1 . Sometimes life can seem challenging (挑战的) and we usually get the feeling of “the grass on the other side is always greener”! We usually feel upset with the troubles that life throws at us.

The best thing to do at that point of time is to close our eyes and start counting of all the blessings in life that God has given us.

If we think deeply, our life is full of blessings that we hardly recognize. Listening to the singing of birds early in the morning, we realize that there are many people who spend their life in a world that is silent while many others spend their lives in a world that is dark and may have never seen a rainbow or the setting sun.

When you go out for a drive, pull down the window and look at the poor beggar standing under the hot sun, begging for filling his hungry stomach. We get three meals a day without realizing its importance. Isn’t that a blessing?

Whenever you are sad, look at the eyes of your parents and family filled with love and concern for you. There are many people who have never experienced the love of a family. Isn’t that a blessing?

As Mother Teresa once said, “We don’t need to do great things. We need to do small things with great love”.

The key to a happy life is when we consider others problems to be our own and try to help them. When we love people without any expectations and help them, our heart is filled with a sense of happiness and peace seeing the smile on their face.

So the next time whenever life knocks you down, close your eyes and…start counting!

1. What does the author intend to tell us?

A．True happiness lies in achieving wealth.

B．Blessings should be treasured in our life.

C．The singing of birds can make us happy.

D．Love from our family gives us courage to face life.

2. The underlined part “the grass on the other side is always greener” in paragraph 1 probably means that__________.

A．however happy we are, we never seem to be satisfied

B．though we are rich, we are poor in mind

C．we can have a better life if we work harder

D．there exists a greener grass on the other side

3. What can be learned from the text?

A．We have already known that life is filled with blessings.

B．It is a blessing to have three meals a day.

C．It’s natural to see a rainbow or the setting sun in life.

D．Mother Teresa calls on us to do great things in life.

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

A．Troubles in Life	B．Secrets of Life
C．A Sense of Happiness	D．Count Your Blessings

2 . An 18-year-old student at Stanford University was struggling to pay his fees. Not　knowing where to turn for money, he_________a bright idea. He and a friend decided to _________a musical concert on campus to raise money for their_________

They turned to the great pianist Ignacy Paderewski. His manager_________a guaranteed fee(保证金) of $2,000 for the piano concert. A deal was_________and the boys began to work to make the concert a_______

The big day arrived. But_________they had not managed to sell enough tickets.The total_________was only $1,600._________they went to Paderewski and explained their problem. They gave him the____________$1, 600, plus a check for the balance(余额)of $400. They promised to cash the____________at the soonest possible. Paderewski tore up the check,____________ the $1,600 and told the two boys to____________ the money they needed for the fees. The boys were ____________, and thanked him heartedly.

It was a small act of ____________. But it clearly marked out Paderewski a ____________human being.

Why should he help the two boys he did not even know? We all____________situations like these in our lives. And most of us only think, “If I help them, what will happen to me?” The truly____________people think, “If I don’t help them, what will happen to them?” They don't do it expecting something ____________. They do it because they feel it's the ____________thing to do.

1.

A．dreamed of

B．came up with

C．thought highly of

D．relied on

2.

A．consider

B．appreciate

C．host

D．attend

3.

A．education

B．performance

C．income

D．goal

4.

A．increased

B．accepted

C．requested

D．paid

5.

A．struck

B．offered

C．ignore

D．selected

6.

A．tour

B．base

C．success

D．style

7.

A．uncertainly

B．unluckily

C．undoubtedly

D．unreliably

8.

A．fare

B．value

C．concert

D．collection

9.

A．Excited

B．Shocked

C．Disappointed

D．Bored

10.

A．equal

B．entire

C．rest

D．extra

11.

A．check

B．promise

C．deal

D．charge

12.

A．took

B．counted

C．raise

D．returned

13.

A．spend

B．keep

C．borrow

D．earn

14.

A．interested

B．frightened

C．amazed

D．upset

15.

A．mercy

B．devotion

C．kindness

D．concern

16.

A．grateful

B．sincere

C．confident

D．generous

17.

A．meet with

B．respond to

C．think about

D．deal with

18.

A．strong

B．great

C．faithful

D．wealthy

19.

A．in peace

B．in relief

C．in danger

D．in return

20.

A．important

B．wonderful

C．fair

D．right

3 . A good way to look at failure straight in the face is by writing a failure resume(简历)or CV. Like social media，there，we usually only see our friends’“highlight part”. When we look at others’resumes，we get scared and think how ours doesn’t measure up. But even the most accomplished people have plenty of failure behind them—we just don’t see it.

