1 . The World Health Organization（WHO）declared on Dec 29 that Guinea was Ebola—free, which means the Ebola outbreak has officially ended in West Africa.
"The fatal disease broke out in Guinea in December 2013, and then spread to neighboring Sierra Leone and Liberia," salon. com writer Ben Norton wrote. "A handful of Ebola cases were subsequently reported in Nigeria, Mali, the US and some European countries, yet were all contained.
The WHO declared the end of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone in November, just after Liberia was declared Ebola - free in September. However, Liberia has had new cases since the declaration, reported the BBC.
The disease killed more than 2,500 people in Guinea, and a further 9,000 in Liberia and Sierra Leone. It is the largest Ebola epidemic（流行病）in history, according to the WHO.
Children were especially vulnerable（脆弱的）to the disease. During the outbreak, more than 22,000 kids lost one or both parents in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, according to UNICEF. In Guinea alone, 6,220 children lost a parent or both, and 519 more were killed.
A salon. com article says when a few cases of Ebola were found in the US, the media went hysterical（歇斯底里的）, But since the disease was contained in the West Africa in 2014, Western governments and media outlets have devoted little attention to it.
"This reaction", says the article, has "led critics and activists to accuse the Western media of prejudice and racism. When white people were threatened by the disease, there was more concern and interest. When they were no longer threatened, there was silence.”
1. The Ebola outbreak has officially ended in West Africa because__________ has no Ebola.| A．Guinea | B．Sierra Leone | C．Liberia | D．Nigeria |
| A．6,220 | B．9,000 | C．22,000 | D．15,780 |
| A．Critical | B．Neutral | C．Supportive | D．Unclear |
| A．fight against prejudice and racism. |
| B．stop ignoring the survivors. |
| C．care for the children who have lost their parents. |
| D．look for a cure for Ebola |
2 . Across Europe, many castles have been changed into hotels. Check out five of the best and most beautiful places to stay.
Hotel Schools Thannegg
Hotel Schools Thannegg lies in the middle of the Austrian Alps, a fairy-tale sight in the snow and the perfect winter break getaway. The ceilings date back to 1150, and the hotel has its own free bus that will take you away on a skiing adventure in winter.
Swinton Estate
The English may not be hugely romantic. But their country castles certainly are. Swinton Estate is the home of the Cunliffe-Lister family, and has been turned into a 30-bedroom hotel. It comes complete with small towers, long passages, grand staircases, and wide balconies.
Hotel de la Cite
There are few better places to base yourself when you explore the city of Carcassonne than Hotel de la Cite. It’s the only hotel that sets inside the walls of the UNESCO World Heritage Site （世界遗产地）. Enjoy a glass of wine on the balcony as the sun sets over France, taking in the impressive views.
Castel Porrona
Deep in the rolling Tuscan hills of Italy—in a delightful village dating back to the 1lth century and surrounded by vineyards （葡萄园）, sunflower fields and olive groves. Bach of its 25 rooms offers wonderful views of the village, the castle grounds and the whole landscape.
Pousada de Óbidos
There are only nine rooms —so plan your booking in advance. Within the city walls of Obidos lies the Pousada di Óbidos, which has been turned into one of the country’s finest hotels, and one of the first to become a pousada, a traditional or historical Portuguese hotel. The hotel is charming and intimate （温馨的）, particularly popular in the summer months.
1. What can guests enjoy at Hotel Schools Thannegg?| A．Fairy tales. | B．Hotel bus service. |
| C．Modern ceilings. | D．English castles. |
| A．It has balconies. | B．It provides wine. |
| C．It’s in a conservation area. | D．It’s in the city center. |
| A．Hotel Schools and Swinton Estate. | B．Swinton Estate and Hotel de la Cite. |
| C．Hotel de la Cite and Castel Porrona. | D．Castel Porrona and Pousada de Óbidos. |
3 . Are you interested in working with animals? Now here comes the CHANCE. Kirby Wildlife Park has set up the unique Keeper Experience package. The fantastic experience is available to anyone over the age of 18 who is reasonably fit. We regret that for health and safety reasons, participants who are pregnant, in a wheelchair or suffering from illnesses cannot take part.
A typical day
9:15 Arrival
9:30 Health and Safety Briefing
10:00 Apes and Monkeys
While cleaning out the enclosure (围场) you will find out about how enclosures are enriched with novel items and new smells to stimulate the animals′ senses and imitate their natural environment.
