1 . Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses （球场） in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?| A．Cycling around a lake. |
| B．Motor racing in the desert. |
| C．Playing basketball in a gym. |
| D．Swimming in a sports center. |
| A．It is popular in Portugal and Spain. |
| B．It causes water shortages around the world. |
| C．It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes. |
| D．It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green. |
| A．it is an outdoor sport |
| B．it improves our health |
| C．it uses fewer resources |
| D．it is recommended by experts |
| A．show us the function of major sports |
| B．encourage us to go in for green sports |
| C．discuss the major influence of popular sports |
| D．introduce different types of environment-friendly sports |
2 . Winter begins in the north on December 22nd. People and animals have been doing what they always do to prepare for the colder months. Squirrels(松鼠), for example, have been busy gathering nuts from trees. Well, scientists have been busy gathering information about what the squirrels do with the food they collect.
They examined differences between red squirrels and gray squirrels in the American state of Indiana. The scientists wanted to show how these differences could affect the growth of black walnut(黑胡桃) trees. The black walnuts is the nut of choice for both kinds of squirrels. The black walnut tree is also a central part of some hardwood forests.
Rob Swihart of Purdue University did the study with Jake Goheen, a former Purdue student now at the University of New Mexico. The two researches estimate(估计) that several times as many walnuts grow when gathered by gray squirrels as compared to red squirrels. Gray squirrels and red squirrels do not store nuts and seeds in the same way. Gray squirrels bury nuts one at a time in a number of places. But they seldom remember where they buried every nut. So some nuts remain in the ground. Conditions are right for them to develop and grow the following spring. Red squirrels, however, store large groups of nuts above ground. Professor Swihart calls “death traps for seeds”.
Gray squirrels are native to Indiana. But Professor Swihart says their numbers began to decrease as more forests were cut for agriculture. Red squirrels began to spread through the state during the past century.
The researchers say red squirrels are native to forests that stay green all year, unlike walnut trees. They say the cleaning of forest land for agriculture has helped red squirrels invade Indiana. Jake Goheen calls them a sign of an environmental problem more than a cause.
1. The study done by Rob Swihart and Jake Goheen is to ________.| A．find out how squirrels collect walnuts |
| B．learn squirrels’ influence on black walnut trees |
| C．do something to get rid of squirrels |
| D．save the forests in the American state of Indiana |
| A．the way they gather the walnut | B．the time they have winter sleep |
| C．the place they have winter sleep | D．the place they store the walnuts |
| A．Agricultural in Indiana has been well developed. |
| B．Gray squirrels will be replaced by red squirrels in Indiana. |
| C．The spread of red squirrels will do harm to walnuts trees in Indiana. |
| D．The government will take some measures to protect black walnut trees. |
3 . Literature is an important part of a total language arts program at all grade levels because of the many benefits it offers.
Literature provides pleasure to listeners and readers.It is a relaxing escape from daily problems,and it fills leisure moments.Making time for recreational reading and using high-quality literature help to develop enthusiastic readers and improve achievement.Developing a love of literature as a recreational activity is possibly the most important outcome of a literature program.
Literature builds experience.Through reading,children expand their horizons through vicarious(引起共鸣的)experiences.They visit new places,gain new experiences,and meet new people.They learn about the past as well as the present and learn about a variety of cultures,including their own.They discover the common goals and similar emotions found in people of all times and places. Nory Ryan's Song by Patricia Reilly,Giff,a hard survival story,is set in Ireland during the potato hunger of I845,and Patricia Polacco's The Butterfly ,deals with Nazis,resistance,and Jewish persecution(迫害)during World War II.
Literature provides a language model for those who hear and read it.Good literature exposes children to correct sentence patterns,standard story structures,and varied word usage.Children for whom English is a second language can improve their English with the interesting context,and all children benefit from new vocabulary that is woven into the stories.
