1、Unit 2Improving yourself(满分:120分;时间:100分钟)第一部分阅读(共两节,满分50分)第一节(共15小题;每小题2.5分,满分37.5分)阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。AGot 48 hours to relax yourself? Youll maximize your time and fun at these amazing destinations.Alabama: Gulf ShoresFor a relaxing weekend getaway in Alabama, head south to the white-
2、sand beaches of Gulf Shores. Get on the water for some deep-sea fishing. History lovers can get a lesson in the Civil War along a 90-mile path with more than a dozen historic sites.Alaska: HomerHow does fresh seafood sound? Youll find it in Homer, located in south-central Alaska, which is either a s
3、hort flight or a great four-hour scenic drive on the Seward Highway from Anchorage. Get your fill of fishing in Kachemak Bay, explore local trails and enjoy exceptional birding in this remote natural setting.Arizona: SedonaThe adventurous type can get its fill in the magical red rocks of Sedona, whi
4、ch is said to be the location of healing centers of energy. People flood into the area to meditate, practice yoga and more. Sedona also offers fantastic hiking, off-roading, biking, and even climbing.Arkansas: Hot SpringsRelax and renew in Arkansas hot waters in Hot Springs, an art community with Ar
5、t Deco architecture that is also the home of Hot Springs National Park. Make time for a visit to Bathhouse Row, a national historic landmark of eight bathhouses, and Superior Bathhouse Brewery, which produces beer made of the hot spring water inside the National Park. Dont miss these National Parks
6、that are off the beaten path.1.Which activity can be found in both Gulf Shores and Homer?A.Going fishing.B.Taking a flight.C.Enjoying beautiful birds.D.Visiting historic sites.2.What is Superior Bathhouse Brewery known for?A.Its self-made beer.B.Its architecture.C.Its bathhouses.D.Its paths.3.Where
7、is this text most likely from?A.A diary.B.A survey.C.A novel.D.A magazine.BOn March 10, 2019, eight-year-old Tani defeated 73 young competitors to win the New York State Scholastic Chess Championship in his age groupkindergarten to third gradewith five wins and one draw. While the achievement is rem
8、arkable in itself, what is even more so is that the youngster, who was homeless at the time, began learning the game less than a year ago.Tani and his family arrived in New York City from Nigeria in 2017, seeking religious protection. A church pastor(牧师)helped find the family of four space in a home
9、less shelter in Manhattan and, soon after, Tani entered the local elementary school. It was here that the young talent was first introduced to the basics of chess by a part-time teacher. Attracted by the game, then the seven-year-old begged his mother, Oluwatoyin, to allow him to join the schools ch
10、ess club. The family were concerned that they would be unable to afford the fees and expenses, which added up to thousands of dollars due to travel and chess competition admission. Oluwatoyin emailed chess instructor Russell, who ran the club. To her surprise and delight, Russell agreed to waive all
11、 costs for young Tani. The rest, as they say, is history. The young boy, who has got seven prizes in less than a year, currently ranks 27 in America in his age group.Though the chess club certainly helps, Tanis success can be largely owed to the efforts he has put into the game. The chess talent pra
12、ctices the game for several hours a day either on the floor with his board, or online, using his dads laptop. Every Saturday, Tani and his mother head to Harlem for a free 3-hour class to help further sharpen his game skills.Not surprisingly, Tanis incredible story, first reported by The New York Ti
13、mes, has resulted in an outpouring of support from the American public. Shortly after the young boy won the New York State Championship, Russell began a GoFundMe campaign for Tani and his family to “secure a home where he can continue with his journey”.And the heart-warming story gets even better! S
14、ince they now have a home, the family have decided to “pay it forward” and donate the over $200,000 collected on GoFundMe to African immigrants in America who are struggling the way the family was.4.What made Tanis achievement especially remarkable?A.His young age.B.His quick learning.C.Support from
15、 his family.D.Help from his teacher.5.What does the underlined part “to waive all costs for young Tani” in Paragraph 2 mean?A.To pay for Tanis schooling.B.To raise money for Tanis family.C.To teach Tani free of charge.D.To spend more on Tanis training.6.Whats Paragraph 3 mainly about?A.Success of Ta
16、ni.B.Activities of the chess club.C.Tanis devotion to the game.D.Public reaction to Tanis story.7.What does the last paragraph tell us about the family?A.They are caring.B.They live in poverty.C.They are honest.D.They are pitiful.CIn the past decade, the use of social media has grown in a way that n
