1 . NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS 2020 PHOTO COMPETITION!

Woo-hoo! Get your cameras and smartphones at the ready, because it’s time for this year’s NG KIDS photography competition.

What you need to know

Competition is open only to legal residents (居民) of the UK and Ireland who are between the ages of 7 and 14.

We have THREE categories (类别) in the competition — animals, people and environment (a new category started this year). You can enter as many categories as you like but just ONE photo per category, please!

All photos should be sent through our website. If you’ve not already registered, you or your parent will need to do so at natgeokids. com/uk/ photocomp — it will only take a minute to do!

You can submit (提交) ONE photo for each of the three categories. Photos should be in JPEG format, between 1MB and 5MB in size. Enter at natgeokids. com/uk/photocomp.

Before you submit your photo, make sure you rename it with your full name and the category you are entering. For example, Joe-Bloggs-Animals. jpg.

Don’t forget to tell us your full name, date of birth and the title of your photo!

The prizes

Our Star Prize is a family holiday in Morocco!

And that’s not all! Each category winner will win a number of prizes too, including an amazing Nikon COOLPIX W150 camera, which is built to go anywhere.

The closing date is 23:59 (GMT) on 21 October 2020. Winners will be notified (通知) before 18 November 2020.

1. How is this year’s competition different from that of last year?

A．It has a new category.

B．It lasts about one month longer.

C．It is open to kids from around the world.

D．It will give more than one prize to winners.

2. How many photos can be submitted at most by an applicant?

A．One.

B．Two.

C．Three.

D．five.

3. To successfully enter the competition, one must                .

A．be 14 years old or older

B．submit their photos on its website

C．get their parents agreement

D．Give their photos an amazing name.

4. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．The photos can be submitted on 18 November 2020.

B．All the winners can go for a family holiday in UK.

C．It will take a long time to register.

D．One must rename the photo with full name and the category.

5. Where does this text most probably come from?

A．A research plan.	B．A science report.
C．A nature magazine.	D．A tourist guidebook.

2 . Most humans are able to recognize about 1 million different colors, but some people can't recognize this many because of something called colorblindness(色盲). In rare cases, some people can't see any colors at all.

There are three cone-shaped(锥形的)cells at the back of our eyes that allow us to see colors. These cells absorb tight waves and send a message to the brain, where the image is processed.

If something is wrong with these cone-shaped cells, this can result in colorblindness.

Thankfully, special color-correcting glasses have already been made to help fix some types or colorblindness. Now, according to research published in Optics Letters, scientists have provided another choice.

Sharon Karepov and Tal Ellenbogen, engineers from Tel Aviv University in Israel, have found a way to apply this technology to contact lenses(隐形眼镜). This is good news for the millions of people worldwide who suffer from colorblindness.

One of the most common types of colorblindness is red-green colorblindness. People who have this specific type have difficulty telling the colors red and green apart. "Problems with distinguishing red from green stop simple daily routines such as deciding whether a banana is ripe," Karepov explained.

Karepov also stressed the importance of applying this finding to create special contact lenses instead of relying on color-correcting glasses.

"Glasses based on this correction concept are commercially available. However, they are too big than contact lenses." Karepov said. "Our contact lenses create a customized, compact and durable(耐用的)way to deal with these shortcomings."

This new research is groundbreaking. In addition to offering those who are colorblind another option, it may lead to solutions for other visual damage.

1. What can cause colorblindness, according to the article?

A．Only one type of cone-shaped cell exists in the eyes.

B．Cone-shaped cells cannot process images received.

C．The brain fails to absorb and process light waves.

D．Cone-shaped cells probably don't work properly.

2. What is true about people with colorblindness?

A．They can recognize 1 million different colors.

B．They are not interested in colorful stuff.

C．They may find daily tasks more difficult.

D．They have fewer cone-shaped cells than other people.

3. What does "this technology" means in Paragraph 5?

A．Three cone-shaped cells.	B．Special color-correcting glasses.
C．Processed image.	D．Red-green colorblindness type.

