1 . Even though water covers about 71 percent of the Earth’s surface, not all of it is safe to drink. In fact, less than three percent is fresh water, according to the United States Bureau of Reclamation. Most of the water is contained in the oceans and must be desalinated (脱盐)for use. Now researchers from MIT have developed a suitcase-sized desalination device that could be used to produce clean drinking water.
The new portable device produces water that actually goes beyond the World Health Organization standards, just by pushing a button, according to a press release from MIT. There are no filters required. The device powered by a small portable solar panel uses electricity to remove salt and other particles from the saltwater. This eliminates the need for repeatedly checking or repairing it.
Now most available portable desalination units use filters that require high-pressure pumps to push the water, which makes them heavier and less energy efficient. The filterless feature of the new device will allow it to be used in faraway places or places with limited resources like small islands and ships, and even for emergencies.
“This is really the highest point of a 10-year journey that I and my group have been on. We worked for years on the physics behind individual desalination processes, but pushing all those advances into a box, building a system, and testing it in the ocean were really meaningful experiences for me,” says Jongyoon Han, the senior author of the study.
After the researchers ran tests in the lab, the device was ready for field tests. At Boston’s Carson Beach, the device filled a plastic drinking cup with clear, drinkable water in just half an hour. Now the researchers are still working on a final design that could use cheaper materials so that it can be available to the general public, and a new model of the device could be ready by the end of 2022. This small but powerful desalination unit may be the key to bringing safe water to a thirsty world.
1. What does the underlined word “eliminates” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Proves. | B．Creates. | C．Satisfies. | D．Removes. |
| A．It allows high production of clean water. | B．It makes a breakthrough in application |
| C．It may provide power for faraway places | D．It can replace most desalination devices. |
| A．The public thinks highly of the device |
| B．The testing system for the device has been out of date. |
| C．Developing the device is challenging but worthwhile. |
| D．Further studies are needed before marketing the device. |
| A．Its affordability. | B．The energy it needs. |
| C．Its performance in dry areas. | D．The purity of the water it produces. |
2 . Four Historic American Theatres
Today, theatres remain a key part of a city’s lifeblood. The following are four historic theatres in America.
Pantages Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
The Pantages Theatre, which now seats 1,014, opened in 1916 as part of Alexander Pantages’s well-known group of theatres. It was designed by the local firm Kees and Colburn. In 1922, the theatres was rebuilt by Scottish theatres architect Benjamin Marcus Priteca. After going through several owners, in 1984, it was closed and remained unopened until 1996. Some theatre supporters had it repaired and improved, resulting in its reopening in 2002.
Saenger Theatre, New Orleans, LA
New Orleans’s Saenger Theatre was built two years before the Great Depression, in 1927, and cost a then unheard-of $ 2.5 million. It was designed by Emile Weil, featuring a 15th-century Florentine courtyard and gardens, and Greek and Roman statues. Although the theatre was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, after a $ 53 million renovation (修葺), it reopened in 2013.
Thalian Hall, Wilmington, NC
Thalian Hall has been in almost continuous use since its opening in 1858. It is the only surviving theatre designed by John Montague Trimble, one of America’s foremost 19th-century theatre architects, and originally housed the town government, a library, as well as an “Opera House”, seating 1, 000 people. Some repairs in 1909 led to the removal of the side balconies and the installation of electric stage lights.
Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence, RI
It was originally opened as a movie palace in 1928, and the silent movies it showed were accompanied by a $ 90, 000 Robert Morton organ. After several decades, the theatre suffered from the increased popularity of television, as well as damage by two hurricanes. Over the past decade and a half, it has undergone extensive renovations and modernization.
1. What can we know about the Pantages Theatre?| A．It has a seating capacity of 1, 916. | B．It will be turned into a movie house. |
| C．It was designed by Alexander Pantages. | D．It was once shut down for over a decade. |
| A．Pantages Theatre. | B．Saenger Theatre. | C．Thalian Hall. | D．Providence Performing Arts Center |
| A．They went through major renovations. |
| B．They were hit by terrible natural disasters. |
| C．They were built by American theatre architects. |
| D．They belong o Alexander Pantages’s group of theatres. |
3 . My new teacher is cool. Her name is Paula so we call her Miss Paula.
The first time we met her she said we are going to be good friends and that good friends are always nice to each other.
Miss Paula has been teaching us a lot of things. Some of us used to get in trouble for talking in the hallway (过道). Miss Paula says she can’t change the rule that we can’t make noise in the hallway but we can still talk to each other. She is teaching us sign language. I already know how to say “hello” and “how are you” with my hands. Now we love it when we have to walk somewhere and we are always quiet except for a laugh or two.
Miss Paula likes everybody even Sam and nobody likes Sam. He never does what he’s told but now he is doing better. Miss Paula says every single one of us is perfect and beautiful just the way we are. I guess that includes Sam.
This week at school was really the best ever. I didn’t even get in trouble when I thought I would because I spilled (洒) milk on my homework and had to hand it in when it was still wet. Miss Paula just smiled and asked “What’s this?” So I told her what happened. Miss Paula put it near the window to make it dry. She said the sun had been waiting for such an important job as this and would be happy to help us.
