1 . I enjoy throwing stuff away. I’d love to go full minimalism (极简主义), but my wife and two teenage kids do not share my dream of a house with almost nothing in it. I have tried. When the kids were little, I taught them my two favorite games – “Do We Need It?” and “Put It in Its Place”– and made them play every few months. Their enthusiasm never matched mine.
If I’m going to be honest, my own tidying skills are not as great as I’d like. My “discarded” pile is never quite the trash mountain I want because I make up excuses for why things are useful. I consider this unhealthy. I want to be better at moving on.
So, this time I found help – the classics for people like me: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo. Kondo’s commitment to her craft is astonishing. Her philosophy is only to keep things you love. Can I go full Kondo? I will try. One central idea is to clean by category. You start by collecting all clothes and gathering them together for consideration. It makes you rethink how you organize. Next, hold each item and ask if it brings you joy. This way you’re choosing what to keep. And that’s how I find myself with all my clothes on my bedroom floor. My wife walks by and gives me a look that says I’m nuts. She’s probably not wrong.
Somewhere near the bottom of this chaos is my special jacket. I move through the pile: pants, shirts, suits and shoes. Then my last category: jackets. I haven’t worn the thing in about 30 years. Somehow, it has survived. Now that I’m striving to follow Kondo – surely, its time has come?
I hold it in my hand. There is a tear just below the collar that widens as I hold it. It’s literally falling apart. Will I ever wear it again? Not a chance. Does it feel good to wear? Does it bring me joy? Actually, yes. At this moment, my daughter walks in. She asks about the jacket. I tell her the story. She thinks I should keep it. It’s cool and unique and full of memories. She is arguing that nostalgia (怀念) is the very reason.
I’m not entirely convinced by my daughter’s arguments. I believe in looking ahead, not backward. Nevertheless, sometimes it’s hard to let go. So I gently place the jacket on the “keep” pile.
1. What does the underlined word “discarded” probably mean in Paragraph 2?| A．adjusted | B．reserved | C．abandoned | D．tidied |
| A．To learn how to categorize. | B．To improve his tidying skills. |
| C．To persuade his family members. | D．To develop passion for minimalism. |
| A．They don’t understand it. | B．They completely support it. |
| C．They are strongly opposed to it. | D．They are less passionate about it. |
| A．Knowing when to let go | B．Classifying what you love |
| C．Throwing worn-out clothes | D．Keeping valuable possessions |
2 . A flight attendant’s kindness towards a passenger with Parkinson’s disease is appreciated on the internet after a woman shared his story on social media.
Sharon Radcliffe was on a Delta Airlines flight from Detroit to Nashville last week when the flight attendant, Jeffrey Jones, discovered that an older woman in coach class struggled with the neurodegenerative disease. To Radcliffe’s surprise, Jones immediately took the senior by the hand and brought her to an empty seat in first class. “For the ENTIRE flight, I could see him checking in on her, patting her back, helping her get up, walking her (holding hands) up and down the aisle and generally ‘mother hen-ing’ her,” Radcliffe wrote on Facebook.
When Radcliffe asked if he needed any help caring for the woman, Jones simply said: “I got this.” “He told me his grandmother had Parkinson’s and that he was all good, but that he very much appreciated my offer for help,” said Radcliffe. “As I sat in my seat, I literally had tears in my eyes.” Radcliffe, who works at a hospital in Marquette, Michigan, praised Jones for his kindness before she left the plane. Then, she posted the photos of Jones on Facebook where they have been shared thousands of times.
As news agencies continue to pick up the story of Jones’s sympathy, the flight attendant also turned to social media to express his thankfulness for the experience. “All of the positive comments, shares, feedback, etc. have been an amazing and humbling experience for me,” wrote Jones. “And thank you to Delta for showcasing my story, which happens to be one of thousands upon thousands of the good deeds and hearts we as flight attendants perform and share every day in and out of the air.”
