1 . The Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon, an endurance race of 875km, was considered the toughest in the world. It used to be a five-day race, with only the world-class athletes daring to attempt it. Most athletes who took part in this ultramarathon were under 30 years of age.
Cliff was a farmer from Australia with a dream of running a race. When he attended the race, he was 61 years old. He had no specialized sportswear. Instead, he wore galoshes overalls. When he appeared at the venue, the onlookers thought he was probably a spectator. To their surprise, Cliff picked up a race number.
Having grown up on a farm, Cliff had to go out to round up the sheep every time there was a storm, because his family could not afford horses or tractors. Two thousand sheep scattered across two thousand acres of land—it took him as long as three days of chasing the animals, but he always succeeded.
The race began, and the strong and young racers started leaving Cliff behind. The racers had a strategy. They would be running hours each for the five days of the race, and sleep for the remaining 6 hours. Nonetheless, Cliff had no such strategy! Being an amateur athlete, he was not familiar with any such game plan. So, he just ran on and on, and the next morning, when the other athletes woke up, they found that the old man had caught up with the others by jogging all night. By the final night of the race, he had surpassed the other competitors and became the champion.
The next time Cliff caught attention again when he was 76. He took up the challenge of running along Australia’s border, across a distance of 16,000 km with the aim of raising money for homeless children. Unfortunately, his crew member fell ill, and Cliff had to withdraw from the race, after running for 6520 km.
Cliff, a simple farmer, created a one-of-a-kind history. Instead of withering away, he started his new life, and showed the world that it’s never too late to start following the heart and pursuing dreams.
1. Why the age of the athletes is mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．To explain the rule of the race. | B．To introduce the level of the race. |
| C．To show the popularity of the race. | D．To stress the toughness of the race. |
| A．His hard training. | B．His advanced sportswear. |
| C．His working experience. | D．His well-designed strategy. |
| A．Intelligent and generous. | B．Persevering and sympathetic. |
| C．Ambitious and optimistic. | D．Determined and insightful. |
| A．Cliff, the winner of many running races |
| B．Cliff, a senior farmer pursuing his dream |
| C．Cliff, a kind charitarian keen on raising money |
| D．Cliff, a simple Melbourne ultramarathon runner |
2 . Betty Sandison was having lunch with some friends when the subject of wish lists came up. Although she had spent more than 30 years working as a registered nurse, Betty told her friends that she regretted never finishing the bachelor’s degree she’d started more than 67 years earlier.
Betty was the first person in her family to pursue higher education. With a dream of becoming a nurse, Betty enrolled at the University of Minnesota. But when she was just 25 credits short of getting her degree, for some reason, Betty dropped out of school and soon got married. Her career was put on hold as the couple moved around for her husband’s job, spending time living in different places.
Many years later, Betty returned to community college to become a registered nurse. She worked as a nurse for more than 30 years before retiring in 2013.
But in 2018, she still felt regretful over her unfinished degree. Encouraged by her friends, Betty decided to return to university to complete her bachelor’s degree. She chose to live in the dormitory and got on well with her roommates. She enrolled in classes and started working on those last 25 credits. However, she was discouraged by the new technology used when taking online courses during the coronavirus pandemic. Even so, Betty persevered.
At age 84, Betty got her bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from the College of Continuing and Professional Studies. She described the accomplishment as “pure joy, pure satisfaction”. Betty may even audit (旁听) college classes now that her degree is complete. She is not sure what’s next, but there’s one thing she does know: Life’s too short to live with regrets!
1. Why didn’t Betty get her bachelor’s degree?| A．Because she decided to marry her beloved one. |
| B．Because she didn’t achieve the required credits. |
| C．Because she dropped out of school to work as a nurse. |
| D．Because she volunteered to fight the coronavirus pandemic. |
| A．The difficult courses. | B．The new technology. |
| C．The coronavirus pandemic. | D．The interpersonal relationship. |
| A．Accomplished and friendly. | B．Popular and caring. |
| C．Determined and hard-working. | D．Ambitious and responsible. |
| A．Genius is nothing but labor and diligence. |
| B．Not matter of the today will drag tomorrow. |
| C．Be the change you want to see in the world. |
| D．It is never too late to cross items off the wish list. |
3 . For 83 years, Betty Grebenschikoff believed her best friend from Germany was dead. But just a few weeks ago, there she was, standing in a hotel room.
At the age of nine, they shared a tearful hug in a Berlin schoolyard when their families were forced to leave the country because of World War II. They both thought that would be their final hug. But after more than eight decades apart, the two women, who are now 92 years old, embraced once again.
The survivors of the war had searched for each other for years, collecting and seeking information from anyone who might know something. They had no luck, mainly because both women changed their names later in life.
It was not until an indexer (检索程序) from a nonprofit organization founded by Steven Spielberg, which preserves information of these survivors, noticed similarities in their information that the two women are linked together. For the first time, Grebenschikoff who lives in Shanghai now, got to know what happened to her long-lost childhood best friend: Wahrenberg and her family went to Santiago, Chile, where she still lives today.
