1 . Habits that are guaranteed to put you in a good mood.
| 1. KEEP FRESH FLOWERS AROUND THE HOUSE It’s a small thing, but a house with fresh blooms just has a way of livening up the space—and your mood. Plus, it doesn’t have to break the bank. Whether it’s one or two stems, a bunch of rosemary or a small bouquet of carnations, a little goes a long way. |
| 2. GO GROCERY SHOPPING WEEKLY An empty stomach is the biggest bad-mood catalyst. But if your kitchen is filled with healthy, yummy snacks, you can easily avoid a low-blood-sugar impulse buy that makes you feel yucky. The best way to stay stocked? Pick a day of the week that you always go and build it into your schedule. |
| 3. SET ASIDE AN HOUR A DAY JUST FOR YOU When you have no time to yourself, you can feel like you’re trapped between other people’s needs. This one can be tough to do when people depend on you, but make time to anchor yourself in your own thoughts. We love waking up early to make coffee and read the paper. It’s amazing how much more grounded you’ll feel. |
| 4. GO RADIO SILENT It may seem shocking, but there was a time when you didn’t have a cell phone, or a computer, or a cell phone that was a computer and everything was fine. Disconnecting from the invisible world that’s constantly pulling you in for an hour or two a day will help you feel more present, and help you focus on what’s truly important. |
| A．excited | B．satisfied | C．not free | D．not confident |
| A．1 and 3. | B．2 and 4. | C．3 and 4. | D．2 and 3. |
| A．decorating your house | B．achieving your goals |
| C．cheering you up | D．improving yourselves |
When you close your eyes and need to rest, sleep is just the very best. Sleep helps your body grow and stay healthy. However, in the animal world, it seems that some animals don’t need much sleep.
Giraffes usually sleep, although not for a long time. In places like zoos giraffes have been known to sleep for between four and five hours, mostly at night. During sleep, the animal may lie down or stay standing. Standing sleep is more common among older giraffes. In the wild, however, the animals almost never sleep for longer than five minutes at a time. More often, they sleep fully standing and their eyes are half-open so they can see an enemy getting close.
Deer(鹿) do not sleep much during the day or the night. In fact, the night is a dangerous time for the animal to sleep because some of their enemies look for food at night. However, deer try their best to sleep for three to four hours. Even when sleeping, they have to be careful so that they do not become food for their enemies.
The Alpine Swift(雨燕) is a bird that lives in places from southern Europe all the way to the Himalayas. These birds spend a lot of their time flying to the warmer places and all the way to the south of Africa. The birds may spend up to 200 days flying during their journey. These birds sleep while they fly. The Alpine Swifts are able to sleep with one side of their brain while the other side pays much attention to flying and finding enemies.
Dolphins(海豚) usually go to sleep with only one side of their brain. So that they use the other side of their brain for swimming and to watch out for enemies. Some dolphins do not go to sleep in the first month of their lives. Instead, they rest by pushing their bodies against their mothers so that they do not drown(淹死). Mothers need to make sure that they do not go to sleep. That is why mother dolphins are able to go for a least a month without sleeping.
1. Which of the following facts are true about giraffes?| A．In the wild, they may lie down to sleep. | B．In the zoo, they sleep with their eyes half-open to see an enemy. |
| C．In the zoo, the younger ones are likely to sleep standing. | D．In the wild, they sleep no more than five minutes at a time. |
| A．smell danger | B．look for food | C．feed their young | D．move to another place |
| A．It sleeps during the day. | B．It can stay awake for 200 days. |
| C．It can sleep while it flies. | D．It needs no sleep in warm places. |
| A．Babies don't sleep at all. | B．Mothers sleep less than fathers. |
| C．Babies rest with their mothers. | D．They sleep with half of their brain. |
3 . Did you ever wonder why leaves change colors in autumn, or how it happens? Here’s a quick explanation.
First of all, you’ve probably noticed that not all trees lose their leaves. There are two major kinds of trees: deciduous (落叶) trees and evergreens. Evergreens keep their leaves and stay green all year long. The deciduous trees are the ones that lose their leaves each year.
In autumn, the days begin to get shorter. The sun is also lower in the sky at noon, which causes temperatures to be cooler. Less sunshine and lower temperatures are what causes the deciduous trees to drop their leaves. In winter, deciduous trees “go to sleep”, sort of like a bear goes into hibernation (冬眠).
