英语（二）试卷
注意事项：
1. 答题前，考生务必将自己的姓名、准考证号填写在答题卡上。
2. 回答选择题时，选出每小题答案后，用2B铅笔把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。如需改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其他答案标号。回答非选择题时，将答案写在答题卡上，写在本试卷上无效。
3. 考试结束后，将本试卷和答题卡一并交回。
第一部分 听力（共两节，满分30分）
第一节（共5小题；每小题1.5分，满分7.5分）
听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。
1. What is the weather like today
A Sunny. B. Rainy. C. Windy.
2. When will the man leave for Beijing
A. On January 12. B. On January 13. C. On January 14.
3. What does the woman say about Culture Express
A. It is funny. B. It is her favorite. C. She often misses it.
4. What are the speakers talking about
A. How to deal with stress. B. How to read books. C. How to enjoy a job.
5. What does the woman do to protect the environment
A. Stop driving her car. B. Restrict using plastic bags. C. Take public transportation.
第二节（共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分）
听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。
听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
6. What is different about the woman’s new job
A. It’s much more challenging. B. It’s much closer in distance. C. It’s much more rewarding.
7. What will the man do tonight
A. Design commercials for a restaurant.
B. Write some articles about good restaurants.
C. Have dinner with the woman at a restaurant.
听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
8. Why is the man nervous
A. He has to read his poem on stage. B. He has to write a poem in class. C. He will attend a competition.
9. Where will the poem be performed
A. At school. B. At the man’s home. C. At a poetry festival.
听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
10. Why does the woman invite the man to the beach
A To relax. B. To see a whale. C. To collect trash.
11. Who will deal with the collected garbage
A. The community. B. The government. C. A recycling firm.
12. What is the woman like
A. Generous. B. Responsible. C. Emotional.
听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
13. What is the relationship between the speakers
A. Schoolmates. B. Colleagues. C. Neighbors.
14. What is the man’s problem
A. He is afraid of spiders. B. He can’t find a job. C. He is afraid of taking elevators.
15. How did the woman overcome her problem
A. By taking a class. B. By taking some medicine. C. By seeing a doctor.
16. What does the woman suggest the man do
A. Look for another job. B. Practise step by step. C. Talk with his boss.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
17. What is mentioned as a relaxing way
A. Being concerned about the progress.
B. Thinking about reducing stress.
C. Breathing deeply and slowly.
18. What is one of the most frequent problems during relaxation
A. Physical condition. B. Wandering mind. C. Disturbance from outside.
19. When can you use the relaxing way for a problem situation
A. After you have 10 practice sessions.
B. When you are picking up the kids.
C. Before your annoyance starts.
20. Who are the probable audience of the talk
A. Kids. B. Parents. C. College students.
第二部分 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。
A
Wonderful Places in the World to Travel to in 2025
EASTERN & ORIENTAL EXPRESS, MALAYSIA
Why Go Now: Ride the rails in style
After a four-year break, the Eastern & Oriental Express, by luxury train operator Belmond, returned to service in 2024 with an exciting facelift. Two regular routes offer three-night journeys out of Singapore. The “Wild Malaysia” trip, created in collaboration with the conservation group Save Wild Tigers, visits Taman Negara National Park, where guests can take a wildlife photography class.
SURU VALLEY, INDIA
Why Go Now: Climb the world’s next big destination
Rock climbing is on the rise in India; Local enthusiasts are developing new routes across the country, including in the splendid Suru Valley. Join climbers from across the globe at the annual Suru Outdoor Fest in August and September to tackle some 500 boulder problems, warming up with morning yoga and winding down with live music under the stars.
CERRADO, BRAZIL
Why Go Now: Birdwatch and track wolves
The vast Cerrado grassland supports 850 bird species and 12,000 plant species, but it has lost more than 40,000 square miles in the last decade. The Cerrado is disappearing before our eyes as a result of industrial agriculture and large-scale cattle ranching. Experience this unique place up close and support economic alternatives in the region by staying at Pousada Trijunc o; you can join guides in tracking the wolves across the grassland.
