Christmas is for giving and sharing, for brightly covered gifts. But, mostly Christmas is for love. I had not believed this until a boy gave me a special gift one Christmas.
Without parents, Brian lived with his mean aunt. I had not noticed him particularly until he began to help clean up the room after school, at risk of being punished by his aunt. During those hours, Brian spoke mostly of his mother, a kind, gentle, loving woman who always spent time with him.
As Christmas came near, however, Brian didn't stay after school. I looked forward to his coming. One afternoon, I stopped him and told him how I had missed him. I saw his eyes lit up. I explained how he had been my best helper and this made him more excited. "I was making you a surprise. It's for Christmas." He became embarrassed and ran away.
Finally came the last school day before Christmas. Brian entered the room with his hands hiding something behind. "I have a present for you." He held out his hands, and a tiny box was lying there.
"It's beautiful, Brian. Let's see what's in it."
"Oh, you can't see what's in it," he said, "and you can't touch it, but mother always said it makes you feel good all the time, warm on cold nights and safe when you're all alone."
I looked into the empty box. "Brian, what will make me feel so good?"
"It's love, and mother always said it's best when you give it away."
Yes, Christmas is for celebrations, songs, and gifts. But mostly, Christmas is for love. So now I still keep the small box.
1. What is Brian like?| A．He is gentle. | B．He is mean. | C．He is helpful. |
| A．Because he felt too tired to do that. |
| B．Because his teacher didn't need his help. |
| C．Because he might be punished by his aunt. |
| A．He felt embarrassed. | B．He became happy. | C．He fell sick. |
| A．The writer values the present from Brian. |
| B．Brian's mother had little influence on him. |
| C．Brian was used to spreading love at Christmas. |
| A．Giving Is Receiving | B．Rules of Gift Giving | C．Christmas Is for Love |
2 . A Swedish couple on holiday were traveling around Italy, and they wanted to go to Capri. Capri is an island in the south of the country, famous for its beautiful beach. The couple put their destination into their car's GPS. but they made a spelling mistake（错误）. They carelessly typed CARPI instead of CAPRI. There is a real place called Carpi in Italy, but it is a small town in the north of the country.
The couple followed the GPS. Although they were traveling to an island, it didn't worry them that they never crossed a bridge or saw the sea. When they arrived in Carpi, they went to the tourist office. They asked how they could go to the Blue Grotto, a well-known place in Capri. Of course, the office worker couldn't understand them. He thought they wanted to go to a restaurant called the Blue Grotto for dinner.
When the man realized that the couple thought they were in Capri, he explained their mistake. The couple got back into their car and started driving south. The office worker said, “They were surprised, but not angry.”
It was a spelling mistake that took the couple 600 kilometers from their destination.
1. Where did the couple want to go?| A．To Carpi. | B．To Capri. | C．To Sweden. |
| A．计划书 | B．电话簿 | C．目的地 |
| A．Because they forgot where to go. |
| B．Because they broke their car's GPS. |
| C．Because they made a wrong spelling. |
| A．Blue Grotto is a well-known restaurant in Capri. |
| B．Carpi is a small town in the south of the country. |
| C．Capri is a famous island in the south of the country. |
| A．A Beautiful Beach | B．A Careless Mistake | C．A Wonderful Vacation |
3 . Would you like to live in a city where buildings turn the lights off for you, and self-driving cars will find the nearest parking space themselves? Although it might sound a little far from you, living in a "smart" city like this could happen sooner than you think.
Great changes have taken place in towns that we have lived in for centuries, while completely new cities are being built. One such place is the city of Songdo. Every home there will have a telepresence system (远程遥控系统) allowing users to control the heating and locks, take part in video meetings, and receive education, health care and government services. Around the city, escalators ( 自动扶梯 ) will only move when someone is on them, and offices and schools will all be connected to the system.
The great mind behind Songdo is from the company Cisco. In fact, technology companies around the world such as IBM, Siemens and Microsoft are already in the business.
About 75% of the world's population will live in cities by 2050, so cities will need to be more modern to deal with the coming problems. Making cities smarter is one way out, and I think this will in turn make cities greener, said Dan Hill, head of a research company.
1. According to the text, living in a "smart" city ______.| A．is not a green way | B．will be far from you |
| C．will soon become true | D．is completely impossible |
| A．A city of the future. | B．A meeting in Songdo. |
| C．A plan to build a house. | D．A report on public health. |
| A．Cisco. | B．IBM. | C．Siemens | D．Microsoft. |
| A．drive people out of cities | B．control the world’s population |
| C．develop his own company | D．solve the cities' coming problems |
| A．Future Education | B．Smart Cities |
| C．Government Services | D．Famous Companies |
At 8,844.43 meters high, Mount Qomolangma is the tallest mountain on Earth. While it is famous for its beautiful views, parts of the mountain are facing a problem: garbage. Every year, thousands of visitors throw away tons of garbage. The garbage found on Mount Qomolangma has caused serious pollution. It is bad for water farther down in the mountain’s valley （山谷）. The polluted water and soil on the mountain has already been a cause of environmental concern （担 忧）in China, Nepal and India.
