1 . If you’re a procrastinator(拖延的人), you’re familiar with the pain and stress that goes hand in hand with leaving things to the last minute. Even if you want to accomplish or finish a task, you’re likely having trouble getting started in the first place!    1    

Change your mind. Stop punishing yourself for procrastinating. The more stressed out you are, the harder it’ll be to get your work done. Don’t be angry with yourself. Just move on and focus on what you’ve got to do instead.    2    Wasting time yelling at yourself for not starting that 2, 000-word essay two weeks ago will only make you extra tired and frustrated. It will also stress you out, likely making it impossible for you to finish your assignment at that time.

Avoid a long disorganized to-do list. This is just setting yourself up for failure. Instead, create subcategories like “Home”, “Work”, “Family”, and “Fun” and just try to cross off a few entries from each list every day.

Do most important task for 15 minutes. Instead of thinking about the total number of hours you’re about to work for, just start. Tell yourself you’ve only got to do it for 15 minutes.    3    Once you come up for air, take a two-minute break. Then start up on another set of 15 minutes of work.

    4    It can be scary to think about finishing a whole essay or getting through an entire week’s worth of tasks. Instead of thinking about everything you have to do like one big obstacle, break it all down into tiny pieces.    5    

A．Break tasks down into small pieces.

B．Never think about the past experiences.

C．Guilt and regret are negative emotions.

D．However, there is always some time when you can’t pull through.

E．If 15 minutes still sounds too frightening, do something for just 3 minutes.

F．Thus, you’ll be able to get started on the smallest piece and go forward from there.

G．Hopefully, there are several strategies that can help you stop procrastinating right now.

2 . An act of kindness doesn't have to be a grand gesture. Even those small acts of kindness can make a difference in someone's day. That was just the case for Amie Mickey when she____________a bumper sticker on her car reading: You Matter.

Amie started to do this several years ago. At first, she wondered if people would________________it. However, much to her surprise, she began seeing a flood of____________every time she hit the road. More often than not, people________________slowly near her car would roll down their windows, raising their____________________,waving and smiling. Sometimes, she even found some sticky notes left on her windshield saying things like “You________________too! “Once while she was driving down the highway, she became____________when a man driving a sports car at a high speed pulled his car alongside suddenly, waving and mouthing, “You matter!” Though it took her some time to recover from the________________, she still felt happy. Last year, someone____________________her car while she was waiting for her friend in the car by the roadside, saying to her, “It is a(an)________________sticker. I’ve seen various stickers before, but none of them have touched me as your sticker has done. “The two small words on the sticker seem simple enough, but they really struck a chord with many complete strangers who___________to catch sight of the sticker.

Stories like Amie's really________________the rest of us. Sometimes a kind word or gesture may lift our____________and it doesn't cost a thing except for a little extra thought. Maybe it means offering a friend a hug, praising the children when their children________________well in school, helping someone out or volunteering at animal shelters or shelters for the homeless. Acts of kindness are waiting everywhere. Small as they seem, they can make a____________impact on the world, and help form general goodness.

1.

A．tore up

B．picked up

C．fixed up

D．put up

2.

A．watch

B．overlook

C．notice

D．neglect

3.

A．attention

B．strangers

C．confusion

D．trouble

4.

A．running

B．driving

C．walking

D．riding

5.

A．voices

B．hats

C．shoulders

D．thumbs

6.

A．count

B．share

C．value

D．matter

7.

A．frightened

B．frustrated

C．embarrassed

D．disappointed

8.

A．parking

B．speed

C．incident

D．event

9.

A．approached

B．blocked

C．repaired

D．cleaned

10.

A．important

B．special

C．typical

D．skeptical

11.

A．happened

B．occurred

C．managed

D．offered

12.

A．shock

B．inspire

C．delight

D．satisfy

13.

A．feelings

B．thoughts

C．spirits

D．minds

14.

A．work

B．exercise

C．conduct

D．behave

15.

A．reliable

B．subjective

C．positive

D．brief

3 . The word "emoji" comes from Japanese, literally meaning "picture character".    1     They   come in different categories, such as faces and people, plants and animals, and food and drink.

