1 . One day, 12-year-old Sean Redden surfed the Internet and went to a popular chat room. Just as he was about to be offline, he saw a name he’d never seen there before, Susan. Her brief message was “Would someone help me?”
Sean typed back, “What’s wrong?” A moment later he received this message, “I can’t breathe. Help me! I can’t get out of my chair.”
Oh, man, Sean thought. Pretending to be paralyzed (瘫痪) was a bad joke. Then he wondered what if she really is sick? “Hey. Mom.” he called. “There’s a kid here who’s sick or something.” Sharon looked at the computer screen. “It’s not just some game, is it?” she asked.
The message was not a joke. Susan was actually a 20-year-old student, working late at night at a college library near Helsinki, Finland - almost 7,000 miles away from Sean’s home in Texas. While searching the Internet, she began to feel terrible pain all through her body. The library was silent and empty. The nearest phone was outside in the hallway. She couldn’t move that far. Any movement caused the pain to get worse. Then she realized she might get help on the Internet.
“I don’t think it’s a joke, Mom, “Sean said. And he typed, “Where are you?” After a long while, the letters appeared, “Finland.” Sean and Sharon couldn’t believe it. Not knowing what else to do, Sharon called the local police.
Sharon explained the situation to the officer Amy Schmidt. Schmidt told Sharon to try to get the sick girl’s phone number. Texas police called the international telephone operator and asked to be connected to the proper agency (机构) in Finland. The call was put through to a nearby rescue station. The Texas police gave Susan’s address to the Finnish operator. When Sean heard that, he typed, “Help is on the way.”
In a few minutes, Susan heard people running down the hallway outside the door. Suddenly, the door opened. Emergency workers and three policemen ran in. Susan turned once more to the computer, “They are here. Thanks. Bye-bye.”
Four days later, the police in Texas received a message from officers in Finland: “Thanks to her Internet friend. Susan has received medical treatment she badly needed. She is doing well.”
1. What happened when Sean was about to get offline?| A．His computer broke down. |
| B．A piece of online news attracted him. |
| C．He came across a friend in the chat room. |
| D．He noticed an unfamiliar name. |
| A．She fell down on the ground. |
| B．She was too sick to move |
| C．She lost her phone. |
| D．She was locked in the library. |
| A．They reported to the Texas police. |
| B．They called the rescue station in Finland. |
| C．They asked for help online |
| D．They sent messages to Susan’s friend. |
| A．Making Friends Onlines |
| B．Police Officer’s Act of Kindnes |
| C．Help on the Way |
| D．Help on the Internet |
2 . As you grow older, you’ll be faced with some challenging decisions like whether to cut class or try cigarettes (香烟). Making decisions on your own is hard enough, but when other people take part in and try to pressure you one way or another it can be even harder. People who are your age, like your classmates, are called peers (同龄人). When they try to influence how you act, to get you to do something, it’s called peer pressure.
Peers can have a positive influence on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in the solar system (太阳系). Maybe you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone’s reading it. These are examples of how peers positively influence each other.
Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, a few kids in school might try to get you to cut class with them. Your soccer friend might try to convince (使信服) you to be mean to another player and never pass him the ball.
It is tough to be the only one who says “no” to peer pressure, but you can do it. Paying attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do.
You’ve probably had a parent or teacher advising you to “choose your friends wisely.” Peer pressure is a big reason why they say this. If you choose friends who don’t cut class, smoke cigarettes, or lie to their parents, then you probably won’t do these things either, even if other kids do.
If you continue to face peer pressure and you’re finding it difficult to deal with, talk to someone you trust. Don’t feel guilty (内疚) if you’ve made a mistake or two.
1. For whom is the passage most probably written?| A．Teachers. | B．Parents. | C．Students. | D．Doctors. |
| A．by space | B．by time | C．by stories | D．by examples |
| A．Taking up more relaxing hobbies. |
| B．Helping others who are in trouble. |
| C．Spending more time with classmates. |
| D．Choosing friends with no bad habits. |
| A．Friendship | B．Self-confidence |
| C．Peer pressure | D．Making decisions |
3 . WHY SHENNONGJIA?
As we know, in 2016, Shennongjia made it on to the UNESCO World Heritage List. But there are so many important places not yet on this list. So you might ask: why Shennongjia?
UNESCO awarded Shennongjia this status because it meets two criteria required by the list. It contains a naturally-balanced environment that allows the many and various species to live and prosper. It is also one of the rare locations in the world where scientists can observe in real time the ecological and biological processes that occur as the plants and animals develop and evolve.
