1 . La La Land Kind Cafe is based in Dallas, Texas. It isn’t a
When he was in college, Reihani
After about a year, they realized it wasn’t
Reihani said that complimenting someone shouldn’t be
| A．unique | B．small | C．popular | D．typical |
| A．money | B．jobs | C．shelters | D．services |
| A．talk to | B．grow up | C．care for | D．believe in |
| A．possibly | B．suddenly | C．shortly | D．formally |
| A．accept | B．deny | C．correct | D．change |
| A．taught | B．volunteered | C．learned | D．investigated |
| A．lessons | B．efforts | C．rights | D．stories |
| A．expecting | B．confirming | C．thinking | D．replying |
| A．intending | B．agreeing | C．pretending | D．regretting |
| A．meaningful | B．wonderful | C．hopeful | D．helpful |
| A．buy | B．open | C．finance | D．support |
| A．Thus | B．Again | C．Instead | D．Meanwhile |
| A．touching | B．troubling | C．rewarding | D．promising |
| A．uncommon | B．uneasy | C．unhappy | D．uncomfortable |
| A．love | B．respect | C．politeness | D．calmness |
2 . Many famous singers have long sung about the power of a smile — how it picks you up, changes your mind and generally makes you feel better. But is it all smoke and mirrors, or is there a scientific support for this?
Research from the University of South Australia proves that the act of smiling can make your mind be more positive, simply by moving your facial muscles. The study, published in Experimental Psychology, looked at the influence of a smile on perception (感知) of facial and body expressions. In the study, a smile was created by volunteers holding a pen between their teeth, forcing their facial muscles to make the movement of a smile. The research found that facial muscular activity changes the recognition of not only facial expressions but also body expressions, with both producing more positive feelings.
Lead researcher Dr. Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos says the findings are important for spiritual health. “When your muscles say you’re happy, you’re more likely to see the world around you in a positive way,” he says. “In our research we found that when you forcefully practiced smiling, the part of the brain controlling feelings became active, which encouraged a more positive state. If we can make the brain view stimuli (刺激) as ‘happy’, then we can possibly use this way to help improve spiritual health.”
The study was done in the same way as an old smile experiment by examining how people understood a group of facial expressions using the pen-in-teeth method; however, it also used special videos(from sad walking videos to happy walking videos)as the stimuli. Dr. Marmolejo-Ramos says there is a strong connection between action and perception. “The ‘fake (假装) it until you make it’ method could be more useful than we expect,” he says.
1. What is the function of the first paragraph?| A．To tell us the benefits of a smile. |
| B．To show us some famous singers. |
| C．To introduce the topic of the text. |
| D．To inform us of a finding of a study. |
| A．Laugh aloud from the heart. |
| B．Just perform the act of smiling. |
| C．Respond to different feelings. |
| D．Think of happy things in the past. |
| A．We should practice smiling a lot. |
| B．Practicing smiling is quite normal. |
| C．Pretending to smile actually works. |
| D．Forced smiles work better than real ones. |
| A．How to feel positive |
| B．How to force a smile |
| C．Forced smiles can hide unhappy feelings |
| D．Forced smiles can produce positive feelings |
3 . It’s just past 7 a. m. on a February morning in Maya Bay, several weeks after authorities reopened what is one of Thailand’s most popular tourist attractions to the world for the first time since June 2018 following a massive restoration program.
In the hours to follow, a slow but steady flow of tourists becomes in great numbers as dozens of tourists make their way to the white-sand beach, phones at the ready as they take photos. Swimming is not allowed, though visitors can take a few steps in. It’s disappointing, but a huge improvement over what visitors once experienced here.
Maya Bay is located in a Thailand’s national park. The destination was made famous by the 2000 film The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. As the film’s popularity grew, so did tourists’ desire to visit the location where much of it was shot —Maya Bay.
“Around 40 years ago, Maya Bay was already a tourism destination, but mainly for Thai tourists because you didn’t have speedboats at that time,” says Thon, a marine biologist and professor who requested authorities to close the bay four years ago. Over the years, the number of tourists rose from less than 1, 000 to as many as 7, 000 or 8, 000 visitors a day at its peak. On average, around 5, 000 people entered the bay each day.
In 2018, the Thai government closed the bay and began to restore the damaged ecosystem. Since then, Thon and a team of fellow marine experts and volunteers have replanted over 30, 000 pieces of coral, much of it grown off the coast of a nearby island. Meanwhile, the wildlife also returned and has been growing. “Only three months after we closed the bay, the blacktip sharks came back and gave birth… so there are a lot of things happening in Maya Bay.”
