【推荐1】We were moving to a new state after my husband had been out of work for many months and we had no money. In fact, we had to borrow money to reach our destination town. Anyway, it was my husband, 2 boys aged 4 and 2, and myself, 7 months pregnant(怀孕的), in an old Volvo station wagon(旅行车). We had been driving for two days in the middle of winter (the car’s heater didn’t work), and we had taken a route that was very desolate. There was nothing around for miles-no cars, buildings, or signs of civilization. Suddenly, our car started losing power and the gauges(仪表) went all out of order. We saw a light in the distance and managed to roll to a stop in front of this property that looked like a small simple house. Our cell phones had not gotten reception for many miles, and it was freezing outside, so I didn’t know if we were going to make it out of this situation alive. My husband got out of the car to see if there was something he could do to get us rolling, but it was not looking good. A short while later, a man came out of the house and spoke with my husband a bit before inviting us all into his home. He and his wife took us in, fed us, and made us feel at home as we struggled to find some way to get to our destination, which was still a few hours’ drive away. We were able to call a friend and get a ride, leaving our broken car behind, but not before the couple gave us food and water for our journey. One week later, this clear sweet couple pulled our car all the way to our place and refused to take anything in return, except for us to pay it forward… and we have and will continue to do so forever.

1. The underlined word “desolate” probably means _________.

A．deserted	B．advanced
C．smooth	D．muddy

2. Knowing that the wagon had broken down, the author _________.

A．called her friends several miles away for help

B．stopped the car in front of a simple service station

C．was afraid that they couldn’t overcome the difficulty.

D．encouraged her husband and children to be confident

3. We can infer from the text that the family ___________.

A．got out of their financial difficulty

B．met with more troubles after that

C．came back to thank the couple who had help them

D．followed the couple’s example to help others

【推荐2】At just 19 years old, Zara Rutherford has broken two Guinness World Records. She became the youngest female to fly solo around the world and also the first woman to circumnavigate (环游) the world in a microlight.

The Belgian-British teenager landed at an airport in Belgium on Jan 20 after completing a journey covering 52, 000 kilometers, crossing 41 countries and five continents, CNN reported.

“It’s just really crazy. I haven’t quite processed it,” she told reporters on the spot after landing.

With both her parents being pilots, Rutherford started learning to fly at 14 and got her first license in 2020. The young pilot has always dreamed of flying around the world alone. So she decided to take a gap year before going to university to make this a reality.

Rutherford sold her car to help pay for the trip and also sought out sponsors. They included her former school St Swithun’s School in the UK and more importantly Shark Aero, a manufacturer who provided her with a two-seat aircraft.

When everything was prepared, Rutherford departed in August 2021 and was supposed to finish the trip in three months. But it was prolonged into nearly half a year due to bad weather.

The most difficult part of the journey was flying over Siberia in Russia. “It was -20℃ in the air … If the engine were to fail, I don’t know how long I could have survived,” Rutherford said during a press conference. She had also encountered storms, wildfires, typhoons, flat tires and broken plane parts.

With this flight around the globe, Rutherford hopes to encourage more young girls and women to consider a career in aviation(航空业) . “If you don’t try and see how high you can fly, then you’ll never know,” Rutherford told CNN.

“We are proud of what she has shown throughout,” Jane Gandee, headteacher at St Swithun’s School, told the BBC. “Fifty of our own students have been inspired by Zara to have a go at flying, and I am sure that her example will serve as inspiration for many more young women around the world.”

1. What do we know about Rutherford’s voyage?

A．It was completed as scheduled.	B．It was supported by three charities.
C．She finished flight in about six months.	D．She bought a two-seat aircraft.

2. What was the most difficult part of her journey?

A．Encountering typhoons.	B．Escaping from wildfires.
C．Dealing with visa issues.	D．Flying over Siberia.

3. Which of the following best describes Rutherford?

A．Brave and creative.	B．Humorous and confident.
C．Tough and inspiring.	D．Smart and cautious.

