1 . It was a very hot day in late summer. I was a young dad working in a local wood mill. It was dangerous, back-breaking work that paid very little. In the year I worked there, only four other people hadn’t quit and been replaced with new faces. Those of us who stayed did so just because there was no other work to find to support our families.

On this day all of us were covered in sweat and dust. When I looked around, every face I saw looked angry and frustrated. Suddenly, a voice called out, “Hey! There’s a deer in here,” A lost little female deer had wandered through the open loading bay doors and was now cowering in between the huge stacks of wood. All of us stopped working immediately and went looking for her as she ran about looking for a way out.

Now most people where I live hunt deer for meat in the fall but also treat them with great kindness the rest of the year. Many will even buy 50 bags of corn to help feed them during the harsh winter months. It was no surprise then that all of us were soon quickly working together to free this little creature. By blocking off all the other routes, we were able to guide her search back to the open bay doors. We watched as she jumped out of the building and back into the woods. Then we walked back in to work. I noticed something, though. On every face there was a joyful smile. It was as if this one single act of kindness had energized us again and reminded us of what life is all about.

1. Why did the author keep working in the local wood mill?

A．He wasn’t content with the pay and working conditions.

B．He was tired of wood cutting and wanted more freedom.

C．He disliked the treatment of the boss and animals around.

D．He didn’t find other jobs to make money for his family.

2. How did the men free the deer in the end?

A．They blocked all the routes except the proper ones.

B．They caught her and then sent her to the wide wild.

C．They used signals to guide the deer out of the woods.

D．They used foods to guide the deer out to the open doors.

3. What can be seen from the whole passage?

A．Life is not always a bed of roses.	B．Roses given, fragrance in hand.
C．Don’t go against the law of nature.	D．The weak are the prey of the strong.

2 . Film director James Cameron first became interested in sea exploration when he was a little boy. His love for the ocean grew after he made the 1989 undersea adventure film The Abyss and the 1997 blockbuster Titanic, one of the most successful movies of all time. Following that big success, James Cameron decided to put his film career on hold to become an explorer.
In 2012, James Cameron made a journey to the deepest spot in the Mariana Trench, known as Challenger Deep. And now the great journey has been made into a documentary film, named James Cameron’s Deep-sea Challenger 3D.
In James Cameron’s fantasy films, such as Avatar and The Abyss, the unexplored areas are decorated in colors and full of danger. But on his dive into Challenger Deep, the reality proved far different: white, deserted and dull.
“I felt like I had gone to another planet,” Cameron said after returning from the cold and dark place in the Western Pacific Ocean, nearly 7 miles below the surface. “I really have a sense of being separated and realize how tiny I am down in this big, black and unexplored place.”
Cameron captured(获取)the moon-like landscape of the deep sea and documented the sea creatures he observed in the ocean.
James Cameron’s Deep—sea Challenger 3D tells the story of Cameron’ s journey. It is a film about determination, danger and the ocean’S greatest depths. The movie shows a unique insight into Cameron’s world when he makes his dream reality and makes history by becoming the first person to travel alone to the deepest point on the planet.
It’s an exciting film and inspiring reminder that our beautiful planet still has a lot to explore.
1. When did James Cameron become interested in the ocean?

A．When he was in his childhood.

B．After his films The Abyss and Titanic.

C．After he achieved great Success in movies.

D．When he began to explore the deep sea alone.

2. What is the unexplored ocean like?

A．Colorful and dangerous.

B．Boring and deserted.

C．White and attractive.

D．Small and dull.

3. What can we know about James Cameron’s Deep-sea Challenger 3D?

A．It is a film about the exploration of ocean creatures.

B．It is a story about Cameron’s film-making dream.

C．It aims to attract more people to explore the deep sea.

D．It tells us about James’ journey into Challenger Deep.

4. What is the best title for this passage?

A．The great dream of a film director.

B．A film director exploring deep sea.

C．James Cameron and his documentary film.

D．The first person to make films about the deep sea.

