1 . There are many oceans and lakes in the United States where you can gain unexpected experiences. Here are some of most stunning ones found throughout the United States.
Ocracoke Beach, North Carolina
Ocracoke Island has 16 miles of undeveloped sandy shoreline. It is a barrier island of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and it is a part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Ocracoke is fairly remote and can only be reached by public ferry, private boat or private plane. The beach is perfect for swimming, fishing, surfing, sunbathing, fishing and even camping. Certain portions of the beautiful sandy beach can be enjoyed by off-road vehicles.
Sand Beach, Maine
Located on Mt. Desert Island, Sand Beach offers visitors to Maine an amazing beach destination. Visitors to Acadia National Park have the opportunity to enjoy all of the beauty and excitement of this park. This beach is wonderfully sandy and is even a safe place to enjoy swimming. Bordered on both sides by rocky headlands, visitors can also appreciate the tide pools as well as some unique wildlife living in the headlines.
Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
Widely considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States if not the world, Poipu Beach is located on the south shore of Kauai and is part of Poipu Beach Park. The beach is composed of a string of golden sandy crescent shaped beaches. Visitors to Poipu can have hours of fun snorkeling, boogie- boarding, swimming, and surfing. The best surfing spots are located slightly offshore, the reef establishes wavebreaks which make good surfing for surfers of all experience levels.
South Ocean Beach, Mary land
Located on the fascinating Assateague Island, South Ocean Beach is a beautiful Atlantic coast beach. This shoreline is drivable, giving visitors the opportunities to enjoy all the miles of the beach and all of the activities of the beach, South Ocean Beach even offers some fantastic surfing conditions in the region as well.
1. What can visitors do when they’re in Sand Beach, Maine?| A．Enjoy rare species. | B．Go camping. |
| C．Take a walk. | D．Watch a game. |
| A．On foot. | B．Hiring a ferry. |
| C．By car. | D．Riding a bike. |
| A．Bird watchers. | B．Beach lovers. |
| C．Fashion designers. | D．Landscape architects. |
2 . The secret to happiness is keeping busy, research has found.
Keeping the mind occupied with tasks — no matter how meaningless — keeps off negative emotions, the study found.
However, the bad news is that humans are seemingly born to be lazy in order to save energy, according to Professor Christoper Hsee, a behavioral scientist at Chicago University.
In a study, 98 students were asked to complete two surveys. After they had completed the first, they were made to wait 15 minutes to receive the next one. They were given a choice of either handing in the first survey nearby or at a more distant location they had to walk to. Whichever option they chose, they received a chocolate bar. It turned out that approximately two-thirds (68 students) chose the lazy option. Those who had taken the walk reported feeling happier than those who had stayed put.
Prof. Hsee concluded that keeping busy helped keep people happy. He said the findings, reported in the journal Psychological Science, had policy implications.
“Governments may increase the happiness of idle citizens by having them build bridges that are actually useless,” he proposed.
At the individual level, he advised, “Get up and do something. Anything. Even if there really is no point to what you are doing, you will feel better for it.” He added, “Incidentally, thinking deeply or engaging in self-reflection counts as keeping busy, too.”
“You do not need to be running around. You just need to be engaged, either physically or mentally.”
1. Keeping busy can make people happy because________.| A．it can help people get rid of laziness | B．it can make people sleep better |
| C．it can help get rid of negative emotions | D．it can give people a sense of achievement |
| A．The finding may contribute to politics. |
| B．The officials have taken Prof. Hsee’s advice. |
| C．In the study half students handed in the first survey nearby. |
| D．Governments can increase citizens’ happiness by building bridges. |
| A．Everybody is born to be happy. |
| B．Only by keeping working all the time can you gain happiness. |
| C．Prof. Hsee’s finding was published in Psychological Science. |
| D．Keeping busy goes against human nature. |
| A．To explain what happiness is. |
| B．To advise people not to sit around. |
| C．To advise people to do what they like to. |
| D．To show people how to take life correctly. |
3 . Decades ago, NASA asked experts to develop the "smell of space1' in order to help prepare astronauts for the experience of outer space. Now, a perfume, Eau de Space, has attracted eager buyers.
