1 . For many runners, a marathon can often be a challenge—but sometimes what gets a runner through the tough 26.2 miles is looking out into the crowd and seeing his or her loved one holding up a sign and shouting words of encouragement. For one mom, though, her loved one was a bit more hands-on.
While running the REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon in Salt Lake City, Courtney Rich, a self-taught baker and mother of two, was beginning to run out of energy just yards from the end when she was suddenly joined by her 10-year-old daughter, Avery.
The touching moment, caught on video and posted on social media, shows Avery running to her mother’s side to support her as she approached the end of the race. Rich’s face lit up when Avery joined her and helped her cross the finish line.
Rich later said in the video’s caption that being joined by her daughter to finish the race was “a moment I hope neither of us ever forget”. Rich said that her daughter could tell she was struggling after a phone call near the end of the race. “She knew I had struggled the last few miles,” Rich said. “She saw tears in my eyes when I called on mile 24.”
In the video, Rich’s facial expression changes from tiredness to a smile after seeing her daughter emerge from the crowd to join her. Then, Rich and her daughter ran hand-in-hand to the finish line. “Nothing could have prepared me for the moment my 10-year-old daughter would jump out of the crowd and run with me to the finish line,” she said. When the race was done, the two hugged each other at the finish line. The video ends with a final caption, “And then she just held me. She held me.”
In the past, the REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon has had other memorable moments of mothers caring for their children, but perhaps not as hands-on as this one.
1. What happened to Rich when she was coming to the finish line?| A．She felt herself struggling. | B．She was far behind others. |
| C．She fell down all of a sudden. | D．She was interrupted by Avery. |
| A．She ran the rest in place of Rich. | B．She tried to call for help at once. |
| C．She helped Rich run to the finish line. | D．She shouted encouraging words to Rich. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Content. | C．Concerned. | D．Expected. |
| A．A Daughter Cheered For Her Mother By Joining In Her Race |
| B．A Mother Encouraged Her Daughter To Pursue Her Dream |
| C．A Daughter Got Involved In Her Mother’s Race By Mistake |
| D．A Mother Would Never Give Up On Her Marathon Dream |
2 . My grandma, Elena, pulled me on stage for our routine to entertain the crowd. At five years old, I needed no encouragement to perform. Like my grandma, formerly a professional dancer, I loved the spotlight, and soon became addicted to the applause (鼓掌).
I was Grandma’s willing partner, always ready to kick off a show with her on stage. Each week, Grandma came to my parents’ home so that we could practice our performances. “Choose whatever you like,” Grandma said. “You can wear whatever you want.”
Grandma didn’t mind at all if I chose to wear high-heeled shoes on stage. To her, I was a natural performer. Wearing them was simply considered as artistic expression. On my first night on stage, I dressed up as Madonna in a white skirt, singing a song of her and I won many praises.
One year, after being attracted by the movie 101 Dalmatians, I decided to act Cruella de Vil, a role in it. Performing on the stage with my black frock (连衣裙), a handbag and a cigarette holder, I enjoyed the audience’s laughter, and it was like music to my ears. “You’re a natural actor,” Grandma said after the show.
Today, I always perform at the hugely popular theatre. Going up on stage feels like being at home. That’s how I make a living and I find the place where I belong. In July this year, I headed to the Gold Coast, where Grandma lives. Now 95 and still my biggest fan, she saw me perform my new act for the first time and loved it.
She has been my lifelong inspiration and support, but I can never repay her. She always loved me for who I was and now, I’m finally the person who I was always meant to be.
1. What can we know about the author from the text?| A．She lived with her grandma. | B．She has liked performing since young. |
| C．She always refused to go on the stage. | D．She learned to dance from her grandma. |
| A．She supported it. | B．She punished her. |
| C．She bought her a skirt. | D．She paid no attention to it. |
| A．An actor. | B．A teacher. | C．A doctor. | D．A manager. |
| A．To memorize her experiences. | B．To show her achievements. |
| C．To record her childhood. | D．To thank her grandma. |
3 . How to Make Friends
Friendship is a very important human relationship and everyone needs good friends. Good friendship has many benefits. It offers companionship, improves self-worth and promotes good health. There are times in our lives such as when we have recently moved into a new town, or changed our jobs or schools. Such changes often leave us without a friend.
