1 . Madison stared through the window and watched a puffy white cloud pass over the woods across from the school. It must be wonderful to be a bird, she thought. Total freedom. No math class to sit in, and her days would be spent on horseback. She thought of her horse, Star.
“Madison. Could you please join us again?” Mrs. Smith said. “I was just asking the class if anyone had any problems with the homework assignment.”
“Well, I didn’t have any problems doing it, but I had problems remembering to put it in my school bag after I did it.” Some giggling spread through the room.
“Madison. I don’t know what I am going to do with you. You’re such a smart girl but you just don’t apply yourself. Class, clear your desks. Our guest is here and welcome Doctor Landon. He is a veterinarian (兽医). He came here today as part of our continued Career Explorations Program.”
Madison tried to focus as Doctor Landon talked about how important grades were and how he struggled with math when he was a kid. Doctor Landon was still talking but she lost track of what he was saying. Then a word caught her attention. Horse. Was he talking about horses?
Gradually, Madison knew Doctor Landon had come to her town and house when her horse, Star, needed care. She liked it that he even knew her horse’s name. “So, you just travel around and take care of horses all day long?”
Doctor Landon nodded. “I travel with my truck to take care of horses and ponies across the county. It is a lot of work, but I love it.”
Madison’s mouth fell open. What a life that must be, she thought. At that moment, sitting in class, Madison could see her future and her life suddenly seemed bigger. By the time she got off the bus that afternoon, her plans for the afternoon had changed. She was still going to ride Star, but first she was going to spend an hour studying math. Then tomorrow she’d spend an hour studying science.
1. Why was Madison called by Mrs. Smith in class?| A．Because she had problems with math. |
| B．Because she was absent-minded in class. |
| C．Because she was distracted by the birds outside. |
| D．Because she forgot to bring her homework back. |
| A．To call for care for animals. |
| B．To enrich students’ outdoor activities. |
| C．To emphasize the importance of study. |
| D．To help students with their career choices. |
| A．She was greatly inspired. | B．She preferred math to science. |
| C．She didn’t believe Landon’s story. | D．She changed her hobby completely. |
| A．An Exciting Horse Riding | B．An Interesting Math Class |
| C．Madison Dreams Big | D．Madison Pursues Freedom |
2 . If you struggle to fall asleep quickly, you’re not alone! Fortunately, there are plenty of solutions you can try. With a few changes, you can fall asleep fast every night!
Keep your room dark. Turn off all the lights above your head when you go to bed. Any bright light can make you believe it is too early in the day for sleep. If you want to read or write before bed, try using a small book light. Now that blue lights can keep you awake, red ones are a great choice.
If you can, keep noise in and around your room the lowest at night. If you have an old clock that ticks loudly and keeps you awake, replace it with a silent one. If you share your home with anyone else, request that they keep noises like talking, music, or TV shows at the lowest while you are trying to sleep. It is difficult to fall asleep if you live near a busy road or hear other boring sounds after bedtime. You could get a white noise machine or play recordings of nature sounds, like waves or whales’ singing. You could also listen to soft, relaxing music.
Read a book in bed if you have difficulty in falling asleep. Staying in bed doing nothing when you’re having trouble falling asleep may keep you wide awake. While reading in bed may be slightly harmful to your eyes, it can distract (分散) you from your thoughts and help you feel sleepy. But remember to read from a print book rather than something with a screen. The light from electronic screens can keep you awake.
Lowering your body temperature helps you sleep, so set the room temperature between 15.5℃-21℃ could do the trick.
1. What color book light should you choose to read before bed?| A．Red. | B．Blue. |
| C．White. | D．Orange. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Worried. |
| C．Favorable. | D．Uncaring. |
| A．Reading on cellphones sometimes helps you fall asleep. |
| B．The lower your temperature while sleeping is, the better. |
| C．Bright lights are better for your reading before going to bed. |
| D．Playing recordings like birds’ singing can improve your sleep. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By asking questions. |
| C．By offering suggestions. | D．By listing research results. |
3 . I have worked as a keeper at the National Zoo, Paris for 11 years. Spot and Stripe are the first tiger cubs that have ever been born here. Globally, a third of Sumatran cubs in zoos don't make it to adulthood, so I decided to give them round-the-clock care at home.
I've got two children—the younger one, Kynan, was extremely happy about the tigers arriving - but all of us really looked forward to being part of their lives and watching them grow. I wasn't worried about bringing them into my home with my wife and kids. These were cubs. They weighed about 2.5 kg and were so small that there was absolutely no risk.
As they grew more mobile, we let them move freely around the house during the day, but when we were asleep we had to contain them in a large room, otherwise they'd get up to mischief. We'd come down in the morning to find they'd turned the room upside down, and left it looking like a zoo.
