It was a beautiful Southern California morning with a blue sky, a cool breeze and warm sunlight. I walked through the parking lot of the shopping centre, thinking of my appointment with the cake at the local bakery. As I wandered in front of the grocery store next to the bakeshop, I noticed a young woman standing at the store entrance with bags of groceries neatly piled. As is my practice with strangers, I made eye contact with her and said with a smile, “Hello, there! And how are you today?”
She smiled back and responded with a Southern accent. I had only taken a few steps past her when I heard her say, “Thank you for seeing me!”
Still smiling, I turned around and walked over to her. For the next twenty minutes, I listened attentively to Dominique sharing her story. She had grown up in Louisiana. Three years ago, she moved to California alone, where without contacts or the promise of employment, she struggled to create a life of purpose and fulfillment. She spoke with an easy Southern charm and a smile with joy.
A friend of hers came to pick her up. I helped her load the groceries into the back seat of the car. She thanked me and opened the front passenger-side door. "My daddy used to say that a person will remember how you made them feel long after they've forgotten what you said. I know I'll remember this for a long time.” I smiled, knowing I would as well.
One of my favorite quotes is from Mother Teresa: “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” I have found that the benefit of doing these small things not only helps me maintain a positive outlook on life but may even sow a few seeds of hope for someone else.
1. What made the author come back to the woman?| A．Her big smile. | B．Her kind words. |
| C．Her funny accent. | D．Her good appearance. |
| A．She used to dislike contacting others. |
| B．She is living a boring and lonely life now. |
| C．Her life in the past three years may be tough. |
| D．She often forgets what her friends have said. |
| A．Generous and caring. | B．Independent and friendly. |
| C．Ambitious and humorous. | D．Aggressive and demanding. |
| A．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| B．The more you sweat，the luckier you get. |
| C．Nothing is impossible for a willing heart. |
| D．It doesn't take much to brighten others' life. |
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Tastemakers Africa is a mobile app aiming to revolutionize the African travel and leisure space.Through the app, travelers and curious locals can book personal experiences.Its founder,Cherae Robinson,has always been passionate about Africa and through her personal adventures got an opportunity.
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How does one go from a sports scientist to a founder launching a crowdfunding platform only four months? “I am passionate about Africa and impressed by the teaming spirit of the African youth,”she said,"A group of angel investors backing a business can really lead it to success!"
Richard Bbaale
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BanaPads is not yet available to the market in Africa but its original story alone is pretty inspiring.Watching his older sister miss school for a week every month because their guardians could not afford clean towels,sowed a seed for a business Richard Bbaale would later start.
1. Whose app is under the process of research and development?| A．Bbaale. | B．Atawodi. |
| C．Robinso. | D．Gwatidzo. |
| A．his interest in phones | B．his responsibility for family |
| C．his intention to set up a brand | D．his eagerness to provide more jobs |
| A．Helping locals earn more. | B．Helping visitors save money. |
| C．Making it easier to book tickets. | D．Making travel more comfortable. |
【推荐2】There are only a few truly pleasant smells to wake up to in the morning. It might be the aroma of freshly baked bread, or the scent of your freshly brushed teeth—but for me, it’s the smell of freshly brewed coffee.
If you’re a big fan of coffee, you’ll understand that opening a new packet of coffee releases an amazing smell—fresh, roasted coffee beans. Delicious! And if you’ve got a nose for the stuff, you’ll be able to identify the beans’ origin - Colombia, Vietnam or Brazil—the world’s biggest coffee producer. Tim Hayward is a food writer and coffee shop owner.
I know from experience when I walk into a café for my double espresso or flat white, my mouth begins to water in anticipation.
However, this feeling sometimes turns to disappointment when I actually start drinking my hot beverage—the taste just doesn’t match the smell.. This is particularly the case when I order a coffee to go in a tall paper cup and sip the liquid through a hole in the lid.
