1 . Our school owned a boat named Jolie Brise. It was one of the most famous tall ships in the world and three times winner of the Fastnet Race. The boat was unusual: especially for a remote grammar school in Wiltshire, about as far away from the sea as it can get in England. Obviously, such a site didn't match its fame.
Mr Parish had originally intended to join the Royal Navy but ended up as a teacher at our school. Some pupils guessed that he still felt the call of the ocean-perhaps because his lessons were almost entirely devoted to navigation(航海). They argued that it was deeply unfair to learn about navigation but never actually go to sea. Then Mr. Parish, seeing a bunch of young people prepared to crew the boat, allowed them to sail her in return for working on the boat. And that was the beginning of the school sailing club.
By the time I arrived, the sailing club had grown. At weekends, we would work on her all day, cleaning and painting her, and collapse into sleeping bags on the floor at night. Then came the big day when a school sailing trip was announced. Its destination was Saint-Malo. But it also meant that we had to refit the ship by removing every piece of ballast(压舱物)and replacing the bilge water(底舱污水)before we were allowed to sail.
And I did learn the ropes on that school trip. I learned how to operate a ship in the high waves. I learned the meaning of teamwork and became a better team player. I also learned that the best fish is the one that you have caught and cooked yourself from a boat that you have rebuilt and sailed yourself.
1. What was unusual about the boat Jolie Brise?| A．It was in a perfect condition. |
| B．Its lawful owner was Mr. Parish. |
| C．It won glory for the Royal Navy. |
| D．Its location wasn't as famous as it was. |
| A．The crew were selected. |
| B．The boat needed workers. |
| C．Mr. Parish tried to explore the sea. |
| D．Students asked to practice navigation. |
| A．The club’s permission. |
| B．Mr. Parish’s sailing experience. |
| C．The students’ preparing the ship for it. |
| D．The school’s offering financial support. |
| A．Learn to cook. |
| B．Master useful skills. |
| C．Ensure sailing safety. |
| D．Use ropes properly. |
2 . The Tanzania Conference
The Tanzania Conference will be held in order to create direct communication between the conservation (保护) workers. It is sponsored by the Rufford Small Grants (RSG), a group that funds nature conservation projects across the developing world.
This conference, chaired by Hudson Laizer, will bring 49 people from 7 countries.
Two rounds of Experience Sharing Presentations will be held, each consisting of 4 speeches.
Feature Presentations:
Lucas Kwiyega, Tanzania
His presentation will focus on his second RSG project of taking new measures to prevent illegal killing of lions in Western Tanzania.
Tutilo Mudumba, Uganda
He will talk about how he uses the RSG to collect animal trap and makes these wires into marketable goods.
Daniel Niyonsaba, Rwanda
He will share his third RSG research project findings which focus on why the elephants are dying out in National Park of Rwanda.
Evarastus Obura, Kenya
He will present his project entitled “Understanding the decline of threatened antelopes: using barcoding (条形码) to measure the impact of damaged wetland”.
1. What is the aim of the conference?| A．To raise money. |
| B．To set up a project. |
| C．To connect conservationists. |
| D．To look for conservationists. |
| A．8. | B．4. | C．49. | D．7. |
| A．Mr. Kwiyega. | B．Mr. Mudumba. |
| C．Mr. Niyonsaba. | D．Mr. Obura. |
3 . Amanda Kofoeds had found a strange lump in her arm one day and visited a doctor at a friend's urging. During this time, she was enrolled in school for education and was currently uninsured due to the expense. She planned to save money so she could get on her husband' s insurance and then seek medical treatment for the cancer.
Her friends and family didn't want her to postpone her treatment due to the expense. They took matters into their own hands and started a GoFundMe campaign. The friend came up with the creative idea to spread the word and invite family, friends, and strangers who wanted to help to participate in a donation flash mob (快闪行动).The event started an outpouring of enormous generosity from the local community.
Amanda and her husband Clint teared up as the crowd passed by and the donations poured in. 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.
In the time since, Amanda has enrolled in an insurance plan and has finished chemotherapy. 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 in education. She is now a teacher. She said the experience motivated her to instill (灌输) the value of charity in her children. 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.
The couple said they feel blessed by the strong support. PassItOn wants to celebrate those heroes during the family's darkest time. These individuals perfectly demonstrate the value of community. It is with the help of their generosity that the family is now happy, healthy and whole.
