In March 2019, when Sara Cook first got a letter in the mail telling her that someone had paid off a large amount of her medical debt, she simply couldn't believe it. Cautiously, she called the number listed on the letter. What she learned was that this was not a scam. It was 100 percent real.
A remarkable nonprofit called RIP Medical Debt had indeed paid $5,000 toward her bills. The organization didn't take care of all the debt she'd accumulated from several back surgeries, but the former nurse was still moved by the gesture. “I felt really loved and blessed,” she says, “knowing that complete strangers just did that out of the goodness of their hearts.
Craig Antico and Jerry Ashton do have good hearts. They're also former collection agents who have seen how heavy health-related debt has destroyed lives. “I never thought about all the hardship of the people who couldn't pay. Now I'm trying to find the people who need help.” said Antico. They got their money from individuals and charities that support RIP's mission.
RIP researches potential receivers based on three criteria. First, they look for people who make no more than two and a half times the amount established as the federal poverty level. Then they screen for those whose debt is equal to 5 percent or more of the gross income (总收入). Third, they look to see whether a person can pay off debts.
For the people who do qualify, RIP's help is life-changing. “After their letter, I realized that my life really wasn't so hard,” says Cook, “I may never be able to work as a nurse again but I can sit at the school library and help kids read or serve up food in the soup kitchen. When people do something out of the kindness of their hearts, sometimes they may wonder: Does it really make a difference? I want people to know that this has a positive impact.”
1. What does the underlined word in Para.1 most probably mean? (1 word)2. What was Sara Cook's reaction to RIP Medical Debt? (no more than 2 words)
3. How did RIP Medical Debt get funds? (no more than 10 words)
4. What's the main idea of the 4th paragraph? (no more than 8 words)
5. What's your example of doing "kindness"? Please share. (no more than 20 words)
Behind the band, there was a picture of a young man named Philip Hancock shown on the screen. And he was the reason they were all there. Hancock was a 27-ycar-old Australian who taught English in Chongqing. When he died in 2018 due to complications from diabetes, his parents followed his wishes and donated his organs with the help of the Red Cross Society of China’s Chongqing branch.
“I’m Philip’s liver”; “I'm Philip’s kidney”; “Philip’s eyes...”
The five people — a salesperson, a farmer, a former truck driver and two doctors introduced themselves onstage.
“Last year, Red Cross officials told me that Philip’s parents mentioned during an earlier memorial service that he loved music and dreamed of having his own band one day,” said former truck driver Chen Xianjun. Chen instantly wanted to form a hand in memory of Philip, and so did the other four receivers.
Since they had no music experience, they had to start from scratch. From learning the guitar to mastering the maracas (响葫芦) and faking on the drum they took time out of their busy lives to practice over the past year.
“Picking up a new instrument is certainly difficult at my age, but we have a clear goal in mind and are determined to achieve it.” said Mo Li, the 36-year-old real estate salesman.
Peter Hancock, Philip’s father, said after watching the bands performance that his biggest wish was for the five to enjoy their lives more. think Philip not only gave them a new life, but also some musical cells that enable them to appreciate beautiful melodies."
1. What do these five people have in common? (no more than 8 words)2. What does the underlined part “from scratch” mean in English? (no more than 5 words)
3. What goal did these five people want to achieve? (no more than 10 words)
4. What was Philip’s father’s biggest wish? (no more than 8 words)
5. What inspiration do you get from the story? Please say it in your own words.(no more than 20 words)
3 . One day, I was visiting Dubai, traveling with a few passengers in a bus. At our first stop, I got out to take some pictures. At our second stop, I noticed that I had
During this process of searching for my bag, I came into contact with so many
A local man, who actually found my bag,
There was real
| A．donated | B．forgotten | C．sold | D．ignored |
| A．little | B．dangerous | C．useless | D．important |
| A．delighted | B．lucky | C．scared | D．quiet |
| A．strangers | B．brothers | C．colleagues | D．relatives |
| A．harmful | B．strange | C．different | D．helpful |
| A．for fear that | B．as if | C．so that | D．even though |
| A．bag | B．watch | C．ticket | D．telephone |
| A．stay | B．connect | C．meet | D．deal |
| A．salesman | B．waiter | C．policeman | D．guider |
| A．negative | B．positive | C．useless | D．doubtful |
| A．worry | B．leave | C．complain | D．puzzle |
| A．hid | B．recognized | C．threw | D．checked |
| A．called | B．taught | C．criticized | D．praised |
| A．happiness | B．fear | C．excitement | D．sorrow |
| A．accidentally | B．casually | C．quickly | D．finally |
| A．with | B．for | C．without | D．about |
| A．sudden | B．long | C．simple | D．unique |
| A．challenging | B．general | C．unbelievable | D．interesting |
| A．addresses | B．characters | C．styles | D．names |
| A．honesty | B．kindness | C．courage | D．sadness |
Before entering college, I had heard so many stories about how stressful freshman year could get and that this would potentially be the most difficult experience I would ever have to go through. And yes, for the most part, those stories did live up to the reality.
