Every so often，someone so young does something so amazing that you can’t help but wonder how he manages it. That’s what happened the first time we heard Matthew Whitaker play the piano. Matthew is a jazz pianist who is blind，and since the age of 11，he’s been performing around the world.
Matthew Whitaker was born at 24th week. He weighed 1 pound and 11 ounces. His parents were told he had less than a 50％chance of survival. One of the many complications(并发症)he faced was a disease which led to blindness.
No one in Matthew’s family was a musician，but his grandfather bought him his first keyboard when he was 3 years old. It didn’t take long for Matthew to show that he had a gift. So the Whitakers decided to get Matthew a teacher，which proved to be difficult. “At the time，we got a lot of answers that he’s too young and they don’t know how to teach a blind child，”Moses Whitaker said. “He was 3 years old at the time. ”
Finally，Dalia Sakas agreed to meet Matthew. Dalia is the director of music studies at a music school in New York City，a school for the visually impaired. To her surprise，Matthew could 1isten to a piece of music once and then play it. “Because it is rare to meet someone of the world and I want to make that possible. ”
She did. Matthew has played in more than 200 clubs and concert halls around the world. His love of music has never been in doubt. Matthew’s latest album is called Now Hear This. One critic noted that it sounded like Matthew was playing with six hands.
1.Which word best describes Matthew as a pianist?
A.Fruitless. B.Ordinary.
C.Remarkable. D.Ambitious.
2.What was the root cause of Matthew’s blindness?
A.His premature birth. B.His low weight.
C.His low chance of survival. D.A disease running in his family.
3.What increased the difficulty finding Matthew a music teacher?
A.His family background. B.His lack of talent.
C.His age and disability. D.His character.
4.Why did Dalia accept Matthew as her student?
A.Because she sympathized Matthew for his experience.
B.Because she was struck by Matthew’s talent for music.
C.Because she gave in to the insistence of Matthew’s grandfather.
D.Because she knew how to teach a blind student well.
Here are four women who made it their life’s mission to make the world a better place through environmental activism.
Greta Thunberg
“I have not accomplished anything. ”This statement was made by Greta Thunberg(17 years old)and it couldn’t be further from the truth. Her dedication to protecting the environmenl for our future generations is all accomplishment on its own. Her ability to resist to adults in power is admirable and continues to push the importance of conservation to the front of our minds.
Peggy Shelmrd
WE ACT for Environmental Justice is an organization that“through advocacy，planning，and research…mobilizes low-income communities to make environmental changes. ”At the helm(掌权)of WE ACT is Peggy Shepard. Her goal is to make sure that sustainable environmental practices are accessible to all，regardless of circumstance.
Rachel Carson
American marine biologist，writer，scientist，and ecologist，Rachel Carson(1907—1964)，was way ahead of her time. She wrote about conservation in the late 1930s and focused on her mission of protecting our oceans.
Julia“Butterfly”Hill
In the late 90s，Julia“Butterfly”Hill spent 738 days living in an ancient redwood，called Luna. This act brought awareness to the immense human threats to Redwood trees. Julia continues to advocate for the environment. “By standing together in unity，solidarity and love，we will heal the wounds in the earth and in each other. We can make a positive difference through our actions. ”
1.What do we know about Greta Thunberg?
A.She has not accomplished anything.
B.She seldom tells the truth.
C.She faces powerful people bravely to protect environment.
D.She shows great respect and admiration to people in power.
2.Why did Peggy Shepard set up the organization WE ACT?
A.To help poor people to lead a better life.
B.To appeal to low-income group to protect our environment.
C.To make people aware of the environmental status.
D.To control the changes of environment.
3.Who preferred taking on-the-spot actions to protect environment?
A.Greta Thunberg. B.Peggy Shepard.
C.Rachel Carson. D.Julia“Butterfly”Hill.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
In my culture, it 's not accepted or normal to go against my parents' wishes. I belong to a small and native community in the Oaxaca region of southern Mexico. We' ve lived here for centuries, and my family has been growing cotton for as long as anyone can remember.
When I was small, I had a lot of work to do. My father was sick and we were poor, so my sister and I would get up very earlier every morning to prepare food for the whole family. After school we would run home quickly to help do housework. On weekends, I would go to the village market to sell our cotton. Every time I sold something, it was good news for the whole family.
When I became a teenager, I wanted to study to become a secretary. By Working in an office I would be able to earn more money, which would be good for my family. I knew I was smart and that I would do a good job, but my parents refused to let me study. I listened to them and followed their advice in order not to make them unhappy.
