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. |
| A．Objective. | B．Favourable. | C．Doubtful. | D．Disapproving. |
| 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. |
| A．Sounds. | B．His works. | C．Guests. | D．His family. |
| 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. |
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【推荐1】Some of my earliest memories involve sitting with my dad in his study every night when he came home from the office, I’d watch as he put his personal items away; his watch, wallet, comb and car keys They would always occupy the same spot on the table every time.
Dad’s comb was jade green. I heard he bought it when he married Mum. Every night, he would smile, hand me the comb and say, “Be a good girl and help Daddy clean it, OK?”
I was more than happy to do it. At age five, this kind of task brought me such joy. I would excitedly turn the tap on, and then brush the comb with a used toothbrush as hard as I could. Satisfied that I’d done a good job, I would proudly return the comb to Dad. He would smile at me, and place the comb on top of his wallet.
About two years later, Dad left his sales job and started his own wholesale business. I started primary school. That was when things started to change. Dad’s business wasn’t doing so well, and our stable life started getting shaky. He didn’t come home as much as he used to. And when he did come home, it was always late and I’d already be in bed. 1 started to get mad. Why didn’t he listen to Mum and just stick to his old job? Why did he take the risk and place the whole family in trouble? Over the years, I stopped waiting for him to come home, and stopped going downstairs to check on him.
Now 28, I’ve graduated from college and got a job. Dad’s business has also started to get back on track. Yet the uncomfortable silence between Dad and me went on.
Two days before my birthday last year, Dad came home early. On that evening, I helped him carry his bags into his study as usual. When I turned to leave, he asked me to clean his comb. I looked at him for a while, then took the comb and headed to the sink.
It was the same comb. After cleaning it, I passed it back to Dad. He looked at it and smiled. But this time, I noticed something different. My dad had aged. He had wrinkles next to his eyes when he smiled, yet his smile was still as heartwarming as before.
1. From the first three paragraphs, we can learn___________.| A．the author would study with Dad every evening |
| B．the precious green comb of Dad was made of jade |
| C．the earliest memories with Dad were full of joy |
| D．the author was unwilling to clean the comb for Dad |
| A．He was eager to get everything on track. |
| B．He wanted to keep his family life stable. |
| C．He was laid off and had to make a living. |
| D．He hoped to earn a better life for the family. |
| A．Cheerful→mad→warm. |
| B．Mad→satisfied→warm. |
| C．Satisfied→worried→angry |
| D．Warm→concerned→uncomfortable. |
| A．My Dad’s Comb |
| B．Dad’s Wholesale Business |
| C．Changes of My Dad |
| D．My Earliest Memories with Dad |
【推荐2】Twenty-four-year-old Ohio boy Ian Burkhart lost all hope of being able to move his limbs(肢）again after a tragic diving accident left him disabled six years ago. But on April 13,doctors from the Ohio State University and Battelle Memorial Institute reported that for the first time in medical history, they had been able to restore movement to the young man’s fingers without the use of external prosthetics (修复学）. This means that Ian can perform tasks like brushing his teeth , pouring water into a glass and even playing Guitar Hero by just thinking about them. They are amazing achievements for someone whose body has been totally lifeless for many years.
Ian was vacationing at the beach when he dived into a shallow wave. The impact of hitting the sandy bottom caused extensive damage to his spine (脊椎），leaving the young boy disabled from the chest (胸部)down. Fortunately for Ian, just 25 minutes away from his hometown of Dublin, some researchers at the Battelle Memorial Institute were developing Neurolife - a technology that enables the disabled to move their limbs with the power of their thoughts.
The experiment was not without danger. Even if the operation was successful, there was no guarantee (保证)that the technology would work given that it had never been tested on a human before. However, these problems did not discourage Ian. He said，“I knew I was going to be taken care of，and something is going to come along to help people like me eventually. “The technology now only works when Ian’s hand is connected to the computers in the lab. Dr. Ali Rezai, a researcher, says, your final goal is to help all people with disabilities become more independent and have control.”
1. Why was Ian injured?| A．Because of his careless driving. | B．Because he was not good at swimming. |
| C．Because he didn't dive in time. | D．Because of the impact of hitting. |
| A．He is able to play the guitar. | B．He is almost independent. |
| C．He can control his legs. | D．He can control his fingers. |
| A．He is anxious about the effect. |
| B．He thinks his recovery is promising. |
| C．He feels fortunate that he survived at last. |
| D．He is frightened at the potential of disability. |
| A．Moving Limbs with the Power of Thought |
| B．Human Technology Is Super Powerful |
| C．A Medical Pioneer- Ian Burkhart |
| D．A Professional Rescue of External Prosthetics |
【推荐3】Lillian, 17, had just started working as a lifesaver at a beach in Australia on New Year’s Eve when beach-goers started to point and shout at the water. The workers quickly examined the situation and saw that a kangaroo had jumped out of the bushes (灌木丛) — straight into the sea.
