One day, when I was going to check in at an airport, I noticed there was a big problem. The counter person was telling everyone that all the planes were having problems and they would not be able to fly! And it was suggested that a bus would be provided to take us to Seattle. Everyone was worried, as we only had an hour and a half to make the connecting flight, and the bus was not even at the airport yet.
Finally, the bus pulled up, and the driver said, “They just pulled me out of bed after an all-night shift, and they expect me to get you to Seattle in time to catch your fight. Good luck!”
Needless to say, everyone was in a really bad mood. I was loading my baggage into the bus and had hung my banjo (班卓琴) over my back when the bus driver said, “What? Are you going to play that on my bus?” “Well, I really did not plan on it,” I replied.“I was only kidding,”said the driver. But I started thinking about it, and I pulled out the banjo. A worried, angry woman said, “Well, what if I don’t like it?” “Then tell me and I’ll stop,” I replied.
We drove off, and the tension made the atmosphere inside the bus horrendous! Then I started performing the old standard Blue Skies. In a few minutes, I noticed everyone was singing along. I started to sing, too, and before long, the whole bus burst into song.
One song led to another. Everyone laughed and sang, with food passed around the bus, and before long, the airport was in sight.
The bus driver called, “We made it! We never would have done it without the help of our banjo player.” Shouts of approval rang through the bus. People exchanged addresses and invitations to visit, and a few even exchanged hugs.
A few weeks later, my mailbox was filled with letters from my new friends. Their letters reminded me of how, by reaching out with just a song or a bit of friendship, you can turn a very tense situation into a peaceful experience.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 2?| A．The driver was glad to take them to Seattle. |
| B．The driver was too tired to send them to Seattle. |
| C．The driver was late because he just came off the night shift. |
| D．The driver thought they would have difficulty making it to Seattle. |
| A．Boring. | B．Strange. | C．Terrible. | D．Cheerful. |
| A．A great banjo play. |
| B．A wonderful musical bus ride. |
| C．The amazing friendship on a bus. |
| D．An unforgettable experience at the airport. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】The government has proposed to spend money developing wireless charging roads in the UK as part of a ￡40 million plan. Wireless charging roads could be developed to recharge electric cars while they drive along to solve some problems about limited equipment to encourage ownership of these vehicles and ensure better air quality. The government has promised the money to developing both on-street and wireless charging to help transformation from internal combustion engine(内燃机)cars to electric cars.
These systems work similarly to a Scalextric toy car. Wireless charging uses a process called electromagnetic induction(电磁感应)to move energy. On the ground is a pad in which electricity is passed through a set of wire to create a magnetic field. It is then moved to a receiver on the underside of the car. Once the technology works, it could mean that drivers can fill up their cars as they drive along, meaning there could be longer periods between charging.
The proposal was made in Department for Transport (DFT) and could also see charging points positioned at service stations and car parks. New homes will also, where permitted, be built with some points. David Martell, of the electric car charging company BP Chargemaster, said, "Wireless charging will make driving an electric vehicle as similar as possible to driving a petrol car but without going to the petrol station frequently."
This is not the first time that wireless charging roads have been proposed as a number of firms have developed technologies. Renault partnered with Qualcomm and VEDECOM Tech to develop a road to test the technology's capability. The 100-meter test track was said to be capable of a charge up to 20 kilowatts at speeds up to, and over, 62 miles per hour (nearly 100 km/h).
1. What's the attitude of the UK government to electric vehicles?| A．Supportive. | B．Unfavourable. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Objective. |
| A．How a Scalextric toy car functions. | B．How the electric cars get charged. |
| C．How the wireless road systems run. | D．How the electric cars benefit people. |
| A．It gets petrol cars unfavourable. | B．It saves drivers' trips to petrol station. |
| C．It gives rise to many new car parks. | D．It makes electric cars difficult to drive. |
| A．To show the experiment of some firms. |
| B．To announce the progress of the new technology. |
| C．To show the efficiency of the wireless road systems. |
| D．To encourage the cooperation among different firms. |
【推荐2】There's one problem that Silicon Valley hasn't solved even though self-driving cars become more and more popular nowadays. That is the traffic jam. But a U.K. aeronautics and space company, Airbus Group, may find a solution. The company's branch in Silicon Valley recently announced it's been working on a secret project titled "Vahana", an autonomous flying vehicle which can be used for not only passenger but also goods transport.
