1 . I know what courage looks like. I saw it on a flight I took six years ago, and only now can I speak of it without tears filling eyes at the memory.
Our flight left the Orlando Airport one Friday morning. But immediately upon take-off, it was clear that something was wrong. The aircraft was bumping(颠簸) up and down. All the experienced travellers, including me, looked around with knowing smiles. If you fly much, you see these things and learn to act calmly about them. However, we did not remain calm for long.
Minutes after we were in the air, our plane began falling quickly. The pilot soon made a serious announcement. “We are having some difficulties,” he said. “Our indicators show that the control system has failed. We will be returning to the Orlando Airport. The flight attendants will prepare you for a bumpy landing. Also, if you look out of the windows, you will see that we are dumping fuel from the airplane. We want to have as little on board as possible in the event of a rough touchdown.” In other words, we were about to crash. Many travellers looked visibly frightened now. No one faces death without fear, I thought.
Then a couple of rows to my left, I heard a still calm voice, a woman’s voice, speaking in an absolutely normal conversational tone. I had to find the source of this voice. All around, people cried. Many screamed. Finally, I saw her. In this chaos, a mother was talking to her child. The woman, in her mid-30s, was staring full into the face of her daughter, who looked to be four years old. The child listened closely, sensing the importance of her mother’s words. The mother’s gaze held the child so fixed that she seemed untouched by the sounds of grief and fear around her.
Finally, I leaned over and by some miracle could hear this soft sure voice with the tone of comfort. Over and over again, the mother said, “I love you so much. Remember, no matter what happens, I love you always.” Fortunately, our landing gear held at last and our touchdown was not a tragedy.
However, the voice I heard that day never faded. That mom showed me what a real hero looks like.
1. What does the author imply by saying “some travellers’ knowing smiles” in Paragraph 2?| A．They were used to this kind of experience. |
| B．They were quite familiar with each other. |
| C．They were well-educated passengers. |
| D．They were pretending to be calm. |
| A．The plane met bad weather and had to return immediately. |
| B．The flight indicators showed the plane’s control system failed. |
| C．One of the passengers was badly ill and the plane had to turn back. |
| D．A flight attendant explained flight safety instructions to the passengers. |
| A．They asked for help. |
| B．They remained calm. |
| C．They cried and screamed. |
| D．They rejected the bumpy landing. |
| A．The shape of love. |
| B．The voice of courage. |
| C．The wisdom of a pilot. |
| D．The danger of a journey. |
2 . Going to the movie theater is fun. However, in a time when technology has afforded us home video streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, many people choose to stay at home to have fun. And they believe movie theaters are going to have problems. Though those services might affect the theaters negatively, I don't believe they are going away anytime soon.
I don't doubt that staying at home to watch films can save you money. After all, the tickets for theaters aren't cheap. Besides, you can lie comfortably on a big sofa to watch films. And generally there's no limit on the time when you can watch films. And you don't need to be worried about others anger when you laugh aloud at a fun shot.
But the movie theater has the low lighting, the big screen, the surround sound, etc. War movies especially benefit from being watched in theaters. A good war movie combined with the theater setting can better show the reality of war. Viewers can more closely experience the war. In addition to war movies, action movies and superhero movies are also much better when viewed on the big screen.
And nothing beats gathering together your friends and family and going to see a good movie. However, nowadays many people like to lock themselves at home when they're free. That's why many people end up being lonely, having few friends and suffering from health problems. Therefore, instead of just watching a movie at home and then going to bed, you can hang out with your friends and share your latest news face to face based on going to see a movie.
Anyway, we are lucky enough to live in a time that benefits people who love to go out and those who love to stay at home. Netflix and other services will always be there for those who prefer to stay at home. But going to the theater offers better experience, and it helps theaters create more jobs. It's a win-win. So why not see a cool movie at your local theater?
