1 . It was our first Thanksgiving in the new house, and I wanted everything to be perfect. However, my husband just got a new job in retail, so our family “plan” for everyone to take part in the necessary prep work had been torpedoed. To make matters worse, a key project for me that week had claimed two days of planned vacation. John Lennon was right: Life is what happens while you are making other plans.
By Wednesday night, while my husband was selling camping equipment as Christmas gifts, my children and I were at home and into full-blown vacuum mania (吸尘狂潮). I was thankful that a kid’s pocket money did not make up salary as I put my six and eight-year-old to work, going against all child labor laws. For my part, I was as busy as a bee in the toilet bowl, heading for a breakdown.
I don’t remember what my son asked me as he was trying his best to finish the vacuuming, but I do remember twisting into that mean-and-tight mom face before barking out a rude answer. Instead of dashing out of view, my second-grader turned off the vacuum and walked the whole way around the stairwell to face me. He never said a word. He just wrapped his arms around me for a hug that made me feel ashamed of myself to this very day. My son took a risk to teach me that sometimes we need a hug most when we are least huggable.
It was the perfect Thanksgiving. The people I loved gathered around my table where a pumpkin covered up last year’s gravy stain (肉汁污渍). We dined on just one choice of pie, and my dad used a mismatched dinner fork without complaint. My daughter drew a picture of us on a paper plate where no one had their eyes closed.
I learned a lot from an eight-year-old that holiday, and I’ve tried hard to remember it. If you find a person complaining about her job or her dress size, give her a hug. It just might be what she needs most.
1. What does the underlined word “torpedoed” in paragraph 1 mean?A.passed | B.scheduled | C.targeted | D.ruined |
A.confident | B.humorous | C.alarmed | D.concerned |
A.She shouted at him impatiently. | B.She hugged him right away. |
C.She responded to him politely. | D.She continued vacuuming delightedly. |
A.Careful planning: the route to an unforgettable Thanksgiving Day |
B.Family happiness: the result of balancing work and life |
C.Thanksgiving surprises: imperfect perfection and unexpected hugs |
D.Holiday letdown: common psychological and emotional experiences |
Exploring nature allows us to catch sight of rare animals and come across special places of beauty. Of course, none of this would be possible
One good example of this is the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia,
3 . At the age of 41, I still stutter (口吃). I am fine with it now but that wasn’t always the
A few years later, I began to dislike being different. I felt that I
Sometime in eighth grade, my
It’s never easy to be a kid. It’s especially
A.process | B.reason | C.case | D.target |
A.made use of | B.stirred up | C.taken care of | D.made fun of |
A.abnormal | B.long | C.informal | D.chosen |
A.gave away | B.broke away | C.stood out | D.stayed up |
A.imagine | B.avoid | C.predict | D.record |
A.similar | B.false | C.official | D.personal |
A.fatal | B.common | C.familiar | D.strange |
A.duty | B.option | C.identity | D.attitude |
A.repeated | B.postponed | C.accepted | D.spotted |
A.Instead of | B.Due to | C.As for | D.In return for |
A.type | B.change | C.call | D.spell |
A.award | B.promise | C.excuse | D.living |
A.request | B.regret | C.decision | D.explanation |
A.natural | B.beneficial | C.essential | D.tough |
A.intelligence | B.uniqueness | C.advantage | D.mistake |
4 . It takes eight hours and $250, 000 to get to what remains of the RMS Titanic. On Sunday, five people got into the underwater craft Titan to make that journey. The craft lost contact only an hour and 45 minutes into the eight-day expedition. Later wreckage (残骸) was found matching that of the craft. Despite the danger of traveling some 12, 500 feet below the surface, this was an irresistible opportunity — very few people get to see the Titanic with their own eyes. Actually, dives to the Titanic have been around for more than 20 years.
It wasn’t until 1985 that an expedition led by Robert Ballard and Jean-Louis Michel discovered the Titanic’s final resting place. In July 1986, Ballard placed a memorial on the ship, asking that the site be left undisturbed in memory of the more than 1, 500 people who died there.
But that didn’t happen. Instead, competition over who would be allowed to salvage (打捞) artifacts (文物) from the ship heated up. In part, it was an effort to document and conserve the artifacts - but it was also a rush for profits from artifact sales and public displays.
