1 . POETRY CHALLENGE
Write a poem about how courage, determination, and strength have helped you face challenges in your life.
Prizes
3 Grand Prizes:Trip to Washington, D.C. for each of three winners, a parent and one other person of the winner’s choice. Trip includes round-trip air tickets, hotel stay for two nights, and tours of the National Air and Space Museum and the office of National Geographic World.
6 First Prizes:The book Sky Pioneer:A Photobiography of Amelia Earhart signed by author Corinne Szabo and pilot Linda Finch.
50 Honorable Mentions:Judges will choose up to 50 honorable mention winners, who will each receive a T-shirt in memory of Earhart’s final flight.
Rules
Follow all rules carefully to prevent disqualification.
■Write a poem using 100 words or fewer. Your poem can be any format, any number of lines.
■Write by hand or type on a single sheet of paper. You may use both the front and back of the paper.
■On the same sheet of paper, write or type your name, address, telephone number, and birth date.
■Mail your entry to us by October 31 this year.
1. How many people can each grand prize winner take on the free trip?| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Six. |
| A．A plane ticket. | B．A book by Corinne Szabo. |
| C．A special T-shirt. | D．A photo of Amelia Earhart. |
| A．Typing your poem out. | B．Writing a poem of 120 words. |
| C．Using both sides of the paper. | D．Mailing your entry on October 30. |
2 . Jenifer Mauer has needed more willpower than the typical college student to pursue her goal of earning a nursing degree. That willpower bore fruit when Jennifer graduated from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and became the first in her large family to earn a bachelor's degree.
Mauer, of Edgar, Wisconsin, grew up on a farm in a family of 10 children. Her dad worked at a job away from the farm, and her mother ran the farm with the kids. After high school, Jennifer attended a local technical college, working to pay her tuition(学费), because there was no extra money set aside for a college education. After graduation, she worked to help her sisters and brothers pay for their schooling.
Jennifer now is married and has three children of her own. She decided to go back to college to advance her career and to be able to better support her family while doing something she loves: nursing. She chose the UW-Eau Claire program at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield because she was able to pursue her four-year degree close to home. She could drive to class and be home in the evening to help with her kids. Jenifer received great support from her family as she worked to earn her degree: Her husband worked two jobs to cover the bills, and her 68-year-old mother helped take care of the children at times.
Through it all, she remained in good academic standing and graduated with honors. Jennifer sacrificed(牺牲)to achieve her goal, giving up many nights with her kids and missing important events to study. ''Some nights my heart was breaking to have to pick between my kids and studying for exams or papers,'' she says. However, her children have learned an important lesson witnessing their mother earn her degree. Jennifer is a first-generation graduate and an inspiration to her family-and that's pretty powerful.
1. What did Jennifer do after high school?| A．She helped her dad with his work. |
| B．She ran the family farm on her own. |
| C．She supported herself through college. |
| D．She taught her sisters and brothers at home. |
| A．To take care of her kids easily. | B．To learn from the best nurses. |
| C．To save money for her parents. | D．To find a well-paid job there. |
| A．Her health. | B．Her time with family. |
| C．Her reputation. | D．Her chance of promotion. |
| A．Time is money. | B．Love breaks down barriers. |
| C．Hard work pays off. | D．Education is the key to success. |
3 . Have you ever dreamed of meeting top scientists in person? If so, what would you want to ask them?
For Tan Fanglin, a 15-year-old girl from No. 2 High School of East China Normal University in Shanghai, her dream of meeting top scientists has already come true. In October 2019, she attended the World Laureates Forum for a second time, which had attracted 44 Nobel Prize Winners and 21 other world-class award winners. Tan was by far the youngest participant among the scientists invited to be at the meeting of the world’s sharpest minds.
Her discovery about the relationship between the Fibonacci sequence (斐波那契数列) and Bézout numbers (贝祖数) has won her many prizes in youth innovation competitions both in Shanghai and elsewhere in China. Her finding has been praised by the famous Canadian mathematician, Professor Rankin, who has been studying the same theme for five years but with no conclusions.
From a very young age, Tan has always been fascinated by mathematics. This is largely because her father, who teaches mathematics in East China Normal University, has a profound impact on her. According to Xu Jun, the head teacher, Tan doesn’t take after-school classes or too many extra exercises either. Her mastering of Advanced Mathematics and her good grades in school are thanks to the right study method. Her mother told Guangming Daily that Tan always treats studying and life with a positive state of mind so she can feel happy while studying.
Attending this forum enabled Tan to get more inspiration from top scientists. She even got the opportunity to talk with Gero Miesenbock, the 2019 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize winner. She asked Professor Miesenbock what he considered were the best personal qualities for conducting scientific research. Miesenbock encouraged her not to lose her passion and love for what she does. He said that accepting failures is crucial for researchers. He stressed that people all knew that even Thomas Edison went through hundreds of unsuccessful attempts before finally inventing the light bulb. The words made Tan feel inspired and she promised to keep her curiosity and interests in mathematics and overcome any obstacles in her research.
