The sound that woke Damian Languell at 8:15 am was so loud that he assumed it came from inside his house. As he got up to investigate, he heard another sound, this one coming most definitely from outside. Looking out of his bedroom window, he spied a tree engulfed(淹没) in smoke about 500 yards away. A car was wrapped around the tree’s base, its engine on fire.
Grabbing buckets of water, Languell and his girlfriend ran to the crash site. The wreck looked worse up close. The car, a 1998 Buick, was split nearly in two, and the tree was where the driver’s seat ought to have been, as if planted there. No one should have survived this crash, and yet there was 16-year-old Quintin Thompson, his terrified face pressed against the driver’s side window, in visible pain. Languell tried putting out the fire with his buckets of water with no success. When the flames got into the front seats, he realized he had to get the boy out of there.
In an act that a police report described as showing “complete disregard for his own safety”, Languell opened the Buick’s back door and crawled in. Thompson was struggling to get free, Languell says. “That’s when I noticed how bad his legs were.” Using a pocketknife he’d had the foresight to bring with him, he sawed through Thompson’s seat belt.
Now that Thompson was free, Languell pulled him out a back window of the vehicle, then dragged the teen to safety before the entire car was engulfed in flames.
Although Thompson suffered multiple fractures(骨折) to his legs, spine, and face, a social media post described him as “looking great, smiling, and joking.” Languell thinks about that day often. “My heart goes out to Thompson. When you are that close to that level of hurt, you feel it so directly. ”
1. When Damian rushed to the crash site, .| A．the police had arrived |
| B．the whole car was completely in flames |
| C．Thompson was terrified and painful |
| D．Thompson was smiling and joking |
| A．brave | B．lucky |
| C．simple-minded | D．warm-hearted |
| A．His own bravery and persistence. |
| B．The several buckets of water. |
| C．The timely arrival of the police. |
| D．The pocketknife Damian carried with him. |
| A．he called 911 immediately |
| B．he stayed inside his house |
| C．he woke up his girlfriend |
| D．he got up to see what happened |
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【推荐1】I was hiking with Sam and Kyle to show them a cliff where they could feel the sea spray on their faces. I knew the area could be dangerous, but I was not worried for I had hiked there many times.
We sat in the sun and watched the waves throw themselves against the rock. Then I crept (爬) up to the edge, Kyle right behind me. I found a seat-shaped place and sat down with much contentment. When Kyle came near, I gave him my place. He settled in and I moved a few feet over where the smooth rock had no holds.
Suddenly, a monstrous wave came. I felt myself starting to slide. The water washed me off the cliff and forced me under. I screamed for help. I swam hard for the shore. I was not a strong swimmer but I tried rimming for shore anyway, battling the warm water the best I could. Soon, I realized the sea had swept me farther out.
“Sam!” I yelled. “Kyle, help me and send a helicopter!” After about thirty minutes, I saw a helicopter. I could see Sam and Kyle looking anxiously from it. My eyes lit up and my heart missed a beat. The helicopter buzzed overhead, and then kept on going. I floated on my back to make myself more visible, my body pale in contrast to the darker ocean. When the helicopter came by again, I moved my arms and legs desperately to attract their attention. Again, the helicopter disappeared. Helpless, I stared in disbelief as they missed seeing me twice in a row. Deciding that I needed to save my energy, I continued floating on my back and closed my eyes.
Gradually, a noise grew louder. I soon realized a helicopter was overhead. The crew had seen me, but it might be too late. Waves of exhaustion overwhelmed me. My leg muscles tightened uncontrollably. “This is it,” I thought, as I gave up to the weight that was pulling me down.
Then, I felt a strong arm wrap across my chest and turned to see a rescue diver. He asked me if I was alright. The next thing I knew was that I was in the air. The waves that had just been big enough to kill me suddenly seemed small.
