1 . The newly-elected president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro says that his country should withdraw (退出) from the 2015 Paris Agreement, and that Brazil’s rainforest protections are standing in the way of economic success. During the election campaign, he promised to ease protections for areas of the Brazilian Amazon set aside for native people and wildlife. Are Brazil’s rainforests in danger?

The Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest, is called “the lungs of the planet.” Each tree takes in and stores carbon dioxide from the air around it. Billions of trees pull up water through their roots and release water vapor into the air, forming tiny drops of water. The Amazon creates 30 to 50 percent of its own rainfall. Carlos Nobre, a climate scientist, says that it is almost impossible to say Just how important the rainforest is to the planet’s living systems.

Some of Bolsonaro’s support comes from business and farming groups. One supporter, Luiz Carlos, noted that farmers “are not invaders, they are producers.” He blamed the past government for supporting rainforest protections at the cost of farmers. “Brazil,” he said, “will be the biggest farming nation on Earth during Bolsonaro’s years.”

Paulo Artaxo, a professor of environmental physics at the University of Sao Paulo, says that if Bolsonaro keeps his campaign promises, then “deforestation of the Amazon will probably increase quickly — and the effects will be felt everywhere on the planet.”

Other scientists warn that if the Amazon and other tropical rainforests lose too many trees, this could affect rainfall in other areas. Without enough trees to support the rainfall, the longer and bigger dry season could turn more than half of the rainforest into a tropical grassland.

1. The first paragraph is intended to ________.

A．draw people’s attention to the disappearing rainforests

B．ask people to ease the protection of rainforests

C．attract the public to the newly-elected president

D．to complain about the new government's withdrawing

2. According to the passage, rainforests can ________.

A．produce much farmland

B．examine people’s lungs

C．change the earth’s living system

D．destroy farmers’ crops

3. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．The new president’s supporters care less about farmers.

B．Scientists are concerned about the protection of rainforests.

C．The rainforests will stop the economic development in Brazil.

D．The past government is to blame for the destruction of rainforests

4. The passage is probably taken from ________.

A．a newspaper

B．a magazine

C．a guidebook

D．a textbook

3 . At the foot of the Tianmu Mountain in Zhejiang, a homestay (民宿) is attracting travelers from far and wide, which has won architectural medal at the 2021 German iF Design Awards.

The owners of the homestay are a couple in their late 30s who decided to return to their hometown three years ago. Li Xiumei used to be in charge of a division at a company in Hangzhou, and her husband was a sales director. It was an ordinary situation where Li’s husband was on business trips a lot and Li still worked on weekends. City life sometimes is not easy.

In 2018, they quit jobs and went back to Dongtianmu village, which lies in a forest of bamboo. The first time they drove into the village was one late afternoon. The cooking smoke was rising from the foot of the mountain, which gave them a very different feeling from the city.

The homestay was built beside her husband’s old countryside house. The old house is preserved (保留), while a brand-new building was built on its side and the whole site is made up of four courtyards. It has been updated to have a hall, a tea room, a kitchen, a dining room. Japanese cherry trees are planted in the east courtyard. A swimming pool is placed in the west courtyard, with a bar located on one side.

Li and her husband love gardening and music, and their new home gives them enough space to continue their interests and relax in the heart of nature. Li wants to share the quiet country life, so she makes her new home a homestay. In 2019, the homestay became an online hit after guests shared their experiences on social media. “The longer I stay here, the more I feel it was the right choice to come back, and this is more meaningful than making money,” Li says.

1. How did Li feel about city life?

A．Satisfied.

B．Noisy.

C．Attractive.

D．Tired

2. What impressed the couple when first driving to the village?

A．The forest of bamboo.	B．The smoke of cooking.
C．The fresh air in the village.	D．The feeling of loneliness.

3. What can we infer about the homestay from paragraph 4?

A．It is ancient and broken.	B．It can hold many guests.
C．It must have been carefully designed.	D．It has been rebuilt by the couple.

4. What’s more meaningful than earning money according to Li?

A．Continuing their music dream.	B．Living in the countryside.
C．Staying at the old house.	D．Developing a city.

4 . One day, Amanda was diagnosed (诊断) with cancer of an early stage. During this time, she was admitted to a college. She planned to save money to meet the college expense and then seek medical treatment for the cancer.

