1 . 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. |
| 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. |
| A．About 4.5 hours. | B．Less than 9 hours. |
| C．About 13.5 hours. | D．About 18 hours. |
| 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. |
2 . I was driving to a business appointment when I came to a very busy crossroad. The traffic light had just turned red. Suddenly, an unforgettable
At first I was moved. They were trying to
To my astonishment, I saw a
Amazed, I
| A．scene | B．car | C．accident | D．driver |
| A．wandering | B．walking | C．rushing | D．marching |
| A．inspect | B．guide | C．preserve | D．approach |
| A．overcome | B．achieve | C．suffer | D．recover |
| A．sorrow | B．regret | C．terror | D．frustration |
| A．realizing | B．recognizing | C．removing | D．preventing |
| A．concerned | B．certain | C．lucky | D．interested |
| A．familiar | B．peaceful | C．wonderful | D．terrible |
| A．agreement | B．conclusion | C．end | D．stop |
| A．yell | B．order | C．announce | D．promise |
| A．developed | B．calmed | C．froze | D．changed |
| A．looked for | B．looked around | C．looked up | D．looked at |
| A．Strangely | B．Obviously | C．Suddenly | D．Hopefully |
| A．arrived | B．followed | C．replied | D．accepted |
| A．schedule | B．voice | C．speed | D．Course |
3 . You can improve learning by handwriting your class notes. Although computer technology is often necessary today, using a pen or pencil activates more areas of your brain than a keyboard does. These are findings of a new study.
As digital devices (数码设备) have taken over society, “keyboard activity is now often suggested as a substitute (替代品) for early handwriting,” a new study notes. The idea is that typing may be easier for young children. “Some schools in Norway have become completely digital,” notes Audrey van der Meer, the new study’s leader. She believes that “young children should learn to write by hand successfully, and, at the same time, learn to manage a keyboard. ”
Using a pen involves more of the brain than using a keyboard, the new findings show. This is because writing and printing involve complicated movements that activate more areas of the brain. The increased brain activity gives the brain more “hooks” to hang your memories on, Audrey explains.
Think about it. The same movement is required to type each letter on a keyboard. In contrast, when we write, our brain needs to think about the shape of each letter. We also need to use our eyes to watch what shapes we’re writing. And we need to control our hands to press a pen or pencil to shape different letters. All of this uses and connects more areas of the brain.
Along the way, these processes appear to “open the brain up for learning”, says Audrey. So learning through only one form—digital—could be harmful, she worries. She also points out that taking notes by hand encourages “visual notetaking”. Rather than typing blindly, the visual notetaker has to think about what is important to write down. Then, key words can be “interlinked by boxes, arrows, and supplemented by small drawings”.
1. Why does keyboard activity come first for children’s early handwriting?| A．It can train their hands. |
| B．It may be easier to operate. |
| C．It has been adopted by many schools. |
| D．It helps them adapt to the digital society. |
| A．The disadvantages of keyboards. |
| B．Handwriting turns on parts of the brain. |
| C．Keyboards require people to “think more”. |
| D．The relationships between the brain and hands. |
| A．We should learn in different ways. |
| B．Handwriting and drawing are similar. |
| C．We should challenge our brain to get smarter. |
| D．Handwriting can help remember new information. |
| A．Keyboards are not bad |
| B．How to read brain activity |
| C．Handwriting beats typing when taking notes |
| D．Differences between typing and handwriting |
4 . 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. |
| A．Clear. | B．Funny. | C．Reasonable. | D．Excellent. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
5 . Daphne Soares, a biologist, made an amazing discovery about alligators (短吻鳄). The investigation of the sensory dots of alligators began when she was at university. Now she holds a research position at the University of Maryland.
The first time Daphne Soares got really close to an alligator was when she was helping to hold down an eight-foot alligator. When she got close to the alligator, she noticed that its face was covered with little black spots.
She started her study of the black dots when she went to the library. When she read the books and the scientific journals, she learned that people had noticed the dots. People thought that the dots were some kind of sense organ. However, no one really knew what the dots were for.
It was a complete accident when she found out what the dots were used for. She placed electrodes (电极) on nerves coming from some of the sensory dots. When the nerves were stimulated, they created a tiny electric current. Just then she heard a small sound over a audio speaker. She tried to see if the dots acted like eyes and temperature sensors, but nothing worked. One day she accidentally dropped a tool into an alligator’s tank. When she put her hand in the tank to get the tool out, she made small ripples (涟漪) in the water. When the ripples reached the alligator’s face, she heard a noise over the speaker. She then realized that the dots must be sensitive to the changes in pressure when they were hit by ripples of water.
After that, she is now studying blind cavefish. She is trying to learn whether they are blind from birth or lose their sight as they grow up.
