1 . Now many young people are traveling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone.

Kristina Wegscheider from California first traveled alone when she was at college and believes that it is something everyone should do at least once in their life. “It opens up your mind to things and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents.

In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen, it is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone. It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own.

Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go traveling last year. He set up a website, The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. He says he wished he had traveled alone earlier. “The people you meet, the places you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person.” said the 30-year-old man.

Richardson describes traveling alone like “a shot in the arm”, which “makes you a more confident person that is ready to deal with anything”. He said, “The feeling of having overcome something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I’m dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try.”

The great 19^thcentury explorer John Muir once said. “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.

1. Which of the following will Kristina Wegscheider agree with?

A．Traveling alone is a necessary experience for everyone.

B．It is more meaningful to travel in foreign countries.

C．It is comfortable to travel around without a friend.

D．Traveling abroad helps people to find new things.

2. Traveling alone is challenging because ________

A．you have to make things on your own.

B．it is hard for you to prove yourself to others.

C．you can only depend on yourself whatever happens.

D．it will finally build your character.

3. What can we infer about Chris Richardson?

A．He started traveling alone at an early age.

B．He was once shot in the arm.

C．He used to work as a salesman.

D．His website will inspire others to travel alone.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Travel Abroad	B．Travel Alone
C．Travel Light	D．Travel Wide and Far

2 . We recognize our friends’ faces. And we’re not alone. Many social animals can identify individuals of their own species by features of their faces. That's important, because they need to be able to change their behavior depending on who they meet. And a recent research has shown that some species of monkeys, birds, and domesticated (家养的) animals can even tell different faces apart by looking at photographs alone.

Ethologist Léa Lansade of the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment did an experiment to find out how well horses can recognize individual people in photographs.

She and her team first taught the horses how to “choose” between two side-by-side pictures by touching their noses to a computer screen. The horses were then shown photos of their present keeper alongside faces of unfamiliar humans. They had never seen photos of any of the people before. The horses correctly identified their current keeper and ignored (忽视) the stranger’s face about 75%of the time. In fact, even though the horses didn't get it right every single time, they were at least as correct in picking out their earlier keeper as they were at identifying their present one.

The results suggest that not only can horses differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar human faces, they also naturally understand that photographs are two dimensional representations (二维呈现) of real life, without any other intimations such as smell or sound. And they’re even better at this than our oldest animal parter, the domestic dog.

In addition, horses seem to have a strong long-term memory for human faces, like their long lifespan and history of domestication. In future experiments, the researchers would like to test whether looking at photos of people that they have had bad experiences with in the past might cause horses to act anxious or even avoidance. So maybe think twice before doing anything that might give a horse a long face.

1. Why did researchers show the horses both the keeper’s photos and the strangers’?

A．To find out what horses would do in the experiment.

B．To see why horses could recognize the keeper in the pictures.

C．To test whether horses could recognize the strangers in pictures.

D．To study to what degree horses can make out different people in pictures.

2. What does the underlined word “intimations” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Clues.	B．Differences.
C．Photographs.	D．Senses.

3. What are researchers still uncertain about?

A．Whether horses can live longer than other animals.

B．Whether horses can remember human's faces for a long time.

C．Whether horses can show their emotions at the sight of photos.

D．Whether horses are better at recognizing photos than other animals.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To talk about animals’ species.

B．To explain animals’ facial features.

C．To show animals’ behaviour for adaptation.

D．To introduce animals’ ability to identifying faces.

3 . Each May since 1956 people from across Europe and around the world have gathered around their televisions with friends and family for an evening of international entertainment(娱乐)：The Eurovision Song Contest. It may well be a fun event but perhaps it’s not the shared celebration of European language that it could be. In the first ten years of Eurovision, the UK and Ireland were the only two countries to sing in English. Now English is what we expect. Is it that English is becoming, or has become the official language of music?

From high streets in Hungary to supermarkets in Sweden, from bus stops in Bulgaria to parks in Poland, people listen to English-language music everywhere. And people don't just listen, they sing it too! From sporting events in Spain to nightclubs in Norway, from concerts in Croatia to fitness classes in France, people sing along to popular songs in their everyday lives, in English. But why?

For one evening each year Eurovision is the dinner party of Europe. A dinner party to which each guest brings something special. Their clothing, tradition and food show their culture and their language shows the character of a nation. Although there are 50 nations with 83 languages, for Eurovision, English is the only language. Does Eurovision really represent Europe?

