1 . 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. |
2 . “Have you checked the oil in the car?” my father used to say to me, his way of “Hello, hope you are well.” Sometimes our phone calls would begin with a question about the oil and end with a question about the oil, with not a lot in between.
Fathers have a lot of love to give, but it’s often offered by means of practical advice. In my experience: It’s mostly about my car. “How’s the car running?” “Did you get it serviced?” My car — an old green Toyota Corona bought for $500 — was where my father showed his love.
Why can’t we fathers just say “I love you” or “It’s great to see you”? The point is: that’s exactly what we are saying. You just have to translate from the language that is Fatherlish. Listen closely enough and the phrase “I love you” can be heard in the slightly longer “I could come around Saturday and repair your chair.” The words “You made my life better from the moment you were born” may be hardly heard, but the main meaning is there in the more common “I’ll hold the ladder while you get the leaves down from the roof.”
When I was 17, I went on my first road trip — a friend and I in that old car. My father stood on the corner on a cold morning to say goodbye. “Highways are dangerous,” he said, “so don’t try overtaking anything faster than a horse and buggy. And take a break every two hours. And every time you stop for gas, you really should check the oil.” At the time we thought his speech was pretty funny and would sing “horse-and-buggy” every time I tried to overtake some other speeding cars.
Dad’s long gone now. But after all these years, I realize that had I owned a copy of the Fatherlish-to-English dictionary, I’d have understood that the speech my friend and I so carelessly laughed at was simply Dad’s attempt at love.
1. Why did the author’s father often ask about the car?| A．To show his love for the car. | B．To see if there is enough oil. |
| C．To express his care to his son. | D．To check the condition of the car. |
| A．I love you deeply. | B．It’s great to see you. |
| C．You made my life better. | D．I can check the oil for you. |
| A．Outrunning. | B．Approaching. |
| C．Crashing into. | D．Knocking over. |
| A．He wanted to own a dictionary. | B．He regrets his childish behavior. |
| C．He is sad about his father’s death. | D．He realized his father’s love then. |
3 . There can be magic in the touch of a hand that loves you. It brings comfort and a silent promise that says, “I am here and you are not alone.”
I memorized every detail about my children. As babies, they reached for me whenever they were hungry or tired or just needed to be held. Sometimes, if they woke in the night, just the touch of my hand would ease them back to sleep. They clung to me when they took their first steps and we held hands when crossing streets and walking from the car to their classroom on their first day of school.
As they grew older and more independent, I noticed that they didn't hold my hand much any more. I told myself it was part of growing up, and I should just be glad they could do things on their own now.
But when you've been needed so much for such a long time, it's hard to step back and feel unnecessary.
Then one day, I was visiting my oldest son in New York, where he was working as an actor on a TV show. As we were about to cross a busy street that was filled with traffic, he grabbed my hand and shouted, “Hang on to me, Mom,” then led me safely across.
At that moment, I realized two things. First, my boy had become a man. Second, it was clear that our roles had changed. We still needed each other, but in different ways than before.
That scene has replayed in various ways with each of my three children. They have all taught me to lean on them just as they once leaned on me, and that we can always lean on each other. We live miles apart, but stay in touch every day. There is magic and comfort and healing in the touch of a hand that loves you, even if it “touches” you from afar.
1. How did the author get along with her children when they were young?| A．She overprotected them. | B．She was very strict with them. |
| C．She developed a close connection with them. | D．She was too busy to look after them. |
| A．She felt lonely when living apart from them. |
| B．She was worried that they couldn't manage themselves. |
| C．She was glad to be able to step back and enjoy herself. |
| D．She felt a bit uncomfortable when not needed so much as before. |
| A．she needed her son more than before |
| B．her son had become mature and reliable |
| C．time with children is always happy |
| D．she was unwilling to accept the change in their roles |
| A．To show the power of the touch of a hand. |
| B．To show how parents affect their kids. |
| C．To explore how to interact with children. |
| D．To describe the growth of her children. |
4 . The spring before our son Hank was scheduled to enter kindergarten, we were invited to the school's “Kindergarten Round-up”. The title led me to believe that Hank and I would be enjoying a fun night.999
We arrived to find several on-the-spot tests to see where Hank ranked academically. Somewhat nervously, I watched as Hank recited the alphabet (字母表), counted as high as he could, and arranged blocks in a series of confusing patterns. So far, so good. I breathed a sigh of relief.
