1 . Unique and Weird New Year's Eve Traditions

German

In some parts of Germany, they do lead （铅）pouring. Pour a dollop （团）of lead into cold water and the shape it dorms may be telling you about the year to come. A heart shape, naturally, means love will come your way. A crown predicts wealth and fortune. A star indicates happiness. But if you see a cross, you're almost dead!

Latin America

If you are in Latin America, make sure you have some colourful underpants to ring in the New Year. End — of — the — year partiers put on colourful underwear to ensure certain types of outcomes of the following year, red for love and yellow for success.

Naples, Italy

Neapolitans like throwing things out of the windows, at least on New Year's Eve. Furniture, kitchen machines, grandma.. Well, maybe not the last one. Let's hope not, anyway. This tradition is meant to symbolize an out — with — the — old gesture and get a new beginning of the new year. These days people are a bit more mindful of what they throw into the street below.

Spain

In 1909, winegrowers in the Alicante region of Spain had a brilliant idea: Start and promote an annual tradition that would involve people in having to buy and eat more grapes. Everyone must eat 12 grapes on New Year's Eve to pray for wealth of the coming year. Now, it's a popular custom in Spain. But the problem is that people have to eat a grape for each bell striking at midnight.

1. Germans would like to see the following shapes of lead Except ________.

A．a heart	B．a cross
C．a star	D．a crown

2. What can we know about Neapolitans^’ tradition?

A．They hate cooking at home.

B．They are more careful about what to throw now.

C．They throw their grandma out of the window.

D．They like making gestures in front of the windows.

3. In order to have wealth of the coming year, what do people in Spain do?

A．They buy lots of wine.

B．They pray with 12 grapes.

C．They eat as many grapes as possible.

D．They eat a grape for each bell striking,

2 . A study confirmed that the cracks (裂缝) found on the surface of Mars last year by the Curiosity Rover are evidence of ancient lakes that likely dried up about 3.5 billion years ago. The new study provides further evidence of what the climate on the Red Planet may have been like in its ancient past.

The study, published online in Geology, proved that cracks on Mars’s surface previously photographed by Curiosity are dry mud cracks which could have only been formed when wet ground was exposed to the air. This conclusion was based on an analysis of a single area of rock known as “Old Soaker.”

Researchers used the Curiosity Rover and information from its many tools including the Mars Hand Lens Imager, ChemCam Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectrometer (LIBS) and the Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) to study both the physical appearance and the chemistry of the rock, which is described as no bigger than a coffee table.

The analysis showed that cracks on the rock were formed by exposure to air, rather than heat or the flow of water. In addition, the shape of the cracks suggests it experienced a single drying event on the planet, rather than getting wet and drying over repeatedly. The position of the cracks, closer to the center of the ancient lake rather than alongside it, also suggests that the lake levels changed often, rising and falling over time.

“The mud cracks are exciting because they help us to understand this ancient lake system,” lead study author Nathaniel Stein, a geologist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, said, referring to the ancient lake system on the planet.

Scientists have known of the existence of ancient water on Mars for years. A 2015 NASA study that measured water in Mars’s atmosphere suggested that ancient oceans may once have had more water than our own Arctic Ocean. However, because the planet has less gravity and a thinner atmosphere than Earth, this water evaporated into space over the course of several billion years.

1. What is the Curiosity Rover underlined in Paragraph 1?

A．A research organization.	B．An automatic machine.
C．An ancient remain on the planet.	D．A space telescope on earth.

2. What do we know about the discovery on Mars?

A．The cracks are near the center of an ancient lake.

B．Mars was getting wet and drying more than once.

C．The lake level on Mars seldom changes over time.

D．The cracks on the rocks were formed by water flow.

3. What do we know from the last paragraph?

A．Ancient water still exists on Mars now.

B．The gravity on Mars is stronger than that on Earth.

C．The atmosphere on Earth is thicker than that on Mars.

