1 . In show business, stars are nicknamed when people laugh at them, express their love for idols or confirm his or her stardom.
★ Homophonic(谐音) nicknames
Homophonic nicknames have brought much convenience to tons of fans. For example, if you repeatedly and quickly pronounce “Hiddleston”, the surname of Ton Hiddleston. You will find that its pronunciation is quite close to “Dou sen”. And your tongue remains struggling with the vibration( 振动) for quite a while. That’s how he gets the nickname “Dou Sen”.
★ Nicknames from roles they play
Kit Harington plays the role of Jon Snow in the TV series Games of Thrones and thus he gets the nickname “Jiong Nuo”. He acts so well that many people only know “Jiong Nuo” but have no idea about Kit Harington. While Dan Stevens gets his nickname “Big Cousin” for the teleplay Downtown Abbey in which Dan is a soulful and handsome cousin of three ladies.
★ Nicknames from appearance
When it comes to this type, the first thought of us must be Michael Fassbender, who has got a nickname “shark” because of his even teeth and magically charming smile, which is normally seen from a shark. And the nickname “Jiong Seph” for Joseph Gordon Levitt is quite easy to understand. Just two words can explain it well: His face!
★ Nicknames with a story
If one can nickname his or her idol based on a story, he or she must be a real fan. For example, Taylor Swift’s nickname “MeiMei” is originated from her several times of bad luck. Every time her wonderful singles were about to be at the top of the billboard ranking list, something unexpected would happen, and finally they ranked No. 2. Thus, her fans sympathetically gave her this cute nickname. As for James McAvoy, whose nickname is “Beauty”, he is at the top of the list called “stars who are more beautiful than Jolie and Pit”. That’s why he gets that nickname.
★ Nicknames relating to translation
“I don’t know why Chinese audience call me ‘stone sister’ . ” Apparently, Emma Stone has no idea why Chinese fans translate her family name “stone” into “shitou”. Perhaps we Chinese can better understand this kind of nicknames we give to stars.
1. The fans nickname their idols for the following reasons except _________.| A．making fun of the idols | B．confirming the idols’ stardom |
| C．showing their deep love for the idols | D．remembering the idols’ names easily |
| A．They both have sisters in their plays. |
| B．They both played roles in Games of Thrones. |
| C．They get their nicknames because of their roles. |
| D．They are not as handsome and famous as others. |
| A．Ton Hiddleston. | B．Taylor Swift. |
| C．Emma Stone. | D．Joseph Gordon Levitt. |
| A．she always brings bad luck to others. |
| B．some people don’t like her or her music style. |
| C．her songs are not well-received by the audience. |
| D．her songs can’t be the best for unexpected things. |
| A．Idols and their fans. | B．Idols and their works. |
| C．Idols and their nicknames. | D．Idols and their achievements. |
2 . Have you ever stopped doing something that you used to do every day? Yes, I have!
Just after I promised my mom to stop watching TV for a month, I
One day, after I buried myself in
Mom locked the TV so that I couldn’t turn it on unless with her
Since then, I studied harder and harder and didn’t even stay near the TV. One
| A．In spite of | B．Because of | C．According to | D．Thanks to |
| A．hesitated | B．regretted | C．apologized | D．escaped |
| A．at least | B．at most | C．at last | D．at first |
| A．recover | B．develop | C．respond | D．survive |
| A．shows | B．programs | C．textbooks | D．drawings |
| A．approach | B．abandon | C．ignore | D．consult |
| A．behave | B．entertain | C．bear | D．comment |
| A．neighbor | B．mother | C．boss | D．friend |
| A．so that | B．in case | C．as if | D．even though |
| A．ON | B．OFF | C．UP | D．DOWN |
| A．Enjoy | B．Relax | C．Control | D．Prepare |
| A．stronger | B．fresher | C．wiser | D．luckier |
| A．law | B．promise | C．record | D．relation |
| A．valuable | B．advanced | C．creative | D．special |
| A．Instead | B．Besides | C．Anyway | D．Therefore |
| A．touching | B．appearing | C．amazing | D．greeting |
| A．pretended | B．desired | C．continued | D．managed |
| A．week | B．month | C．term | D．year |
| A．though | B．unless | C．when | D．as |
| A．caring about | B．resulting in | C．consisting of | D．asking for |
3 . Laugh is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more infectious than any cough or yawn. When laughter is shared, it unites people together and increases happiness and understanding. In addition to “the domino effect” of joy and amusement, laughter also produces healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, improve your energy, reduce pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.
