1 . On Monday, about 270 pilot whales got into difficulty on a sandbank at Macquarie Heads, near Strahan on Tasmania’s west coast, about 190 kilometres from Hobart. Another 200 of the animals were found early on Wednesday, making it Tasmania’s largest recorded stranding event. The Department of Primary Industry, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) said that about a third had died.
Marine biologists arrived in the area to carry out rescue operations. They planned to use specialized equipment such as special tarpaulins to push the whales back into the deep water. The local police also assisted in the rescue.
The whales that were stranded are Pilot Whales, and they are found in almost all the oceans of the world, according to the Marine conservation group. Pilot whales are in fact one of the largest members of the dolphin family, but they are treated as whales for the Marine Mammals Protection Regulations issued in 1992.They were named pilot whales because it was thought that each pod followed a ‘pilot’ in the group.
Cetacean stranding, commonly known as beaching, is a phenomenon in which whales and dolphins strand themselves on land, usually on a beach. Several explanations for why cetaceans strand themselves have been proposed, including changes in water temperatures, unusual features of whales’ echo location in certain surroundings, and geomagnetic disturbances, but none have so far been universally accepted as a definitive reason for the behavior.
In recent years, whale strandings have become more frequent around the world. In November 2018, a dead sperm whale that had washed ashore in eastern Indonesia consumed a horrifying collection of plastic trash, including 115 drinking cups, 25 plastic bags, plastic bottles, two flip-flops and a bag containing more than 1,000 pieces of string. In all, the plastic contents of the whale’s stomach weighed 13.2 pound (six kilograms). The bags are black due to a reaction with the creature’s stomach acids, according to Thai Whales organization. A person, on average, breathes or swallows at least 74,000 microscopic particles of plastic each year.
1. How many whales died according to DPIPWE?| A．About 160. | B．About 200. | C．About 270. | D．About 470. |
| A．Being put into danger. |
| B．Being trapped in trouble. |
| C．Being found in extinction. |
| D．Being left or driven ashore. |
| A．Whales mistake plastics for food. |
| B．Whales need the ability of self-protection. |
| C．Whales’ living conditions are worsening. |
| D．Whales have an excellent digestive system. |
| A．Protective measures for whales. |
| B．The reasons for whale stranding. |
| C．Studying whales’ stomach deeply. |
| D．Researching the oceans’ ecosystem. |
2 . If you're reading this, you were probably born in the 2000s. The oh-ohs(00后）．The 21st century. That would make you young,creative, connected, global,and no doubt smart. Maybe good-looking,too. Right? But what do other people think about your generation?
Some adults worry that you're more interested in the screen in front of you than the world around you. They think of you as the“face-down generation” because you use your phone so much and they wonder how you will deal with school, friends,and family. Are today's teenagers too busy texting and taking selfies(自拍）to become successful in real life-or“IRL”， as you would say?
Other adults worry that today's youth are spoilt(宠坏的）and don't want to face the challenges of adult life. Many children born in the 1990s and 2000s were raised by"helicopter parents” who were always there to guide and help them with a busy schedule filled with homework and extra-curricular activities such as dancing, drawing, or sports. With partners who do everything for them, today's youth seem to prefer to live like teenagers even when they are in their 20s or 30s.
Does the face-down generation need a heads-up?Well,probably not. The fact is that many of today's teenagers are better educated and more creative than past generations. They also seem to be enthusiastic(热情的）and willing to become leaders. More young people than ever volunteer to help their communities. There are also brave young people such as Malala Yousafzai,the teenager who won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for pushing girls' rights to go to school.
So if you're one of the oh-ohs,there's reason to be hopeful about the future. Things are looking up for the face-down generation. Chances are that you will do GR8(great) and LOL（laugh out loud).
1. Today's teenagers are thought of as the face-down generation because| A．They are busy texting |
| B．They use their phones a lot |
| C．They deal with school and family with their phones |
| D．They become successful with their phones |
| A．Parents who prefer to live like teenagers |
| B．Parents who often fly everywhere for their business |
| C．Parents who do dancing, drawing or sports with their children |
| D．Parents who always guide and help children with homework and extra-curricular activities |
| A．They are annoyed. |
| B．They are powerful. |
| C．They are spoilt. |
| D．They are positive. |
| A．The face-down generation |
| B．The young generation |
| C．The generation gap |
| D．The future generation |
3 . Schuylerville High School students have a broad range of interests, which are reflected by the number of clubs and organizations in which our pupils participate. Here are some of the most popular clubs.
