One of the most important things that has happened to me occurred long before I was aware of it. As the story goes, I was three days old and Mom was singing “The Name Game” song to me: “Christine Bo-Bean-Banana-Fanna-Fo-Feen.” By day four, I was given a new name—Christine-Bo-Bean, or just Bo-Bee to my mother. Now, I am Bo to her and close friends.
Why is this nickname（昵称）so important to me? I once read a book with a passage about True Names which explains that when a person’s true name is spoken, she has a distinct aura（光环）around her. Although I have been Bo to my mother all my life, I recently discovered that my true name is not on my birth certificate; it’s the name that is as unique and memorable as I am.
People usually know me as Christine. They still see me as a quiet, bookish child. They don’t know who I am now. My most recent hopes, fears, goals, dreams and opinions escape their notice; it is easier to think of me as I was. In their minds, they have a box labeled “Christine” in which I fit neatly, and as Christine, I was content with the perfect packaging.
Those who call me Bo or Bo-Bee really know me. They remember who I was and realize I have changed. Bo is a tight squeeze in the old “Christine” boxes. The Bo I am is ever-changing, ever-growing and ever-learning.
When I was Christine, I was quiet, and easily scared. I feared groups, meeting new people and sharing my opinions. I was more comfortable with a book than my best friend. As Christine, I thought everyone was better than I was.
As Bo, I still love my books, but I want to discuss them. As Bo, my dream is to live where I can experience new things and meet new people. I dream about being alone on a stage lit by a single spotlight; I have that confidence now. I am equal to those I once saw as better than me.
A name shouldn’t make such a difference, but sometimes, when a person finds his or her True Name, they develop a new shine visible to friends, family and especially themselves.
I can’t always be Bo. Sometimes exposing myself is still scary and I feel too nervous; I want to hide in those old boxes. Mostly, however, I am ready for the world. So, just call me Bo.
1. When was the author given a nickname?| A．When she was three years old. |
| B．On the fourth day after she was born. |
| C．Seven days after she was born. |
| D．When she received the old “Christine” box. |
| A．They think the author is active and crazy. |
| B．They care about the author’s most recent feelings. |
| C．They don’t realize the author has changed. |
| D．They don’t know the author has changed her name. |
| A．She showed no interest in reading. |
| B．She took pleasure in finding new things. |
| C．She loved reading and sharing books with friends. |
| D．She lacked confidence and preferred to be alone. |
| A．Bo—the True Name |
| B．A Unique Name |
| C．Remember the Past |
| D．The Meaning of Nickname |
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At that time I didn’t realize my wife was looking on. Without showing her surprise, she rushed in, seized the phone, tore off the wires, and shouted at the phone, “Yeah! Who do you think you are? Bad telephone! Bad telephone!” And she swept it into the wastebasket.
I stood watching her, speechless. What on earth?
She stepped to the doorway and shouted at the rest of the house, “Now hear this! All objects in this room — if you do anything to upset my husband, out you go!”
Then she turned to me, kissed me, and said calmly, “Honey, you just have to learn how to take control. ” With that, she left the room.
After watching a crazy woman rushing in and out, shouting at everything in sight, I noticed that something in my mood had changed. I was laughing. How could I have trouble with that phone? Her antics helped me realize I had been driven crazy by small things. Twenty minutes later my agent did call. I was able to listen to him and talk to him calmly.
1. Why did the author shout at the telephone?
| A．He was mad at the telephone. | B．He was angry with his agent. |
| C．He was anxious about his wife. | D．He was impatient with the secretary. |
| A．She threw the phone away. | B．She shouted at him. |
| C．She called the agent. | D．She said nothing. |
| A．His changeable feelings. | B．His wife’s suggestion. |
| C．His own behavior. | D．His wife’s sweet kiss. |
| A．Smart words. | B．Anxious feelings. |
| C．Surprising looks. | D．Unusual actions. |
【推荐2】The pounding (重击声) was driving Edward crazy. A new neighbor had just moved into the apartment below him. The newcomer was deaf, or seemed to be, because he played his stereo (立体声音响) loud enough for the whole building to hear.
On the first day he heard the stereo rocking over, Edward marched downstairs and politely told the newcomer that his stereo was too loud. He asked the new tenant to turn the volume down and keep it down as long as he lived in the building. The tenant appeared surprised and embarrassed, and said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was that loud.”
So, Edward returned upstairs, feeling good, because he had taken a stand and politely let the newcomer know that loud music was not going to be tolerated. The next day all was quiet, and Edward continued to be pleased with himself. The following day, Edward thought it must be Fourth of July, because a marching band was playing on his street. In fact, it was the new neighbor who was playing his music loud again.
