1 . What is the kindest thing a pet has done for you? My dog gave her life to save my son. Cindy was the most home-loving and smart dog. When my son was born, she was immediately protective over him. She’d sit beside his bed for hours, popping her front legs up onto the bed every now and then to make sure he was OK.
My son was almost three years old. We lived near a busy road and we were super watchful at child going out of the front door—without exception.
One morning, around 4 a.m., our son somehow managed to “escape” through his bedroom window. Cindy knew that our son wasn’t allowed to go through the front door without us, evidenced by her pushing at him if he reached the front door handle. This day, she followed my son through the window.
At 5 a.m. the police woke us knocking on the door. Their words were—“your son was nearly killed but your dog noticed it”. They then recalled what the lorry (卡车) driver had said…
He told them that he was driving along in the dark and in the distance he could see something “light coloured” moving on the road. As he got closer, he could see a dog at the side of the road barking and barking at the “light coloured” something. At the last moment, he realized that this was a child and was about to swerve (转向). He said he could see the dog, still barking and glancing between the lorry and the child. While the driver was stopping the lorry, the dog ran out into the road, jumped at the child’s back and threw him out of the path of the lorry and at the same time, the lorry hit the dog.
The driver said that he’d never believe what he saw unless it was with his own eyes. The dog definitely knew the danger which was why she was barking so anxiously. She just saved that kid’s life and she knew what she was doing.
That was 39 years ago and I still miss Cindy every day. She was a rough collie (牧羊犬) and I can understand why this kind was chosen for the movies.
1. Why did Cindy push at my son according to Paragraph 3?| A．To play with him and have fun. | B．To warn him not to go outside. |
| C．To lead the way to the outside. | D．To make sure he was awake. |
| A．the dog knew what she was up to | B．the kid saved himself successfully |
| C．the light coloured something was a dog | D．many movies were made for Cindy |
| A．Protective but stupid. | B．Daring and optimistic. |
| C．Patient but aggressive. | D．Devoted and selfless. |
2 . Four Volunteer Abroad Programs
Walking Tree Travel
This program offers volunteer projects in English teaching, the environment, community development, etc, in a dozen countries. It has a mission to inspire individuals to become global citizens and take an interest in the world around them. Therefore, it provides trips focusing on volunteer opportunities for high school students that actively engage travelers in global communities.
Tanzania: Dance Program
On this project, you are invited to Arusha, Tanzania to develop dance workshops for local schools and orphanages (孤儿院). Dance is just one of the many amazing aspects of the primary education system and culture that you’ll learn about in Tanzania, and you’ll have a wonderful opportunity to volunteer with local children, learn about their culture and dances, and teach them about your culture and background as well.
St. Lucia Volunteer Program
Through this program, you’ll support children who are facing challenges in nutrition, healthcare, and education. In partnership with local schools and community organizations, you’ll provide maternal and infant (母婴) support, present childcare workshops to parents, help with early childhood education, teach health and hygiene (卫生) lessons, and many more.
Volunteering Journeys
This program prides itself on personal attention and tailored experiences for all participants, as well as high-quality service and positions that actively engage scientists, doctors, teachers, and community leaders. Right now, Volunteering Journeys is offering many different opportunities to teen and high school travelers, including family volunteer holidays, summer volunteer programs, and teen-friendly positions on many different projects in Africa and Asia.
1. What does Walking Tree Travel aim to do?| A．Make contributions to improving the environment. |
| B．Advertise English teaching programs in some countries. |
| C．Encourage individuals to have an international outlook. |
| D．Inspire high school students to engage in community development. |
| A．Showing outstanding leadership. | B．Being cautious and sensitive. |
| C．Having rich teaching experience. | D．Having knowledge about nutrition and healthcare. |
| A．Walking Tree Travel. | B．Volunteering Journeys. |
| C．Tanzania: Dance Program. | D．St. Lucia Volunteer Program. |
3 . On her blog, Debra Ferrell received the typical birthday greetings when she turned 53, but some of the messages were different. One of them told her about the Smith family who had just lost their four-year-old son to cancer. His older brother was grieving deeply. Could Ferrell offer some support?
