1 . On the first day of my new high school, I almost had a nervous breakdown. Everything about the school seemed so difficult. When I got home, my parents said, “You’re nervous and that’s okay. Everyone is afraid of high school.” I denied it. I wanted to be strong, so I refused to let anyone know about my fear, even my closest friends.
On the first day I was late for every class and was constantly lost. The school seemed like a puzzle that I couldn’t figure out. Was this how the whole year was going to be? I didn’t think I could rise to this challenge, especially carrying a huge backpack that I could hardly lift. It was so big that I could knock someone out with it!
Despite my fears, after the first week I finally had my schedule figured out. With the exception of falling up and down the stairs a couple of times and getting laughed at, high school was turning out to be not so bad. It was actually much better than middle school and much more challenging. Since then, I’ve been elected (选举) the vice monitor of my class, which wasn’t much of a victory since only three people ran for the four positions.
It is normal to be scared of a new school. Take a deep breath and relax. High school is not so frightening. Make sure you participate in some outofclass activities because you’ll find it easier to make friends. Try to do your best, even if it isn’t straight A’s.
Most important of all, be who you are, whether you’re a“fool”, an athlete, or a lower grader. Don’t try to pretend to be someone you’re not. Now you know the secret of my success.
1. What is the main reason for the author’s fear on his first day in high school ?A.He was unable to work out the puzzle. |
B.His schoolmates were unfriendly to him. |
C.He was not familiar with the new surroundings. |
D.His schoolbag was too heavy for him to carry. |
A.He didn’t know the right way to class. |
B.He got to school before classes began. |
C.He was fond of the school immediately. |
D.His home was very far from the school. |
A.He was still not accustomed to the schedule. |
B.He was gradually used to the new school. |
C.He found high school not so challenging as he had imagined. |
D.He ran for monitor of his class against three other students. |
A.Making more friends. |
B.Being who he really is. |
C.Getting straight A’s at school. |
D.Joining in outofclass activities. |
2 . Several years ago I went on a trip alone to Mozambique. Our bus broke down by the side of the road. There was certainly nothing in the way of
I was trying to work out what to do when I
This kind-hearted woman accommodated (提供住宿) a
A.hospitals | B.stores | C.hotels | D.colleges |
A.wished | B.concluded | C.insisted | D.argued |
A.frightened | B.surprised | C.excited | D.annoyed |
A.guides | B.villagers | C.volunteers | D.friends |
A.wait | B.tour | C.belong | D.explore |
A.frequently | B.poorly | C.fluently | D.eagerly |
A.added to | B.got over | C.discussed | D.expected |
A.felt | B.found | C.kept | D.stopped |
A.explaining | B.whispering | C.complaining | D.gesturing |
A.hosted | B.interviewed | C.charged | D.comforted |
A.scared | B.attracted | C.satisfied | D.embarrassed |
A.hear | B.remember | C.follow | D.affect |
A.worried | B.confused | C.uncertain | D.welcomed |
A.local | B.family | C.customer | D.stranger |
A.relief | B.regret | C.doubt | D.fear |
3 . Gitanjali Rao, Colorado teenager who invented mobile device to test for lead (铅) in drinking water, was Time’s Kid of the Year for 2020. The magazine announced the award on Thursday, citing Rao’s ability to apply scientific ideas to real-world problems and her desire to motivate other kids to take up their own causes.
It was just the latest recognition for Rao, 15, who was named last year to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. She won praise in 2017 after she responded to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, by creating a device named Tehys, using carbon nanotube sensors to detect (探测) lead in water. The Lone Tree, Colo., native was named America’s Top Young Scientist when she was in the seventh grade. She went on to cooperate with scientists in the water industry to try to get the device on the market.
More recently, Rao has developed a phone and Web tool named Kindly, which uses artificial intelligence technology to detect possible early signs of cyberbullying (网络欺凌).
“You type in a word or phrase, and it’s able to pick it up if it’s bullying, and it gives you the choice to edit it or send it the way it is,” Rao told Time. “The goal is not to punish people. As a teenager I know teenagers tend to become very angry sometimes. Instead, it gives you the chance to rethink what you’re saying so that you know what to do next time around.”
