1 . Gail Rodgers, a grandma of three, has become a lifeguard at her local pool. Seeing her local pool couldn’t ________ due to a lifeguard shortage, the 66 year old woman decided that her ________ wouldn’t get in the way while helping her community. “I did this lifeguard thing back in the late ‘60s’.________ , I thought I can do this again,’’ she said.

Rodgers, ________ in the late 1960s, said she had to learn new skills. Jeff Blume, president of Cincinnati Pool Management and Rodgers’ boss, also admitted that the physical examination is ________. “Lifeguard candidates have to swim a 300 yard length, and then submerge (潜入水中) and grab a 10-pound brick off the bottom of the pool,” Blume explained.

Through great ________, Rodgers became a part time lifeguard.   “It’s been fun ________ people enjoying the nice weather in the pool. It’s been more ________ than I expected to be,” Rodgers said. Her boss said it has also been a joy to have her on their team.

Blume noted that fear can ________ a lot of people and he’s glad that Rodgers is such a(n) ________ for being courageous. “I think there’s a ________ of ‘I can’t do this’ or ‘That’s not for me. That’s for the young’ or something like that. So, there’s a lot to ________, but if people want to do it, we could help them with the skills and give them a little bit more of a________ before they actually take the class. If people ________ that is an option, I think they might not look at the skills test as a tall mountain to get over.”   They hope more people are inspired to ________ life-guarding as the country continues to face lifeguard shortages.

1.

A．spread

B．decrease

C．operate

D．change

2.

A．gender

B．age

C．behaviour

D．character

3.

A．However

B．Besides

C．Otherwise

D．Therefore

4.

A．trained

B．employed

C．identified

D．replaced

5.

A．fair

B．severe

C．brief

D．practical

6.

A．opportunities

B．achievements

C．efforts

D．choices

7.

A．keeping

B．catching

C．imagining

D．watching

8.

A．pleasant

B．convenient

C．effective

D．significant

9.

A．strike

B．control

C．threaten

D．restrict

10.

A．creation

B．inspiration

C．attraction

D．motivation

11.

A．horror

B．loss

C．relief

D．guilt

12.

A．doubt

B．deny

C．overcome

D．ignore

13.

A．reward

B．boost

C．try

D．taste

14.

A．complain

B．ensure

C．predict

D．recognize

15.

A．take up

B．make up

C．end up

D．pull up

2 . I was busy and often dealt with customer emails at lunch. Even fifteen minutes in the employee lunchroom seemed a _________. My company, like many companies, cut costs by not _________ people as they left. The survivors had to take up more _________.

For me, this _________ no lunch hour, plus taking work home. I wanted to _________, but I couldn’t until I had another job in hand. _________ in theory, but given how annoyed the extra hours made me feel, it was difficult to convince _________ employers to hire me. I felt trapped. Then a chance _________ with a little girl changed my perspective. The girl was _________ happy, standing in line with her mom at the grocery.

“Good day at school?” I asked.

A nod.

“What’s your favorite subject?”

I smiled at the answer. I __________ when that had been my answer. At that time, no teachers told you what to do at lunch. We just played happily.

That brief __________ left me wondering: What had happened to lunch?

I knew that by law I was __________ to a lunch break. So I decided to start __________ it. I began to had a walk during the lunch break, which made me refreshed.

Now I’m still __________ a new position but with less stressed-out urgency than before. You can’t always change your __________, but you can always change your perspective.

1.

A．luxury

B．solution

C．concern

D．procedure

2.

A．protecting

B．reminding

C．supporting

D．replacing

3.

A．guidance

B．work

C．time

D．reference

4.

A．represented

B．proved

C．meant

D．designed

5.

A．accept

B．exchange

C．quit

D．agree

6.

A．Independent

B．Legal

C．Creative

D．Nice

7.

A．potential

B．previous

C．optimistic

D．influential

8.

A．travel

B．discovery

C．cooperation

D．conversation

9.

A．equally

B．merely

C．extremely

D．usually

10.

A．shared

B．remembered

C．recorded

D．checked

11.

A．encounter

B．trip

C．stop

D．summary

12.

A．entitled

B．exposed

C．related

D．suggested

13.

A．evaluating

B．extending

C．taking

D．escaping

14.

A．adapting to

B．looking for

C．taking over

D．adding to

15.

A．circles

B．identity

C．appearance

D．circumstances

3 . Benedict Morelli, one of New York’s top-rated lawyers, owns Morelli Law Firm, which has offices, lawyers, cases and experts all over the country. Benedict Morelli and his team of experienced lawyers are expert at handling a wide variety of cases, from auto and truck accidents, to construction injuries, to complex employment discrimination.

