Thirty years ago, Switzerland-based artist Klaus Littman came across a profound drawing titled The Unending Attraction of Nature. The drawing, by Austrian artist and architect Max Peintner, displays a scene in which nature is so detached from the environment that it becomes just a patch(块), preserved for entertainment.
“When I first saw the pencil drawing, I was fascinated. I knew that one day this work would be the starting point for a major art project in public space,” says Littmann.
Now, decades later, Littmann has fulfilled the vision with the installation(艺术装置) of FOR FOREST: The Unending Attraction of Nature. Making the lines between art, architecture and nature unclear, the installation sets a native central European forest in the midst of 30, 000 person Worthersee football Stadium in Klagenfurt. With nearly 300 trees planted, some weighing up to six tons each, it's Austria's largest public art installation to date.
In the face of climate crisis and deforestation, FOR FOREST comes with a more pressing urgency. As explained in a statement about the installation, “In support of today s most pressing issues on climate change and deforestation, FOR FOREST aims to challenge our view of nature and question its future. It seeks to become a memorial, reminding us that nature, which we so often take for granted, may someday only be found in special space, as is already the case with animals in zoos.”
The actual creation of the manmade forest was overseen by landscape architect Enzo Enea and his company, Enea Landscape Architecture, which includes a range of species in it. It was opened on September 8 and one can imagine it already attracting surprised and happy creatures to the field.
However, the installation will close on October 27. In a short video about the work, Littman says his objective is never to make something that will last forever; rather, he says, “My objective is for this picture to remain in people's head for a lifetime.”
1. Why is the painting The Unending Attraction of Nature mentioned?| A．To tell the source of Littmann's inspiration. | B．To list an example of the nature- themed art, |
| C．To describe Littmann's impression of nature, | D．To show Littmann's fine taste in modern art. |
| A．It has greatly promoted local tourism. | B．It is Austria's greenest artistic work. |
| C．It has preserved various rare plants. | D．It warns us of environmental issues. |
| A．It is a waste of time. | B．It is temporary. | C．It is of little popularity. | D．It is unrealistic. |
| A．A living artwork in a large stadium. | B．An environment-friendly painting. |
| C．A permanent private art installation. | D．An artificial forest for entertainment. |
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【推荐1】Ruby was a police dog with the Rhode Island State Police, but she didn’t always work with them. Ruby was once a handful who was in and out of the shelter. She was returned five times by different families. She was considered unadoptable because of her high energy and she was just unmanageable.
The shelter workers thought her energy may be put to work. They reached the state police, who wanted to give Ruby a second chance and decided to try her out as a rescue dog. O’Neil was picked to be her handler (驯犬员).
“We have something in common. When I was younger, I couldn’t focus and I wasn’t good at school. But no one really ever gave up on me,” O’Neil said. “I think that’s why we were bound to be together.” A normal dog could be trained in months. For Ruby, it took a year and a half, but O’Neil didn’t want to give up on her. Finally, she was a certified police dog. Six years later, she became even more than that a hero.
“We got a call stating there was a missing boy, and we just went out and started searching. After eight hours, Ruby ran down a hill. I looked over the hill and saw the injured boy,” ONeil recalled.
O’Neil went to tell the mother that the boy was found alive and told her a police dog helped save her son. Then they realised a surprising connection: the boy’s mum once worked at an animal shelter. “There was a dog that I heard became a state trooper (兵) a few years ago. The dog was named Ruby. She was the sweetest thing,” she told him.
“Are you kidding?” O’Neil said. “That dog that you helped for all those times to get adopted just saved your son’s life.”