1. What influence do home video streaming services seem to bring?| A．Theaters will soon disappear. |
| B．Movie theater business gets hurt. |
| C．Films have become much funnier than before. |
| D．Theaters begin to offer better services to customers. |
| A．Some theater rules to follow. | B．The author's love for staying at home. |
| C．The advantages of enjoying films at home. | D．Several opinions on choosing movie theaters. |
| A．Not all films are attractive to viewers. | B．There isn't an increase in films' types. |
| C．Movie theaters should suit different films. | D．Some films are less amazing when watched at home. |
| A．To persuade us to join outdoor activities as often as possible. |
| B．To present the advantage of watching films at home. |
| C．To show us the reasons for the decline of theater. |
| D．To advise people to go to the theater. |
3 . Plastic pollution has long been a problem, but now it's gotten to a new height-literally.
Microplastics, referring to plastic fragments and particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter, have been found on Mount Qomolangma as high as 8,440 meters above sea level, just 408.86 meters below the peak of the mountain, according to a recent study published in the journal One Earth.
“These are the highest microplastics ever discovered so far, “ lead author Imogen Napper from the University of Plymouth, UK, said in a statement.
Scientists collected snow and water samples from 19 different locations from 4, 200 meters above sea level all the way up to the top of Mount Qomolangma. They found microplastics in all the water samples and part of the snow samples. The most polluted sample was from the Base Camp in Nepal, where most human activity on the mountain is concentrated. It had 79 particles of microplastics per liter of snow.
But how have these fragments made it all this way and in such a great abundance? The answer is apparent-human activities. It is climbers who bring plastic products to the mountain. Even if they don't litter, just walking for 20 minutes or opening a bottle of water can release microplastics into the environment.
Even covered in ice, the Arctic is also a victim of plastic pollution. A 2020 report published in Nature suggests that there are 2,000 to 17,000 plastic particles per cubic meter in Arctic ice cores. Experts think microplastics may be transported by air and then reach the North Pole in snowfall.
“What we don't yet fully know is the potential problems these tiny pieces of plastic could be having to ecosystems," said Christian Dunn of Bangor University , UK.
Then what can we do? “We need to start focusing on deeper technological solutions that focus on microplastics, like changing fabric design and include natural fibers instead of plastic when possible, " Napper said.
1. Where did Napper's team find the microplastics?| A．At 408.86 meters below the top of Mount Qomolangma. |
| B．In all water and snow samples collected. |
| C．At 4,200 meters above the Everest Base Camp. |
| D．At the foot of Mount Qomolangma. |
| A．Stopping littering. | B．Avoiding bottled water. |
| C．Limiting use of equipment. | D．Forbidding climbing at all. |
| A．By planes flying in the air | B．By wind from other places. |
| C．By humans traveling there | D．By huge tides in the sea. |
| A．Promoting new styles of clothes. | B．Improving technology for ecosystems. |
| C．Replacing plastic with natural fibers. | D．Researching microplastics' harm. |
4 . A few years ago, my father arranged to send me a mail-order fruitcake at Christmas time. Although I had a good job and apartment in Manhattan, he feared my cupboards might be bare. I had recently moved from California, where my parents still lived in their suburban bungalow (平房) of 50 years, the house I grew up in.
He wanted me to have a particular brand of fruitcake. A fruitcake, in his mind, was a perfect Christmas gift. Made in Texas, it was famous among fruitcake lovers — or at least, among people who gave fruitcake to those who were assumed to love them.
I knew there would be plenty to eat in California. For each Christmas, in addition to my mother’s cookies, fudge (乳脂软糖), and other treats, my father always gave my sister and me each a large bag of assorted foods he called, rather plainly, the “Food Bag”. One year, I secretly listed the contents of my Food Bag in a notebook for the day when I might not get a Food Bag for Christmas. That year, my bag contained a can of mixed nuts, a box of whole-wheat crackers, a Belgian chocolate bar, some English breakfast tea 9and many other items.
I was 44 when my father gave me that Food Bag, and he was 72.
That day before my flight to California, the fruitcake still hadn’t arrived. When my father called to wish me a safe trip and he said “Did you receive it?”
“Not yet,” I said. “Maybe it will be there today.” He regretted deeply about the lost fruitcake.
He remained hopefully the fruitcake would come by New Year’s Eve. But January, February and March came and went with no fruitcake. Though my father continued to ask about it. I never considered lying. Instead, I would say, “That cake is orbiting earth and sooner or later will land.”
