1 . In 2019, after retiring from her career as a social worker, Ane Freed - Kernis decided to build a home workshop and devote all of her free time to stone carving. “I might be covered head to to e in dust but I’m happy — it was something I needed more of in my life when I hit 60,” she says.

This appeal has its origins in Freed - Kernis’ childhood. Growing up on her father’s farm in Denmark, she used to wander through the fields with her eyes fixed on the ground, looking for stones to add to her collection. “I’ve always been drawn to the shapes and textures (质地) of stones,” she says.

After moving to England in 1977 and training as a social worker, Freed - Kernis soon became occupied with her busy career and the demands of raising her son. Stones were the last thing on her mind, until her father died in 2005. “He took a stone carving course in his retirement, and I always thought stone seemed so fun but never had the time to look into it myself,” she says. “After he died, I became determined to learn in his honour.”

Signing up for a week-long stone carving course at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Freed-Kernis began to learn how to turn a block of rock into well-designed shapes. “It was really scary at the start because you would spend hours just hammering (锤打).”

Now 65, Freed-Kernis has a thriving small business built largely through word of mouth. She creates 12 to 15 pieces a year that can take anywhere from a few days to three weeks to complete, while her prices range from £ 200 to £ 3,000. “I’m making smaller ones,” she says. “I don’t have to depend on the money much, so I want to keep prices in the range that people can afford, mainly just covering costs and labour (劳动力).”

1. Freed-Kernis was first attracted by stones when ______.

A．she was 60	B．she was a child
C．her father died	D．she moved to England

2. What can we infer about Freed-Kernis from paragraph 3?

A．She never cared about her father.

B．She led a disappointing life in Denmark.

C．She spent lots of time studying stone carving.

D．She learned stone carving under the influence of her dad.

3. How did Freed-Kernis feel when she started stone carving course?

A．Hopeful and proud.

B．Confident and satisfied.

C．Nervous and frightened.

D．Impatient and unprepared.

4. Why is Freed-Kernis making smaller pieces?

A．They are easier to move by her.

B．They are more affordable to people.

C．She wants to save costs and labour.

D．She is too old to focus on making large ones.

2 . In 2012, Laura Eshelman man was in the middle of a mental unsettlement. She was having ________ in finding work. “I was leaving a downtown business where I had another job application ________. I was feeling pretty ________ and decided to go to the Whole Foods across the street,” Eshelman recalled.

As she crossed the street, Eshelman ________ a man asking tor money on the corner. But he was ________ by passersby. As Eshelman ________, he purmed to her, and asked if he could have a little bit of money. She was ________ and said: “Leave me alone. I don’t have anything to give you. Get away!”

Eshelman ________ into the grocery store. But suddenly she realized how ________ she bad been to the man. Eshelman rushed outside to find him. She apologized and ________ some coins from the bottom of her _________.

As she ________ him the change, the man said, “It’s OK. Everything ________ will disappear.” And all of a sudden, she felt like somebody was seeing her ________, and she started to cry.

“That moment on the street was one of the few ________ in that extremely dark period of my life,” Eshelman later said.

1.

A．fun

B．trouble

C．experience

D．luck

2.

A．rejected

B．submitted

C．displayed

D．followed

3.

A．relaxed

B．awkward

C．nervous

D．depressed

4.

A．remembered

B．guided

C．spotted

D．comforted

5.

A．ignored

B．touched

C．rewarded

D．cheated

6.

A．hesitated

B．waited

C．escaped

D．approached

7.

A．active

B．impatient

C．anxious

D．desperate

8.

A．slid

B．struggled

C．got

D．looked

9.

A．helpful

B．rude

C．strict

D．particular

10.

A．set aside

B．put away

C．dug out

D．used up

11.

A．heart

B．pocket

C．store

D．drawer

12.

A．handed

B．lent

C．returned

D．awarded

13.

A．dangerous

B．normal

C．unpractical

D．unpleasant

14.

A．pain

B．choice

C．effort

D．privilege

15.

A．instants

B．chances

C．differences

D．flashes

3 . Born with no right leg, Anthony Robles, one of the best wrestlers in the NCAA, started wrestling when he was in high school. When his cousin first ________ him to wrestling, Robles wasn’t a/an ________. However, he gradually fell in love with it and he has been doing it ever since .

While some people might have ________ his decision to take on the sport, his family was a huge ________ of support and encouragement. He said: “They ________ in me from a young age that I could do whatever I ________ my mind to. “They didn’t give me any special ________. They raised me like others.”

