1 . When I was a little girl, you and I loved decorating the living room and tree to make it look festive. We loved Christmas. After decorating, we would bake cakes. “Make enough mince pies (肉末馅饼), because Santa likes them,” you would tell me.
Christmas Eve came, I was totally excited at the thought of Santa coming. I’d get into my neatly made bed and fall asleep until Christmas morning.
I’d wake up and thrill at the sight before me. At the bottom of my bed would be loads of presents that Santa had brought during the night. I’d scream in delight, excitedly tearing the paper open. Running downstairs, I would discover there were also lots of presents around the Christmas tree.
Many years later, the tradition continued and we’d bake the mince pies and cakes. The only thing that stopped was the presents at the end of the bed I grew out of them.
One afternoon, we were making extra mince pies as usual when I casually commented that you really loved them, “Those extra mince pies were actually never for Santa, They were for you!” You never said a word a silly smile was your only reply.
Christmas changed in 1986, when you suffered a serious brain haemorrhage ( 脑出血 ) . After suffering throughout Christmas, you passed away on the 29 December.
Only now am I starting to enjoy Christmas again, and while I don t do the baking any more, I do have mince pies in the house. I leave one out just for you, as if you were still a part of my Christmas. And I make sure I put up the decorations in memory of you, and us. At the end of the letter, thanks for the wonderful memories of Christmas, Mum.
1. Why was the author excited at Christmas Eve?| A．She would dream of Santa. |
| B．She would receive a lot of presents. |
| C．She would have enough mince pies. |
| D．She would decorate the Christmas tree. |
| A．Mum no longer baked the mince pies. |
| B．Santa no longer brought presents to the author. |
| C．The author was old enough not to receive presents. |
| D．The author got tired of the same presents every year. |
| A．The author told the truth. | B．Santa didn’t like mince pies. |
| C．She ate the extra mince pies. | D．The author couldn’t understand her yet. |
| A．To remember her mother. | B．To express thanks to Santa. |
| C．To reflect on the past old days. | D．To record memories of Christmas. |
2 . A 99-year-old woman and a high school student in British Columbia have formed a wonderful friendship through a program that connects seniors with young people.
Myrtle MacDonald, 99, says she signed up for the local program after feeling lonely because her daughter and son couldn’t keep her company. She was paired (结对子) with Jaelyn Brown,17, based on their common interest — nursing. “I just found her more interested and less in a hurry than I expected. It has filled an empty spot,” said MacDonald.
For the high school students taking part, the time spent with seniors can be used toward volunteer hours needed for graduation. They’re supposed to speak for 30 minutes each week, but many go far beyond that. “I love and look forward to getting to talk to her every week. We talk about an hour and 15 minutes, and the time just goes by so quickly,” said Brown.
MacDonald, a former nurse, spent much of her life teaching and living in other parts of the world helping people in need. The stories are inspiring to Brown, who also wants to become a nurse. “In high school they kind of say you go to school, you get a job, you have kids. It's are gular practice but talking to her has made me realize I don't have to limit myself to one thing. I can have it all,” she said.
The program has been a good fortune to both seniors and high school students. Due to various reasons, seniors can't meet with their families and students are having trouble getting their volunteer hours. “Therefore, there's been a huge positive response from them,” said the program’s organizer Connie Stam.
1. How do the high school students help the seniors?| A．By contacting their relatives. | B．By communicating with them. |
| C．By doing housework for them. | D．By setting up the volunteer program. |
| A．It improves the seniors' health. |
| B．It collects some data for research. |
| C．It calls for some practical nursing skills. |
| D．It goes beyond the requirement for graduation. |
| A．Grateful. | B．Graceful. |
| C．Helpful. | D．Powerful. |
| A．A Good Friend Is A Close Relative | B．True Friendship Bridges Age Gaps |
| C．Friendship Is The Basis Of Morality | D．Old Friends And Old wine Are Best |
3 . 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 |
4 . A teenager in Georgia will no longer have to walk 7 miles to work after school thanks to one woman’s act of kindness.
Jayden Sutton, a high school senior, went on foot each day from school to his job at a restaurant and then back home. Sutton was determined to work and make enough money to eventually buy his own vehicle.
Sutton said he’d leave school at 3:30 pm, then walk miles to his job at the restaurant. After his work, which usually lasted six to eight hours, he walked home, sometimes not arriving back until almost midnight.
