It was a dark and stormy night. The ferocious wind shook the windows wildly, as though someone outside were beating on the glass. It was also New Year’s Eve. We were having our annual party and had a house full of people just starting to celebrate.
Suddenly, we heard loud explosions. Looking outside and up into the hills, we saw sparks(火花) flying from electrical transformers(变压器). One area after another went dark up in those hills. Then there was the loudest explosion of them all and our house went dark too. I tried to find every candle we had and lit them. The candles made everything look lovely. But we had problems. We had fifteen people standing around and we still had to cook dinner. How would we do that without electricity?
The barbecue! Why not cook on the barbecue? We men went outside, some holding flashlights and others cooking. We did a wonderful job. The women stayed inside and got the salads ready. Everything was delicious. There were still a few hours to go before the beginning of the new year, so we all sat around the dining room table and sang up until a few minutes before midnight. We couldn’t watch the ball drop in Times Square on television but that wouldn’t stop us from celebrating. I stood on a chair and, with the help of someone’s watch to tell us the time, we all counted down and I dropped a tennis ball! We all screamed Happy New Year. We didn’t need electricity for that!
Nowadays, we still get together with the same group to celebrate the New Year and we still talk about that special night. I don’t think we have ever laughed so much as we did on that New Year’s Eve.
1. What does the underlined word mean in Paragraph 1? (1 word)2. What made dinner preparation difficult according to Paragraph 2? (no more than 6 words)
3. How did the people celebrate on New Year’s Eve according to the passage? (no more than 10 words)
4. How does the author feel about that particular New Year’s Eve? (no more than 8 words)
5. What do you think is the most necessary quality when dealing with an unexpected difficult situation? Please explain why. (no more than 25words)
Habit formation is the process by which behaviours become automatic. People develop countless habits as they explore the world, whether they are aware of them or not. Understanding how habits take shape may be helpful in changing bad habits.
Habits are built through learning and repetition. A person is thought to develop a habit in the course of pursuing goals by beginning to associate certain cues(刺激) with behavioural responses that help meet the goal. Over time, thoughts of the behaviour and ultimately the behaviour itself are likely to be triggered(触发) by these cues.
A “habit loop(环)” is a way of describing several related elements that produce habits. These elements are called the cue, the routine, and the reward. For example, stress could serve as a cue that one responds to by eating, which produces the reward﹣the reduction of stress. While a routine involves repeated behaviour, it’s not necessarily performed in response to a deep﹣rooted urge, as a habit is.
Old habits can be difficult to shake, and healthy habits are often harder to develop. But through repetition, it’s possible to form new habits. The amount of time needed to build a habit will depend on multiple factors, including the individual and the intended behaviour. While you are able to pickup a new habit in a few weeks, it takes many months to build a healthy habit. Take some time to think about what leads to bad habits and re﹣evaluate what you get out of them (or don’t). Consider and keep in mind why you want to make a change, including how the change reflects your values.
1. How are habits built?2. In what way is a routine different from a habit?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Picking up a new habit takes a few week, while building a healthy habit takes a shorter time.
4. What benefit(s) have you got from one of your good habits?(In about 40 words)
Tom, a 15-year-old inventor and entrepreneur (创业者), witnessed at his own school the widespread consumption of sugary drinks by kids. He knew there had to be a better portable drink solution and decided to innovate from something he saw in his own home: fruit infused (浸泡) water.
Tom watched his mum make healthy fruit infusions but then struggle for a take-along option. From observing his mum and from his desire to give kids better drink options, he came up with his original model for the Fun Bottle. “I wanted to come up with a healthy, natural way for people to drink when on the go. A big part of my mission is to get people of all ages off sugary drinks,” Tom explains.
The bottle is made with a strainer (滤网) that allows the great tastes and natural sugars of the various fruits and vegetables you choose to come through the water, without any of the seeds or skins flowing through.
Tom is proud of his design and excited to be selling the Fun Bottle on his website and in stores, but this 15-year-old is most proud of the opportunities that Fun Bottle presents to others. It helps to provide healthy alternatives to sugary drinks; and also Tom donates part of the profits to the Organisation for a Healthier Generation (OHG).
