1 . I grew up in a small North Dakota town. Dad was a farmer, so we kids were taught _______ to drive farm vehicles. I started driving the tractor (拖拉机) at age 15 .

One summer day, Dad asked me to back his truck up. _______, I backed it into a tree, damaging the truck. I was _______ because I wasn’t sure how Dad would react. Luckily, Dad wasn’t _______, and moved the truck himself.

As a teenager, I usually worked part-time on Uncle Jim’s farm in my _______ time. One day, I drove the tractor to get gas from the farmyard fuel tank, which was _______ on a big metal shelf 12 feet high. I _______ the shelf, bending one of the vehicle’s wooden bars. I stopped the vehicle anxiously and got off. I _______ Uncle Jim would help me. To my _______, he said, “Get back up on that tractor and you can do it.” And I did! During harvest, Jim had me do farming chores with that tractor, which made my confidence ________ greatly.

The “can do” ________ Uncle Jim had toward me carried me through ________ times in life. Whenever I encountered difficulties, the ________ on the summer day on the farm came flooding back to my mind and my spirit wasn’t ________ ! It just goes to show what a huge impact can be created by small gestures of ________ in a person.

1.

A．early

B．hard

C．recently

D．fast

2.

A．Frankly

B．Skillfully

C．Intentionally

D．Unfortunately

3.

A．curious

B．scared

C．embarrassed

D．hesitant

4.

A．mad

B．pleased

C．worried

D．proud

5.

A．entire

B．quality

C．spare

D．limited

6.

A．emptied

B．operated

C．placed

D．transformed

7.

A．built up

B．ran into

C．tore down

D．passed by

8.

A．claimed

B．doubted

C．worried

D．assumed

9.

A．disappointment

B．surprise

C．fright

D．satisfaction

10.

A．decline

B．suffer

C．grow

D．change

11.

A．admiration

B．judgment

C．affection

D．attitude

12.

A．tough

B．confusing

C．relaxing

D．valuable

13.

A．comment

B．expectation

C．reflection

D．plan

14.

A．broken

B．recognized

C．refreshed

D．raised

15.

A．justice

B．belief

C．interest

D．courage

2 . There are a lot of good and logical reasons not to say what you think, especially when others disagree. Offending people isn’t nice, and it can lead to social consequences. Nodding along might seem practical or charitable, despite the fact that you are screaming disagreement on the inside. However, the true act of charity is to say what you really think. Your committing to complete honesty can be an act of love.

One of my friends takes honesty to the extreme. He calls talks with others that get to the complete truth of things, even difficult admissions in views, “love conversations”. Once two people have such a conversation, his theory goes, they can understand each other and act accordingly. As a philosophical matter, my friend’s belief of “love conversations” is Kantian. The German philosopher Kant argued that lying to others prevents them from making choices based on the truth, which is contradictory with friendship and love.

In the 1990s, Brad Blanton argued when the truth is hard to accept, telling it can have costs, including social disapproval and broken relationships. But it is worth the consequences because it can reduce stress, deepen connections with others, and reduce emotional reactivity.

Both sides can’t be right here. Either Kant, Blanton, and my friend are embracing a faulty theory, or our society is missing a big opportunity for moral growth. You might say that little white lies are a society lubricant (润滑剂). They can even seem virtuous. After telling a white lie, I sometimes pat myself on the back, turning my evil into a virtue inside my own head. Some lies might make life easier, but they don’t necessarily make life happier. I wouldn’t want my wife to tell me what she thinks I want to hear, as if we were strangers avoiding conflict, and finding out that she had done so would make me feel distrusted and therefore hurt our relationship. I don’t want a stranger to tell me she likes my writing if she doesn’t, because unreal compliments make me suspicious.

1. What can we learn from “my friend” in Paragraph 2?

A．He admits other’s views with great honest.	B．He practices Kant’s philosophical theories.
C．He loves to discuss philosophy with others.	D．He prevents himself from difficult choices.

2. Brad Blanton found telling the truth ________.

A．stressful and emotional	B．unacceptable and harmful
C．thoughtless but courageous	D．challenging but deserving

3. Why is his wife mentioned in the last paragraph?

A．To distinguish his wife from a stranger.	B．To show his wife’s honesty and virtue.
C．To argue for the importance of frankness.	D．To stress avoiding suspicion in marriage.