For the first criterion, Shennongjia is apparently one of the most “complete” natural areas in the world. The region rises from about 400 metres to over 3, 000 metres above sealevel, giving it the name the “Roof of Central China”.
For the second criterion, we can see that Shennongjia has incredible biodiversity. Look at this slide. According to official statistics, over 3, 000 plant species have been recorded there. This represents more than ten percent of China’s total floral richness.
It is a challenge to look after so many species. In winter, scientists brave heavy snow and freezing temperatures to supply food to the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. Thanks to their efforts, the monkey’s population has doubled since the 1980s.Their number reached over 1, 300 in 2015 and continues to grow.
But the most impressive aspect of Shennongjia is the local people, who take things from nature without causing damage. I visited a local village which is known for its home-made honey. What is special about the honey is that it is produced by the earliest species of Chinese bee. All of this explains why Shennongjia earned—and deserves—its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as highlighting how understanding, awareness and hard work have contributed towards protecting a unique and wonderful part of our natural world.
1. Why is Shennongjia included in the UNESCO World Heritage List?| A．Because its forests stretch on and on like great green seas. |
| B．Because it is the legendary father of Chinese herbal medicine. |
| C．Because it satisfies the two requirements for the status. |
| D．Because it has the mysterious creature called “Yeren”. |
| A．Roof of Central China | B．Roof of Northern China |
| C．Roof of Eastern China | D．Roof of Southern China |
| A．Patient. | B．Careful. | C．Confident. | D．Hard-working. |
| A．A local village. | B．The local people. |
| C．Some special monkeys. | D．The wild bees. |
4 . Any creature or person that has both organic (与有机体有关的) and non-organic body parts can technically be considered a cyborg. This means that anyone who has a pace-maker to control their heartbeat, or a cochlear implant (耳蜗移植) to restore their hearing, could technically be called one.
The above are examples of “restorative” cyborgs, because technology is restoring an ability that a healthy human would normally have. More recent advancements in this field include robotic arms and legs, which are controlled by sensors (传感器) to receive muscle signals. Recently, brain implants have allowed disabled people to perform simple computer tasks.
But with these rapid advances in technology, another variety of cyborg will soon become more common— ‘Advanced’ cyborgs. If it’s possible to make man-made body parts which are as good as their organic ones, then surely it will become possible to make ones that are even better.
Possible cyborg advancements that may exist in the future include man-made joints which increase your speed and strength. Advanced brain chips (芯片) which allow you to control machines with a thought. Or visual implants which improve your eyesight or allow you to see colors that can’t be seen previously to the human eye.
However, some people worry that this technology could be dangerous. New ways of exciting the pleasure centers of people’s brains could lead to new forms of addiction. Others worry that it could lead to inequality in healthcare, with the high cost of implants causing the wealthy to gain further advantages over the poor.
Implants which restore the abilities of those who are injured are a wonderful medical advancement. But as physical enhancements that allow people to do more and live longer become more common, the choice will be between combining with machines or being left behind.
1. Which of the following is a cyborg?| A．A pace-maker. | B．A robot with strong arms. |
| C．A brain implant. | D．An animal with a robotic leg. |
| A．Seeing more colors than normal people. | B．Directing people with brain. |
| C．Creating the man-made joints. | D．Repairing the organic body parts. |
| A．The poor could gain new addiction. | B．The wealthy could live longer than the poor. |
| C．Cyborgs no longer need healthcare. | D．Cyborgs could avoid any form of injury. |
| A．A report on a robotic project. | B．A fictional novel on cyborgs. |
| C．A fitness and well-being brochure. | D．A magazine on new science. |
5 . In 1670, two Scottish doctors set up a garden in the city of Edinburgh to find out connections between plants and medicine. That first garden wasn’t very big — about the size of a tennis court. Fast-forward 350 years, and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) now covers an area bigger than 1,000 tennis courts. The RBGE’s goal is to “explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future”.
After doctors and distant cousins Robert Sibbald and Andrew Balfour graduated from university in the mid-17th century, they shared the goal of improving Scottish medicine by looking into botanical (plant-related) research. They found some land near Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh and started to collect plants. They taught students how to grow exotic (外来的) plants and use them to make medicines. As the collection expanded (增加), the garden moved to different sites, including what is now Edinburgh’s Waverley Station.
In 1823, the garden was moved to its current location in Inverleith, a suburb of Edinburgh. It took three years to move the collection of plants and trees using specially built machines. The Tropical Palm House was built in 1834, and it was joined by the larger Temperate Palm House in 1858. Both are still popular with visitors. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the RBGE continued to search for new specimens (标本) from around the world.
