1 . The Vietnam War broke out. The young husband joined the army and died in the war, leaving behind his wife and kids
Life after the war was
Time passed by and the kids were
The son sent home letters
When the mother died, the son returned and
Mother
Everyone looked at each other and then looked at
| A．suffering | B．trapping | C．burying | D．getting |
| A．fond | B．hard | C．upset | D．useless |
| A．advise | B．rescue | C．force | D．persuade |
| A．lonely | B．entire | C．single | D．calm |
| A．even though | B．as though | C．because | D．unless |
| A．settling down | B．getting along | C．growing up | D．giving in |
| A．often | B．hardly | C．finally | D．always |
| A．save | B．spend | C．hide | D．spare |
| A．businesses | B．chances | C．excuses | D．reasons |
| A．took | B．organized | C．joined | D．determined |
| A．care about | B．recover from | C．go through | D．believe in |
| A．took out | B．set down | C．put away | D．left behind |
| A．gradually | B．immediately | C．frequently | D．suddenly |
| A．out of control | B．with excitement | C．in fright | D．in surprise |
| A．the box | B．the son | C．the money | D．the letter |
| A．wrote | B．read | C．told | D．added |
| A．in ruins | B．at an end | C．on the way | D．down the road |
| A．forget | B．thank | C．miss | D．prefer |
| A．noticed | B．listened to | C．heard | D．waited for |
| A．but | B．and | C．or | D．so |
2 . Someone on Facebook had shared pictures of her vacation in Europe. Our kids came home from school talking about the new video game their friends had just gotten. Meanwhile, we were living in a house furnished mostly with free services and dressing our kids in secondhand clothes. And even when we and the kids had to go in three different directions at night, we didn’t eat out.
As my poor mother-in-law was in town for a visit, I told her about those while clearing the table after dinner. “There are so many things I’d like to have, so many things I’d like to do, but we just can’t. ”
“You know, ” she said, “when you compare yourself to others, it’s easy to focus on what you don’t have. But there’s one thing you two should realize, that is, what other married couples don’t have but you have. You two make a priority of going out together and taking time to focus on your marriage. And that’s a very important thing. You two have such a great marriage. ”
I stopped wiping the table and pondered what she said for a minute. I thought of the movie my husband and I had seen a week earlier. I remembered the bike rides and the concerts, the hikes and the picnics. Most of all, I thought of how happy we were together, even after twenty years.
I looked around my home with new eyes. Our refrigerator is almost too small for a family of six, but it’s always filled with food that is both nourishing and delicious. Our kitchen is old and shabby, but it comes to us from our grandmothers’ homes after they passed away.
Even without the big TV and the European vacations and the new wardrobe every season, we are. . . well. . . happy.
And you know what? That’s enough.
1. What did the author think of her life according to Paragraph 1?| A．Dull. | B．Colorful. |
| C．Miserable. | D．Unsatisfying. |
| A．Enough is as good as a feast. | B．Bad time makes a good man. |
| C．A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. | D．Don’t compare two things that cannot be compared. |
| A．Focused on. | B．Reflected on. | C．Set up. | D．Appealed to. |
| A．A “Short” Misunderstanding | B．All the Right Things |
| C．Being Happy Is Enough | D．Seeing with Your Heart |
The following true story happened several years ago in the Paris Opera. A famous singer had agreed
The feeling of excitement was in the air as the house manager took the stage and said,“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your enthusiastic support. I'm afraid because
The stand-in performer tried his best. When he had finished, there was nothing
We all need people in our lives
4 . John Nelson, 92, grew up in Michigan and volunteered for the army in 1945.The 18-year-old managed to get accepted, despite being colorblind. He landed on the island of Iwo Jima in the first days of the American attack to take the island from the Japanese. Nelson fought day and night for 10 days before receiving a serious wound to his right arm. The other seven men in his squadron (中队) all died. American losses included 5,900 dead and 17,400 wounded.
Nelson saw the American flag being raised on Mount Suribachi after the island was taken by the American forces. The arm would continue to trouble him the rest of his life. Suffering from anxiety and flashbacks, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (创伤后应激障碍).