12:00 Lunch
14:00 Big Cats
As one of the highlights of this volunteer experience, you will feed the cats and learn about their nutritional needs. The keeper will give you an introduction to how cat behavior can be read to get an idea of their welfare and health.
16:30 Meet the Team
Meet more of the staff and learn how you can get further involved with work at the park. Learn about our animal adoption plan, what it takes to be a good keeper and where to obtain the right qualifications for a career in animal welfare.
Booking and cancellation
The Keeper Experience is available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year, and must be booked at least two weeks in advance. Full payment is needed when booking.
Cancellations must be made more than fourteen days before the event. Otherwise, you won′t receive a full refund.
1. What kind of people can experience working with animals in Kirby Wildlife Park?| A．A pregnant woman. |
| B．A man who is quite healthy. |
| C．A teenager sitting in a wheelchair. |
| D．A student under the age of 18. |
| A．At 12:00. |
| B．At 9:30. |
| C．At 10:00. |
| D．At 16:30. |
| A．a booking should be made over two weeks before the event |
| B．people are allowed to cancel a booking with a full refund at any time |
| C．cancellations need to be made on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays |
| D．participants can have the unique experience every day throughout the year |
4 . Summer Fun at Happy Kids’ Learning Centre
Are you looking for something that can add color to your summer holiday? If yes, here are the summer courses that you cannot miss!
Children Can Cook
The course is to improve children's knowledge in the kitchen. They will learn basic cooking skills, kitchen safety, and how to buy proper ingredients （原料）and follow steps in recipes （食 谱）.Children can sit comfortably and eat what they have cooked at the end of each lesson.
Little Writers
The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, children are introduced to famous stories and their writers. In the second part, they are taught to write their own stories. Children also get the chance to write other text types, such as poems and plays.
Acting for Fun
This is a course that lets children enjoy the fun of acting. Through acting and speaking in front of people, children will be more confident. Parents are welcome to watch the performance given by the children at the end of the course.
Watercolor Painting
This course teaches children the basic skills of painting people and animals. We encourage children to watch, imagine and create their own works.
1. How many parts are there in the writing course?| A．One part. | B．Two parts. |
| C．Three parts. | D．Four parts. |
| A．Acting for Fun. | B．Watercolor Painting. |
| C．Little Writers. | D．Children Can Cook. |
| A．Cook a meal for their parents. |
| B．Act with their parents in public. |
| C．Read more books during the holiday. |
| D．Attend activities at the learning centre. |
Helping Seniors | |
 | Posted 5 / 15 /20 4：53PM |
| I created Teens Helping Seniors with my friends. The group has about 200 volunteers. The volunteers deliver food or other supplies for the elderly in town. I spend six to eight hours a week buying food and making deliveries. By now we have completed 350 deliveries. | |
 | Posted 5/ 15 /20 6：25PM |
| I organized Mittler Senior Technology, a program to help the elderly learn how to use computers and smartphones. Now there are 50 Local seniors in the weekly technology classes. I want to make sure that the seniors could stay connected to the world. | |
 | Posted 5 /16 /20 , 5： 20PM |
| I came up with a way to help lonely seniors with my friends. We call it the Joy 4 All Project. By dialing 569-4255, the elderly can hear pre-recorded jokes and poems. The hotline has received more than 1, 800 phone calls. | |
 | Posted 5 / 16 /20 7：46PM |
| I heard that the seniors in the nursing home couldn’t see their families and friends very often, so my friends and I've decided to cheer up the elderly by writing them letters. We want them to know that nobody is being forgotten. By now more than 100 students in my school have joined us. | |
1. Who created Teens Helping Seniors?
| A．Kathy. | B．Linda. | C．Matt. | D．Jordan. |
| A．50. | B．100. | C．200. | D．350. |
| A．Teaching them computer knowledge. |
| B．Recording jokes and poem. |
| C．Delivering food for them. |
| D．Writing them letters. |
6 . In a world with limited land, water and other natural resources, the harm from the traditional business model is on the rise. Actually, the past decade has seen more and more forests disappearing and the globe becoming increasingly warm. People now realize that this unhealthy situation must be changed, and that we must be able to develop in sustainable（可持续的）ways. That means growth with low carbon or development of sustainable products. In other words, we should keep the earth healthy while using its supply of natural resources.
