1 . One afternoon, When I walked out the supermarket, I found an old man who struggled with two bags of food. It was very cold. I guessed he must have a long walk ahead of him. I stopped the car near him and put the window down to ask if he needed a ride. With a little hesitation, he did accept.
After he got settled in the car, my husband and I introduced ourselves, but he didn’t say a word. During the drive, we tried to make him more comfortable with some small talk. His home was more than two miles away, so it would have been a difficult walk for anyone, let alone an old man carrying bags.
When we pulled up outside his door, the first thing he asked is “How much money do you want?” “Nothing, we just wanted to help,” we answered. The shock and relief on this man’s face was actually sad, because we should be able to live in a world where it isn’t shocking to have someone help you out of the goodness of their heart without expecting something in return. He was overwhelmed. Tears in his eyes, he said “Thank you!” over and over to me after realizing we truly didn’t want anything, which made me feel proud.
My only words to him were, sir, I hope this helped you out and have a good week. These simple acts of kindness are the types of kindnesses that anyone, anywhere can do. It doesn’t cost a cent. Just be aware of the world happening around you. There is always someone who needs something — a door held, a bag carried... the opportunities are endless.
1. Why did we give the old man a lift after shopping?| A．Because we wanted to help others. | B．Because he begged us to do so. |
| C．Because we wanted to earn money. | D．Because he was our old friend. |
| A．Happy and moved. | B．Comfortable but grateful. |
| C．Nervous and quiet. | D．Pleased but cautious. |
| A．He wanted to give us something he bought. | B．He planned to pay for the car ride. |
| C．He decided to introduce himself to us. | D．He wanted to show his kindness for us. |
| A．Kindness doesn’t cost a cent. | B．The acts of kindness should be great. |
| C．Helping others makes people sad. | D．There is always a chance for kindness. |
2 . “Just sign here, sir,” the deliveryman said as he handed Oscar Reyna a package.
The package consisted of a long, narrow box
Oscar was 16 when he first saw the
Oscar
Oscar talked his grandparents into going by Mrs. O’Brien’s house on their way home. He rang the bell, the door opened, and an elderly woman appeared. “May I
“I’d like to return it if it’s yours,” Oscar said,
“Why, yes! It’s mine,” replied Mrs. O’Brien with a
“No, ma’am,” he said. “My grandmother says that a good deed is its own reward.”
“Well, that’s
Years later Oscar was staring at the finely carved handle of the umbrella as he remembered Mrs. O’Brien. It was in perfect condition, considering how
As if
| A．strictly | B．carefully | C．roughly | D．casually |
| A．Opening | B．Seizing | C．Observing | D．Searching |
| A．After | B．When | C．Since | D．Although |
| A．average | B．unusual | C．plain | D．typical |
| A．designer | B．seller | C．user | D．owner |
| A．convinced | B．forced | C．encouraged | D．advised |
| A．until | B．before | C．which | D．where |
| A．invite | B．help | C．bother | D．know |
| A．putting up | B．turning out | C．picking up | D．holding out |
| A．wide | B．confident | C．proud | D．shy |
| A．patience | B．kindness | C．courage | D．determination |
| A．obviously | B．naturally | C．exactly | D．probably |
| A．old | B．rare | C．precious | D．nice |
| A．in contrast | B．in return | C．in exchange | D．in answer |
| A．attractive | B．significant | C．unselfish | D．sympathetic |
3 . For some people, walking or running outdoors is a great way to work out. What may not be so pleasant is seeing trash (垃圾) all over the ground. Well, some people are doing something about it. They are plogging!
“Plogging” began in Sweden. The name combines the Swedish word “plocka,” which means to pick up, and the word Jogging, which means to run slowly. A Swedish man named Erik started the movement in 2016 on the World Environment Day.
Erik says that he moved to Stockholm from a small community in northern Sweden. Each day he would ride his bike to work. Concerned about the amount of trash and litter he saw on the way, he took matters into his own hands.
Plogging, by that term, may have officially begun in Sweden. But many people who exercise outdoors have been doing this for years. Take Jeff Horowitz for example. He is a personal trainer in Washington, D.C. He often picks up trash while running outside. He even has turned it into a game; he will try to pick up the trash without stopping. “I didn’t know it was a thing really. This is just my personal ethics (道德标准), where I go for a run and if I happen to see a piece of garbage lying around and it’s within reach — it is a kind of a little test for me to see if I can grab it and throw it in a near trash can without stopping. And that way, I think, it gives me a little exercise and a little focus for my run. And it helps clean up the neighborhood,” he announced.
Today, plogging is an official activity, one that is becoming increasingly popular. Cities around the world now hold plogging events, “I would just hope people would think twice before dropping a garbage on the ground. We have containers on every block. So, it’s easy to put your garbage in the trash cans. I just think people should think about it a little bit more. I do hope one day there will not be a need for plogging.” said an interviewee.
