1 . According to Americans for the Arts, more than two-thirds of U.S. adults say that the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences.” Still, only 30 percent attended a concert of any type in 2017; 23 percent visited an art museum; six percent attended a literary event. Fewer than half actively created art of any kind.
What has caused this phenomenon is that we do not have time for art — we are weighed down by our day-to-day responsibilities. Maybe you like to play a little background music while you work but most of us rarely, if ever, went to see a live performance, let alone visited a gallery. And reading poetry? Perhaps not since high school.
Too often, we let the realities of life get in the way of the arts, which can feel insignificant by comparison. But this is a mistake. The arts might be the single most in-depth experience you will ever be given to explore the nature and meaning of life. And if you make time to consume and produce art, you will find your life become fuller and happier.
Some philosophers address the problem of life consumed by work and material pursuits. They argue that art provides relief from this routine, expanding our perspective and bringing us closer to true reality.
Think of a time when you heard a piece of music and wanted to cry. Or recall your fast heartbeats as you stared at a delicate lifelike sculpture. Chances are that it probably stimulated (刺激) a sudden awakening, much like the shock from a lungful of pure oxygen after breathing in smoggy air.
If you are among those who feel that art is “pure pleasure to experience and participate in,” you might see it the same way you see eating out, or skydiving: as a luxury (奢侈品) item in your limited budgets of time and money. As such, it probably gets the same sort of treatment as any minor hobby. Don’t make this error. Treat art more like exercise or sleep: a necessity for a life full of deep satisfaction.
1. What does paragraph 1 focus on?| A．The opinion of U.S. adults about art. |
| B．The types of art that U.S. adults engage with. |
| C．The mismatch between value and behaviour as to art. |
| D．The connection between everyday experiences and art. |
| A．Art reveals the nature of life. | B．Art gives way to material pursuits. |
| C．Life without art is meaningless. | D．Background music is a kind of art. |
| A．Art awakes people’s talents. | B．Art improves physical health. |
| C．Art brings us closer to nature. | D．Art makes life fuller and happier. |
| A．Art: A Habit, Not a Luxury | B．Art: A Bridge, Not a Barrier |
| C．Art: A Decoration, Not a Reality | D．Art: A Pleasure, Not a Burden |
2 . A blue hole is a special kind of underwater cave found inland or in the sea, which forms when the earth above a cave falls in and water fills the space.
An inland blue hole’s water is very still and has different layers. A layer of fresh rainwater floats on top of salt water; the fresh water keeps oxygen from the atmosphere from reaching the salt water; brightly colored bacteria live where the two layers meet.
Diving into blue holes is very dangerous. Near the top of the blue hole, there is a layer of toxic gas, which causes itching, headache, and—in large amounts—death. Divers must also be fast. They have to get in and out of a cave before their oxygen runs out. Additionally, divers have to follow a guideline as they swim through a blue hole because it is very dark inside. Without the guideline, they may get lost.
If blue holes are so dangerous, why do explorers and scientists risk their lives to explore them? The reason is that these underwater caves can provide valuable scientific information. They provide clues about geology, archaeology, and biology. For example, some blue hole creatures probably haven’t changed for millions of years.
The blue holes could even provide clues about astrobiology. For example, divers have found bacteria there that can live without oxygen. Astrobiologist Kevin Hand says the bacteria may be similar to forms of life that might exist on Jupiter’s fourth largest moon, Europa. “Our study of life’s extremes on Earth,” he says, can help increase “our understanding of habitable environments off Earth.”
In addition, the oxygen-free environment of the blue holes preserves bones of humans and animals that fell into the caves long ago. By studying blue holes, we can understand what life was like in prehistoric times. As cave diver Kenny Broad says, “I can think of no other environment on Earth that is so challenging to explore and gives us back so much scientifically.”
1. What’s the main idea of Paragraph 1?| A．The definition of a blue hole. | B．The location of a blue hole. |
| C．The formation of a blue hole. | D．The structure of a blue hole. |
| A．In the saltwater layer. |
| B．In the freshwater layer. |
| C．In between the freshwater and saltwater layers. |
| D．In both of the freshwater and saltwater layers. |
| A．The study of life on Earth. |
| B．The study of life in the universe. |
| C．The study of life in prehistoric times. |
| D．The study of life in oxygen-free environment. |
| A．They’re oxygen-free and lifeless. | B．They’re free of air and light. |
| C．They’re death zones and mysterious. | D．They’re poisonous and dark. |
3 . Climbers targeting peaks above 5,000 meters in the Tibet autonomous region, including the north side of Qomolangma, now have to apply for a permit, according to a rule issued by Chinese sports authorities.
