1 . When I was a little boy growing up, my Mom, Dad, brothers and I lived in my Nana’s old house. It was surrounded by four huge vegetable gardens. And around the house so many flowers were planted. It was so beautiful there in the spring and summer. That wasn’t all, though. On the back porch Nana had dozens of potted plants hanging on hooks. She watered them, talked to them and nurtured them. And in the winter she would carry them all inside and set them on shelves near the windows of our enclosed front porch. There with a little water and a lot of love she kept them alive, green, and growing even during the coldest, darkest months.

As a boy I was puzzled by all the effort she put into them. I understood the vegetable gardens. They helped to feed the family all winter long. I even understood the flowers around the house. They were pretty and smelled so sweet in the summer months. The reason she put so much effort into caring for those potted plants, however, eluded me. They didn’t give us any food and they rarely had any flowers on them. They remained a mystery to my child’s mind.

Now as I’ve grown older I am beginning to understand why my Nana had those potted plants. It is the same reason I have so many pictures of sunrises and forests hanging in my home. They remind me during the dark, cold, winter months full of bare trees and yellow grass that light, love, and growth still exist. They remind me that Spring will come again. They remind me that God loves us and is still with us even when the earth doesn’t show it.

Today I see Nana’s potted plants in a new light. They are worth every bit of the love and care she put into them. But what tells me most about light and love is Nana herself. She is light to my soul even in my darkest times. And her love lives on in my heart even if she is in Heaven. May we all learn to love as she loved, shine as she shined, and live as she lived.

1. Which of the following is close in meaning to the underlined word “eluded” in paragraph 2?

A．Upset.

B．Misguided.

C．Confused.

D．Distracted.

2. Why was Nana fond of potted plants?

A．They were a sign of hope.	B．They resembled sunrise and forests.
C．They constantly kept Nana company.	D．They were portable and easy to nurture.

3. What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?

A．To advocate growing potted plants.	B．To sing the praise of Nana’s spirit and love.
C．To stress the benefits of a positive lifestyle.	D．To recall beautiful memories spent with Nana.

4. What’s the type of the passage?

A．A non-fiction.	B．A book review.
C．An agricultural leaflet.	D．A celebrity biography.

2 . For many of us, asking for help is a difficult concept. We may feel as if we are admitting a weakness that world would not have known about, had we not asked for help.

However, people who are able to deliver well-positioned requests for help are often seen as very strong individuals. When they demonstrate the humility (谦卑) to ask for help, they earn the respect of others. People who receive a heartfelt request for help are usually honored by the request. In turn, we are strengthened by the very help that is provided.

One of my clients named Kira recently made a shift in how she was interacting with her boss. When asked to prepare presentations, she assumed that she was expected to develop the content, deliver it at the required meeting and then wait for feedback from her boss. However, Kira recognized that she had not yet made use of her boss’s support. She could learn far more about creating attractive presentations by walking through a draft with her boss and obtaining feedback earlier in the process rather than at the back end. So she made the request for his support.

The outcome? Her boss was delighted to coach Kira and was enthusiastic about teaching presentation skills to her. By taking the time to work together on presentation for a number of Kira’s key presentations, she benefited from her boss’s thought process and thus improved her own presentations. Kira’s presentations now have punch!

Some of us are uncomfortable asking for help because we believe that our request places burdens on the other person. However, we may miss an opportunity to show others how we value and respect them. People who know you and think well of you are often highly motivated to help. Furthermore, the more specific you can be about what you need from them, the easier it is for them to assist you.

1. Which of the following may the author agree with?

A．Weak people often need more help.

B．Helping others is helping oneself.

C．Well-positioned requests for help are welcomed.

D．Asking for help means admitting weaknesses.

2. What can we learn about Kira’s request for help?

A．It turned out rewarding.	B．It led to her promotion.
C．It was turned down.	D．It benefited her boss in return.

3. What does the underlined sentence “Kira’s presentations now have punch” means?

A．Her presentations are forceful.	B．Her presentations are controversial.
C．Her presentations are positive.	D．Her presentations are motivating.

4. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To illustrate how to ask for help.	B．To call for attention to others’ requests.
C．To show the importance of mutual help.	D．To encourage people to ask for help.

3 . ABCmouse

ABCmouse is one of the most well-known learn to read apps for children. With its expert-made curriculum, the program offers endless hours of content for children aged 2 to 8. The interactive app offers thousands of activities to help develop this essential skill, with lessons that expose students to math, arts, and science at age-appropriate levels too. The cost after free trial is around $15 per month. Families who purchase a full year’s subscription can get about 70% off the price.

Homer

Homer provides a personalized learning path for children aged 2 to 8. Children will learn reading, math, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way. Instead of a one-size-fits-most approach, Homer customizes learning plans and allows students to take the lead in deciding what they want to work on. The price point is in line with similar apps at about $5 per month after a free trial, or roughly $60 for a full year or $100 for lifetime access.

Hooked on Phonics

Hooked on Phonics is an exceptional tool for homeschoolers, with a wide range of lessons, games, and fun activities. It is one of the most popular brands for teaching kids to read, and its integrated system makes it an ideal option for homeschooling students. Children are introduced to each new concept through a series of fun activities, videos, and even songs. The system is a little bit pricier than other apps, at about $16 per month after a trial month for roughly $1.

FarFaria

FarFaria invites children to join in on a magic al adventure that includes island hopping and the choice between reading the story or having it narrated completely with fun, magical animation. While the free membership offers one story a day, paid subscribers unlock access to unlimited adventures at roughly $8 per month. Readers can either read the books themselves or take advantage of the “read to me” option to have stories read aloud by professional narrators.

1. For an annual subscription to ABCmouse, how much does a family need to pay?

A．$54.

B．$105.

C．$126.

D．$180.

2. Which app best suits children who are taught at home?

A．ABCmouse.	B．Homer.
C．Hooked on Phonics.	D．FarFaria.

3. Which section of newspaper is this text probably taken from?

A．Finance.

B．Science.

C．Culture.

D．Education.

4 . Extremely authentic-looking prosthetic (假体的) eyes can now be 3D-printed in a fraction of the time it would normally take to produce the eyes by hand, scientists demonstrate in a new study.

The new technology can create a prosthetic eye in just 90 minutes, compared with the eight hours it would normally take a skilled technician, or ocularist, to produce one by hand. The 3D-printed eyes require five times less labor to make than traditional methods, the scientists behind the technology wrote in a new paper published in the journal Nature Communications.

The 3D-printed eyes also look more natural than traditional prostheses; this could help improve a patient’s self-confidence in using the devices. “Patients are very conscious about wearing a prosthesis, and they don't want others to notice,” Johann Reinhard, lead study author and a researcher at the Fraunhofer

Institute for Computer Graphics Research in Germany, told us. “With these more realistic eves, it might help them to participate more in society,” he said.

The new printing approach involves taking a specialized image of a patient’s empty eye socket and of their healthy eye. These images are then processed and used to draft blueprints that can be sent to be 3D-printed in the lab. These 3D-printed eyes closely replicate the color, size and structure of the patient's healthy eye and are particularly good at capturing the colored part of the eye, known as the iris, and the white part of the eye, called the sclera. Once finished, the eyes take 15 to 30 minutes to be installed by an ocularist, Reinhard said.

“About 80% of adults in need of prosthetic eyes could theoretically have one made this way, either due to a birth defect that causes an eye to be small or missing or because they’ve lost an eye,” the team said. “However, this wouldn’t be possible for all patients, such as those who have a very complex eye socket, as the software wouldn’t be able to find a matching shape for the prosthetic eye,” Reinhard said.

“More data are needed to see if this technique could also be used to make prosthetic eyes for children,which would require more regulation,” Reinhard said.

1. Which of the following words can be best used to describe the 3D-printed eyes?

A．Eco-friendly.

B．Time-consuming.

C．Fit-of-all.

D．Realistic-looking.

2. How does the author develop his idea mainly in Paragraph 2?

A．By justifying an idea.	B．By giving examples.
C．By providing evidence.	D．By making a comparison.