17、o one could have guessed. It has turned some teenagers into celebrities (名人) and turned the famous into the infamous, overnight.A key feature of social media, however, is its volatility. Trends come and go, disappearing almost as quickly as they appeared. So, what were the key social media trends of
18、 2019?Short video apps such as TikTok and its Chinese equivalent Douyin, took the world by storm. The Telegraph reported that TikTok was ranked 8th on Apples App Store in April. And Douyin had more than 300 million domestic monthly active users in June, CNBC said.Why are these short videoswhich are
19、rarely longer than a few minutesso popular? Jiang Yige, Singaporebased analyst at FengHe Fund Management, has a theory. Short videos are “just right to fill in the little gaps in our busy schedules”, he told CNBC.These videosapart from being very convenientare important to teenagers because they all
20、ow them to express themselves, according to Teen Vogue.The sense of community that users of short video apps get is another appealing feature. Liza Koshy, a user of the US app Musically who has over 2 million followers, said that she was thrilled when anyone said that her video had “inspired” him. “
21、Its really cool.because I think that as short video creators thats what we all expect,” she added.Live streaming is another feature of our social media life that now seems as natural as sunrise. Its a pretty neat idea: You can watch anyone, anywhere, live.However, China has taken live streaming to a
22、 whole new level. In China, more than 100 million viewers monthly watch a live streaming video. Forbes thought that a number of factors had led to the popularity of live streams. Among them is viewers ability to interact while remaining anonymous.However, the boom in social media may be having side
23、effects too. Fake news is one serious problem it arguably causes. Material shared on these platforms is often not checked for accuracy. The most basic content can be false and can sway users one way or another. We use social media all the time; that doesnt mean that we understand the influence it is
24、 having on us. We should be mindful of both the time we spend on it and its impact on our minds.8.The underlined word “volatility” in Paragraph 2 possibly means “being ”.A.changeableB.steadyC.promisingD.violent9.According to Liza Koshy, short videos are very popular because .A.they are very convenie
25、ntB.they help people kill timeC.they provide a sense of communityD.they allow people to express themselves10.What can we learn about social media from the text?A.The information from social media is highly reliable.B.When it comes to social media, people know short videos the best.C.People cant comm
26、unicate with each other without social media.D.There is still much room for social media to make improvement.11.What is the best title for the text?A.Rapid Development of Social MediaB.Key Social Media Trends of 2019C.Short Videos Taking the World by StormD.Live StreamingA New Feature of Social Medi
27、aDIf you could have one kind of super power, what would it be?Dreaming about whether you would want to read minds, see through walls, or have superhuman strength may sound silly, but it actually gets to the heart of what really matters in your life.Every day in our work, we are inspired by the peopl
28、e we meet doing extraordinary things to improve the world.They have a different kind of super power that all of us possess: the power to make a difference in the lives of others.Were not saying that everyone needs to contribute their lives to the poor. Your lives are busy enough doing homework, play
29、ing sports, making friends, and chasing after your dreams. But we do think that you can live a more powerful life when you devote some of your time and energy to something much larger than yourself. Find an issue you are interested in and learn more.Volunteer or, if you can, contribute a little mone
30、y to a cause. Whatever you do, dont be a bystander. Get involved. You may have the opportunity to make your biggest difference when youre older. But why not start now?Our own experience working together on health, development, and energy the last twenty years has been one of the most rewarding parts
31、 of our lives. It has changed who we are and continues to fuel our optimism about how much the lives of the poorest people will improve in the years ahead.12.What does the underlined part in Paragraph 2 refer to?A.Your lifestyle.B.Your trouble in life.C.Your life value.D.Your life experience.13.How
32、do the people around make author inspired every day?A.They are making the world better.B.They possess different kinds of super power.C.They have got the power to change the world.D.They have great influences on the authors life and work.14.Which of the following can be best concluded from Paragraph