To make climbing safer, or at least less deadly, the General Administration of Sport and the sports bureau of Tibet released a notification (通知) requiring climbers to send an application to the bureau at least a month in advance of their planned climb. It said climbing without permits will be strictly forbidden.
“In recent years, cases of injuries, missing people and deaths have been witnessed as a result of illegal climbing,” the notification said. “Climbing is a highly professional sport with high risk. Most illegal climbers lack professional skills, facilities and tour guides. Such activities will interfere with orderly climbing and bring risks, not only to the climbers themselves but also rescuers. They will also lead to a loss of personal or national property.”
Applications will need to detail each individual climber’s personal information, proposed climbing routes and related plans. Climbers are also being asked to obey related rules to protect mountain environments. The notification also urged regional government departments to strengthen safety checks and the prohibition of illegal climbing, encourage residents to join regular patrols near major climbing routes and promote public education on climbing safety.
In a previous interview with China Daily, Kul Bahadur Gurung, general secretary of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, said difficult weather conditions, lack of experience and support personnel, and the commercialization (商业化) of expeditions were the main reasons for the high death toll on the world’s highest peak. “Since the number of people reaching the summit of Everest is increasing, everyone thinks it is easier to climb and everyone can climb, which is a totally false idea,” he said.
1. Why is a permit needed for Qomolangma climbers?| A．To stop illegal climbing. | B．To provide training ahead. |
| C．To limit the number of climbers. | D．To collect climbers’ information. |
| A．Test. | B．Change. | C．Replace. | D．Disturb. |
| A．Its content. | B．Its purpose. | C．Its background. | D．Its impact. |
| A．It’s a totally false idea. | B．It should be eco-friendly. |
| C．It’s highly professional. | D．It should be non-profitable. |
4 . Last summer, staff at the San Diego Zoo welcomed 41 baby turtles (海龟) from the Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle species, which is native to South Asia. It makes the Zoo the first officially recognized organization in North America to hatch (孵化) and raise the species.
Three Indian narrow-headed softshell turtles have been at the Zoo for over 20 years. All that time, zoo staff had been hoping they would one day reproduce. “This is a thrilling moment for us, and a big step forward in the protection of this species,” said Kim Gray, director of the Zoo.
The eggs were found in two separate nests (窝). Some of the turtles hatched in their habitat, while most of the eggs were stored in an artificial box to create the best conditions for survival. Turtle experts at the zoo say eggs in the habitat are often difficult to find, as the turtles like to lay their eggs overnight and cover them with dirt.
The species is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, though it’s unclear how many remain in the wild. Environ- mental pollution, habitat destruction, the international pet trade and human food harvesting have all led to the species’ reduction over the years.
“We have been caring for these turtles for a very long time, and part of that care is to gain a greater understanding of the species’natural history,” Kim Gray added. “With the knowledge we gain here at the Zoo, we can better assist our partners in India to help this essential species develop and grow in their native habitat.”
1. Why did Kim Gray feel excited at this reproduction?| A．The Zoo got officially recognized. |
| B．It was a breakthrough in turtle protection. |
| C．A great many turtles were hatched at once. |
| D．An endangered turtle species was saved. |
| A．Their dark color. | B．The artificial box. |
| C．Their being dirt-covered. | D．The low light at night. |
| A．The time when listed as endangered. | B．Human activities to save them. |
| C．Their existing number in the wild. | D．Factors endangering them, |
| A．Pet lovers. | B．Zoologists. |
| C．Environmentalists. | D．Zoo visitors. |
5 . Meng Wang is a professor of human genetics. She’s been doing experiments about one of the most exciting new areas of medicine — our microbiome (微生物群).
You can’t see it with the naked eye, but our microbiome is all over (and inside of) us. Recent studies show that it can influence how we behave and even how well we respond to different drugs. Wang says, “Sometimes our microbiomes make us sick, but on the other hand, they also play a very important role in keeping us healthy.”
Wang wanted to know whether our microbiome could influence aging. To test it, she decided to work with a kind of worm (虫子) that lives only two or three weeks. Her question was, what would happen if you changed a worm’s microbiome. Would it be able to live for longer?
Wang chose one of the types of bacteria (细菌) that lives inside a worm, changed its genes (基因) so as to make different varieties, and then fed this bacteria to the worms. Three weeks later — by the time they should have all died — she checked on them. To her excitement, she found that the worms had not died. Older worms usually act slowly. The ones with the new microbiomes, however, not only moved around more quickly in their old age, but were less likely affected by illness too.
