If there is an empty lot (空地) in your neighborhood, what will you want to turn it into? Some US high school students, who study at Buchtel High School in Akron, Ohio, turned such a lot into a place of hope.
The empty lot in their neighborhood was once poor and dirty. As a program for the school’s biohealth (生物健康) class, eight students decided to improve the lot. They wanted it to become a good place, and wished it could improve the health of people living near there.
After weeks of thinking and studying, the students made their program a success.
Now the lot is a different place. There is a wood walkway (小道). It leads to a purple bench (长椅). A few beautiful plants are already in the ground. There is also a blue hopscotch (跳房子游戏) board. Also, you can see a wall with words like “Love” and “Peace” and pictures on it.
The students painted the bench purple because it is a relaxing color. They think kids can go there to sit together, make friends and have fun.
The hopscotch board was created for a group of kids aged from 8 to 10 in the neighborhood. There was no place for kids to play, so they made it for them.
“It gives the neighborhood a little hope and a little beauty,” said Lyle Jenkins, from the Neighborhood Network. “A lot of people love the neighborhood and have great hopes for things getting better.”
1. The empty lot was ________ a long time ago.| A．beautiful | B．dirty | C．relaxing | D．interesting |
| A．to make their dreams come true | B．to finish a biohealth class project |
| C．to show their love for the neighborhood | D．to improve the nearby people’s health |
| A．the hopscotch board | B．the bench | C．the wood walkway | D．the wall |
| A．the students think blue is a relaxing color |
| B．Lyle Jenkins thinks the students’ work is great |
| C．the students don’t have enough time to get ready for their program |
| D．there are no plants on the ground in the empty lot now |
| A．A Nicer Lot of Hope | B．An Interesting School Class |
| C．A Group of Helpful Students | D．A Colorful Neighborhood |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Recently, my daughter reminded me of someone we saw at the train station a few years ago.
That day, my daughter and I were waiting for our train. We went to buy some drinks, and then we saw the old man. Dressed poorly, he was standing in front of the counter (柜台) while counting coins slowly to buy just one bottle of water. The businessman behind him said impatiently, “Hey! Can’t you be quick? Some of us have a train to catch!” Hearing this, the old man seemed to be very embarrassed, so he walked away quietly at once.
It was my turn. I bought our two drinks and the old man’s water as well. We walked up to him and gave him the water with a smile. After walking away, my daughter complained, “Dad, the old man is so impolite. He didn’t even say ‘thank you’ to us!” I told her that we did this not to get a “thank you” from other people. We just wanted to be nice.
Now, my daughter always reaches out to help people. She waves, makes eye contact (接触) and says “hi” to people on the street. She holds doors for people. She scoops up things that other people drop.
When I mentioned this recently, she seemed surprised. I asked her why she was so kind all the time. She said, “Because it is just right to be that way.” Then she added, “And because I see you do that all the time.”
1. What is the right order of the events that happened at the train station according to the passage?①The writer’s daughter complained. ②The businessman felt impatient.
③The old man counted coins to buy water. ④The writer bought water for the old man.
| A．③②④① | B．③④①② | C．③②①④ | D．②③④① |
| A．Breaks. | B．Collects. | C．Puts. | D．Picks. |
| A．the old man said “thank you” to the writer and his daughter |
| B．the businessman bought a bottle of water for the old man |
| C．the writer’s daughter hardly reaches out to help people |
| D．the writer sets a good example to his daughter in her life |
| A．To tell us to learn to share with others. | B．To tell us not to laugh at the poor. |
| C．To tell us kindness in action speaks louder than words. | D．To share a funny experience with us. |
【推荐2】That day, I was invited to be a judge of a competition at a college. All of the students had been given a piece of paper with a topic on it.
The first one to speak looked a little uneasy. “My dear friends and judges,” he said loudly, “this is an unfair competition.”
“I have been given the paper,” he continued, “to speak on the topic with just a few minutes’ preparation, while those who come after me have more time to prepare their speeches!”
We were shocked at these words but could do nothing for this. He then left the stage and went out of the hall.
Several days later, I met him in parking lot by chance. “Who said life is fair?” asked him, with a smile. He was confused.
