1 . J. K. Rowling frequently shows there is magic every day. Her Harry Potter series has helped people through times of stress and depression and she is always there to deliver wise words of encouragement.
She is one celebrity who is very active on Twitter. So when a single dad named Matt Burke sent her a message thanking her for the series, she noticed. Her series had helped strengthen his relationship with his 9yearold daughter Bailey.
He included a link to his article titled Being a Broke Parent. He explained how he hadn’t found a level of financial stability that allowed him to pay bills on time and take his daughter on more activities and events. The family also doesn’t have the Internet or TV, which means there’s no “digital babysitter” and he has to rely on his own creative ways to bond with his daughter. Since he received the series, the main thing that has occupied them these days is reading books together.
Burke admits that he thought he was “too cool” for the books when they first came out and he was in his twenties, but he’s loving reading them now. “We switch off chapter by chapter reading them out loud，“Burke explains.” This not only allows her to get more used to reading aloud in front of someone, but it gets me directly involved in something she loves, and it gives me the chance to be very dramatic when I read my chapters and bring myself into the characters in the book, which has proven to be a ton of fun.”
After hearing Burke’s story, Rowling said how honored she was when Harry Potter was a part of his family’s life and offered Burke more books. Besides, people are also offering to send Burke more books as gifts. For Burke, this experience, far more than gifts, will be what he treasures.
1. Why did Burke thank J. K. Rowling according to the text?| A．She guided him how to write a good story. |
| B．She encouraged him when he was in trouble. |
| C．Her books helped him through times of confusion. |
| D．Her books helped him improve his bond with his daughter. |
| A．He has found it interesting to read the series. | B．He was too old to understand the series better. |
| C．He has chosen a better way of reading the series. | D．He hopes to play a role in the drama in the future. |
| A．Useless. | B．Normal. | C．Valuable. | D．Boring. |
| A．J. K. Rowling chooses to help improve kids’ health. |
| B．J. K. Rowling gives a magical gift to a single father. |
| C．J. K. Rowling has a deep influence on others’ growth. |
| D．Burke comes to know J. K. Rowling through her series. |
2 . More excited than ever, Benjamin Giroux, a 10-year- old boy with autism (自闭症), came home from school on April 7. To celebrate National Poetry Month, his fifth-grade teacher asked her students to write a poem about themselves and every sentence should begin with an “I”.
Benjamin couldn’t wait to start writing his poem, so he sat down and didn’t look up until he finished it. He showed the poem to his parents, who immediately choked up.
“I am odd (奇怪的). I am new. ” Benjamin wrote in the poem. “I wonder if you are too. I hear voices in the air. I see you don’t and that’s not fair. I feel like a boy in outer space. I touch the stars and feel out of place.”
“At first, we feel hurt that he feels lonely, misunderstood and odd at school,” Mr Giroux said. “As the poem goes on, we realize that he understands that he’s odd and that so is everyone else in their own way. This is what Benjamin wants everyone to know.”
Benjamin was supposed to read his poem aloud to the class the following day, but upon waking up that morning, he refused to go to school and stayed at home. He didn’t think his poem was any good, so his dad posted it on the Internet in the hope of getting some encouraging comments from families and friends. When the National Autism Association saw the poem, they posted it on their page, where thousands of strangers shared how much the poem inspired them. The family has heard from hundreds of parents thanking Benjamin for showing how their own kids may be feeling at school.
1. Why did Benjamin feel excited on April 7?| A．He wrote a good poem. | B．He was praised at school. |
| C．He had a poem to finish. | D．He had good news to share. |
| A．Touched. | B．Worried. | C．Surprised. | D．Sad. |
| A．Everyone has odd hobbies. | B．Everyone is odd as they are. |
| C．Everyone is worth respecting. | D．Everyone has their own lifestyle. |
| A．It received many thanks. |
| B．It caused a heated debate. |
| C．It was read aloud in his class. |
| D．It changed parents’ ideas about raising kids. |
3 . As I watched my son Nathan play basketball for his high school team, I was starting to feel sorry for myself and for him. His team was facing adversity on the court and he was playing in a hostile environment-it was the opponents’ home gym filled with their supporters, and Nathan’s team was trailing (落后) for three quarters (节) of the game. As for me, I had been fired from my job earlier in the day.
