1 . You may not know a lot of people when you start high school. Even if you know some freshman (新生), you still feel nervous that you don’t know any upperclassmen and teachers. How are you going to make friends among this sea of unknown faces?
Most high schools holds a freshman orientation before school actually starts, which is helpful not only because you can know your way around the buildings and get to meet some of your teachers, but also because you get to meet fellow freshmen. That way，when you show up on your first day of school, you may already recognise a few familiar faces. When you talk to your new classmates, you will probably find that a lot of them are feeling just like you are. They are all new to the school and don’t know what to expect. Talking about a common concern with them can help you develop friendships.
The work in school is something that freshmen are probably worried about. The work in high school builds on what you learnt in middle school, giving you a more advanced knowledge of many subjects. So you may find you have more work to do or that it’s a bit more challenging. If you ever find your work too difficult, teachers can give you extra help.
High school also has more extracurricular activities than middle school does, such as clubs, music and theatre groups and sports teams. This is a good time to explore your interests and try new things.
High school gives you the chance to learn how to manage your time, to develop your social skills and interests, and more importantly, to be more independent and responsible.
1. Who is this passage written for?| A．Freshmen’s parents. | B．Middle school students. |
| C．Freshmen at high school. | D．Upperclassmen in high school. |
| A．Game. | B．Training. |
| C．Discussion. | D．Examination. |
| A．The work in high school. | B．The freshman orientation. |
| C．The ability to make friends. | D．The relationship with teachers. |
| A．develop their interests and try new things |
| B．make new friends |
| C．improve their learning ability |
| D．build up healthy bodies |
2 . Linda Evans was my best friend — like the sister I never had. We did everything together: taking piano lessons, going to the movies, swimming, and horseback riding.
When I was 13, my family moved away. Linda and I kept in touch through letters, and we saw each other on special time — like my wedding(婚礼) and Linda’s. Soon we were busy with children and moving to new homes, and we wrote less often. One day a card that I sent came back, stamped “Address Unknown.” I had no idea how to find Linda.
Over the years, I missed Linda very much. I wanted to share the happiness of my children and then grandchildren with her. And I needed to share my sadness when my brother and then my mother died. There was an empty place in my heart that only a friend like Linda could fill.
One day I was reading a newspaper when I noticed a photo of a young woman who looked very much like Linda and whose last name was Wagmans — Linda’s married name. “There must be thousands of Wagmans,” I thought, but I still wrote to her.
She called as soon as she got my letter. “Mrs. Tobin!” she said excitedly, “Linda Evans Wagmans is my mother.” Minutes later I heard a voice that I knew very much, even after 40 years, then we laughed and cried and caught up on each other’s lives. Now the empty place in my heart is filled. And there’s one thing that Linda and I know for sure: We won’t lose each other again.
1. How old was the writer when her family moved away?| A．She was three years old. | B．She was thirty-three years old. |
| C．She was thirty years old. | D．She was thirteen years old. |
| A．they got married |
| B．they had little time to do so |
| C．the writer’s brother and mother died |
| D．they could keep in touch with each other by QQ |
| A．Some children. | B．A wedding. |
| C．Some grandchildren. | D．Only a friend like Linda. |
| A．For about 13 years. | B．For about 40 years. |
| C．Since they got married. | D．Since the writer’s family moved away. |
3 . Take a closer look at the wonders of Kew Gardens by joining a guided walking tour. Led by our knowledgeable volunteer guides, it is a fun and informative way to explore the grounds.
Free daily walking tours
Tours leave at 11am and 1:30pm from the information desk at Victoria Gate Plaza. Each guide presents their own tour and takes in the highlights (最精彩的部分) of the season.
Themed tours
Tours leave at 12am from the information desk at Victoria Gate Plaza. Our guides offer attractive seasonal themes including Autumn Colour and Winter Evergreens.
Expert-guided tours
Every Tuesday throughout the year at 11:30am and 2:30pm we’ll be holding an expert- guided tour. The tour will feature (以...... 为特色) a different plant each month and you’ll go behind the scenes and talk to Kew staff about their work. You’ll find out interesting facts about the featured plant or fungus (真菌), including why it’s grown at Kew and how it’s used and cared for.
Price
The cost is 60 dollars per guide (this doesn’t include your entry to the Gardens). Each guide can take up to 15 people. Group of more than 15 must book more than one guide. Smaller groups are also accepted but the cost remains 60 dollars.
Tours take about one hour and may be booked from 10am every day. Please note that no refunds (退款) can be given once tickets are booked.
