1 . Cities usually have a good reason for being where they are, like a nearby port or river. People settle in these places because they are easy to get to and naturally suited to communications and trade. New York City, for example, is near a large harbour at the mouth of the Hudson River. Over 300 years its population grew gradually from 800 people to 8 million. But not all cities develop slowly over a long period of time. Boom towns grow from nothing almost overnight. In 1896, Dawson, Canada, was unmapped wilderness(荒野). But gold was discovered there in 1897, and two years later, it was one of the largest cities in the West, with a population of 30,000.
Dawson did not have any of the natural conveniences of cities like London or Paris. People went there for gold. They travelled over snow-covered mountains and sailed hundreds of miles up icy rivers. The path to Dawson was covered with thirty feet of wet snow that could fall without warming. An avalanche(雪崩) once closed the path, killing 63 people. For many who made it to Dawson, however, the rewards were worth the difficult trip. Of the first 20,000 people who dug for gold, 4,000 got rich. About 100 of these stayed rich men for the rest of their lives.
But no matter how rich they were, Dawson was never comfortable. Necessities like food and wood were very expensive. But soon, the gold that Dawson depended on had all been found. The city was crowded with disappointed people with no interest in settling down, and when they heard there were new gold discoveries in Alaska, they left Dawson City as quickly as they had come. Today, people still come and go — to see where the Canadian gold rush happened. Tourism is now the chief industry of Dawson City — its present population is 762.
1. What attracted the early settlers to New York City?| A．Its business culture. |
| B．Its small population. |
| C．Its geographical position. |
| D．Its favourable climate. |
| A．Two-thirds of them stayed there. |
| B．One out of five people got rich. |
| C．Almost everyone gave up. |
| D．Half of them died. |
| A．They found the city too crowded. |
| B．They wanted to try their luck elsewhere. |
| C．They were unable to stand the winter. |
| D．They were short of food. |
| A．The rise and fall of a city. |
| B．The gold rush in Canada. |
| C．Journeys into the wilderness. |
| D．Tourism in Dawson. |
2 . I’ve been working as a UN Peacekeeper in the Central African Republic for the past two years. Before this, I was a pilot and I
The Central African Republic is a relatively small country. Since it got
We peacekeepers
As a woman, I am particularly
My life is not
| A．hated | B．enjoyed | C．guarded | D．changed |
| A．gave in to | B．looked up to | C．kept up with | D．signed up with |
| A．treatment | B．technology | C．independence | D．inspiration |
| A．flee | B．return | C．sweep | D．tend |
| A．In turn | B．In surprise | C．In response | D．In addition |
| A．measure | B．reputation | C．business | D．mission |
| A．follow | B．expand | C．monitor | D．block |
| A．ensure | B．prove | C．report | D．predict |
| A．bridge | B．barrier | C．castle | D．shelter |
| A．protected | B．trusted | C．valued | D．doubted |
| A．deserve | B．prefer | C．plan | D．fail |
| A．gently | B．equally | C．seriously | D．honestly |
| A．boring | B．rewarding | C．difficult | D．fancy |
| A．association | B．accommodation | C．administration | D．adaptation |
| A．available | B．ambitious | C．worthwhile | D．educational |
3 . As cultural symbols go, the American car is quite young. The Model T Ford was built at the Piquette Plant in Michigan a century ago, with the first rolling off the assembly line（装配线） on September 27, 1908. Only eleven cars were produced the next month. But eventually Henry Ford would build fifteen million of them.
Modern America was born on the road, behind a wheel. The car shaped some of the most lasting aspects of American culture: the roadside diner, the billboard, the motel, even the hamburger. For most of the last century, the car represented what it meant to be American—going forward at high speed to find new worlds. The road novel, the road movie, these are the most typical American ideas, born of abundant petrol, cheap cars and a never-ending interstate highway system, the largest public works project in history.
In 1928 Herbert Hoover imagined an America with “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.” Since then, this society has moved onward, never looking back, as the car transformed America from a farm-based society into an industrial
The cars that drove the American Dream have helped to create a global ecological disaster. In America the demand for oil has grown by 22 percent since 1990.
The problems of excessive（过度的）energy consumption, climate change and population growth have been described in a book by the American writer Thomas L. Friedman. He fears the worst, but hopes for the best.
Friedman points out that the green economy（经济）is a chance to keep American strength. “The ability to design, build and export green technologies for producing clean water, clean air and healthy and abundant food is going to be the currency of power in the new century.”
