1 . When young people begin to live independently, home-hunting can be difficult. But they would do well to remember that a new choice is available — micro-homes.
Fondly called “tiny houses,” these houses have all living necessities in a small package, including kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Generally under 50 square meters, most tiny houses can hold just one or two people though some say they have the space for more. What’s lost in size is not lost in design as these homes are often quite modern in design.
Besides an attractive appearance, tiny houses can also have practical features(特点). Making the best of urban space, the 72-to-122-centimeter-wide Keret House in Warsaw, the world’s narrowest home, filled in an alley(小巷). The house uses solar power, wind power and rainwater collection to make its owner live practically anywhere.
Although micro-homes are attractive, there are a few disadvantages to consider before getting comfortable on a minicouch. Moving into a tiny house, you should throw away unnecessary things. It is also mostly impossible to invite guests. And finally, a micro-home is likely a temporary(暂时的) living choice for most people since they will probably start families and own more things.
Though the limitation will scare some, there is usually a benefit. A small size results in low prices and small bills, making tiny houses easier to afford. And though you won’t have many things around the house, it makes it easy and simple to keep it clean. Micro-homes are also eco-friendly, which can’t be matched by other homes. They probably aren’t for everyone or forever, but when it comes to your next (or first) home, they could be just what you need.
1. What can be learnt about micro-homes from Paragraph 2?| A．People can’t take a package into the tiny houses. |
| B．All of the houses can hold more than two people. |
| C．These houses are convenient though tiny in size. |
| D．Such houses are poorly designed because of the small size. |
| A．by examples | B．by comparisons | C．by order in space | D．by causes and effects |
| A．a young person who has many things | B．a person who doesn’t have much money |
| C．a couple who want to protect environment | D．a family hoping to settle down in a city |
| A．East or west, home is the best. | B．Micro-homes — more than tiny! |
| C．Home-hunting — no easy matter! | D．Tiny or large, this is a choice. |
2 .
Many people think of the brain as a mystery. They don’t know much about intelligence and how it works. When they do think about what intelligence is, many people believe that a person is born smart, average, or dumb—and stays that way in the whole life. But new research shows that the brain is more like a muscle（肌肉）—it changes and gets stronger when you use it. And scientists have been able to show just how the brain grows and gets stronger when you learn.
Everyone knows that when you lift weights, your muscles get bigger and you get stronger. A person who can’t lift 20 pounds when he/she starts exercising can get strong enough to lift 100 pounds after working out for a long time. That’s because the muscles become larger and stronger with exercise. And when you stop exercising, the muscles shrink（收缩）and you get weaker. That’s why people say “Use it or lose it!”
But most people don’t know that when they practice and learn new things, parts of their brain change and get larger a lot like muscles do when they exercise. Inside the cortex（皮层）of the brain are billions of tiny nerve（神经元）cells（细胞）,called neurons. The nerve cells have branches connecting them to other cells in a complicated（复杂）network. Communication between these brain cells is what allows us to think and solve problems. When you learn new things, these tiny connections in the brain actually multiply and get stronger. The more you challenge your mind to learn, the more your brain cells grow. Then, things that you once found very hard or even impossible to do —like speaking a foreign language or doing algebra（代数）—seem to become easy after learning them for a period of time. The result is a stronger, smarter brain.
Scientists started thinking that the human brain could develop and change when they studied animals’ brains. They found out that animals that lived in a challenging environment were more “perspicacious”—they were better at solving problems and learning new things.
1. According to the first paragraph, .| A．the function（作用）of our brain is like that of the muscle |
| B．until now it’s impossible to explain the brain’s mystery |
| C．many people believe one’s intelligence is naturally determined（决定） |
| D．one’s brain grows stronger as the age increases |
| A．The complicated structure of the brain. |
| B．How changes in the muscles affect the brain. |
| C．The importance of the brain. |
| D．How the brain becomes stronger by learning new things. |
| A．Strong. | B．Smart. | C．Popular. | D．Active. |
| A．the differences between animals’ brains and humans’ brains |
| B．the relation between human brains and muscles |
| C．scientists’ findings about animals’ brains |
| D．how to make your brain smarter through self-development |
3 .
