1 . I first saw a real durian (榴莲) in an Asian supermarket in Queens. That strange-looking fruit was big, heavy, and covered with sharp pricks (刺). I decided to buy one. The Chinese checkout girl carefully wrapped it thickly in a newspaper before putting it into a shopping bag.
On the train home, I cautiously opened the Chinese newspaper and lifted it out. Its strangeness made me think of kung fu, yoga and Taijiquan.
Upon arriving home, I dug out the biggest knife and cut through the tough prickly husk (壳). I tasted the pale-yellow flesh, delicious!
After that, durian was my favourite fruit. My skill at cutting durian open was improving. I showed the skill to my girlfriend.
A few years later, we moved to Taiwan. One day I noticed some durians had begun to open by themselves. The owner tried to get me to buy one but I shook my head, thinking it was far-gone. Instead I selected one whose outer husk wasn’t open.
The next morning I woke up to a strong durian smell. I found a small crack (裂缝) had appeared all on its own. I used the smallest pressure and tasted a more delicious durian. Suddenly, I realized something. I ha felt so satisfied with my own skill in opening the durian that I never thought about letting the durian open itself. The higher art was not in doing but in not doing — letting the thing happen on its own in the way it happens best.
1. Why did the Chinese checkout girl wrap the durian thickly in a newspaper?| A．To decorate the durian. | B．To stop the durian from falling apart. |
| C．To prevent the author from being hurt. | D．To encourage the author to read Chinese. |
| A．A strange fruit. | B．A delicious dinner. |
| C．Other passengers’ attention. | D．Some symbols of Asian culture. |
| A．He thought it was too ripe. | B．He enjoyed the selection of durian. |
| C．He wanted a chance to show his skill. | D．He preferred the durian with open husk. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Let nature take its course. |
| C．Interest is the best teacher. | D．Kill two birds with one stone. |
Tomato Changed My Life
Doing things-without being planned was never my strength.
As a 14-year-old, I would refuse to go for walks around the block with my friends if I was the least bit behind in my schoolwork.
Unlike most teenagers, I lived not in my room, but in an unused kitchen upstairs where I spread my books and papers on a large round table. I spent considerable time there, working continuously for hours, and my mother worried. She would try to lure (引诱) me away. “Come and watch the parade!” she would call from downstairs. “All neighbors are out there!” She thought of all kinds of tricks-the swimming pool, ice cream, stray cats and turtles-to remove me from my -studies, but nothing ever worked.
Later, in college, the pattern continued. The library and my college dorm replaced the unused kitchen at home. When spring came along friends would stop by my dorm or peer into my library room to persuade me to play Frisbee on the lawn. “No, I would almost always say.” I have too much to do.
My college study days were gone, but not my need and love for schedules. My friends and sisters tried to keep me away from my plans, but they were hardly ever successful.
This summer, though, while house sitting for my parents, I was persuaded to change my plans in the most unexpected way. The sight of tomatoes growing in my mother’s garden lured me out of my tightly scheduled world. They drew me with the power of a lover’s gaze. Hundreds of them were turning ripe and red by the minute, decorating the garden like decorations on a Christmas tree.
“If I have time, I’ll make tomato sauce (番茄酱).” I told myself. But my long week in the house by myself was already filled with things to do: writing, and finishing a project that I brought home from the office.
Then, watching the fascinating tomatoes continuously falling to the ground in ever-greater numbers, again I mentally argued about all the things I had planned and needed to do.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Finally, I gave in.
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A month later, my parents came back.
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3 . A therapy (治疗) client and I are working on an eating disorder and find it originated from a relationship break-up or perhaps being bullied in middle school. Such hurtful experiences led to not eating for a couple of weeks. Then comes a high praise from a friend that totally backfires. Maybe it’s an enthusiastic, “Wow, you look great!’’ In a flash, this praise excites an inner and often unconscious thought: “Oh, people care more about me if I lose weight. So many things feel out of control but I can control people’s affection by not eating.”