1. Why did Amanda Kofoeds postpone her treatment?| A．She was admitted to a school. |
| B．Her family couldn't afford the medical cost. |
| C．No good doctors could treat her cancer. |
| D．Her friends and family refused to assist her. |
| A．They started a donation flash mob. |
| B．They founded a community school. |
| C．They supported her through local hospitals. |
| D．They fought for assistance from the whole country. |
| A．Guilty. | B．Satisfied. | C．Anxious. | D．Grateful. |
| A．Hard work pays off. |
| B．The value of charity is great. |
| C．Education is the key to success. |
| D．A friend is never known till a man has need. |
4 . While I was growing up, I often heard my teachers say, “Oh, Tina is gifted in algebra.” While watching the Olympics, my parents would say, “These gymnasts are born with such ability.” Statements like these made me believe people were born with certain talents and if they didn't have a particular one at birth, then they never would. Therefore, I rarely focused on algebra. Nobody told me that if you keep trying and trying, one day a difficult task will seem easy.
Actually, I learnt this from my young daughter, Samaya. One day, I was finishing some paperwork and I said, “Oh no, how could I have made that mistake!” Samaya instantly said, “Mum, don't worry. Mistakes make your brain grow bigger.”
Actually, we all need to be reminded that mistakes or failures are just fine and that they are a huge part of growth and success. However, the regular belief is the opposite. We must correct this with our children. We must encourage them to make mistakes because that means they are trying out new ideas.
Billionaire Sara Blakely, founder of the shapewear business Spanx, has seen many failures. She made a living by selling fax machines for seven years. Knocking on many doors and making a lot of mistakes was a journey she calls educational. Sara Blakely owes her risk-taking skills to the weekend talk she had with her father.
As a child, her father would ask her the same question every weekend. "What did you fail at this week, Sara?" He did not care how high her scores were. He wanted to know what she had tried but failed at. When she told him about her failures and mistakes, he would give her a high five. He was reprogramming her mind to believe that mistakes and failures are fine.
So go ahead and ask yourself and your children, “What did we fail at this week?”
1. What discouraged the author from efforts in algebra?| A．She wasn't interested in it. | B．She thought she was not gifted. |
| C．She thought it was useless. | D．She was not allowed to learn it. |
| A．Keep trying is necessary. | B．Failure is a path to success. |
| C．Mistakes are not acceptable. | D．Encouragement is significant. |
| A．To rebuild her mindset. | B．To keep her from failures. |
| C．To know what she hadn't tried. | D．To prevent her getting high scores. |
| A．A Secret to Success | B．A Method of Education |
| C．The Magic of Mistakes | D．The Power of a Fixed Mindset |
5 . Have you ever wondered if you see the same colours as other people? Most people know what blue is when they see it. They call it "blue” because they were taught the word and connected it with what they saw. But how do you know what you see as blue isn't someone else's red?
The ability to perceive （感知）different colours is up to receptors （接受器）in our eyes. Light waves hit these receptors and they react depending on which colour the light is, sending signals to the brain. The brain then reads these signals to determine which colour light the eyes are receiving.
Some people's receptors are more developed than others. The inability of the receptor to feel the light waves correctly means that some people cannot tell the differences between similar colours. Those with more developed receptors can see more colours. We sometimes hear people having an argument about whether something is dark blue or black. It might be because one person has stronger receptors to feel the light than another.
In the past, most scientists would argue that everyone saw colours in the same way. However, research was conducted on monkeys, in which their receptors were changed. This enabled them to see more colours than usual. Normally monkeys can only see blue and green, but the change allowed them to see red. Their brains automatically got used to new colours. This suggests that our brains may find new colors of the things we see. Colours could be a very personal experience , unique to everyone.
So, the next time you talk about your favourite colour, just remember if yours is blue and your friend says red, you two might actually be thinking about the same colour. What if everyone in the world has the same favourite colour, but just calls it different names?
1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．How we perceive colours. |
| B．The inability to see colours. |
| C．What the brain does with signals. |
| D．The connection between receptors and light waves. |
| A．Some people cannot feel colours with their developed receptors. |
| B．The more light people feel, the weaker receptors they have. |
| C．People with poor receptors usually have colour weakness. |
| D．People who have strong receptors can see dark blue. |
| A．To test the monkeys with colours. |
| B．To develop the receptors of humans. |
| C．To enable monkeys to find more colors. |
| D．To prove everyone sees colours in a different way. |
| A．A film review. | B．A science magazine. |
| C．An art journal. | D．A business newspaper. |
6 . Vegetarian foods are not equally healthy, according to a new research at ESC Congress 2020. Dr. Matina said, “This finding was more clear in women. A recent research has shown that women tend to eat more plant-based foods and less animal-based products than men. But our study suggests this does not ensure healthier food choices and in turn better health condition.
