1 . Manuela got up earlier and bought two bags of cat food. She began going to the__________ barbershop on the corner, making her weekly visit to see Hussein, the old barber. Hussein was both__________ and delighted to see Manuela and the bags of food. The two hurried over to the tiny food dishes lined up in the alley. Several __________ appeared soon.

As the two _________ and made their way back inside the shop, Hussein’s smile __________ and he explained he was about to   _________ the barbershop. He had been told to leave within 7 days. His ___________barbershop simply couldn’t pay enough rent and the landlord had invited another roomer, one who wouldn't be __________ animals outside.

Manuela’s eyes began to___________ as Hussein expressed his___________ about the homeless cats he cared for. But as fate(命运) would have it, there was something better___________ for the barber and his cats. As Manuela’s blog supporters read her___________ about Hussein, they, one after another,__________ donating to him and his cats. Every day for the next week, Manuela went to Hussein with the__________ . And on the fourth day, something unbelievable happened when Hussein was able to____________a storefront in an old building near his shop. No electricity,___________ there was potential. Manuela and other people __________ to help paint and clear rubbish while electricians made all the necessary__________ .

In less than two weeks, the barber was back in___________ again. Through the kindness of strangers, _________ , his and his cats' whole world was brought back.

1.

A．independent

B．familiar

C．expensive

D．ancient

2.

A．grateful

B．patient

C．careful

D．attractive

3.

A．neighbors

B．barbers

C．cats

D．customers

4.

A．spoke out

B．backed off

C．set off

D．finished off

5.

A．faded

B．froze

C．reappeared

D．accumulated

6.

A．rebuild

B．sell

C．lose

D．decorate

7.

A．dull

B．classic

C．remote

D．wide

8.

A．purchasing

B．feeding

C．sheltering

D．collecting

9.

A．glare

B．open

C．shine

D．flood

10.

A．promises

B．adoration

C．anxiety

D．comments

11.

A．in store

B．by chance

C．on purpose

D．at present

12.

A．review

B．letter

C．post

D．invitation

13.

A．suggested

B．remembered

C．reported

D．began

14.

A．congratulations

B．decisions

C．announcements

D．contributions

15.

A．return

B．obtain

C．protect

D．spot

16.

A．when

B．and

C．but

D．so

17.

A．came by

B．cheered up

C．broke away

D．dropped out

18.

A．appointments

B．connections

C．assumptions

D．budgets

19.

A．comparison

B．advance

C．company

D．business

20.

A．normally

B．thankfully

C．naturally

D．directly

2 . Politeness is the practical application of good manners, the goal of which is to make all of the parties relaxed and comfortable. It's a flexible management of words and actions, by which we make other people have a better opinion of us and themselves. It seeks to build a positive relationship.     1    .

However, in the rush of daily life being polite is social behavior that we find rare nowadays.     2    . They don’t even take the time to look around. This has led to the loss of simple social rules some might take for granted and that are particularly powerful.

    3    , people become less and less attentive to others’ feelings, for human interaction (互动) is almost lost. Take for instance the rudeness we tolerate when a person is looking at his phone when talking to us.

Being polite is not just a simple social elegance.     4    . These days “Please” and “Thank You” are forgotten. And not many people are aware that these two simple words can easily open or close any door to us. Unfortunately, they often forget to say these words.

Hope is not lost. There are many ways we can improve our behavior to achieve skills in politeness. There are simple things we can do to be considered as a polite and well-mannered person.    5    , they will respect you back. Just make a change in our behavior to start. Use simple words like “Excuse me”, “Please”, and “Thank you” every day. Be kind to receive kindness. Care and politeness will get you far in all aspects of life.

A．As technology progresses

B．People have become more self-absorbed

C．As long as you show your politeness for people

D．Since for many people being polite remains a challenge

E．Many languages have specific means to show politeness

F．It aims to respect a person’s need to be liked and understood

G．It’s also about being kind, caring and respectful to another person

3 . Why Accepting Change Is Important to Your Professional Success?

Whether you like it or not, change is a necessary part of today’s business climate. Those employees who accept change will succeed, while those fearing change may head for the unemployment line.     1     So how can we make this normal change as positive and beneficial as possible?

What’s wrong with change?

Employers want their workers to change when necessary.     2     The main reason is fear, though none of us agree that we doubt our ability to accept new ideas, use new technology, or adapt to new organizations.

    3    

Employees often view change differently from their supervisors. This is why communication is so vital in many cases. Lack of communication will cause problems in personal relationships. Unfortunately, fear prevents them from expressing their ideas and opinions.

