1 . When I was seven, my father gave me a watch, Timex. It was my first watch. I loved it, wore it for years, and haven’t had another one since it stopped clicking a decade ago. Why? Because I don’t _________ one. I have a mobile phone and I’m always near someone with an iPod or something like that. All these _________ tell the time — which is why, if you look around, you’ll see lots of empty _________; sales of watches to young adults have been going down since 2007. But while the _________ men have realized that they don’t need them, others _________ are spending total fortunes on them. Brands (品牌) such as Rolex and Philippe command shocking _________, up to £250,000 for a piece.

This is _________. These days all watches tell the time as well as all other watches. Expensive watches come with extra _________ but who needs them? How often do you dive to 300 metres into the sea or need to find your _________ in the South Pole? So why pay that much of five years’ school fees for watches that allow you to do these things? If justice were done, the Swiss watch industry should have __________ when the Japanese discovered how to __________ accurate watches for a five-pound note.

Watches are now categorized as “investments”. A 1994 Philippe recently sold for nearly £350,000, while 1960s Rolexes have gone from £15,000 to £30,000 plus in a year. But a watch is not an investment. It’s a(n) __________ for self-satisfaction, a matter of fashion. Prices may keep going up. But when fashion moves on, the __________ of that £350,000 beauty will __________ find his pride and joy is no more a good investment than my __________ Timex.

1.

A．own

B．wear

C．choose

D．need

2.

A．devices

B．phones

C．watches

D．friends

3.

A．minds

B．wrists

C．bags

D．hands

4.

A．young

B．sensitive

C．proud

D．wise

5.

A．regularly

B． apparently

C．generously

D．usually

6.

A．prices

B．salaries

C．operations

D．applications

7.

A．unexpected

B．fashionable

C．silly

D．reasonable

8.

A．functions

B．charges

C．operations

D．applications

9.

A．interest

B．direction

C．courage

D．fortune

10.

A．come up

B．brightened up

C．closed down

D．moved on

11.

A．appreciate

B．set

C．promote

D．make

12.

A．toy

B．memory

C．reward

D．invention

13.

A．designer

B．admirer

C．producer

D．owner

14.

A．originally

B．suddenly

C．particularly

D．constantly

15.

A．priceless

B．pocket

C．childhood

D．poor

2 . There are about fifteen hundred languages in the world.

But only a few of them are very ___ . English is one of these. Many, many people use it, not only in England and the U.S.A., but in other parts of the world. About 200,000,000 speak it as their own language. It is difficult to say how many people are learning it as a ___   language. Many millions are trying to do so.

Is it easy or difficult to learn English? Different people may have different ____ Have you ever ___ ads of this kind in the newspapers or magazines?

“Learn English in six month, or your _____ back ...” “Easy and funny? Our records and tapes _____ you master your English in a month. From the first day your _____ will be excellent. Just send...” Of course, it never _____ quite like this.

The only language that seems easy to learn is the mother tongue. We should remember that we all learned our own language well when we were _____. If we could learn English in the same way, it would not seem so difficult. _____ what a small child does. He listens to what people say. He tries what he hears. When he is using the language, talking in it, and ____ in it all the time, just imagine how much _____ that gets!

So it is hard to say that learning English is easy, because a good command of English _____ upon a lot of practice. And practice needs great effort and _____ much time. Good teachers, records, tapes, books, and dictionaries will ____. But they cannot do the student’s work for him.

1.

A．difficult

B．important

C．necessary

D．easy

2.

A．native

B．foreign

C．useful

D．mother

3.

A．questions

B．problems

C．ideas

D．answers

4.

A．found

B．watched

C．noticed

D．known

5.

A．knowledge

B．time

C．money

D．English

6.

A．make

B．help

C．let

D．allow

7.

A．spelling

B．grammar

C．English

D．pronunciation

8.

A．happens

B．knows

C．seems

D．feel

9.

A．students

B．children

C．babies

D．grown-ups

10.

A．Imagine

B．Mind

C．Do

D．Think of

11.

A．using

B．thinking

C．trying

D．practicing

12.

A．time

B．money

C．language

D．practice

13.

A．depends

B．tries

C．has

D．takes

14.

A．uses

B．takes

C．gets

D．costs

15.

A．do

B．work

C．help

D．master

3 . Many cities around the world today are heavily polluted. Careless methods of production and ________ of consumer demands for environment friendly products have ________ the pollution problem. One ________ is that millions of tons of glass, paper, plastic, and metal containers are produced, and these are difficult to get rid of.

________, today, more and more consumers are choosing “green” and demanding that the products they buy should be safe for the environment. ________ they buy a product, they ask questions like these: “Will this shampoo damage the environment?” “Can this metal container be ________ or can it only be used once?”