That message and the 30 or so others like it were exactly what Ferrell was looking for. To celebrate her 53rd, the long-time social service professional had put out a call on her blog. She wanted to commit 53 random acts of kindness by the end of her birth month, and she needed information on people who could use one. When she got the note about the Smith family, she sent a wind chime (风铃) with the message “Listen to the wind and know that I am near” written on it. It now hangs in the four-year old’s bedroom, where his older brother can go to listen to it whenever he wants.
This is not the first time that Ferrell has decided to give gifts for her birthday. For her 47th, in 2016, she founded Love in Action, an organization committed to doing something good near her home and beyond Its aim is simple: Do Your Best, Show Your Love!
Over the years, the organization has reached out and touched well over 100 strangers, some found via Ferrell’s blog, others with help from her grandkids. The organization also shares inexpensive and creative gift ideas for others to help people in need.
Ferrell pays for everything herself: gift cards, pay-it-forward purchases at drive-throughs, and care packages. Her family often gives her some extra birthday cash with a serious warning against spending it on anyone else, which she naturally ignores. “I got a couple of gift cards form birthday this year and was like YESSS!” It’s Ferrell’s party, and she’ll give if she wants to.
1. What were the unusual messages Ferrell got on her 53rd birthday?| A．Help requests. | B．Donation offers. |
| C．Gift ideas. | D．Birthday wishes. |
| A．She is caring and brave. |
| B．She is loving and helpful. |
| C．She is patient and romantic. |
| D．She is creative and determined. |
| A．It involves people in acts of kindness. |
| B．It holds the belief that kindness pays off. |
| C．It offers aid within Ferrell’s neighborhood. |
| D．It mainly aims to educate kids to help out. |
| A．She thinks little of her family’s concern. |
| B．She treats strangers better than her family. |
| C．She is financially dependent on her family. |
| D．She is too ready to give away her birthday gifts. |
4 . Becca was 6 when she was told she had cancer on Sept. 8, 2014. She clearly remembers the bad days of her 26 months of non -stop treatment. Luckily, Becca celebrated her final treatment on Nov. 13, 2016, and she has been cancer-free ever since. But she was thinking about what her life was like while experiencing the treatment.
“I was never able to do much, and that’s what the kids lying in their hospital beds right now experience, asking their mom and dad, ‘When are we leaving? When can I play with my friends?’ So I decided I have to help them.”
In February, 2017, Becca came up with the idea for Knots and Arrows, a company that makes bracelets (手镯) out of swimsuit materials (泳衣布料). Part of the money made from each bracelet goes to the organizations that help people with cancer.
Becca created the company with her father, Gerhard Salmins. Gerhard Salmins once had cancer and already recovered from it. “I would be in the hospital sitting there crying and then my dad would come in and he would play games with me,” she said. “It made me forget about what I was going through” Becca said the name of the organization shows the motto (座右铭) she stuck to through her personal cancer journey.
Her organization has already given thousands of dollars to research organizations and families in need. Becca said she hoped her bracelets would make people remember that great things can result from small changes. “No matter what age you are, what you look like, and how you act, you can make a difference!”she said.
1. What happened to Becca at the end of 2016?| A．She recovered from cancer. | B．She created an organization. |
| C．She raised a lot of money. | D．She was helped by a company. |
| A．He showed Becca a famous motto. | B．He fought off cancer successfully. |
| C．He advised Becca to forget her pain. | D．He named the company Knots and Arrows. |
| A．Negative. | B．Creative. | C．Caring. | D．Clever. |
| A．To tell us having a motto is important. |
| B．To prove cancer can be got over successfully. |
| C．To show there’s always someone who needs help. |
| D．To make us realize everyone can make a difference. |
5 . When l6-year-old Grayden Brunet joined the Sackets Harbor, New York, volunteer fire department in 2017, he was the youngest on the team in 20 years. He was so thrilled to be following in his dad’s footsteps that he persuaded two classmates, Niklas Brazie and Dalton Hardison, to sign up too.
A few years later, the older firefighters quit over COVID-19 concerns. Suddenly, the three teens were not only helping the Sackets Harbor volunteer fire department, they were the Sackets Harbor volunteer fire department. They were the ones responding to heart attacks, car accidents, and suicides. They were the ones speeding COVID-19 patients to hospitals.
