Reading Comprehension 阅读理解

閱读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

（一）

A

The Lake District Attractions Guide

Lowther Castle & Gardens

Unique （独特的） historic restoration project; 130 acres of wild gardens dating from the 17th century to explore， and a beautiful architectural castle ruin， period summer houses， panoramic lakeland views and wild play areas. Restored stable courtyard cafe， gift shop and gallery.

Open： Daily from 10：00 to 17：00 （16：00 in winter）.

Lakeland Climbing Center

We are one of the UK’s largest indoor aerial （空中的） adventure centers offering climbing and aerial activities for all the family （5 years+）. Our award-winning center contains Kendal Wall （the tallest wall in the country）， awesome bouldering rooms， Crazy Climb and Skyline Indoor Aerial Adventure. Free car parking. Pre-booking recommended.

Open： Monday to Friday 10：00—22：00， Saturday 10：00—19：00， Sunday 10：00—17：00.

Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry

This atmospheric museum takes you back through time to explore the story of the Lake District and its inhabitants. Discover the unique traditions of the region through recreated period rooms and lost trades of workshops to see how rural people lived， worked and played.

Open： Monday to Saturday and summer Sundays. 10：30—17：00 in summer， 10：30—16：00 in winter.

1. When is the Lowther Castle & Gardens open in winter？

A. 10：30—16：00. B. 10：00—16：00. C. 10：30—17：00. D. 10：00—17：00.

2. What can visitors do at Lakeland Climbing Center？

A. Buy some gifts in a gift shop. B. Go on an indoor aerial adventure.

C. Climb the tallest wall in the world. D. Explore the story of the inhabitants.

3. Where should visitors go to discover the unique traditions of the Lake District？

A. Lakeland Climbing Center. B. Lowther Castle & Gardens.

C. Skyline Indoor Aerial Adventure. D. Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry.

B

On his first day as an airport official tasked with COVID-19 prevention and control， Wu Ge was assigned （分派） to prepare a waiting area at Pudong International Airport specifically for transit passengers.

The task would have been challenging for most people， but Wu took it and quickly distributed tasks to his colleagues. Together， they cleaned and disinfected the area， set up zones for checking people’s temperatures and filling out forms. It wasn’t until the first passenger stepped into the waiting area that Wu finally took a break from his work.

Born in southwestern China’s Chongqing， the 46-year-old began working at Pudong International Airport in 2007 and is currently an official leading more than 300 staff members of the Shanghai airport authority’s security check and protection department.

As the nation’s busiest airport for overseas travelers， Shanghai Pudong International Airport is currently battling the COVID-19 with closed-loop management. During this critical period， Wu and his colleagues have been assigned to a special task force in charge of separating overseas travelers into various categories， sending passengers to quarantine spots and safeguarding passengers during transfers.

“This job requires care， responsibility and hard work. Our teammates have sweat （汗） all over their bodies as they have to wear N95 face masks and protective suits all the time. Each of us walks at least 30，000 steps every day. Sometimes we even hit 60，000 steps，” he says.

Wu’s work as the group leader is nonstop. Breakfast is sometimes the only meal he has in a day. Wu says he tries his best to reduce waiting time for passengers. He has also arranged for hot water and biscuits to be made available for passengers around the clock.

4. What was Wu Ge’s duty at the airport？

A. Reducing waiting time. B. Preparing hot water and biscuits.

C. Preparing a waiting area. D. Helping passengers fill out forms.

5. What word can best describe Wu Ge’s assignment？

A. Demanding. B. Rewarding. C. Encouraging. D. Frightening.

6. Why did Wu Ge and his colleagues have sweat all over their bodies？

A. They worked outdoors in hot days. B. They helped carry passengers’ suitcases.

C. They walked as many steps as possible. D. They wore protective equipment.

7. What can be the best title for the text？

A. Working at the Airport B. Fighting COVID-19 at the Airport

C. Living a Busy Life at the Airport D. Helping Passengers at the Airport

C

Have you ever looked at a fashionable item of clothing and felt confused？ If so， your confusion may have made sense. High fashion brand Balenciaga released a “T-shirt shirt”， which is a shirt sewn on the front of a T-shirt. The unusual design has certainly confused a lot of people.

But the “double shirt” isn’t fighting alone on the frontier of strange fashion. Ever since US shoe manufacturer Crocs released its famous hole-filled foam shoes， so-called “ugly fashion” hasn’t showed any signs of slowing down， the Business of Fashion website noted.

The rise of ugly fashion is a sign that people are bored of looking perfect all the time. Indeed， fashion is all about changes. Something that’s considered uncool one minute can then turn out to be the latest must-have fashion item the next. In the eyes of US fashion writer Megan Collins， ugly doesn’t necessarily mean the design of the item is ugly. After all， ugly is something subjective （主观的）. “Ugly fashion means ‘not the mainstream’—it’s not what everyone’s wearing; it’s not what the general population considers as ‘in’ right now，” she told style news site Fashionista. But throughout the history of fashion， when any new trend appears， most people tend to hate it， before it eventually becomes loved.

Meanwhile， popular social media fashion bloggers also help people to pick up new ugly fashion trends. These bloggers express themselves through their clothes， showing their unique personalities and making statements with their wardrobe （衣物） choices.

“I personally love having a unique expression， because without ugly fashion and diversity （多樣性）， we’d all look the same，” Australian fashion influencer and model Zanita Whittington told Fashionista. “I appreciate anything that’s out of the norm.”

8. How does the author begin the text？

A. By telling a funny story. B. By asking and answering a question.

C. By giving remarks from different people. D. By asking a question and giving an example.

9. The underlined word “in” in Paragraph 3 could be replaced by “ ＿＿＿ ”.

A. ugly B. fashionable C. affordable D. expensive

10. To show their personalities some social media fashion bloggers will ＿＿＿ .

A. dress themselves to look perfect B. express themselves by wearing ugly clothes

C. try some new and exciting clothes D. make statements about others’ clothes choices

11. What can we infer from Zanita Whittington’s words？

A. She is in favor of ugly fashion trends. B. She doesn’t want to look ugly as a model.

C. She hopes to be the same as others. D. She doesn’t care about fashion at all.

D

A team from the University of Tokyo published a new study that says writing on paper is actually the best for your mind. “Paper is more advanced and useful compared to electronic records because paper contains more one-of-a-kind information for stronger memory recall，” said Professor Kuniyoshi L. Sakai， a neuroscientist and author in the study.

Most people like smartphones or tablets because they seem to make everyday tasks easier， but after gathering 180 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 29 for the study， the researchers found that those who wrote on paper to finish note-taking tasks completed these 25 percent faster than people who used smartphones or tablets. What is the reason？ The team said that using paper gave the volunteers more of a chance to write in their special ways， while digital devices （数字设备） are more consistent （始终如一的）.

The researchers divided the volunteers into three groups. Then each volunteer read a conversation that highlighted characters explaining their plans， which mentioned what they wanted to do in two months， their 14 different class times， the deadlines for the characters’ homework， and any other things. After using their paper or a device to take notes about this conversation， the volunteers were given an hour break to keep them from thinking directly about the study. They were then asked a number of questions like “What are the deadlines for the characters’ homework？”

Those who used paper for note-taking took only 11 minutes to jot down their thoughts during the study， while people who used tablets took 14 minutes; smartphone users spent the most time on the task， taking 16 minutes to write down their thoughts. As for the accuracy （准确） of the answers， those writing on paper seemed to stand out. This suggested that writing on paper benefited their memory.

12. Why did the volunteers writing on paper finish the tasks faster？

A. Their tasks were less difficult. B. They took notes without stops.

C. Their writing styles were consistent. D. They could write in their own form.

13. What were the volunteers required to do in the study？

A. Make up some conversations. B. Raise questions for each other.

C. Take notes about a conversation. D. Discuss notes with group members.

14. What is the purpose of asking the volunteers some questions after a break？

A. To test their memory. B. To ensure the accuracy.

C. To keep them energetic. D. To remove their thoughts.

15. What does the underlined phrase “jot down” in the last paragraph probably mean？

A. Leave out. B. Write down. C. Break down. D. Concentrate on.

（二）

A

Openings and Previews

Animals Out of Paper

Yolo！ Productions and the Great Griffon present the play by Rajiv Joseph， in which an origami （折紙术） artist invites a teenage talent and his teacher into her studio. Merri Milwe directs. In previews. Opens Feb. 12. （West Park Presbyterian Church， 165 W. 86th St. 212-868-4444.）

The Audience

Helen Mirren stars in the play by Peter Morgan， about Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ of the UK and her private meetings with twelve Prime Ministers in the course of sixty years. Stephen Daldry directs. Also starring Dylan Baker and Judith Ivey. Previews begin Feb. 14. （Schoenfeld， 236 W. 45th St. 212-239-6200.）

Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote this musical about Alexander Hamilton， in which the birth of America is presented as an immigrant story. Thomas Kail directs. In previews. Opens Feb. 17. （Public， 425 Lafayette St. 212-967-7555.）

On the Twentieth Century

Kristin Chenoweth and Peter Gallagher star in the musical comedy by Betty Comden and Adolph Green， about a Broadway producer who tries to win a movie star’s love during a cross-country train journey. Scott Ellis directs， for Roundabout Theater Company. Previews begin Feb. 12. （American Airlines Theater， 227 W. 42nd St. 212-719-1300.）

1. What is the play by Rajiv Joseph probably about？

A. A type of art. B. A teenager’s studio. C. A great teacher. D. A group of animals.

2. Who is the director of The Audience？

A. Helen Mirren. B. Peter Morgan. C. Dylan Baker. D. Stephen Daldry.

3. What play is about American history？

A. Animals Out of Paper. B. The Audience.

C. Hamilton. D. On the Twentieth Century.

B

Beverly Cleary has sold more than 90 million copies of 41 books. Though the world was a very different place when Cleary was a child， she has always maintained that kids pretty much stay the same—which explains the ongoing popularity of her beloved characters， like Ramona Quimby， Henry Huggins and Ralph S. Mouse.

Cleary was in her early thirties and working part-time in a bookstore when she sat down at a typewriter to see if just maybe she could write a book for kids. She had worked as a librarian before World War Ⅱ， and she wished she’d had books for young readers about children living everyday lives.

“I think children want to read about normal， everyday kids，” Cleary said. “That’s what I wanted to read about when I was growing up.”

Her first book， Henry Huggins， came out in 1950. Henry had a friend named Beezus， and Beezus had a mischievous （調皮的） but lovable little sister named Ramona. Over the next five decades， Cleary took Ramona all the way from nursery school to the fourth grade. Cleary says when she was writing Ramona， she took inspiration from a little girl who lived in the house behind hers as a child.

Her books have hooked generations （代） of children， including a young Jeff Kinney， who grew up to become the author of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series.

“I must have been about 8 or 9 years old when I first read Beverly Cleary，” Kinney recalled. “The book that really interested me was Ramona Quimby， Age 8.”

“Many kids experience bullying （欺凌），” Kinney said. “And Beverly Cleary understood that. Her work is still as closely connected with the subject today as when it first came out.”

Now， generations of children have been fortunate enough to enjoy her stories of Klickitat Street.

4. What can we learn about Beverly Cleary’s works？

A. They are about adults’ ordinary lives. B. They receive criticism from other writers.

C. They interest and delight young readers. D. They are based on Cleary’s childhood experiences.

5. What gave Cleary inspiration for Ramona’s stories？

A. Her childhood neighbor. B. Her work as a librarian.

C. Her fourth-grade daughter. D. Her work experience in a bookstore.

6. What does the underlined word “hooked” in Paragraph 5 mean？

A. Described. B. Praised. C. Surprised. D. Attracted.

7. Which words can best describe Beverly Cleary？

A. Brave and patient. B. Generous and honest.

C. Productive and influential. D. Imaginative and optimistic.

C

The 2020 Nobel Prize in literature has been awarded to former US Poet Laureate （桂冠詩人） Louise Gluck. The prize committee mentioned “her unmistakable poetic voice that with plain beauty makes individual existence universal”. Gluck， 77， joins a list of literary giants and previous Nobelists who include， in this century， Canadian short-story master Alice Munro， Chinese magical-realist Mo Yan， etc.

