1 . Mother's Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors mothers in the United States. It is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. It became an official holiday in the country at the start of the 20th century as a way to honor mothers whose sons had died in war.
The holiday is celebrated in a number of ways. People give mothers gifts like flowers, cards, and jewelry to thank them for all their hard work. A popular symbol of the holiday is the flower called carnation. This is because when the holiday first began in the U.S. people were encouraged to wear a red carnation if their mother was alive or a white carnation if their mother was dead. Many people take their mothers out for a special meal. In fact, Mother's Day is the most popular date in the U.S. for people to go out and eat and it is estimated that people spend billions on meals and gifts. Mother's Day is also the most popular day to make long distance calls in the U.S. It is the second most popular gift-giving day after Christmas.
Since its establishment, Mother's Day has been criticized for becoming highly financial. In fact, the founder of the U.S. holiday, Anna Jarvis, began protesting the holiday and was even arrested for disturbing the peace for a public march. Jarvis's own mother started the campaign to establish a mother's holiday during the American Civil War.
Mothers are not the only people celebrated on this day. All mother figures including grandmothers, great-grandmothers, stepmothers, and foster mothers are honored on the holiday. In schools many students make special gifts, including handmade cards. While widely recognized, Mother's Day is not a federal holiday. Many other countries around the world have their own version of Mother's Day.
1. Who was the holiday intended for at the beginning?| A．All mothers. | B．The sons giving lives in war. |
| C．All sons. | D．The mothers losing sons in war. |
| A．People give their mothers carnation flowers as gifts. |
| B．People prepare a special meal for their own mothers. |
| C．People spend too much on celebration of the holiday. |
| D．People telephone to their mothers anywhere anytime. |
| A．She criticized Mother's Day for high expenses. |
| B．She organized a public march and broke the peace. |
| C．She was strongly against her mother for the campaign. |
| D．She spent too much in celebrating the first Mother's Day. |
| A．The ways of observing Mother's Day. | B．The origin of Mother's Day. |
| C．Different opinions on Mother's Day. | D．The holiday of Mother's Day. |
2 . Argentina soccer legend Diego Maradona has died aged 60 of heart failure on Wednesday. Heart failure is a chronic condition that gradually damages the heart's ability to pump blood. Fluid can build up in the lungs as a result — a condition known as pulmonary edema. It is an increasingly common problem that can be fatal.
Regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game, Maradona became a household name after inspiring his country to World Cup glory in 1986. He took center stage at the tournament with a memorable performance against England where he scored a symbolic goal that he later described as the "Hand of God".
The small forward out-jumped legendary keeper Peter Shilton and knocked the ball into the net. The goal was allowed to stand, though it was claimed to be a handball. Later in the very game he scored one of the best goals in history after weaving his way past seven English defenders.
His impressive career was also marked by numerous controversies and his notorious lifestyle led to alcoholism and addiction.
Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez announced three days of national mourning for the passing of the superstar, and posted a tribute to Maradona on Twitter. "You took us to the top of the world. You made us feel incredibly happy. You were the greatest of all. Thank you for having existed," it read.
Maradona will lie in honor for public viewing at Argentina's presidential palace. Fans headed to the streets across Argentina and in Naples on Wednesday to pay tribute to（悼念） their hero. Meanwhile, a minute's silence would be observed ahead of all European matches this week in honor of the Argentine.
"He will go down in history as someone who set football alight and thrilled global fans young and old with his brilliance and skill."
1. Why did the famous football player Maradona die?| A．Old age. | B．Heart illness. | C．Loss of blood. | D．Lung cancer. |
| A．His achievements in life. | B．His "Hand of God". |
| C．His great performance in 1986. | D．His legendary life. |
| A．good | B．bad | C．common | D．healthy |
| A．Respectful. | B．Unkind. | C．Impolite. | D．Friendly. |
3 . When I was four years old，I got stung(螫) by a bee－twice in one week！After that，I had a fear of bees.That's when my parents suggested that I learn about bees instead of being frightened. I read picture books and watched videos about bees，and I learned that bees help make the food we eat because of their pollination(授粉). Take pizza，for example. If we didn't have bees to pollinate tomato plants，we wouldn't have tomatoes for sauce. And we wouldn't have cheese without pollination，either.
The bad news is that bees are struggling to survive. Many are dying. Some scientists think it might be because of chemicals that are used to kill other insects. What would happen if there were no more bees? I wanted to help. I thought, “What if I make lemonade，sell it，and raise money to help bees?” I talked to my grandmother Helen. She gave me her recipe(调制法) for lemonade. It came from a cookbook from 1940.
I added honey to her old recipe. That way，I could sell the lemonade and donate some of the money to groups that are helping to save bees. I could also support local beekeepers by using their honey in my product. And I would be educating others on the importance of bees and helping to save them.
