1 . When reading, my mother likes to slice a paragraph or a sentence out and attach it to the wall of her kitchen. She picks boring sentences that puzzle me. But I prefer copying favorite bright lines into a journal in soft, gray No. 2 pencil, word by word.
She doesn’t know any of this. There's nothing shocking: for our chatting. we seldom begin certain conversations though we talk on the phone weekly, sometimes making each other laugh so hard that I choke and she cries. But what we don't say could fill up rooms. Fights with my father. Small failures in school. Anything that really upsets us.
My mother has never told me “I love you, Lisa.”—as if the four-word absence explains who I am—so I carry it with me, like a label on me. The last time she almost spoke the words was two years ago, when she called to tell me a friend had been in hospital. I said, “I love you, Mom.” She stopped for a while and then said, “Thank you.” I haven't said it since, but I've wondered why my mother doesn't until I've found a poem that supplies words for the blank spaces I try to understand in our conversations:
Don’t fill up on bread. I say absent-mindedly. The servings here are huge.
My son, middle-aged, says: Did you really just say that to me?
What he doesn’t know is that when we’re walking together, I desire to reach for his hand.
It's humble, yet heartbreaking. After copying it down in my journal, I emailed it to mom, adding “This poem makes me think of you.” My mother doesn’t read poetry—or at least, she doesn’t tell me, and I felt nervous clicking “Send”.
She never mentioned the poem. But the next time I went home for vacation, I noticed something new in the kitchen fixed to an antique board: the poem. The board hung above the heater, the warmest spot in the kitchen. The poem still hangs there. Neither my mother nor I have ever spoken about it.
1. What's the function of paragraph 1?| A．To stress the theme. | B．To establish the setting. |
| C．To represent the characters. | D．To create the atmosphere. |
| A．Shaky. | B．Distant. | C．Reserved. | D．Intense. |
| A．It reminded her of mom's love. |
| B．She wanted to apologize to mom. |
| C．It suited mom's taste of literature. |
| D．She needed an interpretation from mom. |
| A．A memory of golden days. |
| B．Daughter’s gratefulness to her. |
| C．A decoration in the plain kitchen. |
| D．Daughter's understanding of her. |
2 . Life is like a roller coaster, and every point has ups and downs. People plan something, but luck and sometimes misfortunes lead them toward a different destination. However, passionate individuals are not scared of such uncertainties. They set goals, welcome challenges, overcome obstacles, and eventually achieve what satisfies them.
Those who stay committed to their broad goals and find satisfaction even in unplanned circumstances are truly victorious. One true example of such people comes from a woman passionate about spreading happiness and helping others. Nicole Thornes is a mother, a former police officer, and now serving society as a death doula (陪护师).
Nicole joined the police academy intending to be helpful to society. She believed that a police officer has the opportunity to eliminate crime, bring justice, and create a better society for everyone. Although she became a mother during her studies and her responsibilities were increased due to children, she didn’t give up on her passion. Nicole could have called off her studies, but her passion for serving society didn’t let her step down. With great efforts, she finally became a police officer and gave her contributions to law enforcement and the betterment of society. She was not only a police officer making full commitment to the society but also a mother who played her responsibilities in the best way possible.
Everything went according to her plans, but uncertainty called off her journey as a police officer. Nicole suffered from an injury in a mission that ended her career in the police force. But her dreams and passion did not let her stop. She became a death doula to continue her dream. She chose this field after her grandfather’s death, when she couldn’t bear the pain of losing him. Being a death doula, she is now providing comfort to the dying and their families during difficult times. She aims to spread prosperity in people’s lives and help them overcome all the obstacles she faced throughout her life.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．Life is full of ups and downs. |
| B．People are at the mercy of changes. |
| C．Uncertainties lead life to a different direction. |
| D．Fulfillment comes from making the best of the uncertainties. |
| A．To conduct her duty well and better the society. |
| B．To cater to the children’s requirements and needs. |
| C．To accompany the senior through the darkest time. |
| D．To release people’s pain from losing the loved ones. |
| A．Because of the arrangement of the office. | B．Because of the injury she got at work. |
| C．Because of the change of interest. | D．Because of the danger of the job. |
| A．The appeal of the people in sorrow. | B．The push of getting a new job to survive. |
| C．The passion in accompanying the sick ones. | D．The sorrowful pain of losing her beloved family. |
3 . A mother and daughter in England have been putting smiles on strangers’ faces with random (随机的) acts of kindness.Every week, Sophie-Louise Corrigan allows her 5-year-old daughter Amina to choose random strangers to put a smile on their faces.
When Corrigan is with her daughter Amina, Corrigan will let the little girl go to whoever she is drawn. Later, Corrigan will ask why Amina opts for them. Her answer is always because she likes something about them, either their tops or their hair. Amina always takes her pick.