Environmental Club
Open to students in grades 9-12
Advisor: Mrs. Flores
The High School Environmental Club is open to all students interest increasing environmental awareness throughout the school. Activities include: recycling, environmental competitions, volunteering with green schools and outdoor events. This run student club collects and recycles paper products throughout the school building.
Freshman Class
Open to students in grades 9-10
Advisor: Mr. winslow
The freshmen class participates in several activities throughout the year to raise money for the class account. The class officers meet once a month to discuss business that affects the entire class. All members of the freshman class are encouraged to participate in some type of community service during the year.
Literary magazine
Open to students in grades 10-12
Advisor: Mr. Sgambati
Members of the Literary Magazine collect, edit and often contribute to the body of student work. Literary Magazine meetings will also give students the opportunity to share and receive feedback on the creative pieces that they re working on, as well as the chance to learn about writing practices and strategies.
Mock Trial Team
Open to students in grades 11-12
Advisor: Mrs. Lewis
Mock Trial is an after-school activity that helps students develop useful knowledge about the law. Students play out all the roles and use general rules of evidence and fact explanations in a school court. They will work with a real lawyer and an advisor to further understand the court process.
1. At which club can you take part in the community service?| A．Environmental Club. | B．Freshman Class. |
| C．Literary Magazine. | D．Mock Trial Team. |
| A．To encourage students to be lawyers. | B．To develop students’ writing skills. |
| C．To explain all kinds of facts at school. | D．To help students learn more about laws. |
| A．A news report. | B．A school website. |
| C．A research paper. | D．A science magazine. |
GALAXIES (星系) OF THE UNIVERSE |
The Milky Way is only one galaxy among a few hundred million galaxies in our universe (each with hundreds of billions of stars). Galaxies are huge groupings of stars, planets, gas and dust. Our sun is in the Milky Way, which measures about 100,000 light years across. That long thin milky bright shape across the middle of the night sky consists of about hundreds of billions of stars in our galaxy. Our galaxy is a spiral (螺旋式的) one, but there are other types. |
 SPIRAL GALAXIES: There are galaxies that have spiral arms that appear from the center. Our solar system is located on one of the arms of the Milky Way. Our galaxy has a huge black hole at its center that billions of stars circled around. |
 ELLIPICAL GALAXIES: There are galaxies shaped like a huge egg. The stars in these galaxies tend to be very ancient. Furthermore, the old stars in elliptical galaxies tend to be yellow and reddish, which based on our understanding of the star evolution, means they are smaller, darker stars. |
 IRREGULAR GALAXIES: There are many other shapes of galaxies that aren’t spiral or elliptical. They all fit into the irregular category. They are smaller than spiral galaxies. Like the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, they have rather unusual-looking shapes. |
1. What can we learn about the Milky Way?
| A．There are only stars inside it. | B．It’s the biggest spiral galaxy in the universe. |
| C．There is a black hole at its center. | D．It takes 100,000 years to get there from Earth. |
| A．Distance from the sun. | B．Size. | C．The number of stars. | D．Shape. |
| A．The Whale Galaxy — shaped like a whale and similar to the Milky Way in size. |
| B．The Cigar Galaxy — a long and narrow galaxy that looks like an ashy cloud. |
| C．Cynus A (3C 405) — the brightest egg shape we can observe. |
| D．The Sunflower Galaxy — a galaxy with multiple arms spreading from its bright heart. |
5 . When I woke up on Aug 4, 2016, there was only one thing on my mind: what to wear. A billion thoughts appeared through my brain in the closet (衣橱). Not only was it my first day of high school, but it was my first day of school in a new state; first impressions are everything, and it was important for me to impress the people who I would spend the next four years with.
After carefully hunting my closet, I proudly came out in a dress from Target. The soft cotton was comfortable, and the specially designed shoulders added a little of fun. Yes, this cloth was the one. An hour later, I felt powerful as I headed toward room 1136. But as I entered class, my jaw dropped to the floor.
