1 . During the early morning journey from the suburbs(郊区), we sat sleepily, with collars standing firm below our ears. Although the group of people are in the same bus every day, we never
One July morning, a small grey man, one of the
The next day, another old man
One morning, Charlie was
The summer went by, and the
| A．argue | B．like | C．tend | D．greet |
| A．passengers | B．drivers | C．colleagues | D．neighbors |
| A．annoyed | B．surprised | C．mad | D．impatient |
| A．Unfortunately | B．Unhappily | C．Unexpectedly | D．Unfairly |
| A．left | B．boarded | C．hit | D．stopped |
| A．reply | B．advance | C．danger | D．need |
| A．man | B．driver | C．girl | D．boy |
| A．destroy | B．track | C．increase | D．affect |
| A．helping | B．comparing | C．talking | D．adapting |
| A．tying | B．lifting | C．biting | D．holding |
| A．anyway | B．anymore | C．anytime | D．anywhere |
| A．terrible | B．heavy | C．unforgettable | D．unhappy |
| A．giving out | B．giving in | C．giving up | D．giving off |
| A．spring | B．month | C．year | D．autumn |
| A．disappeared | B．happened | C．began | D．continued |
2 . There are many things to do in Macao. Macao is small, but that just means you can do and see a lot in a short amount of time.
Try the Macao Tower Bungee JumpThe Macao Tower, 338 meters tall, is the world’s 10th highest tower, with a variety of entertainment activities.
One of the activities is the bungee jump, which is popular with extreme sports lovers. The bungee-jumping height is 233 meters, making it a Guinness World Record as the highest commercial bungee jump in the world.
Enjoy the Egg Tart of MacaoOne of the must-try local foods in Macao is the egg tart. This dessert is different from the Cantonese egg tart. One of the visible differences is the slightly burned caramel (焦糖) top. The creamy filling, tasty crust (酥皮) and the burned caramel top create an incredible mixture of flavor.
Gradually, the bakery has become a fixed tourist spot in Macao, where the queue outside will never be empty.
Grab a Selfie at the Ruins of St. PaulThe Ruins of St. Paul is one of the signature landmarks of Macao. The ruins consist of the St. Paul’s College and the Church of St. Paul, built in 1580. However, after three intense fires in 1595, 1601 and 1835, the church was seriously damaged.
Watch the Macao Grand PrixRacing through the small streets and roads of this tiny city, the Macao Grand Prix circuit (巡回赛) is the only street circuit racing in the world for car and motorcycle races. The Macao Grand Prix is a major worldwide car-racing event held every year, featuring over 300 top drivers a year.
1. Where should you go if you are an extreme sports lover?| A．The Macao Tower. | B．The small streets in Macao. |
| C．The Ruins of St. Paul. | D．The St. Paul’s College. |
| A．The creamy filling. | B．The tasty crust. |
| C．The slightly burned caramel top. | D．The mixture of flavor. |
| A．It is the most famous site in Macao. | B．It was built in 1595. |
| C．It was rebuilt only once. | D．It was damaged badly. |
3 . There is an old saying in China that goes, “The days of the Sanjiu period are the coldest days.” “Sanjiu period”, which is in Minor (较小的) Cold, refers to the third nine-day period (the 19th to the 27th day) after the day of the Winter Solstice (冬至). There are many different customs related to Minor Cold in China.
Eating hotpot
During Minor Cold people should eat some hot food to benefit the body and defend against the cold weather. Winter is the best time to have hotpot and braised mutton with soy sauce. But it is important to notice that too much spicy food may cause health problems.
Eating huangyacai
In Tianjin, there is a custom to have huangyacai, a kind of Chinese cabbage, during Minor Cold. There are large amounts of vitamins A and B in huangyacai. As huangyacai is fresh and tender, it is fit for frying, roasting and braising.
Eating glutinous rice (糯米饭)
According to tradition, the Cantonese eat glutinous rice in the morning during Minor Cold. Cantonese people add some fried preserved (腌制的) pork, sausage and peanuts and mix them into the rice.
Eating vegetable rice
In ancient times, people in Nanjing took Minor Cold quite seriously, but as time went by, the celebration of Minor Cold gradually disappeared. However, the custom of eating vegetable rice is still followed today. The rice is steamed and is unspeakably delicious. Among the ingredients (原料), aijiaohuang (a kind of green vegetable), sausage and salted duck are the specialties in Nanjing.
