It all started when the Gill brothers’ requirement for money to buy more Nerf guns and video games was turned down by their parents. Seeing their parents refuse to fork out the money, the three brothers — Collin, 13 years old, Ryan, 11 years old, and Austin, 8 years old — came up with a solution. They taught themselves how to make candles, learning tips from YouTube videos, and a business was born.
Almost two years later, the boys’ candle-making shop called “Freres Branchiaux” which means “Gill Brothers” in French has developed beyond anything they expected. With 36 stores selling their products, Freres Branchiaux sells about 400 candles a month. The boys have cash for all the Nerf guns and video games they ever desired. But instead of spending much on toys, most of the money goes back into the business, and 10 percent of their profits are donated to Washington-area homeless shelters every month. Collin said it makes him feel like the business has a purpose beyond business. “The community helped us, so we have to help back,” the brothers said. As soon as the brothers find the funds and space, they hope to open a shop and hire homeless people as employees.
The candles, which come in 23 scents, such as Lavender Crush, Lime Cotton and Whiskey Sweet, are the boys’ most popular products. They also offer other things like soap and bath salts. Each product is made by one of the brothers. As the oldest, Collin drives most of the production, making between 50 and 60 percent of each month’s production. Collin doesn’t mind shouldering the largest share of the work because he thinks his brothers are still too young. Collin typically spends three to four hours each day working in the Gills’ candle-making station.
Celena and her husband, Patrick, offer advice and supervision (监督), but the boys mostly manage the business themselves. All the boys plan to make Freres Branchiaux their life’s work. They would like it to grow into a huge brand, maybe around the world.
1. What do the underlined words mean in the first paragraph?| A．Lend. | B．Earn. |
| C．Save. | D．Pay. |
| A．Starting a business. |
| B．Doing surveys on candles. |
| C．Creating videos on YouTube. |
| D．Stopping playing video games. |
| A．He is talented and outgoing. |
| B．He is caring and outgoing. |
| C．He is hard-working and caring. |
| D．He is hard-working and talented. |
| A．The business belongs to the boys’ parents in fact. |
| B．The boys’ parents offer necessary support to them. |
| C．The candle business has become an international one. |
| D．The boys mainly depend on their parents to run the business. |
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【推荐1】Barditch High School decided to have an All-School Reunion. Over 450 people came to the event There were tours of the old school building and a picnic at Confederate Park. Several former teachers were on hand to tell stories about the old days. Ms. Mabel Yates, the English teacher for over fifty years, was wheeled to the Park.
Some eyes rolled and there were a few low groans(叹息声) when Ms. Yates was about to speak. Many started looking at their watches and coming up with excuses to be anywhere instead of preparing to listen to a lecture from an old woman who had few kind words for her students and made them work harder than all the other teachers combined.
Then Ms. Yates started to speak: “I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be here. I haven’t seen many of you since your graduation, but I have followed your careers and enjoyed your victories as well as crying for your tragedies. I have a large collection of newspaper photographs of my students. Although I haven’t appeared in person, I have attended your college graduations, weddings and even the births of your children, in my imagination.”
Ms. Yates paused and started crying a bit. Then she continued: “It was my belief that if I pushed you as hard as I could, some of you would succeed to please me and others would succeed to annoy me. Regardless of our motives, I can see that you have all been successful in your chosen path.”
“There is no greater comfort for an educator than to see the end result of his or her years of work. You have all been a great source of pleasure and pride for me and I want you to know I love you all from the bottom of my heart.”
There was a silence over the crowd for a few seconds and then someone started clapping. The clapping turned into cheering, then into a deafening roar(呼喊). Lawyers, truck drivers, bankers and models were rubbing their eyes or crying openly with no shame all because of the words from a long forgotten English teacher from their hometown.