“Volunteering makes you look at the world differently. You see how little things can change a person’s life for the better, which makes everyone a better person.” Mason, a volunteer said.
National Volunteer Week started in 1974 and is held every April. It is a time to thank volunteers for their achievements. It is also a perfect opportunity（机会）to encourage others to take their first step toward becoming a volunteer. Making the decision to take the first step can be the biggest problem, because they often wonder if they will be able to meet the organization’s expectations. Some people fear not knowing anyone else in the group. Not having enough time also prevents some from sharing their abilities.
The following tips can help if you have some of these worries.
★Start out slowly, don’t add too much pressure. Even a few hours a month can make a big difference in someone’s life.
★Choose an organization with the same interests and common values.
★Take part in a training meeting for new volunteers, even if it is not asked.
★Work with a veteran volunteer. He volunteered a lot and he can help you increase the confidence and completely understand the organization’s expectations.
★Invite a friend or family member to serve. It is a good experience to volunteer with them.
★Finally, it is most important to enjoy the volunteer experience and to remember that not all volunteer experiences are perfect. If one experience doesn’t work, don’t give up and you’ll surely find the right opportunity.
Spend some time on volunteer work and you will see great changes in people’s lives. As Mason discovered during his volunteer experience, “…little things can change a person’s life.”
1. What could be the reason to stop people taking the first step?| A．They don’t have enough time. | B．They are prevented by their families. |
| C．They fear that their abilities are shared. | D．They don’t expect to become volunteers. |
| A．Start out quickly. | B．Organize a training meeting. |
| C．Invite a friend to be with them. | D．Join in a group with different values. |
| A．polite | B．humorous | C．young | D．experienced |
| A．To tell people to make changes in their lives. |
| B．To encourage people to start their volunteering. |
| C．How to make great achievements in volunteering. |
| D．How to keep on volunteering whatever happened. |
4 . The reasons of making vacation plans
A lot of people like taking a trip with no plans(计划)．They think it is very exciting and has more fun.But in fact，it is not good.Making vacation plans is very important.
First，a vacation plan can make sure that everything goes well.If you visit a place but you don't book a hotel，you may have no place to stay at night.
Second，you have lots of things to take with you for a vacation.You need to plan what things you have to buy and what things you need to put in bags.For example，you want to visit one place，but when you arrive at the airport(机场)，you forget to bring your plane ticket！You may be late for the plane.
Third，making a vacation plan can help you save a lot of money.No one wants to spend more money than they want to.If you surf the Internet before you go on a vacation，you may find some cheap plane tickets and hotel rooms.
Next time when you go on a vacation，try to write down some plans.They can help you have more fun in your vacation.
1. The writer thinks that taking a trip without plans is ________.| A．interesting | B．relaxing | C．bad | D．exciting |
| A．to make a vacation plan | B．to take a trip by plane |
| C．to surf the Internet | D．to visit a place with more money |
| A．Bringing your plane ticket | B．Booking a cheap hotel room |
| C．Taking many things with you | D．Making a vacation plan |
| A．装修 | B．预订 | C．扩建 | D．推荐 |
| A．why we must make a vacation plan |
| B．it's important to have more fun |
| C．how we can make a vacation plan |
| D．what we must take during the vacation |
5 . Soap operas （肥皂剧） and sitcoms（情景喜剧） are two different kinds of popular TV shows． What are the differences between them？
A soap opera is usually very long and has many episodes（集）． All the episodes of a soap opera are interconnected． The first soap opera was on the radio in the late 1930s． One of the most famous soap operas is Friends．
A sitcom， or a situation comedy， is a set of funny stories． These stories all happen（发生） in a small place， like a house or a workplace． Sitcoms are different from soap operas． Each story in a sitcom can be different from others and sitcoms can make people feel happy． There is a very popular sitcom on TV in China． It is Home With Kids．
1. When was the first soap opera on the radio？ ______| A．In 1390． | B．In the late 1390s． |
| C．In 1930． | D．In the late 1930s． |
| A．不连接的 | B．互相关联的 | C．无法连接的 | D．没有电的 |
| A．It is one of the most famous soap operas． |
| B．It is a very popular sitcom in China． |
| C．It is the most popular sitcom in America． |
| D．It is the first soap opera on TV． |
| A．A soap opera is very short． |
| B．A soap opera has few episodes． |
| C．A sitcom is a set of funny stories． |
| D．A sitcom has few characters（人物）． |
| A．Differences Between Soap Operas and Sitcoms |
| B．How to Make Soap Operas |
| C．Differences Between Sitcoms and Funny Stories |
| D．How to Make People Laugh |
At 430 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is Earth's lowest point on land. It is popular for its wonderful buoyancy(浮力). The high salt content-more than 34 percent - makes swimming more like floating.
