Knorma Claypool is blind. When she was two years old, she had both her eyes removed because she had a brain tumor (脑肿瘤). But instead of feeling sorry for herself, she graduated from a special school for the blind.
Then she worked her way through college and got a graduate degree. She became a teacher for kids with handicaps.
One day she helped a blind 2-year-old baby who had been abandoned by her parents. She made up her mind to adopt the child. A social service agency disagreed because Claypool was blind and single. But she refused to give in and a judge eventually said she could have the child. The child, named Elaine, is now a 23-year-old woman who is studying at a college. “Elaine has brought so much joy to my life,” said Claypool.
Over the years, Claypool has adopted nine other children. Some are blind or deaf, others are retarded (智力迟钝的). She adopted a Chinese baby who born with only half a brain. One of her kids was born blind and has had 19 operations. But she says he has a very high IQ. Another was born healthy but was beaten by his mother and is now retarded.
Claypool retired from teaching in 1981 to devote all her time to her family. It’s not always easy for her to make ends meet. But Claypool believes every child deserves a home, even if the child is handicapped.
“My kids come first, always,” she says. She also believes in teaching her kids to be as generous as she is. Each Christmas she asks them to give one of their favorite toys to a child who is poor.
Claypool is a remarkable person who has made life better for many children whom nobody else wanted.
1. Claypool almost didn’t adopt Elaine because ________ .| A．a judge eventually said she could |
| B．she was a teacher for the handicapped |
| C．a social service agency didn’t want her to |
| D．a judge disagreed because she was blind and single |
| A．she retired from teaching |
| B．her kids always come first |
| C．she makes ends meet |
| D．every kid spends more money than other children |
| A．are helping some poor children | B．are learning to be generous |
| C．will come first, always | D．teach Claypool to be generous |
| A．handicapped children are more generous than other kids |
| B．a remarkable woman has helped handicapped children |
| C．blind people make the best mothers |
| D．a handicapped woman |
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When Dan Shaw gets up from the sofa in his home, Cuddles is never far away. When he wants to go outside, he doesn’t take Cuddles out for walk—Cuddles takes him for a walk. Cuddles is clearly no ordinary family pet. It is a two-foot-high miniature horse and serves as the guiding eyes of Shaw, who is blind.
When Shaw lost his sight, his wife suggested he apply for a guide dog. Shaw, an animal lover, said he couldn’t bear to part with a dog (which usually lives about eight to ten years) and get used to a new one, perhaps several times in his life.
Then Shaw heard of a program about the tiny guide horses. He learned that the horse possess many qualities that make them an excellent choice for guiding people. They are clean friendly, smart and have great memories. They can be trained to remain calm in noisy and crowded places. Best of all, they live for 25-25years, which would enable Shaw to have the same guide companion for most or all of his life.
Shaw immediately applied to be and was accepted as the first person to receive a guide horse. The instant he met Cuddles, he knew he was making the right choice. Then he began his training.
Through training ,Shaw and Cuddles learned to find way on busy streets, step over curbs (便道沿儿) and find elevator buttons. Cuddles even demonstrated (显示)its ability to step in front of Shaw and block him, to prevent him from walking into a dangerous situation. The little horse also expertly led Shaw through busy shopping malls. They got along without any difficulties. Now Shaw is confident that Cuddles will change his life for the better.
1. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “miniature” in Paragraph 1?(No more than 2 words)2. Why didn’t Shaw want to choose a dog as his guide? (No more than 15 words)
3. What does Paragraph 3 mainly tell us? (No more than 10 words)
4. How does Shaw feel about his future life with the help of Cuddles? (No more than 10 words)
5. What animal would you like to keep as a pet at home? Please give your reasons. (No more than 20 words)
【推荐2】Four years ago, Fred was on his way to work when he accidentally fell onto the tracks of Brooklyn’s train as a subway train was coming. The incident caused the loss of both of his legs.
But surprisingly, with the loss of his legs, Fred gained a new passion for racing. Before his accident. he wasn’t really that athletic. He would just occasionally (偶尔地) play basketball. But that all changed after he was introduced to handcycling (手摇自行车运动). “When I saw it. I was like, ‘Oh, this is great. You don’t even need legs to use it, this is perfect. ” he said. “So, I got on it, I rode and fell in love with it right away.”
Within a few months, he completed the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, a 40-mile ride through New York City. After that, he did his first marathon (马拉松) in 2021. He finished that race in 2 hours and 11 minutes, placing 12th out of 38.
“I’m going to attend this year’s marathon and take on challenges. My hands are on the wheel, my eyes are focused, and I think my time is going to speak for itself,” he said. He’s made a significant commitment to training. He rides his handcycle at least 13.1 miles a couple times a week and spends a lot of time in the gym. And he plans to keep pursuing his athlete goals. He wants to complete the Abbott Six-the world’s six largest marathons. One day, he said, “I’ll maybe even make it to the Paralympics.”
