After high school English teacher Larry Abrams started his teaching career in a far suburb outside of Philadelphia, he found he taught in a book desert (荒漠). Many of the kids in school simply struggled (挣扎) with reading and then writing .
In 2017, when one of his students told him she had no book to read to her 2-year-old daughter, Abrams took action. He put forward a call to friends and family asking for gently used children’s books, and in no time, he had more than 1, 000 of them. He began handing out the books to young moms and local elementary schools. That was the start of his nonprofit, BookSmiles, which has since collected, sorted, and handed out hundreds of thousands of books throughout New Jersey and the Philadelphia area — and will soon reach 1 million.
BookSmiles calls on people to help collect books and drop them off in the group’s large collection boxes, which are painted with literary-themed artwork and put outside local businesses, houses of worship, schools, and people’s homes. Books are often handed out through teachers, who come to the book bank and choose as many books as they want.
Larry Abrams thinks children should be read to because it’s something joyful that creates a bond (纽带) between the parent and the child in such an important way. Reading books creates a moment that will never die off and always stay with the child. And what’s more, reading books to kids gives them power. The most important tool that they get is words. There are some kids who grow up hearing lots of words because they’re read to every single night. They are used to hearing sentences connected together when they’re babies. And then there are other kids who never get that. Reading and books help level that playing field. It gives words, millions of words, to these babies who really, really need them.
1. What did Larry Abrams find about his working environment?| A．He had to live a hard life in a desert. |
| B．His students were very short of books. |
| C．His students couldn’t read or write at all. |
| D．His school was struggling to make ends meet. |
| A．His student’s trouble. | B．His school’s requirement. |
| C．His daughter’s need for books. | D．His close friend’s request. |
| A．What books BookSmiles hands out. | B．Where BookSmiles’s boxes are. |
| C．How busy BookSmiles’s workers are. | D．How BookSmiles works. |
| A．It helps parents and children to kill time. |
| B．It makes children depend more on their parents. |
| C．It puts children far ahead of those without being read to. |
| D．It develops children’s language skills by parent-child behavior. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Help Get Teens Ready for College
College is an exciting time and place for young adults, but it can also be disturbing. Thankfully, there are plenty of books to help your teens get ready for college.
♦Every Body Looking by Candice Hoh
Going to college means that Ada will be living away from her family for the first time in her life. The distance gives her anxiety, but breathing room, too. She has the opportunity to reflect on her upbringing, ,her family's expectations, and what she wants for herself.
♦We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
Keep a box of tissues on hand as you read because this short novel has a huge emotional impact on readers. Suffering from grief, Marin left her old life behind when she went to college. During a solitary winter break in her dorm room, an old friend comes to visit. Seeing her friend forces Marin to face the sufferings from her past and find a way to heal.
♦College Admission 101 by The Princeton Review and Robert Franek
Education expert and editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review shares his knowledge of the college admission process in this Q&A style guidebook. From choosing extra - curricular activities to securing financial aid, Robert Franek answers over 60 of the most common questions about getting into college.
♦Anxiety Relief for Teens by Regine Galanti, Ph. D.
There's no question that today's teens suffer from increasing amounts of anxiety. Going to college during a pandemic could make it worse. Help your teens manage their stress and get into a healthier mindset with this book's tips and advice.
1. Which of the following books will probably move you?| A．College Admission 101 | B．Every Body Looking |
| C．We Are Okay | D．Anxiety Relief for Teens |
| A．It introduces an. education expert. | B．It gives answers to admission questions. |
| C．It offers some ways to reduce stress. | D．It helps know more about ourselves. |
| A．Students. | B．Teachers. | C．Parents. | D．Managers. |
【推荐2】Recently I’ve been drawn to books which motivate me to look at myself, and hopefully make me a better “me”. The Courage to Be Disliked, by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koya, has a title I just can’t go past.
The book has taken Japan by storm, using the theories of philosopher Alfred Adler to create conversations between a fictional philosopher and a young man. The conversations cover many broad, interesting and touchy topics. The philosopher character sticks by the theories of Adler, and explains how we are competent to determine our own lives, and be free of the influence of past experiences and others’ expectations. It’s a way of thinking that allows us to develop the courage to change and to ignore the limitations placed on us.
These often complex topics are played out in a conversational style between the two men. While it’s easy to follow the conversations, the topics will knock around in your own head as you work out whether you sit on the side of the philosopher, the young man, or somewhere in between. The book is well-received by readers primarily owing to the fact that it presents two well-balanced perspectives in the arguments. You’ll find yourself doing household chores, or at your keyboard, unpacking all the information in your mind and coming to your own conclusions.