1. What activity was organized for the school reunion?| A．Sightseeing in the park. | B．A picnic on the school playground. |
| C．Telling stories about past events. | D．Graduates’ reports in the old building. |
| A．Some graduates were too busy to listen to Ms. Yates’ speech. |
| B．Many graduates disliked Ms. Yates’ ways of teaching. |
| C．Some people got tired from the reunion activities. |
| D．Most people had little interest in the reunion. |
| A．She kept track of her students’ progress. | B．She gave her students advice on their careers. |
| C．She attended her students’ college graduations. | D．She went to her students’ wedding ceremonies. |
| A．Teachers’ knowledge is the key to students’ achievements. |
| B．Pressure on students from teachers should be reduced. |
| C．Hard-pushed students are more likely to succeed. |
| D．Students’ respect is the best reward for teachers. |
【推荐2】Pushpa hates tears but when she tells of incidents from her childhood, which she spent battling poverty, she can’t help feeling overwhelmed. “We used to be able to afford only one meal every day,” she says. But as challenging as those early years were, they would lead to her remarkable life as a scribe (抄写员) for people with special needs.
Pushpa remembers enjoying a blessedly normal childhood, peppered with “toys, dinners out and movies at the theatre”, until around grade 4. But life as she knew it disappeared when an accident left her father disabled.
“My mother, who wasn’t well-educated, had to work for ＄500 per month.” But what hit her hardest was her struggle to continue her education. The memory of her grade 7 teacher refusing to allow her to attend classes over unpaid school fees still hurts.
One day in 2007, while travelling with two visually impaired (有缺陷的) college students by bus, she heard them talk about how difficult it was for them to continue their education. “I remembered my own struggle to finish my studies so I seized the opportunity to help them.”
“I was a little nervous at first because I had passed my grade 10 examination only with a third class,” she smiles. “Since then, I’ve written exams for students who have low IQ, or are blind or visually impaired, or have met with an accident.”
It is, by no means, an easy task. “I read out the questions slowly and, sometimes, several times, and wait for the student to tell me the answer. I have seen scribes getting irritated (愤怒的) at students and that should not happen.” she explains.
Over the last 16 years, the young girl who once survived on handouts has come a long way. Connecting with examinees by word of mouth, till date, Pushpa has written 1,086 exams for special-needs test-takers and won the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2018 for her efforts. “You should be prepared to help the student for those few hours, without expecting anything in return.” Pushpa adds.
1. What do we know about Pushpa according to Paragraph 1?| A．Her ambition to serve people. | B．Her early fight against poverty. |
| C．Her inability to control emotions. | D．Her gratitude to the past hardships. |
| A．She was sympathetic for others. | B．She expected to shoot to fame. |
| C．She was professional in the job. | D．She was eager for much money. |
| A．Intelligence. | B．Respect. | C．Patience. | D．Cooperation. |
| A．A Helping Hand | B．A Hardship-filled Life |
| C．An Old-fashioned Job | D．A Devoted Prize Winner |
【推荐3】I ran into a local store today to pick up a few things. With an important meeting to attend, I was in a hurry, so I didn’t take a cart (手推车) on my way inside. As I walked between the shelves in the store, I passed by a young couple and their baby. I continued going through the store, picked up a few items I needed and ended up standing behind this couple in the checkout line.
While waiting, I noticed that the young father was holding his money tightly and nervously. The young mother was carrying a baby in her arms and asked the cashier (收银员) for a job application.
When the total was rung up, they had to pick items out of their cart because they didn’t have enough money. But all their items were basic necessities (必需品) that they needed most. It just broke my heart to watch the couple try to think about what they could do without. However, they were able to whittle down their items and paid the bill with the money that they had.
After they left, I quietly asked the cashier to add those items to mine. The cashier rang everything up, and then got me a shopping cart. We put in their items and I hurried over to their car. “This is for you,” I told them.
The young father just looked at me with such appreciation and thanked me. I will never forget the expression in his eyes. As I was getting into my car, they drove over. The young mother said, “Miss, thank you so much.”
Tears welled up in my eyes — as they are again now, while I write this. “You are so welcome. Pay it forward some day,” I replied.
