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I saw a dear friend a few days ago and stopped by to ask her how she was doing．She looked up，voice lowered，just complaining：“I'm so busy…have so much going on”
Almost immediately after，I ran into another friend and asked him how he was．Again，the same tone，the same response：“I'm just so busy…got so much to do．”
Their responses knocked me down．How did we create a world in which we have more and more to do with less time for leisure，less time for reflection，less time for community? When did we forget that we are human beings，not human doings? What happened to a world in which we can sit with the people we love so much and have slow conversations with meaningful pauses and silences that we are in no rush to fill?
This disease of being “busy” is spiritually destructive to our health and well-being．It weakens our ability to be fully present with those we love the most in our families, and keeps us from forming the kind of community that we all so desperately tong for．
I don’t have any magical solutions．All I know is that we are losing the ability to live a truly human life．I am always a prisoner of hope, but I wonder if we are willing to make a change to our so-called busyness of life．Somehow we need a different model of organizing our lives，our societies，and our families．
I want us to have a kind of existence where we can pause，look each other in the eye，touch one another，and ask ourselves：Here is how my heart is doing，I am taking the time to reflect on my own existence，and I know how to express the state of my heart．
1.What’s the result of the busy lifestyle?
A．People will become forgetful in their everyday life．
B．People are beginning to find some time for leisure．
C．People may lose the ability of enjoying their life．
D．People will further understand the importance of community．
2.How can we live a relaxed and balanced life according to the author?
A．By seeking help from local families．
B．By improving our working ability．
C．By reconstructing the model of our lives．
D．By creating a smarter open community．
3.Calling himself a prisoner of hope，the author means that .
A．he thinks people won’t change
B．he actually has magical solutions
C．it is harmful to have many hopes
D．he is always optimistic about life
4.What is the purpose of the author writing the article?
A．To express concerns about people’s complaints．
B．To criticize and reflect on the people’s present lifestyle．
C．To voice his opinions on how to live a simple life．
D．To question whether it is possible to live a slow life．
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A couple of weeks ago, a few friends and I had an opportunity to attend a dear friend’s wedding in New York. After the wedding and reception, rather accidentally four of us gathered in a hotel room and began to explore the deeper meaning of life and death. What does it mean to live truly? If we are all getting closer to death, is all the material accumulation worth it? It is not exactly the type of conversations one has at a wedding.
While the answers varied from person to person, I was left with more questions than answers and a feeling of gratefulness to be surrounded by friends who were asking the “right” questions. As the clock kept ticking past 3 a.m., one of the roommates suggested we watch a short film titled “Last Days of Zach Sobiech”. The film is about a teenager’s journey through the last days of his incurable illness. The film brought up a lot of mixed emotions but one quote that stood out for me was Zach’s simple explanation of happiness, “ What makes one happy is seeing someone else smile because you put it there.” By 4 a.m. , there was this energy in the room that had to be shared! With a few packages of post-it notes, we hit the halls of the hotel. We decided to leave short inspirational words on guests’ doors, so when they opened their doors few hours later a smile would turn up.
We ended up sticking post-it notes on all the doors until we ran out of them. The note on the door of the newly-weds properly said, “Where there is love, there is life.”
1.About “explore the deeper meaning of life and death” at a wedding, the author thinks______.
A. it is rather meaningful.
B. it is interesting.
C. it is natural.
D. it is not proper.
2.After watching the film, what impressed the author most?
A. Zach’s mixed emotions
B. Zach’s poor fate
C. Zach’s simple explanation of happiness
D. Zach’s struggle with illness
3.What did the author and his friends do after they saw the film?
A. They knocked door to door to offer help in the hotel.
B. They shared happiness with the workers of the hotel.
C. They stuck notes with encouraging words on guests’ doors.
D. They thanked the wedding couple gratefully for invitation.
4.What can we learn from the author and his friends’ action?
