1 . Graduation is a significant milestone for everyone. An 89-year-old man called Rene Neira had been trying to finish a degree since the 1950s. However, in the 1960s, he was so passionate about urban and economic development of the southside of San Antonio that he stopped school and got involved with the local government. From that time, one of his life goals was to earn a degree in economics. In 2017, the grandpa and his 19-year-old granddaughter both enrolled (入学) at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
“There were times when we would get lunch together, be in the library together, and just work silently side-by-side,” Melanie Salazar, Rene’s granddaughter, recalled. “He always had something to say, especially if his professors had different opinions than him,” Melanie said. “And there were often times when a professor would invite him to talk about the past.”
Rene’s college years weren’t easy. “He has worked very hard over time. Especially in recent years, with hearing loss and going through seasons of not having a car, there was a term where he had to take medical leave because he had a stroke, so he couldn’t go back to school that term. And then the pandemic started,” said Melanie.
After four years, their hard work finally paid off—they graduated. Together, they stood on the stage. Everyone broke into applause and cheered for this fantastic pair.
Their story has been making waves online. People have nothing but good words for them, “Awww... I love stories like this. This was such a beautiful moment. Congratulations to both of them. Grandpa definitely demonstrated that one shouldn’t give up their dream no matter how long it takes,” one wrote. Another wrote, “I’m motivated to go back to school myself, thanks to his example.”
Rene had the determination to finish his degree even at an advanced stage in his life. Hard work, patience, and determination are the keys to success, especially when the path is not easy or clear.
1. Why did Rene fail to get a degree when he was young?| A．He was not interested in university life then. |
| B．He devoted himself to city development. |
| C．He needed to work to support his family. |
| D．He was not good at his school work. |
| A．It made him physically ill. | B．It was full of surprise. |
| C．It was smooth and plain. | D．It came with challenges. |
| A．Admirable. | B．Doubtful. | C．Funny. | D．Pitiful. |
| A．Actions speak louder than words. |
| B．It is never too late to achieve one’s dream. |
| C．Genius without education is like silver in the mine. |
| D．A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. |
2 . Invited by an author-friend, I recently attended a program of readings by local African-American writers. As the audience in the library expanded, I noticed that I was among a minority of white and elderly supporters. After years of university teaching, volunteering in many organizations, and working as a psychologist in inner-city settings, I was comfortable amid many sorts and curious about what I might learn from these authors.
I settled into my seat as the chairman introduced a handsome and passionate man — Kendall Glaspie. He greeted us and then began to read from his five-chapter book of poems — Loved-Unloved: A Black Man’s Puzzle. I sat mesmerized, as the sounds and meanings of his words washed over me. Suddenly I reached back 60 years to a part of me, a college student of the second year, who first discovered Lawrence Ferlinghetti and A Coney Island of the Mind. Like Ferlinghetti, his work was meant to voice something. The moment felt magical.
After the program, I stood in his author-line to speak with him, purchase a copy, and ask if I could write about my experience while listening to him. He generously granted (准予) permission. Back home, I devoted myself to reading the poems, giving them the attention they deserved.
Kendall’s book did not disappoint. He sees it as “a collection of poems that explore complex dynamics that influence the identity and feelings of ordinary people in North America”. It investigates what the construct of love means to us as individuals and as a collective. Although I am not that remarkable — nor am I even of his generation —— I have spent my personal and professional life studying, discovering, and witnessing the healing power of love. I identified strongly with both the universal and much in the personal that he described. The depth of his grasp of the journey toward wholeness embracing all parts of ourselves but allowing our choices of action to be based on consciousness, left me impressed.
1. What do we know about the reading program?| A．It was often hosted in inner-city settings. |
| B．It was an uneasy attendance for the author. |
| C．It involved a few white and elder attendees. |
| D．It invited university teachers to give lectures. |
| A．Fascinated. | B．Shocked. | C．Puzzled. | D．Bored. |
| A．Choices of action. | B．The construct of love. |
| C．The identity of the individuals. | D．The meaning of life. |
| A．A guide to solving puzzles. | B．An essay on explorations of love. |
| C．An introduction to a program. | D．A blog on reading experiences. |
3 . He hurried around the room, touching everything he could reach. I followed, attempting to intercept (拦截) him before he reached the hallway. He approached the front desk and knocked over all the papers on the table. I assisted him firmly in collecting them. I sensed eyes watching me, judging my parenting skills.
