1 . My friend never did well in school but always had a sharp eye for beauty. One day I was busy arranging some flowers in a vase but just couldn’t get them to look right. She came along, and with a few skillful waves of her hand, transformed them into a stunning bouquet. When praised for having this amazing ability, she shrugged off the compliment. She simply didn’t view her creativity as anything special.

Too often we underestimate our own talents in this way. Maybe it’s because we’ve become used to believing that only abilities like a high I.Q., a gift for mathematics or a large vocabulary have cognitive (认知的) value. I was fortunate to learn otherwise at a young age.

When I entered high school, a guidance counselor told my mother I wasn’t college material because I had performed miserably on the spelling section of a standardized test. Thankfully my mother recognized my other intellectual (智力的) gifts and stood up for me, insisting I be put into the college-track curriculum. This experience literally defined the course of my life. It showed me how important it is not to accept a label someone else put on me and it allowed me to realize my full potential.

In the early 1980’s, Howard Gardner, a prominent Harvard researcher, pioneered a concept of “multiple intelligences”. In his book, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, he suggested that intelligence is not limited to a traditional interpretation but instead includes a wide range of cognitive abilities.

What I love about the multiple intelligences theory is that it allows you to reframe your own abilities and talents, especially those that don’t necessarily fit into neat academic boxes. While it’s true one must meet a basic level of intelligence for achievement, the analytical skills measured by I.Q. do not tell the whole story. This is why we should celebrate all of our talents and abilities. They’re part of what makes your individual brain so wonderful and unique.

1. Whose ability is probably underestimated according to the author?

A．A child who has a large vocabulary.

B．A child who is good at building Lego blocks.

C．A child who has an easy time learning how to multiply.

D．A child who quickly fits into academic learning process.

2. What does “otherwise” underlined in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．It suited me well to take college-track courses.

B．Intelligence can be interpreted by various abilities.

C．Spelling ability in a standardized test is of great value.

D．A high I. Q. makes no sense in realizing my full potential.

3. Why did the author mention Howard Gardner’s book?

A．To introduce a new topic.	B．To clarify a concept.
C．To recommend the book.	D．To support his opinion.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Change Your Cognitive Value.

B．Develop Your Academic Ability.

C．Appreciate Your Multiple Intelligences.

D．Explore the Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

2 . The walls of our house were supposed to be white. But I never remember them being white. At first, they were grey, then turning black. My father was a coal worker. He made charcoal (木炭) in our house. Have you ever seen charcoal being made? The little bags you buy in the store for barbeque, they come from somewhere, and honestly, it’s a very dirty business.

I remember one day I was bagging up the charcoal with my dad, and it was really cold and raining. All we had was the tiny roof over our heads. After a few hours, I got to go to school, where it was warm. My dad stayed out there working, all day. If he didn’t sell that day, maybe we wouldn’t have enough to eat. I thought to myself: At some point, everything is going to change.

For this, I owe football everything. I started football early. I played so much football that every two months, my boots would break apart. When I was seven, I must have been pretty good, because I scored 64 goals for my neighborhood team. That year, my dad got a call from a coach saying they wanted me to play there. My dad asked, “Oh, it’s too far away. Nine kilometers. How will we get him there?” My mom said, “No, no, no! Don’t worry, I’ ll take him!” And that is when Graciela was born.

Graciela was an old yellow bicycle that my mother would use to drive me to training every day. It had a little basket in the front. Imagine this: A woman biking through town with a little boy on the back and a bag in the basket with his boots. Up hills. Down hills. Through the dangerous neighborhoods. In the rain. In the cold. In the dark. Graciela got us where we needed to go.

Nowadays people look on YouTube, watch the World Cup and see the results, but they don’t know the journey. They don’t know about my living room walls turning from white to black. They don’t know about my father working under a little roof. They don’t know about my mother riding Graciela through the rain and the cold.

1. Why did the walls of the author’s house turn black?

A．His family wanted to change the look of their old house.

B．The color black could cover up his father’s dirty business.

