1 . I am an ordinary 17-year-old girl. I go to school, chat to my friends and play my guitar. I don't have much in my mind. At least, that's what most people think. In fact, life changed drastically (巨大地) for me and my family in the summer of 2011, when I was 10. It was a beautiful summer's day when my dad had his accident. He had gone out for a bike ride and seemed to be taking a lot longer than usual. When Mum called him to check if everything was all right, a nurse answered the phone. I was inside the house and could hear her speaking to someone in the garden. As I looked out of the door.
I knew something terrible had happened. She looked stricken ( 受困 扰的) and I stood worriedly in the doorway until she hung up and told me Dad was in hospital. He had been involved in a road accident and had a severe injury. On that beautiful day, we didn’t have many details about what was going on because the nurse couldn’t disclose a lot through the phone and the unknown was the scariest thing. I had no idea whether my dad was going to live. My mum went alone to the hospital and I stayed at my grandparents’ house. I was too shaken to do anything, so I just sat quietly and hoped that everything would be OK. I don't have any siblings (兄弟姐妹), so Mum and I were the only ones in the house for the eight months when Dad was in hospital. It seemed empty and quiet especially as Mum was sometimes at work when I got back from school. Before Dad went into hospital there had always been someone there asking me about my day and helping me with homework. Now there wasn’t. I became more independent and tried to take care of myself as much as possible. When I think about my life, I split (分成) it into before and after the accident because I feel like a very different, more mature person than the one I was before. Most people’s childhood fades slowly into adolescence and then adult life, but mine ended abruptly (突然地). I was forced to grow up.
1. How did the author live before her father's accident?| A．Busy but peaceful. | B．Common but happy |
| C．Tired and meaningless. | D．Comfortable and harmonious. |
| A．Understand. | B．Appreciate |
| C．Charge. | D．Uncover. |
| A．Eight months. | B．Five years. | C．Ten months. | D．Two years. |
| A．Difficulty makes a man grow up. | B．Life is full of challenges. |
| C．Independence is important. | D．Life needs all kinds of experiences. |
2 . On September 2nd, BUAA (北京航空航天大学) welcomed its first 2021 student. His name is Xing Yifan, coming together with his parents ahead of time.
"Yifan is 18 years old, but he weighs only 18 kilograms. When 6 months old, he suffered from LAMA2 (渐冻症), a type of disease that no more than a hundred people have got in the country. However, with his strong will, he made one amazing achievement after another in learning. In this year's college entrance exam, he entered BUAA with a score of 645.
Because of the illness, Yifan can only sit alone for a while, unable to stand and walk like other children. In class, he could only put his head on the table and his eyes can only scan half the pages of the book. He couldn't turn over the book with one hand. And he could only sit and listen to a class for up to 30 minutes, with the remaining 15 minutes to lie down to listen to his teacher.
But these did not scare Yifan, with only a little muscle strength left in his hands, he finished one test paper after another, more than 20 a day, often till one or two o'clock in the morning. Finally, he successfully completed the 2021 college entrance examination.
To live is much more difficult than others. Why does he have to learn? The family said because of the serious disease, he was deprived (剥夺) of the right to walk, run, jump, but he can no longer be deprived of the right to education. Xing Yifan decided to let himself be Hawking of China, and change his life with knowledge.
He came to BUAA and stayed in the love dormitory on the first floor. Xing Yifan said he was feeling particularly warm with all the help. He was expecting new college life and hoped to know more students, and take part in lots of activities. Life kisses him with pain, but he sings.
1. What can Xing Yifan do according to the text?| A．Sit alone for 45 minutes at a time. |
| B．Walk and run faster than others. |
| C．Turn over the book with one hand. |
| D．Lie down to listen during the class. |
| A．Easy-going. | B．Warm-hearted. |
| C．Hard-working. | D．Simple-minded. |
| A．His parents didn't support his learning. |
| B．He faced up to his difficulty positively. |
| C．He was forced to learn by his parents. |
| D．He was once refused to learn at school. |
| A．BUAA. a university filled with love and care |
| B．A disabled boy, being the first student of BUAA |
| C．LAMA2, attacking no more than a hundred people |
| D．A disabled boy, making a surprising achievement |
3 . Keeping fish as pets is a popular hobby. Fish take up little room, are inexpensive to feed, and provide an interesting and colorful display in any room.
A tank, or an aquarium, must be chosen carefully. Many new aquarium owners buy too many fish for their tanks. Fish cannot be crowded. Two fish can live comfortably in each gallon of water, only ten fish can live in a five-gallon tank. Can you see why a goldfish would not live long in a tiny round bowl?
