1 . Soccer legend: They told me girls couldn't play this game
Note: Michelle Akers was a player on the US Women's National Teams who won World Cup titles in 1991 (where she won the Golden Hoot as top scorer) and 1999.
(CNN) — In third grade, I shared my dream along with my favorite football with the class, and as I proudly finished my speech, my teacher responded, "Michelle, girls cannot play football" to which I answered, "Yes, I can." I wouldn’t let it go, landing myself in the principal's office, trying not to cry. Soon, my mom arrived. “God help me now,” I thought ... until I heard her say to both my teacher and the principal, “How dare you tell my daughter what she can or cannot do.”
On Wednesday, all the world (myself included) will watch the 2019 US Women's National Team — Women's World Cup champions. I'm also thinking about how they — like I — got to the place where they lifted that trophy. To me, the 2019 World Cup and above all, this team, has taken the stories and dreams of the USWNT full circle.
It goes like this: First, you dream. Next, you play. Then, you inspire a legacy.
So many years ago, I dreamed of being a Pittsburgh Steeler. But many of the players on this 2019 World Champion USA Team sat in stadiums or watched games on TV in 1999 and dreamed of playing for the USWNT. No one could tell them they couldn't — they could see for themselves that it was possible.
They have now not only won a World Cup, but have turned their dreams into action. Dreams of being the best in the world. Dreams of equality and equal opportunity. And the actions to back them up and make them real for the people who come after them. They are demanding respect and equality from the powers that be because they know what it is to achieve more than just a trophy.
That, for me, is so very powerful. What this 2019 World Champion team demands for themselves — and put first in their lives — will be their biggest message of change: Respect. Equal opportunity. Team and family. Individual choice. Excellence. Into a new era.
And I am grateful to be celebrating them in their much deserved ticker-tape parade in the Canyon of Heroes in NYC.
1. What's the attitude of Michelle's mom towards her dream?| A．Funny. | B．Supportive. | C．Ambiguous. | D．Carefree. |
| A．Michelle is coaching and encouraging the team. | B．Michelle together with her team won the trophy. |
| C．The team carries the same dreams as Michelle's | D．The team didn't fail Michelle's great expectation. |
| A．She set an example to women football players. |
| B．She won the Golden Boot in 1999. |
| C．She retired from her team in 2019. |
| D．She recognized inequality to women in football. |
| A．Dream, Play and Inspire | B．Woman Football Develops |
| C．Football Counts More than Ever | D．Equal Playing Field Is More than Men's |
2 . A few years ago. four female mountain gorillas （大猩猩）left home, abandoning not only their mate — a sick alpha silverback — but their infants （幼崽），which were barely old enough to Iced themselves. Most mammals abandoned by their mothers risk an early death, and researchers worried about the young gorillas.
Instead, the scientists got a heartwarming surprise. The young gorillas’ uncle, a male gorilla named Kubaha, began to take care of them. He let them sleep in his nest and climb all over him like a jungle gym.
Kubaha’s willingness to be a foster dad turns out to be surprisingly common in mountain gorillas. An analysis on mountain gorillas at the Gorilla Fund's Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda has revealed that when young mountain gorillas lose their mothers, they do not have a greater risk of dying or losing their place in the social hierarchy because the rest of the group buffers them from the loss. The social group has evolved to protect the infants from the ill effects of losing their mothers.
The researchers confirmed this assumption by focusing on data on 59 gorillas between the ages of 2 and 8 who lost their mothers or were orphaned （成为孤儿）before they were fully mature. They then compared the survival of these animals across their lifetimes with the survival of 139 nonorphaned gorillas. They also compared their reproductive success and social rank as adults — and tracked who the infants spent the most time with.
Not only were the orphaned and motherless gorillas at no greater risk of dying, they also suffered no long-term effect on their ability to reproduce or on their social rank, the team reports today in eLife.
The findings suggest such altruistic behavior is not unique to humans — and that dads play an important role in primate youngsters' lives, says Duke behavioral ecologist Susan Alberts, "Nonhuman primates often are really good dads," she says. 'This shows that paternal care goes very deep in our primate lineage."