4. Which statement does the author probably agree with?

A．Telling the truth can be an act of love.	B．The route to happier life lies in lies.
C．Little white lies are actually virtuous.	D．Our society is being corrupted by lies.

3 . A few days before my high school ended, I was sitting in my English class. My classmates were talking about who would be the first person to shed tears at _________ . Then, everyone looked at me, and I began to ________ right then and there. I am not an emotional person,but the _________ of leaving this place hit me hard. I never knew how much this building and the people in it ________ to me, until my last days.

High school isn’t for everyone, but there is something for everyone in high school. You just have to ______ out what your“thing”is. I ______ found my “thing” in high school and that was Student Government. For once I had a(n) ________ . I served as the representative of my class, and it gave me a ________ to convey not only my own, but my classmates'_______ to teachers and our school.

But there were a lot of times when I felt ______ . I sat in the classroom looking at the clock, ______ for the end of school day. I ______ the days until summer like it was my job. But now I ______ I could take back all of those moments.

My biggest ________ to anyone still in high school is to make your school a place where you want to go. High school goes by very quickly. You only get one chance to be a high schooler, so take ________ of it.

1.

A．school

B．graduation

C．break

D．random

2.

A．cry

B．lie

C．sing

D．sigh

3.

A．proposal

B．option

C．possibility

D．thought

4.

A．meant

B．replied

C．reacted

D．faded

5.

A．bring

B．figure

C．cross

D．carry

6.

A．anxiously

B．bravely

C．luckily

D．initially

7.

A．organization

B．impression

C．voice

D．discovery

8.

A．benefit

B．chance

C．challenge

D．purpose

9.

A．objectives

B．principles

C．concerns

D．updates

10.

A．disturbed

B．sheltered

C．alarmed

D．inspired

11.

A．applauding

B．searching

C．fighting

D．longing

12.

A．counted down

B．went through

C．set aside

D．put off

13.

A．promise

B．assume

C．pray

D．realize

14.

A．support

B．advice

C．rule

D．warning

15.

A．account

B．notice

C．control

D．advantage

4 . As the saying goes, “A father is a treasure, a brother is a comfort, but a friend is both.” I am so ________ to have found my good friend, and I still remember how I built up my friendship with Jerry.

We became friends soon after we entered the senior high school. We played together and ________ our meals sometimes. We kept our ordinary friendship for quite a long time until that day when I broke my leg while playing basketball. He called the teacher ________ and even gave up his lessons and accompanied me to hospital. He didn’t stop helping me until I fully ________. I knew I got a(n) ________ friend then.

A good and true friend is a ________ that you can find pleasure in and a comfort that you can turn to when in trouble. When I was in junior high school, Jerry was not a good choice to make friends with, because he had ________ skin and looked ugly. I didn’t play with him, didn’t talk to him and even walked away when he ________ me. However, one afternoon, when I was ________ by several tough guys to give them money, it was Jerry who stood out, shouted loudly and ________ them away. I was very grateful and began to notice him ________.

We made friends at last. In addition to that ________ move, I found out more ________ in him under the dark skin and ugly face. Thanks to Jerry’s being my friend, I learned a lesson: one can never judge a person from his appearance. If we simply ________ these people, we’ll lose a lot of good friends. Furthermore, not only people ________ everything follows this golden rule.

1.

A．upset

B．fortunate

C．embarrassed

D．sad

2.

A．skipped

B．saved

C．shared

D．missed

3.

A．in no time

B．at no time

C．in no way

D．in no sense

4.

A．removed

B．discovered

C．forgot

D．recovered

5.

A．rude

B．true

C．ugly

D．strange

6.

A．treasure

B．joke

C．conflict

D．pity

7.

A．bright

B．dark

C．white

D．light

8.

A．approached

B．hated

C．teased

D．escaped

9.

A．laughed

B．moved

C．threatened

D．inspired

10.

A．took

B．rode

C．put

D．drove

11.

A．closely

B．distantly

C．unwillingly

D．narrowly

12.

A．numb

B．mean

C．timid

D．brave

13.

A．weaknesses

B．advantages

C．responsibility

D．gift

14.

A．value

B．assist

C．ignore

D．accompany

15.

A．when

B．but

C．or

D．while

5 . Back in the days when I was just a young student, I was always absent from school ______, too shy to step into the public attention. My grades, though not absolutely good, was above the ______. However, an unexpected incident allowed me to______life lessons and gradually accept the challenges thrown at me.

