【推荐1】It was an autumn morning shortly after my husband and I moved into our first house. Our children were upstairs unpacking, and I was looking out of the window at my father moving around mysteriously on the front lawn. “What are you doing out there?” I called to him.

He looked up, smiling. “I’m making you a surprise.’’ I thought it could be just about anything. When we were kids, he always created something surprising for us. Today, however, Dad would say no more, and caught up in the business of our new life, I eventually forgot about his surprise.

Until one gloomy day the next March when I glanced out of the window, I saw a dot of blue across the yard. I headed outside for a closer look. They were crocuses (番红花) throughout the front lawn — blue, yellow and my favorite pink, with little faces moving up and down in the cold wind. I remembered the things Dad secretly planted last autumn. He knew how the darkness and dullness of winter always got me down. What could have been more perfectly timely to my needs?

My father’s crocuses bloomed (开花) each spring for the next five seasons, always bringing the same assurance: Hard times are almost over. Hold on, keep going, and light is coming soon.

Then a spring came with only half the usual blooms and the next spring there were none. I missed the crocuses, so I would ask Dad to come over and plant new bulbs (块茎植物). But I never did. He died suddenly one October day. My family were in deep sorrow, leaning on our faith.

On a spring afternoon four years later, I was driving back when I felt depressed. It was Dad’s birthday, and I found myself thinking about him. This was not unusual — my family often talked about him, remembering how he lived up to his faith. Suddenly I slowed as I turned into our driveway. I stopped and stared at the lawn. There on the muddy grass with small piles of melting snow, bravely waving in the wind, was one pink crocus.

How could a flower bloom from a bulb more than 18 years ago, one that hadn’t bloomed in over a decade? But there was the crocus. Tears filled my eyes as I realized its significance.

Hold on, keep going, and light is coming soon. The pink crocus bloomed for only a day, but it built my faith for a lifetime.

1. According to the first three paragraphs, we learn that       .

A．it kept bothering (使烦恼) the author not knowing what the surprise was

B．it was not the first time that the author’s father had made a surprise

C．the author was unpacking when her father was making the surprise

D．the author knew what the surprise was because she knew her father

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A．The author usually felt depressed in the season of winter.

B．The crocuses bloomed each spring before her father died.

C．The author’s father planted the crocuses to lift her low spirits.

D．The author often thought about her father after he died.

3. The author’s father should be best described as       .

A．a part-time worker who loved flowers

B．a kind-hearted man who lived with faith

C．a full-time gardener with skillful hands

D．an ordinary man with doubts in his life

4. What can be the best title for the passage?

A．Crocuses — My Source of Faith

B．Crocuses — Father’s Hobby

C．A Pink Crocus — My Memory

D．Crocuses in Blossom — My Favorite

【推荐2】By any standard, Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You ‘ll Go! is a great book. And Martin is hardly the first parent to buy the book for his graduating high-school. But Martin did something special—he added to the book’s pages 13 years’ worth of hand-written teachers’ comments and impressions about his daughter, Brenna.

When Martin first told Brenna, 18, that he had a present for her, Brenna thought she was getting some graduation card. But then she opened the book and realized that it was filled with personal memories. “Every year, for the past 13 years, since the day you started kindergarten (幼儿园)I’ve gotten every teacher to write something about you inside this book,” he told her. Brenna’s eyes were filled with hot tears.

She described her happiness at her graduation gift online, “He managed to keep this book a secret for 13 years, and surely everyone else in my life knew about it! I was moved to tears. Sitting there reading through this book there are encouraging and sweet words from every teacher I love and remember through my years in this small town. My early teachers mention my ‘laughs’ while my high school teachers mention my ‘smart’. But they all mention my humor and love for life. It is astounding to receive something this touching and thoughtful. I can’t express how much I love my Dad for this labor of love”.

Millions of people have checked out Brenna’s Internet message on her father’s gift, which has been considered “unbelievable” and the “best graduation gift ever”. It sure beats a bunch of roses.

1. What did Brenna find after opening the book?

A．An unusual graduation card.

B．A picture of beautiful roses.

C．Her teachers’ words about her.

D．Her parents’ personal memories.

2. Which is the teachers’ common impression on Brenna?

A．Clever.	B．Humorous.
C．Thoughtful	D．Hardworking.

3. What does the underlined word “astounding” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Amazing.	B．Important.
C．Impossible.	D．Helpful.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．A family full of love.

B．Daughter’s thanks to Dad.

C．A great book by Dr. Seuss.

D．Dad’s secret graduation gift.