Often, very well-intentioned individuals offer praise out of a desire to uplift and connect. Such praise is often tied, directly or indirectly, to a person’s relationship with the standards of a specific group or institution. Sadly, such praise can easily reduce an individual’s dignity to their level in line with the group’s expectations rather than supporting their inherent (固有的) dignity and worth. So, what’s a better way?
One answer is to exit the game of “right and wrong” and enter a more life-giving focus on what needs are present. Returning to our example above, when you see that someone has lost weight and you want to give them a praise, just pause and take a deep breath. Simply ask, “How are you doing?” See them and hear them. Appreciate them as a person of limitless value. Know there may be much more to their inner world than meets the eye. Similarly, when you see someone’s success in school, appreciate the hard work they put into it. Ask with gentle curiosity, “How’s it been for you?” Listen with your full attention that in itself can be a rare gift in today’s hustle and bustle world.
By maintaining your concern and listening to the ways they want to be accompanied and supported — even when it might not be your first instinct — you can see them as a whole person, with complex feelings, very human needs, and inherent dignity.
1. What does the underlined word “backfires” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Improves the situation. | B．Shows sincere concern. |
| C．Removes hurtful feelings. | D．Produces an unexpected result. |
| A．Analyzing the phenomenon. | B．Listing another example. |
| C．Presenting the solution. | D．Making a proposal. |
| A．To start a light conversation. |
| B．To focus on one’s inner needs. |
| C．To explore the secret of keeping slim. |
| D．To show appreciation for one’s efforts. |
| A．Say No to the “Right or Wrong” Game |
| B．Why We Need to Make Praises to Others. |
| C．Follow Me and Be a Qualified Therapist |
| D．How Innocent Words can Be Harmful |
4 . When you look at yourself in the mirror, do you focus on something you wish were different, and hear a critical inside voice?
1. Start with Mindful Awareness
Being aware of how you are treating yourself is really the first step.
Then, instead of criticizing yourself, be curious about what you did and the reasons behind it. Remind yourself that you are doing the best with what you have. And pay your attention to the positive side of the situation.
2.
We all are worthy of love and we need to show loving kindness to ourselves. That might seem awkward at first, but with a little practice, the process will become easier. Soon the positive feeling you receive from self-kindness will provide you with a sense of happiness.
One of the best practices to build up your self-kindness is called “Note to a Dear Friend”. When you are facing a challenge or difficulty, write a note to a friend as if they were facing the same problem.
3. Recognize That You Aren’t Alone
Not one of us lives a perfect life. Everyone faces challenges and makes mistakes.
| A．Practice Kindness |
| B．Show Others Kindness |
| C．It is important to face them |
| D．Simply name your feeling and inside voice |
| E．Write down what you think would help your friend |
| F．When we recognize that, valuable things will happen |
| G．If so, you may have the tendency to criticize yourself |
5 . What will we be doing in ten years’ time? Can we become the person we aim to be? Will we get into the school of our
The young Arthur Conan Doyle, born in Scotland in 1859, had
After Sherlock Holmes made him a(n)
Extremely successful and known, Doyle’s career failed to turn out as
| A．community | B．mind | C．choice | D．childhood |
| A．empty | B．real | C．useful | D．meaningful |
| A．accidentally | B．happily | C．originally | D．devotedly |
| A．relief | B．comfort | C．idea | D．ambition |
| A．accepted | B．required | C．invited | D．recommended |
| A．hopefully | B．interestingly | C．obviously | D．thankfully |
| A．hit | B．signal | C．sign | D．display |
| A．common | B．household | C．unexpected | D．amazing |
| A．belief | B．approach | C．access | D．intention |
| A．time | B．application | C．manners | D．option |
| A．focus on | B．transform | C．leave behind | D．taste |
| A．funny | B．graceful | C．crazy | D．humorous |
| A．forgotten | B．lost | C．refused | D．collected |
| A．pictured | B．advised | C．thought | D．planned |
| A．exhibition | B．lesson | C．offer | D．requirement |
As an independent, self-reliant person who always handled everything by myself, I didn’t expect parenting to be hard. Oh, sure, it’s difficult for other people. I heard parents complaining all the time — kids are challenging; nothing is ever clean; there’s not enough time in the day to do everything. But that was “other people” and I knew I could handle it. How complicated could it be?