Literature develops thinking skills.Discussions of literature bring out reasoning related to sequence;cause and effect; character motivation; predictions;visualization of actions, characters, and settings; critical analysis of the story;and creative responses.
Literature helps children deal with their problems.By finding out about the problems of others through books, children receive insights into dealing with their own problems,a process called bibliotherapy. Children might identify with Gilly,living angrily in a foster home in Katherine Paterson's The Great Gilly Hopkins,or with Mary Alice,a city girl forced to live with her grandma in a“hick town"in Richard Peck's A Year Down Yonder.
1. What is likely to be the most significant consequence of a literature program?| A．The habit of reading for pleasure. | B．The lessons learned from works. |
| C．The achievements of language skills. | D．The ways of thinking developed by reading. |
| A．To introduce two great masterpieces.. |
| B．To expand children's horizons in literature. |
| C．To prove literature includes a variety of cultures. |
| D．To give examples of books that provide such experiences. |
| A．educational | B．practical |
| C．changeable | D．reliable |
| A．Power of Books | B．Ways of Reading |
| C．Source of Human Progress | D．Benefits of Literature |
4 . Wonderful holiday cottages across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are available. When you choose your next holiday cottage, the following may strike your eyes.
Large holiday cottages for special occasions
We have over 30 cottages for eight or more people. These are great for celebrations with friends and family. You could head to Devon and stay in one of the county’s most important houses, Shute Barton, where we can even provide details of the local cook that can come to the cottage and cook a delicious meal to make your stay even more special. One of our newest cottages is Thorington Hall in Suffolk, and it’s the largest in our collection. If you fancy something a little bit different, you can visit the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage.
Dog friendly cottages In Cornwall
Cornwall is a great place for dog walking with miles of coastline and beaches waiting to be explored and our dog friendly holiday cottages are on the doorstep on some of these places. We share just a selection of our dog friendly cottages across Cornwall. Click here 
to see the full range of dog friendly cottages in Cornwall.
Easter bank holiday cottage
We have cottages perfect for a gathering with family or friends if you’re looking for some peaceful time away. You could spend the Easter bank holiday weekend in a holiday cottage on the beautiful coast around Cornwall or Pembrokeshire.
Songbird Hideaway
This cosy heart-warming cottage is the perfect romantic retreat, situated near the hamlet of Penrhos and close to the town of Pwllheli, featuring appealing views towards Cardigan Bay. Couples can escape the busyness of their everyday lifestyle and enjoy the delights of this compact yet beautifully presented accommodation.
1. Where can you enjoy the door-to-door service by a local cook?| A．Shute Barton. | B．Thorington Hall in Suffolk. |
| C．Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage. | D．Easter bank holiday cottage. |
| A．By fax. | B．By phone. |
| C．By post. | D．By Internet. |
| A．Songbird Hideaway. |
| B．Pembrokeshire holiday cottage. |
| C．Dog friendly cottage in Cornwall. |
| D．Large holiday cottage for special occasions. |
Aging brings wrinkles, sagging bodies and frustrating forgetfulness. But getting older is not all bad for many people. Mounting evidence suggests aging may be a key to happiness. There is conflicting research on the subject, however, and experts say it may all boil down to this: Attitude is everything.
Older adults tend to be more optimistic and have a more positive outlook on life than their younger and stressed opposites. The big question is why seniors are happier. A recent study suggests one reason: Older adults remember the past through happy memories. Aging can bring more cheer as people become more comfortable with themselves and their roles in society. The older adults said they were enjoying more time with their family, spending more time on hobbies and having greater financial security and did not have to work.
But others are doubtful about the link between happiness and growing older.
"The notion that those in old age are happiest is misleading," said Richard Easterlin, a professor of economics at the University of Southern California. "It is based on comparing people of different ages who are the same in terms of income, health, family life." Easterlin added, "When you take account of the fact that older people have lower income than younger, are less healthy, and more likely to be living alone, then you will find it hard to accept that they are happier.
