Acts of kindness have the power to not only brighten our day but also restore our faith in humanity. While young children are often reminded to be kind, real-life examples of young people showing charity prove that kindness knows no age limit.
In the busy city of Detroit, 14-year-old twin sisters, Makhia and Makyla Vincent, were on their usual route to school when something caught their attention. On the snow-covered ground lay a wallet, seemingly out of place. “What do you think we should do?” Makyla whispered, her voice low．Makhia bit her lip, her eyes locked on the wallet. “I don’t know, but we can’t just leave it here. What if the owner needs it desperately?” Finally, worry and curiosity got the better of them, and they decided to take a look inside.
Slowly, Makhia reached out and picked it up. As she opened it, the sisters gasped at the same time. To their surprise, they discovered a large amount of cash, bank cards, and a military ID. It was clear that whoever owned this wallet held great value for these possessions. Instantly, the girls knew exactly what they had to do. Coming from a family with a veteran (退伍军人) grandfather, the sisters felt a deep sense of empathy for the person who had lost the wallet.
The girls looked closer to inspect the military ID. It belonged to a Marc Walsh, a middle- aged man who looked serious. “We have to find this Marc Walsh,” Makhia declared, her voice filled with determination. “But how?” Makyla asked. Makhia thought for a moment, “Maybe there’s an address on one of these cards. Let’s see if we can find any clues.”
They carefully examined the bank cards and discovered that one of them had an address on it. It was located not far from where they stood. With a sense of purpose, the twins decided to make their way to the address, wallet in hand.
注意：
1．续写词数应为150左右；
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The address led them to an old apartment building.
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Upon returning home, Marc’s roommate informed him of the discovery.
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2 . I was firstly fascinated by a dance performance in the hall of a university. Soon after, dancers from a famous ballet troupe
I was in love with
As I headed for college, I expected a
Today, I balance my company’s work with a
| A．interviewed | B．checked | C．visited | D．influenced |
| A．dance | B．music | C．art | D．power |
| A．puzzled | B．embarrassed | C．surprised | D．disappointed |
| A．parents | B．friends | C．relatives | D．classmates |
| A．recommended | B．selected | C．inspired | D．focused |
| A．wish | B．dream | C．belief | D．life |
| A．gift | B．resource | C．hobby | D．career |
| A．graduating | B．competing | C．evacuating | D．crashing |
| A．observed | B．watched | C．taught | D．examined |
| A．limited | B．enjoyed | C．exchanged | D．quitted |
| A．occasionally | B．fully | C．frequently | D．widely |
| A．carried off | B．depended on | C．set up | D．entered for |
| A．strategy | B．legend | C．reference | D．job |
| A．organization | B．idea | C．opinion | D．opportunity |
| A．discovered | B．received | C．assisted | D．supported |
3 . On July 28, I retired from my position. After teaching for many years, I looked forward to kayaking (划独木舟) with my grandsons, seeing friends and traveling for leisure with my husband. But my body had other plans for me. A broken spine (脊椎) in my back took me down a path that upended my plans.
I have long had back pain. However, I pushed through the pain to do my work, which worsened my condition. Doctors urged an operation when increased disability meant I could not sit, stand or walk for a long time. But I wanted to see whether physical therapy (治疗) could create an easier option.
Indeed, hard work with a great physical therapist has let me improve my mobility, sitting and standing. But X-rays told a different story. My spine was unstable and bending. After careful consideration and a second opinion from another professional, I agreed to surgery yet in the near term. Needless to say, the past months have been tough and the way ahead will be even tougher. Kayaking with my grandsons in the peacefulness of the lake is all out of reach, for now.
When I met my physical therapist for the first time, I was a mess. He listened to me outline my history with tears and then calmly said, “You have to make friends with your body.” I have repeated that line to myself daily and worked to embrace my body. I have focused on gratitude. I’m grateful that I do not have a fatal disease. I’m grateful that the body I have remains alert to the world, loved by family and friends. I’m grateful that I am still myself.
I don’t know exactly how the future will play out. The surgeon assures me that I should be able to get in my kayak by summer. But I may have to make friends with a different body, one that is mine regardless of the shape.
1. Why did the author’s condition become worse?| A．She disliked physical therapy. |
| B．She hurt her back when kayaking. |
| C．She still worked despite back pain. |
| D．She was unwilling to have an operation. |
| A．She forgot to kayak with her grandsons. |
| B．She decided to accept an operation right away. |
| C．She completely recovered after physical therapy. |
| D．She asked another doctor for advice on the operation. |
| A．Her wish to enjoy retirement life. |
| B．Her physical therapist’s advice. |
| C．Her worsening physical condition. |
| D．Her love for her family and friends. |
| A．Learning to accept my body |
| B．Enjoying my retirement life |
| C．Fighting against my back pain |
| D．Being grateful for what I have |
4 . Treehouse Stays Around the Globe
Treehouse hotels are the perfect way to escape the pressure of everyday life and reconnect with nature. Placed high in the trees, treehouse hotels offer amazing views of the surrounding landscape, fresh air, and a sense of peace and quiet. Here are some treehouses that are sure to provide an unforgettable experience.
