1 . ASTRONAUTS onboard the International Space Station (ISS) recently made history by taking bites of some red romaine lettuce. They became the first humans to eat food that was grown entirely in space.
The lettuce was planted on the ISS in a small greenhouse called “Veggie”, which uses LED lights to help plants grow in space.
First, the astronauts cleaned the lettuce with special sanitizing wipes (消毒纸巾) and then ate it with some salad dressing.
“It was one small bite for man, one giant leap for…our journey to Mars,” one astronaut Scott Kelly later posted on social media.
Space vegetables are a part of the NASA experiment called “Veg-01”, a study on how plants grow away from the effects of Earth’s gravity. It will allow astronauts to grow and eat their own food during long space explorations.
“If we’re ever going to go to Mars someday, we’re going to need a spacecraft that is much more self-sustainable (自给自足的) in its food supply,” said Kelly.
Growing fresh plants on a spacecraft may also provide oxygen and help keep astronauts alive, NASA said.
“Veg-01” started in May 2014. The first batch (一批) of vegetables took 33 days to grow in space before they were taken back to Earth for a safety check.
After making sure it was safe to eat, astronauts planted a second batch on July 8. They let the plant grow for another 33 days and were then able to eat it.
Astronauts usually only get some fruit and vegetables when a supply ship comes to the ISS. Now with the vegetables grown in space, they can eat whenever they want.
1. How did the astronauts make history?| A．They were the first to cook food on the ISS. |
| B．They were the first to eat lettuce grown in space. |
| C．They were the first to grow fruit in space. |
| D．They created a greenhouse on the ISS. |
| A．is a NASA experiment on plants grown in space |
| B．studies how plants grow on Mars |
| C．provides oxygen for astronauts |
| D．failed in its first attempt |
| A．The success of growing vegetables in space. |
| B．What plants in space look like. |
| C．How astronauts get food in space. |
| D．How astronauts work on the ISS. |
2 . “In this life, what did you miss?” the wife asked the husband when she was 25. The husband replied. “I missed a new job opportunity.” When she was 35, the husband angrily told her that he had just missed the bus. At 45, the husband said sadly, “I missed the chance to see my aunt before her last breath.” At 55, the husband said he missed a good chance to retire. At 65, the husband complained. “I missed an appointment(预约) with a doctor.” he said. At 75, the wife did not ask the husband any more. The husband was sitting in front of the very sick wife.
Remembering the question the wife used to ask him, he asked the wife the same question this time. The wife, with a smile and peaceful look, replied, “In this life, I did not miss having you!” The husband's eyes were full of tears. He always thought that they could be together forever. He was always so busy with work and trifles(琐事) that he had never been thoughtful to his wife. The husband hugged the wife tightly and said, “Over 50 years, how could I allow myself to miss your deep love?”
In the busy city life, there are many people who are always busy with work. As a result, they neglect their loved ones. Life is not permanent(永恒的), so always live in the moment. Express thanks to your loved ones in words. Show your care with actions. Treat every day as the last episode of life. In this way, when you are gone, your loved ones would have nothing to feel sorry about.
1. The underlined word “neglect” in Paragraph 3 means “ ” in English.| A．get along with | B．think highly of |
| C．show interest in | D．pay little attention to |
| A．Memories of a happy family. |
| B．Do not spend much time on your work. |
| C．Show your care to your loved ones before it's too late. |
| D．Do not miss anything in your life unless you don't care. |
| A．The husband didn't love his wife. |
| B．The husband failed to see his aunt just before her death. |
| C．The husband could always feel his wife's deep love for him. |
| D．The husband was very happy with his life. |
3 . Everyone knows by now that plastic pollution is a huge problem for the environment. Beijing, for example, has dealt with this by banning(禁止) thin plastic bags, plastic tableware(餐具) and other plastic items in supermarkets, restaurants and hotels since May 1, according to CGTN.
But an even better solution might be on the way. Researchers at a French company called Carbios have discovered a bacterial enzyme(细菌酶) that can break down plastic. The enzyme, which was first found in compost(堆肥) leaves, turns plastic into chemical "building blocks" that can then be used to create new products, according to the Guardian.
The new enzyme was uncovered in research that was published last month in the journal Nature. Researchers studied over 100,000 microorganisms(微生物) to find one that could break down plastic quickly. The leaf compost enzyme was first discovered in 2012. Scientists changed its genes(基因), allowing it to break down 90 percent of one ton of plastic in less than 10 hours.
"It had been completely forgotten, but it turned out to be the best." said Professor Alain Marty, chief science officer at Carbios.
