1 . The Government’s sugar tax on soft drinks has brought in half as much money as Ministers first predicted it would generate, the first official data on the policy has shown.

First announced in April, 2016, the tax which applies to soft drinks containing more than 5g of sugar per 100ml, was introduced to help reduce childhood obesity (肥胖). It is believed that today’s children and teenagers are consuming three times the recommended level of sugar, putting them at a higher risk of the disease.

Initially the sugar tax was expected to make £520m a year for the Treasury. However, data of the first six months showed it would make less than half this amount. At present it is expected to generate £240m for the year ending in April 2019, which will go to school sports.

It comes after more than half of soft drinks sold in shops have had their sugar levels cut by manufacturers (制造商) so they can avoid paying the tax. Drinks now contain 45 million fewer kilos of sugar as a result of manufacturers’ efforts to avoid the charge, according to Treasury figures. Since April drinks companies have been forced to pay between 18p and 24p for every litre of sugary drink they produce or import, depending on the sugar content.

However, some high sugar brands, like Classic Coca Cola, have accepted the sugar tax and are refusing to change for fear of upsetting consumers. Fruit juices, milk-based drinks and most alcoholic drinks are free of the tax, as are small companies manufacturing fewer than 1m litres per year.

Today’s figures, according to one government official, show the positive influence the sugar tax is having by raising millions of pounds for sports facilities (设施) and healthier eating in schools. Helping the next generation to have a healthy and active childhood is of great importance, and the industry is playing its part.

1. Why was the sugar tax introduced?

A．To collect money for schools.	B．To improve the quality of drinks.
C．To protect children’s health.	D．To encourage research in education.

2. How did some drinks companies respond to the sugar tax?

A．They turned to overseas markets.	B．They raised the prices of their products.
C．They cut down on their production.	D．They reduced their products’ sugar content.

3. From which of the following is the sugar tax collected?

A．Most alcoholic drinks.

B．Milk-based drinks.

C．Fruit juices.

D．Classic Coke.

4. What can be inferred about the adoption of the sugar tax policy?

A．It is a short-sighted decision.	B．It is a success story.
C．It benefits manufacturers.	D．It upsets customers.

2 . In 1916, two girls of wealthy families, best friends from Auburn, N. Y. — Dorothy Woodruff and Rosamond Underwood — traveled to a settlement in the Rocky Mountains to teach in a one-room schoolhouse. The girls had gone to Smith College. They wore expensive clothes. So for them to move to Elkhead, Colo. to instruct the children whose shoes were held together with string was a surprise. Their stay in Elkhead is the subject of Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden, who is a magazine editor and Dorothy Woodruff’s granddaughter.

Why did they go then? Well, they wanted to do something useful. Soon, however, they realized what they had undertaken.

They moved in with a local family, the Harrisons, and, like them, had little privacy, rare baths, and a blanket of snow on their quilt when they woke up in the morning. Some mornings, Rosamond and Dorothy would arrive at the schoolhouse to find the children weeping from the cold. In spring, the snow was replaced by mud over ice.

In Wickenden’s book, she expanded on the history of the West and also on feminism, which of course influenced the girls’ decision to go to Elkhead. A hair-raising section concerns the building of the railroads, which entailed (牵涉) drilling through the Rockies, often in blinding snowstorms. The book ends with Rosamond and Dorothy’s return to Auburn.

Wickenden is a very good storyteller. The sweep of the land and the stoicism (坚忍) of the people move her to some beautiful writing. Here is a picture of Dorothy Woodruff, on her horse, looking down from a hill top: “When the sun slipped behind the mountains, it shed a rosy glow all around them. Then a full moon rose. The snow was marked only by small animals: foxes, coyotes, mice, and varying hares, which turned white in the winter.”

1. Why did Dorothy and Rosamond go to the Rocky Mountains?

A．To teach in a school.	B．To study American history.
C．To write a book.	D．To do sightseeing.