Then I pointed to the cars around, “Do you know anything about cars? When new car is introduced into the market, you might hear some nice figures (数字) from the car salesmen. But in fact, your car never works so well as described—because the figures are shown just to say how good a car is.”
“Yes.” he nodded.
“And if you ask the salesmen more about these figures, they will say all the figures are just in ideal road conditions!”
“Yes.” he said again.
“Can you find ideal road conditions in real life?” I asked him, he shook his head. “So that’s it. A car will sell well and become the real winner just because it can provide strong power and smooth speed on the worst roads.”
“Don’t look for ideal competition conditions. And don’t always think about the fairness!” I told him, “Just fight the unfair and come out a real winner!” Then I got into my car.
When I started it and looked back, I noticed he smiled and waved to me. I believed that he knew what he should do in the future.
1. The student thought the competition was unfair perhaps because ________.| A．he should write the topic first | B．he was the last one to get the paper |
| C．he wasn’t good at the topic he picked | D．he didn’t have enough time to prepare as others |
| A．People should read them carefully. | B．They could hardly be realized in real life. |
| C．They are always shown on the worst roads. | D．Only the most expensive car can reach them. |
| A．tell the student that life is not always fair | B．show the student how to sell more cars |
| C．teach the student how to choose a good car | D．describe why his car was in good condition |
| A．The author was a professional car salesman. |
| B．The best car provides less power but higher speed. |
| C．One should try his best to win no matter what condition he is in. |
| D．The author didn’t feel surprised when he heard the student’s speech. |
| A．Careful. | B．Strict. | C．Professional. | D．Helpful. |
【推荐3】My nine-year-old son Ben had been begging me to let him find his way home by subway, by himself. After all, we live in New York City, and getting around by public transportation(公共交通) is a basic part of life. It is also the first step toward feeling grown-up.
So on that sunny Sunday, I gave him a subway map, a transportation card, $20 for emergencies, and a couple of coins so that he could call me if necessary. I didn't give him a cell phone because nine-year-olds could lose things easily.
A few days later, I wrote about this experience for a newspaper. Little did I realize the idea that a kid could tour the city on his own, and that a mom would let him go, was big news.
It turned out that many TV shows called me and asked for an interview. Bloggers were going crazy. so I started a blog, too, and letters came pouring in. Finally, I found out why this was such a big story: we have become fearful for our children. Fear is hardly a new thing for parents. But the fear of letting our children out of sight for even a second-that's new. How did this happen? How did it become too scary to let kids be kids? I asked the question when the reporter Trevor Butterworth came.
" News reports! "he answered, “News reports scare the pants off you.” What is scarier than a kid being kidnapped(诱拐)? Because there are so many such stories. People start to feel as if kidnappings are happening all the time. That's why the kid-on-the subway story surprises the whole world.”
Ben probably did a good job. He simply proved(证明) that kids could leave home alone and return home safely! But he didn’t think it was a big deal. "It was fun. "He said, "But I missed some classes because of the interviews.”
Sometimes, it really pays to be brave.
1. The author agreed to let her son take the subway alone because .| A．her son was old enough to depend on(依靠) himself |
| B．she felt traveling by subway in New York was a basic life skill |
| C．she thought it would be big news around the world |
| D．she never thought that her son would be kidnapped |
| A．her son would receive so many letters | B．some reporters would like to film her son’s story |
| C．a blog would be started in her name | D．many TV shows would come to interview her |
| A．News reports are always very scary. |
| B．Kidnappings are happening too often in today's world. |
| C．News reports about kidnappings influence(影响) people too much. |
| D．People always prefer scary stories to other stories. |
| A．Too many parents are worried about their kids' safety. |
| B．The author gave everything her son might need for the subway trip. |
| C．Ben was so proud that he succeeded in proving children's abilities. |
| D．Most reporters thought children nowadays should be more independent(独立的). |
| A．Fear Is Growing | B．The Kid-on-the-subway Story |
| C．An Important Step Forward | D．Be Brave to Let Kids Go |
【推荐1】In a small classroom in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, a group of young models are practicing for a catwalk show.
Wang used to be a professional model.
During an event caring for disabled children in May, 2020, she found that some of the children had a strong love for the stage just like her.
