1 . Malala Yousafzai was born in 1997 in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, a tourist area known for its beauty. But life there changed between 2007 and 2008 when Taliban leaders started making demands and threats. They forced women to stay home and banned girls from attending school.
Malala remembers her feelings, “I really had two choices. One was to remain silent and be killed, and the second was to speak up and then be killed. I chose the second one.”
Using a fake name, she wrote a diary about the difficulties under the Taliban, which was published on the Internet at age 11. At the same time, she used her real name and began making public speeches in favor of education. Months later Malala was identified as the diary’s author.
By 2012 Pakistan’s army had forced most of the Taliban out of Swat and restored (恢复) order. Life was returning to normal, and girls were returning to school. Malala’s life, though, was about to take an unexpected turn.
On October 9, 2012, Malala and her fellow students got on the bus after school to go home. Minutes later, two men boarded the bus and asked, “Who is Malala?” Without realizing what they were doing, the students turned and looked at their friend, showing who she was. The men shot Malala in the head, and Malala was badly injured.
Fortunately, Malala had an operation and survived. However, she needed additional care, so doctors decided to fly her to Birmingham, England, for recovery. Malala spent three months in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham making an outstanding recovery.
Nine months later on July 12th — her 16th birthday — Malala spoke at the United Nations. In a speech that was heard around the world, she demanded education for everyone.
On December 10, 2014, Malala and another person were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. At 17, Malala had become the youngest person to ever receive it, and she offered these words. “I’m just a determined and even stubborn person who wants to see every child getting quality education. I tell my story, not because it is unique, but because it is not.”
Today Malala lives in the United Kingdom and continues her campaign for education.
1. What did Malala do when the Taliban controlled her hometown?| A．She published a novel. |
| B．She kept writing a private diary. |
| C．She called on people to stay at home. |
| D．She fought for girls’ rights to education. |
| A．Students’ eyes fell on Malala. |
| B．They saw Malala’s photo. |
| C．Malala stood out bravely. |
| D．The bus driver told them. |
| A．Many children also suffer from attacks. |
| B．Many people also struggle for survival. |
| C．Many people also provide help for the needy. |
| D．Many children also lose their right to attend school. |
2 . In traditional Chinese culture, fish has rich meanings. It
“You are not
| A．produces | B．spreads | C．determines | D．represents |
| A．so | B．because | C．unless | D．though |
| A．picture | B．animal | C．food | D．symbol |
| A．used | B．afraid | C．forced | D．likely |
| A．technology | B．culture | C．transport | D．education |
| A．identity | B．application | C．shortcoming | D．insurance |
| A．selfless | B．peaceful | C．numerous | D．informal |
| A．beauty | B．strength | C．smartness | D．wisdom |
| A．helpful | B．true | C．similar | D．rude |
| A．cut off | B．taken away | C．given out | D．used up |
| A．such as | B．as a result of | C．owing to | D．in front of |
| A．names | B．owners | C．shelters | D．colours |
| A．fish | B．history | C．water | D．air |
| A．wrote | B．tested | C．performed | D．discussed |
| A．always | B．never | C．easily | D．mostly |
3 . Recently, a Philadelphia teen has been a hot topic in the US. Having always been hard-working in studying, Richard Jenkins has now
However, life is not always
“ I realized I’ve got to try my best
Jenkins applied to Harvard in his junior year of high school. He said he was
Jenkins was quite protective of his mother, and says to the reports that he doesn’t like to talk about his past living in a homeless shelter. However, he does say his experiences as a child gave him the drive and desire to get into Harvard and he was rewarded in the end.
