【推荐2】This is the example of hope and unlimited possibilities, This is proof that big dreams do come true. So don’t let anybody tell you that you are ever past your prime.

—Preface

82-year-old Yang Benfen, known as a granny writer “by the stove”, published her third book in February, Yang started writing in her 60s and published her first book Qiuyuan at 80. She spent most of her time writing in the kitchen and became a bestselling author.

Being asked about what makes her keep writing, she explained, “I realized that if those stories were not written down, all traces (痕迹) of my mother would be completely wiped out from the world sooner or later like dust on a table blown away by wind,” she said. Thus, she started her writing journey while making meals for her family members.

She finished her first hand-written copy of book with more than 100,000 words in 2007. “It seems like a reunion (团聚) with many people who have left me in my memory.” Yang described her writing process.

Later, Yang’s daughter posted this copy of book online as a serial. Bad words and good words poured in. Those who disliked it said the story of a “nobody” is unworthy of being recorded, but some readers’ support encouraged the granny writer to hold out for her dream. Yet the online serialized (连载的) novel did not get the attention of any publishers until more than ten years later. “She writes in gentle and simple words but describes the characters struggles with their destiny (命运), I was shocked that it was written by a green hand,” said publisher Tu Zhigang. Her first work Qiuyuan was published in June 2020 and proved a big success. More than 90,000 copies have been sold so far. As for now, Granny Yang has no plans to stop. Her fourth book is on the way and she has learned how to use a computer, “I can write anytime, anywhere, and it is more convenient to improve my writing.” “In old age, I am like a train on a new journey. An unimaginable force drives me forward. I know that the story under my pen is just a drop of water, and it will finally flow into the long river of human history.” Yang said.

注意:回答时每题不得超过8个词
1. When did the granny writer publish her first book Qiuyuan ?
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2. What makes the granny writer keep writing?
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3. How do the readers like the book Qiuyuan ?
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4. Why was publisher Tu Zhigang shocked when reading the novel?
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5. Do you think an elderly lady like Yang Benfen should begin to write novels? Why? or why not?
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【推荐3】阅读下面短文，根据短文内容回答问题。

A notice in front of a restaurant has become famous on the Internet. It says, “If you’re hungry or líving a hard lífe, come here and have a 15-yuan pig trotter (猪蹄) with rice. You can just leave after the meal. When you are better in the future, remember to help the people in need around you. Thank you!” The notice was written by Li Yuan, who started to offer the free meal after he opened his first restaurant in Shenzhen.

The story behind Li’s notice started when he was only 16. He left home for work and came to a big city. At first, Li couldn’t find a job. He was all alone and had no money. One day, Li was tired and hungry. He asked several restaurants for a meal.

Everyone said “NO” except the owner (主人) of a small restaurant. He offered Li a pig trotter with rice. It was not a big meal, but the best meal that Li had during the hard days.

Now Li also teaches people to make pig trotters with rice. He hopes that more people can live a better life. “I may lose some money by giving free meals, but I don’t mind. I can get something priceless (无价的) in return. You share roses and get fun.” Li said.

1. How much is a pig trotter with rice in Li’s restaurant?
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2. Where did Li open his first restaurant?
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3. Did Li have a hard life when he was 16?
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4. Who offered Li a pìg trotter with rice?
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5. Why does Li teach people to make pig trotters with rice?
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【推荐1】根据短文内容，回答下列问题。

Everyone needs help sometimes. People depend on one another. That’s why communities (社区) have special people ready to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it.

For example, what would we do without a community fire station (消防站)? If a home catches on fire, as the Jackson place did last week, it might be burned down and people get hurt…or worse. We’re so lucky to have firemen to come to save people and put out the fire, safely. If the fire station hadn’t come so fast, the Jacksons might have lost everything.

And what about our police who protect (保护) our families, our homes and valuable things? The police have helped so many families, especially saving people and pets and protecting our houses and other things after the heavy rains.

Think about all the other service workers we have in this community. We have people who collect waste and rubbish and keep our community clean and tidy. We have road workers who put up and repair traffic signs and fix holes in the streets to protect not just us, but our cars! And where would this community be without the teachers in our school and the doctors in our community hospitals?

Think again about what we eat every day and think again about what we wear every day. We cannot make them, but we use them all the time. We get a lot from all these workers who keep our community running. We need these people in the community. We depend on each other. Let’s support each other and help each other. Only in this way can we make our community a better place.

1. What happened to the Jackson place last week?
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2. Who offered help to families after the heavy rains?
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3. What can the road workers do in our community?
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4. How many kinds of service workers are mentioned (被提及到) in Paragraph 4?
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5. How can we make our community a better place?
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【推荐2】In 1998, Wang Chengbang retired（退休）from the army. Instead of enjoying a relaxing life, he volunteered to save the soil from desertification（沙漠化）by planting trees in Korla（库尔勒）, Xinjiang.

It is not an easy job. The high temperature in Korla makes it difficult for anyone to work day after day in the sunshine. Besides, lacking of water is a big problem. Actually, Wang Chengbang’s work in the first few years failed as very few trees survived（存活）.

