1 . The input Dad has on my career is incomparable. My earliest memories are of Dad sitting in the kitchen playing the guitar, listening to his favourite song by his favourite singer, and encouraging his little girl to poke (戳) keys randomly on the piano. Even watching Top of the Pops, he would get so passionate about music in it. We weren’t a religious family, but there was something spiritual about Dad’s connection with music.
Music also became a source of comfort for me. I failed to do well academically at school and had no friends. Being at school consumed so much of my emotional energy. Instead of going to school to learn stuff, I felt as though I was simply trying to get people to like me. Things were better, but the only time I truly felt happy was when I was at home listening to music with Mum and Dad or writing songs on the piano —and the older I got, the more powerful music felt.
Dad was always my biggest supporter. When I started giving live performances at the local bar, he was the one who drove me there and back. Freeing up that time wasn’t easy for an actor. His job might mean three weeks in the Czech Republic or working with George Lucas on The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones in Hollywood.
Dad has been involved with some amazing stuff, but Daddy Pig is the one that’s had the biggest impact all over the world. When I was flying to Australia for my first tour, I was trying to find something to watch on the little screen and I noticed they had Peppa Pig. If I’m missing home and family, I always put it on. Daddy Pig is a fairly real version of my dad —he loves chocolate cake, he’s funny and usually breaks things when he’s trying to mend them. Mum and Dad were friends with one of the producers of the show and I often wonder if he looked at my dad and thought, “That’s him …that’s Daddy Pig.”
1. What can we learn about the author’s father?| A．He was good at writing songs. |
| B．He was attached to music in his soul. |
| C．He encouraged her to play the guitar. |
| D．He was passionate about watching TV series. |
| A．By picking her up in a tight schedule. |
| B．By doing a demanding job as an actor. |
| C．By watching her musical performances. |
| D．By giving live performances at the local bar. |
| A．It’s her favourite childhood cartoon. |
| B．She saw her father through Daddy Pig. |
| C．She took pride in this world famous cartoon. |
| D．It’s a cartoon about her hometown and motherland. |
| A．Funny and honest. | B．Strict and hardworking. |
| C．Famous and patient. | D．Supportive and influential. |
2 . How to talk to your child about current events
Nowadays, exposure to worldwide events is easily accessible.
Educate yourself before speaking to your child
Give your child a chance to voice what they believe has happened and why. This will allow you to listen for any misinformation, address areas needing clarification, and hear what concerns or fears your child is currently processing.
Ask questions, and encourage your child to ask too
It’s important that you allow your child to absorb the information you’re giving them and give them time to respond. Asking your child questions about how the event made them feel can give your child the opportunity to talk about their emotions without your influence.
Share your feelings and experiences
It is often helpful to share your own feelings and responses surrounding the events. If you have experienced discrimination, discuss that experience, how it made you feel, and what you did to overcome it.
| A．Ask your child what they know |
| B．Look at current events together |
| C．Additionally, allow your child to raise questions |
| D．For this reason, it’s important to use language your child understands |
| E．This can give them confidence that they will get through these feelings and fears |
| F．Before speaking with your child, try to ensure that you have accurate information |
| G．Children can see and hear about current events from the media without any difficulty |
3 . Last week my youngest son and I visited my father at his new home in Tucson Arizona. My earliest memories of my father are of a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and family, but uncomfortable with his children. As a child I loved him, as a schoolgirl and young adult I feared him and felt bitter about him. He seemed unhappy with me unless I got straight A’s and unhappy with my boyfriends if their fathers were not as “successful” as he was. Whenever I went out with him on weekends, I used to struggle to think up things to say, feeling on guard.
On the first day of my visit, we went out with one of my father’s friends for lunch at an outdoor café. We walked along that afternoon, did some shopping, ate on the street table, and laughed over my son’s funny facial expressions. Gone were my father’s critical (挑剔的) air and strict rules. Who was this person I knew as my father, who seemed so friendly and interesting to be around? What had held him back before?