3. Which statement is true about a 3D-printed eye?

A．The patients prefer to show off their prosthetic eyes.

B．Every adult in need of a prosthetic eye can’t possibly have one.

C．It normally takes a skilled technician, or ocularist, to produce one.

D．The installment of one is 5 times faster than a traditional prosthetic eye.

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A．3D-printed Eyes——a Better Alternative

B．3D Printing—a Promising Technology

C．3D-printed Eyes—a Source of Confidence

D．Prosthetic Eyes—the Hope for all Blind People

5 . Stacy Dean, an official at the US Department of Agriculture, was inspired by a visit to Watkins Elementary, in Washington, D. C. Students grow vegetables in their school garden. They also roll up their sleeves in the school’s kitchen to participate in a FRESHFARM FoodPrints class, which integrates cooking and nutrition education.

“Who’s next?” asks instructional coach Regina Green, as kids throw vegetables into the pan and the smell of fresh ginger and onions fills the air. “We grew these in our garden,” Jessie Gibson, one of the students, says proudly. Then he measures and pours dry ingredients into a bowl.

“Our family has tried new things because of the program,” says Catie Kelley, whose two children have participated in the FRESHFARM program. “They come home with the recipes,” Kelley says. “It’s fun because it’s things that we don’t usually make at home,” so it has encouraged them to try novel combinations. She says the kids take more of an interest at the grocery store to identify foods they’ve tried in the program.

Dean wants to have the science around healthy eating integrated. A block to scaling up these types of programs is money. The program relies on grants and receives some federal funding, but it’s not enough to expand the program to all the schools that could benefit.

In fact, there are other problems. At a time when diet-related disease is a leading cause of death, and unhealthy eating habits are rooted in US culture, it’s unrealistic to think that a cooking curriculum could overcome such a sweeping, societal problem. “We know from years of evidence that we need multiple things to come together to support healthy eating,” says Angela Odoms-Young, a professor of maternal and child nutrition at Cornell University.

Despite these challenges, programs like FRESHFARM can help kids expand their choices by introducing them to new tastes. At first, many kids are turned off by the bitter taste of greens. But through the magic of cooking, processing the onions, and blending in fresh ginger, kids can be inspired.

1. What inspired Dean during the visit to Watkins Elementary?

A．The coach’s skillful performance.

B．Students’ getting more access to nature.

C．The integrated hands-on cooking.

D．Students’ gardening and cooking.

2. How does the program benefit Kelley’s family?

A．They pay more attention to healthy eating.

B．They have a more harmonious relation.

C．They show more interest in shopping.

D．They have enriched their recipes.

3. What can be inferred from paragraph 5?

A．Advocating healthy eating needs joint efforts.

B．A cooking curriculum should be promoted.

C．Nutrition helps put students on a healthy path.

D．Food is fundamental to life and good health.

4. What does the author think of the program?

A．Complex.

B．Widespread.

C．Effective.

D．Easily-operated.

6 . I have struggled with feelings of unworthiness since forever. My most painful moments were at parties. My friends made fun of me because I was rhythmically (有节奏地)__________ and I couldn’t get my__________ body to imitate the latest dance moves. I was never chosen to dance. I felt like I didn’t__________.

Around age 12, I decided that the way to__________ these feelings of unworthiness was perfection. If I was just perfect then I would fit in. But this strategy didn’t__________.My self-esteem (自尊心) was high when I got good grades and felt__________, but crashed when I didn’t do well__________, or was left out.

After several years of spiritual growth, it__________ me that for many of us, self-worth is tied to our__________. We experience low self-worth__________ we fail or lose approval. So I have begun to cultivate an unconditional self-worth. It’s not about doing things perfectly.__________, “Unconditional self-worth” is the______ that you deserve to be alive, to be loved and cared for.

The__________ to unconditional self-worth is not always easy. It takes courage to free yourself from the __________ you’ve placed on your worth. But this journey is beautiful and worth taking. So I challenge you to embrace yourselves and find your metaphorical (隐喻的) __________ floor and move freely.

1.

A．adjusted

B．bothered

C．challenged

D．compromised

2.

