1 . Book Recommendafion

Second Harvest

Author: Don Agey

Like the first installment, Eclectic Harves, this book includes rhymed poems which employ different poetic techniques. If you are interested in it, buy it at a discount.

Of Human Nature and Good Habits

Author: Prabhash Karar

Research claims that maintaining only 5 good habits—eating healthily, exercising, drinking properly, not smoking and maintaining a healthy body weight—can not only keep the life in golden years healthy but also extend the lifetime of the old men and women by 12 years and 14 years respectively. The book illustrates some aspects of lifestyles. As you can see, this book is especially suitable for people after retirement.

The Duelling Wizards of Simpletown

Author: Whitney Lee Preston

The Duelling Wizards of Simpletown is a tale of fantasy involving two silly magicians, and a tricky plan by their two-faced servant. There is no doubt that kids will like it.

Marvlt and Goreg Get in Big Trouble with a Dinosaur

Author: Connor Anstiss

Marvlt and Goreg live next door to each other, and are best friends. These two naughty 8-year-olds seem to get into all sorts of troubles. At the zoo, they have a much different encounter. Will they be okay? Read it and find the answer yourself.

1. Which book will interest poetry lovers most?

A．Second Harvest.	B．Of Human Nature and Good Habits.
C．The Dueling Wizards of Simpletown.	D．Marvlt and Goreg Get in Big Trouble with a Dinosaur.

2. What does Prabhash Karan think enables the aged to live longer?

A．Eating more.	B．Gaining weight.
C．Keeping a healthy diet.	D．Drinking much wine.

3. What’s Marvlt and Goreg Get in Big Trouble with a Dinosaur about?

A．A story of 200 keepers.	B．A tale of the animal and children.
C．The experience of two silly magicians.	D．The way to deal with naughty children.

2 . A new study suggests drinking coffee as soon as someone wakes up from a poor night's sleep greatly affects metabolism (新陈代谢) and blood sugar control.

In the study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, UK researchers let 29 healthy men and women take part in three different overnight experiments. In the first two scenes, participants were given a sugary drink upon waking-first from a normal night's sleep, and then again after a poor night's sleep during which they were woken up for five minutes every hour. In the third, their sleep was similarly disrupted, but they were given a strong black coffee 30 minutes before consuming the sugary drink.

Blood samples from participants were taken following the sugary drink, which mirrored the calories of a typical breakfast, in each experiment. Results showed that one night of disrupted sleep did not worsen the participants' blood sugar responses at breakfast when compared to a normal night of sleep. However, strong black coffee consumed before breakfast in-creased the blood sugar response by around 50 percent.

By drinking such kind of drink after breakfast, UK researchers found that our bodies' ability to break down our food healthily is completely improved. Examining the effects of bro-ken sleep and. morning coffee across a range of different metabolic markers, scientists at the University of Bath found that, while one night of poor sleep had a limited effect on metabolism, drinking coffee before breakfast could have a negative effect on blood sugar control.

“We know that nearly half of us will wake in the morning and, before doing anything else, drink coffee—the more tired we feel, the stronger the coffee is. This study is important and has far-reaching health influences, and it indeed moves some coffee drinkers' heartstrings. As up to now we have had limited knowledge about what this is doing to our bodies, in particular for our metabolic and blood sugar control, so we have a long way to go.” said Professor James Betts, co-director of the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism at the University of Bath.

1. How did UK researchers get the result of the experiment?

A．By assumption.	B．By making comparisons.
C．By questionnaire.	D．By consulting journals.

2. What can we learn from the experiment?

A．One night of poor sleep surely affects blood sugar.

B．Drinking coffee after breakfast does harm to health.

C．Having strong drinks has a good effect on metabolism.

D．Drinking coffee at different time has different effects on health.

3. What does James Betts think of the study?

A．It makes no sense.	B．It is limited and blind.
C．It remains to be continued.	D．It is particular and explicit.

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

A．How. Much Coffee to Drink Matters

B．Does Coffee Really Wake Up an Appetite?

C．Drinking Coffee before Breakfast Harms Metabolism

D．How Does Drinking Black Coffee Affect People's Sleep?

