A Helping Hand
I spent most of my teenage years in an old farmhouse in the Durham County countryside. That was more than 30 years ago, but life there dated back to an even earlier era. I spent my summer days doing manual labor in the tobacco fields, while my summer evenings were spent preparing vegetables in the backyard. My fall weekends were often spent cutting wood and storing logs for the fire. Living where we did, we could see three or four other houses from our own, none of them within shouting distance. We knew our neighbors, most of whom were elderly. We usually offered our kindness when they needed help.
Jimmy lived across the street, on the far side of a tobacco field. He was seventy years old and lived alone. He lost his wife two years ago. He had barely supported himself these last couple of years since his health had gotten worse. One day, we went to visit him at his home. It was a small wooden house with dirty windows and a curtain that had been mended several times. The poor old man would sit in an armchair by the window, holding a faded photo, and with tears in his eyes, recall happy memories of his wife.
One weekend, my father went to check on Jimmy, but a rare heavy snow happened to fall. It was so heavy that he couldn’t get his old truck up Jimmy’s uneven (不平坦的), snow-covered road. Nobody could understand what made Dad climb the 400 yards or so to Jimmy's house. My brother and I were waiting anxiously at home. After a long time, he rushed home and told us that Jimmy was sick and had no firewood left.
My father asked us if we would like to help. We all nodded our heads willingly, but my brother was secretly worried. He asked my father how we could help. Although we could meet Jimmy's needs for things like food and firewood, my father held the belief that the loss of his wife made Jimmy unhappy, and wanted to offer Jimmy a moment of joy. We left the house and walked across the snow-covered fields. Our footprints went deep into the snow, only to disappear as the snow continued to fall. We headed across the field, aiming for Jimmy's house.
注意：1．词数80左右；
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
We knocked on Jimmy’s door, and he greeted us.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . I grew up in Lakeland, Louisiana, one of seven children. We all lived on my parents’
At 12, I got a job,
Going to college was then
In the late 1980s, when visiting Bangladesh, I saw a woman with a baby on her back,
And I came to believe that people without work are not free. They are
| A．company | B．farm | C．factory | D．store |
| A．milking | B．caring | C．confusing | D．pulling |
| A．simple | B．tiring | C．abstract | D．easy |
| A．challenge | B．habit | C．surprise | D．blessing |
| A．pleasant | B．useless | C．important | D．boring |
| A．impossible | B．comfortable | C．rare | D．serious |
| A．like | B．admire | C．enjoy | D．hate |
| A．at all | B．after all | C．in all | D．above all |
| A．and | B．so | C．but | D．or |
| A．used | B．abandoned | C．adjusted | D．devoted |
| A．breaking | B．making | C．decorating | D．separating |
| A．how | B．why | C．when | D．where |
| A．safer | B．easier | C．busier | D．tougher |
| A．soldier | B．farmer | C．lady | D．driver |
| A．hard | B．easy | C．impossible | D．enough |
| A．father’s | B．teacher’s | C．officer’s | D．friend’s |
| A．examples | B．victims | C．results | D．sources |
| A．turn to | B．adjust to | C．come to | D．contribute to |
| A．keep | B．try | C．quit | D．avoid |
| A．free | B．rich | C．busy | D．safe |
Dave had loved basketball for as long as he could remember and he had never had a day without playing it. At primary school and junior high school he joined basketball clubs, attended training programs and watched basketball games, from which he learned the moves of the star players, wishing to play in a professional team like them and shine on the court.
Now as a senior high school student, however, his dream of becoming a professional player was dimming (变暗) because he was only of average height. He had to give up the hope of joining the school team. The guys on the school team were all tall boys who played matches and won honors for the school. They were like heroes. Dave watched them play and cheered them but he knew he would never be one of them.
Dave felt it a pity not to be tall enough, but this didn’t stop him from pouring his passion into basketball. He just played for the love of the sport. He played in the school gym with other boys or by himself every day, even during holidays and weekends, when it was open for two hours in the morning. He enjoyed every minute on the court making every effort to play better.