A. One who brings happiness to others is also happy oneself.
B. Helping others in trouble is good to oneself.
C. Friends are your valuable treasure.
D. Good is rewarded with good.
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A few weeks ago, I picked up my 14-year-old daughter and her friend from dance class. The two girls chatted happily until I reached her friend’s house. And then 1 began the drive home and my daughter, who had been talking nonstop a minute before, went completely silent. I assumed she was lost in thought.
When I came to a stoplight, I looked in the mirror. My daughter wasn’t looking out of the window or staring into space - she was on her phone. I felt my anger rise.
“Get off your phone. That is rude. You make me feel like an Uber driver.” I shouted.
“But I’m texting friends about biology homework!’’ she said.
“That can wait.” I was mad and she was angry.
Back home, she disappeared into her room, and I thought about how I was still trying to take control of my daughter’s growing independence, which was fruitless.
The next day I was thinking about my outburst when a parenting program on TV caught my eye, in which the hosts interviewed Dr. Ken Ginsburg, the author of a famous parenting book. It completely changed my attitude.
Ginsburg said. “Why are our teens pushing us away? It’s not because they hate us - it’s because they love us so much and yet they know they have to become independent. So this is a process of figuring out how to push away the things they love the most. It is crazy to fly from a comfortable nest, so teens get ready for it by temporarily pushing their parents away.”
I need to honor her independence and create space for both of us to face this monumental developmental challenge as teammates, not adversaries((对手).
1.What made the writer mad?
A.She served as an Uber driver.
B.The two girls were chatting happily.
C.Her daughter was playing with the phone.
D.Her daughter forgot her biology homework.
2.What do we know about the daughter?
A.She is being under her mother’s control.
B.She is on the way to being independent.
C.She enjoys making friends using social media.
D.She hates making conversation with her mom.
3.Which of the following best describes the mother?
A.Open-minded. B.Hardworking.
C.Inspiring. D.weak-willed.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.I was pushed away by my teenaged daughter.
B.Life of a teenager is moving at its own slow pace.
C.Parents completely rely on parenting experts to educate children.
D.My relationship with my daughter was improved by a suggestion.
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A few days ago I asked my sons’ governess（女家庭教师）Julia to come into my study. “Be seated, Julia, ” I said, “Let’s settle our accounts. I guess you most likely need some money, but maybe you’re too polite to mention it. Now then, we agreed on thirty dollars a month...”
“Forty.”
“No, thirty. I made a note of it. I always pay our governess thirty. Well, um, you’ve been here two months, so...”
“Two months and five days.”
“Exactly two months. I made a special note of it. That means you have sixty dollars coming to you. Take off nine Sundays... you know you didn’t work with Tom on Sundays, you only took walks. And three holidays... ”Julia was biting her finger nail nervously, her face red, but - not a word.
“Three holidays, therefore take off twelve dollars. Four days Tom was sick and there were no lessons, as you were occupied only with Dick. Three days you had a toothache and my wife gave you permission not to work after lunch. Twelve and seven - nineteen. Take nineteen off ... that leaves. hmm.... forty one dollars. Correct?”
Julia’s left eye reddened with tears welling up. Her chin trembled; she coughed nervously and blew her nose, but-still not a word.
“Around New Year’s Day you broke a teacup and a saucer; take off two dollars. The cup cost more, it was a treasure of the family, but- forget it. When didn’t I take a loss! Then, due to your neglect（疏忽）, Tom climbed a tree and tore his jacket; take away ten. Also due to your carelessness the maid stole Dick’s shoes. You ought to watch everything! You get paid for it. So, that means five more dollars off. The tenth of January I gave ten dollars.”
“You didn’t. ”sobbed Julia.
“But I made a note of it.”
“Well... if you say so.”
“Take twenty seven from forty one -that leaves fourteen.”
Both her eyes were filled with tears. Beads of sweat stood on the thin pretty little nose. Poor girl!
“Only once was I given any money,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “and that was by your wife. Three dollars, nothing more.”
