Year of Giving

Yesterday I started the Year of Giving, my first day of a year-long journey into exploring the act of giving and the meaning of charity. I chose December 15 as the starting date, which marked three years since my mother died from heart disease. She was one of the most generous people that I have ever known. She always thought of others first and certainly serves as an inspiration to me.

I had a rather busy day yesterday, ironic (具有諷刺意義的) for someone who is unemployed right now. In the morning I went to the gym, and unsuccessfully got the phone call from the unemployment office for some job searching. Before I knew it, it was noon. I grabbed a quick lunch and rushed down to a meeting. On my way to Connecticut, I wondered if I would see someone that I would feel forced to give my first $ 10 to. I was running late and decided to do it afterwards.

After the meeting I had about half an hour to find the first person of my Year of Giving! I decided to check out DuPont Circle. I had met a guy there named Jerry once and thought he would willingly accept my $ 10. He wasn’t there, but I did see a man sitting by himself who looked really lonely, so I approached him. Now I had to figure out what I was going to say, I think I said something like, “Hi, can I sit down here?” “I would like to know if I could give you $ 10?” He asked me to repeat what I had said, I did, then he looked at me funny, got up and left.

I then started walking south where I spotted a man standing by the bus stop on Connecticut Ave. He appeared to be in his 60s. I don’t know what drew me to him, but I thought I would make my second attempt. I was a bit nervous and asked him which bus came by that stop. Then I explained that I was starting a year-long project to give $ 10 to someone every day and that I wanted to give my $ 10 for today to him. The gentleman, I later found out that his name was Ed, responded without hesitation that he could not accept my offer and that there were many people more deserving the money than him. This was exactly one of the things that I hoped would happen. People would think of others before themselves.

1.The author set the starting date on December 15 to ____.

A. help the charity B. remember his mother

C. make an explosion D. fulfill a wish of his mum

2.In the author’s first attempt to give away the money, ____.

A. he was considered ridiculous

B. he hesitated for a long time

C. he was forced to donate the money

D. he had no time to take action

3.In the author’s second attempt, the gentleman refused his offer because ____.

A. he didn’t need other’s help

B. he thought more for others

C. he didn’t care about money

D. he wanted to get more money

4.We can infer that the author was inspired by ____.

A. true friendship B. his own kindness

C. generous donations D. human’s good nature

Sports are the base of my life, next to my mother who raised me when my dad left us. I have been into sports since I was six years old. I have known many coaches and heard hundreds of their tips, but they usually focused on drills to develop my skills and reach the next level of play.

When I was in Senior two, I met the new school basketball coach, Brian Pawloski. I thought I was certain to be selected for the school team since I had been in it the year before. I showed up to the tryouts and put out about 90% effort since I thought I’d make it with no problem. That was a big mistake.

Brian Pawloski is the hardest-working coach I have ever met. He didn’t expect 100% effort, he expected 200% effort. One example: he once made us do 40 suicide drills for the 40 lay-ups(投籃) we missed in a game. Some think this is crazy, but it isn’t. After this conditioning practice, as we were getting a cup of cold water to drink, I said, “Coach, that was the best practice I ever had.” I was completely sincere. This man was and is the person who influenced me most at my high school. He expects us to be excellent not just on the court but in the classroom. If I am not working on basketball, I am reading a book that he thinks will help us better understand life’s challenges, including Wooden, Coach, and The Screwtape Letters.

In the first two years I slacked off, not putting forth my full potential. Now, unlike the coaches of my youth, this man was interested in how we did off the court. He always made sure I kept up with my studies and was able to be trusted. I can honestly say that no other coach has given me so much advice on how to succeed in basketball, but more importantly, in life. My school is lucky to have such a great person to teach, coach and influence their students. I will always remember my high-school basketball days as one of the hardest times I have ever worked in my life not only in basketball but in my growth as an individual.

1.Different from other coaches, Coach Brian _____________.

A. concentrated on skill training

B. trained the team to the edge of death

C. expected the team to do well in their studies

D. asked the team to do more reading than training

2.The underlined phrase “slacked off” in the last paragraph probably means ______________.

A. paid no attention B. showed no interest

C. had less passion D. made less effort

3.In the author’s eyes, Coach Brian is ____________.

A. strict and helpful

B. hardworking and honest

C. skilled and cruel

D. professional and serious

As we grow old, we realize that we have so little time to read and there are so many great books that we’ve yet to get around to. Yet re-readers are everywhere around us. For certain fans, re-reading The Lord of the Rings is a conventional practice annually. One friend told me that Jane Austen’s Emma can still surprise him, despite his having read it over 50 times.

