1 . Self-esteem is the ruling view you have of yourself. This includes your beliefs about your inner qualities and how you think others see you.     1     Someone can develop low self-esteem even when they are highly functional and greatly skilled. Understanding this mysterious emotional currency might be the key to unlocking your own self-worth.

People with healthy self-esteem don't need to boast about themselves to others. People with low self-esteem may tell you how much everyone loves them, what a great job they do at work, and how amazing they are at pretty everything under the sun even though they really wonder if it's true. People may see them as obnoxious or “full of themselves”.     2     They are not shy about sharing ideas, including constructive criticisms of others. They also take care of themselves without second-guessing or apologizing. They are the people who we say seem “sure of themselves”.

If you're starting to think you may have low self-esteem, you can work on the way you talk to yourself. When you turn off negative self-talk, you can open the floor to positive reinforcements and access the courage to show different sides of yourself. It isn't going to feel good at first, though. Keep going until it becomes less and less and maybe even a few awkward laughs in the mirror may help.     3    

However, in serious cases of low or even non-existent self-esteem, you may want to call in a professional or a specialist. Good mental health is important, and professionals doing psychotherapy do not pass judgement or give corrections.     4     It is the best way to get at the roots of your real self-esteem problems.

    5     It will take some work but your entire life — from your relationships to your body image to your work habits — will be touched with the kind of power that only comes from someone believing in themselves. This is the hardest part, and the greatest leap. With some changes and support, you can improve your self-esteem and see how everything else changes as a result.

A．Self-esteem is not always rooted in reality, though.

B．You have the power to shape a new self-perception.

C．This encourages you to speak openly without worry.

D．The real test of character is whether they can learn from their mistakes.

E．Self-esteem refers to a person's overall sense of his or her value or worth.

F．People with a healthy level of self-esteem present themselves with a casual confidence.

G．With some practice and persistence, you will win this internal struggle to see your self-worth.

2 . On the morning of September 11th, my closest friend, Kevin Bowser, died in the World Trade Center. The sorrow was so awful, but I was determined to channel it into something with_________.

The next summer, I set off on a two-month bicycle tour to Philadelphia to _________ him. The whole nation was in deep sorrow and, as I travelled and _________ new people, we would inevitably (不可避免地) hug. I didn’t notice the _________ they brought at the time, but when I returned, a friend said that I often spoke about the hugs I shared with _________. The bike ride and the _________ I made enriched me, so I planned a second. I call it “Big Dave’s hug” .

Between 2002 and 2015, I _________ the stretches of North America three times. My Big Dave’s hug banner (横幅) introduced me and my _________. Some people were _________ about hugging me when they didn’t know the first thing about me. But when they saw my intention was__________ and I wasn’t asking for anything, they __________. Young people would reveal their childhood secrets and affairs, while elders always had great stories to __________. Every city would warn me that the next was less __________, but they never were.

It generated enormous joy. It was not just a hug, but also __________ and moments. People ask why I’m doing it and I say it __________ me, makes me smile and provides perspective.

1.

A．regret

B．purpose

C．reputation

D．profit

2.

A．amuse

B．check

C．honour

D．trick

3.

A．hired

B．met

C．avoided

D．treated

4.

A．pride

B．emptiness

C．sorrow

D．comfort

5.

A．strangers

B．volunteers

C．victims

D．consultants

6.

A．connections

B．schedules

C．donations

D．promises

7.

A．charted

B．studied

C．cycled

D．secured

8.

A．destination

B．achievement

C．mission

D．background

9.

A．particular

B．curious

C．positive

D．hesitant

10.

A．sincere

B．unclear

C．strange

D．awful

11.

A．got away

B．opened up

C．gave in

D．looked out

12.

A．share

B．type

C．edit

D．collect

13.

A．known

B．ambitious

C．civilized

D．friendly

14.

A．conversations

B．challenges

C．tensions

D．tolerances

15.

A．beautifies

B．publicizes

C．enriches

D．shelters

3 . In a class many years ago, the teacher gave us the “unpardonable”—the class homework! The _______ was to go to someone you love and tell them you love them. _______ it doesn’t sound like a very tough assignment, I realized that I was _______ the generation of men who were taught that expressing emotions is not “macho” (男子气概的).

You see, five years ago, my father and I had a _______ disagreement and we _______ seeing each other unless it was Christmas or other family _______. But by the time I got home I had convinced myself I was going to tell my father I loved him. It’s weird, but just making that decision seemed to lift a heavy load _______ my chest. So I rushed home to tell my wife my plan. When I told her, she hugged me, and for the first time in our married life she saw me cry.

The next morning, I went to the office early and _________ more in two hours than I had the whole day before. At 9:00 I called my dad, “Dad, can I _________ tonight?” My dad responded with a(n) __________ tone, “Now what?” At 5:30, I was at my parents’ house ringing the doorbell, __________ that Dad would answer the door. I was ________ if Mom answered that I would chicken out and tell her instead.

