How has technology made your life easier? When you go to a shopping mall, you can enjoy free Wi-Fi there. When you want to take a taxi, you can book one with your phone. In fact, all of these things can be seen as the first building blocks of a smart city.
The idea of a smart city was first suggested by tech company IBM in 2010. Generally, a smart city is a city that uses digital (电子的) technology, such as 5G networks and the “internet of things”, to improve urban planning, save money and resources (资源), and make our lives more convenient.
Cities like Boston, Amsterdam and Copenhagen are already using smart technology to improve public services. In the US cities of Boston and Baltimore, smart trash bins can sense how full they are and tell workers when they need to be cleaned. In Amsterdam, traffic is monitored (监测) and adjusted according to real-time data gathered from sensors around the city. There are fewer traffic jams.
Smart cities will allow us to save resources. By using sensors and 5G networks to check the usage of water, gas and electricity, city managers can figure out how to use these resources more efficiently. For example, water and gas pipes (管道) could remind repair workers when there is a leak (泄漏). Air pollution could be more closely monitored, too.
Of course, it will take time to build the smart cities of the future. But since we’ve already seen successful examples, it won’t be long until more cities join in. Tech Republic estimates (估计) that by 2050, about 60 percent of people worldwide will live in smart cities.
1. What is a smart city?2. Which country does the city Boston belong to?
3. How will smart cities help us save resources?
4. It won’t take a long time to build the smart cities of the future, will it?
5. How many people will live in smart cities by 2050 according to Tech Republic?
2 . When your pen is broken, the battery(电池)in your toy runs out, or you have some leftover(吃剩的)food， what do you do with these things? You will probably throw them all into one bin. But actually, all kinds of rubbish need to be sorted(分类) separately.
Rubbish sorting is a big issue (议题)worldwide. In recent years, some Chinese cities have been working hard on it, Shanghai has worked with Alipay to create a“green account(账户)” service for its residents(居民). Account holders get points by sorting their rubbish correctly. Through the Alipay app, they ran exchange the points for milk, phone cards and other products . The city is asking all of its residents to sort their rubbish into four groups: wet, recyclable, harmful and dry. Wet waste is also known as household waste. Paper, metal and glass are recyclable waste. Medicine and batteries are harmful waste. Finally, any waste that's not wet, recyclable or harmful will go in the "dry waste" bin. Many other Chinese cities are also doing this. Shenzhen has been sorting its rubbish into the same four groups since 2012. Students there must study waste-sorting guidebooks.
If you don’t sort your rubbish， it will go to a landfill(垃圾填埋场) and be buried together. These landfills can take up large areas of ground. Some rubbish can pollute the soil and groundwater and it can also do harm to the environment around us. China is improving its waste-sorting efforts. There is still a long way to go.
1. How should we deal with all kinds of rubbish?| A．We can throw them all into one bin |
| B．We can sort them separately. |
| C．We can throw them away freely. |
| D．We can reuse them all |
| A．By creating a "green account" service with the help of Alipay. |
| B．By paying people to sort their rubbish correctly. |
| C．By allowing people to exchange rubbish with each other. |
| D．By providing its residents with guidebooks to help them |
| A．Leftover food and batteries. |
| B．Metal and medicine. |
| C．Batteries and medicine |
| D．Paper and glass. |
| A．Where we can bury our waste. |
| B．Why we should sort our rubbish properly. |
| C．What kinds of waste can pollute the environment |
| D．How some kinds of waste can be reused and recycled. |
| A．Shenzhen has been sorting its rubbish for 10 years. |
| B．All the students have to take waste-sorting classes at school |
| C．As for rubbish sorting, we Chinese still have much work to do. |
| D．Burying is the only way of dealing with rubbish |
3 . ①Most people want to be happy,but few know how to find happiness. Money and success alone do not bring lasting happiness.Aristotle,a Greek thinker,said,"Happiness depends on ourselves." In other words,we make our own happiness. Here are a few suggestions to help you be happier.
②The first secret of happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life.Too often,we spend so much time thinking about the future - for example, getting into college or getting a good job-that we fail to enjoy the present.You should enjoy life's simple pleasures. Such as reading a good book,listening to your favorite music,or spending time with close friends.People who have several close friends often live happier and healthier lives.
③Another secret to living a happy life is to be active,and have hobbies where you forget your problems and time.Many people experience this dancing,or playing a sport,such as swimming.You can forget about your problems,and only think about the activity.
④Finally,many people find happiness in helping others.Studies show that people feel good when they spend their time helping others.If you want to feel happier,do good things for someone.You can help a friend with his or her studies,go shopping to buy food for an elderly person,or simply help out around the house by washing the dishes．
1. The second paragraph tells us that ．| A．we shouldn't think about our future | B．some people fail to live a happy life |
| C．happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life | D．the more friends you have,the happier you will be |
| A．hobbies take up too much time | B．it's wrong to spend time on work |
| C．everyone knows how to live a happier life | D．doing good things for someone can make you happier |
| A．Happiness is always around us in some small things． |
| B．People are able to find and make their own happiness． |
| C．Money and success will never bring people happiness． |
| D．An active person who enjoy simple life must be very happy． |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．how lo enjoy life | B．the secrets of happiness |
| C．what Aristotle said about happiness | D．the ideas for helping other people to be happy |
4 . Your third year of middle school was probably a difficult and busy time. You may have had trouble getting enough sleep. We all know that not getting enough sleep is not good for our health. But it has be found that less sleep could even cause you to have fewer friends, the Guardian reported.