As time went by, he would bring up the journey of his fruitcake. “I wonder where it is now.” he’d say.
Early last December, nearly a year after my father died, I got a call from a staffer of my apartment building, “You have a package.”
I went downstairs to pick it up. The brown box had a FedEx label with a return address in Texas.
1. What does the underlined word “bare” probably mean in Paragraph 1?| A．Plain. | B．Short. |
| C．Empty. | D．Abundant. |
| A．Treats from his parents. | B．A big Christmas dinner. |
| C．A food bag from his parents. | D．A Special fruitcake. |
| A．In Texas. | B．At Lost and Found. |
| C．In California. | D．In Manhattan. |
| A．Dad’s Mystery Package | B．Disturbing Delivery Service |
| C．My Favorite Food | D．Memorable Food Bags |
5 . Cornell Precollege Summer Programs 2021 ： Updates
At this time, Cornell University Precollege Studies plans to offer online and in-person, on- campus courses for high school students during summer 2021. Courses will be held during the following sessions:
Three-week Session 1 (June 1 -June 17,2021) ：Online courses only
Three-week Session 2 (June 21 -July 9,2021 )：Online and on-campus courses
Three-week Session 3 (July 12-July 30,2021 )：Online and on-campus courses
Six-week Session (June 21 - August 3,2021 )： Online and on-campus courses
For updates
For the latest updates, join our email list and visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
In addition , please visit the Cornell coronavirus website regularly for university updates, information, and resources for students.
Precollege on-campus summer courses and COVID-19
In the event, if we are not able to offer in-person, on-campus courses due to COVID- 19 restrictions, as many courses as possible will be converted（改变)to online offerings and you'll have the following options:
1. If your on-campus course is converted to an online course, you may automatically register for it at a reduced charge that reflects only academic (per credit), not residential, fees.
2. If you prefer, or if your on-campus course is not converted to an online offering, you may select a course from the list of previously scheduled online courses.
3. You may contact us to withdraw and request a full refund(退款)，minus the application fee.
While we know there is no replacement for our on-campus, residential experience, the good news is that all online courses are regular Cornell classes that give you a chance to study with Cornell faculty (学院)，work alongside undergraduates, earn college credits, and get a head start on preparing for college applications.
1. If you are only available in June, which session can you choose?| A．Three-week Session 1. | B．Three-week Session 2. |
| C．Three-week Session 3. | D．Six-week Session. |
| A．get a discount on residential fees. | B．can have choices of other courses. |
| C．can quit the courses without any losses. | D．have to accept owing to restrictions. |
| A．You will receive better education. |
| B．You can learn with Cornell students. |
| C．You can know more about the campus. |
| D．You will get guidance on college applications. |
6 . The Blue Cafe' Theatre
The Artist is a movie set in a neighborhood of the French capital, by the River Seine. Made in 1940, this black and white movie has made cinema history. A romantic drama that will make you cry, it is well worth watching. Don't worry if you don't know French; you can read the subtitles(字幕). Showing Sunday morning in the Blue Cafe' Theatre.
Elmstreet Village Cinema
Ask me that again! A great movie for all ages, young and old. It's a movie with something for everyone! Set in a New York college, it sells the story of a girl who is so pretty that every boy falls to her. But all she wants to do is study! Now showing until Sunday, Special afternoon tickets at 10% discount for the 4:00 pm matinee(午后场).
The Orange Cinema Company
Star Traveler is a great movie for science-fiction fans who like to have a good laugh at the same time. It may not be the best film of all time, but it certainly is the funniest. You will love Wil, the star traveler, who gets lost in space, chased by green aliens. Showing from Saturday at all Orange Cinemas , 7: 00 pm, 9: 00 pm and 11:30 pm.
Findley Park Cinema
Dance all the way! A musical romance, set in an arts & dance school in the US, the film will have you singing along and tapping(轻叩) your toes from beginning to end. Doors open on Saturday at 5:00 pm for the early showing.
