1 . Samantha Whiting, from Texas, USA, was on holiday with her family in California earlier this year when every parent’s worst nightmare came to life.
While playing on the beach, Samantha spotted her 10-year-old daughter Hayley drifting out into deeper water. She called Hayley back to shore, only for the youngster to realise she was caught in the rip current (离岸流) and couldn’t swim back in. The current was dragging her out to sea rapidly and she called for her mum to help her as Samantha desperately tried to reach her little girl. “I will never forget her face when she said, ‘Mum, help me!’” Samantha told KFSN, recalling the terror in her daughter’s voice. She managed to reach her daughter but wasn’t able to swim her back to shore and the pair were struggling.
Nearby, Kevin Cozzi and his girlfriend heard the screaming. He quickly jumped into action when he realized Hayley was in danger. “I’ve been swimming since I was 3 years old competitively, so I felt like I could get to them,” Cozzi told KFSN. “I ran out there and as soon as I got to the mum, I just told her to give me her daughter because I knew she was struggling.” He swam Hayley back to shore and a lifeguard rushed to help the 10-year-old, meanwhile Samantha was thanking the total stranger who had saved her little girl from drowning.
“If it were not for him coming to help me, there’s no way that we both would have made it, ” the grateful mum said.
Months went by, and Samantha only knew Cozzi’s first name and that he lived in Merced, California. However, she never stopped looking for the heroic bystander.
Earlier this week, she posted about the rescue in a Facebook group called Merced Neighborhood Watch, and within hours they reconnected.
Cozzi and his girlfriend had to put off their wedding because of COVID-19, and Samantha decided to set up a GoFund Me account to help Cozzi and his girlfriend have the wedding of their dreams. Both Samantha and Hayley have been invited to the wedding, set for next fall, and look forward to once again thanking Cozzi in person. Cozzi was thankful for their fundraiser, but told journalists, “That girl being saved was enough for me.”
1. What is the main cause of the daughter’s incident?| A．The rapid water current. | B．Parents’ carelessness. |
| C．Poor management on the beach. | D．Her lack of practice. |
| A．Samantha. | B．Kevin. | C．The lifeguard. | D．Kevin’s girlfriend. |
| A．Competitive. | B．Cooperative. | C．Ambitious. | D．Selfless. |
| A．Kindness will be rewarded. | B．Two heads are better than one. |
| C．Danger can happen everywhere. | D．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
2 . Sports account for a growing amount of income made on the sales of commercial time by television companies. Many television companies have used sports to attract viewers from particular sections of the general public, and then they have sold audiences to advertisers.
An attraction of sport programs for the major U.S. media companies is that events are often held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons—the slowest time periods of the week for general television viewing. Sport events are the most popular weekend programs, especially among male viewers who may not watch much television at other times during the week. This means the television networks are able to sell advertising time at relatively high prices during what normally would be dead time for programming.
Media corporations also use sports to attract commercial sponsors that might take their advertising dollars elsewhere if television stations did not report certain sports. The people in the advertising departments of major corporations realize that sports attract male viewers. They also realize that most business travelers are men and that many men make family decisions on the purchases of computers, cars and life insurance.
Golf and tennis are special cases for television programming. These sports attract few viewers, and the ratings (收视率) are unusually low. However, the audience for these sports is attractive to certain advertisers. It is made up of people from the highest income groups in the United States, including many lawyers and business managers. This is why television reporting of golf and tennis is sponsored by companies selling high-priced cars, business and personal computer, and holiday trips. This is also why the networks continue to carry these programs regardless of low ratings. Advertisers are willing to pay high fees to reach high-income consumers and those managers who make decisions to buy thousands of “company cars” and computer, with such viewers, these programs don’t need high ratings to stay on the air.