Leaves are the food factories for a plant. Unlike animals, plants make their own food by taking energy directly from the sun. Plants do this by using a chemical in their leaves called chlorophyll (叶绿素).
Chlorophyll is green. During the spring and summer, the leaves of a deciduous tree look green because there is a lot of chlorophyll there. In autumn, however, the sunshine becomes more scarce (缺乏) and the leaves on the trees stop making new chlorophyll. As the old chlorophyll starts to break down, the green color of the leaf begins to go away.
You’ve probably also noticed that the leaves of different kinds of trees change different colors. The leaves of some trees turn yellow or orange, while the leaves of other trees turn bright red or purple. The different colors are caused by the different chemical reactions (反应) that are happening in the leaves.
So next time you see the beautiful colors of autumn you will also know the science behind that beauty.
1. According to the passage the __________ trees lose their leaves in the autumn.| A．evergreens | B．deciduous | C．chlorophyll | D．chemical |
| A．A change in temperature. | B．The sunlight. |
| C．More chlorophyll. | D．Chemical changes in the leaves. |
| A．Green. | B．Red and purple. | C．Yellow. | D．Different colors. |
4 . 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 |
5 . Students aiming to enter Tsinghua University this year had better be able to swim or be prepared to learn swimming and pass a swim test since the top university will not grant bachelor’s degrees if they cannot swim.
This September, would-be freshmen at Tsinghua University will have to take swimming courses if they fail a swimming test at the beginning of their university life, and they won’t receive their degrees if they cannot swim before their graduation, according to a message at a university staff meeting days ago, the Beijing Daily reported on Monday.
Potential freshmen with chronic diseases, skin disease or hydrophobia, once examined and affirmed by medical staff, don’ t need to take the required test or course.
Plans are for freshmen to take the test during their military training. In the test, students will pass the test if they can swim 50 meters, no matter whether they choose the breaststroke, butterfly, stroke, freestyle or backstroke. Those failing the test have to take a compulsory swimming course.
“Now Tsinghua University will test students in long-distance running and swimming, so students with poor sports performance will have to overcome a lot of difficulties once they enter the university,” said a student surnamed Zhang from the Second High School Attached To Beijing Normal University.
However, students don’t need to worry much, since Liu Bo, head of the Division of Sports Science and Physical Education, said relevant statistics showed that 90 percent of students can swim after taking the compulsory swimming course in their second year of university, and the remaining 10 percent will receive instruction after class provided by teachers, without paying extra tuition.
And seeing the ability to swim as a must for students to earn their degrees is not something new in Tsinghua University, as this ability was listed on its school regulations in the early 20th century.
“As early as 90 years ago, Tsinghua University required that students cannot graduate from the university or study overseas if they cannot swim, though the requirement didn’t work later on since the swimming pools at the campus could not accommodate increasingly more students” said Liu.
1. Who will not get their bachelor’s degrees of Tsinghua University?| A．Students who don’t take a compulsory swimming course. |
| B．Students who fail a swimming test in the first year. |
| C．Students who swim 100 meters in the test. |
| D．Students who cannot swim before their graduation. |
| A．heart disease | B．skin disease | C．chronic disease | D．hydrophobia |
| A．Students with poor sports don’t need to worry about their performance at all. |
| B．Students have to pay extra tuition if they receive instruction after class. |
| C．Students can choose any swimming style to take the test. |
| D．Tsinghua University has never made such a school regulation before. |
| A．To make a school regulation. | B．To stress the importance of swimming. |
| C．To explain swimming styles. | D．To discuss the problems of swimming. |
6 . Every living thing needs to reproduce. Reproducing means creating more members of your group. In order for plants to reproduce, they have to spread their seeds (种子) to other areas. Plants have developed all kinds of ways to do this.
The simplest way is gravity. Many seeds are inside of fruit. When a piece of fruit gets too heavy, it falls from a tree to the ground. Sometimes animals will pick up the fruit and drop it in another area. That helps move the seed even farther away. Apples spread this way.
Other plants use wind to spread their seeds. Dandelions (蒲公英) are a good example of this.
