1 . Birthdays are especially important to the very young and the very old. On their birthdays, people receive birthday cards and birthday presents from their family and friends. Children’s cards often have a large number on them showing how old they are. Cards for adults have pictures of flowers or scenery, or humorous or rude cartoons. Inside there is usually a simple greeting, such as “Happy Birthday” or “Many Happy Returns of the Day.”
In the US, children who have their birthdays during the school year take a cake to school and have a small party with their classmates. In Britain, children sometimes get Bumped (lifted off the ground horizontally and put down again sharply) by their friends.
In the US, the 16th birthday is called sweet 16. It is the age at which a person can get a US driver’s license, and some wealthier parents give their children a car as a present. At 18, in Britain and in the US, young people become adults and many have a big party. In most parts of the US, 21 is the age at which people can drink alcohol legally.
In Britain, people celebrate 21st birthday less. Many adults dislike getting older and a few lie about their age. But in general older people are now much more willing to tell others their age. You may see a sign by the side of a road saying: “Dave Ell is 40 today!”, put there by Dave’s friends. At about 65, people retire, and those who have reached this age are called senior citizens. Few people live to be 100, so a 100th birthday is very special. In Britain, people reaching this age may receive card containing a printed message from the Queen.
1. What’s the main characteristic of children’s birthday cards?| A．They are full of pictures of scenery. |
| B．There are some flowers on them. |
| C．There is a large number on them. |
| D．They have greetings written on them. |
| A．The 40th birthday is very special |
| B．Many adults like lying about their age |
| C．Dave’s friends like playing jokes on him. |
| D．Older people don’ t mind telling others their age now |
| A．be called a senior citizen | B．refuse to talk about his age |
| C．receive a card from the queen | D．be invited to dinner with the Queen |
| A．Bars in the US are forbidden to sell alcohol to young people under 21. |
| B．In Britain, 18 means young people become adults. |
| C．Young people will get a car as the 16th birthday present in the US. |
| D．British young men love to celebrate the 21st birthday. |
2 . The lander carrying China’s first Mars rover successfully touched down on the red planet early Saturday morning Beijing Time. It is the first time China has landed a probe on a planet other than Earth.
Tianwen-1, consisting of an orbiter, a lander and a rover, was launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of southern China’s island province of Hainan on July 23, 2020. This is the first step in China’s planetary exploration of the solar system, with the purpose of completing orbiting, landing and roving on the red planet in one mission.
The name Tianwen, meaning “questions to Heaven”, comes from a poem written by the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC). China’s first Mars rover is named Zhurong after the god of fire in ancient Chinese mythology, which echoes with the Chinese name of the red planet: Huoxing (the planet of fire).
Tianwen-1 was launched via a Long March-5 rocket, China’s largest launch vehicle. Tianwen-1 has been traveling in space for nearly 10 months. It has carried out four orbital corrections and a deep-space maneuver. It had flown 475 million km and was 192 million km from Earth when it reached Mars orbit.
The craft’s plummet through the Martian atmosphere, lasting about nine minutes, was extremely complicated with no ground control, and had to be performed by the spacecraft autonomously.
“Such a challenging attempt is characterized by a succession of complex activities that must be conducted completely by the spacecraft within a very short period of time,” said Geng Yan, an official with the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the CNSA. “What added to the difficulties was that we don’t know much about the Martian atmosphere, which brought a lot of uncertainties to the mission. Each step had only one chance, and the actions were closely linked. If there had been any flaw, the landing would have failed.”
1. What is the mission of Tianwen-1?| A．To record the wind speed on Mars. | B．To explore the atmosphere of Mars. |
| C．To search for aliens in the solar system. | D．To accomplish three major tasks on Mars. |
| A．The introduction of the poet Qu Yuan. | B．The reasons for the craft landing on Mars. |
| C．The origin of two names Tianwen and Zhurong. | D．The importance of ancient Chinese mythology. |
| A．The huge task of Tianwen-1. | B．The surroundings of the Mars orbit. |
| C．The expense of traveling in space. | D．The size of the Long March-5 rocket. |
| A．China’s attempt to explore Mars is successful. |
| B．Landing on Mars is a very challenging move. |
| C．People are enthusiastic about exploring the universe. |
| D．Tianwen-1 is essential to China’s space station program. |
3 . When he tells people that he is deaf, Oliver Stabbe is called a liar. "The idea that deaf people cannot speak is a very offensive assumption," the sophomore(大二学生) said.
Stabbe’s experience speaks of many of the misunderstandings about deaf people and the struggles they face — things commonly found right in Rochester. This city is home to 90,000 deaf people, a significant slice of the more than 1.1 million national population. The percentage of deaf people here is higher than the national average, due in part to RITs National Technical Institute for the Deaf, the first technological college in the world created specifically for the deaf and hard of hearing.
