1 . Alice Moore is a teenager entrepreneur(创业者), who in May 2015 set up her business AilieCandy. By the time she was 13, her company was worth millions of dollars with the invention of a super-sweet treat that could save kids’ teeth, instead of destroying them.
It all began when Moore visited a bank with her dad. On the outing, she was offered a candy bar. However, her dad reminded her that sugary treats were bad for her teeth. But Moore was sick of missing out on candies. So she desired to get round the warning, “Why can’t I make a healthy candy that’s good for my teeth so that my parents can’t say no to it?” With that in mind, Moore asked her dad if she could start her own candy company. He recommended that she do some research and talk to dentists about what a healthier candy would contain.
With her dad’s permission, she spent the next two years researching online and conducting trials to get a recipe that was both tasty and tooth-friendly. She also approached dentists to learn more about teeth cleaning. Consequently, she succeeded in making a kind of candy only using natural sweeteners, which can reduce oral bacteria.
Moore then used her savings to get her business off the ground. Afterwards, she and her father secured their first business meeting with a supermarket owner, who finally agreed to sell Moore’s product—CanCandy.
As CanCandy’s success grows, so does Moore’s credibility as a young entrepreneur. Moore is enthusiastic about the candy she created, and she’s also positive about what the future might bring. She hopes that every kid can have a clean mouth and a broad smile.
Meanwhile, with her parents’ help, Moore is generally able to live a normal teenage life. Although she founded her company early on in life, she wasn’t driven primarily by profit. Moore wants to use her unique talent to help others find their smiles. She donates 10% of AilicCandy’s profits to Big Smiles. With her talent and determination, it appears that the sky could be the limit for Alice Moore.
1. How did Moore react to her dad’s warning?| A．She argued with him. | B．She tried to find a way out. |
| C．She paid no attention. | D．She chose to consult dentists. |
| A．It is beneficial to dental health. | B．It is free of sweeteners. |
| C．It is sweeter than other candies. | D．It is produced to a dentists’ recipe. |
| A．To earn more money. | B．To help others find smiles. |
| C．To make herself stand out. | D．To beat other candy companies. |
| A．Fame is a great thirst of the young. |
| B．A youth is to be regarded with respect. |
| C．Positive thinking and action result in success. |
| D．Success means getting personal desires satisfied |
2 . When Roosevelt was a kid, his doctors claimed that he was too weak to live a normal life like most children of his age. They strongly recommended him to avoid participation in any physical activities, fearing that it could worsen his health condition and potentially lead to his death. Their opinions implied that he would face up to a life full of all kinds of limitations. Instead of permitting their limiting beliefs about what he could do and achieve, he chose to live a meaningful life.
Despite his doctors’ strong suggestions that he remain inactive, he didn’t want to be a carefree observer of the world as it passed him by. He was determined to force himself to be active. Roosevelt had daily adventures in the woods as a boy.
He continued to play sports when he got to college. In fact, he didn’t just play, but he excelled in both boxing and rowing, both of which require astonishing levels of strength and endurance. When Roosevelt graduated from college, his doctors were still not completely sure about his health condition. They still believed that he would be putting himself in serious danger, because his heart problems had not improved. They firmly believed that it would be best to find a desk job for him after completing a college degree. Once again, Roosevelt decided to challenge himself to his physical limits by living an extremely energetic adult life. In about every field he took part, he would aim to push his physical limits. Impressively, he was excellent as an explorer, a hunter, an author, a soldier and a politician.
Eventually, Roosevelt went beyond the mistaken limitation upon him and lived an amazing life.
1. What would happen if Roosevelt followed his doctors’ suggestions?| A．He would live a meaningful life. |
| B．His life would be full of limitations. |
| C．His parents would feel satisfied with him. |
| D．He would become an extraordinary person. |
| A．An explorer. | B．A boxing player. |
| C．An office clerk. | D．A politician. |
| A．By following time order. | B．By listing obvious reasons. |
| C．By giving some examples. | D．By making necessary comparisons. |
| A．Humorous. | B．Generous. | C．Considerate. | D．Ambitious. |
3 . Four years ago, Rome Leykin was on his way to work when he accidentally fell onto the tracks of Brooklyn's train as a subway was approaching. The incident resulted in the loss of both of his legs.