4. Which of the following is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Teenager Circumnavigating the World	B．Youngest Female Flying solo
C．Flying New Heights	D．Breaking World Records

【推荐3】ONE day my 5-year-old daughter, Mini, ran to the window crying: “A Cabuliwallah (从喀布尔来的水果商贩)! A Cabuliwallah!” In the street below was a Cabuliwallah, passing slowly along. Mini called him loudly but when he looked at her she ran away scared. Shortly after this, the two became friends.
They started to hang out together, laughing and talking. Mini’s new friend would give her raisins (葡萄干) and almonds (杏仁) , spending the little money he had on her.
The two of them enjoyed joking together. The Cabuliwallah, who was called Rahmun, would say: “Well, little one, when are you going to the father-in-law’s house?” Mini did not understand this and was puzzled.
One morning, I heard uproar (骚动) in the street, and saw Rahmun being led away by the police. There were bloodstains on his clothes. I gathered that a neighbor had owed Rahmun money for a shawl (披肩) but had falsely denied having bought it, and that in the course of the quarrel Rahmun had struck him. On a charge of murderous assault (攻击), Rahmun was sentenced to jail.
Time passed, and he was not remembered. Mini grew up and we were making arrangements for her wedding. I was sitting in my study when someone entered. It was Rahmun, the Cabuliwallah, released from prison.
Barely recognizable now, he asked to see Mini and said that all those years ago she had reminded him of his own daughter in Kabul. It was his belief that Mini was still the same. He had pictured her running to him calling “Cabuliwallah!”. He had imagined that they would laugh and talk together. In fact, he had brought her, wrapped up in paper, a few almonds and grapes.
The two were reunited but Mini had grown up. She now understood the meaning of the word “father-in-law,” and when he made this joke once more she flushed up (脸红) at the question. He could not revive (还原) their old friendship.
When Rahmun left, I gave him a bank note, saying: “Go back to your own daughter, and may the happiness of your meeting bring good fortune to my child!”
Having made this present, I had to give up the electric lights and the military band I had intended for the wedding and the ladies in the house were disappointed. But to me the wedding feast was all the brighter for the thought that in a distant land a long-lost father met again with his child.
Adapted from Tagore’s (泰戈尔) short novel The Cabuliwallah
1. Which of the following is TRUE about Mini and Rahmun’s friendship?

A．They felt close to each other at first sight.

B．The author didn’t like Mini making friends with Rahmun.

C．Rahmun liked Mini more when the author often bought fruits from him.

D．Though not understanding all Rahmun’s jokes, Mini liked hanging out with him.

2. Why was Rahmun put into prison?

A．He hurt a man.

B．He stole a shawl.

C．He cheated his neighbor.

D．He was dishonest in his business.

3. From the article, we can conclude that the author was ______ Rahmun.

A．not fond of

B．worried about

C．not supportive of

D．sympathetic to

【推荐1】It’s never too late to earn your college degree. Just ask 94-year-old Hazel Soares.

The woman was one of about 500 students to pick up diplomas (学位证书) at Mills College. “It’s taken me quite a long time because I’ve had a busy life,” said Soares. “I’m finally achieving it, and it makes me feel really good.”

Soares, who has six children and 40 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, is believed to be the world’s second oldest person to graduate from college. Born in Richmond, Calif. in 1915, Soares said she had wanted to attend college right after she graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1932, but that was during the Great Depression. “Unless you had some help, it would have been impossible to go to college,” Soares said. “However I never lost the desire to go.”

Soares married twice, raised six children and worked as a nurse before she retired. After retiring, she decided to return to try to achieve her dream of earning a college education.

She spent six years taking courses before earning her associate’s degree when she was 85. Then she enrolled at Mills College in 2007.

“We are really amazed and very proud of my mom,” said Regina Hungerford, Soares’ youngest child. “The biggest thing that we can all learn is that we’re never too old to do something.” Soares doesn’t plan to relax now that she finally has her degree. The art history major hopes to work as a guide at a museum.

