1 . Joe Horan, a physical education teacher, has started the program Building Men to create a positive vision of manhood not just for himself, but also for the boys he teaches. Looking back, Mr. Horan says his program developed from a low point in his life. In 2004 as he went through a hard time, he felt society’s definition of manhood was leading him down the wrong path. His life, he says, lacked substance and depth. “A desire became planted in my heart, that is, to find healing from the unhealthy messages I believed about manhood,” he says. Then, his sister recommended a book, Season of Life by Jeffrey Marx, which digs into the discovery of what being a man is all about. Joe took all the clues and started to put life lessons into his class.
Despite limited resources and funding, Building Men began at one middle school in the district in 2006. It grew on a shoestring budget, expanding school by school, year by year. Today, 33 teachers, like Mr. Colabufo, work across 18 schools. Mr Colabufo has known Mr. Horan for several years, noting many people are aware of the program’s success. “Joe’s a legend in this district,’’ Mr Colabufo says.
The program appeals to boys at first because of a basketball component, but its secret is how it dives into off-the-court issues through discussions on character. Building Men helps participants gain insight, work to restore self-worth, and learn to calm emotions. SIR is a central component of lessons, standing for significance, integrity, and relationships.
At a recent breakfast fundraiser, Shateek Nelson, a senior at Nottingham High School, shared his experience, having participated in Building Men since middle school. He said he learned to see the bigger picture, rather than living in the moment. He also came to realize his actions affect others, and now he factors that into his decisions.
1. What motivated Joe Horan to start the program Building Men?| A．An instructional book. | B．His personal experience. |
| C．His sister’s suggestion. | D．The society’s expectation. |
| A．Flexible. | B．Proper. | C．Tight. | D．Balanced. |
| A．One should dream big and then start small. |
| B．One should live each day as if it were the last day. |
| C．It is good to gain real-life experience at middle school. |
| D．It is essential to think more of others in decision-making. |
| A．SIR: Core Component of Physical Education |
| B．Healthy Life: Involving Substance and Depth |
| C．Building Men: Teaching Boys About Manhood |
| D．Manhood: Teenagers’ Power of Handling Issues |
2 . You’ve heard an old Chinese saying before: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. You may even be nodding your head in agreement right now. However, we can have a different understanding about it.
When a person is starving, that’s not the time to fill their head with knowledge but to first give the person a fish-eradicating their hunger-and only then teach them to fish. Far too often, people ignore this common sense first step. They see someone who is struggling, and they rush to offer wisdom. “Let me tell you what I’d do in your position,” a well-meaning individual might offer.
But few of us understand the anxiety, confusion and uncertainty that come with overwhelming need. People meeting with personal disasters don’t have the ability to think straight. Their nerves may be shot. Their confidence may be non-existent. Can you imagine what it would be like to be in that person’s situation?
Rushing to offer a struggling person long-term advice is a waste of time. Instead, it makes far more sense to help them regain their emotional balance. Once their ears, heart and mind open, you’ll have an opportunity to teach a new skill.
But how do we know whether a person needs a fish before a fishing lesson? Two things: One is the ability to pay attention. We need to know whether the other person is open and receptive, or looking at the world through narrowed eyes? You can’t just take their words but have to look at how the person acts and what they don’t say. The other is empathy (共情).The more successful you are, the harder it is to imagine what it must be like to be the opposite. Try to create a safe environment for emotional acceptance before the fishing lesson.
1. What is the function of the first paragraph?| A．To illustrate a concept. | B．To bring in a new viewpoint. |
| C．To introduce the background. | D．To put up an example. |
| A．Getting rid of. | B．Paying attention to. |
| C．Making up for. | D．Putting up with. |
| A．Get them to think straight. | B．Enhance their confidence. |
| C．Satisfy their primary needs. | D．Teach them a new skill. |
| A．Live and learn. | B．Never teach a fish to swim. |
| C．Put yourself in others’ shoes. | D．Don’t teach old dogs new tricks. |
3 . 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 |
4 . Anniversary trips were a tradition that was nearly as old as our marriage. Each year, Jim and I took turns planning a secret trip for the other. I finally found a perfect spot: The Shire of Montana. It was a “hobbit house”. And our six-year-old daughter, Aurora, would also love it.
