1 . When the economic crisis hit, Bruno and Marilena lost their jobs in Florence. It was then that they decided to return to their hometown in Tuscany. There, they
Guests at their Bed and Breakfast are treated like extended family, sharing home-cooked meals together and
Through commitment to community and sustainability values, Bruno and Marilena have not only found their inner
A.appreciated | B.evaluated | C.transformed | D.deserted |
A.resources | B.reservation | C.information | D.equipment |
A.rural | B.urban | C.cultural | D.private |
A.self-assessment | B.self-sufficiency | C.self-discipline | D.self-awareness |
A.adapting | B.exchanging | C.publishing | D.creating |
A.Legend | B.Word | C.Intelligence | D.Prediction |
A.observed | B.booked | C.traded | D.conserved |
A.escape | B.solution | C.opportunity | D.challenge |
A.temporary | B.permanent | C.meaningful | D.complicated |
A.Despite | B.Without | C.Against | D.Beyond |
A.care for | B.fight with | C.take over | D.set down |
A.donate | B.monitor | C.preserve | D.taste |
A.hardship | B.pressure | C.fulfillment | D.maintenance |
A.struggle | B.loneliness | C.achievement | D.peace |
A.environmental | B.emotional | C.communicative | D.economic |
2 . We’re often told that there’s no age limit when it comes to pursuing our goals, but it’s truly inspiring to see someone achieve them later in life-especially if they are 95 years old. Angela Alvarez is a Cuban-born singer and songwriter who, after putting aside her dream of pursuing a career in entertainment for decades, finally released her first album in 2021.
Once Alvarez graduated from school, she told her father she wanted to become a professional singer. However, he prevented her from doing so. Eventually, she got married and found happiness in raising her four children, though life wasn’t easy.
With time, her grandson, Carlos Jos é Alvarez, grew up to be a music producer. When he found out his grandma had written over 50 songs throughout her life, he asked if she would like to record her songs. Her answer was “yes”. And that was the beginning.
Alvarez’s story even caught the attention of actor Andy García, who produced a documentary about this amazing woman and the recording process of her 15-song album. “She represents a generation, perhaps our greatest generation of Cubans,” said the actor.
The dream reached new heights as she became nominated for a Latin Grammy. Once she took to the stage to accept her award, she gave an inspiring speech, “I want to dedicate this award to my beloved homeland, Cuba; also to those who have not achieved their dream. Although life is difficult, there is always a way out, and with faith and love they can achieve it. I promise, it’s never too late.”
1. What do we know about Alvarez?A.She lived a miserable life bringing up her children. |
B.She has released 15 albums since she returned to music. |
C.She got nominated as the best musician of her generation. |
D.She gave up her dream after graduation owing to her father’s prevention. |
A.Her hard life after marriage. | B.Her grandson’s support. |
C.Her desire to make more money. | D.Her enthusiasm for music. |
A.Inspiring. | B.Interesting. | C.Amusing. | D.Moving. |
A.To introduce a woman’s life-time story. |
B.To call on others to learn from Alvarez. |
C.To praise what Alvarez has done in music. |
D.To tell us it’s never too late to achieve one’s dream. |
3 . Asli Samanci, a food scientist, was driven by her childhood dream of becoming a scientist, leading her to pursue a career in food science. “It
With this passion, she established a company that
The
Meanwhile, Samanci and her beekeeping partners have witnessed a significant
A.accomplishes | B.combines | C.processes | D.maintains |
A.took up | B.brought about | C.held back | D.put off |
A.purchase | B.delivery | C.quality | D.service |
A.limited | B.denied | C.revealed | D.backed |
A.regulation | B.inspiration | C.sample | D.mystery |
A.explored | B.exported | C.refused | D.permitted |
A.patient | B.consistent | C.cautious | D.content |
A.equally | B.violently | C.directly | D.temporarily |
A.accessible | B.similar | C.responsible | D.essential |
A.damage | B.rise | C.change | D.loss |
A.conquering | B.discovering | C.impressing | D.preserving |
A.scientists | B.beekeepers | C.entrepreneurs | D.consumers |
A.balance | B.opportunity | C.fault | D.reason |
A.extraordinary | B.sustainable | C.lively | D.decent |
A.Altogether | B.Anyhow | C.Moreover | D.Otherwise |
4 . My school holiday routine usually involves sleeping in, but one morning, I woke up early for no particular reason. With nothing to do, I decided to
As I
He was just simply dressed. However, there was a
A.gradually | B.causally | C.constantly | D.regularly |
A.attracted | B.disturbed | C.touched | D.impacted |
A.observed | B.recognized | C.felt | D.heard |
A.adult | B.young | C.elderly | D.poor |
A.bicycle | B.handle | C.wheel | D.seat |
A.explained | B.concluded | C.indicated | D.described |
A.slight | B.visible | C.hidden | D.possible |
A.backing off | B.stepping forward | C.taking over | D.showing up |
A.pointing | B.looking | C.laughing | D.waving |
A.Due to | B.According to | C.In spite of | D.In view of |
A.attitude | B.principle | C.identity | D.standard |
A.sex | B.age | C.character | D.position |
A.grateful | B.sympathetic | C.exhausted | D.guilty |
A.confused | B.informed | C.warned | D.struck |
A.predict | B.reflect | C.appreciate | D.convince |
5 . Joan Donovan was 84 years old when she finished her college degree, but the great-grandmother said she didn’t want to stop learning just yet.
