I was in desperate need of a break. The “witching hour” was upon us once again, dinner was burning on the stove, and fights were _________ between my two children. The crying was never- ending and I was _________ the end of my rope. But I was holding down the fort until way after bedtime.

I _________ a friend who has four children the same ages as mine, and she was in a similar_________. Our husbands were _________ the same meeting that night. I could hear the screaming in the _________, interrupted by Jen’s shouting. She kept _________ the phone to pick up the baby because he was crying. It seemed as if we were all suffering _________. Couldn’t there be a way for us to break up the sameness? _________!

The first play date was at Jen’s house the following Wednesday at 4:00 pm. My daughter________ into the basement playroom with the other children. Jen and I sat just __________ some adult company.

We ordered a pizza and salad, and all of the children actually ate their dinner. My kids aren’t big salad fans, but if other kids are eating it, __________ it’s cool. The entire large pizza was eaten up rapidly. Jen and I did the __________ together. When we were done, we invited them back and they all danced to a music DVD __________ it was time to go. My kids went __________ to bed when we got home. I felt rejuvenated(恢复活力的). The e-mail from Jen the next morning __________ her similar feelings. We were on to something and it had to __________.

The following Wednesday play date was at my house, and it was __________ the same. The kids had a great time __________. Watching kids play together without fighting is a truly great thing. Wednesday night gives me a chance to sit and really __________ my children as little people.

1.A. breaking up B. breaking out C. fading away D. dying down

2.A. on B. in C. at D. by

3.A. met B. called C. invited D. visited

4.A. situation B. condition C. consideration D. stage

5.A. attending B. holding C. participate D. join

6.A. environment B. atmosphere C. consequence D. background

7.A. throwing B. holding C. dropping D. talking

8.A. differently B. regularly C. equally D. slightly

9.A. Surprisingly B. Absolutely C. Perhaps D. Maybe

10.A. hid B. fell C. disappeared D. dragged

11.A. appreciating B. expecting C. imaging D. enjoying

12.A. apparently B. surprisingly C. similarly D. oppositely

13.A. cleaning B. washing C. cooking D. dancing

14.A. when B. unless C. until D. after

15.A. slowly B. actively C. unwillingly D. right

16.A. announced B. explained C. confirmed D. brought

17.A. improve B. start C. stop D. continue

18.A. usually B. exactly C. generally D. accurately

19.

A. making themselves up B. wearing themselves out

C. setting themselves apart D. giving themselves away

20.A. understand B. notice C. observe D. realize

Visitors to Britain may find the best place1.enjoy local culture is in a traditional pub. But newcomers may get into trouble in these friendly pubs. Strangers may start with the difficulty of getting a drink. Most pubs have no waiters—you have to go to the bar (吧台) to buy drinks . This may sound2.(convenient), but English people are used to doing so.

Pub culture is formed3.(help) people get along with each other. Standing at the bar for service allows you to chat with others4.(wait) for drinks. The bar counter is5.(possible) the only place in Britain 6.a friendly conversation with strangers7.(consider) to be entirely proper and really quite normal behavior. 8., if you do not follow the local rules, you may fail to feel the local culture. For example, if you are in a big group, 9.is best for one or two people to go to buy the drinks. Nothing makes the regular customers and bar staff 10. (angry) than a group of strangers standing in front of the bar while they chat and wonder what to order.

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧）, 并在其下写出该加的词。

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；

只允许修改10处, 多者（从第11处起）不计分。

Amanda has been awarded the Star Student for that she did for our class. Last Saturday, Amanda went to downtown and walked from one store to another, looking for the costumes we would wear in the singing contest. While the rest of us are enjoying our leisure time in the cool and comfortably room, she spent the whole afternoon searching and selecting. Finally, she found the right cloth. Deeply moved by his efforts, we tried our best and won first prize in contest.

Amanda is always warm-hearted and care a lot about the class. Besides, she often devotes her spare time to help others. She has set a good example for us. However, she deserves the honor and we should learn from her.

That's all. Thank you for listening!

As I stood in the return line and watched people, I became extremely impatient. My daughter had got four Barbie dolls and two identical Cabbage Patch Kids on Christmas, so I was eager to return toys that she didn’t need. Suddenly a strong idea came to me. I eyed the lady in front of me with three small girls on her leg. The family looked poor. The children were without coats, and they had dirty faces and hair. “You are ready to get out of here, aren’t you? Give her the things you want to return,” the still voice spoke. “Give them to her? These are mine. I’m not giving her my stuff,” I argued. I swallowed the urge that threatened to escape my lips when the voice spoke again. “Give her the toys.” I was familiar with the voice. I know I couldn’t argue with that voice.