I was about to make a reservation when I saw a note on The Shire’s website: No kids allowed. We couldn’t leave Aurora behind. I asked if an exception might be possible. A reply came. “The rule exists because previous children destroyed large parts of the Elven Village,” wrote Mr. Michaels, the owner. “But if you promise that your daughter is responsible and will not touch anything, she can come.” Aurora was a well-behaved girl. I wrote back and filled in the reservation form.
The day finally arrived. I was excited very much. Still, turning onto Hobbit Lane, I felt anxious. “Children aren’t usually allowed here,” I reminded Aurora. “So you have to be very careful. You can look at everything, but don’t touch it.”
Then we began our journey. Aurora took everything in, keeping her hands pressed to her sides. “Remember, no touching,” I reminded Aurora, feeling like a complainer. Had I made Aurora so scared of touching things that she couldn’t think about anything else? What fun was that?
We spent several days at the Shire. I finally found that Aurora delighted in each discovery but never disturbed a thing. Being aware of boundaries didn’t take away the beauty and wonder; it allowed the Shire to remain beautiful. It was not so different from our family life, I thought. Jim and I moved through life side by side as a couple, but we’d learned to accept each other’s individuality and boundaries as well.
1. What can we know from the second paragraph?| A．The visitors to The Shire of Montana all performed properly. |
| B．The author was dissatisfied with the reservation rules. |
| C．The process of arranging the trip was a bit difficult. |
| D．The Shire’s website failed to give useful information. |
| A．Her fear of getting lost. | B．Her concern for their safety. |
| C．Her worry about her family’s feelings. | D．Her uncertainty about Aurora’s feelings. |
| A．It helped Aurora win praise from others. |
| B．It kept Aurora away from possible dangers. |
| C．It might prevent Aurora from fully enjoying herself. |
| D．It could let Aurora realize the value of cultural treasures. |
| A．Taking responsibility for our own choices. |
| B．Respecting both personal needs and boundaries. |
| C．Learning how to find beauty in small things. |
| D．Trying to meet every family member’s expectations. |
5 . I had my first luck when my uncle was visiting from Britain. We were talking about my plans for further study. I was interested in biology research, but there weren't many opportunities in Slovenia Surprisingly, my uncle encouraged me to try international studies, and even offered me my cousin's room. It was the lucky break I needed. Later. I applied for a university near my uncle's. When I was accepted. I felt excited. I was also stressed about studying abroad and the cost. To save up. I got a part-time job, through which I could only cover one-third of the expense. Luckily, a prize from school contributed the rest.
Once I reached Britain, between culture shock and my university program. I worked part-time. By working and reducing unnecessary costs. I could support myself, share the household expenses with my uncle's family, and save for my education.
I made little progress in the lab after five months. One evening. I mistakenly removed all the useful experiment data. I broke into tears, and spent the whole night playing video games-a much-needed break after months of non-stop work. But I didn't give up. Two weeks later, my project began to produce results.
After being rejected several times in full-time job hunting. I had a chance to meet with Professor Brown I hardly remembered from two lectures he had given. I was analyzing my data when he mentioned he was looking for an assistant and encouraged me to apply. I didn't think I stood a chance, but I figured I had nothing to lose. To my surprise, the professor who valued my efforts and ability offered me the job. I went on to complete my study, and I was excited about the research opportunities that were available to me.
1. What can be inferred about the writer from paragraph 1?| A．He took his uncle's advice to study abroad. |
| B．He studied biology in his uncle's university. |
| C．He accepted his cousin's offer to share a room. |
| D．He fully paid for his education by working part-time. |
| A．stuck to his lab project |
| B．took a month-long break |
| C．became addicted to video games |
| D．destroyed the experiment data purposefully |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Hard work pays off. |
| C．It’s never too late to learn. | D．Do as the Romans do. |
| A．A diary entry. | B．A graduation paper. |
| C．A research report. | D．A personal story. |
6 . I have lived in rural America for nine years, first in Michigan, where I got my PhD; then in central Illinois and now in Indiana, where I am a professor. In a place where most people have lived the whole of their lives, I feel like a stranger. There are few things I enjoy more than complaining about my geographic isolation. I’m a vegetarian, so there’s nowhere to go for a nice dinner that isn’t 50 miles away. I’m black, so there’s nowhere to get my hair done that doesn’t involve another 50-mile drive. And the closest major airport is two hours away.
