When I was 16，dad looked closely at the violin I played and said that he wanted to make one．He read about violinmaking，and then became a violinmaker at the age of 43．He bought the tools and materials，opened a small store and set Mom up as the shopkeeper，while he worked at a local company．He retired from the company 17 years later and continued to make violins and other instruments．
Dad often guessed why the Stradivarius violins sounded so beautiful．Some experts told him that it was the special varnish(油漆)that gave the instruments their beautiful sound．Dad argued that chemists could analyze the varnish—if that was the answer．
One of Dad’s friends asked him which kind of wood was used to make violins．When dad explained that the top was made of spruce(云杉)，his friend said that he had all old piece of spruce which dad might be interested in．
He worked for the next 12 months making a violin from the wood that his friend had given him．It proved to be an excellent violin and it would become Dad’s masterpiece．He believed that the secret of the Stradivarius sound was in the wood itself．
Later, the instrument was stolen．
The violin has been missing for more than 25 years．Somewhere a musician is playing a late-20th-century violin with an excellent tone．The owner today may never understand why this Ordinary-looking violin sounds so much like Stradivarius．
1. In Paragraph l，the writer mentioned his father's developing color prints to ．
| A．let others know that he believed his father |
| B．show that his father would like to make violins |
| C．prove that his father could do anything he wanted to |
| D．give an example showing that his father was an inventor |
| A．They were made by experts． |
| B．The wood of the violins was special． |
| C．The way of making them was unusual． |
| D．The varnish was different from the others． |
| A．found another new job |
| B．wanted to become famous |
| C．lost interest in instruments |
| D．liked the violin very much |
| A．My Experienced Father |
| B．My Father and His Violin |
| C．The Secret of Making Violins |
| D．The New Owner of the Violin |
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【推荐1】This is my son Matthew's last night at home before college. I know that this is good news. I feel proud that Matthew will go to a great school. I know that this is the finest hour. But looking at the suitcases on his bed sends me out of the room to a hidden corner where I can't stop crying.
Through the sorrow, I feel a rising embarrassment. “Pull yourself together!” I tell myself. There are parents sending their kids off to battle zones. How dare I feel so shocked and upset?
One of the great gifts of my life has been having my boys, Matthew and John. Through them, I have explored the mysterious, complicated bond between fathers and sons. As My wife and I raised them, I have discovered the love and loss between my father and me. After my parents' divorce，I spent weekends with my dad in Ohio. By the time Sunday came around, I was unable to enjoy the day's activities because I was already afraid of the goodbye of the evening.
Now, standing among Matthew’s accumulation of possessions, I realize it's me who has become a boy again. All my sadness and longing to hold on to things are back, sweeping over me as they did when I was a child.
His bed is tidy and spare. It already has the feel of a guest bed. In my mind I replay wrapping him in his favorite blanket. That was our nightly routine until one evening he said,” Daddy，I don't think I need a blanket tonight.” I think of all the times we lay among the covers reading. I look at the bed and think of all the recent times I was annoyed at how late he was sleeping. I’ll never have to worry about that again, I realize.
For his part, Matthew has been a rock. He is treating his leaving as just another day at the office. And I'm glad. After all, someone’s got to be strong. I’m proud that he is charging into the first chapter of his adult life with such confidence.
1. What does the writer mean by “Pull yourself together!”?| A．Cheer up. | B．Get up. |
| C．Pull up. | D．Wake up. |
| A．the writer is used to sleeping early |
| B．Matthew is ready for his new life |
| C．Matthew doesn't get on well with his father |
| D．the writer wasn't brave enough to face his parents' divorce |
| A．Bittersweet. | B．Grateful. |
| C．Pleasant. | D．Worried. |
【推荐2】Stay-at-home kids are named “generation nini” in Spain. They are those adults who still live at home and are neither working nor studying. But the problem is not limited to Spain. It is a worldwide problem.