Airbus' flying taxi is designed to resemble a drone（无人机）, traveling medium-length distances. Developers in France and Germany are working on an electrically operated platform that would allow the flying taxi to carry multiple passengers once between city destinations. The vehicle would initially be manned by a pilot, for no countries allow completely autonomous flying vehicles at present.
Flight tests of the first Vahana prototype（原型）are planned, in the hope of bringing the product to consumers quickly. That's about ten years sooner than another future-travel system Hyperloop One.
"I'm no big fan of Star Wars, but it's not crazy to imagine that one day our big cities will have flying cars making their way along roads in the sky," says Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders. "In a not-too-distant future, we'll use our smartphones to book a fully automated flying taxi that will land outside our front door—without any pilot.
But before you get too excited about beating rush-hour traffic, it's worth noting that the company has a lot of technological kinks to work out before the product is ready to test. The same sensor technology that allows self-driving cars to avoid accidents doesn't exist for aerial vehicles. Airbus Group isn't the only company trying to get in the autonomous air transportation game. There are a number of drone companies on the market and the Ehang 184, a Chinese passenger drone, will begin flight testing in June.
1. What is the purpose of the Vahana?| A．To explore space. | B．To design a new type of car. |
| C．To reduce traffic accidents. | D．To find a solution to the traffic jam. |
| A．It may cause accidents. | B．It is operated electrically. |
| C．It is designed to be manned. | D．It is illegally permitted worldwide. |
| A．The Ehang 184 has been tested for flight. |
| B．Beating rush-hour traffic is in the near future. |
| C．There is a long way for Airbus Group to go in solving technological problems. |
| D．The sensor technology for self-driving cars can help aerial vehicles to avoid accidents. |
| A．A Self-driving Car is Designed. | B．Airbus May Turn Flying Taxis into Reality. |
| C．Airbus Joins in the Air Transportation Game. | D．A Bright Future of Autonomous Flying Vehicles. |
【推荐3】In China, people travel by train to visit new places, go on business trips or go back to their hometowns during holidays. But in the US, traveling by train is a very old tradition. It wasn't always that way, though.
The US railway system started to grow in 1826. Later, many railway companies started up and competed with each other to build new railway routes （路线）. Trains became a symbol of progress, with New York City’s Grand Central Station becoming a major cultural landmark （地标）. Musicians even created music works about trains. For example, Johnny Cash wrote a song called Folsom Prison Blues. But little by little, railways were replaced by highways as “car culture” took over the US.
China would go on to use trains even more widely than the US. China's railway network connects the entire country. It allows people to travel fast with ease. For that reason, Chinese people like traveling by train. This is especially obvious during Chunyun, when China’s train stations are crowded with thousands of people who are trying to get home.
I had never traveled by train until I moved to China. My first trip by train was from Beijing to Tianjin by high-speed train. It was amazing how quickly I could get there just half an hour. Since then, I’ve taken the train to lots of other cities Shanghai, Chongqing and Shenzhen. It's always a good time. People on the train tend to be friendly and happy to chat. And for some reason, even instant noodles taste better on the train than they do anywhere else.
1. What does Paragraph I say about traveling by train？| A．It's totally out of date. | B．It’s common in China. |
| C．It remains popular in the US. | D．It's strange in the US. |
| A．A musician’s famous song about trains. |
| B．A well-known cultural landmark of the US. |
| C．The development of the US railway system. |
| D．The difference of trains in China and the US. |
| A．People on the train enjoy telling stories. |
| B．Instant noodle on the train are delicious. |
| C．Train services are good during Chunyun. |
| D．Trains are fast and convenient for them. |
| A．Satisfied. | B．Worried. | C．Confused. | D．Uncaring. |
【推荐1】One of the greatest contributors to the first Oxford English Dictionary was also one of its most unusual. In 1879, Oxford University in England asked Prof. James Murray to serve as editor for what was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the English language. It would include every English word possible and would give not only the definition but also the history of the word and quotations showing how it was used.
This was a huge task, so Murray had to find volunteers from Britain, the United States, and the British colonies to search every newspaper, magazine, and book ever written in English. Hundreds of volunteers responded, including William Chester Minor. Dr. Minor was an American surgeon who had served in the Civil War and was now living in England. He gave his address as “Broadmoor, Crowthorne, Berkshire,” 50 miles from Oxford.
