1 . Looking back is a wonderful thing. It allows you to see what has led you here and, hopefully, how society has changed and improved.
Take, for instance, my career goal. First, I wanted, in 1999, to be a “farmer”, soon archaeologist, then driving instructor and somewhere along the way, footballer.
I had grown up in a football-loving family. I remember the exact moment when I said “I’m sad I can’t be a footballer” while watching the game with Dad as a pre-teen. He asked why not. “Because I’m not a boy.” He immediately responded, “You can, if you want to.” “Yeah, I suppose so,” I sighed, “but no one watches women’s football.”
Looking back, I can see exactly why I felt like that. At school, there was an unwritten rule that sports like hockey and netball were “girl” sports and rugby and football were for the boys. I’d never seen a women’s football match on TV. You see, you can’t be what you can’t see, and lack of representation leads, at best, to misunderstanding, and at worst, fear and negative opinions.
Today, the Lionesses will take on Scotland in the World Cup, and people across the world will tune in — over 950,000 tickets have been sold so far. But, although women’s football is one of FIFA’s best investments — with a pound for pound return, the majority of female players are earning under a fair wage. Some argue that’s because viewing statistics are lower than those of men’s, but the rise in support shows the demand is there. Hopefully, more investment will push female football forward.
Today, I’ll be cheering on the Lionesses, because it’ll mean talented, skillful female footballers being broadcast into millions of homes and maybe, just maybe, a little girl believing that she can also be a Lioness one day.
1. Which of the following best describes the author’s career goals?| A．Realistic. | B．Changeable. |
| C．Consistent. | D．Long-sought. |
| A．She was not talented enough. |
| B．People lost faith in women’s football. |
| C．Girls were forbidden to play football. |
| D．She had no example to follow. |
| A．It’s better paid than men’s. | B．It is increasingly popular. |
| C．It has no market demand. | D．It is not profitable. |
| A．Society advances with time. | B．Women deserve equal rights. |
| C．Each goal is worth pursuing. | D．Hard work always pays off. |
2 . I like to believe that some things in life never change. A constant, ever since I could hold a pen, has been the routine at lunch with my grandfather. My grandmother will ask me how the walk was from my parents’ house before I take a seat at their kitchen table.
Sitting in his usual spot in the corner is my grandfather. He looks up for a quick “hello” before heading back down to the crossword puzzle in front of him.
“So, how is this one coming along?” I’ll ask. With a failed laugh, he’ll slide the crossword toward me. Carefully cut and neatly folded from his newspaper, three-quarters of it will already have been finished. Many of the clues（线索）are far too advanced for me to figure out. However, I’m happy to help with the strange clue related to sports ---my expert knowledge --- that still remain.
Even if I’m certain of an answer, I fill in the squares with a pencil, as clues are always checked thoroughly by my grandfather. In the rare event that we’re unable to finish the crossword by the end of lunch, he’ll call me later that evening to go over the clues he later solved.
Today, lunch unfolds in its usual manner. However, large parts of the puzzle are blanks “Grandfather, I think this is 49-down... and this, 52-across,” I say.
“Oh, right. Yes, put that down there,” he replies.
I reach across the table to hand him the crossword. Looking at him as he searches for answers, suddenly I feel something different. I note his hair is whiter than I remembered. For the first time I think about my grandfather as, well, a grandfather.
But life is about changes we aren’t always prepared for. Just as we are on different ends of life, we find ourselves on different ends of the city now too. But at lunch, when we take up our pens and open the crossword, the world stands pleasantly still. Now, instead of an exercise of quick wit（机智）, our crosswords are about patience and understanding. As clues are slowly understood, so are the truths in life.
1. What is the grandfather usually doing when the author visits him?| A．He is preparing lunch happily as a routine. |
| B．He is sitting in the comer working at riddles. |
| C．He is concentrating all his efforts on the crossword. |
| D．He is cutting crossword puzzles from newspapers carefully. |
| A．repeat | B．switch | C．discover | D．provide |
| A．Quiet and optimistic. | B．Humorous and helpful. |
| C．Enthusiastic and careful. | D．Independent and funny. |
| A．They bring his grandparents closer to him. |
| B．They improve his intelligence and patience. |
| C．They encourage him to solve problems in life. |
| D．They help him to understand the truths of life. |
3 . A fight last month between Campinas and Sao Jose do Rio Preto in southern Brazil became the scene of a spontaneous( 自发的) act of kindness that spread on social media networks.