A recent study showed that two ________ five adults now consider the environmental safety of a product before they buy it. This means that companies must now change the ________ they make and sell their products to make sure that they are “green,” that is, friendly to the environment.

Only a few years ago, it was impossible to find green products in supermarkets, but now there are hundreds. Some supermarket products ________ labels to show that the product is green. Some companies emphasize that their products are clean and safe in their advertising and have made it their main selling ________.

The ________ for a safer and cleaner environment is making companies rethink ________ they do business. No longer will the public accept the old ________ of “Buy it, use it, throw it away and forget it.” The public ________ is still here, and companies are ________ their act gradually.

1.

A．part

B．lack

C．lots

D．varieties

2.

A．applied to

B．contributed to

C．exposed to

D．devoted to

3.

A．possibility

B．chance

C．result

D．effect

4.

A．Therefore

B．Furthermore

C．Similarly

D．However

5.

A．After

B．Though

C．Before

D．Unless

6.

A．reused

B．safe

C．friendly

D．returned

7.

A．of

B．on

C．from

D．out of

8.

A．rhyme

B．way

C．section

D．branch

9.

A．carry

B．take

C．include

D．make

10.

A．advantage

B．technique

C．point

D．attraction

11.

A．concern

B．hope

C．care

D．plan

12.

A．what

B．how

C．whether

D．when

13.

A．saying

B．trust

C．attitude

D．fashion

14.

A．pressure

B．pleasure

C．discussion

D．interest

15.

A．enlarging

B．sharing

C．cleaning

D．improving

4 . There are too many fat people in America, so many Americans are fighting against overweight. But the _________ thing is that the French, who consume rich food, tend to stay thin. Now a _________ by Cornell University points out _________ lifestyle and decisions about _________ may affect weight. Researchers concluded that the French tend to stop eating when they feel _________. However, Americans tend to stop when their _________ are empty or their favorite TV show is over. 

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a health expert, the French see eating _________ an important part of their lifestyle. They enjoy food and therefore spend a very _________ time at the table, while Americans see eating as anything to be squeezed in between the other daily activities. Mercola believes Americans _________ the ability to sense when they are actually full. So they keep eating long after the French would have stopped. In addition, he points out that Americans drive to huge supermarkets to buy canned and __________ foods for the week. The French, __________, tend to shop daily, walking to small shops and farmers’ markets where they have a choice of fresh fruit, vegetables rich in fiber, and eggs as well as high-quality meat for each meal. 

After a visit to the United States, Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don’t Get Fat, decided to __________ about the importance of knowing when to stop rather than suggesting how to avoid __________. Today she continues to stay slim and rarely goes to the gym. 

In spite of all these differences, evidence shows that recent lifestyle __________ may be affecting French eating habits. Today the rate of obesity(肥胖)—or extreme overweight—among adults is only 6%. However, as American fast food gains __________ and the young reject older traditions, the obesity rate among French children has reached 17%—and is growing.

1.

A．formal

B．strange

C．natural

D．modern

2.

A．novel

B．study

C．strategy

D．newspaper

3.

A．that

B．what

C．where

D．when

4.

A．working

B．living

C．eating

D．studying

5.

A．sensitive

B．full

C．happy

D．annoyed

6.

A．pockets

B．refrigerators

C．houses

D．plates

7.

A．as

B．into

C．inside

D．to

8.

A．long

B．short

C．exciting

D．fast

9.

A．bring

B．lose

C．get

D．receive

10.

A．frozen

B．cool

C．warm

D．hot

11.

A．therefore

B．instead

C．meanwhile

D．consequently

12.

A．write

B．read

C．speak

D．think

13.

A．fruit

B．oil

C．food

D．egg

14.

A．examples

B．changes

C．designs

D．stories

15.

A．failure

B．success

C．confidence

D．acceptance

6 . People think children should play sports. Sports are fun, and children keep healthy while playing with others. However，playing sports can have_________effects on children. It may produce feelings of poor self-respect or aggressive behavior in some children. According to research on kids and sports，40,000,000 kids play sports in the US. Of these,18,000,000 say they have been_________at or called names while playing sports. This leaves many children with a bad_________of sports. They think sports are just too aggressive.

Many researchers believe adults, especially parents and coaches, are the main_________of too much aggression in children’s sports. They believe children_________aggressive adult behavior. This behavior is then further strengthened through both positive and negative feedback (反馈). Parents and coaches are powerful teachers because children usually look up to them. Often these adults behave aggressively themselves, sending children the message that_________is everything. Many parents go to children’s sporting events and shout_________at other players or cheer when their child behaves_________. As well, children are even taught that hurting other players is _________or are pushed to continue playing even when they are injured.____________, the media makes violence seem exciting. Children watch adult sports games and see violent behavior replayed over and over on television.

