1 . A letter written to a 12-year-old girl in Lithuania was delivered in December, almost 51 years after it was sent by a pen pal in Poland. “I thought that someone was pranking me,” said Genovefa Klonovska after being handed the letter, which included a handmade colored rose and two paper dolls.
The letter, together with 17 others, fell out of a ventilation hole (通风口) this summer, dirty and wrinkled, as a wall was taken down in a former post office on the suburb of Vilnius. Jurgis Vilnius, owner of the building immediately called the post office. “I’m so happy they got interested,” said he.
Street names and their numbering have changed in Vilnius, and post office workers spent months looking for the right houses and talking to current renters and neighbors, tracking down where the recipients moved to. Only five were found. In several cases children of late recipients were handed a lost letter.
“We felt a moral duty to do this,” said Deimante Zebrauskaite, head of the customer experience department at Lithuania Post.
One lady compared the experience to receiving a message from a bottle thrown into sea. People were emotional. “Some felt they saw a part of daily life of their deceased parents,” Zebrauskaite said.
In the letter to Klonovska, sent from Koezary in Poland and stamped in 1970, a girl named Ewa complains buses no longer reach her village, so she has to walk in minus 23 degree Celsius cold, and asks for pictures of actors.
Now in her 60s, Klonovska has no memory of Ewa. She probably wrote Ewa after finding her address advertising for pen pals in a newspaper, and the relationship ceased after the letter got undelivered.
“So good that the letter didn't matter much. The loss was not life-changing,” said Klonovska “What if they delivered a lost letter from a suitor (求婚者) to his love, and their wedding never happened?”
1. What does the underlined word “pranking” in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Brightening. | B．Embarrassing. | C．Tricking. | D．Pleasing. |
| A．They were accidentally found. |
| B．They remained well-preserved. |
| C．They were delivered by the former post office. |
| D．They were hidden by the owner of the building. |
| A．Generous. | B．Dutiful. | C．Honest. | D．Cautious. |
| A．Klonovska refused a suitor. |
| B．Klonovska stopped the wedding. |
| C．The undelivered letter ruined the relationship. |
| D．The undelivered letter made little difference to her. |
2 . In Chinese cities, food deliverymen are often seen riding at full speed through busy traffic. They rushed from restaurants to different destinations, even under bad weather conditions.
The article The Food Deliverymen Are Trapped in the App pointed out that on food delivery service platforms, Eleme and Meituan, the time limit and the route for each delivery order is calculated by an algorithm（算法）.But the algorithm doesn't consider real-life situations, such as red lights, speed limits and fully occupied elevators.
The time limit for a delivery order within 2 kilometers is 30 minutes, even shorter in recent years. Delay could mean a fine. So deliverymen rev up, often breaking traffic rules, putting their own lives at risk.
Many people asked the platforms to improve the regulations imposed(强加) on the deliverymen. In response to this demand, Eleme announced it would add a button to the app, which allowed customers to extend the time limits for their orders, and encouraged customers to show more respect for deliverymen. But some people felt that the company was staying away from the problem and changing people’s attention. Some held the view that the company was putting the responsibility on the customers rather than solving the problem itself.
As to delivery delays, solutions are far from enough. As a matter of fact, when a delivery delay happens and the company can’t reach an agreement with the customer on the responsibility, the deliveryman is usually the final one responsible for the delay. The Shanghai Customer Council commented that it was unfair for the deliveryman to be the only side responsible for a delay and problems should be solved between the companies and their employees. Besides, market regulatory departments should stop companies from setting tight schedules for their deliverymen and keep them safe on the roads.
1. What does the underlined expression “rev up” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?| A．Run away. | B．Speed up. |
| C．Wander around. | D．Slow down. |
| A．The Customer Council. | B．The customer. |
| C．The company. | D．The deliveryman. |
| A．Set tight schedules for more orders. |
| B．Solve the problems of delivery delays with the customers. |
| C．Stop companies from setting tight schedules for their employees. |
| D．Employ more deliverymen for the delivery companies. |
| A．The customers’ rights should be protected. |
| B．Food delivery regulations need improvement. |
| C．Food deliverymen take risks on their way. |
| D．Delivery platforms earn more than before. |
3 . Considering the fast-changing world, it’s great to know the possible job options in the future. The occupations below are probably some of the most promising future careers.
