Some say everyday miracles (奇迹) are predestined (注定的) — the right time for the appointed meeting. And it can happen anywhere.
In 2001, 11-year-old Kevin Stephan was a bat boy for his younger brother's Little League team in Lancaster, New York. It was an early evening in late July. Kevin was standing on the grass away from the plate, where another youngster was warming up for the next game. Swinging his bat back and forth, giving it all the power an elementary school kid could give. The boy brought the bat back hard and hit Kevin in the chest. His heart stopped.
When Kevin fell to the ground, the mother of one of the players rushed out of the stands to his aid. Penny Brown hadn’t planned to be there that day, but at the last minute, her shift (换班) at the hospital had been changed to see her son’s performance. She was given the night off. Penny bent over the senseless boy, his face already starting to turn blue, and giving CPR, breathing into his mouth and giving chest compression. And he revived in the end.
After his recovery, he became a volunteer junior firefighter, learning some of the emergency first-aid techniques that had saved his life. He studied hard in school and was saving money for college by working as a dishwasher in a local restaurant in his spare time.
Kevin, now 18, was working in the kitchen when he heard people screaming, customers in confusion, employees rushing toward a table. He hurried into the main room and saw a woman there, her face turning blue, her hands at her throat. She was choking.
Quickly Kevin stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her and clasped his hands. Then, using skills he’d first learned in Scouts. The food that was trapped in the woman's throat was freed. The color began to return to her face.
“The food was stuck. I couldn’t breathe, ” she said. She thought she was dying. “I was very frightened. ”
Who was the woman?
Penny Brown.
1. The author wrote the passage to show us that________.| A．miracles are predestined and they can happen anywhere |
| B．whoever helps you in trouble will get a reward one day |
| C．God will help those who give others a helping hand |
| D．miracles won’t come without any difficulty sometimes |
| A．He was hit on the face by a boy and almost lost his life. |
| B．He was a volunteer junior firefighter, teaching the players first-aid skills. |
| C．He worked part-time in a local restaurant to save money for college. |
| D．He saved Penny Brown though he didn’t really know how to deal with food choke. |
| A．She was invited to give the players directions. |
| B．She volunteered to give medical services. |
| C．She was a little worried about his son’s safety. |
| D．She came to watch her son’s game and cheered him. |
| A．happy | B．surprised | C．sad | D．worried |
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【推荐1】The annual marathon in my town occurred as scheduled. My job was to follow behind the runners in an ambulance in case any of them needed medical attention. As the athletes began to pace themselves, the front runners started to disappear. It was then that my eyes were drawn to the woman in blue running shorts and a baggy white T-shirt.
I knew we were already watching our “last runner”. Her feet were turned in, yet her left knee was turned out. Her legs were so crippled ( 跛足的 ) and bent that it seemed impossible for her to walk, let alone run a marathon.
The driver and I watched in silence as she slowly moved forward. We would move forward a little bit, then stop and wait for her to gain some distance. Then we’d slowly move forward a little bit more. As I watched her struggle to put one foot in front of the other, I found myself breathing for her and urging her forward. I wanted her to stop, and at the same time, I prayed that she wouldn’t.
Finally, she was the only runner left in sight. I sat on the edge of my seat and watched with respect and amazement as she pushed forward with sheer determination through the last miles. When the finish line came into sight, the cheering crowds had long gone home. Yet, standing straight and proud waited a man. He was holding one end of a ribbon tied to a post. She slowly crossed through, leaving both ends of the ribbon fluttering (飘动) behind her.
I don’t know this woman’s name, but that day she became a part of my life — a part I often depend on.
For her, it wasn’t about beating the other runners or winning a prize. It was about finishing what she had set out to do. When I think things are too difficult or I get those “I-just-can’t-do-it,” I think of the last runner. Then I realize how easy the task before me really is.
1. What words can best describe the woman?| A．Proud and determined. | B．Strong-willed and honorable. |
| C．Modest and courageous. | D．Diligent and considerate. |
| A．Don’t depend on others when facing hardships. |
| B．Nothing is too tough to accomplish if one is brave enough. |
| C．The disabled can also run a marathon despite their walking difficulty. |
| D．It’s not winning but holding on straight to the end that really matters. |
| A．A Crippled Woman. | B．An Unforgettable Job. |
| C．The Last Runner. | D．The Annual Marathon. |
【推荐2】Perseverance is a unique precondition to success in life. We can prove this fact when we look at the reality of life and the history of man’s success. Perseverance helps us do what we otherwise would consider impossible to do.