According to the Kickstarter campaign, which has been launched to sell Eau de Space, the history of the "smell of space" has been unclear owing to various accounts of its development. Ever since the first spacewalk, astronauts have been shocked by the smell.
NASA astronauts Col. Chris Hadfield said, "The only time you can smell space is when you come back from a spacewalk. As you open the hatch(舱门)，there is a distinctive smell. " Some astronauts and space tourists describe it as fruit, or burnt cookies. Astronauts Gene Cernan talked of another smell he experienced: "The moon smells like spent gunpowder " The smell of space is so distinct that NASA reached out to fragrance makers to recreate the smell, according to NASA documents.
Now, the makers have cooperated with award winning perfumers(香水调配师)，and report that they've secured commercial contracts to reproduce the smell based on astronaut’s accounts.
At S29 per boule. Eau de Space will help support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs for students. “For every bottle of Eau de Space you buy, were going to donate one to a STEM program for low-income. It’s a big promise and isn’t the best decision for a company trying to make a profit. But we really believe in the cause and hope you do too. Imagine that a child who smells Eau de Space today is inspired Io become an astronaut, scientist or engineer,” shows Kickstarter.
Eau de Space will be made in the UK employing low-income labor and environmentally-friendly practices, including zero manufacturing waste, according to the campaign. So far, about 11,000 people have become supporters.
1. Why was the Kickstarter campaign started?| A．To promote Eau de Space. | B．To attract perfume makers. |
| C．To explain the “smell of space”. | D．To recreate the “smell of space”. |
| A．Its makers will make a profit of S28 per bottle, |
| B．It has been available in the market for a long lime. |
| C．It can get astronauts ready for their space experience. |
| D．Its smell is designed according to astronauts' descriptions. |
| A．Part of its profits will support low-income students. |
| B．The company will offer its employees high salaries. |
| C．Its production process won't damage the environment. |
| D．About 11,000 people have tried it out personally so far. |
| A．Eau de Space, a Perfume Used in Space |
| B．The “Smell of Space”, a Perfume on the Way |
| C．The History of Developing the “Smell of Space” |
| D．Astronauts’ Different Accounts about the Space Smell |
4 . Observing fish in the ocean depths is challenging. Water pressure, dark light and more make exploring the ocean a tricky expedition. But researchers at MIT believe they have the answer: a soft robot fish called SoFi(short for soft fish).
This small, fish-looking robot swims quietly through its environment, free from anything attached to it so it doesn't disrupt the ecosystem by knocking into things and breaking them. They've already take SoFi out for a successful test swim.
“To our knowledge, this is the first robotic fish that can swim untethered for extended periods of time, Robert Katzschmann, lead author and Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory(CSAIL) Ph.D. candidate, said in a statement.
This is a marked improvement over other autonomous underwater vehicles(AUVs), which are loud, large and have a limited range of motion as they're often tied to boats. SoFi isn't any of those things thanks to its unique design and construction. For starters, the back side of the little robot fish is made of silicon rubber and flexible plastic, meaning it won't damage a reef if bumps into it.
To control SoFi, the team turned to one of the best ways to control just about anything: a waterproofed and customized control pad for a Super Nintendo. The researchers also developed a custom acoustic communication system to send SoFi instructions. So long as they're within 70 feet(21 metres) of SoFi, pushing a right, left, up and down on the direction pad will send an ultrasonic command using wavelengths of 30 to 36 kilohertzes. SoFi receives the command and follows it. If SoFi doesn't receive a command it'll just swim in the last commanded direction. SoFi is powered by a lithium polymer battery, the kind found in smart phones, and it can film and take high-resolution photos thanks to a fisheye lens housed in its "nose".
However…
1. Which is true about SoFi?| A．It can swim quietly without disturbing others. | B．It can swim faster than any other real fish. |
| C．It should be tied to boats. | D．It needn't be controlled by human beings. |
| A．Without anything attached to it. | B．Without a chargeable battery. |
| C．Without being observed by people. | D．Without making any loud noise. |
| A．To tell us SoFi is easy to make with. | B．To tell us SoFi is lighter than we expect. |
| C．To tell us SoFi is safe to the environment. | D．To tell us SoFi cannot be damaged by water. |
| A．Some negative aspects of SoFi. | B．SoFi will change the concept of robot. |
| C．Scientists will make SoFi change its shape. | D．SoFi will bring a revolution to the sea exploration. |
5 . Innovations are not always welcome. In 1589 William Lee made his way to the English court, hoping to be granted a patent for his invention, a knitting machine. Queen Elizabeth I turned him down: "Consider what the invention could do to my poor subjects," she commanded. "It would assuredly bring ruin to them by robbing them of employment."
