1 . Vehicles on our roads are now mostly petrol and diesel (柴油) cars, but their days cannot continue for much longer. A recent university study found that current electric cars could be used for 87 percent of daily car journeys in the US. That figure could rise to 98 percent by 2020.

One hurdle to the widespread adoption of electric cars has been “range anxiety” — drivers concerns about running out of electricity on a journey. While petrol stations are conveniently located across national road systems, the necessary network of electric charging stations is still being developed. That said, charging points are becoming increasingly common throughout the USA.

Attitudes towards electric vehicles have changed greatly over the last few years. Not that long ago, electric cars were met with distrust, and their high prices drove customers away. Thanks to improvements in battery capacity, recharging times, performance and price, the current generation of electric cars are starting to persuade picky consumers. Plug-in cars will soon give internal combustion engine (内燃机) models a run for their money.

As well as development on the road, electric vehicles are taking to the seas and skies. Electric boats are among the oldest methods of electric travel, having enjoyed several decades of popularity from the late 19th to the early 20th century before petrol-powered outboard motors took over. Now, the global drive for renewable energy sources is bringing electric boats back. Steps towards electric air travel are also being made, with Airbus and NASA among the organizations developing and testing battery-powered planes. The experiments could soon make commercial electric flight a reality.

Electric vehicles do not produce any emissions (排放). If the US could replace 87 percent of its cars with electric vehicles, it would reduce the national demand for petrol by 61 percent. However, because of the production processes and the generation of electricity required to charge these vehicles, they cannot claim (声称) to be completely emission-free. That said, as many countries continue to increase their use of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles will become even cleaner.

1. The underlined word “hurdle” in Paragraph 2 probably means________.

A．aim

B．difficulty

C．result

D．step

2. Why did many people refuse to buy the electric cars in the past?

A．They were very poorly made.	B．They were not widely promoted.
C．They were expensive.	D．They couldn’t travel at a high speed.

3. What is the function of Paragraph 4?

A．To introduce the history of electric travel.

B．To explain why the world needs more electric cars.

C．To show why more people have interest in electric cars.

D．To describe different ways electric vehicles can be used.

4. Which is the best title for this passage?

A．Driving into a Cleaner Future	B．History of Electric Cars
C．Problems with Petrol and Diesel Cars	D．Best Means of Transportation

4 . Are You a Moring Person?

Mornings are not for everyone. Knowing that our own bodies may be wired to prefer a certain time of day is certainly a relief. But many of us still have to wake up and function during those first daylight hours. So what can you do?

We tapped a variety of experts - from sleep experts to nutritionists to life organizational pros (生活管理达人) — to share their tricks on how to make morning less stressful and more pleasant for even the most after-hours of night owls.

1. Night waking

Poor sleep quality can explain why we sometimes wake up from eight hours of snoozing and feel like we only clocked in at four. “It’s normal to have one or two awakenings, but more than that leaves us feeling groggy (昏昏沉沉) in the morning because of the fragmented sleep,” explains Shelby Harris, director of the behavioral sleep medicine program at Montefiore Medical Center.

2. The Science of snoozing

The snooze button does more harm than good. Nodding off again sends you into a light and fragmented sleep! Multiple snoozes can leave you feeling groggier than just getting out of bed the first time. Instead, be honest about the time you intend to get up and then enjoy every last minute of sleep, so you can wake up alert and ready to go.

3. Don’t ease into your workday

It can be tempting to plow through the easy things early on—checking e-mail, scanning the headlines—but it’s wise to tackle the bigger stuff first. “Getting to work on the most important tasks not only ups the chances that they actually get done, but it also leaves you with a burst of accomplishment to take with you the rest of the day,” says Jason Selk, coauthor of Organize Tomorrow Today.

4. Save social media for later

Schedule a social media block later in the afternoon to check in when you’re likely to need a break anyway, and save the morning for the important stuff.

1. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To help us to get the most out of our mornings.

B．To relieve us from the guilt of multiple snoozes in the morning.

