高考英语真题分项汇编（全国通用）五年（2019-2023）专题11 阅读理解记叙文、新闻报道

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五年（2019-2023）年高考英语真题分项汇编
专题11 阅读理解记叙文、新闻报道 （原卷版）
〖2023年高考真题题组〗
【2023▪新高考I卷】
When John Todd was a child, he loved to explore the woods around his house, observing how nature solved problems. A dirty stream, for example, often became clear after flowing through plants and along rocks where tiny creatures lived. When he got older, John started to wonder if this process could be used to clean up the messes people were making.
After studying agriculture, medicine, and fisheries in college, John went back to observing nature and asking questions. Why can certain plants trap harmful bacteria (细菌)? Which kinds of fish can eat cancer-causing chemicals? With the right combination of animals and plants, he figured, maybe he could clean up waste the way nature did. He decided to build what he would later call an eco-machine.
The task John set for himself was to remove harmful substances from some sludge (污泥). First, he constructed a series of clear fiberglass tanks connected to each other. Then he went around to local ponds and streams and brought back some plants and animals. He placed them in the tanks and waited. Little by little, these different kinds of life got used to one another and formed their own ecosystem. After a few weeks, John added the sludge.
He was amazed at the results. The plants and animals in the eco-machine took the sludge as food and began to eat it! Within weeks, it had all been digested, and all that was left was pure water.
Over the years, John has taken on many big jobs. He developed a greenhouse — like facility that treated sewage (污水) from 1,600 homes in South Burlington. He also designed an eco-machine to clean canal water in Fuzhou, a city in southeast China.
“Ecological design” is the name John gives to what he does. “Life on Earth is kind of a box of spare parts for the inventor,” he says. “You put organisms in new relationships and observe what’s happening. Then you let these new systems develop their own ways to self-repair.”
4. What can we learn about John from the first two paragraphs?
A. He was fond of traveling. B. He enjoyed being alone.
C. He had an inquiring mind. D. He longed to be a doctor.
5. Why did John put the sludge into the tanks?
A. To feed the animals. B. To build an ecosystem.
C. To protect the plants. D. To test the eco-machine.
6. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning Fuzhou?
A. To review John’s research plans. B. To show an application of John’s idea.
C. To compare John’s different jobs. D. To erase doubts about John’s invention.
7. What is the basis for John’s work?
A. Nature can repair itself. B. Organisms need water to survive.
C. Life on Earth is diverse. D. Most tiny creatures live in groups.

【2023▪新高考II卷】
Turning soil, pulling weeds, and harvesting cabbage sound like tough work for middle and high school kids. And at first it is, says Abby Jaramillo, who with another teacher started Urban Sprouts, a school garden program at four low-income schools. The program aims to help students develop science skills, environmental awareness, and healthy lifestyles.
Jaramillo’s students live in neighborhoods where fresh food and green space are not easy to find and fast food restaurants outnumber grocery stores. “The kids literally come to school with bags of snacks and large bottles of soft drinks,” she says. “They come to us thinking vegetables are awful, dirt is awful, insects are awful.” Though some are initially scared of the insects and turned off by the dirt, most are eager to try something new.
Urban Sprouts’ classes, at two middle schools and two high schools, include hands-on experiments such as soil testing, flower-and-seed dissection, tastings of fresh or dried produce, and work in the garden. Several times a year, students cook the vegetables they grow, and they occasionally make salads for their entire schools.
Program evaluations show that kids eat more vegetables as a result of the classes. “We have students who say they went home and talked to their parents and now they’re eating differently,” Jaramillo says.
She adds that the program’s benefits go beyond nutrition. Some students get so interested in gardening that they bring home seeds to start their own vegetable gardens. Besides, working in the garden seems to have a calming effect on Jaramillo’s special education students, many of whom have emotional control issues. “They get outside,” she says, “and they feel successful.”
4. What do we know about Abby Jaramillo?
A. She used to be a health worker. B. She grew up in a low-income family.
C. She owns a fast food restaurant. D. She is an initiator of Urban Sprouts.
5. What was a problem facing Jaramillo at the start of the program?
A. The kids’ parents distrusted her. B. Students had little time for her classes.
C. Some kids disliked garden work. D. There was no space for school gardens.
6. Which of the following best describes the impact of the program?
A. Far-reaching. B. Predictable.
C. Short-lived. D. Unidentifiable.
7. What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Rescuing School Gardens B. Experiencing Country Life
C. Growing Vegetable Lovers D. Changing Local Landscape


【2023▪全国甲卷】
Terri Bolton is a dab hand when it comes to DIY (do-it-yourself). Skilled at putting up shelves and piecing together furniture, she never pays someone else to do a job she can do herself.
She credits these skills to her late grandfather and builder Derek Lloyd. From the age of six, Terri, now 26, accompanied Derek to work during her school holidays. A day’s work was rewarded with £ 5 in pocket money. She says: “I’m sure I wasn’t much of a help to start with painting the rooms and putting down the flooring throughout the house. It took weeks and is was backbreaking work, but I know he was proud of my skills.”
Terri, who now rents abhouse with friends in Wandsworth, South West London, says DIY also saves her from losing any deposit when a tenancy (租期) comes to an end. She adds: “I’ve moved house many times and I always like to personalise my room and put up pictures. So, it’s been useful to know how to cover up holes and repaint a room to avoid any charges when I’ve moved out.”
With millions of people likely to take on DIY projects over that coming weeks, new research shows that more than half of people are planning to make the most of the long, warm summer days to get jobs done. The average spend per project will be around £ 823. Two thirds of people aim to improve their comfort while at home. Two fifth wish to increase the value of their house. Though DIY has traditionally been seen as male hobby, the research shows it is women now leading the charge.
24. Which is closest in meaning to “a dab hand” in paragraph 1?
A. An artist. B. A winner. C. A specialist. D. A pioneer.
25. Why did Terri’s grandfather give her £ 5 a day?
A. For a birthday gift. B. As a treat for her work.
C. To support her DIY projects. D. To encourage her to take up a hobby.
26. How did Terri avoid losing the deposit on the house she rented?
A. By making it look like before. B. By furmishing it herself.
C. By splitting the rent with a roommate. D. By cancelling the rental agreement.
27. What trend in DIY does the research show?
A. It is becoming more costly. B. It is getting more time-consuming.
C. It is turning into a seasonal industry. D. It is gaining popularity among females.

【2023▪全国乙卷】
Living in Iowa and trying to become a photographer specializing in landscape (风景) can be quite a challenge, mainly because the corn state lacks geographical variation.
Although landscapes in the Midwest tend to be quite similar, either farm fields or highways, sometimes I find distinctive character in the hills or lakes. To make some of my landscape shots, I have traveled up to four hours away to shoot within a 10-minute time frame. I tend to travel with a few of my friends to state parks or to the countryside to go on adventures and take photos along the way.
Being at the right place at the right time is decisive in any style of photography. I often leave early to seek the right destinations so I can set up early to avoid missing the moment I am attempting to photograph. I have missed plenty of beautiful sunsets/sunrises due to being on the spot only five minutes before the best moment.
One time my friends and I drove three hours to Devil’s Lake, Wisconsin, to climb the purple quartz (石英) rock around the lake. After we found a crazy-looking road that hung over a bunch of rocks, we decided to photograph the scene at sunset. The position enabled us to look over the lake with the sunset in the background. We managed to leave this spot to climb higher because of the spare time until sunset. However, we did not mark the route (路线) so we ended up almost missing the sunset entirely. Once we found the place, it was stressful getting lights and cameras set up in the limited time. Still, looking back on the photos, they are some of my best shots though they could have been so much better if I would have been prepared and managed my time wisely.
24. How does the author deal with the challenge as a landscape photographer in the Midwest?
A. By teaming up with other photographers. B. By shooting in the countryside or state parks.
C. By studying the geographical conditions. D. By creating settings in the corn fields.
25. What is the key to successful landscape photography according to the author?
A. Proper time management. B. Good shooting techniques.
C. Adventurous spirit. D. Distinctive styles.
26. What can we infer from the author trip with friends to Devil’s Lake?
A. They went crazy with the purple quartz rock.
B. They felt stressed while waiting for the sunset.
C. They reached the shooting spot later than expected.
D. They had problems with their equipment.
27. How does the author find his photos taken at Devil’s Lake?
A. Amusing. B. Satisfying.
C. Encouraging. D. Comforting.

【2023▪浙江1月卷】
Live with roommates? Have friends and family around you? Chances are that if you’re looking to live a more sustainable lifestyle, not everyone around you will be ready to jump on that bandwagon.
I experienced this when I started switching to a zero waste lifestyle five years ago, as I was living with my parents, and I continue to experience this with my husband, as he is not completely zero waste like me. I’ve learned a few things along the way though, which I hope you’ll find encouraging if you’re doing your best to figure out how you can make the change in a not-always-supportive household.
Zero waste was a radical lifestyle movement a few years back. I remember showing my parents a video of Bea Johnson, sharing how cool I thought it would be to buy groceries with jars, and have so little trash! A few days later, I came back with my first jars of zero waste groceries, and my dad commented on how silly it was for me to carry jars everywhere. It came off as a bit discouraging.
Yet as the months of reducing waste continued, I did what I could that was within my own reach. I had my own bedroom, so I worked on removing things I didn’t need. Since I had my own toiletries (洗漱用品), I was able to start personalising my routine to be more sustainable. I also offered to cook every so often, so I portioned out a bit of the cupboard for my own zero waste groceries. Perhaps your household won’t entirely make the switch, but you may have some control over your own personal spaces to make the changes you desire.
As you make your lifestyle changes, you may find yourself wanting to speak up for yourself if others comment on what you’re doing, which can turn itself into a whole household debate. If you have individuals who are not on board, your words probably won’t do much and can often leave you feeling more discouraged.
So here is my advice: Lead by action.
24. What do the underlined words “jump on that bandwagon” mean in the first paragraph?
A. Share an apartment with you. B. Join you in what you’re doing.
C. Transform your way of living. D. Help you to make the decision.
25. What was the attitude of the author’s father toward buying groceries with jars?
A. He disapproved of it. B. He was favorable to it.
C. He was tolerant of it. D. He didn’t care about it.
26. What can we infer about the author?
A. She is quite good at cooking. B. She respects others’ privacy.
C. She enjoys being a housewife. D. She is a determined person.
27. What is the text mainly about?
A. How to get on well with other family members.
B. How to have one’s own personal space at home.
C. How to live a zero waste lifestyle in a household.
D. How to control the budget when buying groceries.