We really need to____________this problem and do something about it. Parents and coaches____________should act as better examples for children. They also need to teach children better____________. They should not just cheer when children win or act aggressively. They should teach children to____________themselves whether they win or not. Besides, children should not be allowed to continue to play when they are injured. If adults allow children to play when injured, this gives the message that____________is not as important as winning.

1.

A．restrictive(限制的)

B．negative

C．active

D．instructive

2.

A．knocked

B．glanced

C．smiled

D．shouted

3.

A．impression

B．concept

C．taste

D．expectation

4.

A．resource

B．cause

C．course

D．consequence

5.

A．question

B．understand

C．copy

D．neglect

6.

A．winning

B．practising

C．fun

D．sport

7.

A．praises

B．orders

C．remarks (言论、评论)

D．insults(侮辱)

8.

A．proudly

B．ambitiously

C．aggressively

D．bravely

9.

A．acceptable

B．impolite

C．possible

D．accessible

10.

A．By contrast

B．In addition

C．As a result

D．After all

11.

A．look up to

B．face up to

C．make up for

D．come up with

12.

A．in particular

B．in all

C．in return

D．in advance

13.

A．techniques

B．means

C．values

D．directions

14.

A．respect

B．relax

C．forgive

D．enjoy

15.

A．body

B．fame

C．health

D．spirit

7 . It was more than 160 years ago that Charles Dickens wrote“A Tale of Two Cities”. But the novel's well-known opening_________ --“It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times." -- seems especially _______ today, given what we have lived through during the pandemic recently.

We all know the_______we' ve faced both here and around the world. At the same time, we have also seen countless examples of others_______to help, so to speak, even as we do what we can to stay_______. Our health care workers and first responders deserve considerable_______for what they have done to keep us well, while our teachers and school staffs are to be_______ for making sure our children are still able to learn and have_______to good resources while they are at home.

Those_______our grocery stores and restaurants have managed to continue ________ us, and our small businesses and charitable organizations have found________ ways to help many of us________situations our country hasn't seen since the days of World War II and the Great Depression. I want to thank everyone who has gone above and beyond for our________.If you need them, here are some important________numbers and websites to provide   ________.For Medicaid, the customer-service line is 855-459-6328. For unemployment insurance, you are________ requested to visit https://kcc.ky.gov/ or call 502-564-2900. Be aware that, due to a(n)__________increase in unemployment claims, applications are being________this week based on last name. Each day is focused on several________through Friday, and if you________your day, you can use Friday as well.

State Rep. John Sims Jr.

1.

A．word

B．line

C．plot

D．poem

2.

A．relevant

B．original

C．considerate

D．pleasant

3.

A．questions

B．switches

C．failures

D．challenges

4.

A．coming over

B．moving in

C．reaching out

D．jumping up

5.

A．quiet

B．still

C．alone

D．apart

6.

A．memory

B．assistance

C．credit

D．reflection

7.

A．recorded

B．discussed

C．praised

D．sponsored

8.

A．attachment

B．access

C．answers

D．clues

9.

A．visiting

B．selling

C．preparing

D．running

10.

A．comforting

B．greeting

C．improving

D．serving

11.

A．practical

B．ready

C．universal

D．brave

12.

A．get through

B．take away

C．look into

D．think over

13.

A．group

B．community

C．family

D．team

14.

A．phone

B．box

C．account.

D．home

15.

A．work

B．fund

C．help

D．protection

16.

A．kindly

B．warmly

C．clearly

D．eagerly

17.

A．annual

B．sudden

C．slight

D．ordinary

18.

A．printed

B．organized

C．accepted

D．announced

19.

A．letters

B．tastes

C．orders

D．ages

20.

A．delete

B．avoid

C．ignore

D．miss

8 . Why study history?

People live in the present. They plan for the ______. History, however, is the study of the past. Given all the ______ and pressures that come from living in the present and ______ what is yet to come, why bother with what has been? Given all the available branches of knowledge, why insist - as most ______ systems do - on history? And why urge many students to study even more history than they are ______ to?

Any subject of study needs ______: supporters must explain why it is worth ______. Like most widely accepted ______, history attracts people who simply ______ the information and modes of thought involved. But for people who are less interested in the subject and more ______ about why they should bother with it, a clearer explanation of its purpose is required.

