1 . Becoming famous is the dream of many, and Tian is getting closer to that dream.

Tian, 30, is a white - collar worker in Beijing. On short video application Douyin, Tian has more than 2, 000 fans, So far, she has received more than 50, 000 likes on the Dubsmash - like app. On her page on Douyin, Tian shares everything, from her son's daily activities, to her pet dogs, to little skits (段子) made up by her and her husband. “Making funny videos, and combining them with music is really interesting, ” Tian said. “Of course, I make the videos for fun because it is quite relaxing.”

China's short video market has seen great growth, according to a report. The report said that China's short video market was valued at 5. 73 billion yuan ($ 900 million) in 2017, an increase of 184 percent. The industry value is expected to go up to the 30 billion mark in 2020. Companies like Tencent, Sohu and Iqiyi have all started providing short video content.

“Short videos are popular because they are an addition to traditional audio and video content on the internet, ” said Sun Jiashan with the Chinese National Academy of Arts.

Fans say that the short videos help them “chill out” from a stressed - out lifestyle. “My favorite videos are all about pets, ” said Zhou Na, a nurse in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province. “After a whole day's work, watching the 15 - second videos makes me laugh, which reduces my pressure.”

1. Why does Tian make short videos in Douyin?

A．To get fun	B．To become a well - known person
C．To attract fans	D．To record her family's routine

2. What's Sun Jiashan's opinion about short videos?

A．They have a huge amount of value

B．They make people s star dreams come true

C．They enrich internet audio and video content

D．They greatly reduce people's pressure

3. What does the underlined words “chill out” in paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．Feel cold	B．Calm down
C．Catch a cold	D．Become concerned

4. What does the passage mainly tell us?

A．China's short video market is open

B．Douyin brings the Chinese great happiness

C．Every Chinese is using Douyin to make short video

D．China's short video market has developed rapidly

2 . Can you imagine a world without music? Studies show that public schools across the country are cutting back on music classes to save money. Worse, some schools have never had music classes to begin with. But without them, students’ academic(学业的) growth and emotional health could suffer. In fact, music classes are necessary for all students in schools.

A recent study by Brown University has shown that students who had music classes were better in math and reading skills than those without having music classes. Another study by The College Board found that students taking music and art classes got higher points. Students’ academic success seems to depend on taking part in music education.

Music programs in public schools also help to add to a student’s sense of pride and self-confidence. Teens today have too many learning tasks. Besides, they have family problems, self-confidence problems, relationship troubles, and choices about drugs and alcohol. All of these can stop academic success, but music education can help. Students who took part in school music programs were less likely to turn to drugs. Music programs encourage students to work together to produce an excellent performance.

Music crosses language, class cultural and political boundaries(界限). Music allows students from different countries to connect. For example, at a school talent show, a new Japanese student played a piano duet(二重奏) with an American classmate. Although they could not communicate verbally, they were able to read the music in order to play the duet. Two students from different cultures worked as a team with self-confidence and a common purpose through music.

The gift of music is priceless. We need to be sure of having necessary music classes for all students. The world is losing its music, and putting music into schools is the first step to get it back.

1. What can we know about education with music classes?

A．It wastes a lot of money from parents.	B．It leads to a lot of emotional problems easily.
C．It helps students improve their school work.	D．It has a bad influence on the quality of education.

2. The studies in paragraph 2 show that        .

A．not all students take part in music classes

B．students with great success attend music classes

C．students having music classes are better in all courses

D．music plays an important role in students’ academic success

3. What does the example in paragraph 4 mainly suggest?

A．Different cultures have different styles of music.

B．Music makes cross-country communication possible.

C．Japan has a good international relationship with America.

D．Japanese and American students are good at playing the piano.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Music education in schools	B．How to get music back?
C．Music—a bridge to understanding	D．The importance of listening to music

3 . Smart Kids is a collection of one hundred events scheduled in October. This year, it is experimenting with Pay What You Decide (PWYD). That is, you can decide to pay what you want to or can afford, after you have attended an event. You can pre-book events without paying for a ticket in advance. Here are some of the director’s picks.

Walk on the Wild Side

Not ticketed, Free

Join storyteller Sarah Law to hear science stories about animals. Along the way you’ll meet all sorts of beautiful creatures and discover life cycles and food chains. Best suited to children aged 5-9. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Introduction to Waves

Pre-book, PWYD

Subjects range from sound waves to gravity waves, and from waves of light to crashing waves on the ocean. Mike Goldsmith explores the fundamental features shared by all waves in the natural world.