C．The author often made indoor barbeques with the charcoal.

D．There was a lot of coal dust created from his father’s work.

2. What can we learn about Graciela?

A．Graciela was a yellow bicycle with a basket.

B．Graciela was named after the author’s mother.

C．Graciela was born when the author was nine.

D．Graciela got the family wherever they wanted to go.

3. What good quality do the author and his parents have in common?

A．Determined.

B．Confident.

C．Ambitious.

D．Easygoing.

4. What does the author intend to tell us?

A．In time of test, family is best.	B．Happiness is a choice, not a result.
C．One who fears failure limits his activities.	D．Behind every glory there is always a story.

3 . The Voice Magazine recently had a chance to chat with Miss Patel, a 21-year-old university student currently living in Edmonton, Alberta. “Honestly, I am not happy with Edmonton because it’s too dead. No one socializes. Everybody likes to stay as it is. Personally, I haven’t found one person who likes to grow in their life. People in Edmonton seem to settle for whatever they get.”

When asked how she best studies, Miss Patel stated, “I was a kid who always took studies for granted. Till one day I realized it’s the most important thing. What keeps me motivated is my goal and the promises I have made to myself. I am completely focused on my career and studies, because believe it or not, hanging out with friends is a distraction.”

And her advice for new students? “Online universities and studies can be very overwhelming. You know, there is too much stuff out there. You may miss out on 90 percent of stuff you really need. But join online groups, call the student center and ask tons of questions. Go through every detail provided in the course. Make a schedule by what time you will finish the course.”

When not studying, Miss Patel is interested in “spirituality-gaining knowledge of nature, how to be the best version of yourself.” She continued, “I hit the gym quite often as well.”

When asked which famous person she would like to have lunch with and why, Miss Patel did not have any famous person in mind. She explained, “The respectful famous leads today were once a common man or woman. I would in fact love to just go on a special elite (精英) lunch with myself. I sit with myself and feel every emotion, making a list of my flaws and my positive characteristics. That way I am just getting a step forward of being a better human being. And who knows my betterment can lead me into being famous just like others!”

1. What can we infer about Miss Patel from the first paragraph?

A．She is honest and brave.

B．She is intelligent and proud.

C．She is outgoing and active.

D．She is unconfident and content.

2. Why does Miss Patel have the motivation in her studies?

A．She takes studies for granted.

B．She has an aim and commitment.

C．She hangs around with her friends.

D．She settles for whatever she can get.

3. Why may an online learner miss most of the things?

A．There are too many groups to join.

B．The learner has to ask tons of questions.

C．It is difficult to make a schedule of the course.

D．The information online is too much to deal with.

4. Why would Miss Patel have lunch with herself rather than a famous person?

A．She regard herself as a famous person.

B．Famous leads are common men or women.

C．She can reflect on herself and make improvement.

D．She can list the flaws and positive part of famous people.

4 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Nowadays, many people hurry to get from one place to another as efficiently as possible that those who enjoy shooting the breeze—chatting for fun—are often left without eager participants. But not everyone is going through life just looking ahead, and that’s a good thing.

Justen Crumpton from Hueytown, Alabama, is one of those people who enjoy talking to complete strangers. In her own words, “If you know me at all, you know, I love to involve myself in others’ conversations, even if they are complete strangers.” At times, that has annoyed her family, but in November it had a wholly unexpected effect.

On Nov. 7, the Alabama mother was shocked by the kindness of a stranger who treated her to an early Christmas gift after a chance encounter. As a mom with three girls and a new baby boy, she didn’t buy things for herself a lot. That day, Crumpton went with her mom and sister to try and finish up Christmas shopping, wearing her new born boy in a baby wrap.

As they were walking along after doing some shopping, Crumpton saw two men standing near a Von Maur UGGs display highlighting a particular pair of shoes that happened to be the ones she’d been eying for the last 5 years. Seeing her opportunity for a little pleasant casual talk, she paused and jokingly offered the men shopping advice, “If you are shopping for your girl, then get her these,” pointing to a certain pair. Then she told them she had been asking for them for the past five years. She laughed and started to walk away. While at that moment, one of the men said in surprise “FIVE YEARS!” She turned around and laughed some more, saying “yes!” and was joyfully ready to continue her way.