C．To warn us of the harm of not getting out of bed immediately.

D．To inform us about the fact that our bodies are wired to prefer a certain time of day.

2. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．One or two awakenings ensure us a good night’s sleep.

B．To be an early bird, better forget about the snooze button.

C．It’s important not to block social medium if you want to save your morning.

D．Beginning a day with easy things aroused our interest and a sense of accomplishment.

3. Where can we find the passage?

A．Classified Advertisement	B．Travel Brochure
C．Life and Study	D．Scientific Journal

5 . The beauty, majesty, and timelessness of a primary rainforest are indescribable. It is impossible to _______ on film, to describe in words, or to explain to those who have never had the awe-inspiring experience of standing in the heart of a primary rainforest.

Rainforests have _______ over millions of years to turn into the incredibly complex environments they are today. Rainforests represent a store of living and _______ renewable natural resources that for an immeasurably long period of time, by virtue of their richness in both animal and plant species, have _______ a wealth of resources for the survival and well-being of humankind. These resources have included basic food supplies, clothing, shelter, fuel, spices, industrial raw materials, and medicine for all those who have lived in the majesty of the forest. _______, the inner dynamics (动力学；相互作用的方式) of a tropical rainforest is a complex and fragile system. Everything is so _______ that upsetting one part can lead to unknown damage or even destruction of the whole. Sadly, it has taken only a century of human intervention to destroy what nature designed to _______ forever.

The scale of human _______ on ecosystems everywhere has increased enormously in the last few decades. Since 1980 the global economy has tripled in size and the world population has increased by 30 percent. Consumption of everything on the planet has risen — at a cost to our _______. In 2001, The World Resources Institute estimated that the demand for rice, wheat, and corn is expected to grow by 40% by 2025, increasing irrigation water demands by 50% or more. They further reported that the demand for wood could double by the year 2050; ________, it is still the tropical forests of the world that supply the most part of the world’s demand for wood.

In 1950, about 15 percent of the Earth’s land surface was covered by rainforest. Today, more than half has already gone up in ________. In fewer than fifty years, about half of the world’s tropical rainforests have fallen ________ to fire or deforestation, and the rate of destruction is still ________. Unbelievably, more than 200,000 acres of rainforest are burned every day. That is more than 150 acres lost every minute of every day, and 78 million acres lost every year! More than 20 percent of the Amazon rainforest is already gone, and much more is severely ________ as the destruction continues. If nothing is done to control this ________, the entire Amazon could well be gone within fifty years. Fewer rainforests mean less rain, less oxygen for us to breathe, and an increased threat from global warming.

1.

A．establish

B．claim

C．capture

D．prove

2.

A．extended

B．evolved

C．expanded

D．resolved

3.

A．energizing

B．healing

C．isolating

D．breathing

4.

A．destroyed

B．contributed

C．reduced

D．affected

5.

A．However

B．Furthermore

C．Therefore

D．Otherwise

6.

A．active

B．positive

C．interdependent

D．dominant

7.

A．restore

B．support

C．relieve

D．last

8.

A．pressure

B．resources

C．concern

D．strengths

9.

A．existence

B．ecosystem

C．species

D．survival

10.

A．unfortunately

B．consequently

C．naturally

D．similarly

11.

A．store

B．food

C．smoke

D．wealth

12.

A．subject

B．down

C．apart

D．victim

13.

A．running out

B．going up

C．holding back

D．falling down

14.

A．released

B．revealed

C．threatened

D．boosted

15.

A．trend

B．practice

C．intention

D．attitude

6 . The following are newly released devices all designed to help make your life more convenient, beautiful and vivid.

Tonal

$2,995 AT TONAL.COM

Tonal makes lifting and resistance training truly easy and accessible from your own home. It is great because I hate any sort of public weight training. Tonal has a remarkably easy user interface and gives data and feedback in a helpful manner. It also makes you feel great by keeping track of clear improvements.

