Hiking in the mountains I met a young lady who wanted to pet my dog. While she played with him, I asked, “Do you have a dog of your own?” “He just died,” she said. She explained that as a child she got a little dog. They grew up together, went everywhere together and were best friends. She even took him to college though he was very old and couldn't get around well. And as he got worse, she stayed by him day and night thinking they would always be together.
But one day，while petting him, he growled（咆哮）and bit her hand. She was shocked. He never did that. How could he turn on her? Friends convinced her to put him to sleep. Unwillingly she did, but admitted that she hated herself ever since. “How could I kill my lifetime friend?” she sobbed.
“Suppose,” I said, “your dog was a genius! Suppose he knew you better than you know yourself. He didn't turn on you. You were too young to know about his getting old and needing to go. He knew you needed a helping hand to let him go. . . so he bit you. And it worked, didn't it?”
She was coming out of her deep sadness. I added, “Is it hard to imagine that dogs have late friends calling them to dog heaven? They never forget who they love. He is there. He still loves you more than ever. He knows you'll live a lot longer than he did.”
She was obviously happy now as she considered my words. We parted with a long hug and thanks. I'm pretty sure her dog was standing behind her, thanking me with his wagging tail and smiling face. Love is the highest kindness.
1. What do we know about the young lady?| A．She relied too much on her dog. |
| B．She missed her dog very much. |
| C．She wanted the author's dog. |
| D．She tried to forget her dog. |
| A．Attack. | B．Comfort. | C．Hate. | D．Leave. |
| A．Her dog wanted to live alone. |
| B．Her dog was too old to be a pet. |
| C．Her dog asked her to end his life. |
| D．Her dog would come back sooner or later. |
| A．Moved. | B．Disappointed. |
| C．Excited. | D．Satisfied. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Benefits of Reading to a Dog
Here are five great reasons why your kid should read to a dog.
Dogs create a stress-free environment
It's hard to be really stressed(焦虑) around a cozy, friendly dog. Classrooms can be tense for kids who aren't great readers or presenters.
Your kid won't even know she's building her vocabulary
A confidence-booster(增幅器)
Dogs are nonjudgmental. Kids will feel less self-conscious about reading aloud to them rather than, say, a judgmental human being.
Dogs like what your kid likes
Wanna talk about video games? Woof! Mermaids? Woof! A favourite cartoon? Woof! Dogs are interested in whatever your kid is interested in.
Petting a dog reduces stress and can even improve movement skills
Just grooming(梳毛)can help to improve a child's movement skills.
| A．It's also been proven to reduce anxiety |
| B．They'll listen for hours and never get bored |
| C．Reading to a dog makes the whole situation less stressful |
| D．Keeping a dog as a pet also improve a child's confidence |
| E．As kids read to a dog, they feel as if they're in a formal environment. |
| F．Kids who read out loud to dogs become more confident in their reading skills |
| G．Reading to a friendly dog is a great way for your child to practice her pronunciation |
【推荐2】Le Le, the giant panda that died early this month at Memphis Zoo, may have suffered from heart disease, according to an autopsy (验尸) by zoologists from China and the United States.
The experts’ original judgment was that this was the cause of the death of the 25-year-old male panda, according to a media release from the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens on Sunday. “But that judgment still needs to be confirmed through further examinations, “ it said. The autopsy was conducted following the arrival of a Chinese team at the zoo recently. Experts from both countries studied the results from the autopsy and ruled out a number of common conditions.
Le Le died in his sleep on Feb 3 before he could be returned to China, according to the zoo.
“Over the last 20 years Le Le has delighted millions of visitors, served as an exemplary ambassador for his species and remains a shining symbol of conservation partnership with the People’s Republic of China,” the zoo said in a statement on Feb 3.
Le Le arrived in Memphis accompanied by a female giant panda, Ya Ya, in 2003. Last December, the zoo said that the famous pair would make the journey back to China within the next few months, as the current loan agreement with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens was coming to an end.