1. How did Jones deal with the older woman?| A．He followed Radcliffe’s instructions. | B．He took care of her skillfully and attentively. |
| C．He turned to doctors on the flight for help. | D．He provided her with professional treatment. |
| A．She assisted Jones in the caring. | B．Her grandmother was a Parkinson’s sufferer. |
| C．She has appreciable eyes for kindness. | D．She contributed the story to the newspaper. |
| A．He was totally surprised. | B．He believed he deserved it. |
| C．He felt his life was disturbed. | D．He thought he was somewhat overpraised. |
| A．A Post Is Widely Shared on Facebook. | B．Flight Attendant Takes the Senior to First Class. |
| C．Medical Treatment Is Performed in the Air. | D．Flight Attendant Gives a Hand to a Parkinson Senior. |
3 . The journey my daughter Cathy has had with her swimming is as long as it is beautiful.
Cathy suffered some terrible
Two years ago, while Cathy was watching the Olympics, a dream came into her sweet little head—to be a swimmer. Last summer, she wanted to
From that day on, Cathy kept swimming and didn’t
Then came the final awards ceremony at the end of the year. Cathy didn’t expect any award but was still there to
It was the greatest
| A．failure | B．pressure | C．loss | D．illness |
| A．usually | B．finally | C．firstly | D．frequently |
| A．improve | B．train | C．join | D．contact |
| A．increased | B．found | C．created | D．made |
| A．however | B．therefore | C．otherwise | D．instead |
| A．use | B．survive | C．save | D．waste |
| A．pull | B．tell | C．hide | D．fire |
| A．afraid | B．nervous | C．ready | D．free |
| A．take off | B．set off | C．give up | D．show up |
| A．attend | B．miss | C．ban | D．start |
| A．rich | B．weak | C．firm | D．kind |
| A．trusted | B．determined | C．experienced | D．embarrassed |
| A．frustration | B．delight | C．excitement | D．surprise |
| A．beginner | B．learner | C．partner | D．winner |
| A．cheer on | B．compete with | C．respond to | D．run after |
| A．admitting | B．explaining | C．announcing | D．whispering |
| A．humor | B．will | C．honesty | D．wisdom |
| A．Although | B．Since | C．Once | D．Because |
| A．discovery | B．choice | C．influence | D．moment |
| A．through | B．under | C．across | D．around |
4 . On September 2nd, BUAA (北京航空航天大学) welcomed its first 2021 student. His name is Xing Yifan, coming together with his parents ahead of time.
"Yifan is 18 years old, but he weighs only 18 kilograms. When 6 months old, he suffered from LAMA2 (渐冻症), a type of disease that no more than a hundred people have got in the country. However, with his strong will, he made one amazing achievement after another in learning. In this year's college entrance exam, he entered BUAA with a score of 645.
Because of the illness, Yifan can only sit alone for a while, unable to stand and walk like other children. In class, he could only put his head on the table and his eyes can only scan half the pages of the book. He couldn't turn over the book with one hand. And he could only sit and listen to a class for up to 30 minutes, with the remaining 15 minutes to lie down to listen to his teacher.
But these did not scare Yifan, with only a little muscle strength left in his hands, he finished one test paper after another, more than 20 a day, often till one or two o'clock in the morning. Finally, he successfully completed the 2021 college entrance examination.
To live is much more difficult than others. Why does he have to learn? The family said because of the serious disease, he was deprived (剥夺) of the right to walk, run, jump, but he can no longer be deprived of the right to education. Xing Yifan decided to let himself be Hawking of China, and change his life with knowledge.
He came to BUAA and stayed in the love dormitory on the first floor. Xing Yifan said he was feeling particularly warm with all the help. He was expecting new college life and hoped to know more students, and take part in lots of activities. Life kisses him with pain, but he sings.
