1 . In 1972, Barbara Rieco penned a heartfelt children’s book that held her dream within its pages. Despite her best efforts, the manuscript (手稿) faced repeated rejection from publishers, leading her to eventually set aside her dream of becoming a published author.
Little did she know that, decades later, her grandson would turn the dream into reality. Chad Cooper, a production professional, decided to give his grandmother the ultimate Christmas gift — the publication of her treasured book. Visiting her in Baltimore for the holidays, he secretly took her original manuscript, along with the drawings for the book she had obtained from an artist years ago, and transformed them into a beautifully printed book.
On Christmas morning, as Barbara unwrapped the carefully crafted gift, she was overcome with emotion as she realized what the surprise was. The moment, captured and posted online by Chad, quickly resonated (产生共鸣) with viewers, and the video became a hit.
“This is probably the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me in my entire life,” Barbara said in the video, who also gave her grandson a big hug, with tears.
Chad’s thoughtful gesture didn’t just end with the surprise; he also included a link to the book on Amazon, making it available to the public. The response was nothing short of magic — within days, Barbara’s once-forgotten book skyrocketed to the top of Amazon’s bestseller list, earning the coveted spot as a best seller.
Chad filmed the reaction to that news and shared more updates. Barbara said she had been reading every single comment online and wanted to respond to them all but there were thousands of them.
“I’ve bought Barbara Rieco’s book even though I’m 21 and don’t even have kids. I’ve read it and I really like it,” said one viewer.
“My children enjoy reading the book and they recommend me to read it as well,” another viewer commented.
Barbara Rieco’s book, now accepted by a new generation of readers, continues to spread joy and inspiration.
1. What did Chad Cooper do for his grandmother?| A．He had her book published. | B．He drew for her new book. |
| C．He arranged an artist to meet her. | D．He helped finish her manuscript. |
| A．Calm and proud. | B．Lucky but regretful. |
| C．Delighted but worried. | D．Excited and grateful. |
| A．Dangerous. | B．Desired. | C．Empty. | D．Forgotten. |
| A．To reveal Barbara’s gift for writing books. |
| B．To show the popularity of Barbara’s book. |
| C．To tell the influence of reading on the young. |
| D．To highlight the value of Chad’s Christmas gift. |
2 . We put limitations on ourselves when the fear of failure grows stronger than our will to succeed. That’s why we all need a push to help us reach further than we ever thought possible.
That is the purpose of NubAbility Athletics Foundation, a nonprofit organization aimed to get “limb (肢体) different” youth — kids who are amputees (被截肢者) — “out of the stands, off the bench, and into mainstream sports.” The organization holds camps around the country, pairing kids and coaches with similar limb differences to help them reach their full physical potential.
Tim, who was born without arms, certainly didn’t believe he could pull off a 20-inch box jump before he joined. This month, the 14-year-old participated in the weight-lifting and training program at a camp and achieved something amazing.
In a video on the Internet, we see Tim’s coach teaching him to jump onto a box. With no arm strength, it seems like a tough task. While Tim pushes through his self-doubt and jumps, he still holds back on his first two tries and doesn’t stick the landing.
Then, the coach pats her hands onto the box, yelling, “All the people who told you you can’t — right here, jump on them. Now!” This time, Tim puts all his energy into the jump. Still, it isn’t enough to make it all the way onto the box. Understandably, Tim grows frustrated and turns away as if to give up. But he’s not done yet. Tim turns back to the box with a look of pure determination, bends his knees… and launches himself onto the box!
As his coaches cheer him on, the victorious teen jumps down and straights into his motivator’s arms, overwhelmed with emotion at what he just achieved. That day, Tim learned he is capable of so much more than he knew.
Tim is living proof that we can all achieve greatness, no matter our limitations. All we have to do is keep trying. Never give up, and never let the word “can’t” hold you back!