2. What can we learn about the girls from paragraph 3?

A．They enjoyed much respect.	B．They had a room with a bathtub.
C．They lived with the local kids.	D．They suffered severe hardships.

3. Which part of Wickenden’s writing is hair-raising?

A．The extreme climate of Auburn.	B．The living conditions in Elkhead.
C．The railroad building in the Rockies.	D．The natural beauty of the West.

4. What is the text?

A．A news report.

B．A book review.

C．A children’s story.

D．A diary entry.

3 . Young children across the globe enjoy playing games of hide and seek. For them, there’s something highly exciting about _______ someone else’s glance and making oneself unable to be seen.

However, we all witness that preschool children are remarkably _______ at hiding. They often cover only their eyes with their hands, leaving the rest of their bodies _______.

For a long time, this ineffective hiding method was _______ as evidence that children are hopelessly “egocentric” (自我中心的) creatures. But our _______ research results in child developmental psychology _______ that idea.

We brought young children aged 2-4 into our Minds in Development Lab at USC. Each _______ sat down with an adult who covered her own eyes or _______. We then asked the child if she could _______ or hear the adult. Surprisingly, children replied that they couldn’t. The same __________ happened when the adult covered her own mouth: __________ children said that they couldn’t __________ to her.

A number of __________ ruled out that the children misunderstood what they were being asked. The results were clear: Our young subjects __________ the questions and knew __________ what was asked of them. Their __________ to the questions reflected their true __________ that “I can see you only if you can see me, too.” They simply __________ mutual (相互的) recognition and regard. Our __________ suggest when a child “hides” by putting a blanket over her head, it is not a result of egocentrism. In fact, children consider this method __________ when others use it.

1.

A．following

B．taking

C．escaping

D．directing

2.

A．clever

B．bad

C．scared

D．quick

3.

A．exposed

B．examined

C．untouched

D．imbalanced

4.

A．supported

B．guaranteed

C．imagined

D．interpreted

5.

A．disappointing

B．mixed

C．surprising

D．desired

6.

A．explained

B．confirmed

C．contradicted

D．tested

7.

A．parent

B．child

C．researcher

D．doctor

8.

A．feet

B．nose

C．hands

D．ears

9.

A．see

B．help

C．reach

D．fool

10.

A．event

B．thing

C．action

D．accident

11.

A．Yet

B．Now

C．Soon

D．Once

12.

A．speak

B．listen

C．turn

D．wave

13.

A．instructions

B．descriptions

C．experiments

D．assumptions

14.

A．comprehended

B．predicted

C．explored

D．ignored

15.

A．partly

B．honestly

C．vaguely

D．exactly

16.

A．responses

B．approaches

C．contribution

D．sensitivity

17.

A．ability

B．belief

C．identity

D．purpose

18.

A．hold back

B．relate to

C．insist on

D．make up

19.

A．limitations

B．requirements

C．theories

D．findings

20.

A．tentative

B．impressive

C．creative

D．effective

5 . Theatres and Entertainment

St David’s Hall

St David’s Hall is the award winning National Concert Hall of Wales standing at the very heart of Cardiff’s entertainment centre. With an impressive 2,000-seat concert hall, St David’s Hall is home to the annual Welsh Proms Cardiff. It presents live entertainment, including pop, rock, folk, jazz, musicals, dance, world music, films and classical music.

The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1AH
www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
The Glee Club

Every weekend this is “Wales” premier comedy club where having a great time is the order for both audiences and comedy stars alike. It is hard to name a comedy star who hasn’t been on the stage here. If you are looking for the best comedies on tour and brilliant live music, you should start here.

Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff CF10 5BZ
www.glee.co.uk/cardiff
Sherman Cymru

Sherman Cymru’s theatre in the Cathays area of Cardiff reopened in February 2012. This special building is a place in which theatre is made and where children, artists, writers and anyone else have the opportunity (机会) to do creative things. Sherman Cymru is excited to present a packed programme of the very best theatre, dance, family shows and music from Wales and the rest of the world.

