1 . While bees hopping from one flower to another is vivid to watch, having bees disturbing a backyard barbecue certainly isn’t. They may seem like pesky creatures to get rid of, but there are quite a few things you may not know about bees, especially the impact they have on our livelihood.
The main purpose of bees, particularly honey bees, is to help pollinate the plants around them. According to the Department of Entomology at Pennsylvania State University, pollinators (such as bees) help to fertilize plants, which results in “the formation of seeds and the fruit surrounding seeds”. Pollinators are necessary for three-quarters of our major food crops, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. An estimated 300,000 species of plants need pollinators. That’s around 80 to 95 percent of plant species. Without pollinators, the number of crops we have will take a serious hit.
Other pollinators can help out with this process including butterflies, beetles, and flies. Even some birds and bats can be pollinators. However, bees of various species are known for being natural pollinators for plants.
Unfortunately, for years there has been an alarming decline of bees around the globe. The University of Vermont published a study stating that 23 percent of the wild bee population declined between 2008 and 2013. 139 counties in parts of California, the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, west Texas and the Mississippi River valley have taken the worst hit in wild bee declines. Since 39 percent of U.S. croplands rely on pollinators for their crop including those beloved apple orchards and pumpkin patches in the fall, we are facing a serious threat.
By taking care of the bees, our world is able to benefit in terms of agricultural income and nutritious food supply. You may not be able to make a huge change on an industrial level, but as someone with a landscape of your own, why not help save the bees?
1. What is the best title for the passage?| A．Bees Is Disappearing? |
| B．How You Can Save Bees? |
| C．How Bees Help Pollinate the Plants? |
| D．Why You Shouldn’t Kill Bees in Your Yard? |
| A．To provide delicious honey. |
| B．To disturb backyard barbecue. |
| C．To get rid of some pesky creatures. |
| D．To help pollinate the plants around them. |
| A．To show the diversity of plant species. |
| B．To show how we depend on plants. |
| C．To prove the importance of pollinators such as bees. |
| D．To make a comparison between plants which need pollinators and which don’t. |
| A．Because the bee population has decreased sharply. |
| B．Because lots of wild bees have been hit by people. |
| C．Because many people are attacked by wild bees. |
| D．Because the croplands have produced less crops in the fall. |
2 . The moon may shine white above us most nights of the year, but how much do we know about Earth’s neighbor and what lies beneath its surface? Scientists are aiming to find out.
On Jan 3, 2019, China’s Chang’e 4 spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon – a first for humanity. It released a small probe (探测器), Yutu 2, or Jade Rabbit 2, which began to search beneath the moon’s surface using Lunar Penetrating Radar. These radio signals can reach 40 meters underground, three times the depth of the Chang’e 3 lunar probe launched in 2013 for the near side of the moon, China Daily reported.
In a study published in the journal Science Advances, researchers found that the lunar soil’s top layer on the far side of the moon was much thicker than expected – about 40 meters. Other scientists only expected about 6 millimeters of soil based on NASA observations during the Apollo moon landings, according to The New York Times.
“It’s a fine, dusty, sandy environment,” said one of the authors of the study, Elena Pettinelli, a physics and mathematics professor at Rome Tre University, Rome.
Yutu 2 is specifically exploring the Von Karman crater (大坑), a large hole that’s 180 kilometers wide and also the landing site of Chang’e 4. It’s part of an even larger, older crater spanning more than 1,770 kilometers.
“The subsurface at the Chang’e 4 landing site is very complex,” said Li Chunlai, a research professor and deputy director-general of National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Observations suggest that the subsurface material is totally different than the previous landing site of Chang’e 3, she said.
Radar waves revealed various layers beneath the moon’s surface: grainy (颗粒状的) material, boulders (岩石), and further layers of fine and coarse (粗糙的) particles. This information is helping scientists to gain new understanding of the moon’s history and formation, as well as volcanic activity and lunar impacts.
Yutu 2 is the longest-working rover (巡视器) on the moon, but it won’t last forever. China plans to launch the Chang’e 5 probe later this year, Xinhua News Agency reported. The spacecraft is expected to bring pieces of the moon back to Earth for closer study.
