Rene Compean was no stranger to Angeles National Forest. He’d hiked the park near his home in Southern California numerous times. But after taking a new path last April, he was lost.
As the day faded into dusk, his concern turned to fear. The terrain (地带) was remote and rough. With only a liter of water and less than ten percent battery remaining on his cell phone, Compean was unprepared for anything more than the two-hour journey he’d planned. Compean climbed to a spot, where he found only one bar of signal. “SOS. My phone is going to die. Pm lost,” he texted a friend, attaching a photo showing where he was. The shot showed his legs hanging over a steep rock.
Sixty miles away in Ventura County, Ben Kuo was working at home when he read a tweet from the Los Angeles County Safety Department. They had spent the previous night unsuccessfully looking for Compean, so they released the photo to the public, hoping someone might know the location.
Kuo works in the tech industry, and he has an unusual hobby —looking for where photos are taken. When he saw the blurry (模糊的) image, he pulled up a satellite map on his laptop. He narrowed his search to the surrounding area where Compean’s car was parked and spotted an area that looked like the terrain in the image. When he cross-referred the original photo with 3-D images of the area from Google Earth, the locations matched!
Soon, a search-and-rescue team helicopter was in the air, flying above Compean. After spending 27 hours alone in the wilderness, Compean cried, “I’m safe!” John Gibert, a member of the search-and-rescue team, says, “Compean’s story probably would have ended very differently had a total stranger with strong satellite skills and a sharp eye for detail not taken action.”
1. What added to Compean’s fear?| A．Taking a completely new route. | B．Being unfamiliar with the park. |
| C．Being far away from destination. | D．Lacking preparations for emergency. |
| A．The released photo. | B．Kuo’s expertise in rescuing. |
| C．The successful image matching. | D．The rescue team’s efforts. |
| A．Lucky. | B．Expected. | C．Fruitless. | D．Smooth. |
| A．A Mountain Hiker | B．A Screen Saver |
| C．A Blurry Image | D．A Helicopter Rescue |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】One late summer evening, I stood in my father’s garden, watching my kids dig in the dirt with toy bulldozers (推土机). I had driven up to my parents’ house that afternoon feeling upset My husband was working day and night, and my twins hadn’t napped. I was one step away from a complete breakdown.
“Come up,” my mom said, “Let’s rest for a while.”
As the day of temporary relaxation drew to a close, I took a walk around Dad’s once-neat garden rows and noticed the tomato plants Dad had planted.
“Roma tomatoes, the kind for sauce. Renember when your mom used to make sauce?” my father said. I hadn’t thought of it in years actually. It was a recipe passed from my Italian immigrant great-grandmother down to my grandmother and then my mother. And that’s where it had stopped. Though I liked cooking, I didn’t want to waste much time on the dish. Why should I simmer (慢慢地煮) tomato sauce all day when I could make different kinds of dishes?
Dad gave me an idea. “I’m going to make sauce,” I said. My father raised a skeptical eyebrow but grabbed some boxes and told the kids to start picking. The twins threw tomatoes like softballs to each other as the youngest begged to join me. Everyone was crying at one point and I almost gave up on my big plan. Yet something inside me fought back, a deep-seated fancy for finding the link between the recipe’s owner and me.
At last, I successfully finished my sauce and it was approved by my parents. The efforts I made with those boxes of tomatoes gave me a sense of accomplishment. Each crank of the handle (柄), each slice of the knife, each stir of the pot was a prayer for comfort and confidence. Like most things that are worthwhile, the mess was part of the process.
1. The author went to her parents ’house that afternoon to______.| A．pay a visit to her parents | B．learn to cook tomato sauce |
| C．let the kids play in her father’s garden | D．relieve herself from daily chores |
| A．Encouraging. | B．Pleased. | C．Doubtful. | D．Upset. |
| A．Her desire to follow a family tradition. | B．The encouragement from her father. |
| C．The expectation from the recipe’s owner. | D．Her children’s requirement. |
| A．Where there is a will there is a way. | B．Life is most beautiful when it is imperfect. |
| C．All things will come round to who will wait. | D．Ups and downs make one strong. |
【推荐2】There are people for whom the motivation lies in their family or companions' duties. For some people, the purpose lies in a soul's spiritual awakening. Brent Clayton, a firefighter by profession, is one such individual who found his purpose early in life and kept working to fulfill it.
Born on March 3, 1984, Clayton hugely felt the need to serve others. He followed his mission in life and acquired his diploma in Public Safety. He gradually realized the importance of securing people's lives, which strengthened his faith in his mission. Clayton further pursued his bachelor's degree from the University of Melbourne and master's degree from Federation University. Then, Clayton worked in the military for a period before moving into a role with the prison service as a prison guard, the youngest person to ever be employed by the service at the time.