But luckily, Dad did answer the door. I took a deep breath to __________ myself and said, “Dad, I just came over to tell you that I love you.” It was as if a transformation came over my dad. His face ________, the wrinkles seemed to disappear and he began to cry. He hugged me tightly and said, “I love you, too, son.”

Two days after that visit, my dad, who had heart problems, but didn’t tell me, had a heart attack and ________ in the hospital, unconscious. I don’t know if he’ll make it. So my message to all of you is this: Don’t wait to go to someone you love and tell them you love them and do it now!

1.

A．job

B．suggestion

C．assignment

D．promise

2.

A．If

B．Although

C．However

D．Also

3.

A．lost in

B．informed of

C．tired of

D．raised in

4.

A．unforgettable

B．disturbing

C．heated

D．emotional

5.

A．considered

B．enjoyed

C．admitted

D．avoided

6.

A．meetings

B．gatherings

C．celebrations

D．situations

7.

A．off

B．on

C．above

D．over

8.

A．left

B．accomplished

C．relaxed

D．stimulated

9.

A．stay up

B．hang out

C．show up

D．come over

10.

A．indifferent

B．impatient

C．pleasant

D．bitter

11.

A．thinking

B．considering

C．hoping

D．wondering

12.

A．worried

B．excited

C．confused

D．surprised

13.

A．calm

B．withdraw

C．encourage

D．persuade

14.

A．darkened

B．softened

C．tightened

D．strengthened

15.

A．ended up

B．picked up

C．got away

D．passed away

4 . I am a cognitive behavioral hypnotherapist (认知行为治疗师). I started my practice from sleep disorders, and soon came to realize how strongly loneliness was linked with poor sleep. I’ve focused on my skills and understanding of loneliness in order to know how I could best serve my patients.

Loneliness is an emotion. We probably all experience it at some point, but loneliness is very complicated and unique to each of us. There’s a big difference between loneliness and solitude (独处). Being alone is a choice, while feeling lonely isn’t something we force ourselves. You want to be around people, but something is making you feel unwanted or empty, so you’re not having the meaningful connection you seek.

When you’re feeling lonely over a long period of time, it becomes a chronic (慢性的) problem. It can finally turn into a mental and physical health problem, and can be a symptom or cause of depression. It can affect self-respect. You might turn to food and not feel like exercising, as chronic loneliness is linked to increased risk of high blood pressure, obesity and even dementia (痴呆).

To manage loneliness, you need to accept it. Loneliness is one of the most common feelings people have. Don’t brush it under the carpet, as that doesn’t help solve the problem. Seek joy in little things, like smelling a flower or a walk in nature. Celebrate each small achievement. When you decide to change things and seek a connection in with others, consider ale-minded group. A patient of mine joined a sewing group and it was very successful.

The best way to help somebody who is lonely is to sensitively ask how they are and what they’re doing, and listen to the answer in a non-judgmental way. If you want to invite them to do something with you, do it. If they say no, don’t be discouraged from asking again. They might need time before feeling ready to say yes.

1. Why does the author focus on loneliness?

A．To do research on patients’ sleep disorders.

B．To find out the true reason for loneliness.

C．To provide better service for patients.

D．To help poor sleepers gain a better sleep.

2. What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?

A．Accepting loneliness is the only cure.

B．Hiding loneliness turns out to be unwise.

C．Joining a sewing group proves successful.

D．Meeting people with common interests won’t help.

3. If you want to help your friend Tom who is lonely, what will you do?

A．Invite him later again though he has refused.

B．Leave him alone for fear of disturbing him.

C．Tell him right from wrong after listening to him carefully.

D．Ask about his conditions publicly when noticing him in a bad mood.

4. What do we know about loneliness according to the text?

A．Loneliness is a choice that people can choose by themselves.

B．Loneliness is a factor that can influence your self-reflection.

C．Loneliness is a serious problem that can cause dementia directly.

D．Loneliness is a complicated emotion that people may all experience.

5 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Hunger

When I was a young boy, my mother would place spoonfuls of vegetables onto my plate whether I wanted them or not and the rule in our family was that we always had to clean our plates. However, I rarely saw my mother eat the vegetables herself. She always served us first. She seemed never hungry.

She worked for a rich lady in town, and I always assumed that the reason why she didn’t have our tasteless meals was that she had eaten meats and sweets in the rich lady’s kitchen. Our meals were boring, and there was never enough since there were ten of us — my parents plus eight children.

One afternoon my older sisters were sick, so they couldn’t take care of me. Therefore, my mother had no choice but to bring me with her. It was a long winter day and as my father hadn’t had much work, we had even less food than usual. So I was very excited to go to the rich woman’s house.