1. What can we learn about the Chang’e 4 probe?| A．It was the first to land on the moon’s near side. |
| B．It explored areas as wide as 1,770 kilometers. |
| C．It is three times as large as the Chang’e 3 lunar probe. |
| D．Its signals could reach 40 meters beneath the moon’s surface. |
| A．It looks like a large hole. |
| B．It is about 6 millimeters thick. |
| C．It goes farther down than expected. |
| D．It is covered by boulders and fine and coarse particles. |
| A．Bring lunar samples back to the Earth | B．Explore the Von Karman crater. |
| C．Replace Yutu 2 to explore the moon. | D．Identify the moon’s various layers. |
| A．A history of Chinese lunar missions. |
| B．A report on the Chang’e 4 probe’s findings. |
| C．A comparison of the Chang’e 3 and 4 probes. |
| D．How Yutu 2 explored beneath the moon’s surface. |
Do not miss your chance to see Texas’ first modern art museum—the McNay Art Museum. There are more than 20,000 different and significant works. With beautiful Spanish gardens and the amazing architecture of the building, the art within the walls isn’t the only wonder to see.
Address: 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave, San Antonio
TEL:(210)8245368
San Antonio Art League & Museum
The San Antonio Art League & Museum is a great showcase for local artists and home to permanent exhibits, many of which express the history of the area. The museum houses both traditional and contemporary works.
Address: 130 King William Street, San Antonio
TEL: (210) 2231140
Guinness World Records Museum
The Guinness World Records has probably brought you amazing stories of all the record holders in the world. This museum is a good choice for the entire family, as it contains some of the most amazing oddities in the world.
Address: 329 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio
TEl: (210)2262828
Buckhorn Saloon and Museum
For a cowboy-style activity, head to the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum. The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum is located only two blocks from the Alamo, offering a convenient location to those who are visiting Downtown San Antonio. After being built over 130 years ago, the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum has become a unique place for locals and tourists alike to visit. Here, guests will be able to feast upon delicious dishes.
Address:318 E. Houston Street, San Antonio
TEL: (210) 2474000
1. What can we see in Texas’ first modern art museum?| A．traditional and contemporary works | B．Stories of record holders |
| C．Beautiful gardens | D．Cowboy-style activities. |
| A．McNay Art Museum | B．Guinness World Records Museum |
| C．Buckhorn Saloon and Museum | D．San Antonio Art League & Museum |
| A．It only fits for local tourists. | B．It has a history of 100 years |
| C．It provides delicious foods. | D．It’s near downtown |
4 . We all want to be successful in our work. But what happens when our achievements come at the risk of losing important friendships? If your friends didn't receive what they were hoping for, your success could make them feel like they've been “left in the dust”. But does that mean that we shouldn't enjoy our achievements in case we displease someone or that we should feel sorry for being successful when others aren't?
Those of us who value friendships and close working relationships might feel embarrassed for achieving more than our friends. But we deserve our success, and nothing should take it away. Jealousy is only natural, but It’s often unreasonable, too. Your success is probably not connected with your friends' progress, so you shouldn't feel bad about achieving your goals. If your friends stay unfriendly, don’t be afraid to keep yourself away from them. You are not responsible for their weaknesses, and nor should they treat you sharply for furthering your work.
On the other hand, your friends may think highly of your recent success while hiding their real feelings. They could be jealous, angry or sad that they are not progressing at the same rate. So, be careful not to boast. It's a thin line between pride and self-importance, and by crossing the line, you may risk losing team support.
Next time you want to boast about your end-of-year win, or high-class new office, consider your listeners. Maybe your friends narrowly missed out on a position-raising, or experienced pay cuts which meant they didn't get what they were expecting. If your work is on a rising path, it doesn't mean that's the case for everyone.
Perhaps a step forward in your work has meant that you don't spend as much time with your friends as you used to. If you've changed a post or moved to a new office, take the time to stay in touch with old friends. Chances are that in the build-up to your success you've built strong relationships along the way. Don't let that hard work go to waste by losing touch with them.
