After the recent storms, many Texans have been in desperate need of a plumber (管道工). Unfortunately, with pipes burst all over the state, and plumbing materials difficult to find, many families have been left without water and with their homes flooded.
In response to the cry for help from overwhelmed plumbers in the south, Andrew Mitchell and his family loaded up their car with $ 2,000 worth of materials and drove down to Texas to help.
The plumber, his wife, Kisha Pinnock, their two-year-old son, and brother-in-law, also his apprentice (学徒)，Isiah Pinnock, made the 22-hour journey from their home in New Jersey with all the materials they could financially afford. Their first stop was to help Pinnock's sister in Humble, Texas.
From there > Mitchell and his apprentice一who is actually a college senior一went to other homes to help. Mitchell's wife said that the pair would come in at 2 a. m. and head back out at 7：30 in the morning.
“It's really a blessing to be a blessing to other people and Andrew truly enjoys the work," she explained, adding, "plumbing is his passion."
The family has been in Texas for nearly a week, and they wish to continue helping others as long as they have the materials to do so. There's a huge need for their services lot of the people we've helped were telling us they either can't get a plumber on the phone or一if they do get one on the phone一the wait to be serviced is three to four weeks out, so they can't have water during that entire time,” Pinnock pointed out.
Mitchell has said that he might make a return trip, so that he can continue to be the blessing he truly has been to his southern neighbors.
1. What is a challenge in repairing the pipes?| A．The damage is too serious. | B．The area is too large. |
| C．The lack of materials. | D．The place is too remote. |
| A．The plumbers in Texas. | B．The residents in Texas. |
| C．The government of Texas. | D．The members of his family. |
| A．Isiah Pinnock is a college graduate. |
| B．Mitchell has only a few hours to sleep. |
| C．It's boring to repair the damaged pipes. |
| D．MitchelPs wife doesn't want him to do it. |
| A．To get more blessings. | B．To get some relaxation. |
| C．To fetch more materials. | D．To find more people in need. |
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【推荐1】The Boy Made It!
One Sunday, Nicholas, a teenager, went skiing at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine. In the early afternoon, when he was planning to go home, a fierce snowstorm swept into the area. Unable to see far, he accidentally turned off the path. Before he knew it, Nicholas was lost, all alone! He didn’t have food, water, a phone, or other supplies. He was getting colder by the minute.
Nicholas had no idea where he was. He tried not to panic. He thought about all the survival shows he had watched on TV. It was time to put the tips he had learned to use.
He decided to stop skiing. There was a better chance of someone finding him if he stayed put. The first thing he did was to find shelter(避难所) from the freezing wind and snow. If he didn’t, his body temperature would get very low, which could quickly kill him.
Using his skis, Nicholas built a snow cave. He gathered a huge mass of snow and dug out a hole in the middle. Then he piled branches on top of himself, like a blanket, to stay as warm as he could.
By that evening, Nicholas was really hungry. He ate snow and drank water from a nearby stream so that his body wouldn’t lose too much water. Not knowing how much longer he could last, Nicholas did the only thing he could—he huddled(蜷缩) in his cave and slept.
The next day, Nicholas went out to look for help, but he couldn’t find anyone. He followed his tracks and returned to the snow cave, because without shelter, he could die that night. On Tuesday, Nicholas went out to find help. He had walked for about a mile when a volunteer searcher found him. After two days stuck in the snow, Nicholas was saved.
Nicholas might not have survived this snowstorm had it not been for TV. He had often watched Grylls’ survival show Man vs. Wild. That’s where he learned the tips that saved his life. In each episode(一期节目) of Man vs. Wild, Grylls is abandoned in a wild area and has to find his way out.
When Grylls heard about Nicholas’ amazing deeds, he was super impressed(印象深刻的) that Nicholas had made it since he knew better than anyone how hard Nicholas had to work to stay alive.
1. What happened to Nicholas one Sunday afternoon?| A．He got lost. | B．He broke his skis. |
| C．He hurt his eyes. | D．He caught a cold. |
| A．He kept on skiing. | B．He built a snow cave. |
| C．He drank water. | D．He went to sleep. |
| A．returned to his shelter safely | B．got stuck in the snow |
| C．was saved by a searcher | D．stayed where he was |
| A．was very hard-working |
| B．created some tips for survival |
| C．watched Grylls’ TV program regularly |
| D．did the right things in the dangerous situation |
【推荐2】As most of you know, I don’t like running. I never go jogging, and I wouldn’t run a marathon even if I was paid for it. One thing that would make me run for my life would be if there were several hundred bulls running after me.
That’s exactly what people from all over the world are coming here to do tomorrow. I’m at the annual San Fermin Fiesta in Pamplona, Spain. This festival began in the Middle Ages, and has grown in popularity ever since. It lasts for a week in July, when the city is changed into an ocean of red and white, the official colors of the festival.
