1 . The sun is shinning. I get on No. 151 bus. I’m heading for my office. The sight on the bus is striking: People sit so close together, using those thin sheets of newspapers to keep their distance.
As the bus approaches the National Park, a voice suddenly rings out, “Attention! Attention! This is your driver speaking.”
No one speaks. We look at the back of the driver’s head. His voice carries authority. “Put your papers down. All of you.” The newspapers come down and they are placed on our laps.
“Now, turn and face the person next to you. Go ahead.” Amazingly, we all do it. Still, no one smiles. Just follow the order.
I face an old woman, her head wrapped tightly in a red scarf. I see her nearly everyday. Our eyes meet. We wait for the next order from the driver. We smile to each other. There is a feeling of relief. The barrier (隔阂) has been broken. We cannot help saying, “Good morning, neighbor.”
It is not so hard after all. Some of us repeat it. Others shake hands. Many laugh. The bus driver says nothing more. Slowly, I hear laughter, a warm sound I have never heard before on the bus.
When we reach my stop, I say good-bye to my seatmate, and then jump from the doorstep. As No. 151 bus drives away, I smile as I watch the happy faces of the passengers. This day is starting off better than most.
1. Where does the story take place according to the passage?| A．On a street. | B．On a bus. | C．In a park. | D．In an office. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Negative. | C．Unclear. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．To stress the effect of reading on people. | B．To introduce the ways of communicating. |
| C．To ask people to use more public transport. | D．To encourage people to break the barriers. |
2 . Many have had the same thought as Shannon St. Onge when looking at the approach of snow on a weather forecast—that they have time to finish their jobs. As the director of finance at the First Nations University of Canada, she had to drive 25 kilometers from her home to the city of Regina to attend an important meeting.
As she was leaving, the winter snow began to fall. Taking a dirt road for better traction (牵引) on her tires, she quickly became lost, with no ability to see the edge of the road from a rolled-down window. After a while she stopped and called 911.
“The operator took my information and told me to wait out the storm as my tank was full and I was warm. I waited almost 14 hours and nobody has called me yet to check in,” she wrote in a Face-book post.
“Would the gas tank last until morning? What if I was hit by another vehicle? What if I didn’t make it home at all?” St. Onge wondered.
Determined to ensure the safest end, she went out in the storm and discovered her location on a road sign, and then found a neighborhood Facebook group for the area she was passing through—warning others of her plight through a Google Maps pin.
That was when 80-year-old Andre Bouvier Sr., a retired rescuer, got a call about St. Onge’s situation. He went out to find her, on foot, since he couldn’t manage to start his tractor.
On the way he found three other stranded (被困) vehicles. He walked the quarter mile there and back, and led the helpless cars one by one to his home. Bouvier let the survivors sleep at his house, where they ate and laughed, and departed the next morning after he had cleaned the driveway.
1. Why did St. Onge take a dirt road?| A．She was familiar with it. | B．She could refuel on the road. |
| C．She took the dirt road to save time. | D．She thought dirt road could increase traction. |
| A．Wrong turn. | B．Poor sense of direction. |
| C．Difficult situation. | D．Bad weather. |
| A．Patient and gifted. | B．Brave and selfless. |
| C．Proud and determined. | D．Adventurous and ambitious. |
3 . Mark Twain, a great writer and speaker, was famous for his humor. Many people liked to listen to him talk because he liked to tell some interesting stories to make people laugh all the time.
One day Mark Twain was going to a small town because of his writing. Before he was going to leave, one of his friends said to him that there were always a lot of mosquitoes (蚊子) in the town and told him that he’d better not go there. Waving his hand, Mark Twain said, “It doesn’t matter. The mosquitoes are no relatives of mine. I don’t think they will visit me.”
After he arrived at the town, Mark Twain stayed in a small hotel near the station. He went into his room, but when he was just about to have a rest, quite a few mosquitoes flew about him. The waiters felt very sorry about that. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Twain. There are too many mosquitoes in our town.” One of them said to him.
Mark Twain, however, made a joke, saying to the waiter, “The mosquitoes are very clever. They know my room number. They didn’t come into the wrong room.” What he said made all the people present laugh heartily.
But that night Mark Twain slept well. Do you know why? That was because all the waiters in the hotel were driving the mosquitoes away for him during the whole night.