NORTHLAND, NEW ZEALAND
Why Go Now: Spot rare wildlife
International travelers landing in Auckland usually head south, but the little-visited Northland region has fascinating wildlife and warm waters that offer excellent diving. Many fish species in the reserve are found nowhere else in the country. On land, normally threatened kiwis are abundant thanks to more than 250 community-led conservation projects that aim to create the first protected reserve for New Zealand’s beloved national bird.
21. What’s the purpose of visiting the Eastern & Oriental Express
A. To promote regular trials. B. To appreciate a national park.
C. To experience a train ride. D. To improve photography skills.
22. Where can you participate in physical exercise outdoors
A. In Malaysia. B. In India. C. In Brazil. D. In New Zealand.
23. Which of the following is featured in both Cerrado and Northland
A. The loss of natural habitats. B. The sight of abundant wildlife.
C. The use of industrial chemicals. D. The increase of reserve projects.
B
Back in my teaching days, while I was preparing to move from one preschool to another, the director of the school I was leaving asked me what I noticed when I went to visit my new program. The answer came to me right away. “The kids were all barefoot,” I said.
The teachers around me looked confused, particularly those who worked with me in the nursing room. After all, we spent a significant amount of each day forcing these kids to keep their shoes on, a rule designed to prevent injury.
When I got to my new school, I realized I had a lot of learning to do. Many of the rules that I had long enforced at other schools became more flexible. Want to run inside and climb on furniture No problem — we have a climbing room full of carpeted tunnels, slides, and ladders, so you can do just that. Want to summit a slide like a mountain Let me spot you from the side. Getting bored with the same old playground toys Let’s head to the woods nearby to enjoy an endless supply of rocks, sticks, and leaves.
To my surprise, injuries didn’t seem to be more frequent. Over time, I came to appreciate this program’s philosophy and learned to trust that kids could be safe while exploring freely. The Norwegians see this philosophy as a long-term investment in community.
I started to think differently about my own role. My job wasn’t only to protect my students from harm; it was also to help them deal with challenging situations. It might seem that many aspects of Norway’s approach to early childhood learning would be difficult to carry out in the United States, given some of the current problems around education. But if we keep an open mind, Norway might just hold lessons for us all.
24. Why did the teachers feel confused at what the author said
A. They knew little about new programs. B. They heard of the sharp differences.
C. They were free to make decisions. D. They were forced to make rules.
25. What did the “Question & Answer” sentences in Paragraph 3 indicate
A. Teachers worked under pressure. B. New rules were set in the program.
C. The school didn’t have strict rules. D. Students’ needs were well satisfied.
26. What did the author think of this program’s philosophy
A. She was supportive of it. B. She was hesitant about it.
C. She was curious about it. D. She was worried about it.
27. What’s the text mainly about
A. Importance of accepting diversities. B. Philosophy to teach kids to be flexible.
C. Education to offer limitless opportunities. D. Comparison of different educational systems.
C
Most birds go for ease when looking for drinking water. But the sulfur-crested cockatoos in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, often prefer to quench their thirst (止渴) with a challenging puzzle.
In the city’s western suburbs, some of the birds have figured out how to use public drinking fountains. The cockatoos skilfully use one foot to twist the handle open while their other claw presses the spout (出水口).
It’s unclear why the cockatoos go to the effort of using drinking fountains when there are plenty of accessible water sources nearby. They don’t seem to use them more often during hot weather.
One possible explanation is that the task of operating the fountains is simply more fun than drinking water from the local streams.
“If you’re not dying of thirst, then why not do something you enjoy ” said Barbara C. Klump, an author of a study of the birds published on Wednesday in the journal Biology Letters, and a behavioral ecologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany.
To find out, Dr. Klump and her colleagues tagged 24 birds from a population of as many as 150 living in a reserve in Western Sydney. They installed cameras in front of drinking fountains to catch the birds in action.
The cockatoos attempted to use the drinking fountains more than 500 times during 44 days. While male cockatoos were better at flipping open heavy garbage-bin lids than females in earlier studies, both sexes were equally expert at operating the drinking fountains.
