1 . An old friend asked Nicola Swann, a British potter who lives in Heckington, near Sleaford, to do something extraordinary. This friend’s husband had problems using regular mugs (马克杯) because of a condition that affected his arms and hands. So she sought out Swann for help.
This is where Swann discovered a widespread issue—disabled individuals feeling uncomfortable using cups that looked like “sippy cups (吸管杯) for kids”. Due to sympathy and a desire to help, Swann came up with an answer. She made the first version of her disability-friendly mugs for her friend’s husband.
It was a double-handled mug that provided stability and had a design that didn’t sacrifice style. That was the start of what is now called “Digni-TEA” mugs from her Made with Mud business. Without fail, Swann was determined to make mugs that looked like everyday drinkware. She recognized that accessibility should not come at the cost of style. So she made a few different styles for everyone to use. Others had two oversized handles for easy use, a hold pinch for stability, and an uneven design for people who couldn’t tilt (倾斜) their heads back.
Swann’s decision to call her products “Digni-TEA” or “Dignity” mugs is more than just a choice of name. Her goal is to give people back their dignity so they can drink from a regular mug without worrying about medical help.
Swann’s decision to share her creations on social media made them more widely known. Swann wisely collaborated (合作) with a company in the East Midlands to meet the soaring demand for mass production. This step ensured a steady supply and allowed her to focus on what mattered most—the creative process.
The “Dignity Mugs” story is not just about a product; it’s a testament to the great influence one person can have in fostering (促进) a more compassionate and accessible society.
1. What motivated Swann to make disability-friendly mugs?| A．Demand from her husband. |
| B．Her friend’s call for help. |
| C．The needs of people with disability. |
| D．Her research into the market. |
| A．Stable but costly. | B．Ugly and outdated. |
| C．Weighty and strong. | D．Handy and stylish. |
| A．Producing mugs massively. |
| B．Focusing on the creative process. |
| C．Delivering mugs to the disabled people. |
| D．Making mugs known to more people. |
| A．“Dignity” is more of sympathy than a choice of name. |
| B．It’s necessary to take users’ dignity into consideration in life. |
| C．Small acts of kindness and innovation can make a difference. |
| D．The world needs more people to show respect for the disabled. |
2 . A woman in Lakewood, Washington, wanted to find a boy who left $5 and a heartbreaking apology note on her doorstep. On Friday, Marie found this note from “Jake”:
“I am sorry that I took your butterfly wind chimes (风铃) without your permission. My mum died and she liked butterflies so I took them to put by our window. Now I feel terrible for my past behaviour. I am sorry. This is the only money I have. Please do not be mad at me.”
Mari e told KCPQ she was not mad and wanted to find Jake to return his $5. “I wanted to cry because apparently he felt bad for what he had done. And I think he might be scared,” she told the station. Marie said she knows stealing is immoral, but she is sympathetic to the child. “I’m not agreeing with the stealing act but he did try to make up for what he had done. I lost my mum at a young age so I really make sense of his feeling and know how hard it is,” she said.
Marie wanted to find Jake, not to punish him, but to return his money for his honesty. Marie moved to the neighbourhood two months ago and didn’t know many people there, which made tracking down Jake difficult.
In order to find the boy, she turned to Facebook. Almost a week later, her Facebook post got much attention from social media, but she still didn’t hear from the boy. Marie said she wanted Jake to know that she had no intention of embarrassing or scaring him by asking him to reveal himself. She also said she was willing to help Jake with his schooling if she could find him.
1. Why did Jake feel sorry?| A．He caught butterflies in Marie’s garden. | B．He stole five dollars from a woman. |
| C．He lost something borrowed from Marie. | D．He took Marie’s wind chimes without permission. |
| A．Their mums liked butterflies. | B．They lost their mums in childhood. |
| C．They collected wind chimes. | D．They took something of neighbours. |
| A．Her neighbours’ unwillingness to help her. |
| B．Her considerable shyness. |
| C．Her announcement to punish the boy. |
| D．Her being unfamiliar with the neighbourhood. |
| A．Kind and sympathetic. | B．Devoted and caring. |
| C．Generous and humble. | D．Honest and careful. |
3 . For Mother’s Day I asked for one thing: a house cleaning service. Bathrooms and floors specifically, windows if the extra expense was reasonable. The gift , for me, was not so much in the cleaning itself but the fact that for once I would not be in charge of the household office work. Iwould not have to make the calls, get multiple quotes, research and ve t each service, arrange payment and schedule the appointment. The real gift I wanted was to be relieved of the emotional labor of a single task that had been ringing at the back of my mind. The clean house would simply be a bonus.
