Paul, a carpenter (木匠), was over 60 years old. He was ready to retire. He told his boss that he was about to leave the house building business because he wanted to live a relaxing life with his wife and enjoy family life. The boss was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build one more house. Paul said yes, but not long after that it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He didn’t care about the work, and he used bad materials to build the house. It was a terrible way to end his job.
When Paul finished his work and the boss came to check the house. Then he handed the front-door key to Paul, “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.”
Paul was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home that wasn’t built very well.
After Paul moved into the house, he found everything wasn’t going well. One day, his wife fell over and hurt herself. She complained, “Look! The floor isn’t smooth at all. The stairs are broken and there is something wrong with the window. ” “Sorry, it’s my fault.” said Paul, “I should have tried my best to build it well, but…”
So it is with us. Sometimes, we don’t give the job our best effort. When looking back at what we have done, we find that we are now living in the house we have built. So we should build our lives in a responsible way. Your attitudes and the choices you make today help build the “house” you will live in tomorrow.
1. What was Paul going to do after retiring?| A．To move to a big city. | B．To live with his children. |
| C．To enjoy family life. | D．To travel around the world. |
| A．Paul was more than 60. |
| B．Paul accepted the house from his boss. |
| C．Paul was serious about his last work as usual. |
| D．Paul was asked to build one more house before retiring. |
| A．He’s careless. | B．He’s honest. | C．He’s mean. | D．He’s kind. |
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When I was a kid, there was only one way my parents would let me stay home from school and that was if I had a high fever. Most of my friends could stay home due to a stomachache or a mild fever — but not me… I had to be dying in order to stay home. By the way, my parents are both doctors. My parents used to say that they were teaching me how to have a good work ethic(职业道德). I didn’t understand the connection until last week.
The other day I was on the train and sat behind a young man who was complaining to his friend about his life. He went on for twenty minutes about how his passion in life was to make movies, but he wouldn’t pursue it because he had no clue if he could make enough money and he didn’t want to waste time because it would take years to make it big. He then admitted to thinking about buying stocks by borrowing money because he thought he could easily make six figures within one year. His friend agreed with him and said, “The stock is good because you can make tons of money and only work for a short time.”
I think they were indulging(沉溺) in the wildest fantasy. Many people these days don’t realize that when things seem to happen immediately, it is only because a lot of effort, determination and time have gone into them and it isn’t due to some miraculous(不可思议的) event. The easier it looks, the more hours go into it. There is no excuse for laziness.
Looking at the two young men, all of a sudden I was having a flashback of being ten years old and watching the television show Fame.
In the show the dance teacher told her students, “If you want fame, fame costs and here’s how you start paying for it … in sweat.” Every time we watched that show, my dad would proudly say how right the teacher was because in order to succeed you have to work hard.
1. When did the author’s parents allow her to stay home from school?(No more than 10 words)2. Why did the young man on the train give up his dream of making movies?(No more than 15 words)
3. What will it take to succeed immediately in author’s opinion?(No more than 10 words)
4. How do you understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?(No more than 10 words)
5. Do you agree with the author’s opinion? Please explain it in your own words.(No more than 25 words)
John and Bobby joined a wholesale company together just after graduation from college the same year. Both worked very hard. After several years, however, the boss promoted Bobby to the position of manager but John remained an ordinary employee. John could not take it anymore. So without hesitation, he presented a tender resignation to the boss quickly, complaining the boss did not know how to identify a good clerk and did not value hard-working staff, but only promoted those who flattered (讨好) him.
The boss knew that John worked very hard for the years. He thought a moment and said, “Thank you for your criticism, but I have a request. I hope you will do one more thing for our company before you leave. Perhaps in time you will change your decision and take back your resignation.” John agreed.
The boss asked him to go and find out anyone selling watermelon in the market. John went and returned soon. He said he had found out a man selling watermelon. The boss asked how much per kg? John shook his head and went back to the market to ask and returned to inform the boss $1.2 per kg.
The boss told John to wait a second, and he called Bobby to come to his office. He asked Bobby to go and find anyone selling watermelon in the market. Bobby went, returned and said, “Boss, only one person selling watermelon. $1.2 per kg, $10 for 10 kg, and he has inventory of 340 melons. On the table 58 melons, every melon weighs about 2 kg, bought from the South two days ago. They are fresh and red, of good quality.”