Sitting at her desk was Mrs Hutfilz, my English teacher, wearing exactly the same dress as me. I kept my head down and tiptoed(踮着脚尖) to my seat. I made it through my simple introduction speech until Mrs Hutfilz stood up, jokingly saying that she liked my style. Although this was the moment I had been afraid of from the moment I walked in, all my anxiety surprisingly melted away, and the students paid attention as I shared my story. My smile grew as I laughed with the students. After class, I stayed behind, talked to Mrs Hutfilz and make a humorous and real communication.
Looking back four years later, the ten minutes I spent afraid of giving my speech were really not worth it. My first period of high school certainly made the day unforgettable in the best way and taught me that Mrs Hutfilz has a brilliant sense of style!
1. Why did the author pay great attention to her clothes on the first day of high school?| A．She followed her father’s advice. |
| B．She was unconfident about herself. |
| C．She cared too much about her appearance. |
| D．She wanted to make a good impression. |
| A．It was her first day of primary school. |
| B．She was satisfied with her first day dress. |
| C．Her teacher was unhappy because she wore the same dress with her. |
| D．She made a conversation with her English teacher in class. |
| A．Angry. | B．Confused. |
| C．Proud. | D．Embarrassed. |
| A．To share a memorable experience. |
| B．To explore the troubles with dressing. |
| C．To introduce her stylish English teacher. |
| D．To stress the importance of first impressions. |
6 . Twenty-five years ago, most young Britons wanted a career in law, to be a doctor, or, if they were creative enough, to take up singing. But today, things stand differently.
According to a survey by Tesco Mobile, a UK company, the “dream job” of young people aged between 16 and 25 in the UK is a video blogger, or “vlogger” (视频博主). The survey, carried out among 1,002 people, found that as much as 40 percent of them put vlogger as their number one choice on a list of ideal careers.
This change is undoubtedly as a result of the Internet and social media. They have made it so much easier to reach audience of the world, without having to enter a career in show business in the traditional way.
In the past, the biggest stars were trained by the Hollywood studios; now, anyone with a computer camera can become a star. Vloggers are the big stars of today because they are normal people interacting with their fans about everyday life.
However, what people see is only the bright side of being a vlogger and they fail to notice the fact that only those who are successful earn fame and fortune. For every success there are hundreds of others who never get off the starting line. There are the dreams that come true and the dreams that remain dreams forever.
Although being vloggers is popular, some young people choose to follow careers that don’t necessarily earn them fame, but allow them to make good use of the Internet to share their hobbies. Young Israeli David Leshaw, for example, runs a business called the Finishers Club. It’s an online platform for runners to keep a record of their races. His job allows him to express his enthusiasm, and is always a learning experience. And that's enough for him.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．Most young Britons choose to be vloggers as their job. |
| B．The Internet is influencing young Britons’career choice. |
| C．The Internet is taking the place of traditional studios. |
| D．Young Britons can not find jobs without the Internet. |
| A．Vloggers can earn greater fame and more money on the Internet. |
| B．There is too much competition in the traditional show business. |
| C．The Internet makes it convenient to enter show business. |
| D．Anyone with a computer will surely become a star. |
| A．Only a few vloggers can be famous and wealthy. |
| B．A vlogger can not earn fame and fortune. |
| C．People often see the bright side of being a vlogger. |
| D．Dreams will always remain dreams. |
| A．Learn from others. | B．Become an online hit. |
| C．Hold running races. | D．Combine jobs with hobbies. |
7 . Tang Dynasty poets sang for about three centuries in different tones. There were many famous poets living in the Tang period, such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi and Li Shangyin. The Poems of Tang Dynasty edited in the Qing Dynasty is a collection of more than 28,900 poems that were written by over 2,200 poets. But it didn't cover all the poems of the Tang Dynasty.
During the Tang Dynasty, poems were recited when lovers walked under the moonlight. Poems were also recited when soldiers fought on the battlefield. People recited them in the open air or at temple fairs.
Tang Dynasty poets wrote poems to win fame and also to develop their temperament (性情). They poured out deep feelings for their friends and criticized injustice in the world through poems.
In the Tang Dynasty scholars had to be poets. Their readers were not only people of high social position but also common people. Poets recited poems, women singers sang poems and other ranks of people, including old women and children, read Tang poems. This atmosphere affected foreigners who visited the country at that time. As a result, Tang poetry was introduced to some adjacent countries, like Japan and Vietnam.
