1 . I was annoyed that my mom had even scheduled the appointment with a doctor for me. As doctors so often do, when he arrived he went straight into the basic small talk about my _______ history.

But then he _______ a question that took me off guard. “So Robin, what are you going to do after high school?” He wrote something at his notes, with not even a glance in my _______. “I don’t know,” I mumbled(嘟哝). I was seventeen. I had no _______ what I was going to do after high school. My high school guidance counselor told me that I wasn’t “college material” and I believed her. Education wasn’t exactly _______ in my family.

“You don’t know? Well, why don’t you go to college to become a _______ like me?” He smiled as he glanced at his watch. I thought he was _______ for even suggesting it. No one in my family had even graduated from college, let alone become a doctor. “I’m not smart enough to be a doctor.”

He looked me straight in the eyes when he _______ said, “Let me tell you something; you don’t have to be smart to be a doctor. You just have to be persistent(坚持不懈的).” Then the doctor hurriedly gathered his things and _______ to his next appointment.

I ________ to think about it when I was at school. What would I do after high-school? Even though I wasn’t college material, that doctor made a(n) ________ on me. I applied to a college and soon found myself walking in the ________ as a new student. I often questioned what I was doing there. Maybe I wasn’t smart enough for college, but I could be persistent.

I was ________ to find that with each individual achievement came newfound ________ in myself. I graduated with a master’s degree in September 2014, two decades after that ________ with my doctor.

1.

A．career

B．health

C．credit

D．growth

2.

A．threw in

B．took in

C．consisted in

D．broke in

3.

A．account

B．activity

C．direction

D．movement

4.

A．idea

B．evidence

C．reason

D．discovery

5.

A．protected

B．explored

C．provided

D．emphasized

6.

A．professor

B．doctor

C．lawyer

D．lecturer

7.

A．crazy

B．anxious

C．violent

D．greedy

8.

A．casually

B．automatically

C．seriously

D．doubtfully

9.

A．got away

B．passed out

C．put down

D．rushed off

10.

A．continued

B．hesitated

C．intended

D．pretended

11.

A．comment

B．conclusion

C．impression

D．burden

12.

A．park

B．campus

C．workshop

D．stadium

13.

A．frightened

B．annoyed

C．surprised

D．discouraged

14.

A．anxiety

B．sympathy

C．guilt

D．confidence

15.

A．argument

B．conversation

C．conflict

D．negotiation

2 . Why does the giant squid (乌贼) have eyes as large as a football? Why do more than 350 species of fish produce their own electricity? Why do dogs become more optimistic after two weeks of plentiful sniffing (嗅)?

The mysteries and miracles of animal senses are revealed in this year's winner of Royal Society Trivedi science book prize. An Immense World by Ed Yong is an exploration of the unique sensory world of other creatures, from tree hoppers to singing frogs, who sense the world in vastly different ways to humans.

Yong has interviewed many kinds of scientists during his writing but sensory biologists are his favourite. “There's a surprising number of sensory biologists who are themselves neuro-atypical—they have something like face blindness or colour blindness,” he says. “Their different than‘normal’ way of experiencing the world themselves might help them better empathize (共情) with other creatures who have those experiences. The core of this book is curiosity and empathy, understanding and valuing animals for their own benefit, and trying to put ourselves in the shoes of creatures who are very different to us.”

Yong's book carries an important message about how our lack of understanding of the sensory worlds of other animals is hugely destructive. Studies have shown that LED lights are particularly damaging to bats and insects. Flowers illuminated (照亮) by bright lights receive 62%fewer visits from insects. Meanwhile, low-frequency noise in oceans has risen 32-fold since the Second World War because of global shipping-damaging whales' ability to communicate.

Unfortunately, reducing noise and light pollution is nowhere near the political agenda. "It's understandable why it's not on the political agenda because it's not a visceral (强烈的) problem like a plastic-ridden beach or chemicals billowing from a smokestack, ”says Yong. “Light and sound don't produce the same kind of horror. Light especially feels like an entirely good thing-we want more light in our lives; light is knowledge, safety, beauty and goodness. So just raising awareness that these are problems that could be tackled is an important first step and one I hope An Immense World moves people further towards taking."

1. What is An Immense World aimed at?

A．Popularizing scientific knowledge.

B．Exploring the origin of the universe.

C．Revealing the unknown lives of animals.

D．Building harmony between man and nature.

2. Why did Ed Yong prefer to interview sensory biologists?

A．They are pleasant to talk with.	B．They are more knowledgeable.
C．They have abnormal behaviour.	D．They identify with the creatures.