1. Why would weekend afternoons become dead time without sport programs?| A．Because there would be few viewers. |
| B．Because the advertisers would be off work. |
| C．Because television programs would go slowly. |
| D．Because viewers would pay less for watching television. |
| A．holiday | B．sports viewing | C．television shopping | D．expensive purchases |
| A．their advertisers are carmakers |
| B．their viewers are attracted by sports |
| C．their advertisers target at rich people |
| D．their viewers can afford expensive cars |
| A．Television viewers are determined by male viewers. |
| B．Rich viewers contribute most to television companies. |
| C．Sports are gaining importance in advertising on television. |
| D．Commercial advertisers are the major sponsors of sport event. |
3 . On July 14, 2017, Maryam Mirzakhani, Stanford professor of mathematics and the first female winner of the Fields Medal in Mathematics, died at the age of 40.
The news was especially hard-hitting for a generation of younger academics who have always held Maryam as a role model whose example is helping redefine women’s status in science and especially mathematics. What was fun was that Maryam always tried to avoid the media’s spotlight. Her modesty (谦虚) and simplicity despite being the first woman to gain such high status in the world of mathematics — winning what’s often called the “Nobel Prize of math” — stood out to those who knew her.
Maryam originally wanted to be a writer, a passion of hers that never faded away even during her postgraduate studies. However, she found an even greater joy in how rewarding it felt to solve mathematical problems. As a student, she was the first female member of Iran’s national team to participate in the International Math Olympiad (IMO), and she won two gold medals in two years — still a record.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Iran and later studied at Harvard. In 2014, Maryam was recognized with the Fields Medal, the highest-ranking award in mathematics. Her work focused on curved surfaces like spheres (球体). Her achievements have applications in other scientific fields including engineering and material science. Unfortunately, at that time she was already tackling the breast cancer.
Maryam’s legend (传奇) may continue to grow after her early death. Still only 20 percent of full-time math teachers at U. S. universities are women. The example of a woman who rose to the top of this still very male field may help inspire math’s next generation.
In the same way people think of Marie Curie or Jane Goodall as scientific pioneers, Maryam Mirzakhani will go down in history as a trailblazer as well as a mathematical genius.
1. What makes Maryam internationally recognized?| A．Her unfading passion for writing. |
| B．Fighting against sexual discrimination. |
| C．Being the first female Fields Medal winner. |
| D．Coming under the media’s spotlight frequently. |
| A．She was sociable in her life. |
| B．She was enthusiastic about spotlight. |
| C．She was devoted to redefining women’s right. |
| D．She was much indifferent to fame and fortune. |
| A．She won gold medals for Iran in IMO. |
| B．She got her bachelor’s degree at Harvard. |
| C．She applied mathematics to material science. |
| D．She instructed some female students to reach the top. |
| A．Talent. | B．Model. | C．Follower. | D．Pioneer. |
4 . Are you looking for something to occupy your kids in the upcoming winter holiday? The following books recommended by Jeff Kinney may be your best choices.
Class Act: New Kid by Jerry CraftA graphic novel with heart and humor, eighth-grader Drew Ellis is one of the few kids of color at an influential private school. As social pressures mount, “will Drew find a way to bridge the divide so he and his friends can truly accept each other? And most importantly, will he finally be able to accept himself?” the publisher synopsis (出版商简介) asks.
Three Keys by Kelly YangA sequel (续篇) to the award-winning novel Front Desk ninth-grader Mia faces some new challenges at school and at home in her family’s Calivista Motel. “But if anyone can find the key to getting through unsettled times,” the author’s description reads, “it’s Mia Tang!”
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar GilesA magical story with imagination and heroism about two adventurous cousins who wish for an extended summer and accidentally freeze time. According to the publisher’s synopsis, the teenagers learn that “the secrets hidden between the seconds, minutes, and hours aren’t quite the endless fun they expected!”
Boys Will Be Human by Justin BaldoniA self-esteem building guidebook for boys ages 13 and up, producer, actor and author Baldoni explores the social and emotional learning around confidence, courage, strength and manhood. “This book isn’t about learning the rules of the boys’ club,” a slogan reads, “it’s about UNLEARNING them.”