Kona Luxury Treehouse, Hawaii, America
Visitors of this remarkable treehouse will take great pleasure in the awe-inspiring scenery of Hawaii’s coastlines. Nestled within a three-acre tropical rainforest farm, the one-bedroom treehouse spans 500 square feet, gracefully rising among fruit trees, with living trunks intricately woven through its core.
Ngala Treehouse, South Africa
Ngala Treehouse is located at the borders of South Africa’s Kruger National Park. High in the trees, it offers stunning views of the surroundings．It is solar-powered and has all the facilities you would expect from a five-star hotel, including a chef’s kitchen, a swimming pool, and a private deck. There’s a chance that you will observe a lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, an elephant, or maybe even all five at the same time.
Treehouses at Chewton Glen, United Kingdom
The folks who run Chewton Glen decided to build treehouses that were eco-friendly. They designed the treehouses to resemble floating lily pads (睡莲叶), with a natural, curved shape and a balcony with plenty of room to take in the sights of Chewton Bunny Valley. Each treehouse is furnished with a hot tub, plenty of seating, and a wood-burning fireplace.
Secret Treehouse, Blue Mountains, Australia
The view from the balcony of this quiet treehouse in the Blue Mountains rainforest is simply breathtaking. The adults-only treehouse is located on 600 acres of private land between two national parks, offering guests complete privacy and stunning treetop views.
1. What can you do at Ngala Treehouse?| A．Visit two national parks. | B．Explore the tropical rainforest. |
| C．Catch sight of wildlife. | D．Promote eco-friendly products. |
| A．Kona Luxury Treehouse. | B．Treehouses at Chewton Glen. |
| C．Ngala Treehouse. | D．Secret Treehouse. |
| A．It is not accessible to kids. | B．It features a stretch of coastline. |
| C．It is surrounded with fruit trees. | D．It relies on solar energy for electricity. |
5 . Four Theaters in Minnesota
Lakeshore Players, Inc.Lakeshore Players is one of Minnesota’s oldest community theaters producing musicals, children’s shows, and a yearly Festival of 10-Minute Plays. It also offers youth & adult acting classes and a summer youth project in which students perform as well as giving help in the field of acting. Besides, there is some local food and drinks to choose from.
Hours & Dates: Tuesday-Friday, 10 am to 3 pm.Rates: $25 with free parking.
Stevie Ray’s Comedy Cabaret
Laugh with the Stevie Ray’s Comedy Troupe (剧团) as the members create immediate comedies (喜剧) based on the audience’ suggestions. Besides, full food and drink service is provided during the show.
Hours & Dates: Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm.Rates: $28 for the show only; $43 for dinner and the show.
Pillsbury House＋Theatre
Pillsbury House＋Theatre is a multi-cultural company of artists. In partnership with Pillsbury United Communities, one of the largest human services organizations in the state, Pillsbury House＋Theatre is a model for social services and arts organizations nationwide.
Hours & Dates: All main stage productions open on Fridays and run from Wednesday to Saturday in the following week at 7:30 pm.Rates: All main stage ticket prices range from $10-$20. Chicago Avenue Project productions are free for the public.
Mantorville Theatre Company
Melodramatic (情节剧式的) productions are presented for families in the summer and quality theatrical productions are offered for the rest of the year.
Hours & Dates: Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 2 pm.Rates: Melodramas are $10 for adults and $8 for students/seniors. Full-length shows are $I5 for adults and $13 for students/seniors. Musicals are $20 for adults and $17 for students/seniors.
1. How is Stevie Ray’s Comedy Cabaret different from the others?
| A．It offers acting instruction. | B．It produces shows for families. |
| C．It includes affordable food service. | D．It stresses communication with the audience. |
| A．Lakeshore Players, Inc. | B．Stevie Ray’s Comedy Cabaret. |
| C．Pillsbury House＋Theatre. | D．Mantorville Theatre Company. |
| A．$8. | B．$10. | C．$16. | D．$20. |
6 . Most children now chat daily either online or through their mobile phones.
Sometimes the online world, just like the real world, can cause problems, such as bullying (恃强凌弱) or arguments.
| A．Going online is great fun. |
| B．Computer studies are part of schoolwork now. |
| C．The language of chat is strange to many parents, too. |
| D．There are some websites that are not suitable for the children. |
| E．To keep children safe, your management must cover the family computer. |
| F．They are connecting to a huge number of other children all over the world. |
| G．Surfing the Internet takes up too much of the time that should be spent on lessons. |
On the weekend, I went shopping and after walking around for a while, I felt tired so I decided to get a cup of coffee. As I was making my way to the coffee shop, I noticed an older gentleman rather poorly dressed sitting on a bench nearby. I knew from first sight that he was in need of some kind of help. He had a little lunch put in front of him and was wholeheartedly enjoying it. It was also rather clear that he had a problem with his right eye and probably couldn’t see out of it. I wasn’t thinking about it any more, and then joined the line, waiting to be served.