Tom has been awarded several prizes, but this teenage innovator remains humble. When asked what advice he’d give other entrepreneurial youth, he says, “Prepare and have your family’s support. It is important to know from the beginning that there are a lot of highs and lows, and there is no such thing as overnight success.”
1. What did Tom witness at his own school?2. Where did Tom get the idea for the original model for the Fun Bottle?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Tom is most proud of the opportunities that Fun Bottle presents to others because he not only provides healthy alternatives to sugary drinks but also donates all the profits to the OHG.
4. Among Tom’s qualities, which one(s) do you think will be important for us? Why?(In about 40 words)
Most of us associate learning with younger people—kids in school and college or recent graduates early in their careers. But at Udemy, an open university offering online courses, Artist Anneke Camstra is engaged in the pursuit of lifelong learning and displays her potential for teaching. She loves the experience of gaining new knowledge and also loves sharing it with others. “I’m retired, but an artist never retires,” Anneke said. “The last few years on the internet have been a great joy for me. I’ve taken so many Udemy courses, and ifs such a great feeling to get my brain working again. I find just as much satisfaction in teaching animation(动画制作)too.”
She reaches countless people with her online courses and exposes them to what they can accomplish on their own using animation software, such as GoAnimate and PowToon. Her motivation for teaching on Udemy is “to get the tools to the people.”“You can go such a long way to make things that look professional but still have your own voice,” she explained.
Most of Anneke’s students start out thinking they’re not creative and can’t draw. Anneke understands how fear can get in the way of so many things people dream of doing. With her five-day challenge courses, she helps them get over the fear. Anneke loves the impact she has on her students. What makes her more proud of them is that they have gone from their first animation to creating their own works.
She encourages people of all ages, especially older people, to cultivate their curiosity for life. Grandparents, for example, can learn to use GoAnimate and make animations together with their grandkids.
“Tm an older woman, teaching and having fun learning again,” Anneke said, and she wants others later in their lives to catch up with her on this journey.
1. What does Anneke enjoy doing after her retirement? (no more than 10 words)2. According to Para. 2, what does Anneke expect her students to do with animation software? (no more than 10 words)
3. What is the main idea of Para. 3? (no more than 15 words)
4. Please explain the meaning of the underlined word in Para. 4(1 word)
5. What do you suggest old people learn to do? Please give your reason(s). (no more than 20 words)
5 . 阅读表达
Growing up in San Francisco, Grace Young used to watch her father shop daily in Chinatown for whatever he needed to make traditional Chinese meals at home. As an award-winning cookbook author, Ms. Young, now 66, has spent decades shopping the same way in New York’s Chinatown.
Ms. Young developed a passion for cooking at an early age. At 13, she started to sit in on cooking classes. After college, Ms. Young moved to New York and worked in a book-packaging company. In her 30s, she realized that while she had helped create more than 40 cookbooks, she didn’t know how to make the dishes that tasted of home. “I knew if I recorded all of my parents’ recipes, it would be a great gift that I could give my family and the next generation.” she says.
Yet what began as a recipe book became a kind of memoir. Talking about food encouraged her parents to finally open up about their past, like the fact that her father had owned a Chinatown restaurant in the 1940s. “It was really an amazing way to learn not only my family’s recipes, but also my family’s story. “she says. The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen (1999) launched Ms. Young’s work in preserving and sustaining Chinese culinary (烹饪的)traditions.
Ms. Young has also devoted herself to supporting the restaurants in Chinatown. Since early 2020, Ms. Young has raised money to buy meals from Chinatown restaurants and deliver them to those in need. This year, instead of cooking at home for her husband and friends, she celebrated the Chinese New Year with various dishes from local restaurants in Chinatown. “If these restaurants don’t survive, Chinese culinary traditions in our city won’t survive.” she says.
1. What is Ms. Young known as?(no more than 5 words)Herman Cruse, a school bus driver from New Jersey, has been with Middle Township Public Schools for the past nine years. He believes bus drivers are the eyes and ears of students when they're away from home and they have a gift to discern what kids are feeling.
