When I was so small that my head barely touched the windowsill, we lived in the evergreen forests of Vermont. Our home was far, far away from any town or city, but that was the way we liked it.
Some winters, it got so cold that the river would freeze, which was unusual for water like that, water which ran so fast and deep. It felt as though time had stopped near the river, and so it had decided to become solid, settling in to wait for spring. We liked to skate on that river, my grandfather and I, even though the ice was uneven and his brown leather skates was so old.
One night, in the most frigid winter my young mind could recall, long after I should have been asleep, I caught my grandfather sneaking out of the front door, his ancient leather skates in his hands. He looked sheepish when he saw me, like I had caught him doing something silly, but I was so young that I thought no adult could ever do wrong. Especially not my grandfather, because he was the model of wisdom in my eyes.
“Grandpa, where are you going?” I asked.
“Skating on the river.”
“Why would you go out now? We did that yesterday morning.”
He looked a little thoughtful, and then he said: “It’s just that when you go out there, on the coldest, stillest night of the year, and you lie on your back on the thick, bubbled river ice, you can hear them.”
“Hear who?”
“The fish. Trapped there under the ice. You can hear them singing their watery winter song. And if you hold your breath, you can almost hear the stars singing in harmony.”
1. The underlined word “sheepish” is closest in meaning to “____________”.| A．quiet | B．calm | C．frightened | D．embarrassed |
| A．To enjoy the charm of a peaceful night. |
| B．To perfect his skating skills by practice. |
| C．To catch the fish trapped under the ice. |
| D．To breathe the fresh air in the forest. |
| A．It was unusual for a fast-flowing river to freeze in midwinter. |
| B．My grandfather and I enjoyed skating because of the uneven ice. |
| C．I admired my grandfather for his wisdom and outlook on life. |
| D．I was glad to hear the stars singing together with my grandfather. |
| A．describe the joy of living in a mountainous area |
| B．highlight how embracing nature can purify us |
| C．keep record of the carefree childhood memories |
| D．explain why skating is such an appealing sport |
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【推荐1】Eight months after my father died, I saw some letters on top of my mother’s coffee table. They were tied with a silk ribbon (丝带) and addressed to her decades ago in my father’s neat handwriting. I couldn’t imagine my serious father ever writing anything like love letters.
“Would you like me to read them to you?” Mom asked with a smile.
The letters were written in 1974 when my father traveled to Italy to care for his beloved, sick mother, leaving his wife and me, their new born daughter, behind in Toronto, the city my parents called home after immigrating to Canada from Italy in 1956.
Growing up, my father was my hero and protector, but he was also a man of few words, part of a generation of immigrant men who worked hard for a better life.
I sat back while my mother read his letters to me, and thought, “Who is this guy?” My father used endearing expressions I had never heard him say. He referred to my mother as “my dearest” and “my companion” who was always in his thoughts. In each letter, he attached a Canadian one–dollar bill for me and announced, “You and your mother are my life.”
As children, we are sure we know everything about our parents. But, sometimes, we find out that they were and are people with various aspects.
My father was proud and stubborn (固执的), and so was my mother. During their 58-year marriage, their stubbornness often led to conflict. So it was bittersweet to hear my father’s youthful feelings read aloud by elderly mother with a wistful (留恋的) tone.
These letters are only part of their correspondence. My mother wrote back to my father. One day she will read those letters to me. And just as with my father, they might help me discover another dimension of a parent I never knew before.
1. How did the author feel while Mom read Dad’s letters?| A．Amused. | B．Depressed. | C．Surprised. | D．Heartbroken. |
| A．To have a reunion with his wife. |
| B．To attend his beloved, sick mother. |
| C．To take care of the new born daughter. |
| D．To visit the city my parents called home. |
| A．He was good at hiding his feelings. |
| B．He was proud and sociable. |
| C．He was a loving husband and father. |
| D．He was stubborn and serious. |
| A．My Father, My Hero | B．Understanding Our Loved Ones |
| C．My Parents’ Marriage | D．Finding a Different Father |
【推荐2】The sun was setting and the farm would be closing. I dressed our three daughters quickly as my husband started the van. Cutting down our own Christmas tree had been a family tradition. As our family grew, so did our excitement for going out to find the perfect tree.