“I couldn’t wait to get up in the morning to go to school. I met the most
Four years later, on December 13, 2022, Donovan graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a master’s
Donovan said the university heard she was graduating when her son called the school to
When she was young, Donovan’s mother called her “Brilliant”. She started first grade at the age of 4 and graduated high school by 16. The family couldn’t
Donavan always wanted a
“I’m a goal-seeker,” she said. “And it was a goal, and I
“Well, I waited 60 years to
Donovan, who has 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, said the most important thing she’s learned in life is to be a “
“Don’t ever give up. I mean,
A.important | B.competitive | C.promising | D.intelligent |
A.curiosity | B.encouragement | C.admiration | D.congratulation |
A.love | B.trick | C.interest | D.hobby |
A.position | B.document | C.degree | D.grade |
A.apply for | B.ask for | C.care for | D.look for |
A.Still | B.Besides | C.However | D.Anyway |
A.attend | B.admit | C.approve | D.afford |
A.formal | B.valuable | C.special | D.flexible |
A.buried | B.delayed | C.permitted | D.expanded |
A.reached | B.established | C.searched | D.succeeded |
A.satisfy | B.challenge | C.discover | D.fulfill |
A.building | B.abandoning | C.overcoming | D.seizing |
A.hard-working | B.lifelong | C.well-known | D.selfless |
A.if | B.since | C.though | D.while |
A.fortunately | B.immediately | C.thankfully | D.eventually |
6 . On July 29, 10-year-old Mayah Zamora went home after being hospitalized for 66 days. Mayah was a survivor of the May 24 shooting rampage at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.
The little girl had more than 20 surgeries and underwent weeks of physical therapy after being shot in her hands, chest and back during the school shooting. Mayah’s doctors have called her survival miraculous.
On August 24, she was honored as the Hero of the Month for August by MLB’s Houston Astros at a game against the Minnesota Twins, where she threw out the first pitch. While there, Mayah also met former Astros shortstop (游击手) Carlos Correa, who shared some incredible news with her family.
The Zamoras learned during the game that the Correa family Foundation and other donors are funding the construction of a new home for the family in a location they chose. The trauma (创伤) of living just blocks from the gunman’s house had been taking a toll on (给……造成重大损伤) the young survivor.
“I could never begin to imagine everything she has gone through, and we feel that this is one thing we could do to try to alleviate some of her pain,” Correa said. “I’m thankful to both teams for being a part of this effort.”
His foundation shared a statement and some great photos of Mayah’s special night at the ballpark on its Facebook page.
“We are so proud of you. Mayah, and we are honored to recognize you as our Hero of the Month,” wrote the Correa Family Foundation. “We hope this will be an opportunity for Mayah and her family to rebuild their lives, make new memories, and look towards a bright future.”
1. Why did the Correa family Foundation and other donors fund a new home for the Zamoras?A.Because the Zamoras didn’t want to live in their home. |
B.Because Correa wanted to reward Mayah for her bravery. |
C.Because the Zamoras’ home was near the gunman’s house. |
D.Because the Zamoras’ home had been destroyed by the gunman. |
A.Ease. | B.Suffer. | C.Delay. | D.Confirm. |
A.Selfish. | B.Caring. | C.Determined. | D.Responsible. |
A.A diary entry. | B.A news report. | C.A book review. | D.A moving story. |
For many, an act of kindness is its own reward. But Eva Hachey found her selflessness answered in ways she could never have imagined.
For weeks, Eva Hachey had imagined adopting a golden Chihuahua with a white spot on its forehead. And there he was, at her local SPCA in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The dog had been abused by his previous owners and was timid. “He’d come to me, then back away and growl, then come back to me,” Hachey said. “After 15 minutes, the attendant picked him up and put him in my lap. He started giving me kisses. He stole my heart in that moment.” She adopted the ten-month-old puppy on the spot and named him Bruno.
Bruno lived happily with Hachey and her 35-year-old daughter, Angel Hutchinson, for five months. Then, on the evening of September 26, 2016, Hachey, 52 at the time, returned home as usual at 8 p. m. from her job as a chiropractic assistant and office manager. And as usual, she ate supper in front of the TV in the living room. Around 10:30, a friend called, just as Bruno went into Hutchinson’s room to go to sleep for the night. Hachey and her friend chatted a bit, and as Hachey hung up, she noticed the time was 11:08.
