2 . J. K. Rowling frequently shows there is magic every day. Her Harry Potter series has helped people through times of stress and depression and she is always there to deliver wise words of encouragement.

She is one celebrity who is very active on Twitter. So when a single dad named Matt Burke sent her a message thanking her for the series, she noticed. Her series had helped strengthen his relationship with his 9­year­old daughter Bailey.

He included a link to his article titled Being a Broke Parent. He explained how he hadn’t found a level of financial stability that allowed him to pay bills on time and take his daughter on more activities and events. The family also doesn’t have the Internet or TV, which means there’s no “digital babysitter” and he has to rely on his own creative ways to bond with his daughter. Since he received the series, the main thing that has occupied them these days is reading books together.

Burke admits that he thought he was “too cool” for the books when they first came out and he was in his twenties, but he’s loving reading them now. “We switch off chapter by chapter reading them out loud，“Burke explains.” This not only allows her to get more used to reading aloud in front of someone, but it gets me directly involved in something she loves, and it gives me the chance to be very dramatic when I read my chapters and bring myself into the characters in the book, which has proven to be a ton of fun.”

After hearing Burke’s story, Rowling said how honored she was when Harry Potter was a part of his family’s life and offered Burke more books. Besides, people are also offering to send Burke more books as gifts. For Burke, this experience, far more than gifts, will be what he treasures.

1. Why did Burke thank J. K. Rowling according to the text?

A．She guided him how to write a good story.

B．She encouraged him when he was in trouble.

C．Her books helped him through times of confusion.

D．Her books helped him improve his bond with his daughter.

2. What is implied in Burke’s words in paragraph 4?

A．He has found it interesting to read the series.	B．He was too old to understand the series better.
C．He has chosen a better way of reading the series.	D．He hopes to play a role in the drama in the future.

3. Which word can best describe Burke’s experience according to the text?

A．Useless.

B．Normal.

C．Valuable.

D．Boring.

4. What is the main idea of this text?

A．J. K. Rowling chooses to help improve kids’ health.

B．J. K. Rowling gives a magical gift to a single father.

C．J. K. Rowling has a deep influence on others’ growth.

D．Burke comes to know J. K. Rowling through her series.

3 . “You’re very talented, dear. I hope everything turns out great. I’ll tell my friends about the animal shelter (避难处),” a kind old lady told Conrad, who smiled ______ as she left $20 in his hat.

Conrad was proud of what he was doing and people in the ______ loved hearing him sing and play his ______. The 11-year-old didn’t know how much money the local animal shelter _____.

His mother, Sandy, worked at the shelter and had always been a(n) ______ animal lover. Therefore, he grew to be fond of animals as well. ______, he recently heard his mother telling a friend that the shelter was not doing well. It ______ on donations (捐赠), and not much donations were ______. This made the boy very ______. So he grabbed his guitar and ______ the local town park to sing and play.

He placed a ______ to tell people he was doing it to raise (募捐) money for the animal shelter, which helped greatly. People ______ and gave him mostly $1 and change, and others, such as the kind old lady, were more ______. He was grateful to everyone and continued playing songs and ______ money.

Raise your kids to love animals, and they’ll be better people. Caring for innocent animals makes people more selfless, ______ and caring. That’s why Conrad used his skills to raise funds, knowing how vital the shelter was.

1.

A．suddenly

B．sweetly

C．purposely

D．secretly

2.

A．square

B．park

C．street

D．hall

3.

A．violin

B．piano

C．organ

D．guitar

4.

A．needed

B．sold

C．worked

D．made

5.

A．passive

B．active

C．strict

D．attractive

6.

A．However

B．Besides

C．Otherwise

D．Therefore

7.

A．acted

B．survived

C．concentrated

D．kept

8.

A．showing up

B．coming in

C．going on

D．getting up

9.

A．worried

B．annoyed

C．panicked

D．confused

10.

A．looked around

B．went past

C．headed for

D．turned around

11.

A．sign

B．signal

C．box

D．bench

12.

A．hesitated

B．passed

C．left

D．stopped

13.

A．generous

B．happy

C．energetic

D．angry

14.

A．counting

B．raising

C．saving

D．earning

15.

A．curious

B．serious

C．loving

D．unconcerned

4 . I’ve been working as a United Nations (U.N.) Peacekeeper in the Central African Republic for the past two years. Before this, I was a pilot and I ______ my work. However, I felt it was my duty to help innocent people who are caught in trouble, so I ______ the United Nations.