1. What can we learn about Tan Fanglin according to paragraph 2?| A．She is a student from East China Normal University. |
| B．She frequently participates in the World laureates Forum. |
| C．She achieved her goal of meeting world-class award winners. |
| D．She was the youngest and sharpest mind among the invited scientists. |
| A．Her father's influence. | B．Her right study method. |
| C．Her positive attitude. | D．Her head teacher’s encouragement. |
| A．learning from the past failures | B．being curious and interested |
| C．being passionate about science | D．getting inspiration from scientists |
| A．The Key to Be a Top Scientist |
| B．A Student Inspired by Top Minds |
| C．A Dream to Be a Mathematician |
| D．An Outstanding Girl Tan Fanglin |
4 . I have a special place in my heart for libraries. I have for as long as I can remember. I was always an enthusiastic reader, sometimes reading up to three books a day as a child. Stories were like air to me and while other kids played ball or went to parties, I lived out adventures through the books I checked out from the library.
My first job was working at the Ukiah Library when I was 16 years old .It was a dream job and I did everything from shelving books to reading to the children for story time.
As I grew older and became a mother, the library took on a new place and an added meaning in my life. I had several children and books were our main source(来源) of entertainment. It was a big deal for us to load up and go to the local library, where my kids could pick out books to read or books they wanted me to read to them.
I always read ,using different voices ,as though I were acting out the stories with my voice and they loved it !It was a special time to bond with my children and it filled them with the wonderment of books .
Now, I see my children taking their children to the library and I love that the excitement of going to the library lives on form generation to generation.
As a novelist, I’ve found a new relationship with libraries. I encourage readers to go to their local library when they can’t afford to purchase a book. I see libraries as a safe haven(避风港) for readers and writers, a bridge that helps put together a reader with a book. Libraries, in their own way, help fight book piracy(盗版行为) and 1 think all writers should support libraries in a significant way when they can. Encourage readers to use the library. Share library announcements on your social media. Frequent them and talk about them when you can.
1. Which word best describes the author’s relationship with books as a child?| A．Cooperative. | B．Uneasy. | C．Inseparable. | D．Casual. |
| A．Pleasure from working in the library. |
| B．Joy of reading passed on in the family. |
| C．Wonderment from acting out the stories. |
| D．A closer bond developed with the readers. |
| A．Sponsor book fairs. | B．Write for social media. |
| C．Support libraries. | D．Purchase her novels. |
| A．Reading: A Source of Knowledge |
| B．My Idea about writing |
| C．Library: A Haven for the Young |
| D．My Love of the Library |
5 . Algorithms (算法) affect nearly every part of a person's experience on the Internet. Search engines are most people' s entry to the Internet.If a person wants to find information about something, they usually start with a search bar.As soon as they start typing or choosing links,the algorithm starts gathering data about every choice users make and uses that data to try to find the websites or information that most directly relate to what the user is looking for.
The problem with algorithm is that they can limit the kinds of information people see,says MacMillan,a reading researcher with Project Information Literacy (能力). He argues this can be harmful to people's critical thinking and lead them to believe that only one point of view is correct.
Companies also pay to post advertisements for products that could relate to users' search data. For example,if you search for places to take a vacation,you will likely start to see ads for travel companies, flights or hotels.
Renee Hobbs, director of the Media Education Lab at the University of Rhode Island, however, argues that algorithms are not all bad. She says search engine algorithms can help you find what might be the most useful information faster. But she says it is in the interests of Internet companies to keep users on the Internet for as long as possible so they see more ads.
The current generation of young people grow up using the Internet and they are prone(易于遭受) to distrustful information.That is why schools must train students how to use the Internet more wisely in their Studies.It is the duty of education to keep students informed about the world around them. Yet it is not the duty of education alone. And lawmakers should consider increasing data protection rules. Individuals can also use a wide variety of websites to avoid algorithmic controls.
1. How do algorithms affect users' Internet experience?| A．They lead to slower Internet connection. |
| B．They block ads for users automatically. |
| C．They always help users get reliable links. |
| D．They determine the content users receive. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Objective. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Young people fall victim to the Internet. |
| B．Data protection rules are already enough. |
| C．Education is fully responsible for algorithmic controls. |
| D．Joint efforts are needed to handle algorithmic controls. |
| A．Science. | B．Entertainment. |
| C．Advertisement. | D．Fashion. |
6 . One of the best ways to pay for college is to find work that helps foot part of the school fee. Here are 4 types of part-time jobs that provide students with extra income.