Rao was chosen in part because of the way she has followed up her technical work with efforts to get other young people to work on solving the problems they see.
“I don’t look like your typical scientist. Everything I see on TV is that it’s an older, usually white man as a scientist,” she told Time. “My goal has really shifted, not only from creating my own devices to solve the world’s problems, but inspiring others to do the same as well. So I really want to put out that message: If I can do it, you can do it, and anyone can do it.”
1. What made Gitaniali Rao Time’s Kid of the Year for 2020?A.Her desire to guide other kids. |
B.Her invention of testing lead in water. |
C.Her idea of making devices commercial. |
D.Her excellent personal ability and desire to encourage other children. |
A.To make sure the security of the network. |
B.To punish teenagers’ wrong thoughts. |
C.To use artificial intelligence technology. |
D.To type a word or phrase on the Internet. |
A.A white man can work as a scientist. |
B.We ought to set a goal at an early age. |
C.We are supposed to inspire others to do the same. |
D.Everybody may succeed in solving world’s problems. |
A.Health. | B.Science. | C.People | D.Entertainment. |
4 . Volunteers in New York call on people to donate their used iPads to help poor patients keep in touch with their families online.
Some people with COVID-19 died alone in hospital physically
By Friday morning, the volunteer group had
No one is an island.
A.separated | B.prevented | C.protected | D.suffered |
A.depends | B.insists | C.looked | D.weighs |
A.because of | B.instead of | C.regardless of | D.apart from |
A.universities | B.clubs | C.hospitals | D.companies |
A.unbelievable | B.pleasant | C.strange | D.urgent |
A.recovered | B.died | C.escaped | D.learned |
A.hope | B.touch | C.worry | D.advice |
A.hire | B.provide | C.own | D.share |
A.received | B.bought | C.sent | D.gave |
A.frequently | B.nicely | C.correctly | D.smoothly |
A.generosity | B.friendship | C.duty | D.knowledge |
A.get hold of | B.take charge of | C.make use of | D.take notes of |
A.force | B.allow | C.advise | D.encourage |
A.cost | B.moment | C.risk | D.right |
A.Treated | B.United | C.Greeted | D.Taught |
5 . My grandfather died in 1970, leaving my grandmother living in their old house alone. Shortly after that, we went to the animal shelter and picked out a little dog to accompany Grandma. The dog was named Penny.
Grandma and Penny quickly became very attached (喜爱的) to each other, and that attachment grew much
The time came when both my grandmother and Penny were becoming
On Christmas Day in 1985, Grandma was again taken to the hospital. Penny,
After fifteen years of loving friendship, Grandma and Penny passed away on the same day. God had it all worked out — Penny was waiting at the door to
A.stronger | B.higher | C.farther | D.longer |
A.similar | B.gentle | C.friendly | D.close |
A.work | B.hospital | C.sleep | D.church |
A.on | B.beside | C.under | D.below |
A.table | B.bed | C.chair | D.blanket |
A.lost | B.active | C.weak | D.tired |
A.lie | B.walk | C.play | D.jump |
A.looking | B.crying | C.climbing | D.getting |
A.worriedly | B.hurriedly | C.excitedly | D.disappointedly |
A.as usual | B.in time | C.by accident | D.at once |
A.believed | B.guessed | C.heard | D.found |
A.guided | B.posted | C.sent | D.followed |
A.owner | B.mother | C.doctor | D.saver |
A.opened | B.brightened | C.closed | D.wetted |
A.call | B.help | C.miss | D.greet |
6 . “You’re very talented, dear. I hope everything turns out great. I’ll tell my friends about the animal shelter (避难处),” a kind old lady told Conrad, who smiled
Conrad was proud of what he was doing and people in the
His mother, Sandy, worked at the shelter and had always been a(n)
He placed a
Raise your kids to love animals, and they’ll be better people. Caring for innocent animals makes people more selfless,
A.suddenly | B.sweetly | C.purposely | D.secretly |
A.square | B.park | C.street | D.hall |
A.violin | B.piano | C.organ | D.guitar |
A.needed | B.sold | C.worked | D.made |
A.passive | B.active | C.strict | D.attractive |
A.However | B.Besides | C.Otherwise | D.Therefore |
A.acted | B.survived | C.concentrated | D.kept |
A.showing up | B.coming in | C.going on | D.getting up |
A.worried | B.annoyed | C.panicked | D.confused |
A.looked around | B.went past | C.headed for | D.turned around |
A.sign | B.signal | C.box | D.bench |
A.hesitated | B.passed | C.left | D.stopped |
A.generous | B.happy | C.energetic | D.angry |
A.counting | B.raising | C.saving | D.earning |
A.curious | B.serious | C.loving | D.unconcerned |
7 . The endangered pandas in the Qinling Mountains might face a new threat: the loss of their food — bamboo, which makes up 99% of their meals.
