Anniversary trips were a tradition that was nearly as old as our marriage. Each year, Jim and I took turns planning a secret trip for the other. I finally found a perfect spot: The Shire of Montana. It was a “hobbit house”. And our six-year-old daughter, Aurora, would also love it.
I was about to make a reservation when I saw a note on The Shire’s website: No kids allowed. We couldn’t leave Aurora behind. I asked if an exception might be possible. A reply came. “The rule exists because previous children destroyed large parts of the Elven Village,” wrote Mr. Michaels, the owner. “But if you promise that your daughter is responsible and will not touch anything, she can come.” Aurora was a well-behaved girl. I wrote back and filled in the reservation form.
The day finally arrived. I was excited very much. Still, turning onto Hobbit Lane, I felt anxious. “Children aren’t usually allowed here,” I reminded Aurora. “So you have to be very careful. You can look at everything, but don’t touch it.”
Then we began our journey. Aurora took everything in, keeping her hands pressed to her sides. “Remember, no touching,” I reminded Aurora, feeling like a complainer. Had I made Aurora so scared of touching things that she couldn’t think about anything else? What fun was that?
We spent several days at the Shire. I finally found that Aurora delighted in each discovery but never disturbed a thing. Being aware of boundaries didn’t take away the beauty and wonder; it allowed the Shire to remain beautiful. It was not so different from our family life, I thought. Jim and I moved through life side by side as a couple, but we’d learned to accept each other’s individuality and boundaries as well.
1. What can we know from the second paragraph?| A．The visitors to The Shire of Montana all performed properly. |
| B．The author was dissatisfied with the reservation rules. |
| C．The process of arranging the trip was a bit difficult. |
| D．The Shire’s website failed to give useful information. |
| A．Her fear of getting lost. | B．Her concern for their safety. |
| C．Her worry about her family’s feelings. | D．Her uncertainty about Aurora’s feelings. |
| A．It helped Aurora win praise from others. |
| B．It kept Aurora away from possible dangers. |
| C．It might prevent Aurora from fully enjoying herself. |
| D．It could let Aurora realize the value of cultural treasures. |
| A．Taking responsibility for our own choices. |
| B．Respecting both personal needs and boundaries. |
| C．Learning how to find beauty in small things. |
| D．Trying to meet every family member’s expectations. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Henry was going through a very hard time. His wife passed away one month ago. He thought his life became meaningless. Henry sat in his house sadly and did nothing.
One day, Henry’s neighbor, Lisa, saw him from her yard. She hadn’t seen him outside for several days! She wanted to help Henry. Then she had an idea.
Lisa said to Henry, “Hello, Henry! Just look at this fence (篱笆) between our houses. It is falling apart. You are a strong man. Can you help fix this fence?”
After hearing Lisa’s words, Henry was a little angry. He didn’t want to help her. He thought he was the one who needed help. He thought Lisa was kind of rude. However, he agreed to help Lisa because Lisa was too old to fix the fence herself.
Henry spent a few days fixing the fence. When he finished, Lisa thanked him. Henry gave her a smile. It was his first time to smile after his wife passed away.
“What a wonderful job! Could you please paint it for me?” Lisa said to him. Henry thought for a while and agreed. Then he began to paint the fence in the hot sun. As his neighbors passed by and saw Henry, they all praised Henry for what he was doing. Henry felt happy and proud. He felt his life was not meaningless any more.
Henry finally understood Lisa’s purpose. She wanted Henry to know that staying busy could help him forget his sorrow (悲痛). Henry thanked Lisa a lot.
1. Which of the following shows how Henry’s feelings changed over time?| A．Happy→thankful→bored→sad. | B．Sad→angry→happy→thankful. |
| C．Sad→happy→thankful-→sad. | D．Happy→upset→thankful→happy. |
| A．She wanted him to get to know more neighbors. |
| B．She asked him to do some things to make him busy. |
| C．She encouraged him to make friends with other neighbors. |
| D．She advised him to find a new part-time job in his free time. |
| A．Silly and lazy. | B．Rude and lazy. |
| C．Clever and helpful. | D．Patient and hard-working. |
| A．Staying busy can help us forget our sadness. | B．We should help others at any time. |
| C．It is hard to make friends with neighbors. | D．Asking others for help isn’t rude. |
【推荐2】Imagine a school that expected its students to become literate without any formal instruction. Most parents would be alarmed by such an approach, which would leave their children confused and with gaps in their understanding. This, however, has been the philosophy on character development in many of our schools. Why is the development of character seen as somehow different from the other skills that we teach?
