1 . I just flew from Berlin, Germany, to Atlanta,Gcorgia, and it took me 24 hours due lo the weather-related delay during my stopover in New York. Like many other passengers, I was so worm out, annoyed, and helpless that I could barely hold it together.
The pilot, called Thiemy Beyeler, was different. He left the flight deck and walked to the dissatisfied passengers to apologize and comfort them.The pilot's appropriate behavior set the tone and ensured no one got angry. It reminded me of the beauty of “elegance(优雅)under pressure”. Thierry Beyeler was a pilot with Swiss International Air Lines, for which he flew various aircraft. During the delay, I had the chance to speak to Beyelor and learn about his experience as a pilot.
He said, “Flying is a bit like eating chocolate. I love every flight. However, when you have 16 flights in four days, then that's too much chocolate for me..." As for crisis(危机)situations, he did have a few. “Once, I had an engine failure, but that's rare, and we handled it. Another time, we had smoke in the cabin,and we went to land quickly. In end, it was just the air conditioning having some problems…."He believes, "As Murphty's law puts it, 'What can be wrong will go wrong'. So think about it and try to prepare mentally."
Beyeler continued, "Compared with cars, a flight is a high-risk environment; it's not like riding a bike. Even if there was a minor error, it could have fatal consequences. Every pilot is quite professional in the field. But it is the strong mindset(观念模式)in the chaos(混乱)that plays the key role. Humans stop in technical systems to solve items countless times a day, and it would be dangerous if the pilot became nervous and forgot that."
I’ve been touched by Beycler's words. I understand that human factors, including confidence, courage, sensibility, and emotional intelligence are becoming more and more important in today's world.
1. How did Beyeler sound facing the long delay according to the text?| A．Discouraged and tired. | B．Calm and positive. |
| C．Helpless and anxious. | D．Annoyed and cold-hearted. |
| A．Flying brings him much fun. |
| B．Flying involves various crisis situations. |
| C．Too many flight tasks can be unacceptable for him. |
| D．Too many crisis situations have Happened to him. |
| A．Gaining a good sense of time. | B．Having great strength of mind. |
| C．Knowing all the technical systems well. | D．Having a good grasp of professional knowledge. |
| A．Boring. | B．Frightening. | C．Rewarding | D．Confusing |
2 . When I was a little girl, a couple in our community went through a tragedy. They lost a young child and were in deep despair. Shortly afterward, my mother ran into the father at the local supermarket. He turned to my mother and said, “Your husband saved our life. He was the one more than anyone else who helped us get through this incredible loss.”
My mother wanted to know what message of solace was given to lift them from the depths of despair. So back at home, she asked my father about their conversation numerous times, but my father insisted that he had said nothing.
A few weeks later the couple came over to our home. After sitting down for a few minutes, my mother gently said, “You told me that my husband helped you the most when you went through your awful sadness. What did he say?”
The man paused. He then gave the secret of my father’s consolation (慰藉).
“Rebbetzin, your husband did not say one word. He just came over to our home and walked over to me without saying anything. And then he reached over to me, took my hands into his and hugged me. I looked up and saw tears falling from his eyes. You cannot imagine what that felt like. Your husband felt my pain. I was not sitting alone with my suffering.”
My mother was quiet, absorbing the message this man was giving.
“No, your husband did not speak. I didn’t need him to give me words. I needed his heart and soul.”
When I recall this story, I realize the truth.
When having someone in our lives who is going through difficulty, we are often at a loss. What do we say? How do we make it all better? What is the greatest gift we can give to our loved ones?
We tend to think that we must fill space with words. But when you want to give of yourself, give a listening heart. Sometimes a person in pain needs you to stay silent. Just show that you are there for them. Perhaps you can’t fix anything or take away the pain, but you can feel it. With the silence comes sympathy, understanding and empathy (共鸣). And you share the load.
