1 . More and more shoppers are buying things online these days, allowing them to avoid aggressive salespeople and long lines at checkout counters. In spite of online convenience, however, there are some items—like clothes—that customers prefer to examine before buying. In light of this, two companies are Ending ways to modernize stores and bridge the gap between online and in-store retail.
Hointer, a software company that also sells designer jeans, has created a fast and painless shopping experience for its customers. Shoppers walk into a Hointer store and select one of the many pairs of jeans hanging down from bars. Then they point their smartphones at the tag and activate the Hointer app, after which they select the size and press “try on” The app then directs them to a specific dressing room. German-made robots search for the desired jeans and deliver them through a chute to the dressing room in about 30 seconds. Immediately after unwanted pairs of jeans are dropped through another chute, the “outbox”, they disappear from the list in the app.
Purchases at Hointer are made with a swipe of a credit card. And a salesperson is optional. This allows Hointer to hire fewer people and focus on their goal: developing technology that supports a retail revolution.
Men's clothing retailer Bonobos has come up with a more personalized shopping experience. Although it is in fact an online retailer, Bonobos has decided to open a handful of stores called Guide shops. Shoppers make an appointment online before arriving at a Guideship, where they receive one-on-one attention from a fitting guide. Because these shops have limited stocks, shoppers aren't able to take home the clothes they select. But guides help shoppers make online purchases before they leave, after which the items will be delivered to customers in one or two days. Following the purchase, the Bonobos customer service database keeps a record of each shopper's size, making future online purchases easier.
While Hointer focuses on convenience, Bonobos Guide shops focus on customer service. But both efforts have one thing in common: giving clothing retailers a new look for the 21st century.
1. The two companies are finding ways to modernize their stores because ______.| A．online shopping is losing its popularity |
| B．in-store retail makes higher profits |
| C．people's demand for in-store shopping still exists |
| D．store sales keep declining without high technology |
| A．It's a software company as well as a jean producer. |
| B．Shoppers can turn to a salesperson when necessary in Hointer. |
| C．The Hointer app makes clothes shopping more time-consuming. |
| D．Shoppers are welcomed by German-made robots in Hointer. |
| A．he needs to make an appointment online in advance |
| B．he has to make online purchases in the store |
| C．he should help create the customer service database |
| D．he can receive one-on-one attention from a guide |
| A．High Technology in Stores | B．Advantages of In-store Shopping |
| C．Competition between Two Companies | D．New Experience of Shopping for Clothes |
2 . The baobab tree is sometimes called “the Tree of Life." Baobabs grow in Africa and Australia. They are the most famous trees in Africa. Baobabs have very thick, wide trunks （树干）.Often the trunks have large empty spaces inside.
In South Africa, one famous tree had a hole so large that someone built a bar inside it. People could sit inside and order drinks. That tree was known as the Sunland Baobab. It was more than 1,000 years old. It was the biggest baobab in Africa. But in 2017 it fell down. In 2016, another famous baobab fell down and died. It was called the Chapman tree in Botswana.
A recent study shows that the problem is widespread. Adrian Patrut and his team started studying the baobabs in 2005.The team found bad news. In the past 12 years, “nine of the thirteen oldest and five of the six largest have died,” the report found. Sometimes parts of the tree didn't die. But the “oldest parts” did.
Experts aren't sure what is causing the baobabs to die. They think it may be related to climate change. But more research is needed to prove it.
The largest trees need more water and food than smaller baobabs. Patrut thinks that is what puts them at greater danger. More heat and less rainfall could have a big influence on the trees.
In Zimbabwe a fungus（真菌）turns baobabs black before they die. But Patrut's study didn't find signs of a widespread disease. No matter the cause, the loss is huge.
Baobabs are amazing. They are a major food source for people. The trees grow white flowers that open at night. Bats spread the pollen（花粉）and help the trees grow fruit. Their white fruit is called monkey bread. People use it as food and to make cool drinks. People make paper, cloth, and even drugs from baobab bark（树皮）.
1. What do we know about the Sunland Baobab?| A．It was the biggest baobab in Australia. |
| B．It was the oldest tree in the world. |
| C．It fell down in 2016 in Botswana. |
| D．It once had a bar inside it |
| A．More baobabs are dying, |
| B．Old baobabs are going to disappear. |
| C．Trees worldwide have common problems. |
| D．Trees' living environment is getting worse. |
| A．are certain human activities put them in danger |
| B．are sure it is because of climate change |
| C．have proved disease is the main cause |
| D．need to carry out more studies |
| A．The great uses of baobab trees |
| B．The danger of losing baobab trees. |
| C．How baobab trees help other plants |
| D．The importance of protecting the environment. |
3 . Yesterday, the head of the US federal public health agency said it's on its highest warning level of the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. More than 930 people are thought to have died from the virus so far in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria.
