I had been in the city for some time and was coming home.I missed my boat and decided to travel on an old ship.I knew that it would not be a comfortable journey but I had no time to wait for another boat.
Hardly had we left the port when I saw the dog Gulliver，the captain’s favourite dog，for the first time.What a big dog it was！I had never seen one that could frighten me so much!
On the third day the ship caught fire.Nobody tried to put it out.The ship began sinking and all the men rushed to the lifeboats.I saw no chance of getting away in a boat.Suddenly I remembered there was a life raft (橡皮救生筏) on the ship.I had no time，so I immediately rushed towards the raft and pushed it into the water.
In jumping down onto the raft I hurt myself badly and was unconscious for some time.When I came to，I found there was no sign of a lifeboat.Every man who had been on board the ship must have gone down with her.I was the only one who was saved.
Then I saw Gulliver was coming fast towards the raft.It struggled a long time before it managed to get onto the raft.I wanted to push it back into the water but did not dare to move.The dog shook itself，went to the other end of the raft and lay down.I did not dare to sleep that night.I must watch it.In the moonlight I could see its eyes were open.It was watching，too.
1. The author first met the dog in the course of ________.| A．leaving the port |
| B．travelling in the city |
| C．waiting for the boat |
| D．getting onto the ship |
| A．got on a lifeboat |
| B．got away with a raft |
| C．jumped into the water |
| D．tried to put out the fire |
| A．It was friendly. |
| B．It had a good sleep. |
| C．It frightened the author. |
| D．It enjoyed the moon. |
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【推荐1】In chasing our dreams, we commonly encounter voices of doubt from those around us. Friends, family, or even strangers may question our ambitions, casting shadows of uncertainty on the path we’ve chosen. However, it’s important to remember that the opinions of others should not determine our potential or limit our ambitions.
Shawn Warner, a 58-year-old Texas man, chased his childhood dream of becoming a writer after unemployment. Despite facing discouragement from others, he published his first book, Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor, last year.
Surprisingly, Shawn’s journey took an unexpected turn—he became a Texas bestselling author when a TikTok video of him selling his book at a grocery store went viral(走红). TikToker Jerrad Swearenjin shot the video of Shawn sitting alone at a table with his books in a Texas Kroger store.
“I was just shopping when I noticed this man trying to promote his new book. I honestly don’t even read books nowadays. But something told me to get a couple. This new author seemed super defeated when I first walked past him. So before I left the store, I decided to go back,” the video text read. The video gained great popularity, with millions of likes and comments, and many people expressing interest in purchasing Shawn’s book. Swearenjin shared his motivation for approaching Shawn, stating that he wanted to show kindness to a stranger, having experienced a lack of recognition despite working hard in the past.
As the conversation went on, Shawn’s face lit up with joy when Swearenjin expressed interest in his books and offered support as a local author. He was in shock and struggled to find words to express his appreciation for the unexpected events.
Emotionally moved by the support from people worldwide, Shawn thanked Swearenjin and everyone who had shown kindness and generosity.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To prove an idea. | B．To introduce the topic. |
| C．To show a type of person. | D．To add background information. |
| A．He failed in many fields. | B．He met a kind TikToker. |
| C．He was encouraged by others. | D．He was out of work. |
| A．It saved his energy. | B．It contributed to his dream. |
| C．It won millions of likes. | D．It was beyond understanding. |
| A．Good luck comes with determination. | B．Kindness is the nature of human. |
| C．Having trust in strangers counts. | D．Gratitude is the best attitude. |
【推荐2】When the need for information technology service arises, it can be a stressful moment—the user is locked out of their computer, or a program isn’t working properly. But if you ask anyone in the MIT departments of Chemistry and Physics, or the News Office—the Institute divisions that are fortunate enough to have Greg Walton as their IT service provider, they’ll acknowledge that not only is Walton the best, but whatever the issue is, he will see it through until all involved are satisfied with the outcome. Walton usually arrives on the scene with endless positive energy that transforms a technical annoyance into an enjoyable interaction, regardless of how many other IT fires he has already put out that day.
