Sweat slips down my cheek as I glide (滑动) my fingers through the cool water. I’ve reached the turnaround point of the day’s kayaking (皮划艇) trip. I attempt a shoulder stretch and look around. It’s just me, a couple of seabirds, and shining freshwater to the horizon. This, I whisper to myself, is awesome.
Solo (独自的) outings had never crossed my mind before because I always had a friend with me. But three years ago, I moved to Cleveland. Meeting friends in a new city was tough.
In October 2020, I decided to take adventure on a solo hiking trip. I went to Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) to admire the autumn leaves. Four miles in, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so alive. I was more aware of my surroundings than I’d ever been while hiking that day. I studied the markings of trees, focused my ears on each forest sound and did something I almost never made time for: I listened to my own thoughts. Every word bubble in my mind pointed to a newfound truth-solo hiking is my happy place.
When spring arrived, I decided to check off another solo sport: kayaking. My chest, initially tightened by nerves, was bursting with happiness when I finally reached the middle of the river that I’d long admired back on shore.
Since that first solo hiking, adventuring alone has become like medicine for me. It has also pushed me to go beyond my comfort zone and to meet new people. Through meetups and social media, my adventure-friend circle has ballooned. But at least once per month, I schedule time to hit nature with my favorite friend: me.
1. What pushed the author to start going on solo outings?| A．A longing for a peaceful life. |
| B．A desire to challenge herself. |
| C．Living close to a national park. |
| D．Difficulty in finding companions. |
| A．She explored a new route for hiking. |
| B．She paid attention to her inner voice. |
| C．She collected a variety of autumn leaves. |
| D．She recorded the forest sounds on her phone. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Delighted. | C．Nervous. | D．Lonely. |
| A．restarted | B．transformed | C．disappeared | D．expanded |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】In most places a traffic signal in the middle of the desert, especially one for camels, may well be a mirage, but in this case it is all too real. At the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring Scenic Spot in Gansu Province, northwest China, the world’s first traffic light for camels was set up to manage traffic in the popular tourist area.
According to a Chinese state-owned wire service, the problem was that the walking paths for human beings often crossed camel paths, creating traffic chaos (混乱). As a solution, workers cut a gap in the walkway and created a separate route for the camels. The traffic light now manages the flow of traffic at the new crossing.
Camel-riding tours are a big attraction for visitors to the area. But visitors to the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring Scenic Spot will now be safe from camel crashes, thanks to the new traffic signal, which turns green to let the animals cross and red to make them stop.
The Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring Scenic Spot is already a tourist hot spot thanks to its breathtaking sand dunes (沙丘), an oasis (绿洲) and even the occasional snowstorm which create otherworldly scenery. The strange camel traffic signal could well become another attraction to enjoy on a visit to the scenic area.
The area is close to Dunhuang City on the edge of the Gobi Desert, and it used to be an essential resting point for travellers on the Silk Road. Dunhuang’s best-known tourist attraction is the Mogao Caves. The traffic signal is unlikely ever to reach the significance of the Mogao Caves, but at least it might help prevent a few camel traffic jams.
1. What does the underlined word “mirage” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Reality. | B．Fantasy. | C．Scenery. | D．Mistake. |
| A．To solve the traffic chaos. | B．To have camels go through. |
| C．To attract visitors to the area. | D．To protect the visitors’ safety. |
| A．It has become a tourist hot spot. |
| B．It has prevented camel traffic jams. |
| C．It could improve the tourism of the scenic area. |
| D．It could greatly increase the camels’ population. |
| A．To criticize the traffic jam. | B．To tell us a travel experience. |
| C．To introduce a camel traffic light. | D．To analyze a natural phenomenon. |
【推荐2】Chicago Botanic Garden
Events
☆ Midwest Fruit Explorers
March 31—April 10, 1—4pm
The Midwest Fruit Explorers presents this hands-on workshop with step-by-step instructions on how to graft(嫁接) and care for fruit trees.
☆ Midwest Daffodil(水仙花) Society Show
April 22—28, 10 am—4:30 pm
The Midwest Daffodil Society Show features hundreds of daffodils on display that will be judged by the society. The show includes floral(花卉的) design and photography competitions.
