1 . An advance in electronic publishing could make the e-book you are reading seem as dated as a silent film. Publishers hope to explore the growing success of e-books by releasing versions with added soundtracks（电影配音）and musical accompaniments.
The noises in the first multimedia books — released in Britain on Friday - include rain hitting a window in a Sherlock Holmes tale. When the plot of a book reaches the most exciting part, background scores will create tension.
Supporters argue that sound effects are the next logical development for e-books and will add excitement for younger readers. Critics, however, will argue that the noise will ruin the simple pleasure of having the imagination stimulated by reading.
Caroline Michel, chief executive of the literary agency, said the new generation of computer- literate readers was used to multiple sensory input. She said, “Young people have split computer screens where they may be watching television and replying to an email at the same time. If that's what the market wants then we should respond to the market.”
Book track's sound effects work by estimating the user's reading speed. Each lime you turn a page, the software reassesses where you have reached in the text and times the sounds to switch on accordingly. If the soundtrack becomes out of synch （同步），a click on any word will reset it.
Some authors fear that a soundtrack could destroy the peace and quiet of libraries and ruin the pleasure, of reading. David Nicholls, author of Our Day, the bestseller now released as a film, said, “This sounds like the opposite of reading. I have enough trouble reading an e-book because I'm constantly distracted by emails.
Stuart MacBride, the crime writer whose novel Shatter the Bones was an e-book bestseller, sells 18% of his books as electronic downloads. He said, “If I'm reading, I will do the noise in my head. I don’t need someone to tell me what lea cups clinking sounds like. That would irritate （激怒）me.”
1. What do publishers expect an e-book soundtrack to do?| A．Help to release an e-book as a film. | B．Help readers improve reading speed. |
| C．Add tension at a book's exciting point. | D．Get readers familiar with the background. |
| A．Mr. Darcy. | B．Caroline Michel. |
| C．David Nicholls. | D．Stuart MacBride. |
| A．He was a person who was easy to get angry. |
| B．He knew a great deal about tea and tea culture. |
| C．Eighty-two percent of his books described crime. |
| D．He imagined sounds related to the story when reading. |
| A．Opinions about e-books with soundtracks. |
| B．Response to the need of the book market. |
| C．Reasons for traditional e-books becoming outdated. |
| D．Suggestions on encouraging readers’ imagination. |
2 . Welcome to the Sydney Opera House
Ticket Info and Guided Tours
Visitors can enjoy the Sydney Opera House foyer for free, but for a more insightful visit, you'll need to book a tour.
There are several different ways to experience the Sydney Opera House, and multiple tours are available including back-stage passes and walking tours.
Tour Type Adult （AUD $ ） Child
Guided Walking Tour $ 42 $ 22
Guided Walking Tour + Dinner $ 73 $ 52
Guided Walking Tour + Tasting Plate $ 82.20 $ 64. 80
Backstage Tour $ 175 $ 175
Opening Hours and the Best Time to Visit
The Sydney Opera House is open year-round with the following opening hours：
● Monday—Saturday ： 9am—8 ： 30pm
●Sunday： 9am—5pm
As for the best time of day, it's recommended to book the earliest Sydney Opera House tour of the day to beat the crowds. To enjoy sunny weather with fewer crowds, try visiting in the shoulder season (October, November, February, or March )
Points of Interest
●The Steps
Before entering the Opera House, take a picture of the building from the steps outside.
●The Sails
Step beneath the sails on a guided tour and enjoy harbor front views.
●The Concert Hall
The Concert Hall is the largest venue with seats for more than 2000 people. It features contemporary live music shows and highly -regarded orchestral (管弦乐的)performances. It is also here that you will find the world's largest mechanical tracker-action pipe organ.
● Opera Bar
After your tour, head to the Opera Bar for a bite to eat or drink in the sun.
● Badu Gili
Badu Gili, which is ‘water light’ in the language of the Gadigal people-takes place most evenings after sunset at 9pm, 9：30pm, and 10pm. The seven-minute display is free to view.