The qualities that make him a star employee extend far beyond the campus. After spending his early years in foster care, Walton lived with his great-grandmother, but mostly, he was left to support himself. While many children might, understandably, lie flat under such unsupervised circumstances, Walton excelled academically and athletically at high school. He became the first person in his family to graduate from high school, and enrolled in college.
Walton seized the chance to enroll in Year Up, a program aiming to close the “opportunity divide” by providing young adults with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education. Walton remains an active ambassador for the organization.
In June of 2007,armed with shining recommendations, Walton was hired as a temp (临时工) at MIT.He eventually worked his way up to where he is today—an invaluable asset (不可或缺的人) to three departments.“I do feel lucky to work at MIT,” he says.“I’ve had the ability to tour the country sharing my story in hopes that some people may be inspired and employers may see young adults with tough backgrounds differently.”
In addition to Year Up, he is involved with a number of organizations committed to helping young adults overcome their troubled pasts. This desire to have a positive impact on people’s lives extends seamlessly into his work at MIT. “Giving back is very important to me,” Walton says. “So many people have invested their time and energy into helping me, so I feel it would be an injustice not to do so.”
1. Staff members in MIT sing high praise for Walton mainly because________.| A．he enjoys interacting with his clients |
| B．he knows how to put out fires for others |
| C．he solves problems with a positive attitude |
| D．he is good at developing computer programs |
| A．He depended on his great-grandma for a living. |
| B．He stood out in study and sports in high school. |
| C．He lay flat just like other unsupervised children. |
| D．He was supported by foster care for better education. |
| A．To share his troubled past with young adults. |
| B．To pay back to society by helping young adults. |
| C．To advise businesses to treat young adults fairly. |
| D．To promote education equality among young adults. |
| A．One good turn deserves another. |
| B．Opportunities favor the prepared mind. |
| C．Education is a powerful weapon to change the world. |
| D．One’s future is defined by his efforts, not by his origin. |
【推荐3】The well-dressed, gray-haired woman was crying her eyes out. She had just been fined $100 by the judge because a month ago her dog made a mess on the front lawn of the courthouse.
“I just got out of the cab and I leashed Poopsie to the light pole. After I paid the fare and gave the driver a dollar tip, I turned around and saw that Poopsie had made a mess. I didn’t have any plastic bags, so I said, ‘Well, Poopsie, let’s go home. There’s nothing I can do about this now.’
“We were just starting home when I heard this voice out of nowhere: ‘Excuse me, ma’am. Is that your dog?’ I turned around. It was an officer of the law. Well, of course, it was my dog. ‘That dog just made an illegal deposit on the courthouse lawn. As its owner, it’s your responsibility to dispose of that deposit. See the sign over there? I’m going to have to write you a citation.’
“I asked him what sign he was talking about. He pointed all the way down to the end of the block. One little sign, a block away! How could anyone see that? I couldn’t see that sign with my best glasses. The officer said that I could fight the ticket. He said the judge was a nice old man who owned four dogs. So I said, ‘OK, thank you, I’ll fight the ticket.’
“So when I went to court, I dressed Poopsie up in his prettiest ribbons and made extra sure he did his business first. We were both so excited. I just knew the judge and Poopsie would hit it off.
“But do you know what happened when we got inside? They had a different judge, a judge who is allergic to dogs, and he immediately started sniffling, coughing, sneezing, and looking around. And then he yelled at me to get the dog out of the courtroom. He fined me $100 on the way out without even giving me a chance to talk about Poopsie’s chronic dyspepsia. It was terrible! I’m still upset.”
