1 . Cheng Yuyan never expected that the interest group “We Love Strolling in the Park”, which she created by accident on Douban, a Chinese social media platform, four years ago, would now reach 100,000 members.
According to the 25-year-old from Shanghai, creating this group was just an accidental decision, and she didn’t spend much time in it afterwards. However, park lovers from all over China and even overseas have voluntarily made it their gathering place. People share park experiences, post photos taken in parks, and offer recommendations and reviews about parks.
“The growth of this group is the result of organic (绿色的) development, just like a park, where people naturally come together. The rise in member numbers also shows the increasingly important role that parks are playing in people’s lives,” Cheng said.
Within this group, there is a saying called “20 minutes for parks”, which comes from a theory (理论) in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research. According to the theory, spending 20 minutes in a park daily helps to reduce stress, no matter whether people exercise in it or simply take a walk.
With the help of social media, the theory has been receiving popularity among a great number of young people in China. Huang Bingbing from Shenzhen, Guangdong province, is a follower of this idea.
She said that Shenzhen has many parks between office buildings. Over three years ago, when she was still working at an advertising company, she used to visit the small park downstairs during her weekday lunch breaks. “On the grass, I could connect with living plants and animals, allowing me to refresh my mind and recover from the stress of the workplace,” Huang said.
1. What did Cheng Yuyan think of her interest group?| A．It surely attracted people. | B．It was a serious decision. |
| C．It took her much effort. | D．It got an unexpected result. |
| A．People’s love for parks. | B．The rise of the group number . |
| C．People’s changes of lifestyles. | D．The benefit of green development. |
| A．The pull of the online media. | B．Their need for more experience. |
| C．The heavy load of their work. | D．Their easy acceptance of new ideas. |
| A．Hard work pays off. | B．Great minds think alike. |
| C．A small thing makes a difference. | D．Success comes from joint efforts. |
2 . I stood behind the curtain, my hands shaking. As I listened to the crowd laugh at the host’s jokes, I just thought why I believed I could do that. Two months earlier, I had signed up for improv(即兴表演) classes at a local theater, along with four other graduate students.
When I first heard about the improv classes, I was torn. I feared getting on stage and performing in front of strangers. However, I knew I wanted to work as a science communicator after finishing my Ph.D., so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to improve my communication ability and gain confidence.
During our first class, we learned the key concept of improv: “yes, and”. If someone says monkeys are librarians, for example, then monkeys are librarians. We don’t question the logic; we say “yes” and continue with the scene as if nothing is wrong. To do this well, we have to avoid second-guessing ourselves. Sometimes scenes go in unexpected directions. The best improv happens when performers stay open to different possibilities. Over time, I started to enjoy our classes. I also became better at listening and communicating clearly in the moment.
That training was put to good use when I was giving a lecture about my science. An audience member surprised me with a question that didn’t grow out of the information I’d presented. Instead of getting confused, I used the “yes, and” method, and it helped me find proper answers. Last year, I came across confusing data. Instead of getting discouraged, I kept exploring the data and ended up discovering a new type of cell—one that wasn’t behaving as expected. If I hadn’t stayed open to the possibility that the results were real, I would have missed out on the most exciting finding of my Ph.D. so far.
1. Which word can best describe the author’s feeling in paragraph 1?| A．Disappointed. | B．Confident. | C．Worried. | D．Excited. |
| A．Having an opportunity to present himself. | B．Ridding him of fear of appearing on stage. |
| C．Knowing ways to think independently. | D．Improving his communication skills. |
| A．Acting in a clever way. | B．Communicating with others. |
| C．Accepting others’ ideas. | D．Asking others some questions. |
| A．He failed in getting his doctor’s degree. |
| B．He was confident about giving a speech. |
| C．He became more open to unexpected things. |
| D．He got stuck after hearing unexpected questions. |
3 . Working at an investment bank in New York City in the mid-2010s. Anna Sacks was living the life—just not the life she wanted. Sure, she was happy. But she wanted to do something that felt important and was fulfilling on a deeper level.