1. What do we know about Minor Cold?| A．The Sanjiu period is in this period. | B．It refers to the Winter Solstice. |
| C．It lasts twenty-seven days. | D．It marks the first day of winter. |
| A．Eating hotpot. | B．Having vitamin A and B pills. |
| C．Having huangyacai. | D．Buying cabbage. |
| A．travel | B．fashion | C．culture | D．science |
4 . Joseph Frederick Engelberger, the Father of Robotics, was born on July 26, 1925. He received his degree in Electric Engineering in 1949 from Columbia University. He worked as an engineer in a company and then he met George Devol at a party in 1956, two years after Devol had designed and patented (获得专利权) an industrial robotic arm. However, the company where Engelberger worked was closed in the year he met Devol.
Finding himself jobless but with a business partner and an idea, Engelberger co-founded Unimation with Devol, creating the world’s first robotics company. Over the next two decades, the Japanese took the lead by investing (投资) heavily in robots to replace people performing certain tasks. In Japan, Engelberger was widely recognized as a key player in Japanese manufacturing quality and efficiency.
After observing his aging parents, Engelberger saw the robotics automation could be used in the medical field. In 1984, Engelberger introduced HelpMate and hoped to start a new industry for in-home robots. He sold his first HelpMate to Danbury Hospital in 1988. The medical robot was so successful that the hospital ended up purchasing another, and within a decade, well over 100 hospitals worldwide operated HelpMates.
Senator Joseph Lieberman delivered a speech in the U. S. Senate in praise and recognition of the inventor, calling HelpMate an example that shows the federal investment in science and technology for patients can lead to new products that create jobs for Americans and make for a better quality of life.
Engelberger liked working. So even after he got into his 80s, he remained active in the promotion and development of robots for use in elder care.
1. What happened to Engelberger in 1956?| A．He got his college degree. | B．He was unemployed. |
| C．He invented a robotic arm. | D．He sold his company. |
| A．With alarm. | B．With concern. | C．With respect. | D．With indifference. |
| A．The origin of HelpMate. | B．The promotion of HelpMate. |
| C．The function of HelpMate. | D．The challenge in creating HelpMate. |
| A．Critical. | B．Doubtful. | C．Objective. | D．Favorable. |
5 . 100-year-old Alfred Larson has been through a lot in his lifetime, but one thing that keeps him going is bluebirds.
When Alfred retired in 1978, he wanted to find a hobby or something to do that would keep him busy and provide him with a sense of purpose. When he read a National Geographic article about crafting wooden nest boxes for bluebirds to help improve their populations, he decided to give it a try. Alfred explained that he started building nest boxes on his ranch (大牧场) using left-over pieces of wood.
More than four decades later, Alfred is still going strong and promoting bluebird conservation efforts. Alfred is now monitoring nearly 350 nest boxes on six different trails (小路) in Southwest Idaho. He said, “I settled on a simple design that was easy to build and easy to monitor. I kept adding more boxes on these trails, and these birds responded.” Alfred’s boxes give bluebirds a lot of help in survival. “Without his work, we can’t see so many bluebirds now,” said Pearman, the author of Mountain Bluebird Trail Monitoring Guide.
To celebrate his achievements, filmmaker Matthew Podolsky worked with Alfred for weeks to create a 30-minute documentary—Bluebird Man. The film explores how everything led him to the work he does today and his efforts in bluebird protection. “I remember the first trip I took to the bluebird trail with Alfred, and I was very surprised by the speed with which he moved from box to box,” said Podolsky. “He was hiking across difficult and uneven terrain (地形). I often struggled to keep up with him. Sometimes we’d check more than 100 boxes and be driving home in the dark.”
The impact he’s had on the populations of bluebirds in North America will continue.
1. How did Alfred help save bluebirds?| A．By feeding them personally. | B．By preventing illegal hunting. |
| C．By making wooden nests for them. | D．By writing articles about them. |
| A．The number of bluebirds in Southwest Idaho decreases. |
| B．Alfred makes a big difference to bluebird conservation. |
| C．Climate change is threatening the survival of bluebirds now. |
| D．Alfred’s efforts have greatly inspired others to protect bluebirds. |
| A．How the natural habitat of bluebirds disappeared. |
| B．How bluebirds have survived in the past four decades. |
| C．What influence humans have on bluebirds. |
| D．What Alfred does every day to protect bluebirds. |
| A．To praise Alfred’s contribution. | B．To help people learn more about birds. |
| C．To advise people to protect the environment. | D．To show the living conditions of bluebirds. |
6 . It’s hard when a best friend isn’t around—maybe because you moved to a different school. You may feel lonely at break or lunchtime. You should have new friends. But how do you make new friends? Maybe it seems like everybody else already has their friends. But remember, there’s always room for more friends.
