As a child, there was nothing I liked better than Sunday afternoons at my grandfather’s farm in western Pennsylvania. Surrounded by miles of winding stone walls, the house and field provided endless hours of fun for a city kid like me.
Since my first visit to the farm, I had wanted more than anything to be allowed to climb the stone walls surrounding the houses. My parents would never agree because the walls were so old that some stones were loose and falling. However, my idea to climb across those walls grew so strong that finally I had all my courage to enter the living room, where the adults had gathered after Sunday dinner.
“I want to climb the stone walls.” I said. “Heavens, no! You’ll hurt yourself!” The response was just as I’d expected. But before I left the room, I was stopped by my grandfather’s loud voice. “Now hold on just a minute.”I heard him say. “Let the boy climb the stone walls. He has to learn to do things for himself.”
“Go,” he said to me, “and come and see me when you get back. ”For the next two and a half hours I climbed those old walls—and had the time of my life. Later I met with my grandfather to tell him about my adventures. I’ll never forget what he said. “Fred,” he said, smiling, “you made this day a special day just by being yourself. Always remember, there’s only one person in this whole world like you, and I like you exactly as you are.”
Many years have passed since then, and today I host the television program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, seen by millions of children throughout America. There have been changes over the years, but one thing remains the same: my message to children at the end of almost every visit. “There’s only one person in this whole world like you, ” the kids will hear me say, “and people can like you exactly as you are.”
1. Why did the writer enjoy his visits to the farm?| A．He could experience new fun there. |
| B．There were old stone houses . |
| C．He missed his grandfather very much. |
| D．He was allowed to climb the stone walls. |
| A．The writer didn’t know the possible danger of the stone walls. |
| B．The writer’s grandfather encouraged him to follow his own heart. |
| C．The writer became a TV program host due to his grandfather’s influence. |
| D．The writer didn’t expect his parents’ disagreement with his climbing the walls. |
| A．open-minded. | B．adventurous. | C．generous. | D．positive. |
| A．Unforgettable Childhood. | B．Be proud of yourself |
| C．Just Be Yourself. | D．Like grandfather, like grandson. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】For most of his life, Chuah Kee Man, 34, has lived by the Arabic saying “Man jadda wa jada”. It was taught to him by a teacher in his schooling years, and means “Only those who work hard will get what they want”.
“I love this, not only because of the meaning, but the fact that the word ‘man’ in the saying reminds me of myself since my name ends with ‘Man’. So, it’s like an inner voice that reminds me to give my best in everything, and therefore I live with that philosophy in my life. I am currently a lecturer at University Malaysia Sarawak, majoring in English Language teaching and Cognitive Linguistics,” explains Chuah.
Asked what the best part about being Malaysian is, he answers: “Being able to learn and embrace the diversity of cultures, languages and beliefs of the different races living together in Malaysia, without the fear of losing one‟s own identity. I personally believe I have grown into a unique breed -- of a Malaysian first“ -- whereby I can speak multiple languages fluently and also appreciate various cultural practices openly.”
Being in Malaysia, Chuah feels that everyone has the right to highlight their differences, even if they come from different backgrounds.
“We can still come together in sharing some common humanitarian (人道主义) values that we hold in our respective communities. Living in a rural area of Sarawak, we still share many common national borders and values and a love for peace and harmony among my family and the people here.”
Chuah concludes: “Even if we disagree on certain things, we still continue to respect each other with the knowledge that none of us wants to do any harm. Because at the end of the day, we get to know each other more and become better Malaysians for it.”