1. From the first two paragraphs, it can be inferred that ________.| A．we should enjoy our deserving success |
| B．our success will certainly hurt our friends |
| C．friends will surely help us achieve success |
| D．our success is connected with our friends’ progress |
| A．Show up. | B．Stand out. |
| C．Talk big. | D．Keep silent. |
| A．Improve ourselves further. |
| B．Consider their feelings. |
| C．Help them make progress. |
| D．Make them proud of us. |
| A．How to share our success with friends. |
| B．How to enjoy our success to the fullest. |
| C．How to keep relationships between friends. |
| D．How to keep friendships while enjoying achievements. |
5 . The popular streaming service Netflix announced plans to exclude (排除) tobacco use from any of its new shows and movies that target younger audiences, specifically those below the age of 15. According to media reports, the decision comes from pressure from Truth Initiative, a large non-profit organization aiming to get rid of tobacco and make its use “a thing of the past”.
Smoking is a bad habit and no parents want their kids to start smoking. As such, excluding the vice (坏习惯) from television shows and movies young people watch makes good sense. I’ll acknowledge that Netflix’s decision to exclude smoking is a good one — but it’s a wildly inconsistent standard. What about other vices? For example, the use of bad language?
As parents of three young boys, my wife and I are trying to expose our children to good things. We want to encourage them to grow up to become responsible men who see the value and potential in every person. We want to see them avoid the landmines that so often entrap young people today.
Sadly, typical television shows and movies contain material that’s the exact opposite of that. It’s often said that companies only produce what people will consume — and there’s some truth in such a claim. But the organization I work for has long had an online site that helps parents know about what's in a movie, show or music album. We don’t tell you whether you should watch or listen — we simply let you know what it’s about — and let you decide. It’s our most popular site, attracting millions of visits each month.
Netflix might be surprised how many new customers they would win if they started producing content that parents actually want instead of themes that regularly stand in opposition to the values of the millions of moms and dads like me who want to see our kids accomplish more in life rather than simply avoiding the smoking habit.
1. Why did Netflix plan to cut smoking from youth-targeted content?| A．Because of appeals from parents. |
| B．Because of the influence of media reports. |
| C．Because of requests from young audiences. |
| D．Because of pressure from a tobacco control organization. |
| A．Bad habits. | B．Comfort zones. |
| C．Unrealistic dreams | D．Improper friendships. |
| A．It teaches parenting skills. |
| B．It promotes youth programs. |
| C．It advertises movies and shows. |
| D．It serves as an entertainment guide. |
| A．It is helpless. |
| B．It is far from enough. |
| C．It is against popular values. |
| D．It is a warning to tobacco makers. |
6 . THE SESSIONS
TRAVEL WRITING
Whether you're trying to impress an editor, get yourself noticed or start a career as a writer, our sessions will give you all the help and advice you need to make your words count.
We'll also be discussing the future of travel writing in this ever-changing digital world.
One-on-one sessions
Are you looking for tailored feedback on your work? If so, we have a limited number of one-on-one sessions with leading travel writers that will focus on your style, tone and narrative direction. Our partner, Olympus, will also be on hand to give you expert advice on getting the most use of their cameras. For more details on how to book, go online.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Don,t miss your chance to get tips straight from the top as our team of photographers and designers share their expertise. We'll cover everything from wildlife and landscapes to planning the perfect shoot and adapting to your environment when talking photos.
WHEN
6, October 10:00-18:00
WHERE
University of Westminster
Marylebone Road, London
NW15LS
TICKETS
£50 or two for £90
1. What should you do if you want to turn to Olympus for help?| A．Attend photography sessions. | B．Book one-on-one service. |
| C．Land a job as a writer or an editor. | D．Go to University of Westminster. |
| A．£90. | B．£110. | C．£140. | D．£180. |
| A．To advertise a magazine. | B．To provide part-time jobs. |
| C．To promote some classes. | D．To exchange experience. |
7 . Zoos have traditionally been built in a certain way: Animals on the inside, humans on the outside, peering in. This separation is good in theory—humans and animals need to be protected from one another—but terrible in practice, as animals end up living in an environment far from a natural habitat. A new plan for a Zoo in Denmark wants to reverse those roles, giving animals more freedom in captivity while effectively placing humans inside protective barriers.
