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.

2. Which of the following best describes the mother daughter relationship?

A．Shaky.

B．Distant.

C．Reserved.

D．Intense.

3. Why did the author send the poem to her mom?

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.

4. What does the poem mean to 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 . I’ve been in an 18-year love-hate relationship with a black walnut tree.

It’s a unique tree. In late September or early October, falling fruits as hard as baseballs threaten the skulls (头骨) of you, your children, your neighbors and those that reside next door to them. Umbrellas in the yard are a must while dining in early August, and as for me, I wear my bike helmet while working in the garden.

The black walnut also releases a chemical substance through its roots as a competitive strategy. It’s poisonous to several common plants. There have been many new plant varieties that I brought home with hopes that maybe the black walnut would accept them, but they failed to flourish.

What does work are native plants that naturally grow in the area. Native plants are important to have around since they provide beneficial pollinators (传粉者) like birds, bees and butterflies with seeds and contribute to a healthy and biodiverse environment. Native plants for this area are generally easy to grow, so they experience less stress.

Have I thought of getting rid of this giant pain in my tiny backyard? Yes, however, getting rid of this tree standing at 50 feet with an 87-inch trunk is next to impossible. It’s also protected under the law. Rightfully so. Trees are important to the urban forest and for all of those that inhabit it.

Sometimes I think about my life without the black walnut. I can’t imagine a spring without the birds who arrive every year and loudly sing their songs before dawn. I’d miss falling asleep on lazy weekend afternoons as I look up into its leaves.

Every spring, I wonder what the season holds: What are the chances of being knocked unconscious while barbecuing? Like any good relationship, I’ll never be pleased. I’m stuck with this tree, so I’ll listen to its needs and give it the space it requires. In return, my walnut offers a habitat for wildlife and a reminder.

1. Why does the author wear a bike helmet while working in the garden?

A．To protect the injured skull.	B．To prevent herself from sunburn.
C．To avoid being hit by the nuts.	D．To reduce the chance of getting bitten by bees.

2. What is the tree’s survival strategy?

A．It attracts beneficial pollinators.

B．It lets out poison to drive away pests.

C．It produces a chemical fatal to some plants.

D．It competes for nutrition with similar species.

3. Which of the following DOESN’T account for the author’s love-hate relationship with the tree?

A．The volume of its fruits may bring inconvenience.

B．The tree outcompetes the native plants in the garden.

C．The tree is home to numerous birds and other creatures.

D．The presence of the tree takes up much space of the garden.

4. The author most probably got a reminder from the tree that ________.

A．it’s better to give than to take

B．trees and plants have their own ways to flourish

C．even a good relationship is not always trouble-free

D．acceptance, instead of resistance, is the better way to be

3 . British teen Kitty Tait wakes up at 5 am every day to bake bread, but it’s not just any old bread. The young girl who runs the Orange Bakery in her home town, with her dad Alex, adds a little humor to her bakes.

“If something is fun to eat, it makes it even tastier!” the teen baking star, who overcame depression after discovering the art of bread making, said. It was watching her dad make a simple loaf of white bread that changed her life forever. “Something that was so unpromising — a bit like how my brain felt at the time — had turned into something so magical,” she recalls.

Soon, Kitty was baking loaves for her neighbors. And before she knew it, there was a subscription service followed by a pop-up in her neighbor’s garage where she sold almost 100 loaves of bread and doughnuts (甜甜圈) in half an hour. “At that moment, I realized that this was what I wanted to do with my life,” she says.

A few months later, after raising enough money through crowdfunding,the teen rented a small retail space in town and her dad quit his job to become her business partner. They’ve been running the Orange Bakery ever since, selling everything from Marmite and cheese swirls to Danish pastries.

“I’m just really excited about people eating good bread, whether it is made by themselves or bought from a bakery,” says Kitty. “My main mission is to make bread inclusive and joyful because I have found so much joy in it.”

Today, the Taits are part of the global baking community, running baking classes at local schools.

1. What can we learn about Kitty before her picking up baking?

A．She worked part-time at a bakery.