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined phrase “took matters into his own hands”?| A．called on people to join him. | B．called on people to go green. |
| C．began to pick up the trash. | D．had the collected trash recycled. |
| A．Plogging comes naturally to joggers who care about the environment. |
| B．Plogging is an easy way to clean the environment. |
C．It doesn’t make any sense to jog without picking up trash |
| D．It is better to clean up the neighborhood by plogging. |
| A．Jogging is truly beneficial. | B．Trash cans should be within reach. |
| C．People should stop littering around. | D．Communities should be kept clean. |
| A．New exercise enjoys unbelievable popularity |
| B．New exercise trend(趋势，倾向) also helps environment |
| C．Plogging — a fashionable way to keep fit |
| D．Plogging — an exercise originating in Sweden |
4 . 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 |
5 . 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. |
6 . Solothurn is a picturesque town in the northwest of Switzerland known primarily for its closest relation with the number eleven. It seems like everything in this place was designed around this magical number, from the fact that there are precisely eleven churches, as well as eleven historical fountains, eleven museums and eleven towers, to the unusual clock in the town square that features an elevenhour dial and the number twelve missing.
Although nearly everyone in Solothurn knows about the town's obsession with the number eleven, the origin of that is covered in mystery. The first mention of eleven in Solothurn's history dates back to 1252, when eleven members were first elected for the town's council. Another great example of Solothurn's obsession with the number eleven is the magnificent Cathedral of St. Ursus. Designed by Italian architect Gaetano Matteo Pisoni, it was built in eleven years. It features three sets of steps, each numbering eleven rows, eleven doors, eleven bells and eleven altars, one of which is made out of eleven different types of marble. Interestingly, the altars can be viewed at the same time from only one place in the cathedral, the eleventh black stone in the long central part.
The people of Solothurn also show an intense interest in the number eleven in their daily life. There are special celebrations held on eleventh birthdays, and there are local products and businesses that include the special number. There is “ÖufiBier” (Beer eleven), “eleveni Schokolade” (elevenChocolate), and even “öufiyoga” (eleven o'clock yoga). The mysterious relationship between Solothurn and the number has become one of the town's primary tourist attractions, and there is even a themed tour about the number eleven.
1. What is mainly discussed about Solothurn in Paragraph 1?| A．Its unique designs. | B．Its cultural origin. |
| C．Its natural attractions. | D．Its connection with nature. |
| A．The number eleven. | B．The city of Solothurn. |
| C．Solothurn's love for eleven. | D．The history of Switzerland. |
| A．Its steps contain 33 rows in all. | B．Its doors are made out of marble. |
| C．It has eleven bells on each step. | D．It has eleven altars in the center. |
| A．They attach great importance to tourism. | B．They bring number eleven to daily life. |
| C．They lead a busy but comfortable life. | D．They are expert at designing products. |
7 . Two teenagers are lost at sea off the coast of the United States for six days on their small sailing boat. Without any food and drink, the boys drink sea water. They try slipping into the ocean to cool off, but sharks drive them back onto the boat. At night, they use a single wet suit to keep warm.
This is a real story of two American boys. Driscoll and his best friend, 18-year-old Josh Long, were found six days later and more than 100 miles from where they had set off from Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, on April 24. The boys had lost a lot of water and were tired, but otherwise in pretty good shape.
They set out fishing on a 4.3-meter sailboat on a windy day when the National Weather Service had warned small boats to stay out of the water, but they didn’t care. They realized they were in trouble almost immediately and tried to swim back to shore, pulling the boat along with them. Within hours, they were far out to sea.
“We lost our fishing equipment, ” Driscoll said. “So we couldn’t catch any fish. ” The boys’ hopes faded with each day passing. They stood on their boat every time they saw another boat, waving and shouting, but without success. One night they were woken up by water coming into the boat. A large ship was very close to them.
A coast guard boat set out to look for them. The boys got up and made some noise. This time, they were heard.
“What we have is a completely surprising story of survival that’s going to be studied for years to come, ” said Richard Goerling, Long’s uncle, “ I think the boys have a book to write. ”
1. The two boys got lost at the sea because _______.| A．they were not good at boating |
| B．they were separated from their parents while boating |
| C．they went far into the sea to catch fish |
| D．they didn’t take the warning from National Weather Service seriously. |
| A．swam in the water to cool themselves off in the daytime |
| B．lived on the fish they caught |
| C．suffered cold at night |
| D．fought against sharks |
| A．the boys went to the sea to go surfing |
| B．the boys were saved on April 30 |
| C．some boats had found the boys but refused to offer help |
| D．the boys were sleeping soundly when the boat passed by |
| A．the boys will write a book |
| B．children’s safety should be paid more attention to |
| C．the boys did very well when facing danger |
| D．something can be learned from the boys’ experience |
8 . Alice is a student who came to my class last year. Though she has already turned 60, Alice looks so fit and
For my 2-hour class every Saturday morning, Alice has to take a 3-hour round-trip on the road. But she is never
Alice came to me with very
I feel fortunate to have a student like Alice. She has
| A．strong | B．cheerful | C．generous | D．proud |
| A．anxious | B．ready | C．late | D．meant |
| A．treat | B．recognize | C．mistake | D．describe |
| A．carefully | B．obviously | C．regularly | D．eagerly |
| A．humor | B．achievement | C．responsibility | D．belonging |
| A．special | B．basic | C．effective | D．official |
| A．in place | B．in motion | C．in order | D．in use |
| A．copy | B．check | C．mention | D．prepare |
| A．revised | B．saved | C．arranged | D．collected |
| A．volunteers | B．agrees | C．promises | D．hesitates |
| A．lively | B．former | C．suitable | D．senior |
| A．encouraged | B．annoyed | C．confused | D．impressed |
| A．taught | B．challenged | C．guaranteed | D．permitted |
| A．play safe with | B．try out for | C．let go of | D．get closer to |
| A．whoever | B．wherever | C．whatever | D．however |
9 . Every week in China, millions of people will sit in front of their TVs watching teenagers compete for the title Character Hero, which is a Chinese-style spelling bee(拼写大赛). In this challenge, young competitors must write Chinese characters by hand. To prepare for the competition, the competitors usually spend months studying dictionaries.
