1 . To raise money for restaurant workers who had to stay at home during COVID-19, two brothers, Aiden and Louis Ardine, decided to walk 3,200 miles across America to raise money.
Having just arrived on the sands of the Pacific Ocean, Aiden and Louis Ardine have now completed their five-month walk which started on the Asbury Park boardwalk in New Jersey. They hoped to raise $30, 000 for some charities (慈善组织) that were helping restaurant workers waiting for lockdown (隔离) to end, but ended up making $70,000 — which they gave away to the COCO Fund and the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation.
“This would not have been possible without the help of a huge community of people, whether people were donating or helping us guide our way across the United States,” said Aiden Ardine. “This was surely an adventure full of hope, and it proved people are born good and want to help their neighbors.”
Just like cross-country trips in this nation, their journey was characterized by amazing views, long roads, and helpful strangers: like a man who passed them in the extreme heat of summertime Iowa, before doubling back and giving them a cold Gatorade; or a Nevada campground manager who left them stay for free.
In Utah they had what the naturalist John Muir would have described as an “interview” with a black bear, when rounding a corner in the path, they found themselves within a few feet of it.
When they reached San Francisco, their supporters were waiting for them on the beach. Afterwards they flew home along with their mom who had been there to meet them. After their adventurous stay away from home, we can only imagine she was really feeling proud of her sons.
1. What did the two brothers collect money for?| A．Setting up some charities. | B．Helping to end the lockdown. |
| C．Completing their five-month walk. | D．Aiding restaurant workers stuck at home. |
| A．Humorous. | B．Caring. | C．Curious. | D．Honest. |
| A．They met with a bear. | B．They were interviewed. |
| C．They visited a naturalist. | D．They were lost in the path. |
| A．A Long Journey | B．Walk with Love |
| C．A Proud Mother | D．Adventure with Fun |
2 . Katie Whetsell has been enjoying Disney movies from an early age and would often watch them with her mom, Karen. Confident about herself, Katie knew she
When Katie was nine years old, her family were shocked by an unexpected
While they were watching a light show, a performer put her hands on Karen’s shoulder. They exchanged smiles and, to this day, Katie still remembers how
Katie went on to pursue (追求) performing for a living. She
Katie says she could help other families get away from the
| A．fortunately | B．surely | C．normally | D．hardly |
| A．proposal | B．target | C．turn | D．detail |
| A．unnecessary | B．unusual | C．unwise | D．unlikely |
| A．decision | B．rule | C．judgment | D．choice |
| A．expect | B．imagine | C．enjoy | D．forget |
| A．surprised | B．delighted | C．calm | D．brave |
| A．answer | B．wait | C．rate | D．work |
| A．battle | B．confidence | C．balance | D．anger |
| A．concern | B．encourage | C．remember | D．comfort |
| A．struggled | B．rented | C．survived | D．pressed |
| A．director | B．performer | C．star | D．operator |
| A．continued | B．succeeded | C．existed | D．changed |
| A．tension | B．failure | C．suffering | D．loss |
| A．makes a difference | B．sets an example | C．keeps a record | D．reaches an agreement |
| A．agree | B．compare | C．live | D．reconnect |
3 . Nowadays, everyone seems to hope to go into space and live on new planets. Instead of depending on another pre-existing planet, could we make a new planet by ourselves?
First of all, if we were to live on it, we should find a good place in space to put the new planet. We would want it to be in a habitable zone, which means the planet should be at the right distance from its star to make sure there would be perfect temperatures and most importantly, liquid water.
We’d also need the right materials to make the planet. Our Earth is made up of many different elements (元素). If we made our own new planet, we’d probably want it to have similar elements and a similar structure (结构). We’d also want enough water to form some oceans.
But even if we get all of the materials, creating a new planet like Earth could have many troubles. It might be something more like a huge space station. It would be pretty expensive if we wanted it to be super big.
We would probably also need a lot of food because there is going to be many scientists and astronauts out in space working on this project!
According to NASA, each astronaut uses about 0.83 kilograms of food per meal, including 0.12 kilograms of packaging (包装) material. Without the weight of the packaging material, we’d need about 780 kilograms of food just to feed one astronaut for a year.
