Alice Moore is a teenager entrepreneur (创业者), who in May 2015 set up her business AilieCandy. By the time she was 13, her company was worth millions of dollars with the invention of a super-sweet treat that could save kids’ teeth, instead of destroying them.
It all began when Moore visited a bank with her dad. On the outing, she was offered a candy bar. However, her dad reminded her that sugary treats were bad for her teeth. But Moore was sick of missing out on candies. So she desired to get round the warning, “Why can’t I make a healthy candy that’s good for my teeth so that my parents can’t say no to it?” With that in mind, Moore asked her dad if she could start her own candy company. He recommended that she do some research and talk to dentists about what a healthier candy would contain.
With her dad’s permission, she spent the next two years researching online and conducting trials to get a recipe that was both tasty and tooth-friendly. She also approached dentists to learn more about teeth cleaning. Consequently, she succeeded in making a kind of candy only using natural sweeteners, which can reduce oral bacteria.
Moore then used her savings to get her business off the ground. Afterwards, she and her father secured their first business meeting with a supermarket owner, who finally agreed to sell Moore’s product — CanCandy.
As CanCandy’s success grows, so does Moore’s credibility as a young entrepreneur. Moore is enthusiastic about the candy she created, and she’s also positive about what the future might bring. She hopes that every kid can have a clean mouth and a broad smile.
Meanwhile, with her parents’ help, Moore is generally able to live a normal teenage life. Although she founded her company early on in life, she wasn’t driven primarily by profit. Moore wants to use her unique talent to help others find their smiles. She donates 10% of AilicCandy’s profits to Big Smiles. With her talent and determination, it appears that the sky could be the limit for Alice Moore.
1. How did Moore react to her dad’s warning? (No more than 10 words)2. What is special about CanCandy? (No more than 10 words)
3. What does Moore expect from her business? (No more than 10 words)
4. How do you understand the underlined part in the last paragraph? (no more than 5 words)
5. How does Moore’s story inspire you to achieve success? Put it in your own words. (No more than 20 words)
2 . In the short time Steve and Zach had been inside their tent packing their tools, wind-blown flame had skipped from the top of one tree to another. The long dry summer had turned the forest into a tinderbox.
“Let’s go! We can make it back to the river we crossed today!” Steve kept Brady on the lead and their heads down against the fire-wind. But Brady barked a sharp warning. Ahead of them lay a thick curtain of smoke across the track. They would never make it through that. The dog was pulling at his lead trying to draw them away from the smoke, and yet Steve was uneasy. It seemed to him that they were moving away from the river.
Suddenly, Zach cried.
“Zach!” Steve shouted. “Are you OK? Where are you?”
Then Brady pulled Steve down a sharp slope (坡). At its base, Zach was rubbing his ankle.
As Steve helped his friend to his feet, Brady lifted his head and snuffed (嗅) the smoke-laden wind. Next moment, the dog bounded away and disappeared. The boys shouted for him, but he didn’t come back. Steve couldn’t blame Brady for panicking. He himself wanted to run even though he didn’t have a clue which way.
Steve and Zach hadn’t gone far when there was a familiar bark, and Brady came bounding, stopped directly in front of Steve and hit him with his head, pushing him back toward the slope they’d just climbed. But Steve didn’t get it. Then Brady grabbed the boy’s jeans and started pulling. The message was clear, but Steve hesitated. Of course he remembered Brady saving his uncle’s life when the dog was much younger. Was he still sharp enough to get them through this?
Nearby, a pine went up in a whoosh of smoke. Brady pulled again, urgently. “OK, big guy,” Steve gritted(咬紧牙关). Brady led them back down the slope and into the trees. Not far from them fire was touching underbrush. Several times the big dog stopped. Often he changed directions. Steve was so tired that he just wanted to rest, but Brady wouldn’t have it. The dog bullied both boys to go on. How long they’d walked Steve had no idea. He was almost numb when he heard it—the wonderful sound of rushing water!
1. What happened to Steve and Zach at the beginning of the story?| A．They got injured. | B．They lost their dog. |
| C．They were trapped. | D．They became separated. |
| A．took the lead | B．hurt himself |
| C．misunderstood Brady | D．wanted to rest |
| A．seek help | B．find a way out |
| C．rescue Zach | D．escape for life |
| A．Uneasy. | B．Impatient. | C．Numb. | D．Uncertain. |
| A．an adventure | B．an exploration |
| C．an escape game | D．a training program |
An American brother and sister have survived a 14-hour swim to safety in the Caribbean after the fishing boat they had rented sank off the north coast of St Lucia.
