He looked in the mirror, feeling sick of the sight of what he saw, a constant reminder of the fire last year. He was badly 1 in it and worse still, his wife had left him and would never return home.

He was filled with self-pity, 2 and even hate. He limped ( 瘸着走 ) to the park and decided to give his mind some 3 , so he sat down and started to read.

Then out from a group of children at play, a young girl approached. Her eyes to the ground, she stretched out her arm and said, “Look what I found!” She 4 in her hand what looked like a weed, all wilted ( 枯萎 ) and brown, its flower gone to seed.

The man said in a low angry voice, “Just leave me alone. Get on with your playing.”

But the child was still 5 . “I picked these for you. They’re really pretty, and I think you are, too.”

The man was annoyed, 6 her gift. He thought she made fun of him, as others had done. He pushed her aside when 7 he noticed that the girl was blind! He felt 8 . Then his anger and hate began to disappear. He accepted her flower. The girl smiled and ran away before he could say “thank you” to her.

The girl had awakened in him a 9 to start a new life. He went to the hospital and saw the burn patients in treatment. He knew the “inside” was the hardest to cure. From that moment on, he knew what he’d do. He’d help these folks heal ( 康复 ). And his 10 would heal, too.

1 ． A ． destroyed B ． damaged C ． burnt D ． ruined

2 ． A ． excitement B ． anger C ． curiosity D ． anxiety

3 ． A ． relief B ． inspiration C ． exercise D ． freedom

4 ． A ． put B ． held C ． moved D ． picked

5 ． A ． cautious B ． upset C ． enthusiastic D ． nervous

6 ． A ． accepting B ． refusing C ． throwing D ． appreciating

7 ． A ． unfortunately B ． lately C ． finally D ． suddenly

8 ． A ． frightened B ． amused C ． depressed D ． astonished

9 ． A ． dream B ． potential C ． desire D ． responsibility

10 ． A ． soul B ． body C ． emotion D ． appearance

When I look back at the first half of the year. I am amazed by how many challenges I have been through. The biggest one was definitely my high school graduation 1 .

When I first arrived in this Czech Republic four years ago ， I was just a normal exchange 2 who spoke only English ， then at the end of the year-Long exchange program ， I came up with the idea of 3 my high school studies there.

At that time, I was only sixteen and delighted by my new future. What I underestimated was the 4 of completing school in the Czech language, which is considered to be one of the most 5 languages in the world. As I 6 knowledge of certain subjects I receive the worst marks and people around the world doubted whether I could graduate. However, I practiced all the time. Gradually, I could communicate with others fluently and my 7 grew.

The final exam day came. Thinking about everyone who had helped and supported me along my journey, I felt 8 and confident.

In May,I received notice that I had 9 the exam. At my graduation ceremony, my Czech teacher said very proudly in front of everyone, “One student, she is from China with merely three years of learning Czech, she 1 0 . She deserves a golden folder for the certification. ”

My journey through high school was finally finished ， though the journey of University is just about to begin ， I think I am ready 。

1 ． A ． speech B ． exam C ． check D ． ceremony

2 ． A ． teacher B ． expert C ． engineer D ． student

3 ． A ． finishing B ． quitting C ． investigating D ． assessing.

4 ． A ． value B ． ability C ． challenge D ． benefit

5 ． A ． beautiful B ． difficult C ． common D ． Popular

6 ． A ． lacked B ． gained C ． increased D ． pursued.

7 ． A ． desire B ． fear C ． confidence D ． burden.

8 ． A ． bothered B ． puzzled C ． embraced D ． encouraged

9 ． A ． passed B ． ignored C ． avoided D ． missed

1 0 ． A ． got away B ． broke down C ． made it D ． count down

My friendship with the students in a primary school in Uganda started on a shaky ground. The 1 of not being understood was hidden within, for they spoke a language different from that of mine and mine too fell on deaf ears.

I greeted them with a wide smile, and when I spoke further, they replied with ice cold 2 . A reminder echoed in my mind: you must live through it to get to them. So I gave it another try. I spoke 3 English with hand gestures and a bit of dancing. If all failed, the smile would 4 . Soon we picked up and then the 5 of the learners came into play. At the mention of a name, trembles and face covering were the response I got. I decided to 6 a desk with a team each day during group work to get closer. After school, I accompanied them home.

7 , we became friends. They were even aware of my favorite fruit ， avocado ( 牛油果 ). If I didn’t get one on my desk, it would 8 me wherever I was. My slippers were worn out. One night I left them out as no one could steal a pair of slippers in that state. The next morning, I was ready to drag my slippers on as usual and I was surprised they had been 9 . Wow!

The little things we do for each other bring us great joy and warmth. We don’t have a proper spoken language, but we are fluent in the language of 1 0 .

1 ． A ． anger B ． fear C ． confusion D ． disappointment

2 ． A ． agreement B ． blame C ． comment D ． silence

3 ． A ． simple B ． official C ． academic D ． unusual

4 ． A ． turn up B ． break off C ． take over D ． fade away

5 ． A ． shyness B ． laziness C ． loneliness D ． calmness

6 ． A ． clear B ． share C ． search D ． exchange

7 ． A ． Suddenly B ． Obviously C ． Accidentally D ． Gradually

8 ． A ． hit B ． find C ． catch D ． hunt

9 ． A ． packed B ． cleaned C ． repaired D ． abandoned

1 0 ． A ． sympathy B ． admiration C ． friendship D ． confidence

Some dreams take longer to come true than others, but with the help of 21st-century social media and her great-grandson, at the age of 110, one British woman is 1 hers at long last.

At the end of World War I, Amy Hawkins was a 7-year-old child who loved nothing more than to 2 . As a teen, Hawkins set her 3 on becoming an entertainer. Hawkins was on her way, touring the country with a dance troupe ( 歌舞团 ) — until her ambition was 4 by her mom, who didn’t see it as a respectable 5 for a young lady.

All these years later, the 110-year-old lady lives at home in Monmouth, South Wales, surrounded by her loved ones. The four-generation family unit includes her granddaughter, Hannah Freeman, and Freeman’s 14-year-old son, Sacha. Even though she’s no longer doing it 6 , Hawkins has never stopped singing.

“She’s like a clock, once you wind her up she won’t stop,” Freeman said in an interview. “She just keeps asking, ‘Would you 7 another one?’.”

On Hawkins’ 110th birthday, Sacha 8 his great-gran singing one of her favorite WWI tunes. When Freeman jokingly suggested Sacha post it to TikTok, neither of them could have 9 the overwhelmingly positive response it would receive, reaching 100,000 views and a large number of emotional praises in just days.

Some journeys take longer than others. Sometimes, we’re detoured ( 绕路 ) along the way. Dreams can and do come true every day. While it’s been a long time coming, Amy Hawkins is 1 0 a whole new generation of fans.

1 ． A ． reflecting B ． realizing C ． recalling D ． researching

2 ． A ． sing B ． study C ． paint D ． film

3 ． A ． values B ． limits C ． sights D ． hands

4 ． A ． cut back B ． cut in C ． cut through D ． cut short

5 ． A ． method B ． grade C ． level D ． occupation

6 ． A ． nervously B ． professionally C ． reasonably D ． secretly

7 ． A ． bring B ． have C ． like D ． read

8 ． A ． caught B ． videoed C ． reported D ． remembered

9 ． A ． imagined B ． noticed C ． missed D ． suspected

1 0 ． A ． entertaining B ． becoming C ． representing D ． inviting

A Labrador has been doing an important job to help people stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eight-year-old Roby runs through the streets of the hilly city of Medellin several times a day with a 1 in his jaws, taking vegetables, fruit and packaged foods to customers of the Fresh4U mini-market.

“He helps us to maintain social distancing,” said Roby’ owner, Sherry Botero. “And people 2 it when we send the dog.” Roby enjoys eating carrots 3 to him by customers, a tip for bringing a basket of food.

Roby wasn’t always a star. He was accepted into the family 4 by Ms Botero after repeated requests by her son to 5 a dog.

But Ms Botero quickly 6 with the dog. And when she opened a mini-market four years ago, he started to accompany her to make deliveries.

Roby can’t read 7 . But he remembers the names of customers who have previously rewarded him with treats. And with some practice, he has learned to go to their houses on his own.

“He knows the names of five or six of our customers,” Ms Botero said, “So I send the goods with a receipt in the basket, and my customers 8 me through a bank transfer( 转账；转移 ).”

Roby might not know that he’s become an 9 worker. But he is happy to help his owner and 1 0 his daily pay.

1 ． A ． bag B ． chain C ． basket D ． stick

2 ． A ． respect B ． love C ． follow D ． notice

3 ． A ． gifted B ． returned C ． lent D ． donated

4 ． A ． intentionally B ． regretfully C ． immediately D ． unwillingly

5 ． A ． adopt B ． train C ． adore D ． walk

6 ． A ． got away B ． kept in touch C ． caught up D ． fell in love

7 ． A ． minds B ． addresses C ． numbers D ． receipts

8 ． A ． treat B ． help C ． pay D ． impress

9 ． A ． essential B ． honest C ． optimistic D ． adventurous

1 0 ． A ． spend B ． calculate C ． collect D ． increase

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

I have many goals. The most important one is to travel around the world and I am trying my best to make it come true. The reason is 1 ． our world is so fantastic that I want to explore it. There are so many different things in the world 2 ． (experience). While 3 ． (travel), I can learn different languages and make friends with the local people. I believe I can achieve my dream.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Hawaii is the only state not on the continent of North America. The State of Hawaii consists 1 ． 8 bigger islands and 2000 more small islands. Of the bigger islands, Hawaii Island is not only the largest but also the youngest. People can find a few active volcanoes in the island. Mauna Loa and Kilauea are the most active volcanoes, 2 ． the American government has opened Volcanoes National Park. The island’s largest city Hino, also the second largest one in Hawaii State, 3 ． (stand) on the northeast coast of the island.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Are you humorous? People who are humorous can recognize what’s funny in others and can amuse others as well. At home, a sense of humor can brighten family life, so amuse 1 ． (you) and your family members through jokes if you can. In the classroom, a humorous teacher will not make the students feel 2 ． (bore) with learning. In hospitals, humor can sometimes help to reduce pain of the patients and enable them to recover 3 ． (strong). No wonder people often say laughter is the world’s 4 ． (good) medicine.

