1 . Sharon, Aged 22
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 in one night. It’s best to just learn to deal with things and manage your time wisely so you can achieve everything you need.
Frank, Aged 21
I think almost every kid feels both nervous 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 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 after you know it.
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; upperclassmen will pick on you more if you let them know you’re afraid. 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.
1. What can we infer from Sharon 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．Excited | B．Bored. | C．Worried. | D．Relaxed. |
| A．Frank. | B．David. | C．Sharon. | D．Eddie. |
2 . There is more of a connection between food and culture than you may think. On an individual level, we grow up eating the food of our culture. It becomes a part of who we are. Many associate food from our childhood with warm feelings and good memories and it ties us to our families, holding a special and personal value for us. Food from our families often becomes the comfort food we seek as adults in times of frustration and stress.
On a large scale, traditional food is an important part of culture. It also operates as an expression of cultural identity. Immigrants bring it wherever they go, and it is a symbol of pride in their culture and means of coping with homesickness.
Many immigrants open their own restaurants and serve traditional dishes. However, the food does not remain exactly the same. Some materials needed to make traditional dishes may not be readily available, so the taste and flavour can be different from what they would prepare in their home countries. Additionally, immigrants do not only sell dishes to people from the same countries as them, but to people from different countries. Therefore, they have to make small changes in the original dishes to cater to a wider range of customers. Those changes can create new flavours that still keep the cultural significance of the dishes.
We should not only embrace our heritage (传统) through our culture’s food, but also become more informed about other cultures by trying their food. It is important to remember that each dish has a special place in the culture to which it belongs, and is special to those who prepare it. Food is a window on culture, and it should be treated as such.
1. What’s the function of food mentioned in the text?| A．To help motivate homesickness. |
| B．To show cultural identity. |
| C．To reflect a country’s history. |
| D．To show a community’s superiority. |
| A．The specific traditional food. |
| B．The national culture. |
| C．A traditional expression of food. |
| D．The old-fashioned taste. |
| A．To attach cultural importance to their dishes. |
| B．To announce the beginning of their life on foreign soil. |
| C．To make the dishes popular among customers. |
| D．To present their own food culture in a new way. |
| A．Negative. |
| B．Balanced. |
| C．Unfair. |
| D．Unchangeable. |
3 . People have been wondering why elephants do not develop cancer even though they have lifespans(寿命)that are similar to humans, living for around 50 to 70 years.
Now scientists believe they know why. A team at the University of Chicago, US has found that elephants carry a large number of genes that stop tumors(肿瘤)developing. To be precise, they found 20 copies of an anti-tumor gene called TP53 in elephants. Most other species, including humans, only carry one copy.
According to the research, the extra copies of the gene improved the animal’s sensitivity to DNA damage, which lets the cells quickly kill themselves when damaged before they can go on to form deadly tumors.
“An increased risk of developing cancer has stood in the way of the evolution of large body sizes in many animals,” the study author Dr Vincent Lynch told The Guardian. If every living cell has the same chance of becoming cancerous(癌变的),large creatures with a long lifespan like whales and elephants should have a greater risk of developing cancer than humans and mice. But across species, the risk of cancer does not show a connection with body mass.
This phenomenon was found by Oxford University scientist Richard Peto in the 1970s and later named “Peto’s paradox(悖论)”. Biologists believe it results from larger animals using protection that many smaller animals do not. In the elephant’s case, the making of TP53 is nature’s way of keeping this species alive.
The study also found that when the same genes were brought to life in mice, they had the same cancer resistance as elephants. This means researchers could use the discovery to develop new treatments that can help stop cancers spreading or even developing in the first place.
“Nature has already figured out how to prevent cancer,” said Joshua Schiffman, a biologist at the School of Medicine, University of Utah, US. “It’s up to us to learn how different animals deal with the problem so that we can use those strategies to prevent cancer in people.”
