1 . If you want to find a book for your sons or daughters, here are some books that you can choose from.
Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation
by Stuart Gibbs
The CIA is on a task to find an equation (方程式), which could destroy the world if the bad people get it. For help, they turn to Charlie, a 12-year-old girl who is as smart as Albert Einstein. Children who like exciting mysteries will enjoy reading this book.
AstroNuts
by Jon Scieszka and Steven Weinberg
In AstroNuts, the Earth has been destroyed by humans for thousands of years. Four animals set out from Mount Rushmoret the main office of NASA. Their task is to find a new planet fit for human life. Finally, they discover one: Plant Planet. The story s topic is simple: Don’t harm the planet. Readers who love science fiction (科幻小说) enjoy AstroNuts.
Stargazing
by Jen Wang
Christine hears that Moon, who is new in town, is the kind of kid who beats people up for fun. But Moon and her mum come to live with Christine’s family, and the two kids become best friends. Moon even shares a big secret with Christine. Stargazing is based on Jen Wang’s experiences as a child. The story is about the power of friendship.
Roll with It
by Jamie Sumner
Roll with It is a story about a 12-year-old girl named Ellie. She has difficulty walking on her own and uses a wheelchair. When Ellie and her mum move to another state to take care of Ellie’s grandpa, she must learn to deal with a new school and new friendships. This book is a must-read for everyone. It's a heartwarming story that really shows the value of family.
1. Whose book tells exciting mysteries?| A．Stuart Gibbs. | B．Jon Scieszka. | C．Jen Wang. | D．Jamie Sumner. |
| A．Stargazing. | B．AstroNuts. |
| C．Roll with It. | D．Charlie Thome and the Last Equation. |
| A．It mainly discusses animals’ stories. |
| B．It includes much scientific knowledge. |
| C．It is mainly about how to make friends. |
| D．It is connected with the author’s own experiences. |
| A．She has to solve problems faced in a new place. |
| B．She has trouble communicating with others. |
| C．She is carefully looked after by her grandpa. |
| D．She doesn’t want to go to another slate. |
| A．Salesgirls. | B．Teachers. | C．Parents. | D．Waiters. |
2 . The state of Israel has welcomed the opportunity to build itself as a startup nation. But how did Israel show its strength in the tech market? And what drove this region to become a software-centric startup nation of young companies competing for a place on the global tech map?
Part of the answer comes down to the local mindset, mentality and morals-after all, the country is well used to fighting for its place. The wider answer is the combination of resources(largely human, not natural ones), higher education, the widespread use of English and the determined attitude to overcome problems that is typical of the local culture.
“We have a longstanding tradition of turning curses into blessings,” said Jon Medved, CEO of OurCrowd, a Jerusalem-based global venture investment platform organization. “We don’t have huge natural resources, so we have worked hard to develop our skills-base in the country. There is a certain mentality that leans towards risk acceptance here…. and people develop that from a young age. In my view, great achievements are made by taking lots of risks, but in a calculated way with various approaches to everything.”
Actually, what happens next will be interesting. Israel can’t call itself a startup technology nation forever. For example, more and more of these tech startups will need to graduate to become fully-blown operational companies. Although what often happens is the smaller tech companies end up getting bought by international tech heavyweights-the ICQ messaging system purchase by AOL being among the most famous of these. We can also see major firms like Microsoft and others setting up production plants and research centres in the region, so Israel won’t want to see its talent being bled outwards either.
Either way, Israel’s technology zone has put itself on the map from what appeared to almost nothing. Software development works well in a melting pot. It just needs some hot sauce… and they have that too.
1. What is one of the reasons behind Israel’s rising as a technology startup nation?| A．Rich human and natural resources. | B．A high value placed on education. |
| C．Widespread use of the native language. | D．Successful cooperation with major firms. |
| A．Some natural resource. | B．The local culture. |
| C．The risk-taking mentality. | D．A higher education. |
| A．To prove talent is the key to success. |
| B．To show the startups giving up their dreams. |
| C．To confirm nothing is impossible in this field. |
| D．To stress the challenge the startups tend to face. |
| A．Israel’s tech market has the strength to further develop. |
| B．Israel still needs to make greater effort to stay on the top. |
| C．Israel’s technology has played the leading role in its field. |
| D．No International tech heavyweights can compete with Israel. |
3 . I had planned a tour in New Zealand and when I finally visited the country last year, I simply fell in love with it.
New Zealand is a nature lover’s paradise. Wonderful scenery, pollution free, good climate, challenging activities…what more can one ask for? No skyscraper in cities at all. A four or five-storied building is a high and huge one here. The West Coast beaches attracted me most. Sitting on the sand, listening to the wind, watching the fantastic tiding, we were exposed to a wild and pure picture.