注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

“Oh, and you have a baby,” the man said. “Wait right there.”

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

She felt moved walking away with the shoes.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . Dalton Shaffer, an employee at Steve’s Pizza in Battle Creek, Michigan, was _______ late one night recently when he picked up an unlikely call from more than 200 miles away.

On the other side of the _______ were Julie and Rich of Indianapolis, who lived in Battle Creek more than 20 years ago and, in their opinion, _______ hadn’t found pizza as good as Steve’s. The pair had _______ a trip back to their favorite pizza spot, but had to cancel it due to Rich’s ongoing battle with cancer.

On Saturday night, Julie decided to give Steve’s Pizza a call _______ they don’t take delivery orders, and _______ not three-and-a-half hours away. That’s when Dalton _______ the phone. He didn’t think twice about what the right thing to do was. He just _______ what their favorite pizza was and got in his car, beginning his long, tough journey at close to midnight.

On Sunday, at 2:30 a.m., Dalton _______ into their driveway, left the car running and delivered two extra special pizzas to the ________ pair. He wished them all the best, and ________ to help in any way he could.

“Dalton brought us so much ________-and the best pizza in the world-at a really ________ time. I’m sure he is a sweet guy to many others besides us.”Julie wrote in her post.“It was incredible that a ________ would do that for us. He drove about 450 miles round trip ________ working all day!

1.

A．driving

B．sleeping

C．studying

D．working

2.

A．line

B．restaurant

C．town

D．window

3.

A．even

B．still

C．thus

D．again

4.

A．recalled

B．taken

C．planned

D．missed

5.

A．as though

B．only if

C．even though

D．now that

6.

A．actually

B．certainly

C．generally

D．merely

7.

A．discovered

B．touched

C．answered

D．dropped

8.

A．spotted

B．decided

C．perceived

D．asked

9.

A．rolled

B．ran

C．walked

D．swung

10.

A．calm

B．amazed

C．confident

D．worried

11.

A．agreed

B．begged

C．remembered

D．offered

12.

A．inspiration

B．pleasure

C．security

D．freedom

13.

A．difficult

B．awkward

C．suitable

D．precious

14.

A．servant

B．celebrity

C．stranger

D．rescuer

15.

A．except

B．from

C．by

D．after

6 . I got the opportunity to pursue an unmatchable educational vision at Stanford University. I was flooded with feelings of relief and excitement. It was a miracle that the American Dream had exposed its colors in my favor.

Upon arrival at the campus, ambition burned within me. I imagined becoming President of the Student Union, a member of Cardinal Calypso, and so on. I wanted Stanford to be a place for me to really learn about the vast world.

I was extremely occupied beyond the classroom. As an active member of nearly twelve VSOs (Voluntary Service Overseas), I could hardly focus on my study. Ultimately, my academic journey at Stanford was characterized by a lack of consistency (连贯性). The letter informing me of my academic suspension (停学) did not come as a surprise.I knew I would have to face consequences.

Fortunately, Infomineo, a research organization, offered me the opportunity to complete a six-month internship (实习) . This experience has done wonders for me, giving me insight into who I am, what I want to do, where I want to be, and how I can get there. I should have known that the freshman year is about testing out courses and extra-curriculars, and that each decision should end up helping me in the future.

Most significantly, I’ve learned big changes are born of little consistencies. This is what I will carry for the rest of my life, especially at Stanford University. Consistently attending professors’ classes or routinely setting aside time to review notes outside the classroom. This is where I stand now, and ready to tackle Stanford again. This time, with clearer sight of how to accomplish my goals, I feel that I have detected and revealed a new power within me.

1. How did the author feel when arriving at Stanford?

A．Excited and nervous.

B．Grateful and curious.

C．Ambitious and hopeful.

D．Relieved and puzzled.

