The school year was almost over, and we’d be moving on to a new school for sixth grade. All the girls made autograph books and collected signatures. As I signed my classmates’ books. I noticed their moms had written in them, too. Such sweet thoughts were expressed: “I couldn’t be prouder of you.” “I love you. Dad and I are so proud of you.”
I asked my mother to sign mine, too. She was busy, she said, but she’d get to it later. I set the book on the kitchen table. Later that night, she handed it back to me. I was anxious to see what encouraging words she had written.
This is what I found on the page:
When a thing is first begun,
Never leave it till it’s done.
Be the labor great or small,
Do it well or not at all.
Mom
No words of pride or encouragement. It was just a stupid poem—another indication to me that, if I couldn’t be perfect, I wasn’t good enough. I held back my tears, not expressing how I felt.
That page in that handmade book plagued me for years. In the following years, I battled perfectionism and low self-esteem and never felt good enough for most of my life.
When my mother was in her eighties and in a nursing home, I gave her a book to fill out so we could know more about her, It had tips at the top of each page and then blank space to respond. Sadly, my mother passed away soon.
After she died, I sorted out her belongings. The one thing I wanted more than anything was that book. I found it and immediately read through it, and I saw she had just filled out ten pages. But ten pages of memories were better than no pages.
What I found stopped me short. On page ten, the tip asked, “What’s the best advice you got from your mom and dad?” Her response was what she had written in my autograph book. I’ve come to see that Mom was passing on something she found valuable in her life. A gift from her to me.
1. Why did the author ask her mother to sign?| A．She did it just to follow suit. |
| B．Her mother was a famous poet. |
| C．She desired it as a gift for later generations. |
| D．She longed for encouragement from her mother. |
| A．Inspired. | B．Disappointed. | C．Excited. | D．Relieved. |
| A．Punished. | B．Encouraged. | C．Troubled. | D．Confused. |
| A．The Price of Every Decision | B．The Encouraging Words from Mom |
| C．Breathing Belief into Those Who Doubt | D．A Misunderstanding Coming to Light |
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【推荐1】When my grandmother Deed was young she contracted polio (小儿麻痹症). She was kept in bed for the better part of a year and lost the use of her right leg. She was raising my young father on her own, so it felt like an impossible situation. Her family gave her much support and encouragement. Slowly but surely, Deed learned not only to deal, but to thrive with her disability. People thought she was crazy when she wanted to start her own business, but she was determined. She borrowed money from the bank for her business. She went on to run a successful company and became one of the first women entrepreneurs in the city of Revere, Massachusetts.
I truly believe polio was a gift to my grandmother. It strengthened her beliefs and made her strong and resilient (有适应力的), but it also forced her to slow down and think about everything quietly and seriously. She never complained about her condition, not once.
However, I often got angry and complained when things weren't going my way. Deed would turn to me and gave me advice on my next move. Though far from Hollywood (she lived on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire), Deed seemed to know answers to the problems that seemed to puzzle me. She was my trusted mentor (导师). With each visit, she would help me better myself; expand my mind and go after bigger dreams.
I became confident, more driven and focused on what I wanted to achieve. Each step of the way, Deed was there to cheer me on. The more I leaned back out of fear, the more she challenged me to walk further to the possibilities.
Within a month of selling my first screenplay, Deed passed away. She is on my mind daily. Now, whenever I deal with career issues that scare me, I would remind myself of her greatest piece of advice: Sit down and take a breath. It will all work out.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．Introducing Deed to us. |
| B．Telling us what Deed suffered. |
| C．Showing us the author's family. |
| D．Informing us about Deed's disease. |
| A．Every dog has its day. | B．Every coin has two sides. |
| C．Hard work pays off. | D．Time and tide wait for no man. |
| A．Complain to him. | B．Give him some advice. |
| C．Explain the trouble to him. | D．Move a step forward to him. |
| A．To tell us how he got success. | B．To give us some advice on life. |
| C．To show us his life in the childhood. | D．To remember his grandmother. |
【推荐2】A loving wife saved her husband’s life after she insisted on a second opinion for his sudden illness. The man, who was suffering from bacterial meningitis (细菌性脑膜炎) but was initially misdiagnosed (误诊) with an ear infection, might not have survived had they waited any longer.