1. Which of the following can best replace the underlined word “handful” in paragraph 1?| A．Popular dog. | B．Good helper. | C．Troublemaker. | D．Intelligent dog. |
| A．ONeil’s guidance. | B．Ruby’s high energy |
| C．Ruby’s determination. | D．ONeil’s perseverance |
| A．A shelter dog. | B．A rescue dog. | C．A guard dog. | D．A pet dog. |
| A．The mother once helped Ruby in the shelter. |
| B．The mother was Ruby’s former handler. |
| C．Ruby was once adopted by the mother. |
| D．Ruby saved the mother before. |
【推荐2】I woke up with drool (口水) on my pillow this morning. I wouldn’t have minded except it wasn’t mine. The alarm clock rang, and I reached over to turn it off. As I laid my face back down on the pillow, I felt the wet drool on my pillow case. I opened my eyes and saw a smiling, furry face gazing down at me. I tried to get up, but she was too fast. My face was suddenly covered in kisses with one going straight up my nose and another right in my ear. I laughed, reached out and picked up the eight-pound love machine and held her away from my wet face. It was just another morning in a life with dogs.
Why do we welcome them into our homes and our hearts? We know that we are most likely going to outlive them and have our hearts broken when they age quickly and pass away after ten to fifteen years. We know that there will be vet (兽医) bills, flea baths and enough fur to make a vacuum(真空的) cleaner cry. We know that our ears will ring from the barking, that we will be picking up poop (大便) every single day and that we will never get to finish a full sandwich again.
Yet, when we are feeling down or blue, there will always be a soft head on our lap needing to be pet. When we get home after a long day’s work, there will be a happy face at the door waiting for us. Our lives will be full of balls to throw and love and loyalty that will warm our hearts and uplift our souls.
For thousands of years, dogs have been our best friends. They remain one of the greatest gifts life has ever given us. Even if they can’t love us for the rest of our lives, they will always love us for all of theirs.
1. How does the author probably feel about his dog every morning?| A．Awful. | B．Impatient. |
| C．Delighted. | D．Thrilled. |
| A．Irony(反语). | B．Contrast. |
| C．Repetition. | D．Personification(拟人). |
| A．Exploring why we love dogs. |
| B．Showing how dogs can be a burden. |
| C．Giving examples of dogs’ bad behavior. |
| D．Describing how dogs can be charming. |
| A．To give the good and bad points of raising dogs. |
| B．To share how much joy his dog has brought him. |
| C．To say that having a dog is worth all the trouble. |
| D．To tell the importance of a dog’s company. |
【推荐3】The Canada goose is the largest species of true goose. Its scientific name, Branta canadensis, means “black or burnt goose from Canada”. While Canada goose is the bird’s official and preferred name, it is also known colloquially (通俗地) as the Canadian goose.
The Canada goose has a black head and neck and a white “chinstrap (下巴)” that distinguish it from other geese. Its body is brown. The average Canada goose ranges from 75 to 110 cm in length and has a wingspan of 1.27 to 1.85 m. Adult females are slightly smaller and lighter than males, but they are visually indistinguishable. An average male weighs from 2.6 to 6.5 kg, while an average female weighs from 2.4 to 5.5 kg.
Canada geese are mostly herbivores (食草动物). They eat grass, beans, corn, and aquatic plants. They sometimes also eat small insects and fish. In urban areas, Canada geese will pick food from garbage bins or accept it from humans.
Fresh water is a primary need for these geese, and they seek it nearby wherever they happen to be. They will flock to lakes, ponds, streams, rivers and even swimming pools! This is the perfect habitat for Canada geese, and they take advantage of these areas commonly.
Originally, the Canada goose was native to North America, breeding in Canada and the northern U.S. and migrating further south in the winter. Some geese still follow the usual migration pattern, but large flocks have established permanent residences as far south as Florida.
Where you can find Canada geese varies based on what time of year it is. In some areas, the geese are becoming permanent residents, when they used to migrate south for the winter. The southern United States is their home during the winter, the northern United States has a year-round population, and Canada has a summer population.
