提分小卷
一 阅读理解
Like other cities in New Jersey's Rust Belt (铁锈地带), Paterson has fallen on hard times, with its once-famous textile (纺织品) industry in disrepair and its schools abandoned.
Strickland, an expert in school design and instructor at MIT, had been hired as a consultant to help Paterson find sites for new schools. The architect hatched a grand plan to help revitalize (复兴) Paterson's schools and the city itself.
Six career academies are holding classes at old sites. These small changes have not gone unnoticed. The city, as the residents expected, has the potential to shine.
A nearly unoccupied three-storey shopping mall houses two schools, one focused on medical careers, the other on media arts and urban planning. English and maths teachers for the two schools lead classes in storefronts that were empty just a year ago. Across town, under the thick wooden beams (横梁) of an old textile factory and a train engine plant, students with disabilities will learn about careers with the region's transportation systems.
Strickland requires his graduate students at MIT to help Paterson construct models for new building projects in the city. Jane Riesman, one of Strickland's students, has been working with her kids on an educational park that would replace a wasteland of lifeless asphalt (沥青) and grass that stretches between two downtown schools. The surrounding neighbourhood is hardly inspiring; pulling-down of a high-rise housing project is underway, showering dust everywhere. But Riesman's students envision a very different place. One of the student models includes a swimming pool, skating court, climbing wall, sandbox, and a pond with a fountain and lots of trees. "It's fun, and it makes us feel like we're in charge and helping the community," says 15-year-old Marilyn Medina, one of the model's creators.
Strickland says it's important for the students to dream. "They're setting a tone for the town," he says. "The kids can push the envelope and change the culture."
1. What was Paterson like in the past according to paragraph 1
A. It fell into severe disrepair.
B. It rarely produced any iron.
C. Its textile industry was well-known.
D. Its schools were completely deserted.
2. What was the residents' attitude towards Strickland's plan
A. Opposed. B. Favourable.
C. Dismissive. D. Uncaring
3. What can we infer about Riesman's students
A. Diligent and innocent.
B. Funny and responsible.
C. Honest and trustworthy.
D. Imaginative and helpful.
4. What does the text focus on
A. Transforming old buildings to shine.
B. Revitalizing the city's shopping mall.
C. Developing students' logical thinking.
D. Witnessing the rise and fall of Paterson.
二 七选五
The less you spend, the more you save. It sounds simple in theory, but in practice, it's much more complicated. Spending is built into our daily habits, which sometimes can get us addicted to buying stuff. 1 It's kind of like a crash diet, but in a good way!
2
Despite the name, a no-spend challenge doesn't mean you sit on your hands and spend no money whatsoever. After all, you don't want to fall behind on your bills, and there are some necessities you simply can't do without. The basic premise (前提) of a no-spend challenge is to cut out non-essential spending for a certain amount of time. It could be for a week, a month or even an entire year.
What can you spend money on during a no-spend challenge
If you you need to purchase something during your no-spend challenge, it should be something that's necessary and you absolutely can't do without. So groceries, yes. Candy bar in the checkout line, no. Also, no new iPhone, even if you've been dreaming about an upgrade. No new shoes, even if they're on a huge sale. This is not the time to make excuses to buy stuff you don't really need. 3 The goal of this challenge isn't to make life harder on yourself by cutting out spending on essential expenses.
The financial benefits of a no-spend challenge
4 You can use the extra money you normally would have spent to build up your emergency fund. Or you might want to put the money towards other financial goals, like saving for a new car or an upcoming vacation.
While no-spend challenges are designed to be temporary, you can always extend your challenge. 5
A. Decide acceptable purchases.
B. What is a no-spend challenge
C. There should be no quick-fix approach.
D. When will you start your no-spend challenge
E. Why not treat it as more of a lifestyle change
F. Sometimes the best way is to go on a spending freeze.
G. A no-spend challenge can be a boost to your financial situation.
三 完形填空
The school autumn trip finally came, after what seemed like centuries of waiting in anticipation. Jumping off the bus, we all cheered in 1 , with the worry 2 hanging over our minds completely replaced by our smiles.
The New Zealand scooter (滑板车) is a mini-car sliding down a hill using only gravity without power. It held much 3 for my friend Xu who was a thrill-seeker, but not for me.
Eventually, it was our 4 . “Woo hoo!” No sooner had I put on my helmet than he rushed out, 5 smoothly around a turn and then disappeared. Swinging in the scooter, I took a 6 and tightly held the control lever (控制杆). “It’s a piece of cake for you,” an inner voice from my mind 7 me. Then I gathered my courage to slowly 8 my grasp on the brake.
Zooming down the slope, I could 9 the wind whistling in my ears. It went so fast that the green trees and bushes along the path became 10 shadows. I gradually grasped the key to keep 11 as I glided through sharp turns one after another. I began to enjoy the feeling of the smooth 12 . I even surpassed some of the other students. Finally, I reached the ground, safe and sound. Xu was 13 there waiting for me. I grinned (咧嘴笑) from ear to ear. “Turned out not to be so 14 after all,” I thought. The experience had such thrills and spills that we even wanted to 15 it again!
1. A. anxiety B. confidence C. delight D. belief
2. A. eventually B. accidentally C. deliberately D. previously
3. A. appeal B. value C. ground D. risk
4. A. request B. invitation C. turn D. plan
5. A. recovered B. challenged C. grabbed D. accelerated
6. A. rest B. chance C. breath D. walk
7. A. warned B. encouraged C. surprised D. confused
8. A. regain B. loosen C. secure D. prevent
9. A. feel B. allow C. stop D. avoid
10. A. vague B. mental C. missing D. permanent
11. A. peace B. balance C. distance D. resistance
12. A. interacting B. bouncing C. sliding D. changing
13. A. instead B. even C. never D. already
14. A. content B. scary C. delicate D. capable
15. A. try B. share C. make D. see
四 语法填空
In most people’s eyes, the pit (果核) of a fruit is a waste, but in the hands of a miniaturist (微雕师), this tiny nut can 1 (turn) from waste into wonder. As both a time-honoured and young art, nut carving began to emerge 2 a national cultural heritage in 2008. Dating back to the Song Dynasty (960–1279), the complicated process is like playing ballet on the pit, with the main tools being file, chisel and drill. Small as it is, it has different styles, 3 (vary) significantly from northern to southern regions.
The northern style is mainly practised in Shandong Province where nut carving is often done on peach pits, the surface layer of 4 is rich in fold texture (纹理) skilfully employed by the miniaturist 5 (carve) vivid three-dimensional shapes.
The southern style particularly finds its popularity in Jiangsu Province. When examining Suzhou nut carving 6 (specific), artists tend to select olive pits with thick outer walls and smooth surfaces, allowing for the 7 (achieve) of fine carvings.
Nut carving is young as it has only been trendy for about 20 years, featuring a shift from handicrafts to 8 (fashion) items. Modern aesthetics (审美), 9 (combine) with scientific and technological means, make nut carving works more up-to-date and push the craft to 10 new height.
参考答案
阅读理解 1-4 CBDA
七选五 1-5 FBAGE
完形填空1-5CDACD 6-10 CBBAA 11-15BCDBA
语法填空
be turned 2. as 3. varying 4. which5. to carve 6. specifically7. achievement 8. fashionable
9.combined 10.a