1. What do we know about The Artist?| A．The story happened in Paris. | B．It is a color movie |
| C．It is a movie in English. | D．It is funny. |
| A．The Artist. | B．Dance all the way. | C．Star Traveler. | D．Ask me that again. |
| A．The Blue Cafe' Theatre | B．Findley Park Cinema |
| C．Elmstreet Village Cinema | D．The Orange Cinema Company |
7 . The human brain remembers negative experiences more easily than positive ones. Our brains have developed in this way because threats, like dangerous animal, have a more immediate effect on people's survival compared to positive things like food or shelter. As a result, you clearly know what makes you unhappy, but do you know what makes you happy?
Research suggests that our level of happiness is partly shaped by the choices we make. If you've been chasing wealth, fame, power and some material things, you may be looking for happiness in the wrong places. Psychologists suggest that the following habits can make people happier.
People who own close relationships tend to be happier than those who do not. The number of our friends is not important. What matters is the quality of our relationships. Relationships that bring happiness usually consist of the sharing of feelings, acceptance, mutual respect and trust.
People who exercise regularly can improve both their physical and mental well-being. Some research has shown that exercise can be as effective as some medicine in treating depression.
If we are so interested in an activity, we may lose track of time, and we can be in a state of flow. The activity could be playing the piano, surfing the Internet or playing a game. People who experience flow in their work or life tend to be happier.
People are more likely to be happy if they know what their strengths are and can use them regularly. People are especially happy when they can set goals and use their strengths to achieve them.
People, who think positively by being grateful, mindful and optimistic, are more likely to be happy. Being grateful means being thankful. Being mindful means considering, focusing on, and enjoying the experiences of the present moment. Being optimistic means being hopeful about the future.
1. Human brains remember negative things more easily because negative things_________.| A．tend to affect human survival immediately |
| B．are much more important than other thing |
| C．can make people live much happier |
| D．are easy to remember |
| A．being famous | B．setting life goals |
| C．chasing power | D．earning money |
| A．think more about our future |
| B．focus on everything in our life |
| C．be positive in our life and work |
| D．only enjoy the present moment |
| A．Why people remember positive things easily. |
| B．Why people remember negative things easily. |
| C．What makes people happy. |
| D．What makes people sad. |
8 . Thomas James Hanson will remember for a long time the snowstorm that hit the state of New York on November 22nd. The 47-year-old man from Niagara Falls was stuck in his car on the highway for almost eight days after his vehicle was accidentally pushed to the side of the road and covered with snow by workers employed to remove the snow from the streets.
Driving on the Interstate Highway190 during the worst of the snowstorm, Mr. Hanson decided to pull over his old 1993 Volkswagen Passat to the side of the road and wait for the weather conditions to improve. He remained motionless for approximately five hours before a snow plow arrived to clear the way. Unfortunately for the poor man, the driver of the gigantic snow removal vehicle did not see the small car, pushing it into the ditch and covering it with more than 2 meters of snow.
Fortunately for the father of two children, the snow that was stacked over his vehicle was not very dense and allowed for enough fresh air to get through to enable him to survive. He was able to drink water that he obtained by melting snow with his lighter in an aluminum coffee cup, and he ate the few items of groceries he had bought before going home.
“If I had known I would be stuck for eight days, I would have bought more than a jar of dill pickles(咸菜), a bottle of ketchup and two sticks of beef jerky(牛肉干),” said the survivor with a smile.
Thomas Hanson had almost lost all hope of being rescued when his car was hit once again this morning by another snow plow, which revealed the poor man’s location.
1. What caused Thomas James Hanson to fall into the ditch according to the passage?| A．A snow removal vehicle. | B．The strong wind. |
| C．The slippery road. | D．His drunk driving. |
| A．Mr. Hanson had bought some food before the accident |
| B．Mr. Hanson got rescued on November 22 eventually |
| C．Mr. Hanson had enough bottled water to drink in the car |
| D．Mr. Hanson was stuck in the car with his children. |
| A．Quick-minded | B．Hard-working | C．Careless | D．Humorous |
| A．Heavy Snowstorm Caused Disaster to New York. |
| B．Man Found Alive after Being Stuck 8 Days under Snow. |
| C．Thomas James Hanson–a Black Sheep in the Snow. |
| D．Wonderful Eight Days of Experience in the Snow. |
9 . At just 11 years old, Vince Weishaus runs his own hair salon(发廊) in his parents' basement in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, doing different hairstyles for free.
