1 . “Should I go? I do have a lot of work to do.” The question came from my daughter, Tracy, a college senior, who was debating whether or not to go with her roommates on a Saturday to drive to the beach and enjoy some unseasonably warm March weather.
On the one hand, sand, sunshine, and perhaps some fried food were prizes she deserved after a hard-won year of college life; on the other hand, her thesis (论文) conclusion wasn’t going to write itself. As a rather type A student, Tracy was unsure if she should go, and had asked my opinion.
As I read her text, I remembered my own college road trips in the 80s. At that time, four of us theater students, anxious and disappointed about the posting of a cast list, had driven out to the countryside through apple orchards (果园). We stopped at the side of the road to climb over a stone wall to grab some apples from a tree, taking off laughing, and ending the trip with ice-creams. I still remember sitting at a picnic table with the kind of laughter that you hope will never end.
I texted my daughter back, “Take the day off and go to the beach. The thesis can wait.” Actually, I wanted to text her much more than that. I wanted to tell her that college is for so many things—academic and personal growth and challenges, all-night study sessions, paper deadlines, and office hours. But it’s also for road trips with your roommates and a chance to extricate every bit of stress and responsibility for a few hours.
College is for the memories that you don’t think are anything special right now. But someday, one of you will say, “Hey, remember that time on the beach?” And those precious memories are worth more than any thesis conclusion ever could be.
1. Why did Tracy hesitate to go to the beach?| A．She was kind of stay-at-home. | B．She had to complete her paper. |
| C．She worried about the weather. | D．She didn’t invite her roommates. |
| A．Their demand for spiritual relief. |
| B．Their desire to test their new car. |
| C．Their need to experience country life. |
| D．Their plan for seeking play materials. |
| A．Take on. | B．Think of. | C．Go through. | D．Shake off. |
| A．Good friends always make life happier. |
| B．Stress from college life can play its part. |
| C．College memories are more than academic achievements. |
| D．Academic achievements absolutely come first at college. |
2 . Growing up, I never wore makeup and I was always more afraid of the mirror than anything else. I hadn't thought makeup was meant for me, a disabled woman, until I saw Ulta's new advertisement:a huge full-color photo of a model in a wheelchair.
The world of fashion and beauty is rarely related to disabilities, and even though Hollywood has made steps toward greater inclusion and clothing brand Aerie has featured women with disabilities in their advertisements, seeing disabilities in the mainstream is definitely unusual. The reason why these things make headlines is that they're so rare.
I learned from a very young age that because of my disability, I would never be connected with beauty or charm. I'd spent so long feeling separated from so many parts of society, but Ulta is sending a powerful message with a single photo: It's time to challenge conventional beauty standards because beauty comes in all forms.
We all want to feel included. When it comes to disabilities, it is so important, especially for children and teens with disabilities. I was well into my 30s when I rolled into a makeup store for the first time. I had no idea what I was doing and felt like entering a new world without a map; I felt like I was out of place, as if I was peeking at a club without being invited. Imagine how my experience would have been different if I had seen a model in a wheelchair, smiling, as if to say, “Welcome. Yes, you belong!”
That message of inclusion was loud and clear for Maren Anderson, a 4-year-old girl who has a rare genetic disease and just started using a wheelchair. The moment she spotted the advertisement was caught on camera by her mom Carolyn Anderson, and quickly spread last month on Facebook. “It's just really saying that she feels included, and she feels like she identifies with that, and belongs here just like everybody else. So, thank you, Ulta,” said Carolyn Anderson.
1. What can be learned from paragraph 2?| A．There will be more products for the disabled. |
| B．Aerie is the author's favorite clothing brand. |
| C．Hollywood works with Ulta to help the disabled. |
| D．It's hard for the public to associate beauty with disabilities. |
| A．It creates a new trend in the fashion world. |
| B．It makes society offer more jobs to the disabled. |
| C．It helps make the disabled feel confident and involved. |
| D．It breaks the barrier between the disabled and the able-bodied. |
| A．Nervous and embarrassed. | B．Sad and lonely. |
| C．Excited and proud. | D．Lost and bored. |
| A．To expose the condition of the disabled. |
| B．To show the effect of Ulta's advertisement. |
| C．To emphasize the sense of belonging. |
| D．To explore the contemporary beauty standards. |