Putting all these together could make it possible to make our own planet one day! In fact, creating a new planet would probably require a very modern technology and there would be tons of other things to think about. And if this is possible, it won’t likely happen within a very long time.
1. To create a new planet, which of the following should we first do?| A．To collect materials similar to Earth. | B．To prepare plenty of food for astronauts to eat. |
| C．To design its inner structure. | D．To find a proper place to set it. |
| A．About 0.12 kilograms. | B．About 0.71 kilograms. |
| C．About 0.83 kilograms. | D．About 0.95 kilograms. |
| A．It is a waste of time and money. |
| B．It may be a dangerous thing for humans. |
| C．It is impossible to come true in the near future. |
| D．It should be one of NASA’s next plans. |
4 . Are parents rational (理性的) about their children? No. Parents aren’t rational because
My eldest daughter’s
“I sailed around the Mediterranean in a yacht (游艇) when I was seventeen,” she said. “I hiked through the Pyrenees from Spain to Paris. I’ve done rock climbing and deep-sea diving and slept in rainforests in the jungle of Indonesia. Right?”
“Right,” I said, “So what?”
“So this,” she went on. “When I go to the corner drugstore to pick up some shampoo, why do you always tell me to be
There is no satisfactory
All I could say in reply was that when I was 50, my mother would
There is something else, too, that children find it hard to understand. When they are far away, there is nothing we can do about their
But when the children are close, the old protective urge quickly
Most
In the parents’ mind, a child ages but does not
| A．worry | B．fear | C．love | D．need |
| A．easy | B．friendly | C．hard | D．important |
| A．problem | B．explanation | C．warning | D．question |
| A．anger | B．pride | C．worry | D．surprise |
| A．careful | B．brave | C．quick | D．helpful |
| A．question | B．answer | C．problem | D．present |
| A．select | B．remind | C．insist | D．expect |
| A．different | B．extra | C．same | D．right |
| A．success | B．happiness | C．luck | D．safety |
| A．argue | B．think | C．forget | D．complain |
| A．comes back | B．pays back | C．looks back | D．goes back |
| A．prove | B．mean | C．matter | D．mind |
| A．accidents | B．failures | C．changes | D．mistakes |
| A．tolerate | B．protect | C．devote | D．treat |
| A．stop | B．compete | C．grow | D．leave |
5 . One of the biggest complaints in modern society is being over-scheduled. Ask people how they are and the answer usually is “super busy,” “crazy busy”.
When people aren’t super busy at work, they are crazy busy exercising, entertaining or parenting. And if there is ever a still moment for thoughts--for example, while waiting
“We had noted that we are so dependent on our mobile phones that people seem to find any
It could be because human beings, as problem solvers and meaning makers, when
But you can’t solve problems
Negative feelings are sometimes hard, but they are part of everyone’s life, especially if you are busy. It is those deep and troubling feelings, and how you
| A．Nobody | B．Somebody | C．Everybody | D．Anybody |
| A．in order | B．in line | C．in panic | D．in public |
| A．far | B．long | C．often | D．much |
| A．place | B．reason | C．excuse | D．solution |
| A．uncertain | B．unfair | C．unpleasant | D．unwise |
| A．left out | B．left off | C．left behind | D．left alone |
| A．deleting | B．uploading | C．updating | D．downloading |
| A．close | B．healthy | C．difficult | D．harmonious |
| A．unless | B．while | C．though | D．if |
| A．ignored | B．invited | C．invented | D．interrupted |
| A．apart from | B．more than | C．except for | D．rather than |
| A．all the way | B．by the way | C．in your way | D．on your way |
| A．Holding on | B．Holding out | C．Holding back | D．Holding up |
| A．meet with | B．get away with | C．keep pace with | D．deal with |
| A．joy | B．relief | C．anxiety | D．sorrow |
6 . Katie Whetsell was interested in musicals and Disney movies from an early age. When her mother, Karen, was diagnosed (诊断) with cancer, the family made a
This was the day when Katie decided she wanted to
Katie has a strong message for everyone,
| A．comment | B．summary | C．presentation | D．decision |
| A．gave in | B．settled down | C．packed up | D．took over |
| A．benefit | B．forget | C．finish | D．dislike |
| A．saved | B．balanced | C．shortened | D．changed |
| A．request | B．admire | C．introduce | D．organise |
| A．approached | B．defended | C．persuaded | D．affected |
| A．respectful | B．peaceful | C．cheerful | D．powerful |
| A．touched | B．ashamed | C．distracted | D．amused |
| A．care | B．search | C．work | D．stand |
| A．degree | B．job | C．blessing | D．reward |
| A．broke out | B．paid off | C．showed up | D．came around |
| A．director | B．writer | C．journalist | D．performer |
| A．exactly | B．actually | C．especially | D．gradually |
| A．misunderstanding | B．hardship | C．loneliness | D．violence |
| A．celebrate | B．recognize | C．forecast | D．select |
7 . The Huaqing Palace Heritage Site
Star Pool
It was built in 644 AD for Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty (朝代). It is said that at first there was no cover for the pool so that he could enjoy the shining stars of the night while taking a bath.
