1 . It was a gloriously sunny day in Switzerland and we were driving over the Alps. Our daughter was singing in the back; she was happy to have just passed her latest exams. We’d just survived a trip, going down a mountain.
In the Alps, whichever way you go, you’re traveling on tiny mountain roads with lots of switchbacks . And as soon as we reached the first hairpin, we realized there was something seriously wrong with our brakes. They didn’t work.
Coming into the bend, the only way my husband could slow us down was by using the handbrake. The problem with mountain roads is that there are very few places to turn around or pull to the side of the road safely. And we’d just left a car park, which meant there wouldn’t be another parking area for a while.
All we could do was continue down the mountain, in our heavy motorhome which was gaining speed, trying hard to slow without working brakes. There were 180-degree bends every 200 meters or so — and each one was completely terrifying.
We didn’t know if or when the handbrake would give out, and then we would be in big trouble — there aren’t any barriers to stop you going over the edge on these roads.
I’m grateful my husband was driving and that he was able to deal with it. Yes, our handbrake was ruined. No, we didn’t care. At the bottom of the mountain, we were lucky to find a small town with a garage. There, we quickly discovered the cause — our brake liquid had totally disappeared!
When we bought the motorhome three months earlier, we’d been assured it had just received a full service and a vehicle test. We did our own checks, too, but we never thought to check the brake liquid.
It turned out that it hadn’t been changed for years and was mostly water — which meant it had changed into gas over the past 48 hours as the brakes got hot going up and down the mountain until it was gone. Thankfully, the garage was able to replace it and they also changed the handbrake for us.
1. Why did the author’s daughter sing?| A．She was happy at the Alps scenery. | B．She would go on a trip in Alps. |
| C．She had just passed her exams. | D．She survived a disaster with her parents. |
| A．Make the motorhome gain speed. | B．Look for a car park quickly. |
| C．Pull the motorhome to the side of road. | D．Slow down the motorhome by using handbrake. |
| A．The destroyed handbrake. | B．The edge of the roads. |
| C．The barriers to stop cars. | D．The motorhome they bought. |
| A．Its tires. | B．Its brake liquid. | C．Its handbrake. | D．Its wheels. |
2 . Who Was Jane Austen?
Although Jane Austen’s works were first published anonymously(匿名地)and brought her little personal recognition, today they are rarely out of print and have inspired movies, television shows, literary anthologies, and many other adaptations all around the world. Her writings---principally her five novels---mainly deal with the topic of love and marriage. Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Emma, and Northhanger Abbey remain her most famous works.
Who Was Chuck Jones?
Charles Martin Chuck Jones was an American animator(动画片绘制者), cartoon artist, screenwriter, producer, and director of many classic animated cartoon shorts. They starred Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, Pepé Le Pew, Porky Pig and a lot of other Warner Brothers characters. When he moved on to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, his work includes a series of Tom and Jerry shorts.
Who Was Lewis!
Lewis Carroll is the pen name of Charles L Dodgson, a mathematician, who taught at Oxford University. He was inspired to write his best known works, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, by one of the Dean’s daughters, Alice Liddell. The books were hugely successful and brought Carre
Who Was Princess Diana?
A shy twenty-year-old girl stepped out of a horse-drawn coach and into the world spotlight(聚光灯), catching the imagination of millions as a real-life fairy-tale princess. Although the storybook marriage didn’t have a happy ending, Diana learned to use her fame as a way to support charitable causes near to her heart. She became the People’s Princess by showing care and concern for all people, including the homeless, the sick, and others in need.
1. Whose works will attract young people who like reading love stories?| A．Chuck Jones’s. | B．Jane Austen’s. | C．Lewis Carroll’s. | D．Princess Diana’s. |
| A．Making films. | B．Telling stories. | C．Writing novels. | D．Painting pictures. |
| A．Smart and creative. | B．Cheerful and outgoing. |
| C．Caring and kind. | D．Serious and hard-working. |
The most important thing to keep in mind when going into high school is to be yourself. Besides, I don’t know what your middle school was like, but high school teachers will not care about things such as how much homework you already have for one night. It’s best to just learn to deal with things and manage your time wisely so you can achieve everything you need to do.
David, Aged 19
I’m not going to lie. The first day is kind of frightening. But you’ll get used to it. Don’t be afraid of anyone; Just take it easy. Making some friends and staying with them will greatly help you get used to high school quickly. After the first week it’s really not bad at all. Don’t worry.
Frank, Aged 21
I think almost every kid feels both anxious and excited before their first day. You will probably love it. I know I did. You should join in some sports or activities that will make your high school experience more enjoyable. Good luck!
Eddie, Aged 20
When I started high school I was really nervous and worried too, especially since I had been home schooled all through middle school and didn’t really know anyone. I suppose the best advice would be to just relax. The first couple of days can be a little bit hard, but things will become easier before you know it.
