1 . Devon Gallagher, a college graduate from Philadelphia, wants the world to know exactly here she's been during her worldwide vacation in a special way.
The traveler, who was born with a bone disease, had her right leg amputated (截肢) at the age of four. Although the amputation caused setbacks for Gallagher early on, she now sees it as nothing short of inspiration for living her best life.
To spread that message, Gallagher has taken to social media, where she shares photos of her travels across the globe, but instead of simply using a geo-tag, she writes her location across her artificial leg before taking a picture.
Now she has been taking pictures across the Continent, which show her cycling over the canal in Amsterdam, relaxing on a wall overlooking the city of Barcelona, posing with a waffle in Brussels, taking in the spectacular Parthenon temple in Athens and enjoying a river cruise in Budapest, all with the well-known locations written on her artificial leg.
“I get a new leg every two years and I can choose the design on it. One day I had a sudden thought to get a chalk-board, "Gallagher said. "My mum and grand-mother weren’t too keen on the idea, but my friends thought it was great and told me to go for it, so I did.”
Gallagher said people often stare when she’s writing on her leg, but once she shares the photos she receives only positive feedback."My leg hasn’t stopped me from doing anything I've wanted to do, " she said. "I don’t know if it's my determination to prove to myself that I can do it, but regardless, I've been able to keep up with my peers and lead a pretty great life.”
Gallagher shows us that you should never let anything stand in the way of your dreams. And if life gives you an artificial leg, make art.
1. What message did Gallagher want to spread in her special way?| A．She enjoys her travelling across the globe. |
| B．She suffers little from her legs amputation. |
| C．She looks on her misfortune as another form of blessing. |
| D．She has exactly fallen in love with posting photos online. |
| A．helpful and ambitious | B．friendly and generous |
| C．determined and creative | D．independent and sensible |
| A．The Continent. | B．The pictures. | C．The leg. | D．The locations. |
| A．Never Too Late to Share | B．A Special Artificial Leg |
| C．An Outstanding Photographer | D．Gallagher’s Summer Holiday |
2 . Tom’s teacher Dwyer liked helping others and he had done that for many years. Tom wanted to follow his example, but he found it was too tiring. One day, Tom went to see Dwyer. They sat quietly in Dwyer’s old house, cutting wood with their knives in front of the fireplace. Tom finally spoke up.
“I don't know how you do it,” he said.
“Do what?” asked Dwyer.
“I don’t know how you stay motivated (积极的) to help people after so many years. I feel like giving up and I’ve hardly started.”
Dwyer smiled and replied, “Can you blow out that candle for me?” Tom did as he was asked.
“Now can you blow out this fire?” Dwyer asked.
“Don’t be silly,” Tom replied. “Of course I can’t.”
Dwyer put down his knife and his piece of wood and looked in the eye of Tom. He said , “When your motivation is as small as the candle’s flame (火焰), it’s easy to be extinguished, but when it is a fire you see before you, nothing can blow it out.”
After hearing that, Tom decided to try harder.
My challenge to you is to find a big reason for doing what you want to do. Then you won’t give up when you meet with difficulties and when you feel tired. If you don’t have a big reason to press on, it’s easy for you to give up.
So let me ask you, is your motivation like a candle or a fire? And what are you going to do to keep it from dying down?
1. When Tom tried to help others, he ________ .| A．felt greatly motivated | B．found it hard to keep on |
| C．found he was very happy | D．wanted to visit his teacher |
| A．He didn’t need the fire. | B．He had little wood in the house. |
| C．He wanted to play a trick on him | D．He wanted to teach him a lesson. |
| A．recognized | B．controlled | C．put out | D．given up |
| A．help others | B．learn from others |
| C．face difficulties bravely | D．stay strongly motivated |
3 . Years ago, I appeared on stage with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir (合唱团) in the Town Hall. There I was, my feet in plain shoes, sweat dirtying my clean white shirt, singing my heart out in front of the big organ. I still have a tape recording of that performance somewhere, where I swear I can hear myself singing, high and thin and possibly off-key.
But life got in the way and I stopped singing. Then, in the summer of 2019, I found myself facing some gloom in my own life. It felt as if it had been a long time between songs, as if there was something unsung, some absent music in my ears. I began to fear I might be making myself ill and unable to breathe in a normal way.
Could singing help me reclaim my voice and calm my fast-beating heart? Research from the Royal Society noted that “group singing can improve physical and mental health, as well as promote social bonds”. So, rather than letting my unsung tunes strangle (扼杀) me, I decided to take on a new choral experience, one being in the Big Feminist Sing, a community choir.
