1 . The United States space agency will send a spacecraft to explore the sun more closely than ever before on Saturday. NASA'S Parker Solar Probe（探测器）will fly through the hot solar atmosphere and come within just 6 million kilometers of the sun's surface.
The Parker Probe will get almost seven times closer to the sun than earlier spacecraft. To do this, it will fly past Venus（金星）seven times over seven years. Each pass will change the probe's orbit by providing a gravity push. It will move ever closer to the sun and straight into the corona（日冕）, the sun's outermost atmosphere.
By exploring the sun's corona, scientists hope to learn why it is hundreds of times hotter than the sun's surface. They will also study what drives the solar wind.
The project was proposed in 1958, the same year NASA was established. Now, "it's becoming a reality," said project manager Andy Driesman.
The Parker spacecraft has a 2.4 meter heat shield（护罩）that is 11 centimeters thick. It is made of two carbon sheets. The front has a white coating to reflect sunlight. It is expected to shine red when it experiences the extreme solar heat. Almost everything on the spacecraft will be behind this shield to keep its scientific instruments relatively cool.
Besides, the spacecraft will also be traveling at a high speed. The probe will reach 690,000 kilometers per hour in the corona. The spacecraft will make its first flight past Venus in early October. Its first pass by the sun is expected in November.
The Parker Solar Probe is the first NASA spacecraft to be named after someone who is still alive. Eugene Parker is a 91-year-old professor at the University of Chicago. He predicted the existence of solar wind 60 years ago. He plans to be at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the southern state of Florida to see the launch.
1. What's the advantage of the Parker Probe compared to the earlier ones?| A．It can change the orbit by flying past the sun. |
| B．It can get closer to the sun and into the corona. |
| C．It can study the effect of solar wind. |
| D．It can fly through the hot solar atmosphere without protection. |
| A．Human had little achievements in exploring the sun. |
| B．Eugene Parker is the first one to study the sun. |
| C．The Parker Probe has to get close to the sun with the help of Venus. |
| D．Human can get close to the sun's surface within 6 million kilometers today. |
| A．He started NASA. |
| B．He foresaw the solar wind when he was 31. |
| C．He designed the Parker spacecraft. |
| D．He will study the sun using the Parker spacecraft. |
| A．a story book | B．an advertisement |
| C．a science fiction | D．a news report |
2 . Ocean food plays a very important part in our food supply. Not so long ago, the world’s oceans were filled with different types of fish. Now, a large increase in global overfishing has threatened that supply.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, 90 percent of the world’s fisheries (渔场) are either being fully exploited (开发), or are at risk of being closed down.
With fish supplies running out at home, fishermen are traveling further to find their catch. Frequently, fishermen are crossing over into other countries. As fish supplies closer to their homeland’s shores are decreasing fishermen cross borders to find fish.
Overfishing can be found everywhere, from Mexican fishing boats off the US coast of Florida to Russian fishing boats in the western Bering Sea. However, the effect is felt the strongest in the South China Sea.
On the other side of the world, West Africa is now seeing malign effects of overfishing. For coastal African countries, such as Senegal, the fishing industry is a large part of the national economy. The World Bank reports nearly 20 percent of the Senegalese are working in the fishing industry. Rashid Sumaila is the Director of Fisheries Economic Research at the University of British Columbia. He says communities that depend on fish for income and food, like Senegal, are now at risk.
1. Why do fishermen cross borders to catch fish?| A．Because they want to protect the environment. |
| B．Because they want to enjoy the overseas scenery. |
| C．Because fish supplies in their countries are decreasing. |
| D．Because fishing is not allowed in their own countries. |
| A．In Russia. | B．In the South China Sea. |
| C．Off the US coast of Florida. | D．In the western Bering Sea. |
| A．Harmful. | B．Satisfying. |
| C．Hopeful. | D．Beneficial. |
| A．Most people in Africa will be out of work. |
| B．The World Bank will lend money to fishermen. |
| C．Rashid Sumaila is unconcerned about overfishing. |
| D．Overfishing has some bad effects on African people. |
3 . ''I'd like to play a game. That is so much fun. It's not so very hard to do.''
As soon as I hear ''Simple Simon says put your hands on your head'', I am back in my grandfather's living room on New Year's Day in the early 1970s. It was our family's favorite song to get the party started.
Grandfather's house was the gathering place for my mum, dad, aunties, uncles and cousins to meet up. My mum comes from a big family, so there was always lots of chatter and laughter. Whenever someone told a story they would get up and do all the actions to illustrate it, which was great fun.
Grandfather had a coal fire, so it was always warm, even if it was freezing outside. He sat in his armchair and happily watched everyone dancing while he smoked a pipe.
Once Simon Says had got the party going, other records would follow, such as Sugar, Sugar by the Archies.
