1 . I still remember that busy autumn evening as I hurried with my eldest daughter, Athena, to get to her classroom on time for the parent-teacher night. We walked in and all eyes were on me. A few adults quickly quieted their kids’ whispers. A classmate yelled to my daughter, “What’s wrong with your mom’s face?” Shocked, I started to explain my condition, but my six-year-old daughter looked at him and said, “It’s my mom’s birthmark! Don’t be rude!” I was extremely proud of how she handled that situation.
I was quite young when I realized I looked different because of my large facial birthmark. I always thought I would be alone because of it. Being compared to Batman’s evil Two-Face made me believe I could never find love. But I was lucky enough to meet my husband, who saw me for who I am inside. When I had my first daughter, I was overjoyed, but I began to worry if the world would judge my children. I always worried I might pass my condition onto my children; I didn’t want them to grow up feeling judged. Unfortunately, my facial difference has impacted my children. My daughters get disinvited from birthday parties or sleepovers, or I learn certain kids are no longer friends with mine after their parents saw me at school.
When my kids were young, I explained how my special purple skin was rare and we talked about acceptance and never judging others on how they look. When my girls kiss my purple-skinned cheek, I feel “normal” around them and their unconditional love. With time going by, both my daughters have become my strongest supporters. Thanks to them, I’ve begun to feel more self-confident as I try to be a good role model.
Their worldviews are similar to mine. We see the world a little differently and with a kinder, more accepting heart. As the saying goes, your daughters will grow up to be your best friends. I know that will be the case for me!
1. What happened when the author went to attend the parent-teacher night?| A．Athena was praised by others for her bravery and optimism. |
| B．Athena defended her mother against her classmate’s rudeness. |
| C．Some parents criticized their kids because of their misbehaviour. |
| D．The author felt shocked at her daughter’s response to her classmate. |
| A．Friendship needs to be watered by love. |
| B．We should treat our children as best friends. |
| C．We should accept other people’s differences. |
| D．Our ability to handle difficulties can be developed. |
| A．They have to drop out of school. |
| B．They have the same physical condition as me. |
| C．They have difficulty maintaining friendships. |
| D．They feel worried because they are often judged. |
| A．A birthmark to live with. | B．My strongest supporters. |
| C．A kind and accepting heart. | D．The confidence to be different. |
2 . Life is like a roller coaster, and every point has ups and downs. People plan something, but luck and sometimes misfortunes lead them toward a different destination. However, passionate individuals are not scared of such uncertainties. They set goals, welcome challenges, overcome obstacles, and eventually achieve what satisfies them.
Those who stay committed to their broad goals and find satisfaction even in unplanned circumstances are truly victorious. One true example of such people comes from a woman passionate about spreading happiness and helping others. Nicole Thornes is a mother, a former police officer, and now serving society as a death doula (陪护师).
Nicole joined the police academy intending to be helpful to society. She believed that a police officer has the opportunity to eliminate crime, bring justice, and create a better society for everyone. Although she became a mother during her studies and her responsibilities were increased due to children, she didn’t give up on her passion. Nicole could have called off her studies, but her passion for serving society didn’t let her step down. With great efforts, she finally became a police officer and gave her contributions to law enforcement and the betterment of society. She was not only a police officer making full commitment to the society but also a mother who played her responsibilities in the best way possible.
Everything went according to her plans, but uncertainty called off her journey as a police officer. Nicole suffered from an injury in a mission that ended her career in the police force. But her dreams and passion did not let her stop. She became a death doula to continue her dream. She chose this field after her grandfather’s death, when she couldn’t bear the pain of losing him. Being a death doula, she is now providing comfort to the dying and their families during difficult times. She aims to spread prosperity in people’s lives and help them overcome all the obstacles she faced throughout her life.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．Life is full of ups and downs. |
| B．People are at the mercy of changes. |
| C．Uncertainties lead life to a different direction. |
| D．Fulfillment comes from making the best of the uncertainties. |
| A．To conduct her duty well and better the society. |
| B．To cater to the children’s requirements and needs. |
| C．To accompany the senior through the darkest time. |
| D．To release people’s pain from losing the loved ones. |
| A．Because of the arrangement of the office. | B．Because of the injury she got at work. |
| C．Because of the change of interest. | D．Because of the danger of the job. |
| A．The appeal of the people in sorrow. | B．The push of getting a new job to survive. |
| C．The passion in accompanying the sick ones. | D．The sorrowful pain of losing her beloved family. |
3 . Jen is a 39-year old community dancer with Down’s Syndrome(唐氏综合征). She is the founder of Dance Syndrome, a nonprofit organization that brings together
Dancing has always been in her veins. As a young girl, Jen seized every opportunity to dance with full
Life hasn’t been straightforward for Jen. She was
After leaving school at 18, Jen spent over 10 years searching
Despite the
Over the decade, Dance Syndrome has
| A．confusing | B．disabled | C．talented | D．clumsy |
| A．energy | B．fear | C．speed | D．courage |
| A．concentration | B．imagination | C．relaxation | D．celebration |
| A．exhausted | B．astonished | C．motivated | D．refreshed |
| A．held back | B．left alone | C．looked after | D．turned down |
| A．consequences | B．barriers | C．friends | D．experiences |
| A．discover | B．employ | C．engage | D．entertain |
| A．in particular | B．in return | C．in vain | D．in advance |
| A．frustration | B．progress | C．curiosity | D．uncertainty |
| A．possession | B．charge | C．advantage | D．control |
| A．supported | B．praised | C．paid | D．added |
| A．valued | B．envied | C．united | D．rewarded |
| A．regarded | B．listed | C．interviewed | D．expected |
| A．inspiration | B．friendship | C．teamwork | D．leadership |
| A．contribute to | B．adapt to | C．belong to | D．live up to |
Daniel’s mother, Debbie Ashworth struggled to raise her two kids. As the older child at home, Daniel was a good help to his mother, cleaning the room and caring for his younger brother, Tony.
