1 . COVID-19 has made people think harder about their relationship with nature. It has also raised questions about urban (城市的) lifestyles. The sharing economy (共享经济), working in open offices, living in crowded apartments and the food industry's use of reusable products have made the perfect storm for a pandemic (大流行).
Although the sharing economy might be good - it's cheaper to rent than to own - sharing spaces and objects are great ways to spread the virus. How does one do "social distancing (和他人保持安全距离)" when they are expected to share cars, bikes, apartments and even the same offices?
The trend (趋势) of using open offices, which can save space, is working against us. In this type of office, workers don't have their own desk - everything is shared. Sometimes, computers and chairs are also shared, which is not hygienic (卫生的). Fortunately, more workers are working from home during the pandemic, but that won't last forever.
Reusability (循环利用) is a common practice in the restaurant industry. Reusable cups and chopsticks are often used. Unfortunately, reusable products increase the chance of spreading disease. For example, Starbucks recently stopped refilling (重新装满) customers' reusable cups in order to stop the spread of the virus.
People like to be social. But the virus has made this more dangerous. We have to be careful about how we interact (交往) with others for now. Perhaps we need to rethink about our lifestyles to reduce the spread of future pandemics.
1. According to the author, the strong point of the sharing economy is that _________.| A．it lasts longer | B．it costs less | C．it's popular | D．it's hygienic |
| A．how working at home won't last long |
| B．how shared offices can save space |
| C．the hygienic problems of open offices |
| D．the sharing economy trend |
| A．everything is shared in many restaurants |
| B．they use too much disposable tableware |
| C．many restaurants have poor hygiene |
| D．cups and chopsticks are often reused |
| A．we need to change some of our lifestyles |
| B．the sharing economy won't last forever |
| C．no one can stay out of the sharing economy |
| D．we shouldn't stay away from shared products |
2 . People use their mouths for many things. They eat, talk, shout and sing. They smile and they kiss. In the English language, there are many expressions about the word “mouth”. But some of them are not so nice.
For example, if you say bad things about a person, the person might protest and say “Do not bad mouth me.”
Sometimes, people say something to a friend or family member that they later regret because it hurts that people’s feelings. Or they tell the person something they were not supposed to. The speaker might say: “I really put my foot in my mouth this time”. If this should happen, the speaker might feel down in the mouth, In other words, he might feel afraid for saying the wrong thing.
Sometimes when one person is speaking, he says the same thing that his friend was going to say. When this happens, the friend might say: “You took the words right out of my mouth!” Sometimes a person has a bad or unpleasant experience with another person. He might say that experience “left a bad taste in my mouth”. Or the person has possibly had a very scary experience, like being chased by an angry dog. He might say, “ I had my heart in my mouth.”
Some people have lots of money because they were born into a very rich family. There is an expression for this, too. You might say such a person “was born with a silver spoon in his mouth”. This rich person is the opposite of a person who lives from “hand to mouth”. This person is very poor and only has enough money for the most important things in life, like food.
1. When a man says “I had my heart in my mouth”, usually he means he is ________.| A．scared | B．excited | C．surprised | D．satisfied |
| A．You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth |
| B．You took the words right out of my mouth |
| C．You really left a bad taste in my mouth |
| D．You really put my foot in my mouth. |
| A．happy | B．healthy | C．rich | D．poor |
| A．some bad people’s mouths | B．some people using the word “mouth” |
| C．some expressions about mouth | D．some things people use their mouths to do |
In Britain.Boxing Day is usually celebrated on December 26th, which is the following day after Christmas Day.However, strictly speaking.Boxing Day is the first weekday after Christmas.Like Christmas Day.Boxing Day sing a public holiday.This means it’s a non﹣working day in the whole of Britain.When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is the public holiday.
The exact origin（起源）of the holiday is unclear.One of the thoughts is that during the Middle Ages, when great sailing ships were setting off to discover new land, a Christmas Box was placed by a priest（神父）on each ship.Those sailors who wanted to ensure a safe return would drop money into the box.It was sealed up and kept on board until the ship came home safely.Then the box was handed over to the priest in the exchange for the saying of a Mass of thanks for the success of the sailing.The priest wouldn’t open it to share the contents with the poor until Christmas.
