1 . Bill Gates isn’t doing much light reading this summer. For his annual list of reading recommendations for the season, he’s picked four books that you can really sink into on vacation.
Upheaval, Jared Diamond
Diamond examines how people react to the different crises in their lives. Specifically, he looks at how six countries responded to big challenges, and learned how to adapt in the face of adversity. Gates writes. “I finished the book even more optimistic about our ability to solve problems than I started.”
Nine Pints, Rose George
Gates glowingly recommends this deep dive into what you ever wanted to know about the stuff in your veins (静脉). He thinks everyone should know more about this topic. “There is nothing that more people have in common than blood,” he writes.
A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles
It’s 1922 and Alexander Rostov has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life under house arrest in a Moscow hotel. Even though this book is sure to please anyone who is interested in learning more about Russia, Towles goes beyond just politics in his best-seller. “The book is technically fiction,” Gates writes.
Presidents of War, Michael Beschloss
Beschloss studies how presidents dealt with nine different US conflicts from the War of 1812 to the Vietnam War, and makes critical connections about their decisions and power as leaders. “It is hard to read about today’s conflicts without thinking about how they might connect to the past,” Gates writes.
1. Which book would most appeal to those interested in serious politics?| A．Upheaval. | B．Nine Pints. |
| C．Presidents of War. | D．A Gentleman in Moscow. |
| A．Tricks of diving. | B．Illustrations of blood cells. |
| C．A thorough study of blood. | D．A glimpse of blood function. |
| A．It’s impossible to solve all the problems. | B．It’s critical to make far-sighted decisions. |
| C．It’s difficult to understand today’s conflicts. | D．It’s necessary to connect the present to the past. |
2 . We’ve made a list of reasons why everyone should enrich their life by traveling around the world.
★Travel is easier than you think.
We believe that traveling around the world shouldn’t be hard.
★Travel is a good chance for learning.
Travel can provide great learning chances for children. Different cultures, good scenery and people can teach kids valuable life lessons and broaden their views.
★Travel develops skills you didn’t know you had.
★
Meeting people from other cultures will teach you to look at the world in a different way. In fact, your view might have some major blind spots. Seeing the world for yourself will help you see the world differently.
★Travel is education.
| A．Travel helps you see in a different way. |
| B．Travel gives chances to prove dreams can come true. |
| C．Sometimes this happens without them even knowing it. |
| D．Finishing a trip gives you the satisfaction of making a travel. |
| E．Everyone should at least travel around the world once in their lives. |
| F．It’s likely that you have some skills you have never known or used. |
| G．Seeing the world provides an education that you can’t get in school. |
3 . In casual conversations, there is a seemingly simple question I can never answer without hesitating — “Where are you from?”
I could say I am from Thailand, where I was born. Or I am from Mexico, where I spent the majority of my childhood. Or I am from the US, whose language is rooted into my life. In my mind, none of these answers are satisfying enough. After all, to be from somewhere carries expectations of understanding “your” culture and “your” home.
I feel envious whenever my friends say they’re “going home” for school breaks. As a student who frequently moves, I have never seen my living space as “home”, but “shelter”, another location to stay in before I unavoidably move again.
So, does this mean I do not have, and will never have, a home? I resign myself to living with this sense of sadness, until very recently.
In my dorm, inside my drawer is a specially designed white bath towel that I have not used since I brought it with me from my parents’ house. One day, I took it out, but stopped after smelling the soft, sweet laundry detergent (洗衣粉), the one my parents used back in Thailand. I felt my eyes water as that random smell brought my mixed emotions to the surface: sadness and nostalgia, a strong feeling of missing home. I still avoid using that towel until now because I don’t want to replace the smell of nostalgia with my newly-bought detergent.
Sadly, even with this new discovery, I will still struggle when answering where I am from, and I will always feel a sense of loss in not having a physical home to “go back to”. Yet, in random moments, when a smell catches me off guard (让我猝不及防) with the memories it brings, I like to believe that the things I feel then are things people feel when they are home. And if these moments can make me smile, even with a sense of loss, what better home can I ask for?
1. Why is the author unable to see his living space as “home”?| A．His living places often change. | B．He is unsatisfied with the place. |
| C．His expectations of “home” are high. | D．He can’t understand the culture there. |
| A．It was made in his hometown. | B．It is a present from his parents. |
| C．Its smell awakened his memories. | D．Its design wins his preference. |
| A．He no longer feels a sense of loss. |
| B．He feels a physical home is unnecessary. |
| C．He has got the answer to “Where are you from?” |
| D．He has found a sense of home in some moments. |
| A．A Man’s Home Is His Castle | B．There Is No Place Like Home |
| C．The Smell Brings Me Home | D．The Emotion Connects Me With Home |
4 . Standing on the shore of a lake, I can’t help but marvel at the tens or hundreds of thousands of small rocks that surround my boots. They were all created from hard surfaces, their edges softening over time. And I wonder, can we learn from a pile of rocks?