Sacks packed up her life and moved to Connecticut for three months to participate in Adamah, a Jewish farming program that focuses on sustainable living and growing sustainable food. The Adamah program opened Sacks’s eyes to the damage consumer culture is doing on a local, national, and global level, and the need to find solutions. From then on, she began what she calls “trash (垃圾) walking.”
While walking around her neighborhood, Sacks, 31, picked through rubbish to look for reusable items. Soon, her trash walks expanded to include company rubbish along with residential trash. Surprisingly, she discovered a wide range of really great stuff—like clothing, dinnerware, and food—all of which she documents on Instagram and TikTok.
Under the name The Trash Walker, Sacks quickly gained popularity for her educational, funny, and surprising videos that highlight the problems with consumerism and share information about how to live a more sustainable life. “The root issue is overproduction, which leads to overconsumption, which leads to a large amount of waste,” she says. Sacks’s videos have gone viral many times, causing shockwaves through the industries she calls out.
Trash walking has given Sacks a nearly endless supply and she shares much of her “treasure” with others. She tries giving them informally to family, friends, or individuals she knows may need a specific item. Then she takes the remaining items to free stores so other New Yorkers can benefit from her treasure-hunting.
Sacks’s main focus is simply getting people to pay attention to how many unnecessary things they buy and then throw away. “Once you become aware of the way you consume, you can see ways you improve,” she says.
1. What inspired Sacks to begin her “trash walking”?| A．Her desire to live a richer life. | B．The great need for household stuff. |
| C．Her involvement in a project. | D．The wish to be an Internet star. |
| A．Funny stories. | B．Views on consumption. |
| C．Educational courses. | D．Solutions to problems. |
| A．She donates all to the charity. | B．She keeps most for her family. |
| C．She gives away much to others. | D．She sells some to individuals. |
| A．Trash Walker: Find Treasure in Trash. |
| B．Trash Walking: A Tough Journey. |
| C．Trash Walker: Live in the Moment. |
| D．Trash Walking: A New Career. |
4 . In 1943, Roman Totenberg, a violinist, bought a rare (稀有的) and special violin called a Stradivarius. It was made in 1734, in Italy, by Antonio Stradivari. Only about 600 of his violins are believed to still exist. They were regarded as the rarest and best instruments in the world.
Roman’s Stradivarius was his musical partner for 38 years. Then bad luck struck; the violin was stolen from his office after a concert while he greeted well-wishers. He was shocked and upset by its loss. “Yes, it’s a bit like losing your arm,” he told his daughter, Jill.
It took Roman a year to find and buy a new violin as the size and tones (音质) of each were different from his. He had to learn his musical pieces all over again! Roman kept playing into his 90s and taught at Boston University until he died in 2012, aged 101.
His daughter says, “We wondered from time to time if the violin would surface, but... Our mother and father taught us to keep moving forward and not think over what life throws at you.”
In 2015, the wife of the man who stole the violin wanted to know if it was really a Stradivarius. She had looked after him when he was dying from cancer and now it belonged to her. She took it to master violin maker and dealer Phillip Injeia. He recognized it immediately and contacted the FBI. Jill, who received the call from FBI, said in an interview, “I said, ‘I have to call my sisters. I’ll tell them not to get their hopes up,’ but Phillip Injeian said, ‘You don’t have to do that. This is the violin.’”
Jill said they would sell the violin, not to a collector but someone who would play it. She said it would finally be in the hands of another great artist and its amazing voice would be heard in concert halls around the country.
1. Why did Roman feel like he had lost an arm after the violin was stolen?| A．It cost him a lot of money. |
| B．It had served as a useful arm. |
| C．It had been his musical partner. |
| D．It was created by a famous maker. |
| A．The FBI got in touch with Jill. |
| B．The Stradivarius was found missing. |
| C．Roman Totenberg died in 2012, aged 101. |
| D．The violin was taken to a master violin maker and dealer. |
| A．They intended to become well-known. |
| B．They wanted to sell it at a higher price. |
| C．They hoped to remember Roman Totenberg. |
| D．They wished to make the most of the Stradivarius. |
| A．Expert and confident. | B．Creative and careful. |
| C．Learned and proud. | D．Strong-willed and friendly. |
5 . Michael and his wife, new residents in a San Francisco apartment, learned about their neighbor Jeff Dunan’s volunteer work for Bangladesh Relief, an organization that provides food, clothing and essential supplies for disadvantaged people in northern Bangladesh. Inspired, Michael donated $150 to Dunan’s GoFundMe campaign. However, a credit card notification alerted him to an unintended $15,041 charge.
