1 . Cats don’t live by the rules, and spend most of their time just doing what they want. For the cat owner Zack King, his cat Billy’s life was enigmatic. Free-spirited felines(猫类) who like to spend time outdoors are often gone for hours at a time, leaving their owners wondering where they’ve been or what they’ve been up to. However, King soon discovered that his beloved cat was serving as a “postcat”.

Billy comes and goes as he pleases through a cat door. One day in October, when Billy was inside, King noticed a folded piece of paper covered in a plastic wrap in his collar. King carefully unwrapped it and was surprised to find a note from his neighbors. “Your cat likes to come to visit us when he is outside,” it read. “He will sit at the door and run into our house. We have no idea where he comes from. He always wants people to give him lots of scratches(挠痒). What’s his name? Does he have an owner?”

King wrote a note back, attached it to Billy’s collar, and hoped it would make it to the original sender. “We’re so glad he’s making friends with the neighbors,” it read. “His name is Billy.” It wasn’t long before Billy came back with another note, and now months later, the neighbors are still pen friends. “We both like watching movies online and cooking at home,” King said. “We have no idea what the neighbors look like. We could ask for details but there’s no need—it’s nice to have some privacy sometimes.”

“I was frustrated as the nights got colder and darker. Billy is spending more time indoors and sweet exchanges have become less frequent,” he says. “To be honest, a closed door and a sensitive alarm can ensure the safety of our houses. But they can prevent neighbors from having healthy friendships. To break the ice, we just need a cat and a note.”

1. What does the underlined word “enigmatic” mean in paragraph 1?

A．Mysterious.

B．Boring.

C．Tough.

D．Ordinary.

2. Why did King’s neighbors write a note?

A．To know the identity of the cat.	B．To express his dislike of the cat.
C．To express his thanks for the cat.	D．To ask King to take the cat back.

3. What can we learn from the last but one paragraph?

A．King has met with his neighbors before.

B．King hopes to thank the neighbors in person.

C．King shares common hobbies with his neighbors.

D．King has communicated with his neighbors online.

4. What does King imply in the last paragraph?

A．We should make friends with neighbors.

B．We should ensure the safety of our houses.

C．We should respect the privacy of neighbors.

D．We should keep pets to stay safe and healthy.

2 . In England, many people get worried when they are invited to dinner parties. That is because they don’t know the specific etiquette（礼仪）when attending the party.     1    

Arrive 15 minutes late.

It’s true that the invitation said 7:30 p. m., but chances are that your host hasn’t quite finished up that roast, or they’re still putting the finishing touches on the table decor. Plus, you don’t want to be the first guest there, walking awkwardly in the room while your host are busily preparing.     2     But don’t make it too late. 15 minutes is okay. Thirty minutes after the arrival time is about the maximum delay.

    3    

You don’t have to eat anything that’ll cause you to have severe allergies （过敏）,but avoid making an overreaction or a dramatic public announcement that you can’t or won’t eat anything. When the dish is passed your way, politely pass it to the next person, and explain to your host later that it's not because you didn't want to eat it, just that you couldn't.

Be mindful of your relationship to the host.

    4     If you’re a close friend or family member, avoid excluding other guests with inside jokes or obscure（费解的）references. And no matter your relationship: always bring a gift. Your gift can be more personalized if you and the host have a close relationship—books you'd think they'd enjoy, something they mentioned they`d always wanted at previous gatherings, etc.

Offer to help clean up.

Your host has already gone to great lengths to put the party on.     5     You don’t need to get your hands dirty in the dish pit, but once dinner is done and the guests move to the next room, stay behind to help gather plates and silverware.

A．Notify the host about your dietary（饮食上的）needs.

B．Be honest when giving any home-made dishes.

C．Volunteering your help is a huge and appreciated politeness.

D．The following dinner party etiquette might be of great help.

E．Look at the time listed on the invitation, cross it out, and push it late.

F．Asking your host if he needs you to bring anything to the dinner party.

G．If you're a relative stranger, act politely but be concerned about your host's life.

3 . Going Solo to a wedding? Make Yourself Welcome.