1. The woman was fined by the officer because________.| A．she had parked her car in the wrong place |
| B．Her dog had made a mess in the wrong place |
| C．She has refused to pay fare to the cab driver |
| D．Her dog had tried to attack the officer________. |
| A．the judge was broad-minded and would pity her |
| B．the judge loved dogs too and would forgive her |
| C．the judge was kind and was easily persuaded |
| D．the judge would give her a lesson on law |
| A．come to an end | B．fight against each other |
| C．depend on each other | D．enjoy a good relationship |
| A．Uncertain | B．Exciting |
| C．Unexpected | D．Inspiring |
【推荐1】A thief entered the bedroom of the 30thPresident of the United States, who met him and helped him escape punishment.
The event happened in the early morning hours in one of the first days when Calvin Coolidge came into power, late in August, 1923. He and his family were living in the same third-floor suite(套房) at the Willard Hotel in Washington that had occupied several years before. The former President’s wife was still living in the White House.
Coolidge awoke to see a stranger go through his clothes, remove a wallet and a watch chain.
Coolidge spoke, “ I wish you wouldn’t take that.”
The thief, gaining his voice, said, “ Why?”
“ I don’t mean the watch and chain, only the charm(表坠). Take it near the window and read what is impressed on its back,” the president said.
The thief read, “ Presented to Calvin Coolidge.”
“ Are you President Coolidge?” he asked.
The president answered, “ Yes, and the House of Representatives（众议院）gave me the watch charm. I’m fond of it. It would do you no good. You want money. Let’s talk this over.”
Holding up the wallet, the young man said in a low voice, “ I’ll take this and leave everything else.”
Coolidge, knowing there was 80 dollars in it, persuaded the young man to sit down and talk. He told the President he and his college roommate had overspent during their holiday and did not have enough money to pay their hotel bill.
Coolidge added up the roommate and two rail tickets back to the college. Then he counted out 32 dollars and said it was a loan(借款).
He then told the young man, “ There is a guard in the corridor.” The young man nodded and left through the same window as he had entered.
1. What caused the thief to meet the President?| A．He knew the president had lots of money. |
| B．He knew the president lived in the suite. |
| C．He wanted to be a rich businessman. |
| D．He wanted to steal some money. |
| A．Because the former president was still in the White House. |
| B．Because the former First Lady hadn’t left the White House. |
| C．Because the hotel was suitable for the First Family to live. |
| D．Because the First lady liked to live there. |
| A．in order to be out of danger |
| B．to make more money from the loan |
| C．so that the student could overcome his difficulty |
| D．in order not to be killed by the thief |
| A．by bus | B．by water | C．by air | D．by train |
| A．The young man repaid the 32 dollars. |
| B．The thief was put into prison. |
| C．The President told many reporters the thief’s name. |
| D．The President ordered the young man to repay the money. |
【推荐2】Ashok Gadgil has spent the past three decades helping people in need---and he has no plans to stop. On May 2nd, Gadgil won the $100,000 Lemelson—MIT Award. Each year, the honor is given to an inventor who has improved the lives of people in developing countries. Gadgil’s inventions have helped more than 100 million people around the world.
Gadgil is a professor and physicist at the University of California, Berkeley. When he’s not teaching, he works to find solutions to global problems about energy and water safety. ”I chose to focus on problems where my knowledge of science could help,“ Gadgil said.
In the 1980s, he came up with a program to make energy—efficient light bulbs more affordable for people in developing countries. Then in the 1990s, Gadgil designed his first life-saving invention, UV Waterworks. It kills deadly viruses from drinking water. It costs just one cent to clean five liters of water. Gadgil was inspired to find an inexpensive solution to the clean water crisis after more than 10,000 people in his home country of India died from an outbreak of Bengal cholera in 1993. The disease is spread through polluted food and drinking water.
So far, the invention has provided safe drinking water to more than 5 million people in India Liberia, Nigeria, the Philippines and Ghana.