On a cold winter morning, Debbie asked the kids to go to the supermarket for some groceries. A toy panda on the she If caught Tony’s eyes. It was so adorable that he could hardly tear himself away from it. Knowing that they couldn’t afford it, Daniel told his brother to put it back. But Tony really wanted it and was unwilling to leave. “Please, I can wait until Mom’s salary came in on June 15th,” Tony said. Daniel hesitated for a while, then took out a pen and wrote a note, which read, “Please keep the toy panda for my little brother until June 15th, when my mother gets her salary to pay for it. Thanks.” Placing the note on top of the box, they left the supermarket relieved.
One of the staff spotted the note, who then showed it to the manager. The note melted everyone there and they decided to do something thoughtfully. They put away the toy panda so that it wouldn’t be purchased by other shoppers. After that, they tried their best to search for the two boys, but in vain. There was no other clue(线索)on the note to identify them. It appeared that they had no alternative but to wait until June 15th, which was about half a month away.
The big day finally arrived. Unexpectedly, the two boys didn’t show up. “Maybe they have forgotten all about the toy,” one clerk whispered. “Impossible. A toy animal might not mean much to an adult. But for a child, it could mean the world,” the manager said. “We must come up with a way to contact them.” They decided to turn to the Internet by posting the note and their phone number online, hoping it could bring a surprise.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The post eventually attracted the attention of Debbie.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“I lost my job last month,” Debbie sighed(叹气).
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Michelle was eight years old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Jack, now only an infant(婴儿). He was very sick and they were completely out of money. Only a very costly operation could save Jack the baby now but there was no one to whom they could turn for the money needed. She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mom, “Only a miracle can save him now.”
At the words, Michelle went to her bedroom and took out all the coins from her little moneybox. After counting the coins three times, she slipped out the back door and made her way to the drug store six blocks away . . .
She waited for a long time before the pharmacist(药剂师）turned around and asked her. “And what do you want?”
“Well, it's' about my brother,” Michelle answered . “He's really, really sick . . . and 1 want to buy a miracle.”
“I beg your pardon?”said the pharmacist. “His name is Jack and he has something very bad growing inside his body and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?”
“We don't sell miracles here, little girl .I'm sorry but I can't help you, ” the pharmacist said. “Listen, I have money to pay for it.” And with these words, Mich poured out all the coins from her pockets. At this time, a well-dressed man behind Michelle stooped down and ask the little girl. “I'm selling the miracle you want. Tell me how much money you have.”
“One dollar and eleven cents, ” Michelle answered in a low voice. “And it's all the money I have, but I can some more if I need to.”
“Well, ” smiled the man. “A dollar and eleven cents— the exact price of a miracle for little brothers. Show me the place where your brothers lives.”
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1 :
Holding the man's hand firmly , Michelle took him home.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2:
When asked why he chose to help the family, the man detailed,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Jack and Dane were great friends. Every evening they played together. They studied in the same class in the same school. They were good students.
One evening, Jack and Dane were playing with a ball. After a while, Jack said, “I am so bored. Shall we go for fishing in the river?” “That is a great idea.” replied Dane.
Jack called out to his mother, “Mama, we are going fishing in the river, okay?”
“Okay,” Jack’s mother said, “but be careful not to get into the water. Your father said there are crocodiles in the river.”
Both the children said that they would not get into the river. They gathered their fishing lines with the hooks (钩), and a can full of fish food. They headed to the river, and soon began fishing.
However, even after a long time, they did not get any fish. They began to feel bored again. “This river looks not so deep. Why does mother say not to swim here?” asked Jack.
“Remember, your mother said there are crocodiles here.” said Dane.
“Well, I don’t find any.” said Jack.
Dane was quiet for a while. Finally he asked, “Do you think we can swim?”
Jack jumped up and shouted excitedly, “Yes, let us swim. Come on, dive.”
The two friends dove in, and splashed (泼水) around happily. They found some logs of wood floating on the river, and tried floating with them. It was then that something unexpected happened.
Dane was playing with a log of wood, and suddenly, the log was caught in a strong current (水流), and he was hit in the head. He became unconscious immediately.
注意: 1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Jack saw what happened, and he swam fast to his friend’s rescue.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Suddenly, a loud splash was heard.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