【2023▪浙江1月卷】
A machine can now not only beat you at chess, it can also outperform you in debate. Last week, in a public debate in San Francisco, a software program called Project Debater beat its human opponents, including Noa Ovadia, Israel’s former national debating champion.
Brilliant though it is, Project Debater has some weaknesses. It takes sentences from its library of documents and prebuilt arguments and strings them together. This can lead to the kinds of errors no human would make. Such wrinkles will no doubt be ironed out, yet they also point to a fundamental problem. As Kristian Hammond, professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Northwestern University, put it: “There’s never a stage at which the system knows what it’s talking about.”
What Hammond is referring to is the question of meaning, and meaning is central to what distinguishes the least intelligent of humans from the most intelligent of machines. A computer works with symbols. Its program specifies a set of rules to transform one string of symbols into another. But it does not specify what those symbols mean. Indeed, to a computer, meaning is irrelevant. Humans, in thinking, talking, reading and writing, also work with symbols. But for humans, meaning is everything. When we communicate, we communicate meaning. What matters is not just the outside of a string of symbols, but the inside too, not just how they are arranged but what they mean.
Meaning emerges through a process of social interaction, not of computation, interaction that shapes the content of the symbols in our heads. The rules that assign meaning lie not just inside our heads, but also outside, in society, in social memory, social conventions and social relations. It is this that distinguishes humans from machines. And that’s why, however astonishing Project Debater may seem, the tradition that began with Socrates and Confucius will not end with artificial intelligence.
28. Why does the author mention Noa Ovadia in the first paragraph?
A. To explain the use of a software program.
B. To show the cleverness of Project Debater.
C. To introduce the designer of Project Debater.
D. To emphasize the fairness of the competition.
29. What does the underlined word “wrinkles” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. Arguments. B. Doubts. C. Errors. D. Differences.
30. What is Project Debater unable to do according to Hammond?
A. Create rules. B. Comprehend meaning.
C. Talk fluently. D. Identify difficult words.
31. What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Social interaction is key to understanding symbols.
B. The human brain has potential yet to be developed.
C. Ancient philosophers set good examples for debaters.
D. Artificial intelligence ensures humans a bright future.
〖2022年高考真题题组〗
【2022▪新高考II卷】
We journalists live in a new age of storytelling, with many new multimedia tools. Many young people don’t even realize it’s new. For them, it’s just normal.
This hit home for me as I was sitting with my 2-year-old grandson on a sofa over the Spring Festival holiday. I had brought a children’s book to read. It had simple words and colorful pictures — a perfect match for his age.
Picture this: my grandson sitting on my lap as I hold the book in front so he can see the pictures. As I read, he reaches out and pokes (戳) the page with his finger.
What’s up with that? He just likes the pictures, I thought. Then I turned the page and continued. He poked the page even harder. I nearly dropped the book. I was confused: Is there something wrong with this kid?
Then I realized what was happening. He was actually a stranger to books. His father frequently amused the boy with a tablet computer which was loaded with colorful pictures that come alive when you poke them. He thought my storybook was like that.
Sorry, kid. This book is not part of your high-tech world. It’s an outdated, lifeless thing. An antique, like your grandfather. Well, I may be old, but I’m not hopelessly challenged, digitally speaking. I edit video and produce audio. I use mobile payment. I’ve even built websites.
There’s one notable gap in my new-media experience, however: I’ve spent little time in front of a camera, since I have a face made for radio. But that didn’t stop China Daily from asking me last week to share a personal story for a video project about the integration of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province.
Anyway, grandpa is now an internet star — two minutes of fame! I promise not to let it go to my head. But I will make sure my 2-year-old grandson sees it on his tablet.
24. What do the underlined words “hit home for me” mean in paragraph 2?
A. Provided shelter for me. B. Became very clear to me.
C. Took the pressure off me. D. Worked quite well on me.
25. Why did the kid poke the storybook?
A. He took it for a tablet computer. B. He disliked the colorful pictures.
C. He was angry with his grandpa. D. He wanted to read it by himself.
26. What does the author think of himself?
A. Socially ambitious. B. Physically attractive.
C. Financially independent. D. Digitally competent.
27. What can we learn about the author as a journalist?
A. He lacks experience in his job. B. He seldom appears on television.
C. He manages a video department. D. He often interviews internet stars.

【2022▪全国甲卷】
Sometime in the early 1960s, a significant thing happened in Sydney, Australia. The city discovered its harbor. Then, one after another, Sydney discovered lots of things that were just sort of there — broad parks, superb beaches, and a culturally diverse population. But it is the harbor that makes the city.
Andrew Reynolds, a cheerful fellow in his early 30s, pilots Sydney ferryboats for a living. I spent the whole morning shuttling back and forth across the harbor. After our third run Andrew shut down the engine, and we went our separate ways — he for a lunch break, I to explore the city.
“I’ll miss these old boats,” he said as we parted.
“How do you mean?” I asked.
“Oh, they’re replacing them with catamarans. Catamarans are faster, but they’re not so elegant, and they’re not fun to pilot. But that’s progress, I guess.”
Everywhere in Sydney these days, change and progress are the watchwords (口号), and traditions are increasingly rare. Shirley Fitzgerald, the city’s official historian, told me that in its rush to modernity in the 1970s, Sydney swept aside much of its past, including many of its finest buildings. “Sydney is confused about itself,” she said. “We can’t seem to make up our minds whether we want a modern city or a traditional one. It’s a conflict that we aren’t getting any better at resolving (解决).”
On the other hand, being young and old at the same time has its attractions. I considered this when I met a thoughtful young businessman named Anthony. “Many people say that we lack culture in this country,” he told me. “What people forget is that the Italians, when they came to Australia, brought 2000 years of their culture, the Greeks some 3000 years, and the Chinese more still. We’ve got a foundation built on ancient cultures but with a drive and dynamism of a young country. It’s a pretty hard combination to beat.”
He is right, but I can’t help wishing they would keep those old ferries.
32. What is the first paragraph mainly about?
A. Sydney’s striking architecture. B. The cultural diversity of Sydney.
C. The key to Sydney’s development. D. Sydney’s tourist attractions in the 1960s.
33. What can we learn about Andrew Reynolds?
A. He goes to work by boat. B. He looks forward to a new life.
C. He pilots catamarans well. D. He is attached to the old ferries.
34. What does Shirley Fitzgerald think of Sydney?
A. It is losing its traditions. B. It should speed up its progress.
C. It should expand its population. D. It is becoming more international.
35. Which statement will the author probably agree with?
A. A city can be young and old at the same time.
B. A city built on ancient cultures is more dynamic.
C. modernity is usually achieved at the cost of elegance.
D. Compromise should be made between the local and the foreign.

【2022▪全国乙卷】
In 1916, two girls of wealthy families, best friends from Auburn, N. Y.—Dorothy Woodruff and Rosamond Underwood—traveled to a settlement in the Rocky Mountains to teach in a one-room schoolhouse. The girls had gone to Smith College. They wore expensive clothes. So for them to move to Elkhead, Colo. to instruct the children whose shoes were held together with string was a surprise. Their stay in Elkhead is the subject of Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden, who is a magazine editor and Dorothy Woodruff’s granddaughter.
Why did they go then? Well, they wanted to do something useful. Soon, however, they realized what they had undertaken.
They moved in with a local family, the Harrisons, and, like them, had little privacy, rare baths, and a blanket of snow on their quilt when they woke up in the morning. Some mornings, Rosamond and Dorothy would arrive at the schoolhouse to find the children weeping from the cold. In spring, the snow was replaced by mud over ice.
In Wickenden’s book, she expanded on the history of the West and also on feminism, which of course influenced the girls’ decision to go to Elkhead. A hair-raising section concerns the building of the railroads, which entailed (牵涉) drilling through the Rockies, often in blinding snowstorms. The book ends with Rosamond and Dorothy’s return to Auburn.
Wickenden is a very good storyteller. The sweep of the land and the stoicism (坚忍) of the people move her to some beautiful writing. Here is a picture of Dorothy Woodruff, on her horse, looking down from a hill top: “When the sun slipped behind the mountains, it shed a rosy glow all around them. Then a full moon rose. The snow was marked only by small animals: foxes, coyotes, mice, and varying hares, which turned white in the winter.”
24. Why did Dorothy and Rosamond go to the Rocky Mountains?
A. To teach in a school. B. To study American history.
C. To write a book. D. To do sightseeing.
25. What can we learn about the girls from paragraph 3?
A. They enjoyed much respect. B. They had a room with a bathtub.
C. They lived with the local kids. D. They suffered severe hardships.
26. Which part of Wickenden’s writing is hair-raising?
A. The extreme climate of Auburn. B. The living conditions in Elkhead.
C. The railroad building in the Rockies. D. The natural beauty of the West.
27. What is the text?
A. A news report. B. A book review. C. A children’s story. D. A diary entry.