1. What is characteristic of the Canada goose?| A．Its black head and neck and white chinstrap. |
| B．Its length and weight. |
| C．Its average wingspan. |
| D．Its brown body. |
| A．Its scientific name is the Canadian goose. |
| B．Its length varies based on where they live. |
| C．Adult females are usually larger and heavier than males. |
| D．It is hard to distinguish a female from a male in appearance. |
| A．Fish. | B．Food. | C．Corn. | D．Garbage. |
| A．Habitat and distribution. | B．Diet. |
| C．Migration. | D．Life Cycle. |
【推荐1】A young British sailor was missing at sea yesterday in similar circumstances (情况) to the way his father died five years ago.
The dinghy (救生橡皮船), used to take Richard Smith, 21, to his yacht (快艇), was discovered empty, floating in seas off the Caribbean island. An air and sea search was carried out but he has still not been discovered.
Richard’s mother, Bicknell, said from her home in Hampshire, “It’s so much coincidence. Richard always carried a photograph of his father attached to a poem, which included the date of his disappearance.”
Now, it’s very strange because all they have found is Richard’s dinghy. We need to know this time what has happened one way or another. If you know at least you can go through the grieving process.
In November 1996, Mr Smith’s father, Charlie, was sailing in the Tasmen sea between the Australian mainland and the island of Tasmen with his new wife. They lost radio contact with the shore and they, together with their yacht were never seen again, and their disappearance remains a mystery.
Richard is described a talented and experienced sailor who has crewed for the champion ocean racer. He had sailed to the Caribbean in November to crew ocean racing yachts for entertainment. He ended the evening drinking in the Abracbabra bar but left after local police closed it for being too noisy.
About 2 am the following day Richard headed back for his dinghy. He started its outboard motor before giving an elderly woman a lift to her yacht after her dinghy had gone missing. It was the last time he was seen.
1. Richard Smith was ________in 2000.| A．ten | B．fifteen | C．twenty | D．eighteen |
| A．ship only | B．ship and radio |
| C．ship and plane | D．yacht and car |
| A．he was a green hand in sailing |
| B．some unknown animal attacked him |
| C．there was a maze in the area he was sailing |
| D．of something we don’t know |
| A．a story about two heroes |
| B．a piece of news about a merchant ship |
| C．a coincidence |
| D．the dying process of Richard |
【推荐2】Jon Fosse has won the 2023 Nobel Prize in literature, “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable”. The 64-year-old playwright is not well-known outside his home country of Norway. But the author is internationally celebrated in literary circles and has been called “the most produced living playwright”.
Fosse grew up on a rural farm near Strandebarm, Norway, where his grandparents lived in one house while he, his parents, and two sisters lived in another. His father worked as a manager of Strandebarm Cooperative, a local grocery store, and his mother was a caregiver. Fosse started writing at age 12 or 13, first composing song lyrics and later trying poems.
In 1979 Fosse graduated from high school and moved to Bergen, where he began working for the newspaper Gula Tidend. That same year he became a father, and the following year he married the mother of his child. In the next decades he married twice more and had five additional children. Meanwhile, throughout the 1980s he studied at the University of Bergen, receiving a Master of Art in comparative literature in 1987.
Also during the 1980s, Fosse published his first novels, namely Red, Black, whose topic is suicide, and Stringed Guitar, about a mother in a difficult situation after locking herself out of her house where she has left her baby.
The playwright began as a novelist, and did not break through as a theater writer until he was in his 40s. His international reputation as a playwright was confirmed in 1998, with a Paris production of his first play Someone Is Going to Come, which had been written in 1992. Since then, his work has been performed in more than 60 countries around the world, according to his translator, Ann Henning Jocelyn. According to his publisher, Fosse’s work has been translated into more than 40 languages, and there have been more than 1,000 different productions of his plays.
