1 . In 1948, Ladies Home Journal selected our family for its “How America Lives” feature. The reporter and photographer arrived at the end of May and followed all of us (Mom, Dad, my brother, sister and me) for a week, recording our every move. Everyone was pretty excited about it, especially in our town of 6,000, where things like this just didn’t happen.
Since the article would be published in early December, we had to pretend it was already autumn. The reporter asked mom to cook and serve a complete Thanksgiving meal. She told Mom to “go all out” and use her best holiday dishes for the feast.
Mom’s face fell. She didn’t want to admit that our best dishes weren’t exactly the best, let alone suitable for a national magazine. While the reporter continued with her interview, the photographer quietly excused himself and slipped away for over an hour. When he came back, he had a large box, which he placed on the floor, telling Mom to open it.
Her mouth wide open, her face lit up as if it was Christmas. Inside was a beautiful set of 12 dishes, each painted with patterns of flowers and golden brims (金边), made by the Homer Laughlin China Co. There was even a soup bowl, something we kids had never seen before. Mom was near tears as she lovingly handled each piece.
When it came time to serve dinner, Mom walked slowly from the kitchen with the lovely new plate, which contained a small “turkey” (in reality, a large chicken).
From that day on, Mom made sure they never saw the light of day unless it was a major event, though they were a must at every Thanksgiving.
I carry on the tradition, using the dishes for our Thanksgiving feast. But I serve a real turkey, and I serve it on the real Thanksgiving Day.
1. Where did the photographer possibly go while mom was interviewed?| A．A bookstore. | B．A china store. | C．A flower shop. | D．A candy shop. |
| A．She was calm as usual. | B．She was moved into tears. |
| C．She had a mix of feelings. | D．She thought little of them. |
| A．Cozy. | B．Leisured. | C．Troubled. | D．Badly-off. |
| A．To persuade readers to buy the same dishes her family cherishes. |
| B．To tell us about the moving story behind the family-cherished dishes. |
| C．To contribute an article concerning her family to a popular magazine. |
| D．To write something down in memory of her mother and good days. |
2 . My sister, Lynn, taught me my first word: kira-kira. I pronounced it ka-a-ahhh, but she knew what I meant. Kira-kira means “glittering” in Japanese. Lynn told me that when I was a baby, she used to take me onto our empty road at night, where we would lie on our backs and look at the stars while she said over and over, “Katie, say ‘kira-kira, kira-kira!’” I loved that word! When I grew older, I used kira-kira to describe everything I liked: the beautiful blue sky, puppies, kittens, butterflies, colored tissues.
My mother said we were misusing the word; you could not call colored tissues kira-kira. She was dismayed over how un-Japanese we were and swore to send us to Japan one day. I didn’t care where she sent me, so long as Lynn came along.
When she wasn’t in school, she stayed with me constantly. Both our parents worked. Officially, I stayed all day with a lady from down the road, but unofficially, Lynn was the one who took care of me.
My sister used to keep a diary. Today I keep her diary in a drawer next to my bed. I like to see how her memories were the same as mine, but also different. For instance, one of my earliest memories is of the day Lynn saved my life. I was almost five, and she was almost nine. We were playing on the empty road near our house. Fields of tall corn stretched into the distance wherever you looked. A dirty gray dog ran out of the field near us, and then he ran back in. Lynn loved animals. Her long black hair disappeared into the corn as she chased the dog. The summer sky was clear and blue. I felt a brief fear as Lynn disappeared into the cornstalks. After Lynn ran into the field, I couldn’t see anything but corn. “Lynnie!” I shouted. We weren’t that far from our house, but I felt scared. I burst into tears.
Somehow or other, Lynn got behind me and said, “Boo!” and I cried some more. She just laughed and hugged me and said, “You’re the best little sister in the world!” I liked it when she said that, so I stopped crying.