As we walked through the rows of trees, my youngest daughter Kimberly shouted excitedly, “There it is, the perfect tree!” The other two agreed. My husband and I looked at each other puzzled. We were surprised the girls thought that straggly (凌乱的) little tree was perfect. Its branches were misshapen (畸形的) and the trunk was visible through the spots where there were no pine needles.
We tried to persuade our daughters into changing their minds, but in vain. We had to tie the sad little tree to the roof of our van and headed home. As we reached our house, Heather jumped out first. Suddenly she shouted, “The tree isn’t there!” We thought she was kidding. However, it wasn’t there.
The girls were so disappointed. “We’ll get another tree tomorrow, ” I said, secretly hoping the new tree would be prettier. But the girls gave us the look that no parent can resist. We had no choice but to go back and find that tree.
About five minutes into our drive, we saw it on the side of the road. As we got closer, we found it had been run over by a truck. As we lifted the tree, we saw that a big part was ripped off, but we took it home anyway.
That night, as we decorated our tree, something magical happened. We didn’t realize it at the time but we were making a very special family memory. By the time we were done, I had to admit, it didn’t look sad after all. “This is the best tree we ever had. It’s perfect!” my second daughter Samantha said excitedly. My husband and I couldn’t have agreed more!
Now we always recall that little broken tree! Year by year, we tell the story of that very special Christmas almost twentyfive years ago.
1. How did the author feel when hearing the tree was missing?| A．Pleased. | B．Depressed. |
| C．Disappointed. | D．Worried. |
| A．They took turns telling stories at Christmas. |
| B．They spent a whole night decorating the tree. |
| C．They all felt satisfied with the tree at first sight. |
| D．They turned the tree into an unforgettable one. |
| A．A Perfect Christmas Day | B．The Sad Little Tree |
| C．A Magical Christmas Tale | D．Our Family Tradition at Christmas |
【推荐3】I recently had dinner with someone who told me that one of his best friends had been killed in a private plane crash, and something happened at the memorial service that he'll never forget. He shared the story with me.
At the memorial service, his friend's wife walked to the platform to speak to the gathering. She said a friend had asked her the best memory she had of their life together. At the moment, she had been too sad to answer, but she had thought about it since and wanted to answer the question.
They were in their late forties when he died, and she began talking about a time in their life almost twenty years earlier. She had quit her job to obtain her master's degree, and her husband never hesitated in his support.
He held down his own job and also did the cooking, cleaning, and other housework while she studied for her degree.
One time they both stayed up all night. She was finishing her paper, and he was preparing for an important business meeting. That morning, she walked out of her study, leaned against the door by the stairs, looked at her husband downstairs and just thought about how much she loved him. She knew how important this meeting was to his future, and she was feeling guilty that she didn't even have time to make his breakfast. He took his briefcase and hurried out. She heard the garage door open and close, but much to her surprise, she heard it open again about thirty seconds later. From above, she watched her husband dash into the house and walk over to the forgotten coffee table. Marking the surface of it with his finger through the dust with the words "I love you", then he raced back to his car.
The new widow then looked out at her audience and said, "John and I had a wonderful life together. We have been around the world several times. We've had everything money can buy. . . but nothing comes close to that moment."
