1 . Eight hundred years ago, a man in southern Turkey invented an amazing clock. It was more than 7 meters high. At its base（基座）was a life-size model elephant. Every half hour, something amazing happened. The whole clock came alive: Model birds, dragons, and people started to move.
The clock’s inventor was an engineer named al-Jazari. He lived in Turkey. Al-Jazari was probably one of the greatest engineers in history. Some historians call him “the father of modern-day engineering.”
We know about al-Jazari mostly from a book that he wrote. ________ They include clocks and hand-washing machines. The book also has drawings that show how each machine works.
Many everyday things today-from toys to car engines（发动机）-still use al-Jazari’s ideas. Without his machines with moving parts, we might not have modern-day robots.
Today, it is still possible to see what al-Jazari’s elephant cock looked like. A full-size working model is in Dubai’s Ibn Battuta Mall. There, every half hour, al-Jazari’s most amazing invention comes to life once again.
How Does the Elephant Clock Work?
A bowl with a small hole floats（浮）in a water tank（水箱）inside the elephant’s body. As the bowl slowly sinks（下沉）, it pulls a rope that moves a human figure. His moving pen shows the number of minutes past the hour.
Every half hour, the water bowl becomes full and sinks completely. This causes a ball to fall from the top of the clock. The movement of the ball causes a phoenix to move and make a sound.
The ball then drops out of a falcon’s mouth into the mouth of a Chinese dragon. The weight of the ball causes the dragon’s head to move down and the dragon’s tail pulls the water bowl back up.
Finally, the ball drops out of the dragon’s mouth and into a vase. As the ball lands in the vase, the elephant driver moves and makes a sound. The cycle begins again until there are no more ball in the top of the clock.
1. Why is al-Jazari called “the father of modern-day engineering”?| A．His ideas are still widely used in machines. |
| B．The elephant clock is an amazing invention. |
| C．His inventions include some parts of modern robots. |
| D．His book about machines is still popular with readers. |
| A．He became famous when he was a young man. |
| B．He invented a lot of everyday machines in history. |
| C．It describes a number of machines of all shapes and sizes. |
| D．People in Turkey enjoy reading his books in their free time. |
| A．The pen moves. | B．The all drops. |
| C．The bowl sinks completely. | D．The bowl pulls the rope. |
a. The ball drops into the vase.
b. The ball drops into the dragon’s mouth.
c. The elephant driver moves and makes a sound.
d. After 30 minutes, a ball starts to fall from the top.
e. The bowl moves down in the water and pulls on ropes.
| A．b-d-a-c-e | B．e-d-b-a-c | C．a-e-b-d-c | D．c-a-d-e-b |
2 . Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin—these great scientists(科学家) are all left-handed. Does this mean that left-handers are smarter than right-handers, as some people say?
Scientific studies show that left-handers have no higher IQ (intelligence quotient智商) than right-handers. They are just good at different things.
Left-handers and right-handers usually use different sides of their brains(大脑). Right-handers use the left side more often, but left-handers use both sides more evenly. We use the left side of our brain to work out problems. We use the right side to create(创造).
Left-handers are good at creative things such as music, art and science. But it’s not all good news for them. They often forget names and places.
1. The author names some famous scientists to ________.| A．show us that there are many great scientists | B．show us that left-handed people are funny |
| C．show that all great scientists are left-handed | D．tell what the story is about |
| A．Left-handers are smarter than right-handers. | B．Right-handers are smarter than left-handers. |
| C．Both of the two groups have the same IQ. | D．The two groups are good at different things. |
| A．working out problems | B．using the left side of their brain |
| C．doing scientific studies | D．remembering names and place |
| A．稀少地 | B．均衡地 | C．反复地 | D．特别地 |
| A．Why are all great scientists left-handed? | B．Are left-handers really smarter than right-handers? |
| C．How do our brains work? | D．What are left-handers good at doing? |
3 . 5G is coming. 5G is the 5th generation(代) network. It is a new network after 1 G, 2 G, 3 G and 4G. It can connect everyone and everything together. 5G networks will cover many cities in China soon. 5G means super-fast data speed. One can download a two-hour movie for fewer than 10 seconds, and it is making our lives more and more convenient.
5G will make self-driving cars possible. For safety, self-driving cars need super-fast data transmission(传输) to communicate with their nearby environment. 5G is just what makes self-driving cars achieve(达到) this. Even airplanes will become “smart” in the near future. Passengers will be able to use 5G networks in the air to connect to the Internet and can order for food and drinks.