Edward was not one to repeat himself, feeling that each time you repeated yourself, you diminished the value of your words. So, he did what he always did with rude neighbors — grin (露齿而笑) and bear it. Eventually, they would move away. What else are you going to do?
In Los Angeles a year ago, a woman had complained to her upstairs neighbor that he was playing his drums too loud and too often. The drummer repeatedly ignored her. One day the woman walked upstairs and shot the drummer in the head and his girlfriend in the chest. The woman was sentenced to prison for 20 years.
The dead drummer won’t bother anyone with his drums, but the woman might be wishing now that she had learned to grin and bear it. If she were still living in her apartment, she could always move. When you’re in prison, you don’t have that option.
1. The man living below where Edward lived was .| A．a deaf man | B．the owner of the house |
| C．a tenant | D．an old neighbor |
| A．Grinning and bearing it. |
| B．Persuading them to stop repeatedly. |
| C．Shouting them to dead. |
| D．Moving away from the rude neighbors. |
| A．being in prison means the loss of freedom |
| B．grinning and bearing it is the best policy |
| C．Edward should follow the example of the woman |
| D．the woman was right to kill her neighbor |
| A．he ignored her advice repeatedly |
| B．she could not stand his playing the music too loud |
| C．she could not put up with him any longer |
| D．he played the drums too often |
【推荐3】I come from a broken family. After we grew up, my sister and I could go years without speaking. And that is where this story begins.
My sister Jeanne and I were born only 14 months apart, but by the time we were teenagers we had lost touch. By age 19, I had moved away from our home in Wisconsin to live on my father’ s horse farm in Virginia. Jeanne got married at 18, moved to Chicago. We lived separate lives, and our connection somehow ended.
Fast-forward about five years. I was 24 and on a trip with my fiancé to New York City, a place I had never been. During a day of sightseeing, we were crossing a very busy street loaded with people. Everyone was in a hurry. I had laughed at something my fiancé said, and I suddenly heard my name yelled from somewhere behind me, “Cheryl!” I froze in my steps in the middle of the road. Tears welled up in my eyes. I knew without a doubt that it was my sister Jeanne. I yelled back before even turning to look, “Jeanne?”
It was her. I began pushing people out of my way to get to her. The crowd started to part—even by New York standards, we must have seemed crazy. And there we were, standing in the middle of a Manhattan street, facing each other and smiling. I couldn’t believe it.
I later asked how she’ d known it was me—she never saw me! She said it was my laugh. I wouldn’t say my laugh is all that unusual, but I guess to a family member it’ s infectious. It hits your heart and goes deep in your mind.
Since that time, my sister and I have never been separated. We both moved back to Wisconsin. We talk daily. Many years have passed, and we are now in our 50s. I truly believe God played a huge part in bringing us together. But our meeting by chance wasn’t just a sign. I see it as more of a lesson, a reminder not to lose touch with loved ones. It is too easy to remain lost. After our sister-to-sister miracle, I don’ t plan to let that happen again.
1. What can we learn about Cheryl in the first two paragraphs?| A．She got on well with her sister. |
| B．She came from a normal family. |
| C．She moved to Chicago with Jeanne. |
| D．She was brought up in Wisconsin. |
| A．Because the street was quiet enough. |
| B．Because it had some particular features. |
| C．Because it stayed in her sister’s memory. |
| D．Because they were apart for only 14 months. |
| A．Meeting | B．Separation |
| C．The trip | D．The miracle |
| A．Life-long Journey | B．Long-lost Sisters |
| C．New-found Families | D．Long-standing Friendship |
【推荐1】Living with Joy
Living with joy can sometimes be a challenge. When things appear to be going against our will, we tend to experience pain, suffering, or a bad day.
We create the reality where we experience joy, anger, love, and fear. Because we have the free will to choose our reality, we can make that conscious choice happier.
So, start changing your negatives into positives, gain clarity(清晰), and open your heart by looking inside yourself. When we start changing ourselves from inside out, the universe will respond to us.
| A．Thus these situations will disappear. |
| B．However, it’s the opposite that is true. |
| C．Besides, we’re in control of our feelings. |
| D．In order to be happy, we need “be happy” inside. |
| E．These further enable us to show an outer reality based on our true selves. |
| F．This happiness though will never come if you are looking outside of yourself first. |
| G．One thing that we all need to acquire is the ability to see all situations, people and events from a positive perspective. |
【推荐2】Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Japanese composer who died on March 28, 2023, was a talented musician. For many, his combination of noisy notes and joyous ones made him timeless and avant-garde (前卫的). But for me, Sakamoto was first and foremost a creator of complex emotions.