3. What is the reason that reducing noise and light pollution is not on the political agenda?

A．Their seriousness is not so obvious.	B．There is a lack of government funds.
C．There is public ignorance about them.	D．They have been brought under control.

4. What is this text?

A．A news report.

B．A biology textbook.

C．A research paper.

D．A book review.

3 . African grey parrots (鹦鹉) help their peers complete tasks despite no immediate benefit to themselves, researchers have found in the first study to show that birds display such apparently “selfless” behaviour.

Writing in the journal Current Biology, Brucks and colleagues report how they tested African grey parrots in a task that involved the birds passing a token, in the form of a metal ring, through a hole in their section to a neighbouring bird of the same species. This token could then be passed by the second bird to a human, via another hole, who would exchange it for a piece of nut.

The team found African grey parrots helped their neighbours by passing tokens to their neighbour when a human held out their hand, allowing the second bird to drop it through-the hole and receive a tasty treat.

The same behaviour was seen when the roles of the birds were reversed (颠倒). The more tokens a bird had previously given, the more they received in return.

However, the team stress previously the birds did not know that their favour would be rewarded, suggesting it is something of a “selfless” act.

The team say it may be due to African grey parrots gathering in huge flocks at night but splitting into smaller groups during the day to forage (觅食). Brucks said such behaviour is thought to require strong social cognitive (认知) abilities, adding that being helpful might help the birds gain a good reputation with their peers, making it more likely they would team up for foraging and other tasks.

Dr Manon Schweinfurth, an expert in animal behaviour, said evidence of reciprocal (互惠的) behaviour in African grey parrots is quite interesting. “It has been thought that it is so cognitively demanding that only humans can show it. But we now get more and more evidence from other animals that they are able to show reciprocity,” she said.

1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The methods of observation.	B．The comparison of the species.
C．One feeding behaviour of parrots.	D．One example of Brucks’ experiments.

2. Brucks’ study found that grey parrots help their peers complete tasks even if           .

A．there was no human signal	B．there was no neighbor request
C．they received no instant reward	D．they got punished for a selfish act

3. What does paragraph 6 mainly focus on?

A．Possible reasons for the research finding.	B．Potential application of the research result.
C．A further explanation of the research method.	D．A reasonable doubt about the research process.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．A scientific discovery about grey parrots.	B．The development of parrots’ selfless spirit.
C．A practical experiment on animal behaviour.	D．The protection of parrots’ living environment.

4 . Welcome to Buckler’s Hard

Fun facts about Buckler’s Hard

A former ship-building village on the River Beaulieu in the New Forest. The setting is lovely, two rows of well-preserved red-brick workers’ cottages-separated by a lawn-lead down to the water’s edge where boats glide past. Attractions include a maritime (航海) museum telling the story of warships built for Nelson’s navy and other moments in seafaring history.

Costumed volunteers are on hand to answer questions and entertain children with, say, a game of coits or explain how families lived in the Shipwright’s Cottage. In summer hop on a boat for a cruise(漫游)up the river(extra charge).

Getting there

Take the M27, exit at junction 2 and follow the tourist signs towards nearby Beaulieu motor museum-from there Buckler’s Hard is signposted. The car park is an extra £6-£10. Train to Brockenhurst then taxi-or hire a bike and cycle the three miles through the New Forest.

Value for money?

Yes. The amount of time you take will likely depend on the weather. On a sunny day you could easily spend an afternoon for a reasonable £6.90 (adult), £4.70 (child 5-16) or £21 (family ticket for four).

Opening hours

10 a.m.-6 p.m. every day, except Christmas Day.

1. What can visitors do in Buckler’s Hard?

A．Volunteer in cruise boats.	B．Explore maritime history.
C．Play games with children.	D．Experience the country life.

2. How much would a couple with their 5-year-old twin sons pay for admission?

A．£13.80.

B．£18.50.

C．£21.

D．£ 23.20.

3. What do we learn about Buckler’s Hard from the text?

A．It offers free river cruises.	B．It is conveniently located.
C．It charges no parking fees.	D．It opens all the year round.

5 . Elmer Whitaker sighed as he looked over his muddy crops. A terrible ________ had swept through his farm the night before, and his crops were now covered in ________ and destroyed. His neighbor, a kind young man named Thomas, ________ to offer his help.

"What a disaster, “Whitaker said.” My whole family has always survived on the harvests of this field. I feel ________ and don't know what to do now.

