In a house far from the city lived John and his mother. John’s only hobby was wandering in the nearby picturesque forest. In its center was a shiny clear lake with schools of fish dancing in it. Lovely animals such as deer or rabbits were playing around and cute birds were singing in trees. Fascinated by the beauty and liveliness of nature, he desired to become a great artist and present all the breath-taking scenes to the world.
John studied in the local primary school. Life was not easy for John and his mom after his father died. Knowing what hard work his mother did to make ends meet, John really didn’t want his mother to worry. His mother knew the significance of education in life but she was against his dream of becoming an artist. “The profession of artist can’t aid a person in meeting his daily expenses,” she would say. But as each day passed, John’s dream became more passionate.
Due to the living circumstances, even buying some new colors would be a luxury. John only used the worn drawing file and limited colors for his daily practice. Though lacking fine painting materials, he never gave up drawing. He spent a significant amount of time staying in the forest, secretly perfecting his craft. With continuous hard work and a distinct gift for art, he drew beautifully.
One day John read about a competition being held in the town, whose deadline was only two days away. He got the perfect opportunity to fulfill his desire but he was in a dilemma (两难境地) as for the competition he needed special paints and some brushes. He didn’t have the courage to ask his mother for money as he knew her prejudice against art.
That evening his mom returned from work and handed him a few paper notes, saying, “This is for your lunch at school next month.” The money was enough for his desired materials! John’s face lit up.
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。
Early the next morning, John secretly left home with the money.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________A week later, a phone call came to John’s home.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . During the holiday season in 2022, Felicia Hall was battling depression. “I was unhappy, overeating fast food at night and not really caring for myself. I wasn’t physically
It wasn’t until New Year that Hall wanted to make a
The
After five months, Hall lost 20 pounds — and gained a new
| A．fit | B．attractive | C．active | D．disabled |
| A．difference | B．change | C．living | D．deal |
| A．continued | B．managed | C．decided | D．promised |
| A．reminder | B．deadline | C．monitor | D．timetable |
| A．regret | B．forget | C．hesitate | D．withdraw |
| A．confidence | B．wellness | C．pride | D．relief |
| A．laying | B．hitting | C．keeping | D．putting |
| A．sick | B．afraid | C．sure | D．capable |
| A．transformed | B．enriched | C．rescheduled | D．restored |
| A．focus | B．emphasis | C．attitude | D．remark |
| A．called on | B．relied on | C．appealed to | D．turned to |
| A．even | B．still | C．ever | D．almost |
| A．By chance | B．In fact | C．Above all | D．At first |
| A．practice | B．combine | C．struggle | D．grow |
| A．worried | B．aware | C．satisfied | D．certain |
3 . Growing up, I always heard people say work hard pays. I never really understood these words until I reached the age where my parents stopped giving me my monthly allowance and asked me to look for a job.
New Year is a season of good news for merrymakers and entrepreneurial characters. My childhood friend was one of the latter. Mike and I were two sides of the same coin. I was an introvert and a bookworm, while Mike was outgoing and a merrymaker. His added advantage over me was that he came from a family of entrepreneurs. Therefore, while I saw the festive season as another time to enjoy, he saw it as a perfect time to make money. Ironically, I needed this side of him, given my present predicament (困境).
Mike was not of the “work hard pays” school of thought but the “work smart” school. When I told him about my predicament, he saw a business partner. He told me about his business idea — making and selling festive decorations. Having noticed my disbelieving look, he told me he had researched and realized that only one shop sold festive decorations with exorbitant (过高的) price, which meant that there was room for competition. However, I reminded him starting a business, let alone competing with an established enterprise, required capital. He told me, “Not really. All we had to do was make some decorations ourselves.” Upon that, we made some special designs and hit the ground running.
News about our selling decorations spread like wildfire. Mike’s decision to publish brochures advertising our products was a genius marketing trick. Within three days, we had sold about 50 sets of decorations, and as they say, the rest is history.
