1 . “Life is speeding up. Everyone is getting unwell.”
This may sound like something someone would say today. But in fact, an unknown person who lived in Rome in AD(公元) 53 wrote it.
We all love new inventions. They are exciting, amazing and can even change our lives. But have all these developments really improved the quality of our lives?
Picture this. You’re rushing to finish your homework on the computer. Your mobile phone rings, a QQ message from your friend appears on the screen, the noise from the television is getting louder and louder. Suddenly the computer goes blank and you lose all your work. Now you have to stay up all night to get it done. How happy do you feel?
Inventions have speeded up our lives so much that they often leave up feeling stressed and tired. Why do you think people who live far away from noisy cities, who have no telephones, no cars, not even any electricity often seem to be happier? Perhaps because they live simpler lives.
One family in the UK went “back in time” to see what life was like without all the inventions we have today. The grandparents, with their daughter, and grandsons Benjamin, 10 and Thomas, 7, spent nine weeks in a 1940s house. They had no washing machine, microwave(微波炉), computer or mobile phones.
The grandmother, Lyn, said, “The more things you have, the more difficult life becomes.” The boys said they fought less. Probably, they said, because there was less to fight over, such as their computer. Benjamin also noticed that his grandmother had changed from being a “trendy(赶时髦的), beer-drinking granny”, to one who cooked things.
根据短文内容，选择正确答案。
1. The writer uses the quote(引号) at the beginning of the story to ________.
| A．tell us a truth about our lives |
| B．tell us what life was like long time ago |
| C．point out what causes such a thing to happen |
| D．point out some problems we will meet in the life |
| A．have speeded up our lives | B．have improved the quality of our lives |
| C．may make people feel very happy | D．may bring people some trouble |
| A．they loved to live simple lives |
| B．they wanted to know how people lived without modern inventions |
| C．they were troubled by modern inventions |
| D．living in a different time would be a lot of fun for them |
| A．People who live far away from noisy cities often seem to be happier. |
| B．An unknown Roman was sure that the quality of life would get better. |
| C．The family had some changes when they lived in a 1940s house. |
| D．With the improvement of our lives, we often feel stressed and tired. |
| A．problems with technology |
| B．improvements of our lives with technology |
| C．changes happening to technology |
| D．the importance of technology |
2 . It is expected that Pacific Island countries will become popular with Chinese tourists in 2020.
Which one should you choose for your summer holiday?
| Country | What you need to know | Language | What you need to do |
Papua New Guinea | It is the largest one of the Pacific Island countries. Both the mainland and its islands are perfect for deep sea diving (潜水). | English & Tok Pisin | Go deep sea diving in the Solomon Sea. |
| Kingdom of Tonga | Tonga is ahead of the rest of the world: it’s the first country in the world to start a new day. | English & Tongan | Visit the Royal Palace of Tonga. |
The Republic of Vanuatu | It sits between Hawaii and Australia. In Vanuatu, you’ll find the world's only underwater post office in the capital, Port Villa. | English, French & Bislama | Send a postcard from the underwater post office. |
1. Which country is the first one to start a new day?
| A．Papua New Guinea. | B．Kingdom of Tonga. | C．The Republic of Vanuatu. |
| A．Tok Pisin. | B．French. | C．English. |
| A．To ask for some help. | B．To offer holiday choices. | C．To answer a question. |
Big data(数据) is a lot of sets of information that are put together so they can be used by a computer program. The computer program looks for different kinds of answers in the data. Big data can have different kinds of information from many sources, such as information that comes from schools, social media sites, companies and governments. One set of data can have people’s names and addresses. Another set can have what they like, where they go to school, and how much time they spend on the computer.
Big data can be used in many ways. The government uses it to understand how many people travel on buses or trains. This information is then used to make bus or train systems better. Some schools use big data to understand which children may need help in class. The teacher can then give certain students more help or support so those students can succeed in school. Companies use big data, too. It helps them understand who buys their products. For example, one company uses weather data to see when people eat the most ice cream.
Big data can be used for good reasons. Some hospitals use big data to predict if a baby who is born too early will get sick. The hospital can then take steps to take care of that baby so he or she does not get sick. Big data can also be used for bad reasons. It can be used to predict which kinds of people are likely to break the law or hurt others, even if they have not done anything wrong.
How can big data be used for good and bad things? It is because the computer programs used to look at big data and understand it are written by people. People think a certain way. Because they think a certain way, they build a model of those ideas. These ideas are then used to look at the data. Sometimes, these ideas are helpful for people or businesses. Other times, bad ideas can cause problems for certain groups of people.