1. What do the first two paragraphs mainly tell us about Maya Bay?| A．Its reopening. | B．Its rebuilding. |
| C．Its business hours. | D．Its reduced tourists. |
| A．A film shot there. |
| B．The easier access than before. |
| C．The better tourism equipment. |
| D．Peopled growing desire to travel. |
| A．The profit from tourism. |
| B．The sharp increase in tourists. |
| C．The long history of Maya Bay. |
| D．The reason for the film’s popularity. |
| A．It was a little late. |
| B．It has been effective. |
| C．It remains to be seen whether it’s useful. |
| D．It has no support from the government. |
4 . By the time she turned 18, Liz had attended twelve schools in as many years. She had lived in shelters and in parks but never in a permanent residence for more than a few months. She had been laughed at by students at a dozen schools who considered her “different”.
Homeless since early childhood, Liz struggled all her life to hide her circumstances from teachers and fellow students. However, academics proved to be a way for her to find confidence in herself again. For instance, at the age of 9, she placed in the 99th percentile on a state exam, and her teacher Oprah told her she was “gifted”. From that moment forward, Liz decided to do whatever it took to keep herself in that category. “I was so proud of being smart and I never wanted people to say, ‘You got the easy way out because you’re homeless, ‘” she said“ I never saw it as an excuse. ”
By the second year of high school, she realized that she could not succeed in getting the education she dreamed of without getting help to go beyond what her current school could offer. She talked to teachers who helped her apply for summer community college classes and scholarships. And in 11th grade, when she enrolled at Jefferson High School, she decided to complete the rest of her school career there—a decision that meant taking a bus each morning at 4 a. m. and not getting home until 11 p.m.
Her perseverance and hard work paid off, however. When she poured the story of her life into her Harvard University college application, she was accepted.
Once Liz felt ready to tell her story, it won her notice not only from college admissions boards but also from the news media. Now as a successful student at Harvard, Liz continues to use the lessons of her extraordinary life to help and inspire other students.
1. What made Liz different in the eyes of her classmates according to paragraph 1?| A．Her talent. | B．Her hard work. |
| C．Her homelessness. | D．Her school performance. |
| A．By settling in a permanent home. | B．By getting help from her teachers. |
| C．By socializing with other students. | D．By finding her passion for studying. |
| A．She quit school to support her family. |
| B．She was criticized by Oprah on her show. |
| C．She shares her stories to encourage others. |
| D．She has been declined by Jefferson High School. |
| A．Humorous. | B．Strict. | C．Reliable. | D．Determined. |
I’d like to bring to your attention the events of the past few weeks concerning a washing machine that I bought on September 14th from your store.
The machine was delivered and installed(安装)several days later, but since then it has failed to work. A label on the back of the machine listed a phone number to call in case of problems. I called and spoke to a technician, who gave me step-by-step instructions on how to turn on the machine. But the whole process was a waste of time. The machine still wouldn’t work. Several days later, another technician actually came to my home to try to figure out what was wrong. I hoped it could run well by the time he left, but he could not get the machine to work, either. He told me I had two options: either to have the machine repaired or replace it with a new one. Since this machine was brand new and had never worked, I felt I deserved a new one.
I called your store and was told that the normal procedure was to write a letter to the department manager to explain the problem. I did this several weeks ago, but my letter appears to have been ignored.
Mr. Smith, by the time you get this letter, an out-of-order washing machine will have been sitting in my house for nearly six weeks. This whole thing has been a pain for me and the machine needs to be replaced immediately. If it is not, my lawyer will be getting in touch with you. Please consider this a final warning.