D．The ancient Arctic Ocean had more water than it has now.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Water on Mars.	B．A trip to Mars.
C．A study on Mars.	D．Cracks on Mars.

3 . Two deer jumped out in front of 16-year-old Amanda Floyd’s car. She stepped on the brake, stopping the car just in time. But later, she started texting. Distracted, Amanda turned left and right, then crashed into another car. Luckily, she wasn’t in a real car — she was in a driving simulator at Roosevelt High School, Ohio, US. “I never really realized that cars make a turn that much,” Amanda, a junior, said. She added that she wouldn’t text while driving anymore.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and State Highway Patrol brought the simulator to the school. They said they wanted to help students learn about the danger of driving while drunk, while texting, or while talking on the phone.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claimed 3,450 1ives in 2016 alone. Experts believe the actual figure is probably higher.

The simulator is basically a computer program. Like many computer games, it was a hit with the students. They lined up and crowded around to watch each other take turns. The simulator has a steering wheel (方向盘) , brake and gas pedal . It is made up of three large computer screens on a table.

Students choose a distraction, such as driving while drunk or texting. They always crash, of course. Then, they are pulled over by the police to be taught the bad results of their driving: how much damage they’ve caused, what their fine is, if anyone died in the accident, and if they’re going to go to prison.

“It teaches how to drive without being on the road,” said Shante Thompson, 16. She had just crashed into a deer.

ODOT spokesman Justin Chesnic said hundreds of kids have gone behind the wheel so far. He said even more have benefited from watching their classmates. “Driving is such a major responsibility, so take it seriously,” he said. “Put away your cellphone. A lot of the accidents out there are because of distracted driving. It can not only change your life, but it can change someone else’s life forever. The results are serious. ”

1. What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 1?

A．Introduce the topic of the text.	B．Show the author’s point of view.
C．Provide some advice for the readers.	D．Offer some background information.

2. Why is the driving simulator project introduced to Roosevelt High School?

A．It tests the students’ ability to stay focused.

B．It gets students to have fun between classes.

C．It teaches students how to deal with traffic accidents.

D．It makes students aware of the dangers of distracted driving.

3. What can we know about the driving simulator?

A．It is connected to the local police station.

B．It is a vehicle with three large computer screens.

C．It attracts the students’ interest as a computer program.

D．It benefits the students who use it more than those who only watch.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Traffic Rules in Ohio, US	B．Danger of Distracted Driving
C．Simulated Driving for Students	D．Advantages of Computer Programs

4 . Sleep, considered a luxury by many, is essential for a person’s health and happiness. Researchers have found that inadequate sleep and tiredness increase a person’s risk of developing severe medical conditions, such as obesity, high blood sugar levels, and heart disease. Now, a new study has found that getting enough sleep is also the key to improving academic performance.

Jeffrey Gross, the university science professor who led the research, was not trying to find the relationship between sleep and grades when he handed out smart watches to the 100 students in his chemistry class. Instead, the professor hoped the wrist-worn devices (装置), which track a person’s physical activity, would show a connection between exercise and academic achievement.

While Gross’s data showed no relationship between these two factors (因素), the study found something surprising. As the researchers were analyzing their data, they noticed that there was a straight-line relationship between the average amount of sleep a student got and their results in the course’s 11 quizzes, three midterm tests, and the final exam.

Even more interesting, it was not enough for students to just head to bed early the night before a test. Instead, it’s the sleep you get during the days when learning is happening that matters most.

The time students went to bed each night was similarly important. Those who went to bed in early hours of the morning performed poorly, even if the total sleep time was the same as a higher- performing student. “When you go to bed matters,” Gross says, “If you go to bed at 10, or 12, or 1 at night, and sleep for seven hours, your performance is the same. But if you go to bed after 2, your performance starts to go down even if you get the same seven hours. So, quantity isn’t everything. ”

Perhaps the most interesting was the huge effect that small differences in sleep patterns had on the students’ grades. The entire course grades for students averaging six and a half hours of sleep each night were 25% lower than students who averaged just one hour more sleep. Similarly, students who changed their bedtime by even one hour each night had grades that dropped 45% below those with more regular bedtimes.

