2 . Driven by her passion for providing quality healthcare, a Latvian woman has won over the hearts of the elderly residing in the nursing home she oversees.

It is incredibly rare to find a Caucasian woman working as the director of a nursing home in Shanghai. But the fact that Anastasija Puzankova can even converse in Liantang, a Chinese dialect spoken only by residents in a small town in southwestern Shanghai, makes her one of a kind.

“I had always wondered how the elderly were getting along with others, or if they were well cared for. I realized that I could better serve them and understand their concerns if I spoke their dialect.” says the 35-year-old, who also speaks Russian, English, Latvian, French and Spanish.

Puzankova chose to study Sinology(汉学) out of her curiosity about China at the University of Latvia in 2003. The next year, she traveled to Shanghai as part of an exchange program and then she spent the next 10 years studying law at Fudan University, graduating with a master's degree in 2014.

Despite her qualifications, in 2018, Puzankova joined Haiyang Group, a Shanghai-based company that operates the nursing home, as an executive assistant. During that period, she performed so well in her nursing and management training that she was appointed the director of the home after just one year.

A caregiver, surnamed Cai, says the atmosphere at the home has changed since Puzankova took charge. “She makes life in the nursing home uplifting and purposeful.” says Cai.

“She throws monthly birthday parties for the elderly, creates a festive mood in the home for every traditional festival and frequently organizes handicrafts classes and activities to stimulate the minds of the residents.”

When family visits and group activities were delayed during the novel coronavirus outbreak, Puzankova came up with a similar idea at the home, purchasing vegetable seeds and growing them in the field near the nursing home so that the residents can observe the plants growing from their windows.

“Just watching the plants grow can lift their spirits. We can also serve these organic vegetables to them.” she explains.

Puzankova says, “I simply like communicating with people, understanding their personalities and offering help when they are in need. Making an elderly person happy isn't hard. It just takes a little time, love and thought.”

1. Why did Anastasija Puzankova learn the Chinese dialect Liantang?

A．To satisfy her superior.

B．To research its history and popularity.

C．To communicate with the elderly better.

D．To prove her language learning capacity.

2. During the novel coronavirus outbreak, Puzankova ____________.

A．forbade family visits forever.

B．created a festive mood in the home.

C．organized some outdoor activities for the elderly.

D．planted some vegetables for the elderly to watch indoors.

3. What can we learn from Puzankova’s story?

A．Time tests.

B．Hard work pays off.

C．Love breaks down barriers.

D．Education is the key to success.

4. The best title of the passage could be “ _________”.

A．A foreign face with a local soul

B．A language expert with a loving heart

C．A nursing home with a woman director

D．An executive assistant with a master’s degree

3 . It had long been troubling a little boy that his desk mate could rank 1st in the class every time while he failed to: he only ranked 21st.

At home, he asked his Mom, “Mom, am I more stupid than others? I feel I am as hardworking as him, but how come I always fall behind?”     1    

In another test, the son ranked 15th, and his desk mate remained 1st. Back home, he raised the same question.     2     However, was this answer in her son’s best interest? Thank goodness she did not open her mouth.

There were times she wanted to tell him, “Your father and I used to be outstanding. Why aren’t you just as clever?” But she stopped because she felt it was cruel to blame him and that she needed a better answer.

    3     To reduce the burden on her son who was suffering from the pains of unsatisfied grades and rankings, Mom decided to take him to the sea. During the trip, she managed to give out an answer.

Now, the son no longer worries about his rankings, because, with the 1st ranking, he is admitted to a top university.     4     In the lecture, he mentioned a valuable experience, “…When my mother and I was lying on the beach, she pointed to the front and said, ‘Do you see the seabirds over there? When the waves come near, little birds can rise quickly while it would take longer for clumsy sea-gulls to complete the process. However, have you noticed birds that finally fly across the endless ocean are none other than clumsy sea-gulls?’     5    ” The moving speech affected many mothers present into tears, including his mother.

A．Feeling sad for her son’s failure, mom scolded him.

B．Mom really wanted to tell her son that intelligence differs.

C．Hearing the words, she went wordless, not knowing how to explain.

D．You might be a bit slower, but you will be the one who will make it!

E．Mom was so proud of her son’s success as to often share her experience.

F．Back to his high school, he was invited to give a speech to the students and parents.

G．Time flying swiftly, despite great efforts, he was still unable to keep up with his desk mate.

4 . A Uber driver stopped her work day so she could help a new mother with a sick child.

Nicole Ihus’s son John Henry was born last month with a rare disease called congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Nicole and her husband, who live in Kansas City, got m touch with doctors from Minnesota and Missouri in hopes of finding a doctor who could treat John Henry for the condition — but to no avail.