Minor joined the army of volunteers sending words and quotations to Murray. Over the next 17 years, he became one of the staff’s most valued contributors.
But he was also a mystery. In spite of many invitations, he would always decline to visit Oxford. So in 1897, Murray finally decided to travel to Crowthorne himself. When he arrived, he found Minor locked in a book-lined cell at the Broadmoor Asylum for the Criminally Insane.
Murray and Minor became friends, sharing their love of words. Minor continued contributing to the dictionary, sending in more than 10,000 submissions in 20 years. Murray continued to visit Minor regularly, sometimes taking walks with him around the asylum grounds. In 1910, Minor left Broadmoor for an asylum in his native America. Murray was at the port to wave goodbye to his remarkable friend.
Minor died in 1920, seven years before the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was completed. The 12 volumes defined 414, 825 words, and thousands of them were contributions from a very scholarly and devoted asylum patient.
1. According to the text, the first Oxford English Dictionary_________.| A．came out before Minor died |
| B．was edited by an American volunteer |
| C．included the English words invented by Murray |
| D．was intended to be the most ambitious English dictionary |
| A．He helped Murray to find hundreds of volunteers. |
| B．He sent newspapers, magazines and books to Murray. |
| C．He provided a great number of words and quotations. |
| D．He went to England to work with Murray. |
| A．He was shut in an asylum. | B．He disliked traveling. |
| C．He was busy writing a book. | D．He lived far from Oxford. |
| A．Cautious and friendly. | B．Unusual and scholarly. |
| C．Friendly and determined. | D．Considerate and optimistic. |
【推荐2】I was surprised to find the congestion (拥塞) outside Layla’s primary school was unusually absent—I’d driven right into a parking space, and I was on time, for once. The school bell rang, and in a moment a stream of children made their way through the gate. But something was different—the kids were piling into vehicles in threes and fours.
Before I could enquire my daughter Layla, Mr Trent, the deputy head, approached. “Mrs Pavis, did you not read our letter?” Letter? What letter? I had a history of not looking out for them, and not reading them in most cases. “The letter? Of course. It must have just slipped my mind—I’ve been away with work.”
Now I was digging around in Layla’s messy schoolbag at home. Eventually, I found several letters, all addressing the same topic—parking outside the school gates. Apparently with some parents parking illegally, the police were about to get involved. “Why didn’t you give me these letters?” I demanded. Layla shrugged. “I forgot.” I was about to launch into a severe lecture when it occurred to me that I had always forgotten—I had forgotten to give Layla her money for cookery that morning and forgotten to hang out the kids’ washed clothes.
I contained myself and figured out that they wanted the parents to car-pool (拼车). I spent the next half hour ringing round Layla’s friends’ parents, enquiring if they would like to car-pool with us. Unfortunately, they were all sorted. It was my own fault—I should have read those letters ages ago. “Er... I overheard others talking about it,” Layla said, “They said they didn’t know who would car-pool with us, because we’re always late.” I flushed instantly. We were a disorganised family, and I was the one to blame.
I resolved to change. With responsibility for my kids, I find I am never, ever late. It’s good for Layla and for her older brothers, and it’s good for me, because now I never leave the house unprepared. I’ve even started checking the kids’ schoolbags for notes from school.
1. What did the author notice when the school was over?| A．It was hard to find a parking space. | B．Children were picked up in groups. |
| C．Her daughter was absent from class. | D．She arrived much earlier than others. |
| A．The reflection of her daily routine. | B．The realization of her carelessness. |
| C．The knowledge of her kid’s character. | D．The awareness of her kid’s depression. |
| A．Because they contacted them late. | B．Because they failed to keep the house tidy. |
| C．Because they couldn’t be on time. | D．Because they ignored the school’s request. |
| A．Action creates motivation. | B．Mother’s love never changes. |
| C．It’s never too late to mend. | D．Patience is the key to success. |
【推荐3】With a satisfied smile, Keisha finished the last sentence of her English essay about one of her heroes, Rosa Parks, an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement.
“Keisha,” her mother shouted from downstairs. “It’s almost 4:15.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t be late.” Keisha pulled down a storybook from her bookshelf, as she always read to the nursing home’s residents. And on an impulse（一时心血来潮）, she asked her English notebook as well.