You will wholeheartedly agree on some points and want to throw the book at the wall at others. Its content is polarising (两极化的) and I certainly don’t agree with everything the philosopher or the young man says, but I think that’s the point. The Courage to Be Disliked is there to spark a conversation with yourself and do some slightly uncomfortable soul-searching.
1. Which category does the book belong to?| A．Classic literature. | B．Science fiction. |
| C．Philosophy theory. | D．Self improvement. |
| A．People can take charge of their life course. |
| B．People are free of the influence of their past. |
| C．People should hide their eagerness to change. |
| D．People ought to take their limitations seriously. |
| A．By presenting dialogues. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By arguing theoretically. | D．By listing adequate data. |
| A．It shows ideas in plain language. | B．It offers balanced sides to the topics. |
| C．It displays the scientific statistics. | D．It avoids the use of philosophic terms. |
【推荐3】Having a good reading habit
A good book can teach you things beyond your class. It can open your eyes and clear your minds. If you want to get into a good reading habit,
Plan your time
You should give yourself at least thirty minutes in all for reading every day. For example, make it a habit to read during breakfast time or lunchtime.
Wherever you go, take a book with you. When you leave the house, you should always carry a good book as well as your school things. Remember that a book always stays with you.
Find a quiet place
Have a library day
Have a library card, and you can read as many good books as possible in the library. Make weekly trip to the library, and you can save a lot of money.
Blog it
One of the best ways to develop a good reading habit is to put it on your blog.
| A．If you don't have one, create one |
| B．you should read at least half an hour every day |
| C．Read as many books as you can |
| D．there are a number of ways to develop it |
| E．When time is set, nothing can change it |
| F．Always carry a book |
| G．When you read a book, no one will trouble you |
【推荐1】Classical musician Titcomb feels strongly about Symphony No. 2 and its composer, Mahler. “Mahler is just... It’s so remindful. It’s so emotional and maybe it is a cheap thrill, but to me it is a deep emotional work.”
Titcomb played the trombone (长号) professionally for more than thirty years. He says it was a difficult decision to stop playing and to do something else. “When I had to decide to stop my career as a player and move on to just the organizing of an orchestra, it was my heart and soul to play in orchestras and after a 30-year career I think I have done my part and wanted to move aside. Now I’m semi-retired. I only play the trombone in my wife’s rock and roll band, but for 30 years I was a member of the New York City Opera Orchestra and I also played very often with the Metropolitan Opera and various other organizations and the New York City Ballet as well.”
Now Titcomb is the Managing Director for PONY, which hopes to bring new audiences to classical music and aims to make performances higher-tech and more affordable. PONY is composed of many New York’s finest musicians and many of them continue to work in the major companies at Lincoln Center including Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic. And musicians come together shortly after some big events, such as natural disasters.
Mahler Symphony No. 2 music is reflective of a project dear to Titcomb’s heart. Titcomb has worked effortlessly on bringing the Philharmonia Orchestra of New York, which aims to use performances to support disaster relief, and to give people in disaster some inspiration to continue to deal with their troubles. Seeing an orchestra of 90 players on the stage and making music together with a chorus of 200 made him smile.
Titcomb’s devotion to music is wonderfully inspiring. He built a hugely successful career with little more than plain hard work and determination.
1. What does the author want to tell us in paragraph 1?| A．Titcomb is very emotional. | B．Mahler is good at cheap thrills. |
| C．A music masterpiece must be strong. | D．Symphony No. 2 impresses Titcomb. |
| A．He was eager to earn money. | B．He avoided taking up challenges. |
| C．He focused on playing the trombone. | D．He organized a high - quality orchestra. |
| A．Boring. | B．Confusing. | C．Demanding. | D．Encouraging. |
| A．Well begun, half done. | B．Devotion requires enthusiasm. |
| C．He who laughs last laughs best. | D．A change of work is as good as a rest. |
【推荐2】Months after their child died from a rare cancer, the Kramers decided to keep her memory alive by helping other pediatric (小儿科的) cancer patients and their families during their battles.
Thinking it was just a bad cold, Scott and Pammy Kramer took their daughter to the emergency room one night. However, Maddie was diagnosed(诊断)with a rare cancer.
But the Kramers didn’t ask about the survival rate or Google facts about the disease. They instead trusted the doctors and focused their efforts on doing whatever they could for their daughter. That included making her hospital room more comforting and homey, Pammy decorated the walls with disco balls,streamers,and figurines(小雕像）.She also made sure to have music playing since Maddie always loved to dance.
Scott started a blog to inform everyone of Maddie’s progress. Just look through his blog of close to 80 entries, which later turned into a book titled Maddie’s Miracles, and it’s clear that this little girl re minded everyone to focus on being in the moment, going with the flow, and most importantly, to keep on dancing. “ Kids are amazing; their innocence and ability to stay present make them a force of nature in face of medical problems,” says Scott.
