In the August sun, it’s unbearably hot in my car. I’m in Vancouver, approaching the Knight Street Bridge as I try to get home after work. It’s 5:15 pm. Traffic is already slowing down and then it comes to a full stop. I’m stuck even before getting on the bridge.
This has become my normal work commute (上下班往返) routine. Ahead of me is a heavily jammed on-ramp (匝道). I stare at the endless rows of vehicles, depressed.
At first I think this is not how it looks. The traffic will soon start moving. Seconds pass. Minutes pass. Looking at the rows of cars and trucks glittering (闪光) in the sun, I start counting — 299, 300, 301 — and I give up.
Suddenly I remember I’m one of the 300 helpless drivers. But I stay alert (警觉的). When the cars do move, I move carefully, making sure not to bump into other vehicles. Finally, I make it onto the bridge. The traffic is still crawling at a snail’s pace. Tired and hungry, I become very anxious.
Just then, I hear a weak sound in the distance. The sound gradually becomes louder, until I can identify it as an ambulance approaching from behind. What do we do? The bridge is packed. There’s no room for us to move.
But I’m wrong. Every single car quickly, yet carefully, moves to the side. Without thinking, I follow suit. The lane remains open for a few seconds during which the ambulance flashes through.
Afterward, every car moves back. We close up the emergency lane, ready to continue our patient wait. Back in my spot, I’m awestruck. I forget my tiredness and hunger. My anxiety is gone. I start reflecting upon what 300 fellow drivers and I just did.
How did we do that? Despite our exhaustion, we collectively decided to help the stranger who needed the time more desperately than we did. We drew on our sympathy and intelligence, requiring no directives.
Although I may seem alone stuck on the bridge, I’m connected to all the other drivers. Together we could make the impossible possible.
1. How does the author feel when seeing the on-ramp?| A．Annoyed. | B．Discouraged. | C．Calm | D．Shocked. |
| A．It will be hard for it to pass through. | B．Someone should direct the traffic. |
| C．All drivers will be willing to move. | D．Whoever is inside needs immediate help. |
| A．Deeply anxious. | B．Feeling amazed. |
| C．Extremely exhausted. | D．Feeling depressed. |
| A．The drivers’ good driving skills. | B．Instructions from a stranger. |
| C．People’s kindness. | D．The ambulance’s rescue. |
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【推荐1】The leather jacket is age-won and soft. I found it banging in the window of a shop in Brighton, England. I was there to deliver a talk on modem women’s writing at an international conference, a PhD student eager to make a name for herself and waiting for her life to start. I had just turned 28.
I’m still closely connected to that woman, her dreams and her ambition (雄心), although she also frightens me. She was always quite determined, this leather jacket woman — she had a five-year plan and was sticking to it! This was the woman who couldn’t find time to visit her grandmother, who regularly missed her nieces’ and nephews’ birthday parties, and who left and didn’t look back.
She and I are one and the same, but we are also very different. There was a change that happened a few years into the five-year plan. Each time one goal post was reached, another took its place. This is the pattern of the overly ambitious. I started to doubt whether it would result in any real success other than an unwavering (坚定不移的) ability to give up everything else along the way. My determination wavered. I realized I didn’t want the same things anymore. The jacket moved to the back of the wardrobe (衣橱).
Seven years later, as I stand in front of my wardrobe filled with useless clothes, I don’t know what to do with the jacket. When England’s cold spread to my bones years earlier, the jacket had felt like a practical thing I bought. Here in Australia’s sunshine, it always felt a little silly. I let it fall heavily on the bed alongside the other clothes I’ve decided to give away because they no longer make the cut.
Yet, despite its uselessness and how much space it takes up, at the last moment I return the leather jacket to the wardrobe. I think it will always stand for a part of myself that I’m not quite willing to give up forever — that ambitious, motivated woman.
1. Why did the author go to Brighton?| A．To give a public lecture. | B．To go window shopping. |
| C．To study as a PhD student. | D．To start her new life. |
| A．Her taste in clothing. | B．Her original dreams. |
| C．Her character in her late 20. | D．Her family relationships. |
| A．She was proud of her success. | B．She started losing ambition. |
| C．She cared less about dressing. | D．She seldom doubted her plan. |
| A．To encourage other women. | B．To treasure her real self. |
| C．To help her keep warm. | D．To help her set goals. |
His last hike was up Mount Annapurna, in Asia's snowcapped Himalayas. At 26,545 feet, its peak is the 10th highest in the world. It is the mountain that inspired him to start climbing.
"It tends to be the trickiest, the most dangerous," said Viesturs. "There's no simple way to climb it. There are threatening avalanches (雪崩) and ice falls that protect the mountain."
In high school, Viesturs read French climber Maurice Herzog's tale of climbing the icy Annapurna. Herzog's story was of frostbite (冻伤) and difficulty and near-death experiences. Viesturs was hooked right away.
Viesturs got his start on Washington's Mount Rainier in 1977, guiding hikes in the summer. Fifteen years ago, he set out to walk up to the world's highest peaks. Finally, he's done.
