1 . Have you ever come out of a steamy hot shower and tried to look at your reflection in the mirror when it’s completely steamed and fogged up? I often think that is how we tend to view our beauty—through fogged up mirrors. We are seeing ourselves but the picture isn’t exactly clear! The mirrors have been fogged up through different life experiences and memories as we have grown up, and now blend together to form our own definition of our beauty.

The first mirror is formed as a young child and is often based on what was said about us from our parents and those around us. I remember being told that I was a cute child, so that when I got a little older and was around six or seven and another child tried to tell me I was ugly- everything within me rose up against the statement because my self-belief in what my parents had said stood strong.

The second mirror is the mirror of adolescence, those formative years when we are pushed into the big wild world and out of the protection of home. As a teenager I went to a boarding school, and I was one of the only two black people in the entire school. Children being naturally curious, I felt like I was asked a million and one different questions about both my hair and skin tone- -and I don’t think there has ever been a time when I have been more acutely aware of my appearance, which in turn opened up the door for me to question how I looked and to thankfully embrace my differences.

The final mirror comes from socially constructed ideas of beauty. We are often faced with numerous images in the media, popular culture, society, peers and social media, which can create a false ideal of beauty in our eyes. We tend to compare ourselves to those ideals and use it as some sort of margin (差值) of measurement.

However, real beauty comes from within. It is acceptance of yourself, perceived flaws and all. You are a masterpiece, a unique blend of genes and life experiences. It’s essential to appreciate yourself like any other work of art or natural wonder, without judgement. Maybe it’s time to create a fourth mirror, a new mirror that is wiped clean and is minus the fog of comparisons, accusations, judgments and expectations.

1. What do the fogged-up mirrors represent according to the first paragraph?

A．The difficulties of seeing oneself in the mirror.

B．The various sources of beauty standards.

C．The unclear perceptions of one’s beauty.

D．The life experiences and memories.

2. How did the author react when someone called her ugly?

A．She felt embarrassed.

B．She completely denied it.

C．She sought comfort from her parents.

D．She questioned what her parents had said.

3. What can we learn about social constructed ideas of beauty?

A．They push teens out of home protection.

B．They arouse acute awareness of one’s appearance.

C．They may mislead people’s idea of beauty.

D．They are the exact measurement of beauty.

4. What does the author suggest as a possible fourth mirror?

A．A mirror not affected by external factors.

B．A mirror going against society’s expectations.

C．A mirror reflecting one’s childhood experiences.

D．A mirror showing the beauty ideals from social media.

5. The passage is mainly written to tell us that we should________.

A．bring happiness to those around us

B．keep our resolve despite obstacles

C．change ourselves to achieve an ideal

D．embrace our real inner beauty

2 . What is your calling? What is your purpose in life? What did you come to this world to do? Every day we read about how we should find our purpose and pursue it throughout our lives in order to find meaning and contentment. There are even scientific studies that show people who view their work as a calling rather than just a career or a job have a higher life and work satisfaction. So, what exactly is this calling?

I’ve personally struggled with this concept for many years. I knew that happiness not only came from a present state of joy, but also from the pursuit of an objective that gave me something to pursue. That is, until I found myself feeling empty despite my achievement of those goals.

And as I reflected on these feelings of emptiness and boredom that had arisen despite my successes, I realized something. Meaning and satisfaction come from a personal devotion to what we do and the intrinsic (固有的) fulfillment we get from it. It has nothing to do with financial gain, social advancement or any other type of external reward or motivation. It is about doing something that we love. It is about focusing our efforts and spending our time on passions that light the spark inside of us and allow us to share with the world the unique gifts we possess.

I had never before stopped to think about what I found intrinsically rewarding or fulfilling. Financial gain and external recognition were pretty much the only drivers I knew. More so, I thought this calling meant having one passion we were born with to pursue relentlessly (不懈地).

So, I spent some years trying to find this long-lost purpose of mine. I discovered during that time passions I had no idea I even had. Yet, I wasn’t sure how to make them into my life purpose. I searched for an answer but couldn’t find it. It wasn’t until I came to understand the truths about our purpose in life that I was able to find my place in this world.

Our purpose can consist of various things that make us feel alive. As we grow and evolve throughout the different stages in our lives, we may discover new passions and desires that change our sense of purpose and calling.

We all have a longing for lives that give meaning to our existence. The difference lies in how we go about accomplishing this. We must each find our own “shine” and then shine on.

1. According to the passage, the calling refers to________.

A．one’s view about careers

B．a task one has to carry out

C．a life-long career one chooses

D．a strong desire or sense of duty to do a job

2. Which of the following belongs to the author’s previous drivers for finding fulfillment?

A．Financial gain and external recognition.

B．Pursuing passions relentlessly.

C．Discovering new passions.

D．Finding purpose in life.

3. What is the real purpose in life according to the author?

A．Trying to do everything that you can.

B．Trying to achieve your ambitious goals.

