1 . A new keyboard tool makes it easier for blind Internet users or those who have low vision to quickly access options on popular websites.
Browsing（浏览）through offerings on Airbnb, for instance, means clicking on rows of photos. This is easy for common people but can be hard or impossible for the blind or those with poor eyesight. A new way of using the keyboard to access tables and maps lets blind and poor-sighted users visit sites more successfully than screen readers alone. The new keyboard tool, Spatial Recognition Interaction Techniques, or SPRITEs, maps different parts of the keyboard to areas on the screen.
In an experiment, 10 people, eight of whom were blind and two with poor eyesight, were asked to complete a series of tasks using their favorite screen reader technology, and then using that technology plus SPRITEs. After 15 minutes, three times as many participants were able to complete web-browsing tasks within the given time limit using SPRITEs, even though all were experienced with screen readers.
Users press keys to make the screen reader move to certain parts of the website. For instance, number keys, along the top of the keyboard, map to menu buttons. Double-clicking on a number opens that menu item’s submenu, and then the top row of letters lets the user select each item in the submenu. Most participants couldn't complete a task such as finding an item in a submenu or find certain information in a table using their favorite screen reader, but could complete it using SPRITEs. For text-based tasks such as finding a given section header, counting headings in a page, or finding a specific word, participants were able to complete them successfully using either tool.
Now the developers plan to make the system better for any website and then add it to some free online screen readers.
1. Why did the researchers carry out the experiment?| A．To show the advantage of SPRITEs. |
| B．To improve the use of screen readers. |
| C．To test web-browsing tasks in given time. |
| D．To prove SPRITEs’ advancement over the screen readers. |
| A．By clicking the mouse. | B．By touching the screen. |
| C．By tapping twice on a number. | D．By pressing keys at the bottom. |
| A．It contributes to typing fast. |
| B．It can recognize words much faster. |
| C．It helps explore new ways to surf the Internet. |
| D．It assists the blind and poor-sighted to find information more easily. |
| A．The age of keyboard is gone |
| B．The blind and poor-sighted's needs are met |
| C．Screen will be combined with a new keyboard |
| D．New keyboard technology is helping the blind and poor-sighted |
2 . With attractiveness in its structure (结构) and in its presence, the Eiffel Tower has become a great site of France and Gustave Eiffel's architectural wonder. Also known as La Tour Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower is climbed by millions of visitors every year. Do you know how tall the Eiffel Tower is? Standing at 1, 063 feet tall, this is the second tallest building in France after the Millau Viaduct, a road bridge across the river Tarn. Nicknamed La Dame de Fer, or the iron lady, this tower is a symbol of France even today.
The tower was built between 1887 and 1889 as the entrance for the World Fair. This event was to mark the 100th celebration of the storming of the Bastille and the French Revolution. Ironically, at first, the tower was considered unpleasant by a lot of art enthusiasts. Several members from the arts community said it only ruined the empty skyline of the Paris city. French novelist Guy de Maupassant expressed his dislike for the tower by eating lunch every day at the tower's restaurant — his explanation was that it was the only place in Paris where one could not see the structure! Whatever may have been the opinion about the structure at the time, the fact remains that it became an object that attracted many people around the world.
The tower, weighing 10, 000 tons, includes several non-metallic (非金属的) parts as well. The metallic parts used in the structure weigh 7,300 tons, which, if melted (熔化), will fill up a 125-meter square with a depth of 6cm. At the time when the tower was built, the great structure amazed lots of engineers and common people. The Eiffel Tower needs 50~60 tons of paint every seven years to keep the rust (铁锈) away.
The structure decorates the Parisian skyline. Being one of the most visited sites in the world, the Eiffel Tower still remains an architectural wonder!