Stefan felt this deeply as a scientist，so she wrote a different CV which of course boasted (夸耀)about her good grades，PhD，and published papers. But the way she deals with her failure CV is a model of what we could a11 do.

“My CV does not reflect my great academic efforts—it does not mention the exams I failed，my unsuccessful PhD or scholarship applications，or the papers never accepted for publication. During the interviews，I talk about the one project that worked，not about the many that failed，”writes Stefan in a column for Nature.com.

Stefan suggests keeping a draft on which you log，casually but regularly，every unsuccessful application，refused grant proposal and rejected paper.

And that’s the point：not to consider what we got wrong，but to use that information to both look at failure and realize it’s really okay，and also to use our failures for another purpose：as learning tools.

The point is to be real—with ourselves and about how the world works. Being real means taking an honest，critical，but also kind look at what we didn’t get right，and then doing our best to change what we can. Instead of focusing on how that failure makes you feel，take the time to step back and analyze the practical，operational reasons that you failed.

So，prctice being okay with failure，and turning your failures into lessons learned. And yes，sometimes we have to learn those lessons more than once，letting go of what you can’t change. And keep moving forward to success.

1. What does the underlined word“it”in the first paragraph refer to?

A．Plenty of failure.	B．A failure resume.
C．Highlight part.	D．Social media.

2. What did Stefan intend to tell us in paragraph 3?

A．A11 her failures in her career.

B．Benefits she got from her failures.

C．The content of her own resume.

D．The difference between her resume and others’.

3. What does Stefan advise us to do in our careers?

A．Regard failures as part of our life.

B．Keep a record of our failures.

C．Value our achievements.

D．Long for failures.

4. Which of the following best describes the author’s opinion?

A．No pains，no gains.

B．A11 roads lead to Rome.

C．Where there is a will，there is a way.

D．Failure is the mother of success.

4 . Being fat is a non-stop fight between not being noticed and attracting much notice. Sometimes you want to be accepted; instead, you’re singled out and judged. In 2015, when I became the first plus-size designer to win Project Runway, I hoped it would be a moment not only for inclusive fashion, but also for all other fat human beings out there. It wasn’t just me who had won; we’d won. Many women told me they were afraid to wear bright colors or show off their arms until they saw me doing it. But some of the words on the Internet were terrible: “Why did they pick that fat designer?” “How can she encourage such an unhealthy lifestyle?” I got sad and put on more weight. I reached a point where I couldn’t climb stairs without losing my breath.

I finally realized that if I didn’t take care of myself, I couldn’t keep doing what I loved, so I went to see a doctor and started doing exercise every day. After that I got more judgment, this time from people in the fat group who once supported me. They turned their backs on me and said, “You can’t be body positive and still losing weight.” I thought, “Well, why not? I wasn’t trying to be ‘prettier’; I wanted to have control of my life.”

Size should not divide us, whether we are fat, thin, or anywhere in the between. I’m designing clothes for plus woman, but one day I might be open to designing straight sizes. People judge me for that, too. But I just want to create clothes that make people feel good. I want every woman to love herself and go after her dreams like I did.

1. What was the author’s hope after she won Project Runaway?

A．People would look up to her.

B．Other fat people would share her pride.

C．The clothes she designed would sell well.

D．Fat people would lead the fashion industry.

2. After the author saw the words on the Internet, she ________.

A．lost interest in fashion

B．lost control of her body

C．stopped wearing bright colors

D．decided to have a healthy lifestyle

3. What was fat people’s attitude to the author when she started losing weight?

A．Dissatisfied.

B．Uninterested.

C．They laughed at her.

D．They couldn’t believe it.

5 . I was born legally blind. Of all the stories of my early childhood, the one about a______is my mother's favorite.

I was only two when the______occurred. We had just arrived home from a trip. Mom lifted me out of the car and _____to speak to the driver. I took advantage of my brief______to dash across the lawn (草坪) — and hit a large maple tree! I was running so fast that I bounced off the trunk and______on my backside. Mom______me to start crying, but I just sat there for a minute. Then I______myself up and kept right on going. Mom always______here that, as many times as I______across the lawn after that, I never again______into that tree.

Mom loves to use this story as an______. It reminds her that children don't enter life______to take risks or unwilling to______again when they fall down. She never wanted me to lose that______as I grew older. When I______my major life decisions，I was still that little girl tearing full-speed across the lawn. I studied abroad and later moved away from my parents' home to look for a______, Through years of______, I have become a respected teacher in a school serving high-need students.

We are almost certain to get______at some point during the process of achieving our goal. When that happens, don't sit in the grass and______. Just get up and keep on going. It will all be worth it______.

1.

A．trip

B．race

C．tree

D．driver

2.