The Central African Republic is a relatively small country. Since it got ______ from France in the 1960s, there have been many violent conflicts between the government and rebels (反叛者). In 2012, a civil war began, due to which, over one million people were forced to _____ their homes and there were many deaths and injuries. ______, the United Nations established a peacekeeping _____ in the country.

We peacekeepers _____ cities and villages to _____ that no conflict is occurring and help bring supplies of food and medicine. We are a _____ that can keep people in conflict apart.

As a woman, I am particularly ______ as I can act as a role model for many women and girls in the country. When they see how others respect me, they feel that they also ______ to be respected and treated ______.

My life is not ______ in any way! It’s long hours in a very tough environment. I have basic ______ with just a bed in a shared room. Of course, being away from my family and friends is also very hard at times. However, I know that the Central African Republic is safer because of the U. N. Peacekeepers, and that makes it all _______.

1.

A．hated

B．enjoyed

C．guarded

D．changed

2.

A．led up to

B．looked up to

C．kept up with

D．signed up with

3.

A．treatment

B．technology

C．independence

D．inspiration

4.

A．flee

B．return

C．sweep

D．tend

5.

A．In turn

B．In surprise

C．In response

D．In addition

6.

A．measure

B．reputation

C．business

D．mission

7.

A．follow

B．expand

C．monitor

D．block

8.

A．insure

B．prove

C．report

D．predict

9.

A．bridge

B．barrier

C．castle

D．shelter

10.

A．protected

B．trusted

C．valued

D．doubted

11.

A．deserve

B．prefer

C．plan

D．fail

12.

A．gently

B．equally

C．seriously

D．honestly

13.

A．boring

B．rewarding

C．difficult

D．fancy

14.

A．association

B．accommodation

C．administration

D．adaptation

15.

A．available

B．ambitious

C．worthwhile

D．educational

6 . A Heroic Driver

Larry works with Transport Drivers. Inc. One morning in 2019, Larry was _________ along 165 north after delivering to one of his _________. Suddenly, he saw a car with its bright lights on. As he got closer, he found another vehicle upside down on the road. One more look and he noticed _______ shooting out from under the _________ vehicle. Larry pulled over, set the brake and _______ the fire extinguisher (灭火器) . Two good bursts from the extinguisher and the fire was put out.

The man who had his bright lights on came over and told Larry he had  _______ an emergency call. They then heard a woman’s voice coming from the wrecked (毁坏的) vehicle. _______ the vehicle, they saw that a woman was trying to get out of the broken window. They told her to stay _________ until the emergency personnel arrived, but she thought the car was going to _________. Larry told her that he had already put out the fire and she should not move __________she injured her neck.

Once fire and emergency people arrive, Larry and the other man __________ and let them go to work. Then, Larry asked the __________ if he was needed or __________ to go. They let him and the other man go.

One thing is __________-Larry went above and beyond the call of duty by getting so close to the burning vehicle! His __________ most likely saved the woman’s life.

1.

A．walking

B．touring

C．traveling

D．rushing

2.

A．passengers

B．colleagues

C．employers

D．customers

3.

A．flame

B．smoke

C．water

D．steam

4.

A．used

B．disabled

C．removed

D．abandoned

5.

A．got hold of

B．prepared

C．took charge of

D．controlled

6.

A．returned

B．received

C．made

D．confirmed

7.

A．Starting

B．Parking

C．Passing

D．Approaching

8.

A．quiet

B．still

C．away

D．calm

9.

A．explode

B．slip away

C．fall apart

D．crash

10.

A．as if

B．unless

C．in case

D．after

11.

A．stepped forward

B．backed off

C．moved on

D．set out

12.

A．woman

B．police

C．man

D．driver

13.

A．forbidden

B．ready

C．asked

D．free

14.

A．for certain

B．for consideration

C．reported

D．checked

15.

A．patience

B．skills

C．efforts

D．promise

8 . Guy Noble, one of Australia’s most famous conductors, who conducted the touring concert “East Meets West”, said he’d like to learn more about Chinese music. “I’m impressed by the history and the beauty Chinese music has,” he’s said in an interview recently.

“East Meets West” concert tour in Australia was resumed this year after being postponed twice due to the pandemic. It was hosted in Canberra last Saturday, bringing audiences some well-known Chinese and Western pieces such as Jasmine Flower, Carmen, Romeo and Juliet, and The Yellow River.

