1 . Julia found some of her grandmother Georgie’s old design sketches (草图) from the 1940s. Georgie told her granddaughter she was proud of the sketches and wanted them to be _________ by more people, for _________ was a big part of her life. “Being alone all day was difficult for Grandma. I think doing something would _________ lift her spirits,” Julia said.

Julia took some pictures of those sketches and made a post. It became _________ overnight. A lot of replies under the post _________ Julia to physically make her grandmother’s designs. Though her sewing (缝纫) skills were _________, Julia decided to figure it out. And she learned the basics soon.

With the help of her grandmother, Julia spent countless hours _________ the sketches and turning them into complete designs. Despite the great interest her followers had in_________ her grandma’s designs, the dresses Julia recreated were not for sale. “We have _________ when we do these projects and we don’t like to take this too seriously. Maybe one day that’ll become a career, but right now we’re just focusing on our __________. I’m glad to put on the dresses and __________ them to Grandma. I __________ that I will re-wear the dresses. So I try to be as environmentally friendly as possible,” Julia said.

“You can have your own __________ and it’s never too late to go after it. You can still follow something __________ in your life at any age. Maybe it won’t __________, but it’s worth taking that risk,” Julia said.

1.

A．shown

B．checked

C．discovered

D．appreciated

2.

A．fashion

B．performance

C．travel

D．play

3.

A．slightly

B．greatly

C．poorly

D．hardly

4.

A．popular

B．helpful

C．different

D．convenient

5.

A．taught

B．forced

C．challenged

D．encouraged

6.

A．necessary

B．special

C．limited

D．excellent

7.

A．copying

B．protecting

C．judging

D．improving

8.

A．recording

B．buying

C．changing

D．praising

9.

A．experience

B．freedom

C．pleasure

D．instruction

10.

A．service

B．creation

C．story

D．duty

11.

A．introduce

B．hand

C．connect

D．present

12.

A．promise

B．doubt

C．admit

D．warn

13.

A．education

B．surprise

C．interest

D．memory

14.

A．natural

B．meaningful

C．peaceful

D．practical

15.

A．work out

B．stand out

C．pass down

D．move around

2 . I had been invited to go to my friend’s birthday party. I was excited because I liked to go to parties. Although Tori was not my best friend, I _______ to be there.

Two days later, my best friend asked me to go to Disneyland. I really wanted to go. That’s when my mom _______ me that Tori’s party was on the same day. She said I couldn’t change my mind just because something better came along.

My_______ about going to the birthday party was _______. Tori’s party would be okay but not as _______ as a whole day at Disneyland. _______, Tori wasn’t even my best friend. I begged my mom but she _______. She asked me to think about how I would feel if someone did that to me. I had to _______ that it would _______ my feelings. My mom was _______.

So my mom dropped me off at Tori’s party. Something _______ happened after I got there. We did stuff that was fun and different. We watched a movie that hadn’t come out in theaters yet and that was pretty _______. There was also a make-your-own pizza contest. We gave presents to Tori and her parents had a special present to give to each of us _______! That was so cool.

When my mom came to _______ me up, she was glad that I’d had a good time. Not only did I _______ the party, but I learned an important lesson. My mom was right…as usual.

1.

A．happened

B．pretended

C．afforded

D．promised

2.

A．comforted

B．reminded

C．convinced

D．taught

3.

A．doubt

B．curiosity

C．excitement

D．confusion

4.

A．gone

B．obvious

C．normal

D．endless

5.

A．free

B．busy

C．fun

D．long

6.

A．Otherwise

B．Besides

C．However

D．Therefore

7.

A．suffered

B．complained

C．hesitated

D．disagreed

8.

A．predict

B．admit

C．expect

D．ignore

9.

A．hurt

B．control

C．reflect

D．inspire

10.

A．different

B．voluntary

C．sad

D．right

11.

A．conventional

B．practical

C．difficult

D．interesting

12.

A．informal

B．amazing

C．strange

D．private

13.

A．in return

B．at once

C．at ease

D．in theory

14.