Tang poetry is a most brilliant page in the history of ancient Chinese literature. It's a miracle (奇迹) in the cultural history of mankind. The Tang Dynasty was a powerful empire with a vast territory. It inherited (继承) Chinese civilization that went back to ancient times, was combined with the best of other cultures and adopted the benefits of other nations in the world. Tang poetry wasn't the only spiritual wealth created by the Tang Dynasty people. Philosophy and religion, handwriting and painting, and music and dance all gained new peaks of development. Tang poetry, however, was the jewel in the crown and its greatest achievement.
1. We can conclude from the passage that ________.| A．only people in the Tang Dynasty created poems |
| B．in total there were four famous poets in the Tang Dynasty |
| C．the Tang Dynasty probably existed for about three centuries |
| D．in the Tang Dynasty most common people were poets |
| A．Why the poets created poems. |
| B．Some other kinds of spiritual wealth in the Tang Dynasty. |
| C．The significance and influence of the Tang Dynasty. |
| D．The editors of The Poems of Tang Dynasty. |
| A．strong | B．neighbouring | C．poor | D．rich |
| A．The Great Tang Dynasty |
| B．Tang Dynasty Poetry |
| C．Famous Poets in the Tang Dynasty |
| D．The Development of the Tang Dynasty |
8 . We are fortunate to live in a city that encourages bicycling as a means of transportation.Our local government has promoted bicycling by improving bike lanes and increasing the number of them. The growing number of cyclists, however, brings this question to mind: should bicyclists be required to share the responsibilities of the road? Automobile drivers have to take competency tests, follow established regulations, and accept punishment for breaking rules. The city requests drivers to register and license their vehicles to ensure accountability (责任）. Bicyclists who use public roadways should be held accountable, too.
Let's look at what sharing the road means. For one thing, it should involve cost sharing.Auto registration and license fees are used, in part, for building and maintaining roadways. It seems only reasonable to ask bicyclists to contribute to transportation funding as well.
More importantly,sharing the road includes accountability. When drivers ignore the rules of the road, the police and other motorists have the opportunity to identify them by their license plate number and report their offenses (违法行为）。 This isn't true for bicyclists. I've seen bicyclists moving quickly between lanes.Because they show no identification, they feel protected by anonymity(匿名）。What good would it do to report to the police “I saw a guy on a red bike blow through the stoplight"? The simple act of making bicyclists identifiable would encourage safer, more responsible riding.
Of course,I've heard arguments against asking cyclists to register and license their bikes. Some people might say, “Little kids ride bikes. Would you require a six-year-old rider to take a test and pay a fee?" Obviously, the city could determine an age when cycling would be considered a "means of transportation on public roads." Other people argue that bicycle fees are unfair because bikes don't damage the roadways as cars do. Bicycle registration fees could be comparatively modest, and the method for displaying a license number could be simple.
Many U.S. cities and towns now implement bike registration and licensing. A statute(法规）from one. California town states that the laws regulating bicycles have a dual purpose, antitheft and safety. I'm eager to see more bicyclists on the road, and I'm hoping for riders who take their responsibilities seriously.
1. To advocate responsible cycling, the author suggests| A．increasing the number of bike lanes |
| B．giving competency tests to all cyclists |
| C．identifying cyclists through registration |
| D．reporting cycling offenses more frequently |
| A．To explain how bicycle registration and licensing work. |
| B．To provide solutions to reduce irresponsible cycling of kids. |
| C．To respond to people's doubts about holding cyclists accountable. |
| D．To argue against requiring cyclists to register and license their bicycles. |
① Using examples
② Quoting professionals
③ Comparing and contrasting
④ Appealing to readers' emotions
| A．①② |
| B．②④ |
| C．③④ |
| D．①③ |
| A．Should we encourage more cycling in the city? |
| B．Should cyclists register and license their bikes? |
| C．What does "sharing the road" mean to cyclists? |
| D．How can road safety be guaranteed for cyclists? |
9 . Mr. Lon Lee Alle is from Singapore. He was recently visiting an Indonesian island so he could see the famous Komodo dragons. Mr. Lon did not want to pay for a tour guide, but he really wanted to take some close-up photos of the dragons when they were eating. Like most wild animals, Komodo dragons do not like to be disturbed when food is around. They turned on Mr. Lon and one of them took a large bite out of his leg. He was rushed to hospital by speedboat. Luckily, he survived.