In the first several months, I was urged to improve my social skills and to befriend people. Personally, there was a clear struggle on wanting to adjust and not simply adapt. Adapting required a change in behavior for the sake of fitting in and I didn't want that. Luckily and eventually, I was able to find my own group. It just required extra work and patience.
Naturally, there were academic obstacles that arose. The biggest one was my major. I was enrolled as a communication studies major. I chose it because it seemed like a safe haven. But I later discovered that it didn't actually fit my likes. After two quarters, serious thinking and several mini breakdowns, I switched to philosophy.
Ever since I was younger, I have known I wanted to work in the field. It has always intrigued me. To be honest, I've never had to read such challenging texts in my life, but I enjoy it. It pushes me beyond my limits in a good way. It introduces me to concepts and theories that I've never heard of. More importantly, it doesn't only make me more logical. It also makes me more empathic(有移情作用的)and understanding of others.
I eventually overcame the obstacles. As I recall it now, I'm thankful that the good always outweighed the bad. The good came in the form of new friends, significant learning and deepened self-understanding. As I head off to sophomore year, I plan to bring this good with me.
1. How was the author's freshman year in college? (no more than 5 words)2. What troubled the author in his first several months in college? (no more than 10 words)
3. Why did the author switch to philosophy? (no more than 10 words)
4. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 4 mean? (no more than 10 words)
5. What do you think of the author? Please explain. (no more than 25 words)
5 . One of my wonderful memories is about a Christmas gift. Unlike other gifts, it came without wrap (包装).
On September 11th, 1958, Mum gave birth to Richard. After she brought him home from hospital, she put him in my lap, saying, “I promised you a gift, and here it is.” What an honour! I turned four a month earlier and none of my friends had such a baby doll of their own. I played with it day and night. I sang to it. I told it stories. I told it over and over how much I loved it!
One morning, however, I found its bed empty. My doll was gone! I cried for it.Mum wept and told me that the poor little thing had been sent to a hospital. It had a fever. For several days, I heard Mum and Dad whispering such words as “hopeless”, “pitiful”, and “dying”, which sounded ominous.
Christmas was coming. “Don’t expect any presents this year,” Dad said, pointing at the socks I hung in the living room.“If your baby brother lives, that’ll be Christmas enough.” As he spoke, his eyes filled with tears. I’d never seen him cry before.
The phone rang early on Christmas morning. Dad jumped out of bed to answer it. From my bedroom I heard him say, “What? He’s all right?” He hung up and shouted upstairs. “The hospital said we can bring Richard home!”
“Thank God!” I heard Mum cry.
From the upstairs window, I watched my parents rush out to the car. I had never seen them so happy. And I was also full of joy. What a wonderful day! My baby doll would be home. I ran downstairs. My socks still hung there flat. But I knew they were not empty; they were filled with love!
1. What happened to the author on September 11th, 1958?| A．He got a baby brother. |
| B．He got a Christmas gift. |
| C．He became four years old. |
| D．He received a doll. |
| A．Impossible. | B．Boring. |
| C．Difficult. | D．Fearful. |
| A．Excitement. | B．Happiness. |
| C．Sadness. | D．Disappointment. |
| A．A sad Christmas day. |
| B．Life with a lovely baby. |
| C．A special Christmas gift. |
| D．Memories of a happy family. |
John and Bobby joined a wholesale company together just after graduation from college the same year. Both worked very hard. After several years, however, the boss promoted Bobby to the position of manager but John remained an ordinary employee. John could not take it anymore. So without hesitation, he presented a tender resignation to the boss quickly, complaining the boss did not know how to identify a good clerk and did not value hard-working staff, but only promoted those who flattered (讨好) him.
