In every gym class I've taken, I felt like the odd one out. Opening the door, I hesitantly asked, “Is this where the HIIT class is?” The instructor yelled, “Grab a dumbbell and yoga mat. We're late for warm-up!” Breathing heavily on the mat, I wasn't sure if I'd make it through the hour.
Glancing around the room, I seemed to be the only one struggling. Everyone else, in their tightly fitted gym wear and not a sign of sweat to be seen, looked as if they belonged. I, on the other hand, with my messy hair and oversized clothes, wondered why I had ever bothered coming.
Earlier that year, I had decided to give fitness a real shot. All my life, exercise had been a foreign concept and in school, gym class was a place of guaranteed embarrassment and humiliation.
I nervously showed up to my university gym for spin class (动感单车课程) on a Sunday morning. I had considered canceling multiple times, but I told myself that showing up was all that mattered.
The instructor was incredibly kind. Within minutes of seeing my weak form, he knew I was new to the class. He walked us through all the various positions on the bike multiple times.
The first time I tried to stand on the bike pedals, I felt my legs shake and immediately sat down. But with each class, my comfort on the bike grew and I became less focused on how I looked and more focused on looking inward. Whether I needed to think about something bugging me, dream about the future or just mindlessly pedal, spin class became my hour a week just for me.
The more I spun, the more I realized how powerful my body was. For what felt like the first time, I was proud of my body's capabilities.
After nine months of spinning, I wanted to challenge myself again. And that's how I found myself in the high-intensity class. If spin class got me used to moving my body, then HIIT class taught me that I have to continuously work to build my fitness and tackle my insecurities.
In all, what truly matters is showing up, not what you wear or your fitness abilities. Because once you show up, the rest gets easier, one sweaty adventure at a time.
1. Why did the author feel like the odd one out in the gym class?(no more than 10 words)2. What does the underlined part mean in paragraph 3?(no more than 10 words)
3. What did the author realize about her body after attending spin class for nine months?(no more than 6 words)
4. Why did the author decide to challenge herself by attending a high-intensity class? (no more than 12 words)
5. What message does the author convey in the text? How does it inspire you?(no more than 25 words)
Back when I was in my twenties, I worked in an office in Philadelphia. I spent my day there crunching (运算) lifeless numbers. The job was really boring. However, it had its happy moments, like when I received a hard-earned promotion (晋升).
It was different on Tuesdays. On Tuesday nights, I walked to a nearby center to my “another job”. It was a world apart from my job during the day. I would make my way to a large room where I was greeted by shouts of excitement—“Miss Maggie is here!” This enthusiasm came from a group of kids who were all mine to teach. On these Tuesday nights, I taught volleyball for athletes of the Special Olympics.
As I entered this large room one Tuesday night, I noticed that Brian was sitting in the corner by himself, as usual. He came from a family that treated him badly. Unfortunately, this caused him a lot of anger and sadness.
As the other kids started to exercise, I walked over to Brian and sat down. I said hello, but he gave me only an angry mumble (咕哝) in return.
I gave Brian a gentle pat and told him that we’d love to have him join us. Once the kids had warmed up, I began my lesson. As the lesson progressed, Brian came out of his corner. Nervously, he approached me and asked if he could play. I put my arm around him and replied with an enthusiastic yes.
Working with Brian each week, I knew I had to be patient, and this experience taught me a valuable lesson. Finally, I became friends with Brian. I knew that I had to stay positive and make sure he knew that I was there for him no matter what happened.
1. When did the writer feel pleased in her office? (no more than 10 words)2. What is the meaning of the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?(no more than 10 words)
3. What did the writer teach the children? (no more than 5 words)
4. Why did Brian often feel angry and sad? (no more than 10 words)
5. What kind of teacher do you think the writer was? Why? (no more than 20 words)
When 16-year-old Colin Moore is out on the football field, he is putting his heart into the game and looks just like any other teenage athlete out there. But what makes him different than the rest, is that he’s playing without part of his arm.
Moore was born without the lower part of his right arm, but he’s never let that stop him from achieving anything he’s put his mind to in his life, including football. “I’ve always had to have a mind of steel, heart of gold, and just move forward no matter what.” Moore said.
Although his arm difference has never got in the way of anything, it’s been a challenge for him. But in everything he does, he’s worked twice as hard as everyone else to make sure he would succeed. Moore’s goal is to be a starting center, which requires a lot of body strength. Even though he is missing an arm, he makes up for it with his fast movements and strength, making him the perfect choice for this position.