1. Why did Mark Twain’s friend warn him not to go to the town?| A．Because it was not a safe place. |
| B．Because there were no relatives of Mark Twain. |
| C．Because there were a lot of mosquitoes there. |
| D．Because he wanted to do something there for his writing. |
| A．Many mosquitoes in Mark’s room. |
| B．Their small hotel. |
| C．The room not being very clean. |
| D．The lock of the door going wrong. |
| A．the mosquitoes were very clever without coming into the wrong room |
| B．the mosquitoes knew Mark Twain’s room number |
| C．Mark Twain gave the waiters some nice presents |
| D．Mark Twain made a joke |
| A．Mark was well looked after in the hotel. |
| B．No mosquitoes troubled Mark in the night. |
| C．Mark didn’t have a good sleep that night. |
| D．There were not mosquitoes in the hotel any longer. |
4 . When I was seven years old, my family made me an ant farm. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box. Then we waited for the ants to arrive. After the ants were in the glass farm, they started to make tunnels (地道). I was amazed that each one knew exactly what to do. Each had its own job.
On the fifth day a tragedy (悲剧) happened. I put my face so close to the glass farm that I knocked it over. All the tunnels fell down. Although the ants remained alive after their earthquake, one by one they began to die. I was scared as I watched them give up building their tunnels to carry the bodies to a corner of the farm. My mother said that the ants were dying of sadness. They simply could not stand that their tunnels were gone.
Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, but it taught me much more.
Over the years, I came to realize the importance of teamwork. Working together, the ants were able to make an amazing world for themselves. I also learned that they should be admired for their hard work.
But there was an even larger lesson that I did not realize until recently: Adversity (逆境) is a natural part of life, and must be accepted. Unlike the ants, we cannot give up when we are sad. We have to realize that if a tunnel is gone, we must build another.
Giving up, I say, is not a good choice.
1. What did the writer’s family do for him when he was seven?| A．They built a farm of ants. | B．They bought a few ants. |
| C．They caught a lot of ants. | D．They found an ant city. |
| A．The writer broke the glass box because it made his face dirty. |
| B．The ants died one by one because the tunnels were destroyed. |
| C．Unlike people, teamwork is not so important for the ants. |
| D．Giving up is a good way when we meet trouble. |
| A．a series of work | B．a group of members work together |
| C．hard work | D．work for long hours |
| A．Working together is useless. | B．Teamwork is important. |
| C．He can’t accept adversity. | D．Working alone is amazing. |
| A．Ants Fear Adversity | B．My Family and Ants |
| C．Giving Up in Adversity | D．A Good Lesson from Ants |
5 . Years ago, I lived in a building in a large city. The building next to ours was only a few feet away from mine. There was a woman who lived there and whom I had never met, yet I could see her seated by her window each afternoon, sewing (缝纫) and reading.
After several months had gone by, I began to notice that her window was dirty. Everything was unclear through the dirty window. I would say to myself, “Why doesn’t that woman clean her window? It really looks terrible.”
One morning I decided to clean my apartment, including cleaning the window. Late in the afternoon I finished the cleaning, I sat down by the window with a cup of coffee for a rest. What a surprise! Across the way, the woman sitting by her window was clearly seen. Her window was clean!
Then it dawned on me. I had been criticizing her dirty window, but all the time I was watching hers through my own dirty window.
That was quite an important lesson for me. From then on, whenever I want to judge (判断) someone, I ask myself first, “Am I looking at him through my own dirty window?” Then I try to clean the window of my own world so that I can see others’ world more clearly.
1. The writer couldn’t see anything clearly through the window because .| A．the woman’s window was dirty |
| B．the writer’s window was dirty |
| C．the woman lived far away |
| D．the writer was near-sighted |
| A．the woman was sitting by her window | B．the woman’s window was still terrible |
| C．the woman was cleaning her window | D．the woman’s window was clean |
| A．angry | B．surprised | C．funny | D．strange |
| A．I began to understand it | B．it cheered me up |
| C．I could see myself through the window | D．it began to get light |
| A．one shouldn’t criticize others very often |
| B．one should often keep his windows clean |
| C．one should judge himself before he judges others |
| D．one should look at others through his dirty window |
6 . Lisa never had the chance to know her father. He and her mother divorced when she was just a young child. Even though he didn’t move far, he never came to visit his children.