1. What does “the iron lady" refer to in paragraph 1?| A．Gustave Eiffel. | B．The Eiffel Tower. |
| C．Millau Viaduct. | D．The river Tarn. |
| A．impolitely | B．impossibly | C．unexpectedly | D．cautiously |
| A．170 tons. | B．220 tons. | C．5,500 tons. | D．10,000 tons. |
| A．To show how huge the Eiffel Tower is. |
| B．To show the Eiffel Tower is a good entrance. |
| C．To show the materials used to build the Eiffel Tower. |
| D．To show how difficult it is to clean the Eiffel Tower. |
3 . In China, people travel by train to visit new places, go on business trips or go back to their hometowns during holidays. But in the US, traveling by train is a very old tradition. It wasn't always that way, though.
The US railway system started to grow in 1826. Later, many railway companies started up and competed with each other to build new railway routes （路线）. Trains became a symbol of progress, with New York City’s Grand Central Station becoming a major cultural landmark （地标）. Musicians even created music works about trains. For example, Johnny Cash wrote a song called Folsom Prison Blues. But little by little, railways were replaced by highways as “car culture” took over the US.
China would go on to use trains even more widely than the US. China's railway network connects the entire country. It allows people to travel fast with ease. For that reason, Chinese people like traveling by train. This is especially obvious during Chunyun, when China’s train stations are crowded with thousands of people who are trying to get home.
I had never traveled by train until I moved to China. My first trip by train was from Beijing to Tianjin by high-speed train. It was amazing how quickly I could get there just half an hour. Since then, I’ve taken the train to lots of other cities Shanghai, Chongqing and Shenzhen. It's always a good time. People on the train tend to be friendly and happy to chat. And for some reason, even instant noodles taste better on the train than they do anywhere else.
1. What does Paragraph I say about traveling by train？| A．It's totally out of date. | B．It’s common in China. |
| C．It remains popular in the US. | D．It's strange in the US. |
| A．A musician’s famous song about trains. |
| B．A well-known cultural landmark of the US. |
| C．The development of the US railway system. |
| D．The difference of trains in China and the US. |
| A．People on the train enjoy telling stories. |
| B．Instant noodle on the train are delicious. |
| C．Train services are good during Chunyun. |
| D．Trains are fast and convenient for them. |
| A．Satisfied. | B．Worried. | C．Confused. | D．Uncaring. |
4 . Go to North pole on The polar Express！
Between November 24th and December 30th each year, you and your kids can enjoy The Polar Express Train Ride in the Sea World Orlando！
This amazing journey takes you and your children to the North Pole on the actual train that has appeared in The Polar Express movie. You will have your yellow ticket checked by the conductor（售票员）, dance with cooks who will serve tasty drinks and treats, Interact（互动）with the characters from the movie, along with enjoying Chris Van Allsburg’s reading of the classic children s book The Polar Express.
Upon arrival at the North Pole, Santa Claus will climb into the train and visit each family. Each child will receive a bell from him as the first gift of Christmas.
After singing many sweet Christmas songs, kids will return to real life with a completely new sense of Christmas joy.
To make the ride more exciting, kids may put on costumes（戏装）, just like the children on the train in the movie!
It is a long way from Orlando to the North Pole, but The Polar Express Train Ride can take you there and back in a little over an hour. Ticket price is $32 for one seat. Children under the age of 2 may ride for free if they do not take a seat. A ticket at half price is required if the child takes a separate seat.
1. When can visitors enjoy The Polar Express Train Ride in the Sea World Orlando?| A．All year around. | B．Only in winter. |
| C．Usually in autumn. | D．Just before Christmas. |
| A．Go to the South Pole by train. | B．Watch a movie with the same. |
| C．Serve tasty drinks and treats. | D．Enjoy Chris Van Allsburg's reading. |
| A．$32. | B．$64. | C．$80. | D．$96. |
5 . Virtual Cooking Class
| Private 1: 1 Pasta（意大利面食）Class with Nonna Nerina $400 $-600 |  |
In this 2-hour live private one-on-one online experience, you will connect with 87-year-old Italian Nonna Nerina and her granddaughter Chiara as they walk you through a mouth-watering cooking experience of one of their favorite family recipes（食谱）in the comfort of your own home—without any other guests other than you!