C．Doing meaningful things with your passion.

D．Doing something that can be successful easily.

4. According to the 5th paragraph, we know that________.

A．the author spent some years making changes

B．the author used to think he had no passion at all

C．the author didn’t know how to search for the life purpose

D．the author has known his passions since he started to work

5. What conclusion can be drawn from the passage?

A．It’s wise to give up discovering our one true passion.

B．It’s useless to pursue financial gain and external recognition.

C．It’s necessary to find our own calling and pursue it with vigor.

D．It’s important to share our passion with the world without stopping.

5 . Only shock prevented the tears from streaming down my face. My cells were dead. After being accepted into the competitive Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR), and spending approximately 170 hours of the past month studying human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) (人胚胎干细胞), I was back to square on — with only one month of my internship(实习) left . How in the world was I going to make up for lost time?

As I asked myself the question, I thought back to exactly how I had spent those 170 hours working to develop the stem cells. I started my internship a little overwhelmed by the complex equipment in the lab. After I familiarized myself with the equipment, I began to find the function of PRDMI — a gene thought to control replication (复制) in hESCs. First, though, I needed to make a growth medium (培养基) for the hESCs. I painstakingly measured to the ten millionth of a liter, testing the accuracy of each measurement multiple times before finally putting it into the medium solution. After I plated the hESCs on my new medium, I waited with bated breath for the results.

To my joy, two days later, my cells were growing very well and even outgrowing their new home. I successfully created hundreds of stable hESCs. Everything seemed to be going so well. But now....

“Nancy, I know taking the news the first time can be hard, but keep in mind, you probably didn't do anything wrong. You know how sensitive they are. This sort of thing is common when working with stem cells,” the program director said gently.

“I know,” I said. “I’m ready to try again.”

Thomas Edison said. “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

1. What do we know about the author from Paragraph 1?

A．She was seriously ill because of a cell disease.

B．Her internship was shortened for some reason.

C．Her research result didn't reach her expectation.

D．She cried a lot after not accomplishing her goal.

2. How long did the author’s internship remain when the cells lost their lives?

A．One month.	B．Two months.
C．One hundred and seventy hours.	D．One year.

3. What are the feelings expressed in the underlined sentence?

A．Doubt and confusion.	B．Relief and relaxation.
C．Anxiety and eagerness.	D．Sadness and disappointment.

4. According to the program director, what is very usual during replication in hESCs?

A．Efforts made in vain.	B．Cells growing too big.
C．Researchers getting injured.	D．Medium solution incorrectly measured.

5. What does the author try to tell us through this story?

A．Hard work always brings good luck.	B．Stick to hope and never give up.
C．Think twice before you act.	D．Never miss a mistake.

6 . Last term, I read the book The Book Thief. It is a story about a 9-year-old girl named Liesel Meminger and her _________in Nazi Germany in 1939. In this book, Liesel’s father is taken away by the Nazis. Her mother___________and never returns and her brother dies. Then she is sent to a foster family (寄养家庭) in a poor area of Munich.On the way,she _________a book named The Grave Digger’s Handbook, which becomes the first book she “steals”. It’s her___________foster father Hans who helps Liesel to read, and the 14 books she steals provide her with___________comfort. She manages to___________the war and___________helps the people around her who are also _________.

As I _________each page, I found myself absorbed in the____________created by the author. The light but lingering (绵长的)__________made me hold my __________, as if I had the same experience as Liesel.

Every time I __________this book, what comes to mind is not the __________of the Nazis or the despair in the face of a very difficult and unfavourable situation. All I can think of is the resilience (韧性), sincerity and kindness of__________in such a(n)__________cruel period.Despite the fact that it is not easy for foster parents to __________themselves, they still choose to foster Liesel when she is__________. They also save and hide a Jewish girl in their basement when the Nazis start to kill the Jews.

All these details make me feel that __________we keep the most __________thing inside our hearts, even in despair, we still have the ability to walk toward the brightest future in front of us.

1.

A．interview

B．schedule

C．responsibility

D．experience

2.

A．struggles

B．disappears

C．remains

D．hesitates

3.

A．comes across

B．puts away

C．turns over

D．leaves behind

4.

A．selfish

B．narrow-minded

C．kind-hearted

D．wealthy

5.

A．endless

B．instant

C．little

D．physical

6.

A．enter

B．forget

C．describe

D．survive

7.

A．sadly

B．readily

C．suddenly

D．unfortunately

8.

A．travelling

B．operating

C．suffering

D．recovering

9.

A．turned

B．tore

C．covered

D．struck

10.

A．world

B．house

C．street

D．field

11.

A．complaint

B．sorrow

C．delight

D．regret

12.

A．position

B．record

C．view

D．breath

13.

A．make room for

B．take advantage of

C．think back on

D．get rid of

14.

A．madness

B．tiredness

C．sickness

D．awareness

15.

A．literature

B．humanity

C．competition

D．hardship

16.