Hisense 75” U800GR 8K ULED Roku TV

$1,800 AT BEST BUY

8k sounded like a luxury, but now that brands like Hisense, which focus on a more affordable end of the spectrum, have gotten some time with the tech, you can finally bring the deep color output and stunning detail into your living room. Calling it “affordable” may be a stretch, but compared to most 8k TV’s which all run over $5,000, it’s the most cost-efficient version of the tech we’ve got. It gets your money worth best.

VIVE Goggle

$499 AT VIVE.COM

Vive goggles will bring an extremely accessible and refreshing approach to the VR world. They are a pair of goggles not unlike something you’d wear to snowboard. They’re extremely lightweight with a lightning fast set — that’s connected with things like watching Netflix. It’s the calmest headset I’ve ever worn and uses cameras to let you control everything with just your hands. This one’s for the not-gamers.

Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde

$920 AT WALMART

For people who easily sneeze because of dog hair or something like that outside, Dyson has created a machine that saves them for time at home. This new purifier doubles as a humidifier, plus it has a cooling function, making it the end all be all for stuffy, hot, dry apartments.

1. Which device will get your money worth best?

A．Tonal.	B．Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde.
C．VIVE Flow.	D．Hisense 75” U 800 GR 8K ULED Roku TV.

2. What statement of VIVE Goggles is TRUE?

A．They are user-friendly.

B．They help keep track of weight.

C．They appeal to gamers.

D．They are intended for who are allergic to dust.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A consumer review.	B．A magazine.
C．A novel.	D．A health report.

7 . London and Paris are two of Europe’s biggest tourist destinations, just a few hours away from each other by road or rail and an hour’s distance by air. What about the train-ferry combination that many recall fondly from their childhoods? Well, though it’s budget-saving, this option is too time-consuming today, so better leave it to your memories. Since the UK is not part the Schengen Area, passengers need to go through passport control prior to boarding.

Air trips

Though flying between London and Paris is by no means recommended, there are still a few people traveling between the two dynamic cities by air. A very low one-way fare is possible through advanced booking, but of course it’s rare, and that doesn’t include the taxi and rail fares traveling to and from the airports.

* One-way fares from Paris can be as low as 49;

* From London, Air France flies with fares as low as £39(46), and British Airways as low as £48 (56).

Rail trips

The only direct train between London and Paris is the Eurostar, which travels 15 -17 times per weekday. Eurostar’s 2015 edition trains can make the journey in two hours at speeds of up to 320 km/h. Besides, they offer good seating space.

* Fares begin at a reasonable £58(68), round trip;

* The earlier you book, the more you save.

Bus trips

The bus is by far the least expensive and longest way to travel between Paris and London. Eurolines and OUIBUS are two major bus lines traveling between the two capitals. The journey takes between seven and nine hours. Both lines advertise free Wi-Fi.

* One-way Eurolines fares begin at 15;

* One-way OUIBUS fares begin at 15 too, but early bird sales can even lower the fare.

1. Which way is probably the cheapest for a round trip?

A．By train-ferry.

B．By air.

C．By rail.

D．By bus.

2. What special service does the bus trip provide?

A．Free booking.	B．Taxi pickup.
C．Good seating space.	D．Free Wi-Fi.

3. What do the trips have in common with each other?

A．There are different competing companies.

B．They are cheaper if booked ahead of time.

C．They are more expensive from the Paris end.

D．There are still additional fees to be included.

8 . My name is Jimmy. One Thursday afternoon, when I was in senior one, a new boy came into my classroom. He was short and thin. He walked up to the teacher and told her, very seriously, that he was new. His name was Christian. He sat down, took a look at me, and then looked away. I didn’t think he was very nice and I was sure he wasn’t the type I would like to become friends with.

During that year, I didn’t talk to him much, but he smiled at me when our eyes met, always shyly. He never ate lunch with anybody, and he never talked to anybody but me.

But one day I joined those unkind kids who were making fun of him. We made fun of him though I thought it was wrong.

“Haven’t you got any friends?” a kid asked Christian, who had walked past us alone, head down.

