Picture a proposal (求婚) and romance, and rings come to mind - not a conversation about organs. But when Craig asked Sadie to marry him in Naples in 2018, it was kidneys that resulted in the talk of marriage.
It had all started with snoring. When the couple moved in together in 2010, Sadie realized Craig's night-time noises were a problem. At first it didn't seem to be serious. But after months of examinations, he was diagnosed as IgA Nephropathy, a chronic kidney disease, says Sadie. “It was incurable and would have a long-term impact on his health. “The diagnosis was a bomb - we were facing the fact that this would change his life.”
Unfortunately, by 2016 his condition was worsening. Craig recalls: “I was getting incredibly tired. I'd come home from work and fall on the sofa, asleep for hours." Still, it came as a huge shock to them both when in March 2019 the couple were told that Craig had two options: a kidney transplant or dialysis.
Sadie remembers. “This wasn't a decision for five years' time - he had to make it now. He's Australian, So all his family were on the other side of the world. My response was clear and immediate - you can have one of mine.”
Craig says: “When I saw her reply, I was struck with guilt. Sadie is such a selfless person, I wasn't surprised that she wanted to help.” After witnessing the terrifying reality of dialysis, Sadie became more determined to do so.
Sadly, because they had different blood types, Sadie couldn't be a direct donor but then they learned about the Kidney Sharing Scheme. “It's a bit like a kidney swap-shop based on blood, tissue and antibody tests,” says Sadie. Then finally, with the help of the scheme, in May 2019, they were matched. On July 10, 2019, they both checked into hospital and both operations went smooth.
“Sadie is the most amazing, selfless person I’ve ever met. Now we can live life again, together, and it’s all because of her.” Craig says.
1. What did Craig suffer from in 2010?| A．Snoring | B．A heart trouble |
| C．A kidney disease | D．A cancer |
| A．Generous and selfish | B．Kind and selfless |
| C．Determined and humorous | D．Amazing and serious |
| A．Craig's family members lived far away from him. |
| B．Sadie didn't want Craig to go through dialysis. |
| C．Sadie was a person of noble quality. |
| D．Sadie and Craig were well matched. |
| A．A Kidney Transplant. |
| B．A Young Man Suffering from A Disease. |
| C．An Organ Transplant Contributed To A Proposal. |
| D．A Young Man Proposed To His Girlfriend. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Communication plays an important role in developing the relationship between family members. Family communication is much different from formal communication. Here are some practical tips to make the communication more effective (有效的).
Be positive.
Negative words will do no good but destroy the warm atmosphere of family communication. Actually, saying too many negative words will kill the mood, and hence lead to unhappiness. Remember that positive communication is much more effective than criticism.
Be more than just verbal (言语的).
Apart from verbal communication, non-verbal expression is also advised in daily communication with family members. Sometimes facial expressions or body language can convey more love and care. A kiss, a hug, a smile or a look of appreciation can tell more than words can do.
Be clear and gentle.
It is known to everyone that being clear and gentle is the rule applicable (适用的) to any communication. Therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, do not leave blanks for family members to assume. If you want to say something to your parents or siblings (兄弟姐妹), make your point clear in the most pleasing way.
1. Why shouldn’t you say too many negative words in family communication? (no more than 20 words)2. What can family members convey via non-verbal expressions? (no more than 10words)
3. What should we do to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings in family communication? (no more than 15 words)
4. What is the main idea of the passage? (no more than 10 words)
5. What else do you think is important in family communication? Give your reasons. (no more than 25 words)
【推荐2】Sometimes you can feel getting along with your parents is impossible. However, they are perhaps your best teachers.
Make time to be with your parents. Your parents won’t always be around.
Talk with your parents. In order to understand your parents better, you have to spend time talking with them.