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入 1 个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Pandas have become one of the symbols of China. They live only on a few high and damp mountains in Southwest China, 1 ． they feed mainly on bamboo leaves and shoots. Everyone in the world 2 ． (agree) that they are adorably cute. Their black and white colour 3 ． (see) as the physical representation of Yin and Yang and how the balance between the two bring harmony and peace.

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入 1 个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Cai Zhengjun lost his hearing when he was just in eighteen months old, as a result of a high fever. 1 ． (fortunate), his parents loved him and supported him as much as possible. They were determined to see their son equipped with the necessary life 2 ． (skill) needed to lead a normal life. Cai, however, didn't understand the support they provided. it was after many years that he realized what they were trying to do. Today. Cai’s role has changed from a silent observer in life 3 ． a source of empowerment for his fellow hearing impaired peers.

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入 1 个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Thangka is a scroll painting with images. It’s made of cloth or paper and can be rolled into a bundle on a scroll, 1 ． (make) it easy to transport. Thangka 2 ． (know) as the “Encyclopedia of Tibetan culture”, covers a wide range of topics. 3 ． the content and themes of Thangka are rich and varied, the main content is the image of Tibetan folk culture and opt day. Undoubtedly thangka is the 4 ． (good) one of means of ensuring civilian education for nomadic people.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Brian Skerry is an underwater photo journalist. As part of his job, he encounters mysterious sea 1 ． (creature) such as whales and sharks. To get the best photo, Skerry gets close to the wildlife—even if it’s dangerous. One time in Mexico, a squid grabbed Skerry as he 2 ． (take) a photo.

Why does Skerry take these risks? He hopes his photographs will make people think about life in the oceans. As Skerry says, “The oceans are in real trouble. As a journalist, the most important thing I can do is to raise public 3 ． (aware).”

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

In the past few years, researchers at Lund University 1 ． (publish) several papers on dogs’ ability to detect the warmth of a body without touching it. Their results show that, from 5 feet away, dogs can reliably tell the difference 2 ． a 4-inch object at body temperature and one at room temperature. The scientists identified a set of nerves in a dog’s nose 3 ． appear to be responsible. The skin on a dog’s nose can absorb the tiny amount of infrared light leaking from a warm object, and the nerves inside the skin quickly sense that extra energy, 4 ． (signal) to the brain that something warm is nearby.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Some American cities are banning drive-through windows at fast—food restaurants. There are two basic reasons for the bans: concern for the environment and the need 1 ． (fight) obesity.

In the US, most adults drive automobiles and almost 40% of the adults are overweight. That’s partly 2 ． people are worried about the environment and unhealthy diets. Supporters of the bans hope fewer drive-through windows 3 ． (reduce) litter and air pollution from customers driving cars. Some also think that people will choose healthier food if there is no longer the convenience of a drive-through window.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Invented 1 ． early twentieth-century America by Richard Drew, Scotch tape can be used to fix almost anything. However, there is more to this fix-it-all than just that. Sticky yet easily removed, Scotch tape was designed for use in painting cars—to mask off areas that should not 2 ． (paint). The tape soon found other uses. During the 1930s, people didn’t have much money, so they couldn’t throw away damaged things; they had to repair them. Drew’s painting tape became a popular, money-saving fix for everything from torn clothing to broken eggs. Since then, people 3 ． (find) all sorts of creative ways to use the sticky tape.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

After a lot of preparation, Joseph Lockwood and Philippa Amos were finally ready to start their journey into the Amazon rainforest. They were feeling 1 ． (cheer) as they sailed down the great river. Eventually, they got out of the boat and walked into the darkness of the jungle. Neither of them had ever been in such an extreme situation before, using just a compass ( 指南针 ) to find the area where the kind of frog they wanted to study 2 ． (live). Suddenly, Joseph, who was holding the compass, tripped and lost it in a river. The situation seemed hopeless—how would they find the frogs now? But just 3 ． they started to feel really sad and worried that their journey 4 ． (be) a failure, they saw the frogs they had come to look for.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

The Longji Rice Terraces ( 龙脊梯田 ) were built by the local Zhuang and Yao people, to whom Guangxi is home. Starting in the Yuan Dynasty, work on the terraces took hundreds of years. The terraces are 1 ． (clever) designed, with hundreds of waterways that connect with each other. During the rainy season, it is along these waterways that rainwater 2 ． (move) down the mountains and into the terraces. These terraces also provide a perfect environment for birds and fish, some of which feed on insects 3 ． can harm the rice crops. Today the Longji Rice Terraces attract thousands of visitors who come to admire this great wonder created by people and nature working together.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Comets are among the most beautiful and interesting 1 ． (sight) in the universe. For centuries, people 2 ． (show) great interest in studying them. In 1682, Edmund Halley, an astronomer, noticed a comet that was especially bright and large. Based on his calculations, Halley predicted that this bright comet would return in 1758 or 1759—this was about 75 years 3 ． he first saw the comet. The comet really returned on time and it was named “Halley’s Comet” in honor of Edmund Halley.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Emma was on her way home when she heard a sudden scream. Looking around, she saw a little boy on the sidewalk gasping( 急喘 ) for air, his 1 ． (frighten) mother begging for help. Emma rushed to the boy, 2 ． face had turned purple. “What’s wrong?” “A candy! In his throat!” It was lucky that Emma had learned how 3 ． (perform) the Heimlich maneuver( 海姆利克急救法 ) at school. She acted quickly. Soon, the boy coughed up a piece of candy and began breathing again. He 4 ． (save) in time.

阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1 个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

In Japan, the word bonsai means tray plant . It refers to the interesting 1 ． (combine) of art and the planting and growing of miniature trees and plants. Bonsai originated in China more than 2,000 years ago and 2 ． (spread) to Japan about 700 years ago. Some people believe that only small plants must be used in bonsai, but this is not true. Nearly any type of tree or plant can be used, as long as it is grown 3 ． a seed or a small cutting.

With the sea on your doorstep, a large fleet of boats to choose from, and a team of experienced instructors, the outdoor activities centre is there just for you! Courses available:

Dinghy Sailing

Our boats are chosen carefully to provide a wide range of safe and exciting learning opportunities. Instructors will take you through the basics of rigging, launching and sailing.

Catamaran Sailing

For those with little or no experience, this course is a good introduction to this fast and exciting form of sailing. If weather condition is favourable, students should be able to handle a catamaran single-handedly during the course.

Cost for each course (age 16 years and over): £165 non residential, £180 residential

Canoeing or Kayaking

The outdoor activities centre is the ideal venue for kayaking. With the sea close at hand, our one-day course will introduce the skill of kayaking at sea. There will be an opportunity to try a variety of different canoes and kayaks and to take part in a short kayak sea journey.

Cost for one-day course: £35

Windsurfing

Our centre runs a JUNIOR WINDSURFING CLUB on Monday and Wednesday evenings during the summer season and is open to anyone up to 18 years old. Aimed at those who already have some windsurfing experience (level one certificate), this club aims to give young windsurfers the opportunity to progress within a safe and exciting environment.

Cost: £7 per session or £6 per session if four sessions are booked in advance

1 ． How much would it cost an adult living at the center to take both sailing courses?

A ． £165. B ． £180.

C ． £345. D ． £360.

2 ． Where is the passage most probably taken from?

A ． A travel journal. B ． A sports advertisement.

C ． A training report. D ． An exhibition guide.

Terry Fox never thought he’d live a remarkable life.

He liked sports, but no one thought he was talented. During his first year in the university, he had a pain in his right knee, which was so bad that he couldn’t stand up. He went to the doctor for tests. They showed that he had cancer. He was going to lose his leg and be given an artificial one. Terry’s family and friends all gave him fantastic support. Terry said that he knew all those people really cared and helped him. He decided to face it with bravery.

One night Terry was looking through an article about Dick Traum, who also had an artificial leg and had run in the New York Marathon. “If he can do it,” thought Terry, “I can, too. In fact, I’ll run across Canada and raise money for cancer research. It will be a Marathon of Hope!”

For the next 16 months, Terry had special treatments for his cancer. And then he also began to run a little every day. Each day he ran a little farther. It is 5,300 miles across Canada. Terry hoped to run thirty to forty miles a day so that it would take him six months. Most of all, he hoped to raise $1 million for cancer research.

Because Terry had an artificial leg, running wasn’t easy or straightforward. He had to move by jumping on one foot twice and then take a long step with his real leg. Although it looked awkward, he still kept on running. His action made people join him as he ran: children, football stars, wheelchair athletes and even his brother, Darrell. As Terry ran, people waved and cheered. So much money was donated that the volunteers used large garbage bags so everyone could give.

Then, outside Thunder Bay, Ontario, Terry felt a sharp pain in his chest. The pain was from cancer; this time in his lungs. He had to abandon the Marathon after 3, 339 miles. He told the people before he left, “I won’t give up. I just hope people will continue to give money.” And they did. Just under $25 million was given.

