【推荐1】An eight-year-old child heard her parents talking about her little brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they had no money. Only a very expensive operation could save him now and there was no one to lend them the money.

When she heard her daddy say to her tearful mother, “Only a miracle can save him now, ” the little girl went to her bedroom and pulled her money from its hiding place and counted it carefully.

She hurried to a drugstore with the money in her hand.

“And what do you want?” asked the salesman. “It’s for my little brother, ” the girl answered. “He’s really, really sick and I want to buy a miracle.” “Pardon?” said the salesman.

“My brother Andrew has something bad growing inside his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him. So how much does a miracle cost?” “We don’t sell a miracle here, child. I’m sorry, ” the salesman said with a smile.

“Listen,   if it isn’t enough, I can try and get some more. Just tell me how much it costs.”

A well-dressed man heard it and asked, “What kind of a miracle does your brother need?”

“I don’t know, ” she answered with her eyes full of tears. “He’s really sick and mum says he needs an operation. But my daddy can’t pay for it, so I have brought all my money.”

“How much do you have?” asked the man. “$ 1.11, but I can try and get some more,” she answered. “Well, what luck, ” smiled the man. “$ 1.11, the price of a miracle for little brothers.”

He took up the girl’s hand and said, “Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.”

That well-dressed man was Dr Carlton Armstrong, a famous doctor. The operation was successful and it wasn’t long before Andrew was home again.

How much did the miracle cost?

1. What was the trouble in the little girl’s family?

A．Her brother was seriously ill.	B．They had no money.
C．Nothing could save her brother.	D．Both A and B.

2. In the eye of the little girl, a miracle might be _______.

A．something interesting	B．something beautiful
C．some wonderful medicine	D．some good food

3. The little girl said again and again “…I can try and get some more.” That shows _______.

A．she had still kept some money	B．she hoped not to be refused
C．There was no need to worry about money	D．she thought money was easy to get

4. From the passage we can infer that _______.

A．The doctor didn’t ask for any pay	B．A miracle is sure to happen if you keep on
C．The little girl is lovely but not so clever	D．Andrew was in fact not so sick as they had thought

【推荐2】A former teacher who joined the army discovered the influence his small act of kindness had on one student thanks to a chance meeting years later.

Sharing the story online, the man said while teaching science in 2014 and 2015, there was one girl who sat at the front of the class and was “filled with typical middle school anxiety”. She was quiet and “kept to herself”, but was always writing in a notebook during lessons.

He said, “ I decided to look over her shoulder and see what she was writing. “I suck. I ’m ugly. I ’m stupid. No one likes me. I hate m… ”   Without thinking, I snatched(抓) the notebook from her and started writing in it. “You ’re great; you ’re beautiful; you ’re intelligent; you ’re loved. ”   The opposite of everything she wrote, then handed it back. He said neither of them made a big deal of it at the time, but she slowly started opening up to him, talking more and coming out of her shell in class.

A few years later, the teacher got talking to a woman, who also served in the army and they discovered they were from the same area. They realized he had taught at the same school her cousin attended and she asked if he remembered teaching her. After telling the story about the notebook, the woman replied, “It is you”. She still has that notebook. She looks at it from time to time to get her through the tough times.

He wrote,“I was amazed. I almost started crying night there. Teachers always talk about how rare it is to hear from students in the future about how they influenced them. I only taught for a few years but I really tried and really cared. Even though that path didn ’t turn out how I had planned, it ’s humbling to know that I did some good in that time.”

1. What attracted the attention of the teacher?

A．The girl ’s being active in class.

B．The girl ’s unpleasant appearance.

C．The girl ’s writing constantly during lessons.

D．The girl ’s non-communicating with classmates.

2. What does the underlined part probably mean in Paragraph 3?

A．No longer being absent-minded.	B．No longer keeping writing.
C．Becoming more intelligent.	D．Becoming self-confident.

3. Why did the teacher feel amazed?

A．His small act had a deep effect on the girl.

B．His new job did not meet his expectations.

C．He only taught for a few years but succeeded.

D．He met the cousin of a student he taught years ago.

4. What can we infer from the passage?

A．It ’s typical that a student lacks confidence.

B．Encouragement can make a great difference.

C．Students rarely communicate with their teachers.

D．Almost all students have experienced middle school anxiety.