Her father, Clint and her friends didn’t want her to put off her treatment due to the expense. They took matters into their own hands and started a GoFundMe campaign. A longtime friend of the family was cofounder of a group named Praynksters, known for random acts of kindness. The friend decided to use their own group to help the family. The group came up with the creative idea to spread the word and invite families, friends, and strangers who wanted to help to take part in a donation activity. The event induced the enormous assistance from the local community.

Clint and Amanda were moved as the crowd passed by and the donations poured in. The event brought the family over $13, 000 in donations to go towards her medical treatments. The generous act of kindness gave the family a comforting, and optimistic feeling during a time when all hope seemed lost. Clint said that Amanda struggled with the idea of asking for help. She felt guilty and undeserving compared to others who are also struggling. She is still humbled by it all.

After several months of treatment, life for the family has started getting back to their normal routine. Once Amanda got her strength back, she returned to school and completed her bachelor's degree. The family is now inspired to volunteer in their local neighborhood and contribute to crowdfunding (众筹) efforts. They are grateful for the opportunity to give back and help others as many have helped them.

1. Why did Amanda postpone her treatment of cancer?

A．She didn't care about her disease.

B．She had to take care of her family.

C．She was in a bad economic situation.

D．She couldn’t find an effective treatment.

2. What does the underlined word “induced” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Brought about.	B．Made up.
C．Gave away.	D．Set about.

3. Which of the following best describes Amanda?

A．Shameful but caring.

B．Kind-hearted and grateful.

C．Curious and warm-hearted.

D．Hard- working and humorous.

4. What can we infer from the text?

A．It's quite easy to cure Amanda’s cancer.

B．Praynksters is a nonprofit organization funded by Clint.

C．Volunteering is very popular in Amanda's community.

D．A GoFundMe campaign is actually a crowdfunding activity.

5 . Hearing my name called, I stepped up on stage to give my first public speech. Steadying my trembling hands, I _________ the sea of people and wanted to _________. Then a question flashed into my mind, “Do you still remember _________ it took to get here?”

It all started with a(n) _________ I had written in reply to a radio host’s slanderous (诋毁的) comments about _________ rights. I had stayed up for days _________ information to oppose his point. Content with my final essay, I submitted it to my _________ for publication. Later, I received a text stating that he _________ not to publish it because the subject matter was “too controversial”. Hurt, I _________ with my two weeks’ work.

I tried to submit my essay to others, believing someone would be __________ to get it out while the subject was still topical.However, after days of “thanks, but no thanks” replies, I felt __________. No one was interested in a no-name writer with a __________ opinion that was against that of a celebrity.Had my boss been right?

________, I received a “YES” from a small, yet powerful online blog that __________ women.

My essay had thousands of __________ and I rose to fame overnight. In less than a day, my world changed and people started to __________. Then one day, I received a call asking me to give a(n) ______________ in Washing D. C. . My eyes teared up in __________. Me? A middle-aged single mother with only high school education?

Taking a deep breath, I dived into the speech I had __________ many times, nervous but __________ to make my voice heard.

1.

A．cheered for

B．looked at

C．pointed to

D．relied on

2.

A．sing

B．bow

C．escape

D．continue

3.

A．any

B．little

C．some

D．all

4.

A．sentence

B．song

C．essay

D．book

5.

A．women’s

B．workers’

C．children’s

D．animals’

6.

A．deleting

B．changing

C．researching

D．providing

7.

A．assistant

B．boss

C．editor

D．colleague

8.

A．chose

B．agreed

C．struggled

D．promised

9.

A．interrupted

B．resigned

C．possessed

D．violated

10.

A．foolish

B．responsible

C．careful

D．willing

11.

A．discouraged

B．confident

C．terrified

D．optimistic

12.

A．common

B．strong

C．subjective

D．low

13.

A．Therefore

B．Instantly

C．Obviously

D．Finally

14.

A．learned from

B．dealt with

C．focused on

D．apologized to

15.

A．views

B．explanations

C．endings

D．translations

16.

A．shudder

B．listen

C．scold

D．distribute

17.

A．order

B．instruction

C．performance

D．speech

18.

A．sadness

B．disbelief

C．anger

D．relief

19.

A．delivered

B．attended

C．ended

D．practiced

20.

A．determined

B．amazed

C．satisfied

D．amused

6 . Listening to music is considered a good thing for adults. Indeed it is. Scientific studies have proved it. Music has so many good effects on our body, mind and mood that this world will certainly not be a good place without music. Then, is music good for children? Some parents think so and let their children learn or listen to music. But some parents don't know the importance of music to children. Here are some reasons why music is important to children.