At first, she started an online course, teaching six or seven students for free. Then, she rented a classroom and began to teach students face-to-face. Although Wang has rich performing experience, teaching children with special needs is not easy.
Just as Wang hoped, her students not only have gotten some artistic training, but also have become better. Han Han, a 14-year-old child, used to be shy.
根据材料内容，从下面五个选项中选出能填入文中空缺处的最佳选项，使文章意思通顺、内容完整。
| A．They are children with health problems. |
| B．Now she is much more outgoing and likes to hang out with other children. |
| C．The most difficult thing is communicating with them. |
| D．She lost her eyesight at 24 and had to leave the catwalk behind. |
| E．However, it was difficult for them to find a suitable training program. |
【推荐2】When Sammie Vance was eight, she learned about Buddy Benches (伙伴长凳) from a video. The video showed how these benches are used on playgrounds. “If somebody is shy and lonely, he can sit on the bench,” Sammie explained. “Another person can come up to him and ask him to play.”
Sammie thought her school could use a Buddy Bench, so she and her mom set down a meeting with the headmaster. They got the information that a local company, Green Tree Plastics, recycles plastic bottle caps into benches. Sammie liked the idea of a Buddy Bench that would help kids and the environment. Her headmaster liked the idea too.
Sammie created a comic (漫画) that showed how a Buddy Bench works. She and her mom posted it on social media to ask friends and families to save caps. They also took the drawing to local businesses to ask for their help.
As words spread, collection boxes at school and around the community began to fill up.
People even shipped their caps to Sammie. “I got caps from 50 states,” she said.
She needed 400 pounds of caps to make one bench. In just two months, the project collected more than 1,200 pounds, which is enough to make three Buddy Benches!
After reaching her goal, Sammie set a new one—“Buddy Benches are everywhere!” So far, she has collected enough caps to give 100 benches to schools in 12 states. She continues to collect caps to share with kids working towards their own Buddy Benches. And she has made videos to encourage others to start their own projects.
1. Who would like to sit on the Buddy Bench?| A．Someone who likes to play. | B．Someone who is shy and lonely. |
| C．Someone who is active in school. | D．Someone who likes playing basketball. |
| A．The headmaster donated money to her project. |
| B．Sammie collected 1,600 pounds plastic bottle caps. |
| C．More than 200 benches have been given to schools. |
| D．She and her mom took the drawing to local businesses to ask for their help. |
| A．Did the writer want us to help others? | B．Did the writer want us to collect bottle caps? |
| C．Did the writer want us to make videos? | D．Did the writer want us to protect the environment? |
| A．y=1200x | B．y=x+400x | C．y=400x | D．y=1200-400x |
【推荐3】Kindness goes a long way
When I was in college, a white cat liked to occasionally show up on our campus. It was clear that he was a stray (流浪的) cat because he looked thin and weak. Students would play with him after class and feed him all kinds of food. The school didn’t say anything about the cat for a long time.
But one day, we were told that one of our fellow students had an infectious (传染性的) disease and that the cat was possibly the source. After that, we were not allowed to touch any stray animals on campus. The school started to make efforts to keep animals off campus as well.
Since we were not allowed to feed the white cat, it was hard for him to find food on the street. He became weak and skinny. But while the rest of us ignored the cat, a security guard (保安) at our school decided to take on the responsibility of caring for him. He took the cat to a veterinarian (兽医) for a health check. He then went to a nearby supermarket and bought food for the cat, as well as a small bed for him to sleep in. He made sure the cat was healthy and comfortable.
It might seem like a small effort to some people. But this man risked his job—his only source of income—just to feed a tiny cat who no one else cared for. It was a very heartwarming thing to see.
1. Where did the story happen?| A．On the college campus. | B．In a middle school. | C．On the street. | D．In a supermarket. |
| A．寻找 | B．担心 | C．照顾 | D．忽视 |
| A．Students were not allowed to touch any stray animals. |
| B．The school didn’t say anything about the cat. |
| C．The stray cat could find food easily on the street. |
| D．All the people didn’t care for the stray cat any more. |
【推荐1】Bob’s Bargain Store is the cheapest store in town. Though it’s the cheapest, it isn’t the most popular. People say the things there are the worst in town.