According to researchers from the University of California, people who don't get enough sleep are less willing to socialize(社交)with others. They are simply too tired to go out.
The researchers did a small study. They tested 18 young people who had just had a good night's sleep -as well as tested them again after a sleepless night. The participants watched videos of people with expressions walking toward them. When the person on the video got too "close" to them, they pushed a button to stop the video, which recorded how close they allowed the person to get.
The results showed that the participants kept the person at a further distance if they hadn't gotten enough sleep. They might think the person intruded their personal space. But when the participants got a good night's sleep, they allowed the person to get much closer to them.
According to a lead researcher Matthew Walker, the less sleep you get, the less you want to socialize with others. In turn, other people may think you look strange and stay away from you. This can make you feel lonely and cause you to sleep even less. It becomes a vicious cycle(恶性循环).
So if you want to be a more sociable and popular person, seeping well might help. "One night of good see makes you feel more outgoing and confident." Walker told the Daily Mail.
1. According to the passage, in the third year of your middle school, you may meet ____.| A．schoolwork problems | B．sleeping problems |
| C．feeling problems | D．eating problems |
| A．They wanted to know how they slept well. |
| B．They wanted to know how they closed to others. |
| C．They wanted to how much courage they had. |
| D．They wanted to know how sleeping influenced them. |
| A．丢弃 | B．侵犯 | C．远离 | D．拥有 |
| A．you are easy to get on well with others |
| B．you'll get much closer to other people |
| C．it causes you to sleep more the next time |
| D．you can't be a more social and popular person |
| A．Sleeping well. | B．Socializing with other people. |
| C．A sleeping test. | D．Being more outgoing and confident. |
5 . Shing Mun Country Park is a great place to get away from the busy city. You can enjoy its beautiful sights. The park is in northwestern Kowloon, in the hills of Tai Mo Shan. It is convenient to go there by bus.
Shing Mun Country Park opened in 1997.There were not many country parks in Hong Kong then, so lots of people visited the park. Nowadays, it is still one of the most popular spots in Hong Kong.
The Country Park Visitor Center is at the entrance (入口) of the park. You can find out more about the park's history there. You can get a map of the country park there too.
Shing Mun Country Park is home to many interesting flowers and trees. The best way to enjoy the beautiful country park is to walk along the banks of Tai Shing Stream. The waterfalls and rocks will make you amazed. Facilities in the country park include kiosks, rain shelters, barbecue areas, jogging trails and nature trails. There is also a camp area nearby. The information board and direction signs show you the way to all these facilities.
The country park is open all year round. It is best to go there in spring and autumn when the weather suits hiking.
1. Shing Mun Country Park is in the ________ part of Kowloon.| A．southwest | B．northeast | C．southeast | D．northwest |
| A．bank | B．visitor center | C．camp area | D．barbecue area |
| A．设施 | B．工作人员 | C．景点 | D．名胜古迹 |
| A．there are fewer people then | B．the entry fee is lower then |
| C．there are more exhibitions then | D．the weather is good for hiking then |
| A．learn more about the park's history |
| B．enjoy many interesting flowers and trees |
| C．walk along the banks of Tai Shing Stream |
| D．swim in the waterfalls and Tai Shing Stream in summer |
Over half of the children surveyed said they had been bullied（欺负）by a sibling, and one in three said they had been hit, kicked or pushed by a sibling, others complained of name-calling and having their belongings stolen.
Other reasons for only children being much happier include not having to compete（竞争）for parents’ attention or share bedrooms with a sibling, said Gundi Knies, a researcher on the project.
Dr. Ruth Koppard, a child psychologist, said, “In an average home, the more children, the less privacy for each child. Some love sharing a bedroom with a sibling but they would rather choose to do it than have to do it”.
Homes with just one child make up nearly half of all families in Britain.
The study, to be published on Friday, questioned 2,500 young people. It also found that seven out of 10 teenagers are “very satisfied” with their lives.
1. The underlined word “sibling” means_____.
| A．兄弟或姐妹 | B．兄弟 | C．姐妹 | D．独生子女 |
| A．they won’t be bullied， hit， kicked or pushed by a sibling |
| B．they needn’t worry about name-calling and having their belongings stolen |
| C．they needn’t compete for parents’ attention or share bedrooms with a sibling. |
| D．they can get what they want， and more love from their parents |
| A．researcher | B．teacher | C．child psychologist | D．doctor |
| A．50% | B．30% | C．70% | D．10% |
| A．why the families don’t want to have more than one child. |
| B．the reasons why only children are happier than those with brothers or sisters. |
| C．sibling rivalry can have a serious effect on a child’s emotion. |
| D．homes with just one child make up nearly half of all families in Britain. |
This is a bike rental station in Paris. The worker is showing how to use a new self-service bike. They say that Paris will become “a green capital of bikes” and they plan to park 20,000 bicycles at 1,600 stations. Paris created this plan to improve the city traffic environment and reduce the waste gas displacement (废弃排气量).