The next day, my dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me quite a few stories about his own childhood. Although our times together became easier over the years, never felt closer to him at that moment. After so many years, I’m at last seeing another side of my father. And in doing so, I’m delighted with my new friend. My dad, in his new home in Arizona, is back to me from where he was.
1. In the writer’s earliest memories, how was her father?| A．Fat. | B．Successful. | C．Kind. |
| A．He did not love his children. |
| B．He expected his daughter got straight A’s. |
| C．Their fathers were not as “successful” as he was. |
| A．He seemed unhappy with her. |
| B．He became gentle and friendly. |
| C．He was still strict and critical. |
| A．Her father’s apologies. |
| B．Her father’s funny facial expressions. |
| C．Her father’s childhood pictures and stories. |
1. How old was the man’s grandma when she began learning Spanish?
| A．78 years old. | B．80 years old. | C．82 years old. |
| A．She is interested in Spanish. |
| B．She finds Spanish very useful. |
| C．She wants to be a Spanish teacher. |
| A．Sister and brother. | B．Schoolmates. | C．Teammates. |
| A．Meeting her aunt. |
| B．Finishing her work. |
| C．Traveling with the man. |
My little sister, Donna, turned six, and she started copying whatever I did — every move!
“What are you doing?” she asked my friend Maya and me one Saturday morning.
“We’re making earrings,” Maya said, pointing to a photo in the craft page of her magazine.
Donna plopped (扑通) down next to us at the table. “May I make one too?” “Um...” I paused.
“Sure!” Maya said. Donna squeezed in so close to me that I could hardly see what I was doing.
“Can you give me a little more room? You are blocking me from the beads.” I said a little angrily.
“I’m just trying to see what you’re doing.” Donna said.
“Well, you don’t need to see exactly what I’m doing.” I told her. “You can make your own design just over there, Donna.”
“I am!” she said. She was using the same colors of beads and string and everything that I was using.
Having finished the earrings, Maya suggested we get her guitar to make up songs for our band.
“An excellent idea!” I said. “Let’s go to the backyard where we can have some privacy.”
When Donna didn't say anything, I thought she must have understood what I meant. Nevertheless, 10 minutes later, she showed up before me.
“Sorry I’m late, but I couldn't find my tambourine (铃鼓).” said Donna. “It was in the basket that my Hello Kitty was sleeping in. Isn’t that so funny? Maybe, we should invite Kitty to be in our band!”
“Our band?” I asked. “Since when is this our band? You’re constantly following me like a shadow, and I’m so tired of it. Please leave me alone, OK?”
注意：(1)续写词数应为150左右；
(2)请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Hearing what I said, Donna got a super-surprised look.
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I came up with a plan that I hoped would help.
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Mark was a successful lawyer. Since graduating from law school, he seldom went home. Although he loved his mother deeply, he was too busy with his work.
One Saturday when driving to his company, Mark suddenly remembered it was his mother’s birthday. But being occupied with his work, he couldn’t make time to visit his mother who lived 200 miles away. Just then, he spotted a flower shop, thinking the flowers were the best solution.
Mark parked in front of the flower shop where a girl was standing outside. Since Mark was thinking about the note he would send to his mother, he paid no attention to her. After chatting with the shop owner, Mark bought some pink roses and asked the shop owner to deliver the flowers to his mother. “Happy birthday to my mom; love you,” he wrote on the note.
Mark then walked out of the shop, thinking his mother would get the flowers later tonight, and felt satisfied. When walking to his car, Mark saw the girl again. She was crying. Mark couldn’t help asking,“Hey, are you OK? Are you lost?” The girl shook her head. Mark later knew the girl was Mandy, who was eight and lived nearby. Feeling a little worried about her, Mark asked gently, “Can I help?”
Mandy said she wanted a rose for her mom. But she couldn’t afford it. “The flower lady said my coins could buy a daisy, but my mom loves red roses,” she added. Touched by the girl’s words, Mark went back into the shop and bought a bunch of red roses.
“Here you go,” he said. Mandy took the roses, smiled brightly, and thanked him. “Anything else I can do for you?“ Mark asked. Mandy hesitated. Then she said, “Could you take me to my mom? It’s not far but I’m not supposed to go on my own.” Mark nodded. “Sure, lead the way!" Mandy took his hand and walked with him down the street. As they passed by a graveyard, Mandy stopped.