I sighed and tapped the lady on the shoulder. “Ma’am,” I cleared my throat. She looked at me with kind, tired eyes surrounded by wrinkles. “Yes?” she asked. “Would your little girls like to have these toys?” I pointed to my basket full of returns. “Would your children like to have them?” She was speechless, and I swore that tears were about to well up in her eyes. “You’d be doing me a favor. I can’t stand in this line in a moment longer.” “You have no idea,” she shook her head. “You have no idea what that means to me.”

I started loading her basket as the excited girls watched. “Merry Christmas,” I said, “God bless you.” She replied as I nodded and exited the line. I didn’t want to go the Walmart that day, but I went. I didn’t want to give the lady my kid’s toys, but I did. Sometimes doing what we don’t want to do is exactly what we’re supposed to do.

1.The author decided to return some of the gifts because ________.

A. she wanted to get some money B. her daughter needed money then

C. her daughter didn’t like them at all D. all of them weren’t in need

2.When the author saw the woman and her three girls, she ________.

A. gladly helped them B. didn’t want to help them

C. pretended not to know them D. hesitated about whether to help them

3.The lady was speechless after hearing the author’s words because ________.

A. she was too surprised to say anything B. she was too moved to say anything

C. she didn’t believe the author at first D. she was considering the author’s words

4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A. A Poor Lady B. Holiday Spirit

C. Giving Happiness D. Holiday Shopping

We ate on the go more than ever before. Here are three health apps that can help you better manage your health when you pursue your dreams.

(1)Doctors On Demand

Doctors On Demand enables you to visit a doctor without ever leaving your home, helping you use a computer, tablet or smart phone to have a doctor video chat with you. The service will help you locate and connect you to licensed doctors, psychologists, pediatricians (儿科医生) and more. Fees can be paid with HAS&FSA. It costs $40 for 15 minutes with a doctor or $50 for 20 minutes with a psychologist.

(2)Text4baby

I’m a big fan of Text4baby for a few reasons. The free service for pregnant women and new moms works by sending text messages to your smart phone three times a week with information about how to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. And the messages are timed to the pregnant woman’s due date or the baby’s date of birth, sending tips that are relevant to where a mother is in her pregnancy or where a baby is in stages of development. Tips range from breastfeeding to car seat safety to reminders about exercise, nutrition and more. The service combines interactive text messages, an app, video and web content in English and Spanish. Sign up by texting BABY to 511-411 or by downloading the app.

(3)RISE

RISE, an app available on iPhone(coming to Android in 2016), pairs you up with (与……绑定) a registered dietitian to improve your diet and reach health goals. You share photos of your meals and your exercise for the day with your coach, who then looks for areas where you can improve and gives advice, helps you set goals and is there to pat you on the back virtually(虚拟地) when you hit a milestone. What’s also great is that you can text as much as you want with your dietitian and there is no need to go into an office. Fees for this service range from $9 per month to $50 a month. There is a free 7-day trial so you can try it out for a week to see if it’s fit for you.

1.How much will you pay if you have a video chat with your psychologist for an hour using Doctors On Demand?

A. $50. B. $80. C. $100. D. $150.

2.We can infer that the author is probably a ________.

A. famous pediatrician B. software engineer

C. pregnant woman or new mother D. registered dietitian

3.What do you know about Text4baby?

A. It is an app available only on iPhone.

B. You can sign up by texting BABY to 511-411.

C. People can’t use Text4baby for free.

D. Text messages are sent in three languages.

Cleaning your plate may not help feed hungry children today, but the timeworn advice of mothers everywhere may help reduce food waste from the farm to the fork, help the environment and make it easier to feed the world’s growing population.

Hard data still being collected, but experts in Chicago said about 30% to 50% of the food produced in the world goes uneaten. The average American throws away 33 pounds of food each month—about $40 worth, which means each person throws away almost 400 pounds of food. The US Department of Agriculture says that 23% of eggs and an even higher percentage of produce ends up in the trash.

“We forget we have all these fresh fruits and vegetables, and at the end of the week we have to throw them away”, said Esther Gove, a mother of three young children in South Berwick, Maine. “Now, I don’t buy as much fresh produce as I used to.”