But surprisingly, with the loss of his legs, Leykin gained a new passion for racing. Before his accident, he wasn't really that athletic. He would just occasionally play basketball. But that all changed after he was introduced to hand cycling. “When I saw it, I was like, ‘Oh, this is great. You don't even need legs to use it. This is perfect.’” he said. “So, I got on it, I rode and fell in love with it right away.”
Within a few months, he completed the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, a 40-mile ride through New York City. After that, he did his first marathon in 2021. He fished that race in 2 hours and 11 minutes, placing 12th out of 38.
“I'm going to attend this year's marathon and take on challenges. My hands are on the wheel, my eyes are focused, and I think my time is going to speak for itself.” he said. He's made a significant commitment to training. He hand cycles at least 13.1 miles a couple times a week and spends a lot of time in the gym.
And he plans to keep pursuing his athlete goals. He wants to complete the Abbott Six-the world's six largest marathons. One day, he said, he'll maybe even make the Paralympics.
For those who might be following his journey, he hopes they will take some lessons from his story. “There will be ups and downs but the trend is what's important. Focus on the good,” he said. “And also, take your big problems and split them into small solutions. And then all of a sudden, your big problems turn into many small wins.”
1. What can we learn about Rome Leykin from paragraph 2?| A．He once was an excellent basketball player. |
| B．He considered hand cycling difficult in the beginning. |
| C．He made hand cycling more popular among the disabled. |
| D．He showed an interest in hand cycling the moment he saw it. |
| A．Worried. | B．Curious. | C．Confident. | D．Nervous. |
| A．Easy-going and reliable. | B．Kind-hearted and helpful. |
| C．Open-minded and creative. | D．Strong-willed and ambitious. |
| A．Stick to your dreams. | B．Break down your goals. |
| C．Focus on your strengths. | D．Achieve success at all costs. |
4 . Born in Russia and living in an orphanage (孤儿院) for the first 13 months of her life, Jessica Long had no idea what her future would hold. The little girl born with Fibular Hemimelia would not only go on to be a 13-time gold medal-winning Paralympic champion, but she would inspire others to chase their dreams.
Long was born in Russia, where she lived in an orphanage until her parents adopted her in 1993. Soon after being adopted, she had to have her legs amputated (截肢) at only a year and a half. “It gave me a lot of freedom and movement,” Long said. “But growing up was definitely really hard. From a very early age, I just decided that I was going to be unstoppable and I wasn’t going to let my legs hold me back.” From that point forward, she didn’t let anyone tell her what she was or wasn’t capable of doing. She started doing gymnastics as a kid. Then, in 2002, Long found her sport for life: swimming!
“I was the only girl with no legs on the swim team, ” she said. “There were moments I struggled, but my teammates treated me like a friend. When I look back on my life and I think about anyone on that team, no one made fun of me for having no legs and they were so kind.” Long defied (顶住) all odds and surprised everyone when she qualified at age only 12 for the Paralympics in 2004 in Athens. After four Paralympics, Long has won 13 gold, six silver, and four bronze medals. She has dozens of World Championship medals and has broken numerous world records throughout her career so far. But she didn’t concentrate on winning awards or being famous. “I really just love swimming. It’s important for any athlete to remember just why you started,” she said.
As one of the most decorated athletes in history, Long’s goal is to just keep competing as long as her body allows. “Dream big,” she said. “There are so many possibilities out there, so find your passion, be consistent and work hard. You define your own success.”
1. How old was Long when she found her life sport?| A．11 | B．10. | C．12. | D．13. |
| A．Her experience of winning 13 gold medals. |
| B．Her parents’ support and teachers’ help. |
| C．Her teammates’ understanding and kindness. |
| D．Her focus on winning awards and fame. |
| A．A poor orphanage and her close friends. |
| B．A happy girl and her confusing childhood. |
| C．An amazing illness and its terrible influence. |
| D．An inspiring story about an unlucky person. |
| A．If you can dream it, you can make it. |
| B．If you want to succeed, learn to swim. |
| C．A man never reaches success until disabled. |
| D．A sportsman’s goal is winning gold medals. |
5 . A mother of nine who started medical school when her youngest child was 4 years old graduated with her degree and plans to be a neurosurgeon (神经外科医生).