1. What can be learned about Katie as a little child from the first paragraph?| A．She only listened to Lynn’s advice. |
| B．She didn’t like to learn the Japanese language. |
| C．She mispronounced kira-kira on purpose. |
| D．She associated kira-kira with nice things. |
| A．discouraged | B．amused | C．relieved | D．unconvinced |
| A．...I was sure that the dog would hurt Katie... |
| B．...My heart melted at the sight of the lovely dog... |
| C．...I kept chasing the dog until Katie appeared... |
| D．...I regretted taking Katie out when I saw the dog... |
| A．sing praise of her Japanese roots | B．share an adventurous experience |
| C．recall unique style of language learning | D．show the sisterly affection |
3 . There are few vows(誓言)more moving than a couple’s promise to love each other for better or worse and in sickness or in health.
Steve and Charlene are looking forward to celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. Sadly, the cancer diagnosis for Charlene has made it seem unlikely. “We will have been married for 25 years in September but with the doctors’ reports, we may not make it,” Steve feared.
Charlene’s sister realized that her sister might not have another chance to celebrate this momentous anniversary, so she came up with a plan for the couple. She and Steve quickly arranged for a ceremony on Valentine’s Day. It was held in Charlene’s favorite park, a special spot for her. Charlene had two special men-her sons, in her arms as she walked to her husband, wearing her original wedding dress. In the ceremony, Steve said, “I do,” and making the “in sickness or in health” vow for a second time was a touching moment. Charlene was all smiles and shared that she was deeply touched by the loving gesture.
Now that she has had a chance to celebrate her love story, Charlene will be attending her next—and possibly final—big event, her own celebration of life in early March. As her husband explained in a web post: “Charlene has been a dedicated community volunteer and advocate for animal rights. Instead of a funeral, we are going to do something. We will have a service that she can participate in, followed by a reception where friends and family can interact with her. We want to do this while Charlene is still strong enough to do her share for charitable causes.” It sounds like no matter what her health condition is, Charlene will be surrounded by her husband’s love on the journey.
1. What does the loving gesture refer to?| A．A medical consultation. | B．A party on Valentine’s Day. |
| C．A vow renewing ceremony. | D．A voluntary service event. |
| A．Charlene’s sons were by her side. | B．Charlene wore a new wedding dress. |
| C．Charlene forgot her wedding vow. | D．Charlene wept tears of happiness. |
| A．A charitable service. | B．A family gathering. |
| C．An overseas journey. | D．An animal welfare protest. |
| A．Caring Sister Is a Blessing | B．Stay True to Wedding Vows |
| C．Find Kindness on the Journey | D．Love Will Never Be Beaten |
4 . The world’s oldest pen pals have both become 100 years old after many years of transatlantic letters and have now switched to Zoom. Centenarians (百岁老人) Geoff Banks from Honiton, Devon, and Celesta Byrne from the US, started writing to each other aged just 16 in 1938. They met as part of an educational project to put British and American students in contact — and decades later they are still corresponding.
Former engineer Geoff even kept in touch with Celesta during WWII when he served as a mechanic on British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in the Pacific. It has been so long that Geoff, a retired engineer, barely remembers how they started talking. Geoff said, “I honestly struggle to remember how we got in touch, and I think it was something to do with an American school’s scheme. It matched us up with Americans for a pen pal relationship, and somehow I ended up with a letter from an American girl, and we have just kept corresponding ever since. There were a couple of years when we struggled to keep in touch because of the war. Now I correspond mainly by email. Email is much easier for me these days because I can’t write very well anymore. We just talk about daily lives and our families really, but we don’t discuss the football.”
They now touch base via video app Zoom. Geoff said, “I have this new thing called Zoom to chat with her, but I leave all the technology to younger people. They’re much better at pressing all the buttons.”
Despite having chatted for decades, the pair only met twice — first in 2002 while Geoff visited New York aged 80, and then again two years later. Having such a unique relationship, the pair deny there is any romance there. Celesta said, “We’re just friends, like people who live next door. It’s nice to hear his voice.”
1. What played a key role in the pen pals’ contact?| A．A school program. | B．An educational email. |
| C．A pen pal’s introduction. | D．A correspondence course. |
| A．Their favourite sports. | B．Their everyday life. |
| C．Their family traditions. | D．Their experiences in the war. |
| A．Lay foundation. | B．Take a chance | C．Stay in contact. | D．Make a difference. |
| A．Effects of War on Friendship | B．True Friendship Lasts Forever |
| C．Pure Friendship Differs from Love | D．The Communication Problems of Old People |
5 . To us, the kitchen was a mysterious place. Our kitchen at home was so simple: an old Sparks oven, a refrigerator, a sink, and a table. At the New Eastern, it was a busy factory. Almost an entire wall was taken up by a line of huge black woks (锅). This was my father’s stage. He strode (大步走) the length of the four woks, each one fired up by gas flames underneath. Beneath him, blocks of wood, raised off the ground an inch or two, served to give his legs and feet some spring.