Lisa often wondered about her father. What did he looked like and what he was doing. All she knew was his name: Jeff White.
After Lisa grew up she became a nurse at a hospital where she would help provide medicine and comfort for patients in their final days. A few weeks ago she received a new patient whose name was Jeff White.
When Jeff came into his room Lisa asked him if he had any children. Jeff told her that he had two daughters, Lisa and Emily. Lisa couldn’t hold her tears back. She told him, “I am Lisa, your daughter.”
Jeff embraced her, saying that he was not a good father. And the daughter held his hand and kissed him. Then Jeff began to sing This Magic Moment.
Jeff could have just weeks left to live, so Lisa wanted to make the most of the time she had with him. Lisa also brought her kids to the hospital to meet their grandfather. The kid made cards for him with the words, “I love you.”
Forgiveness is also a kind of love.
1. What happened to Lisa when she was young?| A．Her father lost his job. | B．Her mother died. |
| C．Her family moved to another country. | D．Her father left the family. |
| A．Her father’s looks. | B．Her father’s name. |
| C．Her father’s hobby. | D．Her father’s job. |
| A．Doctor. | B．Sick people. | C．Family. | D．Operation. |
| A．Lisa has a brother | B．Lisa hates his father |
| C．Lisa has a sister | D．Lisa’s father hates her daughter |
| A．kids should love their father | B．the father should love his kids |
| C．forgiveness is also a kind of love | D．fathers shouldn’t leave their families |
7 . Jeff was diagnosed in 2010 with multiple myeloma (多发性骨髓瘤). It is a disease that is usually noticed when grandpa falls and breaks his hip. The average patient is in his early 70s. But Jeff was only 50 when diagnosed.
“I wondered why me, as a young guy?” Jeff says. But his relative youth and good health has put him in a position to fight the disease in his way.
In January Jeff and his wife Ramona will join a team climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and funds for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. It’s an adventure he’s dreamed about since the 4th grade.
Jeff will be one of four in the group who are myeloma patients not willing to be threatened by cancer. He and Ramona have raised nearly $18,000 toward their combined goal of $20,000.
Still, he’s confident that his earlier marathon training has prepared him to climb the highest free-standing mountain in the world. “I just have to deal with it and understand my limitations.” he says.
What Jeff sees is a clear future. “Having cancer narrows the focus about what we want to do and who we want to do it with.” he says. He and Ramona now ask themselves, “How do we go out and live the most fulfilling lives? Who are the most important people in our lives? What brings us joy?”
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is their next adventure, but Jeff knows it won’t be just a personal accomplishment. “I do these things for all the people who can’t.” he says.
Jeff is certain that his passion for hiking and adventure will take him to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and that his story will inspire those with multiple myeloma to keep sight of who they are beyond their diagnosis.
“It’s obvious to me,” he says, “that this is part of my fate.”
1. What’s the main purpose for Jeff and his wife to climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro?
| A．To get enough physical training to be stronger. |
| B．To show love for climbing high mountains. |
| C．To express determination to overcome the disease. |
| D．To raise awareness and money for the organization. |
| A．Worried | B．Optimistic | C．Favorable | D．Indifferent |
| A．Part of fate. | B．Power of willingness. |
| C．Love for adventure. | D．An unusual disease. |
8 . I stole your dog today. No, I didn’t set foot in your house, but from the condition of your dog, I can imagine what it looks like... the word “rubbish” comes to mind.
I found her along a road, with a heavy chain wrapped around her neck, still attached to rotten boards from her doghouse. Not only did I know that most of the town people had already ignored her, judging by where I found her, but I knew that if she had gotten into the Woods, the “cross” that she dragged behind her would have wrapped around a tree until starvation or thirst killed her. She has a beautiful name now. Already in the first week she has come to look more like she should. Her eyes sparkle and she has learned to wag her tail in greeting. She has stopped flinching (畏缩) when I make a sudden movement, because she knows now that I won’t beat her. In fact, she rarely leaves my side. She’s even become brave enough to bark at a cat and today I watched from the window as she attempted to play with the other dogs. No, it’s clear she does not miss you or her former life on a chain.
