1 . A Race against Death
It was a cold January in 1925 in North Alaska. The town was cut off from the rest of the world because of the heavy snow.
On the 20th of that month, Dr. Welch
How could the medicine get to Nome? The town’s
The race began on January 27. The first musher, Shannon, picked up the medicine from the train at Nenana and rode all night.
On January 31, a musher named Seppala had to
A huge snowstorm hit on February 1. A musher named Kaasen had to brave this storm. At one point, huge piles of snow blocked his
At 5:30 am on February 2, Kaasen and his dog
Nome had been
A.examined | B.warned | C.interviewed | D.treated |
A.harmless | B.helpless | C.fearless | D.careless |
A.Moreover | B.Therefore | C.Otherwise | D.However |
A.airport | B.station | C.harbor | D.border |
A.narrow | B.snowy | C.busy | D.dirty |
A.From | B.On | C.By | D.After |
A.tired | B.upset | C.pale | D.sick |
A.plan | B.excuse | C.message | D.topic |
A.air | B.rail | C.sea | D.road |
A.carry | B.return | C.mail | D.give |
A.Though | B.Since | C.When | D.If |
A.enter | B.move | C.visit | D.cross |
A.shameful | B.boring | C.dangerous | D.foolish |
A.hurt | B.injure | C.swim | D.die |
A.memory | B.exit | C.way | D.destination |
A.find | B.fix | C.pass | D.change |
A.wondering | B.trying | C.asking | D.learning |
A.run | B.leave | C.bite | D.play |
A.gathered | B.stayed | C.camped | D.arrived |
A.controlled | B.saved | C.founded | D.developed |
2 . Compean was no stranger to Los Angeles National Forest. He’d hiked the park several times. But after hiking along a
As dusk
Compean climbed to a higher
Sixty miles away in Ventura County, Ben Kuo was reading a tweet
“There’s an amazing amount of information you can get from satellites, ”says Kuo. The first thing he
Thanks to Kuo’s
A.new | B.familiar | C.old | D.primitive |
A.burst | B.came | C.fell | D.sank |
A.turned out | B.turned to | C.turned up | D.turned down |
A.maintaining | B.remaining | C.presenting | D.restoring |
A.spot | B.basin | C.peak | D.top |
A.power | B.signal | C.battery | D.sign |
A.exhibited | B.conveyed | C.exposed | D.attached |
A.slowly | B.steadily | C.frequently | D.quickly |
A.about | B.in | C.from | D.of |
A.looking for | B.deciding on | C.pointing out | D.counting on |
A.predict | B.release | C.comprehend | D.identify |
A.trees | B.flowers | C.grass | D.woods |
A.precise | B.accurate | C.surrounding | D.subsequent |
A.noticed | B.thought | C.mentioned | D.watched |
A.while | B.so | C.instead | D.because |
A.continued | B.accelerated | C.deepened | D.proved |
A.original | B.clear | C.perfect | D.complete |
A.entered | B.matched | C.finished | D.differed |
A.specific | B.rough | C.special | D.sustainable |
A.thank | B.envy | C.owe | D.contribute |
3 . You can tell a lot about people’s general state of mind based on their social media feeds. Are they always tweeting(发微博)about their biggest annoyances or posting pictures of particularly cute kitties? In a similar fashion, researchers are turning to Twitter for clues about the overall happiness of entire geographic communities.
What they’re finding is that regional variation in the use of common phrases produces predictions that don’t always reflect the local state of well being. But removing from their analyses just three specific terms -- good, love and LOL - greatly improves the accuracy of the methods.
“We’re living in a crazy COVID-19 era. And now more than ever, we’re using social media to adapt to a new normal and reach out to the friends and family that we can’t meet face-to-face.” Kokil Jaidka studies computational linguistics at the National University of Singapore. “But our words aren’t useful just to understand what we, as individuals, think and feel. They’re also useful clues about the community we live in.”
One of the simpler methods that many scientists use to analyze the data involves correlating words with positive or negative emotions. But when those records are compared with phone surveys that assess regional well-being, Jaidka says, they don’t paint an accurate picture of the local zeitgeist(时代精神).
Being able to get an accurate read on the mood of the population is no laughing matter. “That’s particularly important now, in the time of COVID, where we’re expecting a mental health crisis and we’re already seeing in survey data the largest decrease in subjective well-being in 10 years at least, if not ever.”
To find out why , Jaidka and her team analyzed billions of tweets from around the United States. And they found that among the most frequently used terms on Twitter are LOL, love and good. And they actually throw the analysis off. Why the disconnect?
“Internet language is really a different beast than regular spoken language. We’ve adapted words from the English vocabulary to mean different things in different situations.” says Jaidka. “Take, for example, LOL. I’ve tweeted the word LOL to express irony, annoyance and sometimes just pure surprise. When the methods for measuring LOL as a marker of happiness were created in the 1990s, it still meant laughing out loud.”