For Vince, his love of hair started at a very young age. "He has an older sister who had dolls and he would just, at 2 or 3, be playing with the dolls' hair,” recalled Emily Weishaus, Vince's mother.
Not long afterward, he also fell in love with braiding(编辫子). "He watched me do a braid, and then he undid the braid and redid it without me ever showing him how to do it,” his mother said. He found his true passion as a hairstylist when he started cutting his grandmother's hair before he was 5. “At the very beginning, I feel like that's what gave him the confidence to be who he is,” she added.
Vince's hairstyling dream became a reality when his parents presented him with a special surprise on his ninth birthday: his very own salon in their basement. His neighbor had a salon in her home, but she decided to pass on her supplies to Vince when she moved.
Family members and friends have stopped by for appointments—all free of charge—at Vincent Charles Salon. The kid's services range from coloring, to braiding the for proms (舞会), family parties, talent shows and more. He has dyed his own hair different colors, from rose gold to purple. He even colors his friends' hair tips before they head off to camp.
Vince loves learning different practices and tricks of the trade from other hair mentors, such as his own stylist, Chelsea, who teaches him many styling skills.
The sky is the limit for Vince—his eventual goal is to become a world-famous hair colorist one day. His advice to anyone who wants to pursue their own dreams: “Do what they love and be themselves.”
1. What inspired Vince's interest in hairstyling when he was very young?| A．Reading fashion magazines. | B．Playing with dolls. |
| C．Seeing cartoon movies. | D．Visiting a hair salon. |
| A．Opposing. | B．Indifferent. |
| C．Supportive. | D．Concerned. |
| A．Students. | B．Employees. |
| C．Traders. | D．Instructors. |
| A．He is ambitious. | B．He is humorous. |
| C．He is intelligent. | D．He is generous. |
10 . Singapore is a city full of fun and adventure through the modernization and natural wonders. Come to see and explore the popular landmarks(地标) of Singapore and know the interesting facts and stories behind them.
Esplanade
One of the famous public parks in Singapore, Esplanade is a performing art center where different kinds of performances and shows are held every day. Built in 1970, the Esplanade hub(中心) is famous for shopping, dining and entertainment.
Merlion Park
Merlion of Singapore has two elements(元素) and each element represents a different meaning. The downside fish sculpture(雕塑) symbolizes(象征) the fishing villages of Singapore's past while the lion head is a Singapura, which means "lion city” in Sanskrit. The water comes out of the mouth of Lion and falls down in Singapore River.
Chijmes
Now, it is famous for its shops and entertainments; once Chijmes was a Catholic Convent School in the 1800s. This famous compound (大院) is home to several buildings of their unique architectures. The compound got a new name of Chijmes in 1990 for its amazing sound of tower bells. Now, Chijmes has been turned into a perfect nightlife entertainment place for tourists.
Singapore Flyer
Standing at a breathtaking height of 165 meters, Singapore Flyer is Asia's largest observation wheel, which was launched in 2008. The beautiful panoramic(全景的) views of Marina Bay and the city can be observed from its top height.
The Cenotaph
Built in the year of 1922, The Cenotaph is a war memorial(纪念碑) telling the stories of the 124 British soldiers who fought and died in World War II. The Cenotaph is standing in the Esplanade Park with a proud inscription (碑文）at its base which reads "They died so that we might live”.
1. Which of the following has the longest history?| A．Esplanade. | B．Chijmes |
| C．Singapore Flyer. | D．The Cenotaph |
| A．See panoramic views of Singapore | B．Observe all kinds of sea creatures. |
| C．Eat out with friends and family. | D．Visit old and unique architectures. |
| A．It is a fish sculpture with a lion head. |
| B．It is an old fishing village of Singapore. |
| C．It is Asia's largest observation wheel. |
| D．It is an amusement park on Singapore River |
| A．Music lovers. | B．Sports fans. |
| C．Painting lovers. | D．History lovers. |