Wang is now carrying out tests on mice to see whether changing their microbiomes can influence their lives in a similar way. There is a chance that one day we might take pills which do the same of us. How much longer could this possibly allow us to live for? “Personally, I think 100 is already a good number,” says Wang.
1. What influence does Microbiome have on us according to recent studies?| A．Impacting our behavior. | B．Lengthening lifespan. |
| C．Increasing drug resistance. | D．Leading to deadly illness. |
| A．The worms grew bigger in size. |
| B．The worms kept active at old age. |
| C．The worms were free from illness. |
| D．The worms developed into new varieties. |
| A．Man can live as long as 100. | B．Microbiome works on mice similarly. |
| C．More tests need to be made. | D．Wang will develop anti-aging pills soon. |
| A．Microbiome: the hope of longer life? | B．Tips for scientific research |
| C．Meng Wang: leading scientist of genetics | D．Into the world of Microbiome |
6 . Mindful eating is maintaining an in-the-moment awareness of the food and drink you put into your body. For many of us, our busy daily lives often make mealtimes rushed things. We find ourselves eating in the car going to work, at the desk in front of a computer screen, or parked on the couch watching TV. We eat mindlessly, taking food down regardless of whether we’re still hungry or not. In fact, we often eat for other reasons instead of hunger — to satisfy emotional needs, to free from stress, or deal with unpleasant emotions such as sadness, anxiety, loneliness, or boredom. Mindful eating is the opposite of this kind of unhealthy “mindless” eating.
Mindful eating isn’t about being perfect, always eating the right things, or never allowing yourself to eat on-the-go again. And it’s not about establishing strict rules for which foods you have to include or avoid in your diet. Rather, it’s about focusing all your senses and being present as you shop for, cook, serve, and eat your food.
While mindfulness isn’t for everyone, many people find it worth trying. By paying close attention to how you feel as you eat, you can learn to enjoy both your food and the experience of eating. It can keep you full with less food, and influence wiser choices about what you eat in the future. It can also help you free yourself from unhealthy habits.
To practice mindfulness, you need to participate in an activity with total awareness. In the case of mindful eating, it’s important to eat with all your attention rather than on multitasking (reading, watching TV, daydreaming, etc). When your attention moves away, gently bring it back to your food and the experience of cooking, serving, and eating.
1. Which belongs to mindful eating?| A．Eating while driving. | B．Eating as quickly as possible. |
| C．Eating to fill emotional needs. | D．Eating only to satisfy physical hunger. |
| A．Rudely. | B．Crazily. | C．Irregularly. | D．Hurriedly. |
| A．It’s a trend in weight loss. | B．It’s worthwhile to have a go. |
| C．It’s a universal rule of diet. | D．It’s helpful to keep energetic. |
| A．The benefits of mindful eating. | B．The practice of mindful eating. |
| C．The reasons for mindful eating. | D．The spread of mindful eating. |
7 . Raising awareness of a serious issue begins with its being visible to students. Amazon has some fantastic things for classroom walls that you can get at a reasonable price.
| Hitting, kicking, slapping, spitting, pushing, blocking Stealing or destroying someone’s possessions Making rude hand gestures (手势) Touching in unwanted & improper ways | Name calling Insults (辱骂) Teasing Improper sexual comments Threatening to cause harm | Lying & spreading rumors (谣言) Telling others not to be friends with someone Embarrassing someone in public Damaging someone’s social relationships | Posting/sending hurtful texts, emails or posts, images or videos Making online threats Imitating others online or using their log-in Spreading unkind rumors online |
 | |||
| A．The types of bullying. | B．The ways of anti-bullying. |
| C．The causes of bullying. | D．The effects of anti-bullying. |
| A．Physical bullying. | B．Verbal bullying. |
| C．Social bullying. | D．Cyber bullying. |
| A．To sell posters. | B．To report a bullying survey. |
| C．To fight against bullying. | D．To reveal a rise in bullying. |
8 . Last spring, my family went camping in the Peak District. For two whole weeks, life felt
On the final night of our trip, an
After half a year of preparation, we finally
There was no mobile signal or Wi-Fi at the campsite,
It was wonderful to fully
| A．quiet | B．convenient | C．unusual | D．perfect |
| A．guarded | B．surrounded | C．enveloped | D．disturbed |
| A．idea | B．image | C．outline | D．answer |
| A．biking | B．running | C．camping | D．climbing |
| A．excuse | B．ambition | C．invitation | D．opportunity |
| A．checked out | B．started out | C．took action | D．hurried off |
| A．site | B．park | C．tent | D．forest |
| A．banning | B．separating | C．distinguishing | D．protecting |
| A．enjoyed | B．introduced | C．discovered | D．remembered |
| A．gentle | B．powerful | C．musical | D．fast-paced |
| A．strength | B．lessons | C．conclusions | D．inspiration |
| A．chatting | B．exploring | C．daydreaming | D．writing |
| A．changed | B．reminded | C．attracted | D．encircled |
| A．describe | B．accept | C．experience | D．understand |
| A．shadow | B．silence | C．dark | D．wind |
9 . Emma Gatewood — called “Grandma Gatewood” by the world — was one of the early thru-hikers of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.), the longest walking-only footpath in the world. She was not the first person — or even the first woman — to hike the trail (路线). Her hike was notable because she was the first woman ever to complete the trail alone at an advanced age.