My husband waited for me to change my mind to an “easier” gift than housecleaning, something he could one-click order on Amazon. The day before Mother’s Day, disappointed by my unwavering desire, he called a single service, decided they were too expensive, and vowed to clean the bathrooms himself. He still gave me the choice, of course. He told me the high dollar amount of completing the cleaning services I requested and asked if I still wanted him to book it.
What I wanted was for him to ask friends on Facebook for a recommendation, call four or five more services, do the emotional labor I would have done if the job had fallen to me. I knew exactly how exhausting it was going to be. That’s why I asked my husband to do it as a gift.
“In general, we classify gender emotions in our society by continuing to emphasize the false idea that women are always able to feel, express, and manage our emotions better than men,” says Dr. Lisa Huebner, a sociologist of gender. “This is not to say that some individuals do not manage emotion better than others as part of their own individual personality, but I would argue that we still have no firm evidence that this ability is biologically determined by sex. At the same time, we find all kinds of ways in society to ensure that girls and women are responsible for emotions and, then, men get a pass.”
1. What can we learn about the author’s husband from the first two paragraphs?| A．He was in charge of arranging housework. | B．He didn’t know what the author really wanted. |
| C．He would buy a gift to the author from Amazon. | D．He thought housecleaning service cost-effective. |
| A．To complete her reservation service piled up. | B．To get a clean house without doing it herself. |
| C．To ease the guilt over not doing her housework. | D．To get away from the emotional labor involved. |
| A．Natural. | B．Secret. | C．Firm. | D．Humble. |
| A．To show it unfair to leave the emotional labor to women. |
| B．To show that some individuals can manage emotions better. |
| C．To show that naturally women are responsible for emotions. |
| D．To show that emotional ability is biologically determined by sex, |
4 . Abraham Lincoln was a typical self-made man. He obtained his license to practice law without ever having stepped foot inside a college or academy building. Books became his academy. Everywhere he went, Lincoln carried a book with him. He thumbed through page after page while his horse rested at the end of a long row of planting. Whenever he could escape work, he would lie with his head against a tree and read.
Though the young Lincoln never left America, he traveled with Byron’s Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage to Spain and Portugal; accompanied Robert Burns to Edinburgh; and followed the English kings into battle with Shakespeare. As he explored the wonders of literature and the history of the country, the young Lincoln developed ambitions far beyond the expectations of his family and neighbors. It was through literature that he was able to
go beyond his surroundings and reach his destination.The volumes to feed Lincoln’s intellectual hunger did not come cheaply. The story is often recounted of the time he borrowed Parson Weems’s The Life of George Washington from Josiah Crawford, a well-to-do farmer. Thrilled by this account of the first president’s life, he took the book to his loft at night, where he read as long as he could stay awake, placing the book on a makeshift shelf between the cabin logs so he could fetch it at daybreak. During a severe rainstorm one night, the book was badly soiled. Lincoln went to Crawford’s house, explained what had happened, and offered to work off the value of the book. Crawford calculated the value of two full days’ work pulling corn, which Lincoln considered an unfair repayment. Nevertheless, he straightway set to work and kept on until all work was done. Then, having paid his debt, Lincoln wrote poems and songs teasing Josiah’s large nose. Thus Crawford, in return for loaning Lincoln a book and then overly punishing him, won a permanent place in American history.
1. What can we learn about Lincoln from the first paragraph?| A．He wasn’t academically competent. | B．He read on horseback to escape work. |
| C．He failed to obtain a valid law license. | D．He is an excellent autonomous learner. |
| A．By reading extensively. | B．With his family’s support. |
| C．Through self-employment. | D．By traveling around the world. |
| A．Stolen by a farmer. | B．Burned by a candle fire. |
| C．Damaged in a rainstorm. | D．Lost and never recovered. |
| A．Tough and helpful. | B．Diligent and generous. |
| C．Intelligent and humble. | D．Determined and sharp-tongued. |
5 . I remembered an incident when I was a teenage girl clearly. Once, I was travelling by train with my mum and my elder sister to visit my grandparents in another city. It was a day journey and we entered the ladies compartment (车室) of the train. It was crowded but we got seats and settled down. We kept our luggage under the seats and waited for the train to start.
