1 . Hard work really does pay off. Scientists find that perseverance (毅力) leads to better grades and higher achievements in school.
“Being passionate (热诚的) is not enough to ensure academic success,” said researchers, who thought of “courage” as a key to success. This is also regarded as effort in reaching long-term goals, and determination to continue one’s efforts in spite of hardships.
Researchers thought that the finding could help create new training to help children develop the skill and help ensure their future success.
Researchers from the Academy of Finland studied more than 2,000 students from Helsinki. They were followed through their academic career from 12 to 16, from the sixth grade until the ninth grade in local school years. Researchers found that the factor that best predicted courage was related to goals, with previous academic achievements playing no role in developing the skill.
Professor Katariina Salmela-Aro, who led the study, said, “Courage means a young person is really interested in his or her studies and does not give up easily. A key element of courage is high perseverance when facing difficulties and hardships. The important finding is that these factors are the key to success and well-being. Our study shows the power of courage.”
Professor Salmela-Aro also thought it was important to develop new practices and qualities to improve courage in teenagers. She added, “Young people should see everyday school work as part of their life in a broader context and establish achievable goals for themselves. Schools must also serve as a place where it is safe to fail and learn to deal with setbacks. One must not be discouraged by setbacks, but gain(得到) strength and new energy from them!”
1. What can we learn about the research?| A．It takes at least three years. |
| B．It helps students make progress. |
| C．It makes many discoveries. |
| D．It follows 2,000 students abroad. |
| A．Focus on former grades. |
| B．Achieve their goals. |
| C．Try all their best. |
| D．Forget sadness. |
| A．Strengths. | B．Difficulties. |
| C．Weaknesses. | D．Efforts. |
| A．Hard work will lead to success |
| B．Failure is the mother of success |
| C．Schools should train students’ courage |
| D．Perseverance is the key to success |
2 . Passenger pigeons (旅鸽) were the most common birds in all of North America in the 1800s. It was common to see large groups of passenger pigeons — groups that made a sound like a storm. But today, they are extinct because of human behavior. Now, some scientists want to bring passenger pigeons back to life by using new technology and scientific ideas. They call this process deextinction.
Deextinction has not happened yet. It is still just an idea. The process of deextinction is not easy. First, scientists must collect DNA from the bodies of extinct animals. Then they will put it in the eggs of similar animal species. When these animals become adults, they will have babies. And these baby animals will have the DNA of the extinct animals.
Scientists believe it is possible to bring back passenger pigeons and many other animals. However, not everyone thinks this is a good idea.
Stuart Primm is the world's leading expert on modern animal extinction. He believes that bringing extinct animals back to life is bad for the earth. On one hand, these animals no longer have a safe place to live. On the other hand, they could cause other animals to die.
Many other scientists do not agree with Stuart Primm. Stuart Brand, a writer and scientist, is one of them. He believes deextinction is good for many reasons.
"The current generation (当代) of children will experience the return of some unusual animals in their lifetime. It may be part of what defines their generation and their attitude to the natural world. They will take their parents to zoos to see the growing populations of passenger pigeons, and maybe even dodo birds. This will provide a good deal of money for zoos busy with extinct species restoration (恢复). Humans killed off a lot of species over the last 10,000 years. So, it's right to bring some back to life," he said.
1. In the 19th century, passenger pigeons ________.| A．were common sightings |
| B．suffered a lot from storms |
| C．lived mainly in North America |
| D．were the largest in American history |
| A．It will change the DNA of the extinct animals. |
| B．It was first used in passenger pigeons. |
| C．It is difficult to carry out. |
| D．It proved to be useful. |
| A．They will die very soon. | B．They will create other problems. |
| C．They will do great harm to humans. | D．They will replace the similar species. |
| A．Wrong. | B．Difficult. | C．Important. | D．Wasteful. |
3 . Academic Year Language Arts
This course focuses on close-reading and analysis paired with academic writing. Students learn thetorical(修辞的)analysis: how to recognize the “tools”an author uses to create certain effects in their writing. Students learn and apply these skills in the first trimester (Weeks l-12) by studying several short stories from The Best American Short Stories of the Century, coupled with a study of the book How to ReadLiterature Like a Professor. In the second trimester (Weeks 13-24), students continue improving their thetorical analysis skills by examining several challenging texts.
In the final trimester (Weeks 25-36), students will use what they've been developing to write their own essays.
What is encouraged in class?