Who knew getting A’s just required some extra ZZZ’s?

1. Based on his original goals, which best describes Professor Gross’s research findings?

A．Complete.	B．Accidental.
C．Convincing.	D．Doubtful.

2. Who were the people taking part in the study?

A．University student athletes.	B．Professor Gross’s own students.
C．Middle school chemistry students.	D．Volunteers from different universities.

3. How did Professor Gross’s team measure academic performance?

A．Making the students wear a special watch.

B．Giving the students regular after-class quizzes.

C．Using students’ university entrance test results.

D．Using the students’ normal test and quiz grades.

4. Based on the study’s findings, who is likely to perform best academically?

A．A person who sleeps for a total of 7 hours each night.

B．A person who sleeps from 11 p. m. to 6 a. m. each day.

C．A person whose normal bedtime changes between 9 p. m. and 12 p. m.

D．A person who has a good night’s sleep the night before an important test.

6 . Thirty years ago, Switzerland-based artist Klaus Littman came across a profound drawing titled The Unending Attraction of Nature. The drawing, by Austrian artist and architect Max Peintner, displays a scene in which nature is so detached from the environment that it becomes just a patch(块), preserved for entertainment.

“When I first saw the pencil drawing, I was fascinated. I knew that one day this work would be the starting point for a major art project in public space,” says Littmann.

Now, decades later, Littmann has fulfilled the vision with the installation(艺术装置) of FOR FOREST: The Unending Attraction of Nature. Making the lines between art, architecture and nature unclear, the installation sets a native central European forest in the midst of 30, 000 person Worthersee football Stadium in Klagenfurt. With nearly 300 trees planted, some weighing up to six tons each, it's Austria's largest public art installation to date.

In the face of climate crisis and deforestation, FOR FOREST comes with a more pressing urgency. As explained in a statement about the installation, “In support of today s most pressing issues on climate change and deforestation, FOR FOREST aims to challenge our view of nature and question its future. It seeks to become a memorial, reminding us that nature, which we so often take for granted, may someday only be found in special space, as is already the case with animals in zoos.”

The actual creation of the manmade forest was overseen by landscape architect Enzo Enea and his company, Enea Landscape Architecture, which includes a range of species in it. It was opened on September 8 and one can imagine it already attracting surprised and happy creatures to the field.

However, the installation will close on October 27. In a short video about the work, Littman says his objective is never to make something that will last forever; rather, he says, “My objective is for this picture to remain in people's head for a lifetime.”

1. Why is the painting The Unending Attraction of Nature mentioned?

A．To tell the source of Littmann's inspiration.	B．To list an example of the nature- themed art,
C．To describe Littmann's impression of nature,	D．To show Littmann's fine taste in modern art.

2. Why is FOR FOREST significant?

A．It has greatly promoted local tourism.	B．It is Austria's greenest artistic work.
C．It has preserved various rare plants.	D．It warns us of environmental issues.

3. What can be known about the installation?

A．It is a waste of time.

B．It is temporary.

C．It is of little popularity.

D．It is unrealistic.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A living artwork in a large stadium.	B．An environment-friendly painting.
C．A permanent private art installation.	D．An artificial forest for entertainment.

7 . Teenagers who start the school day really early are likely to weigh slightly more than those who start later. That's the finding of a new study of nearly 30,000 Canadians between the ages of 10 and 18.

Getting too little sleep can put kids at risk for a number of problems. Sleepy teens are more likely to be overweight, to have trouble concentrating and to struggle in school. Genevieve Gariepy, who works at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, wanted to know how earlier school start times night be connected with weight.

"Overweight in teenagers is a big problem in North America," she says. The number of overweight kids has grown over the past 30 years. About one in three American and Canadian teens are now overweight. Kids who don't sleep enough may be at higher risk. So Gariepy decided to focus on the impact of school start times.