Ladies kept on coming inside. The seats were quickly taken. Only one seat was empty when a woman with a baby entered. She was about to go over to the empty place when a big and strong man entered and walked to the seat quickly, sitting down with a thump (重击声). Therefore, the lady with the child held on to her bag and stood in the corner. I was watching all this angrily. I expected the woman standing there or any of the other ladies to speak out to ask the man to leave the ladies compartment.
However, no one spoke. My mum and my sister had their eyes shut to rest, unaware of anything wrong. I decided I could not disturb them. I could have offered my place but I was already squashed (挤扁) between my mum and my sister.
The train started. The woman standing beside the man was swaying to and fro with the train, with the screaming child in her arms. However, the manner-less man had no reaction. I was very angry with the man for his bad behaviour. I could no longer bear it, so I decided to help the woman in some way. I got up and walked calmly over to the man. I asked him if he could read. He made a bad face and said he could. Next, I asked him to read what was written on the back of his seat. He did so and saw “Ladies” on it. He got the point and left the compartment in a big hurry, almost falling.
1. Why did the author take the train journey?| A．To visit her grandparents. |
| B．To move to another city. |
| C．To survey an incident. |
| D．To spend her summer holiday. |
| A．The last seat was broken. |
| B．The baby was unwilling to be seated. |
| C．A strong man took the last empty seat. |
| D．She was frightened by a thump. |
| A．Swinging. | B．Standing. | C．Shouting. | D．Walking. |
| A．She asked him to leave at once. |
| B．She fought with the man bravely. |
| C．She blamed him for his mean behaviour. |
| D．She reminded him to read the word on the back of his seat. |
6 . Every Thursday afternoon, the food pantry (食品储藏室) at the local high school opens up to provide fresh food bags for families who can hardly make both ends meet to get their meals to last through the weekend. Nearly a hundred families rely on the extra food. Some are between jobs, some got hit hard with medical bills for a few months, and some are new to the neighborhood, placed there by refugee services.
On one breezy afternoon, two young mothers walked in together, each accompanied by a young child. There was nothing different about their dress, but their manner revealed a shyness that they struggled to overcome. When they spoke, it was clear why: Their accents were thick, even though they were trying hard to make their English sound American. They were uncertain of being understood. But the pantry is run by grandmothers who are never pressed for time when it comes to conversations. So they sat for a moment and told their story while the little ones were held in arms so very familiar with children.
The two lived in apartments in the basement of the Methodist Church. They had been in the United States for one month. Their husbands were well-educated but working labor jobs to pay for food and save for more typical apartments.
Both had fled the war in Eastern Europe, one family from Ukraine and one from Russia. They ended up in the same church basement and discovered that they needed each other. They became fast friends. Their children played together. They shared meals and navigated their new world together.
There were no bombs or soldiers or rations in their new neighborhood, only a chance to start over. Friendships are sometimes hard to come by, yet matter so much to each of us. A good friend gives us strength, love, laughter and the courage to keep trying.
These two families — worn down by uncertainty and war, thrown together in a new country, a new community with a new language — found so much in common. And isn’t that what we all need? A friend who faces the same life challenges, even if the forces above them have different political views. We are, after all, just mothers and fathers, friends and neighbors.
1. In the article, who primarily benefits from the services provided by the food pantry?| A．High school students. | B．People with disabilities. |
| C．Families with tight budgets. | D．Underpaid individuals. |
| A．Their clothing. | B．Their language. |
| C．Their children. | D．Their ID documents. |
| A．They both live in the basement of the same church. |
| B．They met at the same restaurant. |
| C．They are from the same country. |
| D．They both have similar professions. |
| A．Challenges of Life and New Friendship | B．The Story of the Food Pantry |
| C．New Life in America | D．From War to Peace |
7 . Courage is a huge theme in my life, a quality I constantly seek, appreciate, and analyze. The root of “courage” is “cor,” the Latin word for heart. In the beginning, courage meant “to speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” While courage is often associated with heroism nowadays, I believe true courage lies in being open and honest about who we are and how we feel.