According to the website Aeroin. net, a passenger named Sirlandia Dias Pereira was traveling with her son Caleb, who suffered from heart failure and bad a heart murmur(杂音). During the flight, she told the passenger next to her, Alex Pontes, that she was traveling so her son could be hospitalized. She also explained that she was relying on the charity of others for living quarters.
The passenger talked to the crew of the airline and asked to use the airplane's loudspeaker, inviting the other travelers to contribute to a spontaneous collection to help the mother and her son.“All of us would like to find an angel to help us. Those of us who feel moved to do so, let's help this mother to take a little something with her. a little something we have and can share," he said.
In a matter of minutes, passengers offered a total worth near $ 400 which goes a lot further in Brazil than in the USA), plus applause for the mother, who was thrilled with the help and repeatedly expressed her gratitude to the passengers.
The site that first shared the story later updated the article, adding that Caleb went through surgery and Was recovering well. The website Razoes Para Acreditar reported that the story caught the attention of Brazilin TV personality Luciano Huck, who started a crowdfunding campaign to help the family.
This story just goes to show that a kind act can go a long way towards making an important difference in someone's life. There are people in need all around us, Let's not let these chances to help others pass us by!
1. Why was the mother traveling?| A．To get her sick son treated, | B．To look for living quarters |
| C．To experience taking a plane, | D．To pick up her son from hospital. |
| A．He gave her $ 400 by himself, | B．He called for donation for her, |
| C．He exchanged his seat with her, | D．He helped her attend to her son, |
| A．He was one of the witnesses on the plane. | B．He wanted to make himself well-known. |
| C．He was inspired by the spontaneous act. | D．He Was asked to offer assistance by them. |
| A．To speak highly of a kind passenger. | B．To ask us to communicate with others. |
| C．To show the importance of first aid. | D．To encourage us to help those in need. |
4 . Later this month, Tate Britain will host its first Van Gogh exhibition since 1947. Here we've rounded up 4 of his best paintings before the show.
Potato Eaters
Potato Eaters was Van Gogh's first major work and, despite a distinct lack of colour, it was one that he was most proud of. His aim was to represent the difficulties of country life, so the farmers are painted in earthy tones with rough faces and bony hands. He was more concerned with conveying his message than achieving technical perfection in this painting.
Irises
Van Gogh finished almost 142 pieces during his stay in the Saint Remy de Provence asylum (精神病院), where he was a voluntary patient from 1889 to 1890. This piece was started shortly after he arrived there. The hospital garden provided much inspiration for the artist during his stay there. Originally, the flowers in this work were painted purple but the red pigment (色素) faded over time and has now turned blue.
Cafe Terrace at Night
Despite being painted more than 130 years ago, this cafe still exists in France and has since been renamed the Cafe Van Gogh. This artwork marks the first time Van Gogh's famous post-impressionistic star-filled sky was seen in a piece, and it was painted on the ground, in person, rather than from memory. While the artwork doesn't bear his signature, it's widely known to be Van Gogh's, as he mentioned Cafe Terrace at Night in a number of his letters.
Wheat Field With Cypresses
This piece was inspired by the view from Van Gogh's asylum window and was finished on the spot. The work was the title of three paintings that offer an insight into his stay at the hospital.' Van Gogh was 80 pleased with the summer landscape that he made three copies there, one of the same size—which hangs in the National Gallery and two smaller copies which he planned to gift to his mother and sister.
1. Which painting did Vincent van Gogh take most pride in?| A．Irises. | B．Potato Eaters. |
| C．Cafe Terrace at Night. | D．Wheat Field With Cypresses. |
| A．Purple. | B．Blue. | C．Red. | D．Yellow. |
| A．They were the same in size. | B．They had more than one copy. |
| C．They were signed by the artist, | D．They were painted on the ground. |
5 . Scientists are urging that deep sea metal mining should be stopped temporarily. They warn in a report that it can cause severe and damaging effects on Pacific Ocean areas.
The recently-released report examined more than 250 published studies on deep Sea mining. The research was examined by the Deep Sea Mining Campaign- a collection of not-for profit organizations. The report centers on mining activities related to small metallic particles(金属颗粒)，called nodules, found on the seabed. The material can contain different metals. Increasing demand for these metals has led to a rise in deep-sea mining operations. The metals are commonly used in battery manufacturing and other technology products.