In fact, scientists have found that as people age, their health declines and social networks disappear as their friends die, which can make the elderly less happy.
Even if one does give in to age's dark side, health and happiness don't always go hand-in-hand. It's all about attitude. Research by the University of Chicago’s Yang suggests that attitude about life and happiness, is partly shaped by the era in which a person was born. It turns out that individuals who adapt the best to changes also have the highest expected levels of happiness.
Despite the conflicting findings about aging and happiness, the good news is that there doesn’t appear to be a limit to how much happiness one can achieve in one’s life. “Most people desire happiness,” Easterlin said. “To my knowledge, no one has identified a limit to attainable happiness.”
1. What does the last paragraph mainly tell us?
| A．The key factor to older adults’ happiness |
| B．There is a conflict between aging and happiness |
| C．No one can define the limit to happiness. |
| D．The relationship between health and happiness. |
| A．They focus on what makes them feel good. |
| B．They have their own circle of friends. |
| C．They have better income after retirement. |
| D．They can enjoy social welfare services. |
| A．People of the same age have the same sense of happiness. |
| B．Attitude may play a very important role in happiness. |
| C．People who adapt the best to changes are more likely to be unhappy. |
| D．Older adults who have more valuable life experience are more optimistic. |
| A．Whether aging or attitude brings happiness. |
| B．Why seniors adapt the best to changes in society. |
| C．What the limit to an elder person’s happiness is. |
| D．How older people feel compared with younger people. |
6 . Some people asked me how I could suggest the expenses of billions of dollars for a voyage to Mars, at a time when many children on this Earth are starving to death. I know that they do not expect an answer such as “ Oh, I did not know that there are children dying from hunger, but from now on I will stop any kind of space research until mankind has solved that problem! ”In fact, I have known of this long before.
But I firmly believe that by working for the space program we can make some contributions to the relief and eventual solution of such serious problems as poverty and hunger on the Earth. Two basic factors causing the poverty and hunger problems are the production of food and the distribution (分布) of food. In fact, large areas of land could be used far better if efficient methods of farming, fertilizer use, weather forecasting, field selection, planting, crop surveys, harvest planning and so on were applied. The best tool for the improvement of all these methods undoubtedly, is the artificial Earth satellite. Circling the globe at a high altitude, it can screen wide areas of land within a short time; it can observe and measure a large variety of factors indicating the status and condition of crops, soil, droughts, rainfall, snow cover, etc.
Besides, in the modern society, there is a continuing great need for new basic knowledge in the science if we wish to improve the conditions of human life on the Earth. We need more knowledge in physics and chemistry, in biology and physiology, and particularly in medicine to cope with all these problems which threaten man’s life: hunger, disease, overpopulation, pollution of water and the environment. In a way, the space age not only holds out a mirror in which we can see ourselves, it also provides us with the technologies.
1. The passage is mainly discussing about .| A．whether the children’s dying from hunger is the major problem |
| B．whether it is worth spending much money on the space research |
| C．whether the author’s suggestion has been taken into serious consideration |
| D．whether there is an effective way to avoid the global starvation |
| A．Government support. | B．Methods of farming. |
| C．Food supply. | D．Modern technology. |
| A．making comparison | B．giving explanation |
| C．offering advice | D．giving examples |
| A．technologies can help to improve our living quality |
| B．more basic knowledge is required to be learned |
| C．we can live a more peaceful and happier life |
| D．there are different views on the space age |
7 . Over 40 years ago, a country music DJ convention (大会) was held every year in Nashville, Tennessee. Many country performers used to attend (参加) the convention to give their performances. Fans would go to Nashville hoping to see their favorite performers. In the end, so many fans began showing up in Nashville that a festival named Fan Fair was born.
