1 . The work-life balance is dead. By this, I’m not advocating that you should give up your pursuit of having a fulfilling career and a thriving personal life, and I’m definitely not saying that you have to give up one to have the other. I also acknowledge that we have a work-life problem, but I’m arguing that the concept of balance has never been helpful, because it’s too limiting. You see, our language makes a difference, and how we refer to things matters because it affects our thinking and therefore our actions.

At the minimum, most of us work because we want to be able to support ourselves, our families, and the people around us. In the ideal world, we’re all doing work that we’re proud of and that provides meaning and purpose to us. But even if your job doesn’t give you shivers of joy each new day, working is a part of what each of us does and the contribution we make to society. When you separate work and life, it’s a little bit harder to make that connection. But when you think of work as part of a full life and a complete experience, it becomes easier to see that success in one aspect often supports another.

Losing your balance and falling isn’t pleasant. A goal to balance suggests that things could quickly get off the balance, and that causes terrible outcomes. It’s more constructive to think of solutions that continue to evolve over shifts in life and work. Rather than falling or failing, you may have good days or better days or not-so-good days. These variations are normal, and it’s more useful to think of life as something that is ever evolving and changing, rather than a high-risk enterprise where things could go wrong with one misstep.

How we talk to ourselves matters, and how we talk about issues makes a difference. Let’s bury “work-life balance” and think bigger and better about work-life fulfillment to do a little less balancing and a lot more living.

1. What does the author say about our use of language?

A．It changes with the passage of time.

B．It impacts how we think and behave.

C．It reflects how we communicate.

D．It differs from person to person.

2. What does the author say we do in an ideal world?

A．We do work that betters the lives of our families and friends.

B．We do work that gives us bursts of joy each new day.

C．We do meaningful work that contributes to society.

D．We do demanding work that brings our capacity into full play.

3. What does the author say about life?

A．It is cyclical.

B．It is dynamic.

C．It is balanced.

D．It is risky.

4. What does the author advise us to do?

A．Make life as simple as possible.

B．Talk about balance in simpler terms.

C．Balance life and work in a new way.

D．Strive for a more fulfilling life.

2 . My career as a chef started at the age of 25, but my ______ for cooking started at an early age, when I was about 5 years old — by watching my grandmother and my mom in the kitchen ______ daily meals for the family. I was also ______by going with my grandfather to markets to ______ the freshest ingredients. My grandfather taught me the art of picking and recognizing “the ______.”

From my youth, I have had this passion for food. Growing up in Morocco, I witnessed the most amazing hospitality and ______ through my grandparents. They opened their ______ to everybody, and fed and sheltered the poor, travelers, family and friends.

I remember as a young kid coming home from school to the ______ of fragrant (芳香的) fresh bread coming out of the oven. Those smells stimulated (刺激) my senses at a young age. The ______were fresh and seasonal — they were very simple dishes but delightfully ______.

Food is almost as ______ as it is necessary. Food makes people feel things. I really think that food tastes its best when there is a ______ behind it. It shapes cultures, religion, politics and health. Food brings people together, and goes straight to the ______.

In my kitchen, I try to duplicate (复制) smells and flavors that make me think about more than what I’m actually smelling or ______ — it makes me think of life, my family, and my history. I love to cook food that ______ people’s emotions and memories; my philosophy is to “keep food real and simple.”

1.

A．talent

B．passion

C．explanation

D．expectation

2.

A．changing

B．ordering

C．preparing

D．searching

3.

A．inspired

B．bothered

C．honored

D．amused

4.

A．ask about

B．experiment with

C．learn of

D．shop for

5.

A．biggest

B．cleanest

C．best

D．cheapest

6.

A．wisdom

B．honesty

C．success

D．generosity

7.

A．offices

B．houses

C．restaurant

D．hotel

8.

A．art

B．signs

C．creation

D．smells

9.

A．fruits

B．vegetables

C．ingredients

D．goods

10.

A．delicious

B．useful

C．organic

D．convenient

11.

A．nutritious

B．sufficient

C．emotional

D．suitable

12.

A．reason

B．purpose

C．cook

D．story

13.

A．kitchen

B．heart

C．source

D．point

14.

A．tasting

B．chewing

C．touching

D．seeing

15.

A．holds up

B．drives away

C．stirs up

D．depends on

3 . We had just completed a unit on community heroes, and my kindergarten class homework was to draw their favorite hero. Each child was busy _________ colorful drawings. However, one little boy named Cameron was having difficulty with the homework. He was on the autism spectrum (自闭症谱系), but that didn’t _________ to me or his classmates. We all loved him just the way he was.

