1 . A young Dutch inventor is widening his effort to clean up floating(浮动的) plastic from the Pacific Ocean. He has developed a floating device(设备) to catch plastic waste moving into rivers before it reaches the oceans.
Boyan Slat was just 18 years old when he invented a system for catching waste in the ocean. He also set up an environmental group called “The Ocean Cleanup”. Its purpose is to develop the system. Last year, Slat showed the next step: a floating device called Interceptor. It takes plastic out of rivers. The device is powered by energy from the sun. “The 1,000 rivers are responsible for about 80% of plastic going into the world’s oceans,” said Slat. Three of the machines have already been used. Each machine costs about $ 775,660, but the cost might drop as production increases.
Since they were used, the machines have been doing very well, collecting the plastic bottles and all the rubbish in the rivers. According to Slat, it is necessary to close “the tap”, which means stopping more plastic from reaching the ocean in the first place. He wanted to clean them all in the next five years. “This is not going to be easy, but if we do get this done, we could truly make our oceans again,” said Slat.
The device is designed to be safe in rivers. Its nose is shaped to change directions to keep it away from larger floating things. It works by guiding plastic waste into an opening in the front of the device. The waste is then carried inside the machine where it is dropped into containers(容器). The device sends a text message to local operators that can come and empty it when it is full.
1. What do we know about Interceptor?| A．It hasn’t been used yet. |
| B．It can help sort waste. |
| C．It is mainly used under the sea. |
| D．It needs energy from the sun to work. |
| A．To empty the waste. |
| B．To serve as containers. |
| C．To ensure(确保) the device’s safety. |
| D．To send operators text messages. |
| A．A floating device for catching plastic waste. |
| B．A young well-known Dutch inventor. |
| C．A system for making rivers safe. |
| D．An environmental group called the Ocean Cleanup. |
| A．A diary. | B．A dictionary. |
| C．A travel brochure. | D．A magazine. |
2 . When it comes to thrilling places to travel to, the nation of Thailand has got to be at or near the top of the list. The beaches of Thailand are simply amazing. Here is a look at the four best beaches in all of Thailand.
Maya Bay
This small beach attracts some huge crowds, but it is still worth a visit thanks to what is widely regarded as some of the best sights in the whole country. The Maya Bay Beach is located on a small island and is only accessible(可进入的) via boat or passenger ferry.
Lamai Beach
For the traveler looking for a quite unforgettable beach experience during their visit to Thailand, a trip out to Lamai Beach in Samui is a must. The sandy areas are long and wide with plenty of room for everyone. The water is inviting and easy to access.
Patong Beach
Patong Beach is not only one of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Thailand, but it is the largest beach on the popular island of Phuket. The soft white sand is a great place to relax. Some of the many great activities that travelers can join in during a visit to Patong Beach include jet skiing, kayaking, surfing, diving, snorkeling(浮潜) , swimming, and more.
Haad Rin
Haad Rin is one of the most popular party spots in the country, for both locals and travelers. All month long, during most parts of the year, there are some special entertainment(娱乐), eating, and socializing opportunities.
1. If you want to have a very impressive beach experience, which is highly recommended?| A．Maya Bay | B．Lamai Beach |
| C．Patong Beach | D．Haad Rin |
| A．Maya Bay | B．Lamai Beach |
| C．Patong Beach | D．Haad Rin |
| A．Relax on the white soft sand. |
| B．Take part in adventurous activities. |
| C．Have a good time with the people living here. |
| D．Learn much culture and history about Thailand. |
3 . SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Captain Good Fellow
Do your children enjoy interesting stories, funny games, and exciting dances? Captain Good Fellow will be ready to teach all these things to children of all ages at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10:00, Free.
Walking Tour of the Town
Forget your worries on Saturday morning. Take a beautiful walk and learn about local history. Meet at the front entrance of City Hall at 9:30. Wear comfortable shoes!
Films at the Museum
Two European films will be shown on Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre. See Broken Window at 1:30. The workers will be at 3:45. For further information, call 4987898.
International Picnic
Are you tired of eating the same food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 pm.
Do You Want to Hear “The Zoo”
“The Zoo”, a popular rock group from Australia, will give their first US concert tomorrow night at 8:00 at Rose Hall, City College.
