1 . Jack London, one of America's famous writers, was born in California in 1876. During his life, London worked at many jobs. His broad life experiences would become the background for his writing.
London loved to read. As a teenager, he spent many hours educating himself at the Oakland, California, public library. He studied in the University of California at Berkeley, but he stayed for only six months. He thought Berkeley was "not lively enough" and wanted to do something more exciting.
London wrote stories about working people and the hard times they had making a living. He worked as a sailor, farmer, factory employee, railroad worker, and gold prospector, to name just a few of his many jobs.
London grew up near the waterfront in Oakland. He loved the water. When he was fifteen years old, he bought a small sailboat. Later he sailed to Japan. Like many people of the time, London caught the Klondike Gold Rush. In 1897, he headed for Alaska. He didn't find gold, but he discovered something even more valuable. He discovered that people enjoyed listening to the stories he made up with his imagination. London made the miners laugh with story after story. Later, using his experiences during the Gold Rush, he created many more colorful stories.
London decided to live a full, exciting life. He once said, "I would rather be a superb meteor(流星) than a sleepy and permanent(永恒的) planet.”Each day, he pushed himself. Once London decided that he was going to be a writer, nothing could stop him. His goal was to write at least one thousand words every day. He refused to stop even when he was sick. In eighteen years, the writer published fifty-one books and hundreds of articles. He was the best-selling and highest-paid author of his day. Many people also considered him to be the best writer. White Fang and The Call of the Wild are his most famous stories and are about surviving in the Alaskan wilderness. Readers can enjoy Jack London's energy and his talent for telling wonderful stories each time they open one of his novels.
1. Why was Jack London able to write on many topics?| A．He pushed himself to reach goals. |
| B．He had a great number of experiences and jobs. |
| C．He was drawn to the Klondike Gold Rush. |
| D．He was the best-selling and highest-paid author. |
| A．That he sailed to Japan. |
| B．That he traveled to Alaska in 1897. |
| C．That he spent much of his time writing. |
| D．That he was not interested in college life enough. |
| A．was expert at the stars | B．aimed high and wanted to succeed |
| C．was interested in life | D．faced a choice between life and death |
| A．To tell London was the "best writer". |
| B．To describe life during the Klondike Gold Rush. |
| C．To provide information on Jack's life. |
| D．To introduce books written by Jack London. |
2 . COVID — 19 has greatly affected the lives of people across the world. It has challenged and changed people’s lifestyles. It has also helped us think about our relationships with others.
Changing our lives
● COVID - 19 has made people think harder about their relationship with nature. It has also raised questions about urban lifestyles. The sharing economy, working in open offices, living in crowded apartments and the food industry’s use of reusable products have made the perfect storm for a pandemic.
● Although the sharing economy might be good — it’s cheaper to rent than to own — sharing spaces and objects are great ways to spread the virus. How does one do “social distancing” when they are expected to share cars, bikes, apartments and even the same offices?
● The trend of using open offices, which can save space, is working against us. In this type of office, workers don’t have their own desk — everything is shared. Sometimes, computers and chairs are also shared, which is not hygienic (卫生的). Fortunately, more workers are working from home during the pandemic, but that won’t last forever.
● Reusability is a common practice in the restaurant industry. Reusable cups and chopsticks are often used. Unfortunately, reusable products increase the chance of spreading disease. For example, Starbucks recently stopped refilling customers’ reusable cups in order to stop the spread of the virus.
●People like to be social. But the virus has made this more dangerous. We have to be careful about how we interact with others for now. Perhaps we need to rethink about our lifestyles to reduce the spread of future pandemics.
1. According to the author, the strong point of the sharing economy is that ________.| A．it lasts longer | B．it costs less | C．it’s popular | D．it’s hygienic |
| A．how working at home won’t last long | B．how shared offices can save space |
| C．the hygienic problems of open offices | D．the sharing economy trend |
| A．everything is shared in many restaurants | B．they use too much disposable tableware |
| C．many restaurants have poor hygiene | D．cups and chopsticks are often reused |
| A．we need to change some of our lifestyles | B．the sharing economy won’t last forever |
| C．no one can stay out of the sharing economy | D．we shouldn’t stay away from shared products |
3 . It was a cold January in 1925 in Nome, Alaska. The town was cut off from the rest of the world due to heavy snow.
On the 20th of that month, Dr. Welch
How could the medicine get to Nome? The town’s
The race began on January 27. The first musher, Shannon, picked up the medicine from the train at Nenana and rode all night.
On January 31, a musher named Seppala had to
A huge snowstorm hit on February 1. A musher named Kaasen had to brave this storm. At one point, huge piles of snow blocked his
At 5:30 a.m. on February 2, Kaasen and his dog arrived in Nome. Within minutes, Dr. Welch had the medicine. He quickly gave it to the sick children. All of them recovered.