The first Fan Fair was held in April 1972, in Nashville for four days. Some of country music's biggest stars attended. There were about fifty thousand fans. The first Fan Fair was so successful that planning began almost immediately for 1973. The date was changed to June, when the weather would be better. Over one hundred thousand fans attended the second Fan Fair.
Every year brought so many performers and fans to Fan Fair that, in 1982, it was moved to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. Fan Fair stayed at the fairgrounds for another nineteen years.
There was always the unexpected during the festival. In 1974, former Beatle Paul McCartney attended. In 1992, more than six hundred reporters from Europe, Asia, and South America went to cover the appearance of a popular star, Billy Ray Cyrus, who had introduced a new country line dance. In 1996, Garth Brooks, who made a surprise appearance, signed autographs (签名) for 23 hours.
In 2001, Fan Fair returned to downtown Nashville as the world's biggest country music festival. Now, over one hundred and twenty-five thousand country music fans go to Nashville every June. As you can imagine, those who want to attend Fan Fair must plan ahead. For example, they need to buy a ticket several months ahead of time. Of course, there’s much more to prepare.
1. According to the text, Fan Fair _____.| A．has a history of more than 50 years |
| B．lasts almost half a month every year |
| C．is the most important music festival in America |
| D．is a time when country music lovers get together |
| A．was held in the spring of 1972 |
| B．was more popular than the first one |
| C．was moved from Nashville to the fairgrounds |
| D．was attended by former Beatle Paul McCartney |
| A．show why Fan Fair has been popular |
| B．introduce three famous musicians |
| C．explain how Fan Fair started |
| D．ask people to attend Fan Fair |
| A．Advice for fans. |
| B．Music in America. |
| C．Education in Nashville. |
| D．The future of country music. |
by Martha Stewart
No matter how busy you are, at the end of the day you want meals that are easy toprepare. And you want lots of choices and variations. You'll find all of that in this book:
250 simple recipes for delicious meals that bring freshness and nutrition.
Paperback, published by Random House,$16.79
Zeroes
by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti
New York Times bestselling author Scott Westerfeld teams up with Margo Lanagan and
Deborah Biancotti in the book about six teenagers with amazing abilities. These teenagers have powers that set them apart. They can do things ordinary people can't.
Paperback, published by Simon&Schuster,$12.99
Mrghty Jack
by Ben Hatke
Jaek dislikes summer. But he's got a good reason: summer is when his single mom takes a second job and leaves him at home to watch his sister, Maddy. It's lots of responsibility, and it’s boring, too, because Maddy doesn’t talk. Ever. But one day, at the market,Maddy does talk to tell Jack to trade their mom's car for a box of mysterious seeds. It'sthe best mistake Jack has ever made.
Hardcover, published by First Second,$14.15
Only Daughter
by Anna Snoekstra
She's caught stealing. She’s homeless and on the run. But she happens to look the same asa girl who went missing a decade ago, Rebecca Winter. She assumes Rebecca’s identity,using it as a way out. Little does she know her new life as Rebecca is itself a prison and itlooks like a killer might be after her.
Kindle edition, published by Harlequin Enterprises,$8.88
1. Who wrote a book to help you cook a meal?
| A．Martha Stewart. |
| B．Anna Snoekstra. |
| C．Ben Hatke. |
| D．Scott Westerfeld. |
| A．$8.88 B$12. 99 | B．$14. 15 | C．$16. 79 |
| A．It tells a story. |
| B．It's in paperback. |
| C．It's quite popular. |
| D．It's a co-written book. |
| A．Its heroine enjoys her life on the run. |
| B．Its heroine lives with a false identity. |
| C．It provides different kinds of editions. |
| D．It is written by Harlequin Enterprises. |
9 . A Japanese telecom company has designed a robot that it says has emotions (情绪). But rather than run in fear from it, we’ve welcomed it into our homes: Pepper, the “emotional robots” sold out within a minute of going on sale.