Terry received numerous awards. At 22, he was the youngest Canadian to ever receive Canada’s highest award, the Companion of the Order of Canada.

1 ． What made Terry decide to run across Canada?

A ． His passion for Marathon.

B ． An urge to live a normal life.

C ． The support of his family and friends.

D ． The inspiring experience of Dick Traum.

2 ． People joined him when he ran mainly because ________.

A ． they were moved by the scene of Terry’s running

B ． they served as volunteers in the marathon

C ． they considered Terry as a great hero

D ． they loved running very much

3 ． Why did he finally stop the marathon?

A ． He collected enough money for the donation.

B ． His family and friends persuaded him to abandon it.

C ． He got great pain in his body because of the cancer.

D ． Running with the artificial leg wasn’t straightforward.

4 ． Which of the following words can best describe Terry?

A ． Generous. B ． Cooperative.

C ． Determined. D ． Creative.

The good news is that more people bought electric cars in 2020. The bad news is that SUVs continued to grow in popularity, too. The fall in oil consumption due to the first trend was completely cancelled out by the second, say Laura Cozzi and Apostolos Petropoulos at the International Energy Agency (IEA) in France.

The growing popularity of SUVs is making it even harder to cut carbon dioxide emissions （排放） and meet climate goals. “Policy-makers need to find ways to persuade consumers to choose smaller and more efficient cars,” says Petropoulos.

Oil consumption by conventional cars – not including SUVs – is estimated to have fallen 10 percent in 2020, or by more than 1.8 million barrels （桶） a day, Cozzi and Petropoulos say in a commentary published by the IEA on 15 January. Most of this fall was due to reduced travel and is likely to be temporary.

But a small part of the drop, around 40,000 barrels a day, was as a result of the increased share of electric vehicles (EVs). “We have seen a skyrocketing of global electric car sales in 2020,” says Petropoulos. Unfortunately, the number of SUVs increased as well. While overall car sales fell in 2020, 42 percent of buyers chose SUVs, up around three percentage points from 2019.

Globally, there are now more than 280 million SUVs being driven, up from fewer than 50 million in 2010. On average, SUVs consume 20 percent more energy per kilometre than a medium-sized car.

The increase in SUVs in 2020 led to a rise in oil consumption that cancelled out the effect of electric cars, says Petropoulos. Much the same is true over the past decade. Between 2010 and 2020, global CO2 emissions from conventional cars fell by nearly 350 megatonnes, due to factors such as fuel efficiency improvements as well as the switch to electric cars. Emissions from SUVs rose by more than 500 megatonnes.

“While the growth in EVs is encouraging, the increase in SUVs is heart-breaking,” says Glen Peters at the CICERO climate research centre in Norway.

There are many reasons for the growing popularity of SUVs, says Petropoulos. Rising prosperity （繁荣） in many countries means more people are able to afford them, for instance. Some people see them as a symbol of social position. SUVs are also heavily advertised by car-makers, he says, whose profits are higher on these vehicles.

There are now some electric SUVs available. “Hopefully, in time, you will see electric vehicles entering the SUV market,” says Peters.

Even if it happens, switching to electric SUVs isn’t an ideal solution. Due to their size and bigger batteries, it takes more resources to build electric SUVs, and they consume around 15 percent more electricity. Higher electricity demand makes it harder to green the electricity supply.

1 ． Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A ． The SUVs driven in 2019 reached up to 280 million.

B ． Electric cars appeared a sharp decline in sales in 2020.

C ． Buyers of SUVs in 2020 increased 42 percent than those in 2019.

D ． Global SUVs being driven now are over five times as many as those in 2010.

2 ． From the increase of SUVs, we can infer ________.

A ． it could have harmful consequences for the air quality

B ． the oil consumption will increase and the price will fall

C ． people all over the world are getting wealthier than before

D ． the car-makers think it’s unnecessary to advertise any more

3 ． What can we conclude from the passage?

A ． The purchases of SUVs should be reduced.

B ． The SUVs should be discontinued immediately.

C ． The awareness of using electric cars needs to be improved.

D ． Increasing electric cars can solve the problem of oil consumption.

4 ． What’s the author’s attitude to electric SUVs?

A ． Unconcerned. B ． Disapproving.

C ． Supportive. D ． Uncertain.

It is the season for taking the time to reflect on what we’re thankful for in life. Spending that time with friends and family to give thanks is what makes the holidays so special. But why should limit it to just a few weeks in the year? Gratitude （感恩） is a muscle we should strengthen year-round to make us healthier, happier humans and leaders.

Gratitude builds empathy . We often take for granted the simple things in life. Those who recognize the goodness in life, no matter how simple or automatic, are more likely to be sensitive to the needs of others and to help whenever they can. Being empathetic to others’ opinions, experiences and backgrounds will make you a better professional, no matter your career.

Through his research, Emmons, a leading researcher, found that grateful people reported feeling healthier, both mentally and physically. Specifically, those who were grateful were 25 percent happier than those who weren’t. In the workplace, well-being （健康快乐） is a crucial topic when it comes to preventing employee burn-out and promoting engagement. Beyond the research that shows that employees who are shown that they are appreciated are more productive by 50 percent, caring for your employees’ well-being is simply the right thing to do. Offering fitness classes or carrying out flexible work schedules are just a few things that, when paired with gratitude, can lead to more productive, engaged and happier working professionals.

Working in a developing, fast-paced industry, we are often surrounded by ambitious people who are always striving （奋斗） for more and better. Gratitude makes us more self-aware. It challenges us to reflect in the moment instead of always thinking about the future. It starts by paying attention to what’s going on in our life, and that true self-awareness is a key factor to being successful in our career.

Gratitude is a powerful tool for making relationships stronger, both at work and in our personal life. People who express their gratitude tend to be more willing to forgive others and therefore able to create relatively long-lasting connections.

During my month-long vacation, I made it a point to be reflective during the time I had without disturbances or deadlines. Part of that was making a mental list of the people, things and experiences I was grateful for in my life. I decided to reach out to my fifth-grade teacher and thank her for being positive instructor and a strong influence on my life.

The old saying goes “It’s never too late to say you’re sorry,” but the same is true of gratitude. Taking the time to thank people for their work, kindness or empathy-whether it was today, last month or many years ago-makes you happier, healthier and more self-aware. And that’s a gift worth celebrating 365 days a year.

1 ． What does the underlined word “empathy” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A ． The feeling of being sorry for others’ problems.

B ． The desire to help people in difficult situations.

C ． The ability to understand other people’s feelings.

D ． The feeling of pleasure or satisfaction towards others.

2 ． What can be inferred from the passage?

A ． People who have self-awareness can succeed without effort.

B ． Grateful people will live a much longer life than ungrateful people.

C ． Wise enterprises should raise the employees’ sense of well-being.

D ． Gratitude can ensure the relationship between people is unbreakable.

3 ． Why does the author mention his own experience in Paragraph 6?

A ． To encourage people to contact with teachers.

B ． To show it’s never too late to express gratitude.

C ． To order people to keep long-lasting connection.

D ． To present that his teacher greatly influenced him.

4 ． Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A ． Being Grateful Year-Round.

B ． The Season for Gratitude.

C ． The Way to Show Thanks.

D ． The Special Holiday of Gratitude.

Explore Nice in France - how car travel makes for a memorable holiday.

A classic option to explore the celebrated city of France, such as Nice is through hard travel. Cruising through the South of France, there are museums and restaurants to experience. Visiting these attractions is most convenient with a car. As hiring a car in Nice from the airport is simple. One can sit back and drive through the wonderful country lands without a care in the world. The west side has small hills while the east extends to the Mediterranean Sea. Peaceful vineyards, quiet villages at a rich life awaits you if you drive through the countryside.

Restaurants

The kitchen delights that Nice offers are the cities chief attraction. The Cours Saleya market, offers fine delicacies while sipping the Provencal wine is another soothing experience. Overall, Coted’ Azur can be put as the gastronomic capital of France.

Beaches

Being along the coastline ， Nice offers some really warm and relaxing beaches to its tourists lined with cosy seaside apartments and hotels.

Tips for Hiring a Car

Choose a car which can easily accommodate you and your family without being too big-- Traffic can be a major issue in some cities.

A GPS navigation system aids in traveling without getting lost and also helps in saving time.

Check with various number of car hire companies for the different prices so that you do not end up with an expensive package. Traveling to France has perhaps been on the wish lists of every travel-hungry person. And you can make your trip even more memorable by traveling through the country in the car.

1 ． What can be learned about Nice from the passage?

A ． It is located far from the sea.

B ． It has quiet villages and vineyards

C ． It is no easy way to hire a car in Nice.

D ． It offers the warmest beach to tourists.

2 ． When hiring a car in France, you are advised to ________

A ． Choose one as big as possible.

B ． Ignore the GPS navigation system.

C ． Pay for your accommodation in advance.

D ． Check with companies for reasonable prices.

3 ． This passage is intended for________

A ． drivers B ． travelers

C ． passengers D ． tour guides

The teenage Snowboarder.

I was born in Denver, USA ． and started snowboarding aged eight when my dad took me to a resort in the mountains.About two hours from Denver.The hill looked unbelievably steep and scary. So My dad had to do a lot of persuading to get me on a board. Because I was so young. I hadn't even thought of asking him if I could start snowboarding? But he was already into it and wanted me to love it, too----He made it look so simple, and in the end I managed just fine.