Senghennydd Road, Cardiff CF24 4YE
www.shermancymru.co.uk
New Theatre

The New Theatre has been the home of quality drama, musicals, dance and children’s shows for more than 100 years. Presenting the best of the West End along with the pick of the UK’s touring shows, the New Theatre is Cardiff’s oldest surviving traditional theatre. Be sure to pay a visit as part of your stay in the city.

Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3LN
www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
1. Where is the Welsh Proms Cardiff hosted?

A．At the New Theatre.	B．At the Glee Club.
C．At Sherman Cymru.	D．At St David’s Hall.

2. What can people do at the Glee Club?

A．Watch musicals.	B．Enjoy comedies.
C．See family shows.	D．Do creative things.

3. Which website can you visit to learn about Cardiff’s oldest surviving theatre?

A．www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk	B．www.shermancymru.co.uk
C．www.glee.co.uk/cardiff	D．www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

6 . You can tell a lot about a man by how he treats his dogs.

For many years, I enjoyed living with my dogs, Tilly and Chance. Their _______ was nearly enough to keep my loneliness at bay. Nearly. Last year, I started dating, but with _______. When I first dated Steve, I _______ he had a dog, Molly, and a cat, Flora. While I was _______ that he was an animal lover, I _______ that three dogs were perhaps too many, and my dogs might attack _______, the cat.

The next week we _______ our dogs together. It was a hot day. When we paused to catch our _______, Steve got down on one knee. Was he proposing (求婚)? I liked him too, but so _______? He poured water from a bottle into his hand and offered it to my dogs. ____________, I began to fall for him.

We ____________ to date, though neither of us brought up the future. And then in late November, Tilly had an operation on her ____________. I took the dogs out four times a day, and I worried that Tilly ____________ climbing the stairs could reopen the wound. Then Steve ____________ his house. All worked ____________. The three dogs formed a pack that, with coaching, ____________ Flora’s space; Steve and I formed a good team ____________ for Tilly. We made good housemates.

A year later, much to my ____________, this man produced a little box with a ring and proposed to me. He did not kneel (跪) down, nor did I ____________ him to. That’s only for giving ____________ to the dogs that brought us together.

1.

A．ownership

B．membership

C．companionship

D．leadership

2.

A．reservations

B．expectations

C．confidence

D．prejudice

3.

A．feared

B．doubted

C．hoped

D．learned

4.

A．unsatisfied

B．amused

C．terrified

D．thrilled

5.

A．predicted

B．worried

C．regretted

D．insisted

6.

A．Flora

B．Chance

C．Molly

D．Tilly

7.

A．tied

B．walked

C．bathed

D．fed

8.

A．breath

B．balance

C．attention

D．imagination

9.

A．calm

B．sure

C．soon

D．real

10.

A．By the way

B．In that case

C．By all means

D．In that moment

11.

A．continued

B．decided

C．intended

D．pretended

12.

A．eye

B．tail

C．ear

D．leg

13.

A．secretly

B．constantly

C．eventually

D．unwillingly

14.

A．left

B．sold

C．suggested

D．searched

15.

A．late

B．hard

C．fine

D．free

16.

A．emptied

B．respected

C．occupied

D．discovered

17.

A．looking

B．caring

C．waiting

D．calling

18.

A．delight

B．credit

C．interest

D．disadvantage

19.

A．beg

B．trust

C．need

D．aid

20.

A．toys

B．awards

C．food

D．water

7 . Sometime in the early 1960s, a significant thing happened in Sydney, Australia. The city discovered its harbor. Then, one after another, Sydney discovered lots of things that were just sort of there — broad parks, superb beaches, and a culturally diverse population. But it is the harbor that makes the city.

Andrew Reynolds, a cheerful fellow in his early 30s, pilots Sydney ferryboats for a living. I spent the whole morning shuttling back and forth across the harbor. After our third run Andrew shut down the engine, and we went our separate ways — he for a lunch break, I to explore the city.