Now the Dead Sea is actually dying. People are using water from the Jordan River, which takes water away from the Dead Sea. Since 1930, its surf area has reduced by almost 40 percent.
Venice, Italy
With waterways instead of streets. This "Floating City" has attracted visitors for centuries. But no visit to Venice is complete without a ride on one of its famous gondolas, human powered
water taxis. Water creates Venice. But water will also kill the city.
Built on soft earth, Venice has slowly been sinking (下沉) for centuries. Now, with rising sea levels caused by human activities, it's sinking faster. According to US-based magazine Architectural Digest, the city may disappear in the next 100 years. Better book your gondola soon!
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Covering more than 2,300 kilometers of Australia's northeast coast, Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest reef ecosystem, and an ideal place for scuba divers (水肺潜水者).Thousands of colorful coral (珊瑚) and fish make homes in the blue sea water. It's like a big underwater party!
Sadly, the party might be over soon. The reef is dying. Human activities are changing the weather. Warming ocean, water kills the coral, and this causes problems up the food chain. The New York Times reported that large parts are already dead, and the reef system might be gone by 2030.
1. What can be the best title of the passage?| A．Disappearing Watery Wonders |
| B．Amazing Man-made Wonders on the Sea |
| C．Lost Watery Wonders on the Sea |
| D．Last Watery Wonders in the World |
| A．Water loss. | B．Sea pollution. |
| C．Warming seas. | D．Human activities. |
| A．The Dead Sea. | B．Venice. | C．Italy. | D．Great Barrier Reef. |
You should never accept an invitation unless you really plan to go. You may refuse by saying, “Thank you for inviting me, but I will not be able to come.” If, after accepting, you are unable to go, be sure to tell those who are expecting you as soon as possible that you will not be there. Although it is not necessarily expected that you give a gift to your host, it is considered polite to do so, especially if you have been invited for a meal. Flowers, chocolate, or a small gift are all appropriate(合适的). A thank-you note or telephone call after the visit is also considered polite and is an appropriate way to express your appreciation for the invitation.
1. What can you do when a British friend says, “Drop in anytime”?
| A．Visit him or her at any time. |
| B．Say no time to him or her seriously. |
| C．Telephone him or her before visiting. |
| D．Visit him or her soon. |
| A．请自便 | B．请回复 | C．请审阅 | D．请来访 |
| A．Do not give him or her an answer. |
| B．Tell another friend to go instead of you. |
| C．Tell him or her that you can’t be there for some reason. |
| D．Tell him or her that you don’t want to go there. |
| A．Buy small presents when invited. |
| B．Refuse the invitation without telling anyone. |
| C．Write a thank-you note after a visit. |
| D．Give a telephone call after a visit. |
| A．In an invitation. | B．In a guidebook. | C．On a poster. | D．In a newspaper. |
The rockets take astronauts and man-made satellites into space. The satellites are used for communication, weather monitoring and research. But how do satellites stay up without falling down?
There are two opposite forces (力量) acting on the satellite. One of them is the force of gravitation (地心引力), which tries to pull the satellite towards the earth. The other force is created by the rotation (旋转) of the satellite around the earth. This force tries to take the satellite away from the earth. With these two forces, the satellite goes round and round. The gravitational pull of the earth (the force which pulls everything towards the ground) is like a rope which keeps the satellite from flying away.
Everything that goes up has to come down. It is only a matter of time before a satellite comes back to the earth. As time goes by, the satellite loses its speed, which makes the gravitational pull stronger than the force pulling it away. This makes the satellite crash (坠落) down to the earth.