Moore looks up to the Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, and aims to be just like him one day. Moore’s hard work even got him noticed by his hero. After seeing a video of Moore playing football, Kelce sent him one back. Kelce told Moore that his perseverance is a great encouragement to him. He even invited Moore to join him and the Eagles at their training camp so they could meet him.
Moore’s coach Frank Holmes agrees with Kelce and compliments Moore’s perseverance. “The thing I can say about Colin is this: he was born with a challenging situation, but every day he has a positive attitude and focuses fully on whatever he does. He trains hard.”
1. What makes Moore different from other athletes? (no more than 10 words)2. How did Moore achieve his goal? (no more than 5 words)
3. What did Jason Kelce do after seeing Moore play? (no more than 20 words)
4. What is the meaning of the underlined word in the last paragraph? (1 word)
5. How does Moore’s story inspire you? Please explain. (no more than 20 words)
After being evacuated (疏散) from her Florida home following Hurricane Michael. Amber Gee was attempting to get an idea of the destruction left behind when she discovered a sign of trouble. As reported by ABC News, Gee was using NOAA’s interactive aerial map (交互式航拍地图) to check the damage done to her and her family’s homes when she spotted the word “H-E-L-P” spelled out in the yard.
The NOAA website allows those impacted in the hurricane to get a look at specific streets or homes by zooming in on (用变焦距镜头拉近) aerial imagery of the affected area. According to ABC News, Gee was looking at one of these photos when she noticed a cry for help spelled out in wood in the front yard of her grandmother’s Bay County home.
Though her grandmother had evacuated, several other family members, including Gee’s uncle and his wife, had stayed behind. After spotting the message, Gee alerted (向……报警) Bay County Emergency Services, who went to the house and rescued those who were trapped in the residence.
“Apparently, they had to cut through a lot of downed trees to get there,” Gee told ABC News. Her uncle, Ernest, had reportedly used wood from one of those trees to spell out the message.
After the rescue, Bay County Emergency Services posted the incident on their Facebook page, writing, “This is an incredible story of how people are working together in this situation. Someone from another county was using the mapping app to check property in rural Bay County and noticed the word ‘help’ spelled out in the grass in wood. That person immediately contacted us and sent the picture and we dispatched emergency workers.”
Meanwhile, Gee says she is thankful that she was able to use the mapping tool to get her family to safety. “The hurricane has turned everything upside down everywhere. Some were more fortunate than others. I’m just happy that everybody is safe and sound and, hopefully, soon we will all get through this together and recover from this storm,” she said.
1. What did Gee use the mapping app to do? (no more than 12 words)2. Who can look at the NOAA website’s aerial photos of the affected area? (no more than 5 words)
3. Who spelled out “Help” to cry for help? (no more than 5 words)
4. What does the underlined word “dispatched” in Para. 5 probably mean? (one word)
5. What lesson can you learn from this story? Please explain. (no more than 25 words)
5 . 阅读短文，按照题目要求用英语回答问题。
Scott McKenzie and Jeremy Uhrich, two dads from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, have transformed their passion for baking into a heartwarming community endeavor (努力). This journey began when McKenzie, 58, found himself laid off and decided to learn a new skill every week. Baking was one of these new skills, and he was pleasantly surprised by the quality of his first batch of cookies. Proudly, he shared his creation on social media, catching the attention of Uhrich, a longtime friend, who playfully challenged him to a bake-off (食品烘烤比赛).
Uhrich, 42, baked with his sons that same day and proposed a competition to McKenzie. The two agreed to let community workers in the community judge the treats as a thank-you for their help during the challenging times. The competition was a success, but McKenzie and Uhrich didn’t stop there. They decided to deliver the rest of the cookies to community workers, sparking an idea that would eventually become Cookies for Caregivers.
The timing couldn’t have been more crucial—the community had recently experienced a terrible earthquake, leaving many homes destroyed and families displaced. As part of the rebuilding efforts, Cookies for Caregivers was born. The Facebook group created by McKenzie and Uhrich allowed their neighbors to volunteer to make treats for first responders and business owners who were working tirelessly in the aftermath of the earthquake. Since the disaster struck, more than 100 people have joined the group, baking and delivering more than 15,000 cookies to workers at hospitals, grocery stores, fire departments, and more. Each week, bakers drop cookies off at Uhrich’s house, and he and McKenzie organize and deliver them to businesses in large containers.