A．twisted

B．annoyed

C．limited

D．awkward

3.

A．belong

B．appeal

C．match

D．deserve

4.

A．solve

B．cure

C．release

D．arouse

5.

A．sustain

B．work

C．hatch

D．dismiss

6.

A．included

B．excluded

C．inspired

D．appreciated

7.

A．internally

B．academically

C．professionally

D．contemporarily

8.

A．occurs to

B．happens to

C．calls on

D．knocks on

9.

A．desires

B．strengths

C．accomplishments

D．harmony

10.

A．as well as

B．as soon as

C．as much as

D．as far as

11.

A．Still

B．However

C．Meanwhile

D．Rather

12.

A．definition

B．resolution

C．sense

D．pose

13.

A．discovery

B．access

C．journey

D．experience

14.

A．emphasis

B．burden

C．demand

D．conditions

15.

A．valley

B．forest

C．dance

D．balcony

7 . Singapore cannot afford to have large plots of land dedicated to growing crops—it is just too small. However, farming, or more precisely, urban farming, is now a buzz word here. Instead of looking at the grounds, Singapore has decided to look skyward, towards rooftops!

In 2020, Singapore announced plans to convert the roofs of nine multi-storey car-parks in public housing areas into spaces for commercially farmed vegetables and other crops. This is part of Singapore’s strategy to meet the country’s 30 by 30 goal, which is to produce 30% of its nutritional needs locally by 2030 up from 10% in 2020.

Several companies have taken on the task of cultivating the urban farming scene in Singapore. Citiponics has made a name for itself, building water-efficient organic “growing towers” that can be used to grow anything from butterhead lettuce (奶油生菜) to sweet basil (罗勒). In April 2020, they opened the first commercial farm on the rooftop of a multi-storey car park and now sell their produce via their own brand at local supermarkets. Edible Garden City (EGC) has more than 200farms across the island and works closely with restaurants to ensure sustainable supply and demand. A 460-square-meter farm run by EGC, is positioned on the rooftop of a mall to supply nearby restaurants.

Singapore is not alone in its efforts to go beyond the confines of conventional agriculture. All over the world, cities are seeking to feed their communities with local produce. At Thammasat University located just outside of Bangkok, a formerly disused rooftop has been transformed into a 7,000-square-meter space for organic farming, the largest in Asia.

Urban farming is not restricted to eatable plants such as leafy greens and vegetables. Rooftop Honey, which has over 130 hives throughout various locations in Greater Melbourne specializes in bees. The urban beekeeping operation, founded in 2010, serves two purposes: producing creamy and delicious honey for the city’s residents while also allowing the bees to pollinate (授粉) flowers in the surrounding areas.

There are several benefits to have the farms so close to home. Through community gardens or access to commercial-scale farm produce, the public have an opportunity to understand how food is grown. As the produce is pesticide free, there is also comfort in knowing where the food comes from and its impact on the environment.

1. Why is the limited land resource in Singapore mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．To explain benefits of urban farming.	B．To show the function of urban farming.
C．To introduce the result of urban farming.	D．To emphasize the necessity of urban farming.

2. What does the underlined word “confines” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Strengths.

B．Restrictions.

C．Principles.

D．Profits.

3. What can we learn about urban farming from the text?

A．Urban farming simply means growing vegetables and fruits.

B．Urban farming is a solution to farming where land is lacking.

C．Urban farming helps to increase the crop production greatly.

D．Urban farming has never been commercialized in Singapore.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．A New Plan Launched in Singapore	B．Singapore, the Birthplace of Urban Farming
C．Urban Farming, a Novel Pattern of Farming	D．Strengths and Weaknesses of Urban Farming

8 . Lying in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, the fishing village Huatulco is home to nine bays, 36 beaches and thousands of baby turtles that apparently needed me. I had three open days on my calendar, and a desire to save some turtles. And so, away I went to Huatulco with Wildcoast, a group of champions-for-change who were protecting coastal and marine ecosystem in the U. S. and Mexico.

I was taken to La Escobilla to experience Wildcoast in action. Just one hour north of Huatulco, this protected beach is where mass turtle nesting happens. This natural phenomenon lasts just four days during rainy season, hundreds of thousands of female sea turtles swinging their way ashore to lay their eggs.

