Motuo lies in the south of the Himalayas in Tibet. It is known as the “Natural Museum of Tibet”. It is home to different kinds of mountains, rivers, waterfalls, plants and animals. Its special geographic location makes it a beautiful place, but at the same time, one of the hardest places to reach. It was the last county (县) in China without a highway (公路).
The construction (建造) of the highway to Motuo started in the 1960s. However, it was not completed until over 50 years later. In 2013, the Motuo Highway was finally opened.
The highway is 117 kilometers long. To make it safer, the two-way highway is open in only one direction every other day. Although it doesn’t seem like a very well-built highway, it is still considered as a mega engineering project (超级工程项目). Why is that?
In this area, earthquakes and heavy rains happen very often. There could be falling rocks or even landslides (滑坡). People must build many walls and nets to protect the highway.
Another challenge is the snow. Large amounts of snow can sometimes destroy (摧毁) forests, rocks and roads. As a result, the construction of the highway to Motuo was stopped several times. To solve this problem, people built a tunnel (隧道) that goes through the snowy mountain area. Finally Motuo is no longer shut off from the world.
The highway is not only a way to connect Motuo to the outside world, but also a great chance for us to see how our country takes care of people in the far mountain areas. At the same time, it teaches us the Chinese spirit of “never giving up”.
1. How did the writer lead into the topic “the construction of the highway to Motuo”?| A．By telling a story. | B．By introducing Motuo. |
| C．By using an old saying. | D．By showing some numbers. |
| A．5 years. | B．10 years. | C．over 50 years. | D．117 years. |
| A．the weather in Motuo is nice |
| B．Chinese people are more friendly |
| C．when the highway to Motuo was opened to the world |
| D．why the highway to Motuo is considered as a mega engineering project |
| A．To share the “Natural Museum of Tibet”. |
| B．To explain how people constructed the highway. |
| C．To tell people it’s dangerous to drive on the highway to Motuo. |
| D．To show China’s care for its people and spirit of ‘never giving up’. |
7th floor-Strawberries. 15th floor-Carrots. It sounds like you’re in the lift of a supermarket, but actually this describes a vertical farm (垂直农场)!
Vertical farming means growing plants on different levels in tall buildings. There is running water, and sunlight enters through glass windows with LED lights for plants that don’t receive direct sunlight at some points of the day. Also, farmers in vertical farms have controlled the temperature and humidity (湿度). So no matter what the weather is like outside, the plants can continue growing! It’s possible to grow crops (庄稼) all year round.
Vertical farming began as an idea at Columbia University in New York City in 1999. Dickson Despommier, a professor, challenged his students to come up with ways to feed the population of Manhattan by growing food in the city. One idea was to use rooftop (外屋顶) gardens, but that could only feed 2% of the population. Out of nowhere, Despommier suggested that people could grow plants in tall buildings in the city. Then vertical farming was born!
Today, vertical farming is a reality and it’s growing in popularity. As is known to us, the population of the world will become larger and larger, so we will need more food. Cutting down forests to grow crops would do harm to the environment, so vertical farms can be a solution.
Despommier says that a 30-storey 2-hectare (30层两公顷的) vertical farm can grow the same amount of crops in a year as a normal 1,000-hectare farm! In 2012, the world’s first commercial (商业的) vertical farm opened in Singapore. Today, there are many vertical farms around the world.
1. When you are in a vertical farm, you will have a feeling of ________.| A．staying in a forest | B．staying in the sun |
| C．being in a lift of a supermarket | D．being outside a tall building |
| A．a lot of LED lights | B．running water |
| C．comfortable temperature | D．depending on the weather |
| A．vertical farms are large enough to make food |
| B．the conditions in vertical farms can be controlled |
| C．it is cheaper for farmers to grow crops in vertical farms |
| D．using vertical farms to grow crops is meaningful and popular |
( ① = Paragraph 1 ② = Paragraph 2, …)
A． | B． | C． | D． |
 Eyes on the Robot At a concert in South Korea, a robot stood in the front and directed the musicians. It moved its arms quickly and smoothly (平稳地). The instruments were brought into the mix. The music grew louder and more exciting. How amazing it was! But can the robot take a human conductor’s (指挥) place? No, because it cannot hear! |
 Pick It Up! What a huge bottle on the grass! It is painted by Saype, an artist, with chalk and charcoal (炭笔). It is as large as three tennis courts. By painting this bottle, Saype hopes to make people respect (尊重) nature and reduce pollution. When you see a bottle on the ground, pick it up! |
 It’s a Real Bear Here Hello! I am Angela. I can stand on my hind legs like a human. Many people came to visit me at Hangzhou Zoo. They were surprised to see my gestures. Some even said I was a zookeeper in a bear’s skin. They were wrong, of course. I am a real bear! |
 Magic Hair What can we do with human hair cuttings? Micale can turn them into matted (编织的) squares (广场). These squares can then be used to absorb (吸收) oil. A kilogram of hair can absorb between seven and eight kilograms of litter (垃圾) oil. |