Tim Hayward describes this process as “weird” and “baffling”. He says, “You walk into the coffee shop, you get the smell, but when you actually take the drink out, you are drinking it from something that is designed to deliver the hot liquid directly past your tongue, but prevent any smell coming up to your nose.”
| A．He believes the smell is absolutely vital. |
| B．Coffee beans’ origin makes all the difference. |
| C．In a word, saving our planet is on the top of our agenda. |
| D．Yes, it’s convenient, but is it really the right way to appreciate it? |
| E．As well as eliminating the smell, takeaway coffee cups create a lot of waste. |
| F．Although it’s the caffeine hit I’m after, it’s the smell that makes me feel good. |
| G．Just a sniff of it makes me jump out of bed and rush to the kitchen for a coffee. |
【推荐3】A good way to look at failure directly is by writing a failure resume (简历) or CV. Like social media, there, we usually only see our friends’ “highlight part”. When we look at others’ resumes, we get scared and think our resume doesn’t measure up. But even the most accomplished people have plenty of failure behind them — we just don’t see it.
Melanie Stefan felt this deeply as a scientist, so she wrote a different CV which of course boasted (夸耀) about her good grades, PhD, and published papers. But the way she deals with her failure CV is a model of what we all could do. “My CV does not reflect my great academic efforts — it does not mention the exams I failed, my unsuccessful PhD or scholarship applications, or the papers never accepted for publication. During the interviews, I talked about the one project that worked, not about the many that failed,” wrote Stefan in a column for Nature.
Stefan suggests keeping a draft on which you regularly log every unsuccessful application, refused proposal and rejected paper.
And that’s the point: not to consider what we got wrong, but to use that information to look at failure and realize it’s really okay, and also to use our failures for another purpose: as learning tools.
The point is to be real — with ourselves and about how the world works. Being real means taking an honest, critical, but also kind look at what we didn’t get right, and then doing our best to change what we can. Instead of focusing on how that failure makes you feel, take the time to step back and analyze the practical reasons that you failed.
So, practice being okay with failure, and turn your failures into lessons learned. And yes, sometimes we have to learn those lessons more than once, letting go of what you can’t change. And keep moving forward to success.
1. What does the underlined word “it” in the first paragraph refer to?| A．Plenty of failure. | B．A failure resume. | C．A highlight part. | D．A good way |
| A．All her failures in her career. | B．Benefits she got from her failures. |
| C．The content of her own resume. | D．The difference between her resume and others’. |
| A．Regard failures as part of our life. | B．Keep a record of our failures. |
| C．Value our achievements. | D．Long for failures. |
| A．No pains, no gains. | B．All roads lead to Rome. |
| C．Where there is a will, there is a way. | D．Failure is the mother of success. |
【推荐1】Everyone can benefit from better communication.
Verbal language is only one aspect of the communication—body language is another aspect. If you ever wanted to know how to tell if someone is lying, body language is the answer. Your body language tells other people what you aren’t verbally saying, such as if you are anxious, confident, confused, angry or any other type of emotion or state of mind. If you become great at reading body language,it will help you become a better communicator.
Listen to others
Before you ever begin to speak, take a minute to see if anyone else has something to say.
Think before you speak
You parents probably told you this as a child, but many people still do not take a moment to think about the words they are about to say.
| A．This is not and over-night thing. |
| B．Singing a song for them is good. |
| C．Become fluent in body language |
| D．Don’t try to make the conversation go your way. |
| E．You should decide what you want to get in any conversation before you choose your words. |
| F．If you are too anxious, you can’t find the right body language to use in the communication. |
| G．In fact, if everybody were excellent communicators, the world would be a much better place. |
【推荐2】One of the most important things in the world is friendship． In order to have friends， you have to be a friend． But how can you be a good friend at school？
Listen ﹣ Listen when they are talking． Don't say anything unless they ask you a question． Sometimes it's not necessary for you to have anything to say； they just need someone to talk to about their feelings．
Help them ﹣ If your friend is ever in need of something， be there to help them． You should try to put them first， but make sure you don't do everything they want you to do． Try to take an extra pencil or pen with you to classes in case they forget one． Have a little extra money in your pocket in case they forget something they need．
Be there for them ﹣ Be there for your friends to help make them feel better in hard times． Marilyn Monroe， a famous U．S． actor， once said， "I often make mistakes． Sometimes I am out of control， but if you can't stay with me at my worst， you are sure not to deserve to be with me at my best．" Always remember this! If you don't want to stay with your friends when they're in hard times， then you don't deserve to be with them when they're having a good time!
