1 . It was a sunny afternoon. My husband Dave and I had just arrived home from hospital. I parked the car in front of the house. Dave was so tired that he leaned against the door and waited for me to open it for him. When I opened it, he _________ out of the car onto the ground. He was too _________ to raise himself. I tried to lift him, but my _________ ended fruitlessly. I looked around in all directions for someone to help us but nobody was _________.

I turned to run into the house to make a _________. Just then, a man dressed in white walked toward us. I couldn’t _________ how he appeared suddenly as I’d seen no one seconds before. He looked at Dave on the ground and asked if we needed _________. I nodded, adding that my husband was very heavy and _________ to move.

“Let me _________,” he said. He put one hand under Dave’s arm. As if Dave __________ no more than a feather, the man lifted him. He put Dave’s arm over his shoulder and put his own arm around Dave’s waist to keep him __________.

As I __________ the way into the house, the two men walked up our front stairs and into our home together. The man lowered Dave onto a little sofa. He smiled as Dave tried to thank him and said he was __________ to help. As he turned to go, I thanked him __________. He just smiled, said goodbye, and walked away.

I’ve never seen that man again, but I’ll always __________ him as our angel of light.

1.

A．stepped

B．fell

C．rushed

D．stared

2.

A．weak

B．nervous

C．annoyed

D．ashamed

3.

A．desires

B．efforts

C．judgments

D．adventures

4.

A．in need

B．in place

C．in sight

D．in charge

5.

A．call

B．plan

C．wish

D．promise

6.

A．predict

B．demonstrate

C．understand

D．believe

7.

A．comfort

B．assistance

C．guidance

D．information

8.

A．unwilling

B．unsure

C．unsuitable

D．unable

9.

A．check

B．explain

C．know

D．try

10.

A．demanded

B．lost

C．matched

D．weighed

11.

A．awake

B．focused

C．balanced

D．silent

12.

A．led

B．found

C．marked

D．pushed

13.

A．glad

B．shy

C．qualified

D．prepared

14.

A．awkwardly

B．appropriately

C．independently

D．repeatedly

15.

A．choose

B．introduce

C．remember

D．recommend

2 . If you’ve ever awoken from a vivid dream only to find that you can’t remember the details by the end of breakfast, you’re not alone. People forget most of the dreams they have—though it is possible to train yourself to remember more of them. Dreaming happens mostly during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. During this sleep stage, brain activity looks similar to that in a waking brain, with some very important differences.

Short-term memory areas are active during REM sleep, but those only hang on to memories for about 30 seconds. You have to wake up from REM sleep to recall (记起) a vivid dream. If, instead, you pass into the next stage of sleep without waking, that dream will never enter long-term memory. If you sleep only six hours, you’re getting less than half of the dream time of an eight-hour night. Those final hours of sleep are the most important for dreaming. And people tend to remember the last dream of the night — the one just before waking.

Other factors also contribute to whether you’ll remember your nighttime adventures. Women tend to remember a few more dreams than men on average. Young people remember more dreams than older people. Memory of dreams increases in kids from the age at which they can communicate about those dreams, plateaus (停滞) from the early teens to the early 20s and then very gradually declines in adults over the rest of their life. There are a lot of individual differences in dream memory, though. Some people almost never remember a dream while others regularly recall several each night.

It is possible to train your brain to remember more of your dreams. If you want to remember your dreams, you’d better take a moment when you wake up, before you even move your body, to think about what you were just dreaming and remember as much as possible. This moves the dream from short-term memory to long-term memory.

1. What can be learned about dreaming?

A．People are less likely to wake up when dreaming.

B．It causes the same brain activity as in a waking brain.

C．It hardly ever takes place beyond REM sleep.

D．People tend to forget their dreams in a short time.

2. In what condition may we recall a dream clearly?

A．When we wake up from REM sleep.

B．When we sleep with rapid eye movement.

C．When we pass into the next stage of sleep.

D．When we just sleep for about 30 seconds.

3. Which of the following probably remembers the most dreams?

A．A 54-year-old male worker.	B．A 3-year-old kindergartener.
C．A 23-year-old female artist.	D．A 30-year-old male engineer.

4. How can we make our dreams longer memorized?

A．By remembering more details immediately after waking up.

B．By not moving our body for a moment after waking up.

C．By training our brain before sleeping during the night.

D．By reading through articles until falling asleep.

3 . In the animal kingdom, there are many species that give birth to spotted young, from deer to birds and fish. Even species that we don’t typically link with spots, such as lions, wear the pattern as babies, only to lose it later in life.