·Close-reading and discussion of very challenging literary texts
·Targeted study of professional, published writing and in-class practice of academic writing skills
·Feedback on writing, including one-on-one conferencing with the teacher and group workshops
Homework
Throughout the year, students draft and revise several long-term writing projects.
Students will work on these projects mostly in class, but they'll also be expected to complete some writing at home. At the end of the year, students will choose one of these projects to revise and polish. Besides, students will also complete short reading tasks at home that will be discussed in class.
Teachers' feedback
Since students will complete most of their writing in class, there'll be many chances for the teacher to provide face-to-face feedback immediately while students are working. At the end of-each multi-week project, students will hand in their final drafts and receive detailed, formal written feedback from their teacher.
Exams
Students have to take an in-class exam at the end of each trimester. Exams will focus on the analysis and writing skills students are learning in class.
1. When are the participants expected to start writing their own essays?| A．In the l0th week. | B．In the 13th week. |
| C．In the 24th week. | D．In the 25th week. |
| A．Consulting publishers. | B．Reading aloud alone. |
| C．Sharing different ideas. | D．Recommending books. |
| A．The instant access to teachers' feedback. | B．The chance to avoid taking extra exams. |
| C．The possibility of drawing more attention. | D．The quick way to get the essays published. |
4 . I sat down at my desk and started writing a letter of thankfulness, but when it came to actually putting the letter into the mailbox. I
The letter was to an old teacher with whom I kept in
I could have easily sent her an email, but that seemed not enough for such an important thankyou. That's why I ended up
Weeks later I received a message from her. It turned out she was going through a hard time and my note
Not only did this letter make her happier, but her response to it brightened my world and
| A．continued | B．stopped | C．swapped | D．paced |
| A．concern | B．disappointment | C．responsibility | D．power |
| A．mind | B．sight | C．order | D．touch |
| A．So | B．However | C．Instead | D．Meanwhile |
| A．greatly | B．rapidly | C．loosely | D．widely |
| A．checking | B．receiving | C．handwriting | D．reading |
| A．confident | B．afraid | C．fond | D．sure |
| A．message | B．agreement | C．present | D．explanation |
| A．sadly | B．officially | C．finally | D．entirely |
| A．meant | B．persuaded | C．offered | D．determined |
| A．decision | B．part | C．usage | D．command |
| A．increased | B．forecast | C．expressed | D．recognized |
| A．congratulation | B．request | C．comfort | D．thank you |
| A．hand out | B．find out | C．set out | D．put out |
| A．grateful | B．sorry | C．satisfied | D．careful |
5 . When most high school students complain about having to wake up extra early，they're usually referring to a swim practice before class or the last minute study before a test. But that was never the case for Corey Patrick，who woke up at 4：30 every morning last year in order to arrive on time at Tarrant High School in Alabama.
Patrick had attended Tarrant City Schools since his fourth grade，but things got difficult when his family moved to a town 14 miles away. Even though his family didn't have any forms of transportation，Patrick didn't want to miss out on his senior year with friends，so he woke up at 4：30 every morning in order to make it to a 5：41 a．m.bus that would help him get to Tarrant on time.And just as he had done every other school day of the year，Patrick got up one morning to start the journey from his home to his high school; the only obvious difference that morning was that he was wearing his graduation gown (毕业礼服)，which made that day's bus driver，DeJuanna Beasley, take some photos of him. She then shared them online with these words，“You tell me this isn't determination.He got on my bus to go to his graduation，and no one was with him.Sometimes it's all in what you want out of life.I was so proud of this young man.”
That was soon shared by many people online，and it caught the attention of radio host Rickey Smiley，who surprised Patrick by giving him a car later. Smiley confirmed that he would make sure that Patrick received help with getting his driver's license. A GoFundMe was also created for Patrick，which has raised over $20,000. And Patrick has got a scholarship (奖学金) to Jacksonville University，where he plans to study computer science.
1. Why was Patrick different from most students when it comes to rising early?| A．It had something to do with study. |
| B．It was a part of daily life for him. |
| C．He was unwilling to get up early. |
| D．He spent more time in studying. |
| A．Patrick dressed poorly on his graduation day. |
| B．It took Patrick an hour to get to the bus stop. |
| C．The driver was moved by Patrick's story. |
| D．There was no school in Patrick's town. |
| A．Patrick's request for help on the Internet. |
| B．The difficulties that Patrick experienced. |
| C．The information about Patrick's university. |
| D．The message published online by the driver. |
| A．GoFundMe. | B．Rickey Smiley. |
| C．Patrick's high school. | D．Jacksonville University. |
6 . On November 7, Lewis Pugh completed a one-kilometer swim in the freezing waters of King Edward Cove, off South Georgia in Antarctica. He was wearing only his swimming glasses, cap and Speedo !
