1 . To this day her kindness brings tears to my eyes.

It was from more than 15 years ago and I felt like I’d always been too embarrassed to _________ her properly. I hope to share this so that there’ll be more _________ in the office. I was the “idiot (白痴)” in the office and my _________ was annoyed by my inability. I watched secretly from the corner as my manager _________ to the CFO (财务总监) about how I wasn’t _________, and that I was extremely slow to learn, before actually calling me an idiot. I believed what she said and felt _________.

However, Teresa who was my manager’s assistant was so _________ to my trouble, and she would stay back each day to teach me ever so patiently. She knew of my personal _________, and would call me to make sure I didn’t _________ to my bad habit (which I’m not yet ready to share here). She never wanted attention, always __________ me when no one is watching, and she had no agenda.

With her help and the confidence she __________ in me, I finally advanced and doubled my salary after just over a year. Actually, I was __________ after my manager’s complaint but got promoted a few times in the next company. However, her biggest __________ to me was simply that she cared for me. So I had to believe in myself.

Kindness is a gift. I hope to return the __________ to Teresa one day, and to __________ the same opportunity to others.

1.

A．remind

B．inform

C．thank

D．replace

2.

A．sympathy

B．enthusiasm

C．ambition

D．consideration

3.

A．colleague

B．manager

C．assistant

D．partner

4.

A．declared

B．demonstrated

C．complained

D．introduced

5.

A．imaginative

B．unbelievable

C．valuable

D．teachable

6.

A．ashamed

B．helpless

C．scared

D．angry

7.

A．sensitive

B．relevant

C．accessible

D．insensible

8.

A．standards

B．beliefs

C．qualities

D．struggles

9.

A．lead

B．devote

C．slip

D．apply

10.

A．caring for

B．believing in

C．focusing on

D．depending on

11.

A．taught

B．brought

C．passed

D．placed

12.

A．blamed

B．hired

C．fired

D．praised

13.

A．benefit

B．credit

C．award

D．gift

14.

A．reward

B．favour

C．gratitude

D．encouragement

15.

A．offer

B．catch

C．create

D．grasp

2 . PRACTITIONERS

Jacqueline Felice de Almania (c.1322) highlights the suspicion that women practicing medicine faced. Born to a Jewish family in Florence, she moved to Paris where she worked as a physician and performed surgery. In 1322 she was tried for practicing unlawfully. In spite of the court hearing testimonials (证明) of her ability as a doctor, she was banned from medicine.	James Barry (c.1789 — 1865) was born Margaret Bulkley in Ireland but, dressed as a man, she was accepted by Edinburgh University to study medicine. She qualified as a surgeon in 1813, then joined the British Army, serving overseas. Barry retired in 1859, having practiced her entire medical profession living and working as a man.
Tan Yunxian (1461 — 1554) was a Chinese physician who learned her skills from her grandparents. Chinese women at the time could not serve apprenticeships (学徒期) with doctors. However, Tan passed the official exam. Tan treated women from all walks of life. In 1511, Tan wrote a book, Sayings of a Female Doctor, describing her life as a physician.	Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831 — 1895) worked as a nurse for eight years before studying in medical college in Boston in 1860. Four years later, she was the first African American woman to receive a medical degree. She moved to Virginia in 1865, where she provided medical care to freed slaves.

1. What did Jacqueline and James have in common?

A．Doing teaching jobs.	B．Being hired as physicians.
C．Performing surgery.	D．Being banned from medicine.

2. How was Tan Yunxian different from the other practitioners?

A．She wrote a book.	B．She went through trials.
C．She worked as a dentist.	D．She had formal education.

3. Who was the first African American with a medical degree?

A．Jacqueline Felice de Almania.	B．Tan Yunxian.
C．James Barry.	D．Rebecca Lee Crumpler.

3 . George Turner thought his childhood bike gave him freedom. For him, home meant _________ chores, homework and an endless sea of books. A bike meant _________. George and his friends often rode to the beach, the mall, construction sites and so on. When growing up, therefore, he _________ to help boys and girls discover the _________ of riding bycicles as he used to. Then he opened Penuel Bicycles in Inglewood, California, transforming his interest into his _________.

In those days, many kids, _________, had a new love. They enjoyed playing video games or were _________ to their phones. They didn’t _________ and ride bikes. Lots of adults didn’t ride, either. George struggled. Some days, he _________ if he sold just one bike.   

Last year, the coronavirus pandemic __________ the nation. George closed Penuel’s door. Separated at home and __________ for something to do, many Americans were buying bicycles. Bicycles became a source of __________ during a time of sadness and loss. Bike shops nationwide __________.

George sold all his bicycles in a month. People in his neighborhood pulled their old bikes out of the garage (车库) and __________ them to Penuel to get their bikes __________ and ready to ride. He __________ saw various bikes appear in front of his shop.

Out on his own bike, George saw __________ everywhere. Suddenly his long-held dream of a whole community on their bikes, enjoying the freedom of two wheels, __________. Finding what you are __________ in and never __________ it up are the meaning of life.

1.

A．amusing

B．relaxing

C．surprising

D．boring

2.

A．success

B．progress

C．escape

D．loss

3.

A．determined

B．refused

C．failed

D．pretended

4.

A．danger

B．courage

C．difficulty

D．joy

5.

