1 . Waiting for the airplane to take off, I was happy to get a seat by myself. Just then, an air hostess approached me and asked, “Would you mind _______ your seat? A couple would like to sit together.” The only _________ seat was next to a girl with her arms in casts (石膏绷带), a black-and-blue face, and a sad expression. “No way am I going to sit there,” I thought immediately. But a soft voice spoke, “She needs help.” Finally, I _______ to move to that seat.

The girl was named Kathy. She had been in a car accident and now was on her way for _________. When the snack and juice arrived, it did not take me long to _________that Kathy would not be able to ___________herself. I considered _________to feed her but hesitated, as it seemed too _________to offer a service to a _________. But then I realized that Kathy’s need was more __________than my discomfort. I offered to help her eat, and although she was uncomfortable to accept, she __________as I expected. We became closer and closer in a short period of time. By the end of the five-hour trip, my heart had__________, and the __________ was really better spent than if I had just sat by myself.

I was very glad I had reached beyond my comfort zone to sit next to Kathy and feed her. Love sometimes flows beyond human borders and removes the fears that keep us __________. When we __________to serve another, we grow to live in a larger and more rewarding world.

1.

A．changing

B．losing

C．taking

D．giving

2.

A．comfortable

B．suitable

C．favorable

D．available

3.

A．wanted

B．decided

C．regretted

D．promised

4.

A．pleasure

B．travel

C．treatment

D．business

5.

A．know

B．say

C．realize

D．recognize

6.

A．eat

B．choose

C．feed

D．support

7.

A．offering

B．needing

C．stopping

D．trying

8.

A．fast

B．far

C．close

D．impolite

9.

A．girl

B．neighbor

C．passenger

D．stranger

10.

A．unusual

B．important

C．direct

D．shameful

11.

A．refused

B．wondered

C．cried

D．did

12.

A．warmed

B．jumped

C．broken

D．cheered

13.

A．money

B．time

C．life

D．energy

14.

A．separate

B．independent

C．silent

D．upset

15.

A．happen

B．stretch

C．wait

D．continue

2 . The baguette, a long, thin French bread, is being added to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH,非物质文化遗产) list. UNESCO experts gathering in Morocco this week decided that the simple French bread — made only of flour, water, salt, and yeast — was worth U.N. recognition, after France’s culture ministry warned of a “continuous drop” in the number of traditional bakeries (烘焙坊), with some 400 closing every year over the past half century.

The UN cultural agency’s chief, Audrey Azoulay said, “The decision honors more than just bread; it recognizes the ‘graceful skills of bakers’ and ‘a daily ritual (仪式)’.” Azoulay added, “It is important that such baking knowledge and social practices can continue to exist in the future.”

With the bread’s new status (地位), the French government said it planned to create a baguette day, called the “Open Bake house Day”, to connect the French better with their heritage. Bakers in France seemed proud, if unsurprised. “Of course, it should be on the list because the baguette symbolizes the world. It’s universal,” said Asma Farhat, a baker at Julien’s Bakery. “If there’s no baguette, you can’t have a proper meal. In the morning you can toast it, for lunch it’s a sandwich, and then it accompanies dinner.”

Despite the decline in traditional bakery numbers, France’s 67 million people still buy baguettes at a variety of sales points, including in supermarkets. According to France’s “Bread Observatory”, the French eat 320 baguettes of one form or another every second. The problem is, observers say, that they can often be poor in quality. “It’s very easy to get bad baguette in France. It’s the traditional baguette from the traditional bakery that is in danger. It’s about quality not quantity,” said one local resident, Marine Fourchier.

1. Why did UNESCO’s decide to add the French bread to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list?

A．Because it has a long history.	B．Because it is made of simple materials.
C．Because it is in danger of disappearing.	D．Because it is made in traditional bakeries.

2. What did Audrey Azoulay think of UNESCO’s decision?

A．He felt honored.	B．His attitude was unclear.
C．He thought it was embarrassing.	D．He thought it was meaningful.