A．eventually

B．initially

C．extremely

D．slightly

17.

A．tolerate

B．represent

C．support

D．treat

18.

A．abandoned

B．observed

C．controlled

D．trained

19.

A．for fear that

B．in order that

C．even if

D．as long as

20.

A．similar

B．precious

C．serious

D．natural

7 . How perfect the wings of a bird are! However, they will never________the bird during flight if unsupported by the air. Upon graduation, I will be able to analyze ancient poems using________terms, and simplify a derivative (导数) problem. Despite knowing how to perform these________tasks, I currently fail to________how to change a tire or how to obtain an insurance policy.

I used to outdo my classmates________. At first, I was getting everything right. Then, I ran for Student Government but was________. How could that be? Someone must have made a(n)________. Little did I know, this was my first exposure to meaning beyond________. As I failed for the second year, I________I had been wrongfully measuring my life through my test scores. It was my________that I had never prioritized communication skills, which my fellow candidates________. I decided to change my mindset and take a new________to the way I lived. Soon I grew interested in the new viewpoints everyone around me could________. People interpret situations differently________their own cultural contexts, so I had to________to pay more attention to every point of view. To my________, I was elected to Student Government after my third year of trying.

As I further accept new life skills, I realize how much remains________in the world. What I can do is prepare myself to take on the unknown.________, my wings will continue enabling me to fly,________it is going to take more than just me and my wings; I have to continue putting my________in the air around me.

1.

A．assist

B．feed

C．follow

D．guide

2.

A．musical

B．political

C．literary

D．economic

3.

A．urgent

B．impossible

C．dangerous

D．particular

4.

A．consider

B．understand

C．mention

D．remember

5.

A．physically

B．emotionally

C．psychologically

D．academically

6.

A．rejected

B．ignored

C．blamed

D．interrupted

7.

A．attempt

B．mistake

C．decision

D．promise

8.

A．words

B．borders

C．numbers

D．expectations

9.

A．appreciated

B．reported

C．discovered

D．Recommended

10.

A．fault

B．business

C．excuse

D．dream

11.

A．admitted

B．needed

C．received

D．possessed

12.

A．message

B．approach

C．program

D．campaign

13.

A．offer

B．gain

C．order

D．select

14.

A．as for

B．apart from

C．due to

D．instead of

15.

A．learn

B．afford

C．demand

D．pretend

16.

A．regret

B．delight

C．amusement

D．embarrassment

17.

A．undone

B．unusual

C．unfortunate

D．uncertain

18.

A．Surprisingly

B．Gradually

C．Hopefully

D．Suddenly

19.

A．so

B．but

C．if

D．before

20.

A．view

B．power

C．honor

D．faith

9 . I’ve had some pretty serious issues with some people in my community recently. As a result. I stopped away from them and did my best to _______ them. But the emotions that I felt from those events continued to _______ me and it began destroying the relationships in other parts of my life. I ended up making the _______ with people I really cared about.

Yesterday, I was _______ to attend a conference of community because of a major work event. 1 was _______ about this event for days and it was pretty _______ when I first saw the people I _______ with at the conference.

_______ all of this, the strangest yet most _______ thing happened to me: there were no ________ or drama with anyone. Some of the people didn’t even know who I was and it was ________ that a lot of people have moved on from the events. There wasn’t anything to worry about anymore. No one was holding ________ against me. I looked at them during the ________ and apologized in my head and ________ them. After doing this, I felt ________ in myself.

Through my recent practice in compassion, I ________ that when you forgive others, you ________yourself as well. This important ________ on forgiveness helps me to ________ things from a bigger view. I know people still ________ me during that time. I wish them the best life that they can have. And then, I move on.

1.

A．understand

B．comfort

C．forget

D．entertain

2.

A．disturb

B．frighten

C．inspire

D．amaze

3.

A．competition

B．break

C．decision

D．difference

4.

A．promised

B．allowed

C．persuaded

D．forced

5.

A．anxious

B．crazy

C．happy

D．sorry

6.

A．exciting

B．depressing

C．confusing

D．embarrassing

7.

A．quarreled

B．competed

C．chatted

D．combined

8.

A．Because of

B．In favor of

C．In spite of

D．In case of

9.

A．incredible

B．wonderful

C．important

D．popular

10.

A．instructions

B．double

C．bargains

D．argument

11.

A．necessary

B．impossible

C．clear

D．strange

12.

A．sorrow

B．surprise

C．anger

D．silence

13.

A．convenience

B．conference

C．performance

D．experiments

14.

A．forgave

B．complained

C．recalled

D．reminded

15.

A．pride

B．peace

C．gratitude

D．sympathy

16.

A．realize

B．suggest

C．insist

D．explain

17.

A．risk

B．free

C．ignore

D．believe

18.

A．shift

B．experience

C．lesson

D．lecture

19.

A．serve

B．gain

C．pay

D．see

20.

A．cheered for

B．cared about

C．depended on

D．looked after