1 . It’s very necessary for you to make a plan in advance before travelling abroad. An important part of the plan is probably to find the right
Now consider another
If you are a contributor, use Wish Trip from the beginning of your tour to
You can use Wish Trip in any country where you want to travel. Now the sharing economy is rapidly
| A．custom | B．route | C．companion | D．routine |
| A．offer | B．share | C．convey | D．gather |
| A．experienced | B．adventurous | C．energetic | D．respectable |
| A．abundant | B．limitless | C．typical | D．precious |
| A．run out of | B．live up to | C．fall short of | D．look forward to |
| A．situation | B．event | C．option | D．function |
| A．boring | B．attractive | C．necessary | D．complex |
| A．tracking | B．handling | C．following | D．watching |
| A．develop | B．publish | C．print | D．upload |
| A．simple | B．right | C．short | D．straight |
| A．lately | B．automatically | C．extremely | D．currently |
| A．solution | B．sign | C．promotion | D．reaction |
| A．reporter | B．learner | C．guide | D．visitor |
| A．exchange | B．memorize | C．record | D．communicate |
| A．order | B．give | C．adapt | D．attach |
| A．begin | B．set | C．keep | D．finish |
| A．generate | B．invent | C．perform | D．copy |
| A．save | B．imagine | C．catch | D．edit |
| A．building | B．breaking | C．gaining | D．ruining |
| A．ability | B．technology | C．power | D．information |
2 . The 65-year-old Steve Goodwin was found suffering from early Alzheimer’s (阿尔茨海默症). He was losing his memory.
A software engineer by profession, Steve was a keen lover of the piano, and the only musician in his family. Music was his true passion, though he had never performed outside the family.
Melissa, his daughter, felt it more than worthwhile to save his music, to which she fell asleep each night when she was young. She thought about hirıng a professional pianist to work with her father.
Naomi, Melissa’s best friend and a talented pianist, got to know about this and showed willingness to help.
“Why do this?” Steve wondered.
“Because she cares.” Melissa said.
Steve nodded, tear in eye.
Naomi drove to the Goodwin home: She told Steve she’d love to hear him play Steve moved to the piano and sat at the bench, hands trembling as he gently placed his fingers on the keys.
Naomi put a small recorder near the piano. Starts and stops and mistakes. Long pauses, heart sinking. But Steve pressed on, playing for the first time in his life for a stranger.
“It was beautiful.” Naomi said after listening to the recording. “The music was worth saving.”
Her responsibility, her privilege, would be to rescue it. The music was still in Steve Goodwin. It was hidden in rooms with doors about to be locked.
Naomi and Steve met every other week and spent hours together. He’d move his fingers clumsily on the piano, and then she’d take his place. He struggled to explain what he heard in his head. He stood by the piano, eyes closed, listening for the first time to his own work being played by someone else.
Steve and Naomi spoke in musical code lines, beats, intervals, moving from the root to end a song in a new key. Steve heard it. All of it. He just couldn’t play it.
Working with Naomi did wonders for Steve. It had excited within him the belief he could write one last song. One day, Naomi received an email. Attached was a recording, a recording of loss and love, of the fight. Steve called it “Melancholy Flower”.
Naomi heard multiple stops and starts, Steve struggling, searching while his wife Joni called him “honey” and encouraged him. The task was so hard, and Steve, angry and upset, said he was quitting. Joni praised him, telling her husband this could be his signature piece.
Naomi managed to figure out 16 of Steve’s favorite, and most personal songs. With Naomi’s help, the Goodwin family found a sound engineer to record Naomi playing Steve’s songs. Joni thought that would be the end. But it wasn’t.
In the months leading up to the 2016 Oregon Repertory Singers Christmas concert, Naomi told the director she had a special one in mind: “Melancholy Flower.”
She told the director about her project with Steve. The director agreed to add it to the playing list. But Naomi would have to ask Steve’s permission. He considered it an honor.
After the concert, Naomi told, the family that Steve’s music was beautiful and professional. It needed to be shared in public.
The family rented a former church in downtown Portland and scheduled a concert. By the day of the show, more than 300 people had said they would attend.
By then, Steve was having a hard time remembering the names of some of his friends. He knew the path his life was now taking. He told his family he was at peace.