A．hurry

B．bring

C．pick

D．cheer

15.

A．change

B．throw

C．love

D．miss

3 . American Unique Buildings

The country’s full of awe—inspiring natural wonders, but those made by man (and woman) are equally impressive. The architect behind a design or the creation’s history or purpose are all elements that may prove particularly attractive. These following buildings are all well worth visiting.

Bradbury Building

Los Angeles

Glancing at the Bradbury Building, built in 1893, the oldest commercial building in L.A., you may say: “OK, it’s a 19th-century relic.” Step inside and you will be surprised by the light-filled Victorian court, a wonder of open—cage elevators, marble stairs, and splendid iron barriers. Its architectural history is debatable — Sumner Hunt’s designs seem to have been completed by George H. Wyman, who monitored the construction.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Miami

Built in 1916, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, formerly Villa Vizcaya, is the one-time winter home of businessman James Deering. On Biscayne Bay in the Coconut Grove neighborhood, the early 20th-century property features Italian Renaissance (文艺复兴) gardens, native woodlands, and a complex of historic outbuildings. The property designed by Paul Chalfin is today operated by Miami-Dade County.

Rogers Building

Orlando

The 132-year-old, Queen Anne-style structure, now housing an art gallery but a one-time home to cocktail-and-gaming clubs, was donated to the City of Orlando in 2018 earlier by Ford Kiene. The restriction that it must remain an arts and culture center for at least 20 years ensures public access for the near future.

Griffith Observatory

Los Angeles

It’s possible to see the stars at this destination that includes sweeping views of the city and the Hollywood sign, and has a planetarium (天文馆) to boot. It’s been a draw for its construction style sign its 1935 opening, with a $93 million expansion completed in 2006.

1. Which of the following places has the shortest history?

A．Bradbury Building.	B．Griffith Observatory.
C．Rogers Building.	D．Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

2. What can we learn about Rogers Building?

A．It used to be an art gallery.	B．It was expanded in 1892.
C．It was once privately owned.	D．It has been a culture center for 20 years.

3. In which column can this text probably be read?

A．Business.

B．Travel.

C．Science.

D．Education.

4 . With amazing Christmas lights and some very special guests, Pallion Action Group kicked off the festive season in style after another year of giving much-needed support to the Sunderland community.

“We’ve got wreath making, our singers and dancers and, of course, a visit from Santa. This event brings out so much enthusiasm in the community,” said organizer Karen Noble. “We’ll also go and surprise anyone we know who’s going to be lonely at Christmas.”

Pallion has been at the heart of the community here since 1993, but the past couple of years have seen people increasingly struggling financially and feeling lonely. “This time last year, people were in great poverty,” said Karen. “But if we’ve done our job properly, they’ve become more financially resilient (可迅速恢复的) or less lonely and we should be helping different people this year. And a lot of those who were helped last year are volunteering for us now. People are so kind — we get loads of homemade thank-you cards. But I think the biggest thanks we get is knowing we’ve helped somebody to the point where they’re independent and getting on with life.”

Karen and the team organize a wide range of activities, from after-school clubs and cookery sessions to line dancing and computer classes to keep older people connected. But all this wouldn’t be possible without funding from People’s Health Trust, with money raised through The Health Lottery (彩票). Every time you play The Health Lottery, not only could you win up to £100,000, but you’re also helping to raise much-needed funds that go straight to the heart of the community. “So playing The Health Lottery is not just the chance to win a prize. You could be making a real difference,” said Karen.

1. What can we know about Pallion Action Group from the first two paragraphs?

A．It needs much support.

B．Its main task is holding festivals.

C．It cares for the community.

D．It offers a chance to visit Santa.

2. What does Karen think of their job?

A．It is of no use.	B．It has paid off.
C．It needs improving.	D．It is not satisfactory.

3. How does Pallion Action Group get the fund?

A．By funding from an organization.

B．By raising money themselves.

C．By receiving donations from different people.

D．By receiving money from the government.

4. Which words can best describe Karen?

A．Sensitive and skeptical.	B．Ambitious and energetic.
C．Talented and intelligent.	D．Caring and enthusiastic.