3 . Modeste Traore has lived his whole life near Lake Wegnia, in the Sahel area of Mali. The lake’s fish have provided him with a way to earn money to support his extended family. How-ever, because he can’t catch enough fish to feed his family, he now raises farm animals. But as temperatures rise, evaporation increases, making the body of water shrinks. Studies have linked rising temperatures on Earth’s surface to climate change.

The lake is shrinking, so are the chances of his children becoming fishermen. “If things go on like this, I don’t think our children can become fishermen like us. They will have to choose other jobs,” the 56-year-old Traore said. “During the rainy season, there is a lot of water but as soon as it’s over, there is no water left in the lake. We are fishermen. I don’t think our children will be,” he said.

Lake Wegnia is in the Sahel region of Koulikoro, around 120 kilometers north of Mali’s capital, Bamako. Some 12,000 people, including fishermen and farmers, depend on it for food, water and employment. But the lake has shrunk by 20 percent since 2017.

The UN expects temperatures there to increase 1.5 times higher than the average increase worldwide. UN officials note that the flooding and a severe lack of rainfall can cause problems in the Sahel: Food insecurity, the fight over farmland and the fast population growth can lead to conflict.

Aid group is leading the Eco-Lac Wegnia project. The group is working to improve water management and fight the effects of global warming. Moussa Savagodo is Eco-Lac Wegnia’s local representative. He says that failing to make changes quickly can mean the lake will disappear completely in less than 5 years.

People in the rural areas Wegnia and Kononi-Sirakoro have planted 56,000 trees in the past two years. And they are better controlling their water by building stone barriers to help the soil keep the rain that does fall. The progress and international official support are not enough for them, however. More and more people are turning to other agriculture.

1. How did Traore work to support his family in the past?

A．By fishing.	B．By raising farm animals.
C．By taking charge of the lake.	D．By working as an environmentalist.

2. What effect will the current trend of the lake have according to Traore?

A．A lot of farmland will form.

B．The rainy season will end early.

C．Many fishermen will flee their homes.

D．The later generation will change their careers.

3. Which statement do the UN and Aid group agree with?

A．Drought and flood will directly cause conflict.

B．Reducing population is a way to protect the lake.

C．Water management makes no difference to the lake.

D．The rise in temperature will cause water resource problems.

4. What does the underlined word “they” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．The local officials.	B．The Aid group members.
C．The villagers.	D．The representatives.

4 . The 64-year-old Mahendra, the Secretary at People for Animals (PFA), talks about his disabled and wounded dogs like a father talks about his children—with the same love, affection and warmth. It was this love that led him to establish India's first shelter home for dogs living with disabilities.

It all started in 1998. While taking a midnight walk, Mahendra came across a very weak dog on the street, whose bones were visible under its skin. Mahendra decided to feed it and for the next couple of days it became the centre of his life, until the night when he found it dead.

After that, Mahendra started providing treatment to all wounded and sick dogs he came across. Some time later, someone told Mahendra about PFA, India's largest animal welfare organization, chaired by Mrs Maneka Gandhi. Mahendra contacted her and she was impressed by the work he was doing. Mrs Gandhi asked him to start a PFA chapter in Ahmedbad.

Thus, in 2004, he started the shelter. It took a long time for Mehendra to find the land where the shelter could be set up. Finally, Ramesh Bhai Patel, a native farmer from a village named Jundal, agreed to give his land for nothing. Along with a team of four doctors and many volunteers, the shelter now has 25 dogs that were unable to walk at all when they were brought in. Today, they' re slowly healing. Dogs that have healed with proper treatment are sent back to where they came from if the environment there is safe. However, the shelter will be home to the blind dogs for all their lives, says Mahendra.

The shelter runs on money coming from Mahendra's own pension of Rs. 45,000. There have been some financial crunches now and then, but Mahendra is determined that no matter what challenge comes their way, they' ll fight through.

1. What made Mahendra decide to do something for disabled and sick dogs?

A．His contact with PFA.	B．The encouragement of Gandhi.
C．A walk with a sick dog of Gandhi.	D．The death of a homeless sick dog.

2. What happened to Mahendra when he tried to build the shelter?

A．He secured government funds.

B．He got a land from a local farmer for free.