Jason and Aleck Lang, from Ogden, Utah, have been married for nine years. They have made their home in Phoenix, Arizona, and are raising three young children together.
On the evening of March 17, 2021, Aleck received a text from Jason, who was at work, complaining of head and ear pain. The mother of three began to look for sitters for their kids in case Jason’s condition got worse or even remained the same.
Around 6:30 in the morning, Jason — who had no history of headaches — began begging his wife to take him to the emergency room. Close friends “dropped everything” to sit for the children, and Aleck drove Jason to the nearest ER and dropped him off.
“They had given him a couple of different medications (药) for his headache and the doctor diagnosed him with an ear infection,” Aleck said. The doctor dismissed Aleck’s concerns and Jason was discharged (出院) shortly before midday. Back at home, Jason’s condition got worse. Aleck’s instinct (直觉) guided her to drive him to a different hospital, where he received a second, accurate diagnosis: bacterial meningitis.
Jason stayed in the hospital for five days. “The doctor said Jason most likely wouldn’t be alive if we waited even a couple of hours more,” Aleck explained. “Jason was fighting for his life.” She was also busy and distracted caring for her three kids, who gave her joy while she missed Jason greatly. “It gave me a chance to see how strong they can be, and how strong I can be for them,” she said.
1. What did Aleck do first when she knew Jason was uncomfortable?| A．She didn’t think it seriously. | B．She looked for sitters for their kids. |
| C．She gave him some medications. | D．She took him to hospital immediately. |
| A．He had headaches before. | B．He stayed in the hospital for six days. |
| C．His wife drove him to the same hospital. | D．He might have died if they had waited longer. |
| A．Cautious and strong | B．Kind and passionate. |
| C．Easygoing and tolerant. | D．Reliable and generous. |
| A．True love is to accept all that is | B．A strong mother saved her family |
| C．A second diagnosis is necessary | D．Wife’s instinct saves husband’s life |
【推荐3】I was born on the 17th of November 1828, in the village of Nam Ping, which is about four miles southwest of the Portuguese Colony (殖民地) of Macao, and is located on Pedro Island lying west of Macao, from which it is separated by a channel of half a mile wide.
As early as 1834, an English lady, Mrs. Gutzlaff, wife of a missionary to China, came to Macao. Supported by the Ladies’ Association in London for the promotion of female education in India and the East, she immediately took up the work of starting a girls’ school for Chinese girls, which was soon followed by the opening of a boys’ school.
Mrs. Gutzlaff’s comprador(买办) happened to come from my village and was actually my father’s friend and neighbor. It was through him that my parents heard about Mrs. Gutzlaff’s school and it was doubtlessly through his influence and means that my father got me admitted into the school. It has always been a mystery to me why my parents should put me into a foreign school, instead of a traditional Confucian school, where my big brother was placed. Most certainly such a step would have been more suitable for Chinese public opinion, taste, and the wants of the country, than to allow me to attend an English school. Moreover, a Chinese belief is the only avenue in China that leads to political promotion, influence, power and wealth. I can only guess that as foreign communication with China was just beginning to grow, my parents hoped that it might be worthwhile to put one of their sons to learning English. In this way he might become an interpreter and have a more advantageous position to enter the business and diplomatic world. I am wondering if that influenced my parents to put me into Mrs. Gutzlaff’s School. As to what other sequences it has eventually brought about in my later life, they were entirely left in the hands of God.
1. How was the author admitted to Mrs. Gutzlaff’s school?| A．Through his father’s friend’s help. |
| B．Through his own efforts to exams. |
| C．Through his father’s request. |
| D．Through Mrs. Gutzlaff’s influence. |
| A．An English school was more influential. |
| B．Foreign trade with China was developing fast. |
| C．It met with Chinese public opinion. |
| D．He could become a successful interpreter. |
| A．It was skeptical. | B．It was mysterious. |
| C．It was thoughtful. | D．It was wonderful. |
【推荐1】Joel Boyers and his wife, Melody Among, were heading home from the Nashville airport when he received an urgent call from a stranger in Pennsylvania. The caller told Boyers that her brother and his two daughters were trapped on their roof in Waverly, 60 miles from Nashville. They were surrounded by rising flood waters.
