Last year, when our three-year-old great-granddaughter Kylie was taken to see Santa Claus, she made sure to give him her wish list of toys. A week later, she ran into a different Santa in a mall. He stopped to ask what she wanted for Christmas. Kylie was surprised and let him know: “If you can’t remember what I told you last week, how are you going to remember on Christmas Eve?!”
Mary Paul, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
As my son Mike and I drove to the mall, we passed a Salvation Army Santa ringing his bell. “Mike,” I said, “there’s Santa!” He shook his head. “That’s just some guy in a Santa suit,” he said. It saddened me to think that maybe my son no longer believed in Santa, and we drove the rest of the way in silence. At the mall, we spotted another Santa greeting young believers. Suddenly, Mike took off toward him. Turning back to me, he shouted. “Now, there’s the real Santa!”
Michael E. Fahey, Huntley, Illinois
We immigrated to America from China when I was six. Because I was shy and didn’t speak English, I had few friends. My days were spent at home with my brother. Sometimes we’d help our neighbor Mr. Mueller pull weeds. One Christmas Day, there was a knock at the door. Grandma opened it, and there stood a big fellow in red with a snow-white beard, laughing, “Ho, ho, ho!” He handed out presents and made us laugh. I had so much fun. It was years later when I learned that our special Santa was our neighbor Mr. Mueller.
Joanne Tang, Litchfield Park, Arizona
1.Why was Kylie surprised when running into a different Santa?
A. Because she got what she wished.
B. Because she knew who the Santa was.
C. Because she wished to get another toy.
D. Because she thought they were the same Santa.
2.What would Mike’s parent feel as to Mike’s different attitudes towards Santa?
A. Angry. B. Sad.
C. Confused. D. Understandable.
3.What did Mr. Mueller do on Christmas Day?
A. He stood outside our house.
B. He gave out gifts by acting as Santa.
C. He continued to pull weeds.
D. He stayed with us in our home.
A few days ago, I observed a teenager doing yardwork that his dad had told him to do. Instead of doing the task ________, he wandered around there for hours,________ to himself and doing a bad job.
The person he hurt the most was himself. His dad was trying to teach him _______ and how to do a good job. As a result of his _________ attitude, he spent the whole afternoon finishing a task that should have taken one or two hours. And the yard _______ wasn’t clean enough when he got through.
He _______ his day because of his attitude. And his dad was _______ with him, and the boy’ s bad mood ended up ________ the whole family that day.
A sweet lady was working in a fast-food _______. The minute I walked in, she welcomed me ________. She smiled as she took my order, and then as we ________ for the food, she talked with me. As I walked off with my tray, she said with a big ________, “I hope you have a blessed day!” I think the food tasted better because of her ______. There was a delay, during which I sat there hearing her singing as she ________ her tasks behind the counter.
She wasn’t making a large salary, and she didn’t have a powerful ________, either. In addition, she stood on her feet for a long shift each day, often dealing with ________ customers. But she chose to be joyful.
I want to ________ from her. I want to do my best, even when there’s no ________ or glory. Other people are watching me _______ I might not realize it at the time. I want to bring joy to all those around me. A(n)____
can make a great difference.
1.A. gradually B. happily C. secretly D. silently
2.A. responding B. applying C. explaining D. complaining
3.A. goodness B. safety C. responsibility D. gardening
4.A. poor B. positive C. strange D. efficient
5.A. almost B. even C. still D. ever
6.A. lost B. ruined C. perfected D. changed
7.A. upset B. pleased C. impressed D. satisfied
8.A. breaking B. benefiting C. affecting D. controlling
9.A. factory B. restaurant C. supermarket D. shop
10.A. warmly B. proudly C. seriously D. coldly
11.A. looked B. asked C. waited D. struggled
12.A. shout B. smile C. cheer D. decision
13.A. experience B. trust C. courage D. kindness
14.A. performed B. started C. discovered D. planned
15.A. appearnce B. motivation C. position D. effort
16.A. ordinary B. painful C. important D. difficult
17.A. escape B. learn C. hear D. differ
18.A. applause B. regret C. sadness D. forgiveness
19.A. now that B. in case C. even though D. as if
20.A. lifestyle B. attitude C. habit D. attempt
Brandon and Derek’s mother, Beth Lash, shared a Facebook video on Dec. 25, 2017. It captured the moment when Bandon______his card out loud. On Brandon Lash’s 24th birthday, his little brother, Derek, __________ him with a rather large card filled with an even bigger _________.