1. What moved the scientists according to the first two paragraphs?| A．Young gorillas’ being abandoned. |
| B．Kubaha's caring for the infants. |
| C．Young gorillas’ sleeping in uncle's nest. |
| D．Young gorillas’ climbing over their uncle. |
| A．Little trouble of survival. | B．Risk of dying young. |
| C．Loss of social status. | D．Inability to reproduce. |
| A．They focused on adult gorillas’ data. |
| B．They collected online information. |
| C．They tracked their companions. |
| D．They lived with them. |
| A．careless | B．fearless | C．harmless | D．selfless |
3 . People working from home have more options for making their living abroad than ever before. Recently new destinations have launched programs to tempt workers to abandon their home offices for tropical shores and year-round sun.
Montserrat
Remote workers must have medical insurance and an annual income of at least $70,000.
Fees are S500 for individuals-or $750 or higher for families — to apply.
Applicants know within a week if they are approved.
Remote workers must test negative for Covid-19 and quarantine for 14 days at an accommodation of their choice.
Mauritius
Remote workers seeking a "Covid-safe" place to ride out the pandemic can consider Mauritius.
There is no fee to apply, though applicants need long-term accommodation plans, travel and health insurance and proof of sufficient funds to stay in Mauritius, which is defined as at least$ 1,500 in monthly income.
The Bahamas
People who think they may tire of staying on one island can apply for the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay program.
The new 12-month residency permit lets remote workers and students live and move between 16 different islands in the Bahamas.
Applications are processed within five days and cost $25 per person.
Travelers need a negative Covid-19 test result.
Dubai
All nationalities can apply for Dubai's new remote working program, provided they make $5,000 per month.
At $287 to apply, fees are lower than most other programs. Applicants must have health insurance and show proof of income.
Travelers must arrive with a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test taken no more than 72 hours before departing.
1. Which place charges least for application?| A．Montserrat. | B．Mauritius. | C．The Bahamas. | D．Dubai. |
| A．Travelers have the longest residency permit. |
| B．Applicants are informed of approval results. |
| C．Remote workers need no Covid-I9 test taken. |
| D．Students are allowed to apply for the program. |
| A．First-class service. | B．Permanent residency. |
| C．Cosy environment. | D．Health insurance. |
4 . A robot with a sense of touch may one day feel “pain”, both its own physical pain and sympathy for the pain of its human companions. Such touchy-feely robots are still far off, but advances in robotic touch-sensing are bringing that possibility closer to reality.
Sensors set in soft, artificial skin that can detect both a gentle touch and a painful strike have been hooked up to a robot that can then signal emotions, Asada reported February 15 at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. This artificial “pain nervous system,” as Asada calls it, may be a small building block for a machine that could ultimately experience pain. Such a feeling might also allow a robot to “sympathize” with a human companion’s suffering.
Asada, an engineer at Osaka University, and his colleagues have designed touch sensors that reliably pick up a range of touches. In a robot system named Affetto, a realistic looking child’s head, these touch and pain signals can be converted to emotional facial expressions.
A touch-sensitive, soft material, as opposed to a rigid metal surface, allows richer interactions between a machine and the world, says neuroscientist Kingson Man of the University of Southern California. Artificial skin “allows the possibility of engagement in truly intelligent ways”.
Such a system, Asada says, might ultimately lead to robots that can recognize the pain of others, a valuable skill for robots designed to help care for people in need, the elderly, for instance.
But there is an important distinction between a robot that responds in a predictable way to a painful strike and a robot that’s able to compute an internal feeling accurately, says Damasio, a neuroscientist also at the University of Southern California. A robot with sensors that can detect touch and pain is “along the lines of having a robot, for example, that smiles when you talk to it,” Damasio says. ‘It’s a device for communication of the machine to a human.” While that’s an interesting development, “it’s not the same thing” as a robot designed to compute some sort of internal experience, he says.