A．dream

B．occupation

C．hobby

D．motivation

6.

A．besides

B．however

C．therefore

D．otherwise

7.

A．addicted

B．related

C．exposed

D．used

8.

A．settle down

B．go out

C．cheer up

D．calm down

9.

A．celebrated

B．whispered

C．joked

D．nodded

10.

A．divided

B．inspired

C．rescued

D．troubled

11.

A．sorry

B．concerned

C．eager

D．grateful

12.

A．comfort

B．pride

C．anxiety

D．stress

13.

A．closed down

B．sold out

C．gathered together

D．stood out

14.

A．returned

B．threw

C．contributed

D．wheeled

15.

A．recycled

B．painted

C．repaired

D．replaced

16.

A．suddenly

B．clearly

C．secretly

D．hopelessly

17.

A．runners

B．dancers

C．riders

D．drivers

18.

A．came back

B．came true

C．came to nothing

D．came to life

19.

A．rich

B．disappointed

C．expert

D．interested

20.

A．cleaning

B．setting

C．giving

D．picking

5 . Cooking is Chris Spear's passion. He's been professionally cooking since he was 16. Over the years, he worked for big restaurants and reached a point where he had almost 100 employees reporting to him. That's when he missed flexibility and wanted to be more creative. So, he quit working for restaurants and set up his own catering (餐饮) company, Perfect Little Bites in Frederick, Maryland.

Spending long hours in the kitchen doesn't tire Spear, but he had often been concerned that becoming an independent chef would make him feel lonely. Spear said he wanted to find an arrangement that would be beneficial to all such groups but didn't cost them any money. That inspired him to found Chefs Without Restaurants, an online resource for chefs.

Now he has a Facebook group where he can post information about, for instance, a potential customer who wants to arrange a dinner in a given location and within a certain price range, and he can offer interested chefs more information. Customers can also benefit from this network. Spear is building a website where customers will be able to check out profiles of the Chefs Without Restaurants members, learn about their specialties and see what kinds of events they can cater, large or small.

Sharon Streb, owner of Oil & Vinegar Frederick which introduces cooking ideas and chefs to their customers, said small businesses should help one another succeed. "When other chefs and businesses come to my store, they get in front of our customers and hopefully we get in front of their customers. That's a win-win for both of us," she said. "It's tough out there for a small business, and not a lot of small businesses succeed. It's important that we can work together and be successful, both of us. "

That's the goal for Spear, who wants to carve out a space for independent chefs on the food map in the area.

1. Why did Spear start his own business?

A．He got tired of being a chef.	B．He longed to help other chefs.
C．He wanted to make more profits.	D．He sought not to be bound.

2. What is the original purpose of Chefs Without Restaurants?

A．To compete with other chefs.	B．To provide training for chefs.
C．To share resources among chefs.	D．To set up virtual restaurants.

3. What of the network will appeal to customers?

A．Data about chefs.	B．Price ranges of dinners.
C．Locations of restaurants.	D．Events held around.

4. What does the author intend to do by quoting Sharon Streb's words in paragraph 4?

A．Reveal the toughness of small businesses.

B．Stress the significance of Spear's work.

C．Call on other businesses to join the group.

D．Show customers' appreciation for Spear.

6 . By day, Robert Titterton is a lawyer. In his spare  time though he goes on stage beside pianist Maria Raspopova — not as a musician but as her page turner. “I’m not a trained musician, but I’ve learnt to read music so I can help Maria in her performance.”

Mr Titterton is chairman of the Omega Ensemble but has been the group’s official page turner for the past four years. His job is to sit beside   the pianist and turn the pages of the score so the musician doesn’t have to break the flow of sound by doing it themselves. He said he became just as nervous as those playing instruments on stage.

“A lot of skills are needed for the job. You have to make sure you don’t turn two pages at once and make sure you find the repeats in the music   when you have to go back to the right spot.” Mr Titterton explained.

Being a page turner requires plenty of practice. Some pieces of music can go for 40 minutes and require up to 50 page turns, including back turns for repeat passages. Silent onstage communication is key, and each pianist has their own style of “nodding” to indicate a page turn which they need to practise with their page turner.

But like all performances, there are moments when things go wrong. “I was turning the page to get ready for the next page, but the draft wind from the turn caused the spare pages to fall off the stand,” Mr Titterton said, “Luckily I was able to catch them and put them back.”

Most page turners are piano students or up-and-coming concert pianists, although Ms Raspopova has once asked her husband to   help her out on stage.

“My husband is the worst page turner,” she laughed. “He’s interested in the music, feeling every note, and I have to say: ‘Turn, turn!’ Robert is the best page turner I’ve had in my entire life.”

1. What should Titterton be able to do to be a page turner?

A．Read music.	B．Play the piano.
C．Sing songs.	D．Fix the instruments.

2. Which of the following best describes Titterton’s job on stage?

A．Boring.	B．Well-paid.
C．Demanding.	D．Dangerous.

3. What does Titterton need to practise?

A．Counting the pages.	B．Recognizing the “nodding”.
C．Catching falling objects.	D．Performing in his own style.

4. Why is Ms Raspopova’s husband “the worst page turner”?

A．He has very poor eyesight.	B．He ignores the audience.
C．He has no interest in music.	D．He forgets to do his job.