Last week, 84-year-old Janet Fein received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. Fein has had a full life. She has raised five children and then had a career as a secretary until she retired at age 77. But even then, she was not ready to take it easy and rest. She said she decided to major in sociology because she felt it was very important.
Fein grew up in the Bronx area of New York City. She just wanted to get a job in high school. After graduating at the age of 16, she went to work as a secretary. After getting married, she spent 18 years staying home with her children. She held several jobs throughout her life, including 20 years as a secretary at a hospital. She also worked for 20 years on earning an associate degree. But Fein also wanted to earn a bachelor's degree “with all of my heart”. Even with all of her life experiences, she still enjoyed reading, writing papers and learning new things.
Health experts say continuing with education later in life is one way to keep fit. Carmel Dyer, director of the UT Health Consortium on Aging at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, says keeping active and giving yourself something to look forward to “is just a really positive move”.
Fein kept going to class even as her health conditions worsened. During her studies, it became necessary for her to use a walker to get around and she required oxygen. She also developed knee problems. Therefore, Fein took online classes to finish the last part of her degree requirements. Her college advisor Sheila Rollerson said Fein never showed signs of giving up even with all of her difficulties. “She just kept plugging along,” Rollerson said.
1. What was Janet Fein’s last work before she retired?| A．A teacher. | B．A secretary. | C．A nurse. | D．A doctor. |
| A．Get a bachelor’s degree. | B．Keep fit by exercises. |
| C．Read all kinds of books. | D．Find a job at the hospital. |
| A．Life should be full of adventures. | B．People should have their own views. |
| C．Further study benefits the old’s health. | D．Healthy lifestyle is just to keep active. |
| A．Honest. | B．Determination. | C．Generosity. | D．Kindness. |
相似题推荐
In a weekend activity all the students at school had been invited to sign up sign up For ACE training,a program designed to have students become more active in their communities.T.J.was one of 405 students who signed up.
At the start of the activity,T.J.didn’t readily join the discussion groups and he didn’t seem to have much to say.But slowly,the interactive(互动)games drew him in.The next day,T.J.was very active in all the activities.By the and of the activity,he had joined the Homeless Project team.He knew something about poverty.hunger and hopelessness.The other students on the team were impressed with his concern and ideas.They elected T.J.cochairman of the team
A group of teachers were against the headmaster about T.J.Ware’s being elected cochairman.They reminded the principal.“The very first communitywide service project was to be a giant food Drive,organized by the Homeless Project team.He’ll probably steal half the food.” But Mr Coggs-All reminded them that the purpose of the ACE program was to uncover any positive passion(激情)that Students had.
Two weeks later.T.J.and his friends led a group of 70 students in a drive to collect food.They Collected a school record:2,854 cans of food in just two hours and the food took care of needy families In the area for 75 days.The local newspaper covered the event with a full-page article the next day for his doing something great and leading a food drive.
1. Why were teachers afraid to see T.J.Ware’s name on their lists?
| A．Because he didn’t seem to have much to say. |
| B．Because he didn’t answer ant questions in class. |
| C．Because he just liked the interactive games. |
| D．Because he often made troubles and fought with others. |
| A．T.J.signed u0 for ACE training. |
| B．A group of teachers were against his being elected co-chairman. |
| C．T.J.had joined the Homeless Project team by the end of the activity. |
| D．The headmaster agreed to let him be the co-chairman of the team. |
| A．persuade the headmaster not to make T.J.leader of the team |
| B．let the headmaster know everything about T.J.Ware |
| C．show T.J.Ware’s hobby to the headmaster |
| D．uncover T.J.Ware’s positive passion in him |
| A．Students. | B．Homeless people. | C．The group of teachers. | D．T.J.Ware and his friends. |
【推荐2】To tell the truth, I don't remember seeing Mom actually read her old Bible. As far as I could tell, it just sat on the nightstand next to her bed. And that was the best place for it, since it probably wouldn't have survived any meaningful use anywhere else. The black cloth cover was ragged and time-worn, and its dog-eared pages yellowed. Once I accidentally knocked it off the nightstand, launching loose pages all over Mom's and Dad's bedroom. I expected a tongue-lashing for my carelessness, but Mom was so busy gathering the pages, gently smoothing them and returning them to their place in the book that she paid no attention to me.
Soon after I moved away from home, my sister Kathy and I bought a new Bible for Mom for her birthday. It was a black leather volume, twice as big as her old Bible. The pages were decorated in gold, and there were maps, references and a complete Bible dictionary included within its pages. We even had her name carved on the front with gold-leaf lettering. It was a beautiful book and Mom was touched and pleased. I remember watching her thumb carefully through the pages, admiring the quality of the paper and the clarity of the printing. From that day on, that Bible was the one she took with her to church and the one from which she read during the family Nativity Pageant. But for some reason, it never replaced the old Bible from its place for honor on her nightstand. And that bothered me a little.