1. When did Jon Fosse get married to his first wife?| A．In 1979. | B．In 1980. | C．In 1981. | D．In 1987. |
| A．He started writing in 1979. |
| B．His first novel is Someone Is Going to Come. |
| C．He gained international popularity as a playwright. |
| D．He worked as a theater writer when he was in his 30s. |
| A．Talented and productive. | B．Positive and ordinary. |
| C．Hardworking and considerate. | D．Imaginative and selfish. |
| A．Jon Fosse and His Novels |
| B．Jon Fosse and His Awards |
| C．Jon Fosse: The Greatest Norwegian Writer |
| D．Jon Fosse: Wins 2023 Nobel Prize for Literature |
【推荐3】Budha Magar, a double above-the-knee amputee (被截肢者), is working with an all-Nepali team to attempt to conquer the world’s highest mountain in May. Though he will be kitted out (装备) with special climbing legs, he will essentially be crawling up Everest using his hands.
He estimates it will take him three times longer than able-bodied climbers to reach the summit (顶峰), though he is confident he will be faster than average on the ladder sections because of his superior upper body strength. Two climbers with below-knee amputations have reached Everest’s summit before. But making the climb without knees is significantly harder. “In Nepali we say that being disabled is ‘like a burden of the earth’,” he explains. Magar hopes that he can raise awareness of just what is possible for a disabled person in the country of his birth, and hopefully inspire others further afield.
He was born in a village of Nepal, and he left there at the age of 19. In April 2021, he had an accident. Suddenly legless, he spent at least 18 months depressed before a charity offered him the chance to go skydiving. “That was a big turning point for me, especially for my confidence. And when we landed on the ground I realized that even without legs we are able to do lots of things,” he says.
He began doing sports — golf, rock climbing, table tennis — before setting his sights on mountaineering. Before long, a childhood dream to climb Everest resurfaced, and he began training in earnest to make the climb in 2018.
Now living in Canterbury, Budha Magar has raised more than £200,000 towards his attempt. If he can find another £100,000 of sponsorship, he will travel to Nepal in spring with his expedition leader Krishna Thapa. Success on the world’s highest mountain can never be guaranteed, but his expedition credo (信条) illustrates his mindset: no legs, no limits.
1. What may enable Magar to perform better than average on the ladder sections?| A．His optimism. | B．Unique equipment. |
| C．His stronger upper body. | D．Help from an all-Nepali team. |
| A．He lived in his birth place all the time. |
| B．He recovered from the accident in 2021. |
| C．He was a member of a charity. |
| D．He gained confidence through skydiving. |
| A．He hasn’t raised enough money for the summit attempt. |
| B．He needs a new expedition leader. |
| C．He can ensure the success of reaching the summit. |
| D．He will go to Canterbury in spring. |
| A．Caring and courageous. | B．Determined and adventurous. |
| C．Hard-working and cooperative. | D．Enthusiastic and intelligent. |
【推荐1】The man goes quietly into the room. He stands over the bed where his three-day-old son is lying and begins to speak to him.
“My son, I have dreamt of you for many, many years. I had your name picked out even before you were born because I knew that I wanted you. Every time I thought of you I would have a smile on my face. Gabriel. You always gave me joy.
“I really hope we have a great relationship, where you can talk to me about anything and not be embarrassed. Most of the time it will seem like I am too old to understand, but I’m sure you will see that, as I did with my father, my advice is some of the best you will get.
“I am sorry for the misunderstandings (误会) we will have, but you will understand I spent my whole life waiting for you. You are my son, so I am not going to sit back and watch you hurt yourself. You are very important to me. ”
The man stops and looks at his son. Then he begins to sob (呜咽).
“Sorry, my dear, I’m crying because something bad happened. I am seriously ill. I will leave you soon.” The man gives a weak laugh. “This is the first time in many years I have been brought to tears.” The man kisses the baby who is sleeping so soundly and whispers, “I will love you forever.”