1. Why is Chuah fond of the Arabic saying?| A．Because it was taught by his favorite teacher. |
| B．Because it stresses the importance of setting goals. |
| C．Because his name has the same meaning as the saying. |
| D．Because it reminds him to spare no efforts to do things. |
| A．Great minds think alike. | B．Diligence is the mother of success. |
| C．Good advice is beyond all price. | D．A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. |
| A．Speaking multiple languages fluently. |
| B．Having the chance to get all he wants. |
| C．Being a successful English lecturer easily. |
| D．Experiencing various cultures without losing one’s own identity. |
| A．People should hold the same beliefs. |
| B．It’s unacceptable to disagree on certain things. |
| C．It’s vital to respect and live in harmony with each other. |
| D．Sharing common humanitarian values is definitely not easy. |
I expressed my upset state to my mother, hoping for some pity.Instead, she said, “I heard Jamie was having a difficult day too.Why don't you make her some cookies and take them to her this afternoon?”
I didn't really want to, but decided that I didn't want to go back to my other problems just yet.I made the cookies and arranged them on a little plate.Then I made a card with a sunflower on it and wrote a small note of empathy(共鸣）.
That afternoon I dropped by my friend's house.I went to the door and rang the bell. Soon, Jamie came to the door and looked at me in surprise for the unexpected visit. Before she could say anything I rushed, “I heard you were having a hard day and decided to bring you something. I hope your day goes better.” The look that came over Jamie's face was one that I could never put into words.It was as if a darkened sky was suddenly lit with the golden rays of the sun；it was as if in that small act, her day was brightened.
I got back into the car and for some amazing reason. I felt a lot better myself. That day I experienced the truth that James Barrie attempted to describe, “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”
1. The author made cookies and arranged them on a plate______.
| A．so as to show off his skills |
| B．to stop thinking about his own worries |
| C．not to let his mother feel down |
| D．not to show his sadness to others |
| A．She lit up very soon.B She was surprised and scared. | B．he couldn't express herself. |
| C．She poured out all her worries. | |
| A．Sympathetic. | B．Willing. |
| C．Instructional. | D．Selfish. |
【推荐3】Jack threw the papers on my desk. “Next time you want to change anything, ask me first,” he said. I had changed a long sentence and corrected its grammar — something I thought I was paid to do.
Several days later, he made me angry again. I went to his office, prepared to lose my job if need be, but not before I let the man know how I felt. “What?” he said nervously.
Suddenly I knew what I had to do. “Jack, the way you’ve been treating me is wrong. And it’s wrong for me to allow it to continue,” I said. “I want to make you a promise. I will be a friend.” The next day I brought some cakes to Jack’s office. Every time I saw Jack in the hall, I smiled at him. After all, that’s what friends do.
One year after our talk, I was told that I had breast cancer . When I was in hospital, my friends tried to find the right words to say, but no one could. The last day of my hospital stay, the door opened and Jack walked over to my bed. “Tulips (郁金香),” he placed some bulbs beside me and said, “If you plant them when you get home, you’ll be there to see them when they come up.” Tears filled my eyes.
In a moment when I prayed for just the right words, a man with few words said the right thing. After all, that’s what friends do. Now, I have seen those tulips push through the soil every spring for over ten years.
1. Why did Jack throw some papers on the author’s desk?| A．She gave him the wrong papers. | B．He thought her report was very bad. |
| C．He wanted her to check them again. | D．He didn’t agree with her correction. |
| A．She would work harder from then on. | B．She would treat him like a friend. |
| C．She would bring him some cakes. | D．She would treat him the same way. |
| A．love | B．honor | C．hope | D．thanks |
| A．Friends must help each other to correct mistakes. |
| B．Friends should give advice to each other at the right time. |
| C．Friends should do anything for each other. |
| D．Friends should treat each other with respect and kindness. |
【推荐1】Students at an elementary school in California, with the help of their art teacher, created a telephone hotline that people can call to get cheerful advice from kids during difficult times. Shortly afterwards, the hotline began getting thousands of calls an hour.