The pioneering climber talks about mountains as if they were living creatures that should be treated with respect. "You have to use all of your senses, all of your abilities to see if the mountain will let you climb it," said Viesturs. "If we have the patience and the respect, and if we're here at the right time, under the right circumstances, they allow us to go up, and allow us to come down."
What's next for a man who can't stop climbing? "I'm going to hug my wife and kids and kind of kick back and enjoy the summer," says Viesturs. But for a man who's climbed the world's 14 tallest mountains, he will probably soon set off on yet another adventure.
1. What record has Ed Viesturs set?
| A．He has succeeded in climbing to the world’s 14th highest mountain. |
| B．He has been to the top of the world’s 14 highest mountains. |
| C．He has become the first to climb to the height of 26,545feet. |
| D．He has become the first man to climb to the top of 14 highest mountains in the world. |
| A．frightened | B．discouraged | C．interested | D．upset |
| A．mountain climbing is a dangerous sport |
| B．mountains should be regarded as living creatures |
| C．mountain climbing needs more skills than physical energy |
| D．those who like mountain climbing won’t stop climbing |
| A．Stopping climbing and staying with his family. |
| B．Climbing to the top of the world’s 14 tallest mountains again. |
| C．Climbing another one of the highest mountains. |
| D．Writing down the experiences about his adventure. |
【推荐3】When he first rose to stardom in the NBA, Yao Ming could not possibly have known the influence he would have on the American understanding of China.
In the eyes of many Americans, Chinese are short, bookish, and not especially athletic. Yao, 26, has turned that image on its head. A giant at 2.26 metres, he has been the most talked-about player in the league since he topped the NBA draft（选秀）in 2002.
When Yao first joined the Rockets and struggled with an American style of basketball, many were quick to label（标记）Yao “a failure”. But Yao played on. He did not let the criticism affect his performance. Even when former NBA star Charles Barkley bet that Yao could not score more than 19 points in a single game, Yao kept his self-respect. The same cannot be said for Barkley, who was forced to kiss a real donkey's ass（屁股）when Yao passed the 19-point mark early in his first season.
For Americans, Yao's polite and friendly personality is a welcome contrast to the rude behaviour of the NBA's bad boys. Compared with most other NBA players, Yao Ming is a true gentleman. He respects all of his opponents（对手）, even those who are not friendly to him.
“He is so wise and humourous that he seems like a diplomat（外交家）rather than a basketball player sometimes,” said Ron Burke, an NBA TV reporter.
In addition, Yao's witty answers have changed the opinion that Chinese people are boring When asked what were his favourite English words, Yao told the press that the five words were “This is the last question.” Yao is winning supporters within the league as well. After a Rockets-Lakers game that Shaquille O'Neal had to sit out with an injury, O'Neal said, “You played pretty good, Yao Ming.” Yao replied, “That's because you weren't there.”
1. What attitude do many people take with Yao Ming when he first joined the Rockets?| A．Friendly. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Sincere. | D．Angry. |
| A．proved that he was athletic | B．passed the 19-point mark early |
| C．showed his politeness and friendliness | D．beat former NBA star Charles Barkley |
| A．Yao Ming was respectful and smart | B．Yao Ming was boring and proud |
| C．Yao Ming topped the NBA draft | D．Yao Ming wasn't a failure any more |
【推荐1】Proudly reading my words, I glanced around the room, only to find my classmates bearing big smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. Confused, I glanced toward my stone-faced teacher. Having no choice, I slowly raised the report I had slaved over, hoping to hide myself. “What could be causing everyone to act this way?”
Quickly, I flashed back to the day Miss Lancelot gave me the task. This was the first real task I received in my new school. It seemed simple: go on the Internet and find information about a man named George Washington. Since my idea of history came from an ancient teacher in my home country, I had never heard of that name before. As I searched the name of this fellow, it became evident that there were two people bearing the same name who looked completely different! One invented hundreds of uses for peanuts, while the other led some sort of army across America. I stared at the screen, wondering which one my teacher meant. I called my grandfather for a golden piece of advice; flip (掷) a coin. Heads—the commander, and tails—the peanuts guy. Ah! Tails, my report would be about the great man who invented peanut butter, George Washington Carver.
Weeks later, standing before this unfriendly mass, I was totally lost. Oh well, I lowered the paper and sat down at my desk, burning to find out what I had done wrong. As a classmate began his report, it all became clear, “My report is on George Washington, the man who started the American Revolution.” The whole world became quite! How could I know that she meant that George Washington?
Obviously, my grade was awful. Heartbroken but fearless, I decided to turn this around. I talked to Miss Lancelot, but she insisted: No re-dos; no new grade. I felt that the punishment was not justified, and I believed I deserved a second chance. As a result, I threw myself heartily into my work for the rest of the school year. Ten months later, that chance unfolded as I found myself sitting in the headmaster’s office with my grandfather, now having an entirely different conversation. I smiled and flashed back to the embarrassing moment at the beginning of the year as the headmaster informed me of my option to skip the sixth grade. Justice is sweet!