Gluck’s works include 12 collections of poetry and a couple of volumes of essays on literary writing. “All are characterized by trying hard to achieve clarity （清晰）. Childhood and family life， the close relationship with parents and brothers or sisters is a theme that has remained central to her，” Anders Olsson， the chairman of the Nobel Committee for Literature， said. “She seeks the universal， and in this she takes inspiration from myths and classical themes.”

As a professor at Yale and a resident of Cambridge， Gluck also served as US Poet Laureate from 2003 to 2004 and is no stranger to awards. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1993 for her collection of poems titled The Wild Iris， in which “she describes the extraordinary return of life after winter in the poem ‘Snowdrops’，” the Nobel literature committee said. She also won the 2014 National Book Award for poetry for Faithful and Virtuous Night. In 2016， former US President Obama awarded the National Humanities Medal to Gluck in a White House ceremony.

The publicity-shy Gluck did not immediately make any comment about the latest honor for her body of work， which lasts more than half a century. In a recent interview， she acknowledged that prizes can make “existence in the world easier” but did not amount to the immortality （不朽） of a true artist.

8. What do we know about Gluck in Paragraph 1？

A. She has been awarded Poet Laureate many times.

B. She shared her works with other literary figures.

C. She is less well-known than Chinese novelist Mo Yan.

D. She won the Nobel Prize for her special literary style.

9. Gluck’s poems mainly focus on ＿＿＿ .

A. daily life B. quiet countryside C. classical myths D. successful careers

10. What is the purpose of Paragraph 3？

A. To present Gluck’s achievements. B. To introduce Gluck’s contributions to literature.

C. To show Gluck’s interest in writing. D. To stress Gluck’s influence on other poets.

11. How does Gluck feel about the honor she has received？

A. She takes it very seriously. B. She doesn’t value it much.

C. She is satisfied with it. D. She believes it hard to get.

D

Children learn language at a far faster pace than adults. One explanation for this learning advantage comes not from differences between children and adults， but from the differences in the way that people talk to children and adults.

A team of researchers developed a method to experimentally evaluate how parents use what they know about their children’s language when they talk to them. They have found that parents have models of their children’s language knowledge， and use these models to adjust （調整） the language they use when speaking to them.

“We have known for years that parents talk to children differently than to other adults in many ways， for example， simplifying their speech and repeating words，” said Daniel Yurovsky， assistant professor in psychology at Carnegie Mellon University. “This helps young kids learn language.”

Yurovsky adds， “Adults tend to speak to children more slowly. Adults also strengthen their communication with questions to see if children have understood their speech. As the child’s language fluency increases， the sentence structure and complexity used by adults increases.”

Yurovsky and his team wanted to understand exactly how parents adjusted their interactions to match their child’s speech development. The team developed a game where parents helped their children to pick a certain animal from a set of three. Half of the animals in the matching game were animals children typically learn before age two， and the other half were animals that are typically learned later. The researchers asked 41 child-adult pairs to play the game. They measured the differences in how parents talked about animals they thought their children knew as compared to those they thought their children did not know.

The researchers found that the caregiver used various techniques to introduce the unknown animal to the child. The most common approach was to use additional descriptors familiar to the child.

12. Researchers found parents adjust how they talk to their kids based on ＿＿＿ .

A. their own language level B. the importance of the talk

C. the closeness of their relationship D. their kids’ language knowledge

13. Why do adults ask questions when talking to kids according to Yurovsky？

A. To draw their attention to the talk. B. To measure their comprehension.

C. To encourage them to think carefully. D. To increase the difficulty of the speech.

14. What did the researchers study about parents in the game？

A. Their ways to describe animals. B. Their words used to talk to kids.

C. Their comments on kids’ speech. D. Their behaviors to act like animals.

15. What is the text mainly about？

A. What lessons adults can learn from children.

B. How parents understand children’s language.

C. When children should start to learn language.

D. Why children learn language faster than adults.

（三）

A

Cariwest Festival

It is one of Edmonton’s most colorful summer festivals！ It’s three days of fun as Caribbean Canadians share their music， cuisine and carnival culture！ Local performers bring you amazing dance， music and fun. Bring Cariwest atmospheres into your home this year with the amazing online events.

When： August 7—9

Indigenous （本土的） Festival

The annual （每年的） Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival （SSIF） in Edmonton has done a wonderful job to make their annual off-line festival a number of online events this year because of COVID-19. The events take place from June 1—21. SSIF has partnered with BMO to provide Education Days for students to learn together about indigenous history. These classes for which only a small fee will be charged include art workshops， book readings and museum tours.

Bluegrass Festival

Just 45 minutes from the heart of downtown Edmonton is the town of Stony Plain that works hard to keep ties to its agricultural background， and here you’ll see old-styled lamp posts and historical wall paintings with a long history everywhere. It’s also the site of western Canada’s largest bluegrass festival， which has been a main attraction for more than 25 years and in July every year draws in all the big names， including Grammy winners.

Cowboy Festival

You like poetry， music， art and cowboys？ Then you can’t miss it. Heading into its 24th year， Cowboy Festival in Stony Plain in August is a showcase of the cowboy life. The events include good old-fashioned BBQ meals and some other entertainment.

1. What is special about SSIF？

A. It takes place in two cities. B. It focuses on students.

C. It is annually held online. D. It is free of charge.

2. What do we know about Stony Plain？

A. It faces many challenges. B. It often hosts national festivals.

C. It has deep roots in agriculture. D. It has produced many musicians.

3. What festival will attract a poem lover more？

A. Cowboy Festival. B. Indigenous Festival.

C. Bluegrass Festival. D. Cariwest Festival.

B

My love for libraries blossomed when I joined the public library. From the age of 8 I was allowed to walk from my home to the downtown library. Once the librarian gave me my first membership card， I could enjoy a range of books， which started with Little House in the Big Woods. I was addicted instantly， and this love of libraries and reading would change my life， allowing me to one day create a safe space for high-school kids， too.

By the time I was in high school， I could read the authors that we were studying in class， including Charles Dickens， Mark Twain and Emily Bronte. During the summer months， I got caught up in Gone with the Wind.

When I studied English literature at university， I thought it was time to build my own library. For the next 40 years， I continued to collect books. Until one day， I realized that all my books had become a part of the house， like wallpaper.

Toward the end of my teaching career， I became a teacher-librarian at my old high school， where I had first learned English literature. This position enabled me to regain my love and appreciation for libraries. I had a generous budget for my classes， so I searched for novels that would interest my teenage audience and hopefully spark a love of books. Fantasy， science-fiction， graphic novels—I bought almost any type of books that my students wanted to read. I bought sofas and comfortable chairs， turning the library into a safe public space， for everyone.

In doing so， I realized that the library isn’t just a place to do research. They are， in fact， places that offer an opportunity to connect with the past， present and future. All that is required is a tiny bit of curiosity. Libraries are places that should be full of life. They help us adjust to the world， and their doors must be kept open to everyone for free！

4. What inspired the author to set up a library for students？

A. Some well-known classics. B. His early experience of reading.

C. The suggestion of a librarian. D. The book Little House in the Big Woods.

5. When did the author begin to build his own library？

A. In primary school. B. In high school.

C. During university years. D. After leaving college.

6. What does the author intend to tell us in Paragraph 4？

A. What his career was like. B. Where he stored his books.

C. Why school kids loved reading. D. How he improved the school library.

7. What can be the best title for the text？

A. A Private Library B. Read with Curiosity

C. A Librarian’s Life D. More than Just Books

C

Reading makes you a smarter， better leader. But if you’ve been following the latest science， you’ll also know that studies have shown regularly picking up a book might increase your empathy （共鸣） and protect you from feeling lonely， hopeless or suffering from dementia （痴呆） in later life. But obviously， that’s not the end of the list. New research has discovered yet another benefit of being a reader who focuses one’s mind on reading.

After following those surveys based on more than 3，500 adults over age 50 for 12 years， the team from Yale University behind the research found that those who read books for 3.5 hours a week were 23 percent less likely to die. Reading for less than 3.5 hours a week lowered participants’ risk of death by 17 percent. Put another way， picking up an interesting book could earn you about an extra two years.

It’s worth noticing that the researchers were looking exactly at time spent in reading books， rather than newspapers， magazines， or online media， and that this difference is important for the observed advantages of reading. “We found that reading books provided a greater advantage than reading newspapers or magazines，” said Avni Bavishi of the Yale School of Public Health. “This effect is likely because books attract the readers’ mind more—providing more cognitive （認知的） advantages， and therefore increasing the lifespan. In short， deep slow reading rather than reading quickly and carelessly is best.”

So how long should you be reading for， and what sort of titles should you pick up？ While more reading seems to be better， the researchers suggest that anything more than 30 minutes a day will be likely to do good to you. As for what exactly to read， the researchers can’t yet offer much advice beyond making time for actual books， though they pointed out this was a promising way to future research.

8. What is the main purpose of Paragraph 1？

A. To list some painful sufferings. B. To introduce a newly-found benefit of reading.

C. To stress the importance of modern science. D. To explain the reasons for forming good habits.

9. What did the research of Yale University find about reading？

A. It can build one’s confidence. B. It might make one feel safe.

C. It can stop one from being lonely. D. It could help one live longer.

10. Why is it better to read books instead of newspapers or magazines？

A. It helps get more interested in stories. B. It brings back memories of past experiences.

C. It improves abilities to know about things. D. It offers different practical skills of reading.

11. What will the future research focus on？

A. Reading skills. B. Reading materials. C. Reading abilities. D. Reading purposes.

D

King Tut， Egypt’s famous boy king， was buried with many valuable objects. A dagger （匕首） discovered in his tomb has recently attracted extra attention. Researchers have concluded that the dagger was probably made from a special material.

King Tut was only about nine years old when he became ruler of Egypt more than 3，300 years ago. The young king died when he was just 19. His body was buried in a tomb filled with objects that people believed he would need in the afterlife.

In 1922， Howard Carter discovered King Tut’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. Up to now， it was the best preserved ancient Egyptian tomb ever found. In 1925， Carter found the dagger which has a gold handle and an iron blade （刀片）. The blade had confused experts because iron was hardly used at that time in ancient Egypt. In fact， it was so rare that it was considered more valuable than gold. Where did the iron for the blade come from？

Around the time of King Tut， ancient Egyptians started using a new word for iron that translates as “iron from the sky”. This led some experts to believe that the iron for the blade came from a meteorite （隕石）. But studies of the dagger carried out in the 1970s and 1990s didn’t support that idea.

That’s where modern technology comes in. Researchers used a new technique to examine the blade. They discovered that it was made up of iron and other materials found in meteorites. After comparing it with several meteorites， they even found its possible match—a meteorite that landed in northern Egypt thousands of years ago.

Scientists hope the new study will lead to more discoveries about other ancient Egyptian relics. “It would be very interesting to analyze more pre-Iron Age objects and we could gain precious discoveries，” Daniela Comelli， who is a professor， said.

12. What do we know about King Tut’s tomb？

A. It was built when the king was 9. B. It was filled with a lot of iron objects.

C. It was perfectly kept when discovered. D. It was the first tomb where a dagger was found.

13. Why do scientists pay extra attention to the dagger？

A. Its value is greater than gold. B. Its blade is made of iron.

C. It is King Tut’s favorite object. D. It leads to more discoveries.

14. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 5 refer to？

A. The iron. B. The material. C. The meteorite. D. The blade.

15. With modern technology the researchers found that ＿＿＿ .

A. ancient Egyptian objects are excellent

B. iron was widely used in ancient Egypt

C. more valuable objects are hidden in the tombs

D. King Tut’s dagger was likely made from a meteorite

（四）

A

Pacific Science Center Guide

♦ Visit Pacific Science Center’s Store

Don’t forget to stop by Pacific Science Center’s Store while you are here to pick up a wonderful science activity or souvenir to remember your visit. The store is located upstairs in Building 3 right next to the Laser Dome.