1. What is the mission of NubAbility Athletics Foundation?| A．To pick out excellent young sportsmen. |
| B．To develop the full potential of the disabled. |
| C．To hold camps for the amputees in the world. |
| D．To encourage teenage amputees to get involved in sports. |
| A．He lacked confidence. | B．He was full of energy. |
| C．He was very excited. | D．He was shy and ashamed. |
| A．Scary. | B．Funny. | C．Encouraging. | D．Threatening. |
| A．Life has no limitations. | B．It is never too late to learn. |
| C．A good beginning is half done. | D．It is no use crying over spilled milk. |
3 . Though Rob was born without limbs (四肢) due to a rare disease, he has spent his life concentrating only on what he can do. It’s what drove him for more than a decade toward fulfilling his dream — becoming head coach for the junior varsity (代表队) football team at Prospect High School in Saratoga, California.
In his first season, Rob taught his team the meaning of perseverance, leading them to an 8-2 record. And despite losing the league championship game, he won his players’ loyalty forever — and, recently, recognition for his incredible spirit.
This year, Rob received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, presented at the ESPY Awards to “a deserving member of the sporting world who has overcome great obstacles through perseverance and determination”. Nobody could have been a better fit.
As Rob accepted his award, he thanked a number of people for helping him get to where he is today, including his mother for planting the seed of optimism in him, his father for nurturing his passion for sports, and Prospect High School students and administration for giving him a chance. Then, true to his character, the passionate coach shared a piece of his unending wisdom.
“If there’s any message that I want to give you guys tonight, it’s to look at me and see how much passion I put into coaching and how far it’s gotten me. When you put yourself into something and open your mind to different possibilities and focus on what you can do instead of what you can’t do, you really can go places in this world.”
According to Rob, the best part of coaching is seeing someone’s potential and making them realize what’s possible. So for anyone out there not sure if they can do something, Rob said, believe that you can do it.
Rob may have been born without arms or legs, but he was clearly born with the amazing ability to motivate others. As he’s already well aware, there’s nothing this man can’t do!
1. What helped Rob realize his dream?| A．His talent. | B．His determination. |
| C．His knowledge. | D．His fortune. |
| A．Ambitious and honest. | B．Generous and optimistic. |
| C．Passionate and humorous. | D．Inspiring and grateful. |
| A．Helping them to know about each other. |
| B．Encouraging them to create and seize opportunities. |
| C．Discovering their talent and inspiring them to do their best. |
| D．Focusing on those with potential and giving them confidence. |
| A．Nothing is difficult to a willing heart. |
| B．Everything is difficult at the beginning. |
| C．Opportunity comes to those who are prepared. |
| D．A hundred-mile journey begins with the first step. |
4 . This year, the Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum, went to Annie Ray, the performing arts department chair and orchestra director at Annandale High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. She attended the awards ceremony in Los Angeles and brought home both a $10,000 prize and matching grant （资助） for her school’s music program.
Ray created the Crescendo Orchestra for students with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as a parent orchestra that teaches nearly 200 caregivers a year to play the same instrument as their children. She got the idea mostly from the Annandale community, which she says represents over 60 countries, including many refugees and immigrants. “There’re many cultures that might typically clash, but they come together in this very beautiful harmony,” Ray explained. “And that’s really uniquely expressed in the orchestra classroom, where we’re just all music-ing together.”
Ray says the Crescendo Orchestra is focused on teaching students how to play an instrument, through one-on-one instruction tailored to their needs. The orchestra is about much more than just making music, however. “I really push my students to be brave and go outside of their comfort zone. We have to learn how to work together with others,” she says.
Ray, who comes from a family of musicians and has played the harp （竖琴） since the age of five, knows firsthand the impact that a great teacher can make on their students. “Why I am where I am is because a teacher changed my life and made me want to be a music educator,” she says.
Ray says her warm reception on the awards ceremony is especially meaningful because not many people understand what exactly music educators do in the classroom or how much their work matters. She says that lack of understanding is one of the biggest challenges facing the profession in general. Moreover, she says her school desperately needs new instruments, and adds that she’ll use some of her grant money to buy more.
1. What mainly inspired Ray to create the Crescendo Orchestra?| A．The effect of some caregivers. | B．The diversity of a community. |
| C．The harmony of the disabled. | D．The rich culture of her school. |
| A．Who are influenced by music. | B．How the Crescendo Orchestra develops. |
| C．What students can learn. | D．Why students need special instruction. |
| A．She funded some students. | B．She fought against her family. |
| C．She began learning the harp. | D．She chose to be a music educator. |
| A．Music education needs to be appreciated. | B．She badly wants donations for instruments. |
| C．The administration offers no support. | D．She is often challenged by musicians. |
5 . The wind roils the Midwest plains as if it is searching for someone or something to carry away. Dust and chaff funnel into blinding clouds. The clatter of storms overhead makes it impossible to hear, and herds of bison (野牛) grow restless. The Omaha tribe has wandered these plains for generations, and now, it seems that the winds have brought back one of their own. Susan La Flesche has returned to the village where she was born. Not as a visitor, but as the region’s only doctor.