My dad showed me how to work out what supplies I needed to buy. At first，I sold lemonade at a stand at a kids' business event. But I wanted to help bees all year round. We talked to a pizza place near where I live. They said they wanted to sell it. Now more than 30 stores sell it，too. This year we sold about 140,000 bottles. I love helping to save bees. It's the sweetest feeling ever.
1. After learning about bees，the author ________.| A．discovered their importance to people | B．developed an interest in insects |
| C．knew how to deal with them | D．became afraid of them |
| A．Bees’ worrying condition. | B．A cookbook from 1940. |
| C．Helen's special recipe. | D．Her parents' words. |
| A．Careful and polite. | B．Kind and caring. |
| C．Brave and smart. | D．Strong and patient. |
| A．From lemon to lemonade. | B．A kid and her bees. |
| C．A healthy heart. | D．A sweet idea. |
4 . Because of the spread of COVID-19, many students are forced to study at home. But parents are worried about how their children can learn more efficiently. The following websites might give you a clue.
Scratch
With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community. Scratch can be downloaded free of charge. Scratch is designed especially for ages 8 to 16, but is used by people of all ages. Scratch is used in more than 150 different countries and available in more than 40 languages.
Mr. Bob
Mr. Bob is a science teacher, author, maker, and presenter that knows how to share the world of science. Bob encourages parents and teachers to practice Random Acts of Science by providing instructions and videos for interactive science experiments on his website. Bob has also coauthored a very popular series of science adventure books for kids.
Oxford Owl for School
Oxford Owl for School is home to online teaching, learning and assessment resources and expert support for primary schools. Free teaching, learning and assessment resources are provided, including book recommendations, storytelling videos, activity sheets and teaching notes. With a library of free, tablet-friendly eBooks, you’ll find the perfect eBook for every pupil.
The National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization to explore and protect our planet. We fund hundreds of research and conservation projects around the world each year and inspire new generations. Our yellow border serves to explore the farthest reaches of the Earth and beyond. We reach millions of people around the world, with our television networks in 172 countries and our publications available in 41 languages.
1. Which website is most suitable for science lovers?| A．Scratch. | B．Mr. Bob. |
| C．Oxford Owl for School. | D．The National Geographic Society. |
| A．It owns a library in America. | B．It offers materials for students only. |
| C．It provides online books for free. | D．It is suitable for students of all ages. |
| A．They have users worldwide. | B．They choose books for kids to read. |
| C．They are designed especially for kids. | D．They are both nonprofit organizations. |
5 . I am proud to be a member of two cultures. Even though I am only ten years old, I have lived in two countries and in two cultures. I have lived in both Mexico and the United States.
I was born in the state of Michoacán. I was born in a small town called Quinceo. Life there was simple and peaceful. There was a small market where we would go on Sundays. There was a corral where we would go and watch rodeos. After school, my friends and I would go for a swim in a creek. My mom did not work; she stayed at home taking care of our family. Life in Quinceo was nice, but money was sometimes not enough to support us.
In 1996, the day came when my dad decided to bring us to the United States. Leaving my town was hard, but it was important that my family stay together. When I left Mexico, I had a lot of special friends and nice teachers.
When I first came to the United States, I started at a new school in Chicago. I found care and company at the school, among Hispanic people, my friends, and my teacher. She helped me all the time.
My education now is different from the one in Mexico. Here, I am studying in two languages. I feel very happy because I am able to communicate in two languages. In my case, speaking Spanish is an indication of my Mexican heritage. Speaking English is a symbol of my triumph and the struggles that I have as an immigrant in this country. Now that I have been here three years, I am proud to offer my help and support to people who need it.
I urge those who come from Mexico and other countries to learn English and to continue speaking their native language, too. It will help them reach out to others.
1. What does the writer think of Mexico?| A．She doesn’t like it because it’s poor. |
| B．She was too young to remember it. |
| C．She loves the country and is proud of it. |
| D．She wants to get rid of it so she left. |
| A．Because they were in need of more money. |
| B．Because the mother found no peace in Quinceo. |
| C．Because they wanted to experience a new culture. |
| D．Because the author could have new friends. |
| A．She wants to be a teacher and support people. |
| B．She enjoyed company of friends at the new school. |
| C．She enjoyed life in Mexico and also in the USA. |
| D．Her new school teaches in English and Mexican. |
| A．explain how the author learns English well as a teen |
| B．help people to understand American immigrants better |
| C．introduce the life in her hometown Quinceo in Mexico |
| D．persuade immigrants not to drop their mother tongue |
6 . American and Canadian ocean scientists are taking an unexpected opportunity presented by the coronavirus pandemic（冠状病毒大流行）. They are trying to discover whether Pacific Northwest whales benefit from the drop in boat traffic and underwater noise.