After this experience, it wasn't long before I’d developed a love of sport and had improved my ability too. I started competing aged ten. Some people entered loads of competitions and ended up getting bored of snowboarding. But my love of taking part and winning got stronger as I got older, which always help me to push myself harder. I enjoyed not having a fixed plan and sometimes this went well ,like when I became the first female ever to get a perfect 100 at a local competition. I wasn't sure I'd even attempted the jumps that got me the score until I actually set off. That achievement increased my trust in my own abilities.

During the summer I focused on training and my studies while there's no snow. Although I trained daily, it's nice not having to stick to quite a strict diet like I did in the winter. I also got to spend lots of time with my friends then. It's the best way of dealing with not being able to do what I loved so much and what I was really good at.

Now. I have to think carefully about my future. Snowboarding is such a huge part of my life now. But I also feel it's important to have something else I can do. just in case I don't succeed as a professional snowboarder or I get injured. I'm wondering whether becoming a doctor is a possibility. if my active life allows time for doing a college degree, it's impossible to imagine myself growing tired of the sport. But I can't go on snowboarding my whole life.

1 ． How did the author feel before her first snowboarding down a hill?

A ． pleased B ． inspired.

C ． annoyed D ． frightened

2 ． What happened to the author after taking part in competitions?

A ． She lost confidence in her own abilities.

B ． She developed an interest in snowboarding.

C ． She planned for every competition carefully.

D ． She ended up getting bored of snowboarding.

3 ． What can be inferred about the author from the passage?

A ． She got injured in the last competition..

B ． She had to be on a strict diet in summer.

C ． she might work as a doctor in the future.

D ． she will be a life-long professional Snowboarder.

Video calls are a common occurrence, but have you imagined being able to touch the person on the other end of the line? Scientists are making this a reality.

Researchers at the University of new South Wales, Australia have invented a soft skin stretch device(SSD). A haptic device that can recreate the sense of touch. Haptic technology mimics the experience of touch by stimulating localized areas of the skin in ways that are similar to what is felt in the real world, through force, vibration or motion.

Vibration is the most common haptic technology today and has been built into many electronic devices such as one attached to the back of the trackpad( 触摸板 ) in laptops, which simulates a button clicking. However, haptic feedback with vibration becomes less sensitive when used continuously. The existing technology also has great difficulty recreating the sense of touch with objects in virtual environments or located remotely. According to Mai Thanh Thai, lead author of the study.

The new technology overcomes issues with existing haptic devices. The research team introduced a novel method to recreate the sense of touch through a soft artificial “muscles”.

“Our three-way directional skin stretch device, built into the fingertips of the wearable glove we also created is like wearing a second skin-- its soft stretchable and mimics the sense of touch-- and will enable new forms of haptic communication to enhance everyday activities”said Thanh Nho Do, senior author of the study.

Imagine you are at home and you call your friend who is in Australia. You wear a haptic glove with the SSDs, and your friends also wears a glove with integrated 3D force sensors. If your friend picks up an object, it will physically press against your friend’s fingers. And their glove with 3D force sensors will measure with interactions. The force signals can be sent to your glove so your device will generate the same 3D forces. Making you experience the same sense of touch as your friend.

The haptic devices could be applied in various situations, allowing users to feel objects inside a virtual world or at a distance. It could also be used in medical practices. Doctors can feel a patient's organ tissues. With surgical tools without touching them.

1 ． What does the passage imply?

A ． SSDs become less sensitive when used continuously.

B ． SSDs can recreate the sense of touch without vibration.

C ． SSDs have great advantages over existing haptic devices.

D ． SSDs can help users touch the person through video calls.

2 ． Paragraph 6 mainly tells us about.________

A ． How the device works.

B ． Why the device is used

C ． What the device creates

D ． How the device is invented

3 ． How does the author think of the prospect of SSDs?

A ． hopeless B ． uncertain.

C ． worrying. D ． cheerful.

4 ． What does the passage mainly talk about?

A ． A glove that can measure some interactions.

B ． A sensor that can imitate touch at a distance.

C ． A device that can recreate the sense of touch.

D ． A tool could be applied in medical practices.

The rolling out of 5G services has triggered a wave of competition across the world. More importantly, it has started a race to develop 6G as the telecommunications sector has always been a hotspot for competition.

Compared with 5G technology, 6G will have lower latency, higher speed and more bandwidth. And this advanced technology will help connect the real world with virtual digital world. It will also make product design R&D(Research and development) and experiments significantly more efficient and greatly reduce their costs while making it possible to produce digital products. In the physical world through high-tech, including 3D printing.The seamless and intelligent connection of the physical and digital worlds will lead to a thorough reconstruction of the division of labor and societal cooperation.

In terms of economic development, 3G fostered e-commerce while 4G boosted e-commerce and mobile payment. 5G infrastructure building and application marked the beginning of intelligent manufacturing. Similarly, wireless cognition technology associated with 6G technology, once it matures, will further boost the development of the digital economy. In digital economy, intelligence based on big data will become the real force for innovation and 6G networks not only will be highways for transmitting data, but will also much more seamlessly integrate edge and core computing as part of a combined communications. This will provide many potential advantages as 6G technology becomes operational, including access to AI capabilities. Digital economy based on 6G will become the determining factor of the country’s competitiveness in the future, and 6G technology with wireless cognition as its major characteristic will become core technology and main driver of the digital economy.

Starting with 5G our telecom industry, thanks to its extensive R&D input, has taken the lead in standardizing and manufacturing 5G telecom equipment ， the competition in 6G will start with the setting of standards,which will determine the level of R&D needed for the launch of the technology and thus decide the market share of the emerging industry .As far as R&D in 5G technology is concerned. We have already enjoyed two advantages. first, it is a global leader in the telecom sector and has a solid reserve of talents. And second, it has a relatively complete industrial chain that covers R&D and design, manufacturing and application. and is home to leading 5G equipment maker. Recent history shows whoever leads the telecom technology sector sets the standards for telecom products and services. and plays a bigger role in the industry’s future development .An official research team on 6G including the government. enterprises and research organizations has been established to obtain the advantage of 6G development competition .

1 ． What does the underlined word “triggered” in paragraph 1 probably mean?

A ． Put off. B ． Kept off. C ． Called off. D ． Set off.

2 ． What will the connection of the physical and digital worlds result in?

A ． Complete changes in the way of work and social cooperation.

B ． Significant reduction in product design cost and work efficiency.

C ． Perfect replacement of the virtual digital world to the real world.

D ． Complete disappearance of work and cooperation in the real world.

3 ． In the digital economic development, 6G technology will________

A ． Become core technology and main driver.

B ． Mark the beginning of intelligent manufacturing.

C ． Promote the growth of e-commerce in real world.

D ． Assist the progress of e-commerce and mobile payment.

4 ． Which would be the best title for this passage?

A ． Should we develop 6G in the future?

B ． If 5G is here, can 6G be far behind?

C ． Does 6G really have advantages over 5G?

D ． If developing 6G can we get in a no-win race?

Emergencies are scary, but there is now a new smart ring on the market that will quickly call for help when you need it most. Meet Nimb, a ring that includes a panic button. It lets you send emergency alerts ( 警报 ) to preset contacts from its mobile app with the touch of a thumb. Whether you are being attacked or experiencing a serious health problem, Nimb will help keep you safe and sound.

Smart Ring to the Rescue

The story behind the development with this new technology is unique and touching. In 2010, Kathy Roma, who is the co-founder and communications lead with Nimb, was violently attacked by a complete stranger and was on the brink of death. She suffered multiple stab wounds in a safe neighborhood, just a few feet away from a police station. Her saving grace wasn’t just her fight and drive to survive, but the call for help.

Since then, she has been searching to find a way for others to have a voice when they ， re in need of help and has been a driving force in the development of this new technology. And Nimb is easy to use. All you need to do when you are in trouble is press its button for three seconds and an instant message will be sent to your contacts. Your contacts will get instant emergency alerts on their smartphones and tablets. This smart ring tracks your exact location in real time and your contacts will know where you are at all times.

Nimb’s app includes an alert card, and built-in chat and notification features. The ring is compatible ( 兼容的 ) with Bluetooth 4+, iOS 7+ and Android 4+. It is also equipped with a rechargeable LiPo Battery that will last about two weeks, and is designed to withstand water and dust.

Nimb: Stay Safe in Style

What makes this smart ring extra special is that it is cool and futuristic looking. It comes in two colors: Stealth Black and Classic White. The ring is available in US ring sizes 4-12, which means you can wear it on any of your fingers. There’s no doubt this new technology will be a hit on the market: everyone wants to have that extra piece of mind when it comes to health and safety. Nimb retails for $129.

1 ． Nimb is designed to help users ________.

A ． relieve pain in stressful situations

B ． warn friends of surrounding dangers

C ． call contacts for help in emergencies

D ． keep track of serious health problems

2 ． Kathy Roma got the idea of Nimb from________.

A ． her experience of being attacked

B ． her desire to have a voice in technology

C ． her dream of founding her own company

D ． her drive to survive from a serious disease

3 ． How do you use Nimb when you are in trouble?

A ． By editing an emergency message.

B ． By pressing a button for three seconds.

C ． By tracking the location of preset contacts.

D ． By sending alerts to the smartphones nearby.

It was a reading class. While all her classmates were flying through the 2nd and 3rd books in the Harry Potter series, Skye Malik, only on page four of the first book, got impossibly stuck on the word “doughnut”.

