1 . I was the only kid in college with a reason to go to the mail box, because my mother never believed in email, or cell phones in general. I was literally waiting to get a letter to see how the weekend had gone, which was usually the warmest comfort for me.
So when I moved to New York and got sucker-punched in the face by depression, I did the only thing I could think of — writing letters like my mother for strangers. I blogged about those letters and crazily promised I would write you a hand-written letter if asked to.
Overnight, my inbox became this harbor of heartbreak — a single mother in Sacramento, a girl being bullied (恐吓) in rural Kansas…, all asking me to write them a letter and give them a reason to wait by the mailbox. And this is how the act The World Needs More Love Letters was born, fueled by those trips to the mailbox. But the thing about these letters is that most of them have been written by people, who have grown up into a paperless world where some best conversations happen swiftly on a screen.
I’ve been carrying this mail crate (大木箱) with me these days, which is a magical icebreaker. So I get to tell total strangers about a woman whose husband was traumatized (受精神创伤) from war in Afghanistan, and how she left love letters throughout the house as a way to say, “Come back to me.” And the man, who had decided to take his life, tonight slept safely with letters just beneath his pillow, handwritten by strangers who were there for him.
These are the kinds of stories that convince me that letter-writing will always be needed, even in these days, because it is an art now.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．The efficiency of write letters. |
| B．The author’s care for her family. |
| C．The author’s attachment to letters. |
| D．The author’s love for the college life. |
| A．The letters’ comforting effect on people. |
| B．Her intention of providing professional aid. |
| C．The positive influence of modern technology. |
| D．Her mother’s fear of modern communication. |
| A．It is capable of doing magic tricks. |
| B．It starts a conversation with passers-by. |
| C．It helps people to recover from traumas. |
| D．It is hot enough to melt ice on a cold day. |
| A．Love for Writing |
| B．Priceless Family Letters |
| C．Love Letters to Strangers |
| D．The Art of Writing Letters |
Jack,
But one day Jack said
3 . A 17-year-old boy nicknamed Tao Tao with cerebral palsy(脑瘫) has made positive attempts to achieve greater self-reliance through selling self-made popcorn on the street on his own, touching the hearts of netizens and winning him an education opportunity.
According to Tao Tao’s mother: Yao Chuanhua, her son was born with the disabling condition. Over the years, she has continuously tried to train him to adapt and live as normally as possible.
As Tao Tao grew up, the idea of fostering his independence by selling homemade popcorn has brewed in the mother’s mind. She taught Tao Tao how to make popcorn at home and helped set up a stall in Xiaoshan district, Hangzhou city of East China’s Zhejiang province.
“Tao Tao, don’t worry. Take it easy even if no one comes to buy,” after a few words of encouragement, Yao stepped aside and let his son take charge.
Initially reserved and unaccustomed to street vending, Tao Tao struggled to attract buyers. To boost his confidence, the mother even paid some passers-by to buy popcorn from her son’s stall.
Gradually, despite shyness and physical difficulties, Tao Tao has become more active and confident, managing the business smoothly without relying on a megaphone to peddle the product.
“The moment you stood here, you were already a success,” Being proud of Tao Tao’s progress, Yao shared videos of her son’s popcorn selling story online, receiving immense care and support from netizens.
Some traveled specifically to buy popcorn from Tao Tao, and one viewer even ordered thousands of buckets. Many expressed a desire to donate, but Yao declined any form of donations.
“My goal is to encourage him to make a brave step forward and connect with the outside world. I hope that one day he could live independently through his own efforts.”
“Tao Tao is a persevering child. He insists on making and packaging the popcorn all by himself, trying his best his best to prove that he can make it,” Yao added.
The online video sensation has drawn the attention of the local education authority to Tao Tao’s situation. After learning that the teen failed to receive proper school education due to health conditions, they have arranged for local special education teachers to offer him door-to-door teaching.