The fears of Good Queen Bess have echoed down the centuries—from the Luddites, who destroyed textile machinery in the early 19th century, to John F. Kennedy, who warned of the dangers of automation during his presidential campaign of 1960. In the 21st century the concerns have switched to robots and artificial intelligence (AI); 30% of American workers believe their jobs are likely to be replaced by robots and computers in their lifetime
In the past the relationship between machine and human labor has been driven by two factors: the substituting effect, which caused people to lose jobs, and the complementing effect, which allowed employees to do their work more productively. Mr. Susskind worries that, in the future, the substituting effect will take over. Advances in Al have been so rapid that machines will eventually be better than people at most activities, he says, and so will be the "default（默认）choice" for performing them. A few highly paid humans will still be employed, but the rest will either struggle to find work or fall into the "precariat", stuck in jobs that are not just poorly paid but also unstable and stressful.
This depressing view of the impact of technology is plausible（貌似有理的）. But so is a more optimistic outlook, as the economist Roger Bootle showed in his book. Mr. Bootle argued that Al and robotics would improve productivity and economic growth, and release people from performing the most lengthy tasks. As for employment, there will always be demand for services with the human touch. Perhaps, the truth is that it is impossible to be sure whether the latest advances will in the end have mainly good or bad economic effects.
1. What's the purpose of the examples in Paragraphs 1 and 2?| A．To tell people how many inventions are made. |
| B．To remind people how important the machines are. |
| C．To demonstrate the possible dangers to human beings. |
| D．To show some people's attitude towards new inventions. |
| A．People who have stable jobs. | B．People who like their jobs. |
| C．People who are stuck in bad jobs. | D．People whose jobs are well-paid. |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. | C．Neutral. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．The impact of technology is depressing. |
| B．He showed a pessimistic attitude to technogy in his book. |
| C．AI and robotics would harm productivity and economic growth. |
| D．AI and robotics release people from performing long and tiring tasks. |
6 . In early December,a new set of rules governing behavior inside Shanghai's subway came ffect, forbidding listening to electronic devices without earphones inside subway coaches.
This was long called for. Subway cars are public spaces where nobody should annoy others. However, in reality there are many who play their music or movies without the aid of earphones, disturbing co-passengers. Even if the music and movies are not loud enough, the disturbing elements also scream with joy or laughter in reaction, and they are indifferent to how it affects others inside the coaches.
In the absence of clear rules forbidding such behavior inside the coaches, there was nobody the disturbed passengers could turn to for assistance. Even if they had complained, the authorities inside the subway would have said they were not empowered(授权)to help them. However, noise inside a subway cannot be a personal matter. A person has no right to impose his movie or music on others in the shared space. Every passenger has the right to be undisturbed by any movie or music that other passengers are enjoying.
Thanks to the new rules. those taking a subway cmi now complain to staff members about smartphone noises. That the news about new subway rules was read by nearly 300 million times on the micro blog is the biggest evidence of l)ow people are happy and are looking forward to die absence of noise in the public space.
The new rules also forbid people from eating or drinking inside subway coaches, which, too, is a welcome change, as sometimes die food is smelly and lets off an unpleasant smell that can cause discomfort to fellow passengers. The new rules will help create a better environment for everyone inside the subway coaches.
The only drawback with the new rules is that it does not give specific punitive(处罚的) measures .For example, there is no listed punishment such as fines or warnings for those disobeying the rules. Maybe the subway staff members will have to be artful and persuasive while carrying out the new rules.
