1 . Anecdotes (趣闻) from around the world

A Lego wheelchair (乐高轮椅) for a turtle

An injured turtle that suffered a cracked shell is learning to get around again thanks to a wheelchair, made completely from Lego.

The 18-year-old turtle was found fighting for its life in the middle of the road by staff at the Maryland Zoo on their way to work. The zoo’s vets tried to fix his shell. They tried many kinds of materials to keep the turtle’s shell off the ground, but they did not work well. So the idea of Lego came about.

A school made from trash in Cambodia

Ouk Vandey, known as the “rubbish teacher”, teaches students in a classroom with walls made from painted used car tires (轮胎) at the Coconut School in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia.

The school is almost completely built out of trash. At the entrance of the school, plastic bottles are shaped and colored like a Cambodian flag. On the left are used coffee cups and bottles to protect the building from rain. Ouk Vandey, a former hotel manager, dreams of a waste-free Cambodia in the future.

The man travelling most on Earth

Babis Bizas has been called the person travelling most in the world, as he has visited 195 countries in the past 40 years.

Babis Bizas has traveled since he was a student. He followed a group of young backpackers to India in his 20s. When his money was about to run out, he found a job on a Greek ship. Bizas is a fan of unusual places. Travelers, who wanted someone to lead their tours to places where no tourist infrastructure (基础设施) was available, followed him.

1. Who discovered the injured turtle?

A．Some Lego lovers.	B．The Maryland Zoo’s staff.
C．The Maryland Zoo’s vets.	D．The Maryland Zoo’s visitors.

2. Why was Ouk Vandey known as the “rubbish teacher”?

A．He dreams of a waste-free Cambodia.

B．He built the trash school all by himself.

C．He encourages students to collect rubbish.

D．He teaches in a school built mainly with trash.

3. What do we know about Babis Bizas?

A．He also travels as a tour leader.

B．He enjoys traveling with others.

C．He hopes to improve tourist infrastructure.

D．He fell in love with traveling after graduation.

2 . There can be a lot to deal with when you visit a new country. There are the airports, the time zones, the language and when you travel to the UK: the humour difference. Visitors are often not sure what to do while the British burst into laughter. So if you’re travelling to the UK and want to be telling jokes, not guessing when to laugh, then read on.

Self-deprecation (自我贬低)

The British have the habit of deprecating themselves. They will often make fun of themselves or their life choices to get a laugh. If a British person is going to create a funny Facebook post about going to the gym, he will be sure to mention the seven bags of potato chips that he is going to eat afterwards. And this doesn’t just happen to one or two persons; British companies are also interested in it — BBC has created a show to make fun of itself and it spreads nationally.

Tongue-in-cheek (半开玩笑)

This is similar to self-deprecation. Except instead of making fun of themselves, they will do it to each other. It’s often the case that if a British person likes you, he/she will try and make fun of you, but without being serious. So don’t be surprised if someone tells you that your new jacket looks like it was picked out of trash — nine times out of ten that is a joke to make you laugh.

Sarcasm (讽刺)

A British person will often say the converse of what they mean to make someone laugh. If it’s raining outside, for example, they’ll cheerfully point out: “What good weather we’re having”. Some British TV shows like Blackadder and Fawlty Towers are founded on this principle, and there are many fake newspapers and websites trying to present daily British life in a sarcastic way.

1. What do foreigners think of British humour according to Paragraph 1?

A．Inspiring.

B．Confusing.

C．Amusing.

D．Boring.

2. Why is tongue-in-cheek similar to self-deprecation?

A．They both include deprecation.

B．They both focus on people’s habits.

C．They both make fun of each other.

D．They both laugh at the speakers.

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

A．Evidence.

B．Focus.

C．Summary.

D．Opposite.

4. In which part of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Education.

B．Tourism.

C．Culture.

D．Science.

3 . I was staying at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on my way home to Washington DC. My connecting flight(换乘班机) wouldn’t be boarding for another six hours. I looked at the screen and found that there was another flight in an hour to one of the other Washington airports.