Before I learned to love Sakamoto, my mother loved him. After her days studying textiles (纺织) at a women’s college in our hometown of Nagoya, Japan, she would come home and play the Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence theme over and over. When she sat at her piano bench, she was trying to mold herself into the most attracting woman that she could be. Still, her childhood desire for a bigger life never died. Years later, when she played it again on that same piano, now transported to our Chicago home, her hands would crash down on Sakamoto’s drumming and upset bridge. It seemed that she buried herself in her younger dream and at the same time got lost in the reality of living away from her home and family. Both the joy of a fulfilled dream and the sorrow of its harsh realities mixed in Sakamoto’s score, pervading (弥漫) our living room.
Following in my mother’s footsteps, I too learned to play Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. I played it in an open music room at college, where I was quite depressed under the gaze of strangers as well as excited about becoming my own adult. I played Sakamoto again in my then-boyfriend’s grandparents’ sitting room, the piece now reflecting my struggle to see how my Japanese and American self could fit into this white family, even though I was in love.
Sakamoto’s genius for telling the contradictions (矛盾) of existence arises again and again. I’m still playing Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, now at the electric piano in my living room, as I puzzle through becoming a new mother, frightened and thrilled at the same time. Maybe someday my daughter will play Sakamoto’s music, and it will help her understand her life too.
1. The author loves Sakamoto for_________.| A．his Japanese identity |
| B．his talent as a composer |
| C．his way to combine notes |
| D．his creation of mixed emotions |
| A．Contented with her current life. |
| B．Joyful and sorry at the same time |
| C．Annoyed with the difficult bridge |
| D．Lonely and upset away from home. |
| A．The life and accomplishments of Ryuichi Sakamoto. |
| B．The challenges of being a Japanese-American woman. |
| C．Contradicting emotions aroused by Sakamoto’s music. |
| D．A mother and daughter’s shared love for playing the piano. |
【推荐3】Sharing is regarded as both a social morality and a personal virtue. It is a wonderful thing that increases pleasure and reduces sorrow. Then why do we tend to be happier when sharing with others?
We have shared with others since the beginning of civilization and interaction. It is one of the primary ways we learn to communicate.
When you share your belongings with others, you are expressing trust in their ability to keep your possession safe and out of harm’s way. If your trust pays off in them, you experience a sense of happiness. We tend to be more emotionally satisfied and happy when we are able to build trust in our relationships. Trust and happiness are closely related experience.
Sharing Helps Build You a Social NetworkHumans are social animals.
| A．Trust Brings You Happiness. |
| B．Sharing Helps Build Trust. |
| C．Some cultures more than others, encourage sharing. |
| D．Let’s discuss how sharing and happiness are related. |
| E．When a person shares or feels grateful, their brains release Oxytocin. |
| F．Our happiness depends to a large extent on the presence of social support. |
| G．The receiver is thankful for the gift and the giver feels gratitude for being able to have that exchange. |
【推荐1】When Americans Kay and Larry Day found a store selling kites nearly 20 years ago, they decided to buy a few kites for their children. For fun, Larry bought one for himself. “He went out and flew it and decided he needed to go back and get a better one.” Kay remembered. Since then, she and her husband have loved kite - flying. They own many kites and plan trips around flying them. They also organize a kite - flying event each winter in their hometown in lowa. “I’m at peace when I’m flying.” said Larry.
Kite - flying has a long history as an activity for adults and children. The custom of flying a piece of cloth high in the sky began more than 2, 000 years ago in China. Since then, kites have been used to do scientific experiments, power boats, take pictures from the air and much more.
“There is a kind of a kite for everybody out there.” said Nic O’Neill, president of the American Kitefliers Association. “Kite - flying can be done alone or with friends and family. And kite - flying requires skill, but also a little artistry. Experience makes a difference, as does the weather.” she added.
“Sometimes the best flying conditions happen in winter - on a frozen lake.” said Kay Day, who with her husband organizes the Color the Wind Kite Festival. It takes place every February on Clear Lake in lowa. This year, more than 100 children attended a kite - making class. Kiters are a really good group of people. It’s a family.
“The kiting community makes everyone feel welcome. said Oregon. “Her two children started flying kites about three years ago after attending a kite festival. And the kite fliers we know want to teach the kids everything they can,” she added. “They like that there’s a new generation coming up.” Her sons, Dylan, and Cardin, fly with kiters of all ages. “I do enjoy seeing different people.” Dylan said.
The 13 - year - old also likes the happy feelings that he experiences when his kite moves through the sky.“ It’s really calming.” he said.
