1 . On February 22, 2021, cancer survivor Hayley Areeneaux was selected to be one of four crew members of the SpaceX Inspiration4 — the world’s first civilian astronaut mission. The 29-year-old will make history as the youngest American — and the first with a false limb — to travel to space.
Hayley’s space dreams began two decades ago, however, the young girl’s dreams were derailed a year later when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma — a type of bone cancer. Fortunately, the fatal disease had been caught early and the experts at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis were able to reduce its spread through chemotherapy. Arceneaux said she never thought she would be able to go to space. But when the call came “out of the blue” from Jared Isaacman, CEO and founder of Shift4 Payments, asking her if she would like to go to space, she said without hesitation, “Yes, yes, absolutely!”
Isaacman had always intended to go to space. Hence when SpaceX announced the world’s first all-commercial astronaut mission, the 37-year-old billionaire, instantly booked the available four seats. The flying enthusiast announced that he would donate three seats to members of the general public. Hayley, the first crew member to be announced, will represent the pillar (支柱) of “hope” — a nod to her survival of cancer and frontline work as a physician at St. Jude. The remaining passengers, representing the pillars of “generosity” and “prosperity”, will be chosen randomly to raise $200 million for St. Jude, which treats children at no charge.
Before the mission launch later this year, the crew will undergo intense training. The mission, which will orbit Earth every 90 minutes, will be carefully monitored by SpaceX mission control scientists from Earth. Upon the mission’s completion, the Dragon will reenter Earth’s atmosphere for a soft water landing off the coast of Florida.
1. What does the underlined phrase “out of the blue” in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．Sadly. | B．Suddenly. |
| C．Randomly. | D．Strangely. |
| A．To promote his company’s products |
| B．To seek help for disabled children. |
| C．To inspire interests in space travel. |
| D．To raise funds for a cancer hospital. |
| A．Hayley Arceneaux Became The Youngest American travelling in Space |
| B．“The Sky Is Not Even The Limit” For Jared Isaacman |
| C．Cancer Survivor To Become The Youngest American In Space |
| D．Hayley’s Space Dreams Were Derailed By Osteosarcoma |
2 . "Everything happens for the best, "my mother said whenever I faced disappointment. "If you can carry on, one day something good will happen. "
After graduating from college in 1932, I decided to try for a job as a sports announcer on the radio. I took the bus to Chicago and knocked on the door of every radio station. But I was refused every time. In one studio, a nice lady told me that big radio stations didn't want to accept inexperienced persons. "Go to the countryside and find a small station that'll give you a chance," she said.
I returned home, Dixon in Illinois. My father said Smith Ward had opened a store and wanted a local sportsman to manage its sports department. Since I had played high school football in Dixon, I applied. The job sounded just right for me, but I still failed in the interview. As I left his office, I felt sad. I asked aloud, "How can a man become a sports announcer if he can't get a job in a radio station?
I was waiting for the lift when I heard Smith Ward calling, "What did you say about sports? Do you know anything about football?" Then he made me stand before a microphone and asked me to broadcast an imaginary game. As a result, I did a wonderful job and was told to broadcast Saturday's game!
On my way home, I thought of my mother's words again: Everything happens for the best if you carry on. One day something good will happen.
1. The nice lady suggested that the writer should look for a job in ________.| A．a small city | B．a big station | C．a small station | D．a big city |
| A．有经验的 | B．没经验的 | C．重要的 | D．不重要的 |
| A．Thursday' game | B．Friday's game | C．Saturday's game | D．Sunday's game |
3 . I went to a small and poor elementary school. I remember the first time a computer showed up in class. It was 5th grade and the computer was an Apple. It was the only computer in my school. This was the 80s and it was a $2, 600 machine.
Before I discovered computers, I took typing class on old typewriters and I was the kid in class that repaired the typewriters. I remember spending hours trying to figure out what each typewriter needed to fix a stuck key. I was also the Audio/Visual geek (狂热的人). This meant I was the only one in the class who can thread film onto the projector.
Anyway, when this Apple showed up, I immediately opened it. I had to see what was inside. This totally freaked out the teacher but it seemed clear I wasn't going to break it. I quickly learned how to get out of educational games and write things in BASIC. This was all in 5th grade.
My 5th grade teacher and I stayed in touch until her passing. I honestly don't know what I'd be doing if she hadn't done something extraordinary. She let my father and me take the Apple home. I'd spend the weekend programming, reading the massive notebooks. This was a $2, 000+ computer in the middle of the 80s—the pride of the school—and they let me take it home. A year later, I came home from school one day and the family car was gone and there was a Commodore 64 left in its place. My parents had sold the car and bought a Commodore.
