1 . These days, more and more people go to the gym to work out. But with so many gyms out there, how do you know which one is the right one for you? We find some information about the best gyms in New. York City so you can have a better idea of what each gym offers.
Planet Fitness
Initiation Fees (入会费): Regular membership (会员资格)，$5; Black Card membership, no initiation fee.
Membership Costs: Regular membership is $ 10 a month and includes free fitness training and free wifi. Black Card membership is $ 22.99 a month and includes access to all Planet Fitness locations, free fitness training, free wifi, half-priced cooler drinks and worldwide travel deals.
Additional Fees: $ 39 membership fee a year.
Locations: Locations in all five boroughs (区).
Classes: None.
New York Sports Club
Initiation Fees: Neighborhood membership, $ 49.99; Passport membership, $ 49.99.
Membership Costs: Neighborhood membership，$ 44.99 a month; Passport membership, $ 99.99 a month.
Additional Fees: Neighborhood membership, $ 49.99 a year; Passport membership, $ 49.99 a year.
Locations: Locations in all five boroughs.
Classes: Studio classes, athletic conditioning, boxing, kickboxing and yoga.
24 Hour Fitness.
Initiation Fees: $ 0 on select memberships.
Membership Costs: $ 79.99 for Ultra Sport.
Locations: Midtown and Madison Square Park.
Classes: Studio classes, free weights, group cycling and personal training.
Chelsea Piers
Initiation Fees: Call to request.
Membership Costs: For a specific gym, varies (变化) by location.
Locations: Chelsea and Brooklyn.
Classes: Strength and conditioning, cycling and yoga.
1. How much must a regular member of Planet Fitness pay for the initiation fee?| A．$39. | B．$22.99. | C．$ 10. | D．$5. |
| A．Free weights. | B．Yoga. |
| C．Boxing. | D．Athletic conditioning. |
| A．It has no initiation fee. |
| B．Its gyms can be found in all five boroughs. |
| C．Its membership costs depend on its location. |
| D．Its black card members can enjoy half-priced drinks. |
2 . Yuan Longping is one of the greatest scientists in China. Having spent 50 years in agricultural (农业的) research, he has made a great contribution in solving the problem of feeding the large population of China.
Yuan Long ping’s interest in agriculture began when he was still in primary school. Though his parents wished that he could study science or medicine, Yuan Longping chose to study agriculture at university. After graduation in 1953, Yuan became a teacher in an agricultural school in a small town called Anjiang, where he stayed for 19 years. Anjiang was the place where Yuan started his Hybrid rice (杂交水稻) research and eventually developed the world –famous three-line hybrid rice.
During the period from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, China suffered from a nationwide famine (饥荒). The suffering left a deep impession on YuanLongping, and he decided to make an effort to ensure that people in the future would have enough food to eat. Since 1960, he has devoted himself to the research and development of a better rice varietal (品种). Yuan Longping’s research was not supported in the beginning. Many people did not believe he would succeed. However, with a lot of effort and research in the field, Yuan’s group developed the first high-yielding (高产的) hybrid rice varietal in 1974. This rice yielded 20 percent more per unit than other rice plants, putting China in the lead in worldwide rice production.
Since then, Yuan Longping’s hybrid rice has also been grown in over 20 countries and has been attracting attention from the whole world, especially in areas at a risk from famine. Yuan Longping’s achievement is considered achievement as a victory over the threat of famine.
As he accepted his Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, Yuan Longping said that lifetime achievement means to strive (奋斗) with all your life. He will continue to demonstrate the award through his own actions.
1. How long did it take Yuan Longping to develop the first high-yielding hybrid rice varietal?| A．14 years. | B．19 years. |
| C．20 years. | D．24 years. |
| A．Yuan will stop his research when he gets older. |
| B．Yuan’s hybrid rice helps both China and other countries. |
| C．Yuan’s research on hybrid rice was always widely supported. |
| D．Yuan became interested in agriculture when he was in university. |
a. Yuan achieved the Lifetime Achievement Award.
b. A national famine took place in China.
c. Yuan began to work as a teacher in an agricultural school.
d. Yuan’s hybrid rice started to be grown in other countries.
e. Yuan’s group developed the first high-yielding hybrid rice.
| A．c-b-e-d-a | B．c-b-a-d-e |
| C．b-c-e-d-a | D．b-c-a-d-e |
| A．Fight Against Famine. |
| B．The Three-Line Hybrid Rice. |
| C．Lifetime Achievement Award for Yuan Longping |
| D．Yuan Longping—the Father of Hybrid Rice |
3 . Many people have difficulty in getting up in the morning. This might be called laziness, but Dr. Kleitman has a new explanation. He has proved that everyone has a daily energy cycle.
