1 . When you think of a map, is north on the top or the bottom? Usually, maps are designed with north on top, though when we think about it, there is no logical reason for this bias (偏见). After all, there is no up or down in space. So what is wrong with south, east or west being on the top of the map? The answer is: nothing at all. In fact, north-up maps only became the norm in the last few hundred years.

Ancient Egyptian maps had south at the top because the Nile River flows downhill from mountains in the south to the Mediterranean Sea in the north. Mecca was to the south of most early Muslim civilizations, and south-up maps were designed so that viewers would look up to see Mecca. Medieval Christian maps had east at the top, as they believed the Garden of Eden was in the east. The only early maps that had north at the top were those of early China because the emperor lived in the north.

North seems to have settled at the top of maps during the 16th century, largely thanks to a Flemish mapmaker, Mercator. Mercator was a great admirer of an early Greek mapmaker, who, for reasons now unknown, put north at the top of maps, so Mercator did, too. When Mercator’s world map became the standard map to navigate the oceans, north up became standard as well.

What is the implication of this north-view of the world? Psychologically, people tend to think of up as good and down as bad. Just think of words and phrases like “upmarket”, “upbeat” and “moving up in the world”, and how they contrast with their opposites. Because north is so consistently put at the top of maps, people now think of north as good, too.

Several attempts have been made in recent years by introducing south-up maps to the market. These maps not only give us a chance to see the world differently, but also give everyone the chance to see themselves on top.

1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?

A．North-up maps were rare in ancient times.

B．Deciding up or down in space is ridiculous.

C．Mecca maps were based on a legend.

D．The south-up map first appeared in ancient Egypt.

2. Why is north associated with good?

A．An illogical reason.	B．The spread of Mercator’s maps.
C．People’s preference for up.	D．An age-old tradition in Greece.

3. What is the author’s attitude to south-up maps?

A．Cautious.

B．Supportive.

C．Uncaring.

D．Disapproving.

4. What’s the main purpose of the text?

A．To criticize a phenomenon.	B．To compare various facts.
C．To correct a cultural bias.	D．To argue for a viewpoint.

2 . At thirteen, I was diagnosed (诊断) with kind of attention disorder. It made school difficult for me. When everyone else in the class was focusing on tasks, I couldn’t.

In my first literature class, Mrs. Smith asked us to read a story and then write on it, all within 45minutes. I raised my hand right away and said, “Mrs. Smith, you see, the doctor said I have attention problems I might not be able to do it.”

She glanced down at me through her glasses, “You are not different from your classmates, young man.” I tried, but I didn’t finish the reading when the bell rang. I had to take it home.

In the quietness of my bedroom, the story suddenly all became clear to me. It was about a blind person Louis Braile. He lived in a time when the blind couldn’t get much education. But Louis didn’t give up. Inslead, he invented a reading system of raised dots (点), which opened up a whole new world of. knowledge to the blind.

Wasn’t I the “blind” in my class, being made to learn like the “sighted” students? My thoughts spilled out and my pen started to dance. I completed the task within 40 minutes. Indeed, I was not different from others; I just needed a quieter place. If Louis could find his way out of his problem, why should I ever give up?

I didn’t expect anything when I handed in my paper to Mrs. Smith, so it was quite a surprise when it came back to me the next day—with an “A” on it. At the bottom of the paper were these words, “See what you can do when you keep trying?”

1. What problem did the author meet when he was in class?

A．He didn’t like the teacher.	B．He was not fond of literature.
C．The classroom was too noisy.	D．He couldn’t focus his attention in class.

2. What can we learn about Louis Braile from the passage?

A．He managed to cure his blundness.

B．He got a good education at schold.

C．He made an invention which helped the blind.

D．He couldn’t see and read for the whole life.

3. What’s Mrs. Smith’s attitude to the author in the classroom?

A．She encouraged him.	B．She looked down on him.
C．She sympathized (同情) him.	D．She was angry with him.

4. What does the author intend to tell us from the passage?

A．Practice makes perfect	B．Where there is a will, there is a way.
C．Don’t judge a book by its cover.	D．It’s never too old to learn.