Once you book this class, we will reach out to you to coordinate（协调）the best time and date that works for you, Chiara and Nonna Nerina. And a week before your class, you will receive a shopping list of ingredients（原料）to buy and a link to an Amazon storefront for any tool that you may need to cook with. Not to worry—we keep it simple, you probably already have all the things that you need in your kitchen!
You will discuss with Chiara about recipes and pasta choices, select the one that you are most excited about and then decide on all the details together for a magical experience.
Each recipe that we cook will be from our own family going back generations and we will send you some of our favorite wine pairing suggestions if you are really interested!
To become the cook you have always wanted to be, please join us every week for more classes and more fun by sending your email to NonnaLive@nonnalive.com!
1. What can we know about the private course?| A．It is held in an Italian family. |
| B．It is offering a discount at present. |
| C．It is given by Nonna Nerina alone. |
| D．It is a chance to learn magic. |
| A．Share your favorite recipe and pasta. |
| B．Invite the guests to join the class. |
| C．Get something necessary ready for it. |
| D．Do cleaning to keep your kitchen in order. |
| A．By writing an e-mail. |
| B．By making a phone call. |
| C．By visiting Chiara in person. |
| D．By leaving a message on the website. |
6 . At almost every Olympic Games, one athlete is named as the greatest star, and good-natured debates follow for years to come. Usually, there's no certainty about who is really the most memorable one.
But in 1948. everyone who attended the London Olympic Games agreed on who was the greatest legend: Fanny Blankers-Koen, a 30-year-old Dutch housewife.
Before the Games, many people suggested she was too old to succeed, while others said she should stay at home with her children. When she arrived at the track, she pointed at one of them and said simply, “I'll show you.”
And she did it.
Fanny Blankers-Koen won the 100m race with ease. With an Olympic gold medal to her name, she wanted to give up and return home because she missed her children so much. But her husband, Jan Blankers, who was also her coach, asked her to stay. The hurdles（跨栏） gold came next, followed by a championship in the 200m, which she won by 0.7 seconds--a huge margin（差额）that has not been matched since.
Blankers-Koen celebrated those victories with a big shopping tour, and only arrived back at the stadium ten minutes before the start of the 4x100m match. Without any warming up, she ran the last leg. When she started to run, the Dutch were in the third. But Blankers-Koen won the race by a foot.
If she hadn’t been limited（限制） by the IOC rules to four events, she could have won two more golds. IOC rules forced her to drop two of her strongest events, the long jump and high jump, both of which she held the world record.
On her return to Netherland, Queen Juliana gave her a bicycle, saying she wouldn’t have to run so much.
But she kept running until she finished her sport life as an athlete in 1955 with a 58th record and went to three more Olympics as a coach.
In 1999 when she was honored the greatest female athlete of the 20th century, Blankers-Koen asked, “Is it really me？” When she got a positive answer, she jumped up and did a little dance.
1. Which match did Fanny Blankers-Koen take part in without preparations before its start？| A．The hurdles. | B．The 4x100m. |
| C．The 200m. | D．The long jump. |
| A．She was content with her victory. |
| B．She was not sure whether she could win or not. |
| C．She wanted to stay with her children. |
| D．She was too tired to take part in more events. |
| A．1. | B．4 | C．6. | D．58. |
| A．The Challenges Faced by Women Athletes |
| B．The Medals Won by Fanny Blankers-Koen |
| C．The Memorable London Olympic Games in 1948 |
| D．The Story of a great Athlete, Fanny Blankers-Koen |
7 . Resilience is the ability to recover from experiences that are scary, painful, or upsetting. For you, it could be getting up after falling, or ignoring a hurtful comment. For another person , it could mean recovering from an accident or the loss of a loved one.
