I've loved my mother's desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat doing letters. Seeing what Mother was doing, I thought that the act of writing must be the most wonderful thing in the world.
My mother was a kind person, who always showed her love on me in action. However, as a little girl, I only wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter. But such talks never happened. I was sad about it and often rude to her, eager to start a new life somewhere else.
When I had my own family, I came to understand mother's love. So I wrote to mother and asked if she'd forgiven my rudeness. Then, I posted the letter and waited for her answer, but it never came. I felt disappointed and slowly didn't care too much about it.
Years later, during mother's final illness, she left some things for my sister and brother. "But the desk," she said in a weak voice, "is specially for Elizabeth." When I cleaned the desk---her present for me, I found a one — page letter inside, folded many times. It was the letter that I wrote years ago.
Then, tears came down, “Oh, dear mom, you've chosen the silent act to show you did forgive me and always be proud of my writing. Thank you for your silent love. I love you forever!"
1. According to the author, the most wonderful thing in the world must be the act of_____________.| A．reading | B．cooking | C．writing | D．dancing |
| A．Arm-in-arm walks with her mother. | B．Face-to-face talks with her mother. |
| C．Hand-in-hand walks with her mother. | D．Heart-to-heart talks with her mother. |
| A．Elizabeth. | B．Elizabeth's son. |
| C．Elizabeth's sister. | D．Elizabeth's brother. |
| A．In words. | B．In action. | C．By music. | D．By painting. |
| A．Silent Love. | B．Brave Love. | C．Selfish Love. | D．Extreme Love. |
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【推荐1】My morning started out normally. Having hurried to complete chores, I raced out of the door for my mid-morning appointment.
By the time I finished my appointment, I was starving. I stopped at Moe’s Southwest Grill to order a pancake to take home and eat while working.
Since it was a little before noon, there was a line. A woman, who I soon learned was Marcella, was paying at the checkout counter. She asked the woman behind her in line if she would like a drink and then asked me. We both said no, and must have looked confused, because she said, “I got you.” She continued to pay for both of our meals even though we were strangers.
I asked Marcella why she did this, and she shared that someone once did something similar for her. The person asked that she pay it forward someday and she was making good on her promise.
Before I left, she gave me a warm hug and asked only that I do an act of kindness for a stranger when I could. I arrived home, but instead of working through lunch, I sat and reflected on her kindness.
It reminded me of two things: Firstly, focus on positive interactions instead of the negative ones. Secondly, if you’re able to perform a simple act of kindness, do it. Marcella didn’t need to pay for my lunch. But she did, and it brightened my day. She was kind — with no expectations of receiving anything in return.
As I have promised her, I plan on paying her kindness forward. Maybe, it make a small difference in someone’s life, and the ripple (涟漪)effect will continue, because that’s what being human is all about ——being kind ——even to a stranger.
1. Why did the author go to Moe’s Southwest Grill?| A．To find a job. |
| B．To buy a pancake, |
| C．To get a free meal. |
| D．To have an appointment. |
| A．Excited. | B．Moved. |
| C．Puzzled. | D．Guilty. |
| A．To help those in poverty. |
| B．To reflect on her kindness. |
| C．To focus on positive things in life. |
| D．To hand kindness on to someone else. |
| A．Live your life to the fullest. |
| B．Keep your promise to strangers. |
| C．Be grateful to whoever helps you. |
| D．Do something good even for strangers. |
【推荐2】Father's Day is celebrated today in 75 countries around the world. In my personal world, it's a day I like to think of my father's father.
I learned a lot in my later life from my dad. But I learned something else, as a kid not even yet in school, from my grandfather. I learned to be curious. Little things fathers and grandfathers do can change the life of a child forever. In my case, this change came from necessity: My mom needed someone to look after little Allen, barely 4 years old, during the school day. My grandmother volunteered, and my grandfather came up with a way I could be watched while he worked in his clockmaker's shop.