In Italy, they are known as “bamboccioni” or big babies. There nearly 60 percent of 18-34-year-old adults still live in their parents’ home, up from almost 50 percent since 1983. Once kept there by the love for their mama’s home-cooked food, the economic crisis（经济危机）has seen a rise in adults left unable to hold down a steady job or afford a home of their own. Last year, an Italian government minister admitted that his mother washed his clothes and made the bed for him until he was 30. He demanded a law forcing young Italians to leave their parents’ home at 18 to stop them becoming hopelessly dependent on their parents.
In the UK, the government has made the term NEETS---not in employment, education or training for these children. In England alone the percent of NEETS aged 19-24 surged to 18.8 percent of the age group-in the last quarter of 2010, up 1.4 percent on the same period a year before. The number of British men in their 20s living with their parents has risen from 59 percent to 80 percent in the past 15 years, while the number of women has risen from 41percent to 50 percent. The average age of the first-time house buyers is now 38.
In the US, the problem is known as the “full nest syndrome（综合症）”. Adults there are left struggling to support adult children who have stayed at home with student debts and facing few job opportunities in a weak economy. A recent study showed almost a third of American adults aged 34 and under are living with their parents
1. “Big babies” mentioned in Paragraph 2 refers to those adults who ______.| A．are poorly educated | B．are not as smart as others |
| C．lose their job in the bad economy | D．depend on their parents for a living |
| A．parents should make their children feel hopeless |
| B．young people should live on their own after18 |
| C．parents should never make the bed for their children |
| D．it is OK for adult children to live with their parents |
| A．jumped | B．reduced |
| C．recovered | D．moved |
| A．Some American adult children are causing trouble for their parents |
| B．American parents are happy to live with their children |
| C．America has the most adult children compared with other countries |
| D．It is a tradition for adult children to live with their parents in America |
【推荐3】I stare at the row of jars filled with my parents’ homemade tomato sauce. Every time I wonder: “Should I really use one?” I have been saving these jars like precious treasures. No matter how hard I try to find something instead, nothing compares. Store-bought sauces? It just doesn’t taste right. It doesn’t taste like home.
During the tomato season, all my family were a lot busier than usual. My parents would use the basement as an area for letting the tomatoes they had collected locally ripen. Like the other Italian families in the area, we would then take them to the garage when they were ripe enough. There they were cleaned and boiled. Once stewed (炖), whole tomatoes were passed through my father’s homemade machine used to separate the sauce from the skins. Jars at the ready, we filled them with sauce and seasoning. They would then be lined up and ready to use.
My parents would make more than just sauce every fall. I loved it when they would season all the pork sausage. We would fry the meat, tasting it before making the separate sausages. My parents expertly hand-tied the sausages while I would poke (戳) them all over. These were my family’s traditions.
These traditions were hard to maintain when my father got ill. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2019, he spent most of his time in hospital. In September that year he came home, on the same weekend we decided to continue the tradition. I have glorious (美好的) memories of that day as they once again made the sauce. It was a beautiful but short-lived moment. My father died soon after.
Every time I go to reach for one of the jars, something stops me. My mother, ever practical, was visiting us recently and just stared at them. “You should use these or they will go to waste.”
What will it feel like to use that last jar? It would mean the end of an era (时代). Who knows? Maybe it’s time to bring new traditions to life.
1. Why does the author attach so great importance to the jars containing the tomato sauce?| A．The recipe is unique. | B．The sauce is delicious. |
| C．It reminds him of home. | D．It took great patience to make it. |
| A．The time spent making tomato sauce. |
| B．The differences between homemade and store-bought sauces. |
| C．The rules of selecting tomatoes to make sauce. |
| D．The procedure for making tomato sauce. |
| A．Kind. | B．Polite. | C．Enthusiastic. | D．Down-to-earth. |
| A．To recall his family traditions of the past. | B．To show his respect for his late father. |
| C．To introduce his family traditions. | D．To complain about his tough past experience. |
【推荐1】When I woke up on Aug.4, 2016, there was only one thing on my mind: what to wear. A billion thoughts raced through my brain in the closet. I didn't want to come off as trying too hard, but I also didn't want to be seen as a lazy and untidy person. Not only was it my first day of high school, but it was my first day of school in a new state. First impressions are everything, and it was important for me to impress the people who I would spend the next four years with.