The hotline is available in English and Spanish. It offers the happy voices of children of different ages sharing positive messages. For example, by pressing 1, you can hear a group of kindergartners saying together, “You can do it! Keep trying, and don’t give up!” Pressing 2 brings the sounds of children laughing-a sound certain to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Jessica Martin, who teaches art at West Side School in Healdsburg, California, thought her students just might have the magic words needed to bring calm to people in difficult times. Ms. Martin worked with students at West Side on a project they called “PepToc”. Actually, they called it “Pep Talk” first. But when Ms. Martin’s 6-year-old son drew an ad for the hotline and spelled it “PepToc”, they decided they liked that even better.
Most of the project was completed in a day. Ms. Martin worked with students from kindergarten to the sixth grade. She had the same basic question for all the students-What could you say to help or encourage someone else? Students working on the hotline thought of what they would like to say. When they were ready, Ms. Martin recorded each one. Later, she sorted out the recordings into the different parts of the telephone hotline.
Ms. Martin thought the project would only attract interest from people near the school. But the hotline was soon getting hundreds of calls a day-and then, thousands of calls an hour. It’s become unbelievably popular with stressed adults, patients in hospitals, older people in homes, and others who just want to hear the happy voices of children.
1. What does the text say about the hotline?| A．It is answered by teachers. |
| B．It has offered callers all kinds of help. |
| C．It’s mainly aimed at cheering kids stuck at home. |
| D．It enjoyed great popularity quickly. |
| A．Out of a mistake. | B．From a similar project. |
| C．On the recommendation of students. | D．At the request of Ms. Martin’s son. |
| A．Students’ interest in the hotline. | B．Primary purposes of the hotline. |
| C．What the hotline focuses on. | D．How the hotline was set up. |
| A．Unacceptable. | B．Unreasonable. | C．Unexpected. | D．Unpleasant. |
【推荐2】I was searching for a job when an ad caught my attention. The job was within walking distance of my home.
Anyone out of work for a long time knows how bad losing a job can be. One moment, I was valuable to the company; the next moment I was out. I began to question my abilities and myself.
But now, for this perfect job, I wrote the perfect application. As I pushed Send, I closed my eyes and told myself with confidence, “I’ve got this job.” I started thinking about the job as if it were already mine. It was a happy feeling.
A couple of days later, I received an e-mail for an interview. I selected what I would wear and began to imagine how the interview would go, feeling my confidence build.
It was a gorgeous summer day, and its warmth gave me energy. I was led into a conference room where the managers greeted me.
What I had seen of the office interested me, and I could already picture myself sitting at my desk. A sense of belonging filled me. When the interview was finished, I realized the time had passed quickly.
By the end of the week, the desired call arrived, and my dream became a reality. By the time I was ready to leave home, I was relaxed and eager to begin my day. As I walked, a familiar feeling rose inside me. I’d taken this walk to work many times in my mind, but now it was real!
1. How did the author feel when he read the ad?| A．Excited. | B．Worried. | C．Shocked. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．He began to complain about life. | B．He cut connection with his friends. |
| C．He felt doubtful about his ability. | D．He had belief in his work performance. |
| A．Stormy. | B．Sunny. | C．Tiring. | D．Boring. |
| A．It made him see a different self. | B．It was the job he dreamed to get. |
| C．It offered good pay to its workers. | D．It could build the author’s social life. |
【推荐3】As a child, I never considered myself an athlete at all as I was very uncoordinated (不协调的). However, I did love to run because I felt as if I were flying. But this all changed two years ago when I suffered a knee injury. I was bedridden (卧床不起的) for two weeks and I had a difficult time moving even short distances. I literally cried myself on my way to the car for a few days.
When therapy wasn’t working well for me, I signed up for a hot yoga class for girls, Bikram Yoga, to be exact. Starting a yoga practice was truly a godsend (天赐之物) because it helped me gain strength in my knees but, most importantly, yoga helped me attain a more peaceful state of mind, body and spirit.