One more thought is about the “Alms Box” placed in every church on Christmas Day.Worshippers （做礼拜的人）put gifts for the poor into it.These boxes were always opened the day after Christmas, that is why that day became known as Boxing Day.
Today, many businesses, organizations and families try to keep the traditional spirit of Boxing Day alive by donating their time, services and money to aid Food Banks, providing gifts for the poor, or helping families in need.Besides, spending time with family and shopping are popular Boxing Day activities now.
1. If Christmas Day is on a Saturday, Boxing Day will be celebrated on________.| A．December 24th | B．December 25th |
| C．December 26th | D．December 27th |
| A．pray for sailing safely | B．pay for the priest |
| C．discover new land | D．save the poor |
| A．offering gifts to the poor | B．spending time with family |
| C．supporting families in need | D．giving money to aid Food Banks |
| A．to praise the kindness of priests | B．to call on people to help the poor |
| C．to introduce the origins of Boxing Day | D．to compare Boxing Day with Christmas Day. |
4 . Wearing a mask while sleeping at home sounds a little crazy. But Wu Keying did so during the novel coronavirus outbreak. “I feared that I would be infected. Now I know it’s not necessary to do so. But I am still worried about when the epidemic will end,” said the 13-year-old from Chengdu, Sichuan province. Being stuck inside makes her feel anxious.
In fact, many people have experienced feelings like Wu. Nearly 80 percent of people are deeply worried about the outbreak, while 40percent strongly fear it, according to a survey released on Jan 27 by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
These emotions (情绪) are normal for people who are going through stressful events, according to Wang Weihua, an expert on positive psychology (积极心理学). “Some stressful reactions (反应) can help us fight the virus,” Wang said. “We take more protective actions, such as wearing masks and washing hands often, for example.”
But if these feelings last too long, it will be bad for our mental (心理的) health, Wang added. So how can we stay positive?
First, we should learn to accept unexpected changes in life, wrote Xiong Kewei, a psychological consultant (咨询师) at Beijing Normal University. We might learn new lessons from these changes, like respecting (尊重) nature and being more responsible (有担当的).
Another useful way to stay positive is to stick to a normal routine (正常作息).
“The key is to take good care of the body, arrange a reasonable schedule, ensure adequate sleep and diet, and get the necessary rest and relaxation,” Zhang Hong, deputy chief physician of Wuhan Mental Health Center, told China Daily.
1. Wu Keying wore a mask while sleeping because ________.| A．her parents told her to do so |
| B．it’s the best way to avoid infection |
| C．one of her family members was infected |
| D．she was scared of being infected |
| A．Many people feel worried about the virus. |
| B．We shouldn’t worry too much about the virus. |
| C．Only 40 percent of people worry about the outbreak. |
| D．More than 80 percent of people wear masks while sleeping. |
a. wearing masks
b. being stress-free
c. staying positive
d. washing our hands
| A．abc | B．abd | C．acd | D．bcd |
| A．how to stay away from the coronavirus | B．how psychologists helped patients |
| C．suggestions on how to stay positive | D．how to receive psychological counseling |
A city without cars would be very strange, right? But Venice is such a city.
Venice is in the northeast of Italy. It wasn't built on land, like Beijing or Shanghai, but on more than 110 islands.Seawater is everywhere around the city.
Even so, travel isn't difficult. The waterways have always been the best way to get around. There are 117 waterways and more than 400 bridges that can guide you where you want to go.People in Venice move from place to place by boat.
Water makes the city special, but it is also a big problem. Sometimes tourists will have such strange experiences. One moment they walk across the Rialto Bridge, and there’s nothing special. But when they come back to the bridge an hour later, it’s underwater and everyone is wearing rain shoes.
Once, people used too much underground water. This made the city get lower little by little. Now the city has gone down by 23 centimeters. Another problem is the rising seawater. The temperature has risen over the years. This has made the ice of the Arctic Ocean melt. Every year, high waters hit the city in autumn and winter. When a lot of water comes, more than half of the city is underwater.