Nome had been
| A．examined | B．warned | C．interviewed | D．cured |
| A．harmless | B．helpless | C．fearless | D．careless |
| A．Moreover | B．Therefore | C．Otherwise | D．However |
| A．airport | B．station | C．harbor | D．border |
| A．narrow | B．busy | C．snowy | D．dirty |
| A．From | B．By | C．On | D．After |
| A．air | B．rail | C．sea | D．road |
| A．carry | B．return | C．mail | D．give |
| A．Though | B．Since | C．When | D．If |
| A．enter | B．cross | C．visit | D．move |
| A．escape | B．swim | C．ache | D．die |
| A．memory | B．exit | C．way | D．destination |
| A．find | B．fix | C．pass | D．change |
| A．pretending | B．asking | C．trying | D．learning |
| A．controlled | B．saved | C．founded | D．developed |
4 . Every day when Glen Oliver orders his morning coffee at the drive-through window of a local cafe, he insists on paying for the order of the person behind him. He also asks the restaurant workers to tell the customer to have a great day, in case they’re not already having one.
Oliver has never made a big deal out of his own generous actions until a letter was published by a news website in November. He found out that he had not just bought someone his breakfast —he had saved a life.
According to the website, someone had written a letter stating that on July 18th, he was planning on committing suicide. The writer said that while he was at the drive-through window, he was planning on going home, writing a note and ending his life. When he went to pay for his coffee and muffin, however, the cashier told him that the man in the SUV in front of him had picked up the tab and told him to have a great day.
“I wondered why someone would buy coffee for a stranger for no reason,” said the writer. “Why me? Why today? If I were a religious man, I would take this as a sign. This random act of kindness was directed at me on this day for a purpose.”
When the writer arrived home, he couldn’t restrain his tears and started to think about the simple good deed that had affected him so deeply. “I decided at that moment to change my plans for the day and do something nice for someone. I ended up helping a neighbor take groceries out of her car and into the house.”
The writer says that in the months following that fateful event, he does at least one kind thing for others every day. “To the nice man in the SUV, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please know your kind gesture has truly saved a life,” he said. “On July 18, 2017, I had the greatest day.”
1. What is Oliver’s act of kindness every day?| A．Buying others breakfast. |
| B．Greeting restaurant workers. |
| C．Publishing positive news. |
| D．Taking groceries for neighbors. |
| A．It brought him thank-you letters. |
| B．It was reported on a news website. |
| C．It was the first time he’d paid for others. |
| D．It stopped someone from killing himself. |
| A．Paid the bill. | B．Parked the car. |
| C．Left a message. | D．Ordered a drink. |
| A．He felt guilty. | B．He felt grateful. |
| C．He felt confused. | D．He felt sad. |
5 . To Be a Deaf DJ
I was born in England with perfect hearing. In 1990, when I was five, my family moved to the United States. I started getting ear infections every three months or so. We didn’t have health insurance at the time, and when I got a third infection, my parents couldn’t afford the treatment. I went deaf in my right ear and was left with 50 percent hearing in my left. Over time, my remaining hearing dropped to 20 percent, where it is today. My doctors predicted that I would be thoroughly deaf by now, and I think I’m doing pretty well.
There was always music on in my house in my childhood. I loved listening to Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson. My dad was a DJ, so he played disco, folk, rock, and music from other countries. For my 18th birthday, my dad asked me to deejay at the restaurant. After doing that for a few weeks, I was interested in it. I desired to learn more. I e-mailed DJ Shiftee, a distinguished New York City DJ, “I know you like a challenge. How about teaching a deaf person to deejay?” He wrote back the next day, “Challenge accepted.” He tutored me twice a week for two years, helping me develop correct technique. I practiced four hours a day.
Now when I’m performing, muscle memory takes over. When I started, I wouldn’t tell the club managers that I was deaf. I would just show up, introduce myself, and start playing music. At the end of the night, someone would say, “Oh, here’s the check.” And I’d say, “What? Oh, I can’t hear.” They were always so astonished. Sometimes I would bring doctor’s notes because they wouldn’t believe me. It was reassurance that they were giving me opportunities to perform because I was brilliant, not out of sympathy. Eventually people started calling me “that deaf DJ,” and the name stuck.
What fascinates me about deejaying is the creativity. I use software that turns the music into lines of color on a computer screen. I’m visually hearing the music. The next time you go dancing, cover your ears, and you’ll start seeing that you’re able to hear the music in a different way. Music is not all about hearing. I pay all sorts of get-togethers now, from college parties to corporate events. I also go to elementary schools for the deaf and talk to the students about motivation and believing in themselves. I tell the parents, “My advice to you is let your kids chase their dreams. I’m a deaf DJ, so why not?”