1. What can we infer from Sharon’s words about high school?| A．Teachers are quite strict. |
| B．Students often stay up at night. |
| C．Teachers provide little care for students. |
| D．Students should make good use of their time. |
| A．David. | B．Frank. | C．Sharon. | D．Eddie. |
| A．Excited. | B．Worried. | C．Bored. | D．Relaxed. |
4 . When you are in Mérida of Mexico, you can take any of the transportation ways.
On foot
Once you are in the city center, getting around Mérida on foot is very convenient. Most of the main attractions are centrally located, and you’ll have a hard time getting lost thanks to the city’s thoughtful construction.
By bike
If you’d rather explore the city on two wheels, do so at your own risk. Bikers will be especially pleased on Sundays, when some of Mérida’s most beautiful and popular motorways shut down to car traffic for bikes. For the event, you’ll find many bike rental shops open for business.
By car
If you plan to explore the areas surrounding Mérida during your trip, renting a car is a good choice. For travelers who do not plan to leave the city of Mérida, a rental car can still be useful. If you do choose to rent a car, booking it ahead of your trip will likely save you money. Be prepared to show a credit card and a valid driver’s license from your home country.
By bus
There are a number of local bus ways that visitors can take advantage of during their stay. Bus stops are everywhere throughout the city, and most run from around 6 am to 11 pm. However, people who are not locals may find it difficult to determine which way to take and where to find the bus stops. See the Mérida transportation website for information on specific way.
By taxi
Taxis in Mérida are considered safe and are fairly easy to catch - just note that you’ll need to know some basics in Spanish to communicate with most drivers. Typically, drivers have a set fare to get to various attractions within the city.
1. Which is the convenient way to travel in the city center of Mérida?| A．By bus. | B．By car. | C．By bike. | D．On foot. |
| A．Deciding which bus way to take. | B．Renting a bike on Sundays. |
| C．Booking a car ahead of a trip. | D．Getting to various attractions. |
| A．Show your credit card. | B．Prepare a driver’s license. |
| C．Pay Mexican car insurance. | D．Learn some basic Spanish. |
5 . Every man wants his son to be somewhat of a clone, not in features but in footsteps. As he grows you also age, and your dreams become more unachievable. You begin to realize that your boy, in your footsteps, could probably finish what you hoped for. But footsteps can be muddied and they can go off in different directions.
My son Jody has hated school since day one in kindergarten. Science projects waited until the last moment. Book reports weren’t written until the deadline.
I’ve been a newspaperman all my adult life. My daughter is a university graduate working toward her master’s degree (硕士学位) in English. But Jody? When he entered the tenth grade he became a “vo-tech” student (技校学生). They’re called “motorheads” by the rest of the student body.
When a secretary in my office first called him “motorhead”, I was shocked. “Hey, he’s a good kid,” I wanted to say. “And smart, really.”
I learned later that motorheads are, indeed, different. They usually have dirty hands and wear dirty work clothes. And they don’t often make school honor rolls (光荣榜).
But being the parent of a motorhead is itself an experience in education. We who work in clean shirts in offices don’t have the abilities that motorheads have. I began to learn this when I had my car crashed. The cost to repair it was about $ 800. “Hey, I can fix it,” said Jody. I doubted it, but let him go ahead, for I had nothing to lose.
My son, with other motorheads, fixed the car. They got parts from a junk yard, and ability from vo-tech classes. The cost was $ 25 instead of $ 800.
Since that first repair job, a broken air-conditioner, a non-functioning washer and a non-toasting toaster have been fixed. Neighbors and co-workers trust their car repairs to him.
These kids are happiest when doing repairs. They joke and laugh and are living in their own relaxed world. And their minds are bright despite their dirty hands and clothes.
I have learned a lot from my motorhead: publishers need printers, engineers need mechanics, and architects need builders. Most important, I have learned that fathers don’t need clones in footsteps or anywhere else.
My son may never make the school honor roll. But he made mine.
1. What can we learn about the author’s children?| A．His daughter does better in school. | B．His daughter has got a master’s degree. |
| C．His son tried hard to finish homework. | D．His son couldn’t write his book reports. |
| A．His son had the ability to fix it | B．it would save him much time |
| C．it wouldn’t cause him any more loss | D．other motorheads would come to help |
| A．Mitalipov, senior author on the paper, laughs when asked if he wants to clone a person. |
| B．Tom was in some ways a younger clone of his handsome brother. |
| C．Some scientists wish to create the world’s first human clone. |
| D．To make a clone, you need to first take an egg and remove all of its genetic material. |
| A．It is unwise to expect your child to follow your path. |
| B．It is important for one to make the honor roll. |
| C．Architects play a more important role than builders. |
| D．Motorheads have greater ability than office workers. |
6 . The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was aching, and I’d been in an argument with a friend. Her words still hurt, “ The trouble with you is that you won’t put yourself in my place. Can’t you see things from my point of view? ” I shook my head stubbornly-and felt the ache in my tooth. I’d thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday, but the pain was really unbearable. I started calling the dentists in the phone book, but no one could see me immediately. Finally, at about lunchtime, I got lucky.
