2 . An American company has developed a new technique (技术) to make bread stay fresh for 60 days.

Scientists found that a kind of mould (霉菌) caused bread to go bad. The new technique kills the mould and keeps the food for longer time. This means there will be less waste of food in the world in future.

Food waste is a big problem in most developed countries. In the US, an average (普通的) family throws away 40% of the food they buy, which adds up to $165bn every year, about 330 million tons in weight. Bread takes a larger part. In the UK, 32% of the bread they buy is thrown away as waste when they can still be eaten.

The bread usually goes mouldy (发的) in around 10 days, but the American company says the new technique will keep the bread free from mould for two months.

”We treated a piece of bread in a special machine. At 60 days it had the same amount of mould as it was first made,“ says Mr. Stull, the leader of the company.

Although there are a lot of bread makers interested in the new technique, few customers like the idea. They say they don’t think a piece of bread which lasts for 60 days tastes good.

”We’ll have to make our customers accept the idea. But it will take some time,“ says Mr. Stull.

1. What is the key point of the new technique?

A．It can prevent the world from wasting food.

B．It kills the mould and keeps bread fresh for longer time.

C．It keeps the same amount of mould.

D．It makes bread taste good.

2. How much of the bread is wasted in the UK?

A．Nearly half.

B．A quarter.

C．More than half.

D．About one-third.

3. What can we know from the passage?

A．Food waste can be reduced immediately (立刻) with the new technique.

B．We will buy bread that can last longer.

C．Few customers are sure about the technique.

D．Poor countries are in great need of food.

4. What is mainly talked about in the passage?

A．A new technique has been invented to keep bread fresh longer.

B．There is great waste of food in developed countries.

C．There is a kind of mould that causes food to go bad.

D．Customers don’t like food that lasts for two months.

3 . As we close out the final days of this year, treat yourself to a deliciously distracting new book —a book that you can dip into and out of throughout the holidays. Read up, rest up, and enjoy yourself.

Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and beyond

A must-have guide for yoga-loving mamas, Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond offers helpful relaxation techniques and breathing exercises that are tailored to each pregnant woman. The book also lays out valuable techniques for labor and staying in touch with your body as it continuously changes.

Mindfulness Activities for Kids

We could all use a little more peace in our lives. Uniquely suited for children and parents to do together, the 40 mindfulness exercises recommended here —from pausing to fully enjoy a tasty sandwich to taking chalk walk together—will not only teach children calm and gratitude, but also bring grown-ups and their littles closer together.

Before She Disappeared

Frankie Elkin is a recovering alcoholic who devotes her time to solving cold cases, especially those involving people of color. A new investigation brings her to Boston, searching for a Haitian teenager who disappeared months ago. But as Frankie starts asking questions, someone else will stop at nothing to keep the answers hidden.

Oak Flat

Lauren Redniss’ Oak Flat tells the story of the land near the San Carlos Apache Reservation through an Apache family fighting to protect the land which the U. S. government and two world-power mining enterprises are attempting to seize and destroy for its copper resources. Visually striking and deeply reported, Oak Flat tells a larger story of endless westward expansion and native resistance.

1. Which book can help to improve family relations?

A．Oak Flat.

B．Before She Disappeared.

C．Mindfulness Activities for Kids.

D．Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond.

2. What do we know about the book Oak Flat?

A．It’s a brief account of mining enterprises.

B．It centers on an Apache family’s struggle.

C．It sings high praise of the US government.

D．It supports westward expansion and native resistance.

3. Who are the target readers of the four books?

A．Teenagers.

B．Men.

C．Kids.

D．Grown-ups.

5 . India, as a country with plenty of resorts (旅游胜地), is popular with different kinds of travelers. If you’re planning to visit the country, the followings are the places that may interest you.

Delhi

Delhi is a perfect place for those who love history, and there are plenty of attractions here to keep tourists of all interests entertained. It’s often the first city that many tourists visit on a trip around India. There are many resorts including India Gate, the Lotus Temple, Qutub Minar, and Humayun’s Tomb.

