1 . On February 3, 1931 the peace of New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay region was destroyed when the area was hit by the worst earthquake in New Zealand’s history. At 10: 46 am on that summer’s day, the quake hit with a magnitude of 7. 9 on the Richter scale(里氏震级). The centre of the quake lied some 15 to 20 kilometers north of the two main centers, Napier and Hastings. The quake lasted for two and a half minutes. Many people died in the earthquake.
A fire broke out immediately after the quake. The fire started in a chemist’s shop and spread quickly. Then the Fire Department in Napier came to help, but they were at a loss to control the fire as a result of losing their water supply. However, the water supply in Hastings, was still usable, allowing them to fight back against the fire.
The force of the earthquake destroyed many of the city’s famous landmarks. Chunks of the coastline were thrown into the sea. Napier’s Bluff Hill, a popular tourist spot, was completely destroyed and thrown into the waters below.
Most of the major buildings in the city were completely destroyed. Roads and communications across the whole area were cut. People were afraid to enter their homes for days and found shelters at the local Motor Camp or on the beach. There were about 150 aftershocks(余震)in the 24 hours after the main shock. Over the next 2 weeks, there would be 525 such aftershocks.
1. The worst earthquake took place in New Zealand ________.| A．at night | B．in the morning |
| C．at noon | D．in the afternoon |
| A．there was no usable water |
| B．they couldn’t get close to it |
| C．the flames spread too quickly |
| D．The wind was very strong |
| A．there were many places of interest in New Zealand |
| B．the earthquake damaged the city seriously |
| C．many famous landmarks were thrown into the sea |
| D．people were afraid to enter their homes for sleep |
2 . An artist in Oakland, California is using his skills to help the homeless. Greg Kloehn builds very small shelters that make life on the streets a little more comfortable. The structures offer the homeless some safety and protection from bad weather. Each little house also has wheels on the bottom so it can go wherever its owner goes.
Greg Kloehn has given away at least 20 tiny houses. Several are on the roadside near an active railroad. On a recent day, Mr.Kloehn stops at one to visit Oscar Young. The two men hug. Inside his little shelter Mr.Young gets relief from cold nights on the streets. Mr.Kloehn also visits SweetPea, another friend who also lives in one of the little homes the artist built. She says it keeps her safe and protects her belongings.
In the mornings, Mr. Kloehn searches the streets for building materials. He gathers what he can and takes it to his studio. There, he puts the houses together. Empty coffee bags become roof material. A washing machine door and refrigerator part become windows. Nails,screws and the sticky glue hold all the pieces together. The artist also attaches a small electrical device to the house. The device is powered by the sun.
Some of the people living on the streets once had normal houses of their own. But some of the people say they have learned to live with less and they are thankful to that man.
Mr.Kloehn says his work is not a social project. He says he is just someone using his skills to help his homeless neighbors.
1. The following are the advantages of the small shelters EXCEPT ________.| A．saving power and energy |
| B．protecting possessions of the homeless |
| C．decorating the streets where they are |
| D．keeping the homeless safe and comfortable |
| A．Greg Kloehn has sold at least 20 tiny houses |
| B．an act of kindness has made people simple and grateful |
| C．the shelters are immovable |
| D．the government has got involved in the action |
| A．an official report |
| B．an art review |
| C．a science magazine |
| D．a news report |
| A．An artist creates homes for the homeless. |
| B．A more comfortable shelter on the streets. |
| C．A successful social project in Oakland. |
| D．An artist makes a living by designing small shelters. |
3 . He lived his whole life as a poor man.His art and talent were recognized by almost no one.He suffered from a mental illness that led him to cut off part of his left ear in 1888 and to shoot himself two years later.But after his death, he achieved world fame.Today, Dutch artist Van Gogh is recognized as one of the leading artists of all time.
Now,150 years after his birth on March 30,1853, Zundert, the town of his birth，has made 2003 “The Van Gogh Year” in his honor.And the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam，home to the biggest collection of his masterpieces, is marking the anniversary with exhibitions throughout the year.The museum draws around 1．3 million visitors every year.Some people enjoy the art and then learn about his life.Others are interested in his life, which then helps them understand his art.
Van Gogh was the son of a pastor.He left school when he was just 15．By the age of 27, he had already tried many jobs including an art gallery salesman and a French teacher.Finally in 1880, he decided to begin his studies in art.
