My parents gave me the most popular girls’ name of my generation: Jessica, which is the No.1 used female name of both the 80s’ and 90s’. So I was determined to find a unique one for my son.
During my first pregnancy, I bought four baby name books, searched Nameberry.com and checked any contenders (竞争者) into SSA’s name tool, which tracks the 1,000 most popular baby names each year and determines whether they’re trending up or down. No matter how much we liked a name, if it was in the top 10, we gave it up. My husband, RJ, and I agreed on Lyla if we had a girl. Boys’ names were a struggle.
One day, as I flipped through a Pottery Barn catalogue, an image caught my eye: a little boy’ strain-themed bedroom with the name “Rider” embroidered (刺绣) on the bedding. Something stirred within me, and I thought, that’s a cool name. In the delivery room, as soon as the doctor handed me the baby, I called out, “It’s a boy!” Then RJ said, “It’s Rider!” As soon as I met him, I knew his name fit him perfectly.
I worried that once a name hit a Pottery Barn catalogue, it would be too popular, but we had never met a Rider before. Even better, it hadn’t cracked the top 100 yet. Yet, every other day, I’d question if we were going to seem too trendy or too hip, or if our spelling was too weird. But I reminded myself that we didn’t name him to make other people feel comfortable, but for our son to make his own way in the world.
Choosing a name is the first and longest-lasting decision we make for our child. But it’s just a start of all the choices we’ll have to make for him — and the judgments we’ll receive. Of course, it causes anxiety. No matter what choice you make in any area of parenting, there will always be someone with a different opinion. When we named my kid, I wasn’t concerned about what other people would think of our selection. Perhaps what matters most, at least today, is that he loves his name.
1. What does the author think of her name?| A．Too family-related. | B．Not special enough. |
| C．Unsuitable for a female. | D．Unique to her generation. |
| A．SSA is a tool tracking babies. |
| B．Lyla is a girls’ name ranking in the top 10. |
| C．Boys’ names are much easier to find than girls’. |
| D．The author has researched a lot to name her baby. |
| A．A trendy name book. | B．The bedding on a train. |
| C．A picture in Pottery Barn catalogue. | D．A website Nameberry.com. |
| A．Tips on selecting a name. | B．The road to a favored name. |
| C．The hardship of raising a kid. | D．The importance of a unique name. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】When you make an order on Taobao, you know the money you pay doesn't go directly to the seller. Instead, it goes through Alipay, which keeps your money for a while. Then Alipay gives the money to the seller.
Most online sellers and shoppers like the third party online payment, but banks are not happy.
Whether Alipay or WeChat payment, they are both trying to attract more users and make online shopping easier. Both payments have made the best of QR code technology.
| A．But WeChat payment is not the same |
| B．This is called "third party online payment" |
| C．Among them, Alipay is the biggest in China |
| D．The reason is that these companies fight over money with them |
| E．Also, they promote sales through face recognition payment |
【推荐2】Nowadays most people spend four hours every day staring at the television! With adults spending so much time on it, little wonder that kids too spend more time in front of the television than outdoors.
With families becoming more and more nuclear, most mothers start off by using the television as a “babysitter”.
Children watch on an average around 28 hours of television per week.
• Get children interested in sports.
• Encourage children to cultivate the reading habit.
• Set a good example by limiting our own television viewing.
• Help children develop other hobbies such as building models and drawing.
• Choose the programs our children will watch, and stick to the schedule.
Television eats up the time our children are not studying or sleeping. All those things we want them to be: a wild teenager, a scholar, a lover——when are they going to do all that?
| A．So stop letting our children live in a make-believe world. |
| B．Television has been such an essential part of our daily lives. |
| C．This includes violence and viewing not suitable for their age. |
| D．Therefore, both parents and children should be aware of this fact. |
| E．And their children are left in front of the TV to avoid making trouble. |
| F．Moreover, it is harmful to children’s health, particularly their eyesight. |
| G．TV watching also reduces the time children spend communicating with others. |
【推荐3】The stories we share with one another are important. They show wisdom and provide inspiration. They are important to our development. But sometimes people choose not to tell.
