1 . Friendship is an important part of human life. Friends can share our joys and sadnesses. We aren't alone. Many different animals also make friends.
Recently, a British research team finished an eight-year study of Indo-Pacific dolphins off the coast of Western Australia. These dolphins can use different tools to search for food. The researchers found that these dolphins are more willing to hang out with partners that like the same tool. Other factors, like family closeness or sex, have no impact on this relationship. It suggests that dolphins form social bonds based on shared interests.
Apart from dolphins, elephants and horses are also known to form friendships. Are friendships only limited to the same species?
Of course not, The Atlantic reported. In 2015,Timur, a goat, was left in the enclosure（围场） of a tiger, Amur, as a meal. But instead of eating Timur, Amur liked to play with him and got angry when others were close to his friend. That's because in captivity(圈养）, animals don't need to spend much time and energy marking their land or looking for mates the way they would in the wild. They are actually more likely to feel bored.
More interestingly, animals not only make friends but also try to keep lasting friendships. Take bats for example. In 2011, scientists found bats often hang out with a few particular friends, keeping loose ties to the rest of their group. Humans are different. "We do not work, play and live together with the same friends all the time," Swiss zoologist Gerald Kerth explained. "But nevertheless, we are able to maintain long-term despite our often highly dynamic（充满活力的）social lives."
1. What do dolphins pay more attention to when making friends?| A．The same interests. | B．Family closeness. |
| C．Hunting behavior. | D．The special sounds. |
| A．Amur wants to show Timur his land. |
| B．Amur longs for animals to play with him. |
| C．Amur has more friends than other tigers. |
| D．Amur pretends to be friendly to eat Timur. |
| A．Bats usually play with certain friends. |
| B．Humans keep their friendship longer. |
| C．Bats like to live together with friends. |
| D．Humans make friends in social activities. |
| A．By listing data. | B．By taking examples. |
| C．By asking questions. | D．By giving advice. |
2 . On a farm in England, Gavin and Alice Munro are taking sustainability to the next level: they harvest trees which they grow into chairs.
The couple have a furniture（家具）farm in Derbyshire where they are growing 250 chairs, 100 lamps and 550 tables. It is their answer to what they see as the inefficient（无效率的）process of cutting down mature trees to create furniture.
"Instead of force-growing a tree for 50 years and then cutting it down and making it into smaller and smaller bits…the idea is to grow the tree into the shape that you want directly. It’s like a kind of 3D printing, "said Gavin.
Part of the inspiration for the idea came when Gavin was a young boy. He spotted an overgrown bonsai tree（盆栽） which looked like chair.
The 44-year-old began experimenting in 2006. In 2012, Gavin and Alice set up the company Full Grown. Within several years, the couple developed the most effective way to shape a tree without limiting its growth. They guided shoots（嫩枝）already heading in the right direction, rather than force them the wrong way against their natural growth.
The average chair takes six to nine years to grow-and another year to dry out. The labor and time involved in producing the organic pieces means they do not come cheap. Chairs sell for ￡10,000 each, lamps for ￡900 to ￡2,300 and tables for ￡2,500 to ￡12,500.
1. How could the couple grow trees into a shape they needed?| A．They used 3D printing. |
| B．They limited their growth. |
| C．They forced trees into different shapes. |
| D．They guided their shoots in the right direction. |
| A．When he was a child. | B．When they got married. |
| C．When they bought the farm. | D．When they began experimenting in 2006. |
| A．Big and eco-friendly. | B．Natural but expensive. |
| C．Hand-made and creative. | D．Traditional but organic. |
| A．A Couple Grow Furniture | B．Expensive Grown Chairs |
| C．It’s A Good Try Of Sustainability | D．Grown Trees Gain Popularity |
3 . The average bear, it seems, is getting ever smarter. First, it turned out that at least one can use a comb. Now it appears that some can count, too.
Jennifer Vonk, of Oakland University, in Michigan, and Michael Beran, from Georgia State University, set three American black bears the task of distinguishing between numerically larger and smaller groups of dots(点)on a computer screen. In return for a food reward one bear, Brutus, would touch the more heavily dotted pattern with his nose. The others, Bella and Dusty, would touch the screen with their claws(爪子).
As the researchers report in Animal Behavior, the bears did best with patterns where the coloured dots did not move and where more of them also took up a larger coloured area. This could be explained by the bears' distinguishing the different areas of colour rather than truly counting the dots. However, the three bears managed to pick out the bigger number of dots even in pairs of patterns where fewer dots took up a larger area.
Moving patterns, where each dot followed its own path around the screen, were more of a challenge. But Brutus, at least, was not defeated. He seemed to be counting mobile dots even when the scientists tried to mislead him by moving the total coloured area of the dots at the same time.
