1 . We love letters. Just as John Donne, a poet,
A UK-wide survey undertaken by Sunday Times suggests that one in four of us has not
We
The thought behind a letter
Who wouldn’t love to receive a letter like that? Let’s get writing!
1.| A．made | B．put | C．helped | D．managed |
| A．rather than | B．less than | C．more than | D．other than |
| A．absent | B．active | C．amused | D．admirable |
| A．also | B．yet | C．already | D．still |
| A．popular | B．common | C．rare | D．simple |
| A．received | B．sent | C．written | D．rejected |
| A．success | B．pleasure | C．concern | D．calmness |
| A．engineer | B．doctor | C．police | D．postman |
| A．seizing | B．tearing | C．hiding | D．carrying |
| A．can | B．must | C．may | D．shall |
| A．American | B．Chinese | C．Australian | D．British |
| A．forget | B．change | C．remember | D．notice |
| A．money | B．room | C．history | D．time |
| A．contacted | B．interviewed | C．consulted | D．admired |
| A．guests | B．visitors | C．friends | D．partners |
| A．force | B．strength | C．source | D．energy |
| A．effort | B．comfort | C．surprise | D．experience |
| A．educates | B．guides | C．matters | D．rewards |
| A．nothing | B．anything | C．something | D．everything |
| A．looks after | B．cares about | C．struggles for | D．agrees with |
2 . My name is Miranda Gibson. I have been at the top of a tree for five months now. Some people might wonder
I have walked through this forest many times. On December 12, 2011,
Life in the tree top can be
Living on the tree has been inspiring. I am willing to
| A．why | B．when | C．how | D．where |
| A．water | B．animals | C．machinery | D．tourists |
| A．bear | B．help | C．keep | D．spare |
| A．sold | B．stolen | C．protected | D．lost |
| A．grew out | B．fell short | C．ran out | D．let go |
| A．refreshing | B．risky | C．challenging | D．rewarding |
| A．get up | B．get away | C．give in | D．give up |
| A．change | B．look | C．search | D．touch |
| A．confused | B．nervous | C．sorry | D．lonely |
| A．Beyond | B．Without | C．Despite | D．Unlike |
| A．height | B．experience | C．background | D．position |
| A．return | B．stop | C．stay | D．hide |
| A．but | B．though | C．because | D．so |
| A．soon | B．long | C．near | D．bad |
| A．moved | B．logged | C．burned | D．missed |
3 . For several decades, there has been an organized campaign intended to produce distrust in science, funded by those whose interests are threatened by the findings of modern science. In response, scientists have tended to stress the success of science. After all, scientists have been right about most things, from the structure of the universe to the relativity of time and space.
Stressing successes isn’t wrong, but for many people it’s not persuasive. An alternative answer to the question “Why trust science?” is that scientists use the so-called scientific method. But what is called the scientific method isn’t what scientists actually do. Science is dynamic: new methods get invented; old ones get abandoned; and at any particular point, scientists can be found doing many different things. False theories sometimes lead to true results, so even if an experiment works, it doesn’t prove that the theory it was designed to test is true.
If there is no specific scientific method, then what is the basis for trust in science? The answer is the methods by which those claims are evaluated. A scientific claim is never accepted as true until it has gone through a long process of examination by fellow scientists. Scientists draft the initial version of a paper and then send it to colleagues for suggestions. Until this point, scientific feedback is typically fairly friendly. But the next step is different: the revised paper is submitted to a scientific journal, where things get a whole lot tougher. Editors deliberately send scientific papers to people who are not friends or colleagues of the authors, and the job of the reviewer is to find errors or other faults. We call this process “peer review” because the reviewers are scientific peers—experts in the same field—but they act in the role of a superior who has both the right and the responsibility to find fault. It is only after the reviewers and the editor are satisfied that any problems have been fixed that the paper will be printed in the journal and enters the body of “science.”
Some people argue that we should not trust science because scientists are “always changing their minds.” While examples of truly settled science being overturned are far fewer than is sometimes claimed, they do exist. But the beauty of this scientific process is that science produces both creativity and stability. New observations, ideas, explanations and attempts to combine competing claims introduce creativity; transformative questioning leads to collective decisions and the stability of scientific knowledge. Scientists do change their minds in the face of new evidence, but this is a strength of science, not a weakness.
