2．　　It was my graduation day, but I wasn't excited at all. I had watched the economy turn from bad to worse in my fourth year of university. Though we graduates had degrees, there were very few job opportunities. I knew that the next day I would no longer have a place to call home.
　　I knew my small university town couldn't offer me any opportunities, so I drove to southern California to find work. I thought it would take a week, but it lasted for two weeks, and then four weeks. And I found myself in the same spot I was in before.
　　You know that feeling when you wake up and you are full of fear? Fear about something you can't control. You hope that everything that has happened to you so far is just a bad dream.
　　So what did I do to stay calm? I wrote. Something about putting words on a page made everything seem a little clearer and brighter. Something about writing gave me hope. If you want something enough, sometimes a little hope is all you need!
　　I turned my scary feelings into a children's book — about a surprising hero who simply refused to give up on his dream.
　　Then one day, I was offered a publishing deal for my first book! After that, things slowly began to get better. I was offered a second book deal. Then, a few months later, I got an interview with a big company and got a good job.
　　It takes time, but just hold on — things can change when you don't expect it.
根据材料内容选择最佳答案。

3．　　Research done by a team of scientists from University of Roehampton shows that backward movement, whether real or imaginary, can improve short-term memories.
　　They have done six experiments to find out whether this is true. Participants from the study were shown a video, a word list, or a set of pictures. Then, the participants were asked to walk either forward or backward. At the end of the experiment, they answered questions about the videos or recalled words or pictures. The results showed that those walking backwards could recall more information of the video, words or pictures.
　　"Time is really expressed via space," the leader of the researchers said. When you walk backwards, you see things from a different way compared to walking forward. This difference helps people recall things that happened in the past.
　　And walking backwards is not just good for our brains. It is also good for the rest of our body. Compared to walking forward, walking backwards is more challenging. Walking backwards uses more energy in a short time and burns more calories. Besides, walking backwards is less stressed for our knees. It could be helpful for people who often have pain in their knees, according to researchers. Walking backwards also keeps our spines strong, which can help to reduce pain in the lower back. This might be why many old people like walking backwards.
根据材料内容选择最佳答案。

4．　　Many students master the fine points of English grammar but find themselves not able to have conversations with foreigners. In fact, the only way to develop good speaking skills is by huge amounts of listening, and then practicing. The following are a few tips for improving English speaking skills.
　　(1)      
　　First of all, it's important to find English speakers to practice with. Going to an English corner and joining an English club can be great ways to get chances of practicing speaking English.
　　Record your conversation practice.
　　Recording is a great way to get the benefit from a conversation with an English speaker. (2)      You can also review what is said in the conversation and take notes on new words or misunderstandings.
　　Surround yourself with the English language.
　　Another way to improve your English speaking skills is to put yourself in English surroundings as much as possible. Watch movies or TV in English. Watch the same programs over and over. (3)       Listening helps you become familiar with the pronunciation. Once the sounds are familiar, try repeating them.
　　(4)      
Reading out aloud is a great way to practice speaking when there are no conversation partners available. Reading aloud gives you a chance to focus on pronunciation without worrying about coming up with words. Make sure to practice with materials that you can understand.
　　Talk to yourself.
　　(5)       By talking to yourself, you can become better at turning your thoughts into spoken words. Practicing alone is also a low-pressure way to practice, since no one will hear your mistakes.

根据材料内容，从下面五个选项中选出能填人文中空缺处的最佳选项，使文章意思通顺内容完整。
A. Saying your thoughts out aloud can be a very good way to practice spoken English.
B. Read aloud.
C. Most people find that they understand more each time.
D. Find an English-speaking conversation partner.
E. When you listen again, you can notice the parts of your conversation that need improving.