Personal education guideCompared with online programs today, education could better meet individual needs, even with improved convenience. Like an adviser, a personal education guide may assist people with on-demand course selection or the planning of personalized training.
Individualized body part makerDoctors may expect individualized organs grown or 3D printed using their patients’ own cells. After all, scientists’ creation of hearts, kidneys, and livers has already had some success in the labs. Even external body parts including skin and ears have been grown.
Pharmaceutical artisan (制药师)The increasing popularity of 3D printing may enable the quick production of the medicine based on individual needs. It’s possible that artisanal drugs would be created according to one’s unique genes, habits, and medical history.
Brain implant specialistWe are making greater progress in understanding how the complex human brain works, so it’s highly possible that we would create something amazing by combining the rapid advances in neuroscience (神经科学) with the advantages of computer technology. In the future, one can have a specialized computer chip put into his brain to treat certain health issues, such as diseases, mood disorders, and paralysis.
1. Who can help in a personalized course selection?| A．An individualized body part maker. | B．A brain implant specialist. |
| C．A personal education guide. | D．A pharmaceutical artisan. |
| A．Improve human intelligence. |
| B．Change how the brain works. |
| C．Develop medicine for brain diseases. |
| D．Apply computer technology to brain health. |
| A．Online work. | B．Personalized service. |
| C．Artificial technology. | D．Medical knowledge. |
4 . Since the age of three, Hill had dreamed of becoming a dancer. Hill, then a 17-year-old high school
After graduation, Hill met people online who had suffered various spinal cord(脊髓) injuries but shared her
Dancing on
| A．teacher | B．senior | C．pupil | D．worker |
| A．talk | B．season | C．hope | D．beauty |
| A．lovely | B．right | C．pretty | D．normal |
| A．surely | B．instantly | C．exactly | D．only |
| A．knowledge | B．worry | C．pain | D．determination |
| A．chose | B．formed | C．supported | D．played |
| A．send up | B．give away | C．break down | D．break off |
| A．rolling | B．running | C．lying | D．jumping |
| A．buses | B．streets | C．floors | D．wheels |
| A．memory | B．dream | C．illness | D．event |
| A．attended | B．rushed | C．signed | D．moved |
| A．touched | B．interested | C．relaxed | D．belonged |
| A．shoulder | B．eye | C．mouth | D．foot |
| A．plan | B．ability | C．courage | D．condition |
| A．powerful | B．mysterious | C．stressful | D．natural |
5 . According to a new US study, couples who expect their children to look after them in old age should hope they have daughters because daughters are twice as loving as sons generally.
The research by Angelina Grigoryeva, from Princeton University, found that, while women provide as much care for their elderly parents as they can manage, men do as little as they can get away with and often leave it to female family members.
Her analysis of the family networks of 26, 000 old Americans concluded that gender （性别）is one of the most important things that decide whether or not people will actively care for their elderly parents.
In a paper presented at the annual conference of the American Sociological Association in San Francisco, she concludes that simply having a sister makes men likely provide less care. Using data from the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study, a study which has been recording those people over 50s for the last decade, she analyzed that women provide an average of 12. 3 hours a month of care for elderly parents while men offer only 5. 6 hours.
“Sons reduce their relative caregiving efforts when they have a sister, while daughters increase theirs when they have a brother.”
“This suggests that sons pass on parent caregiving responsibilities to their sisters.”
In the UK, the 2011 Census showed that there are now around 6.5 million people with caring responsibilities, a figure which has risen by a tenth in a decade.
But many are doing so at the risk of their health. The census showed that those who provide 50 hours or more of care a week while trying to hold down a fulltime job are three times more likely to be struggling with ill health than their working counterparts who are not carers.
1. According to the passage, what’s the key factor to decide if people will actively care for the old?| A．Education. | B．Gender. | C．Career. | D．Income. |
| A．having a sister makes men less likely to look after their parents |
| B．sons are twice as likely as daughters to care for parents in old age |
| C．sons are unwilling to leave caregiving responsibilities to their sisters |
| D．sons and daughters seem to give equal care to their parents |
| A．People should give up their jobs to care for the elderly. |
| B．Many care providers work longer hours than others. |
| C．Many care providers have potential health problems. |
| D．People shouldn’t pass on caring responsibilities to others. |
| A．explaining social networks of careers |
| B．describing people’s experiences |
| C．analyzing various researches and data |
| D．comparing different gender |
6 . Four Environmentalists You Should Know
Throughout history, environmentalists have had a great influence not only on natural spaces, but also on our individual lives. Here are four influential ones.