John was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Bobby. He decided not to resign but to learn from Bobby.
My dear friends, a more successful person is more observant, thinks more and explores in depth. Chances exist in the daily details. For the same matter, a more successful person sees more and farther so that he can find out an opportunity and catch it to realize his aim. If a person sees one year ahead, while another sees only tomorrow, the difference between a year and a day is 365 times. How could you win?
1. After Bobby’s promotion, what did John do? (no more than 12 words)2. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “take” in Paragraph 1? (no more than 3 words)
3. What was “one more thing” the boss asked John to do before he left the company? (no more than 15 words)
4. What kind of person is Bobby? (no more than 12 words)
5. To be a more successful person, what would you like to do? Please tell your reason(s). (no more than 25 words)
【推荐3】Once my mother told me a story. In Africa, when an antelope wakes up every morning, the first thing it thinks about is, “I must be able to run faster than the fastest lion, or I will be killed.”
This is life: full of chances and challenges.
Each time I saw children playing games, and heard their laughter, I wished I were that age again.
I was still not sure what competition really meant. One day, I was taking part in an English-speaking competition. When I went to the stage, I saw other students looking at me kindly.
| A．At the same time, a lion wakes from his dream. |
| B．I suddenly knew what competition was. |
| C．Now I understand more about the world. |
| D．In one’s life, there must be competitions, so people can improve. |
| E．I learned a lot from realizing this fact. |
| F．However, I remembered my parents’ words: “You must work very hard in order to have a good future.” |
| G．Whether you are an antelope or a lion, you must go ahead when the sun rises. |
【推荐1】My Father, the Family Man
This year, my seasonal depression took me deeperssion the past, and a new portrait of my father came into my mind. He was a sometimes difficult, always determined man.
In my early memories, I was sitting at the kitchen table listening to my father yelling (叫嚷) about his challenges as an Italian immigrant. Back then, I couldn’t have known his pain as he struggled to find his footing in this new land.
“We left Italy to give you three girls more opportunities for a better life,” he said. “But we’d had a shaky start. The apartment your aunt had secured for us fell through at the last minute. It went to someone without children. So the five of us moved into your aunt’s living room.”
Bills mounted up. “And then I saw your mother’s face was as white as a sheet.” He said bitterly but soon stared down at the table to compose himself. “And the baby was crying. I worried that the houseowner would come knocking on the door.”
Dad jumped to the end of his story, “What more can I say? I went looking for a job. I found one.”
Armed with a few English phrases and determination, he’d walked for miles in a city he didn’t know, stopping at every hair salon, asking for a chance to show his skills as a hair stylist, his profession and passion. That’s what he’d been doing all day, supporting for his family.
Forty years later in Toronto, he sat at the table, asking if I thought he’d provided well for his family. I answered. His eyes watered. Mine did, too.
1. What did the author think of her father in the early years?| A．The father left Italy for a better job. |
| B．He was moved by his father’s story. |
| C．The father’s early struggle was in vain. |
| D．He didn’t realize his father’s difficulties. |
| A．Show off. | B．Cheer up. | C．Calm down. | D．Make up. |
| A．The father had a big family to support. |
| B．The author’s eyes watered for her childhood. |
| C．The father and daughter misunderstood each other. |
| D．The father learned to be a hair stylist in Toronto. |
【推荐2】America’s latest superhero Austin Perine, who calls himself President Austin, is now taking the country by storm. But he is not a typical superhero. Two things set him apart: He doesn’t fight human enemies, but hunger and homelessness. Also, he’s only four years old.
Our superhero’s origin story started from the day when TJ Perine, his father, took Austin to the Firehouse Ministries, a local shelter that provides housing, food and other services for the homeless. As they drove by the building, they saw a group of 25 homeless men standing on the street corner. That day, Austin used his allowance to buy each man a sandwich and handed the food out himself with his slogan, “Don’t forget to show love!”
After he returned every week for five weeks in a row, word of Austin’s kindness spread through social media. Austin and TJ could feed 25 to 50 people at a time before, and now, thanks to community support, they can feed 800 to 2,000 people.
