1 . When 19-year-old Emily Bhatnagar from Maryland, USA, found out her father had stage four thyroid (甲状腺) cancer, her response was a little different than you might expect. To honour her father, who she also describes as her best friend, she decided to start a book drive called For Love and Buttercup, collecting books for kids with cancer.
“It was very much an overnight idea,” she explains. “I posted a message on an app called Nextdoor asking my neighbours for used book donations. I was only expecting a few here and there, but the response was truly incredible, and it was just the push I needed to co-exist with my grief rather than letting it consume me.
“It was absolutely heartbreaking to watch my dad go through cancer and see him lose a little bit of himself each day, but the book drive allowed me to develop a newfound sense of purpose combined with an even greater sense of compassion (同情) to help others in any shape or form. I wanted to help kids. They’ve always held a soft spot in my heart.”
Using tips she earns from working at her parents’ bread shop, Emily has bought many books out of her own pocket. In addition, she receives donations through her Amazon wish list, which can be found in the bio of the book drive’s Instagram account.
Emily and her older brother spent a whole summer driving around town, loading boxes of books into their car. “It was such an honour knowing people have carried these books all their lives through generations, and they wanted to gift it to my cause.”
The project has seen huge success, with For Love and Buttercup donating over 15,000 books and being recognized by The Washington Post, Forbes, The President’s Volunteer Service Award and Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.
1. Why did Emily decide to start a book drive?A.To show respect for her sick father. | B.To raise money for kids with cancer. |
C.To recycle used books from neighbours. | D.To draw more attention from the media. |
A.Emily didn’t give up in the face of difficulties. |
B.Helping kids brought Emily great joy and pride. |
C.Emily was well aware of what her life was all about. |
D.Emily’s story deeply touched the hearts of kids she had helped. |
A.The book drive was highly thought of. |
B.The book drive earned Emily fame and fortune. |
C.Emily was honoured to know many kind people. |
D.Emily received a lot of support from the news media. |
A.A father’s moving story of fighting cancer. |
B.People’s responses to a girl’s act of kindness. |
C.A girls’ courage to conquer challenges in life. |
D.A book drive launched to collect books for kids with cancer. |
2 . Halloween candy could be in for a California big change. State lawmakers last month passed the California Food Safety Act, which bans four materials found in popular snacks and packaged foods - including candy corm and other Halloween treats. Set to take effect in 2027, the ban will lead candy and food producers to change their formulas for products sold both in California and elsewhere around the country.
The law bans the production and sale of some materials, which are used in processed foods including kinds of instant potatoes and sodas, as well as candies. The additives (添加剂) have been linked to increased risks of cancer and nervous system problems, according to the Environmental Working Group, which started the act, and are already banned in many other countries.
Food producers and their lobbyists (说客) opposed the law, arguing the conclusion that the four additives are unhealthy should be made by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They thought that evaluating the safety of food materials and additives should rely on the scientific accuracy of the FDA. But food safety advocates say the FDA has moved far too slowly in regulating food chemicals. It’s unacceptable that the U.S. is so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to food safety.
California’s act made headlines this year as a “Skittles (彩虹糖) ban” that would wipe popular candies off California shelves. But supporters of the act said the intention is simply to require changes in the materials, as has already happened in Europe. Perhaps the most standing-out material on California’s banned list is red dye No. 3. It is allowed only in candied and cocktail cherries in the European Union but more than 3,000 products contain the chemical in the U. S. The list includes items like frosted pretzels and scores of brand-name candies such as Peeps and Pez. It also includes items like fruit cocktail cups, protein drinks, and yogurts.
1. How will Halloween candy in California change?A.It will change its recipes. | B.It will transform its shapes. |
C.It will move out of California. | D.It will disappear completely. |
A.FDA’s conclusion on the materials is wrong. |
B.Four materials are allowed all over the world. |
C.The materials’ safety needs to be reassessed. |
D.FDA moves too fast in regulating food chemicals. |
A.They demand a complete ban on Skittles. |
B.They wish the “Skittles ban” to be headlines. |
C.They want to apply European policies to Skittles. |
D.They hope more red dye No. 3 is used in Skittles. |
A.California candy ban. | B.Food safety in California. |
C.The responsibility of FDA. | D.Change of Halloween Candy. |
3 . Brothers Mike and Nick Fiorito had a smooth life in the first 30 years.
