Recount

"Shadows on the Silk Road"

In the autumn of 2019, I set out on a solo journey through Central Asia, tracing segments of the ancient Silk Road. It was a personal quest—to rediscover a path my late grandfather once traveled as a young diplomat in the 1950s. The romanticism of caravan trails and forgotten fortresses beckoned, yet the journey unfolded in ways that were far more sobering than I had envisioned.

Crossing from Uzbekistan into western China, I encountered bureaucratic hostility and an eerie surveillance apparatus that seemed to watch every step I took. In Kashgar, where my grandfather had once bartered silk for Russian books, I found little of the cultural vibrancy he had described. Many of the old Uyghur quarters had been leveled, replaced by sanitized facades and militarized checkpoints.

A moment of particular unease came when I was questioned by plainclothes officials after photographing an abandoned madrasa. They let me go after an hour of vague accusations and confiscated notes, but the message was clear: curiosity was unwelcome.

Ironically, it was the silence—both historical and enforced—that lingered most. The Silk Road had always been a conduit of exchange, yet now, so many voices along it seemed muted or erased. My grandfather’s journals, full of color and conversation, felt like dispatches from a vanished world.

Though the landscapes still echoed with antiquity, the human stories had been interrupted. I returned home with more questions than answers—humbled, unsettled, and newly aware of how history can be both preserved and erased by those in power.

What does the narrator imply about the contrast between past and present along the Silk Road?

(choose more than one answer)

• Trade has become more vibrant in the modern era.

• Cultural suppression has replaced the region's historical openness.

• Surveillance has overshadowed cultural exchange.

• The narrator’s grandfather exaggerated his experiences.

"Shadows on the Silk Road"

In the autumn of 2019, I set out on a solo journey through Central Asia, tracing segments of the ancient Silk Road. It was a personal quest—to rediscover a path my late grandfather once traveled as a young diplomat in the 1950s. The romanticism of caravan trails and forgotten fortresses beckoned, yet the journey unfolded in ways that were far more sobering than I had envisioned.

Crossing from Uzbekistan into western China, I encountered bureaucratic hostility and an eerie surveillance apparatus that seemed to watch every step I took. In Kashgar, where my grandfather had once bartered silk for Russian books, I found little of the cultural vibrancy he had described. Many of the old Uyghur quarters had been leveled, replaced by sanitized facades and militarized checkpoints.

A moment of particular unease came when I was questioned by plainclothes officials after photographing an abandoned madrasa. They let me go after an hour of vague accusations and confiscated notes, but the message was clear: curiosity was unwelcome.

Ironically, it was the silence—both historical and enforced—that lingered most. The Silk Road had always been a conduit of exchange, yet now, so many voices along it seemed muted or erased. My grandfather’s journals, full of color and conversation, felt like dispatches from a vanished world.

Though the landscapes still echoed with antiquity, the human stories had been interrupted. I returned home with more questions than answers—humbled, unsettled, and newly aware of how history can be both preserved and erased by those in power.

Which elements contributed to the narrator’s sense of disillusionment?

(choose more than one answer)

• Destruction of historical areas

• Lack of access to official records

• Aggressive treatment by local authorities

• Inconsistencies between past accounts and present reality

• Financial hardship during the trip

"Shadows on the Silk Road"

In the autumn of 2019, I set out on a solo journey through Central Asia, tracing segments of the ancient Silk Road. It was a personal quest—to rediscover a path my late grandfather once traveled as a young diplomat in the 1950s. The romanticism of caravan trails and forgotten fortresses beckoned, yet the journey unfolded in ways that were far more sobering than I had envisioned.

Crossing from Uzbekistan into western China, I encountered bureaucratic hostility and an eerie surveillance apparatus that seemed to watch every step I took. In Kashgar, where my grandfather had once bartered silk for Russian books, I found little of the cultural vibrancy he had described. Many of the old Uyghur quarters had been leveled, replaced by sanitized facades and militarized checkpoints.

