1 . It was not easy to buy a delicious pineapple more than 10 years ago. The fruits that made it to the UK were green on the outside and , more often than not, hard with an unpleasant taste within. Then in 1966, the Del Monte Gold pineapple produced in Hawaii first hit our shelves.
The new type of pineapple looked more yellowy-gold than green. It was slightly softer on the outside and had a lot of juice inside. But the most important thing about this new type of pineapple was that it was twice as sweet as the hit-and-miss pineapples we had known. In no time, the Del Monte Gold took the market by storm, rapidly becoming the world’s best-selling pineapple variety.
In nutrition it was all good news too. This nice tasting pineapple contained four times more vitamin C than the old green variety. Nutritionists said that it was not only full of vitamins, but also good against some diseases. People were eager to be able to buy this wonderful fruit. The new type of pineapple was selling fast, and the Del Monte Gold pineapple rapidly became a fixture in the shopping basket of the healthy eater.
Seeing the growing market for its winning pineapple, Del Monte tried to keep market to itself. But other fruit companies developed similar pineapples. Del Monte turned to law for help but failed. Those companies argued successfully that Del Monte’s attempts to keep the golden pineapple for itself were just a way to knock them out of the market.
1. Which of the following best describe the new type of pineapple?| A．It is green outside and sweet inside. | B．It is good-looking outside and soft inside. |
| C．It is a little soft outside and sweet inside. | D．It is yellowy-gold outside and hard inside. |
| A．It was used as medicine. | B．It was developed by Del Monte. |
| C．It was less sweet and good for health. | D．It was rich in nutrition and tasted nice. |
| A．Something that is always present. | B．Something that is difficult to get. |
| C．Something that people use as a gift. | D．Something that people don’t like eating. |
| A．Del Monte planned to help the other companies. |
| B．Del Monte tried hard to control the pineapple market. |
| C．Del Monte succeeded in keeping the pineapple for itself. |
| D．Del Monte slowed other companies to develop pineapples. |
2 . “There's no place like home.” This English saying has much truth in it: the best place to be is surrounded by our treasured possessions and our loved ones and with a roof over our head. And for many young adults, it's the only affordable place to stay; somewhere where they can receive first-class service from mum and dad. But this comes at a price!
In some countries, it's quite traditional for people in their late teens and early 20s to live at home with their parents, but in other places, flying the nest to start their own independent life is very desirable. But there's been a growing trend, in the UK at least, for young people to return home to live—or not to leave home at all.
A survey by a price comparison website found that 18% of adult children in the UK said they were moving back home because of debt, compared with 8% last year. More young people had lost their jobs, and others couldn't afford their rent compared with the previous year. So, it's easy to see why they're increasingly becoming home birds.
Emma Craig from Money supermarket says “parents are trying to look after their children more. If your child comes home and you see them struggling to pay their bills, you feel more awkward asking them for rent or to contribute. It tugs (猛拉) on your heartstrings more.”
With parents buying new furniture and upgrading their Wi-Fi for the benefit of their children, it's easy for the returning children to put their feet up and make themselves at home. That's before they learn a home truth—that one day it might be their own kids who'll be checking into the hotel of mum and dad!
1. Which proverb might show the young British's living conditions?| A．A lazy youth, an awful age. | B．East or west, home is best. |
| C．Two heads are better than one. | D．Nothing comes wrong to a hungry man. |
| A．The popularity of living independently. | B．Looking after their old parents. |
| C．The economic problem they face. | D．Their parents' offer to help them out. |
| A．Understandable. | B．Worried. | C．Doubtful. | D．Uncertain. |
| A．Flying the net is becoming popular at present. |
| B．Returning to live with parents comes at a price. |
| C．It's easy for parents to receive their returning children. |
| D．Home birds think it quite natural to live with their parents. |
3 . For children, communication with older adults is important when visits with grandparents are called off because of the pandemic(流行病).