The RBGE has about 13,500 species of living plants in its collection today. The herbarium — a collection of dried and protected species — includes more than three million plant samples, which represent more than half of the world’s known plants. The oldest specimen dates back to 1697. Experts continue to recognize new species each year, as well as growing plants that are extinct in their own habitats. The RBGE also works with botanical gardens around the world, including in Africa and South America, and supports them with conservation projects, education and training.
1. Why did Robert and Andrew build up the garden?| A．To teach people some knowledge about exotic plants. |
| B．To do research on plants and medicine. |
| C．To protect endangered wildlife. |
| D．To practice their tennis skills. |
| A．In the mid-17th century. | B．In the 20th century. |
| C．In1834. | D．In1858. |
| A．It has made achievements in growing extinct plants. |
| B．It has collected less than half of all known plants. |
| C．It is going to expand its sites in other countries. |
| D．It collects native plants only. |
| A．How the RBGE has expanded. | B．The progress of saving endangered plants. |
| C．Why a botanic garden was built. | D．An introduction to the RBGE. |
6 . Some Strangest Festivals From Around The World
Through the years, people have found many ways to celebrate important occasions in their lives. If you’re looking for an interesting and off-the-beaten-path travel place, here are some most wonderful and unusual festivals from around the world.
Boryeong Annual Mud Festival, Boryeong rock
This festival takes place at the beach, with much mud (泥巴) resource from the sea. At this festival, people take part in a number of activities involving (涉及) mud, which not only brings back happy childhood memories but is good for the skin.
World Body-painting Festival, Pörtschach, Austria
This entire festival is not strange because of the activities that occur (发生) during it, but because of the way people look when it’s over. During this time, artists worldwide flood in and hold live body-painting activities. They are painting creative designs on willing participants (参与者).
Underwater Music Festival, Florida, America
Rather than being held at a typical concert hall, the underwater Music Festival takes place on the seabed. This special custom is unlike any others because it featured musicians playing music below water level. 100 feet deep in clear water, talented musicians wear diving (潜水) equipment, performing free concerts for sea creatures and humans alike.
Battle of the orange, Ivrea, Italy
This Italian town hosts one of the most unusual festivals. Each year in February, a battle (战斗) takes place among thousands of participants who have to throw orange at each other during a 30-minute fight. The aim is to try and knock down other participants by attacking them with oranges so that they cannot stand any longer.
1. What can tourists do at the Boryeong Annual Mud Festival?| A．Experience mud bath. | B．Join in fights with oranges. |
| C．Have their faces painted. | D．Enjoy live music underwater. |
| A．Battle of the oranges. | B．Underwater Music Festival. |
| C．World Body-painting Festival. | D．Boryeong Annual Mud Festival. |
| A．Lions. | B．Dolphins. | C．Elephants. | D．Pandas. |
7 . The Yellow River is the cradle of China’s civilization. And flood control and prevention have always been key to the well-being of the people living along it. Now, scientists can better work on these issues by giving the river a digital twin.
The digital twin of the Yellow River uses various technologies, including big data, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things. Devices (设备) set up along the river collect and transmit information to the center. Based on the information, a 3D model of the river is presented on the computer screen. It’s like the Yellow River has a twin that reflects its real conditions.
One big breakthrough in the river’s digital governance (治理) is “smart stones”. According to Wang Qin, a lead researcher at the Information Center of Yellow River Henan Bureau, a smart stone is a water-proof stone-shaped device with chips, a battery, and a signal transmitter. They are buried in important dike (堤坝) locations to record and report the movement of dike stones. “Upon feeling movement of the dike stones, the smart stone sends an alarm to the center for quick response,” Wang said.
“In the past, researchers had to learn the conditions of the dike on the spot by themselves, putting their lives at risk,” said Zhao Xiao from the bureau. “Now the smart stones can do this for us, more safely, quickly, and accurately.”
And in the sky, drones (无人机) are flying. On the routes designed by engineers, the drones become expert patrollers (巡逻员) of the river, looking at its dikes and flood prevention projects. According to Shen Lin from the Yellow River Conservancy Commission, thanks to the drones, researchers at the command center can get first-hand photos and information. “Researchers then update the 3D model according to the changes the drones reported. The newly updated model helps us test our floodwater release plans in case we ever need to batten down the hatches (未雨绸缪), ”said Shen.