I sat and watched as Austin, another little boy, _________ Cameron. Austin had a wonderful way of interacting with Cameron, and helped him _________ his hero. Within a few minutes, Cameron began drawing blue lines on his paper.

_________, it was time for everybody to _________ their hero pictures. I listened carefully to each student’s _________ of his or her hero. It was finally Cameron’s _________ to share his hero. Cameron stood up and _________ his drawing in front of his face. He then said it was a picture of me and I helped him learn things.

When Austin shared his picture, I was __________ it would be a policeman, but he __________ me when he held up a picture of Cameron. He said Cameron was his __________ because he had a sickness that made it __________ to learn, but he was like Superman and was really smart. What had started out as a simple __________ on community heroes had turned into a moment that changed my understanding of teachers’ __________. Teachers should lead their children in discovering their own amazing qualities and helping them find their inner superhero.

1.

A．selecting

B．observing

C．creating

D．seeking

2.

A．matter

B．happen

C．belong

D．apply

3.

A．learnt from

B．relied on

C．worked with

D．apologized to

4.

A．draw

B．find

C．visit

D．impress

5.

A．Suddenly

B．Immediately

C．Luckily

D．Finally

6.

A．enjoy

B．examine

C．share

D．revise

7.

A．description

B．expectation

C．adjustment

D．improvement

8.

A．way

B．turn

C．permission

D．ambition

9.

A．hid

B．colored

C．donated

D．placed

10.

A．disappointed

B．afraid

C．curious

D．certain

11.

A．persuaded

B．surprised

C．reminded

D．calmed

12.

A．patient

B．brother

C．hero

D．classmate

13.

A．hard

B．necessary

C．interesting

D．flexible

14.

A．survey

B．decision

C．lesson

D．suggestion

15.

A．responsibilities

B．predictions

C．achievements

D．arrangements

4 . In our daily lives, we need to look at where we focus our time and energy.     1    —our health, our children, problems at work, the national debt, or the nuclear war. We could separate those from things in which we have no particular mental or emotional involvement by creating a “Circle of Concern”.

    2    , it becomes apparent that there are some things over which we have no real control and others that we can do something about. We could identify those concerns in the latter group by limiting them within a smaller Circle of Influence.

Proactive (积极主动的) people focus their efforts on the Circle of Influence.     3    . The nature of their energy is positive, enlarging and magnifying, causing their Circle of Influence to increase.

Reactive people, on the other hand, focus their efforts on the Circle of Concern.     4    , the problems in the environment, and circumstances over which they have no control. Their focus results in blaming and accusing attitudes, reactive language, and increased feelings of sadness.

    5    —to be a better listener, to be a more loving marriage partner, to be a better student, to be a more cooperative and dedicated employee. Sometimes the most proactive thing we can do is be happy, just to genuinely smile. Happiness, like unhappiness, is a proactive choice. There are things, like the weather, which our Circle of Influence will never include. But as proactive people, we can carry our own physical or social weather with us. We can be happy and accept those things that at present we can’t control, while we focus our efforts on the things that we can.

A．Our time and energy are limited

B．We each have a wide range of concerns

C．They focus on the weakness of other people

D．They work on the things they can do something about

E．As we look at those things within our Circle of Concern

F．There are so many ways to work in the Circle of Influence

G．Now that it’s a good idea to focus on your Circle of Concern

5 . I finished my dinner and went into a shop in the hope of finding some last-minute Christmas gifts. There was a lot to see. Every shelf and wall was ______ with different handiwork.

Walking around, I ______ a wooden plaque (匾牌) on a wall. As I moved on, I enjoyed looking at other ______ in the store, but found myself drawn back to the plaque finally. I felt a little like a child who, when ______ through the sandbox, finds some unexpected treasure. Here, I found a simple ______ precious treasure hidden in a(n) ______.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass,” the plaque ______. “It’s about learning to ______ in the rain.”

Looking at the plaque, I thought back to a hot summer day before, when I ______ lived the plaque’s message. Dark clouds had ______ in and soon rain began falling down, building to a downpour that soon filled the gutters(排水沟) with rushing water. When I walked out to get my mail, I didn’t know what ______ me, but I suddenly felt a ______ to do something a little crazy for my fifty-plus years.

I ______ my shoes and stockings and began walking barefoot through the water. It was pleasantly warm, heated by the pavement that had been ______ by the summer heat. I’m sure my neighbors thought that I was ______, but I didn’t care. At that moment, I wasn’t ______ about bills, the future or any other day-to-day cares. I was experiencing a moment of ______ joy!

The plaque now hangs in my living room, which ______ me to take time to pause and recognize the ______ that are all around me but too often going unnoticed in my rush to future happiness.

