Ever since I graduated from high school I’ve worked in the factories surrounding my hometown every summer. However, making the transformation between school and full-time blue-collar work during the break never gets any easier. For a student like me who considers any class before noon to be unacceptable, getting to a factory by 6 o’clock each morning is suffering. My friends never seem to understand why I’m so relieved to be back at school or that my summer vacation has been anything but a vacation.
There are few people as self-confident as a college student who has never been out in the real world. People of my age always seem to overestimate the value of their time and knowledge. In fact, all the classes did not prepare me for my battles with the machine I ran in the plant, which would jam whenever I absent-mindedly put in a part backward or upside down.
The most stressful thing about blue-collar life is knowing your job could disappear overnight. Issues like being laid off and overseas relocation had always seemed distant to me until my co-workers told me that the unit I was working in would shut down within six months and move to Mexico, where people would work for 60 cents an hour.
After working 12-hour shifts in a factory, the other options have become only too clear. “This job pays well, but it’s hell on the body,” said one co-worker. “Study hard and keep reading.” she added. When I’m back at the university, skipping classes and turning in lazy re-writes seems too irresponsible after seeing what I would be doing without school. All the advice and public-service announcements about the value of an education that used to sound stale now ring true.
My experiences in the factories have inspired me to make the most of my college years before I enter the real world for good.
1. What does the author think of his summer holiday?| A．It was a relief from his hard work at school. |
| B．It brought him nothing but suffering. |
| C．It was no holiday for him at all. |
| D．It offered him a chance to make more friends. |
| A．They are confident when they work. |
| B．They think too highly of themselves. |
| C．They do better in the real world. |
| D．They are expert at handling machines. |
| A．The lack of security | B．Less break | C．An unstable location | D．A low income |
| A．Approving | B．Doubtful | C．Appreciative | D．indifferent |
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【推荐1】In one of the old buildings near our school，one could see an old man sitting by a large window on the first floor．His name was James．During the three years at schoo1, I had hardly ever found him missing from his usual position．
He was a high-ranking government official and lived happily with his wife．Once there was a bus accident，in which a number of passengers were seriously injured and were taken to the hospital for treatment．James was responsible for the rescue operation．It was a big hospital，but James was shocked to notice how ill-equipped it was．There were no enough life-saving drugs and life—supporting equipment． The injured and their companions had to struggle there．James attempted to help．However，though he emptied his pockets，many of them died that day．
That was a turning point in his life．He made a decision to devote his life to helping others，particularly the poor and needy patients and their companions．He began spending much of his income on these people．Since this required a lot of time and energy，he found it difficult to fulfill his official duties and therefore chose to retire，which，in turn，reduced his income considerably．
His wife was deeply worried. Most of the time，James was out and paid least attention to home affairs．Meanwhile，as he was spending a lot helping others，she had to struggle even to meet the household expenses．Though she was not opposed to his helping the poor，she urged him not to overlook his own life and home，but it had no effect on him．One day they had a heated argument and in the end she left him，never to return．Though he continued with his work，this was a great blow and did serious harm to his health and enthusiasm and was soon forced to stay indoors．That was when he took his position by the window，spending his time looking outside．
A few weeks after my graduation，I returned to school，only to find the buildings gone．I heard that they were torn down．All the people left except James．He refused to go and the next morning，he was found at his usual place by the window，dead．
1. What changed James’ view towards life?| A．The difficulties in his career． |
| B．The deaths in the bus accident． |
| C．The bad conditions in the hospital． |
| D．The responsibilities in the operation． |
| A．take care of the injured passengers |
| B．find a better job to increase his income |
| C．spare more time and energy to help others |
| D．stay away from the difficult official duties |
| A．she was strongly against his deeds |
| B．James paid too little attention to his work |
| C．her work to support their daily life was too tiring |
| D．James failed to keep a balance between charity and home |
| A．His decision to retire | B．The departure of his wife |
| C．The argument with his wife | D．His devotion to helping others |
| A．He expected his wife to return. |
| B．He looked forward to going out. |
| C．He desired to watch the students. |
| D．He attempted to know the outside life. |
【推荐2】When Americans Kay and Larry Day found a store selling kites nearly 20 years ago, they decided to buy a few kites for their children. For fun, Larry bought one for himself. “He went out and flew it and decided he needed to go back and get a better one.” Kay remembered. Since then, she and her husband have loved kite - flying. They own many kites and plan trips around flying them. They also organize a kite - flying event each winter in their hometown in lowa. “I’m at peace when I’m flying.” said Larry.
Kite - flying has a long history as an activity for adults and children. The custom of flying a piece of cloth high in the sky began more than 2, 000 years ago in China. Since then, kites have been used to do scientific experiments, power boats, take pictures from the air and much more.
“There is a kind of a kite for everybody out there.” said Nic O’Neill, president of the American Kitefliers Association. “Kite - flying can be done alone or with friends and family. And kite - flying requires skill, but also a little artistry. Experience makes a difference, as does the weather.” she added.