One rainy afternoon, while walking home from school, an accident happened. A speeding car ______me, leaving me with a broken leg. Lying on my hospital bed,pain aching through my body, the reality of my situation ______. This unforeseen incident had set me back academically, and I needed to figure out how to achieve my previous______.

With the help of my parents and teachers, who ______accompanied me through the healing process, I managed to transform my ______ into a stepping stone. I began to acquire the will to push myself beyond my limits. After several months, I returned to school. My teachers had made accommodations for me, which included access to ______classes to catch up on the lessons I missed. Fueled by a newfound ______, I made every effort to engage in all activities and strived to stay active in both the academic and extracurricular fields.

In the end, my actions______fruit. Not only did my academic performance improve, but I also developed an ability to adapt to unexpected situations. I realized the importance of being able to______my fears and overcome them. The incident that I______viewed as a major discouragement was, in fact, a turning point in my life. It was an opportunity to adjust my perspective and learn to admire the strength within myself.

The______did not happen overnight. It was a gradual process, just like adding a new piece to a puzzle every day. But with each piece, I moved one step closer to the bigger ______ .

1.

A．camps

B．days

C．facilities

D．events

2.

A．minimum

B．maximum

C．average

D．majority

3.

A．absorb

B．forget

C．teach

D．avoid

4.

A．approached

B．hit

C．lifted

D．followed

5.

A．gave in

B．sank in

C．fit in

D．cut in

6.

A．standing

B．playing

C．suffering

D．finding

7.

A．occasionally

B．casually

C．constantly

D．scarcely

8.

A．shyness

B．setback

C．strength

D．performance

9.

A．practical

B．optional

C．basic

D．extra

10.

A．drive

B．concept

C．version

D．skill

11.

A．planted

B．distributed

C．sold

D．bore

12.

A．assess

B．address

C．monitor

D．hide

13.

A．initially

B．actually

C．suddenly

D．eventually

14.

A．inspiration

B．assumption

C．transformation

D．exploration

15.

A．space

B．ambition

C．picture

D．capacity

6 . We can probably all agree that it is good to be kind, moral (道德的) to be kind, nice to be kind, but does it lead to success in life? After all, isn’t kindness about putting other people’s interests first? Doesn’t it require self-sacrifice?

Yet consider these well-known people: James Timpson, boss of the Timpson chain of shoe repairers; Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand. These two are clearly “winners” in their fields, and yet both put kindness at the heart of their strategies for success. What they have found is that taking a more compassionate (同情心) and apparently “softer” approach to business, politics and sports management brings positive results, not just for the benefit of people who work for them, but for their own benefit. The traditional idea that you have to be cruel, driven and focused on number one if you want to achieve success is being discredited (不足为信的).

It’s notable (值得注意的)that in the field of business research, kind leadership is more often referred to as “ethical” (有道德的) leadership, maybe because it sounds less soft. But whatever you decided to call it, studies have shown that it can result in a more positive atmosphere at work and that employees perform better too. There’s evidence that even small acts of kindness and cooperation by anyone can make a difference in a workplace. An example might be getting the printer mended, rather than leaving it broken for the next person to find, or watering the plants in the office. These actions aren’t required as part of the job, but if we carry them out, the working environment is a little better for everyone.

Of course, there are still plenty of examples of people who do well in life, but they are self-centered and unkind to others. But the point is that despite what we might see, you don’t have to be hard-nosed (不讲情面的) to get on in business or other highly competitive walks of life. You can’t be a winner simply through being kind of course — you need motivation, dedication and skills too — but there’s more and more evidence that showing some kindness as you pursue your goal is no barrier (障碍) to success.

1. Why does the author include questions in the first paragraph?

A．To enrich the content.	B．To reveal a truth.
C．To express different attitudes.	D．To encourage readers to think.

2. Which of the statements can we learn from the text?

A．Kindness can be a win-win result for both employees and employers in business.

B．There is no doubt that to be ruthless, driven and focused on number one can lead to success.

C．The positive atmosphere in the workplace is part of the job.

D．Motivation, dedication, skills and kindness can prevent you from achieving success.

3. How did the author develop his or her arguments?

A．By comparing various ideas.	B．By listing different people.
C．By collecting the supporting examples.	D．By observing the workers’ reaction.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards kindness leading to success in life?