He seated me on a chair every day while I was there, right in front of his big workbench. He told me stories. He had a great sense of humor and a funny way of making a "buh-buh-buh" sound when he sensed my attention was weakening, and he encouraged me to ask questions about anything he was doing.
Naturally, I was usually asking questions about clocks--what made the hands move, what the pendulum(钟摆) did, why you had to stop winding just before the weight hit the stop. Sometimes I just asked about which shiny parts went where.
Most of all, he showed me how clocks worked. He treated me as if I were a sort of small grown-up. He never talked down to me, never told me I was "too young to understand".
And so my grandfather granted me two things: A love of clocks, and an everlasting curiosity.
As a journalist, I turned that fascination into explanations of why computers and software do what they do——and, perhaps even more importantly, why they fail at that task. I haven't been afraid of opening up the innards and looking for what is wrong with the computer.
1. The author loves his grandfather because .| A．he learned a lot from him |
| B．he told some stories to make him joyful |
| C．he was brought up by his grandfather |
| D．his father seldom paid attention to him |
| A．was tired of the noises in the shop |
| B．was attracted by his grandfather |
| C．was forced to sit still on the chair |
| D．was always asking strange questions |
| A．Patient and responsible. | B．Kind and experienced. |
| C．Active and dependable. | D．Gentle and enthusiastic. |
| A．was interested in finding out about something |
| B．became more interested in computers than clocks |
| C．doesn’t live with his father any longer |
| D．once broke a lot of clocks |
【推荐3】In 1974, after filling out fifty applications, going through four interviews, and winning one offer, I took what I could get—a teaching job at a distant wild area: western New Jersey.
I worked hard, taking time off only to eat and sleep. I had a problem long before I knew it. I was struggling to work as an idealistic teacher. But in my class, the students wanted to throw spitballs and whisper dirty words in the back of the room.
In college I had been taught that a successful educator should ignore bad behavior. So I did. I was confident that, as the textbook had said, the bad behavior would disappear as I gave my students positive attention. It sounds reasonable, but the text obviously ignored the fact that humans, particularly teenagers, rarely seem reasonable. By the time my boss, my taskmaster, known to be the strictest, most demanding, most quick to fire inexperienced teachers, came into the classroom to observe me, but the students exhibited very little good behavior to praise.
My boss sat in the back of the room. The boys were making animal noises, hitting each other while the girls filed their nails or read magazines. I just pretended what wasn’t happening, went on lecturing and tried to ask inspiring questions. After twenty minutes he left, silently. Visions of unemployment marched before my eyes.
I wondered if he would let me finish out the day. I walked to his office, took a deep breath, and opened the door. He was sitting in his chair, and he looked at me long and hard.
When he spoke, he said simply, “You had nothing to say to them.” “You had nothing to say to them.” he repeated, “No wonder they’re bored. Why not get to the meat of the literature and stop talking about symbolism? Talk with them, not at them. Still, why do you ignore their bad behavior?” We talked. He named my problems and offered solutions.
As the year progressed, we spent many hours discussing literature and ideas about human beings and their motivation. He helped me identify my weakness and strengths.
In short, he made a teacher of me by teaching me the reality of Emerson’s words：“The secret to education lies in respecting the pupil.”
1. It can be inferred from the story that in 1974 ______.| A．The writer became an optimistic person |
| B．The writer was very happy about her new job |
| C．It was rather difficult to get a job in the USA |
| D．It was easy to get a teaching job in New Jersey |
| A．She might lose her teaching job. |
| B．She might lose her students’ respect |
| C．She couldn’t teach the same class any more. |
| D．She couldn’t ignore her students’ bad behavior any more. |
| A．cruel but encouraging | B．fierce but forgiving |
| C．sincere and supportive | D．angry and aggressive |
【推荐1】For parents, how to set rules for their children is one of the hardest things. They are often afraid that if they set bad rules, their children will hate them. So, many parents set fewer rules for their children and allow them to do A they like.
However, this always causes a lot of troubles for parents. ①important, children, rules, set, it’s, to, for, way, the, in, right. Here are some helpful suggestions.