During one morning ride, Cruse noticed a kindergartner seemed a little sad. When Cruse asked him what was wrong, the boy explained that he wasn't able to complete his reading assignment because his parents were busy with his four siblings (兄弟姐妹). An idea suddenly crossed Cruse's mind. “Listen, if you don't mind, I'd like to come to the school and read with you. ”he said.
After receiving permission from the boy's teacher, Alex Bakley, Cruse showed up at her classroom the following week. When he walked in, the boy shouted proudly, “Hey, that's my bus driver!”They went into a quiet corner and began reading together. Later, a second student wanted to read with him, then a third. All the kids went to the teacher asking, “Can I read with Mr. Herman?”
Cruse now volunteers to help kindergarten students with reading two days a week, and on a third day, he instructs the school's first-and second-graders. After dropping the kids off at school, of course. Every child looks up to Cruse, both on and off the school bus. “Herman is super positive and he's a bright light at our school who makes every child feel loved and heard. ”said Bakley.
For Cruse, what started out as a way to kill time has now developed into a way to make a difference in the heart of a child. He used to go to the gym or library after delivering students to schools. It wasn't until he offered to help the boy on the bus that he realized there was something more rewarding he could be doing. It's a joy for him to see the kids get excited when they learn to sound out words. He loves how reading opens up a new world for them.
1. What does the underlined word mean in Paragraph 1? (1 word)2. Why did the boy on the bus look a little upset? (no more than 11 words)
3. What help does Cruse offer after delivering students to schools? (no more than 12 words)
4. Why does Cruse think his voluntary work is rewarding according to the last paragraph? (no more than 16 words)
5. Who's “a bright light” in your life? Please explain in your own words. (no more than 20 words)
Recent research suggests that if an argument gets resolved，the emotional response tied to it is significantly reduced or almost completely erased．Thus，it may be worth bringing up issues with your friends， family members，or classmates rather than holding them back．
There is a difference between arguing and fighting．Arguing is that you and your opponent present your concerns and discuss the feelings and issues related to those concerns．You can engage in an argument respectfully without stirring up（激起） anger．Fighting，however，usually involves personal attacks，raising of voices， and storming out．Discussing your issues and resolving them instead of stuffing them down can improve your emotional health．In a study，2.000 people were asked to record their feelings and experiences for eight days in a row．When people had an argument that they considered resolved， they had half the reactivity （情绪反应） of those who avoided an argument．Reactivity is an increase in negative emotions or a decrease in positive emotions．In other words，resolving an argument cuts your negative feelings by half．One day later， people who had a resolved argument reported no increase of negative emotions compared with those who avoided an argument． This means that resolving an argument can feel like you have reached a state of resolution——and you are less likely to be annoyed．
Moreover，the older you are，the more likely you will come to a resolution after an argument．This may be because more life experience usually leads to more defined priorities．You are more likely to distinguish between what matters and what does not．
It is easier to avoid a discussion，but risking talking about it may eventually lead to a better outcome．
1. According to this passage，what is arguing？2. Why is it that“the older you are， the more likely you will come to a resolution after an argument”？
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement，then underline it and explain why．
Resolving arguments can improve your emotional health，because it increases your reactivity and reduces the chance of you getting angry．
4. In addition to improving emotional health，what do you think are some other benefits of resolving an argument？ （In about 40 words）
The term “nostalgia” was first coined in 1688 and was defined as a mental illness of soldiers continually thinking about their homeland and longing for return. However, today we have a much more positive attitude to nostalgia. It’s a great example of the benefits of a strong memory.
In numerous scientific experiments, researchers have found that subjects are much more likely to report positive feelings from a given piece of music if they’ve heard it before. But there’s also a growing body of research into time travel “the other way”, because memory skills can take people into the future, too. Decades of studies have shown that time travel into the future can bring a whole new set of rewards. For example, athletes who practice by mentally visualizing and imagining successful performances in the future do perform better.
All these findings are inspiring and attractive. How could you become a confident time traveler to the past or into the future? Here are some tips for you:
·To take pleasure in helpful memories, maybe to reawaken happy feelings, use all your senses—not just sight. Smell, taste, touch and sound will also help you to recreate the past in rich clarity.
·If you find a memory that’s particularly helpful—for reassurance, say—keep using it!
You’ll get faster at finding it, and add extra layers of detail each time.
