1 . If there was to be a praise to the frog, it would have to contain one new piece of information: its ability to predict earthquakes. A scientific study has suggested that they escape an area just before such disaster strikes.
The evidence, published yesterday in the Journal of Zoology, centers on a population of breeding (繁殖) frogs in Italy. It seems that, a few years ago, these creatures had suddenly escaped from their home five days before an earthquake struck their breeding ground.
The frogs’ ability to sense the earthquake is not fully understood, but 96 percent of male frogs escaped and returned a day after the danger had passed. This discovery baffled Dr. Rachel Grant, who hadn’t set out to learn about frogs’ reactions to earthquakes, but to study the effect of the lunar cycle on them. She now believes that frogs may be able to sense some signs and use them as an early-warning system for earthquakes.
Frogs are not the only creatures born with an unusual power to predict natural disasters. In 2004, elephants in Thailand made loud noises before the tsunami hit, while bats in Sri Lanka flew around in anxiety before the disaster.
While most of these animal warnings have been ignored, there are times when they have been noticed. In 1975, scientists in Haicheng, China, noticed unusual behavior in the city’s dogs and cats. They demanded the evacuation of the city, expecting a major disaster. Their warning came five-and-a-half hours before an earthquake struck, resulting in 2,000 deaths. Without the evacuation, another 150,000 people could have been killed.
“There are things we can’t see and sounds we can’t hear. But many animals can. There is a sense called electro-perception that fish and sharks use to form a picture around them, while dolphins and bats use sonar to find their way around,” says Professor Daniel Mills, an expert in animal behavior at Lincoln University.
1. According to paragraph 3, Dr Rachel Grant was ______ about the frogs’ unusual behavior| A．worried | B．confused | C．disappointed | D．anxious |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By listing numbers. |
| C．By explaining causes. | D．By presenting contrasts. |
| A．To stress the seriousness of the disaster. | B．To praise the government’s timely action. |
| C．To describe a successful evacuation in history. | D．To show the benefit of noticing animal warnings. |
| A．Why animals can sense disasters. | B．What his study will focus on next. |
| C．How humans learn about the world. | D．How animals behave before disasters. |
2 . Street art is always something I look out for when I travel. At the very beginning, street art was a means to share social comments or political ideas, but now it’s increasingly used in many places around the world to beautify the environment, sometimes becoming popular tourist attractions. Here’s my collection of street art around the world.
Amsterdam, the NetherlandsMy hometown has plenty of fantastic street art. You can find some cool pieces in the Jordaan neighborhood and in the North and West parts of the city. One place you absolutely have to visit in Amsterdam is the STRAAT Museum in Amsterdam North. This museum houses huge murals created by artists from around the world in an old industrial warehouse, and is a rich addition to the Amsterdam street art scene.
Bristol, United KingdomThe birthplace of Banksy, one of the world’s most famous street artists, Bristol is another of the world’s great street art cities. You can find street art across the city on buildings, streets and bridges. The annual Upfest, in the Bedminster suburb, during which artists from around the world are invited to create street art on houses and buildings, is a popular attraction.
Rio de Janeiro, BrazilRio de Janeiro also has a fantastic street art scene. For the 2016 Olympic Games, the city invited famous Brazilian street artist, Kobra, to create the world’s biggest mural along the Olympic Boulevard. The result is simply amazing! Click here to see street art in Rio de Janeiro, or my photos of Rio de Janeiro.
1. Why did people create street art at first?| A．To practise painting skills. | B．To show social or political opinions. |
| C．To beautify the environment. | D．To draw tourists at home and abroad. |
| A．The Olympic Boulevard in Rio. | B．The birthplace of Banksy in Bristol. |
| C．The annual Upfest in Bedminster. | D．The STRAAT Museum in Amsterdam. |
| A．An art website. | B．A research paper. | C．A travel magazine. | D．A history textbook. |
3 . NatureScot, an organisation that looks after Scotland’s natural world, has agreed to release(放出) Scottish wildcats into the UK’s largest national park.
About 60 wildcats have been raised at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig. They will be released in June into an area of the Cairngorms National Park in the Scotish Highlands. Researchers will monitor the cats through GPS, tracking their movements as they live in their new home.
Wildcats already live in the Cairngorms, but researchers say they are under threat from extinction because of habitat loss and disease. Wildcats look a bit like pet cats but they are about twice the size and have thicker fur. They have longer legs and their ears are more sticked out to the side.
Wildcats were once found in England and Wales too, but they were hunted for their fur and lost a lot of their natural habitat because of human activity. They haven’t been seen in the wild outside Scotland for more than 100 years. However, another protection programme is planning to release around 40 of the animals into secret countryside locations in Cornwall, in southern England. Wildcats hunt small animals, so wildlife experts are hoping that the cats will keepdown the numbers of rabbits and mice, which damage young trees and crops such as corn, fruit and wheat.
