“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me,” is an old saying my fourth-grade teacher once told me. I grew up thinking as long as people didn’t physically hurt each other, hurtful words were to be tolerated, but I changed my mind after reading Linda O’Connell’s story, Two Little Words with a Big Impact. She discussed two words: “and” and “but”, and explained how “but” can be one of the most destructive words.
Then I realized I had been hurt by the word “but”, and that I had wounded others, too, by using the word thoughtlessly. For example, when I was a teacher and edited my students’ stories, I would always say their content was good, but then I would add comments such as “but you need to make your characters more realistic.” I could have said, “Your content is good and making your characters more believable will make it even better.
In setting up guidelines for commenting on writers, I realize we need to praise each other, make helpful remarks, and then praise each other again, without using the word” but. “I remember a college professor who said,” There is no such thing as constructive criticism. Criticism is criticism. She has now passed on, but her words remain with me always.
My fourth-grade teacher’s quote was aimed at what she thought was harmless playground teasing, but even teasing hurts. Today, we can read sad news related to many stories where people have been terribly hurt by ugly words and suffered a lot. Now I realize the importance of thinking before speaking, even to avoid seemingly unimportant words like “but.” Sticks and stones break our bones, but thoughtless words also do harm. They can leave marks for a lifetime.
1. What changed the author’s attitude to hurtful words?| A．A teacher’s advice. |
| B．His personal experience. |
| C．A college professor’s words. |
| D．A story by Linda O’Connell. |
| A．The author used “but” too often. |
| B．The author could tolerate criticism. |
| C．The misuse of “but” can hurt others. |
| D．Realistic characters are needed in writing. |
| A．Honest and warm-hearted. | B．Devoted and co-operative. |
| C．Optimistic and open-minded. | D．Caring and self-reflective. |
| A．The benefits of learning from mistakes. |
| B．The long-lasting effect of hurtful words. |
| C．The importance of using words thoughtfully. |
| D．The difference between physical and emotional harm. |
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【推荐1】Slowing down was the last thing on Elaine Schaefer’s mind when she turned 70 last year. She’d enjoyed an ambitious travel schedule for the previous decade. She didn’t feel too old to travel.
Yet many people are asking that slightly embarrassing question: Can you be too old to travel? The travel industry has already responded. Try renting a car in Europe, for example. In Croatia, Schaefer wouldn’t be able to this year, because the maximum age is 70. Insurance companies require higher rates; tour operators limit certain activities. That feels like a “no” for many travelers.
Definitely some folks should think twice before traveling, but not only based on their age. It’s their level of fitness, says Kirsten Veldman, a former tour guide who now edits a retirement blog. She recalls a 93-year-old who was disabled and traveling alone on a Caribbean tour, “You can’t expect to ask a tour leader to be there for you 24/7 for medical care.” she says. “Tour guides don’t have the time, skills, and knowledge for it. So, in this case, my advice is: he shouldn’t have traveled with us in this situation.”
But some tour operators serve older travelers. For example, Grand Circle Travel started in 1958 to serve senior members. “We have travelers into their 80s and even 90s. Some travel as a couple and some alone,” says company spokeswoman Ann Shannon. “We have no age limit.”
If you ask travel experts, they’ll tell you that age is just a number. It’s a question of physical, and to a certain extent, mental ability. “Many of our travelers are retired, focused on keeping their good health, and are experienced travelers who have a good idea of what to expect,” says Sara Baer-Sinnott, president of Oldways, a food and nutrition nonprofit that operates tours. “Someone in their 40s may struggle more than someone in their 80s.”
1. What is Schaefer expected to do if she travels in Croatia this year?| A．She can rent a car to go around. |
| B．She will receive 24/7 medical care. |
| C．She has to pay more insurance fees. |
| D．She can participate in all the activities. |
| A．His old age. | B．His stubborn personality. |
| C．His lack of medical skills. | D．His poor physical condition. |
| A．It is a non-profit traveling organization. |
| B．It is intended for the senior customers. |
| C．It offers service to a wide range of travelers. |
| D．It has a history of more than seven decades. |
| A．Objective. | B．Favorable. | C．Tolerant. | D．Critical. |
【推荐2】Food scientists studied what Americans eat. They found that most of the calories people eat come from ultra-processed foods. Processed foods include large amounts of sugar, salt, oils, fats, and other additives. Highly processed foods are a large part of the American diet. Scientists link them to obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and other physical diseases.