Her unexpected difficulty with reading is called dyslexia. Skye got a professional diagnosis at the end of the 2nd grade. Knowing that other kids were going through the same thing made it easier on her somehow. What wasn’t easy, even after all the help she got from special tutors and reading programs, was fluent reading. What many people do without thinking—reading—she had to struggle with word by word, sometimes letter by letter. In class, she would hear the other kids flip through the pages on assignments and go on to the questions while she was still doing battle with the first paragraph.

She was as frustrated as she was discouraged. But she didn’t know of any other way until her 4th grade teacher, Miss Pollock, told her about something called Learning Ally.

Learning Ally is a non-profit organization that offers audio versions of books. A crew of volunteer readers has recorded 75,000 classic novels, children’s books, and school textbooks that help more than 300,000 students and adults with learning differences or who are blind. Now Skye could listen to the books with her ears and follow the words with her eyes on the page. Instead of having her mother read her textbooks to her, she could independently do her work. “With Learning Ally, I feel confident and capable and can easily keep up with my classmates,” Skye explains, “and I want other kids to feel empowered, just the way I did.”

So Skye, now aged 16, created The Paco Project which was named after her grandfather whose nickname was “Paco”. The Paco Project is a fundraiser and educational initiative focusing on giving students with dyslexia access to the same Learning Ally technology that changed her life.

Skye has realized that she is one of the lucky kids who have been diagnosed. She knows that educating teachers about dyslexia and giving students with the learning challenge the tools they need is a great first step in meeting dyslexia head on, and helping them be confident, capable students.

“Right now they feel stuck — ashamed, unsure and insecure about their school work. If I could help stop these students feeling this way, that would mean the world to me.”

1 ． According to the passage, Skye ________.

A ． found a way out with the help of Miss Pollock

B ． felt annoyed at being teased by her classmates

C ． preferred reading the first book of Harry Potter

D ． was diagnosed with dyslexia in her fourth grade

2 ． The Paco Project was created ________.

A ． to promote Learning Ally technology

B ． to empower those with reading difficulty

C ． with inspiration from Skye5s grandfather

D ． in response to the growing demands of teachers

3 ． The passage is mainly about ________.

A ． what people with dyslexia are suffering

B ． what measures are needed to beat dyslexia

C ． how Learning Ally influenced people with dyslexia

D ． how Skye battled against dyslexia and helped others

The philosopher, Martin Buber, is most known for his work on “I-Thou/You” relationships in which people are open, direct, mutually interested in each other. In contrast, “I-It” relationships are those in which we use the other, like an object, to solve our problems and fulfill our needs and purposes.

It is not our fault that many of our relationships are or become “It” relationships because most of what we feel, think and do is motivated by unconscious memories of how to survive the environment into which we were born. Thus, one of the reasons we use other people to help us feel better about ourselves and cope in the world is that using people was once necessary and it worked. When we were small and helpless, “It” came and fed us, and held us, and set us on our way. We didn’t have to reciprocate and care for “It”. Even when the care and attention of “It” was minimal or unpredictable, if we got out of childhood alive, somewhere along the way “It” was involved.

Freud called this stage of early life “primary narcissism”, which is our instinct ( 本能 ) for self-preservation and is a normal part of our development. While most of us grow out of it ， we still hold a survival fear, which motivates us to escape danger and to stay alive, and we all need this fear in healthy measure.

The problem is that too many of us, too much of the time, are in a constant state of threat—and we often don’t know it. We imagine people are talking about us behind our backs, that we have cancer, that we are inadequate, and vulnerable to more than our share of bad luck. As our brains have grown in size and complexity, so has our ability to scare ourselves.

This causes many problems. For example, our stress levels increase, our digestion is impaired and our thinking becomes restricted. Our threat response stops any bodily function, feeling, thought and behavior that might “waste” energy and detract from fighting or escaping danger. Thus, when in threat, our emotional, cognitive and behavioral range is significantly reduced.

And in this reduced state, one of our solutions is to find someone who can save and comfort us. Instead of enabling us to be open, direct and mutual, fear and anxiety lead us towards conversations and choices in our relations with others that are orientated towards surviving—not thriving ( 茁壮成长 ). Threat-motivated relationships are characterized by need, dependency, control, demand, dishonesty, and self-interest.

We cannot form the “I-Thou” relationships that Buber speaks of until we have learned to notice, comfort, and understand the emotions and patterns of our threat brain. When in threat, we tend to use other people as objects who can save and protect us, or who we can blame for our problems.

1 ． What does the underlined word “reciprocate” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A ． Return the favour. B ． Ask for some advice.

C ． Convey an apology. D ． Make some comments.

2 ． What can we learn about “primary narcissism”?

A ． It leads to our survival fear. B ． It is normal and usually temporary.

C ． It impacts our growth negatively. D ． It lays the foundation for Freud’s theory.

3 ． Which of the following could be an example of “I-It” relationships?

A ． Comforting an upset friend. B ． Feeling sorry for your mistakes.

C ． Trying hard to be independent. D ． Asking others to take on your task.

4 ． What would be the best title for this passage?

A ． How We Can Form the “I-Thou” Relationships

B ． How We Can Get Out of the “I-It” Relationships

C ． Why We Treat Others as Objects Rather Than Individuals

D ． What Helps Us Survive and Thrive in Early Stages of Life

Move Over, Selfish Gene

Evolution traditionally has a problem with nice people. If only the fittest individuals survive, then those who are nice to others at their own expense will surely be weeded out. Yet cooperation is widespread in nature, from plants alerting each other to danger to dolphins cooperating to round up fish.

A decades-old idea called kin selection can explain some of this: if organisms ( 生物 ) have enough DNA in common, then they can further their own selfish genes by helping one another. Bees and ants have a system of reproduction which leaves colony members so closely related that they act almost as a single super-organism. And among any sexually reproducing species, parental care helps individuals pass on their genes.

But kin selection cannot explain why humans are so nice to strangers. One idea is that we have evolved to be super-cooperative because, over time, more cooperative groups have outcompeted less cooperative ones. But there generally isn’t enough genetic variation between groups to allow natural selection to favor more cooperative ones.

Some researchers think the solution lies in an idea called cultural group selection. Forget shared genes, they argue. Selection can favor cooperative groups if the people within them share enough culture. The idea is controversial because to work it requires that groups remain culturally distinct. As critics point out, people tend to migrate ( 迁移 ) between groups, which should homogenize ( 使同质化 ) ideas and customs. Those who back the concept counter that groups have ways to maintain their distinct culture, including a process called norm ( 准则 ) enforcement. Put simply, if someone migrates into a new cultural group, they are pressured into following the local rules because failing to do so leads to punishment.

Earlier this year, Mathew and Handley at Arizona State University published a study testing the idea. They sampled 759 people from four ethnic groups in Kenya who compete intensively for land, water and livestock. The pair estimated that genetic differences between individuals from different groups was generally less than 15%. Cultural practices and beliefs varied much more, by 10% to 20%. People cooperated most with members of their own group, as cultural group selection predicts, and to a lesser extent with members of other groups whose norms most closely matched their own. That makes sense if culture rather than genetics is what matters. “I think this is one of the most explicit tests of cultural group selection theory so far,” says Mathew.

Not everyone is persuaded. Krasnow at Harvard University sees no theoretical flaw with the idea, but says that some of his research undermines it. He has found that people don’t just enforce the rules within their group, but also punish people from other groups who fail to follow their own group’s norms. Mathew counters that it is reasonable to enforce the norms on outsiders as a step towards incorporating ( 使并入 ) them into your cultural group. “This is often how empires expand,” she says.

1 ． The example of bees and ants is used to ________.

A ． highlight the significant role of reproduction

B ． demonstrate the efficiency of a super-organism

C ． reveal why parents care about their selfish genes

D ． explain the cause of organisms helping one another

2 ． For the idea of cultural group selection to work, a pre-condition is that ________.

A ． cooperative groups have a larger chance of survival

B ． genetic variations in the same cultural group are small

C ． cultural differences are weakened with people migrating

D ． cultural distinctiveness can be preserved with certain methods

3 ． The text is developed mainly through ________.

A ． sorting information into different topics

B ． narrating events in time order

C ． presenting doubts and exploring answers

D ． discussing similarities and differences

4 ． We can learn from the passage that ________.

A ． culture plays a more significant role in choosing cooperators

B ． being selfish is of vital importance for an individual to survive

C ． Mathew’s study result contradicts what cultural group selection predicts

D ． people joining a new group will be punished for not keeping their own culture

Immersive Van Gogh

From the creators of the blockbuster show in Paris seen by over two million visitors and still wowing crowds in Toronto, the west coast premiere ( 首场 ) of the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit will bring the art of Vincent to life in Los Angeles.

Immersive art is not just a technical way to represent video and audio in huge spaces. The word immersive indicates a deep commitment of intentions which connect images and sounds in a way that the audience is able to experience a different way of the art.

True to its name, this exhibition transforms the iconic ( 偶像的 ) paintings of Vincent van Gogh into moving, wall-filling projections. “Immersive Van Gogh” promises half-a-million cubic feet of projections that pull from some of the post-impressionist’s most recognizable pieces, including The Bedroom, Sunflowers and, yes, The Starry Night .

You will experience art like never before—lose yourself in entrancing, moving images that highlight brushstrokes, detail, and color—truly illuminating ( 照亮 ) the mind of the genius.

LOCATION

The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit is located at a secret place situated in the heart of Los Angeles. To be announced before the exhibit opens, existing ticket holders will receive an email with the place name and location once it is made public.

TICKET PRICES

Tickets are available online at www.vangoghla.com.

GIFT SHOP

Stop by our Exhibit Gift Shop to take the magic of Van Gogh home with you! From clothing and jewelry to home décor, children’s books, and so much more, you will find unique and thoughtful souvenirs at the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit. Also be sure to check out at our online store!