But the effect of food waste arrives far beyond the kitchen. Agriculture is the world’s largest user of water, a big consumer of energy and major emitter of greenhouse gases during production. Experts say reducing waste is a simple way to cut stress on the environment and can ease pressure on farmers, who will be called on to feed an expected 9 billion people around the world in 2050, compared with nearly 7 billion today.

No matter how sustainable (可持续的) farming is, if the food’s not getting eaten, it’s not sustainable and it’s not a good use of our resources. In richer nations, fruit and vegetables end up in the trash because they aren’t pretty enough to meet companies’ standards, have gone bad in a home refrigerator or aren’t eaten at a restaurant. In developing countries, much food spoils before it gets to market due to poor roads and lack of refrigeration. High food prices are another reason, since some people can’t afford the food that’s produced.

1.From the first paragraph, we know that cleaning your plate ________.

A. is you mother’s best advice for you

B. can solve certain problems for the world

C. can help feed hungry children all over the world

D. helps meet the growing population’s needs

2.The underlined word “emitter” in Paragraph 4 means ________.

A. user B. finder C. protector D. producer

3.What is a sustainable and convenient way for a customer in a restaurant?

A. Ordering enough and packing the leftovers.

B. Ordering more than he or she can eat.

C. Ordering less and feeling hungry after leaving.

D. Ordering more and leaving the untouched alone.

4.Which of the following topics will follow the text?

A. More examples of food waste. B. Ways to reduce food waste.

C. Experts’ idea on the environment. D. Advice for food with high prices.

After a year of examining many studies concerning whether homework is effective, NYC P. S. Elementary School decided that math worksheets and essay assignments were actually a waste of time. In February, Principal Jane Hsu sent a letter to parents stating that the Pre-K(学前班) through fifth grade students wouldn’t be given any traditional homework to encourage kids to free time for reading, playing outside, or doing activities they enjoy.

“The negative effects of homework have been well established.” Hsu wrote in a note to parents. “They include, children’s frustration and exhaustion, lack of time for other activities and family time and, sadly for many, loss of interest in learning.”

Some parents, however, disagree with the policy change, believing that a lack of focus will cause children to fall behind. Homework has been part of education from the beginning, and has increased in amount in recent years.

Hsu’s advice that children should read and spend time with their families has upset some parents to the point of considering pulling their children out of the school. This group feels that homework gives children a goal to work toward. Others feel so strongly about the importance of homework that they have begun giving their own homework to their children.

An Australian Childhood Foundation survey finds that 71% of Australian parents feel they don’t spend enough quality time with their children mainly because of the time spent running the household or the time spent helping with homework. Education experts in Australia are saying that parents should stop helping. Doing so will give kids more independence, give parents more free time, and help reduce the number of arguments caused by homework in the family.

While some research suggests that homework has little academic benefit for elementary students, other researches show homework can help kids develop independence, and confidence. It can also contribute to a sense of belonging or control over their lives. When parents try to help their children with homework, the assistance can take away that feeling and can also make working parents more tired.

1.Cancelling traditional homework is aimed at ________.

A. allowing students to learn on their own

B. wising students to spend more time with parents

C. inspiring students to seek self-development

D. motivating students to help with homework

2.What can be concluded from the 1st and 2nd paragraph?

A. Jane Hsu is the first principal to cancel homework.

B. Jane Hsu has done much research on different aspects of homework.

C. Jane Hsu pays little attention to students’ academic records.

D. Jane Hsu knows students prefer activities to their subjects.

3.Why are some parents strongly against Principal Jane Hsu?

A. They are afraid their kids will fall behind.

B. They dislike their kids doing too many activities.

C. They have no time to give their children homework.

D. They don’t think the school is responsible for their kids.

4.What is the author’s attitude to parents’ helping kids with homework?

A. Supportive. B. Worried. C. Unconcerned. D. Negative.

Have you ever had the following experience? You have been given the task of organizing a conference, which includes a must-do list about a mile long. There is the conference site, the guest list, the materials, the technology and even the food and drink to think about and plan. If you are beginning to feel the stress, slow down and take a breath. 1..

Write down your goals. You will need to clearly define what you hope to accomplish with this conference because this will shape the rest of your decisions. 2..

Develop your budget. 3.. Then break that budget into different parts such as conference site, materials and speakers’ fees. Stick to your budget, and make sure your assistants are keeping their monetary limits as well.

4.. When searching for locations, keep in mind the number of participants, the convenience of the location, parking and closeness to public transportation, airports and hotels. Your goal in finding a place to hold the conference should be making it as easy as possible for participants to attend.