【2022▪北京卷】
My name is Alice. Early last year, I was troubled by an anxiety that crippled ( 削弱 ) my ability to do anything. I felt like a storm cloud hung over me. For almost a year I struggled on, constantly staring at this wall that faced me. My perfectionist tendencies were the main root of this: I wanted to be perfect at whatever I did, which obviously in life is not possible, but it consumed me.
One day, I attended a presentation by wildlife conservationist Grant Brown at my high school. His presentation not only awed and inspired me, but also helped emerge an inner desire to make a difference in the world. I joined a pre-presentation dinner with him and that smaller setting allowed me to slowly build up my courage to speak one-on-one with him—an idea that had seemed completely impossible. This first contact was where my story began.
A month later, Brown invited me to attend the World Youth Wildlife Conference. Looking back, I now see that this would be the first in a series of timely opportunities that my old self would have let pass, but that this new and more confident Alice enthusiastically seized. Shortly after I received his invitation, applications to join the Youth for Nature and the Youth for Planet groups were sent around through my high school. I decided to commit to completing the applications, and soon I was a part of a growing global team of young people working to protect nature. Each of these new steps continued to grow my confidence.
I am writing this just six months since my journey began and I’ve realised that my biggest obstacle ( 障碍 ) this whole time was myself. It was that voice in the back of my head telling me that one phrase that has stopped so many people from reaching their potential: I can’t. They say good things come to those who wait; I say: grab every opportunity with everything you have and be impatient. After all, nature does not require our patience, but our action.
24. What was the main cause for Alice’s anxiety?
A. Her inability to act her age. B. Her habit of consumption.
C. Her desire to be perfect. D. Her lack of inspiration.
25. How did Grant Brown’s presentation influence Alice?
A. She decided to do something for nature. B. She tasted the sweetness of friendship.
C. She learned about the harm of desire. D. She built up her courage to speak up.
26. The activities Alice joined in helped her to become more ________.
A. intelligent B. confident C. innovative D. critical
27. What can we learn from this passage?
A. Practice makes perfect. B. Patience is a cure of anxiety.
C. Action is worry’s worst enemy. D. Everything comes to those who wait.

【2022▪天津卷】
I’m an 18-year-old pre-medical student, tall and good-looking, with two short story books and quite a number of essays my credit. Why am I singing such praises of myself? Just to explain that he attainment of self-pride comes from a great deal of self-love, and to attain it, one must first learn to accept oneself as one is. That was where my struggle began.
Born and raised in Africa，I had always taken my African origin as burden. My self-dislike was further fueled when my family had to relocate to Norway, where I attended a high school. Compared to all the white girls around me, with their golden hair and delicate lips, I, a black girl, had curly hair and full, red lips. My nose often had a thin sheet of sweat on it, whatever the weather was. I just wanted to bury myself in my shell crying “I’m so different!”
What also contributed to my self-dislike was my occasional stuttering (口吃), which had weakened my self-confidence. It always stood between me and any fine opportunity. I’d taken it as an excuse to avoid any public speaking sessions, and unknowingly let it rule over me.
Fortunately, as I grew older, there came a turning point. One day a white girl caught my eye on the school bus when she suddenly turned back. To my astonishment, she had a thin sheet of sweat on her nose too, and it was in November! “Wow,” I whispered to myself, “this isn’t a genetic(遗传的) disorder after all. It’s perfectly normal.” Days later, my life took an-other twist(转折). Searching the internet for stuttering cures, I accidentally learned that such famous people as Isaac Newton and Winston Churchill also stuttered. I was greatly relieved and then an idea suddenly hit me—if I’m smart, I shouldn’t allow my stuttering to stand between me and my success.
Another boost to my self-confidence came days later as I was watching the news about Oprah Winfrey, the famous talk show host and writer—she’s black too! Whenever I think of her story and my former dislike of my color, I’m practically filled with shame.
Today, I’ve grown to accept what I am with pride; it simply gives me feeling of uniqueness. The idea of self-love has taken on a whole new meaning for me: there’s always something fantastic about us, and what w need to do is learn to appreciate it.
41. What affected the author’s adjustment to her school life in Norway!
A. Her appearance B. Social discrimination.
C. Her changing emotions. D. The climate in Norway.
42. What did the author’s occasional stuttering bring about according on Paragraph 3?
A. Her lack of self-confidence. B. Her loss of interest in school.
C. Her unwillingness to greet her classmates. D. Her desire for chances to improve herself.
43. How did the author feel on noticing the similarity between her and ne girl on the bus?
A. Blessed and proud. B. Confused and afraid.
C. Amazed and relieved. D. Shocked and ashamed.
44. What lesson did the author learn from the cases of Newton and Churchill?
A. Great minds speak alike. B. Stuttering is no barrier to success.
C. Wisdom counts more than hard work. D. Famous people can’t live with their weaknesses.
45. What can best summarize the message contained in the passage?
A. Pride comes before a fall. B. Where there is a will, there is a way.
C. Self-acceptance is based on the love for oneself. D. Self-love is key to the attainment of self-pride.

【2022▪浙江6月卷】
Pasta and pizza were on everyone’s lunch menu in my native land of Italy. Everyone who had such a lunch was fair-skinned and spoke Italian. A few years later, as I stood in the lunch line with my kindergarten class in a school in Brooklyn, I realized things were no longer that simple. My classmates ranged from those kids with pale skin and large blue eyes to those with rich brown skin and dark hair. The food choices were almost as diverse as the students. In front of me was an array of foods I couldn’t even name in my native language. Fearing that I would pick out something awful, I desperately tried to ask the boy ahead of me for a recommendation. Unfortunately, between us stood the barrier of language.
Although my kindergarten experience feels like a century ago, the lessons I learned will stick in my mind forever. For the past three summers, I have worked in a government agency in New York. New immigrants much like the little girl in the lunch line flooded our office seeking help. I often had to be an interpreter for the Italian-speaking ones. As I served the role of vital communication link, I was reminded of my desperate struggle to converse before I learned English. I watched with great sympathy as elderly Italians tried to hold a conversation in Italian with people who did not speak the language. It suddenly became very clear to me how lucky I was to be fluent in two languages.
In New York, a multicultural city, students like me are blessed with a chance to work with a diverse population. In my English to Italian translations, I’ve learned about social programs that I didn’t know existed. This work expanded my mind in ways that are impossible inside the four walls of a classroom. Walking through the streets of Brooklyn today, I am no longer confused by this city’s sounds and smells. Instead, enjoy its diversity.
21. What did the author realize after entering school in Brooklyn?
A. Time passed quickly. B. English was hard to learn.
C. The food was terrible. D. People were very different.
22. Who does “the little girl” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. An Italian teacher. B. A government official.
C. The author herself. D. The author’s classmate.
23. How did the summer job benefit the author?
A. It strengthened her love for school. B. It helped sharpen her sense of direction.
C. It opened her eyes to the real world. D. It made her childhood dream come true.

【2022▪浙江1月卷】
For nearly a decade now, Merebeth has been a self-employed pet transport specialist. Her pet transport job was born of the financial crisis（危机）in the late 2000s. The downturn hit the real estate （房地产）firm where she had worked for ten years as an office manager. The firm went broke and left her looking for a new job. One day, while driving near her home, she saw a dog wandering on the road, clearly lost. She took it home, and her sister in Denver agreed to take it. This was a loving home for sure, but 1, 600 miles away. It didn't take long for Merebeth to decide to drive the dog there herself. It was her first road trip to her new job.
Merebeth's pet delivery service also satisfies her wanderlust. It has taken her to every state in the US except Montana, Washington and Oregon, she says proudly. If she wants to visit a new place, she will simply find a pet with transport needs there. She travels in all weathers. She has driven through 55 mph winds in Wyoming, heavy flooding and storms in Alabama and total whiteout conditions in Kansas.
This wanderlust is inherited from her father, she says. She moved their family from Canada to California when she was one year old, because he wanted them to explore a new place together. As soon as she graduated from high school she left home to live on Catalina Island off the Californian coast, away from her parents, where she enjoyed a life of sailing and off-road biking.
It turns out that pet transporting pays quite well at about $30, 000 per year before tax. She doesn't work in summer, as it would be unpleasantly hot for the animals in the car, even with air conditioning. As autumn comes, she gets restless—the same old wanderlust returning. It's a call she must heed alone, though. Merebeth says, “When I am on the road, I'm just in my own world. I've always been independent-spirited and I just feel strongly that I mush help animals.”
21. Why did Merebeth changed her job?
A. She wanted to work near her home.
B. She was tired of working in the office.
C. Her sister asked her to move to Denver.
D. Her former employer was out of business.
22. The word "wanderlust" in paragraph 2 means a desire to _________?
A. make money
B. try various jobs
C. be close to nature
D. travel to different places
23. What can we learn about Merebeth in her new job?
A. She has chances to see rare animals.
B. She works hard throughout the year.
C. She relies on herself the whole time.
D. She earns a basic and tax-free salary.