1. Which book tells difficulties from both school and home?| A．Class Act: New Kid. | B．Three Keys. |
| C．The Last Last-Day-of-Summer. | D．Boys Will Be Human. |
| A．Mia faces great social pressures. |
| B．Three Keys is an award-winning novel. |
| C．The story about the two cousins is imaginative. |
| D．Boys Will Be Human is a book about selfishness. |
| A．Parents. | B．Teenagers. | C．Authors. | D．Publishers. |
5 . Hong Kong and Macau are home to several well-known universities that offer diverse courses and programs to students. Here are some of the universities and their key information.
The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
This university is one of the oldest and most prestigious in Asia, offering undergraduate, graduate, and research programs in various fields. Popular majors include business, engineering, law, and medicine. Admission requirements vary depending on the program, but all applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent and be fluent in English. HKU offers scholarships and financial assistance to both local and international students.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
This university is famous for its programs in science, engineering, and business. It also offers programs in social sciences and humanities. Admission requirements include high academic achievement and language proficiency (English). HKUST provides a range of scholarships and financial aid packages to deserving students.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
This university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in areas such as business, science, social sciences, and humanities. Admission requirements include academic performance, language proficiency (English and Chinese) and personal qualities. CUHK provides scholarships for students from different backgrounds and regions.
The University of Macau (UM)
This university is the only public comprehensive university in Macau, offering programs in business, science, social sciences, humanities, and education. Admission requirements vary depending on the program, but all applicants must be fluent in English or Portuguese. UM offers scholarships only for local students and does not provide accommodation for any students.
1. What majors are liked and chosen more at the University of Hong Kong?| A．Science, engineering, and business. | B．Al technology and English. |
| C．Business, engineering, law, and medicine. | D．Business, science, social sciences, and humanities. |
| A．UM does not provide financial aid to international students. |
| B．UM is one of the best public universities in Macau. |
| C．UM has the best business program in Macau. |
| D．UM does not admit international students. |
| A．They all have high tuition fees. | B．They all offer great scholarships. |
| C．They all have high-quality dormitories. | D．They all have language requirements. |
6 . “I’m not a reader.” It’s a common reply that Julia Torres, a teacher-librarian in Denver Public Schools, has heard throughout her 16-year career. She’s seen students tear up books, throw them away or check them out only to immediately return them all because they didn’t have confidence in their ability to read.
As a librarian, Torres feels strongly that libraries should be spaces of liberation, places where students can develop a love of reading at any stage. Reading is a skill that everyone can grow to love, but too many negative experiences during a child’s literacy (读写能力) education can result in boredom, lack of interest or even anger. When a student has a poor experience like being shamed for their reading choices, they can begin to associate reading with painful feelings of insecurity, shame and stress.
To prevent reading disorder (阅读障碍) practices, as Torres notes, librarians first can build an inclusive library where classified collections can make it easier for students to navigate and also help identify gaps in the collections. Reevaluating librarians’ role and priorities is necessary, which allows students to take control of the library and have a say in what’s purchased for the collection, directly arousing students’ reading interest. Instead of hosting traditional book fairs where students have to pay for books, it is better to open up a True Book Fair, where students are invited to choose books intentionally to their interests without any costs. Librarians are recommended to read what students are reading. Saying graphic novels count as real reading is only lip-service (空口的应酬话) if you’re not reading those graphic novels yourself. Another two important approaches to preventing reading disorder are to take a look at the library policies and redefine what counts as reading. It is necessary to get rid of fines, check-out limits, security gates, and punishment policies. Plus, students are encouraged to listen to audiobooks or read picture books. Find a way to teach important skills like comprehension or critical thinking with the texts that excite and interest students.
1. What does the underlined sentence imply?| A．Books are not to the taste of students. |
| B．Some students are not interested in reading. |
| C．Students don’t borrow books from the library. |
| D．Students haven’t tried to read for entertainment. |
| A．Voicing their own choices. | B．Getting rid of library rules. |
| C．Librarians’ recommendation. | D．Reducing charges caused by reading. |
| A．How negative reading experiences affect students. |
| B．Why to reduce reading disorder as student librarians. |
| C．How to lessen reading disorder as student librarians. |
| D．What leads to students’ difficulty in reading. |
| A．Offering suggestions to the librarians. |
| B．Doing a research on reading disorder. |
| C．Analyzing why reading disorder forms. |
| D．Arousing attention in reading disorder prevention. |
7 . Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia, near Afghanistan and Iran. In Darvaza, one of its villages, there is a very interesting feature. It is a massive hole in the ground-about 20 metres (65 feet) deep and 60 metres (196 feet) across. The enormous pit (火山口) has been on fire for more than 50 years.