Now, I think about this crazy journey. I am standing on the shoulders not only of computer science giants, but also heroes like my parents and my 5th grade teacher. Thanks Mrs. Hill, for introducing me to computers even though you were breaking rules. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for bringing a computer home even when there wasn't money for one.
1. What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 2?| A．He was a hard-working student. |
| B．His family was too poor to buy him a computer. |
| C．He had already had some skills to operate a computer. |
| D．He was one of the clever ones who could manage a computer. |
| A．Frightened. | B．Interested. | C．Amused. | D．Annoyed. |
| A．Thoughtful. | B．Grateful. | C．Relaxed. | D．Anxious. |
4 . Since the age of three, Chelsie Hill had dreamed of becoming a dancer. That ambition nearly ended one night in 2010. Hill, then a 17-year-old high school senior in California, was in a car accident that left her paralyzed (残疾的) from the waist down. For most people, that would have ruined any hope of a dancing career. For Hill, it was the beginning. Far from being an obstacle, her wheelchair encouraged her. “I wanted to prove to my community—and to myself—that I was still ‘normal.’”
Normal for her meant dancing, so Hill did it in her wheelchair. “Half of my body was taken away from me, and I have to move it with my hands. It definitely took a lot of learning and patience.” After graduation, Hill wanted to expand her dance network to include women like her. She met people online who had suffered various spinal cord (脊柱) injuries but shared her determination, and she invited them to dance with her. “It was such an amazing experience.”
Hoping to reach more people in a larger city, Hill moved to Los Angeles in 2018 and formed a team of dancers with disabilities she calls the Rollettes. “I want to show that dance is dance, whether you’re walking or you’re rolling.”
Dancing on wheels, the Rollettes discovered, can be just as fast-paced, graceful as dancing on foot. Edna Serrano says that being part of the Rollettes team has given her the courage. “I didn’t know I could do so many things that these girls have taught me,” she says. “They’re my teachers. I have more confidence.”
1. Which of the following words can best describe Hill?| A．confident and honest | B．determined and active |
| C．courageous and polite | D．learned and experienced |
| A．It was founded in Hill’s hometown. |
| B．Every dance lover can join in it. |
| C．It helped many disabled people like Hill. |
| D．It has some dance teachers giving lessons. |
| A．Always prepare for a rainy day. |
| B．Misfortunes never come alone. |
| C．Health is not valued till sickness comes. |
| D．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
5 . I was a birthday-party clown. I struggled a lot with my identity because, though I viewed myself as a filmmaker, everyone in my life viewed me as this ridiculous day job. Being a clown is itself an identity masking job. You wear makeup to cover your features.
One night, I was asked to be Batman, but at the time I had a giant mustache. However, I hadn’t wanted to alter my physical appearance for that job, because that would have been me subconsciously admitting I was more of a clown than an artist. So, I opted not to shave.
The next day, sure enough, once I got close, the entire party broke out in laughter. I were so embarrassed that I wanted to run back to my Batmobile. But then the laughter changed into cheering and applause. That’s a strange. But then his dad took me over to this huge birthday cake with a Batman which has a mustache. That’s why everyone was laughing so hard when I first arrived, because when they initially brought the cake out, all the kids scoffed and said, “Batman doesn’t have a mustache.” And instead of just admitting that the cake was messed up, the parents tried to save face and said, “No, Batman always has a mustache. He just shaves it for his movies.” Naturally, the children were doubtful. Until, my mustache became the detail that confirmed what the parents had said and convinced the kids that I was actually Batman.
That year, I struggled a lot with my identity. But that day, at least, there was no doubt in my mind what I was due to this amazing coincidence. I may not have been the hero that they ordered or even the hero they expected. But that day, I was the hero that they needed.
1. What had led to the author struggling with his identity?| A．Working as a birthday-party clown passively |
| B．Being looked down upon by others unpleasantly |
| C．Not being regarded as a successful filmmaker |
| D．Being demanded to wear makeup intentionally |
| A．He didn’t want to shave his giant mustache. |
| B．He didn’t want to be treated as a clown. |
| C．He didn’t want to admit he looked ugly. |
| D．He didn’t want to work for that job. |
| A．said in a low voice | B．said in a loud voice |
| C．said in an ironic tone | D．said in a firm tone |
6 . Last week my youngest son and I visited my father at his new home in Tucson, Arizona. He moved there a few years ago, and I was eager to see his new place and meet his friends.