However, the scientists warn that mining for these nodules will cause irreversible(不可逆的) damage to an ocean already under pressure. The operations will affect areas across the South Pacific, including the nations of Kiribati, the Cook Islands, Nauru, Tonga and Papua New Guinea.
The report notes that a moratorium is the only responsible way to move forward until certain conditions surrounding deep-sea mining can be met. The scientists are calling for additional study to fully understand the environmental, social and economic risks.
Andrew Chin is the report's lead researcher. He says in a statement that nodule mining will likely result in the loss of sea life and cause damage to deep seabeds for thousands of years. He adds that the operations can put people at risk who depend on the ocean and its continued health.
A company planning to be one of the first to carry out mining operations in the area is Canada's DeepGreen, which aims to begin by 2024. It seeks to mine metallic nodules to be used in power systems for electric vehicles. DeepGreen Chief Executive Officer Gerard Barron defended the company's plans in reaction to the report. He said deep-sea mining offered the best alternative to surface mining, which has & long history of pollution and destroying forests and wildlife.
1. Why are deep-sea mining operations on the rise?| A．More metals are needed. | B．Surface mining is banned, |
| C．Battery industry is falling. | D．The seabed is easy to find, |
| A．Loose measure. | B．Thorough study. | C．Permanent deal. | D．Temporary stop. |
| A．Conditions surrounding deep-sea mining are great. |
| B．The damage caused by nodule mining is reversible. |
| C．Nodule mining can cause harm in various aspects. |
| D．People sure less likely to be affected by nodule mining, |
| A．Opposed. | B．Supportive. | C．Ambiguous. | D．Unconcerned. |
6 . Most people think that women are naturally kind, cry too much and think with their hearts, instead of using their heads like men. Meanwhile, men are thought to be born to be rational creatures who naturally know how to lead and do math. However, statistics on personality types report that 75. 5% of women are Feelers and 56. 5% of men are Thinkers. So, right now we see that a huge number of men about 43%- -have Feeling preferences.
According to these numbers, only 25% of women are Thinkers. A majority of women tested are Feelers, but are a majority of women born as Feelers? In many regards, women are still expected to uphold the feminine(女性的) goals of half a century ago- stay pretty, have babies, keep a tidy home, and cook a good nutritious meal every night. Now, in addition to those old standards, most women plan on working and having careers. But even in the workplace, showing a Thinking preference can be problematic. Women who take charge or offer criticism may be seen 88 bossy,
Of courser the question goes to the Thinking men. Boys learn at a young age that being emotional or sensitive can be seen to be less strong. They have been taught not to cry to show that they are brave enough to bear any sufferings. In that case, they are more likely to be less of Feelers.
Maybe Feeler women and Thinker men are not naturally 80.
There is nothing wrong with being a Feeler woman or a Thinker man. Being a Feeler does not mean that you're a rollercoaster of emotions who might knock over a table at any moment, nor does being a Thinker mean that you are an infallible robot designed to make heartless decisions. Regardless of gender. your personality and preferences are completely valid; neither Thinking nor Feeling is right or wrong, good or bad. And of course, people, who prefer a Thinking style still have feelings, and Feelers can be extremely intelligent.
1. What is the common belief about men according to paragraph 1?| A．They prefer to be math teachers. | B．They tend to think with their heads. |
| C．They seem ruder and more merciless. | D．They are emotional group leaders. |
| A．Their working experiences. | B．The social expectations. |
| C．The born characteristics. | D．Their family backgrounds, |
| A．Personality is not necessarily limited to a type. |
| B．Feelers and Thinkers can hardly live in harmony, |
| C．A Thinker is certain to make heartless decisions. |
| D．A Feeler is emotionally changeable all the time. |
| A．Does Personality Change Over the Time? |
| B．Is Personality Only Determined by Gender? |
| C．Are Feeler Women and Thinker Men Born to Be So? |
| D．Can Feelers and Thinkers Get On Well With Each Other? |
7 . Most of us don’t reach for that gnarled (多节的) carrots when selecting our produce at the local supermarket. That’s exactly why Americans waste up to 40% of eatable food every year. This unbelievable number has caused the “ugly food” movement, and inspired many companies to sell misshapen fruit and vegetables to consumers, rather than throw them in the trash.
One San Francisco organization is taking a unique approach to this idea. The Salvage Supperclub hosts fancy dinners inside dumper truck (自卸车) where they serve dishes entirely prepared with food that would have otherwise gone to waste.