Jobs with employer scholarships
Some companies offer help paying for college through scholarship programs. Taco Bell, for instance, offers its part- time employees the chance to win up to a $ 25 ,000 award through its Live Mas Scholarship. The award can be used toward vocational schools or a two- or four-year college. Employees must have worked for the company at least three continuous months.
Work-study
For years the work-study program has allowed students to earn money through part-time work. Students aged between 16 and 24 who file Free Application for Student Aid maybe qualified for the program.While these jobs aren't always on campus, students in work study earn at least $7.25 per hour一the state minimum wage.
Paid internships
A paid internship (实习) can not only help students pay for college but can also open doors for full-time work after graduation .According to a 2019 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, nearly two-thirds of paid interns received a job offer，while just about 44% of unpaid interns were offered a job.
On-demand economy jobs
Known for its flexibility，the jobs can help students earn cash between classes.These on-demand jobs include completing small jobs， making deliveries or even driving for ride-booking services.Students can typically earn more through on-demand work，ranging from $10 to $20 an hour.1. What are the applicants for the work-study program required to do?
| A．Submit an application form. |
| B．Work part time for years. |
| C．Accept the minimum wage. |
| D．Live and work one campus. |
| A．Providing scholarships. |
| B．Having fixed workplace. |
| C．Including an extra award. |
| D．Offering more job options. |
| A．Jobs with employer scholarships. |
| B．On- demand economy jobs. |
| C．Paid internships. |
| D．Work- study. |
7 . When you start working on something but don’t finish it, thoughts of the unfinished work continue to jump into your mind even when you’ve moved on to other things. Psychologists refer to this psychological phenomenon as the Zeigarnik effect. The effect was first observed by a Russian psychologist named Bluma Zeigarnik. While sitting in a busy restaurant in Vienna, she noted the waiters had better memories of unpaid orders. Once the bill was paid, however, the waiters had difficulty remembering the exact details of the orders.
In one of her studies, participants were asked to complete simple tasks such as putting together puzzles, or solving math problems. Half of the participants were interrupted halfway through these tasks. After an hour-long delay, Zeigarnik asked the participants to give an account of what they’d been working on. She discovered that those who had their work interrupted were twice as likely to remember what they had been doing as those who had actually completed the tasks.
We can use this effect to our advantage. For example, if you’re struggling to memorize something important, momentary interruptions might actually work to your advantage. Rather than simply remember the information over and over again, review it several times and then take a break. While you’re focusing on other things, you’ll find yourself mentally returning to the information you were studying.
We often put off tasks until the last moment, only completing them in a rush at the last possible moment. Unfortunately, this tendency can lead to heavy stress and even poor performance. One way to overcome this is to put the Zeigarnik effect to work. Start by taking the first step, no matter how small. Once you’ve begun，but not finished your work, you’ll find yourself thinking of the task until, at last, you finish it. You might not finish it all at once, but each small step you take puts you closer to your final goal.
1. What does the Zeigarnik effect refer to ?| A．Waiters tend to have good memories. |
| B．Once interrupted, one will forget things easily. |
| C．Most people can’t focus on one thing for a long time. |
| D．People remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones. |
| A．Describe their tasks. | B．Express their feelings. |
| C．Test their intelligence. | D．Design simple activities. |
| A．Repeat over and over again. | B．Divide up our study session. |
| C．Focus on several tasks at a time. | D．Have enough rest before studying. |
| A．How to get rid of heavy stress. |
| B．Why we should set a final goal. |
| C．How to break the habit of delaying work. |
| D．Why we always complete tasks in a rush. |
8 . Bill Bowerman was a track coach. He wanted to help athletes run faster. So he had learnt how to make running shoes. He had also started a shoe company with a friend. It was 1971.Running shoes at the time were heavy. They had spikes(鞋钉)on the sole(鞋底). The spikes tore up the track and slowed down runners.
To make a lighter shoe, Bill tried the skins of fish. To make a better sole, he wanted to replace the spikes. Bill dug through his wife Barbara's jewelry box. He hoped to find a piece of jewelry with an interesting pattern. He would then copy the pattern onto the new soles. Nothing worked. Bill was defeated.
Then, one Sunday morning, Barbara made Bill waffles(华夫饼)for breakfast. Bill watched her cook.
He studied the criss-cross pattern on a waffle iron.
Inspiration struck. The pattern on the waffle iron was just what Bill was looking for. The squares were flatter and wider than sharp spikes. The pattern would help the shoes hold any surface without tearing into it.
When Barbara left the house, Bill ran to his lab. He took the liquid chemicals that, when mixed, would harden into the sole of a shoe. He poured the mixture into the waffle iron---and the Waffle Trainer was born.
Bill’s company put the Waffle Trainer on market in 1974.It was a huge hit. Maybe you’ve heard of that company---it’s called Nike. And today it’s worth around $100 billion.
