1 . One minute, Peggy Lewis and her husband were watching the trees blow in the wind outside their home. The next minute, they were surrounded by pieces of glass from the house’s broken windows. The roof tore off and the walls caved in. After the 152-mph tornado had passed, it took a team of neighbors to pull the couple from the rubble (瓦砾) and take them to the hospital. “I thought we were going to die,” says Lewis, 58. It was an unbelievable natural disaster in the United States.
When the pair returned to their home three days after that awful night last June, it was clear that the house would need to be cleared out. But before that, she wanted one thing-her family Bible (圣经). Lewis bought the Bible 35 years ago at the start of her marriage. Like many folks, she’d used it to hold and keep her family’s history.
The Bible was the first thing Lewis looked for when she returned to the house. It was on top of an antique dresser in her bedroom when she’d last seen it. In fact, the dresser wasn’t there at all. When two volunteers showed up to help the couple dig out, Lewis had one request for them: “If you can find anything, please find my Bible”.
After an hour of searching, a volunteer ran up to her. She cried loudly looking at the book in her hands. The young woman had found the Bible while searching through the rubble. Stunningly, while many books inside the home had been destroyed beyond recognition, the Bible was still perfect, even though it had sat in the rain for days. “I completely broke down,” says Lewis. “I thought it was gone forever. It was a miracle.”
Even slowly, the treasures reappeared in her life. The Bible and her treasures in it actually lived through the terrible disaster.
1. What happened to Peggy Lewis?| A．She lost her family after a tornado. | B．A tornado destroyed her house. |
| C．Her house survived the tornado. | D．She benefited a lot from the disaster. |
| A．Repair their house. | B．Protect volunteers from rain. |
| C．Explore the value of the Bible. | D．Hunt for a family Bible. |
| A．Unluckily. | B．Worryingly. | C．Surprisingly. | D．Interestingly. |
| A．To inform. | B．To educate. | C．To persuade. | D．To instruct. |
2 . I opened the freezer and put in the cake—a sheet cake with my son's name in red and black frosting—the colors of the University of UGA, where Laughlin, my youngest, would graduate in May.
But now there would be no graduation because of the pandemic (流行病). I had been looking forward to Laughlin's graduation. I'm a UGA graduate, too, but I didn't attend my graduation ceremony because I received an Army commission (任命) as an air defense officer.
“No graduation!” I said, a bit annoyed that my son, finishing coursework at home, didn't seem bothered. “I need to focus on my classes and get a job, Mom,” he said. But Laughlin didn't know what he was missing. Years later, I still regretted skipping my UGA ceremony. I'd been planning the celebrations for Laughlin since January.
Every day the pandemic worsened. Then, one day, Laughlin's diploma arrived in a black-and-red tube by mail. I pulled the cake out of the freezer and served it halfheartedly. Laughlin found a job and moved to Atlanta to live alone.
One fall evening, a student called from the UGA. “Did your son participate in the graduation ceremony last week?” the young man asked. “What ceremony?” I screamed. “The one at the stadium,” the student said. “To make up for the cancellation in spring.”
I dialed the office of the dean of student affairs. “Why wasn't I notified?” “Mrs. Smith, we sent an announcement to your son's school email,” said the woman who took my call.
I called up Laughlin. “Why didn't you call me?” I asked. “Mom, I did hear about the ceremony and I knew you'd make me go, so I didn't say anything. Why would I risk my family's life for a ceremony? You and Dad are in a vulnerable age group. No way would I do that.”
Laughlin's diploma rested beside the phone. I felt tears in my eyes.
