【题目】The moment we heard the news of the earthquake，we began to ______ the work to rescue those who were trapped in the building.

A. set off B. set down

C. set aside D. set about

【题目】His father came out of prison ______ Dickens have a chance to go to school.

A. Not before; had B. Only before; would have

C. It was until; had D. Not until; did

【题目】Comfort is comforting, but it might narrow our experience at work — and beyond.

In our modern world, discomfort is considered a terrible thing. If not terrible, at least a thing of the past. Dishwashers, washing machines, computers, remote controls—yes, they add convenience, but also a level of comfort our forefathers did not enjoy.

As pain of any kind discourages happiness, we tend to reason, anything that compromises our ability to feel good must be bad. And that’s also particularly true for our careers. Success makes us feel great, not terrible. Such a view, however, is a matter of personal opinion. And it may blind us to hidden opportunities.

Artists throughout history have tried to experience suffering, instinctively if not consciously, to produce works that explore the darker hidden sides of the human condition. This was done, in part, because pain is a reality of life for everybody in some form at some time. Pain is something everybody can relate to. And pain makes a person very present. For such artists, to relieve or to deny pain would be to block the creative thinking, which drives them to explore and express. In fact, Germans have a term for this melancholia, “Weltschmerz”, which means “suffering from the world.” Writers, from Lord Byron to Kurt Vonnegut, have used the term to describe the psychological pain encountered along life’s roller-coaster journey. It was not to be avoided; it was to be understood, investigated and employed.

So I propose that discomfort is good for us. Or, put another way, it tells us that something needs to be addressed. It stretches us by forcing us to view our circumstances through a wholly different lens. Because we’re drawn to safety and security, we do our best to create pleasant comfort zones for ourselves and our loved ones through the cars we drive, the homes we live in, and the places we work. But by resisting discomfort, we deny ourselves an important opportunity: the chance to shake ourselves out of our predictable perspectives and allow ourselves to make knowledgeable observations we could not possibly have made before. Discomfort gives us fresh eyes.

【1】Which of the following is NOT a reason why artists throughout history have been exploring sufferings?

A. Pain is a mirror that can reflect the life of everybody.

B. Pain is something that no one can escape from.

C. Pain can help them to avoid the creative thinking.

D. Pain can strengthen the feeling of existence of a person.

【2】The term “Weltschmerz” couldn’t be used to describe something like __________.

A. social inequality B. mass killings

C. racial discrimination D. great achievements

【3】The author believes that by challenging discomfort, one may _________.

A. lose an important chance to make a big fortune

B. feel upset and fail to think calmly

C. judge and think about the world in a new particular way

D. control the situation properly when things go unsteady

【4】By writing this passage, the author tries to __________.

A. criticize a world full of comfort

B. explain why discomfort is good for us

C. persuade people to lead a life full of discomfort

D. blame those who enjoy an easy life

【题目】I hope you should achieve a ______ between your school work and your hobbies.

A. difference B. balance

C. connection D. weight

【题目】You have no idea how she finished the relay race ______ her foot wounded so much.

A. for B. when

C. with D. while

【题目】Not until he left his home __________ to know how important the family was for him.

A. did he begin B. had he begun

C. he began D. he has begun

【题目】—Why is Jimmy so popular with his classmates?

—Because he is humorous and always ______ jokes.

A. says B. speaks

C. states D. Tells

【题目】—I'm going to travel to America. Would you consider telling me about your experiences there?

— __________. Let's discuss it over dinner.

A. That's all right B. By all means

C. Go ahead D. it just depends

【题目】阅读下列各小题，根据汉语提示，用句末括号内的英语单词完成句子，并将答案写在答题卡上的相应题号后。

【1】Researchers are now using 3D printing to create models of the human heart

heart specialists.（help）

研究人员现在开始使用三维打印技术制作人类心脏模型来帮助心脏病专家。

【2】Brain processes decrease as we age. By the time we reach our 50s and 60s we in remembering simple things such as the names of new friends or where we put our car keys.

（have）

随着年龄增加大脑活动减少。当我们到了五六十岁时，我们将难以记住一些简单的事情，如新朋友的名字，或车钥匙放哪了。

【3】I think the faster we find a vaccine that works in curing Ebola, ______________________ that vaccine to vaccinate the people in West Africa. （use）

我认为我们越快找到对埃博拉病毒有效的疫苗，我们就能越快使用这种疫苗为西非地区的人们接种。

【4】We live in a world ______________________ quality education, because we have everything necessary already. （access）

我们生活的这个世界，每个孩子都有权力接受优质教育，因为我们已经具备所有必要条件。

【5】 have lessons, his parents would return quietly after a while to see whether he behaved well or not. (arrange)

无论安排他在哪上课，他的父母都会过一会儿之后再回来看看他的表现好不好。

【6】Jonathan Mugan tells people in his new book it is time that people ________________a future where computers have more control over our lives. (prepare)

乔纳森·缪庚在他的新书里告诉人们现在是时候准备迎接电脑更多控制我们生活的这样一个未来了。

【7】I've always thought there is no age limit to do ______________________. Our body could age, but our spirit can be always young! (want)

我一直以为做我想做的没有年龄所限。我们的身体会老，但精神永远年轻！

【8】A deep breath and a balanced mind will contribute to the anxiety and nervousness. (rid)

深呼吸以及保持一种平常心有助于你摆脱焦虑和紧张。

【9】It was _________________________ made him so upset that he shut himself in the room for a whole afternoon. (happen)

他身上发生的事令他如此难过，以致他整个下午都将自己关在房间里。

【10】______________________ get back to being 100%, my body kept telling me that, at 32, I will not be able to compete at the top level ever again. (as)

尽管我试图很努力去恢复100%的状态，但我的身体却一直告诉我，32岁的我再也不能以最高水平去比赛了。

【题目】Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seat belts. The plane __________.

A. takes off B. is taking off

C. has taken off D. took off