Dandelion seeds are so light that when wind blows, it carries dandelion seeds to new places.
Maple (枫树) seeds also use wind. Their seeds are connected with long, thin leaves that look like wings. When the seed falls from the tree, its “wings” help it fly farther from the tree.
Some animals help plants spread their seeds. The animals eat the seeds. While the seed is in the animal’s body, it stays whole. When the seed leaves the animal, it’s in a new place.
Ants also help spread seeds. Some seeds have a special smell that attracts ants. The ants bring the seeds back to their home, which of course is underground. They only eat part of the seed. They leave the rest of the seed underground. After that, the seed can start growing.
1. What does the underlined word “gravity” mean in the second paragraph?| A．The action that makes animals drop seeds. |
| B．The help that moves seeds even farther away. |
| C．The need that comes from animals and plants. |
| D．The force that causes fruit to fall to the ground. |
a. They only eat part of the seed. b. They help seeds fall from the tree.
c. They carry seeds to the underground home. d. They pick up the fruit and move it far away.
e. They leave the rest of the seed underground.
| A．b, d, e | B．a, b, d | C．a, c, e | D．b, c, d |
| A．How Plants Spread Seeds? | B．Why Animals Pick Up Seeds? |
| C．How Wind Helps Seeds spread? | D．Why Seeds Have a Special Trip? |
7 . Here are some fun ways to celebrate your birthday.
Explore (探索) a new place
Generally, people celebrate birthdays at home or at a reserved (预订的) place. So, I think you should do something different this time. You can just find a few random (随机的) places around your city to visit and explore.
Celebrate with nature
If you want to do something unique (独特) that you haven’t ever done before, then go for this one. Find a place that is close to nature, like a valley (山谷), riverside, mountains, desert, etc.
In my opinion, you can have a nice camp in this kind of places and celebrate your birthday in the most amazing way. This will be the best birthday present of your life.
Get yourself something new
When was the last time you bought yourself something new? If it has been many days, then this is the best time you can get yourself something new. For example, if you are planning to buy a car, then buy a car. By doing this you will make your birthday memorable.
I still remember when I became 18 my dad gave me a car on my birthday. I still remember that day not because I was 18 but because that day my dad gave me a car. So if no one gives you something unforgettable, then go ahead and get yourself a gift.
1. People usually celebrate birthdays _________.| A．at home or at a reserved place | B．near a valley, riverside or mountains |
| C．in the forest or at an expensive hotel | D．in a big city or at a beautiful place |
| A．Unforgettable. | B．Lonely. | C．Boring. | D．Lucky. |
| A．People may celebrate their birthdays with nature. |
| B．You can make your birthday memorable by buying something new. |
| C．It’s a good way to explore a new place to spend your birthday. |
| D．You should buy something expensive on your birthday. |
| A．We should always do something different to celebrate our birthday. |
| B．We should celebrate our birthday in the most amazing way. |
| C．Buying something new for ourselves is the best choice. |
| D．Some fun ways to celebrate our birthday. |
| A．an art magazine | B．a science magazine |
| C．a travel magazine | D．a life magazine |
8 . Lots of kids love video games. In fact, they like them so much that they might hear something like this from Mom or Dad: Enough! Find something else to do!
It can be good advice. Why? Too much of anything is just too much. It’s true that some studies have shown certain video games can improve hand-eye coordination (协调), problem-solving skills and the mind’s ability to process (处理) information. But playing too much video games may lead to health problems.
It’s hard to get enough active play and exercise if you’re always inside playing video games. And without enough exercise, kids can become overweight.
Really overdoing video games could also affect other important things, like kids’ friendships and behavior. And kids who play violent (暴力的) video games might act more aggressively.
But here’s the good news: Playing video games some of the time can be OK. Just limit (限制) screen time, which includes TV, computer, smartphone, tablet and video game time to no more than two hours a day.
A good game will be the right one for how old you are. Games are rated (分级) like movies, and your mom or dad can help you find out which ones you should use. If you can choose one that gets you up and moving, that’s even better.