But Wang Chengbang would not give up. “After trying many different ways, I have learned how to grow young trees in a better way,” said Wang Chengbang. He also worked out new ways to save water. With his hard work, more and more trees have survived. So far, he has planted more than 1.5 million trees. Those green trees prevent desertification, make the air cleaner and protect people from the hot sun. Now, Korla is a model city in environmental protection.

Wang Chengbang is also successful in fighting cancer（癌症）. In 2005, he had cancer and was told that he had only six months to live. However, he continued taking care of his trees instead of lying on the hospital bed. “Working is the best medicine. Planting trees helps to fight cancer,” he often jokes.

Now at the age of 85, Wang Chengbang is still working.

1. What makes it difficult to plant trees in Korla?
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2. How many trees has Wang Chengbang planted so far?
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3. Did Wang Chengbang lie on the hospital bed after he had cancer?
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4. Do you want to be a volunteer in your spare time? Why or why not? （write at least 30 words）
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【推荐3】Todd Bol is the founder of the non-profit Little Free Libraries. Bol built the first little library in 2009 to honor his mom, who was a book lover and teacher. Bol wanted to share his mother's love for reading with others. He decided to build a wood box and fill it with books. He made it look like a tiny red schoolhouse. He placed the box of books on a post in his front yard with a sign that read "Free Books." This was the beginning of the Little Free Library.

Soon Bol's neighbors noticed this tiny model of a schoolhouse. They began taking the books and replacing them with books of their own. The tiny library was always open. A library card was not needed. The books could be read and returned whenever. It offered people an easy way to read. This library didn't just provide books. It also helped build friendships among community.members. As more and more people visited Bol's little library, they began talking with one another. Everyone loved the little library. They shared thoughts, ideas, and stories. They got to know one another. After all, as Bol said, "It's a magic box with books."

Bol's friends and neighbors wanted little libraries of their own. Bol built several and gave them away. One of his friends, Rick Brooks, noticed that the libraries encouraged people to read. He believed that Bol's little libraries could benefit more than just local friends and neighbors. With this in mind, Boland Brookes came up with a plan to build more than 2,500 Little Free Libraries around the world. To achieve this goal, they created a website. People can get information about the Little Free Libraries and how they can set up little libraries of their own.

Thanks to Bol and Brooks, the Little Free Libraries are encouraging people to read more and to be friendlier. Today there are more than 75,000 Little Free Libraries around the world, and they can be found on almost every continent.

1. When did Bol build the first library?
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2. Where did Bol put the box of books?
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3. What is the second paragraph mainly about?
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4. How did Bol and Brooks achieve their goal?
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5. What are the Little Free Libraries encouraging people to do?
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【推荐1】阅读下面短文，根据短文内容完成表格中所失信息，每空一词。

I am Jack, a teacher at Woodlands Middle School in England. I would like to tell you about the school day in our school.

The first lesson of the day begins at 9:20 in the morning and lasts an hour. The children have a rest from 10:20 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. They usually play games in the playground.

After the rest, the students have the second lesson. It lasts an hour and fifteen minutes. During the first fifteen minutes, the children usually take a test. The two lessons in the morning are usually English and Maths.

At noon, the lunch break is from 12:00 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. Most children bring their lunch from home. Some children eat at our school canteen. After lunch, they usually play games in the playground or go to the library to read.

In the afternoon, the children have one or two lessons in the afternoon. Lessons are over at 3:15 p.m. There are many kinds of after-school activities. They can go to the Drawing Club, the Computer Club and the Dancing Club. They can have fun at school.

A     1     in Woodlands Middle School
Morning	9:20 a.m.	The first lesson     2    .
	10:20 a.m.	Students have a     3     and they play games.
	10:45 a.m.	Students have the second lesson, and they usually     4     a test first.
5	12:00 a.m.	Students have     6    .
		Students play games or do some     7     in the library.
Afternoon	1:10 p.m.	Students have one or two     8    .
	3:15 p.m.	Lessons are     9    .
		Students can go to all kinds of     10     before going home.

【推荐3】阅读下面的材料，然后根据材料内容回答所提问题。

A lady and her husband walked into the president of Harvard’s outer office. “We want to see the president,” the lady said softly. Looking at the couple who wears usual clothes, the secretary said, “He’ll be busy all day.” “We’ll wait,” the lady replied.

For hours, the secretary did nothing for them, hoping that they would finally go away. They didn’t. “Maybe if they just see you for a few minutes, they’ll leave,” the secretary finally told the president.

The president looked down at the couple. The lady told him, “We had a son that had studied in Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. But he was accidentally killed. And my husband and I would like to build something for him in Harvard. “Madam,” the president said angrily, “we can’t put up a statue(雕像) for every person who attended Harvard and died.”

“Oh, no,” the lady explained quickly, “we mean we would give a building to Harvard.” The president looked at their usual clothes, and then said, “A building! Do you know how much a building costs? It took us over seven and a half million dollars to build Harvard.”

The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, “Is that all it costs to start a university?” Her husband nodded. Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California where they built a university with their name—a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.

How are we supposed to treat others who can do nothing for us? Don’t judge a person by his appearance.

1. Why did the secretary do nothing for the couple at first?
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2. Was the president of Harvard friendly to the couple?
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3. According to the story, how much did it cost to start a university?
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4. What did the couple do with their money in the end?
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5. What can we learn from the passage?
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