Stay-home laws have greatly reduced entertaining boat trips and ferry crossings this spring. Commercial（商业的）whale watching tours remain on hold. Large ships carrying goods continue to come and go less often. Noise and boat disturbance are considered main reasons for the decrease of the Northwest’s endangered killer whales besides reducing food supply and pollution.
“From a killer whale’s point of view, not having fast moving boats around might be quite beneficial,” said oceanographer Scott Veirs of Seattle, who is in charge of an underwater microphone network called Oreasound.
However, the decrease in sea traffic by the coronavirus pandemic may be short-lived, meaning archers have to act fast to document if the quieter seas make happier, healthier whales.
“We are all trying to remain ready,” Veirs said. “If the pandemic continues to affect boat traffic for the next couple of months, we’ll have a very rare activity when noise levels are reduced. I hope that happens, opportunity to observe killer whale activity when noise levels are reduced. I hope that happens.”
The population of killer whales in the waters of the U. S. Pacific Northwest and southwestern British Columbia has reduced to around 73. They use sound to hunt. locate and communicate, and noise from boat engines can affect the sound waves they make for echolocation（回声定位）. Other larger whales that live in Northwest waters communicate over longer distances in a frequency band（波段）that is almost the same with the low frequency noise made by large container ships.
Viers believes if we continue to not have any commercial whale watching and limit our entertaining boating, the killer whales would certainly experience less of noise disturbance with the boats.
1. What do killer whales benefit from the coronavirus pandemic?| A．Stricter laws on ocean pollution. |
| B．More whale watching tourists. |
| C．Reduced noise and boat disturbance. |
| D．Increased food supply. |
| A．The ocean traffic may increase before long. |
| B．The echolocation function of whales is damaged. |
| C．The frequency band whales use is similar to boats. |
| D．The population of killer whales drops too quickly. |
| A．The population of killer whales. |
| B．The frequency band killer whales use. |
| C．How killer whales use sound waves. |
| D．Why noise from boats affects the life of whales. |
| A．A brochure. | B．A news report. | C．A science fiction. | D．A travel diary. |
7 . With a wide range of events taking place all year round, there’s always something to celebrate in Santa Cruz County. Here are top 4 events this week.
The Jazz Time: Steve Wilson
Steve Wilson takes us on a magical mystery tour of 100 years of jazz in 60 minutes with a great jazz band.
Veterans Memorial Building, 846 Front Street, Santa Cruz
Spotlight on the Symphony: Nigel Armstrong
Santa Cruz Symphony’s’ concertmaster (首席小提琴手), Nigel Armstrong, can’t get enough of performing in Santa Cruz County, and has agreed to share his great talent on violin with us.
Samper Recital Hall, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos.
Vive Oaxaca Guelaguetza
Spend the day in Oaxaca! Family-friendly food, music, crafts cultural festival. The entrance fee: $10, free for children aged 5 and under. Limited free parking at the county government center.
San Lorenzo Park, 137 Dakota Avenue, Santa Cruz.
Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir
Led by Linda Tillery, the Cultural Heritage Choir inspires us with exciting rhythms and great energy through different forms, such as stick, song, dance and story.
Cabrillo Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos.
1. Where would music history lovers prefer to go?| A．Veterans Memorial Building. | B．Samper Recital Hall. |
| C．San Lorenzo Park. | D．Cabrillo Crocker Theater. |
| A．$5. | B．$20. | C．$25. | D．$30. |
| A．The Jazz Time: Steve Wilson. |
| B．Spotlight on the Symphony: Nigel Armnstrong. |
| C．Vive Oaxaca Guelaguetza. |
| D．Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir. |
8 . Whatever your age or interests, Buxton has something to see or do to make your visit truly memorable.
High energy
If you desire physical activities, you can choose activities from swimming to horse riding.
Explore the heights with Go Ape, the high wire forest adventure course, or journey under the earth at Poole's Cavern. And don't forget: we are surrounded by a natural playground just perfect for walking, caving, climbing and cycling.
High minded
Buxton is proud of its cultural life and you'll find much to suit all tastes with art, music, opera and the performing arts at Buxton Opera House & Pavilion Arts Centre and Green Man gallery. There are plenty of opportunities for the creative person to become involved, including workshops and events.