1.| A．demanded | B．received | C．achieved | D．represented |
| A．easy | B．practical | C．ordinary | D．impressive |
| A．build | B．afford | C．buy | D．exchange |
| A．Amazed | B．Discouraged | C．Encouraged | D．Embarrassed |
| A．creativity | B．profession | C．education | D．development |
| A．though | B．because | C．if | D．when |
| A．going | B．looking | C．putting | D．coming |
| A．poor | B．hungry | C．ashamed | D．regretful |
| A．live on | B．call up | C．focus on | D．bring up |
| A．feeling | B．idea | C．nature | D．effort |
| A．informed | B．warned | C．made | D．reminded |
| A．moved | B．confused | C．excited | D．satisfied |
| A．taken | B．changed | C．devoted | D．admitted |
| A．salary | B．scholarship | C．life | D．mark |
| A．show | B．spread | C．deliver | D．supply |
4 . The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was aching, and I’d been in an argument with a friend. Her words still hurt, “ The trouble with you is that you won’t put yourself in my place. Can’t you see things from my point of view? ” I shook my head stubbornly-and felt the ache in my tooth. I’d thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday, but the pain was really unbearable. I started calling the dentists in the phone book, but no one could see me immediately. Finally, at about lunchtime, I got lucky.
“ If you come by right now, ” the receptionist said, “ the dentist will fit you in. ”
I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car. But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice? Why wasn’t he as busy as the others?
In the dentist’s office, I sat down and looked around. I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried. The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my icecold one.
When I told her my fears, she laughed and said, “ Don’t worry. The dentist is very good. ”
“ How long do I have to wait for him? ” I asked impatiently.
“ Come on, he is coming. Just lie down and relax. And enjoy the artwork, ” the assistant said.
“ The artwork? ”I was puzzled.
The chair went back. Suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture, right where I could enjoy it: on the ceiling. How considerate the dentist was! At that moment, I began to understand what my friend meant by her words.
What a relief!
1. Which of the following best describes the author’s feeling that morning?| A．Upset. | B．Nervous. | C．Cheerful. | D．Satisfied. |
| A．The laughing assistant of the dentist. |
| B．The surroundings of the dentist’s office. |
| C．The dentist’s being as busy as the other dentists. |
| D．The dentist’s agreeing to treat her at very short notice. |
| A．Because the dentist came at last. | B．Because she could relax in the chair. |
| C．Because she saw a picture on the ceiling. | D．Because the assistant kept comforting her. |
| A．Strike while the iron is hot. | B．Put oneself in other’s shoes. |
| C．A friend in need is a friend indeed. | D．Have a good word for one’s friend. |
5 . Letter writing may seem like a lost art to many of us, but for Emerson Weber, it’s a way of life. Emerson is a fifth-grader. Her dad said the 11-year-old has a(n)
One day, she decided to write a
“You may know me as the person that lives here that writes a lot of
Emerson gave Doug the letter and was
Now that their story has gone viral (传播开来), Emerson’s dad is
| A．serious | B．strange | C．common | D．unconscious |
| A．carries | B．contributes | C．sends | D．shows |
| A．signs | B．gifts | C．rewards | D．goods |
| A．public | B．secret | C．standard | D．special |
| A．focused | B．organized | C．connected | D．motivated |
| A．reviews | B．books | C．poems | D．letters |
| A．improving | B．delivering | C．exchanging | D．reading |
| A．important | B．familiar | C．faithful | D．available |
| A．believable | B．successful | C．happy | D．popular |
| A．phone | B．car | C．job | D．hobby |
| A．interesting | B．worthwhile | C．affordable | D．possible |
| A．eager | B．thrilled | C．fortunate | D．disappointed |
| A．believes | B．remembers | C．loves | D．knows |
| A．allowing | B．encouraging | C．promising | D．forcing |
| A．writes about | B．deals with | C．refers to | D．longs for |
6 . In the United States, a company is working on a project that could change the way we think about public transportation. Its planned system would move people around in steel tubes. Those passengers would be traveling at speeds of up to 1,200 kilometers per hour.
The futuristic transportation system is called Hyperloop. Workers plan to test the system next year in a specially built community called Quay valley. The town will be powered entirely by energy from the sun.
