1 . I was 9 years old when I found out my father was ill. It was 1944, but I can remember my mother’s words as if it were yesterday, “Kerrel, I don’t want you to take food from your father, because he has AIDS. Be very careful when you are around him.”
AIDS wasn’t something we talked about in my country when I was growing up. From then on, I knew that this would be a family secret. My parents were not together anymore, and my dad lived alone. For a while, he could take care of himself. But when I was 12, his condition worsened. My father’s other children lived far away, so it fell to me to look after him.
We couldn’t afford all the necessary medication for him, and because Dad was unable to work, I had no money for school supplies and often couldn’t even buy food for dinner. I would sit in class feeling completely lost, the teacher’s words muffled(消声) as I tried to figure out how I was going to manage. I did not share my burden(负担) with anyone. I had seen how people reacted to AIDS. Kids laughed at classmates who had parents with the disease. And even adults could be cruel. When my father was moved to the hospital, the nurses would leave his food on the bedside table even though he was too weak to feed himself.
I had known that he was going to die, but after so many years of keeping his condition a secret, I was completely unprepared when he reached his final days. Sad and hopeless, I called a woman at the nonprofit National AIDS Support. That day, she didn’t know any about me and my father, but kept me on the phone for hours. I was so lucky to find someone who was so kind. She saved my life.
I was 15 when my father died. He took his secret away with him, having never spoken about AIDS to anyone, even me. He didn’t want to call attention to AIDS. I do.
1. What was Kerrel’s life like when she was little?| A．She often took food from her father. |
| B．She had to be careful when staying with her father. |
| C．She didn’t look after her father until she was 15. |
| D．She worked hard to pay for her father’s medication. |
| A．She couldn’t understand her teacher. |
| B．She had special difficulty in hearing. |
| C．She was too concerned to focus on the lesson. |
| D．She was too tired to hear her teacher’s words. |
| A．She thought it was shameful to have AIDS. |
| B．She was afraid of being looked down upon. |
| C．She found no one willing to listen to her. |
| D．She wanted to obey her mother. |
| A．A secret never spoken. | B．The sufferings of my father. |
| C．The terrible AIDS. | D．Dark days in childhood. |
2 . Mother slipped into my bedroom on the night of my sixth birthday, hands behind her back. “I have one more present for you,” she said. “One I wanted to save until now. Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”
I did so in amazement. And in my hands she placed a brand-new hardcover book. A picture of a little girl with her arms wrapped around a pig decorated the cover. “It’s Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White,” Mother said. “The perfect story for a six-year-old.”
“It might be too hard for you to read by yourself right now,” Mother said. “But I thought I’d read a chapter to you every night if you want me to.” I nodded. And so she began the timeless story of Charlotte, the spider that is loving and clever, with the magical first sentence I’ll never forget: “where’s Papa going with that ax?”
Mother wasn’t exactly true to her word. She didn’t read me a chapter of Charlotte’s Web every night. Sometimes she read three or four. In less than a week, we reached the final pages, sobbing together as she read the part where Charlotte dies. We sighed sadly as the book ended with the magical sentences I’ll never forget: “It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.” That’s when I fell in love with reading.
And more books followed. As time passed and my reading skills improved, Mother and I took turns reading chapters aloud, snuggled (依偎) together in the oversized armchair in the corner of my bedroom.
When I read To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye and The Grapes of Wrath in high school, Mother did, too, so that we could talk about them. My letters and phone calls home from college began, “Let me tell you what I’m reading.”
So it was no surprise when, just hours after the birth of my first child, Mother slipped into my hospital room with her hands behind her back. “I have a present for Meg.” she said. “Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”
1. What do we know about Charlotte’s Web according to the passage?| A．It built up the writer’s reading skills. |
| B．It impressed the writer a lot with its amusing story. |
| C．It was the only present the writer received for her sixth birthday. |
| D．It tells a classic story where a spider serves as a friend and a writer. |
| A．Responsible and protective. | B．Supportive and inspiring. |
| C．Knowledgeable but dishonest. | D．Considerate and warm-hearted. |
| A．The writer began to read books with her mother again. |
| B．The writer began to read books to Meg right after her birth. |
| C．The writer started reading Charlotte’s Web to Meg on her sixth birthday. |
| D．Meg developed interest in reading with the direct help of her grandmother. |
3 . Todd Steinkamp left his hotel around 5:30 a. m. for a funeral in Green Bay. Wisconsin. About half an hour into his journey on the road, he noticed a strange sound coming from the front tire (轮胎). By 7 a. m, he still had 70 miles ahead of him, but the noise was so loud that he knew he had no choice but to stop.
Steinkamp thought there was little chance anyone in the little town could help him so early in the morning. Still, he took his chance at a repair shop and asked for help. The worker Geib checked out the car. Geib told Steinkamp the wheel bearing (轴承) was failing. Fixing it would take a few hours. And without being repaired, the car couldn't go further.