My earliest memories of my father are a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and his family, but uncomfortable with his children. As a child I loved him. He seemed unhappy with me unless got straight A’s and unhappy with my boyfriends if their fathers were not as “successful” as he was. Whenever I went out with him on weekends, I used to struggle to think up things to say, feeling on guard.
On the first day of my visit, we went out with one of my father’s friends for lunch at an outdoor cafe. We talked along that afternoon, did some shopping, ate on the street table, and laughed over my son’s funny facial expressions Gone was my father’s critical (挑别的) air and strict rules. Who was this person I knew as my father, who seemed so friendly and interesting to be around? What had held him back before?
The next day dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me quite a few stories about his own childhood. Although our times together became easier over the years, I never felt closer to him at that moment. After so many years, I’m at last seeing another side of my father. And in so doing, I’m delighted with my new friend. My dad, in his new home in Arizona, is back to me from where he was.
1. Why did the author feel bitter about her father as a young adult?| A．He did not love his children. |
| B．He expected too much of her. |
| C．He was too proud of himself. |
| D．He was silent most of the time. |
| A．nervous | B．sorry |
| C．tired | D．safe |
| A．More critical. | B．More talkative. |
| C．Gentle and friendly. | D．Strict and hard-working. |
| A．the cafe owner | B．the author’s son |
| C．the author’s father | D．the friend of the author’s father |
7 . A friend of mine met with an accident driving in the darkness. His legs were so hurt that he couldn't move. What was the worst was that he found himself unable to ask for help—his mobile phone went out of work. Nothing could be done but to wait in cold wilderness. 8 hours later, day broke, and then the rescue arrived.
It is almost unimaginable that he could stand the horror in the darkness for so long. Even more surprising was his explanation: “First of all I checked up my physical conditions and found myself not in fatal danger. As there was no way to call for help, I leaned back in my seat trying my best to keep the wound from bleeding. In this way I dozed off.”
His story put an end to my regret for the failure of an exploration adventure that happened last year. A group of young men tried to explore a mountain cave and got lost. Unable to find a way out in the dark cave they were frightened and ran anxiously without a sense of direction. Finally they fell dead in fear and exhaustion. The place where they got lost was only about 10 meters away from the opening of the cave! If they tried to calm themselves, they would probably sense a faint light shining not far away.
Don't you think that you can compare it with life itself? When you meet with obstacles in life and work, you are lost in darkness. Mind you it's unclear yet and you needn't put up struggle immediately. But a person who can afford to do so must have foresight as well as a great courage.
1. What was the greatest trouble for the writer's friend?| A．It was very dark. | B．He was hurt and couldn't move. |
| C．He couldn't get help with his mobile phone. | D．It was very cold. |
| A．He checked his physical conditions. | B．He tried to keep his wound from bleeding. |
| C．He slept for a while. | D．All the above. |
| A．Horrible. | B．Worried. | C．Angry. | D．Calm. |
8 . I had very good parents. My mother came to this country from Scotland by herself when she was 11, and she didn't have much of an education. My dad was kind of a street kid, and he eventually went into the insurance business, selling nickel policies (五分钱保险单） door-to-door. It was the 1930s, a time when America was a lot more racist (种族主义的） than it is now.
One day, my dad asked his boss, “What's the toughest market to sell?” and the insurance guy replied , “Well, black people. They don't buy insurance.” My dad thought: but they have kids; they have families. Why wouldn't they buy insurance? So he said, “Give me Harlem.” He went to Harlem and sold nickel policies there; every Friday, he would go around and collect the nickel and give his customers a receipt on the policy.
When my dad died in 1994, I talked about him when I was invited to The Tonight Show. I told the story of how he worked in Harlem and how he always taught us to be open-minded and not to say or think racist things. Then one day, I got a letter from a woman who was about 75 years old.
She wrote that when she was a little girl, a man used to come to her house to collect on policies, and he would always bring her a lollipop. She said this man was the only white person who had ever come to dinner at their house and the only white person she had ever had dinner with until she got to be almost an adult. The man was very kind to her, she said, and his name was Angelo - was this my father?
The letter made me cry. I called her up and said yes, that was in fact my dad, and she told me how kind he had been to her family. Her whole attitude toward white people was based on that one nice man she met in her childhood, who always treated her with kindness and respect and always gave her a piece of candy and asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. From this experience, I learned a valuable life lesson, to never judge people and to be open-minded and kind to others.