When first introduced in Japan in 1999, emojis were limited to 176 simple designs. Now there are more than 3,000 emojis. Due to their popularity, the Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year in 2015 was a pictograph      instead of a traditional word.

In today’s world, emojis have become   more   and   more   popular.    2     People like   them because they add emotional meanings, and are quick and easy to use. With a smiling or sad face added to a message or post, your reader can "see" your facial expression while reading your words.

    3     For instance, if your friend is moving across the country, you may just send them a string of crying faces to express your sadness over your separation.

    4     A Shakespeare series for young readers has taken William   Shakespeare’s popular   plays and replaced some words with textspeak and emojis. The intention of these adaptations is to make the classics more accessible to young readers. Some people, however, believe that these new versions have taken away the heart and soul of Shakespeare’s plays.

As we can see, emojis have a tendency to pop up all over the place. Users of emojis say that they facilitate the way we communicate and express ourselves. But this makes others, especially educators, worry that we are losing the ability to communicate properly using the written word, or even the spoken word. After all, how many of us today would rather send a message packed with emojis than make a telephone call?    5     On that day, emojis will have become a real pictorial "language". But, for now, maybe it’s best that we just enjoy using them.

A．Maybe emojis’ best days are ahead.

B．The most popular emojis are absolute classics.

C．The use of emojis has even spread to classical literature.

D．Perhaps people will one day choose to communicate in pictures.

E．It seems that emojis have clear advantages over written language.

F．Emojis are small symbols representing ideas, emotions or feelings.

G．Emojis can also help people express their feelings when they can’t find the appropriate words.

4 . Small talk has a reputation for being uninteresting, and for good reason. Pointing out the fact that it’s raining seems as ridiculous as pointing out the fact that you have a head—you’re fully aware of both things, and don’t require an outsider to confirm them. But despite being evident and often painfully dull, small talk has an important role to fulfil, enabling us to leap over a number of social obstacles towards improved, meaningful interaction.

Humans can be sensitive souls. We each have our boundaries and lists of potential upsets, which when broken, cause us to either gently back away to an alternative position in the room, or become cross at the person. Small talk is first a way to test the waters with an unfamiliar person, so that you may better understand their personality. When finding yourself positioned closely to a person who you know little about, it’s much safer to point out the rainy sky than to share your political views on a sensitive topic. Until you know the person better, heavier topics should probably be kept under wraps, so you won’t find yourself on the receiving end of a cold stare.

Though insignificant, small talk still has great power. When talking with fellow humans, much of our soul is exposed through non-verbal communication. A response to “how was your weekend” can unveil much about the person’s character. The length of their response might indicate their level of self-confidence; the tone of speaking might show how agreeable a person is; their slightly lowered head, as if protecting themselves from attack, a possible sign of a regrettable history of bullying.

As more of a person’s character is revealed, we have the insight needed to determine whether to broach more significant topics—the things that we actually want to talk about. Conversation is a great educator, and deep conversation establish lasting bonds with our fellow humans, forming precious friendships that paint our lives with vibrant colors. Such friendships begin with small talk.

1. What is described in the first paragraph?

A．The first stage of human interaction.

B．Ridiculous human behavior in communication.

C．Absence of communication between strangers.

D．The difficulty of having deep conversations.

2. Why do people find themselves “on the receiving end of a cold stare”?

A．Because they are fond of heavy subjects.

B．Because they are enthusiastic about politics.

C．Because they are too sensitive about topics.

D．Because they fail to manage interpersonal distance.

3. What might be a sign of friendliness according to paragraph 3?

A．The length of the answer.	B．The quality of the voice.
C．The position of the head.	D．The distance between speakers.

4. What might be the best title for the text?

A．Reputation of Small Talk	B．Ways of Understanding Personality
C．Significance of Small Talk	D．Challenges of Deep Conversation

5 . Byrd is in her eighth year of teaching at Wilder Elementary in Mansfield. She has taught fifth grader Fisher Croney every year since he was in kindergarten. Fisher _______ in the class by helping in Byrd's classroom whenever he has free time after class.