A．Doubtful.

B．Concerned.

C．Supportive.

D．Mixed.

7 . When it comes to my fathering lessons, few adventures compare to the motorcycle trips I’ve shared with my daughter, Ewa.

Our first_______, in August 2017, was a winding (蜿蜒的) ride around the Catskills and Finger Lake districts of New York state. We _______ big highways and spent the week on_______ scenic back roads. At one point, I found myself _______along a Catskills meadow (草地) not far from Woodstock, keeping pace with a deer and shouting, “Go Bambi, go!”

On our second day, we _______ in a small town for ice cream. I asked the woman at the picnic table next to us: “What’s the_______ of this town?” “Interlaken,” she answered.“Where are you trying to get to?”

Me: “We don’t know. ”

It _______ to me then that I’d always wanted to do this no-schedule kind of trip, when you ride just for riding. Ask any middle-aged _______: We’ve all dreamed about doing the Easy Rider (逍遥骑士) thing, throwing our wristwatches into the ditch and heading toward the horizon without a_______. Now, travelling with no plan became a________ of my rides with Ewa.

Since we almost ________ knew where we were going, we were almost never ________ when we arrived, pulling ________ the road at the end of each day with satisfaction. The reason to celebrate? We________! The truth is that life on a motorbike is one close call (死里逃生) after another. On the way, riders must stay ________ 100 percent of the time. A tiny stone can be deadly. I used to be nervous, but Ewa had a different take: “To me, motorcycling is like meditation(冥想). ”

1.

A．sail

B．flight

C．goal

D．journey

2.

A．avoided

B．chose

C．built

D．promoted

3.

A．straight

B．twisty

C．main

D．broad

4.

A．walking

B．running

C．riding

D．laughing

5.

A．settled

B．stopped

C．landed

D．moved

6.

A．population

B．rule

C．name

D．position

7.

A．occurred

B．happened

C．mattered

D．referred

8.

A．engineer

B．bicyclist

C．chemist

D．motorcyclist

9.

A．destination

B．reaction

C．exploration

D．explanation

10.

A．course

B．benefit

C．feature

D．present

11.

A．never

B．always

C．completely

D．absolutely

12.

A．satisfied

B．disappointed

C．surprised

D．frightened

13.

A．out

B．in

C．off

D．down

14.

A．grew

B．failed

C．waited

D．survived

15.

A．silent

B．smooth

C．careful

D．energetic

8 . George Headley would have been a dentist in the USA rather than one of the greatest cricketers (板球运动员) if he had got his papers from Panama on time. The Indian legend was born in Colón, Panama and a period of unemployment in Jamaica caused him to begin the process of seeking a career elsewhere.

The delay, however, gave Headley time to make his first-class debut (首次亮相) for Jamaica against the visiting Lord Tennyson’s XI from England. These were his scores in the three first-class games in the series: 16, 40, and 71. The rest, as they say, is history. Yet, consider what might have occurred if his documents had arrived on time and he had migrated to America. There would have been a missing chapter in cricket.

Headley’s ta le brings to the fore the role that happenstance (偶然情况) plays in life. In the song A Different Comer, George Michael lamented (哀叹) that a romantic union went wrong and suggested that it might have been better if circumstances had worked to prevent their first meeting: “Take me back in time; maybe I can forget. Turn a different corner and we never would have met.”

Our lives are the result of much planning and deliberate action. But they are the result of chance as well. “The harder I practice, the luckier I get” is a quote normally used by sportsmen to discount the occurrence or consequence of luck. Athletes like to think that whatever success they’ve had is only down to them. To admit otherwise is to devalue the skills and efforts.

The changes in luck are a large part of why we watch sports. It fosters uncertainty, which, in turn. enhances interest in the process and the result. On any given day, the underdog can be at the champion. Whenever that occurs, luck is likely to have played some significant part, and sport is better for it.

1. What decision did George Headley make before getting his papers?

A．To complete his official documents in Panama.	B．To sharpen his cricket skills in Jamaica.
C．To get a degree in medicine in the USA.	D．To work as a dentist in the USA.

2. What can we say about the delay of Headley’s papers?

A．It affected his debut performance.	B．It became a turning point in his life.
C．It benefited the England cricket team.	D．It led to a missing chapter in cricket.

