I was excited about having a third child, but worried about the first year. A friend of mine who's a filmmaker said, "Why don't you just photograph the whole thing?" So I had one holder for the camera over the changing table and another where I nursed. I wasn't sure that anything would ever come out of it. I had not even looked at the photographs until a couple of months ago. They just seemed so quotidian that I couldn't imagine that they would be interesting at all. Time can turn photographs into metaphor or allow them to become a symbol instead of a documentary picture.
At the particular moment of having a newborn, mothers' needs are on the minds of the country. However, motherload is about what mothers don't show: the emotions and psychological states that we've all been socialized to bury. It's not so much about my personal existence as it is about the blurred(模糊的)existence, all that time spent keeping something alive.
Having a newborn is a very ugly, untidy time of life. I felt out of the picture. I felt very stressed and very needed, but also very invisible. The images get at that unreal quality of not feeling like a whole person. I'm not really in focus, because my brain isn't in focus either.
I can't tell you how many times I've checked an artist's biography to see, Oh God, she's so great, but does she have children? Like, are we in the same race? Because it's like running with weights on. But when I look at the pictures, I feel like a survivor.
1. The author documented the months following the birth of her third child because_________.A.she felt the period very terrible | B.she favored her third child most |
C.she was encouraged by her friend | D.she fell in love with the filmmaker |
A.Fantastic. | B.Ordinary. |
C.Reliable. | D.Familiar. |
A.Mothers prefer to socialize with others nearby. |
B.Mothers attempt to uncover their mental states. |
C.Mothers tend to have their own sense of existence ignored. |
D.Mothers enjoy the sweet burden of keeping something alive. |
A.Because she wants to show how weak she is. |
B.Because she finds it good to have no children. |
C.Because she loves reading the artist's biography. |
D.Because she feels it hard to shoulder the motherload. |
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【推荐1】British sculptor Jason Taylor has made it his mission to use his talent to conserve our ecosystems by creating underwater museums. Over the years, the environmentalist has put over 850 massive artworks underwater worldwide. On February 1, 2021, Taylor launched his latest work---The Underwater Museum of Cannes.
“The main goal was to bring attention to the fact that our oceans need our help,” Taylor told Dezeen. “Ocean ecologies have been destroyed by human activity in the Mediterranean over the past few decades, and it is not obvious what is taking place when observing the sea from afar.”
The Underwater Museum of Cannes contains 6 sculptures featuring local residents of various ages. They range from Maurice, an 80-year-old fisherman, to Anouk, a 9-year-old student. Towering over 6-feet-tall and weighing 10 tons, the faces are sectioned into two parts, with the outer part like a mask. The mask indicates that the world’s oceans appear powerful and unbeatable from the surface but house an ecosystem that is extremely fragile to careless human activities.
Though the waters surrounding the sculptures now appear a pristine blue, the seabed was filled with old boat engines, pipes, and other human-made trash when the project began about four years ago. Besides removing the trash, Taylor also restored the area’s seagrass. Just one square meter of the seagrass can generate up to 10 liters of oxygen daily. The seagrass also helps prevent coastal erosion and provides habitats for many ocean creatures.
“The idea of creating an underwater museum was to draw more people underwater and develop a sense of care and protection,” Taylor told Dezeen. “If we threw unwanted waste near a forest, there would be a public outcry. But this is happening every day in our surrounding waters and it largely goes unnoticed.”
1. What are the underwater museums intended to do?A.To make huge profits. | B.To raise awareness of protecting the ocean. |
C.To show Jason Taylor’s talent. | D.To draw attention to endangered sea animals. |
A.To popularize the features of the locals. |
B.To remind people to protect themselves. |
C.To reflect people’s protection of the ocean. |
D.To stress the sensitiveness of the ecosystem. |
A.How the project was started. | B.How the seagrass was restored. |
C.What recovery effort the project made. | D.Why the surroundings were improved. |
A.The situation of the ocean is easily ignored. |
B.The destruction caused to the ocean is noticeable. |
C.Forests play a more important role in ecosystems. |
D.People have zero tolerance to damage done to nature. |
【推荐2】“Will you go on this ride with me? ”my friend’s eleven-year-old daughter Jenny asked. I could have made up an excuse for not wanting to have a go. But earlier that morning, I was ready to push myself out of my comfort zone. Jenny stared at the ride, eager to experience the same excitement as the brave group of riders in front of us. I couldn’t say no.
After climbing into our seats, an attendant reached up, pulled down the bar, and locked it in place. The ride lifted us slowly, then turned us over like the blueberry pancakes I had eaten three hours earlier, and hoped to keep in their proper place. As I stared at the concrete directly below us, I had a sudden feeling of great fear. I wondered if I had replacement coverage for the phone that I was sure would slip out of my pocket and break into a million tiny pieces. I wondered when my new health insurance would kick in.