Thomas calmed him down and thought for a moment. “I see this not as a disaster but as an ________ ,” he said. Whitaker looked at him ________. “How can it be?” he asked. Thomas smiled ________, “Now you have a chance to try something new. You’ve always grown beans and cabbages. Why not try planting ________ crops that will also fit in this soil? You can diversify and therefore ________ your farm once again.”

Elmer Whitaker considered this. Thomas was right-he had become set in his ways. This disaster could push him to make his farm ________ and sustainable in a new way. “You have ________ me,” Whitaker said. He clapped Thomas on the back. “Thank you for showing me the opportunity in this difficulty. ”

And so Whitaker ________ new crops and soon, the farm was full of life again. Farmers from neighboring towns were ________ with the wonder of Whitaker’s fields, and they began to ________ their crops as well. Elmer Whitaker’s farm has become a ________ of adaptability and hope, telling everyone that in every storm, there is a chance for new growth.

1.

A．force

B．smoke

C．war

D．storm

2.

A．mud

B．grass

C．mist

D．dust

3.

A．went on

B．set off

C．came by

D．burst in

4.

A．special

B．desperate

C．sensitive

D．tireless

5.

A．opportunity

B．agreement

C．intention

D．element

6.

A．as usual

B．in disbelief

C．on purpose

D．with pride

7.

A．innocently

B．gratefully

C．politely

D．cheerfully

8.

A．major

B．traditional

C．different

D．natural

9.

A．restore

B．exchange

C．donate

D．abandon

10.

A．formal

B．diverse

C．realistic

D．obvious

11.

A．informed

B．demanded

C．enlightened

D．promised

12.

A．tasted

B．planted

C．shared

D．received

13.

A．careful

B．troubled

C．familiar

D．impressed

14.

A．diversify

B．remove

C．deliver

D．observe

15.

A．manner

B．dream

C．symbol

D．cause

6 . Shortly before he turned 60, Mark Fuhrmann realized what he wanted. He, now, at 65, has just returned from a second voyage. His 6,835 mile-round trip from Nova Scotia took in the great lakes of the US, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.

Fuhrmann started these journeys “to kickstart retirement” from the maritime PR business he ran in Oslo for the past 30 years. Before he set off, in June last year, he swapped (交换) his house for a flat, and greatly reduced his possessions. “It was good to get rid of all of those things and say: ‘This isn’t a phase; this is a new season,’” he says.

Amazingly, he didn’t plan his trip, beyond committing to fundraise for Medecins Sans Frontières. “I thought: ‘I’ll try to do 40km each day.’ But I never knew where I was going to lay down my head.”

The challenges were psychological, physical, and sometimes life-threatening. In Florida, he was chased by an alligator (短吻鳄), but narrowly escaped from it. In the Boston area, he saw “a black fin moving towards me like a snake”. He lay his oar (划桨) across his lap and waited. “If a great white shark can swim leisurely, that’s exactly what it did. It just passed me,” he says. Ten minutes later, Fuhrmann pulled his kayak (小艇) into a cove, where he ran into a man who invited him into his home for coffee and apple pie. His whole trip was filled with these switchbacks and moments of connection with strangers, which Fuhrmann experienced as “a call to authenticity”.

What does he mean? “Nature is born within us. If you avoid that, you avoid experiencing something that is vital to who you are as a person. I want real things — life isn’t about having more. I think we need to accept where we are at this stage of life, at 60 or 65.”

“I look at retirement as a season,” he says. He started his latest voyage because “I wanted to have a better understanding of who I was. I wanted to have time for my thoughts to wander, to restart, to discover the value and power within myself.”

1. Why did Fuhrmann get rid of most of his possessions?

A．To make donations to charity.	B．To start a new life in retirement.
C．To make up for his business loss.	D．To collect money for the journey.

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

A．Blessings.

B．Ambitions.

C．Defeats.

D．Challenges.

3. Which of the following might Fuhrmann agree with?

A．The meaning of life is achieving more.

B．Old people should take things as they are.

C．It is good to have nature-based experience.

D．It is advisable for aging people to play safe.

4. Why did Fuhrmann start his latest voyage?

A．To reflect on his past.	B．To discover his true self.
C．To relax his mind and body.	D．To be free from the noisy world.

8 . Cao Dewang was born in May 1946 in Shanghai. His family is said to have high social standing in Fujian province. But his family background didn’t guarantee a wealthy lifestyle. According to Cao, soon after he was born, his family lost all of their possessions on their way back from Shanghai to Fujian.