Dan Susk, 30-year-old IT professional from San Francisco, said he had been fishing in rough seas with help from his sister, Kate Suski, a 39-year-old architect, when the ship began to sink on 21 April. Water flooded the engine room. The captain threw life jackets to the Suski and said, “Jump out! Jump out!” The Suski obeyed and jumped into the water with the captain and the first mate(大副). Less than five minutes later the boat sank. They were at least eight mile was telling us to stay together, and that help was on its way and that we needed to wait, Kate Suski said. After an hour, when no help came, the Suski decided to swim for it and lost sight of the captain and the first mate.
A helicopter appeared in the distance but no one spotted them. Several hours went by, and the sun began to set. “There’s this very real understanding that the situation is dire，” Kate Suski said both considered the possible ways we might die. Would we drown? Be eaten by a shark? Would our legs give out and make it impossible to swim?
They swam for 12 to 14 hours, talking as they pushed and trembled their way through the ocean. When in the moonlight they finally came within about 10 meters of land they realized that they were looking at steep rocky cliffs and would be beaten to death against them if they tried to approach any closer. They swam until they noticed sand nearby around midnight and dragged themselves ashore. Later, the Suski were treated in hospital. They learned that the captain and the first mate were rescued after spending nearly 23 hours in the water.
1. How many people were there on the fishing boat before it sank? (no more than 1 words )2. What did they do when the ship began to sink on April 21? (no more than 15 words )
3. What does the underlined word “dire” in Paragraph 3 mean?(one word )
4. How did they survive in the ocean before they swam ashore? (no more than 15 words )
5. Can you think out two words to describe Suskis, and give your reason? (no more than 15 words )
In the fall of 1985, I was a bright-eyed girl heading off to Howard University, aiming at a legal career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere. Twenty-one years later I am still a bright-eyed dreamer and one with quite a different tale to tell.
My grandma, an amazing woman, graduated (毕业) from college at the age of 65. She was the first in our family to reach that goal. But one year after I started college, she developed cancer. I made the choice to give up college to care for her. It meant that school and my personal dream would have to wait.
Then I got married with another dream: building my family with a combination of adopted (收养) and biological children. In 1999, we adopted our first son. To lay eyes on him was fantastic — and very emotional. A year later came our second adopted boy. Then followed son No. 3. In 2003, I gave birth to another boy.
You can imagine how fully occupied I became, raising four boys under the age of 8. Our home was a complete zoo — a joyous zoo. Not surprising, I never did make it back to college full-time. But I never gave up on the dream, either. I had only one choice: to find a way. That meant taking as few as one class each semester.
The hardest part was feeling guilty about the time I spent away from the boys. They often wanted me to stay home with them. There certainly were times I wanted to quit, but I knew I should set an example for them to follow through the rest of their lives.
In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina. It took me over 21 years to get my college degree！
I am not special, just single-minded. It always struck me that when you’re looking at a big challenge from the outside it looks huge, but when you’re in the midst of it, it just seems normal. Everything you want won’t arrive in your life on one day. It’s a process. Remember: Little steps add up to big dreams.
1. Why did the author give up her education when she was young?(no more than 10 words)2. What prevented her going back to college full time?(no more than 10 words)
3. For what reason did the author insist on having a college education?(no more than 10 words)
4. The underlined word “occupied” in Paragraph 4 probably means ______.(no more than 5 words)
5. According to this passage, how would you deal with a challenge if you were faced with one?(no more than 10 words)
5 . “I Went Skydiving at 84!”
As a young girl growing up in the 1930s, I always wanted to fly a plane, but back then it was almost unheard of a woman to do that. I got a taste of that dream in 2001, when my husband arranged for me to ride in a hot air balloon for my birthday. But the experience turned out to be very dull. Around that time, I told my husband that I wanted to skydive. So when our retirement community（社区）announced that they were having an essay competition and the topic was an experience of a lifetime that you wanted to have, I decided to write about my dream.
In the essay, I wrote about my desire to skydive, stating George Brush Sr. did it at age 80. Why not me? I was just 84 and in pretty good health. A year went by and I heard nothing. But then at a community party in late April 2009, they announced that I was one of the winners. I just couldn’t believe it.