The ride touched down after twisting and turning our bodies. My friend was waiting for us at the exit. “How was it?” she asked. “Fine. No big deal,” I said, even though my head was spinning(旋转)like one of the other annoying machines dotting the midway.
Jenny walked ahead of us and convinced me to keep taking chances and sample more rides.
“Oh, look at the pirate ship(海盗船)!” she said. “That looks like a calm ride.”
“Let’s go, Auntie!” she said as she rushed to join others in line.
I followed her, confident the ride would be uneventful. When I reached the bottom, I tapped out like a WWF wrestler admitting defeat. Although my body was shaking and my head was still spinning, I felt exhilarated just like I was on cloud nine. That morning, I had set a goal, taken my first step to reach it, and felt the joy of achievement.
Each time you try something for the first time, you will grow—a little piece of the fear of the unknown is removed and replaced with a sense of satisfaction.
1. What made the author decide to try riding with Jenny?A.The desired look in Jenny’s eyes. | B.The curiosity about the unknown. |
C.The encouragement from other riders. | D.The eagerness to experience something exciting. |
A.She lost her phone. | B.She got into a panic. |
C.She was served pancakes. | D.She almost fell off the seat. |
A.Occupied. | B.Excited. | C.Confused. | D.Disappointed. |
A.He who hesitates is lost. | B.It’s never too late to learn. |
C.One’s potential can’t always be underrated. | D.It’s worthwhile to get out of your comfort zone. |
【推荐3】“Age is just a number” is a saying that some people might disagree with, but for healthy and fit great-grandmother Anne Sheppard, nothing could be more true.
At 100 years old, Anne can kick, crunch and do full push-ups. And she is always exercising with other fitness fans who are almost 70 years her junior in the gym. South Melbourne-born Anne worked at the local clothing factory while her husband Max was away at work with the army. When the couple retired in 1981, they signed up to their local gym, where Anne is still a member 40 years later. “I feel stronger and fitter than before!” Anne says in an interview from her gym in Melbourne. She has just finished a rigorous training class — one of five group courses she attends throughout the week. “I just love it and I want to keep going as long as I can,” she smiles. “It’s part of my life now — my husband has passed away and now I’m on my own. The gym is my second family and I’d be lost without them.”
“Anne is a superstar —no matter where she goes, everyone is attracted to her! I know she inspires us to do whatever we set our minds to. We’re all jealous because we want to get to 100 years old and be like her,” says Jan, a friend of Anne in the gym.
Exercise has always been an important part of life for Anne. Despite going to the gym three days a week, Anne also keeps active in other ways, and regularly walks to and from the local supermarket. Life has now slowed a little bit for Anne. As for her next personal best, her goal is to keep going to the gym. That’s how Anne enjoys her life.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?A.To summarize the passage. |
B.To introduce the main character. |
C.To explain the meaning of a saying. |
D.To ask for background information. |
A.She used to work with her husband in the army. |
B.She takes exercise as an important part of her life. |
C.She became a member of the local gym 70 years ago. |
D.She stopped exercising after her husband passed away. |
A.Anne, Enjoying Her Slow Life |
B.Anne, an Attractive Gym Coach |
C.Anne, a 100-year-old Fitness Lover |
D.Anne, Coming to Her Next Personal Best |
【推荐1】When I was about 12 years old, my older brother, James, smuggled (偷运) a BB gun into the house. Our parents had told us many times that we were not allowed to bring home guns or knives, even if they were just toys. Having any form of weaponry (兵器) in our home was strictly forbidden.
James brought me to his room. He opened his closet door and took out a shoebox that was buried beneath a heap of clothes. The BB gun was inside. I was immediately attracted by the shiny barrel (枪管).
“Can I shoot it, James?” I asked, hopefully.
“No way,” James said, taking it from me and putting it back.
One day, when no one was home, I went into James’ closet and took it out. For some incomprehensible reason — I have no idea what I was thinking — I went to the front window of the second floor in our row house. I cracked the window open. I pointed the gun outside and shot. I quickly shut the window and looked outside secretly.
In a matter of seconds, old Mr. Schlosberg came out of his grocery store. He looked back at his store window. He looked up the street. He looked down the street. Then he looked straight across to our house.
Thankfully, James made it home before Mother or Father.
As he stepped through the door, I could hear old Mr. Schlosberg call his name. “James, James,” he called. “Come here, son.”
After several minutes, James ran back across the street and into the living room. I had retreated into the kitchen. “Alma!” he screamed. “Get out here! You cracked Mr. Schlosberg’s window with my BB gun!”
“Oh, please, James,” I begged. “Don’t let him tell Mother. She will hit my bottom real good!” James sighed. He wiped my tears and went back across the street to Mr. Schlosberg’s. I don’t know what James said to that man, but there was never a mention of the incident again.