☆ Ikebana International Show
May 11—19, 9 am—3:30 pm (Saturday & Sunday only)
The Ikebana International Show presents an exhibition of traditional Japanese flower arranging.
☆ Gardeners of the North Shore Show & Sale
The Gardeners of the North Shore hosts this annual show.
June 27—30, 9 am—4:30 pm
This show includes a judged exhibition with more than 500 entries of anything a home gardener can grow, including flowers, vegetables, herbs, and houseplants.
☆ Garden Tours & Trams(电车)
Enjoy a tram tour for an overview of popular areas. Return each season to experience different views.
Adults | $ 8 |
Seniors | $ 7 |
Children (3—12 yrs) | $ 6 |
Children (2 and under) | Free |
Ten-visit pass | $ 60 |
Service Animals
Service animals are welcome. No pets please.
Electronic Convenience Vehicles (ECVs)
They are available for rent in the Visitor Center on an unreserved, first-come first-served basis. The following fees apply: members $15, nonmembers $ 20. ECVs will not be rented for indoor use.
Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs are available free at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center.
Daily Hours: 8 am—7 pm
Garden View Cafe: 8 am—4 pm
Garden Shop: 10 am—4 pm
1. What can you do at the Midwest Fruit Explorers?
| A．Design flower patterns. |
| B．Learn about tree planting. |
| C．Buy some fruit at a good price. |
| D．Take part in its photography competition. |
| A．$ 8. | B．$ 14. | C．$ 19. | D．$ 20. |
| A．They can rent ECVs for indoor use. |
| B．They can visit the garden with their pets. |
| C．They can have free coffee from 8 am to 4 pm. |
| D．They can use wheelchairs free of charge if they need to. |
【推荐3】Broken Hill was recently awarded one of Australia’s rare National Heritage (遗产) listings, but is that reason enough to make the journey?
Broken Hill, in western New South Wales, is hardly up there as a place of interest of international reputation(名声). It’s miles from anywhere, boiling hot and lacks the more attractive elements that often make a place popular---for example, beautiful beaches, great accommodation(膳宿). But Broken Hill’s reputation is growing with its recent National Heritage Listing award.
We asked Broken Hill mayor to tell us what makes Broken Hill so great. These are some reasons he gave us to visit :
Perfect light
Broken Hill offers breathtaking scenery to discover and explore. The lively colours and perfect light have attracted film-makers and artists here for decades. From the wonders of the day comes an amazing light show at night.
The locals
We are always happy to greet people from “away”. In fact we love it when people come to town to visit. We are a friendly people who make you feel welcome. And we are pretty proud of our city.
The Palace Hotel
The home of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and just a great Broken Hill iconic(标志性的) pub. You can star in your own movie in the centre of town. It is a world-famous landmark and a good water hole for those nice warm days.
The living desert and sculptures
Located 9 km from the city, Broken Hill features 12 sandstone sculptures by artists from around the world as well as local artist Badger Bates. It displays the breathtaking beauty of the real outback (内地).
1. What is the real purpose of writing this passage?| A．To encourage readers to pay a visit to Broken Hill. |
| B．To explain the causes of awarding Broken Hill. |
| C．To list the reasons for Broken Hill’s greatness. |
| D．To express the author’s pride for Broken Hill’s award. |
| A．Its friendly local people. | B．Its Palace Hotel. |
| C．Its National Heritage Listing Award. | D．Its sandstone sculptures. |
| A．Traditional food and friendly locals | B．Pleasant climate and perfect light |
| C．Beautiful beaches and lively sculptures | D．Splendid Hotel and friendly locals |
| A．World news | B．Fashion show | C．Art | D．Travel |
【推荐1】I was nine when I arrived at the Children’s Home in Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1965. I failed third grade that year, just made it through a second time, and had managed to finish fourth grade by the time I reached Pauline Jambard’s fifth－grade class at Charlotte Avenue Elementary School.