If too many fish are kept together, they will not have enough oxygen or room to swim about freely. They will have more diseases. Also, some kinds of fish cannot be kept together. They will fight and may even kill one another. As your interest in fish grows, the number of fish you have may grow, too. Then you may want to invest in another tank.
If you start with a ten-gallon aquarium, what kind of fish would be best? The two major groups of tropical fish are those that lay eggs and those that give birth to live young. If you want to raise young fish, guppies would be the best choice because they can produce many babies in a short time.
You can buy fish and aquariums in most pet stores. Ask the owner to help you choose the right fish. You can also find many books about tropical fish in the library.
1. Keeping fish is a good hobby for the following reasons EXCEPT _____.| A．fish are not costly to feed | B．fish are nice to look at |
| C．fish reproduce babies quickly | D．fish need little space |
| A．buy | B．borrow | C．make | D．sell |
| A．breathe easily | B．swim about freely |
| C．get ill | D．not get enough to eat |
| A．Very few people are interested in keeping fish. |
| B．The size of your tank decides how many fish you can buy. |
| C．Guppies are a kind of fish that are good at laying eggs. |
| D．You can raise different kinds of fish together. |
4 . The Seattle area has over 40 museums with a wide range of attractions and topics.The following are some of them we have chosen for you.
MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE (MOPOP)
Address:325 5Fifh Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98109
This museum has collections from some of the most unforgettable pop culture moments and movies.
They also have exhibits like Sound Off! , where you can learn about the different aspects of music and practice playing the guitar, drums, and singing in the sound booth.
THE CENTER FOR WOODEN BOATS (TCFWB)
Address:1010 Valley St, Seattle, WA98109
This museum TCFWB has all things about wooden boats. Check out all the different types of boats they have in their collection or even go to workshops to learn more about the craftsmanship(手艺). The most attractive event, though, happens every Sunday when they take people out for free rides on different boats from 10 am to 3 pm.
CHIHULY GARDEN AND GLASS (CGAG)
Address:305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109
Dale Chihuly is one of the most recognizable names in the art of glass. He comes from Tacoma,Washington and often holds limited-time exhibitions, but he has no plans on leaving Seattle. Each piece is beautifully exhibited and they even have demonstrations (演示)about the making process.
MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND INDUSTRY MOHAD
Address:860 Terry Ave N, Seattle,WA 98109
MOHAI focuses on regional innovation and imagination. Some of their permanent exhibits include the costal traditions, local innovations, and the Seattle journey.
Does any of the above museums suit your preference? If none of them satisfies you, keep an eye on a follow-up date in the coming Friday’s “Tourism in Seattle” section.
1. People who are fond of musical instruments will probably choose to visit _________.| A．CGAG | B．TCFWB | C．MOPOP | D．MOHAI |
| A．He seldom does exhibitions. | B．He runs a glass business. |
| C．He is a famous artist. | D．He was born in Seattle. |
| A．1010 Valley St. | B．305 Harrison St. |
| C．325 5th Avenue N | D．860 Terry Ave N. |
5 . Photographer Lindsey Villatoro gave one family the most beautiful gif. She organized a fake wedding ceremony so that a terminal（不治的）ill father could walk his Il-year-old daughter down the aisle.
Jim Zetz, 62, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and knew that he wouldn't be around for all the big moments in his daughter Josie's life. So when Villatoro heard about the family's heartbreaking story, she decided to do something special for them.
"One day you'll wake up and realize you're given the opportunity to change someone's life for the better, "Villatoro wrote in the description of the wedding video. "If you get an idea, don't think twice and run with it. It was an honour doing this for them. "
Villatoro first met Zetz and his family when she was invited to take one of their final family photos together. When Zetz's wife mentioned that Josie was upset that her father wouldn't be around for "memories down the line", Villatoro decided to help out.
Amazingly, the photographer managed to organize a mini-wedding in the family's backyard within 72 hours! With the help of financial contributions from the local community, she gathered a wedding cake, a dress, flowers, and make-up for the little girl. Friends, family, and even strangers attended the event to show their support.