Much like a rock, I’ve found my attitude has softened and my desire to better understand others has expanded with each trip around the sun.
Once, I too was a sharp rock covered in pointy edges. Today, after decades of the waters of life coursing over me, my edges are softer and more understanding. I’m less likely to judge and more interested in learning how we can exist together.
Two years ago, while traveling in the Pacific Northwest, I watched a restaurant owner ask several people to leave for not wearing masks. Not forceful and not rude. On the door read a sign: “Please wear a mask before entering our restaurant. We don’t like it either, but let’s all do what we can to get through this together.” The group of young men wished to argue about the note.
I sat watching, understanding both sides. I’ve been those guys before, using my youthful edges to chip away at the world. What I lost, however, was the ability to grow from experiences by looking through the eyes of others. In learning to be more open, I’ve also found more happiness and success.
You can fit more rounded rocks in a jar than those with sharp edges. The former look for ways to adjust and make room for others; the latter never give an inch to accommodate others.
Time, like the waters rolling against once sharp stones, changes us. I placed a rounded stone into my jacket pocket. Mother Nature is holding class again.
1. What does the author compare the rocks to?| A．Challenges we come across. | B．What nature offers us. |
| C．People’s abilities. | D．People’s personalities. |
| A．They intended to skip out on the bill. |
| B．They were dissatisfied with the food offered. |
| C．They were unwilling to wear masks. |
| D．They were not allowed to leave the restaurant. |
| A．Fight with. | B．Try to change. |
| C．Provide space for. | D．Leave a good impression on. |
| A．We should adjust to new conditions. |
| B．It’s necessary to consider the feelings of others. |
| C．Be brave when in the face of difficulties in life. |
| D．Being open and understanding brings you more happiness. |
5 .
And we need heroes today more than ever. Our modern society is terribly confused about the difference between a hero and a celebrity (名人). And the difference is significant. A celebrity is all about fame-temporary, superficial fame, usually for qualities that are easy to see: a pretty face, a great dance move.
Heroes, real heroes, are all around us. They truly hold our world together, through their unselfish devotion to helping others, supporting families, teaching children, protecting the environment.
Yet, young people hear a lot more about celebrities than about heroes.
Truth is, there is a potential hero, a future difference maker, in every young person. Each of them, from whatever background, is a large amount of untapped (未开发的) energy-a positive force who can do something to steer that communal boat that carries us all.
| A．A hero, by contrast, is about character |
| B．They don’t want fame, or glory, or even credit |
| C．All of us-especially young people-need heroes |
| D．All of us need to believe in our own abilities to help people in need |
| E．Worse yet, young people are treated too often as just another target market by advertisers |
| F．They have discovered that they can build on their own energy and ideals to do something truly great |
| G．If young people believe in their own power and use it, they will discover that any person can make a genuine, lasting impact |
6 . There’s that old saying: How you do one thing is how you do everything.
I recently went to a concert with some other musicians in town (many of whom I was meeting for the first time).
Afterwards, the musicians I played with told me they felt like our hearts were connected while playing, and that we were able to achieve a new level of playing together thanks to our collected approach. When playing, we didn’t consider how to show ourselves off.
I believe that the best musicians in the world have this in common; which is to see past their own values, and to listen to/connect with their audience and fellow musicians. I’ve realized all of this thanks to my practice of being a more compassionate and caring person.
So, I would like to thank everyone on this website for opening your hearts and showing me how to be a more caring person.
| A．When I used to connect with other musicians |
| B．Therefore, as you become more kind and sympathetic |
| C．Because of this, our music was better than ever before |
| D．There was just us sharing ourselves with our open hearts |
| E．I often find music moves me to be open and connect with others |
| F．There are languages that are universal, music and kindness are two of those languages |
| G．As I grow into a more kind and caring person, I can bring joy to not only those in my daily life |
7 . A couple had a son eleven years after they married. They were a loving couple and the boy was the apple of their eye. When the boy was around four years old, one day the father was very tired after work so he asked his wife to pick up their son. The mother, who was very busy in the kitchen, totally forgot about it.
Later the boy lost his way on the street. When the son was found missing, the mother hurried to look for him, but she didn’t find him. The mother felt very sad and didn’t know how to face her husband.
When the father went to the police station after hearing that the son was missing, he looked at his wife and said just four words. What do you think the four words were? The husband just said “I love you, darling.”
The son was missing. If he had picked him up earlier, this would not have happened. There is no point in blaming anyone. His wife had also lost her only child. What his wife needed at that moment was comfort and understanding from her husband. That is what the husband gave his wife. Several weeks later, with the help of the police, the couple finally found their lost son. The family’s relationship became stronger over that time.