Hearing this, I was deeply moved. "Love makes life worthwhile. "
1. Why did the woman quit her job?| A．She needed to concentrate on her studies. |
| B．She had too much housework to do. |
| C．She wanted to travel around the world. |
| D．She had to support her husband. |
| A．he needed help in his work | B．he managed to keep his job |
| C．he cancelled his job | D．he delayed his work |
| A．how busy their life was | B．how they improved their life |
| C．how her husband loved her | D．how hard her husband worked |
【推荐1】In early January this year, I decided that it was high time for me to return to the world of academic studies. It wasn’t that I longed to be in the daily company of young people or to become a model father for my children. That was the year I finally decided to re-enter the world of academia in an effort to earn a degree and emerge (显现) as an educated naturalist.
I was convinced that the curriculum administrators of my local college would agree that since I had not, during the past two decades, used any mathematical equations (方程式), there would be no reason for me to study geometry and algebra at this stage of my life. I was wrong. Thus it was in late June that I found myself searching for a math course that would occupy the next two months of my summer.
You might think that registering for a math course would be a fairly simple matter, but very little came easy to me. Such was the case when I attempted to sign up for Math 108.
When I was finally in class, I found myself pouring through a textbook that could only be described as full of the most confusing terms and problems. Just then, a voice from deep within my heart whispered, “Gary, you can do it. You will make it through the fires of math and emerge with an ‘A’ for your efforts.”
Over the next two months, I not only listened to the voice, but also to Pete’s wonderful teachings. In addition, I devoted what seemed to be hundreds of hours to my homework assignments and preparation for tests.
I emerged from my experiences with Math 108 as the top student in the class. In fact, I was the only person to get an “A” for the course.
1. Why did the author decide to go back to college?| A．To receive further education. |
| B．To have a totally new career. |
| C．To set a good example for his children. |
| D．To seek the company of young people. |
| A．He was actually good at math. |
| B．He was required to take a math course. |
| C．He gave up studying geometry and algebra. |
| D．He had used some mathematical equations. |
| A．He lost confidence. | B．He encouraged himself. |
| C．He chose another subject. | D．He asked other students for help. |
On Monday, the company announced that the newest movie to get the live-action treatment would be Mulan.
Based on the same Chinese legend as the 1998 animated movie, Mulan will follow in the footsteps of Cinderella, Maleficent, and several already-announced upcoming movies.
Since 2010, Disney has released three live-action adaptations of formerly animated movies: Alice In Wonderland, Maleficent, and Cinderella.
All three have proven to be financial successes, with Alice In Wonderland earning over $1 billion and Maleficent bringing in $758 million.
Even the most recent offering, Cinderella, has managed to earn over $330 million in its first three weeks of wide release.
Fans of live-action remakes will not have to wait for Mulan, since Disney has already planned four other adaptations to hit theatres first.
The Jungle Book is the next movie to get a live-action revival, planned for 2016。
A retelling of Beauty And The Beast - starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, and Audra McDonald - will begin production in May, with an expected release date of March 17, 2017.
Surprisingly, the other Disney cartoon getting an adaptation is 1941's Dumbo, the story of a flying elephant.
Tim Burton signed on to direct that tricky movie on March 10.
1. Mulan will get the live action treatment because__________
| A．it’s a famous Chinese legend. |
| B．it’s a trend to remake beloved animated films into live action ones |
| C．it earned over $330 million at the box office. |
| D．it’s better than Cinderella. |
| A．Dumbo | B．Cinderella |
| C．Alice In Wonderland | D．Maleficent |
a. Cinderella b. Beauty And The Beast
c. The Jungle Book d. Alice In Wonderland
| A．abcd | B．cdba | C．dacb | D．bdca |
| A．The present situation of the film market. |
| B．The introduction of some famous animated films. |
| C．The live action remakes of some animated films. |
| D．An advertisement of an animated film Mulan. |
【推荐3】When one man offered to take a woman stranger's baby so that she could rest on a recent flight, many people on the plane watched it.
“It was so touching,” one passenger, Andrea Byrd said. She shot a photo of the man carrying the baby up and down the aisle（通道） and posted it on Facebook, where it's since gone viral.