1. Why are elephants unlikely to develop cancer?| A．Certain genes in their body kill existing tumors. |
| B．They have a rather large body size. |
| C．They carry many genes to prevent tumors developing. |
| D．Their genes suffer no DNA damage. |
| A．The huge body mass. |
| B．Deadly tumors. |
| C．Cells killing themselves. |
| D．Sensitivity to DNA damage. |
| A．The risk of cancer is not related to body size. |
| B．Larger animals have protection from TP53. |
| C．Larger animals suffer the same risk of cancer as smaller ones. |
| D．The larger animals are, the bigger risk of cancer they will have. |
| A．Depending on nature is surely enough to fight against cancer. |
| B．The TP53 genes have proved useful in stopping cancer in people. |
| C．The extra copies of elephants’ genes are used to cure cancer patients. |
| D．Humans are expected to prevent cancer with the making of TP53. |
4 . As the oldest of three children, I never had any hand-me-downs to wear like other poor kids. Instead, Mom got my wardrobe (全部衣物) from neighborhood mothers. Imagine the fun other kids had when they saw me wearing their used clothing.
Perhaps my biggest challenge came from Charlie. As far as I was concerned, Charlie’s main fun was to make fun of me. During those years, I slowly learned to hate. I hated Charlie, but I also hated myself for not being able to change my situation.
But situations do change. That opportunity came after high school when I joined the Navy. The Navy made me a social equal for the first time in my life, and the GI Bill gave me a college education. Hard work and a few lucky career choices finally lifted me into the middle class.
One beautiful summer afternoon, my friend and I celebrated Friday in Jackson’s Steak House. For the first time in almost twenty years, I saw Charlie. Not only did I see him, but he spoke to me. I could tell he didn’t recognize me, but I surely recognized my childhood tormentor (折磨者). His words were short, but I’ll never forget them. He said, “Sir, what kind of dressing would you like with your salad?”
The tables had turned. Charlie was calling me “Sir”. While hundreds of improper ideas raced through my mind, I could only give a two-word reply: “Blue cheese.” As much as I wanted to taste the sweet taste of revenge (复仇), I refused to do it. I wouldn’t put another person through what I had gone through as a child. It was time to put childish things behind me and make use of the new opportunity that life had given me. I left him a good tip and I didn’t say one word about recognizing him.
1. Where did the author usually get his clothes as a kid?| A．His mom bought them for him. |
| B．They were from other families. |
| C．Other poor kids collected them for him. |
| D．They were handed down by his brothers. |
| A．Painful. | B．Funny. | C．Strange. | D．Lucky. |
| A．A hairdresser. | B．A waiter. | C．A soldier. | D．A cook. |
| A．Live your own dream |
| B．Best memories in childhood |
| C．Don’t hate but love your enemy |
| D．Grow up and let it go |
5 . 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. |
6 . Todd Bol, a retired businessman, could never have expected that a wooden container he built in his front yard one day would have the global impact it does today.
Bol built a dollhouse-size structure that looked like a schoolhouse on a post and he put it in his yard as a free community library to remember his mother, who was a book lover and school teacher. Bol’s design gave birth to Little Free Library (LFL), a nonprofit organization that seeks to place small, accessible book exchange boxes in neighborhoods around the world. The concept is simple: Neighbors are invited to share a book, leave a book, or both. Today, there are over 50,000 of these libraries registered in 70 countries.
Almost everyone can register with LFL and start a library as long as the person keeps it in good shape and makes sure that book materials are appropriate for his/her neighborhood. Library owners can create their own library boxes; therefore, the libraries are usually unique in appearance, and there seems to be no limit to the possibilities. One library in California was built out of a used wine container; another in Texas had tiny stairs and bright colored walls. Once registered, libraries are assigned a number at LFL’s website. The LFL Index lists the locations of all libraries with GPS coordinates (坐标) and other information. Owners receive a sign saying “Little Free Library”.
People say they have been attracted to pick up a book when walking by a Little Free Library, out of curiosity and because it’s convenient. Some sidewalk librarians say they have met more neighbors since having a little library in their front yard. Bol is also most proud of the way Little Free Library is bringing communities together. “It’s started a neighborhood exchange. It gets people talking and more comfortable with their neighbors,” he says. “This leads to them helping each other.”