“There are plenty of terms that are less misleading,” says Jaidka. “Our models tell us that words like excited, fun, great, opportunity, interesting, fantastic and those are better words for measuring subjective well-being.”
1. The researchers turn to social media feeds to ________.A.help with the analysis of people’s subjective well-being |
B.integrate into a mainstreamed lifestyle more quickly |
C.prove the disconnect between language and emotions |
D.collect specific terms associated with specific zeitgeist. |
A.It didn’t reflect the mood of the entire geographic community |
B.It didn’t match the assessment result of the phone surveys. |
C.It didn’t consider the features of Internet language. |
D.It didn’t take the regional variations into account. |
A.Face-to-face communication is never replaced to ensure happiness. |
B.Internet use is to blame for the decrease in subjective well-being. |
C.Internet language should be originally used as a source of scientific analysis. |
D.Less misleading words should be used in assessing subjective well-being. |
A.Internet Shock Need A Break | B.Underlying LOL Never Fade Away |
C.Virtual Mirror Of Era Being | D.Gulf Between Old And New |
4 . Seminole was far too accustomed to the business. Everyone sympathized with him depending an long hours minimum wage, and ill-mannered customers. Although struggling to pay his rent he still went all out to make those lucky enough to sit at his tables laugh. The day was going quick.
He was exhausted when he arrived to work the next day, but he went about his daily duties, putting on a brave face as customers complained about the food or questioned the bill. Usually as he prepared to close for the night, a couple of customers would sit down and order drinks. Most of the crew had left by closing time, but Seminole stayed to serve. Eventually, the last round was ordered and he gave them the bill. The minimum tip was suggested on the receipt. “Tomorrow will be better,” murmured he.
But luck wasn’t on his side. Evening approaching, a group of teenagers stepped in. Thankfully, they were polite and respectful. Their cheerful behavior began to rub off on him. As always, he did his best to make their dining experience a pleasant one.
Once they finished their dishes, he placed the bill on the table, accompanied with some candies. They placed their notes on the receipt and left smiling. When he returned to clear the table, he was shocked. The teenagers only left a tip of $3, but their total bill was more than $100. He'd gone above and beyond serving the tasty dishes. Ho would they be so rude?
Later that week, he struggled to let go of the awkward memories. He arrived at work and expected it to like any other, but there was something left behind the desk for him--a two-page handwritten letter from the teenagers with $18 attached, in which they explained they were unaware of the tipping practice due to it being their first time out alone. Everything suddenly made sense.
Seminole was so touched by their gesture that he uploaded a picture of the letter sharing their admirable efforts. Web visitors voiced their opinions, and the reaction was more than positive.
1. Why did Seminole wear a brave face?A.To serve better. | B.To relax himself. | C.To sell more drinks. | D.To gain a reputation. |
A.Ignorance of tipping culture. | B.Dissatisfaction with the meal. |
C.Gratitude for Seminole’s service. | D.Misunderstanding of tipping practice. |
A.One good turn deserves another. | B.Actions speak louder than words. |
C.Honesty can turn into an opportunity. | D.It is better to make things right than not. |
5 . While most lifestyle and fashion magazines are full of photos of slim male and female models that create an unrealistic image of the human body, a fresh Japanese men’s magazine called Mr. Babe is taking an unusual approach. It is targeted at chubby men, a body type that is rarely represented in the mainstream fashion industry.
Mr. Babe describes itself as Japan’s first fashion and lifestyle magazine of chubby men, by chubby men and for chubby men. Its major goal is to increase the confidence of its readers and convince them that they can lead a happy and successful life regardless of the few extra pounds. It offers fashion tips, health advice and articles on marriage. The chief editor said, “Mr. Babe is in no way persuading men to become fat. Our message is that chubby men can be attractive by making use of what they have now. ”
Norihito Kurashina was in charge of Men’s Knuckle for over 10 years before shifting completely and launching Mr. Babe. Up to now, Men’s Knuckle is still a famous magazine for young Japanese. 52-year-old Kurashina describes himself as a chubby man for 25 years.
According to the National Health and Nutrition Survey, the percentage of overweight men in Japan has been increasing gradually over the last decade, while the number of overweight women has decreased. Kurashina says the growing number of chubby men is largely due to the long working hours. In addition, they go drinking after work to relax. Naturally, they have no time, energy or money to go to the gym and keep in shape.
The chubby men in Mr. Babe magazine are not much more different than the handsome and sexy men that show up in most mainstream magazines. They are charming and well-dressed. 50, 000 copies have been printed of the first issue, which has film star Jack Black on the cover. Norihito Kurashina says he is already feeling a good response from the audience.