1. What can we know from Paragraph 1?| A．The computer program can’t look for anything in the data. |
| B．Big data can have different kinds of information from social media sites. |
| C．We are not able to have people’s names and addresses in the data. |
| A．To help children in need. |
| B．To know when people will visit the hospital. |
| C．To understand when people will need ice cream. |
| A．Big data can be used for good reasons |
| B．We can use big data to prevent babies from getting sick. |
| C．Big data can be used for both good and bad reasons. |
| A．what big data is and how it is used |
| B．what schools and hospitals people like |
| C．where important data is collected and stored |
| A．sad and personal | B．scientific and informative | C．informative but silly |
4 . Seventy percent of our planet is covered by one huge body of seawater-the ocean. In 2008, the United Nations recognized(确立) June 8 as World Oceans Day. It's a day to think about the important role that the oceans play in our lives, the dangers that our oceans are facing and the action we can take to protect them.
The ocean is home to the most of plants and animals on Earth. Plants in the sea provide us with 70 percent of O2 we breathe. The ocean controls our climate (气候), providing heat in winter and cool air in summer. It also provides us with food and medicine. No matter where you live on the planet, no matter how far from the sea, your life is dependent on the ocean.
The biggest problem facing the ocean at the moment is plastic pollution. Reducing single-use plastic, including plastic bags and plastic bottles, has been an important theme for World Oceans Day for a number of years.
Climate change and rising sea temperatures are also a huge problem. Rising sea temperatures have a direct influence on weather patterns and are seen as partly responsible for an increase in extreme (极端的) weather.
The day is celebrated in all kinds of ways, including special events on the beach, river clean-ups, school activities, art contests and film festivals. You can join in to remind people about the importance of our oceans and to make a difference.
1. What percent of our planet is covered with seawater?| A．30% | B．40% | C．70% |
| A．The ocean provides us with heat and cool air. |
| B．Our life is dependent on the ocean. |
| C．The ocean provides us with food and medicine |
| A．Plastic pollution. | B．Reducing single-use plastic. | C．Air pollution. |
| A．Climate change. | B．Rising sea temperatures. | C．Weather patterns. |
| A．Eating out together. | B．Having a meeting. | C．Holding special events. |
5 . A book-sharing program
Where can you borrow a book? Of course in a library! But in Hefei, Anhui Province, you can also do it in some bookstores.
Ten bookstores in Hefei are doing a book-sharing program. With an app on the smart phone and a 99-yuan deposit, a reader can borrow up to 2 books from any one of the ten bookstores and keep them for up to 10 days for free. Readers just need to scan the QR code (扫描二维码) on the back of each book to borrow and return it.
The program started from a Xinhua Bookstore in Hefei on July 16, 2017. Since then, more than 20,000 people have borrowed over 100,000 books through the app. Now not only the readers in Hefei can borrow books from the stores, but the readers in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, too. 120 convenience stores in the city joined the program on August 26, 2017. There are about 300 new books for readers to borrow.
For some people, it’s much easier to get to a bookstore than to a library. And the shared books are often new and popular. The people that started the book-sharing program hope that it can encourage more people to read in China.
1. Where did the book-sharing program start?| A．In Changsha. | B．In Shijiazhuang. | C．In Hefei. |
| A．10. | B．99. | C．120. |
| A．押金 | B．罚款 | C．工资 |
| A．If a reader is a member of the program, he can borrow up to three books. |
| B．The program started from a Xinhua Bookstore in Hefei on June 16, 2017. |
| C．For some people, it’s much easier to get to a bookstore than to a library. |
| A．Because they want to make money in China. |
| B．Because some people don’t want to buy books to read. |
| C．Because they hope that it can encourage more people to read in China. |
China, with Four Great Inventions, in ancient times, has once again showed its ability to change the world with its “new four great inventions”: high-speed railways, electronic payments, shared bicycles and online shopping.
The four innovative ways of life are most popular among young people, according to a survey by the Belt and Road-Research Institute(一带一路研究院) of Beijing Foreign Studies University.
“The ‘new four great inventions’ are all related to China’s high-tech (高科技), which made the lives of people easier in China,” said Wu Hao, the director of Beijing Foreign Studies University.
“My wallet is no longer in use. I can buy and eat whatever I want simply with my phone,” said Lin Jinlong, a foreign student from Cambodia, adding that “Even pancake sellers are using Alipay (mobile payment). We can also order food at home, which is super convenient. If I were at home in Cambodia, I would have to go outdoors.”