English is an international language spoken by over 1 billion people worldwide. It is no surprise that so many musicians make music in English. Of course, music makes money and more listeners make more money. According to Ragnar Thorhallsson, singer and guitarist with the Icelandic indie band (乐队)“Of Monsters and Men”, English is simpler and is easier to make rhythms(节奏). Could this be true?

Let’s remember that although English-language music is everywhere, music is not everything. As long as we continue to learn, to speak，to love, diversity(多样性)shall be valued. After all, what fun is a dinner party if the guests can’t communicate(交流) or express themselves in the way they choose?

1. What do we know about Eurovision?

A．Singers sing English songs.	B．It helps protect European cultures.
C．It is the most popular contest in the world.	D．Singers mainly come from the UK and Ireland.

2. How does the writer show the popularity(广泛性) of English music in Paragraph 2?

A．By asking questions.	B．By giving examples.
C．By making comparisons.	D．By following the order of space.

3. What's Ragnar ThorhaIlsson^’s opinion of English?

A．It is easy and beautiful.	B．It should be used in all music.
C．It is the best language in the world.	D．It helps musicians make money easily.

4. What is mainly discussed in the text?

A．Why we should protect language diversity.

B．How language and music affect each other.

C．Whether English is the official language of music.

D．Why Eurovision is becoming more and more popular.

4 . Nougat and Clarence became best friends almost as soon as Nougat moved into the retirement home. Nougat likes to rest his head on the back of Clarence as often as he gets the ____. The dogs live at Vintage Pet Rescue, a non-profit organization that ____ elder animals from local shelters (收容所) that are ____ to find a new home. The organization aims to give dogs a comfortable, loving environment at the ____ of their lives.

Kristen Peralta, the founder of Vintage Pet Rescue, takes care of 27 mostly senior dogs. While she and her husband have unofficially been ____ older dogs for some time, Peralta turned her passion into a full-time job in 2017.

In some ways, elder dogs may be less ____ to care for because they prefer sitting still than little ones. But their futures aren’t always so ____. There are many organizations, like Peralta’s, ____ on rescuing elderly pets and giving them protection outside of animal shelters, in part because senior dogs in shelters have a(n) ____ rate of just 25 percent, while younger dogs have a 60 percent rate.

A life spent ____ two dozen older dogs can be very busy. Peralta ____ vet appointments at least once a week, gives out individual medications and does a lot of bathing and petting. But the work is rewarding, and she thinks it’s helping to show more and more people are beginning to ____ just how special senior dogs are. “You can just tell how much they ____ it when they’re helped in trouble,” Peralta said. “They’re ____ that they’re with you and you love them. It’s so special to know that you saved a dog’s life and that you’re going to make a ____to the rest of its life.”

1.

A．idea

B．mercy

C．chance

D．point

2.

A．takes in

B．takes along

C．takes off

D．takes over

3.

A．committed

B．unlikely

C．lucky

D．familiar

4.

A．beginning

B．bottom

C．edge

D．end

5.

A．surrounding

B．rescuing

C．inviting

D．contributing

6.

A．efficient

B．risky

C．difficult

D．valuable

7.

A．reliable

B．negative

C．different

D．bright

8.

A．succeeding

B．insisting

C．resulting

D．specializing

9.

A．death

B．adaptation

C．survival

D．crime

10.

A．looking after

B．bringing in

C．relying on

D．toying with

11.

A．adjusts

B．impresses

C．schedules

D．indicates

12.

A．adopt

B．agree

C．explore

D．realize

13.

A．appreciate

B．consume

C．comfort

D．support

14.

A．hopeful

B．surprised

C．sorrowful

D．doubtful

15.

A．decision

B．living

C．fortune

D．difference

5 . The whole school was talking about the coming trip at a winter camp. And everyone was ______ , except me.

“I’ll hate it,’’ I told my parents. “I’ll get homesick. I’ll look stupid at winter sports, and everyone will ______ me.”

“You might be surprised, Bree,” said Mom. “The only way to find out is to ______ .”

“It，s what growing up is all about,” Dad added.

When ______ the camp, we were asked to share one ______ .

“I’m afraid I'll be homesick,” someone said.

I wasn’t the only one?! I began to ______ . After lunch,

we were asked to ski (滑雪）down to the field. I skied   ______ , but I still hit a piece of ice and ______ .