The Lord and Lady Store sells very good things. They sell the most fashionable（时尚的）clothes, the newest magazines and the best CD players. And they have the best service. However, people don’t often shop there because the things are the most expensive. And it is far from the town center.
The Super Saver Store is the most popular store in town. The things there aren’t the cheapest, and they aren’t the most expensive. It doesn’t have best things, and it doesn’t have the worst. The clothes aren’t the most fashionable, but they’re more fashionable than the clothes at any other store. And its location（位置）is convenient（方便的）, too.
1. Why don’t people shop in Bob’s Bargain Store very often?| A．Because it’s the cheapest. | B．Because it isn’t the most popular. |
| C．Because the things there are the worst in town. | D．Because it is far from the town center. |
| A．The most fashionable clothes. | B．The most delicious food. |
| C．The newest magazines. | D．The best CD players. |
| A．It’s the cheapest. | B．It isn’t the most popular. |
| C．The things there are the worst in town. | D．It is the most convenient of the three. |
| A．Bob’s Bargain Store. | B．The Lord Store. | C．The Lady Store. | D．The Super Saver Store. |
Johnson likes swimming in a small river near his house. But then his father goes to work in a big city and Johnson goes with his family.
“
| A．But there is a big park near here. |
| B．This pool is dangerous. |
| C．Their new house has a garden, but the garden is very small. |
| D．Johnson and his father go to the park in the afternoon. |
| E．Is there a river near here? |
【推荐3】Last Summer Maria and her mom moved from the countryside to a tall building in the city. Maria really liked many things about the city, but she missed her house and yard (院子) in the countryside.
One day Maria was in her room when she saw her neighbor, Mrs. Garcia, carrying a gardening tool (园林工具) and a bag of soil. Maria wanted to know how Mrs. Garcia could garden in the city. She went out and met her.
“My mom can grow the most delicious vegetables, and I know she misses her garden, but we don’t have a yard,” said Maria.
Mrs. Garcia laughed and said, “I’ll show you,” she said.
Maria thought Mrs. Garcia would take her to a park or somewhere else, but she took her to the roof (房顶). When the door opened, Maria was surprised to see so many flowers and vegetables on the roof.
“What an excellent garden!” said Maria.
Mrs. Garcia told Maria that for a long time the roof was an empty (空的) place. Then some of the people in the building asked the owners to turn it into a garden. The building owners liked the idea because the plants not only (不但) helped to keep the air clean, but also (而且) they helped to keep the buildings cool in hot weather.
“I plant flowers in my garden,” Mrs. Garcia said, “but you will be surprised how different the plants are up here. Some people grow vegetables just like your mom. You can do some of the same things in the city as in the countryside.”
1. Which of the following is NOT the advantage (好处) of the garden on the roof?| A．It used the empty place well. | B．It helped to keep the air clean. |
| C．It helped to keep the buildings cool. | D．It made the building clean. |
| A．go back to the countryside | B．pick flowers from the garden |
| C．grow vegetables on the roof | D．show her around the park |
| A．why Maria and her mom moved into the city |
| B．what Mrs. Garcia planted in her roof garden |
| C．how Maria and her mom moved to the city |
| D．Maria didn’t like the city live at all |
| A．the roof | B．the garden | C．the building | D．the park |
【推荐1】Some students are talking about doing chores in their families.
| Jenny: My father is strict with us. He thinks everyone in the family should help out with the chores. My sister and I are our parents’ great helpers. My sister helps to do the dishes and sweep the floor. My job is to take out the rubbish and clean the living room. |
| Allan: In my family, my brother and I don’t do lots of chores. I only make my bed and my brother folds his clothes. In fact, my mom does most of the chores although she is busy. Many people say my brother and I are spoiled (惯坏的). But my mom thinks children should spend a lot of time studying instead of doing chores. |
| Grace: I have a sister and she is eight years older than me. She is independent and she used to do the chores in my family. But she went to another country to go to college last year. So I took over the job and started to do the chores. |