3. What can we learn from Asma Farhat’s words?

A．Baguettes should be served all the day.	B．Baguettes are common in the French diet.
C．Baguettes should have been put on the list earlier.	D．Baguettes and sandwiches are equally important.

4. What can be a proper title for this article?

A．The baguette — a cultural heritage that is of poor quality.

B．Protecting the baguette — everyone can make a difference.

C．Protecting the baguette — quality is more important than quantity.

D．The baguette — a new comer on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

3 . “Colour” and “color”, “favourite” and “favorite”, “honour” and “honor”… Have you ever wondered why Americans spell those words without a “u”? Is it because they are lazy? Of course not. In fact, the difference in spelling was started by Noah Webster (1758-1843). He was a teacher who reformed (改革) English to make American identity (特征) stronger. Linguists (语言学家) celebrate his birthday on October 16 every year.

After the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), Webster believed that Americans should have their own dictionary, rather than rely on British dictionaries. He dropped the British “u” in some words. And he changed “centre” into “center” for children to learn English by spelling words more like what they sounded. He used “subway” instead of British word “underground”. Some other examples are “soccer” and “football”, “fall” and “autumn”.

Webster wasn’t shy about expressing his opinions. In defining (定义) preposterous (unreasonable), he wrote: “A republican government in the hands of female is preposterous.”

Webster spent 28 years on the project before completing the 70,000-word dictionary with his American-style spelling in 1828. He also added local words.

His dictionary was widely used in schools. Linguists believed it helped a new country achieve unity (统一) and cultural independence at a time when most people cared about political freedom.

“He was the creator of our language and the creator of American identity,” said Joshua Kendall, who is working on a book about Webster. “He at last brought us together through our language.”

1. Which is NOT true about Webster’s dictionary?

A．It has local words in it.	B．It is a 70,000-word dictionary.
C．All the words are spelled without “u”.	D．Its words are in American-style spelling.

2. What does the underlined phrase “rely on” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．依赖

B．信任

C．容忍

D．放弃

3. What do people think of Webster’s dictionary?

A．It is the only dictionary that Americans still use today.

B．It helped to bring Americans together besides its cultural influence.

C．It has no influence on the development of American English.

D．It helped to make American English more useful than British English.

4. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．The development of the British English.

B．American English is better than British English.

C．Noah Webster added local words to the dictionary.

D．Noah Webster wrote an American English dictionary and reformed English.

4 . Sharon, Aged 22

The most important thing to keep in mind when going into high school is to be yourself. Besides, I don’t know what your middle school was like, but high school teachers will not care about things such as how much homework you already have for one night. It’s best to just learn to deal with things and manage your time wisely so you can achieve everything you need to do.

Frank, Aged 21

I think almost every kid feels both anxious and excited before their first day. You will probably love it. I know I did. You should join in some sports or activities that will make your high school experience more enjoyable. Good luck!

David, Aged 19

I’m not going to lie. The first day is kind of frightening. But you’ll get used to it. Don’t be afraid of anyone; upperclassmen will pick on you more if you let them know you’re afraid. Just take it easy. Making some friends and staying with them will greatly help you get used to high school quickly. After the first week it’s really not bad at all. Don’t worry.

Eddie, Aged 20

When I started high school, I was really nervous too, especially since I had been homeschooled all through middle school and didn’t really know anyone. I suppose the best advice would be to just relax. The first couple of days can be a little bit hard, but things will become easier before you know it.

1. What can we infer from Sharon’s words about high school?

A．Teachers are quite strict.	B．Students often stay up at night.
C．Teachers provide little care for students.	D．Students should make good use of their time.

2. Who mentions the importance of friends?

A．David.

B．Frank.

C．Sharon.

D．Eddie

3. How did Eddie feel on his first day of high school?

A．Excited.

B．Worried.

C．Bored.

D．Relaxed.

5 . An era in which an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can begin in a doctor’s office is now arriving. The new technology can detect early signs of disease from a blood sample, which is helping doctors to identify the memory-robbing disorder more accurately.