Steve arrived and sat in the front row, surrounded by his family. The house lights faded. Naomi took the stage. Her fingers. His heart.
1. Why did Melissa want to save her father’s music?| A．His music could stop his disease from worsening. |
| B．She wanted to please her dying old father. |
| C．His music deserved to be preserved in the family. |
| D．She wanted to make her father a professional. |
| A．It was slow but productive. |
| B．It was beneficial to his health. |
| C．It was tiresome for Naomi. |
| D．It was vital for Naomi’s career. |
| A．thought the music talent of Steve was exhausted... |
| B．didn’t expect the damage the disease brought about |
| C．didn’t fully realize the value of her husband’s music |
| D．brought her husband’s music career to perfection |
| A．The Kindness of Friends | B．The Power of Music |
| C．The Making of a Musician | D．The Value of Determination |
3 . Why does social media trigger feelings of loneliness and inadequacy? Because instead of being real life, it is, for the most part, impression management, a way of marketing yourself, carefully choosing and filtering (过滤) the picture and words to put your best face forward.
Online “friends” made through social media do not follow the normal psychological progression of an interpersonal relationship. You share neither physical time nor emotional conversations over the Internet. You simply communicate photographs and catchy posts to a diverse group of people whom you have “friended” or “followed” based on an accidental interaction. This is not to say that your social media friends can’t be real friends. They absolutely can, but the two are not the same. Generally speaking, there are no unfiltered comments and casually taken photos on our social media pages. And, rightfully so, because it wouldn’t feel safe to be completely real and honest with some of our “friends” whom we don’t actually know or with whom trust has yet to be built.
Social media can certainly be an escape from the daily routines, but we must be cautioned against the negative effects, such as addiction, on a person’s overall psychological well-being.
As humans, we are eager for social connection. Scrolling (滚动) through pages of pictures and comments, however, does not provide the same degree of fulfillment as face to face interactions do. Also, we tend to idealize others’ lives and compare our downfalls to their greatest accomplishments, ending in feelings of loneliness and inadequacy.
Social media can lead people on the unhealthy pursuit of perfection. Some people begin to attend certain events or travel to different places so that they can capture that “perfect” photo. They begin to seek validation through the number of people who “like” their posts. In order for it to play a psychologically healthy role in your social life, social media should enhance an already healthy social network. Pictures and posts should be byproducts (副产品) of life’s treasured moments and fun times, not the planned and calculated image that one is putting out into cyberspace in an attempt to fill insecurities or unmet needs.
Ultimately, social media has increased our ability to connect with various types of people all over the globe. It has opened doors for business and allowed us to stay connected to people whom we may not otherwise get to follow. However, social media should feel like a fun experience, not one that contributes to negative thoughts and feelings. If the latter is the case, increasing face to face time with trusted friends, and minimizing time scrolling online, will prove to be a reminder that your social network is much more rewarding than any “like”, “follow” or “share” can be.
1. What does the author imply social media may do to our life?| A．It may facilitate our interpersonal relationships. |
| B．It may filter our negative impressions of others. |
| C．It may make us feel isolated and incompetent. |
| D．It may help us make as many friends as we can.” |
| A．They do not find all their online friends trustworthy. |
| B．They do not want to lose their followers. |
| C．They want to avoid offending any of their audience. |
| D．They are eager to boost their popularity. |
| A．Learn Jessons from other people’s downfalls. |
| B．Strive for perfection whatever the cost. |
| C．Paint a rosy picture of other people’s lives. |
| D．Show their life’s accomplishments more impressive than reality. |
| A．Use social media to increase their ability to connect with various types of people. |
| B．Stay connected to those whom they may not otherwise get to know and befriend. |
| C．Try to prevent negative thoughts and feelings from getting into the online pages. |
| D．Strengthen ties with real-life friends instead of caring about their online image. |
4 . Many people around me make a difference to the world on a daily basis — being kind in unexpected ways and sharing the generosity of their lives with others. I, like many of them, volunteer some of my time in order to give back just a little of what I am so blessed to have. I volunteered to go to Guatemala with an eyeglass team from International Relief Teams — an organization I have supported in other ways for many years.
Our team went to a small town in Guatemala, San Augustin. We set up our tables and packages of pre-made glasses in the dirty courtyard of a clinic, put up the Snellen chart (an eye chart) on a wall, and began our work.
