To anyone else, it was just a simple white cotton bag, but to me, it was a canvas(油画布) for my latest masterpiece. I laid it flat on the six-foot-long wooden table in my kitchen. With one hand I held down a corner of the bag and with the other I dipped my brush in the paint and touched it to the canvas; slowly an image took shape, waves crashing on a sandy beach, seagulls flying above, fishing for a meal. I put down my brush and rubbed my neck. It was hard work, but I enjoyed it.
And my friends and family loved the bags. "I get tons of praise for mine," my mother-in-law told me. "People are always asking where they can buy one." Those weren't quite the honor I'd dreamed of when I first picked up a paintbrush as a kid. I used to aim higher. I wanted my work to appear in the Louvre Museum in Paris, right next to the Mona Lisa. But even then, I knew what a wild dream it was.
My parents encouraged my interest, and paid for art lessons. In high school, I joined an art club and showed my work along with other local artists in an exhibition. I started college, majored in fine art and took classes in drawing and design. But the farthest I ever traveled was New York City. The Louvre might as well have been on another planet.
Then things changed. I met and fell in love with Charlie. After we got married, I took a break from art. Making a home together was more important. Art supplies didn't fit into our budget.
When I finally picked up a brush again, I was rusty. I tried a landscape but it was flat. Things in the foreground were the same size as in the background. I'd lost the ability. I threw down my brush in frustration. Maybe I'd never really had any talent at all. Forget the Louvre, my work wasn't good enough to hang in our living room. Charlie turned me around. "You have a talent," he told me. "Keep painting." He helped me find room in our budget for paints and brushes. One day, walking through town, I spotted some giant white shells in a store window. What an interesting canvas they could be! I bought a few and began painting them. In Savannah, there was no shortage of inspiration. Charlie took some of my pieces into the electric company where he worked. He came home with the proudest smile. "They want to order them for their wives." he told me.
Lately I'd been painting these bags. It wasn't a money-making project—I barely covered the cost of materials. But seeing others appreciate my art made me feel good. This one, the beach scene, was going to a friend of my mother-in-law's. When it dried, I brought it over to my mother-in-law. "I just know my friend will love it," she said.
Several months later my mother-in-law's friend called me. I'd moved on to other projects and I'd nearly forgotten what I'd made for her, "I went to Paris," she said. “And I brought your bag with me. I have to tell you about the Louvre," she continued. "For two hours, we wandered the museum. Delacroix, Michelangelo, the Venus de Milo, there was so much to see, and of course, the Mona Lisa. But every few minutes, somebody stopped me.' Where did you get that bag? ' they asked. Some folks thought I'd bought it in the gift shop there! I had to tell them it was a Cindy Barnwell original.
Today I'm painting an 11- by-14-inch canvas of bunnies picking flowers, to go in a friend's baby nursery. It may not be a da Vinci, but that doesn't matter. This world was made for artists. I'm convinced of that. And my gift is to share that beauty, any way I can.
1. Why did the author refer to the cotton bag in the beginning?| A．To show her passion for painting. | B．To stress the difficulty of painting. |
| C．To indicate the benefit of painting. | D．To prove her creativity for painting. |
| A．Lack of talent. | B．Lack of money. |
| C．Lack of inspiration. | D．Lack of encouragement. |
| A．Contemporary painters, art exhibition. |
| B．Others' praise for the author's paintings. |
| C．The author's lifelong ambition. |
| D．The author's dream travel destination. |
| A．Her husband. | B．Her own parents. |
| C．Her mother-in-law. | D．Her mother-in-law's friend. |
| A．She didn't stop painting all her life. | B．She applied her painting to charity. |
| C．She made no profit in painting the bags. | D．She was the best at painting the beach scene. |
| A．The author built a famous bag brand. |
| B．The author's bag sold very well in London. |
| C．The author's bag drew senior painters' attention. |
| D．The author realized her dream in a surprising way. |
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【推荐1】Carson Kropfl, who is 12 years old enjoys the excitement of surfing. In addition to riding the waves, he likes riding his skateboard. His story is evidence that necessity is truly the mother of invention.
