1 . Earth Day falls on 22 April and it began in 1970. It has grown into a global event recognized by over 192 countries. Devoting a special day to helping Earth is a way to demonstrate how much we care about the future of our planet. If you like, there's always a way for you to get involved in Earth Day celebrations. But you don’t have to wait for Earth Day to show your love for the planet we call home.The following are what you can do for our mother Earth.

Learn more about the environment.

Earth Day is a good time to make a commitment to learning more about the environment and how you can help to protect it. Read articles to get up to date on the current issues affecting the environment,like pollution, water shortage and climate change. Or, learn about a region you’ve never thought about before, like the Arctic, the deserts or the rainforests. Not sure where to start? Check out your local news sources for information about environmental issues in your own backyard.

Join an environmental group.

Think about the issues that concern you the most and if you haven't done so already, join a local group that undertakes activities to help protect the environment in your area. Earth Day is a great day to start getting involved In almost any community, you'll find local groups that do the following.

Host clean-ups of local rivers, lakes or seashores.

Plant trees and grow flowers or vegetables in community gardens.

Protect wildlife habitats under threat.

Spread the word

Everyone who has environmental knowledge can share with others. It's a good way to talk about the environment with people who may not think about it that much. Talk to your parents, friends,teachers, siblings, and anyone else you'd like to know about the issues you care about most.

1. The underlined word"demonstrate"in paragraph 1 can be replaced by “______”.

A．display

B．make sure

C．lead to

D．throw light on

2. According to the passage, we can get involved in the following activities EXCEPT______.

A．checking out local news

B．planting trees in community gardens

C．sharing environmental knowledge with others

D．using public transport like buses

3. The author writes this passage mainly to_______.

A．tell us what we can do to protect Earth

B．inform us of the information about Earth Day

C．tell us the background of Earth Day

D．tell us the significance of Earth Day

2 . Ray Tokuda,a 54-year-old Japanese American,takes pride in the title his school has already given him.He is a Shifu,a Chinese word literally meaning a master,mentor or senior practioner of martial arts.

Surely, he has reason to be proud.He has been involved with Chinese martial arts for almost 40 years.After learning them at the martial arts school in New Mexico State,he is among the most experienced kung fu teachers of the school today.

Practicing martial arts two to three hours and helping students improve their skills have become Tokuda’s daily routine.He expects to practice and teach martial arts for the rest of his life.“I’m still learning.It’s worth more than a lifetime to learn Chinese martial arts,”he said.“Once I started,I just couldn’t stop.I think it’s also the magic of Chinese culture.”

Tokuda was sent to the martial arts school when he was 10.He still remembers how unwilling he was when starting out.“I remember my father had always wanted to learn Chinese martial arts but never got the chance,so he put his kid in,”he said.“I was so afraid at that time because I thought kung fu was all about fighting.”

But things changed after he learned that martial arts were more than punching and kicking.

“One of the things martial arts teach me is to overcome adversity,”Tokuda said.“As a little kid,my first lesson was like,oh,look,this is a thing that I can get through by diligence,perseverance（毅力）and dedication,and that was priceless for my life.”

Learning Chinese martial arts opened a gateway for him to better understand the culture of China.

Meanwhile,Tokuda has also been invited to various events in his home state to showcase traditional Chinese culture,including the dragon dance and lion dance,which he also learnt at the martial arts school.Because of this,he is now considered a cultural envoy(使者)in the eyes of the public.

1. At first,Tokuda weren’t willing to learn kung fu because he had thought it was______.

A．practical

B．magical

C．violent

D．difficult

2. From the passage,what can we learn about Tokuda?

A．He learnt martial arts from his mother.

B．He is the founder of the kung fu school.

C．He learnt from martial arts how to solve difficulties.

D．He is the most experienced kung fu teacher of his state.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Tokuda?

A．Modest and friendly.

B．Persevering and devoted.

C．Talented and humorous.

D．Motivated and considerate.

3 . This Midwest State is a biking paradise. Here are the best trails (路线) to hit.

♦ Root River Trail

Best for: Experts and beginners looking to explore Minnesota’s sightseeing

It is a railroad track-turned-bike path located along the state’s southern border with Iowa. It offers 42 paved miles with beautiful lake scenery. Cyclists will be entertained by the landscape.