Science in the Field

Not ticketed, Free

This storytelling night features a scientist sharing his favourite memories of gathering first-hand data on various field trips. Come along for inspiring and informative stories straight from the scientist’s mouth. Join Mark Samuels to find out more in this fun-filled workshop.

Festival Dinner

Pre-book, £25 per person

Whether you want to explore more about food, or just fancy a talk over a meal, join us to mark the first science festival in London. Which foods should you eat to trick your brain into thinking that you are full? Find out more from Tom Crawford.

1. In which event can you decide the payment?

A．Introduction to Waves.	B．Walk on the Wild Side.
C．Science in the Field.	D．Festival Dinner.

2. Who will talk about experiences of collecting direct data?

A．Mike Goldsmith.	B．Sarah Law.
C．Mark Samuels.	D．Tom Crawford.

3. What do the four events have in common?

A．Family-based.	B．Science-related.
C．Picked by children.	D．Filled with adventures.

4 . Teenagers who check social media for several hours a day are at the risk of developing ADHD, a study has concluded.

The research team, from the University of Southern California, tracked 2,600 teenagers aged 15 and 16. They asked them how many times they checked their phones and other digital devices for various reasons, and then monitored them for symptoms of ADHD. After two years, those who had checked their phones the most often were twice as likely as those who cheeked the least often to show signs of ADHD.

Writing in the JAMA medical journal, the scientists said, “Modern media devices immediately inform users when new text messages, social media postings, or video game play invitations arrive. Exposure to such information may draw attention away from important tasks. Frequent distraction could interrupt the development of constant attention and organization skills.”

They believe constant access to instant entertainment also has an impact. Researcher Professor Adam Leventhal said all previous researches had focused on the link between ADHD and televisions. "What's new is that previous studies on this topic were done many years ago, when social media, mobile phones, tablets and mobile apps didn't exist. We can say with confidence that teens who are exposed to higher levels of digital media are significantly more likely to develop ADHD symptoms in the future, he said.

Leventhal believes the findings help fill a gap in understanding how new mobile media devices and seemingly limitless content pose a mental health risk for children. And the findings serve as a warning.

British scientists welcomed the findings. But Professor Andy Przybylski of the Oxford Internet Institute said, “The study relies on survey responses provided by the students in question. It is not clear if teachers or parents would rate the children similarly or if the self-reported measure of digital screen use is related with either actual behavior or higher quality survey items.”

1. How did the researchers conduct the study?

A．By monitoring 2,600 teenagers with ADHD.

B．By controlling different teens, time spent on social media.

C．By tracking the participants for two years.

D．By analyzing data from previous researches online.

2. What does Leventhal think of the exposure to higher levels of digital media?

A．It will cause diverse ADHD symptoms.	B．It will create higher ADHD risks.
C．It will weaken teenagers' confidence.	D．It will have a major influence on organization skills.

3. What does Professor Andy Przybylski think of the study?

A．It provides a better understanding of the media.	B．It should have focused on parents' responses.
C．Its findings are not reliable enough.	D．It's a breakthrough in this field.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．The use of digital media is on the rise

B．Teens' exposure to modern media calls more attention

C．Heavy use of social media may increase Teens' ADHD risks

D．Teens are increasingly exposed to ADHD

5 . Just a few months earlier, I would never have pictured myself acting in a play in front of two hundred people. If not for my _________, Mrs. Sather, I might never have found that opportunity.

In the first and second grade, I was extremely _________ . It just wasn't in my personality to be very outgoing. I would escape in my writing. Mrs. Sather, always _________ me to write more. I think she was one of the first people to see my inner _________.

One day, she announced our class was going to _________ a play, a take off on The Wizard of Oz. “I need someone to play the lead part of Dorothy.” A few excited hands _________ . Mine, of course, was not one of them.

After school, Mrs. Sather said to me, “Dallas, I was _________ you didn't raise your hand. You're great at memorizing things, and you have such a sweet personality. Perfect for Dorothy! I had you in _________ for Dorothy while writing the play! If you _________ don't want to, though, I won't make you. It's your __________.”

I realized it was time to show the world who I really was. I __________ the role. Fast-forward through five months of __________ , line memorizing, and costume creating, we were ready.

At the end of the play, when the audience stood and applauded, I knew they were not just __________ for my performance that night, but for the __________ that they knew would come in later years because of my newfound __________

1.

A．partner

B．teacher

C．parent

D．classmate

2.

A．shy

B．weak

C．energetic

D．ambitious

3.

A．recommended

B．allowed

C．encouraged

D．accompanied

4.

A．drawback

B．peace

C．character

D．strength

5.