Families in refugee camps in Sudan are given food aid. But they still have to cook the meals. In order to do so, refugee women leave the safe camps three to five times a week to gather firewood They walk up to seven hours a day to find enough wood to fuel their stoves. Cooking over an open fire can be dangerous to one’s health and to the environment, too, because of the amount of smoke it produces. Gadgil visited the area many times with his students and his co-workers to work with the refugee women on designing a clean, fuel-efficient stove. The Berkeley---Darfur Stove he created saves 55% of fuel. That means the women wouldn’t have to leave the houses to find firewood as often. The invention also helps to save homes more than $300 a year. About 125,000 women and their families have been helped.
As a professor, Gadgil encourages his students to stay positive about finding solutions to hard problems. “Be optimistic when you try a hard problem,” he says, “It’s when you solve a large problem that you can have a powerful effect on the world.”
1. Gadgil was given Lemelson-MIT Award for ______.| A．his teaching experience | B．his new research report |
| C．his vast knowledge | D．his helpful inventions |
| A．It’s Gadgil’s first invention. | B．It’s used to clean water. |
| C．It was designed for India. | D．It saved 10,000 people. |
| A．Learn from failures. |
| B．Find problems in a peaceful life. |
| C．Invent more to help poor people. |
| D．Be confident when facing difficulties. |
| A．Caring and optimistic. | B．Proud and positive. |
| C．Independent and sensitive. | D．Responsible and strict. |
【推荐3】Molly Boylan is one of the most successful business women in Canada after setting up her cosmetic (化妆品)company Blazes in 1992.Though she is very successful,she says that she finds it harder every year in balancing her business with her family life.She sometimes feels that her two children know more about their baby-sitter than about her.
Molly employs around eighty people in her factory and warehouse,and ten others in her two new fashion stores,but her newest employee is the most important one for her.After years of worrying about her business more than her family,she has decided to make Sally Pamonte new general manager in her company.Molly will still be involved in decision-making,and she’s going to stay in touch with the people who work for her,but Sally is going to look after day-to-day running of the business so that Molly can spend more time with the kids.
The new arrangement (安排)is going to start on Monday,and both of them are already excited about it.Sally says,“I’m very nervous,actually,but I’m sure Molly will help me a lot in the early days,even though I hope she feels she can trust me not to make too many mistakes.”
Molly,on the other hand,seems quite relaxed about the whole thing.“I know that Sally’s going to be a very nice manager.” she says,“She’s only been here a couple of days and she’s already shown me how to work out a few problems.The best thing though is that I feel a hundred times happier than I’ve been in years.I mean,I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt as relaxed as this,and my kids are really excited about my being at home more.To be honest,I wish I had made this decision years ago.”
1. The underlined phrase “be involved in” in the passage probably means .| A．be interested in | B．take part in |
| C．be nervous about | D．learn about |
| A．she has set up a new Blazes |
| B．she keeps in close touch with the workers |
| C．she has been able to solve a few problems |
| D．she has been working for the company since 1992 |
| A．will not run her business any more |
| B．seems satisfied with the new arrangement |
| C．was not pleased with the baby-sitter |
| D．was successful both in her business and her family |
| A．she has more than eighty people working for her |
| B．her kids know more about the baby-sitter |
| C．she can have more time to be with her kids |
| D．she has got a new general manager in her company |
【推荐1】Your next Saturday night takeaway could be brought to you by a robot after a major food delivery company announced plans to use automated vehicles to transport meals. Europe’s biggest online takeaway food company Just Eat has partnered with Starship Technologies to deliver food with robots on the streets of London later this month. “Nobody has ever done deliveries with land-based robots,” said Allan Martinson, the chief operating officer of Starship.
The robot courier can travel up to 4 miles per hour for about 10 miles. It uses a GPS signal and nine cameras to navigate (确定方向). Instead of a person arriving at their door, customers could find themselves receiving a notification (通知) on their phone that says a robot is on its way and a code to unlock the automated courier. “Put the code in, the robot opens up, and there’s your food,” said David Buttress, chief manager of Just Eat.