B．She suffered from a mental illness.

C．She turned something magical into reality.

D．She learned baking from her mom and neighbors.

2. Which word can describe Kitty’s bread in her neighborhood?

A．Popular.

B．Graceful.

C．Updated.

D．Ordinary.

3. What can we conclude about Kitty’s father from paragraph 4?

A．He had ever been a good teacher.

B．He bought the Orange Bakery for Kitty.

C．He made a contribution to Kitty's cause.

D．He had ever done foreign trade in a company.

4. What is Kitty’s main focus?

A．Making baking a fun thing.

B．Earning as much as possible.

C．Running joyful baking classes.

D．Thinking up better ways of baking.

4 . Wang Fang, a Suzhou native, has given her heart and soul to Kunqu Opera. Wang, who has twice won the Plum Performance Award — China’s top award for theater and opera performances-started to learn the traditional art form in 1977.

Born with a melodic voice, Wang loved to sing and dance when she was little. She performed frequently, and was recruited by the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Troupe (剧团) when she was in middle school. However, her parents refused the troupe’s invitation, insisting that she should concentrate on her studies and not drop out of school. After members of the troupe visited the parents repeatedly and showed great sincerity,Wang’s parents finally agreed.

Learning the traditional art form was never easy. She started to learn how to pronounce words, sing them lyrically and make gestures gently. As an actress playing martial artists roles at first, she had to spend extra time practicing kung fu movements. Years later, Wang used the word “unimaginable” to describe how hard the days were when she first learned Kunqu. She was soaked in sweat when practicing movements in summer, while in winter she often had chilblains (冻疮) on her hands when training in shabby classrooms with broken windows. “But I was young and determined at the time. No matter how difficult, I always got up early the next morning to practice,” Wang recalls.

Wang says she did not love Kunqu at first, but in her early 20s,when she watched the show Peony Pavilion performed by Zhang Jiqing, a master of the art form, it clicked. “I was shocked,” Wang says. “Her every movement was full of elegance and delicacy. Each of her lines and songs was perfect. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of Kunqu for the first time in my life, and it has stayed with me since.” Now, Wang has herself become a master of Kunqu. Her performances have impressed generations and helped to promote the art form among young people.

1. Why did Wang’s parents turn down the troupe’s invitation at first?

A．They didn’t think Wang had artistic talent.

B．They saw no future in learning Kunqu Opera.

C．They didn’t want Wang to ignore her studies.

D．They regarded members of the troupe as insincere.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly tell us?

A．Wang has made great efforts to learn Kunqu well.

B．Artists should be given more attention and care.

C．Traditional culture needs to be further promoted.

D．Wang has played a key role in the development of Kunqu.

3. What changed Wang’s attitude towards Kunqu Opera?

A．Winning the Plum Performance Award.

B．Joining the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Troupe.

C．Watching Zhang’s masterly performance.

D．Being greatly admired by the audience.

4. What does Wang’s story show us?

A．It is never too late to learn.	B．Rome was not built in a day.
C．Doing is better than saying.	D．Don’t judge a book by its cover.

5 . Bournemouth in Dorset has always been my favourite seaside town. When I was growing up, Mum and Dad didn’t have much money, but they’d saved enough for a few days in Bournemouth. I was four years old at the time. I don’t actually remember much about the trip, apart from being devastated when we had to leave. Mum said I fell in love with the place and insisted on waving goodbye to the sea when it was time to go. So I grew up believing Bournemouth was a wonderful place.

Forty years on, my wife and I returned for a week’s break. I was nervous, wondering if I’d be able to bring back that delight I’d felt as a child. I needn’t have worried. We had a fantastic time. It helped that the British weather had decided to provide us with high temperatures and plenty of sun. But it was Bournemouth that kept me spellbound, making me feel like a child again.

Bournemouth and its neighbour, Boscombe, are always busy, alive with chatter, music and other lively sounds. But as we stepped into Boscombe Chine Gardens, all the noise faded away. A sense of peace spread through us as we meandered along the paths, delighting in the squirrels climbing up and down the trees and the bright colours of the pretty plants.