A．perform

B．watch

C．write

D．enjoy

6.

A．put down

B．reached out

C．shot up

D．drew back

7.

A．excited

B．amused

C．afraid

D．surprised

8.

A．store

B．mind

C．memory

D．comparison

9.

A．really

B．initially

C．finally

D．spiritually

10.

A．turn

B．choice

C．luck

D．fault

11.

A．created

B．played

C．accepted

D．remembered

12.

A．practicing

B．learning

C．observing

D．communicating

13.

A．celebrating

B．chatting

C．cheering

D．congratulating

14.

A．praises

B．efforts

C．beliefs

D．performances

15.

A．skill

B．confidence

C．interest

D．hobby

6 . Thinking is something you choose to do as a fish chooses to live in water. To be human is to think. But thinking may come naturally without your knowing how you do it. Thinking about thinking is the key to critical thinking. When you think critically, you take control of your thinking processes. Otherwise, you might be controlled by the ideas of others. Indeed, critical thinking is at the heart of education.

The word “critical” here has a special meaning. It does not mean taking one against another view, as when someone criticizes another person for doing something wrong. The nature of critical thinking is thinking beyond the easily seen-beyond the pictures on TV, the untrue reports in the newspapers, and the faulty reasoning.

Critical thinking is an attitude as much as an activity. If you are curious about life and desire to dig deeper into it, you are a critical thinker. If you find pleasure in deep thinking about different ideas, characters, and facts, you are a critical thinker.

Activities of the mind and higher-order reasoning are processes of deep and careful consideration. They take time, and do not go hand in hand with the fast speed in today’s world: fast foods, instant coffee, and self-developing film. If you are among the people who believe that speed is a measure of intelligence, you may learn something new from a story about Albert Einstein. The first time Banesh Hoffman, a scientist, was to discuss his work with Albert Einstein, Hoffman was too nervous to speak. But Einstein immediately put Hoffman at ease by saying, “Please go slowly. I don’t understand things quickly.”

1. Critical thinking is important to us because if we do not think critically, ________.

A．it will be hard for us to think naturally and fast	B．we might be controlled by other people’s ideas
C．we will follow the ideas of others naturally	D．we might be fooled by other people’s ideas

2. If you are a critical thinker, you will ________.

A．think deeply about different ideas	B．trust the reports in the newspapers
C．take one view against another view	D．criticize other people for their mistakes

3. In the last paragraph, “ something new” suggests that ________.

A．the smarter you are, the faster you do things	B．the faster you do things, the smarter you become
C．speed can improve intelligence	D．intelligence is not decided by speed

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Thinking and Critical Thinking	B．Understanding Critical Thinking
C．Thinking Is Natural and Human	D．Thinking Fast Means Intelligence

8 . I became a gardener when I was twelve. My early________of gardening may not have originated from my love for nature. It was to ________my parents.

At that time, we had a big yard in which a beautiful maple tree stood. But my mother often looked with ________at this work of natural art. Those golden leaves seemed like tons of rubbish to her, “something else to ________!”Seeing the neighbors busy with gardening, my father ever thought it a waste of time.

At that age, I always did something________to whatever my parents did! If gardening were something they found________, I would plant a garden!

I planted some lily (百合花)seeds in the yard. But they failed to ________. I continued to sunflower seeds and roses. Wild ________joy, I found the first rose bloom (开花). One by one, the flowers bloomed their heads off.________, I was touched by this land of wonder.

________, my parents showed no interest in my garden. My father even________at me because he found it was ________to move around my garden to the driveway. To my mother’s ________, I put her vase my real roses which, in her eyes, were simply weeds________flowers.

Regardless of their ________, I kept on planting my garden and ________to enjoy the pleasure gardening. Plants make such good companions: they breathe, they bloom, they________to care and love.

It has been many years since I made my first garden out of my desire to ________my parent. Today I become known as Mrs. Greenthumbs, teaching gardening and hosting a gardening show which makes my parents feel very________. And now I could say it is my affection for________that makes me a real gardener.

1.

A．memory

B．dream

C．intention

D．design

2.

A．please

B．change

C．help

D．annoy

3.

A．doubt

B．appreciation

C．surprise

D．excitement

4.

A．collect up

B．care about

C．clean up

D．come in

5.

A．equal

B．similar

C．superior

D．opposite

6.

A．painful

B．valuable

C．upsetting

D．interesting

7.

A．come up

B．break out

C．hold on

D．get through

8.

A．to

B．with

C．in

D．by

9.

A．Luckily

B．Cheerfully

C．Regularly

D．Eventually

10.

