1 . One day when I was 5, my mother scolded (责骂) me for not finishing my breakfast and I got angry. I wanted to play outside and not to be made to finish eating my breakfast. When angrily opening the screen door with my foot, I kicked back about a 12-inch part of the lower left hand corner of the new screen door. But I had no remorse, for I was happy to be playing in the backyard with my toys.
Today, I know if my child had done what I did, I would have scolded my child, and told him about how expensive this new screen door was, and I would have delivered a spanking (打屁股) for it. My parents never said a word. They left the corner of the screen door pushed out, creating an opening, a breach (裂缝) in the defense against unwanted insects.
For years, every time I saw that corner of the screen, it would constantly make me think about my mistake. For years, I knew that everyone in my family would see that hole and remember who did it. For years, every time I saw a fly buzzing (嗡嗡) in the kitchen, I would wonder if it came in through the hole that I had created with my angry foot. I would wonder if my family members were thinking the same thing, silently blaming me every time a flying insect entered our home, making life more terrible for us all. My parents taught me a valuable lesson, one that a spanking or stern (严厉的) words perhaps could not deliver. Their silent punishment for what I had done delivered a hundred stern messages to me. Above all, it has helped me become a more patient person and not burst out so easily.
1. When the author damaged the door, his parents ________.| A．gave him a spanking |
| B．left the door unrepaired |
| C．scolded him for what he had done |
| D．told him how expensive it was |
| A．regret | B．joy | C．anger | D．notice |
| A．to hide his anger away from others |
| B．not to go against his parents’ will |
| C．to have a better control of himself |
| D．not to make mistakes in the future |
| A．Adults should ignore their children’s bad behavior. |
| B．Parents are the best teachers of their children. |
| C．Patience is the key to becoming a better person. |
| D．One learns most when shown the result of his/her action. |
2 . My father loves his garden. He planted some seeds in it. But at that time, I didn’t understand why working in the dirt excited him so much.
Unfortunately, in early May, my father was seriously injured in an accident. He had to stay in bed for a while. My mother had several business trips, so she couldn’t take care of the garden. I didn’t want my father to worry, so I said that I would take care of his garden until he recovered. I assumed that the little plants would continue to grow as long as they had water, and luckily it rained fairly often, so I didn’t think much about the garden.
One Saturday morning, my father said to me, “Christine, the vegetables should be about ready to be picked. Let’s have a salad today!” I went out to the garden and was upset to see that many of the lettuce leaves and carrots had been half eaten by bugs. There were hundreds of bugs all over them!
I panicked for a moment but then I quietly went to the nearest store to buy some vegetables. When I gave the salad to him, he said, “Oh, Christine, what a beautiful salad! I can’t believe the carrots are this big already. You must be taking very good care of my garden.” I felt a little bit guilty.
Coming home, my mother saw the bag from the supermarket in the kitchen. I was embarrassed, and I admitted Dad wanted a salad but the garden was a disaster. I didn’t want to disappoint him so I went to the store. She laughed but promised to help me in the garden and weeks later I was finally able to pick some vegetables.
I carefully made a salad and took it to my father. He looked at it with a hint of a smile, “Christine, the carrots are smaller in this salad, but they taste better.”
Now, I better understand how putting a lot of effort into caring for something can help you appreciate the results more, however small they may be. Perhaps this was one of the reasons for my father’s love of gardening.
1. Why did Christine originally promise she would do the gardening?| A．She was asked by her father to do it. | B．She was interested in growing vegetables. |
| C．She knew it was important to her father. | D．She wanted to improve her gardening skills. |
| A．Insects destroyed the lettuce and carrots. | B．Animals often dug holes in the garden. |
| C．The plants were given too much water. | D．The vegetables were marked incorrectly. |
| A．Her mother helped her to buy the vegetables. |
| B．Her mother regularly helped her to make a salad. |
| C．Her father couldn’t see the progress of the vegetables in his garden. |
| D．Her father went on a business trip at that time. |
| A．Always get ready for a rainy day. | B．Don’t be disappointed by bugs. |
| C．Working alone produces results. | D．Hard work can often be rewarding. |
3 . When the phone finally stopped ringing and the house lay still with grief, I filled my home with the sweet smell of peach pie to mask the scent of worry that still lingered.