5 . Several art projects are on show to warn people of the climate change happening around us.

Video on the walls

Photographer Camille Seaman has traveled to both the North Pole and the South Pole, where she has captured the disappearing ice in photographs and video. Camille Seaman made a video with some of her most powerful photos of melting ice for people in four coastal cities to display on their buildings. The video ends with a prediction that sea level will rise by 2050 without relative action.

Mural (壁画)changing color

Temperatures in Austin, Texas, are on the rise, and climate change will put the city at higher risk of extended drought, wildfires, intense rain and flooding. Artist Lope Gutiérrez-Ruiz designed a unique mural that changes color as it gets hotter. This art work calls for people to change the world and change climate change, underlining the importance of individual actions to the collective future.

Public billboard   (广告牌)

Artist Christine Sun Kim released a public billboard on the 710 Freeway called The Sound of Temperature Rising. It points to the reality of climate disaster that has become all too clear on the West Coast and the need for significant change now. The illustration features a graph (图表) of music notes that get progressively longer and redder.

Anti-Extinction Library

Globally, species are disappearing at an unheard-of rate. In response, architect Mitchell Joachim created The Anti-Extinction Library in New York. The sculptural piece is not only beautiful but also functional. Their unique egg-shaped library has a special freezer storing test tubes with the frozen cells and DNA of rare animals and plants. It’s important for people to realize we must quickly work to protect the rights of different species in our area.

1. What is the key feature of the mural?

A．It lights up at night.

B．It moves with the wind.

C．It plays music when it rains.

D．It changes color with temperature.

2. Whose work contains frozen cells?

A．Camille Seaman’s.	B．Lope Gutiérrez-Ruiz’s.
C．Christine Sun Kim's.	D．Mitchel l Joachim’s.

3. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To praise artists’ participation.

B．To call for people to take action.

C．To show the severe result of climate change.

D．To facilitate the combination of art and climate.

6 . A film, also called a movie, is a work used to communicate ideas, stories, feelings, beauty and much more through the use of moving images. This article therefore introduces some right movies or TV series which will benefit students in one way or the other.

Like Stars on Earth

This is a heart touching Indian movie that tells the story of a boy named Ishaan Awasthi. He is an 8-year-old boy with dyslexia (阅读障碍) and this greatly influences his performance in school. Ishaan has an amazing talent for art and painting, but no one would like to know him and be his friends until a new art teacher, Ram Nikumbh, arrives. He takes special interest in Ishaan and discovers Ishaan’s problem and his artistic talent.

The Social Network

It tells us the story of young Mark Zuckerberg who is an undergraduate at Harvard and also a computer genius (天才). He begins to work on an idea which grows into a globally recognized social network called Facebook. This makes Mark one of the youngest billionaires existing.

Grownish

Filled with real life situations and grown up people, this series takes us back to university-lifestyle. Grownish through four amazing seasons, teaches us how to navigate (驾驭) the university through the eyes of Zoey Johnson. Zoey is a talented fashion designer and stylist who seems to have the world all planned out for her.

King of Boys 2

If you haven’t already seen the first movie in this series, you should take two steps back so you don’t get lost in this political (政治的) forest. This movie is the type that has you sitting at the edge (边缘) of your seat from start to finish. King of Boys 2 takes us to the underworld of a truly dirty game called “politics”.

1. Why is the 8-year-old boy named Ishaan doing poorly in school?

A．He has difficulty reading.	B．His teachers dislike him.
C．He fails to make new friends.	D．He takes no interest in studies.

2. Who founded Facebook?

A．Ram Nikumbh.	B．Mark Zuckerberg.
C．Zoey Johnson.	D．Ishaan Awasthi.

3. What is King of Boys 2 about?

A．An art teacher’s story.	B．A computer genius.
C．A fashion designer’s growth.	D．A political game.

7 . A woman about 100 years old just proved that age means nothing by breaking three amateur(业余的) swimming world records.