Here in New Zealand, award-winning author Diana Noonan teaches resilience through her fictional characters. "They win out,“ she said during a recent video interview, “by being self-dependent and resilient, and by looking for answers. "
Noonan has written many books, ranging from picture books for children to novels for adults. She has also written for television, radio and film. "Writing is a way of figuring out the answer to a lot of things in your life," she said, “except that you do it through other people."
Noonan believes that as a writer, it's her job to convince readers that things will get better. Quaky Cat, one of Noonan's titles, is more than just a picture book.
After a series of destructive earthquakes struck Christchurch, one of New Zealand's largest cities, in 2010 and 2011, Noonan wrote Quaky Cat. She wanted to bring hope to the city's children, many of whom had developed anxiety following the quakes. A copy was given to each five-year-old in Christchurch. Sales from the book raised over $ 150, 000 for local charities.
“To fight anxiety, you have to really know who you are," Noonan said. "You have to really believe and trust in yourself. There's only one way to do that, and that's to dig deep inside yourself. Reading is a time when you do a lot of thinking about yourself.
During the coronavirus pandemic, being resilient is especially important. A lot of us have spare time on our hands. "It's a good time to get to know ourselves. You need to take action,“ Noonan said. "Being strong in yourself,“ she added, “is knowing yourself. "
1. What does the first paragraph say about resilience?| A．It prevents us taking any possible risks. |
| B．It is an ability that is easy for people to get. |
| C．It helps to spread love around the world. |
| D．It means different things for different people. |
| A．To educate kids on survival skills. | B．To teach kids to be volunteers. |
| C．To help children in the disaster area. | D．To start a charity organization. |
| A．By improving their learning abilities. |
| B．By getting them to believe others. |
| C．By drawing their attention to writing. |
| D．By making them know themselves better. |
| A．Suggest. | B．Advertise. | C．Apologize. | D．Appreciate. |
8 . Recently whenever I turned on my computer or my mobile phone, news about the great effect of Hurricane Harvey（哈维飓风）on thousands of people caught my eye. I saw many unfortunate events. However, there was also lots of bright news that showed the goodness of mankind. As a reporter, I reported many human-interest stories when doing my job, That’s why the story about the guys in the bakery（面包店）caught my eye.
When the workers at a Mexican bakery chain in Houston were trapped inside the building for two days, they didn't sit there feeling sorry for themselves. They used their time wisely after flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. While waiting for the eventual rescue that came on Monday morning, the four workers decided to make as many loaves of bread as possible for people around the neighborhood. They talked to their manager about their plan over the phone and the manager agreed.
The flood water rose in the street outside. They took advantage of their emergency power supply to bake bread. They used more than 4,200 pounds of flour（面粉）to create hundreds of loaves and sheets of sweet bread. Although the water kept rising, they continued baking to help more people. By the time the manager managed to get to them, they had made so much bread that they took the loaves to lots of emergency centers across the city for people affected by the floods.
The store manager, Brian Alvarado, told The Independent, “They've done more than they should have done. And what they had done has lit a light for people. I feel lucky to have them work in the bakery.”
Whenever a disaster occurs, nobody should feelforlorn. Instead, we should stay hopeful and take positive action to save ourselves and help others. Our acts of kindness will make a big difference to the people in the world as well as the world itself.
1. Why did the story in the bakery draw the author’s attention?| A．It was helpful in choosing a good job. |
| B．It made him/her interested in baking. |
| C．It could bring him/her much money. |
| D．It showed the goodness of mankind. |
| A．They tried to get people out of water. |
| B．They set up emergency centers to help. |
| C．They offered to make bread for people. |
| D．They let homeless people live in the bakery. |
| A．He found them lucky. | B．He was proud of them. |
| C．They were experienced. | D．They were shy but brave. |
| A．Hopeless. | B．Confident. | C．Serious. | D．Angry. |
9 . The tools scientists use to study hurricanes change constantly. So though research has suggested the warming world would produce stronger hurricanes, it has been difficult to say that with certainty. A new paper, published online on May 18, proves its certainty-studying a period of 39 years, between 1979 and 2017. Normalizing their data in a certain way, the researchers found a clear trend: Storms are getting stronger in general, and major tropical cyclones（热带气旋） are coming more often
“The main difficulty we have in finding trends is that the data are collected using the latest technology at the time,” said James Kossin, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor. “Every year the data are a bit different than last year, and each new satellite has new tools and captures data in different ways, so in the end we have pieces of all the satellite data that have been woven together.”