Make plans ﹣ Try to make plans with your friends． Go shopping， go for ice cream， have a party， go to a movie and so on． Take time to know each other even better by doing something you both enjoy． By planning things together， you both can have a good time． And you'll remember these things when you're all old!
1. While your friend is talking to you about his or her feelings， you should ．| A．give him or her some advice |
| B．calm him or her down |
| C．just listen unless asked |
| D．share your feelings as well |
| A．put them before ourselves |
| B．try to do everything for them |
| C．change their bad habits first |
| D．ignore their faults |
| A．Life without a friend is death． |
| B．A friend is easier lost than found． |
| C．A man is known by his friends． |
| D．A friend in need is a friend indeed． |
| A．How to find a good friend． |
| B．How to be a good friend． |
| C．How to help friends in trouble． |
| D．How to make more friends． |
【推荐3】How to Improve Your Communication Skills
If you feel like you lack the basic skills required for good communication, there are a number of reliable ways to improve. Here are a few tips:
Focus on nonverbal communication. Mastering nonverbal signals can help prevent miscommunication and signal interest to those around you.
Manage your own emotions. For clear communication and your own personal well-being, it’s important to manage your emotions and express them appropriately in context.
Practice public speaking.
Ask for feedback. There’s no shame in asking for honest feedback on your communication skills from people around you.
| A．Practice active listening. |
| B．Develop communication skills. |
| C．Public speaking may sound frightening. |
| D．Know what’s appropriate to express when speaking publicly. |
| E．Turn to them for advice on improving your communication skills. |
| F．Showing strong emotions can lead to poor communication and conflict. |
| G．Pay attention to your facial expressions and body language when speaking with someone. |
【推荐1】It was early spring and my mother worked the soil into a ridge (隆起部分) for sweet potatoes on the edge of her garden. She planted sweet comas next. When I saw the plants, I was really excited. I thought it was really amazing. This gave me an idea. So one day when my mother was working in the garden again, I said to her, “Mum, can I have some space in your garden?”
My mum looked as if she couldn’t believe her ears. I was just six years old then, after all.
“Why do you want some space?” she asked. “I want to grow some plants, too,” I said.
“What plants do you want to grow?” asked my mum.
I thought of some marigold (万寿菊) seeds I had saved from my grandma’s garden, so I told her I wanted to grow that kind of flower.
My mother didn’t answer me immediately. She looked at her plants. All that she had grown were vegetables. I didn’t know what she was thinking back then, but now I do. She didn’t want to waste her garden space. But at last she said, “OK. You can do that.”
I was very happy when I heard that. My mother then gave me a 4-by-4-foot square of space in the garden. With my mother’s guidance, I happily planted the seeds in my small “garden”. Then I watered them. In the following days I waited for the seedlings to appear. When I finally saw some, I let out cries of joy.
I have fallen in love with gardening ever since, I was lucky that I could work in a “garden” of my own when I was little. Today many children living in cities can’t have such fun. But their parents can still take them out to enjoy nature in the wild. It can bring them great joy, believe me!
1. What did the author want to do when she saw the plants grown by her mum?| A．To learn to grow vegetables. | B．To have her own garden space. |
| C．To observe the plants every day. | D．To help her mother in the garden. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Excited. | C．Interested. | D．Worried. |
| A．She should plant some flowers. | B．She should grow more vegetables. |
| C．She would have to waste some space. | D．She had a lot of garden space to spare. |
| A．To introduce marigolds to gardeners. | B．To show today’s children live a boring life. |
| C．To advise people to buy houses with gardens. | D．To encourage parents to take their kids to nature. |
【推荐2】The e-mail request came in to Ekiben restaurant in Baltimore late on a Thursday afternoon. The man, Brandon Jones was writing for his mother-in-law, who loved the dish. He explained that she was now in the final stages of lung cancer at her home in Vermont and that he was hoping to get the recipe to make it for her there.