On Saturday, Jan. 20, Betty Brussels _________ the Victoria Masters Swim Club Meet and beat the rivals in the 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, and 400m freestyle in the 100- to 104-year-old age _________.

Betty Brussel didn’t get into _________ swimming until she was in her 60s, and this was the first time she had been able to _________ such an achievement. She was able to break the records despite _________ a pacemaker(心脏起搏器) she received after suffering a heart attack in her 70s.

Betty finished her 50m backstroke in 1:24.91, which was almost five _________ faster than the previous record. She surpassed(超过) the _________ standing 400m freestyle record of 16:36.80 by _________ hers in 12:50.03. Betty set the first record for the 50m breaststroke with a time of 1:56.22.

“I was surprised by my own _________ yesterday,” said Betty. “I gave it my all; I never give up. It was wonderful. I was totally __________ by everybody’s support. I like to win, but __________ have never been the most important thing to me. If somebody else wins, I am __________ for them.”

Even though Betty Brussels only just __________ her own achievements, award-winning filmmakers Hannah Walsh and Emma Puchniak are already talking about a possible __________ that could be released in about a year.

“I live life every day and __________ it,” Betty told the publication. “I feel very fortunate to do what I do.”

1.

A．set aside

B．called on

C．headed for

D．engaged in

2.

A．group

B．court

C．period

D．department

3.

A．challenging

B．demanding

C．appropriate

D．competitive

4.

A．regain

B．reach

C．commit

D．recall

5.

A．building upon

B．carrying out

C．relying on

D．showing off

6.

A．minutes

B．seconds

C．moments

D．meters

7.

A．formerly

B．regularly

C．temporarily

D．interestingly

8.

A．improving

B．completing

C．raising

D．stopping

9.

A．behavior

B．function

C．restriction

D．swim

10.

A．fascinated

B．attracted

C．touched

D．affected

11.

A．records

B．dreams

C．beliefs

D．failures

12.

A．happy

B．anxious

C．sorry

D．thankful

13.

A．declined

B．proved

C．revealed

D．marked

14.

A．novel

B．advertisement

C．documentary

D．interview

15.

A．cue

B．enjoy

C．purchase

D．deserve

8 . Baidu, a Chinese search engine and artificial intelligence firm, announced its latest electric autonomous driving vehicle, Apollo RT6, on Thursday. The new vehicle is a fully electric vehicle with a steering wheel (方向盘) that can be removed when not required. It will cost ¥250,000 per unit.

“The steering-wheel-free design allows more space for extra seating or other additions and the massive cost reduction will enable us to put tens of thousands of autonomous vehicles into operation across China,” Robin Li, co-founder and CEO of Baidu, said at the firm's Baidu World Conference Thursday. “We are moving towards a future where taking a robotaxi will be half the cost of taking a taxi today.”

Baidu already runs Apollo Go and Apollo Moon, taxi services using self-driving robotaxis with safety staff seated in the driver or passenger seat. They have been in operation in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, although the service is limited to specific areas. The new vehicle will soon join those robotaxis.

The RT6 has reached the industry's Level 4 out of five possible levels of technology. That means its systems can operate without a driver but must be pre-loaded with a detailed map, thus limiting the areas where the vehicles can operate. Lower levels of self-driving technology have been available for decades. For example, many Level-3 vehicles allow hands-free highway driving. Other kinds of self-driving robot vehicles are already widely used in factories warehouses and other tightly controlled settings.

Compared to previous generations where the technology was mainly used on conventional vehicles, the Apollo RT6 was designed specifically with fully autonomous driving in mind.

Baidu is best known for its search engine and online advertising services, but in recent years it has invested heavily in autonomous driving and artificial intelligence technology, including automated personal assistants and AI chips.

1. What can we know about Apollo RT6?

A．It is free to run in any area.	B．It has to operate with a driver.
C．It will be cheaper to operate.	D．It can work without a detailed map.

