1 . Nothing good generally comes of a conversation that start with the words, "I think you should probably sit down before I tell you this.”

And so it came to pass. Away for Christmas, we got a call from kind friends at home, our neighbour's house had caught fire while they were out. The fire didn't spread to our house but the smoke very much did.

It's weeks of either throwing out, or sending away for specialist cleaning, every single thing into which smoke could have permeated(渗透)because the particles(微粒) are an ongoing health risk and washing isn't enough. Anything soft—sofas and carpets and children’s teddy bears, clothes—is suspected. We will be seeing in the New Year in a decidedly minimalist fashion.

What I didn't expect to feel, however, is this lucky. Friends and neighbours have come together with incredible generosity. We will never again underestimate the closeness of the village community in which we live, or the innate kindness that is most people's natural reaction to trouble, and are grateful to be reminded of so much that is good. But that's not the only thing I've learned. For in a sense, we have a chance to start again.

The surprise on being forced to think about what might urgently need replacing is how short the list of essentials seems; how much we must have been hanging on to out of habit, and how much we have been conditioned to think was important.

It's all too easily assumed that family history lives in tangible(有形的)things— old photographs, a dress bought decades ago for a night heavy with memories — but that's not quite right. These things were only reminders of what we already carry with us in head and heart.

Walking through the house, sweeping up the broken glass, I realised that the answer to the old question of “What would you save in a fire? ” is actually that nothing really matters but each other.

1. What happened to the author's house?

A．It caught a fire.

B．It was affected by a fire.

C．It was broken into by friends.

D．Its windows were broken.

2. What does the underlined word "suspected" in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．something that may be damaged.

B．something that may not be genuine.

C．something that may not be so good.

D．something that may be dangerous.

3. What did the author expect to feel?

A．People around him were cold to others' trouble.

B．His friends and neighbours were so generous.

C．People in his community were close to each other.

D．He was so lucky to find much that was good.

4. How will the author probably feel when the New Year finally comes?

A．Worried.	B．Surprised.
C．Excited.	D．Contented.

2 . Jake and Max Klein are twin brothers who have a passion for volunteering. Their family have always done community _______ .At a young age, they chose to _______ family's gifts at their birthday parties, but asked them to donate money to a charity. When they were seven, Jake and Max were interested in _______ with a family friend at the local homeless shelter to help cook. _________， he turned them down because they were too _______ and they had to be fourteen to cook. This led them on an endless _______ to come up with a way to help other kids who were also facing a _______ challenging: wanting to help but _______ because of their age.

So, Kids That Do Good was _______ to show ways to kids or adults, at any age, they could join the community and make a ________ .The small ________ has grown into a large website that brings thousands of ________ visitors each year. Jake and Max say that their website brings 35,000 unique viewers, of those viewers, Kids That Do Good has ________ kids to 16,000 organizations.

Jake and Max are ________ with school and after-class activities and other community service promises. Kids That Do Good also has blog posts that advise kids on ________ their own charitable event.

1.

A．surveys

B．services

C．duties

D．businesses

2.

A．sort out

B．play with

C．give up

D．put away

3.

A．travelling

B．volunteering

C．cooking

D．recycling

4.

A．Unfortunately.

B．Happily

C．Honestly

D．Gratefully

5.

A．shy

B．awkward

C．weak

D．young

6.

A．task

B．ability

C．chance

D．determination

7.

A．public

B．similar

C．sharp

D．direct

8.

A．joked

B．blamed

C．denied

D．praised

9.

A．advised

B．allowed

C．named

D．created

10.

A．judgment

B．difference

C．comment

D．decision

11.

A．plan

B．effort

C．project

D．experiment

12.

A．pleased

B．satisfied

C．amazed

D．interested

13.

A．connected

B．exposed

C．contributed

D．attracted

14.

A．familiar

B．patient

C．busy

D．content

15.

A．remembering

B．describing

C．celebrating

D．building

3 . Competition is a common phenomenon in our social life.     1     There is constant competition for academic degrees, jobs, customers, money and so forth. In a sense, competition is one of the motive forces to the development of society.

    2     Therefore, the only way to survive is to be competitive. Growing in a competitive environment is important for a child because future adult life is difficult. Finding a good job, for example, is an extremely competitive activity.

Today, most people obtain knowledge through various ways and a large number of people get good education.     3    The quality of people is rapidly increasing. Competition is more violent than what we thought it should be. The potentially successful job applicant has to be prepared in stronger position by gaining more qualifications and experience. In the sports contests, the strongest will come out as winners. In the business world, to beat your competitors, you must be better than the other employees.     4    

Though the only way our world rewards people is to give honor to the winners, not to the losers, by attempting to compete at different activities, we can still learn to win and lose, gain experience and know our strengths and weaknesses. Competition prepares us for the tough things in life.

Whether in games, in study or in business alike, the aim is to win the game, the degree, the trophy, and the contract.     5    

A．Otherwise, you will be defeated.

B．Modern society demands high-quality talents.

C．Learning to be competitive is clearly the best preparation for life.

D．There are also many people who have higher degrees in their special fields.

E．Children have to learn to be competitive in order to adapt to modern society.

F．In the natural world, the weak will be replaced by the strong and the fittest can live.

G．We compete when we play games and when we try to do better than others in our study.

4 . As a temporary teacher, my daily routine_______driving to a new school_______every day, so I’m usually unable to anticipate (预料) the day’s events, good or bad.
On one particular day, I was teaching in a very_______class. I was managing behavior all the morning and by lunch time, I needed coffee to_______the afternoon. So at my lunch_______, I drove to a nearby plaza to get a cup of_______. Upon returning to the car, I realized I had_______my keys and my phone_______. I had about 15 minutes to get back to the school which was a good 4–or–5 minute_______. I thought of rushing back, but it being__________, I thought a nasty fall on ice would only make the situation much__________.
So I ran into a McDonald’s which was in the__________plaza and asked the man at the counter who __________to be the manager to help me call a tab. I__________explained my situation and he hurried to the back to use the phone__________I paced in the restaurant.
The manager returned__________to tell me that the cab company had put him on hold and then the line got__________. My expression began to resemble some combination of hopelessness and fear.
Almost immediately, the manager grabbed his coat and__________to drive me to the school. Without__________, I followed him into his car and made back into my classroom with 2 minutes to __________before the bell!1.

A．concludes

B．involves

C．relates

D．connects

2.

A．almost

B．hardly

C．really

D．luckily

3.

A．easy

B．pleasant

C．difficult

D．noisy

4.

A．cost

B．pick

C．finish

D．survive

5.

A．stop

B．stay

C．pause

D．break

6.

A．tea

B．milk

C．coffee

D．wine

7.

A．locked

B．forgot

C．threw

D．shut

8.

A．down

B．inside

C．up

D．outside

9.

A．distance

B．drive

C．walk

D．time

10.

A．summer

B．fall

C．winter

D．spring

11.

A．worse

B．easier

C．better

D．simpler

12.

A．other

B．another

C．next

D．same

13.

A．turned

B．explained

C．happened

D．came

14.

A．quickly

B．briefly

C．slowly

D．hurriedly

15.

A．after

B．until

C．when

D．while

16.

A．even

B．only

C．still

D．yet

17.

A．disconnected

B．stuck

C．troubled

D．interrupted

18.

A．dragged

B．pulled

C．offered

D．pushed

19.

A．problem

B．choice

C．alternative

D．hesitation

20.

A．spare

B．leave

C．ring

D．control

5 . Chinese culture values family bonds very much. Family members don't just gather during the holidays .In fact they often live under one roof all year round.     1    . Families in the East and West are very different from each other.

In most East Asian cultures, extended families are common.     2     According to the

Atlantic, 90 percent of children in Shanghai and 70 percent of children in Beijing were cared for by their grandparents. Chinese people believe that "a grandparent is a treasure to their family".

In many Western countries, most families are nuclear families （小家庭）. These are solely made up of children and their parents.

Additionally, the duties parents have toward their children can also differ.    3    .

It's normal for parents to pay for their children's college, help them find a job, or buy them an apartment. Chinese adults also follow their parents' opinions when making major life decisions, more often than not.

In most Western countries, however, kids usually move out of the house after they turn 18.

    4    . Also, if they choose to keep living with their parents after becoming an adult, it can be seen by some as a failure on their part.

While the East cares more about close family bonds, the West values privacy and independence.     5    . Families will always be a source of love, warmth, and care for people around the world.

A．These families have three or even four generations living together

B．Nuclear families are the most common type in China.

C．In China, many parents look after their children all the way into adulthood.

D．Different cultures have different family values.

E．But in the end, home is best 一 east or west.

F．Many young people going to college often need to take out loans and work part-time jobs in order to pay for tuition and rent.

G．Both Easterners and Westerners value quality family time.

6 . Being "young is associated with all the good things in life - beauty, hope, and energy. But youth also has negative associations - impulsiveness, trouble -making, and irresponsibility. This negative side seems to be what society focuses on more, which is why young people have mostly been considered as idle and difficult.

But when it comes to Generation Z - those born between 1996 and 2010 - this stereotype doesn't seem to apply anymore.

In Japan, for example, Gen Z-ers are less likely to buy on impulse, but take into consideration more a product's true value. They' re looking at the companies, not just the products," Masahiko Uotani, CEO of Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido, told Bloomberg. They're asking, 'Are they really delivering value to the society? Are they promoting diversity and inclusion?"

Gen Z-ers are also more grounded than we' ve expected them to be. According to a recent survey by Bank of America, more than half of young adults aged between 18 and 23 said they were planning to buy a house within five years. And they' re not just saying it - they are willing to make sacrifices for it, including getting a second job and saving money for down payment instead of spending it on a vacation.

"Despite their young age, this group is pragmatic and actively planning for their future," D.Steve Boland, head of Consumer Lending at Bank of America, told USA Today. "They have a clear vision how they are willing to help themselves in order to make it happen.

Social issues are also at the center of concern of Gen Z-ers, who take themselves as a changing force of the world. In India, for example, young people who have just reached the voting age are eager to vote for a new leader who is capable of solving problems that matter the most to them, including pollution, unemployment and women' s safety.

As a Gen-Zer yourself, what is your plan for the future?

1. What do the underlined words this stereotype" in paragraph2 refer to ?

A．Being young is good.

B．Gen Z-ers are born after 1996.

C．The traditional poor impressions on the youth.

D．The associations with young people.

2. We can infer from the third paragraph that______________.

A．Gen Z-ers in Japan are picky

B．The Gen Z-ers are self-centered

C．The Gen Z-ers care little about products

D．The Gen Z-ers are wise when shopping

3. What's Steve Boland's attitude to the Gen Z-ers ?

A．Approving.	B．Negative.
C．Indifferent.	D．Critical.

4. Which of the following words may best describe the Gen Z-era?

A．Confident and independent.	B．Visionary and responsible.
C．Persistent and down-to-earth.	D．Active and creative.

7 . The most universal facial expression is the smile --its function is to show happiness and put people at ease. A smile says, " I like you. You make me happy

That's why dogs make such a hit. They are so glad to see us that they almost jump out of their skins.     1    

A baby’s. smile has the same effect. Have you ever been in a doctor's, waiting room and looked around at all the sad faces waiting impatiently. to be seen? There were six or seven patients waiting when a young woman came in with a nine-month-old baby. She sat down next to a gentleman who was more than a little impatient about the long wait for service. The baby just looked up at him with that great big smile that is so characteristic of babies,    2    . Soon he struck up a conversation with the woman about her baby and his grand-children and then the entire reception room joined in, and the boredom and tension were changed into a pleasant and enjoyable experience     3    . Telephone companies throughout the US have a program called “phone power” which is offered to employees who use the telephone for selling their services or products. In this program they suggest that you smile when talking on the phone. Your “smile” comes through in your voice.

You don’t feel like smiling?     4    . If you are alone, force yourself to whistle or hum a tune or sing. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make you happy.

Your smile is a messenger of your goodwill.    5    .To someone who has seen a dozen people frown or turn their faces away, your smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds Especially when someone is under pressure from his bosses, his customers, his teachers or parents or children, a smile can help him realize that all is not hopeless that there is joy in the world.

A．He smiled back at the baby

B．Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it.

C．Smile gets much easier with practice

D．So, naturally, we are glad to see them.