1. Which of the following can best describe the author in paragraph 2?| A．Curious and careful. | B．Happy and relaxed. |
| C．Proud but disappointed. | D．Anxious but satisfied. |
| A．He met with fast wind. | B．He couldn’t perform his best. |
| C．He was not a strong swimmer. | D．He was not used to the warm water. |
| A．He tried to preserve his energy. | B．He made his arms pale. |
| C．He yelled at the helicopter. | D．He floated on his back. |
| A．The disaster came to an end as expected. | B．He finally got the rescue he needed badly. |
| C．He was convinced he was about to drown. | D．The waves were not big enough to kill him. |
【推荐2】One day, Lisa Holman told her family she would be out that night visiting her friend, only about half an hour’s drive from her house. So it was not alarming as the night grew on and she did not arrive home. As 11 pm passed, her family began to worry. They called her but did not get any answer. They then reached out to Lisa’s best friend, who said Lisa had left to drive home at 9 that night.
The family thought about calling the police that evening but the police typically don’t define a person missing unless there is no contact for 24 hours. The next morning there was still no sign of Lisa. All the family could do was sit home and wait. Lisa’s son decided to drive along Lisa’s route and carefully look for her. He found Lisa’s car had crashed into a tree. What’s worse, there was no sign of Lisa at all.
The family called the police. The police began their search. But due to the heavy rain, the search team was called back. The family was very disappointed but still hopeful and continued the search. 700 feet from Lisa’s car, they finally found Lisa under a rock.
After a few days in hospital, Lisa recovered. She explained that she passed out after her car slid off the road in the rain. After she came to herself, Lisa managed to climb out of the car. While walking to find help, Lisa was exhausted and unable to figure out the direction. So she couldn’t walk on and climbed under a rock as it started raining again. Scared as she was, she turned to her faith in hopes of living to see her son again.
1. When should Lisa arrive home after visiting her friend?| A．About 9 pm. | B．About9:30pm. | C．About 11pm. | D．The next morning. |
| A．Lisa stayed with her best friend. |
| B．The rocks had blocked all the roads up. |
| C．The police usually refused to come at night. |
| D．They had been out of touch with Lisa for less than a day. |
| A．She was lost. | B．She was injured. |
| C．She was locked in her car. | D．She was caught by heavy rain. |
【推荐3】On June 23,2018,twelve young Thai boys and their assistant football coach wandered into a karst cave in northern Thailand, near the border with Myanmar. What happened next would grab the world’s attention and lead to a complex and daring international rescue operation. The 10.3-kilometer-long Tham Luang cave flooded, trapping the boys in total blackness nearly 2.5 kilometers from the cave entrance.
Thousands of people from around the globe participated in the rescue effort, including military personnel, medical experts and the rock stars of the operation — cave divers. The divers, who safely removed all of the Thai children and their coach after 18 days underground, dealt with tight spaces and low visibility in muddy water- conditions that would prove deadly: Saman Gunan, a former Thai Navy Seal, died while transporting air tanks into the cave.
While the sport of cave diving had received attention in the pop culture area prior to the rescue mission in North Thailand, there is little doubt that the brave divers at Tham Luang cave helped push the activity and its varieties of risks into global society’s minds.
The sport-often referred to as among the world’s most dangerous recreational activities-has its roots in pre-WWII England. Since then, the recreational practice of cave diving, described by Australian cave explorer Richard Harris (a participant in the Tham Luang cave rescue) as an “unusual hobby” for “the ordinary,” has spread around the world-China included.
Over 1,000 kilometers northeast of Tham Luang cave, in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, lies karst-peak-covered Du’an county-China’s little-known cave diving Mecca.
Home to thousands of kilometers of underground rivers, Du’an county offers divers spellbinding geological formations, perhaps the world’s largest collection of blind fish species and a rare variety of freshwater jellyfish.
1. What do we know about the Tham Luang cave rescue operation?| A．There was no loss of life in the process. | B．Rock stars took part in the rescue efforts. |
| C．Rescue team came from more than Thailand. | D．Few people cared about it outside Thailand. |
| A．Its dangerous recreations. | B．Its long history. |
| C．An expert’s description. | D．The divers’ heroic deeds. |
| A．It is northeast of Tham Luang cave. | B．There are lots of underground rivers. |
| C．It is hardly known to the outside world. | D．It has the world’s largest geological formations. |
| A．Spectacular cave diving experiences in Du’an. |
| B．Diving instructions shared by Richard Harris. |
| C．Lessons learned from this rescue operation. |
| D．Foods offered to tourists in Du’an. |
【推荐1】When Erin Shields sang “Being Alive,” a popular song from the Broadway show “Company,” the song had extra levels of meaning.