During the hours when you work, you may say that you’re “hot”. That’s true. The time of day when you feel most energetic is when your cycle of body temperature is at its peak (顶峰). For some people the peak comes during the morning. For others it comes in the afternoon or evening. No one has discovered why this is so, but it leads to such familiar words as: “Get up, John! You’ll be late for work again!” The possible explanation for the trouble is that John is at his temperature-and-energy peak in the evening. Much family quarrelling ends when husbands and wives realize what these energy cycles mean, and which cycle each member of the family has.
You can’t change your energy cycle, but you can learn to make your life fit it better. Habit can help, Dr. Kleitman believes. Maybe you’re sleepy in the evening but feel you must stay up late anyway. If so, staying up later than you want to may counteract your cycle in some way. If our energy is low in the morning but you have an important job to do early in the day, rise before your usual hour. This won’t change your cycle, but you’ll get up steam and work better at your low point.
Get off to a slow start which saves your energy. Get up with a comfortable yawn and stretch. Sit on the edge of the bed for a minute before putting your feet on the floor. Avoid the troublesome search for clean clothes by laying them out the night before.
1. Dr. Kleitman explains that a person is difficult to get up in the morning probably because of| A．his own laziness |
| B．his own energy cycle |
| C．his own habit |
| D．his bad rest at night |
| A．in the morning |
| B．in the evening |
| C．in the afternoon |
| D．at different hours |
| A．The life. |
| B．The good habit. |
| C．The energy cycle. |
| D．The change. |
| A．do your work at the energy peak |
| B．manage to control your temper |
| C．work at the bottom of energy cycle |
| D．manage to keep you clean all day |
4 . When I woke up on Aug 4, 2016, there was only one thing on my mind: what to wear. A billion thoughts appeared through my brain in the closet (衣橱). Not only was it my first day of high school, but it was my first day of school in a new state; first impressions are everything, and it was important for me to impress the people who I would spend the next four years with.
After carefully hunting my closet, I proudly came out in a dress from Target. The soft cotton was comfortable, and the specially designed shoulders added a little of fun. Yes, this cloth was the one. An hour later, I felt powerful as I headed toward room 1136. But as I entered class, my jaw dropped to the floor.
Sitting at her desk was Mrs Hutfilz, my English teacher, wearing exactly the same dress as me. I kept my head down and tiptoed(踮着脚尖) to my seat. I made it through my simple introduction speech until Mrs Hutfilz stood up, jokingly saying that she liked my style. Although this was the moment I had been afraid of from the moment I walked in, all my anxiety surprisingly melted away, and the students paid attention as I shared my story. My smile grew as I laughed with the students. After class, I stayed behind, talked to Mrs Hutfilz and make a humorous and real communication.
Looking back four years later, the ten minutes I spent afraid of giving my speech were really not worth it. My first period of high school certainly made the day unforgettable in the best way and taught me that Mrs Hutfilz has a brilliant sense of style!
1. Why did the author pay great attention to her clothes on the first day of high school?| A．She followed her father’s advice. |
| B．She was unconfident about herself. |
| C．She cared too much about her appearance. |
| D．She wanted to make a good impression. |
| A．It was her first day of primary school. |
| B．She was satisfied with her first day dress. |
| C．Her teacher was unhappy because she wore the same dress with her. |
| D．She made a conversation with her English teacher in class. |
| A．Anger. | B．Confusion. | C．Pride. | D．Awkwardness. |
| A．To share a memorable experience. |
| B．To explore the troubles with dressing. |
| C．To introduce her stylish English teacher. |
| D．To stress the importance of first impressions. |
5 . Ten years ago, I saved my dog Rudy from a shelter, We’ve had a(n)
Then it suddenly
| A．awkward | B．challenging | C．special | D．confusing |
| A．attention | B．personality | C．impression | D．company |
| A．Ever since | B．For example | C．At times | D．After all |
| A．changed | B．improved | C．pretended | D．wondered |
| A．tried out | B．put off | C．stuck to | D．gave up |
| A．hit | B．warned | C．annoyed | D．disappointed |
| A．treated | B．raised | C．felt | D．cleaned |
| A．control | B．character | C．order | D．shape |
| A．advisor | B．senior | C．partner | D．doctor |
| A．angry | B．silly | C．curious | D．confident |
| A．refused | B．happened | C．agreed | D．promised |
| A．obviously | B．actually | C．hopefully | D．naturally |
| A．fallen ill | B．got better | C．worked out | D．stood up |
| A．fat | B．risky | C．soft | D．big |
| A．Buying | B．Trusting | C．Testing | D．Accepting |
6 . A favorite author, Theodor Seuss Geisel was born on March 2, 1902. Today, we celebrate the birthday of the famous “Dr. Seuss” by hosting Read Across America events throughout March.
But who was Dr. Seuss? Did he go to medical school? Where was his office? You may be surprised to know that Theodor Seuss Geisel was not a medical doctor at all. He got the nickname (绰号) because people said his books were “as good as medicine”. His nickname has lasted and he is known as Dr. Seuss all across the world.
Think back to when you were a young child. Did you ever want to try “green eggs and ham”? Did you try to “Hop on Pop”? Did you learn about the environment from a creature called The Lorax? Of course, you must recall one of Seuss’ most famous characters: that green Grinch who stole Christmas. These stories were all written by Dr. Seuss and he created many words himself in order to enhance his rhyme and even though many of his characters were made up, they sure seem real to us today.
And what of his “signature” book, The Cat in the Hat? Did you know that in the early 1950’s there was a growing concern in America that children were not becoming avid readers? This was, book publishers (出版商) thought, because children found books dull and uninteresting. A clever publisher sent Dr. Seuss a book of words that he thought all children should learn as young readers. Dr. Seuss wrote his famous story The Cat in the Hat, using those words. Over the decades, his writing has had much influence on very young children.
1. What can we infer from the author’s nickname?| A．He was once a famous doctor. | B．He wrote books in a doctor’s office. |
| C．His books made people feel better. | D．His books could treat people’s illness. |
| A．Tips on how to cook green eggs. | B．Knowledge about the environment. |
| C．Stories of famous people in history. | D．Words from many other countries. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Interested. | C．Good. | D．Fast. |
| A．He created many useful words. | B．He knew how to teach children to read. |
| C．He sent Dr. Seuss a best seller. | D．He made for the birth of a famous story. |
7 . Every year, hundreds of hopeful students arrive in Washington, D. C., in order to compete in the National Spelling Bee, which has been held every year since 1925.
In the competition, students under 16 take turns trying to properly spell words. The champion is the only remaining student who does not make a mistake. American students are familiar with the competition because it is practiced in many schools throughout the country. The National Spelling Bee, however, is a much bigger setting and showcases only the best spellers from all parts of the nation. Winning the competition nowadays requires the ability to perform under much pressure against so many talented students in front of a large audience. A student who wins the event in the twenty-first century will experience a much different challenge than the first winner, Frank Neuhauser, did in 1925 when he defeated only nine other competitors.
Clearly, the 90 years of the National Spelling Bee’s existence proves the importance of spelling in the English language. However, struggles with spelling English words go back much more than 90 years. The charming thing about spelling correctly in English is that it is in many ways without rules. English language can absorb new words from other languages and in doing so make them “English” words. Because of this, the number of words in English is much higher than any other languages. Thus, spelling in many other languages has fewer words and fewer strange exceptions to rules. It turns out that a spelling bee in most other languages would be a waste of time. Why is that? Well, without so many exceptions to common vocabulary, there would be very few words that everyone didn’t already know.
1. How is today’s competition different from the first National Spelling Bee?| A．It produces more winners. | B．It draws more talented audience. |
| C．It attracts more competitors. | D．It tests more strange words. |
| A．To introduce the new rules of the competition. | B．To gather students from other countries. |
| C．To explain the difficulty in English spelling. | D．To show the strict rules of written English. |
| A．Unfavorable. | B．Supportive. | C．Responsible. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．Ways to win a Spelling Bee. | B．The most difficult language. |
| C．The best spellers. | D．A competition about spelling. |
8 . An elderly carpenter was ready to retire (退休). He told his employer of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more relaxed life with his wife enjoying his big family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.
The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He turned to careless workmanship and used substandard materials (材料). It was an unfortunate way to end his career.
When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to check the house, the employer handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you”.
What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.
So it is with us. We build our lives in an inattentive way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized, we would have done it differently.
