1 . The Olympics and COVID-19 were never going to coexist. The basic rule when it comes to controlling an infectious disease is to limit the contact people have with one another. Yet the two- week long competition, which begins on July 23 in Tokyo, is to invite the world to meet, greet and take part in friendly — and often socially not so distant — contests.
An estimated 70,000 athletes, coaches, staff, officials and media will be marching in Tokyo from July to August for the Olympics — at a time when infections in the city are rising again. On July 8, the government declared a fourth COVID-19 state of emergency in Tokyo, which will extend through the end of the Games.
New cases of COVID-19 existing in any of the Olympic visitors could not only disrupt(扰乱) the Games but also forever fade this year’s Olympics as an exercise in a global pandemic(大流行病) that has claimed the lives of 4 million people.
Olympic organizers are working desperately to prevent that from happening. After consulting with infectious-disease experts, Tokyo 2020 officials have created guidelines for everyone who will be traveling to Japan for the Olympics. Many of the measures are familiar: frequent testing, mask orders and social-distancing procedures.
The strategy is also realistic. While it might not be possible to prevent the virus from entering secretly the Olympic community, measures are taken to try to avoid it . Infections will happen. The challenge lies in minimizing the risk of those infections and the influence they might have—on not just the Games but also the Japanese public and, finally, the world at large when Olympic delegations(代表团) return home.
1. What is the basic principle of controlling an epidemic?| A．To prevent people from communicating with each other. |
| B．To keep people from participating in activities. |
| C．To limit the contact people have with each other. |
| D．To stop people from chatting online. |
| A．The spreading of virus caused by new cases of COVID-19. |
| B．The treatment of new cases of COVID-19. |
| C．The possible threat brought by new cases of COVID-19. |
| D．The decrease of new cases of COVID-19. |
| A．Skeptical. | B．Conservative |
| C．Objective. | D．Negative. |
| A．A travel brochure | B．A biology textbook. |
| C．A research paper. | D．A news magazine. |
2 . Kelly’s Book Blog
Blues Point Blues by Sherry1 Clark （56 pages）
Belle was never very popular, but that all changes when she gets a cool new job in the catering department（餐饮部）for a popular TV programme, a daytime soap opera called Blues Point Blues. Now everyone wants to be her friend. However, as she becomes the center of attention, she begins to have some doubts. Wasn’t this what she was dreaming of? Belle discovers she has to make some important decisions.
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood （64 pages）
In 1998， John Wood was a successful manager for Microsoft in Australia. Then, while he was hiking in Nepal during a holiday, he visited a school in a mountain village. Shocked to see their empty library, he made up his mind to return with some books. That decision soon led him to leave his job to start a charity called Room to Read, which donates libraries and books to needy schools around the world. This is a true story about an inspiring person.
Billy Elliott by Melvin Burgess （64 pages）
Eleven-year-old Billy Elliott is from a poor family in a small English town. He isn’t good at sports and hates the boxing lessons that his father makes him take. One day. Billy discovers a ballet dancing class and decides to give it a try. He immediately realizes that he’s finally found something he can do well. Unfortunately, his father and brother have a very different opinion about ballet.
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford （58 pages）
This is the story of three brave pets on a long and dangerous journey together. After they were accidentally left behind in the remote Canadian north while their owners were travelling in Europe, these three very different animals determined to find their way back home. Their friendship and teamwork is heartwarming and wonderful as they help each other survive the trip across hundreds kilometers of wilderness.
1. In the book Blues Point Blues, Belle ________.| A．works in a catering department | B．dreams of becoming an actress |
| C．plays a role in a soap opera | D．wishes to be everyone’s friend |
| A．He trained school children. | B．He donated libraries and books |
| C．He worked hard in Microsoft. | D．He hiked around the world |
| A．Blues Point Blues. | B．Billy Elliott. |
| C．The Incredible Journey. | D．Leaving Microsoft to Change the World |
3 . Hundreds of friends on Facebook can’t replace a handful of close friends in real life, a study has found. In a recent study, researchers discovered that people with only a few friends were at least as happy as those with far more if many of theirs were online.
Social media, the researchers said, has encouraged younger people to have larger but more impersonal networks of “friends”. But instead of trying to amass friends, they added, a better cure for loneliness might be spending time with those you’re closest to.
Scientists from the University of Leeds did their study using data from two online surveys on 1,496 people by a non-profit research organization. People taking part in the study showed their ages, the make-up of their social networks, how often they had different types of social interactions, and their own feelings of well-being. They included details of how often and how they interacted (交流) with families or neighbors, and whether they included people who provided services to them in their networks.