33、5?A.Trying your best to help the poor.B.Working hard to get the bigger opportunities.C.Contributing more to a cause.D.Getting yourself interested and getting involved.15.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?A.Peoples efforts have been materially rewarded.B.The lives of the poorest are suppos
34、ed to get better.C.The work on health is the most valuable experience.D.Much more progress will be made in the near future.第二节(共5小题;每小题2.5分,满分12.5分)阅读下面短文,从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。Five Ways to End Procrastination (拖延症)Never put off till tomorrow what may be done today. Waiting until later
35、is one of lifes guilty secrets, but procrastination is linked to poorer health, work and relationship outcomes. Here are five ways to try to remedy (纠正) procrastination.1.A five-minute startFive minutes is nothingits just three hundred seconds. Its the length of a song or a TV commercial. Pick up a
36、project youve been putting off and spare just 300 seconds of your time to do it. 16 After a while, the momentum (动力) of beginning the task will push you forward.2.Set goals and rewardsDuring the day, set goals and rewards. Each time you achieve a goal, you earn the reward: a short break, a funny You
37、Tube video or something else. 17 Make sure you select a time to review your progress and adjust your targets accordingly.3.Be good to yourselfme today versus me tomorrowSometimes, when you find yourself buried in work, you are upset with yourself for not having started earlier. Imagine a conversatio
38、n, betweenyou today andyou tomorrow. 184.I was therewitnessing accountability (责任)19 Consider going on a diet: Is there more pressure if you dont tell a soul, or if you announce it to all your friends, with strict rules to follow if you are invited to dinner? It seems an obvious way of making you fe
39、el guilty, but it can also be highly effective.5.Set creative punishmentsnegative consequencesMake the consequences of inaction so unbearable that you have no choice but to get busy now. You could write a note to someone that you dont like. Give the note to a friend with strict instructions to mail
40、the note if you do not achieve your goal. The more you dislike the other party, the stronger the motivation to get the task done.Procrastination is a silent killer of dreams. 20 By understanding and fixing your procrastination, youll discover you jump-start many areas of your life.A.Everyone suffers
41、 from it.B.Once the five minutes is up, stop and reassess.C.Everyone likes to have a dream of procrastination.D.Going public with a goal increases your support and accountability.E.What is the future of my life with the intention of putting off my tasks?F.Ifyou tomorrow could chat withyou today, wha
42、t would he say?G.Its important that the goals are realistic and the rewards are in proportion(按比例).16. 17. 18. 19. 20.第二部分语言运用(共两节,满分30分)第一节(共15小题;每小题1分,满分15分)阅读下面短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。When middle-aged Alex21 his job and made up his mind to become a freelance writer, no one could tell
43、for sure whether he would succeed or not. He found a cold storage room in a building, set up a used typewriter and settled down to work.After a year or so, however, Alex began to22 himself. He found it was difficult to earn his living by23 what he wrote. But Alex determined to put his dream to the t
44、est even if it meant living with uncertainty and fear of24.One day Alex got a25,“We need an assistant, and were paying $6,000 a year.” $6,000 was26money in 1960. It would enable Alex to get a nice apartment, a used car and more. As the dollars were dancing in Alexs head, something27 his senses. He h
45、ad dreamed of being a28full time. “Thanks but no,” Alex said29, “Im going to stick it out and write.”After Alex got off the phone, he30everything he had: two cans of vegetables and 18 cents. Alex put the cans and cents into a paper bag, saying to himself, “Theres 31 youve made of yourself so far.”Fi
46、nally his work was32 in 1970. Instantly he had the kind of fame and success that few writers 33 experience.Then one day, Alex found the paper bag. Suddenly he 34himself working in that cold storage room. It reminds Alex, and anyone with a dream, of the 35 and perseverance it takes to stay the course
47、 in the shadowland.21.A.dreadedB.imaginedC.assignedD.quit22.A.doubtB.checkC.teachD.hate23.A.collectingB.sellingC.readingD.purchasing24.A.failureB.difficultyC.lossD.danger25.A.emailB.messageC.noteD.call 26.A.certainB.realC.rightD.high 27.A.clearedB.controlledC.attractedD.struck28.A.writerB.dancerC.dr
48、iverD.salesman 29.A.happilyB.slowlyC.firmlyD.peacefully30.A.handed outB.pulled outC.gave awayD.gave up31.A.nothingB.anythingC.somethingD.everything32.A.publishedB.completedC.cheered upD.come out33.A.evenB.everC.gentlyD.actually 34.A.guaranteedB.toldC.describedD.pictured35.A.honestyB.intelligenceC.courage