〖2021年高考真题题组〗
【2021▪新高考I卷】
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.”
24. 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.
25. Which of the following best describes Titterton’s job on stage?
A. Boring. B. Well-paid. C. Demanding. D. Dangerous.
26. What does Titterton need to practise?
A. Counting the pages.
B. Recognizing the “nodding”.
C. Catching falling objects.
D. Performing in his own style.
27. Why is Ms Raspopova’s husband “the worse 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

【2021▪新高考II卷】
I have worked as a keeper at the National Zoo, Paris for 11 years. Spot and Stripe are the first tiger cubs that have ever been born here. Globally, a third of Sumatran cubs in zoos don't make it to adulthood, so I decided to give them round-the-clock care at home.
I've got two children—the younger one, Kynan, was extremely happy about the tigers arriving - but all of us really looked forward to being part of their lives and watching them grow. I wasn't worried about bringing them into my home with my wife and kids. These were cubs. They weighed about 2.5 kg and were so small that there was absolutely no risk.
As they grew more mobile, we let them move freely around the house during the day, but when we were asleep we had to contain them in a large room, otherwise they'd get up to mischief. We'd come down in the morning to find they'd turned the room upside down, and left it looking like a zoo.
Things quickly got very intense due to the huge amount of energy required to look after them. There were some tough times and I just felt extremely tired. I was grateful that my family was there to help. We had to have a bit of a production line going, making up “tiger milk”, washing baby bottles, and cleaning the floors.
When Spot and Stripe were four months old, they were learning how to open doors and jump fences, and we knew it really was time for them to go. It was hard for us to finally part with them. For the first few days, Kynan was always a bit disappointed that the cubs weren't there.
I'm not sad about it. I'm hands-on with them every day at the zoo, and I do look back very fondly on the time that we had them.
24. Why did the author bring the tiger cubs home?
A. To ensure their survival. B. To observe their differences.
C. To teach them life skills. D. To let them play with his kids.
25. What do the underlined words “get up to mischief” mean in paragraph 3?
A. Behave badly. B. Lose their way. C. Sleep soundly. D. Miss their mom.
26. What did the author think of raising the tiger cubs at home?
A. Boring. B. Tiring. C. Costly. D. Risky.
27. Why did the author decide to send Spot and Stripe back to the zoo?
A. They frightened the children. B. They became difficult to contain.
C. They annoyed the neighbours. D. They started fighting each other.

【2021▪全国甲卷】
When I was 9, we packed up our home in Los Angeles and arrived at Heathrow, London on a gray January morning. Everyone in the family settled quickly into the city except me. Without my beloved beaches and endless blue—sky days, I felt at a loss and out of place. Until I made a discovery.
Southbank, at an eastern bend in the Thames, is the center of British skateboarding, where the continuous crashing of skateboards left your head ringing .I loved it. I soon made friends with the local skaters. We spoke our own language. And my favorite: Safe. Safe meant cool. It meant hello. It meant don't worry about it. Once, when trying a certain trick on the beam（横杆）, I fell onto the stones, damaging a nerve in my hand, and Toby came over, helping me up: Safe, man. Safe. A few minutes later, when I landed the trick, my friends beat their boards loud, shouting: “Safe! Safe! Safe!” And that's what mattered —landing tricks, being a good skater.
When I was 15, my family moved to Washington. I tried skateboarding there, but the locals were far less welcoming. Within a couple of years, I'd give it up.
When I returned to London in 2004, I found myself wandering down to Southbank, spending hours there. I've traveled back several times since, most recently this past spring. The day was cold but clear: tourists and Londoners stopped to watch the skaters. Weaving（穿梭）among the kids who rushed by on their boards, I found my way to the beam. Then a rail—thin teenager, in a baggy white T—shirt, skidded（滑）up to the beam. He sat next to me. He seemed not to notice the man next to him. But soon I caught a few of his glances. “I was a local here 20 years ago,” I told him. Then, slowly, he began to nod his head. “Safe, man. Safe.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Safe.”
8. What can we learn about the author soon after he moved to London?
A. He felt disappointed.
B. He gave up his hobby.
C. He liked the weather there.
D. He had disagreements with his family.
9. What do the underlined words “Safe! Safe! Safe!” probably mean?
A. Be careful! B. Well done! C. No way! D. Don't worry!
10. Why did the author like to spend time in Southbank when he returned to London?
A. To join the skateboarding.
B. To make new friends.
C. To learn more tricks.
D. To relive his childhood days
11. What message does the author seem to convey in the text?
A. Children should learn a second language.
B. Sport is necessary for children's health.
C. Children need a sense of belonging.
D. Seeing the world is a must for children.

【2021▪北京卷】
I remember the day during our first week of class when we were informed about our semester（学期） project of volunteering at a non-profit organization. When the teacher introduced us to the different organizations that needed our help, my last choice was Operation Iraqi Children （OIC）. My first impression of the organization was that it was not going to make enough of a difference with the plans I had in mind.
Then, an OIC representative gave us some details, which somewhat interested me. After doing some research, I believed that we could really do something for those kids. When I went online to the OIC website, I saw pictures of the Iraqi children. Their faces were so powerful in sending a message of their despair（绝望） and need that I joined this project without hesitation. We decided to collect as many school supplies as possible, and make them into kits——one kit, one child.
The most rewarding day for our group was project day, when all the efforts we put into collecting the items finally came together. When I saw the various supplies we had collected, it hit me that every kit we were to build that day would eventually be in the hands of an Iraqi child. Over the past four months, I had never imagined how I would feel once our project was completed. While making the kits, I realized that I had lost sight of the true meaning behind it. I had only focused on the fact that it was another school project and one I wanted to get a good grade on. When the kits were completed, and ready to be sent overseas, the warm feeling I had was one I would never forget.
In the beginning, I dared myself to make a difference in the life of another person. Now that our project is over, I realize that I have affected not only one life, but ten. With our efforts, ten young boys and girls will now be able to further their education.
24. How did the author feel about joining the OIC project in the beginning？
A. It would affect his/her initial plans.
B. It would involve traveling overseas.
C. It would not bring him/her a good grade.
D. It would not live up to his/her expectations.
25. What mainly helped the author change his/her attitude toward the project？
A. Images of Iraqi children. B. Research by his/her classmates.
C. A teacher's introduction. D. A representative's comments.
26. The author's OIC project group would help ten Iraqi children to________. .
A. become OIC volunteers B. further their education
C. study in foreign countries D. influence other children
27. What can we conclude from this passage？
A. One's potential cannot always be underrated.
B. First impression cannot always be trusted.
C. Actions speak louder than words.
D. He who hesitates is lost.
【
【2021▪天津卷】
About five weeks ago, I noticed the skin of our pet lizard was growing dusty. It worried me. I reported the strange surface on the skin of the lizard to my husband and children the next morning. Seconds later, our lizard emerged from its tank with its old skin flowing behind it.
I didn't think about it much until a morning last week when I knocked my favorite teapot off the table. It burst into hundreds of pieces. As I swept up the mess, I wondered why we had been breaking so many things over the months.
The destruction started three months ago. It was my husband's birthday. He had just lost his job. The uncertainty was starting to wear on us, so I wanted to do something special.
“Let's make a cake for Dad!” I cried.
My kids screamed with joy. We baked, iced and sprinkled for most of the day. Candles on the cake! Balloons on the walls! Flowers on the table!
Two hours before my husband came back home from another job interview, my daughter climbed up to grab a glass vase from a high shelf. It fell and crashed beside the cake. Tiny pieces of glass were everywhere. She sobbed loudly as I threw the cake away. My husband had banana pudding for his birthday.
Three days ago, the light in our living room suddenly went out. After several frustrating hours of unsuccessful attempts to fix it, my husband suggested watching the Michael Jordan documentary series The Last Dance.
The poignancy of Jordan retiring from his beloved basketball to play baseball and what had pushed him to make such a tough decision took me by surprise. As I watched him take off his basketball uniform and replace it with a baseball uniform, I saw him leaving behind the layer that no longer served him, just as our lizard had. Neither of them chose the moment that had transformed them. But they had to live with who they were after everything was different. Just like us. I realized that we have to learn to leave the past behind.
Humans do not shed skin as easily as other animals. The beginning of change is upsetting. The process is tiring. Damage changes us before we are ready. I see our lizard, raw and nearly new.
Jordan said that no matter how it ends, it starts with hope. With our tender, hopeful skin, that is where we begin.
40. What can we learn about the pet lizard from Paragraph 1?
A. Its tank grew dirty. B. Its old skin came off.
C. It got a skin disease. D. It went missing.
41. Why did the author's husband have banana pudding for his birthday?
A. The birthday cake was ruined. B. The author made good puddings.
C. Pudding was his favorite dessert. D. They couldn't afford a birthday cake.
42. Why does the author mention The Last Dance in the passage?
A. To prove a theory. B. To define a concept.
C. To develop the theme. D. To provide the background.
43. The underlined part "leaving behind the layer" in Paragraph 8 can be understood as .
A. letting go of the past B. looking for a new job
C. getting rid of a bad habit D. giving up an opportunity
44. What does the author most likely want to tell us?
A. Love of family helps us survive great hardships.
B. It's not the end of the world if we break things.
C. We should move on no matter what happens.
D. Past experiences should be treasured.

