1 . My son is doing an MA (Master of Arts) in music, so for his final project he decided to explore the role of fantasy in society. He emailed home for help. “Naturally we all love escapism,” he wrote, “but the important question is why? You’re a fantasy writer, Mum, got any ideas?”

This is what I came up with: Fantasy is important for the human mind. It begins as the psychological process by which a child learns to fill the space between knowledge, reality and experience.

When we were small children, trying to get to sleep, a creaking (嘎吱响的) floorboard was really frightening. Who or what could be making the noise? The only way to make sense of the experience was to fantasise : there’s probably a tiger under the bed.

Children frighten themselves silly like this, but while they have no knowledge of central heating pipes swelling (管道膨胀), they have to use make-believe to fill the space between experience and knowledge. As time passes and children learn about the effect of heat on pipes and floorboards, they will often prefer the tiger story. Fear, within a safe environment, is fun.

As they grow, children need stories that include war, falling in love, becoming a hero and saving the world. They provide a framework (框架) within which developing emotions can awaken, ready for “real life”   when it hits.

Louis Sachar’s Holes is a great modern explanation of this, but the best ones are those we make up for ourselves. A friend who is a child psychologist was treating a boy who’d been mistreated by a relative. The child loved this person, and was puzzled and hurt by what had happened, so my friend wrote him a story about a baby rabbit that loved his uncle, a wolf. One day, the wolf hurt him. The rabbit remembered the love, but he also understood that wolves were dangerous, and had to be avoided. The child went away with the tools to reconcile (和解) the irreconcilable.

Taking one step away from reality to that “safe” place of pretend prepares us to look at the world’s hard realities in the face.

1. Which question puzzled the author’s son?

A．Do people love escapism?

B．Why is fantasy so important?

C．Is escapism good for people?

D．What is the purpose of fantasy music?

2. How can fantasies about creaking floorboards benefit children?

A．By helping them to get to sleep quickly.

B．By encouraging them to find out the truth.

C．By helping them to overcome fear on their own.

D．By allowing them to explore their feelings in a safe way.

3. Which of the following about fantasy would the author agree with?

A．It frees kids of concerns.

B．It makes people emotional.

C．It helps people spot danger.

D．It prepares kids for real life.

4. How did the child psychologist’s make-up story turn out?

A．It worked well.

B．It confused the child.

C．It made the relative apologise.

D．It became more popular than Holes.

5. Which best describes the author’s tone in the text?

A．Approving.

B．Concerned.

C．Humorous.

D．Doubtful.

2 . My five-year-old daughter and I were just about to leave Target when it started to pour rain. We _________ our shopping cart behind the glass doors and looked at the wet parking lot. In front of us some shoppers were waiting for a family member to _________ them up on the sidewalk, while others were waiting for the rain to _________.

“Do we wait or just get wet?” I asked my little one. “Let’s just get wet.” she said. Our car wasn’t parked close. But the rain only got _________. So, we decided to make a run for it. On our way out, I asked my daughter if she was _________. She nodded. Then we hurried _________ the parking lot, with rain pouring down on us. I got her into the car, _________ the cart and jumped into the front seat. I turned the _________ on, thinking my daughter would _________ she was cold. “Are you okay?” I asked, turning around to see her __________ big. “We did this,” she said.

As I drove home in the storm, I thought some people were still at Target waiting __________. How often do we let life’s storms __________ us from reaching farther? If we just wait, whatever __________ we are facing might go away. But we __________ on the other side of the door.

I believe our __________ is much better than just being stuck in a store on a Saturday afternoon. When we __________ walking through life’s difficulties, we miss out on all life has for us. My daughter went out without __________ into the rain. She accepted the __________ as part of the day’s journey. She was willing to take on __________ to get where she wanted to go. What really matters is not whether we have problems in life, but how we __________ them.

1.

A．hid

B．returned

C．carried

D．stopped

2.

A．bring

B．pick

C．dress

D．cover

3.

A．pass

B．fall

C．increase

D．continue

4.

A．less

B．worse

C．softer

D．later

5.

A．worried

B．careful

C．sure

D．proud

6.