Of course there will always be learning by osmosis (耳濡目染) in any school, but as a teacher and primary school head I have found that a child’s moral literacy is strengthened when they acquire the building blocks of good character such as consideration, courage and honor: qualities which are commonly known as virtues.
I personally find that exploring a virtue over a two-week period provides a simple and effective program that allows for the creative input of both teacher and student and a chance for the virtue to embed (使融入) itself. Once a lesson on a virtue such as honesty has been completed we need to allow time for children to practice this concept just as would be the case with fractions or verbs. Allowing children to role play a situation such as making up excuses to cover a mistake can be enormously interesting, and the drama can be frozen allowing the characters to be questioned about their feelings and motives. It’s also a safe way for children to experience for themselves how a lie usually goes out of control.
Our role as educators is also to look for opportunities to help our students as they attempt to strengthen their characters. When something goes wrong we guide the young person to the virtue that will prevent it from happening again. For instance, when a student thoughtlessly disturbs the calm atmosphere of the library, instead of a response such as, “that was really disrespectful and selfish of you!” we draw out from them the required virtue: “When you’re walking through the library, what virtues do you need to use?”
1. What does the underlined word “philosophy” in the first paragraph mean?| A．Viewpoint. | B．Subject. | C．Motto. | D．Study. |
| A．There tends to be disagreement about what character education is. |
| B．Most parents are not satisfied with the teaching methods adopted in schools. |
| C．The approach to character education is generally considered different from the approaches to other skills. |
| D．More and more schools are adopting strategies to improve school attendance. |
| A．they have gradually learnt to imitate |
| B．they have learnt the importance of role play |
| C．they have learnt specific moral qualities one by one |
| D．they are given enough time to practice |
| A．Teaching morals and values has been a frequently discussed topic in the past few years. |
| B．The author advocates putting virtues into lessons and school life to encourage character development in children. |
| C．Kids throughout the population face the same needs, the same challenges, and the same realities in their lives. |
| D．Role plays are an excellent way of getting students to practice their English. |
【推荐3】A few years ago, I took a sightseeing trip to Washington, D.C. Standing outside the Ronald Reagan Center, I heard a voice say, “Can you help me?” When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended. In a natural reflex, I reached into my pocket, pulled out all of my loose change and placed it on her hand without even looking at her. I was annoyed at being bothered by a beggar. But the blind woman smiled and said, “I don’t want your money. I just need help finding the post office.”
In a moment, I realized what I had done. I judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be. I hated what I saw in myself. This incident re- awakened my belief in humility (谦恭), even though I’d lost it for a moment.
The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant. I left Honduras and arrived in the U.S. at the age of 15. I started my new life with two suitcases, my brother and sister, and a strong, serious-minded mother. Through the years, I have been a dishwasher, mechanic and pizza delivery driver among many other humble jobs, and eventually I became a network engineer.
In my own life, I have experienced many open acts of prejudice (偏见). I remember a time, at age 17 — I worked as a waiter, and I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me. I have also witnessed the same treatment of my family and friends, so I know what it’s like, and I should have known better.
But now, living in my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget my past, to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to be going. That blind woman on the streets of Washington, D.C., cured me of my blindness. She reminded me of my belief in humility and to always keep my eyes and heart open. By the way, I helped that lady to the post office. And in writing this essay, I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson.
1. We can learn from the first two paragraphs that _.| A．the author was a native American |
| B．the blind woman needed the money badly |
| C．the author was as poor as the blind woman |
| D．the author regretted his act of prejudice |
| A．rather hurt | B．very excited | C．greatly inspired | D．deeply moved |
| A．One should try to experience different kinds of life. |
| B．One should think about one’s past as often as possible. |
| C．One should treat others equally with love and respect. |
| D．One should be nice to the elderly and the disabled. |
| A．She has made him value what he has right now. |
| B．She has reminded him of the past experiences. |
| C．He has got a chance to think about his past and future because of her. |
| D．He has regained his belief in humility with her help. |
| A．How my dream comes true |
| B．A priceless lesson in the street |
| C．A Belief that will never change |
| D．Learn from your past |
【推荐1】A few years ago, I stood underneath a red overhanging cliff (悬崖) near my husband’s hometown, Carbondale, Colo. I was tied in, ready to climb.