Experience the organic landscapes of Van Gogh’s imagination, and journey through his brilliance and madness in a completely new and unforgettable way.

1 ． According to the passage, the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit ________.

A ． presents Van Gogh’s art in a modern way

B ． begins a journey to Van Gogh’s hometown

C ． displays Van Gogh’s paintings on moving walls

D ． designs projects on Van Gogh’s learning experience

2 ． From where can people find information about the exact location of the exhibit?

A ． An email. B ． A website.

C ． The ticket office. D ． The gift shop.

3 ． How much should a couple with a 5-year-old child who would like to own a Van Gogh cushion at least pay for the visit?

A ． $109.98. B ． $154.98.

C ． $159.98. D ． $199.98.

Ida Nelson and her sister were relaxing and enjoying themselves in the sauna ( 桑拿室 ) when she heard a series of long low sounds from a small airplane circling the nearby airport.

It was 11:30 at night in the Alaskan village of Igiugig, population 70, and, as she told the reporter, “Any time a plane flies over that late, you know something is wrong.”

Nelson and her sister leaped out of the sauna, ran to the window, and saw the problem: The airport’s runway lights were out.

Nelson threw on some clothes, jumped into her ATV, and floored it to the airport, where she found a local pilot trying to turn on the lights manually.

“Normally, if you push the button 10 or 15 times, the lights will just light up,” Nelson told KTOO out of Juneau. Not this time. Meanwhile, she and the pilot learned of the plane’s urgent mission: It was a medevac ( 医疗救护直升机 ), there to transport a seriously ill local girl to the nearest hospital, 280 miles away in Anchorage.

Nelson had a plan. Driving her ATV to the end of the runway, she shone her headlights for the plane to follow. Great idea, but it wasn’t enough. More light was needed, so a neighbor called nearly every home in the village—32 of them.

Within 20 minutes, 20 vehicles arrived at the airport, many of the drivers still in pajamas ( 睡衣 ). Following directions from the medevac pilot, the cars lined up on one side of the runway.

The medevac made its final approach and, guided by the headlights, landed safely. The young patient was loaded onto the aircraft, and the plane immediately took off again. Her illness was never publicly revealed, but she has since been released from the hospital.

In a world filled with uncertainty, the little community’s positive activism was a big deal. Not so much for Nelson. As she told the reporter, in Igiugig, coming together “is kind of a normal deal.”

1 ． What problem did the medevac have?

A ． It arrived late. B ． Its lights were broken.

C ． It couldn’t land safely. D ． It needed a local pilot.

2 ． What was Nelson’s plan to help?

A ． Helping the pilot to repair the lights.

B ． Calling her neighbors to help together.

C ． Shining the headlights for the plane to follow.

D ． Sending the seriously ill girl to the hospital in her ATV.

3 ． What does the story intend to tell us?

A ． Knowledge starts with practice.

B ． A friend in need is a friend indeed.

C ． Nothing is impossible to the man who will try.

D ． A small act of kindness can make a big difference.

Humans’ overconsumption of resources is a leading contributor to global climate change, says University of Arizona researcher Sabrina Helm. Therefore, it’s increasingly important to understand the choices consumers make and how those decisions affect the health of a planet with limited resources. In a new study, published in the journal Young Consumers , Helm and her colleagues explore how materialistic values influence pro-environmental behaviors in millennials, who are now the nation’s most influential group of consumers.

The researchers focused on two main categories of pro-environmental behaviors: reduced consumption, which includes actions like repairing instead of replacing older items; and “green buying,” or purchasing products designed to limit environmental impacts. The researchers also looked at how engaging in pro-environmental behaviors affects consumer well-being.

More materialistic participants, the researchers found, were unlikely to engage in reduced consumption. However, materialism did not seem to have an effect on their likelihood of practicing “green buying.” That’s probably because “green buying,” unlike reduced consumption, still offers a way for materialists to fulfill their desire to get new items, Helm said.

Study participants who reported having fewer materialistic values were much more likely to engage in reduced consumption. Consuming less was, in turn, linked to higher personal well-being and lower psychological suffering. Green buying—which may have some positive environmental effects, although to a smaller degree than reduced consumption—was not found to improve consumer well-being, Helm said.

The take-home message for consumers: “The key is to reduce consumption and not just buy green stuff. Having less and buying less can actually make us more satisfied and happier,” Helm said. “If you have a lot of stuff, you have a lot on your mind,” she said. “For example, it requires maintenance and there’s a lot of burdens of ownership, and if you relieve yourself of that burden of ownership, most people report feeling a lot better and freer.”

Helm and her colleagues additionally looked at how materialism affects millennial consumers’ proactive financial behaviors, such as budgeting and saving. Examining financial behaviors alongside pro-environmental behaviors provides a picture of how young adults proactively deal with resource limitations in two contexts: environmental and financial, Helm said.

As expected, Helm and her colleagues found that those who reported having more materialistic values engaged in fewer proactive financial behaviors than their less materialistic counterparts ( 对应的人 ). The researchers also found that, consistent with previous studies, proactive financial behaviors were associated with better personal well-being, life satisfaction and financial satisfaction, as well as lower psychological suffering.

Understanding how materialistic values impact consumer behaviors, and how those behaviors in turn affect personal and environmental well-being, is important, Helm said. However, she acknowledges that for many consumers, shifting behaviors to be more financially proactive and consume less will be challenging.

1 ． What do we know about pro-environmental behaviors?

A ． They are a cause of climate change.

B ． They lead to a more satisfying life.

C ． They vary in different age groups.

D ． They are affected by materialism.

2 ． It can be learned from Helm’s study that ________.

A ． ownership of green products brings a sense of happiness

B ． materialists prefer practicing green buying to buying less

C ． green buying helps control people’s desire to buy new items

D ． buying less and green buying have similar effects on people

3 ． According to the study, which of the following can improve one’s well-being?

A ． Replacing older items. B ． Developing new resources.

C ． Buying greener products. D ． Being careful with expenses.

4 ． What is Helm probably going to explain in the next paragraph?

A ． When people develop proactive financial behaviors.

B ． Which financial behaviors lead to mental well-being.

C ． Why it is hard to change people’s financial behaviors.

D ． How materialistic values influence financial behaviors.

Plants, and the insects which rely on them, are the living foundations of our planet. But these foundations are under stress because we have a tendency to replace fields and forests with decorative trees and shrubs imported from around the world. Adding to the problem, our obsession ( 痴迷 ) with perfection leads us to use a lot of pesticides ( 杀虫剂 ).

These actions are part of the reason global biodiversity is crashing. There are over three billion fewer wild birds in North America than there were in 1970. Recent research shows that insect numbers, even in nature reserves, have fallen, and 40 percent of all insect species may be extinct within a few decades. This is discouraging news; however, there are actions we can take to help bring at least some species back.

The first step is to redefine our concept of “garden” to include more than just plants. We need to intentionally share our space, and not just with the birds, bees and butterflies that visit our flowers, but also with the little insects that may eat a part (very rarely all) of our plants. Therefore, we must limit pesticide use. It’s crucial to support nature’s recovery, and it’s much better for everyone: no doctor has ever recommended long-term exposure to pesticides.

Many drought-tolerant plants brought in from across the planet are being passed off as ecofriendly. However, mostly they’re not. Yes, you’re saving water, but these foreign plants can become disasters when they escape our yards. Helping the environment can be about more than saving water. Even in drier areas, like the American West, the selection of attractive native plants to choose from is vast. If dry is your style, there are native wildflowers, flowering bushes and trees that allow you to save water and nature.

Xeriscapes ( 节水型园艺 ) leave many gardeners thirsting for green, and there’s an important alternative that has been largely ignored. For those disenchanted with dry landscaping, using underappreciated and water-loving native plants to make your garden a real-life oasis ( 绿洲 ) could be lifesaving to wildlife. In nature, this unsung group of native plants is limited to riparian zones, the narrow belts of green along water bodies, but if consumers demand them, nurseries will increasingly carry these riparian species, and the presence of such plants in the garden will provide for many animals including not just butterflies and their relatives but also colorful birds.

The ideal garden would offer a combination of drought-tolerant native plants and a few species that need a little more water, providing options for little guests and the bigger ones that will come to eat them. As more creatures stop by to share our yards, we will be making nature, and us all, a little healthier.

1 ． What do we know about insect species?

A ． They have an impact on the diversity of plants.

B ． They disappear because of lack of nature reserves.

C ． They decrease partly due to our pursuit for perfection.

D ． They are the reason why we replace fields and forests.

2 ． The underlined phrase “disenchanted with” in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to ________.

A ． sick of B ． addicted to

C ． concerned about D ． impatient with

3 ． The passage mainly talks about ________.

A ． why we need grow native plants in gardens

B ． how gardening helps with biodiversity

C ． whether we should redefine “garden”

D ． what benefits gardening brings

4 ． Which of the following shows the development of ideas in the passage?

CP: Central Point        P: Point        Sp: Sub-point        C: Conclusion

A ． B ．

C ． D ．

As part of our mission to inspire the next generation of scientists, inventors and engineers, the Science Museum Group (SMG) has launched an exciting new online game—Total Darkness.

Over the last year we have been developing Total Darkness with the aim of creating an experience that can have a positive impact on people’s attitudes towards STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), as well as having a focus on self-reflection, rather than asking players to recall specific facts or concepts.