“We went from not even having our licenses to saving people’s lives,” Dalton told Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS).
As far as the teens were concerned, they couldn’t quit. If they did, Grayden told North County Public Radio (NCPR), “The community would lose the ambulance.”
The trio (三人组) worked hard alone for a year until help arrived in the form of five more teens, all motivated to serve their neighbors in the town of 1,300.“When they call 911, they’re expecting someone to help them,” says Sophia DeVito, who was 16 when she joined.
The job is demanding. One night last fall, the crew responded to two ambulance calls and a fire. They got home at 5:30 a.m. just two hours before school started. “It’s definitely hard coming back from the calls and having to take an algebra test,” Grayden told NCPR. But they don’t mind the exhausting work. And the looks on the faces of 91l callers when they meet their rescuers? Priceless, says Grayden Brunet.
| A．Grayden is not the first firefighter in his family |
| B．all the teens in the department are of the same age |
| C．Grayden’s father persuaded him to join the fire department |
| D．there has never been anyone on the team younger than 16 |
| A．they didn’t have their licenses |
| B．the trio were not helping the fire department |
| C．speeding patients to hospitals was a huge burden |
| D．the virus made them feel alarmed and insecure |
| A．Hesitant. | B．Intelligent. | C．Determined. | D．Worthless. |
| A．The crew feel too exhausted to carry on. |
| B．The crew are considered to be untrustworthy. |
| C．The crew find their job challenging yet rewarding. |
| D．The crew sometimes miss their tests due to their work. |
6 . Roberto Novo has styled the hair of a lot of stars. But during COVID-19, he’s turned his gifts to the heads of lesser-known, older New Yorkers- and he’s done it for free.
The Argentina-born stylist welcomes them to his Manhattan apartment or visits them in their homes. His two dogs keep everyone company. He calls his project “Free haircut and puppy love.”
It started last summer when he and his dogs visited a client who had been isolated (隔离) for months due to COVID-19. Seeing how happy it made her, he asked if she had friends in her apartment building who might be interested in a free hairdo.
“It doesn’t get any better than that — bring some joy to senior citizens in these hard times,” Novo said. “People are really suffering in this situation right now. So if I can help them with a simple haircut, that’s a gift.”
On a recent day, Novo and his dogs walked into Madelon Spier’s apartment and quickly turned the living room into a salon (美发厅). Sitting in a black chair, Spier waited to get her hair styled. “I think he’s an amazing artist. And we’re all pictures that he’s painting,” Spier said. “There’s his personality (特色), and his way of cutting — a way of looking at a person and knowing what’s right for them,” said Spier.
Neighbor Andrew Langerman said Novo also gave him his first haircut in months. “I’ve just been so lonely during COVID-19,” he said, and now, “I feel a lot better. I wasn’t really feeling very well when I came here but then I felt great just being with everybody. And I had a good haircut.”
As Novo finished a cut, he ordered pizzas that the group later shared. They talked and laughed.
“I always tell people if I die and I’m born again, I’ll do everything exactly the same way,” said Novo.
1. Why did Novo visit older New Yorkers?| A．To take care of them. | B．To give them haircuts. |
| C．To communicate with them easily. | D．To inspire them to fight against diseases. |
| A．It created good feelings. | B．It strengthened his family ties. |
| C．It excited his interest in painting. | D．It helped him get to know his neighbors. |
| A．It is challenging. | B．It is unexpected. | C．It is amusing. | D．It is beautiful. |
| A．Generous and sporty. | B．Creative and courageous. |
| C．Caring and warm-hearted. | D．Far-sighted and strong-willed. |
7 . Skateboarding has been my life since I was eight years old. Before I knew how to stand up, I would sit on my cousin's old board and roll down the hills of Caceres, my hometown in Spain. When I was at university, I heard about Skate-Aid, an organization that builds skate parks for children in disadvantaged communities. I've always wanted to make a positive impact on the world, and if there was a way to do that through skateboarding, I was in.
Every project was different. In Rwanda and Kenya, I worked with orphans and children from very poor backgrounds. In Namibia, I taught kids who were visually impaired. Part of the reason skateboarding is good for kids psychologically is that it is challenging. If you want to learn a new trick, you have to practice. And if you persevere, you'll get there.