Created by Aldebaran Robotics and Japanese mobile giant SoftBaok, Pepper went on sale to the general public in Japan on June 20. It is “the first humanoid (类人的) robot designed to live with humans,” Aldebaran says on its website. Pepper costs about $ 1,600. And like all good mobile products, there’s a $ 120 per month data fee, as well as an $80 per month damage insurance fee. According to a news report, Pepper can pick up on human emotions and create his own using a “multi-layer neural (神经的) network.” Pepper’s touch sensors and cameras are said to influence its mood, which is displayed on the tablet-sized screen on its chest.
Pepper will sigh when unhappy, and can go around your house recording your family’s daily activity. Aldebaran says Pepper can feel “joy, surprise, anger, doubt and sadness,” but it doesn’t say how strongly it can feel these emotions. What happens when Pepper is having a bad day? Will it, like many humans, become uncooperative? Will it ask for some time alone? What happens if it knows that its purpose in life is just to take part in small talk? Thankfully, Pepper is only about four feet tall, with roller balls instead of legs, so if it is angry with and even turns on its owners, you’ll be safe if you can make it upstairs.
Aldebaran says in reality, they’re probably quite a few years away from artificial intelligence that could create real emotions. Aldebaran wasn’t immediately able to tell when Pepper will be available out of Japan, but additional sales are scheduled for July after the first 1,000 units sell out. SoftBank currently uses the robots in its stores as greeters, and it plans to offer Pepper to other stores in the future. Hopefully “boredom” is not an emotion Pepper can feel.
1. According to the author, Pepper .| A．is very popular among customers |
| B．can not only run but also show fear |
| C．is going to be sold all over the world |
| D．can deal with many kinds of housework |
| A．80 dollars. | B．120 dollars. |
| C．1,440 dollars. | D．2,400 dollars. |
| A．introduce its appearance | B．tell Pepper won’t get angry |
| C．show that safety isn’t a big problem | D．explain robots have strong emotions |
| A．Pepper cannot produce real emotions. |
| B．Pepper can feel joy, surprise and boredom. |
| C．Pepper will be sold in other countries next year. |
| D．Pepper is being used as waiters in some restaurants. |
10 . If you are a fruit grower — or would like to become one — take advantage of Apple Day to see what’s around. It’s called Apple Day but in practice it’s more like Apple Month. The day itself is on October 21, but since it has caught on, events now spread out over most of October around Britain.
Visiting an apple event is a good chance to see, and often taste, a wide variety of apples. To people who are used to the limited choice of apples such as Golden Delicious and Royal Gala in supermarkets, it can be quite an eye opener to see the range of classical apples still in existence, such as Decio which was grown by the Romans. Although it doesn’t taste of anything special, it’s still worth a try, as is the knobbly(多疙瘩的) Cat’s Head which is more of a curiosity than anything else.
There are also varieties developed to suit specific local conditions. One of the very best varieties for eating quality is Orleans Reinette, but you’ll need a warm, sheltered place with perfect soil to grow it, so it’s a pipe dream for most apple lovers who fall for it.
At the events, you can meet expert growers and discuss which ones will best suit your conditions, and because these are family affairs, children are well catered for with apple-themed fun and games.
Apple Days are being held at all sorts of places with an interest in fruit, including stately gardens and commercial orchards(果园). If you want to have a real orchard experience, try visiting the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham in Kent.
1. What can people do at the apple events?| A．Attend experts’ lectures. |
| B．Visit fruit-loving families. |
| C．Plant fruit trees in an orchard. |
| D．Taste many kinds of apples. |
| A．It is a new variety. |
| B．It has a strange look. |
| C．It is rarely seen now. |
| D．It has a special taste. |
| A．A practical idea. |
| B．A vain hope. |
| C．A brilliant plan. |
| D．A selfish desire. |
| A．To show how to grow apples. |
| B．To introduce an apple festival. |
| C．To help people select apples. |
| D．To promote apple research. |