The number of close friends someone had appeared to be the only thing which influenced how satisfied they were with their social life.
“Loneliness has less to do with the number of friends you have, and more to do with how you feel about your friends,” said Dr Wändi Bruine de Bruin. Actually, it's often the younger adults who admit to having a bad opinion of their friends.
If you feel lonely, it may be more helpful to make a positive connection with a friend than to try and seek out new people to meet.
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “amass” in Paragraph 2?| A．Play the role of. | B．Think highly of. |
| C．Take advantage of. | D．Increase the number of. |
| A．Scientists did one online survey on 1,496 people. |
| B．People surveyed mentioned new forms of social networks. |
| C．People surveyed showed their ways to interact with families. |
| D．The number of friends was the only cause of people’s happiness. |
| A．Living alone. |
| B．Having close friends. |
| C．Having good appearance. |
| D．Making as many friends as possible. |
| A．To advise us to make friends online. |
| B．To show us the importance of friends. |
| C．To present us with the findings of a study. |
| D．To tell us the problems causes by loneliness. |
4 . I’m a strong believer that learning different languages makes you look incredibly good when you’re in a foreign country and can understand and speak the language. The list below is 4 apps that will help you learn a foreign language! You can download(下载) them for free.
Babbel – Learn Languages
Babbel is an excellent language tool to help you progress step by step with learning a new language. It helps you learn grammar along the way as you work your way through the tasks and assignments(任务). You need to pay a monthly subscription(定金), but this will still be cheaper than taking physical lessons with a tutor!
Duolingo: Learn Languages Free
The app has many languages to choose from and will work through the basics all the way to advanced words and sentences. It’s all completely free too! It’s incredibly well designed, looks great and will help you learn, remember and progress with just a little bit of time every day.
Tandem: Language Exchange
Rather than have you work through tasks and memorize different things, the app lets you match with people who share your interests but speak the language you want to learn. You can then have text, voice and video conversations with people who want to learn your native language, and in return you learn theirs, all by simply communicating with each other. It’s a great way to learn with only $1 a day.
Learn English – busuu
This app is perfect if you want to learn English. There are all sorts of audio and visual learning aids(帮助). You’ll find yourself working through interactive(互动的) tests and learning tools for vocabulary and dialogue.
1. What is the purpose of the passage?| A．Sell apps to language learners. | B．Introduce language learning apps. |
| C．Teach language learners to use apps. | D．Teach languages through apps. |
| A．Babbel – Learn Languages | B．Learn English – busuu |
| C．Duolingo: Learn Languages Free | D．Tandem: Language Exchange |
| A．They cover all languages. | B．They focus on grammar. |
| C．They contain many tests. | D．They are free to download. |
5 . Optimism (乐观) doesn’t mean paying no attention to things that cause stress. But when bad things happen, optimistic people are less likely to be unhappy about themselves and more likely to see the bad things as something that lasts a short time.
A new research has found a direct connection between optimism and healthier diet and exercise behaviors, as well as better heart health, a stronger immune system (免疫系统), better lung function, and lower death risk. “Optimistic people, regardless of sex, often have goals and the confidence to reach them,” Lee said. “Those goals could include healthy habits that contribute to a longer life.”
Studies find only about 25% of our optimism is controlled by our genes (基因), and the rest is up to us. It turns out we can actually train our brain to be more positive. Researchers studied the brains of monks (僧侣) and found surprising results: Tens of thousands of hours of meditation(冥思) had changed the function (机能) of their brains, which support positive qualities. And that may be key in producing the effect on the body.
There are simple mental exercises to develop an optimistic attitude. One of the most effective ways to increase optimism is called the “Best Possible Self” method. That is to imagine ourselves in a future in which we have achieved all our life goals. And keeping a diary in which we list the positive experiences we had can also help shape our attitude. Taking a few minutes each day to write down what makes us thankful can improve our view on life, too.
1. What is the meaning of Lee’s words?| A．Goals can lead to confidence. |
| B．Better lung function lowers death risk. |
| C．Optimism is connected with length of life. |
| D．Sex should be taken into consideration when studying optimism. |
| A．To lengthen their life. |
| B．To improve their brains’ function. |
| C．To prove optimism can be learned. |
| D．To show genes’ connection with optimism. |
| A．How to be a positive person. | B．How to make people thankful. |
| C．What to write about in a diary. | D．What to do to achieve the goals. |
| A．A science magazine. | B．A guidebook. |
| C．A novel. | D．A diary. |
6 . 54-year-old Abdul has a special job. He has been working as a living statue (活体雕像) for over three decades, standing perfectly still for six hours a day and resisting people' s attempts to make him move or smile, anything that proves he is a living person.
