When 24-year-old Hannah Brencher moved to New York after college, she was hit by depression and loneliness. One day she felt so lonely that she wanted to reach out to someone. So she put pen to paper and started writing letters—letters to complete strangers.
But these weren’t sad letters about how she was feeling. They were happy letters, all about the other person, not her. She would write messages for people to have a “bright day” and tell strangers how outstanding they were, even if they thought no one else had noticed. Brencher began dropping the notes all over New York, in cafes, in library books, in parks and on the subway. It made her feel better, knowing that she might be making somebody’s day through just a few short, sweet words. It gave her something to focus on. And so, the website The World Needs More Love Letters was born.
The World Needs More Love Letters is all about writing letters—not emails, but proper, handwritten letters. Not traditional love letters, written to a real beloved, but surprise letters for strangers. They don’t necessarily say “I love you”, but they are full of kindness—telling people they are remarkable and special and all-around amazing.
Brencher’s initiative (初衷) has now exploded. She has personally written hundreds of letters. Last year, she did a TED talk, in which she talks about a woman whose husband, a soldier, comes back home from Afghanistan and they struggle to reconnect: “So she leaves love letters all over the house as a way to say: ‘Come back to me. Find me when you can.’” And then comes another story of a man threatening to kill himself on his Facebook page, only to now be in the land of the living, with many love letters under his pillow.
The World Needs More Love Letters Project works on the idea that “A love letter a day keeps the doctor away” . It’s about sharing positive energy, restoring confidence and happiness. There are now more than 10,000 people from all over the world joining in to write letters to the lonely and depressed, to basically tell them that everything will be okay.When feeling lonely, Brencher wrote letters to _________________.
| A．share her sad feelings with strangers |
| B．tell strangers how outstanding she was |
| C．express her wish to have a bright day |
| D．brighten strangers’ day with kind words |
According to the passage, which of the following letters can be found on the website?
| A．The email to remarkable people. |
| B．The handwritten letters to friends. |
| C．The traditional love letters to beloved ones. |
| D．The encouraging letters to strangers. |
What can be inferred from Brencher's TED talk?
| A．The man leaves love letters to his wife, asking her to look for him |
| B．The woman gets on well with her husband after his return from Afghanistan |
| C．The life of the man in the second story has been saved by the inspiring love letters |
| D．The man in the second story has written many love letters and put them under his pillow |
In the last paragraph, the underlined sentence means .
| A．love letters can help cheer you up in spirits |
| B．love letters can keep you physically healthy |
| C．love letters can make the doctors out of work |
| D．love letters can keep you sway from loneliness |
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第三部分：阅读理解 (共两节，满分40分)
第一节：（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
One night about nine o’clock, Dr. Eyck, a surgeon, had a phone call from Dr. Haydon at the hospital in Clens Falls. The surgeon was asked to go there at once to operate on a very sick boy who shot himself while playing with a gun.
The doctor was soon on his way to Clens Falls. It was 60 miles away. And it was snowing heavily in the city. The surgeon thought he could get there before 12 o’clock.
A few minutes later, the doctor was stopped by a man in an old black coat. Gun in hand, the man ordered the doctor to get out. Then the man drove the car down the road, leaving the doctor in the falling snow.
It was after 2 o’clock in the morning when the doctor arrived at the hospital in Clens Falls. Dr. Haydon told him that the boy had died an hour before.
The two doctors walked by the door of the hospital waiting room. There sat the man in the old black coat with his head in his hands.
“Mr. Cuninghan,” said Dr. Haydon to the man, “This is Dr. Eyck. He is the surgeon who walked all the way from Albany to save your boy.”
56. Dr. Haydon asked Dr. Eyck to come to Clens Falls because _____.
A. Dr. Eyck knew the boy was wounded by a shot
B. The boy needed the help of a surgeon
C. Dr. Eyck was the boy’s father
D. Dr. Eyck was Haydon’s friend
57. The surgeon was late because ________.
A . his car was taken away B. the weather was rather terrible
C.Clens Falls was too far from Albany D. he was stopped by the police
58. Choose the right order of the following events given in the story. 
a. Dr. Eyck was asked to come to the hospital in Clens Falls.
b. Dr. Eyck arrived at the hospital.
c. The boy shot himself.
d. The boy died.
e. The man in an old coat reached the hospital.
f. Dr. Eyck was robbed of his car.