Steve Chu, one of the Asian fusion restaurant's co-owners, read the e-mail and quickly replied with another suggestion, "Thanks for reaching out, "he wrote. "We'd like to met you in Vermont and make it fresh for you.”
For the past six years, every time Brandon's mother-in-law visited Baltimore, the first place she wanted to go was Ekiben so she could order that dish. “She had always told us, 'When I'm on my deathbed, I want to have that broccoli (花椰菜),'” recalls Brandon's wife, Rina Jones.
That Friday after work, a day after receiving Brandon's e-mail, Chu prepared all the food ingredients (原料) and then headed for Vermont with his business partner and an employee. They stayed overnight in an Airbnb rental and drove the next day to where Rina's mother lived. After cooking and boxing everything up, they knocked on their customer's door.
“As soon as she opened the door, she recognized the amazing smell,” Brandon says.
Rina says her mother also recognized Chu and his coworkers. “My mom kept saying, 'You drove all the way up here to cook for me?' She was so happy and touched to have that broccoli.”
“It was an honor to help make the family's wishes come true,” Chu says.“There was a lot of good positive energy in doing this.” Rina was happy that her mother was able to enjoy her beloved broccoli with a side order of excellent kindness one last time.“My mom cried later about their generosity, and so did I.” Rina says.“I'll carry that positive memory with me always.”
1. Why did Brandon send the e-mail to Ekiben restaurant?| A．To enjoy the food himself. |
| B．To ask the owner to treat his mother-in-law. |
| C．To invite the owner to cook for his mother-in-law. |
| D．To learn how to cook the dish for his mother-in-law. |
| A．He was generous to his coworkers. |
| B．He had a strong desire for charity. |
| C．He was unwilling to share the recipe with others. |
| D．He felt honored to deliver positive energy to the family. |
| A．Surprised and moved. |
| B．Puzzled and amazed. |
| C．Anxious and thankful. |
| D．Stressed and concerned. |
| A．Positive memory, valued. |
| B．Kindness, delivered. |
| C．A special order. |
| D．A generous restaurant owner. |
【推荐3】Wearing a beautiful fragrant cloud organza (香云纱) costume designed by herself, Kathrin von Rechenberg chatted with neighbors in a “hutong” or traditional alley, in the Qianmen area of central Beijing, where she runs a clothing studio. Born in Munich, Germany, Rechenberg was so attracted by this delicate, classic Chinese silk at first sight and touch that in 1999 she came to China in search of it.
In order to learn more about this silk and seek design inspiration, she paid several visits to a dyeing (草木染) plant in Guangdong’s Shunde. “The production of fragrant cloud organza involves more than 30 times of dyeing and natural drying at each interval. After the dyeing, the organza needs to stand for years before the entire process is completed and it can be used, making the silk precious.”
Rechenberg has always insisted on sticking to originality in her designs. She draws inspiration from geometric (几何) lines and architectural shapes and reduces unnecessary tailoring to preserve the original art design as much as possible. “Western costume designers are used to presenting beauty through complex design and tailoring, but I just follow the lines and fabric (织物的) colors,” Rechenberg said.
Rechenberg was awarded the title of friendship ambassador of China’s textile intangible cultural heritage in 2020. Meanwhile, her own brand, Rechenberg Art Couture, has become increasingly popular. “I have gained a better understanding of the traditional Chinese culture over the past two decades in China and learned to pursue harmony with nature. I will continue to study Chinese culture and history,” she said.
1. Why did Rechenberg come to China in 1999?| A．To set up a clothing studio. | B．To search for a specific silk. |
| C．To find inspiration for design. | D．To experience the local culture. |
| A．Significant production time and unique techniques. |
| B．Complex tailoring and beautiful patterns. |
| C．Natural dyeing process and fragrant smell. |
| D．Original art designs and various colors. |
| A．It features superior tailoring skills. |
| B．It draws inspiration from Chinese history. |
| C．It combines Chinese and Western styles. |
| D．It respects the properties of clothing materials. |
| A．Enthusiastic and brave. | B．Smart and inspiring. |
| C．Considerate and careful. | D．Devoted and principled. |