A．incident

B．change

C．illness

D．problem

3.

A．feared

B．refused

C．forgot

D．turned

4.

A．delay

B．absence

C．freedom

D．rest

5.

A．landed

B．slept

C．laughed

D．wept

6.

A．promised

B．encouraged

C．allowed

D．expected

7.

A．woke

B．picked

C．warmed

D．gave

8.

A．adds

B．replies

C．admits

D．supposes

9.

A．drove

B．lived

C．stood

D．zoomed

10.

A．crashed

B．broke

C．climbed

D．looked

11.

A．answer

B．example

C．excuse

D．order

12.

A．able

B．ashamed

C．afraid

D．anxious

13.

A．ask

B．share

C．learn

D．try

14.

A．honesty

B．toughness

C．kindness

D．curiosity

15.

A．regretted

B．reviewed

C．made

D．explained

16.

A．job

B．friend

C．fortune

D．house

17.

A．memories

B．efforts

C．research

D．experience

18.

A．mixed up

B．fed up

C．knocked down

D．settled down

19.

A．play

B．relax

C．dream

D．cry

20.

A．all at once

B．in the end

C．in either case

D．as a result

6 . For some years，my mother worked for a charity as President and Secretary.Selling raffle tickets(兑奖券) was her main means of bringing in the charity’s much­needed funds.We girls would accompany her，selling tickets with great success.My father made and donated beautiful wooden toys，jewellery boxes and other lovely items as prizes.

Now my sister was always coming up with “good ideas”，most of which didn’t work out to plan.But that didn’t deter her.She had many just waiting to be tested.When she was eight and I was just five，we had a wonderful idea for a business adventure.We decided we would sell raffle tickets for charity，and that charity was us!

So one afternoon，we told our mother we were going to play in the park with our cousins as we did most days after school.But instead，we walked around the streets armed with a raffle book，a pen and a large cloth bag to carry the money.

We’d accompanied our mother many times when she sold tickets，so people were familiar with us when we appeared at their doors.Despite the blank looks they received when asking about the prizes on offer，they were very generous.Although there were no actual prizes，our mother’s previous track record enabled us to sell nearly the whole book of raffle tickets.

Like a little pair of lottery(彩票) winners，we walked home and proudly showed off our takings.But our enjoyment of this sudden wealth was short­lived，and our plans for spending it quickly failed.Our angry mother took us back to every ticket buyer，making us apologise and give the money back.Thankfully，our sweet neighbours didn’t make a big deal of our “clever” misbehavior and thus my mother’s

fundraising career could continue safely.We were taught a good lesson by our mother that day.Also I remember my sister’s entrepreneurial(企业家的) spirit dried up a bit after that.
1. What did the author’s father do?

A．He got prizes ready.	B．He sold hand­made items.
C．He was in charge of a charity.	D．He helped design raffle tickets.

2. What does the underlined word “deter” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Embarrass.	B．Shock.
C．Discourage.	D．Mislead.

3. What can be learned about the author and her sister while selling raffle tickets?

A．They ran into their mother.

B．They met some generous strangers.

C．They got lost while walking around the streets.

D．They took advantage of people’s trust in their mother.

4. What lesson did the author and her sister learn?

A．Honesty is the best policy.	B．What’s done can’t be undone.
C．Misfortune never comes alone.	D．Good advice is beyond all price.

7 . Ask any new college graduate about his immediate goals, and it is likely that he will tell you he wants a job. But it turns out that today’s students are not going to be satisfied with any job. According to the latest survey, making a difference through their work is essential (必要的) to young people’s happiness.

The survey found that 72 percent of graduating college seniors believe being able to have a positive social influence through their work is essential to their happiness. Making a difference is so important to them that 45 percent say they would take a 15-percent pay cut to work at an organization that has a social or environmental influence, and 58 percent say they would take a pay cut to work for an organization whose values are the same as their own.

Besides this, the survey found that female students are far more likely to put social influence in first place than their male classmates, echoing the results of a former study showing that female maths and science majors are more likely to say they go into those fields to make a difference.

One reason for the emphasis (强调) on improving the world probably has to do with the culture of colleges, which encourages students to connect their studies back to real-world problems. Students are used to discussing important social issues (问题) with their friends and professors, and doing something about them in class or through volunteer activities. Once students develop those habits, they don’t shut them off when graduation rolls around.

1. What does the underlined word “echoing” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Learning .	B．Repeating.
C．Believing.	D．Creating.

2. What is one of the reasons for the emphasis on students wanting to improve the world?

A．The habits students develop in society.

B．The appearance of important social issues.

C．The encouragement of the culture of colleges.

D．The effect parents’ education has on their children.