Agra

Agra is most well known for the Taj Mahal, which draws a large number of tourists to the city. Built in the 1600s, the Taj Mahal is still standing strong today and is admired by tourists as an important part of India’s heritage (遗产).

Kashmir

Kashmir is one of the most beautiful cities in India. With flower gardens, amazing water-falls, and snow-topped peaks, it’s a simply unforgettable place that tourists want to return to time and time again. Kashmir is especially popular with honeymooners and loved-up couples, because a lot of romantic trips are on sale in Kashmir.

Goa

Though Goa is small in size, it’s one of the top resorts for young tourists and those who love taking beach vacations. The golden sands and coconut palm trees are the charm (吸引力) here, and the sunrises and sunsets are so gorgeous that you’ll never forget them.

1. What do we know about Delhi from the text?

A．It is the highest city in India.

B．It is known for the Taj Mahal.

C．It is attractive to history lovers.

D．It is the coolest city in India.

2. What is the special part of Kashmir?

A．It is the smallest place.

B．It is the capital city of India.

C．It offers many tours attracting couples.

D．It drives young people crazy.

3. Where shall we head if we want to spend some days at the seaside?

A．Delhi.

B．Goa

C．Kashmir.

D．Agra.

7 . For a scholar focusing on Australia’s public diplomacy (外交活动), working as a recreational manager in China may never be part of his career path. But Bradley does have lots to say now about his special experience at a resort in the picturesque tropical coastal city of Sanya in South China’s Hainan province.

The 33-year-old Australian is actually a student in international relations completing his PhD through Griffith University. He came to Beijing for a cooperative research at Peking University less than two years ago. Such an academic life was just added color with a chance offered by the cultural exchanges project, “I’m in China”.

“What I liked most about the experience was it was something completely different that you would never be able to do as a regular tourist,” Bradley said in an interview. Bradley was chosen to work as a recreational manager for a Chinese wedding.

The film crew took them to many “amazing sites” and the staff at the resort taught them a lot about how to “incorporate modern Chinese features while still keeping traditional customs”, Bradley said.

“I would have to say two things stick out as the most memorable: the helicopter ride and talking with the staff at the hotel about how to organize weddings here in China,” he said.

That was Bradley’s first time to be in a helicopter, and he was too absorbed with the “stunning” view of the beautiful coastline.

“I think it is so important to show other Australians the different landscapes China has to offer. I think so many Australians, when they think about China, imagine the historical sites of Beijing and the exciting things to see in Shanghai but have no idea about other beautiful places, like Sanya or the many other places people have been taken to in this TV series,” Bradley said.

“I’m in China” is a project sponsored by China Intercontinental Communication Centre and other institutions under the guidance of China’s State Council Information Office. It invites foreign natives worldwide to experience unique jobs and participate in activities that one can find nowhere else except in China. More than 10,000 photos and articles were submitted from around the globe by over 6,00 applicants.

1. What does Bradley actually do?

A．He’s an Australian PhD student.	B．He’s a regular Australian tourist.
C．He’s a professional recreational manager.	D．He’s an Australian diplomat.

2. What does the underlined word “incorporate” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Get rid of.

B．Turn down.

C．Take in.

D．Keep off.

3. What impressed Bradley most?

A．The beautiful scenery of Sanya and special activities.

B．Flying in a helicopter and organizing Chinese wedding.

C．The historical sites of Beijing and the exciting things in Shanghai.

D．Chinese traditional customs and many amazing sites.

4. From the last paragraph, we can infer that the project “I’m in China” is ________.

A．unique but unattractive to foreigners

B．special but helpless to know about China

C．uninteresting and rejected by foreigners

D．unique and popular with foreigners

8 . My first visit to Angkor Wat (吴哥窟) was in 1980. The country had been at war for many years and the temple was deserted and falling to pieces. Plants were growing out of the roofs, and trees were growing in the yards.

Today, the temple is the scene of a busy repair program. A team of 15 Indian experts are organizing a workforce of 400 Cambodians, most of them women, who are cleaning, repairing and rebuilding parts of this temple.