I recently witnessed an example of true courage. During a mountain-climbing trip with my 15-year-old daughter and some college students, I noticed her struggling to keep up with the group. Despite my suggestions to rest, she persisted until she couldn’t breathe properly.
Panicked, I called out to the front for help, but there was no response, and we had no cellphone signal. Fortunately, two students just came back to check out on us. They offered assistance and calmed us down. As we continued at a slower pace, they shared their own experiences, from starting out as beginners like my daughter to becoming consistently among the first to reach the peak.
“You know,” one of them said, looking at my daughter, “I was just like you when I started.
But with practice and proper pace, you’ll get there too.”
“Yeah, don’t let your lack of experience stop you,” the other added. “It’s okay to admit when you’re struggling or not feeling alright. In fact, it’s important to speak up and ask for help when you need it. That’s how we improve and grow.”
Reaching the mountain top was a huge relief for both my daughter and me. However, the two students addressed the celebrating group directly, emphasizing the importance of staying together in tough environments. Their words led the group to apologize to us for overlooking our struggle.
I was totally amazed at their bravery, and my daughter learned that it’s okay to be the least experienced in a group. Courage, I’ve come to realize, has a ripple effect. Each time we choose courage, we inspire those around us to be a little braver and make the world a little better.
1. Why does the author mention the original meaning of courage?| A．To question the common belief of courage. |
| B．To argue for the true nature of courage. |
| C．To show the changing meaning of courage. |
| D．To compare different interpretations of courage. |
| A．Keep to a suitable pace. | B．Seek help whenever possible. |
| C．Challenge her own limits. | D．Stick with experienced climbers. |
| A．The mother asked the girl to rest. |
| B．The girl tried hard not to fall behind. |
| C．The two students pointed out the group’s fault. |
| D．The group celebrated the reach of the mountain top. |
| A．Kindness connects us all. | B．Being a beginner takes courage. |
| C．We don’t have to be a hero to be brave. | D．With courage, everyone can be perfect. |
8 . 18 years ago, a 14-year-old boy from Kasungu district in Malawi was forced to drop out of school for lack of fees. At the same time, a severe famine was destroying his village, claiming people’s lives and leaving desperation in its wake.
This was a situation to break the strongest of minds but William Kamkwamba did not give up. Young as he was, he knew that education was where his future lay. He found hope in the library and feasted on the knowledge that he harvested from its books. It was there that he came across a science textbook entitled Using Energy. He learned that he could generate electricity using wind. The youngster realized that, if mastered, this power could help his village in exceptional ways.
Armed with determination and an iron will, the teenager set out to build a windmill out of random materials from a scrapyard (垃圾场). Though his outside world was collapsing to dust, the youngster did not hesitate about his purpose. He defended himself from all doubt and criticism. He worked tirelessly until his dream of bringing electricity to his village became reality. Soon, he was caught in the center of media attention that took him to new places that he would never have stepped on without his invention.
In his village, the dust has not settled yet and the winds of change continue to blow across the land. Windmills pump water to irrigate crops, sweeping away another period of hunger. William’s former primary school boasts new and stronger buildings, thanks to the help of well-wishers and the villagers’ united efforts.
What seemed like a hopeless situation has been turned into an inspirational story that motivates each and every one of us, persuading us that no misfortune is set in stone. William refused to be a school drop-out forever. He sought solutions for his problems and continued fighting even when the going got tough. He was able to rise above poverty to become a graduate from one of America’s best universities, Dartmouth College.
1. What inspired William to bring electricity to his village?| A．His realization of the impact of electricity. | B．His awareness of the role of education. |
| C．The science textbook entitled Using Energy. | D．The severe famine destroying his village. |
| A．All people didn’t support William’s dream at first. |
| B．The public had little interest in William’s invention. |
| C．The invention enabled William to make a big fortune. |
| D．The windmill is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. |
| A．Visible. | B．Avoidable. | C．Unchangeable. | D．Unpredictable. |
| A．Knowledge feasts mind and education promises wealth. |
| B．Necessity inspires invention and hardship makes heroes. |
| C．Criticism promotes success and doubt facilitates creation. |
| D．Adversity motivates inspiration and support pushes solutions. |
9 . I felt anxious when going into my room from school. Every day, my room was something different. The hours away at school were long enough to cause a terrible change to my peaceful harbor. Today was no exception.