On June 11, 2009, nearly 40 of my family and friends gathered in the area close to where I would land while I headed up in the airplane. My instructor, Jay, guided me through the experience. The plane was the noisiest one I had ever been in, but I wasn’t frightened—I was really just looking forward to the experience. When we reached 13,000 feet, Jay instructed me to throw myself out of the plane. When we first hit the air, the wind was so strong that I could hardly breathe. For a second I thought, “What have I gotten myself into?” But then everything got calmer. We were in a free fall for about a minute before Jay opened the parachute（降落伞）, then we just floated downward for about five minutes. Being up in the clouds and looking at the view below was unlike anything I have ever felt—much better than the hot air balloon. I was just enjoying it
Skydiving was really one of the greatest experiences of my life. I hope other people will look at me and realize that you don’t stop living just because you are 84 years old. If there’s something you want to experience, look into it. If it’s something that is possible, make it happen.
1. What was the old lady’s dream as a young girl?| A．To be a writer. | B．To be a balloon rider. |
| C．To be a pilot. | D．To be a skydiver. |
| A．She flew an airplane. |
| B．She entered a competition. |
| C．She went on a hot air balloon ride. |
| D．She moved into a retirement community. |
| A．build up her own reputation |
| B．show her admiration for him |
| C．compare their health condition |
| D．make her argument persuasive |
| A．Excited. | B．Scared. | C．Nervous. | D．Regretful. |
| A．The beautiful clouds. | B．The wonderful view. |
| C．The company of Jay. | D．The one-minute free fall. |
6 . My mother and sister had gone through Grandma’s belongings after her memorial service and decided on the sewing machine for me. I wasn’t sure if I was the right person for it, though. I hadn’t sewn since taking a class in high school. This would take some experimenting.
I opened the built-in drawer to find Grandma’s old pieces of thread. I held her tomato-shaped pincushion(针垫)and thought of all the memories wrapped up in this machine. Grandma had become a tailoress(女裁缝) out of necessity. With four small children to clothes, he’d quickly learned how to sew almost everything they needed. For over 30 years, Grandma kept up with her sewing. She made matching Easter dresses for my sister and me and costumes for our school festivals. She was always in search of a new project, whether it was teaching our neighbors or sewing dresses for the homeless. But for the last several years of her life, dementia(痴呆) had left a shy and silent woman in place of the strong opinionated loving grandmother I’d known.
To honor Grandma’s memory, I wanted a project to help people the way she had. With the stay-at-home order in place because of Covid-19, I certainly had the time. So I dug out Grandma’s machine to sew masks, and read up on how to sew. I turned on my computer to research how to get the machine going again. After hours of digging through old black-and-white handbooks and sewing lessons online, I operated the machine on more time. I held my breath and pressed down on the pedal. Hurrah! It worked! In no time, my fingers were flying, steadily moving material under the very cooperative needle. When I sewed enough masks for my family, I kept going. I delivered nearly 500 masks to a hard-hit hospital in the area. Quite a big job for an old sewing machine.
A staff member met me outside to receive the donation. “Thank you,” she said, not knowing that any thanks for my efforts belonged to Grandma, who provided the inspiration.
1. Why did the author doubt herself about accepting the sewing machine?| A．She was not fond of it. |
| B．She didn’t usually sew much. |
| C．She had no interest in sewing. |
| D．She hoped to donate it to charities. |
| A．She dreamed of being a tailor |
| B．She kept sewing as a hobby. |
| C．She was ready to help others. |
| D．She had always been optimistic. |
| A．Studied a lot about. |
| B．Thought of slowly. |
| C．Noticed or observed. |
| D．Lost one’s heart to. |
| A．It is a long tiring process for her. |
| B．She overcame many difficulties. |
| C．She received a lot of help from others. |
| D．It just took her a few hours to operate it skillfully. |
| A．I Have Donated Nearly 500 Masks. |
| B．My Grandmother Inspired Me to Help Others. |
| C．I Finally Learned to Use a Sewing Machine. |
| D．Making Masks For Others Is Such a Pleasure. |
7 . Henry found work in a bookstore after he finished middle school. He wouldn’t do anything but wanted to get rich. Mr King thought he was too lazy and was going to send him away. Henry was afraid and had to work hard.
It was a cold morning. It was snowing and there was thin ice on the streets. Few people went to buy the books and the young man had nothing to do. He hated to read, so he watched the traffic. Suddenly he saw a bag fall off a truck and it landed by the other side of the street.
