1 . “A house without books is like a room without windows,” wrote Horace Mann, the 18th-century writer. I agree wholeheartedly with Mann.     1    

Recently, my husband and I did a painting project in a room we use as an office, which has a beautiful wall full of built-in bookshelves. As we started to pull my valuable books down off the shelves, I felt like I was pulling plants out of the garden.     2     But then I recognized what the project would offer — the opportunity to rethink our book collection.

The physical act of removing every book from its spot on the shelf showed a few unexpected insights (见解).     3     At the same time, there were a number of inviting surprises on the shelves — books I had forgotten were waiting for me to open them. So the painting job led to a parallel (并行的) project of organizing the bookshelves.

I took the opportunity and started by grouping the books. Then I thought about the layout of the books on the shelves.     4     I arranged (布置) a vase here, a figurine (小雕像), there, and a piece of my son’s school art there, each in its place as a symbol of aspects of my life I love as much as I treasure my books.

    5     But it can also be an enjoyable experience if you spend the next rainy afternoon inside in search of something new. You can try pulling your books off the shelf, pay a visit to each one and think in a fresh way about how and where they might live their best lives.

A．A strong wave of anxiety suddenly hit me.

B．I regularly share books with my neighbors.

C．Cleaning a bookshelf might sound like a chore.

D．Choosing a good book to read seems like a difficult task.

E．Surprisingly, I realized my bookshelves had space for more than just books.

F．I take pride in the realization that I have books in every room of my house.

G．For one thing, there were many books that no longer inspired or comforted me.

2 . We will all experience pain, disappointment, and almost certainly loss and sickness. Yet some people ________ by rising to the challenge, while others sink under the weight. What’s the difference? I ________ clinical psychologist Dr. Robert Puff, host of the Happiness Podcast, who speaks ________ about pain and suffering. He explains that ________ is an unavoidable physical feeling. ________, suffering comes from the thoughts we have about the pain we are experiencing-for example, “Why is this happening to me?” or “I’ll never feel good again.” These ________ are what cause suffering, and we can choose to ________ them.

John O’Leary is the host of the Live Inspired Podcast. When he was just nine years old, John suffered ________ burns over his entire body and doctors told him that he had one percent chance of ________. No one expected him to ________. However, after dozens of surgeries and years of treatment and deep inner work, he is a fairly happy, ________ man with a beautiful family. He inspires others through his ________ as a motivational speaker, author, and life coach. He feels that what happened to him was his greatest ________: the realization that, regardless of our personal and professional challenges, we can navigate and overcome to reveal a ________ vision. In John’s words, “You can’t always choose the path you walk in life, but you can always choose the ________ in which you walk.”

1.

A．subscribe

B．proceed

C．respond

D．express

2.

A．interviewed

B．imagined

C．introduced

D．recognized

3.

A．externally

B．joyfully

C．formally

D．wisely

4.

A．mood

B．pain

C．sadness

D．hurt

5.

A．Regardless

B．Instead

C．However

D．Therefore

6.

A．thoughts

B．opinions

C．theories

D．factors

7.

A．shelter

B．decrease

C．improve

D．change

8.

A．gentle

B．severe

C．certain

D．ordinary

9.

A．relief

B．recount

C．survival

D．refreshment

10.

A．make it

B．get across

C．go around

D．pull over

11.

A．potential

B．touchy

C．sincere

D．successful

12.

A．work

B．talent

C．fantasy

D．prediction

13.

A．desperation

B．gift

C．goal

D．task

14.

A．higher

B．rarer

C．brighter

D．calmer

15.

A．angle

B．manner

C．prospect

D．trend

3 . It’s 3 am. I _________ the phone on the wall, ending the conversation with the last of my friends. I can no longer press them for their _________ on what I should do: accept a job as a university officer or move to New York to be an actor?

I feel _________ about what to choose. My eldest sister says that deep inside, I know what the _________ path is, and if I just get quiet enough, that _________ will come up to the surface. But I don’t know how.

I _________ the advantages and disadvantages repeatedly. I can see myself being happy with either _________. “Safe but predictable (可预见的)? Creative but _________? Which should I choose?” I said _________ taking a deep breath.

Suddenly I had an idea. If it’s true that I can be happy with either path, then why not let __________ decide? From my jeans pocket, I __________ a coin. Heads, university. Tails, New York, I flip (轻抛) it.

It __________ beautifully on the table. Heads, Bad luck, Bad luck?! At that moment, I know what I must do. My passion (酷爱) __________ by itself, just as my sister says.