Byrd also _______ Fisher's mother, Shannon Croney, as an acquaintance. They would occasionally chat at their boys' baseball games. She had heard that Croney was having some _______ problems. In January 2019 Croney received a routine blood test and found her kidneys （肾）were not _______ normally. After going through a string of tests, doctors could not figure what caused her kidneys to _______. But Byrd didn't know what the _______ was until she saw a Facebook post from Fisher around Christmas of 2019. It was _______ to help his mother find a kidney. Byrd did not _______ to help. In March, Byrd, learned that she and Croney were a close _______ Even doctors were ________ that they were not related in blood.

Byrd was in the hospital for ________ in June. She was never ________ about the transplant（移植）. Actually, she felt honored that her donation enabled another person to live a totally ________ life.

Today, both women are doing well. They are turning their ________ to another member of their community, who is also sick and ________ a kidney transplant.

1.

A．gives out

B．stands out

C．looks about

D．sits about

2.

A．learned

B．met

C．taught

D．knew

3.

A．family

B．behavior

C．communication

D．health

4.

A．functioning

B．growing

C．forming

D．beating

5.

A．miss

B．ache

C．fail

D．improve

6.

A．schedule

B．issue

C．offer

D．opportunity

7.

A．intended

B．allowed

C．persuaded

D．urged

8.

A．respond

B．hesitate

C．confirm

D．attend

9.

A．encounter

B．relative

C．neighbor

D．match

10.

A．excited

B．embarrassed

C．surprised

D．relieved

11.

A．surgery

B．practice

C．recovery

D．training

12.

A．curious

B．nervous

C．certain

D．frank

13.

A．normal

B．casual

C．strange

D．dependent

14.

A．back

B．faith

C．attention

D．respect

15.

A．in favor of

B．in memory of

C．in recognition of

D．in need of

6 . It was 1935, when I was 10 years old, and we lived in Brooklyn, New York.

A few days before _______ , my father was sitting on the chair, _______ , with tears in his eyes. The mailman was _______ our building and asked my father what was _______. I heard my father say that he had _______ his food and that the _______ was past due. He had tried to work as a _______ , but he wasn't a very _______ man, and the work had been too hard for him. "How much do you need?” the mailman asked. My dad said he needed $33 for the rent, and without _______ , the mailman took $50 from his wallet and ________ it to my father. My dad said, I don't know ________ I'll be able to pay you back." The mailman put an arm around my father and said it would be ________ if he paid him back or not. The mailman noticed me and said, "Isaac, things will not be this way forever. If you or your son will ________ this day, there will be times in the future when someone needs your help. Help them within your means and tell them what happened this day. This will be my ________. Merry Christmas.

As long as he lived, my father helped others when he could, and I've done my best to do my part in paying the mailman's ________ back.

1.

A．Father's Day

B．New Year's Day

C．Halloween

D．Christmas

2.

A．excited

B．depressed

C．delighted

D．touched

3.

A．approaching

B．designing

C．decorating

D．leaving

4.

A．surprising

B．interesting

C．up

D．wrong

5.

A．purchased

B．ordered

C．used up

D．sold out

6.

A．salary

B．credit card

C．rent

D．payback

7.

A．laborer

B．teacher

C．clerk

D．doctor

8.

A．brave

B．strong

C．smart

D．sensitive

9.

A．preparation

B．complaint

C．doubt

D．hesitation

10.

A．handed

B．donated

C．posted

D．showed

11.

A．where

B．how

C．when

D．why

12.

A．correct

B．possible

C．uncertain

D． okay

13.

A．remember

B．forget

C．miss

D．spend

14.

A．bonus

B．benefit

C．reward

D．award

15.

A．strength

B．generosity

C．optimism

D．honesty

7 . There is a lot of losing in sports. Only one team can win at a time, and only one champion escapes the season without tears. But that doesn’t stop Americans from spending nearly $56 billion a year on sporting events. Is fandom(运动迷) worth it?

At first glance, the evidence isn’t encouraging. Following a loss, fans are more likely than usual to eat unhealthy food, be unproductive at work, and –in the case of the Super Bowl-die from heart disease. What about fans of the winning team? Well, they are more likely than other fans to suffer a postgame traffic fatality(死亡) if the score is close.

Rival(竞争的) fans’treatment of one another is hardly more encouraging. A recent study found that fans experienced greater pleasure when watching a rival team fail. Fans in another study reported schadenfreude, a feeling of satisfaction, when reading about the injury of a rival team’s player, and gluckschmerz or unhappiness when later reading about the player’s unexpectedly speedy recovery.

