1 . In 2000, Andréa Speranza achieved her dream of becoming a firefighter joining the Halifax Regional Fire Service. Her job was exactly as satisfying as she imagined it would be, except for one thing: she still hadn’t seen another woman in her role — not in a magazine, not on television, not in real life. Even today, less than five percent of firefighters in Canada are women. Speranza decided that she wanted to help young women see that they, too, could have a career like hers.
The result is Camp Courage, a program for girls aged 15 to 19 who want to learn more about firefighting. In 2006, Speranza and about 20 volunteers welcomed their first 17 participants, recruiting (招募) attendees through advertising in schools and recreation centers. Over the course of eight days, the girls discovered the ins and outs of being first responders: learning how to put out fires, deliver first aid and even use the jaws of life (救生钳) on a car.
Camp Courage now runs one session every year in Halifax and is free to attend. To offset costs, Speranza and her fellow campers fundraise by holding everything from car washes to comedy nights. Hopeful campers must also submit an essay describing how they plan to help their community, or a specific individual in need. And they have to deliver on the plan—from building a bench (长椅) for a senior at a bus stop to launching a local chapter of the Kids Help Phone.
Hundreds of girls have passed through Camp Courage, and 36 percent are doing exactly what 52-year-old Speranza hoped they would: working as first responders across the country. This past summer, the camp held its first session for young women in Halifax, as well as its first national camp in Calgary with plans to roll out more in 2023.
1. What was probably Speranza’s wish in 2001?| A．To see more female firefighters. |
| B．To make contact with more teenage girls. |
| C．To be recruited to the Halifax Regional Fire Service. |
| D．To work part-time in schools and recreation centers. |
| A．Risks. | B．Chances. | C．Details. | D．Purposes. |
| A．It is a nonprofit international organization. |
| B．It teaches the value of being helpful to others. |
| C．It requires its campers to write an essay every week. |
| D．It introduces boys and girls to the emergency services. |
| A．She had a burning ambition to play comedy. |
| B．She used to be reserved and disciplined. |
| C．She is intellectual and scholarly. |
| D．She is brave and inspiring. |
2 . Enjoying the beauty of the sky at night is a rare thing for people in cities since light pollution ruins everything. However, photos taken by astrophotographers (天文摄影师) give people opportunities to still admire the stars.
Being a full-time astrophotographer, Zhang Jingyi, 27, grew up being an astronomy enthusiast. When asked why she chose this career, Zhang said, “We all dream of what it is like to live on planets so far from us. Isn’t it cool?”
Due to the fast development of China’s space industry, Zhang recently started to shoot rocket launches. “I basically followed the construction of the Tiangong space station with my camera,” she said, adding that every launch has given her a strong sense of achievement.
Zhang believes that her photos are artworks that money cannot buy. “Some photographers may sell their works ‑ some photos even reach six digits (六位数),” Zhang said. “For me, I would be satisfied if people liked my work.” As an influencer on Sina Weibo with more than 2.5 million followers, Zhang also shares videos that she’s filmed, giving her audience a more authentic impression of her work.
Zhang said that an astrophotographer needs to be devoted to their career. For example, when taking photos of the stars, they have to film them on plateaus which are freezing at night. When shooting rockets, they may get sunburned working under the burning sun. “These hardships are nothing if you truly love what you do,” Zhang said.
Gaining experience is also important. “There isn’t a detailed guidebook for creating art,” Zhang said. “You have to learn from your own work. Gradually, you can add personal thoughts into the filming process and witness your work improving.”
1. What inspired Zhang to become an astrophotographer?| A．A beautiful photo she saw on Weibo. |
| B．Her curiosity about space. |
| C．Fewer chances for citizens to admire the stars. |
| D．The development of China’s space industry. |
| A．People. | B．Scenery. | C．Wildlife. | D．Rocket launching. |
| A．How much they can sell for. | B．The media’s comments on them. |
| C．The public’s recognition of them. | D．The social impact they have. |
| A．Expensive equipment. | B．A detailed guidebook. |
| C．Devotion and learning ability. | D．A formal education in photography. |
3 . Growing up in the small town of Palmerston, Ontario, I had a dream: to work in television. However, it sounded like a dream that could never come true.
