Everything in our body needs water to work! But sadly, not everyone has access to clean drinking water. In the US, for example, a lot of people living in the countryside get their water from wells and springs—and it can have bacteria in it.
If you drink water with bacteria in it, you might get very sick—some people even die. That’s why people living in the countryside need to clean their water before they drink it. There are a few quite efficient ways to do this. But all of them have at least one disadvantage. Iodine tablets（碘片） have negative side effects on your body if you use them for too long. Ultraviolet（紫外线的）lamps use a lot of energy and filtration（过滤）systems are expensive.
Therefore, we wanted to use a simple energy source. Everyone nowadays carries with them: a smartphone! What if we could clean water with such a common device? Wouldn’t that save a lot of trouble?
We designed a downloadable app and a cheap device that can be plugged into a smartphone to disinfect（杀毒）water（Figure. 1）.
The method that our device uses is called electrochemical disinfection. It uses electric currents（电流）to produce substances that can kill bacteria. In our experiments, we used a smartphone to produce the electric current and copper（铜）wires as a source for the antibacterial substance. Copper ions（离子）are released from the copper wire. These copper ions kill bacteria.
Copper can also be dangerous for humans but only in much higher concentrate. We tried to find the perfect balance: where just enough copper ions are released to kill the bacteria, without reaching a harmful level for humans.
With our new device, we were able to kill almost all bacteria in the treated water. Although our device worked really well, we only tested it in a limited laboratory setting—so some things could be different in real life.
We were able to clean three liters（or 8 cups）of water by only using less than 1% of the phone’s battery. However, the disinfection of these three liters took about five hours—which is too long.
Still, all of our tests suggest that it is possible to improve the speed of our device quite easily. When this is done, anyone with a smartphone can use our device to disinfect their drinking water.
Hopefully, our device will be ready for everyday use very soon!
1. What can we learn from the passage?| A．Copper ions can clean the water by killing bacteria. |
| B．Everyone in the US can afford the filtration system. |
| C．Cleaning water with phones uses less battery and time. |
| D．It’s safe to use iodine tablets to clean water for a long time. |
| A．the device will be put into use very soon |
| B．it’s safe to drink water with lots of copper ions |
| C．it’s easy to improve the speed of the smartphones |
| D．the smartphones have been used to disinfect water widely |
| A．Why teenagers love using smartphones. |
| B．Why smartphones benefit us in daily life. |
| C．How you can use smartphone wisely in daily life. |
| D．How your smartphone can make water safe to drink. |
2 . Believe in Yourself
Anita was an active girl who grew up in the eastern of Nepal. Her parents were shepherds. It was that point of the year when the sky was blue, the sun smiled upon the village and so the stars in the dark never looked brighter before. Anita found a lot of tourists visit her village. Watching people all over the world visit her village made Anita curious. "What are these people doing here, father?" asked Anita. Anita's father laughed and said, "Darling, they have all come to climb those mountains."
Amazed at their courage, Anita said, "Really, father? Is it possible to climb to the top? "
"Of course dear," replied her father, "Many people do it. "
"Someday, I will be able to climb to the highest of these mountains." said Anita with a burning dream brewing（酝酿）in her eyes. But life had other plans for her. Anita had a terrible accident when she was thirteen. Unluckily, she lost one leg. Clouds of hopelessness darkened her happy world.
"I will never be ready to climb those mountains!" cried Anita.
Her father loved her dearly. He couldn't see his little girl in pain. He was extremely sad. But he did not lose heart. He thought over and over and he couldn't sleep well. Finally, he had a good idea.
One day Anita's father built her a wooden leg, which she could wear and walk. "Never say ‘never’. Start climbing the mountains." said the determined father.
Anita was beside herself with joy. She wore the wooden leg and walked, and fell. Stood up, and tried to run, and fell again. The whole village laughed at the daddy and daughter's foolishness. But nothing pulled them down. Both the father and daughter were determined to win against all the odds. They kept practising.
After five years, Anita made it to the highest of the mountains. And she made her father very proud of her, along with her country.
1. What made Anita curious?| A．Burning dream brewing in her eyes. |
| B．Watching the stars look brighter before. |
| C．Watching people all over the world visit her village. |
| D．Being able to climb to the highest of the mountains. |
| A．had a terrible accident and lost a leg | B．saw many people climb to the top |
| C．was ready to climb those mountains | D．wore the wooden leg and walked |
| A．beat all the foolish people | B．had a good idea to realize her dream |
| C．tried to make her country powerful | D．climbed to the highest of the mountains |
3 . Do Dogs Dream?
