1 . On the first day of fourth grade, my teacher, Mrs. Brown, told my class a story about her husband Rob, who is a brain cancer survivor. After what Mrs. Brown experienced with Robs’ illness, she decided to devote part of her life to an organization called Be head Strong, which works to support families with a member suffering from brain cancer.
Along with typical math and science, throughout the year, Mrs. Brown shared stories with us about people in Be Head Strong who had overcome some tough and unfair battles. Mrs. Brown never showed any sadness or confusion toward the disease. She instead spoke only with words of determination to find a cure. Whether news from Be Head Strong was good or bad, she always looked at the situation as an opportunity to improve and do more.
My parents taught me from a very young age that making wise choices with my money is important. I would always set aside most of my $ 2.50-a-week allowance. By the end of the school year, I had saved over one hundred dollars, $ 131.30 to be exact. One day was wondering what to do with it. I did not feel like any game or toy was worth the time I had spent saving. I thought about the stories Mrs. Brown told us, then I decided that was where I wanted my money to go.
As the last day of school approached, my mom helped me wrap the heart-shaped box full of dollars and coins. After all the other kids had left on the last day of school, I handed Mrs. Brown the present. As she opened it, I told her that I wanted the money to go to Be Head Strong to help people like Rob. She broke into tears and hugged me tightly.
People may not always realize how big of an influence one kind gesture can make. One teacher encouraged a decision in my life that has changed the way how I live.
1. What do we know about Mrs. Brown from paragraph 1?| A．She had just survived a brain cancer. |
| B．She lost her husband to a brain cancer. |
| C．She founded a non-profit organization for brain cancer. |
| D．She was devoted to helping people with brain cancer. |
| A．Outgoing and organized. | B．Positive and delightful. |
| C．Enthusiastic and patient. | D．Kind-hearted and strong-willed. |
| A．The author thought the money was worth something more meaningful. |
| B．The author’s parents were strict with him in buying games and toys. |
| C．The author was old enough to get rid of games and toys. |
| D．The author had no time to pick his favorite games and toys. |
| A．A Teacher—a Role model. | B．A Teacher—A Life-long Learner. |
| C．An Unforgettable Science lesson. | D．A Special Teacher and Her Life Story. |
2 . During the "golden week" national holiday that began on October 1st, hundreds of thousands of sightseers flocked to Lijiang, a picturesque historic town in the south-western province of Yunnan. Among its attractions are the symbols printed beneath the Chinese characters on road signs and shop fronts （Starbucks included）. They are Dongba pictographs, an ancient form of script（文字）that originated among the Naxi, a local ethnic group. It almost died until about a decade ago, when local officials began to realize its value and covered the town with it.
Dongba was never widely used by the Naxi, of whom there are about 300,000 living in the Himalayan foothills near Lijiang, as well as in Tibet and Sichuan province. The pictographs, which evolved as early as the seventh century, were developed by shamans （巫 师）of the Dongba faith, which has roots in Tibet.
Over 20,000 of these religious records survive. They provide rich insight into how Naxi people thought about war, geography, astronomy and agriculture. But they are extremely hard to read. Linguists are helped by the area's Dongba priests（神职人员）. There are about 600, most of them very old, including Yang Guoxing, who ran a school from 2010 to 2015 to teach Dongba to children living in the mountains. When Mr Yang was growing up, “everyone was too busy farming” to learn it. Now they are all busy soaking up the pop culture， he says.
Signs at bus stations in rural Yunnan encourage locals to use written and spoken Chinese. But the Naxi get off lightly compared with other ethnic minorities. Primary schools in Lijiang teach the Dongba script twice a week, as well as Naxi nursery rhymes. Li Dejing, head of the Dongba Culture Research Institute, says this is not just about keeping alive the pictographs, but letting children grasp “the very spirit of their own culture”. And this will also help tourism to develop in Lijiang.