I was convinced(使信服) I wasn’t “smart” like the other kids, and I hoped I could make it through fifth grade. Ms. Jambard took a great liking to me. Of all the subjects in school，reading was my favorite. She would tell me，“Terry, you keep reading. If you can understand what you’re reading, you’ll be smarter than most kids.” After I read all the books in our program, I started reading the classroom’s set of Encyclopaedia Britannica(《大英百科全书》). I couldn’t find enough to read, and I started to really like school.
After I graduated from Ms. Jambard’s class in 1969, my brother and I moved, and I lost all touch with my teacher. In 1983, I was on a business trip and had to drive through Nashua. I took a chance and dropped by Charlotte Avenue Elementary. I was walking toward her classroom when she came out in the hallway and said，“Terry！” It was as if I had never left. I was in seventh heaven on my way home.
We have stayed in touch, and I call Ms. Jambard at least once a year. Because of the confidence she gave me, I went on to have a successful career(事业) in engineering. I don’t know if Ms. Jambard realizes how much she helped me, but I’ll never forget her kindness and faith in me.
1. How did the author probably feel about the subjects in third grade?| A．They were very easy. | B．They were quite difficult. |
| C．They were very interesting. | D．They were completely useless. |
| A．became the smartest kid in his class | B．read a lot and wrote his first book |
| C．followed Ms. Jambard’s advice | D．did well in all the subjects |
| A．he was really worried | B．he was very happy |
| C．he had an accident | D．he lost the way |
| A．The Teacher Who Raised Me Up | B．Ms. Jambard: a Lifelong Friend |
| C．Charlotte Avenue Elementary School | D．My Early Life in the Children’s Home |
【推荐2】She cared more about her students than her own health. That’s why two years passed before she was treated for cancer.
A longtime teacher for children with special needs, Donna Alvarez had the idea that she might have cancer in 1997. She felt pain after one of her students hugged her. She saw a doctor, but the disease hadn’t developed into cancer yet, so she continued to teach. She didn’t want to take the time for treatment, because leaving her students with another teacher and changing their lives were not acceptable.
In 1999 Mrs. Alvarez had herself examined during a one-week break and the result was breast cancer. “That was when the fear set in,” she remembered. “I didn’t pay attention to what my body was trying to tell me for two years. My mind wouldn’t accept the fact that I needed to take care of myself. I was always putting the children’s needs first.”
Parts of her body were removed. She received six months of treatment four days a week. “I don’t think they thought I was going to survive.”
Now 53, Mrs. Alvarez has been free of cancer for 12 years, but other health problems have followed. She is near blind and has pain in her eyes. She has headaches and pain in other parts of her body.
But the former teacher has stopped complaining about the pain and her health issues. “My life has been one trial after another. What’s made me strong is my faith. For everything bad that has happened to me, I have taken it in a positive way and learned from it,” said Mrs. Alvarez.
And that little boy, who shared that long-ago hug, and his fellow students are responsible in some way. But Mrs. Alvarez doesn’t regret. “When you look at children with special needs, give them love and a smile,” she said.
1. From the second paragraph we can learn that Donna Alvarez ________.| A．didn’t realize she might have cancer until 1999 |
| B．didn’t receive treatment in time for her work |
| C．had given birth to a child with special needs |
| D．had a friend who worked as a doctor |
| A．working methods | B．family information |
| C．mental problems | D．physical condition at present |
| A．Her faith. | B．Her disease. |
| C．Her family. | D．Her interest in teaching. |
【推荐3】Boris, a foreign student at Communication University of China, often shares his experiences of Chinese culture on his vlog(视频博客).
In one video, for example, Boris shared how he had learned the Chinese word dongxi. He translated each part separately into “east west”. And he introduced one theory (说法)about how dongxi came to mean “things”. He told people that all marketplaces in ancient Chinese cities were set up along a single road that ran from east to west. So when you would say qu mai dongxi, you’d be saying, “I’m going to buy things.”
Some other videos show his reading Chinese poem and performing kung fu in Chinese traditional costume, which are quite welcome among his 40, 000 followers.
“Many of my followers are learning Chinese,” Boris said. “But sadly, they know little about Chinese culture and the country.”