They
Now, their organization is very
Adults can
A.Occasionally | B.Frequently | C.Consistently | D.Unexpectedly |
A.confused | B.prosperous | C.indifferent | D.curious |
A.assuming | B.acknowledging | C.resembling | D.witnessing |
A.backed down | B.backed up | C.set up | D.cooperated with |
A.shunned | B.invaded | C.assisted | D.posed |
A.acclaimed | B.involved | C.preserved | D.dominated |
A.inspire | B.promise | C.thank | D.teach |
A.exquisite | B.fascinating | C.challenging | D.successful |
A.disrupt | B.participate | C.commemorate | D.depict |
A.glory | B.friction | C.contribution | D.victim |
A.giving away | B.giving in | C.handing in | D.wearing out |
A.comprehension | B.connection | C.barrier | D.assessment |
A.difference | B.date | C.decision | D.estimate |
A.objective | B.prosperous | C.hopeful | D.potential |
A.understanding | B.receiving | C.paying | D.spreading |
4 . When she looked ahead, Florence Chadwick saw nothing but a solid wall of fog. Her body was numb. She had been swimming for nearly sixteen hours. Already she was the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. Now, her goal was to become the first woman to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast.
On that Fourth of July morning in 1952, the sea was like an ice bath and the fog was so dense that she could hardly see her support boats. Against the freezing cold water, she struggled on-hour after hour-while millions watched on national television.
In one of the boats alongside Florence, her mother and her trainer offered encouragement. They told her it wasn’t much farther. But all she could see was fog. They urged her not to quit. However, with only a half mile to go, she asked to be pulled out.
Still warming her chilled body several hours later, she told a reporter, “Look, I’m not excusing myself, but if I had seen land, I might have made it.” It was not tiredness or even the cold water that defeated her. It was the fog. She was unable to see her goal.
Two months later, she tried again. This time, despite the same dense fog, she swam with her faith intact and her goal clearly pictured in her mind. She knew that somewhere behind that fog was land and this time she made it! Florence Chadwick became the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel, overshadowing the men’s record by two hours!
1. What can we learn about that fourth of July morning in 1952?A.The thick fog cleared by mid-morning. |
B.Chadwick managed to swim the Catalina Channel. |
C.The support boats accompanied Chadwick all the way. |
D.A live broadcast of Chadwick’s swim was watched on TV. |
A.Sharks threatened her life. |
B.She was completely worn out. |
C.The chilly water made her body numb. |
D.The destination was out of sight due to the fog. |
A.Changed. | B.Undamaged. | C.Weakened. | D.Unexplored. |
A.To explain why Chadwick failed in the first attempt. |
B.To stress the importance of picturing a clear goal in the mind. |
C.To introduce the process of Chadwick’s swimming the Catalina Channel. |
D.To report Chadwick was the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel. |
5 . A year ago, my wife and I sold one of our cars and replaced it with an e-bike. I knew that passenger vehicles are responsible for much of our greenhouse-gas emissions. I also knew that electric cars were an imperfect fix. Though they’re responsible for less carbon pollution than gas cars, their supply chain is carbon intensive. But an e-bike’s comparatively tiny battery means less electricity, fewer emissions and fewer resources. E-bikes are clearly better for the planet than cars of any kind.
But I also viewed getting rid of my car as a sacrifice. I live in Colorado; e-biking would mean freezing in winter and sweating in summer. It was the right thing to do, I thought, but it was not going to be fun.
I was very wrong. The first thing I noticed was the savings. Between car payments, insurance, maintenance (保养), and gas, a car-centered lifestyle is expensive. I predict that we’ll save about $50,000 over the next five years by selling our car.
The actual experience of riding to work each day over the past year has been equally surprising. In winter, I wear gloves, warm socks, a thick cap, and a ski jacket when I ride, and I am almost never too cold. In summer, I didn’t break a sweat. I just used the throttle (油门), sat back, and enjoyed my ride.
I arrived to work a little more lighthearted for having spent the morning in fresh air rather than traffic. I jumped on my bike after a stressful day at work and rode home down a street edged with changing fall leaves. I felt more connected to the physical environment around me than I had when I’d traveled the same route surrounded by metal and glass.
1. Why did the author change a car for an e-bike?A.He wanted to do something good for environment. |
B.He thought that e-bikes would replace gas vehicles. |
C.He couldn’t afford the expensive transportation costs. |
D.He believed e-bike’s supply chain was environment-friendly. |
A.The traffic safety. | B.The traffic comfort. |
C.The traffic economy. | D.The traffic convenience. |
A.Tolerant. | B.Unexpected. | C.Conservative. | D.Compromising. |
A.Changes Brought by an E-bike | B.My Green Life for the Last Year |
C.The Replacement for Gas Vehicles | D.Comparation Between Cars and E-bikes |
6 . As I watched my son Nathan play basketball for his high school team, I was starting to feel sorry for myself and for him. His team was facing adversity on the court and he was playing in a hostile environment-it was the opponents’ home gym filled with their supporters, and Nathan’s team was trailing (落后) for three quarters (节) of the game. As for me, I had been fired from my job earlier in the day.