One critical reason for their success is that unlike many firms, Morelli Law has the experience, patience, and resources to pursue all difficult cases. Since founding the firm, Mr. Morelli and his team have successfully dealt with an impressive list of outstanding cases in the industry. In fact, they have delivered more than a billion dollars on behalf of their clients. Impressive firm results include a $95 million settlement in a sexual discrimination case involving Aaron’s Inc., as well as a $62 million settlement for Mark Perez, a construction worker who fell from a roof and suffered a brain injury.

When asked whether they would feel afraid when facing difficult opponents in court, “At my core, I’m a trial lawyer,” said Benedict Morelli. “Because of our experience and accomplishments in the courtroom, our opponents know that we’re prepared to pursue the best result possible. Going to trial does not intimidate us.”

The firm is devoted to realizing its clients’ goals both inside and outside of the courtroom. For example, in a drunk driving case, the firm worked with the client to strengthen New York laws that punish drunk drivers. This effort has made it easier for lawyers in New York to charge drunk drivers. Moreover, Mr. Moreli and his team are also committed to helping those who have been wronged achieve the justice they deserve, no matter the difficulty of the circumstances.

Corporations are powerful actors in society and Mr. Morelli and his team feel fortunate to be in a position to provide the highest level of service to their clients.

1. What contributes to Morelli Law Firm’s success?

A．Talents, Strategies and funds.

B．Attitude, passion and resolution.

C．Experience, patience and resources.

D．Management, devotion and knowledge.

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

A．Scare.

B．Threaten.

C．Benefit.

D．Excite.

3. What can we learn about the company Morelli Law Firm?

A．It has made more than a billion dollars from their clients.

B．It focuses mainly on bringing justice to the wrongful cases.

C．It aims to help clients obtain good outcomes in and out of court.

D．It works with New York to pass laws on banning drinking alcohol.

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

A．Morelli Law Firm	B．A top-rated lawyer
C．Morelli and his cases	D．Corporations in society

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Every day, Duan Lianru spends several hours sitting in her office in Hunchun, Jilin province to make a     1     (compare) of hundreds of photos of Siberian tigers on the computer.

“It seems a little boring, but     2     (basic) I enjoy the work, which makes a connection between me and the big cats,” said the 36-year-old monitor from there search monitoring center of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park. The park     3     (stretch) across the provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang.

Duan is responsible for identifying the tigers according to patterns on     4     (they) fur and giving them something like     5     identity card.

The park,     6     size exceeds (超过) 1.4 million hectares, is the most important habitat for wild Siberian tigers and Amur leopards in China.

The Siberian tigers’ “ID cards” come     7     a lot of important basic data that aids scientific conservation.     8     (base) on such information, Duan draws the family trees of the tigers.

Recent years     9     (see) a remarkable increase in the variety and number of wild animals and more tiger families have been found, including some back two or three generations.

“I feel quite honored to be involved in such significant work.” Duan said. “     10     (create) a more beautiful world, humans and wild animals, I hope, can live in harmony.”

5 . I’ve been working as a UN Peacekeeper in the Central African Republic for the past two years. Before this, I was a pilot and I ________ my work. However, I felt it was my duty to help innocent people who are caught in trouble, so I ________ the United Nations.

The Central African Republic is a relatively small country. Since it got ________ from France in the 1950s, there have been many violent conflicts between the government and rebels (反叛者). In 2012, a civil war began, due to which, over one million people were forced to ________ their homes and there were many deaths and injuries. ________, the United Nations established a peacekeeping ________ in the country.

We peacekeepers ________ cities and villages to ________ that no conflict is occurring and help bring supplies of food and medicine. We are a ________ that can keep people in conflict apart.

As a woman, I am particularly ________ as I can act as a role model for many women and girls in the country. When they see how others respect me, they feel that they also ________ to be respected and treated ________.

My life is not ________ in any way! It’s long hours in a very tough environment. I have basic ________ with just a bed in a shared room. Of course, being away from my family and friends is also very hard at times. However, I know that the Central African Republic is safer because of the UN Peacekeepers, and that makes it all ________.

1.

A．hated

B．enjoyed

C．guarded

D．changed

2.

A．gave in to

B．looked up to

C．kept up with

D．signed up with

3.

A．treatment

B．technology

C．independence

D．inspiration

4.

A．flee

B．return

C．sweep

D．tend

5.

A．In turn

B．In surprise

C．In response

D．In addition

6.

A．measure

B．reputation

C．business

D．mission

7.

A．follow

B．expand

C．monitor

D．block

8.

A．ensure

B．prove

C．report

D．predict

9.

A．bridge

B．barrier

C．castle

D．shelter

10.

A．protected

B．trusted

C．valued

D．doubted

11.

A．deserve

B．prefer

C．plan

D．fail

12.

A．gently

B．equally

C．seriously

D．honestly

13.