4. What is the advantage of the contact lenses over the glasses?

A．They are much smaller.	B．They are easier to make.
C．They are much cheaper.	D．They can help correct colorblindness.

5. Why is Sharon Karepov and Tal Ellenbogen's research groundbreaking?

A．It has led to a cure for colorblindness.

B．It has found causes of visual damage.

C．It could lead to solutions for other visual damage.

D．It has helped to develop glasses to fix visual damage.

3 . Those with closed minds refused to consider any contradictory facts, and they proceed with their planned course of action, full speed ahead, with their “minds made up” and tightly shut. As an illustration, consider the situation in 1986, prior to the space shuttle Challenger’s disatrous launch that killed all seven astronauts aboard, there was a heated telephone debate between two engineers from the company that produced the shuttle booster rockets and the top officials of NASA (the federal government’s space agency). The engineers insisted that the flight was too risky because of freezing temperature at the Florida launch site. They explained that some of the seals on the fuel tanks were not designed to withstand such low temperatures and might leak under pressure, thus endangering the craft and crew.

Despite the pleas to stop the flight, officials at NASA overruled the engineers, who were best qualified to make judgments about the complex technical problems of space flight. What caused the officials to ignore the engineers? Several flights had already been postponed, and it would not look good to postpone another. It would be bad public relations to disappoint the crowds of people and news reporters waiting for the launch. Top government officials were ready to appear on the national television and take the credit for another safe flight. As a result, with their minds absolutely closed to the facts presented by the engineers, NASA officials ordered the Challenger to take off. Seventy-three seconds later, the spacecraft was enveloped in flame.

Incredibly, seventeen years later, the lesson of the Challenger disaster was repeated. In 2003, the space shuttle Columbia broke apart while re-entering the earth’s atmosphere, killing another crew of seven. During the shuttle’s liftoff, a piece of foam insulation(泡沫隔热材料) had broken off, hitting the shuttle's wing at five hundred miles per hour. Lower-level engineers at NASA begged for photographs of the Columbia in orbit, which might have shown the extent of the damage, but their closed-minded superiors ignored their requests. It was the damage caused by the 1.7 pound chunk of insulation that doomed the Columbia.

There is no virtue in ignoring contradictory facts and “sticking to your guns” when the course taken shows all the signs of being the wrong one. Closed minds are especially noticeable in political campaigns and debates. Many people line up to support one candidate or another and won’t listen to any facts presented by the opposing candidate.

All those with an open mind say is this: “I don’t know everything, so I’d better keep my mind, eyes, and ears open to any new facts that may come along.” The world would be a much better and safer place if everyone had this attitude.

1. Which of the following brought about the disastrous launch of the Challenger?

A．Its crew	B．The engineers
C．The fuel tanks’ seals	D．The size of its rocket

2. When the engineers appealed to stop the launch of the Challenger, the government officials ___________.

A．postponed the flight at once.

B．made judgments about the complex technical problems.

C．announced the news on national television.

D．ordered to launch the Challenger as scheduled.

3. What could be inferred from Paragraph 3?

A．The Columbia disaster was impossible to foresee.

B．Engineers were to blame for the Columbia’s explosion.

C．The Columbia disaster could have been avoided.

D．The Columbia was deliberately damaged.

4. What does the underlined phrase “sticking to your guns” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Holding firm to your own opinion.

B．Remaining and firing your gun at enemies.

C．Strengthening your status.

D．Keeping an open mind.

5. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To inform readers about what an open mind is.

B．To entertain readers with two stories of tragedies in space.

C．To persuade readers to keep an open mind.

D．To criticize what NASA officials had done in aerospace history.

6. How does the author support the argument of the passage?

A．By stating arguments.	B．By giving examples.
C．By explaining statistical data.	D．By providing research result.

4 . Adrian’s “Amazing Race” started early, when his parents realize that he, as a baby, couldn’t hear a thing, not even loud noises. In a special school for the hearing-impaired (听觉受损的), he learned sign language and got to mix with other disabled children. However, the sight of all the disabled children communicating with one another upset his mother. She wanted him to lead a normal life. So after speaking to an advisor, she sent him to private classes where he learned to read lips and pronounce words.