♦ Grand Round National Scenic Byway

Best for: Pretty much anybody who can ride a bike

Connecting some of Minneapolis’ most popular parks and sites, this loop spiderwebs out to an amazing 100 miles of hiking and biking trails. Highlights along one of America’s best urban trail networks include the iconic Chain of Lakes stretch, which focuses on the beautiful waterfront areas.

♦Gitchi-Gami State Trail

Best for: Beginners and professionals looking for unmatched lakeside views

It is a work in progress: When completed, it will be an 88-mile paved trail that hugs the dramatic North Shore of Lake Superior, connecting Two Harbors and passing through five state parks along the way. Cyclists will pass through forests, cross numerous waterfalls, and access several of Lake Superior’s impressive beaches.

■ Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails

Best for: Beginner mountain bikers and thrill-seekers

Once home to several iron mines, the central city of Cuyuna is now among the state’s top mountain-biking destinations and is one of just 15 Silver Ride Centers in the world. With more than 30 miles of mixed-difficulty single track trails for beginners and adventurers alike, they offer great lake views.

1. What is special about Root River Trail?

A．It is the shortest trail.	B．It was once a railroad.
C．It is under construction.	D．It was home to iron mines.

2. Which trail appeals to adventurers?

A．Root River Trail.	B．Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails.
C．Gitchi-Garni State Trail.	D．Grand Round National Scenic Byway.

3. What do the trails have in common?

A．The trails are far from cities.

B．The trails are for professionals.

C．Cyclists on the trails can enjoy lake views.

D．Cyclists can experience mixed-difficulty trails.

4 . Don’t you have time for reading? If you are interested in non-fiction books, here are some good choices for you.

A Room of One’s Own

This essay by English writer Virginia Woolf is based on several lectures given to two women’s colleges at Cambridge University in 1928. In the essay, Woolf describes that it’s circumstance not talent alone, that allows men to be more successful at writing. Women, in other words, spend so much time cooking, cleaning, and tending to their children that they have no time left for art. To write well, therefore, a woman must have a “room of her own”. While on its surface, this essay appears to be only about writing, it is actually about wealth and class, freedom and confinement, and the power struggle between sexes.

The Art of War

Written by ancient Chinese warrior Sun Tzu, The Art of War is widely considered to be one of the best books about military strategies in human history. Consisting of 13 chapters, each dealing with a separate aspect about how to fight a war, the book has been translated into every major language and has thousands of editions. For centuries, it has been used to train world leaders for its detailed study of military strategies and effective leadership.

Letter to My Daughter

This book of essays by Maya Angelou, a respectable African-American poet, is written for “the daughter she never had” — the millions of women, both young and old, that she considers to be her “family”. From the viewpoint of a caring, older relative, this book contains lessons selected from her own life experiences, including the birth of her only child, a son, as well as the development and loss of friendship.

A Brief History of Time

If you’re short of time, then why not read about, well, the creation of time? This book, first published in 1998 from brilliant scientist and mathematician Stephen Hawking, explores mind-bending questions about the creation of the universe, including if and when it will end, and if so, how. Despite its heavy subject matter, Hawking addresses these questions in a way that’s easy to understand, even for those who know little about physics.

1. What can we learn about the four books?

A．A Brief History of Time mainly focuses on the matter of time.

B．Letter to My Daughter is actually a common family letter.

C．The Art of War gives advice on how to be a world leader.

D．A Room of One’s Own is more than about writing.

2. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．As a physicist,Hawking is equally famous in writing.

B．Maya devotes herself to fighting for women’s rights.

C．The book by Sun Tzu is helpful in policy-making.

D．Woolf looks down upon men in writing.

3. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To make comparisons among the four books.

B．To recommend the four books to readers.

C．To make comments on the four books.

D．To promote sales of the four books.

5 . Everybody is afraid of something. That’s what more than 1,700 kids told us when we asked them about fears and scary stuff. We gave kids a list of 14 scary things and asked which one frightened them most. Here are the top 5 answers from our survey (调查)：① Scary movies and TV shows；②Scary dreams；③Thunderstorms，hurricanes(飓风)；and other horrible weather；④War and terrorism (恐怖行动)；⑤Sounds heard at night.