As Keisha came running in the door, the manager told her, “We have a new resident this week, Mrs. Ruby Watson. She’s sill adjusting to her new surroundings. You’ll find her in Room 28. Any by the way, Keisha, good luck.”
Keisha walked down the hallway at a quick pace. As she entered Room 28, she met two sharp brown eyes staring at her doubtfully.
“I’m Keisha Jackson, a volunteer,” Keisha explained. “I come here to help pass the time with residents, or read to them, or ...” Keisha started stammering（结巴）as Mrs. Watson continued to stare at her.
“I didn’t request anyone to keep me company,” Mrs. Watson interrupted. “I’m alone most of the time, and that’s how I prefer it.”
“I brought along some funny stories,” Keisha said hesitantly.
“I’m not in the mood for funny stories,” Mrs. Watson replied angrily. “What else do you have?”
Nervously, Keisha opened her notebook to her essay. She read the title aloud, “Ross Parks: A Woman of Courage and Conviction（信念）.” She glanced at Mrs. Watson to see how she might react, but to her surprise, Mrs. Watson’s face relaxed and her eyes shone. “Read to me about Rosa,” Mrs. Watson said.
Keisha read how Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in 1955 inspired the protest that became a turning point in the struggle for civil rights.
“I walked with Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King,” Mrs. Watson said with pride. “That was the greatest moment of my life because ...” She paused.
“Because ... you were a woman of courage and conviction too.”
Sitting up straighter, Mrs. Watson said, “Yes, I was and I still am. Thank you for reminding me, Keisha. Next Thursday, I will tell you my story.”
1. Why did Keisha take her English notebook along?| A．Her mother asked her to take it. |
| B．She would hand it in on her way. |
| C．She might read her essay to someone. |
| D．The manager wanted to read her essay. |
| A．Mrs. Watson could be difficult. |
| B．Mrs. Watson was in poor health. |
| C．Keisha was feeling nervous. |
| D．Keisha was a shy person. |
| A．It aroused her curiosity in volunteer work. |
| B．It built up her expectation for more visitors. |
| C．It awoke her pride in her struggle for civil rights. |
| D．It changed her attitude to the Civil Rights Movement. |
| A．a girl enjoys learning about her heroes |
| B．a girl helps someone feel appreciated |
| C．a woman overcomes hardship by herself |
| D．a woman gathers the courage of life |
【推荐1】Angela and Darren have two children. Their son, Kyle, is twenty years old and the daughter Rita is only six.
One Friday afternoon, Kyle’s parents both had to work late. They asked him to pick Rita up at school in the afternoon. Kyle said yes. Around 3:00 in the afternoon, Kyle got a call from his best friend, Peter. He asked him to go to Jessica’s mother’s country house. And they would leave in fifteen minutes.
The house was wonderful. Kyle and his friends always talked about going there. Kyle looked at his watch and thought about how much fun he could have with his friends in the country house. He knew the teacher at Rita’s school would call his grandmother if he did not pick her up. He thought for a moment, wanting to go with his friends.
But after a second thought, he knew he couldn’t let his parents and sister down. At last he said thank-you to his friend for the invitation, but he had made a promise that he really must keep. Realizing he didn’t have much time left, Kyle rushed to his sister’s school.
He was five minutes late, and when he got there, he saw that Rita was very scared and was about to cry. She was the last student at the school, and the teacher was waiting with her. When she saw her big brother rushing to the gate of the school, Rita smiled. She ran to him and gave him a big hug. Kyle realized that he had done the right thing. He must always keep his word and be worthy of trust because his decisions influenced other people’s lives.
1. Why did Kyle have to pick up his sister on Friday afternoon?| A．His sister was too young. |
| B．His parents had to work late. |
| C．His friends asked him to do so. |
| D．His parents had to look after his grandmother. |
| A．He refused it politely finally. |
| B．He accepted it at once. |
| C．He disappointed his parents and sister. |
| D．He made another promise to go out with his friend. |
| A．Anxious. | B．Embarrassed. |
| C．Worthwhile. | D．Pitiful. |
| A．It’s never too late to mend. | B．Always prepare for a rainy day. |
| C．Never give up what you believe. | D．Be true in word and keep it in action. |
【推荐2】In 2019, Wang Jibing, a food delivery rider, had an unpleasant experience due to the wrong address left by a customer. Wang searched three buildings and climbed 18 floors before he finally managed to deliver the food to the customer, who rudely scolded Wang for arriving late. Wang was sad and frustrated. As a husband and father of three children, who shouldered the majority of the financial responsibility in his family, he had to bear all silently. On his way home that day, Wang wrote a poem, Man in a Hurry, expressing his feelings.
