1 . Shipping containers are gaining popularity as a replacement for traditional houses. People can get these 20- or 40-foot steel containers with only several hundred US dollars every piece, and it’s not surprising that some industry professionals and even city planners consider them the future of home building. Here are details of some amazing homes made out of shipping containers.

London Container City (I and II)

London Container City first appeared in the heart of the docklands in 2001. It took just five months to complete the original 12 work studios. Shortly after that, a fourth floor of studios and living apartments were built on top of these. The first container city was so successful that another—Container City II—was added to it.

Los Angeles Redondo Beach house

With its modern lines and attractive spaces, the award—winning Redondo Beach House is an excellent beachside showpiece built from eight recycled steel shipping containers, along with some traditional building materials. According to the architects, the modified containers are very strong and can hardly be destroyed.

Amsterdam Keetwonen

Amsterdam’s large Keetwonen complex provides houses for 1,000 students and it is the largest container city in the world. The housing project is a great success and the units are quiet and comfortable. Each student enjoys a bathroom, kitchen and separate sleeping and studying quarters. The complex even has central heating and high-speed internet as well as areas for parking bikes.

Mexico M2ATK Container House

M2ATK designed this simple house with three containers for an artist. There are great paintings on the walls. It’s fully equipped with heating and cooling, a kitchen and bathroom. On the bottom floor are “public spaces” such as the kitchen and living room. The second floor is the bedroom, and the top floor is a studio space in which to work, read and “let fly the imagination”.

1. Compared with traditional houses, container houses are________.

A．easier to take care of	B．less expensive to build
C．more fashionable in style	D．more comfortable to live in

2. What can be learned about Amsterdam’s Keetwonen complex?

A．It has won a design award.	B．It provides modern services.
C．It is the first container city in the world.	D．It includes living space and car parks.

3. Which of the following picture might be Mexico M2ATK Container House?

A．

B．

C．

D．

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Home in a Steel Box	B．Housing Problems and Solutions
C．Future Home Challenges	D．Recycled Material for Ideal Home

3 .

Utopia is a perfect place. It is a place without war, hunger, poverty, or crime. All of the people are equal in Utopia, and the laws are all fair.

Utopia is not a new place. Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, described a perfect society in his famous dialogue The Republic. In Plato’s Republic, every person had a Zplace in the society. In 1516, Sir Thomas More wrote about an island in the Pacific Ocean where everything was perfect. He named the island “Utopia.” In 1872, Samuel Butler wrote a novel about a perfect country.

Many people came to the New World to find Utopia. Rapp, a German farmer came to the United States in 1804 to start a Utopian community. In 1815, Rapp and his followers bought land for their community in Harmony, and they made the things they needed with machines. In 1824, they sold the community to Owen, who started the Utopian community of New Harmony there. In New Harmony, everything belonged to everyone and men and women were equal, but New Harmony lasted only two years. Then Francis Wright began Nashoba, a community where white people and black people could live and work together. Nashoba lasted from 1825 to 1830. A group of intellectuals founded Brook Farm, a Utopian farming community, in 1841. However, they did not have many farming skills, so the farm closed in 1847.

Utopia is a perfect place. There is no money in Utopia because people do not need money. They do not have personal possessions because everything belongs to everyone, but it is not a real place. Most “real” Utopias last only a short time. This is because everyone wants to live in Utopia, but no one knows how to make it work. As a result, when we say something is “Utopian” today, we mean that it is a good idea, but it is not realistic.

1. According to the passage, ________ was the turst person to call a place “Utopia”.

A．Plato

B．Thomas More

C．Samuel Butler

D．Rapp

2. The underlined word “possessions” means ________ .

A．pressure

B．trouble

C．wealth

D．knowledge

3. What’s the main idea of Paragraph 3?

A．All the triers found that Utopia also had disadvantages.

B．People spent a lot of money on Utopian communities.

C．Utopian communities made these triers very satisfied

D．None of the tryouts of Utopian communities succeeded.

4. Which of the following persons is “Utopian”?

A．Amy, a middle school student who likes to write novels about a perfect world.

B．Mia, who wants to have a bright future but doesn't know how to go for it.

C．Tim, who dreams to be a presenter and makes his effort to get a job in CCTV.

D．Bush, a teenager who studies hard to realize his dream of becoming an engineer.

4 . No other planet has captivated our imaginations quite like Mars. Changing from a landscape similar to that of Earth to a red wasteland, Mars seems to hold many questions waiting for answers. With countless possibilities, countries around the world are sending spacecrafts to it.

And one of the most ambitious spacecrafts launched yet is China’s Tianwen-1. Tianwen-1, a Mars spacecraft named after a poem titled the Quest for Heavenly Truth by ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan, was launched by China on July 23, 2020. The reason why this spacecraft is regarded as ambitious is that it consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover and is going to achieve these missions in one go. However, realizing all three missions on a first-attempt is a fear that hasn’t been achieved by any country before.