Young and old people came from many of the surrounding towns. Most had never received an eye exam before. They waited for hours patiently in the sun, never complaining. If we could help them out, their thankfulness for a simple pair of glasses was overwhelming. Some only left with eye drops or sunglasses, and even these people expressed their gratitude sincerely. All of them were very generous with blessings and smiles. We heard over and over from people who knew their eyes needed help but they had not gone to a doctor because it was too expensive, or had not got the glasses they needed for the same reason.
It’s so easy to overlook how much difference the volunteers’ small actions can make to the lives of people in Guatemala. The glasses in my country are so easily available, but to people in Guatemala, they are not.
As those who could give them a hand, we watched their lives change. What a gift sight is — and what a difference being able to see clearly makes! Here, we’d like you to join us and take action to help people in need. And every day, those actions change lives. No action is too small; no action is ever wasted.
1. According to Paragraph 1, the author is probably ________.| A．a major host of good deeds |
| B．a sponsor of an eyeglass team |
| C．a generous neighbor in his community |
| D．a supporter of International Relief Teams |
| A．Their working environment is simple. |
| B．They are medical experts nationwide. |
| C．Their initial preparation is inadequate. |
| D．They have served people in Guatemala for years. |
| A．Kind and helpful. | B．Poor but grateful. |
| C．Considerate and patient. | D．Knowledgeable but unhealthy. |
| A．To urge people to protect their eyes. |
| B．To ask people to volunteer in Guatemala. |
| C．To call on people to do good deeds in daily life. |
| D．To show the difficult life of people in Guatemala. |
5 . Self-control is the ability to regulate and adjust responses in order to avoid undesirable behaviors, increase desirable ones, and achieve long-term goals. Common goals such as losing weight, exercising regularly, eating healthy food, giving up bad habits, and saving money are just a few worthwhile ambitions that people believe require self-control.
One 2011 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association found that 27 percent of subjects identified a lack of willpower as the primary factor keeping them from reaching their goals. Researchers have found that people who have better self-control tend to be healthier and happier. In one experiment, students who exhibited greater self-control had better grades and higher test scores, and were more likely to be admitted to a competitive academic program. The study also found that when it came to academic success, self-control was a more important factor than IQ scores.
The psychologist Walter Mischel conducted famous experiments in 1975 that were related to delayed gratification. In these experiments, children were offered a choice: they could choose to eat one treat right away, usually a cookie or a candy or they could wait for a brief period of time in order to get two treats. At this point, the researcher would leave the child alone in a room with a single treat. Not surprisingly, many of the kids chose to eat the single treat the moment the experimenters left the room. However, some of the kids were able to wait for the second treat.
Based on his research, Mischel proposed what he referred to as a “hot-and-cool” system to explain the ability to delay gratification. The hot system refers to the part of our willpower that is emotional and impulsive (冲动的) and urges us to act upon our desires. The cool system is the part of our willpower that is rational (理性的) and thoughtful, and enables us to consider the consequences of our actions in order to resist our impulses.
Self-control is an important skill that allows us to regulate behavior in order to achieve our long-term goals. Research has shown that self-control is not only important for goal attainment, and people with greater willpower also tend to do better on all sides.
1. What kind of students does the author think will most probably do best in studies?| A．Those having the highest IQ scores. |
| B．Those respecting the teacher most. |
| C．Those having the greatest willpower. |
| D．Those performing most actively in class. |
| A．Effect. | B．Competition. | C．Hardship. | D．Enjoyment. |
| A．Few children could get two treats. |
| B．Not all the kids were short of patience. |
| C．Most of the children ate another treat. |
| D．Self-control is very important for one’s future. |
| A．Consuming plenty of sweet food. |
| B．Staying up late at night often. |
| C．Copying others’ homework. |
| D．Quitting drinking high-sugar drinks. |
6 . In this new digital era, farmers are finding ways to keep pace with the times while still holding fast to their traditions.
In the quiet and excluded parts of rural China, Xiang Qing, a man born in 1990, leads a life quite unlike the noisy urban existence that defines modernity. His home is Guzhang county, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous region, which is located deep in western Hunan province. Xiang Qing and his 23-year-old nephew, Xiang Hong, jointly operate a video channel called “Shan Bai”. Through their videos, they showcase handicrafts and rural life in China, fascinating many young urban viewers.