While the physical aspects of the sport seemed to be the most challenging part, at one point Robles realized he needed to be ________ tougher. After ________ seventh at nationals in his junior year, he took a ________ from wrestling for a little while. He said. “I was ________. That really just helped me to mentally get back to the sport.”

Then came the last match. Robles was so scared that he was almost starting to cry. When he defeated defending national champion 7-1, the ________ were quite different. “I couldn’t even ________ it.” He said, “It was just a great experience.”

Now Robles is ready for the next page in his life, “I really want to help other people achieve things in their lives that others might say are ________.” Robles plans to put his amazing attitude and energy to ________ as a motivational (激励) speaker.

1.

A．showed

B．recommended

C．introduced

D．attracted

2.

A．partner

B．fan

C．master

D．audience

3.

A．questioned

B．admired

C．honored

D．affected

4.

A．amount

B．source

C．flood

D．supply

5.

A．planted

B．breathed

C．delivered

D．registered

6.

A．exchange

B．improve

C．bury

D．apply

7.

A．effect

B．credit

C．confidence

D．treatment

8.

A．gradually

B．obviously

C．formally

D．mentally

9.

A．succeeding

B．going

C．finishing

D．becoming

10.

A．break

B．job

C．bus

D．flight

11.

A．cut out

B．left out

C．stressed out

D．checked out

12.

A．decisions

B．emotions

C．approaches

D．goals

13.

A．impressed

B．concentrated

C．design

D．believe

14.

A．useless

B．extra

C．confusing

D．impossible

15.

A．rest

B．place

C．use

D．test

4 . Sau Hoyin, a 16-year-old student at Hong Kong International School, has devoted the past seven years to writing fiction. He has already published two novels, and a third is on the way. Sau’s journey as a writer began in the 4th grade when he started a school “passion project”, leading him to create his first novel Pym. This story follows Luke Connors, an ordinary boy who grew into a brave fighter against evil.

Sau’s fiction evolved with his own personal growth. At the age of 13, he created Pyro 2. a story when Connors faces challenges that mirror Sau’s struggles with math. “I tried to overcome these challenges on my own at first hut finally found that I need to seek the aid of others,” he said. In the novel, Connors learns that in moments of great challenges. seeking help from those around him is a test ament (证明) to growth. Currently, Sau is working on Pyro 3, a project enriched by his global travels and diverse cultural experiences. “I treat writing as a way to record my life and express myself. It also helps me to think deeply about various issues,” he said.

Sau spends two to three hours on weekends on his writing and around two hours daily during breaks. To practice his skills, Sau also joined a literary club at school, exchanging insights into his fiction with his peers.

“In arts and literature class, our teacher also nurtures (培养) our creativity by teaching creative poetry.” Sau added. For instance, inspired by the English language poem Show With Buddha he learned in class, he wrote Playing Saxophone With the Statue of Liberty in d imagined the statue dropped her torch or a moment, playing jour while thinking about whether the truths of American liberty are really held or not.

Sau also shares his essays and poetry on his personal website and takes part in writing competitions. This summer, he won the Harbinger Prize awarded by Harbingers’Magazine, a weekly journal in the US.

Next year, Sau will start university and is resolute in his decision to major in literature. “For me, literature is a utopia (乌托邦) where I can not only express myself but also enjoy the beauty of language, its purity and its lasting power.” he said.

1. What drove Sau Hoyin to take up writing?

A．A special school program.	B．An unforgettable journey.
C．His teacher’s encouragement.	D．His childhood’s experience.

2. What can we learn from paragraph 2?

A．Sau is unwilling to learn Math at school.	B．Sau’s works are related to his own experience.
C．Sau is a very productive writer from an early age.	D．Sau is faced with many difficulties in writing novels.

3. Which of the following can best describe Sau?

A．Clever and humorous.	B．Talented and cautious.
C．Hardworking and creative.	D．Curious and emotional.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Sau Hoyin: Words of Growth & Adventure

B．Luke Connors: A Brave Fighter against Evil

C．A Teen Writer’s Dream: Sau Hoyin’s Quest for Fame

D．A Popular Blogger’s Rise: Luke Connor’s Journey to Success

5 . In the community of Mudgeeraba, a remarkable story has occurred, displaying a more connected society.