Total Darkness is a digital storytelling experience which encourages young people to recognise how the skills they use every day relate to STEM and can help them develop their confidence in science thinking. The game invites the player to solve a mysterious power cut in their hometown. The game puts players in control, allowing their choices and decisions to guide them through the story.

As the player navigates through the darkened streets of the town, equipped only with a torch, they will face various challenges. Using their curiosity, communication skills and creative problem solving, they will discover new theories about what might have caused the blackout( 停电；断电 ). But with every step their torch fades, and the player must solve the mystery before the battery runs out.

The player’s choices and actions throughout the game will score them curiosity, creativity or communication points. At the end, the skills the player has used will be revealed along with their science style, showing how they could put their skills into action in the real world.

Total Darkness is aimed at 8-15 year-olds—an important stage in teens’ science development. Research shows that as teens make the step between primary and secondary, many move away from an interest in science as other influences have a stronger pull in their lives.

Total Darkness is a free online game playable on smartphone, tablet and desktop. Play now at totaldarkness.sciencemuseum.org.uk .

1 ． Total Darkness aims to help players ________ .

A ． recall scientific concepts

B ． better understand STEM

C ． improve storytelling abilities

D ． develop communication skills

2 ． What’s the key to getting points in Total Darkness?

A ． Judgement. B ． Teamwork.

C ． Equipment. D ． Gaming skills.

3 ． What is the main purpose of the passage?

A ． To promote a new product.

B ． To introduce the SMG’s mission.

C ． To explain the rules of an online game.

D ． To emphasize the importance of STEM.

Nick Torrance, a junior in high school, suffers from muscular dystrophy, and attends school in a specialized wheelchair. The muscle disease prevents him from accomplishing many everyday tasks, such as carrying his books and putting things away in his locker. So he had a fellow student assigned to help him. But Amy Smith, the school’s occupational therapist, thought that being able to do something simple like opening his locker on his own would be empowering.

Amy initially thought they would be able to buy a device to help. But searching online turned up nothing that could meet their needs—everything needed a keycode or some other physical action, things her disabled student couldn’t do. After the outside search for a method came up short, she looked within the school itself for an answer. Amy turned to the school’s robotics instructor.

The instructor, in turn, suggested that two of his most capable students take on the project: Micah Stuhldreher and Wyatt Smrcka. They took first place in a national robotics competition, so they were a natural choice to tackle the locker door problem with a robotics solution. Micah and Wyatt wasted no time getting down to work and for an hour each school day, the boys brainstormed, built, and rebuilt various versions of the device until they landed on the perfect solution one year later.

Like in any device development, it took a lot of trial and error for Micah and Wyatt to make something that would work for their target audience. For example, they initially built a locker-opening button, but Nick wasn’t strong enough to push it, so they replaced it with a sensor.

Now, between classes Nick steers his electric wheelchair to his locker and waves his hand over a sensor on the arm of the wheelchair. A few seconds later, the locker door swings open. Another wave closes the door. Nick can make it with ease—it may be a small thing, but it gives him a sense of independence.

1 ． Why did Amy Smith want a device?

A ． To increase her student’s confidence. B ． To encourage cooperation at school.

C ． To inspire a robotics invention. D ． To help treat a muscle disease.

2 ． With a sensor in his wheelchair, Nick can ________.

A ． move around easily B ． put his things away

C ． continue his schooling D ． open and close his locker

3 ． According to the passage, which words can best describe Micah and Wyatt?

A ． Caring and passionate. B ． Talented and ambitious.

C ． Sensitive and insightful. D ． Humble and warmhearted.

Have you ever agreed to do something only to find out later that you don’t have time? Are you constantly stressed from rushing from one assignment to another? If so, you may have a problem with overcommitment. Overcommitment happens when you decide to do more things than you realistically have time to do. 1 ． Your quality of life also suffers because overcommitment leaves you less time to take care of yourself. It’s preferable to do one or two things well than to do 10 things poorly - or worse, to back out once you’ve agreed to something.

Time management coach Elizabeth Saunders suggests creating a budget for your time like you do with money. The total amount of time you have each day equals 24 hours minus （减去） the time you need for basic wellness activities. 2 ． Saunders suggests adding up your time commitments to other people and the time needed to meet your personal goals. If that total is greater than the amount of time you have each day, you have a problem.

3 ． Schedule times for everything you need to do – including taking care of yourself. But you don’t have to fill every blank space.

It’s also worth looking at your current commitments. Do your commitments actually match your priorities? 4 ．

Learning how to say no politely but firmly also helps with overcommitment. It helps to have a good sense of what your priorities are so that you can say yes or no when appropriate.

I have a rule that I never immediately agree to any long-term time commitments. 5 ． That’s because my first instinct （本能反应） is usually to say yes, even if I don’t really have time. Having time to think about a potential assignment gives me space to say no if I need to.

A ． Are you satisfied with your job?

B ． I always ask for some time to think.

C ． It is worth considering your interest.

D ． When this happens, the quality of your work suffers.

E.These include things like sleeping, eating and showering.

F.Could you give up some of them or pass them off to other people?

G.One tool that may be helpful in avoiding overcommitment is a calendar.

Craftsmanship requires a great deal of time, patience and effort. 1 ． Traditionally craftsmen develop their skills through apprenticeship to those masters of the craft who came before them.Although we don't often work that way in this day and age. There are few things that we can do to emulate the process.

Practice everyday design something new, walk through a tutorial work  on a personal project. Whatever it takes to getting you working with the tools of your trade each day, the more you do something, the better (and faster) you become at doing it. 2 ．

Learn to accept criticism and react appropriately. People have a hard time taking criticism of their work. You put so much effort into a piece. it can be difficult to hear that what you have done is not good enough. 3 ． criticism isn't personal, you and your critics have the same goal, a quality product.

4 ． .As I mentioned earlier, this is where all of the difference is made. A true artisan is careful about the details. Take the time to add polish and style to the small things. That can easily go overlooked. Attentiveness to these details raises the quality of our work.

Design for the future. Items that exhibit the quality of craftsmanship are timeless, They are built well,and built to last. 5 ． There are always new features in the software we use .People develop new tools that give us more possibilities. But despite the ever-changing face of this industry, it is possible to do work that has longevity.

A ． Pay attention to the details.

B ． Participate in quality discussion.

C ． Trends and costumes change rapidly.

D ． Building quality reputations is the key to building craftsmanship.

E.However, nothing will help you improve so much as a critic.

F.Practice is the most important part of developing the quality of craftsmanship.

G.So becoming a real artisan requires your continuous development of your craft.

The Changing Landscape of the Music Business

The music industry is in the process of a great change. In the past decades, artists made money through physical sales of records, CDs, and cassettes. While in recent years, downloading songs from services such as Amazon or iTunes has become the most common way for people to purchase music, and the whole idea of buying music to own may be falling. To take its place are Internet apps that stream music directly to listeners on their smartphones, tablets, or computers. 1 ． While this is great for fans, who now have access to millions of songs at the flick of a touchscreen, it has shattered the traditional model of how an artist manages his or her career.

With music lovers increasingly moving away from making one-time purchases towards an all-you-can-listen-to service, what is a hard-working artist to do? The main problem facing many musicians is that payments-per-stream of a song are much lower than what an artist would receive from a download. 2 ． In November of 2014, award-winning musician Taylor Swift pulled her entire music catalog from Spotify, a popular streaming app, claiming that their business model suggests that music does not hold much worth.

3 ． They claim that it offers smaller artists a chance for their music to get heard by a wider audience. Brian Message, manager of the band Radiohead, has come out in support of streaming services. He sees them as a way for musicians and fans to interact.

Regardless of what artists may think about this change in the music industry, there’s no arguing that they need to adapt in order to make money. 4 ．

Corporate sponsorship can be a risky option for musicians. A band can make much money by agreeing to promote a product or license its music for use in advertisements, but there are many ways that this can backfire. When bands work with businesses, they may lose the image they have worked to create. 5 ． Artists must develop an image that appeals to their fans in order to remain unique and authentic, or they risk striking .the wrong chord, which could leave them struggling to sustain careers in this new business landscape.

A ． Others have welcomed the idea of streaming music.

B ． However, those forms of media are quickly fading away.

C ． Some big-name artists have called attention to the issue.

D ． The rules could be different for smaller bands just starting out.

E.Maintaining a fine image while working on a career is certainly tricky.

F.One major shift is the growth in partnership between artists and businesses.

G.These apps are available either as free versions or as monthly subscription services.

If you text often, you likely have a “texting style”. Do you often use emojis? Or what about using correct punctuation ( 标点 )? What do all these texting habits say about you? To help you understand yourself, here are some texting styles that can tell you a lot about your personality.

Do you always use emojis when you’re texting? You’re most likely someone who is open to showing your emotions and is truthful. 1 ． To make sure the other person doesn’t get the wrong idea about your messages, you make sure to express the tone of messages with an emoji, which can be often used as effective signals in modern social communication.

If you like to respond in one-word texts like a quick “Good”, then you most likely have a more reserved personality, and aren’t as open with your true thoughts and feelings. Because you are not as open with your emotions in texts, you may not care how lengthy your response is. But be careful. 2 ．

Do you value punctuation and grammar in your writing? This love of grammar goes straight into your texts as well as your emails. This seems like a great thing, doesn’t it? But in texting, people seem to think otherwise. Simply placing a period at the end of sentences in texts can make you come across as untrustworthy to others. 3 ． With this texting style, you are rooted in logic and always pay attention to the little details.

Are your texts lengthy and thoughtful? 4 ． Similar to someone who texts with perfect grammar, you are a thoughtful and detail-oriented person, who enjoys deep conversations and likes things that are controlled and stable.