3 . Glenn was born on July 18,1921, in Cambridge and grew up in nearby New Concord, Ohio. He started his flying career as a fighter pilot(飞行员). Later, Glenn took a dangerous job as a test pilot, flying new planes to see if they were safe.

In the late 1950s, a “space race” began between the U. S. and the Soviet Union. Both countries wanted to be the first to send a human into space, including to the moon. In 1961, a Russian astronaut, Yuri Gagarin, orbited Earth. But the space race was not over yet. Glenn’s chance to go into space came on February 20, 1962. By that time, another American, Alan B. Shepard, had flown in space, but he had not orbited Earth. Glenn’s flight was aired live on television and radio. Americans everywhere stopped to watch.

Glenn’s Friendship 7 capsule circled the planet three times. A faulty equipment led Glenn to believe the capsule might burn up on its return to Earth, but in the end it splashed down safely in the Atlantic Ocean. He became the first American to orbit Earth in a spaceship.

In 1984, Glenn ran for president, but he did not get enough support and dropped out of the race. Glenn returned to space on October 29, 1998, when he was 77. He spent nine days on the space shuttle Discovery. Glenn went so that scientists could the effects of space travel on older people. He holds the record for being the oldest person in space. Glenn died Thursday, Dec, 8,2016, at the age of 95.

Glenn refused to see himself as a hero. He preferred to focus on his work, saying. “If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years on this planet, it’s that the happiest people I’ve known are those who devoted themselves to something bigger and more meaningful than merely their own self-interest.”

1. What do we know about John Glenn?

A．He worked as a fighter pilot in all his life

B．He succeeded in the race for president in 1984

C．He competed with another pilot Alan B in space race

D．He was the first American to circle Earth successfully

2. What happened during Glenn’s return to Earth?

A．The capsule opened while circling Earth

B．One part of the equipment went wrong

C．The capsule was on fire all of a sudden

D．The spaceship stopped working halfway

3. Why did Glenn return to space in 1998?

A．To prove the safety of new space shuttles

B．To get support for his running for president

C．To test how space travel affected the elderly

D．To become the oldest person in space by orbiting Earth

4. What can we learn from Glenn’s words in the last paragraph?

A．Selfish people care for their own interest

B．Happy people are likely to succeed easily

C．He has known most of the successful people

D．The people who work for others are the happiest

4 . Do’s and Don’ts in Whale(鲸) Watching
The Department of   Fisheries and Oceans has developed guidelines for whale watching in Johnstone Strait, where killer whales are found on a daily basis each summer．It is strongly recommended that vessel(船只) operators follow these guidelines for all kinds of whales．
Approach whales from the side, not from the front or the back．
Approach no closer than 100 meters, then stop the boat but keep the engine on．
Keep noise levels down—no horns, whistles or racing of engines．
Start your boat only after the whales are more than 100 meters from your vessel．
Leave the area slowly, gradually moving faster when you are more than 300 meters from the whales．
Approach and leave slowly, avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction．
Avoid disturbing groups of resting whales．
Keep at low speeds and remain in the same direction if travelling side by side with whales．
When whales are travelling close to shore, avoid crowding them near the shore or coming between the whales and the shore．
Limit the time spent with any group of whales to less than 30 minutes at a time when within 100 to 200 meters of whales．
If there is more than one vessel at the same observation spot, be sure to avoid any boat position that would result in surrounding the whales．
Work together by communicating with other vessels, and make sure that all operators are aware of the whale watching guidelines．
1. For whom is this text written?

