1 . Friendship is a beautiful relationship. While some friendships tend to come to an end as we grow in life, there are some rare and special ones that are meant to last forever. No matter how many years pass by, the connection stays alive.

Two childhood best friends who were “joined at the hip” as kids were reunited over a half century later—when they least expected it.

Irene Gresty and Janet Henderson were neighbors in the 1940s, growing up in England, but like many friends, they lost touch over the years. After getting married, Gresty moved with her husband who was in the navy and was shipped to many foreign places. However, Gresty, despite living in many countries, loved her own country. Gresty said, “I loved the area where I grew up, so I wanted to settle down to enjoy retirement (退休).” Thanks to an event hosted by Bield Housing and Care, a non-profit organization devoted to supporting residents over 55 years old, finally they met each other. Gresty said, “We sat down beside each other and she turned to me and said ‘Is that you Irene?’ and I just laughed and said ‘Yes. Are you Janet?’ ” They couldn’t believe that they were meeting each other after so long. They spent the rest of the afternoon talking to each other.

Henderson said that it is usual in life for people to often move away from the area and lose contact. As their family names changed, Henderson couldn’t recognize her friend’s name despite being told about her. The two have promised to never stay long without seeing each other. They exchanged numbers so they could meet in the future. They have many years to catch up on everything they have missed.

1. What does the underlined part “joined at the hip” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Grow fast.	B．Work hard.
C．Hang around.	D．Stay together.

2. What made Gresty return to England?

A．Her friends’ invitation.	B．Her husband’s new job.
C．Her interest in traveling.	D．Her love for her hometown.

3. Which of the following best describes Gresty and Henderson’s reunion?

A．Unexpected.	B．Resultless.
C．Long-planned.	D．Well-organized

4. What did Gresty and Henderson promise to do next?

A．Keep in touch.	B．Travel abroad.
C．Post their stories.	D．Make more friends.

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容或括号内单词的正确形式。

Kyle and I are best friends, but how we started to talk is a long story. One day, while     1     (walk) in one of the library passages, I saw a boy carrying a huge pile of books. This meant he   was a person with no     2     (society) life on weekends.     3     (sudden), some boys knocked the books out of his hands. His glasses flew off. With a sad     4     (express) on his face, he struggled to get his glasses. At that moment, I gave him a hand, and since then, we     5     (be) friends. A few years later, he became a handsome young man. He got so popular     6     almost everyone wanted to make friends with him. When he gave a talk on the last day of our high school, he told us that he had secretly planned     7     (kill) himself on the day when he and I talked     8     the first time. Then he gave me     9     grateful look. At that moment, I realized       10     I had done had helped him so much and even saved his life.

3 . Geoff Banks and Celesta Byrne met as part of an educational project to put British and American students in contact and they still keep in touch with each other.

Centenarians (百岁老人), Geoff Banks from Devon, Britain, and Celesta Byrne, from the US, started writing to each other at the age of 16 in 1938. The former engineer Geoff even kept in touch with Celesta during WWII. They, now, can talk to each other on the Internet.

They recently had their first call giving Geoff a break from putting pen to paper that he said he found difficult at his age. Despite having chatted for decades, the pair have only ever met twice-first in 2002 while Geoff visited New York at the age of 80, and then again two years later. Celesta was living in New Jersey at that time, and then she moved to live near family in Texas.

Geoff said, “I had worked abroad for a number of years but had not been to the US for some time. Celesta was in New Jersey, so we decided to meet up in New York for a short Christmas trip. We just talked about daily lives and our families. In one of my early letters, I sent her a copy of a British paper in 1953 which had Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation (加冕) on the front of it.”

Despite having such a special relationship, the pair deny there was ever any romance there. Both have been married, with Geoff’s wife having passed away in 2011. Geoff is now a great grandfather, having sadly survived his daughter but still having three sons scattered across the world and many more grandchildren.

They felt grateful to the educational project, which gave them the chance of being friends. They are friends, like people who live next door. They value their friendship and think it’s nice to hear friends’ voices.

1. How did Geoff know Celesta?

A．By a friend.	B．By joining in a party.
C．By surfing the Internet.	D．By an educational program.

2. What was Geoff before he retired?

A．A teacher.

B．A mechanic.

C．An engineer.

D．A soldier.

3. Where did Celesta live when she met Geoff for the second time?

A．In New York.

B．In New Jersey.

C．In Texas.

D．In Devon.

4. Which word can best describe the friendship between Geoff and Celesta?

A．Lasting.

B．Odd.

C．Complex.

D．Ordinary.

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。

In every culture around the world, friendship has been considered as the greatest thing a person can have. Everyone needs a close friendship    1    can give us support for both the good and the bad times in life. Friends keep us from feeling lonely, provide us    2    a sense of being safe and help whenever things may not end up    3    (go) the way we want it to.    4    (unlucky), sometimes friendship can be a source of pain as well as joy. Like any relationship, friendship can make us feel sad if the trust at the foundation of the relationship    5    (break) by either of the friends. For example, if you have ever told a close friend your secret, but he has that secret known by others, you might have    6    first feeling of losing trust in a friendship.