A. c, e, f, a, b, d B. a, c, f, d, b, e C. c, a, f, e, d, b D. a, c, f, e, d, b
59. The boy could have been saved if ______.
A. he had not been sent to the hospital B. his father hadn’t arrived in time
C. Dr.Eyck had arrived earlier than the man
D. Dr. Eyck had arrived there two hours earlier
.
The most popular way to welcome the new year in the United States is to have a big party. Some parties are at people’s homes. But in recent years, it has become more and more common
For Americans to go to a hotel or a club or a restaurant on the night of December the 31st. There they can have dinner, drink champagne ( a kind of wine), and dance.
Most New Year’s parties have something in common. First of all, they are usually noisy. People sing and bands (乐队)play. And often, guests pull a cracker（爆竹） when the clock strikes twelve at midnight. People think that loud sounds would drive away the evil spirits of the old year before the new year begins.
For many people New Year’s Eve is the night when they can drink as much as they like. Some New Year’s celebrations have ended sadly for people who got drunk and had driving accidents. Radio’s and television’s announcements warn people of the danger of drunk driving. Some places offer free rides home for drunken people.
The biggest and noisiest New year’s party in the United States takes place at Times Square in New York City. Thousands of people gather there. Some of them ring bells or let off crackers. Others blow whistles or car horns. And at 12 o’cloIk, they begin to cheer as an electric sign in the shape of a red apple lights up on top of a tall building.
Americans keep up one other important tradition as the new year begins. They make decisions about how to improve themselves in the year ahead. Experts say that the most common New Year’s decisions in the United states are to eat less. But many Americans also promise themselves to stop smoking, or stop drinking wine, or to be nicer to their friends and families.
Experts find fewer than ten percent of Americans carry out their New Year’s decisions. Few want to give up this tradition. Almost everyone seems to enjoy looking back over the year that has just ended and looking forward to a nice beginning of a new year. ,
72. The article is about _____.
A. some important traditions in the USA
B. when and where Americans welcome the new year
C. New year’s celebrations in the USA
D. American ways of life and their interests
73. On New Year’s Eve _____ in America.
A. parties are held in different places
B. people are encouraged to drink as much as they like
C. some places offer free rides home for everyone
D. people begin to shout as soon as they see a red apple
74. . Most new year’s parties are usually noisy, because______.
A. people sing songs B. bands play music
C. guests pull crackers D. people want to get rid of bad luck of the old year
75. In order to prevent car accidents _____ on New Year’s Eve.
A. many Americans promise to stop drinking wine
B. drunken people are forbidden to drive, but can be driven home for free in some places
C. little wine is served at New year’s celebrations
D. people are warned of the danger of drinking too much
.
Weekend one-day out
A walk along the Great Wall
Beijing Hikers is organizing a hike in a village along the Great Wall in Changping District, north of downtown Beijing. The walk will take around three hours covering a distance of 10 kilometers.
Time: 8:30 a. m. ~ 4:30 p. m, Dec. 4
Cost: 200 yuan (US $ 25) per adult, 150 yuan (US $ 18. 50) for under-12s.
Meeting place: 8:30 a. m. in front of Starbucks at Lido Holiday Inn, Jiangtai Lu.
To sigh-up (one day before the hike) and more information, contact Huijie at 139 1002 5516.
Skiing and hot springs
Cycle China plans a day’s skiing fun at a resort around Beijing followed by an outdoor hot spring bath for your sore(酸痛的) body.
Cost: 350 yuan (US $ 43. 40)
Time: 8:30 a. m ~ 6:30p. m, Dec. 4
Location: Meet at the office of Cycle China, opposite the east gate of Jingshan Park, Xicheng District.
For more information and reservation, email reserve @ cyclechina. com or call 139 1188 6524.
Horse riding
This is a trip to a professional horse-riding club with well-trained bilingual instructors, offering lessons to people who love riding and those willing to learn more. The club is located in Hebei Province next to the Kangxi Grassland.