Soares said she doesn’t know the source of her longevity (长寿). No one in her family has lived as long as she has — but she believes it has something to do with eating lots of fresh vegetables.

She hopes others realize that it’s never too late to get a college education. “There’s no reason why you could not go back,” Soares said. “Some people say it’s too late or that there is   much work. They may not realize that once you try it, it’s exciting to go to school.”

1. What does the underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refer to?

A．Having a long life.	B．Being helped by others.
C．Earning a college education.	D．Taking courses with other students.

2. What can we learn about Hazel Soares from the text?

A．Her major in college is about the history of art.

B．She is the oldest person to graduate from college.

C．She dropped out of high school because she was poor.

D．Her youngest child was against her studying at an old age.

3. After getting her degree, Soares hopes to ________.

A．find a job at a museum	B．look after her grandchildren
C．travel more to enjoy nature	D．spend more time with her family

4. What does Hazel Soares want to tell people?

A．We should never give up in life.	B．It is never too late to go to college.
C．Studying helps people to live longer.	D．An old person can make a difference.

【推荐2】The light from the campfire brightened the darkness, but it could not prevent the damp cold of Dennis’s Swamp (沼泽地) creeping into their bones. It was a strange place. Martin and Tom wished that they had not accepted Jack’s dare. They liked camping, but not near this swamp.

“So,” Martin asked as they sat watching the hot coals. “How did this place get its name?”

“Are you sure you want to hear it? It’s a scary story,” warned Jack.

“Of course!” cried out Tom. “If there were anything to be scared of, you wouldn’t have chosen this place!”

“Ok, but don’t say I didn’t warn you,” said Jack, and he began this tale.

“Way back in time, a man called Dennis tried to start a farm here. He built that cottage over there to live in. In those days, the area looked quite different — it was covered with tall trees and the swamp was a crystal-clear river. After three hard years, Dennis had cleared several fields and planted crops. He was so proud of his success that he refused to listen to advice.

“You are clearing too much land,” warned one old man. “The land is a living thing. It will hit back at you if you abuse it.”

“Silly fool,” said Dennis to himself. “If I clear more land, I can grow more crops. I’ll become wealthier. He’s just jealous!”

“Dennis continued to chop down trees. Small animals that relied on them for food and shelter were destroyed. He was so eager to expand his farm that he did not notice the river flowing slowly towards his door. He did not notice salt seeping (渗透) to the surface of the land. He did not notice swamp plants choking all the native plants.”

“What happened?” Martin asked. It was growing colder. He trembled, twisting his body closer to the fire.

“The land hit back — just as the old man warmed,” Jack shrugged. “Dennis disappeared. Old folks around here believe that swamp plants moved up from the river and dragged him underwater. His body was never found.”

“What a stupid story,” laughed Tom. “Plants can’t…” Before he had finished speaking, he screamed and fainted. The other two boys jumped up with fright, staring at Tom. Suddenly, they burst out laughing. Some green swamp ivy had covered Tom’s face. It was a while before Tom could appreciate the joke.

1. What does the underlined word “dare” in Paragraph 1 mean?

A．courage

B．assistance

C．challenge

D．instruction

2. Why did Tom scream and faint?

A．He saw Dennis’s shadow.	B．The weather became extremely cold.
C．His friends played a joke on him.	D．He was scared by a plant.

3. What kind of person was Dennis?

A．He was ambitious and hardworking.	B．He was greedy and stubborn.
C．He was selfish and jealous.	D．He was anxious and suspicious.

4. What lesson can we learn from the story of Dennis?

A．Grasp all, lose all.

B．No sweat, no sweet.

C．It is no use crying over spilt milk.

D．He who makes no mistakes makes nothing.

【推荐3】Love and Friendship

They are both so much related to each other. And both are so dissimilar! What are the differences between friendship and love? Is platonic（柏拉图式的）friendship possible between persons of the opposite sex?     1    

What is friendship? Why do we call a person our friend? When do we call someone a very good friend? If we care for a person, if we are always ready to help that person and if we share most of our thoughts with that person, he/she is our good friend. We can always count upon our good friends in an emergency. We are always sure that our friends will understand why we act in a certain way.     2     The friendship is so deep and the relationship is so intimate, that most of the things are automatically understood by our friends.