We make __________ every day. Some of them are important: others are not. My __________? Bring lots of change with you, and, like me, let it lead you to your heart.

1.

A．hang up

B．pick out

C．take apart

D．fix up

2.

A．goals

B．opinions

C．explanations

D．solutions

3.

A．doubtful

B．awkward

C．serious

D．sorry

4.

A．difficult

B．different

C．right

D．simple

5.

A．proposal

B．risk

C．trouble

D．answer

6.

A．ignore

B．weigh

C．collect

D．share

7.

A．choice

B．change

C．challenge

D．plan

8.

A．uncertain

B．acceptable

C．regretful

D．uninteresting

9.

A．formally

B．eagerly

C．particularly

D．heavily

10.

A．responsibility

B．emotion

C．chance

D．personality

11.

A．put back

B．pull out

C．throw away

D．set aside

12.

A．exists

B．rolls

C．lands

D．stands

13.

A．improves

B．appears

C．struggles

D．survives

14.

A．friends

B．mistakes

C．discussions

D．decisions

15.

A．complaint

B．dream

C．limit

D．advice

4 . I opened my car window and called out “Ma’am! Ma’am!” The only lady in the parking lot looked around until she saw me. “I just wanted to tell how nice you look today,” I said. “The colors you have on are beautiful on you.” Her face registered surprise for a second, and then she smiled. “Thank you!” she called back. Her final steps to her car seemed lighter, and I smiled to myself.

I grew up with very few cheerleaders in my own life. When I was in the middle of fighting a battle for my life, I had been confirmed depression, along with anxiety. It has taken many years and more effort and determination than I thought I was capable of recovering from this illness. With no cheerleaders in my court, I fought this battle alone. I am proud of the progress I have made thus far. There are times when I thought, if only I had had someone to hold me and say, “Susan, I believe in you. You can do this, and I’ll be there every step of the way.” I wonder how much sooner I would have recovered. I’ll never know.

So I have made it a point in recent years to praise people, especially women and girls. Instead of just thinking that someone looks nice or did a great job, I say it out loud. It doesn’t take long, and it’s easy. So, I wonder, why don’t more people do this? As women, we have learned from our role models to be quiet. We downplay (淡化) our own achievements even when we do receive a rare compliment (恭维). Now, when I compliment someone and she denies, I say to her, “Just say thank you.” Most women are relieved that they don’t have to deny the compliment; they can accept the praise without guilt.

Cheerleading doesn’t require any skills. It only takes a few seconds, although you do have to remind yourself to do it. Eventually, it becomes a habit.

1. How did the lady feel after hearing the author’s praise?

A．Delighted.	B．Anxious.
C．Relaxed.	D．Worried.

2. What made the author become a cheerleader?

A．Her experiences.

B．Her habit.

C．Her personality.

D．Her ambition.

3. What does the author hope when she praises someone?

A．She can be rewarded.

B．She can be appreciated.

C．They can accept the praise.

D．They should say something.

4. Which of the following best describes the author?

A．Caring.	B．Brave.
C．Outgoing.	D．Honest.

5 . At 13, I resolved to be an amazing teacher, overwhelmingly driven by a _________ desire for superpowers, which some of my gorgeous teachers had.

In fifth grade, Ms. Charlotte, an English teacher could magically _________ us to different worlds every day. She encouraged us to find something beautiful on our way home or to school. Perhaps, it could be a _________ of freshly baked bread drifting from someone’s house, or the sound of breezes slightly rustling leaves. She _________ curiosity into us. She guided us to bravely _________ joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, modesty, loyalty, duty, kindness, friendship, sympathy, generosity, creativity, truth and faith.

She told us stories from books we would otherwise never _________. Currently, I still remember highlights of the classic she shared, The Old Man and the Sea. After Santiago, an old fisherman came in empty-handed for eighty-four days, we couldn’t imagine what difficulty he had _________ a huge marlin. At the sight of the beautiful huge _________, he was unable to _________ his excitement, with a bright smile __________ to his face. Yet, a __________ battle lay ahead. He felt faint but held on the great fish with all his strength. “I moved him,” he thought, “Pull, hands. Hold up, legs. Last for me, head. You never went.” For two days and nights __________, the huge fish dragged the boat drifting. The elderly was in danger. Once, twice more, once more he tried and he felt himself extremely __________ when he turned the fish. Finally, the fish was stabbed (刺，戳) and tied to the boat.