Keeping the kids happy
Children love the small train and playgrounds in the Pavilion Gardens and there’s plenty more to explore at the Buxton Museum. There's a new indoor play center, plus the special events and workshops, and others during school holiday periods
1. If you want to take an underground journey, which place is the best choice?| A．Poole's Cavern. | B．Pavilion Gardens. |
| C．Buxton Museum. | D．Green Man Gallery. |
| A．rides in small train | B．courses in modern arts |
| C．artistic and cultural activities | D．basic courses in horse riding |
| A．Poole's Cavern. | B．Pavilion Gardens. |
| C．Buxton Opera House. | D．Green Man Gallery. |
9 . Every man wants his son to be somewhat of a clone, not in features but in footsteps. As he grows you also age, and your ambitions become more unachievable. You begin to realize that your boy, in your footsteps, could probably accomplish what you hoped for. But footsteps can be muddied and they can go off in different directions.
My son Jody has hated school since day one in kindergarten. Science projects waited until the last moment. Book reports weren’t written until the final threat.
I’ve been a newspaperman all my adult life. My daughter is a university graduate working towards her master’s degree in English. But Jody? When he entered the tenth grade he became a “vo-tech” student (技校学生). They’re called “motorheads” by the rest of the student body.
When a secretary in my office first called him “motorhead”, I was shocked. “Hey, he’s a good kid, ” I wanted to say. “And smart, really.”
I learned later that motorheads are, indeed, different. They usually have dirty hands and wear dirty work clothes. And they don’t often make school honor rolls (光荣榜).
But being the parent of a motorhead is itself an experience in education. We who labor in clean shirts in offices don’t have the abilities that motorheads have. I began to learn this when I had my car crashed. The cost to repair it was estimated at $800. “Hey, I can fix it,” said Jody. I doubted it, but let him go ahead, for I had nothing to lose.
My son, with other motorheads, fixed the car. They got parts from a junkyard, and ability from vo-tech classes. The cost was $25 instead of $800.
Since that first repair job, a broken air-conditioner, a non-functioning washer and a non-toasting toaster have been fixed. Neighbours and co-workers trust their car repairs to him.
These kids are happiest when doing repairs. They joke and laugh and are living in their own relaxed world. And their minds are bright despite their dirty hands and clothes.
I have learned a lot from my motorhead: publishers need printers, engineers need mechanics, and architects need builders. Most important, I have learned that fathers don’t need clones in footsteps or anywhere else.
My son may never make the school honor roll. But he made mine.
1. What used to be the author’s hope for his son?| A．To avoid becoming his clone. | B．To resemble him in appearance. |
| C．To develop in a different direction. | D．To reach the author’s unachieved goals. |
| A．His daughter does better in school. |
| B．His daughter has got a master’s degree. |
| C．His son tried hard to finish homework. |
| D．His son couldn’t write his book reports. |
| A．his son had the ability to fix it | B．it would save him much time |
| C．it wouldn’t cause him any more loss | D．other motorheads would come to help |
| A．It is unwise to expect your child to follow your path. |
| B．It is important for one to make the honor roll. |
| C．Architects play a more important role than builders. |
| D．Motorheads have greater ability than office workers. |
10 . When it comes to work, workers, and jobs, much of the concern of the modern age boils down to the fear that we're witnessing the final stage of the game, and that there will be nowhere for humans to withdraw as machines take over the last few tasks. The most recent example comes from the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Is there no area of human experience that can't be replaced by AI? And if not, what is left for humans to do except the tasks involved in taking care of the machines?
At the heart of this concern is our desire for good jobs — jobs that make the most of workers' natural abilities and where the work provides the worker with motivation and work-life balance. More importantly, good jobs support workers in learning by doing—and, in so doing, deliver benefits on three levels: to the worker, who gains in personal development and job satisfaction; to the organization, which reforms as staff find new problems to solve and opportunities to pursue; and to the community as a whole, which harvests the economic benefits of hosting positive organizations and workers. This is what makes good jobs productive for the organization, as well as engaging and fulfilling for the worker.
Does the ongoing advance of AI threaten to get rid of all the learning, creativity, and meaning that make a job a good job? Certainly, some have blamed technology for just such an outcome. Headlines today often express concern over technological innovation(革新) resulting in bad jobs for humans, or even the complete disappearance of certain professions. Some fear that further technology advancement in the workplace will result in jobs where employees are being asked to work in split times or for longer periods over more days.
The problem here isn't the technology; rather, it's the way the technology is used — and, more than that, the way people think about using it.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．The human fears in the age of AI. |
| B．Human experiences were replaced by AI. |
| C．How to take care of the AI machines. |
| D．The relations among work, workers, and jobs. |
| A．The ones that provide basic benefits. |
| B．The ones that require no economic return. |
| C．Those that don't bring new problems to workers. |
| D．Those that offer chances to progress professionally. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Optimistic. | C．Negative. | D．Ambiguous. |
| A．The proper attitude towards AI. | B．The future jobs humans will do. |
| C．The possible application of AI in the future. | D．The approaches to handling the issues of AI. |