I recite these gripes to my friends. We all have grand ideas about what life would be like if only we did that, or lived there. And there’s this; I really don’t intend to change most of the things I complain about. Griping is seductive on those days when happiness requires too much energy. But it also makes me lose sight of the fact that I was born and grew up in Nebraska and have lived most of my life in one of the plains states. When I go to the coasts, I am struck by how unappealing big-city living can be.
While I may not love where I live, there are plenty of people who are proud to call this place home. At a party with colleagues, I was going on about everything I couldn’t stand in our town when I noticed that they were silent and shifting uncomfortably. That moment forced a change in me. Complaining may offer relief, but so does acceptance. There is no perfect life. By focusing on gripes, I risk missing out on precious moments of appreciation. When I get home, I stand on my balcony, look into the night sky and see the stars. I know that I have absolutely nothing to complain about.
1. What causes the author’s loneliness?| A．Dietary habits. | B．Racial prejudice. |
| C．Educational differences. | D．Identity confusion. |
| A．Attractive. | B．Temporary. | C．Violent. | D．Flexible. |
| A．Humbled. | B．Angry. | C．Touched. | D．Calm. |
| A．Every day is beautiful. | B．When in Rome, do as the Romans do. |
| C．Human must value lives themselves. | D．Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish. |
7 . My husband Robert and I had volunteered to help build an irrigation (灌溉) system for bananas in Zambia. The Heart of Africa Mission is run by local Zambians, with a focus on community development. We were there to share our agricultural (农业的) experience and knowledge with the African farmers.
We left snow-covered Alberta, Canada in January. We spent the next four weeks working side by side with the local Zambians in a banana plantation (种植园). The banana plantation would help make the Heart of Africa Mission self-supporting. It would also teach banana farming to the students there. Students would go on to teach others. It has done that and more. Through the jobs created, several families now have food, education for their children, and enough housing. The plantation is producing well and is a source of great pride for all who work there.
My husband worked hard at building the irrigation system. But the story he tells most often is of the young man who stopped us on one of our walks somewhere. He pointed to his bike, and laughing widely, told Robert, “Look, look, it still works.” Robert had repaired it for him. A bike in Zambia is like a truck in North America—necessary transportation for people and produce. Robert’s small effort made a big difference in this man’s life.
“We sure appreciate (感激) your sacrifice (牺牲),” our organizer often says. For us it was never a sacrifice, only an honor to have the chance to work in a place so far from our own, to be able to exchange ideas and thoughts. All this happened while living in a beautiful sunny country in the green of the rainy season, while at home in Alberta, the snow would cover the landscape (风景) for months. No, the volunteer work was never a sacrifice. It was only an honor.
1. What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?| A．She likes to take adventures. | B．She is probably an expert in agriculture. |
| C．She started the Heart of Africa Mission. | D．She used to live in Africa for a long time. |
| A．Costly. | B．Tiring. | C．Challenging. | D．Fruitful. |
| A．To ask for help. | B．To express his thanks. |
| C．To show his cycling skills. | D．To tell them about his work. |
| A．It enabled her to work harder. | B．It brought her public recognition. |
| C．It made her appreciate her life more. | D．It allowed her to experience different things. |
8 . One part of the oath (誓言) taken by physicians requires us to “remember that there is art to medicine, and that warmth, sympathy and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.” When I, along with my medical school class, recited that oath at my white coat ceremony a year ago, I admit that I was more focused on the biomedical aspects than the “art”.
Actually, medical professionals can get too easily caught up in treating to remember there is still space for healing. As doctors learn to communicate with patients beyond the restricted language of physical indicators, drug protocols and surgical interventions that may go against healing, they are reaching for new tools — poetry.
One clinical trial studied the effect of music or poetry on the pain, depression, and hope scores of 65 adult patients under cancer treatment. They found that both types of art therapy (疗法) produced similar improvements in pain and depression scores. Only poetry, however, increased hope scores. Researchers assumed that poetry can break the so-called law of silence, according to which talking about one’s perception of illness is taboo. After listening to poetry, one participant said, “I feel calmer when I hear those words. They show me that I’m not alone.”