Her team collected start times for 362 Canadian schools. Then they asked students at those schools to give their height and weight. In all, they collected data from nearly 30,000 10-to 18-year-olds. Among 6th-to 10th-graders, those who started school earlier were likely to be slightly heavier for their height. Every 10-minute delay in school start time was connected, on average, with a slightly lower weight among students who were the same sex, age and height. However, the difference is slight. Healthy eating and getting enough exercise will play a bigger role in keeping a healthy weight.

Because the study compared kids who already started school at different times of day, it's not clear that changing school start time would help heavier kids lose weight. To know for sure, researchers would want to compare the same kids before and after changing to a later school start time.

Still, the study is a good start, says Cora Collette Bruener, a doctor at Seattle Children's Hospital in Washington. The findings add to a growing pile of evidence that later school start times might be better for teen health, she says.

1. What is the finding of the new study?

A．More and more teens are growing overweight.

B．Healthy diets and enough exercise help reduce weight.

C．Teens who start school earlier are a little overweight.

D．Teens who start school earlier do not perform well.

2. To keep a healthy weight, teenagers need______________.

A．much sleep	B．earlier school start time
C．less sleep	D．a balanced diet and enough exercise

3. How did Gariepy's team get their findings?

A．By recording the teens' weight.

B．By checking the teens' physical health.

C．By comparing different sets of data.

D．By measuring the teens' height.

4. What does Cora Collette Bruener think of the study?

A．It has inspiring value.	B．It lacks further support.
C．It needs improving	D．It is well designed.

8 . Experiencing hardship early in life is awful. And worse, it can mean a difficult road ahead. Living a life without any stress seems like a much better alternative. But it isn't necessarily a good thing, research is now showing. A small amount of stress may actually help kids build resilience, which is the ability to bounce back after a bad experience.

In one 2010 study, researchers wanted to understand how stress affects resilience. They surveyed 2, 398 adults in the United States. Participants answered questions about their mental health and overall health. And they indicated if they had experienced varying levels of adversity. The survey showed adults who faced some adversity reported fewer symptoms of psychological problems than those who had experienced heavy adversity. They also performed better than those who had sailed through childhood with few hard times.

David Lyons is a professor at Stanford University in California His team reported evidence for this in a November 2019 paper in Scientific Reports . The team studied small squirrel monkeys. These monkeys experienced varying “doses” of stress. “No stress” monkeys enjoyed a typical life in the lab: They were housed in a cage with their mother and siblings and there was plenty of water and food. A second group faced a mild stressor: They spent an hour a day away from their siblings on 10 straight days. The stress dose went up for a third group where these monkeys had daily separation from siblings and no access to mother during that hour. Two more groups experienced daily separation from both their mother and siblings.

Ten weeks later, each monkey was moved with its mother to an unfamiliar cage. The researchers assessed the monkeys' willingness to let go of mother and explore the new digs On the whole, monkeys that faced one or two stressors(groups2 and 3) depend less o their mothers than those in the last two groups. They also more readily explored their new surroundings In general, they showed less anxiety than both the no stress and high stress groups.

“Growing up healthy means learning how to deal with mild challenges and changes,” Lyons concludes.

1. What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 1 refer to?

A．Choosing a difficult road.	B．Leading a stress free life.
C．Experiencing hardship early.	D．Bouncing back after failing

2. What did the 2010 study indicate?

A．Heavy adversity can harm health.	B．Childhood adversity is unnecessary.
C．People with more stress are stronger.	D．Adults have much more mental stress.

3. What did David Lyons's team do in their research?

A．They assessed monkeys' mental health.	B．They set small monkeys free in nature.
C．They designed different levels of stress.	D．They divided monkeys into two groups.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Resilience Comes From Nothing but Life Stress

B．Mild Stress May Help Children Build Resilience

C．Young People Have Trouble Handling Challenges

D．Growing Up Healthy Means Adapting to Changes

9 . Recommended Movies on Netflix

Moonlight
Duration(时长): 110 mins
Director: Barry Jenkins
Cast: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes

What happens to the kids who don't quite fit in? They become adults who don't quite fit in—but the gift of Barry Jenkins's fantastic story is its unspoken confirmation that, even in a hard world, there's a place for everyone.