Abdul, known as “India's Statue Man”, has been performing his daily routine ever since 1985, soon after getting a job as a security guard. His boss had recently traveled to the UK, where he was So impressed by the statue-like members of the Royal Guard outside Buckingham Palace that he wanted to do something similar back home. So he had his guards receive three months of training, where they would sit perfectly still for around four hours. They weren't allowed to talk or smile, eat, drink, or even shoo away a fly if it sat on their faces. In the end, Abdul proved the best of the group, So he got the strange job.
Abdul isn't the only person in the world acting as a living statue, but what makes him special is the fact that he can do it for as long as six hours without even blinking his eyes. Once, a $ 155 prize was put up for anyone who can make him move a muscle. But try as they might, no one has ever succeeded. Actually, Abdul tries to move about as much as he can in his spare time, and only eats healthy home-cooked food, to keep his body in shape. But he claims yoga has been the biggest help. In the 32 years, Abdul has become a famous person in India and other Asian countries. Many Bollywood stars have come to witness this living statue and try to finally make him move, but none have succeeded.
Abdul earns about 10,000 rupees ($ 156) a month, which is enough to support his family, but definitely not enough to encourage his children to follow in his footsteps. It's just too stressful and taxing on the body. “Despite all the hardship and health problems, I love my job and I am thankful to people for the love and respect they have showered on me” he says, “When the time comes, I want to die playing a statue.”
1. What is Abduls daily routine?| A．Proving to be a living person. | B．Performing as a living statue. |
| C．Smiling at his customers. | D．Keeping his body in shape. |
| A．He had his special ambition. | B．He was most familiar with the job. |
| C．He stood out among the group. | D．He knew the boss more than others. |
| A．He eats a lot of snacks. | B．He practices yoga for 12 hours a day. |
| C．He cooks for his family. | D．He always moves a lot. |
| A．It's satisfying. | B．It's overpaid. | C．It's boring. | D．It's instructive. |
7 . It was a few years ago, and I took a holiday-season job in a video store. One day, an elderly woman
The elderly woman separated from the young one and
Rather than rushing off to
As we walked along the back of the store, I
We
I
“Cherish（珍爱）her,” I said. And then I answered her surprised expression by saying, “When she’s
| A．closed | B．entered | C．passed | D．left |
| A．knew | B．realized | C．guessed | D．explained |
| A．kindness | B．courage | C．interest | D．impatience |
| A．began | B．continued | C．forgot | D．agreed |
| A．moved around | B．walked over | C．dropped out | D．fell behind |
| A．buy | B．carry | C．get | D．find |
| A．make | B．play | C．get | D．borrow |
| A．so | B．or | C．and | D．but |
| A．back | B．forward | C．up | D．down |
| A．work | B．company | C．success | D．performance |
| A．careful | B．careless | C．strong | D．weak |
| A．changed | B．designed | C．examined | D．introduced |
| A．worried about | B．angry at | C．happy with | D．afraid of |
| A．developed | B．watched | C．missed | D．found |
| A．wanted | B．hated | C．enjoyed | D．remembered |
| A．pushed | B．carried | C．drove | D．sent |
| A．daughter | B．girl | C．mom | D．boss |
| A．attention | B．advice | C．support | D．promise |
| A．done | B．gone | C．accepted | D．asked |
| A．true | B．appropriate | C．reasonable | D．impossible |
8 . Educators today are more and more often heard to say that computer literacy is absolutely necessary for college students. Many even argue that each incoming freshman should have his or her own microcomputer. What advantages do computers offer the college students?
Any student who has used a word processor will know one compelling reason to use a computer: to write papers. Although not all students feel comfortable composing on a word processor, most find revising and editing much easier on it. One can alter, insert, or delete just by pressing a few keys, thus ridding students of the need to rewrite or retype. Furthermore, since the revision process is less difficult, students are more likely to revise as often as is necessary to end up with the best paper possible. For these reasons, many freshman English courses require the use of a word processor.
Computers are also useful in the context of language courses, where they are used to drill students in basic skills. Software programs strengthen ESL (English as a Second Language) instruction, as well as instruction in French, German, Spanish, and other languages. By using these programs on a regular basis, students can improve their skills in a language while proceeding at their own pace.