【2021▪浙江6月卷】
Leslie Nielsen’s childhood was a difficult one, but he had one particular shining star in his life — his uncle, who was a well-known actor. The admiration and respect his uncle earned inspired Nielsen to make a career（职业）in acting. Even though he often felt he would be discovered to be a no-talent, he moved forward, gaining a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse and making his first television appearance a few years later in 1948. However, becoming a full-time, successful actor would still be an uphill battle for another eight years until he landed a number of film roles that finally got him noticed.
But even then, what he had wasn’t quite what he wanted. Nielsen always felt he should be doing comedy but his good looks and distinguished voice kept him busy in dramatic roles. It wasn’t until1980 - 32 years into his career — that he landed the role it would seem he was made for in Airplane! That movie led him into the second half of his career where his comedic presence alone could make a movie a financial success even when movie reviewers would not rate it highly.
Did Nielsen then feel content in his career? Yes and no. He was thrilled to be doing the comedy that he always felt he should do, but even during his last few years, he always had a sense of curiosity, wondering what new role or challenge might be just around the corner. He never stopped working, never retired.
Leslie Nielsen’s devotion to acting is wonderfully inspiring. He built a hugely successful career with little more than plain old hard work and determination. He showed us that even a single desire, never given up on, can make for a remarkable life.
21. Why did Nielsen want to be an actor?
A. He enjoyed watching movies. B. He was eager to earn money.
C. He wanted to be like his uncle. D. He felt he was good at acting.
22. What do we know about Nielsen in the second half of his career?
A. He directed some high quality movies. B. He avoided taking on new challenges.
C. He focused on playing dramatic roles. D. He became a successful comedy actor.
23. What does Nielsen’s career story tell us?
A. Art is long, life is short. B. He who laughs last laughs longest.
C. It’s never too late to learn. D. Where there’s a will there’s a way.

【2021▪浙江6月卷】
We live in a town with three beaches. There are two parks less than 10 minutes’ walk from home where neighbourhood children gather to play. However, what my children want to do after school is pick up a screen — any screen — and stare at it for hours. They are not alone. Today’s children spend an average of four and a half hours a day looking at screens, split between watching television and using the Internet.
In the past few years, an increasing number of people and organisations have begun coming up with plans to counter this trend. A couple of years ago, film-maker David Bond realised that his children, then aged five and three, were attached to screens to the point where he was able to say "chocolate" into his three-year-old son’s ear without getting a response. He realised that something needed to change, and, being a London media type, appointed himself "marketing director for Nature". He documented his journey as he set about treating nature as a brand to be marketed to young people. The result was Project Wild Thing, a film which charts the birth of the Wild Network a group of organisations with the common goal of getting children out into nature.
"Just five more minutes outdoors can make a difference," David Bond says. "There is a lot of really interesting evidence which seems to be suggesting that if children are inspired up to the age of seven, then being outdoors will be a habit for life." His own children have got into the habit of playing outside now: "We just send them out into the garden and tell them not to come back in for a while."
Summer is upon us. There is an amazing world out there, and it needs our children as much as they need it. Let us get them out and let them play.
24. What is the problem with the author’s children?
A. They often annoy the neighbours. B. They are tired of doing their homework.
C. They have no friends to play with. D. They stay in front of screens for too long.
25. How did David Bond advocate his idea?
A. By making a documentary film. B. By organizing outdoor activities.
C. By advertising in London media. D. By creating a network of friends.
26. Which of the following can replace the underlined word "charts" in paragraph 2
A. records B. predicts C. delays D. confirms
27. What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Let Children Have Fun B. Young Children Need More Free Time
C. Market Nature to Children D. David Bond: A Role Model for Children
〖2020年高考真题题组〗
【2020▪新高考卷】
Jenifer Mauer has needed more willpower than the typical college student to pursue her goal of earning a nursing degree. That willpower bore fruit when Jennifer graduated from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and became the first in her large family to earn a bachelor's degree.
Mauer, of Edgar, Wisconsin, grew up on a farm in a family of 10 children. Her dad worked at a job away from the farm, and her mother ran the farm with the kids. After high school, Jennifer attended a local technical college, working to pay her tuition(学费), because there was no extra money set aside for a college education. After graduation, she worked to help her sisters and brothers pay for their schooling.
Jennifer now is married and has three children of her own. She decided to go back to college to advance her career and to be able to better support her family while doing something she loves: nursing. She chose the UW-Eau Claire program at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield because she was able to pursue her four-year degree close to home. She could drive to class and be home in the evening to help with her kids. Jenifer received great support from her family as she worked to earn her degree: Her husband worked two jobs to cover the bills, and her 68-year-old mother helped take care of the children at times.
Through it all, she remained in good academic standing and graduated with honors. Jennifer sacrificed(牺牲)to achieve her goal, giving up many nights with her kids and missing important events to study. ''Some nights my heart was breaking to have to pick between my kids and studying for exams or papers,'' she says. However, her children have learned an important lesson witnessing their mother earn her degree. Jennifer is a first-generation graduate and an inspiration to her famiy-and that's pretty powerful.
24. What did Jennifer do after high school?
A. She helped her dad with his work.
B. She ran the family farm on her own.
C. She supported herself through college.
D. She taught her sisters and brothers at home.
25. Why did Jennifer choose the program at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield?
A. To take care of her kids easily.
B. To learn from the best nurses.
C. To save money for her parents.
D. To find a well-paid job there.
26. What did Jennifer sacrifice to achieve her goal?
A. Her health.
B. Her time with family.
C. Her reputation.
D. Her chance of promotion.
27. What can we learn from Jenifer's story?
A. Time is money.
B. Love breaks down barriers.
C. Hard work pays off.
D. Education is the key to success.
【2020▪新高考卷】
In the mid-1990s, Tom Bissell taught English as a volunteer in Uzbekistan. He left after seven months, physically broken and having lost his mind. A few years later, still attracted to the country, he returned to Uzbekistan to write an article about the disappearance of the Aral Sea.
His visit, however, ended up involving a lot more than that. Hence this book, Chasing the Sea: Lost Among the Ghosts of Empire in Central Asia, which talks about a road trip from Tashkent to Karakalpakstan, where millions of lives have been destroyed by the slow drying up of the sea. It is the story of an American travelling to a strange land, and of the people he meets on his way: Rustam, his translator, a lovely 24-year-old who picked up his colorful English in California, Oleg and Natasha, his hosts in Tashkent, and a string of foreign aid workers.
This is a quick look at life in Uzbekistan, made of friendliness and warmth, but also its darker side of society. In Samarkand, Mr Bissell admires the architectural wonders, while on his way to Bukhara he gets a taste of police methods when suspected of drug dealing. In Ferghana, he attends a mountain funeral(葬礼)followed by a strange drinking party. And in Karakalpakstan, he is saddened by the dust storms, diseases and fishing boats stuck miles from the sea.
Mr Bissell skillfully organizes historical insights and cultural references, making his tale a well-rounded picture of Uzbekistan, seen from Western eyes. His judgment and references are decidedly American, as well as his delicate stomach. As the author explains, this is neither a travel nor a history book, or even a piece of reportage. Whatever it is, the result is a fine and vivid description of the purest of Central Asian traditions.
28. What made Mr Bissell return to Uzbekistan?
A. His friends' invitation. B. His interest in the country.
C. His love for teaching. D. His desire to regain health.
29. What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. Developing a serious mental disease.
B. Taking a guided tour in Central Asia.
C. Working as a volunteer in Uzbekistan.
D. Writing an article about the Aral Sea.
30. Which of the following best describes Mr Bissell's road trip in Uzbekistan?
A. Romantic. B. Eventful. C. Pleasant. D. Dangerous.
31. What is the purpose of this text?
A. To introduce a book. B. To explain a cultural phenomenon.
C. To remember a writer. D. To recommend a travel destination.
【2020▪全国II卷】
I have a special place in my heart for libraries. I have for as long as I can remember. I was always an enthusiastic reader, sometimes reading up to three books a day as a child. Stories were like air to me and while other kids played ball or went to parties. I lived out adventures through the books I checked out from the library.
My first job was working at the Ukiah Library when I was 16 years old. It was a dream job and I did everything from shelving books to reading to the children for story time.
As I grew older and became a mother, the library took on a new place and an added meaning in my life. I had several children and books were our main source(来源) of entertainment. It was a big deal for us to load up and go to the local library, where my kids could pick out books to read or books they wanted me to read to them.
I always read, using different voices, as though I were acting out the stories with my voice and they loved it! It was a special time to bond with my children and it filled them with the wonderment of books.
Now, I see my children taking their children to the library and I love that the excitement of going to the library lives on from generation to generation.
As a novelist, I’ve found a new relationship with libraries. I encourage readers to go to their local library when they can’t afford to purchase a book. I see libraries as a safe haven(避风港) for readers and writers, a bridge that helps put together a reader with a book. Libraries, in their own way, help fight book piracy(盗版行为) and I think all writers should support libraries in a significant way when they can. Encourage readers to use the library. Share library announcements on your social media. Frequent them and talk about them when you can.
32. Which word best describes the author’s relationship with books as a child?
A. Cooperative. B. Uneasy.
C. Inseparable. D. Casual.
33. What does the underlined phrase “an added meaning” in paragraph 3 refer to?
A. Pleasure from working in the library.
B. Joy of reading passed on in the family.
C. Wonderment from acting out the stories.
D. A closer bond developed with the readers.
34. What does the author call on other writers to do?
A. Sponsor book fairs. B. Write for social media.
C. Support libraries. D. Purchase her novels.
35. Which can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Reading: A Source of Knowledge
B. My Idea about writing
C. Library: A Haven for the Young
D. My Love of the Library

【2020▪全国III卷】
When "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" was first shown to the public last month, a group of excited animal activists gathered on Hollywood Boulevard. But they weren’t there to throw red paint on fur-coat-wearing film stars. Instead, one activist, dressed in a full-body monkey suit, had arrived with a sign praising the filmmakers: "Thanks for not using real apes (猿)!"
The creative team behind "Apes" used motion-capture (动作捕捉) technology to create digitalized animals, spending tens of millions of dollars on technology that I records an actor’s performance and later processes it with computer graphics to create a final image (图像). In this case, one of a realistic-looking ape.
Yet "Apes" is more exception than the rule. In fact, Hollywood has been hot on live animals lately. One nonprofit organization, which monitors the treatment or animals in filmed entertainment, is keeping tabs on more than 2,000 productions this year. Already, a number of films, including "Water for Elephants," "The Hangover Part Ⅱ" and "Zookeeper," have drawn the anger of activists who say the creatures acting in them haven’t been treated properly.
In some cases, it’s not so much the treatment of the animals on set in the studio that has activists worried; it’s the off-set training and living conditions that are raising concerns. And there are questions about the films made outside the States, which sometimes are not monitored as closely as productions filmed in the Sates.
24. Why did the animal activists gather on Hollywood Boulevard?
A. To see famous film stars.
B. To oppose wearing fur coats.
C. To raise money for animal protection.
D. To express thanks to some filmmakers.
25. What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about?
A. The cost of making "Apes."
B. The creation of digitalized apes.
C. The publicity about “Apes."
D. The performance of real apes.
26. What does the underlined phrase "keeping tabs on" in paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. Listing completely.
B. Directing professionally.
C. Promoting successfully.
D. Watching carefully.
27. What can we infer from the last paragraph about animal actors?
A. They may be badly treated.
B. They should take further training.
C. They could be traded illegally.
D. They would lose popularity.