♦ Hungry

Our exhibits will feed your mind but what about your body？ Our café offers a complete menu of lunch and snack options， in addition to seasonal specials. The café is located upstairs in Building 1 and is open daily until one hour before Pacific Science Center closes.

♦ Rental Information

Lockers are available to store any belongings during your visit. The lockers are located in Building 1 near the Information Desk and in Building 3. Pushchairs and wheelchairs are available to rent at the Information Desk and Denny Way entrance. ID required.

♦ Support Pacific Science Center

Since 1962， Pacific Science Center has been inspiring a passion （熱情） for discovery and lifelong learning in science， math and technology. Today， Pacific Science Center serves more than 1.3 million people a year and brings inquiry-based science education to classrooms and community events all over Washington State. It’s an amazing accomplishment （成就） and one we cannot achieve without generous support from individuals， corporations， and other social organizations. Visit pacificsciencecenter.org to find various ways you can support Pacific Science Center.

1. Where can you buy a souvenir at Pacific Science Center？

A. In Building 1. B. In Building 3.

C. At the Laser Dome. D. At the Denny Way entrance.

2. What does Pacific Science Center do for schools？

A. Train science teachers. B. Design science books.

C. Inspire scientific research. D. Bring science education to classrooms.

3. What is the purpose of the last part of the text？

A. To encourage donations. B. To advertise coming events.

C. To introduce special exhibits. D. To tell about the Center’s history.

B

Our class had planted a large garden in what was once only a vacant lot. We got blisters （水泡） from digging， and we all got insect bites， too.

I learned a lot about gardening and teamwork and then I learned about the media. Our teacher telephoned the TV station and informed them of what we had accomplished. She spoke with the producer. The producer checked with the directors， but they said there were plenty of stories similar to ours. They wanted to know what was special about our particular garden， since many schools plant them.

The teacher explained that after going on the Internet to learn about the prairie （大草原）， we had made a prairie garden. We had gone to a prairie and gotten seeds from the plants， and then we planted them. We did not water the garden， but we did weed （除草） it. We decided to let nature water it with rain， since that was how prairies grew in the past. We sent a picture of the garden to the news station. In the picture， the grass was so high that it stood taller than the fourth-grade students.

As a result， the producer sent a reporter to our school. He interviewed the headmaster and asked him many questions about the garden. After that， they interviewed us， and we explained to them what we had learned through this project.

That night， we watched the news， and there we were. The news reporter told our story. It was only two minutes long， but it was us. We were famous. All that work， all those blisters， it was worth it. We knew that when we saw the garden every day， but now we knew that the whole city thought so， too.

4. How do the TV directors feel about the garden at first？

A. Excited. B. Surprised. C. Worried. D. Uninterested.

5. What is special about the garden？

A. Weeds were allowed to spread naturally. B. The grass there grew faster than common grass.

C. The seeds were from the plants of a prairie. D. Underground water was used for the plants.

6. What does the underlined word “that” refer to in the last paragraph？

A. The garden would be famous. B. Our hard work was worthwhile.

C. We got blisters on our hands. D. The project would be finished.

7. How did the author feel about the project？

A. Proud. B. Curious. C. Annoyed. D. Regretful.

C

Scientists and environmental groups are worried that fires sweeping across the Amazon will worsen climate change and threaten biodiversity （生物多样性）.

As the largest rainforest in the world， the Amazon is often called “the lungs of the world”. It is also home to about 3 million species of plants and animals， and 1 million local people. The vast lands of rainforest play an important role in the world’s ecosystem because they take in heat instead of it being reflected back into the atmosphere. They also store carbon dioxide and produce oxygen， making sure that less carbon is given off， mitigating the effects of climate change.

“Any forest destroyed is a threat to biodiversity and the people who use that biodiversity，” Thomas Lovejoy， an ecologist at George Mason University told National Geographic. “The shocking threat is that a lot of carbon goes into the atmosphere，” he stressed. “Facing the global climate change， we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon must be protected，” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.

A total of 71，497 forest fires were recorded in Brazil in the first eight months of 2019， up from 39，194 in the same period in 2018. “It’s reported that the forest areas in the Brazilian Amazon have decreased something between 20 and 30 percent compared to the last 12 months，” Carlos Nobre， a researcher at the University of Sao Paulo， told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

Brazil owns about 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest， whose drop could have severe results for global climate and rainfall. The size of the area ruined by fires has yet to be determined， but the emergency has transcended （越過） Brazil’s borders， reaching Peruvian， Paraguayan and Bolivian areas.

8. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about？

A. The effects of climate change. B. The role of the Amazon rainforest.

C. The causes of the decreasing biodiversity. D. The results of the Amazon rainforest fires.

9. What does the underlined word “mitigating” in Paragraph 2 probably mean？

A. Reducing. B. Causing. C. Worsening. D. Benefiting.

10. What can we learn from Thomas’ and Antonio’s words in Paragraph 3？

A. The dry weather leads to the rainforest fires.

B. The biodiversity makes the rainforests special.

C. The global climate change brings more rainforest damage.

D. The damage of the rainforest results in serious consequences.

11. Why does the author list the numbers in Paragraph 4？

A. To stress the importance of rainforest. B. To show the frequency of forest fires.

C. To explain the process of the research. D. To present the reduction of rainforest areas.

D

“Go ahead，” I told Linda. “Pick up the rock， and see what’s under it.”

Her 4-year-old arms struggled with the rock buried in the stream bed. Her eyes got big as she examined the worms after their nest was uncovered. She watched quietly， as they walked past her foot. She gently put the rock back and said， “Are there worms under all the rocks？”

This wasn’t school—it was a nature-based summer camp in New York’s Hudson Valley that I ran when I was 17. When I turned the kids over to their parents at the end of the day， they were tired， inspired by nature and knowledge.

Finland’s “forest kindergartens” use the natural world as a jumping-off point for early academic instruction to make them enjoy learning. Finland is following in the footsteps of other European countries including Denmark， where outdoor education has been common for many years.

In the Finnish program， kids spend four days of a week， from 8：30 am to 6：30 pm， outside with a teacher. Built into the program is quite a bit of playtime. Kids get a lot of exercise and lesson plans are freely made so teachers can use what’s at hand and in season in their lessons.

While all this sounds less strict than a classroom-based kindergarten program， the results show that these types of programs have better results for overall physical health as well as academic performance and social development. But aren’t the kids who do this coming from wealthy， educated communities—so， of course they score better on tests？ In fact， the greatest gains from spending time outdoors can be found in kids who are coming from less advantageous background. At a school near Atlanta， where kids spend 30 percent of their day outside， students have improved scores more than students from any other school in their area， and most of the kids there come from poor families.

12. Why did the author ask Linda to turn over the rock？

A. To help Linda be independent. B. To see if Linda had enough courage.

C. To give Linda a chance to study nature. D. To teach Linda how to protect animals.

13. What is the purpose of Finland’s “forest kindergartens”？

A. To help kids learn about forests. B. To popularize outdoor education.

C. To show the importance of playing. D. To develop kids’ interest in study.

14. What can we learn about “forest kindergartens”？

A. They seem to be tiring. B. They have no fixed lesson plans.

C. They set many strict rules. D. They have no teachers around.

15. What is an advantage of outdoor programs according to the last paragraph？

A. They do good to communities. B. They help change poor kids’ families.

C. Kids joining them score higher on tests. D. Kids become friendlier to others.

（五）

A

A Student Profile

Name： Kristin Lacey

Hometown： Merced， California， USA

School & College： Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at MIT

Major （專业）： English literature

Class year： 2021

Favorite book： Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Favorite class： British literature with Professor Anna Henchman

Favorite place to study on campus （校园）： Athan’s in Washington Square or Cafenation in Brighton Center

Favorite restaurant in Boston： Sweet Cheeks

Extra-curricular （课外的） activities： President of the Graduate Student Association; leading the Graduate Student Fiction Group; volunteering at Gifford Homeless Cat Center in Brighton

Study experience： I studied for four years and earned my undergraduate degree in English in 2015 at California State University， Fresno. I was the first in my family to attend graduate school and college.

When I graduate， I hope to teach literature at a local college and help the other first-generation college students to get higher education. It’s important to give a helping hand to those who need it.

Advice to other first-generation college students：

I know that being a first-generation graduate means always pushing against your background and stepping out of your comfort zone. And it is important to take as many lectures as possible and be open-minded to good advice from your teachers， while knowing the line between helpful and bad recommendations. Be outgoing with your friends and build your support network by asking for help when you need it and giving help in return.

1. When did Kristin Lacey graduate from senior high school？

A. In 2011. B. In 2015. C. In 2019. D. In 2020.

2. Which extra-curricular organization mentioned is helpful to Kristin Lacey’s major？

A. The Gifford Homeless Cat Center. B. The British Literature Club.

C. The Graduate Student Association. D. The Graduate Student Fiction Group.

3. What does Kristin Lacey want to do after graduation？

A. Teach literature at a local college. B. Work at a homeless animal center.

C. Build a support network for those in need. D. Study British literature at a graduate school.

B

I was at the hardware store the other day and overheard （偶然聽到） a woman tell Ed， the manager， that fall was her favorite time of year. Ed， because he likes to keep his customers happy， agreed that fall was a wonderful season， but I could tell he was lying.

I was going through my mind recently， trying to find sweet memories of fall. I failed. I met my wife in the summer and married her two summers later. My sons were born in the winter and summer， my granddaughter in the winter. I’ve been fired twice in my life， both in fall. One October， a truck carrying tofu ran a red light and hit me， destroying my favorite car， combining the three things I most hate—trucks， tofu， and October.

I’m not saying fall is without its attractions. The leaves are beautiful. But fall’s vacillation （摇摆） is troubling， its effort to please everyone， its continuous search for the middle ground， to be all things to all people. Say what you will about summer and winter， at least they have the courage to keep their opinions strong， even if they kill us with extreme heat or cold.

I recently read a story of a man coming out of a three-month coma （昏迷）. It started in early fall and ended just as winter came. I hope if I’m ever in a coma I would be just as lucky as the man.

Upon my awakening， one of my families who stood around my bed would ask， “Don’t you remember anything from the past three months？”

“Not the first thing，” I would happily report. If I ever have enough money， I’m going to buy a second home in Australia， so that when fall starts here， I can move there for three months， just when spring is starting.

4. From Paragraph 1 we can learn the author thinks that Ed ＿＿＿ .

A. agreed with the customer B. didn’t like fall

C. thought the customer was telling a lie D. believed most people like fall

5. What can we infer from Paragraph 2 about the author？

A. He has a big and loving family. B. He worked hard.

C. He once broke the traffic rules. D. He had a hard time that fall.

6. Why does the author say the man was lucky in Paragraph 4？

A. He slept fall away. B. He had sweet memories of fall.

C. He finally came out of the coma. D. He woke up when spring came.

7. What does the author most want to do？

A. Drive trucks. B. Eat tofu dishes.

C. Watch leaves falling in fall. D. Spend fall in Australia.

C

The African elephant， the largest land animal remaining on earth， is of great importance to African ecosystem. Unlike other animals， the African elephant is to a great extent the builder of its environment. As a big plant-eater， it largely shapes the forest-and-savanna surroundings in which it lives， therefore setting the terms of existence for millions of other animals that live in its habitat.

It is the elephant’s great desire for food that makes it a disturber of the environment and an important builder of its habitat. In its continuous search for the 300 pounds of plants it must have every day， it kills small trees and bushes， and pulls branches off big trees. This results in numerous open spaces in both deep tropical forests and in the woodlands that cover part of the African savannas （稀樹草原）. In these open spaces are numerous plants in various stages of growth that attract a variety of other plant-eaters.

