Ahlam Sarai,a 54-year-old Syrian woman,finally realized her dream of opening the first vegetarian(素食的)restaurant in her hometown of Sweida.
Sarai’s dream began more than 1l years ago, when she was inspired by her two children, who had decided to become vegetarians, and tried to cook appealing food without meat or other animal products. After becoming a master cook of vegetarian dishes, an idea came to her mind, which was “Why don’t I open a restaurant to cook vegetarian dishes for people?”
However, Sarai tried running the business from home at first due to a lack of money and resources needed to open a restaurant. She promoted her home-made vegetarian dishes on social media and delivered the food by bus. When Sarai’s business grew, she met her current partner and opened a restaurant which has grown larger in the past year and attracted more customers. She also brought in a young dessert chef, a vegetarian who makes desserts with natural sweeteners(甜味剂)such as grapes and molasses(糖浆). Now every morning,Sarai comes to the kitchen, puts on a head covering and gloves,and cooks various vegetarian dishes for her customers.
The Syrian woman hopes to spread the idea of vegetarianism in her country, where meat is the main ingredient in the majority of the local cuisines, by creating a special place for vegetarians who may feel uncomfortable when dining out with friends.
Zeir Atrash, a 22-year-old regular customer of Sarai’s restaurant, said that she felt a sense of belonging after the vegetarian restaurant was opened in Sweida, as she used to feel embarrassed when going to normal restaurants with her friends.
Nowadays, even restaurants in the capital Damascus have started to order food from Sarai’s restaurant in Sweida to cater to(迎合)the vegetarians and other customers curious about this kind of food. It is worth noting that non-vegetarian eaters are attracted partly by the much lower prices Sarai’s restaurant offers, since many are struggling with their livelihoods in the tough economic situation.
1. Why does the author write the second paragraph?| A．To explain what food a vegetarian tends to consume. |
| B．To emphasize how Sarai would open a vegetarian restaurant. |
| C．To reveal the inspiration for Sarai to open a vegetarian restaurant. |
| D．To praise Ahlam Sarai for her determination to realize her childhood dream. |
| A．By following the time order. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By analyzing causes and effects. | D．By giving examples. |
| A．To increase her children’s appetite. |
| B．To expand her business in a short time. |
| C．To improve the health of the local population. |
| D．To raise awareness of vegetarianism in Syria. |
| A．It charges much less money. | B．It offers online reservations. |
| C．It provides a home delivery service. | D．It serves desserts with natural sweeteners. |
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【推荐1】It was a cold, sunny December day when I set out for a run in Moab, Utah, with my dog, Taz. I often went for training runs by myself and had done this particular route before.
About an hour into my run along a remote canyon (峡谷) trail, I hit a piece of ice and then fell 60 feet into the canyon, landing on a ledge (岩脊) above a sheer (陡峭的) drop. I wasn’t paralyzed (瘫痪), but I was in great pain. Taz had managed to find his way back to me, so there must be away out of the canyon, but I couldn’t stand. I dragged myself to the bottom of the canyon. Every inch was an effort. Eventually, it got so dark that I had to stay where I was for the night, next to a puddle (水坑) of water. At night the temperature dropped below freezing. Taz stayed with me, providing some warmth.
The next morning, I couldn’t move at all. I tried to stay positive. I was sure somebody would hear me screaming for help. The second night in the canyon seemed even longer and colder. The puddle tum ned to ice, and I had to crack through it to get water.
On the third day, I felt myself growing weaker. I was coming to accept the fact that I might die. In a last ditch effort, I called Taz over and told him to go and get help. Taz took off through the canyon and I lay there thinking about my family and friends. There was more that I wanted from life.
Taz returned, alone. Then I heard an engine in the distance. I cried with joy. It turned out that Taz had found a search and rescue team. I was airlifted to the hospital, where doctors found I had lost almost half the blood in my body. If the rescue team had arrived later, I wouldn’t have made it.
Ten years on, I still think about it every day. Taz is still a live — we’ll always have a special bond. Realizing you have a second chance at life puts things into perspective.
1. What happened when the author was running along a remote trail?| A．He found a new route. | B．His dog was lost. |
| C．He fell into a canyon. | D．The temperature dropped sharply. |
| A．By asking his dog for help. |
| B．By breaking through some ice. |
| C．By squeezing out some liquid of plants. |
| D．By drinking some morning dew on the grass. |
| A．People passing by failed to rescue him. |
| B．His dog was familiar with his friends and family. |
| C．His dog could find it swayback to him. |
| D．He had no choice but to make the last attempt. |
| A．A narrow escape | B．My loyal friend |
| C．A canyon adventure | D．Surviving the icebergs |
【推荐2】Growing up in Ukraine, Vadim didn’t know what it was like to live in a safe, stable home. His parents were alcoholics who would often beat him. They’d even stuff him into a wine container, breaking his little body and leaving only a small opening at the top so he could breathe and see — but only just a little.
