Phineas is no common cat. He suffers from a condition that causes him to wobble (摇晃) and fall over when he walks. However, his u    1     way of walking has made him a star on social media, with two million followers. This has also h    2     increase the attention to the rare diseases like the cat’s condition in humans. More and more people get to know the challenges faced by these p    3     and their families.

Phineas was born with a disorder in one part of his brain, which works for helping make a balance and coordination when walking or doing some other things. He was found as a stray kitten (流浪猫) and taken to an a    4     center. There Phineas was taken good care of and later adopted (领养) by a couple who heard about his s    5     on social media.

The couple are both biomedical (生物医学的) scientists and have lots of researches in the nervous system. They decided to care for Phineas with their much k    6     and experience. They considered living with him b    7     they want to learn more about the diseases and get ideas for their research. They even created a social media account for Phineas to s    8     his daily adventures with the followers and teach people how to face conditions like his. They a    9     call on the people to raise money to support animals and people in need.

Phineas has become a symbol of h    10     for many of those with conditions related to the nervous system. His wobbly walk also reminds us that we can still enjoy life even in the hardest times.

3 . There are two types of questions that we can ask to improve our reading skills.

The first type of question helps us check our understanding of the text. This includes the 5W+1H questions (what, where, when, who, why, and how), as well as yes-no questions. Only one correct answer exists for this type of question.

The second type makes us think more deeply about the text. For example, these questions might ask about the author’s intention, the reader’s opinions, or how the text relates to life. These questions are typically broader (更宽泛), harder to answer, and have kinds of correct answers.

So, how do you ask questions to improve your reading skills?

Begin by looking at the article’s title and the illustrations (配图). Based on these, ask yourself what the text might be about.

As you read, pose the 5W+1H questions and try to answer them. Note any question you’re unable to answer. Decide whether you need to reread a passage or move forward in your reading in order to answer those questions.

After reading, ask yourself questions that connect ideas in the article to the real world and to your personal experience.

4 . In the cold gray morning, the March sisters prepared for their mother’s leaving. They knew that the real ________ had come—dad was badly hurt in a battle. The girls turned to each other for ________ and agreed to say goodbye cheerfully and hopefully. They wanted to send their mother on her journey without ________ or complaints.

Everything seemed very strange when they went down to ________ at such an early hour. The bags were packed, and their mother sat at the table trying to eat. Girls all sat down, quietly.

________ talked, but as the time drew near, Mrs. March said to the girls seriously, “Children, don’t worry while I am gone and don’t think that you can comfort ________ by doing nothing and trying to forget. ________ your work as usual, for work will help. Hope and keep busy, and whatever happens, remember that you’ll ________ be alone.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Meg, dear, watch over your ________ and talk to Hannah or Mr. Laurence if you are worried. Jo, be my ________ girl, ready to take on any challenge. Beth, my little musician, be happy with your ________, and be faithful to the little home duties. And you, Amy, help all you can, be dutiful, and be safe.”

“We will, Mother! We will!”

“Goodbye, my darlings!” Mrs. March ________ as she left, kissing each dear face before hurrying into the carriage (马车).

As the carriage went away, she ________ to see her four girls smiling and waving, and behind them were Mr. Laurence, Hannah and Laurie.

“How kind everyone is to us!” she said ________.

And so, the long journey began, with smiles and cheerful words.

After returning home, the girls noticed the clothes Mother had mended for them. She had worked even in her last hurried moments. It was a little thing ________ they all cried bitterly over it.

“Now, my dear young ladies,” said Hannah, after the girls finished crying, “Remember what your mother said. We must all work hard for when your mother and father return.”

7 . 你校English Reading Club正在组织一次英文小说读书分享会，本周阅读内容为Auggie’s Story（阅读D篇）。请从以下两个标题中任选一个，写一篇英文读后感。

Title: ____________

After reading Auggie’s story, I’m really touched. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . Auggie’s Story

Sleep

I’d been reading for over an hour and sleep still didn’t come. It was almost two a. m. Everyone else was asleep. I had my flashlight (手电筒) on under the sleeping bag. Maybe the light was why I couldn’t sleep, but I was too afraid to turn it off. What had happened kept coming back to my mind.

When we got back to the camp, no one noticed we’d been gone. The teachers and all the other kids were still watching the movie. They didn’t know how something bad had just happened to me and Jack. It’s so strange how that can be, how you could have a night that’s the worst in your life, but to everybody else it’s just a usual night.

Amos, Miles and Henry brought us back to our seats. Then they returned to their own seats. In a way, everything was exactly as we had left it. The sky was the same. The movie was the same. Everyone’s faces were the same. Mine was the same.

But something was different. Something had changed.

Home

“So, do you want to hear about the bad part or the good part first?” I asked Mum.

“Whatever you want to talk about,” she answered.

“Well, except for last night, I had a fantastic time,” I said. “I feel like they ruined (毁坏) the whole trip for me.”

“No, sweetie. Don’t let them do that to you. You were there for more than forty-eight hours, and that awful part lasted one hour. Don’t let them take that away from you, okay?”

“I know.” I nodded. “But do I always have to worry about bad guys like that? Like when I grow up, is it always going to be like this?”

“There are always going to be bad guys in the world, Auggie,” she said, looking at me. “But I really believe there are more good people on this earth than bad people, and the good people watch out for each other and take care of each other. Just like Jack was there for you. And Amos. And those other kids.”

“Oh yeah, Miles and Henry,” I answered. “They were amazing, too. It’s very strange because Miles and Henry haven’t even really been very nice to me at all during the year.”

“Sometimes people surprise us,” she said, rubbing the top of my head.