1. Why did the author expect her son's graduation ceremony so much?| A．To show off her son's excellence. | B．To pay a visit to the university once more. |
| C．To deliver a speech at the graduation ceremony. | D．To make up for her own missing graduation ceremony. |
| A．Her son would miss a good job. | B．Her son would regret in the future. |
| C．Her son would skip the classes. | D．Her son would move to another city. |
| A．Humorous and honest. | B．Energetic and courageous. |
| C．Independent and caring. | D．Responsible and sensitive. |
| A．Mrs. Smith was moved by her son's words. |
| B．Mrs. Smith was excited to see Laughlin's diploma at first. |
| C．Mrs. Smith abandoned her graduation ceremony sadly. |
| D．Mrs. Smith gave up holding the graduation party. |
3 . Forty years ago, a simple act of kindness would forever shape the course of a young refugee's life when she set foot in Canada for the first time.
Dr. Nhung Tran—Davies was only five years old when she and her family arrived at the Edmonton airport in 1979.They had run away from their home because of the war and were living in a Malaysian refugee camp before a Canadian church sponsored them to immigrate to Canada,
When they passed through the gates of the airport, a young girl named Adrienne was waiting for Tran—Davies with a special gift. “This little girl presented me a little doll. It lit up my heart, and in that moment, it meant everything to me,” Tran—Davies told CTV's Your Morning on Thursday. “The doll came to represent all the kindness, compassion(同情), and generosity of Canadians, and I believed that our lives would become better.”
And while it may have seemed like a small gesture, that girl had an effect for Tran—Davies who was inspired to become a doctor and help of hers. “Knowing now that all that I have, and all that I've become, is because of this simple act of kindness, I live to this day to play forward the kindness,” she said.
Tran—Davies has done this by recently sponsoring a refugee family who also ran away from the war. When the family she sponsored arrived at the Edmonton airport, Tran—Davies stood at the gates with a doll of her own for the youngest daughter Alma.
“It was my turn now, 40 years later. It was just an amazing, important moment for myself, but I think it meant something to her, because I know that in 40 years it will be her turn to make Canada a more beautiful place,” she said.
As for the original doll Tran—Davies received, it's being displayed across the country in a travelling exhibit called Refuge Canada. The doll also inspired Tran—Davies to write a children's book titled The Doll, which describes her experiences and how a single act of kindness can be passed on for years to come.
1. Why did Tran—Davies go to Canada forty years ago?| A．To escape from the war. | B．To live a different life. |
| C．To pass on her kindness. | D．To continue further study. |
| A．It gave her the hope for a better life. |
| B．It inspired her to be kind and help others. |
| C．It made her set a career goal of being a doctor. |
| D．It changed her original impression of Canadians. |
| A．She donated money to the poor. |
| B．She improved refugees' living conditions. |
| C．She helped a refugee family come to Canada. |
| D．She provided free medical services to refugees. |
| A．She contributed much to Canada. |
| B．She gave Alma a doll on her arrival. |
| C．She passed the original doll to Alma. |
| D．She showed the refuge family around Edmonton. |
4 . “Music is where everything started,” Samira Horton says.
The rising hip-hop star uses music to share a message about bullying. “I was bullied a lot,” she says, “even today, especially because of my voice.” DJ Annie Red has a deep voice.
Annie Red believes that standing up to bullying is more important than ever.
| A．But she sees a brighter future ahead. |
| B．People have told her she sounds like a boy. |
| C．She encourages kids of all ages to stand up to bullying. |
| D．DJ Annie Red has performed at schools, festivals and Brooklyn Net games. |
| E．Her 2017 book, The Bully Stop, is based on her song “No You Won't Bully Me”. |
| F．The 13-year-old from Brooklyn, New York, is known to the world as DJ Annie Red. |
| G．That's because people can bully others on social media while hiding behind a username. |
5 . The other day, I was purchasing some gifts in a store. Standing at the counter was an elderly lady who immediately drew my attention. She looked to be at my mother's age. I smiled to her while noticing her shock of white hair, clear blue eyes behind her glasses and gentle smile.
She smiled back and asked, “What's your name?”? I replied, “Seena. What's yours?” Her answer was “What a lovely name. My name is Rose.”
After putting away her wallet, Rose searched through her bag and wasn't having an easy time. She asked me, “Would you mind helping me look for something in my bag? It's so heavy, and I can never find anything.” Rose was melting my heart.