Before the bullring (斗牛场）was built, bull fights were held in a large square in the city. The custom of running ahead of the bulls started when the bulls had to be moved from the outskirts（市郊）of the city to the bullring. Some of the customs have changed over the years, but certain things are still the same.
Anyone who wants to take part in the run has to enter the special area by 7:30 am. The gates are then closed, and they won’t be opened to let you leave after that. At just before 8:00 am, the runners ask the statue of San Fermin to protect them. At eight o'clock, two fireworks are fired. With the first firework , the gates of the bull enclosure（围场）are opened, and with the second, the bulls are set free to run. They run after the runners down the length of the bull run, which is about 800 meters. The whole thing lasts about two minutes.
It sounds easier than it is. You can’t just run straight ahead. The route goes up and down narrow streets, with few places for runners to hide except doorways of buildings. The end of the run, just before the bulls enter the ring, is one of the most dangerous places. People running with the bulls have fallen here, and have been injured.
Don’t worry if you’re reading this, Mom. No one under the age of 18 is allowed to take part. I’ll be watching from the safety of the balcony!
1. What do we know about the San Fermin Fiesta?| A．It is attended only by locals. |
| B．Some of its traditions have survived. |
| C．Bull fights have been held in the same place. |
| D．It lasts seven days in June. |
| A．There are many places to hide from the bulls. |
| B．The race lasts more than thirty minutes. |
| C．Runners are no allowed to change their mind. |
| D．The race gets easier toward the end. |
| A．To introduce an ancient festival. |
| B．To tell his mother about his travels. |
| C．To advertise a coming event. |
| D．To share his personal experience. |
| A．An email. | B．A newspaper ad. |
| C．A magazine article. | D．A blog. |
【推荐3】A photo of the late actor Robin Williams hangs with flowers left by people paying their respects, in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday at the home where his hit TV series Mork &Mindy was set.
Robin Williams, a brilliant shape-shifter who could channel his energy into delightful comic characters like Mrs Doubtfire or use it in delicate work like his Oscar-winning turn in Goodwill Hunting, died on Monday in an apparent suicide at the age of 63.
The office said the Initial investigation shows the cause of death to be a suicide due to a sphyxio(*g). The Marin County Coroner's Office said Williams was last seen alive at home at about 10 p.m. on Sunday. An emergency call from his house in Tiburon was placed to the Sheriff's Office shortly before noon on Monday.
"This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am heartbroken, said Williams' wife, Susan Schneider.
"On behalf of Robins family, we are asking for privacy during our time of deep sorrow. As he is remembered, it is our hope that the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of Joy and laughter he gave to millions.”
Like so many funnymen, Wiliams had dramatic ambitions. He played for tears in Awakenings, Dead Poets Society and What Dreams May Come, which led New York Times critic Stephen Holden to write that he dreaded seeing the actor’s "Humpty Dumpty smile and wrinkled moist eyes.” But other critics approved, and Willams won three Golden Globes, for Good Morning, Vietnam, Mrs. Doubtfire and The Fisher king.
“Robin was a lightning storm of comic genius and our laughter was the thunder that supported him. He was a friend and I can’t believe he’s gone,” Spielberg said.
1. In paragraph 1, the word “shape-shifter” means ________.| A．all-round, adaptable actor | B．actor in depression |
| C．unchangeable, settled figure | D．actor obsessed with his physical shape |
| A．10:00 on Sunday | B．11:00 on Monday |
| C．13:00 00 on Monday | D．15:00 on Sunday |
| A．help to uncover the cause of Robin's death |
| B．pay their respects to Robin every year |
| C．remember every happy moment Robin has left |
| D．share n their sorrow and accompany them |
| A．The Cause of a Famous Actor’s Death |
| B．The unexpected Fall of a Comic Star |
| C．The public’s Respect to a Late Actor |
| D．The shock at an everlasting Friend’s Death |
【推荐1】We watched as Shackleton and the boat sailed away from Elephant Island. It was easy to imagine the danger ahead of them. Would they ever return to find us? What might happen to them? What if they were delayed? We felt so alone and desperate. But it was not for long. There was nothing like a good dinner and some music to cheer us up.
Life fell into a regular pattern. Staying alive took all our time and energy. For example, we needed water, and Elephant Island had none. We found that we could melt ice from the ocean and drink the water from it. But how could we make fire? There were no trees growing on Antarctica and no oil, so the only fuel we could use was animal fat. This gave off oily, black smoke, but it stayed burning even in strong winds.
Food was also a problem, as we did not find any vegetables or fruit on the island. One of our group members, Lionel Greenstreet, noted in his diary about how bored he was with the meals: “The food now is pretty well all meat of sea creatures.” If it weren’t for sea animals, we would all starve. As a chef, it was my duty to cook, so I tried to vary the meals in whatever way I could. But it was difficult.
We had to be careful not to go outside too often, as the changing temperatures could make us ill. It was almost as dangerous to become too hot from wearing too many clothes as to become too cold from wearing too few. The sweat could freeze very quickly. Many of us also became ill from the black smoke of the animal fat we burnt for our fires. It damaged our eyes and burnt our lungs.