Just as I was about to climb, nerves in my body said hello. That’s not good for any athlete.
Desperate, I painted a coat of confidence on my inner walls of doubt.
“You can do this,” I told myself determinedly. “If you believe, success is certain.”
I visualized myself at the top, celebrating.
It didn’t work. I fell near the top. Defeated, I lowered to the ground and realized, powerfully, that the desire to climb the route had kept me from doing it. My self worth was linked at that moment to my success or failure, and that set off a chain reaction: unnatural desire, pressure, performance anxiety, expectation, a mind fixed on the top but a body struggling below, bad decision-making, irregular movement, distraction, disappointment. All in that order, too.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, I told myself that on my next attempt, success or failure was irrelevant. “Make one move at a time. That’s all.” I gave myself a pass from whatever would happen. Case closed.
It worked. I reached the top.
That moment got me thinking, and then researching. At some point, I described this experience for myself in terms of simple mathematics: When I added (determination, courage, self-confidence, desire), I failed. When I took away (the desire for success), my body moved with greater naturalness. I improved. I enjoyed it more as well, which, as an athlete of 30 years, I didn’t think was possible.
I discovered the power of subtraction (减法).
The French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote one of my favorite books Wind, Sand and Stars. In it, I found one of the smartest lines ever written on the human condition: “Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add but when there is nothing left to take away.”
1. What happened to the author at her first attempt to climb the cliff?| A．She got nervous. | B．She quit out of fear. |
| C．She made it to the top. | D．She was full of confidence. |
| A．Not important. | B．Not certain. | C．Not final. | D．Not optional. |
| A．Never stop trying. | B．Always stick to your goal. |
| C．Don’t care about the results. | D．Be confident no matter what happens. |
【推荐2】On the summer of 1995, a second-year graduate student named Sergey Brin was giving a tour of Stanford University to prospective students. Larry Page, an engineering graduate from the University of Michigan, was one of those being shown around the campus.
“We both found each other obnoxious and annoying with strong opinions about things,” said Brin. “But we said it a little bit jokingly. Obviously, we spent a lot of time talking to each other, so there was something there.”
The technology of the web at the time meant that people could tell where a webpage linked to just by reading its code. However, to get a complete list of every page to which it linked, they needed to check every other website on the Internet.
Page’s “BackRub” project aimed to qualify these backlinks (反向链接). It was a complex task that not only demanded vast computing resources, but also required extremely complex mathematics, which was where the math genius Brin came in.
Later, Page and Brin came up with the PageRank algorithm - a ranking system which would prove to be a breakthrough idea. And then, BackRub became Google, a play on the term “googol,” meaning “10100.” The system successfully enabled users to search all 24 million pages stored in its database.
On September 15, 1997, Google.com was registered. In August 1998, it got its first funding in the form of a check for $100,000 written by Andy Bechtolsheim, co-founder of Sun Microsystems, to “Google Inc.” But still there were troubles. Later that month, Page and Brin moved into the garage (车库) of friend Susan Wojcicki (now the CEO of YouTube), and received further investment from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, among others.
Early in 1999, Page and Brin attempted to sell Google to Excite, at the time the No. 2 search engine behind Yahoo, for one million dollars. However, even after the pair had been talked down to $750,000, Excite CEO George Bell rejected them. With no buyer in sight, Google started hiring engineers and moved to an office in California in March 1999. In 2001, Eric Schmidt was hired first as chairman and then CEO, leaving Page and Brin to continue developing Google’s products and technologies respectively. By the end of its first decade, Google had effectively won the search engine wars.
1. According to the article, what can we learn about Larry Page and Sergey Brin?| A．They first met each other when studying at Stanford. |
| B．They found their first encounter rather unpleasant. |
| C．They had no intention of running a business initially. |
| D．They got financial support from Stanford to work on the ranking system. |
| A．what motivated Page to launch the “BackRub” project |
| B．how the “BackRub” project led to the founding of Google |
| C．how the PageRank algorithm worked |
| D．how Brin joined Page in carrying out the “BackRub” project |
①Andy Bechtolsheim.