Last fall, a blood test developed by C2N Diagnostics in St. Louis, Mo. , became available to most of the U.S. as a routine lab test. It has also received a CE mark as a diagnostic medical device in the European Union — indicating it has met safety, health and environmental protection standards for the region.

The C2N test, called PrecivityAD, uses an analytic technique to detect specific types of B-amyloid, a protein fragment that is a pathological (病理学的) feature of disease. B-amyloid proteins accumulate and form plaques (斑块) visible on brain scans two decades before a patient notices memory problems. As plaques build up in the brain, levels of ß-amyloid decline in the surrounding fluid.   

Such changes can be measured in spinal fluid (脊髓液) samples — and now in blood, where ß-amyloid concentrations are significantly lower. PrecivityAD is the first blood test for Alzheimer’s to be cleared for widespread use and one of a new generation of such assays that could enable early detection of the leading disease — perhaps decades before the onset of the first symptoms.

1. According to the passage, which can help doctors identify Alzheimer’s?

A．hair.

B．blood.

C．skin.

D．tongue.

2. What is the function of B-amyloid in the brain?

A．To decline in the surrounding fluid.	B．To form plaques visible on brain scans.
C．To accumulate and cause memory problems.	D．To serve as a pathological feature of disease.

3. What does the underlined word “assays” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Tests.

B．Trials.

C．Treatments.

D．Analysis.

4. What does the author think of the PrecivityAD?

A．Indifferent.

B．Doubtful.

C．Supportive.

D．Pessimistic.

6 . New England is the six northeastern states of the United States: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The six states were among the first colonies (殖民地) in America. The colonies were conquered by England, and this is why the area became known as New England. After the American Revolutionary War the colonies gradually became states.

Many things are similar in the six New England states. For example, there are many stone walls, fishing villages and forests in these states. The houses and buildings are similar, too. People cut down trees from the forests to make space for their farms and villages.

They then used wood from the trees and stones from the fields to build houses, schools, and churches. Even today, most of the houses in New England are made of wood.

There are big cities in New England, but there are also small cities and farms, especially in the northern part. There is much industry and business and New England is one of the most populous (人口稠密的) parts of the United States. It has many busy sea ports on its long coast. There are always many tourists who enjoy the beautiful lakes, beaches, and mountains and who visit the historical places.

1. Where is New England?

A．In northern Britain.	B．In northern America.
C．In eastern America.	D．In northeastern America.

2. Why are the six states called New England?

A．They are now ruled by England.	B．They were once colonies of England.
C．There were people from England.	D．The states were close to England.

3. What did the people use to build their houses?

A．Stones and steel.

B．Plastic and wood.

C．Stones and wood.

D．Stones and cement.

8 . For decades, the homework standard has been a “10-minute” rule, which suggests a daily maximum of 10 minutes of homework per grade level.

But some schools have begun to give their youngest students a break. An American elementary school has announced a no-homework pilot program(试点项目) for the coming school year, extending the school day by two hours to provide more in-class instruction. “We really want kids to go home at 4 o’clock, tired,” Kelly Elementary School Principal Jackie Glasheen said. “We want them to enjoy their families. We want them to go to soccer practice or football practice.”

New solutions to homework differ by community. These local debates aren’t easily understood by the fact that even education experts disagree about what’s best for kids.

The most all-round research on homework so far comes from an analysis(分析) by Duke University professor Harris Cooper, who found evidence(证据) of a positive relationship between homework and student achievement, meaning students who did homework performed better in school. Cooper’s analysis focused on how homework influences test scores. The relationship was stronger for older students from the 7th to the 12th grade than for those in younger grades, for whom there was a weak relationship between homework and performance.

However, Cathy Vatterott, an education professor at the University Missouri-St. Louis, thinks there is not enough evidence that homework is helpful for students in elementary school, “Relationship is not a cause,” she said “Does homework cause achievement, or do high achievers do more homework?” Vatterott thinks there should be more stress on improving the quality of homework tasks, and she supports efforts to ban homework for younger kids.