“I don't know why you keep that old thing,” I told her as we prepared to pack it among her most precious belongings for what would turn out to be the last of many movements in her life-this time to warm Southern California. “That new Bible we got for you is the best that money can buy. You can't even use this old one anymore.”
Mom smiled at me weakly and sat on the edge of her bed, carefully rapping the old Bible in an equally old, equally shabby white cloth.
“Just because a thing isn't useful anymore, that doesn't mean it isn't valuable, “she said softly and deliberately.” You look at this and see an old, worn-out book. However, I see the gift your father gave me on our wedding day. I see the friend that was always there to provide me with strength and comfort when your father served at the front. I see the storybook from which I read stories to all of my children, and the book from which you all read your first Bible poems.”
“This Bible has been in the family as long as we've been a family."She continued, caressing it through the shabby white cloth.“Even though it isn't especially useful anymore, there is still value in what it represents.At least, there is to me.”
Suddenly it occured to me that she wasn't just talking about the old Bible. We live in an age of fanatically obsessive utilitarianism. Everything is disposable. If it's old or odd-looking or not particularly useful, we toss it out. We forget that there is value beyond use, and worth beyond “what's in it for me right now.”
When Mom passed away, Dad gave me her “new” Bible. It's among my most cherished possessions. It's the Bible I read and take to church. It means a lot to me, and it's really beautiful and incredibly useful. But I would trade it in a minute for Mom's old useless Bible. I even have the perfect place for it: on the nightstand next to my bed.
1. What does the underlined word “tongue-lashing” in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Defense. | B．Challenge. | C．Criticism. | D．Recognition. |
| A．Her mom didn't take the new Bible to church. |
| B．Her mom was unwilling to move to Southern California. |
| C．Her mom couldn't find an appropriate place for the new Bible. |
| D．Her mom had a strong love for the old Bible after owning the new one. |
| A．The Bible is too old to use. |
| B．The Bible has been part of their family. |
| C．The author should have read all the stories in the Bible. |
| D．The author should have shown respect for the Bible. |
| A．Too much spoils, while too little is nothing. |
| B．The most valuable things are the most useful. |
| C．People nowadays are materially better off than ever before. |
| D．The importance of the necessities of life has been overstated. |
| A．Mom's Old Useless Bible. | B．The Power of Utilitarianism. |
| C．The Making of a Holy Man. | D．Mom's Perfect Nightstand. |
【推荐3】To raise money for restaurant workers stuck at home during COVID-19, two brothers decided to walk 3,200 miles across America.
Having just arrived on the sands of the Pacific Ocean, Aiden and Louis Ardine have now completed their five-month walks which started in New Jersey. They had hoped to raise $30,000 for some charities that were helping restaurant workers waiting for restrictions (限制) to end, but ended up making $70,000 — which they gave to the COCO Fund and the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation (基金会).
Verizon heard about the endeavor and launched a donation movement in support of the Ardines, who passed through 11 states in 162 days, 12,000 feet in various altitudes (海拔高度), and about 80 degrees in temperature change before the job was done.
“This would not have been possible without the help of a huge community of people, whether people were donating or helping us guide our way across the United States.” said Aiden Ardine. “This was definitely an amazing adventure, and it proved that people are naturally good and want to help their neighbors.”
Just like cross-country trips in this nation, their journey was characterized by impressive scenery, long roads, and helpful strangers: like a man who passed them in the extreme heat of summertime Iowa, before doubling back (沿原路返回) and giving them a cold drink; or a Nevada campground manager who left them stay for free. In Utah they had an “interview” with a black bear. When rounding a corner in the woods, they found themselves within a few feet of it. When they reached San Francisco, their supporters were waiting for them on the beach. Afterwards they flew home along with their mom, who had been there to meet them. After their adventurous stay away from home, we can only imagine she was feeling proud of her sons indeed.
1. What was Aiden and Louis Ardine’s original desire?| A．To open a restaurant. | B．To help end COVID-19 soon. |
| C．To help restaurant workers. | D．To start an adventure away from home. |
| A．Solution. | B．Struggle. | C．Experiment. | D．Attitude. |
| A．He took pride in the journey. | B．He complained about the toughness. |
| C．He valued the help of others greatly. | D．He liked adventurous trips better than anything else. |
| A．They suffered from the extreme heat of summertime. | B．They were provided with a free stay. |
| C．They were greeted by their supporters. | D．They ran into a black bear. |
Lawrence’s two brothers were star athletes and one of them was a straight-A student. Unlike them, she suffered through school, never quite finding where she belonged. However, during a trip to New York, Lawrence suddenly realized that she wanted to be an actress. When she was enjoying the beautiful city, a model seeker asked if he could take her picture, and the next day he called her in for an audition(试镜).