Take the rainforests for example. In their natural state， the spreading branches overhead shut out sunlight and prevent the growth of plants on the forest floor. By pulling down trees and eating plants， elephants make open spaces， allowing new plants to grow on the forest floor. In such situations， the forests become suitable for large hoofed plant-eaters to move around and for small plant-eaters to get their food as well.

What worries scientists now is that the African elephant has become an endangered species. If the elephant disappears， scientists say， many other animals will also disappear from vast areas of forest and savanna， greatly changing and worsening the whole ecosystem.

8. What does the underlined phrase “setting the terms” in Paragraph 1 probably mean？

A. Deciding the conditions. B. Improving the quality.

C. Worsening the state. D. Fixing the time.

9. What can we learn about the open spaces from the text？

A. They are home to endangered animals. B. They result in destruction of rainforests.

C. They do good to plant-eating animals. D. They provide food mainly for African elephants.

10. What is TRUE about the African elephant according to the text？

A. It is now the largest animal on earth.

B. It encourages the growth of some plants.

C. It has greater effects on African ecosystem than the other animals.

D. It is the most important builder of the environment except humans.

11. What is the text mainly about？

A. Disappearance of African elephants.

B. The eating habit of African elephants.

C. The effect of African elephants’ search for food.

D. Forests and savannas as habitats for African elephants.

D

A pair of hi-tech， smart glasses has been designed to scan （掃描） crowds of people and find missing children “within seconds”. Jerry Farsoun has promised the “world-first” glasses would not record video or collect private data.

Mr Farsoun， from Greensborough， said a feeling of helplessness he experienced after his two-year-old son disappeared among crowds sparked the idea， which has been developed by a company founded by him called Leelou.

“Instead of the whole process where someone describes the missing person’s features and what they’re wearing， all of that—this technology already has the person’s profile in its system and cuts straight to looking for the person，” Mr Farsoun said. A person’s profile is created through the free app， Leelou， and at the press of an SOS button， audio （音频） and GPS coordinates are instantly sent to a user’s nominated guardians （监护人） and displayed on a dashboard. Guardians wearing the glasses can then scan the crowd until the technology matches the missing profile to the correct person. Whoever finds the missing person is then rewarded （奖励） between 70 to 80 percent of the $165 fee to create the profile on Leelou. “The glasses act like a human eye—they scan crowds， screening for the missing person and providing personal safety during big， public gatherings，” Mr Farsoun said.

He said the invention could help people feel more positive about the usefulness of technology， rather than focus on negatives， such as the possibility of invading （侵犯） users’ privacy. The glasses can be pre-ordered from Leelou’s website. One pair of glasses sells for about $3，000. Mr Farsoun said his team was ready to start delivering the glasses to customers. “This has a great possibility to cut the number of children reported missing each year in Australia.”

12. What got Mr Farsoun involved in this invention？

A. The hopelessness after his son’s missing. B. Reports on missing children.

C. His experience of getting lost. D. Smart equipment that can scan crowds.

13. What does the underlined word “profile” in Paragraph 3 refer to？

A. The audio and GPS of a person. B. A detailed description of a person.

C. Contact information of a person. D. Privacy and secrets of a person.

14. What is one possible concern people have about this technology？

A. The high price. B. The limited usage. C. Invasion of privacy. D. Harmful scanning rays.

15. What can be the best title for the text？

A. Smart Glasses Help Spot Missing Kids B. Hi-tech Glasses Act as Your Safety Guard

C. Finding Missing Kids Can Be Rewarded D. Glasses Have Cut the Number of Lost Kids

（六）

A

Online Events at Natural History Museum in December

Dinosaur Activities for Families

Catch up on our Nature Live Program and find out everything about dinosaurs with Museum scientist Paul Barrett. You can learn to bake tasty biscuits with footprint-shaped holes. You can also follow our simple instructions to draw a cartoon T-Rex and read on to find out how artists bring dinosaurs to life with their pictures.

Dates： All day and every day.

The Science of Whale Earwax

What can a whale’s earwax tell us about its life， health and the quality of the oceans over many decades？ Join Museum researcher Richard Sabin to discover some of the fascinating ways we study whales， and how essential museum collections are in helping us to understand and protect these amazing animals.

Date： December 28 （12：00—12：45）

Darwin’s Fossils

Join Museum scientist Lorna Steel to discover how Darwin’s study of fossils shaped his scientific thinking. You can ask questions while the talk is happening. Head to the video on the Museum’s website and type your question into the chat box during the broadcast.

Date： December 24 （10：30—11：15）

Love Naturally

Attracting a mate can be a tricky business for any species. How can birds do it？ Have a night with Lates Online. Take a drink， turn on your computer， and join researcher Juan Camilo on the Friday of every week. You can explore the wilder side of dating （約会）. And you can rewatch past Lates Online events on the Museum’s website.

Time： From 19：30.

1. What can you learn to do in the Dinosaur Activities for Families？

A. Make a dinosaur cartoon. B. Draw dinosaur footprints.

C. Bake dinosaur footprint cookies. D. Make a dinosaur sculpture.

2. How can you raise your questions about Darwin’s Fossils？

A. By asking face to face. B. By entering them in the chat box.

C. By mailing to the Museum. D. By broadcasting them in the chat room.

3. Who can you join if you want to watch birds dating？

A. Paul Barrett. B. Lorna Steel. C. Juan Camilo. D. Richard Sabin.

B

Dexter went through all the training to become a police dog with England’s Metropolitan Police， but when all was said and done， he just wasn’t cut out for the job. For one thing， the work was stressing him out. He started showing signs of distress （痛苦） during training.

“If a dog isn’t settling or isn’t happy in his role， it’s our duty to take it out，” said Dexter’s handler （训犬员）， Mike Sheather.

The other reason Dexter was rejected from the job was that he is too friendly！

“He’s got a really good nose on him. It’s just that his personality didn’t lend itself to being a drug dog，” Mike explained. “He’s just too good around people. He was taken out because he was too sociable.”

Mike is an experienced dog handler with the police force， and he hated to see such a good animal with so much training go to waste. Science tells us that just petting a dog gives out a feel-good chemical in the brain called oxytocin， and Mike realized that while Dexter might not be a tough police dog， his special skill is lightening the mood and offering comfort. That’s how Dexter became Scotland Yard’s first-ever “Wellness Dog”.

Dexter has visited health care workers， police officers who have experienced trauma （創伤）， and local residents suffering from stress. Wherever he goes， Dexter inspires smiles！ When Dexter enters a room， the mood is instantly lightened. Dexter and Mike have seen so much success that Mike plans to expand the “Wellness Dog” program.

4. What can we learn about Dexter？

A. He was unsuitable to be a police dog. B. He doesn’t have a good nose for drugs.

C. He failed to get through all the training. D. He doesn’t get along well with his handler.

5. What gives Mike the idea of making Dexter a “Wellness Dog”？

A. Mike’s personal life. B. Dexter’s sociable character.

C. Advice given by a kind scientist. D. Problems faced by distressed people.

6. What is Dexter’s special skill？

A. Helping the disabled. B. Searching for the injured.

C. Lightening people’s mood. D. Adapting to tough situations.

7. What is the text mainly about？

A. How police dogs are trained. B. The duties of wellness dogs.

C. The job of a dog handler. D. How Mike put a dog to the proper position.

C

Homelessness is a big problem across the world. Many people and organizations are working to solve it. Mel Young from Scotland and Harald Schmied from Austria are two such people. In 2001， the two men attended an international conference （讨论会） about the problem of homelessness. Later， they began to wonder if football could help solve the problem. In 2003， they decided to start the Homeless World Cup organization. It chooses and trains local homeless people for the yearly football competition. Today， about 500 people from almost 50 countries play in the Homeless World Cup. And the program is changing lives.

Damien is from Ireland. For many years， he struggled with drug addiction. But in 2006， he played for Ireland’s Homeless World Cup team， and since then， he has been drug free！

Many of the Homeless Word Cup players， like Damien， have struggled with drug addiction. However， some players are homeless because of poverty. Alex is one of them. He says， “I was born in Mathare， the biggest， worst slum （貧民窟） in Kenya. I could not find anything to eat. Also schooling was a problem. My life started when I started playing football.” Football gave Alex joy. It taught him to work hard and helped him believe that he could achieve something.

Football can even help people who have experienced extreme tragedy. Najib， a young man from Afghanistan， has lived through much war. Many of his family members have died. But football has helped him survive. “It is only during the games that I do not think about my situation. I’m not interested in anything other than football and it’s the only thing I desire，” Najib explains.

Drugs， poverty and war are common causes of homelessness. Playing in a football competition may not directly treat drug addiction， solve poverty or end war， but it can give people emotional strength and help them learn important life skills.

8. What can we learn about the Homeless World Cup？

A. It is held every year. B. It is the idea of two troubled football lovers.

C. It first took place in 2001. D. It was introduced at an international conference.

9. After playing in the Homeless World Cup， Alex ＿＿＿ .

A. gave up taking drugs B. began to live a colorful life

C. got a good school education D. became confident about the future

10. What does the underlined word “desire” in Paragraph 4 probably mean？

A. Want. B. Know. C. Watch. D. Remember.

11. What can be the best title for the text？

A. Football for Everyone B. Last Hope for the Homeless

C. End Homelessness from Now On D. Beat Homelessness Through Football

D

It is common to see many different kinds of insects while spending time outside in the summer. Some of them do not trouble people and can even add beauty to the natural environment. Other insects can harm the environment or humans. The population of these insects seems to stay large and healthy.

But scientists say this does not appear to be true for some flying insects that serve an important purpose. There is growing evidence that these insects are decreasing across the world.

One researcher looking into the present insect population is Doug Tallamy， a professor at the University of Delaware. He remembers walking through Washington DC in the past when it was “alive with insects， especially butterflies”. Now， he said， “The flying insects are actually gone.” Wilson， a biologist at Harvard University， said this point seemed to be proved during a drive he made from Boston to Vermont. He was surprised that， during his trip， he counted only one insect that had hit the car’s front window. Several other scientists have carried out similar tests by checking how many insects hit their cars while traveling.

While researchers admit this method is not scientific， they say it can still help them understand the changing flying insect populations. There have not been many studies done on the flying insect populations covering large areas. However， some international research suggests a downward turn. In 2006， a group of studies showed that there had been a 14-percent drop in ladybugs （瓢蟲） in the United States and Canada from 1987 to 2006. In Germany， a 2017 study found an 82-percent drop in the number of flying insects compared to levels recorded in 1990.

After the German study， other countries also started looking into the problem. David Wagner of the University of Connecticut says other evidence leads him to believe the findings of the 2017 study are “clearly not a German thing”.

12. What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 2 refer to？

A. The insects cause trouble to people. B. The insects harm the environment.

C. The insects exist in large numbers. D. The insects love staying indoors.

13. How does Wilson try to prove that the flying insects are gone？

A. By using his personal experience. B. By making some comparisons.

C. By listing research results. D. By studying the causes.

14. What does David Wagner think of the 2017 German study？

A. It isn’t done in German ways.

B. It is less believable than other evidence.

C. It follows many studies on the flying insect populations.

D. It makes him believe the problem exists also in other countries.

15. In which section of a magazine may the text appear？

A. Health. B. Nature. C. Education. D. Entertainment.

（七）

A

Don’t know where to enjoy yourself？ Here are some choices for you.

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park

PopUp Picnics in the Park return for the fourth summer in a row， taking place on Thursday. Take a break to enjoy tacos. Prices change from $2 to $10. Cash only.

144 School Street

June 16—August 18 Start at 11：30 am and end at 1：30 pm

Summer Beach BBQ Parties

Each summer on Thursday evenings the Crow’s Nest offers its Summer Beach Party series on the beach. The party starts at 5：30 pm each week and goes until sunset. Families are welcome， and there is no entrance fee. After the sun sets， the fun begins with dancing to the best live music of local bands.

2218 East Cliff Drive

May 26—September 1 Start at 5：30 pm and end at 8：30 pm

Bargetto Winery

Join us for a beautiful weekend of art and wine. Bargetto Winery will be hosting their yearly gathering of artists and foodies （美食家） at their amazing Soquel winery. No entrance fee. Wine tasting with purchase of $15 festival glass.