Thankfully, my parents had raised me to have a lot of confidence. With their help and encouragement, I applied to the radio and television arts program at Ryerson in Toronto. After graduating, I worked for Bell Canada for a while, writing and producing commercials. I soon decided, however, that what I really wanted was to be on camera.
I went to the CBC and CTV and applied for a job. They both turned me down because I didn’t have any experience. Luckily, Global Television had just started broadcasting in Canada that year. I found out the president was named Mr. Slaight and called him. I said, “I’ve heard that your studio facilities are amazing. I could come at eleven o’clock on Tuesday or eleven o’clock on Wednesday for a tour. What would suit you better?” He stuttered a bit, then picked a day. When I hung up, I was scared but ecstatic.
On the appointed day, I arrived at the studio. When we sat down, he looked at me and said, “What do you want?” He sounded a little angry and frustrated — but very curious. “All I want is a chance,” I said. “If something on camera comes up at Global — I don’t care what — I want a chance to audition. That’s all I’m asking.”
Three months later, his secretary called and asked me to audition for a new game show. When I arrived at the station, I went right into an audition for a new show called Wintario. The following day, I was handed an airline ticket to Sault Ste. Marie to do the very first Wintario show.
From Wintario, everything happened for me. I hosted the National Santa Claus Parade for fifteen years. I did hundreds of television commercials, a number of movies, training videos, and travel shows. And everything came from finding the courage back in 1975 to make that one phone call.
1. What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 2?| A．She was born to be confident. |
| B．She failed to graduate in Toronto. |
| C．She was good at writing commercials. |
| D．She was not content with her first job. |
| A．Excited. | B．Amazed. | C．Proud. | D．Confused. |
| A．Positive and creative. | B．Sharp and responsible. |
| C．Curious and intelligent. | D．Courageous and confident. |
| A．The success of working on camera. |
| B．The importance of parents’ support. |
| C．The realization of an impossible dream. |
| D．The transformation of an ordinary girl’s life. |
4 . In 2016, I lost my long-term job. The company simply went through serious changes, and my position was no longer needed. They were great to me when I worked there, and they gave me a small severance package (辞退补偿). I was 55 at the time. I was more than a bit anxiety-ridden, as I wasn’t in a position to retire, and I was concerned about the prospects of being rehired at this age. The good news is that I was a saver, had no debt (债务) and always lived simply. My husband’s job carried the benefits.
I woke up every morning at 4 am to consider how best to use my resources, and ended up starting a small business. Once I started, I made mistakes and messed things up, but kept educating myself more and more. There were tough times that were not easy to get through, but I managed to keep going.
After about 18 months, it was working! Everything fell into place, and the train finally started going down the track! Now, I wake up each day and think, “I own a small business!” My husband even took early retirement to partner with me.
While we are not making $1 million, we have crossed over into six digits (数位) over the past few years. We run our business out of a home office. And I offer a service based on my knowledge from my previous job that I lost.
Now several times a month, friends and former workmates reach out to us to ask how they can also get started like what we do. Though we’re busy, we take the time to talk with them sometimes. I know they really need help.
Nowadays it’s easy to lose our jobs. Luckily, we’ve gained work experience, which can be really helpful if we want to start our own business. So don’t be too frustrated if you lose your job. It might be a new opportunity for you.
1. What can we learn about the author when she lost her job?| A．She regretted not having worked hard. |
| B．She was quite anxious about the future. |
| C．She was dissatisfied with the severance package. |
| D．She failed to get along well with her workmates. |
| A．It was full of ups and downs. | B．It used up the author’s resources. |
| C．It lasted for one and a half years. | D．It forced her husband to retire earlier. |
| A．Brave and calm. | B．Creative and honest. |
| C．Independent and strict. | D．Determined and considerate. |
| A．We should keep educating ourselves. | B．When one door closes, another opens. |
| C．People should start their own business. | D．When a friend asks, there is no tomorrow. |