New sudden clear understandings can be gained from the process of re-reading. Journalist Rebecca Mead, a long-time Englishwoman in New York, first came across George Eliot’s Middlemarch at 17. Since then, she has read it again every five years. With each re-reading, it has opened up further; in each chapter of her life, it has resonated (引起共鳴) differently. Mead evidenced the large number of ways in which really good books not only stand the test of repeat reads, but also offer fresh gifts each time we crack their spines. These kinds of books grow with us.

Scientists have also recognized the mental health benefits of re-reading. Research conducted with readers in the US found that on our first reading, we are concerned with the “what” and the “why”. Second time round, we’re able to better appreciate the emotions that the plot continues to express. As researcher Cristel Russell of the American University explained, returning to a book “brings new or renewed appreciation of both the great book and its readers.”

It’s true that we often find former selves on the pages of old books (if we’re fond of making notes on the pages). These texts can carry us back to a time and place, and remind us of the kind of person that we were then. We’re changed not only by lived experience but also by read experience—by the books that we’ve discovered since last reading the one in our hand.

More so than the movie director or the musician, the writer calls upon our imaginations, using words to lead us to picture this declaration of love or that unfaithfulness in life. A book is a joint project between writers and readers, and we must pour so much of ourselves into reading that our own life story can become connected with the story in the book.

Perhaps what’s really strange is that we don’t re-read more often. After all, we watch our favourite films again and we wouldn’t think of listening to an album only once. We treasure messy old paintings as objects, yet of all art forms, literature alone is a largely one-time delight. A book, of course, takes up more time, but as Mead confirms, the rewards make it adequately worthwhile.

1.The two books are mentioned in Paragraph 1 mainly to ________.

A. attract the attention of readers

B. introduce the topic of the passage

C. provide some background information

D. show the similarity between re-readers

2.The underlined expression “crack their spines” in Paragraph 2 refers to ________.

A. recite them B. re-read them C. recall them D. retell them

3.It can be learned from the passage that ________.

A. reading benefits people both mentally and physically

B. readers mainly focus on feelings on their first reading

C. we know ourselves better through re-reading experience

D. writers inspire the same imaginations as film directors do

4.The purpose of the passage is to ________.

A. call on different understandings of old books

B. focus on the mental health benefits of reading

C. bring awareness to the significance of re-reading

D. introduce the effective ways of re-reading old books

Every day we are exposed to images, videos, music and news. In this age of visual and aural hyper-stimulation(視覺聽覺超刺激), the medium of radio is making a great comeback.

“We’re at the beginning of a golden age of audio,” said US-based podcaster Alex Blumberg in an article in The Sydney Morning Herald. In the last month alone, 15 percent of US adults listened to a radio podcast(播客). These statistics, released by Edison Research, show the successful evolution of traditional radio broadcasts to the present day’s digital podcast format. The term “podcast” was invented in 2004, but the trend only started gaining mainstream popularity in recent years. With the sharp increase in consumer demand for smartphones and tablets, podcast sales have jumped.

The appeal of the podcast partly lies in its multiplatform delivery and on-demand capabilities(功能). You can listen during those extra minutes of the day when you’re walking to the shops, waiting in a queue or riding the subway. Similar to television shows, podcasts are generally free to download and most offer new content every week.

Donna Jackson, 22, Sydney University media graduate, listens to podcasts two or three times a week, via iTunes. “I listen while I’m wandering around the house doing something else. It makes completing a boring task much more enjoyable… And it’s an easy way of keeping in touch with what’s going on in the rest of the world,” she said. “I mainly listen to BBC podcasts, but recently I’ve also been listening to This American Life and Serial. They have a special skill to really draw you in.”

Unlike television and music, the audio format has the potential to create a deep impression on readers. Blumberg says this owes to the podcast’s ability “to create close relationship and emotional connection.” Sydney University undergraduate Hazel Proust, majoring in social work and arts, agrees. “When you’re listening, it feels as if the voice of the podcast’s storyteller is talking directly to you. It’s comforting,” said Proust.

It seems the age-old tradition of verbal storytelling is very much alive and well.

1.From the first two paragraphs, we can learn that _________.

A. traditional broadcast has come back

B. Americans love listening to the radio

C. podcasts have become very popular today

D. smartphones sell well because of podcasts

2.The writer mentions Donna Jackson mainly to ______.

A. tell how young people relax themselves

B. explain why young people like podcasts

C. introduce what programs podcasts are presenting

D. show how popular podcasts are among the young

3.Paragraph 5 is mainly about __________.