Let’s start with Tianwen-1’s first mission, entering the orbit of Mars. The orbiter will not only be used as the vessel for the lander and rover to enter the orbit of Mars, but it will also be responsible for taking pictures and analyzing the surface of Mars. Equipped with many scientific instruments, the orbiter will study Martian soil, geological structure, environment and atmosphere.

Once the orbiter manages to enter the orbit around Mars, it will release the lander and rover system. To successfully land on Mars, the lander needs to decelerate from its release in the Martian atmosphere, or it will be damaged because of the high speed. NASA scientists once referred to a Mars landing as “the six minutes of terrors”, because the Martian atmosphere creates heat to any object that hopes to land on the surface. Ideally, when the lander touches the ground, it will release a 240-kilogram rover. The rover, with an expected lifespan of at least 90 Martian days, will conduct various kinds of scientific exploration on Mars.

The exploration of Mars is in its early stages. But hopefully, Tianwen-1, which also marked China’s first step in planetary exploration of the solar system, will help to provide answers to longtime questions from scientists and provide insight into mysteries of the Red Planet.

1. From the first paragraph, Mars is attractive to us because ________.

A．it holds a large number of secrets to discover

B．many spacecrafls have arrived on Mars so far

C．we don’t know why it changed into a red wasteland

D．exploring Mars is harder than exploring other planets

2. What does the underlined word “decelerate” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Set off

B．Slow down

C．Turn off

D．Cool down

3. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．NASA has managed to land spaceships on Mars before

B．the rover will take pictures of Mars and study its surface

C．the orbiter plays the most important role in exploring Mars

D．scientists are not confident about the success of the missions

4. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?

A．The Structure of China’s Tianwen-1	B．Chinese Key Step to Explore Mars
C．A Mars Spacecraft with New Technology	D．Countless Secrets behind the Red Plane

5 . Chinese paintings serve as a symbol of China, which come in different types such as figure, landscape, bird-and-flower painting. Traditional Chinese painting is usually done using a brush with black ink, mostly on paper or silk. The finished work can be put up on the wall. Traditional painting has also been done on walls, china, etc.

The goal of the traditional Chinese painter is interesting: to pursue not only the outer appearance of a subject but its inner theme as well—its energy, life force and spirit. To achieve his goal, the Chinese painter more often refused the appearance of color in its painting, as the color is seen as distraction. Instead, he preferred lines.

However, Chinese paintings come in varied styles. Some are made in Line drawing, using inked lines to draw the outline of objects. Some are made in ink and wash, using a brush, dipped into ink with more or less water, to spread the ink across the paper. It felt like painters brush the paper with great strength. Some are made in liberal style, using free and simple lines to show the spirit of the objects. Others are made in gong-bi, using every detail to appear much more decorative and real. Painters will make it “as detailed as it can be”.

To appreciate Chinese paintings, people usually have to go to special occasions. Paintings are usually placed in good condition out of reach by hand. Collectors who choose to display their works continuously should stop the sunlight from reaching on the paintings. Man-made low light and conditions that are neither too dry nor too wet are the best for keeping a traditional Chinese painting in good shape.

1. According to the passage, traditional Chinese paintings ________.

A．avoid the use of color	B．have mainly two types
C．are hardly found on china	D．are only done on the paper

2. Which of the following is a landscape painting made in ink and wash?

A．	B．
C．	D．

3. Paintings are usually kept in a place with ________.

A．direct sunlight	B．natural low light
C．quite dry environment	D．certain distance from visitors

4. The writer mainly expects to ________ by writing this passage.

A．tell people the history of Chinese paintings

B．explain some facts about Chinese paintings

C．offer advice on how to draw Chinese paintings

D．prove Chinese paintings are a symbol of China

7 .

Several festivals throughout Asia celebrate the elephant, but none are quite as colorful as the Painted Elephant Parade in Jaipur, India.

Every year in March, the air is filled with excitement and delicious smells of food are flowing around. The parade is the first event of Holi, an ancient Hindu celebration which marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

The parade’s four main colors are red, blue, yellow, and green. With all this joyful color, the painted elephants play an important role in it. While it’s not that easy to paint the elephants. Work clothes, paintbrushes, and water are needed for sure. Painters must be extra careful because their canvas tends to move and has extremely heavy feet. Thus, a soft voice, gentle hands, another person to help, and some tasty snacks for the elephants are also important.

The painters often plan the theme, or designs, for days before they even touch their canvas. Designs are drawn on paper or computers, and then enlarged. Once the artist is ready to paint the elephant, it will be cleaned. The designs are usually outlined in white paint across the elephant before they are filled in with the fancy colors. Hours later, the moving models are dressed with special jewelry. Their noses are painted with gold and decorated with rings. It’s an eye-catching line of color as these huge moving canvases walk down the street.