Steinkamp started working out another plan. Could he rent a car somewhere? Geib went to the store across the street, but its only rental car wasn't available. Finding another place to rent would need a 40-mile drive. Steinkamp was unhappy and worried at that time. “However, Geib reached into his pocket, pulled out the key to his own truck and gave me,” Steinkamp said. With a smile, Geib said the truck could go 120 miles per hour if needed.
The men had met just 10 minutes before. They didn't know each other's names, but Geib did that. Steinkamp jumped in the truck and drove it to the funeral. When he came back to the shop seven hours later, he chatted with Geib. He thanked the 74-year-old worker, who turned a terrible day into a good one with a great lesson. Just be kind and help if you can.
1. Why did Todd Steinkamp want to go to Green Bay?| A．To pay a visit to his friends. | B．To rent a car for his travel. |
| C．To attend a funeral. | D．To repair his own truck. |
| A．There was something wrong with his car. |
| B．He was too tired to go on with his trip. |
| C．There was something wrong with his friend. |
| D．He lost his way during the trip. |
| A．Embarrassed. | B．Impatient. |
| C．Sorry. | D．Upset. |
| A．Steinkamp was 74 years old |
| B．Steinkamp ran away with the borrowed car |
| C．Geib lent Steinkamp a truck |
| D．Geib worked for the author for free |
| A．Make enough preparations ahead. | B．Help others if you can. |
| C．Treat others with respect. | D．Learn from each other. |
4 . When was the last time someone did something unexpectedly nice for you? Not someone you knew, but a total stranger? It happened to me a few times, but two examples really stand out.
A few years ago, I was dining out with a person who kept going on and on about himself, completely not aware of the fact that I was sitting there in misery. It wasn’t his company that disappointed me. I was recovering from a broken heart, and just sitting down to dinner reminded me of my last relationship. I could have burst into tears right there at the table.
When we picked up the check, the waitress said, “Your meal was already paid for.” My friend and I didn’t have a clue how it happened, Then I remembered a man coming in out of the corner of my eye. He was dressed in mostly white, sat down at the bar, had a glass of wine, stayed for maybe ten minutes, and then left. The waitress said, “Yes, the gentleman who was in here a while ago paid for you.”
Just last year, I was running a half-marathon. With just 1 mile to go, I was out of gas. Runners call it “hitting the wall”; I thought I couldn’t move another muscle. Out of nowhere, a teenager jogs up next to me and says, “What’s your name, sweetie? Jennifer? Okay, Jennifer, let’s go! Come on! It’s just around the comer! You can do it!” And he ran with me until I picked up ray pace. I found him at the finish line to thank him for the encouragement only to learn he wasn’t even supposed to be in the race that day. He was running in place of someone else. I still shake my head when I think of these momentary angels that came to me at my point of need. Do you have any experiences like this?
1. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?| A．The Kindness of Strangers. | B．Valuable friendship. |
| C．Two Special Experiences. | D．Helping others is worthwhile. |
| A．being hurt by the wall | B．winning the game |
| C．taking a deep breath | D．running out of energy |
| A．giving her a bottle of water | B．running with her and encouraging her |
| C．showing her the right way | D．keeping her cool and awake |
5 . The Ghost Bridegroom
At the time of this story, there was a great family gathering at the castle to meet the promised bridegroom of the Baron’s daughter. An arrangement had been made between the Baron and an old nobleman of Bavaria, Berton, for a marriage between their children. It would increase the importance of both families. The initial plans had been made in the usual way: the young people were engaged without having met each other and the date set for the wedding.
The young Count (伯爵) Von Altenburg had been recalled from the army and was on his way to the castle to meet his promised bride. Messages had been received from Wurtzburg where he was accidentally delayed. The messages indicated the day and time when he might be expected to arrive. The castle was in a fever of preparation to provide him with a suitable welcome.
Anne had dressed with particular care. Bertha and Wilda had selected her clothing and quarreled all morning about what she should wear. The young lady had taken advantage of their arguments to wear exactly what she wanted and had chosen very well. She looked as beautiful as any young bridegroom could wish for, and the excitement made her look even lovelier. The two aunts constantly directed her, as single aunts usually take a great interest in the love affairs of others. They were giving her the final instructions on how to behave, what to say, and how to greet her intended husband.
Hour by hour passed. The sun, which had been so warm over the rich forests of the Odenwald, was now setting along the tops of the mountains. The Baron went to the tallest tower in the castle to see if he could see any sign of the Count and his escorts.
Once, he thought he saw them. The sound of horns came floating up from the valley. A party of men was seen far below, riding slowly along the road. It was a false alarm, for when they reached the foot of the mountain, they suddenly rode off in a different direction. The sun, by now, had set, and the bats began to fly about in the evening light. It was getting dark, and the only movement on the road was the occasional worker returning home.