The positive side of change.

    4     One of the most positive aspects of change is that it is never boring. If we want passion back in our work, we must be willing to change. We can learn how to work with a team and take on new responsibilities and change not just your attitude to change but some of your ideas and goals.

Embrace upcoming changes.

Many people are content to live their present safe lives and want no change.     5     Comfort and high position? If those are what you desire, then you will probably soon be out of a job. If, instead, you want challenge and welcome change, you will always be successful and popular in your job.

A．Communication is the key.

B．Think about what you really want.

C．Remember to work hard at your work.

D．Communication helps you make more friends.

E．Although some employees fear change, change is normal.

F．If you describe your current job as boring, then change it.

G．Knowing that, then, why are so many people resistant to it?

4 . Are You a Prisoner of Perfection?

Do you struggle for a goal that is beyond your reach?     1     Are you setting yourself up for failure and shame when you can’t achieve the unachievable? Understanding what drives perfectionism is the first step toward releasing this self-created anchor that keeps us stuck.

Shame and fear are often the hidden drivers of perfectionism. We believe that if we can fashion a perfectly polished personality, flash our intelligence, and perfect our humour, then no one can hurt us with criticism and we’ll win respect and approval.

    2     Politicians who display a desperate need to be right and refuse to acknowledge mistakes or uncertainty are often driven by a secret shame. They fear that showing vulnerability(弱点) will expose them to the accusation that they’re weak. They stick to a desire to be right, perfect, and polished, even when it’s obvious that the emperor has no clothes.

Perfectionism keeps us leaning toward the future. We’re constantly evaluating ourselves in order to do better.     3     However, if we can’t relax and enjoy lighter moments, then we become prisoners of our perfectionism. We get painfully self-conscious and take ourselves too seriously. Sadly, we deprive(剥夺) ourselves of the simple pleasure of enjoying the moment and being ourselves.

    4     We realize that failing at any enterprise doesn’t mean that we are a failure. Without failures, we’ll never learn from our mistakes; we’ll never move forward in our lives. Those who succeed have made countless mistakes. The important thing is to learn from our error, forgive ourselves and move on.

Being human, perfection is impossible.     5       Releasing ourselves from the desire to protect our image, we’re freed to sail gracefully through our successes and failures—and enjoy our precious life.

A．Do you hold an idealized vision that is impossible to realize?

B．A cure to perfectionism is to make room for our human shortcomings.

C．Do you fear that others will be horrified by what you judge about yourself?

D．The addiction to staying perfect protects us from any sign of being imperfect.

E．There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do our best and self-correcting along the way.

F．People who are addicted to perfection are often isolated, even if they seem outgoing and popular.

G．By accepting ourselves as we are and doing our best, we begin to rid the shame that drives perfectionism.

5 . How to Deal With Gossip (流言蜚语)

Gossip is a double-edged sword. Not only can it be incredibly harmful for you, but also others may be affected. Do a serious favor for your friends and yourself --- quit your gossip habit and become a better and more positive person. It’s good to find ways to get started dealing with gossip.

●Face the source of the rumor directly. If you know for sure who’s responsible for spreading a rumor about you, don’t take it lying down. When you have a chance, walk right up to him or her and say that you don’t appreciate the mean things she/he has said. Stay calm when you do this. You don’t want to adopt the cruel words this person has.    1    

●Alert your friends. If you learn that someone’s been spreading nasty rumors about you, your first action should be to consult with your close friends.     2     Tell them the facts of the situation. If the rumor’s not true, they’ll be sure to fight the spread of the rumor. If the rumor is true, they can still help stop its spread by sticking up for you.

●Ignore it.     3     When you hear gossip about yourself, laugh it off. Act as if it’s ridiculous! Share a chuckle(窃笑) about it! Turn the tables by making the person who started the rumor the butt (笑柄) of the joke.

●    4     If nasty rumors and gossip are a frequent problem, or if someone’s told a rumor that might get you in trouble for something you didn’t do, talk to a teacher, counselor, or administrator. These people can help you work through the problem. They can give you advice on how to proceed, make you feel better, and even discipline people who’ve started the rumor.

●Stay away from people who gossip. The single best way to avoid having gossip told about you is to stay away from the kinds of people who tell mean gossip! As popular or cool as they may seem, these people are sad and desperate. They can’t have a good time without spreading hurtful rumors about someone else. Don’t bother with them.     5     Remember a friend who stabs you in the back by telling a nasty rumor isn’t much of a friend at all.

A．When you’re worried about a piece of gossip, change the way you live.

B．Tell an authority about it.