【推荐3】It’s been less than a month since Arnold, a Texas high school student, was forbidden from going to the prom and graduation unless he cut his locs. As his story spread on social media, celebrities and activists came to Arnold’s defence and encouraged him to stand up to his school’s hair discrimination. Now, in a significant turn of events, he’s proudly wearing his own hair-style at the 2020 Oscars.

Arnold and his mother were invited to attend as the guests of director Matthew A. Cherry, who won the award for Best Animated Short Film for Hair Love tonight. Fittingly, the short film tells the story of a Black father learning to style his daughter’s natural hair.

Arnold told us he couldn’t wait to walk the red carpet with the Hair Love team. “I’m so grateful. I never expected any of this,” Arnold says. “The message of that movie and my message go together so well. I think it’s really amazing how they reached out to me and how we can fight this together.”

Together, Cherry and Arnold are advocating for the nationwide passage of The CROWN Act, which is the law authored by California Senator Holly J. Mitchell that makes it illegal to discriminate against Black people for wearing their natural hair in the workplace or at school. Currently the Act has only been passed in New Jersey, California, and New York.

Arnold has also received the support of celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres, who invited him to appear on her daytime show and surprised him with a $20,000 scholarship from Alicia Keys. Arnold says the scholarship will help him pursue his dream of becoming a veterinarian. Arnold tells us. “The most exciting thing is seeing all the people that are on my side. I thought it would be a lot more hate than support.” Tonight, Arnold is looking forward to sharing his story on a massive platform. “As teenagers, we have a voice and we’re the future,” he says. “I want more cultural acceptance. If there’s any other situation that I feel like I need to stand up for, I would do that in a heartbeat.”

1. What happened to Arnold not long ago?

A．He played a role in a short film.

B．He managed to apply for a scholarship.

C．He dropped out of school owing to his hair.

D．He was not allowed to attend some school activities.

2. What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Violence.

B．Discrimination.

C．Panic.

D．Starvation.

3. What do we know from the passage?

A．Hair Love was based on Arnold’s experiences.

B．Alicia Keys shaped Arnold’s cultural acceptance.

C．Mitchell had been punished for wearing natural hair.

D．The CROWN Act has not been adopted nationwide.

4. What’s the writer’s main purpose in writing this passage?

A．To share a teenager’s story.	B．To advocate the passage of an act.
C．To introduce an Oscar-winning film.	D．To express his dissatisfaction with society.

【推荐1】Michelle Obama made a daring decision to return to the same designer who created her Inaugural(就职) Ball dress four years ago and the risk paid off.
The First Lady looked extremely attractive in a thin，sweeping，and ruby­coloured dress by designer Jason Wu.She teamed the dramatic gown with heels by Jimmy Choo and a diamond ring by Kimberly McDonald.
She surprised the fashion establishment by returning to a Wu design which had been custom­made for her.
Four years ago at her first Inauguration Ball，Michelle shimmered in an off­white，one­shouldered floor­length couture gown by the designer.
Wu，who was 26 at the time and had only been working in fashion for three years，saw his career take off after the First Lady’s surprise decision to wear one of his dresses.
He said at the time that he was unaware she had chosen the gown and had been watching at home on his couch and eating pizza when she appeared.
After her 2013 decision，Wu told Women’s Wear Daily，“Mrs Obama likes to keep her secrets.She fooled me again.”
Wu released a women’s clothing and accessories(装饰品) collection at Target last year and continues to be popular with the First Lady for official engagements.
The sleeveless，cross­halterneck dress with low­cut back flattered 49­year­old Michelle’s toned arms and neat waist.
It had been created especially for her by Wu and was a departure from the dark and plain colour tone she stuck to at earlier inauguration events.
Mrs Obama’s new hairstyle—she had bangs cut in on her birthday last week—had been loosely tousled for the special night.
Vice­President Joe Biden’s wife Jill also looked glamorous in a blue silk dress by Vera Wang at the Inauguration Ball.
1. Michelle Obama’s brave decision proved to be a________.

A．risk

B．danger

C．success

D．surprise

2. According to the passage，which of the following is TRUE?

A．Joe Biden’s wife Jill also had her dress created by Wu.

B．Mrs Obama’s inaugural dresses were made by the same designer.

C．The colour tone at Michelle’s earlier inaugural events was not satisfactory.

D．Mrs Obama had straight forehead hair as her new hairstyle for the special night.

