【推荐1】I was stuck in O'hare airport on an extremely long weather delay, pacing up and down the waiting hall for some exercise, when I passed a wine bar for the twentieth time or so. But this time there was a young woman behind the piano, playing what I could only describe as absolutely beautiful classical music. She had not been there ten minutes earlier when I passed.
I sat down at an empty table for four very near the piano, and began to be warmed by her music and a bit by the wine! She played so effortlessly and with such beauty in every note. Her music immediately brought a huge smile to my face!
Soon, on a break, I thanked her and she told me that after a long day traveling, and now also facing long weather delays, she "just needed to __________" Wow! Her version of blowing off steam was a gift to get.
As I sat alone drinking my wine, absorbed in this young woman's celebration of her musical passion, two women approached my table and asked if they could join me. I invited them to sit and we immediately began sharing our love of music and celebrating the happiness the piano music was bringing us at that moment.
The two women and I began to talk about our travels, life journeys, and passions. Hearing that unbelievable piano music, and then meeting such interesting women, who generously shared with me their wisdom, perspectives, and feelings of love for each other, was truly joyous. Faced with an 11-hour travel day — to get what normally takes 45 minutes — could have been physically and emotionally exhausting. Rather, by accident of walking by a wine bar at the right moment, and having a couple of seats open at my table, my life was filled with joy.
I will cherish those moments for some time to come. This experience highlights (突出) the critical need in our lives to stop and listen to the music, to invite others to sit at your life table, to open yourself up to a stranger or two, sharing some of your deepest perspectives and experiences. Be open to noticing, absorbing, and also contributing to the joy around you!
1. What does the underlined phrase “blow off some steam” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Reduce anger.

B．Relax herself.

C．Make full use of time.

D．Breathe fresh air.

2. How long was the author’s travel supposed to take without weather delay?

A．10 minutes.

B．20 minutes.

C．45 minutes.

D．11 hours.

3. How did the author feel about the experience in the airport?

A．Happy and meaningful.

B．Lonely but unforgettable.

C．Boring and meaningless.

D．Long and tiring.

4. The author writes the text in order to encourage people _______.

A．to make the acquaintance of strangers

B．to share your experiences with others

C．to communicate with others more often

D．to notice and enjoy the happiness around you

【推荐2】The pickle jar（泡菜坛）, as I can remember, sat beside the dresser in my parents’ bedroom. When ready for bed, Dad would toss any coins in his pockets into the jar. As they dropped, they landed with a merry jingle.
Whenever the jar was full, Dad would roll up the coins. Every time he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would smile proudly and say,“All for my son’s college.”
We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. Dad would show me the coins in his change, saying “When we get home, we’ll start filling the jar again.” He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. “You might have to get to college on loose change,” he said. “But you’ll get there.”
As years passed, I went to college, got married and took a job.
Once, while visiting my parents, I noticed the jar was gone. It had served its purpose. My dad was a man of few words and never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance or faith. The jar had taught me those far better than the most flowery of words could have done.
Soon, my daughter Jessica was born. We spent Christmas that year with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other, taking turns holding their first grandchild. When Jessica began crying, my wife Susan took her from Dad’s arms to put her in my parents’ room.
Susan came back, tears in her eyes and led me into the room. “Look,” she said softly. To my amazement, there, next to the dresser, stood the old pickle jar, as if never removed, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to it, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out several coins. Choked by emotion, I dropped them into the jar.
Dad had slipped quietly into the room when I looked up. Our eyes locked, but neither of us spoke, because we knew nothing had to be said.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．The author and his wife were grateful for what parents had done.

B．The jar again in the bedroom reminded themselves of the hard years.

C．The author felt disappointed when he found the jar gone.

D．The author felt embarrassed whenever his father mentioned the jar.

2. We can learn from the passage that        .

A．any difficulty can be overcome with the family’s support.

B．parents teach much more through their action than their words.

C．saving is always a good habit to pass down to the next generation.

D．you need to reward yourself and celebrate regularly to keep up with your faith.

3. Which words best describe the author’s father?

A．Humorous and patient.	B．Quiet but loving.
C．Generous and talkative.	D．Proud but strict.