1. Scientists stress the success of science in order to ________.| A．promote basic knowledge of science |
| B．remind people of scientific achievements |
| C．remove possible doubts about science |
| D．show their attitude towards the campaign |
| A．It’s an easy job to prove its existence. |
| B．It usually agrees with scientists’ ideas. |
| C．It hardly gets mixed with false theories. |
| D．It constantly changes and progresses. |
| A．It seldom gives negative evaluation of a paper. |
| B．It is usually conducted by unfriendly experts. |
| C．It aims to perfect the paper to be published. |
| D．It happens at the beginning of the evaluation process. |
| A．it is not uncommon for science to be overturned |
| B．scientists are very strong in changing their minds |
| C．people lose faith in those changeable scientists |
| D．changes bring creativity and stability to science |
4 . Along the Ulungur River in Altay, the northernmost area of Xinjiang, lives a species of beaver. This animal, which feeds on the shrubs (灌木) that grow near the river, has a strong sense of territory (领地) and won’t leave its surroundings easily. So if people ruin the river, the beavers’ homes will be destroyed and they will no longer survive. But fortunately for these picky animals, they have a responsible protector, Beaver Princess, Chu Wenwen.
Chu had a very different childhood. She was introduced to the wild at the age of 2 by her father who is an animal conservationist. So when the other children were reciting ancient Chinese poems and English alphabet,Chu was working hard to remember the names of different animals and plants. So instead of being a white-collar worker after graduating from Beijing Forestry University, Chu decided to return home and follow in her father’s footsteps.
In Chu’s hometown of Altay, there are 466 species of wild animals and 74 state-protected ones living in the surrounding 110,000 square kilometers. In 2018, Chu founded the Altay Natural Conservation Association which is aimed at animal protection.
The first public project Chu started was for beavers. “We took the beavers as a priority because they were greatly endangered at that time,” Chu said. “The beavers, which can build dams, are known as ‘engineers’ in the animal kingdom. Their dams can change water levels, gather fish, attract birds to nest and bring insects,” Chu explained.
Chu developed the “Beavers Canteen” program which calls on people to donate to help plant a species of shrub that is an important food resource for the beavers. The shrub is also the building material of the beavers. The clever animal makes full use of it.
1. What can we know about beavers?| A．They feed on shrubs and fish. |
| B．They abandon their homes easily. |
| C．They are good at finding new territory. |
| D．They are particular about their surroundings. |
| A．Chu had a difficult childhood. |
| B．Chu dreamed of being a white-collar worker. |
| C．Chu could identify different plants and animals. |
| D．Chu preferred reciting poems to English words. |
| A．Chu likes beavers most. | B．Beavers can build dams |
| C．Chu took her father’s advice. | D．Beavers will probably go extinct soon. |
| A．Beaver Princess | B．Beaver Projects |
| C．How to Protect Beavers? | D．How to Improve Environment |
5 . Imagine an island untouched by humans and without any large mammals.Colorful and strange birds of all shapes and sizes fly over forests and seaside hills. The sky is painted with endless clouds. Flightless birds nest safely on the ground, and seabirds cover the beaches. The sound of the bird song is overwhelming. The Maori named this place “Aotearoa,” Land of the Long White Cloud. The world now knows it as New Zealand.
When the Maori sailed their canoes across the Pacific Ocean from their homeland, Hawaiki, at least 120 different species of birds lived in Aotearoa. Eleven species of moa , an ostrich-like bird, moved freely, and the largest stood 11 feet tall. The Haast’s eagle dominated the skies with its wing span of nearly 10 feet. Because bats were the only mammals, Aotearoa was an actual bird paradise.
Unfortunately, the Maori overhunted the moa for meat. As the moa disappeared, the Haast’s eagle lost its primary food source. By the time Europeans arrived in New Zealand, both birds were extinct.
When European settlers arrived, they brought animals that attacked birds. These non-native animals exploded in number because they had no predators. Birds also lost habitat as forests were cut down for wood and pastures.
Within a few hundred years of humans discovering and living in New Zealand, more than half the unique bird species were extinct. The whekau,found throughout New Zealand in the 1800s, was declared extinct in 1914. The piopio,considered the best songbird in Aotearoa, was last seen in the mid-1900s.