But not everyone is afraid of the same thing. And what makes one person scared can be of no big deal for someone else. Plenty of kids said their biggest fear wasn’t on our list.

What is fear?

Fear is a feeling that everyone has—it’s programmed into all of us—and that’s a good thing because fear is there to protect us. We’re born with a sense of fear so we can react to something that could be dangerous. The baby cries，and their mom comes over to comfort him or her，helping the baby feel safe and OK again.

Real vs. Pretend

The best way to get over a fear is to get more information about it. As kids get older，they understand more and start seeing the difference between what is real and unreal. So when William’s imagination leads him to think of witches，he can tell himself，“Wait a minute. They’re only pretend things. I don’t need to worry about them.”

The same goes for the dark. A kid’s imagination can start playing tricks when the lights go out. What’s under my bed？Is that a thief I hear？With the help of a parent，kids can get more comfortable in the dark. Using a nightlight or shining a flashlight under the bed to see that there’s nothing there can help kids fight that fear.

1. What did the writer find out from the survey?

A．Some people have never experienced fear.

B．Kids don’t like watching scary movies.

C．All people are afraid of something.

D．People often cry loudly when they are scared.

2. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The list of fears is not complete.

B．The things people fear are of no big deal.

C．Kids have more fears than people think.

D．People are afraid of different things.

3. In the writer’s opinion，________.

A．having a sense of fear is not a bad thing

B．babies have a weak sense of fear

C．fear is not something that we are born with

D．not all people can react to dangerous things

6 . BEST BODY FITNESS

About us

You don’t want just gym membership. You want membership that means something. And that means you need support, expert help and a community.

Best Body Fitness isn’t just a gym: it’s full-service fitness membership made for you.

Here’s how it works:

STEP ONE: Your assessment

We begin with an assessment session. This is a chance for you to see what we do at Best Body. Our assessment plans are no-cost and no-risk. We’ll also make a training plan specifically for you.

STEP TWO: Your training

When you decide to become a Best Body member, we show you what to do, how to do it and why you are doing it. After a few sessions with an expert private trainer you will feel comfortable working out on your own. But don’t worry, we’ll always be nearby if you have questions.

STEP THREE: Your membership

Membership works on a month-to-month basis. There are no sign-up fees and no cancellation fees. Start and stop whenever you want. And the best part? Our fees are the most competitive in the whole downtown area.

STEP FOUR: Your community

At Best Body Fitness, we see everyone as part of a big team. And when you work with a team, you can do great things. Join any of our specialized classes, led by expert instructors. Come to our nutrition classes. Participate in our regular social events. Everything is included in your fee.

Finally, share some reasons why our members have chosen us over any other fitness centre in the city.

It’s so EASY

Easy to start, stop, cancel or refund membership

Easy to access — we’re open 24/7, we never close

Easy to do exercise — we have lots of equipment, no long wait

Easy to find — in the centre of town, near public transport and with parking

1. Which statement about Best Body Fitness is correct?

A．It provides you with a fitness assessment after training.

B．It offers you a customized training plan.

C．It allows you to work out without any fees.

D．It asks you to work out on your own.

2. What is the best part of Best Body Fitness?

A．Its price is quite good.	B．Its time is enough.
C．Its classes are no-risk.	D．Its trainers are experienced.

3. What type of writing does this text probably belong to?

A．News report.	B．Speech.
C．Announcement.	D．Advertisement.

7 . Here is a list of some of the best museums for children in America.

Please Touch Children’s Museum

This museum lies in Philadelphia. It offers Alice in Wonderland exhibits where young children can play with giant flowers and have tea parties. Kids can also play on musical instruments and babies can crawl on lily pads, which make musical sounds.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

This museum lies in Indiana. It holds a fair share of dinosaur fossils (化石).There are many fossils like the T. Rex, Bucky and many others in an 8,000-square-foot area. Around 10,000 man-made objects, including a 55-ton steam engine and a 33-foot tall water clock, are there in the 365,000-square-foot area. It also offers activities like dinosaur building, camps and classes featuring space themes and other educational programs.