“All right, Hank,” the tester said, “just a few more easy questions.” Then she explained to me that she wanted to hear what Hank thinks was the logical thing to do in certain situations. I smiled and nodded, but inside I felt a fresh flash of panic. What if Hank couldn't reach any logical conclusions?
After several dialogues, like “Eating too much sugar?” “Tooth decay!”, the tester nodded her head. “Okay, Hank, tell me what you'd do if you went into a dark room.” Without thinking, Hank said, “Be brave.”
The tester waited a moment before promoting, “What else would you do? Wouldn't you turn on a light?” “Oh, yeah,” Hank said, “if I could reach it.”
Obviously, being brave wasn't the expected answer, but as I listened, all I could think about was how many events awaited him when bravery would be enormously helpful. While it's smart to turn on a light, it never hurts to be brave while you're waiting for your eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness. From the mouth of my child, I realized that I'd handed my son advice that applied to my life just as much as it did to his.
Hank and I left the "Kindergarten Round-up" with a light heart, both believing he was going to be just fine.
1. What’s the purpose of the “Kindergarten Round-up”?| A．To evaluate kids' academic level. |
| B．To help kids pass kindergarten tests. |
| C．To let parents learn about kindergarten. |
| D．To please pre-schoolers. |
| A．Pleased. | B．Relaxed. |
| C．Worried. | D．Confident. |
| A．She taught Hank an important lesson. |
| B．She was happy about Hank's answer. |
| C．She got valuable advice from the tester. |
| D．She was dissatisfied with the tester's reaction. |
| A．No Need to Turn on a Light | B．Kindergarten Will Just Be Fine |
| C．A Fruitless Kindergarten Round-up | D．Being Brave Is the Same Important |
5 . Living on the Florida Emerald Coast, people view a hurricane as a common thing. So it is not unusual for a family to have several full gas cans and bottled water stored in their houses all summer.
Though unwilling to evacuate from a hurricane, on September 15,my family was forced to leave our home for my grandfather's house several miles away. We spent the early part of that evening watching the hurricane draw closer on the Weather Channel. Around nine o'clock, a loud sound shook the house, turned over the roof and carried it off. Soon came an indoor rainstorm.
Realizing the damage, my grandfather began to be afraid. The storm had started, but he still ran out into the heavy rain and wind to see how much of the roof was left. We got him back inside. I had never seen him so scared. Mom finally asked him to lie down in his room.
The leak had progressed rapidly. It soon became a race against time to protect what was saved. Some people may think it necessary to save material things, but I hoped to save those items with emotional value, such as the photos. I still feared the storm, but I more feared the influence it brought.
The next morning, it started to clear up. Thankfully, my family weathered the storm, though the same could not be said for the house. Only the wooden beams remained, but inside many of his things were safe. My mom and I had worked tirelessly through the night.
It was late, but we were still unwilling to go to bed. We discussed the rebuilding of the house. Under the beautiful sky, we suggested looking after my grandfather more often in the future. After this disaster, I realized the truth that the hurricane itself was not so terrible if we loved each other.
1. Why do the people store full gas cans and bottled water?| A．To save much money. | B．To watch a hurricane easily. |
| C．To protect their houses well. | D．To be prepared for hurricanes. |
| A．Frightened. | B．Surprised. | C．Calm. | D．Angry. |
| A．Prepared well for. | B．Waited patiently for. |
| C．Came safely through. | D．Suffered seriously from. |
| A．Family love is powerful. | B．Take things as they come. |
| C．Good health is over wealth. | D．Lost time is never found again. |
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 . There was a boy in India who was sent by his parents to a boarding school. Before being sent away this boy was the brightest student in his class. He was at the top in every competition. He was a champion. But the boy changed after leaving home and attending the boarding school. His grades started dropping. He hated being in a group. He was lonely all the time. All of these changes were because he felt worthless and that no one loved him.
His parents started worrying about the boy. So his dad decided to go to the boarding school and talk with him.
They sat on the bank of the lake near the school. The father started asking him some questions about his classes, teachers and sports.
After some time his dad said, “Do you know, son, why I am here today?” The boy answered, “To check my grades?” “No, no,” his dad replied, “I am here to tell you that you are the most important person for me. I want to see you happy. I don’t care about grades. I care about you. I care about your happiness. YOU ARE MY LIFE.” These words caused the boy’s eyes to be filled with tears, He hugged his dad. They didn’t say anything to each other for a long time.