The Hyperloop transport system is the idea of businessman Elon Musk. Dirk Ahlborn is head of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies. He says his company has taken Mr. Musk's idea and is developing a system that will be safe, environmentally friendly and fast.
It’s 100 percent solar-powered... we’re not going to get up to 760 miles per hour, but we believe we can actually break the records that are exiting right now.”
This means that a four-hour drive from Los Angeles, California to Las Vegas, Nevada, could someday take only 30 minutes by Hyperloop.
The system involves a series of capsules that float inside a long tube. These containers wouldn’t need to travel along a pathway or track. The system has been designed to operate above or below ground.
Inside the tube there is a low-pressure environment very similar to an airplane that’s at high altitudes. So now the capsule travelling inside the tube doesn’t meet with as much resistance, and therefore can travel really fast with very little energy.
Dick Ahlborn and his company will use an eight-kilometer track in Quay Valley to find the best way to set up passenger traffic and repair capsules. A larger system will cost an estimated 6 — 10 billion dollars to build.
If Mr. Ahlborn and his company succeed, we may one day see these very fast Hyperloop capsules speeding through tubes around the world.
1. What do we know about the Hyperloop transport system?| A．It travels along a pathway or track. | B．It was already tested in a community. |
| C．It was developed by a businessman. | D．It is environmentally friendly. |
| A．They are solar-powered. | B．They travel at high altitudes. |
| C．There is less resistance inside the tube. | D．There is a powerful engine to drive them. |
| A．Objective. | B．Doubtful. | C．Subjective. | D．Dissatisfied. |
| A．Steel Tubs | B．A Creative Businessman |
| C．Hyperloop Transport System | D．Quay Valley |
7 . Some people still live in her hometown. But
Many people like Li Daming show great interest in the changes of their hometowns. Lots of large hospitals and new roads have appeared. In many places, a lot of excellent teachers from the cities
“I
| A．other | B．the other | C．another | D．others |
| A．to search | B．search | C．searching | D．searched |
| A．Between | B．Middle | C．Among | D．During |
| A．have gone to | B．has been in | C．have been to | D．has been to |
| A．many | B．the more | C．much | D．the most |
| A．am used to doing | B．am used to | C．am used for | D．used to |
| A．/ | B．the | C．an | D．a |
| A．have been sent | B．were sent | C．are sending | D．will send |
| A．founded | B．looked | C．noticed | D．hoped |
| A．mid-twenty | B．mid-twentieth | C．mid-twelve | D．mid-twelfth |
| A．developments | B．competitions | C．inventions | D．progresses |
| A．According to | B．For example | C．In order to | D．Ever since |
| A．Even | B．Or | C．And | D．However |
| A．was | B．is | C．were | D．will be |
| A．specially | B．especially | C．particularly | D．properly |
8 . On the early morning of December 17, the Chang’e-5 lunar probe (月球探测器) landed safely on the grasslands in Inner Mongolia, meaning the Chang’e-5 mission (任务) ended successfully.
Chang’e-5 was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan Province on November 24, 2020. On December 1, the probe got to the moon. During the stay on the moon, it collected 1,731 grams of rock and soil samples (样品). On December 3, our national flag was shown on the moon. After that, the probe was ready to go home.
China is no stranger to lunar exploration (探月) programs. Over the years, it has sent a number of increasingly challenging missions to the moon. One of the most famous missions was the historic landing of Chang’e-4 spacecraft on the moon’s far side in 2019. As Chang’e-5 reached a new area of the moon, this launch successfully pushed the limits (极限) even further. It’s no doubt a great step forward for the space industry.
This is a truly historic event for China’s space program, making China the third nation in the world to bring samples back from the moon. The success has also made Chang’e-5 the first spacecraft to bring back samples from the moon since 1976 when a Russian spaceship brought back 170.1 grams of samples to the earth. This was no easy task, but China has made it.