5 ． Which texting personality are you? Are you a mix of several types? It’s important to note that everyone has different ways of texting in different situations. Everyone texts their colleagues in a different style from their family or their friends. If you ever think someone may have left you an unclear or rude text, it’s better to just ask them in-person what they meant or what they were feeling.

A ． Do you relate to any of these texting personalities?

B ． Do you know that you and your friends may have different styles?

C ． Such texts may also be rated as less sincere than those that do not.

D ． You may be the busy type who doesn’t have a lot of time to respond.

E.You’re the type of person who understands the importance of context.

F.You want others to know how you’re feeling when you’re using a message.

G.If you’re texting someone with a different text personality, they may view your text as negative.

阅读下面短文和问题，在答题卡相应题号后的横线上写下相关信息，完成对该问题的回答。

Why do you pull yourself out of bed every morning to go to work or school? What does it take to make you feel like your contribution in those places is truly worthwhile? Knowing what motivates you can help you find meaning in your work and make efforts to reach your goals.

Psychologists have a wide variety of ways of describing and differentiating motivations because people care about so many different things. Psychologist David McClelland identified three main motivations for people: achievement (the feeling of success), affiliation (close relationships) and power (the ability to influence the world). Authors Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton identified 23 motivations, including creativity, challenge and learning.

Some motivations, such as money, social position and praise, are external; these are the tools bosses typically use to encourage their employees to do better. Other motivations, including fun, personal growth and feeling like one’s work is significant, come from within the person doing the action. These ideals, called internal motivations, tend to be more reliable than external ones because they represent things that can never be taken away.

Since a wide variety of motivations exist, it’s important to understand which ones are persuasive to you. Trying to motivate yourself in a way that doesn’t appeal to you will make it difficult to convince yourself to work. When choosing a career, think about what motivates you and make decisions accordingly. If you are motivated by overcoming challenges, look for a career where you can continually try hard to reach a higher level.

People motivated by external rewards sometimes struggle to meet goals they set for themselves that no one else knows about. They can solve this problem by creating external rewards for their personal goals such as finding a friend to hold them accountable.

When you know what motivates you, you will be able to motivate yourself to do the things necessary to succeed. And if you are a leader, knowing what motivates your team will enable you to help them do the same.

1 ． Why is it important for people to be clear of their motivations?

2 ． How can the motivations be classified according to McClelland?

3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.

Since the external motivations involve money, social position and praise, which are often used as tools by bosses, they are more dependable than the internal ones.

4 ． Please briefly present what motivates you in your life and how it works. (about 40 words)

阅读下面短文，根据题目要求回答问题。

Today, technological advances are rapidly making it possible to automate much of the work currently carried out by humans. This applies to both blue-collar jobs through robotics and the Internet of things,and white-collar work through artificial intelligence ， the wide applicability of these technologies has led to broad concern about the destruction of jobs. Indeed, according to a 2014 Oxford study, 47% of jobs in the US could be replaced. By automated processes in the next two decades.

Of course. As many have noted, while technology has always removed the need for some types of jobs, it also creates new ones. Technology is a set of tools that we use in different ways to increase efficiency. The Industrial Revolution destroyed some jobs but created many more. It also increased the total wealth of society and began to create a middle class who could enjoy health, education and other benefits that previously had been available only to the wealthiest. It can be challenging to predict the kinds of jobs that this new revolution will create and in what quantities, which makes the situation seem worse than it actually is. But nine of the top ten most in-demand jobs of 2012 didn't exist in 2003, suggesting that this latest revolution is creating new employment opportunities.

For many, this picture is overly optimistic. The new jobs require a completely different skills set —you can't turn an assembly plant worker into a data scientist overnight. Others are concerned that we are facing a permanent reduction in the need for human labor. Science fiction has long imagined a future where we no longer have to work and can spend our time on more noble pursuits. Could it be that we are reaching that inflection point in human history, if we are? Neither our social norms nor our economic systems are ready for it. Today, self-worth is inherently tied up with jobs ， professions ， careers and trades.

1 ． How is white-collar work automated by technology?

2 ． What is technology according to the passage?

3 ． Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.

It is obviously optimistic to predict the types and quantities of jobs that this new revolution will create. .

4 ． Please briefly present the benefits that technological advances bring to you.  (about 40 words)

阅读下面短文，根据题目要求回答问题。

The increase in online education has allowed a new type of teacher to emerge—an artificial one. But just how accepting students are of an artificial instructor remains to be seen. That’s why researchers at the University of Central Florida’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media are working to examine student perceptions of AI-based teachers. Some of their findings, published recently in the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction , indicate that for students to accept an AI teaching assistant, it needs to be effective and easy to talk to.

According to Jihyun Kim, the lead author of the study, the hope is that by understanding how students relate to Al-teachers, engineers and computer scientists can design them to easily integrate into the education experience.

“To use machine teachers effectively, we need to understand students’ views on machine teachers, their learning experiences with them and more,” Kim says. “This line of research is needed to design effective machine teachers that can actually facilitate positive learning experiences.”

AI teaching assistants can help ease a teacher's workload, such as by responding to commonly asked questions by students. These questions, which often appear each semester and become numerous in online classes with hundreds of students, can become a large task for a teacher. The quick delivery of answers also helps students.

An example of an AI teaching assistant is one named Jill Watson that was created by a researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Jill was fed the thousands of questions and answers commonly asked in the researcher’s online class that he’d taught over the years. With some additional learning and adjustments, Jill was eventually able to answer the students’ commonly asked questions accurately without any human assistance as if she was one of the researcher’s human teaching assistants.

“I hope our research findings help us find an effective way to incorporate AI agents into education,” Kim says. “By adopting an AI agent as an assistant for a simple and repetitive task, teachers would be able to have more things scheduled such as meeting with students and developing teaching strategies.”

1 ． What kind of AI teaching assistants can students easily accept?

2 ． What do researchers need to do to design effective AI teaching assistants?

3 ． Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.

With the help of Al-based teaching assistants, human teachers can not only be relieved from heavy work but also have more time to answer commonly asked questions by students.

4 ． Explain how AI technology can be used in a different field in our life. ( about 40 words )

阅读下面短文，根据题目要求回答问题。

Is it better for our bodies to work out at certain times of the day? Scientists have known for some time that every tissue in our bodies contains a kind of biological clock that goes off in response to messages related to our daily exposure to light, food and sleep.

However, whether and how exercise timing might influence metabolic ( 新陈代谢的 ) health has been less clear, and the results of past experiments have not always agreed. A much-discussed 2019 study found that men with Type 2 diabetes ( 糖尿病 ) who completed a few minutes of high-intensity interval ( 间隔 ) sessions in the afternoon improved their blood-sugar control after two weeks. Patrick Schrauwen, a professor of nutrition and movement sciences read that 2019 study with interest. He had been studying exercise in people with Type 2 diabetes, but had not considered the possible role of timing. Now, seeing the varying impacts of the intense workouts, he wondered if the timing of workouts might similarly affect how the workouts changed people’s metabolisms.

Incidentally, he and his colleagues had a ready-made source of data in their own prior experiment. Several years earlier, they had asked adult men at high risk for Type 2 diabetes to ride stationary bicycles at the lab three times a week for 12 weeks, while the researchers tracked their metabolic health. They also had noted when the riders showed up for their workouts. The researchers pulled data for the 12 men who consistently had worked out between 8 and 10 a.m. and compared them with another 20 who always exercised between 3 and 6 p.m. They found that the benefits of afternoon workouts far outweighed those of morning exercise.

He says, “This study does suggest that afternoon exercise may be more beneficial for people with disturbed metabolisms than the same exercise done earlier. The particular and most effective exercise for each of us will line up with our daily routines and exercise tendencies because exercise is good for us at any time of day—but only if we choose to keep doing it.”

1 ． What inspired Professor Schrauwen to carry out the research related to the timing of workouts?

2 ． What did Schrauwen’s new study figure out?

3 ． Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.

Professor Schrauwen and his colleagues carried out the research by using the newly-collected data and making comparisons between two different subject groups.

4 ． When do you think is the best time for you to exercise? Why? (about 40 words)

假设你是红星中学高三学生李华，你校将于下个月开展 “ 探索太空 ” 主题活动周。你校交换生 Jim 对太空科学非常感兴趣，请你给 Jim 写一封邮件，邀请他参加。内容包括：

1. 主题活动周的目的；

2. 主题活动周的内容。

注意： 1. 词数 100 左右；

2. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。

Dear Jim,

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

假定你是李华，你的英国笔友 Jim 发来邮件表示对中国农历牛年感兴趣，请你回封邮件给他，内容包括：

1. 简要说说 “ 牛年 ”

2. 简要阐述 “ 牛精神 ”

参考词汇：牛 ox

注意： 1. 词数 100 左右；

2. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。

Dear Jim,

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

假设你是红星中学高三学生李华。你的英国笔友 Jim 在给你的邮件中提到他最近过度使用手机，日常生活受到影响，他为此感到苦恼。请你给他回复邮件，内容包括：

1. 表示理解；

2. 你的建议及理由。

注意： 1. 词数 100 左右；

2. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。

Dear Jim,

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

假设你是红星中学高三学生李华。你校英国留学生 Jim 暂时留在英国不能回校，但是他邮寄来的摄影作品 “ 桃花 （ peach blossom ） ” 在你校 “ 春天（ Spring ） ” 摄影展获得一等奖，请你给他写一封邮件，内容包括：

1. 祝贺获奖；

2. 介绍展出情况。

注意 : 1. 词数 100 左右；

2. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。

Dear Jim,

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua