1 . Last night, I went to a blues concert with Lily. After the concert, we met one of her old friends she hadn’t seen for almost three years. They greeted each other but then stood there waiting for someone else to say something. Having a conversation is a useful skill that some people have naturally. However, most of us, like Lily and her friend, need to practice it. Here are some ideas you can use to begin and enjoy an interesting conversation.
Questions are probably the easiest way to open a conversation. If the other person is uncomfortable, as people often are, you can ask questions that are easy to answer. Besides making them comfortable, it will show them that you aren’t going to talk about yourself all the time. But you should avoid topics that might result in arguments, such as politics or religion.
Make them feel like you care. You can turn a total stranger into a friend just by making them feel like you care about what they have to say and that their opinion matters to you. If the person thinks you’re talking just to hear your own voice, they’ll be turned off immediately.
When you talk to people, make eye contact with them, especially in the beginning. Eye contact that continues too long makes most people uncomfortable though, so don’t stare. Also, make your eyes smile. A false smile doesn’t include the eyes, and most people can recognize one. If you are genuinely interested in the other person, your eyes will show it.
1. What can we infer about Lily and her friend?A.They didn’t get along well with each other. | B.They were not good at starting a conversation. |
C.They didn’t enjoy themselves at the concert. | D.They didn’t want to talk in front of the writer. |
A.Choosing a peaceful topic. | B.Talking more |
C.Asking personal questions. | D.Discussing political problems. |
A.Simply. | B.Carefully. | C.Slowly. | D.Truly. |
A. | B. | C. | D. |
2 . Love your parents
Even if you think that your parents are mean-spirited at times, loving your parents is a normal and fulfilling (满意的)part of life. You love them for the fact that they created you, raised you, and are in part a source of who you are. Here are some ways to love your parents.
Respect them more and cherish(珍惜)these moments. You can use these moments to learn from them when you're off on your own. It's OK to get angry but angry actions don't help you or your parents. Act calmly, cool off, journal about your feelings, or talk to a friend.
Obey their requests. It will make your attitude better and earn you more respect from them. It may seem like you are going through hell when you don't get what you want or you have to clean. However, you had better remember they keep a roof over your head when it's cold, raining, snowing, or too hot. Understand that parents are human beings and make mistakes.
Keep company with them. Do things with your parents like watching TV, or go somewhere with them.
Some people simply may not be able to love their parents. .
A.There can be realistic reasons for this, family violence for example. |
B.Anyway, spend as much time with them as you can. |
C.Tell them you love them every morning. |
D.Forgiveness is the key. |
E.Parents will turn express their love to you. |
F.After this, share your feelings with your parents. |
G.Please remember parents are as important as friends. |
3 . From civil rights to environmental protection, the following books of fiction and nonfiction cover a wide range of topics. And every young liberal(开明人士)should read them.
An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore
Al Gore caught the attention of the world with his 2006 book An Inconvenient Truth, which was later turned into a movie. Based on his lecture tour on global warming, the work explains climate change in a user-friendly way and opens the public’s eyes to the plight(困境)of our planet.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
When John Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962, he was praised for his realistic and imaginative writings, including The Grapes of Wrath. This book centers on a family of Oklahoma farmers who are forced off their land during the Great Depression. While it touches on timely issues such as labor unions and agricultural industry changes, it also explores universal themes of power, family, self-interest and dignity.
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
Focusing on the meat-packing industry in Chicago, Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel The Jungle explores the life of immigrant workers in the early 20th century. The best-selling account actually made President Theodore Roosevelt pass the law about food safety that year.
The Conscience of a Liberal by Paul Krugman
Economist and Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman presents 80 years of US history in The Conscience of a Liberal, which examines the fall and rise of economic and political inequality. Many believe the 2007 book was a clear call for progressives(进步人士)to take control of the country’s economic future.