②Susan Wojcicki.
③Jeff Bezos.
④George Bell.
| A．①② | B．①③ |
| C．③④ | D．②④ |
| A．The Internet: how it changed the world |
| B．Giant Google: how it beat Excite and Yahoo |
| C．Excite: CEO regretted for refusing the best offer |
| D．Google at 20: how two students changed the Internet |
【推荐3】Way back in 1965. Seiichi Miyake spent his own money to try and come up with an invention that would help a friend who was suffering vision loss move through the city easily. He came up with the idea of tactile blocks (导盲砖). you will have seen these at crosswalks all over the world, small raised blocks that warn people with low vision or blindness of coming danger and also safety.
Miyake designed the blocks in two ways. The dotted blocks warn the visually disabled that they are approaching danger. This type is most commonly found on the edge of pavement and railway platforms. A block with a barred pattern warns the pedestrians (行人) that they are following a safe path. Pedestrians can recognize these blocks and their patterns with either their vision walking stick, their feet or with the help of a vision assistance animal.
His block designs were first adopted by the city of Okayama on March 18,1967 , next to a school for the blind. In the 1970 s, the blocks were installed across all Japanese railway stations.
Since their invention, the tactile blocks have had a few changes including a pattern with smaller raised dots or more pill-shaped raised blocks indicating different directional cues around the world. For example, when the dots are raised in lines in the direction of movement, it might mean steps ahead. For those without vision loss, the blocks may simply blend (融合) into the urban environment but they play a critical role in giving more independence to those with a disability in vision.
However, the tactile blocks have their critics too. Some argue that they might do more harm than good to those with mobility difficulties such as the elderly who may trip on the uneven surface. Moving forward into a world that is more accessible to people with disability, cities are turning to designers who have vision disability themselves.
1. What can we learn from the passage?| A．Seiicbi Mipake, who was suffering vision loss, came up with the invention. |
| B．The visually disabled benefit a lot from the invention in their daily life. |
| C．A block with a barred pattern warns the pedestrians of the danger ahead. |
| D．The tactile blocks were originally intended to blend into the urban environment |
| A．To guide the visually disabled more accurately. |
| B．To prevent pedestrians from tripping over the blocks. |
| C．To make the tactile blocks better integrate in the surroundings. |
| D．To help people with visual disability to walk in a line. |
| A．They are better designers. |
| B．They are more sympathetic. |
| C．They know better about their world. |
| D．They demand less from the government. |
Our school day started with the flag pledge (宣誓). Then the teacher called one grade at a time to the recitation bench beside her desk. She’d check our work, explain the new lesson, and dismiss us to go back to our own desks and do our new work, all in less than ten minutes per grade.
At noon we ate lunches we had brought. Our lunches consisted of homemade sandwiches and if we were lucky, dessert. My favorite dessert was a fresh pear, and a piece of Mom’s delicious sour cream chocolate cake.
The annual Christmas program was the most exciting part of the year. We hurried through our lessons during December to allow time to practise poems, songs, and plays.
A few days before the performance, the school board members borrowed equipment from the town and set up a stage across one side of the classroom. We hung bed sheets for curtains.
On the evening of the performance, petrol lanterns hanging along the walls cast a warm, though not very bright, light over the gathering crowd. We could hardly contain our excitement as we looked from behind the curtains to wave at our parents.
On a spring Sunday in a new term, just before the last day of the school term, everyone in the neighborhood gathered for a picnic. Our moms set fried chicken, bowls of salads, and desserts on the teacher’s desk and the library table. After the dinner, we played games. One of the school board members brought big buckets of ice cream in the afternoon to top off the picnic. How we looked forward to that treat!
I was just nineteen years old when I started my first teaching position in a country school with thirteen students. I felt excited, nervous and happy as I prepared my lunch bucket the first morning of the term. I can’t remember what kind of sandwiches I packed , but I do remember I put in a fresh pear and a piece of chocolate cake for dessert!