Since each class was heated to 105℉, every time I stepped foot in the yoga studio, I’d feel a surge of negative thoughts come upon me like a big ocean wave. Some of these thoughts were, at the beginning of my practice, so strong that I walked out of the class several times. However, as the months passed by, I noticed that when I wasn’t disturbed by my negative thoughts, I could stay in the hot room for longer.
After 3-4 months of practicing hot yoga, I made some progress. I also woke up with so much more energy than I had before starting my yoga practice and I gradually started losing weight from my body. Yoga literally made me feel as if I’d taken a bottle of energy drink and just gave me the burst that helped my knee heal and made my overall health better.
As I saw some of my classmates do poses that looked appealing to me, I started to think maybe I could do them too. Therefore, yoga helped show me that I had no real limitations physically unless I set those limitations myself through eating junk food and thinking in negative limiting terms.
Also, practicing yoga in front of a mirror helped me have more confidence and practicing with a group of people really helped me to feel a greater sense of connection with humanity (人道). Overall, this yoga practice has helped me to see I’m part of a bigger picture in life!
1. Why did the author decide to attend a yoga class?| A．Her injury wasn’t so serious. | B．The treatment was of little use. |
| C．She attempted to have a charming figure. | D．Her parents asked her to have a try there. |
| A．She tried to think positively. | B．She had a rest from time to time. |
| C．She felt comfortable in the room. | D．She was encouraged by her trainer. |
| A．How the author got her knee to heal. |
| B．The effect the author’s practising yoga had on her. |
| C．The problems the author met with when doing yoga. |
| D．How the author made her schedule work out in the room. |
| A．She had completely recovered from her knee injury. |
| B．She was helped by her trainer with much patience. |
| C．She was attracted by her classmates’ yoga poses. |
| D．She fully understood the theory of yoga. |
【推荐1】For a period of time in the early 80s, I watched I Dream of Jeannie reruns every afternoon in the empty time between school and supper. But I always felt a little deflated when the closing theme came on, since it meant that I had to wait an entire day for the next episode.
Decades later, thanks to the modern technology, on-demand viewing and an endless supply of content now allow us to find exactly the entertainment we want, when we want it. My own kids happily binge-watch Fresh Off the Boat, just as I dreamed of doing with Jeannie.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about a disadvantage of our just-for-you world. My kids miss out on all the things that are not just for them. Looking back, some of my more memorable discoveries as a child came about only because I didn’t have access to entertainment that I would have preferred.
When we would visit our aunts, my sisters and brothers and I didn’t have tablets to keep ourselves occupied while the adults chatted. So we would read whatever we could find. I looked forward to Sunday afternoons at Aunt Rose’s so that I could catch up on aliens and Hollywood stars in Weekly World News. These things—none of which were aimed at my tastes—were all that was on offer. However, they brought me so much enjoyment.
Electronic searching now takes us directly to what we seek. We are less likely to come across things that have nothing to do with what we are looking for. But finding something by accident is powerful in its purposelessness. It’s nature throwing things up against a wall to see what sticks. It’s the force that drives evolution.
Getting exactly what you want all the time sounds great. But as anyone who is familiar with fantasy stories knows, there’s always a catch.
1. What does the underlined word “deflated” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Depressed. | B．Thrilled. |
| C．Convinced. | D．Ashamed. |
| A．Latest tablets. | B．Brothers and sisters. |
| C．different reading materials. | D．Pleasant conversations. |
| A．It contributes to the evolution. |
| B．It’s absolutely beneficial to adults. |
| C．It’s a blessing of this modern world. |
| D．It takes unexpected joy away from people. |
| A．What was on offer in the early 80s |
| B．What our kids miss out in a just-for-you world |
| C．How adults had fun with inaccessible entertainment |
| D．How anxious-to-please Internet changed the future of kids |
【推荐2】I am traveling home. It is bitterly cold and snowy, but the warm train is right on time. I feel pleasantly satisfied as I look out at the rush hour traffic on the motorway. I feel more satisfied as the smell of fresh coffee announces the arrival of the drinks service. Swiss friends often tell me, proudly, that their rail service is the best in the world, but recently, one experience has proved that the great Swiss love affair with their railway has turned a little sour.