C．He learned medical knowledge from doctors.

D．He met with much difficulty in finding volunteers.

3. What does the underlined word “crunches” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Advantages.	B．Crisis.
C．Services.	D．Details.

4. Which of the following words can best describe Mahendra?

A．Kind-hearted.	B．Humorous.
C．Open-minded.	D．Modest.

5 . Last month, I slept through a flight from London to Beijing. Upon waking up, I was shocked to discover that I could no longer _______ my right arm and fingers. My arm just simply did not follow my brain’s _______ , as if it no longer _______ my body.

The doctor at the Sino Japanese Friendship Hospital _______ me to have suffered neural (神经的) injury. Aside from _______ that I see a physiotherapist (理疗师), he only told me, “Rest for two months first and come back for_______ check-up. ”

In that moment of _______ , a long-time family friend, who is an acupuncturist in Sichuan, _______to help. I started my acupuncture _______ the next day. I was sceptical at first, but my ________ was soon beaten by the results. After a few days, I could move my ________ Two weeks later, I could have meals using chopsticks. After a month, my arm and fingers were almost back to their ________ functions.

In that clinic, I heard many other patients’ ________ . One 11-year-old boy, who was born with ________ autism (自闭症), was treated at the age of three, and now he communicates quite ________ One lady, who suddenly became deaf two months ago, has just ________ her hearing.

I’m surprised at how these ________ needles can cure so many illnesses, many of which even big hospitals with expensive medical devices ________ with. Is it magic? No! But it is the right ________ of the Chinese tradition that brings ________ and happiness to friends here and farther.

1.

A．move

B．touch

C．understand

D．shape

2.

A．structures

B．instructions

C．schedules

D．principles

3.

A．got hold of

B．appealed to

C．belonged to

D．put up with

4.

A．judged

B．advised

C．forbade

D．requested

5.

A．warning

B．persuading

C．ordering

D．recommending

6.

A．happier

B．further

C．simpler

D．mature

7.

A．hopelessness

B．eagerness

C．hesitation

D．preparation

8.

A．refused

B．failed

C．pretended

D．offered

9.

A．punishment

B．research

C．treatment

D．learning

10.

A．shock

B．worry

C．loyalty

D．belief

11.

A．legs

B．fingers

C．knees

D．wrists

12.

A．normal

B．superior

C．unique

D．wonderful

13.

A．adventures

B．backgrounds

C．stories

D．efforts

14.

A．widespread

B．steady

C．reasonable

D．severe

15.

A．silently

B．carefully

C．smoothly

D．exactly

16.

A．influenced

B．admitted

C．damaged

D．recovered

17.

A．tiny

B．wide

C．rough

D．soft

18.

A．communicate

B．compete

C．start

D．struggle

19.

A．direction

B．occasion

C．wisdom

D．comment

20.

A．knowledge

B．health

C．experience

D．interest

6 . Everyone needs friends.There is an old saying, "Friends are God’s way of taking care of us." But how do you find real friendship and keep it?

The American writer Sally Seamans tells young students some smart ways to make friends.Sally says finding friendship is just like planting a tree.You plant the seed(种子)and take care of it to make it grow.

First, you should choose a friend.What makes a good friend? It is not because a person has money or good looks.A good friend should be kind and patient(耐心).For example, if you have a bad day, a good friend should listen to your complaints and do his best to help.To make a good friend, you cannot be too shy.You should make each other happy and share your lives.

But things cannot always be happy.Even the best friends have fights.What should you do when you have a fight with your friend? You have to talk to him or her.When there is no one around, have an honest talk.If he or she doesn't want to talk, you could write a letter.

There are three steps to being friends again:

Tell him or her how you are feeling; say what your friend has done wrong, and explain why you did this or that.Remember that friendship is the most important thing in your life.

1. Sally wants to tell students the ways to            .

A．make friends

B．plant trees

C．get happy

D．keep fit

2. What makes good friends? A good friend should              .

A．be lovely and cool	B．have good looks
C．have lots of money	D．be kind and patient

3. According to the text, you can             your friend after a fight.

A．buy a present for	B．never say a word to
C．write a letter to	D．have dinner with

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．Teenagers and friendship.	B．Finding and keeping friendship
C．The trouble of growing up.	D．Good friends around you.