“ If you come by right now, ” the receptionist said, “ the dentist will fit you in. ”
I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car. But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice? Why wasn’t he as busy as the others?
In the dentist’s office, I sat down and looked around. I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried. The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my icecold one.
When I told her my fears, she laughed and said, “ Don’t worry. The dentist is very good. ”
“ How long do I have to wait for him? ” I asked impatiently.
“ Come on, he is coming. Just lie down and relax. And enjoy the artwork, ” the assistant said.
“ The artwork? ”I was puzzled.
The chair went back. Suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture, right where I could enjoy it: on the ceiling. How considerate the dentist was! At that moment, I began to understand what my friend meant by her words.
What a relief!
1. Which of the following best describes the author’s feeling that morning?| A．Upset. | B．Nervous. | C．Cheerful. | D．Satisfied. |
| A．The laughing assistant of the dentist. |
| B．The surroundings of the dentist’s office. |
| C．The dentist’s being as busy as the other dentists. |
| D．The dentist’s agreeing to treat her at very short notice. |
| A．Because the dentist came at last. | B．Because she could relax in the chair. |
| C．Because she saw a picture on the ceiling. | D．Because the assistant kept comforting her. |
| A．Strike while the iron is hot. | B．Put oneself in other’s shoes. |
| C．A friend in need is a friend indeed. | D．Have a good word for one’s friend. |
7 . Exercising regularly not only helps you keep slim, but also improves your overall health and well-being. Different exercises produce different results, as they focus on alternate parts of the body. There are four broad exercise categories: endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance. Many people often only focus on one exercise type, but including all four in your workout will produce better results and reduce your risk of injury.
Endurance
Endurance exercises increase your breathing and heart rate. By doing endurance exercises, you are working to keep your heart, lungs, and blood-flow system healthy while improving your total fitness. Over time these activities will make everyday activities seem easier.
Strength
If you want to build up your muscles, then strength exercises, which are also known as “resistance training”, are right for you. Even the slightest increase in strength can make a huge difference in your ability to carry out daily tasks. Developing strong muscles also reduce your risk of weak bones.
Flexibility
Flexibility exercises help stretch your body’s muscles. This allows for more freedom of movement for other exercises and can also improve your range of motion, posture, ability to breathe deeply, and blood flow. Also, it reduces the muscle tension caused by stress.
Balance
Balance exercises help prevent falls and are especially important to older adults, helping them stay independent. Most good balance exercises are ones that keep you constantly moving with your feet on the ground. Heel-to-toe walking and standing on one foot are simple ways to improve balance.
1. How can a person benefit most from their exercise routine?| A．By combining different exercise types together. |
| B．By having enough rest between their workouts. |
| C．By concentrating on one training aspect at a time. |
| D．By increasing the frequency of their training gradually. |
| A．Strength and Balance. | B．Flexibility and Balance. |
| C．Endurance and Strength. | D．Endurance and Flexibility. |
| A．Arms. | B．Legs. | C．Waist. | D．Neck. |
8 . American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, USA
Tel:410-244-1900
Ever looked at some artwork in a gallery (no doubt with words of praise printed on the wall) and thought: What's so special about that? I could do that. In fact, I could do better. Well, the American Visionary Art Museum is for you. Grounded in the idea that not all great artists go to art school, the museum focuses on self-taught art, resulting in some of the most inspirational art you'll ever see.
Cup Noodles Museum, Osaka, Japan
Tel:072-752-3484
Ikeda, a small city in Osaka, is the birthplace of instant noodles. The galleries at its Cup Noodles Museum document the journey from chicken noodles to “space noodles”. It’s a great place, where you can make your own noodles, create your own packaging and walk through an “instant noodles tunnel (隧道)”.
Museo Subacuático de Arte, Cancún, Mexico
Tel:998-810-4508
You can't help but wonder how the archaeologists of the future will describe the museum. At first sight, the underwater gallery looks like a rediscovered ancient city. It contains over 500 sculptures(雕塑品) of six different artists, which have been placed on the ocean floor for snorkelling(浮潜) tourists (and schools of fish). The museum may also be viewed by glass-bottom boat.