1. The underlined phrase “whittle down” in Paragraph 3 probably means “__________”.| A．add to | B．break down |
| C．pay for | D．cut down |
| A．angry | B．sad |
| C．excited | D．interested |
| A．the young mother didn’t have a job then |
| B．the young father felt so sorry to accept help |
| C．the cashier treated the young couple impolitely |
| D．the young couple bought something unnecessary |
| A．what a great plan she made |
| B．to take a cart while shopping |
| C．to help those who are in need |
| D．how to pick out basic necessities |
【推荐1】Noa Mintz has started her own nanny (保姆) agency since August 2012. She employed Allison Johnson in 2014 to take charge of day-to-day business operations while she attended her first year of high school. She rents a room in an office building in Midtown Manhattan where Johnson works.
Like any teenager, Noa has had to depend on her parents for some help. Her father is the registered owner of her business. He’s helped raise front money for legal fees. But Nannies by Noa is all her brainchild. The idea came about as a result of a challenge made by her mother: find a better nanny for their family.
She did just that, and then she started helping her mother’s friends find nannies. “I found it fun to get to know a family and their needs — and especially to find a nanny,” she said. So, Nannies by Noa was born. It was the summer of 2012, before she entered 7th grade.
She’s designed a thorough review process: an application, an in-person interview with a trained nanny, the reference and background check and a phone interview. Her business has seen a considerable success: from 50 clients (客户) in 2013 to 190 clients today.
At first, she charged $ 100 to $ 200. “I wasn’t charging enough. Even clients would say, ‘You realize you should be charging way, way more,’” added Noa, whose clients are mostly looking for long-term help. She’s changed her business model since: Nannies by Noa now takes a percentage of the overall rate, which is usually 15% of the nanny’s first year gross salary.
While Noa said she has other business ideas, she also would consider other careers. “Perhaps I’ll start another company. We will see,” said Noa.
1. How does Allison help Noa?| A．She rents an office for Noa. | B．She helps operate Noa’s business. |
| C．She teaches Noa her school lessons. | D．She puts money into Noa’s nanny agency. |
| A．It was the idea of Noa’s mother. | B．It was legally registered by Noa. |
| C．It aims to match nannies with families. | D．It offers nanny-related jobs to teenagers. |
| A．She employed trained nannies. | B．She changed charging standards. |
| C．She raised nannies’ salaries. | D．She interviewed applicants in person. |
| A．Fame is a great thirst of the young. |
| B．A youth is to be regarded with respect. |
| C．A good idea and action result in success. |
| D．Success means getting family needs satisfied. |
【推荐2】He came to Britain,16, with a handful of qualifications. ￡5 in pocket and a burning ambition. Thirty-five years later, Vijay, 51, and his brother. Bhikhu. own a drug company which does $234 million worth of business each year. Together they are worth ￡280 million and now they have been jointly named “Entrepreneur of the Year”.
It is an inspirational tale. Yet despite their wealth and this award, Vijay remains modest about their success. He praises his mother: “She is an incredible lady. She taught us hard work, honesty and we have based our lives on those qualities.”
In 1967,Vijay kissed his mother goodbye to London to make his fortune. “I had little more than my qualifications and $5,” says Vijay. “But to go with those, I had a huge ambition to make something of myself,” he recalls. Typically, Vijay looks on the bright side. “When you start from zero, things can’t get any worse. You have only one way to go. and that’s up - if there is a hunger in your stomach for success.” Vijny says. “My brother and I were determined to better ourselves and Britain was the land of opportunity.”
By 1982, he had owned six chemist’s shops, when Bhikhu, a then financial analyst, joined him, adding some “financial discipline” to his company. Vijay says: “I simply couldn’t have done it without him.” As he puts it, “Brought up under one roof, we understand one another from A to Z.”
Vijay is keen to continue repaying the country he has made his own. “We hope we are mode citizens and would like to remain so,” he says. “We are lucky enough to live in a country that never stands in our way.” His message for young people is to do the same: “Identify your aim, and do not let anything discourage you from achieving that goal.”