1. Why does Larry like flying kites?| A．It can bring much fun. | B．It is his favorite hobby. |
| C．It will build up the body. | D．It helps him feel good in mind. |
| A．individuals are not recommended to fly kites |
| B．China is the home of flying kites |
| C．flying kites is suitable for all people |
| D．weather conditions are not important in kite - flying |
| A．They are a group of grown - ups. |
| B．They get on well with each other. |
| C．They can acquire everything. |
| D．They tend to make new friends. |
| A．Kite- Flying： a Lift to People of All Ages |
| B．Kite - Flying： a Traditional Custom of China |
| C．Kite - Flying： a Close Bond to Strangers |
| D．Kite - Flying： a Hobby of Family Members |
【推荐2】Farmers have to work really hard in the fields. But what will happen if they are sick and not able to work before they can get a harvest (收成) in? Greg Bishop is a farmer who is fighting a serious disease and needs all the help he can get to harvest his crops (庄稼).
But thankfully, other local farmers who live in the loving west Texas community have been lending him a helping hand with his cotton crops while he is in trouble. His crops cover 1,200 acres in Floyd County, but because of his poor health, Bishop can't do hard work in the fields.
Aaron Hendricks, general manager of Floydada Co-Op Gins, has known Bishop for the last 25 years. He has seen 35 to 40 people come in to his office to help Bishop during this difficult time. Hendricks said that the farmers willingly came to help him by preparing machines and watching Bishop's farm to keep track of when the cotton would be ready to be harvested. When harvest time came, his farmer neighbors brought machines worth $ 12 million to Bishop's farm, and they started harvesting his cotton fields by 3 p.m. on the very same day.
People even came from long distances to help Bishop out, who was moved by these acts of kindness from the community. He thanked everyone who helped him out, but nobody felt the need for any thanks as they were already thankful for all Bishop had done for the community and just wanted to help him out.
They haven't stopped there either and have even started a fundraiser (募捐活动) to help Bishop stay in Dallas for the medical treatment he needs. He also needs to travel to Baylor for 100 days for a bone marrow transplant (骨髓移植) and many people in the community say they are ready to see if their bone marrow is a good match.
1. What difficulty did Bishop have with his farm?| A．He saw his cotton crops fail. | B．He had too many crops to get in. |
| C．He couldn't afford farm workers. | D．He was too weak to do heavy work. |
| A．They got in his crops. | B．They gave him some crops. |
| C．They took turns to look after him. | D．They lent him their farming machines. |
| A．Cool-headed. | B．Warm-hearted. |
| C．Open-minded. | D．Strong-willed. |
| A．Hard Work Pays | B．Never Ever Give Up |
| C．A Harvest of Friends | D．A Man of His Word |
I called her Goldie. If I had known what was going to happen，I would have given her a more creative name. She was so unsettled during those first few days. She hardly ate anything and had such an air of sadness about her. There was nothing I could do to make her happy, it seemed. Heaven knows what had happened to her at her previous owner's. But eventually at the end of the first week she calmed down. Always by my side, whether we were out on one of our long walks or sitting by the fire.
That's why it was such a shock when she pulled away from me one day when we were out for a walk. We were a long way from home, when she started barking and getting very restless. Eventually I couldn't hold her any longer and she raced off down the road towards a farmhouse in the distance as fast as she could.
By the time I reached the farm I was very tired and upset with Goldie. But when I saw her licking (舔) the four puppies (幼犬) I started to feel sympathy towards them. "We didn't know what had happened to her," said the woman at the door. "I took her for a walk one day, soon after the puppies were born, and she just disappeared." "She must have tried to come back to them and got lost," added a boy from behind her. '
I must admit I do miss Goldie, but I've got Nugget now, and she looks just like her mother. And I've learnt a good lesson: not to judge people.
1. In her first few days at the author's house, Goldie .
| A．felt worried | B．was angry |
| C．ate a little | D．sat by the fire |
| A．saw her puppies |
| B．heard familiar barking |
| C．wanted to leave the author |
| D．found her way to her old home |
| A．time | B．effect |
| C．importance | D．Complexity |
【推荐1】Some dogs can be really mean. They fight with other dogs and bark (吠) at you on the street when you walk by. Now scientists say that some dogs are badly behaved because they were taken away from their mothers too early. Scientists say this can turn them into aggressive (有攻击性的) dogs.
Researchers at the University of Milan in Italy studied 140 dogs aged between 18 months and seven years, according to the Daily Mail newspaper. Half of these dogs had been taken away from their mothers and given new homes when they were between 30 and 40 days old. The other half were taken away when they were 60 days old.