Scientists are trying different ways to stop the city from getting even lower. The Italian government has asked some of Italy’s biggest companies to build the MOST project, which was planned to be build under the seawater to stop the rising water. Anyway, this project is helping solve the problem.
1. Which is the best way to travel in Venice?| A．400 bridges. | B．Taxis and cars. | C．The waterways. | D．Boats and rain shoes. |
| A．The ice of the Arctic Ocean melt. | B．Seawater is everywhere around the city. |
| C．People used too much underground water. | D．The temperature has become higher over the years. |
| A．Venice is sure to stop getting lower. | B．High waters won’t hit Venice any more. |
| C．Scientists can solve the problems easily | D．Some possible ways help to solve the problem. |
| A．The Specials and Problems of Venice | B．The History of Venice. |
| C．The Places of Interest of Venice | D．The MOST Project of Venice. |
6 . A new study finds that lots of kids hate school. Usually this kind of feeling doesn’t last long. But what happens if you feel this way too much? School is a fact of life and getting a good education can help you build the kind of future life you want. So let’s talk about school and what to do when you don’t like it.
If you don’t like school, the first step is to find out why. You might not like school because you don’t have enough friends, or maybe you don’t get along with your teacher. Sometime it’s a big problem with your classes and schoolwork. You may be getting farther and farther behind, and it may seem like you’ll never catch up.
When you know why you don’t like school, you can start taking steps to make things better. It’s a good idea to talk to someone about your problems with school. Your mum, dad, teacher or school counselor（顾问）will be able to help you. Another good idea is to write down your feelings about school in a notebook. It’s a great way to let out emotions（情绪）. Remember you don’t have to share what you’ve written with others.
1. Lots of kids ________, according to the writer.| A．like school very much | B．are good at reading and writing |
| C．don’t like doing homework | D．have the thought of hating school |
| A．A good education. | B．School. | C．Future life. | D．Friendship. |
| A．find out why | B．go to see a doctor |
| C．ask your parents for help | D．leave school for a short time |
| A．keep silent about your problems | B．share what you’ve written with others |
| C．write down your feelings about school | D．get along well with your classmates |
When you are in Hong Kong, you must be very careful in the streets because the traffic drives on the left. It is different from that in other areas of China. If you are first time to come to Hong Kong, you must look to the right side and then the left before you cross the street.
If the traffic lights are green, the traffic can go, but people on foot mustn’t cross. They can go across the street when the traffic lights are red.
When people go to or come from work in the morning and evening, the streets are very busy. Traffic is the most dangerous then, especially for the children.
When you go by bus in Hong Kong, you have to be careful, too. You must always remember the traffic moves on the left. So you must be careful. Have a look first, or you will go the wrong way.
In Hong Kong, there are many big buses with two floor, and you can sit on the second floor.
From there you can see the view of the whole city well. It’s very interesting.
1. Why must you be very careful in the streets in Hong Kong? (no more than 8 words)2. What should you do before you cross the streets? (no more than 17 words)
3. What can people on foot do if the traffic lights are red? (no more than 7 words)
4. 请将文中画线的句子翻译成汉语。
5. 给短文拟一个适当的英文题目。
8 . The Dragon Boat Festival is a folk festival which has a history of more than two thousand years. It is also named Chongwu Festival. There are many activities on the day.
| The dragon boat race is an important competition during the festival. People held dragon boat races in the river to remember the poet, Qu Yuan. Now, the dragon boat race is a traditional activity for Chinese people. |
| During the Dragon Boat Festival, children usually wear sweet-smelling bags to avoid bad things. In some areas of China, a sweet-smelling bag is also used as a symbol of love between lovers. |
| A long time ago, a married daughter would return to her parents' home during the Dragon Boat Festival. So the Dragon Boat Festival is also called Girls' Day. |
| Eating rice dumplings is also a custom for Chinese people. The rice dumpling is a kind of food with different designs and styles. For thousands of years, the custom of eating rice dumplings has been popular in China and has spread to Korea, Japan and countries in Southeast Asia. |
1. What should Chinese do during the Dragon Boat Festival?
① Take part in a dragon boat race. ② Wear bags that have pleasant smells.
