1 . Luke is a cute dog, living together with me for five years. We get lots of   _________   in our area during the summer season. Many forests are badly _________ by fire each year. That hot summer, not far from our shelter, a forest   _________ fire. It was July, and there had been a heat wave going on for three days.

Somehow, Luke rushed toward the forest. There was no longer any hope at that moment to wait for Luke to come back to the _______. In fact, I was waiting for firefighters to tell me that he had _______ in the forest. Suddenly, a fireman burst into my office and     _______     me that Luke had succeeded in saving four kittens who had been _______by the flames. I _______   accompanied the fireman to the forest to get him back. _______ we got to the scene of the incident, we didn’t see Luke. Then we heard the   ________ of a dog barking in the forest. I ________the barks as Luke’s. The firemen ________ the tracks of the dog until they found him barking loudly by the side of an injured ________. Thanks to Luke, four kittens and a fireman were saved. This true story shows us that pets are loving, caring and compassionate. We should love and ________them. Little animals can do     ________     things for humans.

1.

A．rain

B．sun

C．noise

D．fires

2.

A．damaged

B．removed

C．changed

D．treated

3.

A．made

B．caught

C．set

D．burned

4.

A．forest

B．house

C．area

D．shelter

5.

A．lost

B．died

C．appeared

D．remained

6.

A．warned

B．reminded

C．informed

D．promised

7.

A．buried

B．trapped

C．controlled

D．swallowed

8.

A．immediately

B．slightly

C．approximately

D．particularly

9.

A．Since

B．Unless

C．When

D．Until

10.

A．call

B．shout

C．voice

D．sound

11.

A．understood

B．recognized

C．treated

D．realized

12.

A．recorded

B．noticed

C．followed

D．wanted

13.

A．fireman

B．doctor

C．farmer

D．teacher

14.

A．save

B．raise

C．protect

D．hate

15.

A．fun

B．enormous

C．little

D．risky

2 . Two years ago, my friend and I were at college. With his birthday quickly approaching, he came to me with an unusual __________: instead of receiving presents, he wanted to do some acts of kindness.

I was __________ for such an idea. Giving instead of taking for the birthday was really difficult. I asked him how he could come up with such a __________ idea. He told me about a TED talk he had watched on generosity, which had inspired him. So we started to __________ creative things we could do.

Our university employed some security guards to __________ its students. They have to work __________, keeping watch on every corner throughout the university. For the most part it's a thankless job as most people grow __________ to seeing the guards all around and eventually barely notice their __________, let alone acknowledge their efforts. How could we show them our appreciation?

We decided to make a large pot of hot __________. We hired a Uber and asked the driver to take us around the campus where we knew the __________ would be and we poured them each a cup of hot chocolate. The Uber driver was __________ a bit doubtful to the entire plan but after a while he was helping us __________ the guards and our lively spirit had __________ to him as well. We were met with many __________ and appreciative words. It was amazing to see how a ​__________ act or even intention of generosity can lift everyone's spirit.

1.

A．order

B．request

C．problem

D．story

2.

A．stuck

B．blessed

C．burdened

D．bored

3.

A．traditional

B．complex

C．familiar

D．novel

4.

A．plan out

B．take over

C．watch for

D．hold back

5.

A．judge

B．help

C．monitor

D．protect

6.

A．step by step

B．around the clock

C．more or less

D．now and then

7.

A．addicted

B．devoted

C．attached

D．accustomed

8.

A．presence

B．hunger

C．poverty

D．thirsty

9.

A．tea

B．milk

C．porridge

D．chocolate

10.

A．workers

B．students

C．guards

D．drivers

11.

A．finally

B．initially

C．occasionally

D．frequently

12.

A．remind

B．track

C．spot

D．recognize

13.

A．spread

B．moved

C．happened

D．returned

14.

A．friends

B．difficulties

C．greetings

D．smiles

15.

A．similar

B．small

C．daily

D．modest

3 . A trip to the theater, museum or art gallery could help you live longer. And the more often you get that culture, the better the results are, a new study suggests.

Researchers from University College London (UCL) did the research on more than 6,000 adults in England age 50 years and older. How often an individual engaged in art activities was measured at the start of the study in 2004 to 2005. Participants were then followed up for an average of 12 years, during which time deaths were recorded using data from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). They found that people who engaged in the arts more frequency had a 31% lower risk of dying early when compared to those who didn’t. Even going to the theater or museum once or twice a year was linked with a 14% lower risk.