My parents’ decision to stop my monthly allowance served to teach me the value of work. However, it was my entrepreneurial adventure with Mike that taught me that working smart is better than working hard.
1. What was the author’s present predicament?| A．Weak reading skills. | B．Lack of financial support. |
| C．Poor communication ability. | D．Awful relationship with parents. |
| A．Losing market immediately. | B．Collected money eagerly. |
| C．Imagined the future merrily. | D．Started the business quickly. |
| A．Publicizing their products widely. | B．Doing research in advance. |
| C．Designing delicate decorations. | D．Making decorations on their own. |
| A．Smart work outweighs hard work. |
| B．Wisdom comes from hard work. |
| C．Working hard will finally pay off. |
| D．Working smart starts with working hard. |
The 16th of September was my cousin’s birthday, He is 4 years younger than me and his birthday is just seven days before mine. Those seven days were the worst days of my life. I thought “Isn’t seven supposed to be a lucky number?” and wondered who came up with that idea.
That evening my mother sent him and me to get some stuff from the store so she could make him a cake. On every other Sunday at this time of the day I’d be on the soccer field kicking the ball around with my older friends, but instead this Sunday found me walking to the shop with my cousin.
On the way to the store my cousin spotted an apricot(杏) at the edge of a branch, It was as large as an apple and as yellow as a new crayon fresh from the box. The rule was whoever spotted it first owned it. Even if you climbed the tree to get it, it still did not belong to you. I decided to go to get the beautiful, delicious-looking fruit for my cousin, seeing that it was his birthday.
I started to map out my course of action as to how I was going to get this fruit. I could have hit it with rocks until it fell, but no, it was too beautiful to be bruised(碰伤) by the force of a stone thrown at it. I continued to climb on to a fence which was directly parallel to the apricot tree. At the top of the fence I paused a while to take a look around. “Wow! Cool view from 12 feet off the ground.” My cousin laughed and told me to hurry up and get it so we could go home. My next step was to jump from the fence, catch the main branch, and then climb to victory. Come on! I’d done this tons of times, and I didn’t even hesitate.
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。
As I grabbed the branch, that juicy apricot met me eye to eye.
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As we entered the house, my mother noticed I was covered in dirt.
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5 . Jim Dwyer was once in the United States Air Force. Although he is retired, he is still
Every Thursday, Dwyer starts his day at Meals on Wheels in Westminster,
“It’s
Dwyer was
His
“Jim is great. He has been one of our
As the saying goes, “It’s never too late to learn.”
| A．serving | B．building | C．promoting | D．missing |
| A．introducing | B．selling | C．delivering | D．returning |
| A．picking up | B．trying out | C．showing off | D．setting aside |
| A．convenient | B．wonderful | C．common | D．possible |
| A．given up | B．turned down | C．laid off | D．shut in |
| A．knowledge | B．confidence | C．satisfaction | D．support |
| A．advised | B．allowed | C．inspired | D．required |
| A．demanded | B．pretended | C．happened | D．attempted |
| A．organizers | B．driver | C．cooks | D．waiters |
| A．refusing | B．continuing | C．learning | D．failing |
| A．identified | B．confirmed | C．appreciated | D．suspected |
| A．smiles | B．doubts | C．pride | D．honour |
| A．honest | B．independent | C．moved | D．committed |
| A．Actually | B．Hopefully | C．Occasionally | D．Gradually |
| A．temporary | B．constant | C．random | D．obvious |
Grandma got Grandpa out of bed and helped him to the kitchen for breakfast. After his meal, she led him to his armchair in the living room where he would rest while she cleaned the dishes. Ever so often, she would check to see if he needed anything.
This was their daily routine after Grandpa’s latest stroke. Although once a very active man, his severely damaged left arm, difficulty walking and slurred (含糊不清的) speech now kept him housebound. For nearly a year he hadn’t been to church or to visit family.
Grandpa filled his hours with television. He watched the news and game shows while Grandma went about her day. They made a promise — he was not to leave his chair or his bed without her assistance.