It was one Saturday morning. Dave was playing in the gym by himself, as all the other boys were busy with other weekend affairs. Then he noticed a tall boy approaching. It was Lankas. Everybody knows him as captain of the school basketball team. “Hi, Lankas,” Dave greeted him. “My name is Dave.” “Hi, Dave,” Lankas replied as he got closer. “Nice to see you here. Do you need an opponent (对手) to play against?” Dave was shocked, frozen right there, unable to believe his ears but somehow, he answered, “Why not?” So, a game of two players began. During the game, Dave went all out to play against this opponent, forgetting all about his height. It was a game he could play to his heart’s content. It was more like an enjoyment than a challenge. “Can we meet again?” Lankas asked.
1. Why did Dave give up the hope of joining the school team? (3 points)2. What made Dave keep playing basketball? (3 points)
3. What might happen after the game? (4 points)
4 . Papa’s jaw dropped when Mama told him that Sister had cheated on her final exams—not to succeed but to fail. “It’s unbelievable!” he said. “Sister has always been so proud of her good grades!”
“Yes, she has,” said Mama. “But it’s not unbelievable. It just shows how badly she wanted off the swimming team.”
“Wanted off the swimming team?” said Papa. “She never said anything about that to me.”
“Of course she didn’t,” said Mama. “She was afraid you’d blow your top. You already had her getting a swimming scholarship to college and winning gold medals at the Olympics. Can you imagine how much pressure she must have felt? For her, being on the team couldn’t have been much fun.”
“Oh, my gosh!” Papa said, clapping a hand to his forehead. “I’ve been so stupid! I just thought she’d want to be a champion swimmer because she’s so good at it.”
“It’s like anything else, dear,” said Mama. “No matter how good at it you are, if it stops being fun, you won’t want to do it anymore.”
Papa put his head in his hands.
“She must be really mad at me,” he mumbled. “Maybe I should say sorry to her.”
Sister’s footsteps could be heard on the stairs. She came into the kitchen and looked hopefully up at her parents.
“Honey,” said Mama with a smile, “your papa and I have decided that there’s no reason for you to be on the swimming team if you don’t want to.”
Sister’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Yippee!” she cried.
“And,” added Papa, “there’s no need for any more drills. I’m sure you’ll bring your grades back up all by yourself.”
Sister ran to Papa and jumped into his arms. She gave him a big hug. “I’m going to go play cards with Lizzy!” she said. “See you later!”
From the kitchen window, Mama and Papa watched their daughter run down the sunny road toward Lizzy’s house.
“It’s good to see her happy again,” said Mama.
“It sure is,” Papa agreed. “As for the swimming team, there’s always next year.” “If?” Mama prompted him.
“Oh, right,” said Papa. “If she wants to.”
Mama smiled. “At least you’re learning, dear,” she said. She kissed him. “Well, you know what they say,” Papa said. “Better late than never.”
1. The underlined expression “blow your top” probably means .| A．change your opinion | B．become very excited |
| C．get very angry | D．fall down with fear |
| A．what she was willing to | B．what she felt easy to |
| C．what she was able to | D．what she felt right to |
| A．Cruel but reasonable. | B．Crazy but confident. |
| C．Stubborn but honest. | D．Ambitious but considerate. |
| A．It is easier to say something than to do it. |
| B．Health is better than wealth. |
| C．It’s never too late if you really want to learn and change. |
| D．To do something is better than to do nothing. |
5 . It’s 1:30 am in Kenya’s populated north, and 50 people are lying on their backs on the shore of a dried-up river, staring up at the night sky. These stargazers have travelled 250 miles to Samburu to
The Star Safari is organized by a Kenyan astronomer(天文学家), Susan Murabana, who has brought a 50 kg, 170 cm-long
Every two months, Murabana and her husband put their equipment on to the
“There is a common misconception in Kenya that astronomy in general is hard, boring, and only for boys,” she adds. “I’d like to
“When I started this work, I was a lone ranger and I wanted to change that.” She says.