③ Eat delicious dumplings. ④ Throw water at each other.
| A．①② | B．②③ | C．①④ |
| A．To admire a famous scientist. | B．To have good luck. | C．To remember Qu Yuan. |
| A．A daughter can wear a sweet-smelling bag. |
| B．A daughter who is married can return to her parents’ home. |
| C．Girls have lots of housework to do during the Dragon Boat Festival. |
| A．A sweet-smelling bag can be used as a symbol of love. |
| B．People usually hold dragon boat races in the sea. |
| C．People have celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival for more than two thousand years. |
| A．They can express love between lovers. |
| B．They are eaten to avoid bad things. |
| C．They have different designs and styles. |
9 . Do you like music? Do you often listen to it at loud volumes? You should know that this habit is bad for your hearing, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Over 1 billion young people are at risk of hearing loss due to listening to loud noise for long periods of time, WHO said. Listening to music or watching a TV show at loud volumes can harm your hearing.
The United Nations has standards for safe listening. It is not safe to listen to sounds that are louder than 85 decibels for eight hours or 100 dB for 15 minutes. The sound of a busy road is about 85 dB and the sound of a rock concert can be about 100 dB.
Loud noise is harmful to the inner ear. Most of us are born with about 16,000 hair cells in our inner ears. These cells detect sounds. However, listening to loud noise for a long time can make these cells work too hard and cause some of them to die. This is what causes hearing loss.
Some people might think that their music isn’t all that loud. But this can depend on where you are. For example, if you are in a noisy place like the subway, you might turn up your music too loud without realizing it. Later, when you listen to it at the same volume in a quiet place, you might feel uncomfortable.
WHO said the “safe level” for most sound is below 80 decibels for up to 40 hours a week. A level of 80 decibels is nearly the same as the noise of a subway.
Word Bank:
decibel n. (dB 分贝) inner ear 内耳detect vt. 探测
1. According to the story, WHO suggests that it is NOT safe to _____.
| A．listen to music every day | B．watch TV for over an hour |
| C．listen to loud sounds for a long time | D．go to a rock concert |
| A．80 dB | B．85 dB | C．100 dB | D．115 Db |
| A．Because it puts our brains under great pressure. |
| B．Because it can cause hair cells in the inner ear to die. |
| C．Because it prevents our ears from resting. |
| D．Because it allows people to get used to listening to loud sounds. |
| A．People love to listen to loud music. |
| B．It’s reasonable to listen to loud music in some places. |
| C．People are likely to listen to music on the subway. |
| D．People don’t always realize how loud their music is. |
10 . Boys and girls, do you have the habit of making new term’s resolutions before it starts? Read and have a look at the resolutions of Tony and three of his classmates.
Tony: Now, I go to school by bus every day. I’m going to move to a new house soon. It is close to school. In the new term, I’m going to learn how to ride a bicycle. And I will ride to school every day.
Linda: In the new term, I’m going to take up a new hobby—making milk shakes. My favorite is the chocolate milk shake. I will learn how to make it from Aunt Maria.
Jimmy: I’m kind of heavy. In the new term, I’m going to do more exercise. I run for fifteen minutes every day now. In the new term, I’ll run for fifty more minutes every day.
Susan: My father is a scientist and my mother works as a dentist. They are always very busy. In the new term, I’m going to help them do more housework.
1. According to the passage, Tony’s new term resolution is ________.| A．learning to ride a bicycle. | B．learning to make milk shakes. |
| C．doing more exercise. | D．doing more housework. |
| A．Tony | B．Jimmy | C．Aunt Maria. | D．Susan |
| A．45 minutes | B．30 minutes | C．15 minutes | D．60 minutes |
| A．Tony works at a school. | B．Linda is Maria’s aunt. |
| C．Jimmy is a little thin. | D．Susan wants to do more housework. |