According to the UN, over 140 tons of garbage has been left on the mountain. To deal with the garbage, China started to limit the number of people who were allowed to climb up the north side of the mountain in 2019. Only 300 people will be allowed to climb it, and only during spring.
Local residents （居民）collected about 8. 4 tons of garbage at heights of 5,200 meters and above in 2018. The local government is also setting up stations to sort（分类），recycle and break down garbage collected from the mountain. A group of artists will also try to turn the garbage into artwork. They will show these works of art to remind people not to leave garbage behind when climbing the mountain.
The focus is for the mountain to be climbed in a scientific and green way. Nowadays, people ——including mountaineers and local people ——are more aware （意识到） of the importance of environmental protection.
1. Mount Qomolangma is facing the problem of ______________.| A．air and food pollution |
| B．water and soil pollution |
| C．noise and light pollution |
| A．help local residents live happily |
| B．allow people to clean the mountain |
| C．do with the garbage on the mountain |
| A．remind people not to leave waste behind |
| B．advise climbers to collect and break down garbage |
| C．call on more people to protect the water in the valley |
| A．protecting the environment is important |
| B．stations can help to turn the garbage into artwork |
| C．scientists know better about how to climb the mountains |
| A．Mountain Climbing | B．Garbage or Artwork | C．Cleaning Qomolangma |
We were silently waiting on the platform in the late afternoon. There he was, my 80-year-old grandfather with his grey hair and there I was, a teenage girl in my jeans and T-shirt. I was wondering how I was going to get through the next two days. Why did I agree to be with my strange grandpa on the two days' train ride from our city to another?
No one else wanted to be his partner along the way since my grandfather refused to take a plane. Unlike him, I loved to fly because I wanted to get to the destination as quickly as possible.
No matter how much he was told about the swiftness of flying, my grandfather refused to book a flight, saying, "It is not just about time; it's the experience of getting there. "
With my first step onto the train, the journey was already different from what I expected. The train was modern and filled with friendly travelers. We seated ourselves in the dining car, where we could enjoy food and drinks while watching the beauty of nature pass by. Instead of listening to my own music, I listened to my grandfather talking about my family history that I had never had the time or patience to learn about. For the first time I felt I understood him. I was thankful for our time together on the train.
In this rapidly changing world, we often miss important moments. It is necessary to slow down and listen to elders who offer a piece of their history or experience and share their feelings.
Life isn't just about the destination; it's about the journey.
1. How did the writer feel while she was waiting for the train with her grandpa?| A．Upset. | B．Thankful. | C．Relaxed. |
| A．迅捷 | B．舒适 | C．安全 |
| A．The writer listened to her own music happily. |
| B．The train ride was like what the writer had thought. |
| C．The grandpa told the writer about their family history. |
| A．The writer will act as the elders. |
| B．The writer won't take the train anymore. |
| C．The writer will spend more time with her grandpa. |
| A．A Loving Grandfather | B．A Special Ride | C．A Boring Day |
6 . Old Dawson had the best apples in town, but kids knew they mustn’t go into his yard to pick a delicious apple, even off the ground, because Dawson, a badtempered (坏脾气的) man, they said, would come after you with his gun.
One Friday, 12-year-old Janet was going to stay all night with her friend Amy. They had to walk by Dawson’s house on the way to Amy’s house. Like most of the children, Janet was scared of the old man because of the stories she’d heard about him.
Amy said that Mr. Dawson wouldn’t hurt anyone. Still, Janet was growing more nervous with each step closer to the old man’s house. When they got close enough, Dawson looked up with his usual frown (皱眉), but when he saw it was Amy, a big smile changed his whole face as he said, “Hello, Miss Amy. I see you’ve got a little friend with you today.”
Amy smiled back and told him Janet was staying overnight and they were going to listen to music and play games. Dawson told them that sounded fun, and offered them each a fresh picked apple off his tree.
As they walked on, Janet asked Amy, “Everyone says he’s the meanest man in town. Why was he so nice to us?”
Amy explained that when she first started walking past his house, he wasn’t very friendly and she was afraid of him, but she always smiled at him. It took a while, but one day he half smiled back at her.
After some more time, he started smiling real smiles and then started talking to her. Just a “Hello” at first, then more. She said he always offers her an apple now, and is always very kind.
We’re always trying to achieve so much, and it’s so easy to get caught up in (被卷入；陷入) everyday life that we forget we can bring cheer to ourselves and others simply. Giving a smile takes so little effort; let’s smile to others.
1. Kids were afraid of Dawson because ________.| A．he disliked children | B．he was a bad tempered man |
| C．he always took a gun with him | D．he was a policeman |
| A．very mad | B．quite happy | C．really scared | D．rather worried |
| A．Amy wasn’t afraid of Dawson before |
| B．Janet never heard about the stories of Dawson |
| C．Dawson offered each of the two children an apple that day |
| A．got to like Amy’s smile day by day |
| B．didn’t know how to smile until he met Amy |
| C．started to accept Amy as a true friend with real feeling |
| D．often smiled to children in the town |
| A．Smile Brings a Big Success | B．Smile Improves the Relationship |
| C．Smile Changes the Environment | D．Smile Means Health |
On Martin's birthday, his father gives him a gift. His father says, "Son, it's a magic(有魔力的) book. But to find its magic, you'll have to read it."