Desperate, the caller had Googled “Nashville helicopters,” and Boyers’s company was the first to appear. She begged Boyers to rescue her loved ones.
Boyers, looked west toward Waverly and saw the storm clouds. “Ma’am,” he said, “no one will fly in this weather.” But even before he finished the sentence, Boyers knew they would go back up. He put the brother’s address into his phone, and then they drove back to the airport. Soon, they were in the air, unprepared for what they were about to see in Waverly.
“As soon as I flew over the area, it was nothing but water below me,” Boyers told the Associated Press (AP). “People were firmly holding anything that didn’t move — roofs, trees, poles.”
The flooding, which would eventually claim 20 lives and destroy more than 270 homes, also took out cell phone service, making it impossible for him to locate the house he was looking for. He flew on anyway. Maybe he’d get lucky.
As Boyers piloted, Among began searching for people trapped on top of roofs, bridges— anywhere Boyers could land his helicopter and get them on board. Boyers and Among’s task ended 90 minutes after it began, when professional rescue helicopters showed up. It was good timing —Boyers and Among were almost out of fuel after rescuing 17 people. As for the woman who originally contacted Boyers, she called back to say that her brother and his daughters had also been saved.
1. Why did the caller Googled “Nashville helicopters”?| A．To inform them of the flood. | B．To seek a rescue service online. |
| C．To obtain a holicopter’s licence. | D．To locate her daughters and brother. |
| A．His helicopter ran out of fuel. | B．The flood destroyed the house. |
| C．He flew in the wrong direction. | D．His cell phone service was cut off. |
| A．Ambitious and patient | B．Humorous and talented. |
| C．Considerate and courageous. | D．Creative and strong-willed. |
| A．Fighting the Flood | B．Frightening Nature |
| C．Locating Survivors | D．Braving the Waters |
【推荐2】The first time ever I realized that plastic was a serious matter for our planet was during a road trip in Western Australia, almost 12 years ago.
We stopped along the Coral Bay coast to buy some groceries and the lady at the counter told us they didn’t sell any shopping bags to prevent plastic in the ocean and to help preserving the endangered turtles living in that area. After a first reaction of surprise, we gathered all our shopping in our arms and left, reflecting on what we had been told.
This was just one of the many experiences I’ve lived that made me more conscious about my impact and pushed me to adopt various habits to live and travel more sustainably. For example, after that trip, I am always carrying a cotton bag when I go shopping.
Our eco-honeymoon to Borneo was another life-changing experience that has strengthened my resolution to turn to a zero-waste lifestyle. In Asia finding safe drinkable water is always a challenge, but we traveled with our water bottle, and we chose the right service providers engaged in sustainable travel so, with a little effort, we managed to avoid almost entirely the use of plastic during our trip.
However, we were seriously struck by our stay on Libaran Island, where a sustainable and turtle conservation project was launched 10 years ago. Despite the big efforts carried out by the project and the community in cleaning up the beaches and creatively re-use plastic, the shore is washed daily with tons of plastic coming from the tides. Walking on a carpet of plastic that almost prevented us from seeing the beach underneath was quite shocking.
Facing this global issue in person, raised in me a contrasting feeling of sadness and anger that soon turned into determination: to do as much as possible to reduce plastic in our life. Sometimes we may feel helpless in front of big problems, but we should be aware that small changes can actually make a difference!
1. Why is the author always carrying a cotton bag when she goes shopping?| A．Shopping bags are expensive. | B．She doesn’t want to cause pollution. |
| C．Shopping bags are not for sale. | D．She considers cotton bags convenient. |
| A．Finding safe drinkable water. | B．Carrying their water bottle. |
| C．Choosing the right service providers. | D．Traveling without using plastic. |
| A．The turtle conservation project. | B．People’s unsustainable lifestyle. |
| C．Endless plastic waste on the beach. | D．Creative ways to re-use plastic. |
| A．Caring and determined. | B．Smart and obedient. |
| C．Kind and changeable. | D．Brave and reflective. |
My big moment finally came in the summer of 1998 when I was able to accompany my parents to Europe, where my father was to attend a meeting. We planned to travel to Belgium, Netherlands and West Germany.
