1 . One day, Amanda was diagnosed (诊断) with cancer of an early stage. During this time, she was admitted to a college. She planned to save money to meet the college expense and then seek medical treatment for the cancer.
Her father, Clint and her friends didn’t want her to put off her treatment due to the expense. They took matters into their own hands and started a GoFundMe campaign. A longtime friend of the family was cofounder of a group named Praynksters, known for random acts of kindness. The friend decided to use their own group to help the family. The group came up with the creative idea to spread the word and invite families, friends, and strangers who wanted to help to take part in a donation activity. The event induced the enormous assistance from the local community.
Clint and Amanda were moved as the crowd passed by and the donations poured in. The event brought the family over $13, 000 in donations to go towards her medical treatments. The generous act of kindness gave the family a comforting, and optimistic feeling during a time when all hope seemed lost. Clint said that Amanda struggled with the idea of asking for help. She felt guilty and undeserving compared to others who are also struggling. She is still humbled by it all.
After several months of treatment, life for the family has started getting back to their normal routine. Once Amanda got her strength back, she returned to school and completed her bachelor's degree. The family is now inspired to volunteer in their local neighborhood and contribute to crowdfunding (众筹) efforts. They are grateful for the opportunity to give back and help others as many have helped them.
1. Why did Amanda postpone her treatment of cancer?| A．She didn't care about her disease. |
| B．She had to take care of her family. |
| C．She was in a bad economic situation. |
| D．She couldn’t find an effective treatment. |
| A．Brought about. | B．Made up. |
| C．Gave away. | D．Set about. |
| A．Shameful but caring. |
| B．Kind-hearted and grateful. |
| C．Curious and warm-hearted. |
| D．Hard- working and humorous. |
| A．It's quite easy to cure Amanda’s cancer. |
| B．Praynksters is a nonprofit organization funded by Clint. |
| C．Volunteering is very popular in Amanda's community. |
| D．A GoFundMe campaign is actually a crowdfunding activity. |
2 . For Stevens Point locals in the US, the city is flooded with delicious fried fish. Here are four top choices for the community to have a try.
Hilltop Pub&Grill
Hilltop Pub&Grill first opened in the 1980s and took the Stevens Point community by storm with its delicious food and unique decoration style. Its fried fish are beloved due to the use of “high-quality North Atlantic fish, with a light beer batter (面糊)”.
The Final Score Bar&Grill
The Final Score Bar&Grill aimed to become a local hot spot in 2001 when Jim Billings, the owner, took charge of the business. Billings feels that their five batter choices set them apart from their neighboring bars. Besides, various wines are available.
Point After Pub&Grill
Point After Pub&Grill started serving delicious food and cold beers in a welcoming environment in 2009. But its history runs much longer. “Before it was Point After Pub&Grill, it had been Northside Bar for 30 plus years,” explained Molski, the owner. Molski feels that the pub’s four special batter choices and other fish specials are what help make it an area landmark.
Two Harps Pub
This Irish pub opened its doors to the public in 2017 and has been drawing fans and locals ever since. “I had done my career for a long time and was kind of bored with it,” said Nick Moore, the owner. “And this opportunity fell into my lap, so I went with it. It really made sense to open up an Irish bar.” The growing pub advises guests to try a cold beer with their Friday fried fish.
1. What makes Hilltop Pub&Grill popular with customers?| A．The convenient location. | B．The special food. |
| C．The high-quality service. | D．The unique wine. |
| A．They are both run by the same company. | B．They are both famous for great wines. |
| C．They both feature some particular batter. | D．They were both founded ten years ago. |
| A．It is the newest among the four pubs. | B．It offers free cold beers to customers. |
| C．It only provides fried fish on Fridays. | D．It has a unique decoration style. |
3 . Have you ever noticed that the stars sometimes appear brighter in December, January and February? There's a link between cold air and the night lights. "Part of it is that it tends to be drier in the winter," said Diane Tumshek, an astronomer at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Even though it's invisible, moisture can change the way light moves through the air. And in the summer, moisture can make stars appear more dull.