5G will be a big help for students who take online classes. Many people live in poor areas.in the world where there are no schools. But with 5G, this will change. Students all over the world will be able to see places like the Great Wall without leaving their rooms.
It will be also easier for doctors to treat patients remotely by 5G. It means caring for patients from far away.
The facts listed above are only a part of what is 5G. With 5G, many things do not seem like dreams anymore. Now let’s welcome the coming of 5G.
1. How long may it take to download a two-hour movie with 5G?| A．15 seconds. | B．8 seconds. | C．10 minutes. | D．2 hours. |
| A．快速地 | B．高效地 | C．远程地 | D．科学地 |
| A．self-driving cars | B．“smart” airplanes | C．online classes | D．hospitals without doctors |
| A．to be used freely | B．super-fast data speed |
| C．to connect everyone and everything together | D．to make life more convenient than 4G |
| A．How to use 5G. | B．5G is not safe. |
| C．5G can change our life in the future. | D．5G can help poor students. |
4 . 
A hungry fly speeds through a forest. It smells nectar（花蜜）and lands on a green leaf. It starts to drink the sweet liquid（液体）. Suddenly, the fly’s world turns green. The two sides of the leaf close against each other. Long green teeth lock together around it. The fly has been caught by Venus flytrap. There is no way to run away alive.
The Venus flytrap is perhaps the most famous killer plant. However, scientists have only recently started to understand how it hunts（猎取）and eats. After years of study, plant scientist Alexander Volkov believes he now knows the Venus flytrap’s secret. “This,” says Volkov, “is an electrical plant.”
There are three small hairs along each of the Venus flytrap’s two leaves. When an insect touches a hair, it creates an electrical signal （信号） in the leaf. The insect can continue feeding—for now. But if it touches another hair within 20 seconds, the leaf traps suddenly shut. This allows the plant to tell the difference between a drop of water, for example, and a moving insect.
Once trapped, an insect has little chance of staying alive. Instead of nectar, the Venus flytrap now releases（释放）a different liquid—one that slowly eats away at the insect. Ten days later, almost nothing is left. The plant’s leaves open again, and the Venus flytrap is ready for its next meal.
1. What does “the fly’s world turns green” really mean?| A．The fly lands on a green leaf. |
| B．The fly speeds into the forest. |
| C．The fly drinks the green nectar. |
| D．The fly is trapped by the leaf. |
| A．The drop of water. |
| B．The smell of the insect. |
| C．The touches on the hairs. |
| D．The hunger of the plant. |
| A．It uses electrical signals. |
| B．Its trap closes very slowly. |
| C．It makes three kinds of liquid. |
| D．It eats with its long teeth. |
| A．Wonderful electricity. |
| B．Powerful hairs. |
| C．A famous killer plant. |
| D．The death of an insect. |
5 . Climate change is a big problem humans are facing. How can we deal with it? Reducing carbon emissions (碳排放) is important. But what if we could capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and use it to do other things?
Recently, SpaceX founder Elon Musk said that his company is working on a new program. It’s going to take CO2 out of the air and turn it into rocket fuel.
It will not only be good for Earth, but “will also be important for Mars,” Musk tweeted. The air on Mars is made up of 95 percent CO2. If we could turn CO2 into fuel, we could travel the long journey from Mars back to Earth in the future.
The idea may sound strange but it’s not totally crazy. There are already some technologies that might help with this. According to Di-Jia Liu, a chemist at the Argonne National Laboratory in the US, the carbon atoms (原子) in CO2 and the hydrogen (氢) atoms in water can be combined to make methane (甲烷) or ethanol (乙醇). They could be used as fuel. If we do this on Mars, energy from the sun might be used as a catalyst (催化剂).
The idea will also make space travel more eco-friendly. “If the CO2-based fuel could be used in a rocket launch, we could prevent 715 tons of CO2 from being emitted into the air,” said Stafford Sheehan from Air Company, a US company that focuses on CO2 capture technologies.
1. What is SpaceX working on?| A．Reducing CO2 emissions. | B．Building a new rocket. |
| C．Turning CO2 into fuel. | D．Traveling long distances on Mars. |
| A．It will take energy from the sun. |
| B．It will take 95 percent of CO2 out of the air. |
| C．It will make it easier to travel from Mars to Earth. |
| D．It will create free catalysts for chemical experiments. |
| A．How CO2 can be turned into fuel. |
| B．Where CO2 can be taken. |
| C．Why the program should be carried on Mars. |
| D．How the energy from the sun can be used. |
| A．Scientists use 715 tons of CO2 to launch a rocket. |
| B．Rocket launching is an environmentally-friendly activity. |
| C．There will be no CO2 emissions anymore. |
| D．SpaceX’s idea would be good for the environment. |
| A．Visit Space with CO2 | B．Climate change we face |
| C．Space travel in the future | D．A new program on Mars |
6 . It might be fun to use your smartphone, but be careful. Too much screen time may be harmful to your health.