1. Why does the man say so many words to his son?| A．He wants his son to fall asleep. |
| B．He loves his baby very much. |
| C．There are misunderstandings between them. |
| D．He dreamed of his son the night before. |
| A．He will be too old to understand his son one day. |
| B．He will die and leave his son soon. |
| C．His son doesn’t listen to him and falls asleep. |
| D．His son will hurt himself some day. |
| A．He picked out the child’s name before he was born. |
| B．The man is not pleased with his present life. |
| C．The man has had a great relationship with his child. |
| D．The man’s family will be much happier than before. |
【推荐2】Book Your Field Trip to Pacific Science Center
A field trip to Pacific Science Center is a time-honored tradition for students of all ages across Washington State. Our hands-on exhibits, shows, and creative programs inspire students’ curiosity for science in a day of exploration meant to strengthen your curriculum and fuel lifelong enthusiasm for science, math, engineering and technology.
Schedule (安排) Your Field TripTo schedule your field trip, complete the registration request form available at the link www.pacificsciencecenter.org/field-tripsl/, or call (206) 443-2925 Monday — Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. not less than two weeks ahead of your visit date. We will contact you within two business days to set up your field trip.
New Fall/winter HoursStarting September 3, 2019 PacSci will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays except for holidays and weeks during Seattle Public School breaks. We will no longer be booking field trips on those days, as well.
Pricing| Field Trip Package | Price Per Student | |
| Exhibits Only | $9 | |
| Package 1 | Exhibits plus choice of one experiences | $11 |
| Package 2 | Exhibits plus choice of two experiences | $13 |
| Package 3 | Exhibits plus choice of three experiences | $15 |
One free adult general admission is covered for every 10 paid students. Free adult admission doesn’t include IMAX documentary. These adults will be charged a $4 IMAX documentary admission. Additional adults outside of the ratio (比例) will be charged the student admission rate. Pacific Science Center Memberships cannot be applied to field trips. Payment is due one week before you visit.
Available Experiences■ Planetarium Shows
■ IMAX Documentaries
■ Science on a Sphere Shows
■ Laser Shows
1. What can we know about Pacific Science Center?| A．It is famous for its typical architecture. |
| B．It offers students chances for free classes. |
| C．It’s where students can learn about science. |
| D．It is only accessible to students in Washington. |
| A．$118. | B．$125. |
| C．$127. | D．$134. |
| A．On weekends. |
| B．Any Monday or Tuesday. |
| C．Two workdays ahead of the visit time. |
| D．At least 14 days before the actual visit. |
【推荐3】Most young people enjoy some form of physical activity. It may be walking, cycling or swimming, or in winter, skating or skiing. It may be a game of some kind of football, hockey, golf, or tennis. It may be mountaineering.
Those who have an interest in climbing high and difficult mountains are often looked upon with astonishment. Why are men and women willing to suffer cold and hardship, and to take risk on high mountains? This astonishment is caused probably by the difference between mountaineering and other forms of activity to which men give their leisure.
Mountaineering is a sport and not a game. There are no man-made rules, as there are for such games as golf and football. There are, of course, rules of a different thing that it would be dangerous to ignore, but it is this freedom from man-made rules that makes mountaineering attractive to many people. Those who climb mountains are free to use their own methods.
If we compare mountaineering and some other sports, we might think that one big difference is that mountaineering is not a “team game”. We should be mistaken in this. There are, it is true, no “matches” between “teams” of climbers, but when climbers are on a rock face linked by a rope on which their lives may depend, there is obviously teamwork.
The mountain climber knows that he may have to fight forces that are stronger and more powerful than men. He has to fight the forces of nature. His sport requires high mental and physical qualities.
A mountain climber continues to improve in skill year after year. A skier is probably past his best by the age of thirty, and most international tennis champions are in their early twenties. But it is not unusual for a man of fifty or sixty to climb the highest mountains in the Alps. They may take more time than younger men, but they probably climb with more skill and less waste of efforts, and they certainly experience equal enjoyment.