When he saw the five-figure number, he was confused. Soon, it all made sense. Michael’s credit card number started with four and one. Clearly, he accidentally began typing his credit card information while his cursor (光标) was still in the donation box.
Michael planned to call Dunan to explain, but before he had the chance to do that, he started receiving Facebook messages from Shohag Chandra, the charity’s Bangladesh-based program manager, thanking him for his generous donation. After he looked through the photos of people holding thank-you signs that read his name, Michael’s heart sank. He felt terrible that he had to withdraw his handsome donation. Once his original contribution was refunded, he decided to donate $1,500.
Although Michael had told his family and friends about the tale, he decided to share it publicly on social media, after Dunan told him the organization was desperately in need of funds. “The least I could do was take the time to post this story online and see if I could inspire other people to donate to the cause,” Michael said.
Little did he know, though, that the story would be seen far and wide, ending up raising more than $120,000 for Bangladesh Relief in the span of only a few weeks—about eight times Michael’s mistaken donation. According to Dunan, more than 3,700 people have contributed because of Michael’s post. Michael has been stunned (震惊) by the ongoing outpouring of support. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this reaction,” he said. “People can be amazing when they come together for something like this.”
1. How did Michael make the large donation?| A．He input an incorrect amount. | B．He encountered a system error. |
| C．He was greatly inspired by Dunan. | D．He entered wrong credit card details. |
| A．He saw people in despair. | B．He failed to offer enough money. |
| C．He didn’t receive the full refund. | D．He realized the scale of his mistake. |
| A．Dunan’s request for publicity. | B．A desire for personal recognition. |
| C．The organization’s urgent need for funds. | D．Pressure from his family and friends. |
| A．Actions speak louder than words. | B．Many hands make light work. |
| C．Always prepare for a rainy day. | D．A good beginning is half of victory. |
6 . Johnny Agar had always dreamed of competing in triathlons (铁人三项赛) as an athlete. Unfortunately, he’d been diagnosed with cerebral palsy (大脑性瘫痪) shortly after he was born. This disorder makes it difficult for the now-28-year-old to get around. However, he and his father are proving that where there’s a will — and a lot of love — there’s a way!
Jeff Agar, 59, is helping Johnny experience life to the fullest by entering triathlons by his side. As a team, they’ve completed over 200 races, including a full ironman triathlon that required them to swim, bike and run 140 miles in just 17 hours.
“I’m not a fan of triathlon,” Jeff joked. “I’m doing it not because I love it. This is Johnny’s dream and I’m giving him the legs and the power to do it.” Although Jeff typically provides the majority of the manpower, it was important for Johnny to cross the finish line on his own legs. “Walking in races was my way of telling Dad, ‘Okay, I’m not just going to say thank-you anymore; I’m going to actually put words into action,’” Johnny said.
Johnny and his dad now form Team Agar, using their story and the power of motivational speaking to inspire others. “When we completed that 140-mile Ironman together, it had an amazing impact on many people who had seen our story. We began to see that competing isn’t just about us crossing the finish line; it’s about helping others leave uncertainty in the dust — even those facing greater obstacles than we did.”
Earlier this month, they received some incredible news. They were invited to compete in one of the toughest triathlons: the Ironman World Championship! What made the occasion even more special was a pre-recorded video message from Johnny’s idol, athlete Peyton Manning. “Rumor has it that you’re a big fan of mine,” Peyton said, “I’m a big fan of yours as well! You guys are incredible; you’re a true inspiration.”