I decided to go to the service desk to see if I could change flights. I was willing to take “no” as a possible answer since I already had the other flight booked. As I walked to the service desk, I heard a woman shouting at an airport staff. Clearly, there was a delay(延误) on the woman’s previous flight and she missed the connecting flight. Because the delay was caused by her previous flight, the only thing the airport staff could do was reschedule the connecting flight for her, which wasn’t going to be until 9 the next morning. The woman was mad, but there was nothing else the airport staff could do. After about ten minutes of this, the women left angrily.

I calmly walked up and greeted the airport staff friendly, “Hello! How are you doing?” She looked a bit puzzled but said she had a good day. I asked about possibly changing the flight, and she said, “That flight is usually pretty filled.” I thanked her for her serving, and wished her a good rest after her duty. As I was walking away, she said, “Hold on. There was someone who just cancelled the ticket to the flight.”

Two minutes later, I had a new boarding pass for the earlier flight, a seat with much more legroom. It just proves that a show of true care will get you a long way.

1. What did the author find when he was at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport?

A．His flight would take off at 6 o’clock.

B．His connecting flight had been put off.

C．There were a few flights to Washington DC.

D．He could take an earlier flight to Washington DC.

2. What would probably happen to the woman?

A．She had to go to another airport.

B．She had to wait a long time to leave.

C．She couldn’t take a connecting flight.

D．She would find all the tickets sold out.

3. Why did the airport staff ask the author to wait?

A．She realized she knew the author.

B．She knew there were seats available.

C．She found there was a ticket available.

D．She wanted to book another flight for him.

4. What does the author want to tell us through the text?

A．Caring about others brings you good luck.

B．Great communication skills take practice.

C．Airport staff work under a lot of stress.

D．Taking a plane is not a good choice.

4 . During the holidays, you may be heading into the British countryside for a walk. However, the countryside scene may not be what you think. On the country roads you might see dog poo (粪便) left by irresponsible owners, or much rubbish. Most people getting to the countryside are well-behaved but there’re exceptions. Some even allow their dogs to run off the leash (拴狗的绳子).

On my coastal farm in Essex I’m lucky that there’re many regular walkers who act as my unofficial farm neighbourhood watch. They tell me if they find someone hasn’t picked up their dog’s poo or if they have come across rubbish. Unluckily, it’s difficult to catch people in the act. How often have you actually seen someone leaving their dog’s poo on the ground?

However, we have the Countryside Code (规章): rules to make sure that we respect and enjoy the countryside. A lot of the code seems common sense: respect others, take your litter home, and keep dogs under control. Yet some farmers have suffered as a result of dog owners believing that their pet won’t run towards sheep and cows, frightening them. The results of ignoring the code’s principles aren’t taken seriously enough. What’s clear to some people might not be clear to others, especially if you live in a city and have little understanding of farming practices. Not everyone might know that dogs could worry farm animals. Therefore, public education needs great improvement. In the past there were television advertisements but perhaps online posts would be more useful today.

The countryside is for us all, and we have a shared responsibility to make sure that it looks good and works well. This means supporting those who work and own the land to keep it as best as they can. Breaking the code really affects those who run our countryside. We need to respect this far more if we are all to enjoy it.

1. What do some people who go to the countryside in the holidays do according to the author?

A．They generally fail to respect the land.	B．They may pollute the local environment.
C．They want to take part in farming work.	D．They don’t really enjoy countryside views.

2. The author most probably is a__________.

A．farm owner	B．government official
C．neighborhood watch	D．visitor in the countryside

3. Why may the Countryside Code not be followed by some people?

A．The code is thought to be too strict.	B．There’s no education about the rules.
C．Farmers hardly communicate with visitors.	D．They have little knowledge related to farming.

4. What does the author intend to do in the last paragraph?

A．Show support for land owners.	B．Stress the importance of the farms.
C．Call for good behavior in the countryside.	D．Picture a perfect view of the countryside.

5 . Go with your passion. It has been said that who see the invisible can do the impossible.