    3     In a relationship with deep love, all the sharing that we discussed above is taken for granted. But love transcends（超越）all this. In love, we are attached to a particular person, while in friendship, one may have many friends. A loving relationship makes one so much attached to the other that one gets pained if his/ her beloved is hurt! Love also involves a physical element.     4     This is a vital difference. Nature gives us love so that the species can go forward. Nature does not give us friendship.

Your heartbeats will never increase in anticipation of meeting your friend.     5     You will not feel totally lost, if you don’t meet your friend for a few days. You will not have dreams in your eyes thinking about your friend. But in love, you will do all this and much more. Indeed, there is no comparison between love and friendship.

A．What about love?

B．Friendship does not have that.

C．My answer is “Yes”.

D．Let us try and understand.

E．The physical element may include hand in hand while walking.

F．We need not explain anything to our very good friends.

G．You will not lie awake at night thinking about your friend.

【推荐1】William Dunn is the founder of Take a Kid Fishing, Inc., a nonprofit organization in Lakeland, Florida, who mentors underprivileged and fatherless kids through fishing.

A dozen years ago, William noticed his six-year-old neighbor, Camran, seemed angry. He’d storm out of the house, shouting at his mom. One day, William saw the boy outside and started a conversation. Camran shared his dad wasn’t in his life.

William asked Camran’s mom for permission to take him fishing. Camran was “captivated” from that first trip so the two fished together several times a week, and William saw positive changes in Camran’s behavior. “That’s when I realized God was calling me to help fatherless kids,” he says. Soon William was teaching Camran’s friends and other kids in the neighborhood to fish.

On weekends, William and other volunteers take kids out fishing. William reaches out to group homes to invite the kids to spend the day on the water. Many have never been fishing, so William starts by teaching the basics. Then come the life lessons that fishing offers: patience, teamwork and the simple joy of relaxing in the outdoors.

William grew up in Miami in a rough area. He and his dad had a great relationship. Fishing was a huge part of that. “Fishing was so peaceful,” William says. “It was like an escape.” He wants to share his love of fishing with kids who don’t have a father to take them. “I just want to show them that I care about them, that I’m there for them,” he says.

Take a Kid Fishing, Inc., has a huge impact, but it started because William wanted to help one kid. Do you know a child who might benefit from your friendship? Introduce them to fishing or another hobby you enjoy. The activity doesn’t matter as much as your presence in their lives.

1. Why did William invite Camran to go fishing?

A．William had a great passion for fishing.	B．William felt sympathetic to Camran.
C．William witnessed Camran’s misbehavior.	D．William founded a nonprofit organization:

2. Which one can best replace “captivated” underlined in paragraph 3?

A．Attracted.

B．Observed.

C．Permitted.

D．Instructed.

3. What does the author intend to do in the last paragraph?

A．Inspire people to hold kids’ hands.	B．Praise the organization for its impact.
C．Get children to know more about fishing.	D．Encourage people to have other hobbies.

4. Which words can best describe William?

A．Humorous and gentle.	B．Enthusiastic and social.
C．Persuasive and ambitious.	D．Generous and warm-hearted.

【推荐3】I believe that we can use social media for a lot of great things—and it’s important especially for business owners like me. Ever since I started my calligraphy business two years ago, I never went a day without going on social media, especially a kind of social app on my phone, on which I promoted my products and services and got in contact with possible customers.

Later I found it got in the way of more important things. I hate to say I was hooked by it, but I was. Every time I turned on my phone, I would dive into it. For a long time, I had been ignoring other parts of my life, like my family, my friends and my happiness. One day, I was thinking that a break should have happened long before to me.

Then I decided to remove the app off my phone for a month and only use that on my computer to keep track of my business. I wanted a clean break to reflect and plan for the future.