“I was in tears,” Byrd wrote in the post, which has been shared almost 100,000 times. “Not because he was white and she was black... but because it showed me today that there are, still good people out there in a world full of evil.”
The Southwest Airlines flight was heading from Minne- apolis to Atlanta on September 5.
The mom, Monica Nelson, who is pregnant, said she had been nervous about traveling alone with her 20- month-old son Luke. When he grew annoyed and wouldn't rest, the man seated next to them surprised her by offering to help, she said. He walked up and down the aisle holding the boy, soothing him to sleep.
“It was such a relief because I was a little worried traveling with him without my husband there to help out,” said Nelson, a teacher who lives in Atlanta. “I'm still very grateful- he was so kind.”
She said the man's name is Rcid, and she learned that he also has a son named Luke.
Byrd said she was particularly touched by the scene because she has two children of her own and could put herself in the mom's shoes. Now their story has touched thousands of people across the world, reminding people how powerful a simple act of kindness can be.
“It's good to know the world is not all bad,” Nelson said, “There are some really great people out there.”
1. How did the man help the woman in the flight?| A．He helped the baby to feel relaxed. |
| B．He gave his own seat to the woman. |
| C．He carried the baby up and down in the air. |
| D．He posted a photo of the woman on Facebook. |
| A．The man suddenly became successful. |
| B．So many people were touched by the story. |
| C．Monica Nelson decided not to take a flight again. |
| D．The young mom and the man became good friends. |
| A．To please somebody to make him sleep for long. |
| B．To ease somebody to make him feel comfortable. |
| C．To force somebody to be quiet and silent soon. |
| D．To sing songs to make him feel happy slowly. |
| A．His son's name is Luke. | B．He is kind to Andrea Byrd. |
| C．He prefers to post photos online. | D．He loves helping pregnant women. |
【推荐1】When Joy Warren’s husband passed away at the age of 50, her confidence took a knock. Meeting new people and joining in again socially was a fearful task. Fortunately, just doors away were friendly neighbors Janet and Michael Porter who knocked on her door and invited her to join them at a local friendship group event organization.
And it all started from there, explained Joy, “I’ve never been the type to sit still, so despite the fact I was still in deep sorrow for Graham, I knew I had to get out and socialize again, but it was difficult to know where to start. That knock on the door was the encouragement I needed.”
From that first neighborly nudge, Janet and Michael have been there for Joy, inviting her along to take part in regular social events in the organization . She continued: “They made sure I was never alone for too long, and if I really needed them, a gentle reminder would be given that they were always there. I joined them at all sorts of group meetings and events. Eventually, I signed up to the organization as a result of the wonderful new friends.”
Michael, who is also the secretary for the local branch, said, “We understood that Joy needed some time and space after losing Graham, but we made sure we were always there for her when she felt ready to join in. The time it takes to feel ready to step out and meet people again is a very personal thing. It can be a matter of weeks for some, or possibly years for others.
From coffee mornings and afternoon teas, to lunch clubs and guest talks, the local branches hold regular events and activities throughout the year. Joy can find out what events are running near to her by using the Event Finder, and enjoyed herself with the new friends.
1. What happened to Joy when her husband died?| A．Her neighbors knocked her down. |
| B．She lost confidence in social activities. |
| C．She recovered with the help of her old friends . |
| D．She joined a local friendship group event soon. |
| A．By persuading them to join it. |
| B．By signing up to it personally. |
| C．By finding out what events are running near. |
| D．By reminding them of the help around gently. |
| A．Hold events annually. | B．Have guest talks. |
| C．Use Event Finder. | D．Have tea in the mornings. |
| A．No man is an island. | B．Still water runs deep. |
| C．Patience is the best treatment . | D．Honesty is the best policy. |
【推荐2】Homeless for 30 years, Mick gets tips by playing at a BART station in the Bay Area and begging along the highway. That’s where Jacob Swalwell caught up with him last year. He warned Mick several times to stop.