She
| A．witness | B．protect | C．sweep | D．search |
| A．surprised | B．satisfied | C．disappointed | D．sorrowed |
| A．across | B．into | C．toward | D．throughout |
| A．helicopter | B．telescope | C．cellphone | D．camera |
| A．water | B．light | C．sound | D．soil |
| A．tick | B．kick | C．stick | D．pick |
| A．wheel | B．roof | C．mirror | D．window |
| A．set up | B．set down | C．set back | D．set off |
| A．harms | B．papers | C．ruins | D．basics |
| A．kids | B．guys | C．girls | D．teenagers |
| A．warn | B．teach | C．beg | D．realize |
| A．Promoted | B．Comforted | C．Moved | D．Inspired |
| A．passion | B．imagination | C．impression | D．depression |
| A．referred | B．recommended | C．regarded | D．requested |
| A．attracts | B．preserves | C．challenges | D．produces |
For Sara’s family, decorating the yard was always a celebration for the New year. This year it was Sara’s father’s turn to hang colorful lights all round their roof according to family tradition.
On New Year’s Eve, light enveloped the whole house. Everything seemed to be going fine until misfortune happened: Sara’s father passed away suddenly. Sara was very sad. However, seeing the hanging lights, she was in a state of feeling happy, gaining a tiny thread of relief.
The lights reminded her of her beloved father. Taking them down meant the final connection with her father would disappear, which she wasn’t ready to accept. So she kept them. One day in March, Sara received a typed note in the mail. “Take your New Year’s lights down!” The letter read, which made Sara angry. She couldn’t hold back her anger, and shared it with her story online. Messages of support flooded into Sara’s inbox quickly. Besides, one day, Sara was driving back home and surprised to find that New Year’s decorations reappeared on houses in her neighborhood —her neighbors had made a collective (共同的) decision to hang their lights back up in honor of her father!
She never learned the sender’s identity. But for her, that hurtful deed was far less important than so many acts of kindness. A few weeks later, Sara eventually took down the decorations. “It was hard. But due to all the support and love, it was not as hard as I thought.”
1. 选词填空：根据文本内容从方框中选择恰当的词并用其正确形式填入文本图示中，每词限用一次，有两词为多余选项。| hang relief remind painful willing annoy kind easy appearance tradition lucky post |
Sara’s New Year Lights
| It is | → | Sara’s father |
| ↓ | ↓ | |
| → | The lights were a | |
| ↓ | ↓ | |
| Sara received a typed note asking her to take the New Year’s lights down, which made her | → | Sara |
| ↓ | ↓ | |
| Sara was surprised to find the | → | Because of the |
2. Why did Sara feel happy when seeing the hanging lights and what did she decide to do with the colorful lights?
3. What’s the purpose of Sara sharing the typed note with her story online?
4. How did Sara feel when she made a decision to take down the decorations?
7 . Peter, a 5-year- old boy, showed such great interest in seashells that he would rush to pick them up with his 3-year-old sister, Shirley. They screamed out their joy as Peter collected his treasure into his pockets. For Peter, sea shells lay shining on the peaceful beach, waiting for him, just like stars twinkling in the sky. As waves touched them, they seemed to be flowers blooming in gentle wind.
One day, Peter was wandering through a market with Shirley with some shells in his pocket. Suddenly Peter found his younger sister was lagging (落后) behind. He stopped and looked back, finding Shirley standing in front of a toy shop and staring at something with great interest. The boy went back to her and asked, “What do you want?” Shirley pointed at the doll, wearing a smile on her innocent face. Peter held his younger sister’s tiny hand, walking into the shop. He tiptoed to reach for the doll, and like fulfilling an elder brother’s duty, gave the precious doll to Shirley. Holding tightly the doll, the sister was very happy.