It’s a tradition that started with Corrigan’s own mother. “Mum and I used to do it. Whenever we had some money left from the weekly shop or if we really wanted to do it that week, we took out something from the shop to make sure we had the money. We would always do it,” said Corrigan.
“Now, we do it everywhere, even when we went on holiday to another city, we did a random act of kindness there. We find flowers and chocolates whether it be in Ormskirk, Liver-pool or Wirral. Wherever we go, we do it,” said Corrigan.
“The reaction is amazing and is one of the reasons why we carry on. A number of people who spoke to us didn’t even know what to say. They were speechless. There were a lot of people who gave Amina a hug after it. She loves such a hug. There were others who had tears welling up. They said that they had such a terrible week either with bills or a family death. Amina will always say to me that although the person was crying, it was happy tears. She is in the process of understanding how acts of kindness work and how feelings work.”
1. What does Corrigan ask Amina to do every week?| A．Stay with her mother. | B．Be kind to strangers. |
| C．Make friends with others. | D．Buy something from shops. |
| A．Respects. | B．Enables. | C．Chooses. | D．Avoids. |
| A．People need happiness. |
| B．Few people live a hard life. |
| C．Some people like being silent. |
| D．Most people are friendly to others. |
| A．Only good people have friends. |
| B．Where there is life, there is hope. |
| C．Kindness is like a ray of sunshine. |
| D．A kind man can gain more from others. |
4 . In 2006, Jackie Briggs was working 60 hours a week at a high-pressure IT job. One Saturday afternoon, she decided to take some time for herself and go to a women’s health conference. As she was walking around looking at different stands, someone approached her.
“This lovely dark-haired woman came up to me, ‘Excuse me, but I can’t help but notice your arm,’ and she said,” Briggs remembers. That day, Briggs had uncharacteristically decided to wear a sleeveless dress, leaving a rose-shaped birthmark on her upper arm exposed. The woman asked Briggs if she had seen a doctor about the birthmark, and when Briggs assured her that she had, the stranger persisted. “She pressed me and said, ‘When?’ I had to stop to think. I counted back…and it had been over three years.”
When the woman heard how long it had been, she urged Briggs to call her doctor. After explaining that she was a nurse at a plastic surgeon’s office, she gently reached out and touched Briggs’ arm. “Really, don’t wait,” she said.
When Briggs followed up with her doctor, she learned that the woman had saved her life. It turned out that the birthmark was actually a melanoma—one of the fastest-moving and deadliest types of skin cancers. “If I hadn’t listened to her, I probably wouldn’t be here,” Briggs said. Briggs underwent surgery and had the melanoma removed. She’s now happily retired and just finished writing her first novel. Her unsung hero, she said, saved her life. “My six-inch ragged scar that travels almost from the top of my shoulder down my arm is my everyday reminder of her…my guardian angel,” she said.
1. What made Briggs go to see her doctor?| A．The high-pressure IT job. | B．The deadly melanoma. |
| C．The nurse’s words. | D．Her doctor’s advice. |
| A．Generous and helpful. | B．Professional and kind. |
| C．Outgoing and enthusiastic. | D．Determined and brave. |
| A．Birthmarks sometimes can be deadly. |
| B．A sleeveless dress is good for a lady. |
| C．A stranger’s advice is always important. |
| D．Working 60 hours a week can cause melanoma. |
| A．The Lovely Dark-haired Woman | B．The Rose-shaped Birthmark |
| C．The Unsung Hero | D．The Six-inch Ragged Scar |
5 . For twelve years, my church has participated in the Appalachia Service Project. One week each summer, volunteers go to repair or build homes for families.
At the age of sixteen, I went on my first volunteer project in West Virginia. On the night we arrived, we discovered that “our family” was living in a trailer (活动房屋) that was in poor condition. The staff soon decided that the only reasonable solution was to build a new house. “Our family” was overjoyed with their new house that was 20x30 foot with three bedrooms, a bath and a kitchen/family room.
On Tuesday of that week, I asked “our family’s” three boys, Josh, Eric and Ryan, “What do you want for your new room?” Josh, the oldest, responded, “I just want a bed.”
We were stunned. The boys had never slept in a bed. They were used to foam pads (泡沫垫). That night we had a meeting and decided that beds would be the perfect gift. On Thursday night, we drove to the nearest city and bought beds and new bedding.
On Friday, when we saw the delivery truck coming, we told “our family” about the surprise. It was like watching excited children on Christmas morning. That afternoon, we set up the beds. As we fitted the frames together, Eric ran into the house to watch us. He observed with wide-eyed enthusiasm. As Meggan, a member of our group, slipped a pillowcase onto one of the pillows, Eric asked, “What is that?”