A．across

B．over

C．along

D．down

7.

A．exchanged

B．checked

C．controlled

D．emptied

8.

A．radio

B．heater

C．light

D．cooler

9.

A．explain

B．expect

C．complain

D．ignore

10.

A．smiling

B．thinking

C．talking

D．crying

11.

A．nervously

B．doubtfully

C．patiently

D．anxiously

12.

A．protect

B．keep

C．remove

D．excuse

13.

A．strength

B．threat

C．decisions

D．troubles

14.

A．grow

B．succeed

C．freeze

D．rise

15.

A．difference

B．purpose

C．choice

D．discovery

16.

A．imagine

B．avoid

C．enjoy

D．practice

17.

A．hesitation

B．reply

C．regret

D．aim

18.

A．mistake

B．concern

C．fun

D．inconvenience

19.

A．pride

B．happiness

C．challenges

D．responsibilities

20.

A．react to

B．come across

C．take over

D．run into

3 . Ralph Emerson once said that the purpose of life is not to be happy, but to be useful, to be loving, to make some difference in he world. While we appreciate such words of wisdom, we rarely try to follow them in our lives.

Most people prefer to live a good life themselves, ignoring their responsibilities for the world. This narrow perception of a good life may provide short-term benefits, but is sure to lead to long-term harm and suffering. A good life based on comfort and luxury may eventually lead to more pain be-cause we spoil our health and even our character, principles, ideals, and relationships.

What then, is the secret of a good life? A good life is a process, not a state of being : a direction, not a destination. We have to earn a good life by first serving others without any expectation in return because their happiness is the very source of our own happiness. More importantly, we must know ourselves inside out. Only when we examine ourselves deeply can we discover our abilities and recognize our limitations, and then work accordingly to create a better world.

The first requirement for a good life is having a loving heart. When we do certain right things merely as a duty, we find our job so tiresome that we’ll soon burn out. However, when we do that same job out of love, we not only enjoy what we do, but also do it with an effortless feeling.

However, love alone is insufficient to lead a good life. Love sometimes blinds us to the reality. Consequently, our good intentions may not lead to good results. To achieve desired outcome, those who want to do good to others also need to equip themselves with accurate world knowledge. False knowledge is more dangerous than ignorance. If love is the engine of a car knowledge is the steering wheel(方向盘). If the engine lacks power, the car can’t move; if the driver loses control of the steering, a road accident probably occurs. Only with love in heart and the right knowledge in mind can we lead a good life.

With love and knowledge, we go all out to create a better world by doing good to others. When we see the impact of our good work on the world we give meaning to our life and earn lasting joy and happiness.

1. What effect does the narrow perception of a good life have on us?

A．Making us simple-minded	B．Making us short-sighted.
C．Leading us onto a busy road.	D．Keeping us from comfort and luxury.

2. According to the author, how can one gain true happiness?

A．Through maintaining good health.

B．By going through pain and suffering.

C．By recognizing one’s abilities and limitations.

D．Through offering help much needed by others.

3. According to Paragraph 4, doing certain right things with a loving heart makes one________.

A．less selfish	B．less annoying
C．more motivated	D．more responsible

4. In what case may good intentions fail to lead to desired results?

A．When we have wrong knowledge of the world.

B．When our love for the world is insufficient.

C．When we are insensitive to dangers in life.

D．When we stay blind to the reality.

5. According to Paragraph 5, life can be made truly good when ________.

A．inspired by love and guided by knowledge

B．directed by love and pushed by knowledge

C．purified by love and enriched by knowledge

D．promoted by love and defined by knowledge

4 . I’m an 18-year-old pre-medical student, tall and good-looking, with two short story books and quite a number of essays to my credit. Why am I singing such praises of myself? Just to explain that the attainment of self-pride comes from a great deal of self-love, and to attain it, one must first learn to accept oneself as one is. That was where my struggle began.

Born and raised in Africa，I had always taken my African origin as burden. My self-dislike was further fueled when my family had to relocate to Norway, where I attended a high school. Compared to all the white girls around me, with their golden hair and delicate lips, I ,a black girl, had curly hair and full, red lips. My nose often had a thin sheet of sweat on it, whatever the weather was. I just wanted to bury myself in my shell crying “I’m so different!”

