1 . Let’s look at two old but popular inventions we use in our daily life.
Band - Aids （创可贴）
The first Band - Aid was made by American Earle Dickson in 1921. The idea came to him by chance. Dickson’s wife Josephine often cut her fingers in the kitchen. At that time gauze（纱布） and adhesive tape（胶带） didn’t come together. People had to cut them to the right size. Dickson found they were always too big and soon fell off. So he put a piece of gauze on the centre of a piece of tape. This is how he made the first Band - Aid.
Later, Dickson’s new inventions became very popular all around the world.
Bubble gum（泡泡糖）
Bubble gum was invented by accident. In 1928, American gum company worker Walter E. Diemer played around with new chewing gum recipes. Chewing gum had already been invented more than half a century before then. But Diemer found that the gum he made was easy to blew. He blew a bubble and then saw the possibilities. He took some of his new gum to a shop and it sold out in a single afternoon. Since then, Dubble Bubble - the first brand of bubble gum - has made kids happy all around the world.
1. Josephine often_______ in the kitchen.| A．hurt her fingers | B．made bubble gum |
| C．played with new recipes | D．cut gauze to the right size |
| A．the gauze and adhesive tape were always small |
| B．people had to cover the cut with a piece of cloth |
| C．people had to be careful to cut the gauze quite big |
| D．people had to cut the gauze and adhesive tape to the right size |
| A．American doctor | B．American gum company worker |
| C．American housewife | D．American gum shopkeeper |
2 . A lot of people have asked me lately how I manage so many WeChat groups. I'll share a few of the secrets for it. Presently, I have more than 6, 200 people who subscribe(订阅)to my public account and at least 10, 000 in various groups. Some of them are my groups. Others are English language learning groups where I've been invited to share my free English lessons.
First, managing groups is really about managing people. The people who are connected with me are highly targeted for my lessons. They either joined one of my groups or they are in my Friends List. People have chosen to connect with me because they want to improve their English.
Second, I’m very slow at adding someone to a group. I let them connect to my public account (公众号)first. If people promote some kind of business, product or service, I don't want them in my groups. They’ll only cause me trouble. I delete(删除)them from my Friends' Circle quickly and make them disappear.
Third, if I don't want someone advertising in my group, I need to set rules for my group. I think putting ads in groups is the least effective way of promoting or advertising. I have two choices when someone breaks my rules. I can warm them. If they apologize, I will give them a second chance. If they don', kick them out of my group. It isn’t worth time to argue with them.
1. What does the writer do?| A．An English teacher | B．A leader of school |
| C．An English learner | D．A boss of company |
| A．2 | B．3 | C．4 | D．5 |
| A．生产 | B．推销 | C．加强 | D．购买 |
| A．Managing groups is really about managing people |
| B．Some people connect with the writer to improve English. |
| C．The writer shares a few ways of managing WeChat groups. |
| D．No one has ever broken the writer's rules about WeChat groups. |
3 . In early spring, the changing temperature usually makes a number of Chinese people uncomfortable. Cold air, bringing rain or even snow, easily tears up (破坏) the warmth of the spring within a night .
However, with the coming of Guyu-the Grain (谷物) Rain, the blue sky and gentle winds would finally stay. Guyu usually comes on or around April 20 every year, it is the sixth of the 24 solar terms (节气). It means the beginning of a lively summer and people get busy from now on.
Sow (播种) grains
This is an important period of the growth of grains. The ancient Chinese already knew that as Guyu comes, the weather will become warm enough for sowing. The farmers usually catch the chance to plant rice, corn and beans.
Hope for safety and harvest (收获)
For those living near the sea, they will hold some ceremonies (仪式) on Guyu, hoping for safety as well as harvest during the coming fishing season.
Watch the peony (牡丹)
It’s also a great time to see the peony, which is known as “the Queen of All Flowers” in Chinese culture. As a result, watching peonies becomes one of the most enjoyable activities for many people. The flower is said to be the favourite of Empress (女皇) Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝), who was the only woman ruler in Chinese history.