Gathering alongside the streets, people sing and dance to welcome the colorful elephants, praying for luck and blessing. Hand-made silk umbrellas and the white vencamaran can be seen everywhere, which also express their deepest sincerity. Many tourists come to the parade for the wildest part, that is, sprinkling colorful powder on others no matter if you are strangers. It’s said that the more colorful you are, the luckier you will be. So why not come and try your luck?

1. According to the passage, the Painted Elephant Parade ________.

A．is followed by Holi	B．is held in most Asian countries
C．is a symbol of spring	D．is a newly developed celebration

2. What is the right order of painting elephants?
a. Get the elephants completely cleaned.
b. Plan and decide the theme or designs.
c. Color the designs with different colors.
d. Draw on the elephants with white paint.

A．badc

B．bcbd

C．dabc

D．dcbd

3. We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．painting the elephants is individual work	B．it usually takes weeks to paint an elephant
C．tourists come to the parade for colorful powder	D．local people and tourists join the parade together

4. The main purpose of the passage is to ________.

A．tell us the ways to celebrate spring	B．show us how to paint the elephants
C．introduce us the history of the parade	D．invite us to enjoy the elephant parade

8 .

WHAT IS THE PRODUCT LifeStraw is a water filter in the shape of a large straw that will filter out dirt, micro-plastics and sand. Like other filters, it will not remove viruses. LifeStraw will let you drink water directly from lakes, streams and other sources. HOW TO USE THE PRODUCT Simply put the end of the straw into your water source and drink! The water will filter as it moves up the straw. After drinking, blow through the straw to draw out any extra water. MORE ABOUT THE PRODUCT ·Light-LifeStraw weighs less than 2 ounces (46 g) so you can pack it anywhere. ·Easy to store and simple to use—with no batteries or moving parts. ·Long-lasting membrane filter lasts up to 1, 000 gallons (4, 000 L) of water-enough drinking water to last an individual for over 5 years! ·As a survival tool, the LifeStraw has an unlimited shelf life and has been tested all over the world to face the most difficult conditions.

1. According to the passage, LifeStraw helps to ________.

A．heat water

B．get clean water

C．store water

D．stop water pollution

2. If Sandy buys two LifeStraws on the website, she can ________.

A．get free shipping	B．have a 70% discount
C．choose different colors	D．receive better repair service

3. What is TRUE about LifeStraw?

A．It can kill viruses in the water.	B．It is convenient to carry and use.
C．It must be used within five years.	D．It should be blown to filter water.

9 . In a world where technology is king, it is getting more and more difficult to keep up with the ‘R’s — VR., AR. MR’ (iPhone) XR and the list goes on.

Many people have trouble telling the differences between augmented-reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). AR and VR mean that we experience something that isn’t there but it feels like it is. As a result, it is easy for users to be blown away and wonder what is real and what is not. In short, at the heart of AR and VR are two very similar technologies. Both offer experiences to users. most widely used in areas such as online shopping and as part of psychological treatments.

▲ The main difference lies in the way of transport. Simply put, VR ‘transports’ the user to another world instead of the real one. It uses computer technology to create a 3D environment. Users not only view a screen in front of them, but also use as many senses as possible, such as vision, hearing, touch, even smell. Imagine opening your eyes and seeing a new world created by the computer all around you: you can move in this environment and even communicate with it. That’s what VR is like. For example, VR has the power to make users feel as if they are falling. So sometimes while playing games, users become nervous and even scared.

AR, does not shut out the real world, but adds digital graphics to a live view often by using the camera on a smartphone. Users would not be “transported’ to another world but instead, they would see graphics created by computers with what they see in real life. It does not, change the whole view of what users see, unlike VR.

Thanks to new technology and successful games, AR and VR users already have a lot of choices. AR and VR are both powerful technologies which are still relatively new to many users. However, they have already begun to shake things up in the gaming world. The worlds of AR and VR aren’t just here; they’re getting bigger and better by the day.

1. Both AR and VR ________.

A．let users experience something that is already there

B．can only be used as part of psychological treatments

C．encourage users to go online shopping more frequently

D．use similar technologies to create virtual environments

2. Which of the following can be put in the ▲ in Paragraph 3?

A．What’s more, AR and VR will be widely used in more areas.

B．Besides, AR and VR have nothing to do with the real world.

C．In a way, AR and VR offer their users the same experience.

D．However, AR and VR can be quite different in many ways.

3. Who uses the technology of VR among the following four people?

A．

B．

C．

D．

4. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．AR and VR are so popular that everyone knows them well.

B．AR and VR are two very different and creative technologies.

C．AR and VR may not change people’s way of life in the future.

D．AR and VR are very powerful technologies and can go further.