1. What did the author’s classmates think about his report?| A．Challenging | B．Ridiculous | C．Boring | D．Puzzling |
| A．He was unfamiliar with American history. |
| B．He followed the advice and flipped a coin. |
| C．He forgot his teacher’s instruction. |
| D．He was new at the school. |
| A．annoyed | B．ashamed | C．ready | D．eager |
| A．by redoing his task |
| B．through his own efforts |
| C．with the help of his grandfather |
| D．under the guidance of his headmaster |
【推荐2】Kashmir is one of the most unstable areas in India. It was there that we realized how people can show kindness to others during tough times.
We had been driving along the mountain roads of Kashmir, watching beautiful scenery unfolding before us. Suddenly, we came across a long queue of vehicles ahead of us. We soon learned there was a riot (混乱) at the next town, so the roads were blocked. Getting stuck in a riot is a terrible thing. We were full of worry, feeling stressed that the riot might spill over to these parts. Additionally, it was already afternoon and we were hungry. Worse still, we’d finished whatever snacks and water we had.
For a long time, we sat there. At one point, we saw a group of people getting off buses, taking out stoves and food and starting to cook. They shared the food with the hungry people. The kindness of those people was something I had never experienced before.
Hours later, the cars started moving. As we drove through town, we saw tires burning, broken glasses and blood all over the road. Being a local, our driver assured us of our safety and offered us to stay in his home if required. In the evening, he stopped at a small eatery (食堂) and made sure we had our meals. We reached our destination around midnight and he ensured that we got a place to stay. Before leaving, he took our phone numbers and gave us his. When we completed our trip a few days later, he called to see how we were doing. I was deeply touched by the kind young man.
1. How did the author feel about getting stuck in a riot?| A．Surprised. | B．Worried. | C．Excited. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．To relax themselves. | B．To see what was happening. |
| C．To help direct the traffic. | D．To cook and share food with others. |
| A．Brave and kind. | B．Brave and wise. |
| C．Kind and generous. | D．Wise and generous. |
| A．Kindness in Hardship | B．Meeting a Riot in Kashmir |
| C．An Unforgettable Travel | D．Advice on Travelling in Kashmir |
XU XIAKE’S GUILIN
It is 10 in the morning, and I am travelling by rat down the Li River. The sun is already burning hot even though it has not yet reached full strength, but a calm breeze cools my skin. So far the day is wonderful, but the purpose of my trip is not just to have fun: I am following in the footsteps of Xu Xiake(1587-1641 ), the famous Chinese travel writer and geographer. Though Xu was from Jiangsu, he spent more than 30 years travelling throughout the country, and greatly admired my destination today-Ox Gorge.
As we flow down the river, we are surrounded by steep hills sticking up into the sky — karsts, Unique among mountains, karsts were formed over thousands of years as rain drained into the acidic soil and melted the soft rock, leaving the harder rock behind. Guangxi is full of karsts, giving it some of the most interesting ——and beautiful—scenery in the world. Xu was one of the first people to make a careful study of Guilin’s karsts and their related cave systems. He, like many people today, found them fascinating.
Suddenly, our raft hits some rapids, and I find myself covered in water. I turn to my raftsman and we share a laugh. The water not only keeps us cool, but it is all part of the adventure.
What made someone like Xu spend years travelling thousands of kilometres away from home? Perhaps it’s the same reason as mine: to explore the world and to discover new things. As Xu wrote, “A great man should in the morning be at the blue sea, and in the evening at Mount Cangwu. Why should I restrict myself to one corner of the world?”
Xu was not alone. Much like today, the late Ming Dynasty was a golden age of tourism within China. People travelled hundreds of kilometres to visit temples, go mountain climbing, or explore scenery.
Yet, perhaps no one in China travelled farther or longer than Xu Xiake. At least, if anyone did they did not write about it.
When our raft reaches Ox Gorge, it proves to be every bit as beautiful as I expected-a watery heaven on earth. The raft is tied up, and then I head out to explore. That afternoon, I find a cave on the river. I wade into it and the water grows shallower, unit finally I am walking on dry land. Up ahead I see a light and hear laughter echoing off the cave walls. There is a large pool of mud, and a group of young people are jumping into it and swimming around. I run and join them. Soon, like my new friends, I am covered in gray mud from head to toe. After an hour of play, I head back out of the cave and take a swim in the river to get clean. And I wonder, when Xu Xiake came here nearly five hundred years ago, did he examine the mud like a scientist? Or did he jump in?
Of course he jumped in. You know he did.
Read the article again and answer the questions.
1. Why did the author decide to go to Guilin?
2. How are karsts and their related cave systems formed?
3. According to the author, why did Xu Xiake like to travel?
4. What did the author do in the cave?
5. Do you agree with the author that Xu Xiake probably played in the mud? Why or why not?