With the help of the organization, the two women and their families reconnected on the Internet. Talking in their native German, they promised to meet in person, and one year later, they finally did.
As Grebenschikoff went to meet Wahrenberg at her hotel room, they hugged for the first time in 83 years. “It was as if we had seen each other yesterday,” Grebenschikoff said. “It was comfortable.” Wahrenberg had the same feeling, “It was very special that two people, after 83 years, still love one another.” The women spent four days together. They went shopping, shared meals and, mostly, talked for hours — making up for the lost time. “We’re not the girls we used to be when we were 9, that’s for sure, but we kept giggling like we were little kids.” Grebenschikoff said. “It was such a joy for both of us.”
1. When did Grebenschikoff and Wahrenberg part?| A．In 1937. | B．In 1939. | C．In 1941. | D．In 1943. |
| A．A nonprofit organization. | B．A hotel in Shanghai. |
| C．An information office. | D．A pay-for-use indexer. |
| A．They both tried hard to find each other. |
| B．They both thought the other had died. |
| C．They don’t remember their former names. |
| D．They met in person immediately they got in touch. |
| A．They were upset about the lost time. |
| B．They were eager for their shared meals. |
| C．They were delighted with their reunion. |
| D．They were embarrassed about the four days. |
4 . The seeds of what we are meant to do may have been sown in our childhood. I grew up in Chennai, India in a home surrounded by books. I recall my mother telling me that when I was read to as a child, I knew exactly where one sentence ended and the next one began!
One book that had a significant impact on me as a child was called “31 Brothers and Sisters” that related the story of an African girl who goes on an elephant hunt, a traditionally male sport. What struck me was this girl was challenging traditional standards of behavior in a society that was not happy with women expressing independence — and the fact that this girl had black hair like me and was also dark-skinned.
I also had the opportunity to attend an unusual school that encouraged creative thinking. Here, I was encouraged by a few teachers who noticed my writing skills. However, English was actually my least favorite subject because we had to write on canned topics and there was no room for creativity.
I have written three books so far. My first book, “Climbing the Stairs” was inspired by my mother's experiences growing up as a teenager during the Second World War. The book deals with the struggles of a teenage girl at a time when women were treated as second-class citizens in society. My second book, “Island's End” is based on my own experiences as an oceanographer and working in the remote Andaman Islands, off the coast of India. “The Bridge Home” is a story of friendship among four street kids and loosely based on three kids I knew growing up. Each of the three books is inspired by my own experiences, what I have read and people around me.
My message to young writers is not to rush into writing or get too concerned with material rewards. In today's world, there's often too much of an emphasis on awards and honors, which no writer can control. Those are largely a matter of luck. Write for yourself and just enjoy the process.
1. What impressed the author in “31 Brothers and Sisters”?| A．The African girl's respect for her cousins. | B．The African girl's fight for independence. |
| C．The African girl's commitment to hunting. | D．The African girl's concern about her appearance. |
| A．Imaginary. | B．Fixed. | C．Typical. | D．Financial. |
| A．The plots of her books. | B．The settings of her books. |
| C．The characters in her books. | D．The inspiration for her books. |
| A．An autobiography. | B．A fiction. | C．A book review. | D．A leaflet. |
5 . One September night a family had gathered round their fireplace. Up the chimney roared the fire, and brightened the room with its broad flames. The faces of the father and mother had a sober gladness; the children laughed; and the aged grandmother sat knitting in the warmest place. This family of mountaineers was situated in the Notch of the White Hills, where the wind was sharp throughout the year, and pitilessly cold in the winter. Not just that, but a mountain towered above their heads, so steep, that the stones would often roll down its sides and wake the whole house at midnight.
Though they lived in such a remote place, these people held daily conversation with the world. Some travelers, would pause here and pay only for food and accommodation, but meet with a homely kindness beyond all price. When the footsteps were heard, therefore, between the outer door and the inner one, the whole family rose up, grandmother, children, and all, as if about to welcome someone who belonged to them, and whose fate was linked with theirs.
The door was opened by a young man. His face at first wore the sad expression, almost hopelessness, but soon brightened up when he saw the kindly warmth of his reception. He felt his heart spring forward to meet them all, from the old woman, who wiped a chair with her apron, to the little child that held out its arms to him.
“Ah, this fire is the right thing!” cried he, “The biting wind almost froze me. But when I saw this good fire, and all your cheerful faces, I felt as if you were waiting for my arrival. So I shall sit down, and make myself at home.”
After supper, the young man talked freely, feeling himself a member of the family. He was of a proud, yet lonely spirit, so trusting others was not easy for him. However, that night, the educated youth poured out his heart before the simple mountaineers.
1. What can we learn about the family from the passage?| A．They charged travelers lot for food. |
| B．They were poor but hardworking. |
| C．They lived in a cold and dangerous spot. |
| D．They remained cut off from the world. |
| A．To talk to the family. | B．To seek shelter from cold. |
| C．To keep company with the family. | D．To know about the mountain. |
| A．The welcoming fire. | B．The comfortable chair. |
| C．The delicious supper. | D．The warmth of the family. |
| A．The mountain’s condition. | B．The family’s life. |
| C．Mountaineers’ characters. | D．The young man’s story. |
6 . That night, when Aksionov was lying on his bed and just beginning to sleep, someone came quietly and sat down on his bed. He peered(看) through the darkness and recognized Makar.