When I was nine years old, living in a small town in North Carolina, I found an ad for_______ greeting cards in the back of a children’s magazine. I thought to myself I can do this. I begged my mother to let me send for the kit. Two weeks later, _______ the kit arrived, I ripped off the brown paper _______, grabbed the cards and dashed _______the house. Three hours later. I returned home with no card and a pocket full of money proclaiming, “Mama, all the people couldn’t wait to buy my cards!” A _______ was born.

When I was twelve years old, my father took me to see Zig Ziegler. I remember sitting in that dark auditorium (礼堂) listening to Mr. Zigler, who raise everyone’s _______ up to the ceiling, I left there feeling like I could do anything. When we got to the car, I turned to my father and said. “Dad, I want to make people feel like that.” My father asked me what I _______. “I want to be a _______speaker just like Mr. Zigler,” I replied. A dream was born.

Recently, I began pursuing my dream of motivating _______. After a four-year relationship with a major fortune 100 company beginning as a salestrainer and ________ as a regional sales manager, I left the company at the ________ of my career. Many people were ________ that I would leave after earning a six-figure income. And they asked why I would ________ everything for a dream.

I made my decision to start my own company and leave my ________ position after attending a regional sales meeting. The vice-president of our company delivered a speech that ________ my life. He asked us, “If a genie would grant you three wishes what would they be?” After giving us a moment to write down the three wishes, he then asked us, “________ do you need a genie?” I would ________ forget the shock I felt at that moment.

I realized that everything I had ________ — the graduate degree, the successful sales career, speaking engagements, training and managing for a fortune l00 company had prepared me ________ this moment. I was ready and did not need a genie’s help to ________ a motivational speaker.

1.

A．purchasing

B．discovering

C．selling

D．carrying

2.

A．immediately

B．hardly

C．personally

D．gradually

3.

A．content

B．snacks

C．gifts

D．wrapper

4.

A．into

B．from

C．upon

D．for

5.

A．waitress

B．assistant

C．actor

D．salesperson

6.

A．spirits

B．laughter

C．name

D．voice

7.

A．understood

B．recognized

C．meant

D．distinguished

8.

A．optimistic

B．motivational

C．active

D．bright

9.

A．another

B．other

C．others

D．else

10.

A．searching

B．debating

C．acting

D．ending

11.

A．height

B．bottom

C．depth

D．width

12.

A．satisfied

B．astonished

C．pleased

D．depressed

13.

A．predict

B．observe

C．risk

D．indicate

14.

A．secure

B．obvious

C．traditional

D．popular

15.

A．concerned

B．changed

C．wondered

D．persuaded

16.

A．Why

B．How

C．When

D．Whether

17.

A．never

B．always

C．sometimes

D．ever

18.

A．accompanied

B．noticed

C．admitted

D．accomplished

19.

A．at

B．from

C．in

D．for

20.

A．accept

B．become

C．compare

D．doubt

6 . France announced on Sunday that it has implemented a 48-hour ban on travel to Britain, joining a growing number of European countries halting travel to Britain after a new strain of the coronavirus was detected in that country. At least six European countries have announced flights will cease if they haven’t done so already, while France and Belgium have banned train travel.

French officials said the 48-hour stoppage would give them time to find a “common doctrine” to stop the spread of the new COVID-19 variant. French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday. 

Germany, which holds the EU presidency, called a special crisis meeting for Monday to coordinate a response.

Top health officials in Britain say a new, fast-moving variant of the coronavirus could be up to 70% more transmissible than previous ones. This strain appears to be driving the rapid spread in London and southern England. But there is no evidence the new strain is deadlier or would react differently to the vaccine, according to BBC News.

As a result of the new strain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday a new tier of coronavirus restrictions, the strictest yet, and canceled the planned five-day Christmas relaxation period that had been planned from December 23 through 27.

“I know how much emotion people invest in this time of year, and how important it is for grandparents to see their grandchildren,” Johnson said Saturday. “But when the virus changes its method of attack, we must change our method of defense.”

1. Why did France implement a 48-hour ban on travel to Britain?

A．Because the country was going to have a holiday.