It was the waffle iron that had changed the course of Bill’s life---and helped turn Nike into a well-known name. Today, the waffle iron is kept at Nike headquarters. It serves as a reminder that if we keep trying, we can find a solution to even the most difficult problems. And those solutions can come from unlikely places, even the breakfast table.
1. What shortcomings did the old-style running shoes have?| A．They were hard to wear. | B．They were too large. |
| C．They were impractical. | D．They were easy to break. |
| A．From the skins of the fish. | B．From his wife’s jewelry. |
| C．From the colour of the iron. | D．From his wife’s cooking tools. |
| A．A cheerful wife is the joy of life. |
| B．Two heads are better than one. |
| C．Where there’s a will, there’s a way. |
| D．A bad workman quarrels with his tools. |
| A．Waffles and Nike | B．Inspiration and Invention |
| C．A Great Inventor | D．A Well-Known Company |
9 . There are multiple experiences a Westerner can describe as a “culture shock” in China, one of the fastest-growing economies, like eating mouthwatering baozi for breakfast. These experiences, however, paled in comparison to the one I experienced during my time in an organization I’ve been serving in for two years to provide free educational tours at my leisure — the advancement and equalizing of China’s known wealth disparity（差异）through the social network and cashless payment giant（巨头）, WeChat, which I rarely used before.
Last month, the organization led a thrilling trip to camp. Initially, we went through a village kept alive by the residents. The views there are so attractive and refreshing. Walking through endless red apple trees, I saw an elderly woman who gently offered to sell me apples. Unfortunately, I informed her I didn’t have cash on hand. She quickly told me to scan the QR code（二维码）on her phone, which in seconds would get my money into her bank account via WeChat. Needless to say, I was blown away. And of course, the apples were tasty.
As an advocate of financial growth opportunities in under-served communities, it was inspiring to witness that technology lets people contribute to the economy regardless of socioeconomic background in China. Though the socioeconomic problems remain to some extent, access to and adoption of technology creating financial opportunities transforms the lives of everyday citizens and enables communities to flower.
While I once didn’t believe a “cashless society” was possible and thought it could cause more unfavorable conditions, I now stand corrected. Perhaps it might take longer for New York City to adapt, as we lag behind in this transformation and there is so much we can learn. I also wonder what the human race can achieve when technology provides endless opportunities for people of all backgrounds to advance.
1. What does the first paragraph tell us about the author?| A．She is struggling with culture shock. |
| B．She really enjoys Chinese breakfast. |
| C．She does voluntary work when free. |
| D．She likes using social networks. |
| A．Scenery of the village. | B．Taste of the apples. |
| C．Popularity of WeChat. | D．The way of paying. |
| A．Critical. | B．Positive. |
| C．Concerned. | D．Curious. |
| A．Technology helps narrow the wealth gap |
| B．New York will be the next cashless society |
| C．Humans will achieve more with technology |
| D．China becomes the fastest-growing economy |
10 . When I was a little girl, I remember that when my dad was repairing something, he would ask me to hold the hammer, so we would have time for a conversation with each other. I never saw my dad drinking or taking a night out. All he did after work was taking care of his family.
I grew up and left home for college and since then, my dad had been calling me every Sunday morning. And when I bought a house several years later, my dad painted it by himself in the fierce summer heat. All he asked was to talk to him, but I was too busy in those days.
Four years ago, my dad visited me. He spent many hours putting together a swing for my daughter. He asked me to have a talk with him, but I had to prepare for a trip that weekend.
One Sunday morning we had a telephone talk as usual. I noticed that my dad had forgotten some things that we discussed lately. I was in a hurry, so our conversation was short. Several hours later that day I received a call. My father was in the hospital. Immediately I bought a plane ticket and on my way I was thinking about all the occasions I missed to have a talk with my dad. By the time I arrived at the hospital, my father had passed away. Now it was he who did not have time for a conversation with me. I realized how little I knew about my dad, his deepest thoughts and his dreams.
After his death I learned much more about him and even more about myself. All he ever wanted was my time. And now he has all my attention every single day.
1. When the author was a little girl, she .| A．was good at repairing things | B．liked playing with the hammer |
| C．often talked with her father | D．learned to take care of her family |
| A．She phoned her father every Sunday morning. |
| B．She received a call from her father every Sunday morning. |
| C．Her father bought her a house. |
| D．She often asked her father to talk with her. |
| A．Because her father was busy putting up a swing for her daughter. |
| B．Because she had got tired of talking with him. |
| C．Because she was busy planning a trip. |
| D．Because her father often forgot what they had once talked about. |
| A．The author found an excuse to forgive herself. |
| B．The author and her father were both busy. |
| C．The author complained about her father’s leave without saying goodbye. |
| D．The author regretted missing the talks with her father. |