2. What happened to the author at Stanford?

A．He was rejected by the Student Union.

B．He failed to meet academic requirements.

C．He was burdened with heavy schoolwork.

D．He managed to establish voluntary groups.

3. Which of the following best describes the author’s internship experience?

A．Demanding.

B．Beneficial.

C．Fruitless.

D．Risky.

4. What lesson has the author learnt?

A．Dreams work wonders.

B．Changes promote progress.

C．Consistencies make the difference.

D．Opportunities favor the prepared mind.

7 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

I arrived at the pool hall on Wednesday with a heavy heart. Teams from other schools were already suited and warming up by the pool or in the water. The bleachers (露天看台) were full.

“I don’t think I can do this.” I said, twisting the belt of my bag.

“You’ll be fine, and I will be right here watching.” Mom said, dropping an arm around my shoulder and squeezing.

I bit my lip and looked out over the other swimmers. “You sure?”

Mom leaned forward. “Remember, it’s just you. Don’t worry about any of the other swimmers. Just swim your race.”

“OK.”

The warmups and preparations were over before I knew it, and the first round of swimmers were up on the blocks.

I felt sick. I watched my competitors swim, and they looked so strong and skillful in the water. The events screamed by, one after the other. My knees shook as each event clicked closer to mine. The knots in my stomach twisted and coiled like a bag of ropes.

Then the one-hundred breaststroke (蛙泳) was announced.

Nerves choked my throat.

“Just swim your race. Don’t think about the other swimmers.” I repeated it over and over in my mind.

I bent forward on my block in line with the rest of the swimmers, waiting. My body tensed up like a spring. My heart pounded in my ears.

The buzzer (蜂鸣器) sounded. I sprang forward, diving into the water and kicking like a dolphin. Then my head broke free of the water. Just count strokes. I kept my eyes focused on the black line in front of me, ignoring the splashes of movement on either side. Pull. Breathe. Kick. I hit the end of the pool and then my first turn came. I took a deep a breath and turned over, pushing hard against the wall and bursting back the way I came.

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

Then everything changed.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2

I was the last one to finish the race.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . Smith Justice and his son were coming back from the dentist, when they saw a homeless man in the road. Smith _________ to give the man some money, but didn’t have any cash. His son suggested giving the man the 30 cents he had. But Smith was _________. He didn’t want to give this man just 30 cents since the man _________ needed all the help he could get. Moreover, his own pride and thoughts of the homeless man’s unknown _________ to receiving just thirty cents was standing _________.

Smith told his son what people saw as a good thing was not good enough to make a _________ in someone’s life. But his son insisted. Smith _________ the window and said to the man, “I’m sorry, man. I don’t have any _________ on me but my son wants to give you everything he has right now.” The homeless man smiled, “God bless you, little man!” At that moment, the only thing _________ the brightness of the man’s smile was the bigger smile on the little boy’s face.

A chain reaction of kindness __________ behind them that day in Nashville, Tennessee, as other people rolled down their windows to __________, too. Smith suddenly __________ that he was the only problem in this situation. He said, “My little boy __________ me by his actions that it’s always about the heart. It doesn’t __________ how much you have or how little. __________ love and sincerity will often bless others more than we think. ”

1.

A．managed

B．promised

C．intended

D．agreed

2.

A．confused

B．doubtful

C．tense

D．hesitant

3.

A．normally

B．clearly

C．secretly

D．formally

4.

A．reaction

B．devotion

C．objection

D．solution

5.

A．out of sight

B．out of control

C．in the way

D．in the charge

6.

A．fortune

B．difference

C．name

D．commitment

7.

A．rolled down

B．reached for

C．looked through

D．lifted up

8.

A．check

B．card

C．cash

D．food

9.

A．matching

B．replacing

C．reflecting

D．showing

10.

A．changed

B．stopped

C．remained

D．started

11.

A．greet

B．smile

C．chat

D．donate

12.

A．remembered

B．realized

C．accepted

D．regretted

13.

A．reminded

B．comforted

C．praised

D．warned

14.