The boss knew that John worked very hard for the years. He thought a moment and said, “Thank you for your criticism, but I have a request. I hope you will do one more thing for our company before you leave. Perhaps in time you will change your decision and take back your resignation.” John agreed.
The boss asked him to go and find out anyone selling watermelon in the market. John went and returned soon. He said he had found out a man selling watermelon. The boss asked how much per kg? John shook his head and went back to the market to ask and returned to inform the boss $1.2 per kg.
The boss told John to wait a second, and he called Bobby to come to his office. He asked Bobby to go and find anyone selling watermelon in the market. Bobby went, returned and said, “Boss, only one person selling watermelon. $1.2 per kg, $10 for 10 kg, and he has inventory of 340 melons. On the table 58 melons, every melon weighs about 2 kg, bought from the South two days ago. They are fresh and red, of good quality.”
John was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Bobby. He decided not to resign but to learn from Bobby.
My dear friends, a more successful person is more observant, thinks more and explores in depth. Chances exist in the daily details. For the same matter, a more successful person sees more and farther so that he can find out an opportunity and catch it to realize his aim. If a person sees one year ahead, while another sees only tomorrow, the difference between a year and a day is 365 times. How could you win?
1. After Bobby’s promotion, what did John do? (no more than 12 words)2. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “take” in Paragraph 1? (no more than 3 words)
3. What was “one more thing” the boss asked John to do before he left the company? (no more than 15 words)
4. What kind of person is Bobby? (no more than 12 words)
5. To be a more successful person, what would you like to do? Please tell your reason(s). (no more than 25 words)
7 . A woman whose sports car was stolen with her dog in it put up notices all over the area that made it clear getting back her pet was more important than her car.
“Whoever did this can keep my car. Please let Benjerman come home,” the notice said.
It is not known whether the thief showed any pity, but almost 30 hours after the 1 pm theft Friday, Kimberly Atkins of Dover and Benjerman, a 12-year-old black retriever(猎犬), were reunited after police located them in Barrington.
“He’s hungry, he’s dirty, but he’s very happy to be home,” Atkins said.
The car was found at about 5 pm Saturday off Route 125 in a swampy area frequented by off-the-road cars and dirt bikes. However, the police couldn’t control Benjerman, and they had to call Atkins to come and get him.
Atkins said the thief cared for Benjerman a little by providing him with some dry cat food. She believed Benjerman ended up drinking some muddy water in the area.
She said they have been together for nearly 11 years after she took him back from a society shelter in Dallas, Texas.
Before Benjerman was found, Atkins and several friends put up notices all over the city and in Somersworth. They also contacted animal shelters throughout southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
The notice stated there was a reward, and also that the dog needed medication(药物治疗). Any caller could remain anonymous(匿名的).
Atkins had parked the car outside a hardware store with the keys inside and gone in to rent a carpet cleaner.
“It was 10 minutes and I came out and my car was gone along with Benjerman in broad daylight,” Atkins said. The car thief threw Atkins’ wallet and other personal items out of the car before escaping from the scene.
1. What would be the best title for the passage?| A．A car with a dog was stolen |
| B．Lucky dog was returned to his owner |
| C．Stealing cars: a most important social problem |
| D．Woman wants dog back more than stolen car |
a. Notices were put up saying there was a reward.
b. Atkins saw Benjerman again.
c. Police found Atkins’ car.
d. Atkins took Benjerman back from a society shelter.
e. Atkins hired a carpet cleaner in a hardware store.
| A．d, e, a, b, c | B．d, e, a, c, b |
| C．e, a, d, b, c | D．e, a, c, d, b |
| A．the dog was treated extremely badly by the thief |
| B．car stolen accidents happen frequently nowadays |
| C．the dog was found because of the reward |
| D．the thief stole the car easily |
| A．Benjerman was sent back immediately after Atkins put up the notices. |
| B．Atkins and her friends made a great effort to look for Benjerman. |
| C．The thief gave the dog back but kept the sports car. |
| D．The dog was back at 1 pm on a Friday. |
| A．Benjerman | B．Thief |
| C．Atkins | D．Atkins’ friends |
8 . No one is born a winner. People make themselves into winners by their own efforts.
I learned this lesson from an experience many years ago. I took the head coaching job at a school in Baxley, Georgia. It was a small school with a weak football program.
It was a tradition for the school's old team to play against the new team at the end of spring practice. The old team had no couch, and they didn't even practice to prepare for the Game. Being the coach of the new team, I was excited because I knew we were going to win, but to my sadness we were beaten. I couldn't believe I had got into such a situation. Thinking hard about it, I came to realize that my team might not be the number one team in Georgia, but they were depending on me. I had to change my attitude about their ability and confidence.