“Life here unfolds at its own pace. We grow crops and vegetables and occasionally purchase meat at the market,” Xiang Qing said. “I’ve come across numerous comments from people who watch our videos while lying in bed at night after a busy day of work, finding them truly relaxing and comforting. I think it’s great, and it’s in line with our initial intentions.”
Five years ago, Xiang Qing quit his job as a customer service representative in Shanghai and returned to his hometown in Guzhang county, starting a new journey as a video blogger. “Back in 2012, when I was a college student, film-making aroused my passion, and it has continued to be a profound and enduring interest,” he said.
Following in his uncle’s footsteps, Xiang Hong made the same life-changing decision. Having graduated from college last year, he also returned to his hometown in April from Changde, a city in Hunan, and ventured into the world of video production alongside his uncle.
Now their video channel Shan Bai has attracted more than 59.8 million followers. Xiang Qing designs, films, and edits the videos himself. Xiang Hong serves as the video presenter. Long Lingling, Xiang Qing’s wife, manages the day-to-day operations of the video account, and other family members also contribute to the video production process in different ways.
1. Why do Xiang Qing and Xiang Hong work as video bloggers?| A．To pursue personal fame and wealth. |
| B．To promote the business of film-making. |
| C．To financially support their whole family. |
| D．To popularize the lifestyle in their hometown. |
| A．Xiang Qing influenced Xiang Hong’s career option. |
| B．Xiao Hong quit his first job and switched to video making. |
| C．They reached a decision of returning to hometown together. |
| D．They got involved in each step of the video production process. |
| A．Modest and responsible. | B．Diligent and optimistic. |
| C．Devoted and innovative. | D．Ambitious and demanding. |
7 . It was the most destructive wildfire in California history. It started in Paradise (天堂镇) and caused $16.5 billion in
Grammer, working in Los Angeles, grew up there. When his friend Edwards posted pictures of his white chimney — the only part of his house to survive — he felt
“I’ve got to
Grammer spent three hours painting an image of a woman on the
Grammer posted the image on Instagram. Those who were affected by the fire,
Greatly inspired, Grammer returned eight times. Outside one house, he found a photo of a girl, Eleanor. He painted a picture of her on the wall of her home left
Ironically (讽刺的是) that first painting, on the chimney in Paradise,
| A．damage | B．collection | C．debt | D．reserve |
| A．basically | B．generally | C．beautifully | D．seriously |
| A．disappointed | B．interested | C．helpless | D．fearless |
| A．beautify | B．paint | C．build | D．repair |
| A．succeed | B．improve | C．practice | D．express |
| A．chimney | B．wall | C．window | D．door |
| A．art | B．life | C．nature | D．beauty |
| A．on average | B．in general | C．on earth | D．in particular |
| A．argued | B．insisted | C．posted | D．suggested |
| A．standing | B．existing | C．fallen | D．destroyed |
| A．pretend | B．afford | C．continue | D．decide |
| A．new | B．special | C．practical | D．real |
| A．copy | B．handle | C．donate | D．admire |
| A．flashed | B．suffered | C．survived | D．waited |
| A．spirit | B．size | C．fame | D．power |
8 . Binge-watching (刷剧) is when a person watches more than one episode of a show in a row. With developments in the speed and connectivity of the Internet, increases in technology and the rise of on-demand entertainment companies, people can now have their favorite shows stream (流播) directly to their television at their convenience.
This behavior is nothing new. In fact, binge-watching has been officially listed in dictionaries since 2015. The entertainment companies recognize this behavior and many take steps to encourage it. Often, instead of releasing each episode on a week-by-week basis, an entire series will become available concurrently. Once the episode finishes, many platforms will display pop-ups with “you might like” suggestions, or will automatically play the next episode.
However, recent research suggests that out of the more than half of British adults who watch more than one episode of a show back-to-back (一集接一集地), almost a third have admitted missing sleep or becoming tired as a result; and 25% have neglected their household chores (家务活). Next we’ll be missing work!
