1 . Nature can be unforgiving, especially when it comes to the animal world. As such, squirrels need every advantage they can get in order to protect themselves from a variety of predators that may want to make them their next meal. Squirrels pay incredibly close attention to their surroundings, and they pick up alarm calls from other nearby animals in reference to nearby predators. Now, a new study reveals that squirrels also listen to nearby birds’ conversations to make sure there is no threat close by.
Researchers from Oberlin University say that if the talk from birds is relaxing and normal, the squirrel knows it is not in immediate danger. The authors said that squirrels were listening to bird conversations and sounds to assess their safety, so in order to test their theory they observed the behavior of 54 wild Eastern gray squirrels scattered across various parks and areas in Ohio.
First, a threat was shown by playing a record of a red-tailed hawk(鹰), an animal known to hunt and eat both squirrels and other smaller birds. Then, researchers played one of two different recordings; one recording was of many songbirds chattering among one another happily, and the other was with no bird noises. After playing these recordings, each squirrel’s behavior was monitored for three minutes.
As expected, after hearing the initial record, all the squirrels displayed defensive attitudes, such as running away, looking around, or freezing their movements. Interestingly, the squirrels that heard the happy sounds of songbirds returned back to a normal, relaxed state much faster than the other group that heard the quiet sounds.
The study’s authors say that this indicates squirrels use the sounds of nearby animals to ensure their own safety. This allows the squirrel to either get back to what they were doing in a faster manner, or prepare for potential threats more efficiently.
“Perhaps in some circumstances, cues of safety could be as important as cues of danger,” the study reads. The study is published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.
1. What does the underlined word “predators” mean in the first paragraph?| A．Animals that hunt squirrels as food. |
| B．Animals that make friends with squirrels. |
| C．Animals that hunt squirrels and birds at night. |
| D．Animals that steal the food from the squirrels’ nests. |
| A．They will stay and freeze. |
| B．They will behave normally. |
| C．They will keep on their guard. |
| D．They will look around and run away. |
| A．By studying the different data. |
| B．By listing the different figures. |
| C．By comparing the different responses. |
| D．By playing different games with the squirrels. |
| A．Three interesting experiments. |
| B．Squirrels listen to birds to stay safe. |
| C．Judging danger from nearby sounds. |
| D．Squirrels can record the dangerous sound. |
2 . When Megan Becker was five years old, she created something special for her dad Glenn Becker on Father’s Day. It was a paper
Glenn told his baby girl it was a
But
Without another
Megan was surprised and burst into
Dad loves all the things we do for him and
| A．plane | B．tie | C．wallet | D．bird |
| A．co-operation | B．attention | C．pleasure | D．effort |
| A．wait | B．offer | C．hesitate | D．expect |
| A．formal | B．strange | C．perfect | D．common |
| A．sell | B．display | C．wear | D．exchange |
| A．folded | B．hung | C．delivered | D．ignored |
| A．free | B．rare | C．silly | D．cute |
| A．enjoyed | B．broke | C．decorated | D．missed |
| A．gradually | B．eventually | C．actually | D．frequently |
| A．tired | B．promoted | C．separated | D．married |
| A．returned | B．moved | C．arrived | D．retired |
| A．marked | B．lost | C．delayed | D．damaged |
| A．sample | B．response | C．alternative | D．thought |
| A．put | B．gave | C．turned | D．took |
| A．emerged | B．slipped | C．fell | D．escaped |
| A．laughter | B．flames | C．anger | D．tears |
| A．released | B．gained | C．tore | D．hid |
| A．reward | B．forgive | C．surprise | D．inspire |
| A．example | B．excuse | C．experiment | D．experience |
| A．cares about | B．thinks of | C．relies on | D．turns down |
3 . A satellite is an object in space that orbits around another. It has two kinds — natural satellites and artificial satellites. The moon is a natural satellite that moves around the earth while artificial satellites are those made by man.
Despite their widespread impact on daily life, artificial satellites mainly depend on different complicated makeups. On the outside, they may look like a wheel, equipped with solar panels or sails. Inside, the satellites contain mission-specific scientific instruments, which include whatever tools the satellites need to perform their work. Among them, high-resolution cameras and communication electronics are typical ones. Besides, the part that carries the load and holds all the parts together is called the bus.