I stared doing anything I could to help them build a little pride. Most important,I began to treat them like winners. That summer, when the other teams enjoyed their vacations. We met every day and practiced passing and kicking the football.
Six months after suffering our failure on the spring practice field. we won our first game and our second, and continue to improve .Finally, we faced the number one team in the state.I felt that it would be a victory for us even if we lost the game. But that wasn't what happened. My boys beat the best team in Georgia, giving me one of the greatest thrills of my life !
From the experience I learned a lot about how the attitude of the leader can influence the members of a team. Instead of seeing my boys as losers, I pushed and encouraged them. I helped them to see themselves differently, and they built themselves into winners.
Winners are made, not born.
1. Who did the author think would become the winners at first?| A．The old team. | B．Their own team. |
| C．The number one team. | D．The other team |
| A．Before their training. | B．During the spring practice. |
| C．At the start of the vacation. | D．Six months after their failure. |
| A．Interests | B．Fears | C．Excitements | D．Concerns |
| A．By building up their confidence. | B．By giving them a lecture. |
| C．By buying them a book. | D．By changing the leader. |
| A．Time is money. | B．Winners are born. |
| C．Losers are always beaten. | D．Practice makes perfect. |
When my friends went to college in great delight, I restarted my senior high school life. My spirit sank. Surrounded by strange classmates, I felt like I was in a maze and was sorry about myself. There were some complex feelings in my minds. I was frightened, nervous and lonely.
To make matters worse, I recalled my failure again and again, which put more pressure on me than I could bear. As a result, I was always feeling down during class time.
My teacher found me spiritless. One day he asked me to come to his office and told me about his attitude towards life: we might suffer from mistakes, but it’s important to learn lessons from them. All the pains and the embarrassing things we experience are part of the process. So keep up your spirit! At last, he added, “If you are optimistic, things you want may happen to you!”
Warmth rushed through my soul. I suddenly found the sun shining again when I stepped out of his office.
With the teacher’s help, I eventually got over my depression. From then on, I no longer bowed my head and began smiling to my classmates. I would put up my hand confidently in class and play with my new friends in my spare time. Meanwhile, I was gradually embraced by my classmates.
Now faced with fierce competition, we all study hard because we know that every second counts. Moreover, there is an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect between us. I love my class; I love my classmates!
To be frank, I still have a thirst for my dream university, but I’m not afraid of failure because I can profit by it. With parents and teachers’ encouragement, I’m quite certain of my success and I’m sure I can fly high.
1. Why was the writer in low spirits at the beginning? (No more than 10 words)2. What did the teacher expect the writer to do? (No more than 10 words)
3. What is the main idea of Paragraph 5? (No more than 15 words)
4. What does the underlined word “embraced” in paragraph 5 mean in English?
5. What will you do if you are faced with failure? (No more than 20 words)
10 . Cards came for every occasion for Grandma. She even sent a card which was more of a
When I was young, I looked forward to
She kept writing cards even the morning she died. Her wonderful nurses
When I grew up, I realized cards served a(n)
Now I like to
| A．burden | B．promise | C．comfort | D．claim |
| A．receiving | B．sending | C．selling | D．buying |
| A．Therefore | B．Otherwise | C．Instead | D．However |
| A．precious | B．artificial | C．simple | D．traditional |
| A．recovering | B．worsening | C．treated | D．controlled |
| A．wrote | B．mailed | C．read | D．copied |
| A．funeral | B．request | C．office | D．heart |
| A．declared | B．warned | C．poked | D．suggested |
| A．slightly | B．completely | C．hugely | D．randomly |
| A．labels | B．timetables | C．accounts | D．addresses |
| A．burned | B．threw away | C．gave out | D．saved |
| A．decide | B．agreed | C．suspected | D．pretended |
| A．imaginary | B．significant | C．impossible | D．meaningless |
| A．junk | B．suitable | C．sweet | D．similar |
| A．lesson | B．recommendation | C．reminder | D．command |
| A．measure | B．appreciate | C．remember | D．check |
| A．persuade | B．surprise | C．consult | D．instruct |
| A．addition | B．consequence | C．order | D．advance |
| A．observe | B．interview | C．value | D．challenge |
| A．calm | B．fair | C．relaxed | D．special |