The enzyme especially breaks down PET, a type of plastic that is most commonly used to produce plastic bottles and food packaging(包装). It is the fifth most common type of plastic that we use.
Carbios said it is working together with companies like Pepsi and Nestle - major consumers of plastic themselves - to develop their research and start using the enzyme on an industrial scale(范围), according to Forbes.
1. What do we know about the enzyme?| A．It is a type of bacteria. | B．It can break down plastic quickly. |
| C．It is the fifth most common type of bacteria. | D．It can break down PVC. |
| A．Where the scientists found the new enzyme. | B．How the scientists changed the enzyme's genes. |
| C．How the scientists found the new enzyme. | D．When the scientists found the new enzyme. |
| A．It was too late to find the new enzyme. | B．The new enzyme was forgotten by experts. |
| C．They forgot to change the enzyme's genes. | D．Better late than never. |
| A．How to protect our environment. |
| B．A natural way to recycle plastic. |
| C．Why Beijing has banned plastic items in many public places. |
| D．How Carbios discovered a bacterial enzyme. |
4 . The interesting middle school life
Is it always good to be in the middle? Sometimes no, like when you're in the middle seat on a long car ride. But when you're in the middle of a great movie, it can be fun. What will happen next? Middle school life is a bit like that.
For a kid, going to middle school is often a big change: First, you are going to a new school, and it takes time to get used to it. Second, you may have to make new friends. Third, you will have more teachers and study more subjects. All this can scare (使害怕) you on the first day of school. Here are some tips that will help you. Prepare for day 1, eat breakfast on the big day and try to be brave, and trust yourself that you can do a good job.
Prepare for day 1.
Think about what you'll wear. Choose something that you like and feel comfortable in. If you have a school uniform, try it on to see if it fits. Go to bed on time the night before. Try to get a good night's sleep, even if you're very excited. Before going to bed, lay out(摆出) all your stuff. That way, you won't' forget anything.
On the big day, eat breakfast.
You need your energy on the big day, so eat a big breakfast.
Try to be brave
Say "Hi" to your new classmates. In class, listen to what the teacher says and take notes. You can look over(翻阅) them when you get home and prepare for day 2.
Trust yourself.
After a week, you might find life in middle school is fun. You will have new friends and learn more things. What's more, you will be growing up. Trust yourself: You can do well in middle school!
1. According to the passage, kids may feel a little________when they start middle school.| A．free | B．brave | C．afraid | D．excited |
| A．Watch much TV. |
| B．Think about what to wear. |
| C．Go to bed on time. |
| D．Lay out all the stuff. |
| A．textbooks | B．things | C．pens | D．schoolbags |
| A．honest | B．hard- working | C．friendly | D．happy |
| A．kids' parents |
| B．kids' teachers |
| C．kids to begin middle school |
| D．students to move to a new school |
5 . The choice of colours for a room's walls and ceilling(天花板) can help you decide whether your design is successful or not. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning your home's colours.
Bright colors, like blue, yellow and orange, provide an expansive(膨胀的) feeling. These are friendly and happy colours. They can encourage communication and are especially welcome in the dining room and kitchen.
Dark colours, such as red and purple, have a constricting(收缩的) and gloomy effect. But when they are used in the right place, they can help create a safe and comfortable feeling.
Warm colors, orange and yellow, for example, raise the temperature of a room. For that reason, they're best used in rooms that face north. Warm colours are also active colours, so you'd better not use them in room for relaxation, like the bedroom.
Cold colors, such as icy blue and green, have a calming effect. They are especially suitable for bedrooms. They help you fall asleep easily in the evening and become energetic when you get up the next morning.
Navy blue can make people unwilling to communicate, so do not use it in the living room or the dining room.
Red raises the energy level of a room, but it may also make people get angry more easily. Therefore, it's not suitable for a child's room.
Grey should not be used in the dining room or kitchen if you want to enjoy your meals.