C．Gossip is often best dealt with by paying no attention to it at all.

D．They should be people you know and trust.

E．Work out a plan to avoid being laughed at.

F．Find friends who don’t get enjoyment from hurting people.

G．You also don’t expect to give bystanders the impression that the rumor’s true.

6 . 假设你是李华，在英国度假。昨天你在一家商店购得一块手表，回到酒店后发现手表有问题，于是与店员沟通退换，但协调无果。请你用英文写封邮件给该店经理，对相关情况进行投诉。投诉内容如下:
1. 手表有质量问题；
2. 店员态度蛮横无理，问题没有解决；
3. 希望更换或退货。
注意:1. 词数100左右；2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Sir/ Madam,
I am Li Hua, one of your customers.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sincerely yours,

Li Hua.

7 . People elect a mayor (市长) to help run a city in the United States. The mayor must keep track of all city activities.     1     They run the city government with the help from city council (市议会).

Mayors may be “weak” or “strong.” In cities that use a weak-mayor system, the city council has most of the power. Under this system, people elect council members and leaders of some departments, or city offices.     2     A city may have many boards and committees, which are groups that make decisions. Each group manages one city department. Although people elect the mayor, he or she has little power. The weak mayor may suggest leaders for city departments. However, the council must approve these suggestions.

In a strong-mayor system, the elected mayor chooses the leaders of each department.     3       The elected city council doesn’t have the power to approve the leaders that the mayor chooses. Strong mayors check the work of many different city departments. These departments plan the way that the city will grow and develop.

A strong mayor prepares the city budget.     4     Citizens know whom to blame if services fail. However, the mayor works with the council to figure out the needs of the city and to complete city projects.

Strong mayors have a great deal of control over the government of a city.     5     Most cities have written city charter (章程) that explains the duties of the mayor and other officials.

A．However, mayors do not work alone.

B．However, they must stay within the law.

C．The council never prepares the city budget.

D．The council also may choose leaders for city departments.

E．The mayor makes sure that people who break the laws are punished.

F．In this sense, the mayor decides how to spend money for city services.

G．He or she makes sure that these leaders run their departments efficiently.

8 . Now you’re a fool for helping. “I don’t want to get involved” seems to have become a national motto. One summer I was driving from my hometown of Tahoe City, California to New Orleans, Louisiana. In the middle of the desert, I passed a young man standing by the roadside. He had his _______ out and held a gas can in his other hand. I drove right by him. There was a time _______ you’d be called a jerk for passing by somebody _______.

Several days later I was still _______ about the hitchhiker（搭便车的人）, about how I didn’t even lift my foot _______ the accelerator（油门）for him. “Does anyone stop any more?” I wondered. I recalled Blanche DuBois’s famous line— “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” Was that _______ these days? One way to test this would be for a person to journey _______ the US without any money, just _______ on the good will of others. What would happen? Would he find food, shelter and support?

The idea intrigued（激起兴趣）me.

The week I_______ 37, I realized that I had never done something truly crazy. ________ I decided to really do it: travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic without a penny. I would only accept ________ of rides, food and places to sleep. For six weeks I hitched 82 rides and covered 4,223 miles across 14 states. I was treated kindly ________ I went. I was ________ by people’s readiness to help a stranger.

In Oregon, a house painter named Mike __________ the cold weather and asked if I had a coat. I didn’t, so he gave me a big green army-style jacket. A lumber-mill worker in Michigan named Tim invited me to a __________dinner with his family in their shabby house. Then he offered me a tent. I refused, but Tim insisted, packing it into my bag himself. I found people were generally compassionate. Hearing I had no money and would take none, people bought me food or ________ with them whatever they happened to have. Those who had the ________   to give often gave the most.

I’m __________ to all the people I met for their rides, their food, their shelter and their gifts. My faith in ordinary folks was ________ . I was proud to live in a country where people were still willing to help. In spite of everything, you can still depend on the __________ of strangers.

1.

A．hand

B．finger

C．foot

D．thumb

2.

A．that

B．where

C．which

D．when

3.

A．in danger

B．in need

C．in trouble

D．in favor

4.

A．worrying

B．considering

C．thinking

D．bringing

5.

A．off

B．on

C．away

D．from

6.

A．interesting

B．necessary

C．possible

D．important

7.

A．across

B．through

C．in

D．over

8.

A．basing

B．relying

C．insisting

D．relating

9.

A．seemed

B．got

C．turned

D．became

10.

A．But

B．So

C．And

D．However

11.

A．jobs

B．supplies

C．helps

D．offers

12.