The robot, which has so far been tested in Greenwich, Milton Keynes and Glastonbury, costs ￡1 to transport within 3 miles, compared with the ￡3 to ￡6 it costs for a human courier. To date 30 robots have driven nearly 5,000 miles without getting into an accident or finding themselves picked on by passers-by. They have driven in more than 40 cities around the world, including London and Tallinn, Estonia.
An initial worry was how the public would react to robots. But Martinson said the public has been calm when passing the delivery machine on the streets. “The most surprising reaction has been the lack of reaction,” said Martinson.
Another significant fear was that people would disrupt (扰乱) the robots, or try to steal them and their contents. To prevent this, the robot is fitted with nine cameras, two way audio, and movement sensors that send a warning if it is lifted off the ground. And it opens only with a pass code provided to the customer via a notification. “It’s much easier to shoplift than it is to steal a robot,” said Martinson.
1. According to the text, the Starship robot ________.| A．opens up upon hearing the code |
| B．travels 10 miles per hour at most |
| C．finds its way by means of GPS and cameras |
| D．sends a message to the customer upon arrival |
| A．they are easy to operate |
| B．the robot delivery is appreciated in big cities |
| C．the robot delivery is cheaper than human delivery |
| D．they can travel for 10 hours continuously |
| A．People’s indifference to the robots |
| B．Safety of the robot delivery |
| C．Accuracy of the robot delivery _ |
| D．People’s concern about public traffic |
| A．describe the great improvement of Just Eat |
| B．tell about the global trend of Food Companies |
| C．show new robots are to move on the road |
| D．show delivery robots are to replace takeaway drivers |
【推荐2】Persuasion is to convince someone to agree with you, just like art which also calls for special techniques to accomplish. According to the ancient Greeks, there are three basic tools of persuasion: ethos, pathos and logos.
Ethos is a speaker’s way of convincing the audience that he is trustworthy, honest and reliable. One common way a speaker can develop ethos is by explaining how much experience or education he has in the field. After all, you’re more likely to listen to advice about how to take care of your teeth from a dentist than a fireman.
Pathos is a speaker’s way of connecting with an audience’s emotions. For example, a politician who is trying to convince an audience to vote for him might say that he alone can save the country from a terrible war. These words are intended to fill the audience with fear, thus making them want to vote for him. Similarly, an animal charity might show an audience pictures of injured dogs and cats to make the viewers feel pity, so they will be more likely to donate money.
Logos is the use of facts, statistics or other evidence to support your argument. An audience will believe you if you have convincing data to back up your claims. Presenting this evidence is much more persuasive than simply saying “believe me”.
Although ethos, pathos and logos all have their strengths, they are often most effective when used together. So, the next time you listen to a speech, watch a commercial or listen to a friend try to convince you to lend him some money, be on the lookout for these ancient Greek tools of persuasion.
1. What is the purpose of persuasion?| A．To advise somebody to support you. |
| B．To help someone have special skills. |
| C．To convince somebody to realize his aim. |
| D．To talk someone into being honest. |
| A．Pathos. | B．Ethos. |
| C．Logos. | D．Education. |
| A．Both prevent themselves from being hurt. |
| B．Both save people from terrible wars. |
| C．Both make the audience support them. |
| D．Both persuade people to donate money. |
| A．Convince the Audience. | B．Three Basic Tools of Persuasion |
| C．Believe Me. | D．Strength of Persuasion |
【推荐3】Most of us have something about us that we’re not 100% in love with, such as an impulsive streak or a short temper. What if those personality traits (个性特征) could be improved with daily use of a smartphone app? That was the focus of a new study from an international research team led by the University of Zurich.
“Personality traits predict several important aspects of life such as success at work, health and even a long.” says first author Mirjam Stieger. PhD. of Brandeis University in Waltham. Massachusetts. “So we wanted to test whether people can actively shape their personality traits with the help of a digital intervention (干预) within a relatively short period of time.”