One step ______, I am learning to dance in the rain.

1.

A．connected

B．loaded

C．blocked

D．wrapped

2.

A．spotted

B．struck

C．recovered

D．followed

3.

A．candies

B．brochures

C．items

D．contents

4.

A．digging

B．looking

C．running

D．getting

5.

A．and

B．still

C．though

D．yet

6.

A．notice

B．order

C．note

D．message

7.

A．wrote

B．announced

C．read

D．recorded

8.

A．sing

B．walk

C．pause

D．dance

9.

A．unknowingly

B．gradually

C．continuously

D．undoubtedly

10.

A．floated

B．squeezed

C．rolled

D．kicked

11.

A．turned over

B．came over

C．ran over

D．got over

12.

A．desire

B．dream

C．mission

D．choice

13.

A．put away

B．set aside

C．slipped off

D．took down

14.

A．boiled

B．baked

C．hurt

D．stroked

15.

A．nervous

B．upset

C．desperate

D．ridiculous

16.

A．cautious

B．curious

C．doubtful

D．worried

17.

A．pure

B．temporary

C．gentle

D．serious

18.

A．expects

B．reminds

C．promises

D．commands

19.

A．distinctions

B．conditions

C．blessings

D．experiences

20.

A．back and forth

B．at a time

C．little by little

D．now and then

6 . 请根据下面的提示写一篇短评。
1.欧内斯特·沙克尔顿和他的船员们一起登上了名字为“坚忍”号的大船。途中“坚忍”号被冰山困住了，大家弃船后逃到了大象岛。沙克尔顿驾船去寻求帮助。最后，尽管困难重重船员们还是活了下来。
2.在这个故事里面船员之间真诚的关心和爱以及他们在困难面前的忍耐力和毅力也使我深受鼓舞。
3.从这个故事中我学到一个教训或启示。
写作要求：       
第一段：介绍故事背景。
第二段：简要介绍这个故事情节。
第三段：表达自己对这个故事的感受。
注意：
1.词数100左右；
2.每段段落开头已为你写好，不计入总词数。
3.根据上下文逻辑和衔接需要，在句与句之间适当增加过渡语以使行文连贯。

This story is about __________________________________________

Ernest Shackleton and his crew went aboard the ship named Endurance.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I was deeply moved by the concern and love between them and I’m also inspired by their endurance and perseverance in face of difficulties.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . Sitting on the sofa in Xiao Jia’s apartment, I learned how difficult it was to apply makeup（化妆品）to a face you cannot see.

I visited Xiao on a winter day. She greeted me with a big smile and then _______ me her multi-layered makeup box. With the help of friends, she has _______ everything with special tape and braille (盲文).

As we sat next to each other, she touched my face to _______ its shape and suggested I get bangs (刘海). After _______ my cheeks, nose, and forehead, she found bottles of makeup that _______ well with my skin, and _______ patted them onto my face and neck. That finished, she went on to pencil my eyebrows, line my eyes..., slow but with amazing accuracy!

“Though many people don’t think it’s _______ for blind people to put on makeup, since it’s difficult and we wouldn’t even ‘see’ the _______, I consider the whole process a way for me to enjoy the moment,” Xiao told me.

Xiao studied painting for six years before being diagnosed with an eye disease, which left her without _______ after just two years. Xiao has never seen her own makeup. All her __________ comes from her teacher Ji Chunli’s feedback over the years. They met at a beauty event in 2015 after Xiao __________ a makeup tutorial video featuring a blind British girl, which gave her __________ to master the skill. Ji had no experience __________ the blind, but was touched by Xiao’s resolve. Every week for a year, Xiao took a one-hour bus ride to __________ classes at Ji’s beauty studio.

Finally Xiao chose from different shades of lipsticks to match my skin color, which I__________ to her. Considering the shape of my lips too, she __________ the “flame red” to my lips.

When she finished all, I was __________ anticipation(期待)and had my face nearly pressed against the mirror to see the result. I didn’t see much difference with the makeup I wore __________ I sat down, but that was probably the __________. In any case, it is the process that really __________.

1.

A．showed

B．awarded

C．returned

D．threw

2.

A．explained

B．decorated

C．connected

D．labeled

3.

A．determine

B．calculate

C．transform

D．paint

4.

A．making

B．imagining

C．feeling

D．observing

5.

A．cooperated

B．mixed

C．went

D．lived

6.

A．gently

B．violently

C．casually

D．suddenly

7.

A．interesting

B．fortunate

C．necessary

D．dangerous

8.

A．outcome

B．movement

C．beauty

D．surroundings

9.

A．income

B．vision

C．doubt

D．hope

10.