Pick tea leaves
Tea leaves picked before Guyu are among the best tea leaves. People think that the tea leaves picked on the day of Guyu can make eyes clear and drive away bad luck. So the habit of drinking tea at this time of year has become a tradition in some places of China.
1. When does Guyu usually come every year? ( no more than 10 words)2. Why is Guyu an important time for sowing grains? (no more than 12 words)
3. What do people think of the tea leaves picked on the day of Guyu ? (no more than 12 words)
4. 请将文中划线的句子翻译成汉语。
5. 请给短文拟一个适当的英文标题。
Antarctica (南极洲) is the coldest, driest and windiest place on our planet. What would it be like to live and work there? On Oct. 15th, 2019, 50 Chinese scientists set sail from Shenzhen, heading for Antarctica. This was our country's 36th Antarctic expedition. The ship, Xuelong 2, is the first icebreaker made in China. Xuelong 2 is one of the world's best research icebreakers.
It can sail to any place around the world in one trip without refueling (加燃料). It can work in temperatures as low as -30%℃. It is the first in the world to use two-way ice-breaking technology, which means that it can break the ice while moving forward or backward.
Because of Antarctica's special environment, scientists from around the world have been there to do studies for many years. The study of Antarctica's geology (地质) is also important. Rock in Antarctica can tell scientists what the weather was like a long time ago. And they can help scientists understand how the earth has changed over time. There are also many wild animals, such as penguins and seals. Scientists can learn how animals live in cold places by studying them.
As we all know, life in Antarctica is not easy－it's cold and sometimes dangerous. But scientists say it's still quite fun. For example, some scientists study how penguins walk, what they eat and why they move from one place to another. They are excited to see the cute animals playing around. They hope their studies can help protect them.
Xuelong 2 finished its tasks and returned to Shanghai on April 22, 2020.
1. How many Chinese scientists headed for Antarctica on Oct 15th, 2019?| A．Fifteen. | B．Nineteen. | C．Fifty. | D．Two hundred. |
| A．the first icebreaker made in the world |
| B．the first in the world to use two-way ice-breaking technology |
| C．one of the best research icebreakers in China |
| D．the second icebreaker made in China |
| A．how the weather has changed | B．the geology and wild animals |
| C．the original plants | D．how the rock disappeared |
| A．Not easy but still quite fun. | B．Dangerous and boring. |
| C．Hard and dangerous. | D．Safe but quite tiring. |
5 . The expression “down to earth”（脚踏实地） means being open and honest. It is easy to get on with someone who is down to earth. A down-to-earth person is the opposite of someone who acts important or proud.
Down-to-earth people could be important members of society. But they do not consider themselves to be better than others who are less important. A person who is filled with his own importance and pride is said to have his nose in the air.
Americans use another expression that is similar in some ways to down to earth. The expression is both feet on the ground. Someone with both feet on the ground is a person with a good understanding of reality（现实）. He may have dreams, but he does not allow them to have influence on his understanding of what is real.
The opposite kind of person is one who has his head in the clouds. Someone with his head in the clouds is a person whose mind is not on what is happening in real life. Such a person may be called a day-dreamer.
When we have both our feet on the ground and when we are down to earth. We do not have our noses in the air. We act honestly and openly to others. Our lives are like the ground below us—solid（牢固的）and strong.
1. A down-to-earth person could be ________.| A．social and proud | B．good and opposite |
| C．real and important | D．strong and changeable |
| A．眉飞色舞 | B．目中无人 | C．瞻前顾后 | D．春风得意 |
| A．the use of some expressions | B．dreams and achievements |
| C．the lifestyle of honest people | D．honesty and understanding |
| A．get along with other people easily | B．learn from those who are down to earth |
| C．be a good dreamer with quick mind | D．have both your feet on the ground |
6 . Most 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:
The 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.
Another secret to live a happy life is to be active, and have hobbies where you forget your problems and time. Many people experience this by dancing, or playing a sport, such as swimming. You can forget about your problems, and only think about the activity.