The Chinese team also examined Ya Ya, and checked her medical and monthly health reports, according to the Chinese association. Despite hair loss resulting from a skin discase, the female panda was found to have a good appetite and was maintaining a stable weight, it said, adding that no abnormalities were observed in its feces. Aside from holding a discussion with Memphis Zoo about Ya Ya’s skin condition, the group gave advice on how to feed and nurse the female giant panda.
“China and the US are now coordinating the handling of procedures so that Ya Ya can be returned to China as soon as possible, ” it noted. China has completed all necessary preparations to receive the female panda. Import and quarantine permits have been issued and the quarantine location has been determined.
1. What can we infer from the paragraph 2?| A．Le Le was mistreated by some foreign people. |
| B．The autopsy was conducted only by Chinese experts. |
| C．The cause of Le Le’s death remained to be seen later. |
| D．Le Le died of poor medical care. |
| A．China is proud of Le Le as an exemplary ambassador. |
| B．A great number of visitors have gained happiness from Le Le. |
| C．Le Le is a striking symbol of Chinese protection for animals. |
| D．Le Le is referred to as the top species in China. |
| A．The break of partnership. |
| B．The bad health conditions. |
| C．The unsuitable living environment. |
| D．The end of a rental agreement. |
| A．A wildlife brochure. |
| B．A daily newspaper. |
| C．A popular magazine. |
| D．A tourist guidebook. |
【推荐3】The overall importance of plants is obvious, since they give us food, oxygen, and a wealth of natural resources. But on top of all these obvious blessings, is it possible that plants also subtly (微妙地)benefit us just by spending time with them?
The mere sight of a tree or a houseplant may seem unlikely to offer any significant benefits, but thanks to a growing body of scientific research, it has become clear that the human brain really does care about scenery — and longs for greenery.
This comes from the power of biophilia (生物本能), a term invented last century by psychologist and philosopher Erich Fromm, and later popularized by renowned biologist E.O. Wilson in his 1984 book, Biophilia. It means “love of life referring to humans’ instinctive(体能的)fondness for our fellow Earthlings, especially plants and animals”.
The beauty of biophilia is that, beyond making us feel attracted to natural settings, it also offers big benefits to people who take notice of this instinct. Studies have linked biophilic experiences with lower cortisol (皮质醇)levels, blood pressure, and pulse rate, as well as increased creativity and focus, better sleep, reduced depression and anxiety, higher pain tolerance, and even faster recovery from surgery.
Biophilia is a familiar feeling for most people, even if we rarely give it much thought. It often comes in small doses (剂量)during daily life, along with the occasional planned journeys into the wilderness, comforting us in ways we may not understand. But why? What makes certain kinds of scenery more calm and peaceful?
The answer starts with our ancestors. Modern humans have existed for about 200,000 years, mostly in wild environments like forests or grasslands until the dawn of agriculture some 15,000 years ago. Farming brought us together in human-centric settlements, and as early villages paved the way for larger, livelier cities, our species grew increasingly removed from the wilderness that created us.
1. Which of the following is a behavior of biophilia?| A．She likes to go outside on sunny days. |
| B．He likes to have a rest after a day of work. |
| C．She likes to adopt cats and dogs. |
| D．He likes to make friends with kind people. |
| A．It not only makes people closer to nature, but also improves their health. |
| B．It not only helps people keep calm, but also makes them willing to protect natural resources. |
| C．It not only makes people cherish the present, but also makes them look to the future. |
| D．It not only makes nature attractive to people, but also comforts them. |
| A．The power of biophilia increases as humans evolve. |
| B．Humans feel calmer and more peaceful in the wilderness. |
| C．Agriculture plays a big role in separating humans from the wilderness. |
| D．It is because of biophilia that someone feels familiar with a stranger. |
| A．To tell readers a story. |
| B．To inform readers of a notice. |
| C．To convince readers of an opinion. |
| D．To introduce readers to a term. |
【推荐1】Ask many actors and they will tell you it is hard to get work when you are just starting out and as you get older. However, it has not been the case for American musical (音乐剧) actress Susan Watson.