7 . My phone rang and it was a number I didn't recognize. When I __ it, I heard my son's __ voice on the other end saying, Mama, I got on the wrong __ .“This was his first year in the middle school. I knew my little boy was very __ . After all, it was only his second time to __ home. Since he normally had football classes, I would met him.

The phone wasn't hung up, I could hear my __ was speaking with the bus driver. I could feel his frustration (挫败）. The tone of his __ when he told the bus driver “ I'm so sorry” was __ . Then on the other end of the line, I __ a calming response. The woman driver said, “Oh, honey, you don't have to ___. It's my job to get you home __ . And this is what I'm going to do.” I'm grateful, __ she was comforting (安慰）my son. I couldn't help but think of the many other responses he could have __ . She told me not to worry. We appointed (约定）a place and then she went out of her way to comfort him.

When I arrived at the location we __ on, the woman driver came over with my son and explained how she noticed he felt terrible and __ . My son had even asked her if he messed everything up. She tried her best to make him __ .

Every day, I pray that there are people in our __ and in the right places to watch over my __ when I'm not there. And today it did happen. This __ truly showed the love in her behaviors and care for my son. I won't let her behaviors go unnoticed, so this story will be __ with everyone on the Internet.

1.

A．gathered

B．gained

C．answered

D．accepted

2.

A．attractive

B．upset

C．funny

D．rare

3.

A．train

B．board

C．subway

D．bus

4.

A．humorous

B．bored

C．curious

D．nervous

5.

A．drive

B．ride

C．run

D．dash

6.

A．son

B．daughter

C．friend

D．husband

7.

A．voice

B．throat

C．surprise

D．cry

8.

A．amusing

B．worrying

C．considerate

D．fake

9.

A．designed

B．predicted

C．realized

D．heard

10.

A．perform

B．apologize

C．wander

D．struggle

11.

A．silently

B．directly

C．safely

D．gradually

12.

A．meaning

B．expressing

C．knowing

D．requesting

13.

A．reminded

B．confirmed

C．regretted

D．received

14.

A．agreed

B．moved

C．relied

D．insisted

15.

A．anxious

B．false

C．homeless

D．confused

16.

A．get up

B．get crazy

C．keep calm

D．keep silent

17.

A．grasses

B．paths

C．houses

D．bushes

18.

A．drivers

B．musicians

C．partners

D．children

19.

A．woman

B．detective

C．actress

D．teacher

20.

A．argued

B．admired

C．shared

D．mixed

8 . Bats (Firefly Books, 2011)by Phil Richardson helps to show readers the truth about bats. While bats get a bad name for their connection to mysterious vampires (吸血鬼）and their nightly habits, Richardson shines light onto the species and shows that bats are amazing and complex creatures for various reasons. The following is information about bat protection.

Bats are under threat in many areas of the world. Some have gone down to such a level that the remaining numbers may not be enough to keep the species. Threats to bat populations matter not just because bats are attractive creatures in their own right.Our increasing familiarity with the term biodiversity from television, newspapers, magazines and other media reflects the importance biologists place on this kind of protection.

The easiest way to appreciate what is included is to recall the idea of food chains and webs from biology lessons at school. It all starts with the producers,the plants that produce the food in their leaves by photosynthesis (光合作用）. Animals such as caterpillars then join the chain and eat the leaves, other animals such as birds eat the caterpillars, and so on up the chain.If a species dies out, then there is a break in the chain, and predators (捕食者）that relied on that species could also die or grow weaker as there is less food available.

There is another important point,a single insect-eating bat may eat hundreds of insects a night. So bats help to keep a balance in the natural world.Besides, they are a great help to humans,as farmland, gardens and house wooden structures all suffer attacks from injurious insects and bats are useful in keeping down their numbers.

1. What is the general impression people have of bats?

A．Bats are not related to mysterious vampires.

B．Bats are often active during the day.

C．Bats are not good creatures.

D．Bats are helpful to humans.

2. What does the underlined word “caterpillars” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Animals that feed on birds.	B．Animals that produce the food.
C．Animals that are under threat.	D．Animals that feed on leaves.