1. What time can be chosen if you go to free daily walking tours?| A．11am | B．11:30am | C．12am | D．2:30pm |
| A．People can work with Kew staff. |
| B．People can have a taste of fungus. |
| C．People have no choice but to go on Tuesday. |
| D．People can get in touch with experts ahead of time. |
| A．60 dollars | B．120 dollars | C．180 dollars | D．200 dollars |
4 . It’s hard to turn down a tasty banana. They taste good and you don’t have to wash them before eating them. However, British scientists say that the fruit may disappear by 2050.
One reason for this is climate change. Scientists at the University of Exeter collected data from 27 countries and regions that produce 86 percent of the world’s bananas. They found that climate change has improved growing conditions in 21 of these countries. In the past 60 years the average yield has reached 1.37 tons of bananas per hectare.
However, if temperatures keep rising, this advantage will disappear. Ten of the countries, including India, the world’s biggest producer of bananas, will produce fewer bananas. By 2050, the fruit may die out.
Shouldn’t bananas grow more easily if it’s hotter outside? In fact, the perfect temperature range for growing bananas is between 24℃ and 32℃. If temperatures get too high, they will stop growing.
Another reason for this phenomenon is diseases. Unlike other crops, the bananas we grow come from shoot cuttings rather than seeds. This means that all banana plants have the same genotype. In other words, if a disease is able to kill one plants it could kill them all.
One serious disease is called Panama. Caused by fungus（真菌）in the soil, it spreads easily. It has spread across South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia. If one banana plantation suffers from the disease, it will take 30 years until it is able to grow bananas again. Scientists have not found a cure for this disease.
1. What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．People’s love for bananas. | B．The taste of bananas. |
| C．The future disappearance of bananas. | D．The convenience of eating bananas |
| A．More countries will start to grow bananas. |
| B．Bananas will not be able to grow any more. |
| C．Bananas will grow better in most countries. |
| D．Bananas won’t be as tasty as before. |
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five. |
| A．What diseases bananas may suffer from. | B．How bananas are grown. |
| C．How diseases can easily kill bananas. | D．Which diseases can kill bananas. |
5 . The moment you open your eyes in the morning, you can feel sweat running down your body, even if you’re barely moving at all. That’s what most people in China felt like this summer. In fact, the entire northern hemisphere (半球) saw high temperatures in July.
The Arctic Circle was no exception. Temperatures in the city of Norilsk, which is in the Arctic Circle, reached a record high of 32℃, the Atlantic reported. Temperatures there are usually just 10℃ at this time of the year.
The heat wave in the Arctic is mainly a long-term result of global warming, according to the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences. Actually, while the whole world is getting warmer, the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. This is called the polar amplification effect (极地放大效应）.
The most direct impact of Arctic warming is the melting of Arctic ice. According to NASA, Arctic sea ice is now disappearing at a rate of 13.2 percent every 10 years. NASA said that if this continues, the Arctic will have no ice by the year 2040. This has put some Arctic animals, like polar bears, in danger. The ice that the bears live on has shrunk, the Toronto Star reported. Melting ice can also cause sea levels to rise in the long term. Since 1993, sea levels have risen at a rate of 3.2 cm every 10 years, the Guardian reported. Some countries, such as Tuvalu(图瓦卢)in the South Pacific Ocean and Maldives(马尔代夫)in the Indian Ocean, are at risk of disappearing into the sea.
1. What does the underlined word “This” in the third paragraph refer to?| A．The heat wave in the Arctic. | B．The result of global warming. |
| C．Getting warmer in the world. | D．The Arctic getting warm faster. |
| A．Sea levels rise in the long term. |
| B．The polar will become dangerous. |
| C．There will be an end of water shortage. |
| D．There will be no ice in the world by 2040. |
| A．They’ll not disappear in the future. | B．They’ll live on the land. |
| C．They’ll gradually have no habitat. | D．They’ll shrink. |
| A．Arctic animals are in danger. |
| B．Heat is hitting the Arctic. |
| C．The world is getting warmer than before. |
| D．Some countries may disappear into the sea. |
6 . Adam was an orphan. He worked in a factory and every day he got a little money. Hard work made him thin and weak. He wanted to borrow a lot of money to learn to paint pictures, but he did not think he could pay off the debts.
One day a lawyer came and said to him, “One thousand dollars, and here is the money.” As Adam took the huge package of notes, he was very shocked. He didn’t know where the money came from and how to spend so much of it. Later he thought to himself, “What could I do with it? If it were a little less money, I would buy a new coat, or give a dinner to my friends. If it were more, I could give up the work and pay for painting pictures. But it’s too much for the first and too little for the second.”
“Here is the reading of your uncle’s will,” said the lawyer, “telling what is to be done with this money after his death. I must ask you to remember one point. Your uncle has said you must bring me a paper showing exactly what you did with his money, as soon as you have spent it.”
“Yes, I see. I’ll do that.” said the young man.