But what purpose do these spots serve, and why do only some species seem to have them? Kiyoko Gotanda, a biologist at Brock University, said it is likely so common because it functions as excellent camouflage.

For example, spotted young tend to be more common in species that live in habitats with some high grass or forests, and less common in environments that are plain, like pack ice. Indeed, baby seals (海豹) born on pack ice are pure white, and develop spots only when they leave the ice for rocky beaches because spots are easy to be seen on pack ice, which may get them into difficulties.

In other rarer cases, spots actually help babies stand out. Young garibaldi, a fish found in California — have bright-blue spots that advertise their low social positions. As the fish grow and start to engage in the social ranking order, their spots disappear.

Other species may lose their spots as they age because their color goes on to serve another purpose. Lions are born with many spots, yet the spots mostly disappear in adulthood. Males, in particular, trade their spots for thick hair, which can help them attract female ones. Reproducing, rather than hiding, becomes the main focus.

It’s unclear why an animal like a cheetah would maintain its spots while a lion doesn’t. Gotanda said it may come down to hunting practice. Lions hunt in groups, while cheetahs tend to hunt alone and rely more heavily on the smokescreen power of their spots to get near prey (猎物).

1. Which can best replace the underlined word “camouflage” in paragraph 2?

A．Guidance.

B．Reminder.

C．Attractant.

D．Protection.

2. Which young animals use spots to mark their identity?

A．Cheetahs.

B．Seals.

C．Garibaldi.

D．Lions.

3. Which statement might Gotanda agree with?

A．White spots need more energy to grow and maintain.

B．The way of hunting may affect the existence of spots.

C．Male lions tend to use spots to attract strong female ones.

D．Spotted young animals often appear in featureless environments.

4. What is mainly talked about in the text?

A．How spots help animals escape danger.

B．Why so many baby animals have spots.

C．Which kind of young animals have spots.

D．What might happen to spotted young animals.

4 . Here are four universities in Munich, Germany that offer free tuition for their students.

Technical University of Munich(TUM)

This university is the best technical university in Germany. It was established in 1868 by King Ludwig Ⅱ. The university was renamed Technische Universitat München in 1970. Its alumni(校友)have several Nobel Prize winners, including Konrad Emil Bloch for Medicine or Physiology and Robert Huber for Chemistry. This university offers undergraduate degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Nuclear Technology and others.

Munich University of Applied Sciences(MUAS)

Established in 1971, the university is the biggest university of applied science in Bavaria. Its establishment was the result of seven colleges of higher education joining together. It offers a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in different subjects. It also works with around 200 different educational institutions around the world.

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich(LMUM)

This is a public university established by the Duke Ludwig IX of Bavaria-Landshut in 1472. It was renamed its present name in honor of the founder of the university by King Maximilian I. The university counts several famous personalities among its alumni, including Pope Benedict XVI, 2005 Nobel Prize winner in physics Theodor W. Hansch, and Nobel Prize-winning novelist Thomas Mann.

University of Television and Film Munich(UT&FM)

Established in 1966, the university is one of the most famous film schools in Germany. It has strict guidelines when it comes to the admission of students. Some of the alumni of the university have received the Academy Award. Among the better-known alumni is Florian Henkel von Donnersmarck, who won an Academy Award in 2007 for The Lives of Others.

1. What is special about Munich University of Applied Sciences?

A．It is the biggest university in Germany.

B．It focuses on training talents of science.

C．It has some Nobel Prize winners in its alumni.

D．It was founded by combining several colleges.

2. Who graduated from University of Television and Film Munich?

A．Pope Benedict XVI.	B．Florian Henkel von Donnersmarck.
C．Konrad Emil Bloch.	D．Thomas Mann.

3. Which university has the longest history?

A．TUM.

B．MUAS.

C．LMUM.

D．UT&FM.

5 . When you go on vacation next time, make sure to take lots of pictures of the wildlife you see. These photos can help save different types of wildlife because of a new field called “imageomies”. Imageomies uses computers to study pictures of wildlife and learn information from them.

Until recently, scientists didn’t have the technology to analyze (分析) the data in wildlife photos. But now, machine learning and computer vision are helping researchers unlock valuable information hidden in these images.

There are platforms where people can share their wildlife photos, like cBird, iNaturalist and Wildbook. These platforms help scientists keep track of different species and create databases. If you have rare (稀有的) photos of wildlife, it’s a good idea to share them on these platforms.

Scientists have limited time and resources to study all endangered wildlife in the world. By using artificial intelligence (人工智能) to analyze public photos, we can learn more about different species and their behaviors. This technology can even help us find things in photos that humans might miss.