Things quickly got very intense due to the huge amount of energy required to look after them. There were some tough times and I just felt extremely tired. I was grateful that my family was there to help. We had to have a bit of a production line going, making up “tiger milk”, washing baby bottles, and cleaning the floors.
When Spot and Stripe were four months old, they were learning how to open doors and jump fences, and we knew it really was time for them to go. It was hard for us to finally part with them. For the first few days, Kynan was always a bit disappointed that the cubs weren't there.
I'm not sad about it. I'm hands-on with them every day at the zoo, and I do look back very fondly on the time that we had them.
1. Why did the author bring the tiger cubs home?| A．To ensure their survival. | B．To observe their differences. |
| C．To teach them life skills. | D．To let them play with his kids. |
| A．Behave badly. | B．Lose their way. | C．Sleep soundly. | D．Miss their mom. |
| A．Boring. | B．Tiring. | C．Costly. | D．Risky. |
| A．They frightened the children. | B．They became difficult to contain. |
| C．They annoyed the neighbours. | D．They started fighting each other. |
4 . I woke up this morning, excited but anxious, as today was the day I would begin my journey of senior high school.
The school I attended is an all-female boarding school, which is the only single-sex school in this city. Some people say single-sex schools are better than mixed-sex ones in that they have classes specially designed for their male or female students. I am curious to know what such a school looks like. Thousands of thoughts flashed through my mind. Will I fit in? Will I make friends? Will I have nice teachers? What if I make a bad impression on the other girls? What if I can’t concentrate in class as I did in junior high?
After breakfast, I set off with Mom sitting beside me and Dad driving the car. We were warmly received by a group of seniors at the school gate. I said goodbye to Mom and Dad there. Some of the seniors helped take my suitcase(手提箱) to the dorm (宿舍), where I met my three roommates, Sally, Laura and Amanda. Only two of us have Chinese nationality while Sally is Korean and Laura American, who impressed me most with her beautiful eyes and sweet smile.
Since we had no classes in the morning, the four of us decided to explore our campus. Our school is beautiful with tall trees, bright flowers, nice-looking grassland and buildings of the southern Chinese style. A bulletin board (宣传栏) we passed by shows a lot of activity photos and says “With more than 50 student organisations on campus, there is a community for every interest”. I took a photo of the name list of the organisations so that I could study them carefully this weekend before I choose to register with some. I am looking forward to improving myself through group activities.
1. What is special about the school the author attends?| A．It is the best school in the city. |
| B．It is better than mixed-sex schools. |
| C．It has classes only for male students. |
| D．It has only female students. |
| A．All by herself. |
| B．With her three roommates. |
| C．With her parents keeping her company. |
| D．With some seniors carrying her suitcase. |
| A．Their exploration of the campus. |
| B．The landscape of the school. |
| C．A bulletin board. |
| D．Student organisations. |
| A．what activities would be held |
| B．what happened that afternoon |
| C．how to get along with roommates |
| D．how to study in senior high school |
5 . Nothing beats live music, but the venue makes a difference. When you're able to score tickets to an incredible concert in an incredible place, you won't forget the experience. Here are some of the coolest music venues from around the world. If you haven't been to any of these, you've got some traveling to do.
Red Rocks, Morrison, the United States
Red Rocks might be the most beautiful and famous venue in the United States. At 6,450 feet above sea level, Red Rocks is a geologically formed natural stage. Its massive sandstone provides a perfect stage for jam bands. If you're into the blues and jazz, you'll have no trouble finding something in line with your interests.
Meet Factory, Prague, Czech Republic
Smallest venues on this list, Meet Factory is an art gallery, theater, and music venue. The venue only accommodates 1,000 people, so you won't see any huge names come through. Still, it's a great place to see up-and-coming local acts, and if you've got an eye for contemporary art, you'll love your time here.
Arena of NÎmes, NÎmes, France
Originally built around A. D. 70, the Arena of Nimes presents concertgoers with an interesting question: Should they enjoy the music, or marvel at the architecture? The Arena is, after all, one of the world's best-preserved Roman theaters. Many major touring acts plan stops at the Arena of Nimes, especially during the venue's annual festival.
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
The Sydney Opera House is one of the world's most famous performing venues. I's also one of the most distinctive buildings in Sydney, thanks to the breathtaking design by Danish architect Utzon. It hosts about 40 events per week, so whether you're into jazz, rock, classical music, or opera, you'll find something to watch.