1. What do we know about the “pain nervous system”?| A．It is named Affetto by scientists. | B．It is a set of complicated sensors. |
| C．It is able to signal different emotions. | D．It combines sensors and artificial skin. |
| A．Delivered. | B．Translated. | C．Attached. | D．Adapted. |
| A．Robots can smile when talked to. |
| B．Robots can talk to human beings. |
| C．Robots can compute internal feelings |
| D．Robots can detect pains and respond accordingly. |
| A．Machines Become Emotional | B．Robots Inch to Feeling Pain |
| C．Human Feelings Can Be Felt | D．New Devices Touch Your Heart |
5 . While mangoes are known as the "King of Fruits", grapes are popularly called as the "Queen of Fruits". The small juicy grapes are sorted into three varieties based on colors: green, red, black or blue. So are there any health benefits in grapes?
Grapes can be consumed in many ways. It can be either eaten raw, consumed in a juice form or used to prepare wine. During autumn, you will find different kinds of grapes in the market. As it is the main season of grapes, the amount of consuming this fruit is very high.
Although grapes are tiny in size, it has numerous health benefits. A lot of people are unaware of the health benefits of grapes. For example, drinking grape juice is one of the easiest ways to treat acidity. Moreover, the fruit juice is also a healthy drink for those who are on a diet.
Grape juice is loaded with nutrients, vitamins and mineral which keep us fit. For example, drinking grape juice is one of the traditional ways to cure a painful headache.
It would be interesting to know that grape juice is good for skin as well. Drinking a glass of grape juice every day helps get a clear and perfect skin naturally. It also has anti-ageing benefits on the skin. Green grapes especially speed up metabolism (新陈代谢) and induce perspiration which in turn helps get a youthful skin naturally.
So selection of grapes is very important. You must buy fresh, fine, and colored grapes. This can be easily done by lifting a bunch of grapes and shaking them. If the grapes fall, then they have been stored for long. And if the grapes are attached to the stem, then you can be sure that they are fresh to be consumed.
1. When it comes to grapes, the author thinks ________.| A．they are the best fruit in the world |
| B．they are consumed most in summer |
| C．they can do much good to our health |
| D．they consist of more than three kinds |
| A．Grapes are harvested only when it is cold. |
| B．The benefits of grapes escape many people. |
| C．Grape juice is considered to result in acidity. |
| D．Grape juice can make you have a good appetite. |
| A．It helps people avoid suffering from acidity. |
| B．It is beneficial to those being overweight. |
| C．It can make your skin fine and smooth. |
| D．It can cure all kinds of diseases. |
| A．Green grapes are much better than black ones. |
| B．It is better to prepare fresh grape juice at home. |
| C．The stored grapes juice is thought to be harmful. |
| D．Grape juice does more good to women than to men. |
6 . Grand Canyon Park Ranger Programs
Guided Cedar Ridge Hike
7 am Daily (Meet at the South Kaibab Trailhead)
A 3-mile(4.8km)hike on an unpaved path. Allow 4 hours. Minimum 2 liters of water per person. Bring salty snacks, sunscreen, and wear hiking shoes. Not recommended for people with heart problems, or difficulty walking.
Fossil Discovery Walk
9 am Daily(Meet at the Bright Angel Trailhead sign)
Walk among sea creatures that lived on this part of the continent 270 million years ago, before the age of the dinosaurs. This easy 1/2-mile(0.8 km)one-way walk explores an exposed fossil bed.
Critter Chat
9:30am Daily(Meet at Grand Canyon Visitor Center)
Learn about some of the Grand Canyon's diverse wild creatures who survive here in this place of extreme changes in exposure and climate. Wheelchair accessible. Family friendly.
Geology Walk
3:30 pm Daily(Meet at Yavapai Geology Museum)
Learn how the Grand Canyon formed while exploring Yavapai Geology Museum during this short introductory talk. Why is it so deep, wide, and grand? Why does it exist only here and nowhere else in the world? Consider walking the Trail of Time following the program.
Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult in all programs. All programs are free of charge.