The Scottish wildcats will be released in a part of the park called Caimgorms, where experts are working to restore(恢复) woodland areas. The plan is for as many as 20 cats to be set free every year, and it is hoped that other sites in Scotland will be considered too. Dr Helen from Saving Wildcats said, “The fight to restore Scotland’s wildcat populations is just beginning.”
1. How will researchers keep an eye on the released wildcats?| A．By using technology. | B．By working in the park. |
| C．By observing their new home. | D．By controlling their movements. |
| A．They are being hunted by human beings. |
| B．They need a new home due to habitat loss. |
| C．They can catch animals damaging the environment. |
| D．They haven’t been seen in the wild for a long time. |
| A．It is difficult to restore wildcats’ habitat. |
| B．Wildcats will begin to fight with humans. |
| C．The number of wildcats has greatly increased. |
| D．There is a long way to go to increase wildcat populations |
| A．Wildcats in danger. | B．Wildcats set free in highlands. |
| C．Wildcats’ habitat destroyed. | D．Wildcats different from pet cats. |
4 . Best houses on the market
Sorrento, Maine
It was built in 1989 on a hillside on Treasure Island. The three-bedroom house has a chef’s kitchen; a great room with dining area; a room with private deck(平台)， walk-in closet, and spa bathroom; two guest bedrooms with shared deck; and a glass-walled tower with ocean and island views. Acadia National Park are minutes away. $888, 500. LandVest International Company, (207)
299-8732
Santa Fe
This 1981 five-bedroom house features wooden ceilings, several fireplaces, hardwood floors, and carved-wood details. The 20-acre house has courtyards, a spa, a two-bedroom guesthouse, an art studio; the community offers tennis, allows horses, and is 20 minutes from the supermarket. $2, 195, 000. Sotheby’s International Company, (505)988-2533
San Anselmo, Calif
Set on a hill above the Mount Tamalpais, this 1988 home offers city, mountain, and water views from wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows. The five-bedroom house also has high ceilings, a step-down living room with fireplace, a dining room, an eat-in kitchen, a wet bar, a room with fireplace and walk-in closet. $3, 495, 000. Sotheby’s International Company, (415)717-1056
Portland, Ore zksg
This three-bedroom home was built in 1988. The house features large windows, skylights, French doors, and includes a chef’s kitchen; a main bedroom with fireplace, walk-in closet, and bathroom; a separate live-and-work space with kitchen. The house sits on a hill in Kings Heights overlooking the city and the mountains, minutes away from hiking trails and the Alphabet District. $1, 525, 000. Windermere International Company, (503)706-238521.
1. Which house is the most expensive?| A．Sorrento, Maine. | B．Santa Fe. | C．San Anselmo, Calif. | D．Portland, Ore. |
| A．It is located on a hill. | B．It has a separate space with kitchen. |
| C．It offers views of ocean and island. | D．It is convenient to do sports in its community. |
| A．They are close to parks. | B．They were built in the 1980s. |
| C．They are equipped with fireplaces. | D．There are five bedrooms in the houses. |
5 . Do you ever suffer from bad-tempered (脾气差的) teachers who try to boss you around? Is your classroom never tidy enough? Do you too leave waste paper on the floor or write untidily? If so, then these instructions will be ideal for you. Read on and discover the simple steps to keep a bad-tempered teacher happy.
What you need: an apple
1. Wait until the teacher is out of the room.
2. Place an apple upon her desk.
3. Place beside it a note on which you have written, ‘To the best teacher in the world’.
4. Sit back and wait for the desired effect to take place.
Tip: Make sure that she likes apples-as some teachers may prefer chocolate.
Five more simple things that you can do:
1. Offer to clean the blackboard at the end of each lesson.
2. Work in silence.
3. Raise hand and answer questions-without calling out.
4. Thank the teacher for such an exciting and interesting lesson.
5. Tell your friends in other classes that you have the most amazing teacher and make sure that you do this as she is walking behind you!
Other useful tips
1. Tell your teacher that you have never been taught by a more creative, intelligent, challenging Grade 1 teacher before.
2. Offer to carry her bags to the car.
3. Smile and nod appreciatively even when she is being boring.
1. Why do the students put an apple with a note on the teacher’s desk?| A．To encourage the teacher. |
| B．To express their preference for apples. |
| C．To offer the introduction of the apple. |
| D．To tell the teacher eating apples is good for health. |
| A．You always work in silence. |
| B．She is the best teacher you meet. |
| C．She is less intelligent and challenging. |
| D．You always carry her bags to her car. |
| A．Study peacefully. |
| B．Express your thanks to her. |
| C．Call out without raising hand. |
| D．Clean the blackboard when class is over. |
6 . BACK TO SCHOOL BOOK GUIDE
Movies Recommendations
Avatar: The Way Of The Water (CGI sci-fi)
James Cameron’s 2009 Avatar is the highest-grossing film of all time, so it’s surprising it’s taken 13 years for the sequel(续集). Set more than a decade after the events of the first movie, Avatar: The Way Of The Water returns to see Jake and Neytiri with a family. In the previous film, Jake (Sam Worthington), a former human, befriends the Na’vi after becoming a part of the Avatar Programme. He eventually takes their side in their conflict with the humans and leads them to victory, meanwhile falling in love with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and leaving his human body to become one of the Na’vi.