Listen to them actively. This may seem obvious, but it is often harder than you think. If you are on your cellphone, listening to music, or on the computer, stop what you are doing when they are talking to you. When you are communicating with your parents, make sure you are listening.
| A．Share your feelings with them. |
| B．Try to understand your parents better. |
| C．So spend time with them while you are able to. |
| D．They don’t hesitate to do everything for your benefit. |
| E．They will likely influence many of the decisions you make. |
| F．You should look at them when they are talking, and not interrupt them. |
| G．This means getting into conversation with them when you have time together. |
【推荐3】Rocky Lyons was five years old when his mother, Kelly, was driving along the country road with him. He was asleep on the front seat of their truck, with his feet resting on her lap. As his mom drove carefully down the winding country road, she turned onto a narrow bridge. The truck hit a rock and slid off the road. She attempted to bring it back up onto the road by pressing hard on the gas pedal(踏板)and turning the steering wheel to the left. But Rocky's foot got caught between her leg and the steering wheel and she lost control of the truck.
The truck fell into a 20-foot ravine(峡谷). When it hit the bottom,Rocky woke up. “What happened, Mom?” he asked. “Our wheels are pointing toward the sky.”
Kelly was seriously wounded and blinded by blood. “I’ll get you out, Mom, ” announced Rocky, who had surprisingly escaped injury. He climbed out from under Kelly, slid through the open window and tried to yank his mother out. But she didn’t move.
“Just let me sleep,” begged Kelly,who was out of consciousness(意识). Rocky insisted,“Mom, you can’t go to sleep.”
Rocky managed to push Kelly out of the truck and told her he’d climb up to the road and stop a car to get help. Fearing that no one would be able to see her little boy in the dark, Kelly refused to let him go alone. Instead they slowly moved up to the road. The pain was so great that Kelly wanted to give up, but Rocky wouldn’t let her.
Rocky kept repeating the inspirational phrase, “I know you can. I know you can.” When they finally reached the road, Rocky broke into tears seeing his mother’s torn face clearly for the first time. Waving his arms and shouting, “Please stop!” the boy stopped a truck. His mother was sent to hospital.
It took eight hours to rebuild Kelly’s face. She looks quite different today-she has a few scars but has recovered from her injuries.
Rocky’s heroics were big news. Everyone was surprised at this little boy’s power. “It’s not like I wanted it to happen,” the boy explained. “I just did what anyone would have done.” “If it weren’t for Rocky, I’d have died,” said his mother.
1. What do we know about Rocky and Kelly?| A．They were lost on a country road. |
| B．They were involved in a truck accident. |
| C．They had limited time to find their way. |
| D．They knew little of what happened to them. |
| A．The truck had turned over. |
| B．He couldn’t find his mother. |
| C．He had been stuck in the truck. |
| D．His mother had passed out. |
| A．Pull. | B．Drive. |
| C．Follow. | D．Carry. |
| A．Enthusiastic and kind. |
| B．Courageous and calm. |
| C．Cooperative and generous |
| D．Adventurous and energetic. |
【推荐1】What are coronaviruses? Coronaviruses were discovered in the 1960s. They are a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, coronaviruses cause respiratory tract infections.
The new coronavirus. At the end of 2019, a new type of coronavirus started spreading in China. This type of coronavirus is often called 2019-nCoV, novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. It is believed that the virus was transmitted from animals to humans. Some of the first cases were diagnosed in people who had visited a market selling live seafood and animals. Unfortunately, when viruses are transmitted from animals to people, it can take scientists a lot of time before they can develop a vaccine or medicines to cure it.
How does the virus spread? The virus appears to spread mainly from person to person. The transmission occurs when someone comes into contact with an infected person. For example, a cough, a sneeze or a handshake could cause transmission. The spread may also be caused by coming into contact with something an infected person has touched and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
1. When were coronaviruses discovered?| A．In the 1960s. | B．In the 1970s. | C．In the 1980s. | D．In the 1990s. |
| A．All over the world. | B．In America. | C．In France. | D．In China. |
| A．Yes, it is. | B．I don’t know. | C．No, it isn’t. | D．Not mentioned. |
| A．1. | B．2. | C．3. | D．4. |
【推荐2】A disease called “Panama” is threatening supplies of the world’s most popular fruit—banana.
The disease started in Asia in the 1990s, and later spread to Africa and the Middle East. A new outbreak was discovered last year in Australia. World health officials worry that the disease could travel to Latin America, one of the top banana producers in the world.
This is a big concern because bananas are an important source (来源) of income and nutrients for millions of people. They are grown in 135 tropical (热带的) nations. The United Nations lists bananas as one of the most important foods, along with rice, wheat and corn.