During my drive home, I kept telling myself that I would find work again in a short time-I am confident in my experience and abilities. This is the same belief as I always try to teach my son.
The basketball game entered the fourth quarter with Nathan’s team still trailing. I saw the determination on his face, as well as his teammates’ faces as they fought back to not only tie with the other team, but then go ahead by three points. Then, a player from the other team made an unbelievable shot to tie the score again. With the game in a tie and few seconds on the clock, Nathan found himself with the ball. With skill and confidence, he proceeded to make a basket with a defender hanging his hands all over him. The defender was warned for a foul (犯规).As Nathan stood at the free-throw line preparing for a shot that would make his team one point ahead, I saw the determination on his face again. There was no room for self- doubt. Nathan was able to tune out all the distractions and nail the free throw with such skill. It was as if he had done it a thousand times.
As I sat there, my heart bursting with pride. It dawned on me that I had taught him perseverance in the face of adversity, and he had just taught me the same lesson. That brief moment of self-doubt and feeling sorry for myself was blown away by the actions of my son on the basketball court. He would play in the finals, but it didn’t matter if he would win or lose. At this moment, we both won.
1. Why did the author feel sorry?A.He had made a big mistake in his work. |
B.He used to be too busy to accompany Nathan. |
C.Nathan’s team was too weak to compete in the game. |
D.He and Nathan were both going through a hard time. |
A.Self-centred and pessimistic. | B.Self-confident and optimistic. |
C.Hard-working and intelligent. | D.Easy-going and warm-hearted. |
A.Ignore. | B.Focus. | C.Create. | D.Receive. |
A.Father and Son in Life | B.A Lesson in Life and Basketball |
C.It Matters Whether to Win or Lose | D.Life Goes Just like Playing Basketball |
7 . Exhausted, Jia Ling ate five packs of chocolate cookies alone at night by her bed after wrapping up filming for her new film YOLO that day. “Recalling that moment, I felt so great, like a tired soldier claiming the spoils of war,” she said.
By then, she had lost an incredible 50 kilograms, and her entire image had changed. The chubby (胖乎乎的), round and cute comedian Jia Ling was gone, replaced by a cool, muscular warrior.
Audiences were shocked by her appearance on Chinese New Year’s Day, Feb.10, when the film was first released. Jia had kept everything so secretive, avoiding public appearances for a year, that her new look was only revealed when she appeared on the big screen. Conversations about her high-intensity weight loss training, along with her courage and determination, have become trending topics across China, propelling the film’s box office earnings.
YOLO, which stands for “you only live once,” is the theme Jia aims to tell in her new film. The story follows an overweight, depressed woman who becomes isolated from society. However, after meeting a boxing coach and taking up the sport, she begins to regain her passion and finds her way in life. The filming was divided into five stages. Jia had to gain 20 kilograms at first for the role, moving on to the final stage when she lost a significant amount of weight and became muscular. This method mirrors what some Hollywood stars, such as Christian Bale, have done, but Jia’s effort is jaw-dropping and takes it to an even more extreme level.
Yet, the film’s core goes beyond physical transformation. “This film is not about weight loss, nor is it much about boxing. It’s a film that tells the story of how a kind person finds her true self and learns to love herself,” Jia said.
1. What does the underlined word “propelling” in Paragraph 3 mean?A.Disturbing. | B.Restoring. | C.Driving. | D.Slowing. |
A.Generous and funny. | B.Determined and courageous. |
C.Creative and sensitive. | D.Ambitious and enthusiastic. |
A.A woman’s pursuit of boxing glory. |
B.A woman’s journey through weight loss. |
C.A woman’s struggle with social pressure. |
D.A woman’s discovery of self-love and acceptance. |
A.The early bird catches the worm. | B.Actions speak louder than words. |
C.It’s never too late to change. | D.Don’t cry over spilled milk. |
8 . “You’re very talented, dear. I hope everything turns out great. I’ll tell my friends about the animal shelter (避难处),” a kind old lady told Conrad, who smiled
Conrad was proud of what he was doing and people in the
His mother, Sandy, worked at the shelter and had always been a(n)
He placed a
Raise your kids to love animals, and they’ll be better people. Caring for innocent animals makes people more selfless,
A.suddenly | B.sweetly | C.purposely | D.secretly |
A.square | B.park | C.street | D.hall |
A.violin | B.piano | C.organ | D.guitar |
A.needed | B.sold | C.worked | D.made |
A.passive | B.active | C.strict | D.attractive |
A.However | B.Besides | C.Otherwise | D.Therefore |
A.acted | B.survived | C.concentrated | D.kept |
A.showing up | B.coming in | C.going on | D.getting up |
A.worried | B.annoyed | C.panicked | D.confused |
A.looked around | B.went past | C.headed for | D.turned around |
A.sign | B.signal | C.box | D.bench |
A.hesitated | B.passed | C.left | D.stopped |
A.generous | B.happy | C.energetic | D.angry |
A.counting | B.raising | C.saving | D.earning |
A.curious | B.serious | C.loving | D.unconcerned |
9 . This question has fascinated behavioural scientists for decades: why do we give money to charity?