1. What can we learn about Tao Tao from Paragraph 1?| A．He is a student who likes studying. |
| B．He suffered from cerebral palsy at 17. |
| C．He made a lot of money by selling popcorn. |
| D．He is a boy with a positive attitude towards life. |
| A．To boost his confidence. | B．To gain people’s sympathy. |
| C．To foster his independence. | D．To improve his popcorn-making skills. |
| A．To get the support from netizens. |
| B．To get him to sell more popcorn on his own. |
| C．To draw the attention of the local education authority. |
| D．To encourage him to boldly connect with the outside world. |
| A．His spirit of perseverance. | B．The donations he accepted. |
| C．The help given by netizens. | D．The good education he received. |
4 . On a freezing cold day last winter, I rushed to the local market for a few items, deciding not to use a cart (推车). As I approached the checkout area with my hands full, it was clear that the self-checkout tills (收银机) had momentarily stopped working. Three cashiers faced long lines, and chaos
Like most, I surveyed the checkout lines,
In a(n)
The cashier thanked me for my patience,
Leaving the store, I felt
| A．distracted | B．prevented | C．extended | D．disturbed |
| A．constantly | B．nobly | C．confidently | D．curiously |
| A．dissatisfaction | B．information | C．awareness | D．news |
| A．setting off | B．merging into | C．dropping off | D．breaking into |
| A．begging | B．declaring | C．explaining | D．informing |
| A．Surrounded | B．Managed | C．Controlled | D．Directed |
| A．accomplish | B．conclude | C．quicken | D．perform |
| A．suffered | B．sensed | C．expressed | D．experienced |
| A．in spite of | B．on account of | C．in view of | D．in terms of |
| A．effortless | B．depressed | C．formal | D．easy-going |
| A．confused | B．friendly | C．embarrassing | D．wrinkled |
| A．correcting | B．revealing | C．arguing | D．shouting |
| A．forced | B．earned | C．shared | D．heard |
| A．wisdom | B．knowledge | C．judgment | D．appreciation |
| A．continuous | B．sudden | C．forbidden | D．serious |
1. What does the man need help with?
| A．The planting. |
| B．The harvest. |
| C．The building. |
| A．Give the man a discount. |
| B．Let the man try out the animal. |
| C．Give the man the best horse. |
| A．The man sent the horse back. |
| B．The man began to like the horse. |
| C．The man got the horse as a gift. |
6 . Lots of kids like to talk about sports, but Joseph D’Avirro talks about sports like a professional host in a show called Sliders & Curveballs. The 9-year-old from Newington, Connecticut is a natural at sports talk and has been broadcasting the show—which is about baseball, basketball and other sports—with his dad, Mike D’Avirro, since September 2019.
The D’Avirro started the broadcast after two former college roommates of Mike died, which made Mike want to spend more time with his son. Then the idea came to him. So far, they have done about 50 programs. Joseph’s favorite is when the father-and-son team interviewed Jim Calhoun, the coach leading the Connecticut Huskies to three national titles. They have also interviewed important sports authors.
The father and son make about one 30- to 40-minute podcast each month. They prepare for the podcasts by deciding on the questions they want to ask the guest. Joseph asks half of the questions, and Mike handles the other half. Joseph reads his questions again and again to get them in his brain well. It is a lot of work, but Joseph says it is “a lot more fun than homework”. Joseph has also learned to speak up and speak clearly. He has to listen and to go with the flow of the conversation. For example, he said, “If the guest is talking about sports in the 1990s, you have to think about sports in the 1990s.”
When asked how long he and his dad will continue doing the show, he answered, “Until my dad starts growing gray hairs.” Joseph has other ambitions when he grows up—to be a sports player, a sports broadcaster or to own a basketball team. Those are big dreams, but Joseph is already living a dream: talking sports and spending time with his dad.
1. What is Joseph’s show about?| A．Some talk shows on sports. |
| B．Ways to get along with parents. |
| C．Stories about famous sports players. |
| D．Sports that his family loves playing. |
| A．His son’s talent for sports. |
| B．His wish to be a host since college. |
| C．The deaths of his college roommates. |
| D．The encouragement from his roommates. |
| A．It’s as boring as homework. |
| B．It’s challenging to his brain. |
| C．It takes a lot of time but means a lot. |
| D．It’s more interesting than homework. |
| A．A rising sports broadcaster |
| B．A long road to go to success |
| C．The father-and-son team hosts |
| D．Joseph D’Avirro’s big dream |
7 . The story of Oprah Winfrey’s life is one of overcoming incredible odds and achieving great success. Born into poverty in Mississippi, Winfrey faced numerous challenges throughout her childhood. She was raised by her grandmother, who installed in her a love of reading and a strong work ethic. However, Winfrey was also the victim of abuse and neglect, both at home and in her community.
Despite these obstacles, Winfrey showed great promise from a young age. At age 19 she became a news anchor(主播) for the local television station, and in 1976 she was made a reporter and co-anchor for the ABC news in Baltimore, Maryland. She found herself limited by the objectivity required of news reporting, and in 1977 she became co-host of the Baltimore morning show People Are Talking.
Winfrey excelled in the casual and personal talk-show format, and in 1984 she moved to Chicago to host the faltering(衰退的) talk show AM Chicago. Winfrey’s honest and engaging personality quickly turned the program into a success, and in 1985 it was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show. Winfrey’s warmth, intelligence, and empathy made her a beloved figure to millions of viewers. She used her platform to address important social issues, such as child abuse, domestic violence, and poverty.