Randy Ploetz, America’s top banana expert, explained Panama disease affects the Cavendish banana. The Cavendish is the most popular one of more than 500 kinds of bananas. “The industry is waking up to the problem,” Ploetz said. “If the disease spreads to Latin America, it could hurt the world’s economy along with food supplies for millions of people.”
Robert Bertram, chief scientist for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), told VOA, “In Africa, Asia and tropical America, bananas are an important food source for more than 100 million people. As a cash crop, bananas are sold in local and international markets. Banana exports provide jobs and foreign money that producing countries need.”
Bertram said USAID is organizing a worldwide effort to stop the growth of Panama disease. At Wageningen University in the Netherlands, researchers are looking for Cavendish replacements. Their work is difficult. Researchers said a replacement will have to resist Panama disease, and survive the shipping time needed to get bananas to stores thousands of miles away from banana fields. And, yes, they will have to taste good.
1. Where was Panama disease recently found?| A．In Asia. | B．In the Middle East. |
| C．In Australia. | D．In Latin America. |
| A．Short supply of rice, wheat and corn. | B．Panama disease’s effects on bananas. |
| C．The popularity of 500 kinds of bananas. | D．Latin American nations’ poor economy. |
| A．Selling bananas in more international markets. |
| B．Providing more money for producing countries. |
| C．Finding replacements for Cavendish bananas. |
| D．Getting bananas stored miles away from fields. |
| A．Food and agriculture. | B．History and geography. |
| C．Modern technology. | D．Environmental pollution. |
【推荐3】This is the Radio Doctor with another word of advice on how to keep yourself healthy and how to keep away from doctors. As everyone knows, prevention is the best cure (治疗). If you haven’t cold, stay away from the people who have. Keep your rooms aired. Keep yourself warm. And don’t get yourself too tired or too excited by pleasure. Remember that an hour’s sleep before midnight is worth two hour’s sleep after midnight. Don’t get yourself too sad or too excited. A healthy mind is a healthy body. If you have caught a cold, go to see your doctor and don’t be afraid to take the medicine your doctor gives to you. Remember not to sneeze over anybody else. Those little viruses (病毒) enjoy nothing better than taking a free ride through the air into anybody else. In this way he will get a cold.
1. The Radio Doctor’s advice today is to tell people ________.| A．how to stay away from doctors |
| B．what to do to keep themselves healthy |
| C．how to have a nice sleep |
| D．how to prevent themselves from catching a cold |
| A．stay away from the people who have a cold |
| B．keep your room aired |
| C．not to get too tired or too excited |
| D．all the above answers together |
| A．go to bed early |
| B．sleep less before midnight |
| C．sleep less after midnight |
| D．get up early in the morning |
| A．a clever mind | B．healthy mind |
| C．quick mind | D．pleasant mind |
| A．Don’t meet anybody | B．Don’t talk to anybody you meet |
| C．Stay at home alone | D．Don’t sneeze over anybody else |
【推荐1】I am a full-time student at College of the Redwoods. During this period it is hard to find time to do anything other than work. But after much thought I decided to spend my extra time volunteering at the Sequoia Humane Society.
After my first day of volunteering, I had a mixture of feelings：I felt guilty (内疚的) because I didn’t do anything to help others in the past 25 years; I felt happy because I was helping animals, and I felt sad because these animals did not have a home with a family. The main reason for people volunteering at animal shelters (收容所) is that it helps the animals. It also helps the workers, because they have so many things to do — such as feeding and cleaning — and they just don’t have enough time to give each animal proper attention and exercise. Volunteers help out by taking dogs on long walks so dogs can get exercised.
Walking and playing with the animals helps them become better suited for adoption, increasing the chance that they will find a home and live happily with their owners. As a person who has had pets all my life, I know the joy and happiness that a pet brings to a person, a family, and the world in general. Even on the most stressful day, I know when get home my dog will be sitting there ready to play with me and take my mind off from whatever is causing the stress I am experiencing. Volunteering at an animal shelter gives someone the opportunity to experience what I have all the time a warm, loving animal that just wants to have fun and make you happy. So make the time to make an animal happy. Start volunteering today!