That all changed when Myers saw him walking down the road in the rain in December. “The young man was insistently in a rush walking to work, saying ‘I can’t be late,’” Myers said. “He begged me to give him a ride. I told him I could take him as far as I was going. I began to create small talk along the way. It was revealed to me that his name was Jayden, 12th grader, worked 40 hours a week, walked 5 miles to work immediately after school, got off at 10:30 pm at night and walked back home another 5 miles if co-workers didn’t offer a ride.”
After dropping Sutton off, Myers said his heart and determination filled her with tears. “He was smiling in good spirits and that’s a child worth blessing,” she told Fox News. So, Myers shared Sutton’s story on the GoFundMe page, which raised more than $ 9, 000 from 186 donors.
She surprised Sutton with a new car after she managed to convince the general manager to drop the price of the vehicle to meet the budget.
1. Why did Sutton work so hard in his spare time?| A．To gain working experience. | B．To pay for his education. |
| C．To own a car. | D．To support his family. |
| A．He worked longer than other workers. | B．His work was too tiring. |
| C．His job was much less paid. | D．He had to walk to work. |
| A．Known. | B．Attached. | C．Believed. | D．Limited. |
| A．It could buy more than a new car. |
| B．It was not enough to buy a new car. |
| C．It was given to Myers to buy herself a new car. |
| D．It mainly came from a car sales manager. |
5 . It was the day after Christmas 33 years ago. My wife gave birth to our first child. We were full of appreciation to have Joseph John Mazzella II , also called JJ, sleeping peacefully in the cradle(摇篮)next to our bed.
We had been on the road showing off our little baby to all of the grandparents and great—grandparents. It had been a busy Christmas and hard on my wife who was still recovering from her operation. Now we were back in our tiny flat trying to get a few extra hours of sleep before starting the day.
Just then I heard JJ stirring in his cradle. I leaned over and picked him up before he started to cry and then carefully stole out into the living room so that my wife could keep sleeping. I picked up a bottle and sat in our rocking chair with JJ in my arms. I rocked quietly and fed him in the living room while he looked up at me with his loving eyes. I spoke softly to him but also felt a little nervous and scared as I watched him. How was I going to take care of him? I was a new father and had no idea what the future had in store for us. I rocked and rocked. But luckily, I had so many elders to help me.
After a few minutes I saw the sun slowly rising in the sky outside my window. The bright light was shining down from the heavens making the freshly fallen snow shine with beauty that touched my soul. As I watched it, my fear escaped and I felt such a sense of peace, harmony, love and joy. The Christmas spirit had entered my heart and I smiled. I knew then that whatever the future would hold, it would be smooth as long as I kept love in my heart. New life is precious and I believed my child would be grateful, too and bring us new sunshine in the future.
1. How did the couple feel about the birth of JJ?| A．Appreciative. | B．Calm. | C．Helpless. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．To look for a bottle. |
| B．To appreciate the sun. |
| C．To make him sleep again. |
| D．To avoid disturbing his wife. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. | C．Uncertain. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．The family's difficulty. |
| B．The mother's pain and fear. |
| C．The baby's life experiences. |
| D．The father's love and responsibility. |
6 . Talking with Your Parents
Learning to deal with your parents as a young adult is a tough task. Sometimes, parents struggle to admit you have grown up and can care for yourself. Other times, they may simply have thought otherwise. No doubt, communication is the best way to solve the conflict. Here are some tips on that.
Choose a time when your parents can sit down and talk with you without being distracted. Try to talk with your parents alone at first. If you live away from home, call and ask what time would work the best for them.
Be straightforward and honest.
You are only as good as your words, so don't lie. Simply recount the events from your list and include your emotional reactions. If it is easier, you may ask your parents to remain silent until you finish with an initial 'list' of concerns.
When your parents get a chance to talk, respect them and listen carefully. This is your opportunity to try to understand where they are coming from. There is a possibility that the same event was viewed in two different ways.
Ask for advice.