The animal seemed confused by the fishermen standing on the rocks. So instead of turning back and heading back into the bushes, it jumped right into the water! The poor thing bobbed(摆动)around in the waves and went underwater several times before Lillian decided to take action.
As with any other animal rescue, it’s important to approach the situation with prudence. Wild animals that are stressed can become dangerous to their rescuers, and Lillian was aware of the risks as she took her rescue board and hit the water at a run. “It just didn’t want to come on to the beach because it was kind of scared,” she said. “I was trying to figure out how to get it on the board. But considering that it’s a wild animal, even though I was helping, I wouldn’t want to be hurt by it or make it more stressed out.”
As beach-goers recorded the rescue on their phones,Lillian paddled (用浆划船) behind the animal carefully and guided the kangaroo onto the beach. As soon as Lillian’s feet touched the sand, the beach erupted in cheers for her!“It was quite special. As people there were cheering and clapping, the kangaroo was just sitting there up in the bushes staring at me, as if it was conveying something with its shining eyes,” Lillian said. “I didn’t think that was going to ever be my first rescue, I may have more rescues in the future, but none would be as memorable as this one.”
1. What happened to the kangaroo?| A．It jumped off the rocks by mistake, |
| B．It jumped into the sea by accident, |
| C．It was forced to leave the bushes. |
| D．It was washed away into the sea. |
| A．Inspiration. | B．Hope. | C．Care. | D．Shock. |
| A．It couldn’t wait to leave her. |
| B．It was worried about her safety. |
| C．It was confused about her action. |
| D．It seemed grateful for her help. |
| A．Far-sighted and independent. | B．Talented and positive. |
| C．Brave and cautious. | D．Determined and ambitious. |
【推荐1】I’m studying English at a school in the UK at the moment and having a wonderful time, meeting new friends and getting to know the country. We have the chance to go on lots of trips and recently we visited the famous town of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.
Before we went, we prepared for the trip.
We were there for the whole day and we all thought it would be best to do the research in the morning.
Stratford is a lovely town and we spent the afternoon enjoying the sights. After lunch we looked around Holy Trinity Church, and of course we visited the house where the world’s most famous playwright was born and grew up.
Besides being fun, it was a great way to practice our English, and not only because we were able to speak to local people.
| A．However, many of the shops were closed. |
| B．We could then relax in the afternoon and have a tour. |
| C．In class the next day we presented the results of our surveys. |
| D．But we didn’t just walk around the town taking photographs. |
| E．On the other hand, the weather was better than we had expected. |
| F．That was followed by some fun boating on the river before we left. |
| G．We worked in teams and created some surveys on different subjects. |
【推荐2】For quite some time I have had an interest in the situation of the homeless. I have read about it，prayed over it，and have done small things to help. But feeling that I could，and should，do more to make a difference，I concluded that living as a homeless man-at least for a very brief period-was the best way to understand what it's like to have no place to call home.
I decided that St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church would be my first stop. Since the church opens its basement to homeless people every Friday for a hot meal，St. Vincent's was symbolically a very good place to start my day as a homeless man.
After praying before the Blessed Sacrament，I hit the subfreezing streets with no money. I got into a line of men，women and children waiting to be admitted into the dining room where a free hot meal is served every day.
From there I walked to Health Care for the Homeless—an organization dedicated to providing free medical care to people who have no permanent residence. Inside were about 75 homeless women and men waiting to be seen by a nurse. There I spoke with an older man who had serious family problems that caused his homelessness.
Next，I stopped at a hotel and fast food restaurant asking if they were hiring. From there I walked the streets of downtown Baltimore asking people for a little loose change to buy a cup of coffee. I politely approached approximately 35 people. About 30 of them ignored me，and said they didn't have any money，or simply said no. But five people did offer me a small donation. I explained what I was doing，and thankfully declined their generosity.
Later that night，as I walked back to my vehicle，I realized that I was a richer person for having lived one day as a homeless man. I thought about the homeless men and women I encountered，and their problems.
