1 . Billions of insects are moving together over the sky like a black cloud. It’s a swarm of locusts. Many insects move in huge swarms. They form swarms for different reasons. Some move together to look for food or to find new homes. Sometimes insects swarm for protection. These enormous swarms can destroy food crops and harm other living things.
When something disturbs a red fire ants’ nest, out they will come. Not just one or two, but thousands of them. The fire ants swarm all over their victim. Their stings burn like fire. Each ant in the swarm can sting over and over again. The fire ants hold onto their victim with their mouth parts. Then they inject their prey with poison. Most small animals cannot survive the stings from a swarm of fire ants.
When army ants are on the move, anything in their path is prey. Even snakes can’t escape a swarm of these stinging ants. Army ants move together to look for food. They can’t see their prey, but they use smells and sounds to find their way. If they come to a river, they make a bridge with their bodies. They cling together with their legs. Then the rest of the ants can cross the bridge. There is not much that can stop these fierce and cruel ants from chasing their prey.
Insects are not the only animals that swarm. There are many others that do. Most are not harmful to people. Being close to a huge swarm of animals can be scary and dangerous. Some scientists have studied animal swarms. They have found that many swarms follow simple rules. They work together to solve problems. When they work together they are a very strong team.
1. What does the underlined word “swarm” in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．To force a liquid into something. | B．To hold onto something tightly. |
| C．To move together in a large group. | D．To watch over something. |
| A．Their stings contain a kind of poison and are deadly to most small animals. |
| B．They can destroy food crops and are harmful to other living things. |
| C．When they move together, they are called “a swarm of locusts”. |
| D．They move in swarms to make new nests in different places. |
| A．Blind and smelly. | B．Angry and violent. |
| C．Scary and dangerous. | D．Strong and fast. |
| A．Moving Nests | B．Stinging Fire Ants |
| C．A Moving Army | D．Swarms of Animals |
2 . It was 6 a.m. as I got on the train, ending my work one cold morning and I was lucky to get a seat. At that time of the morning, my eyes were not fully focused and at times I was half asleep. During that time the train was usually filled with construction workers heading out to start their work. On that particular morning I found myself drawn on the shoes of men sitting about 10 seats across from me.
I sat examining the shoes of men. Men from different walks of life, holding different jobs, thinking different thoughts, living different lives and despite what they did and how they looked, they all had something in common. They were all of the working class trying to achieve their dreams.
One day each of those men has to visit a shoe store to buy a new pair of shoes, a type that fits their working needs. For a short time those shoes look so good. Then one day they lose their shine; they no longer look as good, but guess what? The shoes feel right. Feet have found their own home within the comfort of those shoes.
If those shoes could talk, what kind of a tale do you think they would tell? If your shoes could talk, what do you think they would say about you? Would the story be about a journey filled with joy and fun? Or would the story be one filled with disappointment and regret?
We choose the shoes. Where we take them and when and how we wear them are up to us.
1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?| A．It was cold that morning. |
| B．The author went to work by train. |
| C．The author worked during the night. |
| D．Construction workers usually began to work at 7 a.m. |
| A．By closely observing their shoes. | B．According to the way they walked. |
| C．On the basis of the lives they lived. | D．By distinguishing their facial features. |
| A．Fashionable. | B．Good. | C．Shiny. | D．Comfortable. |
| A．In a news report. | B．In a magazine. | C．In a biography. | D．In a history book. |
3 . I got a volunteer job to teach computer skills in a library after many failures in applications and interviews. It’s an ideal opportunity to try something new and break away from the feeling of
Pretty soon after I entered the main library, I was
I was led to Jenna, who had been out of work for seven months. She was
When I left the library I had a new sense of purpose and a different way of
| A．comfort | B．awkwardness | C．depression | D．guilt |
| A．assigned | B．invited | C．chosen | D．forced |
| A．bringing | B．calling | C．putting | D．fighting |
| A．signals | B．offers | C．applications | D．messages |
| A．elderly | B．awesome | C．ambitious | D．honest |
| A．abandoned | B．replaced | C．attached | D．translated |
| A．curiously | B．joyfully | C．willingly | D．gratefully |
| A．relaxing | B．thinking | C．working | D．entertaining |
| A．served | B．described | C．visited | D．recommended |
| A．unhappy | B．similar | C．difficult | D．unfortunate |
| A．prayed | B．taught | C．traveled | D．joined |
| A．difference | B．promise | C．commitment | D．contribution |
| A．efforts | B．goals | C．changing | D．volunteering |
| A．aloud | B．along | C．alone | D．again |
| A．reasonable | B．important | C．surprising | D．rewarding |
4 . Wealthy nations need to give as much as ten times current levels of funding to help developing countries adapt to climate change, the United Nations said in a report.