In this new movie, the humans return to cause great damage to the planet of Pandora, and Jake leads the Na’vi army into battle to protect it. The live action scenes were filmed in New Zealand, which were then overlayed with CGI (computer generated imagery) to transform the characters and seascape into an amazing fantasy world.
The Lost King (Drama Comedy)
Based on true events, this is the story of one woman’s search for King Richard Ⅲ’s remains, which had been lost for over 500 years. Amateur historian Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins), whose persistent research is met with incomprehension by her friends and family, and doubt and confusion by experts and academics. She takes on the country’s most eminent historians, forcing them to think again about one of England’s most controversial kings.
Bones And All (Romantic Horror)
Based on the 2015 book of the same name, this coming-of-age movie is both tender and haunting. Abandoned by her mother, Maren (Taylor Russell), a young woman on the margins of society, sets off on a journey of self-discovery, when she meets Lee (Timothee Chalamet), a homeless drifter(流浪汉). Together they embark on a road trip through the back country of the US. But a trail of pain and tragedy follows her like a ghost. With Lee’s help, she desperately tries to return to be normal.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Action, Adventure, Fantasy)
Following the events of Spider-Man No Way Home, Doctor Strange unwittingly(不知不觉地)casts a forbidden spell that accidentally opens up the multiverse(平行宇宙). With help from Wong and Scarlet Witch, Strange confronts various versions of himself as well as teaming up with the young America Chavez while traveling through various realities and working to restore reality as he knows it. Along the way, Strange and his allies realize they must take on a powerful new adversary(对手)who seeks to take over the multiverse.
1. What will Jake do in the new Avatar sequel?| A．He will make friends with the Na’vi. |
| B．He will film a movie in New Zealand. |
| C．He and Neytiri will unite as a family. |
| D．He will take the humans side in the conflict with the Na’vi. |
| A．Bones And All. |
| B．Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. |
| C．Avatar: The Way Of The Water. |
| D．The Lost King. |
| A．He meets with a powerful new adversary. |
| B．He encounters the young America Chavez. |
| C．He opens up the multiverse on purpose. |
| D．He fails to travel through various realities and to restore reality. |
7 . Do you care about what you wear? Some people are very particular about fashion, carefully selecting the clothes they buy and how they dress. But this trend (趋势) is changing as retro or vintage clothing is becoming a popular and often cheaper choice.
Vintage clothing is really second-hand clothing, worn before but given a better quality of life. The fashion industry has made it look trendy with a higher price. In the UK, one supermarket chain has started selling second-hand clothes in some of its stores under the brand, Preloved Vintage Wholesale. Its managing director Steve Lynam said, “The more people who buy into the recycling economy and buy vintage, the bigger impact we will have on climate change.”
Certainly, buying vintage does make the life of clothing last longer. It cuts down on waste and helps to reduce the environmental damage caused by the mass production of new clothes. It’s also led to the rise of retro-fashion—items that your mum or dad wore decades ago that now look “cool” again! It’s a big thing with younger people and has been helped by the rise of platforms like Depop, which sell “worn” clothes online. Ianina Lucca from Depop said, “The new generation is trying to make choices that alleviate their effect on the environment. 77% of the new generation say their biggest concern is that they want their choices to reduce waste.”
Another popular way of buying old clothes is in a vintage kilo sale. People pick what they want and then pay according to weight rather than per item. Some items are reworked by adding patterns and other additions. But however these second-hand clothes are worn or re-designed, the sustainability (可持续发展) of vintage fashion means it is likely to last for a long time.
1. What does the underlined word “ alleviate ” in paragraph 3 most probably mean?| A．Produce. | B．Worsen. | C．Reduce. | D．Illustrate. |
| A．The age of vintage fashion is coming. |
| B．There’s still a long way to retro fashion. |
| C．Vintage fashion have little impact on nature. |
| D．More people will not choose second-hand clothing. |
| A．Confused. | B．Positive. | C．Passive. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．A short story. | B．A fashion magazine. | C．A book review. | D．A news report. |
8 . Ten-year-old Orion Jean has always known that kindness is important. He often practiced it by volunteering with his family. But last year, after entering the National Kindness Speech Contest, he became crazy about it. Now he works to spread kindness everywhere through projects that help others.