What a man! So Ms. Charlotte inspired us to fight for our own pride and defend it, __________ the fact that life will set obstacles on the way to future with challenge, hardship, perhaps loneliness too, which will take all of our courage. It is true that a man can be destroyed physically but cannot be defeated spiritually.

Now, dear teachers, we love you and thank you from the bottom of our heart! I will keep the __________ song you’ve taught us in mind.

When your dreams come alive you’re unstoppable

Take a shot, chase the sun, find the beautiful

We will glow in the dark turning dust to gold

1.

A．depressing

B．burning

C．living

D．entertaining

2.

A．transport

B．interpret

C．deliver

D．transform

3.

A．feature

B．factor

C．function

D．flavour

4.

A．attached

B．advocated

C．breathed

D．exposed

5.

A．pursue

B．contract

C．emerge

D．correspond

6.

A．pick up

B．put up

C．set up

D．get up

7.

A．catching

B．carving

C．casting

D．ceasing

8.

A．seal

B．seashell

C．fish

D．dolphin

9.

A．declare

B．contain

C．encounter

D．integrate

10.

A．drilled

B．soiled

C．nailed

D．covered

11.

A．genuine

B．identical

C．tough

D．internal

12.

A．right away

B．at once

C．on the spot

D．on end

13.

A．embarrassed

B．depressed

C．disappointed

D．exhausted

14.

A．in addition

B．despite

C．due to

D．given

15.

A．stick

B．hit

C．strike

D．rank

6 . 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.

7 . None of my friends are going to the art camp. Despite my ______ for drawing, I decided not to go because I had a hard time jumping into something with no ______ faces around.

Sitting under the bright sun, I thought about the art camp and wished I felt a little braver. To distract myself, I started sketching a pine. ______ myself I was happy to skip the camp, I drew the pine’s strong trunk and ______ the graceful branches, making sure the upper ones ______ gently toward the sun, At this time, Mr. Weston, my neighbor ______, “You’ve done a great job capturing the strength of that tree on paper.” He added, “Actually, you have to spread out the ______ near the surface so the tree can get enough water and grow tall. If you ______ the root ball too deep, the tree withers (凋零). I learned that root grow out, not down from my experience of planting pine trees.” “That ______,” I said. I made adjustments to the root part and then added shading to the branches to give them depth. “You have a good ______,” Mr. Weston said, and then nodded goodbye.

I thought about what Mr. Weston told me as I ______ at the towering pine. I’d never realized how ______ a tree’s roots stretch outward. It made me think about art camp and my own roots. I wasn’t stretching them out at all. ______, I was planting myself into one deep spot because it felt safer. I ______ realized that if I wanted to grow, I had to start reaching out too. That night, I took a deep breath and filled in the ______ for art camp.

1.

A．anxiety

B．enthusiasm

C．recognition

D．expectation

2.

A．pleasant

B．curious

C．familiar

D．regular

3.

A．Informing

B．Teaching

C．Convincing

D．Reminding

4.

A．added

B．counted

C．submitted

D．noticed

5.

A．pressed

B．pulled

C．lifted

D．arranged

6.

A．came up

B．came across

C．checked in

D．checked out

7.

A．trunks

B．leaves

C．branches

D．roots

8.

A．press

B．plant

C．hide

D．follow

9.

A．makes sense

B．makes out

C．makes it

D．makes up

10.

A．eye

B．nose

C．mouth

D．ear

11.

A．glared

B．stared

C．aimed

D．knocked

12.

A．wide

B．long

C．high

D．far

13.

A．Otherwise

B．Therefore

C．Instead

D．Besides

14.

A．surprisingly

B．slightly

C．suddenly

D．fortunately

15.

A．statement

B．presentation

C．appointment

D．application

8 . As an ordinary senior school student, I’ve discovered a wonderful way to _________ life with a positive attitude — my daily bicycle rides. Riding my bike has become more than just a fun activity. It’s like a little _________ that has taught me important lessons about staying positive, facing challenges and being _________.

When I get on my bike and ride around familiar streets, it feels like I’m on a small quest. It’s not just about reaching a(n)_________; it’s about enjoying the ride itself. Cycling has turned into a kind of teacher, helping me understand the _________ of practice and having a can-do spirit. One of the coolest things I’ve learned is about not giving up when things get hard. You know, when I’m trying to pedal up a steep hill, it’s hard! But guess what? Even when my legs feel super tired, I keep going and do not give up, till I reach the _________. Life is kind of like that too. When I have a challenging task or any problems in my studies, I remember those steep hills. I know if I keep trying, I can _________ anything.