Shields and her husband David Shenton are touring musicians. They could not perform around the world during the coronavirus pandemic. So they broadcast virtual concerts from home to raise money for the Mosaic West Queens Church in New York City. The concerts brought thousands of dollars to the church to help feed hungry people living in the neighborhood. They also gave the two musicians a chance to continue their artistic lives.
It began when they saw the long lines of people waiting for food outside the church near their home. Several of their friends had lost jobs after Broadway theaters closed. And they felt the need to help.
In September, they volunteered at the church to give away boxes of food to families two times a week. As time passed, they felt the need to do more for others during the pandemic. “I’m not a doctor ... I don’t really have much to offer. But you know, we can perform,” said Shields.
She is an opera singer from the American state of Illinois. Her husband Shenton is a British composer, pianist and violinist. And their artistic friends were willing to join for a good cause.
“We have all these connections to Broadway singers outside of their work on Broadway, so we wanted to capitalize on that,” Shenton said.
During a recent virtual concert, smiling families, watching on their computers at home, clapped and sang along. Among the performers were Broadway musicians known for their work in shows such as “Hamilton” and “The Little Mermaid” as well as “Les Miserables.”
Shields said volunteering became especially important last year when New York turned into the center of the pandemic. “If you’re feeling low, volunteer, give back to other people, because it will make you feel better,” Shields said.
1. What can we learn about Erin Shields?| A．She found a new job during the pandemic. |
| B．The song “Being Alive” made her more popular. |
| C．She gave up her artistic life to help hungry people. |
| D．Virtual concerts enabled her to continue her performance. |
| A．Take advantage of. |
| B．Keep track of. |
| C．Get the hang of. |
| D．Make a list of. |
| A．Volunteering Makes People Feel Better |
| B．Musicians Raise Money to Feed Neighbors |
| C．Music Gives People Strength to Pull Through |
| D．Food Supply Becomes too Low in New York |
【推荐2】When Mr. Andrews left university, he got a good job in a big oil company, but after he had been there for a few years, he decided that he would like a change. He also wanted to get a more important position(职务) so that he could get more money, and perhaps also do more interesting work, so he put an advertisement in several newspapers, saying what experience he had had, describing the kind of job he had at that time and the kind he would like to have. One of the answers he received was from another man who was looking for a job too. This man wrote to him, sir, when you get a new job, please be kind enough to give my name and address to your present boss, as I have been trying to find a position like yours for a long time.
1. Mr. Andrews wanted to leave his present job because__________.| A．he was not well paid in his company |
| B．another man had asked him to do so |
| C．he was fired by the company |
| D．he wasn't quite satisfied with it |
| A．He was lazy and short of experience. |
| B．He liked changing his job. |
| C．He might be skilled and experienced in his job. |
| D．He was a man who was always proud of his job. |
| A．Good. | B．Humorous. | C．Kind. | D．Foolish. |
【推荐3】“Listen!” Mr. Lee said seriously at the beginning of his first class, “I will put a lie into each of my classes. Your job is to try and catch me in the Lie of the Day.”
That was really a clever way to fix our attention on the dry and boring subject — geography. Then in the following weeks, we didn’t let off every single word of what he was saying in class and challenged his lectures. When his class ended with nobody seeing through the lie, Mr. Lee would say, “Ah ha! Each of you has a lie in your notes. Discuss among yourselves what it might be, and I will tell you at the end of this term.”
Mr. Lee’s special style of teaching worked. All of us reviewed and discussed about our notes actively.
One Monday at the end of the term, Mr. Lee listened carefully to what we were questioning for almost ten minutes. Then he finally said, “Do you still remember the first lesson how I said that every lecture has a lie?”