Sincerely,
Joseph Wilson
1. What was the problem with the washing machine?| A．It wouldn’t start |
| B．It wasn’t delivered on time. |
| C．It was installed incorrectly. |
| D．It had a complex instruction book. |
| A．By having the machine replaced. |
| B．By informing the department manager of the problem. |
| C．By instructing her how to use the machine over the phone. |
| D．By checking out the machine on site and offering some advice. |
| A．To ask for technical instructions. |
| B．To get a new washing machine. |
| C．To explain the case to her lawyer. |
| D．To complain about the technicians. |
6 . I was having lunch at a bar. Then I saw a
Then it
I
A quarter later, after
I watched as she read the note. Her eyes
| A．girl | B．waitress | C．cook | D．patient |
| A．reflect | B．avoid | C．appreciate | D．hide |
| A．forgot | B．proved | C．sensed | D．claimed |
| A．contact | B．look | C．thought | D．search |
| A．happy | B．curious | C．nervous | D．calm |
| A．great | B．simple | C．busy | D．tough |
| A．depended on | B．went against | C．occurred to | D．impressed on |
| A．prevented | B．allowed | C．signaled | D．expected |
| A．afraid | B．uncertain | C．proud | D．unaware |
| A．mind | B．smile | C．case | D．action |
| A．eating | B．reading | C．checking | D．recovering |
| A．instructed | B．told | C．reminded | D．warned |
| A．awarded | B．returned | C．wrote | D．presented |
| A．ran | B．fell | C．turned | D．got |
| A．left | B．approached | C．brightened | D．swept |
7 . Web 1.0 is often referred to as a “read-only Internet”. All its content was created by webmasters. Users could not interact with the content or add content themselves.
In the age of Web 2.0, the Internet became interactive. Websites allowed users to communicate with each other. So Web 2.0 is also known as the Social Web. Web 2.0 led to a big jump in technology development. It changes the way we work, socialize, create and share information and ideas. In Web 2.0, while users can create content, they don’t own it and cannot control it. The platforms can easily block or remove the content without the permission of the creators.
So Web 3.0 is coming. Web 3.0 is a concept of a new generation of the Internet. In contrast to Web 2.0, where most of the data is stored in corporations, such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, etc., Web 3.0 data will be decentralized (分散). Web 3.0 will create platforms that nobody controls but everyone can confirm.
Let’s see what important changes we may expect. No third party is required. For instance, the use of cryptocurrencies (加密货币) ends the need for banks because all financial deals take place directly between the two parties using cryptocurrency. In addition, Web 3.0 will make it much more difficult for Internet attackers to access sensitive information. Besides, Web 3.0 makes businesses directly accountable to their consumers. Businesses may apply this openness to their consumers to develop relationships of trust and loyalty. Plus, the information is accurate since data saved on blockchains (区块链) cannot be changed.
The new Internet promises to build a “global village”, a world focused on interpersonal interaction throughout the world, which will contribute both to the development of technology and business, and the promotion of personal happiness.
1. What is the disadvantage of Web 2.0?| A．Users are controlled by platforms. |
| B．Users can’t interact with each other. |
| C．It’s difficult for users to collect information. |
| D．It’s impossible for users to rewrite information. |
| A．It will become busier. | B．It will be inconvenient. |
| C．It will be really tough. | D．It will be much safer. |
| A．It will center on the study of the globe. |
| B．It will help every country to build more villages. |
| C．It will make efforts to develop the world agriculture. |
| D．It will narrow the distance between humans on Earth. |
| A．The Coming Web 3.0 | B．The Ages of Social Web |
| C．The Famous Internet Giants | D．The Diverse Cultural Global Village |
8 . Arbor Day traces its origins to Nebraska City, Nebraska, in 1872. Julius Sterling Morton, who served as Secretary of the Nebraska Territory, recognized the importance of trees, especially in a place like Nebraska, which was almost free of trees at the time. On January 4, 1872, Morton proposed the idea of a tree-planting holiday to the State Board of Agriculture. The board agreed, and the first Arbor Day was celebrated on April 10, 1872. More than one million trees were planted in Nebraska on that day.
The success of the first Arbor Day led to its yearly observance in Nebraska, and other states in the U.S. soon followed suit. In 1885, Arbor Day was declared a legal holiday in Nebraska, and April 22, Morton’s birthday, was chosen as the official date. The idea of Arbor Day spread rapidly across the country. By the 1920s, each state in the United States had established its own Arbor Day. Presently, they have different celebration dates depending on the best tree-planting season for each region.
Arbor Day has become an international event. Today, many countries around the world celebrate their own Arbor Day or a similar tree-planting holiday. While the celebrations in different countries vary in customs, all share a common goal: to promote the importance of trees and encourage their planting and preservation.
In present days, Arbor Day continues to be a powerful reminder of our responsibility to care for the planet and appreciate the invaluable role that trees play in our lives. Arbor Day helps to ensure that future generations can enjoy a greener, healthier world.
Whether you’re a die-hard tree lover or just starting to appreciate their beauty and importance, take a moment to plant a tree, or simply give your local leafy friend a hug. They deserve it!