1. What can Xing Yifan do according to the text?| A．Sit alone for 45 minutes at a time. |
| B．Walk and run faster than others. |
| C．Turn over the book with one hand. |
| D．Lie down to listen during the class. |
| A．Easy-going. | B．Warm-hearted. |
| C．Hard-working. | D．Simple-minded. |
| A．His parents didn't support his learning. |
| B．He faced up to his difficulty positively. |
| C．He was forced to learn by his parents. |
| D．He was once refused to learn at school. |
| A．BUAA. a university filled with love and care |
| B．A disabled boy, being the first student of BUAA |
| C．LAMA2, attacking no more than a hundred people |
| D．A disabled boy, making a surprising achievement |
5 . Hannah Taylor is a schoolgirl from Manitoba, Canada. One day, when she was five years old, she was walking with her mother in downtown Winnipeg. They saw a man
Later, when Hannah attended school, she saw another homeless person. It was a woman,
Hannah began to speak out about the homelessness in Manitoba and then in other provinces. She hoped to
There is an emergency shelter in Winnipeg called “Hannah`s Place”, something that Hannah is very
Hannah is one of many examples of young people who are making a
| A．jumping | B．eating | C．crying | D．waving |
| A．annoyed | B．nervous | C．ashamed | D．upset |
| A．behave | B．manage | C．help | D．work |
| A．pushing | B．carrying | C．buying | D．holding |
| A．goods | B．bottles | C．foods | D．bags |
| A．excited | B．determined | C．energetic | D．grateful |
| A．since | B．unless | C．although | D．as |
| A．sound | B．get | C．feel | D．look |
| A．exchange | B．leave | C．keep | D．spread |
| A．sell | B．deliver | C．host | D．pack |
| A．contribute | B．lead | C．apply | D．agree |
| A．campaign | B．trip | C．procedure | D．trial |
| A．elderly | B．hungry | C．lonely | D．sick |
| A．aware | B．afraid | C．proud | D．sure |
| A．going | B．sleeping | C．traveling | D．playing |
| A．praises | B．invitations | C．replies | D．appointments |
| A．needs | B．interests | C．dreams | D．efforts |
| A．for | B．through | C．besides | D．along |
| A．healthy | B．public | C．normal | D．tough |
| A．choice | B．profit | C．judgment | D．difference |
6 . Exercise and I had never had a good relationship due to my fear of sports. From a young age, my dad
When I entered the University of Regina, my dad
The spring semester came. A friend of mine
I went, and that was it. Zumba became my
| A．expected | B．allowed | C．forced | D．invited |
| A．therefore | B．though | C．instead | D．besides |
| A．avoided | B．risked | C．regretted | D．kept |
| A．in shape | B．for fun | C．at ease | D．on business |
| A．refused | B．happened | C．bothered | D．decided |
| A．hardly | B．merely | C．constantly | D．gradually |
| A．eager | B．content | C．embarrassed | D．disappointed |
| A．cheated | B．comforted | C．asked | D．annoyed |
| A．happy | B．proud | C．careful | D．sure |
| A．cup | B．part | C．share | D．mouth |
| A．curiosity | B．passion | C．fear | D．confidence |
| A．perfect | B．positive | C．adorable | D．official |
| A．accept | B．feel | C．display | D．compare |
| A．witness | B．separate | C．discourage | D．save |
| A．trouble | B．sense | C．peace | D．contact |
7 . Since the age of four, Jacquelyn Hill had dreamed of becoming a dancer. However, a car accident put the high school senior in the hospital for 5 days and left her paralyzed from the waist down and
After graduation, she wanted to expand her dancing network to include women like her. She began to
Dancing on wheels can be just as fast-paced, artful and
| A．reduced | B．addicted | C．attached | D．tied |
| A．aroused | B．exposed | C．ruined | D．seized |
| A．Far from | B．Apart from | C．Away from | D．Free from |
| A．special | B．normal | C．exceptional | D．upright |
| A．torn down | B．picked up | C．taken away | D．cut down |
| A．previously | B．absolutely | C．occasionally | D．aggressively |
| A．intelligence | B．perseverance | C．creativity | D．modesty |
| A．reach | B．expose | C．recommend | D．observe |
| A．call off | B．bring in | C．break down | D．carry on |
| A．rolling | B．driving | C．lying | D．playing |
| A．conventional | B．artificial | C．profitable | D．fruitful |
| A．tunes | B．lines | C．notes | D．voices |
| A．upper | B．stiff | C．flexible | D．sensitive |
| A．lifting | B．operating | C．stretching | D．guiding |
| A．increasing | B．declining | C．spreading | D．connecting |
8 . Twelve-year-old Mathew Flores is different from other kids. He loves junk mail, and these ads were the only reading materials he could find. Once he asked his mailman if he could offer him some.