Ebola can be deadly in up to 90% of cases, depending on the type. The virus is spread through direct contact with body fluids from an infected person. There is currently no known cure or vaccine for the virus.
The reason why the market hasn't produced a drug to battle Ebola is that there are not many people who die from this disease. In the history of this disease, there have been probably fewer than 3,000 known deaths since 1976, among which only one was not in Africa. Besides, most drug companies are interested in drugs that will treat millions of people since it costs hundreds of millions of dollars to develop a drug. However, the U.S. government got interested in this because of its concerns about whether Ebola could actually end up as a terrorist agent. The government think it would be better if they develop some drugs in their back pocket, should somebody try to use this virus to attack people.
Although there hasn't been an effective cure for Ebola, at present there are three different methods to treating this disease. The first is very similar to other anti-viral drugs that are already at the market and this approach is being developed by a company called BioCryst Pharmaceuticals. The second one uses a completely different method, and it uses genetic material that can actually block the viruses’ own genetic material. This is a kind of far out idea and it's being developed by a Canadian company called Tekmira. And the third is a cocktail treatment of antibodies. This was the drug given to the two sick Americans. And it now also has been given to a Spanish minister who got sick while in West Africa.
At the current trend, within another few weeks, there will have been more cases in this outbreak than in all previous recognized outbreaks of Ebola put together. The governments in several countries have now introduced a number of measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.
1. Why is American government interested in developing a cure for Ebola?| A．Because they believe it can bring good profits. |
| B．Because they foresee Ebola may spread in the U. S. |
| C．Because they think it can help millions of people. |
| D．Because they find Ebola might be used as a terrorist tool. |
| A．Hugging. | B．Kissing on the face. |
| C．Talking to a patient. | D．Sharing injection needles. |
| A．the treatment of Tekmira | B．the new vaccine for the virus |
| C．the cocktail treatment of antibodies | D．the drugs produced by BioCryst Pharmaceuticals |
| A．The cases of former Ebola outbreaks. | B．The importance of preventing Ebola. |
| C．The action taken by some governments. | D．More examples of future outbreaks. |
4 . Good tool design is important in the prevention of overuse injuries. Well-designed tools and equipment will require less force to operate them and prevent awkward(别扭的)hand positions. They will allow the worker to keep the elbows(肘)next to the body to prevent damage to the shoulder and arm.
Overuse injuries can therefore be prevented or reduced if the employer provides, and workers use:
●power tools rather than having to use muscle power
●tools with specially designed handles that allow the wrist to keep straight (See figure 1). This means that hands and wrists are kept in the same position as they would be if they were hanging relaxed at a person’s side
Figure1. Bend the tool, not the wrist
●tools with handles that can be held comfortably by the whole hand. This means having a selection of sizes-remember that tools that provide a comfortable firm hold for a person with a very large hand may be of no use for someone with a very small hand. This is a particularly important consideration for women who may use tools originally designed for men.
●tools that do not press fingers (or flesh) between the handles, and whose handles do not have sharp edges or a small surface area.
1. What is the best title for the passage？| A．Good tool Design for Women | B．Importance of Good Tool Design |
| C．Tool Design and Prevention of Injuries | D．Overuse of Tools and Worker Protection |
| A．It‘s kept close to the body. | B．It fully uses muscle power. |
| C．It makes users feel relaxed. | D．It will make users use less force |
| A．The effective use of the tool. | B．The way of operating the tool. |
| C．The proper design of the handle. | D．The purpose of bending the wrist. |
| A．the size | B．the edge | C．the shape | D．the position |
5 . I came to study in the United States a year ago .Yet I did not know the real American society until I was injured in a car accident because after the accident I had to see a doctor and go to court.
After the accident .my roommate called a doctor for me. I was very grateful and determined to repay him one day. But the next day, he asked me to pay him $200 for what he had done. I was astonished. He had good reason to charge me, he said. And if I wanted to collect money from the person who was responsible for my injury, I’d have to have a good lawyer. And only a good doctor can help me get a good lawyer .Now that he had helped me find a good doctor, it was only fair that I should pay him.
But every day I went to see the doctor, I had to wait about 50 minutes. He would see two or three patients at the same time, and often stop treating one so as to see another. Yet he charged me $115 each time .The final examination report consisted of ten lines, and it cost me $215.
My lawyer was all smiles the first time we met. But after that he avoided seeing me at all. He knew very well the other party was responsible for the accident, yet he hardly did anything. He simply waited to collect his money. He was so irresponsible that I decided to dismiss him. And he made me pay him $770.
Now I had to act as my own lawyer. Due to my inexperience, I told the insurance company the date I was leaving America. Knowing that, they played for time…and I left without getting a cent.