Sometimes we spend lots of time asking who is to blame. We miss many chances to give each other support and let each other feel the warmth of human relationships. Get rid of all your unwillingness to forgive, selfishness, and fears and you will find the world is much more wonderful.
1. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．The boy looks like an apple. |
| B．The boy is as pretty as an apple. |
| C．The boy always has a sweet smile. |
| D．The boy is loved more than anyone else. |
| A．He was very lazy. | B．He forgot to do so. |
| C．He was too tired to do so. | D．He thought the mother had done that. |
| A．Warm-hearted. | B．Careful. |
| C．Hard-working. | D．Broad-minded. |
| A．Learn to forgive others. | B．Love is the most important. |
| C．Everyone can make mistakes. | D．Be careful in everything you do. |
8 . The men of influence in our lives are our fathers, brothers, grandfathers, uncles, and friends and they play an important role in our lives. They lead by example, teaching us how to move physically through our world, how to be strong in the face of adversity, how to be wise, and how to provide for ourselves and our families.
My dad taught me how to have natural fun, playing baseball in the middle of the street, in his stocking feet. Today my dad continues to influence me in positive ways. He has faced a challenging health problem over the past few months and has carried on with his life in much the same way as he did before his illness, going about his daily business a bit slower and needing to take more rests but still living his life the way he wishes to.
My grandfather taught me the value of being trusted. My father-in-law influenced my life in a different way. He was quiet, loving and a man of power. When he spoke, I listened, as he did not speak unless he had something to say.
My loving husband has encouraged me to be strong and independent, to think for myself, and not to look to him for permission. My husband has also taught me to adapt with him to the ever-changing reality of his journey with illness, and he has met each one with courage and dignity. I have learned much from the men who have had an influence on my life. For all that I have learned and for the role they played and continue to play in my life I am forever thankful.
1. What can be learned about the author’s father?| A．His life has completely changed. | B．His business has faced difficulties. |
| C．He needs to rest most of the day. | D．Something is wrong with his body. |
| A．Her brother. | B．Her husband. | C．Her grandfather. | D．Her father-in-law. |
| A．Lonely. | B．Brave. | C．Talkative. | D．Quiet. |
| A．The influence of men. | B．The advantages of men. |
| C．Holiday greetings. | D．Women’s source of support. |
9 . There is an old story about an army of frogs that were jumping through the forest one day when two of them suddenly fell into a deep hole.
The two fallen frogs began to continuously jump as they attempted to get out. But the frogs that were watching kept croaking louder at them that they might as well stop.
A little encouragement can go a long way. We don’t often think about the effect that our words have upon others.
| A．The other frog just kept on jumping harder than ever. |
| B．Our words do have the power to hurt or to help. |
| C．All of the other frogs gathered around to look down at their two fallen friends. |
| D．Then all the other frogs jumped into the hole. |
| E．Finally, to the surprise of all the other frogs, he jumped right out of the deep hole. |
| F．Finally both of the frogs died in the hole. |
| G．The frogs told them that they were just wasting their time. |
10 . The world is filled with smart, talented, educated and gifted people. We meet them everyday. A few days ago,my car was not running well. I pulled it into a garage and the young mechanic had it fixed in just a few minutes. He knew what was wrong by simply listening to the engine. I was amazed. The sad truth is, great talent is not enough.
l am constantly shocked at how little talented people earn. I heard the other day that less than 5 percent of Americans earn more than $ 100,000 a year. A business consultant who specializes in the medical trade was telling me how many doctors and dentists struggle financially. It was this business consultant who gave me the phrase," They are one skill a way from great wealth.”
There is an old saying that goes, "Job means 'just over broke'". And unfortunately, I would say that the saying applies to millions of people. Because school does not think financial intelligence is intelligence, most workers "live within their means" They work and they pay the bills. Instead I recommend to young people to seek work for what they will learn, more than what they will earn.
When I ask the classes I teach, "How many of you can cook a better hamburger than McDonald's? " almost all the students raise their hands. I then ask,“So if most of you can cook a better hamburger, how come McDonald's makes more money than you?”The answer is obvious: McDonald's is excellent at business systems. The reason why so many talented people are poor is that they focus on building a better hamburger and know little or nothing about business systems. The world is filled with talented poor people. They focus on perfecting their skills at building a better hamburger rather than the skills of selling and delivering the hamburger.
1. What can we know about the mechanic from paragraph 1?| A．He is a talented person. | B．He is always amazing. |
| C．He has a good sense of hearing. | D．He is good at making money. |
| A．Live in their own circle. |
| B．Do in their own way. |
| C．Live within what they earn. |
| D．Spend more than they can afford. |
| A．Lacking financial intelligence. |
| B．Not working hard enough. |
| C．Not making full use of their talents. |
| D．Having no specialized skills. |
| A．What schools should teach students. |
| B．Why so many talented people are poor. |
| C．How McDonald's makes much money. |
| D．How young people can find a satisfactory job. |