As I walked through the yards, I noticed the Cambodian women devote hours to cleaning carefully a tiny area of stone. Boards are laid down to protect the precious painted stones while the repair work is going on. There are very few machines and little heavy equipment. Workers carry building materials in buckets at the end of long poles. Piles of stones lie in a corner of the yard, waiting to be replaced.

The work of cleaning the stones is watched over by three Indian chemists. It is a very slow task. First they clean the stones with brushes using buckets of a weak chemical. Then gaps between the stones are filled in. Finally another material is painted onto the stones which will protect them from water forever.

Work starts every day at 7 am and goes on until late afternoon six days a week, with a break at midday.

Evening is the best time to visit the temple, after the tour groups have left. As the sun sinks lower, shadows spread across the yard. After sunset, the sky turns pink. The grey stone towers take on a golden color before turning pink. Nowhere else in the world can there be such a quiet, beautiful place.

1. According to the author, which of the following plays the LEAST important role in the repair work?

A．The women workers.

B．The Indian workers.

C．Machines.

D．Skilled workers.

2. The underlined sentence “the temple was deserted” probably means that ________.

A．there was no one in the temple and it was in a poor state

B．the temple was built on a desert and nobody noticed it

C．the temple was very old with a long history

D．the temple was repaired by the Cambodians, most of whom were women

3. To clean the stone, how many steps should be followed?

A．Two.

B．Three.

C．Four.

D．Five.

4. Which work needs a lot of time to do?

A．To get rid of certain types of plants.

B．To carry the building materials.

C．To replace the stones.

D．To clean the stones.

10 . Recent the news a school in Ganzhou, Jiangxi, serves pre-made meals to its students have sparked heated discussions across the country. People doubt if pre-made meals, despite being convenient, are healthy and nutritious enough for growing teenagers.

Pre-made meals refer to half-finished or finished dishes that are already cooked or prepared, according to the China Cuisine Association. There are several types of pre-made foods, including ready-to-eat food, such as canned food or cooked food in packages, and ready-to-heat or ready-to-cook food, which requires heating or cooking before being served.

Many people tend to think that ready-to-heat and ready-to-cook foods are less nutritious because they usually need to be kept in refrigerators. “Actually freezing does not cause a loss of nutrients,” Liu Junya, a 33-year-old dietitian in Beijing said. “Nutrient loss typically occurs during the heating or frying process.”

Vitamins from the B group and vitamin C found in meat and vegetables are heat-sensitive and can be lost during the process. By being heated or cooked twice or more, “pre-made foods can be less nutritious than freshly prepared and cooked foods,” Liu said.

Meanwhile, “many pre-made food companies prioritize taste over nutrition,” said Liu. This leads to higher levels of salt and sugar in the food, which may lead to health problems, such as high blood pressure in the long term.

Additives (添加剂) are also a major concern related to pre-made food. In China, there are strict standards for food additives. Currently, China’s food industry has well-developed techniques to preserve pre-made food without the excessive use of additives. Some food can be sterilized (消毒) and then sealed (密封) after cooking, followed by low-temperature storage, allowing for a longer shelf life. However, it’s essential that customers buy pre-made meals from qualified food companies or supermarkets.

It is hoped that regulations on pre-made meals can be strengthened to better ensure nutrition and hygiene (卫生). This way, “pre-made meals will be more accepted by the public,” Liu said.

1. What can we learn about pre-made meals from the article?

A．They are typically costly and flavorful.	B．They are rich in a large numbe of vitamins.
C．They taste better than homemade food.	D．They are already partially or fully cooked.

2. According to Liu Junya, when does nutrient loss typically occur in pre-made foods?

A．During freezing.

B．During cooking.

C．During packaging.

D．During sales.

3. What is one of the key recommendations for consumers regarding pre-made meals?

A．Buy from reliable sources.	B．Check the cooking instructions.
C．Keep pre-made meals frozen.	D．Pay attention to the additives used.

4. What does Liu Junya think of pre-made meals?

A．They are a convenient choice for all.	B．They are suitable for daily life.
C．They can be nutritious if properly regulated.	D．They are best avoided for long-term health.