"Really, there seems to be an embarrassment in communicating with deaf people," said sophomore Stephen Davis, another deaf student. This awkwardness might arise because non-deaf people just don't know how to do so without possibly offending someone. "I guess they think saying ‘deaf’ is offensive, but it really isn't and deaf people don't get upset about it," Davis said. He noted that the biggest issue he's had when communicating with other students is their anxiety about communicating.
Deaf or hard-of-hearing students also face frustrations(令人心烦的事) on their end when interacting with others. "Sometimes people talk about you, maybe to a non-deaf friend standing beside me, as if I’m not there," Davis said. "That’s depressing." As Davis put it, "We don’t see ourselves as the disabled, so the awkwardness is only one-sided."
Stabbe advised that those communicating should not make assumptions about others’ preferences or ability. If you have a question, ask. A moment of awkwardness is absolutely worth it if you are being educated about an important topic.
1. Why are there more deaf people in Rochester?| A．Deaf people have some privileges here. |
| B．Deaf people may get better job opportunities here. |
| C．Deaf people meet fewer struggles here. |
| D．A professional school for the deaf appeals to them. |
| A．They are afraid of upsetting the deaf. |
| B．They are unwilling to communicate. |
| C．They don’t know any simple gestures. |
| D．They don't challenge enough assumptions. |
| A．Sensitive and talkative. |
| B．Reasonable and reliable. |
| C．Confident and intelligent. |
| D．Outspoken and aggressive. |
| A．We can hear your heart. |
| B．"Deaf" is not a bad word. |
| C．Deaf people are not liars. |
| D．Embarrassment is one-sided. |
4 . Success is often considered to be the opposite of failure. To teenagers, it is the achievement of a goal or completion of something they really need, such as good grades and the ability to get along well with their classmates. Some schools used to agree with most parents who measured (判定) the success of their children according to grades, but now they pay special attention to moral (道德的) education and character-building to make sure teenagers achieve success in building human relationships.
Schools give chances to students to discover their hidden ability so that they can enjoy some form of success. For example, those good at speaking skills are advised to take part in speech competitions while those interested in arts are expected to perform in front of their classmates. Teenagers also get the pleasure of success when they join their favorite clubs.
Teenagers are often told that success is not easy to achieve and that success lies in hard work. Great efforts have to be put into project work. Doing things much later than planned should be avoided as this will lead to a mountain of work which finally makes them nervous. Another good quality (品质) is a sense of responsibility which makes them remember that a task has to be completed.
Sticking to moral values is the key to success too. Honest teenagers will win the trust of friends leading to good relationships. Self-motivation (自我激励) is another quality to be developed, for self-motivated teenagers will have the strong will and drive to perform a task and finally get to enjoy a sense of achievement.
1. What does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 1 refer to (指代)?| A．Their classmates. | B．Some schools. |
| C．Most parents. | D．Their children. |
| A．Project work makes teenagers nervous. |
| B．Good qualities will lead to a happy life. |
| C．Teenagers are advised to complete tasks in time. |
| D．Taking responsibility will make work much easier. |
| A．Honesty. | B．Self-motivation. |
| C．Communication. | D．Friends’ trust. |
| A．The Value of Moral Education |
| B．The Key to Discovering Hidden Ability |
| C．The Meaning of Success to Teenagers |
| D．The Way to Communicate with Others |
5 . February half-term is fast approaching, and now is the time to start organizing your week off if you’re aiming for a quick and cheap getaway anywhere but home.
1. Shard London stay, ￡181 for a family of 4
Get a whole new perspective on the capital with Superbreak’s View from the Shard package. On Level 72, the highest public level of The Shard, visitors will have the chance to try out the most breathtking experience, as they are exposed to the elements and sounds of the city beneath.
2. Dublin countryside, ￡198 per adult, kids stay free and free breakfast
Dublin is a great city for kids, with both fun and educational visits from the Leprechaun Museum to the Dublin Writers Museum. In a hillside position overlooking Dublin Bay and dating back to 1740,Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel is an affordable choice for a half term break by car with Irish Ferries.
3. Woolacombe Bay, Devon, ￡220 for a family of 6
Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks in Devon is highlighting a wealth of deals at February half-term including four-night midweek stays-from 15 February-at ￡220 for a family of six.
The package includes accommodation in a model Bronze caravan (活动房屋) holiday home, sleeping up to six and with heating in the lounge and bedrooms, plus private car parking.
Free indoor all-weather facilities include a heated swimming pool, children’s play areas, a cinema, clubs for youngsters and entertainment.
4. Northumberland castle, ￡99.50 per adult, kids go free
Take your children to a 14 century Northumberland castle this half term, and allow them to play prince or princess during a stop.