What also contributed to my self-dislike was my occasional stuttering (口吃), which had weakened my self-confidence. It always stood between me and any fine opportunity. I’d taken it as an excuse to avoid any public speaking sessions, and unknowingly let it rule over me.

Fortunately, as I grew older, there came a turning point. One day a white girl caught my eye on the school bus when she suddenly turned back. To my astonishment, she had a thin sheet of sweat on her nose too, and it was in November! “Wow,” I whispered to myself, “this isn’t a genetic(遗传的) disorder after all. It’s perfectly normal.” Days later, my life took an-other twist(转折). Searching the internet for stuttering cures, I accidentally learned that such famous people as Isaac Newton and Winston Churchill also stuttered. I was greatly relieved and then an idea suddenly hit me—if I’m smart, I shouldn’t allow my stuttering to stand between me and my success.

Another boost to my self-confidence came days later as I was watching the news about Oprah Winfrey, the famous talk show host and writer—she’s black too! Whenever I think of her story and my former dislike of my color, I’m practically filled with shame.

Today, I’ve grown to accept what I am with pride; it simply gives me feeling of uniqueness. The idea of self-love has taken on a whole new meaning for me: there’s always something fantastic about us, and what we need to do is learn to appreciate it.

1. What affected the author’s adjustment to her school life in Norway？

A．Her appearance

B．Social discrimination.

C．Her changing emotions.

D．The climate in Norway.

2. What did the author’s occasional stuttering bring about according on Paragraph 3?

A．Her lack of self-confidence.

B．Her loss of interest in school.

C．Her unwillingness to greet her classmates.

D．Her desire for chances to improve herself.

3. How did the author feel on noticing the similarity between her and the girl on the bus?

A．Blessed and proud.

B．Confused and afraid.

C．Amazed and relieved.

D．Shocked and ashamed.

4. What lesson did the author learn from the cases of Newton and Churchill?

A．Great minds speak alike.

B．Stuttering is no barrier to success.

C．Wisdom counts more than hard work.

D．Famous people can’t live with their weaknesses.

5. What can best summarize the message contained in the passage?

A．Pride comes before a fall.

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

C．Self-acceptance is based on the love for oneself.

D．Self-love is key to the attainment of self-pride.

5 . When I was in sixth grade, I joined the band program to learn to play the clarinet (单簧管). The beginning of the year had gone _________. But as most students progressed, I seemed to fall behind. One day, when my teacher told us to play in front of the other students, I was filled with fear. I knew I would _________. When I began to play, my rhythms (节奏) were good, but my tone was another _________. “Did you practice your lesson?” the teacher barked at me. I felt so _________ and my world came _________ down in an instant.

From then on, I hated playing the clarinet and I kept getting _________. With the day of the new performance approaching, I grew increasingly upset. In a moment of _________, I asked for sick leave. It was so relieving and such a(n) _________ way out.

The avoidance of my lessons continued until my mum asked me about it. “I want to quit.” My tears started _________. “If you really want to quit, why are you crying?” asked mum. She __________ and I realized I wanted to stay in band and, by not facing my fears, I had created a black hole that would be difficult to __________ out of. I made a __________ not to hide from my fears and to stand up to even the worst of them, so a __________ could be achieved.

The next day I met with my band teacher and told her I was having a problem and couldn’t __________ why. She asked me gently to play for her. I tried, but only an unpleasant sound came out. She didn’t __________ at me and handed me a new reed (簧片). I put it in place and tried again. To my great __________ I could play well. My problem was solved and my fear was __________ a lot that year.

__________ I’m glad that I overcame my fear. Fear can __________ everything in a person’s life. Hiding from those very fears only creates a hole, which makes a person stay __________ inside. After facing up to a fear, one may find life easier and much more enjoyable.

1.

A．badly

B．endlessly

C．randomly

D．smoothly

2.

A．mess up

B．move on

C．set out

D．take off

3.

A．impression

B．essay

C．story

D．factor

4.

A．ashamed

B．starved

C．excited

D．relaxed

5.