Bingeing has other connections — binge eating, binge drinking and binge smoking. All of them are often associated with a lack of control and a possible route to addiction. Lindsey Fussell, consumer group director, said, “The days of waiting a week for the next episode are largely gone, with people finding it hard to resist (抗拒) watching multiple episodes around the house or on the move.” If people find binge-watching hard to resist, are we witnessing the birth of a new type of addiction?
The countless number of information and entertainment that television and online media can bring us is, many would say, a good thing. However, when the activity begins to bleed into other areas, causing us to stop functioning, then it becomes a problem. So, what’s the answer? Moderation! Neither a tiny amount, nor too much. After all, as the old proverb says, “A little of what you fancy does you good.”
1. How did the writer develop the first paragraph?| A．By giving a definition. | B．By telling a story. |
| C．By listing some examples. | D．By analyzing the cause and effect. |
| A．For convenience. | B．At the same time. |
| C．In detail. | D．Free of charge. |
| A．people can’t control their feelings | B．people can’t resist the temptation of Bingeing |
| C．people have no patience to do work | D．people are addicted to waiting for a new episode |
| A．To keep online media from stopping functioning. |
| B．To enjoy entertainment as much as possible. |
| C．To learn life lessons from the episodes. |
| D．To watch episodes in a moderate way. |
9 . It was the final part of the 2016 World Triathlon (三项全能运动) Series in Mexico. With just 700 metres to go, Alistair Brownlee was in third place and his younger brother, Jonny, was in the lead. When pushing himself towards the
For Alistair, the choice was
The Brownlee brothers have been doing triathlons since they were children. “Obviously, when your older brother is doing it, you think it’s a
The ending to the race has
| A．start | B．finish | C．base | D．side |
| A．give up | B．run off | C．fall onto | D．finish with |
| A．chance | B．pleasure | C．promise | D．risk |
| A．confusing | B．clear | C．difficult | D．stressful |
| A．tears | B．silence | C．danger | D．trouble |
| A．unpleasant | B．unlucky | C．unacceptable | D．unexpected |
| A．rushed | B．arranged | C．asked | D．directed |
| A．cool | B．annoying | C．wrong | D．graceful |
| A．affect | B．encourage | C．concern | D．demand |
| A．investigations | B．opinions | C．debate | D．preference |
| A．enjoyment | B．advance | C．embarrassment | D．advantage |
| A．different | B．curious | C．unified | D．creative |
| A．punished | B．protected | C．praised | D．discussed |
| A．failure | B．success | C．decision | D．result |
| A．teenager | B．brother | C．grow-up | D．student |
10 . A group of Chinese language students from Spain visited Malta for three days. They had a chance to enjoy themselves in the amazing Chinese cultural experiences there.
At the Confucius Institute of the University of Malta on Saturday, the students from the Official School of Languages were attracted by traditional Chinese flute (长笛) performances, and Chinese tea making. Each of them was photographed trying on Hanfu, a form of traditional Chinese clothing. Despite their age differences, they all proved their dexterity (灵巧) at traditional Chinese works such as paper-cutting and knot-weaving. Maria Nieves, a group member, expressed her strong interest in Chinese culture, after two years of learning the language. “Despite the challenges, Chinese characters are truly beautiful,” she says.
On Sunday, the group visited the Mediterranean Regional Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Paola, Malta. Under the guidance of a doctor, they practiced Ba Duan Jin, a set of exercises whose name translates as “eight steps to healthy living”. A lecture on TCM introduced them to treatments like acupuncture (针灸) and cupping, and some of the students had the chance to personally experience a treatment. Feng Hua, leader of the Chinese medical team, says that the TCM center is planning to host more students, who are interested in TCM and Chinese culture to take part in cultural exchange, and learn more about Chinese medical practice.
During their visit to the China Cultural Center in Valletta on Monday, the students were drawn to the traditional Chinese lanterns hanging in front of the entrance, and also to the beautiful tea sets in the main hall. Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta, highlights the importance of cultural exchange in promoting friendship between nations.
1. What is the first destination of the students’ study visits?| A．University of Malta. |
| B．Official School of Languages. |
| C．Mediterranean Regional Center. |
| D．China Cultural Center. |
| A．Six months. | B．One year. | C．Two years. | D．Three years. |
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．Wisdom of Chinese People |
| B．An Amazing Language Learning Tour |
| C．The Importance of Cultural Exchange |
| D．Spanish Students Visit Malta for Cultural Experience |