Unlike cartoon images (图像、影像), real dogs don’t speak and describe their sleep. So you may wonder: do dogs dream like their owners?
A scientific research conducted at MIT found that during sleep, brains of humans and dogs work in a similar manner. When you or your dog first falls asleep, you experience SWS—slow wave(波) sleep—when the brain waves are slow but muscles (肌肉) are still active. Later a deeper stage of sleep happens. This stage is called REM sleep — rapid eye movements sleep. During REM, muscles are more relaxed, but the mind is more active. It was proved that both humans and dogs experience these two stages of the sleep circle. Since we know that humans dream, it is safe to conclude(做出结论) that dogs dream too.
Scientists found that as a dog falls asleep, his breathing becomes deeper and more regular(规则的). After about 20 minutes in REM sleep, dreams usually begin for normal dogs. While dreaming, the dog’s breathing may become weak and irregular, and his eyes move about behind the closed lids (眼睑) as if the dog is looking at something. By comparing brain wave patterns, researchers suggested that during REM, dogs are visualizing (呈现) dream images much like humans do during this stage of sleep.
Besides, it also found that during REM, the sleeping brain operates much like it does when awake, so both man and dogs dream about things that happen during their waking hours. Information gathered during the day is processed at night and may be relived in dreams. So your dog may “sleep run” as he runs after a cat or fetches a ball.
Studies also show that some dogs dream more than others, and the frequency and length of dreams are different according to the age and size of dogs. Young puppies usually experience more dreams than adult dogs. One possible reason is that puppies get huge amounts (数量) of new information daily and have much to process at night. Among dogs of the same age, smaller dogs seem to have more dreams than their bigger friends, but their dreams may last shorter. Dream length and frequency are also related to the amount of sleep required. A dog that has an active day outside may sleep more soundly than usual and experience longer periods of REM sleep, giving him more time to dream.
1. What happens to the dogs during REM sleep?| A．Their muscles stay active. | B．Their dreams take place. |
| C．Their brain waves are slow. | D．Their mind is more relaxed. |
| A．breathes regularly | B．opens the lids |
| C．visualizes images | D．gathers information |
| A．Required. | B．Reviewed. | C．Repaired. | D．Researched. |
| A．Why dogs dream like humans. | B．What bigger dogs dream about. |
| C．Why young puppies have more dreams. | D．What causes the differences of dogs’ dreams. |
4 . There are certain things you never imagine yourself saying.
“I just got a worm(虫子) in my eye!” is one of them.
And yet I did say it—I screamed(惊叫) it, actually.
The family was all here, and we were in the garden when I saw a worm nearby. I asked my 6-year-old grandson to come over and take the worm away. He picked up the worm, studied it quickly and then threw it into the air.
The worm quickly fell back to earth, landing on my face against my left eyelid(眼皮). That’s when the screaming and the jumping up and down started.
You know how they say when you meet a small creature? The small creature is just as afraid of you as you are of it? They lie.
The worm showed no fear. I, however, am still having nightmares(噩梦) about the experience which was several days ago.
The most important thing in all this is that my grandson said he was sorry to me.
I’d just been reading a book that makes a connection between adults doing the slow and hard work of teaching manners to children and greater levels of civility(礼节) in society.
Table manners, language manners, and even manners in dress all show levels of self-control.
Having self-control limits what we say and how we behave, making many of us appear a good deal better than we really are.
Good manners also have the possibility to make mealtime a pleasant experience, even with small children.
All of my grandchildren, except the ones who can’t yet talk, asked to be excused before leaving the table.
It is a sign of respect for others at the table and a sign of respect for the meal itself. It’s also more pleasant than pushing one’s chair back and running for the back yard.
Those tall enough, and even those not tall enough, also take their dishes to the kitchen.
Manners are what civilize(教化) us—around our tables and in our families, homes and communities.
So when a little boy has the courage to apologize(道歉) to the grandma who is screaming and jumping up and down, at least we know that our years of teaching young people manners are paying off—one worm at a time.
1. What can we learn about the writer’s grandson?| A．He enjoys making trouble. |
| B．He likes playing with worms. |
| C．He threw the worm at his grandma to play a joke. |
| D．He realized his mistake and apologized to his grandma. |
| A．To show how well the children were educated. |
| B．To prove politeness can lead to good experiences. |
| C．To show how one should behave during mealtime. |
| D．To explain why family members should respect others. |
| A．To stress importance of having good manners. |
| B．To describe how civilized people should behave. |
| C．To share a worm story about her and her grandson. |
| D．To give advice to parents on how to teach their children. |
We’ve all felt confused before. The feeling of not knowing what the answers or solutions are can make us feel useless, stupid, and cause us to worry.
