There it was. A test of will power. I was on a special diet with foods carefully selected for balanced nutrition and caloric value. A piece of cheese cake was not a good choice. So here was my dilemma: Should I not eat the cheese cake, feel dissatisfied and take out my disappointment on the annoyingly skinny physical instructor at the gym? Or should I eat the cheese cake and work off the calories?
The latter seemed like a win-win solution. Not only would I get to enjoy the cheese cake, but I’d get an exercise session (训练时段). And then it hit me: a delicate plan to use my cheese cake as an exercise incentive. I plated a thin slice of cheese cake and carefully walked it up the stairs and set it on my bedside table with a small fork. I put on my exercise outfit (全套服装) and went downstairs.
The appeal of the cheese cake got stronger so I launched my plan: I would run up and down the stairs and then back up again. My reward: one small bite of cheese cake. If I wanted another, I’d have to run down and up and down and up again. Off I went. Ah, creamy vanilla (香草) goodness without guilt. I wanted another bite so I quickly sprinted (冲刺) through another stair climbing run.
Admittedly, it was harder to enjoy the creaminess of the cheese cake when my tongue was dry from over-breathing. I placed a bottle of water next to the cake. Down and up and down and up again. When I struggled over to the cheese cake, my hand bypassed the plate and went for the water instead. I didn’t want the cake any more. I wanted all this sweat and effort to do more than cancel the calories from cheese cake. I was exhausted and sure the cheese cake tasted fine but just not good enough to make me run up and down the stairs one more time.
My plan worked. Now, any time I felt tempted to enjoy a former favorite, I remembered my stairs trick.
1.What can we infer about the author from paragraph 1?
A.She had weak will power.
B.She was bad-tempered and very critical.
C.She needed assistance with making the choice.
D.She hesitated over eating something against her diet.
2.What does the underlined word “incentive” in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.Reason. B.Hesitation.
C.Replacement. D.Companion.
3.What do we learn about the author’s plan?
A.It involved much energy consumption (消耗).
B.It rid the cake of the pleasant taste.
C.It changed the author’s preference for food.
D.It was tiring and caused suffering.
4.What may be the best title for the passage?
A.A costly dilemma.
B.An evil cheese cake.
C.A trick that worked.
D.A sweating experience.
Broken Hill was recently awarded one of Australia’s rare National Heritage (遗产) listings, but is that reason enough to make the journey?
Broken Hill, in western New South Wales, is hardly up there as a tourist attraction of international reputation (名声). It’s miles from anywhere, boiling hot and lacks the more attractive elements that often make a place popular---for example, high-end restaurants, beautiful beaches, great accommodation (膳宿). But Broken Hill’s reputation is growing with its recent National Heritage Listing Award.
We asked Broken Hill mayor to tell us what makes Broken Hill so great. These are some reasons he gave us to visit.
Perfect light
Broken Hill offers breathtaking scenery to discover and explore. The lively colours and perfect light have attracted film-makers and artists here for decades. From the wonders of the day comes an amazing light show at night.
The locals
We are always happy to greet people from “away”. In fact we love it when people come to town to visit. We are a friendly people who make you feel welcome. And we are pretty proud of our city.
The Palace Hotel
The home of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and just a great Broken Hill iconic (标志性的) pub. You can star in your own movie in the centre of town. It is a world-famous landmark and a good water hole for those nice warm days.
The living desert and sculptures
Located 9 km from the city, Broken Hill features 12 sandstone sculptures by artists from around the world as well as local artist Badger Bates. It displays the breathtaking beauty of the real outback (内地).
1.What is the real purpose of writing this passage?
A.To encourage readers to pay a visit to Broken Hill.
B.To explain the causes of awarding Broken Hill.
C.To list the reasons for Broken Hill’s greatness.
D.To express the author’s pride for Broken Hill’s award.
2.Which of the following factor is making Broken Hill better known to the world?
A.Its friendly local people.
B.Its Palace Hotel.
C.Its National Heritage Listing Award.
D.Its sandstone sculptures.
3.Which of the following topics of Broken Hill are mentioned in the passage?
A.Traditional food and friendly locals.
B.Pleasant climate and perfect light.
C.Beautiful beaches and lively sculptures.
D.Splendid Hotel and friendly locals.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
It was a rainy November morning. Overcome with anger I knew if I didn’t leave the house soon I would lose my temper with my husband, Joe. As rain came down in sheets, Joe offered to take me to work. I struggled into my jacket, seized my bag and teaching plans and ignored him.
He insisted and reached for his boots. I looked at the piles of newspapers and the dirty dishes still on the table. “Don’t you have enough to do？I can take care of myself.” I stormed out, not even kissing him good-bye. Joe shouted after me not to take the shortcut.