Thirty percent of the species now alive are in danger because of other animals and loss of habitat. Scientists estimate nature would take 50 million years to replace the birds lost over the last 1,000 years. New Zealand conservationists are working to save the threatened species.
1. What does the first paragraph tell us?| A．New Zealand is a paradise for birds. |
| B．Aotearoa does not really exist. |
| C．The Maori founded New Zealand. |
| D．No mammals lived on the island. |
| A．Partners. | B．Killers. | C．Friends. | D．Settlers. |
| A．Threats from man and other animals. |
| B．The arrival of Europeans. |
| C．The lack of food sources. |
| D．The increase in farmland. |
| A．Why local officials stop hunting. |
| B．What living conditions for natives are like. |
| C．How many animals have survived on the island. |
| D．What efforts conservationists take to guard bird species. |
At Beaver Creek, The Extraordinary Awaits You Are no two snowflakes alike? The snowflakes we see in the winter are most likely completely unique from one other.
Beaver Creek is a great place to experience the beauty of the snow, with programs for everyone—from children, teens, and women-only lessons to small groups and private-guided experiences. First Track, from Beaver Creek Reserve, lets you be the first on the mountain, with an adventure that begins at 7:30 a.m. when you are met by ski professionals and taken on a private, guided tour—before the mountain is open to the public. Once you have skied, you are treated to a delicious breakfast at Allie’s Cabin. If you are looking for a higher level of comfort there is the White Carpet Club, from Beaver Creek Reserve. Located in the heart of Beaver Creek Village, it maximizes your time on the mountain by streamlining your access to it. At the club, there are private lockers and boot dryers, along with preferred self-parking and a slope-side ski waiter. A receptionist can assist with lift tickets, pass purchases, dinner reservations, and activity recommendations. Of course, there is more to explore during the winter in Beaver Creek as well. There is ice skating, snowshoeing, shopping, and spas—you name it, Beaver Creek has it. It is the perfect place to take advantage of the snow and be in the moment, in the mountains, together. The extraordinary is a rare combination of one-of-a-kind experiences designed to be shared with service that exceeds expectation. The extraordinary brings you closer to one another and offers a special place to belong together. Belong in The Extraordinary.
|
| A．an early visit | B．an ice skating show |
| C．a tasty lunch | D．a free skiing lesson |
| A．Skillful trainers. | B．Quiet living experience. |
| C．Thoughtful service. | D．Good views over the mountain. |
| A．attract visitors | B．compare different programs |
| C．appeal for sports | D．introduce training courses |
7 . Kids' health：Four steps for fighting stress
Everybody gets stressed from time to time.
Try taking these four steps the next time you are stressed：
(1)Get support. When you need help, reach out to the people who care about you. Talk to a trusted adult，such as a parent or other relatives.
(2)Don't take it out on yourself. Sometimes when kids are stressed and upset they take it out on themselves. Oh, dear，that's not a good idea. Remember that there are always people to help you. Don't take it out on yourself.
(3)Try to solve the problem. After you're calm and you have support from adults and friends，it's time to get down to business.
(4)Be positive. Most stress is temporary (暂时的). Remember stress does go away, especially when you figure out the problem and start working on solving it.
These steps aren't magic，but they do work. And if you can stay positive as you make your way through a tough time，you'll help yourself feel better even faster.