Keep parts of the conversation positive by telling your parents about your goals for the future. Discuss your financial, romantic, or work plans and ask for their advice?
| A．Pick a good setting. |
| B．Choose a suitable time. |
| C．Wait until they are finished and ask some questions. |
| D．It's not healthy to hold thoughts and feelings inside. |
| E．It's best to avoid a public place for a conversation of this type. |
| F．You can also ask your parents for money to show respect for them. |
| G．This lets them know that you value their opinion and will request it. |
7 . I was sitting at my kitchen table the other day with a pen, notebook, calculator and a pile of bills. I was doing my monthly budget. There were bills for electric water, rent, insurance, the car payment, the phone bill, and the cable bill. Plus money needed to be set aside for food, gas, clothes and hopefully a little left over to save for those unexpected bills that always seemed to show up. When I was done, I shook my head, closed my eyes and thought of a time long ago when I would regularly get treasures.
When I was a boy, we lived across the road from Camp Caesar. It held week long camps all through the summer and my grandma who I lovingly called “Nanny” worked in her big kitchen. I remember slipping there getting a smile, a hug, a kiss and a hot roll from Nanny. Then she would always take deep in her pockets and pull out a treasure, a shiny quarter. She would give it to me and I would run down the hill to either get an ice cold can of coke from the pop machine or I would head to the camp’s swimming pool where I could buy a warm cup of cherry coke for 15 cents and a tiny 10 cent bag of chips from a stand. I took my time because it was always a big decision. It was nice too feeling so rich for a few minutes.
Looking back now I can see that the real treasure was not the quarter at all. It was the love with which Nanny gave it to me. I would have still visited her at work every day if I had never gotten a single quarter. It was her smile, hugs, and kisses that were priceless in my heart then and now.
The old saying is true, “With your work you can make a living, but it is with your love that you make a life.” You can always welcome love into your heart, soul and mind. And you can always share your love with others. It is that one treasure that lasts forever.
1. According to Paragraph 1, what was the author trying to figure out?| A．Where to get treasures. | B．What food and supplies to buy. |
| C．How to sort out these bills at hand. | D．How to balance the money available. |
| A．A kind of bread | B．A kind of act. |
| C．A sound. | D．A greeting. |
| A．Considerate. | B．Generous. |
| C．Affectionate. | D．Enthusiastic. |
| A．To change people’s heart and soul. |
| B．To show what we should value in life. |
| C．To explain work and love can make a life. |
| D．To advise more love and sharing in childhood. |
8 . Aron Lee Ralston was born in a middle class American household. His family moved to Colorado when Aron was 12 years old and this move laid the foundation for his love for hiking around the canyons (峡谷).
Aron’s life changed on April 26th, 2003, upon facing the event that threatened to take his life, and almost took it. He was hiking through the Blue John Canyon and he accidentally displaced a huge rock he was climbing down from. The rock caught his right hand in between itself and the canyon wall.
Aron had decided to go on the adventure alone and hadn’t informed anybody about it. So, when he was unable to free his right hand, he felt he would be stuck forever in there. He tried hard to get his hand out but failed, and screaming for help was of no use either. Moreover, he didn’t want to wear himself out as shouting for help would take a lot of energy, which was essential (重要) for surviving the unfortunate event for a long period of time.
After a couple of days, he knew it was impossible for him to set himself free from an 800-pound rock. He decided to cut off his right hand. He had a blunt (钝的) pocket knife with him, which wasn’t sharp enough to cut through the bone. Some time passed and his water and food supply ended. He carved his name, date of birth and a possible date of death on the stone.
But luckily he got a strange idea that he could use the torque (扭转力) and his bones to separate his arm from his body. With the help of his very limited tool, he finally succeeded and walked out of the canyon, bleeding in large amounts. Fortunately, a holidaying family saw him and gave him food and water, and then took him to a hospital.
After the accident, Aron got a prosthetic limb (假肢) and continued mountain climbing, considering the accident as a “turning point in his life”.
1. What happened to Aron while he was hiking?| A．He was too tired and unable to climb |
| B．He suffered a knife wound in his right leg |
| C．He accidentally fell down the mountain. |
| D．He got a hand stuck between a rock and the canyon wall |
| A．He found a way to save himself. | B．He needed to save energy. |
| C．He gave up hope for survival | D．He met a family on vacation. |
| A．He removed the huge stone. |
| B．He cut off his arm with a knife. |
| C．He was pulled out of there by his family. |
| D．He was rescued by people from a hospital. |
| A．Enthusiastic and kind. | B．Independent and generous. |
| C．Adventurous and determined | D．Responsible and professional. |
9 . Most Chinese know the story of Chang’e, the Chinese goddess of the moon. People can’t hear the word “Chang’e” without thinking of romantic images of a moon goddess.