Joe and I had been eagerly looking forward to our retirement when heart a attack that past spring forced him to leave his job earlier than we had planned. As the medical bills mounted we realized I would have to continue working full-time while Joe stayed home and took over the housework.
The new arrangement was a disaster. Exhausted after a day of full work, all I wanted was hot homecooked meal and a good night’s sleep. However, what greeted me at the table was a microwave package. Sometimes he would serve oatmeal for several nights in a row. One night when I dragged myself to bed, I was terrified to discover Joe had turned our white sheets blue: He told me he had found out how to save on water, soap and electricity. He patted his blue trousers and announced proudly washing everything together was just the secret.
Ten minutes later, ignoring Joe’s warning I turned off the main route. I thought it hadn’t rained enough to flood the road, but as I rounded the corner water rushed across my path. After a few feet, the car got stuck. I opened the door and water poured in. I hurriedly closed the door. I couldn’t risk walking in this. Almost 20 minutes passed. The car began to shake. I got frightened to death when I heard three long honks.
注意：
1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
Looking over my shoulder, I stared into the flashing lights of a truck.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
I screamed that I couldn’t make it.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
假定你是李华，你的英国朋友Gary学习汉语时碰到困难，写信请你推荐相关学习资源，帮助解决问题。请你回信，内容包括：
1.资源名称；
2.推荐理由。
注意：
1.词数80左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Playing video games casually can be a great way to have fun. However, if you’re so focused1.gaming that it feels like it’s taking over your life, you may have a video game addiction. It is no joke. The WHO in 20182.(official) classified it as a mental health condition, 3.(call) “gaming disorder”. Fortunately, there4.(be) things you can do to get it controlled.
Give yourself a strict time limit for daily play. Don’t give it up if you end up playing5.(long) than you meant to—it’s totally normal! Try to learn from6.happened and think of a way to avoid it next time. If this still doesn’t work, ask7.(friend) and family to help you. Have them check in with you to make sure you are not playing.
Keep gaming devices inaccessible. If there is a mobile phone or8.computer in your room, you may9.(attract) to stay up playing Make your room a screen-free zone10.(stay) away from late-night gaming.
I watered in my garden on that burning hot afternoon. “Missus!” The husky(沙哑的) voice_______me and I turned quickly. “Could I please have a drink of water?” “Come into the yard.” I called and_______the cup that hung over the outdoor tap. He drank, swallowing slowly and then splashed(泼洒) water on his face. “That feels_______,” he said, and stood there, awkward. “Have you any_______I can do for you? Weed or water your garden?” What work could I_______him? Nothing！I couldn’t afford a single cent. I_______to look around, before shaking my head.
I knew he must be_______, but the icebox held so little: only some milk and bread for my daughter, Alice. I said, “I’ll get you something to_______.” I couldn’t bear to look into his_______eyes. When I carried some bread to him, I felt a little__________at offering so little. After I returned to the house, I dropped into the armchair.
“Mama, where are you?” I struggled to my feet and found Alice sitting at the kitchen table. “Mama, Acme Stores are__________next week. The employment officer said girls would be hired__________they were properly dressed. That means a decent pair of shoes, Mama!” My heart ached and I stepped to__________her with a hug. “Honey, we have a whole__________to work on it. Maybe something will come our way.” “That’s what you always say, Mama. What’s the use of__________?”
The week__________the boy’s stop at my garden, I watered, as usual. A flash of white in the mailbox__________my eye. The__________contained a note: “To the lady in the garden: I got a job a after you__________me and let me rest. You helped me feel and look__________Now, let me help you.” Folded within the paper were eight one-dollar bills.
1.A.terrified B.interested C.embarrassed D.disappointed
2.A.stared at. B.pointed to C.looked for D.held up
3.A.tiring B.good C.thirsty D.hot
4.A.favor B.deeds C.work D.dishes
5.A.suggest B.require C.present D.offer
6.A.hesitated B.desired C.continued D.pretended
7.A.worried B.happy C.hungry D.tired
8.A.drink B.eat C.do D.wash
9.A.grateful B.sharp C.blank D.determined
10.A.guilty B.nervous C.worried D.shocked
11.A.closing B.hiring C.selling D.displaying
12.A.now that B.in case C.only if D.so that
13.A.please B.amuse C.expect D.comfort
14.A.week B.day C.minute D.hour
15.A.working B.hoping C.trying D.hugging
16.A.before B.during C.after D.by
17.A.caught B.shaded C.avoided D.wet
18.A.shoe B.letter C.envelope D.mail
19.A.relaxed B.supported C.accepted D.fed
20.A.hopeful B.careful C.thankful D.respectful
