1 . Americans spend billions on vitamins, multivitamins for their health, but a review of numerous studies concluded there is little to no evidence that some of those vitamins prevent heart disease, cancer or death.

The report, released by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force last week, concluded that “recent evidence is not enough” to determine whether vitamins actually help or hurt your health, based on 84 studies, 52 of which were done since 2014. Vitamins examined included vitamins A, B, C, D and E, as well as other multivitamins.

“Our suggestion is neither for nor against taking vitamins, or combinations of those nutrients (营养物质). We just don’t have enough evidence,” said Dr. John Wong, a doctor in the Department of Medicine at Tufts Medical Center who was involved in the report.

While the finding is that vitamins don’t have any benefits to “healthy, non-pregnant (未怀孕) adults”, it doesn’t apply to “children, people who are pregnant or may become pregnant, or people who are hospitalized.”

The Task Force admitted it makes sense that people would take vitamins in hopes of health benefits, as some shortage may lead to illness. But experts agreed the best way to get good health and prevent cancer is a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

“The suggestion across all organizations about vitamins is to eat a balanced diet, and then the key tends to be on plenty of fruit and vegetables and less junk foods,” Wong said.

Wong added people should refer to their health doctors to determine if any vitamins are worth taking. He said this suggestion should also serve as a need to further research into proving the official benefits and risks for each vitamin.

1. Why can’t we say whether vitamins really benefit or harm health?

A．Because they really have no benefit.

B．Because many studies have proved it.

C．Because evidence is not enough at present.

D．Because Dr. John Wong wasn’t involved in the research.

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

A．Vitamins are of no benefit to anyone.

B．Vitamins are beneficial to healthy adults.

C．Children can’t take vitamins though they are in hospital.

D．People could take vitamins if lack of vitamin may tend to illness.

3. Which is the best way to avoid cancer according to the Task Force?

A．Taking enough vitamins.

B．Eating more packaged foods.

C．Following their health doctor’s advice.

D．Having a balanced diet and doing exercise.

4. Which can be suitable title for the text?

A．Taking Vitamins: No Benefit to People

B．Doctor’s Advice on Buying Vitamins

C．Taking Vitamins: Likely to Waste Money

D．Americans Spending More Money on Vitamins

2 . Steph Clemence always intended to go to college. But life has a(an) _________ throughout her early childhood years to _________ barriers. Growing up, she led a nomadic (漫游的) life because her mother, who remarried several times, was always on the _________. By the time of high school, Steph had lived in 25 places.

When her stepfather died in a car accident, leaving her mother to support three daughters on a(an) _________ income, paying for college became a serious question. But she still tried to figure out what to do with a life so _________ her plan for schooling.

The _________ came one afternoon when she was cleaning her bedroom. She _________ a thick document where she found a handout titled “Mrs. Clark’s Book List” by her high school English teacher Dorothy Clark.

It wasn’t homework, but it could be a(an) _________ for those not able to receive higher education due to _________ problems like her. The teacher had spent months creating a list of 153 books whose contents would be as __________ as a two-year study at an arts college.

Steph studied the list. Each of those books __________ her to learn more. The reading list was also a(an) __________ in her everyday life, even __________ with her on vacations to find out the next book. She never did get to college, but has now only four books left before __________ the list. She wishes she could thank Mrs. Clark for how reading the __________ on the list has changed her life.

1.

A．efficiency

B．motivation

C．exception

D．tendency

2.

A．hold back

B．set up

C．give away

D．carry on

3.

A．display

B．move

C．threat

D．mission

4.

A．precise

B．independent

C．modest

D．initial

5.

A．breaking away from

B．taking hold of

C．giving in to

D．going in for

6.

A．situation

B．answer

C．procedure

D．emergency

7.

A．spotted

B．folded

C．loaded

D．assigned

8.

A．hard rock

B．far cry

C．field work

D．road map

9.

A．flexible

B．foundational

C．financial

D．temporary

10.

A．qualified

B．reliable

C．sufficient

D．delightful

11.