For those who might be following his journey, he hopes they will take some lessons from his story. “There will be ups and downs but the trend (趋势) is what’s important, focus on the good,” he said. “And also, take your big problems and divide them into small solutions, and then all of a sudden, your big problems turn into many small wins. ”
1. How did the accident happen to Fred?| A．Two trains ran into each other. | B．The train might leave the tracks. |
| C．The train might run over his legs. | D．He fell onto the tracks on his way back home. |
| A．The minute he saw the sport. |
| B．Before he lost both of his legs. |
| C．After he had practiced the sport for several times. |
| D．After he watched others ride handcycles for some time. |
| A．The way that Fred rides a handcycle. |
| B．Fred’s introducing this year’s marathon. |
| C．Fred’s preparing hard to take part in the competition. |
| D．The reason why Fred spends a lot of time in the gym. |
| A．Determined. | B．Shy. | C．Generous. | D．Careful. |
【推荐3】That cold January night, I was growing sick of my life in San Francisco. There I was, walking home at one in the morning after a tiring practice at the theatre. With opening night only a week ago, I was still learning my lines. I was having trouble dealing with my parttime job at the bank and my acting at night at the same time. As I walked, I thought seriously about giving up both acting and San Francisco. City life had become too much for me.
As I walked down empty streets under tall buildings, I felt very small and cold.I began running，both to keep warm and to keep away from any possible robbers(抢劫犯)．Very few people were still out except a few sadlooking homeless people under blankets.
About a block from my apartment, I heard a sound behind me. I turned quickly, half expecting to see someone with a knife or a gun. The street was empty. All I saw was a shining streetlight. Still, the noise had made me nervous, so I started to run faster. Not until I reached my apartment building and unlocked the door did I realize what the noise had been. It had been my wallet falling to the sidewalk.
Suddenly I wasn’t cold or tired anymore. I ran out of the door and back to where I’d heard the noise. Although I searched the sidewalk anxiously for fifteen minutes，my wallet was nowhere to be found.
Just as I was about to give up the search, I heard the garbage truck(垃圾车) pull up to the sidewalk next to me. When a voice called from the inside, “Alisa Camacho” , I thought I was dreaming. How could this man know my name？ The door opened, and out jumped a small redhaired man with an amused look in his eyes. “Is this what you’re looking for？” he asked, holding up a small square shape.
It was nearly 3 am by the time I got into bed. I wouldn’t get much sleep that night, but I had gotten my wallet back. I also had gotten back some enjoyment of city life. I realized that the city couldn’t be a bad place as long as people were willing to help each other.
1. How did the writer feel when she was walking home after work?| A．Cold and sick. |
| B．Fortunate and helpful. |
| C．Satisfied and cheerful. |
| D．Disappointed and helpless. |
| A．lost her wallet unknowingly |
| B．was stopped by a garbage truck driver |
| C．was robbed of her wallet by an armed man |
| D．found some homeless people following her |
| A．Someone offered to take her back home. |
| B．A redhaired man came to see her. |
| C．She heard someone call her name. |
| D．Her wallet was found in a garbage truck. |
| A．would stop working at night |
| B．would stay on in San Francisco |
| C．would make friends with cleaners |
| D．would give up her job at the bank |
In my early 30s, I struggled to find a dream job. One of my friends reminded me that I’d always loved beauty, and suggested I apply for a licence, which would give me the freedom to set up my own business.
However, the only problem was that tuition fees were $6,000, which was out of my budget. I knew that my salary wouldn’t cover all the fees, even if I worked extra hours every day. I’d seen others set up crowdfunding papers to help them achieve their goals. I thought I’d do the same. Then, on a Friday night, I received a large amount of money in my bank account, which made me really surprised. There had been some mistakes. I assumed it was an illegal trick.
It turned out to be a donation. The name on it is one I instantly recognized: Chrissy Teigen, my favorite TV host. She had left a note: “I’ve seen that this has been your dream for such a long time. I’m so happy to lend you a hand.” I called my mom immediately. I was crying and not making much sense. I just managed to say that Chrissy Telgen had made my dream come true.
The amount might have been a drop in the ocean for her, but it was life-changing for me. Lots of other people donated after her. Soon I paid all the fees for the course. I couldn’t have been happier. I’ve now set up my own business, and I always think about Chrissy’s generosity. I did thank her, and I still follow each other on Twitter. Hopefully, I will be able to give her a beauty treatment someday.
1. What prevented the author from setting up her own business? (no more than 10 words)2. What was the author’s first reaction to the donation in her bank account? (no more than15words).