1. The author’s roommate offered to help him because________.| A．he felt sorry for the author |
| B．he thought it was a chance to make some money |
| C．he knew the doctor was a very good one |
| D．he wanted the author to have a good lawyer |
| A．be properly treated |
| B．talk with the person responsible for the accident |
| C．recover before he leaves America |
| D．eventually get the responsible party（当事人） to pay for his injury |
| A．be responsible | B．accuse | C．ask as a price | D．demand |
| A．friendly | B．selfish | C．professional | D．busy |
6 . Summer Leadership Camp
Each July, Missouri Military Academy’s Summer Leadership Camp welcomes young men from across the country to train, compete and learn. The summer camp experience is a rewarding opportunity for young people to learn leadership skills.
Rein Community Service
Join Rein Community Service and earn up of 80 hours of community service credit this summer. Choose the community service program that is right for you and have a lasting influence on the lives of others. Through their work with various nonprofit agencies and volunteer organizations, our teen community service volunteers will experience the joy of improving the global community while having the adventure of a lifetime.
Green River Preserve
Green River Preserve is a noncompetitive summer camp connecting children to nature. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Green River Preserve inspires campers to have a greater understanding of themselves, their environment and their fellow man.
English Language Camp
At the camp, children will build their confidence while also acquiring the basic skills of conversation, vocabulary and grammar. Our class sizes are small, allowing every child to receive the required personal attention from our fully qualified and professional teachers who all have a wealth of experience in coaching children from all around the world.
1. Missouri Military Academy’s Summer Leadership Camp is mainly designed for young people who ________.| A．want to be soldiers | B．like to compete with others |
| C．want to develop leadership skills | D．are not good at expressing themselves |
| A．confident | B．competitive |
| C．loving and caring | D．strong and brave |
| A．Summer Leadership Camp. | B．Rein Community Service. |
| C．Green River Preserve. | D．English Language Camp. |
7 . A huge colored map of the Silk Road from a royal court of the mid-Ming Dynasty was officially welcomed home at the Forbidden City in Beijing on Thursday.
The 30-meter-long by 59-centimeter-wide map, named the Landscape Map of the Silk Road, is painted on silk. It describes trade routes starting at Jiayuguan, at the western end of the Great Wall during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), through Central and West Asia to the Middle East.
As many as 221 cities in what now are some 10 countries are on the map. key places on the ancient Silk Road included Gansu province’s Dunhuang, Mecca, Damascus, Esfahan in Iran and Samarqand in Uzbekistan.
The map’s return was made possible as a donation from Hui Wing Mau, a Hong Kong-based real estate entrepreneur, who paid $20 million for it this year.
“The map, with plenty of geographic information, proves that China had the world’s best mapping skills at that time,” said Lin Meicun, a history professor from Peking University, at the receiving ceremony on Thursday. “It also shows Chinese people had a clear understanding of the outside world before Western maps came into the country,” he added.
Lin said it’s a pity that one-fourth of the original drawing, showing the route from Mecca to Istanbul, was lost, based on a modeling board for this map he found in historical records. “Maybe that part was cut off by some antique trader to sell separately,” he said.
Shan Jixiang, director of the Palace Museum, said “The map is a devotion of ancient Chinese geography to the whole world. It shows the frequent business and cultural communication between China and countries along the ancient Silk Road.”
1. Where might the Silk Road begin and end on the entire map?| A．Dunhuang and Mecca. | B．Jiayuguan and the Middle East. |
| C．Dunhuang and Samarqand in Uzbekistan. | D．Jiayuguan and the western end of the Great Wall. |
| A．Design. | B．Present. | C．Reward. | D．Reception. |
| A．provides useful information for history study |
| B．stands for the frequent business in ancient China |
| C．comes from a royal court of the mid-Ming Dynasty |
| D．improves cultural communication of different countries |
| A．30-meter-long by 59-centimeter-wide. | B．30.75-meter-long by 59-centimeter-wide. |
| C．40-meter-long by 59-centimeter-wide. | D．120-meter-long by 59-centimeter-wide. |
8 . Twenty-five years ago, most young Britons wanted a career in law, to be a doctor, or, if they were creatively minded, to take up singing. But today, things stand differently.
According to a survey by Tesco Mobile, a UK telecoms company, the “dream job” of young people aged between 16 and 25 in the UK is a video blogger, or “vlogger”. The survey, carried out among 1,002 people, found that as much as 40 percent of them put vlogger as their number one choice on a list of ideal jobs.
The only reason for this change is undoubtedly the Internet and social media. They have made it so much easier to reach a global user, without having to get a job in show business in the traditional way.
“In years gone by, the biggest stars were shaped and trained by the Hollywood studios; now, anyone with a computer camera can become an icon(偶像),” a Tesco Mobile spokesperson said in a news release. “These self-made stars record their hobbies to an admiring fan-base. Vloggers are the big stars of today because they are normal people interacting with their fans about everyday life.”