Today, sustainable development is a proper trend in many countries. According to a recent study, the global market for low-carbon energy will become three times bigger over the next decade. China, for example, has set its mind on leading that market, hoping to seize chances in the new round of the global energy revolution. It is now trying hard to make full use of wind and solar energy, and is spending a huge amount of money making electric cars and high-speed trains. In addition, we are also seeing great growth in the global markets for sustainable products such as palm oil（棕榈油）, which is produced without cutting down valuable rainforest. In recent years the markets for sustainable products have grown by more than 50%.
Governments can fully develop the potential of these new markets. First, they can set high targets for reducing carbon emissions and targets for saving and reusing energy. Besides, stronger arrangement of public resources like forests can also help to speed up the development. Finally, governments can avoid the huge expenses that are taking us in the wrong direction, and redirecting some of those expenses can accelerate the change from traditional model to a sustainable one.
The major challenge of this century is to find ways to meet the needs of growing population within the limits of this single planet. That is no small task, but it offers abundant new chances for sustainable product industries.
1. The traditional business model is harmful because of all the following EXCEPT that ______.| A．it makes the world warmer |
| B．it consumes natural resources |
| C．it makes growth hard to continue |
| D．it brings severe damage to forests |
| A．cut public expenses | B．forbid carbon emission |
| C．develop public resources | D．encourage energy conservation |
| A．develop sustainable products | B．explore new natural resources |
| C．make full use of natural resources | D．deal with the major challenge |
| A．To compare two business models. |
| B．To introduce a new business model. |
| C．To advocate sustainable development. |
| D．To predict a change of the global markets. |
7 . Chicago Botanic Garden Events
• Midwest Fruit Explorers
March 31-April 10, 1-4 pm
The Midwest Fruit Explorers presents this hands-on workshop with step-by-step instructions on how to grow fruit trees.
• Midwest Daffodil Society Show
April 22-28, 10 am-4:30 pm
The Midwest Daffodil Society Show features hundreds of daffodils on display that will be judged by the society. The show includes floral(花卉的) design and photography competitions.
• Ikebana International Show
May 11-19, 9 am-3: 30 pm (Saturday & Sunday only)
The Ikebana International Society presents an exhibition of traditional Japanese flower arranging.
• Gardeners of the North Shore Show & Sale
The Gardeners of the North Shore host this annual show.
June 27-30, 9 am-4:30 pm
This show includes a judged exhibition with more than 500 entries of anything a home gardener can grow, including flowers, vegetables, herbs, and houseplants.
Service animals
Service animals are welcome. No pets please.
Electronic Convenience Vehicles(ECVs)
They are available for rent in the Visitor Center on an unreserved, first-come-first-served basis. The following fees apply: members: $15, 1 nonmembers $20. ECVs will not be rented for indoor use.
Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs are available free at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center.
Daily Hours: 8 am-7 pm
Garden View Cafe: 8 am-4 pm
Garden Shop: 10 am-4 pm
1. What can you do at Midwest Fruit Explorers?| A．Design flower patterns. |
| B．Learn about fruit tree planting. |
| C．Take part in its photography competition. |
| D．Buy some fruit at a good price. |
| A．Midwest Fruit Explorers. |
| B．Midwest Daffodil Society Show. |
| C．Ikebana International Show. |
| D．Gardeners of the North Shore Show Sale. |
| A．They can rent ECVs for indoor use. |
| B．They can visit the garden with their pets. |
| C．They can have free coffee from 8 am to 4 pm. |
| D．They can use free wheelchairs if they need to. |
8 . If you are looking for something fun and educational to do in Maryland, why not visit the Maryland Science Center? It is located at 601 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 2. The ticket prices vary depending on ages, groups and the exhibits you choose.
IntroductionThe Maryland Science Center is basically a museum, but it gives everyone a chance to learn through experience and play, rather than just glance at an exhibit.
ActivitiesYou can learn about various topics, including outer space, the human body, dinosaurs, electricity, marine(海洋的) biology, energy, and much more. You can also take part in the interactive activities, such as racing bubbles, digging for dinosaur fossils, using puzzle pieces to construct cars, and so much more.
The Davis Planetarium(天文馆)At the Davis Planetarium, you can lie back in a chair and look at the stars while still inside the Science Center. The stars will appear on the ceiling of the theatre as you watch them.
There are different shows to catch at the Davis Planetarium. You can learn about the galaxy and astronomy during the Dark Matters show. Learn about the stars and planets during the Sky Live show. The One World One Sky show allows children to explore the stars. The Live from the Sun show will teach you all about the hot sun.