1. What’s the meaning of “leisure” in Paragraph 2?| A．enjoyment | B．rest |
| C．entertainment | D．spare time |
| A．it is an Olympic event | B．mountaineers depend on each other while climbing |
| C．teams compete against each other | D．there are five climbers on each team |
| A．Because they can learn to fight the forces of nature while climbing. |
| B．Because they can improve their skill when they are on a rock face. |
| C．Because they don’t have to be restricted (限制) by rules while climbing. |
| D．Because they can enjoy a lot of fun while climbing. |
| A．people show interest in mountaineering because it is a team game |
| B．physical quality is more important than mental one for climbers |
| C．a mountain climber would pass his best by the age of thirty |
| D．it is possible for an old man of sixty to climb the Alps. |
| A．Mountaineering |
| B．Mountaineering Is More Attractive than Other Sports |
| C．Mountaineering Is Different from Golf and Football. |
| D．Mountain Climber |
【推荐1】We fill our water bottle with cool water from a stream and watch as puffy clouds slowly push shadows over the green hills. At the country' s first camping site, Glamping Georgia, in Ambrolauri, six white tents are set on a hill, overlooking a valley and slopes of dense pine forest. There’s a bathroom inside the air-conditioned tents, and a mini kitchen outside, a private deck with wicker rocking chairs. Linden, oak and apple trees surround the tents. The clean, fresh air is rich with birdsong and insects zip back and forth. The only other sound is the Krikhula River. It's the perfect place to disconnect. A layer of stars opens up overhead and Giorgi, the owner, drops by to give us a bottle of his homemade grape.
We spend the final days of our trip in central Georgia, at Borjomi, a summer retreat for the Romanovs, famous for its mineral waters and sulphur(硫磺)baths. Covering 210,000 acres, the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park has one of the largest areas of old-growth forest in Europe, and many wildlife habitats. There are 12 marked tracks for hiking, riding and snowshoeing, as well as . tourist shelters and camping areas.
We hike the Nikoloz Romanov Trail from Likani to Lomis mountain where a river valley leads up through forest to alpine meadows(高山草甸) of tall grasses and wild flowers. We pass only a handful of other hikers. I know that the reward at 7,200ft will be the views. What I don't expect to find at the top are free -ranging horses with shiny brown coats, a tiny decorative church and carpets of wild flowers.
This is what we came for—undamaged nature and slow travel. It's a few hours’ hike back down, but all I want to do is lie down among the flowers, close my eyes and just breathe.
1. What is the author' s impression of Glamping Georgia?| A．It is not easily accessible. | B．It is a densely populated area. |
| C．It affords breathtaking views. | D．It provides poor accommodation. |
| A．A quiet place to relax. | B．A meadow of tall grasses. |
| C．A final destination. | D．A wildlife habitat. |
| A．Its fine beauty and exceptional features. |
| B．Its rare plants and diverse wildlife. |
| C．The mineral waters and sulphur baths. |
| D．The rich culture and warm hospitality. |
| A．By making comparisons with their previous trips. |
| B．By presenting specific landscape features. |
| C．By introducing the local lifestyle and daily routines. |
| D．By listing people and events along the way. |
【推荐2】About six years ago, I was sitting on a plane next to a woman who was extremely energetic. I was tired and wanted to take a nap, but she tapped me on the shoulder to introduce herself.
"Hi, my name is Helga."
As we talked, it came up that I had started an organization in high school called R.A.K.E. (Random Acts of Kindness, Etc.). As I described what we did, Helga got very serious and said to me, "There is nothing more important in the world than kindness."
I was curious about what she had said, and as the plane took off. she began telling me a story about the last time she had flown.
It was three years ago and she was heading back to her hometown because her father had become very ill.
Just as the plane was about to leave, her father's doctor called to inform her that her father had suddenly passed away. For the three hour plane ride, she sat in stunned(受惊的) silence,.
When she arrived at the airport in her hometown, she walked to the nearest bench(长椅),sat down and cried.
For two hours, she sat and wept while thousands of people just walked on by.