We rented a car and drove throughout the South Island. You can reserve one through the Internet. It is quite convenient to get and return the car. We started our driving in Christchurch and stopped in Dunedin seven days later.
New Zealanders call themselves Kiwi（几维鸟）. This simple and kind species exists merely in this island. That is just what a New Zealander has.
The engine once stalled suddenly. However we tried, it refused to work again. There was not even one car passing by. Just then two bikers appeared and offered help. Finally the car could move. Another time we lost the car key. We searched the way we walked inch by inch, hoping to find, but failed. All the things were in the car. We went to the Lost-and-Found to try our luck. The gentle policeman gave us all keys found within one hour to check. Our key was lying there!
That is New Zealand. A simple but splendid place!
1. Which of the statements would the writer agree with about New Zealand?| A．Young travelers like this place better. |
| B．Tourists can never find a better place to go. |
| C．It’s a wonderful place for people with no cars. |
| D．It’s environmentally friendly with amazing scenery. |
| A．Died. | B．Moved. | C．Exploded. | D．Functioned. |
| A．They look like the bird Kiwi. |
| B．They are simple and kind like Kiwi. |
| C．They want people to know more about this species. |
| D．They try to raise tourists’ awareness to protect Kiwi. |
4 . Our Library uses the Dewey Decimal Classification system(Dewey for short) to arrange books and other resources on the shelves so you can locate them easily. We’re going to show you how to use Dewey to find a book at any Library site.
Once you’ve searched for your item on Library Search, you’ll see something like this:
Globalization and education: critical perspectives  Nicholas C Burbules; Carlos Alberto Torres 2000; ISBN0415920485(hbk); ISBNO41520477(pbk); ISBN97804 15920483; ISBN9780415920476 ◆Available at Main Library Blue Area Floor 1(370. 193 B174) Find in Library Details Reviews and tags |
The part in the brackets is the bit we’re interested in. What do these numbers next to the book’s location mean? The numbers shown are a “shelfmark”. You’ll find one of these on every book in the Library—a lot of customers find this confusing at first but if you break down the information into three sections, it’s easier to understand.
1. The numbers in front of the decimal point indicate the subject area(in this case 370). Look for this number first.
2. Next, look for the number after the decimal point(in this case 193).
3. Now look for the letter(s)and number(s). Letters are usually the initial letter(s)of the author’s name(in this case, Burbules).
Sometimes, you will see extra letters before the shelfmark. This shows that a book is part of a collection within the Library. For example: M. E. 279. 32R29 is part of the Middle Eastern collection. Find the collection first, before looking for the number.
1. What can help us find a book at the Library site easily on Library Search?| A．Its title. | B．Its shelfmark. | C．Its publication time. | D．Its author’s name. |
| A．The book’s location area. | B．The name of a collection. |
| C．The author’s family name. | D．The shelf’s alphabetical order. |
| A．M. E. /279/32R/29 | B．M. /E. /279. 32/R29 |
| C．M. E. /279. 32/R/29 | D．M. E. /279/32/R29 |
5 . How far would you go to make a good impression at a new job? A college student in Alabama walked 32 kilometers in the dark to get to his new job.
The story begins with Walter Carr's car breaking down the night before starting a new job. Carr was unable to find a ride. So, he figured out how long it would take to walk from his house to the job in Pelham-32 kilometers away. He left at midnight so that he could make it to the customer's house by 8：00 am the next morning.
Pelham police saw him walking along a highway at 4-00 am. So, they stopped to see if he needed help. After hearing his story, they took him to a restaurant for breakfast and then to a church where he could safely wait until 8：00 am. The police then took Carr to the home of customer Jenny Lamey. Lamey said that even though Carr had just walked the entire night, he refused her offer to rest. He just wanted to start working. While he worked, he talked with the customer, telling her how much he liked her kitchen.
Jenny Lamey later wrote this on Facebook："I just can't tell you how touched I was by Walter and his journey. He is kind and cheerful and he has big dreams! He is hardworking and tough. " She then started a GoFundMe page to help Walter with money to get his car fixed. When the CEO of Bellhops, Luke Marklin, learned of Carr's story, he drove from Tennessee to Alabama to give Walter his own 2014 Ford Escape.
Walter Carr's story touched many others around the United States. Within a few days, people gave over $ 73 ,000 to his GoFundMe page. Carr has decided to give a part of the donations to the Birmingham Education Foundation. And he has received more offers for jobs and scholarships for schools.