1. What does the underlined word “solace” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Inspiration. | B．Comfort. | C．Appreciation. | D．Guidance. |
| A．By encouraging him to get out and meet friends. |
| B．By keeping him company calmly. |
| C．By hugging him to share extreme sadness. |
| D．By chatting with him whenever he was in need. |
| A．Disappointed. | B．Surprised. | C．Annoyed. | D．Satisfied. |
| A．Time is the recipe to cure a broken heart. |
| B．The secret of establishing a lifelong relationship. |
| C．Listening to your heart is of great importance. |
| D．Your presence speaks louder than any word. |
3 . Everyone tries their best in life, and sometimes a few kind words of encouragement can help people realize that their efforts are not in vain (徒劳).Ⅰ remember a time when I was in fifth grade, and I was a very shy girl.
There was a drawing competition at my school that day. As everyone started to use their creative ideas to draw, I was only trying to think of something creative that could express my thoughts and emotions. Lost in my own world, I was brought back to reality when my art teacher called my name from behind. She came to me and encouraged me, saying, “Don’t overthink it, just put whatever comes to your mind on the canvas (画布). Do your best, and you will do well.”
Taking her words of wisdom to heart, I started my painting. Time flew by, and soon the bell rang, signaling the end of the time limit. We all turned in our canvases for inspection (检查). The next day, the winners of the competition were announced in front of the whole school. To my surprise, I heard my name being called second prize. It was a bolt from the blue for me, as I had never dared to dream of winning any prize.
Later on, I expressed my gratitude to my art teacher for her words of encouragement and for believing in me. That day, I became aware of my talent and started painting more whenever I had free time. Sometimes, I think that if it weren’t for her words of encouragement, I may have never discovered the talent I have.
Overall, this experience taught me the importance of encouraging others and how a few kind words can make a significant impact on someone’s life.
1. What was the author doing when called by the art teacher?| A．Organizing a drawing competition. | B．Trying to get some creative ideas. |
| C．Painting her work on her canvas. | D．Trying to get help from others. |
| A．Easy | B．Interesting | C．Challenging | D．Encouraging. |
| A．Addiction | B．Puzzlement | C．Disappointment | D．Surprise |
| A．The author didn’t show a talent for drawing. |
| B．The author was forced to participate in a drawing competition. |
| C．The author started her painting under the teacher’s encouragement. |
| D．The judge awarded the author the third prize for her picture. |
| A．The Power of Encouragement |
| B．The Importance of Art Competitions |
| C．Overcoming Shyness Through Painting |
| D．Discovering Your Great Natural Ability |
4 . Local barber (理发师) goes above and beyond for a little boy
“That day started all wrong,” LaQuista Erinna said. “And we forgot his headphones. We were running late, traffic was horrible, so I knew it was going to be difficult that day.”
When Erinna and her son finally arrived at their appointment, it seemed like there was no way 6-year-old Jackson, a boy with autism (自闭症), would be getting his hair cut.
“He just immediately got anxious,” Erinna explained. “Usually I have to do some coaching to get him in the chair. He will put on his headphones, and we power through.”
Erinna said Jackson is a typical little boy who loves to play and loves art. But some tasks can be sensory overload, and haircuts are one of them. The stress was so intense for mom and son that almost two years went by before Jackson got another haircut. But this time, he was in the hands of Ree, the barber, and things were getting easier.
Ree noticed his Super Mario Bros shirt and told him that he needed to save Mario by making sure no hair got on him. She cut his hair while he moved and ran around the shop. She talked to him throughout the entire process, encouraging him and reminding him about protecting Mario to keep him engaged.
“It just touched me so much,” Erinna said: “She nurtured that relationship. She gained his trust.”
“I feel good I can go above and beyond for a child,” Ree said. “I know children want to be free. They want to express themselves so I try to find a different strategy to make them feel comfortable.”
Jackson’s smile told the rest of the story.
Erinna was very moved by her son’s haircut. She shared a video online, which has gotten millions of views. Given the huge response, Erinna also set up a special GoFundMe to support Ree to make sure she’s able to continue to work and replace any lost income from the impact of the pandemic (流行病).