During my drive home, I kept telling myself that I would find work again in a short time-I am confident in my experience and abilities. This is the same belief as I always try to teach my son.
The basketball game entered the fourth quarter with Nathan’s team still trailing. I saw the determination on his face, as well as his teammates’ faces as they fought back to not only tie with the other team, but then go ahead by three points. Then, a player from the other team made an unbelievable shot to tie the score again. With the game in a tie and few seconds on the clock, Nathan found himself with the ball. With skill and confidence, he proceeded to make a basket with a defender hanging his hands all over him. The defender was warned for a foul (犯规).As Nathan stood at the free-throw line preparing for a shot that would make his team one point ahead, I saw the determination on his face again. There was no room for self- doubt. Nathan was able to tune out all the distractions and nail the free throw with such skill. It was as if he had done it a thousand times.
As I sat there, my heart bursting with pride. It dawned on me that I had taught him perseverance in the face of adversity, and he had just taught me the same lesson. That brief moment of self-doubt and feeling sorry for myself was blown away by the actions of my son on the basketball court. He would play in the finals, but it didn’t matter if he would win or lose. At this moment, we both won.
1. Why did the author feel sorry?| A．He had made a big mistake in his work. |
| B．He used to be too busy to accompany Nathan. |
| C．Nathan’s team was too weak to compete in the game. |
| D．He and Nathan were both going through a hard time. |
| A．Self-centred and pessimistic. | B．Self-confident and optimistic. |
| C．Hard-working and intelligent. | D．Easy-going and warm-hearted. |
| A．Ignore. | B．Focus. | C．Create. | D．Receive. |
| A．Father and Son in Life | B．A Lesson in Life and Basketball |
| C．It Matters Whether to Win or Lose | D．Life Goes Just like Playing Basketball |
4 . When she looked ahead, Florence Chadwick saw nothing but a solid wall of fog. Her body was numb. She had been swimming for nearly sixteen hours. Already she was the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. Now, her goal was to become the first woman to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast.
On that Fourth of July morning in 1952, the sea was like an ice bath and the fog was so dense that she could hardly see her support boats. Against the freezing cold water, she struggled on-hour after hour-while millions watched on national television.
In one of the boats alongside Florence, her mother and her trainer offered encouragement. They told her it wasn’t much farther. But all she could see was fog. They urged her not to quit. However, with only a half mile to go, she asked to be pulled out.
Still warming her chilled body several hours later, she told a reporter, “Look, I’m not excusing myself, but if I had seen land, I might have made it.” It was not tiredness or even the cold water that defeated her. It was the fog. She was unable to see her goal.
Two months later, she tried again. This time, despite the same dense fog, she swam with her faith intact and her goal clearly pictured in her mind. She knew that somewhere behind that fog was land and this time she made it! Florence Chadwick became the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel, overshadowing the men’s record by two hours!
1. What can we learn about that fourth of July morning in 1952?| A．The thick fog cleared by mid-morning. |
| B．Chadwick managed to swim the Catalina Channel. |
| C．The support boats accompanied Chadwick all the way. |
| D．A live broadcast of Chadwick’s swim was watched on TV. |
| A．Sharks threatened her life. |
| B．She was completely worn out. |
| C．The chilly water made her body numb. |
| D．The destination was out of sight due to the fog. |
| A．Changed. | B．Undamaged. | C．Weakened. | D．Unexplored. |
| A．To explain why Chadwick failed in the first attempt. |
| B．To stress the importance of picturing a clear goal in the mind. |
| C．To introduce the process of Chadwick’s swimming the Catalina Channel. |
| D．To report Chadwick was the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel. |
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 |
6 . 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 |
“WELCOME, XIE LEI!”
BUSINESS STUDENT BUILDING BRIDGES
Six months ago, 19-year-old Xie Lei said goodbye to her family and friends and boarded a plane for London. It was the first time that she had left China. “I was very excited but also quite nervous. I didn’t know what to expect,” Xie Lei recalled.
Xie Lei is studying for a business qualification at a university in China and has come to our university on a year-long exchange programme. “I chose the exchange programme because I wanted to learn about global business and improve my English. My ambition is to set up a business in China after graduation,” she explained.