After losing their wealth, the family farm became their only means of survival. Cao worked on his family’s farm, and there were many days when he’d go without food. In order to support his family, he dropped out of school when he was 14 and began to work. Nonetheless,he taught himself over a thousand Chinese characters with the help of a dictionary.

Cao began selling tobacco leaves and fruit to earn a living. He also worked as a cook and repaired bicycles. For over twenty years, he worked 16 hours a day to escape poverty.

Cao Dewang was working as a sales manager at a glass factory run by the local government for glass used in water meters. He saved up his earnings until he had enough to buy out the very factory in 1983.

Japanese car producers were looking to set up production of their vehicles in China in the 80’s. Cao saw the opportunity and dove into the production of vehicle glass, establishing the Yaohua Automotive Glass Co. in 1987.

Now named Fuyao Group, it started as a joint venture company before it was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 1993 and on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2015. Headquartered in Fuging, Fujian, it is currently one of the largest auto glass producers in the world. Audi, Fiat, Ford, Honda, and Nissan are among Fuyao’s biggest customers.

Since 2013, the Fuyao Group had been looking to establish a factory in the U.S. and was looking at possible sites. It picked the site of an abandoned GM assembly plant in Dayton, Ohio in 2014. The factory brought job opportunities to former GM workers who had been unemployed for a long time.

Not disregarding his contributions to China’s economy, Cao is considered as China’s most generous philanthropist. Cao believes, “The more I donate, the more I realize how little use I have for money.” He further adds that his fortune is better used in the education of children.

1. What can be learned about young Cao Dewang?

A．He led a wealthy life.	B．He was home schooled.
C．He struggled to survive.	D．He grew up in Shanghai.

2. What was the history of the Fuyao Group?

A．It used to be a car maker.

B．It originated from a local glass factory.

C．It became the world’s largest glass producer in 1987.

D．It first got most of its profits by making water meters.

3. What do we know about Fuyao’s glass factory in Davton?

A．It was built in 2013.	B．It won support from GM.
C．It hired many laid-off GM workers.	D．It helped restore many abandoned plants.

4. What do Cao Dewang’s words in the last paragraph mean?

A．Money is worthless sometimes.	B．A good name is better than money.
C．Money makes the world go around.	D．Money should be used for meaningful things.

10 . Michael and his wife, new residents in a San Francisco apartment, learned about their neighbor Jeff Dunan’s volunteer work for Bangladesh Relief, an organization that provides food, clothing and essential supplies for disadvantaged people in northern Bangladesh. Inspired, Michael donated $150 to Dunan’s GoFundMe campaign. However, a credit card notification alerted him to an unintended $15,041 charge.

When he saw the five-figure number, he was confused. Soon, it all made sense. Michael’s credit card number started with four and one. Clearly, he accidentally began typing his credit card information while his cursor (光标) was still in the donation box.

Michael planned to call Dunan to explain, but before he had the chance to do that, he started receiving Facebook messages from Shohag Chandra, the charity’s Bangladesh-based program manager, thanking him for his generous donation. After he looked through the photos of people holding thank-you signs that read his name, Michael’s heart sank. He felt terrible that he had to withdraw his handsome donation. Once his original contribution was refunded, he decided to donate $1,500.

Although Michael had told his family and friends about the tale, he decided to share it publicly on social media, after Dunan told him the organization was desperately in need of funds. “The least I could do was take the time to post this story online and see if I could inspire other people to donate to the cause,” Michael said.

Little did he know, though, that the story would be seen far and wide, ending up raising more than $120,000 for Bangladesh Relief in the span of only a few weeks—about eight times Michael’s mistaken donation. According to Dunan, more than 3,700 people have contributed because of Michael’s post. Michael has been stunned (震惊) by the ongoing outpouring of support. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this reaction,” he said. “People can be amazing when they come together for something like this.”

1. How did Michael make the large donation?

A．He input an incorrect amount.	B．He encountered a system error.
C．He was greatly inspired by Dunan.	D．He entered wrong credit card details.

2. Why did Michael’s heart sink according to Paragraph 3?

A．He saw people in despair.	B．He failed to offer enough money.
C．He didn’t receive the full refund.	D．He realized the scale of his mistake.

3. What motivated Michael to share the story on social media?

A．Dunan’s request for publicity.	B．A desire for personal recognition.
C．The organization’s urgent need for funds.	D．Pressure from his family and friends.

4. What message does the story convey?

A．Actions speak louder than words.	B．Many hands make light work.
C．Always prepare for a rainy day.	D．A good beginning is half of victory.