1. Associate with others.
The first step to making friends is associating with other people. You can go to public places to meet new people. Besides, you will need to make yourself known by becoming an active member of such places.
2. Start a conversation.
Starting a conversation is the second most important step in making new friends.
3.
Choosing friends with common interests is important in building friendship as these interests would always bring you and your friend together. Hanging out will always be a pleasant experience.
4. Let it grow.
It is a good thing to stay in touch. However, try not to press your new friend with calls, messages or visits as this would likely wear him or her out and finally you may lose your friend.
5. Enjoy your friendship.
The best way to enjoy your friendship is to allow your friends to be themselves.
| A．Be cheerful. |
| B．Do things together. |
| C．Do not wait to be spoken to. |
| D．Try not to find fault with your friends. |
| E．Making new friends comes easy for some people. |
| F．For a friendship to develop you need to stay in touch. |
| G．So you will need to give your friend time to react to you. |
4 . In choosing a friend, one should be very careful. A good friend can help you study. You can have fun together and make each other happy. Sometimes you will meet fair weather friends. They will be with you as long as you have money or luck, but when you are down, they will run away. How do I know when I have found a good friend? I look for certain qualities of character, especially understanding, honesty and reliability.
Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling. He is not quick to judge. Instead, he tries to learn from others. He puts himself in the other person’s place, and he tries to think of ways to be helpful. He is also a good listener.
At the same time, however, a good friend is honest. He does not look for faults in others. He notices their good points. In short, a friend will try to understand me and accept me
Another quality of a friend is reliability. I can always depend on a good friend. If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time, I can be sure that he will be there. If I need a favor, he will do his best to help me. If I am in trouble, he will not run away from me.
There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special. A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. We should enjoy our lives, and we would enjoy our friendship. That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with. A good friend likes the same things I like. We share experience and learn from each other. A good friend has a good sense of humor too. He likes to laugh with me. That is how we share in the joy of being friends. And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me.
When I meet someone who is reliable, honest, and understanding, I know I’ve found a friend!
1. Which of the following qualities the writer thinks is the most important in choosing a friend?| A．Honesty. | B．Understanding. | C．Reliability. | D．A sense of humor. |
| A．they will give you all that they have when you need help. |
| B．you will be refused when you get into trouble. |
| C．you can be sure that you get real friends. |
| D．you will become rich. |
| A．very outgoing | B．quite knowledgeable. | C．can be trusted. | D．willing to listen. |
| A．the qualities of a friend. | B．where to choose friends. |
| C．how to get along with friends. | D．the importance of having a friend. |
5 . For 2-year-old girl Jordyn Cleverly, from Bose, Idaho, her white wedding served as the perfect occasion to wear her grandmother’s very own 55-year-old wedding dress. The long-sleeved dress was first worn by Jordyn’s grandmother, Penny Jensen, when she married her childhood sweetheart in 1962. In images caught by photographer Kortney Peterson, Penny can be seen looking at her granddaughter in her dress and breaking down in tears.
In an interview with Inside Edition, the young bride explained she kept the decision to wear her grandmother’s dress as a secret until the rehearsal(排演) dinner two nights before the wedding. “I didn’t want her to see it for the first time in the church and just start crying when all those memories came back to her,” she said.
Disheartened with the choice of dresses on offer in local shops, Jordyn said, “I tried on a couple of dresses at a local wedding dress shop and I just couldn’t find anything that had the style, that old style that I was looking for.” When she learned her grandma was intending to donate her old dress to charity, Jordyn felt inspired. “I wanted to pay tribute(敬意) to the dress that had been there for 55 years,” she said.
“It may be a size or two too big and so I contacted a local tailor to see if there was anything we could do with it,” she said. “Absolutely, it’s in good shape. My grandma had zero idea; she didn’t know it was in my possession(财产).”
Kortney Peterson said, “Her grandma’s reaction was one of the sweetest reactions I’ve ever seen. Tears were brought to here yes,” Jordyn’s grandfather passed away before she was born. “As she walked outside to see her grandma, it began to rain,” Kortney said. “We all viewed the rain as teardrops from heaven. Teardrops from her grandfather. It made the moment much more beautiful and special.”