Al Elders was a Grandville farm boy. He joined the Navy and was stationed on Guam when the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and 9,1945, basically ended the war with Japan.
War often develops lasting friendships. But for the two World War II veterans (老兵) living at Sunset Manor in Jenison, their friendship didn’t begin until about a year and a half ago. One day, Elders noticed a man sitting at a cafeteria in the Sunset Village, and that was Nelson. Seeing his Marine cap, Elders thought they would have something to talk about. And they did. The war in the Pacific is a common bond.
The two men later worked together to serve other residents (居民) at Sunset Manor. John began detailing cars during good weather and cleaning walkers in the winter. Elders became his advertising manager. They donated most of their income to the Wounded Warrior project. John is less mobile now and is in care at Sunset. Al continues to visit and to encourage his friend. A friend of Elders’ who traveled to Iwo Jima brought back a jar filled with sand from the rocky island. Elders sent the gift, along with his own wartime collections, to the Seabee Museum and Memorial Park.
1. What do we know about John Nelson?| A．He joined the army after he left university. |
| B．His hometown was ruined by the war. |
| C．He joined the army through strict tests. |
| D．He was physically and mentally injured in the war. |
| A．They both felt sad and lonely. | B．They lived in the same place. |
| C．They shared a common war experience. | D．They had helped each other during the war. |
| A．started a successful business | B．were devoted to contributing to the society |
| C．visited Iwo Jima together after the war | D．supported young people to join the army |
| A．How people tried to survive the war. |
| B．The meaning of peace for ordinary people. |
| C．Two soldiers’ touching friendship during wartime. |
| D．Two old soldiers’ life experiences and friendship. |
Robby was 11 years old when his mother, a single mom, dropped him off for his first piano lesson. “I prefer such students, especially boys, beginning at an earlier age,” I explained to Robby. But he said that it had always been his mother’s dream to hear him play the piano. His mother was sick, and he didn’t want to disappoint her. So I took the boy as a student.
Well, Robby began his piano lessons and from the beginning I didn’t think it was a wise attempt.As much as Robby tried,he lacked the basic rhythm(韵律).But he practiced continuously. At the end of each weekly lesson he’d always say, “My mom’s going to hear me play someday.” But it seemed hopeless. He made little progress, I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped by.
Then one day, Robby stopped coming to our lesson. I called him several times, no one answering the phone, which made me surprised and a bit worried. On my day off, I decided to pay them a visit, however, there’s also nobody home. One neighbor next door told me they had gone to the hospital. Then I learnt Robby’s mother is deaf! Shocked and confused, I left.
Several weeks later, our school mailed to the student’s home a notice on the upcoming recital (演奏会). To my surprise, Robby, who received the notice, asked me if he could be in it. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and because he had dropped out, he really didn’t qualify .He said that his mom was unable to take him to piano lessons due to some reasons, but he was still practicing. “Miss Hondorf...I’ve just got to play!” he insisted. I don’t know what led me to allow him to play in the recital.Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be alright.
注意:续写词数应为150左右。
The night for the recital came.
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As soon as he ended,everyone was on their feet in wild applause.
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6 . For hospitalized teens, wearing the same unattractive gown(长袍)day after day can be not only boring but seriously dehumanizing.
That’s why Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada came up with the simple but brilliant idea to create hospital gowns that teens would actually want to wear. The recently started WARD+ ROBES program allows each teen to pick out a gown that suits them, allowing them to feel less like a patient and more like unique individuals they are.
“When you can’t wear what you want, you feel like you’re not who you should be, or you are just your illness or you’re just… a hospital patient,” a teen says in a video produced by the foundation.
In the video, the foundation presents the unique gowns to a group of teens at the hospital—and when each patient finds one that suits their personal style, their eyes light up.
“I was amazed to watch the teens walk in their traditional gowns and get super excited that they could go to this rack(衣架) of robes and pick something that felt more like them,” said Trevor Dicaire, senior vice president of development at Starlight Children’s Foundation, Canada.