The sink was the size of a bathtub (浴); the refrigerator had glass doors and stretched three times as wide as the one at home. Every appliance was bigger, and there were things we never saw anywhere else, like the big metal oven in which my father hung long poles holding large pieces of pork. We could hear the fire roaring from the bottom of it. My dad would go about his business, and then, always at exactly the right time, he’d wander over, lift off the top, and take out several poles of barbecued pork—bright red, with black at the tips. If I happened by at that magical moment, I’d stop. “Yeet-gow!” I’d say. And he’d skillfully chop off a piece of the juicy, sweet meat. “One dollar!” he’d shout, and then hand it over.
My father made the best food in town. There was nothing he wouldn’t try. He was once proud of a rock candy he invented and determined to sell at the front counter of the New Eastern. We, of course, served as his guinea pigs—we couldn’t bring ourselves to tell him the sad truth: The candy was so hard that it was uneatable. I rolled a piece around my mouth. “Tastes good, Ba-Ba, ”I said. Then, when he looked away, I spat it out.
Sometimes, he liked to invent stories to us. Watching my little sister Shirley biting on an apple, he’d lean over. “Don’t eat the seed,” he said, “or an apple tree will grow inside you.” “What?” “Yes. Right inside your stomach, an apple tree!”
1. It can be learned from paragraph 1 and 2 that____________.| A．the author’s father can repair springs | B．the author enjoys observing in the kitchen |
| C．the author helps to cook difficult dishes | D．the author’s family lives in a busy factory |
| A．By describing how his father manages various tasks in the kitchen. |
| B．By classifying the kitchen appliances into different categories. |
| C．By contrasting the restaurant kitchen with the kitchen at home. |
| D．By explaining why large pieces of pork were placed in the oven. |
| A．to highlight how he disliked the food his father made |
| B．to illustrate why they often kept secrets from his father |
| C．to emphasize the troubled relationship with his father |
| D．to show the family’s support for his father’s experiments |
| A．dynamic and playful | B．strict and innovative |
| C．talented and greedy | D．hardworking and outdated |
6 . Johnny Agar had always dreamed of competing in triathlons (铁人三项赛) as an athlete. Unfortunately, he’d been diagnosed with cerebral palsy (大脑性瘫痪) shortly after he was born. This disorder makes it difficult for the now-28-year-old to get around. However, he and his father are proving that where there’s a will — and a lot of love — there’s a way!
Jeff Agar, 59, is helping Johnny experience life to the fullest by entering triathlons by his side. As a team, they’ve completed over 200 races, including a full ironman triathlon that required them to swim, bike and run 140 miles in just 17 hours.
“I’m not a fan of triathlon,” Jeff joked. “I’m doing it not because I love it. This is Johnny’s dream and I’m giving him the legs and the power to do it.” Although Jeff typically provides the majority of the manpower, it was important for Johnny to cross the finish line on his own legs. “Walking in races was my way of telling Dad, ‘Okay, I’m not just going to say thank-you anymore; I’m going to actually put words into action,’” Johnny said.
Johnny and his dad now form Team Agar, using their story and the power of motivational speaking to inspire others. “When we completed that 140-mile Ironman together, it had an amazing impact on many people who had seen our story. We began to see that competing isn’t just about us crossing the finish line; it’s about helping others leave uncertainty in the dust — even those facing greater obstacles than we did.”
Earlier this month, they received some incredible news. They were invited to compete in one of the toughest triathlons: the Ironman World Championship! What made the occasion even more special was a pre-recorded video message from Johnny’s idol, athlete Peyton Manning. “Rumor has it that you’re a big fan of mine,” Peyton said, “I’m a big fan of yours as well! You guys are incredible; you’re a true inspiration.”