Pugh is an advocate for our oceans and seas, working to protect these ecosystems with their large diversity of marine life. When asked why he doesn't wear a wetsuit(防寒泳衣), Pugh says, "I ask world leaders to do everything they can to protect our oceans. Sometimes the steps they need to take are difficult and unpopular. If I'm asking them to be courageous, I must also be. Swimming in a wetsuit would not send the right message."
It took Pugh about 19 minutes to complete the one-kilometer swim in Antarctica where the water averaged about 1.6 degrees Celsius. He says that his body can only tolerate about 20 minutes in the freezing waters before it starts shutting down. As he swims, his body temperature steadily drops, which in turn causes his muscle control to drop, slowing him down. When he is done with his swim, his support team rushes him to a hot shower and it takes almost an hour for his body temperature to return to normal.
Doctors and Pugh caution that one must receive months of training to swim in such cold waters. Even expert swimmers who are unused to freezing water can drown within minutes because of the physical shock experienced by the body. Pugh says he trained for six months before this swim.
This is not the first time that Pugh has swum in dangerous conditions. In 2007, he swam one kilometer in the North Pole to draw attention to the melting Arctic ice due to climate change. In 2015, he swam in the Bay of Whales in Antarctica's Ross Sea as part of his successful campaign to help set up a marine reserve there.
1. Why did Lewis Pugh swim without a wetsuits ?| A．To show his bravery. |
| B．To swim faster. |
| C．To build up his body. |
| D．To have overnight fame. |
| A．His body temperature. |
| B．His body |
| C．The water. |
| D．The water temperature. |
| A．One should be expert at swimming. |
| B．One must be used to long-distance swimming. |
| C．One should be ready to take on challenges. |
| D．One must be adequately prepared for it. |
| A．Lewis Pugh: achieving the impossible |
| B．How to survive a swim in cold waters |
| C．Lewis Pugh: swimming for a cause |
| D．How to prepare for extreme swimming |
7 . Flying High
Barrington Irving made his historic flight and founded an educational non-profit-making organization. The secret, he believes, is having a dream in the first place, and that starts with learning experiences that inspire kids to build careers.
The moment of inspiration for Irving came in his parents’ bookstore. One customer, a professional pilot, asked Irving if he’d thought about becoming a pilot. “I told him I wasn’t smart enough; but the next day he took me to the cockpit (驾驶舱) of the commercial airplane he flew, and just like that I was hooked.”
To follow his dream, Irving turned down a football scholarship to the University of Florida. He washed airplanes to earn money and increased his flying skills by practising at home on a $40 flight simulator (模拟) video game. Then another dream took hold: flying alone around the world. He faced more than 50 rejections for sponsorship before convincing some companies to donate aircraft components. He took off with no weather radar, no de-icing system, and just $30 in his pocket.
After 97 days, 26 stops and dozens of thunderstorms, he touched down to a cheering crowd in Miami. “It was seeing so many young people watching and listening that pushed me into giving back with my knowledge and experience.” Irving has been doing it ever since. He set up his non-profit-making organization, Experience Aviation (航空), aiming to increase the numbers of youth in aviation and science-related careers. “We want to create chances for students to accomplish something amazing,” he notes. The most powerful educational tool is the example his own life provides.
1. According to Irving, what is the most important in achieving success?| A．Meeting people who provide unexpected help. |
| B．Getting a chance to study technical knowledge. |
| C．Having something specific that you want to accomplish. |
| D．Developing communication with different organizations. |
| A．he felt embarrassed to refuse the offer | B．he was doubtful about his own abilities |
| C．he knew his efforts would be rewarded | D．he realized immediately how lucky he was |
| A．He chose to reduce his budget as low as possible. |
| B．He was finally given enough money to keep going. |
| C．He got the most useful flying tips from his video game. |
| D．He took on a further challenge after he knew how to fly. |
| A．Because he hoped to become a public figure. |
| B．Because he expected to start a business in other fields. |
| C．Because he saw there was great interest in what he was doing. |
| D．Because he thought he could teach more than flight schools could. |
8 . Do you think alien beings exist somewhere in the universe? It seems like Mars, our closest neighbor, has inspired the most science fiction as the place where aliens are most likely to come from. Recent Mars probes (探测) have shown us that there is no life on that planet—at least not now. But that does not mean that life does not exist elsewhere—after all, the universe is really big. A lot of scientific research is going on in the search for “extraterrestrial life”.