| A．Ask for a helping hand to get you through the tough situation. |
| B．Notice your friends' feelings and find a way to help them. |
| C．Different people feel stress in different ways. |
| D．Ah, it feels so good when the stress is gone. |
| E．You need to figure out what the problem is. |
| F．And don't forget about your friends. |
| G．Then, find a way to calm down. |
8 . As an athlete, I’ve always worked hard to push m myself to my limits. And with that usually come some
The doctor took a close look at the swelling and diagnosed me with rhabdomyolysis (横纹肌溶解症), a
| A．sorrows | B．aches | C．coughs | D．faults |
| A．tough | B．normal | C．harmful | D．limited |
| A．working | B．applying | C．searching | D．training |
| A．walk | B．swim | C．run | D．drive |
| A．recorded | B．matched | C．arranged | D．involved |
| A．doctor | B．coach | C．teachers | D．colleagues |
| A．doubted | B．wondered | C．realized | D．figured |
| A．deadly | B．frightening | C．slight | D．different |
| A．insisted | B．begged | C．resolved | D．ordered |
| A．flattened | B．emerged | C．increased | D．broken |
| A．trusted | B．refused | C．tricked | D．supported |
| A．distinguishing | B．mind-destroying | C．embarrassing | D．life-threatening |
| A．put away | B．clear out | C．give away | D．bring out ; |
| A．slept | B．wandered | C．waited | D．saved |
| A．recovery | B．preparation | C．contribution | D．assessment |
9 . Are you searching for the latest device as a gift? Here, we offer a guide that will help you take a closer look at four of tech’s hottest categories.
Virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR), the most exciting tech development of recent times, has arrived. The Sony VR doesn’t require expensive phone and there are some devices you can purchase to enhance the experience. But if you’ve already got a PS4, you can enter the world of VR for just $400 (2780 yuan).
Wireless headphones
Combining ease of use with the ability to move around without limit, wireless headphones just make sense. The Bose QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones are worth a test drive. The headphones feature active noise cancellation. They can be easily purchased for less than $400 online.
Digital cameras
While your phone has more functions, there’s no substitute（替代品）for a real camera. As small as your smartphone, the smooth design of the Fujifilm X70, $699 (4850 yuan), makes it the perfect companion. In China, Xiaomi’s mirrorless Yi M1 offers a more affordable option, available for just 2199 yuan.
Smartwatches
Watches, thanks to the mobile phone, were becoming unnecessary. Now the pursuit for fitness has helped the watch industry push forward. FitBit has been a leader in the sporty wearable field, and its new swim-proof Fitbit Flex 2 ($130) represents the best in the way of today’s fitness bands.
1. With a budget of $300, which of the following can you buy?| A．Xiaomi Yi M1. | B．Fujifilm X70. | C．Fitbit Flex 2. | D．A Sony VR without a PS4. |
| A．Its design. | B．Its function. | C．Its quality. | D．Its price. |
| A．In a newspaper. | B．In a guide book. | C．In a research paper. | D．In a sports magazine. |
10 . When the young donkey Daisy May came to us，she was pregnant. With no donkey experience. I was unprepared for what might come next.
After some difficulty，Daisy’s baby was born. I thought the poor thing was dead. I planned to put the loss behind us and make sure she never got pregnant again. Just then，I heard a little noise. I couldn’t believe that baby was breathing and looking at me!We called him Samson，and of course I became his mother as much as Daisy was.
When Samson was nine months old，I had to separate Daisy and Samson for a few hours a day to wean(使断奶)him，but otherwise he went wherever she did. I think she would be lost without him. His donkey stepdad Bernard taught him to always be ready to have fun. They enjoy playing football together and going for a roll on a hot summer day.
I asked a worker to make a harness(马具)for my three little donkeys. When I brought it home I taught them one by one how to pull a cart. Samson watched and freely followed Daisy. When he was three，I put the harnness on him and he knew exactly what to do.
That was 15 years ago. Now，the most exciting thing about Samson is that he has become a little renowned. People come from all over to see him perform. The neighbors bring their grandchildren，and my sons bring their friends.
Samson shakes hands，unties my shoe，picks up a hat and more. And when I ask him if he has any bad habits，he tries to pick my pocket!He surprisingly learned these tricks himself. I just ask him to do them and he understands.
The relationship I have with my“baby”Samson has been an amazing experience. Every day is a fun day with this superstar donkey.
1. Why was the author at a loss for what might happen next at first?| A．She wasn’t ready to be a mother. |
| B．She never raised a donkey before. |
| C．The donkey was pregnant by accident. |
| D．The donkey gave birth to a dead baby. |
| A．He was surrounded by love. |
| B．He was separated from his family. |
| C．He was unwelcome to the neighbors. |
| D．He was skilled in entertaining people. |
| A．Friendly and courageous. | B．Intelligent and lively. |
| C．Carefree and creative. | D．Patient and fortunate. |
| A．Strange. | B．Proud. |
| C．Humorous. | D．Famous. |