Artificial satellites operate in a systematic way just like humans. Computers function as the satellite’s brain, which receive information, interpret it, and send messages back to the earth. Advanced digital cameras serve as the satellite’s eyes. Sensors are other important parts that not only recognize light, heat, and gases, but also record changes in what is being observed. Radios on the satellite send information back to the earth. Solar panels provide electrical power for the computers and other equipment, as well as the power to move the satellite forward.
Artificial satellites use gravity to stay in their orbits. Earth’s gravity pulls everything toward the center of the planet. To stay in the earth’s orbit, the speed of a satellite must adjust to the tiniest changes in the pull of gravity. The satellite’s speed works against earth’s gravity just enough so that it doesn’t go speeding into space or falling back to the earth.
Rockets carry satellites to different types and heights of orbits, based on the tasks they need to perform. Satellites closer to the earth are in low-earth orbit, which can be 200-500 miles high. The closer to the earth, the stronger the gravity is. Therefore, these satellites must travel at about 17,000 miles per hour to keep from falling back to the earth, while higher-orbiting satellites can travel more slowly.
1. What is Paragraph 2 of the text mainly about?| A．The appearance of artificial satellites. | B．The components of artificial satellites. |
| C．The basic function of artificial satellites. | D．The specific mission of artificial satellites. |
| A．Providing electrical power. | B．Recording changes observed. |
| C．Monitoring space environment. | D．Processing information received. |
| A．By relying on powerful rockets to get out of gravity. |
| B．By orbiting at a fixed speed regardless of gravity’s pull. |
| C．By changing speed constantly based on the pull of gravity. |
| D．By resisting the pull of gravity with advanced technologies. |
| A．They are more affected by earth’s gravity. |
| B．They take advantage of rockets more effectively. |
| C．They have weaker pull of gravity in higher orbits. |
| D．They are equipped with more advanced instruments. |
4 . I grew up in libraries, or at least it feels that way. I was raised in the suburbs of Cleveland, just a few blocks from the brick-faced Bertram Woods branch of the Shaker Heights Public Library system. I went there several times a week with my mother. She and I would walk in together, but as soon as we passed through the door, we each headed towards our favorite sections. The library might have been the first place I was ever given autonomy.
Even when I was maybe four or five years old, I was allowed to head off on my own. Then, after a while, my mother and I would reunite at the checkout counter with our finds. Together we’d wait as the librarian pulled out the date card and stamped it with the checkout machine — that giant fist thumping the card with a loud chunk-chunk, printing a crooked due date underneath a score of previous crooked due dates that belonged to other people, other times.
Those visits were dreamy, frictionless (没有摩擦的) periods that held the promise of leaving me richer than I’d arrived. It wasn’t like going to a store with my mom, which guaranteed a tug-of-war between what I wanted and what my mother was willing to buy me; in the library, I could have anything I wanted.
After we had finished checking out the books, I loved being in the car and having all the books we’d gotten stacked on my lap, pressing me under their solid, warm weight, their Mylar covers sticking a bit to my thighs. It was such a thrill leaving a place with things you hadn’t paid for; such a thrill expecting the new books we would read. On the ride home, my mother and I talked about the order in which we were going to read our books, a serious conversation in which we planned how to pace ourselves through this charmed period of grace until the books were due.
When I was older, I usually walked to the library by myself, lugging back as many books as I could carry. Occasionally, I did go with my mother, and the trip would be as engaging as it had been when I was small. Even when I was in my last year of high school and could drive myself to the library, my mother and I still went together every now and then, and the trip unfolded exactly as it had when I was a child, with all the same beats and pauses ‘and comments and daydreaming, the same perfect rhythm we’d followed so many times before. After my mother passed away two years ago, I plunged into a deep shadow of grief for a long time. When I miss my mother these days, I like to picture us in the car together, going for one more magnificent trip to Bertram Woods, during which we talked, laughed — as if she were still in my company, giving me inexhaustible strength.