1. Which can be allowed in subway cars according to the new rules?| A．Playing music in a loud voice. |
| B．Eating or drinking something tasty. |
| C．Listening to songs using earphones. |
| D．Watching movies without using earphones. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Annoyed. |
| C．Supportive. | D．Critical. |
| A．They still need to be further improved. |
| B．They can help protect the environment. |
| C．They seem not to meet the passengers' demands. |
| D．They offer detailed punishment for improper behaviors. |
| A．The subway staff ought to be stricter |
| B．The new rules have many disadvantages. / |
| C．Complaining to staff members is unwise. |
| D．Carrying out the new rules is challenging. |
7 . Gitanjali Rao, a teenager who invented a mobile device to test for lead(铅)in drinking water, is Time's Kid of the Year for 2020. The magazine announced the award Thursday, indicating Rao's ability to apply scientific ideas to real-world problems and her desire to motivate other kids to take up their own causes.
It's just the latest recognition for Rao, 15, who was named last year to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list(福布斯30岁以下青年才俊榜).She won praise in 2017 after she created a device named Tehys, using carbon nanotube sensors to detect lead in water. She was named America's Top Young Scientist when she was in the seventh grade. She went on to collaborate with scientists in the water industry to try to get the device on the market.
More recently , Rao has developed a phone and Web tool named Kindly, which uses artificial intelligence technology to detect possible early signs of cyberbullying(网络欺凌).
Rao was chosen in part because of the way she has followed up her technical work with efforts to get other young people to work on solving the problems they see. "I don't look like the typical scientist. Everything I see on TV is that it's an older, usually white man as a scientist,” she said. “My goal has really shifted not only from creating my own devices to solve the world's problems, but inspiring others to do the same as well. Because, from personal experience, it's not easy when you don't see anyone else like you. So I really want to put out that message: If I can do it, you can do it. and anyone can do it.”
1. What made Rao win Time's Kid of die Year?| A．Her invention and inspiration to others. |
| B．Her ability to ensure kids' drinking water. |
| C．Her motivation to solve practical problems. |
| D．Her way of influencing other young people. |
| A．She developed a tool called Kindly. |
| B．She created a device called Tehys. |
| C．She won America's Top Young Scientists. |
| D．She became one of the Forbes 30 Under 30. |
| A．Compete. | B．Exchange. | C．Cooperate. | D．Bargain. |
| A．She wants to be a typical scientist. | B．She once suffered cyberbullying. |
| C．She lived a hard life when young. | D．She encourages others to do like her. |
8 . Planning a vacation is one activity your family is sure to enjoy as there are plenty of options to choose from. To help you decide, here are four of the best cities for family vacation.
Washington, DC
The nation's capital is a treasure place of fun, family activities that just happen to be rich with history. Start off exploring the National Mall and you'll find the Washington, Lincoln t and Jefferson monuments all within walking distance. Then there are the war memorials: Vietnam, Korean, and WWII.
Boston
Can't get enough US history? A trip to Boston just might be for you. Go back in time by taking a tour of the USS Constitution, aka Old Ironsides. From there, walk The Freedom Trail where you'll come across such landmarks as the site of the Boston Massacre, the Old North Church, Paul Revered house, and the Bunker Hill Monument.
Los Angeles
There is always something to do in Los Angeles. For starters, enjoy a beach day on the miles and miles of coastline. Malibu, Redondo, Manhattan, Venice, and Hermosa are just a handful of sunny SoCal beaches. In need of some culture? Get your art and architecture on at the Getty Center, where admission is free though you do have to pay to park.
San Francisco
If Southern California isn't your speed, perhaps Northern California is. And San Francisco is a great place for a family to explore. Start by driving, or walking, across the Golden Gate Bridge On the west side of the oily is over 1 ,000 acres known as Golden Gate Park, home to gardens, trails, playgrounds and much more.
1. Which is suitable for you if you are interested in some late American presidents?| A．Washington, DC. | B．Boston. |
| C．Los Angeles. | D．San Francisco. |
| A．The Bunker Hill Monument. | B．The Golden Gate Park. |
| C．The Getty Center. | D．The Freedom Trail. |
| A．Drive across the Golden Gate Park. | B．Enjoy some gardens or playgrounds. |
| C．Learn some culture and architecture. | D．Visit some famous monuments. |
9 . Flu season generally fades away in March and April, but will the coronavirus go with it? Whether the coronavirus that's quickly spreading around the world will follow the flu season and fade away with spring's arrival is unsatisfyingly uncertain. And many scientists say it's too soon to know how the dangerous virus will behave in warmer weather.