1. How much will a guided walking tour for two adults cost?| A．$ 64. | B．$ 84. | C．$ 128, | D．$ 168. |
| A．9：30 am, a Monday in February. | B．10：00 am, a Sunday in December. |
| C．5：00 pm, a Friday in September. | D．6：00 pm, a Saturday in March. |
| A．A local language. | B．A pipe organ. | C．A light show. | D．A dinning area. |
3 . A new report connects eating eggs to an increased risk of heart disease. The results follow several earlier studies that found eating eggs was generally healthy. The study collects data from six other earlier studies. It shows a 6 percent increased risk of heart disease when the number of eggs a person ate each day increased by half an egg.
Norrina Allen, an associate professor at Northwestern University said that, in the United States, eggs are generally one of the top sources of cholesterol(胆固醇)in a person’s daily food. People with higher levels of cholesterol in their food are at increased risk of the development of heart disease later in life. However, Allen added that she would not say that eggs are completely unhealthy. “I’m not saying that people should take them completely out of their food,” she said. “I’m just suggesting that people eat them in a proper amount.”
Some experts believe the new study does not prove that eggs are causing heart disease. “Cholesterol’s role in the development of heart disease has been discussed for more than 30 years,” said Bruemmer, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “This study does have clear shortcomings, including self-reporting at a single time point,” he added.
Bruemmer said, “Eggs in moderation(适度)are probably acceptable from a nutritional standpoint.” “Moderation,” he added, “is less than one egg a day, including eggs in foods such as bread”.
Holly Andersen, a doctor at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, agrees that the study has “real shortcomings”. One problem Andersen has with the study is that a lot of the egg-eating people in the study also appeared to be eating much meat and processed meat. “If you’re taking a lot of processed meat, it doesn’t matter how many eggs you’re eating,” Andersen said.
Also, Andersen said, “The study can only show there is a relation between eggs eating and heart disease. But it cannot prove eggs are the cause of the disease. It may just be that people eating a lot of eggs are also taking a lot of bacon.”
1. What does Norrina Allen agree with?| A．Eggs are completely unhealthy. |
| B．Eggs contain the most cholesterol. |
| C．Eggs should be eaten in a right amount. |
| D．Eggs have no connection with heart disease. |
| A．Interested. | B．Doubtful. | C．Concerned. | D．Hopeful. |
| A．Eggs and meat cannot be eaten together. |
| B．Processed meat may cause heart disease. |
| C．Processed meat should be avoided. |
| D．The study is supported by evidence. |
| A．Do eggs cause heart disease? |
| B．Are eggs the top source of cholesterol? |
| C．What’s the proper amount of eggs eaten? |
| D．Is the cholesterol to blame for heart disease? |
4 . What limits you from hiking more often? If not having a suitable hiking partner is keeping you out of the woods, why not take a look at the great hiking clubs across Canada?
● Yukon Outdoors Club
Membership cost:$10 for a single membership
Description: The club organizes day hikes, backpacking trips, canoe trips, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing trips for members to gain new skills and valuable information. The trips are open to everyone and range from easy to moderate to difficult.
● UBC Varsity Outdoor Club
Membership cost: Students $40; non-UBC students $60
Description: The UBC Varsity Outdoor Club is a social group that hikes and rock climbs. Members lead trips, run skills workshops, and host presentations. Members can borrow equipment from the club. The UBC VOC has also constructed a few huts in the Coast Mountains.
● Pender Harbor Hiking Group
Membership cost: Free
Description: The Pender Harbour Hiking Group offers a way for members to meet like-minded individuals and get fit. Hikes are scheduled two months in advance, so check the website regularly to find a hike that's right for you! Hikes are usually one and a half to two hours long every Monday and Wednesday morning, but some full-day hikes are scheduled, depending on member interest.
●Vernon Outdoors Club
Membership cost:A single membership is $25, and students pay $10. Children are free when they come with a registered family member.
Description: The Vermon Outdoors Club is an active group that enjoys hiking and cycling. Members are encouraged to share their activity ideas and interests. The group organizes a Tuesday Activity each week.