Perseverance is the secret of success. Without it, no great achievement is possible. Even if a person is not very talented, nor highly knowledgeable, still he can succeed in life simply by his perseverance. Every action has its reaction.
If one looks at his own life, he can very well understand that whatever he has so far gained, he has gained it only by his hard labor, and not by chance. Therefore, perseverance must be practiced.
| A．So hard labor has no alternative. |
| B．They have been changing the world. |
| C．Virtually, there is nothing that man cannot do. |
| D．In this way, the noble habit becomes a part of one’s life. |
| E．In human life, the role of perseverance is often ignored. |
| F．Their success will always remain as perfect examples to us. |
| G．The task that is easily done at the first attempt is undoubtedly very easy. |
【推荐3】Is Your Focus Completely Wrong?
Imagine that you’re rock climbing and you really want to reach the top. And you know you can get to the top. However, you’re having a hard time getting there because all you can do is look at the ground below you.
Maybe you’re so focused on not going broke that you’re not putting energy into creating wealth. Maybe you so badly don’t want to be alone that you’re not creating a life of love you deserve. Maybe you can’t stand the thought of being unemployed, so you never take the risk to fully love your work.
| A．I get stuck there. |
| B．I don’t rock climb. |
| C．Live for love, abundance, joy and wellness. |
| D．I don’t have the time or energy to get better. |
| E．You don’t want your feet to slip off the rocks. |
| F．These can look like a lot of various things for all of us. |
| G．All of your energy is focused on everything beneath you. |
【推荐1】It's not easy growing up. Growing up can be a real “pain” for some of us. Sometimes we feel trapped, sometimes we feel sad, sometimes we are fearful, and sometimes we just don't understand why we can't stay young forever. But we should take a look back on all the hardships in life with a positive attitude and learn from them. We must overcome every obstacle one small step at a time. We should realize that all of our growing pains actually turn into growing gains!
Throughout our lives we are going to face many challenges and pains, but we should never let these obstacles keep us from following our dreams. We must overcome every obstacle one small step at a time.
As a young girl, my parents forced me to do so many things that I didn't like. They made me learn to play the violin and then the piano. At that time I hated music and I also hated them. But looking back now, I am so glad that my parents encouraged me to take music lessons. Music has enriched my life in so many ways. I now realize that my parents and teachers wanted me to have a better life than they did themselves.
We are all going to experience growing pains, but they are just part of our life. They might seem so huge at the time, but we must be strong. Think about how we would feel if we had no challenges and lived a life like that. Life would be really boring and meaningless. The future is ours! A little hard work and sweat never hurt anyone! If we realize that these pains are just small bumps（碰撞）on our road to success, we will realize that our growing pains are actually growing gains!
1. The underlined word “obstacles”（in Paragraph 2）roughly means things that____________| A．are related to your studies |
| B．you easily achieve |
| C．make you happy |
| D．make it difficult for you to do something |
| A．She is fearful | B．She is grateful |
| C．She feels trapped | D．She feels hateful |
| A．Growing pains are necessary for us to grow up. |
| B．Life is full of hardships |
| C．A little hard work and sweat are harmful to us. |
| D．Life without fear is a better choice for us. |
【推荐2】A friend of mine, in response to a conversation we were having about the injustices of life, asked me the question, “Who said life was going to be fair, or that it was even meant to be fair?” Her question was a good one. It reminded me of something I was taught as a youngster: life isn’t fair. It’s a disappointment, but it’s absolutely true. One of the mistakes many of us make is that we feel sorry for ourselves, or for others, thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be. It’s not and it won’t be.
One of the nice things about surrendering (屈服于) to the fact that life isn’t fair is that it keeps us from feeling sorry for ourselves by encouraging us to do the very best we can with what we have. We know it’s not “life’s job” to make everything perfect: it’s our own challenge. Surrendering to this fact also keeps us from feeling sorry for others because we are reminded that everyone is dealt a different hand; everyone has unique strengths and problems in the process of growing up, facing the reality and making decisions; and everyone has those times that they feel unfairly treated.