1. Why did the author decide to make a start from the church？| A．Only it offered the homeless a hot meal. |
| B．It impressed the author in many ways. |
| C．It had a routine of opening to the homeless. |
| D．Many homeless people were allowed to live in the basement. |
| A．He had a word with a homeless man. |
| B．He helped an older man with family problems. |
| C．He knew it was too miserable to have no money. |
| D．He had a hot meal with some women and children. |
| A．The author worked a few hours in the restaurant. |
| B．People should have cared about the homeless more. |
| C．No food restaurants agreed to hire a homeless man. |
| D．Very few people looked down upon the homeless. |
| A．He would treasure what he had got in life. |
| B．He would spend more time with the homeless. |
| C．He would find a better way to help the homeless. |
| D．He would frequently invite the homeless to his home. |
【推荐3】My parents love tennis and they' re members of a tennis club. My older brother was really good at it and they supported him — taking him to lessons all the time. So when I announced I wanted to be a tennis champion when I grew up, I just intended for them to notice me. My mother laughed. She knew I couldn't possibly be serious, I was just a 4-year-old kid!
Later, I joined the club's junior coaching group and eventually took part in my first proper contest, confident that my team would do well. We won, which was fantastic, but I wasn't so successful. I didn't even want to be in the team photo because I didn't feel I deserved to be. When my coach asked what happened in my final match, I didn't know what to say. I couldn't believe I'd lost. I thought I was the better player. But every time I attacked, the other player defended well. I couldn't explain the result.
After that, I decided to listen more carefully to my coach because he had lots of tips. I realised that I need the right attitude to be a winner. On court I have a plan but sometimes the other guy will do something unexpected so I'll change it. If I lose a point, I do my best to forget it and find a way to win the next one.
At tournaments, it's impossible to avoid players who explode in anger. Lots of players can be negative, including myself sometimes. I felt angry and nearly broke my racket! But my coach has helped me develop ways to control those feelings. After all, the judges have a hard job and you just have to accept their decisions.
My coach demands that I train in the gym to make sure I'm strong right to the end of a tournament. I'm getting good results: my shots are more accurate and there's a chance that I could be a champion one day with hard work.
1. The author said that he was going to be a tennis champion in order to ________.| A．please his parents | B．annoy his older brother |
| C．get some attention | D．persuade people that he was serious |
| A．He was confused about his defeat. | B．He was proud to be a member of the winning team. |
| C．He was fond of the way he treated another player. | D．He was amazed that he had got so far in the tournament. |
| A．Follow his game plan. | B．Respect the other player. |
| C．Don't let the other player surprise him. | D．Don't keep thinking about his mistakes. |
| A．He tries to keep calm during the game. | B．He broke his racket once when he was angry. |
| C．He stays away from players who behave badly. | D．He found it difficult to deal with one judge's decisions. |
【推荐1】Thanksgiving time came and all the relatives were gathered around the long table, or seated behind TV trays. The television was on and some folks were watching it while talking with one another. Something on television got their attention and one of the adults said, “Listen at it!” Someone else replied. “Well, if that don’t beat all.”
Simple phrases were spoken by folks whose language was simple and brief. They had several idioms that were just as colorful phrases and words that brightened the room and warmed the conversation. In school we were taught to speak differently. The way our relatives spoke was discouraged. Sometimes our parents would say things we weren’t taught in school. They’d often correct themselves, as if getting rid of a mistake. Of course we learned some of their phrases and used them. They were comfortable words to pronounce, familiar.
Our father’s side of the family was from Arkansas and Oklahoma and they spoke with the accents native to their birth states. Their voices musical and often high, it was easy to pick up that effect in our own speech and at school my brother and I were often teased for the way we spoke. Our mother’s side of the family came from Illinois and they had a tendency to talk fast. They had an accent, too, and my brother and I added that to our own speech, confusing the kids at school all the more. Our father’s side of the family loved to laugh and have a good time. Our mother’s side of the family was more serious about how they took life in; their joys more silently experienced and enjoyed. It was a rich picture of culture and it gave my brother and me a colorful view in life.
Thanksgiving holiday was always an easy comfortable going day. It was the first real holiday of the season when everyone came together in one place, and a good time was spent happily together by all.
1. From the text we can know that ___________.| A．parents were worried that their relatives might affect their kids’ language |
| B．parents tried to avoid affecting their kids with their dialects |
| C．parents didn’t allow their children to speak dialects |
| D．parents thought the language taught in school was the best |
| A．the language used by his father’s side of the family was fast |
| B．his mother’s side of the family spoke in a high voice |
| C．English taught in school is different from that used in daily life |
| D．the writer and brother were laughed at at school because of their poor English |
| A．They had relatives from different parts of Europe. |
| B．There were many mistakes in their language. |
| C．They added some dialects in their speeches. |
| D．Their speeches were lively and colorful. |
| A．He liked them very much. |
| B．They should be used everywhere. |
| C．They should be taught in school. |
| D．They were not accepted by others. |
【推荐2】On May 21, 2022, Tom Turcich of New Jersey became the 10th person to walk around the world. Over seven years, he walked 48,000 kilometers across six continents and 38 countries, most of which with his dog Savannah.