Later there would be a sing-along, with everyone taking turns to sing old folk songs such as A Warship Had Landed. I would put my hands over my ears at this one as it was so sad.
Grandfather drove us home as he didn't drink. The road we travelled on was dark. There was one big bump(隆起物) that made us feel as if we were on a roller coaster(过山车). As we approached it, we would shout, ''Go faster, Grandfather! ''
I've been to many New Year parties, but none can match those family get-togethers at Grandfather's. You can keep your Gangnam Style moves—it's much more fun to dance along to Simon Says!
1. According to the text, the song Simon Says _______.| A．was written by the author's grandfather |
| B．was the only song the author could sing |
| C．was the first song the author learnt |
| D．was often played at the author's family's New Year parties |
| A．Explain. | B．Retell |
| C．Represent | D．Comment. |
| A．They never sang sad songs at their parties. |
| B．They were kept warm by a coal fire. |
| C．The author's grandfather liked drinking alcohol. |
| D．Smoking was forbidden at the author's grandfather's house. |
| A．A Beautiful Song |
| B．My Kind Grandfather |
| C．Unforgettable Family Parties |
| D．My Happy Childhood |
4 . Journey Back in Time with Scholars
Classical Provence(13days)Journey through the beautiful countryside of Provence，France，with Prof. Ori Z. Soltes. We will visit some of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world. Our tour also includes a chance to walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh and Gauguin. Fields of flowers, tile-roofed(瓦屋顶)villages and tasty meals enrich this wonderful experience.
Southern Spain(15days)
Spain has lovely white towns and the scent(芳香)of oranges，but it is also a treasury of ancient remains including the cities left by the Greeks，Romans and Arabs. As we travel south from Madrid with Prof. Ronald Messier to historic Toledo，Roman Merida and into Andalucia, we explore historical monuments and architecture.
China’s Sacred Landscapes(21days)
Discover the China of “past ages,” its walled cities，temples and mountain scenery with Prof. Robert Thorp. Highlights(精彩之处)include China’s most sacred peaks at Mount Tai and Hangzbou’s rolling hills，waterways and peaceful temples. We will wander in traditional small towns and end our tour with an exceptional museum in Shanghai.
Tunisia(17days)
Join Prof. Pedar Foss on our in-depth Tunisian tour. Tour highlights include the Roman city of Dougga，the underground Numidian capital at Bulla Regia, Roman Sbeitla and the remote areas around Tataouine and Matmata，uique for underground cities. Our journey takes us to picturesque Berber villages and lovely beaches.
1. What can visitors see in both Classical Provence and Southern Spain？
| A．Historical monuments. | B．Fields of flowers. |
| C．Van Gogh’s paintings. | D．Greek buildings. |
| A．France. | B．Spain. | C．China. | D．Tunisia. |
| A．White towns. | B．Underground cities. | C．Tile-roofed villages. | D．Rolling hills. |
5 . Some parents will buy any high-tech toy if they think it will help their child, but researchers said puzzles help children with math-related skills.
Psychologist Susan Levine, an expert on mathematics development in young children at the University of Chicago, found children who play with puzzles between ages 2 and 4 later develop better spatial skills. Puzzle play was found to be a significant predictor of cognition(认知) after controlling for differences in parents’ income, education and the amount of parent talk, Levine said.
The researchers analyzed video recordings of 53 child-parent pairs during everyday activities at home and found children who play with puzzles between 26 and 46 months of age have better spatial skills when assessed at 54 months of age.
“The children who played with puzzles performed better than those who did not, on tasks that assessed their ability to rotate(旋转)and translate shapes,” Levine said in a statement.
The parents were asked to interact with their children as they normally would, and about half of children in the study played with puzzles at one time. Higher-income parents tended to have children play with puzzles more frequently, and both boys and girls who played with puzzles had better spatial skills. However, boys tended to play with more complex puzzles than girls, and the parents of boys provided more spatial language and were more active during puzzle play than parents of girls.
The findings were published in the journal Developmental Science.
1. In which aspect do children benefit from puzzle play?| A．Building confidence. | B．Developing spatial skills. |
| C．Learning self-control. | D．Gaining high-tech knowledge. |
| A．Parents’ age. | B．Children’s imagination. |
| C．Parents’ education. | D．Child-parent relationship. |
| A．They play with puzzles more often. |
| B．They tend to talk less during the game. |
| C．They prefer to use more spatial language. |
| D．They are likely to play with tougher puzzles. |
| A．A mathematical method. | B．A scientific study. |
| C．A woman psychologist | D．A teaching program. |
6 . As the Forbidden City approaches its 600th anniversary next year, a great change has been taking place, with dark and dusty corners of the palace brought back to their former glory for all to see. As recently as 2012, only 30 percent of the vast palace was open to the public. Now, 80 percent is accessible ― quickly filling with exhibition spaces, stylish restaurants and cafes, bookstores and highly profitable gift stores, as well as quiet walkways. Besides, great walls around it are now mostly open, allowing an overhead view of the grounds.