The weekend after Dad’s diagnosis (诊断), Mom had sent the same text to each concerned relative and friend: Jay was diagnosed with Pick’s disease. We are going back to the doctor for more information. Then Mom put down the phone, rubbed her forehead, and suggested that we go for a drive. On the interstate, we passed a board with clear red letters: “Fredericksburg peaches, the best fruit you can find in Central Texas.” Mom went to negotiate with the stand owner.
Now in our kitchen, the sweet smell of peach juice drifted into the living room and pulled Dad away from the football game on TV.
“Oh! You got peaches?” He eyed the fruit with childish glee (欢快).
“Here,” I handed him a knife. “We’re making peach pie.”
I showed him how to peel the skin off. As I made pie dough, he asked questions: How long does it take to bake? Are you adding sugar? How many peaches? What should I do with the seeds? Showing him how to slice and measure and mix in a calm, firm voice, I suddenly felt grown up.
The summer had reversed our roles; now, I was the adult. I stayed home all summer and cooked his dinner, washed his T-shirts and helped him make phone calls. I stayed up late thinking about him and monitored him like an anxious caretaker.
The same day, before the afternoon drive and peach pie, I had held my tears as I read the diagnosis for Pick’s disease: four to ten years, depending on how fast the damaged proteins overpower Dad’s brain. I decided then that I would be grateful for just four more years with Dad, enough for him to see me become an adult for real.
1. Why did Mom propose a ride?| A．To purchase fruits. | B．To enjoy a trip. |
| C．To release sorrow. | D．To consult the doctor. |
| A．It takes years for Dad to recover. |
| B．The author enjoys the time with Dad. |
| C．Dad shows little interest in football games. |
| D．The author gets annoyed by Dad’s questions. |
| A．Tough and confusing. | B．Boring but rewarding. |
| C．Annoying and struggling. | D．Painstaking but meaningful. |
| A．Peach Pie | B．Diagnosis for Dad |
| C．Father And Daughter | D．A Plain Summer Day |
4 . I did not go on my first hike until my mid-30s. I could blame it on the fact that I grew up on the Great Plains of South Dakota and North Dakota. But mostly, to be honest, I just wasn't interested.
I went on my first hike a few years back while living in Vernont. At the urging of my wife, and with my two young kids, we walked a beautiful forest path on a cool August morning.
A few weeks ago, my 11-year-old son, my 61-year-old dad, and I hiked Camelbeack Mountain in Phoenix.
Now, just to be clear, by no means would I classify myself as an expert hiker. I love the stillness and calm of an empty path
| A．I've fallen in love with climbing mountains. |
| B．I carried a small backpack with water and snacks. |
| C．If you can climb a mountain, you can do anything. |
| D．I didn't see the value and always shook my head when asked. |
| E．It is healthy physical exercise that creates wonderful memories. |
| F．And I have no plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro or walk the Appalachian Trail. |
| G．Last weekend, I hiked down the Grand Canyon with my son along the South Kaibab Trail. |
5 . My nephew Tyden and I were celebrating another nephew’s birthday at a local amusement center. It was the kind of place where you got tickets for scoring points in the games and then cashed them in for prizes.
Tyden won top prize of tickets，so we went to cash them in and select his gifts. I felt a little sad because my loved one and I had our first date at this center and had exchanged little things from the showcase. I noticed a turtle and remembered my partner loved it. I asked the young man behind the showcase if I could just buy the turtle without tickets. He said. “Unluckily. that is not a choice.”
I needed to win 350 tickets to cash the turtle in.so I left Tyden choosing his gift alone there. I bought game tokens（代币）and entered the game room. I had just chosen a game I thought I could win when I heard Tyden's excited voice，“Auntie，Auntie！Look！”
He pulled the turtle out from behind his back and gave it to me. My eyes were filled with tears. and my heart burst with love. He had listened to that whole conversation and chosen to give the turtle to me instead of getting whatever he wanted.