The latest project was in Qudsaya, Syria. As we reached the city, the scars from wars were everywhere. And the area where we were building the skatepark had been largely destroyed, except for a small concrete structure where a family of four was living. The mother was so welcoming, bringing us tea and coffee every morning before she even knew why we were there.
It took our group 28 days to build the park. Most people didn't understand what we were doing at first — this was going to be Syria's first skatepark. But once we showed them videos of our other projects, they wanted to help.
We stayed in a house close to the park, and on the walk home from work we would buy something from nearby shops. Someone would always start speaking to us in French, Italian or German, because many locals had family abroad. The first time we went in, they wouldn't let us pay. No tourists had been to the city in years and they were grateful we were there.
The kids nearby would watch us skating down the street and were so excited. When we finished the park, I put them on a board one by one and they were amazed by the feeling of rolling along.
We stayed for two months, and then local volunteers took over. When we left, there were 400 children involved, going to the park every day. Now I still keep in touch with the kids on Facebook and they send me videos of the tricks they've learned. I’ve been to so many countries, but Syria is special. I’ll go back if I get a chance.
1. According to the text, what may Skate-Aid aim to?| A．discover new skateboarding talent |
| B．promote skateboarding in poor areas |
| C．raise money for skateboarding lovers |
| D．help improve players’ skateboarding skills |
| A．Rude and ignorant. | B．Lazy and aggressive. |
| C．Polite and intelligent. | D．Friendly and generous. |
| A．He shot videos of local kids. | B．He left the country immediately. |
| C．He visited other cities of the country. | D．He taught local kids how to skateboard. |
| A．Helping victims of wars in Syria | B．Inspiring kids with skateboarding |
| C．Building the first skatepark in Syria | D．Working with Skate-Aid around the world |
8 . “Anyone knows single parents who can’t afford to get their child’s hair done for school? I will braid (编辫子) it for free!”Brittany Starks wrote on a Facebook post.
She decided to offer her hair braiding services after a family friend delivered backpacks full of school supplies, clothing and shoes for Cayden and Ceniyah in early August. “At the time, I didn’t have anything for my kids to start school,” said Starks, who is in between homes and staying with her mother. “It meant so much to me.”
The unexpected gift made a big difference to Starks and her children, and it motivated her to pay it forward. Starks, who works two receptionist jobs, also braids hair part-time. “The hair-braiding process involves washing, blow-drying, and finally dividing the hair into small sections and braiding it. It also requires multiple supplies — including combs, brushes, hair jam and additional pieces of hair to weave in. It costs anywhere from $150 to $400 at a salon (美发厅), depending on the style,” Stacks explained. “But it can last for months and is a huge timesaver in the mornings.”
When she wrote the Facebook post, she assumed only a handful of people would reach out,but before she knew it, she had 35 appointments booked. Her Facebook inbox was suddenly full of messages from single parents, whose stories of hardship and financial challenges mirrored her own.
“There’s a huge need for this. I could really relate to a lot of the women who reached out, and it made me realize that what I was doing was really important,” said Stacks. “What got me the most was seeing the kids smile.” Given that there was less than two weeks before the start of school, Starks knew she needed to enlist help.
1. What got Brittany Starks to offer her hair braiding service?| A．A post on Facebook. | B．Her friend’s timely help. |
| C．Her mother’s advice. | D．A trip to her kids’ school. |
| A．It’s a bit dear. | B．It’s time-wasting. |
| C．It’s an easy job. | D．It’s a mother’s duty. |
| A．Rather disturbing. | B．Beyond expectation. |
| C．Far from satisfactory. | D．Very disappointing. |
| A．She is single with one child. | B．She is ambitious and arbitrary. |
| C．She is in need of helping hands. | D．She is free from financial worries. |
9 . Rain was beating down on my car as I drove slowly down a less-traveled road. Suddenly the steering wheel jumped in my hands as one of the tires burst with a bang. It was impossible for me to change that tire! A thought that a passing motorist might stop disappeared at once. Why would anyone? I knew I wouldn’t. Then I remembered that a short distance up a little side road was a house. I started the engine and drove slowly until I came to that house.