A．confirmed

B．sharpened

C．stimulated

D．bounced

12.

A．origin

B．treat

C．concept

D．constant

13.

A．discussing

B．traveling

C．whispering

D．flashing

14.

A．completing

B．forecasting

C．revealing

D．declaring

15.

A．remarks

B．works

C．proofs

D．zones

3 . In looking through your social media, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed pictures accompanied by texts. The pictures are likely made possible by a text-to-image program called DALL-E. For example, Twitter user posted a tweet with the text, “To be or not to be, rabbi holding avocado, marble sculpture.” Then a matching picture appears below.

The AI models come from Google’s Imagen software as well as OpenAI. a start-up backed by Microsoft. On its website, OpenAI calls DALL-E “a new Al system that can create realistic images and art from a description in natural language.” But most of what’s happening in this area is coming from a relatively small group of people sharing their pictures. That’s because Google and OpenAI have not made the technology broadly available to the public.

The text-to-picture services identify the most important parts of a user’s text and then guess the best way to picture those terms. There’s generally a text box, a button to start the generation process and an area below to display images. To indicate the source. Google and OpenAI add watermarks in the bottom right comer of images from DALL-E and Imagen.

Engineers trained the models on various collections of words and pictures from the web. OpenAI recognizes the potential for harm that could come from a model. To avoid the risk, employees removed violent content from training data, and there are filters（筛选）stopping DALL-E from producing images if users submit（提交）violent or illegal content.

Boris Dayma, a developer from Texas spelled out the problems in an explanation of their software. Despite the risks, Dhariwal, a research scientist at OpenAI, said it could open up creative opportunities for individuals and could help with commercial applications for dressing up websites. Results should continue to improve over time.

1. What is the function of the the AI system DALL-E?

A．Beautifying pictures at users’ request.

B．Producing pictures from human words.

C．Changing pictures into vivid descriptions.

D．Providing pictures for users to choose from.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about concerning DALL-E?

A．Its users’ rights.	B．Its operating conditions
C．Its working process.	D．Its company’s prospect.

3. How could DALL-E ensure the images it produces legal?

A．All images come from a unified model.

B．The training data is selected beforehand.

C．Improper requests can’t be submitted.

D．Filters remove the unhealthy description.

4. What is Dhariwal’s attitude to the future of DALL-E?

A．Positive.

B．Objective.

C．Uncertain.

D．Worried.

4 . Picture the scene: you’ve spent years working towards a very specific goal. You’ve put in countless hours of work and made many efforts along the way, but now that you’ve got there it doesn’t feel quite like you imagined. Instead of celebration, you feel emptiness, confusion and doubt.

Welcome to the anti-climax. The often-experienced but seldom-discussed downside of achieving life’s biggest milestones. Many of us work tirelessly towards our goals. We may spend our lives dreaming of the day we get married, publish our first hook or buy our first home. However, oftentimes, when we achieve these things it doesn’t feel quite as expected. In fact, the achievement of these goals feels a bit of a letdown.

So why do we often experience an anti-climax with big goals, even though we’re happy to achieve them? “An anti-climax can be an unexpected by-product of a milestone achievement. Usually, the more significant the milestone, the greater the anti-climax may be. The intensity（强度）of an anti-climax often relies on what we expect of this achievement.” says Rachel Vora. a psychotherapist（心理治疗师）.“The journey to achieving a milestone can he exciting and tiring in addition to giving us a sense of purpose and focus. Therefore, when this disappears overnight. we can often feel lost and confused, in spite of feeling proud of our achievement.

When this happens it can contribute to a mixture of emotions. We often falsely believe that we’ll feel completely different afterwards or that our feelings of low self-worth will disappear, but this is rarely the case. “Clients（客户）often present to me with an extremely great sense of ‘is this it?’ and ‘what now?’.” says Vora. “These feelings of confusion and disappointment, if let ignored, have the potential to cause clients to be in low spirits, or even worse.”

1. Why does the author mention the examples in paragraph 2?

A．To present a fact.	B．To prove a rule.
C．To explain a term.	D．To make a prediction.