Start by looking around your classroom — think about which kids you’d like to play with at break. Look for chances to say “Hi.” to them, smile and be friendly. Offer to share something or express your appreciation to them. Invite someone to play with you or say “Do you want to sit here?” in the lunchroom. When you’re at break, walk over to kids you want to play with, act friendly and say “Hi, can I play, too?” or just join in.
If you have trouble doing this or if you’re feeling shy, ask your teacher to help you make new friends. Teachers are usually pretty good at matching up friends. The best way to make friends is to be a friend. Be kind, be friendly, share, say nice things and offer to help — and pretty soon, you’ll have one, or two, or even more new friends.
You might still miss that special best friend. But when you see each other, you can share something you didn’t have before you left. You can introduce your best friend to your new friends!
1. What should you do if you move to a new school?| A．Stay alone and wait for opportunity. | B．Contact your best friend often. |
| C．Try to make new friends. | D．Cut off contact with your old friends. |
| A．Challenge. | B．Friendship. | C．Intention. | D．Opportunity. |
| A．The reasons for making new friends. | B．The ways of making new friends. |
| C．The benefit of making new friends. | D．The importance of making new friends. |
| A．turn to your teachers | B．match up friends freely |
| C．introduce yourself first | D．turn to your best friend |
7 . Eli walked to school every day, a familiar routine that never failed to bring him a sense of peace. The school day
One particular day, Eli’s eyes were caught by a
With the bird gone, Eli noticed something
But as he picked up the balloon, Eli noticed a
| A．started | B．continued | C．ended | D．worked |
| A．route | B．direction | C．plan | D．goal |
| A．block | B．flash | C．leaf | D．light |
| A．crying | B．shouting | C．singing | D．screaming |
| A．faded | B．followed | C．went | D．fell |
| A．amazing | B．familiar | C．unusual | D．important |
| A．balloon | B．bag | C．string | D．object |
| A．Curious | B．Serious | C．Upset | D．Scared |
| A．said | B．knew | C．found | D．confirmed |
| A．toy | B．gift | C．litter | D．material |
| A．eat | B．kick | C．get | D．take |
| A．ceasing | B．intending | C．hesitating | D．pretending |
| A．letter | B．paper | C．note | D．poster |
| A．preserve | B．keep | C．watch | D．trap |
| A．secretly | B．carefully | C．really | D．ultimately |
8 . Politicians, business bosses, and other types of leaders indeed tend to like speaking with their hands, but does the habit influence how others interpret those words? To get to the bottom of it, a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics conducted a series of experiments on volunteers who viewed videos of people speaking with and without hand movements.
After showing the volunteers videos of people speaking under different conditions, the researchers asked them questions about what they had heard. Some conditions involved the speaker stressing different parts of words in a sentence. Other conditions involved the speaker making various types of hand gestures, such as pointing and sweeping movements. The team recorded the volunteers as they viewed the video recordings, questioning the volunteers afterward about what they had seen and heard.
Researchers found that the volunteers were more affected by syllables (音节) spoken with the conjunction of hand gestures: In 20 percent of the cases, the viewers were more likely to have heard and interpreted the word spoken with a hand gesture. Interestingly, however, volunteers were 40 percent more likely to hear the wrong sound when a mismatch between the word spoken and the hand gesture occurred.
Body language expert Carol Goman said, “Studies have found that speaking with your hands really can change the view of your character. People who communicate through active gesturing tend to be considered warm, agreeable, and energetic, while those who remain still are seen as logical, cold, and analytic. In fact, a 2015 study that studied TED Talks, which posts international talks online, found that the most popular speakers used nearly twice as many gestures as the least popular speakers used.”
The research team said that their findings suggest that hand gestures are an important part of in-person communication that have a direct impact on what the listener hears. Furthermore, they suggest that our responses to hand gestures may be something we learn as we grow up.