The Kids RoomFor children, they can’t miss the Kids Room. They will be able to play in a water area, construct dams and water towers, push buttons, ring doorbells, build with blocks, and more, and definitely they will learn a lot. In addition, there is also an area for kids of two years old and under, where they can crawl, walk and explore safely with soft toys.
1. What do we know about the Maryland Science Center?| A．It charges different prices for parents and Children. |
| B．It is regarded as the most popular museum in Maryland. |
| C．It is a museum where there are many famous exhibitions. |
| D．It is mainly designed for children and their families to play together. |
| A．Dark Matters. | B．Live from the Sun. |
| C．One World One Sky. | D．Sky Live. |
| A．It is designed for parents who have children. |
| B．It provides a good opportunity for parents to relax. |
| C．Children there need to be accompanied by their parents. |
| D．It is a good place for children to learn and play at the same time. |
9 . Recently I’ve had two good roles on television. But when I was just getting started in theater work 17 years ago, I never thought I’d make it. Back then I was recovering from surgery and had been off work for six months. Even worse, as a single mother with three youngsters, I had no place to live in. I felt hopeless.
One Sunday morning I saw actor Robert Young on the television talking about his faith: Believe yourself! If we confidently take that first step, well take the next, until we reach our goal.
The first step was scary. After I went working part-time, I looked for an apartment. The ones I saw were either too expensive, or I couldn’t raise my children in them. I knew a house, not an apartment, was more suitable for me. However, after seeing several houses, my confidence was shaken. I found two seemed right, but when I was about to make an offer, someone else had ordered.
I remembered a saying, “When one door closes, a better one opens.” I wouldn’t just sit staring at the closed one but got up and struggled on. In a real estate (房地产) agent, I found a small house with proper price. To buy it, I had to borrow $ 3,000 for a down payment and get a mortgage (按揭). Common sense argued that a mortgage for a single mother working part-time was impossible. But I had enough self-confidence without following common sense.
After getting the house, my new self-confidence grew. Later , when I began filling small parts in television productions, that self-confidence showed. I'd always played the role as the director wanted. Now I find myself freer to interpret (演绎) it.
Self-confidence has made it through life. Trouble can be scary at first, but each time I take that step, I believe I will win the next.
1. How did the author feel when entering television industry at first?| A．Hopeful. | B．Embarrassed. | C．Pessimistic. | D．Aggressive. |
| A．To show the value of self-confidence. |
| B．To share her different life experiences. |
| C．To introduce her toughest part of life. |
| D．To tell us her ways to get over difficulty. |
| A．Her sense of confidence. | B．The difficulty in her life. |
| C．The director’s good direction. | D．Her success in her first attempt. |
| A．Appear on the Stage | B．Struggle with Life |
| C．Stick to Your Plan | D．Believe in Yourself |
10 . When NASA astronaut William Shepherd and Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev entered the International Space Station on November 2, 2000, they became the first of many to live in the orbiting laboratory 227 nautical miles (海里)above Earth.
Since that first 136-day stay for Expedition 1, the space station has served as a center for continuous human occupation, scientific research and a proving ground for future space exploration for 20 years.
Early in the space station program, the main focus was on building the space station. After that was completed in 2011, the focus has changed to science. More than 3,000scientific investigations have been conducted on the space station. This research has extended to a great many subjects.
While the research conducted on the space station throws light on how a range of things react to the lack of gravity，it has also been used to improve our lives on Earth. Through experiments on the station，we've learned better ways to purify air and water in our homes, developed advance rents in telemedicine，and found better treatments for diseases like cancer.
The space station is also being used as a proving ground as NASA prepares to return humans to the moon by 2024 through its Artemis program, as well as a future human task to Mars.
Going forward, Shepherd believes that a trip to Mars or other locations in the solar system will require large vehicles that will require construction in orbit, using spacewalks and robotics. It will also require the work, expense and cooperation(合作) of several countries.
“If you look at the International Space Station, it's really a blueprint (蓝图) for how to do this.”
1. Which of the following is NOT the function of the space station?| A．To conduct scientific experiments. | B．To send astronauts to Mars. |
| C．To serve as a proving ground. | D．To provide stay for astronauts. |
| A．To do scientific researches. | B．To conduct space explorations. |
| C．To construct the space station. | D．To send humans to the space station. |
| A．More space stations. | B．More spacewalks and robotics. |
| C．Larger orbiting laboratories. | D．Joint efforts of several countries. |
| A．The future exploration of the space station |
| B．The efforts humans put into the space station. |
| C．The construction and protection of the space station. |
| D．The development and potential of the space station. |
