Kylie Kirkpatrick was getting ready for work when her 9-year-old son, Ryan Kyote, burst into her bedroom. The Napa, California-based third-grader had just watched a news story about a kindergarten student in Indiana who was forced to return her school lunch because her account balance couldn’t cover the meal.
“Ryan was upset,” Kirkpatrick told TODAY Parents. “He said, ‘Mom, how does something like this happen?’ Then he asked what he could do to help.”
After a bit of brainstorming, Kyote—pronounced “coyote”—decided he would use six months’ worth of allowance he had saved up to pay off the lunch debt of his entire class at West Park Elementary School. The bill came up to $74.50.
Though Kyote had been eyeballing a new pair of basketball sneakers, this was far more important to him. So, on May 24, he happily donated his six months of savings to the Napa Valley Unified School District food services department.
“Ryan told them, ‘Please let my friends know that they no longer owe any money,’” Kirkpatrick recalled. “Lunch is his favorite part of the day and it broke his heart to think that it’s a stressful time for some children.”
The fourth-grader-to-be wanted his act of kindness to be unknown to others, but his proud mother couldn’t resist sharing a photo on Twitter, where it spread quickly.
“Give this kid his money back. No child should be covering lunch debt for his class with his allowance,” wrote one person. Added another: “Love this story... Special kid.”
Practicing good deeds is nothing new for Kyote. “I’ll go into the garage and Ryan’s bike is missing because he gave it to a friend in need,” Kirkpatrick, a sign-language interpreter, told TODAY Parents. “One time, a friend didn’t have any shoes that fit, so Ryan gave him a pair of his own shoes.”
Recently, an investor got wind of what Kyote had done for his classmates and he contacted Kirkpatrick. “He wanted to give Ryan money to put in his savings account,” she said.
Kyote, who recently lost his father to ALS, had another idea.
“Ryan told the man to pay it forward,” Kirkpatrick said. “So he made a donation to the ALS Association. I can’t even begin to tell you what that meant to Ryan. All he wants is to make the world a better place.”
1. Instead of buying a new pair of sneakers, Ryan was more concerned about ________.A.his school lunch | B.his account balance |
C.his six months of savings | D.his classmates’ lunch debt |
A.He tried his best to help his friends in need. |
B.He couldn’t resist sharing his photos on Twitter. |
C.He accepted a donation from the ALS Association. |
D.He argued against negative reviews on social media. |
A.Life is always tough for school children. |
B.A kid can make a difference in the world. |
C.Social media can make young people popular. |
D.Friendship is an important part of being a youth. |
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【推荐1】My teacher held up a piece of broken glass and asked, “Who broke this window?”
Thirty boys tried to think about not only what they had done, but also what the teacher might have found out. She seldom became angry, but she was this time.
“Oh,” I thought. I was the one who broke the window. It was caused by a naughty throw of a baseball. If I admitted guilt, I would be in a lot of trouble. How would I be able to pay for a big window like that? I didn’t even get an allowance. “My father is going to have a fit as a result of it,” I thought. I didn’t want to raise my hand, but some force much stronger than I was pulled it skyward (朝向天空). I told the truth, “I did it.” It was hard enough to say what I had done.
My teacher took down a book from one of our library shelves and I had never known my teacher to strike a student, but I feared she was going to start with me.
“I know how much you like birds,” she said as she stood looking down at my guilt-ridden face. “Here is the field guide about birds that you are constantly checking out. It is yours now. It’s time we got a new one for the school anyway. You will not be punished, but remember that I am not rewarding you for your misdeed (恶行), but I am rewarding you for your truthfulness.”
I couldn’t believe it! I wasn’t being punished and I was getting my own bird field guide — the very one that I had been saving up money to buy.
The lesson my teacher taught me stays with me every day, and it will echo forever.
1. From the story, we can learn that the boy .A.didn’t break the window on purpose |
B.lacked the courage to admit his guilt |
C.tried to think about what he had done |
D.didn’t know what the teacher had found out |
A.be punished by the teacher |
B.make his father angry |
C.pay for the broken window |
D.get a bird field guide |
A.Afraid—Surprised—Thankful. |
B.Frightened—Amazed—Proud. |
C.Regretful—Guilty—Excited. |
D.Nervous—Afraid—Satisfied. |
A.Every coin has two sides. |
B.Honesty is always valued. |
C.Bad luck never comes alone. |
D.You can’t be too careful. |
【推荐2】In June 2015, Captain Radhika Menon found herself in charge of the oil tanker (油轮) Sampurna Swarajya, battling dangerous waves in the Bay of Bengal. Little did she know that her leadership would be put to the ultimate test in a dramatic rescue mission.