To create a wide range of designs to fit each patient’s style, the Foundation sought the help of creations including fashion designer IZZY Camilleri and tattoo(文身)artist India Amara. And now that the program is up and running, the Foundation is inviting anyone to offer a design.
The gowns shown in the video range from simple to complex, with patterns and materials such as camouflage, and animal print and lace.
Each gown includes a tag(标签)with a very important message: You’re unique. Why should your gown be any different?
1. The underlined word “them” in Paragragh 5 refers to_______.| A．the teens | B．the designs |
| C．the foundation staff | D．the gowns |
| A．Old-fashioned. | B．Comfortable. |
| C．Personalized. | D．Ordinary. |
| A．To arouse the teens’ interest in helping others. |
| B．To encourage the teens to design gowns. |
| C．To tell the teens to enjoy the moment. |
| D．To inspire the teens to be their best. |
| A．Do you dare to be different and unique? |
| B．Brilliant hospital gowns help teen patients feel like themselves. |
| C．Clothes design enlivens patients’ stay in hospital. |
| D．What your clothes might be saying about you. |
7 . The story happened on the day when I lost my best friend to a hit-and-run driver, the day a precious life was taken from us way too soon.
It was a bright and sunny day in November. Thanksgiving had been celebrated only two days before. Since it was a holiday weekend I had been on the phone with Greg the night before many times. His dad didn’t want him to come over because of the holiday. I guess he finally wore him down and he called and said “I can stay.” So, my mom, brother, and I went to pick him up. He was always smiling. The complete opposite of my shy self, Greg was always the life of the party.
We got two large pizzas that Friday night. I’ve never known anyone in my entire life who loved to eat more than Greg. That’s the way he was though. He was just enjoying life. And if it meant gaining weight or whatever, so be it. He would sit back and put his hands on his belly and just laugh. We (Greg, David, and I) did so many fun things together and had such great times. Things we should have done and things we shouldn’t have done, I’ll “Never” forget.
On Saturday morning Dad took us out for breakfast. We all finished eating and followed my Dad up to the cashier. Greg asked Dad if he could have a candy bar. I looked at Greg shaking my head. He just laughed. After breakfast, Father took us to my Mom’s house.
When we got out at Mom’s house there was no one home. So, one of us grabbed a big wheel and rode it down the steep driveway into the street. Just boys being boys. Greg and I did it several times until the last time. The car hit him in the head, knocking him around 75-100 yards. My brother and I both ran screaming just yelling for help and crying. One of the neighbors called 911. I was in shock. That day was forever etched (铭刻) into our memories.
It still hurts to think about it. Wishing we could have grown old together. Wondering how it would have been. I’m sure IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT.
1. We can describe Greg as .| A．impolite and greedy |
| B．easy-going and optimistic |
| C．shy and unconfident |
| D．friendly and brave |
| A．a fire | B．an earthquake |
| C．a car accident | D．a firefight |
①Greg died of an accident while playing in the street.
②Greg went out for breakfast with the author.
③The author together with his bother and mom went to meet Greg.
④The three boys got two large pizzas and had great fun.
⑤The author invited Greg to spend the weekend at his house.
| A．②①④③⑤ | B．⑤②③①④ |
| C．①②⑤④③ | D．⑤③④②① |
| A．David’s mother. | B．David’s father. |
| C．David’s brother. | D．David’s neighbor. |
In 1866, a terrible sea creature
They saw many things outside the submarine
The hurricane happened
Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi to make a living. One night I took a fare at 2：30 am. When I arrived to collect her, the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many other drivers would just honk once.
But I had seen too many poor people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation of danger, I always went to the door. “This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance,” I reasoned with myself.
So I walked to the door and knocked. “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened.
A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
I took the suitcase at her request to the cab and put it in the trunk, and then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the cab.
When we got in the cab, she asked me to drive through downtown to a hospice.
Learning from her words that she wouldn’t live long, I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newly-weds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of the sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
Paragraph 1:
We drove in silence to a low building, her destination.
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Paragraph 2:
I held her hand tightly, and then walked into the morning light.
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