Read the title, background and three diaries quickly. Then find out the main ideas referring to the following table.
Basic information about the expedition | |
| Time | 1914.10.31→1915.11.21→1916.5.20 |
| Destination | To Antarctica |
| Leader | Sir Ernest Shackleton |
| The author’s name | Perce Blackborow |
| The ship | Endurance |
A SUCCESSFUL FAILURE
Perce Blackborow joined an expedition with Sir Ernest Shackleton to Antarctica on the ship Endurance in 1914. Shackleton was one of the most famous explorers of his day and it was considered a great honour to be part of his expeditions. Below are some of Blackborow’s diary entries.
31 Oct 1914
… Well, it so happened that one morning I bought a newspaper and read the advertisement about the Antarctic expedition.
An expedition to the South Pole with the great Sir Ernest Shackleton — this is the adventure that I have been dreaming of. And I was ready for it. At the age of 19, I am fit and full of vigour. However, when I applied to join the expedition, Shackleton turned me down because he thought I was too young and wasn’t qualified. But I was so enthusiastic about the idea of going along with them that I secretly went aboard his ship, the Endurance, and hid in a small cupboard. Unfortunately, three days after we set off I was discovered. Shackleton did not want to turn back so he offered me a job, but only after he promised me, “If anyone has to be eaten, then you will be the first!” He assigned me to be a steward, and I now serve meals for twenty-eight men, three times a day.
How everyone will envy me when I come back and tell them about the amazing places I have been to!
21 Nov 1915
The journey has not been easy. Endurance became stuck in the ice as we approached Antarctica. The ice froze around us and we were well and truly stuck! We saw the ship get crushed by the ice. And when the ship sank, our hearts sank with it.
Before we abandoned the ship, Shackleton calmly called us together and told us to rescue our most essential supplies — the small boats, our food, the cook stove, candles, clothes, and blankets. This was no time to panic. We were not allowed to take most of our personal belongings, and Shackleton himself threw away all his gold. But to our surprise, he allowed Hussey to keep his banjo. Hussey often plays it to keep our spirits up.
We are now camped on the ice and we have been managing to survive, but spring is coming, and the ice will soon begin to melt.
20 May 1916
We have been struggling for days, but things on Elephant Island are going from bad to worse. We are now crowded together under one of our boats on the rocky shore of this miserable place. Soon after we arrived, Shackleton left us to find help on South Georgia Island, 1,320 kilometres away — the voyage was too dangerous and difficult for all of us to make it in our small boats. If Shackleton fails, will we have any hope of rescue? No. No navy in the world ever stops at Elephant Island, and no one else knows that we are here.
I feel low. It’s cold and windy. The island has no plants. Sometimes we are able to catch a seal or a penguin to eat. Otherwise, there is no food. I try to think of happier things: decent food, warm and dry clothes, a cosy bedroom, sunny days, and my mother’s face… However, these happy memories are soon interrupted by a sudden cold rush of air.
I shouted, “Shut the door!”
“Hold on now, Perce. Don’t you go turning into another Tom,” came the reply. “We’ve caught another penguin, so it’s penguin soup tonight!”
Bless Frank Wild, the kindest man there is after our leader, Ernest Shackleton. How could I become as selfish and bad-tempered as Thomas Orde-Lees!
Without Frank and Ernest, we’d all be dead by now. Their genuine concern for others, their perseverance, and their resolve fill me with hope.
Perhaps there is a chance we will return home, after all.
| Diary | Date | Main idea |
1 | 1914.10.31 | The first diary is about how |
2 | 1915.11.21 | The second diary is about how |
3 | 1916.5.20 | The third diary mainly describes |
2 . We watched as Shackleton and the boat sailed away from Elephant Island. It was easy to imagine the danger ahead of them. Would they ever return to find us? What might happen to them? What if they were delayed? We felt so alone and desperate. But it was not for long. There was nothing like a good dinner and some music to cheer us up.
Life fell into a regular pattern. Staying alive took all our time and energy. For example, we needed water, and Elephant Island had none. We found that we could melt ice from the ocean and drink the water from it. But how could we make fire? There were no trees growing on Antarctica and no oil, so the only fuel we could use was animal fat. This gave off oily, black smoke, but it stayed burning even in strong winds.
Food was also a problem, as we did not find any vegetables or fruit on the island. One of our group members, Lionel Greenstreet, noted in his diary about how bored he was with the meals: “The food now is pretty well all meat of sea creatures.” If it weren’t for sea animals, we would all starve. As a chef, it was my duty to cook, so I tried to vary the meals in whatever way I could. But it was difficult.
We had to be careful not to go outside too often, as the changing temperatures could make us ill. It was almost as dangerous to become too hot from wearing too many clothes as to become too cold from wearing too few. The sweat could freeze very quickly. Many of us also became ill from the black smoke of the animal fat we burnt for our fires. It damaged our eyes and burnt our lungs.