Considering the negative effects of not sharing a story in the news, people are wondering if public health officials are holding back too much information about the recent outbreak of Ebola.
There is a danger in holding back stories that ought to be told. Bobette Buster said it like this, “The fact is, history has shown us that stories not told can become like a dangerous genie (妖怪) left in a bottle. When they are finally uncorked(透漏), their power to destroy is set free."
There are a number of reasons why we hide parts of our story: they often show our weaknesses or expose our disadvantages; they require courage and strength to share; and of course, there are some stories that should be kept secret—especially those that embarrass someone else.
Most of us have two selves: the one we display on the outside and the one we actually are on the inside. And the better we get at hiding the stories that show our true selves, the more damage we may be causing to ourselves and to others.
Honesty and openness is important: It proves we are trustworthy. It displays we are human. We are not perfect or better. It highlights the importance of hard work and pe
rsonal development. Hard work may not allow us to overcome our disadvantages completely. But with hard work, we do not have to be restricted to our mistakes.
Does this mean we admit every weakness, every disadvantage, and every secret regret to everybody we meet? No, of course not. There is a time and a place and a certain level of relationship necessary for some stories to be told in an appropriate manner.
1. What's the function of the example in Paragraph 2?| A．It concludes that one should share a story at a proper time. |
| B．It reflects that people are concerning about the spread of Ebola. |
| C．It shows the bad effect caused by sharing a story. |
| D．It proves not sharing a story can cause trouble. |
| A．some stories make themselves feel uneasy |
| B．storysharing highlights the importance of hard work |
| C．people are used to exposing their weaknesses |
| D．people sometimes have no courage to share their stories |
| A．realize the importance of being honest when making friends |
| B．be open to people close to you by sharing some secrets |
| C．share stories appropriately for the good of others and ourselves |
| D．remove the dangers that can be caused by untold stories |
Jobs
The number of jobs forecast to be created this year will be revealed at the annual session. In the past two years, despite an economic slowdown, the number of newly created jobs has increased steadily. China is promoting employment through encouraging business start-ups, cutting red tape and delegating power to lower-level governments.
Military
China's military expenditure (军费) will definitely become one of the most discussed topics during the two sessions in Western and domestic media. The question China faces is how to build and manage a stronger army in new conditions.
Pollution
"We will resolutely declare war against pollution as we declared war against poverty," said Premier Li Keqiang at the parliamentary sessions last year. A poll has showed that pollution-control and environmental protection remains one of the biggest areas of public concern ahead of the two sessions.
United States
Xi Jinping is scheduled to pay a State visit to the United States in September. Last year, China and the United States reached consensus in aspects including visa arrangements, trade and military trust. The two sides also released the landmark China U.S. Joint Announcement on Climate Change. Reporters will try to get some hints on how China and the United States will rise above their differences.
1. How many hot topics will be discussed at the “two sessions”? .
| A．4 | B．5 | C．More than 4 | D．Less than five |
| A．In the past two years, the number of newly-created jobs has decreased because of economic slowdown. |
| B．As for military, China focuses on how to build and manage a stronger army in new conditions. |
| C．Xi Jinping paid a State visit to the United States in September last year. |
| D．According to Premier Li Keqiang, declaring war against pollution is more important than declaring war against poverty. |
| A．choose | B．discuss | C．raise | D．collect |
【推荐2】I was born in 1990 — the year of the white horse. A girl born under this zodiac (生肖) is believed to have a wild steed-like (骏马般的) spirit that will block her fortunes, bringing her family trouble. As a girl growing up in South Korea, I was repeatedly told to fight against my steed-like spirit and instead try being still, gentle, and quiet.
Actually, when I was young, I loved exploring the mountainous roads behind our house, checking the various soil layers (土层) in nearby fields and running wild outdoors. I often returned home with soiled clothes.