Then it happened---one of the most beautiful gestures I have ever seen in my life.
There was a young man in front of me in the line who was also waiting to be served. As the young man approached the counter to place his order, he noticed the older gentleman sitting on the bench nearby. Without hesitation, he turned back to the cashier and asked if they could provide a free cup of tea for the elderly man. The cashier was surprised by his sudden request, hesitating for a moment and nodding in agreement.
The young man then went on to pay for not only his own drink but also another one, which he handed to the older gentleman with a warm smile. The older man looked up, surprised and grateful, as the young man sat down beside him on the bench. They began to chat, and I couldn’t help but feel touched by this simple act of kindness.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
As I received my tea, I decided to join them.
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As we continued to talk, more people heard about it.
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8 . Imagine a school where students are taught by the best teachers in every subject, regardless of locations. Imagine a school where children can go on safe field trips to the Amazon rainforest or Everest base camp. Well, such schools are already being built: in virtual reality(VR).
Last month, Optima Academy Online (OAO) was launched in Florida and started to deliver courses for elementary, middle and high schools and 170 full-time students from all over the state signed up. They used VR headsets for about three hours a day for formal lessons and then do course work independently with digital check-ins.
It is worth watching how such educational experiments develop. Used properly, the VR technology can help students to access learning resources and be connected with fellow students and teachers all over the world. But if employed poorly, it will have the opposite effect and turn a digital inequality into an educational one.
There is growing evidence to suggest that it is happening. In Mexico, according to a survey, only 24% of 15-year-old students in poor schools have access to home computers for schoolwork compared with 87% in rich ones. As reported in another study, some students in northern England have been forced to travel around on the Greater Manchester train network or camp out around McDonald’s to access free WiFi because they cannot do their schoolwork at home.
“VR technologies will be widely used in education. The only questions are: for what purpose and at what speed?” says Beeban Kidron, a member of the UK’s Digital Futures Commission. “The trouble is that they are too often seen as a shiny new toy that will solve all problems and save money rather than being viewed as a means to enrich learning.”
The inescapable truth is that there is nothing that can replace teachers educating students in safe schools—ideally, with access to well-designed technological platforms. Leaving children in their bedrooms with just VR headsets and no physical social interaction with other kids will fill-many of them—and their parents—with horror.
1. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 1?| A．Lead in the subject for discussion. |
| B．Provide some advice for the readers. |
| C．Show the advantages of VR headsets. |
| D．Introduce an unsuccessful online school. |
| A．To relax themselves. | B．To enrich their learning. |
| C．To make their study fun | D．To get free WiFi service. |
| A．will replace traditional learning | B．are the future of education |
| C．will become a very helpful tool | D．are a means to save money |
| A．Supportive | B．Disapproving. | C．Doubtful. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Disappointed. | B．Satisfied. | C．Confused. |
10 . Ellen Parker was worried about her health. She could not walk very quickly and it was difficult for her to climb stairs. She was soon out of breath. “I suppose I had better go to the doctor,” she thought. She went to the doctor and told him her problem.
“I’m not at all surprised, ” he said. “It’s clear what your problem is.”
He examined her and then gave her some advice.
“If you don’t do what I say, Mrs. Parker,” he said, “you will have a heart attack. It could kill you.” Ellen was very worried as she left the doctor’s. She knew that she had to take his advice but that it would not be easy and it would take time.
The next day she went shopping. The first shop she went into was a butcher’s shop (肉铺).
“I’d like ten pounds of steak (牛排), please,” she said.
“Certainly, madam,” the butcher replied and went into the cold room and found a large piece of steak. He brought the huge piece of meat back into the shop and placed it on the scale (秤).
“That’s just under ten pounds,” he said.
“That’s big enough,” Mrs. Parker said.
The butcher worked out the price. “At ＄4. 99 a pound. That will be ＄49.50, please. Would you like me to cut it up into smaller pieces for you?”
“Oh, I don’t want to buy the meat,” Mrs. Parker said.
“If you don’t want to buy it,” the butcher replied angrily, “why did you ask me to get it for you?”
“My doctor told me that I am overweight and have to lose ten pounds. I wanted to see what ten pounds of flesh looked like.”
1. The reason why Ellen Parker visited the doctor is that________.| A．she had had a heart attack. | B．she had a problem with her health. |
| C．she was unhappy about her weight. | D．she could not sleep well. |
| A．she wanted to buy some for dinner. | B．she wanted to lose weight. |
| C．her doctor had told her to eat steak. | D．she wanted to see what ten pounds of meat looked like. |
| A．She ate too much steak. | B．She weighed too much. |
| C．The doctor did not know. | D．She could not walk very quickly. |