Years later, some students from California came to our village. They were organizing an educational workshop for local people. We would learn new things and technology about growing cotton, and have the chance to network. This was a good chance for me to learn something new and useful. Of course I was willing to take part in it, but my parents said no again this time.
I have wonderful and generous parents, who are kind to everybody around them. Even when our family could hardly afford food, they would welcome guests with coffee and cookies. I knew they refused me because they wanted the best for me. I knew they were worried about me being away from them, but I knew they were wrong. Attending this workshop would be good for our family. I would be able to learn something new and useful, and our business would grow much faster than it could.
注意：
1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.至少使用5个短文中标有下划线的关键词语
3.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
Therefore, I put my foot down and decided to go.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
Now I no longer live together with my parents,but I work with them every day.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
假定你是李华，一个英国学生社团下周将到你就读的红星中学进行为期一天的参观访问，你负责接待工作。请根据以下的对方的负责人Mr. Peter写一封信，商讨参观事宜。信的内容包括：
1．自我介绍；
2．参观安排：上午参观校园；中午食堂用餐；下午交流活动；晚上举行欢迎晚会；
3．征询对方的要求。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，已使行文连贯。
Dear Mr. Peter,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
It's a touching Christmas story, but not in the 1. (tradition) way. It’s about a seriously ill 5-year-old boy 2. died in Santa’s arms in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the United States.
Eric Schmitt-Matzen, 60, a part-time Santa, received a call 3. a nurse at a hospital several weeks ago, saying a dying 5-year-old boy wanted to see Santa Claus. Schmitt-Matzen dressed and rushed to the hospital. Walking into the boy’s room, he asked people 4. (leave) if they couldn’t hold back their 5. (tear). He picked up the boy and held him in his arms.
“They say I’m going to die,” the boy told him 6. (sad). “What can I tell them when I get to where I’m going?”
Schmitt-Matzen said. “When you get there, you tell them you’re Santa’s Number One elf (小精灵), and they will let you in.”
The boy asked, “They will?” Then he 7.(sit) up and gave Schmitt-Matzen a big hug and asked one more question: “Santa, can you help me?” Schmitt-Matzen wrapped his arms around the boy. Before Schmitl-Matzen could say anything, the boy died right there. Santa let the boy stay, hugging and 8. (hold) onto him.
Schmitt-Matzen was 9. sad that he wanted to cry.
The story was printed, and people were 10. (move) when they read it.
When I was shopping a few months ago , I saw a man trying to get people to donate(捐赠)to a very well-known charity(慈善团体)for children. I ________ to him that I can’t donate money any more ________ my bank account(账户)having some problems last year. It was a ________ time and took months to get back our money. ________, I noticed the man was hungry and cold, so I offered him a(n) ________ in the nearby restaurant.
Last week I ________ home on a really hot day. My husband Stewart was at the table with a person from a Charity having a ________. We talked for a while and then I said, “I ________ you!” and he looked at me in surprise and said, “Oh, you’re the lovely lady that ________ me a big lunch and drinks when I was at ________ trying to get people to donate.” We both laughed and we had a little ________.
He told me that he had let the organizers know about this lovely woman ________ him out on a cold day. He said ________was so unexpected. I was so ________ to see him again, sitting in my home. My act had really ________ him for the kindness of it and I loved the fact that Steward had ________ him in out of the heat for a cold drink.
In our daily life, maybe we ________ know how we ________ people when we do good things. But in fact, ________ we do does affect others, for it is a lovely ________. Kindness is so catching (感染力的).
1.A.suggested B.explained C.admitted D.reported
2.A.because of B.thanks to C.refers to D.in terms of
3.A.fantastic B.relaxing C.terrible D.fortunate
4.A.Frequently B.Therefore C.Actually D.However
5.A.meal B.occupation C.rest D.coat
6.A.left B.came C.stayed D.phoned
7.A.dinner B.game C.drink D.sleep
8.A.appreciate B.know C.thank D.respect
9.A.made B.prepared C.brought D.bought
10.A.streets B.shops C.banks D.restaurants
11.A.hug B.fight C.joke D.discussion
12.A.taking B.surviving C.helping D.training
13.A.it B.he C.she D.I
14.A.disappointed B.nervous C.embarrassed D.surprised
15.A.changed B.worried C.moved D.saved
16.A.pulled B.advised C.persuaded D.invited
17.A.ever B.never C.often D.always
18.A.care B.attract C.affect D.hurt
19.A.what B.why C.how D.when
20.A.reaction B.impression C.balance D.connection