Luckily, Nicole managed to get in contact with the “best doctor in the world for this condition” at Johns Hopkins All Children in St. Petersburg, Florida — so she traveled all the way to the Sunshine State to give her newborn son a fighting chance.

After John Henry was bon into the hands of the NICU, Nicole felt sad and alone in the new state, although she knew that she had to leave her son’s side in order to buy him some new clothes.

After ordering an Uber ride to the nearby Rhea Lana children’s clothing store, she was picked up by a woman named Belinda. Shortly after Nicole got into Belinda’s car, the new mother couldn’t help but told her heartbreaking story.

“She told me her story,” Belinda said in the interview below. “She was in tears a couple of times and I was really concerned about her.”

Rather than simply dropping Nicole off at the store, however, Belinda parked the car and was firmly determined to accompany her passenger into the store.

“She was like, ‘I’m going to help you buy some clothes for your son.’ I asked her, ‘Are you serious?’ I can’t even imagine,” said Nicole. “For this stranger to go completely out of her way — stop what she was doing and stop making money — to come to be with me for a couple of hours while we shopped together, that was just unbelievable.”

1. What does the writer mean by saying “to no avail” in Para.2?

A．Henry’s condition became worse.

B．The couple lost hope of finding a doctor.

C．The doctor didn’t want to treat John Henry.

D．The couple didn’t find the doctor they wanted.

2. How did Belinda help Nicole after hearing her story?

A．By offering her a free ride.

B．By going shopping with her.

C．By buying new clothes for her.

D．By chatting with her for hours.

3. What is the writer’s purpose of writing the passage?

A．To advise readers to help the baby.

B．To tell a story of a helpless mother.

C．To speak highly of the driver’s kindness.

D．To call on people to learn from the driver.

5 . Being deaf in a hearing world can lead to painful feelings of isolation (孤独).

Waitress Kelsey recently shared an experience on a social media sharing site that   quickly zoomed (陡直上升) to the top of the “ front page of the Internet”. In her brief post, Kelsey explained that she waits tables at a bar during the evenings, and one night she noticed a deaf man sitting alone in her section (区域).

When Kelsey isn’t working at the bar she makes a good hourly pay doing sign language interpretation (翻译), so she sensed an opportunity to use her skill to make this customer feel a little less alone in the world. She approached his table and began chatting with him in sign language.

When the table next to his noticed their silent conversation they asked Kelsey how long she’d been signing. They had a brief conversation about her goal of becoming certified (合格的) to interpret sign language in a medical or mental health setting.She didn’t think much about the whole exchange until the customers had left the restaurant and she was tidying up the tables. There, on the table of the customers who’d seen her American sign language conversation with the deaf man, was a handwritten note on the receipt.

“Thank you for what you do; it absolutely matters!” the note said. “Good luck with finishing your degree!” Not only that, but they’d left her a $100 tip.

Kelsey was moved by the kind note, especially because she wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary. To her, she was just conversing with someone in a language that only they understood. Yet to the deaf man and the people seated next to him she’d bridged a gap and helped someone who probably feels lonely a lot of the time.

Kelsey shared the note on the Internet to spread more love and light in the world.

1. What do we know about Kelsey’s work at the bar？

A．It is her part-time job.

B．It goes beyond her ability.

C．It requires her to work all day long.

D．It offers her a chance to learn sign language.

2. What can we infer about the deaf man?

A．He left Kelsey $100 as a tip.

B．He could use sign language.

C．He found it hard to communicate with Kelsey.

D．He was a friend of the customers at the next table.

3. What did the people at the table next to the deaf man think of Kelsey?

A．She is wasting time working as a waitress.	B．She needs to study further for a degree.
C．She should use the Internet as a tool.	D．She is so kind to serve those in need.

4. What lesson can we learn from Kelsey’s experience?

A．Practice makes perfect.	B．It is never too late to learn.
C．Kindness is repaid with kindness.	D．When in Rome, do as Romans do.

6 . Geese live to be around 25 years old, are very loyal, and never forget their first home. Even so, it came as a total shock to me when, in 2019, an aging adult wild goose made his way back to my family home. Geese love houses with large, green grassland to eat on; the flat area also makes it easy for them to watch out for predators (捕食者). So, at first, I assumed it was just another goose.

And yet, something about the lone male seemed oddly familiar to me. After two weeks of the goose coming back repeatedly, it became clear to me that this wasn’t a random goose. He did all of the same things Peeper used to, like trying to come in through the front door and sleeping in our enclosed pool area. In addition to following Peeper’s old ways, this goose also responded to the name Peeper. Much to my amazement, my old best friend had returned, 20 years later.