1. Why didn’t the carpenter focus on his work?| A．He had no standard materials. - | B．He was treated unfairly. |
| C．He was offered very low payment. | D．He was eager to retire. |
| A．Regretful. | B．Content. | C．Annoyed. | D．Excited. |
| A．Our past. | B．Our life. | C．Our goal. | D．Our job. |
| A．Your life is the result of your attitude. |
| B．Today is not finished until tomorrow comes. |
| C．Unwisely planned retirement leads to errors. |
| D．Trusting your boss means a loss of money. |
9 . A big part of an American road trip is to get your music on as you head out on the highway and enjoy the sights and the scenery. Here are the top four scenic drives in America’s Southwest.
Big Sur Coast Highway, California
It is officially known as California State Route 1 with views of high mountains and rolling waves. Photo tip--just after you cross the bridge (going south), there’s a parking area which is great for shots looking back towards the bridge.
Las Vegas Boulevard, Nevada
Number two is not to be confused with “The Strip” in Las Vegas. It is worth checking out for its neon (霓虹) signs along the roadside. You can see the Hacienda Horse, Rider and the iconic Silver Slipper along this way which takes only 15 minutes to drive.
Death Valley, California
As the hottest, driest and lowest national park, Death Valley is a land of extremes. More than just a desert, Death Valley provides park visitors with a chance to admire natural beauty from the snow mountains to the wildflower fields and small oases (绿洲) to the endless desert.
Red Rock Scenic Byway, Arizona
The Scenic Byway is south on the way to Oak Creek, which is surrounded by an amazing landscape of red rock hills set against clear blue skies. The sandstone rock glows in the sunshine and it’s worth taking your hiking boots and getting out into the landscape to experience its positive energy.
1. Who is the text probably written for?| A．Hikers. | B．Self-driving tourists. |
| C．Photography lovers. | D．Adventurers. |
| A．Parking to listen to the waves. | B．Enjoying the beauty of neon signs. |
| C．Going for a hike on high mountains. | D．Taking pictures across the bridge. |
| A．Big Sur Coast Highway | B．Las Vegas Boulevard |
| C．Death Valley | D．Red Rock Scenic Byway |
10 . To learn an instrument(乐器) such as the violin or accordion(手风琴)takes years. There are fewer job opportunities and greater competition. Then why are more people than ever before paying a lot of good money to get their children the best music teaching they can afford?
The secret lies in the effect of music on the whole person. It has been found that learning a musical instrument actually increases a person’s IQ over time. Different instruments and different types of music have varying effect, with classical music and the string(弦乐) family coming out on top, potentially increasing your IQ by up to 12 points!
When is a good time to start learning music? Experts have found that even the fetus(胎儿)can benefit from listening to classical music. Surround yourself and your family with good music from the first. The Suzuki Piano Method teaches children from the age of 3 years piano, with two lessons per week. From preschool, children can learn to read music and play from sheet music. Progress in learning your instrument is directly proportional(成比例的)to the amount of practicing.
Is there such a thing as an unmusical child? Shinichi Suzuki says that music is the native home language of all human beings and therefore nobody can be “unmusical”. Of course there are exceptional talents, compared to which others may seem to be slower learners.
Is there any benefit for adults in starting an instrument? Apart from the purely relaxing aspect, yes. Learning an instrument can earn even adults additional IQ points, and as an added benefit in improves your health by reducing your stress levels. Your social life may benefit too, if you are prepared to come out of your box and join occasions such as Ceilidhs (musical get-togethers) or arrange house concerts. It is believed that people who play instruments tend to be more emotionally balanced(平衡) and more patient with themselves, others and life in general.
So go ahead, sign up for that amateur orchestra(业余乐队), dust off your old trombone(长号)or take your first real six-string down from the attic(阁楼); get out there and play!
1. Playing which of the following musical instruments can help increase a person’s IQ most?| A．The piano | B．The violin |
| C．The trombone | D．The accordion |
| A．The progress in learning an instrument depends on natural gifts |
| B．It is too late for an adult to start an instrument |
| C．Every child has a natural talent for music. |
| D．All people can understand and read music. |
| A．Music can balance our life. |
| B．Music can improve our living conditions. |
| C．Playing instruments can make adults keep their IQ points. |
| D．Playing instruments can help us get along well with others. |
| A．persuade us to send our children to music schools |
| B．express his great interest in musical instruments |
| C．tell us the importance of Music in Development |
| D．invite us to attend Ceilidhs |
