1 . Even when you have confidence in yourself, your goals will sometimes seem out of reach. When that happens, get hold of the people who _________ you and your goals and don’t let go!

When I was younger, I _________ because life felt so hard. I had _________to become a teacher or a business administrator. I knew I needed a college degree, but I had _________ believing in myself. Then a teacher in my high school _________ me. He told me three things: First, if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be _________ to get anyone else to believe in you. Second, never let other people’s _________ to see your brilliance prevent you from being brilliant. And third, despite life’s _________, stick to creating the future you want.

Early in my _________, I was teaching a workshop when a person in the audience yelled out to me. He told me I had __________ made a job choice and had a bright future. This __________ feedback (反馈)came at just the right time, because while the audience didn’t know it, I was __________ self-doubt.

Even now, I __________ myself that I have a bright future. That’s what I tell myself when I __________ success and failure. You have a bright future ahead. Think about this every single day. Remember your talents, skills, and interests. Explore the jobs that interest you, and have courage—and most __________, believe in yourself.

1.

A．refer to

B．depend on

C．learn from

D．believe in

2.

A．quit

B．struggled

C．regretted

D．argued

3.

A．responsibilities

B．dreams

C．opportunities

D．doubts

4.

A．stopped

B．admitted

C．allowed

D．considered

5.

A．tracked

B．recommended

C．accompanied

D．encouraged

6.

A．serious

B．possible

C．hard

D．necessary

7.

A．request

B．unwillingness

C．inability

D．attempt

8.

A．difficulties

B．options

C．aims

D．standards

9.

A．career

B．experiment

C．business

D．recovery

10.

A．foolishly

B．simply

C．wisely

D．bravely

11.

A．original

B．familiar

C．typical

D．positive

12.

A．looking into

B．taking down

C．dealing with

D．pointing out

13.

A．introduce

B．remind

C．guarantee

D．warn

14.

A．experience

B．describe

C．compare

D．limit

15.

A．probably

B．fortunately

C．obviously

D．importantly

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.

3 . When I was a young girl in 8th grade, my classmates told me how they met new friends and even chatted with celebrities on the Internet. I was intrigued and wanted to experience these exciting things. I opened an online account; this was the beginning of my journey through the virtual world. As time went by, I became accustomed to checking social media more frequently. I buried myself in social media, chatting with friends and sharing my life with them. Social media was a source of happiness and more so, it brought a sense of satisfaction, pain, and frustration.

My newfound interest started interfering (干扰) with my schoolwork. Instead of checking my school notes in time as usual, I checked social media more often to see what was happening with my friends’ lives. But I later discovered that by becoming more aware of other people’s lives, I became less in tune with myself. I was more focused on the illusions social media presented than the realities of my life. Thus, I started to sense depression, jealousy and hatred as a result of comparing my life with others. And I became much like what the people in the virtual world expected of me.

Luckily, my phone went missing and my mother refused to get me a new one. I felt sad and lonely. However, her refusal led to something more meaningful to my life. Within a month, I became less concerned about other people’s lives and more concerned about my courses. And I had more time to study and sleep.

Lack of social media also made me realize that social media had been interfering with my study habits and my private life. For example, I had no privacy. Anyone who had access to my social media profiles could easily find out where I lived. Moreover, I sometimes spent 15 hours browsing through social media without doing anything productive.

After examining my use of social media, I decided not to entirely quit social media, but to change the way I use them. I unfollowed sites that didn’t contribute to positive or educative aspects of my life. I only use social media to spread positive messages and connect with others. Social media is not inherently bad, but it becomes terrible when we are addicted to it.

1. After creating an online account, the author       .

A．became less in harmony with herself

B．showed no concern for her school work

C．lived a more exciting and satisfying life

D．cared more about others and felt happier

2. Lack of social media made the author       .

A．develop new hobbies

B．focus more on her studies

C．forget how to access her account

D．unfollow sites connected with her life

3. The author might agree that social media       .

A．ruins people’s life and should be quit

B．broadens people’s views of the world

C．challenges people’s self-control ability

D．plays a primary role in people’s life

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．A struggle in the days without phones.

B．Ways to get rid of social media addiction.

C．A personal experience with the virtual world.

D．Drawbacks of social media outweigh benefits.

4 . As to psychological well-being, the comfort zone is frequently perceived as a haven, a familiar location where individuals feel calm and peaceful. Pushing beyond this psychological state might have benefits.

The comfort zone can be understood as a behavioral metaphor. Within a comfort zone, an individual takes on a state of minimal anxiety without a perception of risk, responding predictably to deliver a consistent level of performance. These include behaviors that people do commonly, find relaxing, or that take them away from high-stress situations. Engaging in the same manner over time leads to a predictable and familiar zone of comfort. As creatures of habit, we become dependent on these routines that we know we can complete well to feel secure. However, by stepping outside of our comfort zone, we learn about our ability to handle new situations and control risks, leading to greater self-confidence, and lower levels of anxiety.