Taylor was nervous when walking into the wedding of her friend Gabrielle. She’s not alone. Attending a wedding by yourself can bring anxiety, especially for people who are single and feeling lonely.     1     .Communicating with other people often makes us happier than we think it will. So, what do you do when you don’t know anybody at a wedding? Here are some suggestions.

Dress to Impress

Wearing something that will make you feel comfortable and confident is key.     2     .She said that it felt nice walking into that wedding knowing she felt really good within herself.

A Smooth Arrival

The first thing to do when you enter an event space is find the bathroom. Take a look in the mirror and get situated. Then, go to the bar and grab a glass of water or a drink.     3     After that, find a place to sit down. If there are no assigned seats, find an empty chair and ask the people who are there: “Are you expecting somebody? Do you mind if I sit here?” And if there are seating arrangements, it’s likely that the wedding couple seated you with people they felt you would get along with.

Conversation

    4    . By introducing yourself straightaway, you can at least speak to the person next to you. Wedding-related topics, including how you know the couple, are natural conversation starters.

After dinner and some chitchat, there’s no harm in leaving if you don’t feel like you want to stay any longer on your own.     5     .

A．But the effort and the presence are what count.

B．People are more willing to talk to you if you do that.

C．If a conversation doesn’t go as expected, don’t get discouraged

D．You may want to make an excuse and stay home, but don’t do that.

E．Talking to people who are also waiting at the bar is a great way to start.

F．Introduce yourself to everyone at the table, whether there is arranged seating or not.

G．For her friend’s wedding, Taylor wore a floral dress and was feeling herself that day.

4 . If somebody informs you that you have a leaf in your hair, smile politely and say, “Oh. Thanks.” When you turn to find it is the cute guy who asks smart questions, try to look as _______ as possible. Brush the _______ out of your hair as though its presence was accidental, as though you’re not upset.

Remind yourself that you will likely find another among the thousands on the _______. If he continues to walk _______ you and talk to you, then you have a difficult situation. You must decide if the attention is pity or interest. You must decide which kind of attention you’d rather have. You must decide whether you want any _______ at all.

Maybe he will not go _______ as quickly as you expected. Perhaps you will find yourself nearing a bench with him in the park at the corner. Do not tap on the bench before sitting down. Do not think about how good it would feel to be racing through the park right now, with the mud under your sneakers. Pretend to be how you imagine a(n) _______ girl would be; nod and smile in the _______ places.

Do not be too serious. Maybe he will talk about movies or books. Maybe about his school or his work. _______ with him and ask him questions.

If he seems exceptionally ________ and accepting, you may be attracted to say more about the disorders that rule your life. So ________ he asks about you, you must answer very carefully. “I play the piano,” you might say. Your favorite composer? Rachmaninoff, of course. “I like to ________” is starting to get a bit risky, but you could try it if you’re brave. “Too bad,” he may say. “You won’t be running for a while.” “I know” is a good, simple ________. Change the subject.

But even if you do, you will have to ________ home eventually. The light will begin to fade or the ________ will threaten another rain. Let him make the first move toward parting.

1.

A．amazed

B．anxious

C．normal

D．passive

2.

A．flower

B．skin

C．guy

D．leaf

3.

A．train

B．ground

C．line

D．coast

4.

A．beside

B．under

C．over

D．beyond

5.

A．adventure

B．stress

C．attention

D．struggle

6.

A．ahead

B．away

C．out

D．down

7.

A．typical

B．eager

C．professional

D．individual

8.

A．potential

B．equal

C．emergent

D．correct

9.

A．Argue

B．Joke

C．Play

D．Act

10.

A．angry

B．frightening

C．open

D．closed

11.

A．unless

B．until

C．before

D．if

12.

A．run

B．swim

C．cycle

D．fly

13.

A．question

B．response

C．feeling

D．thought

14.

A．seek

B．build

C．leave

D．head

15.

A．trees

B．birds

C．clouds

D．roofs

5 . You’ve left home and started an exciting new journey of your life at college, where you’ll experience campus life, studying, socializing and living with your roommates.     1     If you want to have more fun than arguments, you need to keep some important rules in mind.

First, sit down and have an honest conversation with your roommates.