3. From the 6th and 7th paragraphs we know that________.

A．Wu didn’t know Mrs Obama had chosen his creation again

B．Wu was aware that Mrs Obama had chosen his work again

C．Mrs Obama told Wu to give away her secrets

D．Mrs Obama should have told Wu the truth

4. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．The First Lady’s secrets.

B．Wu，a great designer.

C．Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Ball dress.

D．Mrs Obama’s 2013 decision.

【推荐2】Confucius (孔子), a famous teacher, was a politician and philosopher (哲 学 家 ) who lived in “Spring and Autumn Period”. During his lifetime, he planted the seeds for China’s complete change by teaching thousands of people. Today, he is thought to be one of the   world’s greatest teachers.

Confucius grew up in a poor family. As he grew up, Confucius worked to help his mother earn money. When he wasn’t working, he would read. His favorite thing to do was to learn. His mother saw this and did her best to help him learn. One day, rich families noticed how smart he was and offered him jobs counting their money and keeping track of their crops.

Confucius did this until he was 30 years old, but he always wanted to do more.

He didn’t like the way rulers treated their people. He wanted to find a way to help people who were less fortunate than he was. Later, he founded the philosophy “Confucianism”. Confucianism states that by educating yourself, loving your family, and respecting tradition you could become a better person. Confucius believed a person could achieve these things by practicing self-discipline (自 律). For the rest of his life, Confucius traveled and taught the people of China about self-discipline and the importance of education. He even opened China’s first school that taught both the poor and the wealthy as equals. Although he became very famous among China’s lower classes, the rulers of China never accepted his teachings. Eventually, his philosophy of self-discipline helped China unite under one ruler and finally find peace. Today, Confucius is celebrated all over the world for his philosophy of education, equality, and peace over war, money, and injustice.

1. What can we know about Confucius from the passage?

A．He was born in a politician family.

B．He was once a farmer guiding people farming.

C．He once acted as a math teacher.

D．He devoted himself to social development.

2. Why did rich families give him jobs?

A．He likes counting money.	B．He enjoyed harvesting crops.
C．He was very clever.	D．He disliked rulers.

3. Which is very important to keep peace according to the author?

A．Respect.

B．Self-confidence.

C．Self-discipline.

D．Equality.

4. What is the writer’s attitude towards Confucianism?

A．Supportive (支持的).

B．Doubtful (怀疑的).

C．Disappointed.

D．Hopeful.

【推荐3】LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12 (Xinhua)—Legendary comic book writer Stan Lee has died at the age of 95, according to media reports on Monday.

Lee, born in Stanley Lieber on Dec. 28^th, 1922, began his career in 1939 and joined the Marvel Comics in 1961.

He is considered as one of the most legendary names in the history of comic books and the leading creative force behind the rise of Marvel Comics. He co-created iconic fictional characters such as Spider-Man, X-Men, the Avengers, and many more.

Lee’s characters often have super powers, but they also have weaknesses. They were humans, not gods. They not only struggled to save the world, but also to pay their bills, make friends, and hold jobs. This made Marvel comic book heroes stand apart from its competitor DC, which produced the seemingly perfect heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman. Those superheroes have been adapted into blockbuster films, most of which were made after Disney acquired Marvel in a 4-billion-dollar deal in 2009.

In a statement, Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company said Stan Lee was as extraordinary as the characters he created.

Marvel also praised Lee on its website by putting on one of Lee’s famous quotes, which goes, “I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic-book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers. And then I began to realize: entertainment is one of the most important things in people’s lives. Without it, they might go off the deep end. I feel that if you’re able to entertain, you’re doing a good thing. ”

Praise from his Hollywood peers and colleagues was generous. President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige appreciated Lee’s unparalleled impact on the industry. “No one has had more of an impact on my career than Stan Lee,” Feige said. “Our thoughts are with his family and the millions of fans who have been forever touched by Stan’s genius, charisma and heart.”

1. How do Lee’s characters differ from those of DC?

A．They are perfect heroes.

B．They often have super powers.

C．They are not humans, but gods.

D．They have human shortcomings.