Living far from her own family and with her husband having no parents left, Nina, a new mom, was feeling the weight of   ________ in her motherhood journey. Nina found herself ________ not just for company, but for a unique form of cross-generational ________. So she determined to take a ________ step.

Nina put out a heartfelt ________ in her community for an “adoptive grandma” for herself and her baby Millie. The outpouring of support was nothing short of ________. Among the sea of ________, 61-year-old Christine, a resident in the same suburb as Nina, emerged as the perfect ________. Desperate for a grandchild of her own, Christine was seeking for a ________ for filling the emptiness left by the ________ of grandchildren in her life.

Since their initial meeting six months ago, Christine has lovingly ________ the role of Grandma Christine to little Millie, to whom she ________ she has an unlimited supply of love to give. The newfound relationship goes beyond just a ________, with weekly park walks and play dates becoming precious moments for both Nina and Christine.

The unexpected ________ rooted in a simple act of reaching out has not only provided Nina with the care and wisdom of the older generation, dramatically ________ her tension after giving birth, but offered Christine a sense of purpose and connection in her later years.

1.

A．mistrust

B．intervention

C．prejudice

D．loneliness

2.

A．answering

B．longing

C．preparing

D．arranging

3.

A．assistance

B．promise

C．respect

D．recognition

4.

A．debatable

B．familiar

C．courageous

D．generous

5.

A．statement

B．option

C．proposal

D．request

6.

A．unappealing

B．convincing

C．heartwarming

D．confusing

7.

A．comments

B．responses

C．discussions

D．investigations

8.

A．professional

B．relative

C．employer

D．match

9.

A．channel

B．babysitter

C．witness

D．standard

10.

A．departure

B．affection

C．absence

D．objection

11.

A．reflected upon

B．taken on

C．set aside

D．applied for

12.

A．worries

B．remembers

C．denies

D．feels

13.

A．limit

B．title

C．message

D．prize

14.

A．discovery

B．adventure

C．bond

D．reunion

15.

A．releasing

B．exposing

C．encouraging

D．illustrating

6 . For some of us, going to the dentist for routine check-ups is a thing of the ordinary. But for many people around the world, especially those in impoverished (贫困的) areas, having dental improvement and their teeth checked simply isn’t possible. A Brazilian dentist Felipe Rossi has devoted himself to helping changing that situation.

Growing up in USA, Felipe Rossi had just obtained the Bachelor of Medicine Degree and was about to start a master’s degree in Pediatric Dentistry (儿童口腔学) when a journey to his father’s home — Balsabo in Brazil — converted his initial plan. “All locals didn’t have access to dental care, and consequently, many of them suffered deformed teeth or even loss of teeth, leading to many people not daring to laugh with mouth open.” Felipe Rossi recalled. “A desire was planted in my heart. That is, to use my skills to bring healthy smiles to people suffering from dental problems.”

With the support of his parents, Felipe formed an NGO (non-government organization) called Porsorriso to give free oral treatments to individuals with low incomes who require cleaning. fillings, crowns, restoration work and more. His team is composed of approximately 30 registered volunteers who go with him to poor towns and villages in Brazil.

Sponsorship is generally provided by two private companies. Individuals may also make donations through the ‘Smile Solidarity’ program, where they can choose monthly amounts to contribute. Porsorriso also holds regular fundraisers to afford the cost of providing free dental services around the country.

As noble as its objective is, Felipe admits that Porsorriso is “struggling to survive” because of the huge cost of providing dental work and the constant fundraising events they have to hold to keep the NGO in normal functioning. “Challenging as it is, it did bring healthy teeth as well as renewed confidence to the locals. We will continue this transformative act whatever difficulties we will face”. Felipe said with a strong will.

1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?

A．By posing a contrast.

B．By reporting an event.

C．By assuming a situation.

D．By making an appeal.

2. What motivated Felipe to offer dental treatments to Brazilians?

A．The support from his parents.

B．The passion for dental health.

C．The encounter with local s lacking dental care.

D．The professional skills and knowledge from college.

3. Which of the following can best describe Felipe Rossi?

A．Hopeful and diligent.

B．Faithful and ambitious.

C．Intelligent and creative.

D．Charitable and dedicated.

4. What do we know about Porsorriso?

A．It gives free oral treatments to anyone in need.

B．It is cooperated by Felipe Rossi and the local authority.

C．It is financially supported by corporations and individuals.

D．It holds regular fundraisers to educate people about dental care.

