It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005. While most people were warming up their cars, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work. On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does. After putting in 10 hours of labor, he returned to find his bike gone.
The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries（食品杂货）, saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live.
I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that, several people in our area offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before.
People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it strengthened our faith in humanity（人性）as a whole. And it has influenced（影响）us to be more mindful of ways we, too, can share with others. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting.
1. Why was the bike so important to the couple?| A．They used it for work and daily life. | B．It was their only possession. |
| C．It was a nice Kona 18 speed. | D．The man’s job was bike racing. |
| A．the couple worked 60 hours a week. | B．life was hard for the young family. |
| C．the stranger brought over the bike | D．people were busy before Christmas |
| A．From radio broadcasts. | B．From a stranger. |
| C．From TV news. | D．From a newspaper. |
| A．Strangers are usually of little help. | B．An act of kindness can mean a lot. |
| C．News reports make people famous. | D．One should take care of their bike. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】American actor James Dean has been dead for 64 years. James Dean, who died at the age of
25 in September 1955, starred in just three movies before he died in a car accident. They are Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden and Giant. Yet, he will star in a new movie about the Vietnam War thanks to digital technology, which generates (产生) images of James Dean by computer.
The idea that one of the movies’ most beloved former stars would be recreated digitally for a new film has been met with criticism (批评). Captain America actor Chris Evans called the plans to use Dean’s image in the film disrespectful.
However, Mark Roesler, the chairman of CMG said, “Dean has more than 183,000 followers on Instagram, and that he is still important today. He was known as Hollywood’s ‘rebel (叛逆)’ who famously said ‘if a man can bridge the gap (沟壑) between life and death, if he can live after he’s dead, then maybe he is a great man.’” Roesler added, “What was considered rebellious in the 50’s is very different from what is rebellious today, and we feel confident that he would support this modern day act of rebellion.”
Anton Ernst, the film’s director, said, “I respect Dean’s life and history. The movie is one of hope and love. There are still a lot of James Dean’s fans worldwide and there would always be critics. All we can do is to tell a great story.” Ernst added, “The Dean family views this as his fourth movie, a movie he never got to make. We do not want to let his fans down.”
1. Which film did Chris Evans star in?| A．Rebel Without a Cause. | B．Captain America. |
| C．East of Eden. | D．Giant. |
| A．James Dean’s rebellious spirit is about life and death. |
| B．Roesler wanted to be a “rebellious” man like James Dean. |
| C．James Dean thought he himself was a great man full of rebellion. |
| D．Roesler believes Jamnes Dean would support the digital technology. |
| A．James Dean to Star in New Film | B．The life story of James Dean |
| C．Latest Development of Digital Technology | D．A Once Popular Movie On Again |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Careful. | D．Uninterested. |
【推荐2】Seven years ago, my father was in the hospital, and I was informed that he was in the end-of-life stage. He had wanted to be at home during his final moments, so I arranged for him to return home. He spent only one more night there, but he wasn’t alone. A Marie Curie nurse was by our side.
Facing the emotions that come with knowing a loved one is at the end of their life can be irresistible. Having a nurse with us made it easier to cope with these feelings. That’s why I made the decision to join Marie Curie.
Working for the charity, I find myself on duty during most Christmases, a typical time for healthcare assistants like us. Our role is to support families and the individuals who are dying. We do whatever they need us to do. For instance, one family asked us to play Christmas carols throughout the night. We accommodate such requests. What we do during Christmas is what we do throughout the year — we aim to please families.
You might assume that being with families during their last Christmas would be a sad experience. But for the families in my experience, it’s not. I remember one particular family—three sisters — and the fourth was in the end-of-life stage. When I arrived, she was unconscious, and I knew she might not make it through the night. But sitting with the sisters, talking about their childhood, past Christmases and sharing photos, it was a special time. They mentioned that their sister had asked for peaches and cream earlier that day, and they made sure she got it. She went to sleep, and we lost her that night. The sisters expected it, they thanked me, and it was a comforting experience. I’ll always remember the peaches and cream!
I’ve lost count of the number of stories like this. I feel honored to be there with them. We can’t change the unavoidable, but we can make a difference.