The shopkeeper was watching everything and enjoyed seeing the mature (成熟的) behavior of the boy. Now the boy came to the counter and asked the shopkeeper, “How much does this doll cost, sir?” “The shopkeeper was a cool man, who had suffered from something in his life. So he asked the boy with love, “Well, what can you pay?” Peter reached into his clothes for money that was intended for these two little kids’ breakfast. Having counted the money, Peter put it with care on the counter, asking again, “Sir, is it enough for my little sister’s doll?” The amusing scene just in front of the shopkeeper eventually brought a smile to his face. Shaking his head slightly, he replied, “My boy, I am afraid it seems not to be enough.”
1. 根据文本内容从方框中选择恰当的词并用其正确形式填入文本图示中，每词限用一次，有两词为多余选项| amuse build attract desire innocence responsible make observe refuse loving care passion | |
Peter and his 3-year-old sister | |
Wandering on the beach, Peter found his sister lagging behind at a toy store. The little girl drooled on（痴迷）a doll and | The little girl showed her longing for the toy with her big and |
The boy asked for the price of the doll and decided to sacrifice his and his sister’ breakfast fund to get it, while the shopkeeper | The little boy took out his money |
3. How did the little boy intend to pay?
4. What might happen next?（at least 20 words）
8 . I was 16 when one morning my father told me I could drive him into a village, about 18 miles away, on condition that I took the car into a nearby garage to be serviced. Having just learnt to drive and hardly ever having the chance to use the car, I happily accepted. I drove Dad into the village and promised to pick him up at 4 p.m., and then drove to a nearby garage. Because I had a few free hours, I decided to catch a couple of movies at a theatre near the garage. When the last movie had finished, it was six o’clock. I was two hours late!
I knew Dad would be angry if he found out I’d been watching movies. I decided to tell him that the car needed some repairs and that they had taken longer than expected. I drove up to the place where we had appointed to meet and saw Dad waiting patiently. I said sorry and told him that I’d come as quickly as I could, but the car had needed some repairs.
“I’m disappointed that you feel you have to lie to me, Jason.”
“What do you mean? I’m telling the truth.”
Dad looked at me. “When you did not show up, I called the garage. They told me that you had not yet picked up the car. So you see, I know there were no problems with the car.”
I had to confess (承认) to my trip to the movie theatre. Dad listened as a sadness passed through him.
“I’m angry, not with you but with myself. I have failed because I have brought up a son who cannot even tell the truth to his own father. I’m going to walk home now and consider where I have gone wrong all these years.”
“But Dad, it’s 18 miles to our home. It’s dark. You can’t walk home.” My words were useless. Dad began walking along the roads, silently, thoughtfully and painfully. For 18 miles I drove behind him.
This was the most painful experience that I had ever had. It was also the most successful lesson. I have never lied to my father since.
1. Why was the author delighted to drive his father into the village?| A．He longed to drive the car. |
| B．He intended to repair the car. |
| C．He looked forward to touring the village. |
| D．He had an opportunity to watch movies. |
| A．He followed the author. | B．He had repaired the car. |
| C．He rang up the garage. | D．He went to the garage. |
| A．Doubtful and tired. | B．Sorry and impatient. |
| C．Cold but disappointed. | D．Sad and annoyed. |
| A．A Bad Movie. | B．A White Lie. |
| C．A Long Walk Home. | D．A Drive to the Garage. |
A Mother’s Day Surprise
The twins were filled with excitement as they thought of the surprise they were planning for Mother’s Day. How pleased and proud Mother would be when they brought her breakfast in bed. They planned to make French toast and chicken porridge. They had watched their mother in the kitchen. There was nothing to it. Jenna and Jeff knew exactly what to do.
The big day came at last. The alarm rang at 6 a.m. The pair went down the stairs quietly to the kitchen. They decided to boil the porridge first. They put some rice into a pot of water and left it to boil while they made the French toast. Jeff broke two eggs into a plate and added in some milk. Jenna found the bread and put two slices into the egg mixture. Next, Jeff turned on the second stove burner to heat up the frying pan. Everything was going smoothly until Jeff started frying the bread. The pan was too hot and the bread turned black within seconds. Jenna threw the burnt piece into the sink and put in the other slice of bread. This time, she turned down the fire so it cooked nicely.