Called Zootopia, the conceptual design has the goal of turning the safari(野外观兽旅行)style zoo into a place where animals determine interaction—not humans. “Try to imagine if you asked the animals what they would like. What would they decide?” says the director of the project. “They want their nature back, so to speak, and we are going to try to create that”.
In Zootopia, animals will wander free around the perimeter while humans observe, hidden away from view in underground passageways and naturalistic architecture structures. Visitors can watch lions through an underground enclosure disguised as a hill. They'll peek out at giraffes through windowed houses built into the side of a hilly plains. Outside of the main circular entrance, there will be no traditional buildings. “We want to take away human influence,” said Zootopia's designers.
The main challenge, of course, is to design the zoo in a way that the enclosure is still there but it's not visible. The two-phase plan, which will cost around $200 million, is still in the improving and approval phase; it'll be at least five years until we see any work finished on the park, and it's likely to take upwards of 10 years before it opens. Can the animals wait that long?
1. Why does a zoo in Denmark plan to create Zootopia?| A．to protect animals from humans. |
| B．to provide animals with a natural habitat. |
| C．to provide humans with more freedom in the zoo. |
| D．to protect humans and give animals enough freedom. |
| A．animals enjoy full freedom. | B．there will be no conventional buildings. |
| C．humans watch animals without being noticed. | D．humans can interact with animals at their will. |
| A．It’s tricky to design the enclosure. |
| B．Zootopia is now under construction. |
| C．There is a long way to go before Zootopia operates. |
| D．Zootopia arouses people’s concern about animals. |
| A．the future of Zootopia | B．the development of Zootopia |
| C．the fall of traditional zoos | D．the concept of a cage-free zoo |
8 . One of the best uses of technology is to make life easier.
A new product from Microsoft Corporation can do just that for people who have trouble seeing. They may be blind or visually impaired. The product, an app, is currently available for free for Apple’s iPhone and iPad. The app is called Seeing AI. “AI” is short for artificial intelligence, a term for computers with an ability to think and learn like human beings.
Seeing AI uses both a camera and artificial intelligence to identify places, objects and people. The app then announces what the camera sees so users will know what is in front of them.
People can also use Seeing AI to learn words in English. With the app open, you can point your iPhone or iPad at any object and it will say what the object is. With Seeing AI, users can hear a description of not just objects, but other people. It can even tell you about their emotions. It will not just say that someone is smiling. The app will say that the person is happy. Or surprised. Or angry. People can use the app when going to a store or supermarket. It can read product bar codes so users will know whether a can is filled with fruit or dog food. Microsoft says Seeing AI will soon be able to identify banknotes so people know whether they are holding a bill that is worth $100 or $1.
At restaurants, diners can use the new app to hear a list of drinks and other menu offerings. It can recognize both food choices and prices. People can use the app to read signs and get directions, although Microsoft warns against using it for navigation（导航） purposes.
One of the more interesting tools of Seeing AI is its ability to read documents. The app can read documents aloud and even help a user position them on the center of the electronic device.
The app is currently available in just the US, Canada, India, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore---however, Microsoft says that the app will be available in other countries and districts soon.
1. Who is Seeing AI intended for?| A．people working at the restaurant |
| B．people having visual disabilities |
| C．people buying goods in the supermarket |
| D．people having difficulty in learning languages |
| A．describing a person | B．navigating |
| C．reading documents | D．reading product bar codes |
| A．It was developed by Apple | B．It can be used on computers. |
| C．It identifies things only by the camera. | D．It makes blind people’s life easier. |
| A．It will soon be available on Android. |
| B．It will replace people’s eyes. |
| C．It will have more new functions |
| D．It will only be used in European countries. |
9 . Recently according to a new research, humans have had a link to starches (含淀粉的食物) for up to 120,000 years — that’s more than 100,000 years longer than we’ve been able to plant them in the soil during the time of the ice Age’s drawing to an end. The research is part of an ongoing study into the history of Middle Stone Age communities.