In 1958, at the age of 20, Watson was offered a part in the musical, West Side Story, in London. At that time, she was still a student at New York City’s Juilliard School for musicians, dancers and actors. More than 50 years later, she was offered another part. Watson took an important role in a remake of the musical, Follies, at the Kennedy Center in Washington and the Marquis Theatre in New York City. In both cases, the offers came from musical theater legend Stephen Sondheim. He wrote the lyrics for West Side Story and the music and lyrics for Follies.
As a teenager, Watson developed her dancing, singing and acting skills in her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She traveled to study at New York City’s Juilliard School before Sondheim interrupted her studies with the offer of a part in West Side Story. The awardwinning musical, based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, tells a story of the struggles of immigrants (移民) in New York City. In the following two decades, Watson had starring roles in such wellknown musicals as The Fantasticks, Bye Bye Birdie, Carnival, Celebration and No, No, Nanette.
Musicals are an American invention. They tell stories through many art forms: spoken words, songs, acting and dances. “Music adds an important emotional element, making an interesting story even more powerful,” Watson said.
At age 78, Watson now lives in California, but she has not stopped performing. She just released a new album called The Music Never Ends. She is excited that six of the 14 songs on her new album were written by “empowered (获得授权的) women”, including Nancy Ford and Gretchen Cryer. She says her new musical record is selling “very well” partly because people do not have to go to a store to buy it. They can buy it online, like almost any other product.
1. What does the author mean by saying that it has not been the case for Susan Watson?| A．She didn’t retire after she got old. |
| B．She started out as an actress early. |
| C．She became an actress by chance. |
| D．She doesn’t have trouble in getting work. |
| A．She received a very important offer. |
| B．She developed her dancing and singing skills. |
| C．She asked Stephen Sondheim for an opportunity. |
| D．She starred in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. |
| A．West Side Story. | B．Follies. |
| C．The Fantasticks. | D．Celebration. |
| A．It is sold nationwide in stores. |
| B．It’s convenient for people to buy it. |
| C．She is a very famous musical actress. |
| D．Many empowered women wrote the songs in it. |
【推荐2】When Tonee Carter sits in front of a piano, his fingers take on a life of their own, dancing across the keys as he smiles, closes his eyes, and sinks into a melody.
Carter, 66, isn’t famous, but he does perform for an international audience nearly every day at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Travelers lucky enough to hear him often find themselves attracted by his music. That’s what happened to Carlos Whittaker, a motivational speaker who was traveling home to Tennessee. “As I was walking through the hall, I heard someone playing the piano,” Whittaker, 46, told CNN.
While listening to the music that seemed to effortlessly flow from Carter’s fingertips, Whittaker, the influencer on social media also took videos of the musician and shared them with his more than 200,000 followers. And an idea hit Whittaker. “Suddenly I was like, what would happen if I asked my followers if we could give him the biggest tip he’s ever gotten,” he said. “As of this conversation, we had raised $61,000.”
Carter was just 6 years old when his father, also a pianist, took him to a Ray Charles concert. But Carter hasn’t had the easiest life. In fact, Carter has had serious kidney disease since 2008. “I thought he was kidding. I just couldn’t believe it,” Cater told CNN. “This is the kind of thing I do. I love giving and donating and helping people, but I never expected someone to do it for me.”
Whittaker has used his social media platform to raise funds for others in the past. Earlier this month, he and his followers raised $230,000 for Brooklyn To Alaska, a non-profit organization that sends urban teenagers on an adventure to Alaska.
Carter plans to use the money to help people the way Whittaker has helped him. “That $61,000 is not mine. It’s the money that’s going to go to others,” Carter said. “There is only one way to say thank you, because words aren’t enough. And that is to pay this forward.
1. What do we know about Tonee Carter and Carlos Whittaker?| A．They met by chance. | B．They had met before. |
| C．They were good friends. | D．They were both musicians. |
| A．Carter’s reputation. | B．Carter’s serious disease. |
| C．Whittaker’s influence. | D．Whittaker’s inspiring story. |
| A．Knowledgeable. | B．Intelligent. |
| C．Generous. | D．Humorous. |
| A．Keep the money. | B．Help those in need. |
| C．Help Whittaker in return. | D．Treat his disease with the money. |
【推荐3】Growing up in Sydney’ s Sutherland Shire, Damian Ogden’s house was right on the border of Australia’s first national park, which is where he’ d spend his weekends. At 12 years old, Damian got involved in his first campaign to protect his backyard.