However, what people see is only the great side of being a vlogger and they ignore the fact that only those who are successful get fame and fortune. There are the dreams that come true and the dreams that still remain dreams.
This is why although vloggers are popular, some young people choose jobs that don’t necessarily earn them fame, but allow them to make good use of the Internet to share their hobbies. Young Israeli David Leshaw, for example, runs a business called the Finishers Club. It’s an online platform(平台) for runners to keep a record of their races. He told the website Zippia that his job allows him to express his thought, and is always a learning experience. And that’s enough for him.
1. A “vlogger” means a kind of ______.| A．video | B．job |
| C．game | D．survey |
| A．Excitement and fun. | B．Success and experience. |
| C．Fame and income. | D．Interest and hobby. |
| A．becomes one of the biggest stars |
| B．has different hobbies from others |
| C．prefers to develop a rich inner heart |
| D．becomes the icon of many admiring fans |
| A．Things Stand Differently Today | B．People Can All Become an Icon |
| C．Teenagers Dream of Online Jobs | D．Dreams Always Remain Dreams |
9 . Fright caught Spencer’s heart, as he saw his lifelong friend fall in the battle of World War I. He asked his Lieutenant(陆军中尉) if he could go out to bring his fallen companion back.
“You can go,” said the Lieutenant, “but don’t think it will be worth it. Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away.”
The Lieutenant’s words didn’t matter, and he went anyway.
Finally, he managed to reach his friend, raised him onto his shoulder and brought him back to their company’s trench(战壕).
The officer checked the wounded soldier, then looked kindly at his friend. “I told you it wouldn’t be worth it,” he said. “Your friend is dead and you are badly wounded.”
“It was worth it, Sir,” said Spencer.
“What do you mean by worth it?” responded the Lieutenant. “Your friend is dead.”
“Yes Sir,” He answered, “but it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I had the satisfaction of hearing him say “Man... I knew you would come!”
Many a time in life, whether a thing is worth doing really depends on how you look at it. Take up all your courage and do something your heart tells you to do so that you may not be sorry for not doing it.
1. What did Spencer do during World War I?| A．He brought back the body of one soldier. |
| B．He fought against enemies with all his courage. |
| C．He successfully save the life of one fallen companion. |
| D．He developed a lifelong friendship with another soldier. |
| A．Because Spencer failed to earn his praise. |
| B．Because Spencer didn’t follow his order strictly. |
| C．Because Spencer would be punished for his action later. |
| D．Because Spencer might have lost his own life in the action. |
| A．generous and honest | B．brave and reliable |
| C．easy-going and selfish | D．stubborn and self-centered |
| A．do everything with your courage | B．catch the heart of your loved one |
| C．choose what you think worthy to do | D．take up your courage to make friends |
10 . Welcome to SummerCamps.com; find and book the very best summer camps. Your children are precious so we offer the highest quality of camps that will meet each child’s needs and interests.
Catalina Sea Camp
Sea Camp offers three one-week sessions to boys and girls aged 8-13 and two three-week sessions to teens aged 12-17. Our hand-picked instructors create an atmosphere of fun and excitement while leading campers to a host of ocean adventures, marine(海洋的) biology, and social summer camp activities.
Address: Toyon Way, San Bruno, California 94066
Phone: 800-645-1423
Camp Cayuga
Camp Cayuga is a private summer camp for children aged 6 to 16. The camp is on a 350-acre land in the Pocono Mountains of Northeast Pennsylvania, just outside the village of Honesdale. It’s a 3-hour drive from New York City to Philadelphia.
Address: 321 Niles Pond Road-Suite ISC, Honesdale, Pennsylvania 18431
Phone: 908-470-1224
Camp Rockmont
Camp Rockmont is a Christian summer camp for boys, aged 6-16, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Rockmont’s duty of developing boys into healthy young men is accomplished through age-appropriate skills, activities, and challenges that help campers to know themselves better.
Address: 375 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, North Carolina 28711
Phone: 828-686-3885
Primitive Pursuits Overnight Camps
Primitive Pursuits Overnight Camps offer week-long Summer Adventure Overnight Camps in New York’s Finger Lakes to your children aged 11-15. Campers experience a week of nature-based skills training, inspiring challenges, and fun activities under the guidance of skilled instructors.
Address: 611 County Rd 13, Van Etten, New York 14889
Phone: 607-272-2292
1. If a boy is curious about sea creatures, which camp should he go to?| A．Catalina Sea Camp |
| B．Camp Cayuga |
| C．Camp Rockmont |
| D．Primitive Pursuits Overnight Camps |
| A．Toyon Way, San Bruno. |
| B．611 County Rd 13, Van Etten. |
| C．375 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain. |
| D．321 Niles Pond Road- Suite ISC, Honesdale. |
| A．a magazine | B．the Internet |
| C．a textbook | D．a newspaper |