First, it is bad for your eyes. A researcher called Sarah Hinkley says the problem comes from the blue light that the screen gives out. Looking at a smartphone for a long time can cause eye strain（劳损）, headaches and dry eyes. So it is a good idea to take a break every 15 minutes when you are working at a computer or using a smartphone.
Second, screen use can do harm to children’s brains. A new study shows that using screens too much can affect（影响） how children’s brains grow. If children use screens for more than one hour a day, they might have lower levels of white matter in their brains. White matter is a key to the development of language and reading skills. So it is wise to cut down the time of children using all kinds of screens.
Third, using screens too much will affect your sleep. According to a study, about 95% of the people between the ages of 13 and 64 use electronics before bed, especially the young people under 20. Doctors say that the light from those electronics at night may make you excited before you go to bed. Then it’s hard for you to get enough sleep. So you’d better turn off smartphones, TVs, and all other screens an hour before your bedtime.
To keep healthy, doctors and researchers strongly advise that you shouldn’t use screens for long hours.
1. The blue light from your screens can cause ________.| A．eyestrain | B．headaches | C．dry eyes | D．all of the above |
| A．take a break every 15 minutes | B．have lower levels of white matter |
| C．use screens too much before bed | D．are the people from 13 to 64 |
| A．Using smartphones for long hours does harm to your eyes. |
| B．A lot of screen time affects children’s brain growth. |
| C．The light from electronics at night may make you excited. |
| D．People of all ages mustn’t use electronics. |
| A．a science magazine | B．a travel diary | C．a guide book | D．a novel |
| A．The ways to keep healthy. | B．The harm of using screens too much. |
| C．The ways to use screens. | D．The advantages of using screens. |
7 . People of all ages can improve their communities through volunteer work. Lending a hand to a person or organization in need is a great way to show your care. Volunteering has been shown to increase confidence and self-esteem (自尊) while helping people to attain a real sense of satisfaction.
Keep a watchful eye out and you are likely to see volunteers in many roles. Volunteers support others with everything from homework to transportation needs in a community. If you are interested in volunteering in your community, you might want to consider:
◇Walking a dog or doing yard work for a neighbor who is not able to complete these tasks on their own.
◇Reading stories to younger children.
◇Participating in a community garden.
◇Helping out at a local pet shelter.
◇Cleaning up a park or helping to beautify your school grounds.
◇Completing extra work at home.
Volunteering benefits everyone involved (涉及到的). As people volunteer, they gain experience and discover hidden talents. Participating in service projects regularly reduces stress and makes people healthier. Volunteering brings people together and strengthens the community. As people step forward to lend a hand, they develop a sense of pride and identity.
Through volunteer work, people learn a lot about how their community works and get to know others who are dedicated (奉献) to having a real and lasting influence on the world. As stated long ago by Aesop, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
Always remember you can make a difference to the world. Everyone can be great because anyone can serve.
1. What does the underlined word “attain” mean in the passage?| A．give | B．get | C．lose | D．take |
| A．reading stories to younger children | B．participating in a community garden |
| C．taking care of the baby for your neighbor | D．cleaning up a park |
| A．how to learn about the community as they volunteer | B．the reason to keep a watchful eye out as they volunteer |
| C．some of the ways people volunteer in a community | D．how to help at home |
| A．As people volunteer, they gain experience and discover hidden talents. |
| B．Volunteering brings people together and strengthens the community. |
| C．Through volunteer work, people learn a lot about how their community works. |
| D．Participating in service projects regularly reduces stress and makes people luckier. |
| A．Walking a dog for a neighbor is one way of volunteering. |
| B．Volunteering benefits everyone involved (涉及到的). |
| C．People can volunteer by helping out at a local pet shelter. |
| D．Lending a hand to a person in need is the only way to show your care. |
8 . After 10 years of difficult talks, nearly 200 countries agreed to a new United Nations (UN) agreement to protect the world’s oceans. The agreement has been the first of its kind in 40 years. It plans to protect 30% of the open oceans by 2030.