But Austin isn’t merely filling stomachs. He has been improving the lives of the homeless people he meets. On that first trip to Firehouse Ministries, TJ and Austin talked to a poor man named Raymont. The respect Austin showed for him touched 41-year-old Raymont, who regained his confidence in life and finally found a job with the help of TJ. All that was made possible because a little boy took the time to care.
Austin’s passion has become his family’s calling. After raising money through a GoFundMe page, Audrey, TJ’s mother established the nonprofit Show Love Foundation, dedicated to fighting homelessness. She now serves as president, and TJ oversees public relations for the foundation full time. They offer medical and mental health care as preventive steps against homelessness.
As for President Austin, he continues to give out food, smiles, and his inspirational message of love. “It makes me feel like I’m saving the day,” he said proudly.
1. Why has Austin become well-known to the entire country?| A．He has super power to fill the stomachs of the homeless. |
| B．He fights hunger and homelessness at such a young age. |
| C．He has removed the poverty of the local community. |
| D．He has chosen an impressive and unique name. |
| A．Exposed. | B．Opposed. | C．Devoted. | D．Addicted. |
| A．To show Austin’s positive influence. |
| B．To persuade people to live off their own. |
| C．To prove the personal ability of Austin’s father. |
| D．To describe the difficult situation of poor people. |
| A．Sympathetic. | B．Humorous. | C．Approving. | D．Considerate. |
【推荐3】Sharon Holland and her husband, Jer, are travelling around the world and saving money at the same time — by swapping (交换) houses with strangers to keep the bills low. They only have to pay for their flights, meaning they save hundreds of pounds on their holidays each year.
The couple’s occupation (职业) allows them to enjoy long periods of school holidays. Both work as school Deputy Principals,which allows them to take their children, Cian, 23, Miah,13, and Faye, 11, abroad up to four times per year. On average, they pay £1, 250 per year for flights.
Sharon, from Cork, Ireland, has exchanged her home with a stranger 40 times in the last 13 years and says she’s never looked back. She said, “I couldn’t imagine travelling any other way now. Swapping our Irish Georgian farmhouse for another house abroad is amazing. There are home-style houses, modern city apartments and beautiful architectural period houses too. Every holiday is different and staying in someone else’s house makes our experience more rewarding and enjoyable. We are able to meet more locals and understand the culture more than we would if we were to stay at a hotel. We bring our laptops during the summer weeks as we are both responsible for timetabling and school planning but this can be done at a distance.”
Sharon has visited various cities in America, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, the UK and their home country of Ireland. “But our favourite place is Italy. We have been lucky enough to visit there six times. Over the years, every experience has been great — from taking in the architecture to the food. We have made some wonderful happy memories for less,” adds she.
1. Why do the couple travel by swapping houses with strangers?| A．To avoid taking flights. |
| B．To spread local culture. |
| C．To improve their living conditions. |
| D．To cut down their travel costs. |
| A．She comes from England and likes Italy. |
| B．She never lives in a hotel when traveling. |
| C．She likes the way of swapping houses. |
| D．She plans to open a school with her husband. |
| A．It introduces some ways of exchanging houses. |
| B．It tells about a couple’s special way of travelling. |
| C．It tries to persuade more people to travel worldwide. |
| D．It teaches people how to save money while traveling. |
【推荐1】Two weeks ago, a 5-year-old girl named Sunshine Oelfke emptied out her piggy bank (存钱罐) onto the living room floor and immediately started counting. Her grandmother, Jackie Oelfke, thought she was playing as she carefully lined up the coins, but then she saw the girl put the coins into a plastic bag and place it in her backpack.
“What are you doing with that money?” Jackie asked her granddaughter.
“I’m taking it to school,” Sunshine replied. “I’m going to take it for milk money. My friend Layla doesn’t get milk— her mom doesn’t have milk money and I do.”
Jackie’s heart melted at Sunshine’s words. Choked with strong feelings, Jackie held her sweet granddaughter tightly in her arms.
Last week, Jackie and Sunshine met with her teacher, Rita Hausher, and handed her the $30 the kindergartner had saved. There are 20 kids in Sunshine’s class and about half don’t get milk. It costs $ 0.45 a carton (纸盒). The total adds up to about $180 a month for every child in the class to have milk every day.