Think about it—why should the seven billion people on this little planet be the only living beings in the universe? It would, in fact, seem logical that this is not the case. So scientific research in this matter is based around the idea of finding other planets that have environments that can support life —environments similar to the Earth. The search is on for the evidence of the existence, or earlier existence of life: from very wise beings to simple organisms (有机物).
So far, there have been a number of theories as to which planetary bodies may have an atmosphere that can support such life and therefore deserve closer attention. As for places within our own Milky Way Galaxy, it has been assumed over the decades that Mars and Venus, as well as some of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, may have been hosts for life. Now, as technologies have improved and we can obtain measurements of the composition of the atmosphere on extra-solar planets, the chances of finding “alien” life forms are increasing.
There has been a theory that some of the planets in the habitable zone of the red dwarf star Gliese 581 may be able to support life. In 2007, scientists discovered exoplanet Gliese 581c—and felt that its atmosphere was most suitable for supporting life. But further research revealed that it would not. Now, attention has been turned to Gliese 581d, at the outer edge of the star’s habitable zone. The main standards for deciding whether a planetary body can be life-supporting are atmospheric conditions which allow the existence of water. Gliese 581 is about 20. 4 light years away from the Earth, so even if life does exist there, the distance would mean that communication would be unlikely.
Having said this—who says alien life forms (if they exist) need water?
1. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Life existing outside of the Earth. |
| B．The evidence of the existence of life. |
| C．Other faraway planets in the universe. |
| D．Creatures known from science fictions. |
| A．Modern scientific theories. | B．Atmospheric conditions. |
| C．Environments similar to the Earth. | D．Advanced technologies. |
| A．the atmosphere of Gliese 581c was most suitable for life |
| B．it is not certain whether alien life forms need water or not |
| C．the 7 billion people on the Earth are the only beings in the universe |
| D．the distance of 20. 4 light years makes it impossible to find life on Gliese 581d |
| A．Do Aliens Exist? | B．Is Mars Suitable for Life? |
| C．Are Alien Life Forms Various? | D．Can We Communicate with Aliens? |
9 . Fourth-grader, Sarah Haycox, made it her mission to right a wrong. And in doing so, she has shown the world what one
One day, when
After some
Feeling that the small memorial was
There was a new
Most kids simply had walked by the memorial without thinking about who Mr. Pratt was. But Sarah had the
| A．honest | B．young | C．clever | D．shy |
| A．walking | B．running | C．riding | D．driving |
| A．museum | B．church | C．board | D．memorial |
| A．forgot | B．realized | C．wondered | D．explained |
| A．discussion | B．research | C．practice | D．thought |
| A．teach | B．rescue | C．help | D．repay |
| A．killed | B．punished | C．blamed | D．arrested |
| A．rarely | B．simply | C．merely | D．hardly |
| A．impact | B．impression | C．reflection | D．dependence |
| A．stopped | B．decided | C．happened | D．announced |
| A．library | B．theatre | C．school | D．hospital |
| A．in need of | B．in search of | C．in favour of | D．in charge of |
| A．curiosity | B．confidence | C．chance | D．energy |
| A．prove | B．change | C．present | D．pursue |
| A．astonished | B．inspired | C．attracted | D．protected |
10 . Finding Home
“I hate New Orleans! I wanna go home!” I
I was born and
Only three months after my parents made the
I spent my first few months in New Orleans,
As soon as I stopped giving all my
Because of my resilience (复原力) in creating a new home for myself and the
| A．announced | B．replied | C．turned | D．pointed |
| A．Therefore | B．Instead | C．However | D．Besides |
| A．trained | B．raised | C．promoted | D．fed |
| A．develop | B．continue | C．exist | D．change |
| A．command | B．suggestion | C．excuse | D．decision |
| A．preferred | B．missed | C．hate | D．imagined |
| A．surprised | B．frightened | C．delighted | D．relieved |
| A．performance | B．region | C．presentation | D．experience |
| A．partly | B．badly | C．slightly | D．hardly |
| A．realized | B．remembered | C．observed | D．complained |
| A．and | B．but | C．or | D．so |
| A．attention | B．patience | C．trust | D．confidence |
| A．generation | B．community | C．race | D．school |
| A．teach | B．accept | C．judge | D．better |
| A．belief | B．freedom | C．love | D．interest |