This was my third time being a new kid. But this time was different because my dad promised that I would start and finish high school in the same place. This time mattered, and that made me nervous.
After meticulously searching my closet, I proudly came out in a dress from Target. The soft cotton was comfortable, and the ruffled shoulders added a bit of fun. Yes, this outfit was the one. An hour later, I felt powerful as I headed toward Room 1136. But as I entered, my jaw dropped to the floor.
Sitting at her desk was Mrs. Hutfilz, my English teacher, wearing exactly the same dress as me. I kept my head down and tiptoed to my seat. I made it through my minute introduction speech until she stood up, jokingly adding that she liked my style. Although this was the moment I had been afraid of from the moment I walked in, all my anxiety surprisingly melted away, and the students paid attention as I shared my story. My smile grew as I laughed with the students. After class, I stayed behind and talked to Mrs. Hutfilz, relieved to make a humorous and real connection.
Looking back four years later, the ten minutes I spent afraid of giving my speech were really not worth it. My first period of high school certainly made the day unforgettable in the best way and taught me that Mrs. Hutfilz had an awesome sense of style!
1. Why did the author care about her clothes on her first high school day?| A．She was picky about clothes |
| B．She followed her father's advice. |
| C．She wanted to leave a good impression. |
| D．She cared too much about her appearance. |
| A．Carefully | B．gradually | C．regularly | D．suddenly |
| A．Calm. | B．Uneasy. | C．Proud | D．Powerful. |
| A．To explore the tips on dressing. |
| B．To show her good taste in clothes. |
| C．To share a memorable experience. |
| D．To introduce her stylish English teacher |
【推荐2】Galileo Galilei was born on 15 February 1564 near Pisa, the son of a musician. He began to study medicine at the University of Pisa but changed to philosophy (哲学) and maths. In 1589, he became professor of maths at Pisa. In 1592, he moved to become maths professor at the University of Padua, a position he held until 1610. During this time he worked on a variety of experiments, including the speed at which different objects fall.
In 1609, Galileo heard about the invention of the telescope in Holland. Without having seen an example, he constructed a better version and made many astronomical (天文学的) discoveries. These included mountains and valleys on the surface of the moon, sunspots, the four largest moons of the planet Jupiter and the phases (位相) of the planet Venus. His work on astronomy made him famous so that he was appointed court mathematician in Florence.
In 1614, Calileo was accused of heresy (异教) for his support of the Copernican theory that the sun was at the centre of the solar system. This was revolutionary at a time when most people believed the Earth was in this central position. In 1616, he was forbidden by the church from teaching these theories.
In 1632, he was again charged with heresy after his book Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems was published. This set out the arguments for and against the Copernican theory in the form of a discussion between two men. Galileo was made to appear before the Inquisition (审讯) in Rome. He was sentenced to life in prison, later reduced to endless house arrest at his house in Arcetri, south of Florence. He was also forced to publicly take back his support for Copernican theory.
Although he was now going blind, he continued to write. In 1638, his Discourses Concerning Two New Sciences was published with Galileo’s ideas on the laws of motion (运动) and the principles of mechanics (力学). Galileo died in Arcetri on 8 January 1642.
