I’d thought I was ready for the challenges of graduate school. But when I left Nepal to further my study abroad, I felt as if I had dropped into the vast ocean where every fish swam faster than I could. The coursework wore me out. Instead of being the outgoing person I had been, I suddenly became a shy girl. Worse still, my research was not progressing at the pace I had expected.
I needed something to return to my old self. After a conversation with my friend, I thought I should go to help others. Then I began to search online for volunteer opportunities. Luckily, a local organization that drives senior citizens to their destinations was looking for volunteers. I thought it might be just what I needed.
I was a bit anxious before my first ride, as I had not interacted much with people outside school. But I quickly recovered my poise when I picked up an old woman who wanted to go downtown. She talked with me like my grandmother and shared how thankful she was. Connections like this and the smiles on my passengers’ faces encouraged me to continue driving.
I started to volunteer about three hours every weekend — time I otherwise would have spent oversleeping or looking through information on social media. Sharing stories with my passengers was rewarding. And seeing how eager they were to spend time going out inspired me to think about how to spend my time which used to slip away.
As my confidence grew, I began opening up to my fellow graduate students about the ups and downs in my research and was surprised to discover that all my fellows faced the same challenge — even the student who I had considered to be on top of everything. As these connections grew, my natural personality began to reappear.
1. What did the author volunteer to do?| A．Help with old people’s daily life. |
| B．Provide transportation for the old. |
| C．Communicate with senior citizens. |
| D．Accompany old people to downtown. |
| A．Strength. | B．Courage. |
| C．Calmness. | D．Enthusiasm. |
| A．She worked very hard on her research. |
| B．She experienced a sense of incompetence. |
| C．She was in the same boat as her schoolmates. |
| D．She regained connection with her friends. |
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【推荐1】When I was thirteen, my family moved from Boston to Tucson, Arizona. Before the move, my father gathered us in the living-room on a freezing January night. My sisters and I sat around the fire, not realizing that the universe would suddenly change its course. “In May, we’re moving to Arizona.”
The words, so small, didn’t seem big enough to hold my new life. But the world changed and I awoke on a tram moving across the country. I watched the scene change from green trees to flat dusty plains to high mountains as I saw strange new plants that suggested mysteries yet to come. Finally, we arrived and settled into our new home.
While my older sisters were sad at the loss of friends, I eagerly explored our new surroundings.
One afternoon, I was out exploring as usual and saw a new kind of cactus(仙人掌). I crouched (蹲) down for a closer look. “You’d better not touch that.”
I turned around to see an old woman.
“Are you new to this neighborhood?” I explained that I was, in fact, new to the entire state.
“My name is Ina Thorne. Have you got used to life in the desert? It must be quite a shock after living in Boston.”
How could I explain how I found the desert? I couldn’t seem to find the right words.
“It’s vastness,” she offered. “That vastness when you stand on the mountains overlooking the desert- you can sense how little you are in comparison with the world. Meanwhile, you feel that the possibilities are limitless.”
That was it. That was the feeling I’d had ever since I’d first seen the mountains of my new home. Again, my life would change with just a few simple words.
“Would you like to come to my home tomorrow? Someone should teach you which plant you should and shouldn’t touch.
1. Hearing Father’s words, the writer ______.| A．was eager to explore the new place |
| B．was unaware that his life was to be changed |
| C．felt sad because he would lose his friends |
| D．thought it was a good idea to move to Arizona |
| A．didn’t get used to his new surroundings |
| B．explored a lot the new neighborhood after arriving there |
| C．knew some knowledge about the desert animals from the old woman |
| D．didn’t like the desert because of its vastness and limitless possibilities |
| A．Refuse her invitation politely. |
| B．Go back to ask his father for advice. |
| C．Hesitate whether to accept her invitation. |
| D．Visit her to learn something about plants in the desert. |
【推荐2】The other day, I was purchasing some gifts in a store. Standing at the counter was an elderly lady who immediately drew my attention. She looked to be at my mother's age. I smiled to her while noticing her shock of white hair, clear blue eyes behind her glasses and gentle smile.
She smiled back and asked, “What's your name?”? I replied, “Seena. What's yours?” Her answer was “What a lovely name. My name is Rose.”
After putting away her wallet, Rose searched through her bag and wasn't having an easy time. She asked me, “Would you mind helping me look for something in my bag? It's so heavy, and I can never find anything.” Rose was melting my heart.
