【推荐1】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.

My initial reaction is always denial. 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. 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 faint sound in the distance. The sound gradually becomes louder, until I can identify it as an emergency vehicle 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 into formation (队形). We close up the emergency lane, ready to restart 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 compassion (同情心) 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．Shocked.
C．Calm.	D．Discouraged.

2. What does the author think when knowing an ambulance is approaching?

A．All drivers will be willing to move.	B．Someone should direct the traffic.
C．It will be hard for it to pass through.	D．Whoever is inside needs immediate help.

3. What does the underlined word “awestruck” in paragraph 7 most probably mean?

A．Deeply doubtful.	B．Filled with admiration.
C．Extremely confused.	D．Feeling distracted.

4. What does the author think made the miracle happen?

A．People’s kindness.	B．Instructions from a stranger.
C．The drivers’ good driving skills.	D．The drivers’ positive mindset.

【推荐2】There was a gardener who looked after his garden with great care. To water his flowers，he used two buckets. One was a shiny and new bucket. The other was a very old and dilapidated one, which had seen many years of service, but was now past its best.
Every morning, the gardener would fill up the two buckets. Then he would carry them along the path, one on each side, to the flowerbeds. The new bucket was very proud of itself. It could carry a full bucket of water without a single drop spilled(溢出). The old bucket felt very ashamed because of its holes: before it reached the flowerbeds, much water had leaked along the path.
Sometimes the new bucket would say, “See how capable I am! How good it is that the gardener has me to water the flowers every day! I don’t know why he still bothers with you. What a waste of space you are !”
And all that the old bucket could say was, “I know I’m not very useful, but I can only do my best. I’m happy that the gardener still finds a little bit of use in me, at least. ”
One day, the gardener heard that kind of conversation. After watering the flowers as usual, he said, “You both have done your work very well. Now I am going to carry you back. I want you to look carefully along the path.”
Then the two buckets did so. All along the path, they noticed, on the side where the new bucket was carried, there was just bare(光秃秃的)earth; on the other side where the old bucket was carried, there was a joyous row of wild flowers, leading all the way to the garden.
1. What does the underlined word “dilapidated” probably mean ?

A．dirty.

B．dark.

C．worn-out.

D．plain-looking.

2. What was the old bucket ashamed of ?

A．His past.

B．His aging.

C．His manner.

D．His leaking.

3. The new bucket made conversations with the old one mainly to _______.

A．laugh at the old one	B．take pity on the old one
C．show off its beautiful looks	D．praise the gardener’s kindness

4. Why was the old bucket still kept by the gardener?

A．Because it was used to keep a balance.

B．Because it stayed in its best condition.

C．Because it was taken as a treasure.

D．Because it had its own function.

【推荐3】Every time I reach for a book at Rydal Mount, I feel I should ask William Wordsworth’s permission. It’s 9 pm on a Friday night in March, and I’m about to spend a night in the former home of the poet—the first journalist to do so. I’ve said goodnight to the young curator(馆长) Leo Finighan. And now it’s just me and one of the most influential writers, alone together in his library.

On and off from 1813 to 1850, he was here, receiving visitors and editing his work. I can’t help feeling his spirit is still around.

“This is still, in part, a family house and we’re probably not as precious about it as we should be,” Chris Andrew had told me. He is Wordsworth’s great-great-great-great-grandson and the main promoter of a plan to open Rydal Mount to overnight guests for the first time. “But we prefer it this way,” he added. “It preserves the closeness to the poet. We can offer a more personal connection as a result.”

As I take a copy of his complete works back to my chair, they all seem to be gathering round. Here comes the poet. He’s back from the garden, where he would pace the path, composing lines. Upstairs Dorothy, his sister, is unwell. It’s an extraordinary feeling, as though at any moment I’m going to hear someone’s voice. By 9:30 pm, I’m in bed. I have a sound sleep in the best bedroom in the house. It’s the one that Wordsworth and his wife Mary used.

Before I have to go the next morning, there’s still time for a poem and I choose The Tables Turned from Lyrical Ballads. It begins with “Up! up! my friend, and quit your books” and I can’t help smiling at the volumes in front of me. It feels like he’s talking directly to me. Not surprising, really, given the fact I’m sitting in his bedroom.

1. Why does the author head for Rydal Mount?

A．To visit his friend Leo Finighan.

B．To report an annual event as a journalist.

C．To show admiration for Wordsworth.

D．To attend a conference for influential writers.

2. What was Andrew’s attitude to opening Rydal Mount to overnight guests?

A．Objective.

B．Favourable.

C．Doubtful.

D．Disapproving.

3. What does the author do during the night?

A．He paces the path in Wordsworth’s garden.