1. What do we know about the Dongba script?| A．It is widely used by local people. |
| B．It was a tool used by certain people. |
| C．It was quite popular at certain periods. |
| D．It has a history of more than 3000 years. |
| A．Only priests can read it. |
| B．It's extremely hard to read. |
| C．Its value hasn't been fully recognized. |
| D．People are too busy to learn a new language. |
| A．New schools are opened to teach it. |
| B．Some tourists are invited to preserve it. |
| C．Only the Dongba script can be used in schools. |
| D．People are more exposed to this language than before. |
| A．The Dongba Script Is Dying | B．The History of the Dongba Script |
| C．The Dongba Script Survives in Lijiang | D．The Influence of the Dongba Script |
3 . Summer Servers
Summer Servers contacts area nonprofits to determine the number of volunteers needed at the organizations throughout the summer weeks. Students sign up for volunteer expeditions with Summer Servers at the Activities Fair on Opening Weekend. Trips are scheduled throughout the summer on Saturdays. Visit the website or call (617) 495 — 3454 to learn more information.
Harvard Summer School Orchestra
The Harvard Summer School Orchestra is currently in its thirty-fifth season under the direction of Judith Zuckerman. Practise sessions are from 6:30 pm to 9 pm, in Sanders Theatre, on the following dates: Friday, June 28; Mondays, starting July 1; and Friday, July 26. The performance is scheduled for Saturday, July 27, at 8 pm, in Sanders Theatre, Memorial Hall. For more information, please email hsso@verizon. net.
Harvard Summer Pops Band
The band is open to most instrument players from both Harvard and the Greater Boston area, regardless of age or experience. Practise sessions are Wednesdays in Sanders Theatre from 7:15 pm to 9:30 pm, starting June 24. The band will perform two concerts. The first on July 23 at 4 pm in Tercentenary Theatre, Harvard Yard, and the second on July 26 at 3 pm at the Hatch Memorial Shell in Boston. For more information, email meolson@fas. Harvard. edu.
Harvard Summer Chorus
The chorus, founded in 1936, is led by Andrew Clark, Harvard University's Director of Choral Activities. Practise sessions are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 pm to 9:30 pm, in Sanders Theatre, starting Tuesday, June 25. The final performance is scheduled for Friday, August 2,at 8 pm, in Sanders Theatre, Memorial Hall. Visit the Harvard Summer Chorus website or email Harvard summer chorus® gmail. com for more information.
1. Which of the following suits those who are only available on the weekend?| A．Summer Servers. | B．Harvard Summer School Orchestra. |
| C．Harvard Summer Pops Band. | D．Harvard Summer Chorus. |
| A．There are two practice sessions in total. | B．It's only suitable for experienced players. |
| C．Each practice session lasts nearly 3 hours. | D．The concerts will be held in different theatres. |
| A．They all date back to over three decades ago. |
| B．They all have performances in Sanders Theatre. |
| C．All of their activities are scheduled in the summer. |
| D．They all have practise sessions at least twice a week. |
4 . Big, old trees are dying faster than in the past, leaving younger, less biodiverse forests that store less carbon worldwide. They give us paper and fuel, as well as vital ecological services—like cleaning the air, storing carbon and providing habitat. We’re talking about trees, of course. But human changes to the environment appear to be causing profound changes to trees around the world.
In a new study, scientists reviewed global research on trends in tree seedlings growth and death. They combined those data with an analysis of deforestation. And they found that worldwide, older trees are dying at a higher rate than in the past due to factors like rising air temperature, wildfires, drought and pathogens(病原菌).
“And most of the drivers of that decrease in large, old trees are increasing themselves, such as temperature is going up, droughts are more severe, wildfires, windstorms and deforestation are all on the increase—although variable across the globe—they’re generally increasing. And so for both the loss has already occurred, but we expect more continued loss of big, old trees.” said Nate McDowell, an earth scientist at Pacific Northwest National Lab, who was one of the study’s authors.
“So if we have an increasing rate of death, particularly of the larger, older trees, what’s left are the younger trees. So that’s why, on average, through the loss of bigger, older trees, our forests are becoming inherently(天生地) younger and shorter.”
This trend is a problem, because old trees are vitally important.
“For sure, the increase in death does limit the carbon storage of an ecosystem and can force the system to become a carbon source to the atmosphere. The second reason we care is from a biodiversity perspective: old trees tend to house a higher biodiversity than young forests do. And the third reason is aesthetic: as a society, we care about these trees. We have national parks named after these big trees. So there’s a personal reason for people to care about this as well.”