“Really? You see now, and I didn’t know that! Take three from fourteen.. leaves eleven. Here’s your money, my dear. Three, three, three, one and one. Here it is!”
I handed her eleven dollars. She took them and pocketed them.
“Merci（法语: 谢谢）,” she whispered.
I jumped to my feet and started pacing the room. I was overcome with anger. “For what, this - ‘merci’?” I asked.
“For the money.”
“But you know I’ve cheated you - robbed you! I have actually stolen from you! Why this‘merci’?”
“In my other places they didn’t give me anything at all.”
“They didn’t give you anything? No wonder! I played a little joke on you, a cruel lesson, just to teach you... I m going to give you all the eighty dollars! Here they are in the envelope all ready for you... Is it really possible to be so spineless（懦弱）? Why didn’t you protest? Why were you silent? Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws（爪）-to be such a fool?”
Embarrassed, she smiled. And I could read her expression,“It is possible.”
I asked her pardon for the cruel lesson and, to her great surprise, gave her the eighty dollars. She murmured her little“merci”several times and went out. I looked after her and thought,“How easy it is to crush the weak in this world!”
1.While talking to Julia, the writer expected from her________.
A. a protest B. gratitude C. obedience D. an explanation
2.What shocked the writer was Julia’s ________.
A. nervousness in front of her boss
B. acceptance of injustice
C. shyness when talking about money
D. unwillingness to express herself
3.The writer said, “Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws?” He was actually telling the governess ________.
A. to be more aggressive B. to be more careful in her work
C. to protect her right D. to live independently
4.At the end of the story, the writer said,“ How easy it is to crush the weak in this world!” to show ________.
A. his understanding of Julia’s anxiety
B. his worry about Julia’s future
C. his concern on the living condition of working-class people
D. his sympathy for the mental state of those exploited
5.From the story, we can tell that Julia’s employer was________.
A. greedy but honest B. ill-tempered but warm-hearted
C. strict but forgiving D. none of the above
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A few years ago my mother asked me to go shopping with her because she needed a new dress. I don’t like to shop with others, and I’m not a person. However, we for the mall together at last.
We visited nearly every , and she tried on dress after dress, them all. As the day went on, I grew tired and my mother grew .
, at our last shop, my mother tried on a lovely blue three-piece dress. The blouse had a bow at the neckline. As I stood in the room with her, I watched as she tried, with much , to tie it. Her hands were so badly crippled from arthritis(关节炎) that she couldn’t do it. Immediately, my impatience to an overwhelming(无法抗拒的) wave of sympathy for her. I turned away to hide the that came up involuntarily.
Regaining my calmness, I turned back to tie the bow for her. The dress was beautiful, and she bought it. Our shopping trip was , but the event was etched(铭刻) in my memory. For the rest of the day, my kept returning to that moment in the dressing room and to the of my mother’s hands trying to tie that bow. Those hands that had fed me, bathed me, dressed me, comforted me, and, , prayed for me, were now touching me in a remarkable .
Later in the evening, I went to my mother’s room, her hands in mine, kissed them and, much to her , told her that to me they were the most hands in the world.
1.A. simply B. finally C. actually D. normally
2.A. patient B. honest C. respectful D. trustworthy
3.A. took off B. kept off C. got off D. set off
4.A. person B. store C. assistant D. boss
5.A. remembering B. buying C. rejecting D. recommending
6.A. frustrated B. worried C. tired D. upset
7.A. Immediately B. Finally C. Traditionally D. Quietly
8.A. sitting B. dining C. dressing D. waiting
9.A. time B. pride C. experience D. difficulty
10.A. gave off B. gave away C. gave way D. gave up
11.A. tears B. money C. expression D. feeling
12.A. off B. out C. on D. over
13.A. head B. mind C. heart D. brain
14.A. sense B. belief C. vision D. consciousness
15.A. loving B. lively C. live D. alive
16.A. first of all B. most of all C. all in all D. after all
17.A. style B. fashion C. manner D. form
18.A. took B. made C. removed D. replaced
19.A. sorrow B. disappointment C. regret D. surprise
20.A. common B. effective C. beautiful D. useful
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A few weeks ago, a 71-year-old man pulled his car to the roadside in Northwest Portland and stopped. He rolled down the window, turned off the engine and stared at a house.
