I’d been retired for four years, when a friend suggested university. I thought he was joking—I was rubbish at school and failed my 11-plus. But we love to compete over Mastermind and University challenge, and he thought I’d make it. And he was absolutely right!
I did a foundation course first, which was part time at the University Lifelong Learning Centre(LLC), two nights a week and the odd Saturday. I did quite well, and that gave me the confidence to do a full time, three year degree. I’m passionate about art and I always wanted to be here for the journey and not the destination. That sounds really corny, but it was the truth in my case.
Initially it was a bit strange fitting in with my course mates. They were all 18, straight out of sixth form or college. Over time, though, they’ve all been fine — now, we all get on really well and there is no issue. I’ve made plenty of friends as a member of the mature students society, and I do some volunteering through the LLC, chatting to prospective students about my experience of coming to university. I tell them my story and basically encourage them to give it a go because you’ve got nothing to lose. I like to think I’ve convinced a few of them.
I have no regrets at all. Enrolling in university was the best piece of advice I’ve received in years, especially post-retirement. I needed routine in my life; I needed purpose. I’m not going to spend my day in the bookies or the pub. If you’ve got a passion for something, you should pursue it.
1.What do we learn from Paragraph 1?
A.The author often competed with his friend at university,
B.The author was satisfied with his performance at school,
C.The advice of his friend was a big challenge for the author.
D.The author’s friend told a joke when suggesting university.
2.What was it that made him determined to pursue a full time degree?
A.His long held passion for art.
B.His boring retirement life.
C.His success in the foundation course.
D.His desire to travel to the destination.
3.What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?
A.How he got along with his course mates
B.How he helped his friends at university.
C.What activities he took part in at school
D.What he experienced as a volunteer.
4.Which of the following can serve as the title of the passage?
A.Knowledge is power.
B.It’s never too old to learn.
C.Failure is the mother of success.
D.A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Books can't stop a global pandemic. But, for a short while, they can let us forget the world around us and transport us to different places, allowing us to travel in spirit. Here are some picks for this month:
Rohinton Mistry: A Fine Balance
Mistry's novel focuses on the lives of four central characters whose lives are on a downward spiral, from poverty to outright destitution and, ultimately, death.
Mistry does not whitewash the reality of urban poverty in India. But as readers, we become absorbed in his characters lives we hope with them, we fear for them and, at the end, we cry for them.
Elena Ferrante: Mу Brilliant Friend
Elena Ferante'r novels take us straight to the Italian city of Napoli Starting with My Brilliant Friend, the four novels chart the intensive relationship between two girl, Elena Greco (Lenù) and Raffaella Cerullo(Lila) who grow up in a poor neighborhood in the 1950s.
Reading Ferrante's description calls forth images of Napoli and makes us feel like we are standing in the Piazza del Plebiscito. We can fell, hear and smell Napoli around us.
Patrick Modiano: The Search Warrant
The Search Warrant pieces together the real-life story of Dora Bruder, a young Jewish girl who went missing in Paris in December 1941. Modiano attempts to retrace Dora's movements across Paris and his book is full of evocative descriptions of quiet squares and streets.
By tracing Dora's possible steps, Modiano evocatively recreates the twilight atmosphere of Paris under occupation.
Kazuo Ishiguro:The Remains of the Day
The Remains of the Day tells the story of Stevens, the aged butler of Darlington Hall, and his ill judged life choices that saw him being involved with British fascism in the interwar years.
This allusion to British fascism in particular is something that makes this novel stand out；it is a subject matter not often discussed or even taught.
1.Which book is set in India?
A.A Fine Balance. B.My Brilliant Friend.
C.The Search Warrant. D.The Remains of the Day.
2.What do My Brilliant Friend and The Search Warrant have in common?
A.Both novels tell real life stories.
B.Both novels take place in Italy.
C.Both are related to interpersonal relationship.
D.Both give a vivid description of the surroundings.
3.What is special about The Remains of the Day?
A.Its moving story. B.Its miserable character.
C.Its rarely mentioned subject. D.Its skillful techniques of description.
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。
It was somewhere between spring and summer，my mom and I were driving through the countryside. Back then，I was 13 years old，and always felt unhappy with mom.But little did I know that this trip was going to be a special one.A pot of flowers sat in the back seat，whose heavenly scent filled the car.