1. Which is the right relationship of the characters in the novel?| A．Von Altenburg was the Baron’s son. |
| B．Anne and Bertha were the Baron’s sister. |
| C．Anne was Berton’s only daughter. |
| D．Von Altenburg was Anne’s intended husband. |
| A．He accepted his intended marriage arranged without his knowledge. |
| B．He was eager to meet his intended wife so he retired from the army. |
| C．He wouldn’t have been welcomed by the bride had he arrived on time. |
| D．He didn’t like the marriage, so he purposely delayed going to the castle. |
| A．The sun was so warm over the rich forests of the Odenwald. |
| B．The Baron went to the tallest tower to see if he could see any sign of the Count. |
| C．The sound of horns came floating up from the valley. |
| D．The sun had set, and the bats began to fly about in the evening light. |
| A．What happened to the bride. | B．What happened to the bridegroom. |
| C．What happened to the Baron. | D．What happened to the aunts. |
6 . I’m a talker. I am keen on debating, gossiping and teasing when I have people to talk to. Under lockdown, however, I’ve only had my partner, Peter.
We not only lived, worked and travelled together, we mostly socialized together, too. Under the first UK lockdown, our already closeness began to feel uncomfortable. While talking to Peter, I could see his attention drift.
For the first time in our 10 years together, we needed to be alone. I tried to manufacture this by going on walks on my own, but a short walk wasn’t doing the job. I had hiked in remote spaces all over the world but always in a pair or group — for safety reasons. I considered my options and hit upon an idea: the semi-solo hike.
Could we do a circular hike but walk in different directions? This would give us the space and peace of a solo hike — done by a person alone. It felt like a promising way out, and he agreed to give it a try.
We started with a four-mile loop (环路) from Reeth. At the start, we parted ways. At first, I was aware of how close we were, which lessened the appeal. As I gained ground, however, I found myself very much alone. I set my own pace, and I decided to take my time.
I sat on a rock and breathed out. That moment — with the weak sun through the clouds and the breeze blowing — felt extraordinary to me. I was born and raised in London and had never imagined leaving until I met an outdoorsman. Now, my former life as a city girl felt crazy. In remembering what I had gained, I felt the tension leave me. There, in the chilly air, I no longer needed to talk. The semi-solo hike gave us a shared experience with added room to breathe.
I didn’t see Peter on the way but reunited back where we started, both pleased.
The semi-solo hike is admittedly silly in theory, but for me it has been a lifeline. It has given me the gift of time alone and, in a year of constant closeness, the joy of reuniting.
1. What motivated the author to adopt the semi-solo hike?| A．Peter’s disinterest in her words. |
| B．Her habit of venturing into the wild. |
| C．The lack of privacy under lockdown. |
| D．Her desire to engage in outdoor exercise. |
| A．Their routes coincide sometimes during the hike. |
| B．They depart in a separate way to different destinations. |
| C．They hike in each other’s company throughout the journey. |
| D．They start and return to the same place by a different route. |
| A．Fearless and refreshed. | B．Free and relaxed. |
| C．Tense and depressed. | D．Upset and embarrassed. |
| A．An appropriate distance creates beauty. |
| B．There are more solutions than difficulties. |
| C．Access to nature is better than social circles. |
| D．Hiking helps improve interpersonal relationships. |
7 . Kenyon Scudder once told me a story about his friend, Michael. Michael happened to be on a train sitting next to a young man who seemed worried. Finally the young man told Michael that he was a convict (罪犯) returning home from a distant prison. His behaviour had brought shame (羞耻) on his family, and they had neither visited him nor written. He hoped, however, that this was only because they were too poor to travel and too busy to write.
When he was set free, he had written to tell them he wanted to go home. To make matters easy for them, however, he had asked them to put up a signal for him when the train passed their little farm. If the family had forgiven him, they were to put up a white ribbon (丝带) in the big apple tree near the railway. If they didn’t want him back, they were to do nothing, and he would stay on the train, and go far away.
As the train neared his hometown, his suspense became so great that he was afraid to look out of the window. He asked Michael to watch for the big apple tree. They changed seats. In a minute, Michael put his hand on the young convict’s shoulder. “There it is,” he said, his eyes filled with sudden tears. “It’s all right. The whole tree is white with ribbons.”
1. For which of the following reasons might the young man be worried?| A．He might not be allowed to go home. |
| B．He was afraid his family would not remember him. |
| C．His family hadn’t written to him often. |
| D．His family hadn’t visited him for a long time. |
| A．pleasure | B．forgiveness |
| C．happiness | D．education |
| A．pain | B．interest | C．worry | D．happiness |
| A．The young man was afraid that he was refused by his family. |
| B．The young man’s seat was far from the window. |
| C．The young man was afraid of seeing the white ribbons in the tree. |
| D．The young man was sure that his family would accept him. |
8 . My friend Jason and I wanted to do something to help other people who are less fortunate and help us grow at the same time. After we decided that we would volunteer in Nepal, I did some research on the Internet and I found Volunteer Nepal and felt strongly that it was the right choice for us.