Luxurious Langley Castle, at Langley-on-Tyne, a short drive from Hexham, is ideal for families wishing to explore Hadrian’s Wall and discover life as a Roman, explore Hexham Abbey, or head off to Newcastle for shopping and visitor attractions.
Children will also love the daily Battlements Tour, which will take them right to the top ofthe castle,to look out towards Hadrian’s Wall and across Langley’s grounds.
1. Where can visitor go if they want their kids to have both fun and educational visits?| A．Shard London stay. | B．Woolacombe Bay. |
| C．Northumberland castle. | D．Dublin countryside. |
| A．There are free indoor all-weather facilities. |
| B．Kids can have the most breathtaking experience. |
| C．Kids can play prince and princess. |
| D．It can provide tasty and free breakfast. |
| A．￡99.5. | B．￡199. | C．￡398. | D．￡298.5. |
You’ve been asking for a while now, so we’re agreeing to it, but there are going to be some rules, OK? This is going to be your dog, not Mommy and Daddy’s, which means you will be taking care of him. And taking care of another living thing is a big responsibility.
It’s going to be your job to feed him, to bathe him and to walk him. If he poops, you’re going to clean it. If your dog gets sick, you’ll have to take him to the vet. If he goes to Doggy Heaven, you will have to bury him. If he happens to be buried in a magic place that causes him to come back to life and become a zombie dog, and I know we may sound like a broken record here, it’s going to be your job to take care of him. Dead or undead, it’s still your concern.
If he kills a deer and drags it to our yard, it’s going to be your responsibility to remove that dead deer. Your pet, your dead deer. If he steps things up and kills a human, perhaps a mailman, as his owner, you might be legally involved in that person’s death. If you try to coverup that death and, in a rush, bury him in the same magic place, bringing him back to life too, don’t scream and cry because a zombie mailman is trying to burst into your bedroom. Your pet, your zombie mailman.
If the zombie mailman kills you, will we be upset? Of course we will. You’re our child. And our child didn’t take her pet-ownership duties seriously enough to predict this sort of thing. If we choose to bury you in the same magic place and allow you to come back to life, well need to make one thing absolutely clear. Just because your human life ends doesn’t mean your human responsibilities end with it. Homework is homework. If the dog’s still kicking around, food/walks/baths you know the drill.
So the answer is yes, you can get a dog. Or just stick with your goldfish. Your call.
1. What can we infer from the underlined part “we may sound like a broken record”?| A．The parents keep playing a broken record. |
| B．The parents keep reminding their child of her duty. |
| C．The parents are frightened of a zombie dog. |
| D．The parents are confident of their child’s ability. |
| A．He is sure to upset the parents. | B．He is bound to kill a deer or a man. |
| C．He is expected to become a zombie. | D．He is supposed to be cared for well. |
| A．By comparison. | B．By analysis. | C．By assumption. | D．By debate. |
| A．To show the responsibilities of raising a pet dog. |
| B．To show the excitement of raising a pet dog. |
| C．To persuade the child not to get a pet dog. |
| D．To persuade the child not to get any pet at all. |
7 . Twenty-five years ago, most young Britons wanted a career in law, to be a doctor, or, if they were creative enough, to take up singing. But today, things stand differently.
According to a survey by Tesco Mobile, a UK company, the “dream job” of young people aged between 16 and 25 in the UK is a video blogger, or “vlogger” (视频博主). The survey, carried out among 1,002 people, found that as much as 40 percent of them put vlogger as their number one choice on a list of ideal careers.
This change is undoubtedly as a result of the Internet and social media. They have made it so much easier to reach audience of the world, without having to enter a career in show business in the traditional way.
In the past, the biggest stars were trained by the Hollywood studios; now, anyone with a computer camera can become a star. Vloggers are the big stars of today because they are normal people interacting with their fans about everyday life.
However, what people see is only the bright side of being a vlogger and they fail to notice the fact that only those who are successful earn fame and fortune. For every success there are hundreds of others who never get off the starting line. There are the dreams that come true and the dreams that remain dreams forever.