By the time Vadim turned 9, he was living in an orphanage (孤儿院). Unfortunately, as is the case with far too many little ones, his life only got worse there. Not only was he hurt, but he was placed in a room on the third floor, making it impossible to get downstairs in a wheelchair.
This left Vadim crawling up and down the stairs, an activity that was both physically and mentally exhausting. He’d often be late for meals. If the food wasn’t already gone by the time he arrived, other kids would steal from him.
Then, a chain effect began when some special folks visited the orphanage. They told him a story about a spiritual figure who advocated love and forgiveness. This conversation helped the 14-year-old find his faith and, in turn, he had more hope than he ever had before.
Today, Vadim is on longer the boy subject to fate. He is a father to his own kids, and his life couldn’t be more different or better. Over the years, he’s discovered a gift for expressing himself through art. This inspired Tim Tebow Foundation, an organization fighting for the most vulnerable (脆弱的) people around the world, to ask if he’d like to create a piece that represented what it looked and felt like for him to have gone from “darkness to light.”
The result? A truly remarkable painting that features Vadim, in his wheelchair, leaving behind his old home, including the wine container his parents stuffed him into. His new direction includes a beautiful forest full of fall leaves and bright light, showing the hope he is said to have found in the inspiring story.
1. According to the passage, Vadim’s parents treated him ________.| A．abusively | B．forgivingly | C．thoughtfully | D．strictly |
| A．Because his little roommates often did damage to his wheelchair. |
| B．Because other children would take his meal without permission. |
| C．Because he couldn’t use the wheelchair to go downstairs from a high floor. |
| D．Because getting downstairs was demanding for him physically and mentally. |
| A．an effective treatment for Vadim’s disability |
| B．a series of positive changes occurring in Vadim’s life |
| C．a sense of hope from the story of a spiritual figure |
| D．a helping hand from Tim Tebow Foundation |
| A．He admires the beauty and harmony of nature. |
| B．He leads a miserable life with his own kids. |
| C．He excels in delicate painting techniques. |
| D．He says farewell to the past and harvests happiness. |
【推荐3】For most of us, it seems that money makes the world go around. But it is not true for Mark Boyle, who has turned his life into an experiment and promised to live without any form of money.
The British economics graduate was inspired by Gandhi’s call to be the change you want to see in the world. After six years working as the manager of a company, he decided to carry out a brave plan.
“I was discussing the world’s problems with a friend one night, and we were trying to work out which one to devote our lives to helping solve”, he said. “Then it hit me because at the root of it all was money, so I decided to see if it was possible to do without.”
Mark sold his houseboat to prepare himself for his new life. And he got a caravan (大篷车) through an advertisement. The caravan was taken to the farm where he was to volunteer three days a week in return for space to live and grow his own vegetables.
Although it hasn’t always been easy, and there have been many challenges, 18 months later. Mark is still living this way.
“The first few months were hard.” he admitted. “If you think about how annoying it is when you just move your house or change a job, imagine changing everything at once. But after several months, it became very easy.”
Mark’s remarkable journey is recorded in his new book, The Moneyless Man, which explains that human society is fairer, happier and more secure when relationships are not influenced by money.
1. The reason why Mark is trying to live without money is that ______.| A．he got bored with his job and wanted to start a new kind of life |
| B．he was in need of money and wanted to sell his houseboat |
| C．he was inspired by Gandhi’s call to make a change in his life |
| D．he found it difficult to make money to pay off his debts |
| A．it is money that makes the world go around |
| B．growing vegetables on a farm is better than working as a manager in a company |
| C．life without money is tough, so one had better earn as much as possible |
| D．if people’s relationships are not influenced by money» human society may become fairer, happier and more secure |
| A．Mark Boyle experimented to live without money. |
| B．Mark Boyle was so poor that he had to live without money. |
| C．Mark Boyle’s new life on a farm made him hate money. |
| D．Mark Boyle was willing to live on the farm forever. |
| A．critical | B．neutral |
| C．doubtful | D．indifferent |
【推荐1】While most people are doing their best to work multiple jobs in a day to earn honest money, some people still settle on scamming (诈骗) others just to have instant cash. However, one scammer called the wrong person when he dialed Jean Ebbert’s number. The 73-year-old woman from New York may be in her senior years, but she is surely one tough lady who used to be a 911 call operator.
Her previous line of work has trained her to be a fast thinker and quick on her toes. When she received that call from someone claiming to be her grandson, she knew instantly that she was talking to a scammer.
According to the caller who was even crying at the time, he was Jean’s grandson who had gotten arrested due to drunk driving and now needed money to get out of prison. Ridiculously, Jean had no grandson who drives. However, knowing that the man could easily find another person to trick if she dropped the call, Jean decided to play along so the person on the other end of the line could get what he deserves.
“So I played the game. And then I said to him, ‘Listen! Don’t call your mother, or she’s going to be mad. Let me handle this,’” Jean recalled.
Eventually, the scammer passed the phone to his “lawyer” who then told her that her grandson needed $8,000 to be set free. Jean knew better of the situation and continued with her act, instructing the caller to visit her home address to get the money he needed.