After a teacher told him about the speech competition, Orion had only 24 hours to write, memorize, and record his speech. In it, he talked about the importance of kindness—especially right now, when many are facing difficulties from the COVID-19 and dealing with unfair treatment.
“Kindness is like spreading hugs around the world to those who need it and those who may not know they need it,” Orion said. He encouraged listeners to join him in “the race of kindness” by doing small, kind acts for others.
Orion’s speech won the competition. He used his $500 prize to fund his first Race to Kindness project, a toy drive for a local children’s hospital. He collected 619 toys. After that, Orion wanted to make an even bigger impact.
Working with a nonprofit, he packed meal bags for people in need. He included a kind message for each receiver Orion also organized several events in his community. In all, he collected more than 100,000 meals!
Orion believes that everyone wins this race. He says, “A kind act can be something small, but it can make a big difference. You can write a thank-you note to a worker or leave flowers on a neighbor’s doorstep.” “If you’re kind to someone else, it can make their day brighter and inspire that person to be kind to somebody else. And then it just grows and grows, and it can make the world a better place.” He adds.
1. What may be included in Orion’s speech?| A．The importance of speaking skills. | B．The award for doing small acts for others. |
| C．The tough times people are going through. | D．The purpose of adding money to his fund. |
| A．Talented and humorous. | B．Competitive and energetic. |
| C．Professional and friendly. | D．Warm-hearted and helpful. |
| A．Racing to Kindness. | B．Fighting for a Better World. |
| C．Helping Those in Need. | D．Being Together, Being Stronger. |
9 . Are you worried about moving up to Senior High school? It can be a new experience, but you shouldn’t worry. We’ve put together a guide on how to survive the first week.
You’re not alone!
Remember everybody else in your year is on the same boat. They may not realize it, but they’re just as nervous as you are. Moving to Senior High school is an opportunity, not a problem. Things are different and all you need to do is be polite and learn the new rules.
Teachers are ready to help!
If you’re unsure what to do or are worried about anything then you had better ask for help. Teachers are probably the best people to turn to as they’re experienced in helping new students. Some Senior High schools also have a “friends system”. If your school has this, then you will be paired with an older student. They will look out for you and help you if you have any problems or questions.
All change
There are lots of differences between Junior High school and Senior High school. You’ll have a homework diary or a student planner. You will have your lessons with different teachers in different rooms. You will have homework for different subjects on different days, so make sure you get organized. Make sure you have a copy of your school timetable written down so you know which rooms your classes are in and on which days you will have your different subjects.
Other points
If you’ve got an elder brother or sister at the school then ask them for advice.
Be yourself! It sounds simple, but people will know you much better if you just act naturally.
Having early nights makes a difference and you’ll find it easier to get up in the morning!
1. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined sentence?| A．Other students have similar feelings to yours. |
| B．Other students have to learn boating with you. |
| C．Other students will help you solve your problems. |
| D．Other students will teach you politeness and new rules. |
| A．teachers won’t blame them as parents do |
| B．teachers are good at helping solve problems |
| C．teachers are equal to every student |
| D．parents are too busy to help them |
| A．To tell students the importance of learning. |
| B．To warn students not to ignore friendship in Senior High school. |
| C．To make a difference when moving up to Senior High school. |
| D．To help new students to get used to the life in Senior High school. |
10 . There was a boy who was sent by his parents to a boarding school (寄宿学校)
But the boy changed after
His parents started
They sat on the bank of the lake near the school. The father started asking him some casual questions about his classes, teachers and
The boy answered back, “To
“No, no,” his dad replied. “I am here to tell you that you are the most
These words
Now the boy had
| A．After | B．Before | C．When | D．While |
| A．hardest | B．naughtiest | C．brightest | D．dullest |
| A．exam | B．activity | C．game | D．class |
| A．coming | B．returning | C．leaving | D．reaching |
| A．rising | B．increasing | C．reducing | D．dropping |
| A．group | B．term | C．company | D．party |
| A．led to | B．felt like | C．thought back | D．looked for |
| A．worthless | B．careless | C．concerned | D．annoyed |
| A．caring | B．turning | C．worrying | D．speaking |
| A．crazy | B．true | C．possible | D．wrong |
| A．talk with | B．listen to | C．tell to | D．care about |
| A．family | B．friends | C．study | D．grades |
| A．realize | B．analyze | C．check | D．test |
| A．outstanding | B．important | C．famous | D．familiar |
| A．happy | B．excellent | C．interested | D．satisfied |
| A．caused | B．wanted | C．encouraged | D．forced |
| A．answered | B．ignored | C．hated | D．hugged |
| A．nothing | B．something | C．everything | D．anything |
| A．showed | B．meant | C．intended | D．expressed |
| A．sad | B．angry | C．pleasant | D．joyful |