It all began with the decision to end ticket sales on trains. One cold morning I arrived at my local station only to find that the ticket machine was broken. No matter, I thought, I have got a smart phone, and I hurriedly set about buying my ticket that way. This was not as easy as I had expected, busying myself between credit card and phone with freezing cold fingers, but, by the time I got on the train to Geneva, I had an e-ticket and I proudly showed it to the conductor. Unfortunately she told me that my ticket was not valid. Several weeks later a letter arrived from Swiss railways together with a fine for 190 francs ($ 210).
The good people there tell me the formal payment for my ticket from my credit card company arrived four minutes after my train left the station. That means, they say, that I bought my ticket on the train—and that is strictly prohibited.
Swiss railways say their policy is designed to protect honest ticket-paying passengers, but a quick look at their balance sheet suggests something else. The company is making about $ 2 million a month from fines.
Although train travel is still popular, those seats do not feel as comfortable; the coffee does not smell quite so good—because Swiss railways have lost, for now anyway, something far more precious than $ 2 million a month: good relations with their customers.
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?| A．The Swiss trains usually come late. |
| B．Traffic on the motorway goes smoothly. |
| C．The author regrets traveling on the Swiss train. |
| D．Swiss people think highly of their train service. |
| A．the decision to end ticket sales on trains |
| B．the experience of buying a train ticket |
| C．the difficulty of buying an e-ticket |
| D．the fine for escaping a train ticket |
| A．It was purchased online. |
| B．It was purchased on a ticket machine. |
| C．It was paid for on a smart phone. |
| D．It was paid for after the train’s departure. |
| A．To show the fine was unfair. |
| B．To show the conductor was impolite. |
| C．To show e-tickets are getting popular. |
| D．To show credit cards can be inconvenient. |
| A．It attracts more people to travel by train. |
| B．It makes the company lose a lot of money. |
| C．It damages company-customer relations. |
| D．It protects honest ticket-paying passengers. |
The week I turned 50, my marriage came to a sudden end. My house, furniture and everything I’d owned was sold to pay debts that I didn’t even know existed. In a week I had lost my husband, my home and my parents who had refused to accept a divorce (离婚) in the family. I’d lost everything except my four teenage children. I used every penny I had to buy five plane tickets from Missouri to Hawaii. Everyone said I was crazy to think I could just run off to an island and survive. I was afraid they were right.
I worked 18 hours a day and lost 30 pounds because I lived on one meal a day. One night as I walked alone on the beach, I saw the red orange lava (火山岩) pouring out of Kilauea Volcano in the distance. It was time to live my imagination!
The next day, I quit my job, bought some art supplies and began doing what I loved. I hadn’t painted a picture in 15 years. I wondered if I could still paint. My hands trembled the first time I picked up a brush. But before an hour had passed, I was lost in the colors spreading across the canvas (画布) in front of me. And as soon as I started believing in myself, other people started believing in me, too. The first painting sold for $1,500.
The past six years have been filled with adventures. My children and I have gone swimming with dolphins, watched whales and hiked around the crater rim (火山口边缘) of the volcano. We wake up every morning with the ocean in front of us and the volcano behind us. The dream I had more than 40 years is now reality. I’m living freely and happily ever after.
1. Why did the writer go to Hawaii?
| A．To realize her childhood dream. |
| B．To free herself from trouble. |
| C．To spend her holiday. |
| D．To make a living. |
| A．Living in nature with animals. |
| B．Becoming a successful painter. |
| C．Getting close to wildlife. |
| D．Living a free and happy life. |
| A．the writer’s husband took away most of her money |
| B．the writer wasn’t sure whether she could survive in Hawaii at first |
| C．the writer had never done painting before |
| D．the writer’s parents encouraged her to divorce |