The impact of Cookies for Caregivers has been profound. Uhrich says “they’ve seen a lot of smiles and tears during deliveries; people are so appreciative”. The project has brought together members of the community who may have never interacted otherwise, all with a common goal of showing gratitude to those on the front lines of the rebuilding efforts after the earthquake. McKenzie says “they plan on continuing the effort because they are immensely grateful for the selfless contributions and want to express their appreciation to as many people as possible”.
McKenzie and Uhrich’s message is clear: kindness doesn’t have an expiration date. In a time of uncertainty and rebuilding, they’ve shown that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. Their bake-off may have been just for fun, but the impact it’s had on their community is immeasurable.
1. What happened to Scott McKenzie before he started to bake? (no more than 5 words)Having established himself as one of the greatest magicians over the last three decades, David Copperfield remains hailed by audiences and critics because his magic still leaves most puzzles unsolved — not only for ordinary people but counterparts in the field of illusion (错觉). He believes he’s remained at the top because of an undiminished passion for magic. “I’m among the few who are lucky enough to know what they want to do at early age,” he said.
Copperfield discovered an interest in magic at the age of 8 when he learnt some simple tricks from his parents who were both magicians. “When I showed those tricks to other kids, I found they all liked them very much, and they thought I was great. This made me very willing to learn new magic,” he recalled. “Such a feeling still supports me now. I like to see the audiences become amazed and go crazy for my performance.”
He began performing professionally at the age of 12 and became the youngest person to be admitted to the Society of American Magicians. By 16, he was teaching a course in magic at New York University. He was among the first magicians to pioneer the TV spectacular, helping boost the appeal for the craft (职业) worldwide.
His love for magic also turned him from a shy, timid boy to a risk-taker prepared to challenge limits. “Magic provides me a channel to express myself, just like singers through their songs and poets through poems,” he said, “And I think everyone needs to dream. Magic offers me the chance to make true my dreams and those of other people.”
Now 68, Copperfield has no thought of retiring from his beloved career. “I really enjoy what I’m doing. I enjoy the process of creating and sharing my creation with others. I dream that my career will last forever. Dreams aren’t a matter of chance, but a matter of choice.”
1. What makes David Copperfield one of the greatest magicians for decades? (no more than 10 words)2. How did David Copperfield discover an interest in magic at an early age? (no more than 15 words)
3. What is mainly talked about in the third paragraph? (no more than 5 words)
4. What does the underlined word “hailed” mean in paragraph 1? (1 word)
5. How does Copperfield’s story inspire you? (no more than 15 words)
We would all love to learn how to be happy. And sometimes, the solution comes from a surprising place.
During his fieldwork in a remote African village, an anthropologist (人类学家) had devoted himself to studying the unique habits and culture of the local tribe. He had been working in the village for quite some time and on the day before his scheduled return home, he composed a gift—a basket full of delightful fruits from the area, wrapped thoughtfully in a piece of cloth. He placed this offering beneath a tree and then gathered the village children around.
The man drew a line in the dirt, looked at the children, and said, “As soon as I signal to start, dash to the tree; the first to arrive will claim the basket of fruits.” However, when he signaled, instead of racing against each other, the children joined hands and ran together to the tree. Then They settled around the basket and enjoyed their treat as a group.
Bewildered by their act of unity, the anthropologist asked why they chose to run collectively when any one of them could have seized all the fruits. A young girl looked up at him and said innocently, “How can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?”
Years later, Desmond Tutu, the well -known South African activist, remembered how a girl once thought about things in a simple yet deep way. He used the word “ubuntu” to describe her thinking. “Ubuntu” means “I exist because we all do.” In other words, we are who we are because of our relationships with others. For that tribe, to be human is to relate with and through others. They think that our happiness comes from the union of our joys and the meaningful impact they have on the community.
1. What gift did the anthropologist prepared? (no more than 10 words)2. How did the children reach the tree? (no more than 10 words)
3. What does the underlined word “bewildered” probably mean in Paragraph 4? (1 word)
4. What is the source of happiness for the tribe? (no more than 10 words)
5. Do you agree with the tribe’s belief about happiness? Please give your reason (s).(no more than 25words)
Have you ever gotten stung by a bee? Well, for 18-year-old Mikaila Ulmer from the US, her first bee sting at the age of 4 was a special experience. It inspired her to make a difference and turned her into an entrepreneur.
The bee sting scared Mikaila, but it also made her interested in the insect. She soon learned how important bees are for the planet and how they are at risk of dying out.
At not even 5 years old, Mikaila wanted to do something to help save the bees. With her parents’ help, she set up a lemonade stand in her front yard. She used her grandmother’s homemade lemonade recipe and added a little bit of honey to it. The money from every lemonade she sold went to bee protection groups.
