Dar and I loved to dance. It was probably the first thing we did together, long before we would share our lives.
We grew up in a small Oregon mountain community where dances were held almost every Saturday night. Dar was seventeen and l was thirteen when we first danced. He was one of the best dancers on the floor, and so was I. We always jitterbugged. No slow dancing for us; nothing remotely romantic.
Our fathers would stand along the wall and watch. Every once in a while, Dar’s dad would smile a little and say, to no one in particular, but my dad could hear, “Boy, my kid can sure dance.” My dad never blinked an eye; he acted like he’d never heard. But a while later he would say, to no one in particular, “That girl of mine can sure dance.”
Our dancing together stopped for five years while Dar was in the South Pacific in World War II. When we met again, Dar was twenty-two, and l was eighteen. We began to date and dance again. We were as good together as we remembered, and this time we added slow dancing.
For us, life is a dance, a movement of rhythms, directions, stumbles, missteps, at times slow and precise, or fast and wild and joyous. We did all the steps.
Two nights before Dar died, the family were with us. We all ate dinner together, and Dar sat with us. He hadn’t been able to eat for several days. After dinner, I put on a Nat King Cole tape. Dar took me in his arms, weak as he was, and we danced and smiled. No tears for us. We were doing what we had loved to do for more than fifty years. It was our last dance---forever unforgettable. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
1.The author first danced with Dar when____.
A. they were still in their teens
B. they began to date each other
C. they began to share their lives
D. Dar returned from the South Pacific
2.What does the author mean by the underlined sentence in paragraph 3？
A. Her dad didn’t like Dar's father.
B. Her dad was not interested in the dance.
C. Her dad was too focused on his daughter.
D. Her dad thought his daughter danced better.
3.How did the author feel when she danced with Dar for the last time?
A. Regretful. B. Content.
C. Heart-broken. D. Concerned.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. My Unforgettable Dancing Partner
B. Dance Together to the Last
C. My Last Dance with Dar
D. The Best Dancers
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Visitor Oyster cards are electronic smartcards that come fully charged with credit. Whether you’re making a one-off trip to London or you’re a regular visitor, using an Oyster travel smartcard is the easiest way to travel around the city’s public transport network. Simply touch the card on the yellow card reader at the doors when you start and end your journey.
Advantages of a Visitor Oyster Card
A Visitor Oyster card is one of the cheapest ways to pay for single journeys on the bus, Tube, DLR, tram, London Overground and most National Rail services in London:
● Save time—your card is ready to use as soon as you arrive in London.
● It’s more than 50% cheaper than buying a paper travel card or single tickets with cash.
● There is a daily price cap—once you have reached this limit, you won’t pay any more.
● Enjoy special offers and promotions at leading London restaurants, shops and entertainment venues—plus discounts on the Emirates Air Line cable car and Thames Clippers river buses.
Buy a Visitor Oyster card
Buy a Visitor Oyster card before you visit London and get it delivered to your home address. A card costs ￡3 (non-refundable) plus postage. Order online and arrive with your Oyster in hand! You can also buy a Visitor Oyster card from Gatwick Express ticket offices at Gatwick Airport Station and on board Eurostar trains travelling to London.
Add Credit to Your Visitor Oyster Card
You can choose how much credit to add to your card. If you are visiting London for two days, you can start with ￡20 credit. If you run out of credit, add credit at the following locations:
● Touch screen ticket machines in Tube, DLR, London Overground and some National Rail stations.
● Around 4,000 Oyster Ticket Stops found in newsagents and small shops across London.
● TFL Visitor and Travel Information Centers.
● Tube and London Overground station ticket offices.
● Emirates Air Line terminals.
1.When can you use your Visitor Oyster Card?
A. After you become a regular visitor.
B. Only when you end your journey.
C. Once you arrive in London.
D. Before you leave home.
2.What can we learn about the Visitor Oyster card?
A. It can reach you before your journey to London.
B. It requires you to pay as much as the daily price cap.
C. It can provide you a 50% discount at a London shop.
D. It can be delivered to your home address free of charge.
3.Where can you add credit to your Visitor Oyster card?
A. On the Internet.
B. At a Tube station ticket office.
C. On Eurostar trains.
D. At Gatwick Express ticket offices.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Have you ever heard that we humans use only ten percent of our brains? This opinion holds a certain appeal because if it were true, then we could instantly become ten times more intelligent just by firing up that sleepy majority of the brain!
The idea that we use only a small part of the brain dates back to animal experiments in the 19th century. When scientists stimulated (刺激) a specific part of the brain, the animal moved its leg or tail. If a tiny part of the brain could do something so great, what was the use of the rest of the brain? Some scientists assumed that large parts of the brain were simply useless.