Before I could thank him. he said，“I wanted you to have it，so you didn't have to spend money，which would cause you to work hard”.
I held him in my arms，and told him how much I loved him. I am beyond thankful to have the title of his Auntie
1. What did the author fail to do?| A．Find another gift． | B．Buy a turtle． | C．Exchange gifts． | D．Please her loved one |
| A．To get a prize． | B．To beat Tyden． | C．To challenge herself． | D．To win tickets for her nephew. |
| A．Worried． | B．Moved． | C．Surprised． | D．Confused． |
| A．Hard-working． | B．Clever． | C．Honest． | D．Caring. |
6 . It’s not easy being a teenager —— nor is it easy being the parent of a teenager. You can make your child feel angry, hurt or misunderstood by what you say without realizing it yourself. It is important to give your child the space he needs to grow while gently letting him know that you’ll still be there for him when he needs you.
Expect a lot from your child, just not everything. Except for health and safety problems, such as drug use or careless driving, consider everything else open to discussion. If your child is unwilling to discuss something, don’t insist he tell you what’s on his mind. The more you insist, the more likely that he’ll clam up. Instead，let him attempt to solve things by himself. At the same time，remind him that you’re always there for him if he should seek advice or help. Show respect for your teenager’s privacy. Never read his mail or listen in on personal conversations.
Teach your teenager that the family phone is for the whole family. If your child talks on the family’s telephone for too long, tell him he can talk for l5 minutes, but then he must stay off the phone for at least all equal period of time. This not only frees up the line so that other family members can make and receive calls, but teaches your teenager moderation(节制).Or if you are open to the idea, allow your teenager his own phone that he pays for with his own pocket money or a part-time job.
1. The main purpose of the text is to tell parents ________ .| A．how to get along with a teenager | B．how to help a teenager grow up |
| C．how to understand a teenager | D．how to respect a teenager |
| A．refuse to talk | B．show respect |
| C．become excited | D．seek help |
| A．to pay for his own telephone | B．to use the phone in a sensible way |
| C．to share the phone with friends | D．to answer the phone quickly |
| A．Not allow him to learn driving or take drugs. |
| B．Let him have his own telephone. |
| C．Give him advice only when necessary. |
| D．Not talk about personal things with him. |
7 . My wife and I recently completed a day-long tour of the Great Wall with Jessie. In addition to being very knowledgeable about the history of the areas that we toured, she spoke excellent English and was able to answer all of our questions. Her driver was very experienced and polite, and we really enjoyed being able to have a customized tour that avoided the tourist traps and forced shopping that seem to be a part of the larger group tours.
The attractions themselves were fantastic. I was a little worried that the snowy weather might impact our trip to the Great Wall, but everything went fine, and there weren’t many people out at all that day. I suggest wearing strong shoes—the Great Wall is really a hike. And in snowy or rainy days, the surfaces are pretty slippery (滑的)! Seeing this area in winter was really unique, and the snow made for great pictures. Jessie kept us entertained with stories and facts about the construction of the Wall, and always pointed out great spots for taking pictures. Even though she’s in fantastic shape, she cared about our level of fitness and often stopped to let us catch our breath.
When we got back to our hotel, Jessie gave us a great recommendation for dinner and some tips for our planned stops the next day. If I find myself in Beijing in the future, I will certainly be contacting Jessie for more tour opportunities, and I’ve already recommended her to some friends who are visiting the area later in the year. I can’t say enough about how kind and knowledgeable she was, and she really gave us a great tour experience.