3535 North Main Street

July 16—July 17 Start at 11：00 am and end at 5：00 pm

Chaminade Resort & Spa

Chef Page takes guests on a journey showing the area’s rich fruits， vegetables and meats. Dinner begins at 6：30 pm with a five-course menu and good wines. Seating booked is not a choice， as all guests are seated at large， connecting， beautifully set tables designed to invite open conversations among guests. Ticket price： $90 per person. Tickets can be gotten online.

1 Chaminade Lane

July 23 Start at 6：00 pm and end at 9：00 pm

1. What can we know about PopUp Picnics in the Park？

A. It lasts two days. B. It has been held twice.

C. It is paid by credit card. D. It is hosted on Thursdays.

2. What can people do in Summer Beach BBQ Parties？

A. Have delicious tacos. B. Talk with artists and foodies.

C. Watch performances of bands. D. Enjoy the sunrise on the beach.

3. What activity can be booked on the Internet？

A. Bargetto Winery. B. Chaminade Resort & Spa.

C. Summer Beach BBQ Parties. D. Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.

B

The teacher who did the most to encourage me was， as it happens， my aunt. She was Myrtle C. Manigault， the wife of my mother’s brother Bill. She taught me in the second grade at all-black Summer School in Camden， New Jersey.

During my childhood and youth， Aunt Myrtle encouraged me to develop every aspect of my potential （潛力）， without regard for what was considered practical or possible for black females. I liked to sing; she listened to my voice and pronounced it good. I couldn’t dance; she taught me the basic dancing steps. She took me to the theater—not just children’s theater， but adult comedies and dramas—and her faith that I could appreciate adult plays was not disappointed.

My aunt also took down books from her extensive library and shared them with me. I had books at home， but they were all serious classics. Even as a child I had a strong liking for humor， and I’ll never forget the joy of discovering Don Marquis’s Archy and Mehitabel through her.

Most importantly， perhaps， Aunt Myrtle provided my first opportunity to write for publication. She， a writer herself for one of the black newspapers， recommended （推荐） me to the editor as a “youth columnist”. My column， begun when I was fourteen， was supposed to cover teenage social activities—and it did—but it also gave me the freedom to write on many other subjects as well as the habit of gathering （收集） material， the discipline of meeting deadlines， and， after graduation from college six years later， a solid collection of published material that carried my name and was my passport to a series of writing jobs.

Today Aunt Myrtle is still an enthusiastic supporter of her “favorite niece”. Like a diamond， she has reflected a bright， multifaceted image of possibilities to every pupil who has crossed her path.

4. In the author’s early years， Aunt Myrtle tried to introduce her to ＿＿＿ .

A. adult plays B. music C. serious classics D. dancing

5. What does Archy and Mehitabel in Paragraph 3 probably refer to？

A. A book. B. A film. C. A song. D. A play.

6. Aunt Myrtle recommended the author to a newspaper editor mainly to ＿＿＿ .

A. offer her a series of writing jobs B. develop her writing abilities

C. give her a chance to collect material D. involve her in teenage social activities

7. As a teacher， Aunt Myrtle always tried to ＿＿＿ .

A. train pupils to be hard-working B. encourage pupils to exploit their potential

C. stress what was practical for pupils D. help pupils overcome difficulties in learning

C

Honeybees can’t swim， and when their wings are wet， they can’t fly， either. But Chris Roh and other researchers at the California Institute of Technology found that when bees drop into bodies of water， they can use their wings to produce little waves and slide toward land—like surfers who create and then ride their own waves.

As with many scientific advances—Isaac Newton’s apple or Benjamin Franklin’s lightning bolt—Dr Roh’s experiment began with a walk. Passing Caltech’s Millikan Pond in 2016， he observed a bee on the water’s surface producing waves. He wondered how an insect known for flight could push itself through water.

Dr Roh and his co-worker， Morteza Gharib， used butterfly nets to collect local Pasadena honeybees and observed their surf-like movements. The researchers used a wire to restrict each bee’s bodily movement， allowing close examination of their wings. They found that the bee bends its wings at a 30-degree angle， pulling up water and producing a forward force. Bees get trapped on the surface because water is roughly three times heavier than air. But that weight helps to push the bee forward when its wings move quickly up and down. It’s a tough exercise for the bees， which the researchers guess could handle about 10 minutes of the activity.

The researchers said the surf-like movement hasn’t been documented in other insects and most semiaquatic insects use their legs for propulsion， which is known as water-walking. It may have evolved in bees， they predicted.

Dr Roh and Dr Gharib have imagined many practical applications for bees’ surfing. One plan is to use their observations to design robots able to travel across sky and sea. “This could be useful for search and rescues， or for getting samples of the surface of the ocean， if you can’t send a boat or helicopter，” Dr Gharib said.

8. What does the author intend to show by mentioning Newton and Franklin？

A. Roh’s admiration for them. B. Roh’s chance discovery about bees.

C. Their outstanding talent for science. D. Their similar achievements in discovery.

9. What plays the most important role in a bee’s moving forward on water？

A. The air weight. B. Its leg extension.

C. The water movement. D. Its continuous wingbeat.

10. What does the underlined word “propulsion” in Paragraph 4 mean？

A. Fast fight. B. Driving force. C. Pulling speed. D. Explosive power.

11. What does the text mainly tell us？

A. Honeybees can surf to safety. B. Bees help scientists make inventions.

C. Insects can adapt to the environment. D. Nature is a helpful guide for discovery.

D

A survey has shown that what you do on a plane can be determined by which nationality is listed on your passport.

According to the results of an international passenger survey， Australians are the biggest drinkers on board with 36 percent choosing to down the hatch， compared to 35 percent of Americans and 33 percent of Brits.

The Airline Passenger Experience Association （APEX） spoke to around 1，500 people， aged 18 and older， who have traveled by plane at least once during the last three months and were living in the United States， the United Kingdom， Germany， Japan， China， Singapore， Australia or Brazil.

The results found Chinese travelers are most likely to nod off （打盹） once the seat-belt sign switches off. They are also the first to reach for their credit card for some in-flight shopping and the biggest fans of gaming. Americans on the other hand like to use their time in the air more productively—when not drinking—choosing to work while flying at 350，000 feet.

Meanwhile， Brits and Germans are the best at making chat with random strangers—spending 50 percent more time than any other nationality. Comparatively， Brazilians conduct their conversations online via e-mail， messaging apps or social media.

Despite plane food having a bad reputation， seven out of ten interviewees said they were happy to eat up on the selection in-flight snacks and meals. In-flight magazines were also popular with four out of five passengers.

The international flyers did， however， express their desire for better in-flight entertainment. “The industry has greatly improved the comfort， entertainment and on-board service， and passengers are accepting those improvements，” said Russell Lemieux， APEX executive director. “At the same time， passengers are demanding more from their air travel experiences which will drive more improvements touching all aspects of the journey，” he added.

12. Who would drink more during a flight according to the study？

A. Brazilians. B. Germans. C. Americans. D. Australians.

13. What do most flyers tend to do on board a plane？

A. Read in-flight magazines. B. Work online.

C. Chat to kill time. D. Have a good sleep.

14. What can we learn about the flyers from the last paragraph？

A. They care little about entertainment. B. They are expecting better flight experience.

C. They are satisfied with the improvement. D. They have more and more demands from airlines.

15. What is the main purpose of the text？

A. To entertain readers with interesting stories. B. To inform readers of the results of a survey.

C. To criticize impolite behaviors on the plane. D. To encourage people to behave well in public.

（八）

A

Two European Summer Must “Seas”

When you think of summer， the beach， clear water， sunny skies， and relaxing days are a few things that come to mind， and two of the best places to experience these summer feels are two gorgeous European bodies of water： the Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea！ These two incredible Seas hold some of my favorite travel memories， and I would revisit each one in a heartbeat！

The Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea can be accessed from various European countries as well as a few North African countries. And while many think of visiting Ibiza， Malta， or the Greek islands to experience the Mediterranean， my Mediterranean beach days came while visiting the seaside city of Marseille in the south of France！ Marseille was a lovely city with easy access to the Sea， also with pretty sandy beaches. The gorgeous crystal clear blue water made it unlike any beach day in America！ Not only were the beaches amazing， but the city of Marseille was adorable and filled with numerous cute shops and seaside restaurants. And the Mediterranean-style food was delicious！

The Adriatic Sea

The Adriatic Sea is equally as stunning and surely worth a visit！ The Croatian coast has numerous beach clubs， some private and some public， which tourists are able to visit and you can experience the beauty of the Adriatic Sea there！ Zrce Novalja， a Croatian seaside town I visited， was impressively featured by the rather rocky beach in place of sand. The rocks were small and smooth， making swimming in the sea and wading in the water just as easy as sandy beaches！ Plus the locals in Croatia are also extremely friendly， making the experience even more memorable.

1. The author’s trip to the seas was full of ＿＿＿ .

A. funny events B. various adventures C. pleasant surprises D. wonderful experiences

2. From which place did the author get to the Mediterranean Sea？

A. Ibiza. B. Malta. C. Marseille. D. The Greek islands.

3. What makes Zrce Novalja so special？

A. Its beach clubs. B. Its rocky beach. C. Its beautiful sea. D. Its friendly locals.

B

In 2012， Kim Stemple， a special-education teacher， found herself tied to an IV pole （輸液架） in a Boston hospital being treated for one of several diseases she had. Before she got too sick to exercise， Stemple had been a marathon runner. She was naturally getting very depressed. And then a racing partner who had just finished a half marathon in Las Vegas gave her a medal （勋章） and hoped the keepsake would act as a kind of pick-me-up. It worked like a charm.

After Stemple hung the medal from her hospital IV pole， other patients said they wanted medals too. That got Stemple thinking. “A medal is a simple way to give a positive message，” she told pilotonline.com. And so was born her charity， We Finish Together， which collects medals from strangers—runners， dancers， swimmers， singers， and even spelling bee winners—and donates them to all sorts of people in need.

People who receive the medals have included hospital patients， residents of homeless shelters， and veterans. Part of the process involves the donor writing a personalized note on the ribbon （勋带）. “This gives them a connection to someone，” says Stemple. “If they receive a medal， they know someone cares.”

Can a simple medal really make a difference？ Yes， says Joan Musarra， who suffers from a terrible disease. “I opened my package containing my new medal and the note of positive， warm thoughts. I was deeply touched，” she wrote to Stemple. “At that moment， I was sitting on my couch breathing through an oxygen cannula because my lungs had worsened so badly. It means so much to me to feel that I am not alone.”

4. What do the underlined words “the keepsake” in Paragraph 1 refer to？

A. The medal. B. The disease. C. The partner. D. The marathon.

5. Stemple was inspired to start We Finish Together ＿＿＿ .

A. after she started collecting medals B. when her friend gave her a medal

C. when other patients also wanted medals D. after she was interviewed by pilotonline.com

6. How does the author present his point in the last paragraph？

A. By suggesting a treatment. B. By providing statistics.

C. By describing a disease. D. By giving an example.

7. What does Kim Stemple’s story mainly tell us？

A. Donating brings sunshine to both. B. Sportsmanship can inspire people with hope.

C. People should help each other when in trouble. D. The simple act of kindness makes a person’s day.

C

Returning to a book you’ve read many times can feel like drinks with an old friend. There’s a welcome familiarity—but also sometimes a slight suspicion that time has changed you both， and thus the relationship. But books don’t change， people do. And that’s what makes the act of rereading so rich and transformative （变化的）.

The beauty of rereading lies in the idea that our bond with the work is based on our present mental register. It’s true， the older I get， the more I feel time has wings. But with reading， it’s all about the present. It’s about the now and what one contributes to the now， because reading is a give and take between author and reader. Each has to pull their own weight.