“I’ll miss these old boats,” he said as we parted.

“How do you mean?” I asked.

“Oh, they’re replacing them with catamarans. Catamarans are faster, but they’re not so elegant, and they’re not fun to pilot. But that’s progress, I guess.”

Everywhere in Sydney these days, change and progress are the watchwords (口号), and traditions are increasingly rare. Shirley Fitzgerald, the city’s official historian, told me that in its rush to modernity in the 1970s, Sydney swept aside much of its past, including many of its finest buildings. “Sydney is confused about itself,” she said. “We can’t seem to make up our minds whether we want a modern city or a traditional one. It’s a conflict that we aren’t getting any better at resolving (解决).”

On the other hand, being young and old at the same time has its attractions. I considered this when I met a thoughtful young businessman named Anthony. “Many people say that we lack culture in this country,” he told me. “What people forget is that the Italians, when they came to Australia, brought 2000 years of their culture, the Greeks some 3000 years, and the Chinese more still. We’ve got a foundation built on ancient cultures but with a drive and dynamism of a young country. It’s a pretty hard combination to beat.”

He is right, but I can’t help wishing they would keep those old ferries.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．Sydney’s striking architecture.	B．The cultural diversity of Sydney.
C．The key to Sydney’s development.	D．Sydney’s tourist attractions in the 1960s.

2. What can we learn about Andrew Reynolds?

A．He goes to work by boat.	B．He looks forward to a new life.
C．He pilots catamarans well.	D．He is attached to the old ferries.

3. What does Shirley Fitzgerald think of Sydney?

A．It is losing its traditions.	B．It should speed up its progress.
C．It should expand its population.	D．It is becoming more international.

4. Which statement will the author probably agree with?

A．A city can be young and old at the same time.

B．A city built on ancient cultures is more dynamic.

C．Modernity is usually achieved at the cost of elegance.

D．Compromise should be made between the local and the foreign.

9 . Goffin’s cockatoos, a kind of small parrot native to Australasia, have been shown to have similar shape-recognition abilities to a human two-year-old. Though not known to use tools in the wild, the birds have proved skilful at tool use while kept in the cage. In a recent experiment, cockatoos were presented with a box with a nut inside it. The clear front of the box had a “keyhole” in a geometric shape, and the birds were given five differently shaped “keys” to choose from. Inserting the correct “key” would let out the nut.

In humans, babies can put a round shape in a round hole from around one year of age, but it will be another year before they are able to do the same with less symmetrical (对称的) shapes. This ability to recognize that a shape will need to be turned in a specific direction before it will fit is called an “allocentric frame of reference”. In the experiment, Goffin’s cockatoos were able to select the right tool for the job, in most cases, by visual recognition alone. Where trial-and-error was used, the cockatoos did better than monkeys in similar tests. This indicates that Goffin’s cockatoos do indeed possess an allocentric frame of reference when moving objects in space, similar to two-year-old babies.

The next step, according to the researchers, is to try and work out whether the cockatoos rely entirely on visual clues (线索), or also use a sense of touch in making their shape selections.

1. How did the cockatoos get the nut from the box in the experiment?

A．By following instructions.	B．By using a tool.
C．By turning the box around.	D．By removing the lid.

2. Which task can human one-year-olds most likely complete according to the text?

A．Using a key to unlock a door.	B．Telling parrots from other birds.
C．Putting a ball into a round hole.	D．Grouping toys of different shapes.

3. What does the follow-up test aim to find out about the cockatoos?

A．How far they are able to see.

B．How they track moving objects.

C．Whether they are smarter than monkeys.

D．Whether they use a sense of touch in the test.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Cockatoos: Quick Error Checkers	B．Cockatoos: Independent Learners
C．Cockatoos: Clever Signal-Readers	D．Cockatoos: Skillful Shape-Sorters