A moment of particular unease came when I was questioned by plainclothes officials after photographing an abandoned madrasa. They let me go after an hour of vague accusations and confiscated notes, but the message was clear: curiosity was unwelcome.

Ironically, it was the silence—both historical and enforced—that lingered most. The Silk Road had always been a conduit of exchange, yet now, so many voices along it seemed muted or erased. My grandfather’s journals, full of color and conversation, felt like dispatches from a vanished world.

Though the landscapes still echoed with antiquity, the human stories had been interrupted. I returned home with more questions than answers—humbled, unsettled, and newly aware of how history can be both preserved and erased by those in power.

What central themes are explored in the recount?

(choose more than one answer)

• The fallibility of memory

• The politicization of cultural heritage

• The transformation of personal expectations

• The conflict between nostalgia and reality

1. 1. unfolded = exposed

2. 2. encountered = experienced

3. 3. bartered = exchanged

4. 4. abandoned = rejected

5. 5. vanished = appeared

6. 6. preserved = unsheltered

choose the similar words...

(choose more than one answer)

• 1,2,3

• 2,3,4

• 4,5,6

• 6,1,2

• 5,6,3

My First Public Speaking Contest

Three years ago, I stood trembling behind a curtain, waiting to be called onto the stage for my first public speaking contest. Despite having rehearsed for weeks, I was overwhelmed by nerves. My palms were sweaty, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. Public speaking had always terrified me, but I signed up for the competition hoping to overcome that fear.

As I stepped under the spotlight, the silence in the auditorium was deafening. For a brief moment, my mind went completely blank. I stared at the audience, frozen. Then, remembering the advice my coach had given me — to find a friendly face — I focused on a woman in the front row who smiled encouragingly. That small gesture brought me back to the moment.

I began to speak — slowly at first, then more confidently as I found my rhythm. The speech, about the power of storytelling, was something I truly cared about, and that passion eventually drowned out my anxiety. By the time I finished, I wasn’t just relieved; I was proud. The applause felt like a reward not for perfection, but for courage.

Though I didn’t win that day, I walked off the stage with something more valuable: the realization that fear is not an obstacle but a gateway to growth. I’ve since spoken at several events — and every time, I remember that first leap of faith.

What challenges did the narrator face during the contest?

(choose more than one answer)

• Forgetting the entire speech content

• Extreme nervousness before and during the speech

• Lack of preparation

• Stage fright

• Hostile audience reactions

My First Public Speaking Contest

Three years ago, I stood trembling behind a curtain, waiting to be called onto the stage for my first public speaking contest. Despite having rehearsed for weeks, I was overwhelmed by nerves. My palms were sweaty, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. Public speaking had always terrified me, but I signed up for the competition hoping to overcome that fear.

As I stepped under the spotlight, the silence in the auditorium was deafening. For a brief moment, my mind went completely blank. I stared at the audience, frozen. Then, remembering the advice my coach had given me — to find a friendly face — I focused on a woman in the front row who smiled encouragingly. That small gesture brought me back to the moment.

I began to speak — slowly at first, then more confidently as I found my rhythm. The speech, about the power of storytelling, was something I truly cared about, and that passion eventually drowned out my anxiety. By the time I finished, I wasn’t just relieved; I was proud. The applause felt like a reward not for perfection, but for courage.

Though I didn’t win that day, I walked off the stage with something more valuable: the realization that fear is not an obstacle but a gateway to growth. I’ve since spoken at several events — and every time, I remember that first leap of faith.

Which of the following contributed to the narrator’s eventual success on stage?

(choose more than one answer)

• Recalling their coach’s advice

• A supportive audience member

• Extensive improvisation

• Passion for the speech topic

• Prior experience with contests

My First Public Speaking Contest

Three years ago, I stood trembling behind a curtain, waiting to be called onto the stage for my first public speaking contest. Despite having rehearsed for weeks, I was overwhelmed by nerves. My palms were sweaty, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. Public speaking had always terrified me, but I signed up for the competition hoping to overcome that fear.