A．Tour guides．	B．Whale watchers．
C．Vessel operators．	D．Government officials．

2. When leaving the observation areas, the vessel should _____．

A．move close to the beach

B．increase speed gradually

C．keep its engine running slowly

D．remain at the back of the whales

3. When going side by side with whales, the vessel should      ．

A．keep moving in the same direction

B．surround the whales with other boats

C．travel closer and closer to the shore

D．take a good viewing position

4. What is the shortest safe distance from the whales?

A．400 meters．

B．300 meters．

C．200 meters．

D．100 meters．

5 . About ten years ago, a young and very successful businessman named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his shiny, black, Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old.
He was watching for kids rushing out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child came out, but a brick sailed out and — WHUMP! — it hit the Jag’s shiny black side door! SCREECH...!!!! Immediately Josh stopped the car, jumped out, seized the kid and pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what are you doing?!" Building up a head of steam, he went on. “That’s my new car. That brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"
"Please, mister, please....I’m sorry! I didn’t know what else to do!" begged the boy. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop!" Tears were streaming down the boy’s face as he pointed around the parked car. "It’s my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled of the curb (路沿) and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up. "Sobbing, the boy asked the businessman," Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me.”
Moved beyond words, the young businessman tried hard to swallow (咽下) the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapers and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long walk back to the black, shining Jaguar XKE — a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent (凹痕) to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention. Feel for the bricks of life coming at you.
1. The boy threw a brick at the businessman’s car because ____________.

A．the businessman drove at a high speed	B．he envied the new car very much
C．he wanted to ask for some money	D．he wanted to get help from the driver

2. Which of the following is the right order of the story?
a. The younger brother threw a brick at Josh’s car. b. The elder brother fell out of his wheelchair.
c. The younger brother begged Josh for help.
d. Josh lifted the elder brother back into his wheelchair. e. Josh shouted at the younger brother.

A．b, a, e, c, d

B．a, c, d, b, e

C．b, a, c, e, d

D．a, c, b, e, d

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Josh would accept the money from the kids.	B．The two kids were Josh’s neighbors.
C．Josh was a kind-hearted man.	D．Josh’s new car broke down easily.

4. According to the passage, the underlined sentence in the last paragraph means ____________.

A．trying to get ready for the trouble in your future life

B．driving fast in a neighborhood street is dangerous

C．trying to be more understanding seeing others in trouble

D．protecting oneself from being hurt

6 . The United Kingdom (UK) is rightly celebrated as the birthplace of the railway. The UK’s rail network is not only a testament (证明) to engineering genius, but also the gateway to some of the most attractive landscapes to be found anywhere in the world.

The West Highland Line

Considered by some to be the most beautiful railway line in the scenery on the earth, this line takes passengers from the busy city of Glasgow through Scotland’s wild western highlands to the remote port of Mallaig. Built in stages through the 1890s, the line is a true wonder of late Victorian British engineering. The line passes through Corrour, the UK’s highest altitude train station.

The Caledonian Sleeper

Linking London with the Scottish Highlands, it has been taking travellers northward during the night along the West Coast Main Line since way back in 1873. Passengers can enjoy falling asleep to the rhythm of the train on leaving London, then waking up to the beauty of the Highlands at dawn right outside your window.

The Cambrian Line

Wales, with its dramatic landscapes and historic sites, offers some of the most scenic train journeys to be found in the UK. And perhaps the jewel in the Welsh crown is the Cambrian Line, which weaves its way through Mid Wales to the coast. The route begins in Shrewsbury in England and is famous for its scenery. Travellers will love the wonderful views of the Cambrian Mountains, a range of peaks.

The Settle-Carlisle Line

Opened in 1876, the 73-mile-long route takes travellers from Settle Junction in North Yorkshire to Carlisle in Cumbria. Rolling hills, beautiful valleys and picturesque villages along the way leave a deep impression on passengers. Threatened with closure in the 1980s, the line was saved thanks to the efforts of rail lovers, and passenger numbers have gone from strength to strength.

1. Which railway line is considered the most scenic by some across the globe?

A．The West Highland Line.	B．The Caledonian Sleeper.
C．The Cambrian Line.	D．The Settle-Carlisle Line.

2. What is special about the Caledonian Sleeper?

A．It is the east-west line.	B．It offers overnight travel.
C．It is the oldest railway line.	D．It runs through the whole UK.

3. What do the Cambrian Line and the Settle-Carlisle Line have in common?

A．They run along the coast.	B．They appeared at the same time.
C．They own many historic sites.	D．They have amazing views.