2. What does Vora think is the leading cause of the anti-climax?

A．Low self-worth.	B．High expectations.
C．Sense of purpose.	D．Unexpected achievements.

3. Which of the following is a case of the anti-climax?

A．Amy felt empty before giving a speech.

B．Jack felt lost after his first novel came out.

C．Mary felt proud when she joined a ballet club.

D．Tom felt doubtful about taking further education.

4. What will the author probably talk about in the following text?

A．How to hold back feelings.

B．How to improve self-worth.

C．Hon to identify the anti-climax.

D．How to deal with the anti-climax.

5 . When I was a practice teacher in a middle school，the students in my class were always making ______，and had no interest in chemistry. So I decided to do ______to change their______ towards chemistry.

The evening before I would teach all by myself，I gave a piece of paper to everyone. I told them to write ______ they wanted on the paper and handed it in and then I could tell what each one had ______ .All the students said I _____ be longsighted(远视)．Then I stood ______ my back towards them. I didn't turn back ______ they had finished and ______ all the paper in a cardboard case.

I turned the cardboard case with the bottom(底部)towards the students，and told them calmly what each one had written on the paper. The students were surprised，______ that I had learned their ______ completely in such a short time.

I told them the truth and they were ______ at my brightness：there were five lines of students in the classroom，and every line had ten students. I had written serial number(from 1 to 50 )on every ______ of the paper in a chemical reagent(试剂)that cannot be seen ______eyes，and then gave ______out to the students according to the groups of their seats. After the paper was ______ in，I used______ chemical reagent onto the corner of the paper. Thus the serial number was ______！

______ ，the students became ______ interested in chemistry，and we became good friends.

1.

A．progress

B．troubles

C．faces

D．efforts

2.

A．something

B．nothing

C．all

D．them

3.

A．methods

B．attitudes

C．feelings

D．interest

4.

A．that

B．how

C．when

D．what

5.

A．thought

B．seen

C．written

D．heard

6.

A．would

B．needed

C．had to

D．might

7.

A．with

B．for

C．to

D．as

8.

A．after

B．when

C．until

D．now that

9.

A．put

B．left

C．had

D．gave

10.

A．knowing

B．believing

C．seeing

D．hearing

11.

A．names

B．faces

C．characters

D．handwritings

12.

A．frightened

B．angry

C．sad

D．amazed

13.

A．corner

B．bottom

C．top

D．side

14.

A．in

B．for

C．with

D．to

15.

A．it

B．that

C．them

D．those

16.

A．given

B．handed

C．passed

D．offered

17.

A．expensive

B．useful

C．another

D．smelly

18.

A．made

B．seen

C．found

D．looked

19.

A．From then on

B．However

C．Though

D．So far

20.

A．a lot of

B．a lot

C．partly

D．greatly

6 . Banff National Park is home to an amazing wildlife population. But the busy Trans Canada Highway that cuts through the park is a hazard to the lovely animals. To address the problem, Banff first put-up wildlife fencing on either side of the highway to discourage animals from entering the busy road. Then, since 1996, they’ve opened six wildlife overpasses and 38 underpasses to help the animals cross the highway in safety. I was fortunate to visit Banff’s Red Earth Overpass with Trevor Kinley, the project manager with Parks Canada. He told me that so far, they have documented 10, 000 safe animal crossings on this overpass alone. “ Some animals have learned how to use the crossings much more quickly than others. Black bears are the fastest learners, followed by deer. Wolves and lions take the longest to work out how to use them, ” Kinley said, laughing. “ But those animals that are slower to adapt are usually more capable and determined at figuring out the safest way to cross those overpasses and underpasses. ”

There is some criticism (批评) that channeling so much wildlife into a few bridges and tunnels is like making a trap for the animals, offering big animals an easy meal on either side. “ But research has shown that this is not the case, ” Kinley assured me. “ There are no more killings around the crossings than there are anywhere else in the park. ”

Walking over the Trans Canada and then walking underneath through one of the tunnels, I was amazed to see the fresh tracks of black bears, wolves, deer and many kinds of smaller animals. Somehow, all these animal footprints made me so happy, knowing that all this wildlife was passing safely under and over the longest road in Canada.