At first, Xie Lei had to adapt to life in a different country. “You have to get used to a whole new1ife,” she said. “I had to learn how to use public transport and how to ask for things I didn’t know the English names for. When I got lost, I had to ask passers-by for help, but people here speak fast and use words l’m not familiar with. I ask them to repeat themselves a lot!”
Although some foreign students live in campus accommodation, Xie Lei chose to live with a host family, who can help with her adaptation to the new culture. “When I miss home, I feel comforted to have a second family,” XieLei said. “When there’s something I don’t know or understand, I can ask them. They are also keen to learn about China. Laura, the daughter of my host family, wants to study in China in the future. We take turns to cook each evening. They really love my stir-fried tomatoes and eggs! Laura says she always feels hungry when she smells it, so I taught her how to cook it, too.”
Another challenge for Xie Lei is the academic requirements. The first time that she had to write an essay, her tutor explained that she must acknowledge what other people had said if she cited their ideas, but that he mainly wanted to know what she thought! Xie Lei was confused because she thought she knew less than other people. Her tutor advised her to read lots of information in order to form a wise opinion of her own.
Xie Lei also found many courses included students’ participation in class as part of the final result. Students need to generate ideas, offer examples, apply concepts, and raise questions, as well as give presentations. At first, Xie Lei had no idea what she should say but what surprised her was that she found herself speaking up in class after just a few weeks. “My presentation on traditional Chinese art was a great success, which boosted my confidence,” she said. “I’ll use these skills back home for presentations. They’ll help me build a strong business in the future.”
Now halfway through her exchange year, Xie Lei feels much more at home in the UK. What seemed strange before now appears quite normal to her. “Engaging in British culture has helped,” she said. “As well as studying hard, I’ve been involved in social activities. British people are fascinated by our culture and eager to learn more about it, so I’m keen to share my culture with them. While I’m learning about business, I’m also acting as a cultural messenger building a bridge between us.”
We will follow Xie Lei’s progress in later editions, but for now, we wish her all the best.
1. 快速阅读文章，总结文章段落主旨大意并填空。| Para.1 | Leaving China for |
| Para.2 | Her |
| Para.3-4 | Her |
| Para.5-6 | |
| Para.7 | Feeling much more |
| Para.8 | Best |
| Challenges | What Xie Lei did | |
Daily life | adaptation to a whole new life | learnt to learnt to asked for |
| loneliness | lived with | |
Academic requirements | writing an essay | got help from |
| participating in | gave presentawtion on | |
| participating in and giving | gave presentawtion on |
8 . Harold Jones, a 100-year-old man, has been walking up to 40 circles every day in his garden since the beginning of 2020. At first, he just walked for exercise. Now, Jones, who uses a walker, is using his circles to help others.
With an early target of raising £1,000, which seemed a lot to Jones when he began, he soon collected more than that. He has raised over £43,000 for charity. The old man held on, and walked 41,550 circles around the back of his home.
Jones walks in all weather, but he does fewer circles in the rain. He does 20 circles after breakfast and then does 20 more circles after lunch.
He thanks his long years in the service for his fitness. “The training for the army set up the ability to suffer because we suffered a lot in the army. Determination and resilience (韧性)are something you’re taught in the army,” Jones said.
Jones was inspired by the efforts of Captain Sir Tom Moore who raised funds for the National Health Service during the pandemic. Moore, a 99-year-old, walked with the help of a walker in the garden, and raised an amazing £17 million.
Jones said that although he began walking just for exercise, he saw what Moore completed and that gave him the idea to raise funds for charity. Jones didn’t expect to walk a greater distance than the captain, but he did.
When Jones reached his early target, he just kept going. He had no idea how many people would respond to his efforts as when he reached £10,000, a friend doubled it.
Jones received a Points of Light award after the charity recommended him and Jones said that he was amazed by the recognition. But giving service to others plays the largest role in his faith and in his life. This was a well-deserved (值得的)honor for a remarkable man.