Even before COVID-19 sent older adults into hiding, grandparents and great-grandparents could often seem like strangers to kids. Contact might include gifts of toys meant for someone a little younger, forced piano performances by parents, and really bad jokes. So, coming up with what to say to those out -of-touch people through a camera can be hard. It can be a lot of pressure for kids.
Yet keeping up with older relatives has mental and physical health benefits for everyone. According to studies, older adults who participate in programming between generations show more happiness, better self-care. And a strong relationship between grandparents and grandchildren can lessen depressive tendencies(抑郁倾向) in both adults and kids.
Having an actual relationship with a grandparent can also help children develop qualities that make all-around great citizens. “Children are born to be me, me, me,” says Tina-Anne Praas of SKIP, an Ontario-based organization. “But seeing a person who has experienced life stages pulls them away from that thinking. They can gain some worldly points of view.”
Being close with a grandparent can also help children develop communication skills, especially when they’re able to learn about and compare their experiences with a grandparent’s. And it doesn’t carry the pressure of talking to a parent.
Tina-Anne Praas adds that students who were worried about life after graduation eagerly listen to older adults sharing their own experiences from the same time of life, 50-plus years ago. One student says, “My interactions(互动) with my grandparents encouraged me to become a physician.”
1. What causes much stress for kids?| A．Playing the piano in public. |
| B．Communicating with grandparents online. |
| C．Buying gifts for other younger children. |
| D．Being out of touch with parents for a long time. |
| A．Seeing an experienced person. |
| B．Kids’ own ideas about the world. |
| C．Children’s care of themselves only. |
| D．Keeping contact with grandparents. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Uncertain. | D．Worried. |
| A．listening to stories online |
| B．watching what they do daily |
| C．forming new ideas about themselves |
| D．communicating and interacting with them |
4 . Counseling（咨询）Services
Counseling Services is a place on campus where you can find someone to talk when you're feeling hopeless, lonely, depressed, confused, upset over a relationship, or just anxious. If you or anyone you know has been disturbed by recent events,please come to Counseling Services，which can provide a safe and comfortable environment for all students.
Service Time
Counseling Services will be closed from Monday. December 21st 2020 through the beginning of Spring Term 2021. But we will continue to provide Tele-health services by phone and email Monday through Friday from 8:00 .AM to 4:30 PM. We will be fully closed on the following dates: December 24th. 25th. 30th. 31st. January 1st. 2021.
Appointment
To make an appointment, call （715） S36-552I during our business hours: Monday-Friday S:00 AM-12:00 PM. 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. We are open 8:00 .AM to 6:00 PM on Wednesdays.
What You Can Get
In addition to services on phones or on line. you can now check out our Attacking .Anxiety and Depression Workshop Videos, or see what our office is up to on Instagram and Facebook. We have also been collecting COVID-19 specific online resources.
If you want to know more, please click here.
1. Who may need Counseling Services?| A．Anyone living alone. |
| B．Pupils wanting to live comfortably. |
| C．Students suffering from anxiety. |
| D．Students feeling hopeful. |
| A．Wednesday. | B．Friday. |
| C．Monday. | D．Tuesday |
| A．A textbook. | B．A guidebook. |
| C．A magazine. | D．A website |
The Salton Sea in California is actually a salty inland lake. The level of salt in the lake’s water—what scientists call its salinity—has been increasing steadily for years because the lake’s water is evaporating (蒸发) faster than it is being replaced by rainfall or rivers. If this continues, the lake’s water will soon become so salty that the lake will be unable to support fish and bird populations. The lake would then become a dead zone. Fortunately, there are several ways to change this situation that is threatening the lake’s health.
One choice is direct removal of salt from the lake’s water in special machines. Water from the lake would be forced into the machine and heated. This would cause the water to evaporate into steam, while salt and other materials dissolved (溶解) in the water would be left behind. The steam would then be cooled down and returned to the lake as salt-free water. Gradually, the high salt levels would be reduced and the lake’s overall health would be restored.