B．He sleeps in Wordsworth and Mary’s bedroom.

C．He chats with Wordsworth’s sister upstairs.

D．He copies Wordsworth’s poems.

4. What does “they” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Sounds.

B．His works.

C．Guests.

D．His family.

5. How does the author feel when reading The Tables Turned from Lyrical Ballads?

A．He feels as if Wordsworth were on the scene.

B．He feels surprised at Wordsworth’s humour.

C．He feels as if Wordsworth were enthusiastic about talking.

D．He feels Wordsworth might have been too particular about words.

【推荐1】The famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso once said, “I always do what I can’t do so that I can learn how to do it.” It strikes a chord with me because that’s exactly what I’ve done these years.

One of my earliest memories of doing before learning is of baking scones (烤饼) when I was about 10 years old. I wanted to bake them to surprise my mother when she returned home.

Before that I’d observed how my mother baked them many times. As I started to try, I didn’t know I shouldn’t handle the dough with my hands too much once I’d added the baking powder. However, I knew exactly how to roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter to cut the scones, because my mom had already taught me.

By the time my mom arrived home, the smell of freshly baked scones welcomed her into the kitchen. They were baked to golden brown perfection-flat, as a result of over handling the dough, but they tasted OK. My mom sweetly praised me for my attempt, rather than scolding me for the state of the kitchen, which was like a tornado had just blown!

Have my attempts always been successful? I wish! Some of my kitchen disasters were of such proportions that even the dogs wanted nothing to do with them. My gardening failures didn’t live to see another season.

But my habit of doing before learning is still helpful. Whatever computer program or application I have to learn, I do so by simply starting to use it. I do, learn, and improve. So if you ask me whether I regret that I tend to do first and learn later, I’d say I don’t, because what I have discovered from those is the wisdom to know when it’s OK to do and then learn, and when it’s probably better to learn and then do!

1. What can we learn about the author’s first experience of baking scones?

A．She practiced hard before actually trying.

B．She turned to her mom when necessary.

C．She wanted to perform better than her mom.

D．She managed to do it despite a little imperfection.

2. How did Mom respond to the author’s attempt?

A．She made improvements to the scones.

B．She expressed her appreciation for the job.

C．She shared her first experience of baking.

D．She was surprised by the mess in the kitchen.

3. What does the author think of her practices of “doing before learning”?

A．Most of them have ended up in failure.

B．They are just a barely usable method.

C．They contribute a lot to her self-improvement.

D．They only apply to the learning of specific skills.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To stress the importance of keeping learning.

B．To show the benefits of doing before learning.

C．To encourage people to do something they can’t do.

D．To call on readers to change their way of learning.

【推荐2】When I was seven, my family and I were coming back from a T-ball game. In our driveway, we spotted two adult geese and a small gosling. The adults were frightened by our return and flew away, but their baby was still too young to fly and couldn’t follow.

Hours passed and night fell. The tiny little thing was wandering around our yard, unaware of what could happen, and it was clear that the gosling needed protection, warmth and food to make it to the morning. At that point, we had to bring him into our backyard.

We all pretty much slept with one eye open for several days. Each morning, we would try to rush the goose over to his parents, who kept coming back to our yard. He wouldn’t go to them, though, and they wouldn’t come close enough to claim him. The young goose had clearly decided we were his new family, and my twin sister Joanna called the little guy Peeper.

Almost a year passed and we settled into a routine filled with feathery hugs and company. One evening my uncle came over, and my dad threw Peeper up into the air to show he could fly around the house, but this time, Peeper just flew off. Everyone was very sad. Twenty years passed, and Peeper became a fond memory for my family.

In 2019, an aging adult goose made his way back to my home. At first, I assumed it was just another Canada goose. After two weeks of the goose coming back repeatedly, it became clear to me that this wasn’t a random goose. He did all of the same things Peeper used to, like trying to come in through the front door and sleeping in our enclosed pool area. Besides, this goose responded to the name Peeper. Much to my amazement, my old best friend had returned, 20 years later.

1. Why did the author bring the little goose home that night?

A．It couldn’t find its parents.

B．It was too fragile to survive.

C．It wanted to stay in the yard.

D．It enjoyed the author’s company.

2. What does the underlined word “claim” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Get.

B．Forgive.

C．Challenge.

D．Annoy.

3. What can we infer about the author from the text?

A．She named the goose Peeper.

B．She set Peeper free on purpose.

C．She had a deep feeling to Peeper.