Most studies see plant-based diets simply as "vegetarian" or “low in meat”, thus treating all plant foods as equal. However, this study examined the type of plant-based foods eaten, in addition to the overall amount. Healthy plant-based products were made up of fruits, vegetables and coffee while unhealthy plant-based products included juices, potatoes and any kind of sweets.
The study examined the link between the quantity（数量）and quality of plant-based foods and heart health over a 10-year period. In 2011, the study selected 146 fat adults living in Athens with normal blood pressure and blood sugar. Diet was studied using a questionnaire about usual habits in the year. It listed 156 foods and drinks commonly had in Greece. Within ten years, nearly half of these fat participants developed high blood pressure and high blood sugar, though most of them preferred plant-based foods. The rest who ate quality plant- based foods, however , didn't have these health problems.
Regarding the quality of plant-based foods, healthier choices were linked with keeping normal blood pressure and blood sugar. On the contrary, eating unhealthy plant-based foods was connected with developing high blood pressure and high blood sugar. These relationships were stronger in women compared to men.
1. What did Dr. Matina say about the study?| A．Vegetarian foods are unhealthy. |
| B．Men tend to choose healthier foods. |
| C．Women tend to eat less plant-based foods. |
| D．Not all plant-based foods can keep you fit. |
| A．Most of them living in Greece ate fatty foods. |
| B．They all had low blood pressure and blood sugar. |
| C．About half of them made healthier food choices. |
| D．Men were more likely to become worse in health condition. |
| A．It can help keep good health. |
| B．It has nothing to do with health. |
| C．It only benefits women's health. |
| D．It can make women stronger than men. |
| A．Are All Vegetarian Diets Healthy? |
| B．A Balanced Diet Is Good for Your Health |
| C．Plant-based Foods or Animal-based Products? |
| D．The More Vegetarian Foods You Eat, the Healthier You Are |
7 . If social distancing is driving you a little crazy, here are four world's most beautiful natural pools for you to get relaxed.
Devil's Pool
Victoria Falls in southeastern Africa measures 108 metres tall and more than 1676 metres wide. But for some brave people, the top of the Falls, known as Devil's Pool, is just another swimming hole. With water levels at their lowest from September to December, large numbers of swimmers adventure into the pool.
Barton Springs Pool
Barton Springs Pool in Austin, U. S. , covers three acres and maintains a temperature of about 20 degrees year-round. Admission to the 5-metre deep pool ranges from midMarch until the end of September. For local residents （居民）,the cost is $ 3 for adults and $ 1 for kids under 8 （non-residents pay $ 8 for adults and $ 3 for kids under 8）.
Bondi Icebergs Public Pool
A 15-minute drive from Sydney's CBD sits the Bondi Baths at Bondi Icebergs. The historic 50-metre public saltwater pool has been around for more than a century and features a small beach, where you can enjoy the sunshine. The entrance cost （ $ 7 for adults； $ 5 for kids） isn't much considering the million-dollar view.
Dudu Blue Lagoon
Want to float （漂浮）in a quiet 30-metre-deep freshwater pool? Then check out Dudu Blue Lagoon on the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic. The lagoon also features underwater caves, making it a popular diving destination.
1. When is a good time to swim in Devil's Pool?| A．March. | B．June. | C．August. | D．October. |
| A．$7. | B．$9. | C．$19, | D．$24. |
| A．Sunbathe on the beach. | B．Float in a saltwater pool. |
| C．Have a good view of the waterfall. | D．Dive into the underwater caves. |
8 . Nothing is “new and improved” anymore. It's all about the plus.
“Something exciting is happening in March,” flowed out an email from CBS All Access, alerting subscribers that the streaming service is being renamed Paramount + . The company seeks to keep pace with Apple TV+, ESPN +, Disney +, BET +, AMC + and others.
Video services didn't start this. The Apple II + came out in 1979 and Crest + toothpaste in 2002, But TV streaming companies now apparently must be branded plus, for fear that consumers perceive their offerings as a minus. Much of this has to do with justifying a monthly charge for television-which used to be free. A more complete name would be “Paramount + a Bill.”
Hulu used to have a "plus" service, which was a misnomer since what customers got with it was the absence of ads. "We've had fun with our old friend Plus, the company explained in a 2015 email, “but it's time to move on. We just wanted to let you know that we are retiring the Hulu Plus name. From now on, we will just be known as Hulu. No Plus.