3. Who donated the money to the author? (no more than 5 words)
4. How do you understand the underlined part “a drop in the ocean”? (no more than 5 words)
5. Write about someone who once helped you through difficult times. (no more than 25 words)
【推荐2】On a warm morning last summer, California bus driver Tim Watson was about halfway through his daily express route from Milpitas to Fremont when an alert from the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) flashed across his dashboard screen. A toddler had been kidnapped in Milpitas, the message read, and it asked that drivers be on the lookout for the boy.
The victim was described as a three-year-old child in plaid shorts and red shoes; the suspect, a man in his 20s wearing jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt. Tim felt his stomach drop when he realized that a man with a toddler in plaid shorts had boarded the bus just ten minutes earlier.
Before alerting authorities, he wanted to confirm their identities. Pulling into a parking lot, he announced that he needed to look for a lost bag. He moved slowly down the aisle, peering under each seat, until he approached the last row. “I saw the red shoes,” says Tim. “But I knew I had to keep cool.”
Back behind the wheel, Tim apologized for the delay and pulled the bus onto the highway. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, he waited a few minutes, then radioed the bus dispatcher, who directed him to continue to his final stop, where police officers would be waiting.
Minutes later, after making the last turn, he stopped the bus and opened the doors. As the man got off the bus with the boy, a police officer grabbed the child out of his arms, threw the suspect to the ground, and handcuffed him behind his back.
The police officers told Tim that the man, David Edington, 23, had snatched the boy from the Milpitas library after he wandered away from his mother. Tim thought about his own sons, ages 17 and 21. “I went back in the bus alone and broke down,” he says. Then he climbed out again to check that the boy was OK. Tim found him sitting calmly in the front seat of a squad car, without a tear in sight. “I just smiled at him,” Tim says. “I knew he was safe.”
Now, Tim is still humble about his actions. “I try to teach my kids to look out for people who can’t defend themselves,” he says. “And that’s what I did.”
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To arouse the readers’ attention. | B．To introduce the reason for the story. |
| C．To state the setting of the incident. . | D．To describe an emergent situation. |
| A．Because he had recognized the suspect on the bus. |
| B．Because he had spotted the suspect minutes earlier. |
| C．Because he desired to confirm the suspect’s identity. |
| D．Because he longed to get the suspect caught in time. |
| A．Alert and cautious. | B．Intelligent and pitiful. |
| C．Tough and respectable. | D．Humble and warm-hearted. |
| A．He closely resembled Tim’s sons. | B．He was in his 20s and was cool-headed. |
| C．He showed regret for what he did. | D．He kidnapped the boy to get more money. |
【推荐3】Exploring the peaks (山顶) of the world’s highest mountains or the secrets of space has become almost second nature for Poorna Malavath and Kavya Manyapu. It has taken Manyapu to NASA where her research has included designing space suits, and Malavath to the top of Mount Everest in 2014, when she became the youngest ever woman to climb the world’s highest mountain at the age of just 13.
Now, the two women have channeled their exploring spirit into climbing some of the world’s most difficult mountains as part of their campaign, Project Shakthi, which raises money to fund girls’ education.
At the end of August, they climbed a 6,012-meter virgin peak in Ladakh, India-one previously unmapped and untouched by humans, Never climbed before, the mountain presented difficult challenges for even an experienced mountaineer like Malavath, for there were neither routes to follow nor advice from previous climbers to cling to. “We have to prepare ourselves mentally to accept everything,” Malavath says.
Every member of the team experienced some form of altitude sickness (高原反应) while climbing up the virgin peak. Rainy weather conditions that turned to snow at high altitudes added to the complexities of climbing the mountain. And for a relatively inexperienced climber like Manyapu, though she had trained extensively, the challenges were even greater.
In the group’s darkest moments on the journey, they found motivation in Project Shakthi’s purpose: “We climb so that girls can read”, a deeply personal cause for both Malavath and Manyapu.
In the meantime, the project has already begun selecting girls who will receive its sponsorship through the $12,000 it has raised so far. “Poorna and I actually visited our village back in India right after we completed our exploration of the virgin peak,” Manyapu says, “And we are starting the project in our village because that’s where our roots are.”
Eventually, the project will aim to sponsor girls across the globe, empowering them and offering them opportunities to receive education.
1. What is the purpose of Project Shakthi?| A．To design space suits. | B．To map mountain peaks. |
| C．To explore the secrets of space. | D．To collect money for girls’ education. |
| A．Ignore. | B．Turn down. | C．Rely on. | D．Give. |
| A．Dangerous. | B．Unnecessary. | C．Unchallenging. | D．Interesting. |
| A．Kavya Manyapu’s Achievements in Studying Space |
| B．Two Successful Women Climbed a Mountain for Charity |
| C．Girls in the Villages Have Long Suffered Unfair Treatment |
| D．Difficulties Poorna Malavath Experienced When Climbing Mount Everest |