Dr. Klump and her colleagues are taking a closer look at the behavior, such as how long it takes the cockatoos to master the skill. The researchers are also curious to know what the cockatoos will do next.
“I’d love to learn more about what else they have up their sleeves,” Dr. Klump said.
28. What puzzles the author according to Paragraph 1
A. The way the cockatoos seek water. B. The fact that the cockatoos lack water.
C. The weather of the suburbs of Sydney. D. The challenge cockatoos have in surviving.
29. Why does Dr. Klump think the cockatoos turn to drinking fountains
A. They do it for fun. B. They’re really thirsty.
C. They prove to be smart. D. They’re tired of old sources.
30. What can be inferred about the tagged cockatoos
A. 150 birds were tested in a reserve. B. cameras were installed on the birds.
C Female cockatoos are skillful as well. D. It takes them time to master new skills.
31. Where can you most probably read the text
A. In a fashion magazine. B. In a biology textbook.
C. In an education brochure. D. On a news website.
D
The printed book is back. Recent studies have shown that students store more information when they read a hard-copy book, compared to reading on a digital device.
I love the way we now judge printed books using the language of the digital world. E-books may come with a set of navigational (导航的) tools, but it turns out that the best navigational devices are your forefinger and thumb. You can use them to turn over the pages forward and backward. To think, all this time, those devices have just been sitting there, moving freely at the end of your arm.
Fans of digital books may point out that e-readers have a handy “search” tool. Old-fashioned books also have a search function, in which you turn back to the opening chapter to remind yourself of the hero’s surname. They even have a “bookmark system”, which uses a device called a “bookmark”.
Admittedly, e-books are lighter than paper volumes, but one must question whether this is really an advantage. In secondary school my body shape was changed by the daily need to carry science textbooks. For me and my fellow students, placing these weighty books in our backpacks would draw our shoulders back and our chests forward in a way that turned the school into the equivalent of a military parade ground.
The printed book, of course, has other advantages. A full bookshelf is at once a sound baffle (隔板) and a store of knowledge. It’s a map of your life as a reader: the passions that passed and those that endured. There are books that introduced you to other books, like friends at a party, and books that nursed you through difficult times.
Educational crazes come and go, so maybe the shift back to traditional books won’t last. But for the moment, I find myself standing at attention, flexing my textbook-built shoulders and saluting their glorious return.
32. How did the author develop the text
A. By making comparisons. B. By giving examples.
C. By offering explanations. D. By interviewing readers.
33. What do the underlined words “those devices” in Paragraph 2 refer to
A. Tools. B. Fingers. C. Fans. D. E-books.
34. What’s the author’s attitude toward hard-copy books
A. Critical. B. Skeptical. C. Favorable. D. Neutral.
35. What’s a suitable title for the text
A. Hard-copy Books: A Way of Life to Cherish the Past
B. E-books: A Trend in Keeping up with Modern Education
C. How Digital Devices Take the Place of Traditional Books
D. Why Printed Books Are Simply Better Than E-Readers
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。
How to Stay Cool during Extreme Heat
Being in extreme heat without taking the proper precautions can have serious health effects. ____36____. It’s because people’s bodies have not had time to get used to hot temperatures. The good news is that there are plenty of ways you can do. Here they are.
Wear Lightweight Clothing
Consider the temperature when dressing for the heat and sun. ____37____. Choose light-colored clothing to reflect the heat and sunlight and minimize your skin’s direct sun exposure. If you get a sunburn, your body will not be able to release heat as well, keeping your internal temperature higher.
Stay Out of the Heat
Avoid going outside during the hottest part of the day, which is typically the height of the afternoon. ____38____. The temperature outside is usually measured in the shade, and it can be 10 —15 degrees hotter in the sun.
Keep Your Home Cool
If you do not have air conditioning, close your windows during the day and cover them with blinds or black out curtains to block the sunlight. Turn off electric appliances and lights, avoid using the oven, and close off rooms not in use. During the day, it may be cooler outside in the shade than in your home. ____39____.