"Your dad may not live to see you get married, but he is here to walk you down the aisle today, "Gary Galbraith, the pastor（牧师）, said in the ceremony. "The daddy and daughter relationship is one of the most special relationships in life. "
At the ceremony Zetz placed a ring on Josie's finger as the pastor called them "daddy and daughter". Josie's mini-wedding coincided（同时发生）with her 11th birthday. Her mother said, "I knew it would be her last birthday with her dad. If I were Josie, this would be the best gif anyone could give. "
"It was a beautiful ceremony, "the neighbour Jennifer Stout said. "It's sad to think of someone so young losing her dad but at least she will have a memory of this event. "
1. Why did Villatoro help to organize the wedding ceremony?| A．To celebrate Josie's birthday. | B．To meet Zetz's demand. |
| C．To comfort the dying father. | D．To satisfy Josie's wish. |
| A．Josie didn't know about his father's illness |
| B．Josie was not satisfied with the wedding ceremony |
| C．the wedding ceremony gained much support |
| D．Zetz was fighting his illness bravely |
| A．Greedy. | B．Skilful. | C．Helpful. | D．Hard-working. |
| A．The dying father walked his daughter down the aisle. |
| B．The 11-year-old daughter was sad for losing her father. |
| C．Photographer Lindsey Villatoro filmed an important event. |
| D．Josie spent her last birthday with her dying father. |
6 . Alpha, Beta, Delta... these Greek letters used to only appear in our math classes but are now in use in news headlines.
Now, it’s Lambda. As the Delta variant (变 体) spreads throughout communities in Asia, Europe and the United States, another variant, Lambda, is spreading rapidly throughout South America, Forbes reported on Aug 10.
On May 31, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a naming system for variants of COVID-19 that uses letters of the Greek alphabet (字母表). Before that, the public had to call a variant its scientific name or refer to it based on where it was identified.
For example, a variant of COVID-19 identified in South Africa in late 2020 was called variant 501Y.V2 or B.1.351. Media also called the same virus “the South African variant”. Now, everyone calls it “Beta”.
Compared to complicated scientific names, the Greek letters are much easier to remember. “It is a lot easier for a radio newsreader to say ‘Delta’ than bee-one-six-one-seven-two,” Jeffrey Barrett, a UK statistical geneticist told Nature.
WHO hopes this change will help stop the stigma (污名) associated with geography-based names. “I can understand why people just call it ‘the South African variant’ — they don’t mean anything by it,” Salim Abdool Karim, an epidemiologist in South Africa, told Nature. “The problem is, if we allow it to continue, some ill-intentioned people may take advantage of it.” “No country should be stigmatized for detecting and reporting variants,” Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s COVID-19 technical lead, wrote on Twitter.
As the virus is still evolving, 11 variants have been named so far. What if the 24 Greek letters are not enough? “We will possibly run out of the Greek alphabet, but we’re already looking at the next series of names,” Van Kerkhove told The Telegraph. “We’re actually considering star constellations(星座).”
Currently, the Virus Evolution Working Group and WHO’s legal team are double checking proposals to “make sure we don’t upset anyone with these names”, Van Kerkhove told The Telegraph.
1. What do Lambda and Delta have in common?| A．They are both chosen by Greek scientists. |
| B．They are both confusing to understand. |
| C．They are both Greek names of varieties of COVID-19. |
| D．They are both the places where COVID-19 was found. |
| A．The virus should be named after the place where it is found and spread. |
| B．No country should detect or study COVID-19 without WHO’s permission. |
| C．People felt uncomfortable when they call COVID-19 “the South African variant”. |
| D．Some people with bad intention may judge other countries reporting COVID-19. |
| A．Because the naming system in use is not convenient. |
| B．Because the variants may outnumber the Greek letters. |
| C．Because people are more curious about star constellations. |
| D．Because it is illegal to rename the variants with letters. |
| A．To introduce new ways of renaming COVID-19 varieties. |
| B．To describe how scientists identified the varieties of COVID-19. |
| C．To explain why some people prefer geography-based names. |
| D．To arouse people’s awareness of more COVID-19 varieties. |
| A．Science. | B．Travel. |
| C．Sports. | D．First Aid. |
7 . On a cold and clear day in February, Wes, his brother Jeff, his assistant Jordan, and I were following the GPS from the bear’s collar( 项 圈 ) up a steep and into a red earth canyon. The temperature dropped to zero as we cleaned the snow, trying to locate the black bear’s entrance.
The radio signal was so weak that as the sun set, we considered turning back. Then a curtain of snow collapsed, revealing a sandstone cave. It narrowed to a dark tunnel, and the musky(麝香味)smell of wild animal steamed from within. Wes didn’t hesitate. Armed with an expandable six-foot stick with a tranquilizer syringe(镇定剂喷射器) on its tip, he dived in headfirst. His brother crawled after him.