A．nowhere

B．everywhere

C．anywhere

D．somewhere

13.

A．frightened

B．annoyed

C．disappointed

D．amazed

14.

A．noted

B．saw

C．felt

D．sensed

15.

A．delicious

B．rich

C．simple

D．interesting

16.

A．supplied

B．offered

C．shared

D．provided

17.

A．fewest

B．most

C．least

D．best

18.

A．careful

B．grateful

C．hopeful

D．helpful

19.

A．created

B．reminded

C．renewed

D．returned

20.

A．kindness

B．happiness

C．fairness

D．brightness

9 . You’ve seen news reports about people who need assistance after a natural disaster, or TV programs about how lonely and isolated older people can get. Maybe you’ve walked past people who are living on the streets.    1    The answer: you can volunteer. Volunteering gives you an opportunity to change people’s lives, including your own. Helping others in need is such an important part of life. So how do you go about it?

Find what’s right for you.

Volunteering isn’t school.    2    You can choose what really interests you and who or what is most deserving of your time.

    3    

After you’ve discovered what interests you, decide how much time you want to spend and what fits into your schedule.

Expand your mind.

Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills — from working as part of a team to setting and reaching goals.    4    And it can help you develop a new understanding of people who are different from you — people with disabilities, people in financial problems, sick kids, or the elderly.

Feel good.

Volunteering helps people feel they make a difference — that they do have the power to change things for the better. When people depend on you, it can change the way you look at yourself.    5    Volunteering is also a great way to get a view on your own life.

A．It can give you a chance to discover what kinds of things you’re best at and enjoy most.

B．Instead of having the choices made for you, you’ve got to pick.

C．Doing something for others helps people to change the world.

D．So what can you do about any of those things?

E．You can feel proud of what you’ve achieved.

F．Find what fits your schedule.

G．Change things for the better.

10 . I was about to open the door of my car when I saw a man approaching. The man pointed a（n）_______ at me. “Give me your purse!”

“I don’t have a purse,” I said.

He kept coming. “Give me your purse!” He _______ the gun in my stomach. He reached over, seized my _______ and opened the trunk（汽车尾箱）. He _______ me to the back of my car. I hesitated.

“Get in,” he shouted, “now !”I did it, only _______ I knew exactly where the trunk release was.

“Don’t move; don’t make a noise,” he _______. He slammed the trunk shut. Everything went _______. Right there in the trunk, my eyes were adjusting to the darkness. My fear started to _______ and my mind cleared. I knew whatever direction he turned, he would have to slow down. I waited for my _______.

He drove the car forward and then stopped. I heard another car honk behind. He then ________ and the car quickly reached 80 miles an hour. I couldn’t tell where we were going. As soon as he slowed down, pulled the ________ release, pushed it open and jumped out. I ________ through people’s yards and tried to put distance and objects between the kidnapper and me.

I ran back to my apartment complex and ________ doors. One finally opened and an older lady let me in. I ________ closed the door and locked it. While I was on with the 911 ________, there was a knock at the door. Standing there was a hulking figure, Daytona Beach police officer. He was in the neighborhood and ________ immediately.

Officers ________ the kidnapper the next day. “You have no idea how ________ you are,” one of the officers told me. “Carjackings that developed into kidnappings ________ turn out well.”

I knew it wasn’t luck that had saved me. It was the ________, both of mind and of soul. Remember chances only favor those who are prepared!

1.

A．finger

B．camera

C．arrow

D．gun

2.

A．stuck

B．threw

C．fired

D．hid

3.

A．hands

B．phone

C．keys

D．wallet

4.

A．assisted

B．guided

C．persuaded

D．forced

5.

A．though

B．because

C．unless

D．until

6.

A．warned

B．questioned

C．explained

D．repeated

7.

A．smooth

B．dark

C．silent

D．natural

8.

A．spread

B．increase

C．appear

D．lift

9.

A．result

B．chance

C．choice

D．idea

10.

A．continued

B．slowed

C．accelerated

D．remained

11.

A．trunk

B．light

C．alarm

D．motor

12.

A．walked

B．raced

C．wandered

D．passed

13.

A．pulled

B．shut

C．answered

D．beat

14.

A．skillfully

B．carefully

C．rapidly

D．silently

15.

A．operator

B．victim

C．criminal

D．organizer

16.

A．returned

B．left

C．withdrew

D．responded

17.

A．educated

B．arrested

C．suspected

D．dismissed

18.

A．calm

B．dangerous

C．lucky

D．brave

19.

A．rarely

B．usually

C．probably

D．generally

20.

A．fortune

B．patience

C．preparation

D．courage