“If you don’t know what to sing,” the choir director said, “find someone who looks confident and go and stand next to them.” Find a friend if you’re in trouble; take a risk; use your voice; be part of something bigger than yourself. I’ve been singing in the choir ever since, because group singing gives me a sense of security — and each rehearsal (排练) is a lifeline, a connected thread, an intake of air working toward a collective voice. It doesn’t matter if I am a bit off-key to start with. Decades of unsung situations have changed, and I have flown.
1. How did the author feel during her performance in the Town Hall?| A．Thrilled. |
| B．Confident. |
| C．Nervous. |
| D．Curious. |
| A．Something unsung in author’s life. |
| B．Some difficulty in author’s life. |
| C．Some disease that stopped the author singing. |
| D．Some things affecting the author’s voice. |
| A．Finding a true friend is never easy. |
| B．The choir director’s position counts. |
| C．Teamwork has benefited her a lot. |
| D．Singing alone improves her health. |
| A．To get a sense of security out of singing. |
| B．To make changes from stage experiences. |
| C．To taste music in a choir. |
| D．To enjoy the amazing power of group singing. |
4 . Last summer, Maria and her mother moved from their house in the countryside to a flat building in Chicago.Maria really liked some things about the city, but she missed her house and yard in the countryside.
One day, Maria was in her flat building when she noticed her neighbor, Mrs.Garcia, carrying a gardening tool and a bag of soil.Maria wondered how Mrs.Garcia was able to garden in the city.
“My mom used to grow the most delicious vegetables, and I know she misses her garden now that we don't have a yard, ”said Maria.
Mrs.Garcia laughed.“I'll show you, ”she said.
Maria thought that Mrs.Garcia would take her to the park, but she took her to the roof (屋顶). When the door opened, Maria was surprised to see rows of flowers and vegetables on the roof.
“What a wonderful garden！”said Maria.
Mrs.Garcia told Maria that for a long time the roof was just an empty space.Then some of the people in the building asked the owners to turn it into a community garden.The building owners liked the idea because the plants not only helped to keep the air clean, but they also helped to keep the building cooler during warmer weather.
“I plant flowers in my own place, ”Mrs.Garcia said, “but you would be surprised by how different the plants are up here.Some people grow vegetables just like your mom.You can do some of the same things in the city as in the countryside.You just have to be creative！”
1. When did Maria and her mother move to a flat building in Chicago?| A．Last month. | B．Last winter. |
| C．Last summer. | D．Last week. |
| A．The park. |
| B．The roof. |
| C．The garden in front of her house. |
| D．The countryside. |
| A．It used the empty space well. |
| B．It helped keep the air clean. |
| C．It helped keep the building cooler. |
| D．It made the building stronger. |
| A．A Creative Lady | B．A Rooftop Garden |
| C．An Empty Roof | D．A Special Building |
5 . Rocky was a 65-pound dog. Rita was his eleven-year old owner. When Rocky was given to her, Rita immediately liked him. Whenever she was not in school,the two were always together and within touching distance. The family would lovingly call the pair “R and R”.
But Rocky had one shortcoming. He feared water very much because of a terrible experience. When he was at the age of seven weeks long before he met Rita,he was nearly drowned by a naughty boy who had been blamed by his father.
One late afternoon, Rita's mother took R and R to a shopping area near a lake. Rita was running along the wooden bridge over the water,enjoying the beautiful scenery around. Suddenly a boy on a bicycle hit Rita. She let out a cry of pain and fell into the lake.
Rita's mother was at the entrance of a store not far away. She rushed to the lake shouting for help. Rocky seemed to forget his fear and jumped into the water to save his owner. Rocky immediately swam to Rita and held her by the shoulder's clothes with his mouth. Rita's face was quickly out of the water and she could cough.Luckily,the water was calm,they were not far from the bank,and Rocky finally reached a depth where his feet were on solid ground. He pulled Rita hard until her head was completely out of the water, and then he stood beside her, licking (舔) her face.
Rita and her family firmly believed that it was only the big dog's love for the little girl that caused him to take action that might be life-dangerous.
1. From the text, we know __________.| A．Rita was once blamed |
| B．Rocky was eleven years old |
| C．Rita spent her spare time with Rocky |
| D．Rocky lived in Rita's home since his birth |
| A．Brave. | B．Honest. | C．Unkind. | D．Dangerous. |
| A．At noon. | B．At night. | C．In the morning. | D．In the afternoon. |
① Rocky came into Rita's life.② Rocky was nearly drowned.
③They were playing near the lake. ④ Rocky saved Rita from the water.
| A．①②④③ | B．②①③④ | C．③①②④ | D．④③②① |
6 . Leah Amy, a flight attendant for Virgin Airlines, was on a flight to London when she saw a young man named Jack Littlejohn give up the comfort of his business class seat so 88- year-old Violet Allison could enjoy the benefits of first class travel. Amy described the passenger online as “her favorite passenger EVER!”