1. The robot can’t take a human conductor’s place because it can’t ________.
| A．hear anything | B．see conductors |
| C．move its arm quickly | D．play the instruments |
| A．introduce how he painted it |
| B．show he is good at painting |
| C．tell people it was hard to finish it |
| D．remind people to care for the environment |
| A．South Korea | B．Hangzhou | C．the grass | D．a concert |
| A．boring | B．relaxing | C．creative | D．painful |
The earliest form of writing appeared about 5,500 years ago. In the past, handwriting was an important subject in school. Now, many students sometimes do homework on a computer and hand in their tasks online. Many people thinking typing (打字) is quick and easy to read, while writing by hand may take longer than typing. But others say writing with a pen and paper is more valuable. Writing by hand has big advantages.
Research shows that when we write down ideas with a pen or pencil, we make the brain active to help us learn, remember and think. Writing by hand lets people show their creativity. No two people have the same handwriting. Writing by hand can also help people concentrate (集中注意力). When using a computer, people can go online or play computer games easily.
Handwriting may be pretty, however, people can get their ideas and thoughts down more quickly when they type. Typing can also make it easier for people to change. Once something is written by hand, you can’t delete (删除) it. If you want to make a change, you have to write it all over again. What’s more, some people’s handwriting may be hard to read. Typing makes everything clear, and no one will have to worry about their words being clear enough.
1. When did people begin to write?2. How is the brain when we write by hand?
3. How many advantages of typing are mentioned in Paragraph 3?
4. If you need to write a report, will you type or write it by hand? Why? (Write 30 words or more)
5 . Why Do We Yawn?
Do you yawn? There are about 20 reasons that scientists think are possible for yawning after research. They do not know exactly why yawning happens, but they do know many facts about yawning.
We know that everyone yawns in the same way. First you open your mouth slowly. Your mouth stays open for about five seconds. You take in a lot of air and then push it out. Then you quickly close your mouth. We also know that yawning is contagious. When you see someone yawn, you yawn, too.
Many people say they yawn because they are bored or tired. That might be true. People do often yawn before they sleep and after they wake up. However, we know that people also yawn when they are excited or nervous. Olympic runners, for example, scientists found that a yawn can help a warm brain cool down.
Some scientists believe that yawning makes you notice things more quickly. When you yawn, you breathe deeply. You also stretch (强化) the muscles (肌肉), mouth, and neck. Your eardrums stretch, too. Maybe this helps you to be quicker to notice things.
In some countries, people think yawning is not nice. People put their hands over their mouths to cover a yawn. In other countries, people think yawning is healthy. They think that opening the mouth very big can let good things in. When they breathe out, they think that bad things go out of the body with the air.
Scientists do not spend much time studying yawning. That is probably because yawning does not hurt. It is just something we do.
1. What does the underlined word “contagious” in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．Able to spread quickly. |
| B．Able to breathe easily. |
| C．Able to change easily. |
| D．Able to sleep quickly. |
| A．They are too tired or too bored. |
| B．A yawn can let good things in. |
| C．A yawn can help a warm brain cool down. |
| D．A yawn can stretch the muscles in their faces. |
| A．Reasons for yawning. |
| B．Advantages of yawning. |
| C．Disadvantages of yawning. |
| D．Different ideas about yawning. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
6 . In the 1950s, scientists caught a shearwater (剪水鹱) on an island off the coast of Wales. They took it to the city of Boston, and set it free. Twelve days later it was back in Wales. Many birds share this gift for finding their way.