Perhaps the show’s popularity should not be a surprise. Along with gunpowder and paper, many Chinese people consider the creation of Chinese calligraphy(书法)to be one of their primary contributions to civilization. Unfortunately, all over the country, Chinese people are forgetting how to write their own language without computerized help. Software on smart phones and computers allows users to type in the basic sound of the word using the Latin alphabet. The correct character is chosen from a list. The result? It’s possible to recognize characters without remembering how to write them.
But there’s still hope for the paint brush. China’s Education Ministry wants children to spend more time learning how to write.
In one Beijing primary school we visited, students practice calligraphy every day inside a specially decorated classroom with traditional Chinese paintings hanging on the walls. Soft music plays as a group of six-year-olds dip brush pens into black ink. They look up at the blackboard often to study their teacher’s examples before carefully attempting to reproduce those characters on thin rice paper. “If adults can survive without using handwriting, why bother to teach it now? ” we ask the calligraphy teacher, Shen Bin. “The ability to write characters is part of Chinese tradition and culture, ” she reasons. “Students must learn now so they don’t forget when they grow up. ” says the teacher.
1. What can we learn about the Character Hero?| A．It’s open to people of all ages and all walks. |
| B．It’s the most-viewed TV programs in China. |
| C．It aims to spread Chinese culture to the world. |
| D．It draws great public attention across the country. |
| A．Every Chinese can write Chinese characters easily, especially with computers. |
| B．Only with the help of computers can some Chinese people write Chinese characters. |
| C．Despite the help of computers, Chinese people have forgotten how to write. |
| D．Computers are the only means to rely on to write Chinese characters for many people. |
| A．Chinese people don’t refer to dictionaries very often. |
| B．Chinese people no longer use brush pens or practice calligraphy. |
| C．Chinese people are using the Latin alphabet instead of the characters. |
| D．Chinese people needn’t write by hand as often with the help of technology. |
| A．necessary for adults to survive in China |
| B．a requirement made by the Education Ministry |
| C．helpful to keep Chinese tradition and culture alive |
| D．an ability to be developed only when you are students |
10 . In the Hollywood movie The Martian, actor Matt Damon plays an astronaut who grows food on Mars（火星）to survive alone on the red planet.
After seeing the movie, Washington State University physicist Michael Allen and University of Idaho food scientist Helen Joyner decided to carry out a case study helping students figure out how to farm on Mars. In the case study, students have to imagine they are mining（采矿）on Mars and decide how to feed themselves there before starting on the journey. They get a proposal from Allen and Joyner on how to select crops and take the challenges of growing crops over long periods on Mars. Students use a scoring system to select three foods to plant on Mars.
Allen found the results impressive: among 30students, “no two people have ever gotten the same answer”, he said.
Human travelers to Mars will likely have to make use of resources on the planet rather than take everything they need with them on a spaceship. This means farming their own food on another planet, one that has a very different ecosystem（生态系统）from Earth’s.
One challenge for those who would like to live on Mars is the fact that there can be no farming tools. Like real astronauts, students taking part in the study cannot take a lot of farming tools with them. As Joyner put it to his student astronauts, “You are starting with nothing.”
Besides, students also have to deal with a very limited choice of diet. “If I had to eat a single food for the rest of my life, could I do it?” Joyner asked.
But Allen believes the case study is about more than farming and eating on the Red Planet.
“I’m not teaching about growing food on Mars,” Allen said. “I’m teaching about living with choices. I’m teaching about problem solving.”
1. In the case study, students have to _______.| A．watch the movie to know the conditions on Mars |
| B．decide which crop to grow on Mars with the help of the teachers |
| C．design different types of diets on Mars for them to choose |
| D．understand how to farm on Mars with their favorite farming tools |
| A．exploration | B．recommendation |
| C．adventure | D．movement |
| A．increases students’ knowledge about farming |
| B．helps student know more about Mars |
| C．develops students’ skills of solving problems |
| D．teaches students how to make proper choices |
| A．to describe a research on how to farm on Mars |
| B．to prepare us to deal with problems on Mars |
| C．to teach us how to survive on Mars alone |
| D．to introduce a Hollywood movie, The Martian |