Seek help from the staff of the conference site. If you have chosen a site that is known for holding conferences, you can seek help from the staff there as organizing meeting is what they do every day. 5.. They should be able to answer any questions or concern and provide advice when needed.

Of course, full preparations also include a walk-through. Go to the site and meet with the staff the day before to be certain that everything is in place and to take care of any small details.

A. Decide on a schedule for the meeting

B. Choose your conference site

C. Read the following skills to figure out how to organize a conference

D. Knowing what you want to achieve eases the stress of moving forward

E. Make full use of this important resource

F. You can do nothing without knowing how much money you have to spend

G. Seek help from your colleagues to support every aspect of the meeting

It was an unforgettable experience. We sat in a boat waiting for Ofai. He was swimming under water. There were many beautiful shells at the bottom. If he could ever find some and bring them _____________, he would make a lot of money. It was a good and fast way to become rich. My uncle Harry was with us to take care of us. Suddenly I saw Ofai _____________ his arms. Then I could see a large shark fish _________ under the water. All at once I was ___________ and held my breath.

“A shark!” cried my uncle. An anxious expression suddenly _____________ on his face. He was thinking of how to save Ofai. We _________ at my uncle and waited for him to take_________.

The fish came near. Now we could see him better. He was of a yellow-brown color and as big as our boat. What could we do to help Ofai? He had been under water for more than an hour. So by now he must be very ___________ and it was difficult for him to swim fast enough to ___________ the trouble. Thinking that Ofai’s life was at great risk, my uncle could ____________ it no longer. Without ____________ he took his knife and jumped into the water. Down he went after the man-eating fish. The shark was ____________ straight for Ofai. Then, suddenly, the fish turned. My uncle’s strong arm had __________ the knife deep into the side of the great fish. The water turned red as blood ran from the shark.

Now Ofai had time to reach the top. At last he was safe in the boat. But the fish was __________. He turned to __________ the man who had hurt him. As he swam to my uncle, he opened his great mouth. Again the knife went forward. This time it cut deep into the shark’s nose.

For a minute the shark lay __________. Now Uncle was able to swim to the top. Ofai quickly pulled him into the boat. It wasn’t long before the shark came to __________. He hit the boat with such a hard __________ that the sides were almost pushed in. We rowed as hard as possible and finally we were safe on the seashore.

It was my uncle’s __________ and ability that saved Ofai and all of us. We learned a lesson from this experience that courage __________ everything in time of great danger. We will always keep this experience in mind.

1.A. down B. up C. in D. forward

2.A. wave B. rise C. hold D. extend

3.A. lying B. crawling C. moving D. jumping

4.A. annoyed B. excited C. astonished D. frightened

5.A. appeared B. existed C. reflected D. flashed

6.A. called B. stared C. laughed D. shouted

7.A. measure B. step C. action D. advice

8.A. tired B. excited C. disappointed D. satisfied

9.A. put up with B. break away from C. get along with D. get out of

10.A. make B. stand C. hold D. accept

11.A. difficulty B. permission C. delay D. preparation

12.A. waiting B. heading C. fighting D. looking

13.A. turned B. passed C. took D. sent

14.A. sad B. calm C. brave D. angry

15.A. see B. help C. attack D. protect

16.A. quiet B. frightened C. still D. discouraged

17.A. life B. notice C. mind D. an end

18.A. movement B. weight C. crash D. blow

19.A. courage B. kindness C. cleverness D. enthusiasm

20.A. matters B. means C. suggests D. predicts

I will never forget that at the age of 9 I was asked to deliver a speech entitled A Challenge in My Life before the whole class! You can imagine how 1.(terrible) shy I was the moment I thought of that…with so many eyes 2. (fix) upon me. I could do nothing but 3. (prepare) for it, though. First, I was to draft the speech, which was just a piece of cake for me, a good writer. But the hardest part 4. (lie) in my oral presentation from my memory, for to read from the paper was not allowed. The real moment began 5. I stood on the platform with my legs trembling and my mind blank. But my 6. (listen) were waiting patiently without any signs of rushing me. Gradually I found myself back, giving out my speech tongue-tiredly. After 7. seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding…I made it! From then on, my fear of talking before 8.big audience disappeared. Actually with my confidence building up, I now turn out to be a great speaker. Looking back, I know the greatest difficult on our way 9. success is our fear. Overcome it, 10. you will be able to achieve your goals.