【2020▪全国III卷】
With the young unable to afford to leave home and the old at risk of isolation(孤独), more families are choosing to live together.
The doorway to peace and quiet, for Nick Bright at least, leads straight to his mother-in-law, she lives on the ground floor, while he lives upstairs with his wife and their two daughters.
Four years ago they all moved into a three-storey Victorian house in Bristol — one of a growing number of multigenerational families in the UK living together under the same roof. They share a front door and a washing machine, but Rita Whitehead has her own kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room on the ground floor.
“We floated the idea to my mum of sharing at a house,” says Kathryn Whitehead. Rita cuts in: “We spoke more with Nick because I think it’s a big thing for Nick to live with his mother-in-law.”
And what does Nick think? “From my standpoint, it all seems to work very well. Would I recommend it? Yes, I think I would.”
It’s hard to tell exactly how many people agree with him, but research indicates that the numbers have been rising for some time. Official reports suggest that the number of households with three generations living together had risen from 325,000 in 2002 to 419,000 in 2013.
Other varieties of multigenerational family are more common. Some people live with their elderly parents; many more adult children are returning to the family home, if they ever left. It is said that about 20% of 25-34-year-olds live with their parents, compared with 16% in 1991.The total number of all multigenerational households in Britain is thought to be about 1.8 million.
Stories like that are more common in parts of the world where multigenerational living is more firmly rooted. In India, particularly outside cities, young women are expected to move in with their husband’s family when they get married.
28. Who mainly uses the ground floor in the Victorian house in Bristol?
A. Nick. B. Rita. C. Kathryn D. The daughters.
29. What is Nick’s attitude towards sharing the house with his mother-in -law?
A. Positive. B. Carefree. C. Tolerant. D. Unwilling.
30. What is the author’s statement about multigenerational family based on?
A. Family traditions. B. Financial reports.
C. Published statistics.
D. Public opinions.
31. What is the text mainly about?
A. Lifestyles in different countries. B. Conflicts between generations.
C. A housing problem in Britain. D. A rising trend of living in the UK.

【2020▪北京卷】
For the past five years, Paula Smith, a historian of science, has devoted herself to re-creating long-forgotten techniques. While doing research for her new book, she came across a 16th-century French manuscript (手稿) consisting of nearly 1,000 sets of instructions, covering subjects from tool making to finding the best sand.
The author's intention remains as mysterious (神秘) as his name; he may have been simply taking notes for his own records. But Smith was struck mainly by the fact that she didn't truly grasp any of the skills the author described. "You simply can't get an understanding of that handwork by reading about it," she says.
Though Smith did get her hands on the best sand, doing things the old-fashioned way isn't just about playing around with French mud. Reconstructing the work of the craftsmen(工匠) who lived centuries ago can reveal how they viewed the world, what objects filled their homes, and what went on in the workshops that produced them. It can even help solve present-day problems: In 2015, scientists discovered that a 10th-century English medicine for eve problems could kill a drug- resistant virus.
The work has also brought insights for museums, Smith says. One must know how on object was made in order to preserve it. What's more, reconstructions might be the only way to know what treasures looked like before time wore them down. Scholars have seen this idea in practice with ancient Greek and Roman statues. These sculptures were painted a rainbow of striking colours. We can't appreciate these kinds of details without seeing works of art as they originally appeared-something Smith believes you can do only when you have a road map.
Smith has put the manuscript's ideas into practice. Her final goal is to link the worlds of art and science back together: She believes that bringing the old recipes to life can help develop a kind of learning that highlights experimentation, teamwork, and problem solving.
Back when science--then called “the new philosophy” --took shape, academics looked to craftsmen for help in understanding the natural world. Microscopes and telescopes were invented by way of artistic tinkering(修补), as craftsmen experimented with glass to better bend light.
If we can rediscover the values of hands-on experience and craftwork, Smith says, we can marry the best of our modern insights with the handiness of our ancestors.
38. How did Smith, feel after reading the French manuscript?
A. Confused about the technical terms.
B. Impressed with its detailed instructions.
C. Discouraged by its complex structure.
D. Shocked for her own lack of hand skills.
39. According to Smith, the reconstruction work is done mainly to ___________.
A. restore old workshops
B. understand the craftsmen
C. improve visual effects
D. inspire the philosophers
40. Why does the author mention museums?
A. To reveal the beauty of ancient objects.
B. To present the findings of old science.
C. To highlight the importance of antiques.
D. To emphasise the values of hand skills.
41. Which would be the best title for this passage?
A. Craftsmen Set the Trends for Artists
B. Craftsmanship Leads to New Theories
C. Craftsmanship Makes Better Scientists
D. Craftsmen Reshape the Future of Science

【2020▪天津卷】
“They tell me that you’d like to make a statue(塑像) of me-is that correct, Miss Vinnie Ream?”
The deep, gentle voice helped calm the nervous girl. Asking a favor of the President of the United States was no casual matter, especially for a seventeen-year-old girl.
“Yes, sir,” she replied, her dark eyes meeting his. “I wouldn’t have duo ask you, but my teacher, Mr. Mills, says I am ready. I plan to make it in an admirable manner. “
President Lincoln smiled. “Painters, sculptors-they’ve all tried to make the best of this ordinary face, but I’m afraid there’s not much hope. What did you have in mind, Miss Ream? A bust(半身像)?”
Before Vinnie could say yes, the President hurried on, a shade of apology in his voice.
“Of course-I shouldn’t have asked. A full-length pose would be much too big a project for a young woman your size. “
Vinnie’s face turned red. She realized she looked like a child, with her tiny figure. “Small does not mean weak, sir,” she defended herself. “I was born in the country of Wisconsin. I’ve driven teams of horses and carried water. Making a full-length clay(粘土) figure would not exhaust my strength-and that is what I intend to do!”
The President’s eyes, brightened at her show of spirit. “Sorry, madam, I have underestimated you as I didn’t know your background.”
But his smile faded as he rubbed his beard with bony fingers, in thought. “Miss Ream,” he sighed, “I’d like to let you do it, but as you know, we are in the middle of a war. How could I possibly take the time to pose for a sculpture now? I hardly have a minute to myself.”
Vinnie glanced around and noted the size of his office. “I work quickly,” she said. Her voice was soft but confident as she pointed to the corner near the windows. “If I were to bring my clay here and work for three hours every afternoon, I could complete most of the project while you are at your desk.”
The President seemed to consider her idea seriously. He got up and shook Vinnie’s hand warmly, “I’ve heard that you are a talented young woman, and I have found you charming and intelligent as well. I cannot make my decision immediately, but you will hear from me soon.”
The very next day, Vinnie received an invitation from the President.
41. What gave Vinnie confidence to make her request of President Lincoln?
A. Her aggressive personality.
B. Mr. Mills’s encouraging remark.
C. President Lincoln’s gentle voice.
D. Her interest in a challenging job.
42. How did President Lincoln first respond to Vinnie’s request?
A. Pleased.
B. Thrilled.
C. Regretful.
D. Doubtful.
43. Vinnie confirmed her ability to make a full-length statue by highlighting ______.
A. her experience from other projects
B. her innocent childhood in the country
C. the heavy labor she had done before
D. the skill she picked up in Wisconsin
44. Vinnie wanted to choose the corner near the windows to ______.
A. achieve effects of natural lighting
B. keep all her tools within easy reach
C. observe the President at a right angle
D. avoid disturbing the president’s work
45. What message does the story convey?
A. A strong-willed soul can reach his goal.
B. Experience helps to promote excellence.
C. Ups and downs make one strong.
D. Devotion requires enthusiasm.

【2020▪浙江1月卷】
I never knew anyone who’d grown up in Jackson without being afraid of Mrs. Calloway, our librarian. She ran Jackson’s Carnegie Library absolutely by herself. SILENCE in big black letters was on signs hung everywhere. If she thought you were dressed improperly, she sent you straight back home to change your clothes. I was willing; I would do anything to read.
My mother was not afraid of Mrs. Calloway. She wished me to have my own library card to check out books for myself. She took me in to introduce me. “Eudora is nine years old and has my permission to read any book she wants from the shelves, children or adults,” Mother said.
Mrs. Calloway made her own rules about books. You could not take back a book to the library on the same day you’d taken it out; it made no difference to her that you’d read every word in it and needed another to start. You could take out two books at a time and two only. So two by two, I read library books as fast as I could go, rushing them home in the basket of my bicycle. From the minute I reached our house, I started to read. I knew this was extreme happiness, knew it at the time.
My mother shared this feeling of mine. Now, I think of her as reading so much of the time while doing something else. I remember her reading a magazine while taking the part of the Wolf in a game of “Little Red Riding Hood” with my brother’s two daughters. She’d just look up at the right time, long enough to answer — in character — “The better to eat you with, my dear,” and go back to her place in the magazine article.
21. Which of the following best describes Mrs. Calloway?
A. Quiet. B. Strict. C. Humorous. D. Considerate.
22. What do the underlined words “this feeling” refer to in the last paragraph?
A. Desire to read. B. Love for Mrs. Calloway. C. Interest in games. D. Fear of the library rules.
23. Where is the text probably from?
A. A guidebook. B. An autobiography. C. A news report. D. A book review.