My mother placed me in a corner while she rolled out pie crust (饼皮). Then she cooked some meat, and by the afternoon, the pleasant smell filled the kitchen and was making its way into my empty stomach. Then, a bell rang in the kitchen and my mother told me, “Don’t move” and then left.

I tried to do as told, but then I thought it wouldn’t matter if I ate just one blackberry. So I put a single blackberry into my mouth. What an explosion of flavor! The wonderful taste hitting my empty stomach was more than I could handle! Soon I was throwing blackberries into my mouth with two hands! It wasn’t until I was staring at the empty bowl that I noticed the empty, unbaked pie crust sitting on the table waiting for the berries. I looked around for more berries, but there was none. Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching, so I quickly hid into the cupboard (碗柜).

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Just at the moment, my mother entered the kitchen, following a well-dressed lady.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After the lady left, I crept(爬) out of the cupboard with tears streaming down my face.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . Auntie Zeny took care of me from the time I was born until I was 15. She didn’t join us for ________, eating at a small table attached to the washing machine. I remember lingering around her and wondering why she ate ________. She would give me a motherly smile and ________ me back to the dining room. They are your parent; I am not, was the ________ she seemingly wanted to make clear.

It was ________ for me to view Auntie Zeny as anything but a second mother. Whenever my real mother talked to her about not completing certain housework properly, I would ________ Auntie Zeny. Every evening before my parents came home, she would patiently listen to me ________ about classmates and homework. Then she would comfort me and offer ________ in the form of Christian stories. Meanwhile, all her kids had to crowd around the phone once a week, ________ to hear their mother’s voice on the other side of the line.

After leaving Hong Kong to attend high school in the USA, and ________ university in Canada, I still found myself ________ Auntie Zeny. So I flew to visit her in the Philippines. I met some of her kids, now adults. Perhaps due to my guilt for having taken ________ away from their mom, I expected that I would be ________, but they spoiled (善待) me, serving me big portions at every ________ meal!

Now, my parents regularly send some of their allowance to Auntie Zeny to show their ________ because she greatly influenced my emotional and moral development.

1.

A．talks

B．games

C．parties

D．meals

2.

A．separately

B．quickly

C．secretly

D．sadly

3.

A．signed

B．persuaded

C．ordered

D．encouraged

4.

A．opinion

B．solution

C．point

D．sense

5.

A．necessary

B．hard

C．possible

D．important

6.

A．ignore

B．blame

C．leave

D．defend

7.

A．complain

B．talk

C．tease

D．comment

8.

A．explanations

B．reasons

C．advice

D．evidence

9.

A．agreeing

B．fighting

C．claiming

D．offering

10.

A．basically

B．eventually

C．briefly

D．consequently

11.

A．understanding

B．missing

C．amusing

D．praising

12.

A．time

B．health

C．feelings

D．savings

13.

A．unknown

B．unqualified

C．unwelcome

D．unimportant

14.

A．fried

B．shared

C．healthy

D．formal

15.

A．admiration

B．kindness

C．understanding

D．appreciation

7 . How to Practice Gratitude (感激) in Your Daily Life

Gratitude is a positive emotion. Learning how to practice it is an effort to remind yourself of the good in life and to show an internal appreciation for yourself and others.     1    . Whichever exercise you do, it’s vital to remember the elements of gratitude: the awareness of the good things, expressing gratitude to yourself and giving thanks to people you’re grateful for.

Create a gratitude list. The intense stress of life can get you so caught up that we may fail to recognize the positive events or interactions we encounter on a daily basis.     2    . It can also help you picture the biggest and smallest moments that make your day.

    3    . Expressing your gratitude to those you’re grateful for strengthens your relationship with them. Plus, bonding with family and friends is a simple act that can help you feel gratitude for these relationships. Sharing kindness will make you feel happier and healthier. In turn, those benefits get passed along to those you most care about.

Make a gratitude jar (罐). Make the jar fun and personable by decorating it and placing it where you can always see it. Every day, write down what you’re grateful for on a slip of paper and put it in the jar.     4    . Whenever there’s a moment of doubt or sadness, return to the jar and read a few notes to remind yourself of who and what is good in your life.

In conclusion, engaging in daily gratitude exercises can make a great difference. Showing gratitude helps you connect with positive emotions, focus on acknowledging the good, and shift your focus to positive aspects of life.     5    .

A．Share your gratitude with others

B．Seek out opportunities to help others

C．There are several gratitude activities and exercises

D．As you fill it, it serves as a good reminder of good times

E．It is better to keep track of whatever happens in your life

F．You’ll also harvest the greatest rewards when it becomes a habit

G．Writing down the positive moments helps put life into a better perspective

8 . 假如你是班长李凯，班级举办了“保护我们的地球（Protect Our Earth）”主题班会活动，邀请了王教授给同学了做了讲座，活动结束后写封信表示感谢。内容包括：1. 表达感谢；2. 活动的反响和同学们的收获；3. 再次表达感谢。
注意： 1. 词数120左右
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear professor Wang,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . 阅读下面材料，根据文后各题目的具体要求完成阅读后的表达任务。

Silent friends in a life storm

Dear Annalisa,

My dad died unexpectedly a few months ago and I feel angry with some of my oldest friends, who have hardly contacted me since it happened.