Another possible solution is to make the salt level weaker in the lake with water from the ocean. Since water in the Pacific Ocean is 20 percent less salty than water in the lake, bringing ocean water into the lake would decrease the lake’s salinity. The ocean water could be delivered through pipelines or canals.
Yet another solution would be to control the lake’s salinity by building walls to divide the lake into several parts. In the smaller parts, salinity would be allowed to increase. However, in the main and largest part, salinity would be reduced and controlled by directing all the freshwater from small rivers in the area to flow into that main part of the lake.
1. What’s the purpose of solving the salinity of the Salton Sea?| A．To improve the health of the Salton Sea. |
| B．To support the water supply of people in California. |
| C．To keep the environment of the Pacific Ocean. |
| D．To do scientific researches of the Salton Sea. |
| A．cool down the water | B．mix the materials |
| C．heat the lake water | D．divide the lake |
| A．The Pacific Ocean is more salty than water in the lake. |
| B．There’s no conclusion of the best solution to salinity. |
| C．Heating the water would leave salt in water. |
| D．If divided, the largest part of the lake is allowed to keep high salt level. |
| A．The ways to solve salinity of the Salton Sea. |
| B．The debate on solutions to salinity. |
| C．The difficulties of solving salinity of the Salton Sea. |
| D．The reason for the increase of salinity of the Salton Sea. |
6 . It was a hot summer day a few years ago. I had just pulled into the local gas station to fill my tank. After pumping the gas I started to walk inside to pay. That is when I noticed them. Two elderly women were standing back from their car. There was a mixture of shock and fear on their faces. I looked and saw what they saw. Five wasps (黄蜂) had started to build a nest (巢) around their gas cap. My eyes widened. I shared the ladies’ fear.
Wasps had never been friends of mine. Several times they had attacked me while I was working in my backyard giving me stings (叮咬) each time I ran over their ground nests. They are the reason I never work in shorts anymore. The worst time, however, happened when I was a young boy. A friend of mine and me were running and playing in my backyard. I must have stepped on one of their hidden nests again because before I knew it both of us were being chased and stung over and over by the wasps while we ran away screaming. I ran to my Mom with tears in my eyes. She immediately ran a cold bath and put us both in it to lessen the pain before giving us medicine to fight all the poison in our little bodies from the stings.
Still, I knew I couldn’t let fear stop me now. I reached into my back pocket for a paper towel I had there, tore out the nest and stepped on it while the angry wasps buzzed around me. Both of the ladies thanked me and I said, “You’re welcome!” with a smile and a happy heart.
1. What made the author surprised at the gas station?| A．Two women standing back from their car. |
| B．Five wasps building a nest around a gas cap. |
| C．Two ladies filled with fear and shock. |
| D．Wasps flying around at the station. |
| A．To show he has the same feeling as the ladies. |
| B．To explain why he never works in shorts. |
| C．To recall his interesting childhood. |
| D．To tell what to do with the sting of wasps. |
| A．Running away screaming. |
| B．Putting the children into a cold bath. |
| C．Giving medicine to the children. |
| D．Fighting all the poison by herself. |
| A．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| B．Animals are friends of human beings. |
| C．One loving act matters little in our life. |
| D．Don’t let fear keep you from doing what is right. |
7 . Have you ever wondered how your favorite NBA team received its name? All NBA teams have an interesting story or a history behind their names. Some of the names reflect the city's culture or history; others came from previous owners and many were selected through “Name the Team” contests.
For teams like Los Angeles and Utah, the names were not always a reflection of the city. Even though Los Angeles has no lakes, the Laker name has been a city treasure for almost 60 years. Before going to Los Angeles, the team originated(起源) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1948, team officials chose the name for its direct relationship to the state's motto, “The Land of 10,000 Lakes.” The team name went unchanged after moving to Los Angeles in 1960. Because Utah's team originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, it was called the Jazz. In 1974, New Orleans club officials chose the name to represent the city-the “jazz capital of the world”. The name stayed with the team even after finding a new home in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1979.