Another thing that cycling has taught me is to be ready for surprises. The road isn’t always _________. Sometimes there are bumps, and you have to ride around them. When something is wrong with my bike, I do not _________. I try to find a solution. Life’s a bit like that too. It’s not always easy, but being flexible and staying positive helps me rise to the challenge and handle __________ problems.

The most important part, though, is how cycling makes me feel happy and __________. The wind in my hair and the rhythm of pedaling makes everything seem OK. It’s like a secret power — no matter what’s going on, it keeps me happy, lets me __________ my batteries, and lets me come back feeling __________.

In the end, my daily bike rides have become more than just a way to get around. They’ve become a(n) __________ for how I want to live my life. Cycling has shown me that being positive, facing challenges with __________, and keeping an optimistic attitude can turn the life journey into a fantastic adventure. So, here’s to more bike rides and more fun!

1.

A．estimate

B．approach

C．guarantee

D．challenge

2.

A．phenomenon

B．coincidence

C．adventure

D．entertainment

3.

A．flexible

B．unique

C．traditional

D．responsible

4.

A．cooperation

B．dilemma

C．crisis

D．destination

5.

A．discovery

B．value

C．comment

D．growth

6.

A．top

B．coast

C．stage

D．platform

7.

A．describe

B．detect

C．remove

D．overcome

8.

A．delicate

B．fragile

C．smooth

D．tough

9.

A．volunteer

B．insist

C．pray

D．panic

10.

A．original

B．unexpected

C．crucial

D．natural

11.

A．useful

B．efficient

C．carefree

D．curious

12.

A．apply

B．recharge

C．develop

D．recognize

13.

A．alarmed

B．embarrassed

C．fresh

D．emotional

14.

A．audience

B．passenger

C．victim

D．guide

15.

A．determination

B．attempt

C．comfort

D．calmness

9 . I was on the train one afternoon. Our carriage was almost empty, just a few people. At one station, a drunk man suddenly entered the train. He shouted and swung his fists (拳头) at a woman holding a baby. Luckily the baby wasn’t hurt. Then he tried to kick an old woman. Everyone was scared.

I’d been learning aikido (合气道，功夫的一种) for the past three years. But I’d never fought in real life. As students of aikido, we are not allowed to start a fight. “Aikido,” my teacher always told us, “is about solving conflict, not starting it.”   

I decided that this was my moment. If I didn’t do something fast, somebody might get hurt. So I stood up, ready to fight.

Just then, someone shouted, “Hey!” It was an old man. He was smiling at the drunk man. “What have you been drinking?” he asked.

“I’ve been drinking wine , but it’s none of your business!” said the drunk man angrily. “Oh, that’s wonderful,” said the old man. Then he told how he loved drinking wine with his wife and eating watermelon.

“I also love watermelon,” said the drunk man.

“And I’m sure you have a wonderful wife, too,” said the old man.

“No,” replied the drunk man. “My wife died,” Then he began to sob (啜泣), “I have no wife, no home, no job. I’m so ashamed of myself.”

“Oh, that is so difficult. Sit down here and tell me about it,” said the old man.

As I got off the train, I realized I’d just seen real aikido in action. This was the spirit of how to solve conflict.

1. What happened on the train?

A．A man was drinking wine.	B．A drunk man was acting wildly.
C．A baby was hurt by a man’s fists.	D．An old woman was knocked down.

2. What can we learn from the aikido teacher’s words?

A．Students shouldn’t learn aikido.	B．Aikido is not used to start fights.
C．Aikido can’t actually solve conflicts.	D．Using aikido may start conflicts.

3. What was the drunk man’s situation in life?

A．His business went broke.	B．He had a wonderful wife.
C．He was living a great life.	D．He had no place to live.

4. What does the writer mean in the last paragraph?

A．There are real and fake (假的) forms of aikido.

B．The real spirit of aikido is to start conflict.

C．Fighting is not the only way to solve conflicts.

D．Everyone should learn aikido to protect themselves.

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Who is probably the speaker?

A．A reporter.

B．A teacher.

C．A writer.

2. What did the coachman do outside the theater?

A．He read a book.

B．He looked after the horse.

C．He enjoyed the snow.

3. How did the young lady feel about the coachman’s situation?

A．Sad.

B．Moved.

C．Casual.

4. What does the speaker want to tell us?

A．Help those around us as much as we can.

B．Read as many books as we can.

C．Be grateful for what we have.