“Ha! Ha! ” Behind me, somebody started laughing. I ______ to see who was making fun of me. To my _______, I saw a girl in the same awkward position as I was in. “I thought I’d be bad at this, ______ I’m worse than I expected!” she said.

______ , I started laughing too. After being so ______ of falling, it was a comfort not to fear it anymore.

At dinner time, I was so happy to be talking about interesting things that I ______ to feel homesick.

The next day, I was ______ to try ski jumping first, even though I didn't want to. But when my feet left the ground, I felt I was ______ and it was wonderful.

Maybe Dad was right when he said, “You might ______ it if you give it a chance!’’

Maybe the kind of ______ Mom and Dad were talking about had more to do with my outlook than my looks. We all ______ not fitting in and failing when we try ______ things. Sometimes you’ve got to fall on your face to discover how much you’ve got in common.

1.

A．strange

B．sad

C．nervous

D．excited

2.

A．speak to

B．wait for

C．laugh at

D．talk about

3.

A．try

B．dream

C．change

D．move

4.

A．searching for

B．returning to

C．making up

D．arriving at

5.

A．story

B．fear

C．purpose

D．fact

6.

A．eat

B．ask

C．relax

D．sleep

7.

A．carefully

B．interestingly

C．finally

D．quickly

8.

A．went out

B．gave up

C．ran away

D．fell down

9.

A．walked around

B．stood up

C．looked back

D．stepped over

10.

A．shame

B．surprise

C．pleasure

D．regret

11.

A．but

B．so

C．because

D．or

12.

A．Quietly

B．Hopefully

C．Unhappily

D．Suddenly

13.

A．tired

B．proud

C．certain

D．afraid

14.

A．failed

B．refused

C．forgot

D．stopped

15.

A．prepared

B．chosen

C．protected

D．allowed

16.

A．flying

B．crying

C．learning

D．dying

17.

A．prevent

B．trust

C．discover

D．enjoy

18.

A．winning back

B．showing off

C．growing up

D．working out

19.

A．catch up

B．worry about

C．believe in

D．point out

20.

A．new

B．easy

C．right

D．popular

6 . Some people say global English is no longer just controlled by British or American English,but is running free and developing uniquely local forms.Can you figure out the following terms?

“I like your smile,but unlike you put your shoes on my face.”This is a way of saying“Keep off the grass.”Or“people mountain,people sea”,which means“very crowded”.

These examples are what we call Chinglish.When it comes to Chinglish,if all you know is“good good study,day day up”,you will be considered“out man”.

Nowadays,more Chinglish words have been created,for example,a Chinese idiom is translated as“smilence”,a combination by the English word smile and silence.

Chinglish usually offers a humorous look at misuses of the English language in Chinese street signs,products,and advertising.They are favoured by some English speaking tourists and visitors.Dominic Swire has been living in Beijing for a couple of years.“I think many Chinese people complain about the Chinglish and badly translated English.But you know,sometimes for us foreigners,it’s actually quite charming to see them.I think if the translations of English in China were all perfect,then something would be lost from Chinese culture.”

However,Chinglish will probably become a“cultural relic”in the near future.Beijing has made a comprehensive plan to improve foreign language services and correct Chinglish within five years.“It is very ridiculous to see Chinglish on the signs in some scenic spots.And they are a kind of barrier for communication between Chinese and people from other countries,”a Beijinger said.

Some Chinese university experts side with Chinglish.They argue that English has absorbed elements from other languages such as French and Spanish in its growth,and now it’s Chinese’s turn.

1. What can we call Chinglish?

A．English words which get new Chinese meanings.

B．The Chinese words which are difficult to translate.

C．The words combining English vocabulary and Chinese grammar.

D．The local words preventing foreigners from learning Chinese well.

2. What does“smilence”most probably mean?

A．Saying nothing but to smile.	B．Smiling without being noticed.
C．Laughing at somebody.	D．Knowing little about speech.

3. What is Swire’s attitude to Chinglish?

A．It can show the humour of Chinese.	B．It will attract more foreign tourists.
C．It helps him to learn Chinese well.	D．It seems part of Chinese culture.

4. Why Chinglish is likely to become a“cultural relic”in Beijing?

A．Because it has become a unique bridge between Chinese and English.

B．Because Chinglish is a chance to enrich Chinese and English.

C．Because it improves the understanding between Chinese and foreigners.

D．Because Beijing is determined to get rid of Chinglish signs.

7 . Thomas Panek has completed 20 marathons, however, he made history on Sunday at the New York City Half Marathon.

