1 . With 19:40 on the clock in the first half of the University of Vermont’s match-up against Albany in March, Josh Speidel caught a pass and scored. The crowd went wild, and the coaches and players of both teams hugged Josh. Josh announced, “I did it! I’m a college basketball player!”
Making a single lay-up (单手上篮) would be no big deal for the average player. But five years ago, Josh suffered a brain injury in a car accident only months after signing with the UVM Catamounts. Josh had offers from 15 universities, but playing for UVM had always been his dream.
After the accident, he went into a coma (昏迷) and the doctors told his parents that he might remain in a vegetative state or need round the-clock care for the rest of his life. But his parents never lost faith that their son would wake up, and agreed they wouldn’t tell Josh his terrible prognosis when he did.
Four weeks later, Josh proved them right. Not only did he learn to walk and talk again, soon he was even working out. But the goal of playing basketball was a driving force in Josh’s recovery.
Just a year and a half after the accident, he headed off to Burlington, Vermont to start college. With periodic arm tremors and short-term memory loss, Josh knew he would never play for UVM, but he watched every practice from the sideline sand became an important part of the team. UVMs associate head coach Kyle Cieplicki, who’d been Josh’s lead recruiter, said, “He’s shown the whole team how to handle adversity.”
Now 24, Josh will graduate from UVM in May with a 3.4 GPA. He’s majoring in education and social services, and plans to work with kids. Josh tells people who are struggling with their own challenges,” Always have a goal in your head and chase after it as hard as you can. And whenever you need help, ask.”
1. How did Josh Speidel react to his score in the match?| A．He was proud of it. | B．He was relieved of it. |
| C．He thought little of it. | D．He felt embarrassed of it. |
| A．He was an excellent player. | B．He was almost killed. |
| C．He was admitted to a high school. | D．He was promoted in the UVM Catamounts. |
| A．Well begun is half done. | B．Rome was not built in a day. |
| C．Two heads are better than one. | D．God helps those who help themselves. |
| A．Josh’s joining the UVM. | B．Josh’s challenge in his life. |
| C．Josh’s struggle against difficulties. | D．Josh’s suffering in the accident. |
2 . Jason Box, 85, started learning Welsh, his native language, at the age of 70. He grew up in South Wales, where he was
With
Jason is one of older adults who are learning languages in
“I was excited at the prospect of learning a language,” says Jason. “I
Learning a language could potentially help to
| A．abandoned | B．lost | C．raised | D．approved |
| A．foreign | B．alternative | C．relevant | D．native |
| A．more | B．artificial | C．endless | D．useless |
| A．forgot | B．found | C．described | D．recommended |
| A．breaking | B．learning | C．inquiring | D．cycling |
| A．science | B．computer | C．language | D．geography |
| A．busy | B．healthy | C．earlier | D．later |
| A．suddenly | B．unluckily | C．generally | D．bravely |
| A．smarter | B．slower | C．better | D．activer |
| A．says | B．answers | C．asks | D．labels |
| A．enjoy | B．consider | C．suggest | D．regret |
| A．calling on | B．insisting on | C．giving up | D．bringing up |
| A．nice | B．equal | C．terrible | D．safe |
| A．cause | B．increase | C．ease | D．voice |
| A．crisis | B．benefit | C．failure | D．mistake |
3 . I was 11 years old when I asked my mom for piano lessons in 2010. We were in the economic crisis. She said a polite “no”.
That didn’t stop me. I searched the measurements of a keyboard, drew the keys on a piece of paper and stuck it on my desk. I would click notes on an online keyboard and “play” them back on my paper one—keeping the sound they made on the computer in my head. I spent six months playing without touching a real piano. Once my mom saw that I was serious, she borrowed money and bought me 10 lessons.
I still remember the first one. I was struck by how real the sound of the piano was. I sat my grade one after eight lessons. Once I started secondary school, we couldn’t afford lessons again. I passed grade three, and then grade five, practicing only on my piece of paper.
One evening, when I was about 13, my mom said she had a surprise for me; it was an electronic keyboard, bought with more borrowed money. It was the first time I’d played for her. She was in shock.
My school didn’t offer music A-level. I found the Purcell School for young musicians. But I had to pass a difficult test. Some of the questions involved an evaluation of the composer or when some piece was written. I felt overwhelmed. To my amazement, I was offered a place.
At the Purcell School. I spent two years working as hard as I could, performed to raise money and saved enough to buy my first piano.
When I left the Purcell School, I was awarded the senior piano prize and senior academic music prize. I am now at the Guildhall School in London. I feel proud—it’s been 10 years since I drew my paper piano, and I’m at one of the world’s leading music schools.