A. the influence of radios

B. the advantage of podcasts

C. readers’ impression on radios

D. people’s reaction to the medium

4.What is probably the best title of the passage?

A. Return of Radio B. Opinions of Podcast

C. Features of Radio D. Technology of Podcast

根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，從短文后的選項(xiàng)中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。選項(xiàng)中有兩項(xiàng)為多余選項(xiàng)。

Bullying(欺凌行為) is a problem in many schools. Maybe lots of you have ever come across school bullies(小霸王). 1.

Ignore the bully and walk away. It’s definitely not a coward's response—sometimes it can be harder than losing your temper. Walk tall and hold your head high. 2.

Hold the anger. Who doesn't get really upset with a bully? 3. Bullies want to know they have control over your emotions. Work out your anger in other ways, such as through exercise or writing it down.

4. However you choose to deal with a bully, don't use physical force. Not only are you showing your anger, you can never be sure what the bully will do in response. You are more likely to be hurt and get into trouble if you use violence against a bully. You can stand up for yourself in other ways, such as gaining control of the situation by walking away.

Talk about it. It may help to talk to a guidance advisor, teacher, or friend. 5. Talking can be a good outlet for the fears and frustrations that can build when you're being bullied.

A.Don't get physical.

B. Take charge of the situation.

C. People above can give you the support you need.

D. Here are some things you can do to fight bullying.

E. Some adults believe that bullying is part of growing up.

F. But that's exactly the response he or she is trying to get.

G.This type of body language means you are not easily harmed.

完形填空，閱讀下面短文，掌握其大意，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。

Cancer Cancelled

My name's James and I am an 18-year "Cancer Survivor". When I was 15 years of age, I was at my house one day with my two sisters and when I tried to run up the steps, I blacked out, and _________ the stairs very hard. When I came to myself, I remembered my sisters saying “Are you alright?” and I replied “I think so, yeah.” But little did my sisters and I know that was the beginning of this _________ . When I began to try to climb the stairs, my whole right leg hurt seriously. I couldn’t move it _________ the assistance of my hands. The_________ was horrible. I finally made my way upstairs and I couldn’t _________I couldn’t move my leg. As time went on it got _________so a month later I finally went to hospital. I explained to the doctor what had happened. Then I was asked to go to the rooms_________ they treated me to the X-rays, MRI, and CAT SCANS machines. One week later, my doctor _________ the house and said, “You need to come up here right away!”

My mother and I _________ up there and they had the X-rays results ready for me–My body seemed _________except my right leg. I was surrounded by doctors and nurses.

I got my _________, but wasn’t clear on what was happening. They _________ us back home. Three days later, they _________ an expert from another continent or someplace and he looked at my X-rays one time and said “OH MY GOD, this young man has bone cancer.”

Once all of that got cleared up, they _________ my chemotherapy(化療) treatments a week later. On October 9, 2014, I had the surgery, the bone replacement surgery. I was told that I couldn’t _________ like a normal person anymore, so _________ was impossible. I couldn’t do this or that, etc. Basically my _________ was over before it even got started. When I got through with my final chemotherapy I was _________ 40 kg.

I want to share this story with you guys because today I’m 84 kg with 2% body fat. I don’t smoke or drink. I can walk and even run. I’m so _________ to be here and forever to grace life with my presence each day. My dream is to become the “_________” to everybody who ever thought about giving up on life because it’s so hard, or just simply not living it.

1.A. took B. moved C. hit D. climbed

2.A. dream B. terror C. day D. memory

3.A. without B. from C. with D. for

4.A. pain B. change C. danger D. idea

5.A. guess B. notice C. believe D. understand

6.A. better B. worse C. stranger D. cleaner

7.A. when B. before C. though D. where

8.A. found B. searched C. visited D. called

9.A. came B. rushed C. looked D. stayed

10.A. weak B. confused C. slim D. fine

11.A. treatment B. needs C. results D. recovery

12.A. followed B. carried C. sent D. directed

13.A. flew B. promised C. allowed D. served

14.A. continued B. started C. postponed D. cancelled

15.A. work B. walk C. think D. feel

16.A. playing B. stepping C. running D. learning

17.A. plan B. hope C. career D. life

18.A. only B. even C. ever D. right

19.A. nervous B. relieved C. curious D. grateful

20.A. Inspiration B. Instruction C. Introduction D. Information

閱讀下面材料，在空白處填入適當(dāng)?shù)膬?nèi)容(1個(gè)單詞）或括號(hào)內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。

Last year, my brother and I went to Miami for a vacation. Some of my friends who 1. (be) there before said it was a wonderful holiday destination. Before we went, we had planned for months. When the day came, we were ready.