1. Which of the following might result in the author’s hearing loss?| A．Monthly ear infection. | B．Moving to the U. S. |
| C．Family financial hardship. | D．The doctors’ prediction. |
| A．He taught him correct skills. | B．He discovered his talent for DJ. |
| C．He played at the restaurant for him. | D．He cultivated his taste for foreign music. |
| A．the author was in low spirits | B．the author impressed people deeply |
| C．the audience felt disappointed by the player | D．the audience looked down upon the player |
| A．working as a DJ involves creating | B．music helps him to see the world virtually |
| C．he motivates the kids to realize their dream | D．he desires to challenge something impossible |
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1. Why is TOKNOW a special magazine?| A．It entertains（使愉悦）young parents. |
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| A．￡55. | B．￡60. |
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7 . Australians have long been known for having a relaxed and casual attitude to life. According to Dr. Tanya King, senior lecturer from Victoria's Deakin University. "It's Australians' egalitarianism ,sense of humor and informal language that are most commonly mentioned as examples of this attitude. "
Egalitarianism roots in the way that the nation was built. In Australia's founding car in the late 1700s, criminal settlers were often cruelly treated and robbed of their basic human rights by governors. The criminal class. who were mostly working-class Brits and Irish. was unable to seek civic positions that were reserved for immigrants w ho were not the criminal, with the latter arguing that if criminals gained equal rights it would be "rewarding criminality ". Because of this, an egalitarian spirit was worn as a symbol of honor by many criminal settlers. They may not have had power, education or wealth. but they had a shared belief in equality.
The informal way Australians use language is also believed to root in criminal times. Philologist Sidney Baker once wrote that "no other class would have a better talent for creating new terms to fit in with their new conditions in life. " Cockney rhyming slang brought over by the British working class was abbreviated even further - so " have a Captains Cook"（have a look）. became "ava captains". This same practice was used to economize ordinary clauses. Words like "good day" became "g' day". and barbecue was "barbie".
The tough conditions of settler times also played a part in Australians' dry self-criticizing and sarcastic（讽刺的） sense of humor. While in many countries it's considered poor taste to find humor in difficult circumstances. Australians lend to look at the lighter side. On one road trip, as I hit the stale line and entered Victoria. I drove past some blackened trees, the leftovers of a recent bush-fire. A road sign warning drivers about wildlife was half-melted and bent, but the shape of a hopping kangaroo was still distinct. Behind the figure, someone had drawn flames making it look as though the animal's tail was on fire. I couldn't help but laugh - it was a brilliant reminder of the country's "nothing upsets us" and anti-authoritarian attitude.
And one thing you can't help but notice when driving around Australia is the country's plentiful amounts of space. This. along with considerable leisure time plus favorable climate, all contributes to Australian's relaxed attitude.
1. The underlined word "egalitarianism" is closest to ______ in meaning.| A．criminality | B．cruelty | C．equality | D．governmentalism |
| A．They use more slangs than other people. |
| B．They give new meaning to existent words. |
| C．They favor shortened forms of expressions. |
| D．They coin terms in memory of criminal times. |
| A．Kangaroos' living conditions are getting tougher. |
| B．Forest fires threatened Australian's life to a great extent. |
| C．Potential danger is here and there on the roads in Victoria. |
| D．Australians' jokes may not be as careless as they seem on the surface. |
| A．how the late 1700s impacted Australia |
| B．why Australians enjoy casual life so much |
| C．what contributes to Australians' relaxed lifestyle |
| D．how Australians present their attitude towards life |
8 . Cecilia Chiang, the chef and restaurant owner, was greatly known for introducing regional Chinese dishes to the United States. She helped change the way Americans think about Chinese cooking.
Chiang was born into a wealthy Shanghai family with two full-time chefs—one from the north and one from the south. In 1949 her family settled in Tokyo, opening a restaurant called the Forbidden City. But it was a 1960 trip in San Francisco that set Chiang on her dramatic journey to cooking fame. She was both shocked and amused by the food most Americans considered to be Chinese. “They think chop suey(杂烩) is the only thing we have in China,” she said with a laugh. “ What a shame.”
So Chiang was determined to open a high-end Chinese restaurant that served authentic Chinese food. “Everybody said, ‘You cannot make it. You cannot speak English. You don’t know anything.’” she recalled. In 1961 then, Chiang opened the Mandarin.