Air temperature is also what puts the twinkle twinkle in the little stars. "Even on very clear nights, some of the atmosphere is cooler, and some of the atmosphere is warmer,” said Tumshek, who also works with the Allegheny Observatory. And when the light from a star passes through those bubbles of varying temperatures, "it bends and shifts the light, so that we are seeing stars appear to dance or twinkle,” she said.
For star lovers in the United States, there's another factor that comes into play for bright winter stars, although this is a matter of coincidence. During Earth's journey around the sun, “there are just simply more bright stars visible from the Northern Hemisphere in the winter sky," Tumshek said. If you really want to see a shiny star, just try to find a burning ball of gas called Sirius near the horizon. At 8.6 light-years away, Sirius is relatively close to Earth and the brightest star visible in the night sky. It is also large — nearly twice as big as our sun and 20 times as bright. So this winter, when the world turns cold and it seems like we should be spending more time indoors, consider asking an adult to go exploring outside. With a warm coat and a clear sky, any night can be turned into a treasure hunt. All you have to do is look up.
1. What does the underlined word "dull" in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．not shiny | B．not exciting | C．not severe | D．not smart |
| A．By changing the bubbles around them. | B．By putting the twinkle twinkle in them. |
| C．By varying the direction of the light from them. | D．By making the stars dance and twinkle in the sky. |
| A．It can be found at any night. | B．It is 20 times as bright as the sun. |
| C．It is a burning and shiny ball. | D．It is closer to Earth than other stars, |
| A．To advocate stargazing in winter, | B．To call on people to focus on stars. |
| C．To present new research results about stars. | D．To explain why stars are more visible in winter. |
4 . Amsterdam,the capital and most populous city in the Netherlands，is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world，famous for its beautiful canals，top art museum，cycling culture，and Red Light District.Here are some of the key points to remember as you plan your trip to Amsterdam.
Must-See AttractionsMost visitors begin their Amsterdam adventure in the Old Centre,which is full of traditional architecture，shopping centers,and coffee shops.You’ll also want to check out Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter in the South District，which is great for shopping at the Albert Cuyp Market and having a picnic in the Vondelpark.The top museums to visit are the Rijksmusuem,the Ann Frank House,and the Van Gogh Museum.The Canal Ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally built to attract wealthy home owners and is a popular place for celebrity spotting and nightlife today.
TransportationTravelers should be aware that Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of the busiest airports in the world.This airport is located about 15 kilometers southwest of city center.You can catch a train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Central Station，which has many connecting routes.It’s typically not a good idea to drive a car to the city center because traffic is heavy and parking is difficult to find.Cycling is incredibly popular here,and it’s easy to find cheap bike rentals around town.Amsterdam has a flat terrain(地形) and is a great city to explore on foot.
Money Saving TipsUnless you really want to see the tulips(郁金香) blooming，avoid booking between mid-March and mid-May.This is when hotel and flight prices rise.
Look for accommodations in Amsterdam’s South District，where rates are generally cheaper than in the city center.Buy train tickets at the machine instead of the counter to save a bit of money.
Instead of hiring a tour guide，hop on a canal boat.They’re inexpensive and will give you a unique point of view of the city.Check out our homepage to view price comparisons for flights,hotels,and rental cars before you book.
1. Which attraction was built with the original purpose of drawing the rich?| A．Albert Cuyp Market. | B．The Ann Frank House. |
| C．The Van Gogh Museum. | D．The Canal Ring. |
| A．The plane. | B．The train. |
| C．The car. | D．The bike. |
| A．Seeing the tulips blooming in spring. | B．Avoiding accommodating downtown. |
| C．Buying car tickets at the machine. | D．Hiring a local tour guide. |
5 . According to a recent study,a new genetically modified(转基因的）rice can prevent infections of HIV,the virus responsible for the disease AIDS.