    2    . Talking honestly about your expectations at the beginning of the year will save problems later on. Important topics to discuss include money (what needs to be paid) and cleaning (who cleans what and how often).

Second.     3     You might think you have great musical taste, but your roommates might have different ideas. Get into the habit of wearing headphones when listening to music, and you can expect your roommates to do the same.

Third, even if you and your roommates like to share food, make sure you don’t use up the last of their food or drink,     4     Imagine you have just rushed home, excited to eat the ice cream or yogurt in the fridge, but only to find that it’s gone. It’s not a good feeling!

All in all, the golden rule is to treat your roommates as you’d like to be treated yourself.     5    

A．Living with roommates can be great fun, but it can also, at times, be disappointing.

B．especially if you know it’s one of their favorite things.

C．Communication is the key.

D．It also allows for a better discussion as the both roommate will most likely enter the discussion calmly.

E．point out good things about roommates.

F．If they do the same for you, there really should be no problems.

G．music is a topic which can divide roommates.

6 . For 85 years, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has tracked an original group of 724 men and more than 1,300 of their male and female descendants (后代) over three generations, asking thousands of questions and taking hundreds of measurements to find out what really keeps people healthy and happy.

Through all the years of studying these lives, one crucial factor stands out for the consistency and power of its bond to physical health, mental health and longevity: good relationships.

In 2008, researchers telephoned the wives and husbands of Harvard Study couples in their 80s every night for eight nights. Researchers spoke to each partner separately and asked them a series of questions about their days.

On days when these men and women spent more time in the company of others, they were happier. Like most older people, those in the Harvard Study experienced day-to-day rises and falls in their levels of physical pain and health difficulties. But researchers found that the people who were in more satisfying relationships were cushioned (缓冲) somewhat from these ups and downs of mood—their happiness did not decline as much on the days when they had more pain. Simply put, their happy marriages seemed to have a protective effect.

Elizabeth Gillespie, a therapist of couples, stated that although most of us found that our experience of relationships might be hard, and at times, impossible, it is essential to our well-being.

Today we live in much more complicated environments, so meeting our social needs presents different challenges. We might be sitting on a gold mine of vitality that we are not paying attention to, because it is hidden by the shiny appeal of smartphones or pushed to the side by work demands.

1. What’s the purpose of the Harvard Study of Adult Development?

A．To study their lives over three generations.

B．To reveal the secret to health and well-being.

C．To track the descendants of an original group.

D．To study the relationship between health and happiness.

2. How did the researchers carry out the study?

A．By working with other researchers.

B．By tracking specific groups of people.

C．By helping participants with social difficulties.

D．By comparing the results from different people.

3. Why did the author mention the examples in Paragraph 4?

A．To provide evidence for the bond of health and longevity.

B．To introduce the concept of physical pain and health difficulties.

C．To show the negative impact of unhappy marriages on older people’s mood.

D．To support the positive impact of satisfying relationships on people’s lives.

4. According to Elizabeth Gillespie, what is essential to our well-being?

A．Having good social connections.

B．Declining pains and difficulties.

C．Overcoming ups and downs of mood.

D．Experiencing rises and falls of physical health.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the man doing?

A．Complaining about Anne’s behavior.

B．Asking for the woman’s assistance.

C．Giving the woman suggestions.

2. What was Dave’s attitude towards Anne according to the man?

A．Impolite.

B．Friendly.

C．Unconcerned.

3. What will the woman do next?

A．Write a report.

B．Send a form.

C．Talk with Dave.

8 . Many people find it hard to say no, even when they are over-stressed, over-booked and just too busy to take on anything else.     1     . But it’s important to learn how to say no to people and their requests. Being unable can contribute to more stress, which may eventually turn to resentment (怨恨).

    2     . This article discusses some strategies you can use to set boundaries, protect your personal time and say no more often.

I’m sorry – I can’t do this right now

Sometimes, it helps to wait and think about whether you can take on a commitment. It’s usually best not to rush into things.     3     . Most reasonable people will accept this as an answer, so if someone keeps pressuring you, they’re being rude.