Between threats of dogs, crabs, development and oil spills, the little creatures have the whole world against them. As recently as 2002, turtles hunting was not only a common practice, but an important part of the culture and diet in the Oaxaca communities. Luckily, Wildcoast rescues turtle eggs and recreates habitats by monitoring temperatures and humidity. Thanks to their efforts, the sea turtles have made a major comeback, with now over 72 million turtles being born on the beaches that Wildcoast protects.

I got to hold 50 of the tiny creatures in a bowl. Despite an average laying of 100 eggs, just one in 1, 000 baby turtles will make it to adulthood. Gazing into the bowl, I so badly wanted them to taste the sea and find shelter somewhere deep in the ocean. Finally, it was time to liberate those little creatures. Out spilled the creatures, some moving full steam ahead while others barely paddled in place. Literally, hundreds of them began to spread out across the beach.

With each set of waves, we witnessed the survival of the fittest, some pushing past the whitewash while others crashed back to shore. Their fight for life made my eyes wet. A flock of birds were ready to dive into the sea for their moving targets. “One in 1, 000.” Nature was cruel and compassionate at the same time. After 30 long minutes, the last creature made his way to the sea.

1. The baby turtles are threatened by various factors except ________.

A．the cruel hunters	B．the rapid development
C．the extreme weather	D．the oil-polluted ocean

2. What do the underlined words “full steam ahead” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．With slow pace and fear.	B．With all energy and enthusiasm.
C．With full caution and curiosity.	D．With great satisfaction and responsibility.

3. What does the author indicate by mentioning “One in 1,000” in the last paragraph?

A．One baby turtle in 1,000 can make his way to the sea.

B．Thousands of baby turtles were crashed back to shore.

C．The struggle of baby turtles for life touched the author.

D．Baby turtles can hardly survive the harsh living conditions.

4. What can we learn from the author’s experience in saving baby turtles?

A．Think twice before you leap.	B．God helps those who help themselves.
C．Cease to struggle and you cease to live.	D．When the buying stops, the killing can too.

10 . Adrienne Tully, an amateur photographer, went to the coast of a beach in Belmar, New Jersey. She planned to take photos of the ______ against the sea. Instead, she was able to ______ a frightening but happy journey. It all started last Sunday morning when she noticed a crowd ______ on the beach. Naturally, she joined them in the ______ of learning what was going on.

For a minute, Adrienne was ______ about what everyone was looking at. From how far away they were, it almost seemed like a bird. Looking closer, ______ , it was clearly a deer who was ______ on a raised rock in the middle of the ocean. The deer made a couple of ______ to swim back to the shore but the turbulent (汹涌的) water ______ all its efforts. Then someone who came out of nowhere ______ rode his surfboard to the deer. After a short magic while, the ______ managed to guide the deer out. Upon ______ ashore, the deer just ran north on the beach. Those watching nearby were no doubt ______ at the way this nameless young man ______ to help. But he somehow disappeared too, leaving people to hope he knows that he is greatly ______ for what he did.

1.

A．wildlife

B．city

C．fight

D．sunrise

2.

A．launch

B．anticipate

C．shoot

D．report

3.

A．cooperating

B．forming

C．arguing

D．encountering

4.

A．hope

B．charge

C．absence

D．face

5.

A．confused

B．desperate

C．anxious

D．depressed

6.

A．fortunately

B．however

C．otherwise

D．therefore

7.

A．defeated

B．deserted

C．stuck

D．seated

8.

A．routines

B．attempts

C．excuses

D．routes

9.

A．ruined

B．interrupted

C．canceled

D．postponed

10.

A．purposely

B．randomly

C．elegantly

D．heroically

11.

A．onlooker

B．tourist

C．surfer

D．guide

12.

A．going

B．washing

C．thundering

D．struggling

13.

A．ashamed

B．mad

C．amazed

D．expert

14.

A．went off

B．turned up

C．settled down

D．set out

15.

A．appreciated

B．understood

C．awarded

D．supported