Most migrating (迁徙的) birds fly between cold and warm places, partly to avoid the winter. Their trips are tiring and dangerous-fewer than half of first-time migrating birds make it back the next year. Small birds often fly at night, so they must stay over land and travel by day.
Some migrating birds seem to be born with a map that tells them where to go. Cuckoos,for example, can find the way without being shown. Other birds learn the way by following a group of birds and remembering landmarks, such as mountains and rivers. Landmarks based on smell and sound-such as the smell of a pine forest or the sound of crashing waves-may also help.
Experiments with homing pigeons tell us that some birds have a built-in magnetic compass (磁罗盘). This helps pigeons to find the way home from hundreds of miles away. But when tiny magnets (磁铁) are tied to their heads, they get lost.
Birds that migrate by day use the sun as a compass. They also have a built-in clock, to make up for the sun’s movement across the sky as the day goes. Snow geese migrate by the sun; when days grow longer, they become unable to stay quiet and want to set off on the long journey.
1. How does the writer start the text?| A．By telling a story. |
| B．By listing numbers. |
| C．By asking questions. |
| D．By giving an opinion. |
| A．Large birds migrate by riding on the rising warm air. |
| B．Cuckoos are born with the ability to find their way. |
| C．Magnets can lead homing pigeons to right places. |
| D．The snow geese set off on the migration when days grow longer. |
①warm air ②the sun ③smells ④a map
| A．①② | B．②③ | C．③④ | D．①④ |
| A．Science. | B．Sports. | C．Nature. | D．Health. |
7 . Most of the fruits we eat today might not look or taste like their wild ancestors at all. They become popular after going through development over a long period of time in different parts of the world.
Tomatoes were first grown in the western part of South America. As early as the 16th century, people discovered wild tomatoes. Those were the ancestors of tomatoes we see today. Although the Spanish and Italians began eating tomatoes over two centuries ago, the British and Americans continued to avoid them because they thought tomatoes with bright red color were poisonous (有毒的). In the 19th century, Americans began using them commonly in cooking. Tomatoes were only used as ornamental (装饰性的) plants in gardens in China until the early 1900s. Since then, it has quickly become a popular food in China.
Peaches are also a kind of very old plant. People have worked for centuries to create modern peaches. The ancestors of today’s peaches used to be small, sour and had pit (核) that took up 35 percent of the fruit itself. Peaches became what we eat today as a result of great efforts.
The watermelon is one of the most common fruits today. The pink, juicy and delicious part is also the result of centuries of development. In the 7th century, Indians began to plant watermelons, which made their way to China in the 10th century. However, they were smaller and less sweet than modern melons. Fruits with fewer seeds (种子) and a more juicy part were developed in the 17th century as a result of European farmers’ experiments. That is how we ended up with the delicious watermelon today.
1. What is the first paragraph written for?| A．Introducing the topic. | B．Showing the result. |
| C．giving an example. | D．Answering a question. |
| A．larger, sourer and have a bigger pit | B．smaller, sourer and have a bigger pit |
| C．larger, sweeter and have a smaller pit | D．smaller, sweeter and have a smaller pit |
| A．Chinese people could eat tomatoes in 1854. |
| B．Chinese people might have had watermelons in 1030. |
| C．Americans might have planted tomatoes in 1678. |
| D．The British could buy watermelons in 660. |
| A．To advise people to develop fruit plants. |
| B．To share how to change wild fruits to modern ones. |
| C．To introduce wild fruits in different parts of the world. |
| D．To let people learn more about the development of fruits. |
8 . Do you like to start your day with a cup of coffee? It cheers people up and helps in burning fat. However, the hobby also brings problems. One study shows that about 50 billion single-use coffee cups are thrown away in the US every year, while another believes the number is closer to 130 million. Whatever the actual number is, it is clear that our use of coffee cups is bad for the environment.
Fortunately, some companies are trying their best to solve the problem. GaeaStar is one of them. It is trying to create single-use clay coffee cups to take the place of plastic ones.
The cups are suitable for both cold and hot drinks. They are made of clay, water and salt, so they will produce no waste. You even don’t need to throw the cups into a rubbish bin. You can simply throw them onto the ground and smash (粉碎) them. After all, they come from earth and return to earth in the same form. Recycling is no longer required.