Moments later, the doorbell rang and Jean rose to her feet and opened the door. In front of her stood a tall young man, who claimed himself to be her grandson’s lawyer and asked for the cash that had been promised to him. Jean had already laid a trap for him. The instant the scammer came, he was greeted by the two policemen waiting inside Jean’s home.
1. Who called Jean Ebbert?| A．Her lawyer. | B．Her grandson. | C．A complete stranger. | D．A 911 call operator. |
| A．She wanted to get back her $8,000. | B．She hated seeing others being tricked. |
| C．She enjoyed playing along with scammers. | D．She was concerned about her grandson’s safety. |
| A．She went outside, ready to greet the man. |
| B．She contacted her lawyer, consulting him for advice. |
| C．She got the money the man needed ready, waiting inside for him. |
| D．She contacted the police, informing them of the man’s potential visit. |
| A．One is never too old to learn. | B．You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. |
| C．Every dog has its day, and every man his hour. | D．Old horses know the way; old men know the world. |
【推荐2】Rome had the Forum (论坛). London has Speaker’s Corner. Now always-on-the-go New Yorkers have Liz and Bill.
Liz and Bill, two college graduates in their early 20s, have spent a whole year trying to have thousands of people talk to them in subway stations and on busy street comers. And just talk.
Using a 2-foot-tall sign that says, “ Talk to Me,” they attract conversationalists, who one evening included a mental patient, and men in business suits.
They don’t collect money. They don’t push religion (宗教). So what’s the point?
“ To see what happens,” said Liz. “ We simply enjoy life with open talk.”
Shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks, they decided to walk from New York City to Washington, a 270-mile trip. They found they loved talking to people along the way and wanted to continue talking with strangers after their return.
“ It started as a crazy idea.” Liz said. “ We were so curious about all the strangers walking by with their life stories. People will talk to us about anything: their job, their clothes, their childhood experiences, anything.”
Denise wanted to talk about an exam she was about to take. She had stopped by for the second time in two days, to let the two listeners know how it went.
Marcia had led her husband to a serious disease. “That was very heavy on my mind.” Marcia said. “ To be able to talk about it to total strangers was very good,” she explained.
To celebrate a year of talking, the two held a get-together in a city park for all the people they had met over the past year. A few hundred people appeared, as well as some television cameramen and reporters.
They may plan more parties or try to attract more people to join their informal talks. Some publishers have expressed interest in a book, something the two say they’ll consider before making a decision.
1. What did Liz and Bill determined to do after the attack on September 11, 2001?| A．Telling stories to strangers. | B．Setting up street signs. |
| C．Talking with people | D．Organizing a speaker’s party. |
| A．pointless | B．normal | C．crazy | D．successful |
| A．They knew Liz and Bill very well. |
| B．They happened to meet the writer of the text. |
| C．They organized the get-together in the city park. |
| D．They are examples of those who talked to Liz and Bill. |
| A．Go in for publishing | B．Do more television programs. |
| C．Continue what they are doing | D．Spend more time reading books. |
【推荐3】“I’m going to tell you a heartbreaking story.” I told my class of high school seniors. All eyes looked up. Nothing quiets a chatty group of teenagers faster than the promise of a story.
“In sixth grade,” I began, “I fell in love. His name was David.” The girls were laughing. “So it was Valentine’s Day. I saw one enormous envelope on my desk. My mind raced: ‘Who could it be from?’ With trembling hands, I tore it open and there was a card. At the bottom I saw the signature and almost fainted: David. Then my eyes traveled up to the writing above his signature. It read, ‘To the Ugliest Girl in Our Class’”.
Mouths dropped open. Some looked down at their desks, seemingly embarrassed for me. “What did you do?” asked a brave soul. I said. “My eyes filled with tears. It ruined Valentine’s Day for me. It shook what little faith I had in myself for a long time after. But I survived, and it gave me the motivation to undo the cruelty of David.” I smiled. “And that’s why we’re going to have a card exchange.” Their eyes lighted up. “Write something positive and sincere to someone in the class. Even if it’s someone you barely know, there’s always something nice to say. Admire their fashion sense or their basketball skills. Tell them you appreciate their friendly smile.” Looking on as they composed each message was always a treat. But the real fun came when they read what people wrote to them. From then on, I made it a Valentine tradition.
After 20 years of teaching, I harbor few hopes that students will remember all of the vocabulary. But if a student recalls of the lesson they received on Valentine’s Day, to me that makes it all worthwhile.
1. What happened on the Valentine’s Day when the author was in sixth grade?| A．She broke David’s heart. | B．She was made fun of by David. |
| C．She sent David a Valentine card. | D．She took the wrong card by mistake. |
| A．To tell personal stories. | B．To show fashion sense. |
| C．To express appreciation. | D．To share basketball skills. |
| A．Unexpected. | B．Valuable. | C．Humorous. | D．Discouraging. |
| A．An Exciting Job | B．An Honest Mistake |
| C．An Experienced Teacher | D．A Valentine's Day Lesson |