Carson had enjoyed skating for years. He liked to use his skateboard to go to places, including school. But over time, he grew increasingly discouraged that he had no place to store his board once he arrived. As a student, he could not change the size of his locker. But he realized he might be able to change the shape of his skateboard. And, from that small desire, a business was born.
Carson first just made a shorter skateboard in the shape of a square for himself. “But then my parents told me I had to clean and do chores(家务)to pay for my surf contest and surf lessons. But I hate to clean, so I asked them if I could try selling my Lockerboards instead.” Carson’s parents not only said yes, they also agreed to help him make it happen. They searched around for the best tools for creating skateboards.
Carson made his first sales in the room where students ate at his school. He put a few skateboards on a table and his schoolmates started buying them up. Within months, Carson had an agreement with a producer. The young man says he has now sold about 700 skateboards.
His skateboards come in a number of shapes and designs. Each one costs around $100. But not all the profit goes to Carson. Some money goes to a non profit group that supports the health and well-being of a place close to his heart. “I donate one dollar for every Lockerboard sold to Ocean Unite because they’re focused on ocean conservation.”
Carson’s hometown of San Clemente sits along a beautiful coastal area of the Pacific Ocean. And Carson, the surfer, wants the ocean to stay that way.
1. What troubled Carson at school?| A．He had no access to the Internet. |
| B．Skating was not allowed at school. |
| C．He didn’t have a locker of his own. |
| D．The locker didn’t fit in his skateboard. |
| A．Disapproving. | B．Supportive. | C．Doubtful. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．The ocean. | B．The locker. | C．The classroom. | D．The market. |
| A．They were mostly of a larger size. |
| B．They had strange designs on them. |
| C．They were popular with the students. |
| D．They were handmade by Carson himself. |
【推荐2】Finding a new and fun hobby can make you a happier person. Hobbies can be a great way to relieve stress and bring more joy into your life. Specifically when you find a new hobby. Hobbies are for everyone at any age. When you get older, you should not have fewer hobbies.
Try new things. To find a new hobby, it will require trying new things. New hobbies won’t usually just find you. Don’t put things off. You might think to yourself, “I don’t like that.” If you’ve never done it, or given it a chance, how can you know?
Learn new things. You’re never too young or old to learn more in life. If you take the time to learn new things, you’ll develop new interests. Let your curiosity run wild, and develop more knowledge over the things you don’t know or are familiar with.
Collect things.
| A．Interact with others. |
| B．Think of the things that you do like. |
| C．Learning is not such a bad thing. |
| D．Find and express the creative side in you. |
| E．Have an open mind and give things a chance. |
| F．Otherwise you’ll develop more stress and gray hairs. |
| G．write down a list of the leisure activities you enjoy. |
【推荐3】The world is an interesting place. Different people like different things. Some people like loud music. Other people don’t.
Many people like sports, but they do not all like the same sports. In some countries, cricket (板球运动) is very popular sport, In others it is not popular at all. No one plays it or watches it on TV. However, most people like soccer. The World Cup is very popular.
Different people like different foods. Some people do not like meat.
Many people like traveling. Different people like different places. Some people like to go to the countryside. Some people like to go to the cities.
What do you like? Have you got an idea?
| A．They like soft music. |
| B．Not everyone likes the same color. |
| C．Millions of people watch the games on TV. |
| D．Different people like different kinds of pets. |
| E．They eat fruit and vegetables most of the time. |
| F．They would raise animals in their countries. |
| G．Some other people enjoy beautiful places like the mountains or beaches. |
【推荐1】I think that a great friend is a great artist who can change my feeling about life greatly. When I talk about the person who influenced me most, I must think of my best friend quickly.
When I was in my university, one of my classmates sat beside me. His name is Wang Tao. He is my unforgettable friend in my life. He is good at study and handsome. Everyone knows that he is a genius(天才) of my university.
He is kind-hearted and is always ready to help others. But he doesn’t like others to praise him, because he think what he did is common. There is an old saying: A friend in need is a friend indeed. Wang Tao sets a good example in many parts in my life.