1. Which club organizes its trips based on their members’ hiking skills?| A．The Yukon Outdoors Club. | B．The UBC Varsity Outdoor Club. |
| C．The Pender Harbor Hiking Group. | D．The Vernon Outdoors Club. |
| A．They are mostly held on weekends. |
| B．They are arranged two months ahead of time. |
| C．Their schedule is always emailed to the members. |
| D．More full-day hikes are offered than half-day hikes. |
| A．$70. | B．$50. |
| C．$45. | D．$35. |
5 . “The pile of ice is so thick; it extends more than 10, 000 feet above the ocean. And if all that ice were to melt and go into the ocean, global sea levels would rise by about 24 feet everywhere around the world,” said Jason Briner, a geologist who studies the ice sheet in Greenland at the University of Buffalo. The ice sheet of the biggest island in the world is melting, and the ice sheet that sits atop it is massive. The ice sheet is melting, of course. But just how much, compared to the past?
Briner’s team did a computer simulation (模拟) of the southwest part of the Greenland ice sheet — which he says is a good indicator for ice melting across the entire ice sheet. The researchers plugged past climate data into that model to “hindcast,” rather than forecast, the past activity of the ice sheet. They then checked the model’s predictions of the past shape and size of the ice sheet by looking at piles of rocks and dirt on Greenland today, which outline the edges of ancient ice. And the simulation was in good agreement with the actual situation.
Using that reconstruction of the ice sheet over time, the team could compare the ice sheet’s historic losses to those happening today under human-caused global warming. And they determined that Greenland is on track to lose more ice this century than during any century in the past 12,000 years — possibly four times as much.
Finally, it’s up to us how much ice actually melts. If the world goes net carbon zero by 2100, for example, Briner says ice loss could stop entirely at the end of the century, according to one model. “That was what kept me from being completely depressed about our study.” Dozens of countries have already announced goals to go net zero by the middle of this century — so far the U. S. is not one of them.
1. What do we know about the Greenland ice sheet?| A．It is as thick as over 10,000 feet. |
| B．It is becoming smaller and smaller. |
| C．It has raised sea levels by 24 feet. |
| D．It is the largest ice sheet in the world. |
| A．By modeling part of the ice sheet on computer. |
| B．By doing a simulation of the whole ice sheet. |
| C．By studying the ancient rocks and dirt. |
| D．By forecasting the future climate change. |
| A．Its status has already been acknowledged. |
| B．Its growth can be improved by the model. |
| C．The speed of its melting will be increasingly fast. |
| D．The extent of its loss depends on human activities. |
| A．Rising Global Sea Levels |
| B．Climate Change is Speeding Up |
| C．Greenland — the Biggest Island is Melting |
| D．Net Carbon Zero — a Global Goal by 2100 |
6 . “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Similarly, if we drink a little more water every day, we may find that we need to go to the doctor less often. A healthy diet is made up of water and different kinds of foods. We know that healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and fish , are important as they offer energy and fiber, without giving us much fat and sugar. But why is water important?
The human body needs water to survive. Water is important as it carries poisons and waste out of our bodies. However, doctors advise us to drink plenty of water , much more than the small amount we need to stay alive.
Some doctors believe that water is important for health in all kinds of ways. They believe that many illnesses and health problems appear as a result of dehydration--a lack of water. Most people are dehydrated (脱水）at least some of time, although they probably don’t know it. It is surprising to learn that if we feel thirsty, we are already in the first stages of dehydration. In fact, we are advised to drink water before we feel thirsty.
These doctors think that health problems such as headaches, high blood pressure could be helped if people drink more water. They also believe that drinking more water can help people who are fat. Water contains no calories so it will not make us gain weight. If we drink water , we will probably drink less sugary soft drinks. Doctors also believe that drinking more water may stop people from overeating. They say that many people think that they are hungry when they are, in fact, thirsty. Doctors suggest, therefore, that we eat less food and drink more water.
There are still many health problems that cannot be solved by drinking water, so we should not stop going to see the doctor completely.