4. The pickle jar in the article represents        .

A．advice of parents.

B．one’s purpose in life.

C．determination to reach a goal.

D．healthy family relations.

【推荐3】The freezing Northeast hasn’t been a terribly fun place to spend time this winter, so when the chance came for a weekend to Sarasota, Florid, my bags were packed before you could say “sunshine”. I left for the land of warmth and vitamin C(维生素C), thinking of beaches and orange trees. When we touched down to blue skies and warm air, I sent up a small prayer of gratefulness. Swimming pools, wine tasting, and pink sunsets (at normal evening hours, not 4 in the afternoon) filled the weekend, but the best part—particularly to my taste, dulled by months or cold-weather root vegetables—was a 7 a.m. adventure to the Sarasota farmers’ market that proved to be more than worth the early wake-up call.

The market, which was founded in 1979, sets up its tents every Saturday from 7:00 am to l p.m, rain or shine, along North Lemon and State streets. Baskets of perfect red strawberries, the red-painted sides of the Java Dawg coffee truck; and most of all, the tomatoes: amazing, large, soft and round red tomatoes.

Disappointed by many a broken, vine-ripened(蔓上成熟的) promise, I’ve refused to buy winter tomatoes for years. No matter how attractive they look in the store, once I get them home they’re unfailingly dry, hard, and tasteless. But I homed in, with uncertainty, on one particular table at the Brown’s Grove Farm’s stand, full of fresh and soft tomatoes the size of my fist. These were the real deal—and at that moment, I realized that the best part of Sarasota in winter was going to be eating things that back home in New York I wouldn’t be experiencing again for months.

Delighted as I was by the tomatoes in sight, my happiness deepened when I learned that Brown’s Grove Farm is one of the suppliers for Jack Dusty, a newly opened restaurant at the Sarasota Ritz Carlton, where—luckily for me—I was planning to have dinner that very night. Without even seeing the menu, I knew I’d be ordering every tomato on it.

1. What did the author think of her winter life in New York?

A．Exciting.	B．Boring.
C．Relaxing.	D．Annoying.

2. What made the author’s getting up early worthwhile?

A．Having a swim.	B．Breathing in fresh sir.
C．Walking in the morning sun.	D．Visiting a local farmer’s market.

3. What can we learn about tomatoes sold in New York in winter?

A．They are soft.	B．They look nice.
C．They taste great.	D．They are juicy.

【推荐1】Many years ago my student asked me the question, “Mrs. Kindred, why do you teach?” Without taking time to reflect, I answered ,“Because someday I might say something that might make a difference in someone’s life.” Even though I was sincere, that wasn’t a very good answer and my student didn’t let it slide.
“Let me get this straight,” he said, “You went to college for four years so you could come here every day because you have the hope that someday you might say something that will influence someone?” He shook his head as if I were crazy and walked away looking confused. I’m one of those people who look back and wish they had said something smart or witty, or swift.
Even though that particular student might no longer wonder why I teach, there are days when I wonder. On those days, I remind myself of the real reasons I teach:
It’s in my blood. My mother was my most influential teacher, and she was a 6^th grade reading teacher until her death in 1990. She instilled(逐渐灌输)in me a love of reading and the knowledge that education opens doors.
Teaching is a way to make a difference. If you throw a stone in a pond the ripples(波纹) go on and on until they reach the shore. You can’t have ripples without a “stone.” Good teachers throw stones that make a positive difference, and that’s what I strive to do.
I genuinely love teenagers. I want to share with others what I know and what I have learned through the years. Life is full of ups and downs, and if I can help students avoid some potholes on the road of life, I want to do so. If they’ll allow me to celebrate their victories with them, I want to do too. Teaching isn’t for everyone, but I know I made the right career choice.
1. Why did the student continue to ask the question about the writer’s being a teacher?

A．Because he thought her answer was unbelievable.

B．Because the writer was insincere.

C．Because the student was naughty.

D．Because the answer was difficult to understand.

2. According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?

A．The writer’s mother has the greatest influence on her.

B．The writer’s answer made the student confused.

C．In the writer’s opinion, some people in the world are unfit to teach.

D．The writer annoyed the student who asked the question.