As I entered the house, Mom greeted me with a smile. It seemed like nothing was wrong. But I was still doubtful about it. Yesterday, around the mouth of my favorite figurine (小雕像) was a chocolate cookie. Obviously, Callie had enjoyed the cookie so much that she wanted to share it with my angel.
I looked around for Callie, who had just turned three. I didn’t see her, but I heard the TV blaring (发出声音) in the other room. As I examined the family room, I noticed it was pretty messy. There were toys all over the floor, but none of them seemed to be mine. Maybe she hadn't entered today. I was so hopeful that I breathed a sigh of relief.
I pushed my room door open and saw damage! There were a few headless dolls, some broken blocks, and a few juice-stained stuffed animals. “She did it again!” I screamed in anger. My mother ran up to me, embarrassed. She promised to put a Callie-proof lock on my door tonight. I felt better, because I knew that soon my room would truly belong to me. However, I was still angry with my little sister so I went into the family room to tell her how she had made life unpleasant for me. “Callie... ” I started. “Hooray!” she shouted.
She leaped off the sofa and hugged my knees with such happiness that I could only look down at her and smile. After all, she was only three and learning about the world in her own way. And she always chose to explore and destroy my room because she loved me, her big sister.
1. The purpose of the first paragraph is to introduce ______.| A．the unique family tradition | B．the background of the story |
| C．the challenges of school life | D．the troubles in high school |
| A．Naughty and lovely. | B．Smart and potential. |
| C．Horrible and awkward. | D．Shallow and energetic. |
| A．She was friendly to her sister. | B．She was angry with her sister. |
| C．She refused to accept her sister’s apology. | D．She thought her sister had done nothing wrong. |
| A．Her sister’s honesty. | B．The promise to her sister. |
| C．The love between sisters. | D．Her sister’s younger age. |
10 . Some things we cannot copy where I live. We will never celebrate Christmas inside a picture postcard. We have no winter wonderland, though once, inspired by a snowfall seen on the black-and-white television, I did collect some ice from the inside of the freezer to throw at my brother. By the time I got to him, all I had was a handful of rain.
What we do have is electricity. As long as the Tennessee Valley Authority can light up the southern night with strands of color, shining from every house and mobile home, they can have their white Christmas. I have seen lights wrapped around mailbox posts. In the country, you need a whole lot of extension cord (电缆) to electrify a mailbox.
I have seen them strung across the Peterbilt trucks. My mother never takes down her lights, strung on a cedar beam (雪松木梁) in the living room, though she does unplug them. The rich folks have switched to white lights, a lot of them, to be elegant. But it will always be lights of color, shining through a night which smells of woodsmoke, that mean Christmas to me.
I find it especially hard not to live in the past at this time of year, when I would do anything to see the world like a child again. It is why I fill the refrigerator every December with chocolate-covered cherries and watch, for the hundredth time, those 50-year-old Christmas specials about Santa Claus.
It is important that some things stay the same—that, at some point this season, someone will say, “We’re going to look at Christmas lights. Do you want to come?”
I go sometimes and sometimes just say no. It is enough to know someone is going. I have a fine memory of the lights; I do not want it to grow less than it was by putting on it new lights bought at Walmart.
1. What is the primary feature that the author values about Christmas in their location?| A．Snow-covered landscapes. | B．Traditional winter wonderland scenes. |
| C．Colorful Christmas lights. | D．Cedar beams in living rooms. |
| A．bring convenience to his life | B．create a Christmas atmosphere |
| C．generate warmth in harsh winter | D．save cord to power a mailbox |
| A．They prefer white lights for elegance. | B．They use fewer lights for simplicity. |
| C．They avoid using extension cords. | D．They rely on woodsmoke for lighting. |
| A．He takes delight in bidding farewell to the past. |
| B．He gets fed up with looking at Christmas lights. |
| C．He dislikes the color options available at Walmart. |
| D．He feels relieved that Christmas lights tradition is preserved. |