In fact, the idea of using clay as a solution (解决方法) to the problem isn’t new. But GaeaStar connects it with new technology. Using 3D printers, it can make the cup in 10 seconds. Its CEO says that printing a clay cup uses 60% less energy than creating a plastic or paper cup. This is an example of how new technology brings old ideas back to life.
If you are interested in GaeaStar’s special cups, visit the Verve Coffee Shop in California!
1. The numbers in Paragraph 1 are mentioned to show ______.| A．the advantages (益处) of drinking coffee | B．the changes of coffee cups in the US |
| C．the problem caused by people’s love for coffee | D．the increase in the number of coffee drinkers |
| A．Luckily. | B．Hardly. | C．Especially. | D．Surprisingly. |
| A．Solutions to the problem of plastic pollution. |
| B．Examples of using technology to solve problems. |
| C．How GaeaStar uses 3D printers to make paper cups. |
| D．How GaeaStar connects an old idea with new technology. |
| A．www.travelers.com | B．www.techtimes.com |
| C．www.chinaculture.org | D．www.grammarbook.com |
9 . If you want to speak English well, you’d better speak a little English every day. As we know, the best way to learn any new language is just to speak it. It doesn’t matter if you only know five English words or if you’re really fluent (流利的). Here are some suggestions for you if you want to improve your spoken English.
Don’t wait until you feel “more comfortable” speaking in English. You won’t reach that level soon, so push yourself outside your comfort zone (舒适区) and start speaking English today. Don’t be shy. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your language skills improve.
Find an English speaker who is willing to spend some time speaking English with you. You may be available to offer them a language exchange. For example, they spend 30 minutes speaking English with you and you spend 30 minutes speaking your native language with them.
You will get more chances to speak English if you live in an English-speaking country. You can practice by starting simple chat with the people you meet. You don’t need to care about what the conversations are about. Just open your mouth and speak English. Even saying hello to a shopkeeper or asking a stranger for directions is the chance you need.
1. What's the best way to learn a new language according to the text?| A．To do more exercises. |
| B．To memorize more words. |
| C．To try to speak it. |
| D．To remember the grammar. |
| A．Give an example. |
| B．List some reasons. |
| C．Tell a story. |
| D．Show numbers. |
| A．avoid making mistakes in English |
| B．spend 30 minutes speaking English every day |
| C．have more chances to practice English |
| D．choose the conversations you like |
| A．Health. | B．Education. | C．Film. | D．History. |
Do you like poems? What do you know about bamboo? Let’s read the poem Bamboo in the Rock by Chinese poet Zheng Xie.
竹石
(郑燮)
咬定青山不放松，立根原在破岩中。
千磨万击还坚劲，任尔东西南北风。
Bamboo in the Rock
(By Zheng Xie)
Upright stands the bamboo amid green mountains steep,
Its toothlike root in broken rock is planted deep.
It’s strong and firm though struck and beaten without rest,
Careless of the wind from north or south; east or west.
(Translated by Xu Yuanchong)
“Bamboo in the Rock,” is a Chinese poem by a man named Zheng Xie, often called Zheng Banqiao. He was born in 1693. Besides being a great artist and poet, Zheng was also a government worker during a time in China called the Qing Dynasty. He didn’t like the unfair things he saw happening in the government, so he started making art and writing poems about things like bamboo, which were easy to understand but had deep meanings.
His poem paints a picture of bamboo growing strong even though it’s in a tough spot, squeezed within rocks on a mountain. No matter what difficulties the bamboo faces, like bad weather hitting it from every side, it keeps standing up straight. The bamboo is a symbol of strength and determination because it remains firm and doesn’t break under pressure.
The poem is full of beautiful words about nature, but it’s also there to teach us something important just like the bamboo, people should stay strong and focused even when life is challenging. By facing hard times, we can build our inner strength, just like the strong bamboo.
Young people can learn a lot from this poem because it shows them the importance of staying strong and determined, even when things get tough. The poem reminds teenagers that tests and difficulties can help them grow even stronger. It is an inspiring message for them to remain brave during hard times and never give up, just like bamboo standing tall among the challenges.
1. What’s the name of the poem?2. Why is the bamboo a symbol of strength and determination?
3. How can we build our inner strength, just like the strong bamboo?
4. What do you think of bamboo and why do you think so?