On June 22, 2015, as the storm continued violently, Second Officer Manoj Chauhan spotted a small boat adrift (漂流) off the coast of Gopalpur, Odisha. Seven fishermen injured and desperate, were losing their struggle to the unforgiving sea. The fishing boat with neither shelter nor anchor had been at sea for seven days. Chinna Rao, 40, and his companions, including a teenager, had gone into the Bay for what was supposed to be a routine fishing expedition. However, the sudden onset (发生) of a violent storm had turned their journey into a fight for survival. The boat sustained damage, and their supplies were lost as they faced the violent wind and waves.
As the fishermen held onto hope, their signals caught the attention of Captain Radhika Menon. With strong determination, she initiated a high-risk rescue operation, facing towering waves and strong winds. The urgency was obvious as the crew prepared for the challenge.
Menon strategically moved the tanker, creating a shelter from the storm. A rope was thrown out, connecting the tanker to the easily broken fishing boat. Despite the sea’s fury (猛烈), the fishermen managed to secure the line, and one by one, they were pulled to safety. The rescue, performed through rain and storm, took about 40 minutes. The seven fishermen were finally on the tanker, filled with emotion.
Sixteen months later, Menon’s bravery was recognized on a global stage. In November 2016, she received the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea. Menon, the first female captain in the Indian Merchant Navy, stated that she had merely finished her duty as a sailor.
The rescued fishermen, speaking emotionally from their homes, described Menon as a hero who had saved their lives. The rescue at sea showcased the firm courage of Captain Radhika Menon and her crew, proving that in the face of danger, true heroes emerge.
1. What happened to the seven fishermen?A.They were in a life-or-death struggle in a violent storm. |
B.They began a long-standing internal conflict. |
C.They were hit violently by another boat. |
D.They lost their boat for seven days. |
A.She called a rescue ship. |
B.She sent out high-frequency signals. |
C.She fearlessly landed on the fishing boat in person. |
D.She used a rope to connect the tanker to the fishing boat. |
A.Skillful and creative. | B.Outgoing and demanding. |
C.determined and courageous. | D.Brave and self-confident. |
A.A heroic rescue | B.The impossible task |
C.A perfect expedition | D.The violence of the sea |
【推荐3】In 2020, fresh out of high school, I had difficulty in choosing a major before college. With only two options left, I was in deep trouble. My uncle, an influential person in the family, suggested that I should do a work placement (实习) to gain experience for a month in a bank followed by a month in a hospital so that I could make a decision. It seemed like a brilliant idea.
Near the end of my month at the hospital, I began thinking about my two experiences. The bank had offered a more relaxing atmosphere, better working hours and less stress. While hospital was full of excitement, the training was challenging. It seemed that the bank was going to win out.
Then one day when I was driving home from the hospital, I witnessed a terrible accident. Two cars crashed, causing a boy lying motionless in the middle of the road. People gathered around him but no one could really help. As a matter of fact, I wanted to keep going and ignored it, but the urge to stop and help was stronger. I got out of my car and tried to stop his bleeding but didn’t succeed. With the help of some bystanders, I lifted his unconscious body into the back seat of my car, and rushed him to the hospital.
The next day, the doctor introduced me as “the person who saved your son’s life” to the boy’s parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Everyone got up, with grateful smiles on their faces. The boy, now managed a smile though unable to speak.
What a feeling it was to help save the life of another person! I spent the rest of the day in a state of excitement. Driving home that evening, I knew what I would prefer for the rest of my life.
1. What can we know about the writer from the first two paragraphs?A.The writer didn’t adopt his uncle’s advice. |
B.The writer had trouble in choosing a college. |
C.The writer was at a loss what major to choose in the college. |
D.The writer thought being a doctor was better after two experiences. |
A.The injured boy lost his life on the spot. |
B.The writer saved the boy without hesitation. |
C.The writer managed to stop the boy’s bleeding. |
D.The boy’s relatives appreciated the writer’s help. |
A.The writer would be a medical student. |
B.The writer regretted what he had done. |
C.The writer decided to work in a bank. |
D.The writer still had no idea what major to choose. |
A.No pains, no gains. | B.Follow your heart and just do it. |
C.Failure is the mother of success. | D.Where there is a will, there is a way. |
【推荐1】Brian Hamilton's life changed in a prison when he went there with his friend, Reverend Robert J. Harris, who often went to local prisons to do ministry work. During the visit, Hamilton started talking to one of the prisoners and asked what he was going to do when he got out. “He said he was going to get a job,” Hamilton recalls. “I thought to myself, wow, that’s going to be difficult with a criminal background.”