1. What usually helped to calm Jackson during haircuts?| A．His mother’s trust. | B．His art books. |
| C．His barber’s encouragement. | D．His headphones. |
| A．By in spring him to be brave. | B．By cooperating with his mother. |
| C．By turning the haircut into a game. | D．By telling stories about Super Mario. |
| A．Kind and honest. | B．Patient and creative. |
| C．Caring and generous. | D．Confident and friendly. |
5 . My 10-year-old Donna said, “Mom, I made a new friend at school today. Can she come over tomorrow?” Donna was a shy girl and I wanted her to make some friends to bring her out of her shell.
“Sure, honey, that sounds great,” I said, thinking back to my own best friend, Lillian. We lived across the street from each other in Washington Heights, New York. We met at the age of 10, too. Like my daughter, I was shy, but Lillian drew me out. She was one of the friendliest people in school, with shiny black hair and a mile-wide smile. I knew we would be best friends forever.
In senior high school, Lillian went on a trip to Florida. That was the first time we had to be away from each other for a few days. “I’ll be back soon,” she told me. But three days later, Lillian’s sister told me that she had fallen into a river and hadn’t come out any more. I got depressed for a long time. Soon, my family moved to New Jersey. Whenever I thought of her, tears came into my eyes.
The next day Donna brought her new friend home. “Hi, Mrs. Loggia,” the little girl said. Her hair was so shiny and black and she flashed me a big smile, “My name is Laura.”
My daughter’s new friend was so much like Lillian. I was still puzzled when Laura’s mom came to pick her up later that afternoon. I opened the door to let her in. “Judy!” she cried. “It’s me, Lillian’s sister, from Washington Heights.” Yes, my daughter’s friend looked familiar. She was Lillian’s niece.
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined words in Paragraph 2?| A．Invited me to go shopping. |
| B．Drew pictures with me outside. |
| C．Helped me out of a locked room. |
| D．Made me more outgoing than before. |
| A．She always missed Lillian. |
| B．She met Laura in Washington Heights. |
| C．She preferred Laura to her own daughter. |
| D．She moved to New Jersey because of Lillian’s death. |
| A．A Terrible Trip |
| B．A Shy Daughter |
| C．A Best Friend |
| D．A Familiar Niece |
6 . The most valuable thing I ever lost was a pair of diamond earrings I bought many years ago at a charity auction (拍卖会). Though very beautiful, they were heavy and turned out to be painful to wear. I wrote about the lost earrings in my new children’s book, The Christmas Pig. When they reach the Land of the Lost, where the hero must go to rescue his most beloved toy, my earrings are angry that they aren’t treated with the respect they think they deserve. They soon find out that being made of diamonds counts for very little in the strange world where human-made objects go when lost, because a thing’s importance there depends on how much it’s truly loved.
The Christmas Pig explores a deep attachment to an old object. It’s about the journey of a boy, Jack, who is a little lost himself but discovers his bravery and ability to love in a strange world. Of all the books I’ve written, this is the one that made me cry the most, because I was dealing with emotions that run deep in all of us. Loss and change are hard for children, and acceptance of these unavoidable parts of life isn’t much easier for adults. The Christmas Pig shows how human beings-even small, lost ones-are capable of wonderful, heroic acts.
A very strange thing happened on the day I finished editing The Christmas Pig. After emailing the final version to my editor, I set about clearing out a cupboard. The last object I picked up was a small box. I opened it. There were my long-lost diamond earrings. I’ve decided to sell them and give the money to a charity. I think it will be a nice ending for my earrings’ story to have them do some good for children in the Land of the Living.
How many times have I been asked whether I believe in magic? On the day I finished The Christmas Pig, for a few shining moments, I really did.
1. What’s the author’s purpose of writing the text?| A．To advertise her first children’s book. | B．To reveal our attachment to old objects. |
| C．To tell a story happening in a strange world. | D．To introduce her new book and the story behind it. |
| A．A boy discovered bravery in the real world. | B．A boy was weighed down by some earrings. |
| C．A boy saved his lost toy in the magical world. | D．A boy helped the earrings find their own value. |
| A．The boy dealt with loss and change bravely. |
| B．It was based on her own past experiences. |
| C．She was unable to forgive herself. |
| D．Many adults could hardly understand the main character. |
| A．Magic in books can happen in real life. | B．Sometimes warm magic can happen in life. |
| C．We should donate to help those in need. | D．Lost things will turn up sooner or later. |
7 . I was 6 years old when my father told me we were leaving the Big Apple Circus (马戏团). Until that point, I had spent most of my life on the circus lot, playing with the other circus kids. The circus, by its nature, is one that has a loose structure. So the early years after my leaving the circus to sit in a classroom all day felt more like a prison.