To create a consistent record to work with, the researchers tried something new. They sanded the edges off their newer, sharper tropical cyclone images to fit an older standard: Images where each pixel（ represents an area 5 miles by 5 miles. They also removed images from newer satellites that provide views of storms from angles unavailable in 1998. That left them with an extensive dataset of about 225, 000 similar-quality images of about 4,000 global tropical cyclones.
The researchers found that the chances of any given tropical cyclone becoming a hurricane have gone up, and that the likelihoods of major hurricanes have gone up by about 15%-with most of that increase happening in the last 19 years of the 39-year study period.
This paper on its own doesn't rule out the idea that the uptick in hurricanes isn't the result of some perfect coincidence of other trends, the researchers wrote. But it shows the increase is happening, precisely during the period of great warming.
1. What does James Kossin consider as a problem with data collection?| A．The lack of high technology. | B．The inaccuracy of old satellites. |
| C．The constant change of climate. | D．The use of tools of different times. |
| A．How to get consistent record. | B．How to compare different data. |
| C．How to improve image quality. | D．How to make the pixel change. |
| A．Change. | B．Power. |
| C．Rise. | D．Danger. |
| A．A New Way to Fight Global Warming |
| B．Warming Surely Makes Hurricanes Stronger |
| C．Hurricanes Change Over the Past Years |
| D．A Special Tool of Monitoring Hurricanes |
10 . Languages are important. But how they appeared is largely mystery（谜）. It is interesting to see how deaf people can create novel sign languages immediately. Observations have shown that when deaf strangers are brought together in a community, they come up with their own sign language in a considerably short amount of time. However, how exactly this happened has not been recorded, as Manuel Bohn describes, “We know relatively little about how social interaction becomes language. This is where our new study comes in.”
In a series of studies, researchers attempted to recreate exactly this process. But there was a problem: how to make children communicate with each other without them returning to talking to each other? The solution came up in Skype conversations between the two researchers from Germany and their colleague Michael Tomasello in the US. In the study, the children were invited to stay in two different rooms and a Skype connection was established between them. After a brief familiarization with the set-up, the researchers turned off the sound and watched as the children found new ways of communicating that go beyond spoken language.
The childrens' task was to describe an image with different meanings in coordination（协调）game. With concrete things like fork, children quickly found solution by copying the action（e. g. eating） in a gesture. But the researchers repeatedly challenged the children with new, more abstract pictures. In the course of the study, the images to be described became more and more complex, which was also reflected in the gestures that the children produced. In order to communicate, for example, an interaction between two animals, children invented separate gestures for actors and actions and began to combine them.
The studies show that communication cannot be reduced to words alone. When there is no way to use conventional spoken language, people find other ways to get their messages across. This phenomenon forms the basis for the development of new languages.
1. What is basically unknown to us?| A．The origin of languages. | B．Normal people's interaction. |
| C．When sign languages are used. | D．The importance of languages. |
| A．To make the children think in quiet environment. |
| B．To evaluate the children's potential modeling skills. |
| C．To let the children imagine how the deaf communicate. |
| D．To know how the children communicate without speaking. |
| A．Draw pictures of some objects. | B．Invent a couple of new words. |
| C．Describe something in their way. | D．Express their own true feelings. |
| A．A biology textbook. | B．A science magazine. |
| C．A science fiction book. | D．A travel brochure. |