“A pillow,” she replied,
“What do you do with it?” Eric persisted.
“When you go to sleep, you put your head on it,” Meggan answered softly. Tears came to our eyes as she handed Eric the pillow.
“Oh... that’s soft,” he said, hugging it tightly.
1. “Our family” refers to ________.| A．a poor family in West Virginia |
| B．the author’s family |
| C．the family which consists of three boys |
| D．the family formed by the volunteers |
| A．Frightened. | B．Confused. | C．Doubtful. | D．Shocked. |
| A．The children like lying on foam pads. |
| B．The family is too poor to buy a bed. |
| C．The volunteers bought beds for the family. |
| D．The children had never slept in a bed. |
| A．we felt very tired |
| B．Eric didn’t know how to use what we bought for him |
| C．we were sad to know Eric had never used a pillow |
| D．Eric wanted some other things |
6 . “Attention, everyone!” Miss Dalrymple looked at her class of ten-year-olds. “Today we are going to create a special card for Father’s Day, which falls on this weekend.” Then she busied herself handing out the paper and art materials to her noisy pupils.
They were a mixed punch. Some came from the rich side of the town, but the majorities were from parents who struggled to get jobs. So she had not been eager to carry out this activity.
“Think about all the things that your dad does that make him special,” she said loudly as she approached the last table. “You can write a poem or short story thinking of the positive characteristics that make your dad special. The written part of this activity should be completed before you start to decorate your card.”
Andrew looked at the blank page. He had never met, spoken to, or been hugged by his dad, so how could he write about him? Once when he was looking in his grandma’s photo box, he had seen an old black and white photo but it was badly creased(弄皱) and difficult to recognize any clear features. She had quickly taken it from him and buried it deeply among the rest, never to be found again. After thinking for a while, he wrote:
Dear Dad,
You are a person I do not know and would probably not recognize as I only saw an old photo of you a long time ago. I think and wonder about you often, especially when I have no one to talk to about the Saturday fixtures(体育活动). One day when I grow up I will do an Internet search to find you, but I am not sure whether I will be successful as several attempts by the Child Support Agency have not been successful. Happy Father’s Day, Dad.
Love,
Andrew
1. What did Miss Dalrymple ask her students to do?| A．Hand out the paper and art materials. |
| B．Make a special card for their fathers. |
| C．Make a celebration plan for Father’s Day. |
| D．Carry out a school activity on the weekend. |
| A．The students were not willing to finish the task. |
| B．The students were eager to carry out the activity. |
| C．The students didn’t get along well with each other. |
| D．The students’ family conditions were quite different. |
| A．Because he had never seen his father. |
| B．Because his father was not a successful man. |
| C．Because he forgot all the things his father did. |
| D．Because he and his grandma didn’t like his father. |
| A．Andrew’s father has been dead. |
| B．Andrew’s father can’t recognize him. |
| C．Andrew is eager to meet his father. |
| D．Andrew is sure of finding his father. |
7 . Yesterday was my final day as an English language assistant in Paris. I have loved every single moment of my time teaching, and could not have asked for a better school, with the most wonderful students. When applying to be a language assistant. I was a little worried about what the students would be like.
Upon arrival, I found the easiest approach to creating lesson plans was to focus on what was happening right here and now. For example, when it was Halloween in the UK, I found plenty of brainchildren to help me teach my students all about the different cultures and traditions they do not have in France. They loved it! And now, seven months later, it's all over!
The whole experience has been amazing. I highly recommend being a language assistant. I don't want to become a teacher，and I didn't before I arrived, but the skills and experience I have gained from these entire seven months of working is indescribable. Now, I'm finding myself still walking down the street and having ideas pop into my mind and saying, “Oh! 1 can teach mv class about that next week!” It's very bizarre(异乎寻常的).
I think this first week of having no work and not needing to think of potential lesson plans will be the hardest，and it was surprisingly difficult to say goodbye to most of my classes. But deep down，I know that my time teaching in Paris has given me so much experience and a completely new outlook on how to communicate with younger people with different needs and learning styles.
1. Where did the author work as a teaching assistant?| A．In America. | B．In England. | C．In France. | D．In Canada. |
| A．Clever children. | B．Different assistants. |
| C．Successful experience. | D．Sudden good ideas. |
| A．The writer thought it useless. | B．The writer liked it very much. |
| C．The writer found it very strange. | D．The writer had no idea about it. |
| A．My Teaching Experience in Paris |
| B．An English Language Assistant in Paris |
| C．How to Communicate with Younger People |
| D．How to Become an Amazing Language Teacher |
8 . When I was six, Dad brought home a dog one day, who was called “Brownie”. My brothers and I all loved Brownie and did different things with her. One of us would walk her, another would feed her, then there were baths, playing catch and many other games. Brownie, in return, loved each and every one of us. One thing that most touched my heart was that she would go to whoever was sick and just be with them. We always felt better when she was around.