But even all that new space is not nearly enough to showcase(陈列) the treasures collected over the centuries by emperors. Now the Forbidden City can display only about 30,000 objects at a time, or 2 percent of its total.
By 2022, a new campus in the university district of Haidian, about 18 miles to the northwest, is scheduled to open to the public, a 153-acre area that will have room to show imperial carriages, carpets and regalia (礼服).
The museum staff members have also become more creative in using the space. During a visit, there was a show on how the imperial family celebrated the Chinese New Year, including reproductions of New Year’s couplets written by the Emperor Kang Xi, whose six-decade rule ended in 1722.
The new gift stores, which earned $220 million in sales in 2017, have also lifted their offerings. They once featured little more than key chains and ugly dolls; now, they have reproductions of porcelain (瓷器), textiles (织物) and even furniture.
Lisa Tan, a 38-year-old editor at a Beijing publishing house, said the new shops were attractive because they offered traditional porcelain made by government-recognized masters using traditional methods.
“It’s good that the Forbidden City is taking a lead in keeping these traditional practices alive,” Ms Tan said. “The gift store has even become fashionable in some circles.” And some of the more commercial activities are being limited, including photo studios where people can dress up like an emperor or empress.
Most visitors are still part of package tours that make people travel quickly through the central part of the palace. But taking a slower, more winding path through the Forbidden City is a better way to soak up the history and discover some of its secrets.
1. What’s the great change in the Forbidden City?| A．The great walls around it are open to the public. |
| B．The gift stores are a new visiting spot there. |
| C．It welcomes visitors on a large scale. |
| D．The new space is mainly for displaying treasures. |
| A．They bring in huge profits. |
| B．They focus on key chains and dolls. |
| C．They sell reproductions of furniture. |
| D．They offer a good variety of traditional items. |
| A．They create some quiet walkways. |
| B．They use the space for holding shows. |
| C．They manage the new gift stores successfully. |
| D．They guide visitors to find out history and secrets. |
| A．The Emperor Kang Xi ruled the country for 60 years. |
| B．The district of Haidian covers an area of 153 acres. |
| C．One can explore the Forbidden City fully on package tours. |
| D．About 1,500,000 objects are on display now. |
7 . Of all the American blockbusters, some popular movies are rolled out for the teenagers. With the preparation of popcorns, you can choose one of them for your teen to watch with you or their friends.
1. Dead Poets Society
An English teacher, called Mr. Keating, guides his students, who hope to be lawyers and doctors, to poetry and free-thinking. With each student coping with some issues, he urged them to set up Dead Poets Society for reading and writing poems.
2. The Hunger Games
Based on a book by Suzanne Collins, the story set in Panem, a destroyed country in North America. Each year, boys and girls, coming from 12 districts of Panem, take part in Hunger Games. Broadcast alive, this competition is exciting because all the participants play the games against death.
3. The Breakfast Club
It begins with five students at the Shermer High School, Claire, a princess, John, a criminal, Andrew, an athlete, Brian, a bookworm and Allison, an unfortunate person, who are forced to spend 9 hours together on a Saturday. In spite of their differences, they find that their social problems are more similar than they think.
4. Eighth Grade
Kayla is a shy, socially anxious girl trying to get by the last few weeks of middle school. She earns the “most quiet” girl title in school, but at home, she posts online self-help and motivational videos that not many people watch. Kayla is raised by her single father Mark, who tries to disconnect Kayla from the social media.
1. Who helps teenagers form a Dead Poets Society?| A．Mr. Brain. | B．Mr. Keating. |
| C．Suzanne Collins. | D．Ms. Claire. |
| A．Eighth Grade. | B．Dead Poets Society. |
| C．The Hunger Games. | D．The Breakfast Club. |
| A．Teachers. | B．Teens. | C．Friends. | D．Parents. |
8 . “Nomophobia”, NO Mobile Phone phobia(恐惧) is a 21st-century term for the fear of not being able to use your smartphone. Smartphone addiction is on the rise, surveys show, and a new study released adds to a growing body of evidence that smartphone addiction is harming our minds literally.
Smartphone addiction affects many people from all across the globe. Over 1.8 billion people own smartphones and the average owners check their screens 150 times a day. Considering those numbers, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when 44% of people (compared with 20% in 2011) admit feeling anxious when they can’t have access to their phones.
Researchers from Harvard University used brain imaging to study the brains of 19 teenage boys who were diagnosed with smartphone addiction. Compared with 19 teenagers who were not addicted, the brains of the addicted boys had significantly higher levels of GABA, which decelerates neurons (神经元)， than levels of glutamate-glutamine, which energizes brain signals. That results in poorer attention and control, which you don’t want to have, because you want to stay focused. So that means you are easier to get distracted.