People are often likely to think the person who has all of the answers is smarter than the one who asks a lot of questions. As a result, people often try to hide their confusion in different ways. People sometimes act as if they have the answers. At other times, people make guesses or create an answer even if they know it isn’t right.
But confusion might actually be a good thing. When we jump to an answer, we don’t have time to explore (探索) the thing we’re confused about. Instead of paying no attention to your confusion, accepting it and taking the opportunity to think about what’s confusing can benefit our learning. In fact, scientific studies show that confusion actually leads to deeper understanding. A 2004 study explored six moods that people feel while learning, including upset, bored, and confused. They found that students who spent more of the lesson confused learned the most. In another study, scientists tried to confuse students by giving them contradicting (矛盾的) information. Students who expressed confusion during the lesson did better on the final test. Not knowing the answer to a problem gives us space to look at different ways to solve it. The feeling of confusion also encourages us to look more deeply into the problem. In the end, this helps us understand the topic on a deeper level.
Confusion is also important for learning your identity (身份). People find out their identity in two steps. The first step is exploration, where you try out different groups and values and see what fits. The next step is commitment, when you decide firmly (坚定地) about some parts of your identity. You make up your mind that you will act in a way that fits your identity. Exploring your identity can feel very confusing. But a study found, that people who do the most exploring about who they are have better outcomes such as higher self- confidence and self-esteem (自尊) later in life.
So, instead of trying to hide your confusion, try a new method, ask for help, or research different ways to deal with the problem to work through your confusion.
1. Why does a person try to hide his confusion?| A．Because he wants others to make good judgement on him. |
| B．Because he has good ability to guess and create an answer. |
| C．Because hiding his confusion helps him work out a solution. |
| D．Because telling others his confusion will make them confused. |
| A．Good understanding leads to less confusion. |
| B．Confusion can have helpful effect on learning. |
| C．Digging deeply into a problem may cause confusion. |
| D．Confusion prevents the development of self-confidence. |
| A．promise | B．imagination | C．challenge | D．argument |
| A．To call on readers to study confusion on a deeper level. |
| B．To tell readers about the research results on confusion. |
| C．To explain to readers it’s normal to feel confused. |
| D．To encourage readers to clear up their confusion. |
School tests can be stressful. But they might also encourage you to help change the world. Three girls, Kristen, Jenna and Marisa from New York, learned about a growing problem from a reading test they took. The problem is e-waste, short for electronic waste. The girls learned some dangerous chemicals (化学品) in e-waste can harm the environment and people.
Later in the year, they had to come up with an idea for a science project. They remembered the interesting topic from their test. So the girls started a recycling drive to help other students and the community learn about properly recycling e-waste. They called themselves the E-Waste Girls.
“In our town, people recycle paper, plastic and glass, but not electronics. What can we do?” asked Marisa.
“How about asking our friends if they know how to recycle e-waste?” suggested Jenna.
The girls asked their friends, and nobody had heard anything about it. Many of their teachers didn’t know either. So they taught everyone, including their teachers, to learn about properly recycling e-waste. Then they put recycling boxes in the school hall and asked the students to collect old cell phones, radios and other items. When the boxes were full, they sent them to a special recycling center. The recyclers took out the dangerous chemicals and disposed (处理) of them properly, so that they don’t go into the air or the ground or the water.
One big way people can help reduce e-waste is by buying smartly. So the girls strongly suggested considering electronics made with” fewer dangerous chemicals and choosing electronics that will last several years.
The girls’ project also helped them become finalists in the We Can Change the World Challenge, a national student, competition. The E-Waste Girls see a bright future in which projects like theirs will not be needed any more.
1. How did the E-Waste Girls first learn about e-waste?| A．A friend told them about it. | B．Recyclers taught them about it. |
| C．They read about it in a reading test. | D．A teacher talked about it in a science class. |
| A．To set up a recycling center in the town. | B．To take part in a national student competition. |
| C．To encourage people to buy electronics smartly. | D．To teach people how to properly recycle e-waste. |
| A．recycling e-waste is really difficult | B．students can help to change the world |
| C．students should do more science projects | D．competitions bring students a bright future |
7 . It is easy to forget that public education is relatively new. Even in the U.S., which has a relatively developed education system, public schools only became common in the early 19th century. Before that, while the rich were able to get private teachers for their children, most education of children took place within the family and the community. Some people are now going back to teaching children themselves.