When experiencing the    7    (sad) or loneliness of losing a friendship, you can get out and be active, which helps you keep your mind off the lost friendship, or you can pay much attention to    8    (your). If you pay attention to doing things you enjoy, you will have less time to think of your lost friendship.

Always remember a strong friendship    9    (require) honesty and trust. Even if you are hurt by your friends, it is wise of you    10    (forget) it and start your new life again.

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.

When coming to this city for high school, I moved into the new house with my parents. We were very grateful to the owner for renting us this house at a cheap price. The house was really comfortable to live in. It was warm inside and full of life outside.

A tree in the front yard attracted my attention, and all I could confirm was that it was a fruit tree. My father thought it was a fig(无花果) tree, and sure enough, as the months went by, the tree grew huge leaves and finally bore the fruit—figs, the size of my fist. How wonderful they were! I took many pictures of the fig tree. And then we wondered how to deal with the figs. My mother thought for a while and said, “Why not try making fig jam?” I responded quickly, “That’s a good idea!”

Jack, one of our neighbors, just visited us and asked if he could pick some figs from our tree. Certainly, we encouraged him to take as many as he liked. In fact, Jack was extremely polite and friendly to us. He introduced himself at the first sight of us. He always waved to me as he came home or as he left for work.

When I picked the figs with him, he told me about how he had been living in the house next door for close to twenty years. He said, “Bruce, the owner of the house you live in now, used to be my best friend. And we had planted this very fig tree a few years before he went to the nursing home.” I was amazed to know that we actually enjoyed the fruit of his work. He told me that he was so impressed by the quality of the fruit this year. I found a fruit box for him to put the figs in. Both of us enjoyed the pleasure of sharing.

When Jack set out for his home, I turned to my parents and advised doing something in return for Jack and Bruce’s kindness and friendliness.

注意:
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答.

Finally, we decided to invite Jack and his family to dinner that night.

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The next day, our family and Jack visited Bruce in the nursing home.

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6 . The development and keeping of a strong friendship relies on the efforts of two parties.     1     To develop a true friendship, you should treat your friend the way you are expected to be treated. Your friend is also responsible for giving the same level of care to you.

    2     You should help your friends with problem-solving and respect their decisions. Good friends are not judgmental and attempt to offer advice on complicated life events. The presence of these factors also helps create an environment where both parties feel cared for and admired.

The development of honesty and trust in a friendship helps those involved feel comfortable when they communicate with each other. Mutual(相互的)honesty between friends helps build a solid relationship and encourages directness. Honesty also leads to trust, which is another important quality.     3    

Though it is a simple task, listening is very important in a friendship. Making an effort to listen to your friend is a form of respect.     4     To show you are listening, you can ask questions, maintain eye contact and provide feedback(反馈)on the subject.

You should make your friend feel accepted by including him or her in activities that you both enjoy. This is true of friendships at every age.     5     There are other benefits that can result from a strong and enjoyable friendship such as increasing happiness and encouraging healthy habits.

A．You should believe in your friend and expect the same in return.

B．In a friendship, it is important to be supportive during difficult times.

C．Try to accept your friend’s opinions even if you disagree with him or her.

D．Sharing whatever you have in common can go a long way in a true friendship.

E．Both members should share the responsibility of developing a healthy friendship.

F．Having fun and feeling comfortable are basic characteristics of a true friendship.

G．It also shows that you actually want to learn about things important to your friend.

7 . There are some things to do with your group of friends.     1     They are perfect for anyone who wants to build out their social group, meet new people, or make some friends that have similar interests.

Joining a team is a good way.    2     Sports teams are the most common and every city and even smaller towns will have some sorts of sports leagues. If you’re athletic, you can look into soccer teams and leagues. If you prefer a more casual physical activity, there’s always something like golf.

Joining a book club is a nice way. A book club can be a great social activity for people who are a bit shy. There are even book clubs that take place entirely online. It is good to include some social interactions in your life.

Taking painting lessons, dance lessons, or some other types of group classes is a good way to meet new people. It’s not like you’re just in an empty room and asked to spend 2 hours at a table talking.    3    

Finding volunteer work for teens. Volunteering attracts some really cool and special people. It is a great social activity.    4     Places that get a lot of students require certain volunteer hours. For example, an animal shelter doesn’t cost volunteers too much time.

    5     Hopefully, the social activities for teens will inspire you to try some new things.

A．Reading will benefit the teenagers.

B．Finding a voluntary job is easy for teens.

C．There are many different teams you can join.

D．You’ll meet good folks while volunteering.

E．You’ll be learning, listening to the instructor.

F．In a word, the social skills activities are great for teens.

G．But let’s start with social activities to meet new friends.