"What more do you want of me?" asked Aksionov. "Why have you come here?"
Makar Semyonovich was silent. So Aksionov sat up and said, "What do you want? Go away, or I will call the guard!"
Makar Semyonovich bent close over Aksionov, and whispered, "Ivan Dmitrich forgive me!"
"What for?" asked Aksionov.
"It was I who killed the merchant and hid the knife among your things. I meant to kill you, too, but I heard a noise outside, so I hid the knife in your bag and escaped out of the window."
Aksionov was silent, and didn't know what to say. Makar Semyonovich slid off the bed-shelf and knelt upon the ground. "Ivan Dmitrich" he said, "forgive me! I will confess that it was I who killed the merchant, and you will be released and can go to your home."
"It is easy for you to talk," said Aksionov "but I have suffered for you these twenty-six years. Where could I go now?... My wife is dead, and my children have forgotten me. I have nowhere to go..."
Makar Semyonovich did not rise, but beat his head on the floor. "Ivan Dmitrich, forgive me!" he cried. "When they flogged(鞭打) me with the knot, it was not so hard to bear as it is to see you now... yet you had pity on me and did not tell. Forgive me, devil that I am!" And he began to sob.
When Aksionov heard him sobbing, he too, began to weep. "I will forgive you!" he said. "Maybe I am a hundred times worse than you." And at these words his heart grew light, and the longing for home left him. He no longer had any desire to leave the prison, but only hoped for his last hour to come.
In spite of what Aksionov had said, Makar Semyonovich confessed his guilt. But when the order for his release came, Aksionov was already dead.
1. Who on earth was the criminal that killed the merchant?| A．Aksionov. | B．Makar Semyonovich. |
| C．Ivan Dmitrich. | D．The guard. |
| A．He had been knowing who was the killer. |
| B．He offered to be put in prison instead of Makar. |
| C．He suffered a lot during the twenty-seven years. |
| D．But for the noise, he would have been killed by Makar. |
| A．Aksionov didn't forgive Makar in the end |
| B．Aksionov had been longing to go home until his death |
| C．Makar simply hoped for the order for his release to come |
| D．Makar regretted that Aksionov was put in prison instead of him |
| A．Cruel and selfish. | B．Selfless and warm-hearted. |
| C．Innocent and pitiful. | D．Hopeful and positive. |
7 . “I never wanted to come on this stupid hiking trip!” Jeff’s voice was panicked His father stopped and turned to look at the boy.
“This is hard on you, son. But you’ve got to come through with your courage.”
“But I am scared!” Jeff shouted.
“Please have enough love for your brother to think this through!” His father replied, “We just don't have the time to stop. And I don't know if I can make it without stopping every so often. While you're only ten, you're strong and fast. Do you remember the way back from here to the road, if you had to go alone?”
Jeff flashed back to the painful scene of his seventeen-year-old brother Mark at their campsite. He’d been bitten by a snake during a rough hike. He needed medical attention right away. Worse still, their cell phone was dead.
“Jeff? Could you make it to Flint without me? You can get help there.”
Jeff nodded, said goodbye to his father and continued climbing over the rocks. The rocks and branches threatened his footing and speed, but stone by stone, he made his way up the valley.
Jeff turned and made the final climbing-up toward the road. When he reached it, he rested himself, breathless. “Can't stop,” he thought. “Mark’s in big trouble Keep going.” Just as he pulled himself upright, a truck sped by, heading for Flint " Hey!” he shouted excitedly, waving both arms. The truck stopped, "Jump in, boy! What’s up? "The driver asked, Jeff got in and explained. Immediately the driver reached for his cell phone. “Help! Help! Better get the helicopter in there,” he seemed to be shouting into his hand. But Jeff wasn’t sure about that because everything got unclear and then went black and quiet.
Hours later, Jeff opened his eyes to find himself in a hospital, with his father nearby. His father told him that the helicopter airlifted Mark to the hospital and he would be fine in a few days. His father hiked himself out of that valley and took a ride from someone to the town. “You’re a hero, son,” his father finally said with a smile. “ You saved Mark.”
1. Jeff had the greatest difficulty in .| A．defeating his fear to ask for help alone |
| B．facing the possibility of losing his father's respect |
| C．climbing the rock-covered hill to get to the top |
| D．finding someone to take him to the town of Flint |
| A．The idea to prove himself |
| B．The eagerness to save himself |
| C．The love for his brother |
| D．The requirement of his father |
| A．He fell asleep. |
| B．He lost consciousness. |
| C．He got out of the truck. |
| D．He was out of breath because of tiredness. |
| A．He was proud of Jeff. |
| B．He felt sorry for Jeff. |
| C．He was inspired by Jeff. |
| D．He was disappointed with Jeff. |