“I read the play and it was the first time I had that feeling like I understand this.” Lawrence said. “Within 20 minutes, in the cab ride from the hotel room, I decided I didn’t want to be a model. In fact, I wanted to be an actress.” Having appreciated this young lady’s performance, the agency was so impressed with her reading that they signed her on the spot. But she insisted on finishing high school so she could give her full attention to her acting career.
Lawrence burst onto the Hollywood scene with The Hunger Games, which established her as the highest box office female action hero of all time. Rolling Stone called her “the most talented young actress in America”.
1. What can we know about Jennifer Lawrence from Paragraph 2?
| A．Her parents were really strict with her. |
| B．Her school performance made her today's reputation. |
| C．She seemed not to fit in with her school days well. |
| D．Her two brothers were doing well in all school subjects. |
| A．her brothers’ examples |
| B．a model interview |
| C．the taxi-ride to her hotel room |
| D．the beautiful scenery of New York |
| A．Winning Young | B．Acting Wisely |
| C．Choosing Early | D．Following Dreams |
Winner of 5 Olympic Gold Medals
“In 1997 I was found to have developed diabetes(糖尿病) . Believing my career was over, I felt extremely low. Then one of the specialists said there was no reason why I should stop training and competing. That was it — the encouragement I needed. I could still be a winner if I believe in myself. I am not saying that it isn’t difficult sometimes. But I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t finished yet. Nothing is to stand in my way.”
Karen Pickering
Swimming World Champion
“I swim 4 hours a day, 6 days a week. I manage that sort of workload by putting it on top of my diary. This is the key to success—you can’t follow a career in any field without being well-organized. List what you believe you can achieve. Trust yourself, write down your goals for the day, however small they are, and you’ll be a step closer to achieving them.”
Kirsten Best
Poet & Writer
“When things are getting hard, a voice inside my head tells me that I can’t achieve something. Then, there are other distractions, such as family or hobbies. The key is to concentrate. When I feel tense, it helps a lot to repeat words such as ‘calm’, ‘peace’ or ‘focus’, either out loud or silently in my mind. It makes me feel more in control and increases my confidence. This is a habit that can become second nature quite easily and is a powerful psychological tool.”
1. What does Sir Steven Redgrave mainly talk about?
| A．Difficulties influenced his career |
| B．Specialists offered him medical advice. |
| C．Training helped him defeat his disease. |
| D．He overcame the shadow of illness to win. |
| A．Her achievements | B．Her daily happenings |
| C．Her training schedule | D．Her sports career |
| A．Ways that help one to focus. |
| B．Activities that turn one’s attention away. |
| C．Words that help one to feel less tense. |
| D．Habits that make it hard for one to relax. |
| A．Hard work. | B．Devotion. |
| C．Courage. | D．Self-confidence. |
【推荐3】The ability to walk is the sort of thing many people take for granted, but for Ella Weiske, it’s a monumental achievement. Ella was born with cerebral palsy (脑瘫) and requires a wheelchair to get around, yet she always dreamed of walking across the stage to collect her high school diploma on her own two feet.
In spring of 2023, Ella finally got that chance! The teenager spent months before her graduation from Ripon High School in Wisconsin building strength and practicing walking on an innovative new device called a Trexo. All of her efforts were worth it when she stepped onto the stage to a standing ovation (起立鼓掌) from teachers and students.
Walking on graduation day was important to Ella so her family raised $45,000 with an online fundraiser to buy the Trexo device, which is a wearable robot designed to help children walk. The device is controlled by a tablet, and it helps Ella gently move her legs. She can adjust how much support is needed, walk angles, and speed.
Ella says just the feeling of her feet hitting the floor makes her happy, but it’s the independence the device offers that gets her really excited. She dreams of hanging around downtown, going to her brother’s baseball games, and opening up her world with help from her robotic legs. But first, graduation!
On the big day, Ella was able to use her Trexo device to walk across the stage with the other members of the class of 2023. The entire school body was on their feet, cheering for her, as she collected her diploma with help from her sister, Liz Weiske. It was an emotional moment for the teachers and students who have rooted for Ella for the past 4 years.
Just graduating is an achievement on its own, but Ella’s life-changing walk meant so much to her, and to everyone who knows and loves her. We’re so proud of Ella for working hard to accomplish her goals.
1. What words can best describe Ella Weiske?| A．Caring and responsible. | B．Honest and reliable. |
| C．Ambitious and hardworking. | D．Intelligent and creative. |
| A．A responsibility to help others. | B．A sense of living independently. |
| C．An ability to deliver a public speech. | D．An opportunity for further education. |
| A．Embarrassing. | B．Doubtful. | C．Inspiring. | D．Romantic. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Many hands make light work. |
| C．Misfortune may be an actual blessing. | D．Everything is possible to a willing mind. |