While making our plans, Jason and I realized that others might like the opportunity to be a part of our experience. So before leaving for Nepal, we asked the people we know whether they would be interested in donating(捐赠)cash or goods to Nepal Orphans(孤儿)Home.
One friend, whose family owns a chain called Drake Supermarket, told others about it. His effort paid off. We received donations that filled 29 boxes with sporting goods, toys, coloring books, pencils, children's books, and more. The boxes were later taken to Drake's warehouse where I prepared them for shipment. Drake agreed to ship them to Nepal for free.
The boxes had arrived at the Volunteer House when we arrived there. The next day, Jason and I unpacked the boxes. The children from the orphanages lined up and were each able to choose a gift. This process took about an hour, but the looks on their faces and the happiness that we saw in their eyes made it one of the best days of our life.
We visited the orphanages there in the following days. Being with the children at the orphanages was both sad and wonderful. I'm sure that anyone who has volunteered will understand what I mean by that. My experience as a volunteer was very rewarding(有益的).It has changed me as a person and the way I viewed life in the past.
1. The writer did some research on the Internet probably to________ .| A．get in touch with some students |
| B．find an organization for volunteers |
| C．decide in which country to volunteer |
| D．find some friends to volunteer with him |
| A．It donated many sporting goods. |
| B．It helped call Nepal Orphans Home. |
| C．It helped keep the boxes at a low price. |
| D．It helped ship the boxes to Nepal for free. |
| A．The children were very happy to receive the gifts. |
| B．The writer didn't expect the kids would love the gifts. |
| C．The writer and his friend took the gifts to the orphanages. |
| D．The children had never received gifts from others before. |
| A．useless | B．helpful | C．boring | D．disappointing |
9 . At first glance Esther Okade seems like a normal 10-year-old. She loves dressing up as Elsa from “Frozen”, playing with Barbie dolls and going to the park or shopping. But what makes the British-Nigerian youngster stand out is the fact that she’s also a university student.
Esther, from Walsall, an industrial town in the UK’s West Midlands region, is one of the country’s youngest college freshmen. The talented 10-year-old enrolled at the Open University in January and is already top of the class, having recently scored 100% in an exam.
“It’s so interesting and super easy,” she laughs. “My mum taught me in a nice way.” She adds: “I want to finish the course in two years. Then I’m going to do my PhD in financial maths when I’m 13. I want to have my own bank by the time I’m 15 because I like numbers and I like people and banking is a great way to help people.”
And in case people think her parents have pushed her into starting university early, Esther disagrees. “I actually wanted to start when I was seven. But my mum didn’t agree.” After three years of begging, Mother Efe finally agreed to explore the idea.
Esther has always jumped ahead of her peers. Her mother noticed her daughter’s gift for figures shortly after she began homeschooling her at the age of three. Initially, Esther’s parents had enrolled her in a private school but after a few short weeks, the usually-energetic youngster refused to go back to that school because the teachers didn’t let her talk in class. In the UK, education is not compulsory until five, so Efe started to do little things at home by teaching basic number skills but Esther was miles ahead. By four, her natural talent for maths had seen the eager student move on to algebra (代数学) and quadratic equations (二次方程式).
And Esther isn’t the only maths miracle in the family. Her younger brother Isaiah, 6, will soon be sitting his first A-level exam in June.
1. Which of the following makes Esther Okade different from her normal peers?| A．She is the youngest college student in the UK. |
| B．She goes to university at a much earlier age. |
| C．She often gets full marks in maths exams. |
| D．She loves acting as a university student. |
| A．Esther thinks her parents expect too much of her |
| B．Esther cannot adapt herself well to college life |
| C．Esther asked to go to university even earlier |
| D．Esther dislikes being taught at home |
| A．The gene from her family. | B．Her course in the university. |
| C．The criticism from her teachers. | D．Her mother’s homeschooling. |
| A．is ambitious and has a clear goal | B．is creative and loves exploring the unknown |
| C．is rebellious but ready to help others | D．is energetic but reluctant to challenge herself |
10 . 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 one of my 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 pet her. Of course she’d let anyone pet 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 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 the 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．Keep them company. |
| D．Touch them gently. |
| A．She was treated as a member of the family. |
| B．She played games with anyone she liked. |
| C．She went everywhere with the family. |
| D．She was loved by everybody she met. |
| A．Caring. |
| B．Polite. |
| C．Brave. |
| D．Shy. |