First, music is good for children’s intelligence. Studies have proved that children who learn music are likely to have higher intelligence than those who have no interest in or dislike music. This is because the brain gets stimulated (刺激) by the rhythm and tone of music.

Music also has soothing (抚慰的) effect on children and helps remove their stress. Today’s children are under a lot of stress from schoolwork. Being under too much stress impairs children’s health. Luckily，listening to music can help them feel better.

Music can improve children’s moods. Some children are sad by nature. They seem to be lost in their own thoughts and don’t take interest in their surroundings. In such cases，a method known as “music therapy” comes to their rescue. It changes their moods and places a new kind of spirit in them.

Music is also a universal language that children ought to learn. Our world has become a global village. People are getting more and more interested in other cultures and countries. Music can help them in understanding foreign cultures.

Now we can say that music is very important not only to adults but also to children. So children should be encouraged to learn music or listen to music.

1. By mentioning scientific studies in Paragraph 1, the author wants to show       .

A．Children should listen to music

B．Why adults should listen to music

C．Listening to music is only good for adults

D．Why scientists are interested in music

2. What does the underlined word “impairs” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．shows.	B．changes.
C．improves.	D．harms.

3. The last but second paragraph shows that listening to music means       .

A．Understanding foreign cultures better

B．Learning languages better

C．Accepting the fast developing world easily

D．Showing greater interest in other cultures

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Why do Children Love Music?

B．How to Choose Music for Children

C．Why is Music Important to Children?

D．How to Teach Children Music Easily

7 . Do you want to read some books? Here are some new books that you might be interested in.

Beyond the Sea of Life on a Bridge Called Why

Joel M Levin MD

www.authorhouse.com

Hardback | Paperback | E-book

﹩34.99 | ﹩20.99 | ﹩3.99

This book looks at some basic questions about human existence(生存).

Pages and Leaflets(小册子) of North Oxfordshire

My Lineage Pre-1700-1959 Angela Fortnum

www.authorhouse.co.uk

Hardback | Paperback | E-book

﹩25.94| ﹩12.90 | ﹩4.99

Every family has a story. And for Angela Fortnum, her family story would begin eight generations before her and date back to the turn of the eighteenth century in England. In the end,   the story of the family lives on today, as this book acts as a legacy(遗产) to Angela and her mother's family.

A Time to Remember

Story of an American Family Terry Bass

www.xlibris.com

Hardback | Paperback | E-book

﹩71.99 | ﹩61.99 | ﹩3.99

This book shares the story of an American family in this heartwarming, moving description of 50 Christmases. It is a welcome story of family, celebration, confidence and love.

The Lakes in My Head

Paddling an Unexplored Wilderness Lesli Chinnock Anderson

www.xlibris.com

Paperback | E-book

﹩19.99 | ﹩3.99

This book focuses on Lesli Chinnock Anderson's life when she suffered from a serious illness. It describes her journey through loss, change and building a strong relationship with God.

1. What will you choose if you are interested in human existence? ______

A．The Lakes in My Head.	B．Beyond the Sea of Life on a Bridge Called Why.
C．A Time to Remember.	D．Pages and Leaflets of North Oxfordshire.

2. What do we know about A Time to Remember ? ______

A．It doesn't have any hardbacks.	B．The E-book costs ﹩4.99.
C．Love can be found in the story.	D．It is a story of an English family.

3. Who is the character of the book The Lakes in My Head? ______

A．Terry Bass.

B．Angela Fortnum.

C．Joel M Levin M

D．Lesli Chinnock Anderson.

8 . Volunteering is a great way to support an organization and make a difference in your community. It can also be an opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills.     1     And what should we plan for? Here’s a guide for beginners.

Step 1:     2    

Do you want to help the world, or your community? Do you want to build your own skills, make new friends, and learn? Do you love what you do? Do you want to share your gifts with others or give something back? Think about these kinds of questions. That can help you to choose the right direction for your volunteer work.

Step 2: Choose an organization that is meaningful to you.

If you feel strongly about literacy (读写), for instance, volunteer at your local library or find out if there is an organization of volunteer tutors in your area. There are organizations doing all sorts of work.     3    

Step 3: Start small.

If you already have a busy school life, volunteer your time for an hour or two a week, or perhaps one day a month..    4     Then, if you find you enjoy the work and have more time to do it, take on more time by time.