1. What does the underlined word “design” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．A community center. | B．A dollhouse on a post. |
| C．A book exchange box. | D．A nonprofit organization. |
| A．There is no limit to the selection of books. |
| B．The library can come in any shape and color. |
| C．The library needs to hire many professional librarians. |
| D．The owner must first be assigned a number from the LFL website. |
| A．It helps improve GPS functions. | B．It connects libraries around the world. |
| C．It makes reading accessible to the poor. | D．It helps restore human connections. |
| A．LFL: A Booster to Shared Reading | B．LFL: The Best Place to Meet Neighbors |
| C．Todd Bol: A Successful Book Businessman | D．Reading: An Approach to Improving Yourself |
7 . Teenagers from low-income families in particular are more likely than their middle-class peers 同龄人)to do less well in schoolwork and to drop out of school. Studies have shown, however, that a positive attitude towards schoolwork and the support and encouragement from their parents can help at-risk youngsters to overcome the economic barriers(障碍) and lack of resources they face. Most of the evidence about the effects of parental involvement(参与) comes from research on mothers. Little is known, however, about how teenagers experience their fathers, warmth and the beliefs and behavior that are most affected by it.
This new study is part of a large one focusing on low-income families conducted in four middle schools in the southwestern United States. Researchers asked 183 sixth-graders about how optimistic and motivated they were about their school work, and how they experienced their fathers’ warmth. The students’ maths and language arts grades were also gained. The research team took into account the influence that mothers have on their children’s well-being in their analyses.
Their findings show how fathers can support their teenagers in ways that result in greater optimism and higher achievement at school. “ Low-income fathers affect their teenagers’ beliefs about themselves and their future, and these beliefs influence their achievement by increasing their determination to accomplish school tasks,” says Dr, Marie-Anne.
These positive effects extend(延伸) to both sons and daughters, although in different ways. Experiencing their fathers’ warmth first influences daughters’ sense of optimism, and then spills over into their feeling more determined and certain about their academic abilities. This in turn leads to better maths grades. There is a more direct link between their fathers’ love and boys’ belief in their ability to succeed in academy.
1. What is more likely to happen to teenagers from low-income families?| A．They will be more determined to struggle. |
| B．They will have fewer happy things to share. |
| C．They will receive less love from their parents. |
| D．They will fail in their studies and quit school. |
| A．It only researches families in the north of America. |
| B．It only studies low-education families in the world. |
| C．It mainly focuses on the effects of fathers’ involvement. |
| D．It combines questionnaire data and students, grades. |
| A．It is less effective than that of mothers. | B．It affects girls and boys in different ways. |
| C．It mainly applies to girls rather than boys. | D．It has a more direct effect on girls than on boys. |
| A．complete | B．affect | C．suspect | D．decrease |
8 . Wonder Plates
A unique, personalized gift!
Wonder Plates offers you a unique gift opportunity-a personalized ceramic(陶瓷的)plate! Each plate contains a special message from you to your best friend or loved one. All you have to do is follow these three steps:
Step 1
On an A4 sheet of paper write a personal message. Write it exactly as you want it to appear on the plate. We recommend a typewritten printout. The message should not be more than 50 words.
Step 2
Select one of our 10 plate color options and a design from one of our 12 design patterns.
Step 3
Sign the attached form, enclose your personal message, and send these to us together with your payment. Please send only money orders or cheques. Do not send cash.
Charges
The charge for a standard-sized plate is $ 20 regardless of the color you choose. A fixed charge of $100 per plate for the design and printing of the message is also payable. For orders of two to four plates, customers may get a 15% discount. For orders of five to ten plates, the cost of per plate is reduced to $12 and the design and printing of the message is just $75 per plate.
Delivery
Once we receive your order and payment, your plate(s)will be sent via regular mail. Delivery can be expected within 14 business days. If you require a faster delivery time, please fill in the Urgent Form and send an additional $30(guaranteed 3-day delivery). We guarantee your satisfaction, but if for some reason you are not satisfied with our product or service, please fill in the Consumer Feedback Form and send it to our Customer Service department. Alternatively, you may call one of our friendly Customer Service Officers at 122523.
1. What are you supposed to do to get a made-to-order plate?| A．Pay in the form of cheques on delivery. |
| B．Type your message and send it by e-mail. |
| C．Write a maximum of 50 words on an A4 sheet of paper. |
| D．Choose your favorite design and color from 12 options. |
| A．$696. | B．$800. | C．$816. | D．$960. |
| A．You can receive your order in two weeks. |
| B．If not satisfied with the plates you’ve received, you need to call 122523. |
| C．Your order will be sent by express once it is received. |
| D．Your order is available within 3 days on condition that you pay another $30. |
9 . Why build a house when you can print one instead? Startups around the world are now using 3D printing technology for home construction. They say it’s faster, cheaper and more sustainable than traditional methods. Printing houses can also save huge amounts of scrap wood, metal and other construction materials that would otherwise be wasted by ending up in landfills.