“Sometimes the best flying conditions happen in winter - on a frozen lake.” said Kay Day, who with her husband organizes the Color the Wind Kite Festival. It takes place every February on Clear Lake in lowa. This year, more than 100 children attended a kite - making class. Kiters are a really good group of people. It’s a family.
“The kiting community makes everyone feel welcome. said Oregon. “Her two children started flying kites about three years ago after attending a kite festival. And the kite fliers we know want to teach the kids everything they can,” she added. “They like that there’s a new generation coming up.” Her sons, Dylan, and Cardin, fly with kiters of all ages. “I do enjoy seeing different people.” Dylan said.
The 13 - year - old also likes the happy feelings that he experiences when his kite moves through the sky.“ It’s really calming.” he said.
1. Why does Larry like flying kites?| A．It can bring much fun. | B．It is his favorite hobby. |
| C．It will build up the body. | D．It helps him feel good in mind. |
| A．individuals are not recommended to fly kites |
| B．China is the home of flying kites |
| C．flying kites is suitable for all people |
| D．weather conditions are not important in kite - flying |
| A．They are a group of grown - ups. |
| B．They get on well with each other. |
| C．They can acquire everything. |
| D．They tend to make new friends. |
| A．Kite- Flying： a Lift to People of All Ages |
| B．Kite - Flying： a Traditional Custom of China |
| C．Kite - Flying： a Close Bond to Strangers |
| D．Kite - Flying： a Hobby of Family Members |
【推荐3】One day in March, seven years ago, during happy hours at a bar in my hometown of Fayetteville, Arkansas, I made a surprise announcement to my friends: I was going to shut down my law practice and attempt to travel around the globe in a year. What’s more, I would do it without taking any flights or making a single advance reservation (预定) of any kind. My announcement drew mixed reactions from my friends. Some offered support and encouragement, while others were more doubtful.
Once I had said the words, there was no turning back. I took months to shut down my law practice and get things in order. Once I set off on my adventure in December 2008, I found travelling without using planes was not easy. Trying to circle the globe in 16 months (it took me a bit longer than the initial 12 months I planned) made it even harder. Even so, travelling overland was the most amazing way to truly understand the immensity (浩瀚无际) of our wonderful planet.
I took three consecutive (连续) overnight buses to travel 3,000 km through Argentina, from Ushuaia to the capital Buenos Aires. I would look out of the windows for hours continuously at the completely plains, as if humans had never touched it.
It took seven consecutive days and nights on trains to get from Moscow to Beijing, each day spent staring out of the windows for hours as the Siberian plains swept by. Sometimes, I wouldn’t see a village or a human being for 10 hours. Later in my journey, it took 22 days on a cargo freighter (货船) to get from New Zealand through the Panama Canal and back to Philadelphia, to finish my round-the-world adventure.
It turned out that travelling with no reservations was far less difficult than I had imagined. Pulling into a city on a bus with a backpack, looking in a guidebook for a few suggestions of accommodations (住所), and then finding an empty room was never much of problem anywhere. It also kept me flexible (灵活) and open about all my travel plans, which is advice I give everyone who asks—plan for less than you think you should.
1. The author’s trip was special in that ________.| A．he made it at the expense of giving up his job |
| B．it hardly cost him anything |
| C．he did not make advance booking or travel by air |
| D．It was a global trip |
| A．Jane 2009 | B．December 2009 |
| C．February 2010 | D．April 2010 |
① Moscow
② Philadelphia
③ New Zealand
④ Ushuaia
⑤ Beijing
⑥ Buenos Aires
| A．⑤④①⑥③② | B．④⑥①⑤③② |
| C．④⑤①⑥③② | D．⑤①⑥④③② |
| A．Challenging but pleasant. | B．Dangerous but wonderful. |
| C．Boring and disappointing. | D．Costly and painful. |
【推荐1】A year ago, I had one of the most important interviews of my life.
This dilemma led me to hesitate during the interview. It also brought back my past experience of being interviewed when an interviewer asked me to give an example of a time when I had been caring. The answer that came to my mind was that I volunteered at a nursing house and felt honored to sit with the patients and listened to their stories. But I didn’t think that was good enough to impress the interviewers. So, instead, I told them when one of the residents threw out (呕吐), I quickly clean it up.
Back to my most recent interview and the question about how to shoulder multiple responsibilities of the role.
It has dawned on me that interviews don’t have right or wrong answers. I still see them as exams, but they are not testing my ability to copy somebody else’s answers. Actually the exam is about something I am well familiar with me.
| A．At the end, I was asked how to balance the different parts of the role. |
| B．Never give the interviewers wrong answers. |
| C．It is not about “right” answers but about being yourself. |
| D．I wasn’t sure of which answer to give. |
| E．It seemed the interviewers were quite satisfied. |
| F．I hesitated——but not for long. |
| G．I immediately felt embarrassed. |
【推荐2】My father was a taxi driver but I am a king—King Renato, of the country Pontinha, an island on Funchal harbour. It’s in Madeira, Portugal, where I grew up. It was discovered in 1419; Captain Cook once came here.