I have vivid memories even today of going to Mumbai airport at night all excited about finally going abroad. I had heard several great things about Lufthansa till then but now I finally got to experience them first hand, during the flight to Frankfurt. We flew business class and even today I can remember the excellent service by the Lufthansa crew. The flight was really smooth and thoroughly enjoyable, even for someone like me, who is otherwise scared of flying.
After spending almost two weeks in Europe, we took the Lufthansa airport express from Dusseldorf to Frankfurt airport, for our return flight. What a journey that was! All along the Rhine(莱茵河), it was simply an unforgettable experience. I was in a sombre mood on the flight back to Mumbai as it marked the end of a wonderful vacation, but the Lufthansa crew members were able to change it into a most enjoyable experience yet again, with the quality of their service.
Being the first airline to take me overseas, Lufthansa will always hold a special place in my heart. Even today, I continue to enjoy flights on Lufthansa and simply cannot dream of choosing any other airline. Flying, in general, for me, has always been an ordeal (terrible and painful experience). Flying on Lufthansa, however, is something I always have and always will look forward to.
1. Which country does the author live in now?
| A．India. | B．Canada. | C．Belgium. | D．Germany. |
| A．The author traveled with one of his parents. |
| B．Both their going and return are by air. |
| C．They traveled in spring that year. |
| D．They stayed in Europe for nearly two months. |
| A．a city in India | B．a city in Europe |
| C．an airline company | D．a travel agency |
| A．happy | B．sad | C．angry | D．enjoyable |
【推荐1】A man who broke his neck outdoors in freezing conditions survived lying in snow for nearly 20 hours thanks to his dog, who kept him warm through the night and barked for help.
The Michigan man, named only as Bob, was alone when he left his farmhouse on New Year’s Eve to collect firewood. Anticipating a journey of only several meters, Bob was wearing just long johns, a shirt and slippers when he went outside, despite the temperature being around -4 degrees centigrade. However, he slipped and broke his neck.
“I was yelling for help but my nearest neighbour is about a quarter of a mile away and it was 10:30 pm, but my Kelsey came,” said Bob.
Kelsey is Bob’s five-year-old Golden Retriever. She kept Bob warm by lying on top of him, and kept him awake by licking his hands and face.
Bob said, “She kept barking for help but never left my side. She kept me warm and awake. I knew I had to persevere (get) through this and that it was my choice to stay alive.”
“By morning my voice was gone and I couldn’t yell for help, but Kelsey didn’t stop barking.”
“She was letting out this screaming howl that got my neighbour’s attention. He found me at 6:30 pm on New Year’s Day.”
Bob’s neighbour eventually discovered him after hearing Kelsey’s howls and called the emergency services. When Bob arrived at the hospital, his body temperature was below 21 degrees centigrade. Normal body temperature is 37 degrees centigrade and hypothermia (低体温症) occurs when the body drops below 35 degrees centigrade.
“I was surprised to find out that I didn’t have any frost bite,” said Bob, “I am sure it was because of Kelsey’s determination to keep me warm and safe.”
And to the surprise of doctors, Bob made a quick initial recovery from his neck injury.
“I think his dog really kept him alive and helped him, and he was very fortunate,” said Chaim Colen, MD, Neurosurgeon at McLaren.
“I am so thankful for my two heroes,” Bob said. “Kelsey kept me warm, alert, and never stopped barking for help. Dr Colen saved my life. They are truly heroes and I will be forever grateful.”
1. What happened to Bob on New Year’s Eve?| A．He fell on some firewood. | B．He slipped inside his house. |
| C．He got lost while walking his dog. | D．He was injured and couldn’t move in snow. |
| A．She kept barking for help. |
| B．She found the emergency services. |
| C．She lay on top of him to keep him warm. |
| D．She licked his hands and face to keep him alert. |
| A．A New Year Eve’s Accident |
| B．An Old Dog Is Still Useful |
| C．A Loyal Dog Saves Her Owner’s Life |
| D．The Love between a Dog and Her Master |
【推荐2】Reggie couldn’t hear a thing. He was a normal boy, but he had been born deaf. He was well known to everyone in the town, and they were all very fond of him. Unfortunately, though, he always seemed to end up being treated differently from everyone else. Children were worried that they would hurt him and adults acted like he couldn’t understand them, as though he was some kind of baby.