1. Which one of the statements is true? ________| A．Adam was in debt. | B．Adam worked abroad. |
| C．Adam paid off the debts. | D．Adam wanted to learn something. |
| A．the money was too much | B．the money was too little |
| C．he would be dismissed | D．the lawyer meant to cheat him. |
| A．planned to have a happy life for a few days | B．decided to give up his work in the office |
| C．was to give a dinner to his friends | D．had no idea what to do |
| A．working in the factory | B．painting pictures |
| C．living in a fine hotel | D．saving the money |
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. |
8 . 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. |
9 . What do you want to be when you are growing up? A doctor, an engineer — or maybe a footballer or actor? We all have big plans for our futures and believe there is a dream job waiting for us — one that will pay well and give great job satisfaction. But how realistic is that?
Today, in the UK at least, young people are being warned that some of their career hopes and dreams don’t match the types of jobs available. Research by the charity Education and Employers suggests five times as many 17 and 18 year-olds in the UK want to work in art, culture, entertainment and sport than there are jobs.
The excitement of working in these employment sectors (部门) is obviously an attraction. But those looking for these types of job will be disappointed. That’s what the report, Disconnected: Career ambitions and jobs in the UK, says. Writing about this for the BBC, Katherine Sellgren points out that although young people are keen to work in art, entertainment, culture and sport, the economy is unlikely to need them all. At the same time, there is a shortfall of young people wanting to work in careers such as catering and retail(零售).
Previous research about the career ambitions of young people by the Office for National Statistics also found a “reality gap” between their dreams and the sometimes disappointing truth by the time they reached their early to late-20s. Apart from those who aimed to go into teaching, fewer than one in 50 were in the jobs they had wanted — such as a doctor, vet, firefighter or actor. Most were working as sales assistants, careers or in sales and marketing.
Although it’s good to have ambitions, the aims of young people need to be realistic. This latest report suggests that children need to be made more aware of a wider variety of occupations at a younger age. It also calls for improved career advice in secondary schools. A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions told the BBC that “early careers advice can help young people set out on the right path to the job that channels their interests and unlocks their potential.”
1. Which employment sector in the UK needs more people to work in?| A．Sport. | B．Service industry. |
| C．Art & culture. | D．Entertainment. |
| A．ambition and reality | B．males and females |
| C．theory and practice | D．the past and the present |
| A．They ought to be offered better career advice in secondary schools. |
| B．They should know more kinds of jobs at an early age. |
| C．The government should create more jobs for the young. |
| D．Their employment ambition should be realistic. |
| A．Unemployment Problems in Britain |
| B．Young People’s Lifestyles in Britain |
| C．Tips for Finding Dream Jobs in Britain |
| D．Unrealistic Career Ambitions in Britain |
10 . Beijing—Chengdu Train
Altogether about 5 pairs of trains are running between Beijing and Chengdu at present. Among them, a few pairs are high speed trains, which run between Beijing West Railway Station and Chengdu East Railway Station with duration of 8 to 10 hours; the rest few pairs are normal types between Beijing West Railway Station and Chengdu Railway Station and the whole journey takes about 21 to 32 hours.
High Speed Trains
Basic Facts:
·Duration: about 8—10 hours
·Distance: about 1,874—2,391 kilometers (1,165—1,485 miles)
·Top speed: 300 km/h (186 mph)
·Operated at: Beijing West Railway Station, Chengdu East Railway Station
·Stations along the way: Shijiazhuang, Handan East, Anyang East, Zhengzhou East,
Huashan North, Xi'an North, Guangyuan, Mianyang
Beijing to Chengdu High Speed Train Schedule:
(Last Update on Nov 12, 2020)
| Train No. | Departure - Arrival | Travel Time |
| G89 | 06:53—14:38 | 7h45m |
| G571 | 09:22—18:54 | 9h32m |
| G307 | 09:38—19:36 | 9h58m |
| G349 | 15:13—22:58 | 7h45m |
Beijing—Chengdu Train Ticket Price:
(Last Update on Nov 12, 2020)
| Business Class Seat | First Class Seat | Second Class Seat |
| CNY 2,417 / USD 350 | CNY 1,246 / USD 181 | CNY 778 / USD 112 |
Note: Children under the height of 1.2 for free ; Children with height between 1.2 and 1.5 meters half price ; Children above the height of 1.5 full price.
1. Where will you get off if you take a normal type train from Beijing to Chengdu?
| A．Chengdu Railway Station. | B．Chengdu East Railway Station. |
| C．Beijing West Railway Station. | D．Mianyang Station. |
| A．G571. | B．G307. |
| C．G89. | D．G349. |
| A．USD 224. | B．USD 280. |
| C．USD 336. | D．USD 1945. |