1. In this passage, the word “autonomy” (paragraph 1) is closest in meaning to “________”.| A．vitality | B．freedom | C．inspiration | D．entitlement |
| A．the author and her mother borrowed books that no other people had ever read before |
| B．the author and her mother were dreaming of going to the library |
| C．the author and her mother would play some games when they were shopping |
| D．the author would fail to buy what she wanted in the store |
| A．they would plan to read their newly-borrowed books with feverish enthusiasm |
| B．they would have a serious conversation about which book attracted them the most |
| C．they would be anxious to recommend to each other the books they had borrowed |
| D．they would agree on buying the books they had just borrowed if they enjoyed them |
| A．Grieved. | B．Shocked. | C．Miserable. | D．Comforted. |
| A．One specific memory of a childhood trip to the library. |
| B．The fond childhood memories of her mother taking good care of her. |
| C．How her affection for going to the library has endured into her own motherhood. |
| D．Why her own child made up their mind to become a librarian after finishing college. |
5 . Career planning is important. Get started today. Connect your personal interests and academic aspirations to plan a wonderful career at University of New Brunswick (UNB).
69% of Maritime high school students say preparing for a career is the most important reason for choosing a university. 81% of first-year UNB students say “getting a good job” is their primary reason for attending university. 63% of graduating UNB students indicate full-time employment is their immediate plan after graduation.
Career Connections will help you figure out who you are — your strengths and interests — as you find which field of study and careers are right for you. Career Connections also helps connect you to the experts, workshops and information you need.
To guide you through your academic and career exploration, Career Connections includes information for future, current, and graduating students. In this site, you will find:
Program Blueprints for each of our programs, career resources including workshops and expert advice, information about experiential learning opportunities, career myths, news trends and career-related research.
On-campus Career Support
We have the experts to help you in your academic and career development.
Career Development & Employment Centre
Consult with your career and employment advisors, depending on your needs; complete workshops for the Career Development Certificate; learn about the Work-study Program; go to career fairs and much more.
Career Counselling
Students are supported by two career counsellors who will help you explore academic and career options through the Career Planning Process. They will help you develop a plan for gaining the skills and knowledge needed to pursue your passions.
Academic Advising
Academic advising is an important aspect of career exploration. It is through your academic advisor(s) that you will explore program options, discussing how these fit your career goals, and how to map your academic future in developing the knowledge and skills needed to be an employment-ready, life-long learner.
Experiential Education
There are many experiential (体验的) learning opportunities at UNB. Several programs include work placements as part of your degree requirements. Additional experiential opportunities include the Work-study Program and The Summer Institute as well as finding and securing employment during your studies or the summer.
1. What’s the immediate plan for nearly two-thirds of the graduating UNB students after graduation?| A．Continuing their education. | B．Preparing for a career. |
| C．Getting a good part-time job. | D．Seeking a full-time working position. |
| A．you get information for past, present and future |
| B．you can get access to the resources for examinations |
| C．you can choose your major and career reasonably |
| D．you can work part-time on campus |
| A．Career Counselling | B．Academic Advising |
| C．On-campus Career Support | D．Career Development & Employment Centre |
| A．get chances for experiential learning | B．study on articles during summer vacation |
| C．obtain high professional grades and degrees | D．work out the value of programs and institutes |
| A．In a brochure. | B．On a website. | C．In a magazine. | D．In a news report. |
Science has a lot of uses. It can uncover laws of nature, cure diseases, make bombs, and help bridges to stand up. Indeed science is so good’ at what it does that there’s always a temptation (诱惑) to drag it into problems where it may not be helpful. David Brooks, author of The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement, appears to be the latest in a long line of writers who have failed to resist the temptation.
Brooks gained fame for several books. His latest book The Social Animal, however, is more ambitious and serious than his earlier books. It is an attempt to deal with a set of weighty topics. The book focuses on big questions: What has science revealed about human nature? What are the sources of character? And why are some people happy and successful while others aren’t?
To answer these questions, Brooks surveys a wide range of disciplines (学科). Considering this, you might expect the book to be a dry recitation(背诵)of facts. But Brooks has structured his book in an unorthodox (非常规的), and perhaps unfortunate, way. Instead of introducing scientific theories, he tells a story, within which he tries to make his points, perhaps in order to keep the reader’s attention. So as Harold and Erica, the hero and heroine in his story, live through childhood, we hear about the science of child development and as they begin to date we hear about the theory of sexual attraction. Brooks carries this through to the death of one of his characters.
On the whole, Brooks’ story is acceptable if uninspired. As one would expect, his writing is mostly clear and, to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest. I enjoyed, for instance, the chapter in which Harold discovers how to think on his own. While Harold and Erica are certainly not strong or memorable characters, the more serious problems with The Social Animal lie elsewhere. These problems partly involve Brooks’ attempt to translate his tale into science.