1. What does the underlined word “chubby” in Para. 1 mean?A.Fat. | B.Thin. | C.Ugly. | D.Modern. |
A.Encourage more men to put on weight. |
B.Make its readers confident in themselves. |
C.Offer suggestions about how to lose weight. |
D.Become the most popular magazine in Japan. |
A.Mr.Babe has several film stars on its cover. |
B.Mr.Babe is designed for all Japanese people. |
C.Norihito Kurashina is sure about Mr. Babe’s success. |
D.The men in Mr.Babe are charming though dressed casually. |
6 . Creative Vacation Travel Ideas
Couch Surfing
Those who are bohemians(豪放的人) at heart can travel the world and make new friends using the couch-surfing system. Couch-surfing networking sites allow travelers to research and connect with people in cities around the world who offer up their couch or guest room to strangers. Staying with the people is free of charge, though you will be expected to pay for your own food and entertainment. Most hosts will accommodate a pair of travelers, and the system is safer for inexperienced couch surfers.
Roaming African Hotel
The Shongololo Express is best described as a cruise(邮轮) on land. A fleet of air-conditioned, luxury trains transport travelers through Africa from south to north. The Express stops at prearranged locations of interests, similar to a cruise ship stopping at a port, and allows travelers a chance to get out and explore with the security of a group behind them. Meals and drinks are served on the trains, and there are common areas for socializing.
Underground Motel
Go under Down Under with a stay in the White Cliffs Underground Motel in New South Wales, Australia. The 30 guest rooms called dugouts are carved from supportive soft sandstone and ventilated(通风) with drilled vertical passages. The temperature is naturally regulated year round for a comfortable stay. The hotel includes an on-site restaurant. Guests may even request a personal tour of dugouts local citizens have built for their own homes.
Adventure Vacations
Adventure vacations are travel ideas that suit travelers who want to truly interact with the environment. The National Geographic compiles lists of the best adventure vacations around the world and also helps travelers book the vacations. You don't have to leave the country to have an adventure. The Florida Everglades, Glacier National Park in Montana, The Grand Canyon and The Gila Wilderness in Nevada are adventure vacations to suit the young and the young at heart.
1. What is one of the advantages of Couch Surfing?A.Couch surfers can travel the world on the Internet. |
B.Travelers need to share guest room with strangers. |
C.Hosts will charge the guests nothing for accommodation. |
D.The system is fit for those who have less travel experience. |
A.The hotels offer free meal service to travelers. |
B.Travelers are provided comfortable guest rooms. |
C.Security staff accompanies travelers when getting out. |
D.Guests have common areas for social events on the trip. |
A.Couch Surfing. | B.Roaming African Hotel. |
C.Underground Motel. | D.Adventure Vacations. |
7 . Food waste is a growing problem both in America and across the globe. In North America alone about 30-40% of food ends up as rubbish each year. While much ends up as rubbish, over 48 million Americans live in households that do not have enough food! Now, concerned citizens are trying to raise awareness of the issue with some creative ideas.
In New York’s Westchester County, students at 18 schools join in a program called We Future Cycle. Started by Anna and Ashley in 2014, it teaches kids to recycle, compost (堆肥), and most importantly control food waste in an easy and efficient manner.
Lunch areas at those schools are equipped with three clearly marked bins— compost, recycle and share. While the first two are common in schools, the third is rare. This is the bin where kids can put their unwanted drinks, fruits, and even untouched sandwiches. Food there is available for any student that wants them. Whatever remains at the end of the day is given to the local soup kitchen or food bank. Anna says the three bins have helped reduce the number of trash bags produced at the mid-day meal from an average of 22 to just 2!
To ensure kids form similar habits at home, the non-profit has created plans to educate families about the importance of sorting waste into the proper streams of recycling, composting, and food to donate. They also urge parents to have open conversations with their kids about food choices.
Kids are not the only ones that waste food. Adults are equally bad, if not worse! To fight that, Brooklyn-based Josh founded Salvage Super Club in 2014. The randomly organized dinners promise customers a multi-course meal for merely 50 dollars per person. The delicious food is made from perfectly safe ingredients (成分) that are past their prime and, therefore, headed for the compost or trash bin.
1. The underlined word “awareness” in Paragraph 1 probably means__________?A.understanding | B.hope |
C.doubt | D.value |
A.Use dustbins instead of plastic bags for left-over food. |
B.Put their unwanted food in the bins and learn to share. |
C.Get the children to educate their parents at home. |
D.Only get single-course food for 50 dollars when eating out. |
A.Parents are to blame for the children’s bad habits. |
B.Parents do not encourage children to save food. |
C.Parents are as wasteful as children about food. |
D.Parents have set an example for the children. |
A.More information about food bank. | B.How to improve food production. |
C.The importance of saving food. | D.Other creative ways to save food. |
8 . Are you looking for some informative magazines? The following ones can surely meet your needs.