Step 4: Get training.

If there is a training course, attend it. If not, talk to the group leaders and other volunteers about their experiences.     5    

Step 5: Try not to give up.

Volunteer work sometimes involves unpleasant tasks, difficult fellow workers, busy days, or bad management. If you find your work difficult, however, try to work through it before you decide to quit.

A．Do you love to work with people?

B．But how do we go about volunteering?

C．Get to know others in the organization.

D．It is important that you choose something that you like.

E．Think about why you want to volunteer.

F．You’ll pick up some good tips to make your work there more productive.

G．You might be surprised by how much you can do in even a little bit of time.

9 . Living in a foreign culture can be exciting, but it can also be confusing(令人迷惑的). A group of Americans who taught English in other countries recently discussed their experiences. They found that miscommunication was always possible, even over something as simple as “yes” and “no”.

On her first day in Micronesia, an island in the Pacific, Lisa thought people weren’t paying any attention to her. The day was hot. She went into a store and asked, “Do you have cold drinks？” The woman there didn’t say anything. Lisa repeated the question. Still the woman said nothing. She later learned that the woman had answered her: She had raised her eyebrows(眉毛), which in Micronesia means “yes”.

Jan remembered an experience she had in Bulgaria, a country in Europe. She went to a restaurant that was famous for its cabbage. She asked the waiter, “Do you have cabbage today？” He nodded his head. Jan waited, but the cabbage never came. In that country, a nod means “no”.

Tom had a similar problem when he arrived in India. After explaining something in class, he asked his students if they understood. They answered with many different nods and shakes of the head. He thought some people had not understood, so he explained again. When he asked again, they did the same thing. He soon found out that his students did understand. In India, people nod and shake their heads in different ways depending on where they come from. You have to know where a person is from to understand whether they mean “yes” or “no”．

1. The Americans teaching English in other countries found that they ________.

A．had problems with communication	B．needed to learn foreign languages
C．should often discuss their experiences	D．should go abroad for vacations

2. People in Micronesia show “yes” by ________.

A．nodding heads	B．raising eyebrows
C．shaking heads	D．saying “no”

3. Tom misunderstood his class at first because ________.

A．he didn’t know where the students came from

B．he didn’t explain everything clearly enough

C．some students didn’t understand his questions

D．he did not know much about Indian culture

4. Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage?

A．In Bulgaria, nodding heads means “no”

B．Jan taught English on a Pacific island.

C．Lisa was trying to buy some cabbage.

D．In India，only shaking heads means “yes”.

10 . Ten years ago I used to be very fit (健康的). I rode a bike to work and I got a lot of exercise at weekends. I used to play tennis a lot and go for long walks. In those days I didn’t earn very much. I had a job in an office. It wasn’t a very good job but I had a lot of time to do the things I enjoyed doing.

Then, about eight years ago, I got a much better job. The pay was better, but the hours were a lot longer. I bought a car and drove to work every day. I began to take people out to lunch. And I began to put on weight, too. I stopped playing tennis and going for long walks at weekends because I just didn’t have any time for things like that any more.

There’s a lot of stress (压力) in my job. Perhaps that’s why I started drinking more than I used to. For example, I used to have only half a glass of whisky when I got home, but then I started filling my glass to the top, and instead of having one glass, I would have several. I started smoking a lot, too. I never used to smoke at all.

Two months ago I had a heart attack. At first I just couldn’t believe it. Luckily it wasn’t very serious. The doctor advised me to stop smoking and to eat less. He also advised me to work less and get more exercise. But I just haven’t any time! My job takes everything out of me!

Sometimes I wonder if I should get another job. Perhaps I could do something like I used to do. But if I do that, I won’t earn as much. I have a family to support. I have to think of them, too. I just don’t know what I should do. What do you think?

1. Compared with ten years ago, what is worse for the author now?

A．His job.	B．His pay.
C．His means of transport.	D．His health.

2. According to the passage, when the author got the better job, which of the following is NOT true?

A．He got higher pay.

B．His working hours weren’t long.

C．He found it very stressful.

D．He had little free time at weekends.

3. After the author had a heart attack, the doctor advised him       .

A．not to work any longer

B．to take a long vacation abroad

C．to stop smoking and take exercise

D．not to eat out any more

4. What can we learn about the author?

A．The author is not sure what he should do now.

B．The author has taken the doctor’s advice.

C．The author has got another new job.

D．The author feels much better now.