To Mark’s surprise, Mandy directly went inside the graveyard.
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After dropping Mandy off by her house, Mark went back to the flower shop.
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8 . There is nothing more comforting than the sound of the Singer, a sewing (缝纫) machine. It
I began sewing as a child alongside my grandmother, a loving woman who taught me how to use a machine and how to sew my first
Later I received the old Singer from my mom, but it was left to gather dust in the corner.Once Covid-19
“Measure twice, cut once" is a Sewer’s proverb. We all hear it and I rarely use it, just like road maps, but it is
In a time when tomorrow is
| A．sticks to | B．brings back | C．gets over | D．cheers up |
| A．award | B．plan | C．art | D．lesson |
| A．escaped | B．troubled | C．upset | D．uplifted |
| A．shirt | B．button | C．skirt | D．tie |
| A．hope | B．freedom | C．pride | D．anxiety |
| A．made | B．bought | C．chose | D．ordered |
| A．responsible | B．independent | C．creative | D．patient |
| A．quit | B．struck | C．shot | D．flashed |
| A．donated | B．removed | C．measured | D．maintained |
| A．strange | B．necessary | C．flexible | D．simple |
| A．uncertain | B．unusual | C．odd | D．ideal |
| A．relieved | B．revealed | C．indicated | D．increased |
| A．idea | B．distance | C．bond | D．role |
| A．designed | B．collected | C．revised | D．shared |
| A．appreciate | B．express | C．seek | D．experience |
9 . Emma felt really bad those days. When someone from her daughter’s school informed her that her daughter, Jessica, needed to go to a(n)
While this bothered Emma at first, she soon learned to
The special education school scheduled
Emma seemed a little
| A．famous | B．special | C．expensive | D．medical |
| A．unqualified | B．illogical | C．dishonest | D．impatient |
| A．talk | B．write | C．count | D．hear |
| A．passive | B．childish | C．speechless | D．different |
| A．experience | B．cost | C．rate | D．direction |
| A．public | B．informal | C．famous | D．complete |
| A．professional | B．regular | C．high | D．middle |
| A．appreciate | B．advertise | C．attend | D．assess |
| A．great | B．official | C．specific | D．creative |
| A．prize | B．attention | C．need | D．protection |
| A．abandoned | B．hurt | C．delayed | D．raised |
| A．accountants | B．consultants | C．receptionist | D．assistants |
| A．speech | B．hearing | C．group | D．voice |
| A．avoid | B．risk | C．enjoy | D．practice |
| A．confused | B．ashamed | C．regretful | D．hopeful |
My little sister, Donna, turned six, and she started copying my every move!
“What are you doing?” she asked my friend Maya and me one Saturday morning.
“We're making earrings,” Maya said, pointing to a photo in the craft page of her magazine.
Donna plopped (扑通) down next to us at the table. “May I make one too?”“ Um...”I paused.
“Sure!” Maya said. Donna squeezed in so close to me that I could hardly see what I was doing.
“Can you give me a little more room? You are blocking me from the beads.” I said.
“I'm just trying to see what you're doing.” Donna said.
“Well, you don't need to see exactly what I'm doing.” I told her. “You can make your own design.”
“I am!” she said. She was using the same colors of beads and string and everything that I was using.
Having finished the earrings, Maya suggested we get her guitar to make up songs for our band.
“Excellent idea!” I said. “Let's go to the backyard where we can have some privacy.”
When Donna didn't say anything, I thought she must have gotten the clue. But 10 minutes later, she showed up.
“Sorry I'm late, but I couldn't find my tambourine (铃鼓).” said Donna. “It was in the basket that my kitten
Charlie was sleeping in. Isn't that so funny? Maybe, we should invite Charlie to be in our band!”
“Our band?” I said. “Since when is this our band? You're constantly following me like a shadow, and I'm tired of it.”
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Hearing what I said, Donna got a super-surprised look.
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I came up with a plan that I hoped would help.
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