The irony is that I continue to do a lot of my practice away from the piano--what we call mental practice. The paper piano helped arouse my curiosity about how music works and the building blocks that form the pieces.
1. Why did the author’s mom buy him lessons at last?| A．She was shocked by his first performance. |
| B．She had no doubt about his talent for piano. |
| C．She realized he meant what he said. |
| D．She suddenly made a fortune. |
| A．Honest. | B．Determined |
| C．Humorous | D．Optimistic |
| A．The author felt surprised. | B．The author felt proud. |
| C．The author felt satisfied | D．The author felt disappointed. |
| A．To introduce the method of mental practice. |
| B．To share how he convinced his mom to buy a piano. |
| C．To describe how costly it is to learn an instrument. |
| D．To encourage people to stick to their dreams. |
4 . In battling leukemia(白血病)，9-year-old Harper Harrell has devoted her days- -in the hospital-to raising money for the V Foundation for cancer research. “I know it’s
After Harrell was diagnosed(诊断) with leukemia in October 2021, she started learning about the foundation which
Believing one small thing could
While Harrell was
“There are all of these messages of
| A．risky | B．lucky | C．new | D．hard |
| A．avoids | B．attracts | C．supports | D．restricts |
| A．awarded | B．wasted | C．demanded | D．missed |
| A．partly | B．completely | C．accidentally | D．suddenly |
| A．resist | B．promise | C．change | D．thrill |
| A．make | B．cover | C．tear | D．enjoy |
| A．study | B．appointment | C．discussion | D．treatment |
| A．word | B．title | C．design | D．wish |
| A．original | B．similar | C．exact | D．famous |
| A．under control | B．at school | C．in hospital | D．on duty |
| A．dream | B．body | C．illness | D．doctor |
| A．turned down | B．put off | C．handed over | D．set up |
| A．course | B．plan | C．right | D．fund |
| A．collected | B．refused | C．invested | D．borrowed |
| A．temporarily | B．cautiously | C．specifically | D．confidently |
| A．prediction | B．encouragement | C．hesitation | D．embarrassment |
| A．order | B．sell | C．guess | D．hurt |
| A．notes | B．roles | C．scores | D．spirits |
| A．sign | B．passion | C．view | D．finish |
| A．harmless | B．gentle | C．familiar | D．great |
5 . Michael Yellow-lees set off to complete a 5,000-mile walk across Canada in the spring of 2021, wearing a kilt(短褶裙)and carrying a few items in a handcart, including a guitar. The 32-year-old musician from Dunked, Scotland, walked from the shores of the Pacific Occam to the cast coast of Newfoundland on the edge of the North Atlantic with his pet dog, Luna, an Alaskan husky, by his side.
Speaking about the Scottish Highlands, Mr.Yellow-lees said,“It is a beautiful landscape, but with a strong sense of sadness because of the absence of woodland,wildlife and people. So I decided to walk across the great wildernesses of Canada to raise funds for Trees for Life, a Scottish rewinding charity, and its work to restore(恢复)Scotland’s Caledonian Forest.”
The enthusiastic walker shared some of his experiences, including meeting black bears and hearing wolves cry loudly at night. He also mentioned a moment when he lost Luna after she jumped out of a little boat during a trip in the waterway section of the Trans Canada Trail in Nor-them Ontario.
Yet Mr Yellow-lees was deeply touched by the warmth of the people along the way. In every town and village,people offered him food, shelter and donations. And he was accompanied into towns and cities by marching pipe bands and interviewed by newspapers, the radio and TV.
Steve Mickie wright,chief executive officer of Trees for Life,said, “We followed Michael’s journey across Canada with respect and admiration. Restoring native habitats and wildlife to the Highlands is a big task that no one can do alone. But Michael’s extraordinary journey is proof that an individual can really make a difference.”
Bob Davidson, one of Michael Yellow-lees’ friends, said, “This is not a slow walk in the park, but a long march with heavy equipment on the rough road at an incredible pace. He’s an amazing guy.”
1. What do we know about Scottish Highlands from the passage?| A．It is located in the east coast of Britain. |
| B．It is a beautiful landscape but full of sorrows. |
| C．It may be once the site of extensive forests. |
| D．It is closely related to a charity in Canada |
| A．involved great excitement and fun |
| B．was a challenging experience |
| C．was troubled by his companion Luna |
| D．once made him regret his decision |
| A．Neutral | B．Supportive | C．Doubtful | D．Indifferent |
| A．We need to respect those who protect the environment. |
| B．It is not wise to take a long journey alone in the wild. |
| C．Ordinary people who aim high can work wonders. |
| D．People needs great survival skills in daily life. |
6 . Tufa grew up in Australia, so she couldn't understand why her father insisted on teaching her Oromo, a language spoken in Ethiopia.