1. What was Daphne Soares doing when she noticed the black dots?| A．Studying the sense organ. |
| B．Helping to keep a hold of an alligator. |
| C．Observing an alligator in a pond. |
| D．Reading scientific journal in the library. |
| A．She collected data online. |
| B．She did some field observations. |
| C．She sought help from professionals. |
| D．She did some scientific experiments. |
| A．The sense of feeling. | B．The sense of sight. |
| C．The sense of taste. | D．The sense of hearing. |
| A．A Born Biologist | B．The Types of Alligators |
| C．A Discovery About Alligators | D．Daphne Soares’ Stories |
Travel six hours northwest of Sydney, and you’ve reached the astronomy capital of Australia. Warrumbungle National Park is a nature and star-lover’s dream. This land is home to the Southern Hemisphere’s first Dark Sky Park, which means you’ll be treated to nights of no light pollution and out of this world stargazing. Besides, the Warrumbungles has several adventurous hikes. The Breadknife and Grand High Tops walk is considered one of the best in Australia!
Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National ParkKu-Ring-Gai Chase is the second oldest national park in Australia. We love this park for its proximity (邻近) to Sydney (a quick 45-minute drive from the city), significant Aboriginal (澳大利亚土著的) sites and breathtaking scenic views. There are many walks you can do here. You can also go kayaking (皮划艇), stopping at some of the secluded beaches that line the park.
Bouddi National ParkLocated on the Central Coast, Bouddi National Park is one for beautiful landscapes and beaches. Just 90 minutes from Sydney, Bouddi is a hidden treasure. The beautiful water makes this park an ideal destination during summer, but it also provides a fantastic point for whale watching over the winter. You can experience Bouddi National Park on a day trip. Pack your picnic goods and head on the 8.5 km (one-way) Bouddi Coastal Walk — it’ll give you a perfect taste of the best of what the park has to offer!
Dorrigo National ParkAs a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dorrigo National Park is one to explore! Located just shy of four hours from Byron Bay, the park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests and has been made over millions of years. You’d be right then to expect some of the most stunning waterfalls here. For one of the best experiences, head to the Skywalk lookout. This elevated walkway will take you right into the heart of the rainforest, providing soaring views 21 meters over the rainforest all the way to the coast.
1. If you were a fan of stargazing and hiking, which park would interest you most?| A．Bouddi National Park. | B．Dorrigo National Park. |
| C．Warrumbungle National Park. | D．Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. |
| A．Going kayaking. | B．Watching whales. |
| C．Visiting Aboriginal sites. | D．Seeing breathtaking waterfalls. |
| A．It is the oldest national park in Australia. | B．It offers a perfect view of the Gondwana Rainforests. |
| C．It’s about four hours drive from Sydney. | D．It’s known for adventurous hikes along the coast. |
7 . If you could travel in time, where would you go? Perhaps you would watch an original performance of a Shakespeare’s play in Elizabethan England? What about hanging out with Laozi in the Spring and Autumn Period? Or maybe you’d voyage far ahead of the present day to see what the future holds.
The possibility of time travel is indeed appealing. Stories exploring the subject have been around for hundreds of years. Perhaps the best known example is the science fiction novel The Time Machine, which was written by H. G. Wells and published in 1895 for the first time. It was adapted into at least two feature films of the same name, as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. It is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively. The term “time machine”, coined by Wells, is now universally used to refer to a vehicle transporting people into the far future.
But could time travel actually be possible? Some scientists say yes, in theory. They propose using cracks in time and space called “wormholes”, which could be used as shortcuts to other periods. Einstein’s theory of relativity allows time travel in extreme circumstances. And British physicist Stephen Hawking said you could travel into the future with a really fast spaceship—going at nearly the speed of light. Though building such a spaceship would of course be no simple task.
Even if you could travel into the past, there is something called the “grandfather paradox”. It asks what would happen if a time traveller were to go back in time and have his own grandfather killed for some reason, and therefore prevent himself from being born. If the time traveller wasn’t born, how would he travel back in time?
And would you really like to visit the future? In H. G. Wells’ book, the main character travels into distant time where he arrives at a beach and is attacked by giant crabs. He then voyages 30 million years into the future where the only living thing is a black object with tentacles (触角). If that’s what’s in store, maybe we are better just living in the present day after all.
1. The novel The Time Machine mentioned in Paragraph 2 aims to show .| A．people’s interest in time travel |
| B．the special features of the book |
| C．the long history of time travel |
| D．the contribution of H. G. Wells |
| A．have similarities in many ways |
| B．push the invention of the first spaceship |
| C．have proved wrong by some time travellers |
| D．suggest the possibility to invent the time machine |
| A．the traveller is prevented from meeting his grandfather |
| B．the traveller goes back in time to seek for his grandfather |
| C．the grandfather’s death makes the traveller’s birth impossible |
| D．The reunion of the traveller and his grandfather brings happiness |
| A．Unclear. | B．Skeptical. |
| C．Supportive. | D．Unconcerned. |
8 . Life is like a roller coaster, and every point has ups and downs. People plan something, but luck and sometimes misfortunes lead them toward a different destination. However, passionate individuals are not scared of such uncertainties. They set goals, welcome challenges, overcome obstacles, and eventually achieve what satisfies them.
Those who stay committed to their broad goals and find satisfaction even in unplanned circumstances are truly victorious. One true example of such people comes from a woman passionate about spreading happiness and helping others. Nicole Thornes is a mother, a former police officer, and now serving society as a death doula (陪护师).