1. What can we learn about Jeff from the text?| A．He has a great passion for triathlons. |
| B．He is upset about Johnny’s severe illness. |
| C．He goes all out to help his son achieve his ambition. |
| D．He crosses the finish line with his son in competitions. |
| A．To give motivation to other people. | B．To encourage more people to join them. |
| C．To make themselves more competitive. | D．To participate in more competitions as a team. |
| A．Peyton will record more videos of Johnny and Jeff. |
| B．Jeff and Johnny have influenced people positively. |
| C．Johnny and Jeff have been getting along well with Peyton. |
| D．Peyton has provided Johnny with material assistance. |
| A．An Old Father’s Love for Triathlons |
| B．A Disabled Competitor Works Wonders |
| C．Dad Helps Son With Cerebral Palsy Achieve His Dream |
| D．Great Achievements Made by Dad and Son in Sports |
7 . As my kids and I walked around a community garden the other week, I asked them what veggies they could identify. We were in Alberta, where many plants were still in their early stages of growth — I wasn’t optimistic about what the kids would be able to name by leaves alone. However, they called out, “Tomatoes! Potatoes! Carrots!” Their answers made me even prouder than if they’d just explained some knowledge of physics. All the time we’ve spent in our home garden is actually sinking in.
Although I’ve been gardening for years, this year feels different. Spending time in the garden has helped me with my own well-being at a trying time, and it has given me a new way to connect with my kids when I’m running out of steam.
My garden is wild, full of life, and a bit messy. Honestly, the same goes for my kids — and I don’t expect perfection from them either. Unless you’re relying on your yield for money or food, it’s a good idea to have your expectations for gardening as low as possible. My kids say they “love the garden” but “don’t like gardening” — I think they mean they don’t like the chores. If I have some weeding or potting to do, I’ll also have some entertainment for them, which can be as simple as “find these 10 rocks” or “wet this plot with your water gun”.
Involving the kids in every stage of the process can be powerful and fun, even if what you have are just a few containers on a balcony. “Gardening allows us to spend free, unscheduled outdoor time with our kids,” writes journalist and author Shannon Brescher Shea in her book Growing Sustainable Together. “Let your kids lead the way. Invite them to participate in every step, from planting to harvesting, but don’t force it.”
One of the best things about gardens is the food, but frankly, my kids are not going to be pushing greens into their mouths any time soon. Finding uses for garden goods that go beyond food production can spark interest and supply you with some unexpectedly good results.
1. What can the author infer from her kids’ answers?| A．It’s worthwhile to spend time in her garden. |
| B．It’s great to witness her kids’ academic progress. |
| C．It’s necessary for kids to know common sense. |
| D．It’s difficult for kids to learn plants in early stages. |
| A．It is in a complete mess. | B．It has a rise in output. |
| C．It has been abandoned for long. | D．It goes as nature takes its course. |
| A．By giving rewards afterwards. | B．By giving more encouragement. |
| C．By adding recreational activities. | D．By asking them to have short breaks. |
| A．Teaching kids the power and fun of harvesting. |
| B．Encouraging kids’ active participation. |
| C．Allowing kids to observe every step carefully. |
| D．Setting an example for kids in doing gardening. |
8 . Parents often think that their kids should be good at studies and do well in sports. That’s usually the case because parents feel that could get their children admission to top colleges. However, Melissa and Mark Wimmer think differently.
Their 14-year-old son, Mike, is a prodigy. He is a member of Mensa, which is the world’s top IQ club. He completed his high school, associate’s and bachelor’s degrees all in three years. That’s not all. He also ran two tech companies, founded a third one that works towards controlling the population of lionfish, an invasive (入侵的) species.
But the parents are proud that they were able to help Mike with his social skills along with his intellectual skills. Melissa told CNBC that people expected “Young Sheldon” before they met her son. Young Sheldon is a television show about a child talent who is an indoor man and lacks social skills. “But once they talk to Mike, they understand that he’s just a normal 14-year-old that happens to be able to do amazing things,” said Melissa.
Mark and Melissa got to know about their child’s intelligence when he entered preschool. A child psychologist told them that their son would need a different course to support his fast-track development. Many parents aren’t comfortable with putting their children with 18-year-olds, but Mike’s parents saw the value in letting their child go through it. “I wanted him to be social and be able to deal with all the different personalities in the classrooms with older children,” said Melissa.