Later on, Adrian’s parents decided to send him to a regular school. But the headmaster tried to prevent them from doing so, saying regular schools couldn’t take care of a special-needs student. His parents were determined to take the risk and push him hard to go through his work every day because they want to prove that, given the opportunity, he could do anything. Adrian made the grade and got accepted. It was a big challenge the pace was faster so he had to sit at the front of the class and really pay attention to the teacher, which wasn’t always easy. But he stuck to it and did a lot of extra work after school.

The effort made by Adrian and his parents paid off. Adrian graduated with good grades and got into a top high school. He also achieved a lot in life outside school. He developed a love for the outdoors and went to Nepal to climb mountains. He even entered the World Yacht Race 05/06 — being the first hearing-impaired Asian to do so.

But none of these achievements would have been possible without one of the most important lessons from his mother. “If you believe in yourself and work hard, you can achieve great result,” she often said.

1. How did Adrian communicate with other disabled children in the special school?

A．By speaking.	B．By using sign language.
C．By writing letters.	D．By making loud noises.

2. Adrian’s parents decided to send him to a regular school because _________.

A．they wanted him to live a normal life

B．they wanted to prove the headmaster wrong

C．he wouldn’t mix with other disabled children

D．he wasn’t taken good care of in the special school

3. How did Adrian finally succeed in his study?

A．He did a lot of outdoor activities.

B．He studied in a regular school.

C．He attended private classes after school.

D．He worked very hard both in and after class.

4. Why is Adrian’s life described as an “Amazing Race”?

A．He did very well in his study.

B．He succeeded in entering a regular school.

C．He reached his goals in spite of his disability.

D．He took part in the world Yacht Race 05/06.

5. Which of the following sayings can most appropriately be used to describe Adrian’s experience?

A．Knowledge is power.

B．If winter comes, can spring be far behind?

C．Rome was not built in one day.

D．Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.

5 . One academically excellent young person went to apply for a position in an international company. The director ______ him.

He asked, “Was it your father who ______ for your education?” The youth answered, “My father ______ when I was one year old. It was my ______ who met the expenses.” The director asked, “What’s her ______?The youth answered, “She has been earning her living by ______ clothes since my father died of illness.” The director asked again, “Have you ever ______ her wash clothes before?” The youth answered, “______. She wanted me to study and read more books.”

The director said, “I have a ______. When you go back today, go and clean her ______, and then come back and tell me your feelings tomorrow morning.”

When the youth got home, he ______ to wash his mother’s hands. His mother felt ______ at first. Happy but with mixed feelings, she then showed her hands to him. The youth washed his mother’s hands ______. His tears fell ______ he did that. It was the first time he had noticed that his mother’s hands were so wrinkled.

Next morning, the youth went to the director’s ______. He said, “I cleaned my mother’s hands as requested and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes.”

The director asked, “What have you ______?”

The youth said, “Now I know what ______ is. Without my mother, I wouldn’t have finished my studies. By helping my mother, I realize how difficult it is to get something done. I’m really grateful to my mother for what she has done.”

The director said, “I’m ______ to hear that. I want to employ a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the ______ of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are ______.”

1.

A．tested

B．instructed

C．refused

D．interviewed

2.

A．ran

B．sent

C．paid

D．hoped

3.

A．died

B．retired

C．resigned

D．drowned

4.

A．aunt

B．sister

C．mother

D．grandma

5.

A．age

B．job

C．religion

D．background

6.

A．designing

B．making

C．trading

D．washing

7.

A．let

B．seen

C．helped

D．noticed

8.

A．Sometimes

B．Always

C．Seldom

D．Never

9.

A．request

B．question

C．concern

D．method

10.

A．face

B．hands

C．room

D．clothes

11.

A．hoped

B．hesitated

C．promised

D．demanded

12.

A．warm

B．strange

C．content

D．nervous

13.

A．slowly

B．happily

C．skillfully

D．briefly

14.