5．　　When I was in the third grade, I was chosen to play a princess in the school play. My mother had spent several weeks helping me practice my role. But every time I stepped onto the stage, every word (1)       from my head.
　　Finally, my teacher told me that she had written a narrator's (2)       to the play, and asked me to change roles. (3)       she tried to be kind, I still felt hurt.
　　I didn't tell my mother what had happened when I went home for lunch that day. But she sensed that I wasn't happy, and (4)       suggesting we practice my lines, she asked if I wanted to walk in the yard.
　　It was a lovely spring day and the rose tree was turning (5)      . Under the trees, we could see yellow dandelions.
　　My mother suddenly stopped by one of the dandelions. "I think I'm going to dig up all these small flowers," she said, "and then, we'll have only (6)       in this garden."
　　"But I like dandelions," I said. "All flowers are beautiful (7)       dandelions."
　　My mother looked at me seriously. "Yes, every flower (8)       pleasure in its own way, doesn't it?" she asked. "Not (9)       can be a princess," she added.
　　It was clear that she had guessed my (10)      . I started to cry as I told her what had happened. She listened and (11)      .
　　"But you will be a beautiful narrator," she said. "The narrator's is as (12)       as the part of the princess."
　　Over the next few weeks, with her encouragement, I learned to take pride in the role.
　　On the night of the performance, I felt (13)      . A few minutes before the play, my mother came over to me. She gave a dandelion to me, and all of a sudden, I was filled with courage. The (14)       was a little dry. But I knew my mother was always with stage narrator princess (舞台旁白公主). I often (15)       our lunchtime together. I learned that my mother's love, just like the dandelion, was always there.

6．
　　A dance show which brings back the Tang Dynasty (618 — 907) scene has gone very popular online. It wins much (1)       from netizens.
　　Named Tang Gong Ye Yan (Night Banquet in Tang Dynasty Palace), the show (2)       the process from making preparations to performing by a group of women musicians at a banquet in the Tang Dynasty. It breaks the stereotype of Chinese classic dance (3)       offers gala a funny, enjoyable and real-life sense.
　　Fourteen dancers dressed like ladies of the Tang Dynasty make people feel like (4)       back to the Tang Dynasty 1,300 years ago. And the funny dance moves of actresses as well as the display of national treasures have made the show (5)      .
　　The show presents several valuable treasures of Henan Province through (6)       performance, such as Fu Hao Xiao Zun (wine cups in the shape of a bird).
　　The program is (7)       a highlight of the 2021 Spring Festival Gala of Henan TV. Its gala was (8)       praised by people this year.
　　According to Wenhui Newspaper, the video showing the dance has been watched millions (9)       on Weibo, and the view counts of related topics was over 200 (10)       on Douyin by February 19.

7．阅读短文, 根据语篇要求填空, 使短文通顺、意思完整．每空限填一词．
　　Have you heard of Natsume's Book of Friends! It is (1)       cartoon that came out in 2003.
　　It is about a child named Takashi Natsume (2)       has lost his parents. Takashi has a pair of eyes that make him able (3)       see monsters. He warns other people about the monsters, but they don't believe him and think he's strange. He ends up feeling very lonely.
　　However, this doesn't stop him (4)       being kind. Even though he (5)       hurt by monsters and humans, he is still kind to them and ready to lend them a hand if they are in danger.
　　In the end, the people who hurt him change their minds and develop friendships with him.

8．根据下面的对话情景，在每个空白处填上一个适当的句子，使对话的意思连贯、完整。
A: Hi, Sonia. The weekend is coming. Any plans?
B: Nothing much. (1)      ?
A: I'm going to volunteer at the children's home.
B: Sounds great! (2)      ?
A: Sure. I have visited the children's home many times. I feel good to be with children.
B: What do you usually do there?
A: (3)      .
B: Good for you! The children there must love you very much.
A: It's also great fun for me.
B: (4)      ?
A: Of course you can. The children will be happy to see more people care for them.
B: When and where shall we meet then?
A: How about 8:00 tomorrow morning at the school gate? Then we can take the No.9 bus to go there.
B: (5)      . Can we make it 9:00?
A: OK. Let's meet at 9:00 tomorrow morning. See you then.
B: See you.

9．雏鹰若没有第一次尝试着飞翔，便永远不能搏击长空。我们都有过第一次尝试做某事，无论成败，都是我们最宝贵的经历。请以"The first time I tried "为题，按照下面的要点和要求写一篇英语短文。
要点：
1. 把题目补充完整；
2. 你尝试的是什么；
3. 这件事给你的感想或留下的宝贵经验。
要求：
1. 文中不得出现真实姓名和学校名称；
2. 词数100左右，首句已经给出，但不计入总词数。
The first time I tried __________________
　　Everyone has some special experiences that can't be forgotten. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________