Under the water and up in the sky, intelligence systems are helping to protect the Yellow River Basin on all fronts. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, in the future, we can expect to see the construction of an even more comprehensive digital system for this important river.
1. What is the main purpose of creating a digital twin of the Yellow River?| A．To conduct historical research. |
| B．To create a virtual tourist attraction. |
| C．To raise public awareness of river protection. |
| D．To improve flood control and prevention efforts. |
| A．They record water quality. |
| B．They improve the river’s beauty. |
| C．They monitor and report dike movements. |
| D．They serve as markers for important locations. |
| A．Entertaining tourists. | B．Collecting information on dike conditions. |
| C．Patrolling and take wildlife photos. | D．Testing water quality. |
| A．Complete. | B．Basic. | C．Beautiful. | D．Natural. |
8 . My first job was at a fast-food restaurant called Carroll’s in my hometown. One spring day my next-door neighbor
One little
The pay was
It was great to
Besides
| A．allowed | B．invited | C．forbade | D．taught |
| A．topic | B．mistake | C．difficulty | D．opportunity |
| A．March | B．June | C．August | D．October |
| A．address | B．age | C．name | D．face |
| A．fired | B．interviewed | C．refused | D．accepted |
| A．low | B．high | C．enough | D．good |
| A．counter | B．door | C．park | D．toilet |
| A．damaged | B．ignored | C．enjoyed | D．missed |
| A．help | B．thank | C．recognize | D．encounter |
| A．hidden | B．secret | C．distant | D．major |
| A．woke up | B．gave up | C．turned up | D．looked up |
| A．surprised | B．ashamed | C．disappointed | D．frightened |
| A．worrying | B．lying | C．complaining | D．arguing |
| A．days | B．hours | C．months | D．years |
| A．food | B．service | C．payment | D．experience |
9 . Four Cool Languages
Chinese
Around 1.4 billion people speak Chinese. Chinese is a tonal (声调的) language, meaning that changing the tone of just one syllable (音节) can affect a word’s meaning. Chinese writing has ancient roots, which is thought to have developed starting around 2000 B. C.
Arabic
Over 370 million people speak Arabic. Written Arabic uses a cursive-style font (连笔) that looks more like artworks than writing. Arabic is written from right to left rather than left to right, making it different from many other languages.
English
Around 379 million people speak English as a native language. It’s an official language in a huge number of other countries.
English is the most widely spoken second language, with over a billion people speaking it as a non-native language. That means around twice as many people speak English as a second language than people who speak it as a first language.
Italian
Nearly 68 million people speak Italian. If you play music or sing, chances are that you already know a lot of Italian because many familiar musical terms are actually Italian.
Not only will learning Italian help you pick up vocabulary, but it will also help you understand the meanings of musical terms in greater depth.
1. What is a feature of Arabic?| A．It doesn’t have cursive-style fonts. | B．It helps artists with their artworks. |
| C．It is written from right to left. | D．It is closely related to music. |
| A．Arabic. | B．English. | C．Chinese. | D．Italian. |
| A．Nearly 68 million. | B．Around 370 million. |
| C．Over 379 million. | D．Around 1.4 billion. |
10 . Jenny Johnson felt so lucky being a city girl and living near a riding stable (马场). She had always
One afternoon, Jenny found her father sitting on the sofa, looking very
“What’s wrong, Dad?” she asked.
“Nothing, honey. Your mom and I were just making some plans.”
“Plans for what?” she asked. “Well, sweet heart,” her father said. “We’ll start a
“But that’s so far away from...”Jenny said.
“From your
“But ... what about Star?”
“There will be other horses, Jenny.”
Since it was already
Then she noticed a barn (畜棚)!
Star! She
“You are right, Jenny. Now
| A．helped | B．used | C．loved | D．remembered |
| A．bored | B．angry | C．lonely | D．worried |
| A．new | B．safe | C．crazy | D．fair |
| A．days | B．weeks | C．months | D．years |
| A．friends | B．cats | C．dogs | D．parents |
| A．changed | B．decided | C．finished | D．corrected |
| A．sorry | B．nervous | C．lucky | D．proud |
| A．quietly | B．suddenly | C．finally | D．slowly |
| A．looked up | B．looked back | C．looked over | D．looked out |
| A．eyes | B．times | C．words | D．ears |
| A．choices | B．surprises | C．excuses | D．experiences |
| A．If | B．As | C．Since | D．Though |
| A．still | B．even | C．also | D．then |
| A．ran | B．rose | C．turned | D．appeared |
| A．its | B．her | C．your | D．their |