One morning, we made a short trip to Poole Quay and took the ferry to Brownsea Island. Owned by the National Trust, it’s a feast for the eyes, from its mock Tudor entrance, to the many peacocks walking around, to the magnificent views of the sun sparkling on the shining waters and boats bobbing up and down, seen from the island’s highest point.

Before we knew it, it was time to return home—but not before waving goodbye to the sea.

1. Which of the following best explains “devastated” underlined in Paragraph 1?

A．Sorrowful.	B．Surprised.
C．Thrilled.	D．Desperate.

2. What made the author feel nervous?

A．The fear of losing childhood memories.

B．The adjustment to the new circumstances.

C．The uncertainty of recalling childhood delight.

D．The exposure to high temperatures and sunshine.

3. What does the author think about Boscombe Chine Gardens?

A．It boasts seaside views.	B．It belongs to wild animals.
C．It is free of the town’s noise.	D．It reminds him of his childhood.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Farewell to Bournemouth.	B．Working in a wonderful place.
C．A childhood unforgettable story.	D．Revisiting a childhood favourite.

6 . Growing up, Maitri Wadher, a left-hander, has struggled to cope in a world made for right-handed people. From school desks to spiral notebooks that stop the natural flow of writing, Maitri has faced tough challenges from a young age. “My mother used to tie my left hand and make me eat with my right until a doctor warned that this could significantly affect my growth and confidence,” Maitri says.

This childhood experience had gnawed (折磨) at the back of her mind, pushing her to do something to ease the lives of fellow left-handers. In September 2018, she started The Left Out Store, which makes everyday products ranging from left-handed writing tools and scissors to kitchen tools for left-handed people.

Starting The Left Out Store wasn’t in the cards for Maitri for a very long time. The idea for The Left Out Store came to Maitri in just 20 minutes during a festival at St. Joseph’s Institute of Management, where she was a post-graduate student. She presented the rough idea to judges who later became sponsors, and they enthusiastically supported it. This encouragement gave her the push to make it a market research project to test the waters and explore the potential market.

Initially, Maitri faced a few hiccups. It took her quite some time to find vendors (小贩) and make them understand how to make the products. With everything in place, Maitri went through a tough time reaching customers. The first time she made a proper sale was at an exhibition at Lalit Ashok. “People were surprised at first, but gradually more left-handed people began approaching me, and said they relate to my struggles.” Since then, she has been regularly marketing her products at exhibitions, and keeps The Left Out Store active on social media.

1. What challenge did Maitri face as a left-hander while growing up?

A．Unfair judgement.	B．Lack of parents’ love.
C．Limited access to education.	D．Struggle with school tools.

2. How did Maitri turn her idea into a reality?

A．By seeking student sponsors.	B．By conducting market research.
C．By expanding the potential market.	D．By carrying out her long-thought plan.

3. What does the underlined word “hiccups” probably mean?

A．Barriers.

B．Threats

C．Complaints.

D．Oppositions.

4. What might be a suitable title for the passage?

A．A Left-Hander’s Struggles	B．Maitri’s Marketing Strategies
C．Maitri: A Social Media Celebrity	D．The Left Out Store: Maitri’s Journey

8 . At noon, I would race breathlessly home, a ten-minute walk from my school. My mother was waiting for me with pleasure to have lunch while I shared what happened at school.

I had been picked to be the princess in the school play, and for weeks my mother had rehearsed (排练) my lines so hard with me. But no matter how easily I acted at home, hardly had I stepped on stage when every word escaped me. Finally, my teacher asked me to change to a narrator’s (解说员) part. Her word, kindly expressed, still hurt, especially when I saw my part go to another girl.

I didn’t tell my mother what had happened that day. But she sensed my pain. Instead of suggesting we practice my lines, she asked if I wanted to walk in the yard.