The study reports the newly-developed rice produces proteins(蛋白质）that attach directly to the HIV virus. This process keeps the virus from mixing with human cells. The scientists say it can remove the effect of the virus and block its spreading.
The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS reports that worldwide, nearly 37 million people were living with HIV in 2017. The organization says the largest number of those are in ·developing countries. Nearly two-thirds of HIV cases are in Africa. Now there is no cure for HIV/AIDS though there have been developments in oral drug treatments to slow the progression of the disease.
The new study predicts the rice-based method will lead to long-term use of the anti-HIV treatment across the developing world. Researchers said the "groundbreaking" discovery is “realistically the only way" that anti-HIV combination treatments can be produced at a cost low enough for the developing world.
They say the easiest and most cost-effective way to use the rice will be to make it into a cream to be put on the skin. The HIV-fighting proteins can then enter the body through the skin. People all over the world could grow the rice and make the cream themselves. This would prevent the cost and travel required for many patients to receive treatments and medicine.
The process of changing the genetic structure of food crops has been debated for some time. Critics of genetically engineered crops believe they can harm people. The scientific team says further testing is needed to ensure that the genetic engineering process does not produce any additional chemicals that could be dangerous to people.
1. What is the third paragraph mainly about?| A．The terrible situations of HIV infections. |
| B．The rapid development of Africa. |
| C．The practical ways to cure AIDS. |
| D．The efforts made by the United Nations. |
| A．By transforming it into proteins. |
| B．By processing it into a cream. |
| C．By attaching it to the HIV virus. |
| D．By adding it to an oral drug. |
| A．It can prevent infections of HIV. |
| B．It has produced dangerous chemicals. |
| C．It is intended for the developed world. |
| D．It requires further testing to ensure the safety. |
| A．A biology textbook. |
| B．A first aid brochure. |
| C．A social web page. |
| D．A health magazine. |
6 . With fifteen years Britain and other nations should be well on with the building of huge industrial complexes for the recycling of waste. The word “rubbish” could lose its meaning because everything which goes into the dumps would be made into something useful. Even the most dangerous and unpleasant wastes would provide energy if nothing else.
The latest project is to take a city of around half a million inhabitants and discover exactly what raw materials go into it and what go out. The aim is to find out how much of these raw materials could be provided if a plant for recycling waste were built just outside the city. This plant would recycle not only metal such as steel, lead and copper, but also paper and rubber as well.
Another new project is being set up to discover the best ways of sorting and separating the rubbish. When this project is complete, the rubbish will be processed like this: First, it will pass through sharp metal bars (金属条) which will tear open the plastic bags in which rubbish is usually packed; then it will pass through a powerful fan to separate the lightest elements from the heavy solids; after that founders and rollers will break up everything that can be broken. Finally, the rubbish will pass under magnets (磁铁), which will remove the bits of iron and steel; the rubber and plastic will then be sorted out in the final stage.
The first full-scale giant recycling plants are perhaps fifteen years away. Indeed, with the growing cost of transporting rubbish to more distant dumps (垃圾场), some big cities will be forced to build their own recycling plants before long.
1. What is NOT mentioned as a part of the recycling process described in Paragraph 3?| A．Sharpening metal bars. |
| B．Sorting out small pieces of metal. |
| C．Breaking up whatever is breakable. |
| D．Separating light elements from the heavy ones. |
| A．To protect the environment. | B．To reduce transportation expense. |
| C．To get raw materials locally. | D．To get big profits from those plants. |
| A．Dangerous wastes can’t be recycled. |
| B．Recycling plant only recycle metal and paper. |
| C．Rubbish will be dealt with in a better way later. |
| D．The first full-scale giant recycling plants will begin operation in less than 15 years. |
| A．Scientific Ways to Get Energy | B．The Location of Recycling Plants |
| C．Some Methods to Protect the Environment | D．New Ways of Recycling Wastes |
7 . In the book The Best Little Girl in the World，Kessa has a serious eating disorder (进食障碍) called anorexia nervosa. But she is not alone. Many people have this eating disorder.