Confused, we said yes.
“Well, that was a real big lie. In fact, all the lectures I’ve given before are completely true. But I am glad you worked so hard. Move on.”
Hearing this, all eyes in the classroom went wide.
While my knowledge of geography has been forgotten over time, the lessons have stayed with me. “Experts” can be wrong and say things that sound right, so build a habit of evaluating (评估) new information and check it against things you already accept as a fact.
1. We can know that Mr. Lee was ________.| A．wise | B．serious | C．boring | D．confusing |
| A．he always told lies |
| B．the students always questioned him |
| C．everyone had to write down all of his words |
| D．it was difficult for the students to see through the lie |
| A．the students opened their eyes |
| B．Mr. Lee opened the students’ eyes |
| C．the students got shocked and amazed |
| D．the students had a look at the classroom |
| A．A Real Lie | B．Learn to Question |
| C．A Special Teaching Style | D．The First Geography Lesson |
【推荐1】The glass window shook and Matthew placed a hand roughly through the opening to lift the latch (插销) slowly. He then climbed into the room, landing on his feet with a soft step. A sudden rush of cold air swept into the room after him. Matthew trembled and he quickly tightened his clothes. Glancing down, he saw the deep cut on the back of his hand. Sighing over his rotten luck, he tore off a piece of cloth from his coat sleeve and bandaged it. With his heart beating fast, he inched his way forward, hardly able to see anything in front of him.
“Mmmm…,” came the muffled sound. Was it just his imagination? Ignoring the thought, he began to move slowly forward again. Then, without any warning, the next thing he knew was that he had kicked something soft. Matthew took out his torch. Switching it on, he found a pair of round eyes staring at him. They belonged to a little girl! Cloth in mouth, she had been bound so tightly that movement was strictly out of the question. As he was about to turn away, her tear-streaked face stopped him. Feeling sorry for the girl, Matthew used his pocket knife to cut her loose.
The girl started to cry as she believed Matthew to be the rescuer who was there to end her ordeal (折磨). She leaned on Matthew tightly. This confused him further. What was he to do? After a few seconds, Matthew spoke in a gentle voice.
“What happened, little girl?”
From her mumbled reply, Matthew could only make out that the girl had been there for two days without food and water. It seemed that her captors had totally neglected her. Almost immediately, Matthew carried the little girl back to the window from which he had entered. As he climbed out with the girl, Matthew smiled and whispered under his breath, “I can’t believe what I’ve just done. Neither will the police.”
1. Why was Matthew trembling?| A．He had survived a cut. |
| B．His head ached. |
| C．He found that a policeman followed him. |
| D．He had just entered the room from the cold. |
| A．She hadn’t eaten anything for long. |
| B．She was hurt by Matthew. |
| C．She was in pain. |
| D．She was relieved. |
| A．he gave her food and water immediately |
| B．he treated the girl gently and helped her escape |
| C．he climbed in on the purpose of saving the girl |
| D．he decided to take revenge for the girl |
【推荐2】I am a full-time student at College of the Redwoods. During this period it is hard to find time to do anything other than work. But after much thought I decided to spend my extra time volunteering at the Sequoia Humane Society.
After my first day of volunteering, I had a mixture of feelings：I felt guilty (内疚的) because I didn’t do anything to help others in the past 25 years; I felt happy because I was helping animals, and I felt sad because these animals did not have a home with a family. The main reason for people volunteering at animal shelters (收容所) is that it helps the animals. It also helps the workers, because they have so many things to do — such as feeding and cleaning — and they just don’t have enough time to give each animal proper attention and exercise. Volunteers help out by taking dogs on long walks so dogs can get exercised.
Walking and playing with the animals helps them become better suited for adoption, increasing the chance that they will find a home and live happily with their owners. As a person who has had pets all my life, I know the joy and happiness that a pet brings to a person, a family, and the world in general. Even on the most stressful day, I know when get home my dog will be sitting there ready to play with me and take my mind off from whatever is causing the stress I am experiencing. Volunteering at an animal shelter gives someone the opportunity to experience what I have all the time a warm, loving animal that just wants to have fun and make you happy. So make the time to make an animal happy. Start volunteering today!