2. The technology of a fully self-driving vehicle should reach__________.

A．Level 2

B．Level 3

C．Level 4

D．Level 5

3. What does the underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．A personal assistant.	B．A company.
C．A search engine.	D．A fully autonomous car.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．An Introduction to Baidu's Latest Vehicle: Apollo RT6

B．Baidu's Future Plan for Its Electric Vehicle: Apollo RT6

C．Limitations of the Level-4 Self-driving Electric Vehicles

D．The Great Market Potential for Fully Autonomous Vehicles

9 . Which is more important for parents, making more money to give the kids a better life or spending more time with them? It is a problem for parents and it is not easy to decide. A new study shows that today’s parents are spending more time with their children than parents in the past. According to the study, today’s college-educated mothers spend about 21.2 hours a week taking care of their children. But women with less education spend about 15.9 hours. Before 1995, it was only 12 hours.

Dads are spending more time on ball games. Before 1995, fathers with college educations only spent about 4.5 hours a week playing with their children. Today, it increases to 9.6 hours a week. For fathers with high school education, the time goes up from 3.7 hours to 6.8.

These days, parents don’t care more about the cleaning or the cooking. They are trying their best to spend time with their families. As for the kids, they don’t mind how much time their parents spend with them. They just want to enjoy the time their parents do be with them.

So, take part in the kids’ activities when you are with them, such as helping with homework or playing soccer with them.

1. How long do college-educated mothers spend taking care of their kids a week?

A．About 9.6 hours.	B．About 12 hours.
C．About 15.9 hours.	D．About 21.2 hours.

2. What can we know from the new study?

A．Women with less education spend about12 hours staying with their kids,

B．Mothers in the past spent less time staying with kids than mothers these days.

C．Mothers with college education are lazier than those with less education.

D．Dads spend more time staying with their kids than mothers do.

3. How long did fathers with college education spend with kids a month before 1995?

A．About 4.5 hours.	B．Less than 9 hours.
C．About 13.5 hours.	D．About 18 hours.

4. What do kids care about according to the text?

A．They care about how much money their parents can make.

B．They care about how much time their parents spend with them.

C．They care if their parents are really with them.

D．They care if their parents can give them a better life.

10 . Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday in the US. Some other countries have their own versions of Thanksgiving.

Brazil

Legend has it that Joaquim Nabuco, Brazil’s first ambassador (大使) to the US, enjoyed the American holiday so much that he persuaded his government to set up a similar day of thanks. Dia de Acao de Gracas is also celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November to give thanks for the fall harvest. The Brazilian holiday ends with a colorful and noisy carnival(狂欢节) and parade.

Japan

Japan’s version of the holiday, called “Kinro Kansha no Hi” or Labor Thanksgiving Day, is observed on November 23. It originated from an ancient rice harvest festival called Niiname-sai. Later, the holiday’s purpose was to celebrate the rights of workers. Today, Labor Thanksgiving Day is mainly observed with small acts of community service. Children often mark the occasion by handing out thank-you notes to firefighters, police officers, and other frontline workers.

Canada

Thanksgiving in Canada is a low-key affair with no big parades or retail sales. The holiday mainly focuses on families and friends getting together for a meal. While many parts of the country get the day off, it is an optional (可选择的) holiday in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador. As a result, the celebrations often take place the weekend before the holiday.

Ghana

Ghana celebrates its version of Thanksgiving in August or September. As the story goes, the Ga settlers arrived in Ghana in the 16th century after facing lots of hardships during their travels across Africa. They celebrated their first harvest in Ghana with a feast, and a tradition was born. Before the festival, there is a month-long ban on noise, especially drumming. Similar to Thanksgiving, Homowo is a festival of food.

1. What probably led to the birth of Dia de Acao de Gracas in Brazil?

A．The development of agriculture.	B．A demand from Americans in Brazil.
C．A government official’s suggestion.	D．The influence of traditional Brazilian culture.

2. What can be learned about Japan’s version of the holiday?

A．It begins with an exciting carnival.

B．Rice sales are a big part of the holiday.

C．Celebrations can take place before Labor Day.

D．It encourages kids to express gratitude for hard work.

3. In which country can you best enjoy the quiet before its Thanksgiving?

A．Canada.

B．Ghana.

C．Brazil.

D．Japan.