In 1903, the Portuguese government didn’t have enough money to build a harbor port, so the king sold the land to a wealthy British family, the Blandys, who make Madeira wine. Fourteen years ago, the family decided to sell it for just € 25,000 (£19,500). I decided to buy it though I had no money—I was just an art teacher.
I tried to find some business partners, but they all thought I was crazy to want to buy what is actually a large rock; it has a small cave, a platform on top, and no electricity or running water. So I sold some of my possessions, put my savings together and bought it.
When the king of Portugal originally sold the island in 1903, he and all the governors signed a document, selling all the “possessions and the dominions (领土)” of the island. It means I can do what I want with it—I could start a restaurant, or a cinema, but nobody thought that someone would want to start a country. So that’s what I did: I decided that this would no longer be just a rock on the port of Funchal. It would be my island, about the size of a one-bedroom house.
After I bought it, the governor of Madeira asked to buy my island. Of course, I said no. He said that unless I sold it back to the state, he wouldn’t let me connect to any electricity. But I have a solar panel and a small windmill, and maybe in the future I will be able to generate power from the ocean around Pontinha.
1. What does the writer want to show by mentioning his father?| A．He had a royal family. | B．He loved his family. |
| C．He was not a born king. | D．He was not a good driver. |
| A．A Portuguese king. | B．An art teacher. |
| C．The Blandy family. | D．Captain Cook. |
| A．He discovered the island. |
| B．He found business supporters. |
| C．He was supported by citizens in the island. |
| D．He took advantage of the official document. |
| A．It was a tiny island. |
| B．A harbor port was built on it. |
| C．It was a wealthy land. |
| D．Life there was very convenient. |
【推荐3】How a middled age woman find her lifetime career
I did not come from a wealthy background. My mother(a single mother who raised 6 children with love and courage) wanted me to have a secure future, so she spent a lot of money to send me to the UK, where I learned to be a professional secretary. Then, I backed to Hong Kong and worked as a secretary.
But I had a problem: I could not concentrate on paperwork. It was a serious issue and I sought medical help. The doctor diagnosed me with ADHD (Attention Disorder: means a person may have difficulty staying on task, sustaining focus). I felt like my world was falling apart. How could I make a living with this condition? How could I meet my family’s expectations?
When I was fired from three different offices, I lost all my self-respect. With nothing left to lose, I decided to use my savings and open a small restaurant. As kitchen is the only place to gain back my self-esteem.
I love cooking, however, I was not trained as a chef. But I was very lucky. Many famous chefs were kind enough to share their cooking secrets with me whole heartedly. They saw something in me: a fearless middle-aged woman. My cooking skills improved a lot with their help and then my business started to pick up. I became kind of famous as CNN named Choy Choy Kitchen as one of the Best Private Kitchen in Hong Kong.
Business was good and I gained back my focus and self-respect in my kitchen in Hong Kong. I tried to find a professional partner who could fully utilize my brand and my creativity.
I moved to Tokyo and opened a restaurant with my partner. However, the covid pandemic hit, restaurant business suffered. And we ended the partnership. I bought a small house in Aobadai, Meguro and began to run my own restaurant. The restaurant was really small and could serve only 4 guests. I served only real Chinese Cuisine with high-end food ingredients. The price of my cuisine seems high. However, the cost of high-end ingredients in Japan was high too and the profit margin was unexpectedly low.
Although the profit was not as expected, I feel a profound joy that fills my entire being whenever guests appreciate real Chinese Cuisine. Whenever I got a compliment about real Chinese cuisine, I feel like destiny chose me to spread the gospel(福音) of real Chinese Cuisine in Japan. Introducing the real Chinese Cuisine to Japanese is a challenging mission. As most of the Chinese Cuisine in Japan is adapted to the local preferences and tastes and therefore most Japanese have never experienced the true flavors of China’s diverse regions and dishes. Although mission sounds difficult, I will try my best.
1. What was the woman’s initial career choice after returning to Hong Kong?| A．Secretary. | B．Professional chef. |
| C．Restaurant owner. | D．Businesswoman. |
| A．Because the cost of high-end ingredients was unexpectedly low. |
| B．Because the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the restaurant business. |
| C．Because the author wanted to focus on running their own restaurant in Aobadai, Meguro. |
| D．Because the profit margin from serving real Chinese cuisine was not as expected. |
| A．The support she receives from famous chefs. |
| B．The desire to make a profit from her restaurant. |
| C．The opportunity to perfect her cooking skill. |
| D．The joy to spread the true flavors of China’s diverse cuisine. |
| A．Determined and generous. | B．Dependent and ambitious. |
| C．Optimistic and courageous. | D．Sensitive and adventurous. |
