As a young man, Al was a skilled artist, a potter (陶艺工人) with a wife and two fine sons. One night, his elder son developed a severe stomachache. Thinking it was only some common intestinal (肠道) disorder, neither Al nor his wife took the condition very seriously. But the boy died suddenly that night.
Knowing the death could have been avoided if he had only realized the seriousness of the situation, he always felt he was guilty. To make matters worse, his wife left him a short time later, leaving him alone with his six-year-old younger son. The hurt and pain of the two situations were more than Al could stand, and he turned to alcohol to help, In time Al became an alcoholic.
As the alcoholism progressed, Al began to lose everything he possessed-his land, house etc. Finally Al died alone in a small bar. Hearing of AI's death, I thought, “What a totally wasted life! What a complete failure!”
As time went by, I began to reevaluate my earlier rough judgment. I knew Al's now adult son, Ernie. He is one of the kindest, most caring and most loving men I have ever known, I saw the love between Ernie and his children, thinking that kindness and caring had to come from somewhere.
I hadn't heard Ernie talk much about his father. One day, I worked up my courage to ask him what on earth his father had done so that he became such a special person. Ernie said quietly. “As a child until I left home at 18, Al came into my room every night, gave me a kiss and said, ‘I love you, son.’”
Tears came to my eyes as I realized what a fool I had been to judge Al as a failure. He had not left any material possessions behind. But he had been a kind and loving father, and left behind his best love.
1. What directly made the author think of Al as a failure?| A．His losing everything and his life. | B．His older son's death. |
| C．His strong addiction to alcohol. | D．His wife's divorcing him. |
| A．His father's life was indeed wasted. |
| B．The love from his father made him what he was. |
| C．A great fortune must have been left to him. |
| D．He was not very kind but very loving. |
| A．Love you, son | B．A failure father | C．Parents' love | D．A skilled artist |
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【推荐1】The spring before our son Hank was scheduled to enter kindergarten, we were invited to the school's “Kindergarten Round-up”. The title led me to believe that Hank and I would be enjoying a fun night.999
We arrived to find several on-the-spot tests to see where Hank ranked academically. Somewhat nervously, I watched as Hank recited the alphabet (字母表), counted as high as he could, and arranged blocks in a series of confusing patterns. So far, so good. I breathed a sigh of relief.
“All right, Hank,” the tester said, “just a few more easy questions.” Then she explained to me that she wanted to hear what Hank thinks was the logical thing to do in certain situations. I smiled and nodded, but inside I felt a fresh flash of panic. What if Hank couldn't reach any logical conclusions?
After several dialogues, like “Eating too much sugar?” “Tooth decay!”, the tester nodded her head. “Okay, Hank, tell me what you'd do if you went into a dark room.” Without thinking, Hank said, “Be brave.”
The tester waited a moment before promoting, “What else would you do? Wouldn't you turn on a light?” “Oh, yeah,” Hank said, “if I could reach it.”
Obviously, being brave wasn't the expected answer, but as I listened, all I could think about was how many events awaited him when bravery would be enormously helpful. While it's smart to turn on a light, it never hurts to be brave while you're waiting for your eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness. From the mouth of my child, I realized that I'd handed my son advice that applied to my life just as much as it did to his.
Hank and I left the "Kindergarten Round-up" with a light heart, both believing he was going to be just fine.
1. What’s the purpose of the “Kindergarten Round-up”?| A．To evaluate kids' academic level. |
| B．To help kids pass kindergarten tests. |
| C．To let parents learn about kindergarten. |
| D．To please pre-schoolers. |
| A．Pleased. | B．Relaxed. |
| C．Worried. | D．Confident. |
| A．She taught Hank an important lesson. |
| B．She was happy about Hank's answer. |
| C．She got valuable advice from the tester. |
| D．She was dissatisfied with the tester's reaction. |
| A．No Need to Turn on a Light | B．Kindergarten Will Just Be Fine |
| C．A Fruitless Kindergarten Round-up | D．Being Brave Is the Same Important |
Now that I am no longer young. I have friends whose mothers have passed away. I have heard these sons and daughters say they never fully thanked their mothers until it was too late to tell them.
I am blessed with the dear mother who is still alive. I appreciate her devotion more each day. My mother does not change, but I do. As I grow older and wiser, I realize what an extraordinary person the is. It’s sad that I am unable to say these words in her presence, but they flow easily from my pen.
How does a daughter begin to thank her mother for life itself? For the love, patience and just plain hard work that go into raising a child? For running after a toddler, for understanding a moody teenager, and for tolerating a college student who knows everything? For wailing for the day when the daughter realizes what her mother really is?
How does a grown woman thank a mother for continuing to be a mother? For being ready with advice when asked or remaining silent when it is needed? For not saying “I told you so.” when she could have voiced these words dozens of times? For being essentially herself — loving, thoughtful, patient and forgiving?
