B
Whenever we face any challenge, we stop and ask, "What if?" What if we challenge the rules and start thinking outside the box?
Thinking outside the box is a metaphor（隐喻）often used to describe different or creative thinking. It shows up in simple things like using paper to make artworks, instead of just writing on them.
Once a teacher gave the students a 9-dot puzzle（谜）and asked them to connect the dots with only 4 lines. Naturally, this task requires some lateral thinking（跨界思维）, so the teacher encouraged the students to "think outside the box". In this case, students needed to look beyond the box and create something else.
One thing stands out for us from this exercise. At first, you see a box. To draw those 4 lines, you have to first use up all the ways within the box. Only then can you realize that the problem is the box itself. You understand the box and discover its limitations（限制）. To think outside the box is to fully understand the situation—then challenge it.
Thinking outside the box helps you solve challenging problems. It allows you to look beyond a narrow view to find answers. This way of thinking also pushes you to explore new possibilities. Trying new things, imagining different answers, and daring to make mistakes help people improve. Thinking small keeps us small. When we stay within our comfort zone（舒适区）, taking risks, growing, and challenging all make us feel scared. To become a good leader, or a team member, think outside the box.
Whatever you do, think twice: First in the box, then outside the box. Outside-the-box thinking often breaks the habits and may sound strange at first. But without thinking outside the box, these people, like Thomas Edison, Isaac Newton, wouldn't have changed the world in the way they did. Master the basic rules of your craft, use them properly and if they're not bringing results, allow yourself to start thinking outside the box. You'll be glad you did.
（）5. Which of the following is an example of the "lateral thinking"?
A. Watching TV in the evening.
B. Buying milk at a supermarket.
C. Taking the bus to the office.
D. Using a plastic bottle as a bird bowl.
（）6. What does the sentence "Thinking small keeps us small." mean in paragraph 5?
A. Small thinking helps achieve big success.
B. Avoiding challenges and risks limits personal growth.
C. Big thinking leads to unnecessary risks and problems.
D. Small thinking is the key to staying safe and comfortable.
（）7. What is the first step to truly think outside the box according to paragraph 4?
A. Throwing away all old rules.
B. Learning ideas from others.
C. Giving up all common methods.
D. Fully understanding the situation.
（）8. What's the main purpose of writing this passage?
A. To discuss unusual methods.
B. To doubt creative thinking.
C. To explain ways to avoid risks.
D. To encourage us to think creatively.

三、信息还原（10分）
Peonies are highly-prized flowers native to China. They have been blooming and withering（凋谢）for thousands of years. 1. Therefore, people consider the flowers as the symbol of wealth and good luck.
2. For example, the plum（梅）flower is the symbol of people with forbearance（忍耐）and the lotus flower represents people with high standards. Peonies have a symbolic meaning as well.
3. They also carry the meaning of happiness and beauty for Chinese people. These lovely symbolic meanings make peonies hold a special place in Chinese traditional culture.
4. Herbal Classic of Shen Nong listed peonies as medical herbs（草药）. People even made peony-based herbal drinks to keep healthy. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, peonies were widely grown for beauty, while their roots were still used as common herbal medicine.
Today, peonies are still one of the favourite flowers for the Chinese. Countless parks across the country plant large areas of peonies for visitors to admire. 5. This is the best time to enjoy these beautiful flowers.
A. Peonies can only grow in northern China.
B. They usually open fully in late April every year.
C. Tang poets wrote many poems about peonies.
D. They often stand for gentle and beautiful ladies.
E. Peonies have big, bright and sweet-smelling flowers.
F. People also found many hidden valuable uses of peonies.
G. The Chinese used to compare flowers to different kinds of people.