One study found that individuals who are more secure in stepping out of their comfort zone are more likely to be excited by and look forward to new experiences, feeling greater confidence in their ability to take them on.

One behavior that demonstrates the benefits of stepping out of a comfort zone is learning to play a musical instrument. When we consider actions outside of our comfort zone, we must assess our desire to engage in that activity. By weighing the pros and cons, we evaluate how uncomfortable a situation may seem, and whether the danger of entering such an unknown situation will be worth the risk.

Music offers a safe way to step out of your initial comfort zone because you can begin by practicing in an isolated setting, which offers a casual, safe way to build a new skill set. By picking up and practicing a new instrument, you have proven to yourself that you are capable of meeting an unfamiliar objective, thus decreasing anxiety.

1. What does the underlined word “haven” in Paragraph 1 most probably mean?

A．Habitat.

B．Shelter.

C．Community.

D．Destination.

2. Which will not be considered when we step out of our comfort zone?

A．We recall the old experience.

B．We think whether it is worth the risk.

C．We evaluate our thirsty for the activity.

D．We weigh the strengths and weaknesses.

3. What will be probably discussed in the following paragraph?

A．The definition of the comfort zone.

B．The importance of psychological well-being.

C．The process of learning a new musical instrument.

D．The benefits of stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．How to Identify Comfort Zone

B．Staying Inside Comfort Zone is Important

C．Stepping Outside Comfort Zone Promotes Learning

D．How to Take Yourself Away from High-stress Situations

5 . After a whole week of rain we finally had a comfortable, beautiful summer day outside. My family and I were driving to a nearby town when my daughter _________ a yard sale. Then, a few miles down the road, we saw another, and another, and another, We saw tables full of knickknacks. We saw plates, glasses, and silverware. _________, we saw lots of smiling people talking, laughing, sitting, and standing in the sunshine.

Seeing all of this brought back _________ of my childhood. Most of the clothes in my closet back then came from _________. My mom was a talented yard sale-shopper. When I was little, she would drag me along with her. I used to _________ going to them, until one special day when I saw that they also sold old _________. After that, I always browsed through the books until it was time to _________. Sometimes mom would _________ me one too. Soon, a large part of my home library came from yard sale books. For me, these books were more _________ than their first editions.

Why do we have yard sales? It certainly isn’t for the ____________. For all the time and ____________ people put into them, they would hardly make minimum wage from the sales. I think, rather, it is yard sales that ____________ us together. We ____________ our old things and we buy “new” old things. We talk and ____________ old friends and new neighbors. We get a ____________ to give and share. We ____________ through kindness and love among all the old stuff. It’s all about ____________, both in goods and between people.

I think yard sales teach us something about ____________ too. We can’t really ____________ anything here, after all; all we get is ____________ possession of our stuff, then it comes time for us to let it go and pass it on.

1.

A．announced

B．spotted

C．prepared

D．recalled

2.

A．Even so

B．In short

C．At least

D．Above all

3.

A．problems

B．memories

C．realities

D．dreams

4.

A．markets

B．neighbors

C．yard sales

D．shopping malls

5.

A．imagine

B．enjoy

C．practice

D．hate

6.

A．books

B．paintings

C．plates

D．toys

7.

A．go

B．start

C．work

D．register

8.

A．award

B．write

C．buy

D．lend

9.

A．popular

B．useful

C．different

D．priceless

10.

A．fun

B．money

C．relaxation

D．responsibility

11.

A．love

B．resource

C．fund

D．effort

12.

A．mix

B．bring

C．guide

D．inspire

13.

A．get rid of

B．put away

C．go through

D．make use of

14.

A．pass by

B．look for

C．catch up with

D．face up to

15.

A．tradition

B．goal

C．chance

D．job

16.

A．extend

B．connect

C．learn

D．compete

17.

A．communication

B．information

C．delivery

D．exchange

18.

A．life

B．ethics

C．economy

D．society

19.

A．purchase

B．explore

C．own

D．trust

20.

A．temporary

B．legal

C．normal

D．full

6 . When Failure Is a Good Thing

Failure is an important process you can learn from.    1    

Most people view failure as something that should be avoided at all costs.    2    It may have been an “F” we received on a paper or the high expectations our parents placed upon our shoulders that stopped us from trying.

Award-winning psychologist and author, Ron Friedman, tells the story of how Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, revolutionized the women's clothing industry and became a billionaire in his book, The Best Place To Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace.

    3     She had zero experience in the clothing industry, lacked an education in business and raised only $5,000 to invest. When asked where she found the courage, she gave all credit to her dad. While most parents ask their kids, “How was your day?" when sitting down for dinner, Sara's parents asked her and her brother, “What did you fail at today?” each and every night.