The question surprised the mailman. He asked the boy the reason, and then shared the story on Facebook. “Today while delivering mail, I saw a boy reading ads, and he asked me for more mail. In fact, he wants to go to the library, but his family is very poor and he doesn’t have money to take the bus.”
The mailman then asked his Facebook friends if they could give some books to the boy. He wrote, “Most kids want computers or mobile phones! But what he wants is books. It’s great to see his unusual wish, and you may have seen him smile when I said I could help him!” “He is counting on me,” he said. “So I am counting on you!”
The mailman thought the Facebook post might bring in 50 to 60 books. But it was passed on quickly. People from around the world, including the UK, Australia and India, have sent books. Hundreds of books have been delivered to the boy’s door, with hundreds more still on their way.
When books first started arriving, Flores was surprised at what happened. “I thought they were mistaken, but they indeed were for me.” He says that he can’t wait to share the books with other kids, and has promised to read every one.
1. How is Flores different from other kids?| A．He sells books. | B．He likes reading. |
| C．He delivers mails. | D．He wants to be a mailman. |
| A．took him to the library | B．paid for his bus tickets |
| C．offered him some junk mail | D．posted his story on Facebook |
| A．He is honest. | B．He is hardworking. |
| C．He is confident. | D．He is warmhearted. |
| A．A junk mail | B．An unexpected gift |
| C．An excellent job | D．An interesting book |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
On a bright November day, a graceful English lady walk into a cozy bookshop in the heart of London’s Chinatown. She picked up a orderly pile of New Year cards and calendars decorating with beautiful Chinese paper cutting patterns and Chinese ink paintings. Then she warm greeted the shop assistant. The lady was 91-year-old Pamela Youde whose husband was the late Sir Edward Youde, which served as the governor of Hong Kong between 1982 and in 1986. For several decade, Youde has been a loyal customer of Guanghwa Bookshop. Every winter, apart from buy New Year cards from Guanghwa for her friends and family, he also buys Chinese calendars for each of her four grandchildren. She expects help them learn Mandarin well.
10 . Macaire Kverett, 14, and her 9-year-old brother, Camden, discovered a unique way to entertain themselves. When bored at home, they began to draw impressive, colorful and imaginary chalk art in their neighborhood. After they completed each chalk art mural (壁画), Camden would lie on the ground to become part of each adventure scene for photos. Their drawings soon grew into massive murals that attracted crowds of neighborhood onlookers. Neighbors would enthusiastically gather to view and take pictures of each new imaginary design.
Their imaginative art collaboration (合作) took their minds off world troubles and transported them to an exciting, imaginary world. Hie great adventures were brought to life through their chalk drawings, including Camden dancing in puddles, zip-lining and floating away with a bunch of balloons. The incredible drawings also had Gamden traveling to the Great Wall of China and Times Square.
Macaire enjoyed collaborating with her brother so much on the creative project that she continued it for 100 days.
“My brother and I talk about ideas a lot during dinner. He likes to ‘travel’ so it’s fun to take him to places,” Macaire explained.
Once they agree on a design, the process takes Macaire two to four hours for smaller drawings and up to six hours for larger murals.
They received such a positive response from their creative artwork that they shared their drawings on social media. Macaire then compiled the artwork into her first book, The World from Our Driveway. They have since published a second book, Cum and Hopper Travel the World.
1. Why did Macaire and Camden draw the chalk art?| A．To entertain the neighbors. | B．To drive away their boredom. |
| C．To show off their drawing skills. | D．To prepare for publishing books. |
| A．annoyed. | B．Disturbed. | C．Disappointed | D．Interested. |
| A．Macaire. | B．neighbor. | C．Camden. | D．An onlooker. |
| A．Corrected | B．Included | C．Divided | D．Changed |