1. What does Jones think of his early army experience?| A．It has brought him great honor. | B．It has changed his life completely. |
| C．It has benefited his life in old age. | D．It has enabled him to make good friends. |
| A．His concern for the elderly. | B．Tom Moore’s suggestion. |
| C．His competitive character. | D．Another old soldier’s behavior. |
| A．Doing good for others. | B．Trying to get recognition. |
| C．Taking physical exercise. | D．Leading people to serve others. |
| A．Inspiring and brave. | B．Curious and honest. |
| C．Determined and caring. | D．Patient and proud. |
9 . Like many others who are autistic (患自闭症的), Bobby Latheron has known for most of his life that there was something that made him different from his peers. As a child, he often preferred spending time with adults.
Throughout school, Bobby struggled. He suffered from panic attacks that would cause him to run out of the room crying, which made teachers view him as a “naughty child”. Then, at around 13 years old, he was officially diagnosed (诊断) with autism. But because autism was still so misunderstood, this didn’t improve his situation by much.
Still, Bobby persevered and made it to university. But after a while, he struggled academically here, too. Things were looking up when he switched to art, design, and photography, but he simply couldn’t do it. That’s when a kind teacher changed his life for the better.
“I was telling one of the music teachers about my life with autism—my relationships and my struggles,” Bobby tells InspireMore. “She said, ‘Why don’t you write a book about your life?’ So I did.”
This is how My World in My Words by Bobby Latheron came to be. When writing this book, Bobby remained incredibly focused. Finding the inspiration to write his first book has changed Bobby’s life in so many ways. He’s met others who are like himself, plus, he’s even managed to secure a job he loves. He’s even given multiple interviews for various news and radio stations. Best of all, this new direction in life has given Bobby the opportunity to help others like him to feel less alone and, in doing so, he’s proven to himself that he’s far more capable than he once believed.
“I’m not here to say it’s always been perfect and that I haven’t made mistakes,” Bobby tells InspireMore, “but you have to learn in life.”
1. What can we infer about Bobby’s childhood?| A．He behaved as a grown-up. |
| B．He had a happy childhood. |
| C．He was misunderstood at school. |
| D．He got along well with his teachers. |
| A．His desire for success. | B．A teacher’s advice. |
| C．His unhappy experience. | D．A wish to battle loneliness. |
| A．Bobby benefited from his book. |
| B．Bobby got more appreciation. |
| C．Bobby became more popular. |
| D．Bobby got a job opportunity. |
| A．Inspiring. | B．Generous. | C．Modest. | D．Talented. |
10 . Several days ago, I was walking home from school and saw some writing on a fence of a house I was passing by. It said, “Happiness is a direction, not a destination.” I had been having a bad day and just reading this brightened my day a little. I also took out a pen and wrote one of my favorite quotes (格言) down.
When I came back to the fence, I saw another quote under mine in the same handwriting as the first one. I added another, and we kept at this pattern for quite a while. One day, I was writing another quote on the fence and the old man, one of my neighbors, who owned the fence, saw me. He came out and I was afraid he would be mad at me for writing on his fence; he was not known to be very friendly. He gave me a sharp glance and then read the quotes on the fence. Without saying a word, he said something to himself and then went back inside. I was a bit terrified for a while, afraid to go back to the fence, but when I did, I noticed not more quotes but two words in entirely different handwriting had been added, “Thank you.”
Later, I saw the old man in his front yard. He beckoned (招手示意) me over and told me how my quotes had been inspiring him, how he thanked me and how he was glad to see young people still have “values”. We are now good friends and I talk to him a lot. This experience has changed my life. I still don’t know who wrote that very first quote, but if he is out there, I’d like to say “thanks” to that unknown friend.
1. Why did the writer begin to write a quote on the fence?| A．He wanted to practice his handwriting. | B．He had gotten some help from the quote. |
| C．He thought that doing this was interesting. | D．He wanted to draw his neighbor’s attention. |
| A．He had thought that the old man was a mad person. |
| B．He had once been told that the old man was unkind. |
| C．He thought the old man would scold him for what he had done. |
| D．He thought the old man would tell his parents about his action. |
| A．was very happy | B．did not mind them | C．was a bit angry | D．was very sad |
| A．The old man. | B．Someone else. | C．The writer himself. | D．That unknown friend. |