●John Muir (1838~1914)
His lifelong love for hiking began when he hiked to the Gulf of Mexico in 1867. Muir spent much of his adult life wandering in—and fighting to preserve—the wilderness of the West, especially California. His tireless efforts led to the creation of Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, and millions of other conservation areas.
●Rachel Carson (1907~1964)
Born in rural Pennsylvania, Rachel Carson went on to study biology at Johns Hopkins University. After working for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Carson published The Sea Around Us and other books. Her most famous work, however, was 1962’s Silent Spring, in which she described the harmful environmental effects of pesticides (杀虫剂). After Carson’s observations were proven correct, pesticides like DDT were banned.
●Wangari Maathai (1940~2011)
Wangari Maathai was from Kenya. After studying biology in the US, she returned to her home country to begin a career in environmental activism. Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, which, by the early 21st century, had already planted some 30 million trees, provided jobs, and secured firewood for rural communities. In 2004, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while continuing to fight for the planet.
●David Brower (1912~2000)
David Brower was associated with wilderness preservation. He became the Sierra Club’s first executive director in 1952, then, over the next 17 years, the club membership grew from 2, 000 to 77, 000. It won many environmental victories under his leadership. After leaving the club, he went on to found other environmental groups like Friends of the Earth, and the Earth Island Institute.
1. Which environmentalist is a writer?| A．John Muir. | B．Rachel Carson. |
| C．Wangari Maathai. | D．David Brower. |
| A．She encouraged green farming. | B．She funded rural communities. |
| C．She advocated growing trees. | D．She attempted to protect wild animals. |
| A．An environmental activist. | B．A great social event planner. |
| C．A city preservationist. | D．An environmental scientist. |
7 . Teens who have good, supportive relationships with their teachers enjoy better health as adults, according to research published by an American research center.
“This research suggests that improving students’ relationships with teachers could have positive and long-lasting effects beyond just academic success,” said Jinho Kim, a professor at Korea University and author of the study. “It could also bring about health implications in the long run.” Previous research has suggested that teens’ social relationships might be linked to health outcomes in adulthood. However, it is not clear whether the link between teen relationships and lifetime health is causal (因果的) — it could be that other factors, such as different family backgrounds, might contribute to both relationship problems in adolescence and to poor health in adulthood. Also, most research has focused on teens’ relationships with their peers (同龄人), rather than on their relationships with teachers.
To explore those questions further, Kim analyzed data on nearly 20, 000 participants from the Add Health study, a national study in the U. S. that followed participants from seventh grade into early adulthood. The participant pool included more than 3, 400 pairs of siblings (兄弟姐妹). As teens, participants answered questions, like “How often have you had trouble getting along with other students and your teachers?” As adults, participants were asked about their physical and mental health.
Kim found that participants who had reported better relationships with both their peers and teachers in middle and high school also reported better physical and mental health in their mid-20s. However, when he controlled for family background by looking at pairs of siblings together, only the link between good teacher relationships and adult health remained significant.
The results suggest teacher relationships are more important than previously realized and that schools should invest in training teachers on how to build warm and supportive relationships with their students. “This is not something that most teachers receive much training in,” Kim said, “but it should be.”
1. What does the underlined word “implications” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Recipes. | B．Habits. | C．Risks. | D．Benefits. |
| A．Poor health in adolescence. | B．Teens’ relationships with their peers. |
| C．Limitations of the previous research. | D．Factors affecting health in adulthood. |
| A．Positive student-teacher relationship helps students’ adult health. |
| B．Good family background promises long-term adult health. |
| C．Healthy peer relationships leads to students’ academic success. |
| D．Good adult health depends on teens’ good teachers. |
| A．A medical report. | B．A health magazine. | C．A term paper. | D．A family survey. |
8 . 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． |
9 . 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 |
10 . 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. |