1. What inspired the author to work for Marie Curie?| A．Her dream to be a nurse. | B．Her love for charity work. |
| C．Her experience of her father’s death. | D．Her professional medical background. |
| A．Satisfy. | B．Ignore. | C．Express. | D．Submit. |
| A．They tried every means to save their sister. |
| B．They were desperate about their sister’s death. |
| C．They didn’t expect that their sister died so soon. |
| D．They stayed positive during their sister’s final moment. |
| A．Ambitious. | B．Brave. | C．Confident. | D．Devoted. |
【推荐3】When Argentinean thinker Juan Jose Sebrelli visited Shanghai in the 1960s as part of a delegation (代表团) invited by the Chinese government, he wrote that the city seemed strangely familiar.
I was reading his writing before boarding a plane on my first trip to Shanghai in 2016. By that time, I was doing research at home on how South American writers, diplomats (外交官) and politicians had developed a new world outlook. The opportunity of my life appeared when I was told I was recommended as the first scholar at a research center co-built by a research council of Argentina and Shanghai University for an exchange program.
My first year living in Shanghai was full of discoveries and adventures. I was in a constant state of curiosity. Every day, I discovered, tried and learned something new. In other words, the city impressed me: Its modern architecture and the opportunities that Shanghai gave to everyone made me feel that this place was one of the most dynamic places I’d ever been to. I recognized that this city allowed both locals and foreigners to rediscover and reinvent themselves. The experience of being in touch with a different culture has enriched my way of looking at and thinking about the world.
After three years, my program at the joint center came to an end. But Shanghai had another new surprise for me: I got an offer to work as a professor in Fudan University, which is an opportunity that I couldn’t refuse. Gradually, I regarded Shanghai as my second home and I fully understood the meaning of Sebrelli’s writing one day walking through my favorite spots of the city on Wuyuan Road and Wulumuqi Road. Several places made me have a strange feeling: The combination of Art Deco buildings and local stands on the street created an image of my homeland. At that moment, I understood that this city, as Sebrelli wrote, “is now a part of myself”.
1. Why does the author mention Juan Jose Sebrelli?| A．To explain Sebrelli’s influence on him. |
| B．To stress the close Argentina-China bond. |
| C．To introduce his own experience in Shanghai. |
| D．To show respect and admiration for Sebrelli. |
| A．Teach in a university. |
| B．Join in a program. |
| C．Develop a new outlook. |
| D．Lead joint research. |
| A．It’s curious and strange. |
| B．It’s dynamic and fast-paced. |
| C．It’s inclusive and instructive. |
| D．It’s modern and highly developed. |
| A．The sense of identity. |
| B．The sense of belonging. |
| C．The sense of purpose. |
| D．The sense of satisfaction. |
【推荐1】I was checking out at the supermarket counter on Wednesday night, ready to pay for my bananas, when all of a sudden, fear came upon me. My wallet was gone. And I could only have left it one place: the G9 bus, from which I had gotten off minutes earlier and which was now speeding to some stops. The moment of realizing it was gone was followed by mental math. How much time and money would it cost to replace the credit cards, the driver’s license, the expensive lipstick ($55!).
Two hours after I was back at my house, I heard a knock on the door. My husband answered while I sat in the dining room on the phone with a credit card company. “Does Jennifer live here?” I heard someone say. In her hand was my wallet, without a penny missing. She left before I could offer my gratitude to her.
After I posted the story, I heard from her boyfriend, who identified the good citizen as Erin Ball, a 26-year-old girl working for a trade organization.
Once I figured out her, I called to thank her. She said she spotted my wallet and thought that it’s more dangerous to go to a stranger’s house than leaving the wallet with the driver, but she still decided to take the chance. “If I were in that situation, I would want someone to try to find me,” she said. Ball doesn’t find her actions particularly excellent. She added, “It’s not hard to do small things for people. ”
After Ball found my wallet, she decided to post a picture of my driver’s license online before going to my house, trying to see if anyone knew me. No sooner had she left my doorstep than I got emails from two neighbors who recognized my face, both offering to help me find my missing property.
Ball found my house on a bitterly cold night for which I was extremely grateful. Looking back, I’m not surprised someone had wanted to help a stranger. A warm current of honesty and harmony is running through this town.
1. What happened to the author when she was checking out in the supermarket?| A．She found her wallet was stolen. | B．She found she had lost her wallet. |
| C．She realized she would miss the G9 bus. | D．She replaced the credit cards and driver’s license. |
| A．Run a risk. | B．Look for opportunities. | C．Do a good deed. | D．Make a deal. |
| A．The G9 driver told them in person. | B．Ball’s boyfriend emailed them. |
| C．They got information from the Internet. | D．The author post her license online. |
| A．Respectful. | B．Hopeful. | C．Energetic. | D．Depressed. |
【推荐2】In Los Angeles, UPS driver Hector Vesco noticed that while he did his normal route, there was one kid who looked sad.