Finally, 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. How many pieces of advice does the passage give on happiness?| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．Everyone knows how to live a happier life. |
| B．It’s wrong to spend time on work. |
| C．Hobbies take up too much time. |
| D．Doing good things for someone can make you happier. |
| A．Reading a good book. |
| B．Traveling to a foreign country. |
| C．Playing a sport. |
| D．Spending time with close friend. |
| A．The Secrets of Happiness. |
| B．Money Makes You Happy. |
| C．Ideas for Helping Other People to Be Happy. |
| D．Good Friends Make You Happy. |
Traditional Chinese culture is catching the world’s eyes. The good traditional Chinese culture is our great treasure. President Xi Jinping says we should have a high of culture confidence. There are so many great works in the course of Chinese history such as Di Zi Gui,Lun Yu,Meng Zi and so on. Xi Jinping and other leaders often borrow some wonderful sentences from them. Dao De Jing is also one of them.
It is widely believed that Lao zi, a famous Chinese philosopher and the founder of Taoism, was the writer of Dao De Jing. There are only 5000 characters in the book, but it is considered as one of the oldest and most important philosophy books of ancient China .It includes two parts, Dao and De.
Dao means "the Way". It doesn’t tell us how to choose the right way, but it really shows that one should act through naturalness and non-action.
Naturalness refers to a natural state of being, an attitude of following the way of nature. Lao Zi thought that everything in the world has its own way of being and developing. Birds fly in the sky; Tigers live in the forest; Fish swim in the water; Flowers bloom and flowers fall. He gave advice to the people who have strong feelings to control the world. He said they should give up the desires （欲望）.
Non-action （无为） does not mean that one should do nothing but passively wait for something to be achieved. What he meant is that human should follow the way of nature and try not to break the rule of nature.
De means“Virtue（德行）”. Lao zi thought the great virtue is like water. And he thinks nothing in the world is weaker than water, yet nothing is stronger than water when it comes. It can nearly destroy everything strong. In ancient China, there is also a saying, water can hold the boat, it can also make the boat turn upside down. Water is a typical （典型的） example of the weak beating the strong.
Of course, there are many other wonderful things we can learn from the book. Today, Dao de Jing still plays a role in the development of Chinese thoughts. It is becoming more and more popular with people around the world.
1. According to Dao De Jing, which picture shows an attitude of breaking the way of nature?A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．Because water is a typical example of the strong beating the weak. |
| B．Because Lao zi thought nothing in the world is weaker than water. |
| C．Because water is a typical example of the weak beating the strong. |
| D．Because water can hold the boat. |
| A．We should act by following the way of nature and have the great virtue. |
| B．We should choose the right way to success. |
| C．We should do nothing but passively wait for something to be achieved. |
| D．We should become strong and try our best to satisfy our desires. |
| A．Serious. | B．Proud. | C．Upset. | D．Sad. |
8 . “Which is the right bin for my garbage?” This may be the most-asked question in Shanghai since it started a new garbage-sorting program on July 1, 2019. When learning about the four types of garbage — wet, dry, recyclable and harmful — many people might be confused about how to properly sort it.
To help people figure this out, China’s tech companies are giving a hand. For example, if you want to know which bin your wet wipes (湿巾) should go in, you can just open a mini app (小程序) in WeChat or Alipay and look for “wet wipes”. The app will give you the answer right away. Soon, you might do it in an easier way. Maybe you can just take a photo of the garbage and then be told where it should go.
This kind of technology is called image recognition (图像识别). It uses artificial intelligence (AI, 人工智能). Many companies around the world are making garbage-sorting robots that use this technology. For example, AMP Robotics in the US has made a robot that can sort food and drink packages . By “seeing” pictures on the packaging, the robot will pick up the trash and put it in the right place.
The future of garbage-sorting looks good. But it’s not the best way. The best thing we can do is to make less garbage in the first place.