Around 1.500 participants were provided with a specially developed smartphone app called PEACH for three months. On the app, a virtual companion communicated with the participants daily and provided support to help them make the changes they desired. And participants were divided into two groups — an intervention group and a waitlist control group. Participants in the waitlist control group selected and indicated their change goals before a one-month waiting period, and then they received the same three-month intervention as the intervention group.
The researchers found that participants in the waitlist control group didn't change their personality traits during the one-month waiting period. but participants who received the intervention reported changes in the desired direction. “We also found that friends and family members were able to detect personality changes,” Stieger says. “Another surprising finding was that most participants were able to maintain (维持) their personality trait changes until three months after the end of the intervention.”
While apps could be used to promote personality change, mental health expert Karen Peters warns, it's important to remember they are there for support and not as a substitute for an individual's change. “The use of an app itself isn't going to influence change — change is influenced by internal motivation.” she says. “The new study demonstrates this point by determining that change outcomes were in agreement with the individual's desire to change.”
1. Why does the author ask the question in paragraph 1?| A．To put forward a problem. | B．To recommend a method. |
| C．To lead in the recent study. | D．To come up with a new concept. |
| A．Set their change goals. | B．Detect others' changes. |
| C．Help their companions. | D．Get rid of daily apps. |
| A．Most of the participants' personalities were unstable. |
| B．Digital intervention made no difference to personalities. |
| C．The use of an app alone could shape personality traits. |
| D．The participants, personality changes were noticeable. |
| A．Are Your Personality Traits Out of Control? |
| B．Are You in Love With Your Personality Traits? |
| C．Can a Smartphone App Change Your Personality? |
| D．Can Digital Intervention Determine Personal Desire? |
【推荐1】“The failure to play is now a serious issue and it calls for action for change,” says Sir Ken Robinson, a leading expert in education, creativity and human development. This is the driving force behind Outdoor Classroom Day—a global teacher-led campaign, supported by Dirt is Good, a company producing daily chemical products.
Outdoor Classroom Day, taking place on 17th May and 1st November this year, will see schools around the world swap the inside for the outside and take learning into the playground and beyond to make playtime a key part of the school day. This might involve using natural objects like stones to do sums, or going on an insect hunt to encourage curiosity. By now, Outdoor Classroom Day has grown from a grassroots movement to a global campaign that is expected to benefit five million children and over 40,000 schools from all around the world in 2018.
This is helping to change the trend that sees many schools selling up or building on their playgrounds and cutting back on playtime to make more room for academic studies, while at home children's lives are increasingly filled with organized activities intended to help them learn. Today globally 61% of parents surveyed in the Dirt is Good Qualitative Study said that children don't know how to play without using technology.
Outdoor Classroom Day is making playing time happen, with 22% of participating schools having increased their playtime since joining the campaign. 93% of teachers surveyed saw improvements in children's creativity after playing outside, and 97% believe that time outdoors is necessary for children to reach their full potential.
Scientific studies show that real play—the active, physical, selfdirected play—is essential for children to develop key life skills that are not taught elsewhere. Few would question the value of developing creativity, leadership, resourcefulness, and curiosity.
1. What do children do on Outdoor Classroom Day?| A．Have P. E classes on the playgrounds. |
| B．Take a day off and go playing anywhere. |
| C．Learn and play by using natural things outside. |
| D．Play on their own without the teachers’ guidance. |
| A．Parents prefer to have them study at home. |
| B．Schools decrease the number of playgrounds. |
| C．Electronic equipment takes up most of their time. |
| D．The importance of playtime for children is ignored. |
| A．They are taught by their teachers. | B．They are earned through real play. |
| C．They are learnt from their parents. | D．They are gained by doing surveys. |
| A．To inform. | B．To persuade. | C．To entertain. | D．To advertise. |
【推荐2】Travelling doesn’t always have to be about changing your location. Reading books also takes you on real-life adventures around the world, even from our armchairs. Here we feature 4 adventure tales that we can dive into.
Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains, by Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent.