Boston Children’s Museum

This museum lies in Massachusetts. The exhibits here are of health, art, science, culture and environment. In this museum, children also learn about Japanese culture. Activities like Play Lab, New Balance Climb and The Recycle Shop bring out the creativity in children.

National Museum of Play

This museum, which lies in Rochester area of New York, has a wide collection of dolls, games, toys and other home crafts dating back to the 19th century. Here, educational tours include stories of machines and other toys. Kids can walk in Sesame Street exhibit and cook food at play or TV studios.

Children’s Museum of Houston

This museum lies in Texas. Termed as the best playground for mind, this museum offers scores of activities for kids of every age. It even offers free family adventure events where families with their kids are encouraged to work on math activities and games. Children also learn about broadcasting activities and preserving ecosystems.

1. Children interested in environmental protection may well visit ________.

A．National Museum of Play or Children’s Museum of Houston

B．The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis or National Museum of Play

C．Please Touch Children’s Museum or Boston Children’s Museum

D．Boston Children’s Museum or Children’s Museum of Houston

2. If a couple with kids of different ages want to do activities together, they should go to ________.

A．Massachusetts

B．Indiana

C．New York

D．Texas

3. Who might be most interested in this passage?

A．Students.

B．Parents.

C．Teachers

D．Researchers

8 . Last week I went shopping in the supermarket. I got to the front of the ___________ and put my groceries through the checkout. I was about to pay, when I ___________ that I didn't have my bankcard with me. I _________.Then I remembered I left it at home when I ___________ something online. All I had was $30 in notes and some coins in my wallet. I was short ___________ at least $25, and I needed to buy most of the items.

I started to ___________ to the checkout lady. "I'm sorry, I stop the queue. Can I put these things back, and then think I'll ___________ these. Oh, no, need that."

An Irish lady was ___________ behind me, next in the queue. "Excuse me, Dear," she said. "Oh, I'm so sorry," I replied, "I'm ___________ you up." "Of course not. I know ____________ you feel. This happens to all of us at some point. Now please use my ____________ to pay the bill and you can be on your way."

I was astonished by her kindness, ____________ even. No matter how I insisted otherwise, she was ________ to help me. Afterwards I asked for her telephone number to ____________ and pay her back. "No," she said, "rather pay it forward. You may do a good deed for the next person in need."

By helping others, can we start chain ____________ of positive feeling and charity that can benefit our whole society?

1.

A．table

B．supermarket

C．queue

D．shelf

2.

A．realized

B．knew

C．recognized

D．observed

3.

A．hesitated

B．paused

C．panicked

D．struggled

4.

A．explored

B．purchased

C．advocated

D．delivered

5.

A．by

B．under

C．on

D．with

6.

A．cry

B．apologise

C．complain

D．explain

7.

A．borrow

B．drop

C．follow

D．take

8.

A．standing

B．supporting

C．blaming

D．shouting

9.

A．turning

B．putting

C．joining

D．holding

10.

A．what

B．how

C．why

D．when

11.

A．card

B．fame

C．income

D．identity

12.

A．abnormal

B．anxious

C．embarrassed

D．desperate

13.

A．convinced

B．determined

C．excited

D．reluctant

14.

A．fit in

B．get through

C．look up

D．get in touch

15.

A．reaction

B．sympathy

C．satisfaction

D．relationship

9 . Rhemy Elsey, a fifth-grader, is deaf and mainly uses sign language to communicate, along with the ______ of an interpreter. Some of his fellow fifth-graders decided to ______ their break once a week to form an American Sign Language club in order to chat more ______ with Rhemy.

It’s been a few months since the club was ______ and his classmates’ participation has _______ Rhemy. “It’ s like they want to be like me” he said.

Though Rhemy signs to communicate with others. he has cochlear implants（耳蜗植入）that help him ______. His interpreter, Tammy Arvin, ______ the club, which meets every Wednesday. So far, the club members have learned basic ____   in different topics including school, food and clothing.

Arvin who accompanies him during school said that ______ the club’s formation, not only was it difficult for students to communicate directly with Rhemy, his use of an interpreter also led to ______ challenges for him. “It can be really ______ for deaf kids from a social and emotional standpoint to have an interpreter     ____ them around all day long,” Arvin said. So when the other students expressed interest in an ASL club, Arvin was ______.