Like many foreigners, Boris once believed that all Chinese could perform kung fu, flying onto roofs and walking over walls. He thought the country was not that developed. But after he got a scholarship(奖学金)to study in China in 2019, his view changed. “China has entered a new period, but many people’s impressions of China are still stuck in the 1970s,” Boris said. “That’s why I started to shoot vlogs to share Chinese culture in 2019.”
Until now, Boris has posted more than 40 Chinese culture vlogs online, but making these vlogs is not easy. Take reading the poem Second Farewell to Cambridge by Xu Zhimo as an example
“I can understand and read every word in the poem,” Boris said. “But to touch readers, I need to use proper feelings while reading.” So he needed to look for much background information and make his feelings suit each part of the poem.
Though shooting these vlogs takes lots of time, the young man feels proud that his vlogs have inspired many people. Boris said that he wanted to continue bridging the differences between two cultures. “This goal may not be achieved easily, but I will spare no efforts to do my part.”
1. Through the vlogs, Boris mainly wants to ________.| A．teach foreigners Chinese | B．introduce a Chinese university |
| C．sell Chinese products | D．share his experiences in China |
| A．translating it as a whole | B．knowing its cultural background |
| C．making up some sentences | D．comparing it with similar words |
| A．His hunger for new technology. | B．His wish to show the real China. |
| C．His interest in Chinese culture. | D．His dream to be a big vlogger. |
| A．say yes to Boris’s actions | B．build bridges by making vlogs |
| C．call for more help | D．achieve a common goal C |
【推荐1】When I was young, I wondered why neighborhoods didn’t plant fruit trees to build community Later, my husband and I decided the right way to answer this question was to do it ourselves, so we began to fill our front yard with fruit trees, such as strawberries, pomegranates (石榴) and oranges.
Every crop (庄稼) brought us closer to neighbors and strangers. The food was an excuse to communicate. Kids in the neighborhood, including our sons, learned patience and gentle timing. When we had extra, we’d share it. Then, we received a powerful lesson:a gift hidden as a loss. Our first-ever crop of pomegranates had ripened (成熟), but at harvest (丰收), they were all gone, stolen in the middle of the night.
We were shocked, sad and angry. One of my friends had fun suggesting we post a sign to curse (诅咒) thieves who stole our fruit.
And suddenly, the lesson was clear. We did need a sign, but our sign would encourage sharing and community. Last fall, we had a larger crop of pomegranates. We posted a sign that read, “If you’d like one, please knock and introduce yourself and we’d be happy to cut one off the tree for you. Cutting saves the branches (枝条) and is good for future growth so we can continue to share with new friends like you. Thanks, the Green Family.” Out of eight pieces of fruit, one pomegranate was taken, and most others gifted to new friends.
This year, we planted three new fruit trees — a peach, a pear and a plum. Today, I am happy to role model generosity (慷慨，大方) for my young sons and to have been blessed (祈福) with the chance to provide an edible (可食的) front yard (院子) for others.
1. What was the author and her husband’s decision?| A．To plant fruit trees in their front yard. |
| B．To invite their neighbors to share fruits. |
| C．To help their neighbors by planting fruit trees. |
| D．To find the right answer to their neighbor’s question. |
| A．provided food for the whole family |
| B．satisfied the needs of her neighbors |
| C．made her family lead a happier life |
| D．offered a chance to get close to others |
| A．was made at the request of her friends |
| B．was quite effective in stopping thieves |
| C．didn’t bring the author any new friends |
| D．contained information about the Green Family |
| A．Prevention is better than cure. |
| B．Learning to share is important. |
| C．Never judge a book by its cover. |
| D．Good fences make good neighbors. |
【推荐2】Ryan Hickman is only seven years old, but he’s already been saving for his college fund with profits he’s making from his recycling business.
When Ryan was three-and-a-half, he went with his dad Lo the local recycling center and made money from a few bags of cans and bottles. When he learned money can be made from that, Ryan decided recycling was his future.
“We had gone to the center with a couple of bags, and he really loved the actual act of putting all the cans and bottles into the machine and getting the money from it, and that kind of act go him hooked,” described Damion Hickman, Ryan’s father.