When interviewed by CNN's Anderson Cooper, Sara said, “Instead of failure being the outcome, failure became not trying. It forced me at a young age to want to push myself so much further out of my comfort zone.”     4     It became more about learning and less about a personal weakness.

If we view failure as weakness, we avoid stepping out of our comfort zone.     5     It does not define us, but instead matures us. I 'm sure that there are many risks we would all take in our personal, professional and spiritual lives if we could get past a fear of failure.

What has been the greatest lesson you have learned when taking a chance? Please share with us.

A．And, most importantly, it means you tried.

B．Let's take a look at how Sara faced failures.

C．In reality, Sara's father had re-defined failure.

D．Early on, Sara overcame a series of difficulties.

E．Instead, we must remind ourselves that failure is an action.

F．It is important to reflect on what can be learnt from failure.

G．We tend to connect failure with a bad experience we had as a child.

7 . In Lincoln Elementary School, the students went wild with excitement on hearing the announcement of the upcoming science fair. Among the ________ participants was Alex, a promising young scientist with a passion for ________.

Alex envisioned creating a volcano model for the fair, complete with a(n) ________ display using baking soda (小苏打) and vinegar (醋). He was busy with his project when he noticed Mia, a recent addition to the school, _________ to resolve the complexities of the science fair. Instead of being ________, Alex decided to extend a helping hand and invited Mia to ________ him.

Their working together became a lively ________ of ideas and creativity. Alex patiently explained the scientific method, ________ his knowledge with Mia, who, in turn, put forward new thoughts. They ________ searched for materials, exploring science by trial and error. Time flying, their joint project, an eye-opening solar-powered model, was ________.

On the science fair day, the school gym was full of scientific wonders. When Alex and Mia confidently introduced their project and skillfully ________ the awe-inspiring sight of volcanic eruption, the judges were deeply impressed and awarded them a special ________ for teamwork.

Alex’s decision to ________ to Mia not only made the fair memorable for them but generated positive energy among the students, who realized that ________, as well as kindness, is truly a ________ in supporting one another in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

1.

A．daring

B．curious

C．hesitant

D．eager

2.

A．theory

B．biology

C．experiments

D．adventures

3.

A．burning

B．erupting

C．talent

D．gravity

4.

A．struggling

B．offering

C．demanding

D．managing

5.

A．well-intended

B．self-absorbed

C．hard-working

D．easy-going

6.

A．replace

B．accompany

C．join

D．instruct

7.

A．exchange

B．race

C．change

D．challenge

8.

A．sharing

B．checking

C．doubting

D．acquiring

9.

A．aimlessly

B．randomly

C．leisurely

D．tirelessly

10.

A．initiated

B．born

C．planned

D．located

11.

A．analyzed

B．designed

C．filmed

D．demonstrated

12.

A．contract

B．recognition

C．permit

D．degree

13.

A．reach out

B．get through

C．give in

D．look up

14.

A．competition

B．dignity

C．discipline

D．cooperation

15.

A．destination

B．subject

C．must

D．signal

8 . Fredric Roi Marquez joined a program to give out food to people at a retirement community. By doing so, the high school student hoped to earn a(n) _______ at college. But the program gave him more than he _______, including lessons that would _______ him in the rest of his life, like the qualities of being focused, patient and highly-efficient.

Roy and Lynn moved to the community 12 years ago. They _______ what these young people brought to the community. Roy said, “As you go in and have your dinner offered by young people who are _______ and considerate, you just feel great _______ and strength.” Lynn said the students truly _______ about the people in the community.

For Marquez, the experience was new. He said, “Wow, I’m _______ doing this like I’m working. I get close with ‘Grandma’ and ‘Grandpa’.” Marquez also began _______ special relationships with the residents. Many students kept the residents ________ about their lives.

They talked about school projects, exams and even family issues. They ________ their hopes and sought advice from the residents.

Experts say the experience is good for both ________. Courtney Benhoff is a spokesperson for the community. She said the program offered students the ________ to gain an amount of money. “And through communication, the residents can also better understand these young people that have made their lives more ________,” Courtney Benhoff said. “The program is a good ________ between the young and the old.”

1.

A．scholarship

B．friendship

C．degree

D．living

2.

A．refused

B．expected

C．remembered

D．regretted

3.

A．trouble

B．stop

C．interest

D．serve

4.

A．liked

B．relied on

C．disapproved of

D．missed

5.

A．creative

B．respectful

C．shy

D．ordinary

6.

A．thrill

B．challenge

C．warmth

D．growth

7.

A．worried

B．argued

C．complained

D．cared

8.

A．actually

B．theoretically

C．randomly

D．mentally

9.