Discuss feelings with children. It is important to discuss feelings with children while setting rules for them. This helps them to understand and agree with the rules. At the same time, remember to listen to children’s ideas. Their ideas may help to improve the rules.
Tell children about the results of their actions. ②It is necessary to tell children the results of their actions. They need to know that if they do something wrong, they should make up for it. The results should be reasonable. For example, if they miss classes, they won’t be given money for that month. Then they can’t buy their favorite things.
Setting rules in the B way can cause troubles for parents. However, by following the above suggestions, you can set some good rules.
根据短文内容，完成下列任务。
1. 任务一：请分别在文中A、B两处的横线上填入适当的单词。
（A）___________（B）___________
2. 任务二：请将文中①处后面斜体单词连成句子。
3. 任务三：请将文中②处画线句子翻译成汉语。
4. 任务四：请回答问题：Why should parents listen to children’s ideas according to the passage?
5. 任务五：请给短文拟一个适当的题目。（10个词以内）
【推荐2】A small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree and it has been there for ten years or so.
It all began because my husband Justin hated Christmas—oh, not the true meaning of Christmas. Overspending was one thing, but compared to the difficult experience of choosing gifts—running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and a pair of gloves for Grandma…, spending money is nothing.
I felt too tired to think of any special gifts. Knowing Justin felt the same way, I decided one year not to buy the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so on. I reached for something special just for Justin. The inspiration came in an unusual way.
Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in such worn-out shoes that shoe strings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, while our boys were in their blue and gold uniforms and new wrestling shoes.
As the match began, I was shocked to see that the other team were wrestling without wearing helmets to protect their heads. Well, our boys ended up defeating them. We took every weight class.
Justin, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot potential, but losing like this could take the heart out of them." Justin loved kids—-all kids, and he knew them, having coached little league football and baseball. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought different kinds of wrestling helmets and shoes. I sent them to the inner-city church without leaving my name.
On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Justin what I had done and that was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and since then the envelope has become the highlight of our Christmas.
1. Justin hated Christmas because________.| A．he thought Christmas makes no sense |
| B．he had a hard time choosing gifts |
| C．he spent too much money buying gifts |
| D．he disliked putting gifts under the Christmas tree |
| A．were well dressed | B．paid no attention to safety |
| C．feared Kevin's team | D．couldn't afford helmets |
| A．didn't wear any helmets |
| B．were dressed in worn-out shoes |
| C．may lose confidence completely |
| D．failed in the match against his son |
| A．what the writer had done | B．the envelop on the tree |
| C．the note inside the envelop | D．the gifts the writer sent to church |
| A．A Church Gift | B．A Special Note |
| C．A White Envelope | D．A Christmas Card |
【推荐3】Sten Kirkbak, father of four and co-founder of XPLORA, shares his thoughts on how parents can balance screen time with playtime.
Establish rules around screen time early on
Before giving your child their first smartphone, make sure that both you and your child learn about digital responsibility so that your child can fully understand and respect these boundaries.
Make a contract for the whole family to agree to
What about parental controls?
When your child first begins to use their smartphone, establishing parental controls is a good idea.
Telling your child to avoid screens if you are constantly attached to one is likely to result in tension and frustration. As a parent, it's important to be a good role model for your child, not only with regards to technology but within everyday life.
Reinforce the value of physical play
I recommend finding ways to replace screen time with play and physical activity.
| A．Lead by example. |
| B．Basically, important rules vary. |
| C．Come up with the contract together. |
| D．Going for an outing will be an appropriate choice. |
| E．Or you can reward your child with items they enjoy if they do so. |
| F．For example, you can limit access to internet browsing on your child's phone. |
| G．Once they understand these rules, they will learn to reduce the screen time gradually. |
【推荐1】“I’m going to get Omama a parrot,” my mother announced. Omama was my old grandmother. “It will give her something to care for, which helps her exercise her mind and avoid decline in memory,” my mother continued. “A little bird may make things lively and cheer her up.” I nodded since Omama loved pets in the past.