3 . FOUR BEST BOOKSHOPS IN LONDON

Looking for something to read while in London? If so, you’re in luck: the British capital happens to have an incredible collection of bookshops.

Daunt Books

Are you going on a trip and want to read a novel or nonfiction book set in the place you’re

headed? This bookshop arranges books by country, so it’s easy to find anything by place. (83 Marylebone High Street. Monday-Saturday:09:00-19:30; Sunday: 11:00-18:00.)

Foyles Books

Dig, if you will, the picture: four miles of shelves holding up to 200,000 books. This legendary(传奇的) bookshop is impossible to leave empty-handed. It was once listed in the Guinness Book ofWorld Records as the biggest bookshop on the planet.(107 Charing Cross Road. Monday-Saturday: 9:00-21:00; Sunday: 11:30-18:00.)

Hatchards

In the year 1797, this London bookshop.—the oldest in the city today—first flicked on its lights.It stocks an excellent selection of fiction, nonficuon, history and other kinds.(187 Piccadilly Street. Monday-Saturday: 09:30-20:00; Sunday: 12:00-18:30.)

London Review Bookshop

There’s an excellent selection of history, philosophy, politics, new fiction and many other kinds here. Plus, there’s a nice cafe in which you can crack open that tome(巨著) for the first time and start reading.(14 Bury Place. Monday-Saturday 10:00-18:30; Sunday 12:00-18:00.)

1. Which bookstore was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records?

A．Daunt Books.	B．Foyles Books.
C．Hatchards.	D．London Review Bookshop.

2. What is special about Hatchards?

A．It has a long history.	B．It is open six days a week.
C．It is located in London.	D．It has many nonfiction books.

3. Which place should you go to if you want to enjoy reading with a coffee?

A．83 Marylebone High Street.	B．107 Charing Cross Road.
C．187 Piccadilly Street.	D．14 Bury Place.

4 . Chris was born in a smaller cardboard with three other kittens. He was in a smaller box marked “free kittens” when Emily ________ him and took him home. After that, he would be ________ a box to sleep in.

Chris slept in different boxes even in Emily’s sock drawer, if she left it ________. Emily’s mother suggested Chris need a(n) ________ house of his own, but Emily thought little of it.

One day, Emily came home from school and she searched everywhere, but no Chris. ________, she found the big cat hiding himself inside her mom’s new glass vase. His fatty body almost ________ the vase. “We have to ________ the vase to get him out!” Emily cried. “No,” said her dad, “If the vase is broken, the glass pieces might hurt Chris, maybe we can ________ butter (黄油) to the inside of the vase and pull him out.”

Emily’s mom buttered a lot inside of the vase and her dad tried to ________ the unhappy cat out, but they ________ . Realizing the awkward situation, Emily suggested visiting a ________ . Soon they arrived there with a(n) ________, frightened, buttery cat in a vase. The vet had Emily and her family ________ in the hall when he gave Chris a shot to make him sleepy.

Half an hour later, Chris was brought out successfully. Not only Chris, but the vase was still in one ________! The next day, Emily brought home a refrigerator box and made it into a rocket ship. Now Chris sleeps in it and dreams of ________ space mice.

1.

A．bought

B．trained

C．ordered

D．met

2.

A．in sight of

B．in search of

C．in honour of

D．in place of

3.

A．closed

B．full

C．warm

D．open

4.

A．heated

B．moving

C．fixed

D．flying

5.

A．Hopefully

B．Suddenly

C．Obviously

D．Sadly

6.

A．filled

B．mined

C．fitted

D．covered

7.

A．remove

B．break

C．tap

D．beat

8.

A．apply

B．deliver

C．supply

D．join

9.

A．hand

B．slide

C．work

D．leave

10.

A．succeeded

B．quitted

C．changed

D．failed

11.

A．firefighter

B．policeman

C．driver

D．vet

12.

A．excited

B．unwilling

C．annoyed

D．content

13.

A．wait

B．sleep

C．talk

D．think

14.

A．pack

B．sheet

C．part

D．piece

15.