One day, as I was getting her food, she chewed up (咬破) one of Dad’s shoes, which had to be thrown away in the end. I knew Dad would be mad and I had to let her know what she did was wrong. When I looked at her and said, “Bad girl,” she looked down at the ground and then went and hid. I saw a tear in her eyes.
Brownie turned out to be more than just our family pet. She went everywhere with us. People would stop and ask if they could pat her. Of course she’d let anyone pat (拍) her. She was just the most lovable dog. There were many times when we’d be out walking and a small child would come over and pull on her hair. She never barked (吠) or tried to get away. Funny thing is that she would smile. This frightened people because they thought she was showing her teeth. Far from the truth, she loved everyone.
Now many years have passed since Brownie died of old age. I still miss days when she was with us.
1. What would Brownie do when someone was ill in the family?| A．Look at them sadly. | B．Play games with them. |
| C．Stay with them. | D．Touch them gently. |
| A．felt sorry for her mistake | B．would eat anything when hungry |
| C．loved playing hide-and-seek | D．disliked the author’s dad |
| A．She went everywhere with the family. |
| B．She played games with anyone she liked. |
| C．She was loved by everybody she met. |
| D．She was treated as a member of the family. |
| A．smiled | B．barked. |
| C．rushed to them | D．tried to be funny |
9 . Dick lived in England. One day in January he said to his wife, "I'm going to fly to New York next week because I've got some work there." "Where are you going to stay there?" his wife asked. "I don't know yet." Dick answered. "Please send me your dress from there in a telegram (电报), "his wife said. "All right, " Dick answered.
He flew to New York on January 31st and found a nice hotel in the center of the city. He put his things in his room and then he sent his room and then he sent his wife a telegram. He put the address of his hotel in it.
In the evening he didn't have any work, so he went to a cinema. He came out at nine o'clock and said, "Now I'm going back to my hotel and have a nice dinner."
He found a taxi(出租车)and the driver said, "Where do you want to go?" But Dick didn't remember the name and address of his hotel.
"Which hotel are my things in?" he said, "And what am I going to do tonight?" But the driver of the taxi did not know. So Dick got out and went into a post office. There he sent his wife another telegram, and in it he wrote, "Please send me my address at this post office."
1. Dick flew to New York because .| A．he went there for a holiday | B．he had work there |
| C．he went there for sightseeing(观光) | D．his home was there |
| A．Because she didn't know his address yet. |
| B．Because she wanted to go to New York, too. |
| C．Because she might send him another telegram. |
| D．Because she couldn't leave her husband by himself in New York |
| A．In the center of the city. | B．In a hotel. |
| C．In a restaurant. | D．At his friend's house. |
| A．The manager(经理)of his hotel. | B．The police office. |
| C．The taxi driver. | D．His wife. |
10 . My name is Amber and I want to share my story with you because what you’ve shared about life and positive energy has changed my life.
This past year has been one of the hardest for me. I felt I was stuck in a position that had nothing to do with what I wanted to do with my life. In January, after two years of being together, my boyfriend left me.
I read your blog every morning as I drink my coffee at work, but it wasn’t until this March that I told myself “no more negativity (消极性)” as you taught readers in your blog.
Since then I’ve got into new habits at work to keep my energy positive. When people walk in the front door, I’m the first face they see, so I smile big when I say “good morning” to them, especially on Monday. Instead of waiting for someone to ask me for help, I offer it with an open mind. The CEO noticed my change and offered me the executive (行政的) assistant position that I wanted.
One of the biggest things I’ve taken to heart from your blog is changing my opinions on my job. Yes, it was not an important position, but when I was passionate (热情的) about it, I could make my life fulfilling.
All in all, I have to thank you somehow for having the passion to help others because it truly is inspiring to me. So thank you so much, John. My life has changed because your words pointed me in the right direction, Take care!
Sincerely,
Amber
1. Amber wrote the letter mainly to __________.| A．introduce herself to John | B．ask for some advice |
| C．express her thanks | D．talk about her bad year |
| A．received very good education | B．spent a lot of time playing computer games |
| C．didn’t like her boyfriend | D．wasn’t satisfied with her job |
| A．He used to live a very negative life. |
| B．He likes helping others through writing positive blogs. |
| C．He doesn’t like sharing his life stories. |
| D．He is a very famous novelist. |
| A．A positive attitude is rewarding. | B．Bad luck doesn’t exist long. |
| C．Practice makes perfect. | D．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