Swalwell said, “When I got closer, I realized he was a senior citizen. I wanted to know how come he was not on social security. It turned out that he couldn’t get it because he couldn’t even get an ID.” Even with Swalwell’s resources at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, it took three separate trips to get an identification card. His persistence paid off. Mick is now on Medicaid and has applied for social security benefits.
But Mick’s fresh start was just beginning. Private investigator Mark Askins from Miracle Messages, a nonprofit organization devoted to reconnecting the homeless with their loved ones, heard of Mick s story, and he wanted to help out. Using the little in-formation provided, Askins was able to find Mick’s birth mother Polly living roughly 250 miles away in Eureka, California. “She was just so anxious to see him and talk to him.” Askins said.
Polly didn’t have an easy life either. After leaving her husband, she was a teenage mom struggling to support three kids. Mick was sick and needed surgery when he was 2 years old, so Polly gave him up for adoption to her mother’s friend who could afford to give him the help he needed.
Swalwell and Mark Askins arranged for Mick to fly to meet the mother who gave him up 65 years ago and the family he had never known. Polly’s home is ready to embrace Mick.
Polly has invited Mick to live with her in Eureka, but he’s hesitant to move away from the area where he has spent his whole life. For now, he’s working on getting a car and promises to go back and visit her as often as possible.
1. What did Swalwell do for Mick?| A．He collected resources to care for Mick. |
| B．He gave Mick much money. |
| C．He helped Mick get his ID card. |
| D．He offered Mick social security benefits. |
| A．She felt it was too busy to raise three children. |
| B．She wanted to help her friend adopt a child. |
| C．She desired to give him a chance to cure his illness. |
| D．He was going to die of a serious illness. |
| A．65 years old. | B．32 years old. | C．30 years old. | D．67 years old. |
| A．Acts of kindness led to a family reunion. | B．Great love contributed to the last meeting. |
| C．Two kind people helped a sick man. | D．A homeless man lived a normal life. |
【推荐3】I was driving 80 miles per hour along the road Wednesday. I knew I was going too fast, but it was the only hope I had. My dog, Jett, was dying in the backseat.
About half an hour earlier I received a call from my daughter. A ball got stuck in Jett's throat. He was struggling to breathe. I raced home to see if I could help, but the dog's mouth water had made the ball too slippery to pull out by hand. So my daughter and I began our race to the vet's(兽医诊所).
About halfway there, we got caught in traffic jams due to construction. I began wildly sounding my horn(喇叭), hoping to attract help, and ended up catching the eye of several construction workers. In an anxious voice, I told them what had happened to my dog. By then Jett was lying in the backseat, not moving. Cavaja Holt was one of the workers standing there. He stuck his hand down the dog's throat and pulled out the ball, but Jett still wasn't breathing.
And the guy behind Holt shouted out, “Breathe into his mouth! Breathe into his mouth!” And Holt did. It worked! Jett soon began breathing again. After may dog was saved, I continued my trip to the vet's to make sure Jett was OK, and by the time I arrived the dog seemed to be doing much better. The staff there checked the dog over and said Jett was in good health.
Later on, I realized I was so anxious that I forgot to ask the man's name and thank him on the spot. My daughter posted the story on the Internet, asking to locate him. Meanwhile, Holt posted the story too, hoping to find out how the dog was doing. Within minutes, someone connected the two. On Thursday morning, I drove back to the construction site and thanked Holt in person. He is truly a hero.
1. How did the author feel after she received the call?| A．Ashamed. | B．Confused. | C．Annoyed. | D．Panicked. |
| A．The vet's advice. | B．The author's request. |
| C．His fellow worker's advice. | D．The author's wrong rescue. |
| A．To get the address of Holt. | B．To make contact with Holt. |
| C．To spread the moving story. | D．To praise Holt for his deeds. |
| A．Race against death | B．Find hero through the Internet |
| C．Stranger saves dog's life | D．Heart-stopping rush to the vet's |