1. You can probably eat Chinese, Italian, and Arab food_____________.| A．at the front entrance of City Hall | B．at the Ballgame |
| C．at 5:00 pm | D．at Central Park on Saturday |
| A．the City College | B．the Museum Theatre |
| C．the City Theatre | D．the Central Park |
| A．your worries | B．your beautiful walk |
| C．your learning about local history | D．your comfortable shoes |
| A．a park with lots of animals | B．US concert |
| C．a music group | D．going to give the concert at 8:00 am |
4 . If you’re looking to buy a gift for your children, why not keep up with the trend and get the best hoverboard?
What is a Hoverboard?
A hoverboard is a two-wheeled personal transportation device. It’s electrical, portable and became highly popular in 2015. Typically, this self-balancing device operates like a powered skateboard.
How Does a Hoverboard Work?
The device may have many designs, but the mechanism itself isn’t complicated. Basically, a standard hoverboard contains:
•Battery: stores the electrical power. Almost all hoverboards use a high-watt lithium-ion battery.
•Gyroscope (one for each wheel): allows riders to tilt (倾斜) the hoverboard while maintaining balance and adjusting their direction.
•Motor (one in each wheel): provides the power to the wheels to keep the rider balanced and upright.
•Logic board: functions as the hoverboard brain. It processes data—your speed, tilt, etc.—and sends information to the motors. This unit controls the power of the board so riders can adjust their speed.
All the above components work together to control the power and tilt of the hoverboards so the rider is balanced, upright and moving at a controlled speed.
Why Buy a Hoverboard?
Undoubtedly, hoverboards are cool. You’ve probably seen kids riding one around the house. They’re a phenomenon and everybody wants in. So, why deny your kids and prevent them from being part of this trend?
Where is a hoverboard legal?
Despite their wild popularity, hoverboards have yet to become “street-legal”. Currently, some places prohibit anyone under 16 from using these devices, and hoverboards are banned in academic institutions and public places, like campus buildings, parks, shopping malls and subway stations. Some places have also put speed limits on the devices and restricted their use to bike paths. However, open areas—including your yard—are free of these restrictions.
1. The logic board of a hoverboard can ______.| A．store electricity | B．power the wheels |
| C．send information to the riders | D．receive data and give command |
| A．on campus | B．in parks |
| C．on bike paths | D．in shopping malls |
| A．To evaluate a gift’s quality. |
| B．To suggest a gift option. |
| C．To compare new hoverboard models. |
| D．To explain functions of the latest hoverboards. |
5 . Would it surprise you to learn that, like animals, trees communicate with each other and pass on their wealth to the next generation?
UBC Professor Simard explains how trees are much more complex than most of us ever imagined.
Although Charles Darwin thought that trees are competing for survival of the fittest, Simard shows just how wrong he was. In fact, the opposite is true: trees survive through their co-operation and support, passing around necessary nutrition “depending on who needs it”.
Nitrogen (氮) and carbon are shared through miles of underground fungi (真菌) networks, making sure that all trees in the forest ecological system give and receive just the right amount to keep them all healthy. This hidden system works in a very similar way to the networks of neurons (神经元) in our brains, and when one tree is destroyed, it affects all.
Simard talks about “mother trees”, usually the largest and oldest plants on which all other trees depend. She explains how dying trees pass on the wealth to the next generation, transporting important minerals to young trees so they may continue to grow. When humans cut down “mother trees” with no awareness of these highly complex “tree societies” or the networks on which they feed, we are reducing the chances of survival for the entire forest.
“We didn’t take any notice of it,” Simard says sadly. “Dying trees move nutrition into the young trees before dying, but we never give them chance.” If we could put across the message to the forestry industry, we could make a huge difference towards our environmental protection efforts for the future.
1. What can we learn from Professor Simard’s words in paragraph 3?| A．Trees depend on each other. | B．Trees protect their own wealth. |
| C．Trees compete for survival. | D．Trees provide support for dying trees. |
| A．Because they know more about the complex “tree societies”. |
| B．Because they seem more likely to be cut down by humans. |
| C．Because they look the largest in size in the forest. |
| D．Because they pass on nutrition to young trees. |
| A．How young trees survive. | B．How “tree societies” work. |
| C．How forestry industry develops. | D．How trees grow old. |
| A．Old Trees Communicate Like Humans. |
| B．Young Trees Are in Need of Protection. |
| C．Trees Are More Fantastic Than You Think. |
| D．Trees Contribute to Our Society. |
6 . Time Travel
If you could travel in time,where would you go?Perhaps you would watch a performance of a Shakespeare's play in Elizabethan England?What about hanging out with Laozi in the Spring and Autumn Period?Or maybe you'd voyage far ahead of the present day to see what the future holds.