“It must be full of expensive things,” Henry said to himself. “I have to get it, or others will take it away.”
He went out of the shop and ran across the street. A driver saw him and began to whistle (鸣笛), but he didn’t hear it and went on running. The man drove aside, hit a big tree and was hurt in the accident. Two weeks later Henry was taken to court (法庭). A judge asked if he heard the whistle when he was running across the street. He said that something was wrong with his ears and he could hear nothing.
“But you’ve heard me this time.” said the judge.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Now I can hear with one ear.”
“Cover the ear with your hand and listen to me with your deaf (聋的) one. Well, can you hear me?”
“No, I can’t, sir.”
1. What was Mr King?| A．A driver. | B．A doctor. | C．A policeman. | D．A shopkeeper. |
| A．Because Henry was too lazy. | B．Because Henry hoped to be rich. |
| C．Because Henry finished middle school. | D．Because Henry sold few books. |
| A．hit Henry | B．hurt himself | C．fall behind | D．lose the bag |
| A．裁判 | B．律师 | C．法官 | D．原告 |
| A．He wanted to have a joke with the judge. | B．He wanted to get the judge’s help. |
| C．He wanted to find another piece of work. | D．He didn’t want to pay for the accident. |
8 . How did one man prove that small kindnesses add up?
My family first met Wally Urtz, the gentle, modest manage of our local supermarket, on a windy day nearly 20 years ago just after we’d moved to Hasting-on-Hudson, a New York City suburb. As my wife made her way to the store’s exit, attending her groceries and two small children, Wally rushed up beside her. “I’ll get those, young lady,” he said brightly, taking her bags and leading her to the parking lot. Now that may seem like no big deal-except that these days things like that so seldom happen.
Our story, as it turned out, was typical Among Hasting’s 8,000 people living here, almost everybody had at least one about Wally’s politeness and generosity. There ware the times he’d reach into his own pocket when someone was short of money; the times he’d show small kindnesses to someone who’d just lost a loved one or who was in the middle of divorce; the many, many times he’d put himself out for older people.
“He just appreciated that when people get older, their lives get smaller-they don’t drive, their friends have passed on and how much it means to be treated warmly,” one woman, Kathy Dragan said, “When my mother was in her 80s, it was a treat for her to go to the store.” Wally would call out to the shop clerk and say, “You give her whatever attention she needs.” She’d tell me, “He’s kinder to me than some people I’ve known all my life.”
Yet few of us fully understood what Wally meant to the people’s life of our community-until he was sent to another store 20 miles away. For some unknown reason, the Food Emporium chain had decided to replace 67-year-old Wally after 26 years due to “operational issues related to operating a store the size of the one in Hastings.”
No one could believe it. Word spread quickly. Neighbors called each other seeking the feeling of emotional comfort. Some planned to bring Wally back and staged protest marches outside the store. Other flooded the local newspaper with angry letters. The mayor look up the cause. Even the police tried to set things right.
A grocer seems an unlikely figure to set of such an emotional outpouring. What he did shows the remarkable effect Wally-a man of endless warmth and good humor-had on people.
1. According to the passage which of the following statements is TRUE?| A．Wally Urtz is always ready to help others every day. |
| B．Wally Urtz is a man who wants to draw attention to him. |
| C．Wally Urtz helped the author’s wife on purpose. |
| D．The author had known Wally Urtz before we moved to Hastings-on-Hudson. |
| A．in the whole life of Kathy Dragan’s mother, Wally is the kindest person to her |
| B．when people get older, they would like to live by themselves |
| C．Wally had always cared about helping the older people |
| D．you should give your old mother whatever attention she needs |
| A．No one paid much attention to it. |
| B．Many people objected to it in different ways. |
| C．The police supported it will all their heart. |
| D．The mayor thought it was a good idea. |
| A．A person in the grocery can easily express his feeling out to others. |
| B．A person full of warm-heartedness and humor has a great influence on people. |
| C．The mayor didn’t look into the reason of people’s emotional outpouring. |
| D．The author had joined in the plan of bringing Wally back. |
| A．Wally Urtz and Old people |
| B．A Food Shopping Grocer |
| C．Wally Urtz’s Being Moved Away |
| D．The Heart of Town-a Man of Endless Warmth |
9 . I tend to go slowly when I drive in the mountains of my home, because the forest scenery is beautiful no matter what the season. This morning I was driving slower than usual because an early March snow had turned the roads slippery. Going up a mountain road, I had to slow down as I rounded a sharp, snowy curve (弯道). That was when I saw a majestic buck deer (公鹿) standing in the middle of the road. I came to a full stop and for a few seconds we just stared at each other. His eyes seemed wise and his composure (镇静) refined. Finally, he nodded his head at me. I nodded in return and motioned with my hand for him to go on. He then leapt across the road, up the hill, and back into the woods. I drove on smiling at the magic of this moment and thanked that I had been going slowly enough not to hit this beautiful creature.