B．Because people in France couldn’t afford it.

C．Because coronavirus broke out in France.

D．Because a new strain of coronavirus was detected in that country.

2. Which of the following statements is true?

A．France was the only European country which banned traveling to Britain because of   coronavirus.

B．The new variant of the coronavirus is more dangerous.

C．In Britain, the 5-day Christmas relaxation period was cancelled.

D．People in Britain don’t care much about Christmas holiday

3. What’s the feature of the new strain of coronavirus?

A．It could be up more transmissible than previous ones.

B．It appears to be driving the rapid spread in the whole Britain.

C．It would react differently to the vaccine.

D．It’s not as deadly as the previous ones.

4. What’s Boris Johnson’s attitude towards the cancel of the Christmas relaxation period?

A．Pleased.

B．Regretful.

C．Doubtful.

D．Indifferent.

7 . Men with shaved heads are perceived to be more masculine, dominant and, in some cases, to have greater leadership potential than those with longer locks or with thinning hair, according to a recent study out of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Some executives say the style makes them appear younger — or at least, makes their age less evident — and gives them more confidence than a comb-over or monk-like pate.

Wharton management lecturer Albert Mannes conducted three experiments to test peoples’ perceptions of men with shaved heads. In one of the experiments, he showed 344 subjects photos of the same men in two versions: one showing the man with hair and the other showing him with his hair digitally removed, so his head appears shaved.

The study found that men with thinning hair were viewed as the least attractive and powerful of the bunch, a finding that tracks with other studies showing that people perceive men with typical male-pattern baldness as older and less attractive. For those men, the solution could be as cheap and simple as a shave.

New York image consultant Julie Rath advises her clients to get closely cropped when they start thinning up top. “There’s something really strong, powerful and confident about laying it all bare,” she says, describing the thinning or combed-over look as “kind of schlumpy.”

1. Which kind of people are more likely to be regarded as leaders?

A．People with long hair.	B．People with thinning hair.
C．People with shaved heads.	D．People with young appearance.

2. What’s the purpose of Albert Mannes’ experiment?

A．To see people’s opinions on men with shaved heads.

B．To distinguish 344 different photos.

C．To show how people’s hair is digitally removed.

D．To persuade people to keep their hair.

3. What should men with baldness do according to the study?

A．To have a comb-over hairstyle.	B．To have a shave.
C．To make their hair thin.	D．To have a simple haircut.

4. In which column of a newspaper can you read the text?

A．Technology

B．Business

C．Environment

D．Lifestyle

8 . Why do we eat so much?

One reason is buffet lunches—they need no explanation. Business dinners that last for hours also encourage people to eat too much. Dinner parties with friends are also culprits, as being in a good mood gives you an appetite. Eating too quickly because you are busy can also be a problem. It takes 20 minutes for the brain to receive a warning of overeating, so wolfing lunch in 10 minutes is not a good idea. Finally, skipping meals due to work pressure can lead to binge-eating in the evening.

What’s wrong about overeating?

“Taking in half the food that your stomach can contain is enough for you to survive. Eating too much places a burden on your organs and causes many health problems,” heath education expert Hong Shaoguang said.

Health risks:

Obesity: Countless scientific studies have proved that obesity causes heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, arteriosclerosis and other complications.

Gastropathy: Overeating can cause severe indigestion even damage the gastrointestinal tract.

Fatigue: Overeating slows brain reactions and accelerates the brain’s aging process.

Cancer: Japanese scientists have found that overeating can switch off a gene that combats cancer.

Dementia: Japanese experts have found that 30 to 40 percent of senile dementia patients overate when they were younger.

1. Which will not encourage people to eat too much according to the text?

A．Being in a good mood.	B．Business dinners lasting for hours.
C．Too delicious food.	D．Eating too quickly.

2. How much food is enough for survival according to Hong Shaoguang?

A．Half the food that your stomach can contain.

B．As much food as your stomach can contain.

C．More food than your stomach can contain.

D．A quarter of th food that your stomach can contain.