1. What’s the researchers’ purpose of doing the experiments?| A．To examine the volunteers’ interpreting skills. |
| B．Test the effect hand gestures have on speaking. |
| C．To record the volunteers’ questions for the speaker. |
| D．To confirm the influence hand movements have on leaders. |
| A．Hand movements affected what the listener heard. |
| B．The speaker stressed different parts of words in a sentence. |
| C．People speaking with different hand gestures had different effects. |
| D．The most popular speakers used more gestures than the least popular speakers did. |
| A．Assistance. | B．Combination. | C．Disturbance. | D．Interpretation. |
| A．Gestures can influence others’ view on one’s personality. |
| B．Understanding gestures is a must in every language. |
| C．In-person communication helps interpret gestures. |
| D．Responses to gestures are learning behavior. |
9 . The American robin (知更鸟) is the state bird for Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin because it is a very common, easily seen and handsome bird with a beautiful song. But it is now facing extinction due to the hidden dangers involved in the use of insecticides, a chemical used for killing insects.
Insecticides is usually sprayed on lawns to kill the grass disease. The chemicals used in the US break down into non-poisonous molecules (分子) far faster than DDT did, but most are still highly poisonous to robins for the time that they work on insects. Adult robins hopping on a freshly-sprayed lawn get their feathers coated, and then if they hatch their eggs or babies, the poison can be taken in, to kill the babies.
Elm trees in the United States, like those in Europe, are being attacked by Dutch elm disease. This disease is spread by the elm bark beetle. American scientists have attacked the disease by attacking the carrier. They have treated the trees with a chemical which kills the beetles. But the substance they use sticks to the leaves of the trees. These leaves are a basic food of a certain type of earthworm (蚯蚓) which is itself not attacked by the insecticide. The worms can store up huge quantities of this poison in their bodies. The robin eats these worms and is thus being poisoned by its normal food. The bird is already in danger of dying out in some areas.
It is sometimes difficult to foresee side effects like these, which is why many people object to the use of chemical sprays. They fear that man may be poisoning himself the same way as he has poisoned the American robin and other higher organisms at the top of the food chains.
1. What is the carrier that spreads Dutch elm disease?| A．The American robin. | B．The earthworm. |
| C．The elm leaf. | D．The elm bark beetle. |
| A．Killing the beetles. | B．Poisoning the earthworms. |
| C．Protecting the robins. | D．Attacking the elm trees. |
| A．touch the insecticide | B．touch the elm leaves |
| C．eat the earthworms | D．eat the beetles |
| A．The side effects of insecticide is endangering the robin. |
| B．American scientists have attacked Dutch elm disease. |
| C．The robin is dying out in some parts of the world. |
| D．Many people object to the use of chemical sprays. |
10 . At every wedding I attended this past year, the event space has been decorated with family portraits-black-and-white photos of grandparents, parents in 1970s hairstyles and family heirlooms (传家宝) passed down from generations.
As a child, I used to cry when looking at those reminders. When my husband suggested making a slideshow of our family photos for our wedding, I realized we barely had any. It was at that time that I understood just why these kinds of items inspired so many complicated feelings.
My grandparents immigrated from Poland to Cuba in the 1930s. During the Cuban Revolution, their business and home were shut down. The family came to the United States in 1968, leaving everything but a few pieces of clothing behind. My grandparents and mother responded to the pain they had experienced by holding on to things.
Today, when my mother comes to visit, she still brings bags full of useful items even if we have plenty of food. A full cupboard, a house stocked with usable objects, is the ultimate expression of love.
Like many who are privileged (幸运) enough not to have to worry about having basic things, I tended to admire the opposite — the empty spaces of yoga studios, the delightful feeling of sorting through a pile of stuff that I could abandon.
Now that my brother and I have come of age, my parents have both expressed a desire to downsize our possessions. I went through the things that mattered most to me: the books I loved as a child; the CDs made by friends; the college textbooks I never remembered to return. They say that we can appreciate the objects we used to love deeply just by saying goodbye to them. But I didn’t want to give any of them up because they filled with memories of a person I once was, and a person that part of me always will be.
1. The author realized the meaning of family old items when .| A．she was attending a friend’s wedding |
| B．she was preparing for her own wedding |
| C．her family came to the United States in 1968 |
| D．her mother came to visit, bringing bags full of useful items |
| A．In the old days, the elders suffered a lot. |
| B．The Cuban Revolution brought people much pain. |
| C．Some old items represent one’s precious memories. |
| D．The young should treasure today’s happy life. |
| A．They were the symbols of love. | B．They gave her a sense of identity. |
| C．They reminded her of the old days. | D．They were no longer available anywhere. |
| A．Lost time won’t return any longer. | B．A picture is worth a thousand words. |
| C．Some sort of stuff is worth keeping. | D．It’s never too late to make a change. |