There was also a nuclear reactor 3 km from his place. As a kid, he didn't think much about the iodine tablets the school kept on hand‘in case of emergency’. Then Chernobyl happened, and that changed everything.
Damian’ s family actually got to know some of the victims of that nuclear disaster when they came to Australia. So when a second reactor was to be built at nearby Lucas Heights, he stood side-by-side with the community to oppose it. Although the campaign was lost ,Damian had found his path.
Later Damian would go to university and became active in the student movement. After that,and for the next decade, he stood up for the rights of tens of thousands of Australians through the union movement. It was there that Damian learned to organize in difficult circumstances — skills that he would take with him as he travelled to America to work on both the 2008 and 2012 Obama campaigns.
Towards the end of the second election campaign, he remembers having a phone link-up with the President. Most of the people gathered around had been on the journey since his first election campaign. “During that phone call ,President Obama talked emotionally about his best legacy being the leaders that would go on to do great things because of what they’d learned on that campaign.”
Inspired by these election campaigns, in 2012,Damian founded an organization where he taught other organizations how to campaign and be a community organizer.
Then,the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work at The Wilderness Society came up, with the chance to build a national movement building strategy.
Damian had wanted to make a difference to the environment since he was a 12-year-old kid in the Sutherland Shire — and now, he’ s finally here,doing just that.
1. Why did the school keep the iodine tablets?| A．To be prepared for a possible disaster |
| B．To help with the national park |
| C．To improve the kids’ health |
| D．To get the kids to behave |
| A．From school friends |
| B．From radiation victims |
| C．From the community campaign |
| D．From the changes to the national park |
| A．He got too emotional during the election campaigns |
| B．He learned a lot from the people around him |
| C．Those actively involved benefited greatly |
| D．Those campaigns were hard to win |
| A．He organized campaigns |
| B．He taught in a specific field |
| C．He worked as a community leader |
| D．He founded The Wilderness Society |
【推荐1】Aunt Fannie was Blueberry Jam Woman. Of course she wasn’t really my aunt, and out of fear, I never called that to her face. The name always made my father chuckle (轻笑) and my mother look sternly (严厉地) at both of us—at me for being disrespectful, and at my father for encouraging my bad behavior. I enjoyed both reactions, so I looked for every opportunity to work for the name into conversation.
As a young woman, my mother had worked in the kitchen of a large Victorian farm house owned by Fannie Cratty Fannie. Fannie was the last of the Cratty line; she had never married, and had no living heirs (继承人). My father once told me that it was because she was too mean to share her family wealth or pass it on. Aunt Fannie was noted for her jam, and for never sharing the recipe (食谱) with another living soul. Even though my mother knew it by heart, as long as Aunt Fannie was alive, she never made the jam without Miss Cratty in our kitchen to direct the process and preserve the secret.
One year, after I had been particularly helpful with the jam-making process. Aunt Fannie gave me a quarter and then made me promise I would never spend it. “Hold onto this quarter,”she said, “and some day you will be rich. I still have my first very quarter. ” It had obviously worked for her, so I put that 1938- quarter in a small box, put it in my dresser drawer, and waited to become rich.
I now have the blueberry-jam recipe and the quarter from Aunt Fannie. Neither has significantly contributed to my wealth, but I keep them to remind myself to hold onto the valuable things in life. Money can make you feel rich for a while, but it is your relationships, and your memories of time spent with friends and family that truly leave you wealthy. And that is a fortune that anyone can build.