It’s important to use the collected information responsibly and protect it from poachers (偷猎者). If we do that, imageomies can not only help save wildlife but also contribute to other fields like medicine and agriculture.

1. How can imageomies help scientists study wildlife?

A．By offering information from wildlife.	B．By analyzing the data in wildlife photos.
C．By analyzing the trend of human population.	D．By knowing the origin of biological processes.

2. What are the platforms where people can share their wildlife photos?

A．eBird, iNaturalist and Wildbook.	B．Imageomics, eBird and Wildbook.
C．Imageomics, eBird and iNaturalist.	D．Photos of wildlife, iNaturalist and Wildbook.

3. Why should people share their rare wildlife photos on platforms?

A．To appreciate the beauty of wildlife.	B．To contribute to the public safety.
C．To inspire others to protect nature.	D．To help scientists study wildlife.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．Computers help identify the biological features	B．Poachers stop killing threatened animals
C．Photos can save wild species	D．Photos can protect our environment

6 . Confessions of an annoying Mosquito

If you’re reading my confessions (自白), congratulations! You’ll have a safe and healthy summer.

We love when you work up a sweat. It’s really the carbon dioxide you breathe out that makes us beeline to ward you, not the fragrance of your “sweet blood.”

Love beer? So do some of us. They can tell when you’ve been drinking because your skin chemistry changes, and it attracts them

Pregnant? Yum. If you’re having a baby, you emit more carbon dioxide and your belly has a higher temperature, drawing some of us right to you. Sorry, baby.

Hate getting bitten up? Blame the ladies. Males do not eat human blood: They get all their nutrition from plants. After we have a blood meal, we can lay anywhere from 100 to 400 eggs

Smelly feet are simply delicious. Scientists have shown we find your toes ten times more inviting than Limburger cheese.

If your home’s landscaping is well tended, we won’t like it as much. We like to hang out in thick, overgrown vegetation. The darker and more damp, the better. And puddles (水沟) of smelly water is where we like to lay our eggs.

Got those CO₂-emitting traps in your yard? Great! You may think you’re outsmarting us with these devices, which emit carbon dioxide to lure (引诱) us into a trap. But they may attract more of us than they are able to trap, increasing our presence in your yard.

When it comes to West Nile, end-of-summer bites may do more harm. It’s simple logic: We bite birds with West Nile virus; then we bite humans and spread it. By summer’s end, we’ve had more chances to bite infected birds.

1. What can we know from the confessions?

A．Mosquitoes love smelly toes most.

B．All the mosquitoes suck drinking people.

C．The mosquito making the confessions is female.

D．Mosquito bites in early summer are more harmful.

2. Which of the following is least likely to attract “WE” according to the text?

A．A woman who is expecting.	B．A yard with traps emitting oxygen.
C．A man who has just finished jogging.	D．A house surrounded with smelly puddles.

3. What is the tone of the text?

A．Amusing.

B．Serious.

C．Sad.

D．Proud.

7 . Top Theme Parks and Amusement Parks in Australia

Magic Mountain Merimbula

Located in the town of Merimbula, this small theme park is situated on the Sapphire Coast. There are multiple attractions in this place including Kiddie Splash Pool, Magic Carpet Slide and the Diamond Pyth on Roller Coaster. You can buy souvenirs from the gift shops for friends and family back home.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm

Price: $90 per person

The Big Banana Fun Park

The Big Banana Fun Park is located in the city of Coffs Harbour and it boasts a large walk-through banana. Guests can go roller skating at the ice-skating rink, enjoy water slides and play golf.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9 am to 5 pm

Price: $25 per adult (age 13-99); $15 per child (age 1-12)

Wet Wild Gold Coast

Owned and operated by the Village Roadshow Theme Parks, this park features 17 water slides, 4 pools, and 2 children’s areas. If you are traveling during the winter season, there is nothing to worry as the pools and slides are heated according to your convenience.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm

Price: $24 per person

Big Splash Waterpark

Featuring nine slides, a 50-meter (164 feet) pool, and kiddie pools, this park is a perfect spot to chill when the sun is out. Being one of the oldest theme parks in Australia, it boasts the famous Jammo Pool.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 6 pm

Price: $150 per adult (age 13-99); 40% discount per child (age 1-12)

Enjoy with your kids at one of the theme parks in Australia.

1. What can visitors do in The Big Banana Fun Park?

A．Ride on a roller coaster.	B．Play golf.
C．Buy gifts.	D．Taste big bananas.

2. How much will 8-year-old twins pay if they go to Big Splash Waterpark?

A．$60.

B．$90.

