1 . The number of British students going to US universities has been climbing steadily over the past decade. The latest available figures (from 2017- 2018) show 11,460 British students are choosing to study in US. This represents a small drop (0.3%) from the previous year, showing that American degrees remain a popular choice.
Among the most popular American universities for British students are, Harvard, Y ale, Princeton, Stanford and also institutions with convenient location-- New York University in New York City, or the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, for example.
Two factors motivate young people to head west for universities: academic opportunity and the increasing availability of financial aid for foreign students. Anthony Nemecek, an education expert, explains, “While there are many reasons British students consider higher education study in the US, the main reason is the wide range of choice on offer, both subjects and institutions, as well as not having to decide their *major/course' until the end of the second year."
One reason why the Brits may be unwilling to pursue a US degree is the cost. The University of Oxford, for example, estimates living costs of f14,850 in 2020, along with course fees of f9,250, so a total of f24,100. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a world-leading specialist in science, costs $73,1 60 (£59,447; more than twice as much as Oxford), but most students at MIT will get financial aid. MIT is home to a financial aid program for international students, making it a great place to apply if money is not enough.
1. How many British students went to US universities in 2016- 2017?| A．11,495. | B．11,460. |
| C．11,425. | D．14,898. |
| A．Its low cost. | B．Its location. |
| C．Its influence. | D．Its top institutions. |
| A．He will suffer financial problems. |
| B．The financial aid is not easy |
| C．The living costs will be twice as much. |
| D．He is likely to pay less than required. |
| A．British students studying in US universities. |
| B．Differences between US and British universities. |
| C．Why British students are going to US Universities. |
| D．Which are more attractive, US universities or British universities. |
2 . Micro-plastics have occupied almost every part of the planet today, including the most distant reaches.
The Arctic is far from clean, though it s rarely stepped in by visitors. Melanie Bergmann, a marine ecologist (海洋生态学家) and her colleagues had been studying plastics on the Arctic seafloor since 2002. In deep sea, they found about 6,0000 particles (微粒) in every 2.2 pounds of mud. In sea ice, there were as much as 12,000 pieces per 34 ounces of melted ice.
Scientists measured micro-plastics in snow from this distant location and found a lot, which could only have caught rides on the wind. The study raises concerns about the pollution that micro-plastics brought to the air, bringing a health risk to people and animals that breathe them in. But they are less worried about the threat that breathed-in pollutants have to wildlife than about polluted snow going into water.
The science on the health effects of micro-plastics is still going on.“For human health, we now now very little," says micro-plastics researcher Chelsea Rochman, “There is a lot of concern. For wildlife, we know that micro-plastics may go into every level of the food chain." Laboratory studies find some physical and chemical effects from micro-plastics, but the findings vary by the plastic type, shape experiments will be carried out soon with use of equipment if financial support approves."
Even worse is the threat from airborne micro-plastics in the area---too small to be noticed and may actually enter cells. Research on that also has been done and it could be a bigger problem, according to Rochman.
1. What can you learn from the data in Paragraph 2?| A．Visitors rarely step into the Arctic. |
| B．Micro-plastics threaten the human beings. |
| C．Micro- plastics are everywhere in the world. |
| D．The Arctic suffers serious micro-plastics pollution. |
| A．Wildlife's threat by micro-pollutants. |
| B．Human beings breathing micro-plastics in. |
| C．Micro-plastics entering the water ecosystem. |
| D．Micro-plastics pollution worsening global warming. |
| A．Damage of micro-plastics to health. |
| B．Appeals for environmental protection. |
| C．Findings about airborne micro-plastics in the Arctic. |
| D．Measures to solve micro-plastics pollution. |
| A．Science. | B．Health. |
| C．Education. | D．Entertainment. |
3 . July 20, 2021 marks the 52th anniversary of the first moon landing. The National Space Center will provide you with super-size space experiences: a giant Earth model, a domed planetarium （穹顶天文台） and a 42-meter rocket tower. It's all under cover so it's a good place to visit on a rainy day.
Ticket
It's not cheap-adult $15, 5-to-16-year-olds $12-but once you've paid you can revisitas many times as you want in a year, and admission is free for kids under five.
Opening hours
10 am-4 pm Monday to Friday, 10 am-5 pm weekends and school holidays.
What about lunch?
The Boosters Cafe serves reasonably priced hot and cold snacks and drinks at the foot of the center's two rockets. The cafe offers vegetarian (素食的)option too.
Exit through the gift shop?
It's stocked with souvenirs including books, games and telescopes. Some are quite pricey. The gift shop is the first thing you pass on entry and also the last thing you see as you leave.
1. What gifts can you buy in the Center?| A．Rockets. | B．Telescopes. | C．Pencils. | D．Earth models. |
| A．It is free for kids under 6. | B．It has two gift shops. |
| C．It is vegetarian-friendly. | D．It is open at night in holidays. |
| A．Holiday plans. | B．Space experiences. |
| C．Suggestions for visiting the Center. | D．Information about the Center |
4 . Superheroes first caught our attention in the 1930s when Superman and Batman appeared in American comic books, and we’ve been crazy about them ever since. But have you ever stopped to think whether the superman really exists(存在)?
Wim discovered his super power one day after saving a man from a frozen lake. Since then, he’s puzzled scientists with his super ability to bear the freezing temperature. Using breathing skills and a strong mental focus, he’s learned to control his body temperature. For his 2011 Guinness World Record he stayed in ice for nearly two hours. He’s also climbed to Mount Everest in just his shorts and run a desert marathon(马拉松赛跑)without a drop of water.
In the real world, there’re some blind people who can use echo-location skills to see the world around them, just like bats. By making noises with their mouths or by snapping their fingers, they can interpret(领会)the sound waves made back by nearby objects. Daniel, who lost his sight because of cancer as a baby, has taught himself the skills and shared his knowledge with hundreds of blind people worldwide. This has enabled them to run, hike, play football and go skateboarding, etc.
Dean can run forever. He regularly pushes his mind and body to the limits-running non-stop without sleep for 350 miles or completing 50 marathons in 50 days. He’s also run 135 miles non-stop across Death Valley around 49℃ and to the South Pole, where temperatures fell to -40℃.
Alain is one of the best rock climbers worldwide. Some of his tallest climbs include the Sydney Tower and the Eiffel Tower. Unbelievably strong both mentally and physically, Alain is famous for his free solo climbing, climbing tall buildings without ropes—just with his arms, legs and a bag of chalks.
Some of the above people are self-taught and have gained their skills with years of training. Others are born with unusual physical characters, leaving scientists confused. One thing is for sure—the superman certainly exists.
1. According to Paragraph 2, Wim is able to ______.| A．stand the very low temperature |
| B．focus his thoughts on a frozen lake |
| C．change his body temperature |
| D．stay in ice for nearly a whole day |
| A．understand what others are thinking |
| B．make less noises than others |
| C．live a happier life than before |
| D．communicate with other blind people |
| A．Daniel | B．Alain |
| C．Wim | D．Dean |
| A．make us respect people with power |
| B．introduce supermen in the real world |
| C．convince readers of humans’ super power |
| D．guide us how to discover our own super power |