“Sure. What are you looking for?” I asked. She replied, “I need to find my telephone book so I can call a taxi.” I asked her where she was going, and Rose responded with the “Simpson House”. I felt a warm connection to my new acquaintance and said, “I pass right by Simpson House. I'd be happy to drive you home.” Rose responded jokingly, “Are you sure I'm a good person?” I replied, “I am as sure as I can be. Let's go.”
We walked out to my car and I opened the door for her. She said, “I'm OK getting in but I need some help with the seatbelt.” It reminded me of all the times my mom waited for my assistance to get into my car.
Once we were driving, Rose said, “In all my years nobody ever offered to give me a ride. I feel blessed to know you.” Rose did most of the talking, and we laughed a lot.
We arrived at her place. I got out of the car to meet her on the passenger's side and to open her door. She said, “I can get out.” Rose's parting words were “I hope I see you again,” and mine were “I would like that.” With a wave, we both walked away.
1. Why was Rose melting Seena's heart?| A．Rose looked elegant and powerful. | B．Seena felt being trusted by a stranger. |
| C．Rose praised Seena for the lovely name. | D．Seena was happy to be younger than Rose. |
| A．Her wallet. | B．Her cellphone. | C．Her glasses. | D．Her telephone book. |
| A．To stress Rose's positive life. | B．To show her love for her mother. |
| C．To imply Rose in great need of help. | D．To remind herself to care more about her mother. |
| A．Helpful and serious. | B．Honest and optimistic. |
| C．Considerate and ambitious. | D．Humorous and independent. |
【推荐3】I am a fulltime student at College of the Redwoods. During this period it is hard to find time to do anything other than work. But after much thought I decided to spend my extra time volunteering at the Sequoia Humane Society.
After my first day of volunteering, I had a mixture of feelings: I felt guilty because I didn’t do anything to help others in the past 25 years; I felt happy because I was helping animals, and I felt sad because these animals did not have a home with a family.
The main reason for people volunteering at animal shelters (收容所) is that it helps the animals. It also helps the workers, because they have so many things to do—such as feeding and cleaning—and they just don’t have enough time to give each animal proper attention and exercise. Volunteers help out by taking dogs on long walks so dogs can get exercised.
Walking and playing with the animals helps them become better suited for adoption, increasing the chance that they will find a home and live happily with their owners.
As a person who has had pets all my life, I know the joy and happiness that a pet brings to a person, a family, and the world in general.Even on the most stressful day, I know when I get home my dog will be sitting there ready to play with me and take my mind off from whatever is causing the stress I am experiencing. Volunteering at an animal shelter gives someone the opportunity to experience what I have all the time—a warm, loving animal that just wants to have fun and make you happy. So make the time to make an animal happy. Start volunteering today!
1. Which of the following about the author is TRUE?| A．He is a college student. |
| B．He is a fulltime volunteer. |
| C．He has no pet dogs. |
| D．He owns an animal shelter. |
| A．joy and anger |
| B．guilt, joy and sadness |
| C．guilt and joy |
| D．happiness, sadness and excitement |
| A．draw people’s attention |
| B．gain people’s pity |
| C．get special care |
| D．get enough exercise |
| A．walking and playing with these animals |
| B．feeding and cleaning these animals |
| C．giving these animals a home with a family |
| D．taking these animals out to the public |
【推荐1】My father was a foreman of a sugar-cane plantation in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. My first job was to drive the oxen that ploughed the cane fields. I would walk behind an ox, guiding him with a broomstick. For $1 a day, I worked eight hours straight, with no food breaks.
It was very tedious work, but it prepared me for life and taught me many lasting lessons. Because the plantation owners were always watching us, I had to be on time every day and work as hard as I could. I’ve never been late for any job since. I also learned about being respectful and faithful to the people you work for. More importantly, I earned my pay; it never entered my mind to say I was sick just because I didn’t want to work.
I was only six years old, but I was doing a man’s job. Our family needed every dollar we could make because my father never earned more than $18 a week. Our home was a three-roomed wood shack with a dirty floor and no toilet. Nothing made me prouder than bringing home money to help my mother, father, two brothers and three sisters. This gave me self-esteem(自尊心), one of the most important things a person can have.
When I was seven, I got work at a golf course near our house. My job was to stand down the fairway and spot the balls as they landed, so the golfers could find them. Losing a ball meant you were fired, so I never missed one. Some nights I would lie in bed and dreamt of making thousands of dollars by playing golf and being able to buy a bicycle.