“I have always ________ you,” Brandon reads from the front of the card, ________ by this brother.
“I love spending time with you. I’m so ________ I have you for my brother. You have always been there for me, even though I get on your nerves sometimes. You will always have a piece of my heart,” Brandon continues, opening up the _________.
“And now you will have my _______, too. We are a ________ match.” Brandon reads, _________the card to the floor and breaking down into _________.
Brandon has kidney receives _________three times a week, and was told that he had been recommended for the transplant list. Unfortunately, his parents are not a match, but _________, his brother is.
“I can’t believe Derek would ________so much all this for me,” Brandon tells the publication. “He’s giving me a _____to have a healthy life again. I _________ can’t believe it’s happening.”
“I _________ seeing him sick and knew something needed to be done to make him healthy again.” Derek adds. “Not only was I the ________ thing to do, but the only thing to do. He’s my brother. We didn’t know _________ he could be on the transplant list, and I knew I just wanted my __________ brother back.”
1.A. read B. sang C. called D. shouted
2.A. provided B. issued C. presented D. supplied
3.A. claim B. award C. smile D. surprise
4.A. taken charge of B. looked up to C. got hold of D. lived up to
5.A. signed B. drawn C. written D. described
6.A. thankful B. satisfied C. awkward D. confused
7.A. paper B. card C. book D. cover
8.A. nerves B. eves C. kidney D. heart
9.A. perfect B. possible C. equal D. friendly
10.A. losing B. dropping C. throwing D. blowing
11.A. screams B. worries C. laughs D. tears
12.A. treatments B. experiments C. directions D. observations
13.A. finally B. possibly C. luckily D. exactly
14.A. advise B. experience C. allow D. sacrifice
15.A. chance B. fortune C. accident D. occasion
16.A. always B. already C. forever D. still
17.A. regretted B. minded C. hated D. opposed
18.A. fair B. right C. normal D. real
19.A. when B. how long C. how much D. while
20.A. lovely B. brave C. honest D. healthy
While high school does not generally encourage students to explore new aspects of life, college sets the stage for that exploration. I myself went through this ________ process and found something that has changed my ________ at college for the better: I discovered ASL — American Sign Language(美式手语).
I never felt an urge to ________ any sign language before. My entire family is hearing, and so are all my friends. The ________ languages were enough in all my interactions(交往). Little did I know that I would discover my ________ for ASL.
The ________ began during my first week at college. I watched as the ASL Club ________ their translation of a song. Both the hand movements and the very ________ of communicating without speaking ________ me. What I saw was completely unlike anything I had experienced in the ________. This newness just left me ________ more.
After that, feeling the need to ________ further, I decided to drop in on one of ASL club’s meetings. I only learned how to ________ the alphabet that day. Yet instead of being discouraged by my ________ progress, I was excited. I then made it a point to ________ those meetings and learn all I could.
The following term, I ________ an ASL class. The professor was deaf and any talking was ________. I soon realized that the silence was not unpleasant. ________, if there had been any talking, it would have ________ us to learn less. Now, I appreciate the silence and the ________ way of communication it opens.
