Parents often think that their kids should be good at studies and do well in sports. That’s usually the case because parents feel that could get their children admission to top colleges. However, Melissa and Mark Wimmer think differently.
Their 14-year-old son, Mike, is a prodigy. He is a member of Mensa, which is the world’s top IQ club. He completed his high school, associate’s and bachelor’s degrees all in three years. That’s not all. He also ran two tech companies, founded a third one that works towards controlling the population of lionfish, an invasive (入侵的) species.
But the parents are proud that they were able to help Mike with his social skills along with his intellectual skills. Melissa told CNBC that people expected “Young Sheldon” before they met her son. Young Sheldon is a television show about a child talent who is an indoor man and lacks social skills. “But once they talk to Mike, they understand that he’s just a normal 14-year-old that happens to be able to do amazing things,” said Melissa.
Mark and Melissa got to know about their child’s intelligence when he entered preschool. A child psychologist told them that their son would need a different course to support his fast-track development. Many parents aren’t comfortable with putting their children with 18-year-olds, but Mike’s parents saw the value in letting their child go through it. “I wanted him to be social and be able to deal with all the different personalities in the classrooms with older children,” said Melissa.
The parents shared that they were able to do this by letting Mike find his own voice and put it to use. “We let him order food when he’s 3 or 4 from the waiter or waitress and introduce himself to people. Those kinds of things are done to encourage him to engage with everyone else and be more comfortable talking to others outside of our environment,” said Melissa.
Thanks to his parents, Mike has learned to get along with young and old alike.
1. What do the underlined words “a prodigy” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．A gifted person. | B．A famous student. |
| C．A brilliant biologist. | D．A successful businessman. |
| A．He likes to make friends. | B．He is a well-rounded man. |
| C．He is a popular child actor. | D．He is poor at dealing with people. |
| A．Through a recommendation from a child psychologist. |
| B．Through observing Mike’s behavior in preschool. |
| C．Through participating in a special educational program. |
| D．Through the information provided by Mike’s school teachers. |
| A．Teach him some communication rules. | B．Encourage him to speak in class. |
| C．Place him in social situations. | D．Let him go to school alone. |
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【推荐1】I said, “Papi, let me finish school.” None of his other daughters completed more than three grades. “I still can do my chores(家务),” I told him. “Pay for me to finish school.”
He dug his boot into the dry earth of Quanajuato, the state he never left in his entire life. But he still was the smartest man in our village. He read books about Egypt and knew how to handwrite, unlike my mother, who never had an education.
“Why do you want to return to school?” he said, lowering his eyes to me. “So you can meet a man, marry, and quit? You want me to pay for that?”
“No, Papi,” I said. “I won’t marry in school and I promise I’ll graduate.”
The wind whistled through the trees. My father saw a fisherman with a pole bent over the riverbank. I said urgently, “Papi,” and I almost grabbed his thick brown wrist. In the country, my father would stop and talk with any stranger, no matter what he was doing.He would talk aboutthe harvest, the weather, the family, but mostly, he would listen.
He turned, making his way to the fisherman. I followed behind him in my open-toed shoes, carefully picking my steps. I knew I had lost his attention and I searched around me for something to fill the time I would spend waiting. But there was nothing and nobody.
“Buenos dias,” my father said to the fisherman.
I took my seat ten feet from them. The two men stared across the lake and talked. Their voices droned on and were blended with the wind. I daydreamed.
“Marta, come here,” my father called to me.
I lifted myself up and walked very slowly toward them without lifting my feet off the ground.
“Marta,” my father said, “I have asked Don Toms what he thinks about your promise.”
I stared at this fisherman, this stranger, and then back at my father with wide eyes.
“I told him about your promise to stay single, and he told me—let her go.”
The fisherman looked down at his worn shoes. “If you want it,” he said to the earth beneath his feet.
Later, I became Father’s only daughter to complete high school education, and the only one to leave his house unmarried.
1. The author spoke to her father to ________.| A．share her school life |
| B．beg for her school fee |
| C．learn about her sisters’ study |
| D．complain about the housework |
| A．ashamed | B．tired |
| C．angry | D．helpless |
| A．To offer help. | B．To talk about harvest. |
| C．To ask for advice. | D．To get away from the author. |
| A．kept her words | B．missed her father |
| C．regretted the decision | D．lived a comfortable life |
【推荐2】In my hometown, Oklahoma, the dirt goes everywhere. When my sister, Faye, and I walk to school, we cover our mouths so we don't breathe in the dirt. Mama says all the dust is due to the drought.