"Not a single person stopped and asked if I was OK that day. It was on that day that I realized kindness isn't normal. "
Helga's words have stuck with me for all these years. I'm reminded all the time that for many of us, kindness is not usually our "default setting (默认设置)".
We spend so much time worrying about our own problems that we walk by or ignore other people in need of a bit of kindness.
So, I've made it my mission to do my part in making kindness "normal".
Now, I travel to schools all across the US to speak about compassion(同情),empathy(同感),and love.
I' m proud to share my stories with students, teachers, and parents about our need for character, compassion, and kindness.
Providing young people with practical ways to exercise kindness makes my job more satisfying than any other I can think of.
And when I give my talks, I always have my conversation with Helga in the back of my mind.
1. We can know from the first four paragraphs that the author___________.| A．was always eager to make friends | B．was angry to be disturbed by Helga |
| C．found Helga a very serious person | D．was interested in Helga's story |
| A．couldn't help but cry on the flight | B．blamed the doctor for not calling her earlier |
| C．came to realize the value of kindness | D．received help from passengers beside her |
| A．He found a better way to exercise kindness. |
| B．He realized that most people were nice and kind. |
| C．He realized the importance of using stories in speech. |
| D．He began teaching others about kindness and found it rewarding. |
| A．show why kindness isn't normal. | B．explain how he developed his kindness career |
| C．give advice on how to practice kindness | D．share a touching story about kindness |
【推荐3】Go. Stop. Go. Stop. The travel signals in my head were conflicting. “Are you sure you want to head to Greece this November with Kathleen?” asked my husband. “The weather could be unpleasant.”
“You must go,” said my friend Larry, who talked about having spent Thanksgiving on Santorini. “It’s a wonderland. ”
With his encouraging words, I booked our flights to Athens and included two Greek islands: Santorini and Grete.
A sunny Saturday afternoon welcomed us to Eleftherios Venizelos Airport in Athens. During the next few days Kathleen and I tried a lot of unknown-to-us foods. No annoying lines of tourists either as we saw sights on the Athens “A” list.
And then came Wednesday. The flight to Santorini was yo-yoed by wind gusts of up to 40 miles an hour. Fira, usually a much-photographed tourist destination, was chilly, rainy... empty. With rain beating our faces, Kathleen and I headed for our hotel and checked in for a three-night stay.
“This isn’t how I want to spend my holiday,” said Kathleen. “Maybe Crete isn’t experiencing the same storm. Can we fly out later today? ”
Her question mirrored my own thoughts. But we couldn’t leave. We’d just arrived. Payments for the hotel and rental car would be lost, and costly last-minute plane reservations needed. “Let’s not decide right now,” I suggested.
During the next few days, we drove around despite the showers. At a restaurant named Poseidon, on our third night, we waited and waited for dinner. “Your dinner will be out shortly. The chef was busy studying something beautiful,” our waiter explained.
Seeing our puzzled look, the waiter then said, “He went out for a smoke, saw a beautiful girl and began to chat…”
Suddenly, Kathleen laughed. Instead of complaining, she leaned back and out came a loud, happy sound.
An attitude adjustment into grace, I realized, had been happening since our arrival. “You know, Mum, you can’t live a positive life with a negative mind,” she said.
Grace surrounds us. The challenge is to let go of anxieties and worries, the tendency to complain. A sunny attitude can let grace shine.
1. What did the author’s husband think about her trip to Greece?| A．It was pleasant. | B．It was ill-advised. |
| C．It would be costly. | D．It would be eye-opening. |
| A．Delightful. | B．Busy. |
| C．Struggling. | D．Annoying. |
| A．To wait for sunny days. | B．To avoid wasting money. |
| C．To enjoy the off-season. | D．To deeply explore the place. |
| A．The role of grace. |
| B．The benefits of travelling. |
| C．The power of positive thinking. |
| D．The importance of understanding. |