But Mikaila wanted to do more. She made her special recipe into a product, called Me and the Bees Lemonade. At age 10, she went on a TV show with her dad to try to get funding and public attention. It worked. Now, more than 10 years since her first lemonade, five different drink products are procurable at many restaurants and stores across the country.
In 2020, Mikaila brought out a book about her experience as an entrepreneur called Bee Fearless, Dream Like a Kid. As she explained to CNBC, “I always say that it’s important to dream like a kid and that (as a kid) it’s the perfect age to start figuring out what you enjoy and trying new things and taking risks.”
1. What did Mikaila want to do after she was first stung by a bee? (no more than 10 words)2. How did Mikaila make money at age 5? (no more than 10 words)
3. What does the underlined word “procurable” in Para. 4 mean? (1 word)
4. What is Bee Fearless, Dream Like a Kid? (no more than 5 words)
5. What do you think of Mikaila? And give your reasons. (no more than 20 words)
“I never lied to my father. When I was young, my father told me that if I tried to lie to him, he would always know. My body would tell him the truth because the body’s movement never lies.”, said Martha Graham, an influential American dancer and teacher, fascinated with the ideal that “movement never lies”. Martha realized that the body is its own storyteller. She just wanted to find ways to tell those stories through dance.
She began by studying ballet, but soon realized that it wasn’t right to her. From the very beginning of her dancing career, Martha saw dance differently. She was tiny, not tall like ballerinas (芭蕾舞女演员) at that time. But she had a strong, powerful body and dark, soulful (热情的) eyes. So she developed a style of movement different from traditional romantic ballet and called it modern dance. She brought modern dance to a new level of popularity in American culture.
Unlike ballet, which took place in a fairylike world, Martha’s modern dance expressed real emotions. Martha believed that it was important that the audience see themselves within her dances. She created and arranged many dances that showed emotions such as anger, jealousy, love or hate of common people.
Martha loved to wear long, dark, flowing robes when she performed. In the dances she used her robes in many different ways. Martha’s most important prop (支撑物) was the floor. She always danced in her bare feet, and her feet worked hard to tell their stories. The technique catching on, she founded the Dance Repertory Theater, and later, the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance.
Martha Graham died in 1991, just short of 100 years old. During her life she never stopped dancing. A part of Martha Graham lives on in modern dancers everywhere who continue to study the “Graham technique”. They strive for her honesty, always remembering that movement never lies.
1. Why did Martha Graham never lied to her father when she was young?(no more than 12words)2. What does the underlined word“ideal”mean in paragraph 1?(no more than 2 words)
3. For what reason did Martha Graham develop modern dance?(no more than 15 words)
4. What is unique of her modern dance?(no more than 20 words)
5. What impresses you most of Graham’s story? And why?(no more than 20 words)
A Nation of Animal Lovers
The British are traditionally a nation of animal lovers. This is clear from the large number of animal programmes on TV. There are programmes about wildlife in Britain and other countries, and about pets at home. There are programmes like Animal Hospital about sick animals and the working lives of animal doctors. Some programmes try to find new homes for unwanted or homeless animals. All these programmes are very popular. There is a pet in more than half of the homes in the UK(52.3%). The most popular pets are cats.
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in London is a very famous home for unwanted dogs and cats. It was started in 1860 by Mrs. Mary Tealby, because she was worried about all the homeless animals on the streets of London. Since it opened, the home has taken in more than 3 million dogs and cats. In 2006, over 11,000 dogs and cats came to the home. By the end of the year, homes were found for 5,000 of them. The home even has its own magazine, Paws.
| It Can Only Happen in Britain! The Echo January 13 The rat at platform one has just made your train late! An officer was called to Stirling station today because passengers were worried about a large white rat on the line. Three trains passed over it, but the rat was unhurt. The Scottish railway company, Scotrail, closed the line. Then passengers watched as the officer carefully caught the rat. It bit him, but he took it away safely. An officer from Scotrail said, “We try to protect all wild animals and pets. At first the rat was very frightened, but now he’s fine.” “We’ve called him Ronnie. He needs a good home. People think rats are dirty. But they make great pets!” |
2. How many homes in the UK raise pets?(no more than 10 words)
3. Why did Mrs. Mary Tealby started Battersea Dogs and Cats Home?(no more than 15 words)
4. What was the result of the rat in the train station?(no more than 10 words)
5. How will you react if you see some wild animals in cities? Please further explain that.(no more than 20 words)