The study looked at a range of economic, health and social factors to try and explain why there is a link between “arts engagement and living longer. Part of the reason, the study said, comes down to social and economic differences among those who go and don’t go to museums, exhibitions and art galleries. Wealth, they found, explained about 9% of the association. Cognitive (认知的) differences and mental health also played a role. Things like free time and occupational status made no difference, said Fancourt.

Engaging with the arts can act as a buffer against stress and build creativity that allows people to adapt to changing circumstances. It also helps people access emotional support and information that helps people age more successfully. “We also thought that a greater sense of purpose could play a role,” she said. “It can have wide ranging benefits and support healthier lives lived longer.”

A world health organization last year found that both receptive participation, like visiting a museum, and active participation, like singing in a choir, had health benefits. An editorial that accompanied the paper said that everyone should have the chance to take part in cultural activities and said the study added weight to growing concerns about the decline in arts subjects in schools and universities.

1. What was the right step of the experiment?

A．Following the participants for 12 years.

B．Recording the participants’ death time.

C．Comparing the frequency of art activities.

D．Dividing the participants into two groups.

2. What has nothing to do with the relationship between “arts engagement and living longer”?

A．Wealth.	B．Cognition.
C．Occupation.	D．Mental health.

3. What does the underlined word “buffer” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Relief.	B．Barrier.
C．Defence.	D．Battle.

4 . The snow trapped Taylor, but taco sauce (卷饼酱) saved his life. It all began last Sunday when Taylor, along with his dog, went to get gas for his ______, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Taylor told the police his car got ______ in the snow. After some time, he then ______     and woke up on Monday finding ______ more snow, unable to get out of the vehicle (车辆). He tried to ______ out on Monday, but the snow was too deep and made it ______ to go on foot so he and his dog ______ to the vehicle.

By Wednesday, a ______ person’s announcement was put out for Taylor, according to a report. Over the next few days ______ he was trapped in the snow, Taylor told the police he stayed ______ by “starting his car from time to time. He ______ some of the taco sauce he had as food”.

On Friday, a skater called 911 saying they had ______ Taylor. The office soon sent a construction truck to ______ out Taylor and his dog. The officers said they were just “hungry after being stuck in the ______ for five days”. Taylor was ______ to who helped him and determined to help others as possible as he could in future.

1.

A．truck

B．bus

C．car

D．boat

2.

A．broken

B．stuck

C．lost

D．changed

3.

A．fell asleep

B．took risks

C．tried out

D．kept on

4.

A．also

B．almost

C．still

D．even

5.

A．put

B．call

C．break

D．walk

6.

A．difficult

B．boring

C．important

D．possible

7.

A．returned

B．pointed

C．tended

D．appealed

8.

A．learning

B．working

C．missing

D．traveling

9.

A．until

B．after

C．before

D．unless

10.

A．clean

B．hot

C．warm

D．mild

11.

A．bought

B．ate

C．made

D．borrowed

12.

A．seen

B．saved

C．known

D．paid

13.

A．send

B．dig

C．pick

D．tick

14.

A．clay

B．typhoon

C．thunderstorm

D．snow

15.

A．desperate

B．awkward

C．thankful

D．ashamed

5 . Rhemy Elsey, a fifth-grader, is deaf and mainly uses sign language to communicate, along with the ______ of an interpreter. Some of his fellow fifth-graders decided to ______ their break once a week to form an American Sign Language club in order to chat more ______ with Rhemy.

It’s been a few months since the club was ______ and his classmates’ participation has _______ Rhemy. “It’ s like they want to be like me” he said.

Though Rhemy signs to communicate with others. he has cochlear implants（耳蜗植入）that help him ______. His interpreter, Tammy Arvin, ______ the club, which meets every Wednesday. So far, the club members have learned basic ____   in different topics including school, food and clothing.

Arvin who accompanies him during school said that ______ the club’s formation, not only was it difficult for students to communicate directly with Rhemy, his use of an interpreter also led to ______ challenges for him. “It can be really ______ for deaf kids from a social and emotional standpoint to have an interpreter     ____ them around all day long,” Arvin said. So when the other students expressed interest in an ASL club, Arvin was ______.