C．$120.

D．$180.

3. Who is the text most probably intended for?

A．Parents.

B．Children.

C．Guides.

D．Swimmers.

9 . Under a midday summer sun in California’s Sacramento Valley, rice farmer Peter Rystrom walks across a dusty and bare plot of land, dry soil crunching (碎裂) beneath each step. In a typical year, he’d be walking across green rice fields in inches of water. But today the soil is dry and baking in the 35℃ heat. It hasn’t rained for 4 weeks in a row.

“Climate change is expected to worsen the state’s extreme swings in rainfall,” researchers reported in Nature Climate Change in 2018. Low water levels in rivers have forced farmers like Rystrom, whose family has been growing rice on this land for four generations, to reduce their water use.

“If we lose our rice crops, we have to deal with severe food crisis. Climate change is already threatening rice-growing regions around the world. This is not a future problem. This is happening now,” says plant geneticist Pamela Ronald of the University of California, Davis, who identifies genes in rice that help the plant stand up to dryness, disease, flood, etc.

To save and even boost production, rice growers, engineers and researchers have turned to water-saving irrigation (灌溉) routines. Building canal systems and reservoirs (水库) can help farmers dampen their fields. But for some, the solution to rice’s climate-related problems lies in enhancing the plant itself. They hold that establishing rice gene banks that store hundreds of thousands of rice varieties ready to be bred into new, dryness-tolerant varieties is more practical and effective. Solutions may be hidden in the DNA of those older breeds.

Three decades have passed since its initial development, and some researchers are looking beyond the genetic variability preserved in rice gene banks, searching instead for useful genes from other species, including plants and bacteria. But picking genes from one species and putting them into another, or genetic recombination, remains debatable. The most famous example of genetically changed rice is Golden Rice (GR). “Looking ahead, it will be crucial for countries to embrace GR rice. But it will take time,” says Ismail, principal scientist at IRRI,

1. What problem does Rystrom have to deal with?

A．Thirst.

B．Drought.

C．Hot sun.

D．Dusty weather.

2. What can be inferred from Para. 3?

A．Downtrend of rice-growing areas is severe now.

B．Climate change is a threatening factor in the future.

C．Humans will face starvation if crop failure happens.

D．Food crisis is a common occurrence around the world.

3. What’s the purpose of setting up gene banks?

A．To store as many seeds as possible.	B．To cultivate climate-adapted varieties.
C．To improve the efficiency of breeding.	D．To show the technology of gene mapping.

4. What’s Ismail’s opinion about GR?

A．Favourable.

B．Impractical.

C．Disapproving.

D．Insecure.

10 . Four Inventions That Changed the World

The course of human evolution has been filled with inventions. The following inventions changed the world in one way or another.

Match

Many of us wonder what life was like before matches. We can thank a British pharmacist and his dirty mixing stick. In 1820s, John Walker noticed a dried lump on the end of a stick while he was stirring a mix of chemicals. When he tried to scrape (刮掉) it off, flames appeared. The initial matches were made of cardboard but soon the matches came in a box equipped with a piece of sandpaper for striking.

Penicillin

Penicillin was discovered in 1928 when a young bacteriologist, Alexander Fleming, was tidying up his lab. After having been on vacation, he returned to work to find that a dish of Staphylococcus bacteria had been left uncovered, and he noticed that mould (霉菌) on the culture had killed many of the bacteria. His further research found that it could kill other bacteria.

Microwave Oven

Of all the sci-fi kitchen appliances, the microwave oven really relieves the load on housewives. It was discovered in the 1940s. When Percy Spencer, an engineer, was working on a magnetron (磁控管), he noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket had started to melt due to the microwaves. Spencer found that indeed, when food was placed in the box with the microwave energy, it cooked quickly.

Plastic

The first plastic was invented in 1907 by Leo Hendrik Baekeland. His initial quest was to invent a ready replacement for shellac (虫胶), an expensive product got from lac beetles. Baekeland combined formaldehyde (甲醛) with a waste product of coal, and heated the mixture. Rather than a shellac-like material, he created a substance that didn’t melt under heat and stress.

1. Who invented matches?

A．John Walker.	B．Alexander Fleming.
C．Percy Spencer.	D．Leo Hendrik Baekeland.

2. What had Leo Hendrik Baekeland originally intended to invent?

A．A shellac-like material.	B．A product from lac beetles.
C．A replacement for shellac.	D．A waste product of coal.

3. What do the four inventions have in common?

A．They were the results of joint efforts.	B．They were the accidental discoveries.
C．They were the fruits of years of research.	D．They were unaccepted when coming out.