3. We can infer from the text that      .

A．the writer was also a good teacher in school

B．the writer often plays with her students beside a pond

C．the writer devotes herself to teaching and her students

D．the writer often accompanies the students on their way home.

【推荐2】Last year, Donald J．Trump made history when he took office as the 45th president of the United States． At 70 years old, he became the oldest elected president． Before Trump, Ronald Reagan was the oldest person to take office． He was 69 years old when he became president in 1981．As the first billionaire president, Trump also replaced John F．Kennedy, the 35th president, as the richest man to serve as president．

Kennedy still holds the record for the youngest person to be elected president． He was 43 when he took office． Kennedy is also the youngest president to die in office． He was assassinated (暗杀) in 1963 when he was 46．

Another presidential assassination actually put the youngest person in the office of the president． In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt, then the vice president, became president at the age of 42．He took office after William McKinley, the 25th president, was shot and killed in Buffalo, New York．

Another Roosevelt holds the record for the longest time in office． Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd president, held office for 4,422 days． After his death, the 22nd amendment (修正案) was passed． It limited a person to two four-year terms as president． The two Roosevelts were distant relatives.

But they were not the first relatives to both serve as president． That title belongs to the Adams． John Adams was America’s second president． His son． John Quincy Adams was elected as the nation’s sixth president．

The Bushes are the other father-son presidential pair． George Herbert Walker Bush was elected as the 4l st president. His son, George W. Bush. was the county’s 43rd president．

Not everyone can run for president． The U.S. Constitution (宪法) says that person must be at least 35 years old． A person must also have lived “within the United States” for at least 14 years． And they must be a “natural-born citizen”．

1. Who is the youngest US president when taking office?

A．Donald J．Trump	B．John F． Kennedy
C．Theodore Roosevelt	D．George W． Bush

2. How many father-son presidential pairs were mentioned in the text?

A．1	B．2
C．3	D．4

3. What is the best title for the text?

A．US Presidential Facts and Firsts．	B．All Famous Presidents in the US．
C．the Richest US President．	D．Running for US President．

【推荐3】I was born on the 17th of November 1828, in the village of Nam Ping, which is about four miles southwest of Macao, and is located on Pedro Island lying west of Macao, from which it is separated by a channel of half a mile wide.

As early as 1834, an English lady, Mrs. Gutzlaff, wife of a missionary to China, came to Macao. Supported by the Ladies’ Association in London for the promotion of female education in India and the East, she immediately took up the work of starting a girls’ school for Chinese girls, which was soon followed by the opening of a boys’ school.

Mrs. Gutzlaff’s comprador (买办）happened to come from my village and was actually my father’s friend and neighbor. It was through him that my parents heard about Mrs. Gutzlaff’s school and it was doubtlessly through his influence and means that my father got me admitted into the school, It has always been a mystery to me why my parents should put me into a foreign school, instead of a traditional Confucian school, where my big brother was placed. Most certainly such a step would have been more suitable for Chinese public opinion, taste, and the wants of the country, than to allow me to attend an English school. Moreover, a Chinese belief is the only avenue in China that leads to political promotion, influence, power and wealth. I can only guess that as foreign communication with China was just beginning to grow, my parents hoped that it might be worthwhile to put one of their sons to learning English. In this way he might become an interpreter and have a more advantageous position to enter the business and diplomatic world. I am wondering if that influenced my parents to put me into Mrs. Gutzlaff’s school. As to what other sequences it has eventually brought about in my later life, they were entirely left in the hands of God.

1. How was the author admitted to Mrs. Gutzlaff’s school?

A．Through his father’s request.

B．Through his father’s friend’s help.

C．Through his own efforts at exams.

D．Through Mrs. Gutzlaff’s influence.

2. Why did the author’s parents put him into an English school?

A．It met with Chinese public opinion.

B．An English school was more influential.

C．He could become a successful interpreter.

D．Foreign trade with China was developing fast.

3. What did the author think of his parents’ decision to put him into an English school?

A．It was skeptical.	B．It was wonderful.
C．It was thoughtful.	D．It was mysterious.

4. What does the underlined word “sequences” in the last sentence probably mean?

A．Results.	B．Orders.
C．Series.	D．Progress.