Suddenly，in the middle of nowhere，my mom pulled over.”What are you doing?”I cried，fearing that the car had broken down and we’d be stuck there，so far from home.But that wasn’t the case.My mom hopped out of the car，grabbing the flowers from the back seat.”It’ll just be a minute，”she called back through the open windows.My eyes impatiently skimmed the edge of the road before settling on a little sign showing that it was a nursing home.I looked back to the building，somewhat annoyed，as my mom reappeared-empty-handed.
Before she started the car，curiosity drove me to ask，”Do you know someone there?”She shook her head.”Then what did you do with the flowers?”She smiled slightly，”I gave them to the receptionist.” “What?”She laughed at my confusion.”I told the receptionist to give the flowers to whoever needed them，especially who hasn’t gotten any in a while.”
I kept silent for a moment.Not long after we continued our driving，I spoke again，”Did you leave your name?”To this she answered instantly，”No.Leaving flowers there for someone who will appreciate them makes me feel good，which is enough of a thank for me.”
Suddenly，still thinking about Mom’s deeds，I heard something burst loudly.It was our car that broke down! Nothing could be worse，because neither my mom nor I understood how to repair it，and we didn’t know where the garage was.It also seemed impossible to wait for any passer-by，since we had seen so few along the way.
注意:1、所续写的短文的词数应为150左右；
2、续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
Paragraph 1:
We were worrying about what could be done.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
As we drove along，a flower shop came into sight.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
假设你是李华，在美国孔子学院的笔友Jack对汉字毛笔书法非常感兴趣，写信向你咨询学习毛笔书法的建议。请你用英语回信，内容包括：
1. 学习毛笔书法的必备工具；2. 你认为学好毛笔书法的有效方式；3. 学好毛笔书法的好处。
注意：1. 词数100左右(开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数)；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
3. 参考词汇：书法 calligraphy 毛笔 writing brush 砚台 ink stone
Dear Jack,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
根据首字母填空。
1.Even if an ad does not lie, it does not mean it is altogether i______________.
2.This statement tries to fool you into a_________ that the toothpaste cures bad breath, yet it does not say that!
3.We should keep our software __________(更新) regularly.
4.There are hundreds of ___________(有毒的) spiders and snakes.
5.I’ve come to the c___________ that he’s not the right person for the job.
6.Being able to walk to work is an added ___________(意外收获) of the new job.?
7.What was it that _____________( 使具有…的特色) her from her classmates?
8.He _________(逃跑) to London after an argument with his family.
9.The orchestra is very important for the ___________(文化的) life of the city.
10.U____________, the old man died before the doctor arrived.
One day I visited an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting . I was expecting a quiet____of the splendid artwork.
A young____viewing the paintings ahead of me____nonstop between themselves. I watched them a moment and decided the lady was doing all the talking. I admired the man’s____for putting up with her____stream of words____by their noise, I moved on.
I met them several times as I moved____the various rooms of art, Each time I heard her continuous flow of words, I moved away____.
I was standing at the counter of the museum gift shop making a____when the couple approached the____. Before they left, the man____into his pocket and pulled out a white object. He____it into a long sick and then____his way into the coatroom to get his wife’s jacket.
“He′s a____man.” The clerk at the counter said. “Most of us would give up if we were blinded at such a young age, During his recovery, he made a promise his life wouldn’t change. So, as before, he and his wife come in____there is a new art show.”
“But what does he get out of the art?”I asked .“He can’t see.”
“Can’t see? You’re____. He sees a lot, More than you and I do,” the clerk said, “His wife____each painting so he can see it in his head.”
I learned something about patience,____and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without____and the courage of a husband who would not____blindness to change his life. And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away, their arms intertwined.
1.A.view B.touch C.wander D.scenery
2.A.lady B.man C.couple D.clerk
3.A.yelled B.argued C.screamed D.chatted
4.A.attempt B.patience C.wisdom D.independence
5.A.vivid B.constant C.casual D.exciting
6.A.Adopted B.Adapted C.Conducted D.Disturbed
7.A.towards B.to C.through D.from
8.A.anxiously B.slowly C.quickly D.sensibly
9.A.comment B.decision C.purchase D.profit
10.A.entrance B.queue C.front D.exit
11.A.plugged B.reached C.held D.bent
12.A.lengthened B.made C.brought D.broadened
13.A.led B.found C.forced D.tapped
14.A.brave B.rough C.smart D.generous
15.A.wherever B.whatever C.whenever D.whichever
16.A.wrong B.silly C.equal D.unique
17.A.describes B.draws C.shows D.decorates
18.A.kindness B.courage C.enthusiasm D.pride
19.A.support B.expectation C.sight D.confidence
20.A.allow B.hope C.get D.Cause