Oceans cover about 71% of the Earth’s surface and are home to hundreds of thousands of different kinds of animals and plants. Healthy oceans are a very important part of a healthy planet. But the oceans are in trouble. Overfishing (捕捞过度) has had a terrible effect on many kinds of fish and other animals. Pollution from ships and other places has caused serious problems. In 1982, an agreement described the “high seas (公海)”, but it did not protect them. In these areas, all countries have the right to fish, send ships, and do research. The high seas cover about two-thirds of the ocean. But now people only protect 1. 2% of the areas.
Last December, over 110 countries agreed to protect 30% of their land and ocean areas by 2030. Without an international agreement, there was no way to make this goal meaningful for the whole ocean. The new agreement now makes this feasible.
The new agreement tries to turn 30% of the high seas into protected areas by 2030. It also says that activities planned for the high seas must first be examined to see what kind of influences they might have on the ocean environment. Businesses in some countries hope to make a lot of money by getting valuable things from the bottom of the sea. Other businesses hope to find plants or animals in the ocean that could lead to new discoveries and new medicines.
Many of the disagreements were about how valuable things would be shared between rich countries and poor ones. Poor countries wanted to make sure that the valuable things would help everyone, not just people in rich countries.
1. How many countries agreed to a new United Nations (UN) agreement to protect the world’s oceans?| A．Nearly 20 countries. | B．Very few countries. |
| C．Most countries in the world. | D．Just a few countries. |
| A．The problems oceans face. | B．Some ways to protect oceans. |
| C．Different kinds of ocean creatures. | D．People’s different ideas about oceans. |
| A．Awful. | B．Painful. | C．Possible. | D．Dangerous. |
| A．The new agreement only tries to protect fish. |
| B．All countries will stop fishing in the high seas. |
| C．Valuable things from the oceans will go to rich countries. |
| D．Many countries have paid attention to protecting the oceans. |
| A．The importance of healthy oceans. |
| B．Overfishing and pollution in the oceans. |
| C．A new agreement to protect the open oceans. |
| D．Disagreements between rich and poor countries. |
9 . Maybe you’ll meet a word that you don’t know in an exam. Most students may be nervous if a dictionary is not around them. But don’t worry! There are some ways to help you guess the meaning of a word without a dictionary.
Read the whole sentence (句子). Your first step is to go back and reread the whole sentence. You may forget what you are reading when you meet a new word. Then try to think about the content (内容) of the sentence.
Try guessing the meaning by the background. This will make it different from other parts and you’ll pick it from the rest of the sentence easily. You can often use other words in the sentence to help you find out the meaning of the unknown word.
Think about what else is happening in the sentence. For example, maybe you are looking at a sentence that says, “It was a very sultry day in the middle of the summer.” You may understand each word but “sultry”. Think about what you know about sum-mer. It is likely that “sultry” has something to do with the weather. It can help you understand the word easily.
In a word, don’t be afraid of new words. Try your best to understand them by using these ways. Then you can also understand the sentence or passage better.
根据材料内容选择最佳答案。1. What should you do first when you meet a new word?
| A．Ask others for help. | B．Reread the whole sentence. |
| C．Look it up in a dictionary. | D．Guess its meaning through other words. |
| A．Very hot. | B．Very beautiful. | C．Quite cold. | D．Cold. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．Travel. | B．Sport. | C．Education. | D．Health. |
| A．Some good ways of using a dictionary |
| B．How to learn English as well as possible |
| C．Some good ways of remembering new words |
| D．How to understand a word without a dictionary |
10 . What Will You Do with A Dollar？
■ I will hide the dollar in the most beautiful place that I can find, and then create a map to the dollar. I hope someone will discover this map years later and have a magic travel to go on.
Philip Stockton
■ I will buy a cup of coffee for the most successful person in New York and ask for his/her secret of success.
Patrick Martine
■ A single dollar gets me almost nothing, so I will get my friends together and ask each of them to give a dollar. We will give an open-air concert in our town. I hope the show can brighten the day of the town.
David Andrew
■ In my travels, I find people need clean drinking water most. I once saw in Africa 40 to 50 people travel 25 miles for water. So I will use the dollar to provide free drinking water for people in need.
Ben Harrison
Follow us on https://justforfun.com/art of living for more.
1. What will Patrick Martine do with a dollar?| A．To create a tourist map. | B．To go on a magic trip. |
| C．To ask for the secret of success. | D．To give an open-air concert. |
| A．Philip Stockton. | B．Patrick Martine. |
| C．David Andrew. | D．Ben Harrison |
| A．A film magazine. | B．A science report. |
| C．A website. | D．A travel guide. |