Omama had reached America from Ireland, and her memory was full of tales from the old country. She loved nothing better than to reminisce (回忆). Once she got going, you might as well feel comfortable and go back to the wonderful past with her. So in the foreign land, my mother sent her a parrot to accompany her.
When receiving the bird, Omama called it Patrick. My mother gave her the feeding instructions. Omama listened and promised, “I’ll not starve him. He’ll eat better than me! He’ll sleep better than me! And I’ll play the sweetest music to him.” As we walked toward the door, Omama was starting her record player and promising Patrick that he would hear some real Irish music. “Listen well and tell me what you think,” we heard her words.
Later, Omama often called us to report his wonderful behaviors. When she sat on the doorway to get some air, Patrick went along; when seeing her, Patrick would show excited behaviors. Omama often showed off the smart bird to her neighbors. She was crazy about Patrick. If we called to say that we planned to visit her, Omama would say, “Hold on, please,” while she announced to Patrick that we were coming.
Omama liked Patrick and thought highly of him. She had possessed many pets but Patrick was distinct from all others; Omama had assured me of that more than once. Still, nothing prepared me for the day when Patrick would take my breath away.
That day I visited Omama. She quickly went to the kitchen, and I sat on the sofa, Patrick looked at me. “Hello, Patrick,” I said. He replied, “Good morning, Patrick. Hello, Patrick. Pretty bird.” My mouth dropped open. It was not because of Patrick’s words. What shocked me was that every word Patrick said was spoken in a perfect Irish accent!
I suddenly realized that we all were shaped by our unique culture. We should value it and be proud of it.
1. What did the author think of Omama’s tales?| A．Exciting. | B．Attractive. | C．Moving. | D．Simple. |
| A．They were popular with the neighbors. |
| B．They got along with each other. |
| C．They enjoyed showing off each other. |
| D．They got great help from neighbors. |
| A．That Omama liked pets. | B．That Patrick could understand Omama. |
| C．That Patrick was special. | D．That Omama often talked to Patrick. |
| A．Her grandmother had deep affection for her motherland. |
| B．Patrick was quite a smart pet bird. |
| C．Her grandmother was poor at training parrots. |
| D．Patrick was very fond of the author’s visiting. |
【推荐2】As I walked into the primary school, I looked down at my new black shoes. I stood at Mrs. Blackstone’s door. Before I tried the great escape, the door opened. “We’ve been waiting for you!” Mrs. Blackstone, my new fifth grade teacher, said loudly. With a smile my mom walked away and I was left taking center stage in front of a group of students.
Over the next few days, Mrs. Blackstone made it her job to find me a new best friend. During history lessons, when I didn’t want to speak in front of the class, she’d not only call on me but have me stand up to address my classmates.
One spring afternoon, Mrs. Blackstone asked me to stay after class. “I’d like to speak with you, Amanda.” My mind raced. Had I got a bad grade? Had I hurt anyone’s feelings? “Are you enjoying your new school?” She sat comfortably behind her desk. “I want to tell you something, between you and me, not to be shared with anyone else.” She continued, “I see something special in you. The way you communicate with others , and the kindness you show－I think you have great potential (潜力) to be something important.” I listened carefully to every word. “I have been a teacher for over twenty-five years; I can see it. But you must believe in yourself. That’s very important. Remember that and you’ll go far,” she said.
Her voice was music to my ears that day. I walked out of her office, not staring at my shoes, but looking straight ahead with my head high. My teacher saw something special in me! Years later, her words still remain inside of me.
1. The author went to school unwillingly most probably because she______.| A．didn’t like the school at all |
| B．often got low grades at school |
| C．was treated badly by her classmates |
| D．wasn’t used to the new environment |
| A．annoyed | B．embarrassed | C．tired | D．nervous |
| A．energetic | B．happy | C．confident | D．thankful |
| A．The author came from a poor family. |
| B．The teacher sang a song to the author. |
| C．The author never forgets what the teacher said. |
| D．The author no longer cared for anybody but herself. |
【推荐3】Lautaro had already spent hours viewing and reviewing the footage he had taken of his grandmother, Maida, in memory of her childhood in southern Italy. There was no shortage of material. Maida was fascinating as she talked about everything from picking grapes in her grandparents’ garden to avoiding wild dogs on her daily routine to school. The problem was finding the best form for the material.
