1 . Although growing up in a poor family in post-war 1950s, Gloria Stewart remembers her poor but kindhearted parents always had an extra setting at their table, especially at Christmas.
The warmth of her mum and dad’s welcome for poor guests at the coldest time of the year inspired the 69-year-old grandmother to spread her own seasonal joy. “Mum and dad hadn’t even got a penny,” recalls Gloria. “But it didn’t matter. They’d never turn down any homeless one who knocked on the door.”
“When I became a mum, I tried to make the festive season as special as possible. However, I once met an old lady who was spending Christmas alone in bed. It broke my heart.”
In December 2007, Gloria hosted the first Home Alone lunch after advertising to the public and receiving donations. It took a special person with a big heart and an even bigger table to invite 87 lonely old people for Christmas. Her Home Alone event has lasted up to now.
Every Christmas, Gloria wears her most sparkly dress to serve the traditional roast to every table of her smiling, grateful guests, making time to speak to as many of them as possible. After her first lunch, Gloria was nicknamed Mrs. Christmas. And now she has written a book about her extraordinary life helping bring joy to the elderly who would normally spend Christmas alone.
She wrote in her book, “When I was a child, I had few friends and I was laughed at for being so poor. So I was determined no one else should bear the loneliness and hardship I had suffered.” Having battled cancer three times, Gloria became even more determined to make sure Christmas was not clouded by sadness.
Now the Home Alone event has grown to serving turkey lunch to over 500 happy guests. The kind lady received an award from Sheffield City Council for her efforts and was praised by former Prime Minister David Cameron.
But for Gloria, the real prize comes as she watches the smiles light up the faces of her lunch guests. She says, “There really is no greater reward. Just for a few hours they escape their loneliness and are surrounded by love.”
1. The first two paragraphs intend to tell us ________.A.why Gloria had a suffering childhood |
B.how Gloria’s parents celebrated Christmas |
C.what memories Gloria had about her parents |
D.that Gloria was inspired by her parents’ kind act |
A.Her desire for success. | B.Her parents’ will. |
C.Her tough life experiences. | D.Her friends’ encouragement. |
A.A Home Alone Event | B.A Big-hearted Grandmother |
C.A Special Memory of Christmas | D.A Shared Christmas Dinner |
2 . Welcoming New Lifestyles
Hygge has been popular in the UK for over a year. It means to create a relaxed and comfortable mood. It can be felt by relaxing activities like chatting with friends. Besides, hygge is also about learning to be happy with simple things. This really resonated (共鸣) with me. I feel stressed at home because my small flat is packed with much stuff. I decide to throw the things that don’t hold memories. Doing this would help me feel hygge. | |
Last year, lagom, a Swedish word meaning “just the right amount”, became popular. Lagom is about seeking a balance of work and life. It’s also about living more sustainably (可持续地) by saving more energy, creating less waste and recycling more. Next year, I won’t have to replace things so often. Plus, I keep thinking about recycling and hoping to save as much money as possible. So, I can get on board with lagom. | |
Coming from Japan, wabi sabi is about finding beauty in imperfection. Wabi refers to the failings in the production process, which makes an object special. Sabi describes the beauty that comes with age. The tradition of wabi sabi can offer a new way to view our homes. I am a perfectionist and I keep my home tidy. But now, my girls put their toys everywhere. So, I have to see the mess and accept the imperfections. | |
In the Japanese concept, ikigai means “a reason for being”, which can bring satisfaction and meaning to life. Many people believe ikigai can be found at what you are good at and what you love doing. For me, it is blogging. This year I can do more writing tasks that interest me. And if I notice the things that bring me no joy, I can stay away from them in the future. Hopefully, this will help me to lead a more meaningful life. |
A.Hygge. | B.Lagom. | C.Wabi sabi. | D.Ikigai. |
A.find beauty in his or her imperfect life |
B.achieve a balance between work and life |
C.be happy and find out the meaning of life |
D.throw away the useless and live a simple life |
A.research report | B.travel blog |
C.product advertisement | D.popular magazine |
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