1. What can we learn about Jeff from the text?| A．He has a great passion for triathlons. |
| B．He is upset about Johnny’s severe illness. |
| C．He goes all out to help his son achieve his ambition. |
| D．He crosses the finish line with his son in competitions. |
| A．To give motivation to other people. | B．To encourage more people to join them. |
| C．To make themselves more competitive. | D．To participate in more competitions as a team. |
| A．Peyton will record more videos of Johnny and Jeff. |
| B．Jeff and Johnny have influenced people positively. |
| C．Johnny and Jeff have been getting along well with Peyton. |
| D．Peyton has provided Johnny with material assistance. |
| A．An Old Father’s Love for Triathlons |
| B．A Disabled Competitor Works Wonders |
| C．Dad Helps Son With Cerebral Palsy Achieve His Dream |
| D．Great Achievements Made by Dad and Son in Sports |
7 . I was born missing my left arm. In 1986, at 18 months, I was fitted with a prosthetic (义肢) device, a decision made by my parents and doctors so that I would develop “normally”.
I spent my entire childhood and adolescence trying to fit in. I did just about anything to ease the pains of the stares and pointing fingers from my classmates. By the time I was 8, I had no self-confidence, and the hand I was wearing was making it harder for me to fit in. So I decided I was better off without one. I didn’t need anyone to fix me.
To prove that I wasn’t limited by my disability, I developed a love for all sports, in particular swimming. I was selected to my first Australian women’s swimming team at age 13 and successfully represented my country for eight years. I realized I’d made a name for myself because of my disability.
I taught myself how to be comfortable in a society filled with insecurities. So when I was first contacted in 2021 by Covvi, a company trying to create the world’s most advanced bionic (仿生的) hand, I was a bit surprised. They asked me to trial the hand and, if possible, to become a patient advocate. Initially, I said no. Then, curiosity got the better of me.
While I was busy advocating for disability rights, a new generation of leaders, like Amy Purdy and Nick Vujicic, used the power of technology and social media to display wheelchairs or artificial limbs without explanation. People feared disability less. Society was beginning to see a person first, and their disability second.
Viewing disability through a social lens also meant acknowledging that a person is more disabled by their environment and the discrimination of others than by their actual disability. As those conversations shifted, I realized that there was an opportunity to use technology to steer the narrative for future generations. In July 2022, I decided to trial the hand.
The role of patient advocate is an enormous privilege. Through sharing my journey, I’m able to reach thousands of other people who would benefit from its extraordinary capabilities. That’s why I wear a bionic hand—not because I’m broken, but because I have an opportunity to enhance the human capabilities that already exist.
1. The author developed a love for all sports because ________.| A．she was longing for fame | B．sports gave her self-confidence |
| C．she wanted to defeat her disability | D．her prosthetic device empowered her |
| A．more people acknowledged their limits |
| B．the disabled needed a friendlier environment |
| C．social media allowed the disabled opportunities |
| D．technology shifted people’s attitudes to disability |
| A．Intelligent and brave. |
| B．Warm-hearted and patient. |
| C．Responsible and strong-willed. |
| D．Independent and innovative. |
| A．maximize one’s abilities by embracing reality |
| B．build one’s social circle with optimism |
| C．stick to one’s goal to achieve success |
| D．take it easy in difficult situations |
8 . Adonis Lattimore, 17, was born without a right leg, a partial left leg and only one arm. Although there were doubts from his classmates, Lattimore won Virginia’s Class 6 106-pound wrestling (摔跤) championship, capping off his high school career in a major way.
“That feeling when it finally pays off is the best feeling in the world,” Lattimore said. Lattimore’s wrestling career began in primary school when his dad found an ad about a local wrestling club and brought him to a practice. He was attracted and knew he wanted to continue in the sport. “After that, I never stopped going. I guess what kept me there was the competitive spirit and the friends I was meeting on the way,” he said. At times, others would judge his outward appearance, but he didn’t let the doubts weaken his drive. Instead, he remained focused on his technique and never once thought about giving up.
In March, Lattimore took part in his last regional match. Though he was filled with nervousness, he remained focused for each of the three-minute wrestling periods. Then came the moment he worked so hard for. His name was announced on the loudspeaker as the 2022 state champion. “I cried a little bit,” Lattimore said, “I watched so many finals from the stands or just from videos and to actually be the one to win it was a pretty dreamlike feeling.”
Lattimore is now planning on heading to college to continue wrestling and get a degree in computer science. Through his journey, he hopes to encourage other young athletes to enjoy the ride and do whatever they dream about. “Put everything you have into doing what you love,” he said.