I had believed that if I spent less time on the platform, I would miss out much. Actually, I was so wrong. During this month off, I realized there was much to enjoy in life. I found more time to enjoy my hobbies and contacted my good friends that I had lost touch with. I was refilled with energy in all aspects of my life.

This one month off the app on the phone was healthy for me. If it were not for my business, I would like not to have it on my phone. I downloaded the app again on my phone, but only use it to post my, own content. I didn’t intend to paint social media in a negative light, but now I just don’t think the way I was using it was healthy. It’s difficult to find balance, but I’m going to try to do it anyway. I’m going back, but it’s going to be different.

1. What did the author mainly do on social media?

A．He learned calligraphy on his own.

B．He kept in touch with his friends.

C．He worked on business activities.

D．He shared advice on keeping fit.

2. What do the underlined words “hooked by” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Addicted to.	B．Impressed by.
C．Injured by.	D．Exposed to,

3. What did the author learn after removing the social app from his cellphone?

A．It was meaningless to share on social media.

B．There was lots of fun away from social media.

C．The social app contributed little to his business.

D．The social app in the computer was more practical.

4. Why does the author decide to go back to social media?

A．One month away from social media upsets him.

B．He wants to seek more hobbies on social media.

C．He has confidence in balancing social media and life.

D．His friends ask him to communicate on social media.

【推荐1】Every November, Time magazine picks out what it calls “The 25 Best Inventions” of the year. Here, Teens has chosen some of the most interesting ones.

Ember Mug

It’s hard to always keep coffee at the right temperature, especially in winter. It’s too hot to drink at first, but before we know it, it gets too cold and loses all its taste. The perfect level of warmth for a cup of coffee only lasts for 37 seconds, which makes the Ember Mug a great innovation. It keeps your coffee or tea at a certain temperature, anywhere between 45℃ and 62℃ once you set it through a smart-phone app.

Tasty One Top

TV cooking shows make cooking look so easy, but it’s almost impossible to get the recipes to cook the same as how the professionals cook. However, the Tasty One Top DIY cooking companion is here to help. Developed by Buzzfeed, the cooker can be connected to a smartphone app, which has more than 1,700 recipes and videos. You choose a recipe and the app will let the cooker know what to do. For example, it’ll tell you when to turn your steak or when to add certain ingredients.

Jibo

Smart speakers from companies like Amazon and Xiaomi have added a lot of fun to our lives, but they’re still just faceless speakers. However, Jibo, developed by MIT professor Cynthia Breazeal, has brought smart technology to life. Said to be “the world’s first social robot for the home”, Jibo looks like a cartoon character. Inside its “head”, there are various sensors (传感器) and cameras, which allow it to recognize faces and speech. It can also set alarms, remind you of important things, tell you the weather and read news or messages from your friends and family.

1. Which of the following is true of Ember Mug?

A．It’s an invention to heat coffee in 37 seconds.

B．It can make a cup of tea.

C．It’s hard to keep coffee at the right temperature by Ember Mug.

D．You can use it by setting through a smart-phone app.

2. How can Tasty One Top help people?

A．By giving people different recipes.

B．By helping people cook intelligently.

C．By saving energy while cooking.

D．By offering different kinds of cooking apps.

3. What can Jibo probably be?

A．A faceless robot.

B．A family assistant.

C．A cartoon character.

D．A smart alarm.

4. What does the underlined word “innovation” mean?

A．matter	B．magazine
C．invention	D．temperature

5. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To advertise high-tech products.

B．To introduce some new inventions.

C．To encourage subscription to Time.

D．To tell about some “tasty” products.

【推荐2】Americans wear black for mourning. Chinese wear white. Westerners think of dragons as monsters. Chinese honor them as symbols of God. Chinese civilization has often shown such polarities(极性）with the West,as though each stands at extreme ends of a global string. Now in the University of California,Berkeley,a psychologist has discovered deeper polarities between Chinese and American cultures-polarities that go to the heart of how we reason and discover truth.