7 . At the Nelson Street Pub in Pembroke, they’re prepared for customers who dine and dash. In fact, they ________ it.

On a wall inside the front door are meal ________ that have been paid for by customers, staff, other businesses or residents. Above them is a ________ that reads: “If you are hungry and have no money, these meals have been paid for ________.” All anyone has to do is ________ the ticket they want and give it to a server. The meal appears — no questions asked, no ________ cast.

I drove to the restaurant on a Friday to check it out. There I met Sharon Gribbons, who lives in Waltham, Que. She had ________ to put a couple of meals up on the wall, one on behalf of a friend. She planned to ________ a meal every month. “Everyone needs a hot meal,” she explained.

Over the few hours I spent at the restaurant, six people ________ themselves of the pub’s generosity, while customers ________ eight meals to the pantry (食品贮藏柜), including the “Fishy and Chippy” meal I put on my own bill.

It’s ________ that the service plays an important role: offering free hot meals at a pub where people are ________, not avoided; where they can interact with others, watch TV or listen to music; and, with luck, forget their ________ for an hour or so. I hope its success isn’t dependent ________ on that small-town neighborly atmosphere, because this is a ________ that needs to travel beyond Pembroke — into Ottawa, and elsewhere. Everywhere.

1.

A．encourage

B．avoid

C．reward

D．ignore

2.

A．receipts

B．menus

C．bills

D．tickets

3.

A．paper

B．sign

C．letter

D．warning

4.

A．on time

B．with care

C．by accident

D．in advance

5.

A．pick

B．compare

C．book

D．buy

6.

A．smile

B．judgment

C．shadow

D．vote

7.

A．longed

B．remembered

C．paid

D．struggled

8.

A．save

B．consume

C．donate

D．share

9.

A．availed

B．reminded

C．convinced

D．relieved

10.

A．exposed

B．added

C．applied

D．introduced

11.

A．interesting

B．strange

C．surprising

D．obvious

12.

A．appreciated

B．welcomed

C．attracted

D．identified

13.

A．stories

B．existence

C．troubles

D．dignity

14.

A．merely

B．ultimately

C．barely

D．deeply

15.

A．service

B．routine

C．tradition

D．kindness

8 . Imagine suddenly waking up at midnight, ______ for air, heart pounding, feeling tense and experiencing this night after night. The ______ of the lack of sleep was the ______ need to lie down and fall asleep for 2-3 hours. This was my experience throughout the summer of 2021.

I guess it may have been in part the ______ the pandemic had on my mental health as well as other worries. During the daylight hours, I ______ myself in various ways but at night during sleep my fear and ______ would come to the surface. I ______ I needed to find ways to deal with my worries.

After much ______, I began to seek the assistance of medicine, which was a tough decision to make. But it ______ well. I made sure to walk in nature as much as possible and continued my yoga practice. Slowly, I found my way back to myself.

However, life ______ another curve ball into my life. In December 2023, those nighttime feelings that ______ me flowed into my days again. I turned to friends and family, who encouraged me to seek professional help. I ______ to a therapist specialized in this field, and together, we analyzed the problems and applied the related ______ to coping with them. While the process didn’t go ______, my symptoms gradually disappeared with my efforts at last.

In conclusion, this is what I would like to say —when in trouble, reach out for help, talk to family and friends, your doctor or a counsellor. Take time to take care of yourself, you are worth the ______.

1.

A．struggling

B．searching

C．begging

D．waiting

2.

A．cause

B．result

C．price

D．condition

3.

A．anxious

B．practical

C．temporary

D．urgent

4.

A．pressure

B．emphasis

C．effect

D．limit

5.

A．found

B．displayed

C．occupied

D．enjoyed

6.

A．concern

B．surprise

C．puzzle

D．guilt

7.

A．suggested

B．recognized

C．claimed

D．guaranteed

8.

A．complaint

B．debate

C．preparation

D．resistance

9.

A．went

B．worked

C．behaved

D．reacted

10.

A．slid

B．threw

C．rolled

D．sank

11.

A．ignored

B．ensured

C．robbed

D．disturbed

12.

A．left out

B．pointed out

C．reached out

D．passed out

13.

A．approaches

B．disciplines

C．assumptions

D．patterns

14.

A．permanently

B．potentially

C．smoothly

D．thoroughly

15.

A．passion

B．freedom

C．strength

D．effort

9 . Jessica Cox is the world’s first licensed armless pilot.