“Dad never spoke about his life back in Ethiopia and yet he insisted on teaching us this language," Tufa said. “There were so many resources at my fingertips for the other languages I was learning and so many people that speak them. But when Dad was teaching us Oromo, there were no textbooks or learning materials at all. And that struck me as really strange."
But as Tufa got older and began doing her own research, she discovered why speaking about Oromo was so painful for her father. The Oromo are the largest racial group of Ethiopia. But since their land was seized in the 1880s, the people have suffered a lot. The Oromo language was banned, including from political life and schools. Oromo texts were destroyed. Tufa's father, an Oromo, fled to Egypt and, in the late 1970s, he was given asylum（庇护）in Australia.
By the time the Oromo ban was lifted, Tufa's father had established a small, private Oromo school in Melbourne to teach the language to the children of asylum seekers. As she helped to teach the students, Tufa realised the teaching resources were awful. She decided to create posters and worksheets for her father's students, using her own money to get them printed.
Three other Oromo schools that had opened in Victoria by then heard about the materials and all of them wanted copies. Tufa realised that if there was a demand for Oromo child education materials in Australia, there must be other communities around the world where resources were also needed.
She launched a crowdfunding campaign so she could print more Oromo learning materials. By the end of 2014, in just six weeks, she had raised almost $125,000. Word of her project spread. Her resources have also found their way to Ethiopia, with people sending copies to family members who still live there. This year, she plans to launch an online store for her publishing company.
1. What did Tufa feel strange about when learning Oromo?| A．Her father's life in Ethiopia. |
| B．Her father's way of teaching. |
| C．The lack of learning materials. |
| D．The appearance of other languages. |
| A．To explain a reason. |
| B．To give an example. |
| C．To present an argument. |
| D．To clear a misunderstanding. |
| A．She crowdfunded. |
| B．She turned to his father. |
| C．She dipped into her own pocket. |
| D．She created posters and worksheets. |
| A．Why the Oromo suffered in Ethiopia. |
| B．Where the Oromo language is taught. |
| C．How a girl helps to keep Oromo alive. |
| D．What schools need in teaching Oromo. |
7 . Beginning to learn gymnastics even before she could barely walk, Svetlana had always dreamed to enter the Olympics scene some day.
However, her
Her
Later that night, Svetlana pulled the gold medal out of her pocket and placed it on the old
| A．intention | B．career | C．life | D．dream |
| A．experienced | B．forgot | C．remembered | D．suffered |
| A．walk | B．dance | C．sing | D．see |
| A．rocked | B．wheeled | C．thrown | D．rushed |
| A．open | B．relate | C．point | D．adapt |
| A．bookmark | B．chapter | C．copy | D．letter |
| A．Suddenly | B．Definitely | C．Surprisingly | D．Certainly |
| A．walked up | B．got up | C．picked up | D．grew up |
| A．opposite | B．over | C．beneath | D．outside |
| A．flooded in | B．faded away | C．mixed up | D．came out |
| A．fright | B．sympathy | C．admiration | D．regret |
| A．cheerfully | B．thankfully | C．nervously | D．doubtfully |
| A．until | B．as | C．while | D．once |
| A．approval | B．blame | C．ignorance | D．praise |
| A．plan | B．sight | C．attempt | D．thought |
| A．content | B．upset | C．eager | D．proud |
| A．breath | B．wave | C．step | D．look |
| A．cautious | B．perfect | C．awful | D．finished |
| A．hoop | B．book | C．medal | D．dress |
| A．clouding | B．pushing | C．rolling | D．feeling |
8 . Graduation is a significant milestone for everyone. An 89-year-old man called Rene Neira had been trying to finish a degree since the 1950s. However, in the 1960s, he was so passionate about urban and economic development of the southside of San Antonio that he stopped school and got involved with the local government. From that time, one of his life goals was to earn a degree in economics. In 2017, the grandpa and his 19-year-old granddaughter both enrolled (入学) at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
“There were times when we would get lunch together, be in the library together, and just work silently side-by-side,” Melanie Salazar, Rene’s granddaughter, recalled. “He always had something to say, especially if his professors had different opinions than him,” Melanie said. “And there were often times when a professor would invite him to talk about the past.”