It is not entirely surprising that bears should have a high degree of intelligence. They face a lot of challenges when trying to get food. They are, however, always alone, and so do not have the complex social systems that contribute to animal smarts. Perhaps, then, their maths skill developed because they cannot count on their friends for help.
1. What task did the scientists set for the three bears?| A．Distinguishing different dot patterns. |
| B．Figuring out different colours of dots. |
| C．Putting the dots into differently coloured groups. |
| D．Picking out the group with a larger number of dots. |
| A．the coloured dots were moving slowly |
| B．the dot patterns were regular in shape |
| C．the dots followed a path on the screen |
| D．more dots covered a larger coloured area |
| A．They learn skills from other animals. |
| B．They face life challenges on their own. |
| C．They feed on a diverse range of food. |
| D．They have complex social networks. |
| A．Bears Taught to Distinguish Colours |
| B．New Evidence of Bear Intelligence Found |
| C．Three Bears Learned How to Count |
| D．The Smartest American Black Bear Brutus |
4 . Teenagers who start the school day really early are likely to weigh slightly more than those who start later. That's the finding of a new study of nearly 30,000 Canadians between the ages of 10 and 18.
Getting too little sleep can put kids at risk for a number of problems. Sleepy teens are more likely to be overweight, to have trouble concentrating and to struggle in school. Genevieve Gariepy, who works at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, wanted to know how earlier school start times night be connected with weight.
"Overweight in teenagers is a big problem in North America," she says. The number of overweight kids has grown over the past 30 years. About one in three American and Canadian teens are now overweight. Kids who don't sleep enough may be at higher risk. So Gariepy decided to focus on the impact of school start times.
Her team collected start times for 362 Canadian schools. Then they asked students at those schools to give their height and weight. In all, they collected data from nearly 30,000 10-to 18-year-olds. Among 6th-to 10th-graders, those who started school earlier were likely to be slightly heavier for their height. Every 10-minute delay in school start time was connected, on average, with a slightly lower weight among students who were the same sex, age and height. However, the difference is slight. Healthy eating and getting enough exercise will play a bigger role in keeping a healthy weight.
Because the study compared kids who already started school at different times of day, it's not clear that changing school start time would help heavier kids lose weight. To know for sure, researchers would want to compare the same kids before and after changing to a later school start time.
Still, the study is a good start, says Cora Collette Bruener, a doctor at Seattle Children's Hospital in Washington. The findings add to a growing pile of evidence that later school start times might be better for teen health, she says.
1. What is the finding of the new study?| A．More and more teens are growing overweight. |
| B．Healthy diets and enough exercise help reduce weight. |
| C．Teens who start school earlier are a little overweight. |
| D．Teens who start school earlier do not perform well. |
| A．much sleep | B．earlier school start time |
| C．less sleep | D．a balanced diet and enough exercise |
| A．By recording the teens' weight. |
| B．By checking the teens' physical health. |
| C．By comparing different sets of data. |
| D．By measuring the teens' height. |
| A．It has inspiring value. | B．It lacks further support. |
| C．It needs improving | D．It is well designed. |
5 . Several large companies have begun creating paper bottles to take the place of glass and plastic ones. Paper bottles aren’t quite ready to go yet, but you may see them appearing on shelves over the next few years.
Customers have become more worried about the environment, so many companies have begun working to develop paper bottles. Paper bottles have many benefits. Perhaps the most important is that they can be easily recycled. Paper bottles also weigh less than glass or plastic ones, meaning they’ll require less energy to produce and to move around. Since paper is soft and easy to be shaped, companies can design their bottles to take almost any shape they choose.
A company called Paboco has been working with many large companies to develop paper bottles. The companies are creating their own bottle designs, but they’re sharing what they learn to speed up the development of paper bottle technology.
Clearly, one of the biggest challenges is keeping a paper bottle from leaking (漏). Many companies are lining (做内衬) their bottles with a thin sheet of plastic. Though bottle makers may say they can be removed, many recycling programs don’t have the right machines to handle them.
A company named Diageo has just announced the first paper bottle that is completely plastic-free. Instead of a plastic liner, a non-plastic coating will be used on the inside of the bottles. This should make the bottle fully recyclable. But even without the plastic, paper bottles aren’t perfect, which means more trees need to be cut down to make the bottles.
There’s still lots of testing to be done before paper bottles can replace glass or plastic ones. But with so many companies working toward the same goal, it’s likely that we can expect to see paper bottles on store shelves in the near future.