1. What does Jenny’s sister do at home?
| A．Take out the rubbish. | B．Make the bed. |
| C．Sweep the floor. | D．Clean the kitchen. |
| A．Allan. | B．Allan’s brother. | C．Allan’s father. | D．Allan’s mother. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．Because she was an independent girl at home. |
| B．Because her sister studied in another country. |
| C．Because she thought doing chores was interesting. |
| D．Because her parents asked her to do the chores strictly. |
| A．Jenny doesn’t often help her parents do chores. |
| B．Jenny has a brother but she doesn’t have a sister. |
| C．Grace’s sister didn’t do chores in the past. |
| D．Allan’s mother is always busy. |
【推荐2】An exhausted-looking(看起来筋疲力尽的) woman came into the doctor’s office. She said, “Doctor, there are a lot of dogs all over my neighborhood. They bark all day and all night, and I can’t get a good sleep.”
“I have good news for you,” the doctor said, taking out a small bottle. “Here are some new sleeping pills(安眠药). Take a few of these and your trouble will be over.”
“Great, thank you.” the woman was very glad to go back home with the pills.
A few weeks later, the woman came again, looked worse than ever. She said, “Doctor, your pills are not good at all. I’m more tired than before.”
“I don’t understand how that could be,” said the doctor, shaking his head, “Those are the strongest pills on the market.”
“That may be true,” answered the woman, “but I’m still up all night running after those dogs and when I finally catch one, it’s hard to get him to eat the pills.”
1. Why did the woman come to see the doctor?| A．Because her dog was sick. |
| B．Because she was bitten(被咬) by dogs. |
| C．Because she couldn’t sleep well. |
| A．睡觉 | B．犬吠 | C．跑跳 |
| A．The dogs. | B．Herself. | C．Her son. |
| A．Worse. | B．Healthier. | C．Better. |
| A．The doctor gave the woman wrong pills. |
| B．The woman liked to run with the dogs. |
| C．The woman might feel better if she took the pills. |
【推荐3】Wang Yaping, together with Zhai Zhigang and Ye Guangfu, went into space aboard the Shenzhou XIII on Oct 16, 2021.
The 41-year-old Wang became the first female astronaut to enter Tiangong space station. During their six-month stay, Wang, Zhai and Ye will do experiments and set up robotic arms. Wang will also do the first spacewalk by a Chinese woman reported Xinhua.
Wang’s space dream started in 2003, when China sent its first astronaut Yang Liwei into space. She told herself, “China now has a male astronaut. When will there be a female one?” At that time, Wang was a pilot in the Chinese army.
After having safe flights for 1,600 hours more than nine years, Wang was a strong candidate (候选人) to become an astronaut in 2010. She pushed herself hard, getting the same training as men, including the pull-ups and barbells (杠铃). “The space environment won’t change because you are a woman,” she told Xinhua.
The hardest part is the high-G training. Sitting in a spinning (旋转的) machine, Wang would become blind for a while because her brain was short of blood. “There’s a red button,” said Wang. “If you can’t bear it, you can press it to stop.” But Wang never used it. “There is no such red button in my heart.” That strong spirit finally led to realizing her dream in 2013. She joined the team for the Shenzhou X mission.
Wang said that as astronauts, women have their own advantages. “Women tend (倾向于) to be more patient and can better deal with loneliness. Women’s hearts are also easier to adapt (适应) to the weightless environment, making them more suitable for long-term missions.”
1. How long will Wang and her workmates stay in the space station?| A．3 years. | B．9 years. | C．1600 hours. | D．6 months. |
| A．Men and women will face the same difficulties in space. |
| B．Both male and female astronauts can go to space. |
| C．It’s harder for a woman to live in space than a man. |
| D．The space environment is not easy to change. |
a. more patience b. more problem-solving skills
c. less weight d. more suitable for lonely missions
| A．ab | B．ad | C．bc | D．bd |
①Wang did the first spacewalk. ②Wang was a pilot in the army.
③Wang became a strong candidate. ④Wang joined in the Shenzhou X mission.
| A．①②④③ | B．②③①④ | C．②③④① | D．③④①② |
| A．Actions speak louder than words. | B．Nothing is difficult if you set your mind on it. |
| C．A little learning is a dangerous thing. | D．Believing in yourself is the first step on the road to success. |