As a big fan of bicycles, he also showed his love for China’s shared bicycles, saying that “shared bikes are bringing cycling (骑单车) back to people’s lives---and they are making public transport(公共交通) more convenient and less crowded, and encouraging people to be more active.”
Rebacca Fannin, the founder of Silicon Dragon(硅谷之龙), noted that China is beginning to lead in innovation in some ways.
“It is increasingly clear that China is inventing and no longer copying western ideas. It is also increasingly clear that China is leading in many ways such as social messaging app WeChat,” she said.
1. Which of the following are NOT in “new four great inventions”?| A．High-speed railways and electronic payments. |
| B．Shared bicycles and online shopping. |
| C．Electronic bicycles and WeChat. |
| A．陈旧的 | B．革新的 | C．流行的 |
| A．high-speed railways | B．electronic payments | C．shared bicycles |
| A．people will not use their wallets any longer |
| B．people’s lives are easier than before |
| C．there will be more foreign students coming to China |
| A．China’s Four Great Inventions in ancient times. |
| B．China’s new four great inventions. |
| C．A foreign student from Cambodia living and studying in China. |
7 . Study plays an important（重要）role in our daily life. Some students may think study is very difficult. Others think it is so boring. How to make our study interesting and cool? You may follow the following tips（建议）.
First, get enough sleep so you’ll stay awake（清醒的）in class. Every night you need at least（至少）eight hours’ sleep.
Second, have a good breakfast. And you will study hard in class. If you don’t have a good breakfast, you will not have enough energy（精力）to study.
Third, try to go to school with a smile every day. If you are happy every day, you can study well.
Fourth, have good study habits. Listen to the teacher carefully in class and do your homework quickly by yourselves and hand it in（上交）on time. Don’t be late for school. Time is very important for study.
Fifth, if you don’t understand（理解）something, ask the teacher for help.
Follow the above tips, you may find study is a fun thing.
1. How may tips does the writer give in the passage above?| A．3 | B．4 | C．5 |
| A．笑容 | B．精神 | C．梦想 |
| A．Doing our homework slowly. |
| B．Being late for school. |
| C．Handing in our homework on time. |
| A．How to make study boring. |
| B．How to make study difficult. |
| C．How to make study fun. |
| A．We need at least 8 hours’ sleep every night. |
| B．If we don’t have a good breakfast, we will also have enough energy to study. |
| C．Ask the teacher for help if we don’t understand something. |
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. |
We did a survey among 1,000 students aged 12 to 16, and we found out that 30 percent of them slept for only 4 to 7 hours a day. Nearly a quarter said they fell asleep while they were watching TV, listening to music or using other electronic gadgets.’
Nowadays, almost all the teenagers have a phone, music system or TV in his or her bedroom. Almost 20 percent of the teenager boys said the quality of their sleep were not good. It was affected by leaving their TVs or computers on. The survey also found out that 40 percent of young people felt tired every day. What’s more, the girls aged 15 to 16 felt the worst among them.
“Teenagers need to realize the importance of sleeping well. If they sleep well, they will be able to study hard and perform well at school. I am shocked to know that so few teenagers have noticed the close connection between sleep and schoolwork,” said Dr Chris.
1. What disturbs British teenager in their bedrooms?
| A．Sleep. | B．Electronic gadgets. | C．Schoolwork. |
| A．3 to 7 hours. | B．4 to 7 minutes. | C．4 to 7 hours. |
| A．数量 | B．质量 | C．时间 |
| A．Junk food. | B．Junk sleep. | C．Teenagers. |
When you see a famous car in the street, maybe you will say. “It’s cool.” You may think “He’s so cool,”when you see your favorite football player.
We all maximize(扩大)the meaning of “cool”. You can use it instead of many words, such as “new” or “surprising”. Here’s an interesting story we can use to show the way the word is used. A teacher asked her student to write about the waterfall(瀑布) they had visited. On the student’s paper was just the one sentence, “It’s so cool.”Maybe he thought it was the best way to show what he saw and felt.
But the story also shows a scarcity(缺乏)of words. Without “cool”, some people have no words to show the same meaning. So it is quite important to keep some credibility(可信性).Can you think of many other words that make your life as colorful as the word “cool”? I can. And I think they are also very cool.
1. In the passage, the underlined word “express” means “_______”.
| A．see | B．show | C．know | D．feel |
| A．interested in | B．angry about |
| C．worried about | D．unhappy with |
| A．pleased with | B．strange to |
| C．worried about | D．unhappy with |
| A．can be used instead of many words |
| B．usually means something interesting |
| C．can make your life colorful |
| D．may not be as cool as it seems |