When Gatewood did her first thru-hike in 1955, there were few hikers and it was hard to follow the trail. There were also many fewer resources for hikers — fewer stores near the trail and much less information available about the trail. But still, Gatewood hiked it alone, carrying only a bag and a hiking stick. She ate a lot of sausages and trail mix. Sometimes she ran out of food and ate berries she recognized in the forest.
After her hike, Gatewood had this to say about the trail in an interview: I thought it would be a nice lark. It wasn’t. There were terrible burnt-over areas and sand washouts, and most of the shelters were blown down, burned down or so dirty I chose to sleep out of doors. This was no trail. This was a nightmare. I would never have started this trip if I had known how tough it was, but I couldn’t and I wouldn’t quit.
All things considered, the only thing more improbable than Emma Gatewood’s completing the trail at the age of 67, is that she turned around and did it again. Twice — once in 1957 and again in 1964, at the age of 76, but this time in sections.
“Gatewood inspired many hikers over the years,” says Luxenberg, president of the Appalachian Trail Museum, “People think, ‘if this elderly woman could do the trail by herself, then I should be able to.’”
1. Which might be the title for Gatewood?| A．The first thru-hiker of A.T. | B．The first female to hike A.T. alone. |
| C．The only woman thru-hiker of A.T. | D．The oldest person to hike A.T. alone. |
| A．She met extreme weather. | B．There was various food. |
| C．She met many fellow travelers. | D．There was limited information. |
| A．Breaking news. | B．Great fun. |
| C．A big challenge. | D．An improbable task. |
| A．Well begun is half done. | B．Action speaks louder than words. |
| C．Success is failure turned inside out. | D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
10 . For millions of people sitting in a traffic jam or standing on a crowded train, the daily commute (通勤) probably isn’t the best part of their day. But cars and trains aren’t the only travel options.
Electric Vehicles
For those who have a short commute, you could consider getting an electric bike or scooter. An electric scooter has the advantage of being highly portable (轻便的): small and light enough to carry to your office. You’ll just need to check if they are allowed to be used in your area.
Take RYNO for example. It’s a single-wheel electric scooter, whose highest speed is about that of a bicycle. And like other electric vehicles, it can be charged anywhere.
WalkCar
If you want transportation for short distances, the WalkCar might be perfect for you.
The WalkCar looks like a laptop and only weighs three kilograms. It’s also incredibly easy to use — stand on it and it will start to move; move your weight to one side and it will change direction. The WalkCar will take you at a speed of up to 10 kilometers per hour and can travel 12 kilometers on one charge.
Jetpacks
Weighing around 200 kilograms, jetpacks aren’t exactly portable, but they’re sure to have a lot of fun and attract a lot of attention. Running on petrol, the jet engines allow the user to lift off the ground and fly in the air.
The world’s first jetpack is the Martin Jetpack. Once you’ve attached this tiny personal jet plane onto your back, you’ll be able to travel up to 50 kilometers at a height of 1,000 meters. With a price tag of about $150,000, this is probably the most expensive option, but it will almost certainly be the coolest!
1. What do Electric Vehicles and WalkCar have in common?① being portable. ② being rechargeable.
③ being widely used. ④ being suitable for short distances.
| A．①②③ | B．①②④ | C．①③④ | D．②③④ |
| A．The price. | B．The appearance. |
| C．The weight. | D．The flight performance. |
| A．Lifestyle. | B．Travel. | C．Entertainment. | D．Transport. |