Van Gogh is famed for his ability to put his own emotions into his paintings and show his feelings about a scene.His style is marked by short, broad brush strokes (绘画笔法).“Instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I have before my eyes, I use color more freely, in order to express myself more forcibly，” he wrote in a letter to his brother in 1888．
Van Gogh sold only one painting during his short life.He relied heavily on support from his brother, an art dealer who lived in Paris.But now his works are sold for millions of dollars.His portrait of Dr.Gacher sold for $89．5 million in 1990．It is the highest price ever paid for a painting.“I think his paintings are powerful and the brilliant color in them are attractive to people，” said a Van Gogh’s fan.
1. All through his life Van Gogh ________.| A．depended on his brother |
| B．worked hard on art studies |
| C．was not recognized by people |
| D．expressed himself in paintings |
| A．the likeness between his paintings and the reality |
| B．the short time for him to complete a painting |
| C．the various styles mixed together |
| D．the special strokes he made |
| A．his powerful art came from his poor life |
| B．his fellow townsmen regret treating him unfairly |
| C．all his paintings were drawn in the last 10 years of his life |
| D．most of his paintings are kept in the museum of his hometown |
4 . When the Normans built their first simple wooden castles in England, they built them on the top of small hills.The first permanent castles were made of stones and built with thick walls.The main building was usually surrounded by walls which overlooked the moat (护城河).
The entrance to the castle was usually over a drawbridge (吊桥)leading to the main gatehouse.The drawbridge could be raised or lowered and an iron grille (栅栏)could be lowered to shut off the entrance to the gatehouse.
As time went on, the castle builders became more advanced in their techniques.Instead of building a strong central building and surrounding it with walls of lesser strength，they thought out the idea of surrounding a central area with huge walls which could contain all the main rooms of the castle.These walls usually had many towers and these towers were really a series of main buildings along the castle walls.In building these castles they used hill sites whenever possible in order to give the castle a better position.Because the outside world was shut off by a barrier or curtain of defences, they are called “curtain wall” castles.
With the passing of time there was less need to build strong castles and nobles built manor(庄园)houses.These manor houses often had battlements and iron grilles, but they were built more for comfort and included many of the conveniences and luxuries of the large houses which were being built in the towns.
Unfortunately, many English castles were damaged or destroyed completely during the Civil Wars of the 1600s.
1. What is the best title for this passage?| A．How to build castles. |
| B．How to protect castles. |
| C．The history of English castles. |
| D．The structure of English castles. |
| A．the first simple wooden castles in England were built by the Normans. |
| B．old castles in England were all built on the top of hills. |
| C．the iron drawbridge was the only way to reach the main gatehouse. |
| D．“curtain wall” castles used curtains as their walls. |
| A．A Manor. | B．An iron grille. | C．A thick wall. | D．A central keep. |
| A．Most of English castles became manor houses now. |
| B．The Civil Wars left many English castles in ruins. |
| C．English castles were too strong to be destroyed. |
| D．Nobles built manor houses in order to defend their fortune. |
5 . Camping is a good way to spend time along with your kids and to show them how wonderful nature can be. Through camping, children can discover new things about nature, such as flowers, birds, and other small animals. Camping gives kids time to get away from all the electronics of today’s culture. So it is necessary to plan exciting and enjoyable family camping trips with your children while they are young.
When planning your family camping trip, consider the activities your kids like:games, hiking, swimming, boating, bicycling, etc. Select a camping place that has some of the activities the kids are interested in. Meal planning is an important part of your camping trip. Plan the meals together, and kids love to choose what they want to eat.
When starting to pack for your trip, let the kids pack their own items. Each person should have his/her own sleeping bag with a luggage bag to put it in. Personal items should be packed with their sleeping bags. Encourage the kids to put their items in a certain place and always return it when they have finished using it.
When you have arrived at your campsite, make all the camping activities a family activity, which will help children to realize how important team work is. Everyone can have his/her own job sitting up the campsite. Meal time can be a fun time. So let the older ones help with the cooking on your outdoor camping stove while the younger ones get the picnic table ready.
1. Which of the following is the best place for a family camping?| A．A place covered with forests. |
| B．A place with a river and wild animals. |
| C．A place where kids can find various foods they like. |
| D．A place which provides many interesting activities . |
| A．Encourage the children to take care of their own things. |
| B．Keep the children away from animals. |
| C．Take more food to meet the children’s need. |
| D．Let the children learn by watching. |
| A．allow the children to cook | B．give children enough time to play |
| C．make everyone have work to do | D．keep the picnic table full of food |
6 . Drawing For Fun
You will learn some basic techniques using soft pencils. These different types of paper are provided. Just bring yourself and a willingness to “have a go”. This is a startup day so people who have already attended courses should not apply.
Time: 1：00 p. m.－3：00 p. m.