Ryan told his parents that he wanted to give empty plastic bags to all the neighbors and hoped they would save their recyclables for him. Not only did the neighbors save their cans and bottles for Ryan but so did their co-workers, families, and friends. Soon after, Ryan started his own business, Ryan’s Recycling, and has since recycled over 200,000 cans and bottles. Every week, he and his family sort rough bags of recyclables and they take them to the local recycling center where they are sorted and weighed.
So far, Ryan has saved more than $ 10,000 for college from his profits and he also sells T-shirts on his website and donates the profits to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. “For the sea lions to get food and medicine,” he said.
Ryan has an important message for everyone, “If you already recycle, just keep on recycling. If you don’t recycle, start recycling.” Always a great businessman, Ryan added, “If you want to buy one of these T-shirts, it’s $ 13 on ryansrecycling. com.”
1. When did Ryan think of recycling as his future?| A．When he was taken to the recycling center. |
| B．When he was 3 years old. |
| C．When he got some rewards from recycling. |
| D．When he learned recycled cans and bottles could be sold for money. |
| A．He went to ask his family and neighbors to sell him the used bottles and cans. |
| B．He gave empty plastic bags to all the neighbors to get their used cans and bottles. |
| C．He went to the local recycling center first and sold the cans and bottles. |
| D．He and his family sorted through bags of recyclables of their own. |
| A．Caring and determined. |
| B．Kind and generous. |
| C．Independent and energetic. |
| D．Rich and thoughtful. |
【推荐3】I confess I hesitated when the editor in chief of The New York Times Magazine told me in late 20l4 that I would be editing a new front-of-book column called Letter of Recommendation, about stuff people really like. The column was the brainchild of our staff writer, Sam Anderson, he explained. Sam figured that there was no shortage of places to find out what writers hate but few spaces for writers to talk about what they love.We would push against this trend, 900 words a week,40-something times per year.
The reason for my hesitation was a simple, unfortunate fact about writing. Writing about things you hate is easy: not just fun, but generative. The criticism tends to entertain, even if you disagree, but the ode doesn't. The writerly tone is well-suited to our age, but it's hard not to see it as a collective defense mechanism as if revealing your true feelings exposes your unmentionable secrets to the public. Obsessions, meanwhile, are inseparable from our peculiarities as people we come to love things for often weird reasons. When the column really works, it's as revealing about the author as it is its subject. One writer, a man in his late 30s, for example, recommended Pedialyte, which he drinks to balance the effects of both drinking and exercise, and to cheat his way back to youth.
I probably see somewhere between three and five Letter of Recommendation pitches a day. It's a great spot for trying out new writers in the magazine, so I try my best to keep up with all the email, but I often fail.（I feel genuinely terrible about this every day of my life.）Determining which to assign involves seeing how it meets the various criteria（评判标准）we've settled on over the years.We don't like the column to be timely---everything else in the world is timely. But on the other hand, we need to put a headline on the thing that people might reasonably recognize, stop and read about. There should be a personal angle to the recommendation, but also some universally recommendable aspect. But then again, it shouldn't be too recommendable: this isn't a column for life-hacks.The recommendation itself should be attractively unexpected "sideways", as editors are perhaps too fond of saying, but really, it's just an excuse to cut brilliant writers loose to amuse or inspire us.
1. Sam Anderson proposed a column Letter of Recommendation because he found ________ .| A．the fashion trend was not easy to push against |
| B．there was a shortage of good quality columns |
| C．writers could hardly find a place to share their likes |
| D．his brainchild could sometimes increase readership |
| A．compliment | B．recommendation | C．hesitation | D．determination |
| A．To give an example of the writerly tone. |
| B．To highlight the way that the column selects writers. |
| C．To show how a collective defense mechanism works. |
| D．To illustrate how writers reveal themselves in the column. |
| A．the recommended items are quite familiar to readers |
| B．the recommended items should follow the latest trend |
| C．readers can learn about life skills from the recommendations |
| D．readers will find the recommendations beyond their expectation |