I don’t know how to thank her, dear God, except to bless her and live up to the example she has set. I pray that I will look as good in the eyes of my children as my mother looks in mine.
1. We can infer from the passage that the author is .| A．reserved and romantic | B．cold and practical |
| C．stubborn but responsible | D．talkative and realistic |
| A．she has her own lovely sons and daughters |
| B．she is excellent in bringing up her own children |
| C．it is too late to say thanks to her mother in her presence |
| D．she still has the chance to express her appreciation to her mother |
| A．mothers should offer advice rather than blame |
| B．the sentence “I told you so.” can be repealed if necessary |
| C．the author is very thankful to her mother for her education |
| D．mothers can instruct their children whenever they want to |
| A．devotion | B．forgiveness |
| C．consideration | D．self-preservation |
【推荐3】It was an autumn morning shortly after my husband and I moved into our first house. Our children were upstairs unpacking, and I was looking out of the window at my father moving around mysteriously on the front lawn. “What are you doing out there?” I called to him.
He looked up, smiling. “I’m making you a surprise.’’ I thought it could be just about anything. When we were kids, he always created something surprising for us. Today, however, Dad would say no more, and caught up in the business of our new life, I eventually forgot about his surprise.
Until one gloomy day the next March when I glanced out of the window, I saw a dot of blue across the yard. I headed outside for a closer look. They were crocuses (番红花) throughout the front lawn — blue, yellow and my favorite pink, with little faces moving up and down in the cold wind. I remembered the things Dad secretly planted last autumn. He knew how the darkness and dullness of winter always got me down. What could have been more perfectly timely to my needs?
My father’s crocuses bloomed (开花) each spring for the next five seasons, always bringing the same assurance: Hard times are almost over. Hold on, keep going, and light is coming soon.
Then a spring came with only half the usual blooms and the next spring there were none. I missed the crocuses, so I would ask Dad to come over and plant new bulbs (块茎植物). But I never did. He died suddenly one October day. My family were in deep sorrow, leaning on our faith.
On a spring afternoon four years later, I was driving back when I felt depressed. It was Dad’s birthday, and I found myself thinking about him. This was not unusual — my family often talked about him, remembering how he lived up to his faith. Suddenly I slowed as I turned into our driveway. I stopped and stared at the lawn. There on the muddy grass with small piles of melting snow, bravely waving in the wind, was one pink crocus.
How could a flower bloom from a bulb more than 18 years ago, one that hadn’t bloomed in over a decade? But there was the crocus. Tears filled my eyes as I realized its significance.
Hold on, keep going, and light is coming soon. The pink crocus bloomed for only a day, but it built my faith for a lifetime.
1. According to the first three paragraphs, we learn that .| A．it kept bothering (使烦恼) the author not knowing what the surprise was |
| B．it was not the first time that the author’s father had made a surprise |
| C．the author was unpacking when her father was making the surprise |
| D．the author knew what the surprise was because she knew her father |
| A．The author usually felt depressed in the season of winter. |
| B．The crocuses bloomed each spring before her father died. |
| C．The author’s father planted the crocuses to lift her low spirits. |
| D．The author often thought about her father after he died. |
| A．a part-time worker who loved flowers |
| B．a kind-hearted man who lived with faith |
| C．a full-time gardener with skillful hands |
| D．an ordinary man with doubts in his life |
| A．Crocuses — My Source of Faith |
| B．Crocuses — Father’s Hobby |
| C．A Pink Crocus — My Memory |
| D．Crocuses in Blossom — My Favorite |
【推荐1】One year, our son Tom, who was six years old, asked for a new sound system. "Please bring me a new stereo so I don't have to listen to my dad's old music," he told the shop's Santa. Jenny and I took note.
On Christmas Eve, we let Tom sleep in our bed at the back of the house, where the sound of Santa wouldn't wake him. Then I went to my NASA-level workshop in the spare bedroom and spent the whole night putting together that stereo.
At one point, I took a break to move Tom from our bed to his — he was afraid that Santa might think he wasn't home and would forget to leave presents behind. He moved a bit while I carried him but never opened his eyes. At last, I finished the stereo and positioned it by the tree. Jenny and I fell asleep early that Christmas morning, filled with satisfaction. At 7 a.m., Tom woke us up and led us to the Christmas tree in the hall. He fell in love with the sound system.
A few days passed, and Tom asked me a surprising question. "Dad, how did I get from your bed to mine?" Ever the clever one, I said, "Santa moved you! Isn't that fun?” He said nothing, walking into the hall and looking closely at the floor. He came back, arms folded. "Dad, we need to talk, but Mom can't hear. You are Santa Claus! Look at the wheel marks on the carpet. The stereo was rolled out of that bedroom and down the hallway." I was shocked. He was only six.