1. Why is hamburger mentioned in paragraph 2?| A．To explain Americans’ love for travelling by car. |
| B．To show the influence of cars on American culture. |
| C．To stress the popularity of fast food with Americans. |
| D．To praise the effectiveness of America’s road system. |
| A．Decline of economy. | B．Environmental problems. |
| C．A shortage of oil supply. | D．A farm-based society. |
| A．Ambiguous. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Hopeful. | D．Tolera |
4 . If you want to disturb the car industry, you'd better have a few billion dollars: Mom-and-pop carmakers are unlikely to beat the biggest car companies. But in agriculture, small farmers can get the best of the major players. By connecting directly with customers, and by responding quickly to changes in the markets as well as in the ecosystems(生态系统）, small farmers can keep one step ahead of the big guys. As the co-founder of the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC, 美国青年农会）and a family farmer myself. I have a front-row seat to the innovations among small farmers that are transforming the industry.
For example, take the Quick Cut Greens Harvester, a tool developed just a couple of years ago by a young farmer, Jonathan Dysinger, in Tennessee, with a small loan from a local Slow Money group. It enables small-scale farmers to harvest 175 pounds of green vegetables per hour—a huge improvement over harvesting just a few dozen pounds by hand—suddenly making it possible for the little guys to compete with large farms of California. Before the tool came out, small farmers couldn't touch the price per pound offered by California farms. But now, with the combination of a better price point and a generally fresher product, they can stay in business.
The sustainable success of small farmers, though, won't happen without fundamental changes to the industry. One crucial factor is secure access to land. Competition from investors, developers, and established large farmers makes owning one's own land unattainable for many new farmers.
From 2004 to 2013, agricultural land values doubled, and they continue to rise in many regions.
Another challenge for more than a million of the most qualified farm workers and managers is a non-existent path to citizenship — the greatest barrier to building a farm of their own. With farmers over the age of 65 outnumbering(多于）farmers younger than 35 by six to one, and with two-thirds of the nation's farmland in need of a new farmer, we must clear the path for talented people willing to grow the nation's food.
There are solutions that could light a path toward a more sustainable and fair farm economy, but farmers can't clumsily put them together before us. We at the NYFC need broad support as we urge Congress to increase farmland conservation, as we push for immigration reform, and as we seek policies that will ensure the success of a diverse and ambitious next generation of farms from all backgrounds. With a new farm bill to be debated in Congress, consumers must take a stand with young farmers.
1. The author mentions car industry at the beginning of the passage to introduce .| A．the progress made in car industry |
| B．a special feature of agriculture |
| C．a trend of development in agriculture |
| D．the importance of investing in car industry |
| A．Loans to small local farmers are necessary. |
| B．Technology is vital for agricultural development. |
| C．Competition between small and big farms is fierce |
| D．Small farmers may gain some advantages over big ones. |
| A．To gain more financial aid. |
| B．To hire good farm managers. |
| C．To have farms of their own. |
| D．To win old farmers’ support. |
| A．Seek support beyond NYFC. |
| B．Expand farmland conservation. |
| C．Become members of NYFC. |
| D．Invest more to improve technology. |
5 . Bruno went into the kitchen and got the biggest surprise of his life. He could barely believe his eyes. “Shmuel!” he said. “What are you doing here in my kitchen?”
Shmuel looked up and his terrified face
He held his hand out and Bruno noticed that it was like the hand of the pretend skeleton. In reply, Bruno held his own hand out, which appeared
“Shmuel! Here!” said Bruno, stepping forward and putting some slices of chicken in his friend’s hand. “Just eat them.” The boy stared at the food in his hand for a moment and then looked up at Bruno with wide and
“Thank you, Bruno.” said Shmuel, giving a faint smile.
Bruno smiled back and was about to offer him more food, but just at that moment Lieutenant Kotler reappeared. Bruno stared at him, feeling the
“Answer me!” shouted Lieutenant Kotler.
“No, sir. He gave it to me,” said Shmuel, tears welling up in his eyes. “He’s my friend,” he added.
“Do you know this boy, Bruno?” he asked in a loud voice.
Bruno’s mouth
“Tell me, Bruno!” shouted Kotler, his face growing red. “I won’t ask you a third time.”