After spending a decade in the fire service including training and recruitment, he gained enough experience to become Australia’s most prominent fire service recruitment expert. Clayton devoted many years of his life to the firefighter recruitment process and fire service industry. He wanted people to realize the true value of this profession by establishing its significance. To communicate his perspective, Clayton established Fire Recruitment Australia in 2009. He aimed to train the next generation and prepare them for the future. Clayton used his experience and years-long training to prepare candidates who were as enthusiastic about the well-being of the world as him.
Keeping the point in mind, Clayton wrote the book Fire Service Recruitment—the Process to Success. His idea was to join his learnings into an accessible medium so others didn't have to waste years wondering what to do when applying to become a firefighter. After the success of the book, Clayton introduced candidates to a comprehensive test preparation and learning suite to facilitate success throughout each stage of the selection process. This platform helped him as well as his candidates to work together for the betterment of themselves and ultimately society at large.
1. What made Clayton's belief stronger?| A．The military experience. | B．The support of his family. |
| C．The knowledge he learned from college. | D．The significance of people's safety. |
| A．Stubborn. | B．Brave. |
| C．Outstanding. | D．Energetic. |
| A．Because he could earn good reputation. |
| B．Because he wanted to perform academic researches. |
| C．Because he wanted to realize his dream of being a leader. |
| D．Because he hoped to get young people ready for future career. |
【推荐3】Isabella, whose mother died two years ago after her long battle with a rare illness, has to rely on her father as she approaches the pre-teen struggles every girl faces growing up. Yet, while her father, Philip, has been doing all he can, he has failed to master one skill that remains important for 11-year-olds such as Isabella: hair.
He originally just gave her a short cut because he didn't know how to do anything else. Once her hair grew back, however, Isabella learned to make a simple ponytail (马尾) on her way out the door each morning. It wasn't until she noticed her bus driver, Tracy Dean, braiding (编) another classmate's hair that Isabella gathered the courage to ask her for help.
Dean owes her good relationship with the community she serves to a previous cancer diagnosis (诊断). Seven years ago, she found out she had breast cancer, and one of the things that went through her head was: Who is going to take care of her little ones? Not that her husband couldn’t do it but that’s what moms do.
Dean's selfless deed has also taken social media by storm, rebuilding people's faith in each other, while also inspiring others to share their own stories of kind gestures within their own community.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and for Isabella, this means she now has a mother figure to look up to as she grows. “I feel like she's pretty much a mom to me,” Isabella said “And it makes me excited to see what she can do for me the next day.”
Dean's selfless act has also had an influence on Isabella at school, as her teacher, Mrs. Freeze, noted that Isabella had her head a little higher that morning after she asked for Dean's help. While this gesture will surely provide Isabella with the power she needs to remain positive for years to come, Dean can find great comfort in knowing that her help has made a lasting influence on Isabella in particular.
1. What was the trouble for Philip when bringing up his daughter?| A．To arrange her long hair. | B．To dress her elegant. |
| C．To communicate with her. | D．To help her with her study. |
| A．Everyone should care about their kid growth. |
| B．A small deed has made a big difference to Isabella. |
| C．Villagers should help each other in kids’ education. |
| D．Isabella has to be brought up by her fellow villagers. |
| A．Upset | B．Amazed | C．Awkward | D．Confident. |
| A．Indifferent | B．Skeptical | C．Supportive | D．Objective |
【推荐1】Forty-three years seems like a long time to remember the name of a mere acquaintance (认识的人). I have forgotten the name of the old lady to whom I delivered newspapers but I can’t forget the lesson she taught me in forgiveness .
On a winter afternoon, a friend and I were throwing stones onto the roof of the old lady’s house . I found myself a perfectly smooth rock and threw it out. The stone was too smooth, however, so it slipped from my hand as I let it go and headed straight not for the roof but for a small window of the house.
At the sound of broken glass, we knew we were in trouble. We turned and ran away fast. I was too scared about getting caught that first night by the old lady with the broken window. However, a few days later, when I was sure that I hadn’t been discovered, I started to feel guilty for her misfortune.
She still greeted me with a smile each day when I gave her the paper, but I was no longer able to act comfortable in her presence. I made up my mind that I would save my paper delivery money, and in three weeks I had the seven dollars that I thought would cover the cost of her window.
I put the money in an envelope with a note explaining that I was sorry for breaking her window and hoped that the seven dollars would cover the cost for repairing it. I waited until dark, and put the letter I didn’t sign in her letter box.
The next day, I handed the old lady her paper and was able to return the warm smile that I was receiving from her.