While visually impaired（视觉障碍）runners usually use human guides, Mr Panek became the first person to complete the race supported by guide dogs. A trio of Labradors - Westley, Waffle and Gus - each accompanied (陪伴) him for a third of the race. The team finished in two hours and 21 minutes.

Mr Panek, who lost his sight in his early 20s, showed that while he appreciated the support of human volunteers, he missed the feeling of independence. In 2015, Mr Panek established the Running Guides programme which trains dogs to support runners.

When selecting his companions for the race, Mr Panek chose siblings Waffle and Westley to join Gus, who is his full-time guide dog. “The relationship is really important. You can’t just pick up the harness (挽带) and go for a run with these dogs,” Mr Panek said. “You’re training with a team no matter what kind of athlete you are, and you want to spend time together in that training camp.”

Each dogs sets its own pace — Westley runs an eight minute mile, while his sister Waffle can cover the same distance in six minutes—and helps Mr Panek avoid obstacles such as kerbs（路缘）and cones (锥体). Each dog wears a special harness and set of running boots, to protect their paws.

Gus was chosen to run the final leg of the race and cross the finish line with Mr Panek. He retired from his duties as a guide dog at the end of the race.

According to Mr Panek, guide dogs give visually impaired people the freedom to “do whatever it is a sighted person does, and sometimes, even run a little faster than them”.

1. In which way did Thomas Panek make history?

A．He set a new record of time in running the half marathon.

B．He is the first blind person who take part in the marathon.

C．He finished the competition with help of human volunteers.

D．He is the first blind person finishing half marathon with guide dogs.

2. What can we learn about Thomas Panek?

A．He stopped running after he lost sight.

B．He enjoyed running with human volunteers.

C．He is the founder of the Running Guides programme.

D．He got the gold medal at the New York City Half Marathon.

3. What do you know about the three dogs?

A．They didn’t get training before the race.

B．Westley runs faster than Waffle.

C．Gus is Panek’s full-time guide dog.

D．Westley retired after the race.

4. The passage is ______.

A．an essay

B．a news report

C．a biography

D．a review

8 . Maverick Oyao,an art student at Western Mindanao State University in the Philippines. He recently made news headlines around the world after_______ his sister with a one of-a-kind prom (毕业舞会) dress that he made by hand.

It all started earlier this month. when he learned that his sister Keanna wanted to_______ the upcoming prom in February._______，renting a dress suitable for such a(n)_______ was very expensive. Their parents simply couldn't_______ it. Since she was in her final year of junior high-school, she still_______ . Determined to make his sister's prom a memorable one, Maverick decided to make her a_______ princess dress himself,

The problem was that Maverick had no_______making dresses, but after some learning, he eventually decided that his sister's happiness was worth the_______ . He started looking at Spring and Summer collections as________ for Keanna's dress design, and later admitted that the creations of famous Filipino designers influenced him the most. Despite________ any dress making experience, Maverick managed to turn the pencil-drawn design into a reality. The fairy-tale blue dress he made for his sister________ her beautifully, and even though she didn't win the Best Dress award at prom, it certainly ________ a lot of attention. And when Maverick________ pictures of the dress on social media, along with the story of how it came to be. it spread quickly online.

Keanna's prom was on Valentine's Day, but photos of her wearing the dress are still popular online, and for many it has become a modern________ of brotherly love.

1.

A．surprising

B．decorating

C．greeting

D．adjusting

2.

A．start

B．host

C．attend

D．organize

3.

A．Therefore

B．Suddenly

C．Unfortunately

D．Hardly

4.

A．meeting

B．event

C．accident

D．concert

5.

A．admire

B．question

C．borrow

D．afford

6.

A．insisted

B．managed

C．hesitated

D．argued

7.

A．gentle

B．cheap

C．unique

D．virtual

8.

A．trouble

B．use

C．point

D．experience

9.

A．effort

B．material

C．design

D．money

10.

A．mission

B．inspiration

C．selection

D．application

11.

A．gaining

B．broadening

C．lacking

D．ignoring

12.

A．impressed

B．proved

C．supported

D．fit

13.

A．attracted

B．paid

C．divided

D．focused

14.

A．sent

B．posted

C．lent

D．exchanged

15.

A．role

B．belief

C．time

D．symbol

9 . Cycling Tours in Europe & Asia

Cycling the Balkans
Duration: 15 days

The Balkans offers a mix of beautiful countryside, fast-developing cities and historic towns. Our first ride ends at the UNESCO town of Ohrid on the vast lake of the same name. There are a few stops along the way to visit or see places of interest.