Since then, Wang has been writing poems inspired by his daily life, including a poem New Temple, which occurred to him after he delivered food to construction workers repairing an old temple, and Forgive, based on his observation of a young couple fighting.
Wang’s poems, simple yet real, are seen as a tool to process his emotions, especially the personal experiences he has during his work. His heart is healed by writing the poems, and he has shared them with his friends. In 2022, one of his friends posted Man in a Hurry online. It quickly went viral and was viewed for over 20 million times. The same year, Wang published a collection of more than 180 poems, under the same title. So far, Wang has written about 4,000 poems. This April, Wang published his second poetry collection, titled I Love This World Clumsily, featuring about 130 poems he has written since July 2022.
“Poetry is like a distraction from stress and an opportunity to record my life. Whether it’s coping with pain, dealing with stressful situations, or coming to terms with life’s struggles, poetry makes me confident and happy,” says Wang.
“The feedback from the readers is a big encouragement to me. Those poems carne to me naturally and I enjoyed writing them very much. However, the priority is to look after my family, so I will keep my regular job delivering food,” says Wang.
1. What can we know from paragraph 1?| A．Wang was in a hurry for the bad weather. |
| B．Wang released his feelings by writing a poem. |
| C．Wang lost his job for an unpleasant experience. |
| D．Wang misunderstood the customer’s need. |
| A．Became a hit. | B．Got updated. |
| C．Disappeared online. | D．Received criticism. |
| A．Talented and generous. | B．Responsible and creative. |
| C．Ambitious and considerate. | D．Intelligent and humorous. |
| A．An unpleasant experience. |
| B．A good way to process emotions. |
| C．A man delivering a feast of poetry. |
| D．A popular collection of poems online. |
【推荐3】The pounding (重击声) was driving Edward crazy. A new neighbor had just moved into the apartment below him. The newcomer was deaf, or seemed to be, because he played his stereo (立体声音响) loud enough for the whole building to hear.
On the first day he heard the stereo rocking over, Edward marched downstairs and politely told the newcomer that his stereo was too loud. He asked the new tenant to turn the volume down and keep it down as long as he lived in the building. The tenant appeared surprised and embarrassed, and said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was that loud.”
So, Edward returned upstairs, feeling good, because he had taken a stand and politely let the newcomer know that loud music was not going to be tolerated. The next day all was quiet, and Edward continued to be pleased with himself. The following day, Edward thought it must be Fourth of July, because a marching band was playing on his street. In fact, it was the new neighbor who was playing his music loud again.
Edward was not one to repeat himself, feeling that each time you repeated yourself, you diminished the value of your words. So, he did what he always did with rude neighbors — grin (露齿而笑) and bear it. Eventually, they would move away. What else are you going to do?
In Los Angeles a year ago, a woman had complained to her upstairs neighbor that he was playing his drums too loud and too often. The drummer repeatedly ignored her. One day the woman walked upstairs and shot the drummer in the head and his girlfriend in the chest. The woman was sentenced to prison for 20 years.
The dead drummer won’t bother anyone with his drums, but the woman might be wishing now that she had learned to grin and bear it. If she were still living in her apartment, she could always move. When you’re in prison, you don’t have that option.
1. The man living below where Edward lived was .| A．a deaf man | B．the owner of the house |
| C．a tenant | D．an old neighbor |
| A．Grinning and bearing it. |
| B．Persuading them to stop repeatedly. |
| C．Shouting them to dead. |
| D．Moving away from the rude neighbors. |
| A．being in prison means the loss of freedom |
| B．grinning and bearing it is the best policy |
| C．Edward should follow the example of the woman |
| D．the woman was right to kill her neighbor |
| A．he ignored her advice repeatedly |
| B．she could not stand his playing the music too loud |
| C．she could not put up with him any longer |
| D．he played the drums too often |