“I’ve
Hearing that, Shmuel wasn’t crying any more, merely staring at the floor and looking as if he was trying to
| A．searched for | B．broke into | C．wiped out | D．held back |
| A．mouths | B．wrists | C．figures | D．fingers |
| A．healthy | B．flexible | C．rough | D．slim |
| A．adventurous | B．straightforward | C．inspiring | D．different |
| A．sharp | B．curious | C．grateful | D．regretful |
| A．slice | B．glance | C．shadow | D．glass |
| A．atmosphere | B．breathing | C．responsibility | D．schedule |
| A．Comforting | B．Introducing | C．Ignoring | D．Avoiding |
| A．collect | B．steal | C．clean | D．remove |
| A．explanation | B．help | C．mercy | D．apology |
| A．dropped open | B．shut up | C．felt dry | D．worked fast |
| A．thrilled | B．guilty | C．awkward | D．terrified |
| A．frequently | B．rarely | C．never | D．occasionally |
| A．forbid | B．convince | C．warn | D．permit |
| A．pull | B．pass | C．fell | D．escape |
6 . The capital of a country is often a very populated city where much history has been made due to the high-level political and economic functions that occur there. However, sometimes government leaders decide to move the capital from one city to another. Capital relocation has been done hundreds of times throughout history. The ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Chinese changed their capital frequently.
Some countries choose new capitals that are more easily defended in a time of invasion (侵略) or war. Some new capitals are planned and built in previously undeveloped areas to promote development. Countries sometimes change their capital because they expect some type of political, social, or economic benefit. They hope and expect that the new capitals will surely develop into cultural treasure and hopefully make the country a more stable place.
Here are capital relocations that have occurred in approximately the last few centuries.
| Asia | Japan | from Kyoto to Tokyo — 1868 |
| Turkey | from Istanbul to Ankara — 1923 | |
| Israel | from Tel Aviv-Jaffo to Jerusalem — 1950 | |
| Europe | Poland | from Krakow to Warsaw — 1596 |
| Finland | from Turku to Helsinki — 1812 | |
| Italy | from Turin to Florence to Salerno to Rome — 1871 | |
| The Americas | The US | from New York to Washington — 1800 |
| Jamaica | from Port Royal to Spanish Town to Kingston — 1872 | |
| Oceania | New Zealand | from Auckland to Wellington — 1865 |
| A．To further expand their land. |
| B．To uncover ancient treasure. |
| C．To develop undeveloped areas. |
| D．To declare war on another country. |
| A．Turkey. | B．Poland. |
| C．The United Sate. | D．New Zealand. |
| A．They moved the capitals more than once. |
| B．Their capitals were destroyed in the war. |
| C．They moved their capitals in the same year. |
| D．Their capitals moved because of the economy. |
7 . I remember when Kamala Harris became Joe Biden's running mate. It seemed funny how many people pronounced her name incorrectly. On one occasion, a news host became upset when being corrected, and purposely called her Kumbaya.
I am no stranger to this issue as many of my students are from Asian and Middle Eastern countries, and sometimes their names are difficult for me to pronounce, even after asking them how to say it. Many students seem unwilling to correct me when I attempt to learn their names correctly. The other thing I’ve seen in growing numbers is students “adopting” an English name.
It's much more common than many think, for people to change their names in order to fit in.
This is especially the case when it comes to seeking jobs. Racial and cultural minorities often attempt to avoid discrimination hiring by hiding racial cues on the resume including changing their name. This is referred to as “resume whitening”. Research shows almost 50 percent of black and Asian job applicants did so.
Xian Zhao from the University of Toronto researches ethnic (种族的) name pronunciation, saying that many people don’t understand that habitually pronouncing an unfamiliar name inaccurately is a form of indirect discrimination. It sends a message that “you are the minorities” says Zhao. “You are not important in this environment, so why should I take time and my effort to learn it?”On the other end, those with ethnic names frequently don’t correct people, even when their name is pronounced wrong repeatedly, feeling it is better just to keep the peace and not stand out for being difficult.
It is important to try to pronounce everyone’s name as they pronounce it. This communicates respect of them as a person and their culture. There is nothing wrong with asking someone to repeat their name so that you can learn to pronounce it properly. This is usually appreciated.