The Chicago Bull's original owner, Richard Klein, named the team the Bulls. He picked the name because fighting bull is relentless(毫不留情的), and never quits. Klein, who founded the club in 1966, believed these qualities were necessary for a championship team and hoped his Chicago athletes would live up to the team name. This is a belief that Bulls, winner of the six NBA championships, have definitely followed.
In 1967, the Indian Pacers selected their team name in a different way from most other teams. Their decision was based on what they wanted to accomplish in the NBA. Team officials -chose the Pacers name because the organization wanted to set the “pace” in professional basketball.
1. What do the Lakers and the Jazz have in common?| A．They have won many championships. |
| B．They kept their names after moving. |
| C．Their names are linked to geography. |
| D．Their names have similar meanings. |
| A．He believed in the spirit of a fighting bull. |
| B．He was fond of wild animal protection. |
| C．He intended to set pace for basketball. |
| D．He was proud of the six championships. |
| A．A good name brings more than luck. |
| B．NBA teams never change their names. |
| C．Minneapolis is well known for lakes. |
| D．Salt Lake City is the world's Jazz capital. |
| A．Some Successful NBA Teams |
| B．Relations between NBA Teams |
| C．Stories of NBA Legends |
| D．Tales of NBA Team Names |
8 . Saturn, an alligator, aged 84, died at the Moscow Zoo. That in itself made Saturn unusual. In the wild, the normal life span for an alligator is 30 to 50 years. But longevity was the least unusual aspect of Saturn’s life story.
Saturn was born somewhere in Mississippi in 1936 and was shipped to the Berlin Zoo from which he disappeared on November 23rd, 1943, when the zoo was stricken in an air bombing campaign. Of the 16,000 animals once kept in the Berlin Zoo, fewer than 100 survived the war. Saturn was one of them.
When he got freedom in 1943, Saturn was 7 years old. In June 1946, an almost adult Saturn was discovered and captured by British army. The alligator was then turned over to the allied Soviet troops in Berlin who sent him on to Moscow where he would live in the next 74 years.
It was in Moscow that word got around that Saturn was a pet which belonged to Adolf Hitler. This undocumented episode with Hitler made Saturn a public figure.
“Even if he belonged to someone,” the zoo’s announcement of Saturn’s death says, “animals are not involved in war and politics.” Officials at the Moscow Zoo treated him as an honored guest. “We tried to take care of him with great care and attention. He was picky about food.” Even among his keepers, he knew who he liked. He perfectly remembered the trusted keeper.
If a zoo animal can be a historical figure, officials say this one qualifies.
“Saturn is a whole era for us. There is not the slightest exaggeration,” the announcement of his death said. “He came after the victory in WWII — and witnessed its 75th anniversary. It is a great happiness that each of us could look into his eyes, just quietly being near. He saw many of us as children. We hope that we did not disappoint him.”
Death may not end Saturn’s public career. It has been reported that his body will be maintained and placed on show at Moscow’s Charles Darwin Museum of Biology.
1. What does the underlined “That” in Paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Saturn’s death. | B．Saturn’s longevity. |
| C．Saturn’s life story. | D．Saturn’s living conditions. |
| A．Saturn was born and raised in the Berlin Zoo in 1936. |
| B．Saturn survived an air attack and got freedom in 1943. |
| C．Saturn got caught by the allied Soviet troops in 1946. |
| D．Saturn celebrated its 75th birthday and died in 2020. |
| A．He was kept a pet there. | B．He could remember all the keepers. |
| C．He lived a go-as-you-please life. | D．He got well-known as a picky eater. |
| A．His story with Adolf Hitler. | B．His uncommon 84-year lifespan. |
| C．He will be on show after death. | D．He was identified as a history witness. |
| A．To introduce an unusual alligator. | B．To draw visitors to the Museum in Moscow. |
| C．To present the impact of war on poor animals. | D．To show a close bond between man and animals. |
9 . While tea may have originated in Asia, now there are many countries all around the world that have tea woven into their food culture and traditions. This is one of the very special parts of tea as it has a way of connecting people all over the world in different ways and ceremonies that finally all results in a group of people sitting together and enjoying a cup of tea.