In the beginning of her story, Kessa is a normal 15-year-old girl. She is good at many things，especially dancing. She has danced for many years and loves it. One day her dance teacher tells her to continue eating right, but maybe lose a few pounds. Once Kessa hears this, she takes things too far. Instead of cutting down on snacks and junk food, she decides not to eat at all. She does not eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. She begins losing weight and becomes slimmer (更加苗条的) and slimmer. But she loses weight to a point where she is unhealthy.
As her poor eating habits continue, her parents start getting as much help as possible to cure their beautiful daughter. But it is just as hard for Kessa’s parents to deal with her disorder as it is for her.
Every day she exercises to lose more pounds and plans what and when she will eat. Her parents try everything, but Kessa decides not to have any fat on her body. Kessa’s doctor and parents finally take her to the hospital. She is now so thin that she can hardly walk. There, she is given good care.
In the rest of the book, Kessa goes through a lot of trouble in order to cure her eating disorder. This book, I think, can help to prevent people from doing this to themselves. It shows the trouble that people go through just to be slimmer, and all the terrible things they must experience to be cured. It is a book I think every teenager should read.
1. What does Kessa do to lose weight?| A．She stops eating. |
| B．She eats less junk food. |
| C．She has three small meals a day. |
| D．She dances many more hours a day. |
| A．It is caused by her dance teacher. |
| B．It’s too serious to be cured. |
| C．It makes her suffer a lot. |
| D．It’s an unusual illness. |
| A．how to cure eating disorders |
| B．the importance of eating right |
| C．a girl’s fight against an eating problem |
| D．why so many people have eating disorders |
| A．share a moving story with readers |
| B．give teenagers some advice on eating habits |
| C．tell parents to take good care of their children |
| D．warn people not to make the same mistake as the girl |
8 . He is regarded as having one of the brightest minds on the planet.But outstanding astrophysicist（天体物理学家）Stephen Hawking admitted that he did not learn to read until he was eight years old.In a public lecture at the Royal Albert Hall,Professor Hawking also admitted that he was not active in studying while at Oxford University,where he studied physics,and that only the diagnosis that he might die young from motor neurone（神经元）disease made him concentrate on his work.
Professor Hawking said,"My sister Philippa could read by the age of 4 and then she was definitely brighter than me."He said that he was unexceptional at school and was never further than halfway up his class."My classwork was very untidy,and my handwriting was the despair of my teachers,"he said."But my classmates gave me the nickname Einstein,so presumably they saw signs of something better."
But he said that it was when doctors told him that he probably only had a few years to live at the age of 21 that he was galvanized into focusing on his work and a period of productivity that resulted in some of his early breakthroughs.He said,"When you are faced with the possibility of an early death,it makes you realize that life is worth living and there are lots of things you want to do."
1. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?| A．Stephen Hawking is the second Einstein in the world. |
| B．Stephen Hawking couldn't read at the age of 7. |
| C．Stephen Hawking's handwriting was once terribly bad. |
| D．Stephen Hawking's sister once performed much better than him. |
| A．Patience. | B．Knowledge. | C．Disease. | D．Laziness. |
| A．Stephen Hawking didn't realize his dreams in physics. |
| B．It was possible for Hawking to face the early death. |
| C．The purpose of the doctor's diagnosis was to encourage him to work hard. |
| D．His life might be taken away by long hard work. |
| A．His sister. | B．His classmates. | C．His teachers. | D．His parents. |
9 . After Stewart and Debbie Wilder lost their son, Cameron, in 2013, the last thing on their minds was decorating for the holiday season. “We haven’t put anything up in three years. It has all stayed boxed up,” said Debbie.