Laughter is a powerful cure to stress, pain, and disagreement. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh after a quarrel. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and ready to act.
With so many advantages, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a great resource for defeating problems, improving your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health.
More than just a break from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult times, a laugh-or even simply a smile-can go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter is really infectious-just hearing laughter trains your brain to smile and join in on the fun.
Laughter is your birthright and a natural part of life. Infants begin smiling during the first weeks of life and laugh out loud within months of being born. Even if you did not grow up in a family where laughter was a common sound, you can learn to laugh at any stage of life.
Begin by setting aside special times to seek out humor and laughter, as you might with working out, and build from there. Eventually, you’ll want to add humor and laughter into your life, finding it naturally in everything you do.
1. In the passage, “the domino effect” means ______.| A．laughter can bring some unexpected results like cold |
| B．physical changes will be influenced without laughter |
| C．laughter causes other similar positive changes to happen |
| D．the sound of roaring laughter sounds like the sound of falling cards |
| A．It makes others regard you as a humorous and attractive person. |
| B．People of different languages can communicate by it. |
| C．A person takes it more easily than other kinds of medicine. |
| D．It wastes no money and it can be reached in any time and any place. |
| A．Keep silent and go out of the room slowly. |
| B．Give a smile or laugh from the heart. |
| C．Play a trick on the other one at once. |
| D．Give up one’s opinion and accept the other’s. |
| A．Laughter stands for a positive attitude and inspires you. |
| B．Laughter strengthens a person’s heart and cures patients. |
| C．People should learn to escape from the sad and painful world. |
| D．People should often make trips to find chances of laughing. |
| A．How to choose courses to equip you with rich knowledge. |
| B．How to create chances to make you enjoy the benefit of laugh. |
| C．How to make your spare time or after-school activities colorful. |
| D．How to become a humorous person to make you like a gentleman. |
4 . My mother, Marisol Torres, came with her family to Australia in the early 1960s. Then my parents’ marriage ended and Mum began the study of precious stones. Her interest in opals (猫眼石) took her to the New South Wales remote town of Lightning Ridge. There were no luxuries (奢华的享受), but she was closer to nature and had a chance to find black opals and make some money.
My mother was beautiful with dark hair and brown eyes, but she was also quiet and shy. Early in the Ridge years, she kept to herself, but later, she started going to the neighbourhood centre to make friends.
It was her dream to mine, but her get-rich-quick thinking was unrealistic. She was cheated and she was never very successful. But she kept a sense of humour and a charming smile.
Then, just as friendships began to blossom, she was diagnosed with cancer and had to return south for treatment. She had the intention of cooking Spanish food as special treat for her Ridge friends, but died too soon. In her honour, my aunt, Marisa, and I fulfilled (实现) her desire when we visited the Ridge in March last year.
People who mine (采矿) the Ridge come from a cross section of society, from lawyers to travels. Looks don’t mean much: it can be hard to tell who is millionaire and who is poor. Opals attracted Sebastian and Hanna Deisenberger to Lightning Ridge. They planned a two-year stay, but became permanent residents.
Then there’s Neil Schellnegger, 45, who moved to the area with his parents when he was a child. He lives with his son, Luke. Luke is a shy 19-year-old boy who enjoys helping his dad. They haven’t had much luck over the past couple of years, but their passion for opals conquers disappointment. They love the peaceful lifestyle.
Danny Hatcher, 38, is a second-generation miner and president of the Lightning Ridge Miners’ Association. He is an optimistic man, driven by the desire to find the perfect opal. “It’s magic,” he explains. “Once you start opal mining you don’t want to do anything else… There is always the potential for finding a million dollars. Nothing beats it.”
It’s a place where dreams—spiritual or material—can be fulfilled; a place, for one last bet in life.