Four kinds of garbage in Shanghai
1. Why is the question “Which is the right bin for my garbage?” the most asked one in Shanghai?
| A．Because Shanghai has the most garbage in China. |
| B．Because Shanghai started a new garbage-sorting program in 2019. |
| C．Because people in Shanghai are fond of asking questions. |
| D．Because people in Shanghai don’t know about garbage. |
| A．Dog waste and paper are wet garbage. |
| B．Peel and batteries are harmful garbage. |
| C．Lamp and plastics are recyclable. |
| D．Clothes and glass bottles are recyclable. |
| A．Go to China’s high tech companies and ask for help. |
| B．Take a photo of it and send it to the high-tech company. |
| C．Open a mini app in WeChat or Alipay and look for answers |
| D．Buy a robot and ask him to do it for you. |
| A．to make less garbage |
| B．to sort garbage in a proper way |
| C．to educate people to know the types of garbage |
| D．to develop high technology to sort garbage |
9 . India is one of our neighbors. How much do you know about it? Now let's learn more information about it.
India is one of the four oldest civilizations(文明) in the world. About 5, 000 years ago, Indian civilization was born. Today, with a population (人口)of over 1. 2billion(十亿), India is the world's second most populous country behind China.
Its great civilization makes the country exciting. The world's highest mountain, the Himalayas, rises in the north. The mountain is home to some of India's rarest(最珍稀的)animals.
Also, India is famous for making software(软件). IT products(产品)from India are widely used. If you have a mobile phone, some of the parts may come from India.
Many Indians work for IT companies in Bangalore, also called the Silicon Valley(硅谷)of India. It is the country's software production center.
If you are not interested in software, then India's modern culture may excite you. Most Indian films are called Bollywood films. Many of them tell stories with a lot of lively music and dancing.
They usually have a happy ending. For example, 3 Idiots (《三傻大闹宝莱坞》）is one of the best ones.
1. India is famous for _________________.| A．software production | B．making mobile phones |
| C．Hollywood films | D．a relaxing lifestyle |
| A．流行的 | B．人口密集的 | C．地域辽阔的 | D．受欢迎的 |
| A．India is the oldest civilization in the world. | B．India has a history of about 5. 000 years. |
| C．India has a population of over 2 billon. | D．India is the world's largest country. |
| A．The World's Oldest Civilization | B．The World's Second Biggest Country |
| C．Our Neighbor's Colorful Culture | D．New Times, New Country |
Very often, when we see young people sitting there, looking at the screen of a mobile phone and smiling, we may think nothing is wrong. But when we come to the question "how much time do they actually spend on media(传播媒介）daily?", the answer is surprising: young people spend about nine hours every day using media, and this only includes media used for enjoyment.
Today's young people seem to have become crazy multitaskers. They often use media when doing other activities. Some watch TV when doing homework, some text(发短信), and some others listen to music. But what do young people think of this? A research showed that two thirds of them believed watching TV or texting had no influence on their schoolwork. Half of them thought using social media made no difference. However, researches have given a different answer: "media multitaskers" did worse in tests.
Scientists did a research among more than 400 students. It shows that those who text a lot have more trouble sleeping and do worse in their study. In another research, students who didn't text during a lesson took down a lot more notes than those who were texting. A similar research also found that students who texted when doing schoolwork had lower overall(总体的）grades.
According to a research, if a kid uses social media a lot, especially at night, he or she will sleep worse and feel more nervous and depressed(消沉的). On the one hand, young people stay up late to check messages and information. They may also be woken up by messages they receive. On the other hand, even the light from a screen could influence their sleep. Some other researches also show that children who use media at night go to bed later, get fewer hours of sleep each week, and become sleepy more easily during the daytime.
1. The answer to the question in Paragraph l is surprising because young people ______.| A．spend about 9 hours on media for fun daily |
| B．often look at their mobile phones and smile |
| C．always sit there for a long time doing nothing |
| D．use different kinds of media to relax themselves |
| A．ask a lot of questions | B．use different media for learning |
| C．have several mobile phones | D．do several tasks at the same time |
| A．become more worried | B．get more excited |
| C．take fewer notes in class | D．sleep much better |
| A．Social media is very popular among young people. |
| B．Using media too much has a bad influence on young people. |
| C．The use of social media has both advantages and disadvantages. |
| D．Mobile phones are the main tools students use for school learning. |