Despite suffering from panic disorder, the brave Bolingbroke-Kent sets off on an adventure across a lesser-known part of India, Arunachal Pradesh. There is plenty of humor thrown in, along with the highs and lows of her journey, so it’s not just all serious.
Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson.
“A little voice in my head said: Sounds neat! Let’s do it!” writes Bryson of his more humorous than heroic journey from Maine to Georgia along the Appalachian Trail. Bryson’s tale may be the funniest call for conservation ever written.
Brazilian Adventure, by Peter Fleming.
Peter Fleming signed on to a risky 3,000-mile Brazilian jungle hunt to uncover the fate of a lost English explorer. Imagine a book: Funny, exciting, literate, a period piece that still works.
A Book of Migrations, by Rebecca Solnit.
It’s a search for roots in Ireland. Her long hike in western Ireland leads to a reflection on movement-cultural, psychological, personal. There is much to learn by getting away from the tourist route, walking and speaking to the people you meet along the way. They have stories to tell that you won’t find in the tourist guides.
What travel-inspiring books have you ever read? Please email us at amy.alipio@natgeo.com.
1. What is the common characteristic of the first three adventure tales?| A．Funny. | B．Magic. | C．Risky. | D．Serious. |
| A．Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains. | B．Walk in the Woods. |
| C．Brazilian Adventure. | D．A Book of Migrations. |
| A．It is a search in the western land. | B．It is full of cultural movements. |
| C．It doesn’t follow the tourist route. | D．It has many stories about tourist guides. |
【推荐3】The person who set the course of my life was a school teacher named Marjorie Hurd. When I stepped off a ship in New York Harbor in 1949, I was a nine-year-old war refugee(难民), who had lost his mother and was coming to live with the father he did not know. My mother, Eleni Gatzoyiannis, had been imprisoned and shot for sending my sisters and me to freedom.
I was thirteen years old when I entered Chandler Junior High. Shortly after I arrived, I was told to select a hobby to pursue during “club hours.” The idea of hobbies and clubs made no sense to my immigrant ears, but I decided to follow the prettiest girl in my class. I joined her club and met Miss Hurd, the school newspaper adviser and English teacher.
A tough woman with salt-and-pepper hair and determined eyes, Miss Hurd had no patience with lazy bones. She drilled us in grammar, assigned stories for us to read and discuss, and eventually taught us how to put out a newspaper. Her introduction to the literary works of Greece gave me a new understanding of my war-torn homeland, making me proud of my origins. Her efforts inspired me to understand the logic and structure of the English language. Owing to her inspiration, during my next twenty-five years, I became a journalist by profession.
Miss Hurd retired at the age of 62. By then, she had taught for a total of 41 years. Even after her retirement, she continually made a project for unwilling students in whom she saw a spark of potential. The students were mainly from troubled homes, yet she figured out an approach to charming them with her own special tough love, until the spark caught fire.
Miss Hurd was the one who directed my grief and pain into writing. But for Miss Hurd, I wouldn't have become a reporter. She was the one who sent me into journalism and indirectly caused all the good things that came after.
1. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 most probably mean?| A．Hobbies and clubs did not interest the author. |
| B．The author had an ear problem so that he couldn’t join clubs. |
| C．Immigrants had no hobbies and clubs didn’t welcome them. |
| D．The author had no idea what hobbies and clubs were all about. |
| A．Stepping on the American soil for the first time. |
| B．Being exposed to Greek literary works. |
| C．Her mother's miserable death. |
| D．Following the prettiest girl in his class. |
| A．Miss Hurd used a special way to handle these students from troubled homes. |
| B．Miss Hurd's contribution was recognized across the nation. |
| C．Miss Hurd's teaching career came to an end soon after she retired. |
| D．The students Miss Hurd taught all became successful. |
| A．How the author became a journalist. |
| B．The importance of inspiration in one's life. |
| C．The teacher who shaped the author's life. |
| D．Factors contributing to a successful career. |