1. What made the author’s mother go to Lightning Ridge?| A．The luxurious life there. | B．Her new marriage there. |
| C．Her interest in opals. | D．Her passion for nature. |
| A．treating her mother’s Ridge friends with Spanish food |
| B．writing a biography about her whole life |
| C．decorating her house in Lightning Ridge |
| D．finding a lot of black opals in Lightning Ridge |
| A．the rich and the poor can be distinguished by their looks |
| B．Luke is a successful miner, just like his father |
| C．Sebastian is planning to leave Lightning Ridge |
| D．Danny Hatcher’s parents were miners in Lightning Ridge |
| A．there are precious stones and life is peaceful |
| B．there are people from all walks of life |
| C．there are rich people who can help poor people |
| D．there is a lot of gold hidden in the ground |
| A．To show the magic power of opal mining. |
| B．To tell people it isn’t always hard to mine opals. |
| C．To warn people not to take up this kind of job. |
| D．To persuade people to look for more resources for the country. |
5 . Welcome to the world of Disney’s The Lion King!
It is a famous musical based on the 1994 film of the same name. After opening on Broadway in 1997, the show has become one of the most successful shows in the history of Broadway, winning Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Theatre World Awards and so on.
Director and designer Julie Taymor shows us a colorful, imaginative and highly creative world. The musical includes Nicholas Afoa as Simba, Janique Charles as Nala, Mark Roper as Pumbaa, Richard Frame as Timon, Nadine Higgin as Shenzi and David Blake as Banzai. The New Zealander Nicholas Afoa made his first appearance in the role of Simba in the West End.
The musical’s running time is 2.5 hours which includes one interval. The Lion King is suitable for those aged five and over. Children under three will not be allowed into the theatre. Those aged 16 or under must be accompanied (陪同) by an adult and may not sit on their own. And parents may be asked to take their noisy children away from the theatre. All persons entering the theatre, no matter how old they are, must have a ticket.
The Lyceum Theatre is about 300 metres from Covent Garden subway station. You can also take trains to London Charing Cross, which is about 550 metres from the Lyceum Theatre.
1. What can we know about the musical?| A．It has won many awards. |
| B．It was produced in London. |
| C．It was first opened on Broadway in 1994. |
| D．It is more famous than the 1994 film of the same time. |
| A．He directs it. |
| B．He writes its theme song. |
| C．He plays the role of Simba. |
| D．He designs the lighting of the stage. |
| A．Mike, aged 2, with his parents. |
| B．Tom, aged 17, with no partners. |
| C．William, aged 75, with no tickets. |
| D．Mary, aged 15, with her classmates. |
| A．The show lasts over three hours. |
| B．The musical is not as popular as before. |
| C．Noisy kids may be asked to leave the theatre. |
| D．The Lyceum Theatre lies in the heart of London. |
| A．To advertise a famous musical. |
| B．To introduce the film The Lion King. |
| C．To show the popularity of Disney’s musicals. |
| D．To give us advice on visiting the Lyceum Theatre. |
6 . Professional critics and news consumers alike have long blamed the news media for running sensational (轰动的) content, but is sensationalism in the news media really such a bad thing?
According to NYU professor Mitchell Stephens, sensationalism has been around ever since early humans began telling stories. “I have never found a time when there wasn’t a form for the exchange of news that included sensationalism. This goes back to societies before written language appeared,” he said. In the 19th century, newspaper wars broke out and some businessmen were accused of sensationalizing the news in order to sell more papers. Whatever the time or setting, sensationalism is unavoidable in news.
Sensationalism serves a function by improving the spread of information to less-educated audiences and strengthening the social structure, Stephens said. “While there is plenty of silliness in various tales, they do manage to serve various important social or cultural functions. They help establish or question, for example, norms(规范) and limitations,” Stephens said .
Critics of sensationalism have always complained that when there is a limited amount of space available for news, the important news gets put aside when more sensational content comes along. That argument might be popular when the news universe was limited to newspapers and radio. But it doesn’t really make sense in an age when it’s possible to call up news from every corner of the world, from various newspapers, blogs, and news sites.
There’s another point to be made about sensational news stories: We love them. Sensational stories are the junk food of our news diet, the ice cream that you eagerly want. You know it’s bad for you but it’s delicious, and you can always have a salad tomorrow. It’s the same with news. Despite what high-minded critics might say, there’s nothing wrong with that. Indeed, an interest in the sensational news stories seems to be an all-too-human quality.