Adult pandas spend most of the day eating bamboo and have to take in at least 40 pounds a day to stay healthy. However, a new study published in Nature Climate Change warned that they may soon find their food gone because most of the bamboo in the Qinling Mountains might disappear by the end of the century as a result of the rising temperature worldwide.
A team made up of researchers from Michigan State University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has studied the effects of climate change on the bamboo in the Qinling Mountains. They have found that bamboo is very sensitive to climate change. “80% to 100% of the bamboo would be gone if the average temperature increases 3.5 degrees worldwide by the end of the century,” said Liu Jianguo, one of the report's authors.
He added, “This is how much the temperature would rise by 2100 even if all countries will keep their promises in The Paris Agreement. But you know what is happening around the world.”
In recent years, China has been trying its best to protect the endangered pandas by setting up more and bigger nature reserves.
“But it is far from being enough and the endangered pandas need cooperation from the rest of the world, because their future is not just in the hands of the Chinese,”said Shirley Martin from the WWF but not a member of the team.
There are 345 wild pandas in the Qinling Mountains. That is about 18.5% of the population of China's wild pandas. In addition, about 375 pandas are living in research centers and zoos in China.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?A.The Qinling Mountains can provide enough bamboo for the pandas. |
B.Pandas in the Qinling Mountains are only threatened by the loss of food. |
C.Lots of the bamboo in the Qinling Mountains will probably disappear. |
D.Pandas have already eaten 99% of the bamboo in the Qinling Mountains. |
A.China needs more help from the WWF. |
B.It is difficult to control the temperature rise within 3.5 degrees. |
C.Bamboo is sensitive to changes in temperature. |
D.China is making great efforts to protect the pandas. |
A.About 345. | B.About 408. | C.About 2,272. | D.About 1,864. |
A.The Disappearance of Bamboo |
B.Necessity to Change Pandas' Food |
C.A New Threat Faced by the Pandas |
D.Efforts Made to Save Pandas |
8 . Brothers Mike and Nick Fiorito had a smooth life in the first 30 years.
They
Now, their organization is very
Adults can
A.Occasionally | B.Frequently | C.Consistently | D.Unexpectedly |
A.confused | B.prosperous | C.indifferent | D.curious |
A.assuming | B.acknowledging | C.resembling | D.witnessing |
A.backed down | B.backed up | C.set up | D.cooperated with |
A.shunned | B.invaded | C.assisted | D.posed |
A.acclaimed | B.involved | C.preserved | D.dominated |
A.inspire | B.promise | C.thank | D.teach |
A.exquisite | B.fascinating | C.challenging | D.successful |
A.disrupt | B.participate | C.commemorate | D.depict |
A.glory | B.friction | C.contribution | D.victim |
A.giving away | B.giving in | C.handing in | D.wearing out |
A.comprehension | B.connection | C.barrier | D.assessment |
A.difference | B.date | C.decision | D.estimate |
A.objective | B.prosperous | C.hopeful | D.potential |
A.understanding | B.receiving | C.paying | D.spreading |
9 . Good news for all Wes Anderson fans — the US director is back with the film The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar which hit Netflix, an online film provider, on Sept 27. It is a film adaptation of UK novelist Roald Dahl’s novel under the same name.
The film stars UK actor Benedict Cumberbatch as a wealthy man named Henry Sugar, who develops the ability to see through objects. At the very beginning he uses this power to cheat at cards and win big while gambling (赌博), and later turns his fortune into a global network of orphanages (孤儿院).