Then Jeff noticed steam shooting out of the pot and the lid starting to shake. The next minute, the porridge boiled over and put out the fire. Jenna panicked. Thankfully, Jeff stayed calm and turned off the gas quickly. But the stove was a mess now. Jenna told Jeff to clean it up so they could continue to cook the rest of the porridge. But Jeff’s hand touched the hot burner and he gave a cry of pain. Jenna made him put his hand in cold water. Then she caught the smell of burning. Oh dear! The piece of bread in the pan had turned black as well.
1. 根据文本内容从方框中选择恰当的词并用其正确形式填入文本图示中，每词限用一次，有两词为多余选项。| bread boil over calm clean trouble sink hand breakfast stove surprise burn panic | ||
| The twins wanted to plan a | ||
↓ | ↓ | |
| Problem 1: The pan was too hot and the | → | Solution 1: Jenna turned down the fire, threw the bread into the |
↓ | ↓ | |
| Problem 2: The porridge | → | Solution 2: Jeff stayed |
↓ | ↓ | |
| Problem 3: The | → | Solution 3: Jenna told Jeff to |
↓ | ↓ | |
| Problem 4: Jeff’s hand touched the hot | → | Solution 4: Jenna made Jeff put his hand in cold water. |
↓ | ↓ | |
| Conflict: Jenna and Jeff had | → | Solution: ? |
2. How did the twins learn to prepare breakfast?
3. How did the twins’ attitude change before and after trying to make breakfast?
4. What would the twins do next? Why?
Mercy for a thief
A frantic call came into Jimmy Gilleece’s bar this past March. A newly married woman who had spent the afternoon at the dive beach bar, couldn’t find her wallet. She didn’t care about her ID, credit cards, or $150 in cash—but her wedding ring was tucked inside.
Gilleece, the barkeeper, spent several hours watching surveillance footage(监控录像). He noticed a young man in a hoodie approach the bench that the woman had just sat on. He put something in his pocket, and walked off. Gilleece posted a clip on the bar’s Facebook page. Within hours, Gilleece got a text from 17-year-old Rivers Prather, who’d heard about the post from his sister. Prather told Gilleece he’d done it because he hadn’t eaten in two days. He said he saw the ring but thought it was fake, so he took the money and threw the wallet off the public docks into the ocean.
Gilleece, unsure whether he believed Prather, told the teen to meet him at the docks. There, after talking with the teen, Gilleece knew Prather wasn’t getting along with his family and had been living in the woods for a week. Gilleece thought Prather was more of a kid than a criminal. He thought he had to help him somehow. But the police were already on the case, and because of the missing ring, Prather could probably be sent to the jail.
The next day, Gilleece had two local divers search the waters where Prather had thrown the wallet. A policewoman was waiting for them there. More than an hour passed, with no sign of the ring. Prather looked nervously at the water. And then a diver popped up. In his hand was the wallet, and inside was the ring. Prather jumped up excitedly. Even the policewoman was happy. When Gilleece called the wallet’s owner, she burst out crying.
“Most people would have given the clip to police, and he chose to help me,” Prather told CBS News. “I say thank you to him every day.”
1. 根据文本内容从方框中选择恰当的词并用其正确形式填入文本图示中，每词限一次，有两词为多余选项。lost real jump decide relationship miss throw approach nervous tears hold happy | ||
A newly married woman | ||
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| |
| Gilleece found that a young man |  | Prather admitted that he took the money and threw the wallet with the ring into the ocean, because he thought it was not |
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| |
| After Gilleece and Prather had a talk, Gillece | | Prather told Gileece he had a bad |
|
| |
| The next day, Gilleece had two local divers search the waters for the wallet which | | Prather was a bit |
|
| |
| A diver popped up with his hand | | Prather was so happy, |
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| |
When Gilleece called the wallet’s owner, she burst into | ||
3. Why did Prather take the wallet away?
4. What’s Gilleece’s impression of Prather after they met at the docks?