But in December 2016, the house was lit up for Christmas, with little lights cheerfully lining the rood and eaves(屋檐). It wasn’t the Wilders but a stranger Carson Zickgraf, the founder of CZ Enterprises LLC, who finally made the house shine. “I started crying,” Debbie says about seeing the lights for the first time. “It was really special.”
Zickgraf has been donating his light-stringing services to brighten the lives of families affected by losing their children, especially during the difficult holiday season since 2015 and has decorated the houses of more than two dozen families so far.
He started the project by chance. He was hanging lights on a home when the owner mentioned that some neighbors were having a hard time that holiday season because their son had recently died. Then he had an idea. “I sent my crew there to decorate that house too,” he says. The family was delighted. In fact, he had two friends who had died young, and he’d always wished he could ease the pain for their loved ones. Now, he’s found a way.
“There’s something special about Christmas lights. They warm the spirit.” Zickgraf knows his efforts can’t completely remove the pain from these families, but he can make the holidays a little cheerier. “I wish I had a bigger company so I could do more houses,” he says.
1. How was the Wilders affected by the loss of their son?| A．They didn’t feel like decorating their house for Christmas. |
| B．They were the last to put up some decorations at Christmas. |
| C．They had no one to help decorate their house for Christmas. |
| D．They had the belongings of their son boxed up at Christmas. |
| A．To make more houses brighter. | B．To expand his own business. |
| C．To relieve the victim family’s pain. | D．To memorize his dead friends. |
| A．Enthusiastic and optimistic. | B．Courageous and smart. |
| C．Ambitious and generous. | D．Considerate and helpful. |
| A．Lights warming the spirit | B．A person brightening houses |
| C．Families going through sufferings | D．A business hanging lights |
10 . My daughter was being thrown out of the sixth grade. The teacher said, “She may not be up to what we’re trying to accomplish.” He was really saying she didn’t have the intelligence. I got mad because I knew she was smart, just as my father had known I was smart when I was failing in school. We had her tested. I decided to get myself tested as well, and found that the troubles she was having were exactly what I had had — dyslexia. By then I was a successful television writer, and had won an Emmy Award for “The Rockford Files.”
If I had known earlier that something beyond my control could explain why I was a low achiever, I may not have worked so hard in my late 20s and early 30s. I was writing and writing. I was working for no other reason than to hear people praise me, because I did badly in all my courses.
I once asked a friend who had always gotten an A, “How long did you study for this?” He said, “I didn’t. I just glanced at it.” So he must be smarter. I began to ask, “What will happen to me when I’m not good at anything?” Despite my doubts, I did become successful, and people now say to me, “So you’ve overcome dyslexia.”
No. You don’t overcome it, you learn to compensate for it. Some easy things are very hard for me. Most people who go through college read twice as fast as I do. I avoid dialing a phone if I can, because I sometimes have to try three times to get the number right.
Despite my weaknesses I view dyslexia as a gift, not a curse (诅咒). Many dyslexics are good at right-brain, abstract thought, and that’s what my kind of creative writing is. And I can write quickly, and can get up to 15 pages a day. Writing is my strength.
The real fear I have for dyslexic children is not they have to struggle in school, but that they will quit on themselves before they get out of school. Parents have to create victories for them, whether it’s music, sports or art. You can make your dyslexic child able to say, “Yeah, reading is hard. But I have other things I can do.”
1. The writer decided to get himself tested as well because he________.| A．wanted to know if they had the same problem |
| B．didn’t believe his daughter had the problem |
| C．had to take a regular medical examination |
| D．accepted that his daughter was not smart |
| A．struggled and got better grades |
| B．didn’t work hard when he was young |
| C．was praised for overcoming dyslexia |
| D．was thankful not knowing of dyslexia earlier |
| A．is less intelligent | B．always fails in school |
| C．reads more slowly than normal people | D．performs worse in left-brain activities |
| A．Clumsy birds have to start flying early. | B．God shuts one door but opens another. |
| C．Never judge a person by his appearance. | D．No one can make a good coat with bad cloth. |