Rene’s college years weren’t easy. “He has worked very hard over time. Especially in recent years, with hearing loss and going through seasons of not having a car, there was a term where he had to take medical leave because he had a stroke, so he couldn’t go back to school that term. And then the pandemic started,” said Melanie.
After four years, their hard work finally paid off—they graduated. Together, they stood on the stage. Everyone broke into applause and cheered for this fantastic pair.
Their story has been making waves online. People have nothing but good words for them, “Awww... I love stories like this. This was such a beautiful moment. Congratulations to both of them. Grandpa definitely demonstrated that one shouldn’t give up their dream no matter how long it takes,” one wrote. Another wrote, “I’m motivated to go back to school myself, thanks to his example.”
Rene had the determination to finish his degree even at an advanced stage in his life. Hard work, patience, and determination are the keys to success, especially when the path is not easy or clear.
1. Why did Rene fail to get a degree when he was young?| A．He was not interested in university life then. |
| B．He devoted himself to city development. |
| C．He needed to work to support his family. |
| D．He was not good at his school work. |
| A．It made him physically ill. | B．It was full of surprise. |
| C．It was smooth and plain. | D．It came with challenges. |
| A．Admirable. | B．Doubtful. | C．Funny. | D．Pitiful. |
| A．Actions speak louder than words. |
| B．It is never too late to achieve one’s dream. |
| C．Genius without education is like silver in the mine. |
| D．A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. |
9 . Chloe Ricketts is only 15 years old, but she’s already signed a professional contract with the Washington Spirit soccer team. That makes her the youngest player ever to sign with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Chloe began working out with the Washington Spirit team in January. She trained with the team in Florida and Virginia. During training, Chloe impressed the team’s managers with her ability to compete with the other professional players, which led the team to offer her the contract.
For her part, Chloe says the chance to play for the Washington Spirit is “a dream come true”. Chloe is from Dexter, Michigan. She started playing soccer when she was seven. She claims that at the time, she was “the worst on the team”. However, she improved through hard work, extra training, and staying late after practice. It didn’t take her long to begin moving up in the soccer world.
In 2021, she played on a girls team, which went to the national finals of the Elite Clubs National League. She also played on a boys team, the 2007 Boys Ann Arbor Tigers, which won the Michigan State Cup that year. In January of 2022, Chloe signed with AFC Ann Arbor — a team that’s part of USL League Two. USL League Two helps develop players for the NWSL. When she joined AFC Ann Arbor, Chloe was just 14 — the youngest player ever to join the club.
Now, as she joins Washington Spirit, Chloe is in the 10th grade. While she is playing with the team, Chloe will continue to go to school online. But Chloe isn’t the first 15-year-old to play for the NWSL. The NWSL used to have a rule saying that no one under the age of 18 could join its teams. But in 2021, another 15-year-old, Olivia Moultrie, took the league to court.
1. What made the Washington Spirit soccer team sign a contract with Chloe?| A．Her skills. | B．Her experience. | C．Her character. | D．Her reputation. |
| A．Careful. | B．Easy-going. | C．Far-sighted. | D．Hard-working |
| A．AFC Ann Arbor. | B．USL League Two. |
| C．The 2007 Boys Ann Arbor Tigers. | D．The Elite Clubs National League. |
| A．Washington Spirit revised a rule to take in Chloe. |
| B．Olivia Moultrie took the lead in Washington Spirit. |
| C．Chloe values her education during playing football. |
| D．Chloe’s participation makes her team much stronger. |
10 . Stevens, a single mother of three children, was an active volunteer in her children’s school. She was always
“I’m here by 8 am and get home by 9 pm,” she says. “I don’t think it’s
Stevens starts her every day with serving the students around her. That might mean
“The kids feed my
| A．creative | B．outgoing | C．present | D．grateful |
| A．position | B．cheque | C．choice | D．ride |
| A．brought | B．sought | C．dropped | D．discovered |
| A．gave up | B．called for | C．heard of | D．took on |
| A．enjoy | B．miss | C．change | D．impact |
| A．equal | B．normal | C．crazy | D．easy |
| A．In honor of | B．In addition to | C．Because of | D．As for |
| A．tough | B．limited | C．different | D．precious |
| A．aware | B．sure | C．careful | D．proud |
| A．rescue | B．observe | C．trust | D．shock |
| A．defeated | B．challenged | C．cheated | D．supported |
| A．challenging | B．congratulating | C．following | D．inspiring |
| A．exactly | B．gradually | C．frequently | D．regularly |
| A．work | B．suffer | C．matter | D．progress |
| A．addiction | B．fear | C．desire | D．soul |