I honked the horn. Then the door opened and a little girl about eight stood there. I rolled down the window and called out that I needed someone to change the flat tire because I was disabled and couldn’t do it myself. A moment later, the girl came out with raincoat and hat, followed by a man who called a cheerful greeting. I sat there comfortable and dry, and felt sorry for the man and the little girl working so hard in the storm. Well, I would pay them for it. The rain seemed to be little now, and I rolled down the window to watch. It seemed to me that they were awfully slow and I was beginning to become impatient. Finally, it was done and then they were standing at my car window.
He said, “This is a bad night for car trouble, but you’re all set now.” “Thanks,” I said. “How much do I owe you?” He shook his head. “Nothing. Cynthia told me you were on crutches. Glad to be of help. There’s no charge.” I held out a five-dollar bill, but he made no effort to take it and the little girl stepped closer to me and said, “Grandpa can’t see it.”
A blind old man and a child! They were just working with cold, wet fingers for tools in the dark—a darkness that for him would probably never end until death. I don’t remember how long I sat there after they said good night, but it was long enough for me to search deep within myself. I realized that I was filled with self-pity, selfishness, indifference to the needs of others and thoughtlessness.
Helping others is a way of life, one that I am trying to follow. It isn’t always easy, but the value is there. I am trying now not only to climb 14 steps each day, but in my small way to help others.
1. The writer didn’t expect others to stop to help him as he thought they would _____.| A．not notice him in the rain | B．not know he was disabled |
| C．be unlikely to travel on that road | D．turn a blind eye to the needs of others |
| A．sorry for the man and the girl | B．critical of the man and the girl |
| C．unwilling to pay the man and the girl | D．grateful to the man and the girl |
| A．the darkness | B．the heavy rain | C．his blindness | D．his old age |
| A．He should learn how to do things for himself. |
| B．Disabled people should know how to drive on rainy days. |
| C．Age doesn’t matter when it comes to giving a helping hand. |
| D．He should not be selfish and should try to help others if possible. |
10 . Most heroes are not super. They don’t appear in comic books, on television, or in movies. They just do what they believe needs to be done to make their world a better place. Bike Batman is one of them. Bike Batman is a 30-year-old married engineer who lives in Seattle, Washington. He’s a cyclist who also buys and sells bikes as a hobby.
About three years ago, he was looking for a bike for his wife. He found one on Craigslist, a website where people list things they want to sell. As he often does, he also looked at Bike Index, a popular website that allows users to register (登记) their bikes and post reports when they’re taken. The bike, which he was considering buying, clearly matched one reported stolen on Bike Index. Then he called the person who claimed (声称) to be the bike’s owner and arranged (安排) to meet him — supposedly to complete the sale. When the two men met, Bike Batman told the thief, “You’ve got two options. You can wait until a police officer gets here, or you can just get out of here.” You can imagine what the thief did.
After that first success, Bike Batman developed safer steps. When he sees questionable bike ads on Craigslist, he compares the bikes with those reported on Bike Index. Once he has made sure about it with the owner, he arranges a meet-up with the thief and will call the Seattle police department so that officers can take part in the action. In more than half of the 22 cases in which he has got back and returned bikes, the thieves have been arrested (逮捕).
His nickname came from a discussion with a police officer who suggested he be called “Robin Hood”. Since he wasn’t exactly stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, “Batman” seemed a better fit. The idea of a superhero punishing criminals feels pretty silly to him, but the main reason he continues his work is to keep up Seattle’s reputation (名誉) as a friendly city.
1. What’s the author’s purpose of writing the text?| A．To explain what is a superhero. |
| B．To introduce a hero in Seattle. |
| C．To encourage citizens to catch bike thieves. |
| D．To show how badly the police perform their duties. |
| A．Bike Batman began his good deeds by accident. |
| B．The thief refused to return the bike. |
| C．The police failed to catch the thief. |
| D．Bike Batman doesn’t like online shopping. |
| A．To contact the owner of the stolen bike. |
| B．To surf the net for more information of the bike. |
| C．To call the police department immediately. |
| D．To arrange to meet the thief at once. |
| A．A superhero who always punishes criminals. |
| B．A clever person who is good at buying and selling bikes. |
| C．Someone who hates the rich and is friendly to the poor. |
| D．A heroic person who likes robbing the rich to help the poor. |