The conversation made Hamilton consider how to help those who came out from prison. Finally in 2008, 16 years after that initial conversation, Hamilton created Inmates to Entrepreneurs, a nonprofit organization that helps people with criminal backgrounds start their own small businesses.
At the time, Hamilton was building his own company, a software technology company for the banking industry. As his company grew, so did Hamilton’s time devoted to giving lessons to prisoners. He averaged three to four courses a month at prisons throughout North Carolina.
Eventually, Hamilton decided to shift his focus to his true passion. In May 2019, he sold his company and focused on helping those who were imprisoned. His online courses will be set next year. “By March 1, 2022, anyone will be able to access the courses, either to become a certificated instructor or to access it for themselves as a prisoner or part of the general population,” Hamilton explained. In addition, he visits middle schools and presents the course to at-risk students as a preventative measure against crime.
The free course is funded by the recently established Brian Hamilton Foundation, which offers assistance to military members as they return to civilian life and provides loans o small businesses. “Starting up a business isn't for everyone, but if we make opportunities available, and let people know that other people care about them, it makes a difference.” Hamilton said.
1. Why did Brian Hamilton went to a prison?A.He accompanied his friend. | B.He took lessons in the prison. |
C.He wanted to get a job in the prison. | D.He had a friend who was in prison. |
A.It often assists military members. |
B.It provides loans to small businesses. |
C.Its course has been largely broadened. |
D.It is an organization intended for business men. |
A.He is a man who always changes his mind. | B.He has a sense of social responsibility. |
C.He is good at running a big company. | D.He makes money by giving lessons. |
A.A man made a fruitless visit to the prison. |
B.A man sold his business to teach prisoners. |
C.A man realized his dream of being a teacher. |
D.A man successfully created two organizations. |
【推荐2】To save the environment, we must all join in — and nobody knows this better than 70-year-old grandmother Pat Smith who spent 2018 cleaning up litter from 52 beaches in Cornwall on the United Kingdom’s south coast.
Smith set out in January, 2018 to carry out her New Year’s resolution of making her community a better and cleaner place. The ambitious goal came to her after she watched a documentary on plastic pollution the previous year, and she knew she couldn’t just sit by.
Often, volunteers would join her in her efforts, including her grandchildren, or she would join hands with other campaigners such as Wayne Dixon, who is walking around the UK coast as an ambassador for Keep Britain Tidy.
During her beach cleans, Smith was sometimes mistaken for doing community service! She said, “People don’t understand I’ve been doing this voluntarily. We should all take responsibility for picking up the litter as well as ensuring we don’t drop litter in the first place.
Even before her beach cleanups, Smith had begun her first environmental campaign to eliminate plastic straws (吸管) in her city of Cornwall . To date, she has encouraged 600 local companies to stop using unnecessary plastic. In an effort to make her hometown an example for the plastic-free movement in the United Kingdom, she founded The Final Straw Cornwall in the summer of 2017. “I founded the Final Straw to try and raise awareness of the disastrous damage we are doing to our oceans from our casual consumption of single-use plastics. I feel I have a responsibility to my children and grandchildren to do something about it.” She said.
Her resolution year may be over but this environmentally conscious grandma continues her quest (追求). “A lot of the rubbish I’ve picked up consists of everyday items,” said Smith. “These things are used by all of us and it is shocking to find them polluting our beautiful beaches. Please let’s try to be more thoughtful in this coming year. I’m driven to try and protect our living planet for my children and grandchildren and I will continue to do everything in my power to achieve that.”