Marriage Story
Duration: 136 mins
Director: Noah Baumbach
Cast: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern

Last year's finest film is already on the streaming service- a reflection of Netflix's excellent taste in original projects. Starring a never better Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, the movie is director Noah Baumbach's successful try on talking about divorce,

The Boys in the Band
Duration: 121 mins
Director: Joe Mantello
Cast: Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells

Joe Mantello takes the directing chair on this film adaptation of the 1968 play with the same name. This is actually the second version of the movie- the first one was released in 1970. The material is extremely heavy, and the acting will absolutely break your heart.

Back to the Future
Duration: 116 mins
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson

Teenager Marty McFly(Michael J. Fox) gets sent back in time to 1955 from 1985 thanks to a time traveling De-Lorean car built by the one and only Doctor Emmett “Doe” Brown(Christopher Lloyd). The film has been delighting most people even over three decades since its first release. You can also find the following series(Back to the Future Part Ⅱ and Back to the Future Part Ⅲ) on the streaming platform.

1. Whose film lasts the longest?

A．Barry Jenkins's.

B．Joe Mantello's.

C．Noah Baumbach's.

D．Robert Zemeckis's.

2. What makes The Boys in the Band worth watching?

A．The adventure stories.	B．The original creativity.
C．The impressive acting.	D．The light material.

3. What can we know about Back to the Future?

A．It tells kids how to fit in with society.	B．It is the second version of the movie.
C．It focuses on predictions about the future.	D．It has been enjoying great popularity.

10 . If you wear glasses, chances are you are smarter. Research published in the famous British journal Nature Communications has found that people who displayed higher levels of intelligence were almost 30 percent more likely to wear glasses.

The scientists studied the genes of thousands of people between the ages of 16 and 102. The study showed intelligence can be connected to physical characteristics. One characteristic was eyesight. In out of 10 people who were more intelligent, there was a higher chance they needed glasses. Scientists also said being smarter has other benefits. It is connected to better health.

It is important to remember these are links which are not proven causes. Scientists call this correlation. Just because something is linked with something else does not mean one of those things caused the other. And it’s worth noting that what constitutes intelligence is subjective and can be difficult, if not impossible, to measure.

Forget genes though. Plenty of proof shows wearing glasses makes people think you are more intelligent, even if you do not need glasses. A number of studies have found people who wear glasses are seen as smarter, hard-working and honest. Many lawyers use this idea to help win their cases. Lawyer Harvey Solves explained this. Glasses often their appearance. He said sometimes there has been a huge amount of evidence showing that the clients he was defending broke the law. He had them wear glasses and they weren’t found guilty.

Glasses are also used to show someone is intelligent in movies and on TV Ideas about people who wear glasses have begun to shift. People who do not need glasses sometimes wear them for fashion only. They want to look worldly or cool. But not everyone is impressed by this idea, though. GQ magazine said people who wear glasses for fashion are trying too hard to look smart and cool. However that hasn’t stopped many famous people from happily wearing glasses even if they do not need them. Justin Bieber is just one high-profile fan of fashion glasses.

1. What does the new study show?

A．Wearing glasses is related to higher IQ.

B．Wearing glasses can make people clever.

C．People wearing glasses are healthier.

D．People wearing glasses are smarter

2. What does the underlined word in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Shift.

B．Cause.

C．Consequence.

D．Connection.

3. Some lawyers ask their clients to wear glasses in court because it can          .

A．mislead the witnesses	B．highlight clients’ qualities
C．create a moral image	D．prove the clients’ innocence

4. What is people’s attitude towards those who wear glasses for fashion?

A．Mixed.

B．Supportive.

C．Negative.

D．Unconcerned.