Born without arms, Cox never let her _________ become her disadvantage. She learned at a young age how to use her feet as her hands. And after eleven years of wearing prosthetic arms (假肢), she decided to be “the real Jessica” and _________ the arms. This was the start of her new life.

Cox loved swinging because it was something that she could control and _________ flying over everything. And this _________ her determination to become a pilot.

She had her first _________ of being a pilot during a trip to Mexico in a small plane. She had the _________ to place her foot on the yoke (操纵杆) and feel the experience of being in the air. After that, her childhood _________ of planes disappeared. The feeling of control of the freedom was more _________ than her horror. On that day, she decided to _________ her dream of becoming a pilot. This was not without __________ though. Finding an instructor was a challenge. A lot were __________ teaching and qualifying an armless pilot. Cox didn’t give up and eventually found herself a(n) __________. Her dream became a reality in 2008 when she took her first solo flight.

Cox is not only a pilot but also a __________ for people with disabilities. As a motivational speaker, she has traveled across the world to __________ others. She is a fighter for the __________ of persons with disabilities, which gives them access to education, health care, and the same advantages she had growing up.

1.

A．disability

B．shyness

C．experience

D．gender

2.

A．get rid of

B．put up with

C．get used to

D．take care of

3.

A．admit

B．practice

C．consider

D．imagine

4.

A．showed

B．renewed

C．launched

D．strengthened

5.

A．taste

B．lecture

C．licence

D．mission

6.

A．freedom

B．struggle

C．invitation

D．opportunity

7.

A．fear

B．puzzle

C．dream

D．memory

8.

A．distant

B．natural

C．powerful

D．complicated

9.

A．announce

B．pursue

C．defend

D．share

10.

A．risks

B．barriers

C．failures

D．possibilities

11.

A．busy

B．uncomfortable

C．irresponsible for

D．tired of

12.

A．plane

B．assistant

C．partner

D．teacher

13.

A．trainer

B．leader

C．champion

D．volunteer

14.

A．serve

B．fund

C．inspire

D．interest

15.

A．jobs

B．rights

C．fame

D．safety

10 . When it comes to high-proof fathering lessons, few adventures can compare with the motorcycle trip I shared with my 20-year-old daughter Ewa.

In 2023, we _________ a one-week motorcycle trip in the southern part of British Columbia. Each _________ a motorcycle, we headed north on the Sea-to-Sky highway. What made this trip so _________ was that Ewa took it on herself to be the planner. We didn’t even have a _________ about it. As a father, wasn’t I supposed to plan it?

My old Harley had no gas gauge (汽油表). So, when the main gas tank was empty, the motorcycle _________. After all, these years I hadn’t known whether I would _________ it. But on the first day of our annual trip, when we were on a lonely highway leading to the US border in Sagna, Ontario, it came to a _________ after some time.

Ewa headed into the distance_________ that she was riding alone. When she _________ noticed that I wasn’t in her rearview (后视镜) mirror, she stopped and waited as I pushed my Harley to meet with her. In my adult life, while __________ children, I always followed my parents’ __________: I stood by and provided support. When Ewa __________ her own way of life, I seldom said ‘no’. But when she said she wanted to __________ with the out-of-fuel motorcycle on the side of the country road while I was going for gasoline, I said “no way”. I wouldn’t let her stay there on her own. She insisted, but I was very __________. Ewa finally __________ and went looking for gasoline with me.

I learn from the trip that however old my child is, I will never stop being a father.

1.

A．shared

B．started

C．expected

D．treasured

2.

A．riding

B．winning

C．testing

D．desiring

3.

A．long

B．simple

C．special

D．familiar

4.

A．request

B．debate

C．theme

D．conversation

5.

A．fell

B．slowed

C．began

D．continued

6.

A．claim

B．sell

C．use

D．check

7.

A．stop

B．conclusion

C．solution

D．decision

8.

A．unsure

B．unaware

C．considering

D．confirming

9.

A．fortunately

B．gradually

C．happily

D．eventually

10.

A．requiring

B．raising

C．comparing

D．accompanying

11.

A．heart

B．talent

C．comment

D．lead

12.

A．found

B．seized

C．introduced

D．quit

13.

A．play

B．deal

C．assist

D．wait

14.

A．reliable

B．confident

C．firm

D．regretful

15.

A．gave in

B．turned up

C．got through

D．broke down