If developing nations can’t adjust to climate change, rich countries will also feel the consequences, says Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which prepared the report. “The idea that you can have a wall around your state and somehow protect yourself is simply unrealistic,” Andersen says. The report comes as world leaders prepare to gather for a climate conference. Organizers hope to make people realize the growing gap between current levels of aid for climate adaptation and what they say is required as climate shocks get worse.
Climate adaptation refers to steps to better protect people against the consequences of climate change— for example, moving communities away from coastlines and other areas. But much of the climate focus from rich countries’ leaders has been on limiting global warming by encouraging countries to burn less coal, oil and gas to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
At the United Nations climate meeting in Glasgow, countries promised to double the amount of funding available for adaptation to developing countries by 2025. But even if nations succeed in that, it’d still be insufficient for the need. Besides, it’s often spent in ways that aren’t likely to be effective over time, the report said. Adaptation efforts tend to be narrow, focus on short-term needs and fail to take future risks into account, it said.
The risk is that countries will soon experience climate shocks to which they simply can’t adapt, Andersen says. Relocation (搬迁), arguably the most extreme and expensive form of adaptation, will soon become vital, according to Andersen. “In most low-lying coastal areas, planned relocation is the last strategy,” Andersen says. “The longer wealthy countries kick this can down the road, the higher the price in human lives.”
1. Why did the UNEP prepare the report?| A．To plan for the upcoming meeting. | B．To raise money for climate change. |
| C．To draw attention to climate adaptation. | D．To call on poor countries to build walls. |
| A．Taking measures to reduce it. | B．Dealing with its consequences. |
| C．Funding developing countries. | D．Protecting people in poor countries. |
| A．Positive. | B．Tolerant. | C．Indifferent. | D．Disapproving. |
| A．Rich countries will suffer more. | B．Humans will face a hard choice. |
| C．More people will have to relocate. | D．Living expenses will rise dramatically. |
5 . Over the decades, computers have affected our lives to an astonishing degree. When the first modern computer was conceptualized and built in the 20th century, it was so large that it took up a whole room. Over time, the technology shrank. First, computers became small enough to sit on a desk and be brought into the home. Then, they were made lightweight and portable, giving us the laptop. Today, most people have something even smaller: a smartphone that can fit into a pocket.
Though that's as compact as most people are used to, computers and technology are getting even tinier! One of the tiniest forms of technology available today is the microbot. A microbot is a very tiny robot -a machine programmable by a computer—that is built to perform specific tasks. You might tend to refer to this as just a small robot, but the size and dimensions of microbots are actually quite precise. A microbot is less than one millimeter in width, approximately the size of the tip of a pencil. In comparison, a small robot, which can be up to 100 centimeters in width, would be absolutely large. If you think that microbots are as small as you can get, think again. Nanobots smaller than one micrometer exist, but these are so small that they aren't visible to the naked eye(肉眼).
Since microbots are so small, they are potentially very cheap. Scientists and engineers working to develop these microbots believe that they could be used to explore environments or areas that are too small or dangerous for people.
Because the computing power of one single microbot isn't that large, microbots could be moved and used in large groups. At the moment, the biggest barrier to the development of these tiny machines is figuring out how to power a robot that can only contain an extremely small battery.
1. What does the underlined word “shrank” in Paragraph I probably mean?| A．got more Automatic. | B．became smaller. |
| C．got wiser. | D．became larger. |
| A．They can be used to do risky tasks. | B．They are relatively expensive. |
| C．They can't be seen by the human eyes. | D．They aren't as precise as expected. |
| A．Its function. | B．Its material. |
| C．Its battery power. | D．Its maintenance cost. |
| A．How Small the Technology Can Get | B．How Robots Change Our Future Lives |
| C．Why Human Beings Prefer Tiny Technology | D．Why Microbots Are Widely Used Worldwide |
6 . The novel Restart was written by Gordon Korman and published in 2018. The book tells the story of Chase, a middle school student who loses his memory after an accident. At the beginning of the story, Chase gets knocked unconscious when he falls off a roof. When he wakes up, he can remember his name, but he doesn’t remember his past or his identity.