The possibility of time travel is indeed appealing.Stories exploring the subject have been around for hundreds of years.Perhaps the best known example is science fiction novel The Time Machine,which was written by H.G.Wells and published in 1895 for the first time.It was adapted into at least two feature films of the same name,as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations.It is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively.The term"time machine",coined by Wells,is now universally used to refer to a vehicle transporting people into the far future.
But could time travel actually be possible?Some scientists say yes,in theory.They propose using cracks in time and space called"wormholes",which could be used as shortcuts to other periods.Einstein's theory of relativity allows time travel in extreme circumstances. And British physicist Stephen Hawking says you could travel into the future with a really fast spaceship-going at nearly the speed of light.Though building such a spaceship would of course be no simple task.
Even if you could travel into the past,there is something called the"grandfather paradox".It asks what would happen if a time traveler were to go back in time and have his own grandfather killed for some reason,and therefore prevent himself from being born.If the time traveler wasn't born,how would he travel back in time?
And would you really like to visit the future?In H.G.Wells' book,the main character travels into distant time where he arrives at a beach and is attacked by giant crabs.He then voyages 30 million years into the future where the only living thing is a black object with tentacles(触角）。
If that's what's in store,maybe we are better just living in the present day after all.
1. The novel The Time Machine mentioned in Paragraph 2 aims to show______.| A．the long history of time travel |
| B．the contribution of H.G.Wells |
| C．people's interest in time travel |
| D．the story's different features |
| A．The Time Machine is one of the bestselling science fiction novels. |
| B．It was H.G.Wells who invented the term “time machine”. |
| C．Works of Literature about time travel first appeared one hundred years ago. |
| D．There are films,comic books and dramas adapted from the novel The Time Machine. |
| A．have similarities because both are based on experiments |
| B．suggest the possibility of time travel |
| C．have been proved wrong by some time travelers |
| D．have pushed the invention of the first spaceship |
| A．the reunion of the traveler and his grandfather brings happiness |
| B．the traveler is prevented from meeting his grandfather |
| C．the traveler goes back in time to seek for his grandfather |
| D．the grandfather's death makes the traveler's birth impossible |
7 . November in Atlanta brings more than football and Thanksgiving. Try one or two of these festivals.
•Nov. 5~22, MJCCA Book Festival
More than 40 authors appear during this annual two-week event that is all about books and reading. Meet your favorite writer at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta.
•Nov, 7~8, Chastain Park Arts Festival
With more than 150 artists from around the country, this free event is about food, family, fun and art. There will be fine art, a children's area, food trucks and musicians.
•Nov. 13~15, Sojam
Held at Emory University, Sojam is a weekend-long cappella（清唱的）entertainment event by the Contemporary A Cappella Society. It features concerts, competitions and master classes.
•Nov. 19~21，Atlanta DocuFest
The 10th annual Atlanta DocuFest brings the best in independent documentary（纪实的） films and videos from across the globe.
•Nov. 21~22, Indie Craft Experience
Shop for special gifts for holidays at this market that features 100 sellers, local food suppliers, DJ Zano and bags for the first 100 people who want to buy.
•Nov. 28, Beer and Tacos Festival
Head to Philips Arena for beer and tacos, a type of Mexican food, while enjoying music and art.
1. Where will the event about reading books take place?| A．At MJCCA. | B．In Philips Arena. |
| C．In Chastain Park. | D．At Emory University. |
| A．On Nov. 5. | B．On Nov. 8. | C．On Nov. 20. | D．On Nov. 28. |
| A．Sojam. | B．Indie Craft Experience. |
| C．Atlanta DocuFest. | D．Beer and Tacos Festival. |
8 . Astronauts in America who fly into space need special training. First they go to Huston, Texas. That is the home of the Johnson Space Center. There they are tested to see how strong and smart they are.
The first test is for the heart. The people walk or run, and then the space doctors see how fast their hearts beat.
