1 . My plan to learn to play the cello (大提琴) was a health y choice. So I took the next innocent step of going to a shop that sells and rents string instruments, especially violins, violas, and cellos. The place was a hole-in-the-wall, up a steep flight of stairs. Instruments left a narrow path to the counter where a woman with grey hair and warm eyes greeted me. Since I couldn’t form a question about what I wanted, I just stood there exploring the scene, which felt immensely pleasurable.
I rented a cello, a bow, and a case to hold them. What attracted me to the cello was its enormous size and its soft, smooth, and memorable sounds. It’s an instrument made of beautifully polished wood that I could wrap my arms around and feel its powerful vibrations when the strings were played. That was a good starting point for me. The only problem was that I didn’t know how to play it.
There’s a popular belief that the cello is a particularly difficult instrument to learn. Another is the admonition, “Don’t bother if you are a beginner over age 10!” Well, I was 70, and what others thought no longer influenced me. And besides, I thought of the words of Dr. Cohen, who suggested that learning causes physical changes in the brain.
So I found a teacher who had respect for older adult beginners and I practiced diligently, daily for years, and sometimes disheartened, but I kept up. I’m happy to report that now, more than a decade later, I can hold my own in a string trio and two quartets （two violins, a viola, and me, the female cello）and even a senior community band. Of course, I’ll never sound like Yo-Yo Ma but you could recognize a Mozart piece if you heard me play it. And, more importantly, I don’t need to please anyone but myself.
Whether it’s a pleasurable pastime or a new career, the starting point is the same: wonder, curiosity, determination, and the desire to keep your brain sharp.
1. How did the writer feel in the shop?| A．Amused by the shop assistant. |
| B．Anxious for a live performance. |
| C．Pleased at the nice music atmosphere. |
| D．Curious about where to find a teacher. |
| A．Approval. | B．Criticism. |
| C．Puzzlement. | D．Warning. |
| A．To recommend a reliable doctor. |
| B．To provide proof for common belief. |
| C．To add another reason for her decision. |
| D．To stress the crucial function of the brain. |
| A．Art is man’s second nature. |
| B．One is never too old to learn. |
| C．Education is the key to success. |
| D．Happiness is the best form of health. |
2 . I’ve always enjoyed the idea of travelling and volunteering for a few months in southern Europe and living close to the sea, surrounded by nature, staying with the locals and exploring their culture. So when I had a chance to make this daydream a reality, I decided to apply for my first experience on a farm in Portugal.
The farm is located a few kilometers away from Lagos, in a remote location in the hills. It was designed around the idea of connecting nature and technology in a green way and with a self-sustainable approach. My host, Lucio, is really passionate about the do-it-yourself initiative or maker culture. He built and decorated his house using natural materials. He changed the shipping container into an electronic lab.
When my host learned that I majored in electronics at college, he was very trusting and encouraged me to work on one of the most important issues on the farm — the water well’s pump operation. Since the well was the only water source for the entire farm, it turned out to be a tough task for me. I wasn’t even sure if I could do it in the beginning, but with my host’s encouragement, I gradually made progress and was able to build a working prototype (原型).
Lucio was very excited when we connected the DIY prototype I built to the pump control panel successfully. I still remember the moment when Lucio shook my hand with a big smile and thanked me for solving one of the farm’s most difficult problems. With his trust, I got to work on more complex projects afterwards too!
Before this volunteer experience, I never thought my help would be so appreciated. I realized that I could make a very positive impact on people’s lives by sharing knowledge to build something useful.
1. What is the highlight of the farm?| A．It is high-tech. | B．It is man-made. |
| C．It is environment-friendly. | D．It covers the largest area. |
| A．He was enthusiastic about it. | B．He had a wealth of experience. |
| C．He had the ability to finish the work. | D．He acquired relevant academic knowledge. |
| A．Boring. | B．Necessary. | C．Meaningful. | D．Demanding. |
| A．To share an interesting experience. | B．To call on more people to volunteer. |
| C．To recommend a travel destination. | D．To remember an impressive friend. |
3 . There is no such thing as a perfect woman, and Nothing but Thirty screenwriter Zhang Yingji wanted to convey this message in telling the stories of three different women, who have found very different ways to climb their own mountains.
Wang Manni is a woman who will climb any mountain as long as she finds it challenging. Zhong Xiaoqin is one who will only climb if she has someone to go along with her. She will not overexert herself, and she will definitely stop once she has reached a comfortable place. Gu Jia, on the other hand, has already started to think about reaching the peak before she even starts the climb, regardless of whether she is alone or has company.