A．boring

B．rewarding

C．difficult

D．fancy

14.

A．association

B．accommodation

C．administration

D．adaptation

15.

A．available

B．ambitious

C．worthwhile

D．educational

6 . Get up at 6 am, arrive at the hospital one hour earlier to help patients check in, and accompany patients during consultations… In recent years, “patient escorts” has emerged as a new industry, and those who have taken on this career are known as “people who sell time”, 26-year-old Zhang Tian is one of them.

September 4 was a lucky day for Zhang Tian. On this day, Zhang Tian saw a video about patient escorts on a short video platform. The daily routine of patient escorts shown in the video fascinated her and gradually inspired her to take this on as a business. She browsed through many platforms and read multiple information and found there indeed exists a certain demand for patient escorts, especially for the elderly, children, and pregnant women. Since she had never engaged in this kind of work before, she spent two days in major hospitals in Wuhan, in order to familiarize herself with all the departments on different floors, as well as the processes of medical consultation and preparation for surgery.

After preliminary preparatory (预备的) work, Zhang Tian posted a video of myself-introduction on major social platforms, talking about the help and services a patient escort provides, as well as some tips for a quick and convenient medical consultation. At first, she was a little worried that her video would go unnoticed. However, after she uploaded the video, it got over 100 likes and she received her first ever offer as a patient escort.

The memory of her first task is still alive and fresh in her mind. She received a phone call on September 9 from a man whose father was seriously ill and might need surgery. He wanted Zhang Tian to accompany his father through his consultation and treatment.” Zhang Tian made full preparations before meeting her first client and did a very good job despite her nervousness.

“Later, the family expressed their gratitude to me over and over again, which warmed my heart and gave me a sense of achievement.” Zhang Tian said.

1. What do patient escorts do?

A．They assist doctors in hospitals.

B．They arrive at hospitals early to check in.

C．They take on this career to sell their time.

D．They help patients get treated in hospitals.

2. September 4 was a lucky day for Zhang Tian because ______.

A．she enjoyed seeing an interesting video

B．she got inspiration for her own career

C．she found a demand for medical workers

D．she was well received on social platforms

3. How did Zhang Tian get her first client?

A．She got familiar with the routine work in hospitals.

B．She spent two days in major hospitals to meet patients.

C．Her video on social platforms attracted her first client.

D．The man’s father was seriously ill and might need a surgery.

4. Which of the following words best describe Zhang Tian?

A．Hardworking and considerate.	B．Humorous and careful.
C．Ambitious and imaginative.	D．Talkative and positive.

8 . By my mid-20s, I’d finished my master in psychology, and I was working in Dublin as a health researcher. It was mostly data and statistics work staring at a screen. I was earning more than most of my friends, living the city life, going out at weekends. I had a good pension (养老金) and annual leave but it caused a lot of anxiety and worry.I was really unhappy.

I wanted to get back to feeling passionate about something so I started thinking about the things I used to love. As a child, I’d always been involved in the outdoors, and I used to love hiking but all that had stopped after secondary school. I decided to volunteer with a local youth group and within a month, I’d gone camping with them. I absolutely loved it. It was likes switching on a lightbulb. This was what I’d been missing.

I started taking courses in mountain skills and wilderness first aid, and by August I was working my usual job in the week, and I was a climbing club leader at weekends. I loved connecting with nature, connecting with other people.

Through all this, I learnt about the whole field of nature-based therapies (疗法). It was the perfect fit to combine my psychology background with my passion for the outdoors. I began taking courses in wild therapy, forest bathing and ecopsychology. I left my government job and in July 2020 I launched my business Nature Therapy Ireland, which is booming now.

I’d thought I’d always live in a city but last year, I moved to Tipperary to live at the foot of a mountain, surrounded by nature. If I’m feeling stressed, I can step outside in my bare feet and stand on the grass to ground myself. In Dublin, the front door felt like a barrier—I had to have my keys, my phone, my jacket before I could even go out and find a green space. My life now is leading nature connection hikes and forest bathing walks. My salary has halved for the moment but I’ve adjusted. I’ve never looked back.

1. What did the writer think of her job in Dublin?

A．Stressful.	B．Valueless.
C．Insecure.	D．Demanding.

2. What does the underlined sentence mean in Paragraph 2?

A．She enjoyed her voluntary work.

B．She realized what she really loved.

C．Recalling the past made her happy.

D．A bright future was in store for her.

3. What drove the writer to launch her business Nature Therapy Ireland?

A．Her adventurous experience.

B．Her leadership and background.

C．Her connection with other people.

D．Her major and passion for nature.

4. Why did the writer compare her life in Dublin with that in Tipperary?

A．To highlight how boring city life was.

B．To call on people to get back to nature.

C．To show her satisfaction with her change.

D．To indicate how successful her business was.