1. Where can you enjoy music in natural beauty?| A．At Red Rocks. | B．At Meet Factory. | C．At Arena of Nimes. | D．At Sydney Opera House. |
| A．It enjoys breathtaking scenery. | B．It hosts both musical and artistic events. |
| C．It is the largest venue of all. | D．It is famous for contemporary music. |
| A．They have a long history. | B．They are built near the sea. |
| C．They accommodate thousands of people. | D．They are beautiful tourist attractions. |
6 . Chase Poust is a 7-year-old boy. He and his dad Steven, and his 4-year-old sister, Abigail were out for a family boating trip on Florida’s St. Johns River near Mandarin Point. Chase and Abigail were swimming at the back end of the anchored boat while Steven was on deck (甲板) fishing.
It was an idyllic (悠闲的) outing — until a strong wave came. It was too strong for Abigail to hold onto the boat. Instantly realizing his sister would be swept away, Chase let go of the boat as well to try and reach her.
Steven jumped into the water but after realizing he couldn’t keep up with both kids, he was faced with a hard decision. “I told them I loved them because I wasn’t sure what’s going to happen,” Steven told News-4 JAX. “I tried to stick with both of them. I wore myself out. She drifted away from me.”
Directing Chase to swim to shore for help, Steven stayed behind, keeping as close as he could to Abigail as the life-vest that was keeping her above the waves floated further and further from his reach.
It was a tough go for the 7-year-old, but rather than attempting to swim all out, Chase wisely paced himself. Stopping to float or dog paddle when he was tired, he’d rest and then set off again. It took Chase an hour to reach the shore. Once on solid ground, he ran to the nearest house and called for help.
Rescuers arrived soon to search for Steven and Abigail. Miraculously, the two were found and rescued about an hour later-more than a mile away from the family’s abandoned boat.
1. What happened during the family boating trip?| A．Chase went out fishing alone. | B．The boat ran into an anchored boat. |
| C．Steven fell off the boat by accident. | D．Abigail was washed away by a wave. |
| A．He couldn’t stick with both kids. | B．He didn’t know how to swim. |
| C．He couldn’t find rescuers nearby. | D．He wasn’t sure what might happen. |
| A．To hold Abigail tightly. | B．To look for helpers. |
| C．To wait calmly in the water. | D．To give the life-vest to Abigail. |
| A．Brave and clever. | B．Innocent and kind. |
| C．Proud and patient. | D．Honest and helpful. |
7 . Too much screen time for kids can lead to poor health the American Heart Association (AHA) says. A scientific statement published by the AHA in the medical journal Circulation said screen time from smartphones, tablet computers and other devices can lead kids to a sedentary(惯于久坐不动的) lifestyle ,increasing the possibility that they grow up as overweight or obese(肥胖的).
The AHA is the latest organization urging parents to limit how much time their kids spend in front of screens. It recommends children get one to two hours of screen time each day. Although television viewing among children and teens has dropped, the use of smartphones and tablet computers has surged.
“Although the mechanisms(机制) linking screen time to obesity are not entirely clear, there are real concerns that screens influence eating behaviors, mainly because children don’t notice when they are full when eating in front of a screen,” said Tracie Barnett, a researcher at the INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier Research Centre,in a statement.
Barnett, one of the authors of the statement, also urges parents to keep screens out of kids’bedrooms, raising the fear that too much screen time can affect sleep.
Many studies have warned about the potential (潜在的) negative effects of too much screen time. Last year, a study from researchers at San Diego State University(SDSU) found nearly half of teens who spent five or more hours in front of screens every day experienced long periods of hopelessness or sadness.
Apple, who makes the iOS mobile platform, plans to introduce new tools to devices to help users cut back on screen time. As for iOS 12,iPhones will include a screen time feature where users can control and review how they spend time on their mobile devices. Another company that makes the Android platform will introduce “digital well-being” tools such as screen time limits and a “wind down” option to encourage users to put down their phones before bed.
1. Which can replace the underlined word “surged” in paragraph 2?| A．Increased suddenly. | B．Decreased slowly. |
| C．Stayed the same. | D．Lost the balance. |
| A．By changing the time they eat. | B．By changing their taste for food. |
| C．By influencing how fast they eat. | D．By influencing their feeling of fullness. |
| A．It affected children’s sleep. | B．It led to children’s obesity. |
| C．It resulted in diet problems. | D．It negatively influenced moods. |
| A．Reduce its products’ battery life. |
| B．Provide a screen time feature. |
| C．Introduce “digital well-being” tools. |
| D．Add a “wind down” option to its products. |
8 . A year after he died. Benjamin Canlas' love of helping others lives on.