“No, he hasn’t got any friends. He’s too stupid and shy,” I said. Then Christian looked up at me with the saddest dog eyes I had ever seen. I felt very sorry at that moment.

That night, I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t get Christian’s face out of my mind. In the weeks that followed, he never met my eyes in class and never smiled at me. It was really hard for me to decide to write him a note asking him to forgive (原谅) me. But I thought I should.

The next day in class, I wrote him a note telling him how sorry I felt. About five minutes later, I turned and saw tears in his eyes. “You will never realize what your apology (道歉) has meant to me, Jimmy.” he said to me. “I hope we can become friends.”

We had lunch together that noon and we had the best talk I had ever had. Over the years at high school, we were close friends.

When I think back, I realize that, if I had not apologized, I would never have known what a lovely person Christian was.

Apologies can really change your life, so never miss the chance to tell somebody you are sorry.

1. What do we about know Christian from the passage?

A．He was tall and fat.	B．He was short and thin.
C．He was short and active.	D．He was lovely and fat.

2. Why didn’t Jimmy talk to Christian much at first?

A．He didn’t think Christian was the type he wanted to become friends with.

B．Christian wasn’t nice to people around him after he came to the new class.

C．Christian made friends with others.

D．Christian had the saddest dog eyes.

3. How did Jimmy feel after he made fun of Christian with other unkind kids?

A．Happy.

B．Interested.

C．Sorry.

D．Bored.

4. What is the purpose of this text?

A．To tell us it is important to make an apology when we hurt others.

B．To show Jimmy’s apology was unimportant to Christian.

C．To introduce Christian wasn’t lovely in fact.

D．To tell us it is unimportant to say sorry to others.

9 . Running is often tiring and a lot of hard work, but nothing beats the feeling you get after finishing a long workout around the track.

But while it’s long been believed that endorphins (内啡肽) —chemicals in the body that cause happiness—are behind the so-called “runner’s high”, a study suggested that there may be more to this phenomenon than we previously knew.

According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids (内源性大麻素) may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling.

To test this theory, the scientists turned to mice. Both mice and humans release high levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids after exercise. After exercising on running wheels, the mice seemed happy and relaxed and displayed no signs of anxiety. But after being given a drug to block their endorphins, the mice’s behavior didn’t seem to change. However, when their endocannabinoids were blocked with a different drug, their runners’ high symptoms seemed to fade.

“The long-held notion of endorphins being responsible for the runner’s high is false. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the pain in your body and muscles you feel after working out,” Patrick Lucas Austin wrote on science blog Lifchacker.

Similar studies are yet to be carried out on humans, but it’s already known that exercise is a highly effective way to get rid of stress or anxiety. The UK’s National Health Service even prescribes (开药 方) exercise to patients who are suffering from depression. “Being depressed can leave you feeling low in energy, which might put you off being more active. Regular exercise can improve your mood if you have depression, and its especially useful for people with mild to moderate (中等的) depression,” it wrote on its website.

It seems like nothing can beat that feeling we get after a good workout, even if we don’t fully understand where it comes from. At least if we’re feeling down, we know that all we have to do is to put on our running shoes.

1. What did scientists from German universities recently discover?

A．Working out is a highly effective way to treat depression.

B．The runner’s high could be caused by endocannabinoids.

C．Endorphins may contribute to one’s high spirits after running.

D．The level of endorphins and endocannabinoids could affect one’s mood.

2. Why did the scientists give mice drugs in their experiment?

A．To find what reduces the runner’s high symptoms.

B．To see the specific symptoms of the runner’s high.

C．To identify what is responsible for the runner’s high.

D．To test what influences the level of endocannabinoids released.

3. What does the underlined word “notion” mean?

A．Effect.

B．Goal.

C．Opinion.

D．Question

4. What can we know about regular workouts according to the UK’s National Health Service?

A．They can help ease depression symptoms.

B．They are the best way to treat depression.

C．They only work for those with serious depression.

D．They can help people completely recover from depression.