Martin doesn't like reading. But he starts reading it because he likes things about magic. The next morning, his father asks him, "Have you found the magic key?" Martin looks through the book, but there is no key. A little later, his younger sister asks him for the book to try reading it. After some days, she says, "I've found the key of the magic book!"
That makes Martin interested in reading the book. At first it is difficult, but, little by little, he is interested in the book. Suddenly, he finds that the book itself is the key of magic! With the key, Martin can travel in many books.
1. When does Martin's father give him a book?| A．On Christmas Day. | B．On New Year's Day. | C．On his birthday. |
| A．he likes reading | B．he likes things about magic |
| C．he likes reading with his sister | |
| A．The talk. | B．His father. | C．The book. |
| A．Martin | B．His sister | C．His mother |
| A．The Birthday Gift | B．The Magic Key |
| C．Martin's dream | |
8 . The year is 2045. A group of robots compete in the World Cup. Robots? Is that possible? Many scientists believe it can happen. After all (毕竟), there are already robots that can play soccer. Of course, today’s robots don’t just play sports.
Early robots could do just simple things, mainly in factories. Humans operated them. However, today’s robots can operate on their own (not completely, of course). Some can only
move around a little, like the robots which can sweep the floor, but others such as Honda ASIMO can do much more. He can run, climb, dance, and yes, even play soccer. Then there are robots made to be like humans. These robots have faces and can show feelings. Such robots can learn new things, and show us how they feel. Actroid -DER is one of them.
Scientists are also making robots that look and act like animals. At NASA, scientists are making robot snakes. These snake-bots can get into holes. They might one day help scientists look for signs of life on Mars. Other animal robots include the frog-bot, which can jump over objects, and the sticky -bot, which can walk up walls. There’s even a robot called Water Runner that can walk on water.
But can a robot soccer team ever play as well as a human team? Many scientists think so. Anything is possible. One day, they may even be world champions.
1. Do many scientists think that robots can play in the World Cup in the future?| A．Yes, they do. | B．No, they don’t. | C．We don’t know. |
| A．经营 | B．控制 | C．动手术 |
| A．being real animals | B．playing soccer | C．showing their feelings |
| A．It can walk on water. | B．It can walk up walls. | C．It can jump over objects. |
| A．Robots in 2045 | B．The robots are coming | C．The history of robots |
Most Chinese people didn't know of Kristian Kostov before a few months. But now people like him very much. He sings well in a singing show on Hunan TV.
Kostov is 19 years old in 2019. He is a Bulgarian— Russian（保加利亚俄罗斯双国籍的）singer. He has big eyes and looks handsome. He has a happy family. His parents and grandparents like him very much. Kostov's favorite subject is music. He thinks it is very interesting. He likes singing, playing the piano and soon. So his mother send（送）him to singing classes when he is 6. He thinks singing is interesting and relaxing. Now he is very popular because of his singing.
1. Kostov was born in| A．1999 | B．2000 | C．2001 |
| A．Chinese | B．piano | C．music |
| A．受启发的 | B．受困扰的 | C．受欢迎的 |
| A．Kostov is a popular singer. |
| B．All people like Kostov very much. |
| C．Kostov learns singing in China. |
| A．A singing show | B．Kostov likes music | C．A popular singer Kostov |
10 . Kites have a long history. They may date back（追溯到）long time ago. They were made of bamboo and silk in China. Nobody knows exactly how or when a kite was first flown, but it is said that when a Chinese farmer tied a string（绳子）to his hat to keep it from blowing away in a strong wind, the first kite was born.
Children like playing with kites. Kites for work or play are made of wood, bamboo, paper, or silk. In 478 BC, a Chinese philosopher（思想家）, Mo Zi, spent three years making a kite out of light wood and bamboo. The earliest record（记录）of kite flying was in about 200 BC when the Chinese General Han Xin of Han Dynasty flew a kite over the walls of a city. He wanted to know how far his army would have to travel.
In the 13th century, Marco Polo wrote about how the shipping businessmen flew the huge kite in the wind before the ship set sail（起航）. It predicted the voyage（航海）in this way. If the kite went high and starlight, it meant a quick and successful ride, but if it didn't fly well, it was a bad omen（预兆）. In the late 1500s, the kite was introduced to Europe by the Italians. Kite flying was first mentioned in England in a popular book in 1589.
1. How was the first kite born?| A．It was first used for sailing. |
| B．A Chinese General called Han Xin flew a kite to train his army. |
| C．A Chinese farmer tied a string to his hat to keep it from blowing away. |
| A．silk | B．paper | C．steel |
| A．We know exactly how and when a kite was first flown. |
| B．Kite flying was first written in England in a popular book in 1589. |
| C．In 478 BC, Mo Zi spent three years making a kite out of light wood and paper. |
| A．In the 13th century. | B．In the late l500s. | C．In 1589. |
| A．The History of Kites. | B．Materials for Kites Making. | C．When to Make the First Kite. |