I’d always dreamed of adopting a child, and finally my dream came true one summer afternoon. Even though we had requested only one child, the worker asked, “Could you take another baby and his eleven-year-old brother?” Of course, we could. We had room to have all three boys together.
The first week after they moved in, I spent my days rushing from task to task, cleaning and making sure they had all they needed. I constantly organized our living room, which was suddenly full of toys, and picked up the path of destruction left in the boys’ wake. Cooking and cleaning after meals and snacks seemed to take half of my day. I hardly ever sat; something always needed to be done.
“I think we need a break,” my husband told me one evening as I was falling asleep on the couch as usual.
“No,” I refused. The idea of sending them to a stranger sickened me. However, with each passing day, I was growing more and more exhausted. Besides meeting the physical needs of the boys, there were medical and emotional needs. Both the little ones constantly clung (黏住) to me. It was never quiet in our house; I felt overwhelmed.
One night, my husband said firmly that he needed a break. Whether I “needed” one or not, we were going to take one. With tears rolling down my cheeks, I nodded, knowing it was true, although I didn’t want to admit my weakness.
I called my parents.
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Asking for help is something I must keep re-learning as time goes on, but it’s getting easier.
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7 . The law of supply and demand determines that an overabundance of anything will lead to a decrease in price. This rule applies not only to goods and services, but also to lifestyle and fashion trends.
In the 19th century, the primitive paintings of Picasso and Matisse shook up the positive image of the French bourgeoisie (中产阶级). In the 1970s, talented musicians with tailored costumes and egos were overshadowed by a band of punk rockers who sang about the harsh realities of ordinary life in poor urban areas.
I predict that this will also happen with beauty standards. The idealized version of life portrayed in fashion magazines will reach a turning point, as people become tired of unattainable perfection.
During my time in Washington D.C. in the 1990s, I had the opportunity to interact with numerous political celebrities. While chatting with former presidents or bumping into TV pundits (名嘴) in elevators, I also assisted former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, who was my boss’s boss. What struck me was how ordinary these people appeared in real life despite their public characters. Like everyone else, they grappled with insecurities and mood swings, even though they were constantly under the spotlight.
Yes, it was great to drop names on the phone to my friends. My father, of course, couldn’t understand why I would ever want to leave. “Because you’re not me and I’m not impressed,” I told him. We do not need to lead a luxurious life or make groundbreaking achievements to be content. Happiness can be found in living out the ordinary moments of an authentic life.
Most of us end up being ordinary people without doing anything that changes the world, but that does not mean our lives are meaningless. In fact, it is precisely this realization that leads to sustainable happiness because, when all is said and done, no one’s lifestyle is essentially better than any other’s.
1. Which of the following phrase can best replace the underline phrase in paragraph 4?| A．struggled with | B．put up with | C．came up with | D．fought with |
| A．supportive | B． indifferent | C．opposed | D．unimpressed |
| A．They are just like ordinary people. |
| B．They lack the ability to lead a normal life. |
| C．They are not as successful as they claim to be. |
| D．They are not as intelligent as they appear on TV. |
| A．People should strive for a better lifestyle. |
| B．No one’s lifestyle is inherently superior to others’. |
| C．People should be content with their own lifestyles. |
| D．People should critically evaluate other people’s lifestyles. |
We would all love to learn how to be happy. And sometimes, the solution comes from a surprising place.
During his fieldwork in a remote African village, an anthropologist (人类学家) had devoted himself to studying the unique habits and culture of the local tribe. He had been working in the village for quite some time and on the day before his scheduled return home, he composed a gift—a basket full of delightful fruits from the area, wrapped thoughtfully in a piece of cloth. He placed this offering beneath a tree and then gathered the village children around.