When Maddie passed away on January 4, 2018, her parents launched Dancing While Cancering,the Maddie Kramer Foundation to honor her legacy (遗产). The organization helps kids continue to feel like kids despite going through cancer. “We made a commitment that day to do everything in our power to make sure Maddie was remembered as an inspiration,” says Scott.
Now in 11 hospitals across the country, Dancing While Cancering provides newly diagnosed pediatric patients with a green Smile Pack filled with items like a wireless speaker, streamers,musical instruments, and colorful papers that can help transform a hospital room into a place of joy. “ When parents are at the lowest of lows, we can provide a ray of hope,” says Scott.
1. What did Maddie’s parents do when told Maddie’s disease?| A．They were at a loss what to do next.”. |
| B．They asked about the survival rate eagerly. |
| C．They searched for information about the disease. |
| D．They turned Maddie’s hospital room into play space. |
| A．It is about Maddie’s happy childhood. |
| B．It is full of positive attitude towards life. |
| C．It is popular with patients across the country. |
| D．It is about Scott’s suggestions on raising kids. |
| A．She is fond of dancing. |
| B．She is good at making figurines. |
| C．She can play many musical instruments. |
| D．She is scared in face of medical problems. |
| A．To keep Maddie ‘s memory alive. |
| B．To inspire other kids to be optimistic. |
| C．To honor those who once helped Maddie. |
| D．To help needy family to battle against cancer. |
【推荐3】Roger Federer, a world-famous sports star, quit(放弃)the 2020 Olympic Games to deal with his knee problem. It was a hard decision because no one wanted to be a quitter. But finding the courage to let go can be good for you.
Nothing is fun all the time. Sticking at something difficult teaches us important skills like perseverance(毅力). However, learning to let go when things aren’t right is important too. Maybe your heart isn’t in playing the piano any more, or you only play football because your friends do and you want to try a different sport instead. Making the decision to walk away can free up time and energy to spend on something you really enjoy. In fact, studies show that letting go of goals you can’t reach, or don’t really want, can build up your confidence and help you lead a happier and healthier life.
But how can you know it’s time to stop and move on? Eric Bean is an expert in sports psychology(心理学) who helps athletes and teams understand their feelings. He says, “Quitting is never a matter of black and white.” He suggests thinking carefully about why you aren’t enjoying something any more. Is it because you’ve argued with a teammate or can’t get on with a new art teacher? Talk about this with a trusted adult or friend. That can help you decide whether you should stay and stick, or quit and move on.
Quitting doesn’t have to mean totally giving up, though. For example, playing an instrument might be more fun if you take away the pressure of exams. If you do decide to give up an activity, Bean suggests picking up another where you can still enjoy things like teamwork, creativity, and exercise.
1. What does the author want to convey by mentioning Roger Federer in Paragraph 1?| A．We should never give up. | B．We should get away from trouble. |
| C．It’s all night to stop and quit. | D．It’s difficult to win Olympic medals. |
| A．learn about perseverance | B．have enough money to spend |
| C．live a busier and fuller life | D．feel more confident in ourselves |
| A．it’s not good to stick at things we don’t like |
| B．we should think twice before making decisions |
| C．we don’t have to take exams to show our true abilities |
| D．it’s wiser to pick up a new hobby than to keep the old one |
| A．Knowing When to Stop | B．Working Hard in Move on |
| C．Learning How to Grow up | D．Starting Early to Make Changes |
【推荐1】In 2013, Charles Ressler set up his DreamMaker project after unlucky personal events. Since then, his work has been centered around the idea that people can send him their dreams through social media (媒体) and he’ll help make them happen - without the use of money.
In recent months, Ressler has helped many dreamers, including Illinois resident Terry Bergman, who wanted to build a playhouse for her grandchild but could not afford it. "Thanks to Charles and the donations, we started receiving box after box of baby items for my daughter and grandson. It brought tears to my eyes because my dream was coming true," Terry says.
Ressler has also helped Florida worker Wayne Van Coughnett, who wanted to write a children’s book but needed an illustrator (插画师). He used Twitter to connect Van Coughnett to Spain-based illustrator Suarez. Together, they created his children's book, which will soon be sold on Amazon. "I thought my dream would always be a dream, as I can’t afford to look for illustrators. Charles is amazing," Wayne says.