But years later, I found areas that interested me. I took the skills I had learned from being onstage and applied them to broadcasting. And so when Boston’s news station WBUR offered me a job out of college, I jumped at the chance. Along the way, I found I really enjoyed the work. I became WBUR’s news reporter. The flexibility and adaptability I’d learned in the circus as a child helped me do my job naturally and easily in a stressful situation — whether it was a destructive tornado outside Boston, or the Boston Marathon bombings of 2013.
But then a serious infectious disease appeared. Suddenly, for the first time in my adult life, I went for a year without doing any shows. But it became clear to me that performing was what I truly wanted. For me, the circus symbolizes who I am. And stages have always been where I’ve felt the most free. Some people get nervous before they go onstage, but by assuming (扮演) the character of Jacques ze Whipper and drawing a stupid moustache on my face, all my social anxiety disappears.
Circus performances go beyond age, socioeconomic status (地位), and even language. It’s the type of performance where you can go anywhere in the world to entertain anyone — help anyone forget their troubles for 5, 10, and even 30 minutes. And most importantly, for me, it means coming home.
1. How did the author feel in the early years of school?| A．Curious. | B．Unfree. | C．Loose. | D．Impatient. |
| A．He did it for his father. | B．He did it against his will. |
| C．He risked his neck doing it. | D．He took to it like a duck to water. |
| A．A means of living. | B．A chance to go anywhere. |
| C．A part of his identity. | D．A way to forget his troubles. |
| A．To express his love for circus performances. |
| B．To stress the value of performing. |
| C．To share his personal experiences in a circus. |
| D．To discuss the problem of choosing a job. |
8 . Terasa Hill did not intend to do something unplanned. It began when Terasa was observing a horse auction (拍卖). A chestnut: racehorse was for sale? “She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, though it had an injured leg,” said Terasa.
When the bidding started, Terasa surprised herself by stepping in. Finally, Terasa became the new owner of Sierra, and Sierra, limping (跛) and hurt with pain from a broken knee, became a labour of love for Terasa. After three long months of nursing her under the guidance of a local animal doctor, the leg recovered.
It wasn’t only Sierra’s leg that needed to recover; Sierra needed to relearn how to trust people. Terasa thought the best way to win Sierra’s trust and fondness was to feed her treats. Terasa kept providing Sierra with many treats, but none passed the sniff (嗅) test. Desperate, Terasa experimented by making her own mixture of molasses and grains, which she baked in her own kitchen. The cookies were a hit with Sierra and other horses, sending Terasa’s life in a new direction.
Her treats, called “Barnies”, were sold to a local store and like hotcakes, within months local businessmen began demanding for more. Terasa’s kitchen was no longer big enough for the increased demand, moving her operation to an Oshawa company.
Then a serious health problem threatened to ruin her plans. Terasa called upon the same resolution that had helped her save Sierra to help her overcome her own illness. Family and friends came to her rescue and kept Barnies Ltd. going. Almost a year later, healthy and more resolute than ever, Terasa found a national distributor and Bainies began selling in 144 stores across Canada.
And what about Sierra, the inspiration for all this success and change? The horse has fully recovered and has become a wonderful riding horse.
1. Why did Terasa create her own cookies?| A．To show superb cooking skills. | B．To provide a special diet for Sierra. |
| C．To find a way to bond with the horse. | D．To lay the foundation for her business. |
| A．Inflexible. | B．Pessimistic. | C．Confident. | D．Determined. |
| A．It raises a valuable question. |
| B．It provides surprising information. |
| C．It returns to the topic of the opening paragraph. |
| D．It continues the focus of the paragraph before it. |
| A．A remarkable encounter. | B．A famous food company. |
| C．A rescue of a weak horse. | D．A career from previous devotion. |
Twinkling (闪烁) Christmas lights on our Christmas tree reflected off the shiny decorations, throwing flashes (闪光) of light on the wall. Outside snow fell down as the grey Sunday afternoon sky darkened. My feeling was as dark as the sky. Although it was less than two weeks before Christmas, I found it difficult to be in a festive (节日的) mood. We had moved to Canada from south, and holidays were difficult for us because we missed our family in Minnesota. I made a half-hearted effort to put up a few decorations around the house, but my heart just wasn’t in it.