1. What is the greatest advantage of paper bottles according to the passage?| A．They are lighter than plastic or glass ones. |
| B．They are soft and can be easily shaped. |
| C．They can be moved around with less energy. |
| D．They are easy to recycle and environmentally friendly. |
| A．It’s cooperating with some other large companies. |
| B．It’s creating its own bottle designs. |
| C．It’s studying how to prevent paper bottles from leaking alone. |
| D．It’s trying to keep its technology secret from others. |
| A．Many companies. | B．The paper bottles. |
| C．The thin sheets of plastic. | D．Bottle makers. |
| A．A non-plastic coating is the best solution to the problem of pollution. |
| B．Paper bottles still need to be improved before appearing in stores. |
| C．Paper bottles have taken the place of glass or plastic ones so far. |
| D．Many companies are working toward the same goal. |
6 . New York City Explorer Pass Highlights
See 3, 5, or 7 attractions and tours of your choice and save money on entry fees.
Visit the MET (The Metropolitan Museum of Art), the MoMA (The museum of Modern Art), the Guggenheim Museum, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, the Botanical Garden, Top of the Rock Observatory, and many, many more.
Get around on the Downtown/ Uptown Hop-On Hop-Off bus or take bike tours and Food on Foot tours. Tour Yankee Station, Rockefeller, Radio City Music Hall and more.
Description
New York City is America’s real land of opportunity, and here’s an opportunity you can’t pass up. With a New York City Explorer Pass you can choose to check out 3, 5 or 7 amazing attractions — from a list of over 60. This convenience will save you time. See the big art museums, take a BEAST speedboat ride, get a tour of Rockefeller and Radio City Music Hall, bike over the Brooklyn Bridge, and more.
New York has it all. And this Explorer Pass gets you access to as much of it as you can handle.
What’s included
Access to a number of attractions booked with your ticket.
What’s not included
●Some attractions may offer upgrades or special exhibits for an additional fee.
Instructions
●Show your smartphone at the entrance of the scenic spot you are visiting. The pass will be scanned and you’ll either receive direct access to the attraction or a paper ticket.
◆The pass can be activated within 1 year after you have bought it and is valid for 30 days after activation.
1. What is true about the passage?| A．You may visit more than 60 attractions for free with the pass. |
| B．You cannot enter scenic spot unless you have a paper ticket. |
| C．You may have to pay extra money in some attractions. |
| D．You have to get around the Downtown or the Uptown by bus. |
| A．on that day | B．within a year |
| C．within a month | D．as soon as possible |
| A．To introduce a product. | B．To offer some suggestions. |
| C．To introduce a travel agency. | D．To advertise some attractions. |
7 . Harvard English Language Center
Information for New Students
CLASS TIME: 9:00a.m.—10:00a.m., 10:30a.m.—12:00a.m., 1:30p.m.—3:00p.m..
The Language Center is open from Monday to Friday. Each class has one afternoon free per week. On the first day, go to the lecture hall to check your timetable.
SELF-ACCESS: The language laboratory (Room 1110) is open from Monday to Friday (3:15p.m. -5:00p.m.) for all full-time students.
You can learn how to use computers for language games or word-processing. There are tapes for students to borrow to practice their English. Go in and ask the teacher to show you. If you plan to take public examinations, there are dictation and listening comprehension tapes for you to practice with. There are close exercises on the computers. Ask your class teacher for a list of past exam essays. Students can borrow tapes to take home but they must be returned after two days.
ATTENDANCE（出勤）：All students are expected to attend classes as it is required. Students who do not attend classes will be reported to OSS. Eighty percent attendance is required for students to receive their certificates (证书) when they finish their courses. It is also required by OSS for an extension to your visa.
BOOKS: If students are given course books, the books are their responsibility. If a book is lost, the student will be expected to pay for it.
If students wish to buy books, there is a bookshop in the college specializing in English books (Room 3520).
1. When do classes begin and end on a full day?| A．8:30a.m.—1:30p.m.. | B．9:00a.m.—3:00p.m.. |
| C．10:30a.m.—3:15p.m.. | D．3:15p.m.—5:00p.m.. |
| A．the classroom | B．Room 3520 |
| C．the lecture hall | D．Room 1110 |
| A．80% of the students can receive their certificates when they finish their courses. |
| B．Students can borrow tapes to practice their English. |
| C．Books can be taken home but they must be returned after two days. |
| D．The librarian will be expected to pay for the lost book. |
8 . Hello and welcome to English with Lucy. Today we have another topic:“Four common British expressions.” Now, before we get started, make sure you connect with me on all my social media which is right here. You can subscribe to my YouTube. You can also like me on Facebook. And for my Chinese followers, I have my Weibo account as well.
Four Common British Expressions:
“A piece of cake.”
And this is very similar to “Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy,” which we've discussed in a former video. And basically, it means very easy. So I might come out of an easy exam saving, “That exam was a piece of cake. ”
“Break a leg!”