Sarah Merrill, now 41, said her journey to medical school began at age 17. She then met her husband and got married. Merrill first thought about going to school part-time to get a degree, but later she decided to follow her dream of attending medical school. Certainly, it was a challenge. Speaking of her successfully returning to university, Merrill thought it was credited to her family largely. “When I was accepted at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, we moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona,” said Merrill, who is moving to Indiana with her family to begin her residency (实习期) in neurosurgery. “In fact, they volunteered these movements. I know it was tough for all of us.”
Merrill and her children often have “homework parties” where they study for their own courses. Merrill’s choice has given a stimulus to her children. Merrill felt touched knowing her 11-year-old daughter wants to become a surgeon and overhearing her son tell his friends his mom’s going to be a cool brain surgeon, though he doesn’t understand that really.
Merrill’s next step into a neurosurgery residency will take her into a male-dominated field where only 5% of board certified neurosurgeons are women. Dr. Michele Halyard at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine said Merrill was known as a focused student. Halyard said, “If you can deal with nine children and keep your reason, the residency should be a piece of cake because no amount of stress will make you fail.”
Merrill had considered choosing a more family-friendly specialty, but, again, chose to dream big and follow her original pursuit. It’s the same advice she would give to all. “Set the goal that is what you’re really enthusiastic about, and it helps to think small. If you know what your priorities are, focus on the next step. Then you’ll get where you want to go.”
1. Why does Merrill speak of their movements?| A．To show the support of her family. |
| B．To stress her determination to be a doctor. |
| C．To reflect difficulties in attending college. |
| D．To describe the process of pursuing her dream. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Inspiration. |
| C．Commitment. | D．Confusion. |
| A．Merrill will have more stress to handle. |
| B．Staying focused and sensible is key to success. |
| C．Being Mom makes Merrill a better doctor. |
| D．She is confident of Merrill’s being a neurosurgeon. |
| A．Starting with small things. |
| B．Getting your priorities right. |
| C．Being true to your passion. |
| D．Having the courage to dream big. |
6 . You Life is What You Make It
Zhang Tian graduated from university and got a teacher’s certificate last year. His parents wanted him to get a good job in Shanghai. But he was inspired by the idea of living independently away from home. So he applied for and became a volunteer teacher in a village school. Bringing with him lots of books, clothes, and two pairs of trainers, Zhang Tian travelled to the village with an eager heart. He imagined all sorts of exciting things about living and teaching in a village.
However, not everything lived up to Zhang Tian’s hopes. The school was much smaller than he expected, with only three classrooms. In front of the classrooms, there was a playground which got dusty on windy days and muddy on rainy days. Living In the village was also more challenging than he had thought. The power and water supplies were unstable, so he could only shower every three or four days, and he had to learn how to cook. The thought of leaving once flashed through his mind, but he quickly gave up the idea and found ways to deal with the challenges.
The school had just three teachers and Zhang Tian was the only English teacher. The other two local teachers were responsible for maths and Chinese. To make school life healthier and livelier for his students, Zhang Tian introduced more subjects to the school — music, art and PE. It is not surprising that PE is the kids’ favourite subject! Their school lives are now more attractive and interesting, and they enjoy playing football in the playground, as well as singing songs they’ve learnt. The school is now full of laughter and music. Zhang Tian is planning to organise the first ever school concert! Everyone is very excited.
1. Why did Zhang Tian choose to be a volunteer teacher?| A．He wanted to live independently. |
| B．His parents wanted him to be a teacher. |
| C．He wanted a new lifestyle and was inspired by teachers he met. |
| D．He needed the experience to get a teacher’s certificate. |
| A．PE was the kid’s favourite subject. |
| B．Students were short of books and desks. |
| C．The school even didn’t have a playground. |
| D．Living conditions were worse than he had expected. |
| A．Tough but meaningful. | B．Dull but interesting. |
| C．Easy and comfortable. | D．Lonely and hopeless. |
7 . The ability to walk is the sort of thing many people take for granted, but for Ella Weiske, it’s a monumental achievement. Ella was born with cerebral palsy (脑瘫) and requires a wheelchair to get around, yet she always dreamed of walking across the stage to collect her high school diploma on her own two feet.