Let me think about it

If you’re uncomfortable being firm or are dealing with pushy people, it’s OK to say, “Let me think about it and get back to you.”     4     .

This strategy also allows you to think about whether you want to say “yes” to another commitment. To decide, do a cost-benefit analysis and then get back to them with a yes or no.

    5    

If you would really like to do what they’re requesting, but don’t have the time, it’s fine to say no to all or part of the request but mention a lesser commitment that you can make. This way you’ll still be partially involved, but it will be on your own terms.

A．I can’t do this, but I can do that

B．If you struggle with this, then you’re not alone

C．I wish I could, but I have a lot going on right now

D．This gives you a chance to review your schedule and consider your options

E．Luckily, you can learn how to say no to people without causing hurt feelings

F．If pressured, reply that it doesn’t fit into your schedule and change the subject

G．You have every right to ensure you have time for the things that are important to you

9 . As a young child, I was painfully shy. I’d watch other children play in the park, wishing I could join them, but I was too scared to approach. Eventually, my mother would come to the rescue. She’d ask the other kids if I could play, too. Today, I feel comfortable giving public lectures in large halls and having conversations in small groups, but I still tend to avoid situations in which I’m expected to spend time with a roomful of strangers.

There could be many reasons. For one thing, I might be carrying some childhood fear of rejection. But beyond that possibility, one likely element is that I tend to underestimate how much people like me after I meet them, as most of us do.

A new research paper reports that the common concern that new people may not like us, or that they may not enjoy our company, is largely unfounded.

Erica Boothby of Cornell University and her colleagues conducted a series of studies to find out what our conversation partners really think of us. In doing so, they discovered a new cognitive illusion (认知错觉) they call “the liking gap”: our failure to realize how much strangers appreciate our company after a bit of conversation.

The researchers observed the gap in a variety of situations: strangers getting acquainted in the research laboratory, first-year college students getting to know their dormitory mates over the course of many months, and community members meeting fellow participants in personal development workshops. In each circumstance, people consistently underestimated how much others liked them. For much of the academic year, as dormitory mates got to know each other and even started to develop enduring friendships, the liking gap persisted.

The data also revealed some of the potential reasons for the illusion: we are often more severe with ourselves than with others, and our inner critic prevents us from appreciating how positively other people evaluate us. Not knowing what our conversation partners really think of us, we use our own thoughts as a proxy (代理人). This is a mistake, because our thoughts tend to be more negative than reality.

1. Why does the author mention his childhood experience?

A．To show how his character changed.

B．To explain what he was like when he was young.

C．To show an example of why people are shy of communication.

D．To emphasize the important role of a mother in one’s childhood.

2. What does the underlined word “unfounded” probably mean?

A．Careless.

B．Baseless.

C．Selfless.

D．Meaningless.

3. What do we know about the liking gap from the text?

A．It indicates what strangers really think of us.

B．It begins and ends quickly among strangers.

C．It disappears when strangers get to know each other.

D．It states our misunderstanding of how much others like us.

4. Which of the following is the best title for this text?

A．People Like You More than You Know

B．How to Get Along Well with Strangers

C．The Way to Know What Others Think of Us

D．Having Conversations with Strangers Benefits Us

10 . 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。

Why achieving independence is essential when a person achieves adulthood？

Because you can get freedom through financial independence.Nothing compares     1     receiving that first pay packet and knowing that at last, you can begin to pay your way in the world. Having financial independence is an incredible feeling. It means that you don’t have to depend on     2    (other) to pay for you. Knowing you are in control of your income and spending without restrictions     3    (place) on you by others reduces stress and improves your feeling of satisfaction.

Additionally, because independence leads to personal improvement.When you are independent, you can lead     4     more free social life, pursue the career     5     you want, and undertake activities that appeal to you. No-one else will be trying to limit your ambition.You can meet new friends, try new things, and follow up on new     6     (opportunity). All of this will lead to you     7    (grow) as a person, becoming     8    (experienced), having a better understanding of the ways of the world, and becoming more knowledgeable.

If you see yourself in a positive light , then you     9     (have) greater belief in your abilities. When you can act independently, then you will become a mature adult with a positive attitude towards everything you do. This is     10     independence is important.