·When you’re procrastinating (拖延), visualize an end result. Flash forward to see the floor swept or the essay finished, and use that positive image to drive you into action.
·Ahead of major challenges, imagine the full impact of success. Don’t just picture yourself getting that great job: fill your mind with the really big ways it’s going to change your life.
There’ll still be times when old thoughts remind you of sadness, or you’re anxious about what’s next. But the more you learn to control your memory, the better you’ll be at mining your past, and shaping your future, to be your best self now.
1. What did nostalgia originally mean?2. What have the researchers found about time travel?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
➢Memory skills can bring us into the future, so we should imagine a negative end result to drive us into action when procrastinating.
4. Describe one of the helpful time-travel experiences in your life. (In about 40 words)
In Martin County, Florida, two non-profit organizations have come together to plant seeds of hope through community gardening. Recently, the House of Hope charity for the homeless and people with addictions and other mental health issues partnered with Project L.I.F.T. an organization that helps at-risk teens, to grow community gardens in four small towns across the county.
The teens in Project L.I. F.T.’s program—many of them aged 14-19 who are also struggling with addictions, managing mental health or legal issues—visit the gardens every day after school where they grow seeds, maintain and water plants, harvest the produce and learn to create their own meals. They take some of the produce home to their families but most is sent to House of Hope for the homeless community.
Beyond the need for food, Project L.I.F.T. hoped the gardens would provide an educational opportunity for their teens.
“We’re trying to teach kids nutrition to deal with the health problems—diabetes and obesity—in our community, but when we get into the garden, now they’re doing hands-on stuff that really connects.” Bob Zaccheo, the executive director of Project L.I.F.T. tells Guideposts. org.
The gardens also offer the teens professional skills that can help them find work later in their largely rural county. Beyond skills, this project has helped the teens find confidence and hope for their futures.
So far, the four gardens around Martin County have generated 100 pounds of produce for House of Hope and the community at large. Although the amount of food can’t meet the greater need of the area, the program is an opportunity to teach kids that the importance of giving back is just as valuable as the food they’re harvesting.
“You see a major shift in the thinking of these kids,” Zaccheo says. “You see them giving. The kids are learning to give at a bigger level than they’ve ever been able to give at before.”
1. What kind of organization is Project L.L.F.T.?2. What do the teens do when they visit the gardens?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
The four gardens were built only to provide an educational opportunity for at-risk teens.
4. In addition to what is mentioned in the passage, what else could at-risk teens learn through community gardening? Explain why. (In about 40 words)
My neighbor Josie was a good cook and college professor. We have been good friends for many years. Each early morning, Josie would invite me to join her in walking and she would make breakfast for me as a reward!
Josie planted a lovely garden. Every flower and vegetable made its debut (首秀) once a year. There were so many kinds that I could not even recognize what was growing, and we had the freshest salads in the neighborhood all summer long!
Each evening, Josie and I would sit in front of the garden. We would have a chat, exchanging our world views as well as funny jokes. However, one evening, Josie was a “no-show”. Then I heard the ambulance and saw her husband and children running outside. Josie suffered a stroke (中风).
Later, when I set eyes on her, she was in a wheelchair, covered in a thick blanket. She looked smaller and older than before. But how she chose to face it made me surprised. During the days when Josie had some strength, her husband wheeled her into the living room, and they watched old movies together. She called it “date time”. And during the most special days when Josie was doing well, her husband took her for a walk outside in her wheelchair. She called it “going on vacation”. Despite the fact that Josie was not expected to make a full recovery, they continued to watch movies and took lots of mini-vacations.
She is grateful for listening to her grandchildren telling stories to her, smelling a summer barbecue, sharing a laugh with her favorite neighbor, and being here for another day. I am thankful for her simple life lesson: Find the positive, and you will find your reason to live.
1. What was Josie like before she suffered a stroke? (no more than 10 words)2. How was Josie’s skill in gardening? (no more than 5 words)
3. How can we understand the underlined part in Paragraph 3? (no more than 5 words)
4. What made the author surprised after Josie suffered the stroke? (no more than 10 words)
5. How does Josie’s story inspire you? Please explain in your own words. (no more than 20 words)