Nicole joined the police academy intending to be helpful to society. She believed that a police officer has the opportunity to eliminate crime, bring justice, and create a better society for everyone. Although she became a mother during her studies and her responsibilities were increased due to children, she didn’t give up on her passion. Nicole could have called off her studies, but her passion for serving society didn’t let her step down. With great efforts, she finally became a police officer and gave her contributions to law enforcement and the betterment of society. She was not only a police officer making full commitment to the society but also a mother who played her responsibilities in the best way possible.
Everything went according to her plans, but uncertainty called off her journey as a police officer. Nicole suffered from an injury in a mission that ended her career in the police force. But her dreams and passion did not let her stop. She became a death doula to continue her dream. She chose this field after her grandfather’s death, when she couldn’t bear the pain of losing him. Being a death doula, she is now providing comfort to the dying and their families during difficult times. She aims to spread prosperity in people’s lives and help them overcome all the obstacles she faced throughout her life.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．Life is full of ups and downs. |
| B．People are at the mercy of changes. |
| C．Uncertainties lead life to a different direction. |
| D．Fulfillment comes from making the best of the uncertainties. |
| A．To conduct her duty well and better the society. |
| B．To cater to the children’s requirements and needs. |
| C．To accompany the senior through the darkest time. |
| D．To release people’s pain from losing the loved ones. |
| A．Because of the arrangement of the office. | B．Because of the injury she got at work. |
| C．Because of the change of interest. | D．Because of the danger of the job. |
| A．The appeal of the people in sorrow. | B．The push of getting a new job to survive. |
| C．The passion in accompanying the sick ones. | D．The sorrowful pain of losing her beloved family. |
9 . When I was walking back home at around 12: 15 p. m. during my lunch break one day, an apple core (果核) came flying towards me. It landed just before my feet. Surprised, I thought myself
The apple was
Thinking it was a one-off
Then, the week after, I was walking along exactly the same place at the same time and bam! Another apple
Last week I was walking back home. I
Enough was enough. Someone could be really
I told my friend about it. “You should just throw the apple
Maybe I’ll call the school and let them know. The students responsible need to know that they might end up hurting someone if they keep throwing their waste. What’s more, waste
| A．awkward | B．lucky | C．annoyed | D．anxious |
| A．thrown | B．dropped | C．sent | D．transported |
| A．prevents | B．protects | C．organizes | D．separates |
| A．expectation | B．experience | C．experiment | D．exploration |
| A．flew over | B．got in | C．went through | D．knocked down |
| A．broke | B．moved | C．passed | D．landed |
| A．examined | B．checked | C．saw | D．found |
| A．step | B．eyes | C．emotion | D．mind |
| A．actually | B．slowly | C．suddenly | D．finally |
| A．hurt | B．confused | C．amazed | D．impressed |
| A．leaders | B．students | C．teachers | D．guards |
| A．forward | B．away | C．off | D．back |
| A．ordered | B．debated | C．suggested | D．requested |
| A．Besides | B．However | C．Therefore | D．Instead |
| A．sticks | B．serves | C．belongs | D．rushes |
10 . The mystery of how groups of fire ants survive floods has puzzled biologists for many years. But now scientists have worked out how the ants stick together in order to build a kind of raft (筏) that helps them to float easily for days.
The fire ant lives in the rainforests of Brazil, where heavy rainfall can cause flooding twice daily. In order to stick together as a colony (群体) during these floods, the fire ants hook (钩) their legs and mouths together to create a living and breathing material that floats for hours, or even weeks, if necessary, until floods go down.
These so-called fire-ant rafts contain nearly 200 bodies per square inch; they can grow to be as large as garbage bin lids (盖) in the case of large colonies, but more often, they grow to the size of small plates. The ants gather themselves quickly in response to an emergency, and can organize thousands of bodies in less than two minutes, according to study researcher David Hu. “They are all acting together, and there are so many of them that they are really becoming a single material.” said Professor Hu.
They found that living fire ants within a raft always changed their positions in response to forces, such as the push of a stick or a drop of rain in nature. “This responsiveness allows the fire ants to deal with small rocks or bursts of waves while floating.” Hu said.
The raft is also self-healing, so that if one ant is removed from the raft, others move in to fill the space.
When in danger of drowning, a colony of the tiny creatures-thousands of them-will save themselves by joining forces and forming a raft. Though insects do insect things, we human beings could learn a thing or two about teamwork from the awesome fire ant.
1. What is the main idea of the passage?| A．Tiny creatures can survive disasters. |
| B．Fire ants work together to survive floods. |
| C．Teamwork is important for human. |
| D．Rafts help fire ants live in nature. |
| A．By joining a colony. | B．By floating for a long time. |
| C．By hooking parts of their bodies. | D．By living and breathing together. |
| A．They can be formed in a short time. |
| B．They are usually the size of garbage bin lids. |
| C．They will be separated in case of forces. |
| D．They move to some spaces when in danger. |
| A．A news report. | B．A brochure. |
| C．A story book. | D．A magazine. |