Huaqing Hot Springs
They were named "The First Hot Springs in the World" in the Tang dynasty by Emperor Xuanzong. The water temperature stays at 43°C all year round. It was first used as an imperial pool during the Zhou dynasty (1046 BC-256 BC)
Tang Well
It has a long history of over 1,300 years and measures 1.9 metres long, 1.26 metres wide and 8. 3 metres deep. It was used just by Yang Yuhuan for drinking water.
Imperial Concubine Pool (贵妃池)
It was built in 747 AD for the famous beauty Yang Yuhuan. It takes the shape of a Chinese crab apple (海棠) flower, and is where Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Yuhuan took baths every winter.
Address: At the foot of Lishan Mountain in Litong, 30 kilometres east of Xi'an.
Opening hours: From March to November: 7:00 - 18:00
From December to February: 7:30 - 18:30
Bus routes: 914, 915, U5, and 306
1. Which of the following has the longest history?
| A．Star Pool. | B．Huaqing Hot Springs. |
| C．Tang Well. | D．Imperial Concubine Pool. |
| A．It is half-divided. | B．It is flower-shaped. | C．It is for drinking. | D．It has no cover. |
| A．It is on the mountain top. | B．It is 30 kilometres west of Xi'an. |
| C．It has five bus routes travelling along. | D．It stays open for eleven hours a day. |
8 . For people suffering from depression, there’s an all-natural treatment they should use — getting more exercise. It could help fight depression, even if people have a genetic risk, new research shows.
For the study, researchers collected information from nearly 8,000 people and found those with related genes were more likely to have depression over the next two years after examining them. But that was less likely for people who were more active at the study’s start, even if they had a family history of depression. Higher levels of physical activity helped protect even those with the highest genetic risk of depression.
Both high-intensity (高强度) exercise and low-intensity activities were associated with a reduced risk of depression. Adding four hours of exercise a week could lower the risk of a new episode (一段经历) of depression by 17%, according to the study. “Our findings strongly suggest that, when it comes to depression, being physically active has the potential to remove the added risk of future episodes in individuals who are genetically risky,” said lead author Karmel Choi. “On average, about 35 additional minutes of physical activity each day may help people to reduce their risk and protect against future depression episodes.”
Depression is a common mental illness globally, with more than 264 million people affected. “Depression is so ubiquitous, and that underlines the need for effective approaches that can impact as many people as possible,” Choi said. And mental health and primary care providers can use the findings to advise patients that there’s something meaningful they can do to lower their risk of depression.
1. How did the researchers reach their conclusion?| A．By analyzing a mass of data. |
| B．By conducting genetic research. |
| C．By comparing various levels of activity. |
| D．By tracking the subjects for many years. |
| A．Physical activity betters medical treatment. |
| B．Exercise is able to decrease and prevent it. |
| C．Different levels of exercise intensity matter the same. |
| D．Exercising 35 minutes daily is the most effective treatment. |
| A．Harmful. | B．Complex. |
| C．Unusual. | D．Common. |
| A．To discuss a disease. |
| B．To introduce a method. |
| C．To analyze a genetic risk. |
| D．To explain a phenomenon. |
9 . Little boys don’t like reading any more and even little girls don’t enjoy it as much as they once did. This is the accepted wisdom inside the book industry —and in many British families, too. Parents and booksellers tend to blame the growing appeal of online entertainment and handheld games, but research from the US is challenging these assumptions.