The club has already had an effect on the way the students ______ with Rhemy. The ______ can have more natural conversations which make Rhemy feel less isolated(孤立的). And the students are also ______ a very important culture.

“They don’t necessarily realize they’ are learning…about deaf culture by ____     this club,” Arvin said. “It ______ gives them a perspective on this other ______ that they previously weren’t aware of, so they’re ______ greatly just in terms of learning about diversity and having a broader perspective on the world around them.

1.

A．role

B．help

C．idea

D．need

2.

A．give up

B．put off

C．prepare for

D．talk about

3.

A．openly

B．casually

C．modestly

D．effectively

4.

A．improved

B．formed

C．evaluated

D．purchased

5.

A．delighted

B．worried

C．calmed

D．disappointed

6.

A．touch

B．learn

C．speak

D．hear

7.

A．visits

B．blames

C．instructs

D．discovers

8.

A．rules

B．goals

C．signs

D．games

9.

A．since

B．before

C．through

D．during

10.

A．economic

B．intellectual

C．political

D．social

11.

A．hard

B．lucky

C．funny

D．helpful

12.

A．driving

B．disturbing

C．following

D．protecting

13.

A．moved

B．embarrassed

C．anxious

D．concerned

14.

A．agree

B．fight

C．compare

D．communicate

15.

A．kids

B．teachers

C．interpreters

D．parents

16.

A．discussing

B．exploring

C．saving

D．controlling

17.

A．breaking up

B．approving of

C．looking into

D．participating in

18.

A．frequently

B．hardly

C．really

D．suddenly

19.

A．task

B．behavior

C．culture

D．opinion

20.

A．fearing

B．benefiting

C．appreciating

D．ignoring

6 . One morning in early fall, I spotted a pair of wild geese on our pond. The beautiful sight caught me by ________, because we had never seen geese there before. I wondered where they came from and why they’d ________ our pond. As the days passed, I couldn’t ________ getting a closer look and started talking to the geese. They craned their necks and raised their heads ________ but seemed to realize I was a friend and not an enemy. I felt ________ we were bonding.

One day as they were feeding in the grass near the driveway, I discovered the reason for their ________—the male had a broken left wing. He was ________ to fly, and his lifelong mate would not leave him behind. I marveled at the ________ between them.

I asked a wildlife biologist friend what I should do. He explained that sometime a broken wing will heal by itself and suggested letting ________ take its course.

________ the first day of November, I was working in the vicinity (在……附近) of the geese with my tractor. I caught some ________ from the corner of my eye.

Both geese were running toward the pond, wings beating ________. The geese gained enough altitude to clear a neighbor’s house, then ________ back toward me, flying no more than 50 feet over my head as if to say goodbye. Then they were out of sight.

I grew ________ them during their stay at our pond, and I miss them. I’ll never forget their ________ to each other. We could all learn a lesson or two from this pair.

1.

A．anger

B．surprise

C．terror

D．sorrow

2.

A．cleared

B．destroyed

C．chosen

D．disturbed

3.

A．resist

B．imagine

C．escape

D．admit

4.

A．naturally

B．happily

C．sadly

D．cautiously

5.

A．whether

B．even if

C．how

D．as though

6.

A．absence

B．delay

C．visit

D．departure

7.

A．unable

B．curious

C．eager

D．afraid

8.

A．bond

B．quarrel

C．conflict

D．competition

9.

A．chance

B．nature

C．fate

D．knowledge

10.

A．For

B．During

C．On

D．To

11.

A．atmosphere

B．division

C．response

D．movement

12.

A．wildly

B．occasionally

C．slowly

D．aimlessly

13.

A．floated

B．circled

C．slid

D．skipped

14.

A．angry with

B．fond of

C．tired of

D．grateful to

15.

A．sympathy

B．objection

C．adjustment

D．devotion

7 . Following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP), also named COVID-19 by WHO, there is a general fear of the unknown virus as its full effects remain to be seen. Fever, coughing, sore throat, difficulty breathing —the NCP’s symptoms are similar to the common cold or the flu, but it’s potentially more dangerous.

Viruses could be deadly, like HIV and Ebola. But what are viruses? How can they cause so much trouble?

Viruses are non-living organisms (有机体) approximately one-millionth of an inch long. Unlike human cells or bacteria, they can’t reproduce on their own. Instead, they invade the cells of living organisms to reproduce, spread and take over.