A．crashing

B．moving

C．selling

D．bending

6.

A．stricter

B．worse

C．happier

D．smarter

7.

A．joy

B．panic

C．doubt

D．sympathy

8.

A．funny

B．important

C．easy

D．traditional

9.

A．drying

B．disappearing

C．flowing

D．separating

10.

A．had a point

B．made a change

C．reached a level

D．took a break

11.

A．send

B．bring

C．pick

D．climb

12.

A．request

B．resolution

C．presentation

D．proposal

13.

A．balance

B．degree

C．position

D．solution

14.

A．figure out

B．give away

C．think over

D．make up

15.

A．aim

B．smile

C．wave

D．shout

16.

A．anger

B．sorrow

C．disappointment

D．surprise

17.

A．felt

B．shown

C．removed

D．voiced

18.

A．Carrying on

B．Looking back

C．Stepping aside

D．Turning around

19.

A．consume

B．examine

C．reflect

D．rescue

20.

A．unknown

B．unpunished

C．interested

D．trapped

6 . I have been a member of an organization. This organization fights for the protection of _______ rights. As a result, we may _______ from special discounts and offers. _______, when we could get special charges on gas and electricity bills a year ago, I _______ to join a group and take advantage of lower _______ .

I must say that I felt quite _______ with their customer service, because there were no hard selling (硬性推销)practices. So when I got a _______ from them, summarizing their actions and the benefits I got thanks to them, I _______ to it. Though there was a field _______ one could ask about his/her file or ask a question, I wrote: I don’t have any ________ but here is some feedback (反馈) for you.

And I ________ the people and the team who worked hard and ________ their customers well. I said how I appreciated their ________ and the money that they had helped me save. The following day, the manager answered my letter and said that she had forwarded it to her ________ and she thanked me for my ________ words.

Sometimes, we take it for granted that everything has to be perfect for us and we ________ high quality prices and service. However, don’t ________ to thank those people who try to make this ________. More importantly, we are ________ to do it more often, as well. In other words, we ought to care for people who do care for us. ________ should it be a one-way-ticket relationship?

1.

A．strangers’

B．employers’

C．producers’

D．consumers’

2.

A．suffer

B．benefit

C．learn

D．hear

3.

A．Besides

B．Instead

C．Therefore

D．However

4.

A．decided

B．used

C．struggled

D．had

5.

A．qualities

B．donations

C．wages

D．prices

6.

A．disappointed

B．satisfied

C．familiar

D．patient

7.

A．call

B．present

C．letter

D．report

8.

A．replied

B．referred

C．turned

D．wrote

9.

A．which

B．while

C．unless

D．where

10.

A．complaint

B．question

C．suggestion

D．comment

11.

A．encouraged

B．rewarded

C．thanked

D．comforted

12.

A．served

B．treated

C．knew

D．awarded

13.

A．supports

B．opinions

C．strengths

D．efforts

14.

A．family

B．team

C．boss

D．friend

15.

A．exciting

B．loud

C．kind

D．defending

16.

A．expect

B．get

C．offer

D．enjoy

17.

A．ask

B．promise

C．fear

D．forget

18.

A．necessary

B．possible

C．normal

D．natural

19.

A．reminded

B．allowed

C．supposed

D．forced

20.

A．Why

B．How

C．When

D．What

7 . A few weeks ago, my teenage daughter failed a test. She was embarrassed, angry, anxious and there were tears in her eyes. This grade might prevent her from qualifying for the next key class she wanted to take.

She took some time to complain to me. Then I saw something interesting. She calmed herself down by making a joke. She expressed thankfulness that she didn’t have bigger problems. Then she made a plan to talk to her teacher to improve her skills. This was a great change from the kid I was watching deal with disappointment a few years ago, the one who once was unwilling to take responsibility and blamed others, which shows she has grown up and understood the good in the bad.

We expect our kids to learn and grow, but many of them will also grow through adversity (逆境), and even thrive (茁壮成长) after trauma (创伤). Psychologists call it post-traumatic growth. Trauma, defined as an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, attack, natural disaster, or other life-changing happenings, is painful and even can be harmful. Trauma does leave its mark, but the mark may not be all bad and there can also be growth.