The fact that life isn’t fair doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything in our power to improve our own lives or the world as a whole. To the contrary, it suggests that we should. When we don’t recognize or admit that life isn’t fair, we tend to feel pity for others and for ourselves. Pity, of course, is a self-defeating emotion that does nothing for anyone, except to make everyone feel worse than they already do. When we do recognize that life isn’t fair, however, we feel compassion for others and for ourselves. And compassion is a heartfelt emotion that delivers loving-kindness to everyone it touches. The next time you find yourself thinking about the injustices of the world, try reminding yourself of this very basic fact. You may be surprised that it can make you out of self-pity and into helpful action.
1. The author thought of his friend’s question as a good one, because ________.| A．he also wanted to know who held such an opinion | B．it made him recall something during his childhood |
| C．like his friend, he also thought life was unfair | D．he learned something from the question as a youngster |
| A．keep us from making everything perfect | B．keep us from doing everything in our power |
| C．make us face challenges in the life bravely | D．make us know it’s our duty to perfect things |
| A．it’s nice to accept the injustice of life | B．it’s nice to surrender to the life |
| C．we should not surrender to the life | D．we should not feel sorry for ourselves |
| A．you should not pity for others | B．life isn’t and won’t be fair |
| C．sympathy is a heartfelt emotion | D．pity is a self-defeating emotion |
| A．positive | B．negative | C．Self-pity | D．indifferent |
So the man decided to help the butterfly. He cut off the remaining bit of the cocoon so that the butterfly could come out easily. But to his surprise, the butterfly got a heavy body and very small wings when it came out of the cocoon.
The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that the body would grow smaller at any moment and the wings would become larger and be able to fly. But neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling（爬）around with a heavy body and small wings. It was never able to fly.
The man was in his kindness, but he did not understand the nature rules. Before the butterfly came out of the cocoon, fluid（流体）from its body must be forced into its wings, and then it would be ready for flying. It must have a hard struggle to get through the small opening to get its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any difficulties, it would make us fail. We would not be as strong as we could have been; we could never fly.
1. What was the butterfly doing at the beginning of the story?
| A．It was trying to make a cocoon for itself. |
| B．It was struggling to get out of its cocoon. |
| C．It was flying among the trees in the forest. |
| D．It was crawling around quietly on the ground. |
| A．Patient but cruel. | B．Careful and wise. | C．Kind but unwise. | D．Brave and funny. |
| A．Struggles are sometimes necessary in our life. |
| B．Nothing is difficult if we put our heart into it. |
| C．Every good deed will come back with a good result. |
| D．The greatest happiness in the world is to help others. |
| A．The love for the cocoon. | B．The joy of helping each other. |
| C．The lesson of the cocoon. | D．The expectation for the butterfly. |
【推荐1】Fifteen years ago, I took a summer vacation in Lecce in southern Italy. After climbing up a hill for a panoramic view of the blue sea, white buildings and green olive trees, I paused to catch my breath and then positioned myself to take the best photo of this panorama.
Unfortunately, just as I took out my camera, a woman approached from behind, and planted herself right in front of my view. Like me, this woman was here to stop, sigh and appreciate the view.
Patient as I was, after about 15 minutes, my camera scanning the sun and reviewing the shot I would eventually take, I grew frustrated. Was it too much to ask her to move so I could take just one picture of the landscape? Sure, I could have asked her, but something prevented me from doing so. She seemed so content in her observation. I didn’t want to mess with that.
Another 15 minutes passed and I grew bored. The woman was still there. I decided to take the photo anyway. And now when I look at it, I think her presence in the photo is what makes the image interesting. The landscape, beautiful on its own, somehow comes to life and breathes because this woman is engaging with it.
This photo, with the unique beauty that unfolded before me and that woman who “ruined” it, now hangs on a wall in my bedroom. What would she think if she knew that her figure is captured and frozen on some stranger’s bedroom wall? A bedroom, after all, is a very private space, in which some woman I don’t even know has been immortalized. In some ways, she lives in my house.
Perhaps we all live in each other’s’ spaces. Perhaps this is what photos are for: to remind us that we all appreciate beauty, that we all share a common desire for pleasure, for connection, for something that is greater than us.
That photo is a reminder, a captured moment, an unspoken conversation between two women, separated only by a thin square of glass.