1. What is the main idea of paragraph 2?(no more than 10 words)2. Why does Brook use a story to introduce scientific theories?( no more than 15words)
3. According to The Social Animal, how can we learn about the science of child development?(no more than 10 words)
4. Please explain the underlined word ”weighty" in English.(no more than 1 word)
5. Do you like Brooks’ way of dealing with science in The Social Animal? Why?(no more than 20 words)
7 . Welcome to Parkside Federation Academies
We are pleased to introduce you to a wide range of courses, training programmes and other activities.
Enrolment (注册)
You can enrol for any course on 01223 712340 from 29th June. You can download course information from http: //www.parksidefederation.org.uk/adult-learn-train/.
The office will not be open from 23rd July until 3rd September for enrolment in person due to building work, however, we will be taking bookings over the phone and by email during this time.
Our hosted enrolment dates are:
Parkside Campus: 12th September 10:00-12:00
Coleridge Campus: 10th September 18:00-19:30
Fees
·Fees are payable in full when you enrol.
·Refunds (退款) will be paid in fUll when a class is closed according to the College’s decision, or if you cancel your enrolment at least two weeks before the course starts. If you decide to cancel less than two weeks before the course starts you will receive a 50% refund. Unfortunately we cannot offer a refund if a course has already started.
Learner information
·If you supplied your email address, you should expect to receive a confirmation email after your enrolment.
·Free parking is available in the evening at all centres.
·Upon enrolment you will receive learner information about college support as well as policies and regulations.
·In the event of severe weather conditions that result in school closure: please check the website http: //www. parksidefederation.org.uk/ or turn on local radio for up-to-date information.
·Concessionary fees are available: if you have an income lower than the government low-income level. Proof must be shown at enrollment, otherwise the full fee will be charged.
1. If you want to enroll in person, you should avoid_______.
| A．29th June | B．24th July | C．10th September | D．12th September |
| A．No refund. | B．A 20% refund. | C．A 50% refund. | D．A full refund. |
| A．Give learners calls. | B．Write emails to learners. |
| C．Post notices on the website. | D．Announce the closure on local TV. |
| A．A college map. | B．A free parking permit. |
| C．Confirmation of schedule. | D．Information about college policies. |
| A．Reduced. | B．Standard. | C．Reasonable. | D．Unexpected. |
8 . When you choose a friend, you should be very careful. A good friend can help you study. You can have fun together and make each other happy. Sometimes you will meet fair weather (晴天) friends. They will be with you as long as you have money or luck, but when you are down, they will run away. How do I know when I have found a good friend? I look for certain qualities of character, especially understanding, honesty and reliability .
Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling. He is not quick to judge. Instead, he tries to learn from others. He puts himself in the other person’s place, and he tries, to think of ways to be helpful. He is, also a good listener.
At the same time, however, a good friend is honest. He does not look for faults in others. He notices their good points. In short, good friends will be honest to each other and accept each other.
Another quality of a friend is reliability. I can always depend on a good friend. If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time, I can be sure that he will be there. If I need a favour, he will do his best to help me. If I am in trouble, he will not run away from me.
There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special. A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. We should enjoy our lives, and we would enjoy our friendship. That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with. A good friend likes the same things I like. We share experience and learn from each other. A good friend has a good sense of humour, too. He likes to laugh with me. That is how we share in the joy of being friends. And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me.
When I meet someone who is reliable, honest, and understanding, I know I’ve found a friend!
1. If you have fair weather friends, what will happen to you?| A．You will become rich. |
| B．You can be sure that you get real friends. |
| C．You will be refused when you get into trouble. |
| D．They will give you all that they have when you need help. |
| A．Honesty. | B．Reliability. | C．Understanding. | D．A sense of humour. |
| A．Cloudy. | B．Unusual. | C．Unhappy. | D．Pleased. |
| A．He will look for faults in others. | B．He will do his best to help me. |
| C．He likes to laugh at me. | D．He is funny. |
| A．the qualities of a friend | B．where to choose friends |
| C．how to get along with friends | D．the importance of having a friend |
9 . Welcome to the home page of the Photography World website. We offer a range of useful services for photographers and photography lovers.