A．handling

B．building

C．destroying

D．repairing

10.

A．updated

B．confused

C．pleased

D．concerned

11.

A．advertised

B．lost

C．shared

D．sold

12.

A．couples

B．companies

C．families

D．generations

13.

A．ability

B．right

C．chance

D．permission

14.

A．peaceful

B．reasonable

C．colorful

D．attractive

15.

A．competition

B．bridge

C．difference

D．contrast

9 . “Are you really going to eat another piece of pizza?” It was at my fourteenth birthday party that I received my first _________ related comment. After that day, comments like this _________ in my head longer than they should have. I was _________ picking flaws (缺点) in my figure in the mirror.

I decided that I couldn’t eat like this in order to be _________. It started out as just a little extra _________ every day, like running, but it quickly turned into _________ meals and working out every night before bed. As I _________ the calories, the comments started to change. Perhaps my _________ comment was “You’re so skinny.”

Maybe others didn’t know it, but their comments were _________ my social construction of beauty. However, my condition slowly became worse. My caloric intake was less than that of a child and I no longer had the __________ to do the things I once enjoyed.

Everything changed when I got a call from the director at my dance studio. She __________ me that she had wanted to move me to the advanced level, __________ she noticed I was too skinny. I then realized I nearly __________ my role in The Nutcracker. I was determined that I wasn’t going to let society’s idea of beauty be the death of me.

I want to get better for real this time. Mirrors and scales (秤) have no __________ of who I am. Social constructions of beauty will always be __________ in the world that I live in but I’ve decided not to let them rule over me.

1.

A．habit

B．ability

C．health

D．weight

2.

A．changed

B．stuck

C．competed

D．recreated

3.

A．constantly

B．immediately

C．carefully

D．regularly,

4.

A．famous

B．special

C．pretty

D．brave

5.

A．exercise

B．support

C．reward

D．practice

6.

A．ordering

B．serving

C．quitting

D．cooking

7.

A．cut down

B．took in

C．concentrated on

D．engaged in

8.

A．unexpected

B．favorite

C．brief

D．familiar

9.

A．fueling

B．admitting

C．improving

D．explaining

10.

A．time

B．mood

C．plan

D．energy

11.

A．informed

B．warned

C．reminded

D．persuaded

12.

A．and

B．but

C．since

D．though

13.

A．played

B．forgot

C．lost

D．picked

14.

A．amount

B．intention

C．sign

D．idea

15.

A．true

B．meaningful

C．different

D．present

10 . My plan to learn to play the cello (大提琴) was a health y choice. So I took the next innocent step of going to a shop that sells and rents string instruments, especially violins, violas, and cellos. The place was a hole-in-the-wall, up a steep flight of stairs. Instruments left a narrow path to the counter where a woman with grey hair and warm eyes greeted me. Since I couldn’t form a question about what I wanted, I just stood there exploring the scene, which felt immensely pleasurable.

I rented a cello, a bow, and a case to hold them. What attracted me to the cello was its enormous size and its soft, smooth, and memorable sounds. It’s an instrument made of beautifully polished wood that I could wrap my arms around and feel its powerful vibrations when the strings were played. That was a good starting point for me. The only problem was that I didn’t know how to play it.

There’s a popular belief that the cello is a particularly difficult instrument to learn. Another is the admonition, “Don’t bother if you are a beginner over age 10!” Well, I was 70, and what others thought no longer influenced me. And besides, I thought of the words of Dr. Cohen, who suggested that learning causes physical changes in the brain.

So I found a teacher who had respect for older adult beginners and I practiced diligently, daily for years, and sometimes disheartened, but I kept up. I’m happy to report that now, more than a decade later, I can hold my own in a string trio and two quartets （two violins, a viola, and me, the female cello）and even a senior community band. Of course, I’ll never sound like Yo-Yo Ma but you could recognize a Mozart piece if you heard me play it. And, more importantly, I don’t need to please anyone but myself.

Whether it’s a pleasurable pastime or a new career, the starting point is the same: wonder, curiosity, determination, and the desire to keep your brain sharp.

1. How did the writer feel in the shop?

A．Amused by the shop assistant.

B．Anxious for a live performance.

C．Pleased at the nice music atmosphere.

D．Curious about where to find a teacher.

2. What does the underlined word “admonition” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Approval.	B．Criticism.
C．Puzzlement.	D．Warning.

3. Why does the writer mention Dr. Cohen in paragraph 3?

A．To recommend a reliable doctor.

B．To provide proof for common belief.

C．To add another reason for her decision.

D．To stress the crucial function of the brain.

4. Which of the following can best convey the writer’s idea?

A．Art is man’s second nature.

B．One is never too old to learn.

C．Education is the key to success.

D．Happiness is the best form of health.