1. What led to Smith’s New Year’s resolution of cleaning her community?A.Community service. |
B.A film or television program. |
C.Various ocean protection campaigns. |
D.Serious pollution in her community. |
A.She was forced to do that. |
B.She just pretended to be caring. |
C.She actually did only a little work. |
D.She wouldn’t stick to the work for long. |
A.set an example to other aged people |
B.stop her local companies from producing plastic straws |
C.keep her promise to her children and grandchildren |
D.make people conscious of the plastic-related environmental problem |
A.It’s everyone’s duty. |
B.It’s as hard as people think. |
C.Prevention is more important than protection. |
D.The younger generation don’t care about it enough. |
A.Proud. | B.Happy. | C.Stressed. | D.Determined. |
【推荐3】In many respects one could call John Beltzer the world's most successful songwriter. Every song that he writes is guaranteed to be a real hit not on the popularity charts, but in a child’s heart. The reason for this is that every song that Beltzer writes is for a seriously ill child. The songs never fail to make the children smile and to raise their spirits. They also play them over and over. This means more by far to Beltzer than being ranked high on the popularity charts.
Thirty-eight year old Beltzer is the founder and president of Songs of Love, a nonprofit group. This group combines the volunteer efforts of musicians, songwriters, singers, and studio technicians to create unique, happy songs that reflect a child's personality.
Beltzer believes that music is very healing. When an adult listens to a favorite song, it makes him feel good: thus when a little child listens to a song written just for him, the result is very uplifting. Since its founding in 1996, Songs of Love has been responsible for the composition, taping and sending more than 780 songs to children in life-threatening conditions, all for free.
Unmarried with no children of his own, Beltzer had never thought much about writing songs for children. He says that one day while he was walking down the street the idea came to him and he instantly felt that he could make a success of it. He went home and called St Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He told them he wanted to write songs for seriously ill children, and wrote six songs in four days. Upon receiving the songs, the hospital called him with high praise. Soon after that the mother of a little girl with cancer called him to thank him and then the little girl herself did so. At that point he knew that this was his “calling”.
As is true with most charitable ventures, Songs of Love is almost always in need of money. To help in this respect, Beltzer has moved back home to live with his retired parents, who also help support his work. His long-term goal is to offer Songs of Love to patients of all ages, including nursing home residents and the mentally ill. Among other efforts to raise money, Beltzer sells CDs and tapes, expecting much bigger sales. Meanwhile, Beltzer himself continues to be the most productive writer in Songs of Love, making sure that all requests for songs written for critically ill children will be met.
1. Why is John Beltzer, to some extent, called the world's most successful songwriter?A.Every song he composes tends to be a hit. |
B.All songs are played over and over again. |
C.His songs are intended specially for those unlucky children. |
D.He as well as his songs always enjoys a grand popularity. |
A.Satisfactory. | B.Adequate. |
C.Inspirational. | D.Appropriate. |
A.Beltzer had had the idea of writing songs for seriously ill children long before actually doing so. |
B.The hospital in Tennessee didn't respond to Beltzer's request immediately and positively. |
C.Song writing is the only source of income for Songs of Love. |
D.Running charitable activities makes Beltzer's finance really tight. |
A.Social and intelligent. | B.Compassionate and considerate. |
C.Conventional and patient. | D.Confident and ambitious. |
【推荐1】Nowadays, people are very apathetic (冷漠的) about strangers, so I was surprised to see a kind act unfolding right in front of me at a busy crossing. We were waiting in our car for the traffic lights to turn green when I saw a young a man’s bicycle fall over.
A load of cartons and other packages fell to the ground together with the bicycle. Though most of the cartons were tied to the bicycle, he obviously could not pick up the whole load on his own. It was a busy road, and he glanced here and there, hoping for some help. I prayed that someone might come to his aid. I was wondering what would happen to the young man when I saw two men get out of their car, which was first in line,waiting at the traffic lights and close to the mishap.
Clearly, a woman was already there, trying to help the man. Seeing the two men approaching, she moved aside. These two heavily built men heaved the bicycle and put it up straight. By then, three other passers-by stopped and with the woman, picked up the various things from the road. They helped the young man reload the bicycle. The traffic lights had turned green as soon as the two men got down from the car, but there was no honk from any of the traffic waiting in the queue. The helpful driver and his companion returned quickly to their car and the traffic moved forward at ease. This uncommon scene on a very busy road in our big city made me thankful for such helpful and kind citizens.