Another important test is performance. In this test, the person must curl (蜷曲) his body up in a ball. When he is in that position (姿势), he is put into a round cloth bag. The doctors give him no idea how long he will have to stay in the bag. If a spaceship broke down in space, the astronauts would get into bags like this. Then they would have to wait and curl up in darkness until help could arrive. You can see that an astronaut must not be afraid of tight space or darkness.
After the tests, only the best people are chosen to start astronaut training in a training center. The astronauts in training learn many other things. They learn how to jump out of a moving airplane. They learn to blow up a lifeboat and get into it while they are in the ocean. The astronauts also have to learn how to get lifted out of the ocean by helicopter . That seems fun, but it can be dangerous.
After they finish training, the astronauts continue to work. They stay in good shape by running and doing exercise. They read about their special jobs. In this way, they can learn new facts about space travel. Then the big day comes. The astronauts are told to go to work on a flight into space.
1. The astronauts don’t know how long they will stay in the bags in the test because_______.| A．the doctors need to know how strong they are |
| B．the astronauts need to know how smart they are |
| C．good astronauts mustn’t be afraid of darkness or tight space |
| D．nobody knows when help will come if the spaceship breaks down |
| A．walk or run in space | B．jump out of a moving plane |
| C．blow up a lifeboat | D．get lifted out of water by helicopter |
| A．After the tests, the best people are chosen to start astronaut training in a training center. |
| B．After they finish training, the astronauts continue to work. |
| C．When the astronauts are told to go to work on a flight into space. |
| D．After they are tested to see how strong and smart they are. |
9 . Gardening is popular in many parts of the world. It brings us sweet smelling flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables. But you can get more from your garden.
Gardening helps to keep healthy. Today’s people sit indoors for too long and don’t get much exercise. When you garden, you have to move around. It’s a good chance for you to exercise your body by watering flowers or doing some digging. Besides, when you are in your garden, you can feel the warm sunshine. This means you are getting Vitamin D. It helps your bodies use calcium (钙), which is necessary to keep your bones (骨骼) strong.
____It gets them off computers, televisions and phones. Gardening can be a great teacher to teach children about nature and healthy eating. It can also help them to understand the meaning of “No pains, no gains.”
Gardening is a great way to meet people and build relationships. When you are gardening, you are outdoors. So it is a perfect time to communicate with your neighbors. Most people love to talk about their hobbies and so do gardeners. They usually enjoy showing people what they are growing. And most enjoy sharing advice and stories about their gardens.
1. When it’s______, you can get Vitamin D in your garden.| A．sunny | B．cloudy | C．snowy | D．rainy |
| A．watching TV | B．watering flowers |
| C．walking dogs | D．playing with phones |
| A．Gardening will be good for your bones. |
| B．Gardening may help people to feel happy. |
| C．Gardening is a great activity to do with children. |
| D．Gardening can be a good way to meet neighbors. |
| A．Outdoor Activities | B．Advantages of Gardening |
| C．Heating Eating habits | D．Relationships with neighbors |
10 . Ancient China produced many types of beautiful works of art. Among them, calligraphy (书法), poetry (诗歌) and painting are the most famous. Often they would be put together in art.These became important starting with the Song dynasty.
Calligraphy is the art of handwriting. In the old times the Chinese considered writing as an important form of art. Calligraphers would practice for years to learn to write perfectly, but with style. Each of the over 40,000 characters (汉字) needed to be written correctly. And each stroke (笔画) in a character had to be written in a certain order.
Poetry is also an important form of art. Great poets were famous all over the country, and all educated people were expected to write poetry. During the Tang dynasty poetry was so important that writing poetry was part of the examinations to become a civil servant (文官)and work for the government.
Chinese painting is often connected with calligraphy. It is one of the oldest artistic traditions in the world. The most traditional way of Chinese painting is known as “national painting” or “native painting” which is quite different from Western painting. People can draw mountains, buildings, birds, trees and water.
1. Calligraphers needed to write over _____ characters correctly in the old times.| A．10,000 | B．20,000 | C．30,000 | D．40,000 |
| A．Painting. | B．Calligraphy. | C．Writing poetry. | D．Playing music. |
| A．Calligraphy, poetry, and painting are the most famous works of art in ancient China. |
| B．The strokes of each character can be written in any order. |
| C．Poetry is an important form of art like calligraphy. |
| D．Chinese painting is often connected with calligraphy. |
| A．Chinese art. | B．Chinese examinations. |
| C．Chinese history. | D．Chinese dynasties. |