1. What has the new study found about the forests?| A．Forests are getting younger and shorter. |
| B．Many factors cause the death of big old trees. |
| C．Old trees are beneficial to humans in many ways. |
| D．The death of big old trees influences biodiversity. |
| A．The death rates of big old trees. |
| B．The trends in the death of big old trees. |
| C．The human changes to the environment. |
| D．The factors causing high death rate of old trees. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By analyzing reasons. |
| C．By listing facts. | D．By providing figures. |
| A．To call on people to protect old trees. |
| B．To illustrate a phenomenon about old trees. |
| C．To share the findings of a new study about trees. |
| D．To analyze the reasons why some trees are dying faster. |
5 . A Japanese company has created a "smart" mask that aims to improve communication for people wearing face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The use of face masks has become normal in parts of the world still struggling to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. However, it can affect the quality of communication between wearers.
The wearable electronic device is designed to help improve speech communication in such conditions. The Japanese company Donut Robotics calls its invention the "e-mask." The device is meant to fit over other kinds of face masks commonly worn by the public.
Made of soft plastic material, it contains a built-in microphone and has holes in the front to let air in. When turned on, the mask uses Bluetooth technology to connect to a mobile device. An app then helps users perform several actions, including turning speech into text, completing telephone calls and making the user's voice louder. The device can also translate a person's voice from Japanese into eight other languages.
Taisuke, the head of Donut Robotics, told the Reuters, "We worked hard for years to develop a robot and we have used that technology to create a product that responds to how the coronavirus has reshaped society." He noted that the company raised $265,000 in just the first 37 minutes to develop the smart mask through a campaign on the Japanese crowdfunding service Fundinno. "It would usually take three or four months to get that kind of money," Taisuke said.
The company produced a working model of the mask within a month by using software developed for its other robot products. The mask design was similar to one created years ago by one of the company's engineers that mapped facial muscles to interpret speech.
Taisuke said the company plans to sell its first 5,000 e-masks starting in September, at about $40 per mask, in an effort to enter a global market that appeared a few months ago.
1. What's the purpose of the new "smart" mask?| A．To help protect people from being struck by COVID-19. |
| B．To help COVID-19 patients communicate with the doctors. |
| C．To make it convenient to communicate when wearing face masks. |
| D．To translate human thoughts into words for communication. |
| A．Greatly encouraged. | B．Somewhat regretful. |
| C．A bit dissatisfied. | D．Terribly disappointed. |
| A．By connecting to an application on the mobile device. |
| B．By using Bluetooth to make the user's voice clear, |
| C．By turning the wearer's dialect into standard language. |
| D．By being fitted into other face masks that people wear. |
| A．Expensive. | B．Competitive. |
| C．Profitless. | D．Environmentally friendly. |
6 . I never thought about bringing home a dog since my previous dog Calhoun died, but my 7-year-old daughter Emily had other plans. So on a hot August day, I found myself with Emily and my wife Betsy driving to the animal shelter to look at puppies
Betsy and Emily picked out a small, shy white mix, which Emily called Sophie. Emily gave us the speech every parent has heard concerning a dog: "I'll keep it in my room and take care of it and walk it every day.” But that turned out to be my job from the first day. I slept downstairs on the couch, letting Sophie sleep with me or pet her until she slept. Soon, it seemed she had always been a part of our family. I realized I had honored Calhoun's memory by giving a good home to another dog.
Two months after she came to live with us, my mother died, and I felt shattered. In the mornings, after Betsy and Emily had left for work and school, instead of getting to my writing, all I could do was stare into space. Sophie, however, wasn't interested in watching me stare into space. She would push me to take her out. Once we were at the park, she would annoy me until I played with her. She led me down forest paths I'd never explored. Some days, we'd spend two hours out exploring the hiking trails around the village. When we came home, she'd sit by my chair and put her head on my foot or rest it against my leg. I learned from her that life goes on, no matter what kind of tragedy knocks you down.
I learned that lesson multiple times through many different events. When any sorrow or uncertainty came my way, Sophie was always there with her bright eyes, wagging her tail and telling me it was time to get up, go out and see what life had to offer. Emily grew up with Sophie, and so did Betsy and I in our own way.