1. Which of the following about the author is TRUE?| A．He is a full-time volunteer. | B．He is a college student. |
| C．He has no pet dogs. | D．He owns an animal shelter. |
| A．joy and anger | B．happiness, sadness and excitement |
| C．guilt and joy | D．guilt, joy and sadness |
| A．draw people’s attention | B．gain people’s pity |
| C．get enough exercise | D．get special care |
| A．giving these animals a home with a family |
| B．feeding and cleaning these animals |
| C．walking and playing with these animals |
| D．taking these animals out to the public |
【推荐2】Leah Amy, a flight attendant for Virgin Airlines, was on a flight to London when she saw a young man named Jack Littlejohn give up the comfort of his business class seat so 88- year-old Violet Allison could enjoy the benefits of first class travel. Amy described the passenger online as “her favorite passenger EVER!”
Littlejohn had been in New York taking part in a charity event, the World’s Biggest Sleep Out, which aims to shed light on the issues of homelessness. Before the family were due to return to their home in Scotland, their mom announced she’d gotten them all business class tickets. Littlejohn didn’t feel comfortable about the difference between business and economy class, so he went to find a passenger who’d welcome his seat. That’s when he came across Allison.
The flight attendant explained that Allison, a former nurse, had recently undergone knee replacement surgery which had prevented her from visiting her daughter who’s been working in London for a few years. Although the old woman has traveled to see her daughter on a few occasions, she’d never experienced the wonders of first class travel.
When Littlejohn offered Allison his seat, he had no idea that it was a dream for her to travel in the front of the plane. The young man happily sat in Allison’s less luxurious seat next to the economy class toilets.
Allison had a strong desire to share her experience with her daughter, so the kind-hearted flight attendant took some pictures of her new favorite passenger. Although not much is known about Littlejohn, social network users describe him as a “true gentleman”.
1. What did Littlejohn do in New York?| A．He attended a family union. | B．He did something for the homeless. |
| C．He helped a woman in trouble. | D．He organized a charity event. |
| A．Excited. | B．Worried. | C．Uncomfortable. | D．Moved. |
| A．He offered it to an old woman. | B．He exchanged it with his mom. |
| C．He took the seat as his mom told. | D．He gave it up and took another flight. |
| A．To share the experience with others. | B．To record the most touching moment. |
| C．To show the old woman’s happiness. | D．To satisfy the old woman’s demand. |
【推荐3】This year, the Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum, went to Annie Ray, the performing arts department chair and orchestra director at Annandale High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. She attended the awards ceremony in Los Angeles and brought home both a $10,000 prize and matching grant （资助） for her school’s music program.
Ray created the Crescendo Orchestra for students with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as a parent orchestra that teaches nearly 200 caregivers a year to play the same instrument as their children. She got the idea mostly from the Annandale community, which she says represents over 60 countries, including many refugees and immigrants. “There’re many cultures that might typically clash, but they come together in this very beautiful harmony,” Ray explained. “And that’s really uniquely expressed in the orchestra classroom, where we’re just all music-ing together.”
Ray says the Crescendo Orchestra is focused on teaching students how to play an instrument, through one-on-one instruction tailored to their needs. The orchestra is about much more than just making music, however. “I really push my students to be brave and go outside of their comfort zone. We have to learn how to work together with others,” she says.
Ray, who comes from a family of musicians and has played the harp （竖琴） since the age of five, knows firsthand the impact that a great teacher can make on their students. “Why I am where I am is because a teacher changed my life and made me want to be a music educator,” she says.
Ray says her warm reception on the awards ceremony is especially meaningful because not many people understand what exactly music educators do in the classroom or how much their work matters. She says that lack of understanding is one of the biggest challenges facing the profession in general. Moreover, she says her school desperately needs new instruments, and adds that she’ll use some of her grant money to buy more.
1. What mainly inspired Ray to create the Crescendo Orchestra?| A．The effect of some caregivers. | B．The diversity of a community. |
| C．The harmony of the disabled. | D．The rich culture of her school. |
| A．Who are influenced by music. | B．How the Crescendo Orchestra develops. |
| C．What students can learn. | D．Why students need special instruction. |
| A．She funded some students. | B．She fought against her family. |
| C．She began learning the harp. | D．She chose to be a music educator. |
| A．Music education needs to be appreciated. | B．She badly wants donations for instruments. |
| C．The administration offers no support. | D．She is often challenged by musicians. |