Dozens of viruses exist in the coronavirus family, but only seven afflict（折磨）humans. Four are known to cause mild colds in people, which are common, while others are more novel, deadly, and thought to be transmitted from animals like bats and camels. Health officials have labeled this new virus SARS-CoV-2 and its disease COVID-19. The prospect that summer could delay a pandemic is tempting. Earlier this year, Donald Trump tweeted about China's efforts to contain the virus, saying they would be successful, "especially as the weather starts to warm.”
Viruses that cause influenza or milder coronavirus colds do tend to subside in warmer months because these types of viruses have what scientists refer to as "seasonality," so the president's comments have some scientific backing. But it's highly uncertain that SARS-CoV-2 will behave the same way. Those currently studying the disease say their research is too early to predict how the virus will respond to changing weather.
"I hope it will show seasonality, but it's hard to know," says Stuart Weston, a researcher at the University of Maryland, where the virus is being actively studied. As of Tuesday morning, more than 800,000 coronavirus cases had been confirmed in 74 different countries, with experts saying the disease is likely to keep spreading.
And relatively recent research suggests that dry, cold air may also help viruses stay unbroken in the air or travel farther as they become airborne.
Scientists assume that low humidity, which often occurs in winter, might weaken the function of the mucus（粘液）in your nose, which your body uses to trap and drive foreign bodies like viruses or bacteria away. Cold, dry air can make that normally thick mucus drier and less efficient at trapping a virus.
1. When does flu season usually die down?| A．Early autumn. | B．Late Summer. |
| C．Late Spring. | D．Mid Summer. |
| A．Frightening | B．Decent | C．Critical | D．Unfamiliar |
| A．Several of the coronavirus family are thought to be dangerous to human. |
| B．COVID-19 will disappear as flu virus with it getting warmer. |
| C．It's unknown how the dangerous virus will behave in warmer weather. |
| D．The dry cold air may help viruses spread farther and faster. |
| A．The reason why people easily get viruses in winter. |
| B．Viruses do agree with the dry and cold atmosphere in winter. |
| C．If you stay at a warm room, you can't get any viruses. |
| D．The low temperature in winter is the main reason for viruses to spread. |
| TICKET TYPE | DISCOUNT * | NOTES |
| Standard returns | 20% | return within 60 days of outward trip |
| same day returns | 25% | ticket cannot be altered or refunded |
| children | 40% | children between 4 and 11 |
| students | 25% | student card must be shown |
| senior citizens | 25% | senior card must be shown |
| groups(10-25people) | 15% | discount on each section of the trip |
| globe-trotter tickets | According to the ticket | Railpass, tourist Card, Econopass |
*Only one discount may apply to each fare.
CHANGES AND REFUNDS
Tickets may be refunded not later than 5 minutes before the departure of the train for a charge of 15% of the ticket price, or the journey may be changed to another day for a charge of 10% of the ticket price.（Not applicable to same day returns.）
CHANGES FOR SAME DAY TRAVEL
You may change your ticket once without charge for a journey on the same day as the original ticket.
INFORMATION OF INTEREST TO TRAVELLERS
When you buy your ticket it is up to you to check that the dates and times of the journey on it are exactly as you requested.
Ticket control and access to each train platform will be open until 2 minutes before departure of the train
Each traveller may take one suitcase and one item of hand luggage. You may also check in 15kgs of luggage not later than 30 minutes before departure, at no extra charge.
If you would like to charter a train, or make reservations for over 25 passengers travelling together, call the Sales Department.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．describe the policies of changes and refunds. |
| B．provide some information about train ticket. |
| C．introduce the luggage allowance on the train. |
| D．compare the discounts of different ticket types. |
| A．20% | B．25% | C．45% | D．50% |
| A．You can get your ticket price refunded if you are 2 minutes late for the train. |
| B．Extra money will be paid on checked luggage of 15 kgs an hour before departure. |
| C．Same day returns can be changed to another day for a charge of 10% of the ticket price. |
| D．Travelers should ensure they are ready to board the train with at least 2 minutes to spare. |