3. What can you learn from the passage?

A．Young people will surely gain happiness if they can make a difference in their work.

B．Less than half of the college seniors will take a pay cut to work with the same values.

C．Most college graduates believe it important to have a positive social influence in work.

D．Female graduates are all putting more social influence in first place than male graduates.

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

A．Female Students Are Concerned about Society

B．Young People’s Happiness Doesn’t Depend on Money

C．Graduates Become More Interested in Challenging Jobs

D．Many Graduates Would Take a Pay Cut to Make a Difference

8 . If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

Dreaming about whether you would want to read minds, see through walls, or have superhuman strength may sound silly, but it actually gets to the heart of what really matters in your life.

Every day in our work, we are inspired by the people we meet doing extraordinary things to improve the world.

They have a different kind of superpower that all of us possess: the power to make a difference in the lives of others.

We’re not saying that everyone needs to contribute their lives to the poor. Your lives are busy enough doing homework, playing sports, making friends, seeking after your dreams. But we do think that you can live a more powerful life when you devote some of your time and energy to something much larger than yourself. Find an issue you are interested in and learn more. Volunteer or, if you can, contribute a little money to a cause. Whatever you do, don’t be a bystander. Get involved. You may have the opportunity to make your biggest difference when you’re older. But why not start now?

Our own experience working together on health, development, and energy the last twenty years has been one of the most rewarding parts of our lives. It has changed who we are and continues to fuel our optimism about how much the lives of the poorest people will improve in the years ahead.

1. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Your life style.	B．Your life value.
C．Your trouble in life.	D．Your life experience.

2. Why does the author say they are inspired every day?

A．They possess different kinds of superpowers.

B．They have got the power to change the world.

C．Some people around them are making the world better.

D．There are many powerful people in their life and work.

3. What does the author stress in Paragraph 5?

A．Learning more and contributing more to a cause.

B．Rising above self and acting to help others.

C．Working hard to get a bigger opportunity.

D．Trying your best to help the poor.

9 . I have three kids and a great husband and I’m enjoying a career that I find challenging and fun. This feels like “Success” to the outside world. But there is still a voice in my heart asking if this is who I truly am. Only in silence do I hear the self and wonder who that person might be．

So I booked a trip to find out. I travelled, for the first time, without my husband or kids．I went to Iceland with a friend, who shares an appreciation for wilderness and silence．

For six days, we were immersed in wild, raw scenery and real weather—all kinds of weather. Climbing a mountain against rain and returning to a tent for a simple meal reminds you how little you actually need. And how strong it feels to be uncomfortable sometimes．

I found silence in Iceland，and time to consider the me outside of career and the me outside of kids as I shared stories with strangers．

When I stopped talking and just listened，I became more generous．I 1earned that choosing to be generous can create more space, more food and more warmth．

But I didn’t really gain any better appreciation of what I want from life or my job．I suspect the anxiety that drove me to seek silence in Iceland was losing sight of my ability to choose gratitude and joy，and to be present in the challenges I set in my career and my family．

I came home to noise，rush and love；with no less confusion on who I want to be．I know the answer isn’t waiting out there on the top of a mountain in Iceland. The answer is in front of me with every step on my own 1ife’s path, and in every choice I make．

1. Why did the author take a trip to Iceland?

A．To gain a new experience．

B．To enjoy family happiness．

C．To better understand herself．

D．To appreciate natural beauty．

2. Which word can best describe the author’s trip?

A．Puzzling	B．Thrilling
C．Relaxing	D．Demanding

3. What change happened to the author after the trip?

A．She became more positive	B．She became more energetic
C．She became even lonelier	D．She became more anxious

4. What will the author do in the future?

A．Withdraw back to nature．

B．Embrace reality bravely．

C．Travel to Iceland more often．

D．Pay less attention to her feelings．

10 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填人适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

I recently heard a story about a famous scientist. When he     1    (ask) why he was able to succeed, he gave the answer. It all came from an experience with     2     mother when he was about two years old. “I was trying to get a bottle of milk from the fridge when I lost the bottle and it fell, spilling (溢出) the milk all over the floor-a sea of milk! I got     3     (frighten) and I didn’t know what to do!” he said.

Instead of     4    (punish) him, his mother asked him to play in the milk for a while. Then she said, “ You know, we failed in how to     5    (successful) carry a big milk bottle with two tiny     6    (hand) just now. Let’s go out in the yard and fill the bottle     7     water to see if you can discover a way to carry it.”

This famous scientist then remarked that it was at that moment that he     8    (know) he didn’t need

to be afraid to make mistakes     9     were actually opportunities for learning something new. Even if the experiment “doesn’t work”, we usually learn something     10    (value) from it