1. Which book should you read if you want to know something about environmental issues?A.The Jungle. | B.The Grapes of Wrath. |
C.An Inconvenient Truth. | D.The Conscience of a Liberal. |
A.It helped bring a new law into effect. |
B.It helped increase the meat sales of Chicago. |
C.It helped develop the meat-packing industry. |
D.It helped change the life of immigrant workers. |
A.They explore the value of a happy family. |
B.They have the same historical background. |
C.They are about the economic development. |
D.They are written by the Nobel Prize winners. |
Singapore
Singapore Zoo allows animals to walk around in spacious environments that are similar to their natural habitats (栖息地). Kids can join in learning about the animals of Singapore Zoo in educational programs, guided tours and camps, including the Sleep with the Beasts Family Camp. wrs.com.sg
Chester Zoo
Cheshire, England
The most visited zoo in the United Kingdom, Chester Zoo asks a team of experts (专家) who do research on six key areas around the world to develop programs that hope to prevent animals from dying out. The zoo runs a number of activities, such as Sing for Songbirds, a partnership with singer/songwriter Ashley Fayth, which tries to make people notice the danger facing songbirds in Indonesia. chesterzoo.org
Wellington Zoo
Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington Zoo is green in more ways than one. The zoo works very hard to reduce (减少) waste and reuse rain water. The zoo supports conservation (保护) programs, and its animal hospital, The Nest TeKōhanga, has treated over 3,400 wildlife patients since its opening in2009. wellingtonzoo.com
San Diego Zoo
San Diego, USA
Over 3,500 endangered animals call San Diego Zoo home, but the biggest achievement of this zoo is the number of endangered animals that are sent back into the wild. The zoo's breeding (饲养) programs provide valuable information on the behavior and health of endangered species in over 45 countries. San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research also asks over 200 conservation scientists to protect some animals from dying out. zoo.sandiegozoo.org
1. Where can people camp with their family?A.At Wellington Zoo. | B.At San Diego Zoo. |
C.At Singapore Zoo. | D.At Chester Zoo. |
A.wrs.com.sg. | B.chesterzoo.org. |
C.wellingtonzoo.com. | D.zoo.sandiegozoo.org. |
A.It has been the most popular zoo in the USA for years. |
B.It runs an animal hospital to treat wild animals. |
C.It has helped some animals go back to nature. |
D.It helps American endangered animals only. |
5 . What’s the meaning of the “dark horse”? It is someone who wins when no one expect it.
Han Xiaopeng took China’s first gold on snow. He became an Olympic “dark horse” by winning the gold medal in men’s freestyle skiing aerials (自由式滑雪空中技巧) at Turin in Italy. He made two almost perfect jumps for the highest score. Han had never won a world gold medal before, let alone in the Olympics!
“I never thought this would happen,” said Han Xiaopeng, “I feel like I’m in a dream.” It’s China’s second gold medal at the Turin Olympic Winter Games. But more important, Han’s gold was the country’s first ever in a snow sport. In 2002, China’s Yang Yang won the gold for speed skating at the Winter Olympic in Salt Lake City, US.
That Han’s win was unexpected doesn’t mean that he didn’t work hard.
Han grew up in Jiangsu Province. Before he started his training on snow, he used to be an acrobat (杂技演员) at a circus. In 1995, a coach found his talent. The coach, Yang Er’qi, said Han had the agility (灵活性) and courage to be a ski jumper. When Yang first took the 12-year-old boy to northern China, he couldn’t swim, skate or ski. But he wasn’t afraid of the high platform and kept on training.
Han almost left the sport after hurting his knee months before the Salt Lake Games. In that Olympics he only got 24th. “I was hopeless at that time, but my family and the coach stood behind me, helping me through,” he recalled.
Han Xiaopeng worked so hard that he won the gold medal in the Olympics at last. Because of his success, more and more people in China are becoming interested in skiing. We are proud of him.
1. What does the “dark horse” mean?A.Someone who is unexpected to win. |
B.A horse which dark. |
C.A horse which likes the dark. |
D.Someone whose win is expected. |
A.In China. | B.In America. |
C.In Australia. | D.In Italy. |
A.He had enough courage though he was only 13 years old. |
B.He was born in the south of China and liked sports on snow. |
C.He had the agility and wasn’t afraid of the high platform. |
D.He had the talent and he had won a world gold medal before. |
A.A wonderful Match |
B.A Dark Horse at the Winter Olympic |
C.A Hopeful Snow Game |
D.An Exciting Skiing Race |
6 . Becoming famous is the dream of many, and Tian is getting closer to that dream.