1. What do we know about sensational news from Paragraph 2?| A．It has a long history. |
| B．It was first created to make money. |
| C．It was seldom read by ancient people. |
| D．It quickens the development of written language. |
| A．helps broaden people’s imagination | B．brings benefits to social development |
| C．has greatly changed people’s lifestyle | D．leads to the popularity of confusing news |
| A．makes sensational news less attractive |
| B．puts pressure on traditional news media |
| C．causes people to pay less attention to important news |
| D．is unlikely to make sensational news replace important news |
| A．To tell us the characteristics of false news. |
| B．To encourage people to develop a balanced diet. |
| C．To suggest that reading sensational news is normal behavior. |
| D．To show that sensational news can be harmful to mental health. |
| A．How to identify real news? | B．The harm of sensational news. |
| C．The development of the news media. | D．Why is sensational news necessary? |
7 . In the long discussion of water on the Moon, a new study contradicts (与……相矛盾) some recent reports that say the Moon had water at the time of its formation. A group of researchers report in the journal Science that when the Moon was created, some 4. 5 billion years ago, there was not much hydrogen (氢气) on it, and therefore no water.
The researchers surveyed and evaluated this by analyzing chlorine (氯) isotopes found in lunar rock samples from Apollo missions. The range of chlorine isotopes in lunar samples was 25 times that found in samples from Earth.
“If the Moon had significant levels of hydrogen, as Earth did, this range would have been far less,” said Zachary D. Sharp, a scientist in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the study’s lead author.
“The chlorine would have stuck together with hydrogen, forming compounds like hydrogen chloride, and escaped from the Moon’s surface,” he said. The abundance of chlorine indicates a lack of hydrogen and water.
“The amount of water on the Moon was too low for life to possibly have existed there,” he said.
Most scientists believe the Moon was formed when a large object struck Earth, breaking off a chunk (a vast piece) that has since orbited Earth.
On Earth, goes one theory, water was released as steam from molten basalts (玄武岩) over time, eventually forming bodies of water.
“An understanding of whether the Moon was dry or wet will help us understand how water appeared on Earth,” Dr. Sharp said.
1. A new study indicates that ______ on the moon.| A．there is plenty of water | B．water is unlikely to exist |
| C．water existed in the past | D．there is a little water now |
| A．why there is no water on the Moon | B．how the Moon was formed |
| C．when the Earth struck the Moon | D．where the Moon orbited |
| A．Neither hydrogen nor water on the Moon. |
| B．Too much chlorine isotopes on the Moon. |
| C．Not being much hydrogen, no water on the Moon. |
| D．More chlorine exists on the Moon than Earth. |
| A．Zachary D. Sharp, a scientist in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences was in charge of the new study. |
| B．Chlorine isotopes are 25 times on the Moon larger than on Earth. |
| C．The more abundant chloride, the shorter hydrogen and water. |
| D．The new study is beneficial to understand how water appeared on Earth. |
| A．There is enough water and hydrogen on the Moon. |
| B．Hydrogen chloride easily escaped from the Moon’s surface. |
| C．The Earth had significant levels of hydrogen. |
| D．Water on Earth is directly from molten basalts. |
8 . Do you want to join a club in our school? Here are some clubs that you might be interested in.
Chinese Culture Club
The Chinese Culture Club focuses on exploring Chinese culture. You don’t have to speak the Chinese language; you’re just required to have a true interest in the Chinese way of life. The club regularly explores Chinese culture through traditional Chinese food, movies, and celebrations. Contact Ms Huang if you would like to learn more. Meet every Thursday after lunch in Room 805.
Chess Club
Come out and join the Chess Club! We will meet to explore chess theory and strategy. We will also test our newly-acquired knowledge through competitive games. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced one, players of all levels are welcome! Meet on Wednesdays from 3:00 pm-4:30 pm, in Room 701 with Mr Longino.
Science Club
We’ll be doing experiments and prepare ourselves for the annual Science Olympiad. All the students are welcome! Members of Science Club meet on Thursdays from 3:00 pm-4:00 pm in Room 702, with Mr Underriner.
Robotics Club
The club aims at providing the students with an opportunity to design their own robot in order to compete in the NYC FIRST Tech Challenge Competition in the late fall and winter.
Also, if you are a parent willing to help with expertise, feel free to contact Mr. Irimina. Meet on Fridays in Room 103 from 3:00 pm-4:55 pm.
Chorus(合唱队)
The Chorus is an opportunity for students to sharpen their vocal(发声的) skills and overcome stage fright. Students will sing songs, but our focus is Soul, R&B, and rock. All chorus members are expected to participate in the school musicals as well as other shows. Meet after school on Thursdays with Mr. Copeland in Room 602.