Although being vloggers is popular, some young people choose to follow careers that don’t necessarily earn them fame, but allow them to make good use of the Internet to share their hobbies. Young Israeli David Leshaw, for example, runs a business called the Finishers Club. It’s an online platform for runners to keep a record of their races. His job allows him to express his enthusiasm, and is always a learning experience. And that's enough for him.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．Most young Britons choose to be vloggers as their job. |
| B．The Internet is influencing young Britons’career choice. |
| C．The Internet is taking the place of traditional studios. |
| D．Young Britons can not find jobs without the Internet. |
| A．Vloggers can earn greater fame and more money on the Internet. |
| B．There is too much competition in the traditional show business. |
| C．The Internet makes it convenient to enter show business. |
| D．Anyone with a computer will surely become a star. |
| A．Only a few vloggers can be famous and wealthy. |
| B．A vlogger can not earn fame and fortune. |
| C．People often see the bright side of being a vlogger. |
| D．Dreams will always remain dreams. |
| A．Learn from others. | B．Become an online hit. |
| C．Hold running races. | D．Combine jobs with hobbies. |
8 . My history with music was not good. I still remembered when I took my short-lived piano lessons, my grandfather said
So I gave up playing any musical instrument until my old friend Leroy
No one was
A short time later, my friend Leroy passed away, but his
| A．anxiously | B．calmly | C．patiently | D．annoyingly |
| A．pretended | B．regretted | C．demanded | D．tried |
| A．on time | B．under pressure | C．in vain | D．in shape |
| A．challenged | B．invited | C．pressed | D．promoted |
| A．reminding | B．informing | C．warning | D．cheating |
| A．refused | B．forgave | C．protested | D．accepted |
| A．important | B．special | C．effective | D．skilled |
| A．shocked | B．scared | C．satisfied | D．frightened |
| A．teaching | B．begging | C．forcing | D．expecting |
| A．chance | B．goal | C．task | D．choice |
| A．suitable | B．curious | C．willing | D．generous |
| A．preparation | B．explanation | C．treatment | D．search |
| A．If | B．Since | C．Though | D．When |
| A．conquered | B．recommended | C．organised | D．offered |
| A．fame | B．impression | C．influence | D．confidence |
9 . Two inventors, Simon Jorritsma and Anne Koudstaal, had an unusual idea — what if you recycled plastic and turned it into a road? Now the world’s first plastic bike path has been created to test their idea.
The Netherlands is famous for being bike-friendly, and the city of Zwolle has just gone a little bit further. On September 11, 2018, the city opened a 100-foot bike path made of recycled plastic. The path is not 100% recycled plastic, but the group that created it, PlasticRoad, hopes future paths and roads will be.
Most roads in the world today are made with asphalt — a black mixture that creates a lot of pollution. Asphalt is heavy to move and must be heated when people are making a road. Using asphalt to make roads takes a lot of energy.
The group says their way of making roads is better in many ways than asphalt roads. It creates their road in pieces in a factory, which are light and easy to move around. To make the road, a special truck simply drives along and lays down the pieces. This makes it much faster to make than an asphalt road. Their road will last three times as long as an asphalt road. And if part of it breaks, it is easy to take out the broken part and replace it. The broken part can then be recycled once more and turned into a new piece again. The plastic road is hollow (空心的) below the surface, allowing rainwater to flow away. The hollow area also makes it easy to run pipes under the road.
Many people think this is a creative way to recycle plastic, but some are worried. One of the biggest concerns is what will happen to the bits of plastic that break off as the path is being used. After all, the world is facing a major issue with microplastics. Some people think plastic roads will create more.
1. What can we know about the world’s first plastic bike path?| A．It was invented by Simon and Anne. |
| B．It was opened in a city of the Netherlands. |
| C．It was entirely made with waste plastic. |
| D．It was made only 100 meters in length. |
| A．It leads to many traffic accidents. | B．It easily becomes soft in the strong sunlight. |
| C．It may take much money and time to make it. | D．It causes much pollution due to its black material. |
| A．It can save time and strength to make it. |
| B．It lasts twice longer than an asphalt road. |
| C．It can be made indoors rather than in the open air. |
| D．The traffic can move much faster on a plastic road. |
10 . The most destructive(破坏性的)wildfire in California’s history started on Nov 8, 2018,
Shane Grammer grew up 15 miles away in Chico, and he
“I’ve got to paint that
On Dec 31, Grammer
Grammer
Grammer’s work in Paradise has become a bigger
| A．turned down | B．put forward | C．brought about | D．broke out |
| A．damage | B．use | C．waste | D．question |
| A．as usual | B．at last | C．once again | D．no longer |
| A．made | B．followed | C．ignored | D．missed |
| A．students | B．co-workers | C．friends | D．children |
| A．survive | B．disappear | C．continue | D．exist |
| A．dream | B．idea | C．excuse | D．chance |
| A．fire | B．wall | C．house | D．chimney |
| A．artist | B．director | C．reporter | D．tourist |
| A．wasted | B．saved | C．took | D．spent |
| A．purpose | B．truth | C．beauty | D．choice |
| A．sold | B．noticed | C．discovered | D．posted |
| A．angry | B．upset | C．strong | D．strange |
| A．Generally | B．Suddenly | C．Luckily | D．Hopefully |
| A．changed | B．divided | C．cut | D．formed |
| A．printing | B．painting | C．buying | D．collecting |
| A．luck | B．doubt | C．hope | D．happiness |
| A．task | B．game | C．experiment | D．project |
| A．busy | B．dark | C．lonely | D．quiet |
| A．moves | B．excites | C．warns | D．surprises |