Researchers asked the owners where their pets were from and what breed (品种) they were. Then they asked owners to write down whenever their dogs behaved badly. Examples of bad behavior included biting furniture and clothes, barking a lot, and being aggressive toward people. Some dogs got angry if other dogs took away their food and toys. Some got terrified when they were walking outdoors or if they heard a sudden noise.
The scientists found that bad behavior was more common in dogs that had been taken away from their mothers between 30 and 40 days old. Behavior was also worse in dogs that had been taken away early and put in pet shops than those that had been removed later.
So if you want to keep a pet dog, think twice before getting one younger than two months old. Your puppy could grow up to be a real troublemaker.
1. What does the underlined word “mean” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Curious. | B．Sharp. | C．Unkind. | D．Intelligent. |
| A．Barking less. | B．Behaving poorly. |
| C．Being brave. | D．Being friendly. |
| A．140 dogs aged 1 8 days to 7 months are studied. |
| B．Breeds have a close connection with bad behavior . |
| C．The earlier dogs are removed, the worse they behave. |
| D．All the dogs aren't taken away from their mothers after birth. |
| A．Stopping their bad behaviors. |
| B．Thinking little for a troublemaker. |
| C．Keeping a dog older than two months. |
| D．Keeping a dog younger than two months. |
【推荐2】Years ago, my wife and I volunteered at a homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles, US, preparing meals for thousands of people. I got to talk with one of them in line, Albert. He said he liked my socks. “Want to see mine?” he asked, lifting his leg. He was barefoot (赤脚的). He said he had been meaning to buy a pair but he hadn’t got around to it. I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach.
The next day, after work I stopped at Ross and filled up my car with socks. That next morning, I drove over to Santa Monica’s Palisades Park, which is a common place for homeless people. I knew that when they woke up they would find a very meaningful present.
That was nine years ago. Every week I’ll hand out as many socks as I can. If I’m on vacation or on a business trip for more than a week, I bring a bag of socks with me and hand them out to the homeless on the streets in other states and countries.
It’s extremely satisfying to do “under the radar” things to help make some people’s lives a little bit easier. Part of me hopes to see Albert out there one of these days, but even if I don’t, I’d like to think one of the pairs will find him.
1. What caused the author to hand out socks to the homeless?| A．A homeless shelter’s request. |
| B．His wife’s volunteer work. |
| C．His talk with Albert. |
| D．A festival’s arrival. |
| A．He wondered about the reason behind it. |
| B．He expected to get more socks. |
| C．He refused to accept it. |
| D．He was afraid of it. |
| A．Spreading presents on trips |
| B．Looking for Albert all over the world |
| C．Giving the homeless a lifetime surprise |
| D．Helping the homeless in an unexpected way |
【推荐3】Although we can’t know for certain how the earliest human beings kept track of the time, scientists believe they probably relied on the natural world around them. For example, historically, humans have relied upon the movement of the sun across the sky to track time. The ancient Egyptians built tall obelisks (方尖碑) that would cast shadows to help divide the day into sections.
These obelisks worked in much the same way as sundials (日晷), which were a popular means of timekeeping long ago. Of course, sundials didn’t help much at night or on cloudy days. To help keep time when it wasn’t sunny, ancient people also learned to track the movement of the planets and constellations (星座) after dark.
Other devices were developed over time, including hour glasses and water clocks. These devices relied upon the time it would take a particular substance (物质), such as sand or water, to move from one part of a container to another. Rather than clocks, though, these devices were more like timers.
How did people long ago set up a meeting at a certain time in the future? Some historians believe many people relied on a technique as simple as pointing to an area of the sky. When the sun reached that point, that’s when you would meet the next day.
Of course, humans, being the clever creatures we are, relied on a variety of natural solutions to the problem of timekeeping. For example, many people simply trained their bodies to wake up at the first light of dawn. Others may have relied upon animals, such as roosters, as alarm clocks.
If people had to be up before dawn, they might have depended on the full bladder (膀胱) method. By drinking a lot of water before going to bed, they would be assured of waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom!
1. What do the examples suggest in Paragraph 1?| A．It was hard for people to track time. |
| B．The sun was important to people’s life. |
| C．People tracked time by the natural world. |
| D．The sun had something to do with time. |
| A．The animal calls. |
| B．The shadows of obelisk |
| C．The position of the sun. |
| D．The planets and constellations. |
| A．To get up on time. | B．To wake up at dawn. |
| C．To prevent thirst. | D．To go to the bathroom. |
| A．When did Clock Appear? |
| B．Why is the Sun Important? |
| C．Where does Clock Come From? |
| D．How did People Keep Time before Clock? |