The twenty-two of us lived like this in the cold for four months. Our discipline and team spirit kept us optimistic and helped us deal with our fears in a positive and successful way. We also celebrated our birthdays, festivals, and even the times when we caught a sea animal. This was an episode in my life that I would never forget.When we were finally rescued, we felt such relief and joy that many of us could not hide our tears. We were at last free to go home to warm beds, good food, and the care of our family and friends. Our optimism and faith in Shackleton had helped us persevere in staying alive. And he paid us back by his commitment to save us from a slow but painful death.
1. What did the men eat and drink on the island?2. What were the dangers of living on the island?
3. How did the men stay in good spirits while waiting to be rescued?
4. What do you think were the key reasons for their survival?
5. If you were one of the men on Elephant Island, would you have trusted Shackleton? Why or why not?
6. Summarizing the key elements of the story.
| Who | |
| What | |
| Where | |
| When | |
| Why | |
| How |
3 . A five-year-old dog named Kelsey has been praised as a hero for helping to save the life of her owner who slipped in the snow and broke his neck.
The man, Bob, was alone when he left his farmhouse on New Year’s Eve to collect firewood.Expecting a journey of only several meters, Bob was wearing just long johns (衬裤), a shirt and slippers when he went outside, although the temperature was around －4℃.
After the accident, he was unable to move in the snow. Fortunately, Kelsey came to his assistance.
“I was shouting for help, but my nearest neighbor is about 400 meters away, and it was 10:30 p. m.,” Bob explained. “By the next morning, my voice was gone and I couldn’t yell for help, but Kelsey didn’t stop barking.”
Kelsey’s companion kept him warm by lying on top of him. She licked his face and hands to keep him awake. “Kelsey kept barking but never left my side,” Bob recalled. “I knew I couldn’t give up and that it was my choice to stay alive.”
Bob spent 20 hours in the freezing cold. When he finally lost consciousness, his dog kept barking. Finally, hearing the barking, Bob’s neighbor discovered him at 6:30 p. m. on New Year’s Day and called the emergency services at once. When Bob arrived in hospital, his body temperature was below 21℃. However, doctors were surprised to find that he didn’t have any frostbite (冻疮). They believed it was because of Kelsey’s determination to keep him warm. Dr. Chaim Colen, the doctor who treated Bob, said, “His dog really saved him.He was very fortunate.”
Bob said he was very grateful to both Dr. Colen and his Kelsey. “They saved my life. They are truly heroes!”
1. What happened to Bob on New Year’s Eve?| A．He left his dog alone in his farmhouse. |
| B．He was praised for saving a dog owner. |
| C．He broke his neck and couldn’t move. |
| D．He heard his neighbor’s shouting for help. |
| A．To keep warm. |
| B．To stay alive. |
| C．To keep Bob awake. |
| D．To seek help from others. |
| A．Helpful. | B．Fortunate. |
| C．Grateful. | D．Friendly. |
| A．A Neckbreaking Accident |
| B．The Magic Night |
| C．Warmth on a Winter’s Night |
| D．Determination to Keep Alive |
Henry dreamed of becoming a writer. In order to realize his dream, he read many books and often practiced
Henry finished his first novel
It was a story he read that encouraged him. It was about a father and a son who wanted to build a bridge. Nobody at that time considered it possible. Although the father and the son did have great difficulty
Henry finally kept on writing. He knew there was hope as long as he didn’t give up.
5 . When other teenagers hang out with friends in the summer vacations. Erica doesn’t join. Instead, the 16-year-old senior high student is
Erica started baking out of
Always considered a
| A．applied | B．occupied | C．accommodated | D．adapted |
| A．assists | B．shelters | C．charges | D．runs |
| A．sympathy | B．gratitude | C．passion | D．politeness |
| A．failure | B．success | C．pressure | D．astonishment |
| A．employed | B．perfected | C．shared | D．presented |
| A．reminded | B．permitted | C．instructed | D．inspired |
| A．confirmation | B．debate | C．consideration | D．contrast |
| A．annoyed | B．elegant | C．cautious | D．serious |
| A．distinguished | B．approved | C．neglected | D．hesitated |
| A．regular | B．potential | C．favoured | D．demanding |
| A．Unobviously | B．Unconsciously | C．Unfortunately | D．Unavoidably |
| A．down | B．off | C．through | D．up |
| A．model | B．sculptor | C．psychologist | D．captain |
| A．keep to | B．go beyond | C．jump at | D．work on |
| A．mean | B．modest | C．assured | D．sensitive |
6 . Sitting in the classroom I felt confused, for I couldn’t read the blackboard. Then Mum took me to the hospital. Within a few days, I was diagnosed (诊断) with a severe visual impairment (视力障碍). In fact, I was practically blind. Amazingly, I’d managed to reach the age of 13 without anyone realizing, not even me! “It all makes sense now,” Mum said. As a kid living on a farm, I was forever falling over things. I was known as the clumsy (笨拙) one to my parents and four sisters. But now, I was being told that I saw the world differently — I could only make out the outlines of things. I was given reading glasses but they didn’t help much.
Refusing to let my diagnosis hold me back, I continued doing everything I loved. As long as everything was in its place, I could feel my way around.