1. How long did the whole Chang’e-5 mission last?| A．About half a month. | B．Around 10 days. |
| C．Over a month. | D．More than 20 days. |
| A．回收 | B．发射 | C．发明 | D．销毁 |
| A．the importance of space exploration |
| B．the difficulty in lunar exploration |
| C．the future of China’s space program |
| D．the progress in China’s moon missions |
| A．CULTURE | B．TRAVEL | C．SCIENCE | D．SPORT |
9 . Making friends at school can be a little difficult — but it doesn’t have to be! Try out a few of these methods to talk to people in your class and hang out with them outside of school. Before you know it, you’ll have a group of friends to have fun with every day!
■友好。
Using proper body language will help, Stand up straight, make eye contact with people, and smile! Try to avoid crossing your arms over your chest and looking closed off. The more open and friendly you look, the more people will want to get to know you.
■在__期间坐在一张新桌子上。
Look for tables with an open seat. If you’re feeling a little nervous, pick a table that only has one or two people sitting down. Head over and ask if you can sit there, then join in on the conversation. If you like the people you sit with, ask if you can join them again the next day.
■尝试运动队。
Pick a sport that you like (it could be soccer, basketball, softball, baseball, or anything in between), and try out for the team. Over time, you could become good friends with some of the other people on your team! If your school doesn’t have a sports team, try looking for one at your local community center.
■加入课后俱乐部。
Meet friends who have the same hobby as you. Ask a teacher or your parents for a list of after school activities and pick 1 or 2 of them that you’re the most excited about. Introduce yourself to everyone when you attend your first club meeting to meet new people and start a fun conversation.
1. 哪个词最适合"____"？| A．假期 | B．类 | C．会议 | D．午餐 |
| A．如何与陌生人交谈 | B．如何结交朋友 |
| C．如何开始对话 | D．如何选择活动 |
| A．在校学生 | B．学校教师 |
| C．年幼的父母 | D．年长的父母 |
10 . Many graduation ceremonies look different. But for Melody Ormond, it looked different because of the classmate who graduated alongside her—her grandmother, 75-year-old Pat Ormond. They both went to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and graduated together.
Pat took her first college class at Kennesaw State University 42 years ago. After one semester, she dropped out to move to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she spent the next several decades working as an accountant and raising a family. While she did take an occasional class at UTC, she says her family continued to encourage her to go back to finish her degree, especially after she retired. She agreed when her granddaughter decided to move to study psychology at UTC after a year at Berea College in Kentucky. They both entered UTC with enough college credits to make graduating together a possibility.
Pat and Melody graduated on November 20 as part of UTC’s 2020 class. The achievement has also made Pat somewhat of a celebrity.
“We are so proud to have graduates like Melody Ormond and her grandmother, Pat Ormond, in the UTC class of 2020,” said Steven R. Angle, UTC Chancellor,” Together, they personify the determination, commitment and love for lifelong learning we encourage in every UTC graduate.”
Pat hopes that she can be an example to other non-traditional college students who want to get their degrees. “Learning never stops,” Pat said. “That’s something that my father taught me when I was young. No matter what you do, learning never stops. Even if it’s auditing (旁听) a few classes, there’s always that option. “Pat isn’t planning to stop anytime soon. She’s already working on another degree — a bachelor’s degree in history.
Meanwhile, her granddaughter, who is hunting jobs, is interested in getting a master’s degree in clinical psychology so she can become a lawyer. But she says she’s in no rush. Her nana has taught her that she has plenty of time.
1. What was special for Melody’s graduation ceremony?| A．It looked different from others. |
| B．Her grandmother was 75-year-old. |
| C．She celebrated it with all her classmates. |
| D．Her grandmother graduated alongside her. |
| A．Represent. | B．Follow. | C．Repeat. | D．Identify. |
| A．They are anxious to be celebrities. |
| B．They support and encourage each other. |
| C．They prefer auditing regular lessons. |
| D．They never stop creating opportunities. |
| A．Passion gives life power. | B．A good beginning is half done. |
| C．It’s never too late to learn. | D．Love can change everything. |