Thirty seconds later, they came flying backward out of the tunnel. The bear they’d collared a year and a half ago now weighed about 350 pounds— and he was awake! Wes had managed to jab him with the syringe, so we waited for the drug to take effect. But when we rounded the tunnel bend, wide eyes flashed at us. He was STILL awake!! Wes told me not to move while he backed out and jabbed another dose of tranquilizer.
The bear started crawling toward us. We desperately blocked the exit with backpacks and sticks as Wes jabbed him again— but he powered through our barriers with groggy(头晕眼花的) steps and began to crawl down the snowy slope. Jeff and Jordan held his back paws, managing to hold on to him; Wes jumped on his back and grabbed his collar. The bear pulled them down the hillside together. The tranquilizer had taken effect— he was asleep. Wes and his brother changed the batteries of the collar and checked his health, but we had one more difficult task: getting a 350-pound bear up the snowy path and safely back to his cave before he awoke. We pushed and pulled with every muscle. Before the drug wore off, our effort paid off.
When spring came, signals from the bear’s new radio collar showed he’d continued his everyday life—avoiding any more contact, we hope, with humans.
1. Why did the author and his friends go to the canyon?| A．They wanted to conduct a radio experiment. |
| B．They expected to hunt for a bear for fun. |
| C．They wished to explore the nature in winter. |
| D．They planned to maintain the bear’s radio collar. |
| A．The bear’s unique smell reminded them. |
| B．A hunter led them to the bear’s habitat. |
| C．The strong sunlight revealed its cave. |
| D．A curtain of snow showed them the way. |
| A．Kick. | B．Inject. |
| C．Cure. | D．Assist. |
| A．The bear was more than pleased to see them again. |
| B．The drug took effect immediately after the bear took it. |
| C．They made it to send the bear back to its cave. |
| D．They gave the bear tranquilizer 4 times in the end. |
| A．The Bear Wearing a Collar | B．Danger in Nature |
| C．An Encounter with a Bear | D．A “Little” Adventure |
8 . Roger Williams Park Zoo Visitor Guide
Zoo Manners
The zoo is a smoke free area. No balloons, balls, bikes, or roller skates allowed. Pets are not allowed—except guide dogs for blind. Stay on the pathways and do not place children on railing. Do not throw anything into the animal exhibits. Please help our conservation efforts by depositing trash and recyclables properly.
Lost Persons
If separated from your group ask any zoo employee or security guard for immediate assistance, or go directly to the Administration Building reception desk.
Facilities and Services
Enjoy a delicious meal at one of our two animal-themed café restaurants. Our Visitor Centre offers cards, books and toys so you can always remember your day at the zoo. There is also an hourly animal presentation near the Main Entrance where you can learn more about the animals, pet them and even take a picture with them.
Zoo Exhibit Game
Each animal exhibit will have information about the animal located there. You will get to learn about each animal’s habitat, their conservation status and some other quick facts. As you explore the zoo check off all the endangered animals you discover from the list below. Find them all and win a free T-shirt.
• Mountain Gorilla
• Chinese Alligator
• Snow Leopard
• white-winged Wood Duck
• Red Panda
• Giant Turtle
• Koala
Zoo Hours
Open Thursday—Monday from 10 am—4 pm.
Timed-entry ticket(定时门票) requirements continue to remain in effect for non-members.
1. Which of the following is allowed at the zoo?
| A．Riding your bike. | B．Taking your camera. |
| C．Bringing pet dogs. | D．Smoking cigarettes. |
| A．Main Entrance. | B．Visitor Centre. |
| C．Administration Building. | D．Nursing Centre. |
| A．Follow all the zoo rules. | B．Visit all the zoo’s exhibits. |
| C．Bring along another guest. | D．Find all the animals listed. |
| A．Enjoy delicious meals. | B．Watch animal presentations. |
| C．Sort and recycle garbage. | D．Buy some souvenirs. |
| A．8 am, Monday. | B．11 am, Tuesday. |
| C．2 pm, Friday. | D．7 pm, Sunday. |
9 . A competition making up Versailles literature was launched on Sina Weibo recently. So what is Versailles literature?
Actually, the term has nothing to do with the French palace nor with literature. It came from The Rose of Versailles, a Japanese manga series about aristocratic life at the palace of Versailles in France in the late 18th century, and was coined by a Chinese influencer earlier this year. Known as humblebragging, it is a boast disguised as a complaint. “I have too many houses. How can I decide which one to decorate?” and “I thought I lost weight this morning. So disappointed when I realized it was because I took off the huge diamond ring my boyfriend gave me last night” are some examples of Versailles literature. The intention is to show off — usually things of materialistic values, yet one ought to pretend that’s not the point.