After dropping Sunshine off at school, Jackie posted a tearful video on Facebook to explain her granddaughter’s plan. To her surprise, many people offered to donate toward the cause. Within a week, Jackie raised more than $1,000. Now every student in Sunshine’s class can get free milk for the rest of the year.
Jackie said Sunshine doesn’t see her kind act as a big deal. She was just trying to look out for her friends. “She doesn’t understand the effect she’s brought about,” Jackie said. “But now she knows she can do whatever she puts her mind to.”
1. Why did Sunshine empty her piggy bank?| A．She hoped to show off her savings in class. | B．She needed to train her counting skills. |
| C．She wanted to play with the coins. | D．She intended to pay for her friend’s milk. |
| A．Relieved. | B．Touched. | C．Curious. | D．Proud. |
| A．Two heads are better than one. | B．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| C．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. | D．There’s no such thing as a free lunch. |
| A．Small Coins, Big Changes. | B．Jackie’s Piggy Bank. |
| C．Piggy Bank and Carton Milk. | D．A Moved Grandmother. |
【推荐2】A young woman carrying a three-year-old child got on a bus．The conductor hurried to give her a warm welcome and then kindly asked the other passengers to make more room for the woman and her child．On seeing this, people were surprised and began to talk．．"You know this conductor used to be very rude．Now suddenly he has changed his bad behavior , "said a middle-aged man．
"Yes, he should be praised and we must write a letter to the company," said a second passenger．"That's right," another lady said, "I wish a newspaper reporter were here so that more people could learn from this conductor．”
Just then a gentleman who looked like a teacher turned to the conductor and said, "Excuse me, but can I know your name, please? Your excellent service must be praised．．．"
Before he could open his mouth, the three-year-old child sitting on the young woman's lap interrupted, "I know his name．I call him Dad．"
1. The passengers were ________ to see the conductor's kindness to the woman and the child．
| A．excited | B．pleased |
| C．interested | D．surprised |
| A．make a demand for more buses | B．praise the conductor for his good service |
| C．criticize the conductor for his rude behavior | D．invite a newspaper reporter to write about the conductor |
| A．the gentleman | B．the conductor |
| C．the middle-aged man | D．the three-year-old child |
| A．has changed his attitude towards his work |
| B．has been kind and polite to all passengers now |
| C．has not changed his rude behavior to passengers |
| D．has been kind and polite to women with children now |
【推荐3】A woman in Japan who had no home sneaked into a man's house and lived without being noticed in his closet for a year. She was arrested（逮捕）after the man found that his food was disappearing and reported it to the police.
Police found the 58-year-old woman on Thursday hiding in the top part of the man's closet and arrested her for getting in without the owner's permission（允许）, police spokesman Hiroki Itakura from southern Kasuya town said on Friday.
The man had security cameras（监视器）which sent images to his cellphone after becoming confused by food disappearing from his kitchen over the past several months.
One of the cameras on Thursday caught someone moving into his home after he had left, so he called the police who at first thought it was a thief. However, when they arrived, they found the door locked and all windows closed.
“We searched the house and checked everywhere someone could possibly hide,” Itakura said. “When we opened the closet, we found the woman curled up（蜷曲）on her side, feeling nervous and frightened.”
The woman told the police that she had no place to live and first sneaked into the man's house about a year ago when he left home without locking the door.
“She had moved a mattress into the small closed space and even took showers,” Itakura said. He called the woman “tidy and clean”.
1. What is the best title of this passage?| A．A Japanese Woman Caught Living in a Man's Closet |
| B．A Woman Without Home |
| C．Police Arrested a Woman on Thursday |
| D．Please Lock the Door Before Leaving Your House |
| A．is the owner of the house |
| B．doesn't want to be noticed by others |
| C．lives a very poor life |
| D．wants to find some food to eat |
| A．was stealing food in the kitchen |
| B．felt nervous and frightened |
| C．was untidy and dirty |
| D．tried to jump off the window |
| A．The woman doesn't like living in her own house. |
| B．The man always forgets to lock his door when he leaves. |
| C．The woman first sneaked into the man's house about a year ago. |
| D．The woman was over sixty years old when she was arrested. |