Why is the crater on fire? The most popular theory is that in 1971, a team of geologists from the then-Soviet Union were drilling in the country’s Karakum Desert to try to find gas. The ground under the drill collapsed and methane (甲烷) gas began to escape into the air. The geologists decided the safest thing to do was to burn off the gas by lighting it on fire. They thought the fire would burn for only a few weeks. However, it has been burning steadily for more than 50 years.
According to a BBC article, Canadian explorer George Kourounis discovered in 2013 that “no one actually knows how this catastrophe came to be.” But, now the crater may finally be extinguished.
Turkmenistan’s president, Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, has asked scientists in the country to figure out how to deal with the burning crater. He went on the country’s state-run television station on January 8 to encourage experts to find a way to stop the fire.
One of the reasons he wants the crater to be fixed is that the country can collect the gas that fuels it. Gas is a very important and valuable resource and can be used for many purposes. If it’s just burning off, the gas cannot be used or sold. According to the website Vice.com, the crater sits on the fourth largest reserve of natural gas in the world. Another reason the president may want the crater cooled down is to stop the harmful effects, to humans and the environment, of the burning gas.
1. Why did the geologists light the crater?| A．To test the quality of the gas. |
| B．To exhaust the underground gas. |
| C．To prevent explosion of the gas. |
| D．To stop the escape of the gas. |
| A．put off. | B．take off | C．put out | D．bring in |
| A．To protect the crater. | B．To find the reason of the fire. |
| C．To seek help from the public. | D．To exploit and use the gas. |
| A．The Fire Crater May Soon Be Extinguished | B．A Peculiar Scenic Spot in Turkmenistan |
| C．The Crater Burning for Fifty Years | D．The Harmful Effects of the Burning Gas |
8 . One Chinese startup (科技创业公司) apparently developed technology that allows it to identify individuals by their walk, even if their face is covered or they have their back to the camera.
Known as “gait recognition” (步态识别技术), the technology invented by artificial intelligence startup Watrix analyses thousand of metrics (指标) about a person’s walk, from their body shape and the angle of arm movement to their posture and whether they a toe-in or toe-out gait. All these individual features go into a database that the software then goes through when attempting to identify people. According to an official statement from Watrix, the accuracy rate of gait technology at the laboratory level exceeds (超过) 96 percent.
Facial recognition technology has come a long way in recent years, but it still has a fundamental weakness — it needs to “see” people’s faces in order to identify them, so if someone’s face is covered or if their back is to the camera, it’s basically useless. Gait recognition, on the other hand, is much more reliable. It works from virtually any angle, and because it analyses so many metrics, it can identify subjects even if they attempt to cover their legs. Disguises (伪装物) fake limps are not very effective in fooling the technology either.
“Covering your legs would reduce the recognition score but we analyze all of a person’s body,” Huang Yongzhen, co-founder and chief executive of Watrix, said in an interview. “With facial recognition people need to look into a camera — cooperation is not needed for them to be recognized by our technology.”
Watrix revealed the first version of their gait recognition technology in October, 2018 and has since been in talks with security companies from Singapore, India, Russia, the Netherlands, and Czech Republic for contracts. The technology has also been tested by public security officials for thousands of hours and used to solve dozens of police cases. Authorities in Shanghai and Beijing are already using gait recognition to detect wanted criminals and identify jaywalkers (乱穿马路者).
The current version of gait recognition software isn’t yet capable of detecting people in real time, but the Chinese startup claims that it’s able to analyze an hour’s worth of video footage in just 10 minutes, with over 94% accuracy.