Tian, 30, is a white - collar worker in Beijing. On short video application Douyin, Tian has more than 2, 000 fans, So far, she has received more than 50, 000 likes on the Dubsmash - like app. On her page on Douyin, Tian shares everything, from her son's daily activities, to her pet dogs, to little skits (段子) made up by her and her husband. “Making funny videos, and combining them with music is really interesting, ” Tian said. “Of course, I make the videos for fun because it is quite relaxing.”
China's short video market has seen great growth, according to a report. The report said that China's short video market was valued at 5. 73 billion yuan ($ 900 million) in 2017, an increase of 184 percent. The industry value is expected to go up to the 30 billion mark in 2020. Companies like Tencent, Sohu and Iqiyi have all started providing short video content.
“Short videos are popular because they are an addition to traditional audio and video content on the internet, ” said Sun Jiashan with the Chinese National Academy of Arts.
Fans say that the short videos help them “chill out” from a stressed - out lifestyle. “My favorite videos are all about pets, ” said Zhou Na, a nurse in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province. “After a whole day's work, watching the 15 - second videos makes me laugh, which reduces my pressure.”
1. Why does Tian make short videos in Douyin?A.To get fun | B.To become a well - known person |
C.To attract fans | D.To record her family's routine |
A.They have a huge amount of value |
B.They make people s star dreams come true |
C.They enrich internet audio and video content |
D.They greatly reduce people's pressure |
A.Feel cold | B.Calm down |
C.Catch a cold | D.Become concerned |
A.China's short video market is open |
B.Douyin brings the Chinese great happiness |
C.Every Chinese is using Douyin to make short video |
D.China's short video market has developed rapidly |
7 . Late one recent night, Carol Spale picked up the phone and heard quiet sobbing on the line. It was her
Spale runs the local “Neighbourhood Services” committee, so she's used to receiving calls like this. The committee is
For people nearby, Spale is the guardian. But why was the old lady
Three times a year, the committee has
These kindnesses are
A.mother | B.captain | C.neighbour | D.minister |
A.equal | B.simple | C.similar | D.familiar |
A.secretly | B.recently | C.seriously | D.obviously |
A.choice | B.product | C.discovery | D.suggestion |
A.manages | B.employs | C.trains | D.controls |
A.laughing | B.crying | C.singing | D.shouting |
A.sorry | B.angry | C.happy | D.nervous |
A.memory | B.thought | C.impression | D.recognition |
A.safer | B.luckier | C.better | D.stronger |
A.seeking | B.minding | C.changing | D.honouring |
A.competitions | B.debates | C.congratulations | D.meetings |
A.performed | B.expected | C.witnessed | D.remembered |
A.showed | B.shared | C.explained | D.confirmed |
A.bets | B.promises | C.friends | D.decisions |
A.taken | B.printed | C.developed | D.recorded |
8 . It was just a normal day for Ruth Miller, a 63-year-old woman until everything went horribly wrong. She was walking to her car after shopping when the unthinkable happened.
Right as she was unlocking her car, a man quickly came up behind her and tried to wrestle her purse away. She was in a state of shock. Luckily she remembered she had her Safe Personal Alarm (SPA) on her purse, and since she was too scared to scream for help, she quickly reached for the alarm and pulled the pin (保险栓). Immediately her SPA started just screaming. The man didn’t know what to do! He froze for a second, and then ran away like a bat out of hell!
SPA is a safety device capable of creating a 125 dB sound that attracts attention and scares away potential attackers. To compare, it’s the same volume as a military jet during take-off.
Paul Davidson, the inventor of SPA, knows all too well the type of situation that Ruth found herself in. But that’s not the only type of situation that SPA helps protect against. Parents can give it to their kids as an extra means of protection. Teenagers can use it so they can feel safe walking home. Women can know ifs there when they have to use the parking lot at night. “My mother, who is 76 years old, carries it around in case she falls and needs to ask people for help. I only wish I’d have thought of it earlier,” said Paul.
The police have been recommending SPA since it first hit the market. In fact, since its launch, SPA has been in a state, shifting between in stock and sold out nearly every other week, and it’s also got tons of loyal followers worldwide.