The twenty-two of us lived like this in the cold for four months. Our discipline and team spirit kept us optimistic and helped us deal with our fears in a positive and successful way. We also celebrated our birthdays, festivals, and even the times when we caught a sea animal. This was an episode in my life that I would never forget.When we were finally rescued, we felt such relief and joy that many of us could not hide our tears. We were at last free to go home to warm beds, good food, and the care of our family and friends. Our optimism and faith in Shackleton had helped us persevere in staying alive. And he paid us back by his commitment to save us from a slow but painful death.
1. What did the men eat and drink on the island?2. What were the dangers of living on the island?
3. How did the men stay in good spirits while waiting to be rescued?
4. What do you think were the key reasons for their survival?
5. If you were one of the men on Elephant Island, would you have trusted Shackleton? Why or why not?
6. Summarizing the key elements of the story.
| Who | |
| What | |
| Where | |
| When | |
| Why | |
| How |
【推荐2】About 15 years ago, Andrew McLindon, a businessman and keen cyclist, was riding his bike in Austin, Texas, when he thought about a friend’s 12-year-old son. The boy had never known the joy of biking because he suffered from hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain that often causes balance disturbances.
When he got home, McLindon, now 60, went online and found a three wheel recumbent bike with a seat belt, perfect for a child with balance issues. Soon the boy was pedaling around the street with his peers, having fun and getting exercise. But there was more, as McLindon gleaned from his friend’s reaction. “To see his son interacting with other kids,” McLindon says. “I’ll never forget the smile on his face.”
That smile launched the McLindon Family Foundation. Funded by donations, the group works with pediatric rehab (小儿科康复) clinics to find children who can benefit from owning an adaptive bike—and to help craft each bike to the particular needs of the child. A bike may include a headrest, a shoulder harness, a seat belt, and a caregiver’s steering and braking mechanism in the back. The bikes are expensive—$3,000 to S4,000, and that’s with the foundation’s steep manufacturer’s discount. For kids lucky enough to get one, they’re a life changer.
“We worked with a 14-year-old who has spina bifida (脊柱裂),” says McLindon. “She spent most days on the couch watching TV. Soon after she got her bike, she was training for special-needs triathlons (铁人三项). In a magazine interview, she said, I always knew there was an athlete in me.”
So far, the foundation has given away 450 bikes, and that’s just a start. “I do a lot of things. I run a lot of companies,” McLindon says. “But getting these kids their bikes is the most important thing that I do.”
1. Who is Andrew McLindon?| A．A caring businessman with strong social responsibility. |
| B．A keen cyclist who promoted the awareness of cycling. |
| C．The Family Foundation founder who made a big fortune. |
| D．A worker who helped to find the special-needs children. |
| A．To advertise the bike is comfortably crafted for children. |
| B．To prove the bike is suitable for special-needs triathlons. |
| C．To show the bike is designed for the special-needs children. |
| D．To claim the bike is beneficial to the recovery of balance issues. |
| A．By getting them interested in triathlons. |
| B．By gifting an adaptive bike to them. |
| C．By curing them of balance disturbances. |
| D．By providing an access to the joy of cycling. |
【推荐3】The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was aching, and I’d been in an argument with a friend. Her words still hurt: “The trouble with you is that you won’t put yourself in my place. Can’t you see things from my point of view?” I shook my head stubbornly—and felt the ache in my tooth. I’d thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday, but the pain was really unbearable. I started calling the dentists in the phone book, but no one could see me immediately. Finally, at about lunch time, I got lucky.
“If you come by right now,” the receptionist said, “the dentist will fit you in.”
I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car. But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice? Why wasn’t he as busy as the others?
In the dentist’s office, I sat down and looked around. I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried. The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my ice-cold one.
When I told her my fears, she laughed and said, “Don’t worry. The dentist is very good.”
“How long do I have to wait for him?” I asked impatiently.
“Come on, he is coming. Just lie down and relax. And enjoy the artwork,” the assistant said.
“The artwork?” I was puzzled.
The chair went back, suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture, right where I could enjoy it on the ceiling. How considerate the dentist was! At that moment, I began to understand what my friend meant by her words.
What a relief!
1. Which of the following best describes the author’s feeling that morning?| A．Cheerful. | B．Unhappy. |
| C．Nervous. | D．Satisfied. |
| A．The dentist’s agreeing to treat her at very short notice. |
| B．The dentist’s being as busy as the other dentists. |
| C．The surroundings of the dentist’s office. |
| D．The laughing assistant of the dentist. |
| A．Because the dentist came at last. | B．Because the assistant kept comforting her. |
| C．Because she could relax in the chair. | D．Because she saw a picture on the ceiling. |
| A．Strike while the iron is hot. | B．Have a good word for one’s friend. |
| C．Put oneself in other’s shoes. | D．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