Three months on, I’ve finally heard from some of them through text about other matters. I didn’t mention my sad stories, and they didn’t ask.

I understand that death is a frightening subject and that people might worry about saying the wrong thing. Yet I still feel a bit hurt by their lack of contact after my dad’s funeral (葬礼).

Now I don’t want to face them because I don’t want to make them feel guilty (内疚的). Normally they are extremely good friends who I love very much. I have other friends, so I can manage this without their support. I just want to let go of the anger so I can get through this sadness. Hope to receive your advice.

Yours,

Amy

Dear Amy,

I’m so sorry to hear about your dad’s death.

Your anger may come from being unable to ask for the help you need. You also seem worried about troubling your friends too much.

It is likely that your friends are very concerned about you. Perhaps their own fear of the subject is too big to comfort you and, just as you say, they are frightened of saying the wrong thing. Also, people often want to “fix” things, but no one can fix death, so they may feel powerless to help you. In these situations, you have to be brave to break the ice and tell them not only what you need, but also how to offer help.

If you really can’t ask your “silent” friends for help, maybe you could count more on those other friends. You might find some psychological (心理的) treatment useful as well. Talking to someone with professional knowledge who understands your situation can help you carry the burden of sadness.

Yours,

Annalisa

1. 根据文章内容，使用文章中的原词完成下列表格，每空一词。

Amy’s problem	Some of her oldest friends have seldom contacted her since her dad’s death, making her feel angry and ______.
Annalisa’s analysis (分析)	● Amy’s anger comes from the fact that she is ______ to ask for help. ● The subject of death is so frightening that her friends are at a loss what to say to ____     her. ● Her friends may feel powerless to help her solve the problem so they choose to keep     ____.
Annalisa’s ______	● Be brave to start a conversation with her friends. ● ______ more on those other friends. ● Seek ______ support.

2. 假如你是 Amy，请给Annalisa回一封信，表示感谢并告诉她你打算怎么做。写作词数应为40左右。
Dear Annalisa,
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Amy

3. 假定你是Amy的朋友，得知她的困扰，你将如何提供帮助？请用英语写出你可以做的三件事。
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . Even though we may believe that it’s important to say thank you, sometimes expressing gratitude is easier said than done. We might find ourselves getting hung up on the best way to deliver the message.

However, it’s possible that we might be making our thanks more complex. In a paper, researchers compared the effects of expressing thanks in person, over a video call, and over text. And, while people generally expect an in-person thank you to be the most effective, what happened in reality was quite different: Sending a thank-you over text was almost as effective as that. Additionally, texting may be especially well-suited for situations where we feel awkward or embarrassed about expressing our appreciation.

In the study, 219 college students participated in a gratitude activity in which they wrote about three things they were grateful for over a two- week period. After writing, the students were asked to actually thank the persons involved. Some connected with the gratitude recipients (接受者) in person, others via video call, and others via text. At the beginning and end of the two weeks，participants completed surveys measuring their feelings of well-being, connections with others, loneliness and happiness.

The researchers found that people who expressed gratitude gained increased happiness, with only a few differences for the different methods of gratitude expression. Overall, video calls were just as beneficial as meeting in person. Texting was slightly less effective than video calling- it didn’t make people feel more connected and happier, while video calling did. However, participants who sent their thanks over text still experienced benefits: Texting improved their well- being and reduced their loneliness.

Overall, however, the message is that we shouldn’t worry about finding just the “best” way to express our gratitude. In fact, you re better off sending a quick thank you shortly after you receive the kindness than waiting for an occasion to schedule an in-person visit. Don’t put it off just for finding the best way—many times our gratitude goes unsaid because we spend too much time on the details.

1. What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Making a video call.	B．Sending a text message.
C．Expressing thanks in person.	D．Writing a thank-you letter.

2. Why did the researchers ask the students to finish surveys?

A．To find the effect of expressing thanks on them.

B．To measure their physical health.

C．To collect a lot more ways to express thanks.

D．To know their views on gratitude.

3. What did the research suggest?

A．In-person gratitude was less likely to be accepted.

B．Expressing gratitude could benefit mental health.

C．Ways of gratitude expression should be improved.

D．Texting made the gratitude recipients much happier.

4. What are we advised to do to express thanks?

A．Search for the best way.	B．Wait for an in-person visit.
C．Express gratitude in time.	D．Make careful preparations.