After our plane landed, we went to the hotel. We had made our reservation six months 2. (early), but the man at the front desk said there had been a mistake. We 3. （tell）that our rooms hadn’t been reserved for that week, 4. for the week after. I didn’t understand 5. this would happen and my credit card had already been charged 6. the reservation. What’s worse, the hotel had been fully booked. When we were wondering what to do, the manager came out. She was 7. （surprise）helpful. She apologized for the mistake and gave us a spare VIP room on 8. top floor. We had never stayed in such an amazing room, and we weren’t charged extra.

The next day, my brother and I went to the beach 9. we watched some people play volleyball. We got a little 10. (sunburn), but the day had been so relaxing that we didn’t mind.

短文改錯(cuò)

假段定英語課上老師要求同桌之間交換修改作文，請(qǐng)你修改你同桌寫的以下作文。文中共有10處語言錯(cuò)誤，每句中最多有兩處。錯(cuò)誤僅涉及一個(gè)單詞的增加、刪除或修改。

增加：在缺詞處加一個(gè)漏字符號(hào)（），并在其下面寫出該加的詞。

刪除：把多余的詞用（＼）劃掉。

修改：在錯(cuò)的詞下畫一橫線，并在該詞下面寫出修改后的詞。

注意：1．每處錯(cuò)誤及其修改均僅限一詞；

2．只允許修改10處，多者（從第11處起）不計(jì)分。

Hello, boys and girls! Today, I am going to talk with what you should do when a fire alarm go off. If you hear the alarm, stand in line at the door and wait your teacher to lead you outside. Stay close to your teacher and classmate. Don’t panic or get out of line, and trying to remain quiet and calmly. Soon the firefighters will come and put out a fire. If it’s a false alarm and there is no fire, your teacher will lead us back to the classroom. If you notice that when someone is missing and hurt, tell your teacher immediately.

書面表達(dá)

假定你是李華，本已約好與Kelvin今天(4月8日)晚上一起看電影《捉妖記》(Monster Hunt)。但你臨時(shí)有事，他打籃球未回，故給他寫留言條。要點(diǎn)如下：

1. 臨時(shí)有事要做。

2. 具體更改的見面時(shí)間、地點(diǎn)。

3. 此事已告知誰。

4. 見字告知。

注意：1. 詞數(shù)100左右。2. 可以適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié)，以使行文連貫。3.開頭結(jié)尾已給。

閱讀理解。

It is 7 am and the alarm is going off. You know you have to be out of bed to catch the bus. But the urge to bury yourself in the bed is ever so strong.

Sounds familiar? Why is it that teens find it difficult to get themselves out of bed in time every morning or stay sharp and focused during the first couple of hours of school?

During adolescence, the body goes through many changes and these include a shift in sleep patterns. Researchers from MIT have been tracking the body's need for sleep in teenagers. They found that though adolescents need as much as 9.5 hours of sleep a day, they get to bed later and later with each passing year. In fact, the sleep cycle shifts later by as much as 12 to 18 minutes each year between the ages of 10 and 20! So by the time a 10?year?old who sleeps at 8 pm grows to be 17 or 18, his body naturally wants to stay up till 10：30 pm or 11 pm.

According to researchers, this is because of a hormone called melatonin (褪黑激素) that is secreted (分泌) by the pineal gland — a tiny structure deep inside the brain. Melatonin regulates the body's natural day?night rhythms. It causes a person to become sleepy by lowering his body's core temperature. In teens, melatonin is secreted much later in the evening and continues to increase throughout the night. This makes it difficult for teens to fall asleep earlier as they did in their younger years. Likewise, the effect of melatonin continues until much later in the morning, making it hard for them to wake up early.

A study found that at least one in four teens is tired and falls asleep in school at least once a week. During sleep, important body functions and brain activities happen. So how can teenagers get their sleep enough? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that middle and high schools should start later — not before 8：30 am. This should give teens some more time to sleep at night.

1.From Paragraph 2, we can learn that if you sleep late, the next day you should ________.

A．stay sharp B．skip breakfast

C．get up late D．stay up late

2.What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．The students want to stay up.

B．The shifts of the sleep cycle.

C．The pineal gland secretes melatonin.

D．The adolescents sleep late.

3.The teens go to sleep later than before because ________.

A．melatonin is secreted much later

B．melatonin regulates the sleep time

C．they sleep a lot in the daytime

D．they need to finish their homework

4.According to AAP's recommendation, middle and high schools should ________.

A．let teens sleep in the day

B．let the students be active

C．delay the start time

D．start later at 8 am