On Jan 23, 2012, I was aboard a ship on the Yangtze River, listening to the sound of fireworks and eating plate after plate of dumplings.
On Sunday Feb 10, 2013, I was preparing to celebrate Chinese New Year again – in London’s Chinatown.
It was raining. It was cold. But ever since I left Beijing in August, I had promised myself I would celebrate Chinese New Year – if only to help with my Beijing “homesickness”.
Central London was dressed up for the occasion. There was a stage for a big fireworks display for the evening. Even so, it wasn’t like my real Beijing chunjie.
Even buying a baozi didn’t cheer me up. It cost about 10 times as much as the real thing does in Beijing and got stuck to its rain-ruined paper bag.
Cold, wet and depressed, I ran into a shop for shelter. Suddenly, there it was. Between the packets of dried meat and fish, the bags of rice and the smell of dried noodles in this little Chinese supermarket, I had found home.
An hour later, I hurried into my house with bags of frozen jiaozi, packets of sauce and a large bottle of vinegar. I boiled water, tore open the packets, grabbed my chopsticks and settled down to a feast. This, I thought, is a Happy Chinese New Year.
I even watched the fireworks on TV. After all, why face the British weather when I can bring China home in one bite?
We can conclude from the first three paragraphs that the author ______.
A.likes watching fireworks on the boat |
B.misses Chinese food more than anything else |
C.finds it great fun to celebrate Chinese New Year |
D.misses her life in Beijing very much |
How did the author feel when she found some Chinese foods in a supermarket?
A.a little curious | B.rather tired |
C.a bit comfortable | D.very depressed |
Why did the author watch the fireworks on TV?
A.She didn’t want to get wet and cold again. |
B.The square is far away from where she lives. |
C.She doesn’t like fireworks very much. |
D.She was too hungry to go out. |
What is the best title of the passage?
A.Unforgettable Chunjie in Beijing | B.Wonderful Experience in Britain |
C.Finding Home in London | D.Festival in London |
As a music teacher for twenty-seven years I have always known that music touches the soul. It can break through all kinds of barriers to reach students in a very special way. It can be the means for each child to find their light.
A few years ago I was blessed with the opportunity to teach pre-school students one afternoon a week. One of my most memorable students was Vanessa. She was five years old ,had difficulty walking and could not speak. We mostly sat on the floor for our music lessons and Vanessa liked to sit on my lap. One of her favorite songs was John the Rabbit. It was a call and response song where I sang the call and the students clapped two times while singing the repeating phrase “Oh yes!” Vanessa liked to put her hands together with mine and clap with me. We performed that song during every class Vanessa and I clapping together. She never said or sang a word.
One day late in the school year when the song was finished Vanessa turned around, looked at me in the eye, clapped her tiny hands two times and said the words “Oh yes!” I opened my mouth and could not speak. Through music we had made a connection.
Several years later I came across Vanessa on the street in town. I stopped my car and waved to say hello. She waved back with a big smile on her face and then clapped her hands two times mimicking the song we had performed in our music class. This precious little girl through her connection with music left an impression on me that will last forever.
Every child has the ability to learn and grow. It is up to us educators to discover the way to reach each and every one of our students. We all must find each child’s light.
The author thinks music__________.
A.can make children calm down |
B.can connect heart to heart |
C.is difficult for pre-school students |
D.is a good means to find a job |
According to the second paragraph Vanessa_________.
A.got used to singing songs |
B.was too shy to speak |
C.was the youngest in the class |
D.enjoyed the author’s class |
When Vanessa spoke the words “Oh yes!” the author felt________.
A.surprised | B.happy | C.frightened | D.satisfied |
What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?
A.The author has been in touch with Vanessa for several years. |
B.Vanessa became as healthy as other children. |
C.The song made a deep impression on Vanessa. |
D.Being a good educator became Vanessa’s dream. |
We were flying to a meeting. I was in the middle 36 .I found that the young woman sitting next to me was very 37 and deep in thought. Then I asked her where she was from, where she was going and 38 she did.
She was a student and had been attending 39 in Poland-----the homeland of her father. Then she told me sadly that her father had 40 . She had chosen to attend college in Poland 41 her father’s wishes and their relationship had been 42 .They hadn’t forgiven each other 43 he died.
She seemed so sad. I looked at her, trying to 44 some words to say. I asked her if she had forgiven 45 for not realizing her father’s dream. She answered that she couldn’t forgive herself and felt so 46 .Slowly, I began to tell her about forgiveness. I encouraged her to 47 that because I believed her father wanted that too. She should forgive herself 48 how awful she thought she had been.
I told her about 49 I had done as a teenager for which I had felt guilty for many years. How I was 50 with the choice of forgiving myself or to 51 feeling guilty for the rest of my life. I had 52 to forgive myself . The light in her eyes went on. She began to understand that she was 53 forgiven and could forgive herself. She could be 54 and happy.
How about you? Is there anything in your 55 for which you feel guilty?
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