For many people, the taste of coffee is rather ordinary, while for others it seems sour or bitter. But for hearing-impaired barista (听障咖啡师) Zeng Zheng and his colleagues in Chongqing, coffee presents a rich and pleasing variety of taste experiences.

There is even some variety in the different forms of sweetness, according to Zeng, with some hitting the palate from the start, while others initially seem bitter but finally resolve into sweetness. To some extent, this reflects Zeng’s life experience. Together with several hearing-impaired colleagues, he works at a coffee shop named Yijiao Cafe, which located at Songshan General Hospital. It is one of two branches with the same name, which translates as One Corner Cafe. The name was inspired by a famous children’s book called The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein. The moral of the story is that one can find happiness by accepting one’s personal quirks and imperfections.

Zhu Jiayun, head of a charity for people with disabilities in Chongqing’s Yuzhong district, founded the brand in May 2022. In September 2022, Yijiao launched a free-of-charge barista training program for the hearing-impaired. The program attracted Zeng and others who used to scrape by (勉强维持生计) with various low-skilled jobs. Four out of the 15 trainees were then employed by Zhu after a strict examination. In the same month, the first Yijiao Cafe shop, located in Yuzhong district, opened its doors. 

In February this year, the second coffee shop opened in Songshan General Hospital. In just a month, the new coffee shop sold more than 3,700 cups of coffee. For every 10 yuan ($1.45) earned by the store, 0.1 yuan is donated to public welfare funds, said Zhu.

Zhu plans to open three more coffee shops this year. “I hope that Yijiao Cafe is more than just a coffee shop, and can also serve as a model space, where the healthy people and those with disabilities can make coffee, drink coffee, or live and work together,” Zhu said.

1.What does the underlined phrase “hitting the palate” mean?

A Tasting good.

B Killing you.

C Providing nutrients.

D Promoting feelings.

解析：选A。A词义猜测题。曾政认为咖啡有一些不同形式的甜味，根据划线部分后面的“while others initially seem bitter but finally resolve into sweetness.”可知有些甜味最初品尝起来是苦的，但最终会变甜；由此推断，划线部分表示一些甜味从一开始尝起来就很棒。故选A。

2.What does The Missing Piece tell readers?

A Stop complaining about your life.

B Accept your imperfection.

C Nobody’s life is complete.

D Try your best to pursue perfection.

解析：选B。B推理判断题。根据第二段最后两句可知，这个故事的寓意是，一个人可以通过接受自己的个人怪癖和不完美来找到幸福，即我们应该接受自己的不完美。故选B。

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A Fifteen trainees became workers at Yijiao Cafe.

B Zhu donated all he made to public welfare funds.

C Zeng Zheng used to live a poor life.

D In February 2022, the first Yijiao Cafe shop opened.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据第三段的“The program attracted Zeng and others who used to scrape by with various low-skilled jobs.”可知，2022年9月，一角咖啡推出了一项针对听障人士的免费咖啡师培训计划。该项目吸引了曾政，他过去靠各种低技能的工作勉强度日。故选C。

4.Which of the following predictions may come true according to the passage?

A More hearing-impaired people will become baristas.

B Zeng Zheng will give up his present job.

C Zhu will stop donating money to public welfare funds.

D People will see more Yijiao Cafe shops.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据最后一段第一句的“Zhu plans to open three more coffee shops this year.”可知，朱佳云是“一角咖啡”创始人，他计划今年再开三家咖啡店，即人们不久可能会看到更多一角咖啡店。故选D。