Josh Treuhaft, founder of these ugly food dinners, originally came up with the idea to make people realize America’s food waste problem. “There is undeveloped possibility that their food is going to waste for some reason, not to their own fault,” he told Seeker’s Laura Ling.
Treuhaft isn’t alone in his effort to reduce America’s food waste. A Change.org last year called for Whole Foods to become part of the ugly food movement. They sold misshapen fruit and vegetables in Northern California stores.
Selling imperfect produce is still relatively rare right now, which can be partially due to a supply issue rather than a lack of willing participants. Raley’s, a Sacramento-based grocery chain, started an ugly food pilot program called “Real Good”, but discontinued it after 90 days saying they had “some challenges getting the product”. A grower might have large amounts of ugly produce one year due to terrible weather, but much less the next year if the weather has been more ideal. Harvests constantly vary and retailers are more likely to buy ugly produce in large number rather than just a few pounds at a time.
This is why organizations like Imperfect Produce and Salvage Supperclub are playing an important role in the prevention of food waste. Salvage Supperclub takes it a step further by not only buying the ugly produce, but turning it into a good dining experience as well.
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 1?| A．People usually prefer good-looking produce. |
| B．Gnarled carrots mostly appear in the supermarket. |
| C．Many companies find new business opportunities. |
| D．Americans eat less fruit and vegetables than expected. |
| A．To prove his fancy idea. | B．To advise people to dine in dumper truck. |
| C．To show waste can be eaten. | D．To remind people not to waste. |
| A．People should reduce the ugly food. |
| B．People should make full use of ugly food. |
| C．People should be more aware of food shortage. |
| D．People should develop their potential in producing food. |
| A．Retailers’ pursuing larger profit. | B．Lack of enough steady amounts of produce. |
| C．Bad harvests due to bad weather. | D．People’s unwillingness to buy imperfect produce. |
8 . Like a tired marriage, the relationship between libraries and publishers has long been dull. E-books, however, are causing heartache. Libraries know they need digital wares, but many publishers are too cautious about piracy（盗版） and lost sales to co-operate. Among the big six, only Random House and Harper Collins license e-books with most libraries.
Publishers are wise to be nervous. Owners of e-readers（电子阅读器） are exactly the customers they need: book-lovers with money. If these people switch to borrowing e-books instead of buying them, what then? Electronic borrowing is awfully convenient. Unlike printed books, which must be checked out and returned to a physical library miles from where you live, book files can be downloaded at home. The files disappear from the device when they are due.
E-lending is not simple, however. There are lots of different and often incompatible（不兼容的）e-book formats devices and licenses. Most libraries use a company called OverDrive, which secures rights from publishers and provides e-books and audio files in every format. Yet publishers and libraries are worried by OverDrive’s global market dominance the company can control fees and conditions. Publishers were annoyed when OverDrive cooperated with Amazon, the world’s biggest online bookseller, last year. Owners of Amazon’s Kindle e-reader who want to borrow e-books from libraries are now redirected to Amazon’s website, where they must use their Amazon account to secure a loan.
According to Pew, an opinion researcher library users are a perfect for market for Amazon. Late last year Amazon introduced its Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, which lets its best customers borrow free one of thousands of popular books each month.
Library supporters argue that book borrowers are also book buyers and that libraries are vital spaces for readers to discover new work. Many were cheered by a recent Pew survey, which found that more than half of Americans with library cards say they prefer to buy their e-books.
So publishers keep adjusting their lending arrangements in search of the right balance.
Random House raised its licensing prices earlier this year, and Harper Collins limits libraries to lending its titles 26 times.
1. It can be inferred from paragraph 1 that __________.| A．libraries and publishers face the same problem of e-books’ piracy |
| B．libraries are eager to keep strong relationship with publishers |
| C．most publishers are hesitant to cooperate with libraries |
| D．several big publishers have sold e-books to libraries |
| A．Book sales may drop sharply because of convenient electronic borrowing. |
| B．There are lots of different and incompatible e-book formats available |
| C．There is no time limit for the book files downloaded on the device. |
| D．E-books must be checked out and returned to libraries regularly. |
| A．e-books can be lent at libraries as many times as you like |
| B．OverDrive distributes e-books and audio files to publishers |
| C．over half of Americans are borrowing e-books from libraries |
| D．Amazon is adopting measures to win more customers |
| A．The Hopeful Future of Publishing Business |
| B．The Uncertain Economics of Lending E-books |
| C．The Dull Relationship between Libraries and Publishers |
| D．The Close Cooperation between Over and Amazon |
9 . A nerve-zapping（电击神经）headset caused people to get rid of fat in a small preliminary study. Six people who had received the stimulation（刺激）lost on average about 8 percent of the fat on their trunks in four months, scientists reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience,
The headset stimulated the vestibular nerve（前庭神经）, which runs just behind the ears. That nerve sends signals to the hypothalamus, a brain structure thought to control the body’s fat storage. By stimulating the nerve with an electrical current, the technique shifts the body away from storing fat toward burning it.