Camera Club
Join our club and enjoy a range of benefits. You’ll get invitations to our regular events, such as members’ film shows, exhibitions and talks by experts. You can apply for Full membership, Associate membership or Junior membership. Full membership includes free entry to all events and 10% discount when ordering equipment online. Associate membership gives you half-price tickets to events. Junior membership(proof of age required) allows youngsters to enjoy the benefits of Full membership. Costs (per year): Full membership $20, Associate $12, Junior $10. Most new members joined as the result of recommendations from current members.
Advice Center
Take advantage of our Advice Center. Ask our experts your questions about cameras and photography. Whether you’ re looking for solutions to problems or fresh ideas for interesting photos, you’ll get response here. Simply email your questions to advice@ cameraclub.com or leave a recorded message on 0800-565656. We guarantee to send you a reply by email within five days. Please note that since we fail to provide information about repairs to cameras, you should contact the manufacturer about these.
Competition
Our competition is held every year and is a great chance for new and experienced photographers to win one of our great prizes, which range from albums to keep your photos in to one-day courses or a set of state-of-the-art camera equipment. Entries can only be accepted from members. They can be sent in prints, on a CD or memory stick, or by email. Please note that photos can’t be returned, so make sure you have copies. The topic—for example, wildlife, transport, people—is announced each year here on the website when the competition opens.
1. If you have Associate membership, how much should you pay for a 20-dollar ticket?| A．$10. | B．$12 | C．$15 | D．$20 |
| A．Health. | B．Income. | C．Age. | D．Gender. |
| A．Solutions to problems about photography. | B．Fresh ideas for interesting photos. |
| C．Response to club members’ questions. | D．Information about repairs to cameras. |
| A．By writing you a letter. | B．By telling you in person. |
| C．By telephoning you. | D．By sending you an email. |
| A．Competitors must be experienced. |
| B．Competitors must have membership. |
| C．Competitors’ works must be sent by email. |
| D．Competitors must have spare copies of their photos. |
10 . Temperatures around the North Pole have greatly increased in the last 50 years — changing a long-term natural cooling trend. Now the Arctic is warmer than at any time during the last 2000 years, according to a major new study.
The study, based on an analysis of tree rings and other things, provides compelling evidence that greenhouse gases released since the start of the industrial revolution are causing global warming.
An author, Darrel Kaufman said, “Scientists have known for a while that the current period of warming was coming after a long-term cooling trend. But our reconstruction quantifies the cooling with greater certainty than before.”
The research — published in the journal Science — comes from a team of British and American scientists who followed summer Arctic temperatures to the time of the Romans by studying natural signals in the landscape. Their reconstruction found that the Arctic got cooler in the summer months between 1 AD and 1900, thanks to a natural “wobble” (摇摆) in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
The wobble slowly increased the distance between the Earth and the Sun during the Arctic summer, reducing the summer temperatures by around 0.2 degree every thousand years and causing the “Little Ice Age” that led to freezing winters in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
But during the 20th century, temperatures began to rise greatly — though the amount of sunlight reaching the Arctic during the summer was continuing to fall. The decade between 1999 to 2008 was the warmest in the last 2000 years, the research found. The research has shown that Arctic temperatures rose three times faster during the 20th century than the rest of the Northern Hemisphere.
Some researchers have predicted that the Arctic could be free from sea ice in the winter within the next few decades if the temperatures continue to rise.
1. The new research shows that _______.| A．greenhouse gases are causing global warming |
| B．the Arctic has been free from sea ice in the winter |
| C．the Arctic keeps a long-term natural cooling trend |
| D．the Earth will be too hot for human beings to live on |
| A．shows an interesting phenomenon |
| B．is quite convincing |
| C．causes global warming |
| D．is rather surprising |
| A．recent cooling is more obvious than before |
| B．people fail in stopping the climate changes |
| C．the Arctic has been continuously cooling before |
| D．the Arctic is getting cooler in the summer months |
| A．the wobble causes the temperature in the Arctic to rise |
| B．Arctic temperatures rise more slowly than before |
| C．global warming cannot be prevented by human beings |
| D．the Arctic would be cooling without greenhouse gases |
| A．The “Little Ice Age”. |
| B．A Long-term natural cooling. |
| C．The warmest Arctic in 2000 years. |
| D．A natural “wobble” in the Earth’s orbit. |