D．She trained the goose to fly daily.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A．A Feathered Family Member

B．The Return of a Long Lost Friend

C．The Reunion of a Goose Family

D．An Adventurous Journey Home

【推荐3】I wanted to stop at a sporting goods store “Going Out of Business” sale we passed in the mall. “There’s nothing we need”, my husband’s usual ill-tempered male comment. “It’s all overpriced junk. If they had anything good, they wouldn’t be going out of business.”

“But, it’s sporting goods. Could be some good deals for the grandkids. And, you like boats and fishing stuff. I’ve put up with that photo of your ‘dream-canoe’ stuck on the bathroom mirror for years now. Maybe you’d enjoy just looking around?”

“Are you crazy?” His eyes got funny and he said something like. “This loser store wouldn’t carry something like that. And I’m sure not going near those sucker crowds.”

I squared my chin and marched into the crowded store. Aisles and aisles of sporting equipment, boy toys were strung with huge blaring signs. CLOSING OUT SALE─Up to 80% OFF. NO REFUNDS.

Up and down the aisles I walked and explored, humming to myself and enjoying the excitement of a sale. All of a sudden, there, at the back of the store, in gleaming silver, full of lifejackets, paddles and fishing stuff, sat the exact canoe of my husband’s picture. I gasped and blinked three times. Yup. It was still there. The Supremo Numero-Uno blah, blah. My heart beat wildly. I made my way through the crowds, scrambled over junk in the aisles and nearly fell into the canoe looking for the price tag. There it was a little tattered, with the manufacturer’s suggested retail price at $6,750 plus tax crossed out and a handwritten TO CLEAR $750 AS IS NO RETURNS. Must be a mistake. $6000 off? Salesman. I had to talk to a salesman. I spotted a young fellow with a “Hi. I’m Mathew” tag trying to hide out from bargain hunters. I grasped his sleeve.

“Mathew. Tell me about this EI Supremo canoe. What’s wrong with it? Why is it only $750?”

“Oh. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s brand new. We’re closing the store. It’s on clearance like everything else. I think that includes lifejackets, paddles and a bunch of fishing gear, too. I’ll go check.”

A few minutes later he came back and said, “I’m sorry ma’am. Someone made a mistake on the sale tag. It’s supposed to be $4,750 for the whole package. I just talked to my Dad who is running the close-out. He said it was worth more than $8,000 regular price so it’s still a real good deal.”

I felt tears well up in my eyes. “Oh well,” I said sadly. “Of course, it was too good to be true. This is exactly like my husband’s dreamboat. I guess I started to dream myself when I saw that price tag. He’s going to be 62 years old Friday. Had to retire early for his health. It’s been hard on just the pension but the stubborn old fool has been saving $10 every week for years to buy one just like this. Just an old man’s silly dream, you know. Always said he wanted to spend his retirement out fishing in a canoe,” my voice reduced and I turned and walked away. I was already at the mall door when Mathew caught up with me. “Do you have $750 plus $25 for delivery and a bit more for tax, ma’am?” I gasped. “Yes.

Yes. That’s about all I have,” I said as I thought quickly about the eye surgery I was saving up for. “Well then, you just have your husband sitting on the front porch on Friday morning around 10 o'clock so he can be there when my Dad and I come to unload his new boat. We’ll even put a bow on it for his birthday.” I started to cry. My old hand shook and I had to squint as I wrote out my cheque. Mathew swallowed hard.

“Ma’am. There’s something you should know. This store was my Grandpa’s. He ran it for more than 30 years. He always promised to retire one day. Said he wanted to spend time relaxing and out fishing in a canoe. He ordered this one, custom, for himself last year but, well, just never took the time off to use it.” He swallowed even harder. “My Grandpa died, sudden-like, just last week. He was only 68 years old. I think he’d be mighty happy that your husband will get this here canoe. My Dad thinks so too. You just have to make sure he uses it a lot, okay? Promise?” I handed Mathew a Kleenex and we stood there together, quietly lost in our own thoughts for a moment, blowing our noses. “I promise,” I said as I dashed off to look for my dear sweet husband.

1. The sporting goods store was going out of business because ________.

A．the owner of the store had just passed away

B．the store was not managed properly by Mathew

C．the goods there were often mistakenly priced

D．the store often sold goods of poor quality

2. From the passage, we can find the writer’s husband ________.

A．had deep prejudice against businessmen	B．was an old man with wise comments
C．dreamt of possessing a fishing canoe	D．needed an operation on his eyes

3. The underlined sentence “My heart beat wildly” shows that the writer was ________.

A．desperate

B．excited

C．curious

D．skeptical

4. Mathew’s words in the last but one paragraph tell us that ________.

A．it’s better not to put off keeping the promise	B．it’s important to be a man of wisdom
C．helping others will double your happiness	D．the old should retire as early as possible