Six overweight and obese people received the treatment, consisting of up to four one-hour-long sessions of stimulation a week. Because it activated the vestibular system, the stimulation created the sensation of gently rocking on a boat or floating in a pool, said the study’s co-author Jason McKeown of the University of California, San Diego.
After four months, body scans measured the trunk fat for the six people receiving the treatment and three people who received unreal stimulation. All six in the treatment group lost some trunk fat, despite not having changed their activity or diet. In contrast, those in the unreal group gained some fat. Researchers suspect that changes in the set of life-sustaining chemical transformations within human cells are behind the difference. “The results were a lot better than we thought they’d be,” McKeown said.
Earlier studies found that vestibular nerve stimulation causes mice to drop fat and pack on muscle, resulting in what McKeown called Schwarzenegger mice. Though small, the current study suggests that the approach has promise in people. McKeown and his colleagues have started a company based on the technology and plan to test it further.
1. What is an electrical current used for?| A．Causing the body to bum its fat. |
| B．Controlling the body’s storage of fat. |
| C．Seeing if the headset will be affected. |
| D．Speeding the process of one’s digesting. |
| A．The length of stimulation they received. |
| B．The type of stimulation they received. |
| C．The difference in their vestibular system. |
| D．The way chemicals process in their body. |
| A．They have a kind of practical value. |
| B．They go against those of earlier tests on mice. |
| C．They were widely recognized at the meeting. |
| D．They have been tested by MeKeown’s company. |
| A．The science of zapping fat |
| B．A new trial of weight loss |
| C．Zapping certain nerves leads to fat loss |
| D．Exercise for weight loss and get fit |
10 . The Best Places To Watch Fireworks This Fourth Of July
CALIFORNIA: LIGHTS ON THE LAKE (LAKE TAHOE)
Launched from boats on the shore of Lake Tahoe, this show is considered one of the biggest such displays in the West, which means the fireworks are visible all over town. If you’re worried about getting a seat, park your picnic at the El Dorado Beaches before 9:45 p.m. Or you can take the road less traveled and hike to the top of Mount Tallac for an unforgettable and best view of the display. Just remember you’ll have to hike down, so bring a headlight.
DELAWARE: REHOBOTH BEACH
Launched from the beach south of Rehoboth Avenue, these fireworks are visible up and down the boardwalk and beach. So jump on the Jolly Trolley(观光车) early and spend your whole day at the beach. There’s even live music after the fireworks. Note: This year’s fireworks display is scheduled for July 1, 2018.
FLORIDA: SERTOMA’S 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS (PENSACOLA BAY)
The Gulf Coast knows how to celebrate the Fourth of July. With vendors, arts and crafts, kid-friendly activities and live entertainment, this fun-filled day in Old Seville culminates(达到高潮) with the largest fireworks display in the area. Unfortunately the pony rides and face painting are only for the kids, though.
GEORGIA: DAHLONEGA’S 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
Pack up your lawn chairs, blankets and coolers and head about an hour outside of Atlanta to the University of North Georgia. It’s even pet friendly — just make sure your dog can take the noise. And if you get to town early enough (11 a.m.), there’s a Fourth of July parade that aims to put all other Fourth of July parades to shame.
1. Where is the best spot to watch the fireworks in Lake Tahoe?| A．At the El Dorado Beaches. | B．On the top of Mount Tallac. |
| C．Anywhere all over the town. | D．On the shore of Lake Tahoe. |
| A．REHOBOTH BEACH. |
| B．LIGHTS ON THE LAKE. |
| C．SERTOMA’S 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS. |
| D．DAHLONEGA’S 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION. |
| A．The best. | B．Just so so. |
| C．Not so bad. | D．Very terrible. |