When Susan was 8 years old, she waited at the bedside of an elderly woman writhing in pain. A doctor was called for. They waited. A messenger was sent. The doctor still didn’t come. Susan provided what comfort she could through the night, but by sunrise, the elderly woman had died. The episode both haunted and motivated Susan. She threw herself into her studies and earned her way to what is now Hampton University in Virginia—a historically Black college with a program for native American students. And she finished second in her class.
Susan would never forget the childhood she enjoyed, full of powwows, buffalo hunts and the people she loved. But there was further to go. She enrolled in the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, a tedious train ride away from the world she knew. It was 1886, and the Victorian age held stiff against the progress of women. In her graduation speech from Hampton, she told the East Coast audience, “Give us a chance.” Three years later, she became a doctor.
Returning to the plains to serve her people was a difficult task. She opened an office in the government boarding school and began seeing patients. The lines were long, old and young seeking reprieve (缓解) from cholera and tuberculosis (肺结核) as well as a slew of other diseases. Susan worked long hours at her office but also braved the wind and snow, walking miles to make house calls. Her work was more than as a physician. She often acted as lawyer, accountant, priest, political liaison and counselor as she helped the Omahas navigate the new world. And Dr. Susan La Flesche was determined to spend her entire life helping her people navigate the storms.
1. Why was the environment of the plains described in the first Paragraph?| A．To arouse readers’ interest. | B．To lead to the topic of the passage. |
| C．To reflect Susan’s mood. | D．To introduce terrible conditions there. |
| A．Her poor family. | B．Her desire for knowledge. |
| C．The opposition to women’s progress. | D．The lack of medical resources in her hometown. |
| A．She had an unhappy childhood. | B．She enjoyed the train ride to her college. |
| C．She got high marks in every exam. | D．She encountered difficulties in her college life. |
| A．Serious and brave. | B．Hard-working and helpful. |
| C．Sensitive and modest. | D．Greedy and self-centred. |
6 . My family visited the coastal town of St. Pete Beach. Florida. With its pretty sandy beaches, deep blue waters and year-round sunshine, it’s clear to see why St. Pete is a popular tourist destination among travelers from around the world.
Just a few feet from our apartment, we found ourselves walking on white sand towards the bright blue ocean. We were soon greeted by a man offering us the use of one of his luxury beach cabanas (小屋) for the day at a very reasonable price and settled into a full day of relaxation. The peaceful atmosphere was a true escape from the hustle and bustle (喧嚣) of the city. It was so easy to while away the days from morning until dusk, enjoying the warmth of the sun’s rays and getting lost in a good book, before taking a quick swim in the calm waters to cool off.
Once the sun set, there was a various range of bars and restaurants to choose from just a few steps away. The warm evening atmosphere was peppered with the mouthwatering smell of sizzling freshly-caught fish. The only hardship was trying to decide where to dine each evening with so many tasty options!
After a while, we began to desire a bit more adventure on our trip which, to our delight, we discovered was easy to come by. On one of our outings, we took a boat trip to the undisturbed island of Egmont Key State Park. There we explored the ruins of a military outpost built in 1898 and a 150-year-old working lighthouse. The island is also a protected wildlife reserve. On our return journey, we were excited to discover we were being followed by over a dozen dolphins, who were taking turns to leap out of the water playfully in the wake of our boat.