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．The birth of Arbor Day. | B．The definition of Arbor Day. |
| C．The celebration of Arbor Day. | D．The significance of Arbor Day. |
| A．It varies based on local conditions. |
| B．It didn’t have an official date until 1920. |
| C．It was first celebrated on the creator’s birthday. |
| D．It was changed to April 10 by Nebraska State Board. |
| A．To share customs among countries. | B．To value trees and plant more trees. |
| C．To find out existed issues on the planet. | D．To have a good knowledge of plant diversity. |
| A．Make a reminder. | B．Call on an action. |
| C．Encourage a discussion. | D．Instruct how to make choices. |
9 . The Caribbean is known for its beautiful beaches, clear water, and laid-back lifestyle. But for one man, the pleasant place quickly turned into a nightmare. Elvis Francois, 47, was found about 140 miles from Colombia’s Puerto Bolívar on Jan. 16th after a plane spotted the word “HELP” carved on Francois’ sailboat.
“I have been lost at sea for 24 days. I had just a bottle of ketchup (果酱) that was on the boat,” Francois said in a video recorded by his rescuers. Francois, who is originally from the island of Dominica, said that he had been making repairs to his boat off the coast of Saint Martin in December when bad weather conditions pulled the boat out to distant sea.
He explained that he lacked the navigational (导航) skills lo direct himself back to shore, so his weeks-long ordeal began. Francois said, “I called my friends and coworkers. They tried to contact me, but they lost service. There was nothing else I could do but sit down and wait.” Over the 24-day period, Francois used a cloth to collect rainwater. He spent his time trying to keep water out of his sailboat and attempting to attract attention by lighting a fire, which failed. “Twenty-four days — no land, nobody to talk to. Don’t know what to do, don’t know where you are. It was rough,” he said. “At a certain time, I lost hope. I thought about my family.”
After he was finally rescued by the Coast Guard, Francois was taken to the Colombian port city of Cartagena for medical treatment. According to CBS News, Colombian Amy Commander Captain Carlos Urano Montes said that they found Francois “to be in good health”, though he had lost a bit of weight. Then, Francois spoke to Colombian authorities about his experience and worked with immigration officials to arrange his trip back home to Dominica.
1. What contributed to Francois’ being discovered?| A．The clear seawater. | B．The calls he made to a plane. |
| C．The sign for help on his boat. | D．The signals he sent to nearby ships. |
| A．A fishing task. | B．His poor sailing skills. |
| C．His damaged boat. | D．The terrible weather. |
| A．Hardship. | B．Research. | C．Survival. | D．Exploration. |
| A．History. | B．News. | C．Travel. | D．Science. |
10 . For children, space is magical — a whole world is out there, with so many things to learn and stories to read. Here are some children’s books about space and the solar system.
Mae among the Stars by Stasia Burrington
This beautifully illustrated picture book is attractive to young kids. It was inspired by the first African American woman in space, Mae Jemison. It tells the story of Mae as a little girl, who always knew she had big dreams about space. This is a great addition to a young kid’s collection, as a reminder to hold tight to dreams and never give up.
Space by Libby Jackson
This beautifully illustrated book gives kids a look at 50 women from around the world who were involved in exploring space in some way, from the 19th century to the present day. This is a perfect gift for young kids who want to know more about some of the lesser-known scientific achievements related to space exploration.
Chasing Space by Leland Melvin
This is Melvin’s story about being a football player-turned-astronaut, along with his recovery from an injury that nearly left him deaf. Kids will love reading his story about how he faced challenges and advanced ahead, and he also includes DIY experiments for kids to try, and a section of full-color photographs.
System and Beyond by David A. Aguilar
The book is full of beautiful illustrations of space, and is perfect for kids of all ages, exploring various planets and the solar system. Unlike other kids’ space book, this is a National Geographic book written and illustrated by an award-winning astronomer and space artist. Aguilar is also the former Director of Science Information and Public Outreach at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
1. What do Mae among the Stars and Space have in common?| A．They include less-known astronauts. | B．They tell about scientists’ childhood. |
| C．They cover women exploring space. | D．They are suitable for children of all ages. |
| A．Stasia Burrington’s. | B．Libby Jackson’s. |
| C．Leland Melvin’s. | D．David A. Aguilar’s. |
| A．It has beautiful pictures. | B．It tells about space artists. |
| C．It has won many grand awards. | D．It was written by an astronomer. |