“If you fell and I threw my back out trying to help you, who would take care of us?” Grandma would ask him. She was resolved they should take care of themselves and live independently. The Brooklyn brownstone had been their first home and held wonderful memories. They weren’t ready to leave it behind anytime soon.
Immigrants from Ireland, they had met and married in America. Grandma was friendly, outgoing and unselfish; Grandpa was reserved, a man devoted to his family, but he wasn’t big on giving gifts. While he wouldn’t think twice about giving Grandma the shirt off his back, he had the belief that if you treated your wife well throughout the year, presents weren’t necessary; so he rarely purchased gifts for her.
It was a cold, gray February morning, a typical winter’s day in New York. As always, Grandma walked Grandpa to his chair. “I’m going to take a shower now.” She handed him the television remote. “If you need anything, I’ll be back in a little while.”
After her shower, she glanced towards the back of Grandpa’s recliner (躺椅) but noticed that his cane was not leaning in its usual spot. Sensing something unusual, she went into the room. He was gone. The closet door stood open and his hat and overcoat were missing. Fear ran down her spine. Grandma threw a coat over her bathrobe and ran outside.
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。
Desperately, she scanned the street in both directions.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Just then, Grandpa came around the corner.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7 . After an 11-year career, Philadelphia-based barber Brennon Jones decided to give back to his community. Without a
One day in April 2017, a man named Sean Johnson
Completely
Believing that “the greatest joy in life is being able to
The homeless community is often overlooked, but now there’s hope for them. Brennon Jones might have been like an angel to the homeless, but Sean Johnson ended up being an angel
| A．shop | B．home | C．garden | D．bar |
| A．fine | B．free | C．creative | D．special |
| A．experienced | B．checked | C．completed | D．received |
| A．never | B．once | C．still | D．even |
| A．impressed | B．accompanied | C．guided | D．approached |
| A．struggled | B．promised | C．planned | D．refused |
| A．probably | B．eagerly | C．willingly | D．entirely |
| A．ordering | B．asking | C．requiring | D．recommending |
| A．returned | B．fetched | C．handed | D．bought |
| A．moved | B．reminded | C．amused | D．changed |
| A．trust | B．respect | C．appreciate | D．serve |
| A．employees | B．clients | C．assistants | D．partners |
| A．but | B．and | C．so | D．or |
| A．as usual | B．as well | C．as before | D．as follows |
| A．expensive | B．traditional | C．amazing | D．creative |
8 . Derek Veal found an old suitcase filled with photos, some more than 100 years old, when he explored his grandfather’s old house in Georgia. It belonged to his great-grandmother, who had Alzheimer’s (老年痴呆症) and lived in a nursing home. Veal and his grandfather went to visit her with the photos, hoping she could tell them more about the photos. What happened next changed Veal’s life.
“Everything came back to her when she saw these pictures,” Veal said. “She recognized her sisters, her aunts, her grandparents... It was the first time I had ever seen someone’s excitement from an old photo returning to them.”
The experience made Veal aware of the power of old photos to hold precious and long-forgotten memories and restore a sense of identity. It never left him. Two years ago, when he came across old family photos for sale at a thrift store (旧货店), he decided to pick one picture and try to track down the family. Soon, he was inspired to buy more photos and started a Facebook group called Old Photo Project to aid in finding their families.
Veal is not alone in this hobby. David Gutenmacher, 26, lives in Queens, New York, and started his project, Museum of Lost Memories, in late 2020. He has already had over 300,000 followers on Instagram and over 750,000 on TikTok. “Some of my posts have gone viral and twice a person or family was tracked down in a matter of minutes!” Gutenmacher said. These lost pictures can bring the memories back to the families they belong to.
What makes this hobby so unique is not only how it gives people the chance to help others, but it also brings these enthusiasts a sense of purpose. “I feel like this is my calling,” said Gutenmacher. “The more I return memories, the more it feels like I’m supposed to be doing this.”