1. Why did the writer and the woman both came here?| A．To have fun together. | B．To enjoy the beautiful scenery. |
| C．To take pictures of the landscape. | D．To do research on the environment. |
| A．The woman was too noisy. | B．Her camera stopped working. |
| C．She was forbidden to take photos there. | D．The woman blocked her view, but she could do nothing. |
| A．Filmed. | B．Caught. | C．Controlled. | D．Painted. |
| A．A woman appreciating the view. | B．Friendship between two strangers. |
| C．The writer’s attitude to the landscape. | D．A particular life experience of the writer. |
A few days later the man returned and said that his wife liked the pearl so much that she wanted another one just like it. It had to be exactly the same size and quality, because she wanted a pair of earrings made, “Can you give me any advice on how to get such a pearl? ” said the man. The jeweler regretfully replied, “I would say it’s exactly impossible to find one exactly like that pearl.”
The rich man insisted that the jeweler advertise in the newspapers, offering $ 25,000 for the matching pearl. Many people answered the advertisement but nobody had a pearl that was just right.
Just when the jeweler had given up hope, a little old lady came into his store. To his great surprise, she pulled the perfect pearl from her purse. “I don’t like to part with it,” she said sadly, “I got it from my mother, and my mother from hers. But I really need the money. ”
The jeweler was quick to pay her before she changed her mind. Then he called the rich man’s hotel to tell him the good news. The man, however, was nowhere to be found.
1. He paid $ 5,000 for the black pearl without bargaining because ______.
| A．he loved his wife deeply |
| B．his business had been successful |
| C．he was anxious to get it |
| D．he wanted to make the jeweler believe him |
| A．exactly the same size as the black one |
| B．exactly as big and nice as the black one |
| C．exactly as expensive as the black one |
| D．exactly the same quality as the black one |
| A．to see the perfect pearl |
| B．to sell their own pearl at a high price |
| C．to get in touch with the rich man |
| D．to help the rich man’s wife |
| A．the man’s partner |
| B．short of money |
| C．unwilling to sell the pearl |
| D．the man’s wife |
| A．his wife had found another perfect pearl already |
| B．he happened to be out at that time |
| C．he got $ 20,000 by cheating and had run away with the money |
| D．he was angry with the jeweler for waiting too long |
【推荐3】An endangered black-footed ferret (雪貂), considered to be the rarest mammal in North America, made a “surprise appearance” in a Pueblo West homeowner’s garage on Monday, according to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife(CPW) news report.
The unnamed homeowner called CPW about the furry visitor, and while waiting for officers to arrive, he tricked the animal into a box. The home is located near the Walker Ranch, where CPW has been releasing black-footed ferrets on a prairie dog colony as part of a major conservation collaboration to restore their populations. Black-footed ferrets rely heavily on prairie dogs, which are often treated as pests by farmers, for food.
Since 2013, more than 120 black-footed ferrets have been released on the Walker Ranch by CPW biologists. By scanning the escaped ferret’s microchip, officers were able to determine it was one of nine black-footed ferrets recently released on the ranch.
With the blessing of the ranch owner, and after examining the animal and determining it was healthy, CPW officers took the box and hiked deep into the prairie colony in the dark, opened the box and watched the ferret hurry into a prairie dog hole.
“We don’t know exactly why this black-footed ferret left the colony,” said Ed Schmal, CPW conservation biologist. “We put them into prairie dog holes but they may not stay. Sometimes they move around the colony to find the right home. This one might have gotten pushed out by other ferrets and it went looking for a new home. We really don’t know.”
Schmal said CPW has only received one other report of a black-footed ferret leaving the ranch, and he had never heard of one entering a structure like a garage. “This is extremely rare,” he said. “Black-footed ferrets are active at night and extremely shy. For some reason, this one left the colony and was seeking shelter. We’re just glad it appeared healthy, not starving or sick, and we were able to capture it and return it to the colony.”
1. Who found the black-footed ferret?| A．An unnamed homeowner. | B．A bus driver. |
| C．A wildlife reserve officer. | D．A furry visitor. |
| A．They like to go in groups. | B．They feed on prairie dogs. |
| C．They often surprise humans. | D．They hate the Walker Ranch. |
| A．They trapped it in a large cage. | B．They placed a microchip on it. |
| C．They gave it a health check. | D．They paid the ranch owner. |
| A．Satisfied. | B．Surprised. | C．Disappointed. | D．Frightened. |