1. From the text, we know water can carry_______.| A．energy and fibre in our bodies. | B．fruit, vegetables and fish in our bodies. |
| C．sugar and fat out of our bodies. | D．poisons and waste out of our bodies. |
| A．It makes them hungry. | B．they think they are hungry and eat too much. |
| C．Water has no calories. | D．they think they are thirsty and eat less. |
| A．eat less food and drink less water | B．not eat food and just drink water |
| C．eat less food and drink more water | D．eat more food and drink more water |
| A．People should drink water and not eat fruit. |
| B．Some health problems start because of a lack of water. |
| C．Fruit provides us with energy and fiber . |
| D．Drinking more water may stop people from overeating. |
7 . What's On?
Electric Underground
7:30 pm-1:00 am Free at the Cyclops Theatre
Do you know who's playing in your area? We're bringing you an evening of live rock and pop music from the best local bands. Are you interested in becoming a musician and getting a recording contract? If so, come early to the talk at 7:30 pm by Jules Skye, a successful record producer. He's going to talk about how you can find the right person to produce your music.
Gee Whizz
8:30 pm-10:30 pm Comedy at Kaleidoscope
Come and see Gee Whizz perform. He's the funniest stand-up comedian on the comedy scene. This joyful show will please everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. Gee Whizz really knows how to make you laugh! Our bar is open from 7:00 pm for drinks and snacks.
Simon's Workshop
5:00 pm-7:30 pm Wednesdays at Victoria Stage
This is a good chance for anyone who wants to learn how to do comedy. The workshop looks at every kind of comedy, and practices many different ways of making people laugh. Simon is a comedian and actor who has 10 years' experience of teaching comedy. His workshops are exciting and fun. An evening with Simon will give you the confidence to be funny.
Charlotte Stone
8:00 pm-11:00 pm Pizza World
Fine food with beautiful jazz music: this is a great evening out. Charlotte Stone will perform, songs from her new best-selling CD, with James Pickering on the piano. The menu is Italian, with excellent meat and fresh fish, pizzas and pasta（面食）. Book early to get a table. Our bar is open all day, and serves cocktails, coffee, beer, and white wine.
1. Who can help you if you want to have your music produced?| A．Jules Skye. | B．Gee Whizz. | C．Charlotte Stone. | D．James Pickering. |
| A．The Cyclops Theatre. | B．Kaleidoscope. | C．Victoria Stage. | D．Pizza World. |
| A．It requires membership status. | B．It lasts three hours each time. |
| C．It is run by a comedy club. | D．It is held every Wednesday. |
8 . The driver who cuts you off in traffic.The neighbors who don't pick up after their dog.Situations such as these get our hearts racing and send our stress levels skyrocketing.Anger isn't a pleasant feeling.Some of us bottle up the emotion, while others explode in a wild rage (狂怒).Both habits do considerable harm to our bodies, our minds, and our relationships.
“Anger may fee1 uncomfortable and a lot of people think they have to get rid of their anger," says Patrick Keelan, a registered psychologist in Calgary, Alberta.“But anger is an emotion built into us to signal that something needs to be addressed.When we take notice of that signal and actually wrestle with the problem instead of turning a blind eye to it, we' re usually much better for it.”
Unfortunately, many of us have been conditioned to keep our emotions hidden.Increasingly,research is suggesting that this can have long-term effects on our health.Investigators at the University of Rochester noticed that people who contain their emotions tend to live shorter lives.When we're angry, stress hormones are released, which can make us more likely to develop a wide range of diseases, including diabetes, depression, immune related conditions.
Is it better, then, to scream and howl whenever something makes you mad? That's probably the reason why“rage rooms" have popped up in many American cities, where folks are invited to let steam off by violently smashing (打碎) stuff in a“safe" environment.However, the research indicates that when people display anger aggressively, it can actually increase the intensity of the anger -- and increase the likelihood of aggressive actions in the future.It doesn't take much imagination to predict how such behavior can affect your relationship with your spouse, your kids, or your colleagues.It also hurts your health.A large 2016 study at McMaster University found that people are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack after an angry explosion.
If we shouldn't bottle up our angry feelings but aggressive behavior isn't healthy either, how should we handle things that tick us of? It's the extreme highs and lows that cause the damage.If you're able to apply techniques that smooth out some of those peaks and valleys, you can have a gentler ride.