Last Sunday, there was no dirt in the air, only bright spring sunshine and a clear blue sky. After church, Papa went to the field to check on the cattle while Mama started dinner. Faye and I played in the yard. Then the temperature suddenly dropped, and Mama shouted from the house, “Iris, you and Faye get inside, real quick now!”
I looked to the west and saw a huge black cloud of dust. "Faye, go with Mama!” I shouted. “I will warn Papa.” Covering my face with one hand, I struggled my way toward our family car and got in. The storm hit so fast that the day turned into night in an instant. Papa was still out there! I needed to help him find the car. I turned on the front lights, but would Papa see them in the thick darkness? I pushed the horn （喇叭）again and again, hoping Papa would hear it.
Suddenly, to my great surprise and relief Papa's face appeared at the window. He opened the door and climbed onto the scat next to me. After Papa shut off the car's lights, we huddled together in the darkness for hours. I worried the dirt would bury us.
Finally, the wind subsided and the dust began to settle. We got out and reached the front porch just as Mama and Faye came out from the house.
"I'm safe thanks to Iris,“ Papa said. "The car's horn led me to shelter.”
"I'm so proud of you,“ Mama said to me.
Tears of joy streamed down my dirty checks because our family had survived the horrible storm.
1. When the storm struck, Iris went to the car to.| A．direct her papa to shelter | B．turn to her papa for help |
| C．warn her papa of the storm | D．tell her papa about her safety |
| A．got up | B．died down |
| C．went on | D．came along |
| A．Love for Papa | B．Rescue on black Sunday |
| C．Drought in Oklahoma | D．Papa trapped in the storm |
【推荐3】The Jones-Baldwin family wasn’t always so big. When Keia Jones married her husband Richardo Baldwin in 2010, she had just one child: a 2-year-old daughter, Zariyah from a previous relationship. Little did they know, though, that their family would eventually add not one, not two, but three more children to the Jones-Baldwin family, thanks to the gift of adoption.
First came 11-year-old Karleigh, in 2014. She and Zariyah became close friends at school, but due to some financial difficulties, Keia says Karleigh’s mother fell on hard times and was unable to properly care for her. In 2017, the couple adopted a lovely 3-year-old named Ayden. That same year, their fourth child came into their lives unexpectedly.
“Unlike our three other black kids, the baby, named Princeton, is white,” Keia recalls. Princeton was born seriously ill and stayed in hospital several weeks after his birth. “They needed someone to do skin-to-skin with him,” says Keia, “and chose me for the task, and I was more than willing to take on the job.”
The experience of being black parents raising a white son has certainly caused them some trouble. There are always lots of suspicious stares and unfavorable comments wherever they go. Someone even called the police and said the baby was stolen by the couple. Once the family were enjoying themselves on the beach in Florida when the police were called in. It was not until Keia showed the police their ID cards that they were convinced that the baby was indeed their adopted son.
When asked why they would make so much effort to adopt the kids, Keia smiled. “It’s all love,” she said.“Both my husband and I love kids. We just can’t stand seeing kids suffering. Thank goodness, the lovely kids, who are from different cultures and of different ages, are all growing up healthily and happily under the same roof. Over the years, they have brought us so much joy! Our hearts are so full and so grateful.”
1. How many people are there in the family?| A．Four. | B．Five. | C．Six. | D．Seven. |
| A．She was deserted by her parents. |
| B．She was Zariyah’s close friend. |
| C．Her mother failed to raise her well. |
| D．She needed someone to do skin-to-skin with her. |
| A．Indifferent. |
| B．Sympathetic. |
| C．Optimistic. |
| D．Doubtful. |
| A．Keia will make every effort to adopt more kid. |
| B．Adopting the kids is a win-win situation. |
| C．The kids adopted were from the same family. |
| D．The kids have brought much money for the couple. |
The old man pointed to a string（绳子）between a big strong tree and a thin young one． “Please untie（解开）that string,” he said． The young man untied it, and the young tree bent（弯）over to one side． “Now tie it again， please，” said the old man， “but first pull the string tight so that the young tree is straight again．”
The young man did so． Then the old man said， “There，it is the same with children． You must be strict with them, but sometimes you must untie the string to know how they are getting on． If they are not yet able to stand alone， you must tie the string tight again． But when you find that they are ready to stand alone， you can take the string away．”
1. The story is about ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ ．
| A．how to take care of young trees |
| B．how strict parents should be with their children |
| C．how the young father should get on with his old neighbor |
| D．how to tie and untie the string |
| A．When the old man has left |
| B．After you have untied it |
| C．When the young man has untied it next time |
| D．When the young tree grows strong enough |
| A．the young father to the old neighbor |
| B．parents to their children |
| C．the old neighbor to the children of the young father |
| D．grown ups to their parents |
【推荐2】“I see you've got a bit of water on your coat, ” said the man at the petrol station. “Is it raining out there?”“No, it's pretty nice，”I replied，checking my sleeve. “Oh，right. A pony（马驹） bite me earlier. ”
As it happened, the bite was virtually painless: more the kind of small bite you might get from a naughty child. The pony responsible was queuing up for some ice cream in the car park near Haytor, and perhaps thought I'd jumped in ahead of him.