Years later, I found out James had used the money he got from his newspaper route to pay for Mr. Schlosberg’s cracked window. He only got one cent for every paper he delivered. He managed to pay back the debt just before he went off to fight in World War Ⅱ.
Since that day, I have never touched a gun: a BB gun, a water gun, a real gun, or any other type.
1. Why was the gun hidden in the closet?A.The gun was too expensive. | B.The family had only one gun. |
C.The law didn’t allow anyone to have a gun. | D.The parents didn’t allow a gun to appear at home. |
A.rushed happily | B.moved excitedly |
C.wandered unhurriedly | D.escaped quietly |
A.To deal with the problem. | B.To talk with his parents. |
C.To throw away the gun. | D.To tell the truth. |
A.Responsible and strict. | B.Brave and determined. |
C.Responsible and caring. | D.Naughty and determined. |
A.A Warmhearted Brother | B.A BB Gun | C.A Cracked window | D.An Incident |
【推荐2】My brother and I were driving home together and started talking. Because of this distraction, my brother took a wrong turn.
Unfortunately, the wrong turn took us toward a bridge and we had no way of turning back. My brother had to pay to cross. He was clearly frustrated by the mistake and the needless waste of $4.
As we drove forward, my brother noticed a beat-up (破旧的) black Mustang (福特野马汽车) pulled over to the side of the road. A young guy was standing nearby trying to phone someone. I was busy trying to figure out which way we went next but my brother pulled over and asked the guy if he needed any help. And he did. He had a flat tyre.
My brother helped him change the flat. We started getting to know the young man who was from a dangerous neighborhood nearby. He said that this has been a bad week for him; earlier he had gotten into a minor car accident, and now this flat on his way home from work. But he called us “a breath of fresh air” and kept thanking us because he really would have been stuck if we hadn’t come along. After we had finished the job, he thanked us again and pulled out $20 to try to give it to us. “No,” I said. “We were never supposed to even get on that bridge. We took a wrong turn. But now we know why we did. It was to help you. Thank you for turning our mistake into an opportunity to serve.”
What I loved most was watching my brother throughout this process. He was able to turn his annoyance over the mistake into positive energy. He was able to see a chance to help (which I totally missed!) even in an otherwise negative situation, which can only come from a calm mind and an open heart. That was the bridge we were meant to cross.
1. Why did the author’s brother take a wrong turn?A.He was lost in thought. |
B.He was confused by the road signs. |
C.He was new to this part of the city. |
D.He was focused on his conversation. |
A.They helped him with his flat tyre. |
B.They saved him from a minor car accident. |
C.They showed him the right way back home. |
D.They comforted him and gave him some money. |
A.Double-faced. | B.Strong-willed. | C.Warm-hearted. | D.Quick-minded. |
A.A guidebook. | B.A news report. | C.An advertisement. | D.A storybook. |
【推荐3】For more than a century, the Mississippi Delta has been a popular destination for immigrants. Recently, I was assigned to learn more about one immigrant group: the Chinese in Greenville, a small city along the Mississippi River. There I met Raymond Wong. whose family has long been part of the community.
The first wave of Chinese immigrants came to the Mississippi Delta soon after the Civil War, and the pace picked up by the early 1900s. The Chinese initially came to pick cotton, but they quickly started opening grocery stores, mostly in the African-American communities where they lived.
“On my street alone, there were no less than four grocery stores. I’m talking about a minor street,” Wong recalls. “I was raised in a grocery store. All my family — six of us — lived in a couple of rooms at the back of our store. As soon as I could calculate money I had to work in the store.”
In 1968, Wong’s father opened a Chinese restaurant, one of the first in the town. “The restaurant existed for 40 years.” Wong says. Wong remembers a time of big excitement when his family finally could afford to buy a house in a white neighborhood. Then suddenly, that conversation stopped.
“When people found out that we were moving in, they started throwing bottles in the driveway,” Wong says. “We ended up building a house directly behind the grocery.”
And the future? It’s probably not in the Delta. Wong remembers the question his son raised when he was still in high school: “Dad, do you want me to take over the store when you retire?” Wong’s response was immediate: “No. I want you to live better than me.” That’s the story of the typical Delta Chinese.
1. What did the Delta Chinese originally do shortly after the Civil War?A.Working in cotton fields. | B.Running restaurants. |
C.Importing Chinese food. | D.Opening grocery stores. |
A.Raymond Wong had a fun and care free childhood. |
B.The store owners’ children were very talented in math. |
C.There was intense competition among the grocery stores. |
D.The Wong family was among the most successful families in Greenville. |
A.Because the house owner raised the price. | B.Because their business failed unexpectedly. |
C.Because they did not have enough money. | D.Because the white people did not accept them. |
A.Embarrassed. | B.Insecure. | C.Unconcerned. | D.Optimistic. |