Then, in the early 20th century, scientists observed that stimulating certain parts of the brain had no physical effects. They named these seemingly useless parts of the brain the “silent cortex.” Today we know that in humans, much of the “silent cortex” is actually devoted to complex activities like language, learning, and imagining.
Brain scans have shown that different parts of the brain become much more active as we shift (切换) our attention and focus, but even as we sleep, many areas of the brain are extremely active. Would you be smarter if your entire brain constantly worked to maximum capacity (能力)? Interestingly enough, the opposite is probably true. The less brain activity you need to perform a given task, the more the brain as a whole is able to do.
1.Why does the opinion mentioned in paragraph l seem appealing?
A. People wish to become much smarter.
B. People believe it is scientific.
C. People know nothing about the brain.
D. People want to make little use of their brain.
2.What did scientists discover in their experiment in the 20th century?
A. The majority of the brain is sleeping.
B. Animals’ legs and tails have some connection with their brain.
C. Stimulation on some parts of the brain causes no physical reaction.
D. Certain parts of the brain are devoted to language and learning activities.
3.“Silent cortex” has proved to be______.
A. sensitive to stimulation
B. useful in complex activities
C. responsible for physical reaction
D. more active than the other parts of the brain
4.If you need less brain activity to perform a task, _______.
A. you will feel sleepy
B. you must shift your focus
C. you can use your brain to the fullest
D. you will be more productive
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Dear Amy，
My husband is a loving, creative and sensitive person who is 15 years my senior. (I am in my mid-30s.)
Now I still struggle with my ups and downs, and he is still broke. I have continually asked my husband to get a job. I know he’s trying, but even a part-time job at a convenience store would make ends meet. His former profession as a freelance(自由职业的) producer dropped off with the economy, and while he tries hard to find work in his field, he is extremely unwilling to accept the fact that he may need to get a “regular”job.
I love him very much, but I can’t continue to keep my frustration(沮丧)bottled up. I tell myself I’m going to leave him if he doesn’t find work, but I really want to stay together. How should I handle this?
Round the Bend
Dear Round,
Having been a freelancer for many years, I assure you (and him) that the true meaning of freelancing is that you have the freedom to accept a variety of jobs, as well as the responsibility to make a living between jobs. Freelancers teach, tend bar, sell things door to door and do anything it takes to bring home the money. Volunteering is also a wonderful way to keep busy and meet new people.
Amy
Dear Amy,
“Joan” was a 50-year-old reader who wants to spend her parents’ gift (money) on a trip to India. Her retirement fund(退休金) is less than half of what she will need for retirement. It’s also clear that she hasn’t budgeted monthly for car repairs and other out-of-pocket expenses. In your answer, you encourage her to go.
She’s 50 and the clock is ticking! How will she feel about the trip she took when she turns 70 when she can’t afford to retire? Maybe there are other ways she can experience Indian food, culture, history and art without spending the entire sum of money. When her “health slows her down.” she may wish she had kept a rainy-day fund.
Realistic Reader
Dear Realistic,
Your argument is very logical and realistic, but there are also times when you have to go for it. I hope she does.
Amy
1.Who might be Amy?
A. A reporter of a health magazine.
B. A kind-hearted friend of Joan’s.
C. An advisor offering people career advice.
D. An editor of “Ask Amy” section of a magazine.
2.What makes Miss Round so upset?
A. Her husband doesn’t love her as much as when they met.
B. Her husband doesn’t earn enough money to support the family.
C. Her husband fails to take the responsibility of feeding his family.
D. Her husband has a hard time finding a “regular” job in his former field.
3.Amy suggested Joan ________.
A. go for her dream of traveling to India
B. experience Indian culture at home
C. save money for retirement
D. refuse her parents’ gift money
4.According to Realistic Reader, when Joan retires she would feel ___ about her trip if she took it now.
A. worthwhile B. regretful C. excited D. sad
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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。选项中有两项为多于选项。
A strong vocabulary helps develop understanding, communication and reading ability. 1. Consider the following tips on helping your child develop an impressive vocabulary.
Let Your Child Tell the Story
Perhaps you read nightly to your child or take turns doing so. Of course, this is an excellent way to expand reading and vocabulary skills. 2. Then, let your child charge the end of the rope of his imagination wherever his imagination leads.
3.
In short, you need to take an active role. If you want your children’s language skills to improve, take their vocabulary questions seriously. When they express curiosity about a word, be sure to teach the correct definition and pronunciation.
Correct Mistakes with Care
4. However, it’s essential not to scold them when they make such mistakes. Rather, point out what they got right, and then review the proper way to use and or speak the word. The more fun and positive an experience, the more interested and able your children will be in expanding their vocabulary.
Do Be Patient
You may need to repeat words and meanings many times before your child fully grasps the concept. This is completely normal. 5. Children develop at their own paces. The most important thing is to honor and balance their needs so that learning doesn’t become struggle. While you want them to get ahead, you don’t want them to develop pressure with trying to do so.