For this reason, China’s mission to the moon was calling out for a strong female figure. Therefore, a young female space commander ( 指 挥 员 ) is under heated discussion on Chinese social media for her work on the Chang’e-5 Moon exploration program with comments about how she is a “frontline soldier in the field of aerospace” that young Chinese can look up to. Soon her pictures spread quickly on social media.
Ms Zhou, a 24-year-old lady of Tujia ethnic group, is China’s youngest ever space commander. She was involved in the successful launch of the Chang’e-5 lunar probe on 24 November, in charge of the rocket connector system, described as a key role.
In Wenchang space launch site, though she is only 1.58 meters and looks “mini”, she is called “big sister” for her attitude and energy. Since senior high, she has dreamed of being a member of a space research team. With her great efforts, she was admitted to an aircraft system and engineering major of a domestic university in 2014, making her aerospace dream come true. To grow into a commander, in two and a half years, she changed five positions to be familiar with different posts and types of work, each of which takes great courage and is full of challenges.
Her story has received attention from Chinese state-run media as well as overseas media outlets. However, it has not appeared to have had much of an effect on her. According to the media, she declined repeated requests for interviews because she does not wish to let fame get in the way of her work.
1. Why is Chang’e mentioned at the beginning of the text?| A．To introduce the topic. | B．To give an example. |
| C．To tell a romantic story. | D．To spread Chinese culture. |
| A．Her youth and beauty. |
| B．Her pictures on the media. |
| C．Her identity of Tujia Ethnic group. |
| D．Her role in the moon-landing program. |
| A．She was too busy with her work. |
| B．She was shy and was not used to interviews. |
| C．She feared her fame might affect her career. |
| D．She considered fame nothing but a burden. |
| A．Many hands make light work. |
| B．Hard work makes up for inability. |
| C．The grass is always greener on the other side. |
| D．Attitude determines how successful one becomes. |
10 . Accompanied by her father, using a combination of aid and free climbing and taking advantage of some special equipment and ropes for protection, 10-year-old Selah made it to the top of El Capitan on June 12 after five days of big wall climbing.
Climbing the challenging and adventurous Nose route of El Capitan was a labor of love for Selah in more than one way. Her parents , Mike and Joy Schneiter, fell in love on this 3,000- plus-foot huge rock and she has always wanted to feel the way that her parents felt when they were up there together. Selah showed great interest in rock climbing at an early age. She wore her first rock-climbing equipment shortly after she learned to walk. She first dreamed of climbing El Capitan when she was 6 or 7.
El Capitan is a famous mountain-sized rock in Yosemite National Park. Getting to its top is no easy task. It's taller, as reported, than the tallest building in the world-Dubai’s Buri Khalifa. El Capitan and its difficult Nose route, which runs more than 3,000 feet high up the center of the rock's face, is considered one of the world's hardest big wall climbs and has attracted the best climbers over time. But never before had a youngster accomplished it.
Selah's achievement caught national attention. Outside Magazine called her the youngest documented person to climb the Nose. Ken Yager, president of the Yosemite Climbing Association, said he also couldn't think of anyone younger who has done it.
Selah is humble about her El Capitan accomplishment. "I'm not necessarily a special kid or anything like that, she said. "There were a few times when I would be so worn that it would kind of discourage me from holding on. But overall, it was just great to keep plugging away.”
Selah shared this advice for other young climbers dreaming of big walls, "It doesn't take necessarily a super special person to do something like that. You just have to put your mind to it.”
1. What do we learn about Selah climbing El Capitan?| A．She began her climbing on June 5. |
| B．She got inspired by her family history. |
| C．She managed without any external help. |
| D．She was the first female to reach the top. |
| A．To state El Capitan's height. |
| B．To prove El Capitan's popularity. |
| C．To introduce El Capitan's location. |
| D．To stress the challenge of climbing El Capitan. |
| A．Determined. | B．Generous. |
| C．Warm-hearted. | D．Fortunate. |
| A．Dream big and aim high. |
| B．Be committed to your ambition. |
| C．Chance favors the prepared mind. |
| D．Nothing is impossible for a genius. |