8 . Scientists have long believed that humans need meaningful social connections to survive.     1     Knowing that we have people to depend on and who care for us makes us feel confident and safe. And the stronger our relationships are, the more likely we are to thrive. So how do we strengthen the existing friendships in our lives?

    2     —sharing your time, attention or resources with them. People want to be and stay friends with people who value them, and generosity is a way to express that.

You can think about what your skills and talents are and find a way to turn them into generous acts.     3     Or if you’re great with kids, you might offer to babysit for your friends who are parents.

And talk about your struggles, happiness and guilty pleasures. Think about how good it feels to tell a friend you secretly like a boring TV show and hear them say “Me too!”. We feel a deeper connection to our friends when our weakness is met with support.    4    

Talk about your disagreements. It’s hard to deal with conflict in friendships     5     It might be painful at first, but it shows you want to be sincere with them—and that you want to make your relationship better. So if you have an issue with a friend, don’t sweep it under the rug. Try talking about it.

A．Be generous with your friends.

B．Spend a little time with your friends.

C．In fact, they’re connected to our well-being.

D．It means they accept us for who we really are, the good and the bad.

E．However, being able to handle it in a healthy way can strengthen your friendships.

F．For example, if you have green fingers, give your friends some flowers you’ve tended.

G．For instance, if you are generous with your friends, treat them to big dinners frequently.

9 . I met Connie in 1976, when we were both competing in a tae kwon do (跆拳道) tournament. Because we are both red belts, we had been _________ to compete against each other. As we sat next to each other waiting for our _________, Connie began to talk to me. She was _________ and had a wonderful smile. I was _________ by how nice she was.

Then we got up to compete. Connie suddenly put on the most _________ face you can imagine, which terrified me. Out of _________, I, just from that moment on, began to _________ her in the head, twice... After a close fight, I, _________, was the winner in the match.

Despite this, Connie and I became _________ friends. And despite our many __________, our relationship remained throughout the last 43 years. Connie is Black and I am White. She was __________ in a big city and I was brought up in a __________ town. Connie is a book __________ and I am a sports fan.

Connie now lives on the East Coast and I live in northern Wisconsin, but we still __________ with each other through social media. One of her __________ things to do is to introduce me as her bestie who is always there for her.

1.

A．designed

B．paired

C．recommended

D．inspired

2.

A．application

B．challenge

C．adventure

D．match

3.

A．friendly

B．anxious

C．curious

D．unique

4.

A．confused

B．reflected

C．impressed

D．admired

5.

A．respectful

B．courageous

C．frightening

D．embarrassing

6.

A．self-confidence

B．self-protection

C．self-doubt

D．self-support

7.

A．kick

B．pat

C．hold

D．hug

8.

A．annually

B．eventually

C．effectively

D．particularly

9.

A．lost

B．new

C．odd

D．close

10.

A．differences

B．similarities

C．partners

D．personalities

11.

A．ignored

B．prevented

C．raised

D．settled

12.

A．narrow

B．quiet

C．busy

D．small

13.

A．addict

B．reminder

C．leader

D．customer

14.

A．fall in line

B．keep in touch

C．fall in love

D．keep in harmony

15.

A．familiar

B．significant

C．favorite

D．ordinary

10 . 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。

Jesse and Vern used to be totally strangers living in two towns hundreds of miles apart. Their friendship started with an orange shirt in a bottle 22 years ago, when computers and Internet were not available.

8-year-old Jesse lived a simple and happy life in a small town with his parents. School was starting next week. The family would get Jesse a new set of clothing. Jesse was not so passionate for new clothes. After his father’s persuasion, Jesse finally agreed to the shopping. Jesse tried on a pair of new pants, new shoes, and an orange shirt. He didn’t like the pants and shoes much. But he did like the orange shirt.

School started, and Jesse put on his new orange shirt. All the other kids had new clothes too, but his orange shirt, in Jesse’s mind, was the most handsome of all. He wore it almost every day. Even when it was dirty, he would insist that it be washed and ready, so he could wear it the next day.

Time passed quickly and Jesse had grown over two inches. But his orange shirt was not growing with him. One day, his mother asked him to go to the grocery store to pick up some things for supper and reminded him not to wear that small orange shirt any more, which looked funny on Jesse.

Jesse ignored what his mother told him. In the store two little girls laughed at his tight orange shirt. Feeling embarrassed, Jesse picked up his groceries and hurried home. Getting home, he told his mother that he wouldn’t wear that shirt any more. His mother said, “Jesse, since the lovely shirt is too small on you, maybe someone else needs it.” “I really hope it goes to a lovely boy. But who can it be?” said Jesse. The next morning, Jesse’s father told Jesse that he had a good idea, saying he would take Jesse to the river.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150词左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

When they got to the riverbank, Jesse’s father took out a large plastic bottle together with the orange shirt.

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Little Vern was fishing with his father in a small boat down the river.

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