A．if

B．as

C．until

D．before

15.

A．club

B．home

C．office

D．factory

16.

A．learned

B．informed

C．heard

D．told

17.

A．love

B．motivation

C．sympathy

D．movement

18.

A．sorry

B．glad

C．shocked

D．confused

19.

A．ways

B．decision

C．sufferings

D．determination

20.

A．hired

B．trusted

C．involved

D．respected

6 . The Galapagos Islands are in the Pacific Ocean, off the western coast of South America. They are a rocky, lonely spot, but they are also one of the most unusual places in the world. One reason is that they are the home of some of the last giant tortoises left on earth.

Weighing hundreds of pounds, these tortoises go slowly around the rocks and sand of the islands. Strangely, each of these islands has its own particular kinds of tortoises. There are seven different kinds of tortoises on the eight islands, and each kind is slightly different from the other.

Hundreds of years ago, thousands of tortoises were around these islands. However, all that changed when people started landing there. When people first arrived in 1535, crews would seize as many tortoises as they could. They would roll the tortoises onto their backs when they were brought onto the ships. The tortoises were completely helpless once on their backs, so they could only lie there until used for soups and stews. Almost 100,000 tortoises were carried off in this way.

The tortoises faced other problems, too. Soon after the first ships, settlers arrived, bringing pigs, goats, donkeys, dogs and cats. All of these animals ruined life for the tortoises. Donkeys and goats ate all the plants that the tortoises usually fed on, while the pigs, dogs and cats ate thousands of baby tortoises each year. Within a few years, it was hard to find any tortoise eggs or even any baby tortoises.

Finally, in the 1950s, scientists decided that something must be done. The first part of their plan was to remove as many cats, dogs and other animals as they could from the islands. Next, they tried to make sure that more baby tortoises would be born; This slow, hard work continues today, and, thanks to it, the number of tortoises is now increasing every year. Perhaps these wonderful animals will not disappear after all.

1. What makes the Galapagos Islands unusual?

A．The biggest islands in the Pacific Ocean.

B．Rocky, lonely spot.

C．The giant tortoises.

D．Many homes for tourists.

2. What can be learned from Paragraph 2?

A．Tortoises weigh a hundred pounds.

B．Tortoises move around very fast.

C．There are different kinds of tortoises.

D．Tortoises are larger than the ones in other places.

3. What did first comers to the island do with tortoises hundreds of years ago?

A．People cooked them as food.

B．Scientists took measures to protect them.

C．Pigs, dogs and cats ate many baby tortoises.

D．Settlers brought other tortoises to the islands.

4. What happened soon after people brought animals to the islands?

A．Tortoise eggs were kept in safe containers.

B．The animals ate the tortoises’ food and eggs.

C．The tortoises continued to wander freely.

D．The tortoises fought against the other animals.

5. What happened to the tortoises because of the scientists’ effort?

A．The tortoises began to disappear gradually.

B．The number of tortoises began to decrease.

C．Scientists took away other animals off the islands.

D．There are more and more giant tortoises on the islands.

7 . Mom was a teacher most of her life. When she wasn't in the classroom, she was educating her children or grandchildren; correcting our grammar; starting us on collections of butterflies, flowers or rocks; or inspiring a discussion on her most recent ''Book of the Month Club'' topic. Mom made learning fun.

It was sad for my three brothers and me to see her suffering in her later years. At eighty-five, she suffered a stroke and she went steadily downhill after that.

Two days before she died, my brothers and I met at her nursing home and took her for a short ride in a wheelchair. While we waited for the staff to lift her limp body back into bed, Mom fell asleep. Not wanting to wake her, we moved to the far end of the room and spoke softly.

After several minutes our conversation was interrupted by a muffled sound coming from across the room. We stopped talking and looked at Mom. Her eyes were closed, but she was clearly trying to communicate with us. We went to her side.

'' Whrr, '' she said weakly.

''Where? '' I asked. ''Mom, is there something you want? '' ''Whrr, '' she repeated a bit stronger. My brothers and I looked at each other and shook our heads sadly.