Then I entered high school and settled on a quiet career choice: I would become a lawyer. My elders praised me for a decision they imagined would lead me to a respectable desk job.
However, when I was accepted into a prelaw program, I found the courses boring. That’s when a teacher pushed me in a different direction. “You could always get a science degree, and go back into law,” she said.
I took her advice and landed in the United States to study geology (地质学). Shortly thereafter, though, culture shock set in. I was not ready for the tough physical requirements of my field courses. One 6-week summer course required long-distance hikes, camping in extreme heat, and heavy lifting. My cultural upbringing had discouraged such “wild” activities and I had never gone on long hikes or camped before. But other women in my program were an inspiration. I saw beauty in their strength, and I wanted to be like them.
By the end of my undergraduate degree, I had fully accepted my love of being a tough girl. And I’d given up on the idea of becoming a lawyer. My parents didn’t quite know what to make of my adventurous field life. But they were supportive when I told them about the change in my career direction.
I’m now a professional with years of experience collecting samples (样本) in challenging field environments. My wild, steed-like spirit wasn’t something to control. Instead, it led me to a career that’s a perfect fit for me.
1. What can we learn about the author in her childhood?| A．She was a quiet and shy girl. | B．She was encouraged to study hard. |
| C．She brought misfortune to her family. | D．She had a passion for outdoor exploration. |
| A．The dream of studying abroad. |
| B．The difficulty of getting a law degree. |
| C．Her disappointment at the prelaw program courses. |
| D．Her desire to act against her cultural expectations. |
| A．She was not interested in the field courses. |
| B．She was looked down upon by other women. |
| C．She failed her courses because of culture shock. |
| D．She was not used to doing hard outdoor activities. |
| A．Careful. | B．Open-minded. | C．Far-sighted. | D．Strict. |
【推荐3】It lasted just 24 seconds, but it’s an unforgettable moment that has caught hearts everywhere. During a basketball game at Zeeland East High School in Zeeland, Michigan, the crowd fell quiet, giving high school junior Jules Hoogland an opportunity to take a shot.
Hoogland, who is blind, followed along as a woman tapped (轻敲) a yellow pole against the backboard and a teammate guided her to the perfect position. Thirteen seconds later, the 11th grader nailed a free throw and the silent audience erupted in roaring cheers and applause.
Zeeland Public Schools shared the extraordinary moment, filmed by Brandy Navetta, the school district’s communications and marketing director on Twitter, along with the words, “You thought national basketball tournaments were infusive, but Zeeland Public Schools Unified Basketball took over the court this morning. And the crowd went wild!”
Hoogland’s mom Karen said she was so proud of her achievement. She also praised the young students for their respect and sensitivity towards her daughter. Hoogland set a new record on what blind people can achieve and wanted this video to inspire all those who are facing challenges. “I’m hoping this video will inspire others to keep trying no matter what their challenges are,” she said.
Students from both Zeeland East and Zeeland West High School witnessed Hoogland’s uplifting shot, part of an inclusive basketball game with zLinks. Nathan VandeGuchte, a special education teacher with Zeeland West, added that inclusive sports has made a significant impact on students at Zeeland schools since the zLinks program started. “It was so moving to see Hoogland hit that shot again in front of 2,500 people,” said Nathan. “The lens (视角) with which many of our special education students are viewed has now been forever changed. They know that they are important, and they recognize that they are contributing members of our student body!”
1. Why did the crowd go wild as Hoogland nailed a free throw?| A．Because she couldn’t see. | B．Because she was competitive. |
| C．Because it was her first shot. | D．Because it was the end of the game. |
| A．Addictive. | B．Puzzling. |
| C．Informative. | D．Exciting. |
| A．Dream big, dream early. | B．Never fear to fight challenges. |
| C．Interest is the best teacher. | D．The more one does, the more one can do. |
| A．They were usually overestimated. |
| B．They got confidence from the program. |
| C．They should be given more opportunities. |
| D．They were eager to explore the unknown. |