Littlejohn had been in New York taking part in a charity event, the World’s Biggest Sleep Out, which aims to shed light on the issues of homelessness. Before the family were due to return to their home in Scotland, their mom announced she’d gotten them all business class tickets. Littlejohn didn’t feel comfortable about the difference between business and economy class, so he went to find a passenger who’d welcome his seat. That’s when he came across Allison.
The flight attendant explained that Allison, a former nurse, had recently undergone knee replacement surgery which had prevented her from visiting her daughter who’s been working in London for a few years. Although the old woman has traveled to see her daughter on a few occasions, she’d never experienced the wonders of first class travel.
When Littlejohn offered Allison his seat, he had no idea that it was a dream for her to travel in the front of the plane. The young man happily sat in Allison’s less luxurious seat next to the economy class toilets.
Allison had a strong desire to share her experience with her daughter, so the kind-hearted flight attendant took some pictures of her new favorite passenger. Although not much is known about Littlejohn, social network users describe him as a “true gentleman”.
1. What did Littlejohn do in New York?| A．He attended a family union. | B．He did something for the homeless. |
| C．He helped a woman in trouble. | D．He organized a charity event. |
| A．Excited. | B．Worried. | C．Uncomfortable. | D．Moved. |
| A．He offered it to an old woman. | B．He exchanged it with his mom. |
| C．He took the seat as his mom told. | D．He gave it up and took another flight. |
| A．To share the experience with others. | B．To record the most touching moment. |
| C．To show the old woman’s happiness. | D．To satisfy the old woman’s demand. |
7 . I made my decision to start my own company and leave my stable position after attending a regional sales meeting. The vice-president of our company delivered a speech that changed my life. He asked us. "If genie（精灵）would grant you three wishes what would they be?" After giving us a moment to write down the three wishes, he then asked us. "Why do you need genie?" I would never forget the power I felt at that moment.
I realized that everything I had accomplished had prepared me for this moment. I was ready and did not need a genie's help to become a professional speaker.
When I tearfully told my boss my plans, this incredible leader whom I respect so much replied, "Go ahead with reckless abandon and it will pay off."
Having made that decision, I was immediately tested. One week after I quit mine, my husband was laid off（解雇）from his job. We had recently bought a new home me and needed both incomes to make the monthly mortgage payment and now we were done to no income. It was tempting to turn back to my former company, knowing they wanted me to stay, but I was certain that if I went back, I would never leave. I decided I still wanted to move forward rather than end up with a mouth full of "if onlys" later on. A motivational speaker was born.
When I held fast to my dream, even during the tough times, the miracles really began to happen. In a short time period my husband found a better job. We didn't miss a mortgage payment. And I was able to book several speaking engagements with new clients. I discovered the incredible power of dreams. I loved my old job, my peers and the company I left, but it was time to get on with my dream. To celebrate my success, I had a local artist paint my new office as a garden. At the top of one wall she wrote, "The world always makes way for the dreamer."
1. What motivation did the author get from her vice-president?| A．Why she needed a genie to help realize her dream. |
| B．How could she realize her dream by a grantable genie. |
| C．She did not have to rely on a genie at all. |
| D．What wishes could a genie grant her. |
| A．Angry. | B．Indifferent. | C．Pitiful. | D．Supportive. |
| A．The author came back to her former company. |
| B．They were determined and worked hard. |
| C．Their newly-bought house was taken back by the bank. |
| D．The author's former boss gave her husband a better job |
| A．Opportunity always comes to those who are prepared. |
| B．You will succeed as long as you stick to your dream. |
| C．It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him fish. |
| D．Helping others will benefit yourself as well. |
8 . A Portland, Oregon man has become the first person to travel across Antarctica by himself without receiving any assistance.
Colin O’Brady has completed the 1,500-kilometer trip. He crossed the continent in 54 days. Friends, family and other people followed his progress through messages and pictures he left on social media.
O’Brady spoke with his wife Jenna Besaw by telephone soon after he completed the journey. “It was an emotional call,” she said. “He seemed overwhelmed by love and appreciation, and he really wanted to say ‘thank you’ to all of us.”
The 33-year-old O’Brady documented the trip on the social networking services Instagram. He called his journey “The Impossible First”. He wrote that he traveled the last 129 kilometers in one big, final push to the finish line. The distance took over one day to complete. O’Brady wrote, “While the last 32 hours were some of the most challenging hours of my life, they have quite honestly been some of the best moments I have ever experienced.”