1. When their names are incorrectly pronounced, the author’s Asian students| A．attempt to laugh at it | B．tend to accept it |
| C．offer to correct the author | D．agree to change their names |
| A．An application for a better job. |
| B．A change in work environment. |
| C．A ban on racial discrimination in workplace. |
| D．A practice of using Western names in job seeking. |
| A．ethnics accept their names being mispronounced to save trouble |
| B．ethnics fight effectively with the discrimination against their names |
| C．many westerners pronounce ethnic names incorrectly on purpose |
| D．many westerners make efforts to pronounce ethnic names correctly |
| A．Critical. | B．Uncaring. | C．Reserved. | D．Supportive. |
8 . Many adults in South Korea have chosen either not to have children or not to marry. A South Korean government agency announced in September that the total fertility rate reached 0. 81 last year. The total fertility rate is the average number of babies born to each woman in their reproductive years. South Korea5s fertility rate has been the world’s lowest for three years now.
The population decreased for the first time in 2021. It raised concerns for severe damage to the economy. Some observers expect labor shortages and high spending on retirement payments as the number of older people increases while the number of taxpayers decreases. President Yoon Suk Yeol has ordered policymakers to find better ways to deal with the problem. The fertility rate, he said, is still decreasing although South Korea spent $ 210 billion over the past 16 years to increase it.
Many young South Koreans say that they don’t want to have a family. Reasons some say for not having children include: a difficult job market, costly housing, inequality between the sexes, and social inequality. The high cost of raising children in a competitive society is also a reason. Some women say men expect them to do much of the childcare while they face discrimination at work.
Lee So-Young is a population policy expert at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. She said, “People think our country isn’t an easy place to live.” And she added, “They believe their children can’t have better lives than them.” Choi Yoon Kyung is an expert at the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. She said many people who fail to enter good schools and get good jobs feel they have become “dropouts” who “cannot be happy”.
South Korea has been offering different incentives (刺激) and support programs for those who give birth to many children. But Choi said the fertility rate has been falling too fast to see any real effects.
1. Why does the author mention the number in paragraph 1?| A．To present a fact. | B．To explain a rule. |
| C．To clarify a concept. | D．To make a comparison. |
| A．More citizens fail to be happy. |
| B．Retirement payment falls down. |
| C．People have to pay higher taxes. |
| D．Less people are available for work. |
| A．The gender equality. |
| B．The loss of government support. |
| C．The ever increasing life pressure. |
| D．The high expectation of children. |
| A．The rising stress among young South Koreans. |
| B．The government^ effort to improve fertility rate. |
| C．The continuous low fertility rate in South Korea. |
| D．The severe economic damage of less new-born babies. |
9 . As the global population grows and shifts towards urban living, the land available in our cities is being under increasing pressure.In order to be sustainable, cities need to find ways to minimize their urban expansion.One option is to build upwards; another is to dig down.
In Montreal, constructed underground to relieve overcrowding in the city streets is RESO —one of the largest underground complexes in the world.It is a network connecting everything from shops and banks to flats and hotels.This shows how going underground can meet human needs whilst also bringing certain environmental benefits.Underground transport can reduce traffic jam above ground, thereby improving air quality.Furthermore, thanks to their relatively constant climate throughout the year, underground spaces consume less energy for heating and cooling.
When planning underground construction projects, developers must consider existing structures on or near the site, such as the remains of historic buildings.Designers must also ensure any underground space intended for human use has good air quality.One example is the forthcoming LDN Hotel,an underground hotel beneath the streets of London.Designers are using a wide range of plans to help keep the air inside clean,together with a state-of-the-art ventilation system (通风系统).
Light is another key consideration.In New York, plans for the world's first underground park Demonstrate novel ways of bringing natural rays beneath the surface.By employing solar technology light is to be reflected down through a series of pipes into the terminal below.This light would be sufficient for photosynthesis (光合作用) to occur and the park's plants to grow naturally.
Today's architects are developing innovative ways to make underground spaces functional and comfortable.The question remains whether they can provide sustainable and realistic options for the future.Besides practical considerations, there exists the challenge of building a positive perception of “going underground".Yet, the obvious challenges of constructing habitable underground spaces must be weighed against the urgent issue of housing the world's ballooning population.One day, it will feel as natural to live and work underground as it does to do so over 100 storeys high.
1. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 2?| A．To advertise the underground complexes. |
| B．To give suggestions on relieving crowdedness. |
| C．To explain how the underground network works. |
| D．To introduce the benefits of building underground. |
| A．By giving examples. |
| B．By listing study findings. |
| C．By making comparisons. |
| D．By quoting others' words. |
| A．Going underground can solve the problem of global warming. |
| B．Good air quality is superior to other factors. |
| C．Natural light is not necessary for underground plants. |
| D．The future of going underground calls for people's positive attitude. |
| A．Ways to house the world population. |
| B．Concerns for the urban expansion. |
| C．Why and how to build underground. |
| D．The promising future of our cities. |
10 . Deo had grown up barefoot in Burundi, but for a peasant boy he had done well. He was twenty-four. Until recently he had been a medical student, for three years at or near the top of his class. But he had spent the past six months on the run.
He had one friend who had seen more of the world than East Central Africa, a fellow medical student named Jean. And it was Jean who had decided that New York was where he should go. Deo was traveling on a commercial visa. Jean’s French father had written a letter identifying Deo as an employee on a mission to America. He was supposed to be going to New York to sell coffee. Deo had read up on coffee beans in case he was questioned. Jean’s father had also paid for the plane tickets. A fat book let of tickets.
He had heard of French soldiers behaving badly in Rwanda, and had even caught glimpses of them training militiamen(民兵) in the camps, but waking up and seeing a white person in the next seat wasn’t alarming. No one called him a cockroach (蟑螂). No one held a machete (大砍刀).
A voice was speaking to him. He turned and saw a policeman who seemed friendly. Deo spoke to him in French, but the man shook his head and smiled. He asked a question in what Deo guessed was English. Then a woman who had been sitting nearby got up and walked over French, at long last French, coming out of her mouth. Perhaps she could help, the woman said in French. Deo thought: “God. I’m still in your hands.” She arranged to sit next to him on the flight to New York and asked him lots of questions. Deo wanted to pay her back for helping him. So he tried to answer her questions. They talked most of the way to New York. After such long solitude (独处), it felt wonderful to talk.
When he reached Immigration the agent stared at Deo’s documents, then started asking questions in what had to be English. There was nothing to do except smile. The agent went off and came back with another man. He introduced himself to Deo in French. His name was Muhammad. He said he came from Senegal. Muhammad asked Deo the agents’ questions and also some questions of his own. For the agents, he asked Deo, “Where are you coming from?” When Deo said he had come from Burundi, Muhammad made a pained face and said to him in French, “How did you get out?”
There was no time even to attempt an answer. The agents were asking another question: Deo’s visa said he was here on business. What business?
Selling coffee beans, Deo told them through Muhammad. Just keep smiling, Deo told himself.
How much money did he have?
Two hundred dollars, Deo said with pride. The cash had been a gift from Jean. Exchanged for Burundian francs, it could have bought a lot of cows. But neither Muhammad nor the agents looked impressed.
Where was he staying?
Jean had told him he’d be asked this. A hotel, he said.
The agents laughed. A week in a hotel on two hundred dollars?
In 1994, airport security wasn’t what it soon would be. Muhammad said something in English to the agents. His words must have been the right ones, because after a few more questions, the agents shrugged at each other and let him through, into America.
He had no idea what he’d do next. After six months on the run, he was in the habit of not looking ahead. And what was there to fear? What could the man in the booth up ahead do to him? Whatever it might be, he’d already seen worse. God had taken care of him so far. And still was taking care of him, it seemed. As this serious-looking stranger, Muhammad, walked him out of Customs, he said that Deo could stay with him in New York City. But Deo would have to wait here for three hours. Muhammad worked at the airport as a baggage handler. He had to finish his shift. Could Deo wait three hours?
Only three hours? said Deo. Of course!
1. Which of the following is the reason why Deo left his hometown?| A．Jean persuaded him to go to New York. |
| B．Jean's father paid for the plane tickets for him. |
| C．He was an employee on a business mission to America. |
| D．He wanted to flee his home town to seek shelter in New York. |
| A．She arranged a seat for him. |
| B．She did the interpreting for him. |
| C．She asked the policeman to show mercy to him. |
| D．She talked with him which made him feel less lonely. |
| A．God is toying with him. | B．God is taking him under his wing. |
| C．He is at the mercy of God. | D．He can’t break away from God. |
| A．happy | B．sympathetic |
| C．terrified | D．relieved |
| A．he was a white person |
| B．he was brave and optimistic |
| C．he had a good academic performance |
| D．he was grateful to those who had helped him |
| A．Selling coffee beans in NewYork. |
| B．Turning to Jean’s father for help. |
| C．Being reduced to a beggar in the street. |
| D．Making a living in New York with Muhammad’s help. |