1. What moved Penny Jensen?
| A．She met her grandma at the wedding. |
| B．Her images were presented at the wedding. |
| C．Her granddaughter wore her wedding dress. |
| D．Her wedding dress was found by a photographer. |
| A．Keep her wedding day a secret， |
| B．Hide her intention to wear the dress until the rehearsal. |
| C．Do the rehearsal without her grandma. |
| D．Have an interview with Inside Edition. |
| A．It was just the right size. |
| B．It was the old style she wanted. |
| C．She wanted to surprise the guests. |
| D．She wanted to stop her grandma donating it. |
| A．The wedding was put off because of the rain. |
| B．People were all moved to tears by the grandma. |
| C．Jordyn Cleverly’s grandfather died on a rainy day. |
| D．The weather made the wedding more unforgettable. |
6 . It is known to us that smoking is bad for people. But if one or both of your parents smoke, you might be worried about their health.
Encourage your parents to quit rather than order them.
Find some videos on the Internet so that your parents can really feel the bad effects of smoking. Besides, there are some free programs to help people stop smoking.
Become their greatest supporter. Ask if there’s anything you can do to help them when they feel the urge to smoke. Maybe you can go for a walk, do a puzzle, or listen to music together.
| A．Avoid parents’ anger. |
| B．Be patient and friendly with your parents. |
| C．These are beneficial for them to quit smoking. |
| D．You need to praise any progress they make. |
| E．But sometimes it’s not so easy for them to stop smoking. |
| F．You can talk to them about the disadvantages of smoking. |
| G．You can tell them what benefit they can get from quitting smoking. |
7 . New Year gift ideas for parents
Getting gifts for your parents on New Year 2021 does not have to be that hard.
A restaurant gift card for dinner.
After all those busy schedules and tough work routines, your parents definitely need a relaxing break on New Year’s Day. You can send them a restaurant gift card.
Joy and happiness.
When parents get old, they appreciate family joy time. They love partying with their grown-up sons and daughters, and spending time with their grandchildren.
A sweet New Year wish from children can bring a smile on your parents’ face. So, wish them a Happy New Year 2021 and make them feel extra-special. Write a beautiful New Year wish on a greeting card, and present it to your mom and dad with a nice bouquet of bright flowers.
Other than all this, you can also perform a secret check in your parents’ home and make a list of things that you think should be gifted to them for this New Year.
| A．This is why the new year starts with it. |
| B．Treat them to a nice dinner on New Year’s Eve. |
| C．New Year 2021 marks the beginning of the new calendar year. |
| D．Here we show you some best New Year gift ideas for parents. |
| E．Giving them a greeting card or sending them a New Year text message. |
| F．To fulfill this wish of your parents, you can arrange a grand family get-together. |
| G．That gift can be any gift that makes them remember you when they use it. |
8 . I have happy memories of trips to Europe, but my trip to Romania was unique. When I was there, it was like being in a “James Bond” movie. My husband was born there, but his family sent him to study in Italy. Before he left, his mother told him, “As long as I write in pencil, you don’t come back. When I write to you in pen, it’s safe to return.” She never wrote in pen.
So, like the boy in Vittorio De Sica’s film The Bicycle Thief, he lived a poor life in Italy. He applied to go to America, but was rejected. He was accepted by Canada, though, and he then took a train to San Francisco and stayed there illegally. He became a US citizen until we married.
Seven years later, he felt it was safe to visit Romania. He hadn’t seen his mother, two sisters, and two brothers since he was 16. When we reached Bucharest, his family were waiting outside his sister’s house to greet us. After lengthy hugging, kissing, and crying, his family also hugged me, the American wife with two kids.
Romania didn’t have many dry cleaners. Most homes had old-fashioned washing machines but no dryers, and it was a hot summer. My husband’s relatives didn’t want to risk dirtying their clothes. Their solution was simply startling: the women dined in only their underclothes. The men were shirtless. I, of course, having just met them, ate fully clothed. I washed my clothes by hand and hung them outdoors to dry.
On the last night of our three-week stay, we had a large family dinner. I was tired of washing my clothes. So I pulled my dress over my head and placed it on the chair behind me. The table broke out in applause. Even with my poor Romanian, I understood that they were saying, “She’s part of our family now.”