1. What might you do in the program starting at 7 am?| A．Go on a hike. | B．Look for dinosaur fossils. |
| C．Learn more about climate change. | D．Walk the Trail of Time. |
| A．Guided Cedar Ridge Hike. | B．Fossil Discovery Walk. |
| C．Critter Chat. | D．Geology Walk. |
| A．At the South Kaibab Trailhead. | B．At the Bright Angel Trailhead sign. |
| C．At Grand Canyon Visitor Center. | D．At Yavapai Geology Museum. |
7 . Research has shown that disrupting one's natural “morning lark” (早起鸟) or “night owl” (夜猫子) tendency can result in immoral behavior at work.
Who doesn't love a flexible work schedule? Being able to make your own hours, come in when you're ready and leave when you're done, step out to attend a child's presentation at school, have a midday appointment, or even squeeze in a quick workout or nap as a guaranteed pick-me-up — flexibility greatly improves one's quality of life.
The benefits don't stop there, however. Research has shown that having flexible work hours actually makes one a better person. How so? It's been found that disrupted sleep patterns —in the form of having to act outside of your normal inclination to be a morning “lark” or a night “owl” — can result in strange, unethical, and out-of-line behavior.
Science journalist Linda Geddes said, “If you don't get enough sleep, research suggests you are more likely to have unethical behavior, such as being mean, bullying your fellow employees or falsifying receipts. But it's not just owls: the larks tend to behave more unethically in the evening, and owls in the morning. So ideally, you want to introduce flexible working."
Employers would be wise to allow their employees to start whenever they feel ready — whether it's at the crack of dawn or at 11 a.m., and to allow breaks or pauses in the day as needed — because that would mean better productivity, performance, and behavior.
This shift is already happening, with the New York Times recently reporting that 27 percent of US employers now offer the flexibility to work outside normal business hours, up from 22 percent in 2014; and 68 percent allow telecommuting as needed (up from 54 percent in 2014). With the national unemployment rate at its lowest in 50 years, employers are having to become more competitive in what they offer workers, and flex-hours seem like a no-brainer, highly beneficial to all.
1. What is mainly talked about in Paragraph 2?| A．Ways to improve life quality. |
| B．People's activities in their free time. |
| C．Methods to get a flexible work schedule. |
| D．The advantages of flexibility in work time. |
| A．Judgment. | B．Tendency. | C．Reaction. | D．Choice. |
| A．They will show their nature more easily. |
| B．They tend to suffer from sleep problems. |
| C．They tend to behave immorally in their work. |
| D．They will get more flexibility in working time. |
| A．The unemployment rate is increasing. |
| B．Employers are getting more free time. |
| C．Flexible working has been creating more jobs. |
| D．More employers adopt a flexible work schedule. |
8 . English Language Courses at ELC Los Angeles
At the English Language Center (ELC) Los Angeles you will find a variety of English courses and programs that meet the highest academic standards of any English language school in the United States. Through its 40 years of teaching students at all levels from all over the world, ELC has developed teaching and training techniques and programs that really work for everyone.
ENGLISH COURSES OFFERED AT ELC LOS ANGELES
● GENERAL ENGLISH COURSES
Intensive English Course
Semi-intensive Course
Individual Intensive Course
● TEST PREPARATION COURSES
Cambridge Preparation Course
TOEFL Preparation Course
● BUSINESS ENGLISH COURSE
Individual Executive Business English Course
ENGLISH CLASSES LOS ANGELES FACT FILE
● Length of lesson: 50 minutes
● Number of levels: 12
● Average number of students per class: 8-9
Maximum number of students per class: 10 (14 during July and August only)
ADDITIONAL SERVICES AT ELC LOS ANGELES
The ELC Los Angeles staff is eager to assist international students in achieving their long-term learning goals. ELC offers the following support services to ensure each student's time at ELC is enjoyable, effective and worry-free:
● Student Visa
ELC has been approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)to issue the SEVIS Form I-20. Students enrolling in a minimum 24-lesson-per-week course are eligible (有资格的) to receive an I-20 form in order to apply for an F-1 student visa in their country.