When Chase recovers and returns to school, he begins to learn about his own history through the reactions of the other students. As it turns out, Chase, once a star athlete, used to have fun hurting weaker students. Some people are afraid of him, some are angry with him, and some treat him like a hero. He finds that he doesn’t really like the people who used to be his best friends.
After his accident, Chase also has a different personality. He is no longer mean to other kids. However, everyone expects him to act the same as before. It takes time for the other students to learn to trust this new version of their old classmate. Each chapter is narrated (叙述) by a different character, so we get to hear every side of the story.
Gordon Korman has said that he enjoys writing for junior high school students because this is the age when kids begin to form their own opinions. In Restart, Korman addresses the themes of friendship, making mistakes, and getting a second chance. The novel explores the stories of a former bad guy and his victims, and gives readers a close look at the ways trust can be lost and rebuilt. The big picture comes together in little bits and pieces as each character offers their own details.
Everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes each of us would like to start over. In Restart, Korman shows us how to correct our mistakes and make it up to the people we have hurt.
1. What helps Chase rediscover his past?| A．His memory of the accident. | B．His fellow students’attitude towards him. |
| C．His status as a school hero. | D．His best friends’ account of his school life. |
| A．It features vivid pictures. | B．It consists of obvious comparisons. |
| C．It is written from the view of an adult. | D．It contains narrations of different characters. |
| A．Friendship and trust can be regained. | B．Lost memories can be brought back. |
| C．Some mistakes can never be corrected. | D．High school is the best age to restart. |
| A．A news report. | B．A book review. | C．A fairy story. | D．A diary entry. |
7 . The road trip is an iconic (标志性的) American family vacation experience. Here are some road trips you can enjoy.
College Tours
If you are mapping out a college tour road trip with your teen, pick a region like the Boston area. There you can visit a mix of options that are large and small, public and private, and a mix of easy-to-get-into and reach-for-the-stars schools. Make the most of your visits by researching hotel stays that give you a taste of campus culture.
Road to Hana
To do this trip right you'll need 10 to 12 hours. The Hana Highway runs along a winding road dotted with 59 (mostly one-way) bridges and there are often a lot of crowds. But patience is rewarded with a large number of Mother Nature's finest offerings. Remember to stop at the roadside stands selling fresh fruit and banana bread.
Mount Washington Auto Road
Little kids get a kick out of the simple pleasures of leaf-looking, making a fall road trip through New Englanda perfect choice for this age. Add a little extra fun for the grown-ups by planning a side trip for this scenic drive in New Hampshire. Less than eight miles long, the road climbs 4, 600 feet above sea level along narrow mountain roads.
Pacific Coast Highway
This one is for you, tired parents. This stretch of Highway I running up and down the California coastline is an incredibly popular road trip for its breathtaking scenery —just the thing to relax your tired selves while your little ones sleep lightly in the back seat. From late October through February, you can also take your kids to the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, where more than 10, 000 of the butterflies migrate (迁徙) each year.
1. What can a family do on a college tour?| A．Visit the area with many colleges. | B．Stay in the student dormitories. |
| C．Taste delicious food on campus. | D．Explore the college with a guide. |
| A．Be caught in a traffic jam. | B．Take a long time to prepare. |
| C．Finish the trip in two days. | D．Sell their home-made snacks. |
| A．People can enjoy butterflies along the way. |
| B．People can appreciate beautiful sea scenery. |
| C．They are suitable for parents with little kids. |
| D．They are perfect choices for trips in summer. |
8 . The topic of “crossing your legs” has been hotly discussed on the Internet recently. The truth is that crossing one leg over the other, a common sitting posture preferred by many people, may actually do harm to one’s health. So while seated, try not to do so any more.
Whether it is at the office, in a waiting room or relaxing at home, many people’ s go-to posture is one leg over the other, crossed at the knee. If you’re like many of us, you spend too many hours of your day seated and for most of that time, you have crossed your legs for comfort.