1. Why did the author’s mother-in-law never write in pen?| A．She could not read or write properly. |
| B．The Romanians lacked pens at that time. |
| C．She intended her son to study hard abroad. |
| D．It was unsafe for her son to return to Romania. |
| A．Surprising. | B．Annoying. | C．Encouraging. | D．Disappointing. |
| A．She still dined fully clothed. | B．She dined in only her underclothes too. |
| C．She finally gave up washing her clothes. | D．She was resisted by her husband’s family at last. |
| A．East and West, Home is the Best | B．An Unforgettable Trip to Romania |
| C．When in Romania, do as the Romanians do | D．The Problem with Clothes Washing in Romania |
9 . The mental health of children is connected to their parents’ mental health. A recent study asked parents to report on their children’s mental and physical (身体的) health as well as their own mental health. One in 14 children aged 0~17 years had a parent who reported poor mental health, and those children were more likely to have poor general health and a mental or developmental disability.
Being mentally healthy during childhood includes reaching developmental milestones, learning healthy social skills and how to solve problems. Mentally healthy children are more likely to have a happy life and are more likely to work well at home, in school, and in their communities.
A child’s healthy development depends on their parents who serve as their first sources(来源) of support in becoming independent and leading healthy and successful lives.
The mental health of parents and children is connected in many ways. Parents who have their own mental health challenges, such as dealing with anxiety (fear or worry), may have more difficulty providing care for their children compared to parents who describe their mental health as good. Caring for children can create challenges for parents, particularly if they lack (缺乏) support, which can have a negative effect on a parent’s mental health. Parents and children may also experience shared risks, such as living in unsafe environments, and the like.
Fathers are important for improving children’s mental health, although they are not as often included in research studies as mothers. The recent study looked at fathers and found similar connections between their mental health and their children’s general and mental health as for mothers. Fathers and mothers need support, which, in turn, can help them support their children’s mental health.
1. What does the study mainly focus on?| A．Some useful social skills. | B．Children’s future life. |
| C．Parent-child mental health. | D．Community’s influence. |
| A．Raising kids without support. | B．Living in a strange place. |
| C．Sharing a common interest. | D．Communicating with each other. |
| A．They are often included in studies. | B．They play a more important part. |
| C．They seldom bear the responsibility. | D．They can influence children’s health. |
| A．In a diary. | B．In a book review. |
| C．In a magazine. | D．In a children’s story. |
10 . Rosie Colucci’s medical history is filled with a series of thunderstruck numbers: 3 rare and life-threatening diseases—an inoperable brain tumor(肿瘤), neurofibromatosis and hydrocephalus—countless medications, including six types of chemotherapy(化疗); 14 brain surgeries, mainly to implant catheters to keep fluid from gathering on her brain, a result of the hydrocephalus; 16 other surgeries and 230 tests; 405 clinic visits; 1,486 doses of chemotherapy; 71 nights in the hospital; 33 emergency room visits; and 11 stays in the ICU.
Another number: Rosie’s age—14. An official cancer diagnosis came when she was little. After a decade of being sick, the teenager would much rather focus on some different numbers.
Take 60,000—that’s how many new toys, games and blankets she’s helped get into the hands of hospitalized kids. She’s also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for pediatric cancer research. Rosie increases her toy giveaways around the holidays but gives them out year round.
It didn’t sit well with her as a kid learning to share that so many people gave her stuffed animals and toys, while other kids hospitalized with equally serious diseases weren’t seeing the same gifts.
Rosie works tirelessly on Rosie’s Toy Box, a charitable organization she came up with, which now is on the path toward becoming a registered nonprofit, drawing hundreds of donated toys for hospitalized kids.
“I wanted to de-emphasize the expecting of gifts and asking for gifts, and I just wanted to give her a sense of giving rather than always receiving,” Cathy Reichl, her mother, said, “I hope it’s something that stays with her as she grows, and I think it will be—the realization that not everyone has what you have, some people have struggles with their health and we could just use something to brighten their days.”
1. What does the author think of Rosie’s medical history?| A．Unbelievable. | B．Abnormal. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Unnecessary. |
| A．At the age of 3. | B．At the age of 4. |
| C．At the age of 10. | D．At the age of 14. |
| A．It is a registered organization. |
| B．It was founded by Cathy Reichl. |
| C．It donates toys to children in hospital. |
| D．It raises money for sick kids to pay for their medical treatment. |
| A．Rosie’s suffering will be paid off one day. |
| B．Rosie should raise her awareness of giving. |
| C．Rosie thinks highly of expecting of gifts and asking for gifts. |
| D．The realization of equality will accompany Rosie throughout her life. |