Some scientists say these foods are not just tempting but also are addictive. Other scientists disagree. A recent journal article explored the science behind food addiction. It also asked if processed foods might contribute to overeating and obesity.
One opinion was that certain foods did create addictive behavior. At the top of the list were pizza, chocolate, potato chips, cookies, ice cream, French fries, and cheeseburgers. These foods share much in common with addictive substances. The bloodstream absorbs them. They light up parts of the brain that regulate reward, emotion, and motivation.
Another doctor says these foods are not addictive. The reason is that processed foods do not change minds the way smoking a cigarette or drinking a glass of wine can affect the mind. Mind-changing substances cause a sensation in the brain that processed foods do not, he says.
This doctor says that food industry drives overeating. It markets more than 20,000 new products every year. People have access to an endless variety of foods and drinks. People are urged to buy and eat. “It is the diversity of foods that is so appealing and causing the problem,” he says.
But you do long for processed food. If you want to kick a processed food habit, you have to do something about it. One idea is to keep a record of the foods you are thirsty for. Keep processed foods out of your house. And, of course, eat healthier foods.
1. What can we learn about ultra-processed foods?| A．They are healthy. | B．They are nutritious. |
| C．They are rich in calories. | D．They are green. |
| A．Amazing. | B．Entertaining. | C．Annoying. | D．Inviting. |
| A．Food variety. | B．Food brand. | C．People’s preference. | D．Social needs. |
| A．Do you like processed foods? | B．Are processed foods addictive? |
| C．Are doctors for processed foods? | D．Do you want to kick a bad habit? |
【推荐3】Real financial security and freedom is not in our job but in our passion. It’s easy to define and evaluate a man by his pursuit. Joseph Campbell once said, “Follow your dream and the universe will open doors where there are only walls.”
In life, we’ll always be found doing any of these two things: either making a living or making a difference. Pensions (养老金) and salaries stop many from pursuing excellence while passion unlocks hidden potentials that equip us for challenges and opportunities. A job helps us make a living while passion enables us to make a difference.
I want to sincerely help to adjust and clarify the misguided belief among workers that a job is a means of livelihood. Rather, it should be a means to fuel our passion. The earlier you realize this basic truth of life, the more clearly you’ll be able to position yourself in living a life of impact and value.
The success of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) shows how meaningful it is to pursue your passion instead of your pension. Its founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, didn’t realize this until he was given his first social security check of 105 dollars. But he decided that there surely was something to do for himself and other people instead of living on that small pension. He was determined to engage himself in what brought him impact and value. Drawing inspiration from his mother’s special recipe for fried chicken, he invented “finger-licking” seasoning with eleven spices and herbs. Despite much rejection, he managed to round up some investors and promote company’s rapid expansion to more than 6,000 locations. Sanders’ life pointed towards two facts about making a difference: one, there is no age that is too old to make a difference; two, there is nothing too small or insignificant to make a difference with, as long as it is your passion.
1. How does the author support his argument in Paragraph 2?| A．By listing examples. |
| B．By including a quote. |
| C．By showing contrast. |
| D．By sharing his experience. |
| A．Deeply moved. | B．Internally motivated. |
| C．Greatly relieved. | D．Pleasantly surprised. |
| A．Give career guidance. |
| B．Advise us to pursue our passion. |
| C．Persuade us to get a well-paid job. |
| D．Secure our position. |
| A．Following Your Dreams | B．Working for Pension |
| C．To Work or Not to Work? | D．Passion or Pension? |
【推荐1】My roommate and I sat very still and held our breath to watch the showdown between ice skaters Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan and Nathan Chen of the United States at the Beijing Winter Olympics. But when Mr Chen launched himself into the air, it wasn’t his movement that caught my eye—it was the empty seats in the audience behind him. They looked familiar. Those seats were where my parents had stood, my dad holding a video camera to record my daily practice sessions.
Born and raised in Beijing , I began skating at age 8. I’d seen Chinese pair skaters Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo’s performance at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy. They inspired a wave of national pride and made figure skating(花样滑冰) a mainstream sport in China. I joined the rush.