1. What did the author think about after his dog died?| A．Adopting another dog to replace it. |
| B．Looking after dogs at animal shelter. |
| C．Giving up the idea of keeping dogs. |
| D．Training his daughter to love animals. |
| A．It became adventurous. |
| B．It fitted in well with the family. |
| C．Emily slept with it by her bed. |
| D．It made friends with Calhoun. |
| A．Grown. | B．Absorbed. | C．Suspected. | D．Crashed. |
| A．Life will go on despite difficulties. |
| B．Where there's a will, there's a way. |
| C．Everyone has a chance to stand out. |
| D．One today is worth two tomorrows. |
7 . The Museum of Ice Cream
Nothing is sweeter in summer than an ice cream. But for those who are searching for both an activity and a dessert, here's the chance: The Museum of Ice Cream is hosting virtual ice cream making classes for those 7 and up September 27-29, at 4:30 pm. For $25, up to two people can follow step-by-step instructions from a scoop master, fun games and riddles and other creamy goodness.
The Museum of Natural History
One of our favorite family attractions is getting ready to open its doors for the first time since March! The Museum took to Instagram to share its forthcoming plans. With approval from New York State, members will be able to visit beginning September 2 and the general public will be able to visit beginning September 9. It temporarily lasts two weeks. Obviously, we're heading for T-rex when we get there.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Kinney is promoting his summer release during a socially-distanced event online Young readers and their parents are welcome to Word Up, where Kinney is hosting a book pickup on August 3 from 4-6 pm. For $16, a parent and child can attend the timed event and get a copy of the book. All books will be pre-signed masks are required for those 2 and up.
The Annual Brooklyn Book Festival
The week-long festival is scheduled from Sept 28 -Oct 5. It's going digital for the first time. Although it seems like a strange way to ring in the event's 15th anniversary, the author lineup and programming, particularly for young readers, is certainly worth celebrating—even from your laptop.
1. Which event will provide real-life communication?| A．Diary of a Wimpy Kid. |
| B．The Museum of Ice Cream. |
| C．The Museum of Natural History. |
| D．The Annual Brooklyn Book Festival. |
| A．A place teaching making ice cream. |
| B．A top attraction in a natural museum. |
| C．A way to begin of an annual book fair. |
| D．A virtual place for selling online books. |
| A．Visit a book fair and buy a book online. |
| B．Buy a book written and signed by Kinney. |
| C．Visit the museum and learn about dinosaurs. |
| D．Learn to make an ice cream and creamy food. |
8 . Two American astronauts were greeted by more than a dozen private boats on Sunday as their SpaceX capsule landed safely in the Gulf of Mexico. A few boats went for a closer look at the capsule, which, aided by parachutes, gently hit the water off the coast of Florida. As the capsule bounced in the water, a recovery team instructed the boaters to stay away.
This raised concerns among NASA and SpaceX officials about security and safety procedures. The NASA administrator, Jim, acknowledged that the unprotected reception should not have happened. "If there is an emergency, the boats might have made recovery efforts, but there were poisonous smokes from the capsule. We need to do better next time," he said.
The Coast Guard waned boaters to stay clear of the area in a radio broadcast two hours before the splashdown, but many boaters ignored the requests and decided to enter the area, putting themselves in potential danger.
Robert L. Behnken and Douglas G. Hurley, the NASA astronauts, returned to Earth after nearly 64 days in orbit, most of them spent aboard the International Space Station. Their trip home was aboard the Crew Dragon, built by the private company SpaceX to transport NASA astronauts. The agency has relied on Russia for trips to space since the space shuttles were retired in 2011.
While the shuttles, like airplanes, landed on runways, SpaceX chose water landings, which NASA has not done since 1975, when the last of the Apollo modules went to space.
1. What were the boaters asked to do at the landing of the capsule?| A．Come to rescue the capsule. |
| B．Keep away from the capsule. |
| C．Take a photo with the capsule. |
| D．Warn others out of the landing area. |
| A．They were exposed to risks. |
| B．They were well organized. |
| C．They were scared of the capsule. |
| D．They dreamed of going to space. |
| A．The last of the Apollo modules went back to earth. |
| B．Water landings were introduced for space capsule. |
| C．The International Space Station was put to work. |
| D．NASA stopped using water landings for capsules. |
| A．NASA Begins to Send Spaceships on its Own after 45 Years |
| B．SpareX Capsule Made a Breakthrough by landing on Water |
| C．NASA Astronauts Returned to Earth after Working at ISS |
| D．Boats Entering Capsule Landing Area Raised Safety Concerns |
9 . A message appeared in my Facebook Messenger inbox. It was from a woman I met briefly through a friend. “Hello, lady. Invite you to join my next challenge group — we’ll be focusing on fitting in 30 minutes of exercise, balanced nutrition and motivation. Let me help you reach your goals!”