1. At what age did Galileo work as a maths professor at Padua?| A．25. | B．28. | C．45. | D．46. |
| A．Because he was good at maths. |
| B．Because he was for the Copernican theory. |
| C．Because he made great contributions to astronomy. |
| D．Because he worked on a variety of great experiments. |
| A．All the people weren’t for the Copernican theory then. |
| B．Galileo was sentenced to life in prison for a second time. |
| C．Galileo was again charged with heresy for his illegal action. |
| D．Galileo refused to admit the sun was at the centre of the solar system. |
| A．Considerate. | B．Humorous. | C．Strong-willed. | D．Unfortunate. |
When my granddaughter, Skylar, was young, one day we went out and had a contest called “Who can make the most people smile. “ And we continue it today. When shopping, we were walking in the supermarket and noticed someone walking down the aisle with her head down. Skylar walked up to her and gave her a big smile. I watched her walk down the aisle, turned around and smiled at Skylar again or perhaps smiled at someone else.
Kindness is a chain that pulls us all together. Every single act of kindness has a ripple effect(连锁反应). In 2002, my dad had a series of strokes and other illness. My dad had been doing nice things for all sorts of people for years, from the street crossing guard, to the waitress in a restaurant, to a friend’s mother. That same day, I made cookies for the janitor（门卫） at the post office. When I gave him the cookies he actually looked a little embarrassed. “Why, Linda?” he asked. “Because I appreciate you!” I answered. “When I get here at 6 am and it is still dark out and it is a little scary, I know you are inside and I feel safe. And when I first moved here and my post office box was always empty, you always cheered me on. And you always keep this place clean.”
That evening his wife called me and said that he was overwhelmed(受宠若惊的). “No one even knows his name, let alone bakes him cookies!” she said. （278 words）
1. What was the author’s attitude to the contest in the supermarket?
| A．positive | B．negative |
| C．neutral | D．curious |
| A．He led a very poor life at that time. |
| B．He always went to work after six o'clock. |
| C．He was fond of baking cookies. |
| D．He was kind and grateful. |
| A．Kindness can always be passed on. |
| B．An experience in a supermarket. |
| C．The importance of having a kind dad. |
| D．Smile makes your life meaningful. |
“No, Dad. You've done so much already. Thank you！” I was overwhelmed once again by his kind acts of providing everything I needed, although I turned 40. Yet I realize that in my father's eyes, I will always be his little girl. He takes deep pleasure in knowing his children are all right. Now that he has enough money, he loves to give whenever he sees a need.
But this was not always the case. Divorced from my mother when I was 11, my dad couldn't be around his kids as often as he would have liked. Money was also tight; even weekend visits were rare. However, my dad stayed in constant communication with us and made sure he was involved in our lives. Though he couldn't always be there in person, I knew he was only a phone call away. I could always make sure of that.
Even now, almost 30 years later, I treasure knowing that I can pick up the phone and call Dad, and he'll be there for me. I have a wonderful husband, but that hasn't changed how Dad sees me. I'm still his child and he loves to see that my needs are met.
I remember a time when I was shopping in a hardware store (五金店) with Dad. I mentioned my plans to paint one wall in my house. Well, that's all it took for Dad to take action. By the time I got to the checkout(结账) line, all the supplies I picked out were put out of my hands and placed with things he bought.
Then there was the time when I took him with me to do some grocery shopping for just a few “ items”. By the time we were finished, my shopping cart was full of groceries from every shelf in the store! My sister and I joke that if you don't want Dad to buy it for you, avoid even mentioning you want something.
1. What's the best title for the passage?
| A．Father's generosity | B．Father's considerate love |
| C．The love for children | D．Love's power |
| A．suggestion | B．reasoning |
| C．examples | D．argument |
| A．After the author got married, her father no longer get himself involved in her life. |
| B．Now the father's economic condition is satisfying. |
| C．The author's father was divorced when she was 11. |
| D．The father has a great sense of responsibility. |
| A．father paid little attention to money |
| B．father was quick in action |
| C．father loved going shopping very much |
| D．father paid great attention to his children's needs |
【推荐2】Thirty years ago I was studying in a college in Liverpool which was hundreds of miles from home, but I had a nice place to live and plenty of money in my pocket.
One Saturday morning I decided to walk into Liverpool city centre and buy myself something. I didn't need anything, and I was just going to spend some money!