Up next on his list, Ressler is helping a married woman named Ginny Ekins, who lost part of her long-term memory (记忆) and forgot her wedding(婚礼). "It has a bad influence on her life because she felt unhappy about the wedding photos in her house and asked that all of them be taken down,” Ressler explains. "She is unhappy because it's as if she didn't have a wedding. So Ekins contacted DreamMaker. In a few weeks, he plans on presenting the wedding arrangements to Ekins.
"DreamMaker is the great equalizer: It doesn't matter who you are, what you believe, who you love," he says. "There are no borders (边界) when it comes to helping each other, and sometimes it's as simple as someone saying ‘You can do it.’ ”
1. Why did Ressler set up the project?| A．To offer dreamers advice on personal events. |
| B．To improve communication between dreamers. |
| C．To dream up ideas through social media. |
| D．To help others realize their dreams. |
| A．Being short of money. |
| B．Knowing little about art. |
| C．Having little self-confidence. |
| D．Having limited technical support. |
| A．Improve her long-term memory. |
| B．Take wedding photos for her. |
| C．Make her house beautiful. |
| D．Arrange her wedding. |
| A．It offers equal opportunities for everyone. |
| B．It is badly in need of support from the public. |
| C．It makes people know how to love themselves. |
| D．It becomes more popular among common people. |
【推荐2】I had a picnic one day with my sister. We both like to ride her motorcycle and that day we rode it to the nearest park. We bought some coffee and cakes, and then we enjoyed our food. Within a few hours, the sky changed and looked ready for a heavy rain. We packed everything and were ready to go. My sister, who was sitting on a bench then, suddenly was very still and couldn’t talk to me. She couldn’t move. Her eyes were rolling and she was about to lose consciousness (知觉). I held her in my arms and asked if she wanted to rest. She didn’t answer and only said “Sorry.”
It started to rain and I didn’t know what to do. She was fighting to stay aware but her skin was pale and her eyes were acting strangely. Suddenly, from nowhere, a woman on a bicycle appeared, wearing a raincoat. “She isn’t looking good. Do you want me to call an ambulance (救护车)?” “Yes, please, yes!” I begged.
She did. Struggling with the rain, she managed to call some policemen, who quickly helped me carry my sister to a safer place. The ambulance arrived and we went to a hospital, where she was treated in time and she came to life the next morning after some rest and medical help.
An interesting fact was that I guessed the woman in the raincoat was a doctor or a nurse. I later learned from one of the police officers who told me: “No. She was an ordinary person who took some courses on emergency situations (紧急情况). ”
I am so grateful that she appeared exactly at the right moment. I don’t know why or how. I didn’t even get the chance to say thanks to her.
1. What happened when the author and her sister were ready to go?| A．They had a fight. |
| B．The sister fell ill suddenly. |
| C．They were caught in the rain. |
| D．They had difficulty packing things. |
| A．By giving first aid to her sister. |
| B．By protecting her sister from the rain. |
| C．By carrying her sister to the hospital. |
| D．By asking for emergency medical help. |
| A．Thankful. | B．Friendly. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Admirable. |
【推荐3】We adopted Franny, our crazy and lovable Boston puppy, from a local rescue at the start summer in 2022. However, two weeks later she was nowhere to be found.
We often leave our yard doors open to allow Franny and our another dog, Olive, to visit enclosed backyard and lie on the deck (甲板). My heart sank severely when I failed to find any. No sooner had I sensed that than my wife and I charged to our car to comb for this missing dog swiftly. I was scanning the yards a few blocks over when my phone rang all of a sudden: A woman and her daughter had our dog. Franny had been jogging down the alley (小巷) behind their lawn when they grabbed her and called the number on her tag (标牌).
I located and blocked off the gap in the fence that Franny had squeezed through in case she went out secretly and got lost again. However, she was on the run again one month later.
This time she made it much farther — all the way to a high school, where a man found it eating lunch in the sun with some students. Franny was returned to us, her big brown eyes looking ashamed as the man handed her over to me.
These days, our backyard is secured like a maximum-security prison. We love this crazy dog more than ever, and Franny finally seems content to stay put now.
Mostly, I’m thankful for the kind folks who took the time to grab our adorable runaway and return her to us. All of them refused any recompense, regardless of how much I pushed. These minded our family that the world is filled with those who will go out of their way to lend others a hand.
1. Where did the woman first find the dog?| A．In the alley. | B．In the gap of the fence. |
| C．On her lawn. | D．On the deck of her backyard. |
| A．He tied a tag to her. | B．He kept track of her. |
| C．He bridged the fence’s crack. | D．He rebuilt a firm new fence. |
| A．Criticism. | B．Request. | C．Proposal. | D．Payment. |
| A．To show off his puppy. |
| B．To extend his gratitude. |
| C．To call on us to care for the homeless animals. |
| D．To demonstrate the solutions to adopting dogs. |