1. Which of the following about the author is TRUE?| A．He is a full-time volunteer. | B．He is a college student. |
| C．He has no pet dogs. | D．He owns an animal shelter. |
| A．joy and anger | B．happiness, sadness and excitement |
| C．guilt and joy | D．guilt, joy and sadness |
| A．draw people’s attention | B．gain people’s pity |
| C．get enough exercise | D．get special care |
| A．giving these animals a home with a family |
| B．feeding and cleaning these animals |
| C．walking and playing with these animals |
| D．taking these animals out to the public |
【推荐3】I’ve been into volunteer work since childhood. As a girl, I volunteered at animal shelters, played music at nursing homes, and helped with community cleanup. In college, I volunteered heavily at a large yearly conference (会议), where I first met and fell in love with my husband Tom, who was on my team of co-volunteers.
Volunteering has been a way of life for me and I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it. Most of the time, you do feel that you’re making a difference. Once I led a project that provided food to Syrian families. When it was nearing Ramadan, the biggest holiday season in Islam, I filled the food package with nuts, olive oil, sweets... We took the package and arrived just as a Syrian family was sitting on their floor for breakfast. They had nothing but some bread and a pot of tea. The mother cried when seeing us, saying she would never forget our kindness gratefully.
Another time, some friends and I volunteered to a church with only a few elderly residents. The churchyard needed attention. We spent the weekend in the home of one of these old ladies so we could clean and repair the churchyard. I’ll never forget the new life in her eyes as she stayed with us. It broke my heart to remember this old lady with pleasure for such small efforts we made.
Volunteer work is satisfying not because you have done some work, but because your presence has an effect on people around. It makes me grateful for what I have and gives me a chance to serve people.
1. Where did the author meet her husband for the first time?| A．In her college. | B．At a conference. |
| C．At a nursing home. | D．At an animal shelter. |
| A．She was grateful to the kindness. | B．Her children were badly ill |
| C．She didn’t have any food at all. | D．Her house was broken. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Disappointed. | C．Pleased. | D．Confused. |
| A．She can make lots of friends. | B．She can learn much knowledge. |
| C．She can kill much of her free time. | D．She can have an effect on people around. |
【推荐1】It was the middle of winter some 30 years ago. I was a young father with three little children counting on me. I worked in a sawmill (锯木厂).
As I got ready to go to work I wrapped band aids around my fingers and put more in my pockets. Cutting and piling up wood for eight hours a day had caused my fingers to split (裂开) and bleed at their tips in the cold, dry winter air.
That day at work was harder than normal. We were short-handed on workers. The machines kept breaking down. We had to rush to catch up as the wood piled up. On top of that, all the heaters in the building had stopped working and we could see our breath as we spent hours working there.
When the work day finally ended, I walked wearily toward the washroom, took off my work gloves, and checked my aching fingers. The splits were worse than ever and I had bled through the band - aids again. I felt so tired. I wondered how long I could keep doing this, if things would ever get any better, and why life was so hard.
After driving home, I tried to put a smile on my face as I opened the front door. But instead, one appeared naturally. My daughter ran up to me, yelled “Daddy!” and wrapped her little arms around my neck. I lifted her up and my heart filled with love. My tired body didn’t feel so tired anymore. My aches and pains disappeared into her hug, And the joy in my heart chased the sadness away. At that moment I kissed my little girl’s cheek and held her tight. I knew I could continue and that things would get better.
1. What was the author’s situation 30 years ago?| A．He was young man teaching students. | B．He was a retired person owning a sawmill. |
| C．He worked in a factory as an accountant. | D．He had a heavy burden of raising children. |
| A．There were not enough workers. | B．Workers that day were not tall enough. |
| C．All the heaters had stopped working. | D．The machines stopped working repeatedly. |
| A．he was very tired | B．he felt very relieved |
| C．he wore heavy clothes | D．he was walking up and down |
| A．a face | B．a smile | C．the door | D．his daughter |
| A．family can give us support | B．labor work is not that hard |
| C．it is better to have just one kid | D．it is important for kids to study hard |
【推荐2】No matter how many times Sandy has rescued an animal, she never gets over the casual cruelty some people display toward unwanted pets. When she lost her own “angel” dog, she started Logan’s Legacy to help other pets in need.