Hopefully, the success of the wildlife crossings in Banff will continue to inspire similar solutions around the world, where human pressure on wildlife continues to grow.

1. Which of the following best explains “ hazard ” underlined in paragraph 1?

A．Shelter.

B．Message.

C．Answer.

D．Danger.

2. What does Trevor Kinley say about those wolves and lions?

A．They are stupid animals.	B．They are cautious learners.
C．They are very dangerous.	D．They are good at adapting.

3. What are the critics worried about?

A．There are too many bridges and tunnels.	B．Many animals will not use the crossings.
C．More killings might happen at the crossings.	D．Illegal hunting might be encouraged in the park.

4. How does the author feel at the end of the visit?

A．Concerned.

B．Disappointed.

C．Shocked.

D．Delighted.

7 . Wu Ming, a young German born after 1995, is a big fan of Chinese culture. As he thought some diseases can’t be treated _______ with Western medicine, he decided to _______traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In 2015, Wu came to Henan province, where a strong TCM culture can be _______. After a year of learning, he _______ the language barrier and started to learn Chinese medicine. Wu always _______ some Chinese herbal medicine by himself to know their flavours and effects, just like Shen Nong, a character in Chinese legend. In Wu’s opinion, TCM is one of the best-preserved _______ of Chinese culture.

Studying TCM also _______ Wu’s mind and lifestyle. He used to be _______ to electronic devices, playing video games every night. Instead of being trapped in the fast-paced but unhealthy daily _______, he now lives a(n) ________ and peaceful life, practicing good habits like drinking tea and reading.

Wu ________ what he has learned to help his family. He always provides his family members with some advice about staying fit after ________ their skin or tongues online. Over time, his family gradually began to understand his ________ for TCM.

Wu thinks there’s no big difference between China and Western countries. “________ comes from being out of touch”, said Wu. He plans to run a traditional Chinese clinic in Germany, which could serve as a(n) ________ between the two countries and publicize TCM and its culture.

1.

A．immediately

B．gradually

C．thoroughly

D．consistently

2.

A．depend on

B．dig into

C．look up

D．work out

3.

A．created

B．enjoyed

C．advanced

D．acknowledged

4.

A．overcame

B．seized

C．divided

D．shifted

5.

A．raised

B．sorted

C．cooked

D．tasted

6.

A．aspects

B．standards

C．themes

D．means

7.

A．enriched

B．secured

C．expanded

D．changed

8.

A．exposed

B．reduced

C．restricted

D．addicted

9.

A．businesses

B．recreations

C．routines

D．tasks

10.

A．balanced

B．wealthy

C．humble

D．efficient

11.

A．employs

B．promotes

C．outlines

D．conveys

12.

A．scanning

B．checking

C．exploring

D．comparing

13.

A．concern

B．wish

C．demand

D．passion

14.

A．Misunderstanding

B．Destruction

C．Stress

D．Failure

15.

A．source

B．basis

C．bridge

D．tool

8 . Sites for a family getaway

A selection of campsites perfect for a family break to enjoy time with the children.

Monkton Wyld Holiday Park

Monkton Wyld is the perfect campsite for children, yet maintaining a quiet atmosphere for adults to relax. here are walking routes from Monkton Wyld Holiday Park to Lyme Regis where little ones can enjoy the beaches and hunting for fossils (化石). Adults might wander selection of shops and restaurants.

High Moor Farm Park

High Moor Farm Park is situated four miles from Harrogate at High Moor Farm there is plenty to occupy all ages, including an indoor pool, nine-hole golf course, play area, pool tables and fishing lake. A 20-minute drive from the park is Knaresborough where there are many zoos including Yorkshire Dales National Park, Dartmoor Zoological Park and Paignton Zoo.

Polmanter Touring Park

This award-winning touring site is ideal for families looking for on-site entertainment and the convenience of the fishing town of St lves within waking distance.