Dialogue style
Running for just 40 minutes, the film features Anderson’s quick-paced dialogue style. He also asked the actors to recite lines directly to the audience by looking at the camera, creating “the effect of listening to a podcast (播客) while turning the pages of a lovely picture book quickly”, commented CNN.
Visual style
Anderson’s work is immediately recognizable for his visual style as well. The “Anderson aesthetic (美学)” often uses bright color palettes (调色板) to both add visual appeal and make various ideas known to the audience, reported Yahoo News. In The Grand Budapest Hotel for example, Anderson uses a color palette of deep blues, rich greens and warm pinks to recreate an old-world European feel. In The Royal Tenenhaums the red tracksuits worn by Chaz, one of the main characters, show deep-seated anger resulting from parental trauma (创伤).
Symmetrical style
Another style is his use of symmetry (对称). Many of the shots involve (涉及) a person facing the camera, with the elements around the character set up in a sense of order and balance. Anderson explained to the media that it is out of his nature to “arrange things in a frame”, which he compares to how people can’t change the individuality of their handwriting. “You might try to write very well, but really, you have something your brain tends to do”, he said.
However, his obsessive repetition of these stylistic choices in his films has led some to question his ability to innovate (创新). In response to this, Anderson stated, “It’s not something I make any effort to do. I just want to make films that are personal but interesting to an audience.”
1. What do we know about the film The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar?A.Watching this film is actually listening to a podcast. |
B.It reflects the unique style of the director Wes Anderson. |
C.It is based on a real story of a wealthy man named Henry Sugar. |
D.Its main character gains nothing in gambling in the end. |
A.They both use colors to get various ideas across to the audience. |
B.They both reflect deep-seated anger. |
C.They both present an old-world European feel. |
D.They both have colorful costumes to add to their appeal. |
A.Out of curiosity. | B.Out of innovation. |
C.Out of habit. | D.Out of kindness. |
A.A film script. | B.A film lecture. |
C.A film survey. | D.A film review. |
10 . This question has fascinated behavioural scientists for decades: why do we give money to charity?
The explanations for charitable giving fall into three broad categories, from the purely altruisic (利他的)— I donate because I value the social good done by the charity. The “impurely” altruistic— I donate because I extract value from knowing I contribute to the social good for the charity. And the not-at-all altruistic— I donate because I want to show off to potential mates how rich I am.
But are these motives strong enough to enable people to donate as much as they would want to? Most people support charities in one way or another, but often we struggle to make donations as often as we think we should. Although many people would like to leave a gift to charity in their will, they forget about it when the time comes.
Many people are also aware that they should donate to the causes that have the highest impact, but facts and figures are less attractive than narratives. In a series of experiments, it was found that people are much more responsive to charitable pleas that feature a single, identifiable beneficiary(受益者), than they are to statistical information about the scale of the problem being faced. When it comes to charitable giving, we are often ruled by our hearts and not our heads.
The good news is that charitable giving is contagious—seeing others give makes an individual more likely to give and gentle encouragement from an important person in your life can also make a big difference to your donation decisions— more than quadrupling them in our recent study. Habit also plays a part— in three recent experiments those who volunteered before were more likely to do donate their time than those who had not volunteered before.
In summary, behavioural science identifies a range of factors that influence our donations, and can help us to keep giving in the longer term. This is great news not just for charities, but also for donors.
1. What can we learn about people who do charitable giving?A.Most people support charity as often as they think they should. |
B.Some people don’t want to leave a gift to charity until the time comes. |
C.Those who donate because they can gain an advantage are purely altruistic. |
D.Some people send money to charity simply to tell others they are wealthy. |
A.Not revealing the names of the donors. |
B.Showing figures about the seriousness of the problem. |
C.Telling stories that feature a single, recognizable beneficiary. |
D.Reminding people to write down what to donate in the will in advance. |
A.People will learn from others and follow the suit. |
B.Many people are familiar with charitable giving. |
C.Charitable giving helps the beneficiary in all aspects. |
D.Charitable giving can bring a lot of benefits to donors. |
A.To persuade more people to donate. |
B.To explain the science behind why people donate. |
C.To criticize some false charitable giving behaviours. |
D.To explore approaches to making people donate more. |