A．Inetead

B．However

C．Therefore

D．Besides

11.

A．shouted

B．laughed

C．glanced

D．jumped

12.

A．convenient

B．troublesome

C．enjoyed

D．dangerous

13.

A．sadness

B．displeasure

C．delight

D．relief

14.

A．other than

B．more than

C．rather than

D．less than

15.

A．dislike

B．encouragement

C．threat

D．suggestion

16.

A．decided

B．stopped

C．continued

D．struggled

17.

A．devote

B．turn

C．respond

D．lead

18.

A．defeat

B．satisfy

C．respect

D．challenge

19.

A．proud

B．comfortable

C．strange

D．disappointed

20.

A．freedom

B．life

C．growth

D．nature

9 . Pierre is a 25-year-old penguin at the California Academy of Sciences. Due to his old age he was going bald which made him feel too cold to swim in the pool. Therefore biologists at the academy had a wetsuit created for this penguin to help him get back in the swimming pool.

Unlike marine mammals which have a layer of fat to keep them warm penguins depend on their waterproof feathers. Without them Pierre was unwilling to jump into the swimming pool and ended up trembling on the side of the pool while his 19 peers played in the water.

"He was cold; he would shake" said Pam Schaller a senior biologist. Schaller first tried a heat lamp to keep Pierre warm. Then she got another idea: if wetsuits keep humans warm in the cold Pacific why not make one for Pierre?

Schaller designed the suit which covered Pierre's body and had small openings for his flippers.

“I would walk behind him and look at where there were any gaps and cut and refit and cut and refit until it looked like it was extremely suitable” she said.

One concern was that the other penguins would reject Pierre in his new suit but in fact they accepted his new look. He swam freely and got along with others well although he was the only penguin with a black stomach.

Schaller couldn't say for sure whether the wetsuit allowed Pierre to recover his fine feathers but “certainly we were able to keep him comfortable during a period of time that would have been very difficult for him to stay comfortable”.

1. Pierre felt too cold to swim in the pool because of ________.

A．not having a layer of blubber

B．having few feathers due to old age

C．having no wetsuit

D．others penguins rejecting him

2. The idea of making a wetsuit for Pierre came from ________.

A．total invention	B．the use of heat lamp
C．the use of wetsuit on humans	D．waterproof feathers

3. Schaller followed Pierre in order to see ________.

A．if anywhere of wetsuit needed to be cut and refit

B．whether other penguins would reject him

C．if the wetsuit kept warm

D．whether the wetsuit would keep the feathers from recovering

4. The best title of the passage is ________.

A．Old Penguin Getting Bald	B．Unwilling to Swim
C．Strange Look of Pierre	D．Wetsuit for An Old Penguin

10 . A popular saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." However, that's not really true. Words have the power to build us up or tear us down. It doesn't matter if the words come from someone 's else or ourselves- -the positive and negative effects are just as lasting.

We all talk to ourselves sometimes. We 're usually too embarrassed to admit it, though. In fact, we really shouldn't be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit.

This“self-talk" helps us motivate (激励) ourselves, remember things, solve problems, and calm ourselves down. Be aware, though, that as much as 77% of self-talk tends to be negative. So in order lo stay positive, we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves. We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back. The next time you finish a project, do well in a test, or finally clean your room, join me in saying“Good job!"

Often, words come out of our mouths without us thinking about the effect they will have. But we should be aware that our words cause certain responses in others. For example, when returning an item to a store, we might use warm, friendly language during the exchange. And the clerk will probably respond in a similar manner. Or harsh (刻薄的) and critical language will most likely cause the clerk to be defensive.

Words possess power because of their lasting effect. Many of us regret something we once said. And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking. we should always ask ourselves: Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn't pass this test, then it's better left unsaid.

Words possess power: both positive and negative. Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively. We can offer hope, build self-esteem (自尊) and motivate others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things. Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours.

1. The main idea of the first paragraph is that

A．negative words may let us down

B．inspiring words give us confidence

C．words have a lasting effect on us

D．not sticks and stones but words will hurt us

2. There is no sense for us to feel embarrassed when we talk to ourselves because

A．we can benefit from talking to ourselves

B．talking to ourselves always gives us courage

C．almost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves

D．it does no harm to have “self-talk" when we are alone

3. The underlined part in the third paragraph means that we should also timely

A．remind ourselves

B．give ourselves amusement

C．make ourselves relaxed

D．praise ourselves

4. The author would probably hold the view that

A．encouraging words are sure to lead to kind offers

B．it is better to think twice before talking to others

C．people tend to remember friendly words

D．negative words may inspire us to make more progress