3. Why did the author mention the song A Different Corner?

A．To stress the importance of chance.

B．To explain the necessity of planning ahead.

C．To show the significance of the first impressions.

D．To illustrate a love-hate relationship with friends.

4. What does George Headley’s career story mainly tell us?

A．Practice makes perfect.	B．Little people can make a big difference.
C．Efforts and chances are equally important.	D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

9 . For most of my life, I didn’t like being seen. I went bright red when it was my turn to speak in a group. I hated the teacher asking me something. I even didn’t like my family all looking at me! I often tried to hide away and avoid being seen by others! So, it’s not strange that I feared speaking in front of others.

Luckily, I’ve learned to overcome my problem. Now I love helping others who have the same problem that I once had but want to speak up because they have valuable things to share. I particularly love helping entrepreneurs (企业家) to become more confident. When you help a leader, the impact is so much greater.

Over the years I’ve discovered that there are three main problems that people have when it comes to speaking in public. The first is a lack of self­belief. They doubt themselves and question whether what they have to say is valuable. The second is a fear of being seen as arrogant (傲慢的). The third is a fear of rejection or a fear of not being liked.

All of these problems are related to mindset, specifically, a fear­based mindset, which is common. These fears stop people from stepping up as the leader and influencer they were born to be.

If you want to become a more effective influencer, it is so important to work on any fears you have of judgment or rejection. They will be a ball and chain that will hold you back from success. We need to take action despite feeling fear. We can’t wait for the fear to go away as it won’t go away itself. We have to act while we still feel it. And to overcome fears, we should practice. Confidence is attached to progress, and we only progress if we practice. If you don’t feel you’re progressing, you’ll start to lose your confidence and stay stuck in fear.

1. What does the author like doing now?

A．Giving speeches in front of people.

B．Sharing experiences with her followers.

C．Making friends with famous entrepreneurs.

D．Helping others gain confidence in speaking in public.

2. What can we learn about the problems that prevent people from talking publicly according to the author?

A．They are very difficult to overcome.

B．They lead to a very uncommon mindset.

C．They exist mainly because of people’s fears.

D．They are no problem for leaders or influencers.

3. What does the author suggest people do?

A．Wait for the fear to disappear.

B．Avoid failure to become more confident.

C．Refuse judgment or rejection from others.

D．Practice hard to make progress in spite of fears.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Finding the Courage Inside You

B．Becoming a more Influential Person

C．Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking

D．Expressing Your Ideas more Effectively

10 . Yesterday was my birthday, but I didn’t_________a plan to do anything with anyone. Feeling greatly_________, I decided to go out to buy a cup of coffee for a birthday celebration by myself. By the time I arrived at my favourite coffee shop, I_________a couple of ladies into the shop and waited to_________. One of the ladies asked me, “Do we get our own table or do the waiters find one for the_________?” I answered, “I think you get your own table and I’m waiting for that small one because I’m here to_________my birthday alone.” The coffee shop was fairly_________and they suggested we_________a table together. I_________that wonderful idea.

To my__________, when it was my turn to order and pay the bill, I was told it had been ordered and paid for. On sitting at the table, the ladies told me they were glad to give the surprise as a__________to me on my birthday.

We spent one hour__________ happily together and we shared many topics of common interest.__________, we had to say goodbye and continued on our separate journey. It was more than I could have expected for the day. Thank you, __________-my lovely angels for the day. They__________me that sharing is a joy. We should thank those who help and care about us.

1.

A．give away

B．come up with

C．stick to

D．break away from

2.

A．sad

B．tired

C．proud

D．excited

3.

A．helped

B．advised

C．drove

D．followed

4.

A．listen

B．fight

C．order

D．change

5.

A．friends

B．bosses

C．customers

D．workers

6.

A．show

B．celebrate

C．protect

D．attend

7.

A．full

B．empty

C．far

D．clean

8.

A．lay

B．move

C．share

D．buy

9.

A．reported

B．refused

C．recorded

D．accepted

10.

A．fear

B．pity

C．surprise

D．regret

11.

A．cake

B．dish

C．menu

D．gift

12.

A．standing

B．talking

C．looking

D．waiting

13.

A．Luckily

B．Finally

C．Slowly

D．Secretly

14.

A．ladies

B．gentlemen

C．kids

D．parents

15.

A．taught

B．wished

C．asked

D．offered