1.A. searching B. planning C. natural D. formal
2.A. progress B. experience C. major D. opinion
3.A. choose B. read C. learn D. create
4.A. official B. foreign C. body D. spoken
5.A. love B. concern C. goal D. request
6.A. meeting B. trip C. story D. task
7.A. recorded B. performed C. recited D. discussed
8.A. idea B. amount C. dream D. reason
9.A. disturbed B. supported C. embarrassed D. attracted
10.A. end B. past C. course D. distance
11.A. showing B. acting C. saying D. wanting
12.A. exercise B. explore C. express D. explain
13.A. print B. write C. sign D. count
14.A. slow B. steady C. normal D. obvious
15.A. chair B. sponsor C. attend D. organize
16.A. missed B. passed C. gave up D. registered for
17.A. prohibited B. welcomed C. ignored D. repeated
18.A. Lastly B. Thus C. Instead D. However
19.A. required B. caused C. allowed D. expected
20.A. easy B. popular C. quick D. new
Several things Beijingers do during wintertime
In winter, Beijing offers the city’s fun-seekers many appealing options, from royal gardens to winter resorts. Your sweet tooth and palate for fine art can also be satisfied by the abundant choices in food and art exhibitions. Here are some recommendations for you.
1.
The Summer Palace was designed as a summer resort for the Emperor Dowager Cixi in the Qing Dynasty (1644 — 1911). Recently it has attracted thousands of tourists hoping to catch sight of the setting sun shining through the Seventeen-Arch Bridge over the frozen Kunming Lake.
Mutton hot pot with family and friends.
2. Eating mutton, according to Chinese traditional medicine, is able to drive out the coldness inside the body and nourish your vitality.
A weekend at Ice skating & ski resorts.
Surrounded by historical mansions and natural beauty, Shichahai is a must-go scenic area in Beijing. In winter, I he frozen lake becomes n giant ice rink (溜冰场), offering skating, sleigh riding and ice bicycles for beginners who don’t want to miss out on the fun.3. You can ski, participate in snow activities, or just sit in a cozy bar and appreciate the snow-covered landscape.
Hot spring resort getaway.
It is said that a hot spring bath is good for the body and the soul.4. Gathered in the northern part of Beijing, especially Xiaotangshan town in the Changping district, these resorts offer a great experience for a weekend getaway.
Culture tours at museums.
Going to a museum certainly is much nicer and warmer than staying outdoors. Luckily, cultural agencies like the National Museum and the National Art Museum recently displayed several important exhibitions.5.
A. Sightseeing at Summer Palace.
B. Add ski resorts to your list of fun.
C. As winter chill takes hold in Beijing, hot pot becomes more popular.
D. As the temperature goes down, swimming turns out to be a good choice.
E. No matter whether you are an experienced skier or not, you can make a perfect holiday there.
F. For more information, please go to the National Museum and National Art Museum websites.
G. For those who search for relaxation from stresses and strains, the city’s hot spring resorts are life-savers.
When the kids are out of school, parents are eager to use the holidays for some quality family time. 1. While there’s great concern among parents about the impact of screens on physical activity and face-to-face communications, parental use of screens is often overlooked. One recent report found that parents spend over nine hours per day with screen media. It s no wonder that families find it hard to have high-quality social interactions.
Want our kids to put down the phones and tablets?2. It’s necessary that we unplug when we ask our kids to do the same. Some family activities we create can help us engage with our kids without the concern of screen time.
Why not leave the devices at home and go for a tech-free nature walk? It will be an opportunity to make us more connected to the world beyond the screen. Focus on being in the moment and kids may enjoy collecting plant seeds or stones.3.
A board game night is ideal for bringing family members together and being engaged. Moreover, playing games together fosters social interaction, cooperation, and the development of Social Emotional Learning (SEL).4.
Some other family activities are wonderfully fun without the use of electronic devices. For example, take the kids swimming, or bring them to an indoor rock climbing gym. Bake a cake for a neighbor or plant a garden.5.Your kids will get lost in the activity, forgetting the devices.
To be clear, technology has many benefits to parents and children. However, creating some tech-free time can help parents and kids feel more connected to each other.
A. We parents must model that behavior.
B. Even so, too much of a good thing can be bad for family time.
C. However, many of us find it hard to compete with electronics.
D. Parents may learn from their kids about science and nature as well.
E. Best of all, family members can enjoy being engaged in a shared experience.
F. The kids are more likely to have buy-in when they feel like they have a say.
G. All these activities require family members to focus their attention on the task at hand.