There are three books I reread annually. The first， which I take to reading every spring， is Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast. Published in 1964， it’s his classic memoir of 1920s Paris. The language is almost intoxicating （令人陶醉的）， an aging writer looking back on an ambitious （雄心勃勃的） yet simpler time. Another is Annie Dillard’s Holy the Firm， her poetic 1975 ramble （隨笔） about everything and nothing. The third book is Julio Cortázar’s Save Twilight： Selected Poems， because poetry. And because Cortázar.

While I tend to buy a lot of books， these three were given to me as gifts， which might add to the meaning I attach to them. But I imagine that， while money is indeed wonderful and necessary， rereading an author’s work is the highest currency a reader can offer them. The best books are the ones that open further as time passes. But remember， it’s you that has to grow and read and reread in order to better understand your friends.

8. Why does the author like rereading？

A. It’s a window to a new world. B. It transforms the writer-reader relationship.

C. It extends the understanding of oneself. D. It’s an alternative to drinking with a friend.

9. What do we know about the book A Moveable Feast？

A. It’s a brief account of a trip. B. It’s about Hemingway’s friends in Paris.

C. It’s a record of a historic event. D. It’s about Hemingway’s life as a young man.

10. What does the underlined word “currency” in the last paragraph mean？

A. Fame. B. Payment. C. Courage. D. Face value.

11. What can we infer about the author from the text？

A. He loves poetry. B. He’s an editor. C. He’s ambitious. D. He teaches reading.

D

Known for its historic stone paths and traffic-jammed streets， France stops using traditional bricks and pavement for shiny solar panels （嵌板） with its new roadway project. French officials announced plans to construct a 1，000-kilometer-long solar roadway， with each kilometer capable of providing enough cheap， renewable energy to power 5，000 homes.

“The maximum effect of the program， if successful， could be to furnish 5 million people with electricity，” Segolence Royal， France’s minister of ecology and energy， said at a conference.

The street—or “Wattway”—was made possible through the cooperation between the National Institute of Solar Energy and French civil engineering firm Colas. Tests for the road will begin in the spring. The entire project will take an estimated five years to complete， but builders won’t have to destroy existing roads in the meantime. Only about a quarter of an inch thick， the solar panels can simply be glued on top of existing streets and are durable （耐用的） enough to bear heavy traffic and weather conditions.

Despite the bad traffic Parisians associate with their journey to work every day， the average French roadway is packed for only 10 percent of the day， according to Colas’ figures. That will leave the solar street with the majority of the day to gather energy from the sun， which makes the project quite promising. The panels collect solar power through a thin layer of polycrystalline silicon （多晶硅） and change it into electricity. Electrical connections can be put into existing traffic structures.

France won’t be the first country to roll out a solar road. A 70-meter solar bike path was set up in the Netherlands in 2014. Within six months， the path had created enough to power a house for an entire year.

12. Why did France build Wattway？

A. To improve traffic conditions. B. To provide electricity for home use.

C. To produce power for passing cars. D. To find a cheaper way of road construction.

13. What is special about the solar panels of Wattway？

A. They can be recycled easily. B. They can be laid on top of present roads.

C. They are made of cheap materials. D. They are thick enough for heavy vehicles.

14. Which paragraph gives the reason the solar road can collect energy most of the time？

A. Paragraph 1. B. Paragraph 2. C. Paragraph 3. D. Paragraph 4.

15. Why does the author mention the bike path in the Netherlands？

A. To stress the importance of saving energy.

B. To praise the government of the Netherlands.

C. To point out a new technology in road-building.

D. To give another successful example of a solar road.

（九）

A

The following 4 famous paintings—from Jan van Eyck’s portrait to Pablo Picasso’s masterpiece—have stood the test of time.

The Arnolfini Portrait

Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait， an oil painting on wood produced in 1434， in which a man and a woman hold hands with a window behind him and a bed behind her， is undoubtedly one of the masterpieces in the National Gallery， London. This painting is as visually interesting as it is famed.

The Starry Night

Vincent van Gogh painted The Starry Night， oil on canvas （帆布）， a moderately abstract （抽象的） landscape painting of an expressive night sky over a small hillside village， during his 12-month stay at the mental hospital near Saint-Remy-de-Provence， France between 1889 and 1890. When the Museum of Modern Art in New York City purchased the painting from a private collector in 1941， it was not well known， but it has since become one of van Gogh’s most famous works.

The Harvesters

The Harvesters is an oil painting on wood completed by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in 1565. It depicts the harvest time which most commonly occurred within the months of August and September. Nicolaes Jonghelinck， a merchant banker and art collector from Antwerp， commissioned this painting. The painting has been at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City since 1919.

Guernica

Guernica， a large black-and-white oil painting， was painted by the Cubist Spanish painter， Pablo Picasso in 1937. The title “Guernica” refers to the city that was bombed by Nazi planes during the Spanish Civil War. The painting depicts the horrors of war and as a result， has come to be an anti-war symbol. Today， the painting is housed at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid.

1. What painting was produced earliest？

A. Guernica. B. The Harvesters. C. The Starry Night. D. The Arnolfini Portrait.

2. Who created the painting describing the harvest seasons？

A. Pieter Bruegel the Elder. B. Vincent van Gogh.

C. Jan van Eyck. D. Pablo Picasso.

3. What can we learn about the painting The Starry Night？

A. It was painted on wood in oils. B. It described the painter’s life in hospital.

C. It was little known before 1941. D. It was given away to the museum by a collector.

B

We had two young kids and lived in town. Both my husband and I worked long days. As a result， we didn’t have much time for our kids. They often stayed alone in the house when we were out. They weren’t happy， as you can guess. One day， my husband and I decided to buy a dog for them to make them happy.

Our kids loved that idea. We started searching newspaper， and it wasn’t long before we found puppies for sale. So we decided to hike from one small town to another and found an old farmhouse. Our kids were way ahead of us running as fast as they could to see what their puppy is like. “She’s under the sofa，” the owner said with a smile.

And that’s when we got our first look at the little dog. My daughter picked up the brown-and-white pup with soft ears and paws. She looked up with the biggest and brownest eyes I’d ever seen， and I said， “We’ll take her.” And after we took Sadie home， our kids often ran outdoors with her after school. They became so much happier.

Two years ago， my husband and I decided to move to the countryside. On the day we moved， we loaded Sadie in the truck. By the time we reached our new house， Sadie was beyond herself with joy. As we pulled into the drive-way， she gave a bark of excitement. She ran here and there happily. Seeing how happy she was， I thought of the days our kids were left alone at home. I realized what a big role the dog had played in their lives！

I should thank Sadie. Because of her， our kids had a much happier childhood.

4. Why did the author and her husband want to buy a dog？

A. They loved dogs. B. They wanted to cheer their kids up.

C. They were asked to do so by their kids. D. They needed one to watch over their house.

5. We can infer from Paragraph 2 that the kids ＿＿＿ .

A. liked running very much B. knew the dog well

C. was eager to see the dog D. saw the dog before the house

6. What can we learn about Sadie from Paragraph 4？

A. She often visited the country. B. She wasn’t happy in the town.

C. She loved her new home very much. D. She looked for another dog here and there.

7. What does the author think of the role of Sadie？

A. It made her kids happy. B. It helped her kids develop responsibility.

C. It helped her work much better. D. It made her family life in the countryside interesting.

C

In both Africa and Asia elephants are being threatened by changes in their natural habitats. People are moving into the elephants’ habitats and endangering their survival. In the country of Sri Lanka， there is one place where elephants are not only protected but also respected. It is called the Elephant Transit Home （ETH）.

Set up in 1995， the ETH aims to protect and nurture baby elephants that are found injured or living without their mothers in the wild. Every year about 30 baby elephants in Sri Lanka need help. As many as possible are brought to the ETH. There they are given food， shelter， and medical care. Most importantly， they are given the chance to be with other elephants and become part of a herd.

A day at the ETH begins early in the morning when the baby elephants are given their first feeding of milk. During the day， each baby will drink an average of 13 gallons of milk. Older elephants are fed mostly coconut leaves and other native plants. Then the elephants are allowed to walk around， eating the grass and forming a herd. The cost of caring for the baby elephants is high. The ETH spends about $125，000 each year on powdered milk for the baby elephants.

At the ETH， workers try to reduce human connection with the elephants. They also try to increase bonds （聯系） between the elephants. It usually takes three years for a baby elephant to be set free into its natural habitat. The elephants are sent back to the wild together with other orphans with whom they have bonded. This program helps them return to the wild as members of a herd that will communicate with each other and take care of each other.

The ETH is considered one of the best animal protection sites in the world. Not only are the elephants cared for， they are treated with respect. Most importantly， they go back to live in the wild， where they belong.

8. What does the underlined word “nurture” in Paragraph 2 probably mean？

A. Set free. B. Care for. C. Focus on. D. Relate to.

9. What do we know about the ETH？

A. It helps to keep baby elephants safe. B. It receives about $125，000 each year.

C. It is the largest animal protection site. D. It changes elephants’ habitats for the better.

10. Why do the workers reduce human connection with the elephants？

A. To provide them with more living space. B. To help them live in natural surroundings.

C. To train them to stay away from hunters. D. To study them better in a natural environment.

11. What is the purpose of the text？

A. To call on readers to protect elephants. B. To introduce an animal protection project.

C. To show the ways of wildlife protection. D. To explain the threat baby elephants face.

D

Phil Wise is a wildlife scientist from the Save the Tasmanian Devil （袋獾） Program. The scientists working with this program study Tasmanian devils， check their health， and track the devils found in the wild. Because a disease is reducing the number of devils， Oddity， a young Tasmanian devil， and 14 others were raised in a preserve and then brought to Maria Island to be set free into the wild.

Though they are raised in zoos all over the world， devils live in the wild only in Tasmania. They eat dead animals they find， which helps clean up the environment. Devils also eat animals such as wallabies， wombats， and possums， helping to keep those populations balanced.

But a disease called Devil Facial Tumor Disease （DFTD） is killing devils on mainland Tasmania， putting them in danger. DFTD spreads when a diseased animal bites a healthy animal. The goal of the scientists who set Oddity and the others free was to create a lot of devils which are free of DFTD on Maria Island. Oddity is a part of this “insurance population” of devils raised in zoos and wildlife preserves. This means that if the facial disease causes the Tasmanian devil to die out in the wild， devils like Oddity can be sent back into disease-free areas of Tasmania， giving devils a chance to survive.

Oddity started his new life on Maria Island. And the other animals did so well that 13 more devils were set free. The 28 original Tasmanian devils have reproduced; there are now around 80 devils. They are doing well on Maria Island， and the plan is considered a success. Wise says he is “very happy to know that animals are getting a chance to be free in the wild in an area that is free of DFTD. It is the final aim of all who work to protect animals.”

12. Why did people send some Tasmanian devils to Maria Island？

A. To save their lives. B. To treat their illness.

C. To make a further study. D. To provide pleasure for visitors.

13. What can be learned about Tasmanian devils？

A. They live mainly on plants. B. They mostly live in the wild.

C. They need to be kept in the zoo. D. They help keep the balance of nature.

14. What does the underlined part “insurance population” in Paragraph 3 refer to？

A. Well-trained wildlife. B. Disease-free devils.

C. Animals with DFTD. D. Healthy baby devils.

15. How are Tasmanian devils on Maria Island？

A. They are wonderful. B. They are in danger.

C. They are the same as before. D. They are affected by human.

（十）

A

Why go to Madrid？

There may be a slight chill （寒冷） in the air， with temperatures staying around 15°C in March， but Spain’s handsome capital is slowly starting to warm up. Even more attractive are the cultural events.

A new exhibition on the living and working spaces of Spain’s greatest artist， Picasso， has just opened in the studio at the Fundación Mapfre at Paseo de Recoletos 23. It runs until May 11 with rarely seen pieces borrowed from his family.

Later in the summer， the 407th anniversary of the death of the Renaissance （文艺复兴） painter El Greco will be marked with an exciting exhibition at the Museo del Prado at Paseo del Prado from 24 June to 5 October.