As the 19th century English author Jane Austen famously wrote, “Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility.” The psychology behind humblebragging is to be recognized for one’s successes and be liked by others at the same time, according to scholars. In her article titled Why do people hate humblebragging? published in Psychology Today, psychologist Dr. Susan Krauss Whitbourne at the University of Massachusetts Amherst noted that humblebragging is a “strategy in pursuit of respect” because it draws attention to one’s accomplishments in a circuitous way.
However, studies on social media users show that humblebragging as a self-promotion strategy does not work. In the essay Humblebragging: A distinct and ineffective self-presentation strategy, the University of North Carolina researcher Ovul Sezer and Harvard University scholars Francesca Gino and Michael Norton concluded from their research that humblebraggers are perceived more negatively than straight braggers due to the former’s insincerity. “The critical factor differentiating the two groups of people is sincerity. People don’t like braggers, but they at least see them as more sincere than humblebraggers,” said Francesca Gino.
So, how can we annoy humblebraggers back? “Just pretend you don’t get whatever it is they try to show off,” a netizen advised. “And respond with genuine sympathy for their complaints.”
1. Which of the following statements is typical of “Versailles literature”?| A．You know who my father is? My father is Li Gang. |
| B．Got five offers to date. I’m at a loss which to choose. |
| C．It’s a headache how to make my son tidy up his room regularly. |
| D．I’m fed up with living in the countryside with no shopping malls around. |
| A．To win others’ sympathy. | B．To earn others’ admiration. |
| C．To show his/her sincerity. | D．To mask his / her complaint. |
| A．Indirect. | B．Straightforward. | C．Ambiguous. | D．Double-edged. |
| A．Braggers are relatively more sincere than humblebraggers. |
| B．Humblebragging is an artificial appearance of being humble. |
| C．To respond with real sympathy will discourage humblebraggers. |
| D．If you want to be perceived positively, try to use Versailles literature. |
10 . For people who are interested in sound, the field of sound technology is definitely making noise. In the past, sound engineers worked in the back rooms of recording studios, but many of today’s sound professionals are sharing their knowledge and experience with professionals in other fields to create new products based on the phenomenon we call sound.
Sound can be used as a weapon. Imagine that a police officer is chasing a thief. The thief tries to escape. And the officer can’t let him get away. he pulls out a special device points it at the suspect, and switches it on. The thief drops to the ground. This new weapon is called a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD, 远程定向声波发射器). It produces a deafening sound so painful that it temporarily disables a person. The noise from the LRAD is directed like a ray of light and travels only into the ears of that person, but it is not deadly.
For those who hunger for some peace and quiet, sound can now create silence. Let’s say you are at the airport, and the little boy on the seat next to you is humming（哼唱）a short commercial song. He hums it over and over again, and you are about to go crazy. Thanks to the Silence Machine a British invention, you can get rid of the sound without upsetting the boy or his parents. One may wonder how the Silence Machine works. Well, it functions by analyzing the waves of the incoming sound and creating a second set of outgoing waves. The two sets of waves cancel each other out. Simply turn the machine on, point it at the target, and your peace and quiet comes back.
Directed sound is a new technology that allows companies to use sound in much the same way spotlights（聚光灯） are used in the theater. A spotlight lights up only one section of a stage; similarly, a “spotsound” creates a circle of sound in one targeted area. This can be useful for businesses such as restaurants and stores because it offers a new way to attract customers. Restaurants can offer a choice of music along with the various food choices on the menu, allowing customers more control over the atmosphere in which they are dining. Directed sound is also beginning to appear in shopping centers and even at homes.
1. What could be inferred from Paragraph 2 about the effect of the LRAD?| A．It causes temporary hearing loss | B．It slows down a running man |
| C．It makes it easy to identify a suspect | D．It keeps the suspect from hurting others |
| A．silence the people around you | B．remove the sound of commercials |
| C．block the incoming sound waves | D．stop unwanted sound from affecting you |
| A．They travel in circles | B．They clear the atmosphere. |
| C．They can be transformed into energy | D．They can be directed onto a specific area |
| A．creative designs of restaurant menus | B．ideal sound effects on the theater stage |
| C．different choices of music for businesses | D．strict control over any suspicious customer |