1. What does the underlined phrase“bottle up" in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Build up. |
| B．Hold back. |
| C．Let off. |
| D．Bring out. |
| A．Uncomfortable and avoidable. |
| B．Terrible and threatening. |
| C．Confusing and complex. |
| D．Normal and natural. |
| A．It leads to people's depression. |
| B．It warns people against violence. |
| C．It adds to people's anger. |
| D．It helps people to calm down. |
| A．Possible causes of anger. |
| B．Tips on handling anger. |
| C．Possible harm of anger. |
| D．Tips on avoiding anger. |
9 . Rainforests are home to a rich variety of medicinal plants, food, birds and animals. Can you believe that a single bush（灌木丛）in the Amazon may have more species of ants than the whole of Britain! About 480 varieties of trees may be found in just one hectare of rainforest.
Rainforests are the lungs of the planet-storing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and producing a significant amount of the world's oxygen. Rainforests have their own perfect system for ensuring their own survival; the tall trees make a canopy（树冠层）of branches and leaves which protect themselves, smaller plants, and the forest animals from heavy rain, intense dry heat from the sun and strong winds.
Amazingly, the trees grow in such a way that their leaves and branches, although close together, never actually touch those of another tree. Scientists think this is the plants' way to prevent the spread of any tree diseases and make life more difficult for leaf-eating insects like caterpillars. To survive in the forest, animals must climb, jump or fly across the gaps. The ground floor of the forest is not all tangled leaves and bushes, like in films, but is actually fairly clear. It is where dead leaves turn into food for the trees and other forest life.
They are not called rainforests for nothing! Rainforests can generate 75%of their own rain. At least 80 inches of rain a year is normal-and in some areas there may be as much as 430 inches of rain annually. This is real rain-your umbrella may protect you in a shower, but it won't keep you dry if there is a full rainstorm. In just two hours, streams can rise ten to twenty feet. The humidity（湿气）of large rainforests contributes to the formation of rainclouds that may travel to other countries in need of rain.
1. What can we learn about rainforests from the first paragraph?| A．They produce oxygen. | B．They cover a vast area. |
| C．They are well managed. | D．They are rich in wildlife. |
| A．Heavy rains | B．Big trees. |
| C．Small plants. | D．Forest animals. |
| A．For more sunlight. | B．For more growing space. |
| C．For self-protection. | D．For the detection of insects. |
| A．Life-Giving Rainforests | B．The Law of the Jungle |
| C．Animals in the Amazon | D．Weather in Rainforests |
10 . Lancom is a worldwide language learning app and a leader in the online language learning industry with millions of active subscribers. We house a broad range of experts united by the common goal of creating the best language learning tools possible. With advice from AI specialists, art designers and culture researchers, our multi-language experts endow Lancom with an enormous potential for innovation within the world of language leaning. Our courses, totalling 20,000 hours of content in 20 different languages, guarantee you language skills you can use right away.
At the core of Lancom is a world-class effective method that enhances language leaning with advanced technology.
Examples and dialogues are recorded with real native speakers instead of automatic computers. Lancom trains your brain to learn efficiently, so you absorb more information while in the app and continue leaning outside of it. The app makes our practical language lessons available wherever and whenever. We work directly for our leaners, not for any third party. And it's all supported by an efficient customer service team, available through telephone, email and online chat.
Millions of learners have their own stories and their own reasons for learning a new language. Lancom cares about you and addresses your individual learning type. Lancom is the only product to offer courses tailored to your native language, building on grammar and words you already know. Our content is about real-life topics that are relevant because we know what matters to you is what sticks best. You will, find it very rewarding to learn with Lancom.
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1. Who can provide Lancom with a huge potential for innovation in learning?| A．Culture researchers. | B．AI specialists. | C．Language experts. | D．Art designers. |
| A．A flexible system. | B．An effective method. |
| C．The brain-training technique. | D．The informative content. |
| A．personalised courses | B．multiple languages |
| C．pricing policy | D．service team |