I remembered that my mathematics was mediocre at that time, but he was excellent in solving mathematics questions. He often received high scores. Of course, I wished I could reach at his level. Since we talked all day long, he was patient and polite to answer my mathematics questions. Slowly, I made great progress in mathematics. I passed the examination finally. Then we became friends naturally. And now, I still remember his strong will to study.
We know that we live in a society, so we need a lot of friends. There are two kinds of friends, good and bad, bad friend may make our life failed, while good ones make our life successful. To me, Wang Tao is a very good friend. I learned so many advantages from him, and I changed more and more excellently.
We separated three months ago. Now I miss him very much, and I hoped that our friendship will continue to be just as strong after we graduate.
1. The writer believes that an excellent friend _______.| A．is a man who works on art |
| B．can change his life quickly |
| C．can influence his idea about life |
| D．must think of him quickly |
| A．bad | B．average / middle | C．the best | D．very good |
| A．make good friends and learn from them |
| B．have two kinds of friends, good and bad |
| C．make our best friends successful |
| D．make less bad friends |
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 busyness 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 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 the usual blooms but the next spring there were none. I missed the crocuses, so I would ask Dad to come over and plant new bulbs (植物球茎). 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. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．The author usually felt depressed in the season of winter. |
| B．The crocuses bloomed each spring before her father died. |
| C．The author often thought about her father after he died. |
| D．The author’s father planted the crocuses to lift her low spirits. |
| A．it was not the first time that the author’s father had made a surprise |
| B．the author was unpacking when her father was making the surprise |
| C．it kept bothering the author not knowing what the surprise was |
| D．the author knew what the surprise was because she knew her father |
| 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 Surprise |
| C．A Pink Crocus — My Memory |
| D．Crocuses in Blossom — My Favorite |
【推荐3】Every so often，someone so young does something so amazing that you can’t help but wonder how he manages it. That’s what happened the first time we heard Matthew Whitaker play the piano. Matthew is a jazz pianist who is blind，and since the age of 11，he’s been performing around the world.
Matthew Whitaker was born at 24th week. He weighed 1 pound and 11 ounces. His parents were told he had less than a 50％chance of survival. One of the many complications(并发症)he faced was a disease which led to blindness.
No one in Matthew’s family was a musician，but his grandfather bought him his first keyboard when he was 3 years old. It didn’t take long for Matthew to show that he had a gift. So the Whitakers decided to get Matthew a teacher，which proved to be difficult. “At the time，we got a lot of answers that he’s too young and they don’t know how to teach a blind child，”Moses Whitaker said. “He was 3 years old at the time. ”
Finally，Dalia Sakas agreed to meet Matthew. Dalia is the director of music studies at a music school in New York City，a school for the visually impaired. To her surprise，Matthew could 1isten to a piece of music once and then play it. “Because it is rare to meet someone of the world and I want to make that possible. ”
She did. Matthew has played in more than 200 clubs and concert halls around the world. His love of music has never been in doubt. Matthew’s latest album is called Now Hear This. One critic noted that it sounded like Matthew was playing with six hands.
1. Which word best describes Matthew as a pianist?| A．Fruitless. | B．Ordinary. |
| C．Remarkable. | D．Ambitious. |
| A．His premature birth. | B．His low weight. |
| C．His low chance of survival. | D．A disease running in his family. |
| A．His family background. | B．His lack of talent. |
| C．His age and disability. | D．His character. |
| A．Because she sympathized Matthew for his experience. |
| B．Because she was struck by Matthew’s talent for music. |
| C．Because she gave in to the insistence of Matthew’s grandfather. |
| D．Because she knew how to teach a blind student well. |
【推荐1】When I arrived in London I couldn't speak a word of English. Not even "hello". Nothing. I was 18, I'd been working for my dad's restaurant in Milan and I wanted a new experience. My friend from home lived in London and he used to tell me how incredible it was. I was really bored and so I took my luggage and left.
I was so lost when I arrived at Stansted. To me, English sounded like Chinese. I only arrived with a few hundred pounds. I lived with my friend in east London for a while. I couldn't find a job for a month. Finally I found a waiter role in a restaurant. At the time, I had nothing else going on in my life. I used to get up, go to work, and sleep. It was so boring. Then one day on my lunch break, I saw a Gymbox. When I took a look in, there was an amazing Muay Thai. I used to do boxing when I was 15 but I wasn't that serious about it. There and then I joined the gym and signed up to the Thai boxing team.