The restaurant wasn’t immediately successful. About a year after opening, the Mandarin received a mention from the San Francisco Chronicle (旧金山纪事报). The effect of the powerful writer’s positive comment was immediate. Tourists, dignitaries and celebrities(达官显贵)—from Mae West to John Lennon—flooded into the Mandarin for then -unfamiliar food like tea smoked duck twice cooked pork.
Though the Mandarin was closed years later, Cecilia Chiang’s DNA can be found all over American Chinese food. Her son founded the chain P.F. Chang’s and the son of one of her chefs founded Panda Express.
In early 2017, Chiang shared how she lived to be so old: “I always think about the better side, the good side of everything. I never think about, Oh, I’m going to fail. Oh, I cannot do this. Oh, I feel sorry for myself.” Instead, Chiang wrote books, starred in a PBS documentary series and won the most famous award in American cooking when she was 93 years old.
1. Cecilia Chiang opened the Mandarin in order to ________.| A．remember her 1960 trip in San Francisco |
| B．Serve real Chinese food to the Americans |
| C．Show her shock and amusement towards food |
| D．Continue her family tradition of running restaurants |
| A．It is in the charge of Chiang’s son now. |
| B．It wasn’t successful until two years later. |
| C．It turned out pretty popular among Americans. |
| D．It changed the way Americans think about China. |
| A．Talented and active. |
| B．Ambitious and selfless. |
| C．Optimistic and creative. |
| D．Positive and determined. |
9 . Barbara McClintock was one of the most important scientists of the 20th century. She made important discoveries about genes and chromosomes(染色体).
Barbara McClintock was born in 1902 in Hartford, Connecticut. Her family moved to the Brooklyn area of New York City in 1908. Barbara was an active child with interests in sports and music. She also developed an interest in science.
She studied science at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Barbara was among a small number of undergraduate students to receive training in genetics in 1921. Years later, she noted that few college students wanted to study genetics.
Barbara McClintock decided to study botany, the scientific study of plants, at Cornell University. She completed her undergraduate studies in 1923. McClintock decided to continue her education at Cornell. She completed the master’s degree in 1925. Two years later, she finished all her requirements for the doctorate degree.
McClintock stayed at Cornell after she completed her education. She taught students botany. The 1930s was not a good time to be a young scientist in the United States. The country was in the middle of the great economic depression. Millions of Americans were unemployed. Male scientists were offered jobs. But female geneticists were not much in demand.
An old friend from Cornell, Marcus Rhoades, invited McClintock to spend the summer of 1941 working at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. It is a research center on Long Island, near New York City. McClintock started a temporary job with the genetics department. A short time later, she accepted a perpetual position in the laboratory and got continual incomes. This gave her the freedom to continue her research without repeatedly asking for financial aid.
By the 1970s, her discoveries had had an effect on everything from genetic engineering to cancer research. McClintock won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1983 for her discovery of the ability of genes to change positions on chromosomes. She was the first American woman to win an unshared Nobel Prize.
1. When did McClintock get a doctorate degree?| A．In 1921. | B．In 1923. | C．In 1925. | D．In 1927 |
| A．male scientists were in great demand |
| B．male scientists were out of work |
| C．female geneticists were not in demand at all |
| D．young female scientists might have trouble finding a job |
| A．A permanent position in the laboratory. |
| B．A temporary job in the genetics department. |
| C．A job as a botany teacher. |
| D．A job to research cancer. |
| A．Because she received a degree in genes and chromosomes. |
| B．Because she contributed to genetic engineering and cancer research. |
| C．Because she made important discoveries about genes and chromosomes. |
| D．Because she was the first American woman who studied genes and chromosomes. |
10 . People think children should play sports. Sports are fun, and children keep healthy while playing with others. However，playing sports can have
Many researchers believe adults, especially parents and coaches, are the main
We really need to
| A．restrictive(限制的) | B．negative | C．active | D．instructive |
| A．knocked | B．glanced | C．smiled | D．shouted |
| A．impression | B．concept | C．taste | D．expectation |
| A．resource | B．cause | C．course | D．consequence |
| A．question | B．understand | C．copy | D．neglect |
| A．winning | B．practising | C．fun | D．sport |
| A．praises | B．orders | C．remarks (言论、评论) | D．insults(侮辱) |
| A．proudly | B．ambitiously | C．aggressively | D．bravely |
| A．acceptable | B．impolite | C．possible | D．accessible |
| A．By contrast | B．In addition | C．As a result | D．After all |
| A．look up to | B．face up to | C．make up for | D．come up with |
| A．in particular | B．in all | C．in return | D．in advance |
| A．techniques | B．means | C．values | D．directions |
| A．respect | B．relax | C．forgive | D．enjoy |
| A．body | B．fame | C．health | D．spirit |