Well I have to go and get ready for bed now. I have school in the morning and I want to wake up early so I will have time to pick Miss Paula some flowers.
1. From the passage we know that Miss Paula ________.| A．is strict with the writer | B．changed the school rules |
| C．is very kind to her students | D．uses sign language in class |
| A．Sam dislikes his new teacher. | B．Sam has made some progress. |
| C．Sam is often praised by Miss Paula. | D．Sam is one of the writer’s best friends. |
| A．Bored. | B．Excited. | C．Relaxed. | D．Worried. |
| A．loves and respects her new teacher | B．is a bit afraid of her new teacher |
| C．always picks her teacher some flowers | D．wrote this article in the morning |
4 . The plot of the story of “The Million Pound Bank Note” centers on the impossibility of encashing (兑现) a high valued bank note by a common man. Within this story it is narrated (叙述) that only two such notes were ever issued and anyone who walks into a bank to cash that note will get himself in trouble. So, do such million pound bank notes really exist? Let’s do a bit of digging around for the purpose of satisfying the curiosity over this question.
Such high valued pound bank notes do exist, and they were usually used for transactions (交易) within banks. The Bank of England used “one million” and “hundred million” pound bank notes to keep parity (等价) with bank notes issued by Scottish and Northern Irish banks. These notes — the one million ones were called “giants” and came in A5 size and the hundred million ones were called “titans” having an A4 size — were more like IOU documents (legal forms that describe a loan between a lender and a borrower) and they were special issues from the Bank of England to meet the requirement of backing the value of everyday notes issued by banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Nine such one million pound notes were issued in connection with the Marshall Plan (the US’s post-war aid program to Western Europe), equal to the loan from the US after World War II (WWII) in 1948. After cancellation (取消), of these nine only seven were destroyed and two survived with private collectors. Such high valued notes are not usually found in the normal transactional scenes and it is believed that notes worth eight billion pounds were printed in these heavy denominations (面额) in total.
Mark Twain can create humor from narrations of unrealistic (不现实的) and often funny simple situations and “The Million Pound Bank Note” is a nice example of his storytelling abilities.
1. Why does the author mention “The Million Pound Bank Note” in paragraph 1?| A．To bring up the topic. | B．To question the readers. |
| C．To retell the famous story. | D．To support the topic. |
| A．They were the same size. | B．They were sold at a discount. |
| C．They were issued by banks in Scotland. | D．They were mainly used within banks. |
| A．Seven of them were destroyed in WWII. |
| B．Two of them became private collections. |
| C．All are worth eight billion pounds now. |
| D．All were used by the public at that time. |
| A．To show Mark Twain’s humor. |
| B．To praise Mark Twain and his work. |
| C．To introduce “The Million Pound Bank Note”. |
| D．To uncover Mark Twain’s attitude towards society. |
5 . A teacher gave his students a test. Most of the students finished all the questions without much effort
All of the students thought that this question was some kind of
So they all
“
He went on to say, “In your lives and careers, you will
Over the following days each of the students
| A．while | B．until | C．since | D．after |
| A．cleans | B．manages | C．supports | D．guards |
| A．pity | B．risk | C．story | D．joke |
| A．natural | B．clear | C．possible | D．unusual |
| A．address | B．family | C．name | D．age |
| A．left behind | B．lifted up | C．put away | D．handed in |
| A．unanswered | B．open | C．out | D．unprepared |
| A．exercise | B．experiment | C．test | D．match |
| A．Possibly | B．No | C．Sure | D．Never |
| A．love | B．help | C．respect | D．meet |
| A．important | B．unique | C．intelligent | D．honest |
| A．consideration | B．attention | C．discussion | D．protection |
| A．look | B．smile | C．listen | D．play |
| A．remembered | B．proved | C．explained | D．realized |
| A．lesson | B．opinion | C．premise | D．argument |
6 . Jerry was born on October 14, 1966. Shortly after birth, he was discovered to have a heart defect (缺陷) and quickly had an operation to save his life. Although he always thought his childhood to be “normal”, there were quite a few things that made him a little different. He couldn’t do heavy farm work like his brothers and his classmates called him “grape juice” because his lips would turn purple in gym class.
After another operation, Jerry went on to live a very full life. He studied in a technical school and met his love after graduation. They married in 1989, and in 1993, the first light of Jerry’s life was born.
Growing up with Jerry as my dad was the greatest blessing of my life. He was always full of life and light, making anyone around smile. He never wanted to draw attention to his medical condition. Even many of his close friends and co-workers were unaware of his heart problem. To all of us he was just a normal guy — that was just the way he wanted it.
I didn’t know or understand my father was sick until he was placed a pacemaker (心脏起搏器). Despite several times of unconsciousness, and 19 days’ stay in ICU, he managed to celebrate Christmas with us and even work as usual. With his wide laugh, I soon adjusted to a “new normal” father. The progress and life, as we now know, came to a grinding halt one night after he came down with a cold.
He was picked up by a helicopter. The nurse said my dad was in good spirits throughout the trip, cracking jokes and making her laugh. When he was unloaded, his eyes rolled back and was unresponsive. The man who loved his life and family was gone.