It actually looks really rather cruel, but I promise you it's positive. And “Break a leg!” means “Good luck!” So before a race, before a job interview, before a test, instead of saying “Good luck!” I might say “Break a leg!”
“It cost an arm and a leg.”
And this basically means something was really expensive. If I say, “My bag cost an arm and a leg,” I mean it cost a lot of money.
“To call it a day.”
And this means “to end a task”. So, for example, “I'm feeling a bit tired. I think I'll call it a day. ”That means “I think I'll stop here. Let's finish.”
Thank you so much for watching this program of “Four Common British Expressions.” I hope you like it, and I hope you've learned something.
1. How can Chinese listeners connect with Lucy?| A．With Wechat | B．Through Weibo | C．On Facebook | D．By YouTube. |
| A．Break a leg! | B．It cost an arm and a leg. |
| C．To call it a day | D．A piece of cake. |
| A．He/She will stop that day | B．He/She feels tired |
| C．Class is over. | D．It is daytime. |
9 . One day, Lisa Holman told her family she would be out that night visiting her friend, only about half an hour drive from her house. So it was not alarming as the night grew on and she did not arrive home. As 11 pm passed, her family began to worry. They called her but did not get any answer. They then reached out to Lisa's friend, who said Lisa had left to drive home at 9 that night.
The family thought about calling the police that evening but the police typically don't define a person missing unless there is no contact for 24 hours. The next morning there was still no sign of Lisa. All the family could do was sit home and wait. Lisa's son decided to drive along Lisa's route and carefully look for her. He found Lisa's car had crashed into a tree. What's worse，there was no sign of Lisa at all.
The family called the police. The police began their search. But due to the heavy rain the search team was called back. The family was very disappointed but still hopeful and continued the search 700 feet from Lisa's car, they finally found Lisa under a rock.
After a few days in hospital, Lisa recovered. She explained that she passed out after her car slid off the road in the rain. After she came to herself, Lisa managed to climb out of the car. While walking to find help, Lisa was exhausted and unable to figure out the direction. So she couldn't walk on and climbed under a rock as it started raining again. Scared as she was, she turned to her faith in hopes of living to see her son again.
1. When should Lisa arrive home after visiting her friend?| A．About 9 pm. | B．About 9： 30 pm. |
| C．About 11 pm. | D．The next morning. |
| A．The police usually refused to come at night. |
| B．The heavy rain had blocked all the roads up. |
| C．They thought Lisa would come back herself. |
| D．They had been out of touch with Lisa for less than a day. |
| A．The friend she had visiteD. | B．A hiking team passing by. |
| C．The police search team. | D．Lisa's family. |
| A．She was lost. | B．Her legs were badly injured. |
| C．She was locked in her car. | D．She was caught by heavy rain, |
10 . The United States celebrates Valentine's Day each year on February 14. Many other countries celebrate Valentine's Day, too, each in their own way. Here is a look at the Valentine's Day traditions in three countries.
Wales：land of love spoons
In Wales, it is called St. Dwynwen's Day, which takes place on January 25. The traditional romantic gift on this day is a love spoon.
Beginning in the 17th century, Welsh men made beautiful wooden spoons as a show of their love for that special person in their lives. Each shape of the spoons has a different meaning. For example, horseshoes mean good luck；keys represent the key to a lover's heart；and wheels are a sign of support.
Argentina：a week of sweets
Argentina celebrates Valentine's Day in February, but also gives a whole other week to love in July. They call it Sweetness Week. If you kiss someone, they have to give you a sugary treat.
Sweetness Week started in 1989 with a candy company called Arcor. They made an advertisement called “Candy for a Kiss". The idea was to give the company's chocolates and other candies in exchange for a sweet kiss on the cheek. The campaign had a stronger effect than the company expected—it led to a new holiday!
Every July, couples who take part give each other candies and kisses all week long.
South Korea: three is a charm
For South Koreans, Valentine's Day happens in three parts：February 14, March 14 and April 14.
On February 14, women traditionally give men gifts of chocolate to show their love. One month later, on a holiday known as White Day, men show their thanks by giving women a sweet gift. The name “White Day" comes from the custom of giving white-colored gifts.
Let's not forget Black Day on April 14. Single people who did not get gifts on February 14 or March 14 often gather on Black Day to eat noodles with black bean soup.
1. What does a key-shaped spoon mean?| A．Deep love. | B．Good luck. | C．Strong support. | D．Real thanks. |
| A．In February. | B．In March. | C．In April. | D．In July. |
| A．Brown chocolates. | B．Black beans. | C．White milk candies. | D．Silver spoons. |