The explanations for charitable giving fall into three broad categories, from the purely altruisic (利他的)— I donate because I value the social good done by the charity. The “impurely” altruistic— I donate because I extract value from knowing I contribute to the social good for the charity. And the not-at-all altruistic— I donate because I want to show off to potential mates how rich I am.
But are these motives strong enough to enable people to donate as much as they would want to? Most people support charities in one way or another, but often we struggle to make donations as often as we think we should. Although many people would like to leave a gift to charity in their will, they forget about it when the time comes.
Many people are also aware that they should donate to the causes that have the highest impact, but facts and figures are less attractive than narratives. In a series of experiments, it was found that people are much more responsive to charitable pleas that feature a single, identifiable beneficiary(受益者), than they are to statistical information about the scale of the problem being faced. When it comes to charitable giving, we are often ruled by our hearts and not our heads.
The good news is that charitable giving is contagious—seeing others give makes an individual more likely to give and gentle encouragement from an important person in your life can also make a big difference to your donation decisions— more than quadrupling them in our recent study. Habit also plays a part— in three recent experiments those who volunteered before were more likely to do donate their time than those who had not volunteered before.
In summary, behavioural science identifies a range of factors that influence our donations, and can help us to keep giving in the longer term. This is great news not just for charities, but also for donors.
1. What can we learn about people who do charitable giving?A.Most people support charity as often as they think they should. |
B.Some people don’t want to leave a gift to charity until the time comes. |
C.Those who donate because they can gain an advantage are purely altruistic. |
D.Some people send money to charity simply to tell others they are wealthy. |
A.Not revealing the names of the donors. |
B.Showing figures about the seriousness of the problem. |
C.Telling stories that feature a single, recognizable beneficiary. |
D.Reminding people to write down what to donate in the will in advance. |
A.People will learn from others and follow the suit. |
B.Many people are familiar with charitable giving. |
C.Charitable giving helps the beneficiary in all aspects. |
D.Charitable giving can bring a lot of benefits to donors. |
A.To persuade more people to donate. |
B.To explain the science behind why people donate. |
C.To criticize some false charitable giving behaviours. |
D.To explore approaches to making people donate more. |
10 . Harold Jones, a 100-year-old man, has been walking up to 40 circles every day in his garden since the beginning of 2020. At first, he just walked for exercise. Now, Jones, who uses a walker, is using his circles to help others.
With an early target of raising £1,000, which seemed a lot to Jones when he began, he soon collected more than that. He has raised over £43,000 for charity. The old man held on, and walked 41,550 circles around the back of his home.
Jones walks in all weather, but he does fewer circles in the rain. He does 20 circles after breakfast and then does 20 more circles after lunch.
He thanks his long years in the service for his fitness. “The training for the army set up the ability to suffer because we suffered a lot in the army. Determination and resilience (韧性)are something you’re taught in the army,” Jones said.
Jones was inspired by the efforts of Captain Sir Tom Moore who raised funds for the National Health Service during the pandemic. Moore, a 99-year-old, walked with the help of a walker in the garden, and raised an amazing £17 million.
Jones said that although he began walking just for exercise, he saw what Moore completed and that gave him the idea to raise funds for charity. Jones didn’t expect to walk a greater distance than the captain, but he did.
When Jones reached his early target, he just kept going. He had no idea how many people would respond to his efforts as when he reached £10,000, a friend doubled it.
Jones received a Points of Light award after the charity recommended him and Jones said that he was amazed by the recognition. But giving service to others plays the largest role in his faith and in his life. This was a well-deserved (值得的)honor for a remarkable man.
1. What does Jones think of his early army experience?A.It has brought him great honor. | B.It has changed his life completely. |
C.It has benefited his life in old age. | D.It has enabled him to make good friends. |
A.His concern for the elderly. | B.Tom Moore’s suggestion. |
C.His competitive character. | D.Another old soldier’s behavior. |
A.Doing good for others. | B.Trying to get recognition. |
C.Taking physical exercise. | D.Leading people to serve others. |
A.Inspiring and brave. | B.Curious and honest. |
C.Determined and caring. | D.Patient and proud. |