My dad taught me many lessons. But probably the most important one was in his death. I know as I celebrate his incredible life, he will be looking down on me with smile.
1. What’s paragraph 1 mainly about?| A．Jerry’s family and friends. | B．Jerry’s first operation. |
| C．Jerry’s birth and childhood. | D．Jerry’s love for life. |
| A．His graduation. | B．His marriage. |
| C．His brother. | D．His child. |
| A．A sudden stop. | B．A turning point. |
| C．A bright stage. | D．A quick recovery. |
| A．Smile at Death | B．Silent Love from Father |
| C．Grow up Against Heart Defect | D．A “Normal” Father with a Big Heart |
7 . Who says you have to stay indoors when the temperatures drop? Here are favourite places to explore this winter.
Athens, Greece
In Athens, every November temperatures stay around the mid-20s, so have a trip to the Parthenon and Acropolis. A full afternoon is also necessary for exploring the Museum of Cycladic Art and its exhibitions — recently it has hosted Picasso’s.
In the streets of the Pysrri district is a hidden hole in the wall, from which one can go down to the basement restaurant, Diporto.
Huaraz, Peru
To some, Peru gives people images of students in printed shorts on a tour of Machu Picchu. There’s obviously so much more to do in the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) site. Any hike through the surrounding Huascaran National Park will make you feel like you’ve stepped into The Lord of the Rings.
April and November are considered “shoulder season”, which means fewer clear days but you can enjoy the trails (路线) with fewer people.
Edinburgh, UK
Yes, it’s probably going to be freezing cold. Hot coffee steam up in a pleasing, romantic fashion in cafes. People can take a few minutes’ walk from the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
For simple Scottish dishes there’s neighbourhood inn, the Little Chartroom. And the Sheep Heid Inn has been long enough to have served Mary, Queen of Scots. In the eight bedrooms at the 18th century Rock House, each is a mixture of ancient details and current fashion.
Valletta, Malta
Flights from the UK to Malta’s capital are only around £30, making it one of the best destinations for a November trip. This tiny city has a temperature of 17 or so and has changed itself into a year-round city break with artistic cafes, hotels and newly opened galleries — Muza opened last year and houses the former National Gallery collection.
1. Which place has exhibited Picasso’s works lately?| A．Muza. | B．National Gallery. |
| C．The Museum of Cycladic Art. | D．Scottish National Portrait Gallery. |
| A．Athens. | B．Valletta. | C．Huaraz. | D．Edinburgh. |
| A．It served the Queen of Scotland. | B．It combines ancient and modern styles. |
| C．It has at least eight kinds of rooms. | D．It offers Scottish local specialties. |
8 . My nephew Tyden and I were celebrating another nephew’s birthday at a local amusement center. It was the kind of place where you got tickets for scoring points in the games and then cashed them in for prizes.
Tyden won top prize of tickets，so we went to cash them in and select his gifts. I felt a little sad because my loved one and I had our first date at this center and had exchanged little things from the showcase. I noticed a turtle and remembered my partner loved it. I asked the young man behind the showcase if I could just buy the turtle without tickets. He said. “Unluckily. that is not a choice.”
I needed to win 350 tickets to cash the turtle in.so I left Tyden choosing his gift alone there. I bought game tokens（代币）and entered the game room. I had just chosen a game I thought I could win when I heard Tyden's excited voice，“Auntie，Auntie！Look！”
He pulled the turtle out from behind his back and gave it to me. My eyes were filled with tears. and my heart burst with love. He had listened to that whole conversation and chosen to give the turtle to me instead of getting whatever he wanted.
Before I could thank him. he said，“I wanted you to have it，so you didn't have to spend money，which would cause you to work hard”.
I held him in my arms，and told him how much I loved him. I am beyond thankful to have the title of his Auntie
1. What did the author fail to do?| A．Find another gift． | B．Buy a turtle． | C．Exchange gifts． | D．Please her loved one |
| A．To get a prize． | B．To beat Tyden． | C．To challenge herself． | D．To win tickets for her nephew. |
| A．Worried． | B．Moved． | C．Surprised． | D．Confused． |
| A．Hard-working． | B．Clever． | C．Honest． | D．Caring. |
9 . I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt’s house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then. I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.
I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to see—the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving and never to come back was hardly in my head then.
The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism(乐观), but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost—having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather(继父)and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to “the hard times.”
My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with immigration officers(移民局官员), took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.
From my experiences I have learned one important rule: Almost all common troubles go away at last! Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it will not be that easy.
1. How did the author get to know America?| A．From radio programs | B．From books and pictures |
| C．From her mother | D．From her relatives |
| A．often lost her way | B．did not think about her future |
| C．studied in three different schools | D．got on well with her stepfather |
| A．She worked as a translator. | B．She attended a lot of job interviews. |
| C．She paid telephone bills for her family. | D．She helped her family with her English. |
| A．her future will be free from troubles | B．it is difficult to learn to become patient |
| C．there are more good things than bad things | D．good things will happen if one keeps trying |
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. |