Vent Haven Museum, Kentucky, USA
Tel:859-341-0461
There’s something extremely charming about entering a room and seeing a crowd of ventriloquist dummies(口技假人) staring back at you. That’s what you get at Vent Haven Museum, which houses more than 900 dummies. It started as one man’s private collection, and it’s still semi-private (you’ve got to book a tour 48 hours before arriving). This is the perfect place to find out how to get into the ventriloquism game.
1. Which number should you call if you are interested in fast food?| A．410-244-1900. | B．072-752-3484. |
| C．998-810-4508. | D．859-341-0461. |
| A．Create your own artwork. | B．Watch a ventriloquism show. |
| C．See sculptures while swimming. | D．Walk through an undersea tunnel. |
| A．In Baltimore. | B．In Osaka. |
| C．In Cancún. | D．In Kentucky. |
9 . “Why did the fox steal my shoes?” sounds like the start of a brain teaser (脑筋急转弯) or an annoyingly hot song. But for people in Berlin, it was a real question that a local fox was behind a series of shoes thefts.
About two weeks ago, Meyer, a resident of Berlin, noticed that one of his new running shoes had disappeared from his porch, and he decided to examine the theft, a German news site reported.
Meyer quickly learned that he was not the thief’s only victim, and a tip helped him catch the fox. Days later, Meyer spotted the fox again; he followed it and discovered the fox’s secret place of more than 100 shoes.
Meyer got a photo of the thieving fox and its ill-gotten shoes, which he shared on Twitter. The shoes contained sneakers, and slippers in range of colors, shapes and sizes, though the most numerous shoes by far were Crocs.
This isn’t the first time that an urban fox has demonstrated a seeming shoe fetish (恋物). In August 2019, a fox in Melbourne, Australia, repeatedly visited a woman’s porch and stole three boots over the course of a week. In a small town in western Germany, a female fox stole about 110 to 120 shoes in just one night, presumably “for her babies to play with”, according to Reuters.
It’s unknown whether all of these foxes were acting independently or whether their actions were linked, perhaps as part of an international shoe-stealing group with a bad purpose that humans can only imagine.
1. What can we know about Meyer according to the passage?| A．He had his shoes stolen. |
| B．He was physically attacked by a fox. |
| C．He moved out of Berlin and settled in a new place. |
| D．His favorite shoes were Crocs. |
| A．He drove the fox away. |
| B．He took a picture and posted it on social media. |
| C．He sent some food to the fox. |
| D．He followed the fox and found many other foxes. |
| A．Totally. | B．Partly. | C．Definitely. | D．Possibly. |
| A．Delighted. | B．Serious. | C．Humorous. | D．Terrified. |
10 . As both a parent and a college professor, I have witnessed the destructive effects of test anxiety. Students with it can say quickly the material and explain complex content in a relaxed environment but fail in an exam. When it matters the most, students with test anxiety can convey the least.
Some students turn to drugs. With any medicine, there is a concern for safety, particularly when it is with the brain, the body’s most complicated and important organ. A new study suggests there may be a choice to these drugs for students: an open-label placebo (安慰剂).
Placebos have long been known to effectively reduce symptoms for different illnesses. Traditionally, service of a placebo treatment requires some tricks, in that people believe they are receiving an active, effective treatment, but in reality, they are taking a sugar pill or an activity that has no medical help. An open-label placebo is different: people are told from the start that they are receiving a placebo that contains no medication. And yet Schaefer’s findings indicate that people may still benefit from it.
Why did the placebo work? At this point, scientists are not entirely sure. Human mental processes can be changed by environment. Taking the pills each day may have encouraged participants to think about test anxiety and may have also provided a sense that they were doing something to deal with it.
Finally, although participants taking the placebos did show improvement on a number of self-report measures, they had no benefit over the control group with respect to scores on their final exams. They may have felt better about taking their exams, but those feelings did not change into improved test scores.
Despite these limits, the present findings are appealing and suggest a low-cost, low-risk way for reducing an all-too common problem among students.
1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?| A．Test anxiety prevents some students perform normally in exams. |
| B．Test anxiety can improve some students’ performance after exams. |
| C．A relaxed atmosphere helps students bring out their best in exams. |
| D．Some students’ performance in exams is connected with environment. |
| A．Because people feel it necessary psychologically. |
| B．Because people’s psychological feelings are at work. |
| C．Because placebos are made from sugar and taste sweet. |
| D．Because placebos are an open choice for the people taking it. |
| A．Taking placebos can reduce test anxiety. |
| B．Taking placebos can improve test scores. |
| C．Taking placebos is not as effective as taking drugs. |
| D．Taking placebos can increase sense of achievement. |
| A．Drug, a public concern for brain safety. |
| B．Test anxiety, a destructive factor in exams. |
| C．Open-label placebo, a free choice for students. |
| D．Placebo, a likely way to deal with test anxiety. |