7 . Bred (培育) to be sweeter, today’s cherries, bananas and apples taste different than they used to but not necessarily better. Among fruit farmers, the word “quality” is now routinely used as a standard for “high in sugar”, though firmness, color and size are also considerations. In a recent study about ways to increase the sweetness of fruit using “molecular (分子的) approaches”, a group of plant scientists wrote that, in general, the sugar content of many fruits are now higher than before owing to continuous selection and breeding. Modern apple varieties, the scientists stressed, were on average sweeter than older ones.

The sweetness of fruit depends not just on how it is bred but also on growing conditions, yield (产量) and harvest. The lead researcher, Sugiura, said, “If you could taste an apple harvested 30 years ago, you would feel the difference.” He believed that modern apples are picked so early that even if they are bred for sweetness, they often don’t develop their full character. The fragrance (香味) never develops in fruit that is harvested too early.

Jim Cooper, an apple farmer in England, is regretful to admit the fact that many people will never taste the “strawberry hint” in a really ripe Pearmain, a type of heritage apple. Although sweeter fruit has gained great popularity, the older generation   still miss the fruit’s taste in their childhood.

But the sweetness of modern fruit is not without its problems, especially for people with diabetes (糖尿病), who have to reduce their intake of higher-sugar fruits. Fruit that is bred sweeter also tends to be lower in the chemicals that make it healthy. Considering health, maybe the real problem with modern fruit is that it has become yet another sweet thing in a world with sugar. Even grapefruits, which used to be quite bitter, are sometimes now as sweet as oranges. If you’ve never tasted a sour cherry, how can you fully appreciate a sweet one?

1. In what aspect are many fruits different from before?

A．Bright color.	B．Soft skin.
C．Sugar content.	D．High yield.

2. Why did Sugiura express dissatisfaction with the present fruits?

A．They are bred too early.	B．They are losing a good taste.
C．They taste so sweet.	D．They need a higher yield.

3. What is Cooper’s attitude towards modern fruit breeding?

A．Critical.	B．Doubtful.
C．Favorable.	D．Uncaring.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Sweeter Doesn’t Mean Better

B．How to Breed Fruits for Sweetness

C．Modern Fruits No Longer Taste the Same as Before

D．Breeding Sweet Fruits Improves the Quality of Fruits

8 . Speaking of “desires of our hearts”, Billy Graham explained on TV it’s different than just asking for your wants and wishes. It is the deepest and truest desires of your heart. His word made me sink into deep thought. I came to realize my desire was to be someone who made a difference in the lives of people and in the lives of animals. After all, dogs had always been a large part of my life, from the time when I was a little girl growing up in central Oklahoma.

Then, something happened that shook my entire heart. The “love of my life” dog, Nicholas, died because of cancer, which made me heartbroken. However, I didn’t lose hope. I began to do research and form a small group called Small Paws Rescue. I started sending the latest news on our rescue efforts to about 25 people. Within a few months, we had grown to a group of several hundred.

A few years passed and my rescue stories were being read by more than six thousand people in 28 different countries. National media outlets began asking me to do interviews and to film episodes for Animal Planet.

It took me a while to realize that I had not only found my purpose in life, but each of the desires of my heart had been included as well. Now my days are filled with helping people and animals. I travel this beautiful country attending Small Paws Rescue functions. In the past t hirteen years, Small Paw s Rescue has rescued more than 8,000 Bichons and has made a difference in the lives of thousands of people, too.

I’ve been made whole and complete, and what more could any person ever ask? The delight of doing what I do overflows from every cell of my body, and I can never repay this wonderful gift that has given my life purpose.

1. Why is Billy Graham mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．To describe a situation.	B．To introduce the topic.
C．To promote the program.	D．To give a presentation.

2. What can be learnt about Small Paws Rescue?

A．It gained more attention.	B．It was a dog adoption center.
C．It’s now owning 25 staff.	D．It’s merely a chat group.

3. What does the author want to tell us in the last paragraph?

A．Everything comes to those who wait.	B．Paying out would always get repaid.
C．Helping others brings joy.	D．Barking dogs seldom bite.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Small Paw s Rescue

B．A Call to Action

C．A Friendly Reminder

D．The Purpose in Life