A．inspiration

B．power

C．equipment

D．experience

11.

A．uploaded

B．copied

C．produced

D．found

12.

A．responsibility

B．determination

C．patience

D．freedom

13.

A．teaching

B．curing

C．tending

D．evaluating

14.

A．give

B．attend

C．manage

D．skip

15.

A．committed

B．described

C．brought

D．assigned

16.

A．conveyed

B．introduced

C．applied

D．treated

17.

A．exposed to

B．stuck in

C．known for

D．filled with

18.

A．until

B．before

C．after

D．once

19.

A．solution

B．goal

C．achievement

D．point

20.

A．lasts

B．differs

C．counts

D．ends

8 . Forgiving doesn’t mean saying the pain doesn’t matter or what the other person said or did was OK. It doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. It means letting go of your need for an apology. It means making peace with past hurt and pain. It means choosing to move on. All of this is easy to say, hard to do. But forgiveness can happen in a series of small steps over time.

Take your feelings seriously. Forgiving doesn’t mean shrugging your shoulders and saying “Oh, well.” Cry, feel sad, throw things hard, or write angry passages in your diary to get rid of some of the stress. Talk with trusted friends or family to ask for advice to help find solutions to your problems. You have the right to feel hurt and angry. But suffering these feelings over time does you great harm.

Make a difference in your life. I’ve seen that many miss the opportunity for getting back a good relationship with someone else because they just wait for the apology that may never come. Others stay stuck in anger long after the other person has stopped to be a part of their lives. Make a decision to make a difference for yourself. That may be forgiving or being the first to reach out to the other so that you can move on with your own life.

Forgive yourself and engage in positive self-talk. Although you may mainly blame the other person, it’s important to forgive yourself with positive self-talk. Feel certain that you can learn from this and move on. Tell yourself that you will survive this pain and that life will get better because you can make a choice to let go.

Try understanding the other. This doesn’t reduce your pain but may make what happened more understandable. Understanding doesn’t forgive hurtful behavior, but understanding can help to get rid of your anger and to forgive.

Realize that forgiveness benefits you most of all. The other person may never know about your forgiveness. But forgiving and letting go can lighten the load on your body and on your spirit.

1. What does forgiving mean according to the text?

A．The pain the other person brought you isn’t very serious.

B．What the other person has said or done doesn’t hurt you.

C．You don’t care and have forgotten what happened to you.

D．You needn’t the other person to say sorry to you any more.

2. What is the attitude of the author to getting angry according to paragraph 2?

A．Positive.

B．Negative.

C．Objective.

D．Uncertain.

3. What should you do if you have a quarrel with your close friend according to paragraph 3?

A．Wait for your friend’s apology.

B．Take the initiative (主动性) to say hello to your friend.

C．Try your best to forget your problem.

D．Have positive self-talk.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．How to forgive other people.

B．Forgiveness is helpful for us all.

C．Understanding can help forgive others.

D．Life gets better if you choose to forgive.

9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Be Yourself

A few days ago, I watched Wreck-It Ralph again, which leads to my meditation (沉思).

In the movie, Ralph,     1     (design) as a bad guy in a video game, spares no effort to win a medal in order to be respected by others. Through the experiences he     2     (come) across, he gains friendship, trust, and happiness, and he realizes     3     it means to be brave. The     4     (shine) medal has lost its value, and it is who he was     5     matters.

In real life, we always see others standing on the podium (领奖台) and     6     (receive) prizes and honor, wishing     7     (we) to be just like them. But that is further away from our origin, only with more puzzlement     8     (leave). Then we come to find the real meaning of life:     9     (skill) vary with the man, and we must tread (踏入) a straight path and strive (奋斗) by that which is born in us.

Always be yourself, express yourself, and have faith     10     yourself! That’s when you’re BEAUTIFUL.

10 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Do you believe that art can change our world? In a study     1    (conduct) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), researchers found that people with an active interest in the art contribute more to society than those with little or no interest in     2    . That means if you sing, dance, draw, or act, and especially if you watch others do so, you’re     3    (likely) to be socially responsible, tolerant and altruistic (无私的).

Kelly Leroux, an assistant professor at UIC who takes charge     4     the study, says, “Our data analysis has found a high correlation between the arts and altruistic actions—like donating blood,or doing favors for a neighbor,     5     place the interests of others over the interests of self,” she said. “    6     this, people who have interests in the arts are more willing to take part in activities, such as volunteering.”

Because the financial crisis still lasts, arts budgets     7    (reduce) very soon. However, this policy will take such important benefits away from students. Just as LeRoux says,     8     policymakers are worried about a decline in community life, the arts should not be disregarded as     9     effective means to promote social     10    (responsible).