In a sense, the scriptwriter purposely created Gu Jia as the perfect woman of thirty. She is married, with a successful husband and a young son. She is living the dream, but Gu Jia does not feel complete. She feels lost. She is flawed. She has episodes of succumbing to her own greed and disregard to those around her.
“She is someone who chases alter perfection.” said Tong Yao (who portrays Gu Jia). “Obviously, this is stressful for those around her. She hides things. She isn’t perfect, but in front of others, she has to stay perfect.”
Her chase for perfection and her stubbornness to maintain this image has effected many of the relationships in her life. She chases after what she believes is right for others. Because of this, she and her husband start to see and value things differently, which puts a strain on their relationship.
Gu Jia’s personal struggles give life to the character. Many viewers are able to relate to her, and, through her character, find a shadow of themselves. There’s still a lot left that we can learn from the women of Nothing but Thirty, but maybe like them, we too can find the courage in ourselves to walk on that road which is truly meant for us.
1. According to the article, which of the following best describes Zhong Xiaoqin’s personality?| A．Ambitious and goal-driven | B．Moderate and content |
| C．Aimless and impulsive | D．Visionary and independent |
| A．She has her own worries and insecurities. |
| B．She leads a seemingly perfect and enviable life. |
| C．She can be greedy and insensitive to others’ feelings. |
| D．She is discontented with life because of her husband. |
| A．is a perfectionist | B．stands up to her husband |
| C．balances her work and life well | D．displays some identifiable traits |
| A．To call attention to the rise of feminism. |
| B．To introduce the plot of Nothing but Thirty. |
| C．To contrast the main characters of Nothing but Thirty. |
| D．To encourage viewers to find inspiration in Nothing but Thirty. |
A freezing downpour washed the street in front of the small-town bar. I sat gazing into the watery darkness, alone as usual. I had been in that old bar for half an hour, quietly drinking, when my thoughtful eyes finally focused on a medium-sized lump (一团) in a puddle (水洼) a hundred feet away. For another ten minutes, I looked out through the window trying to decide if the lump was an animal or just something.
The night before, a German dog named Shep had come into the bar begging for potato chips. He was starving and just the size of the lump in the puddle. Why should a dog lie in a cold puddle in the freezing rain? I asked myself. The answer was simple: Either it wasn’t a dog, or it was, he was too weak to get up.
The wound in my right shoulder ached all the way down my fingers. I didn’t want to go out in the storm. Hey, it wasn’t my dog. It was just a stray on a cold rainy night, a lonely drifter (流浪者). So was I, I thought, as I tossed (扔) down what was left of my drink and headed out the door.
He was lying in the three inches of water. When I touched him, he didn’t move. I thought he was dead. I put my hands around his chest and raised him to his feet. He stood unsteadily, and his head hung like a weight at the end of his neck. His floppy ears were just hairless pieces of flesh dotted with open sores (伤口).
“Come on, Shep,” I said, leading him to a corner next to the bar, where he lay on the cold cement and closed his eyes. A block away I could see the lights of a late-night convenience store. It was still open. I bought three cans of dog food and fed him. He couldn’t swallow but poorly look at me. He was dying!
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 local vet (兽医) was still at his office, so I loaded the poor creature into a taxi and headed there.
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Three days later, when I opened the door of the vet’s, Shep welcomed me with wild enthusiasm.
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5 . Many of us who’re suffering have asked ourselves this question—“Why me?”. Undoubtedly, the question is
Years ago when my son first came out of
I have learned I should avoid
Presently, my son is in
| A．self-adjusting | B．self-seeking | C．self-supporting | D．self-defeating |
| A．replace | B．weaken | C．conduct | D．protect |
| A．decide | B．explain | C．accept | D．ignore |
| A．compete | B．agree | C．argue | D．interact |
| A．disaster | B．treatment | C．university | D．poverty |
| A．see | B．take | C．brush | D．show |
| A．way | B．debt | C．house | D．tradition |
| A．collect | B．offer | C．follow | D．refuse |
| A．formal | B．serious | C．complex | D．interesting |
| A．blame | B．equip | C．appreciate | D．combine |
| A．damage | B．comparison | C．sacrifice | D．conflict |
| A．better | B．kinder | C．earlier | D．healthier |
| A．desires | B．comments | C．senses | D．accomplishments |
| A．control | B．danger | C．recovery | D．confidence |
| A．fight | B．observe | C．attract | D．distract |