“Sure. What are you looking for?” I asked. She replied, “I need to find my telephone book so I can call a taxi.” I asked her where she was going, and Rose responded with the “Simpson House”. I felt a warm connection to my new acquaintance and said, “I pass right by Simpson House. I'd be happy to drive you home.” Rose responded jokingly, “Are you sure I'm a good person?” I replied, “I am as sure as I can be. Let's go.”
We walked out to my car and I opened the door for her. She said, “I'm OK getting in but I need some help with the seatbelt.” It reminded me of all the times my mom waited for my assistance to get into my car.
Once we were driving, Rose said, “In all my years nobody ever offered to give me a ride. I feel blessed to know you.” Rose did most of the talking, and we laughed a lot.
We arrived at her place. I got out of the car to meet her on the passenger's side and to open her door. She said, “I can get out.” Rose's parting words were “I hope I see you again,” and mine were “I would like that.” With a wave, we both walked away.
1. Why was Rose melting Seena's heart?| A．Rose looked elegant and powerful. | B．Seena felt being trusted by a stranger. |
| C．Rose praised Seena for the lovely name. | D．Seena was happy to be younger than Rose. |
| A．Her wallet. | B．Her cellphone. | C．Her glasses. | D．Her telephone book. |
| A．To stress Rose's positive life. | B．To show her love for her mother. |
| C．To imply Rose in great need of help. | D．To remind herself to care more about her mother. |
| A．Helpful and serious. | B．Honest and optimistic. |
| C．Considerate and ambitious. | D．Humorous and independent. |
6 . “Anyone knows single parents who can’t afford to get their child’s hair done for school? I will braid (编辫子) it for free!”Brittany Starks wrote on a Facebook post.
She decided to offer her hair braiding services after a family friend delivered backpacks full of school supplies, clothing and shoes for Cayden and Ceniyah in early August. “At the time, I didn’t have anything for my kids to start school,” said Starks, who is in between homes and staying with her mother. “It meant so much to me.”
The unexpected gift made a big difference to Starks and her children, and it motivated her to pay it forward. Starks, who works two receptionist jobs, also braids hair part-time. “The hair-braiding process involves washing, blow-drying, and finally dividing the hair into small sections and braiding it. It also requires multiple supplies — including combs, brushes, hair jam and additional pieces of hair to weave in. It costs anywhere from $150 to $400 at a salon (美发厅), depending on the style,” Stacks explained. “But it can last for months and is a huge timesaver in the mornings.”
When she wrote the Facebook post, she assumed only a handful of people would reach out,but before she knew it, she had 35 appointments booked. Her Facebook inbox was suddenly full of messages from single parents, whose stories of hardship and financial challenges mirrored her own.
“There’s a huge need for this. I could really relate to a lot of the women who reached out, and it made me realize that what I was doing was really important,” said Stacks. “What got me the most was seeing the kids smile.” Given that there was less than two weeks before the start of school, Starks knew she needed to enlist help.
1. What got Brittany Starks to offer her hair braiding service?| A．A post on Facebook. | B．Her friend’s timely help. |
| C．Her mother’s advice. | D．A trip to her kids’ school. |
| A．It’s a bit dear. | B．It’s time-wasting. |
| C．It’s an easy job. | D．It’s a mother’s duty. |
| A．Rather disturbing. | B．Beyond expectation. |
| C．Far from satisfactory. | D．Very disappointing. |
| A．She is single with one child. | B．She is ambitious and arbitrary. |
| C．She is in need of helping hands. | D．She is free from financial worries. |
7 . Sitting in the classroom, I found I couldn’t read the board. Within a few days, I was diagnosed with a severe sight impairment. 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,” Dad said.
As a kid living on a farm, I was forever falling over things. I was known as the clumsy one to my parents and four siblings. And now, I was being told that I saw the world differently.