In one study, researchers surveyed nearly 385 people who experienced financial adversity during the pandemic lockdown (疫情封锁), even while working full-time. These people are also the parents or primary caregivers or young children who were being homeschooled. And those surveyed had either been sick with COVID-19 or had a loved one with the disease. Despite all of this adversity, 88 percent of the people surveyed said they now have stronger family relationships and a greater appreciation for life. Some said they experienced spiritual growth and 11 percent reported they discovered new opportunities.

Hardship makes us adapt, respond, and find other ways to solve it. When we do, we become not only able to heal the trauma associated with it but also thrive again. We build up confidence and experience that will help us the next time we face adversity.

1. What can we know about the author’s daughter?

A．She lost heart after failing the test.

B．She was very anxious about the coming test.

C．She changed a lot with the help of the author.

D．She may lose the chance of attending an important class.

2. What does the author think of his daughter after the test?

A．She grew up.

B．She should learn to handle disappointment.

C．She suffered severe trauma.

D．She was avoiding responsibility.

3. What can we know from Paragraph 3?

A．Post-traumatic growth is the result of emotional injuries.

B．Traumatic experiences have both advantages and disadvantages.

C．Traumatic experiences hold back kids’ psychological growth.

D．One will not make a positive change without experiencing trauma.

4. What did most surveyed people have in common?

A．They benefited from the adversity.

B．They made a good recovery from COVID-19.

C．They were good at controlling their emotions.

D．They grasped new chances in their career.

5. Which would be the best title for this text?

A．Help children build up confidence	B．Trauma leaves a mark on children
C．Uncover the good in the bad	D．Avoid the adversity in a positive way

8 . It is easy to get carried away in an argument.

While having a rational conversation with someone who has a different opinion might seem like a challenge, it is possible. One way is to approach the other person with empathy.

The Empathy Challenge is an exercise created by Zoe Chance, senior lecturer at the Yale School of Management. At Yale, Chance teaches a course called “Mastering Influence and Persuasion” where -students learn to communicate more effectively.

In her blog, Chance explains that it’s important to listen to people who disagree with you. “As they explain their position, you listen for their underlying values. Finally, you look for common ground as you reflect those values back. That’s it.”

Chance first took this challenge herself before asking her students to try. As she couldn’t understand why many people chose to vote for Donald Trump, she found three Trump’s voters and spoke with them.

Through asking questions, Chance was able to empathize with them and realize they had similar feelings. One man, an Orthodox Jew, explained that he supported Trump because Trump’s daughter and son-in-law are Jewish. The next man was a Russian immigrant passionate about freedom. The third was a lawyer who believed that authenticity(真诚) was important in political leaders.

Although Chance and Chose people had different political beliefs, they were able to relate to the life values of others. And that’s the point of the exercise-to understand others as fellow human beings.

1. Which of the following does the Empathy Challenge faces on?

A．Leadership skills.	B．Public speaking skills.
C．Communication skills.	D．Problem solving skills.

2. What does Chance suggest people do when handling a disagreement?

A．Defend their position.	B．Find common ground.
C．Reflect on their own values.	D．Meet the needs of others.

3. What do paragraphs 5-6 mainly talk about?

A．The challenge of performing empathy.

B．The importance of empathy.

C．How Chance practiced empathy.

D．How Chance helped people develop empathy.

4. What drove the three men to vote for Donald Tramp?

A．Their life values.	B．Their career history.
C．Their family background.	D．Their childhood experience.

5. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Respect different perspectives	B．Zoe Chance’s empathy
C．Vote for Trump	D．Chancels challenge

9 . I was walking down the street in a small town the other day and passed a couple sitting on a bench. “She must be 180 centimeters tall,” I heard the woman say to the man. I turned to look at them straight in the eye at once. I felt angry and awkward that they were talking about me and staring. The woman suddenly said, “Oh, she must understand Chinese.” “Yes, I do,” I replied. Then, they both smiled and laughed, and so did I.