Viruses can infect every living thing – from plants and animals down to the smallest bacteria. For this reason, they always have the potential to be dangerous to human life. Sometimes a virus can cause a disease so serious that it is fatal. Other viral infections trigger no noticeable reaction.

Viruses lie around our environment all of the time, waiting for a host cell to come along. They can enter our bodies by the nose, mouth, eyes or breaks in the skin. Once inside, they try to find a host cell to infect. For example, HIV, which causes AIDS, attacks the T-cells of the immune system.

But the basic question is, where did viruses first come from? Until now, no clear explanation for their origin exists. “Tracing the origins of viruses is difficult”, Ed Rybicki, a virologist (病毒学家) at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, told Scientific American, “because viruses don’t leave fossils and because of the tricks they use to make copies of themselves within the cells they’ve invaded”.

However, there are three main hypotheses (假说) to explain the origin of viruses. First, viruses started as independent organisms, then became parasites (寄生者). Second, viruses evolved from pieces of DNA or RNA that “escaped” from larger organisms. Third, viruses co-evolved with their host cells, which means they existed alongside these cells.

For the time being, these are only theories. The technology and evidence we have today cannot be used to test these theories and identify the most plausible explanation. Continuing studies may provide us with clearer answers. Or future studies may reveal that the answer is even murkier (含糊不清的) than it now appears.

1. What can we learn about viruses from the text?

A．Viruses have nothing to do with the common cold.

B．Viruses are really small living organisms.

C．Viruses can’t reproduce unless they find a host cell.

D．Viruses enter our bodies mainly through the mouth, nose and hair.

2. Which of the following might explain the origin of viruses?

A．They evolved from the fossils of large organisms.

B．They evolved from parasites into independent organisms.

C．They evolved from the T-cells in animals.

D．They evolved along with their host cells.

3. The underlined word “plausible” in the last paragraph probably means ________.

A．reasonable	B．common
C．creative	D．unbelievable

4. What can we conclude from the text?

A．Viruses live longer in human host cells than in animals’.

B．Viruses will become more like bacteria as they evolve.

C．It may take a long time to understand the origin of viruses.

D．The author is optimistic about future virus research.

8 . The African grey parrot’s ability to talk and mimic sounds makes it a charming companion. African grey owners often report that their greys oftentimes talk in context and can understand their people’s emotions (情感). The African grey parrot is not just a top talker - this bird is also known for its extreme intelligence, which gives them the name “The Einsteins of the Bird World”.

The bird is medium-sized, dusty-looking and almost pigeon-like. It has a bright red tail, intelligent orange eyes, and a stunning scalloped (扇形的) pattern to its feathers. Their diet in the wild consists mostly of nuts, seeds, fruits, and leafy matter.

At home, African greys need plenty of toys that challenge their intelligence, such as food searching and puzzle toys. Nutri-Berries by Lafeber Company are a perfect choice, which, with a balance of grains, seeds and other nutrients in the shape of a berry, encourages African greys to hold, bite off, and even play with, just as they do in the wild.

African greys seem especially affected by stress and disturbing noise in their environment and can be put more at ease by placing one corner of the cage against a wall as opposed to in the middle of a room.

African grey parrots are more likely to suffer from lack of Vitamin-A/beta-carotene, and therefore benefit from eating vegetables high in beta-carotene, such as cooked sweet potato and fresh kale. Lack of Vitamin-D is another concern, especially for greys on a poor diet. Offering a balanced, pill-shaped diet, such as Nutri-Berries, helps prevent vitamin and mineral shortage.

1. Why are African grey parrots called “The Einsteins of the Bird World”?

A．Because of their brain size.	B．On account of their intelligence.
C．Owing to their rich emotions.	D．Due to their talking ability.

2. What can “Nutri-Berries” probably be?

A．A brand of bird food.	B．Puzzle toys for birds.
C．A type of round fruit.	D．Wild Intelligence games.

3. What is the characteristic of African grey parrots?

A．They may get ill due to lack of Vitamin

B．They prefer to stay in the middle of the room.

C．They are dusty looking with blue eyes.

D．They are smart and love to have fun.

4. Where can we most probably find the passage?

A．In a wildlife magazine.	B．In science fiction.
C．In a travel guide.	D．On a shopping website.