Mom opened her eyes, sighed, and with all the energy she could gather said, '' Not was. Say were! ''

It suddenly occurred to us that Mom was correcting brother Jim’s last sentence. ''if it was up to me…''

Jim leaned down and kissed her cheek. ''Thanks, Mom, '' he whispered. We smiled at each other and once again shook our heads…

1. What does the underlined words ''went steadily downhill'' mean in the 2nd paragraph?

A．went lower and lower	B．went worse and worse
C．went down the hill	D．went downstairs

2. When Mom said, ''Whrr'', what did she really want to do?

A．She wanted to tell her sons her will.

B．She wanted to have something to eat before she died.

C．She wanted to correct the mistakes Jim made while talking.

D．She wanted to give her sons something before she died.

3. Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the passage?

A．Mom was a good teacher and never gave up her teaching.

B．Mom was always making her teaching fun.

C．Mom didn't forget her teaching until she died.

D．Mom stopped teaching when she was at home.

4. What does the writer think of his mother?

A．He loved her but was tired of his mother's teaching.

B．His mother should have forgotten her teaching and enjoyed the rest of her life.

C．His mother was great because she devoted herself to teaching.

D．His mother was an excellent teacher before she was retired.

5. Which of the following is the best title of this passage?

A．Once a Teacher, Always…	B．Mom's Will
C．A Teacher’s Life	D．A Teacher’s Devotion

8 . Being in an unfamiliar school can be frightening. If you start a new school, you'll have to worry about making friends. Here are some simple tips which help you make new friends more easily.

·Try speaking to the students you’re sitting next to in class. As they're close by, it is easy to chat to them first.

·Try to speak to everyone in your class. You will study here for three years, so it helps if you get along well with them.

·If you don’t have many friends in your class, try and make new friends in your neighbor classes. You can also chat to them at lunchtimes and after school.

·Join a lunchtime or after school club. You’ll get to meet kids of all years that way.

·Ask your teacher to pair you with another student.

·Talk to classmates, remember to smile, and be open and friendly. Don't break in while your classmates are speaking. When your classmates talk to you, you should listen carefully and look at them in the eye to make them feel important.

·As you grow older, it's natural to make new friends and sometimes that means you begin to grow apart from your old friends. So try and make time for all your friends. But what if a friendship group is pushing you out? If this is happening to you, ask someone you're friendly with what has happened. If the friendship is hopeless, try to find new friends.

1. Who is the passage written to?

A．Teachers	B．Old friends
C．New students	D．Classmates

2. What does the writer intend to tell readers?

A．To explain how to make new friends easily.

B．To show how to be used to new school life．

C．To encourage people to make new friends.

D．To introduce how to live in a new school.

3. Which of the following is the writer’s suggestion?

A．Try to study well to be popular with the classmates.

B．Try all your best to help your new classmates.

C．Sit close to a familiar classmate in the classroom.

D．Catch every opportunity to communicate with others.

4. What should you do in order to get your classmates feel that they are important?

A．Interrupt while talking with them.	B．Watch and listen to them carefully.
C．Talk to others while talking to them.	D．Make use of your relationship.

5. If your group of friends is keeping you away, you should_________.

A．make your different friends know each other

B．forget them and make new friends at once

C．try to know the reason from a close friend

D．turn to your teachers or parents for help

9 . Spanish River Park

Location: 3001 Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton.

Admission: $16 per vehicle on weekdays, $18 on weekends and major holidays.

Special Comments: About 95 acres, more than a half-mile of beach with lifeguards. No pets.1,680-foot nature path and large playground area.

Food/Dining: Picnic areas with barbecue grills. Phone: (561)393-7811

Restores: Restrooms and showers available.

Red Reef Park

Location: 1400 N.Ocean Blvd., Boo2 Raton.

Admission: $16 per vehicle on weekdays,$18 on weekends and major holidays.

Special Comments: Developed beach (67 acres) with lifeguards. No alcohol or pets permitted. It offers grills and a small playground area.