____40____.
If you’re looking for an excuse to buy more houseplants, then we might have just found one. Indoor plants can help cool a house in warm weather, as they consume hot air for their natural processes. When an atmosphere heats up, plants will often release excess water into the air from their leaves. As a result, they cool themselves and the surrounding environment.
A. Stay cool indoors
B. Buy some houseplants
C. If you are outside, stay in the shade
D. If you do have to be outside, drink water
E. Early season heat can be especially dangerous
F. Choose lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that breathes well
G. At night, use the night air to cool your home by opening the windows after dark
第三部分 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四个选项中选出最佳选项。
In 2022, I began learning Chinese. A year later, I found myself in Beijing. As you might expect, studying for just one year wasn’t enough to claim ____41____, but language capability is not necessary to immerse yourself in the life here.
The one thing that truly ____42____ loneliness is making friends. Connecting with ____43____ through a shared passion or leisure activities was incredibly enjoyable. It ____44____ language barriers and developed a sense of ____45____.
During breaks from study, I frequently hit the road to ____46____ around China. I never felt unwelcome as a ____47____. Chinese people are warm, and eager to engage in ____48____. On the train from Beijing to Chongqing, I talked with a Chinese couple for three hours. After I arrived, my friends took me on a ____49____ of the city. We tasted the hot pot together while listening to the _____50_____ between Chongqing and Chengdu, both famous for their hot pot culture.
I once volunteered in Gansu to gain a deeper understanding of China’s rural areas. As teaching at a local school, I told the students we could _____51_____ connections between our cultures through our daily language use. My favorite Chinese phrase is huxiang xuexi, which means “learning from each other”. While the students _____52_____ absorbed the stories of my life, I also _____53_____ a great deal about China.
Everything has proved that acquiring fluent language skills is not an absolute _____54_____. I’ve met many foreigners who have all found their own ways such as through food, sports, and games to _____55_____ with and appreciate Chinese culture.
41. A. creativity B. efficiency C. flexibility D. fluency
42. A. sharpens B. relieves C. generates D. accompanies
43. A. strangers B. peers C. locals D. teens
44. A. got through B. took the place of C. went beyond D. canceled out
45. A. unity B. accomplishment C. direction D. pride
46. A. lecture B. investigate C. live D. journey
47. A. visitor B. student C. friend D. foreigner
48. A. conversations B. exercise C. activities D. celebrations
49. A. survey B. date C. tour D. ride
50. A. differences B. features C. highlights D. advantages
51. A. describe B. recall C. revise D. taste
52. A. casually B. eagerly C. slightly D. randomly
53. A. taught B. explored C. explained D. ignored
54. A. requirement B. strength C. trend D. goal
55 A. compete B. connect C. deal D. agree
第二节（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Increase your productivity. This is ___56___ AI tools attract its users. However, despite hopes that the technology will improve the ___57___ (efficient) of work, not everyone is on board.
According to BBC, 59 percent of men aged 18 to 65 around the world use generative AI at least once a week, compared ___58___ 51 percent of women. The gender gap is even ___59___ (wide) among younger people; 71 percent of men and 59 percent of women aged 18 to 24 use generative AI weekly. Why are women less open to AI than men
According to AI expert Jodie Cook, this gap reflects the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). “For ages, STEM fields ___60___ (lead) by males. The current pattern in the use of AI tools appears ___61___ (mirror) this difference,” Cook told the BBC.
Certain patterns in female thinking might also play ___62___ role. In a survey of 486 students ___63___ (divide) by academic performance, researchers found that high-performing female students were more likely to use ChatGPT only when it had been allowed by their professor. “It’s the idea that I have to do it on my own without ___64___ (take) shortcuts,” Cook explained.
For some experts, women’s reluctance (不情愿) to use AI is troubling, as it could lead to technology being designed more for men. Others, however, are less alarmed, pointing out that AI may right now act more as a “digital toy”, and women may ____65____ (simple) be better at avoiding distractions.