A．help

B．work

C．mean

D．matter

15.

A．Returning

B．Accepting

C．Spreading

D．Seeking

9 . Kindness when travelling comes in so many forms. However, the story that happened in Greece has touched me the most.

I arrived late in Thessaloniki after my flight from the Czech Republic was delayed over three hours. Luckily, my Airbnb hostess still picked me up from the airport and made the 40-minute drive to her place. We got there around 11 pm!

As Greece was the starting point for the Middle East and the last place in my plan that used Euros as currency(货币), I ran low on cash. So I made a decision that I wouldn’t be spending any money on dinner that night. Instead, I would choose a cheap breakfast the next day. Upon hearing this, the mother of the lady hugged me tightly, said something in Greek, laughed, and left. I thought this was a goodnight hug and I prepared to go to bed.

A little bit later the older lady returned, with her daughter and a big plate of cheese, boiled eggs, and salad. She wouldn’t allow me to go to bed without a late-night dinner. I was totally surprised by this kind act towards a stranger. The meal was delicious, and although I tried to offer the ladies money as a thank you for their kindness, they refused. All the worries of the day disappeared and I went to bed smiling and with a full belly.

I loved everything Thessaloniki offered in the way of history, culture, and natural beauty. Despite the ongoing economic difficulties, this friendly Greek family fed a hungry stranger and really made my time in the northern part of Greece.

1. Why did the author decide not to have dinner that night?

A．He had limited cash.	B．He was not hungry.
C．He disliked Greek food.	D．He arrived too late.

2. Which of the following best describes the older lady?

A．Kind but demanding.	B．Considerate and generous.
C．Warm-hearted but impatient.	D．Outgoing and humorous.

3. What impressed the author most in Thessaloniki?

A．The free pick-up.	B．The late-night dinner.
C．The Greek culture.	D．The confusing language.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To offer advice on travelling abroad.

B．To introduce a friendly Greek family.

C．To recommend a destination in Greece.

D．To share a touching travel experience.

10 . A few weeks ago, my teenage daughter Lisa failed a test. The grade might stop her from qualifying for the next class she wants to take. There were tears and some complaints for a few minutes. Then I saw something interesting. She made a joke, expressed gratitude that she didn’t have bigger problems, and finally made a plan on how to make improvements.

She was never the same as she was one year ago. That one was unwilling to take responsibility. That one stayed in anger and blamed others. We expect our kids to learn and grow. We hope for it. However, most of us grow through adversity (逆境), even trauma (精神创伤). It happened to Lisa last year repeatedly. She searched for ways to get her bearings and equip herself when everything around her was changing by the day. Psychologists call it post-traumatic growth.

Trauma refers to an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, attack, natural disaster, or other life-changing happenings. The growth after trauma doesn’t mean we get through challenges uninjured. It’s been a scary and painful time, for everyone, in one way or another. We may experience disbelief, depression, and even denial. As time moves on, people who have experienced trauma may have headaches or other physical symptoms, emotional ups and downs, and even relationship problems. Trauma does leave its irremovable marks.

However, in one study, researchers surveyed nearly 385 people who experienced financial difficulty during the pandemic. 88 percent of the people surveyed say they also have experienced some positive outcomes—They now have stronger family relationships and a greater appreciation of life.

1. What is Lisa like now when she fails?

A．She tries to cover it.

B．She is positive and adult.

C．She acts unconcerned.

D．She wants to make excuses.

2. What does the author intend to tell us through Lisa’s experience?

A．There is no sweet without sweat.

B．Experience is the father of wisdom.

C．Difficult situations are likely to make one stronger.

D．Responsibility is often more important than ability.

3. How does the author prove his view?

A．By analyzing existing data.

B．By quoting a psychologist.

C．By contrasting a person’s constant changes.

D．By giving examples together with study results.

4. Which of the following may the author agree with about post-traumatic growth?

A．It usually comes at a high price.

B．It produces little negative feelings.

C．It is one of the fastest ways to make improvements.

D．It is growth that does both good and harm.