1. According to the second paragraph, playing video games can improve us in ______ ways.| A．two | B．three | C．four | D．five |
| A．active | B．clever | C．thin | D．fat |
| A．it’s good to play video games with friends | B．playing video games can cause trouble |
| C．it’s bad to play video games too much | D．playing video games can make us smart |
| A．攻击地 | B．勇敢地 | C．温和地 | D．怯懦地 |
9 . An American friend has invited you to visit his family. You’ve never been to an American's home before, what should you do? The answer is: When you’re the guest, you should just make yourself at home. That’s American hospitality (好客).
American hospitality begins at home—especially about food. Most Americans agree that good home cooking beats restaurant food. When you are invited for a meal, you might ask, “Can I bring anything?” The host will answer, “No, just yourself.” For most informal dinners, you can wear any comfortable clothes you like. Arrive on time, or call to tell your hosts if you can’t. During the dinner talk, guests often praise (表扬) the hostess (女主人) for the wonderful meal. Of course, the biggest praise is to eat lots of food!
When you’ve had enough, you might offer to clean the table or wash the dishes. But since you’re the guest, your hosts may not let you. Instead, they may invite everyone to move to the living room for dessert with tea or coffee. There the hosts and the guests may continue to have a talk. After about an hour’s talk, it’s time for you to leave.
If you come to an American’s home, you’d better let the hosts know ahead of time unless you’re very close friends, especially when you want to stay for a few days. Here’s a good rule for guests: Short stays are best. Even relatives, for example, their aunts, uncles or cousins, don’t usually stay for several weeks every time. While you’re staying with an American family, try to keep your living area clean and tidy. Your host family will thank you for your consideration. And they may even invite you back!
Most Americans think they are hospitable people, and they are proud of making guests happy.
1. What should we do when we are guests at an American's home?| A．Bring a lot of gifts. | B．Make ourselves at home. |
| C．Stay for several weeks every time. | D．Clean the table or wash the dishes. |
| A．just after the meal | B．about an hour after the meal |
| C．about two or three hours after the meal | D．after you feel sleepy |
| A．Most Americans think good home food is better than restaurant food. | B．In America, you can wear comfortable clothes for most informal dinners. |
| C．In America, you are free to come as guests without telling the hosts ahead of time. | D．If we stay with an American family, we need to keep our living area clean and tidy. |
| A．体贴 | B．大方 | C．聪明 | D．考虑 |
| A．American Food | B．American Family |
| C．American Hospitality | D．American Dinner |
10 . How do they get my information? Did you know that when you’ surf the Web, many websites put secret software (软件) on your computer? The software collects a lot of information about you and sends it to Internet businesses. Your personal information can also be collected from social media (媒体) sites. There are many ways your information can be used.
What information do they collect and why? First, businesses collect your information. They find out where you live, what websites you visit, and what you do online. With this information, they can guess other things about you. For example, they can guess if you are a man or a woman, how old you are, and your interests. The businesses use this information to decide which advertisements (广告) are best for you.
What do they do with my information? Your personal information could also be sold. Some businesses collect information just so they can sell it to other businesses. A business that collects and sells personal information is called a data broker. When data brokers sell your information, a lot of different businesses will know your online habits. Then these businesses will advertise products or other websites to you.
What online habits are tracked? Another way your personal information can be collected is through social media. When your information is on social media, a lot of people can see it. Even if you don’t use social media, a friend might post a picture or video of you with your name on it. Pictures and videos can be shared for free on social media. If someone knows too much about you, they can steal your ID. Then they can buy things online and post messages in your name.
Conclusion (结论). All of your online habits can be recorded. Studying people’s online habits is big business. Your personal information is very valuable to businesses. That is how they know who to send their advertisements to. The Internet reaches almost every comer of the world, but the danger is that your personal information might travel that far, too.
1. Why do businesses collect your personal information?| A．To make advertisements. | B．To put it on social media. |
| C．To enter your secret software. | D．To guess other things about you. |
| A．Manage Internet businesses. | B．Advertise products on the net. |
| C．Collect and sell personal information. | D．Make videos for people online. |
| A．Followed. | B．Avoided. | C．Required. | D．Punished. |
| A．You should change your online habits. | B．Online advertisements are unbelievable. |
| C．Online shopping is common in the world. | D．Your personal information can travel online. |
| A．Have you learns to surf the internet? | B．Someone’s always watching you online. |
| C．Many people will pay for their information. | D．How many Internet businesses do you know? |