第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分）
第一节（满分15分）
66. 假定你是校英语报编辑李华，请给外教Max写一封邮件，请他为专栏Tour Around the Globe撰稿，介绍一个他感兴趣的城市，内容包括：
（1）稿件要求；
（2）表达感谢。
注意：
（1）写作词数应为80左右；
（2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Dear Max,
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
第二节（满分25分）
67. 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。
Thanksgiving, to me, used to mean a long weekend, turkey and football. Now, however, it has become my favorite holiday because of a tradition at my community that has taught me to literally count my blessings.
For years, I had suffered from depression. I never seemed to be happy with my life, especially when I would compare it to someone else’s. Everybody always appeared to be more successful than I was, and I would frequently feel I was not measuring up to either my own potential or the world’s expectations.
Then, I started attending community services. Every year, they have an evening service on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Two things happen every time — the food drive and The List.
The week before the Thanksgiving service, every chair in the community center has a paper bag underneath it for people to fill with food to be donated. Then, a team of volunteers places all the filled bags at the front of the hall. It is quite a sight!
Besides, there was a sheet with blanks numbered 1 to 100. At the top, it says, “My friend, I thank you for...” I looked at my blank list, wondering how I would ever be able to think of 100 things I was thankful for. I figured I could probably do ten or twelve, but 100
Then I heard some kids next to me challenge each other to a race to see who could fill in all 100 the fastest. My competitive nature kicked in. So I started filling in blanks with anything I could think of — big things, little things, serious things and silly ones. I tried to think of any situation in my life where I had ever said, “Thank you.” To my own astonishment, I completely filled in the list in four minutes. Then I stuck it in my purse and forgot about it because the service was about to end.
One day not long afterward, I was feeling particularly sorry for myself for no good reason. I found myself sinking into my familiar emotional issues when I remembered the list.
注意：
（1）续写词数应为150个左右；
（2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I took it out and read through it.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I carried my list with me every day in my purse.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
答案
1. B
【原文】M: I’m looking forward to a sunny day to enjoy some fresh air and gentle wind outside.
W: Me too. The rain has lasted for a week and I hope it can stop today.
2. C
【原文】M: Oh, no! I’m going to Beijing on January 13, but the train tickets have been sold out.
W: That’s too bad. Oh, there are still some left for the 12th.
M: But I’m not available then. It seems that I have to leave a day later.
3. B
【原文】W: Do you like the show Culture Express on Channel 4
M: Not really, but I think the host is funny.
W: Well, I can’t miss it for anything.
4. A
【原文】W: How do you cope with stress
M: According to the book I’ve read, we should try to enjoy our job, set time to relax every weekend, and forget our job for a moment to refresh our mind.
5. B
【原文】M: How do I protect the environment Should I stop driving my car and use the public transportation
W: I think using your car is necessary nowadays. But you can try other things. For example, I always go shopping with cloth bags to avoid excessive use of plastics.
6. A 7. C
【原文】M: How is your new job treating you I know it’s a little farther than where you used to work.
W: It’s very fast-paced. It’s much more challenging than my previous job.
M: Are you still managing other workers and hiring new ones
W: No. I am actually doing marketing now. I am designing commercials for our company.
M: That’s great. I was doing something similar at my old job. I just got a promotion. My task this month is to write articles about some new restaurants that have come into the city.
W: Congratulations! Let’s go out to one to have dinner tonight. That way you will have some experience to write about.
M: Sounds great.
8. A 9. C
【原文】W: Where are you reading your poem
M: That stage there. I am so nervous. It wouldn’t be so bad if I could just read it at home, or in class. This way I have to remember all the words.
W: Well, I guess that’s what performance poetry is all about! Do you have to act it out as well
M: A little bit. The important thing is the way you say the words.
W: Is this your first time at a poetry festival in our city
M: Yes. My poem came first in a competition at school, and then I was recommended for the poetry festival here.
W: Well done! And good luck!
10. C 11. C 12. B
【原文】W: Kevin, let’s go to the beach!
M: The beach I’m too lazy to go there. Why don’t we go somewhere else, Betty
W: There is some community work to be done there. We can clean up the beach. We can collect a lot of plastic garbage, too.