1. What did Vijay possess when starting his business?| A．£280 million in cash. | B．A small drug company. |
| C．The title “Entrepreneur of the Year”. | D．Nothing but qualifications and ambition. |
| A．His brother’s financial aid. | B．His identity of model citizen. |
| C．The perseverance in his goal. | D．Encouraging quotes from mom. |
| A．We share something in common. | B．We know each other inside out. |
| C．We count on each other in career. | D．We two together create fire and water. |
| A．From Penniless to Millionaire | B．The Significance of Education |
| C．The Power of Deep Brotherhood | D．A Modest Successful Businessman |
【推荐3】Millions of people pass through the gates of the Disney parks in California, Tokyo and Shanghai each year. What makes these places almost universal attractions? What makes foreign kings and queens and other important people want to visit these Disney parks? Well, one reason is the way Disney serves their “guests”.
All new employees, from vice-presidents to part-time workers, begin their employment by attending Disney University and taking “Traditions”. Here, they learn about the company’s history how it is managed and why it is successful. They are shown how each department relates to the whole. All employees are shown how their part is important in making the park a success.
After passing “Traditions”, the employees go on to more specialized training for their specific jobs. No detail is missed. A simple job like taking tickets requires eight-hour days of training. When one ticket taker was asked why it took so much training for such a simple, ordinary job, he replied, “What happens if someone wants to know where the restrooms are, when the parade starts or which bus to take back to the campgrounds? We need to know the answers or where to get them quickly. Our constant aim is to help our guests enjoy themselves.”
Even Disney’s managers get involved in the daily management of the park. Every year, the managers leave their desks and business suits and put on special service clothes. For a full week, the bosses sell hot dogs or ice cream, take tickets or drive the monorail, and take up any of the 100 jobs that make the park come alive. “It means a lot,” one of them said, “Allowing us to see a bigger picture.”
All these efforts to serve the public well have made Walt Disney famous. Disney is considered by many as the best mass service provider in America or the world.
1. What do all new employees do on the first day they come to Disney parks?| A．Receiving staff training. | B．Leaning job-related skills. |
| C．Being the ticket takers. | D．Looking around the park. |
| A．To do as many jobs as they could. | B．To help the guests have a great time. |
| C．To be able to answer various questions. | D．To keep the important guests happy. |
| A．Because they are able to sell more hot dogs and ice cream. |
| B．Because there is a serious lack of junior employees. |
| C．Because it helps them to see the company’s goal more clearly. |
| D．Because they want to change the way of marketing Disney. |
| A．How Disney employees are trained. | B．What traditions Disney parks own. |
| C．Why Disney parks make a profit. | D．Why Disney parks are popular. |
【推荐1】75-year-old hip-hop (街舞) grandma Stephanie Walsh has gained worldwide attention with her intense dance moves and incredible energy. Better known as “Ms. Stephanie” online, Walsh has been featured on social media accounts with some videos drawing more than 11 million people to watch.
Walsh believes the videos gained popularity because she is 75. “It’s because I’m a senior,” said Walsh. “You don’t usually see someone my age doing hip-hop and moving like that. ”But actually, it’s more than that. Just as her profile claims, Walsh’s videos are “inspiring the world to dance like no one is watching. ”
“Dance isn’t just your body, it’s what you’re feeling inside about the dance and it’s what comes out here in your face,” Walsh said. “What I want to put through my movement is how much fun it is and how much joy it gives you.”
From a young age, Walsh loved to dance but her family didn’t have the money for classes. When she was nearly 30, she got her daughter ballet lessons, which her daughter hated. So, she took her daughter out and started classes herself right away.
Walsh believes her lifelong passion for dance is what motivates her today. “Everybody has to have a passion in their life,” she said. “It’s like that saying, ‘A life without passion is a life half lived.’ I believe that.”
Walsh dances for fun and fitness, but also for therapy (心理治疗). She struggled through countless hardships, and she has more than enough reasons to keep her down. But they don’t. She turns to her faith, her friends and of course, dance, to shine as an inspiration to those around her.
Gilbert, one of Walsh’s followers, says she inspires him every day. “She’s a beautiful soul who teaches me that it doesn’t matter about your age or your size. As long as you feel good, that’s all that matters,” says Gilbert. “I am truly thankful that Walsh is teaching me at the age of 32 to live my life full and stop being so scared.”