The reason why the ponies here are naughty is that Haytor is a tourist-heavy area and tourists are constantly feeding the ponies foods, despite signs asking them not to. By feeding the ponies, tourists increase the risk of them getting hit by a car, and make them harder to gather during the area's annual pony drift（迁移）.
The purpose of a pony drift is to gather them up so their health can be checked, the baby ones can be stopped from feeding on their mother's milk, and those who've gone beyond their limited area can be returned to their correct area. Some of them are also later sold, in order to limit the number of ponies according to the rules set by Natural England.
Three weeks ago, I witnessed a small near-disaster a few miles west of here. While walking, I noticed a pony roll over on his back “Hello!” I said to him, assuming he was just rolling for fun, but he was very still and, as I got closer, I saw him kicking his legs in the air and breathing heavily. I began to properly worry about him. Fortunately, I managed to get in touch with a Dartmoor's Livestock Protection officer and send her a photo. The officer immediately sent a local farmer out to check on the pony. The pony had actually been trapped between two rocks. The farmer freed him, and he began to run happily around again.
Dartmoor has 1, 000 or so ponies, who play a critical role in creating the diversity of species in this area. Many people are working hard to preserve these ponies, and trying to come up with plans to find a sustainable（可持续的）future for one of Dartmoor's most financially-troubled elements.
1. Why are tourists asked not to feed the ponies?| A．To protect the tourists from being bitten. |
| B．To keep the ponies off the petrol station. |
| C．To avoid putting the ponies in danger. |
| D．To prevent the ponies from fighting. |
| A．to feed baby ponies on milk | B．to control the number of ponies |
| C．to expand the habitat for ponies | D．to sell the ponies at a good price |
| A．It lacks people's involvement. | B．It costs a large amount of money. |
| C．It will affect tourism in Dartmoor. | D．It has caused an imbalance of species. |
【推荐3】Graduating from high school is a milestone event. Most students are 18 when they graduate, but one Pennsylvania boy from Bensalem, a suburb of Philadelphia, just graduated and he is only nine and he is one of the youngest ever to do so.
David Balogun recently received his diploma from the Reach Cyber Charter (特许)School in Harrisburg where he was studying remotely. He has already started taking college courses. Besides being excellent in school, David loves computer programming, science, martial arts, and playing the piano.
David’s parents have advanced degrees but it is demanding to raise a child with an extraordinary intellectual gift. “I had to get outside of the box.” David’s mother, Ronya Balogun, told the local television station. “Playing pillow fights when you’re not supposed to, throwing the balls in the house. He’s a 9-year-old with a brain that just has the capacity to understand and comprehend a lot of concepts that are beyond his years and sometimes beyond my understanding.”
Putting David in the charter school was a no-brainer for his parents. “When he heard the STEM program, at seven years old, he was jumping up and down. I said ‘Okay, this is where we’re going, and this is what we’re doing’. He loved it from the first moment. It’s been an amazing journey,” she added.
David’s remarkable education began two years ago, when he became a student at the charter school. Shortly after he began attending the school, David placed out of the elementary and middle school courses and began high school.
David already knows that he wants to be an astrophysicist (天体物理学家). But he has to complete his education first. While he has already completed a semester at Buck County Community College, his parents are researching college and university options that will be more challenging. They are looking into Ivy League schools including the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Harvard, but since David is still only nine, he can’t live on campus.
1. What can we learn from the third paragraph?| A．David grows faster than other children. |
| B．David discourages his mother completely. |
| C．Teaching David has proved efficient. |
| D．Raising David has been challenging. |
| A．Confused. | B．Abnormal. | C．Resistant. | D．Delighted. |
| A．Developing multiple hobbies. |
| B．Being expert in computers. |
| C．Finishing school first. |
| D．Getting used to distance learning. |
| A．The Universe Arouses a Boy’s Curiosity |
| B．9-Year-Old Boy Graduated from High School |
| C．Age Restriction for Going to College is Removed |
| D．Parenting Contributes to a Boy’s Achievement |
【推荐1】Parenting Skills Passed Down
My parents taught that a life devoted to helping others is one full of purpose and meaning. I’m a physician and have worked with the homeless community for 11 years. I’ m also a mom to a boy who loves bike racing. Every time a rider fell or crashed, he’d stop and wait until they got up. He lost the race but won at being a good human.