3. Which is not the health problem of overeating?

A．Heart disease.

B．Indigestion

C．Looking older

D．Cancer

9 . Too often, houseplant decisions are made suddenly. We find a fine plant at the supermarket and say, “That’s so pretty. I want it.” So we bring home a healthy, tropical (热带的) plant only to find it, weeks later, on death’s doorstep.

Before buying a tropical plant or indoor flowering plant, look around your house and decide where you would like to see it. It is not necessary to choose the brightest place, as there are great houseplants for nearly all light conditions. After determining where new plants are needed, decide what shape the plants should be. Perhaps you need something tall to fill an empty corner or soften an empty wall.

Once you have a list of the spaces you need to fill and the plant forms you would like to try, visit the garden center or greenhouse and look at the offerings. Mid-winter is the best time for tropical plant shopping since most stores fill the gap between gardening seasons with tropical orders. Ordered a lot, they are cheaper in the winter as well.

Ask the salesman which plants are the easiest to grow; this list should include cast iron plant, parlor palms, snake plants, peace lilies and so on. Flowering plants are the most difficult to grow and should be avoided if you are new to indoor plants. If you must have one, look for Jasmine Sambac, an easy plant.

Don’t lose heart if you buy something and it doesn’t survive. Tropical plants are suited to warm, moist (潮湿的) and protected air. They are not suited to some places in hot northern homes. Remember that a lovely plant that looks good in your living room for only a year is still a better action than last night’s pizza.

1. What should we consider before buying a houseplant?

A．Its color and shape.	B．Its flowering period.
C．The area which it belongs to.	D．The place where we will put it.

2. Why does the author suggest buying plants in mid-winter?

A．There are more plants to choose from then.

B．The gardening business then is increasing.

C．The plants look more beautiful then.

D．The plants grow better then.

3. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．We’d better not buy the pizza made last night.

B．The living conditions are important to plants.

C．Few people can keep tropical plants alive.

D．It is wrong to keep tropical plants indoor.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Where to buy houseplants.

B．When to grow houseplants.

C．How to choose a proper houseplant.

D．Whether houseplants are easy to grow.

10 . Four movies to be shown in 2020

Sonic the Hedgehog
February 14th, 2020
Directed by Jeff Fowler

Sonic the Hedgehog follows the adventures of Sonic and his best friend Tom Wachowski. Sonic and Tom try to stop Dr. Robotnik from stealing Sonic’s great powers to control the world. The movie stars Tika Sumpter and Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic.

Bill & Ted Face the Music
August 21st, 2020
Directed by Dean Parisot

Following 1989’s Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and 1991’s Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, the new movie will center on Bill and Ted who are now middle-aged men. Bill and Ted set out on a new adventure, when a visitor from the future warns them that only their song can save life and bring peace to the world.

Mulan
March 25th, 2020
Directed by Niki Caro

The Emperor of China issues an order that one man from each family must serve in the Imperial Army to protect the country from Northern invaders (侵略者). Hua Mulan is the eldest daughter of an honored fighter. She pretends to be a man and takes the place of her sick father. It is a journey that will change her into an honored fighter and earn her the nation’s respect.

Finding Jack
November 11th, 2020
Directed by Anton Ernst

Fletcher Carson joins the war in Vietnam. Lost and lonely, he plans to die in the war. But after he found a dog named Lab by mistake, Fletcher unexpectedly begins to regain his will to live. When the war ends, Fletcher is forced to give up his dog. But how do you leave your best friend behind? So together they start an adventure against all unfair things to fight for survival.

1. Who is the bad character in Sonic the Hedgehog?

A．Sonic.

B．Tom Wachowski.

C．Dr. Robotnik.

D．Tika Sumpter.

2. What do we know about Bill & Ted Face the Music?

A．It’s intended for song writers.	B．It’s the third movie of its series.
C．It’s about two men’s childhood.	D．It centers on a man from the future.

3. What do the movies Mulan and Finding Jack have in common?

A．They both call for peace.	B．They both stress family relationship.
C．They both attract animal lovers most.	D．They both have something to do with wars.