____ do not perform heart transplants, improve highway design, or arrest criminals. In a society that quite correctly expects education to serve ______ purposes, history’s functions can seem more difficult to ______ than those of engineering or medicine. History is in fact very useful, actually ______, but the products of historical study are often less ______ and immediate than those of other subjects.

History helps us understand people, societies and how they ______. For example, how can we ______ past wars (and future threats) without using historical materials? Unfortunately, major aspects of a society’s operation cannot be set up as precise experiments. ______, history must serve, however imperfectly, as our ______, helping us understand who we are and why we do what we do. This, fundamentally, is why we cannot ______ history.

1.

A．process

B．result

C．future

D．environment

2.

A．causes

B．demands

C．choices

D．orders

3.

A．avoiding

B．fearing

C．celebrating

D．anticipating

4.

A．financial

B．social

C．educational

D．political

5.

A．required

B．invited

C．forced

D．permitted

6.

A．direction

B．exploration

C．justification

D．revolution

7.

A．assessment

B．attention

C．expectation

D．mention

8.

A．subjects

B．concepts

C．topics

D．concerns

9.

A．provide

B．receive

C．share

D．like

10.

A．doubtful

B．worried

C．thoughtful

D．certain

11.

A．Supporters

B．Historians

C．Audiences

D．Teachers

12.

A．public

B．multiple

C．different

D．useful

13.

A．define

B．expect

C．satisfy

D．ignore

14.

A．optional

B．attractive

C．accessible

D．essential

15.

A．valuable

B．interesting

C．obvious

D．instructive

16.

A．imagine

B．behave

C．fight

D．fade

17.

A．prevent

B．remember

C．evaluate

D．declare

18.

A．Consequently

B．Alternatively

C．Fortunately

D．Admittedly

19.

A．library

B．laboratory

C．clinic

D．museum

20.

A．make up for

B．give in to

C．get close to

D．stay away from

9 . Here’s a surprising fact: Of the 1.1 million firefighters in the United States, about 780,000 are volunteers. Roughly a third of the population is   ________ by mostly- or all-volunteer fire departments.

Also   ________ , perhaps. Sometimes they have to pay for their own gear.

I   _______ this because I volunteer as a firefighter in Durango, Colorado. I responded to more than 50 calls in 2014, everything from   _________ to car accidents. In that period, I spent close to $1,000 on optional gear not supplied by my   _________ , things like higher-quality flashlights, knives, and better gloves, which make my   ________ easier.

Yesterday, a   ________ was introduced in Congress that would give a significant tax break to those who volunteer their time as   _________ responders. I hope it passes, not because it will put some money in my pocket     9    , hey, that’ll be nice) but because it will ease the financial burden on volunteers and acknowledge their time commitment. I believe it will   ________ more people to help.

And we   _______ that.

In   _________ areas where population density is low and calls for fire and EMS services are relatively rare, it just doesn’t   _________ to have career firefighters on the staff 24/7 (全天候).   ________ , volunteers are used to fill in the   _________. We are ready to put our regular lives aside to help someone on what is the   _________ day   of   their   life.   We   have   likely   never   met   before,   and   might   never   again,   but   it doesn’t   _______ in a crisis. Without volunteers, the whole system would collapse.

There’s a T-shirt that’s popular among us, reading “For Pride, Not   _______.” We volunteer because we know our   _________ need us. We don’t need a small tax break. Without one, we’ll still put on our gear when the alarm goes off without any   ________ . But we’d appreciate one, and if it encourages more people to join us, it’s worth it.

1.

A．taught

B．inspired

C．supported

D．protected

2.

A．surprising

B．amusing

C．pleasing

D．worrying

3.

A．appreciate

B．know

C．prove

D．analyze

4.

A．wildfires

B．wars

C．lightning

D．embarrassments

5.

A．company

B．department

C．team

D．family

6.

A．manner

B．life

C．project

D．job

7.

A．guest

B．politician

C．bill

D．word

8.

A．wise

B．proud

C．same

D．first

9.

A．so

B．when

C．though

D．because

10.

A．encourage

B．persuade

C．invite

D．allow

11.

A．neglect

B．need

C．predict

D．admit

12.

A．dark

B．rural

C．dirty

D．cold

13.

A．end up

B．stand out

C．work out

D．make sense

14.

A．Recently

B．Quickly

C．Instead

D．Besides

15.

A．time

B．hole

C．form

D．gap

16.

A．busiest

B．hottest

C．worst

D．shortest

17.

A．matter

B．pass

C．exist

D．happen

18.

A．Satisfaction

B．Pay

C．Strength

D．Education

19.

A．communities

B．neighbors

C．children

D．patients

20.

A．disappointment

B．trouble

C．hesitation

D．anxiety