“Growth requires discomfort. If you stick with what is __1__, you're __2__ any hope of surprising yourself, of finding greatness, of having the best experiences human life has to __3__.”
—Thomas Oppong
Many people agree that the magic starts to __4__ the instant we step outside of our comfort zones.The second you decide to go __5__ what is safe, you will have planted a seed __6__, if watered daily, will bloom into something that you would have __7__ expected to come to fruition.
For me, one of the most important things we should always keep in mind is that, by no means, can __8__ and comfort coexist.
Five years ago, I decided to move overseas and I haven't lived in the United States since. All throughout high school, I wanted to live in a Latin American __9__ and become fluent in Spanish through __10__ cultural immersion (沉浸). Obviously the chances of this happening while living in the US were __11__. So, halfway through my undergraduate, I switched over to the online version of my degree and bought a oneway __12__ to Argentina, __13__ I __14__ the last two years of my degree before flying back home for graduation.
I currently still live here, and I can personally say that __15__ what I wanted years ago and taking the necessary steps to make it a __16__ was one of the most important things I could have done for myself. The __17__ that came along with the initial culture shock, using my second language and learning to live life __18__ from the way we do things in the US has __19__ an extremely enriching (丰富的) __20__.
1.A.realistic B.reasonable
C.sensible D.comfortable
2.A.giving in B.bringing out
C.giving up D.putting off
3.A.face B.offer
C.solve D.value
4.A.happen B.disappear
C.change D.continue
5.A.into B.through
C.beyond D.after
6.A.it B.what
C.that D.who
7.A.ever B.never
C.always D.already
8.A.failure B.difficulty
C.pleasure D.growth
9.A.museum B.forest
C.country D.workshop
10.A.easy B.severe
C.simple D.full
11.A.slim B.big
C.pure D.fair
12.A.trip B.ticket
C.road D.course
13.A.when B.how
C.which D.where
14.A.started B.finished
C.quitted D.wasted
15.A.recognizing B.designing
C.ignoring D.commenting
16.A.reality B.habit
C.desire D.routine
17.A.doubt B.satisfaction
C.responsibility D.discomfort
18.A.freely B.differently
C.absently D.safely
19.A.turned over B.turned up
C.turned out D.turned down
20.A.experience B.project
C.appointment D.lesson
篇章导读:本文是一篇夹叙夹议文。文章通过作者在国外求学的经历,告诉人们“成长需要不适,成长和舒适难以共存”。
1.D 句意:成长需要不适。如果你坚持舒适的生活,那么你正在放弃给自己惊喜的可能,放弃发现伟大的可能,放弃经历人生美好事物的可能。根据上文的“discomfort”可知,这里指的是如果你坚持舒适的生活,那么你将会有怎样的结果。故选D。
2.C 成长需要不适,所以如果你坚持舒适,那么就是在放弃一些可能。故选C。
3.B 这里指人生提供的最好的经历。故选B。
4.A 此处指走出舒适区的那一刻奇迹开始发生。故选A。
5.C 当你超出安全区,你将种下一颗种子。go beyond “超出,胜过”。故选C。
6.C 此处seed是先行词,指物,引导词在后面的定语从句中作主语。故选C。
7.B 根据上下文可知,此处表示你将会有意想不到的收获。故选B。
8.D 根据第一段第一句“Growth requires discomfort.”可知,成长(growth)和舒适不能共存。故选D。
9.C 结合语境可知,此处指在一个国家练习语言。故选C。
10.D 句意:通过完全的(full)文化沉浸使自己的西班牙语说得更流利。故选D。
11.A 根据上下文可知,显然在美国生活拥有这种学习语言的环境的机会是微小的。故选A。
12.B 作者转成线上攻读学位,然后去阿根廷。此处表示买票去阿根廷。故选B。
13.D 此处是where引导的定语从句,Argentina是先行词,引导词在后面的定语从句中作地点状语。故选D。
14.B 此处指用两年完成学位。故选B。
15.A 此处指多年以前就意识到自己想要什么。故选A。
16.A 采取行动去实现梦想。故选A。
17.D doubt “怀疑”;satisfaction “满足”;responsibility “责任”;discomfort “不舒适”。根据空后可知,文化冲击、第二语言的使用和学习与以往不同的生活方式都是不适的表现。故选D。
18.B freely “自由地,免费地”;differently “不同地”;absently “心不在焉地”;safely “安全地”。differently from “不同于……”符合语境。故选B。
19.C turn over “翻转”;turn up “出现,音量调大”;turn out “结果是”;turn down “拒绝,音量调小”。此处turn out 相当于连系动词,符合语境。故选C。
20.A experience “经验,经历”;project “工程,项目”;appointment “任命,约定”;lesson “功课”。根据上文可知,此处指以前的不适现在都变成了“经历”。故选A。
I first went to hear a live rock concert when I was eight years old. My brother and his friends were all ___36____ of a heavy metal group called Black Wednesday. When they ___37____ that Black Wednesday were going to perform at our local theatre, they all bought ____38___ for performance. However, at the last minute, one of the friends couldn’t go, so my brother __39_____ me the ticket. I was really ___40____!
I remember the buzz (嘈杂声) of excitement inside the theatre as we all found our __41____ . After a few minutes, the lights went down and everybody became ___42____. I could barely make out the stage in the ___43____. We waited. Then there was a roar from the crowd, like an explosion, as the first members of the band ___44____ the stage. My brother leaned over and shouted something in my ear, but I couldn’t ____45___ what he was saying. The first song was already starting and the music was as ____46___ a jet engine. I could ___47____ the drum beats and bass notes in my stomach.
I can’t recall any of the songs that the band played. I just __48_ that I really enjoyed the show and didn’t want it to _ 49_. But in the end, after three encores (加演), the show finished. We left the 50_ and walked unsteadily out onto the pavement. I felt a little dizzy, as if I had just 51_from a long sleep. My ears were still 52_with the beat of the last song.
After the 53 , I became a Black Wednesday fan too for a few years before getting into other kinds of music. Once in a while, 54_, I listen to one of their songs and 55_I’m back at that first show.
40. A. relaxed B. embarrassed C. excited D. encouraged
41. A. seats B. entrance C. spots D. space
42. A. comfortable B. quite C. serious D. nervous
43. A. silence B. noise C. darkness D. smoke
44. A. fell upon B. got through C. broke into D. stepped onto
45. A. forget B. hear C. repeat D. bear
46. A. loud B. heard C. sweet D. fast
47. A. feel B. touch C. enjoy D. digest
48. A. realize B. understand C. believe D. remember
49. A. continue B. delay C. finish D. change
50. A. party B. theatre C. opera D. stage
51. A. escaped B. traveled C. benefited D. woken
52. A. aching B. burning C. ringing D. rolling
53. A. competition B. performance C. interview D. celebration
54. A. though B. otherwise C. instead D. besides
55. A. decide B. regret C. conclude D. imagine