As I stepped under the spotlight, the silence in the auditorium was deafening. For a brief moment, my mind went completely blank. I stared at the audience, frozen. Then, remembering the advice my coach had given me — to find a friendly face — I focused on a woman in the front row who smiled encouragingly. That small gesture brought me back to the moment.

I began to speak — slowly at first, then more confidently as I found my rhythm. The speech, about the power of storytelling, was something I truly cared about, and that passion eventually drowned out my anxiety. By the time I finished, I wasn’t just relieved; I was proud. The applause felt like a reward not for perfection, but for courage.

Though I didn’t win that day, I walked off the stage with something more valuable: the realization that fear is not an obstacle but a gateway to growth. I’ve since spoken at several events — and every time, I remember that first leap of faith.

What can be inferred about the narrator’s growth from this experience?

(choose more than one answer)

• They developed a new appreciation for storytelling.

• They learned that preparation alone eliminates fear.

• They gained confidence through confronting a fear.

• They discovered that success doesn’t always mean winning.

• They realized public speaking is inherently easy.

My First Public Speaking Contest

Three years ago, I stood trembling behind a curtain, waiting to be called onto the stage for my first public speaking contest. Despite having rehearsed for weeks, I was overwhelmed by nerves. My palms were sweaty, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. Public speaking had always terrified me, but I signed up for the competition hoping to overcome that fear.

As I stepped under the spotlight, the silence in the auditorium was deafening. For a brief moment, my mind went completely blank. I stared at the audience, frozen. Then, remembering the advice my coach had given me — to find a friendly face — I focused on a woman in the front row who smiled encouragingly. That small gesture brought me back to the moment.

I began to speak — slowly at first, then more confidently as I found my rhythm. The speech, about the power of storytelling, was something I truly cared about, and that passion eventually drowned out my anxiety. By the time I finished, I wasn’t just relieved; I was proud. The applause felt like a reward not for perfection, but for courage.

Though I didn’t win that day, I walked off the stage with something more valuable: the realization that fear is not an obstacle but a gateway to growth. I’ve since spoken at several events — and every time, I remember that first leap of faith.

Which of the following statements are supported by the text?

(choose more than one answer)

• The narrator initially froze on stage.

• Encouragement from the audience helped the narrator recover.

• Public speaking became less frightening with practice.

• The narrator won the contest.

• The narrator changed their speech topic at the last minute.

My First Public Speaking Contest

Three years ago, I stood trembling behind a curtain, waiting to be called onto the stage for my first public speaking contest. Despite having rehearsed for weeks, I was overwhelmed by nerves. My palms were sweaty, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. Public speaking had always terrified me, but I signed up for the competition hoping to overcome that fear.

As I stepped under the spotlight, the silence in the auditorium was deafening. For a brief moment, my mind went completely blank. I stared at the audience, frozen. Then, remembering the advice my coach had given me — to find a friendly face — I focused on a woman in the front row who smiled encouragingly. That small gesture brought me back to the moment.

I began to speak — slowly at first, then more confidently as I found my rhythm. The speech, about the power of storytelling, was something I truly cared about, and that passion eventually drowned out my anxiety. By the time I finished, I wasn’t just relieved; I was proud. The applause felt like a reward not for perfection, but for courage.

Though I didn’t win that day, I walked off the stage with something more valuable: the realization that fear is not an obstacle but a gateway to growth. I’ve since spoken at several events — and every time, I remember that first leap of faith.

What lessons does the narrator convey to the reader?

(choose more than one answer)

• Failure is sometimes necessary for growth.

• Passion can overcome fear.

• Public speaking is only for extroverts.

• Encouragement, even small, can make a big difference.

• Fear should be avoided at all costs.

1 overwhelmed a. look

2 terrified b. defeat

3 stared c. free

4 relieved d. sink

5 drowned e. scare

match the right columns...

(choose more than one answer)

• 1-c, 2-d, 3-a

• 4-b, 5-e

• 1-b, 2-e, 3-a

• 1-e, 2-b, 3-a

• 4-c, 5-d