I fell in love with it. I never missed a session. I started training a lot and the head coach said to me one day, "Do you want to fight？" I knew that's what I wanted to do. He put me in competitions and I won my first nine amateur games. After watching me progress, they offered to help me fight professionally. However, at one point I had a motorcycle crash and was out for 18 months. This year I've fought in Milan and London. I'd say I'm about 12 fights away from becoming a winner.
Sometimes I can't believe how far I've come from that day I arrived in England. I think everything that's happened has been because I'm committed. But anyone could do it. If you put in 100%, you'll get there. I'm just happy because I did a positive thing with my life. It feels good.
1. What had the writer done before he came to London？| A．He had worked in a restaurant. |
| B．He had been a professional coach. |
| C．He had worked in a company. |
| D．He had done nothing but travel around. |
| A．He was good at it. |
| B．He liked it very much. |
| C．He knew nothing about it. |
| D．He just knew a little about it. |
| A．Exciting. |
| B．Scaring. |
| C．Satisfying. |
| D．Boring. |
| A．He made a mistake. |
| B．He was injured in an accident. |
| C．He had to put more time to work. |
| D．There were no fights in the 18 months. |
【推荐2】Those who are used to looking through thousands of books in big bookstores may find Japan’s Morioka Shoten a little strange. That’s because this tiny bookstore that is located in Ginza, Tokyo sells only a single book at a time.
Opened in May 2015, Morioka Shoten is the brainchild of Yoshiyuki Morioka. The experienced bookseller began his career as a bookstore clerk in Tokyo’s Kanda district before branching out to open his own store. It was here while organizing book readings that he realized that customers usually came into the store with one title in mind. Morioka began to wonder if a store could exist by selling many copies of just one single book. In November 2014, he partnered with his two friends, to establish a unique bookstore with the idea of “A Single Room, A Single Book.”
Like its offering, the bookstore is simple. The selections that are picked by Morioka change weekly and vary widely to attract customers with different interests. Recent choices include The True Deceiver, an award-winning Swedish novel by Tove Jansson, Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales, and a collection of artist Karl Blossfeldt’s photography of plants. Morioka has also chosen books written by famous Japanese authors Mimei Ogawa and Akito Akagi.
To highlight his only offering, Morioka often uses clever methods. For example，when selling a book about flowers, he decorated his shop with the ones that had been mentioned in the book. He also encourages authors to hold talks and discussions so they can connect with customers. Morioka says his goal is for the customers to experience being inside a book, not just a bookstore!
Risky as the idea might seem, things appear to be going well. Morioka says he has sold over 2,100 books since he opened it. Things can get better considering that his bookstore is becoming increasingly popular not just among the locals but also visitors from other countries.
1. What inspired Morioka to open such a bookstore?| A．A Swedish novel | B．His present partner |
| C．A bookstore clerk | D．His working experience |
| A．It is popular with foreigners . |
| B．It sells books of different topics. |
| C．It is decorated with colorful flowers. |
| D．It sells various copies of a book in a week. |
| A．To introduce his bookstore. |
| B．To advocate his philosophy. |
| C．To make books better understood. |
| D．To help readers connect with each other. |
| A．Risky | B．Optimistic |
| C．Unpredictable | D．Hopeless |
【推荐3】Between the ages of two and eight, I have very few memories of Mum which didn’t involve her wearing a suit and rushing out of the door. I would catch sight of her on TV, which all my friends at school thought was really exciting but I just found embarrassing.
What will I do when I grow up? My intention is not to be a stay-at-home mum, but to find some kind of work which means that I can be with my children when they are little.
| A．Mum could pick me up from school. |
| B．As a result, I’m now a very independent person. |
| C．I expected to have a mum who was like everyone else’s. |
| D．I was too young to understand what a career was at that time. |
| E．Now I know Mum has struggled hard to make a great life for us. |
| F．I feel Mum gave me many activities, such as horse riding, swimming and so on. |
| G．When she found me, I was crying and I would not speak to her all the way home. |