In 1992, a federal court ruled that TVLP was the first and exclusive salvor of the Titanic. Now known as RMS Titanic Inc. , the company has conducted eight expeditions to the Titanic, and has sold more than 5, 000 objects taken from the site, including jewelry.
While battles for visitation and salvage rights were fought in court, expeditions to the Titanic continued, giving rise to a small but pricey tourist market. Multiple companies offered public tours to explore the Titanic wreck, with prices ranging from $32, 500 to $105, 129 per person over the years. The Titanic was damaged significantly upon impact with the seabed, and slowly, iron-eating bacteria are consuming what remains. In 2019, a dive confirmed huge portions of the ship were collapsing. Today the surrounding site is littered with trash. Visitors have also littered the area with memorials. Attempts to protect the wreck are ongoing. In 2020, the United Kingdom and the United States agreed to work together to grant or deny licenses to people entering and taking artifacts from the site.
1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?A.How people explored the Titanic | B.The danger of diving to the Titanic. |
C.People’s strong interest in the Titanic | D.The details of Titanic expedition. |
A.To mark the ship for further research. | B.To honor his dead teammates. |
C.To celebrate his achievement. | D.To protect the ship’s remains. |
A.Scientific exploration | B.Historical research |
C.Economic interest | D.Technological development |
A.It is being restored | B.It is being moved to a new place. |
C.It is preserved in a museum. | D.It is under united protection. |
5 . A road trip is not just about taking in the scenery through the car windscreen. Instead, the changes in location let you increase the scope of your holiday. Here are four recommended routes.
CCR 200It is a new coastal road trip showing off the hidden side of the Lake District. The route takes in various nature reserves as well as other attractions like beaches and castles. The road trip is aimed at campers of all kinds and has been divided into five sections that can each be done in a day.
The Explorer’s RoadThe Road extends almost the entire length of eastern England, featuring some of the country’s hidden treasures and finest attractions. Along the way you can explore breathtaking beaches, spectaculan countryside and historic landmarks, with plenty of campsites lining the route.
South West Coastal 300The South West Coastal 300 is around the southwest of Scotland. It’s a fantastic way to discover one of the UK’s hidden treasures. Inland, there are demanding hills that provide a steep one to walkers and climbers, not to mention hundreds of square miles of forestry and rolling countryside where cycling enthusiasts can clock up the miles.
Atlantic HighwayThe route roughly follows the line of the Atlantic coast. There are picturesque village views and you certainly won’t be short of things to see or do. And there is no shortage of stopovers. The only downside is that the roads round here are extremely busy occasionally, so if you want a more stress-free trip, try heading down out of summer.
1. Which road trip best suits those who enjoy challenges?A.CCR 200. | B.The Explorer’s Road. |
C.Atlantic Highway. | D.South West Coastal 300. |
A.Popular beaches and castles. | B.Less-widely known spots. |
C.Landmarks with a long history. | D.Newly-developed nature reserves. |
A.It closes in summer. | B.The route is rough |
C.It is crowded sometimes. | D.It charges for stopovers. |
1. Who mentioned in the speech use camels in their sports?
A.Americans | B.The Arabs. | C.Chinese people. |
A.Volleyball. | B.Basketball. | C.Running. |
A.Less than 200 years. | B.About 300 years | C.Over 1, 000 years. |
A.Friendship | B.Indignity. | C.War. |
1. In which place did Lisa find the wallet?
A.In a park. | B.In a parking lot. | C.In a shopping mall. |
A.A photo of a person. |
B.Some paper and an ID card. |
C.Some money and business cards. |
A.A businessman | B.An old lady. | C.A school boy. |
A.By calling on him. |
B.By ringing him up. |
C.By waiting where she found the wallet. |
1. Whose house is the girl going to on Sunday?
A.Mary’s | B.Susie’s | C.Jenny’s. |
A.See a movie. | B.Go shopping. | C.Watch a basketball game. |
A.Her backpack is lost. | B.Her backpack is broken. | C.Her backpack is full of books. |
1. Who did Fred have a fight with last night?
A.A storekeeper. | B.His brother. | C.A policeman. |
A.In the police station. | B.In the hospital. | C.At home. |
1. What does the man’s friend want to drink?
A.Orange juice. | B.Milk with sugar. | C.Coffee with milk. |
A.10 yuan. | B.90 yuan. | C.100 yuan. |