At one time, homeschooling was for students who had behavioral or learning difficulties. Today, there are many arguments for educating one’s children at home. Some of it starts from dissatisfaction with the normal education system. In many schools, one teacher is responsible for 30 or 40 students; children are often deprived (剥夺) of the attention they need.
Many psychologists (心理学家) see the home as the most natural learning environment, since it is supportive. Parents who homeschool say they can keep an eye on their children’s education more closely. Children can also choose what and when to study, so they can learn according to their own timetable. The many educational resources on the Internet can also be used. Supporters of homeschooling point out that homeschooled children do just as well as or better than those who are classroom-taught.
However, critics of homeschooling say that children miss out on learning important social skills because they have little interaction with their peers (同龄人). This might have a bad effect on them later in life when they go to university or start work. Critics have also raised concerns about whether parents are able to educate their children properly. Many of these parents are short of teacher training and may not be up-to-date on all the subjects taught in schools.
In the U.S., with an increasing number of parents taking their children out of class, schools are looking for ways to restore parents’ confidence in the public education system. Some American high schools have opened their doors to homeschoolers on a part-time basis, allowing these children to attend classes once or twice a week, or to take part in activities such as playing football or dancing. This enables homeschooled children to enjoy the extra benefits of peer interaction and involvement in sport or clubs.
Whatever the arguments for or against, homeschooling is growing in some countries. There are now websites and support groups that enable parents to learn more about educating their children. Homeschooling is now taken as an accepted choice to the public education system.
1. According to the passage, what can we learn about homeschooling?| A．Homeschooled children have fewer learning difficulties. |
| B．Homeschooling offers enough teacher training to parents. |
| C．Homeschooled children are better prepared for university. |
| D．Homeschooling has a longer history than public education. |
| A．Parents’ confidence in the public education system is restored. |
| B．Homeschooled children should get involved in sports and clubs. |
| C．Schools are trying to change since homeschoolers are increasing. |
| D．Homeschooled children are required to have some classes in schools. |
| A．The benefits of homeschooling | B．The development of homeschooling |
| C．Homeschooling: The power of love? | D．Homeschooling: A better way to learn? |
8 . The mind is a wonderful thing. It’s also an excuse making machine that frequently tries to make us not to take actions that we know are good for us. And this prevents many positive changes from taking place in our lives.
So why does the mind mess with us and make unreasonable excuses? Because the mind wants comfort, that’s the reason. It’s afraid of discomfort, pressure and change. The mind is absorbed (沉浸于) in its comfort zone, and anytime we try to stretch (延伸) that zone too far, for too long, the mind tries to get back to ground zero at any cost. These excuses, such as “I can’t do it”, “It is too hard for me”, “It’s too late now” and so on, are no strangers to our mind.
It seems too difficult at first, so you think you can’t stick to the positive change you’re making. You don’t believe in yourself enough to take another step. This is a common excuse that can be countered(反驳) by looking at the fact that other people had no more abilities than you thought you had. For example, my 60-year-old next-door neighbor finished running a marathon, so I told myself, “If she can do it, so can I!” And I was right. Truth be told, the only person who can tell you “I can’t” is yourself. If you hear those words repeating in your mind, stop listening or paying attention to them.
Another common excuse is that “I’ve already failed too much”. You’re only human. If you break down, it’s fine. Just don’t stay down. Rest, and then pick yourself up so you can go to where you’d rather be. Failures, small and large, happen every day. The strongest, most productive people aren’t the people who always succeed, but the ones who don’t give up when they lose.
Oftentimes you’re a lot closer to making a breakthrough (突破) than you think. Some people give up their efforts when they have almost succeeded, while others attain their goals by making great efforts, until the last moment. Once you learn to give up, it becomes a habit. So, make some necessary changes to throw off the bad habit of making excuses. No excuses! Go on trying! That’s how you’ll move your life forward.
1. The writer mentions an example about a marathon in Paragraph 3 to show that ________.| A．people should learn about their abilities |
| B．people shouldn’t look down upon elders |
| C．people shouldn’t be affected by their excuses |
| D．people should work hard to achieve great things. |
| A．people who have experienced many failures will succeed |
| B．the mind makes excuses because it prefers comfort to suffering |
| C．people won’t move their life forward until they make reasonable excuses |
| D．the mind won’t find any excuses as long as it learns we’re closer to success |
| A．share | B．reach | C．pick | D．set |
| A．To tell readers to stop making excuses and keep going. |
| B．To lead readers to deal with the unreasonable excuses. |
| C．To remind readers to leave their comfortable zone. |
| D．To show readers why people have many excuses. |
9 . “Fear is good.”