【推荐3】Larry was on another of his underwater expeditions(探险)but this time, it was different. He decided to take his daughter along with him. She was only ten years old. This would be her first trip with her father on what he had always been famous for.
Larry first began diving when he was his daughter’s age. Similarly, his father had taken him along on one of his expeditions. Since then, he had never looked back.. Larry started out by renting diving suits from the small diving shop just along the shore.   He had hated them. They were either too big or too small. Then, there was the instructor. He gave him a short lesson before allowing him into the water with his father. He had made an exception. Larry would never have been able to go down without at least five hours of theory and another similar number of hours on practical lessons with a guide. Children his age were not even allowed to dive.
After the first expedition, Larry’s later diving adventures only got better and better. There was never a dull moment. In his black and blue suit and with an oxygen tank fastened on his back, Larry dived from boats into the middle of the ocean. Dangerous areas did not prevent him from continuing his search. Sometimes, his was limited to a cage underwater but that did not bother him. At least, he was still able to take photographs of the underwater creatures.
Larry’s first expedition without his father was in the Cayman Islands. There were numerous diving spots in the area and Larry was determined to visit all of them .Fortunately for him, a man offered to take him around the different spots for free. ______________________________________________________The diving spots afforded such a wide array of fish and sea creatures that Larry saw more than thirty varieties of creatures.
Larry looked at his daughter. She looked as excited as he had been when he was her age. He hoped she would be able to continue the family tradition. Already, she looked like she was much braver than had been then. This was the key to a successful underwater expedition.
1. In what way was this expedition different for Larry?

A．His daughter had grown up.

B．He had become a famous diver.

C．His father would dive with him.

D．His daughter would dive with him.

2. What can be inferred from Paragraph2?

A．Larry had some privileges.

B．Larry liked the rented diving suits.

C．Divers had to buy diving equipment.

D．Ten-year-old children were permitted to dive.

3. Why did Larry have to stay in a cage underwater sometimes?

A．To dive into the deep water.

B．To protect himself from danger.

C．To admire the underwater view.

D．To take photo more conveniently.

4. What can be learned from the underlined sentence?

A．Larry didn’t wear a watch.

B．Larry had a poor memory.

C．Larry enjoyed the adventure.

D．Larry was not good at math.

【推荐1】Once there was a famine in the town. A rich and kind baker sent some bread to twenty of the poorest children. He said to them, “In this basket there is some bread for you. Each of you can have one loaf every day until the hard days end.”

The impatient children couldn’t wait to gather around the basket. They shouted and fought for the bread because each wished to have the largest loaf. At last they went away without even thanking the good gentleman. But Shirley, a poorly-dressed little girl, did not join them. Instead, she remained standing modestly in the distance. When the other children had left, she took the smallest left in the basket, kissed the gentleman’s hand and went home.

The next day the children were as rude as before. Poor shy Shirley still took the smallest loaf . When she got home, her mother cut the bread open. Many new shining pieces of silver fell out of it. Her mother was very surprised and said, “Take the money back to the good gentleman at once, for it must have got into the loaf by accident. Be quick, Shirley! Be quick!”

But when the little girl gave the rich man her mother’s message, he said, “No, no, my child. It was no mistake. I put silver pieces into the smallest loaf to reward you because you are a kind and honest girl. Go home and the money is yours now.”

1. From the story, we know the twenty children lived a ________ life.

A．happy

B．rich

C．poor

D．comfortable

2. When the other children shouted and fought for the bread, Shirley________.

A．shouted at them	B．stood modestly
C．joined them	D．laughed at them

3. Shirley’s mother let her________ when she saw the money.

A．buy some food	B．give it back to the rich man
C．hide it quickly	D．tell her father the news

4. The story tells us that________.

A．it’s not important to say thanks to others	B．fighting with others can help us get more
C．a kind and honest person will be rewarded	D．Shirley’s mother doesn’t like silver

【推荐2】I have just completed my first year as a volunteer befriender with the North Lanarkshire Befriending Project.

I was matched with a young girl called Amy, who had been struggling with different aspects of her life and suffered from low self-confidence.

At first, I was a bit worried about whether Amy would like me or want to spend time with me. These fears soon disappeared when I quickly formed a strong relationship with Amy. She trusted me and felt like she could depend on me.

During our time together, I took Amy out twice a month. I must say, collecting her for the first time and deciding what we were going to do was difficult! I quickly learned that it was best to plan what we would do on the next outing before collecting her.

Over the course of the year we got to do lots of things: cinema trips, bowling, ice skating, and shopping. I have noticed a positive change in Amy since I met her. At first she lacked(缺乏) confidence. In a 1:1 situation she was very talkative and open, but when another person joined the group I noticed she became more reserved(寡言少语的)—especially around other teenagers. Thinking about this, I planned more public outings over time. Amy was nervous at first, but she grew in confidence over the year.

I feel like befriending has been a very positive thing for Amy. She really enjoyed our outings. Her outlook on life(人生观) improved noticeably during the year too. I talked to her about my experience at university, and she then started to talk more about further education, something she had never really considered as a choice before.

I feel that we all have a social responsibility to help others in our communities, and be-friending is just one way in which I can do something meaningful.

1. How did the writer feel when starting her befriending project?

A．Regretful.

B．Confident.

C．Nervous.

D．Excited.

2. What did the writer learn from her first outing with Amy?

A．Hard work pays off.

B．Friendship is the key to success.

C．The simplest way is the best way.

D．Planning ahead is a matter of great importance.

3. What is the result of the writer’s befriending project?

A．It has made positive changes in Amy’s life.

B．It has offered Amy a chance to go to college.

C．It has made her famous in North Lanarkshire.

D．It has helped her reach her educational goals.

4. What is the writer’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To introduce her best friend Amy.

B．To share her story as a volunteer.

C．To discuss the benefits of volunteers.

D．To show how to make friends with strangers.