1. How could Watrix guarantee the accuracy of “gait recognition”?| A．By checking the angle of people’s arm movement. |
| B．By combining facial recognition with people’s walk. |
| C．By establishing a database of numerous individuals’ metrics. |
| D．By analyzing thousands of features of people’s legs and toes. |
| A．Unlimited angles. | B．Free gestures. |
| C．No need to cover. | D．Active cooperation. |
| A．Watrix has found several cooperative partners for its first version. |
| B．Gait recognition has been widely used in the field of pubilc security. |
| C．Watrix is trying to extend the use of the technology in Chinese big cities. |
| D．Gait technology has been proved beneficial in identifying wanted criminals. |
| A．Challenging. | B．Anticipated. | C．Profitable. | D．Unknown. |
9 . At the school Art Festival, I was asked to design the costumes for three school plays, which many of my classmates and teachers thought were nice and novel. Everyone was amazed to see the actors wear my costumes onstage. This experience has made me realize that I am really good at drawing and have talent in fashion design, and has inspired me to pursue fashion design as my job. That way, I can combine work with my interests and strengths.
To find out how to get into the field of fashion design, I did some research about what kind of education and skills I might need. I found out that many premier fashion designers studied at fashion design institutes in London, Paris or Milan. I also looked up job ads for the fashion industry to see what abilities or qualities designers should have. For example, they must have a good sense of colors and proportions, be familiar with various fabrics such as cotton, wool and man-made fibers, be able to recognize styles and trends, and be creative.
After much thought, I decided to develop these skills and get the right qualifications by studying art at university. While I am there, I would like to work part-time for a fashion design company in order to learn from other designers—more is better when it comes to work experience. I am also thinking about trying my hand at CAD, which is becoming more and more popular in the fashion industry. Actually I don’t have to wait until I go to university to swing into action as there will be a workshop in my city next month which I am hoping to attend.
After graduation, I will seek a job as a fashion designer. One day, I hope to start my own clothing company. Clothes with designer labels in shops are generally thought to be too expensive. I want to design fashionable clothes that ordinary people can afford. Hopefully, all of my planning and preparation will lead to a great career in fashion design.
1. What inspired the author to pursue fashion design as a career?| A．The job advertisement for a fashion design company. |
| B．His passion for color and proportion in fashion design. |
| C．The school Art Festival and positive feedback from classmates and teachers. |
| D．His desire to work in the fashion industry in Milan, Paris, or London. |
| A．To design affordable, fashionable clothes for ordinary people. |
| B．To work for a well-known fashion design company. |
| C．To create high-end, luxury clothing with designer labels. |
| D．To become a famous designer in Milan, Paris, or London. |
| A．A student who is unsure about his future career path |
| B．A student who enjoys designing costumes for school plays. |
| C．A fashion enthusiast who is interested in fashion design as a career. |
| D．A fashion designer who has already started his own clothing company |
| A．Affordable Fashion for Everyone | B．How to Get into the Fashion Industry |
| C．Discovering a Talent for Fashion Design | D．The Importance of Art Festivals in Schools |
10 . While most teenagers spend the summer hanging out, Ke’Nyzjah Ferebee doesn’t join. Filling cake orders and updating her website
Ferebee started baking out of
| A．change | B．occupy | C．bother | D．attract |
| A．assists | B．joins | C．finds | D．runs |
| A．curiosity | B．necessity | C．passion | D．duty |
| A．failed | B．began | C．arrived | D．mattered |
| A．applied | B．perfected | C．shared | D．presented |
| A．reminded | B．advised | C．instructed | D．inspired |
| A．comparison | B．discussion | C．consideration | D．preparation |
| A．gifted | B．young | C．prepared | D．serious |
| A．wondered | B．approved | C．worried | D．hesitated |
| A．regular | B．potential | C．favored | D．popular |
| A．Unexpectedly | B．Unnoticeably | C．Unfortunately | D．Unavoidably |
| A．intended | B．promised | C．managed | D．continued |
| A．model | B．graduate | C．specialist | D．support |
| A．keep to | B．go beyond | C．jump at | D．work on |
| A．devoted | B．modest | C．confident | D．responsible |