1. What can we infer from “fear” mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．It was too difficult for the author to learn to make jam. |
| B．The author knew it was impolite to call Aunt Fannie Blueberry Jam Woman. |
| C．The author hesitated to talk with Aunt Fannie because of shyness. |
| D．Aunt Fannie was too strict and serious to get along well with the author’s family. |
| A．The author’s mother knew how to make the jam. |
| B．The author often helped Aunt Fannie make jam. |
| C．The author’s mother always made the jam alone. |
| D．Aunt Fannie was willing to share her recipe. |
| A．He thought it was a valuable quarter because of its long history. |
| B．He felt it was a gift from the elder and he should respect her. |
| C．He believed he would be rich as Aunt Fannie was. |
| D．He felt afraid of Aunt Fannie,because she was a serious woman. |
| A．Not to put a price on generosity. |
| B．To put ourselves into others’ shoes. |
| C．Not to think of kindness as a burden. |
| D．To value the time with family and friends. |
【推荐2】A famous person once said, “We live much happier lives when we are generous(慷慨的) in as many ways as possible.”
I love persimmons (柿子). A few years ago, ready to fly from San Francisco to Boston, I packed two persimmons, one of which I ate in the waiting room. A lady asked me from which store in the airport the fruit was bought. She looked a bit disappointed hearing that it couldn’t be bought from any store in this airport. I thought to myself, “I can give the second persimmon away.” When I offered her the fruit, at first she refused, but when I insisted (坚持), she became glad and accepted. I felt happy to make someone else happy, and I thought it was the end of the story.
Sometime during the flight, the lady met me in the aisle (过道) and thanked me again. She shared that she had grown up in Russia, where there was a persimmon tree in the yard of her childhood home. She now lived in Boston, where she hadn’t been able to find the fruit. The taste of the persimmon was valuable to her, reconnecting her with memories of her family.
Only then did the tiny act make a difference to me. As a famous saying goes, “______” The taste of the persimmon that I offered to the lady gives me more joy than all the ones I have eaten.
1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?| A．The persimmons are very expensive. |
| B．The persimmons can be bought everywhere. |
| C．The lady can hardly find persimmons in Boston. |
| D．The lady knew where to buy persimmons at the airport. |
| A．the persimmon was very delicious |
| B．she could eat a persimmon for free |
| C．the persimmon reminded her of her childhood memories |
| D．she wanted to have a talk with the writer about her family |
| A．Giving is receiving. | B．Use it or lose it. |
| C．One tree can’t make a forest. | D．It’s a piece of cake. |
【推荐3】As the fifth of seven children, I went to the same public school as my three elder sisters and brother. Every year, my mother went to the same ceremony and had parent-child interviews with teachers. And every child participated in an old school tradition — the annual plant sale held in early May, just timely for Mother’s Day. What was different was the child.
Third grade was the first time I was allowed to join in the plant sale. Originally, I wanted to surprise my mother. For lack of enough money, I went to my eldest sister and shared my thought, after which she supported me financially. When arriving at the plant sale, I carefully made my selection, inspecting each plant for the best geranium (天竺葵) and taking it home in secret. When Mother’s Day arrived, I remember how proud and delighted my mother was to receive the special gift.
The year I was fifteen, my younger sister reached third grade. In early May, she came to me full of wonder and secrecy and told me that a plant sale was to be held at school. As my elder sister did for me, I gave her some money and off she went. She arrived home full of nervous excitement, the geranium hidden in a paper bag under her sweater. “I looked at every plant,” she explained, “and I know I got the best one!”
When she gave my mother the geranium, they were both bursting with pride and delight. My mother also noticed me and gave me a soft, secret smile. With a tug at my heart, I smiled back. I had been wondering how my mother could pretend to be surprised at this gift from her sixth child, but as I watched her eyes light up with delight as she was presented with that most precious gift, I knew she was not pretending.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．Our siblings were from different schools. |
| B．Mother repeatedly went for similar interviews. |
| C．The annual plant sale was intended for recreation. |
| D．The old school tradition was held every other year. |
| A．Because she didn’t like the gift at all. |
| B．Because she was pretending to be happy. |
| C．Because she knew I gave money to my sister. |
| D．Because she didn’t want me to let out the secret. |
| A．Reliable. | B．Considerate. |
| C．Honest | D．Frank. |
| A．Secret smile | B．Mother’s Day |
| C．Geranium of love | D．Annual plant sale |