Fear is the bad feeling that one has when he is in danger or when a particular thing frightens him. A German proverb goes, “Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.” This is absolutely true as fear will often cause people to imagine the worst and act irrationally. In that case, can fear be any good?
Personally, I think a small amount of fear is good and even necessary as it not only acts as a form of control and prevention but also serves to motivate oneself. Nevertheless, being overly fearful is bad as it will severely hamper man’s progress. In this essay, I will discuss how fear can be a double-edged sword, bringing both advantages and disadvantages to man.
Fear is good as it prevents people from doing dangerous acts and prompts them to control and regulate their behavior. Next, fear is good as it is a powerful motivator. For individuals such as students and businessmen, the fear of failure will prompt them to work hard and put in their best effort in their studies and business undertakings. This will lead to results and progress.
Although fear is good, man must keep in mind that too much fear may be harmful to his development. Being overly fearful of the unknown and intangible will prevent people from venturing into areas previously unexplored. For example, in the area of space exploration, Apollo 11 would have never landed the first humans on the moon if they had let fear get in the way of their dream. As the late John F. Kennedy once said, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” To achieve great feats, man must learn to conquer (战胜) his fear and find the courage to overcome the difficulties that life presents. Only then can the human race continue to make progress and enjoy the sweet smell of success.
In sum, fear is good as it will finally lead to a well-controlled and motivated society. Nevertheless, people must keep in mind that they should not be clouded by fear as it will stop their progress. I believe that a small dose of fear and a good deal of courage will make a great man as such a man will have the spirit to pursue his goals and the sense to act responsibly in the process.
1. The writer mentions Apollo 11 in Paragraph 4 to show that ________.| A．people can overcome fears that life presents |
| B．people should not be overly afraid of the unknown areas |
| C．exploring the space is a good way to overcome fears |
| D．exploration helps us to realize our dreams |
| A．Failure in business can lead to good results. |
| B．Fear can help people learn to behave properly. |
| C．Failure in studies can help the students make great progress. |
| D．Fear of failure in studies can encourage students to study hard. |
| A．To advise us to be neither overly fearful nor completely fearless. |
| B．To explain why a little amount of fear is of benefit to people. |
| C．To introduce the ways of preventing us from being overly fearful. |
| D．To encourage us to overcome fears and act responsibly. |
10 . Number of Kids Watching Online Videos Doubled in 4 Years
A new study has found that the number of young Americans who watch online videos each day has more than doubled in the past four years.
The findings were based on a survey of about 1,700 young people aged 8 to 18. The group researches youth technology activity and offers guidance for parents.
The survey found that all screen time for young Americans did not change much over the past four years. On average, preteens spent just under five hours of screen time on devices (phones or computers etc.) each day. Teens had about seven and a half hours of screen time. The numbers did not include time young people spent on their devices doing homework, reading books or listening to music.
Common Sense Media’s director of research, Michael Robb, told The Associated Press that such screen time among American youth “really is the air they breathe”.
The findings suggest a continuing change by young people to move away from traditional television to watch online videos.
YouTube, which is owned by Google, was the number one choice of youth for online videos, even among the preteens surveyed.
Robb said the common use of YouTube by young people “puts a lot of pressure(压力)” on parents to find ways to limit what their children see.
In answer to the survey, YouTube said the company is rethinking the way to solve the problem.
But experts say it is easy for many children to get to the videos they want to watch, whether on YouTube or another service.
Sarah Domoff is a professor at Central Michigan University who studies the effects of technology on youth and families. She told the AP that parents often do not have the time or skills to limit what their children are watching effectively. Domoff said she thinks many parents could do more to try to track(追踪) the screen time of their children. She added, however, that tools aimed at limiting usage on services such as YouTube could be greatly improved. “It’s really hard to block out certain things unless you’re really standing over(监视) your child,” Domoff said.
1. What’s Paragraph 3 mainly about?| A．Time that preteens spent on all screens now is less than teens’. |
| B．Young Americans didn’t spend more time on screen in the past four years. |
| C．More young Americans watch online videos now than in the past four years. |
| D．Young people spent more time on homework and books than online videos in the past four years. |
| A．Many more young people use YouTube. |
| B．YouTube is too difficult for the old to log in. |
| C．YouTube is much easier for young people to log in. |
| D．Young Americans think YouTube is ordinary enough. |
| A．It’s impossible for kids to watch videos online freely. |
| B．No change will happen after YouTube improve the way. |
| C．YouTube will cooperate with other companies in service. |
| D．YouTube will be able to improve the way as parents would like. |