The parents shared that they were able to do this by letting Mike find his own voice and put it to use. “We let him order food when he’s 3 or 4 from the waiter or waitress and introduce himself to people. Those kinds of things are done to encourage him to engage with everyone else and be more comfortable talking to others outside of our environment,” said Melissa.
Thanks to his parents, Mike has learned to get along with young and old alike.
1. What do the underlined words “a prodigy” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．A gifted person. | B．A famous student. |
| C．A brilliant biologist. | D．A successful businessman. |
| A．He likes to make friends. | B．He is a well-rounded man. |
| C．He is a popular child actor. | D．He is poor at dealing with people. |
| A．Through a recommendation from a child psychologist. |
| B．Through observing Mike’s behavior in preschool. |
| C．Through participating in a special educational program. |
| D．Through the information provided by Mike’s school teachers. |
| A．Teach him some communication rules. | B．Encourage him to speak in class. |
| C．Place him in social situations. | D．Let him go to school alone. |
9 . If you’ve got more than one kid, you’re showing favoritism, whether you know it or not.
“Parents may favor one child over another, for a lot of reasons. The child may have an easy temperament (性情) or might behave particularly well or may look like you,” says Susan Newman, a psychologist. “But regardless of the reason, every child must be made to feel loved and special, in order to fully develop.” Newman warns that favoring one child over their siblings (兄弟姐妹) publicly can have a significantly negative effect.
“The unfavored child can feel defeated, and unmotivated, as a result of working hard to get parental support, with no success,” says Yelena Gidenko, a licensed counselor. “He orshe may also suffer from depression and become angry, bitter, or jealous,” she adds Children feeling this way may act out, in an effort to get their parent’s attention, making matters worse. They may also behave inappropriately, becoming the black sheep, which they believe their parents already see. “Unfavored children may have a hard time accepting who they are, since they do not feel accepted by their parents,” adds Gidenko.
Favoritism is not exactly a boon for the favored child, either. Kids who feel that they are their parent’s favorite sometimes translate that into a go pass for their behavior in future relationships. “Favored children may feel a sense of entitlement, and that rules do not apply to them,” says Gidenko. This can negatively affect the way they act in school, at work, and in their friendships.
It may seem absurd, but the opposite can also occur. Favored children may experience anxiety and insecurity, resulting from their favorite child status. “Children are observant. They know when they are getting praise for things they have not earned, such as being your favorite. For this reason, they know, and fear, that these things might be taken away fromthem at any time, for any reason,” says Gidenko
Newman urges parents to remember that it’s not possible to treat children equally because they are all different. What parents can, and should do is talk to their kids about how, and why, they treat them the way they do. “According to research, parents don’t talkabout this. They don’t say why one child gets more time than another. If they do, they are preserving their bond with each child,” says Newman
1. What can we learn about unfavored children?| A．They want to please their parents |
| B．They care little about their siblings. |
| C．They tend to lack a sense of identity |
| D．They hope to be the black sheep of the family. |
| A．Blessing. | B．Challenge. | C．Honor. | D．Burden. |
| A．Treat their children equally |
| B．Explain themselves to their children |
| C．Strengthen their bond with their children |
| D．Remove the differences between their children |
| A．The solutions to parental favoritism |
| B．The consequences of parental favoritism |
| C．An analysis of why parents play favorites |
| D．A contrast between favored and unfavored children |
10 . Every family is a foundation of society. It is where one learns fundamental values and beliefs. It is the first place one goes when they need love and support.
Nurture (培养) healthy communication. The key to any strong relationship is communication.
Facing life’s challenges together. No family is perfect, and every family will face challenges at some point in their lives. The key is to address those challenges together as a team. There will be times when family members will disagree on how to face a challenge.
Building a solid foundation for your family takes time, effort, and patience. But it is well worth it when you see the lasting bonds.
| A．Encourage quality time together. |
| B．That is especially true for families. |
| C．Families grow and change over time. |
| D．Show your children how important family is. |
| E．Plus, it is also the foundation for personal success in life. |
| F．Your children will cherish the memories of these moments when they get older. |
| G．It is essential to respect each other's opinions and find a solution that works for everyone. |