The place, distinguished by three gables, is partially hidden by hedges and trees. Most people who pass by would never notice it. And if they did give it a glance, they’d probably think it’s a nice house in a nice neighborhood. Nothing more.
The house, in the 2500 block of Northwest Westover Road, is known as the Bessie & Louis Tarpley House. Built in 1907, it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The current owner is Barbee Lyon, 79.
He and his first wife took possession in 1975. When they divorced, he bought out her share.
A retired lawyer, Lyon learned Louis Tarpley, the home’s first owner, had also been a Portland lawyer. Setbacks in Tarpley’s life led to the house auction(拍卖) in the late 1920s.
“I’m only the fifth owner of the home,” Lyon said. A previous owner was Frank Masco.
He and his wife, Esther, and their nine children had lived across town in a tiny house needing constant repairs. In the mid-1950s, the elder Masco wanted to move to a bigger house and one closer to work. A docker ( 码 头 工 人 ), he was on-call 24 hours a day and had to quickly get to the Willamette River docks.
He found a home on Westover Road. At the time, many people wanted to live in new construction in the suburbs. The Westover house was offered at a deep discount.
And later the family moved on several times, finally living in Vancouver.
One Sunday in July 2019, Charley Masco drove to Portland for an appointment at a computer store.
When it ended, he traveled the familiar route to Westover Road, pulled over and looked at that home.
He decided to do something bold. He got out of his car and walked up the steps and rang the doorbell. He waited. No response. Nervous, he thought it was a mistake to do this and considered turning around and walking back to his car.
Barbee Lyon opened the door and saw a stranger.
“I’m not selling anything,” Masco said quickly. “I just want you to know I once lived here.” Lyon opened the door wide.
“Come in.”
And for the first time since 1966, Masco stepped into his childhood home.
Every room looked as Masco had remembered it: The built-in china hutch in the dining room, the hanging lights above the table and, in the kitchen, a massive wood-burning stove where his mother used to cook family meals. It was as if he had walked into his own museum.
Lyon told Masco he’d never done major structural remodeling, which meant Masco knew his way around the home.
It was as if he had never left.
There, on the top floor, was the window he and his siblings quietly opened to sneak out at night and return before their parents knew they were gone. The loft where friends daydreamed about the future. The living room – no TV ever allowed – where the family gathered to share music, play cards or just talk with each other.
Then they all walked to the basement.
In the far corner, Masco saw his father’s old wooden workbench. And above it, baby food jars.
Masco had forgotten about them.
He explained that his father had nailed lids from the jars to a rafter, filling the glass with different size screws, nuts and bolts, and then screwing the jars back into the lids to give him easy access while working.
Masco thought about his father, his mother and three of his siblings who have died. He thought about his father, tinkering in the basement, while his mother was in the kitchen preparing dinner.
He thought about the 71-year-old man he was and the boy he had once been.
Kruse, Lyon’s wife, reached up and unscrewed a jar. She handed it to Masco, believing it belonged to this stranger.
Masco thanked her.
He clutched the small bottle to his chest. “My dad,” he said quietly. “This is my dad.”
1.Why did Charley Masco come to visit the Westover house?
A.He wanted to review his past and hold memories.
B.He attempted to buy back his childhood house.
C.His friend invited him to be a guest at his newly-bought house.
D.He came to the house where his father lived to seek roots.
2.What made Frank Masco decide to buy the house?
A.The house’s owner had been a Portland lawyer.
B.The house was auctioned at a very low price.
C.He desired to improve his family’s living conditions.