While it was called “East Meets West”, music from China and the West with the same themes was brought together. Chinese singer Ya Fen and Australian singer Victoria Lambourn performed a duet (二重唱) Hope Betrayed, which was inspired by the Chinese classic novel A Dream of Red Mansions. Noble said he loved the duet as it showed completely different singing styles: traditional Chinese opera style and Western opera style. “They’re not exactly the same, but they came together,” he said.

Having been a professional conductor for more than 20 years, Noble called music an international language. He noted that most music at the concert was about love, which was also an international language. He also spoke highly of some Chinese musicians, such as pianist Lang Lang who he thought has inspired many kids in China to learn music.

Noble admitted his knowledge of Chinese culture was limited. He said that conducting the Canberra concert was “an experience that I’ve enjoyed”, which made him more interested in discovering the background and history of the music, as well as the stories behind it. Noble is ready to create more things that can involve dance or calligraphy or some of the other aspects of Chinese culture, and put them together with music.

Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

A．Guy Noble: A Famous Australian Conductor

B．An Australian’s Passion for Chinese Culture

C．Music: A Bridge to Understanding Each Other

D．The Cooperation Between Foreign Musicians

9 . For centuries, Central America’s Garifuna people have kept the culture’s spoken history alive through their ancestors’ native language. But decades of modernization, random native-language training in Garifuna schools, intermarriage between cultures, and the ridicule (嘲笑) of young people who speak the language, together led to Garifuna being listed on the UNESCO Atlas (地图集) of Endangered Languages in 2001.

The threat of language extinction isn’t new. Some linguists estimate that a language dies every two weeks, as some languages become important tools for social and economic exchange, while others are pushed to the margins (边缘). But there are ways to save at-risk languages as well. The key is that the language needs to be thought of less as preserved, “but indeed part of their present and future life,” says Liliana Sanchez, a linguist and professor at the University of Illinois.

That’s exactly what the Garinagu (Garifuna people) are doing. For the past two decades, Garifuna artists have used a cultural cornerstone—spirited dance music—to inspire young Garinagu to learn and share their native language. Now, with a new Garifuna Tourism Trail project in Belize, travelers can experience and support the cultural revival, too.

Palacio, a leader in the cultural revival, gathered Garifuna musicians across Central America to form a band named the Garifuna Collective in 2007. Their Garifuna lyrics sent a powerful message: It’s time to defend our culture. With multiple world tours and international music awards later, the Garifuna Collective put Garifuna on the international map and took Belize along with it. Although Palacio passed away in 2008, his lyrics and the work of Garifuna musicians lit a cultural flame for Garinagu worldwide.

Will music save the Garifuna language? Time will tell. Garifuna remains on UNESCO’s endangered-language list, last updated in 2010. And, as the Hawaiians just learned from revitalizing (使恢复生机) their own language, this kind of revival is a long, multi-generational road.

What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．The origin of the Garifuna language.

B．Reasons for Garifuna’s being endangered.

C．The endangered languages of 2001.

D．Ways to save the Garifuna language.

10 . Do you have frightening dreams while sleeping? According to an email interview by clinical psychologist and sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, roughly 5 percent of the general population has at least one bad dream per week. Nightmares typically happen during REM sleep, during the middle and later parts of the night.

There is no exact explanation for nightmares, but Breus says it’s possible that they help the brain practise, prepare for and even predict difficult or dangerous experiences in waking life. Of course, it’s possible that nightmares, like dreams in general, don’t have a primary function — that they’re a by-product of other activities in the body. But most sleep scientists think that dreams and nightmares exist for some purposes.

One study found the most common nightmare was falling, followed by dreams of being chased, feeling lost, and feeling trapped. Then why do nightmares happen?

“Certain circumstances and characteristics make some people more likely to have nightmares than others,” says sleep medicine specialist Dr. Barry Krakow. He thinks people who’ve been traumatized (使受精神创伤) are certainly at a higher risk of nightmares Examples are offered of those who have suffered criminal attacks, or who have been in life-threatening accidents. People with some degree of sensitivity in their biological make-up are also more likely to have bad dreams, so they’re more common in people who suffer from anxiety or depression, or who use excess drugs or alcohol. The traditional belief often has it that nightmares are the result of eating too much rich food before bedtime, but it is still uncertain whether this is true. One study from 2015 did find a link between eating dairy or hot foods before bedtime and having disturbing dreams, but the study authors noted that this couldn’t be proven definitely because the data was self-reported and there were a lot of other factors to consider.

However, research in recent decades has shown that people who suffer from sleep disorders are also more likely to have nightmares.

From which section of a website is the text probably taken?

A．Mental health.

B．Life experiences.

C．Eating habits.

D．Popular culture.