2. We can learn from Lee’s statement in Paragraph 6 that ________.

A．it is embarrassing to be a comic-book writer

B．a taste of entertainment is necessary in people’s lives

C．entertainment is the most important thing in the world

D．you can do everything well if you are able to entertain

3. According to the passage, we could know that ________.

A．Lee influenced Kevin Feige’s career a lot

B．Lee joined the Marvel Comics in his forties

C．Lee created the fictional characters all by himself

D．The superheroes were adapted into films before Disney acquired Marvel

4. What can be the best title for the passage?

A．Comics Legend—the Marvels and DC

B．The Superheroes in Stan Lee’s Comics

C．Marvel’s Comics Legend Stan Lee Dies at 95

D．The Life Story of Marvel Comics Legend Stan Lee

【推荐1】The Museum: The Charles Dickens Museum in London is the world’s most important collection of material relating to the great Victorian novelist and social commentator. The only surviving London home of Dickens (from 1837 until 1839) was opened as a museum in 1925 and is still welcoming visitors from all over the world. On the four floors, visitors can see paintings, rare editions, manuscripts, original furniture and many items relating to the life of one of the most popular and beloved personalities of the Victorian age.

Opening Hours: The Museum is open from Mondays to Saturdays 10: 00—17: 00; Sundays 11: 00—17: 00. Last admission (允许进入) is 30 minutes before closing time.

Special opening times can be arranged for groups, who may wish to book a private view.

Admission Charges: Adults: ￡5.00; Students: ￡4.00; Seniors: ￡4.00; Children: ￡3.00; Families: ￡14.00 (2 adults & up to five children).

Group Rates: For a group of 10 or more, a special group rate of ￡4.00 each applies. Children will still be admitted for ￡3.00 each.

Access: We are constantly working to improve access to the Museum. Our current projects involve the fitting of a wheelchair ramp(活动坡道) for better access and an audio tour for visitors with impaired (受损的) vision. Our Handling Sessions (亲身体验活动) are also suitable for the visually impaired. The Museum has developed an online virtual tour through the Museum. Click here to visit all the rooms in the Museum online.

Hire the Museum: The Museum can be hired for private functions, parties and many other social occasions.

Find Us: The Museum may be reached by using the following buses: 7, 17, 19, 38, 45, 46, 55, 243. And by these underground services: Piccadilly Line; Central Line. For a map, please click here. The British Museum and the Foundling Museum are within walking distance.

1. Compared to going there separately, if a family with two adults and four children go to the Museum together they will save ________.

A．￡22.00

B．￡14.00

C．￡11.00

D．￡8.00

2. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A．Anyone cannot hire the Museum for other uses.

B．Visitors with poor vision cannot enjoy the Museum.

C．The Museum is not very far from the British Museum.

D．people can be allowed into the Museum at 17:00.

3. The passage is probably from a ________.

A．magazine

B．Website

C．guidebook

D．Newspaper

【推荐3】Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first long­span bridge to carry motor traffic, and it quickly became the model for the great suspension bridges of the following century. Spanning New York's East River, it provided the first traffic artery （要道）between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn. Before that, the only transportation was by ferries, which were slow and could be dangerous in winter.
The construction of a bridge over the EastRiver had been discussed since the early 19th century, but the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 deflected all consideration of the project. When the war ended in 1865, the bridge became an important issue once more. In 1867, the New York State passed an act setting up the New York Bridge Company for the purpose of constructing a bridge between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn.
John Augustus Roebling was chosen to design the bridge. Born in Germany in 1806, he held aggressive views as a student and was listed by the German police as a dangerous figure. He emigrated to America in 1830 to escape political discrimination.
Roebling proposed a bridge with a span of 1,500 feet (465 m), with two towers in the East River serving as the main piers. The bridge that was actually built is longer—1,597 feet (486 m), the longest suspension bridge at that time.
1. What was the purpose of building the Brooklyn Bridge?

A．To replace an old bridge.

B．To set up a model for bridge construction.

C．To build a long­span bridge for the Civil War.

D．To provide faster and safer transportation than boats.

2. Which of the following is closest in meaning to “deflected” in the second paragraph?

A．blocked	B．developed
C．deserved	D．indicated

3. Which of the following is TRUE about the Brooklyn Bridge?

A．It was built in 1865.

B．It is shorter than originally planned.

C．It was first proposed after the Civil War.

D．It was built by the New York Bridge Company.

4. According to the passage, which of the following correctly describes John Augustus Roebling?

A．He participated in the Civil War and was seriously wounded.

B．He was the first person to propose the construction of the bridge.

C．He was chosen to design the bridge because of his aggressive views.

D．He moved to America because he was discriminated against in his home country.