D.The house was equipped with a basement.
3.What do we know about Barbee Lyon?
A.He bought the house from Louis Tarpley.
B.He took possession of the house at about 35.
C.He lived in the house with his first wife Kruse.
D.He disliked being disturbed by strangers.
4.Why did Charley Masco feel nervous when he rang the doorbell?
A.He knew the house owner was a bad-tempered man.
B.He thought it was improper to pay an unexpected visit.
C.He might not hold back his feelings when he went in.
D.He feared the house owner would take him for a salesman.
5.After Masco entered the house, he found that _.
A.every room was not as he had remembered it
B.the house had experienced great structural changes
C.the childhood home was where his heart was
D.he couldn’t recall anything about baby food jars
6.What can be a suitable title for the passage?
A.Collision of Two Hearts B.Experiences of Two Families
C.An Unexpected Meeting D.The Harbour of the Heart
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The doorbell rang, and a few minutes later, to her complete astonishment, Elizabeth saw Mr. Darcy walk into the room. He hurriedly began to ask how she was, and she answered with cold politeness. He sat down for a few minutes, and then getting up, walked around the room. Elizabeth was surprised but said nothing.
After a silence of several minutes, he came towards her and said. “I have struggled with my feelings, but without success. You must allow me to tell you how much I admire and love you.”
Elizabeth, who was unable to believe what she heard, stared, blushed, and was silent. Her silence encouraged him to speak and tell her about his strong feelings for her. He spoke well, but unfortunately, he did not speak only of his love for her, he also made it very clear that he did not consider that her family was good enough for him. He explained that it was only because she herself was so unusual that he had decided to ask her to marry him.
In spite of her powerful dislike for him, Elizabeth at first felt sorry that she was going to cause Darcy pain. Then, as he continued to insult her family, she began to feel angry. When he at last finished speaking, she said, “I believe that in a situation like this, the lady is supposed to thank the gentleman. Unfortunately, I have no desire to thank you, as I have never wanted your good opinion. I am sorry to have to cause you pain. However, I never meant to do so, and I am sure you will soon forget me.”
1.Why did Mr. Darcy come to her house?
A.He came to ask how she was.
B.He wanted to walk around the room
C.He wanted to find her family was good
D.He came to tell Elizabeth he loved her.
2.Why was Elizabeth silent?
A.She really didn’t like Darcy .
B.She was shy.
C.She couldn’t believe what she heard.
D.She wanted to cause Darcy pain.
3.What did her words suggest?
A.She expected Darcy to forget her.
B.She didn’t want to thank Darcy for his visit.
C.She felt sorry to cause Darcy pain.
D.She rejected his feeling.
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--- So you didn’t say hello to Miss Wang last night?
--- Well, I stopped and smiled when I saw her, but she _______ me and walked on.
A. refused B. denied
C. missed D. ignored
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A few years ago, my younger brother and I went to Norfolk, Virginian by plane. , before we took off, we heard the pilot’s voice throughout the plane, “sorry for the delay, ladies and gentlemen. We have no on the plane. We have a generator (发电机) on the ground right now, and we are going to the engines with it. Once we get them going, we will 4 in the air and head to Norfolk, and see what happens. ”
See what happens? We are going to get up in the air, and see what happens? At this point, one woman started crying. “Oh, no! We are going to !” There were sighs of desperation and spreading throughout the plane, and we hadn’t even 7 yet. Thirty minutes passed and we were still there. Then the voice of the pilot came over again, “Ladies and gentlemen, I know you are , so are we. We only have one engine going right now, and it is working double time. ”
There was crying we had walked into grave. But, the pilot told us our one engine was working double time, and his was to get up in the air and see what happens! Then we did. We got up in the air and what happened? --- other than thrust (推力) and lift. We arrived in Norfolk and everyone for still being alive.