1. What can we infer about Jessie?| A．She is a tour advisor. |
| B．She is a tour guide. |
| C．She is a foreign traveler. |
| D．She is a skilled driver. |
| A．In spring. | B．In summer. |
| C．In autumn. | D．In winter. |
| A．Adventurous. | B．Disappointing. |
| C．Satisfactory. | D．Improvable. |
| A．A Wonderful Tour Day with Jessie |
| B．An Extraordinary Tour Company |
| C．The Great Wall, an Excellent Attraction |
| D．Jessie, a Kind and Knowledgeable Guide |
8 . Many parents have had challenging conversations with their children．There's one more to add to the list- climate change．
Start by listening．
Connect with nature．Encouraging kids to play outside helps them appreciate the outdoors．A study conducted a few years ago found that kids who play outdoors are more likely to be interested in protecting nature．
Encourage kids to act．Most kids know that climate change is happening，but they might not know what they can do to fix it．Often，what holds them back from acting is a lack of efficacy（效力）：they are not convinced that they can make a difference．So build children's efficacy by looking for examples of people，especially kids who are making a difference．
| A．Keep learning． |
| B．It isn't only about the future． |
| C．Improve their learning efficiency． |
| D．Climate change is real and the threat of it is serious． |
| E．Tell them that kids' actions are already incredibly effective． |
| F．Many children are already aware that the climate is changing． |
| G．Parents should know what children have learned in the school. |
9 . How to Love Your Parents
Even if you think that your parents are mean-spirited at times , loving your parents is a normal and fulfilling part of life. You love them for the fact that they created you, raised you, and are in part, a source of who you are.
A gentle “good morning” and “I love you” will warm a coldest heart. Remember that they brought you into this world. Without your parents, we might still wander at an unknown corner in an unknown world.
Respect them more and cherish these moments. You can use these moments to learn from them when you're off on your own. It's OK to get angry but angry actions don't help you or your parents. Act calmly, cool off, write down your feelings, or talk to a friend.
Obey their requests. It will make your attitude better and earn you more respect from them. It may seem like you are going through hell when you don't get what you want or you have to clean. However, you had better remember they keep a roof over your head when it's cold, raining, snowing, or too hot. Understand that parents are human beings and make mistakes.
Keep company with them. Do things with your parents like watching TV, or go somewhere with them.
Some people simply may not be able to love their parents.
| A．Parents will in turn express their love to you. |
| B．Forgiveness is the key. |
| C．Here are some ways to love your parents. |
| D．There can be realistic reasons for this, family violence for example. |
| E．Anyway, spend as much time with them as you can. |
| F．After this, share your feelings with your parents. |
| G．Please remember parents are as important as friends. |
10 . I often wonder how people can get so angry, so deep in their own belief that they become deaf to anything that may differ from their beliefs. I've often been told that I'm too open-minded, listening to others' viewpoints so openly that they become my own. Maybe that comes from my practice of actively listening to others. It means that I do really hear them instead of responding only out of politeness. Maybe it's because I was brought up by parents who didn't necessarily speak to me about respecting others but modeled it for me through their own actions. They treated everyone equally, from what I remember, never looking down upon others because they were different from us.
As I raise my daughters, I try my best to show them love and understanding in all situations. When they misbehave, talk back, or break the rules, I'll lovingly analyze the reasons behind their behaviour. I'll be tolerant (宽容的) towards their differing opinions and become open and curious about their ideas. And I'll be mindful of how I treat and speak to others, showing equal respect to everyone.
My expectation is that if I show my daughters unconditional love and acceptance, they'll learn to show the same love to others. I hope that they will not see difference as a threat, but as a way to add richness to their very existence. It's beautiful to live in a world filled with so many differences.
So, as I write this, welcoming my second daughter to my family, I'm fully aware that change begins with how I act and what decisions I make. Every generation carries its own set of problems. All we have control over is how we respond to those problems. This is what I will teach my girls: how to control their own emotional world; how to hold onto love as well as their beliefs and values; how to remember that hate and anger are never the answer and that tolerance and love will always take them further in life.
1. What makes the author different from other people?| A．Her deep understanding of belief. | B．Her negative views on social politeness. |
| C．Her reaction to different opinions. | D．Her confusing attitude towards her parents. |
| A．Encourage them to have different opinions. |
| B．Set them an example of love and acceptance. |
| C．Punish them heavily for their bad behaviors. |
| D．Teach them some useful conversation skills. |
| A．Love me, love my dog. | B．Don't put the cart before the horse. |
| C．Nothing seek, nothing find. | D．Music with different tones sounds beautiful. |
| A．The Importance of Love and Tolerance | B．The Art of Social Communication |
| C．The Ways to Effectively Listen to others | D．The Positive Attitude towards Hate and Anger |