Mental Foss is a magazine full of bite-sized(small bits) trivia(琐事)and mostly short articles with really interesting facts that you'll want to share with others. The writing is fun and friendly, so it’s easy to understand the answers to the more difficult questions, like: What does outer space smell like? Why isn't cat food mouse-flavored? While the print edition of the magazine stopped publishing in 2016, you can still read Mental Floss online.
Reader's Digest is not actually about books reading. Instead, it is about people. Inside you'll find anecdotes—short, personal articles about things that have happened to people. There are stories in simple writing about everything from funny celebrity moments and inspiring personal store to funny jokes and articles.
Cricket and Cicada are easy-to-read literary magazines aimed at teenagers. Each issue is full of wonderful short stories and poems, and beautiful illustrations. Even though these are technically children's magazines, they are perfect for learning English because they have high quality writing.
Time is one of the most well-known magazines in the world. Inside you'll find news, beautiful photographs and everything you need to get a" deeper understanding of the world in which we live. "Since Time is very high quality and provides deep insight on many serious topics, it can also be difficult for English learners to read. If you have trouble understanding Time, try Time For Kids, which has similarly great content but is written in a simpler way.
1. What can readers obtain from Mental Floss?A.They can be inspired by the comments on the magazine. |
B.They can understand some tough facts in a funny way. |
C.They can enjoy a variety of eye-catching pictures. |
D.They can have a deep understanding about the current events. |
A.The language is easy and friendly to readers. |
B.The articles are mostly adapted from books. |
C.The stories are all based on private experiences. |
D.The topics are serious and difficult to comprehend. |
A.It's of great help for English beginners. |
B.It has two editions for readers to choose from. |
C.People can have an access to it online. |
D.It is perfect for teenagers who love anecdotes. |
9 . We arrived in Spain for the first time a few weeks ago. I decided to
“It’s such a problem to
A.borrow | B.drive | C.buy | D.choose |
A.leaving | B.making | C.returning | D.getting |
A.sure of | B.satisfied with | C.interested in | D.used to |
A.on my own | B.right away | C.in a hurry | D.on the way |
A.accepted | B.wrote | C.signed | D.copied |
A.best | B.nearest | C.quickest | D.cleanest |
A.lately | B.directly | C.safely | D.slowly |
A.after | B.with | C.around | D.towards |
A.their way | B.the garage | C.their sight | D.the car |
A.at last | B.once more | C.as usual | D.as well |
A.prepare | B.continue | C.choose | D.remember |
A.carefully | B.smoothly | C.quickly | D.differently |
A.an error | B.a problem | C.an accident | D.a headache |
A.when | B.why | C.how | D.what |
A.For | B.Or | C.But | D.So |
10 . The newly-elected president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro says that his country should withdraw (退出) from the 2015 Paris Agreement, and that Brazil’s rainforest protections are standing in the way of economic success. During the election campaign, he promised to ease protections for areas of the Brazilian Amazon set aside for native people and wildlife. Are Brazil’s rainforests in danger?
The Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest, is called “the lungs of the planet.” Each tree takes in and stores carbon dioxide from the air around it. Billions of trees pull up water through their roots and release water vapor into the air, forming tiny drops of water. The Amazon creates 30 to 50 percent of its own rainfall. Carlos Nobre, a climate scientist, says that it is almost impossible to say Just how important the rainforest is to the planet’s living systems.
Some of Bolsonaro’s support comes from business and farming groups. One supporter, Luiz Carlos, noted that farmers “are not invaders, they are producers.” He blamed the past government for supporting rainforest protections at the cost of farmers. “Brazil,” he said, “will be the biggest farming nation on Earth during Bolsonaro’s years.”
Paulo Artaxo, a professor of environmental physics at the University of Sao Paulo, says that if Bolsonaro keeps his campaign promises, then “deforestation of the Amazon will probably increase quickly — and the effects will be felt everywhere on the planet.”
Other scientists warn that if the Amazon and other tropical rainforests lose too many trees, this could affect rainfall in other areas. Without enough trees to support the rainfall, the longer and bigger dry season could turn more than half of the rainforest into a tropical grassland.
1. The first paragraph is intended to ________.A.draw people’s attention to the disappearing rainforests |
B.ask people to ease the protection of rainforests |
C.attract the public to the newly-elected president |
D.to complain about the new government's withdrawing |
A.produce much farmland |
B.examine people’s lungs |
C.change the earth’s living system |
D.destroy farmers’ crops |
A.The new president’s supporters care less about farmers. |
B.Scientists are concerned about the protection of rainforests. |
C.The rainforests will stop the economic development in Brazil. |
D.The past government is to blame for the destruction of rainforests |
A.a newspaper |
B.a magazine |
C.a guidebook |
D.a textbook |