1. According to the text, what changed Veal’s life?| A．His great-grandmother’s life experience. |
| B．His awareness of the value of old photos. |
| C．His family’s history shown in the photos. |
| D．His exploration of his grandfather’s old house. |
| A．Have spread quickly and widely. | B．Have received some comments. |
| C．Have been updated regularly. | D．Have made people think deeply. |
| A．It’s not easy. | B．It’s not enough. |
| C．It’s just a hobby. | D．It’s his duty. |
| A．Old Photos for Photo Enthusiasts | B．The Unique Hobby of Veal |
| C．Returning Lost Memories | D．Researching the History of a Family |
Her big, brown eyes looked up at me with a pitiful sight, as the first tear began to roll slowly down her soft, six-year-old, innocent face. I was as shocked as she was.
I had been called to my daughter’s new school by the remedial teacher, who called me last night.
Was I aware my daughter had learning difficulties?
Yes I was.
Due to constant ear infections, my poor Elizabeth had lost her hearing for the best part of two years of her young life. In addition, her speech ability had been delayed and her reading skill was behind other children of her age.
This teacher, this person, who had been specially trained to help children, the very person who was supposed to help my daughter reach her full potential, had called me in to school to tell me, and my daughter, that she would be lucky if she ever managed to finish high school.
What are you supposed to do when even the remedial teacher doesn’t have any faith in your child’s ability? What do you tell your child when she has been told that she is doomed to failure before she has even finished primary school? That was the question I was struggling to answer even as I stood there in that room, listening to this insensitive teacher, who did not have a caring character, wishing I had never brought my daughter to this school. I wondered, if this teacher were a mother? I truly believe someone cannot have a child and not have a caring heart.
I took my child’s small hand as we left that cold office, to step outside into the sweet and fresh air. There, I bent down on one knee and, putting my hands on my daughter’s small but now heavy shoulders, I looked her straight in the eyes.
注意：
1．续写词数应为150左右：
2．请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
“Elizabeth,” I said firmly,” if you work really hard at school, I promise you, you can be anything you want to be.“
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Of course, I knew that remedial teacher might not be working there anymore.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10 . Lucy Flores teaches preschool students how to read letters and write their names. After school, Flores goes home and does the same for her dad. Flores’ father, Luciano Flores, stopped attending school after first grade.
She said she tried to teach her dad to read and write when she was younger, but it didn’t go well. She doubled down on her own education and became the first person in her family, on both parents’ sides, to graduate from college.
With her teaching background, Lucy Flores gave it——teaching her dad——another shot. And this time she said he was “excited” to learn. After four months of working together for two hours, three days a week after they are both done with work, Lucy Flores said, “My dad can now write his own name and is reading some books on his own.”
As she has taught her dad, Lucy Flores has shared their journey on social media, where nearly 100,000 followers are tracking their progress. “I don’t know to this day if he understands how many people are watching him and following him.” said Lucy Flores. “But I took it as an opportunity that would encourage him even more. I know that it has.” Followers on social media share lesson plan ideas and have sent school supplies and books to the family, according to Lucy Flores.
In addition to watching her dad’s progress and inspiring others to never give up on their dreams, Lucy Flores said the most pleasant part of teaching her dad was the change in their own father-daughter relationship. “In reality, he and I did not get along well,” said Lucy Flores,who described her dad as being quiet and not one to share his feelings or sit down and play with her as a kid.
Luciano Flores said that he was excited to continue to focus on learning letters and numbers and to spend time with his family.
1. Why did Lucy Flores teach her dad?| A．She tried to practise her teaching methods. |
| B．She wanted to kill time with her dad. |
| C．She intended to help her dad get a college diploma. |
| D．She attempted to improve her dad’s ability to read and write. |
| A．Try. |
| B．Book. |
| C．Assessment. |
| D．Studio. |
| A．To inspire her students. |
| B．To make her dad famous. |
| C．To motivate her dad further. |
| D．To seek more help from her dad’s followers. |
| A．Exhausting. |
| B．Rewarding. |
| C．Demanding. |
| D．Amusing. |