1. Which of the following best describes the author's father?| A．Ambitious. | B．Tough. | C．Open-minded. | D．Cautious. |
| A．He taught her how to judge other people. |
| B．He shaped her attitude towards white people. |
| C．He showed her insurance was necessary in life. |
| D．He made her believe all white people were kind. |
| A．Harlem is a district full of white people. |
| B．The author is the host of The Tonight Show. |
| C．The author's father received a formal education. |
| D．Black people were looked down upon in the 1930s. |
9 . Eleven years ago, the world as I knew it ended. My husband of 19 years was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Over the course of seven months, Bill went from beating me silly at tennis to needing my help to go to the bathroom. It was the best seven months of my life.
Maybe I don't actually mean that. But it was certainly the time when I felt most alive. I discovered that the minor complaint of an annoying co-worker, or a flat tire pales in comparison with the beauty of sincere laughter, or the smells of a bakery. There were moments of joy; laughter, and tenderness. After Bill's diagnosis and brain surgery, I found clinical trials and talked to doctors in Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York. It gave me a sense of purpose.
In the latter days, being Bill's caregiver also meant being fully present for as many moments of every day as possible. During his last weekend, we had dinner together. Later, a relative visited. I noticed that she'd changed her appearance, and not in a good way. It was the kind of thought I'd usually keep to myself. Just then, Bill voiced exactly what I'd been thinking, in that truthful way he had, and I found myself laughing out loud.
I thought I could look after this man forever. However, he would be dead in four days.
Eleven years later, I haven't started a foundation to cure cancer. I haven't left the news business to get a medical degree. But every day, I try to again be the person I became during those seven months. I try to be a little less judgmental, a little more forgiving and generous. I am a better person for having been Bill's caregiver. It was his last, best gift to me.
1. What is true about her husband?| A．He was a poor tennis player. |
| B．He had to talk to doctors in different cities. |
| C．His brain didn't function well because of the surgery. |
| D．He had to be accompanied mostly during his illness. |
| A．Proves unavoidable. | B．Seems less important. |
| C．Turns whiter than usual. | D．Becomes more significant. |
| A．A Caregiver's Hard Work | B．My Loving Husband |
| C．The Best Time of My Life | D．The Greatest Gift to Me |
10 . Where do you find beauty? Fashion magazines? Music videos? One American photographer is finding beauty in unexpected places. And a new documentary about his work might help change the traditional standards of “who” is beautiful.
Rick Guidotti put aside his career as a fashion photographer to turn his lens (镜头) to people living with genetic, physical and behavioral differences. He says what changed his perception of beauty was a chance encounter with an albino (患白化病的) girl. “I was just tired of people telling me who was beautiful. Every season that face would change but I was always told who was beautiful. And as an artist, I don’t see beauty just on covers on magazines. I see it everywhere. So that was my initial – that opened my eyes a little wider and wider.”
Guidotti has created Positive Exposure, a not-for-profit organization that uses photography and video to transform public perceptions and promote a world where differences are celebrated. Guidotti and Positive Exposure are featured in a new documentary, On Beauty.
One of women featured in the film is Jayne Waithera. “I never thought I was beautiful because nobody said that to me but meeting him was my profound moment. I remember that that particular day he took my picture and I felt so good like I felt there’s somebody who, like, really loves me and sees me for who I am and who sees me more than my condition.”
The producer of the documentary, Joanna, and Rick are travelling from city to city to promote On Beauty. They say their tour is not about money, it’s about the message: “As we travel from community to community we’re taking photographs and we’re empowering individuals with a powerful sense of who they are. They’re seeing beauty in their reflection but we’re also empowering their families and they in turn are empowering their community as well. All is based on the philosophy of change – how you see, how you change,” said Guidotti.
1. Why did Guidotti change his career?| A．Because he wanted to create his own company. |
| B．Because the beauty on covers of magazines is not beautiful. |
| C．Because he couldn’t earn enough money from his former career. |
| D．Because his comprehension of beauty changed owing to an albino girl. |
| A．To make the public more beautiful. |
| B．To make his photography more popular. |
| C．To welcome the differences in the world. |
| D．To change people with photos and videos. |
| A．Jayne’s picture was more beautiful than herself. |
| B．People began to love Jayne after she was pictured. |
| C．She felt sorrow that nobody discovered her beauty before. |
| D．Photograph gave Jayne a positive sense of who she was. |