I should have realised that arriving so early would not have been wise. It was my mistake to arrive early, as the long wait was difficult for my child. I kept searching my bag and found a ball, which finally attracted him. A couple waited for their child. They stared at me and my son, and I heard the words “out of control”. I could feel my face flush red. I wanted to tell them that my son has a disability and that he’s not being bad; he’s just having trouble waiting. I sat down and watched him play with the ball, and I tried my best not to cry.
The instructor called the group together, and my son went off to play sports with the other five-year-olds. I prayed that this time he would follow the rules. I closed my eyes and wished him to be okay.
“He’ll be fine.” I opened my eyes and looked beside me. “He’ll do great. You are doing great. You are a great mom. I can see it in all that you do for him,” a lady sat on my right said.
She told me about her brother and her parents and all that her mom did for her brother over the years. She told me about how he turned out great, got a job and lives on his own now. We sat and talked, and I felt the tension leave my body.
Before I knew it, the doors opened, and all the kids ran out, including my own, filled with excitement and pride. “I did it!” he exclaimed. I picked him up. I turned to thank the lady, but she was gone.
1. What might others in the waiting room expect the author to do?| A．Apologize to them. | B．Make her child behave. |
| C．Get out of the room. | D．Take her son to the doctor’s. |
| A．His own temper. | B．His mother’s love. |
| C．A physical disability. | D．Difficulty in waiting. |
| A．Her sincere attitude. | B．Her family’s experience. |
| C．Her brother’s suffering. | D．Her sympathy for the author. |
| A．True and kind words can change the world. |
| B．It is difficult for a child to behave himself. |
| C．Be more patient to a child with disability. |
| D．Wrong words will make the world worse. |
4 . Kala has deep ties to her Hawaiian roots. Her ancestors navigated (航行) the oceans for centuries using their knowledge of the stars, the sun, the currents and the wind. It’s not that she does it in a canoe without technology, but rather uses the natural technology around her. It’s called Way finding, and was taught to her by her father.
“My father was my foundation, my rock.” she says of her first voyage with him from Oahu to Lahaina in a traditional canoe. He taught her how to read the stars, the ocean swells and how to use them to hold the course. “Over 200 stars have specific names and purposes when you are Way finding. You have to look at each and determine if they are rising or setting. You know this star and the direction it represents. If you can do that, you can use it as a tool to orient (确定方向).” Kala added.
Kala Tanaka sailed the canoe in the ocean for up to three weeks. During the day, Kala used the sun until it hit a certain height. When she got closer to land, she looked for certain species of land birds and clouds that indicated there was land below. When Kala sailed she felt “I feel very connected to the crew and the canoe. We’re a family.” The longer voyage required Kala to spend hours studying the day and the night skies. It was demanding physical work. But it also had its moments of awe. For Kala, the beauty was in tying together the past and the present to enjoy the moment. So when she was not sailing, she was teaching Way finding skills to school-aged children in hopes of preserving the skills her ancestors relied on.
It’s easy to be lost in the immediacy of the technology of our day, to be consumed by screens and miss the nature that unfolds around us. But if we will take the time to look up, to see the stars and the sun, the way the clouds move, the miracle of life beneath and above us, we will discover something deep inside us, something that will always lead to happiness.
1. How does Kala navigate the ocean in a canoe?| A．By observing the natural elements around. |
| B．By following the course of ocean currents. |
| C．By using hi-technology navigation devices. |
| D．By recalling the first voyage with her father. |
| A．It was a heroic adventure. | B．It brought great joy to her life. |
| C．It was school children’s favorite. | D．It represented a kind of innovation. |
| A．Enjoy the screens. | B．Explore the universe. |
| C．Get close to nature. | D．Keep the earth clean. |
| A．Finding Our Way | B．Navigating the Ocean |
| C．The Wisdom from Ancestors | D．An Unforgettable Journey |
注意：词数100左右
基本分析：
1.三分之一描写要点：阳光，楼(很靠近)，弯曲的树。(the sun，two apartments flats closely-locate d.the winding/twisted tree)
2.三分之二议论着眼立意：
—人生角度：在成长的道路上(树的成长)，有曲折，有困难，(建筑的阻挡，弯曲)但是只要向着光明和希望(太阳)去努力拼搏，坚持不懈，还是能够冲破桎梏取得成功(树在楼的夹缝中长高了，超出建筑)。
3.立意与现实生活关系：引导青年学生要具有积极的生活态度，生活就是不断克服各种艰难险阻而取得“大直若曲”的成功与胜利。
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
注意：1. 词数100左右；题目和首句已给出，不计入总词数；
2. 不得出现真实的人名、校名、地名等相关信息。
Struggle Hard
As we all know, life is full of struggle which is also the driving force of all life conditions.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