Focus On Landscapes
This course is designed for students who are familiar with painting in watercolours, but are having difficulty with some techniques. We will discuss choice of materials, colour mixing and other areas that may be raised.
The day will start with a demonstration, followed by a chance to paint outdoors. After a light lunch cooked in the studio, there will be a further practice session.
Time: 9：30 a. m.－3：00 p. m.
Find Your Voice
You may feel you can't sing or you may be a good singer who wants to develop singing skills. You will be shown how to sing correctly and how to project your voice. You may attend this course more than once and each time you will have a wonderful experience. Everyone can sing and it's great fun.
Time: 2：00 p. m.－5：00 p. m.
The Music Takeaway
Get some friends, family or coworkers together for your own music course in a place of your choice, which could be your front room, basement or workplace. We send two guitar teachers to lead a oneday course for you in the style of music you prefer, such as rock, country, funk or blues.
Time: 2：30 p. m.9：00 p. m.
1. Those who attend Drawing For Fun are required to ________.| A．bring their own works |
| B．be a newcomer to the course |
| C．be good at watercolour painting |
| D．bring their own pencils and paper |
| A．Paint outdoors. |
| B．Discuss the painting materials. |
| C．Improve the students painting techniques. |
| D．Teach how to start watercolourpainting. |
| A．Find Your Voice. | B．Drawing For Fun. |
| C．The Music Takeaway. | D．Focus On Landscapes. |
| A．All last a whole day. | B．All offer free lunch. |
| C．All are related to the arts. | D．All are open to all levels. |
7 . Environmental experts warn that our planet is drowning in plastic.
The world’s cities produce 2 billion tons of trash every year. By the year 2050 that number is expected to rise to 3 billion tons. The World Bank estimates that the largest amount of trash today, about 44 percent, is plastic. But we often have to buy packaged goods. And often that packaging is made of plastic.
Now, that may be changing. A new environmentally-friendly shopping model was recently launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This shopping model, called Loop, aims to replace throwaway containers with reusable ones.
Loop is the idea of Terra Cycle, an American-based recycling company. Its chief, Tom Szaky, told the Associated Press (AP) that “removing plastics from the ocean is not enough. ” He said the point is to get away from single-use packages. Szaky said that Loop is the future of shopping. But it comes from an idea of the past.
He compared it to the “milkman model” of the 1950s in the United States. Back then, someone brought milk to your doorstep in glass bottles and then left with empty bottles. These could be cleaned and used again. The result is zero-waste.
Jennifer Morgan from the environmental non-profit organization Greenpeace also joined in the discussion about Loop at Davos. She said that “Greenpeace welcomes the aim of the Loop Alliance to move away from throwaway culture and disposability”. But Morgan questioned whether companies worldwide are ready to change their business models.
Loop is set to launch later 2019 in three eastern U. S. states, and also in Paris, France and some of the surrounding areas. Then Loop plans to expand to the U. S. West Coast, Toronto, Canada and Britain by the end of this year or 2020.
1. What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 2?| A．Provide background information. |
| B．Advocate zero-waste lifestyle. |
| C．Explain the reason for trash. |
| D．Introduce a new topic. |
| A．The World Economic Forum. |
| B．Demand of some companies. |
| C．Zero-waste model. |
| D．Jennifer Morgan. |
| A．United States and Switzerland. |
| B．Switzerland and Britain. |
| C．Canada and Britain. |
| D．France and Canada. |
| A．A new shopping model. |
| B．The development of future city. |
| C．The world’s environmental issue. |
| D．The concerns of future shopping. |
8 . There is a paradox improving education in America: The system is failing to prepare many kids for success, but we have spent so much on the system that isn’t practical. We have a big influence on teaching and learning within our existing schools: on the playground during recess.
Most elementary school headmasters will tell you that recess is the toughest time of the school day. It’s when most problems happen, and too often problems from the playground come over into the classroom, creating distractions for students.
Americans are usually pretty nostalgic about recess, but a lot has changed since we were kids. When I was growing up in Washington, D.C., I had the chance to play outside, every day after school, during weekends and all summer long. The older kids taught the younger kids a lot of rules — from how to pick teams to how to quickly end quarrels — and as the younger kids became the older kids, we passed on this culture of play to the generation behind us.
But kids don’t get to play outside and be unsupervised the way we used to. And so when kids come to school, they don’t bring those skills with them. The fights and quarrels that have replaced the recess we remember can be discouraging for kids and educators.
Schools generally put up with the problems on the playground because they don’t know how to deal with them, but it turns out that rescuing recess is pretty easy. All it takes is one grown-up who has a love for play and the skills in creating an environment where students can play happily.
1. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?| A．How can kids enjoy their recess |
| B．Why do kids need recess |
| C．A misunderstanding about improving education |
| D．Ways to get rid of the problems caused by students in the classroom |
| A．It will make students too excited in the classroom. |
| B．It will make students do damage to the playground. |
| C．It will make teachers discover their students’ problems. |
| D．It will make students pay less attention to their lessons. |
| A．had no time to play outside |
| B．often got involved in quarrels with the younger kids |
| C．could manage the younger kids successfully |
| D．passed on this culture of play to their parents |
9 . Polar bears are not the only species in danger from global warming, a new report has warned. The US Center for Biological Diversity (CBD)claims 16 Arctic(北极的)animals are at risk from the melting ice as well as the polar bears.The animals have become a symbol of the environmental movement, as their numbers go down with the melting ice caps.
But they are not the only ones.A new report has warned that other animals are in danger of going extinct as well.Sea ice in the Arctic fell to its lowest level after records began in 2007 and scientists predict the area could be largely ice free in summer within 10 years.
Shaye Wolf, the lead author of the report, said Arctic foxes, whales, musk oxen(麝牛), walruses(海象)and four species of seals were all in danger—as well as polar bears.
“The polar bear is the best-known victim(受害者)of rapid melting in the Arctic, but if we don’t reduce greenhouse pollution, many more creatures will follow it down the path to extinction，” she said. “Some Arctic species have already experienced widespread die-offs and population becomes less after losing key habitats and food sources; others face extreme weather events or suffer new pressures from predators(食肉动物).”
The CBD is also afraid these animals could be in danger if mining for oil goes ahead in this area.It is estimated that eight of the world’s 19 polar bear populations are becoming less as they struggle to raise young and hunt for food on ice.
1. What’s the main idea of the passage?| A．Polar bears are the only species in danger from global warming. |
| B．Why all Arctic species are in danger of dying out. |
| C．We should take measures to protect Arctic animals. |
| D．Arctic foxes, whales, musk oxen, walruses and four species of seals were all in danger—as well as polar bears. |
| A．繁衍 | B．灭绝 |
| C．存在 | D．兴衰 |
| A．Nine of the world’s 19 polar bear populations are becoming less now. |
| B．Polar bears are in danger mainly because their food sources are disappearing. |
| C．If we don’t take any effective measures to protect these animals in Arctic, more and more creatures will die out in the future. |
| D．Sea ice in the Arctic fell to its lowest level before records began in 2007. |
10 . After the heavy rain passes, a man at a company that lies on the riverbank arrives for work. At the water’s edge, he notices a baby beaver (海狸) balls up on the ground.Realizing that the animal needs help, the man picks him up and drives to a nearby animal hospital.From here the beaver is sent to the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (CWRS), where he will begin his recovery.
Vets check the beaver — now named Birch — for wounds or broken bones. Luckily they find no injuries.“But he’s a real little animal — only three and a half pounds,” says Andrea Hunt, a worker at the rehab center.According to his weight, they think that Birch is about eight weeks old.“Baby beavers stay with their families for one to two years,” Hunt says.“He’s not ready to care for himself.If he hadn’t been saved, he almost certainly wouldn’t have survived.”
To keep Birch from getting lonely, Hunt pairs him with another baby beaver named Aspen. At first they’re fed a milky cereal. A few weeks later, Birch and Aspen begin a diet of solid food that includes leafy kale and collard greens. Wood is also on the menu.For exercise, each beaver receives its own pool to swim in.
About a year later, Birch weighs 27 pounds. “Not only is he healthy, but he’s also learned good survival skills,” Hunt says. “It’s time to let him go.” Early one morning the beaver is driven into a Canadian forest to be set free.Birch is carried in a cage (笼子) to the bank of a lake. When the door opens, he carefully steps out, then jumps into the water and swims away. “We’ll miss Birch,” Hunt says.“But nothing feels better than putting an animal back where it should be.”
1. On his way to work, the man ________.| A．gets caught in heavy rain | B．saves a little young animal |
| C．is driven to a hospital | D．sends a beaver home |
| A．moves to the rehab center with Hunt | B．loses his parents when he is born |
| C．is too young to care for himself | D．breaks his bones in an accident |
| A．If you love him, stay with him forever. | B．It is dangerous to get close to animals. |
| C．Just keep a beaver as your pet. | D．Save animals, save the world. |
| A．Birch: a lucky beaver | B．Aspen: a special friend |
| C．Andrea Hunt: a skilled worker | D．The CWRS: home to injured animals |