Lautaro had already finished a rough cut that followed his grandmother’s story in time order. The video began with Maida’s earliest memories of the Italian farmyard and ended with her arrival in the United States at age 15, puzzled and excited. Lautaro used family photographs to illustrate Maida’s storytelling. He knew the first version was not bad, but he was not satisfied with the overall video. He was certain that something vital was missing.
Running out of his own ideas, Lautaro decided to get some advice. And who better to ask than Maida herself? Lautaro showed Maida the 10-minute video on his computer. As soon as it was over Maida said, “I can’t get over how much things have changed, Taro. Your life seems so different from mine.” Maida’s words inspired Lautaro. Her reaction told him exactly what was missing: his personal point of view.
A few days later, when Lautaro screened his final project for his classmates and teacher, it was only two minutes longer than his original cut, but those extra minutes made a huge difference. Between Maida’s recollections of her past, Lautaro has added in photographs of his own life today. The contrasts were both striking and touching, and the final image of Lautaro listening to Maida reinforced the warmth and closeness of their relationship. Laurato smiled with pride as his classmates acknowledged his comparative documentary with cheerful applause.
1. Which of the following events happened first?| A．Maida moved to the United States. | B．Maida went to school in Italy. |
| C．Lautaro edited a video about his grandmother. | D．Lautaro began working on a project for school. |
| A．interviewed his grandmother | B．asked his grandmother for advice |
| C．gathered photographs of his own life | D．knew exactly what he wanted to express |
| A．showed the video to his class | B．decided to include more old photographs |
| C．added modern details to his video | D．described Maida’s move to the United States |
| A．Maida avoiding wild dogs on her way to school. | B．A photo of both Maida and Lautaro as children. |
| C．Lautaro’s classmates applauding cheerfully. | D．Lautaro listening to Maida’s stories. |
【推荐1】Before you know it, the sound of sleigh(雪橇)bells will be heard on your rooftop. If you love the holidays but hate the cold, why not wear your coat and wool gloves this year and celebrate a warm Christmas?
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a small town with a huge heart and is located in the heart of the Lowcountry. It is close to Savannah and Charleston, and a short drive to the beaches of Hilton Head Island. Its location is great for visiting the larger cities and enjoying the sights and sounds of a small town. December temperatures average in the low 60s.
Orlando, Florida
Enjoy everything in Orlando without the huge crowds of summer. Theme parks have special attractions this time of year, such as “Mickey's Very Merry Christmas”, but be aware that some of the special attractions require a separate ticket. Orlando temperatures average around 72 degrees in December.
San Francisco, California
The City by the Bay comes alive in December as it transforms into a wonderland of lights. Stay near Union Square so you are close to all the activities and can easily get around via the historic cable cars. San Francisco's December temperatures average in the high 50s.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Celebrate Christmas season in the Big Easy. The Oaks, visited by over 122,000 people last year, has one of the most beautiful Christmas exhibitions in the country. Many hotels in the area offer Papa Noel specials, making this a very affordable holiday destination. December temperatures average in the 60s.
1. You can easily travel through San Francisco by_________ .| A．bike | B．cable car | C．taxi | D．bus |
| A．enjoy a wonderland of lights | B．avoid the huge crowds |
| C．enjoy Papa Noel specials | D．visit various theme parks |
| A．To inform readers of some popular sports events. |
| B．To describe different celebrations during the Christmas. |
| C．To introduce four places' special Christmas traditions. |
| D．To introduce four places to spend a warm Christmas. |
【推荐2】Should we be thrilled that, for the first time in a century, Australia went more than a week without using any coal to make electricity? While some are welcoming this as a sign that the country is going green, the bigger picture is less encouraging. For one thing, renewables （可再生能源）supplied only 23 per cent of electricity during this coal-free period, while 45 per cent came from natural gas. In the past decade, the country has gone from getting a third of its electricity from coal to obtaining more than a third from renewables like onshore wind on average. Australia now gets 11 per cent of its electricity from “renewable” biomass （生物质能）, much of it using imported wood. But forest campaigners say swapping coal for wood isn’t truly renewable and is actually doing huge damage to the environment.