【2020▪江苏卷】
I was in the middle of the Amazon (亚马逊) with my wife, who was there as a medical researcher. We flew on a small plane to a faraway village. We did not speak the local language, did not know the customs, and more often than not, did not entirely recognize the food. We could not have felt more foreign.
We were raised on books and computers, highways and cell phones, but now we were living in a village without running water or electricity It was easy for us to go to sleep at the end of the day feeling a little misunderstood.
Then one perfect Amazonian evening, with monkeys calling from beyond the village green, we played soccer. I am not good at soccer, but that evening it was wonderful. Everyone knew the rules. We all spoke the same language of passes and shots. We understood one another perfectly. As darkness came over the field and the match ended, the goal keeper, Juan, walked over to me and said in a matter-of-fact way, “In your home, do you have a moon too?” I was surprised.
After I explained to Juan that yes, we did have a moon and yes, it was very similar to his, I felt a sort of awe (敬畏) at the possibilities that existed in his world. In Juan’s world, each village could have its own moon. In Juan’s world, the unknown and undiscovered was vast and marvelous. Anything was possible.
In our society, we know that Earth has only one moon. We have looked at our planet from every angle and found all of the wildest things left to find. I can, from my computer at home, pull up satellite images of Juan’s village. There are no more continents and no more moons to search for, little left to discover. At least it seems that way.
Yet, as I thought about Juan’s question, I was not sure how much more we could really rule out. I am, in part, an ant biologist, so my thoughts turned to what we know about insect life and I knew that much in the world of insects remains unknown. How much, though? How ignorant (无知的) are we? The question of what we know and do not know constantly bothered me.
I began collecting newspaper articles about new species，new monkey, new spider…, and on and on they appear. My drawer quickly filled. I began a second drawer for more general discoveries: new cave system discovered with dozens of nameless species, four hundred species of bacteria found in the human stomach. The second drawer began to fill and as it did I wondered whether there were bigger discoveries out there, not just species, but life that depends on things thought to be useless, life even without DNA. I started a third drawer for these big discoveries. It fills more slowly, but all the same, it fills.
In looking into the stories of biological discovery, I also began to find something else, a collection of scientists, usually brilliant occasionally half-mad, who made the discoveries. Those scientists very often see the same things that other scientists see, but they pay more attention to them, and they focus on them to the point of exhaustion (穷尽), and at the risk of the ridicule of their peers. In looking for the stories of discovery, I found the stories of these people and how their lives changed our view of the world.
We are repeatedly willing to imagine we have found most of what is left to discover. We used to think that insects were the smallest organisms (生物)，and that nothing lived deeper than six hundred meters. Yet, when something new turns up, more often than not, we do not even know its name.
65. How did the author feel on his arrival in the Amazon?
A. Out of place. B. Full of joy. C. Sleepy. D. Regretful.
66. What made that Amazonian evening wonderful?
A. He learned more about the local language.
B. They had a nice conversation with each other.
C. They understood each other while playing.
D. He won the soccer game with the goal keeper.
67. Why was the author surprised at Juan’s question about the moon?
A. The question was too straightforward.
B. Juan knew so little about the world.
C. The author didn’t know how to answer.
D. The author didn’t think Juan was sincere.
68. What was the author’s initial purpose of collecting newspaper articles?
A. To sort out what we have known.
B. To deepen his research into Amazonians.
C. To improve his reputation as a biologist.
D. To learn more about local cultures.
69. How did those brilliant scientists make great discoveries?
A. They shifted their viewpoints frequently.
B. They followed other scientists closely.
C. They often criticized their fellow scientists.
D. They conducted in-depth and close studies.
70. What could be the most suitable title for the passage?
A. The Possible and the Impossible .
B. The Known and the Unknown .
C. The Civilized and the Uncivilized .
D. The Ignorant and the Intelligent.

〖2019年高考真题题组〗
【2019▪全国I卷】
For Canaan Elementary’s second grade in Patchogue, N.Y., today is speech day, and right now it’s Chris Palaez’s turn. The 8-year-old is the joker of the class. With shining dark eyes, he seems like the kind of kid who would enjoy public speaking.
But he’s nervous. “I’m here to tell you today why you should … should…” Chris trips on the“-ld,”a pronunciation difficulty for many non-native English speakers. His teacher, Thomas Whaley, is next to him, whispering support. “…Vote for …me …” Except for some stumbles, Chris is doing amazingly well. When he brings his speech to a nice conclusion, Whaley invites the rest of the class to praise him.
A son of immigrants, Chris stared learning English a little over three years ago. Whaley recalls (回想起) how at the beginning of the year, when called upon to read, Chris would excuse himself to go to the bathroom.
Learning English as a second language can be a painful experience. What you need is a great teacher who lets you make mistakes. “It takes a lot for any student,” Whaley explains, “especially for a student who is learning English as their new language, to feel confident enough to say, ‘I don’t know, but I want to know.’”
Whaley got the idea of this second-grade presidential campaign project when he asked the children one day to raise their hands if they thought they could never be a president. The answer broke his heart. Whaley says the project is about more than just learning to read and speak in public. He wants these kids to learn to boast(夸耀)about themselves.
“Boasting about yourself, and your best qualities,” Whaley says, “is very difficult for a child who came into the classroom not feeling confident.”
24. What made Chris nervous?
A. Telling a story. B. Making a speech.
C. Taking a test. D. Answering a question.
25. What does the underlined word “stumbles” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. Improper pauses. B. Bad manners.
C. Spelling mistakes. D. Silly jokes.
26. We can infer that the purpose of Whaley’s project is to _________.
A. help students see their own strengths B. assess students’ public speaking skills
C. prepare students for their future jobs D. inspire students’ love for politics
27. Which of the following best describes Whaley as a teacher?
A. Humorous. B. Ambitious.
C. Caring. D. Demanding.

【2019▪全国II卷】
“You can use me as a last resort(选择), and if nobody else volunteers, then I will do it.” This was an actual reply from a parent after I put out a request for volunteers for my kids lacrosse(长曲棍球) club.
I guess that there's probably some demanding work schedule, or social anxiety around stepping up to help for an unknown sport. She may just need a little persuading. So I try again and tug at the heartstrings. I mention the single parent with four kids running the show and I talk about the dad coaching a team that his kids aren’t even on … At this point the unwilling parent speaks up,“Alright. Yes, I’ll do it.”
I’m secretly relieved because I know there’s real power in sharing volunteer responsibilities among many. The unwilling parent organizes the meal schedule, sends out emails, and collects money for end-of-season gifts. Somewhere along the way, the same parent ends up becoming an invaluable member of the team. The coach is able to focus on the kids while the other parents are relieved to be off the hook for another season. Handing out sliced oranges to bloodthirsty kids can be as exciting as watching your own kid score a goal.
Still, most of us volunteers breathe a sigh of relief when the season comes to a close. That relief is coupled with a deep understanding of why the same people keep coming back for more: Connecting to the community(社区) as you freely give your time, money, skills, or services provides a real joy. Volunteering just feels so good.
In that sense, I’m pretty sure volunteering is more of a selfish act than I’d freely like to admit. However, if others benefit in the process, and I get some reward too, does it really matter where my motivation lies?
24. What can we infer about the parent from her reply in paragraph l?
A. She knows little about the club. B. She isn't good at sports.
C. She just doesn't want to volunteer. D. She's unable to meet her schedule.
25. What does the underlined phrase “tug at the heartstrings” in paragraph 2 mean ?
A. Encourage team work. B. Appeal to feeling.
C. Promote good deeds. D. Provide advice.
26. What can we learn about the parent from paragraph 3?
A. She gets interested in lacrosse. B. She is proud of her kids.
C. She’ll work for another season. D. She becomes a good helper.
27. Why does the author like doing volunteer work?
A. It gives her a sense of duty. B. It makes her very happy.
C. It enables her to work hard. D. It brings her material rewards.