The club has already had an effect on the way the students ______ with Rhemy. The ______ can have more natural conversations which make Rhemy feel less isolated(孤立的). And the students are also ______ a very important culture.

“They don’t necessarily realize they’ are learning…about deaf culture by ____     this club,” Arvin said. “It ______ gives them a perspective on this other ______ that they previously weren’t aware of, so they’re ______ greatly just in terms of learning about diversity and having a broader perspective on the world around them.

1.

A．role

B．help

C．idea

D．need

2.

A．give up

B．put off

C．prepare for

D．talk about

3.

A．openly

B．casually

C．modestly

D．effectively

4.

A．improved

B．formed

C．evaluated

D．purchased

5.

A．delighted

B．worried

C．calmed

D．disappointed

6.

A．touch

B．learn

C．speak

D．hear

7.

A．visits

B．blames

C．instructs

D．discovers

8.

A．rules

B．goals

C．signs

D．games

9.

A．since

B．before

C．through

D．during

10.

A．economic

B．intellectual

C．political

D．social

11.

A．hard

B．lucky

C．funny

D．helpful

12.

A．driving

B．disturbing

C．following

D．protecting

13.

A．moved

B．embarrassed

C．anxious

D．concerned

14.

A．agree

B．fight

C．compare

D．communicate

15.

A．kids

B．teachers

C．interpreters

D．parents

16.

A．discussing

B．exploring

C．saving

D．controlling

17.

A．breaking up

B．approving of

C．looking into

D．participating in

18.

A．frequently

B．hardly

C．really

D．suddenly

19.

A．task

B．behavior

C．culture

D．opinion

20.

A．fearing

B．benefiting

C．appreciating

D．ignoring

10 . Scientists have created the world’s first living, self-healing (自愈) robots using stem cells from frogs. Named after the African clawed frog from which they take their stem cells, xenobots are less than a millimeter wide (0. 04 inches) — small enough to travel inside human bodies. They can walk and swim, survive for weeks without food, and work together in groups. These are “entirely new life-forms,” said project co-leader Michael Levin, director of the Allen Discovery Center.

The researchers removed living stem cells, which have the ability to develop into different cell types, from frog embryos (胚胎), and left them to incubate (孵化). Then, the cells were cut and reshaped into specific “body forms” designed by a supercomputer.” They’re neither a traditional robot nor a known species of animal,” said robotics expert Joshua Bongard. The cells then began to work on their own and even have the regenerative power; when the scientists cut the living robot almost in half, its cells automatically zippered its body back up.

Xenobots don’t look like traditional robots-they have no shiny clothing or robotic arms. Instead ,they look more like a tiny drop of moving pink flesh. The researchers say this is deliberate-this biological machine can achieve things typical robots of steel and plastic cannot do.” Traditional robots degrade (降解) over time and can produce harmful ecological and health side effects,” researchers said in the study. As biological machines, xenobots are more environmentally friendly and safer for human health, the study said.

Research is being done into using the robots to clean up radioactive waste or even microplastics from the oceans. Scientists are also trying to include a greater variety of cells; a new nervous system for example. However, some people argue that the addition of nerve cells would cause moral problems. The general public have also expressed concern that humans would be taken control of by robots. However, Michael Levin thinks there’s no need to worry. “Xenobots have no ability to reproduce or evolve. The supercomputer which is used to produce them does use artificial intelligence. But for now, all is fine,” said Levin.

1. What is the text mainly about?

A．The advantage of AI technology.	B．The introduction of a latest robot.
C．The medical value of African frogs.	D．The application of robots in medicine.

2. Which of the following best explains “regenerative” underlined in Paragraph 2?

A．Healing by itself.	B．Replacing old cells.
C．Living much longer.	D．Defending against attacks.

3. What do we know about xenobots?

A．They can break up steel and plastic while degrading.

B．They can do everything that traditional robots can do.

C．They do less harm to the environment and human health.

D．They often change their color deliberately while moving.

4. What is Michael Levin’s attitude toward the development of xenobots?

A．Ambiguous.	B．Positive.
C．Skeptical.	D．Cautious.