A．hunting

B．burying

C．pleasing

D．contacting

5 . A famous magazine, Amusement Today, does a survey among park lovers every year both in the US and overseas, based on which, “Top 5 List of the Best Amusement Parks in the World” has come out as follows:

Disneyland, California

Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California, the US. More than 515 million guests have traveled to this American landmark from around the world since the park first opened to guests on July 17, 1955. The park consists of many world-famous sections, such as Main Street, Adventure land, New Orleans Square, and so on.

Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Florida

Magic Kingdom is a theme park within the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando opened on October 1, 1971. It is the most famous theme park in Florida. The park’s design and attractions don’t make much difference from Disneyland Park in Anaheim.

EPCOT, Disney World, Florida

EPCOT is the second theme park built at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. The park opened on October 1, 1982, and was named EPCOT Center from 1982 to 1993. It was the largest Disney theme park in the world until 1998, when Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened.

Disney­MGM Studios, Florida

MGM’s streets are the home for some great movie­themed attractions with a history of less than 30 years. With the addition of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Rock and Roller Coaster, the park is now home to Disney World’s most thrilling rides.

Universal Studios, Florida

Go behind the scenes, beyond the screen and jump right into the action of your favorite movies at Universal Studios, the number one movie and TV theme park in the world.

1. Which of the following theme parks have similar attractions?

A．Disneyland & Magic Kingdom.

B．Disneyland & Universal Studios.

C．EPCOT & Disney­MGM Studios.

D．Magic Kingdom & Universal Studios.

2. Which park has the longest history?

A．Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Florida.

B．Disney­MGM Studios, Florida.

C．EPCOT, Disney World, Florida.

D．Disneyland, California.

3. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To attract tourists to these theme parks.

B．To increase the sales of Amusement Today.

C．To introduce world’s best amusement parks.

D．To compare attractions in different theme parks.

6 . Recently we celebrated my grandmother’s 90th birthday. Family members traveled to my hometown to visit her. This was the first time in many years that I had seen so many of them. Though this was an opportunity to see family, many people did not make it. Honestly, living far from hometown, I had missed many family gatherings. But this one made me realize how much I was really missing.

It seemed strange when I was looking at the faces, realizing whom they were and greeting them with open arms. After chatting for a while, we caught up on each other’s news. Several relatives suggested having a family reunion soon if everyone wasn’t so busy. But my grandmother’s generation was much busier, yet still found time to gather. They understood the importance of visiting one another. They knew time is flying and that those you care about most won’t be here forever.

Today, we focus on our careers and raising our kids. Our extended family isn’t the center it once was. Besides, we keep in touch on social media. But what we really miss are the potato salad, the moments of laughter and sudden bursts of excitement when we hug someone we haven’t seen for over 10 years. Although the next get-together is always a year or so away, people aren’t goods and everyone has an expiration (到期) date.

I left my grandmother’s party with a much better sense of who I am and where I come from. I spent valuable time with people who contributed to who I am today. I had forgotten how much I love them and I was reminded how much I am loved.

1. How did the author feel about missing previous family gatherings? ________

A．Concerned.

B．Regretful.

C．Sad.

D．Annoyed.

2. What do we know about the author’s grandmother’s generation? ________

A．They were irresponsible.	B．They took time seriously.
C．They stress the importance of family.	D．They visited family frequently.

3. What does the author mean by the last sentence in paragraph 3? ________

A．Family reunions mean no fun.	B．We should see loved ones more before it’s too late.
C．People are always too busy to get together.	D．All goods have expiration dates.

4. Why does the author write the text? ________

A．To convince readers to meet friends.	B．To share an interesting family reunion.
C．To compare different generations’ values.	D．To stress the value of family gatherings.

7 . I woke up with only one thing on my mind: what to wear. A billion thoughts_________through my brain as wooden hangers moved back and forth. It was my first day of high school in a new State; first_________are everything, and it was necessary to impress the people who I’d spend the next four years with.

It wasn’t insecurity that_________me to madness but the fact that this was my third time being the new kid._________ moving does something to a child’s development. I_________to find reliable friends. But this time dad’s company_________my starting and finishing high school in the same place. This time mattered, which made me nervous.