3. What does paragraph 4 mainly tell us?

A．Bats only eat insects.	B．Bats can help balance nature.
C．Bats are helpless to humans.	D．Bats can reduce the number of people.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．Bat protection needs attention.	B．Bat population is increasing.
C．Bats are insect-eating animals.	D．Bats are short of food.

9 . While retiring ahead of time may be easier on the body, a new set of research has found that it may not be so beneficial to the mind. The study, carried out at Binghamton University, finds that an early retirement can speed up the usual rate of cognitive (认知的)decrease among the elderly.

The research team studied China's new rural pension (退休金)system, as well as China's most recent Retirement Longitudinal Survey ( CHARLS), in order to look into the effects of early retirement and pension benefits on individual cognition among adults over the age of 60. After going over all of the data, the research team noted a clear direction: people receiving pension benefits were experiencing much more rapid mental decline (智力下降)than those still on the workforce. Surprisingly, women seemed to experience even sharper mental decline after retiring early. Overall, the results support the view that decreased mental activity speeds up cognitive decline.

Nikolov, the lead researcher, had actually carried out former studies that found retirement led to a number of physical health benefits for retirees, such as improved sleep patterns, less stress, and reduced alcohol consumption. However, retirement also usually goes with a decline in social activities and less communication with people, which has also been linked to cognitive decline.

“For cognition among the elderly, it looks like the bad effect on social connection is more than the good effect of the program on fitness and sleep,” Nikolov says. “ Or social connection may simply be the single most powerful factor for cognitive performance in old age.”

The research team are hopeful that their findings will be considered by older adults when thinking about retirement, but perhaps more importantly, they hope that policy makers in developing countries take note while drawing up new pension plans. They suggest building social get-togethers and work shops for recent retirees to help cut down the decline in social communication and creative thinking that often comes along with retirement.

1. Which of the following best describes retiring ahead of time for the mind?

A．Useless.

B．Beneficial.

C．Damaging.

D．Improving.

2. Who mentally suffered most according to the research?

A．Men retiring on former plan.	B．Women over the age of 60.
C．Men retiring ahead of time.	D．Women retiring early.

3. What will retirement bring to the elderly?

A．Shorter sleep time.	B．Fewer social activities.
C．More financial stress.	D．Less time with family members.

4. What can we learn about the research team's suggestion?

A．The government should make new policy.

B．People should build more shops for the elderly.

C．The retirement in developing countries should be common.

D．The newly retired people should communicate more.

10 . Unbelievable Stories of Animals Acting Just Like Humans

◆Horses are picky eaters

Horses have an even better sense of smell than humans do. When horses raise their noses and open their nostrils (鼻孔）, their nervous system allows them to sense smells we can't find. This might explain why they refuse dirty water and carefully move around grasslands, eating only the tastiest grasses, experts say.

◆Whale says thanks

In 2011, a whale expert spotted a humpback whale trapped in a fishing net and spent an hour freeing it. Afterward, in an hour-long display of thanks, the whale swam near their boat and jumped into the air about 40 times.

◆Pandas like to be naughty

Is there anything more lovely than a baby panda, except maybe a human baby? In fact, baby pandas sometimes behave like human babies: They sleep in the same positions and value their thumbs. A panda is shy by nature for its shy behavior such as covering its face with a paw or burying its head when facing a stranger.

◆A cat honors its owner

Paper towels, and a plastic cup are just a few of the gifts that Toldo, a devoted three- year-old gray-and-white cat, has placed on his former owner lozzelli Renzo's grave every day since the man died in September 2011. Renzo brought Toldo home from a shelter when the cat was three months old, and the two formed an inseparable bond. After Renzo passed away, Toldo followed people to the grave, and now “stands guard” at the grave for hours at a time.

1. How do horses tell tastiest grasses from bad ones?

A．By touching them.	B．By tasting them.
C．By smelling them.	D．By observing them.

2. What do the whale and the cat have in common according to the text?

A．They are clever.	B．They have a grateful heart.
C．They are active and lovely.	D．They have a good sense of smell.

3. Which of the following acts like a human baby?

A．The baby panda.	B．The baby whale.
C．The baby horse.	D．The baby cat.