Reggie didn’t like this very much. But the person who disliked it the most was his friend Michael, who decided that things had to be changed. Michael’s father was the town’s Mayor, and Michael managed to convince him that this year, in honor of Reggie, they should choose one day of the festival for deaf people. During that whole day everyone in the town would have to wear earplugs (耳塞).
People liked the idea, because everyone loved Reggie. The day became known as The Day of Silence, and when it arrived everyone stuck plugs in their ears. That morning was filled with practical jokes and laughter. But, as the hours passed, people became more and more aware of how difficult life was when you couldn’t hear anything. However, learning about how life was more difficult for the deaf was nothing compared to the greatest discovery of the day — Reggie was amazing!
So The Day of Silence was the day when everyone realized you had to give people a chance to show how valuable they are. People in the town wanted to make sure that others would learn this lesson. So, from that day on, whenever visitors came to the town, they were welcomed joyfully and helmets (头盔) were put on their heads, helmets with great thick earflaps.
1. According to the second paragraph, Michael ________.| A．respected his father very much |
| B．understood Reggie better than others |
| C．needed to wear earplugs like Reggie |
| D．begged his mother to help his friends |
| A．became more friendly to others |
| B．were busy with their work as usual |
| C．enjoyed hearing nothing very much |
| D．experienced Reggie’s difficult life |
| A．Reggie’s life wasn’t easy as imagined |
| B．daily life was rather difficult for everyone |
| C．they should help Reggie as much as possible |
| D．Reggie had achieved a lot by working hard |
| A．Reggie’s bad life | B．a devoted friend |
| C．the origin of The Day of Silence | D．a funny story of a town |
【推荐3】A couple of days ago I unexpectedly lost my job. It wasn’t anything too important: I was just a carrier for the Scarborough Mirror, delivering newspapers every Wednesday and Friday. But it brought in a good amount of pocket money for a student like me.
During the first week of September I planned to stop my job, as I wanted to focus on my academics with school to start. I found a family on my street who were willing to take over and so I took their names anti numbers and turned them in to my district representative along with my resignation.
That was last week. This Tuesday came and I was supposed to get the newspapers to deliver on Wednesday. They didn’t come. I just assumed there probably wasn’t much to deliver so they would just give me everything tomorrow. It'd happened before so I wasn’t too worried. There was a seed of doubt, however, in my mind, that maybe the handover of this job was misunderstood. But I pushed that thought aside and just went on as usual.
Wednesday morning came and the papers weren’t lying on my driveway as they’d done for the past 9 months. My mom reminded me to call my district representative, who told me the route had indeed been turned over to the other family. She couldn’t have understood my message when I said I would work until September. So much for 2 more weeks of work!
In a way, I’m glad because I don’t have to worry about delivering newspaper in the burning sun. On the other hand, I wasn’t ready to give up my job so early, so the unexpected loss was a tiny blow to me.
Despite these negative feelings, I’m looking forward to the next summer when I’m getting promoted and my wage will rise from what I had with the job, which gave me good experience about hard work and chances to meet my neighbors.
1. Why did the author plan to quit the job?| A．He could barely put up with its hardship. | B．He hoped to shift his attention to studies. |
| C．He had earned enough to afford schooling. | D．He desired to turn it over to a needy family. |
| A．The family to replace me. | B．Messages of my dismissal. |
| C．The papers to be delivered. | D．The district representatives. |
| A．He got fired on account of his own fault. | B．He didn’t have his potential appreciated. |
| C．He didn’t submit his resignation as required. | D．He had intended to stop the job in late September. |
| A．Learning to live with his personal imperfection. | B．Establishing a closer tie with his community. |
| C．Facilitating his organizational skills. | D．Breaking the habit of laziness. |