Cycling the Italian and Swiss Lakes
Duration: 8 days

The Italian lakes of Como and Maggiore are famed for both their wonderful scenery and their wealthy residents. This is a fascinating area to discover on two wheels with excellent roads that closely follow the winding shores. The Villa del Balbianello with its beautiful Italian gardens may look familiar, having been seen in international movies such as Bond's Casino Royale.

Self-Guided Cycling in the Douro Valley
Duration: 7 days

This cycling holiday in the Douro Valley will make you familiar with magical surroundings, delicious cuisine and some of the world's finest wines. The ride begins in Castelo Rodrigo, a village close to where Portugal borders Spain, and home to an ancient caste. You'll cycle through vineyards and visit the famous Port wine estates (庄园).

Exploring Sri Lanka by Bike
Duration: 8 days

Being an island, Sri Lanka is incredibly diverse. Exploring on two wheels is the best way to see this rural country and to experience the way of life of its friendly people. We travel from ancient cities to the hill county towns of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya before ending the trip on the beaches of the beautiful south coast.

1. What's special about the Balkans tour?

A．It has fantastic island scenery.	B．It is hosted by the Ohrid government.
C．It's a continuous ride with no stops.	D．It combines history and the present.

2. What can you do on the Douro Valley tour?

A．Visit Spanish gardens.	B．Enjoy the beaches of the south coast.
C．Pick grapes in the vineyards.	D．Acquire knowledge of wines.

3. Which route would appeal to a movie fan?

A．Self-Guided Cycling in the Douro Valley.	B．Cycling the Italian and Swiss Lakes.
C．Exploring Sri Lanka by Bike.	D．Cycling the Balkans.

10 . Preschool girl lifts old man’s spirits

When Tara Wood brought her daughter to a grocery store to buy the four-year-old some birthday cupcakes, she had no idea that would be a life-changing _______.

As Tara pushed her daughter Norah around the store last month, she _______ an old man who was by himself. The old man looked cold, until Norah shouted to him, “Hi! It’s my birthday today!” The man stopped and his demeanor (举止、态度) changed from distant and serious to warm and _______. “How old are you today?” the man asked. After some time talking together, Norah asked her mom to take a _______ of her with her new friend “Mr. Dan”, Dan Peterson, 82 and then went their separate ways. That could have been the _______ of the story. But it was actually the beginning of a(n) _______ relationship.

Tara _______ the picture of her daughter and Mr. Dan on Facebook. Someone who _______ him reached out to her with Mr. Dan’s contact information. It turned out that Mr. Dan’s wife died in March and he had been _______ from depression and anxiety ever since. The person on Facebook told Tara that it was the first time they had seen Mr. Dan ________ since the death of his wife. Knowing that, Tara contacted Mr. Dan, and ever since Norah and the 82-year-old have developed a ________ unlike any other. “She has shown me a depth of love, a depth that I didn’t know existed,” Mr. Dan told the reporter.

Mr. Dan told Tara that before meeting Norah, he hadn’t had one night of uninterrupted ________ Anxiety kept him up at all hours and ________ him restless. After meeting Norah, he said he now sleeps soundly. For Mr. Dan’s 82nd birthday on October 20, the mother and the daughter brought balloons and presents—and, of course, cupcakes. Mr. Dan will also spend a day around Thanksgiving with Norah and her family. “If you don’t take the time to ________ people, you will never know how you can ________ impact a life,” Tara Wood said.

1.

A．question

B．idea

C．experience

D．promise

2.

A．passed

B．stopped

C．welcomed

D．shocked

3.

A．calm

B．unpleasant

C．rude

D．friendly

4.

A．look

B．picture

C．seat

D．message

5.

A．end

B．clue

C．scene

D．truth

6.

A．poor

B．special

C．ordinary

D．strange

7.

A．took

B．drew

C．sold

D．posted

8.

A．followed

B．confused

C．recognized

D．cured

9.

A．escaping

B．benefiting

C．suffering

D．learning

10.

A．talk

B．smile

C．walk

D．eat

11.

A．plan

B．skill

C．knowledge

D．friendship

12.

A．sleep

B．chat

C．meal

D．view

13.

A．found

B．made

C．watched

D．regarded

14.

A．notice

B．award

C．rescue

D．attract

15.

A．legally

B．suitably

C．responsibly

D．positively