1. Why did Walter Carr decide to go to work on foot?| A．He wanted to challenge himself. | B．His car was damaged beyond repair. |
| C．He was unable to borrow a car. | D．He wished to be punctual for the job. |
| A．He broke traffic regulations. | B．He was blamed by his customer. |
| C．He was committed to his job. | D．He started to work after a short break. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Ambitious. | C．Generous. | D．Sensitive. |
| A．One has to suffer in order to get a good job. |
| B．A good impression is sure to bring one good money. |
| C．The efforts to leave a good impression are to pay off. |
| D．One has to give up something in return for donations. |
6 . Laguna Beach Festival of Arts
Festival Store
Plenty of people attend Laguna Beach Festival of Arts just to admire the works of art. However, for serious art buyers, attending early in the season means a lot, since excellent pieces often sell early. Weekday are less busy but there are fewer artists present. They often meet crowds in the evening that show up for the Pageant of the Masters.
Fun Activities
Part of the fun of the festival comes from the activities that go on during the event. Tours and workshops are available every day. Weekends are full of live music and special events. To get best value for the money you spend during the week, Thursday is the day to go for art talks by participating artists and evening jazz.
Food & Drinks
Food and drinks are sold at the snack bar, Tivoli Terrace cafe and restaurants are on site for more formal dining. Picnics are welcome during an talks or music shows and there are tables set up in the courtyard for you to enjoy your homemade or take-away food. But alcohol is forbidden here. On Thursdays, central tables are reserved for ticket holders.
Cost of the Tickets
Entrance admission: $60 per person (the Pageant of the Masters and live music shows included.)
Joint pass: $120 per person (free of charge for all the performances.)
Notes: Since there are many visitors on the weekends, the ticket office may be crowded. For faster service, call toll-free number 24 hours a day.
For more information visit www.Langunabcachfestivalofarts.com
1. What should one intending to buy some good pieces of art in the festival do?| A．Go there on weekdays. |
| B．Turn to artists for advice. |
| C．Go there as soon as it starts. |
| D．Show up for the Pageant of the Masters. |
| A．Drink alcohol. | B．Have a formal dinner. |
| C．Appreciate music while eating. | D．Eat at central tables as they like. |
| A．$60 | B．$120 | C．$180 | D．$240 |
7 . Scientists have not found any signs of life on Mars yet,but they say a robotic vehicle called “Curiosity” is helping them learn a lot about the planet’s history and climate.
Curiosity landed on Mars in August 2012 after travelling through space for more than eight months.It was sent to Mars by scientists from NASA in the United States.
Curiosity is about the size of a car and has six wheels.It also has a robotic arm,cameras,and instruments that allow it to examine things it finds on the surface.Then it sends the information back to the earth.
Curiosity’s main task is to find out if anything could live on Mars,either now or in the past.On Nov.2,NASA scientists held a press conference (新闻发布会) to discuss what Curiosity had found in its first two months on Mars.
Curiosity has found soil that is similar to the sand formed by volcanoes (火山) on the earth.Scientists say that studying the minerals in Martian soil will help them understand what conditions were like on the planet in the past.Curiosity also found smooth stones like the ones found on river beds and seashores on the earth,where their rough edges have been worn down by water.Mars is very cold and dry now,but scientists say the smooth stones tell them that a river used to run through the place where they were found.
Curiosity has been testing the atmosphere around Mars for a type of gas called methane (甲烷),but so far it has not found any.On the earth,most methane is produced by plants or animals.Methane on Mars might indicate that some type of tiny plants or animals lived there.
Curiosity is the fourth robotic vehicle to be sent to Mars.It will continue to explore the planet for about two years.
1. Which of the following descriptions about Curiosity is TRUE?| A．It landed on Mars in January 2012. |
| B．It is small in size and has four arms. |
| C．It took over eight months to arrive in Mars. |
| D．It was sent to Mars by scientists from Russia. |
| A．there’s no air on Mars | B．Mars is warm and wet now |
| C．the soil on Mars is rich | D．there used to be water on Mars |
| A．smooth stones | B．rivers |
| C．robotic vehicles | D．volcanoes |
| A．some tiny animals once lived on Mars |
| B．there are no plants or animals on Mars now |
| C．the atmosphere around Mars is full of methane |
| D．Curiosity is designed to test the atmosphere around the earth |
| A．Humans benefit a lot by going to Mars. |
| B．Scientists will stop the research on Mars soon. |
| C．It is possible to build an earth-like environment on Mars. |
| D．A robotic vehicle helps scientists get useful information from Mars. |
8 . Bamboo is one of the nature's most surprising plants. Many people call this plant a tree, but it is a kind of grass.
Like other kinds of grass, a bamboo plant may be cut very low to the ground, but it will grow back very quickly. A Japanese scientist recorded one bamboo plant that grew almost 1.5 meters in 24 hours! Bamboo grows almost everywhere in the world except Europe. There are more than 1,000 kinds of bamboo that grow around the world on both mountains and plains (平原)．
Not all bamboo looks the same. Some bamboo plants are very thin. They may only grow to be a few centimeters wide while others may grow to more than 30 centimeters across. This plant also comes in different colors, from yellow to black to green.