Most of us rush through this life not knowing what we are missing. We rarely get to enjoy what each day brings us. Wouldn’t it be better to go slowly through our days here? Life is meant to be savored. Moments are meant to be cherished. Days are meant to be lived in love and joy not flown through at a frantic (疯狂的) speed.
The next time you find yourself going too fast, slow down. Take the time to watch the sun rise over the horizon and fill the world with light. Take the time to look your children in their eyes, hug them, and tell them that you love them. Take the time to smile, laugh, and sing. Take the time to read, lounge (闲逛), and relax. Take the time to live your life with love and delight in all the miracles each day brings you. If you do, your life will be so much better and more beautiful. And you might even end up not hitting a deer on your way home.
1. How did the author feel after his interaction with the deer?| A．Disappointed. | B．Optimistic. | C．Grateful. | D．Funny. |
| A．show us what we might miss if we go too fast |
| B．give an example of a narrow escape |
| C．tell how much the author loves nature |
| D．describe a wise and calm buck |
| A．endured all the time | B．enjoyed to the fullest |
| C．discovered step by step | D．challenged in every way |
| A．Because he wanted to enjoy the forest scenery. |
| B．Because he saw a majestic buck deer |
| C．Because snow made the road difficult for cars to drive on. |
| D．Because he took the time to watch the sunrise over the horizon |
| A．The most important thing in life is to be happy. |
| B．Living in harmony with nature is a must. |
| C．Modern life is not as good as life in earlier times. |
| D．Life is supposed to be appreciated. |
10 . Ten years ago, when I was in junior school, Mrs. Amatuli was my language teacher. One day at lunch time, I was getting ready to eat my cold fish sandwich as usual and suddenly Mrs. Amatuli asked me if she could buy the sandwich from me. She explained that I could use the money to buy a hot lunch from the cafeteria. I was very pleased. I never bought my lunch from the cafeteria. It was too expensive for my family, and I always carried my lunch and took the bag back home to use again the next day.
Seeing that other students went to the cafeteria after class, I felt my heart was filled with admiration. You can imagine how pleased I was when I had the opportunity to buy a hot lunch. Kids always complained about the cafeteria food but I really wished to buy it. When we finished lunch that day, Mrs. Amatuli took me aside and explained why she had bought my sandwich. She said she was a Catholic and Catholics didn’t eat red meat on Fridays — they ate fish on Fridays. From then on, every Friday she bought my fish sandwich and with the money I could get in line with other kids for a hot lunch.
One year later, I knew from a classmate that Mrs. Amatuli was not a Catholic and her family was not rich. She bought my cold sandwich because she knew that a poor girl would be excited at the simple act of having a hot lunch. She wanted to help me! I will never forget her sympathy and generosity. I will be grateful to my dear teacher, Mrs. Amatuli, forever.
1. From the passage we can know that ________.| A．Mrs. Amatuli was a Catholic and didn’t eat red meat on Fridays |
| B．the author was too poor to buy a hot lunch from the cafeteria |
| C．Mrs. Amatuli bought the author’s cold sandwich every day |
| D．the author and her classmates all liked the cafeteria food |
| A．happy | B．worried | C．disappointed | D．surprised |
| A．Because they were good at their lessons. |
| B．Because they could eat the fish sandwich. |
| C．Because they could carry lunch from home. |
| D．Because they could buy hot lunches from the cafeteria. |
| A．save time to prepare for her lessons |
| B．show the author she liked the fish sandwich |
| C．let the author buy hot lunch as other kids did |
| D．make others believe she was a real Catholic |
| A．a place in the school where students can eat lunch |
| B．a big restaurant where people can have dinner |
| C．a shop where kids can buy food and drink |
| D．the kitchen where one can have a hot lunch |