How to go？

The widest range of flights is offered by EasyJet—from Bristol， Edinburgh， Gatwick， Liverpool and Luton. British Airways and its sister airline Iberia combine forces from Heathrow and London City. Ryanair flies from Manchester and Stansted; Air Europa flies from Gatwick.

Barajas Airport is 13 km northeast of the city center and is served by frequent trains on Metro Line 8， but the shortest underground journey is a bit complex with at least one change at Nuevos Ministerios station and takes about 30 minutes. The fare to any station in the city center is 4.5 euros. The airport express bus runs every 15 to 35 minutes around the clock; 5 euros one way. It takes 40 minutes to reach the city center. A taxi takes half the time. A flat rate of 30 euros covers most of central Madrid.

1. When will the exhibition about Picasso close？

A. On March 23. B. On May 11. C. On June 24. D. On October 5.

2. Which airline operates flights from Manchester to Madrid？

A. EasyJet. B. Ryanair. C. Air Europa. D. British Airways.

3. What is the fastest way to reach central Madrid from Barajas Airport？

A. The taxi. B. The city bus. C. Metro Line 8. D. The airport express bus.

B

Emily Bonfim Camargo， a 10-year-old girl， has cerebral palsy （腦瘫）. Because of her condition， her involuntary movements prevent her from freely holding objects with her hands or standing up. She’s never been able to walk， but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the same dreams and hopes as other children. In particular， she’s always wanted to ride a bicycle.

“That was her dream， and I had to do something to help，” her grandfather， Clovis Urias dos Santos， a 69-year-old former construction worker， said. First he tried to make his granddaughter’s dream come true by buying her a tricycle. Unfortunately， she was unable to hold the handlebars （車把） to guide the vehicle， and she couldn’t keep her balance on the seat. Her grandfather， however， isn’t a man who is easily discouraged.

In his home workshop， he started to think of how he could make a more stable tricycle for her. He started to take things apart and put the useful pieces back together. “I fixed the pedals with brakes （刹车）， and I didn’t put on handlebars，” he told Sempre Familia， a local news medium.

This vehicle isn’t just fun; it’s also practical. Clovis added a basket behind the seat， so that Emily can carry her backpack for school， or some groceries， because she likes to go to the supermarket and bakery with him. Emily’s special tricycle is also stylish. “After the tricycle was ready， I painted it pink and purple because Emily chose those colors. She was very happy， and I was even happier，” Clovis said.

There’s no cure for cerebral palsy， although there is medicine to decrease involuntary muscle movements. So what does the future hold for Emily？ Only time will tell， but the support of her family will fill her future with hope.

4. What can we learn about Emily from Paragraph 1？

A. She can’t afford a new bike. B. She doesn’t enjoy doing sports.

C. She was born disabled. D. She has dreams like others.

5. What words can best describe Clovis？

A. Courageous and calm. B. Determined and loving.

C. Helpful and generous. D. Responsible and professional.

6. How would Emily control the tricycle her grandfather made？

A. By pressing the brakes on the pedals. B. By keeping her balance on the seat.

C. By putting her hand on the brakes. D. By holding the handlebars.

7. What is the text mainly about？

A. A lovely girl. B. A special tricycle.

C. The future of a granddaughter. D. Love from a grandfather.

C

When John was growing up， other kids felt sorry for him. His parents always had him weeding the garden， carrying out the garbage and delivering newspapers. But when John reached adulthood， he was better off than his childhood playmates. He had more job satisfaction， a better marriage and was healthier. Most of all， he was happier.

These are the findings of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456 teenage boys from Boston. The study showed that those who had worked as boys enjoyed happier and more productive lives than those who had not. “Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence （能力） and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society，” said George Vaillant， the psychologist who made the discovery. “And because they felt good about themselves， others felt good about them.”

The link between what the men had done as boys and how they turned out as adults was surprisingly sharp. Those who had done the most boyhood activities were twice as likely to have warm relations with a wide variety of people， five times as likely to be well paid and 16 times less likely to have been unemployed. The researchers also found that IQ and family social and economic class made no real difference in how the boys turned out.

Childhood activities help a child develop responsibility， independence， confidence and competence—the underpinnings （基礎） of emotional health. They also help him understand that people must cooperate and work toward common goals. The most competent adults are those who know how to do this. Yet work isn’t everything. As Tolstoy once said， “One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love， to work for the person one loves and to love one’s work.”

8. What do we know about John？

A. He had few childhood playmates. B. He enjoyed his career and marriage.

C. He received little love from his family. D. He was admired by others in his childhood.

9. What does Vaillant want to tell us in Paragraph 2？

A. Boys’ personal values. B. Parents’ expectations of their children.

C. How work was related to competence. D. Why some boys grew into happy men.

10. What does the underlined word “sharp” in Paragraph 3 probably mean？

A. Quick to react. B. Sudden and rapid. C. Clear and definite. D. Having a thin edge.

11. What can be inferred from the last paragraph？

A. Independence is the key to one’s success.

B. Love brings more joy to people than work does.

C. Emotional health is essential to a wonderful life.

D. Competent adults know more about love than work.

D

As more Americans live alone， unconditional affection is in demand. More than a third of homes have at least one dog， according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

But the popularity of four-legged friends has an unpleasant cost： dogs squeeze out more than twice the waste of the average person. Around 60% of the stuff gets collected and trucked to landfills， where it releases methane， a greenhouse gas. The rest delivers surprises to passersby and can pollute waterways.

The problem is particularly bad in cities， where green spaces are few and lonely souls seeking puppy love plentiful. There are over 600，000 dogs in New York—one for every 14 people—generating over 100，000 tons of turd （糞便） a year.

This is a missed opportunity， says Ron Gonen， the city’s former recycling tsar （掌权者）.  Now in the private sector， he is trying to launch “Sparky Power”， a program to transform dog waste into clean energy in the city’s dog parks.

The idea is to fit parks with small anaerobic digesters （厌氧分解池）. Dog owners would place their dogs’ turd into the machine， which then turns turd into gas for powering lamps and other park equipment. A year-long pilot would introduce digesters in three parks at a cost of around $100，000，000. The parks department is thinking about the proposal.

Similar projects in other cities have proved short-lived. An underground Energy Transformation Using Reactive Digestion （E-TURD） device created by Arizona State University students for a dog park in Gilbert， Arizona， in 2012 finally failed.

“It’s great to turn it into a biofuel， but first you have to pick it up，” says Tom Boyd， an entrepreneur in Tennessee. His company， Poo Prints， shames the owners of dogs who fail to clean up their messes by testing DNA in uncollected turd.

12. What does the underlined part “The problem” in Paragraph 3 refer to？

A. Lots of people feel lonely. B. There are very limited green spaces.

C. Pet dogs produce a lot of waste.   D. The greenhouse effect is getting serious.

13. What can we learn about the program “Sparky Power”？

A. It is about recycling household waste. B. It aims to produce power from dog waste.

C. It is operated by the local government. D. It aims to clean parks with renewable energy.

14. How is the program “Sparky Power” so far？

A. It has just started. B. It has ended in failure.

C. It is a great success. D. It is still under consideration.

15. What is the purpose of the company Poo Prints？

A. To make good use of dog waste. B. To help people look for their dogs.

C. To reduce the number of pet dogs. D. To push people to pick up their dogs’ waste.

（十一）

A

Want a wonderful travel in London？ Don’t miss the following！

Cartoon Museum

This highly entertaining London tourist attraction covers the history and development of British cartoons from the 18th century to the present day. You can find a detailed collection of all types of cartoons in this museum including caricatures （人物漫畫） and rare examples of cartoon art： It’s an ideal place to entertain kids of all ages as well as a serious collection for animation enthusiasts.

There are over nine hundred pieces on exhibition and the museum regularly holds events where both children and adults can participate. Booking for these events is recommended due to the year-round popularity of this London Museum.

Telephone： （020） 7580-8155

Chislehurst Caves

Chislehurst in London is home to chalk caves that were mined by hand for over 8，000 years. A tour of these caves is an exciting way to see how British people have impacted on their environment over thousands of years.

Telephone： （020） 8467-3264

The Old Operating Theater Museum

The Old Operating Theater Museum is one London museum offering a fascinating insight into the medical profession of the past. This 300-year-old herb garret （阁楼） is Britain’s only surviving operating theater， with a wooden operating table and an observation stand， from which visitors can witness surgery performed.

Telephone： （020） 7188-2679

Curzon Mayfair Cinema Museum

Recently voted one of London’s best cinemas by TimeOut readers， the Curzon Mayfair Cinema is everything you would expect from this particular part of town： luxurious （奢华的） and tasteful. Showing mostly art-house and independent films， the Curzon Mayfair is unique in the world of London cinema for its role in screening these films for industry and press.

Telephone： （033） 3321-0104

1. What can we learn about the Cartoon Museum？

A. It is designed only for kids. B. One must book ahead of time to visit it.

C. Visitors can take part in its activities. D. It is the oldest cartoon museum in Britain.

2. What can you call if you’d like to know about surgery of the past？

A. （020） 7580-8155. B. （020） 7188-2679. C. （033） 3321-0104. D. （020） 8467-3264.

3. What will attract a nature lover？

A. Chislehurst Caves. B. Cartoon Museum.

C. Curzon Mayfair Cinema Museum. D. The Old Operating Theater Museum.

B

An 82-year-old Chinese female pilot has set a record in the country’s airline industry after flying a small plane for 40 minutes in Beijing. Miao Xiaohong， one of China’s second batch （批） of female pilots， controlled the Tecnam P2010 plane to take off， turn， climb， dive and land safely at the Shifosi Airport in Pinggu District of Beijing.

In 1958， Miao Xiaohong graduated from the flight school. In the following years， she flew many important missions. In 1963， she undertook a mission to airdrop materials for the flood-stricken areas in Hebei Province. Poor visibility （能見度） prevented her locating the target areas as the clouds were about 100 meters above the ground， but she managed to finish the task.

In 1989， she retired and started her writing career. When she collected materials for her books， she found that many aged pilots in other countries still flew， and she had the idea to return to the sky. To prepare for the flight， she walked 3，000 steps every day and moved her arms to meet the requirements for high-altitude flight during the past two months. Different from past flights for missions， this time her goal was to enjoy the flight. “Seeing the boundless blue sky unfold in front of me， I feel it is very open，” she said.

The trainer said that Miao Xiaohong could finish 30 hours of flight to get a license for commercial flight. She said， “My physical condition is good enough to finish the 30-hour flight but it is not so important for me to get such a license. After achieving my dream of returning to the sky， I hope to encourage young women to join the airline industry. I’m 82 years old and I can fly again. You， the young people， can fly and will fly better than me.”

4. What can we learn about Miao Xiaohong from the airdrop mission？

A. She was a very brave pilot. B. She had excellent flying skills.

C. She suffered from poor eyesight. D. She enjoyed undertaking hard tasks.

5. What made Miao Xiaohong have the idea of flying a plane at the age of 82？

A. Her deep love for flight. B. Her wish to set a flying record.

C. The requirements of her books. D. The influence of other aged pilots.

6. Which word can best describe Miao Xiaohong？

A. Faithful. B. Energetic. C. Determined. D. Promising.

7. What can be the best title for the text？

A. Returning to the Blue Sky B. Coming to Join in the Flight

C. Managing to Finish Difficult Tasks D. Improving Yourself to Set a Record

C

In the United States， the baggage （行李） of passengers from abroad will get inspected by the beagles （小猎兔犬） of the United States Department of Agriculture （USDA）. Working with human officer partners， the beagles sniff （嗅） out probable threats to American agriculture.

An orange or an apple， for example， might contain a Mediterranean fruit fly. Ham could carry some disease. These could cause great damage to farmers’ crops and livestock. “Once we introduce something that is not part of the environment， maybe there aren’t any controls of it in the environment，” said USDA’s Lisa Davis at the National Detector Dog Training Center in Orlando， Florida. “The best thing for us to do is prevent it from coming across the border.”