Why did Peeper return? It’s hard to say. Perhaps his mate died, leaving him lonely. If s also possible that he is approaching his twilight (薄唇) years and knows it, making him long for his early home. This behavior is typical of geese. Whatever the reason, Peeper continues to live with me. It’s a good thing that I stayed in my childhood home.

He doesn’t come home every single night the way he did as a baby. Some nights he may seek out the comfort of his own kind at the lake nearby. Geese in the wild typically sleep on water. But he’s here a lot, making his presence known and giving me joy. Many years later, the goose still remembers the true meaning of family. So do his people.

1. What was the author’s feeling at first?

A．Joyful.	B．Natural.
C．Shocked.	D．Strange.

2. Which best suggests that the goose was Peeper?

A．The goose kept coming back.

B．The goose reacted to the name.

C．The goose fed on the grassland.

D．The goose slept at the front door.

3. What can we infer from paragraph 3?

A．Peepers mate had made him return.

B．Peeper was too old to live in the wild.

C．The writer knew why Peeper returned.

D．The writer felt lucky to have Peeper back.

4. What does the author think of Peeper’s frequent presence?

A．He takes it as a sign of family bond.

B．He considers it as typical of geese.

C．He thinks Peeper is seeking comfort.

D．He supposes it to be a past habit.

7 . My love for libraries blossomed when I joined the public library. From the age of 8 I was allowed to walk from my home to the downtown library, housed above the police station. Once the librarian gave me my first membership card, I could enjoy a range of books, which started with Little House in the Big Woods. I was addicted instantly, and this love of libraries and reading would change my life, allowing me to one day create a safe space for high-school kids, too.

By the time I was in high school, I could read the authors that we were studying in class, including Charles Dickens, Mark Twain and Emily Bronte. During the summer months, I got caught up in Gone with the Wind.

When I studied English literature at university, I thought it was time to build my own library. For the next 40 years, I continued to collect books. Until one day, I realized that all my books had become a part of the house, like wallpaper.

Toward the end of my teaching career, I became a teacher-librarian at my old high school, where I had first learned English literature. This position enabled me to regain my love and appreciation for libraries. I had a generous budget for my classes, so I searched for novels that would interest my teenage audience and hopefully spark a love of books. Fantasy, science-fiction, graphic novels -I bought almost any type of books that my students wanted to read. I bought sofas and comfortable chairs, turning the library into a safe public space, for everyone.

In doing so, I realized that the library isn’t just a place to do research. They are, in fact, places that offer an opportunity to connect with the past, present and future. All that is required is a tiny bit of curiosity. Libraries are places that should be full of life. They help us adjust to the world, and their doors must be kept open to everyone for free!

1. What inspired the author to set up a library for students?

A．Some well-known classics.

B．His early experience of reading.

C．The suggestion of a librarian.

D．The book: Little House in the Big Woods.

2. When did the author begin to build his own library?

A．In primary school.	B．In high school.
C．During university years.	D．After leaving college.

3. What does the author intend to tell us in paragraph 4?

A．What his career was like.

B．Where he stored his books.

C．Why school kids loved reading.

D．How he improved the school library.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．A private library	B．Read with curiosity
C．A librarian’s life	D．More than just books

8 . I stood outside my front door catching my breath. After a lazy Christmas holiday, I had to recover from climbing stairs with carry-on bags and a suitcase. I looked up — Red tape crossed the door. I didn't understand French, but the one English word said enough, "POLICE." Google Translate told me I would be caught if I entered, so I didn't.

Finally, I called my rental agent (收租人).He went to the police station for more details. The thief had taken a few items from the top drawer as well as a small amount of money in the bottom drawer. Not only were my files undisturbed, but so were the TV and printer. My agent also said something about fixing the locks tomorrow and making a list for the police.

Then one day, I remembered that I had left another jewelry box in the flat. My heart sank as I thought of a gold locket (项链坠) with a picture of my late Grandma inside. When I realized the box was missing, the whole experience seemed to crash down on me. I cried. At the end of January, I received a letter from the police. The thief hadn't been found, and the case was closed. I slept with my purse by my bed. I hid my laptop when I showered. And then another challenge came — I was unexpectedly fired by my company.

One July night, I reached into my third drawer to pull out my jean shorts. I heard something fall to the ground. I looked down: It was the tiny jewelry box I thought had been stolen six months earlier. Inside was the locket with honey Grandma smiling at me, being there for me, telling me not to give up. I started to cry. I knew that things were going to be OK.

1. What did the red tape across the writer's door mean?

A．The police had arrested the thief.

B．The house couldn't be entered freely.

C．The house was for sale.

D．The writer didn't pay the rent on time.

2. What did the agent promise to do?

A．To fix the locks the next day.