Sandy recently received a phone call about a small dog, possibly a puppy, that had been abandoned on a street. Since she was too far to help on, she called a friend who lives nearby to get there as soon as possible. When her friend Tom arrived, he found a tiny dog curled(蜷缩)in a tight ball with the chain firmly tied to a tree. Someone had left food and water for her, but the puppy was too frightened to eat or drink. Once gathered up in a blanket and placed into the back seat of the car, she began to get weak quickly from dehydration(脱水)and exhaustion.
The moment she got some water and food, the puppy made a rapid recovery, and her lovely and sweet personality could finally shine! “We have named her CiCi,” Sandy added, “She is feeling so much better. She has been observed at my place and she is doing great. This sweet baby girl will never feel fearful again, and won’t ever be abandoned again.” After winning hearts at Sandy’s office, CiCi has been approved for adopting and will soon leave for her new life. Sandy and her fellow rescuers are trying their best to find her the perfect family to love her and treat her with the respect all living creatures deserve!
1. What did Sandy feel it hard to overcome?| A．The casual humanity. | B．The cruelty of humanity. |
| C．The kind human nature. | D．The weakness of kindness. |
| A．She suffered a serious illness. |
| B．She had nothing to eat or drink. |
| C．She got lost far away from home. |
| D．She was scared and in poor health. |
| A．She will stop taking medicine. |
| B．She will continue further treatment. |
| C．She will have a perfect match for home. |
| D．She will get on well with Sandy forever. |
| A．A Warm Home for CiCi |
| B．Dog Saved Heart Fulfilled |
| C．A Terrible Experience of CiCi |
| D．Saving Dogs Saving Themselves |
【推荐3】Days after Argentina canceled all international passenger flights to protect the country from the new coronavirus, Juan Manuel Ballestero began his journey home the only way possible: He stepped aboard his small sailboat for what turned out to be an 85-day voyage across the Atlantic.
The 47-year-old sailor could have stayed on the tiny Portuguese island of Porto Santo to survive the era of lockdowns and social distancing in a scenic place largely spared by the virus. But the idea of spending what he thought could be “the end of the world” away from his family, especially his father who was goon to turn 90, was unbearable.
“I didn’t want to stay like a coward on an island where there were no cases,” Mr. Ballestero said. “I wanted to do everything possible to return home. The most important thing for me was to be with my family.”
He bought his sailboat in 2017, hoping to travel around the world. “I wasn’t afraid, but I did have a lot of uncertainty,” he said. “It was very strange to sail in the middle of a pandemic with humanity teetering around me.”
Sailing can be lonely passion, and it was particularly so on this voyage for Mr. Ballestero. Despite the vastness of the ocean, Mr. Ballestero felt he was in isolation, imprisoned by an intense steam of not knowing what the future held. “I was locked up in my own freedom,” he recalled.
When he made it to his native Mar del Plata on June 17, he was shocked by the hero’s welcome he received. “Entering my port where my father had his sailboat, where he taught me so many things, where I learned how to sail and where all this originated, gave me the taste of a mission accomplished,” he said.
1. Why did Ballestero decide on his Trans-Atlantic sailing?| A．To return home and see his family. | B．To explore scenic places of the world. |
| C．To avoid being considered as a coward. | D．To stay away from the new coronavirus. |
| A．Free and lonely. | B．Frightened but proud. |
| C．Uncertain and isolated. | D．Passionate but regretful. |
| A．His father was eager to welcome him home. |
| B．He gained a sense of achievement and belonging. |
| C．He completed the task and therefore became a hero. |
| D．His father gave him the inspiration to sail single-handed. |
| A．A History-making Sailor | B．An Adventurous Experience |
| C．Sailing Solo to Reach Father | D．Crossing the Atlantic Ocean |