Refusing to let my diagnosis hold me back, I continued doing everything I loved, including milking the cows. When I was 22, I met Lance at a farm dance and fell in love with him. Later, Lance and I married and had amazing kids. Life was busy and fun. Nowadays, the children are all grown up and I have grandkids to keep me busy.
Over years, I’ve enjoyed lovely family holidays, but sometimes felt like Lance or the kids were being too protective of me. So I was thrilled when I heard about a travel company that takes those who are blind or have low vision on Aussie adventures. Excited, I booked myself onto a trip to the Gold Coast. Since then, I travelled a lot. As I stood by the tall ships in Sydney Harbor, the fresh sea air gently whipped my hair. While we can’t see the sights like others, our imaginations take us to awesome places. At a beach, I can picture waves crashing and dolphins jumping in the air! And I’ll appreciate things that those with vision can’t. I’m not missing out — my life is beautiful. I don’t want people to feel sorry for me, I’m so lucky to have a wonderful family and heaps of experiences.
Life is precious — you don’t need vision to “see” that.
1. What happened to the author at the age of 13?| A．She lost interest in farming. |
| B．She became an inactive girl. |
| C．She found she had poor eyesight. |
| D．She had a bad fail and hurt her eyes. |
| A．Her passion for traveling was growing. |
| B．She was nervous about her first travel. |
| C．Lance accompanied her to many places. |
| D．Her family failed to protect her enough. |
| A．Quiet. | B．Optimistic. | C．Generous. | D．Sensitive. |
| A．It’s never too late to travel. |
| B．Love of family can cure anyone. |
| C．Anyone can feel the beauty of life. |
| D．Past experiences should be treasured. |
8 . Life as a 340-pound man had become unmanageable for Erie O’Grey. When not traveling for work, he rarely left his apartment. He took about 15 medicines, including weight-loss drugs. He tried dieting, but nothing worked. Then two things during a flight inspired him to go to see a naturopathic (自然疗法的) doctor. O’Grey had an embarrassing incident when the flight crew had to wait for a seat belt extension for him before the plane took off. Then he saw news about “plant-based” diets.
The doctor recommended a plant-based diet and also ordered him to adopt a shelter dog and walk him twice a day for 30 minutes. Armed with new recipes and the order, he went to the local shelter with visions of the perfect dog dancing through his head, one that never barked or disobeyed orders. But the adoption coordinator (协调人) brought in a very fat dog with skin problems.
“The dog looked at me with a clear sense of disappointment. Then his head hung low,” O’Grey said.” I can relate to that." The coordinator told him they had much in common and that they both need work on the same things. O’Grey took the dog home and named him “Peety”. They began going for walks. At first, O’Grey could only take his new companion about 100 yards. But Peety seemed to like it. “He just looked up at me like he was so appreciative.”
Their twice-daily exercise gradually got longer as O’Grey began to enjoy walking through his neighborhood with Peety. As they lost weight and grew healthier together, the pair developed a tight bond. In six months, Grey quit all medicines. Over time O’Grey discovered he loved long-distance running. Now he runs an average of five to six marathons a year.
On the journey toward a healthier, happier life, O’Grey becomes a lover of long-distance running and dog adoption. He’s also co-written a book, Walking with Peety: The Dog Who Saved My Life, encouraging others struggling with obesity to turn it around.
1. Why did O’Grey feel embarrassed during the air travel?| A．He was too fat to take a seat. |
| B．He rarely traveled by plane. |
| C．He was laughed at by the flight crew. |
| D．He couldn’t fit in the safety belt. |
| A．A healthy dog. | B．An adaptive dog. | C．A gentle dog. | D．An energetic dog. |
| A．He disliked running at first. |
| B．He finished marathons with O’Grey. |
| C．He was trained to help people. |
| D．He was upset when meeting O’Grey. |
| A．The tough journey of losing weight |
| B．A man completed his book inspired by his dog |
| C．The bond between a man and a dog |
| D．A dog changed its owner from medicines to marathon |
9 . Table tennis may not seem a reasonable option for someone with no arms — but Ibrahim Hamadtou doesn't believe in limits. The 48-year-old Egyptian Paralympian breaks the barrier by holding the paddle (球拍) in his mouth and using his right foot to serve the ball.