Speaking to CNN, Turcich explained that after a friend died in an accident at age 17, he started to look at life differently and decided to go on a journey around the world. It took over eight years of saving and planning before Turcich finally left his home on April 2, 2015, just before his 26th birthday, on his way to Panama. He had a stroller to carry his hiking equipment: a sleeping bag, a laptop, a camera and a box of food.
About four months into the journey, Turcich adopted Savannah from an animal shelter in Texas. She joined him for the rest of the trip, becoming the first dog to walk around the world. The pair walked around 30 — 40 kilometers a day, spending most nights camping. Some parts could not be done on foot, however, such as when Turcich and Savannah took a boat from Uruguay to Antarctica. In late 2017, Turcich had to return home to recover from an illness he got while traveling through Ireland and the UK.
He and Savannah started walking again in May 2018, going through Europe, North Africa and Turkey before getting stuck in Azerbaijan for six months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were able to travel to Kyrgyzstan before taking a plane to Seattle. From there, he and Savannah walked back to New Jersey.
Turcich said the most difficult place to walk through was “deserted” Wyoming. Now that he’s back home, Turcich says he wants to stay in one place for a while, and write a book about his trip.
1. What led to Turcich’s decision to walk around the world?| A．The death of his friend at an early age. | B．His different attitude towards travelling. |
| C．His thoughtful plan before a birthday. | D．The adoption of Savannah from a shelter. |
| A．They spent most of the nights in hotels during the trip. |
| B．Their trip was once interrupted due to Turcich’s illness. |
| C．The most challenging place for them was Azerbaijan. |
| D．Their journey has been recorded in Turcich’s book. |
| A．Creative and curious. | B．Brave and determined. |
| C．Caring and intelligent. | D．Humorous and ambitious. |
| A．To persuade people to travel with a reliable animal. |
| B．To motivate young people to take a worldwide walking trip. |
| C．To emphasize the importance of an unforgettable travel experience. |
| D．To share a story about a man and a dog’s walking around the world. |
【推荐3】“You’re fired!” Andrew wasn’t joking. At that moment, the high school junior wanted his personal care attendant, Christy, out of his life forever. “You’re fired!” He said it again for extra emphasis Christy didn’t draw back, for she needed this job. Hurricane Katrina had damaged her savings along with her house. But the retired PE teacher wasn’t discouraged. She was a tough nut.
When eight-year-old Andrew was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome (阿斯伯格综合征), people told his mom, Cindy, to get him on the list for an attendant to provide after-school care. However, in New Orleans, the wait can be years. Cindy chose a program through Volunteers of America. Even so, it was eight years before they were matched with Christy. Meanwhile, Andrew’s family did their best to shelter him from life’s hardships.
There was a lot to worry about. Could Andrew graduate from high school? Would he ever have a job? Could he live independently? “Andrew wouldn’t take a step without his mother’s permission,” Christy says. “So letting him suffer setbacks (挫折) is the only way he can learn to do things on his own.”
Soon, Cindy would no longer write Andrew’s papers for him. Christy wouldn’t be helping him with homework either. He complained, loudly at times. But then things began to change. Andrew would start on his homework after school. Christy showed him how to get organized. And she coached him on how to deal with disappointment. Once his work was done, Christy offered freedom. She’d take him to the bookstore, the movies, or out to eat his favourite food.
One step at a time, Andrew gained independence. He graduated from high school and entered community college. And he stopped trying to fire Christy. Last spring, Andrew moved into his own apartment, above the family’s garage. He’s working toward an associate’s degree in video game design.
He’s studying to get his learner’s permit to drive. At 25, he says life has never been better. There is no doubt that Andrew and Christy have done it together.
1. What can we learn about Andrew from Paragraph 2?| A．He signed up for a volunteer. |
| B．Cindy brought him into focus |
| C．It was tough to find him an attendant. |
| D．Few cared about his health conditions. |
| A．Mother love. | B．Independent life. | C．Scientific guidance. | D．Failure experience. |
| A．Andrew couldn’t live a normal life without Christy. |
| B．Andrew has decided to live away from his family. |
| C．Andrew is planning to hire Christy for some years. |
| D．Andrew hopes that life will become better in future. |
| A．How an attendant changed Andrew’s life. |
| B．What Asperger’s syndrome means to a family. |
| C．How a young man developed his independence. |
| D．How a mother contributed to children’s development. |
