worried

10.

A．destroyed

B．weeded

C．visited

D．advertised

11.

A．burnt

B．cleaned

C．piled

D．gave

12.

A．healthy

B．apart

C．safe

D．warm

13.

A．dragged

B．returned

C．piped

D．stored

14.

A．farmland

B．house

C．hotel

D．camp

15.

A．lied

B．quit

C．complained

D．wandered

16.

A．hope

B．pity

C．pain

D．joy

17.

A．even

B．seldom

C．alone

D．again

18.

A．promote

B．realize

C．confuse

D．explain

19.

A．family

B．cash

C．life

D．expense

20.

A．trouble

B．fun

C．pleasure

D．work

9 . Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours (绕行路) 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 hates confinement (限制) 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'd get 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 a 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 be faster and safer.

C．Her kids would feel less confined.

D．She felt better with other drivers nearby.

2. 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

3. Why did the author ask the kids to get out of the car on their way back home?

A．To give herself some time to read.

B．To order some food for them.

C．To play a game with them.

D．To let them cool down.

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

A．Charm of the Detour

B．The Road to Bravery

C．Creativity out of Necessity

D．Road trip and Country Life

10 . A friend of mine, in response to a conversation we were having about the injustices of life, asked me the question, “Who said life was going to be fair, or that it was even meant to be fair?” Her question was a good one. It reminded me of something I was taught as a youngster: life isn’t fair. It’s a disappointment, but it’s absolutely true. One of the mistakes many of us make is that we feel sorry for ourselves, or for others, thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be. It’s not and it won’t be.

One of the nice things about surrendering (屈从) to the fact that life isn’t fair is that it keeps us from feeling sorry for ourselves by encouraging us to do the very best we can with what we have. We know it’s not “life’s job” to make everything perfect, it’s our own challenge. Surrendering to this fact also keeps us from feeling sorry for others because we are reminded that everyone is dealt in different hand; everyone has unique strengths and problems in the process of growing up, facing the reality and making decisions; and everyone has those times that they feel unfairly treated.

The fact that life isn’t fair doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything in our power to improve our own lives or the world as a whole. To the contrary, it suggests that we should. When we don’t recognize or admit that life isn’t fair, we tend to feel pity for others and for ourselves. Pity, of course, is a self-defeating emotion that does nothing for anyone, except to make everyone feel worse than they already do. When we do recognize that life isn’t fair, however, we feel sympathy for others and for ourselves. And sympathy is a heartfelt emotion that delivers loving-kindness to everyone it touches. The next time you find yourself thinking about the injustices of the world, try reminding yourself of this very basic fact. You may be surprised that it can make you out of self-pity and into helpful action.

1. The writer may agree with the fact that ________.

A．life is meant to be fair	B．people feel sorry only for ourselves
C．life isn’t fair	D．someday life will be fair

2. What makes everything perfect?

A．Our own challenge.	B．Unique strengths.
C．Unfair treatment.	D．Our duty.

3. Facing the fact, people are advised to ________.

A．feel pity for others and for themselves

B．make brave decisions

C．do everything in their power to improve their lives

D．give up their unique strengths

4. In the last paragraph, the underlined word “it” refers to ________.

A．justices of the world	B．this very basic fact
C．loving-kindness	D．self-defeating emotion