When a beagle sniffs a bad smell， it signals its partner by sitting. The human partner then examines the baggage. When the dog is right—which happens 90 percent of the time—it gets something to eat.

“The dogs are not out there working，” explained Davis. “They’re out there playing. It’s a game to the dogs.” The human partners make sure the beagles get first-class medical attention， too. When the dogs finally stop working after 9 to 11 years， the USDA finds caring homes for them. It’s a dog’s life indeed！

Their human partners work and study harder. Most of them hold degrees in the biological sciences or related sciences.

How well do the beagles do their jobs？ Davis said， “Each year our 54 teams find around 75，000 items.” Since even one dangerous item could cause great damage， that’s a great result for America’s agricultural environment.

8. Farm products from abroad may ＿＿＿ .

A. cause air pollution B. harm agricultural environment

C. contain something illegal D. easily go bad

9. What do the beagles do when they find something unusual？

A. Play a game. B. Run around it. C. Sit next to it. D. Make a loud noise.

10. According to the text， the beagles ＿＿＿ .

A. are doing a dangerous job B. work harder than their partners

C. may fall ill because of some threats D. get love and care from their partners

11. The figures in the last paragraph show the beagles ＿＿＿ .

A. enjoyed examining items B. caused no damage

C. played an important role D. drew more attention

D

Marie Van Brittan Brown， an African American nurse living in Jamaica， Queens in the 1960s， was working in shifts， as was her husband， Albert， an electronics technician. When she arrived home late， she sometimes felt afraid. Serious crimes in Queens jumped nearly 32 percent from 1960 to 1965， and police were slow to respond to emergency calls （緊急呼叫）. Marie wanted to feel safer at home.

With the help of her husband， Marie imagined a device that could be attached to the front door. It would offer four small holes， and through these， a video camera on the inside could view visitors of different heights as the host turned the camera up and down. The camera was connected to a television monitor inside. A microphone on the outside of the door and a speaker inside allowed the host to interrogate a visitor， while an alarm could inform police via radio.

Closed-circuit television （CCTV）， invented during World War Ⅱ for military use， was not widespread in the 1960s， and the Browns proposed using the technology to create the first modern home security system. They filed a patent （專利） for their device in 1966， citing Marie as the lead inventor. It was approved three years later. “The equipment is not in production，” The New York Times reported， “but the Browns hope to interest manufacturers and home builders.” That never happened. “The cost of installing （安装） it widely would be pretty high，” says Robert McCrie， an emergency management expert at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan.

Marie’s invention， though it didn’t benefit them financially， would earn the Browns a measure of recognition in the technology world： The predecessor of today’s home security systems， it has been cited in 35 US patents.

12. What is TRUE about Marie？

A. She lived in a dangerous neighborhood. B. She went home with her husband every day.

C. She worked as an electronics technician. D. She was afraid of making an emergency call.

13. What does the underlined word “interrogate” in Paragraph 2 probably mean？

A. Attract. B. Frighten. C. Welcome. D. Question.

14. What can we learn about the Browns’ system？

A. It was too expensive. B. It was thought little of by the then police.

C. It was illegal to be used. D. It was considered to be a silly invention.

15. Marie and her husband ＿＿＿ .

A. contributed a lot to CCTV B. were generous and responsible

C. helped reduce crime in the 1960s D. were intelligent and worthy of respect

（十二）

A

Choose Your One-day Tours！

Tour A—Bath & Stonehenge including entrance fees （费用） to the ancient Roman bathrooms and Stonehenge—£37 until March 26 and £39 thereafter.

Visit the city with over 2，000 years of history and Bath Abbey， the Royal Crescent and the Costume Museum. Stonehenge is one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments dating back over 5，000 years.

Tour B—Oxford & Stratford including entrance fees to the University St Mary’s Church Tower and Anne Hathaway’s house—£32 until March 12 and £36 thereafter.

Oxford： This includes a guided tour of England’s oldest university city and colleges. Look over the “city of dreaming spires （尖顶）” from St Mary’s Church Tower.

Stratford： This includes a guided tour exploring much of the Shakespeare wonder.

Tour C—Windsor Castle & Hampton Court including entrance fees to Hampton Court Palace—£34 until  March 11 and £37 thereafter.

This includes a guided tour of Windsor and Hampton Court， Henry Ⅷ’s favorite palace. Free time to visit Windsor Castle （entrance fees not included）. With 500 years of history， Hampton Court was once the home of four Kings and one Queen. Now this former royal palace is open to the public as a major tourist attraction. Visit the palace and its various historic gardens， which include the famous maze （迷宮） where it is easy to get lost！

Tour D—Cambridge including entrance fees to the Tower of Saint Mary the Great—£33 until March 18 and £37 thereafter.

This includes a guided tour of Cambridge， the famous university town， and the gardens of the 18th century.

1. Which tour can you choose to see England’s oldest university city？

A. Tour A. B. Tour B. C. Tour C. D. Tour D.

2. What tour charges the lowest fee on March 17？

A. Windsor Castle & Hampton Court. B. Oxford & Stratford.

C. Bath & Stonehenge. D. Cambridge.

3. Why is Hampton Court regarded as a major tourist attraction？

A. It used to be the home of royal families. B. It used to be a well-known maze.

C. It is the oldest palace in Britain. D. It is a world-famous court.

B

The last African elephant at the Johannesburg Zoo， Lammie， lost her male partner to sickness in September.

Lammie was born in the zoo 39 years ago. She had lived for 17 years with Kinkel， who died at age 35. Kinkel had been rescued （营救） in the wild after his trunk was caught in a trap （夹子） in 2000. Around the time of her partner’s death on Sept. 4， Lammie had stopped eating. The day before Kinkel died， she was seen trying to help him get up. Elephants are known for their intelligence， strong social ties and even the ability to mourn （哀伤）. Some people argue Lammie should be sent to another place where she can be with other elephants.

Audrey Delsink is wildlife director of Humane Society International/Africa. She said， Lammie “is in desperate need of a happier existence and the chance to live out her years with other elephants.” Delsink added that a wildlife rescue place is ready to take Lammie if the Johannesburg Zoo agrees to let her go.

But the zoo says Lammie is staying. The zoo says it serves an educational purpose， especially for the poor who cannot pay to visit wildlife parks.

Michele Pickover， director of an African wildlife rights group， disagrees. She said “nobody learns anything” by seeing an elephant in captivity （被圈養）. She said that watching a film about elephants would be more educational.

But， a spokeswoman for the Johannesburg Zoo， Jenny Moodley， says it is looking for a new partner for Lammie. She said the zoo is following guidelines in its search set by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. She added that experts are closely observing Lammie and that the elephant might not adapt well to a new environment. Moodley said of Lammie： “She is coping incredibly well， considering that she has lost her partner.”

4. What can we learn about Lammie？

A. She lost her friends. B. She was once rescued from a trap.

C. She was too ill to eat. D. She was sad because of her partner’s death.

5. What will Pickover agree to do with Lammie？

A. Let her stay in the zoo. B. Use her to educate poor people.

C. Ask experts to take care of her. D. Let her live in a wildlife rescue place.

6. What does Jenny Moodley intend to tell us about Lammie？

A. She is well taken care of. B. She will be sent away soon.

C. She manages to get over the pain. D. She doesn’t need another partner.

7. What can be the best title for the text？

A. Rescuing the Elephant B. The Sad Story of an Elephant and Her Partner

C. Should the Last Elephant Stay or Go？ D. Can an Elephant Live Happily Without a Partner？

C

“Clothes Swapping” has become an increasingly popular activity for women in the United States. The women can give away unwanted clothing at a clothes swap event and get something different in return.

Recently about 300 women went to a clothes swap at a high school in Springfield， Virginia. It was the largest crowd ever for the area’s popular clothing-swapping group.

Daphne Steinberg was having a good day. “For anyone who knows Ann Taylor LOFT， Ann Taylor is a really nice women’s designer and I will totally wear this to work.”

Sandy Van Dusen likes the idea that clothes are finding new homes instead of being thrown away. “Because it helps to keep the Earth green. There’s no point in my opinion in continuing to buy new clothes when we can reuse what’s already here.”

Kim Pratt organized the clothing-swapping event in Springfield. She also organized a money-raising activity for the high school’s debate team. It is one of several ways that her group gives to charitable causes. Another is by giving away all of the “un-swapped” clothing to shelters for victims of domestic violence.

“I started doing this four years ago， and we’ve been doing it for four years， getting bigger and bigger each time we have a swap，” said Mrs Pratt.

She used the social media website meetup.com to help publicize the events. The website has helped her group grow from 30 members to 1，300. Mrs Pratt says most of the members respect the clothing swap rules. But she says competition for desirable fashion can be strong.

“We have to tell people sometimes not to hover over the new people coming in with their clothing. As they put it out， some people tend to grab （抓住） the stuff right out of their hands and it becomes like a free-for-all. We try to avoid that as much as possible.”

8. What can women do at a clothes swap in the US？

A. Buy whatever clothing they like. B. Exchange clothing for something different.

C. Make money by giving away clothing. D. Take part in a social activity and make friends.

9. What can we learn from Steinberg’s words about the clothes swap？

A. She got some nice clothes there. B. It was the largest ever in the area.

C. It was the first time she had been there. D. She saved much to buy there.

10. What is Paragraph 5 mainly about Kim Pratt？

A. What she did to help people in need. B. How she started the clothing-swapping event.

C. What she did with the un-swapped clothes. D. How she raised money to help charitable causes.

11. What can be inferred from the last paragraph？

A. Clothes swaps often go out of control in the end.

B. Clothes-swapping has become popular with women.

C. More clothing swapping events need to be organized.

D. Improper behavior at clothes swaps needs to be controlled.

D

Researchers say they have translated the meaning of gestures that wild chimpanzees （黑猩猩） use to communicate. They say wild chimps communicate 19 specific messages to one another with a “vocabulary” of 66 gestures. The scientists discovered this by following and filming groups of chimps in Uganda， and examining more than 5，000 incidents of these meaningful exchanges.

Dr Catherine Hobaiter， who led the research， said that this was the only form of intentional communication to be recorded in the animal kingdom. Only humans and chimps， she said， had a system of communication where they intentionally sent a message to another group member.

“That’s what’s so amazing about chimp gestures，” she said. “They’re the only thing that looks like human language in that respect.”

Although previous research has shown that apes and monkeys can understand complex information from another animal’s call， the animals do not appear to use their voices intentionally to communicate messages.

Chimps will check to see if they have the attention of the animal with which they wish to communicate. In one case， a mother presents her foot to her crying baby， signaling： “Climb on me.” The youngster immediately jumps on to its mother’s back and they travel off together. “The big message from this study is that there is another species out there that is meaningful in its communication， so that’s not unique to humans，” said Dr Hobaiter.

Dr Susanne Shultz， an evolutionary biologist， said the study was praiseworthy in seeking to enrich our knowledge of the evolution of human language. But， she added， the results were “a little disappointing”.

“The vagueness of the gesture meanings suggests either that the chimps have little to communicate， or we are still missing a lot of the information contained in their gestures and actions，” she said. “Moreover， the meanings seem to not go beyond what other animals convey with non-verbal （非語言的） communication. So， it seems the gulf remains.”

12. What do chimps and humans have in common according to Dr Hobaiter？

A. Memorizing specific words. B. Understanding complex information.

C. Using voices to communicate. D. Communicating messages on purpose.

13. What did Dr Shultz think of the study？

A. It was well designed. B. It was a good try with limited findings.

C. It was a failure. D. It was completely unreliable.

14. What does the underlined word “gulf” in the last paragraph mean？

A. Difference. B. Separation. C. Balance. D. Connection.

15. What is the best title for the text？

A. Chimpanzee Behavior Study Achieved a Breakthrough

B. Chimpanzees Developed Specific Communication Skills

C. Chimpanzees： the Smartest Species in the Animal Kingdom

D. Chimpanzee Language： Communication Gestures Translated