1 . It was the 2015 “super storm” in New South Wales that restored my faith in people.

During a break in the weather, I stupidly decided to drive into town to buy some groceries. However, as I left the supermarket and drove back, the weather took a turn for the worse.     1     Having nowhere to go, I spotted a young man in his front yard assessing the situation. He quickly waved to me to come and park in his driveway.    2    .

The man, who introduced himself as Trent, then invited me to wait inside his house with his wife, Kayti and their two daughters. I told him I was concerned about the damage to my car, as the continuing rain was starting to turn into hail (冰雹).Trent then grabbed a blanket from his garage and covered my car.     3     Fortunately, his efforts saved my car from being damaged by the hail.

By 11:00 a.m., the electricity and phone services had both gone.     4     Trent made me a cup of tea and Kayti gave me a towel to dry myself off. The three of us chatted while waiting for the weather to get better. I learned that Trent had lost his job and was struggling to feed the family.

When the hail stopped, I shook Trent’s hand and kissed Kayti goodbye.     5     I was very moved by their kindness and it renewed my faith in people.

As I went out the door, I asked Trent for two of his business cards. My father has since called to offer him a job as a clerk at his company.

A．It began pouring so heavily that I was forced to stop.

B．The couple were so modest as I thanked them for their help.

C．I was surprised that he didn’t ask for anything in return for his assistance.

D．I was grateful to escape the running water that was about to drown my car.

E．I tried driving faster to escape the heavy downpour that was sure to come.

F．As a result, I couldn’t contact my parents, despite knowing they’d be worried.

G．He was wet but he didn’t seem to mind being out in the wild weather on my behalf.

2 . Life can bring us down from time to time. At some point，you may find yourself in what you will consider as your darkest hour. As you try to find your way out of that bad situation，you should try to remind yourself that there is always still a reason to be grateful.

If you look at your situation now and compare it with that of someone else who is in much deeper trouble than you，I am sure that you'll find something to be thankful for. We all have our share of problems. But complaining about them only makes us blind to the fact that there are miracles happening around us every day.

When all your needs are met，then you should be content and happy. If you have a roof over your head，some decent（像样的）clothes to wear，enough food on the table，a comfortable place to sleep in，clean water to drink and you are free to make your own choices，then you should be happy and grateful. Many people around the world，especially those who are at war or those in very poor countries would give anything to be in your shoes.

Even if you lose all your possessions and your heart is broken for some reason, as long as you are still alive and energetic, then every material thing you have lost can be regained. If you have a few good friends to support or help you, then be glad because true friends are hard to find. As long as you have someone to love and someone to love you back, then you are a very fortunate person. Remember to be patient and trust that things will get better.

1. What are we advised to do when life lets us down?

A．To try to keep calm.

B．To imagine a better future.

C．To realize things could be worse.

D．To fight against the bad situation bravely.

2. What is the result of complaining about the bad situation?

A．Ignoring something good.

B．Creating a far worse situation.

C．Taking everything for granted.

D．Failing to share the pain with others.

3. What does the underlined part "in your shoes" in Paragraph 3 mean？

A．In your honor.	B．On your behalf.
C．In your situation.	D．In touch with you.

4. Which can be the best title for the text？

A．Patience is a virtue

B．Why you should be grateful

C．How to deal with hard times

D．A friend in need is a friend indeed

3 . 短文改错

Leaving a store，I returned to my car only to find I have locked my keys and cell phone inside. The teenager riding his bike learnt about my embarrassed situation. I told him that even if I could call my wife，she wouldn't bring him the car key because she was quite busy then. He handed me with his cell phone，"Calling your wife and tell her I'm going to get the key." "That was a ten-mile round trip，"I said. But he told me not worry about it. An hour late，he returned with the key. I offered him some money，so he refused，"Let's just say I need the exercise."

4 . I’ve started driving again. I drive along a road _______ 12 years ago near my home. As I drove tonight, I _______ Kelly.

Kelly was a _______ when it was constructed. She and her brother were _______ by her father after her mother passed away. By her own _______, she was a _______ child, climbing out of windows, staying out drinking etc. She started to settle in college. The year after I taught her, a _______ thing happened.

It was about this time of year and Kelly’s dad was about to turn to the new road. Since he was not _______ with it, he had a deadly accident. The lecturers sent her a _______ card. I wrote that I would help her with one of the 6 ________ she still had to complete. I knew it would be difficult for Kelly but I ________ to help her anyway.

At that time I had just ________ my marriage and was living in rented accommodation alone. Things were ________ but I committed myself to helping Kelly. I brought her to my home and I ________ her the full unit. I got her to complete all the assignments at my home ________ she could stay focused. Kelly made ________ in the unit I taught her, which fundamentally helped raise her overall grades. Kelly’s lecturer was so ________ with this that she got Kelly to ________ to the rest of the class! At last Kelly completed her course. I was so glad she didn’t ________.

A few years ago I met Kelly. She was pushing a pram (婴儿车), her baby sleeping soundly. It’s the ________ she deserved.

1.

A．built

B．shaped

C．located

D．destroyed

2.

A．called

B．honored

C．thanked

D．remembered

3.

A．waiter

B．worker

C．student

D．conductor

4.

A．adopted

B．visited

C．raised

D．abandoned

5.

A．will

B．admission

C．design

D．preference

6.

A．shy

B．wild

C．violent

D．peaceful

7.

A．lucky

B．funny

C．normal

D．terrible

8.

A．familiar

B．satisfied

C．excited

D．strict

9.

A．gift

B．game

C．comfort

D．birthday

10.

A．units

B．courses

C．programs

D．subjects

11.

A．feared

B．agreed

C．intended

D．hesitated

12.

A．left

B．saved

C．started

D．strengthened

13.

A．handy

B．tough

C．accessible

D．fulfilling

14.

A．taught

B．followed

C．advised

D．consulted

15.

A．in case

B．in that

C．so that

D．even if

16.

A．promises

B．mistakes

C．absence

D．progress

17.

A．annoyed

B．disappointed

C．impressed

D．bored

18.

A．adapt

B．reply

C．explain

D．apologize

19.

A．drop out

B．stay back

C．watch out

D．show up

20.

A．most

B．least

C．same

D．opposite

5 . It was the history class at County College of Morris. Here the teacher and students were _______ the exploration of the New World, and Philip Garber Jr. _______ his hand, hoping to ask why China’s 15th-century explorers, who traveled as far as Africa, did not reach North America.

He kept his hand up for much of the 75-minute session, but the professor _______ him. She had already told him not to _______ in class.

Philip, an intelligent and confident 16-year-old boy who is _______ two college classes this semester, has a lot to say but also a serious stutter (口吃) that makes talking _______, and talking quickly impossible. After the first couple of classes, in which he participated _______, the professor, Elizabeth Snyder, sent him an e-mail requiring that he _______ questions before or after class. Later, she told him, “Your speaking is _______.”

For Philip, who has spent most of his life being homeschooled or ________ a small school, the teacher’s attitude was a ________. “I’ve never experienced any kind of ________,” he said, “so for it to happen in a college classroom was quite shocking.”

Talking with Philip requires a degree of ________ — all the more so because he is remarkably ________, and tends to speak in complete paragraphs. As an eager amateur photographer, he hopes to make a career of it, but worries that “even if nobody ________ the photographer to say much, you do have to talk”.

For now, he is taking ________ in history and English composition at the college, homeschooling in other subjects and traveling to Manhattan once a week to ________ acting and playwriting.

“I’ve been very lucky to never have been ________, bullied or anything,, but some people who stutter completely stop speaking because of that kind of ________,” Philip said. “People don’t think of it ________ a disability. They just need to learn.”

1.

A．adapting

B．conducting

C．leading

D．discussing

2.

A．waved

B．raised

C．clapped

D．shook

3.

A．ignored

B．congratulated

C．forbade

D．annoyed

4.

A．sleep

B．speak

C．play

D．laugh

5.

A．designing

B．teaching

C．organizing

D．taking

6.

A．unsuitable

B．beneficial

C．difficult

D．painful

7.

A．actively

B．curiously

C．gratefully

D．passively

8.

A．answer

B．ask

C．analyze

D．record

9.

A．negative

B．clumsy

C．meaningless

D．troublesome

10.

A．discovering

B．founding

C．attending

D．managing

11.

A．surprise

B．comfort

C．wonder

D．relief

12.

A．desperation

B．praise

C．prejudice

D．admiration

13.

A．courage

B．patience

C．wisdom

D．encouragement

14.

A．honest

B．outgoing

C．cautious

D．determined

15.

A．expects

B．permits

C．reminds

D．inspires

16.

A．chances

B．notes

C．courses

D．awards

17.

A．give in

B．work on

C．refer to

D．think of

18.

A．teased

B．cheated

C．challenged

D．rejected

19.

A．hate

B．cruelty

C．crime

D．abuse

20.

A．over

B．with

C．as

D．for

6 . We’ve all been there: in a lift, in line at the bank or on an airplane, surrounded by people who are, like us, deeply focused on their smartphones or, worse, struggling with the uncomfortable silence.

What’s the problem? It’s possible that we all have compromised conversational intelligence. It’s more likely that none of us start a conversation because it’s awkward and challenging, or we think it’s annoying and unnecessary. But the next time you find yourself among strangers, consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say it’s an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits.

Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy, but we can’t forget that deep relationships wouldn’t

even exist if it weren’t for casual conversation. Small talk is the grease(润滑剂) for social communication, says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. ＂Almost every great love story and each big business deal begins with small talk,＂ he explains. ＂The key to successful small talk is learning how to connect with others, not just communicate with them.＂

In a 2014 study, Elizabeth Dunn, associate professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to seek out an interaction(互动) with its waiter; the other, to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their server reported significantly higher positive feelings and a better coffee shop experience. ＂It’s not that talking to the waiter is better than talking to your husband,＂ says Dunn. ＂But interactions with peripheral(边缘的) members of our social network matter for our well-being also.＂

Dunn believes that people who reach out to strangers feel a significantly greater sense of belonging, a bond with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk. ＂Small talk is the basis of good manners,＂ he says.

1. What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?

A．Addiction to smartphones.

B．Inappropriate behaviours in public places.

C．Absence of communication between strangers.

D．Impatience with slow service.

2. What is important for successful small talk according to Carducci?

A．Showing good manners.	B．Relating to other people.
C．Focusing on a topic.	D．Making business deals.

3. What does the coffee-shop study suggest about small talk?

A．It improves family relationships.	B．It raises people’s confidence.
C．It matters as much as a formal talk.	D．It makes people feel good.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Conversation Counts	B．Ways of Making Small Talk
C．Benefits of Small Talk	D．Uncomfortable Silence

7 . 七选五

A conflict at work is common. If you can avoid conflict, it means you will win what you want regardless of what the other person wants. Since the potential problem has not been removed, it will simply reappear later.    1    

◆Be aware of the fact that some conflicts are unavoidable at work.

On many occasions (场合), conflict and disagreement are likely to happen. But when a conflict happens it is not the end of the world.    2    Conflicts mean that people care enough to disagree strongly. The trick is not to allow the conflict to go on forever.

◆    3    

Solve a conflict when it starts, as it only gets worse with time going by. Everyone is waiting for the other to admit he or she is wrong and gets more unpleasant after the conflict has lasted a while. It is necessary to interrupt the “waiting game” before it gets to that point.

◆Ask nicely.

If somebody has done something that makes you angry, or if you don’t understand their viewpoints or actions, simply asking nicely about them can make a world of difference. Never assume that people do what they do to annoy or hurt you. Sometimes there is a good reason why that person does what he or she does, and a potential conflict disappears right there.    4    

◆Appreciate.

    5    Tell them why it is worth it to you to solve the conflict. This can be difficult as few people find it easy to appreciate a person they disagree strongly with, but it is a great way to move forward.

A．Praise the other part in the conflict.

B．Deal with conflicts sooner rather than later.

C．Invite the other person to talk about the situation.

D．Do remember to make an enquiry, not an accusation of any sort.

E．Here are the necessary steps to effectively get rid of conflicts at work.

F．On the contrary, it can be the beginning of an interesting learning process.

G．Clear thinking is unlikely to happen while an argument continues to boil over.

8 . Knowing your neighbors can make you feel safer and can make your life a little more enjoyable.     1    

Start a Facebook group. Many online groups already exist for local communities, but they may just focus on swapping and selling objects, or simply for exploring the local area.     2     For example, starting a Facebook group.

Get volunteering. Volunteering is a great way to meet like-minded neighbors and make a difference to your community.     3     Charities are the most obvious place to start. Charities, large or small, are always looking for help in regions across the UK. A simple Google search can help you discover local charities and volunteer opportunities.
Practice everyday kindness. Kindness is the start to possible long-lasting friendships. Everyday acts of kindness can be as simple as saying hello when you see your neighbors in the street or the supermarket. It may be seeing someone struggle with the gardening and offering your help.     4    
Start an exercise group. There are a rare few of us that are motivated to start exercising, and even fewer that enjoy going it alone.     5     Plan big walks of your area and ask neighbors to come along. You could sign up together to attempt a marathon or half marathon. Or perhaps you can arrange a Zumba, yoga, or aerobics (有氧运动) class in the community centre.

A．However, you are often too busy to realize this.

B．There are many ways to volunteer in your local community.

C．Starting a neighborhood exercise group may be just the ticket.

D．So why not set one up simply to get to know your neighbors better?

E．It may also be taking in that rather large parcel when no one is home.

F．If you’re new to an area or don’t know how to make local friends, try this advice.

G．These groups indeed make life in communities easier and more comfortable for you.

9 . 根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

How to Say GoodbyeKnowing how and when to say goodbye is often difficult, even in informal situations. But learning to say goodbye appropriately is a skill that will help you keep your relationships and let people know you care.     1     Read on to learn how to recognize opportunities when you leave.

    2     When you’re at any kind of party or gathering, or even a one-on-one conversation, it can be difficult to get away. Learning to recognize good opportunities to leave will make a short-term goodbye much easier.

Watch body language. People don’t like telling you that they’d like you to leave.     3     If the host of a party starts cleaning up, or withdraws (退出) from the conversation, gather your friends or belongings and make your exit. If someone starts checking their watch, or seems otherwise restless, it’s also time to leave.

Make plans to see each other again.Even saying, “See you at school tomorrow,” or “Can’t wait to see you again at Christmas” keeps the goodbye light and focused forward.     4    

Tell the truth.Many people expect to come up with a “good excuse” when they’re ready to leave.     5     If you want to leave, just say, “I’m going to go now, see you later.”

A．You don’t need to.

B．Set up a coffee date.

C．Recognize when to leave.

D．So try and watch for signals.

E．It makes the goodbye easier.

F．It’s also easier than it seems sometimes.

G．If you haven’t already made plans, use it as an opportunity to make them.

10 . Have you ever considered volunteering? It gives you a chance to make contributions. You'll feel a sense of pride that you are volunteering your time, and a local organization will benefit, too. But how to volunteer?Follow the three steps before you enjoy it.

Pick an organization.     1     You're likely to be happier and volunteer longer at an organization that supports a cause you care about. For example, if you're interested in animal welfare, maybe you want to volunteer at an animal shelter. Much like job search sites, you can also use volunteer websites like VolunteerMatch to help you find volunteer opportunities in your area. If you still can't narrow down where you want to volunteer, start asking people you know where they volunteer.     2    

Be clear what you can offer. First identify your skills. For example, maybe you could write brochures（小册子）for local nonprofits if writing is your style.     3     You need to be sure how much time you can give to an organization based on your other commitments. If you try to do too much, you're more likely to give up.

    4     Treat the application like a job. Spend some time preparing for the interview, much as you would for a job interview.     5     Ask what's expected of volunteers. For instance, volunteers at a museum may be expected to learn parts of the galleries（展览馆）to give tours. Start volunteering slowly. That is, it's better to commit to just a little bit of time at first to see if you like volunteering at the organization.

A．Apply and get started.

B．Volunteer in person or online.

C．Then don’t forget to review your weekly schedule.

D．You'd better focus on the causes you like very much.

E．You may find one of them has the perfect opportunity for you.

F．It is also a time for you to judge whether the organization is fit for you.

G．First find an organization that's a good fit for you, and then decide what you have to offer.