“Addicted teenagers in the study also had significantly higher scores in anxiety, depression and levels of impulsiveness (冲动) ,” said Dr. Leslie Perlow, who led the study.
If you seem to have the symptoms of smart device addiction, experts have some suggestions in addition to mindfulness training. First, turn off your phone at certain times of the day, such as in meetings, when having dinner, playing with your kids, and of course, driving. Remove social media apps, like Facebook and Twitter from your phone, and only check-in from your laptop. Try to stop yourself to 15-minute intervals at set times of the day when it won’t affect work or family life. Don’t bring your cellphone and its harmful blue light to bed, and use an old-fashioned alarm to wake you. And last, try to replace your smart device time with healthier activities such as meditating or actually interacting with real people.
1. What is the conclusion of the research?| A．Smartphone addiction leads to distraction. |
| B．Smartphone addiction easily causes anger. |
| C．Smartphone addiction is harmful to the mind. |
| D．Smartphone addiction brings about anxiety and depression. |
| A．In Paragraph 2. | B．In Paragraph 3. |
| C．In Paragraph 4. | D．In Paragraph 5. |
| A．Speeds up. | B．Slows down. |
| C．Adds to. | D．Cuts down. |
| A．To use an old-fashion cellphone. | B．To participate in more social activities. |
| C．To stop fifteen-minute intervals. | D．To turn off the blue light on bed. |
9 . An earthquake is one of the most common natural disasters. It may cause great damage. So it is wise to learn some simple safety tips to protect yourself or your family members.
Fragile items like those made of glass are easily broken and should usually be placed on a lower surface, near the ground instead of placing them in the cupboards higher up. Never place them near your bed, sofas and other furniture where you would be sitting or lying down. When there is a strong movement, these pieces will fall on the floor directly and not on you.
There is a strong chance of short circuits (短路) and fire during an earthquake. Make sure you turn off electrical connections and gas immediately when an earthquake happens.
During an earthquake, lie beneath an object that is not easily damaged. Do not go near objects that could directly fall on you. Never use the elevator to go down. Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries happen when people inside buildings try to go out. Use the staircases at all times.
If you are outdoors, do not take shelter under a tree, streetlights, electric poles or tall buildings. If you are driving, stop your car and stay in a safe place. Do not park your car under a tree or any tall object.
If trapped in debris (瓦砾堆), cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Tap on a pipe or the wall so that rescuers can find you. Use a whistle (哨子) if one is able to get. Never shout for help. Shouting can cause you to breathe in dangerous amounts of dust. Do not light a match(火柴) because you may burn yourself. Do not move about or kick up dust.
1. The purpose of the passage is to tell readers__________.| A．the damage caused by earthquakes | B．the rescue work after earthquakes |
| C．how to prevent earthquakes | D．what to do about earthquakes |
| A．Easily found | B．Easily broken |
| C．Expensive | D．Heavy |
| A．go out of the building at once | B．drive to a safe place quickly |
| C．take shelter under a tree | D．turn off electricity and gas immediately |
| A．shout for help aloud. |
| B．cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. |
| C．tap on a pipe or the wall hard so that rescuers can find you. |
| D．use a whistle if possible. |
10 . It's school time again! You're probably feeling excited and maybe a little sad that summer vacation is over.
Some kids feel nervous or a little scared on the first day of school because of all the new things: new teachers, new friends, and even a new school. Luckily, these “new” worries only stick around for a little while. Let’s find out more about going to a new school.
Most teachers kick off the new school year by introducing themselves and talking about all the things you’ll be doing that year. Some teachers give students chance to tell something about themselves to the rest of the class.
When teachers do the talking on the first day, they often go over the classroom rules and school rules so you will know what’s allowed and what’s not. Please pay close attention.
You might already know a lot of people in your class on the first day, but it's a great day to make a new friend, so try to say hello to kids you know and new ones that you don't. Make the first move and you will be glad about what you did, and so will your new friends!
Seeing friends you haven't seen in a while can make the first day a good one. You can make the day special by wearing clothes that you really like. Maybe you got a great T-shirt on one of your vacations or a pair of sneakers. It can also make you feel good to be prepared and have all the things you need, such as pencils, folders，and whatever else you need. But make sure that you pack them the night before in case you don’t have time in the morning.
1. According to the passage, which is NOT the feeling when it is school time?| A．Excited. | B．Unhappy. |
| C．Bored. | D．Nervous. |
| A．start | B．study |
| C．find | D．learn |
| A．what to know about a new school. |
| B．how to prepare for your first day of school. |
| C．what to do on your first day of school. |
| D．how to spend your first day of school. |