Chinese tea culture
Since China is viewed as the birthplace of tea, it is no wonder that Chinese tea culture is rich with history and tradition. Today, Chinese tea continues to be used in Chinese medicine and is commonly consumed on both casual and formal occasions both for personal enjoyment and to represent Chinese cultural traditions.
Japanese tea culture
Japan also has a long history with tea, especially Japanese Matcha, which is a kind of ground green tea that is commonly used in Japanese tea ceremonies and only in recent years became popular in western culture.
British tea culture
When many people think about tea, British tea culture is what comes to mind. A hot cup of English Breakfast or Earl Grey tea serves with a little milk and a biscuit in the afternoon as a pick-me-up for the day. Even though tea may not be native to England, this British tea tradition is still going strong today.
Moroccan tea culture
When you visit Morocco, it is hard to miss the outstanding tea culture that is such a large part of Moroccan hospitality. Before any gathering, negotiation, or sale of a product, a pot of mint tea is always prepared and served among the host and guests. This is an expression of Moroccan tradition and hospitality, which should always be accepted by guests as a sign of appreciation and respect to the host.
1. Why can tea find its way into various food cultures?| A．It originates in Asia. | B．It forms different ceremonies. |
| C．It gets people connected easily. | D．It allows people to sit together. |
| A．They have a long history. | B．They are used in medicine. |
| C．They are famous for ground green tea. | D．They’ve long gained worldwide recognition. |
| A．To get new energy. | B．To bring out respect. |
| C．To show hospitality. | D．To observe a tradition. |
| A．China. | B．Japan. | C．Britain. | D．Morocco. |
| A．Healthy You. | B．Social Insight. | C．Cultural Corner. | D．Itchy Feet Travel. |
10 . Tommy got up very early on the Christmas morning. He looked in every room and wished a Merry Christmas to his family. Then he ran into the street to repeat that to those he might meet. When he returned to his home, his mother gave him two bright, new silver dollars.
His face lighted up as he got them. He had wished for 3 weeks to buy some pretty books that he had seen at the bookstore. He left his home with a light heart, and expected to buy the books. He was running down the street when he saw a poor family.
“I wish you a Merry Christmas.” said Tommy, as he was passing on. The man shook his head.“You are not from this country.” said Tommy. The man again shook his head, for he could not understand or speak his language. He pointed to his mouth and to the children shaking with cold, as if to say, “These little ones have had nothing to eat for a few days.” Tommy understood at once that these poor people were very hungry. He took out his dollars and gave one to the man, and the other to his wife.
They were excited and said something in their language, which doubtless meant,“ thank you so much that we will remember you all the time.”
When Tommy came home, his mother asked what books he bought. He hung his head a moment, but he quickly looked up.“I have bought no books” said he, “instead I gave my money to some poor people, who seemed to be very hungry then.” He went on, “I think I can wait for my books till next Christmas Day.”
“Oh, my dear boy,” said his mother, “here are some books for you, more as a prize for your goodness of heart than as a Christmas gift”
“I saw you give the money cheerfully to the poor German family. It was nice of you, a little boy, to do so. Be always ready to help others and every Christmas of your life will become to you a Merry Christmas.”
1. Tommy expected to _________ when he got the money from his mother.| A．help the poor family | B．buy something to eat |
| C．buy some pretty books | D．learn another language |
| A．He couldn’t understand the boy | B．He wouldn’t accept the money |
| C．He didn’t like the boy’s language | D．He was too cold to say anything |
| A．respect old people | B．be ready to help people |
| C．learn a second language | D．read more books |
| A．got a prize for his kind heart | B．had to buy his books next year |
| C．bought the books at the bookstore | D．got more money from his mother |