—Sara Doorley Tijeras, New Mexico
I started a band as a high-school freshman with my brother’ s baritone horn (次中音号). I didn’t have previous lessons, so it was much harder for me. When I told my mom I was quitting, she told me to keep on trying. In due time I absolutely loved the band. Years later, my daughter Sheena was in the band, using the same baritone. One day, she, too, said she was quitting, and I told her not. She kept at it and came to love it too.
—Janet Brandes Collins, Wisconsin
I grew up as a tomboy (假小子). My mother occasionally told me to let the boys win, because they wouldn’t like me if I always beat them, so I did. My daughter is also quite athletic but has never heard those words. I tell her she’s as good as those boys and to do her best and win. And she has. She has grown up very confident and is even more broadly admired for her determination. What a difference a generation makes.
—Klari Frederick Linden, Michigan
I built an arcade machine (街机) with my son. I loved arcades as a kid, and my dad and I are software developers. Plus, it’s a good lesson: If you want something, build it! It’s bonding when we help the other player get out of a corner the bad guys have backed them into.
—Joe Hocking Highland Park, Illinois
1. What life lesson does Janet Brandes Collins teach her kid?| A．Never give up. |
| B．Be confident and humble. |
| C．Helping others is important and great. |
| D．Build what you want with your own hands. |
| A．Sara Doorley Tijeras. | B．Janet Brandes Collins. |
| C．Klari Frederick Linden. | D．Joe Hocking Highland Park. |
| A．A teacher. | B．A musician. |
| C．An athlete. | D．A software developer. |
【推荐2】Healthy habits are important to all of us. Here are a few tips that can help you improve your healthy habits.
Compulsory (强制的) breakfast.
Good sleep. A good sleep is necessary for a healthy body and mind. Good sleep not only means sleeping for a long time but also sleeping with a peaceful mind.
Relationships.
| A．Walking. |
| B．Drinking lots of water. |
| C．These are very healthy habits for all. |
| D．The first is to eat our breakfast every morning. |
| E．Spend at least half an hour for exercise each day. |
| F．Always keep healthy relations with other people. |
| G．A sound peaceful sleep is important for a good healthy life. |
【推荐3】I’m not the kind of mother who normally brushes her daughter’s hair, and my daughter has never liked sitting there, waiting for me to do it.
But today, I’ve sat my daughter Sally on a kitchen seat. She’s sitting high with her eyes closed, skin still wet from the shower, and her long hair behind her back. I realize she is enjoying the moment. It’s the last time for a week that our bodies will connect. Today, I’m sending Sally away for a week of summer camp. This was all my idea. She’s nearly 12, and I noticed that I’m with my child nearly 24 hours a day.
Living on a farm without any neighbors, I’ve chosen a life that is quieter than a normal family’s. But rather than expecting space away from me, Sally has become increasingly dependent. What frightens me most is that she has become a “mini-me”, even has the same hobbies, dreams, and opinions as me. That’s why I pulled her to the summer camp: a nearby wilderness(荒野) camp called Hawk Circle.
After eating, I drive Sally to Hawk Circle. Once there, we are introduced to her fellow campers. Sally stands by them, holding my hand, horror in her eyes, trying to work up the courage to join a game of soccer. “I need you for a few more minutes,” she tells me. I pull her away to walk to one of the camp’s workers. “Excuse me,” I say loudly, “I’d like to introduce you to my daughter. Maybe you could help her meet a few of these kids.” He comes over to talk to Sally, and then I disappear before she realizes it.
It is a hard time for me to drive back. When I arrive home, I calm down and remind myself why I chose this way. I want Sally to have a chance to find herself. I want to learn who she is. If I don’t set her free, I fear I’ll never really meet her real personality.
1. Why did the writer send her daughter to the summer camp?| A．Her daughter wanted to go to the summer camp. |
| B．It was helpful for her daughter to make friends. |
| C．She wanted to help build her daughter’s independence. |
| D．Camp training was something common to her daughter. |
| A．fear | B．doubt | C．hate | D．pity |
| A．She was worried about her daughter’s health. |
| B．She was proud that she had done something right. |
| C．She was sorry and regretted sending her daughter away. |
| D．She was upset but knew she had made the right decision. |
| A．children are usually mirrors of parents |
| B．children always expect space from parents |
| C．parents sometimes need to let their children go |
| D．parents should often send children to summer camps |