For another, Australia is off-track when it comes to meeting its long-term targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions (排放).Producing electricity without burning fossil fuels is relatively easy. But it is much harder to heat homes, to make cement and steel, to grow food and to power cars, ships and planes without producing any greenhouse gases. In view of this, we should handle the energy and climate crises at the same time by finding climate-friendly alternatives to coal.
Australia has now stopped the financial aid that drove its renewables revolution. So growth in renewable energy is expected to come to a stop in a decade. The global renewables revolution seems to be following the same trend. The International Energy Agency （IEA） recently announced that the world added 180 gigawatts （千兆瓦）of solar, wind, hydro power and bioenergy in 2018, the same as in 2017. But IEA said we must add 300 gigawatts a year to have a chance of limiting global warming to under 2°C by 2100. So we should cheer the end of coal, but continue to worry about how it will be replaced.
1. In the “coal-free week”, what did Australia use most to make electricity?| A．Natural gas. | B．Onshore wind. |
| C．Biomass. | D．Wood. |
| A．Positive results are tracked. |
| B．Long-term goals are ambitious. |
| C．Additional efforts are required. |
| D．Climate changes are unavoidable. |
| A．It ought to be replaced. |
| B．It will see an adequate increase. |
| C．It starts a revolution in Australia. |
| D．It needs constant financial aid. |
| A．Skeptical. | B．Optimistic. |
| C．Thrilled. | D．Ambiguous. |
【推荐3】Last night was the last game for my eight-year-old son’s soccer team. It was the final quarter. The score was two to one, my son’s team in the lead. Parents surrounded the playground, offering encouragement.
With less than ten seconds remaining, the ball suddenly rolled in front of my son’s teammate Mickey O’Donnel. With shouts of “Kick it!” echoing across the playground, Mickey turned around and gave it everything he had. All around me the crowd erupted (沸腾). O’Donnel had scored!
Then there was silence. Mickey had scored all right, but in the wrong goal, ending the game in a tie. For a moment there was a total hush. You see, Mickey has Down syndrome (唐氏综合征) and for him there is no such thing as a wrong goal. All goals were celebrated by a joyous hug from Mickey. He had even been known to hug the opposing players when they scored.
The silence was finally broken when Mickey, his face filled with joy, hugged my son tightly and shouted, “I scored! I scored. Everybody won! Everybody won!” For a moment I held my breath, not sure how my son would react. I need not have worried. I watched, through tears, as my son threw up his hand in the classic high-five salute and started chanting, “Way to go Mickey! Way to go Mickey!” Within moments both teams surrounded Mickey, joining in the chant and congratulating him on his goal.
Later that night, when my daughter asked who had won, I smiled as I replied. “It was a tie. Everybody won.”
1. What was the result of the soccer match?| A．Two to two, equal to both the teams. |
| B．Three to one in Mickey’s team’s favor. |
| C．Two to one in the opposite team’s favor. |
| D．Nobody won because of Mickey’s goal. |
| A．cheer | B．silence |
| C．laughter | D．cry |
| A．The result would disappoint his son. |
| B．His son would shout at Mickey for his goal. |
| C．Mickey would again hug the opposing players. |
| D．The opposite team would laugh at Mickey’s goal. |
| A．both teams liked and respected Mickey |
| B．both teams were thankful for Mickey’s goal |
| C．Mickey didn’t mind though his goal was wrong |
| D．Mickey was a kind-hearted boy and hoped everybody won |
| A．to tell a joke to make readers laugh |
| B．to suggest we should not mind losing |
| C．to show enjoying a game is more than winning a game |
| D．to present his son’s fine qualities of understanding others |