1. What will Kelly Elementary School have in the new term?

A．No homework.	B．Some football practice.
C．“10-minute” homework.	D．More physical education classes.

2. Who can perform better according to Cooper’s analysis?

A．Younger students in all grades with no homework.

B．Younger students in lower grades with no homework.

C．Older students in lower grades with more homework.

D．Older students in higher grades with more homework.

3. What’s the writer’s attitude towards “10-minute” homework?

A．Positive.

B．Negative.

C．Unknown.

D．Angry.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Is homework good for students?

B．Which subject’s homework matters the most?

C．Shall younger students do the same homework as the older students?

D．Do students really hate homework?

9 . What a day! I started my new school this morning and had the best time. I made lots of new friends and really liked my teachers. I was nervous the night before, but I had no reason to be. Everyone was so friendly and polite. They made me feel at ease. It was like I’d been at the school for a hundred years!

The day started very early at 7:00 am. I had my breakfast downstairs with my mom. She could tell that I was very nervous. Mom kept asking me what was wrong. She told me I had nothing to worry about and that everyone was going to love me. If they didn’t love me, mom said to have a good talk with them. I couldn’t stop laughing.

My mom dropped me off at the school gate about five minutes before the bell rang. A little blonde girl got dropped off at the same time and started waving (招手) at me. She ran over and told me her name was Abigail. She was very nice and we became close straight away. We spent all morning together and began to talk to another girl called Stacey. The three of us sat together in class all day and we even made our way home together! It went so quickly. Our teacher told us that tomorrow we would really start learning and developing new skills.

I cannot wait until tomorrow and feel as though I am really going to enjoy my time at my new school. I only hope that my new friends feel the same way, too.

1. How did the author feel the night before her new school?

A．Tired.

B．Excited.

C．Happy.

D．Worried.

2. What did the author think of her mother’s advice?

A．Clear.

B．Funny.

C．Reasonable.

D．Excellent.

3. What happened on the author’s first day of school?

A．She met many nice people.	B．She had a hurried breakfast.
C．She learned some new skills.	D．She arrived at school very early.

4. What can we infer about Abigail?

A．She disliked Stacey.	B．She was shy and quiet.
C．She got on well with the author.	D．She was an old friend of the author.

10 . School News

Welcome back to school! Have you signed up for an after-school activity yet? Here are some of the activities you can try.

SPORTS TEAMS

Do you like sports? How about joining the football team? It has try-outs next Tuesday at 3:00. Many of our best players have moved up to college. So now the team needs new players. For more information, meet our sports advisors, Ms. Matte or Mr.Stergis.

GOOD AT ART?

This year, your classmates in the school art club plan to paint a mural(壁画)on the wall by the office. So they need new members to help create it! Are you interested in drawing, painting or taking photographs? This club is for you. The first meeting of the school year is next Wednesday at 3:15 in Room 221. Please see Ms. Greenway for more information.

NEW THIS YEAR

There are some new activities you can have a try. Try the new after-school science club! It has plans to enter the national Senior Robotics competition this year. So if you want to try building a robot, this club is for you. See Mr. Larson in Room 105 for more details. The club meets every Thursday at 3:30.

Do you like acting? Are you good at singing? The school play this year is a musical—The Sound of Music. Come and try out next Monday at 3:10 in Room 125.

For a list of all the after-school activities this year, click here. Or pick up a membership form from the advisor’s office, Room 107.

1. When are the try-outs for the football team?

A．Next Monday at 3:10.	B．Next Wednesday at 3:15.
C．Next Tuesday at 3:00.	D．Next Thursday at 3:30.

2. What does the art club plan to do this year?

A．To paint a mural.	B．To put on a musical.
C．To offer photography courses.	D．To enter a national competition.

3. Where can you get more information about the science club?

A．In Room 221.	B．In Room 125.
C．In Room 107.	D．In Room 105.