The day before, he wrote that he was “in the zone” and thought he could make it to the end without stopping. “I was listening to my body and taking care of the details to keep myself safe,” he wrote. “I called home and talked to my mom, sister and wife. I promised them I would stop when I need to.”
Other people have traveled across Antarctica, but they all had some form of assistance. They either had better, more plentiful supplies or devices that helped move them forward.
In 2016, British explorer Henry Worsley died in his attempt to travel alone across Antarctica unassisted. Worsley’s friend Louis Rudd, also from Britain, is attempting an unaided solo journey in Worsley’s honor. He was competing against O’Brady to be the first to do it. Besaw told the Associated Press that her husband plans to stay in Antarctica until Rudd finishes his trip.
1. What did O’Brady think of his journey in Antarctica?| A．It was pleasant. | B．It was discouraging. |
| C．It was impossible to complete. | D．It was hard to complete. |
| A．Making sure of his safety. | B．Trying to achieve the goal. |
| C．Keeping in touch with them. | D．Stopping the travel halfway. |
| A．To wait for another explorer. | B．To compete with others. |
| C．To help other explorers. | D．To make his victory recognized. |
| A．The Antarctic Continent | B．The Impossible First |
| C．Traveling in Antarctica | D．An Incomplete Journey |
9 . I was never very neat while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but my always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Overtime, Kate got neater and I got my merriser. She moved to push my dirty clothing over and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.
Who broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, “Take your shoes away! why under my bed!” Suddenly I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.
The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up. She quickly crawled (爬) under her covers, crying. Obviously. that was something she could not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy (同情) rose up in my heart.
Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bad. Cleaned the suckers and swept the floor even on her side. I got so absorbed into my work that I even didn’t notice Kate had sat up. She was watching. Her tears dried and her expression was such disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me. “Thanks.”
Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.
1. What made Kate so angry one evening?| A．She couldn’t find her books. |
| B．She heard the writer shouting loud. |
| C．She got the news that her grandma was ill. |
| D．She saw the writer’s shoes beneath her bed. |
| A．Because she was scared by Kate’s anger. |
| B．Because she hated herself for being so messy. |
| C．Because she wanted to show her care. |
| D．Because she was asked by Kate to do so. |
| A．By analyzing courses. |
| B．By showing differences. |
| C．By describing a process. |
| D．By following time order. |
| A．My Friend Kate. |
| B．Hard Work Pays off. |
| C．How to Be Organized? |
| D．Learning to Be Roommates. |
10 . We’ve all had cases where we’ve waited just a bit too long to pay an electric bill or speeding ticket. But one man, from California by reasonable assumption，who goes by “Dave”，recently took procrastination (拖延) one step further, by paying a parking ticket almost a half-century after it was given.
In December 2018, the Minersville Police Department in Pennsylvania received a letter in the mail. Whoever wrote the letter decided it was best to keep his name somewhat unknown，so he put the return address as “Wayward Road，Anytown California” under the name “Feeling guilty”.
When the officers opened the envelope，they found a brief letter, along with a $5 bill, and a parking ticket dating all the way back to 1974. The note read，“Dear PD，I've been carrying this ticket around for 40 plus years always intending to pay. Forgive me if I don't give you my info. With respect，Dave.”
Even though the initial parking ticket was only for $2, “Dave” must have felt awfully guilty because he left 150 percent，or $3, in interest.
Michael Combs, the Police Chief of the Minersville Police Department, stated in an interview that the same ticket would cost about $20 if it were given today. Combs went on to share that the original ticket from 1974 was given to a vehicle that had an Ohio license plate.
Because there was no system for tracking tickets given to out-of-state cars back then，“Dave” could have gotten away with never paying the $2 fine. But apparently，guilt got the best of him，and he decided to finally cough up the money more than 40 years past its due date.
1. How much do we know about “Dave”？| A．He lives in Wayward Road，Anytown California. |
| B．His car probably came from Ohio at that time. |
| C．The police are trying to find out more about him. |
| D．“Dave” is of course the man’s real name indeed. |
| A．He completely forgot about it in the past 44 years. |
| B．He didn’t find it until almost half a century later. |
| C．He didn’t pay for it just because of procrastination. |
| D．He failed to find out who he should pay the money to. |
| A．A strong sense of guilt. |
| B．Fear of being tracked by the police. |
| C．Worry about being fined more. |
| D．Sudden change of his financial situation. |
| A．Police Chief of the Minersville Police Department Shares a Story |
| B．Parking Ticket Carried Around for Almost Half a Century from Ohio |
| C．Unusual Letter Comes from Wayward Road, Anytown California |
| D．Mysterious Procrastinator Finally Pays 44-Year-Old Parking Ticket |