E．Well, force yourself to smile

F．We should give others a real smile, a smile that comes from within

G．The effect of a smile is powerful, even when it is unseen

8 . What do you do when you can’t figure out how to finish a difficult task at work or when you’re lost in an unfamiliar place? In life, when you get into trouble，there are many solutions. For example，you could invest more time and effort by trying different methods over and over again or looking up the answers online.

But there is one thing most people know to avoid for sure：asking for advice.It is inconsiderate— we don’t want to bother others. After all，they have their own problems to solve. Also, they may not have the answer we need, anyway. These reasons may or may not be true. But we are pretty sure that people will think less of us. So, good reasons or no, we don’t ask.

However, our research suggests that the instinct(直觉) to not seek advice is wrong. Fears about appearing to be having no ability to do things by asking for advice — though extremely common — are totally misplaced. Here’s why. when you ask for advice, people do not think less of you；instead, they actually think you’ re smarter. By asking someone to share his or her personal wisdom, advice seekers can gain a deep understanding of something. In their minds, advisors actually think“I’m brilliant, so this guy is smart to ask for my advice.”

This finding is important, because seeking advice encourages information exchange, learning and meaningful connection between us and our friends and colleagues.In addition，there is another side benefit. asking for advice allows us to make a surprisingly positive impression on our mentors(导师).

Asking for advice is an effective way not only when we are facing a difficult task. The study shows that when facing conflict，asking your friends for advice makes you be able to look at it from more than one angle(角度)，thus leading to quicker and more likely solutions to the conflict.

1. According to the text，people usually________ when they get into trouble.

A．call their friends for help

B．turn to their computer first

C．ask for advice from others

D．solve the problem by themselves

2. People don’t like to ask for advice because                 .
①they don’t want to bother others
②they don’t think others’ advice can help
③they believe others will think less of them
④they are afraid of showing they are unable to do something

A．①②③	B．①③④
C．②③④	D．①②③④

3. What can you learn from the third paragraph?

A．Asking for advice often is wrong.

B．Asking others for advice will make a good impression.

C．People who don’t ask for advice are smarter.

D．Advice seekers can get everything they want from others.

4. What is the author’s attitude toward asking for advice?

A．Positive.	B．Negative.
C．Cautious.	D．Objective.

9 . 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

10 . “People are ruder today because they are rushed and more ‘time poor’ than ever before,” says Patsy Rowe, “ Manners have fallen off the radar(雷达).” Due to our strong attraction to electronic equipment it is a wonder that more people don’t wake up each morning and greet the singing birds with complaining about the noise. Here are some examples of rudeness.

Some people prefer to do almost everything over the Internet. To them, dealing with an actual human is like an evolutionary step backward. It feels very slow because humans don^’t work at 4G speeds. When you have dinner with friends, you will often notice someone paying more attention to his mobile phone. We have programmed ourselves to think that every new message brings life-changing news, so taking calls and checking our texts are more important than talking to the people we are with. What is worse, some people even tend to send anonymous（匿名的）rude messages by email.

However, rudeness is never acceptable. Don^’t assume it is OK to be rude if the person you^’re in touch with won^’t recognize you. If you have something awful to say, have the courage to face the person and say it, write a letter or email and sign it, or forget it. Upsetting people with unsigned messages is cruel and disgusting.

We shouldn^’t blame technology for our shortcomings. Technology is here to help us, but we should not allow it to take over our lives. An important step is acknowledging our shortcomings. People spend a lot of time pointing out bad manners but it would be even more helpful if we’d publicly acknowledge good manners when we see them.

1. What can be inferred from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1?

A．People care little about their behavior.

B．People can tell good from bad behavior.

C．Radar is able to observe human behavior.

D．Radar can be used to predict human behavior.

2. Some people are less willing to deal with humans because__________.

A．they are growing too independent

B．they have to handle many important messages

C．they are becoming less patient

D．they have to follow an evolutionary step backward.

3. The author thinks sending unsigned awful messages is ___________.

A．disgusting	B．acceptable
C．Ridiculous	D．reasonable

4. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．We should applaud good behavior.

B．We should keep pointing out mistakes.

C．Technology will take over lives one day.

D．Technology can never be blamed