1. My friend finds it hard to sleep well, what colour should she use in her bedroom?| A．Orange | B．Purple | C．Green | D．Grey |
| A．忧郁的 | B．乐观的 | C．舒适的 | D．积极的 |
| A．Bright colours are happy and friendly colours. | B．Purple sometimes has a gloomy effect. |
| C．A child's room should be painted red. | D．Grey is not suitable for dining rooms. |
| A．How to choose colours when designing rooms. | B．Different colours have different meanings. |
| C．Colours are important in our lives. | D．Colours influence our moods. |
Country | Soviet Union | The USA | China |
Date | 12 April, 1961 | 5 May, 1961 | 15 October, 2003 |
Astronaut | Yuri Gagarin | Alan Shepherd | Yang Liwei |
Age | 27 | 38 | 38 |
Spaceship | Vostok 1 | Mercury 3 | Shenzhou 5 |
Time | 1 hour 48 minutes | 15 minutes | 21 hours |
Height | 327 kilometers | 185 kilometers | 343 kilometers |
Circles around the Earth | 1 | 0 | 14 |
1. The form above shows us ______.
| A．three journeys into space | B．daily life of three famous people |
| C．differences between three spaceships | D．something about three famous astronauts |
| A．1 hour 48 minutes | B．only 15 minutes | C．the shortest time | D．the longest time |
7 . American and British people both speak English of course. But sometimes there are some important differences between British English and American English.
First of all, they sound very different. Often, Americans don’t say each word separately. They say words together. Americans may say “I dunno” instead of “I don’t know. Or they may say “Whaddya say?” instead of “What did you say?” However, the British are more careful. They usually say all the words and keep them separate.
Sound is not only the difference. Words sometimes have different meanings too. For example, the vocabulary for cars and driving is very different. Americans drive trucks, but in England people drive lorries.
Many expressions (短语) are also different in the two countries. In England, if you are going to telephone your friends, you “phone them up”. In America, you “give them a call”. When you are saying goodbye in England you might say “Cheerio!” In America you might say “See you later.”
There’re also some differences in grammar. For example, Americans usually use the helping verb “do” when they ask a question. They say “Do you have a storybook?” But the British often leave out the helping verb. They say “Have you a storybook?”
Most languages are like this. Languages change overtime. When people live in separate places, the languages change in different ways. This is what has happened to English. It can also happen to other languages, such as French. Many people in Canada speak French but their French is very different from the French of France.
1. What does the word “separately” mean in this passage? It means “________”.| A．含糊地 | B．快速地 | C．分开地 | D．简略地 |
| A．an example of British English | B．an example of American English |
| C．the same in America and England | D．not the same in America and England |
| A．are always changing as time passes | B．keep unchanged even if time changes |
| C．are the same in all places | D．are easy to learn |
| A．American people usually say “I don’t know” instead of “I dunno”. |
| B．There are four differences between American and British English. |
| C．Canadians speak all the same French as Frenchmen. |
| D．When people live in different places, the language are spoken in the same way. |
| A．English vocabulary |
| B．how American sounds are different from British sounds |
| C．the way the British say words |
| D．some differences between American and British English |
8 . When your pen is broken, the battery in your toy runs out, or you have some leftover food. What do you do with these things? You will probably throw them into one bin.
But actually, all of these pieces of trash need to be sorted (分类) separately.
Garbage sorting is a big issue worldwide. In recent years, some Chinese cities have been working hard on it.
Shanghai has worked with Alipay to create a “green account (账户)” service for its residents. Account holders get points by correctly sorting their garbage. Through the Alipay app, they can exchange the points for milk, phone cards and other products. The city is asking all of its residents to sort their garbage into four groups: wet, recyclable, harmful and dry.
Wet waste is also known as household waste. “They are things you don’t want, but that pigs can eat,” Guangzhou Daily explained.
Paper, metal (金属), glass and other things that can be reused are recyclable waste.
Harmful waste includes things like medicine, batteries and fluorescent bulbs (荧光灯泡).
Finally, any waste that’s not wet, recyclable or harmful will go in the “dry waste” bin.
Many other Chinese cities are also using this method to sort their garbage. For example, Shenzhen has been sorting its garbage into the same four groups since 2012. Students there also receive waste-sorting guidebooks that they must study.
China is improving its waste-sorting efforts. There is still a long way to go. But it’s never too late to learn how to sort your trash properly and protect the environment.
If you don’t sort your garbage, all of it will go to a landfill (垃圾填理场) and be buried together. These landfills can take up large areas of ground that could have been used for planting trees or crops. The electronic waste you throw away, such as batteries, can pollute the soil and groundwater (地下水). Other pieces of garbage, like the metal part of a pen, can be used to make other things if they are properly recycled.