In spring of 2023, Ella finally got that chance! The teenager spent months before her graduation from Ripon High School in Wisconsin building strength and practicing walking on an innovative new device called a Trexo. All of her efforts were worth it when she stepped onto the stage to a standing ovation (起立鼓掌) from teachers and students.
Walking on graduation day was important to Ella so her family raised $45,000 with an online fundraiser to buy the Trexo device, which is a wearable robot designed to help children walk. The device is controlled by a tablet, and it helps Ella gently move her legs. She can adjust how much support is needed, walk angles, and speed.
Ella says just the feeling of her feet hitting the floor makes her happy, but it’s the independence the device offers that gets her really excited. She dreams of hanging around downtown, going to her brother’s baseball games, and opening up her world with help from her robotic legs. But first, graduation!
On the big day, Ella was able to use her Trexo device to walk across the stage with the other members of the class of 2023. The entire school body was on their feet, cheering for her, as she collected her diploma with help from her sister, Liz Weiske. It was an emotional moment for the teachers and students who have rooted for Ella for the past 4 years.
Just graduating is an achievement on its own, but Ella’s life-changing walk meant so much to her, and to everyone who knows and loves her. We’re so proud of Ella for working hard to accomplish her goals.
1. What words can best describe Ella Weiske?| A．Caring and responsible. | B．Honest and reliable. |
| C．Ambitious and hardworking. | D．Intelligent and creative. |
| A．A responsibility to help others. | B．A sense of living independently. |
| C．An ability to deliver a public speech. | D．An opportunity for further education. |
| A．Embarrassing. | B．Doubtful. | C．Inspiring. | D．Romantic. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Many hands make light work. |
| C．Misfortune may be an actual blessing. | D．Everything is possible to a willing mind. |
8 . Mack Rutherford,born on June 21, 2005, has become the youngest person to fly around the world alone in a small plane after taking off on March 23, 2022. Five months later, he touched down in the Bulgaria (保加利亚),where his journey began, according to Rutherford’s website. He turned 17 years old during the trip.
Rutherford’s route extended 52 countries on a specially prepared plane, according to his website. His journey was tracked on his website, which showed he set off for the Mediterranean (地中海) then through the Sahara, onwards through the Middle East and then East Asia. He broke two world records, previously held by his older sister Zara Rutherford, as the youngest person to fly around the world alone and also the youngest person to do so in such a small plane. He entered his last leg through the United States, Canada and Mexico before flying back through Europe.
The teenager was just 15 years old when he received his first pilot’s license (许可证), becoming the youngest pilot in the world. “Having flown hundreds of hours with my dad, who is a professional pilot, I have known for certain I wanted to fly. I think there’s something I can actually try to struggle for and achieve,” he said. “I also want to use the opportunity to meet young people on my route who do amazing things or make a difference to their communities or even to the world,” he wrote before flying off.
There were several “hairy” moments during his journey, he said, but he never gave up. His journey even took him to a deserted island in the North Pacific after strong head winds forced him to land during a flight from Japan to the United States. “I was forced to face it on my own — but that was definitely an amazing experience,” he said.
1. What do we know about Mack Rutherford?| A．He started his journey at the age of 16. |
| B．He was forced to fly around the world. |
| C．He visited every country of five continents. |
| D．He is the first to fly around the world alone. |
| A．Losing control. | B．The final period of his trip. |
| C．Injuring his leg. | D．A dangerous situation. |
| A．Intelligent and warm-hearted. | B．Generous and hardworking. |
| C．Determined and humorous. | D．Ambitious and adventurous. |
| A．A survey report. | B．A travel guideline. |
| C．A news report. | D．A book review. |
9 . 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. |
10 . 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. |