Michael Norris, an American publishing expert, will release findings in the monthly Book Publishing Report which show that, despite the best intentions, it is well-meaning mothers and fathers who often stop their sons and daughters from picking up the reading habit.
“Parents have too much of a role in deciding which books their children are going to read,” said Norris. “It is turning children off.”
The results of a number of surveys Norris has carried out with hundreds of American book-sellers over the past year have provided the basis for a series of tips for parents designed to help children find enjoyment in books.
One of his tips is to make sure children talk directly to a librarian or a bookseller, while parents stand well back. Parents should allow children to choose their own reading material. “Even if a mother or father is just standing with the child when the bookseller asks them what they like to read, we have found that the child will give an answer they think their parent wants to hear. It will not be the same answer they would give alone,” said Norris.
Norris’s another tip for parents is that they do not attempt to limit books to one age range. ”What we have found is that parents should not worry whether a title looks too young or too old for a child. If a book has caught their attention, then let them take it.“ Children, added Norris, often enjoy reading books that are easy for them to understand. “My father made me read The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy when I was much too young and I have never read another Clancy since,” said Norris.
1. What did Norris think prevents children from enjoying reading?| A．Children’s interest in handheld games. | B．The declining market of the book industry. |
| C．Parents influence on children’s book selection. | D．The growing popularity of online entertainment. |
| A．It’s published to improve book sales. | B．It mainly focuses on British families. |
| C．It involves many years’ efforts. | D．It was conducted by Norris. |
| A．Introduce new books regularly. | B．Let them talk with booksellers alone. |
| C．Discuss popular books with children. | D．Often seek expert advice from booksellers. |
| A．It was totally wrong. | B．It was quite necessary. |
| C．It aroused his interest in reading. | D．It showed parents’ worries about kids. |
10 . In both Africa and Asia elephants are being threatened by changes in their natural habitats. People are moving into the elephants’ habitats and endangering their survival. In the country of Sri Lanka, there is one place where elephants are not only protected but also respected. It is called Elephant Transit Home (ETH).
Set up in 1995, the ETH aims to protect and care for baby elephants that are found injured or living without their mothers in the wild. Every year about 30 baby elephants in Sri Lanka need help. Many are brought to the ETH. There they are given food, shelter, and medical care. Most importantly, they are given the chance to be with other elephants and become part of a herd.
A day at the ETH begins early in the morning when the baby elephants are given their first feeding of milk. During the day, each baby will drink an average of 13 gallons of milk. Older elephants are fed mostly coconut leaves and other native plants. There are no boundaries in the area for the baby elephants as they have the freedom to walk wherever they want. The cost of caring for the baby elephants is high. The ETH spends about $125,000 each year on powdered milk for the baby elephants.
At the ETH, workers try to reduce human connections with the elephants. They also try to increase bonds (联系) between the elephants. It usually takes three years for a baby elephant to be set free into its natural habitat. The elephants are sent back to the wild together with other orphans with whom they have bonded. This program helps them return to the wild as members of a herd that will communicate with each other and take care of each other.
The ETH is considered as one of the best animal protection sites in the world. Not only are the elephants cared for, but they are treated with respect. Most importantly, they go back to live in the wild, where they belong.
1. What do we know about the ETH?| A．It helps to keep baby elephants safe. | B．It saves hundreds of elephants every year. |
| C．It aims to protect elephants from extinction. | D．It changes elephants’ habitats for the better. |
| A．Extreme climates. | B．Dividing lines. |
| C．Limited foods. | D．Endangered species. |
| A．To train them to stay away from hunters. |
| B．To provide them with more living space. |
| C．To study them better in a natural environment. |
| D．To help them make it in the wild as a herd. |
| A．To show the ways of wildlife protection. | B．To explain the threat baby elephants face. |
| C．To introduce an animal protection project. | D．To persuade the readers to protect elephants. |