I stepped into a store to buy myself some sweets. While I was there the door opened and in walked this little girl. She looked older than her age. She was wearing a summer dress even though it was a bitterly cold day.
She walked up to the counter, and placed a fifth pence coin on the glass. Then, she proudly announced, she had saved this up for her little brother's birthday and she wanted to buy him a teddy bear (玩具熊).The woman behind the counter told the little girl the teddy cost was more than 50 pence.
I knew that none of the bears on display could be bought for 50 pence. I also knew that I could easily buy the best bear there with the money I was going to waste that day-but did I want to encourage a little girl to take money from strangers?
While I watched the little girl turned. “Oh well,” she announced to the world, “I'll just give him mine then.”
I didn't forget her words “I'll just give him mine.” She was going to give her litte brother her teddy, probably the only teddy she had!
If I meet with this kind of little girl today, I will help her with all that I have. “I'll just give him mine.” Perfect words! I will remember the words forever. Days like that can change the course of a life.
1. From the passage we may infer that ________.| A．the little girl's family was very poor |
| B．the writer helped the little girl get what she wanted to get |
| C．the teddy bears were so expensive that the writer couldn't buy one |
| D．the little girl didn't have a teddy bear herself |
| A．he thought the little girl was too proud |
| B．he had spent all his money on sweets |
| C．he didn't want to encourage the little girl to accept things from other people |
| D．there were so many poor girls at that time |
| A．No pains no gains. |
| B．I'll just give him mine. |
| C．Be friendly to everyone. |
| D．Think twice before you act. |
【推荐3】In the spring of 2013, my wife and I opened Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Opening a community-minded independent bookstore was a dream we’d shared. We were in our late twenties, pursuing adream.
When opening day arrived, we unlocked the door and held our breath. One by one, people walked inside, paged through new books, and discussed favourite authors. The bookstore came alive.
That morning, I had set out a typewriter on our lower level for anyone to use. It was a community-building experiment: What if people could walk into a bookstore and type anything they wanted?
The first typewriter I ever fell in love with was my grandfather’s -a 1930s Smith Corona. My memory of him is limited to impressions: visits to his Florida apartment, beach picnics, and a fascinating black typewriter on his writing desk. One year, long after he passed, Grandma gave me his Smith Corona for Christmas. At the time, I was a struggling writer. Seeing his old typewriter again stirred something in me. His typewriter made writing fun again. And for the first time since his death, I felt connected to him, to a past I never really knew.
The typewriter I set out on opening day was a light blue Olivetti Lettera 32. I inserted a clean piece of paper and let it be: the world’s smallest publishing house, waiting for an author. One of the notes I found that first day was: Thank you for being here. I didn’t see the typer’s identity, so it appeared as though the typewriter itself was thanking me. Soon, more notes accumulated. Typewriting had become part of our bookstore’s identity.
Customers and friends began encouraging me to turn these notes into a book. At first, I was hesitant. But then I read through the piles of messy, typewritten pages again. Some made me tear up; many made me laugh out loud. They shouldn’t be locked inside my filing cabinet at home. Inside our store, surrounded by books that have been labored over by authors, editors, and marketers, there’s a way for people to publish directly into the world in permanent ink spelling errors and all.
1. Why did the author set out a typewriter in the bookstore?| A．To honour his grandfather. |
| B．To provide convenience to customers. |
| C．To offer people a way to express themselves. |
| D．To respond to community residents’ requirement. |
| A．Curious. | B．Amused. | C．Surprised. | D．Inspired. |
| A．There was a publishing house in the bookstore. |
| B．The bookstore was famous for its unique typewriter. |
| C．The typewritten notes were full of spelling errors. |
| D．The author would publish a book consisting of those notes. |
| A．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
| B．Everyone can be a writer of his own life. |
| C．It only takes a typewriter to be an author. |
| D．Books are the ever-burning lamps of accumulated wisdom. |