1. What motivates Walsh to do hip-hop?| A．Its great social benefit. | B．Its growing popularity. |
| C．Her enthusiasm for dance. | D．Her hunger for reputation. |
| A．Her advanced age. | B．Her smooth moves. |
| C．Her endless energy. | D．Her confident claim. |
| A．Be active in social media. |
| B．Set a good example to others. |
| C．Take full advantage of his talent. |
| D．Adopt a positive approach to life. |
| A．Optimistic About Life: The Way to Survive |
| B．Forever Young in Dance: An Inspiring Figure |
| C．Embracing Social Media: The Key to Success |
| D．Dancing with the Young: An Amazing Journey |
【推荐2】A little boy has written and illustrated (加插图于)a storybook himself to help raise money to buy a new wheelchair. Alfie Dormand began writing his book The Monkeys That Stole A Bus after being inspired by a day out at Paignton Zoo. He even illustrated the book himself using a computer program to create colourful drawings to illustrate his imaginative tale.
Through sales of his storybook on the Internet and donation through his Just Giving page, Alfie has raised over £1000 towards the costs of the new electric wheelchair, which would give him greater independence than his current manual (手动的) wheelchair. He has a disease called Ll syndrome and a related condition known as Hydrocephalus (脑积水), both of which affect his ability to move.
His mum Michelle Dortmund said, “We hired an electric wheelchair three years ago when we went to Paignton Zoo and he loved it. We were delighted to see him get around in the wheelchair without being pushed by others. He fell in love with the flamingos (火烈鸟). When he saw how cheeky the monkeys were, it just gave him some ideas for stories.”
Teachers have been reading the book to other pupils at Alfie’s school. Parents have been buying the book to support the Alfie’s fundraising efforts, with Alfie even signing books like a professional. The winner of the World’s Strongest Man competition, Eddie Hall, also features in the book, and the strong man bought a copy and sent Alfie a video to say thanks.
The schoolboy likes to make little stories. He does all of the drawings on the computer himself as he finds using a pen difficult.
As the story shows, life can be so difficult. However, positively face it and work hard, and we’ll get help from others.
1. What gave Alfie the idea for his book The Monkeys That Stole A Bus?| A．A visit to a zoo. | B．A storybook he’d read |
| C．Requirements of parents. | D．Teachers’ encouragement. |
| A．Dependence. | B．Convenience. |
| C．Carefulness. | D．Indifference. |
| A．A world competition. | B．Details about Alfie’s book. |
| C．Support from the public. | D．Alfie’s book signing event. |
| A．Inspiring. | B．Energetic. | C．Sensitive. | D．Caring. |
I’m a 34 year old man, married, live in a nice house, and have a successful career as an educational consultant. But my life was not always so great. I had a learning disability from an early age. I went to a special school where I got plenty of extra help. Still, I suffered the rest of my school days in public schools.
My life improved remarkably when I discovered art. The art world gave me a chance to express myself without words. I went to a workshop and gradually got good at making things with clay. Here I learned my first important lesson: disabled as I was in language, I could still be smart and well express myself with clay. And my confidence came along.
I got my next lesson from rock climbing. It was a fun thing but I was scared from the start. I soon noticed it wasn’t a talent thing; it was practice. So I did it more. After about five years of climbing, I found myself in Yosemite Valley on a big wall. I learned that if you fall in love with something and do it all the time, you will get better at it.
Later I decided to apply my previous experience to learning how to read and write. Every day I practiced reading and writing, which I used to avoid as much as possible. After two hard years, I was literate.
Having gone through the long process with art, rock climbing, and reading and writing, now I’ve got to a point in my life where I know I am smart enough to dive into an area that is totally unknown, hard, but interesting.
1. What made the author’s school days difficult?2. Why did art give the author confidence?
3. What is the meaning of the underlined part in Paragraph 4?
4. How does the author’s story inspire you to overcome difficulties in life? Put it in your own words (no more than 50 words).