She thanked me for the paper and gave me a bag of cookies she had made herself. I thanked her and ate the cookies happily.
After several cookies, I felt an envelope and pulled it out of the bag. When I opened the envelope, I was stunned. Inside were the seven dollars and a short note that said, “I’m proud of you.”
1. What happened when the author broke the old lady’s window?| A．He was caught red-handed. | B．He thought he was not discovered. |
| C．He left seven dollars right now. | D．He reported to the police at once. |
| A．The author borrowed seven dollars to give to the old lady. |
| B．The author felt quite all right after the accident . |
| C．The old lady had already discovered who broke her window. |
| D．The old lady kept the money given by the boy. |
| A．critical | B．suspicious | C．generous | D．gentle |
| A．tell the readers the life story of a nice old lady |
| B．tell the readers a lesson he remembered for 43 years |
| C．talk about his paper-delivery adventure |
| D．talk about a young boy’s interesting story |
【推荐2】Life as a 340-pound man had become unmanageable for Erie O’Grey. When not traveling for work, he rarely left his apartment. He took about 15 medicines, including weight-loss drugs. He tried dieting, but nothing worked. Then two things during a flight inspired him to go to see a naturopathic (自然疗法的) doctor. O’Grey had an embarrassing incident when the flight crew had to wait for a seat belt extension for him before the plane took off. Then he saw news about “plant-based” diets.
The doctor recommended a plant-based diet and also ordered him to adopt a shelter dog and walk him twice a day for 30 minutes. Armed with new recipes and the order, he went to the local shelter with visions of the perfect dog dancing through his head, one that never barked or disobeyed orders. But the adoption coordinator (协调人) brought in a very fat dog with skin problems.
“The dog looked at me with a clear sense of disappointment. Then his head hung low,” O’Grey said.” I can relate to that." The coordinator told him they had much in common and that they both need work on the same things. O’Grey took the dog home and named him “Peety”. They began going for walks. At first, O’Grey could only take his new companion about 100 yards. But Peety seemed to like it. “He just looked up at me like he was so appreciative.”
Their twice-daily exercise gradually got longer as O’Grey began to enjoy walking through his neighborhood with Peety. As they lost weight and grew healthier together, the pair developed a tight bond. In six months, Grey quit all medicines. Over time O’Grey discovered he loved long-distance running. Now he runs an average of five to six marathons a year.
On the journey toward a healthier, happier life, O’Grey becomes a lover of long-distance running and dog adoption. He’s also co-written a book, Walking with Peety: The Dog Who Saved My Life, encouraging others struggling with obesity to turn it around.
1. Why did O’Grey feel embarrassed during the air travel?| A．He was too fat to take a seat. |
| B．He rarely traveled by plane. |
| C．He was laughed at by the flight crew. |
| D．He couldn’t fit in the safety belt. |
| A．A healthy dog. | B．An adaptive dog. | C．A gentle dog. | D．An energetic dog. |
| A．He disliked running at first. |
| B．He finished marathons with O’Grey. |
| C．He was trained to help people. |
| D．He was upset when meeting O’Grey. |
| A．The tough journey of losing weight |
| B．A man completed his book inspired by his dog |
| C．The bond between a man and a dog |
| D．A dog changed its owner from medicines to marathon |
【推荐3】A young and successful manager was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar (捷豹) . He was watching for kids rushing out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.
As his car passed, one child appeared, and a brick smashed(撞击) into the Jag’s side door. He slammed (砰地关上) on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown.
He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting. “What was that all about and who are you? Just what are you doing?”
Building up a head of steam, he went on “That’s a new car and that brick you threw cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?”
“Please, mister, please, I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do! pleaded(恳求) the youngster.
“It’s my brother,” he said. “He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up. Sobbing, the boy asked the manager, “Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair?
He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me.”
Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay.
“Thank you, sir. And God bless you,” the grateful child said to him. The man then watched the little boy push his brother to the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long walk backs to his Jaguar... a long, slow walk. He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent (凹痕) to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention.
Life whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart. Sometimes, when you don’t have the time to listen... Life throws a brick at your head.
It’s your choice: Listen to the whispers of your soul or wait for the brick!
1. Why did the child throw a brick at the Jaguar?| A．To play tricks on the manager | B．To make fun of the manager |
| C．To ask him for help | D．To show his dissatisfaction |
| A．Angry | B．Surprised | C．Content | D．Disappointed |
| A．Selfish and lazy | B．Caring and warm-hearted |
| C．Indifferent and stubborn | D．Determined and courageous |
| A．A Damaged New Jaguar | B．A Boy in Need | C．A Helpful Manager | D．A Pleading Brick |