Despite her success, Winfrey faced many challenges along the way. She struggled with her weight, and was often criticized for her appearance. She also faced many personal and professional setbacks in her life and work. However, Winfrey refused to give up. She continued to work hard, launching her own production company, Harpo Productions, and starting her own cable network, OWN. She also became a philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to charitable causes.
Today, Winfrey is one of the most successful and influential people in the world. She has won lots of awards for her work. She is also a best-selling author and a respected public speaker. Winfrey’s story provés the power of perseverance, hard work, and faith in oneself.
1. What did Oprah Winfrey start her career as?| A．A news anchor. | B．A talk show co-anchor. |
| C．A manager of a company. | D．A reporter of a TV station. |
| A．It was a TV program meant to help the local citizens. |
| B．Oprah Winfrey’s excellent qualities made it successful. |
| C．It called on viewers to fight against poverty and crimes. |
| D．It was a program designed only for Oprah Winfrey. |
| A．Winfrey faced many doubts about her hosting style. |
| B．Winfrey set up a company of her own. |
| C．Winfrey never gave up in face of difficulties. |
| D．Winfrey contributed lots of money to charities. |
| A．To tell us that our life has its ups and downs. |
| B．To share Winfrey’s life experience with us. |
| C．To encourage us to work hard in our careers. |
| D．To sing high praise for Winfrey’s success and qualities. |
One day, I took a bus to downtown as usual.
However, that day was different. While I was reading some news, the woman
Later, I found out the reason. The passengers
I had always been glad
9 . Laurie Horam never thought of himself as a musician. At home, his dad never listened to music, and one of his boarding school teachers labelled him tone-deaf. But last month he started to play the harmonica (口琴) on the streets of Bradford. People clapped, danced and threw coins into his case for the local food bank. Horam caught himself thinking, “How, at the age of 79, do I come to be playing music to people on the streets?”
The question preoccupied him, because, some years ago at a family gathering, Gavin, his eldest son, said, “You know what, Dad? It can’t be coincidental. We must have got our musical abilities from you.” Horam has three sons and they cover a range of instruments. He was surprised. “There can’t be music in me, because I can’t play!” he said.
Eight years ago, Horam, a retired civil servant, was on his way back from a trip with his family. Gavin stopped at a music shop. He walked out and said, “Here you are. I bought this for you, Dad. It’s a harmonica. I’ll try to show you how to play a bit.”
They went to a session at their local pub. Gavin played the guitar and Horam sat in the corner with his harmonica, trying to make a sound that no one would hear. After six months, he was invited into the group. He discovered a talent for improvisation (即兴表演), responding to a note within a millisecond without batting an eyelid. “I don’t play by ear. I play by heart.” Actually, Horam says, “My harmonica plays me — how I feel, what I am, and what I’ve been.”
Music has enriched Horam’s life with friendship and made Horam feel “part of something much bigger” than himself. “At a time when the circle of life might be shrinking, mine is expanding,” he says. “Maybe we never know completely who we are or what we can do.”
1. Why did Horam play the harmonica on the streets of Bradford?| A．To recall the good old days. |
| B．To beg food from passers-by. |
| C．To realize his childhood dream. |
| D．To collect money for charity. |
| A．Positive. |
| B．Disapproving. |
| C．Doubtful. |
| D．Unclear. |
| A．He enjoyed others’ attention when in the pub. |
| B．His lifespan was extended because of music. |
| C．His hearing was sharpened by exercising. |
| D．His feelings were conveyed by playing the harmonica. |
| A．A lost soul. |
| B．A comfortable life. |
| C．A broader circle of life. |
| D．A new perception of family. |
10 . A two-year-old girl in Newberry County had last been seen at about 3: 00 p. m., but she was missing later in the day. The situation took a
The operators
With the location data in hand, a search team was quickly
The
| A．disappointing | B．hopeful | C．reasonable | D．challenging |
| A．placed | B．received | C．missed | D．answered |
| A．appeared | B．escaped | C．acted | D．arrived |
| A．optionally | B．carefully | C．entirely | D．rapidly |
| A．discoverers | B．rescuers | C．operators | D．survivors |
| A．adapting | B．returning | C．heading | D．pointing |
| A．paid for | B．set up | C．took on | D．led to |
| A．frightening | B．regretful | C．annoying | D．shameful |
| A．shape | B．mind | C．order | D．faith |
| A．risky | B．remarkable | C．traditional | D．joyful |
| A．respect | B．cooperation | C．balance | D．discussion |
| A．blessing | B．kindness | C．concern | D．gratitude |
| A．offering | B．praising | C．advocating | D．assessing |
| A．performance | B．virtue | C．recovery | D．courage |
| A．edited | B．perfected | C．performed | D．celebrated |