A. Try Your Best to Correct Them.
B. Pay More Attention to Your Kid’s Vocabulary.
C. It’s natural for children to mispronounce or misuse new words.
D. It’s important for children to mispronounce new words while learning.
E. That’s why parents should do what they can to help kids learn new words.
F. Further, if your neighbor’s child has twice the vocabulary yours does, it’s not worth stressing over.
G. However, on occasion, feel free to put the book down and ask your child to create a story to tell you.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
完形填空
阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
I often recall those good old days. At that time life was relatively simpler, and people were much more _________and gentler. Recently, to my surprise, I got the opportunity to experience that same warmth that I thought had _________ from the fast-moving world.
I was out shopping the other day with my husband, two daughters and one _________ . It was a burning hot day, and we were all visibly tired and hungry. We entered a restaurant, looking for some _________ and comfort. To our disappointment, all the tables were_________and no one seemed in a hurry to _________ . We waited, tired and _________. After quite some time, one table was vacated(空出), but that could _________ only two of us. My daughter made me sit along with her father, while she and my other daughter _________ alongside. My granddaughter sat on my _________ as we looked all around us, waiting for another table to be _________ soon.
At the next table, two young girls were sitting at a table for four and enjoying their meal. We decided to move to their table _________ they were finished with their lunch. Since the girls had just got their _________ , I knew it would be a _________ wait. As we were deciding on what to eat, one of the girls got up and _________ their table to us. She said they would move to our table so that my family could sit together.
We were very appreciative of their kind_________ . We thanked them _________ and moved to their table. The girls quickly _________ their plates and glasses and went to sit at our table.
That day, I _________ to myself there still were some kind, civil and helpful youngsters in this non-caring world, and my faith in humanity(人道) was _________ .
1.A. friendly B. generous C. careful D. sensitive
2.A. prevent B. removed C. lost D. disappeared
3.A. niece B. granddaughter C. nephew D. son
4.A. tea B. food C. fruit D. vegetable
5.A. fixed B. covered C. occupied D. set
6.A. start B. wait C. give up D. get up
7.A. impatient B. nervous C. awkward D. embarrassed
8.A. serve B. seat C. lay D. hold
9.A. sat B. followed C. stood D. watched
10.A. shoulder B. feet C. lap D. table
11.A. blank B. free C. available D. clean
12.A. unless B. once C. before D. until
13.A. order B. bill C. note D. menu
14.A. long B. short C. boring D. exciting
15.A. left B. pushed C. shared D. offered
16.A. treat B. expression C. movement D. gesture
17.A. personally B. properly C. publicly D. sincerely
18.A. picked up B. raised up C. put up D. given up
19.A. turned B. came C. thought D. pointed
20.A. lost B. rebuilt C. found D. shaken
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
语法填空
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个（不超过两个）适当的词或使用括号中的词语的正确形式填空。
Many students may feel __1.__ (stress) because of their parents. Most parents have good intentions, __2.__ some of them aren’t very helpful with the problems their sons and daughters have in _3.__ (adjust) to college, and a few of them seem to go out of their way to add to their children’s difficulties.
For one thing, parents are often not aware _4.__ the kinds of problems their children face. They don’t realize that the __5._ (compete) is stronger, that the required standards of work are 6._ (high), and that their children may not be prepared for _7.__ change. They may be upset by their children’s poor grades. At their kindest, they may __8.__ (gentle) ask why John or Mary isn’t doing better, whether he or she is trying as hard as he or she should, and so on. At their worst, they may threaten __9.__ (take) their children out of college or cut off living expenses.
Sometimes parents think it right and natural that they determine _10.__ their children do with their lives. They forget that everyone is different and that each person must develop in his or her own way.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
短文改错
文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。答案写在答题纸上
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线〔\〕划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意： 1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Last Friday we have a discussion about whether it is the only way out for senior students to go to college. Views vary from person to person. The majority of us consider this very necessary to go to college. They think it can be widen their knowledge and improve their qualities. Only in this way can they find better jobs before graduation. Very few students think it no use go to university, because the tuition is too high for their family to afford. What’s more, it’s rather hard for college graduates to seek satisfied jobs. Thirty percents of the students, however, believe “All roads lead Rome.” Therefore, it doesn’t make some difference whether they go to college or not.
In my opinion, we can better themselves through college education so that we can serve society better in the future.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
书面表达
假定你是李华，你的美国中学生朋友彼得希望成为2022年北京冬奥会志愿者，他向你写信询问冬奥会相关情况，并求助怎样学好汉语。请给他回信，要点如下：
1．收到来信，获悉求助；
2．冬奥盛会，京张合办；
3．学好汉语的两条建议。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Peter,
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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Yours
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析