For younger guests, there are two playgrounds indoor soft play and a games room. Practicalities are taken care of with an on-site shop, bar and restaurant, and four-legged family members have a devoted exercise field and shower.

Elie Holiday Park

Elie Holiday Park occupies a location behind a wide expanse of dunes (沙丘) that lead to a vast beach on Scotland’s west coast. Appealing to those travelling with children, the coastal location is ideal for anyone who loves to be beside the sea.

Aldult guests can walk the coastal path, go rock-pooling, and look out for wildlife. Youngsters can go wild at the Robinson Crusoe Adventure Park and enjoy the arcades in the games room.

1. Where can you go if you are interested in animals?

A．High Moor Farm Park.	B．Dartmoor Zoological Park.
C．Monkton Wyld Holiday Park.	D．Robinson Crusoe Adventure Park

2. What is the advantage of Polmanter Touring Park?

A．It is far from the fishing town.	B．It wins awards for entertainment.
C．It is an ideal place for running a bar.	D．It provides essential services for pets

3. What can children do in Elie Holiday Park?

A．Play adventure games	B．Hunt for wild animals
C．Make a study of dunes.	D．Search for the fossils

9 . Food waste is a growing problem both in America and across the globe. In North America alone about 30-40% of food ends up as rubbish each year. While much ends up as rubbish, over 48 million Americans live in households that do not have enough food! Now, concerned citizens are trying to raise awareness of the issue with some creative ideas.

In New York’s Westchester County, students at 18 schools join in a program called We Future Cycle. Started by Anna and Ashley in 2014, it teaches kids to recycle, compost (堆肥), and most importantly control food waste in an easy and efficient manner.

Lunch areas at those schools are equipped with three clearly marked bins— compost, recycle and share. While the first two are common in schools, the third is rare. This is the bin where kids can put their unwanted drinks, fruits, and even untouched sandwiches. Food there is available for any student that wants them. Whatever remains at the end of the day is given to the local soup kitchen or food bank. Anna says the three bins have helped reduce the number of trash bags produced at the mid-day meal from an average of 22 to just 2!

To ensure kids form similar habits at home, the non-profit has created plans to educate families about the importance of sorting waste into the proper streams of recycling, composting, and food to donate. They also urge parents to have open conversations with their kids about food choices.

Kids are not the only ones that waste food. Adults are equally bad, if not worse! To fight that, Brooklyn-based Josh founded Salvage Super Club in 2014. The randomly organized dinners promise customers a multi-course meal for merely 50 dollars per person. The delicious food is made from perfectly safe ingredients (成分)   that are past their prime and, therefore, headed for the compost or trash bin.

1. The underlined word “awareness” in Paragraph 1 probably means__________?

A．understanding	B．hope
C．doubt	D．value

2. What do students at Westchester County do to save food?

A．Use dustbins instead of plastic bags for left-over food.

B．Put their unwanted food in the bins and learn to share.

C．Get the children to educate their parents at home.

D．Only get single-course food for 50 dollars when eating out.

3. What can we infer from Paragraph 5 ?

A．Parents are to blame for the children’s bad habits.

B．Parents do not encourage children to save food.

C．Parents are as wasteful as children about food.

D．Parents have set an example for the children.

4. Which of the following will the passage be likely to continue with?

A．More information about food bank.	B．How to improve food production.
C．The importance of saving food.	D．Other creative ways to save food.

10 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter

While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.

Joshua Tree National Park, California

With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.

Virgin Islands National Park, St. John

Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.

1. Which park will one choose if he/she is interested in stars?

A．Yellowstone National Park.	B．Joshua Tree National Park.
C．Grand Canyon National Park.	D．Virgin Islands National Park.

2. What do we know about the Grand Canyon National Park?

A．We can have a poor view of the South Rim there.	B．It lies in an area with rolling steam and hot springs.
C．There is a slight decline in visitor numbers in winter.	D．The Bright Angel Trail is challenging in cold weather.

3. Which activity is mentioned in all of the parks?

A．Hiking.

B．Skiing.

C．Swimming.

D．Hunting.