● English Level Evaluation with Multi-level- Placement
Each student benefits from our English level evaluation with multi-level placement. Our method means students usually have different teachers for different levels and ensures that students study English in the learning environment that is best for them.
● University Admission Services
ELC is pleased to offer free counseling and university placement services to all ELC students interested in continuing their education at an American college or university in California and around the United States.
1. Which course should you choose in order to improve your English in general?| A．TOEFL Preparation Course. | B．Individual Intensive Course. |
| C．Cambridge Preparation Course. | D．Individual Executive Business English Course. |
| A．8. | B．10. | C．12. | D．14. |
| A．To help achieve enough class hours. | B．To help start from the lowest level. |
| C．To help get into an appropriate level. | D．To help gain admission to university. |
9 . Here are apps that can help you make a schedule and a budget, take better notes, organize a big project, and stay safe. Check out these apps to get a head-start on being on top of your life!
Flashcards Deluxe
Price: $3.99
Platform: IOS and Android
Flashcards can be a very effective way to study, and Flashcards Deluxe makes creating them very easy. You can input information right into the app, make cards with up to five sides, and even add pictures and sounds to cards. The app can be set to automatically turn off cards that you get correct so you can focus more on the ones you get wrong.
Circle of 6U
Price: free
Platform: Android, IOS
When you’re on a college campus, walking home late at night can be frightening. So, make sure to download Circle of 6U, which helps you feel more secure. Not only does it help you find your location, but it makes communicating with your trusted friends easier. Once you build a network of trusted contacts in the app, it lets you send a pre-edited group message, with your location, to all of them in two taps.
CampusBooks
Price: free
Platform: IOS, Android
The CampusBooks app helps you get the lowest price when you’re buying or renting textbooks, and helps you get the highest price when you’re ready to sell! If you need a book right away, you’ll be shown the closest stores and libraries that have your book in stock.
Dragon Dictation
Price: free
Platform: IOS
Dictating homework and emails to the Dragon Dictation app can save your time! You can send your dictation to a text, email, or paste it into any application. The included editor will suggest words, and the app will improve its accuracy over time as it gets to know your voice. It also works in many languages other than English.
1. Which app can you choose for safety concern?| A．Flashcards Deluxe. | B．Circle of 6U. |
| C．CampusBooks. | D．Dragon Dictation. |
| A．It can add pictures to your email. | B．It can save your money on books. |
| C．It can correct your spelling mistakes. | D．It can understand your voice. |
| A．Students. | B．Librarians. |
| C．Businessmen. | D．Programmers. |
10 . Answering the Community Needs of Our City
The Siver City Council recognizes that citizens have certain needs. To better meet your needs, we have made several changes to community facilities in 2020. The followings shows how we have tried to make your life better.
Transport
☆Three stations for the suburbs have been added to the western train service.
☆20 new buses for the southern line were purchased in January.
☆50 per cent of city bus-stops have been upgraded.
Communication
☆Broadband cableis now available to ll parts of the city.
☆All of the new Government buildings are smart-wired for better computer service!
Medical Facilities
☆The new state-of-the-art Nightingale Hospital was opened in June.
☆To overcome a shortage of trained medical staff at Dover Hospital, 10 doctors have been employed from overseas.
☆Some facilities at Station Street Hospital have been upgraded.
Education
☆Textbooks will be free to all primary students in 2020!
☆Rental for private schools has been reduced.
Protection and Security
☆Extra police now patrol(巡逻)the tourist areas.
☆50 new police officers graduated in July and have taken up duties in the city area.
Entertainment/Recreation
☆The new Central Community Building opened in May.
☆5,000 new fiction books were bought for the Silver City Library.
1. What’s the notice mainly about?| A．The work carried out by the people of Silver City. |
| B．The facilities available in Silver City. |
| C．Some improvements in Silver City. |
| D．Information for interested tourists. |
| A．Travel books are provided in the new library. |
| B．More bus lines and stops are bought in Silver City. |
| C．Free medical treatment is available at Station Street Hospital. |
| D．There are more police officers on duty now. |
| A．the community | B．the local government |
| C．the Silver City Library | D．a travel agency |