【2019▪北京卷】
Alice Moore is a teenager entrepreneur(创业者), who in May 2015 set up her business AilieCandy. By the time she was 13，her company was worth millions of dollars with the invention of a super-sweet treat that could save kids' teeth，instead of destroying them.
It all began when Moore visited a bank with her dad. On the outing, she was offered a candy bar. However, her dad reminded her that sugary treats were bad for her teeth. But Moore was sick of missing out on candies. So she desired to get round the warning, "Why can't I make a healthy candy that's good for my teeth so that my parents can't say no to it?" With that in mind, Moore asked her dad if she could start her own candy company. He recommended that she do some research and talk to dentists about what a healthier candy would contain.
With her dad's permission, she spent the next two years researching online and conducting trials to get a recipe that was both tasty and tooth-friendly. She also approached dentists to learn more about teeth cleaning. Consequently, she succeeded in making a kind of candy only using natural sweeteners, which can reduce oral bacteria.
Moore then used her savings to get her business of the ground. Afterwards, she and her father secured their first business meeting with a supermarket owner, who finally agreed to sell Moore's product-Cancandy.
As CanCandy's success grows, so does Moore's credibility as a young entrepreneur. Moore is enthusiastic about the candy she created, and she's also positive about what the future might bring. She hopes that every kid can have a clean mouth and a broad smile.
Meanwhile, with her parents' help, Moore is generally able to live a normal teenage life. Although she founded her company early on in life, she wasn't driven primarily by profit. Moore wants to use her unique talent to help others find their smiles. She donates 10% of AilicCandy's profits to Big Smiles. With her talent and determination, it appears that the sky could be the limit for Alice Moore.
34. How did Moore react to her dad's warning?
A. She argued with him. B. She tried to find a way out.
C. She paid no attention. D. She chose to consult dentists.
35. What is special about CanCandy?
A. It is beneficial to dental health. B. It is free of sweeteners.
C. It is sweeter than other candies. D. It is produced to a dentists' recipe.
36. What does Moore expect from her business?
A. To earn more money. B. To help others find smiles.
C. To make herself stand out. D. To beat other candy companies.
37. What can we learn from Alice Moore's story?
A. Fame is a great thirst of the young.
B. A youth is to be regarded with respect.
C. Positive thinking and action result in success.
D. Success means getting personal desires satisfied

【2019▪天津卷】
I must have always known reading was very important because the first memories I have as a child deal with books. There was not one night that I don’t remember mom reading me a storybook by my bedside. I was extremely inspired by the elegant way the words sounded.
I always wanted to know what my mom was reading. Hearing mom say, “I can’t believe what’s printed in the newspaper this morning,” made me want to grab it out of her hands and read it myself. I wanted to be like my mom and know all of the things she knew. So I carried around a book, and each night, just to be like her, I would pretend to be reading.
This is how everyone learned to read. We would start off with sentences, then paragraphs, and then stories. It seemed an unending journey, but even as a six-year-old girl I realized that knowing how to read could open many doors. When mom said, “The C-A-N-D-Y is hidden on the top shelf,” I knew where the candy was. My progress in reading raised my curiosity, and I wanted to know everything. I often found myself telling my mom to drive more slowly, so that I could read all of the road signs we passed.
Most of my reading through primary, middle and high school was factual reading. I read for knowledge, and to make A’s on my tests. Occasionally, I would read a novel that was assigned, but I didn’t enjoy this type of reading. I liked facts, things that are concrete. I thought anything abstract left too much room for argument.
Yet, now that I’m growing and the world I once knew as being so simple is becoming more complex, I find myself needing a way to escape. By opening a novel, I can leave behind my burdens and enter into a wonderful and mysterious world where I am now a new character. In these worlds I can become anyone. I don’t have to write down what happened or what technique the author was using when he or she wrote this. I just read to relax.
We’re taught to read because it’s necessary for much of human understanding. Reading is a vital part of my life. Reading satisfies my desire to keep learning. And I’ve found that the possibilities that lie within books are limitless.
41. Why did the author want to grab the newspaper out of mom’s hands?
A. She wanted mom to read the news to her.
B. She was anxious to know what had happened.
C. She couldn’t wait to tear the newspaper apart.
D. She couldn’t help but stop mom from reading.
42. According to Paragraph 3, the author’s reading of road signs indicates ________.
A. her unique way to locate herself
B. her eagerness to develop her reading ability
C. her effort to remind mom to obey traffic rules
D. her growing desire to know the world around her
43. What was the author’s view on factual reading?
A. It would help her update test-taking skills.
B. It would allow much room for free thinking.
C. It would provide true and objective information.
D. It would help shape a realistic and serious attitude to life.
44. The author takes novel reading as a way to _______.
A. explore a fantasy land
B. develop a passion for learning
C. learn about the adult community
D. get away from a confusing world
45. What could be the best title for the passage?
A. The Magic of Reading
B. The Pleasure of Reading
C. Growing Up with Reading
D. Reading Makes a Full Man

【2019▪浙江卷】
Money with no strings attached. It’s not something you see every day. But at Union Station in Los Angeles last month, a board went up with dollar bills attached to it with pins and a sign that read, “Give What You Can, Take What You Need.”
People quickly caught on. And while many took dollars, many others pinned their own cash to the board. “People of all ages, races, and socio-economic(社会经济的) backgrounds gave and took,” said Tyler Bridges of The Toolbox, which created the project. “We even had a bride in her wedding dress come up to the board and take a few dollars.” Most of the bills on the board were singles, but a few people left fives, tens and even twenties. The video clip(片段) shows one man who had found a $ 20 bill pinning it to the board.
“What I can say for the folks that gave the most, is that they were full of smiles,” Bridges said. “There’s a certain feeling that giving can do for you and that was apparent in those that gave the most.” Most people who took dollars took only a few, but Bridges said a very small number took as much as they could.
While the clip might look like part of a new ad campaign, Bridges said the only goal was to show generosity and sympathy. He added that he hopes people in other cities might try similar projects and post their own videos on the Internet.
“After all, everyone has bad days and good days,” he said. “Some days you need a helping hand and some days you can be the one giving the helping hand.”
24. What does the expression “money with no strings attached” in paragraph 1 mean?
A. Money spent without hesitation.
B. Money not legally made.
C. Money offered without conditions.
D. Money not tied together.
25. What did Bridges want to show by mentioning the bride?
A. Women tended to be more sociable.
B. The activity attracted various people.
C. Economic problems were getting worse.
D. Young couples needed financial assistance.
26. Why did Bridges carry out the project?
A. To do a test on people’s morals.
B. To raise money for his company.
C. To earn himself a good reputation.
D. To promote kindness and sympathy.

【2019▪江苏卷】
The 65-year-old Steve Goodwin was found suffering from early Alzheimer’s(阿尔茨海默症). He was losing his memory.
A software engineer by profession, Steve was a keen lover of the piano, and the only musician in his family. Music was his true passion, though he had never performed outside the family.
Melissa, his daughter, felt it more than worthwhile to save his music, to which she fell asleep each night when she was young. She thought about hiring a professional pianist to work with her father.
Naomi, Melissa’s best friend and a talented pianist, got to know about this and showed willingness to help.
“Why do this?” Steve wondered.
“Because she cares.” Melissa said.
Steve nodded, tear in eye.
Naomi drove to the Goodwin home. She told Steve she’d love to hear him play. Steve moved to the piano and sat at the bench, hands trembling as he gently placed his fingers on the keys.
Naomi put a small recorder near the piano. Starts and stops and mistakes. Long pauses, heart sinking. But Steve pressed on, playing for the first time in his life for a stranger.
“It was beautiful.” Naomi said after listening to the recording. “The music was worth saving.”
Her responsibility, her privilege, would be to rescue it. The music was still in Steve Goodwin. It was hidden in rooms with doors about to be locked.
Naomi and Steve met every other week and spent hours together. He’d move his fingers clumsily on the piano, and then she’d take his place. He struggled to explain what he heard in his head. He stood by the piano, eyes closed, listening for the first time to his own work being played by someone else.
Steve and Naomi spoke in musical code lines, beats, intervals, moving from the root to end a song in a new key. Steve heard it. All of it. He just couldn’t play it.
Working with Naomi did wonders for Steve. It had excited within him the belief he could write one last song. One day, Naomi received an email. Attached was a recording, a recording of loss and love, of the fight. Steve called it “Melancholy Flower”.
Naomi heard multiple stops and starts, Steve struggling, searching while his wife Joni called him “honey” and encouraged him. The task was so hard, and Steve, angry and upset, said he was quitting. Joni praised him, telling her husband this could be his signature piece.
Naomi managed to figure out 16 of Steve’s favorite, and most personal, songs. With Naomi’s help, the Goodwin family found a sound engineer to record Naomi playing Steve’s songs. Joni thought that would be the end. But it wasn’t.
In the months leading up to the 2016 Oregon Repertory Singers Christmas concert, Naomi told the director she had a special one in mind: “Melancholy Flower. ”
She told the director about her project with Steve. The director agreed to add it to the playing list. But Naomi would have to ask Steve’s permission. He considered it an honor.
After the concert, Naomi told the family that Steve’s music was beautiful and professional. It needed to be shared in public.
The family rented a former church in downtown Portland and scheduled a concert. By the day of the show, more than 300 people had said they would attend.
By then, Steve was having a hard time remembering the names of some of his friends. He knew the path his life was now taking. He told his family he was at peace.
Steve arrived and sat in the front row, surrounded by his family. The house lights faded. Naomi took the stage. Her fingers. His heart.
65. Why did Melissa want to save her father’s music?
A. His music could stop his disease from worsening.
B. She wanted to please her dying old father.
C. His music deserved to be preserved in the family.
D. She wanted to make her father a professional.
66. After hearing Steve’s playing, Naomi ________.
A. refused to make a comment on it
B. was deeply impressed by his music
C. decided to free Steve from suffering
D. regretted offering help to her friend
67. How can the process of Steve’s recording be described?
A. It was slow but productive.
B. It was beneficial to his health.
C. It was tiresome for Naomi.
D. It was vital for Naomi’s career.
68. Before Steve finished “Melancholy Flower,” his wife Joni _______.
A. thought the music talent of Steve was exhausted
B. didn’t expect the damage the disease brought about
C. didn’t fully realize the value of her husband’s music
D. brought her husband’s music career to perfection
69. How did Steve feel at the concert held in downtown Portland?
A. He felt concerned about his illness.
B. He sensed a responsibility for music.
C. He regained his faith in music.
D. He got into a state of quiet.
70. What can be a suitable title for the passage?
A. The Kindness of Friends
B. The Power of Music
C. The Making of a Musician
D. The Value of Determination