1. What made the author’s family select St. Pete Beach as the destination?| A．Water sports. | B．The city’s busy nightlife. |
| C．Some historical buildings. | D．The beautiful beach and weather. |
| A．Because of some fun activities. |
| B．Because of a cost-effective offer. |
| C．Because of near historical landmarks. |
| D．Because of the distance of it from their apartment. |
| A．Friendly atmosphere in each restaurant. |
| B．High prices in most restaurants. |
| C．Diverse choices available. |
| D．Family members’ preferences for food. |
| A．The presence of a wildlife expert in the boat. |
| B．Dolphins following and playing around the boat. |
| C．The discovery of hidden treasures on the boat. |
| D．A surprising visit from some local residents. |
7 . On a cold February evening, while her mother slept peacefully, a kid slipped out of her home and into the darkened streets of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dressed only in a T-shirt, socks and a diaper (尿布), the 3-year-old girl wandered around the abandoned parking lots of the city’s southwest side all by herself. She was cold and almost certainly afraid, but most of all, she was not safe. Thankfully, the right person saw her out alone and knew something wasn’t right.
Gabe Botello was delivering pizzas for Villa Pizza when he saw the unattended child at around 3: 00 am. He caught sight of her in the McConnell parking lot, but by the time he’d dropped off the food to his clients and retraced his steps, she had disappeared into the night.
A father of three kids himself, Gabe refused to go back to work until he located the little girl. He started pulling into empty parking lots to search for her. He finally spotted her curling up (蜷缩) between two walls at a factory across the street.
The concerned father jumped out of his car, pulled off his coat and wrapped her up to keep her warm. He put her into his car and gave her some water while he called 911.
The police arrived and were able to locate the kid’s home, where they discovered her mother was sound asleep and thought her daughter was, too. Gabe didn’t judge the child’s mother, and he hoped no one else would, either. He said, “As a parent, I know that children are quick and don’t always listen when they are told what’s best for them.”
Gabe not only did the right thing by finding the child and calling the police, but his level-headed and compassionate response to her mother warms our heart. It truly does take a village sometimes to take good care of a child, and we’re so glad this experienced dad was there when a child needed him most:
1. What was the girl’s mother doing when she was in the parking lots?| A．Sleeping at home. | B．Searching for her. |
| C．Wandering in the street. | D．Curling up at a factory. |
| A．He called 911 to help the girl. | B．He comforted the girl. |
| C．He drove the girl home directly. | D．He tried to find the girl. |
| A．The little girl behaved well. | B．It’s not easy to care for kids. |
| C．Kids usually listen to parents. | D．The girl’s mother was to blame. |
| A．Talented and humble. | B．Hard-working and honest. |
| C．Ambitious and adventurous. | D．Warm-hearted and understanding. |
8 . My daughter said she wanted to redecorate her room. The thought of tackling a room redecorating project intimidated me, but I knew that following through on helping my girl create a new space for herself would mean a lot to her. So, I worked up my courage.
Together, my daughter and I set a budget for our project, spread paint samples on her wall and calculated how much paint we’d need. And finally deep breath — we started painting. Neither of us had ever painted a room before. After rolling a paint roller across her wall for the first time, my daughter frowned (皱眉) and said, “Maybe we should hire someone to do the painting for us, Mom.”
I couldn’t help wondering if she might be right, but I assured her that if we followed the painting pointers we’d studied and took our time, we could do a fine job. I didn’t want her to miss out on the wonderful feeling of competence that comes from trying something you want to do but fear you might not be able to do.
There had been many times when we’d realized we had been in the wrong way and had to do it again. We had to problem-solve with whoever might help. Finally, we finished the painting. It was not perfect, but the overall effect made my daughter really happy. It was her ideas and work that made all visible.
Thinking about doing such a project with my daughter, it struck me that she got to see me being a rank beginner — messing up and starting over all the way. She watched me looking up answers when I needed them and asking for help when I hit dead ends. Instead of being an authority with all the answers, I learned with her. I showed my daughter what learning looks like, in all its messy glory. That’s definitely the best part I’ll treasure.
1. What does the underlined word “intimidated” in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Inspired. | B．Frightened. | C．Reminded. | D．Attracted. |
| A．To overcome her fear of failure. | B．To keep the project under budget. |
| C．To show her talent for decoration. | D．To let the kid enjoy the joy of success. |
| A．Being a rank beginner. | B．Being a success in decorating. |
| C．Being a model learner. | D．Being an authority with all answers. |
| A．Reflective. | B．Enthusiastic. | C．Ambitious. | D．Demanding. |
9 . In June 1985, two British mountaineers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates made the first-ever climb of the West Face of the 21,000 foot snow-covered Siula Grande mountain in Peru. It was exceptionally tough — but nothing compared to what was to come. Early in the descent (斜坡), Simpson fell and broke his right knee. Yates could have abandoned him but managed to find a way of lowering him down the mountain in a series of difficult drops blinded by snow and cold. Then Simpson fell into a crevasse (冰隙) and Yates eventually had no choice but to cut the rope, utterly convinced that his friend was now dead.