Although I do sincerely like to have a plan 14 “see what happens”, it really isn’t such a bad life strategy. All too often, I would see people chasing their goals halt (停滞) with inaction just because they don’t have 16 success. Actually, success will never be guaranteed. The thing that you can do is just get up in the air, and see what happens.
If you are planning to learn a new skill, get up in the air, and see what happens! It might not be as as you thought. You might be smarter than you thought. It could be ! So don’t stay there trying nothing just because there is no of guaranteed success.
1.A. Hopefully B. Excitedly C. Thankfully D. Unfortunately
2.A. power B. service C. water D. captain
3.A. shut B. start C. change D. fix
4.A. get up B. pack up C. light up D. speed up
5.A. wait B. delay C. crash D. suffer
6.A. rumor B. disease C. anxiety D. smoke
7.A. looked over B. taken off C. got acrossD. gone out
8.A. boarding B. checking C. watching D. sitting
9.A. puzzled B. patient C. desperate D. embarrassed
10.A. even if B. only if C. what if D. as if
11.A. plan B. complaint C. promise D. comment
12.A. everything B. nothing C. something. D. anything
13.A. escaped B. cheered C. sighed D. praised
14.A. better than B. other thanC. less thanD. more than
15.A. frozen B. annoyed C. concernedD. satisfied
16.A. realistic B. organizedC. potentialD. guaranteed
17.A. same B. common C. best D. last
18.A. interesting B. challenging C. surprisingD. encouraging
19.A. sorrow B. pain C. fun D. trouble
20.A. meaning B. reward C. action D. sign
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A few years ago, my younger brother and I went to Norfolk, Virginian by plane. , before we took off, we heard the pilot's voice throughout the plane, “Sorry, ladies and gentlemen. We have no on the plane. We have a generator(发电机), and we are going to the engines with it. We will in the air and head to Norfolk, and see what happens. ”
See what happens? We are going to get up in the air, and see what happens? At this point, one woman started crying. “Oh, no! We are going to ！” There were sighs of and anxiety quickly spreading throughout the plane, and we hadn't even yet. Thirty minutes passed and we were still there. Then the voice of the pilot came over again,“ Ladies and gentlemen, I know you are , so are we. We only have one engine going right now, and it is working double time. ”
There was crying we had walked in to grave(坟墓). But the pilot told us our one engine was working double time, and his was to get up in the air and see what happens! Then we did. We got up in the air and happened. We arrived in Norfolk and everyone for still being alive.
Although I do sincerely like to have a plan “see what happens”, it really isn’t such a bad life strategy. All too often, I would see people pursuing their goals with inaction just because they don’t have success. Actually, success will never be guaranteed. The thing that you can do is just get up in the air, and see what happens.
If you are planning to learn a new skill, “get up in the air, and see what happens!” It might not be as as you thought. You might be smarter than you thought, and the result could be very ! So don’t stay there trying nothing just because there is no of guaranteed success.
1.A. Hopefully B. ExcitedlyC. Unfortunately D. Thankfully
2.A. service B. power C. water D. fuel
3.A. shut B. fix C. change D. start
4.A. get up B. pack up C. light up D. speed up
5.A. wait B. delay C. crash D. suffer
6.A. rumor B. desperation C. disease D. pain
7.A. looked over B. gone out C. got acrossD. taken off
8.A. sitting B. checking C. watching D. boarding
9.A. puzzled B. patient C. anxious D. embarrassed
10.A. even if B. as if C. what if D. only if
11.A. comment B. complaint C. promise D. plan
12.A. everything B. something C. nothing D. anything
13.A. escaped B. cheered C. sighed D. praised
14.A. less than B. other thanC. better than D. more than
15.A. frozen B. annoyed C. concerned D. satisfied
16.A. realistic B, organizedC. potential D. guaranteed
17.A. same B. common C. best D. last
18.A. interestingB. challenging C. surprising D. encouraging
19.A. rewarding B. disappointingC. sorrow D. trouble
20.A. meaning B. sign C. action D. reward