The more I dreamt, the more I thought. Why not? I made my first golf club out of guava limb(番石榴树枝) and a piece of pipe. Then I hammered an empty tin can into the shape of a ball. And finally I dug two small holes in the ground and hit the ball back and forth. I practiced with the same devotion and intensity. I learned working in the field—except now I was driving golf balls with a club, not oxen with a broomstick.
1. The writer’s first job was _______.| A．to stand down the fairway at a golf course |
| B．to watch over the sugar-cane plantation |
| C．to drive the oxen that ploughed the cane fields |
| D．to spot the balls as they landed so the golfers could find them |
| A．difficult | B．unusual | C．interesting | D．boring |
| A．he should work for those who he liked most |
| B．he should be respectful and faithful to the people he worked for |
| C．he should never fail to say hello to his owner |
| D．he should work longer than what he was expected |
| A．The writer wanted to be a successful golfer. |
| B．The writer wanted to run a golf course near his house. |
| C．The writer was satisfied with the job he got on a plantation. |
| D．The writer wanted to make money by guiding oxen with a broomstick. |
【推荐2】I spent my most influential 10 months of my life as a junior.
During the summer vacation I decided to be a volunteer at an Easter Seals camp where people with special needs required assistance because of disabilities and improved their ability to do things on their own.
I often watched dozens of abandoned animals starve on the streets. I felt sad for homeless dogs and wanted to help them all. Over the course of ten months，I provided about 50 wandering animals with food，water，and even medical care with money fro m my pocket and found homes for 20 -30 dogs!
As the new school year began，our department had a renovation（翻新）. I offered to help clean up all the unwanted books. Instead of recycling hundreds of those books，I convinced the department that the books could serve a higher purpose which in the end benefited the schools in Arizona.
| A．The dogs were lucky to survive |
| B．I had to cope with social conflicts as well |
| C．The disabled people were hard to help |
| D．It was the most tiring job I'd ever experienced |
| E．The 10-month experience in Arizona transformed me greatly |
| F．I learned a simple act contributed to a big influence on the poor animals |
| G．I left my comfortable and familiar home to have an unusual adventure in Arizona |
【推荐3】It wasn’t until after I graduated from college, and realized that there’s no such thing as all-encompassing (包罗万象) knowledge, that I was able to read for pleasure. A sense of curiosity directed me and I started to see dictionaries as field guides to the life of language. Looking up words felt less like a failing than an admission that there are lots of things I don’t know and an opportunity to discover just how many.
I prize my 1954 copy of Webster’s New International Dictionary, Second Edition. I often consult it, during evening games of Scrabble or midday magazine reading. When I come across unfamiliar words while reading novels, I look them up. When I start encountering these words elsewhere, the linguistic (语言的) universe seems to shrink to the size of a small town.
Dictionaries heighten my senses: They direct my attention into a conversation with language. They make me wonder what other things I’m blind to because I haven’t taught myself to notice them yet. Recently spotted examples include orrery, “a mechanical model, usually clockwork, devised to represent the motions of the moon and Earth (and sometimes also other planets) around the sun.” The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) also tells me that the word comes from the fourth Earl of Orrery, for whom a copy of the first machine was made, around 1700. Useful? Obviously not. Satisfying? Deeply.
Wikipedia and Google answer questions with more questions, opening up pages you never asked for. But a dictionary builds on common knowledge, using simple words to explain complex ones. Using one feels as if I’m prying open an oyster (蚝) rather than falling down a rabbit hole. Why leave solvable mysteries up to guesswork?
For me, dictionaries are a door into that kind of uncalculated knowledge-seeking. They remind me that following your curiosity instead of brushing it aside is one of the best ways I know to feel connected to more than what’s right in front of you.
1. What can we know about the author?| A．He merely read for fun before graduation. |
| B．He longed to learn about all knowledge. |
| C．He considered dictionaries chances of enrichment. |
| D．He admitted being a failure when learning languages. |
| A．To introduce a word. | B．To indicate a finding. |
| C．To clarify a concept. | D．To support a statement. |
| A．Encountering new problems. | B．Entering a different world. |
| C．Acquiring essential common sense. | D．Simplifying tough questions. |
| A．Jaw-dropping. | B．Eye-opening. | C．Mind-numbing. | D．Labour-saving. |