In his subsequent book on the climb entitled “Touching The Void”, Joe Simpson wrote: “As I gazed at the distant moraines (冰碛石), I knew that I must at least try. I would probably die out there amid those rocks. The thought didn’t alarm me. It seemed reasonable, matter-of-fact. That was how it was. I could aim for something. If I died, well, that wasn’t so surprising, but I wouldn’t have just waited for it to happen. The horror of dying no longer affected me as it had in the crevasse. I now had the chance to confront it and struggle against it. My leg would hurt when I fell and when I couldn’t get up I would die.”
The survival of Simpson himself was extraordinary. That somehow found a way of climbing out of the crevasse after 12 hours and then dragged himself six miles back to camp, going three days and nights without food or drink, would be the stuff of heroic fiction if it was not so true. Indeed, six operations and two years later, he was even back climbing. All because, against all the odds, he tried.
1. What happened to Simpson?| A．He went blind in the accident. | B．He was hurt for lack of the rope. |
| C．He had his knee injured in the descent. | D．He was deserted into a crevasse on purpose. |
| A．He tried to remove the rocks. | B．He struggled for food and drink. |
| C．He thought about his dead friend. | D．He stayed calm to rescue himself. |
| A．Face up to. | B．Give way to. | C．Get away with. | D．Come up with. |
| A．No way is impossible to wisdom. | B．Nothing is hard to the man who will try. |
| C．The good seaman is known in bad weather. | D．Good company on the road is the shortest cut. |
10 . At age 10, McCullough got a glimpse of her dream job. It sparkled in the eyes of the Packard Children’s nurses who cared for her brother Matthew, who had brain cancer. As a child, McCullough spent hours at her brother’s bedside. “I looked up to the nurses. I found their unconditional commitment to my brother’s care remarkable,” McCullough says.
As a young girl, McCullough practiced nursing by caring for her brother, a desire born out of her intense love for him. She would rub his back, bring him drinks, and even help adjust his lines. She was a natural. Her parents said that she was very caring and always put people first from a young age.
When Matthew passed away, McCullough became even more committed to becoming a nurse. She took steps through the years to make her dream come true. In high school, she volunteered at cancer centers and hospitals. “My becoming a nurse is 100% in honor of Matt. I felt the need to channel my grief and turn that tragic moment into something positive,” McCullough says.
Over time, McCullough realized that she didn’t just want to be a nurse. She wanted to be a pediatric oncology (儿科肿瘤) nurse at Packard Children’s. McCullough wanted to give back to the hospital that had done so much for her brother.
Despite feeling like school never came easy, McCullough persisted (坚持) and got into a respected nursing school. She feels like she worked 10 times harder than other nursing students at the university. She traded going out and spending time with friends for the library.
In college, each step brought McCullough closer to her dream. She worked as a nursing assistant at Stanford Health Care for adults with cancer. Then, she transferred to Packard Children’s and worked as a nursing assistant in the Pediatric Transplant Center.
Today, She’s a nurse on the same unit that cared for her brother years ago. She is one of those nurses she admired so much as a child. She finds the time, even on very busy days, to truly be there for patients and families to make them feel loved and welcomed.
1. What makes McCullough want to be a nurse?| A．Her love for her brother. |
| B．The pain of cancer patients. |
| C．Her natural ability of nursing. |
| D．The desire to give back to society. |
| A．She began to work for her dream. |
| B．She volunteered at cancer centers. |
| C．She became a nursing assistant for children. |
| D．She spent much time with friends in the library. |
| A．Changeable and respectable. |
| B．Hardworking and demanding. |
| C．Professional and adventurous. |
| D．Considerate and persistent. |
| A．God helps those who help themselves. |
| B．Where there is a will there is a way. |
| C．Behind bad luck comes good luck. |
| D．He who laughs last laughs best. |