Currently, 3D printing systems can equal the work output of 10 to 20 workers in five or six different trades, said Jason Ballard, CEO and co-founder of ICON, a 3D printing construction startup, according to AP News. The machines can work 24 hours a day as well, saving developers both time and money.
So how do these 3D printers “print” a house anyway? Machines deposit thin layers of material — such as concrete, metal and plastic — until the three-dimensional house is built from the ground up. And a house can be completed within 120 hours, as was the case in the recent completion of the Netherlands’ first 3D printed house, according to CNN.
“The benefits that automation and digitization had brought to so many other industries regarding speed and affordability were completely missing from the construction industry,” Ballard said, adding that 3D printing “was like the most powerful of all the automations we could discover.”
This powerful automation has the potential to combat rising prices in the housing market, homelessness and overcrowding. ICON has even teamed up with nonprofit group New Story to develop the first 3D printed neighborhood in the world in Mexico. But the technology behind 3D printing houses is still in its early stages of development. For example, ICON alone has only printed 24 houses in the US and Mexico.
That isn’t stopping futurists from dreaming of larger applications of this technology. AI Space Factory, a New York-based architectural and technology design agency, has set out to design a Mars habitat to be printed from the ground up Martian rocks and a plant-based polymer, according to CNET.
But before we live on other planets, 3D printed houses will change things here on Earth.
“With the 3D printed home, we’re now setting the tone for the future: the rapid realization of affordable homes with control over the shape of your own house,” said Yasin Torunoglu, alderman for housing in the community of the Netherlands’ first 3D printed house.
1. What is an advantage of printing houses?| A．It is cheaper and less wasteful. | B．It helps create manufacturing jobs. |
| C．Its construction materials are safer. | D．It improves the cleanliness of construction sites. |
| A．crazily | B．rapidly | C．completely | D．perfectly |
| A．Cautious. | B．Optimistic. | C．Pessimistic. | D．Suspicious. |
| A．To predict the development of 3D printing. |
| B．To compare different construction technologies. |
| C．To encourage the use of 3D printing technology. |
| D．To report on 3D printing technology for construction. |
10 . Discoveries at the famous Sanxingdui ruins in Southwest China show that the region’s ancient Shu Kingdom Civilization shared similarities with the Maya.
The Sanxingdui ruins, located in the city of Guanghan, about 60 kilometers from Chengdu, belonged to the Shu Kingdom that existed at least 4,800 years ago and lasted more than 2,000 years, while the Mayan civilization built its city states around 200 AD.
The bronze-made remains of trees unearthed at the ruins of the Shu Kingdom resemble the sacred ceiba tree, which symbolied the union of heaven, earth and the underworld In the Mayan civilization. “They are very important similarities,” says Santos, a Mexican archaeologist, stressing that “the representations of tees in both cultures provide a symbolism that is very similar”.
One notable feature of the recent discoveries at Sanxingdui was the cross-subject work and technology applied by teams of Chinese archaeologists, which allowed the unearthing of artifacts as fragile as silk remains, which other types of less careful digging methods would not have been able to manage.
Cooperation between Chinese and Mexican archaeologists could benefit projects in the Maya world, where the rainy climate and humidity are problematic for the conservation of ruins.
“Every time our cultural knowledge increases, regardless of whether we speak one language or another, what it shows us is that we continue to be sister cultures and, therefore, the exchange of such knowledge is fundamental,” says Santos.
1. What is a similarity between the Shu Kingdom and Maya civilization?| A．Their starting time. | B．Their historical origins. |
| C．Their cultural symbols. | D．Their ceremony traditions. |
| A．Damp weather. | B．Positioning of ruins. |
| C．High latitude. | D．Language barriers. |
| A．The future of the China-Mexico cooperation. |
| B．The benefits of speaking a different language. |
| C．The importance of the exchange of cultural knowledge. |
| D．The increasing sisterhood in culture between China and Mexico. |
| A．Ahistorical novel. | B．A newspaper. | C．A research review. | D．A guidebook. |