An international team of scientists identified evidence of prehistoric starch consumption in the Klasies River Cave, in present-day South Africa. Analyzing small, ashy, undisturbed hearths(壁炉) inside the cave, the researchers found “pieces of burned starches” ranging from around 120,000 to 65,000 years old. It made them the oldest known examples of starches eaten by humans.
The findings do not come as a complete surprise — but rather as welcome confirmation of older theories that lacked the related evidence. The lead author Cynthia Larbey said that there had previously only been genetic biological evidence to suggest that humans had been eating starch for this long. This new evidence, however, takes us directly to the dinner table, and supports the previous assumption that humans’ digestion genes gradually evolved in order to fit into an increased digestion of starch.
Co-author Sarah Wurz said, “The starch remains show that these early humans living in the Klasies River Cave could battle against their tough environment and find suitable foods and perhaps medicines. And as much as we all still desire the tubers (块茎), these cave communities were gilling starches such as potatoes on their foot-long hearths. They knew how to balance their diets as well as they could, with fats from local fish and other animals.”
As early as the 1990s, some researchers started to study the hearths in the Klasies River Cave. Scientist Hilary Deacon first suggested that these hearths contained burned plants. At the time, the proper methods of examining the remains were not yet available. We now know human beings have always been searching for their desired things.
1. When did humans begin to farm starches?| A．After the Ice Age. | B．After the Middle Stone Age. |
| C．About 20,000 years ago. | D．About 100,000 years ago. |
| A．Starch diet promoted food culture. | B．Starch diet shaped humans’ evolution. |
| C．Starches had a variety of functions. | D．Starches offered humans rich nutrition. |
| A．They were smart and tough. | B．They preferred plants to meat. |
| C．They were generally very healthy. | D．They got along with each other. |
| A．Great Civilization of South Africa | B．The Evolution of Foods in History |
| C．Starches--the Important Food of Today | D．Big Findings--the Starches in Ancient Times |
10 . Do you like watching movies? The following movies are coming on soon. Please check and find the one you like. Click the name of each movie to get more information.
Brahms: The Boy II
Horror | Mystery |Thriller
Soon after a family moves into the Heelshire Mansion, their only son makes friends with a life-like doll called Brahms.
Director: William Brent Bell
Stars: Katie Holmes, Ralph Ineson, Owain Yeoman, Christopher Convery
Little Joe
Drama | Sci-Fi
Alice, a single mother, is a devoted senior plant breeder at a corporation engaged in developing new species. Against the company policy, she takes one plant home as a gift for her teenage son, Joe. The plant was created by genetic engineering and anyone touching it will become strange. Director: Jessica Hausner:
Stars: Emily Beecham, Ben Whishaw, Kerry Fox, Kit Conor
The Aeronauts
Action | Adventure I Biography | Romance
Pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) and scientist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) find themselves in a hard fight for survival while attempting to make discoveries in a gas balloon. Director: Tom Harper
Stars: Felicity Jones, Eddie Redmayne, Himesh Patel, Phoebe Fox
Apparition
Horror | Adventure
A group of young people, guided by an APP that connects the living with the dead, find themselves at an abandoned castle, a place with a horrific history tied to each of them, for reasons they’ll soon discover.
Director: Waymon Boone
Stars: Mena Suvari, Kevin Pollak, Megan West, Jon Abrahams
1. What can we learn about Brahms: The Boy II?| A．William Brent Bell is in charge of it. |
| B．Brahms can live a life as a man does. |
| C．The audience may be amused by the movie. |
| D．The story was created by William Brent Bell. |
| A．Brahms; The Boy II. | B．The Aeronauts. |
| C．Apparition. | D．Little Joe. |
| A．They are liked by teenagers. |
| B．Their plots are both horrible. |
| C．They are played by young actors. |
| D．Their characters all behave strangely. |