9 . School had just started in August when Conner began throwing up for no reason. It wasn’t long before the boy also began suffering terrible headaches. In February a 1.7-inch tumor was found in his brain and Conner was set to begin to receive radiation (放射疗法) treatments. Before treatments start, technicians make a white plastic mask (面罩) to keep patients immovable and protect unaffected parts of the brain while radiation is directed at the tumor.

It’s an unpleasant experience and a frightening time. The doctor Cook decided that the masks could at least be made to look like something fun — maybe Batman or Mickey Mouse. “I started thinking these masks are white and not fun at all for kids,” she told The Greenville News. “I felt like if we could make it a little more fun for them, they might be a little more excited about coming in for the treatment. Because the kids are afraid. While the treatment itself isn’t physically painful, it can cause a lot of anxiety (焦虑). And the treatment is required daily for up to six weeks. “

And the masks really make a difference. “The kids really like them,” Cook said. “It makes what is, let’s face it, a terrible experience, a nice experience because they get to choose something themselves.”

When new children come in for the treatment, Cook finds out what their favorite movies or cartoon characters are. Then she sets about creating the mask by drawing the image she wants onto paper, sticking it with glue, and once it’s dry, she applies the colors using paints. Each child can take the mask home once the treatment ends.

“Coming to the doctor always means fear and pain. I wanted to make it fun,” she said. “The kids really love it. It’s something they enjoy and can relate to. And it fills an interest I have. I get great pleasure from it.”

1. Why was the plastic mask used according to Paragraph 1?

A．To check the patient’s brain.

B．To reduce the patient’s headache.

C．To prevent the patient from throwing up.

D．To protect the patient’s brain during the treatment.

2. What can we know about the radiation treatment?

A．It can be received at home.

B．It has to be finished in a month.

C．It may make the patients feel worried.

D．It will cause huge physical pain for patients.

3. What does Cook do to help the children being treated?

A．Offer them some free masks as gifts.

B．Show them their favorite movies or TV shows.

C．Dress them up as cartoon characters.

D．Make the masks more interesting to kids.

4. What does the author want to show by telling this story?

A．Love can treat the terrible sickness.

B．Kindness can bring warmth and joy.

C．Health matters to everyone.

D．Creativity leads to success.

10 . I believe in the power of science fiction, not just for its capacity to transform dreams into reality, but also for its power to bond together those who share a common vision of the future. For me, that’s true for my relationship with my dad. Some fathers and sons bond over sports, fishing or hunting, but my dad and I bond over Star Trek. We tried a trip to Disney World, but one of my earliest memories wasn’t Mickey, but a Klingon battle cruiser(巡洋舰)on the screen.

Over the years, nearly every setting and situation has become far away for my dad and me. When it’s warm at night, we’re not driving along some dark streets in Indiana, but going at a slow speed with stars dimly shining. Both of us are thinking of them, without needing to say a word. All these visions of other universes have together created a private universe for my dad and me.

Gene Rodenberry, creator of Star Trek, once said, “Science fiction is a way of thinking, a way of logic that bypasses( 绕 过 )a lot of nonsense. It allows people to look directly at important subjects.” A lifetime of science fiction has influenced more than just my relationship with my dad, but has also helped me shape my own hopes for the future. I’m now a science writer.

Yes, science fiction has made me into a “nerd” (书呆子), and it also has been a source of joy for my family, making me an optimist while enabling me to think critically about the danger of technology. Thank those authors who have shared their visions; the world and my family are better for it. Thank my dad, who is both the best storyteller and the best man I have ever known because he helped me realize the truth of Tennyson’s words, “Since I dipped into the future, I saw the vision of the world, and all the wonders that would be.”

1. What is the special bond between the author and his father?

A．Their similar dreams.

B．Their love for each other.

C．Their common interest.

D．Their hatred for science.

2. What does the author mainly show in paragraph 2?

A．His deep impression on his dad.

B．His feeling of staying with his dad.

C．His earliest memory of his dad.

D．His good relationship with his dad.

3. How does science fiction help the author at present?

A．It leads him to pursue a desirable career.

B．It brings him the courage to live better.

C．It helps him solve the danger of technology.

D．It makes him become a source of his family’s joy.

4. What may be the best title for the text?

A．The Wonders of Science

B．The Power of Science Fiction

C．The Versions of Science Fiction

D．The Time together with My Father