It’s not clear yet whether shell remain here or whether I’ll find her a loving home where she can count on more individual attention than I can give her, but one thing is certain. This is one bit of stolen “property” who is never returning to you. So charge me, accuse me, plead (乞求) with the courts that she is rightfully yours... I’m convinced this is the best “crime” I’ve ever committed. Hardly anything has pleased me more than the day I stole your dog. I need only look into her beautiful brown eyes to know that shed defend my decision with her life. If we have one prayer, it is that you will not replace her, and if we have one special day to celebrate together, it is the day I stole your dog and the day she stole my heart.
1. Where did the author find the dog?| A．In her doghouse. | B．Along a road. | C．In the Woods. | D．In her owner’s house. |
| A．the dog is not lovely |
| B．the dog tried to find a kind master |
| C．the dog was treated badly by her former master |
| D．the author will be charged with stealing a dog |
| A．playing with other dogs | B．barking at a cat |
| C．not missing her former master | D．waving her tail to make greetings |
| A．He was afraid of being punished. |
| B．He thought he had to do it. |
| C．He believed that the law would allow him to do so. |
| D．He did it with pride. |
| A．To warn the people in the town not to keep dogs. |
| B．To express his love for the dog and his anger towards her former owner. |
| C．To explain to the police why the dog was in the Woods. |
| D．To ask people to find the dog a loving home and an owner who loves dogs. |
9 . A few months ago someone gifted us a robot cleaner. We already had a regular cleaner and I didn’t really see the need to use this new one, so it just satin its box.
One of our neighbors is moving away to a new house next week and I thought of asking her whether this might be something she could use. It turned out that she replied yes! Her new place had hardwood floors and her daughter was asking if they could get a robot cleaner but she said they would have to wait and see....and now she didn’t have to buy one!
I couldn’t tell you how overjoyed I was to see her daughter’s response when she came over. She was also as excited about the flower seeds I gave her from our backyard to plant in their new home.
The nice thing was that the daughter would still be working in our town, and I told her that if she ever needed to stay over instead of driving 45 minutes to the new house, our home was always here for her.
She also told me that she was so touched that I drew a big pink heart on the front of our house for their going-away party. I told her maybe after they moved I would clean it up. Or maybe not—I like being reminded of how our hearts are connected to everyone.
1. Why did the author give away the robot cleaner?| A．She liked to giveaway gifts. |
| B．She already had one at home. |
| C．She showed off before her neighbor. |
| D．She met the need of her neighbor’s daughter. |
| A．It is surrounded by some flowers. |
| B．It has a door with a “heart” on it. |
| C．It saw a goodbye party for the author. |
| D．It is far from her daughter’s workplace. |
| A．Love never fails | B．Hearts connect us |
| C．Little acts add up | D．Family warms hearts |
10 . Now he is 22 years old and has become an example of young people because of his story of success.
Michael was born in a very poor family. His parents worked in Vietnam before they moved to Britain in 1980. They couldn’t find jobs in Britain because they spoke little English. The whole family had to live on benefits and they lived in a small house in Hackney, a poor area in East London. Growing up is not easy for Michael, but he never gave up.
At the age of ten, he made up his mind to go to Cambridge University. It was not easy, either. Michael studied at a school, which used to be called “the worst school in Britain”. However, young Michael made up his mind to try his best, no matter what kind of school he was studying at. The smart boy studied very hard and did well in every subject at school. Once he made a bet with his friend to learn further maths. As a result, after just spending four months teaching himself from a textbook, he got an A in AS-level further maths.
Now Michael is the star medical student in St John’s College, Cambridge and has just won an award for his excellent grades. He hopes he will be an example for other young people from poor families.
1. According to the passage, Michael’s family moved to Britain .| A．in 1994 | B．in 1900 | C．in 1980 | D．in 1984 |
| A．His family was very poor and lived on benefits. |
| B．They made a living with the help of the government in Vietnam. |
| C．Michael's parents had no jobs because of their little experience. |
| D．They lived in a poor area without any help. |
| A．He won an award in his middle school because of hard work. |
| B．He was good at making bets with other students. |
| C．Though very young, he decided to go to Cambridge University. |
| D．His best subjects in school were maths and history. |
| A．English. | B．Medicine. | C．Geography. | D．History. |
| A．How to deal with the difficulties. | B．How to become a good student. |
| C．From a poor area to Britain. | D．From “the worst school” to Cambridge University. |