Under the rose vine, we could see yellow dandelions (蒲公英), as if a painter had touched our landscape with shades of gold. I watched my mother casually bend down by one dandelion. “I’m going to dig up all these weeds,” she said, pulling it up by its roots. “From now on, we’ll have only roses in this garden.”

“But I like dandelions,” I argued. “All flowers are beautiful — even dandelions.”

My mother asked thoughtfully, “Yes, every flower gives pleasure in its own way, doesn’t it?” I nodded, pleased I had won her over. “And that is true of people too,” she added. I burst into tears, a mixture of relief and regret swelling up as I told her what had happened.

“But you will be a beautiful narrator,” she said, encouraging me as she did. “The narrator’s part is important, too.” Composing myself gradually, I began to accept the narrator’s part. Then came the performance day. I was still nervous, but it was at that very moment that I found a dandelion in my pocket. It was obvious that my mom secretly put the flower there, which magically gave me confidence.

1. Why did the author get changed to the narrator’s part?

A．She was shy.	B．She lacked practice.
C．She disliked the former role.	D．She totally forgot the lines.

2. What did her mother do when the author felt upset?

A．Her mother asked her what happened patiently.

B．Her mother insisted on her practicing the lines.

C．Her mother made her realize every role counted.

D．Her mother immediately encouraged her to cheer up.

3. Which of the following can best describe the author’s mother?

A．Sympathetic but strict.	B．Understanding and wise.
C．Passionate but anxious.	D．Curious and easy-going.

4. What does the text mainly tell us?

A．All that glitters is not gold.

B．Actions speak louder than words.

C．Constant dripping wears away a stone.

D．Every individual can make a difference.

9 . 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.

2. Which of the following can best describe the nurse mentioned in the text?

A．Generous and helpful.	B．Professional and kind.
C．Outgoing and enthusiastic.	D．Determined and brave.

3. What can we learn from Briggs’ story?

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.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Lovely Dark-haired Woman	B．The Rose-shaped Birthmark
C．The Unsung Hero	D．The Six-inch Ragged Scar

10 . In our family, the presents we gave one another were almost always homemade. I thought that was the definition of a gift: something you made for someone else. We made all our Christmas gifts: piggy banks from old bottles, and puppets from retired socks. It didn’t seem like a hardship to me; it was something special.

My father loves wild strawberries, so for Father’s Day my mother would almost always make him strawberry cakes. While we kids were responsible for the berries, we each got an old jar and spent the Saturday before the celebration in the fields, filling it as more ended up in our mouths. Finally, we returned home and poured them out on the kitchen table to sort out the bugs. I’m sure we missed some, but Dad never mentioned the extra protein.

In fact, he thought that was the best possible present, or so he had us convinced. It was a gift that could never be bought. As children raised by strawberries, we were probably unaware that the gift of berries was from the fields themselves, not from us. Our gift was time, attention, care and “red” fingers.

Gifts from the earth or from each other establish a particular relationship, a duty of sorts to give, to receive, and to exchange. The field gave to us, we gave to my dad, and we tried to give back to the strawberries. When the berry season was done, the plants would send out its red runners to make new plants. So I would weed out little fields of ground where the runners touched down. Sure enough, tiny little roots would emerge from the runner and by the end of the season there were even more plants, ready to bloom under the next strawberry season. No person taught us this — the strawberries showed us. Because they had given us a gift, an ongoing relationship opened between us.

1. What is the author’s belief about a gift?

A．It should be practical and valuable.	B．It should be luxurious and special.
C．It should be purchased from a store.	D．It should be made with personal effort.

2. What did the children do for Father’s Day?

A．Making strawberry cakes.	B．Finding the sweetest strawberries.
C．Going strawberry picking.	D．Baking strawberry cookies.

3. What would the author do to give back to the strawberries?

A．Making homemade gifts for her father.

B．Devoting time and attention to the plant.

C．Waiting for the strawberries to get ripe again.

D．Searching for fields for the plants to take roots.

4. What did the strawberries teach the family?

A．How to cook with strawberries.

B．The importance of giving and receiving.

C．How to cherish homemade gifts.

D．The procedure of growing strawberries.