1. What does the underlined word “capping off” mean in paragraph 1?| A．Ending. | B．Starting. | C．Making. | D．Changing. |
| A．He accepted them. | B．He cared much about them. |
| C．He paid no attention to them. | D．He expressed his thanks for them. |
| A．Humorous. | B．Strong-willed. | C．Thoughtful. | D．Warm-hearted. |
| A．Enjoy life to the full. | B．Put yourself into others’ shoes. |
| C．Actions speaker louder than words. | D．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
9 . When I woke up, I made myself breakfast, sat and listened to the traffic. Some of my friends asked me how I could stand living somewhere so noisy. It’s true that there’s always some kinds of noise in my neighborhood, but to me, these are the sounds of life.
It was Saturday morning, so I decided to go to the park. The taxi was the fastest way to go but I took the bus instead.
When you ride the bus, you get to see so much more of the city. It can be kind of loud on the bus, with some people talking on their phones, some people chatting with their friends, and others playing music. It’s just like the traffic’s sounds, though the noise on the bus represents people working, relaxing and living.
Once I got to the park, I picked a bench over near the play area where kids played while their parents sat nearby. I could see and hear almost everything from there. Peoplewatching is one of my favorite things to do. However, I like listening even better. The only problem is that there’s so much to see and hear in the park!
Usually, I like to close my eyes. That way, I can pay more attention to the sounds and not get distracted by what I see. With my eyes closed, I could pick out parts of two old men’s conversation. One of them was telling the other about something his grandson said. I couldn’t hear the rest, but it must be hilarious because his friend’s laugh was so loud.
When I’m old, I hope that I will also have a friend who will sit in the park with me, and who will enjoy listening to the sounds of the city as much as I do.
1. Some of the author’s friends think “the sounds of life” are very________.| A．unpleasant | B．unique |
| C．magical | D．interesting |
| A．there was no other transport to go there |
| B．he wanted to see more about people’s life |
| C．it was the most convenient way |
| D．his friend advised him to do so |
| A．have a good rest |
| B．hide himself from view |
| C．enjoy the sounds of life |
| D．avoid talking with the two old men |
| A．truly different | B．quite popular |
| C．rather strange | D．extremely funny |
10 . Peter was the richest in town. He had earned himself a bad name because he was too proud of his money. One day, Peter became blind. Only by doing a cornea transplant surgery (角膜移植手术) could he see again, but there was no donor(捐献者). Peter had to wait in the hospital sadly.
One afternoon, Peter wanted to sit in the sun, so he felt his way for the little square before the hospital. He raised his head to enjoy the sunshine. However, he saw nothing but the whole darkness.
Just as Peter felt hopeless, someone hit him hard all of a sudden. That angered Peter, so he shouted loudly, “Don’t you have eyes? Don’t you see who you hit! I’m Peter!”
The answer was from a little boy, “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t notice, please forgive me!”
Peter changed his mind and ordered, “I can forgive you, but you must talk with me!”
The boy began. “How beautiful! The grass is green, the sky is blue, the flowers are coming out everywhere, and the little trees are also very lovely. The clouds are floating…”
As he was listening, Peter began to envy (嫉妒) that boy. Suddenly, he shouted, “Oh, my God, the little boy is so poor, nothing but a pair of eyes! Why do you give him light?”
“You are wrong!” came the voice of a lady, “My son is too poor to have eyes. What he just described is what I told him!” Peter sat on the square silently, tears coming up in his eyes.
Since then, the city charity(慈善机构)would receive a great deal of money every year from the richest person, Peter.
1. What did people think of Peter at the beginning of the story?| A．They treated Peter badly. | B．Peter was good with money. |
| C．Peter was unlucky. | D．They disliked Peter. |
| A．A hopeless person. | B．An unknown donor. |
| C．A strange lady. | D．A little boy. |
| A．Angry and afraid | B．Nervous and excited. |
| C．Surprised and moved. | D．Worried and regretful. |
| A．Money can buy you friends. | B．Light lies in people’s heart. |
| C．Patience brings a good return. | D．Rich people are always kind. |
