Perhaps every old generation since ancient times has complained about young people, and today is no different. Isn’t it clear that compared with our glorious selves, kids these days are self-absorbed social network addicts?
However, this summer, my impression of today’s kids has been restored by the story of Rachel Beckwith. She could teach my generation a great deal about maturity and unselfishness — even though she’s just 9 years old, or was when she died on July 23.
At age 5, Rachel had her long hair shorn off and sent to Locks of Love, which uses hair donations to make artificial hair for children who have lost their own hair because of cancer or other diseases. After that, Rachel announced that she would grow her hair long again and donate it again. And that’s what she did.
Then when she was 8 years old, her church began raising money to build wells in Africa through an organization called charity: water. Rachel was astonished when she learned that other children had no clean water, so she skipped her ninth birthday party. Rachel set up a birthday page on the charity: water website with a target of $300. Instead of presents, she asked her friends to donate $9 each to charity: water. Finally Rachel raised only $220 — which had left her just a bit disappointed.
Then, on July 20, a serious traffic accident left Rachel critically injured. Church members and friends, seeking some way of showing support, began donating on Rachel’s birthday page — charitywater.org/Rachel — and donations reached her $300 goal, and kept rising.
But Rachel couldn’t hear that she had raised beyond the $47,544 that the singer Justin Bieber had raised for charity: water on his 17th birthday. “I think Rachel would have been overjoyed for she secretly had a crush on (迷恋) him,” Rachel’s mom said.
When it was clear that Rachel would never regain consciousness, the family decided to remove the life support system. Her parents donated her hair for the final time to Locks of Love, and her organs to other children.
Word about Rachel’s last fund-raising spread. Contributions poured in, often in $9 each. The total donations soon topped $100,000, then $300,000.
This is a story not just of one girl, but of a young generation of outstanding problem-solvers working creatively.
1.What does the author think of today’s kids after he knew the story of Rachel Beckwith?
A. They are good at social network.
B. They are unselfish as grown-ups.
C. They can get problems settled effectively.
D. They have narrow minds and care about nothing.
2.When was it that Rachel’s hair was donated for the final time to Locks of Love?
A. At her age of 5.
B. After her death.
C. Right after the traffic accident.
D. Before her ninth birthday.
3.Why did each of Rachel’s friends donate $9 to charity: water?
A. Because she had asked them to do that.
B. Because she set up her birthday page on June 9th.
C. Because she began to raise money from her ninth birthday.
D. Because she died at the age of 9 and they wanted to honor her.
4.The singer Justin Bieber was mentioned in the text, mainly because ______.
A. Rachel collected more than him who she admired
B. he had donated on Rachel’s page on his 17th birthday
C. Rachel would have been overjoyed for his donation
D. Rachel’s mom said she secretly had a crush on him
5. What does the text mainly talk about?
A. Rachel’s hair donations.
B. A kind girl, Rachel.
C. The author’s impression of today’s kids
D. A lesson from Rachel.
We always celebrated my Dad’s November birthday on Thanksgiving Day, even after he entered a nursing home. As years went on, these events took on a(n) meaning – a traditional birthday party for Dad, and a personal for all that he had done for me in my life.
When we knew that it might be Dad’s birthday, the whole family decided to come together for a huge birthday celebration at the nursing home. It was a crowded party ___all of us sitting around him. Dad was a wonderful , and here was a biggest audience he’d ever had.
During a quiet moment, I announced that it was now Dad’s turn to stories from us. I wanted everyone to tell Dad what we loved about him. , we told stories from our hearts, Dad listened with wet, flashing blue eyes. We all kinds of lost memories – stories about when we were little, stories about when Dad was young and stories that are shared as family . Even the littlest grandchildren couldn’t to tell their grandfather why they loved him. For a man who had been kind to so many people in his life, here was our to honor him.
A few months later, at Dad’s memorial service, we fully realized what we had given Dad that night. Those were the stories people normally tell at a . They are told, then, full of tears, with the hope that the departed will somehow hear the outpouring of love.__ we had given those loving to Dad when he was , told through laughter, accompanied by hugs and joy. I’m sure the stories and memories over in his mind during his last months and days.
Words do , and they are enough. We need to say them, to speak them to the ones we love, for everyone else to hear. That’s the way to love, and our chance to honor a person in life.
1.A. original B. modern C. complex D. double
2.A. congratulation B. wish C. thanking D. apology
3.A. late B. lost C. living D. last
4.A. with B. as C. though D. by
5.A. writer B. listener C. storyteller D. reader
6.A. hear of B. listen to C. make up D. talk about
7.A. Little by little B. Now and then C. All at once D. One after another
8.A. if B. because C. while D. before
9.A. recalled B. recorded C. regretted D. remembered
10.A. thoughts B. treasures C. possessions D. tales
11.A. afford B. help C. wait D. offer
12.A. chance B. task C. duty D. decision
13.A. burial B. party C. meeting D. wedding
14.A. And B. But C. So D. Or
15.A. kindness B. memories C. care D. hugs
16.A. healthy B. old C. young D. alive
17.A. went B. flew C. rolled D.came
18.A. benefit B. matter C. work D. mean
19.A. publicly B. properly C. consciously D. correctly
20.A. fall in B. search for C. hand over D. give back
--- Jerry, do remember to take the medicine three times a day and stay in bed for two days.
--- ______, Doctor. I will do it as told.
A. Got it B. That’s right
C. That’s OK D. I think so
— It's Mary's own fault if she feels ________ at the party.
— She makes no effort to be friendly to people.
A. cut out B. stood out C. left out D. made out
My parents lent me the money. ________, I couldn’t have afforded the trip.
A. Therefore B. Otherwise C. Meanwhile D. Nevertheless
Would you mind not picking the flowers in the garden? They are ___ everyone’s enjoyment.
A. in B. to C. for D. at