1. What is a requirement if you want to join Chinese Culture Club?| A．Being able to speak Chinese. |
| B．Knowing well about Chinese culture. |
| C．Knowing the ways to cook Chinese food. |
| D．Being interested in the Chinese way of life. |
| A．It doesn’t offer students chances to join competitive games. |
| B．It doesn’t accept students without basic knowledge of chess. |
| C．It improves students’ chess theory and ability to play chess. |
| D．It opens to students for two hours a week. |
| A．Robotics Club | B．Science Club |
| C．Chess Club | D．Chinese Culture Club |
| A．To help students design robots for a competition. |
| B．To inspire parents to take part in their children’s activities. |
| C．To organize the FIRST Tech Challenge Competition in NYC. |
| D．To raise money for scientific research done by the schools in NYC. |
| A．has a strong writing ability | B．has special talent for stage design |
| C．wants to master singing skills | D．wants to learn musical instruments |
9 . I was doing a big clean-up one day and my son was helping. As he searched through boxes, he
Three years ago, I went to work in a health clinic in Niger. Arriving by taxi, I began to
In the weeks that followed, I
| A．got through | B．came across | C．looked into | D．picked out |
| A．promised | B．admitted | C．considered | D．refused |
| A．special | B．private | C．expensive | D．useful |
| A．shape | B．Work | C．value | D．point |
| A．explained | B．remembered | C．persuaded | D．replied |
| A．uncover | B．unlock | C．unload | D．unfold |
| A．clothing | B．luggage | C．furniture | D．equipment |
| A．believing | B．recognizing | C．saying | D．warning |
| A．sight | B．control | C．place | D．order |
| A．difficult | B．serious | C．precious | D．strange |
| A．thought | B．trouble | C．danger | D．debt |
| A．examined | B．guarded | C．calculated | D．exhibited |
| A．regret | B．mercy | C．fear | D．distrust |
| A．reminded | B．found | C．called | D．questioned |
| A．angrily | B．eagerly | C．shyly | D．bravely |
| A．Honestly | B．Kindly | C．Naturally | D．Jokingly |
| A．wonder | B．joy | C．shock | D．worry |
| A．included | B．Required | C．Charged | D．represented |
| A．shame | B．despair | C．pain | D．dislike |
| A．With | B．Despite | C．Against | D．Upon |
10 . My family moved into our home nine years ago. We spent a lot of time and energy in the yard to get it looking like the way it does today. In front of the house, the rocks appear to be just thrown up onto the dirt as if someone were in a hurry to finish. We called this area our “rock garden”. Denise and I would also plant some flowers between the rocks, just to bring some color to the area.
Last summer I found, in the rock garden, a tiny little plant that I could not immediately identify. I knew I didn’t plant it and Denise said she didn’t either. We decided to let it continue growing until we could figure out what it was.
Weeks passed and as I made my way back to the strange plant, it appeared to be a sunflower. It looked thin and tall with only one head on it. I decided to baby it along and weed(除杂草)around it. As I pulled rocks from the area to get to the weeds, I noticed something unusual. The sunflower had not started where I saw it begin. It actually had begun under a big rock and grown under and around it to reach the sun.
That’s when I realized that if a tiny little sunflower didn’t allow a big rock to stand in its way of developing, we too have the ability to do the same thing. Once we believe in ourselves like that little sunflower, we can attain the same nourishment(养分)for growth as well.
Stand tall like the sunflower and be proud of who and what we are, then the environment will begin to support us. We will find a way to go under or around any “rocks” in order to achieve our goals.
1. What can we know from the first paragraph?| A．The author finished building his house hurriedly. |
| B．The family has lived in this house for 9 years. |
| C．The author’s house is made of rocks. |
| D．The family don’t like gardening. |
| A．see how long it could live |
| B．see how big it could grow |
| C．find out what it actually was |
| D．know if his wife had planted it |
| A．the strange plant turned out to be the sunflower |
| B．the sunflower grew under and around a big rock |
| C．the sunflower had only one head on it |
| D．the sunflower was very thin and tall |
| A．Confident. | B．Devoted. | C．Delicate. | D．Modest. |
| A．rocks cannot prevent us from success |
| B．the sunflowers are able to grow everywhere |
| C．we should take good care of the rock gardens |
| D．we can get over difficulties if we trust ourselves |