Time: 1:30a. m~ 4:30p. m, Dec. 4
Cost: 330 yuan (US$40. 74) including one hour’s riding, transportation, guide, lunch.
To sigh-up and more information, contact Lucy at 8580 5080 or 130 1117 1326.
68. This passage is written mainly for ________.
A. travel agencies B. holiday-makers C. guides D. sportsmen
69. If Mary, who is ten years old, wants to hike along the Great Wall with her parents, they will pay_____ dollars.
A. 400 B. 450 C. 68. 50 D. 65
70. If you are interested in the knowledge about horse-riding, you’ll contact_________.
A. 139 1188 6515 B. 139 1188 6524 C. 130 1117 1326 D. 139 1002 5516
71. Cycle China is ________.
A. a website which offers travelling information B. a traveling agency
C. a trainer for skiing D. a resort which offers hot spring bath
.
Washington D. C. is the capital of the United States. It’s the center of national government. It’s a busy, working city with a large population. But what is more, Washington is also a city of history and culture.
Washington was created in 1790 when Congress ( the highest law-making body of the U. S. A. ) decided to place the nation’s new capital in the east of the country. It was build halfway between the northern and southern states of America. And of course it was named after George Washington, the first President of the United States.
There are many tourist sights in Washington. Perhaps the most important tourist sight is the Capital Building. This house is the Congress.
Another world-famous building in Washington is the White House. This is the home and office of the President of the United States. Most visitors are, however, surprised by how small the White House actually is.
Washington is also a great culture city. The Library of Congress contains one of the largest library collections in the world. The Smithsonian Museum holds the nation’s largest collection of cultural materials. And the John F. Centre is a famous centre of art and culture. It has many great musical and theatre performances throughout the year.
64. The writer mainly talks about ______.
A. Washington B. the history of Washington
C. buildings and sights in Washington D. the history and culture of Washington
65. From the passage we know that Washington is situated in ________.
A. the east of the U. S. A.B. the centre of the U. S. A.
C. the center of the middle point from north to south, of the country
D. the east and halfway from the north
66. . The white House impresses the people most for ______.
A. its white colour B. its size
C. it as the home and office of the president D. its history
67. . The writer introduces Washington in the order of _____.
A. population, history and culture
B. hostory and culture
C. general introduction, history, sights and culture
D. generall introduction, history, sights, buildings and culture
.
Having friends may well keep you healthier and help you deal with stress better. Some studies show that people with close friends have a greater ability to fight disease than people who are alone.
Make friendship a priority(优先). Find the time to be with friends even if it means letting the lawn go unmowed(未割草) or the dishes unwashed for a while. When you can’ t get together, use the phone to keep in touch.
Open up to close friends. Maintaining a deep friendship requires a level of heartfelt intimacy(亲密). Don’t be afraid to express your inner fears and disappointments. Listen to your friends when they have problem, but offer advice only when it’s wanted. Help raise friends’ self-esteem when they are shaken by a job loss, or other such events.
Have different friends for different activities, such as going to the movies, singing in a choir(合唱), and joining in a bowling league.
Don’t wait for a friend to ask a favor. When a friend has the flu, offer to go to the store or drive his or her children to their after-school activities.
Never take a friendship for granted. Like a good marriage, friendship needs care and patience. Become a joiner. Find a group that matches your interests.
Talk to strangers. Conversations started in museums, laundry rooms, or bookstores can lead to firm friendship.
Enroll in an adult-education course. A classroom is an ideal place to meet others with similar interests.
60. People with close friends have a ____ ability to fight disease than people who are alone.
A. less B. greater C. poorer D. little
61. What we should do to have friends according to the author?
A. Make friendship a priority. B. Open up to close friends.
C. Never take a friendship for granted D. All the above.
62. Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. You should have different friends for the same activities.
B. You should wait for a friend to ask a favor.
C. You should avoid talking with stranger in museums, laundry rooms of bookstores.
D. You should never take a friendship for granted.
63. . The underlined word “ enroll” in the last paragraph means _____.
A. give B. join C. get D. catch