Hamadtou, who lost his arms in a train accident at the age of ten, was drawn to table tennis after being challenged by a friend. "I was once watching a match between two of my friends," Hamadtou explains. "They disagreed on a point, When I counted the point in favor of one of them, the other player told me, 'Mind your own business as you will never be able to play.' It was that statement that fired me up to decide to play table tennis."
It took Hamadtou three years to master the sport. He says the biggest challenge was figuring out the best way to control his body. "I was trying first to use the bat under the arm, and I also tried using other things, which weren't working so well. Finally, I tried using my mouth. It took me nearly a year of practice to get used to holding the paddle with my mouth and making the serve. With practice and playing regularly, this skill was improved."
The Egyptian's incredible talent came to light in 2014 when he was awarded the best Arab Athlete of the year. He won a silver medal at the 2016 African Championships, qualified for his first Paralympics in 2016 at 43, and then again for the 2020 Tokyo Games at 48.
The inspiring athlete says, "The disability is not in arms or legs but to give up in whatever you would like to do."
1. What made Hamadtou take up table tennis?| A．His passion for table-tennis. | B．His ambition to prove himself. |
| C．His willingness to inspire others. | D．His suffering in a train accident. |
| A．Serving the ball with his mouth. | B．Holding the paddle under his arm. |
| C．Practicing strengthening his muscles. | D．Playing the game with the right body parts. |
| A．He was recognized as a gifted player at 41. |
| B．He was awarded the best athlete in Africa. |
| C．He won a medal in the 2020 Tokyo Games. |
| D．He realized his dream of winning a gold medal. |
| A．Well begun is half done. | B．Love breaks down barriers. |
| C．Success gives people delight. | D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
10 . At 95, Brigid Kavanagh has finally fulfilled a long time ambition of publishing a book. Yet, her path to having her words put into print wasn’t easy, and required determination and belief in her abilities.
With the strict lockdown (封闭) in Ireland, Kavanagh’s family seized the opportunity to help her publish her book. They collected the many poems and stories written by their mother and had 500 copies of the book In My Mind’s Eye, Walking Amongst Ghosts printed.
Kavanagh tried to get some works published in her 80s, but was met with disappointment. So the publication of her writings is a great triumph. “I just can’t believe it... I’m absolutely thrilled. After my disappointment in the 80s, I thought I was finished,” she shared with RTE News.
The senior shared with the news channel that she'd always found it easier to express herself on paper—a gift that didn’t go unnoticed in her schooldays. “When I was young, my teacher said ‘you should be a writer’, and often asked me to read out my essays. I think it would be grand if she could be around to see that prediction fulfilled.
The book, which consists of the rich memoirs Kavangh has written throughout her lifetime, will give readers insight into World War II in London, her life in Dublin, and back to life in her hometown of Roscommon.
The writer has been given “a new lease of life” according to her son Declan, who, accompanied by his brother Sean, helped his mother fulfill her lifelong dream.
While there are only a limited number of copies available, the real success of the publication is seeing a family coming together to help their mother, and an elderly woman’s satisfaction in seeing her words finally in print for all to enjoy.
1. How does Kavanagh feel about the publication of her book?| A．Disappointed. | B．Skeptcal. | C．Excited. | D．Proud. |
| A．She owed her success to her teacher. | B．She was good at writing as a student. |
| C．Her teacher liked her book very much. | D．Her talent for writing was unnoticed. |
| A．It’s a novel. | B．It’s about her life. |
| C．It was written in her 80s. | D．It’s a collection of poems. |
| A．A Book Is Finally Finished | B．A Harmonious Family Is Formed |
| C．A Lifelong Dream Is Achieved | D．A Talent for Writing Is Recognized |