Once Hector understood why the boy looked upset, he jumped into action. A father of two himself, he knew that he would have to check in with the parents. Using a blank UPS slip, Hector wrote out a note reading, “Hi, this is Hector, your UPS driver. I’ve seen your son plenty of times on the balcony and he seemed very sad that he didn’t get any package. When he asked me if I had any package for him, I told him, ‘Don’t worry. Maybe next time.’ So, anyway, I’ve bought something and put it in box. Just wanted to know his name.” Hector also shared his number so that the parents could contact him directly.
After getting all the information he needed from the mother BrookeWalbuck, Hector showed up the next day and surprised the boy, Langston, with the delivery.
Of course, the gesture of delivering the parcel was nice enough, but it turned out what was inside made it even better! When Langston opened up the box, he found a collection of toy cars and a bunch of candy. It didn’t get much better than that for a little boy.
After the delivery was made, Brooke sent a follow-up text to thank Hector again. In his reply, Hector stated that he had two daughters himself. He kept a bunch of toy cars he had collected over the years. When he met Langston, he knew it was the perfect opportunity to put them to good use.
In his message back to Brooke, he also intentioned that Langston helped him remember how many kids, along with his, had to live through the COVID-19 pandemic (疫情). “Our kids are our world and the future,” he said. “I just want to show some love.”
Before the pandemic, you probably didn’t think too much about the people who delivered your packages. But in times of pandemic, delivery drivers like Hector have some of the most important jobs!
1. What do we know about Hector Vesco?| A．He worked for a delivery company. |
| B．He collected toy cars for boys. |
| C．He was familiar with the Walbucks. |
| D．He informed Langston of his own number. |
| A．The box. | B．The gift. |
| C．The parcel. | D．The gesture. |
| A．Langston was cheered up in the pandemic. |
| B．Brooke was grateful to Hector’s kids. |
| C．Brooke was regretful for ignoring her son. |
| D．Langston was disappointed with the used toys. |
| A．The pandemic affects the globe. | B．Children love toy cars and candies. |
| C．Ordinary people can be extraordinary. | D．Old products can serve new purposes. |
【推荐3】I’m rather good at using maps. But I forgot the maps and here we were, late afternoon, last day of vacation, my daughter, my cousin and I, driving along a two-lane highway in Oregon. No other car in sight, and the sun had just gone down. Where was that sweet little village?
It was supposed to be right along this river. We drove on, farther into the unknown, river always at left as our guide. We kept passing farms and fields and now a few lights were coming out. In my head, I was doing a lot of self-criticisms: Why didn't we start earlier, bring the map and on and on? My cousin and I were both impatient and stressed. My daughter, at least, was happy in the back seat, text messaging a friend. I pulled up on the shoulder of the road to think.
Just then—WOW! Amazing! A new scene had appeared. Where did it come from?
Right there, out of nowhere: a magical misty landscape. Fields stretched in silent purples, with rows of tall trees, darkening in the dusk (黄昏). I turned the car engine off. All was silent in the hot summer air. Beside us, a plum-colored river hardly moved between a border of trees, its dark lazy water reflecting the last light of day.
How breathtaking! Where had it been? If I had seen even a bit of this beauty while driving along, I could have stopped and taken a look. I had missed it all.
We miss a lot, almost everything, in fact, in our world. Our task-focused filters (过滤器) take care of that, selecting only what we need. We need to get to work. Have some lunch. We see what we need to see, often for purposes of survival. Gregory Bateson, speaking of beauty, said the judgment is selection of a fact. In our daily lives, who or what is doing the selecting? Can we make a change? Can we see further?
1. Which of the following might be the destination of the author’s driving?| A．A tourist attraction. | B．A vacation spot. |
| C．Her own home. | D．A strange little village. |
| A．That lack of full preparations got her to lose her way. |
| B．That she wasn’t good at using maps. |
| C．That her cousin and daughter were out of patience. |
| D．That she hadn’t set out earlier. |
| A．the right route came out of nowhere |
| B．she discovered a tourist spot unknown to people |
| C．she reached what she had planned to by chance |
| D．being lost brought an unexpected pleasure |
| A．Slow down your paces to enjoy beauty in life. |
| B．Select what we need for the purpose of survival. |
| C．Keep calm when you are stuck in trouble. |
| D．Be positive because there's always a surprise. |