“The next thing I remember was a male voice saying, ‘Eva, Eva, wake up.’ It was an emergency doctor,” said Hachey. “I looked around, and the room was just full of people. And I said, ‘What are you doing in my house?’”
What they were doing was saving her life. By the time Hachey had hung up with her friend, Hutchinson was fast asleep in her bedroom and Bruno was in his usual spot next to her under the blankets. Hachey believed Bruno heard something odd then and possibly went to the living room to investigate.
注意:1.续写词数应为150左右;2.请按如格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Unexpectedly, Bruno ran back to the bedroom and tried every means to awaken Hutchinson.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________A year later, Hachey finally fully recovered.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8 . When Alexa couldn’t crawl, stand or walk as a baby, her mother sensed that something was wrong.
Throughout Alexa’s childhood and adolescence, there were no
With hard work, determination and courage—not to
Now, Alexa works as an entertainment lawyer for a Hollywood production company. Although Alexa doesn’t let her SMA define her, it has certainly
A.Initially | B.Gradually | C.Apparently | D.Eventually |
A.bones | B.cells | C.muscles | D.blood |
A.previous | B.available | C.sufficient | D.affordable |
A.body | B.power | C.language | D.imagination |
A.lawyer | B.producer | C.actor | D.author |
A.mention | B.explain | C.argue | D.complain |
A.tiresome | B.worrisome | C.terrific | D.fantastic |
A.lift | B.wave | C.swing | D.shake |
A.tried out | B.talked about | C.heard about | D.tested out |
A.claiming | B.admiring | C.researching | D.fighting |
A.cure | B.speed | C.stop | D.slow |
A.shaped | B.affected | C.remembered | D.realized |
A.considerate | B.determined | C.sympathetic | D.generous |
A.consequence | B.threat | C.object | D.obstacle |
A.operated | B.indicated | C.experienced | D.functioned |
The little country schoolhouse was heated by an old fashioned, pot-bellied stove. A little boy had the job of coming to school early each day to start the fire and warm the room before his teacher and his classmates arrived.
One morning, they arrived to find the schoolhouse engulfed (吞没) in flames. They dragged the unconscious little boy out of the flaming building more dead than alive. He had major burns over the lower half of his body and was taken to the nearby county hospital.
From his bed the dreadfully burned, semi-conscious little boy faintly heard the doctor talking to his mother. The doctor told his mother that her son would surely die—which was for the best, really—for the terrible fire had devastated (破坏) the lower half of his body.
But the brave boy didn’t want to die. He made up his mind that he would survive. Somehow, to the amazement of the physician, he did survive. When the mortal (致死的) danger was past, he again heard the doctor and his mother speaking quietly. The mother was told that since the fire had destroyed so much flesh in the lower part of his body, it would almost be better if he had died, since he was doomed to be a life-time cripple (瘸子) with no use at all of his lower limbs.
Once more the brave boy made up his mind. He would not be a cripple. He would walk. But unfortunately from the waist down, he had no motor (引起运动的) ability. His thin legs just dangled there, all but lifeless.
Ultimately he was released from the hospital. Every day his mother would massage (对……按摩) his little legs, but there was no feeling, no control, nothing. Yet his determination that he would walk was as strong as ever. When he wasn’t in bed, he was confined (限制) to a wheelchair.
Paragraph 1:One sunny day his mother wheeled him out into the yard to get some fresh air.
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Paragraph 2:
Ultimately through his strong determination, he did develop the ability to stand up.
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My childhood is magical and full of adventure. I have so many childhood memories, and I would like to share one that still stimulates me. This unforgettable childhood event was about the first day when I learned how to swim. It happened so unexpectedly and quickly that not only I but my parents were surprised. Of course, we were proud as well. I was barely seven years old back then, and my parents thought that it was time for me to learn how to swim. One summer morning, they took me to a swimming pool in the City Swimming Complex which was just a 35-minute drive from our house. It was a weekend and both my parents accompanied me. After we reached the Swimming Complex, we found many people were learning how to swim. My mother said she would watch me learn this important skill with the help of my father. Then she cheered me on and took a seat.
I had no idea how to swim but I was excited to try this new adventure. However, when my father got into the swimming pool with me, I became a bit nervous. It seemed that things were not quite as easy for me.
Looking around, I noticed that many other children of all ages were also trying to grasp this skill and some of them had pretty much learned the art and science of this skill. Influenced by others, I was determined to focus on my training and swim as well as them. Under the guidance of my father, I learned with all my effort and devotion, and I made rapid progress. After teaching me for 30 minutes or so, my father went to buy some snacks for us and my mother came to talk to me for a while near the pool. She asked me if I had learned anything at all. To prove my progress, I jumped into the water and started swimming.
注意:1.续写词数应为150左右;2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
My mother was frightened by my action at first.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Eating the snacks bought by my father, we were all thrilled and excited.
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