His findings go far toward explaining why American cultures seem so contentious and Chinese cultures so passive, when compared to each other. More importantly, the research opens the way for the peoples of the East and the West to learn from each other in fundamental ways. The Chinese could learn much from Western methods for determining scientific truth,said Peng Kaiping,a former Beijing scholar, who is now a UC Berkeley assistant professor of psychology. And Americans could profit enormously from the Chinese tolerance for accepting contradictions(矛盾） in social and personal life,he said.

“Americans have a terrible need to find out who is right in an argument,"said Peng."The problem is that at the interpersonal level, you really don't need to find the truth,or maybe there isn't any.” Chinese people,said Peng,are far more content to think that both sides have flaws(缺陷）and virtues, because they have a holistic awareness that life is full of contradictions. They do far less blaming of the individual than Americans do, he added.

In studies of interpersonal argument,for example,when subjects were asked to deal with contradictory information stemming from conflict between a mother and a daughter or a student and a school,Peng found that Americans were "uncompromising, blaming one side-usually the mother-for the causes of the problems, demanding changes from one side to attain a solution and offering no compromise” in dealing with the conflict. Compared to this angry,blaming American stance,the Chinese were paragons(模范）of compromise,finding fault on both sides and looking for solutions that moved both sides to the middle.

1. In Paragraph 1, the author offers examples in order to_______

A．expose the contradiction between Chinese and Americans

B．show the differences between Chinese culture and American culture

C．find the reason for the differences

D．generalize the main idea of the passage

2. The underlined word"contentious” in Paragraph 2 probably means “_______”

A．conservative

B．aggressive

C．objective

D．subjective

3. Compared with Americans,Chinese are_______

A．likely to find the truth in life

B．reluctant to admit their failure

C．reluctant to have a general idea of things

D．likely to know advantages and disadvantages of things

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．Culture Differences Between America and China

B．Different Ways for Mourning Between America and China

C．Different Ways for Treating the Aged Between America and China

D．The Study about American and Chinese

【推荐3】Informal conversation is an important part of any business relationship. Before you start a discussion, however, make sure you understand: Which topics are suitable and which are considered taboo in a particular culture. Latin Americans enjoy sharing information about their local history, art, and customs. Expect questions about your family, and be sure to show pictures of your children. You may feel free to ask similar questions of your Latin American friends. The French think of conversation as an art form, and they enjoy the value of lively discussion as well as disagreements. For them, arguments can be interesting and they can cover pretty much or any topic—as long as they occur in a respectful and intelligent manner.

In the United Sates, business people like to discuss a wide range of topics, including opinions about work, family, hobbies, and politics. In Japan, China, and Korea, however, people are much more private. They do not share much about their thoughts, feelings, or emotions because they feel that doing so might take away from the harmonious business relationship they’re trying to build. Middle Easterners are also private about their personal lives and family matters. It is considered rude, for example, to ask a businessman from Saudi Arabia about his wife or children.

As a general rule, it’s best not to talk about politics or religion with your business friends. This can get you into trouble, even in the United States, where people hold different views. In addition, discussing one’s salary is usually considered unsuitable. Sports is typically a friendly subject in most parts of the world, and also be careful not to criticize a national sport. Instead, be friendly and praise your host’s team.

1. The author considers politics and religion________.

A．cheerful topics	B．a ban in cultural or religious custom
C．rude topics	D．topics that can never be talked about

2. Which is typically a friendly topic in most places according to the author?

A．Sports

B．Children

C．Personal feelings

D．Families

3. Why are people from Asia more private in their conversation with others?

A．They don’t want to talk with others much.	B．They want to protect their relationship.
C．They are afraid to argue with their colleagues.	D．They want to keep their feelings to themselves.

4. What shouldn’t you do when talking about sports with colleagues from another country?

A．Praising your own country’s sports.	B．Criticizing your own country’s sports.
C．Praising the sports of your colleagues’ country.	D．Criticizing the sports of your colleagues’ country.