Similarly, business and accounting students find that computer spreadsheet (电子表格) programs are all but important to many aspects of their work, while students pursuing careers in graphic arts, marketing, and public relations find that knowledge of computer graphic (绘图) is important. Education majors learn to develop grading systems using computers, while social science students use computers for analyzing and graphically displacing their research results.
It is no wonder then, that educators support the purchase and use of microcomputers by students. A useful tool, the computer can help students learn. And that is, after all, the reason for going to college.
1. What does the underlined phrase “computer literacy” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．The purchase of computers. | B．The ability to use computers well. |
| C．The computer hardware and software. | D．The computer science and technology. |
| A．revise and edit papers | B．rewrite or retype papers |
| C．complete a freshman’ course | D．improve students’ writing skills |
| A．to learn something | B．to perfect themselves |
| C．to improve computer skills | D．to find one's passions |
| A．Educational experts have developed grading systems. |
| B．The computer has fund its way into social science. |
| C．Rarely do accounting students use computers. |
| D．Computers benefit various majors in college. |
| A．More college students should major in computer science. |
| B．Machine learning and big data is the future of computer application. |
| C．Some computer progams can be employed to aid language learning. |
| D．Educators are reluctant to increase computer use in their own classroom. |
9 . Liz Woodward worked as a waitress at the Route 130 diner in Delran, New Jersey. One Thursday morning around 5:30 am, she was serving two firefighters, Young and Hullings. Quite
Touched, Liz decided to honor these two heroes by picking up their
This simple act of kindness meant so much to the
To return the young lady's kindness, upon his arrival home, Hullings posted a Facebook update
The total donations reached $60,000 and went beyond Liz's wildest dreams. She had never expected that her small gesture would be paid in such a/an
| A．in private | B．by accident | C．in public | D．on purpose |
| A．potential | B．slight | C．rare | D．fierce |
| A．money | B．uniforms | C．check | D．breakfast |
| A．replied | B．went | C．indicated | D．read |
| A．concern | B．courage | C．confidence | D．curiosity |
| A．exhausted | B．brave | C．modest | D．anxious |
| A．ended up | B．sat up | C．teared up | D．showed up |
| A．helping | B．forcing | C．reminding | D．urging |
| A．shared | B．collected | C．examined | D．removed |
| A．Thus | B．Instead | C．However | D．Besides |
| A．raise | B．donate | C．change | D．count |
| A．picture | B．link | C．note | D．click |
| A．doubled | B．rolled in | C．declined | D．spread out |
| A．generous | B．conventional | C．extreme | D．rapid |
| A．greedy | B．eager | C．prepared | D．grateful |
10 . Michele Gentile, an Italian bookseller, is offering free books to children in exchange for plastic bottles to recycle.
Michele owns Ex Libris Cafe in Polla，a small town in southern Italy. He said he thought of the recycling program, because he wanted to inspire children in the small town to read and pay attention to the environment.
''My goal is to spread the passion and love for books among those people in Italy who do not usually read while at the time helping the environment," Gentile explained.
The idea for the initiative (倡议) came after Gentile collaborated with a nearby middle school on an aluminum recycling project. Working together, the schoolchildren and Gentile collected enough cans to purchase books for an entire classroom. His new program too off from there and has already spread into northern Italy: Gentile's hopes his work will continue to make headlines and become a worldwide initiative.
The free books come from customers in Gentile's shop who have donated money to purchase a ''suspended" book. The idea comes from a World War II practice in which customers would buy two Coffees: one for themselves and another for the next person in line. Gentile has been using the extra books as part of his recycling initiative,
While Gentile's program is a great way to recycle and get kids to read, it also brings awareness to the growing problem of plastic waste. Single-use plastics make up around 26 percent of all the plastics in the world, only 14 percent of which are recycled. Plastics that end up in landfills take around 500 years to decompose (分解),is a major concern for environmentalists.
Cutting down on plastic waste is important if we want to better the environment for future generations, and recycling programs like Gentile's book giveaway are a great way to meet that goal.
1. What is the purpose of Gentile's book giveaway?| A．To sell more coffee and books. | B．To attract more customers. |
| C．To collect money for a new project. | D．To inspire reading and recycling. |
| A．Working with a school to recycle cans. | B．Seeing school kids don't like reading. |
| C．Donating books for a local school. | D．Buying a “suspended” book for a child. |
| A．The local government. | B．Gentile himself. |
| C．Some publishers. | D．His customers. |
| A．An Italian's Reading Initiative | B．Recycling Can Get Kids Free Books |
| C．Michele's Way of Doing Business | D．A New Way to Deal with Plastic Waste |