I laughed and ignored it. Though I’m a little fat, I’m healthy. But the meaning behind the message stuck with me all day. The more the day went on, the heavier her message weighed on me. The insecurity about my body was brought to life by one little Facebook message. That got me thinking about stepping away from social media.
But what drove the nail into my Facebook coffin was when I posted a photo — and five minutes later my son asked how many “likes” it got.
Likes equal acceptance and approval, which need to come from within. I unknowingly set a dangerous example as it won’t be long before he has his own phone and the freedom to post his own pictures. I didn’t want him to wait for his friends to “like” them and like and accept him. He should know his self-worth doesn’t rely on what others think or click.
I deactivated my Facebook account. At first I felt lost. I missed the mindless scrolling while waiting in lineups. I carried a book with me. I’d been in the habit of checking Facebook as first thing in the morning and last thing at night, so I had to come up with some new habits.
And the results were immediate once the fog of Facebook disappeared. We were much happier as a family because I was completely present and the break left me feeling better about myself, my family, my home and my life.
1. Why did the author feel the message heavier on her?| A．Her figure attracted others’ attention. | B．Her passion for keeping fit decreased. |
| C．Her fitness began to worry her. | D．Her private information was given away. |
| A．Difficulties in getting “likes”. | B．Possible influence on her son. |
| C．Problems with online safety. | D．Lack of time for reading. |
| A．Changed. | B．Canceled. | C．Hid. | D．Set. |
| A．Return to a Normal Life | B．Hello, Happiness |
| C．Develop a Good Habit | D．Goodbye, Social Media |
10 . Giant pandas could be left hungry and struggling to survive by global warming, scientists have warned. A new study predicts that climate change is certain to wipe out much of the bamboo on which the bears rely for food. Prime panda habitat in China could be completely lost by the end of the century. Human development adds to the threat by blocking the bears' access to places where bamboo is less affected by rising temperatures.
The research focused on the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi province, which is home to around 275 wild pandas. The animals make up around 17% of the entire wild giant panda population. Qinling pandas have been isolated for thousands of years due to a long history of human habitation around the mountain range. Their limited range makes them particularly sensitive to the loss of food resources.
Bamboo, which carpets the forest floor where the pandas live, is the single item in the bears' diet and also provides essential food and shelter for other animals. The plant's unusual reproductive cycle limits its ability to adapt to climate change. One species studied by the scientists only flowers and reproduces every 30-35 years. Tuanmu's team pointed out that three main bamboo species were likely to disappear in the Qinling Mountains as the climate warmed.
"We will need advance actions to protect the current giant panda habitats," said leading researcher Mao-Ning Tuanmu, from Yale University in the US. "We need time to look for areas that might become panda habitat in the future, and to think now about connection between good panda habitats and habitats for other species."
Conservation efforts should now aim to protect areas that have a better chance of supplying pandas with food, despite climate change. Natural "bridges" could also be created to help the pandas escape from a bamboo shortage. Looking at the climate impact on the bamboo can help us prepare for the challenges that the panda will likely face in the future.
1. What does the author want to tell us in paragraph 1?| A．Human activities prevent giant pandas travelling for food. |
| B．Giant pandas could be short of food for two reasons. |
| C．Giant pandas are faced with the danger of starvation. |
| D．Global warming will ruin the bamboo in China. |
| A．It is hard for this bamboo to get used to climate change. |
| B．It takes decades to flower and produce once again. |
| C．Three main bamboo species have disappeared. |
| D．Giant pandas live on a single food resource. |
| A．We should get giant pandas away from present habitats. |
| B．We should help giant pandas remove other species. |
| C．We should set up a nature reserve for giant pandas. |
| D．We should plant more bamboos for giant pandas. |
| A．Threat to the survival of Giant Pandas |
| B．Effect of Climate Change on Giant Pandas |
| C．Research on Disappearance of Bamboo |
| D．Measures to Protect Giant Pandas |