Many Asian countries have been using bamboo for hundreds of years. They often use bamboo for building new buildings. As a matter of fact, the cables (绳索) that hold up the hanging bridge across the Min River in Sichuan are made of bamboo. The bridge has been in use for more than 1,000 years, and is still holding strong.
In Africa, engineers are teaching poor farmers how to find water using bamboo. These African countries need cheap ways to find water because they have no money，and their fields often die from no rain and no water. It seems that bamboo is one of the best things they can use. Bamboo pipes and drills (钻) can help to make the poor thirsty fields to be watered.
1. How is bamboo like grass?| A．It is thin and easy to cut. | B．It grows everywhere. |
| C．It grows quickly after its cut short. | D．It is short and green. |
| A．short | B．strong | C．thick | D．tall |
| A．most people call bamboo plant trees |
| B．bamboo plant may grow 4.5 meters in three days |
| C．the bamboo plant changes its colors when it grows |
| D．a bridge held by bamboo cable was built thousands of years ago |
| A．Because it is cheap. | B．Because it is colorful. |
| C．Because it drills fast. | D．Because it is used by Asians. |
9 . China will have the most 5G connections of any nation by 2025, according to a new study, while Europe will fall behind Korea, the United States and Japan in terms of 5G penetration(渗透)by that year.
5G is the fifth generation of network technology. It is expected to bring unbelievable speeds to Internet users, with some operations running 10 times faster than on 4G networks. 5G is also expected to unlock the potential in a lot of new services, including artificial intelligence, science of robots self-driving cars, and the Internet of things.
The GSMA said that China's three major mobile operators-China Unicorn, China Mobile, and China Telecom-are already moving ahead with 5G networks. While most nations will have 5G by updating existing foundations, the study noted that China plans to build part of its 5G networks.
One of the most distinguishing(显著的) factors between Chinese mobile operators and those in the rest of the world is the intention to erect the new and independent 5G networks. That is, China is determined to build a completely advanced 5G. The high cost underlines China's seriousness about paying whatever it takes.
Korea will lead the world in terms of 5G penetration in 2025, when 66 percent of the nation's total connections will be 5G, according to GSMA. This compares to 50 percent in the US, 49 percent in Japan, 36 percent in China, 30 percent in Europe, and a global average of 18 percent. Out of the five economies leading on 5G, Europe will have the lowest participation in 2025, as the area is moving more slowly in having its 5G networks.
1. What will 5G bring?| A．A completely new pattern for daily life. |
| B．Excellent networks and national safety. |
| C．Amazing speeds for public transportation. |
| D．Realizing the potential in many new services. |
| A．It will develop rapidly. | B．It may be lack of government support. |
| C．It will move forward slowly. | D．It may fall behind Europe. |
| A．bring up. | B．set up. | C．turn up. | D．pick up. |
| A．More than half Koreans use 5G in 2025. | B．Chinese cannot own 5G in 2025. |
| C．Only five countries will have 5G in 2025. | D．Europe will pay little attention to 5G in 2025. |
10 . Though many people think of summer as a time to slow down and enjoy a vacation, it can also be the perfect time to make money or get experience. Here are some good summer jobs for you.
Survey-taking
Survey-taking is a way to make money during your summer holiday, especially if you live in an area that doesn’t have many chances. With a computer or smartphone, you can sit on your sofa and search for survey sites such as Surveys On The Go, InboxDollars or Swagbucks. Without much effort, you can start making money for your opinions. However, the ease of use comes with a low earning potential.
Food Delivery(递送)
If you enjoy driving, you can use your car to deliver food. You can sign up to deliver food from restaurants with services such as Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub. Another choice is delivering daily used goods with services such as Postmates, Shipt and Instacart. The earning potential for delivery can be higher than for other jobs because customers often give tips. The disadvantage is that these jobs require you to put in more time.
Photo Applications
If you go to the mall, you can use an app such as Field Agent or Gigwalk to make money by taking pictures of products in stores. See any help-wanted signs in the store windows? Take a picture and get paid for each one you find.
House Sitting and Pet Care
Summer is a time when people take vacations and may need someone to look after their homes or pets. Services such as HouseSitter and MindMyHouse connect homeowners with proper house sitters(看房人). For animal lovers who would rather care for someone’s pet while they are away, you can turn to services like Rover.
1. What do we know about making money through Survey-Taking?| A．It’s interesting. | B．It requires little effort. |
| C．It takes much time. | D．It requires special knowledge. |
| A．You can get some extra reward. |
| B．You work longer hours. |
| C．You need to drive your own car. |
| D．You deliver food for many people. |
| A．Swagbucks. | B．Uber Eats. | C．HouseSitter. | D．Rover. |