1. What happen to the young man when the author met him?A.He lost his bicycle. | B.He broke the traffic lights accidentally. |
C.His bicycle fell over suddenly. | D.His bicycle was not allowed to carry goods. |
A.He worried that others would pick up his things. |
B.He hoped that someone would offer some help. |
C.He wanted to pick up his whole load on his own. |
D.He wanted to see if the lights had turned green. |
A.Accident. | B.Crossing. | C.Stranger. | D.Roadside. |
A.One. | B.Two. | C.Five. | D.Six. |
【推荐2】Natalie Te Paa, a blind singer songwriter, was in London for her birthday with her friend, Claire Sara. The two decided to have a meal together at a restaurant. What happened after they ate their meal surprised them both. The workers at the restaurant presented Natalie with a cake that rend “happy birthday” written in Braille with chocolate!
Natalie cried as she used her hands to feel the raised chocolate dots. “Oh, my gosh! Are you kidding me? That is crazy! Thank you so much!”
In the past, Natalie had celebrated her birthday in restaurants, the workers sang to her like they did for other guests who celebrated their birthdays. But it was the first time that a restaurant had accommodated her disability in such a special way. The workers went to try their best to celebrate Natalie on her birthday from looking up how to write the message in her words to making sure the chocolate was cold enough, so it would not melt (融化) when Natalie touched it.
Natalie’s friend, Claire, took a video of the sweet moment, and she shared it online. The touching birthday scene went viral (走红) online with the video being viewed more than 16 million times and receiving over 4.3 million likes.
“The fact that people have responded so much and so well to it just shows how much the world needs kindness right now, and how much the world needs a message of hope and love,” Natalie shared. And the girl goes on to talk about how she hopes the video will lead people to have a larger conversation about kindness to others.
1. What does the underlined word “Braille” in paragraph 1 probably refer to?A.A kind of delicious cake. | B.A kind of letters for the blind. |
C.A kind of special chocolate. | D.A kind of fruit sold in London. |
A.They sang a special birthday song for her. | B.They taught Natalie to text the message. |
C.They carefully prepared a special cake. | D.They learned to use the body languages. |
A.Uncertain. | B.Doubtful. | C.Curious. | D.Supportive. |
A.The disabled have already been equally treated. | B.We should do much more to improve ourselves. |
C.We need to make conversations with each other. | D.We still have a lot to do to make the world better. |
But when it comes to medicine, I had assumed it was important to always be honest with my patients. After all, the doctor-patient relationship is based on trust, and therefore honesty is essential, Or so I thought.
I had just started working in geriatrics(老年病科). Mr. McMahon was brought in when his belly was found very swollen. I took a medical history from his daughter who'd accompanied him in the ambulance. She’d been his main carer for years. I stood looking at him as she gave a detailed history. “Has he lost any weight recently?” I asked, “Well, it’s funny you should mention that, but yes.” She said slowly. There was silence for a few moments. “Why? What are you worried about?” she asked, I hesitated. She was obviously very involved in his care and it was only fair that I told her the truth. “Well, we need to prove it’s not cancer.” I said and talked briefly about some of the tests I was going to order.
Half an hour later, a nurse called me: “Mr. McMahon’s daughter broke down-she said you told her he had cancer.” My heart sank. By the time I arrived at the ward, my consultant was already there, explaining that we still had to run lots of tests and that it was by no means confirmed that he had cancer. I stood silently at the end of the bed. My consultant was obviously angry with me and as we left Mr. McMahon, she turned to me. “Why on earch did you do that?” she asked in disbelief. I looked at her and bit my lip. “She asked me what I was worried about and I told her.” I said, hanging my head. “And give her more to worry about?” replied my consultant. “You don’t say the word ‘cancer’ until it’s confirmed. Even if you suspect it, think very carefully before you tell people.”
As it turned out, it wasn’t cancer. But I did learn that when someone is stressed and worried about their loved one they’re sometimes selective in what they hear-and as a doctor it’s important to be mindful of this. In being truthful, I’d made the situation worse.
1. The purpose of the first two paragraphs is to show that the author_____.
A.misunderstood the doctor-patient relationship |
B.was anxious to receive Christmas gifts |
C.regarded honesty as the best policy |
D.had an unhealthy eating habit |
A.he told the daughter what he suspected. |
B.he delayed running the necessary tests. |
C.he failed to confirm the parent’s disease. |
D.he forgot what the consultant had advised. |
A.guilty | B.hurt | C.disappointed | D.helpless |
A.Learning form parents is necessary. |
B.Jumping to a conclusion is dangerous. |
C.Telling the truth may not always be the best solution. |
D.Selecting pleasant words may not be the perfect policy. |