“Mum, I wish we could spend Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma in Minnesota,” said my fifteen-year-old daughter, Rachel. I couldn’t help feeling homesick. How could I encourage my daughter when I was also struggling? “I know you’d like to spend Christmas in Minnesota, Rachel. So would I.” I looked up from the notes I was writing on my printed Christmas letters. “But Minnesota is 2,000 kilometers from Calgary. You remember how hard it was to drive in that snowstorm two years ago?” “I remember,” she sighed.
We had decided that driving to Minnesota for Christmas was simply too risky and buying plane tickets for four people was totally out of the question. No one was visiting for Christmas, either; I just didn’t have the energy to invite anyone. We would be spending Christmas alone. I was slightly shocked when the doorbell rang. It was dark outside, and we weren’t expecting anyone. Rachel went to open the door, and then said, “Mum, there’s a box on the doorstep — with presents. and nobody is out here!”
Who could have left it? It was indeed a mystery. The box contained many packages wrapped in bright Christmas paper. Each had a typewritten label: Open 14 December, Open 15 December ... There were a total of twelve gifts — the “Twelve Days of Christmas”.
It was 14 December, and the label for that day was tied to a turkey still wrapped in the plastic from the store. The note read: Our LOVE is given anonymously (匿名地). So enjoy fun with your family. I put the turkey in the freezer and the rest of the gifts under the tree.
No matter who sent the gifts, I wanted to say: “Thank you and merry Christmas!”
| distance risk visit enjoy nervous letters mood homesick surprising thankful presents grandparents |
PLOT FEELING
| Christmas was around the corner, but the author wasn’t in the | The author was half-hearted. | |
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| The author’s daughter wished to spend Christmas with her | The author and her family were | |
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| Driving was too | They may feel lonely. | |
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| On the dark night, they found a box on the doorstep in which there were | They became really | |
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| There was a note saying the love is given anonymously to encourage people to | The author was |
10 . I was 11 years old standing outside in just my underwear while I watched the house that I grew up in rapidly burn to the ground.
A few minutes earlier I had been in bed when a scream woke me up. My grandma’s bedroom was just next to mine and my brother’s. A fire had broken out there and awakened her. Hearing her, my brother jumped into action, running from room to room quickly waking everyone in the house. Before we could do anything the fire destroyed it. We all had just made it outside when the flames (火焰) took hold of every room.
I stood there shaking while the fire destroyed my books, clothes, and toys. I watched helplessly while my mom cried and my dad sighed. I wondered what was going to happen to us because we had lost all our things.
As I looked around, though, I realized something for the first time: The things that mattered were not things. I saw my brother running around to get help. I saw my grandma and dad wrapped in each other’s arms and my mom holding our little dog. I realized at that moment that we were all alive. Our lives would continue without the”stuff” that was burning. We would all live to love each other for many years to come. And that was all that mattered.
1. Who first found the house was on fire?| A．The author. | B．The brother. | C．The grandma. | D．The parents. |
| A．He was wondering how the fire got started. |
| B．He was worried about their life after the fire. |
| C．He was mad about losing his clothes and toys. |
| D．He felt lucky that they were saved by the firefighters. |
| A．That their life and family matter most. |
| B．That his family was lucky enough to escape. |
| C．That family and pets both meant a lot to him. |
| D．That the things burned in the fire didn’t matter at all. |
| A．“Keep calm and carry on.” —the Ministry of Information, UK |
| B．“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” —Friedrich Nietzsche |
| C．“You’ll be alive. That’s what matters. Enjoy what you have.” —Richelle Mead |
| D．“Home is where you are loved the most and act the worst.” —Marjorie Pay Hinckley |