1. Which of the following uses of satellites is NOT mentioned?
| A．communication |
| B．monitoring the weather condition |
| C．doing some research |
| D．taking pictures |
| A．the earth |
| B．the satellite itself |
| C．the rotation of the satellite |
| D．the rope |
| A．Because of the force from the earth. |
| B．Because the satellite is too big. |
| C．Because of the force created by the rotation of the satellite around the earth. |
| D．Because people on earth have made ropes to tie the satellites tightly. |
| A．when it flies faster |
| B．when its speed slows down |
| C．when people cut the rope |
| D．when there is no electricity in it |
| A．There are four forces acting on the satellite. |
| B．The force of gravitation makes the satellite go round and round. |
| C．As time goes by, the satellite will finally fall down. |
| D．The satellite will stay in space forever. |
9 . Scientists in Britain and the United States have made a new kind of enzyme(酵素) that eats plastics(塑 料). With its help, plastics can be turned into smaller parts and go away quickly. Scientists believe that, in the future, it could solve the problem of plastic pollution.
The enzyme is able to break down PET, a form of plastic. PET was first made in the 1940s and is now widely used to make plastic bottles. It can remain in the environment for many years and pollute large areas of land and water. So it has always been a headache to deal with the waste from PET and other plastics.
The researchers made the discovery(发 现) while examining the structure of a natural enzyme in Japan. They found that the natural enzyme was helping to break down PET plastics. So, they decided to make small changes to the enzyme by adding some amino acids(氨 基 酸). It made the natural enzyme’s plastic-eating abilities work faster and better.
John McGeehan, one of the lead researchers, said, “We’ve made an improved enzyme. It’s better than the naturl one. And we are trying to make more improvements to it.” He went on, “The enzyme is not harmful to humans or animals,and it is friendly to the environment. So we are considering putting it into wider use.”
The team is now trying to make the enzyme break down PET in large quantities(大量的). “We’ll see that the plastic pollution may be stopped with this technology. However,there is still a long way to go,”John McGeehan added.
1. According to the scientists, the enzyme may solve the poblem of pollution.| A．air | B．water | C．light | D．plastic |
| A．实验 | B．生产 | C．发明 | D．分解 |
| A．in | B．in the US | C．in Japan | D．in China |
| A．The scientists are sill trying to improve the enzyme. |
| B．The enzyme will pollute large areas of land and water. |
| C．The natural enzyme woks better than the improved one. |
| D．The natural enzyme is harmful to humans and animals. |
 For me it would clcarly be Leonardo da Vinci, I’d love to have met him. He was such a creative talent and not just an artist. He seems to have predicted a number of inventions that only came about hundreds of years later, like flying machines and so on. I’s like to tell him he really did see the future. Naomi, Chicago |
 I’d choose Cleopatra—the last king of ancient Egypt(埃及). She is thought to have been very beautiful and is generally considered to have developed some really useful political alliances (政治同盟). Not many women were that powerful in ancient times, I’d like to have seen how she did it. Lucinda, Nairobi |
 I’m Latin American, so I would name Simon Bolivar as the person I would like to have known. He’s supposed to have been a very great, brave leader'and is accepted to have helped achieve independence for several countries in Latin America in the nineteenth century. Patricia, Caracas |
 I studied philosophy(哲学) , so I would like to have spoken face-to-face with the Chinese philosopher donfucius. I’d like to have discussed with him his political philosophy and his idea about family values. He seems to have had a lot of respect for older people, and even though he lived over two thousand years’ ago, some of his opinions are still meaningful. Li Yun, Shanghai |
1. Whose ideas about inventions have come true?
| A．Leonardo da Vinci’s. | B．Cleopatra’s. | C．Simon Bolivar’s. | D．Confucius’. |
| A．Leonardo da Vinci invented a flying machine hundreds of years ago. |
| B．Lucinda would like to have met Cleopatra because she was pretty. |
| C．Simon Bolivar was a person who encouraged independence of women. |
| D．Li Yun would like to have talked with Confucius about his family values. |
| A．Art. | B．Movie | C．History. | D．Technology. |