I emerged proudly in a patterned dress after riding (扫荡) my closet. I felt just as_________as I stepped off the bus. But my jaw dropped to the floor when I found Mrs. Hutfilz, my English teacher, wearing the exact same_________as I did. I kept my head down and tiptoed to my seat, but the first day meant_________in front of the class, and__________it was my turn. I made it through my minute speech, until Hutfilz stood up,__________ adding she liked my style. All the __________that had accumulated from waking up in the morning surprisingly__________. The students raised heads as I shared my story. My smile__________as I giggled with my peers. After class, I stayed behind, sharing with Mrs. Hutfilz my previous understanding about coming into a new school and state. I was relieved to make a humorous and genuine__________with my first teacher in the coming days.

This incident __________me that these are the times to have fun, work hard, and make memories, not stress about the__________details. Looking back, the ten minutes I spent __________my speech were really not worth it.__________ my first period of high school may not have gone exactly the way I thought it would, Mrs. Hutfilz’s great sense of__________certainly made the day unforgettable in the best way.

1.

A．raced

B．broke

C．forced

D．crashed

2.

A．experiences

B．impressions

C．comments

D．expectations

3.

A．related

B．attracted

C．drove

D．switched

4.

A．Random

B．Permanent

C．Regular

D．Frequent

5.

A．rejected

B．struggled

C．challenged

D．appreciated

6.

A．ensured

B．admitted

C．reflected

D．deserved

7.

A．nervous

B．doubtful

C．competent

D．confident

8.

A．fashion

B．design

C．dress

D．uniform

9.

A．introductions

B．performances

C．lectures

D．debates

10.

A．on occasion

B．soon enough

C．no wonder

D．in fact

11.

A．unconcernedly

B．seriously

C．honestly

D．jokingly

12.

A．sympathy

B．thrill

C．anxiety

D．embarrassment

13.

A．held up

B．melted away

C．passed down

D．carried on

14.

A．froze

B．faded

C．grew

D．formed

15.

A．connection

B．adjustment

C．commitment

D．negotiation

16.

A．advocated

B．persuaded

C．informed

D．reminded

17.

A．unimportant

B．complex

C．Precise

D．chief

18.

A．doubting

B．fearing

C．withdrawing

D．regretting

19.

A．Until

B．Since

C．While

D．If

20.

A．achievement

B．honor

C．gratitude

D．style

10 . On Monday, August 21, millions of Americans across the country wore their protective eyeglasses to watch the highly expected total solar eclipse (日全食). Though eclipses, which occur about every 18 months, are not rare, this one was historic. It was not only the first total solar eclipse visible from the mainland US in more than38 years, but also the first to be seen coast to coast in almost a century.

The crowds were thrilled as the moon briefly blocked the sun, covering cities all the way from Oregon to South Carolina with darkness. Many people felt cold as the temperature dropped dramatically, by up to 12degrees Fahrenheit, during totality. Those fortunate enough to have clear skies not only saw the corona (日冕), the sun’s outer atmosphere, which is usually not visible in the sun’s glare, but also the bright stars and planets.

Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperative everywhere. The crowds who gathered in Charleston, South Carolina, the last big city in the path of totality, had to struggle against a thick cloud cover when the partial eclipse began at 1:17 pm. It did thin out a little as totality took place at 2:46 pm, allowing for a good view of the eclipse, but not the sun’s corona! However, some spectacular flashes of lightning that occurred just as the moon covered the sun helped ease the disappointment somewhat.

The rare event, believed to be the most observed and most photographed eclipse in history, was a huge success. As Bill Nye or “the Science Guy” briefly put it, “Experiencing an eclipse changes the way we feel about space and how we are connected. This moment will remind us all that we share a common origin among the stars and that we are all citizens of the same planet.”

1. What can we know about the total solar eclipse?

A．People in Oregon were unable to see it.

B．Many Americans looked forward to it.

C．The temperature on that day went higher.

D．It last occurred in America 100 years ago.

2. What did the people in Charleston fail to see?

A．The moon.	B．The corona.
C．A thick cloud cover.	D．Flashes of lightning.

3. What does Bill Nye think of the event?

A．Disappointing.

B．Dangerous.

C．Boring.

D．Meaningful.

4. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A weather report.	B．A travel magazine.
C．A news report.	D．A sightseeing guidebook.