1. How is Shanghai encouraging people to sort their garbage?| A．Creating a “green account” service with the help of Alipay |
| B．Paying people to sort their trash correctly |
| C．Allowing people to exchange garbage with each other |
| D．Providing its residents with guidebooks to help them |
| A．Batteries | B．Glasses | C．Leftover food | D．Medicine |
| A．It started its garbage sorting system in 2012. |
| B．Students have to take waste-sorting classes in school. |
| C．There is still a lot of work to be done in this area. |
| D．Burying garbage is a common method of getting rid of garbage. |
| A．Where we can bury our waste. |
| B．Why we should sort our garbage properly. |
| C．What kinds of waste can pollute the environment. |
| D．How some kinds of waste can be reused and recycled. |
9 . A vegetarian diet is often praised for its health benefits (益处). Vegetarians usually have lower levels of heart disease, and studies have also shown that they have a lower risk of diabetes (糖尿病) than people who eat meat. However, most people don’t realize that a vegetarian diet produces less pollution to the earth.
Researchers from the Union of Concerned Scientists in the US recently studied how people affect the environment. The study showed that eating meat is one of the main ways that humans can change the environment, second only to the use of motor vehicles.
Then, how can eating meat have a bad effect on the environment? For a start, all farm animals such as cows, pigs, and sheep give off methane gas (沼气) by breathing. One cow can produce up to 60 liters of methane each day. Methane gas is the second most common greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (二氧化碳). Many environmental experts now believe that it is more responsible (有责任的) for global warming than carbon dioxide. It is estimated (估计) that 25% of all methane released (释放) into the air comes from farm animals.
Another way that meat production affects the environment is through the use of water and land. 2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of beef while only 20 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of wheat. One acre of farmland used for crop (农作物) production can produce 40,000 pounds of potatoes. 30,000 pounds of carrots, or 50,000 pounds of tomatoes, however, one acre of farmland used for raising cows can produce just 250 pounds of beef.
Many people now see the benefits of a vegetarian diet, not just for health reasons, but also because it plays an important role in protecting the environment. However, some nutritionists advise against switching to a totally strict vegetarian, or vegan diet. They believe a vegan diet, which excludes (拒绝) all products from animal sources, such as cheese, eggs, and milk, can be short of many necessary vitamins and minerals our bodies need.
Today, many people know that it is important to take better care of their bodies, and to use the earth’s resources more efficiently. As this understanding spreads, more people may realize that to help the environment and for the human race to survive, more of us will need to become vegetarians.
1. The underlined word “vegetarian” in the first paragraph most probably means ________.| A．a person who eats healthy food |
| B．a person who eats meat and vegetables |
| C．a person who only eats meat, fish and seafood |
| D．a person who only eats vegetables, grains (谷物), and fruit |
| A．more possible | B．less possible | C．highly possible | D．impossible |
| A．Doctors suggest switching to totally vegetarian diets. |
| B．It takes more water and land to produce a kilo of crops. |
| C．Farm animals give off methane gas and pollute the environment. |
| D．Carbon dioxide is more responsible for global warming than methane gas. |
| A．a vegetarian diet | B．animal source |
| C．necessary vitamin | D．health reason |
| A．our diet is destroying the surroundings |
| B．raising farm animals affects the environment |
| C．a vegetarian diet helps to protect the environment |
| D．more and more people are becoming strict vegetarians |
10 . I am Alice. My sister and I spent our last summer holidays with our uncle who is a geologist (地质学家) and loves to collect stones.
One day, he bought us two backpacks and asked us to go to the mountain with him. We walked the whole day. Every now and then he put stones in our backpacks. To our surprise, he also took some stones out from them. But we thought he had just found better stones.
When we returned to the house, we were very tired. The backpacks were so heavy that we felt relief (轻松) when we took them off. Yet our uncle’s backpack was half empty.
“Why did you give us so many stones?” we asked.
“I didn’t. You did.” he said. “You didn’t know it, but I gave you a little attitude (态度) test today. I listened to every word you said. Whenever you were complaining, I added a stone to your backpack. Every time you talked about something with positive (积极的) thinking, I took out a stone. And now look at your backpacks.”
Our backpacks were full of stones.
“Your negative (消极的) thoughts are just like stones. You carry them in your mind just like those stones in your backpacks. The more negative thoughts you have, the heavier your mind will be.” said our uncle.
With great love, our uncle taught us one of the most important lessons in life-the power of the attitude.
1. Alice’s uncle likes to ________.| A．collect coins | B．collect stamps | C．collect stones | D．collect books |
| A．complained too much on the way | B．were hardworking |
| C．enjoyed collecting stones very much | D．chose wrong backpacks to carry the stones |
| A．the stones | B．the backpacks |
| C．the positive thoughts | D．the negative thoughts |
| A．be pleased to take others’ advice | B．have a positive attitude towards life |
| C．make a plan before doing something | D．help people in trouble |