Yet a great deal of research shows that being a fan can also have positive effects. It can prevent depression and build a sense of belonging and self-worth---in case that the object of one’s devotion is a local team. Much of this is due to social bonds among fans, but not all--- sports worship also provides fans with a number of skills at dealing with life’s emotional challenges. A landmark 1976 study found that after a win,fans were more likely than usual to wear clothes connected with the winning teams, and to claim credit for the team’s success by describing the team as “we” instead of “they” in conversation.

Along with schadenfreude and gluckschmerz, being a fan seems more than anything else to be a matter of managing responses to things that cannot control. Sports fans tend to respond to reminders of death with optimism, and to remember victories much more clearly than defeats.

1. Which of the following statement is especially true as for the winning side’s fans?

A．They might die from heart disease.

B．They tend to live an unhealthy life.

C．They can have good work efficiency.

D．They might have a traffic accident.

2. What does the underlined sentence mean in paragraph 3?

A．Rival fans usually hold bad or even extreme attitude to each other.

B．Rival fans often fight with each other.

C．Fans can face their rival team bravely.

D．Fans never lose heart when facing their rival team.

3. What did the 1976 study show?

A．Being a fan could show great devotion to study.

B．Being a fan could create a sense of belonging.

C．Being a fan could develop a spirit of optimism.

D．Being a fan could test social bonds.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．How to be a fan

B．What it’s like to be fan

C．Being a fan can be good for you

D．A fan’s emotional challenges

8 . Being independent is an important skill for people who want to take control of their lives. Here are some tips on how to be independent.

Believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, then who else will?     1     No one can speak the words on your lips and not everyone is going to agree with what you say.

    2     If you don’t have faith in yourself, you will always doubt yourself and turn to others for help every time you have to make a decision. Try to move away from that.

    3     Our parents care for us so much that they do everything in their power to raise us in a fair and just environment. But the real world does not follow the same principle. You might be treated badly for all sorts of unfair things: your skin color, your height, your weight, how much money you have, and just about everything else that makes you who you are.     4    

Stop caring about what other people think. This is the most important thing about being independent. Stop worrying about other people’s opinions about your life, whether they are thinking about your clothes, your choice of career, or your choice of significant other.     5    

If you always have the worrying thought, “But what will other people think if…” in the back of your head, then you will always be holding yourself back from doing your own thing.

A．Be your own hero.

B．Accept that life is not fair.

C．These are your decisions, and not anyone else’s.

D．As long as you have made a decision — just do it!

E．We are all different and have something unique to say.

F．So please remember: you have to be happy in spite of that.

G．Believing in yourself will make you trust your own decisions.

9 . What does the man say about Uncle Jim?

A．He works hard.

B．His is often late for work.

C．He speaks with his mouth full of food.

10 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words.Use your own words as far as possible.

Are you a textaholic?

Do you spend over an hour each day texting your friends? Do you frequently neglect work, study and leisure activities to check your phone for text message? Are you moody and emotional if you are separated from your mobile phone? Do you hardly ever use your phone to talk any more, and do your thumbs from texting too much?

If you answered 'Yes' to any of the above questions, then the chances are that you are a textaholic.A textaholic can be defined as someone who is addicted to sending and receiving text messages.The main symptoms are strong will to text which takes precedence over (优先于) everything else, and withdrawal symptoms (戒断症状)if messages fail to come in, leading to anger, depression and a lack of self-respect.Other problems include sleeplessness, eye strain, and repetitive strain injury due to constant messaging, not to mention expensive phone bills.The root of the problem, as with many addictions, is the desire to escape from emotional difficulties such as stress, anxiety and relationship problems.Experts warn that text addiction is likely to become the most common form of addiction in the future, especially among the young.

So what can you do if you think you may be textaholic? The key is to get your life back in balance.Make sure you resist the urge to answer every message you receive, and consider leaving your mobile phone behind occasionally when you go out.Most importantly, make a point of spending quality time with friends and family, and make time to re — learn the art of face-to-face conversation instead of conducting your relationships by means of text messages.Not only will you save time and money, but you may also rediscover the pleasure of true communication.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________