His big concern was that we should not tell his mother, because he was certain she didn't know. "It will be our little secret forever," I told him, much to his delight. "We men have to stick together."
After that, Tom got to be Santa on Christmas when we donated presents to a needy family — he just loved it.
1. Why did Tom's parents move Tom from their bed to his?| A．Because they wanted him to sleep alone. |
| B．Because they knew his worry that he would possibly miss Santa's presents. |
| C．Because they wanted to put together the stereo. |
| D．Because they would prepare another gift for him. |
| A．He didn't want his mother to hear. |
| B．He discovered the wheel marks on the floor. |
| C．He wanted to confirm that his father was Santa. |
| D．He saw his father putting together the stereo at night. |
| A．Smart and kind |
| B．Considerate and curious |
| C．Naughty and aggressive |
| D．Responsible and cautious |
| A．The secret well keep forever |
| B．The gift Tom likes best |
| C．The holiday I'll never forget |
| D．The kid I've teased |
【推荐2】As a child, John always wondered how the human body worked and how he could keep it healthy. His interest in medicine grew stronger when he volunteered at a children’s hospital during high school. The never-give-up spirit of young patients battling against various illnesses massively affected him. Initially, he chose nursing in college, believing it would lead him to work closely with children. But after his first half year, he recognized nursing wasn’t fit for him.
Switching to biology helped him discover his passion for learning about the complexities of human body and using that knowledge to help children. Although the thought of the lengthy education and residency required for pediatrics (儿科学) made him hesitant, a heart-to-heart conversation with his brother changed his mind. His brother convinced John that his passion should motivate him rather than scare him. It was then that John decided to become a pediatrician because of the simple fact that he would work with children every day, and would make a positive impact on their lives and their families.
Pediatrics is not just about regular check-ups, it also includes making sick kids feel better and helping them heal. This brings so much joy to John’s heart. To him, he is not only a doctor but also a teacher, offering a safe space for the little ones to open up and share their fears or concerns. Plus, he really enjoys being a friendly and easy-to-talk-to person in their lives.
Being a pediatrician gives John the rewarding experience of helping and interacting with children daily and making those little ones’ tough times easier. Also, the changing world of healthcare means he’ll always be learning new things and facing exciting challenges. With his future plans, he wants to get into the field of being a physician assistant — a stepping stone that keeps him involved in pediatric care while still engaged in direct interaction with young patients. It allows him to do lots of the same things as a pediatrician, as well as helps him improve skills that are vital for making kids healthier.
1. What can we learn about John from the first paragraph?| A．He began to have an interest in medicine during high school. |
| B．He decided to work on nursing after graduation from college. |
| C．He got inspired by young patients when volunteering at a hospital. |
| D．He was curious about how the doctors work to keep people healthy. |
| A．To learn about the complexities of human body. |
| B．To bring about improvements in children’s lives. |
| C．To get rewarding experience of helping children. |
| D．To face the challenges making him hesitant and scared. |
| A．Excited but tired. | B．Worthy but stressful. |
| C．Proud and delighted. | D．Concerned and moved. |
| A．John’s journey of pursuing a career in pediatrics. |
| B．John’s challenges and rewards as a pediatrician. |
| C．A comparison between pediatricians and nurses. |
| D．The importance of improving the health of children. |
【推荐3】“Tell me the story of me, Momma,” my daughter Sophie always asks when we sit on my grandmother’s rocking chair at the end of the day. “The first time I saw your beautiful face, it was nearly covered by a blue-and-white hat. You were surrounded by a soft blue blanket (毛毯). All I could see was a rosy face.” “And I looked like a tiny fairy baby?” she asks. “You did, and you weren’t older than a minute,” I always answer. “The nurse handed a tiny little girl to me, and I was so surprised because you felt so light. I thought if I threw off the blanket, I’d find no baby there at all, only air.”
From that moment, I became a mother. But that moment was just special and magical as if she’d come from my body directly into my arms. From that day on, she was my daughter in every way that mattered.
It’s easy sometimes to forget there was another mother out there with whom I share my title. Sophie’s birth mother, who was also my friend, lost her life to cancer not long after giving birth to Sophie. And I’ll never forget that it was her difficult decision—her tears and her pain— that made me a mom.
As my daughter grows, she will understand that sometimes life is a relay race (接力赛), and you never know who in this world will hand you your baton (接力棒). It could be someone you know for years, or it could be someone who you even never meet, someone you will never be able to repay for giving you the life you always wanted.
1. What can we learn about Sophie?| A．She was given up by her birth mother. | B．She and the author aren’t related by blood. |
| C．She had a hard time growing up. | D．She hated her birth mother. |
| A．Disappointed. | B．Worried. | C．Grateful. | D．Surprised. |
| A．Taking up the Baton | B．Being Thankful for Life |
| C．Two Mothers’ Love | D．The Mystery of Sophie’s Birth |