1. According to the text, the school the author once attended .
| A．had a small number of students |
| B．had no celebrations |
| C．had advanced teaching equipment |
| D．had a small playground |
| A．The teacher performed many jobs. |
| B．The students liked hanging lanterns. |
| C．The local people supported the school. |
| D．School board members were not expected to attend it. |
| A．These were easy items to pack in a lunch bucket. |
| B．Fruits and cakes were always good choices for dessert. |
| C．They reminded her of her golden days as a student. |
| D．They were the only desert she ate with her lunch or dinner. |
| A．was fond of cooking |
| B．was very independent |
| C．earned little from her job |
| D．was happy though life was hard sometimes |
【推荐2】“I want my video to record my high school memory and that of everyone in China who has gone through gaokao,” said Lian Yingcheng, 20, a student from Shenzhen University. The 18-minute vlog got over 1 million views on Bilibili.
However, Lian said that he didn’t expect this video to go viral at all when he was making it. “I have loved using videos to record my life for a long time,” Lian said. “The idea of this long vlog has been in my mind since I started high school.”
Throughout the three years of high school life, Lian’s camera went everywhere. No matter if it was a tug-of-war (拔河) activity, before a big exam, or simply just a Tuesday noon when everyone was running towards the canteen, Lian was always there to catch the reactions (反应) of himself and his classmates. “I didn’t want to design any scene,” he said.
With Lian’s words in the background, the video tells the story of an ordinary high school boy who struggles to fight gaokao, repeatedly questioning himself and rebuilding his confidence. The friendship between him and his classmates, and his broad outlook after failure are all recorded in the scenes. “The original idea in my mind was to tell an encouraging story of gaokao, but then my gaokao result didn’t turn out that well. After dealing with the pain, I realized that accepting failure and regrets is a more important lesson to learn than ‘getting my wish’,” Lian said.
People online expressed how much they could relate to the feelings in the video. Some said that Lian did something they couldn’t do. “I realized that this means more than just recording my life and thoughts,” Lian said. “I want to keep on running this channel, to touch and warm more people in the future.”
1. What is the 18-minute vlog about?| A．School activities. | B．Gaokao in China. |
| C．University students. | D．Lian’s high school life. |
| A．Crazy. | B．Popular. | C．Clear. | D．Bad. |
| A．Creative. | B．Successful. | C．Boring. | D．Unsatisfying. |
| A．The video is for parents. |
| B．Lian will continue to make more videos. |
| C．The vlog records the happy moments only. |
| D．Every scene in Lian’s video was designed by himself. |
【推荐3】“Why?” It’s a simple question that people ask Angela Madeline frequently. After all, she began a journey that very few people would ever attempt: walk around the world alone.
The thought of Madeline’s journey did not start from a place of loss or personal crisis. She said, “I was searching for a deeper interaction with nature and people.” Walking would minimize her carbon footprint, plus the slow pace meant that she could fully immerse herself in nature, and gain insights into other cultures in a unique way.
She left her hometown of Bend, Oregon, on 2 May 2016 and headed into an adventure. Along the way, Madeline would suffer from heatstroke (中暑)in the Australian desert and hear gunshots while camping in Turkey. “Still,” she said, “I didn’t stop because I was more afraid of not following my heart than I was of losing everything I owned and loved.”
Apart from that, her slow pace allowed her to be drawn deeply into other cultures. She wandered the tiny seaside villages along Italy Tyrrhenian Sea, enjoying the lively atmosphere. In Vietnam, she was invited and offered food by an elderly woman to rest in her wooden shack at the peak for the night. She chose an experience of uncertainty and curiosity, in search of something she could never be certain to find: a sense of fulfillment and a deeper connection.
On 16 December 2022, Madeline’s pilgrimage (朝圣之旅)ended right where it started. For now, she’s working on a book, planning future journeys and creating more effective ways for women to find and express courage in their lives.
Whether a walk leads halfway around the world or just down the road, Madeline has shown the true worth of slowing down and giving more than we receive along the way.
1. Why did Madeline decide to start her journey?| A．To get closer to the world. | B．To reduce carbon footprint. |
| C．To get rid of personal crisis. | D．To slow down the pace of life. |
| A．She was about to give up. |
| B．She was helped by Italian locals. |
| C．She experienced various cultures. |
| D．She enjoyed Australian coastal scenery. |
| A．Cautious and gentle. | B．Tough and adventurous. |
| C．Ambitious and generous. | D．Open-minded and humorous. |
| A．A new way to slow down life. |
| B．A closer connection with the wild. |
| C．An unforgettable memory of a trip. |
| D．A woman walking around the world. |