The Canlas couple created a foundation to honor their son and his
In the Philippines, many jobs have been lost as a
When the contest was announced, they did not know how much
Even if the contest ended, kindness
| A．life | B．kindness | C．education | D．bravery |
| A．second-hand | B．traditional | C．broken | D．fashionable |
| A．saved | B．lost | C．stolen | D．borrowed |
| A．birthday | B．retirement | C．death | D．graduation |
| A．remember | B．touch | C．encourage | D．disappoint |
| A．history | B．cause | C．record | D．result |
| A．suggests | B．stops | C．means | D．agrees |
| A．limited | B．arranged | C．offered | D．ruined |
| A．look after | B．give away | C．fix up | D．search for |
| A．time | B．investment | C．value | D．interest |
| A．analyzed | B．offered | C．received | D．made |
| A．safer | B．easier | C．more colorful | D．more meaningful |
| A．continues | B．changes | C．finishes | D．appears |
| A．classes | B．projects | C．businesses | D．competitions |
| A．forcing | B．allowing | C．expecting | D．inspiring |
9 . Today, we are talking about money. I can share a bit about my history with money and my new view when it comes to using green paper.
I made a web page with links to posts about our financial (财政的) journey where you can look for more details of where we've been and how we got where we are now. It was a big part of my story in the past and was a huge part of our downsizing（精简） journey. We got out of debt and stayed out of debt.
So I feel eager（渴望的）to share the benefits of being on this side. It takes more planning and more careful thought whenever a dollar is spent now than it did when I had a wallet full of credit cards. I now like to think all of my dollars doing the job. So many of us work for money and don't consider that money should work for us, too. Make your dollars do the job of helping you live the life you want.
Each time money is spent or saved, it should be going toward something that you purposefully want for your life. Last week I was out and I spent $ 20 on food in 3 days. It made me angry because afterward I thought about eating is not at all what I want for my life.
On the other hand, there are times I spend $ 20 while out with my family and it doesn't bother（使烦恼）me one bit. An afternoon out with my kids during which we stop for ice cream, and do something fun together has a completely different feel.
In the end, I want the dollars I spend to have purpose like I can enjoy life while still planning and saving for the future.
1. The underlined words “green paper” in Paragraph 1 refer to“________”.| A．money | B．work | C．newspaper | D．book |
| A．by reading posts about their financial journey |
| B．by going on a financial journey |
| C．by making a web page |
| D．by writing to him |
| A．more credit cards should be used in our daily life |
| B．we should work hard to make more money |
| C．money should help us live better |
| D．saving money is very easy |
| A．Because the money is spent on food. |
| B．Because the money is spent in doing something fun. |
| C．Because eating is what he wants for his life. |
| D．Because the money goes toward something that he wants for his life. |
10 . A fairy tale castle has been saved and is open to visitors thanks to the generosity and appreciation of thousands of complete strangers.
The Chateau de la Mothe-Chandeniers, located in the town of Les Trois-Moutiers in France，was purchased by thousands of Internet users. Today, the castle is co-owned by nearly 28,000 people from 115 countries.
According to the crowdfunding platform Dartagnans.fr, each contributor was given the opportunity to become a shareholder through an investment of at least 50 euros. Thousands of people around the world donated a total of 1.6 million euros. Shareholders voted not to restore the castle to its original elegant state, but to leave it as a “living ruin”. About 1,200 of the shareholders volunteered to clear the castle to prepare it for visitors. Organizers hope to welcome as many as 50,000 tourists by 2021 and more than 70,000 by 2022.
Constructed in the early 13th century, the Chateau de la Mothe-Chandeniers was originally the stronghold of the Baucay family, lords of Loudun. It was taken several times by the English during the Hundred Years’ War and destroyed during the French Revolution. In 1809, a wealthy businessman named Francois Hennecart purchased the castle with an aim to return it to its former glory. Over a century later, it was left to play host to nature after a fire destroyed much of its contents, including a library of rare books and antique furniture.
Recognizing that the natural beauty of the castle is now as much a monument as its architectural significance, the organizers behind the crowdfunding effort are aiming to delicately balance the preservation of both. “It is essential, in our view, to keep the castle in its green setting,” they write. “We hope it remains a unique castle in the world where heritage and nature will blend. It is also essential to protect it in such a way that visitors can enter safely and appreciate this masterpiece taken by nature.”
1. What did shareholders decide to do with the castle?| A．Keep it the way it is. | B．Restore it completely. |
| C．Put it up for sale online. | D．Protect it against tourism. |
| A．The value of the castle. | B．The history of the castle. |
| C．The owner of the castle. | D．The construction of the castle. |
| A．Visited. | B．Rebuilt. | C．Attacked. | D．Abandoned. |
| A．It will combine the depth of history and the beauty of nature. |
| B．It will inspire a new way of saving our heritage. |
| C．It will take on a new architectural significance. |
| D．It will be recognized as a national heritage. |