The man drew a line in the dirt, looked at the children, and said, “As soon as I signal to start, dash to the tree; the first to arrive will claim the basket of fruits.” However, when he signaled, instead of racing against each other, the children joined hands and ran together to the tree. Then They settled around the basket and enjoyed their treat as a group.
Bewildered by their act of unity, the anthropologist asked why they chose to run collectively when any one of them could have seized all the fruits. A young girl looked up at him and said innocently, “How can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?”
Years later, Desmond Tutu, the well -known South African activist, remembered how a girl once thought about things in a simple yet deep way. He used the word “ubuntu” to describe her thinking. “Ubuntu” means “I exist because we all do.” In other words, we are who we are because of our relationships with others. For that tribe, to be human is to relate with and through others. They think that our happiness comes from the union of our joys and the meaningful impact they have on the community.
1. What gift did the anthropologist prepared? (no more than 10 words)2. How did the children reach the tree? (no more than 10 words)
3. What does the underlined word “bewildered” probably mean in Paragraph 4? (1 word)
4. What is the source of happiness for the tribe? (no more than 10 words)
5. Do you agree with the tribe’s belief about happiness? Please give your reason (s).(no more than 25words)
9 . As a psychologist with more than 15 years of experience, I’ve seen how “hustle (忙碌) culture” can have a harmful effect on people. But a 2,000-year-old Chinese concept, “wu wei”, can help us lead more balanced, fulfilling and successful lives. “Wu wei” emphasizes taking action when necessary, but not pushing yourself with excessive effort and tension. Research has shown that it can help lower stress and anxiety, while increasing satisfaction and overall well-being.
Accept things as they are
Let’s say you’re throwing a big party. Instead of worrying about every detail, practicing “wu wei” means understanding that things may not go exactly as planned. When you face a challenge, ask yourself whether you have complete control over the outcome.
Allow things to unfold in their own natural way, without forcing the outcome. Know that nothing is ever perfect. If you’re learning a new language or playing an instrument for the first time, prepare to make mistakes. You’ll learn from them.
Perform mindfulness
Mindfulness means being aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Lao Tzu, an ancient Chinese philosopher and the founder of Taoism, once said: “If you are depressed, you are living in the past.
| A．Embrace imperfection |
| B．Mind those catching your attention |
| C．Here’s some advice on how to be effortless |
| D．Take notice of all the little details around you |
| E．If you don’t, make peace with it and move on |
| F．If you are anxious, you are living in the future |
| G．Here’s how to make “wu wei” part of your daily routine |
10 . At 20 years old, I was a confident and handsome student at the University of California at Berkey.
But that year, I
But six months later, a new bump appeared. Numerous
I awoke from the surgery with a scarred, disfigured face. As I re-entered the real world, I noticed adults
Five years and 20 reconstructive surgeries later, I
I began examining myself from the inside out. Later, I volunteered at a cancer support organization to offer inspiration and hope to those
Now, I am
| A．took charge of | B．took care of | C．took control of | D．took notice of |
| A．appointment | B．arrangement | C．commitment | D．placement |
| A．severe | B．minor | C．apparent | D．complicated |
| A．novelists | B．specialists | C．impressionists | D．journalists |
| A．advocated | B．predicted | C．warned | D．witnessed |
| A．desperate | B．enthusiastic | C．delicate | D．optimistic |
| A．smiling | B．glaring | C．glancing | D．staring |
| A．unusually | B．unintentionally. | C．unconventionally | D．unselfishly |
| A．bother | B．impress | C．annoy | D．restrict |
| A．greeted | B．persuaded | C．encountered | D．grasped |
| A．abused | B．defended | C．informed | D．motivated |
| A．relief | B．security | C．defence | D．honesty |
| A．going about | B．relating to | C．wrestling with | D．breaking with |
| A．greedy | B．grateful | C．suitable | D．tolerant |
| A．mental vitality | B．physical fitness | C．social acceptance | D．face value |