Now the boy had everything he wanted. He knew there was someone on this earth who cared about him deeply. And today this young man is at the top of his class in college and no one has ever seen him sad!
1. What was the boy like before going to the boarding school?| A．Honest and humorous. | B．Lonely and helpless. |
| C．Active and outstanding. | D．Sad and careless. |
| A．He felt a lack of love. | B．His classmates hated him. |
| C．He missed home very much. | D．He lost his best friend. |
| A．High grades in the exams. | B．The help from his teachers. |
| C．The deep love from his father. | D．Tears in his father’s eyes. |
| A．Scores are everything. | B．Don’t go to a boarding school. |
| C．Love me, love my dog. | D．Love is silent power. |
8 . 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. |
9 . An American cancer survivor has become the first person to swim across the English Channel four times on end.
Sarah Thomas, a 37-year-old woman, completed the great achievement on Tuesday after over54 hours of swimming. Her record-breaking achievement comes just a year after she completed treatment for breast cancer.
In a video on Facebook, a small group of people could be seen cheering on the swimmer from Colorado as she made her final arrival to beach at Dover. Supporters congratulated Ms. Thomas on her non-stop swim, handing her chocolate and other gifts. In the video, Ms. Thomas admitted to feeling “a little sick" but said she had been encouraged to keep going by her husband and her team.
Before the start of her challenge, Ms. Thomas wrote that she was “fearful” and admitted she was "going to need some luck".
In a Facebook post made on Saturday, she dedicated the swim "to all the survivors out there", adding: "This is for those of us who have wondered hopelessly about what comes next, and have overcome the pain bravely."
After her swim, Ms. Thomas said. "I'm really tired and I'm losing my voice from all the salt water." Asked what the worst part of her challenge was, she said, “probably dealing with the salt water over two days, it really hurts your throat, your mouth and your tongue." She praised her support team for helping her stay strong, adding that she was very prepared for the weather, currents and cold water. "I feel just mostly stunned right now. I just can't believe that we did it.”
1. What was the biggest challenge for Ms. Thomas?| A．The weather. | B．The currents. |
| C．The salt water. | D．The cold water. |
| A．Frightened. | B．Surprised. | C．Upset. | D．Relaxed. |
| A．Brave and determined. | B．Successful and intelligent. |
| C．Humorous and generous. | D．Kind and confident. |
| A．A Record-breaking Achievement |
| B．Sarah Thomas Beat Breast Cancer |
| C．Sarah Thomas Got Support from her Husband |
| D．A Woman First to Swim Channel Four Times Non-stop |
10 . Dawn Loggins of Lawndale, N.C. is on her way to Harvard, one of the eight worldfamous universities in the eastern US.Nobody encouraged her to study or paid for her special classes.This girl created her own future.
The teen was abandoned by her family last summer, when her parents and two sisters moved to Tennessee.She found herself homeless and had to spend the night on friend’s sofas.
The school bus driver learned about Dawn’s situation and invited Dawn to move in with her family. Soon, Dawn had a job at Burns High School.She worked from 6 a. m.to 7：40 a. m.before the first school bell rang.She swept floors and picked up trash again in the afternoons, before diving into her studies in the evenings.
Dawn’s hard work paid off.She finished school with a 3.9 GPA and scored 2, 110 on the SAT.
“There were times when I felt like it would be easiest if I gave up, ”the 18yearold said. “But it was never in me to give up, because I realized that I was never going to be successful unless I got an education.”
Even before Dawn’s family left her, she led a difficult life.Her family was poor and cups of noodles were often the only food. Dawn “studied by candlelight” because her parents couldn’t afford to pay the electricity bill(电费).
Dawn has now reconnected with her family.They are proud of her accomplishments(成就)and are attending her high school graduation.
1. Why didn’t Dawn give up her studies?| A．To reconnect with her family. |
| B．To thank those who had helped her. |
| C．To get an education to be successful. |
| D．To realize her dream of going to Harvard. |
| A．Her teachers. | B．Her neighbors. |
| C．A Tiger Mom. | D．A school bus driver. |
| A．Open-minded. | B．Good-natured. |
| C．Strong-willed. | D．Warm-hearted |
| A．Another Harvard girl |
| B．A girl in candlelight |
| C．From homeless to Harvard |
| D．The role of Tiger Moms |