Food/Dining: Picnic areas available. Phone: (561) 393-7812

Restrooms: Restrooms and showers available.

South Beach Park

Location: 400 N.Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton.

Admission: $15 per vehicle on weekdays,$17 on weekends and major holidays.

Special Comments: 1,670 feet of beach, 25 acres, lifeguards, 955 feet of developed beach south of Boca Inlet with lifeguards.

Food/Dining: Picnic areas available. Phone: (561) 393-7813

Restrooms: Restrooms and showers available.

Coconut Cove Waterpark

Location: 11200 Park Access Road, Boca Raton.

Admission: Adult $7; Children(4~12)$5; 3 and under free.

Special Comments: The waterpark offers Sea Monster walk pool, Meandering River,

a waterslide and a waterfall. No alcohol or pets permitted.

Food/Dining: Concessions. Phone: (561) 274-1140

Restrooms: Restrooms and showers available.

1. Which of the following can not be done in Spanish River Park?

A．Play with your dog.	B．Walk on the path.
C．Go for a picnic.	D．Have a shower.

2. If you want to get the information of South Beach Park, you should call_______.

A．(561) 393-7811	B．(561) 393-7812
C．(561) 393-7813	D．(561) 274-1140

3. Where does this passage probably appear?

A．In a notebook.	B．In a newspaper.
C．In a report.	D．In a science book.

4. If Mother and Father with two children aged 4 and one child aged 2 visited Coconut Cove Waterpark, the cost would be _______.

A．$22	B．$19
C．$29	D．$24

5. If you want to play more water sports, you’d better go to _________.

A．South Beach Park	B．Coconut Cove Waterpark
C．Spanish River Park	D．Red Reef Park

10 . Young sunflowers turn and swing every day. New findings add to evidence that the plants are animal-like.

Harmer, a professor in the University of California at Davis’ Department of Plant Biology, carried out a series of experiments on sunflowers in the field, in pots outdoors and in indoor growth chambers.

By staking plants so that they could not move, Harmer showed that he could destroy their ability to track the sun. He also noticed that sunflowers prevented from moving were not as tough and leafy as those that were free to move. When plants were moved indoor with a settled overhead light, they continued to swing back and forth for a few days.

The indoor plants did start tracking the “sun” again when the apparent source of lighting was moved across the room. The plants could reliably track the movement and return at night when the artificial day was close to a 24-hour cycle, but not when it was closer to 30 hours.

When sunflowers track the sun, the east sides of their stems grew more rapidly than the west sides. At night, the west sides grew faster as the stem swung the other way. The team identified a number of genes that were expressed at higher levels on the sunward side of the plant during the day, or on the other side at night. A plant growth-regulating hormone, called auxin, appears to be a key driver.

The “dance” to the sun cycle obviously slows when the sunflower matures and its flowers open up. At that point, the plants stop moving during the day and settle down facing the sun in the east.

“Bees like warm flowers.” Harmer said, adding that the bees are cold-blooded, so landing on a warm flower saves them energy and perhaps feels really good.

“The morning warmth changes the flowers in a way to make them more appealing to insects, perhaps causing them to release more attractive scents earlier in the day.” he said. “We’re currently testing this idea.”

1. Why did Harmer do the experiment on sunflowers?

A．To see how sunflowers grow up.

B．To show what sunflowers’ genes are.

C．To study why sunflowers track the sun.

D．To check if sunflowers swing in cloudy days.

2. What does the underlined word “staking”(Par 3) probably mean in ?

A．Tracking.	B．Fastening.
C．Preserving.	D．Presenting.

3. What is the result of sunflowers being stopped from moving?

A．They won’t grow well.

B．They will grow faster than usual.

C．They won’t swing back though set free.

D．They will produce a number of new genes.

4. What would happen to the sunflowers if they became fully grown?

A．They would swing as usual.

B．They would move back and forth.

C．They would stop turning.

D．They would track the sun.

5. Bees are fond of dancing ______________.

A．on cold sunflowers	B．in the circle of flowers
C．on warm sunflowers	D．on the mature sunflowers