I spent most of my time outside school at the rink (溜冰场). One day, two intense years later, I’d had enough. The pressure was too much. I told my parents I couldn’ t do it anymore. Thankfully, they understood and let me stop. But even after I quit, guilt and pressure stayed with me. My parents had sacrificed so much for me, and I felt I’d failed to meet their expectations. Then I started a new athletic attempt—cross-country running that I still pursue today. Even so, I still enjoyed watching figure skating on TV from time to time.
Right before COVID -19 lockdowns began, I returned home to Beijing over winter break from college in the US. In my cupboard, I was surprised to find a shiny new pair of figure skates(滑冰鞋) my dad had bought for me. Then I brought the skates back with me to Boston.
This winter, I put on the skates again. I carefully stepped onto the ice at a Boston rink. And this time skating felt the way it had when I fell in love with it for the first time. I danced on the ice realizing that one cannot learn without falling sometimes—or often.
1. What brought back the author’s childhood memory ?| A．His interest in skating. | B．The unoccupied seats. |
| C．The noise from the audience. | D．An action of Nathan Chen. |
| A．He preferred running to skating. |
| B．He got tired of his college life in the US. |
| C．He competed at the Beijing Winter Olympics. |
| D．He skated under the influence of two Chinese skaters. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Disappointed. | C．Supportive. | D．Annoyed. |
| A．Pursue a career in skating. | B．Work as a coach in Beijing. |
| C．Take up his previous hobby. | D．Start cross-country running. |
【推荐2】Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 a. m. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice. After a long time, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase. I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It's nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you're such a good man.” She said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It's not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I'm in no hurry,” she said. “I'm on my way to a hospice (临终医院). I don't have any family left. The doctor says I don't have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter (计价器). For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
At dawn, she suddenly said, “I'm tired. Let's go now.” We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“Nothing.” I said.
1. On the way to the hospice, I drove the woman through the city in order to help her___.| A．enjoy the beauty of the city | B．stare into the darkness |
| C．say goodbye to her past life | D．visit some old friends |
| A．I always picked up passengers at 2:30 a.m.. | B．The old woman was well treated. |
| C．The woman didn’t know where to go. | D．The woman had some relatives left. |
| A．Impatient | B．Active | C．Kind | D．Brave |
【推荐3】When I was 14, two years before I was old enough to get a driver's license, I saw an advertisement (广告) for a 1969 Honda CL90 motorbike. My mother was strict, and I knew if I asked, she would say no. I just had to do it. I sold my 10 speed bike, added that to the money I had made doing yard work, and bought the Honda for $100 in Seaside, California, near where I grew up.
I kept the motorbike hidden from my parents. If the bike broke, I had to know how to fix it on my own. That 90cc Honda engine was as simple as an engine could be, and I learned what goes on inside it.
I was always tall for my age, so even at 14, the motorbike was small for me. I was like a trained circus( 马戏团) bear on it. The motorbike only went 38 miles per hour, but I found that, if I changed the front sprocket(链轮), I could get it to 46.
I would throw my leg over that thing and just ride, and I also learned how the world went around. That motorbike brought everything for me.
The motorbike is important for another reason. Long before Honda cars appeared in the U.S., Honda motorbikes were everywhere. These motorbikes introduced the Honda brand ( 品牌) to America. I have talked to so many people who said the Honda CL90 was the first motorbike they owned.
Years later, I have a collection of classic (经典的) motorbikes and cars, and a job I love that is related to lots of classic motorbikes and cars. A little motorbike was the push behind all of that.
1. The author got his first Honda after ．| A．he had saved $100 | B．he got his driver's license |
| C．his parents sold his old bike | D．his mother agreed to buy one for him |
| A．It was very quick. | B．It was too expensive. |
| C．It was very easy for him to ride. | D．It was hard to repair on his own. |
| A．Its size is perfect for a 14yearold. | B．It was the first motorbike Honda made. |
| C．Its engine is simpler than other motorbikes' engines. | D．It was the first motorbike that many Americans owned. |
| A．To introduce Honda motorbikes. | B．To talk about his favorite hobby. |
| C．To show his first Honda means a lot to him. | D．To explain why he is skilled in riding motorbikes. |