1. What does the underlined part “the unthinkable” in Paragraph 1 refer to?A.An attempted robbery. | B.A wrestling match. |
C.An angry argument. | D.A car accident. |
A.She fought violently. | B.She froze in great fear. |
C.She cried desperately for help. | D.She sounded her safety device. |
A.To imply the elderly need more care. | B.To suggest he cares about his mother. |
C.To show SPA can be widely used. | D.To make an advertisement for SPA. |
A.SPA is well received in the market. | B.People hesitate to pay for security. |
C.SPA was sold out in the first two weeks. | D.The police seldom recommend products. |
9 . Reading and writing poetry is a very personal experience. Poets use language as a way of expressing their feelings. Poems can describe the beauty of nature, a person, a dream or a memorable event. Most people have tried writing poetry at some time. For children, it is a good way to explore language and have fun with words as well as to express themselves.
But teachers and psychologists have found another use for poetry as a form of therapy (疗法) to help people with problems. Writing poetry can help people deal with changes in their lives, death or feelings of sadness, drug or alcohol problems or serious illness. By writing down your feelings, you can learn to understand yourself better and give yourself a voice if you feel you are being ignored. Poem might be a way of telling someone something when you do not feel able to talk about it face to face. And just because people are ill or having difficulties in their lives, it doesn’t mean they have lost their sense of humor. Poems written as therapy can be funny too, as laughter is also considered to be very good medicine.
Students at a special school in Dudley, in England, read and write poems every day. Some of the poems they write are very good, but their reason for writing is not just to be creative. All of them have problems. Some of them have long-term medical conditions, such as cancer, while others have personality disorders or psychological problems. By writing poems students are growing in self-confidence. The poems provide a channel through which they can communicate with the world, and express their feelings. They also help them to recognize and explore their problems and to develop a positive attitude to life.
But the poems are helping other people, too. The school has collected some of the students’ poems and published them in a book which is being sold to raise funds for a local hospital. The book has proved very popular, giving students a sense of motivation and achievement.
1. How can poetry work as therapy?A.By solving physical problems. | B.By staying away from humor. |
C.By communicating face to face. | D.By promoting expression. |
A.They suffer many problems. | B.They know many poems. |
C.They are very confident. | D.They are very positive. |
A.They’ll get wealthy. | B.They’ll get inspired. |
C.They’ll become popular psychologists. | D.They’ll become professional poets. |
A.The creation of poetry. | B.The power of poetry. |
C.The development of poetry. | D.The appreciation of poetry. |
10 . Four homes built using everyday objects
Can newspapers and bottles be used as building materials? After touring these four homes built using these objects, you might just believe the answer is yes.
Plastic Bottle Village, Bocas del ToroOne man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Truer words could not describe Robert Bezeau’s project which began in 2012. After collecting tens of thousands of bottles, Bezeau recruited a team of locals to construct a building using the unwanted materials.
The Bottle Houses, Cape Egmon, Prince Edward IslandThe Bottle Houses on Prince Edward Island, Canada, are the creation of Edouard T. Arsenault and his daughter Rejeanne. The father and daughter began construction in 1980. Over the months, they collected empty bottles, and by 1981 they opened the house to the public. Since then, the building has remained open to visitors, with sunny days being the best time to visit.
Earthship Biotecture, Taos, New MexicoMichael Reynolds built his first Earthship when he was 23 years old. Starting out with nothing more than empty bottles, Reynolds set out to create a home that was not only sustainable, but also easy enough for someone without a construction background to build. Earthship Biotecture offers nightly stays. Self-guided tours are also available.
The Paper House, Rockport, MassachusettsWhen Elis F. Stenman built his summer home in 1922, he turned to paper for materials. The design has proven to be quite durable, as it’s still standing nearly 100 years later. The home has been open to visitors since the 1930s, and only began charging 10 cents per person in 1942 when it became a museum. Today visitors can experience the Paper House for themselves for $2 for adults and $1 for children.
1. What do we know about Plastic Bottle Village?A.It was designed by Bezeau. | B.It was finished in 2012. |
C.It became trash finally. | D.It was built for a team of locals. |
A.In the Bottle Houses. | B.In the Paper House. |
C.In an Earthship. | D.In Plastic Bottle Village. |
A.It is constructed by a Canadian family. | B.It is used to collect rubbish. |
C.It is free for children. | D.It is made of paper. |