At a rental station, you only have to put your credit card into the machine to rent a bike. It provides French, German, English and Chinese services. If you ride the bike for only 30 minutes to relax, you needn’t pay for it. A two-hour bike rent only costs you 4 euros.
These stations work for 24 hours every day, so a bike is rented for 10 to 14 times a day. In this way there are 200,000 people using bikes a day,
In the past few years, Paris has encouraged its people to ride bikes, but something unhappy has happened now and then. Some people break the traffic rules during rush hours. Some park their bikes everywhere. So how to park bikes is a problem that Paris will face. But this project is still a helpful way to improve its traffic environment. Don’t you think so?
1. Bicycle rental system can help Paris become a ________.
| A．fashion capital | B．sleepy city |
| C．polite city | D．green capital of bikes |
| A．relax travelers | B．improve the environment |
| C．reduce traffic accidents | D．get money |
| A．two | B．three | C．four | D．five |
| A．1,600 | B．20,000 | C．24,000 | D．200,000 |
| A．thinks bicycle rental systems are great |
| B．doesn’t agree the idea of bicycle rental system |
| C．thinks Paris is a bicycle capital |
| D．thinks bikes are better than cars |
Say something positive. Try to start or end the conversation with some good news, so that it’s not all bad. For example, “ You did very well in the interview, but unfortunately we’ve given the job to somebody else.”
Prepare your listener for the news. Use phrases to introduce what you’re going to say, like “Unfortunately, …”, “ I’m really sorry , but…” or “ I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news.” This gives the listener time to prepare for what you’re going to say.
Try to give a reason. People like know why things go wrong. Try to explain the decision. If someone doesn’t get the job, can you explain why? If you have to cancel an appointment, try to give a reason.
Use a soft tone of voice. If you’re giving someone bad news, try to use a soft, calm voice to make your sound kind. Say things to show you understand, like “I’m really sorry.” Or “I know this must be disappointing.”
1. Which step isn’t mentioned in the passage?
| A．Talk about problems |
| B．Try to give a reason |
| C．Say something positive |
| D．Prepare your listener for the news |
| A．词语 | B．语气 | C．眼神 | D．手势 |
| A．You lucky thing! |
| B．You’ll never guess what. |
| C．Bad news, I’m afraid. |
| D．That’s really wonderful. |
| A．“Unfortunately” can be used to tell the bad news. |
| B．You can start the conversation with some good news. |
| C．Tone of voice is important when giving the bad news. |
| D．Nobody likes to know the reason why things go wrong. |
| A．Bad news can be good news |
| B．Good ways to give bad news |
| C．It’s easy to give bad news |
| D．Giving bad news without any trouble |
There are two tree houses to choose from, one 30 meters and the other 35 meters above the ground. Both houses have two floors. The bedrooms are above the living area and there are bathrooms and showers. You can get up to rooms and move between floors by using ladders (梯子). You can go from one tree house to the other on a rope bridge. The houses sometimes move about in the wind but the views are fantastic.
Guests can enjoy moving through the jungle, climbing in the mountains, and watching wildlife. There are many unusual plants, birds, and insects in the area.
The Ice Hotel is in Jukkasjarvi, a village in Sweden 200 kilometers north of the Arctic（北极）Circle. Every winter, a team of architects（建筑师）, designers and snow builders build the hotel. This year there are 80 rooms.
Everything is made of ice. The walls, the floors, the ceilings（顶棚）, and even the furniture are made of ice. The beds are made of ice, too, but guests sleep on warm deer skins. Outside it can be -37℃, so inside it feels quite comfortable. The hotel has a bar, where guests can drink vodka（伏特加） from glasses made of ice. It's very popular — because there isn't much else to do.
To spend a night at Jules Underwater Lodge in Florida, guests need to scuba dive (潜水) seven meters under the sea. They enter a small house through a door at the bottom of the building. Inside, the kitchen is stored with food and there is a fridge and a microwave oven(微波炉). There is a hot shower and comfortable beds and lots of books, DVDs and video games. Most guests, however, spend their time at one of the large windows watching different fishes swimming by.
1. The writer tells us three ___________ hotels.
| A．natural | B．unusual | C．green | D．movable |
| A．disappears in August |
| B．is totally（全部） made of ice |
| C．organizes lots of activities |
| D．is enlarged every year |
| A．The bar in the ice hotel is famous for beer. |
| B．Fishes are watched through the hotels' windows. |
| C．Guests can live underwater for several days. |
| D．The tree houses are of the same height. |
| A．USA | B．Sweden | C．India | D．Japan |
| A．two | B．one | C．three | D．four |