Komodo dragons are the largest and heaviest lizards(蜥蜴) in the world. They can only be found on a few Indonesian islands including Komodo Island. They have lived on earth for a very long time and remain killing and eating machines. They have a very strong sense of smell which they use to help find their next meal. They will eat almost anything they find. Even though Komodo dragons can run up to 20 kilometers per hour，they prefer to wait for their kill.
When the attack does come，the dragon attacks the animal's feet first, knocking it over. Then，its sharp and fearsome teeth pull the animal to pieces. These teeth contain small pieces of meat from meals it has already eaten and are filled with bacteria—sometimes up to 60 different types. One bite will cause an infection in the wounded animal that will lead to a very painful death a few days later. The Komodo dragon will follow the animal, waiting for it to fall down. It has recently been discovered that Komodo dragons also have venom(毒液) in their mouth. The venom causes animals to bleed to death—if the infection does not get it first.
Today, there are about 4,000 Komodo dragons in the wild. Five people have been killed and 30 injured by dragon bites in the past 40 years.
1. What happened to Mr. Lon Lee Alle?| A．He was fooled by the tour guide. |
| B．He was seriously injured by a Komodo dragon. |
| C．He paid a lot to take Komodo dragons' photos. |
| D．He got lost on an Indonesian island. |
| A．To start a discussion. |
| B．To bring up the topic. |
| C．To provide an explanation. |
| D．To offer basic knowledge of the topic. |
| A．They're native to Indonesia. |
| B．They're impatient hunters. |
| C．They're picky about food. |
| D．They're really smelly. |
| A．How Komodo dragons survive after being attacked. |
| B．How Komodo dragons' venom kills an animal. |
| C．How Komodo dragons hunt for food. |
| D．How Komodo dragons infect other animals. |
10 . Tomato Festival
Started in 2005, the Tomato Festival has grown into a local tradition in Malta. In recent years, the festival has added amusement parkstyle rides and a yearly Creature Feature, which screens old horrible movies. There are also dance competitions, parades and pancake breakfast. Third weekend in August.
Address: 833 Tinkham Rd, Fountain Park, Wilbraham, Massachusetts 01095
Phone: (413)599-0010
Brat Days
Don’t mistake this festival for a day filled with poorly behaved children. Begun in 1953, the gathering is the biggest festival in the city each year and features more than 50 stands (摊位) selling the sausage, as well as a contest to see who can quickly eat the most bratwurst (德国式小香肠) in ten minutes.Early August.
Address: 17th and New Jersey sts, Kiwanis Park, Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53081
Phone: (920)457－9491
Hope Watermelon Festival
The festival dates back to the 1920s, when many trains went through this small town and local watermelon growers would sell their watermelon to parched travellers. These days, the festival sees a Watermelon Queen crowned (加冠的) and sometimes a worldrecord watermelon grown. There are also more than 300 stands selling arts and crafts from a sixstate area, as well as a car show and the Watermelon Olympics. Early August.
Address: 108 W 3rd St, Hope, Arkansas 71801
Phone: (870) 777-3640
Oyster Festival (牡蛎节)
Featuring appearances from tall ships and oyster boats, this festival has regularly drawn 60,000 visitors a year since it began in 1978. More than 3,000 volunteers make the festival possible each year. Norwalk is less than a twohour drive from many of New England’s larger cities, making it easy to attend the festival during a trip to New York or Hartford. Weekend after Labor Day.
Address: Sea view Ave, Veteran’s Park, East Norwalk, Connecticut 06855
Phone: (800) 866-7925
1. Which of the following festivals has the longest history?| A．Oyster Festival. |
| B．Tomato Festival. |
| C．Brat Days. |
| D．Hope Watermelon Festival. |
| A．The Creature Feature. |
| B．The Watermelon Olympics. |
| C．The Eatingbratwurst Contest. |
| D．Dance Competitions. |
| A．Brat Days |
| B．Tomato Festival |
| C．Hope Watermelon Festival |
| D．Oyster Festival |