B．To report the thief to the police.

C．To pay for the missing things for the writer.

D．To help the writer rent another flat.

3. Why did the writer cry again?

A．She cried over her bad luck.

B．She recalled the smiling of her grandma.

C．She regained her confidence.

D．She recovered the stolen jewelry box.

9 . I grew up in a home with a mother who believes that vaccines (疫苗) cause brain damage, and do not contribute to the health and safety of a society. The only shot I received was for tetanus (破伤风) when I was two months old. After that, nothing.

At the beginning of each school year, I was very nervous. Delayed term paper? Mischievous (捣蛋的) behavior? Late for school? None of them. I’d be pulled out of class and brought to the headmaster’s office. The school doctor would tell me I hadn’t received any of the necessary shots to attend school. But the same thing occurred each time: my mom would free me from the shots and nothing would happen.

After doing a lot of research, I found although people who don’t vaccinate their children make up only a relatively small group, they can cause major consequences. People who, for health or age reasons, cannot receive vaccines are at a higher risk of catching a preventable disease.

Eventually, I turned 18. In Ohio, where I live, I had to wait until I became a legal adult to make the decision to receive vaccine shots. A huge factor in taking the step to ensure my health was the message board website Reddit. Last November, I asked Reddit users for advice about what vaccines to ask for and how to go about getting them from a doctor. After my post received more than 1,000 comments, I made an appointment with my family physician. Despite how strongly my mother felt, I went through with it anyway.

I did something every person should do. It wasn’t special in any way. Vaccines protect the health and safety of not only yourself but also other people. Vaccination is important because someone could die if you don’t get vaccinated. This was the biggest reason I got vaccines despite the opposition.

1. Why was the author called to the headmaster’s office at the beginning of each school year?

A．He was late for school.

B．He didn’t behave himself at school.

C．He couldn’t hand in his term paper on time.

D．He was hardly ever vaccinated.

2. How might the author’s mother have felt about his appointment with the family physician?

A．Annoyed.	B．Grateful.
C．Thrilled.	D．Guilty.

3. What does the author mainly want to tell us through his story?

A．Listening to your mother pays off.

B．Doing the right thing matters.

C．Keeping fit is the best policy.

D．Asking for advice helps.

10 . Christina Horsten and Felix Zeltner tried not to panic when they were hit with a $400 rent increase on their Park Slope apartment in 2016, and realized they would have to move for the second time in two years. Instead of feeling intimidated by the unexpected event, they hit upon an unconventional idea: Why not move to a new neighborhood every month for a year?

At first, things went remarkably well. They found their next apartment, a beautiful apartment in Chinatown. The next months brought stops in Staten Island and Harlem. As September approached, their next place to live proved difficult to find. When their Harlem lease (租约) ended, they took a road trip, then fell for a false advertisement in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, when an apartment they found advertised online wasn't actually available to rent. And eventually they got their money back through Paypal. “That was rock bottom,” Ms. Horsten said.

Over the rest of the year, they spent time in a townhouse in Mott Haven, as well as apartments in Chelsea, the East Village, Hell’s Kitchen, and Williamsburg. “In the end, we were like, ‘Why should we even stop doing this?’ ”Ms. Horsten said. But then a lease takeover on Listings Project caught their attention: a two-bedroom apartment atop an Upper West Side townhouse.

A second daughter, Lily, was born in January. And with a newborn, they have no intention of moving again anytime soon. Still, many aspects of their adventure have remained with them. “In the same way that we’ve tried to keep minimalism (极简主义) in our life, we try to stay in touch with all the people we’ve met,” Ms. Horsten said.“We realized it was a lifelong project to try to get to know NewYork City,” she added. But there is one member of the household eagerly waiting for a repeat: their 4-year-old daughter Emma.“ I think she loved it the most,” Ms. Horsten said.“At all the places we stayed, she found things I never noticed: children’s books, a dollhouse, a drum set. Even now, she’s like,‘When are we moving to a new home?’ And we’re like,‘We kind of like it here.’ ”

1. What does the underlined word “intimidated” in Paragraph1 mean?

A．Frightened.	B．Surprised.
C．Embarrassed.	D．Confused.

2. While looking for a place to stay, where was the couple nearly cheated?

A．In Chinatown.	B．In Sunset Park.
C．In Staten Island.	D．In Harlem.

3. What’s the couple’s plan for next month?

A．Buying a townhouse in Brooklyn.

B．Staying in the apartment in the Upper West Side.

C．Donating their daughter’s toys to those living nearby.

D．Looking for a two-bedroom apartment for their newborn.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．East or west, home is best.	B．Where to start, where to end.
C．Wherever you are, there is home.	D．Another month, another neighborhood.