Insights like these are already making their way into the clinic. Sarah Friebert runs a care center where children are visited by a writer who helps them create poems and stories for publication. Eric Elshtain uses poetry on the wards to teach children the power of self-expression. He’s found that many of his patients write haikus about things like sports or their favorite stuffed animal, rather than their experience in a hospital bed. Poetry, as he said, is a way to both accept the hospital encounter and escape from it.
While a poem a day won’t cure, it might help relieve. I’ve decided that I’ll learn how to meet my patients beyond the chart documents; that I’ll encourage them to write their own stories; that I will heal as well as treat. In other words, I’ll honor each and every word in the oath I took last year.
1. According to the text, the author is probably________.| A．a young poet | B．a clinical expert |
| C．a medical student | D．an experienced physician |
| A．Music works better in reducing depression. |
| B．Poetry makes people open about their illness. |
| C．Patients are likely to lose hope without poems. |
| D．Art therapy is the key to cancer treatment. |
| A．He will change his career path. | B．He will well remember the oath. |
| C．He begins to take his work seriously. | D．He has better understood his job. |
| A．A news report. | B．A research paper. |
| C．A public speech. | D．An application letter. |
9 . Wasted-time worry
The idea that time is our most precious resource can bring with it a sense of time-pressure. We are always told “Time is money and time is running out”, so we must manage it well. We take time-management courses, download the latest productivity app and divide our day into blocks, so our time is never wasted.
We need to shift away from trying to maximize our time and reduce our worry about wasting it. We don’t have to view every moment we don’t spend the way we expected to as a waste. There may be value in those moments too.
Then how much should we be working? Researchers say on most days, three to four hours of high-quality, focused mental work is about our maximum.
We often encounter empty time, throwing us into boredom, panic or anxiety, or add to our wasted-time worry.
| A．Working beyond that can be a waste |
| B．Working to maximum is the secret to success |
| C．but the scraps of time that get lost in between |
| D．We can simply appreciate the part they played in our life |
| E．However, we need some hours in the day to waste as we wish |
| F．We can simply set aside more moments for the work of the day |
| G．Yet in our crazy attempts to account for every hour, we fall into wasted-time worry |
10 . It was a beautiful midwinter day in Pretoria. The sun shone warmly, and the air was fresh, calling us outdoors. A friend and I went for a walk up a small hill. Everywhere around us the grass was a dull brown color, as if painted with a dirty brush. I told my thought to my friend who, in reply, drew from his coat a pocket microscope. Bending down, he picked some of the ugly-colored growth and handed it to me with the microscope. I could hardly believe my eyes, for suddenly I was looking at some shining tiny flowers of lovely color. It seemed strange that so much beauty should be so hidden, a secret life carried on by nature beneath a dull exterior (外表).
Some days later, while I was at the hospital where I worked, a woman entered with three children. Her hair hung in untidy wisps round a face whose uncared-for skin looked dried and dull. She sat down and waited her turn with the patience of the poor. The children gradually gathered courage and made braver explorations as time went by. Suddenly the little girl overbalanced and fell. Both her brothers, a little bigger than her, rushed anxiously to her aid. When the child fell, the mother had at first started up in alarm, but when she saw that the child was not really hurt and that her brothers were caring for her with such love, her eyes grew soft and a look of such indescribable love passed over her face — once again I looked at great beauty.
Beauty lies on every side; we must develop our own microscopes of perception ( 感知能力) in order to look through the physical exterior which, like the grass-covered hillside, conceals a beauty still hidden from our eyes.
1. Why did the author and his friend go for a walk up a small hill?| A．To enjoy the beauty of the day. | B．To test his friend’s microscope. |
| C．To find hidden beauty on the hill. | D．To check the growth of the grass. |
| A．Her kindness. | B．Her strong will. |
| C．Her patience as a patient. | D．Her great love as a mother. |
| A．Nature can teach us a lot. | B．The poor have a soft heart. |
| C．We should learn to find hidden beauty. | D．We should never look down upon the poor. |
| A．Steals. | B．Covers. | C．Freezes. | D．Exposes. |