One study found that people who sat with their legs crossed for more than three hours a day were more likely to lean forward and to round their shoulders. But the research relied on people’s own estimations of how long they crossed their legs for.
When you cross your legs, you are putting compression and pressure on your leg and knee joints and nerves. The way you sit is a huge determinant of your health and the way your body moves and functions. Sitting with your legs crossed leaves your hips uneven and forces your pelvic bone (盆骨) to rotate. Therefore, the longer you sit in this uneven position, the more pressure is placed on your knee and spine (脊柱), increasing the likelihood that it will develop into a long-term issue.
If seated long, then more importantly for you, cultivate and develop a healthy habit of sitting position. And here are the followings. Switch sitting positions often. Take brief walks around your office or home. Gently stretch your muscles every so often to help relieve muscle tension. Keep your feet on the floor, with your ankles in front of your knees. Relax your shoulders; they should not be rounded. Keep your elbows in close to your body and let them be bent between 90 and 120 degrees. Make sure that your back, thighs and hips are fully supported. Try doing those and maybe some of them fit you.
1. Why do many people like to be seated “crossing their legs”?| A．They do so just for sort of ease. |
| B．They want their legs to take up more space. |
| C．They think it’s a power move. |
| D．It is a common sitting posture preferred by the most. |
| A．Your hips are in an unbalanced position. |
| B．Your spine supports more pressure. |
| C．Your pelvic bone is forced to rotate. |
| D．You may lean forward. |
| A．9. | B．7. | C．5. | D．3. |
| A．What a common sitting posture is. |
| B．The cross-legged position is popular. |
| C．Don’t cross your legs any longer. |
| D．Being seated long is unhealthy. |
9 . Xinjiang has long been known as a place of music and dancing.
No matter which ethnic group is living in Xinjiang, music and dancing are an inseparable part of our lives. From festive holidays to
When it comes to folk dancing in Xinjiang, the first thing people will
The moment when I
Every day I would assign my viewers
Short video and live-streams do not only
I believe so many people would like to connect with me on the Internet because they see me as a down-to-earth, relatable and real director of the
| A．weddings | B．lectures | C．meetings | D．teams |
| A．directing | B．conducting | C．composing | D．hearing |
| A．hobby | B．satisfaction | C．passion | D．friendship |
| A．meet with | B．care for | C．think about | D．find out |
| A．professionally | B．obviously | C．rapidly | D．frequently |
| A．recognized | B．felt | C．understood | D．described |
| A．outbreak | B．attendance | C．appearance | D．control |
| A．required | B．took | C．answered | D．replied |
| A．plans | B．designs | C．homework | D．creativity |
| A．emails | B．letters | C．performances | D．videos |
| A．made | B．wore | C．bought | D．changed |
| A．inspired | B．surprised | C．crazy | D．admired |
| A．compete | B．hire | C．improve | D．promote |
| A．fixing | B．repairing | C．establishing | D．digging |
| A．historical | B．cultural | C．natural | D．public |
10 . I have been adopted by an American family since I was fifteen months old. Growing up in the second-whitest county in California, I had little interest in my
During my four years at Northern Arizona University (NAU), I took two years of
Through my class, I was introduced to the NAU Chinese culture club, where I
Then I had an opportunity to study abroad in Hong Kong for a year. Surrounded by mainly people who looked like me, I did not feel like I
After returning from my
| A．identity | B．experience | C．safety | D．community |
| A．changed | B．disappeared | C．grew | D．continued |
| A．English | B．Chinese | C．Japanese | D．German |
| A．improve | B．understand | C．teach | D．support |
| A．furthered | B．lacked | C．ignored | D．finished |
| A．tired of | B．aware of | C．interested in | D．dependent on |
| A．stood out | B．worked out | C．gave up | D．turned up |
| A．eventually | B．incredibly | C．strangely | D．hardly |
| A．geography | B．scenery | C．architecture | D．culture |
| A．required | B．forced | C．instructed | D．allowed |
| A．annoyance | B．pain | C．comfort | D．patience |
| A．business | B．holiday | C．adventures | D．performances |
| A．shared | B．announced | C．explained | D．admitted |
| A．eye-catching | B．life-changing | C．time-consuming | D．heart-breaking |
| A．curious | B．reluctant | C．awkward | D．proud |