This was yet another time in the town when strangers stared or talked about my appearance. It’s either because of my unusually tall height as a woman or because I am a foreigner. As a shy person, this makes me feel quite uncomfortable. I just want to fit in! I usually just try to ignore such people, but this time, as soon as I talked to the couple, they went from judgmental strangers to people I just shared a warm and funny moment with.

It reminded me how important it is to have the right attitude and to be understanding. There aren’t that many foreigners in the town, so it’s only natural that Chinese people here will feel curious about foreigners and how they look different. Although, when people stare at you it feels a bit hostile, but most people arc simply curious and may even want to chat with you.

In short, I can’t change this situation. The only thing I can change is my attitude toward it. Life is too short to be influenced by the little things. We need to enjoy each moment with a positive and open attitude!

1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?

A．The woman was speaking in Chinese.

B．The woman got angry with the author.

C．The author didn’t actually know Chinese.

D．The author didn’t feel happy in the end.

2. How did the author deal with this kind of situation before?

A．She just laughed back.	B．She talked to the people.
C．She gave no attention.	D．She shared a smile with them.

3. In Paragraph 3, the author ______.

A．expressed her anger again

B．described her life in a foreign town

C．put herself in other people’s shoes

D．explained why she came to the town

4. The underlined word “hostile” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to “______”.

A．considerate

B．unfriendly

C．unimportant

D．curious

5. What has the author learned from her experience?

A．Being a foreigner is not an easy thing.

B．Don’t judge people by their looks.

C．Don’t talk about others’ appearance in public.

D．We should have a positive and open attitude.

10 . I close my eyes and can still hear her — the little girl with a _________ so strong and powerful we could hear her halfway down the block. She was a(n) _________ peasant who asked for money and _________ gave the only thing she had — her voice. I paused outside a small shop and listened. She brought to my mind the _________ of Little Orphan Annie. I could not understand the words she _________, but her voice begged for _________. It stood out from the noises of Arbat Street, pure and impressive, like the chime of a bell. She sang _________ an old-style lamp post in the shadow of a building, her arms extended and _________ thrown back. She was small and of unremarkable looks. Her brown hair _________ the bun (发髻) it had been pulled into, and she occasionally reached up to ____________ a stray piece from her face. Her clothing I can’t recall. Her voice, on the other hand, is ____________ imprinted in my mind.

I asked one of the translators about the girl. Elaina told me that she and hundreds of others like her throughout the ____________ Soviet Union add to their families’ income by working on the streets. The children are unable to ____________ school, and their parents work full time. These children know that the consequence of an ____________ day is no food for the table. Similar situations occurred during the Depression (萧条) in the United States, but those American children were ____________ shoeshine boys of the ____________. This girl was real to me.

When we walked past her, I gave her money. It was not out of pity ____________ rather admiration. Her smile of ____________ did not interrupt her singing. The girl watched us as we walked down the street. I know this because when I looked back she smiled again. We ____________ that smile, and I knew I could never forget her courage and ____________ strength.

1.

A．will

B．strength

C．voice

D．determination

2.

A．American

B．Chinese

C．Japanese

D．Russian

3.

A．in return

B．in turn

C．by hand

D．in silence

4.

A．voice

B．image

C．story

D．looks

5.

A．said

B．murmured

C．used

D．sang

6.

A．attention

B．love

C．help

D．mercy

7.

A．across

B．from

C．under

D．from underneath

8.

A．hands

B．feet

C．head

D．face

9.

A．fell out

B．escaped

C．did up

D．tied to

10.

A．remove

B．tear

C．cut off

D．dress

11.

A．never

B．permanently

C．occasionally

D．sometimes

12.

A．latter

B．rich

C．former

D．great

13.

A．attend

B．finish

C．leave

D．enjoy

14.

A．unhappy

B．unsatisfied

C．unusual

D．unsuccessful

15.

A．faced

B．real

C．faceless

D．visible

16.

A．twenties

B．sixties

C．forties

D．teens

17.

A．and

B．while

C．but

D．or

18.

A．contempt

B．pity

C．bitterness

D．thanks

19.

A．stopped

B．shared

C．won

D．exchanged

20.

A．full

B．inner

C．brave

D．fighting