Later I got married to Lance and had amazing kids. I could change nappies (尿布) and dress the kids fine — it just took a little longer as I relied on touch to work out where things were. Cooking, on the other hand, was not my forte. I was terrible — always mixing up sugar and salt!
Nowadays, my grandkids have all been brought up not to leave toys on the floor or move chairs away from the table. “We don’t want Grandma tripping,” Lance will say.
Over the year, I’ve enjoyed lovely family holidays, but sometimes felt like Lance or the kids were too protective of me. So I was thrilled when I booked myself on a trip to the Gold Coast with people who were just like me in a travel company. I’m not missing out — my life is beautiful. I’m so lucky to have a wonderful family and lots of experiences.
Life is precious — you don’t need to “see” that.
1. What can we know from the first paragraph?| A．The reading glasses got the problem fixed. |
| B．She always tripped because she was awkward. |
| C．She got severe visual impairment at the age of 13. |
| D．Nobody realized her sight was poor until she was 13. |
| A．Weakness. | B．Favourite. | C．Strength. | D．Business. |
| A．She is able to see things clearly now. |
| B．She led a lonely and hopeless life. |
| C．She could help care for the kids. |
| D．She went to the Gold Coast all by herself. |
| A．We need to go to travel frequently on our own. |
| B．We should always turn to the family for help. |
| C．Everyone should pay special attention to the blind people. |
| D．Everyone can enjoy the beauty of life with a positive mind. |
7 . A jobless man applied for a job as an office boy at a big company. The HR manager interviewed him and then watched him cleaning the floor as a test.
“You are employed,” the HR manager said. “Give me your email address and I’ll send you the application to fill in, as well as the date when you may start.”
The man replied, “But I don’t have a computer or an email account.”
“I’m sorry,” said the HR manager. “We can’t accept persons who do not use email.”
The man left with no hope at all. With only ten dollars in his pocket, he decided to go to the supermarket and buy 10 kg tomatoes. He then sold the tomatoes from door to door. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his capital. He repeated this three times, and returned home happily with 60 dollars.
The man realised that he could survive in this way, and started to go every day early, and return late. Thus, his money doubled or tripled every day. Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, and then he had his own delivery vehicles. Five years later, the man was one of the biggest food retailers (零售商人) in the US.
He started to plan his family’s future and decided to have a life insurance. He called an insurance broker(经纪人) and chose a protection plan.
When the conversation ended, the broker asked him his email address. The man replied, “I don’t have an email account.”
The broker answered surprisingly, “You don’t have an email account, but you have succeeded to build an empire. Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an email?” The man thought for a while and replied, “Yes, I’d be an office boy at a company!”
1. Why couldn’t the man have the job at the big company?| A．Because he was lazy. |
| B．Because he didn’t pass the test. |
| C．Because he didn’t have an email account. |
| D．Because he didn’t clean the floor. |
| A．tomato | B．money | C．time | D．operation |
| A．He is one of the biggest food retailers in the world. |
| B．He started his career as an office boy in the supermarket. |
| C．He didn’t give up though he failed the interview. |
| D．He didn’t want to accept the job at the big company. |
| A．Misfortune may be an actual blessing. |
| B．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
| C．Accidents will happen. |
| D．No pains, no gains. |
8 . In 2013, Gabby Frost founded Buddy Project when she was 15. At that time, her best friend was diagnosed (诊断) with a mental health condition, and that had been the first time she had been made aware of what mental illness was. Cabby began thinking of how she could make a difference to help her friend. She didn’t want to wait around for someone else to think of something. The idea to create a supportive community where people can connect with others who share the same interests immediately came into her head. That simple idea is what led to the creation of Buddy Project.
One of the biggest social barriers she had to jump over was that some people didn’t view her seriously because she was a 15-year-old girl, and even now, she’s still a young woman. “Sometimes it’s frustrating because some people don’t think what I do is needed or they don’t think I’m professional,” she said. “Most people are overwhelmed by the fact that a 22-yearold girl is running this and that it’s one person doing this but not a whole team. I’m just lucky that I’ve found a support system that has been able to help my mom and me with the project. ”
Mental illness affects tens of millions of people in the United States each year, yet only half receive treatment. Since founding the organization as a high school student, Gabby has helped more than 200,000 participants feel better. Buddy Project aims to raise awareness of mental health by pairing people as buddies, which transitioned from social media movement to nonprofit organization in late 2015, and has raised over $ 50,000.
1. Why did Gabby Frost set up Buddy Project?| A．To treat her mental disease. |
| B．To know what causes mental illness. |
| C．To help her friend fight the mental disease. |
| D．To cure those with mental disease. |
| A．She couldn’t get support from her parents. |
| B．She couldn’t help so many patients at a time. |
| C．She wasn’t able to attract enough participants. |
| D．She wasn’t thought well of because of her age. |
| A．Completely doubted. | B．Totally convinced. |
| C．Strongly impressed. | D．Fully satisfied. |
| A．Americans pay little attention to mental health. |
| B．Many Americans have trouble with mental health. |
| C．Buddy Project provides financial aid for patients. |
| D．Buddy Project has cured many people with mental disease. |
Smith lives above the McKays. He is a keen gardener, and also a fish