M: What for It’s the government’s responsibility. Besides, why should we collect all of the plastic garbage
W: Kevin, you don’t know the harm the plastic does to the ocean. Plastic can pollute the ocean and, in turn, harm fish and other ocean life. We should care about what happens to the ocean. Didn’t you hear about that dead whale’s stomach that was full of plastic garbage
M: Oh, yes. I heard about that. But what will we do with the plastic garbage we collect
W: We will take all of the plastic to a company that can recycle it.
M: I see.
13. A 14. C 15. A 16. B
【原文】W: Hi, Tom. It’s really you! How is everything going
M: Oh, hi Jenny. I just got a great job, but I’ll be working on the 45th floor.
W: The views must be great.
M: But you know I’m afraid to get into an elevator.
W: I forgot about your problem. Did you tell them about your trouble
M: Yes. They said they would help me, but not everyone is as understanding as you. Remember When we both lived at school, Mr. Black refused to change my room until my parents proved my problem.
W: I know what it’s like. I used to be afraid of spiders.
M: How did you overcome that
W: I took a class. It started with just being close to a spider, then holding a false spider, then a real one, then holding bigger and bigger spiders. Perhaps I could do something similar to help you. Why don’t we practise going up in an elevator, just one floor at a time
M: Yes. I can’t let this control my life. Thank you. I’ll try.
17. C 18. B 19. A 20. B
【原文】 In the previous talk, we discussed one way to manage stressful thoughts by being more positive. Sometimes it is also necessary to learn how to physically relax to regain calmness. Breathing deeply and slowly can relieve stress. It helps reduce tension, slows the heart rate, relaxes muscles and calms the mind. Like learning any new skill, learning to relax simply takes regular practice, patience and time. Don’t be concerned if your progress seems slow. Becoming tense or worried about relaxing is of course not very relaxing. One of the most frequent problems during relaxation is the occurrence of disturbing thoughts. Don’t worry if your mind wanders. Just try to refocus your attention on your breathing. Another problem can be disturbance from outside. If possible, try to select a time and place where you won’t be disturbed. After you have practiced relaxation for 10 sessions, then you can begin to use it for a problem situation. For example, schedule practice sessions before your high-tension parenting times, such as just before going home from work and picking up the kids, or as you notice your annoyance level starting to increase.
21. C 22. B 23. B
24. B 25. D 26. A 27. C
28. A 29. A 30. C 31. D
32. A 33. B 34. C 35. D
36. E 37. F 38. C 39. G 40. B
41. D 42. B 43. C 44. C 45. A 46. D 47. D 48. A 49. C 50. A 51. D 52. B 53. B 54. A 55. B
56. how
57. efficiency
58. to##with
59. wider 60. have been led
61. to mirror
62. a 63. divided
64. taking 65. simply
66. Dear Max
I hope this email finds you well. I’m Li Hua, editor of our school’s English newspaper. I’m writing to invite you to contribute an article to the column Tour Around the Globe.
We’d love you to introduce a city you’re interested in, sharing its cultural highlights, notable landmarks, or personal insights you may have. Your expertise and firsthand experiences would undoubtedly make the introduction both engaging and informative. The article should be around 300 words, submitted by September 20th.
Thank you for considering this invitation. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to your reply.
Yours,
Li Hua
67. One possible version:
I took it out and read through it. As my eyes scanned each item — from “greeting from a stranger” to “my best friend’s laughter” — I felt a warmth spread through me. The list served as a reminder of how much goodness existed in my life, even in the smallest moments. The gratitude I had scribbled down in haste now struck me with profound clarity. I realized that my previous despair had blinded me to these everyday blessings. By focusing on what I lacked, I had ignored the abundance already surrounding me. That simple exercise shifted my perspective, replacing self-pity with quiet appreciation.
I carried my list with me every day in my purse. Whenever negativity creeps in, I pull it out and reread a few lines. It’s become my anchor, a way to restore my confidence when comparisons or doubts arise. Sometimes, I even add new items — like “the barista who remembers my order” or “rainy days with a good book”. The act of noticing and recording these gifts has rewired my thinking. Thanksgiving is no longer just a holiday; it’s a daily practice. And now, when someone asks what I’m thankful for, I smile and say, “Where do I begin ”