Yet other streaming services have been drawn to the plus, thanks in large part to the success of Disney+, which added 86 million subscribers during its first year. Disney also operates ESPN + and , outside the U. S. ,Star + .
A funny thing about marketing: A plus is always a plus but a minus is never a minus—even though more products are notable for what they cut down. Budweiser wouldn't call its lower- calorie beer Bud-. There are fat-free potato chips and cookies, but Pringles- or Oreos- is abandoned.
Americans have a fondness for plus-size portions, plus-size clothing and media that have plus signs in their names. Mercifully, the plus thing hasn't yet reached more important aspects of our lives.
1. What does the underlined word "this" in paragraph 3 refer to?| A．Apple service. | B．Video service. | C．Plus service. | D．Streaming service. |
| A．Hulu has no ads put in. | B．Hulu no longer follows suit. |
| C．Hulu suffered a great loss. | D．Hulu cheated its subscribers. |
| A．To avoid misunderstandings | B．To improve the beer's quality. |
| C．To keep pace with other companies. | D．To protect the consumers' interests. |
| A．Objective. | B．Critical. | C．Tolerant. | D．Skeptical. |
9 . There is such a group of singers in the western musical circle at present, who enter the business as online celebrities (名人)and then become top idols and giant stars globally. They become popular for their videos online and then they are discovered by talent agents and gradually cause huge storms in the musical circle. Troye Sivan, a singer who is nicknamed “chuoye”, became popular on YouTube from an early age.
As a popular video sharing website, YouTube has given rise to plenty of stars, creating a new celebrity culture. Providing a platform where anyone can post videos, YouTube presents the opportunity for anyone to achieve fame by simply uploading a short video. Sivan has been making YouTube videos since he was 12 to show his singing talent. In the digital age, Sivan has already developed large devoted audience online and his touching video blogs have earned him extreme popularity.
A survey has showed that US teenagers are more attracted to YouTube stars, which is a surprising result. YouTube stars are judged to be more attractive, outstanding and related than traditional stars. Looking at the survey comments and feedback, teens enjoy a close and real experience with YouTube celebrities, who aren't carefully directed by design. Teens also say they appreciate YouTube stars, sense of humor and risk-taking spirit, which are often limited by Hollywood stars. As a result, singers who make their first show in the traditional way no longer have a complete advantage in front of the audience. Online platforms open up a lot of doors for people. They become the best place to be discovered.
1. Why is Troye Sivan mentioned in Paragraph 1?| A．To give an example for the topic. |
| B．To uncover the secret of success online. |
| C．To add more background information. |
| D．To introduce the topic of the passage. |
| A．Learning to sing at an early age. |
| B．Developing lots of fans online. |
| C．Sharing his family stories online. |
| D．Starting a different music style. |
| A．They are more firmly connected with teens. |
| B．They are more hardworking than traditional stars. |
| C．They are often carefully designed. |
| D．They are discovered in a traditional way. |
| A．Worried. | B．Regretful. | C．Supportive. | D．Doubtful. |
10 . As autumn goes about its business of steadily ruining the garden, ready for the winter shut down, it's time for us to start planning some spring colour.
At the top of the list marked "easy”, we have bulb planting, with the ever popular tulip（郁金香）being the flower we will turn to most frequently. There really aren't many requirements in special gardening skills ---but to maximise your successes, there are a few simple guidelines for you.
When to plant
You'd better plant your tulip bulbs between September and November. You'll know this because your local garden center is likely to have cleared space for large buckets loaded with bulbs promising a huge variety of colourful blooms.
Choosing your site
Tulips look best in borders or containers, planted with greenery neighbors. As a couple of tulips tend to have a lost and lonely look to them, so either give them a patch where you can create an oasis of colour, or combine them with an area of other plants where their cheerful blooms will brighten the scene.
Caring for your tulips
The bulbs in your borders won't need much attention, except watering if the ground dries out, which rarely happens during a tulip's lifetime. For extra healthy plants, give them the occasional feed when they start growing. Container grown tulips will almost certainly need watering. And you'll need to move them into a shelter to avoid too much water if there are signs that they're already getting saturated with rain.
1. Why does the author recommend tulip in the passage?| A．It is the only sign of spring colour. |
| B．It is easy to grow and keep. |
| C．It is the biggest gardening success. |
| D．It can bloom throughout the winter. |
| A．Planting them alone. |
| B．Growing them in special containers. |
| C．Watering them when necessary. |
| D．Keeping them off longtime sunlight. |
| A．very clean | B．completely wet |
| C．much taller | D．a little dry |
